Hong Kong: Mobile Command Unit ready to roll The Buildings Department can attest to the fact that the Mobile Command Unit (MCU) is extremely useful given its ability to serve as a workplace for staff to discuss and plan their work and provide them with the key equipment and tools they need to carry out on-site inspections. This communication and co-ordination centre on wheels is often deployed for responding to major emergencies as it serves as a command post or shelter to support the officers who carry out investigations, enforcement operations and associated work. Command unit Buildings Department Structural Engineer (Public Education & Publicity) Vanis Kwong explained why he describes the MCU as a mobile mini conference room. The MCU is equipped with information technology equipment and an audio visual system with Wi-Fi connection to our internal network for holding meetings, retrieval of information and data processing, he explained. There are two video monitors that can broadcast local news round-the-clock to keep our colleagues informed about the updated news and surrounding situation. Also there is an interactive panel which is a touch screen computer connecting to our intranet. He added that the officers can use the panel to retrieve building records and add mark-ups on it to facilitate their briefing, reporting and presentation works. Advanced facility Furthermore, a camera is equipped on the roof of the MCU, assisting the inspection work on the exterior of buildings. The roof camera offers all-direction inspection during both daytime and nighttime. The rear part of the specially-designed vehicle is equipped with a large storage area to stock inspection equipment and tools that include safety shoes and helmets, light torches, tapping hammers, binoculars, electronic distance measurers and so on. Mr Kwong pointed out that the officers can use such equipment and tools to assist with their inspections. On-site operation Last year, the MCU was deployed to respond to a fire incident at a warehouse in Kwan Tei North Village in Fanling and the joint operation for removal of scaffolding erected in the rear lanes of Ma Tau Wai Road. It was also put to good use in March this year when a No. 4 alarm fire broke out at a construction site on Middle Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. We find it very useful as it serves as a workplace for our colleagues to discuss and plan their work and provides inspection equipment and tools to the on-site colleagues for carrying out the inspections, It also provides a power supply for electronic equipment such as small unmanned aircrafts and enables the information obtained from site to be sent to our office immediately for further follow-up actions. Promotional vehicle As an added bonus, the multifunction vehicle is used to help carry out public education and publicity events. As a prime example, the department often parks it inside school campuses or around private residential estates to disseminate building safety messages by way of playing promotional videos. The main idea is to strengthen the publics understanding of building safety and build up their sense of responsibility towards building repair and maintenance. The department also hopes to enhance peoples awareness of their living environment so that society can work together to maintain building safety. This story has been published on: 2023-04-29. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A group of non-governmental organisations in Azerbaijan have appealed to the international community regarding to the continued mine terror by the Republic of Armenia against Azerbaijani civilians. The appeal made on 29 april 2023 reads: Dear all, It is not the first time we, the non-governmental organizations of Azerbaijan are appealing to the world because of the tragedy unfolding in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan. Time and again we asked for your solidarity, support and compassion in facing the deadly threat mines and ERWs pose to innocent civilians. However, despite all our efforts, the only thing that is changing is the number of victims. It stood at 298. This was the latest number of Azerbaijanis who were killed or wounded by mines and ERW since November, 2020. However, that number has now changed to 301, as 3 more lives were claimed less than 24 hours ago by yet another seed of death planted by the Armenian armed forces. This time it was the very people who risked their lives to make the lives of others safe. Remember their names: Nadir Yusifov, Sahavat Gezalov, Farid Sadiyev. Their only purpose was to expedite humanitarian demining in the territories turned into a desolate wasteland during some 30 years of occupation. Now they are gone, and nothing can bring them back. The road to peace is never easy. The major difficulties we are facing in restoring peace and stability in our region are yet another example of how difficult and painful the steps to peace can be. However, each mine related incident, each death and each injury make this process even more convoluted. It is not just the expansion in volume because of the extreme release of energy that occurs each time a mine or ERW goes off. It is also the feelings of people who see their loved ones die for no reason whatsoever. Not only does Armenia refuses to cooperate in providing reliable information on minefields, but it also continues to deploy mines both at the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan as well within the territories of Azerbaijan temporarily controlled by the Russian peacekeepers. These mines are marked in Armenia showing their production dates, which proves that their deployment was after the agreement of 2020. Having failed to prevent Azerbaijan from restoring control over its internationally recognized territories Armenia hopes that mine terror will prevent us from rebuilding our lands from ashes. We are confident that our people will return to their ancestral lands. However, this return must be safe, and mines are the biggest threat our people are facing as they go back. No sustainable development and socio-economic reintegration can be achieved without successful demining. No progress can be made towards lasting peace until and unless we address the issue of the mortal danger posed by mines and ERWs. We appeal to the international community to call upon Armenia for their full cooperation in mitigating consequences of its irresponsible, indiscriminate use of mines in civilian areas with no military necessity. We need our lands to be freed from the horrifying heritage of hatred in the name of future generations of all the citizens of Azerbaijan who will live in these areas. Signed by: 1. Gunel Safarova Citizen Research and Development Public Union 2. Azer Allahveranov Eurasian Migration Initiatives Platform Public Union 3. Telman Gasimov - Scientific Research Public Union 4. Vusala Huseynli Women Reformers and Innovation Public Union 5. Novella Jafarova The Association for the Protection of Womens Rights Public Union 6. Saida Gojamanly Bureau of Human Rights and Law Respect Public Union 7. Hafiz Safikhanov Azerbaijan Campaign Against Landmines Public Union 8. Rey Karimoglu Azerbaijan Mine Victims Association Public Union 9. Hafiz Hasanov - ''Law and Development Public Union 10. Rafig ?smayilov Civil Society Independent Advice and Assistance Center Public Union 11. Ilgar Huseynli Social Strategic Research and Analytical Investigations Public Union 12. Saadat Maharramova Anti-Corruption Center Public Union 13. Rafael Bejanov Human Rights and Enlightenment Public Union 14. Saadat Bananyarli Azerbaijan National Section of International Society for Human Rights Public Union 15. Khalid Kazimov Regional Human Rights and Media Center Public Union 16. Elshad Mammadli - "Citizen Enlightenment" Public Union 17. Samad Vakilov - "Commissioner" Legal Center Public Union 18. Lala Azertash Media and Community Development Public Union 19. Casarat Huseynzada - "Support to Information Initiatives" Public Union 20. Ahmet Abbasbeyli - "Development of Society and Civil Relations" Public Union 21. Shamsaddin Aliyev Support the police Public Union 22. Akram Baydamirli Social Welfare and Research Public Union 23. Nadir Ismayilov - Central Asia and South Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network Public Union 24. Khanoghlan Ahmadov Media and Civil Society Public Union 25. Agil Jamal - "Common values" Public Union 26. Nadir Jafarov - Chirag Humanitarian and Development Public Union 27. Ramil ?skandarli Legal Analysis and Research Public Union 28. Nureddin Mehdiyev - Virtual Karabakh Communication Technologies Youth Public Union 29. Ilgar Orujov - Azerbaijan Society of Young Scientists, Postgraduates and Masters Public Union 30. Zaur ?brahimov - "Priority" Center for Social and Economic Research Public Union Rep. Young Kim, D-CA, smiles after being recognized during an address by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C., April 27. UPI-Yonhap Two U.S. lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act, which expired in September 2022. Young Kim (R-CA), the chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, and Ami Bera (D-CA), a ranking member, introduced the bill Friday to reauthorize, update and improve the law, which was enacted in 2004 to promote human rights and freedom in North Korea, Kim said. "Kim Jong-un oppresses the North Korean people through torture, imprisonment, forced labor and starvation in his quest to expand North Korea's nuclear weapons program and gain military power," the Korean American lawmaker said in a press release. "These gross human rights abuses cannot be tolerated and cannot go unchecked," she added. Kim emphasized the bill's introduction came at a time when South Korea and the United States were celebrating the 70th anniversary of their alliance and President Yoon Suk Yeol was visiting the U.S. The North Korean Human Rights Act includes initiatives to reunite Korean American divided families with their war-torn loved ones, appoint a special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, support the U.S. Agency for Global Media's broadcasting efforts to promote freedom of information in North Korea, and ensure the delivery and distribution of humanitarian aid goes to the people of North Korea. Last month, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) also introduced a bill to extend the act for another five years. (Yonhap) A. O. Smith (NYSE:AOS Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $3.30-$3.50 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $3.33. The company issued revenue guidance of $3.68 billion-$3.83 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $3.74 billion. A. O. Smith also updated its FY23 guidance to $3.30-3.50 EPS. A. O. Smith Trading Down 0.4 % NYSE:AOS traded down $0.27 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $68.29. The company had a trading volume of 3,274,870 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,151,301. A. O. Smith has a fifty-two week low of $46.58 and a fifty-two week high of $71.87. The businesss fifty day moving average is $66.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $61.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.84. The firm has a market cap of $10.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 45.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.28. Get A. O. Smith alerts: A. O. Smith (NYSE:AOS Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The industrial products company reported $0.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.77 by $0.17. A. O. Smith had a return on equity of 28.78% and a net margin of 6.49%. The firm had revenue of $966.40 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $922.05 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.77 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that A. O. Smith will post 3.36 earnings per share for the current year. A. O. Smith Dividend Announcement Analysts Set New Price Targets 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 paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.76%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. A. O. Smiths payout ratio is 80.00%. Several equities research analysts have issued reports on AOS shares. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on A. O. Smith from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 20th. Loop Capital downgraded A. O. Smith from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $67.00 to $65.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. TheStreet upgraded A. O. Smith from a c+ rating to a b+ rating in a report on Thursday. UBS Group downgraded A. O. Smith from a neutral rating to a sell rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $65.00 to $58.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on A. O. Smith from $70.00 to $78.00 in a report on Friday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $65.00. Insider Buying and Selling at A. O. Smith In related news, Director Michael M. Larsen purchased 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $66.89 per share, for a total transaction of $267,560.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 11,425 shares in the company, valued at $764,218.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, VP Robert J. Heideman sold 12,283 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.31, for a total value of $826,768.73. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 11,412 shares of the companys stock, valued at $768,141.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Michael M. Larsen acquired 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $66.89 per share, with a total value of $267,560.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 11,425 shares of the companys stock, valued at $764,218.25. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 57,883 shares of company stock worth $4,053,126 over the last ninety days. 0.70% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of A. O. Smith Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in A. O. Smith by 48.7% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,721 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $110,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in A. O. Smith by 1,248.8% during the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,900 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $185,000 after purchasing an additional 2,685 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership acquired a new stake in A. O. Smith during the 1st quarter worth approximately $257,000. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in A. O. Smith by 45.9% during the 1st quarter. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,280 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 1,346 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. lifted its holdings in A. O. Smith by 4.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,351 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $278,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares during the last quarter. 77.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. A. O. Smith Company Profile (Get Rating) A. O. Smith Corp. manufactures residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. It operates through the North America and Rest of World segments. The North America segment manufactures and markets comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, and tanks. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for A. O. Smith Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for A. O. Smith and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hershey (NYSE:HSY Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $9.46-$9.46 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.42. The company issued revenue guidance of $11.25 billion-$11.25 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $11.22 billion. Hershey also updated its FY23 guidance to $9.29 to $9.46 EPS. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently commented on HSY. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Hershey from $255.00 to $277.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Hershey from $246.00 to $256.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Barclays increased their price objective on Hershey from $245.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday. Bank of America raised their target price on Hershey from $280.00 to $300.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Hershey from $255.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday. Twelve analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have 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 $260.56. Get Hershey alerts: Hershey Trading Down 0.1 % HSY stock traded down $0.27 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $273.06. The stock had a trading volume of 1,129,899 shares, compared to its average volume of 856,083. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $250.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $237.03. The company has a quick ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $55.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.30, a PEG ratio of 3.77 and a beta of 0.31. Hershey has a twelve month low of $201.42 and a twelve month high of $273.42. Hershey Announces Dividend Hershey ( NYSE:HSY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.96 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.29. Hershey had a return on equity of 57.99% and a net margin of 15.81%. The firm had revenue of $2.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.91 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.53 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Hershey will post 9.45 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a dividend of $1.036 per share. This represents a $4.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. Hersheys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 52.01%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, SVP Jason Reiman sold 150 shares of Hershey stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $234.83, for a total transaction of $35,224.50. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 12,717 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,986,333.11. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Hershey news, SVP Jason Reiman sold 150 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,717 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,986,333.11. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Rohit Grover sold 2,925 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the insider now owns 21,995 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,765,329.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 54,265 shares of company stock worth $13,371,072. Insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HSY. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in shares of Hershey by 121.3% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 135 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 74 shares during the last quarter. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hershey during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Compass Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in Hershey in the 4th quarter valued at $45,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in Hershey by 130.3% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 281 shares of the companys stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in Hershey by 78.5% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 823 shares of the companys stock valued at $178,000 after purchasing an additional 362 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.17% of the companys stock. About Hershey (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 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. Bank of Queensland Limited (OTCMKTS:BKQNY Get Rating) saw a large drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a drop of 40.0% from the March 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 9.0 days. Bank of Queensland Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS BKQNY remained flat at $8.35 during mid-day trading on Friday. Bank of Queensland has a one year low of $8.29 and a one year high of $10.84. The business has a 50 day moving average of $8.94 and a 200 day moving average of $9.39. Get Bank of Queensland alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered Bank of Queensland from a neutral rating to an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. About Bank of Queensland Bank of Queensland Ltd. engages in the provision of financial services to the community. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, BOQ Business, and Other. The Retail Banking segment offers retail banking solutions to customers managed through its owner managed and corporate branch network, ME Bank and Virgin Money distribution channels, and third-party intermediaries. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Bank of Queensland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of Queensland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (OTCMKTS:BTAFF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 273,800 shares, an increase of 80.8% from the March 31st total of 151,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 10,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 26.8 days. British American Tobacco Trading Down 2.3 % OTCMKTS:BTAFF traded down $0.86 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $36.50. 2,494 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,536. The company has a fifty day moving average of $36.74 and a 200 day moving average of $38.23. British American Tobacco has a twelve month low of $34.75 and a twelve month high of $45.65. Get British American Tobacco alerts: About British American Tobacco (Get Rating) Further Reading British American Tobacco plc is a holding company, which engages in the manufacture and distribution of tobacco products. Its brands include Kent, Dunhill, Lucky Strike, and Pall Mall. It operates through the following geographical segments: United States, Asia-Pacific and Middle East (APME), Americas and Sub-Saharan Africa (AMSSA), and Europe and North Africa (ENA). Receive News & Ratings for British American Tobacco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for British American Tobacco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A joint exercise between nuclear teams from South Korea and the United States conducted in South Korea from March 20-24 is seen in this April 26 photo released by the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service. Yonhap The U.S. Department of Defense has revealed that highly specialized nuclear teams from the United States and South Korea conducted joint drills in March to strengthen their interoperability on the Korean Peninsula. The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, a Pentagon media service, released the report Wednesday, when President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington. The leaders adopted the Washington Declaration to strengthen "extended deterrence" against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and to establish a Nuclear Consultative Group to discuss nuclear and strategic planning. The report said U.S. Army Nuclear Disablement Teams (NDT) trained with South Korea's Nuclear Characterization Teams (NCT) during the defense-oriented drills from March 20-24. This marks the first time that the U.S. has disclosed a joint nuclear disablement exercise between the allies. "The NDTs and NCTs were able to plan and execute missions together and work hand-in-hand in areas that allow us to communicate effectively between each other and our soldiers downrange," Maj. Ariel A. Alcaide, the deputy team leader for NDT 3, was quoted as saying. "This is a giant leap from the previous partnership events," he added. There are three NDTs, all stationed in Maryland and belonging to the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command, the agency reported. The South Korean counterparts are believed to be part of the joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Defense Command affiliated with the Ministry of Defense. The drills coincided with the allies' Freedom Shield command post training and Ssangyong amphibious landing practice conducted in South Korea from March 13-23 and from March 20-April 3, respectively. South Korea's defense ministry declined to comment about the report. (Yonhap) S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $12.35-$12.55 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $12.48. The company issued revenue guidance of $12.30 billion-$12.52 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $12.40 billion. S&P Global also updated its FY23 guidance to $12.35-12.55 EPS. S&P Global Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of NYSE SPGI traded up $7.00 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $362.58. 1,742,693 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,063,506. The stock has a market cap of $118.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 42.66, a PEG ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $342.58 and a 200 day simple moving average of $343.11. S&P Global has a 1-year low of $279.32 and a 1-year high of $395.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.94. Get S&P Global alerts: S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The business services provider reported $3.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.92 by $0.23. The firm had revenue of $3.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.06 billion. S&P Global had a net margin of 23.50% and a return on equity of 10.06%. The businesss revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $2.89 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that S&P Global will post 12.43 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insiders Place Their Bets SPGI has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $388.00 to $403.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $398.00 to $402.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $434.00 price objective on shares of S&P Global in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of S&P Global from $403.00 to $405.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of S&P Global in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $394.50. In other news, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.52, for a total value of $2,703,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 160,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $57,977,384.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Douglas L. Peterson sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $360.52, for a total value of $2,703,900.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 160,816 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $57,977,384.32. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Saugata Saha sold 750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $369.47, for a total transaction of $277,102.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,337 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,232,921.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 11,749 shares of company stock valued at $4,266,185 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On S&P Global Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC boosted its position in S&P Global by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Magnolia Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,642 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $550,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp raised its holdings in S&P Global by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 2,239 shares of the business services providers stock worth $919,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares in the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC raised its holdings in S&P Global by 51.6% in the 1st quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 141 shares of the business services providers stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 48 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in S&P Global by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 2,331 shares of the business services providers stock worth $956,000 after purchasing an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. raised its holdings in S&P Global by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 557 shares of the business services providers stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.27% of the companys stock. S&P Global Company Profile (Get Rating) S&P Global, Inc engages in the provision of transparent and independent ratings, benchmarks, analytics, and data to the capital and commodity markets worldwide. It operates through the following segments: Market Intelligence, Ratings, Commodity Insights, Mobility, Indices, and Engineering Solutions. The Market Intelligence segment provides multi-asset-class data and analytics integrated with purpose-built workflow solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for S&P Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for S&P Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $5.40-$6.35 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $5.30. The company issued revenue guidance of $4.93 billion-$4.98 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $4.93 billion. TriNet Group also updated its Q2 2023 guidance to $1.15-$1.40 EPS. TriNet Group Stock Performance TNET traded up $1.81 during trading on Friday, hitting $92.78. The stock had a trading volume of 903,019 shares, compared to its average volume of 369,259. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.18. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.81 and a beta of 1.15. The companys 50-day moving average price is $82.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $75.07. TriNet Group has a twelve month low of $60.60 and a twelve month high of $92.83. Get TriNet Group alerts: TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.78. The company had revenue of $310.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $250.09 million. TriNet Group had a net margin of 6.96% and a return on equity of 47.82%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that TriNet Group will post 4.26 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Ratings Changes Insider Buying and Selling Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. StockNews.com lowered shares of TriNet Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Cowen boosted their target price on shares of TriNet Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, TriNet Group has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $81.25. In related news, CEO Burton M. Goldfield sold 6,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.54, for a total value of $528,375.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 103,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,752,003.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other TriNet Group news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,555 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.59, for a total value of $228,902.45. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 34,111 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,056,004.49. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Burton M. Goldfield sold 6,250 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.54, for a total transaction of $528,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 103,525 shares in the company, valued at $8,752,003.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 15,180 shares of company stock worth $1,239,975 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 37.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Amundi purchased a new position in TriNet Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in TriNet Group by 78.7% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 620 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 273 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in TriNet Group by 31.7% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,017 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $72,000 after purchasing an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its holdings in TriNet Group by 1,609.7% in the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 1,761 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $173,000 after purchasing an additional 1,658 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Wyoming purchased a new position in TriNet Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $124,000. 91.65% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. TriNet Group Company Profile (Get Rating) TriNet Group, Inc provides human capital management (HCM) solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. Its services include HR expertise, benefit options, payroll services, risk mitigation, and a technology platform. The company was founded by Martin Babinec in 1988 and is headquartered in Dublin, CA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TriNet Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TriNet Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WEX (NYSE:WEX Get Rating) updated its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of $3.45-$3.55 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $3.47. The company issued revenue guidance of $613.00 million-$623.00 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $614.07 million. WEX also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $13.85-$14.25 EPS. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently issued reports on WEX. StockNews.com began coverage on WEX in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on WEX from $222.00 to $236.00 in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on WEX from $157.00 to $199.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on WEX from $190.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, TheStreet raised WEX from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $210.90. Get WEX alerts: WEX Trading Up 2.3 % Shares of WEX traded up $4.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $177.35. The company had a trading volume of 506,943 shares, compared to its average volume of 279,556. The firm has a market cap of $7.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 53.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.60. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $182.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $171.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. WEX has a 52-week low of $125.00 and a 52-week high of $204.05. Insider Activity at WEX WEX ( NYSE:WEX Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The business services provider reported $3.04 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.77 by $0.27. The firm had revenue of $618.61 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $575.79 million. WEX had a return on equity of 32.29% and a net margin of 6.00%. On average, research analysts predict that WEX will post 12.21 EPS for the current year. In related news, insider Melanie J. Tinto sold 2,464 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.43, for a total transaction of $486,467.52. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,889 shares in the company, valued at approximately $767,805.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, insider Melanie J. Tinto sold 2,464 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.43, for a total transaction of $486,467.52. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,889 shares in the company, valued at approximately $767,805.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Director Regina O. Sommer sold 1,261 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.52, for a total value of $240,245.72. Following the transaction, the director now owns 14,272 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,719,101.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,364 shares of company stock worth $4,203,786 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of WEX Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Morgan Stanley boosted its position in shares of WEX by 342.4% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 2,059,893 shares of the business services providers stock worth $337,102,000 after purchasing an additional 1,594,294 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of WEX in the 4th quarter worth approximately $73,069,000. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA boosted its position in shares of WEX by 40.6% in the 4th quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA now owns 598,641 shares of the business services providers stock worth $108,024,000 after purchasing an additional 172,805 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in shares of WEX by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,101,566 shares of the business services providers stock worth $731,925,000 after purchasing an additional 164,902 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of WEX by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,196,239 shares of the business services providers stock worth $748,819,000 after purchasing an additional 131,664 shares in the last quarter. 98.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. WEX Company Profile (Get Rating) WEX Inc provides financial technology services in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Fleet Solutions, Travel and Corporate Solutions, and Health and Employee Benefit Solutions. The Fleet Solutions segment offers fleet vehicle payment processing services. Its services include customer, account activation, and account retention services; authorization and billing inquiries, and account maintenance services; credit and collections services; merchant services; analytics solutions with access to web-based data analytics platform that offers insights to fleet managers; and ancillary services and tools to fleets to manage expenses and capital requirements. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for WEX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WEX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Celestica (NYSE:CLS Get Rating) (TSE:CLS) updated its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of $0.44-$0.50 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $0.45. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.75 billion-$1.90 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.79 billion. Celestica also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $2.00-$2.05 EPS. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently issued reports on CLS. TD Securities lowered their target price on Celestica from $14.00 to $13.50 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Friday. BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Celestica from $14.00 to $15.50 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Celestica in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Citigroup raised their target price on Celestica from $12.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $15.00 target price on shares of Celestica in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $14.50. Get Celestica alerts: Celestica Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CLS traded down $0.39 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $10.86. The companys stock had a trading volume of 848,625 shares, compared to its average volume of 530,941. Celestica has a 12-month low of $8.21 and a 12-month high of $14.28. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $12.43 and a 200-day moving average price of $11.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.98 and a beta of 2.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a current ratio of 1.42 and a quick ratio of 0.65. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Celestica Celestica ( NYSE:CLS Get Rating ) (TSE:CLS) last announced its earnings results on Monday, March 13th. The technology company reported $0.56 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.53 by $0.03. Celestica had a return on equity of 15.29% and a net margin of 1.97%. The firm had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. As a group, equities analysts predict that Celestica will post 1.97 earnings per share for the current year. Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CLS. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in shares of Celestica by 120.3% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 193,371 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,303,000 after acquiring an additional 105,576 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates purchased a new stake in shares of Celestica during the first quarter worth about $132,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Celestica by 20.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 265,505 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,162,000 after purchasing an additional 44,885 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. boosted its holdings in shares of Celestica by 57.2% during the first quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. now owns 168,657 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,805,000 after purchasing an additional 61,400 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can boosted its holdings in shares of Celestica by 35.4% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 12,536 shares of the technology companys stock worth $158,000 after purchasing an additional 3,276 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.26% of the companys stock. About Celestica (Get Rating) Celestica, Inc engages in the provision of supply chain solutions globally to equipment manufacturers and service providers. It operates through the following segments: Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS), and Connectivity and Cloud Solutions (CCS). The Advanced Technology Solutions (ATS) segment includes aerospace and defense, industrial, smart energy, health tech, and capital equipment businesses. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Celestica Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Celestica and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. (NYSE:EBS Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Hold from the eight research firms that are covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has given a hold recommendation and two have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $29.67. EBS has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated an underweight rating and set a $9.00 price objective (down from $23.00) on shares of Emergent BioSolutions in a research note on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Emergent BioSolutions in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Benchmark raised Emergent BioSolutions from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $22.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, TheStreet cut Emergent BioSolutions from a c- rating to a d rating in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Get Emergent BioSolutions alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Emergent BioSolutions during the 1st quarter worth approximately $112,000. Inspire Investing LLC boosted its stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 29.4% in the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 26,116 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $271,000 after buying an additional 5,934 shares during the last quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $104,000. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Emergent BioSolutions in the 1st quarter worth approximately $69,000. Finally, ETF Managers Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Emergent BioSolutions by 33.8% in the 1st quarter. ETF Managers Group LLC now owns 16,647 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $172,000 after buying an additional 4,209 shares during the last quarter. 80.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Emergent BioSolutions Stock Performance Shares of EBS opened at $8.83 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market cap of $445.03 million, a PE ratio of -1.97 and a beta of 0.93. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $10.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $13.00. Emergent BioSolutions has a 12-month low of $7.74 and a 12-month high of $40.45. Emergent BioSolutions (NYSE:EBS Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($0.31) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.31 by ($0.62). Emergent BioSolutions had a negative return on equity of 7.57% and a negative net margin of 19.97%. The firm had revenue of $330.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $298.23 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $4.50 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 54.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Emergent BioSolutions will post -1.23 EPS for the current year. About Emergent BioSolutions (Get Rating) Emergent BioSolutions Inc engages in the development, manufacture, and commercialization of medical countermeasures. It offers products for civilian and military populations that address accidental, intentional, and naturally occurring public health threats. The firms products include ACAM2000, BioThrax, Raxibacuma, Vaxchora, and VIGIV. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Emergent BioSolutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emergent BioSolutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Global Payments (NYSE:GPN Get Rating) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report published on Thursday morning. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Stephens reaffirmed an overweight rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Global Payments in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Global Payments from $135.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Global Payments from $125.00 to $145.00 in a report on Monday, February 13th. Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on shares of Global Payments from $150.00 to $145.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird upgraded shares of Global Payments from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $130.00 to $156.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and eighteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Global Payments has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $148.92. Get Global Payments alerts: Global Payments Stock Performance Shares of GPN stock opened at $112.71 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $106.23 and its 200-day moving average price is $106.02. Global Payments has a 12 month low of $92.27 and a 12 month high of $143.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 256.16, a PEG ratio of 0.71 and a beta of 0.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. Global Payments Announces Dividend Global Payments ( NYSE:GPN Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 10th. The business services provider reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.34 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.02 billion. Global Payments had a return on equity of 10.30% and a net margin of 1.24%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.03 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Global Payments will post 9.82 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.89%. Global Paymentss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 227.28%. Insider Buying and Selling at Global Payments In other Global Payments news, CAO David M. Sheffield sold 1,562 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.08, for a total value of $176,630.96. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now 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 can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. 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 worth $190,000 after acquiring an additional 83 shares during the period. Financial Advantage Inc. grew its stake 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 worth $2,761,000 after acquiring an additional 86 shares during the period. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its stake 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 worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its stake in shares of Global Payments by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 21,791 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,164,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Finally, Desjardins Global Asset Management Inc. grew its stake 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 worth $392,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 87.58% of the companys stock. Global Payments Company Profile (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 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. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Get Rating) by 9.9% 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 51,703 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 4,655 shares during the period. Laurel Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Southern were worth $3,692,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of SO. Prudential PLC raised its position in shares of Southern by 23.4% during the first quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 19,438 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,409,000 after buying an additional 3,689 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its position in Southern by 33.5% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,727 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $126,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd increased its position in Southern by 63.0% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,902 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $138,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in Southern by 0.4% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 49,925 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,621,000 after purchasing an additional 221 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp increased its position in Southern by 35.8% in the first quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 907,132 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $65,776,000 after purchasing an additional 239,325 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 61.78% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Guggenheim boosted their price objective on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $79.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Southern from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Southern from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their price objective on shares of Southern from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the company an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $73.14. Insider Buying and Selling Southern Trading Up 0.1 % In related news, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total value of $359,450.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,516,356.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In other Southern news, EVP Christopher Cummiskey sold 1,282 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.60, for a total transaction of $85,381.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 27,512 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,832,299.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . Also, CEO Stephen E. Kuczynski sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.89, for a total transaction of $359,450.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 146,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,516,356.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 7,134 shares of company stock valued at $502,179 over the last three months. 0.28% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Shares of SO traded up $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $73.55. 4,598,816 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,479,166. The Southern Company has a 12-month low of $58.85 and a 12-month high of $80.57. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $68.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.93. The firm has a market cap of $80.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.73, a PEG ratio of 5.09 and a beta of 0.51. The company has a current ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.80%. The company had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.97 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that The Southern Company will post 3.61 earnings per share for the current year. Southern Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. This is a positive change from Southerns previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.81%. Southerns dividend payout ratio is 87.74%. About Southern (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. Recommended Stories 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. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $20.25- for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $19.70. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Molina Healthcare Trading Up 0.3 % Shares of MOH traded up $0.97 during trading on Friday, reaching $297.89. 507,214 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 547,103. Molina Healthcare has a twelve month low of $249.78 and a twelve month high of $374.00. The stock has a market cap of $17.36 billion, a PE ratio of 20.29, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.67. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $278.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $308.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $5.81 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $5.13 by $0.68. The business had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.31 billion. Molina Healthcare had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 36.20%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business earned $4.90 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Molina Healthcare will post 20.06 earnings per share for the current year. Analyst Ratings Changes Insider Activity A number of research analysts recently weighed in on MOH shares. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and issued a $375.00 price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $375.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $354.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $360.00 to $348.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $356.42. In other news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of Molina Healthcare stock in a transaction on 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 transaction, the director now directly owns 4,944 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,368,350.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Molina Healthcare Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Molina Healthcare by 0.5% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,315 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,766,000 after buying an additional 33 shares during the period. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Meiji Yasuda Asset Management Co Ltd. now owns 921 shares of the companys stock worth $304,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the period. Toroso Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 1,003 shares of the companys stock worth $331,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 85.9% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 132 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the period. Finally, Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund grew its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 2,082 shares of the companys stock worth $687,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the period. 94.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. Read More 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. MTM Investment Management LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 1.4% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,448 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 80 shares during the quarter. MTM Investment Management LLCs holdings in Waste Management were worth $855,000 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 the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Waste Management by 534.5% during the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,344 shares of the business services providers stock worth $530,000 after purchasing an additional 2,817 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL lifted its position in Waste Management by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 53,067 shares of the business services providers stock worth $8,411,000 after buying an additional 370 shares during the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. grew its position in Waste Management by 0.6% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 358,624 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $56,842,000 after acquiring an additional 2,309 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of Waste Management by 83.8% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 680 shares of the business services providers stock worth $108,000 after acquiring an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 44.8% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 33,030 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,234,000 after acquiring an additional 10,212 shares during the last quarter. 78.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Waste Management alerts: Insider Activity In related news, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $31,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 64,317 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,969,135. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now directly 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 available at this hyperlink. Also, CFO Devina A. Rankin sold 200 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.00, for a total value of $31,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 64,317 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,969,135. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 30,743 shares of company stock worth $4,762,320. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Waste Management Trading Up 2.7 % WM has been the topic of several recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 6th. StockNews.com started coverage on Waste Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. UBS Group lowered Waste Management from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $190.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Truist Financial started coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Monday, April 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $190.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Waste Management presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $175.17. Shares of WM opened at $166.05 on Friday. Waste Management, Inc. has a 1-year low of $138.89 and a 1-year high of $175.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.41, a PEG ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.73. The firms 50-day moving average price is $157.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $157.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.21. Waste Management (NYSE:WM Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The business services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.02. Waste Management had a return on equity of 33.23% and a net margin of 11.33%. The business had revenue of $4.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.86 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.29 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6.01 EPS for the current year. Waste Management Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a $0.70 dividend. This is an increase from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.69%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio is 51.28%. 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. 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. NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP Get Rating) had its price target decreased by Credit Suisse Group from $87.00 to $78.00 in a research report report published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the company. Raymond James upgraded NextEra Energy Partners from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on NextEra Energy Partners in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. TheStreet lowered NextEra Energy Partners from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised NextEra Energy Partners from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $81.00 to $73.00 in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on NextEra Energy Partners from $89.00 to $87.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $81.00. Get NextEra Energy Partners alerts: NextEra Energy Partners Price Performance NYSE NEP opened at $57.51 on Thursday. NextEra Energy Partners has a fifty-two week low of $55.66 and a fifty-two week high of $86.06. The stocks 50-day moving average is $62.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $70.27. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a current ratio of 1.39 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The firm has a market cap of $5.11 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.15 and a beta of 0.90. NextEra Energy Partners Increases Dividend NextEra Energy Partners ( NYSE:NEP Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The solar energy provider reported ($0.17) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by ($0.48). The business had revenue of $301.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $355.92 million. NextEra Energy Partners had a return on equity of 2.38% and a net margin of 25.91%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that NextEra Energy Partners will post 1.27 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.8425 per share. This represents a $3.37 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.86%. This is an increase from NextEra Energy Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 4th. NextEra Energy Partnerss payout ratio is presently 86.21%. Insider Buying and Selling at NextEra Energy Partners In related news, Director Peter H. Kind acquired 1,750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $56.89 per share, with a total value of $99,557.50. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 32,340 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,839,822.60. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of NEP. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy Partners by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 29,854 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $2,488,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy Partners by 43.2% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 9,474 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $790,000 after acquiring an additional 2,858 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy Partners by 123.8% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 5,466 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $456,000 after acquiring an additional 3,024 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy Partners by 8.7% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 4,860 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $406,000 after acquiring an additional 390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy Partners by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 65,199 shares of the solar energy providers stock worth $5,488,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. 83.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About NextEra Energy Partners (Get Rating) NextEra Energy Partners LP engages in the acquisition, management, and ownership of contracted clean energy projects with long-term cash flows. It owns interests in wind and solar projects in North America and natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas. The company was founded on March 6, 2014 and is headquartered in Juno Beach, FL. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for NextEra Energy Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NextEra Energy Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee step out of the presidential jet after arriving at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Yonhap Pyongyang's reaction reminiscent of dangerous escalation in 2017, analyst says By Jung Min-ho If North Korea attacks South Korea with nuclear weapons, two things are now guaranteed to happen: The United States will respond swiftly and overwhelmingly with the full range of its capabilities, including nuclear, and this will result in the end of the North Korean regime. Those promises, mentioned in the Washington Declaration and backed by U.S. President Joe Biden, are the greatest achievement of President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to Washington, according to South Korean officials. Yoon's spokesman Lee Do-woon, during his final press briefing at the U.S. capital, Friday (local time), hailed the agreement as a practical measure against the growing nuclear threats from Pyongyang as it will involve Seoul in the U.S.' nuclear and strategic planning. "It was the first time the U.S. had made such promises to an individual state in written form. This shows its strong will to protect South Korea from possible nuclear attacks," Lee said. The agreement apparently has its limits. Unlike a treaty, it is not legally binding and the U.S. president will remain the sole authority on whether to use nuclear weapons. Questions have been emerging over how much influence Seoul officials would actually have. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomes President Yoon Suk Yeol during a ceremony at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., Thursday (local time). AP-Yonhap Nippon Building Fund Inc. (OTCMKTS:NBFJF Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,700 shares, a decline of 21.3% from the March 31st total of 4,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently days. Nippon Building Fund Price Performance Shares of Nippon Building Fund stock remained flat at C$3,944.99 during trading on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of C$5,095.70 and a 200-day moving average price of C$5,358.64. Nippon Building Fund has a 1-year low of C$3,944.99 and a 1-year high of C$3,944.99. Get Nippon Building Fund alerts: Nippon Building Fund Company Profile (Get Rating) See Also NBF (Nippon Building Fund Inc) is Japan's largest real estate investment trust (J-REIT) which invests in office buildings primarily in Tokyo as well as nationwide. its objective is to source the solid growth of the stable revenues from its assets through exploitation of Mitsui Fudossan's know-how. Receive News & Ratings for Nippon Building Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nippon Building Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Park Aerospace Corp. (NYSE:PKE Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 162,000 shares, a decrease of 21.6% from the March 31st total of 206,700 shares. Approximately 0.8% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 239,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.7 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Park Aerospace Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in Park Aerospace by 277.2% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,139 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 1,572 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky bought a new position in Park Aerospace in the 3rd quarter valued at about $28,000. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC grew its position in Park Aerospace by 1,310.9% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 3,372 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 3,133 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its position in Park Aerospace by 542.8% in the 2nd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,709 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 3,132 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Park Aerospace by 535.1% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,834 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $89,000 after buying an additional 5,758 shares in the last quarter. 86.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Park Aerospace alerts: Park Aerospace Trading Up 0.7 % PKE traded up $0.09 on Friday, hitting $13.08. 77,928 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 97,991. The firm has a market cap of $267.75 million, a PE ratio of 33.54 and a beta of 0.55. Park Aerospace has a twelve month low of $10.08 and a twelve month high of $16.92. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $13.76 and a two-hundred day moving average of $13.22. Park Aerospace Announces Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently announced a None dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 3rd will be paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 31st. Park Aerospaces payout ratio is 128.21%. Separately, StockNews.com upgraded Park Aerospace from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 13th. About Park Aerospace (Get Rating) Park Aerospace Corp. engages in the provision of solution and hot-melt advanced composite materials. Its products are used to produce primary and secondary structures for jet engines, large and regional transport aircraft, military aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles or drones, business jets, general aviation aircraft, and rotary wing aircraft. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Park Aerospace Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Park Aerospace and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Financial LLC lowered its position in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (NYSEARCA:IVV Get Rating) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 40,040 shares of the companys stock after selling 436 shares during the quarter. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF accounts for approximately 1.4% of Summit Financial LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th biggest holding. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF were worth $15,384,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of IVV. MinichMacGregor Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in iShares Core S&P 500 ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Core Alternative Capital bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 4th quarter worth $36,000. McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 4th quarter worth $59,000. Magnolia Capital Management Ltd. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 4th quarter worth $59,000. Finally, Legend Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares Core S&P 500 ETF during the 3rd quarter worth $66,000. Get iShares Core S&P 500 ETF alerts: iShares Core S&P 500 ETF Stock Up 0.8 % Shares of NYSEARCA IVV traded up $3.43 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $417.66. 3,871,085 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,246,646. The stock has a market capitalization of $314.21 billion, a PE ratio of 18.43 and a beta of 1.00. The companys 50 day moving average price is $404.34 and its 200 day moving average price is $397.33. iShares Core S&P 500 ETF has a 52 week low of $349.53 and a 52 week high of $434.03. About iShares Core S&P 500 ETF 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. See Also 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. Summit Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of Seabridge Gold Inc. (NYSE:SA Get Rating) (TSE:SEA) by 23.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 271,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock after acquiring an additional 51,000 shares during the quarter. Summit Financial LLC owned approximately 0.33% of Seabridge Gold worth $3,409,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in shares of Seabridge Gold by 897.0% during the 3rd quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,310 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 2,978 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of Seabridge Gold by 203.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,334 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 2,234 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Seabridge Gold during the 3rd quarter valued at $47,000. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its holdings in Seabridge Gold by 64.0% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 3,836 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $75,000 after acquiring an additional 1,497 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its holdings in Seabridge Gold by 36.4% in the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 7,343 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $91,000 after acquiring an additional 1,961 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 29.36% of the companys stock. Get Seabridge Gold alerts: Seabridge Gold Price Performance NYSE SA traded up $0.07 on Friday, reaching $14.04. The company had a trading volume of 322,062 shares, compared to its average volume of 400,092. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 2.70 and a current ratio of 2.70. The firms 50 day moving average price is $12.30 and its 200 day moving average price is $12.29. Seabridge Gold Inc. has a 12 month low of $10.03 and a 12 month high of $18.39. Analysts Set New Price Targets Seabridge Gold ( NYSE:SA Get Rating ) (TSE:SEA) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 30th. The basic materials company reported ($0.23) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.16). Equities research analysts predict that Seabridge Gold Inc. will post -0.18 EPS for the current year. Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Seabridge Gold in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. Seabridge Gold Company Profile (Get Rating) Seabridge Gold Inc engages in the acquisition and exploration of gold properties. It operates through the following projects: Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchel (KSM), Courageous Lake, Iskut, Snowstorm, non-core assets, 3 Aces, and building trust. The company was founded by James S. Anthony and Rudi P. Fronk on September 14, 1979 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Seabridge Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Seabridge Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:VB Get Rating) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 35,682 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 798 shares during the quarter. Vanguard Small-Cap ETF comprises about 0.6% of Summit Financial LLCs holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest holding. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in Vanguard Small-Cap ETF were worth $6,549,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of VB. Charles Schwab Investment Advisory Inc. increased its stake in Vanguard Small-Cap ETF by 18.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 2,411,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $512,596,000 after buying an additional 376,138 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Vanguard Small-Cap ETF by 52.7% in the 4th quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,088,056 shares of the companys stock valued at $199,702,000 after buying an additional 375,672 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. grew its stake in shares of Vanguard Small-Cap ETF by 141,482.4% during the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 353,956 shares of the companys stock worth $74,189,000 after purchasing an additional 353,706 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Vanguard Small-Cap ETF by 87.2% during the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 587,986 shares of the companys stock worth $124,959,000 after purchasing an additional 273,932 shares during the period. Finally, BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Vanguard Small-Cap ETF by 98.2% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 465,982 shares of the companys stock worth $99,030,000 after purchasing an additional 230,835 shares during the period. Get Vanguard Small-Cap ETF alerts: Vanguard Small-Cap ETF Trading Up 1.0 % Shares of NYSEARCA:VB traded up $1.82 on Friday, reaching $187.31. 413,779 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 577,529. Vanguard Small-Cap ETF has a 1-year low of $168.65 and a 1-year high of $210.00. The firm has a market cap of $41.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.80 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a 50-day moving average of $189.05 and a 200-day moving average of $189.91. Vanguard Small-Cap ETF Profile The Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the CRSP US Small Cap index. The fund tracks the CRSP US Small Cap Index. The market-cap-weighted index includes the bottom 2-15% of the investable universe. VB was launched on Jan 26, 2004 and is managed by Vanguard. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Small-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Small-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. grew its position in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 8.1% 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 6,650 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $423,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in KO. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.7% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 301,952,085 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,915,357,000 after acquiring an additional 4,994,047 shares during the period. Capital World Investors raised its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 61.4% during the first quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 10,764,084 shares of the companys stock worth $667,373,000 after acquiring an additional 4,095,881 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 141.0% during the third quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 6,834,434 shares of the companys stock worth $382,865,000 after acquiring an additional 3,998,128 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 363,258,425 shares of the companys stock worth $20,349,737,000 after acquiring an additional 3,864,004 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP purchased a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the third quarter worth approximately $169,838,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola In other news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total value of $2,103,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at $21,216,775.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total value of $4,344,540.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 219,790 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,903,870.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total value of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 351,737 shares in the company, valued at approximately $21,216,775.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 155,296 shares of company stock worth $9,256,671 over the last three months. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Coca-Cola Trading Up 0.7 % KO has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com raised shares of Coca-Cola from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Saturday, April 15th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price target on Coca-Cola in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.80. NYSE:KO traded up $0.47 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $64.15. 13,687,621 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 10,705,355. The firms fifty day moving average is $61.45 and its 200-day moving average is $61.16. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $54.01 and a 12-month high of $66.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $277.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.14, a P/E/G ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. The business had revenue of $11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.64 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 EPS for the current year. Coca-Cola Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 16th will be paid a $0.46 dividend. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 15th. Coca-Colas payout ratio is 80.70%. About Coca-Cola (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 6.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 17,401 shares of the retailers stock after acquiring an additional 1,025 shares during the period. Walmart accounts for approximately 1.7% of Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 28th biggest position. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s holdings in Walmart were worth $2,467,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WMT. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Walmart by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 130,176,496 shares of the retailers stock worth $16,883,890,000 after buying an additional 1,832,388 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Walmart by 2.9% in 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 in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in Walmart by 1.2% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,659,193 shares of the retailers stock valued at $7,867,497,000 after buying an additional 701,415 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in Walmart by 0.3% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 11,685,848 shares of the retailers stock valued at $1,515,655,000 after buying an additional 33,452 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Walmart by 2.9% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,904,858 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,623,951,000 after purchasing an additional 303,726 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 31.27% of the companys stock. Get Walmart alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Tigress Financial upgraded Walmart from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $170.00 to $176.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Roth Capital reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Walmart from $168.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Cowen lifted their target price on Walmart from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $165.09. Walmart Price Performance Shares of WMT traded down $0.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $150.97. 4,696,193 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,144,607. The company has a market cap of $407.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.54 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a 1 year low of $117.27 and a 1 year high of $156.22. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $144.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $144.17. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $158.67 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.53 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be issued 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 dividend yield of 1.51%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio is 53.27%. Insider Transactions at Walmart In related news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.19, for a total transaction of $630,831.25. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,281 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,050,697.39. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Alice L. Walton sold 1,957,377 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $140.72, for a total value of $275,442,091.44. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 255,973,516 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $36,020,593,171.52. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.19, for a total value of $630,831.25. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,281 shares in the company, valued at $32,050,697.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,039,627 shares of company stock worth $2,980,507,683. 47.06% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. About Walmart (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, Washington D.C., Thursday (local time). Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Calif., listen. Yonhap By Nam Hyun-woo WASHINGTON, D.C. President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered a speech in English in front of a joint session of the U.S. Congress, Thursday (local time), and pledged that South Korea will stand together with the U.S. to serve as "a compass for freedom" to protect and broaden the liberty of global citizens. Throughout his address, Yoon reiterated the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the coalition between liberal democracies and stressed that the world should let North Korea know "there is a point beyond which they must not advance." He also spoke out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and underscored Seoul's commitment to support Kyiv, likening the case to the democracies which helped South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. "As I took office last year, I pledged to rebuild [South] Korea: a nation belonging to the people rooted in freedom, democracy, and market economy; a nation that the people can be truly proud of, as it fulfills its role as a responsible member of the international community," Yoon said in his speech. "Together with the U.S., [South] Korea will play the role of a compass for freedom. It will safeguard and broaden the freedom of citizens of the world." President Yoon Suk Yeol waves to lawmakers before delivering an address in front of a joint session of the U.S. Congress, Washington D.C., Thursday (local time). Yonhap Yoon, who is in the U.S. throughout this week for a state visit, delivered the address a day after he held a summit with President Joe Biden, where the two leaders pledged to further strengthen their military alliance and deepen their economic partnership. It was the first address given by a South Korean president before Congress since President Park Geun-hye in May 2013. "Our alliance was forged 70 years ago to defend [South] Korea's freedom," Yoon said in the speech. "The alliance has now become a global alliance that safeguards freedom and peace around the world. [South] Korea will fulfill its responsibilities. It will play its part that matches its economic capacity." During his address, Yoon hailed the successful history of the two countries' alliance and economic partnerships and paid tribute to veterans who fought in the Korean War, such as the late former U.S. Reps. John Conyers, Sam Johnson, Howard Coble and former Rep. Charles Rangel. He also pointed out that cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have deepened over the past 70 years of the alliance, adding that Reps. Young Kim, Andy Kim, Michelle Steel and Marilyn Strickland are "a testament to the alliance spanning generations." Yoon said the difference between North Korea and South Korea is the fact that Seoul chose freedom and democracy, while Pyongyang selected dictatorship and communism and stressed that the North's nuclear program and missile provocations pose a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. "To deter its reckless behavior, the alliance must stand united with determination," Yoon said. "As President Reagan once said: 'There is a price we will not pay. There is a point beyond which they must not advance.' We must make his words clear to North Korea." Yoon said he and Biden agreed on a stronger U.S. extended deterrence against North Korea during their summit a day earlier and noted that his government will "respond firmly to provocations." At the same time, he said "the door is open for dialogue on North Korea's denuclearization" and added that "all Pyongyang has to do is to stop its nuclear program and begin a substantive denuclearization process." President Yoon Suk Yeol addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress, Washington D.C., Thursday (local time). Yonhap Kirsten Neuschafer has become the first woman to win the Golden Globe Race. Neuschafer and 15 other competitors, who were all men, set off from Les Sables-d'Olonne, France on September 4, 2022, with the aim of making it around the world via the five Great Capes before returning to the coastal town in the west of France. Entrants race solo, non-stop, and in boats that are reminiscent of the 'Golden Age' of solo sailing -- the yachts have to be designed before 1988 and are without electronic instruments or autopilots. The race is based on the 1968-69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race which saw Sir Robin Knox-Johnston become the first person to circumnavigate the globe, sailing solo on his boat Suhaili without stopping. By the time the South African Neuschafer crossed the line Thursday, only two other sailors were on course to complete the race without stopping. After finishing with an official time of 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes and 47 seconds, Neuschafer said her boat -- Minnehaha -- had been her "companion," throughout the adventure. "I talked to her a lot. I even got angry with her, but I love her very much," the victor explained per Sail-World. "It's a fast, elegant boat, on which I worked a lot for a year. I had the will to win as soon as I registered for the race and I did all my preparations accordingly." Neuschafer also touched on the issue of gender given she was the only woman in the race, adding: "I wanted to win, not as a woman. I didn't want to be in a separate category but to compete on equal terms with all the skippers." The mayor of Les Sables-d'Olonne Yannick Moreau praised the magnitude of the 40-year-old Neuschafer's achievement. "The only woman at the start of the longest sporting event in the world came out on top and became a legend. It is truly a historic moment that we have just experienced inLes Sables-d'Olonne," said Moreau. "By her sporting feat, her courage, her heroism ... Kirsten became a model and a world reference. In Les Sables d'Olonne, we are happy and proud to see her legend born." Not only did Neuschafer win, but during the race the South African diverted from her path to rescue fellow competitor Tapio Lehtinen. Lehtinen's boat sank, and the Finnish skipper was stranded for over 24 hours in the southern Indian Ocean. The eventual winner was the first to reach Lehtinen and rescue her fellow competitor. "We drank a rum together and then we sent him on his merry way .. No congratulations needed for the rescue, everyone would do the same for another sailor, thank you guys for coordinating it," Neuschafer told the race website. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. For the second year in a row, Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity has received a major honor from Habitat for Humanity International. This year, Grand Island Habitat won the prestigious Best in Affordability award for its new two-bedroom design. Last year, the Grand Island nonprofit took home the Best in Affordability honor for an open concept floor plan for a three-bedroom house. It marks the first time a Habitat for Humanity affiliate won an award two years a row in any category. "This was the first time we've ever done a two-bedroom design," said Alyssa Heagy, executive director of Grand Island Habitat. Habitat's initial two-bedroom is currently under construction at 2058 Nelson Lane. It will be dedicated on May 7. Not all of Habitat's applicants need a three-bedroom house, Heagy said. The new home will be occupied by a retired couple whose kids are grown. The house at 2058 Nelson Lane is being constructed in partnership with Career Pathways Institute. Most of the work was done by juniors in Grand Island Public Schools' construction academy. That house is Habitat's 113th structure. The 114th home will also have the two-bedroom design. It will house a single mother and her daughter. Grand Island Habitat's Building Committee came up with the two-bedroom plan. Members of the committee "spent hours arguing with each other about how things need to be done," Heagy said. "So it very much was a collaborative effort between all of the Buillding Committee members." The floor plans are designed so that the structure can easily be built by volunteers, Heagy said. Members of the Building Committee celebrated the award with a party on Monday complete with a cake. Members of the Building Committee are Toby White, Bob Geist, Kevin Rodeman, Amos Anson, Kevin Pool, Angel Velasco, Brett Forsman, Mark Brei, Steve Lamken, Loria Lei Thunker and Ryan Hayman. "The Best in Affordability award is given to Habitat for Humanity affiliates that demonstrate excellence in providing affordable housing solutions to their community," according to a news release. "The award recognizes affiliates that have made significant strides in designing and constructing affordable homes, providing access to affordable mortgages, and helping families achieve the dream of home ownership. "Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity's new 2-bedroom design is a testament to the organization's commitment to affordability, quality and ease of construction with volunteer labor. The design is not only affordable but also meets the needs of families looking for a comfortable and functional home. The organization's dedication to creating homes that meet the needs of their community is a core value that sets them apart." "Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity is thrilled to receive this award for the second year in a row," Heagy said in the release. "At Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity, our core value is to provide our community with affordable housing. We are deeply honored to be recognized by Habitat for Humanity International as the Best in Affordability for the second year in a row. This award is a testament to our commitment to living into our mission and respecting every dollar donated to our organization. We rely on the generosity of our supporters, businesses who sponsor our efforts, and our homeowners to build homes for families in need. We couldn't do what we do without them. They donate to Grand Island Area Habitat for Humanity because they believe in the need for affordable housing, and this award confirms that they have made a wise choice in supporting our organization." The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Paris, TX (75460) Today Cloudy with occasional light rain...mainly in the morning. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 67F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office raid a policy institute in Seoul, April 29, as part of an investigation into a political funding scandal involving Song Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea. The institute is regarded as a political sponsors' organization for Song. Yonhap Prosecutors raided the home of Song Young-gil, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Saturday, as part of an investigation into a growing political funding scandal. The investigation centers on allegations that Song's campaign officials distributed cash envelopes to party members prior to the party's national convention in May 2021, during which Song was elected chairman. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office said investigators conducted searches at several locations, including Song's current and previous homes, his political sponsors' organization, as well as the residences of former campaign officials. The raids took place five days after Song returned from Paris, where he was a visiting professor at the ESCP Business School. On Tuesday, the prosecution imposed a travel ban on Song. Song's campaign officials, including former DPK Secretary General Rep. Youn Kwan-suk, former Deputy Secretary General Lee Jung-geun and Rep. Lee Sung-man, allegedly doled out envelopes containing cash totaling 94 million won (US$70,245) to 10-20 DP lawmakers and other party members before the leadership election. Kang Rae-gu, a former DPK official close to Song, is also under investigation on charges of illegally raising 80 million won of the total. At that time, Kang headed the Association of Public Institution Auditors of Korea. The prosecution suspects Song may have directed or at least been aware of the incident, though he has denied the allegations. The prosecution plans to summon Youn, Lee Sung-man and Song as suspects, as soon as they finish analyzing the seized items. The residences and offices of Reps. Youn and Lee Sung-man were previously searched on April 12. Lee Jung-geun is currently serving a prison term in a separate bribery case. The prosecution sought an arrest warrant for Kang last week but a court denied the request. (Yonhap) CHICAGO By Chicagos standards, the winter was relatively mild. Still, with temperatures near 80 degrees the warmest weekend in months hundreds of city youths headed to 31st Street Beach in the twilight hours of Friday, April 14, where a young teen was shot in the leg. It might have served as a warning to some, as another teen takeover unfolded in the heart of downtown the following night, and two teen boys were shot and wounded near Millennium Park. More than a dozen police reports obtained by the Tribune show how the chaos unfolded as Chicago police for hours struggled to control hundreds of teens and young adults as they darted through traffic, smashed windows and carried out acts of violence. Large outdoor gatherings of young people arent new in Chicago, and the teen takeover events organized on social media, usually a few days in advance have sometimes turned violent. The gatherings have largely vexed the last two mayors and three Chicago Police Department superintendents. Strategies to handle the youth meet-ups are among the criteria being used to grade candidates for the CPD superintendent job. Viral cellphone video and news footage of the chaos from April 15 once again renewed criticism of the citys efforts to tamp down violent crime. Meanwhile, the police department has opened an internal investigation to probe allegations that officers failed to intervene after they saw a couple being attacked by a mob of teens. Sources have said the unruly gathering was exacerbated by a slow response from CPD leadership, which itself is in a transition period before Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson chooses a new police superintendent to replace outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoots hand-picked leader, David Brown. The disturbances came less than a year after the fatal shooting of another teen boy near The Bean' prompted a curfew order and promises from officials that such disorder wouldnt happen again. CPD officers arrested more than a dozen people in the downtown area two weekends ago. A review of those reports showed police were often faced with unruly suspects sometimes juveniles armed with guns. Multiple physical altercations Police reports show at 8:45 p.m., a 19-year-old and another unidentified person were among a large crowd in the first block of North Michigan Avenue that was slowly making its way south from Millennium Park when multiple physical altercations erupted. The teen and another person began fighting, the reports show, and both were taken into custody. Less than 45 minutes later, officers monitoring the crowd at 50 E. Madison St. suddenly heard a call of shots fired in the area. A 10-1 emergency was called over police dispatch radios, prompting a large response from nearby cops, and a description of the shooter was also provided, a police report said. Police tried to stop an 18-year-old who ran into the street, entering into oncoming traffic, and caused several cars to swerve in and out of the way in a reckless manner that endangered the safety of multiple citizens, the report said. He was brought into custody at 9:43 p.m., taken to a police station and charged with reckless conduct. Not a new challenge Large-scale youth gatherings downtown have been a regular occurrence during warm-weather months for the last decade. CPD has responded to and monitored countless organized protests and marches through the Loop, especially in the years since the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video was release, sparking outrage across the city. Fred Waller retired from CPD as chief of patrol nearly three years ago. The disorganized, random nature of the teen takeover events, Waller said, makes them especially challenging for police. The difference, really, is that most of the time these guys dont have any real leaders that you can talk to, Waller said. When you have a planned protest, youve got people that you can talk to whos the organizer or whatever and theyll tell you, We want to go here, we want to go there, and you block the streets off or you have enough bike officers to go that route and walk the route with them. The ones that are pop-up kind of protests or just kids running wild, so to speak, theres no real person that you can talk to, he added. Theyre just all over the place. youre just taking them back and forth. Another shooting near The Bean Just before 9:30 p.m., shots were fired in the 200 block of East Randolph. CPD officers were stationed nearby to monitor for large crowds of teens who were obstructing traffic, according to a department arrest report. Soon after, the situation escalated when a 16-year-old boy from Austin climbed onto an awning above a staircase at the Washington/Wabash CTA train station, refusing to come down, according to police records. Meanwhile, another round of gunfire erupted at 205 E. Randolph St. as CPD officers worked to disperse the crowd. The teen then allegedly jumped down from the awning and was swarmed by CPD officers. While being taken into custody, police allegedly found a loaded gun on him, according to an arrest report. The teen told detectives he doesnt talk to his parents, who live in Alabama, and his uncle agreed to pick him up from the police station, where he was charged with reckless conduct and unlawful possession of a handgun, the report said. The 16-year-olds arrest was apparently unrelated to the shooting that occurred nearby just minutes earlier. There, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy from the citys West Side were standing between two crowds near the Chicago Cultural Center when an assailant wearing all black with a mask fired multiple times and hit them in the legs and arms, police said. No one has been arrested in that attack. Around the corner from the Chicago Cultural Center, a 15-year-old girl was charged with mob action after she attempted to break a police line twice, according to a police report. It happened about 9:25 p.m. at 25 E. Washington St., where officers formed a line with other officers and began to give verbal commands to disperse the large crowd. At 10 p.m., 28-year-old Marvin Benites, of Plano, was seen jumping up and down on CTA property at 100 N. Wabash Ave., where police were handling disorderly crowds. When officers told him to leave he allegedly refused and was booked and taken into custody. At 11:20 p.m., police arrested three people a 16-year-old, along with an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old who were in the first block of South State Street as officers monitored a mass gathering and unruly crowds, according to a police report. The teens were allegedly seen kicking the head of a person who was on the ground, the report said. As officers tried to arrest them, they each allegedly resisted and were later charged with reckless conduct and interference with officers. Shortly after midnight on April 16, officers were in the 100 block of North Garland Court monitoring a large, unruly mob that had been running amok throughout the downtown area for several hours, attacking police officers, terrorizing pedestrians, damaging property and firing shots from a gun, according to a report. Four teens, including a 19-year old, two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old were seen around a marked police car. After they appeared to look inside it, officers worried the car might be burglarized, approached the four, who ran south on Garland to Washington and Madison causing motorists to take evasive action to avoid hitting them, a report said. All four were charged with reckless conduct. Around 1 a.m. a 14-year-old boy from the Jefferson Park neighborhood was among hundreds of teens causing a disturbance in the 300 block of West Monroe Street. Once officers dropped the boy off at the Wentworth District station to be booked, he was still angry and continually threatened officers, the report said. He was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital when he complained his wrists were injured because the handcuffs were too tight. Officers tried three times to reach his guardian but were unsuccessful, according to the report, which said the boy was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and interference with a public officer and resisting an officer. A slow police response A curfew imposed after the shooting at The Bean last year appeared to slow the momentum of the gatherings, but the unusually warm weekend weather brought more young people to the center of Chicago apparently looking to challenge police. The officers who responded focused on containing the crowd of hundreds instead of moving into the fray, Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, previously said. The strategy allowed the gathering to continue, he said. A Walgreens was looted, a break-in was attempted at the Art Institute, two Chicago Transit Authority buses were attacked, the windows and windshields of a number of vehicles were broken, a couple was beaten and robbed, a police officer suffered a broken bone, another officer was mobbed and had his radio stolen and two teens were shot, Hopkins said. In response to the violence, the CPD assigned extra officers to monitor the downtown area last weekend. No disturbances or arrests were reported. Several hundred people marched throughout the downtown area to demonstrate to wayward youth that community elders are there to support them. Several high-ranking CPD officials who are typically responsible for the downtown area were unavailable to respond, according to police sources. Two leaders, including Area 3 Deputy Chief Jill Stevens, were on furlough, and the captain of the Central District was on vacation, according to one CPD supervisor. Deputy Chief Matt Cline was assigned as the departments street deputy on Saturday, and he was eventually summoned downtown to lead the departments response, the supervisor said. Before Clines arrival, no officers downtown held a rank above lieutenant, which prohibited them from requesting more officers to assist, the supervisor said. Lightfoot, Johnson react The following Monday, Lightfoot said the citys youth have every right to spend time in the downtown area, so long as they dont engage in violence or property destruction. Its not the first time that weve addressed these issues, but our young people have an opportunity and a right to enjoy the entirety of our city, but they have to do it in a way that is respectful for people and property, Lightfoot told reporters. Johnson called the criminal activity unacceptable, but added that it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities. Lightfoot had her weekly meeting with CPD leaders the following Tuesday, and she pressed department brass about why officers struggled to contain the crowds, sources previously told the Tribune. The events of April 15 were still top of mind for many who attended a South Side public forum to discuss the ongoing search for the next CPD superintendent. Parents need to be charged and penalized for their childrens behavior, one speaker at the forum, Flora Williams, said to applause. Until we do that nothing is going to change. Anthony Driver Jr., president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, later said that strategies to address the gatherings are among the criteria used to evaluate applicants for the job. Theres a number of issues that we face in our city and, (with) each of them, we plan on asking superintendent candidates how they would handle the situation, Driver said. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 A 25-year-old Orangeburg woman is serving time in prison after she pleaded guilty to four counts of grand larceny valued at $10,000 or more and first-offense failure to stop for blue lights. Kennedy Alanis Wood, of 410 Breezy Drive, was sentenced to five years in prison by Circuit Judge Maite Murphy during a recent term of court at the Orangeburg County Courthouse. Murphy gave her credit for having already served 162 days in jail. Murphy also recommended that Wood be housed in the addiction treatment unit. Two of Woods charges were dismissed. Those included leaving the scene of an accident involving an unattended vehicle and grand larceny valued at $10,000 or more. Woods charges stem from a series of incidents that took place between Aug. 15 and Aug. 22, 2022. Wood stole vehicles from individuals who agreed to give her rides to convenience stores. On Aug. 22, deputies took Wood into custody after she led them on a 30-mile chase that reached speeds of 110 mph. In other recent guilty pleas: James Alexander Stoudemire, 28, of 110 Sings Lane, Holly Hill, pleaded guilty to first-offense possession of cocaine. Murphy sentenced him to 44 days in jail and gave him credit for time served. Jamie Edward Strickland, 32, of 140 Opal Lane, Neeses, pleaded guilty to two counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person and one count of second-degree domestic violence. He was originally charged with domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature but pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence instead. Murphy sentenced him to prison for five years, provided that after he serves three years, the remainder of his term will be suspended to three years of probation. She gave Strickland credit for having already served 455 days in jail. She ordered him to obtain his GED and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. The following charges were dismissed: two additional counts of pointing and presenting a firearm at a person and one count each of first-offense possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base and first-offense possession with intent to distribute a scheduled drug. John Paul J. Thompson, 51, of 435 Capers Drive, Ladson, pleaded guilty to four counts of receiving stolen goods valued at $10,000 or more and one count of first-degree burglary. Murphy sentenced him to 10 years in prison and gave him credit for having already served 1,315 days in jail. The following charges were dismissed: four counts each of criminal conspiracy and malicious injury to real property valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000; two counts each of grand larceny valued more than $10,000 and grand larceny valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000 and one count of petit larceny valued at $2,000 or less. Talitha Devonna Lasha Thompson, 31, of 378 Jamison Avenue, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense trafficking methamphetamine or cocaine base more than 10 grams but less than 28 grams. Murphy sentenced her to five years in prison, suspended to two years of probation. She also ordered Thompson to obtain her GED, complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Rachel Aslon Kay Wandtke, 23, of 118 Cavalier Drive, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence. Murphy sentenced her under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed three years, suspended to two years of probation. Andre Donte Washington, 35, of 1734 Irvin Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to use of vehicle without permission with intent to deprive owner and second-offense driving under suspension, license not suspended for DUI. Murphy sentenced him to three years in prison, provided that after he served 171 days, the remainder of his sentence would be suspended to three years of probation. She gave him credit for having already served 171 days in jail. She also ordered him to obtain his GED and undergo random drug/alcohol testing. Wadell Williams III, 31, of 274 Elberton Street, Barnwell, pleaded guilty to hit-and-run duties of driver involved with minor personal injury and first-offense failure to stop for blue lights. Murphy sentenced him to one year in prison and gave him credit for having already served 123 days in jail. Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School graduating senior Zipporah Howell says Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College has helped prepare her for what she may face going forward. I have taken dual enrollment since my junior year, Howell said. I have enjoyed the challenge it gave me because it gave me more time to self-evaluate what college courses would be like in the future. It was good, Howell continued. The teachers and professors are very interactive with you. They make it known that you are not alone. Whatever you are going through, they are very understanding. I am thankful for that. Howell joined hundreds of seniors from the Orangeburg County School District at OCtech on Thursday as part of Senior Acceptance Day. Students came from Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Edisto, Lake Marion, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Bethune-Bowman, North and Branchville high schools. Senior Acceptance Day is a partnership between the school district and OCtech called The Hope Initiative. Students were able to walk across the stage and receive, on a provisional basis, the opportunity to attend the college. While Howell plans to attend Norfolk State University, she praised the Senior Acceptance Day idea. It gives the students an opportunity to let them know that if they feel like they have nothing, they have something, she said. In the interim, Howell is excited about stepping into this new path in my life. I am going to be meeting a lot of new people and I am going to be in a new area, Howell said. I have lived there before, but it is going to be a big surrounding area with a lot of new people. I am just ready for the experience. About 678 students walked across the stage at OCtech's Roquemore Auditorium. In order to make the event happen, the district transported the students in 23 school buses. The same offer was presented to Calhoun County High School seniors earlier in the month. Edisto High School Senior Khristian Sprinkle is currently a dual-enrollment student at OCtech. He plans to go to a four-year college and major in music education. Sprinkle said the Senior Acceptance Day is a good thing. I think it is a great opportunity for people who don't know what they want to do or want to just go to school to get certified and work, Sprinkle said. It is a great opportunity because this education is the same as everyone else. It is just what you want in life. Prior to the event, which is believed to be the first of its kind in the state, the transcripts of all OCSD and CCSD students were reviewed and audited. The OCSD and CCSD students who choose to attend will work with the OCtech team to finalize admittance into a degree or certification program. All students received an envelope with a personal letter containing information on the next steps for moving forward with the college, an application, an OCtech sticker and a voucher for an OCtech T-shirt. Students were also introduced to OCtech's admissions counselor and recruiter Desirae Hook. Dr. Walt Tobin, OCtech president, related to the students a recent conversation he had with adults in the workforce who expressed dissatisfaction with their jobs. Part of the reason they are not satisfied with the job they are in is because they don't have the proper education to be able to progress, Tobin said. Today what we present you with is an opportunity for you to prepare for your future. Tobin said Senior Acceptance Day is about hope and opportunity that lead to success. Regardless of who you are and where you come from and what your name is or whether you are the valedictorian, the top 50%, the top 75%, there is a place for you here, he said. What if I told you there was a place where you could graduate with a credential and earn anywhere between $65,000 and $80,000 as a starting salary? Tobin continued. And if I told you that there is a place for you where you are welcomed, to feel supported, where you can be put on a path to success: Would that be a place you are interested in? That place is here, Tobin said. For students interested in earning a baccalaureate degree, there is an opportunity for you with our Pre-Professional Gap Year program to get a jump start on that baccalaureate degree at a fraction of the cost in a fraction of the time, he said. When we pair a career and tech credential along with some gen ed courses, you leave here with a valuable skill that allows you to work, Tobin said. You earn the first two years of college and you earn your path to getting a successful career. Or if you enroll in one of our career and tech programs, you can be on a path to a successful career in a very short amount of time," Tobin said. "I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity. What we are providing you with is the first step on that journey to being able to achieve the American dream." Tobin said the provisional acceptance to the college means if the students graduate from high school, fill out an application and complete the enrollment process, they are accepted. OCSD Superintendent Dr. Shawn Foster said The Hope Initiative is aptly named. Let's face it, the truth is some of us didn't put our best foot forth when we should have, Foster told the students. We will find ourselves in 22 days ... walking across the stage, but walking into the real world. It is our responsibility and our obligation to instill hope that if I didn't do what I needed to do, then there is still an opportunity for me to continue moving forward, Foster said. That there is someone here in this community, a group of people here, that will give us hope. Foster also told the students that this opportunity provided them is an act of love on the part of OCSD and OCtech. It is bigger than college, Foster said. It is about making sure every single student in this community understands that the adults love, care and value them. That we are willing to put and invest our resources into each and every one of you. That is what it's about. Take the hope and the love that we have for you and build the next future, Foster said. Go be great. OCSD trustees Dr. Debora Brunson, Dr. Sylvia Bruce-Stephens and Mary Ulmer were in attendance. S.C. House Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, offered a prepared message via video to the graduating seniors. Congratulations on Senior Acceptance Day, Cobb-Hunter said. You know it is a big deal. You've completed the first step on what I believe and hope will be a long journey for you. As you think about your next step, how about just stop for a moment, take a deep breath and look at what you have achieved so far, Cobb-Hunter said. You know what I think? You ain't seen nothing yet. The future is before you. The world is yours. All you need to do is step into it. Orangeburg artist Janet Kozacheks work will be featured in a Stormwater Studios exhibition. Bits & Pieces is an exhibition featuring the work of six South Carolina artists. The focus is on creators whose work incorporates multiple elements or media, sometimes disparate or unexpected, into beautiful combinations. The artwork ranges from traditional mosaics to contemporary quilts and ceramics, to intricate woodworking. The artists are: Janet Kozachek Cameron Porter Mary Robinson Janet Swigler Olga Yukhno Jeri Burdick The exhibition will run through May 7. Events include: Public workshop: Media is the Message, Tuesday, May 2, 6-7 p.m. Artist Talks: Thursday, May 4, 6-8 p.m. Closing celebration: Sunday, May 7, 1-3 p.m. The studio is located at 413 Pendleton Street, Columbia. Find more information at www.stormwaterstudios.org. Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical Colleges $4.2 million renovation of its health science building is expected to go out to bid in May, with construction beginning in January 2024. Vice President of Financial Affairs Kim Huff told the OCtech Area Commission that the architect has submitted the final drawings to the state engineer's office. He expects final bids will be in by the end of May or early June. The project will be funded with state money. Mechanical and electrical upgrades, including HVAC replacements, are among the work to be done at the building, which was built in 1987. Huff said the architectural plans for the renovation of Building S into a student commons and kitchen area have been sent out for state review with hopes renovations will begin around August with completion by December of this year. Huff also noted a contractor for the first phase (electrical construction) of the project to upgrade the college's machine tool space in its transportation building has been chosen. The project will be completed over three phases. An architect is working on the design of the project's second and third phases, Huff said. The project also includes mechanical and general construction. Financial matters OCtech President Dr. Walt Tobin said he and Huff plan to meet with Calhoun and Orangeburg County officials as the budgeting process begins for both counties. There currently remains a question on the state level about how much technical colleges will be receiving. Tobin provided an overview of the S.C. House and S.C. Senate versions of next years state budget: The Senate has plans to provide $20 million in recurring funds for tuition mitigation while the House plans $15 million. The Senate has $183 million planned for nonrecurring capital and maintenance needs. The House is planning $129 million. The Senate plans $80 million for SC Wins (the state-funded scholarship program for career technical programs). The House has $100 million allocated. The Senate and House each have $20 million planned for high-demand job skill training equipment. The Senate and House have allocated $51 million for lottery tuition assistance. The Senate and House have allocated $10 million for nursing initiatives. The Senate allocated $8 million for technology and the House allocated nothing. The Senate version of the budget provides funds for an employee pay increase of $2,500 for anyone making $50,000 and below or a 5 percent raise for anyone making more than $50,000 annually. The House version is providing funding for an employee pay increase of $2,500 for anyone making under $83,000 a year and a 3 percent raise for those making above $83,000. Tobin said he hopes the college has a final budget by the end of May. Academic affairs Commissioners unanimously voted to add an office management specialization program under its Associate of Applied Science Business Administration track. Over the past few years, our AOT (Administrative Office Technology) program has been on probation because we don't have enough students to meet the graduation numbers requirement, OCtech Vice President of Academic Affairs Williette Berry said. She said the college will create the concentration track in office management at the request of local businesses and industries who say office management skills are still needed. As part of this move, the college will end its Associate of Applied Science Administrative Office Technology program. Commissioners also unanimously approved adding a 30-hour certificate for its Associate of Arts and Associate of Science programs. When students come as transfer students, they stay for a year then transfer out so we don't get any completion rates from them, Berry said. She said the 30-hour certificate will help the college have completion data for students if they do leave. She says the certificate will also provide Early College students with a greater foundation than a 15-hour general education certificate. Berry also said a survey was conducted of the college's plans for its seven-week term semester, which it piloted this spring and plans to officially roll out this fall. She said about 80 percent of the courses will be offered in this format. She noted about 21 students responded to a survey of the plan with only one saying they did not like the format. We are looking forward to moving forward and to seeing how this affects our students success, Berry said. Berry said the college continues to provide professional development opportunities for its faculty over the spring and summer months in an effort to ensure students can reach their full potential. Berry also said the college is tweaking its orientation program for new students with plans to roll it out in the fall. This is something we have been pushing, Berry said. We had a college 101 course that was one credit hour, but it was a lot of information that didn't get the students where we wanted them to be. "We wanted something more robust, more interactive," she said. In other business: Commissioners unanimously approved a policy that makes sure students are equitably refunded. Huff said there have been no changes in the policy and that the vote was procedural. Huff said the college has a request for proposals out for its banking and auditing services. The state requires these services be bid out every five years. Spring Graduation will be held Wednesday, May 10, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the R Auditorium The next Area Commission meeting is scheduled for May 16. With the program now on its third cohort, the Clemson Extension Emerging Leadership Initiative (EELI) welcomed back graduates to help usher in a new class by sharing their own stories of success since completing the leadership training. The best part of my experience with EELI had to be the camaraderie within our group, meeting and getting to know the other extension professionals, said Senior Agribusiness Extension Agent Will Culler, a 2020 graduate. It may sound obvious, but you dont know all the other agents across the state. You may have heard of them, you may have seen them or know what they do, but you havent had a chance to really get to know them and get comfortable and that helps you be a team. Food Systems and Safety Agent Faith Israel said it was invaluable to hear and share stories with others whod faced similar challenges or overcome similar problems to ones she had also encountered in her career. Just hearing their experiences for example, a time when they had a tough situation with a coworker or had to have an uncomfortable conversation and how they handled that, just helped me to prepare for, OK, how can I handle this if it ever happened to be? she said. Because I like to learn new things, but I cant learn everything myself. So, I think just hearing that their stories, their journeys and how they work with their communities was very beneficial. After participating in the Presidents Leadership Institute, Clemson Extension Director of Field Operations and Personnel Management Deon Legette was inspired to develop a similar program for Clemson Cooperative Extension personnel. Two years later, Legette was awarded the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Award for Excellence in Service by the Presidents Office and the Division of Inclusion and Equity at Clemson University. EELI is a professional development opportunity that each year selects up to 25 professionals who are either at the county or state level with a minimum of three years of experience with extension aimed at developing the next generation of leaders. But this third cohort has a smaller class size to allow for more individual interaction, and the 11 members includes employees from Clemson and South Carolina State. This cohort will be charged with leading the way to make sure that the three Cs from the first joint South Carolina Cooperative Extension conference theme are carried out Coordination, Collaboration, Cultivation at both universities through planned programs, administrative meetings, and other partnerships, Legette said. We are going to be the leading force in promoting this coordination, collaboration and cultivation between Clemson and South Carolina State. Clemson Extension Director Tom Dobbins praised Legette not only for the vision to conceive of such a program for extension, but also for providing the initiative and leadership to bring it to fruition. Deon is helping to create a culture of success and is helping extension agents and associates reach their full potential, he said. The EELI participants are making a huge difference in our organization, and I am very grateful to Deon for all her hard work on this. Alfred McIntosh, program coordinator for 1890 Research & Extension Community Economic Development Program, said one of the primary things he has taken from program thus far has been inspiration. I have gained a greater sense of purpose and service in outreach and extension, McIntosh said. This program is not only contributing to my professional growth, but also enhancing my personal growth. As a professional whose work requires making a difference in peoples lives and their communities, I hope to translate the skills gained from attending EELI into my work environments to keep learning and growing. One thing that cohort members and previous graduates consistently mention when asked of the programs benefits is simply the relationships and connections it allows them to build with other extension professionals in the state. There are many things I hope to take away from this experience such as learning to lead from where I am, strengthening and stretching my leadership skills and abilities, and the relationships with other extension leaders, especially those in my cohort. I expect this process to afford opportunities that will allow me to gain valuable knowledge and experiences that will enhance my skill set to further my service to my community, McIntosh said. Clemson Extension Water Resources Agent Susan Lunt described her experience with EELI as phenomenal and said it focused on holistic growth not just of the professional variety. This program is helping me to synthesize my individual mission and passion both personally and professionally and see how it aligns with Clemson Extension, Lunt said. The emphasis this program puts on you as an individual to grow and make connections with others in the cohort builds relationships, focus and confidence. The result of my involvement in EELI will be to seek opportunities that will allow me to realize and achieve my potential and to help others to do the same. Frank Lever III, grandson of A. Frank Lever, the legislator responsible for passing the Smith-Lever Act that established extension services across the country, speaks at a February meeting of EELI. Family Health and Nutrition Agent with 1890 Extension Yaniqua Eyabi said she has gained knowledge and learned that her why what drives her to serve others professionally describes why she does the work she does and the difference she can make. I hope to discover more about myself so I can design a lifestyle that enables me to keep challenging myself and gain new perspectives about myself throughout EELI, Eyabi said. I hope I have taken the proper steps to grow as a professional because thus far I have set clear goals, I am expanding my network, I am working on finding a mentor and supporter, and I am continuously perfecting my why to grow as a professional. The Morrill Act of 1862 was enacted during the American Civil War and allowed for the creation of land-grant colleges such as Clemson in U.S. states, while the second Morrill Act of 1890 expanded the model to include the 1890 land-grant institutions such as SC State and other historically Black universities. Clemson Extension has offices in all 46 South Carolina counties, while S.C. State has offices in 32 counties and counting as it continues to expand its footprint. And the education of EELI goes all the way back to the roots of Clemson Extension: at the February meeting, Frank Lever III, grandson of A. Frank Lever, the legislator responsible for passing the Smith-Lever Act that established extension services across the country. Extension serves as the outreach arm of an institutions three-pronged land-grant mission of education, research and outreach to improve the quality of life of all South Carolinians by providing unbiased, research-based information through an array of public outreach programs. Clemson Extension Area Agribusiness Agent Charlotte Maxwell, based in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties, said the EELI program had helped her to understand how the states entire extension system operates as a cohesive whole. I applied to be in this EELI cohort to better understand the intricacies of the South Carolina Extension system and to prepare myself for future leadership roles, Maxwell said. I am hoping to take away new connections and more confidence in leading from where I am at the end of the program. Thus far, I have met colleagues from different counties and program areas and have started to refine my understanding of leadership and teamwork. An EELI reunion is planned with all three cohorts. The reunion will include leadership professional development, a service project and a collaborative effort with Clemson and S.C. State. Speaking to the cohort at the March meeting, Clemson University President James P. Clements issued words of encouragement to the extension professionals: What you do is incredible. You change lives. You impact the state. You have built trust not just for whatever your title is or whatever your role is or whatever you think your job is, he said. You are a resource to people who trust you. BILLINGS, Mont. The Biden administration has identified more than 175,000 square miles of old-growth and mature forests on U.S. government land and plans to craft a new rule to better protect the nation's woodlands from fires, insects and other side effects of climate change, officials said. Results from the government's first-ever national inventory of mature and old-growth forests on federal land were obtained by The Associated Press in advance of the public release. U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands combined have more than 50,000 square miles (129,000 square kilometers) of old growth forests and about 125,000 square miles (324,000 square kilometers) of mature forests, according to the inventory. That's more than half the forested land managed by the two agencies, and it covers an area larger than California. Yet officials say those stands of older trees are under increasing pressure as climate change worsens wildfires, drought, disease and insects and leaves some forests devastated. Older forests "are struggling to keep up with the stresses of climate change," said USDA Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment Homer Wilkes. "We must adapt quickly." Environmentalists said they hoped the inventory and pending rule will lead to new restrictions on logging. But representatives of the timber industry and some members of Congress have been skeptical about President Joe Biden's ambitions to protect older forests, which the Democrat unveiled last year on Earth Day. They've urged the administration to instead concentrate on lessening wildfire dangers by thinning stands of trees where decades of fire suppression have allowed undergrowth to flourish, which can be a recipe for disaster when fires ignite. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore appeared this week before a U.S. Senate committee where he was pressured by lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to speed up thinning work on federal forests. Moore faced pointed questioning from U.S. Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, a Republican who warned the administration's conservation efforts could "lock Americans out of the public lands" by putting areas off-limits to timber harvests and other uses. Most old growth forests in the Lower 48 states were logged during the past two centuries. Previous protections for older trees have come indirectly, such as the "roadless rule" adopted under former President Bill Clinton in 2001 that blocked logging on about a quarter of federal forests. "There's a significant amount of mature and old growth trees that are already under protected status," said Nick Smith with the American Forest Resource Council, a timber industry group. "We're not calling for active management on environmentally-sensitive landscapes, but at least in areas where we can do thinning and wildfire mitigation fuels reduction. Federal land managers should already be doing that." Administration officials announced Thursday they will be soliciting comments for a proposed rule that would "adapt current policies to protect, conserve and manage national forests and grasslands for climate resilience." A formal rulemaking notice was expected to be published in the federal register in coming days. Further details were not immediately released. Environmental groups had lobbied the administration to pursue new regulations for forests that would limit logging of older trees. Blaine Miller-McFeeley with Earthjustice said he expects some logging would continue under a new rule, but conservation and recreational uses also would be promoted. "We are still logging old growth and mature forests here at home," Miller-McFeeley said. "The focus has been largely on the number of board feet (harvested). It has not been focused on which trees are most scientifically smart to bring down for climate, for community protection from wildfires." The age used to determine what counted as old growth varied widely by tree species from 80 years for gambel oaks, to 300 years for bristlecone pines. Most of the old growth and mature forests are in western states such as Idaho, California, Montana and Oregon. But they're also in New England, around the Great Lakes and in southern states such as Arkansas, Kentucky and West Virginia, according to an online map posted by the Forest Service. The most extensive old growth forests are dominated by pinyon and juniper trees and cover a combined 14,000 square miles (36,000 square kilometers), according to the inventory. The inventory excluded federal lands in Alaska where an old growth analysis was ongoing. Experts say large trees can store significant volumes of carbon dioxide and keep the gas from warming the planet as it enters the atmosphere. Underlining the urgency of the issue are wildfires in California that killed thousands of giant sequoias in recent years. Lightning-sparked wildfires killed thousands of the trees in 2021, adding to a two-year death toll of up to nearly a fifth of Earth's largest trees. They are concentrated in about 70 groves scattered along the western side of the Sierra Nevada range. Global wildfires in 2021 emitted the equivalent of about 7.1 billion tons (6.4 billion metric tons) of carbon dioxide, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. That's equal to about 18% of global CO2 emissions from coal, oil and other energy sources recorded in 2021 by the International Energy Agency. Every spring, PalmettoPride and Keep South Carolina Beautiful coordinate the Great South Carolina Cleanup. Uniting South Carolina residents together for a common cause, the Great South Carolina Cleanup encourages citizens to revitalize their communities through litter cleanups. This year, Palmetto Pride used the week after Earth Day on April 22 to focus on a different aspect of litter prevention, embarking on Phase 2 of its statewide Watergoat project. During the week, PalmettoPride was to install 10 additional Watergoat Trash Collection Systems in Greenwood, Richland, Spartanburg, York and Horry counties. In 2022, PalmettoPride announced a special grant to fund 25 Watergoats across South Carolina. One is located in Orangeburg. The City of Orangeburg, PalmettoPride and the Orangeburg County Soil and Water Conservation District came together in June 2022 to help install the Watergoat trash-collecting system at Orangeburgs Sunnyside Canal, which deposits water into the Edisto. The Watergoat device stretches vertically across the Sunnyside Canal. A net stretches down to the bottom of the canal, creating a barrier that inhibits trash from reaching other bodies of water. The trash-collection device stops litter, limbs and other debris before they reach the Edisto River. The City of Orangeburg maintains the Watergoat. As much as such devices make sense and use of other technology to battle litter is needed, the bottom line is there should not be so much litter. Orangeburg County Councilwoman Janie Cooper-Smith, who has been on the forefront of combating litter, said the litter problem in the county is chronic and seems to be getting worse, even as the number of volunteers to pick up trash is increasing. "The more volunteers we get, the more litter bugs we get," Cooper-Smith said. One volunteer featured in a T&D report on Earth Day, Spencer Griffin of Holly Hill, has implored people to help. "If every day, one person picks up a piece of trash and puts it in a can, we would be living in one super clean planet," Griffin said. Still, there is the problem of those doing the littering. As Cooper-Smith said: "You have those who care and those who don't give a hoot. Making legal cases against litterers helps but the bottom line is people caring enough about their surroundings not to litter. Individuals just tossing things from vehicles as they go about their lives is, in a word, inexcusable. Litter is expensive, both in terms of cleanup and community impact. If getting rid of it is as big a priority as so many say, volunteer efforts must be supported by a state willing to be tough on offenders and a citizenry that refuses to accept life amid the debris. By Choo Jae-woo China and Russia were not pleased after President Yoon Suk Yeol's interview with Reuters on April 20 prior to his state visit to the U.S. They were upset at his comments on the Taiwan question and the war in Ukraine. Beijing was vehement about President Yoon's opposition to changes in the status quo by force in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese foreign minister showed no restraint in his response saying anyone interfering in the issue is "playing with fire." Moscow countered Yoon's contemplation on the provision of lethal weapons to Ukraine as an intervention in the war. Russia went further to warn of heavy consequences for South Korea in the form of weapons support to North Korea. These responses coming from 'no limits' cooperative partners, as they dubbed their relationship, were taken out of context. President Yoon's answers were reasonable enough as they met the concerns and interests of the international community. Most would not like to see the status quo in the Taiwan Strait region disrupted by force. Neither would many further like to hear about treacherous stories of the befallen innocent Ukrainian victims of Russia's merciless attacks. President Yoon's message was clear. Should there be a disruption of peace and stability by coercive means in the strait, Korea as a responsible stakeholder in the region will not remain idle. Should Russia keep massacring innocent people and violating the laws of war, Korea will be compelled to shift its standing position pertaining to supplying non-lethal weaponry to Ukraine. President Yoon's messages were taken out of context by both China and Russia. With regard to the Taiwan Strait, he was asked about his thought on the growing tensions. The question was raised in the context of Beijing's intensification of pressure, both diplomatic and military, on Taiwan to accept Chinese sovereignty. His response was crystal clear and simple: "After all, these tensions occurred because of the attempts to change the status quo by force, and we together with the international community absolutely oppose such a change." His answer would have been the same had it been asked, perhaps by Chinese media, about the Taiwanese striving for independence that could upset the status quo situation in the strait. With respect to the question of supporting Ukraine on the prospect of Korea's support of lethal weapons, his response was conditional. The question asked for further elaboration on the option that Korea might think it had to help Ukraine defend and rebuild itself. His response, again, was simple and clear: "If there is a situation the international community cannot condone, such as any large-scale attack on civilians, massacre or serious violation of the laws of war, it might be difficult for us to insist only on humanitarian or financial support." In other words, he was straightforward on Russia challenging the tolerance of the international community, and thereby, the possibility of a compelling effect it may engender on Korea's part as a nation that highly appreciates universal values. President Yoon is committed to making his country a "Global Pivot State." It is a foreign policy vision that he adopted on his first day of the job as the president of South Korea. He wants his mother country to become, politically and diplomatically, a responsible state commensurate with its world economic standing profile. He foresees Korea making a more constructive contribution to the world peace and prosperity. He insists Korea should come forward to the defense of freedom, democracy, the rules-based order, the market economy and human rights. He has been persistent in his efforts to fulfill a foreign policy vision that has been welcomed worldwide. Korea is on the same page as much of the world on these two particular global challenges. Korea wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Koreans want the Taiwan question to be solved by peaceful means and measures. They would be the first to oppose a coercive Chinese unification as they solemnly do with their own unification question. And be resolved with the assent of the Taiwanese people. They will be against Taiwan's unilateral pronouncement of independence should it act as a force of disruption to the equilibrium and tranquility of the Strait by provoking China's military response. President Yoon, coupled with his deep-rooted appreciation for universal values, is apparently upset like most of his compatriots on Russia's unprovoked attacks on Ukraine and unchallenged violation of these values. By conditioning his country's possible shift in weapons supply policy on the world's condonation, he proclaimed Korea would not tolerate a large-scale civilian attack by Russia, should there be another one. He was righteous with his assertion that "I believe there won't be limitations to the extent of the support to defend and restore a country that's been illegally invaded both under international and domestic law." It is one of the long-upheld universal principles that this world has tried to respect and abide by since the end of World War II. Korea's diplomatic transformation attempts are surprising to many, including its neighboring powers. They never thought of it happening in their wildest dreams. They are witnessing Korea's convergence into a contributing state to world affairs. It is something unheard of, and unseen to their ears and naked eyes before. Korea must also unwaveringly meet the challenges stemming from its adjustments to its transformation. Korea will prevail with its effort to fully become a global pivot state, a defender of universal values and rule-based liberal international order. Choo Jae-woo (jwc@khu.ac.kr) is a professor of international relations at Kyung Hee University and director of the China Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Security. He was a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. (TBTCO) - Bo truong Tai chinh My Janet Yellen cho biet, Chinh phu My co the khong the thanh toan tat ca cac hoa on ung han ngay sau ngay 1/6/2023 neu Quoc hoi khong nang tran no (gioi han ve tong so tien ma chinh phu co the vay e thuc hien cac nghia vu tai chinh). How Mostar became the largest street art gallery in the Balkans. Can you send me the prices of the spray and paints by Monday? My colleague Tomi will then call you about the details. Marina Djapic, alias Marina Mimoza, had many phone calls like this over the summer. She is the founder of the Street Arts Festival Mostar (SAFMO), which was held for the 11th time at the beginning of September. Marina, 35, along with six colleagues from all over Mostar formally united via the Rezon Association for the Advancement of Urban Culture, Contemporary and Public Art can finally breathe a sigh of relief after a year of work on this edition of the festival. Mostar is now bedecked with new murals and graffiti by international and local artists, with the number of outdoor artworks created in the past 11 years of SAFMO totaling at almost two hundred. Italian street artist Millos contribution to this years festival, on the left, near Brazilian artist Aleksandro Reiss 2018 portrait of Luciano Pavarotti, the tenor who donated funds for the music center in Mostar bearing his name. Marina Mimoza Alex Senna Inspired by Banksy It all started in 2011 when Marina saw a documentary film directed by street-art superstar Banksy, and it left a strong impression on her. It started spontaneously out of a desire to be actively involved in the cultural life of the city, to revitalize public spaces through art and to create a street art scene in Mostar, she recalls. From the beginning, enthusiasm and solidarity were the foundation from which the festival emerged. She describes how, over time, a core group of people from different generations and professions came together to foster the idea and mission of the festival. Painting Over the Gray Alex Senna, a street artist from Sao Paulo considered the capital of street art in Brazil arrived in Mostar for the first time this year as an invited guest. His murals can be seen in a couple dozen cities on three continents. They are mainly black and white, but he believes that nothing is like that in real life. Young taggers in the festivals kids corner. No Bosnian gathering would be complete without coffee brewed in a traditional copper pot. Spanish artist I Am Laia at work on a former Yugoslav army barracks. I didnt know much about Mostar and this part of the world, Senna says. Taking part in SAFMO was a great opportunity for me to see people, the culture and the country. It is a great honor to leave a piece of me in the city. I hope it tells a story that people can connect to. Sennas artwork in Mostar is, in his words, like a play; like a game between child and shadow, and at the same time it is like a kid in his individuality. Sometimes we put kids in a place they dont like, but this is different: the kid is the protagonist of their own story and the kid has that connection, this communication with the shadow which is part of itself. A few hundred meters away, HNRX, an artist from Innsbruck, Austria, is carefully mixing the paints that will soon decorate the wall of a four-story building. When he arrived, HNRX says he started walking the streets to get a better feel for Mostar. His work is a mix of different abstract shapes and organic samples like lemons, plants, glass, he says. For me, it is just a playground to play around, it has no specific meaning. It means it is in between surreal and abstract work. Ljubica Zovko, a 60-year-old from Mostar, enthusiastically follows everything that happens in her neighborhood. She caught the street art bug when she saw the first painted buildings in the early years of the festival that takes place in a city still dotted with buildings ruined in the war of 1992-1994. In previous festivals, shes painted two walls in her neighborhood in a mostly-Croat part of the city. After getting approval from the festival committee, she showed her proposals to the neighbors. I won them over and they gave their consent to paint the walls, she says, smiling, adding that in the end the locals were delighted. American artist Mark Jenkins said the idea behind his installation/performance in Mostar was to bring energy to ruined buildings using puppets resembling humans. The author with Mostar resident and mural painter Ljubica Zovko. The artist known as HNRX painted the facade of an apartment building for this years festival. In the wake of the war, everything was monotonous, destroyed and gray, and now you can see that it is being revived. A lot of tourists come to our street now to take photos near the mural, Ljubica says, looking around for HNRX to ask his advice on how to paint the edges of her unfinished mural. In the blazing heat of August, the artists, some perched on cranes several meters above ground, are the object of curious residents gaze. The locals cheer them on, offering them food and drinks. Passersby stop, take photos, and post images of the artistic novelties on social networks. Conversations Over Coffee on the Wall Outside the main festival this year, artists in more traditional forms showed their work, while local artists decorated the neglected walls of the old Yugoslav Peoples Army barracks with murals and graffiti. At a childrens corner, young festival visitors together with their parents learned about the basics of wall painting. Performers from across the Western Balkan region gave concerts. This year also featured the attendance of Mostars mayor at the Coffee on the wall event, where city residents can get acquainted with urban culture and discuss urban art. Mayor Mario Kordic said he shared the festivals vision: To live together with the city, use open areas, hang out outdoors. The mayor said the festival could count on the full support of City Hall. We are going to paint Mostar to be beautiful, colorful, full of murals, pictures and positive messages, Kordic said, adding that he had spoken with the organizers about ways to set up a permanent space where young people could socialize and display their creative abilities. Such a vision carries special weight in a city devastated by fighting between Croat and Bosniak forces in the early 1990s that left political and social rifts that remain all too visible. Even after local elections were finally held in 2020 after 12 years of delay due to infighting between the main political parties,Mostar is widely seen as a city divided into eastern and Bosniak versus western and Croat sides. Looking ahead, SAFMO founder Djapic says the goal is to embed the local community even more closely into the annual festival. A group portrait of the Rezon Association for the Advancement of Urban Culture, Contemporary and Public Art. Making street art calls for plenty of spray paint. Alex Senna at work on his shadow game mural. A Third Mostar Rises One piece of graffiti making a statement on the side of a never-completed bank in the center of Mostar, slated to soon become the local Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina government building, reads Zavadi pa vladaj Divide and conquer. For Mostar poet and journalist Marko Tomas, The Street Arts Festival is only one of the manifestations, manifestations of the so-called a common, third Mostar, which does not ignore but does not accept the political divisions of the unique whole tissue that every city is. The festival, he goes on, is a manifestation of resistance to the imposed political reality. Photographer Sead Sasivarevic took many of the photos that accompany this article. He believes that the festival has the potential to turn Mostar into an open museum of street art, enriched with the work of renowned urban artists. Once a banker in Sarajevo, during the coronavirus pandemic he moved to the Mostar suburb of Blagaj to set up a sustainable farming project; he served as official photographer of the Street Arts Festival this year. Maybe we are not aware of its importance, but Mostar can become a city that people will visit precisely because of that. This is in the same category as works like the Old Bridge, art in a public space that is accessible to everyone, Sasivarevic says, referring to the citys most famous monument the 16th-century bridge over the Neretva River that was destroyed during the siege in 1993 and later reconstructed. Djapic believes that the young people gathered around the idea of SAFMO this year advanced and strengthened the festival, and the positive vibes that participating artists said they picked up in Mostar will roll over into future editions. There are a lot of plans for the coming years, but lets take a rest first. And just to let you know, we havent given up yet on bringing Banksy to Mostar, Djapic says, smiling, by the cold waters of the Neretva, in one of the warmest and most exotic cities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Dragan Stanimirovic is the Current Affairs producer at Al Jazeera Balkans, a post he has held since 2012. In a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has reported for media in Bosnia, Australia, and the Western Balkans region. Portrait of Marina Mimoza by Stanislava Borovac. Rezon group photo by Ilda Kero. All other photos by Sead Sasivarevic. Democrats held 26 seats in the Wyoming Legislature in 2008, the year now-Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman Joe Barbuto was a freshman lawmaker. But over the years, as hard-line factions of the Republican Party like the Tea Party sympathizers in the 2010s and now the Wyoming Freedom Caucus swelled in power, Wyoming Democrats have been slowly squeezed out of representation. Last year, Democrats lost two more seats in the Legislature, reducing their numbers to just seven of the 93 seats in the statehouse. None of Wyomings five statewide elected officials are Democrats, which has been the case for more than a decade. Neither are any of Wyomings congressional delegates. Whats more, the number of voters registered with the Democratic Party in Wyoming has dwindled, with a little over 10% of registered voters identifying as Democrats, according to the latest data from the Wyoming Secretary of States Office. A new law that bans crossover voting threatens to potentially carve into the partys registered voters even more, as some Democrats will likely opt to register as Republicans to participate in high-profile races. But even amid this uphill battle for Democrats, Barbuto, who was reelected chairman of the party in 2021, has kept his eyes on some of the gains the Democratic Party has made this year. The Weston County Democratic Party was recently resurrected, and Democrats are also trying to revive the party in Niobrara and Sublette counties. Hot Spring County Democrats and Republicans are making efforts to have more conversations and attend each others events. Some county parties increased the number of precinct seats they were able to fill during last years elections. Following the conclusion of the partys county leadership elections this month, the state party is looking ahead to the 2024 elections and beyond. Im really excited with this crop of county chairs and other officers that were elected around the state, Barbuto said. Theyre excited, theyre motivated and theyre already doing great things. On the statewide level, the party has begun putting together a strategic plan to get more Democrats elected in Wyoming. (Barbuto said he expects the plan to be finalized sometime in June.) The first priority in that plan is incumbent protection. Two Democratic incumbents Reps. Andi LeBeau and Chad Banks lost to Republicans in the last election cycle. That left seven Democrats five in the House and two in the Senate remaining in the statehouse. Beyond protecting incumbents, the party will look at last years races and identify which seats could potentially be flipped. Districts in Laramie, Fremont and Sweetwater counties will likely be focuses in that effort. Barbuto said the Wyoming Democratic Party will also look at what Democrats in other states like Arizona, Georgia, Colorado and New Mexico are doing to see if those strategies could be imported. Democrats in these states, he said, emphasize early and often on-the-ground organizing talking to their communities about progressive policies and ideas, pinpointing challenges in communities so candidates know what issues need to be addressed in their campaigns and helping people register to vote. That interaction at that grassroots level with communities is incredibly important, Barbuto said. Many county parties, Barbuto said, aimed in the last election cycle to fill more of their precinct committee seats the positions that form the foundation of party politics in part so people in those seats can be community organizers where they live. The Fremont County Democratic Party managed to increase its number of filled precinct seats from less than 10 to more than 30 in the last election cycle, he said. Mandy Weaver, chairman of the Washakie County Democratic Party, said her county also focused on recruiting more people to fill those seats. Weaver said she hopes more involvement will mean the county party can undertake more community service projects. We are focused on paying attention to issues that matter in our county and making sure folks are informed about things that are happening, and we also just love to get more people civically engaged and paying attention to politics and registering. Along with community organizing, messaging as well as data collection to understand where messaging might have the greatest impact is an important building block of the party, Barbuto said. I think in a lot of rural places around the nation, were seeing this phenomenon where suddenly, Democrats became synonymous with anti-rural or anti-small town or small state, which is not necessarily true, Barbuto said. Democrats, he added, havent done a good enough job of communicating how they think progressive policies benefit rural communities. He attributes that to Democrats putting too much of their messaging weight on facts and figures, whereas he described Republicans as being really smart about being passionate in their messaging. Thats a lesson we have maybe learned the hard way, and we have a lot of work yet to do to win back rural places. But never mind convincing the electorate to vote for Democrats and the principles they stand for; Its hard to get Democrats or people from any party, for that matter to run for elected offices in the first place. Even for me when I first got in, I had no clue anything about this. I just thought they were elite people, Meghan Jensen, chairman of the Sweetwater County Democratic Party, said of people who run for elected offices. Really, we work amongst each other. Its not some elite type of group, really, its everybody who lives and works here. So we want to break those barriers of it being scary. In Jensens county, not many people readily volunteer to run for elected positions under the Democratic Party banner. The county party must often go out and encourage people to take the leap. Its basically just going out in the community and talking to folks. More times, especially for women in particular, they probably have to be asked three times before they even consider it, she said. In Sweetwater County, Jensen hopes to make it easier for Democratic candidates to learn the nuts and bolts of running for office, like how to file for candidacy and run an effective campaign. She also wants to lean on mentorship to help candidates get up and running. I do know that there are folks out there talking about they can be an effective candidate for a statewide office, realizing the uphill battle theyre facing, Barbuto said. He mentioned some Republicans tendency to blame Democrats for whats wrong or whats bad without offering solutions. But that rhetoric only goes so far, he continued. If someones not out there pushing back against this as a candidate, if someones not out there willing to be a voice for issues and people who otherwise go unheard, then we just let this kind of behavior, this kind of rhetoric and this kind of ineffective representation go unchecked. And thats just not acceptable. PHOTOS: Casper voters head to the polls Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes Casper votes The ranch owner suing hunters for trespassing through his airspace to access public land says he would drop his damage claim of some $7.75 million if a judge rules in his favor in a landmark corner-crossing case. Elk Mountain Ranch owner Fred Eshelman made that statement through attorneys in a filing in federal court in Casper on Wednesday. He has sued four Missouri hunters for stepping over a corner of his 22,045-acre ranch without setting foot on his land. [P]ursuit of money damages against the individual Defendants in this case detracts from important legal issues, Eshelmans new filing states. [I]f the Court rules in favor of [Eshelman], declares the Defendants actions as being actionable trespass, and restrains further trespass, then [Eshelman] will withdraw money damage claims in the interest of justice and judicial economy. The hunters say they never touched Elk Mountain Ranch ground as they stepped from one piece of public land to another in an area of checkerboard-pattern land ownership in Carbon County. The Missourians believe the airspace above such four-corner intersections is shared with the public and that federal laws bar Eshelman from blocking public passage across them, according to court filings. Eshelman also asserted Wednesday, apparently for the first time, that one of the hunters actually set foot on ranch land. The ranch owners legal team used coordinates subpoenaed from the onX company that makes the GPS hunting map app to make the claim. In a flurry of court filings Thursday, attorneys began arguing how to deal with that new assertion. Eshelman, a wealthy North Carolina resident, has claimed that if corner crossing were permitted, the resulting public access to public land would devalue his 22,045-acre ranch by some 25% to 30%. That would amount to between $7.75 million and $9.4 million, according to WyoFile calculations made from his civil complaint and associated documents. New claim In a skirmish thats gone on for 2 1/2 years, the Missouri men have maintained that they never touched Elk Mountain Ranch land and therefore did not trespass. In both 2020 and 2021 the hunters traveled on a public road to public land administered by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management where they camped. They then hiked to a checkerboard corner adjacent to another public land section which they crossed onto. By using the onX GPS map and hunting app on cell phones, they located other checkerboard corner survey monuments and stepped over them. By that method, the men hunted some 3,000 acres of public land that could only be reached by corner crossing, trespassing or with Eshelmans permission. Until this week, Eshelman wanted Wyomings Chief U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl to declare the hunters trespassers, then send the matter to a jury that would only determine damages. Now he would be satisfied if the judge only rules that corner crossing is trespassing and restrains further trespass. Both parties want Skavdahl to make a summary judgment, they said in motions. The hunters want Skavdahl to dismiss the civil lawsuit entirely. Among other arguments, hunters say a federal law prohibits Eshelman from keeping the public off public land and that law supersedes Wyoming property and trespass statutes that might indicate otherwise. Both sides claim that historical and legal precedents and practices back their cases. The new claim about hunter Smith states that he marked a place he stood in 2020 in the onX program on his cell phone. Eshelmans team obtained data from onX and ran the coordinates through the onX program and another one, according to an affidavit. Mr. Smith marked a waypoint at geographic coordinates that place him on real property, owned by [Eshelmans] Iron Bar Holdings, LLC, the affidavit states. The waypoint proves he trespassed, Eshelmans latest filings state. Smith denied on Thursday that he ever set foot on Elk Mountain Ranch land, according to a court declaration. The hunters had at least two separate onX programs, according to court filings, including the one used by Smith. They used the program to mark several places they hunted and hiked, including spots near the common corners they crossed and places where they killed elk or deer. To hear climate scientists tell it, that record snowstorm that walloped central Wyoming earlier this month well, it was pretty much par for the course. A hotter planet will mean less snow, and more rain, for Wyoming. How much rain or snow falls at once is another story, though. Warmer air can hold more moisture, and evidence is piling up that storms will trend heavier as a result. Maybe we have fewer events overall, or the snow season is shorter than it used to be, said Bryan Shuman, a professor in the University of Wyoming Department of Geology and Geophysics. But its not surprising that when we do get snow, were going to actually potentially break snowfall records. Caspers last record stood for four decades. Climate change made it more likely to fall and its successor likely to topple much more quickly. Time will tell whether Casperites end up recounting stories to their grandkids about the fabled blizzard of 23, or whether itll be the blizzard of 24 or 25 or 30, or whether record snowstorms will become too frequent a phenomenon to reminisce about at all. An extreme event in and of itself isnt necessarily something that one needs to attribute to climate change, Shuman said. Most of the time, its not even really possible to pinpoint whether climate change intensified any individual storm. Instead, experts like Shuman focus mostly on longer-term trends. Those broader weather patterns are shifting in a way that is consistent with things getting warmer, he said. The recent big snowfall event, to me, seems totally consistent with this pattern of having more humidity. Wyoming, in other words, is already feeling the effects of climate change. And its not just about higher temperatures. With them will come stronger spring floods, harsher summer droughts, longer wildfire seasons and a whole host of new threats to the Wyoming way of life. Wetter weather Even by Wyoming standards, this winter was a doozy. Statewide, the period between November and March ranked as the 18th wettest since weather monitoring became consistent in the late 1940s. Its been followed by an unusually chilly spring this March came in at seventh-coldest since mid-century which has caused slower-than-normal snowmelt. In terms of snowpack, this is a good year, said Jeff Goats, state soil scientist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Its not the best year. Snow accumulations have been high, but far from extraordinary, in most parts of the state. The southwestern corner is a notable exception: The Little Snake River Basin smashed daily snow water equivalent records every day for almost a month, and the Upper Green River Basin also spent a few days off the charts. Every basin remained at least a little bit above the median as of Friday. Its not out of the realm of possibility of seeing these sorts of winters happen, where we do get a lot of snowfall, a lot of precipitation across the region, with spring temperatures low enough for the snow to stick around for a while, said Tom DiLiberto, a climate scientist and public affairs specialist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. But winters like this one are expected to become less and less common. Wyomings total precipitation the aggregate of the rain, snow, hail and so forth the state receives every year isnt expected to change too much. What will vary more and more is the form that precipitation arrives in. Especially in the fall, when temperatures are slower to drop below freezing, and in the spring, when thaws are happening sooner. As snowpack starts to accumulate later and melt earlier, there will be more meltwater churning through the states streams and rivers in the spring and less still available for use during the hottest months of the year. If there is already a snowpack on the ground and you have rainfall on your winter snowpack in the springtime, now youre releasing a lot more liquid water into the watershed, which can then lead to flash flooding or river flooding, DiLiberto said. It was exactly that perilous combination a storm dumping inches of rain on top of not-yet-melted snow that washed away major roads and bridges in Yellowstone National Park and prompted officials to evacuate all visitors last June. The increasingly premature snowpack loss across the state will also raise the odds of drought conditions, including rapid-onset flash droughts, taking shape in the summer. The higher temperatures climb, the more abrupt and intense such droughts could become. Youre basically flushing all that water out of the system early, Shuman said. You then have less in your streams, in your reservoirs, in your lakes, in the soil for later in the summer. So your baseline is lower. Add the earlier melt-off to warmer temperatures, less summer rain and more evaporation, he said, and those things all combined really increase the risk that you have extreme dry conditions at the end of the summer and into the fall. But a drier state Wyoming is no stranger to droughts. They, like wildfires, are a phenomenon local ecosystems have evolved to withstand. Its when they become too severe or they linger for too long like the persistent drought that gripped almost the entire state a year ago that they start to cause concern. The fact that drought is disappearing in a lot of places out West because of this good snowfall, good rainfall, is great news, DiLiberto said. But well have to continue to monitor on a year-to-year basis to see that, hopefully, this is part of a recovery trend, as opposed to a blip. Most climate models forecast a whole lot more drought in Wyomings future. Will wet spells like this winter break them up? Almost certainly. Will those reprieves last, though? Probably not. Ultimately, because of climate change, its entirely possible that the state will receive more rain than it has in the past and will end up drier because of it. Wyoming has already warmed by about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit from pre-industrial levels a number thats expected to double, roughly, by 2050, said Bart Geerts, a professor of atmospheric science at the University of Wyoming. With the faster disappearance of the snow in the mountains, lower streamflow in the warm season, especially late in the warm season, and just lower soil moisture, the droughts may be more prolonged year after year, Geerts said. We dont have a good understanding for the extremes, he added. Those are always difficult to quantify. Learning more about those extremes will be a priority for the five-year, $20 million Wyoming Anticipating Climate Transitions or WY-ACT initiative, which Geerts, Shuman and several other University of Wyoming professors launched last year with support from the National Science Foundation. But its primary focus is studying what will happen to Wyomings water as the climate continues to change. Thats a real concern, Geerts said. Not so much the warming, but the uncertainty in water availability in the coming decades. This year is a good year, but we dont know what it will be like a few decades from now. The hope, as climate change begins to take hold in Wyoming, is that the state will be able to brace itself against the toughest years long before they arrive. PHOTOS: Casper digs itself out after massive blizzard Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Snowstorm Cars covered by huge snowdrifts in Casper For most of us, attending school involved being part of the crowd. We began with a set of classmates in elementary school, and for the most part, we graduated high school with the same students. We progressed at the same pace as our classmates, too. The really smart kids advanced to the next grade at the same time as the students who found academic life more challenging. Students on track to attend college worked at roughly the same pace as those who planned to get a trade job after high school. That system still exists in Wyoming schools, but possibly not for much longer. The states top educational institutions recently agreed to partner on a series of pilot projects that would upend the existing system in favor of one centered around competency-based learning. For the first time, the Wyoming Board of Education, the state Department of Education, the University of Wyoming and Gov. Mark Gordons office are formally partnering on the effort. What is competency-based learning? Its a system based on individual student progress rather than one that advances students based on the time theyve been in school. That approach, while it might be unfamiliar to many of us, has advantages over a traditional system. Its more flexible, for one, meaning students can advance when theyre ready, rather than when a specific period of time has passed. It also allows students to pursue more of what interests them. Plus, it acknowledges an important reality that led many of us to struggle during our own time in school: We all learn differently. Some of us flourish in a traditional setting, taking notes as teachers speak and then testing to show our mastery of a subject. But others retain more through experiential learning, working with our hands rather than a pencil and a notebook. Under this new system, a student might earn credits by working for a state agency on research rather than by taking tests in a classroom. The concept is certainly intriguing. And were glad to see our educational leaders focused on improving our school system rather than wasting time on distracting fights like the former superintendent (no one seems to be talking about those apocalyptic changes to USDA policies anymore). But wed like to see more details as this initial work progresses. This would be a dramatic reworking of our school system, which requires transparency and public participation to succeed. Its also essential that teachers play a role in this change. After all, they are the ones who would be tasked with implementing it. There needs to be buy-in from teachers for it to succeed, and that buy-in comes through ownership in the process. But just as importantly, teachers are the closest ones to the classroom. They know things that an administrator or other official may not. Theres also the question of cost. Theres no price tag yet for this educational remake. But that cost means state lawmakers will have to go along with the plan by appropriating funds for it. That will be no small feat in a statehouse thats been bitterly divided over the question of spending. But thats no reason not to explore this system more fully. Even the most ardent supporters of public schools would acknowledge that our existing system isnt perfect. Not enough of our students are meeting performance goals. Too many of them are still being left behind. Thats why the backers of this system deserve credit for asking a simple but essential question: Can we be doing better? Pursuing this new approach will almost certainly provide some answers. Trinidad and Tobagos vaping industry has been in existence since 2010 but it needs regulations and a new spark, stakeholders say. There are now over 30 stores that sell e-cigarette and vaping accessories across the country. The publics help is being sought by the police to locate Katifah Abraham and Luis Tovar who Millions of dollars were paid to Minister Foster Cummings family businesses through State contracts over a four-year period, with large chunks of those contract monies also finding their way into his personal Venture Credit Union (VCU) account. When questioned by the Express in September last year, Cummings denied ever receiving monies from the contracts, and said there was never an issue of the commingling of funds with his personal credit union account. Time to settle the bill and pick up the pieces President Yoon Suk Yeol's six-day visit to the United States last week reaffirmed how different diplomacy can be on the inside and on the outside. After the summit with President Joe Biden, the South Korean leader sang "American Pie" in a carefully staged state banquet. During his 43-minute speech at the U.S. Congress' joint session, Yoon mentioned the word "freedom" 46 times, drawing 23 rounds of applause. Now it's time to review what Yoon, or Seoul, gained and lost. As always, there are two principal points national security and the economy. In conclusion, South Korea earned a more extensive and closely knit U.S. nuclear umbrella, if in form only, and got little if any in the economy. The Washington Declaration contains the U.S. pledge to retaliate against nuclear attacks from North Korea in kind, even if the latter hit the U.S. mainland with long-range missiles at the same time. Its concrete implementing tool, the Nuclear Consultation Group, will reflect Seoul's opinions on America's possible use of atomic weapons. But there is nothing else. The presidential office and the ruling party hastily and presumptuously identified these accords with "nuclear sharing." However, even before Yoon left Washington, ranking U.S. officials made clear that is not the case. "So let me be very direct. I don't think that we see this as a de facto nuclear sharing," said Edgard Kagan, senior director for East Asia and Oceania of the National Security Council. Instead, Washington put to rest Seoul's ambitions to develop its own nuclear weapons or bring back U.S. atomic bombs to the peninsula permanently. Except for a written pledge, one could hardly see any substantive changes in the U.S.' nuclear policy on South Korea before and after Yoon's visit. Nothing shows this better than the coarse but subdued response from Pyongyang, by its standards. Kim Yo-jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, called Biden "a futureless old man" and Yoon "an ugly guy." Besides countering a hypothetical North Korean nuclear attack on the South, Yoon made a more serious commitment in a global context. By moving excessively closer to America, he turned China and Russia into de facto adversaries. Moscow showed a willingness to give arms to Pyongyang if Seoul provides lethal weapons to Kyiv. Beijing was more direct, warning against "playing with fire" by intervening in the China-Taiwan relationship. If the war in Ukraine escalates and armed conflict breaks out in the Taiwan Strait, Seoul cannot avoid involvement. That will lead to enormous adverse effects Yoon's U.S. visit will have on this country's economy. Contrary to expectations that closer ties with Washington will help ease Korean computer chip and electric vehicle makers' concerns about doing business with China, Yoon failed to induce any reassuring remarks from Biden. The South Korean leader should have seen the true concerns behind the smiling faces of the chaebol tycoons in his entourage and won more than a pledge to "continue the discussion." A U.S. journalist had to ask a thorny question about the matter on behalf of her excessively polite Korean colleagues and a bewildered Biden obfuscated. Yoon calls himself "Sales Representative No. 1 of the Republic of Korea." However, the businesses must add the "presidential risk" to their list of corporate uncertainties. Yoon boasted U.S. companies would invest $5.2 billion in Korea, but Biden said Korean firms are to pour $75 billion into America. The business community's concerns will become a reality when the two estranged powers retaliate in business arenas. Once again, Yoon gave almost everything and came back nearly empty-handed. What Seoul expects to get from Washington and Tokyo in return will be hard to compare to what it loses from Beijing and Moscow. South Korea should not, and cannot, be the 51st U.S. state. It must be a balance of power in Asia and the world, however imperfect it may be. The "global freedom crusader" and his administration are going in the diametrically opposite direction. 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. I am wondering if the Mayor of Port of Spain is still on the job or if he stayed back in Toc CAIRO Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted Saturday in parts of Sudans capital, Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a cease-fire between the countrys two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives. With ordinary Sudanese caught in the crossfire, the civilian death toll jumped Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties. In some areas in and around the capital, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning as the scale of fighting dwindled after the shaky truce. In other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Now in its third week, the fighting wounded 2,023 civilians, the syndicate added, although the true toll is expected to be much higher. The Sudanese Health Ministry put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people, the Doctors Syndicate said. Hundreds of Americans fleeing the fighting in Sudan reached the countrys port Saturday in the first U.S.-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said. The U.S., which had no officials on the ground for the evacuation, was criticized by families of Americans trapped in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for those among the estimated 16,000 U.S. citizens who wish to leave the east African nation. U.S. special operations troops flew to Khartoum on April 22 to airlift staffers at the U.S. Embassy and other American government personnel. More than a dozen other nations carried out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on-the-ground personnel. Khartoum, a city of some 5 million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The outbreak of violence dashed once-euphoric hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan after a popular uprising helped oust former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Other countries continued to evacuate their citizens while hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fled across borders. Britain was ending its evacuation flights Saturday, after demand for spots on the planes declined. The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday it started evacuating its own citizens along with nationals of 16 other countries. Over 50,000 Sudanese refugees mostly women and children crossed over to Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, raising fears of regional instability. Ethnic fighting and turmoil scarred South Sudan and the Central African Republic for years while a 2021 coup derailed Chads own democratic transition. Those who escape the fighting in Khartoum face more dangers on their way to safety. The route to Port Sudan, where ships evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long, exhausting and risky. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. Theres an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF, he said, referring to Dagalos Rapid Support Forces. They dont have a supply line in place. That could get worse in the coming days. Airlifts from the country amid the chaotic fighting also posed challenges, with a Turkish evacuation plane even hit by gunfire outside Khartoum on Friday. On Saturday despite a cease-fire extended under heavy international pressure early Friday clashes continued around the presidential palace, headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum, residents said. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. In other areas, residents reported signs that the cease-fire had taken hold. We are not hearing the bombs as we did before, so were hoping that this means they will go back to a political process, said Osman Mirgany, a columnist and editor of the daily al-Tayar, who assessed it was safe enough Friday to return home to Khartoum after seeking refuge in a far-flung village. Khartoum residents are forced to live side by side with armed fighters. Many RSF militants moved into civilian homes and took over stores and hospitals in the capital. The paramilitary group transformed Mirganys newsroom into a makeshift base, he said. Residents also must cope without sufficient electricity and running water, among other basic supplies. For the past 14 days weve suffered from a lack of everything, Mirgany said. Residents in the city of Omdurman, west of Khartoum, have been waiting at least three days to get fuel complicating their escape plans. The U.N. relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that U.N. offices in Khartoum, as well as the cities of Genena and Nyala in Darfur had been attacked and looted. Genenas main hospital was leveled in the fighting, Sudans health ministry said. This is unacceptable and prohibited under international law, Griffiths said. SB-1367 Defend the Guard Act In light of the governors requirement that the legislature only send good bills, the Arizona Libertarian Party would like to draw attention to such a bill. SB-1367, otherwise called the Defend the Guard Act, just passed through the Senate. The purpose of the Defend the Guard Act is for states to reassert their rights under the 10th Amendment in the event the Federal government uses military force overseas. This bill would not allow the Arizona National Guard to be incorporated into the total fighting force unless a formal declaration of war is passed. This power is delegated specifically to Congress, one not exercised since World War 2. If you believe forever wars of choice dominating American politics for the past 20 years need to come to an end this is a bill for you! The Arizona Libertarian Party urges you to contact your representatives and Governor Katie Hobbs today and tell them you want to see the Defend the Guard become the law. Make your voice heard. Luis Bachelier, communications team with the Arizona Libertarian Party Downtown Education solution Most parents send their children to school to get an education. While some parents prefer their children remain ignorant in certain subjects. Rather than having all the children be ignorant in these subjects, lets develop a form that these parents can fill out indicating which subjects or books they want their children to be ignorant about. Copies of this form would be given to the respective teachers and librarians who would prevent these children from checking out these books or excusing these children when these subjects are being taught. The teachers, of course, would have to give the student a grade of I for Incomplete or, if possible, assign them an alternative lesson to learn. Philip Brown East side Prop 412 shouldnt divide neighborhoodsDivide and Conquer is an ancient strategy that remains an extremely effective method of waging battle in the present day. So easy to induce potential allies to waste time, energy, and resources to squabble amongst themselves. Prop 412 certainly comes to mind, as neighborhoods are pitted against one another, and class warfare is unnecessarily introduced. The reality is we are all Tucsonans, and we all have an interest in helping our city become a cleaner, more beautiful, more energy-efficient, and economically vibrant place to live. While it is certainly true that some Tucson neighborhoods have long been neglected, abused, and underfunded, we can certainly work today to avoid repeating past mistakes. Holding our utility companies responsible for doing their part in keeping our city attractive by burying lines when practical and stepping up to ensure Tucsonans of all economic brackets have access to cheaper, cleaner, more efficient, renewable energy is not so much to ask. Scott Wilson Midtown Prop 412 Recently TEP did some work in my neighborhood. They drilled some big holes, put in some steel poles and installed some transformers and wired it all up and left. We didnt get to comment on it, and there were no public hearings. They just did it. Why on earth should I pay more on my TEP bill just so the University of Arizona and the surrounding neighborhoods can have their power lines underground? Id like someone to explain to me how Campbell is the gateway to anything in Tucson. I have to look at power poles in my backyard and even bigger poles on 22nd St.. The University and the surrounding neighborhoods have always had too much influence on policy, in my opinion, but it has never really bothered me until this ridiculous proposition. If they want the power run underground, let them pay for it. I cant even imagine how much disruption installing underground power lines would cause. If you put lipstick on a pig, its still a pig. Jeff Britt East side Books for Classrooms It was so exciting to read about Books for Classrooms making such an impact at Title IX public schools in Pima County. It shows what a small group of retired educators and volunteers can do to make a difference. And they have zero overhead: funds raised go towards buying more books. It is so refreshing when we are reading about the opposite: book banning. The Star headline the next day: Schools race to catch kids up on reading. Classrooms are waiting for books! Consider supporting Books for Classrooms with your donation and keep this great local group going. Mary Ganapol Foothills Bidens coercion of Americans I believe President Joe Bidens policies are coercive to Americans. He is using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to coerce Americans into buying unwanted expensive electric vehicles. The EPA is about to propose extreme CO2 standards on coal and natural gas-powered electricity plants across the country that will likely put them out of business. This will force utility companies to use more wind and solar, passing on increased expenses to consumers. Appliance manufacturers are being forced to reduce CO2 emissions on their products, raising their costs. Bidens de facto open borders policies have allowed millions of people, including hundreds of thousands of children, to enter the country in between the ports of entry and dispersed them and their associated costs onto communities across America. Schools across the country are being coerced to allow transgender biological males to compete against females in sports. Military and federal government personnel are being forced to undergo leftist woke training classes. During COVID, coercive government masks and vaccine mandates were enacted against businesses. Enough coercion! Siri Patel Marana Fumbling lawyer Re: the April 26 article Rape lawsuit underway. Donald Trumps lawyer, Joe Tacopina, had an opening statement that rang lame with me. It all comes down to: do you believe the unbelievable? Oh, come on! Trump himself used to brag openly on TV about such exploits. 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, Well, We the People did speak in 2020. And 2016, where he lost the popular vote. But thank you for the OK to hate him. Maybe not the best jury instruction of all time. Nobodys above the law, but no one is beneath it OK, then, just where did the nickname Teflon Don come from? Surely such a high-priced lawyer could come up with better statements. Or maybe not. Thad Appelman Northwest side Romero surprised this artist Tucsons most prominent resident surprised me in a good way Tuesday night. I came to town for a stop on my cross-country journey of creating artwork to inspire rape survivors. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero simply walked up to me and engaged me at the citys annual Take Back the Night event held this year at the Pima Community College Downtown campus. Its not something every big city mayor would have taken the time to do. I know this well. Traveling on my now eight-year, 63,000-mile odyssey across the United States, visiting dozens of large cities. Mayor Romero took an interest in my efforts to impact sexual trauma victims. Even adding her very own colorful contribution to my massive art display. And enthusiastically supporting my efforts to get my artwork to a symbolic goal. Thank you, Mayor Romero and Tucson, for treating me like a friend. A big-city mayor and a big city with a small-town heart. Ron Blake The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: From the high-drama of the mighty Grand Canyon, to the saguaro-dotted Sonoran landscapes and the Ponderosa pine forests of the north, our state has long been a draw for visitors from far and wide. Home to awe-inspiring landscapes, vibrant city life, world-class spas, and resorts, Arizona has something for everyone. The tourism and hospitality sectors are vital to Arizonas economy they generate jobs, income, and recreational opportunities for local residents and encourage investment in local businesses. But today, as Arizonas water security grows more uncertain, so too does the future of our tourism industry. Water is essential to every aspect of our economy, and hospitality is no different. While the Colorado River is our iconic water resource that often gets the most attention, much of the water we rely on comes from groundwater supplies, which provide more than 40% of the states water overall. As the CEO of Hotel Congress in Tucson, I have been lucky to operate in an area covered by groundwater protections laid out in the 1980 Groundwater Management Act, which created critical guardrails to protect groundwater in urban areas. As a result, businesses in Arizonas urban core are able to rely on a more predictable water supply, which is critical to keeping it running smoothly and our guests satisfied and well-cared for. But today the same is not true for businesses in rural parts of the state. Rural areas are sought after by visitors for their proximity to parks and wildlife, and are home to more than 1.5 million Arizonans, geographically 80% of the state. Yet, those communities have few options for managing their water supplies and are not protected by the Groundwater Management Acteven though groundwater is often the only source of water in these areas. As rural groundwater levels continue to decline, we risk losing not only the economic benefits of local tourism, but the vitality and way of life of entire communities. In 2020, 32.1 million people visited Arizona and collectively spent $15 billion in the state. This money spent by tourists supports 160,500 jobs and generates critical tax revenue for Arizona. Our rural communities have been overlooked for too long, but they are the beating heart of the thriving tourist industry we take such great pride in. We cannot afford to lose all this and risk the livelihoods of so many Arizonans. Arizonas leaders must act now. Our state agencies, the legislature, and Governor must work bipartisanly to secure Arizonas economic future and repair Arizonas reputation. They must give our rural business owners the tools they need to ensure their water stability, so that they can continue to strengthen the vibrant Arizona tourist industry that is so beloved by people around the country and all over the world. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Research on a flat spot for air evacuations. Talk of old-style civil defense sirens to warn of fast-moving wildfires. Hundreds of urban firefighters training in wildland firefighting techniques while snow still blankets the ground. This is the new reality in Alaska's largest city, where a recent series of wildfires near Anchorage and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious, untenable blazes in urban areas just like in the rest of the drought-plagued American West. The risk is particularly high in the city's burgeoning Anchorage Hillside neighborhood, where multi-million dollar homes have pushed further and further up steep slopes and to the forest's edge. Making the challenge even greater is that many of these areas on the Hillside home to about 35,000 people have but one road in and out, meaning that fleeing residents could clog a roadway or be cut off from reaching Anchorage at all. The prospect of a major wildfire there keeps Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage awake at night when conditions are hot and dry. Ive characterized this as probably the single largest threat to the municipality of Anchorage, he said. Schrages city fire department is adept at fighting blazes in buildings. But as Anchorage has grown, the available land is higher up, where wild and urban areas intersect, and those fires are very different from what his firefighters are trained to combat. The city also has limited wildfire equipment, and its nearly impossible to get a fire engine up some switchback roads to homes nestled high up mountains. Our strategy is basically to put as many resources as we have on duty on a small fire so that we can keep it contained while waiting for assistance from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, Schrage said. This spring, 360 city firefighters are training on wildland firefighting tactics like using water hoses to create a line around the perimeter of a fire and the city is encouraging homeowners to participate in a program to identify hazards like brush and old trees that would feed a fire before it's too late. In one hilly neighborhood, a community council is researching locations for a makeshift helipad that could be used for air evacuations. That same small neighborhood with but one road in and out has also discussed installing sirens to warn residents on the city's wooded fringes of fire danger and hopes to build a database of all residents for emergency communications. As much as you wouldnt want to do it ... its like rolling the dice on being alive or dead, said Matt Moore, who fled his home in 2019 lest he be trapped on the wrong side of the flames on the single road. Such precautions common in parched and fire-prone states like California and Colorado are relatively new in Anchorage in the face of increased fire risk fueled by global warming. The city reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) four years ago, the citys hottest temperature on record, and it's had five significant wildfires over the past seven years that were all extinguished before causing much damage. Still, the U.S. is headed into an El Nino year this season, which traditionally means a bigger fire year and further raises concerns, said Brian Brettschneider, a climate scientist with National Weather Service, Alaska Region. More than 4,844 square miles (12,546 square kilometers) burned statewide last year an area just under the size of Connecticut. Since 1950, there have been 14 years in which more than 4,687 square miles (12,139 square kilometers) the equivalent of 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned during Alaska's short but intense fire season. Half of those fire seasons have occurred since 2002, including the worst year on record 2004 when over 10,156 square miles (26,304 square kilometers) burned. From his home high above Anchorage in 2019, Moore saw the black smoke billowing from a fire miles away in a heavily wooded area of the city. He gathered his pets and important papers in his vehicle his wife was already safe in Anchorage and drove 5 miles (8 kilometers) down the only road serving the roughly 600 neighborhood residents to safety. "Thankfully, they started getting it under control, he said. For now, both the city and Schrage's fire department are focused on keeping things under control implementing as many preventative measures as possible. The city department has removed evergreen trees and reduced brush in strips of 100 feet (30 meters) next to neighborhoods to help contain any future fires and Anchorage has cleared trees and other hazards in parks and along greenbelts. Firefighters have also conducted inspections at people's homes to identify fire hazards such as firewood kept too close to their homes or too much vegetation on their property all in hopes of preserving homes, livelihoods and the community in a time of growing climate uncertainty. By Kim Won-soo President Yoon Suk Yeol paid a state visit to the United States last week at a doubly symbolic moment. This year South Korea and the United States celebrate 70 years of partnership in arms. But the celebration takes place under cloudy skies fraught with mounting volatility and uncertainty for the global and regional orders. Against this backdrop, President Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden seem to have paid close attention to two primary tasks at their meeting. The first was to redefine the alliance in accordance with rapidly changing global and regional geopolitics. The second was to reassure the South Korean public that the United States was strongly committed to the defense of South Korea, including in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea. For the first task, both leaders affirmed that the alliance had now entered a new phase, which I will call 3.0 from hereon. Over the last seven decades, the alliance went through numerous ups and downs but proved to be resilient, withstanding challenges both internal and external to the alliance. It has evolved from a one-sided and Korean Peninsula-focused arrangement (1.0) to a more balanced yet still peninsula-focused (2.0) to a balanced and globally oriented (3.0). Now the alliance has matured enough to cover a variety of issues spanning security, politics, economy, culture and technology. Many of these issues have broad implications for all spheres of human life that include not only the Korean Peninsula and beyond, but cyberspace and outer space as well. The alliance has also grown to be more value-based, moving beyond the conventional national interest calculus. Universal respect for individual freedom, basic human rights and justice for all lies at the core of the alliance. For the second task, the Washington Declaration offers some unprecedented language on U.S. extended deterrence and goes the extra mile in three significant ways. First, Washington makes clear that any nuclear attack by North Korea will be met with a resolute allied response in kind. Second, South Korea and the United States have agreed to create a Nuclear Consultative Group which will ensure the former's greater participation in the latter's nuclear planning process. This new addition is akin to North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)'s Nuclear Planning Group in some fundamental aspects, while distinct from it in others. Third, Washington also makes clear that all strategic assets in the American nuclear triad, in particular the Navy's ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), will be regularly and frequently deployed to South Korea. In return for these American assurances, South Korea has reaffirmed its continued compliance with the obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). This is a welcome development as it is expected to dampen the rising public support of late for South Korea pursuing its own nuclear weapons. The Yoon-Biden summit helped lay solid groundwork for Alliance 3.0. But it does not guarantee that the road ahead will be smooth and easy. I am afraid the opposite is likely to prevail. Like almost everything else, every diplomatic deal comes with a cost. No diplomatic deal is free as it involves the other side. An immediate scorecard for the summit seems to show largely positive ratings both in terms of the substance of the deals reached as well as diplomatic optics. But the jury is still out when it comes to the broader effects of the summit. China and North Korea must have followed the whole process closely and are expected to send out strong signals sooner or later. The emergence of global value-based alliances inevitably means greater distancing between the two blocs, one led by the United States and its allies and the other by China and Russia. These blocs are split along the old East-West cleavages of the Cold War and tensions are growing fast between them. South Korea is likely to be sandwiched between its alliance partner (U.S.) and its largest trading partner (China) over such issues as value chains involving high-tech items and tensions in the East and South China seas including the Taiwan Strait. North Korea may react in an even more hostile manner than on previous occasions, potentially carrying out another nuclear test and/or missile launches. The verdict on the credibility and efficacy of Alliance 3.0 will depend on how the alliance responds to these challenges from China and North Korea. The credibility of US assurances will be determined by the speed and effectiveness with which the allies respond to threats, as perceived by the South Korean public. There is no denying that significant progress has been made through this summit. A new process has begun to redefine the future of the alliance for another 70 years. It requires close communication and coordination between Seoul and Washington to further increase the resilience and utility of the alliance. The onus is on the political leaders to deliver it not just for their respective countries, but also for the world. Kim Won-soo (wsk4321@gmail.com) is the former under-secretary-general of the United Nations and high representative for disarmament. As a Korean diplomat, he served as secretary to the ROK president for foreign affairs as well as for international security. He is now the chair of the international advisory board of the Taejae Academy (Future Consensus Institute) and a chair professor at Kyung Hee University. FREDERICK, Md. (AP) John Ashbury jokes that his memory isnt what it once was now that hes reached his 80s. But you wouldnt know that if you watched him flip through a copy of his recently published book. Every few pages, he stops. His eyes light up. And he begins to rattle off facts and figures with the dexterity of a man who has spent most of his life immersed in the study of history. Ashbury, a local author and historian, just released his fourth book. Its called Reflections, and its billed as a collection of eclectic selections from the archives of Frederick Magazine. Since 2006, Ashbury has written a regular column for the magazine called Reflections. In each piece, he profiles a person, place or event that in some way shaped Frederick Countys history. The new book compiles all 86 columns that Ashbury has published over the years, plus one thats due to run in May. The 87 subjects in the book run the gamut, Ashbury said. Theres Morton Mower, who grew up downtown in the 1930s and 40s and is the co-inventor of the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a widely used medical device similar to a pacemaker. Mower was an accomplished clarinetist, Ashbury recalls easily, not having to read the words on the page. He was picked on a lot in high school, Ashbury adds matter-of-factly. Theres Shadrach Bond, who was born in Frederick in 1773 and went on to become the first governor of Illinois. Theres Ambrosia Clarke, who raised 24 children in Frederick County and was one of the first Marylanders to donate blood during World War II. She went on to donate more than seven gallons of blood to military hospitals before doctors ordered her to stop, and she devoted the rest of her life to aiding veterans. Theres so many people that have had an impact on Frederick, and its history that nobody knows about, Ashbury said, looking down at Clarkes picture. Ashbury conducts his research all over the county. He relies on the library at Mount St. Marys University, the local historical society and the internet. Every day, he logs onto a Facebook page called Frederick Maryland Old Photos. But he gives special thanks in the foreword of his latest book to the staff at the Maryland Room in the C. Burr Artz Public Library in downtown Frederick, which houses primary and secondary local history documents. Mary Mannix, who has managed the Maryland Room for 25 years, said shes become accustomed to Ashburys calls over the years. His work makes history more digestible, she said. John does important work, Mannix said. People will be using his work for generations. For years, Ashbury kept a file cabinet full of 365 manilla folders, one for each day of the calendar year. He would write down and file away any notable events that happened in Frederick County on a given day. He recently donated his file cabinets and his extensive collection of books to the Maryland Room, where Mannix now uses them to assist other researchers. Ashbury says he engages with history in some way almost every day. Hes currently working on compiling his own family history. The passion dates back to his adolescence, when Ashbury would eavesdrop on the conversations that important community figures would have with his father, who was the rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in downtown Frederick. That sparked a fascination that has never faded, Ashbury said. Most of his ideas for Reflections pieces arise during conversations over meals with friends, he said. Theyll mention a grandparent or cousin or friend who did something interesting, and Ashbury will jot it down. People dont realize they know what they know, Ashbury said. Its memories to them. I take those memories from other people and turn them into things like this book. He hopes the book will inspire others to explore local history. And he hopes to continue researching and writing. I just enjoy the hell out of it, he said. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) 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. Patrick Gordon had just returned home from a visit to a local flower shop when the painting that would become this years Mayfest poster image appeared to him. I had an idea that wasnt working, he said, so I went to my florist Toni Garner of Tonis Flowers & Gifts because all my life my paintings have begun with flowers. I came home, and I set the flowers I had bought on the table, and walked away, Gordon said. And when I looked back at the table, I thought to myself, This is a gift. I just need to photograph it and paint it. A selection of flowers, including sunflowers, tulips and violets, wrapped in cellophane and laying on a table from the 19th century is the centerpiece of Gordons painting, M is for Mayfest (Onis Flowers), which was unveiled Wednesday as the official poster image for the 2023 Tulsa Mayfest. The image also includes single flowers in vases, as well as a unique snow globe set on a table made in Italy in the 19th century. The paintings subtitle comes from the ribbon tied around the bundle of flowers in cellophane. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this spring-time celebration of the arts, as well as the festivals first year under the auspices of the University of Tulsa. Mayfest, sponsored by MidFirst Bank, will be held May 12-14 and stretch from the Tulsa Arts District to the historic Greenwood District. TUs new facility, 101 Archer, at 101 E. Archer St. (formerly ahha Tulsa), will serve as the epicenter of the activities, as well as where Gordons M is for Mayfest will be displayed during the festival. The festival will feature more than 60 juried artists from around the country as well as more than 120 local artists, including more than 45 Tulsa artists that will be part of the revived Invitational Gallery. University of Tulsa President Brad Carson, who helped unveil the painting, said having Gordon as this years poster artist was significant to him, personally, as he and Gordon are both natives of Claremore. This is also the third year that Gordon, whose works are part of the permanent collections of the Tulsa PAC, the Lorton Performance Center and the Philbrook Museum of Art, has been chosen to create the poster image for the festival. Gordons paintings usually still-life images that combine hyper-realism with expressionistic, painterly touches, and given whimsically enigmatic names were used as the official Mayfest image for the 1989 festival, which was also the first year of the Mayfest Invitational Gallery, designed to showcase local artists, and for the 1997 Mayfest, which was the events 25th anniversary. Coincidentally, Gordon took part in the first Mayfest in 1973, while still a student at the University of Tulsa. The festival was called Jubilee 73 (it would be a few years before organizers would come up with the name Mayfest for the event), and Gordon shared a booth with fellow TU art student Kreg Kallenberger, now known internationally for his sculptures made of optical-grade glass. We did it once, Gordon said. We didnt do it again, because that wasnt the way we wanted to make art. Kregs work is now in major museums all over the country, and Ive had a bit of success myself. Gordons work can be found in dozens of corporate and private collections, and he was for many years represented by the Fischbach Gallery in New York City. He first gained fame for his large-scale watercolor paintings; in the early 2000s, coinciding with a move to New York City, Gordon switched to oil painting, continuing to create floral-based still-life images, as well as commissioned portraits. In creating the new Mayfest image, Gordon said that while flowers are always a foundation for his art, this particular painting drew equal inspiration from letters and words. The design on the legs of the table, for example, resemble the letter M, which prompted the paintings title. And the snow globe that sits near the edge of the table in the painting employs several local landmarks to spell out the citys name. The TU is for the University of Tulsa, which I thought needed to be acknowledged, Gordon said. The L is the BOK Tower, which is a nod to George Kaiser and all hes done for the arts in Tulsa. The S is the Morning Star Baptist Church, because I wanted to honor north Tulsa, he said. And the A is the Golden Driller, maybe the most iconic symbol of Tulsa there is. Gordon said he also included what he calls an Easter egg in the painting something hidden in plain sight for people to discover. You always hope when people look at a painting youve done that they have some reaction to it, he said. I hope people feel the beauty of the flowers, and think of spring and rebirth. And I hope it makes people happy. If it doesnt, Ill paint them another picture tomorrow that will make them happy. LIBERTY Barrett Brown did not initially join Liberty High Schools forestry team for the trees. It was for a chance to go fishing on a school trip. That was one of the main reasons I joined my freshman year, the junior said with a chuckle. We started doing pretty well in competitions and I started liking actual forestry, so now I do it for the forestry and not just the fishing. Forestry has been part of Libertys agriculture education program for 26 years. Along with being able to identify multiple tree species by both their common and scientific names, forestry competitions require students to measure trees height and diameter, list off common uses of those trees and calculate by hand how many 16-foot logs, board feet per acre of saw logs and cords of pulpwood that can be harvested from specific trees within a given area. Students also have to be able to identify up to 15 forest management tools and their uses, as well as be able to work with a compass and map coordinates. When they are given coordinates, it is basically the same thing theyd be doing to mark property lines if they were going to be harvesting on a particular piece of property, Liberty agriculture education teacher Chad Eads said. Brown is among the thousands of students who will be descending upon downtown Tulsa Tuesday and Wednesday for the Oklahoma FFA state convention. The countrys sixth-largest state-level Future Farmers of America association, Oklahoma FFA is affiliated with the Oklahoma CareerTech systems agriculture education division and is restricted to high schools like Liberty that offer agriculture classes. Oklahoma FFA has 29,219 student members across 366 chapters statewide, including more than 20 chapters just in the immediate Tulsa metro area. The state FFA convention moved to Tulsa in 2022 for the first time in the organizations history, drawing in more than 15,000 students, teachers, parents and vendors to downtown. It is slated to be in Tulsa through 2026. Encompassing both the Cox Convention Center and the BOK Center, the two-day affair includes individual award and degree recognition, chapter awards and state officer elections. Attendees also have access to career and leadership development workshops and an expo featuring college recruiters, potential employers and other agriculturally focused businesses. For the Liberty forestry students, having the convention in Tulsa is a chance to participate a little closer to home. With many of the states FFA forestry teams found in southeastern and far eastern Oklahoma, road trips to places like Wilburton and Stilwell for meets are not uncommon. All those kids (from southeastern Oklahoma) make fun of us, Brown said. I told them whats around us cows and farmland. They said our trees are just bushes. They wouldnt even classify our trees as trees. Despite the teasing, Libertys forestry students won their regional this spring for the third consecutive year and finished fourth at state. However as Eads pointed out, that short term success at meets may have bigger long-term payoffs for his students. You just never know when itll come in handy, he said. Something Ive noticed with these guys, is that when they first came in, when they were walking in the timber, it was just trees. Now those trees have names. It opens up a whole new environment that they didnt grasp before. Three children, who are family members, drowned in a dam in Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam while taking a stroll with their grandparents on Saturday. The incident happened at about 5:00 pm in Binh Khuong Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province. The three victims are T.N.T.B., 12, T.N.T.H., 5, and C.T.C.T., 8. B. and H. are siblings, while T. is their cousin. Binh Son District has asked the relevant agencies to support the childrens families to hold their funerals, Nguyen Tuong Duy, chairman of the Peoples Committee of the district, said on Saturday afternoon. The incident is so tragic that their parents, grandparents, and relatives faint continuously. They now need the support of the local authorities and neighbors, Duy added. The children were taken to their hometowns for a five-day holiday marking Hung Kings Commemoration Day, taking place on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which fell on April 29 this year, Reunification Day (April 30), and International Workers Day (May 1). Their grandparents later took them to the dam to take a walk. While they fell into the water, the grandparents could not save them in time. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three children, who are family members, drowned in a dam in Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam while taking a stroll with their grandparents on Saturday. The incident happened at about 5:00 pm in Binh Khuong Commune, Binh Son District, Quang Ngai Province. The three victims are T.N.T.B., 12, T.N.T.H., 5, and C.T.C.T., 8. B. and H. are siblings, while T. is their cousin. Binh Son District has asked the relevant agencies to support the childrens families to hold their funerals, Nguyen Tuong Duy, chairman of the Peoples Committee of the district, said on Saturday afternoon. The incident is so tragic that their parents, grandparents, and relatives faint continuously. They now need the support of the local authorities and neighbors, Duy added. The children were taken to their hometowns for a five-day holiday marking Hung Kings Commemoration Day, taking place on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which fell on April 29 this year, Reunification Day (April 30), and International Workers Day (May 1). Their grandparents later took them to the dam to take a walk. While they fell into the water, the grandparents could not save them in time. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Five people suffered burns as a hot-air balloon exploded at an international festival in Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam on Saturday. The incident happed at some 7:00 pm at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang. A Japanese pilot suffered burns on his hands when he was bumping hot air into the balloon before performing a ride but the wind prompted the hot-air balloon to flare up and cause a fire. Four others were also slightly burned while trying to extinguish the fire. The five victims were later rushed to a hospital for treatment and are now in a stable condition. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. In particular, the large hot-air balloon burst into flames accompanied by a blast, frightening many people. The hot-air balloon was used in the second International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Tuyen Quang. The festival was kicked off on Friday and will last until next Tuesday. It takes place at two venues, namely Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang City and Na Tong Stadium in Lam Binh District. The event attracted 20 hot-air balloons meeting international standards from many countries and territories. The hot-air balloons are controlled by experienced pilots from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Visitors can see the beautiful Tuyen Quang City and Lam Binh District from above when participating in the largest-ever hot-air balloon festival in Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Five people suffered burns as a hot-air balloon exploded at an international festival in Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam on Saturday. The incident happed at some 7:00 pm at Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang. A Japanese pilot suffered burns on his hands when he was bumping hot air into the balloon before performing a ride but the wind prompted the hot-air balloon to flare up and cause a fire. Four others were also slightly burned while trying to extinguish the fire. The five victims were later rushed to a hospital for treatment and are now in a stable condition. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media. In particular, the large hot-air balloon burst into flames accompanied by a blast, frightening many people. The hot-air balloon was used in the second International Hot-Air Balloon Festival in Tuyen Quang. The festival was kicked off on Friday and will last until next Tuesday. It takes place at two venues, namely Nguyen Tat Thanh Square in Tuyen Quang City and Na Tong Stadium in Lam Binh District. The event attracted 20 hot-air balloons meeting international standards from many countries and territories. The hot-air balloons are controlled by experienced pilots from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, India, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Visitors can see the beautiful Tuyen Quang City and Lam Binh District from above when participating in the largest-ever hot-air balloon festival in Vietnam. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today in Vietnam: Society -- Muong Khuong District in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai experienced hail for some 10 minutes on Friday. Hailstones were as big as eggs, puncturing many local houses roofs. -- Sixteen people were killed and 20 others injured in 32 crashes across Vietnam on Saturday, the first day of the ongoing five-day holiday, the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security informed. -- Five people suffered burns as a hot-air balloon exploded at an international festival in Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam on Saturday. -- Three children, who are family members, drowned in a dam in Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam while taking a stroll with their grandparents on Saturday. -- Two sleeper buses collided each other on a section of Noi Bai Lao Cai Expressway in northern mountainous Yen Bai Province on Saturday morning, killing one driver and injuring dozens of pasengers. Lifestyle -- Many groups of tourists, mainly veterans, young people, and students, visited the 114-year-old office building of the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for the first time on Saturday, said a representative of the municipal Department of Tourism. -- The 'Quy Nhon Sea Paradise Brilliant Colors' festival was kicked off at Quy Nhon Square in the namesake city of southern Binh Dinh Province on Saturday evening, attracting thousands of locals and tourists. World News -- A man shot dead five neighbors including an 8-year-old boy after some of them had asked him to stop shooting a semiautomatic rifle in his front yard in Cleveland, Texas, because it was keeping their baby awake, Reuters cited local police to report. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today in Vietnam: Society -- Muong Khuong District in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai experienced hail for some 10 minutes on Friday. Hailstones were as big as eggs, puncturing many local houses roofs. -- Sixteen people were killed and 20 others injured in 32 crashes across Vietnam on Saturday, the first day of the ongoing five-day holiday, the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security informed. -- Five people suffered burns as a hot-air balloon exploded at an international festival in Tuyen Quang Province in northern Vietnam on Saturday. -- Three children, who are family members, drowned in a dam in Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam while taking a stroll with their grandparents on Saturday. -- Two sleeper buses collided each other on a section of Noi Bai Lao Cai Expressway in northern mountainous Yen Bai Province on Saturday morning, killing one driver and injuring dozens of pasengers. Lifestyle -- Many groups of tourists, mainly veterans, young people, and students, visited the 114-year-old office building of the Peoples Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for the first time on Saturday, said a representative of the municipal Department of Tourism. -- The 'Quy Nhon Sea Paradise Brilliant Colors' festival was kicked off at Quy Nhon Square in the namesake city of southern Binh Dinh Province on Saturday evening, attracting thousands of locals and tourists. World News -- A man shot dead five neighbors including an 8-year-old boy after some of them had asked him to stop shooting a semiautomatic rifle in his front yard in Cleveland, Texas, because it was keeping their baby awake, Reuters cited local police to report. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Relevant units announced on Friday that they completed displaying a sculpture gifted by Namyangju City in the northwest South Korean province of Gyeonggi in Hue City of Thua Thien-Hue, central Vietnam. The statue called Greeting Man was presented by Namyangju governor Cho Kwang Han in 2019 in honor of the friendship and cooperation established between the two cities but it only arrived in Hue recently. Greeting Man is an aluminum statue of a blue, naked man bowing in a typically Asian greeting gesture. A naked figure represents no prejudice, and blue means no racial discrimination, while the statue as a whole embodies the values of meeting, honoring, admiring, reconciling, and fostering peace. Compared to the original design by 52-year-old South Korean sculptor Yoo Young-ho, the sculpture was shortened from six meters tall to two meters to meet the Hue sides request of protecting the cityscape from a too tall object. After prolonged discussions, administrators in Hue decided to install the statue in 3-2 Park on the south bank of the city's iconic Huong (Perfume) River, where several buildings constructed with South Korean support are located. Vietnam is not the first country outside South Korea that the modern sculpture project Greeting Man has been placed. In October 2012, a Greeting Man statue was unveiled in the neighborhood of Buceo, Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of a planned world series in multiple locations. Another statue was erected in Panama City, Panama in January 2016, marking the second to be unveiled in Latin America. In March 2018, South Korea went on to gift Merida City in Mexico, where a community of about 2,000 South Korean citizens is living, another Greeting Man. Another statue was built in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico in March 2021. At home, a Greeting Man was introduced in October 2013, near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, in Haean, Yanggu County, in the northeast province of Gangwon. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Relevant units announced on Friday that they completed displaying a sculpture gifted by Namyangju City in the northwest South Korean province of Gyeonggi in Hue City of Thua Thien-Hue, central Vietnam. The statue called Greeting Man was presented by Namyangju governor Cho Kwang Han in 2019 in honor of the friendship and cooperation established between the two cities but it only arrived in Hue recently. Greeting Man is an aluminum statue of a blue, naked man bowing in a typically Asian greeting gesture. A naked figure represents no prejudice, and blue means no racial discrimination, while the statue as a whole embodies the values of meeting, honoring, admiring, reconciling, and fostering peace. Compared to the original design by 52-year-old South Korean sculptor Yoo Young-ho, the sculpture was shortened from six meters tall to two meters to meet the Hue sides request of protecting the cityscape from a too tall object. After prolonged discussions, administrators in Hue decided to install the statue in 3-2 Park on the south bank of the city's iconic Huong (Perfume) River, where several buildings constructed with South Korean support are located. Vietnam is not the first country outside South Korea that the modern sculpture project Greeting Man has been placed. In October 2012, a Greeting Man statue was unveiled in the neighborhood of Buceo, Montevideo, Uruguay, as part of a planned world series in multiple locations. Another statue was erected in Panama City, Panama in January 2016, marking the second to be unveiled in Latin America. In March 2018, South Korea went on to gift Merida City in Mexico, where a community of about 2,000 South Korean citizens is living, another Greeting Man. Another statue was built in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico in March 2021. At home, a Greeting Man was introduced in October 2013, near the Korean Demilitarized Zone, in Haean, Yanggu County, in the northeast province of Gangwon. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Irene Santiago at the University of Bradford. Credit to K M Images Ltd (Image: University of Bradford) A NOBEL Peace Prize nominee who helped end a 50-year conflict in her native Philippines has given an inspirational speech at the University of Bradford. Former journalist Irene Santiago, recognised as one of the worlds most outstanding women peacemakers, put an end to the violent conflict in the Paquibato district with her Peace 911 programme. She is currently rolling out the programme to other parts of the country as Senior Adviser on Peacebuilding of the Local Government Academy of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Ms Santiago told guests: Behaving badly as a feminist makes one adept at organising mayhem and movement that leads to change. She travelled from the Philippines to deliver this years Adam Curle lecture on A Feminist Does Peacebuilding at the Universitys Department of Peace Studies and International Development. She has spent 40 years in conflict negotiation, worked with the UN, and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. Sharing her advice on how to end the Sudan crisis, she urged Sudanese women to organise non-violent action. She believes the creation of another violent force to end fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces, is not the answer. The universitys Peace Studies department is marking its 50th anniversary throughout 2023. Diplomatic efforts still essential to solve crisis The much-trumpeted summit between Presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden is over. After removing the foam of pomp and hospitality, what's left are cold and realistic calculations. To sum things up, South Korea received a larger and tighter nuclear umbrella from the United States through its leader's state visit. Standing side by side before journalists after their summit, Yoon stressed an "overwhelming response" if North Korea attacks the South with nuclear weapons. Biden agreed, saying it "will result in the end of whatever regime were to take such an action." These words are familiar, repeated almost after every summit recently. The difference this time was they cemented such commitments in a separate joint statement called the Washington Declaration. The two sides will also launch a Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) modeled after NATO's Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) to put the words into action. But NCG is looser than NPG, as the U.S. deploys atomic bombs in Europe but not Korea. This notwithstanding, Yoon acquired what he wanted Biden's promise to retaliate in the event of the North's nuclear attack against the South even if Pyongyang simultaneously hits the U.S. mainland with ICBMs. Instead, Washington secured Seoul's pledge not to have its own nuclear weapons. The U.S. will not permanently reintroduce its "strategic assets" but send them here more frequently. The Korean leader must ponder what prompts his U.S. counterpart to move even a few inches forward in the nuclear issue. That's because Yoon had expressed his intention to develop nuclear weapons, reflecting the Korean people's desire to attain an independent self-defense system with nuclear arms if needed. National leaders can push ahead with their agenda, at home or abroad, only when supported by their people. We disagree that this country should have nuclear weapons. However, South Korea needs a better nuclear shield before the North drops its lampoon. It was regrettable in this regard that the two leaders did not even pretend to resume efforts for a negotiated settlement of the nuclear crisis. Yes, the current situation might preclude such attempts. But at least the South Korean side should have attempted to put it on the table. Yoon says it is a fake peace that depends on the North's goodwill. Yet chances are that the regime in Pyongyang might have a similar thought on Washington and Seoul watching the ever-expanding joint war games against it. Someone must stop this vicious circle of nuclear buildup and defense drills. The U.S. is best poised but unlikely to do so in the foreseeable future due to its global strategy. Seoul has limitations as a peacemaker but must try what it can. That's why liberal governments made all-out and even conservative ones made some efforts to bring the U.S. and North Korea to the dialogue table. Frustratingly absent in the incumbent administration are such endeavors. In his early days, Yoon made some moves, offering an "audacious plan," essentially a copy of one of his conservative predecessors' proposals but with a little lower threshold. But that was all. It may be unfair to put all blame on Yoon for the worst inter-Korean ties in a few decades. He inherited the aggravating relationship due to the breakup of the Washington-Pyongyang talks and the previous liberal government's failure to relink them. However, Yoon drove the North to the wall instead of taking up where his predecessor left off. Under the "value alliance" banner based on freedom and democracy, the South Korean leader claims the vanguard in the trilateral alliance with the U.S. and Japan against China, Russia, and North Korea, conceding "practical interests" in economic and other areas. Little wonder Biden gave Yoon the warmest welcome only for the second time in his tenure. French President Emmanuel Macron, Biden's first state guest, raised the issue of U.S. selfishness in the economy. Upon return home, he took an equidistance between America and China. For good or ill, Yoon will unlikely follow the example of his French counterpart. Jon Rahm shot a course record 61 as his bid for a fifth win of the year moved up a gear in the third round of the Mexico Open. The Masters champion went out in 29 to move within two of leader Tony Finau. Akshay Bhatia, playing in just his sixth PGA Tour event, will join the tournament's big two names in the final group after equalling the previous Vidanta Vallarta course record of 63 to sit alongside Rahm on 17 under. Rahm, who hit 17 greens in regulation, had the chance of a rare 59 but missed birdie putts on 15 and 16 before seeing his drive at the 18th plug in a fairway bunker as he had to settle for a par. He said following his round: "It was a great round. The swings didn't feel that different today to the first two days. The first two rounds, a couple of the not-so-good swings cost me a little bit too much "Today, everything just seemed perfect. Made a lot of great swings and the ones that weren't great, still gave myself a good result." Clutch putt and a fist pump @JonRahmPGA holes a 36-footer for birdie, sending the crowd into a frenzy @MexicoOpenGolf. pic.twitter.com/bEGWJxSJZg PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 29, 2023 The world number one needed just 25 putts as he equalled his career-low round. "I think that's the difference usually in a course like this," he said. "To get to 10 under you're going to have to make a few lengthy ones, and combined with really good ball-striking, great round. Really happy with what I did and just glad I gave myself a chance." Rahm, who is looking to defend a PGA title for the first time, could become the first player with five wins on the tour before May since Johnny Miller in 1974. Finau, the only other member of the world's top 20 in the field, birdied five of his last seven holes as he carded a 65 to maintain his lead heading into the final round. Rahm, who beat him to the title 12 months ago, briefly edged ahead before the American's strong finish. Bhatia, 21, leapfrogged into the final group with an eagle on the last having played a practice round with Rahm and Finau earlier in the week. Brandon Wu, who was second alongside Finau last year, is a shot further back and the only other person within five strokes of the lead. Ben Taylor edged into the top 10 with a 66, two better than fellow Englishman Harry Hall. The article PGA Tour: Masters champ Jon Rahm back in business at Mexico Open after shooting course record appeared first on Planetsport.com. HCM CITY Vietjet will increase the frequency of flights to and from Melbourne and Sydney (Australia) to respond to the travel, visiting relatives, and studying abroad demands of people and tourists. The direct flights connecting HCM City and Melbourne will increase the frequency of operation from September 17, 2023 with four return flights per week. The flights from HCM City to Melbourne every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday take off at 10.55am and land at 10.35pm (local time). The flights on Melbourne to HCM City route every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday depart at 12.30am and arrive at 6.30am (local time). At the same time, the direct flights linking HCM City with Sydney (Australia) will also increase the frequency with four return flights per week from September 18, 2023. The flights from HCM City to Sydney every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday take off at 7.30pm and land at 07.20am (local time). The flights from Sydney to HCM City every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday depart at 11.15am and land at 4.30pm (local time). According to Vietjet, the first direct flight connecting HCM City with Brisbane will also be launched in June 2023. Passengers will have opportunities to hunt zero ong tickets on routes from HCM City to Australia every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, from now until October 25, 2023. Especially, when registering for the Vietjet SkyJoy loyalty programme, passengers can use reward SkyPoints to redeem vouchers of Vietjet and services from 250 favourite brands of dining, resort and shopping in Viet Nam via SkyJoy mobile app or website https://skyjoy.vietjetair.com/. VNS HCM CITY A series of opportunities to invest in the agriculture sector in the southern province of Tay Ninh will be introduced at the Businesses connection forum to invest and develop high-tech agricultural ecosystem in Tay Ninh province in 2023", which will be organised on June 2. The forum aims at introducing and promoting the potential, strengths, investment incentives and policies of Tay Ninh Province; helping domestic and foreign investors to access key projects, especially ones in economic zones, tourist resorts and agricultural projects, especially in high-tech agriculture. The forum is also an opportunity for the province to invite reputable businesses and strategic investors with financial and technological strengths to invest in high-tech agriculture, in line with the province's socio-economic development plan so that they will contribute to local economic development. "Through this forum, the provincial People's Committee wants to meet and connect with both domestic and foreign investors to establish co-operation relationships and attract investment, said Nguyen Thanh Ngoc, chairman of Tay Ninh Province's People's Committee. At the forum, investment trends and experiences in attracting investment from members of the European Business Association in Viet Nam (EuroCham) will also be shared. "Viet Nam is opening up many business opportunities for EuroCham members and partners to maximise their potential in the Vietnamese market, including high-tech agriculture. With EuroCham's foundation and extensive network, I believe that EuroCham can make landmark changes in the agricultural sector in Viet Nam," said Gabor Fluit, president of EuroCham in Viet Nam cum the co-chair of the forum. With more than 1,300 members, EuroCham has become one of the largest foreign business associations in Viet Nam. Many of the members are operating in the field of high-tech agriculture and have been very successfully investing in the country. This is also the motivation for EuroCham to decide to co-operate with Tay Ninh Province's People's Committee to organise the forum. The Vietnamese agriculture sector has had huge prosperity, promising to reach breakthroughs in the future. To make the potential come true, it needs to have co-operation with the worlds leading agricultural co-operation. This is also the reason why we decided to organise the forum which aims to connect EuroCham members with Tay Ninh. Agriculture is also a key sector that the province is focusing on to call for investment, said Vu Manh Hung, vice president of Vietnam Digital Agriculture Association cum co-organiser. The forum, which is expected to attract around 400 guests, is expected to be attended by Government leaders and representatives from relevant ministries and businesses of EuroCham and local enterprises such as De Heus Group and Hung Nhon Group. VNS HA NOI National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hue arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, Ha Noi, on April 29 night, concluding his successful official visits to Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay. The visits, from April 18-28, were made at the invitation of President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez, President of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina Cecilia Moreau, and Speaker of the Senate of Uruguay Beatriz Argimon Cedeira. The trip featured nearly 80 activities of the Vietnamese top legislator, some 40 of ministries, agencies and localities, and about 30 cooperation agreements, at both central and local levels, signed. It reaped practical, comprehensive results in all the channels of Party, legislature, government and people-to-people exchange, and all pillars of relations, helping open up new opportunities for Viet Nam and its partners to foster effective, substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation. The trip also created an important political foundation to deepen relations between Viet Nam and the three countries in the time ahead. Notably, apart from bilateral collaboration, the results reached the regional and international levels such as cooperation between Southeast Asia and Latin America, Viet Nam and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), South-South cooperation, and coordination within the United Nations (UN), the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and the World Trade Organisation (WTO). During talks and meetings with senior leaders of the three, the hosts affirmed the importance they attach to Viet Nams position and role, and expressed their wish to coordinate with Viet Nam at regional and international forums and in settling global challenges. On this occasion, the NA Chairman met with representatives of Vietnamese communities in the host countries. The trip offered an opportunity for Vietnamese leaders to spread the message of Viet Nams stance on some regional and international issues of shared concern. For legislative cooperation, the NA Chairman signed cooperation agreements with leaders of legislatures of the three countries, which stressed the exchange of all-level delegations, experience in law making, coordination in supervising the roll-out of signed agreements and treaties, as well as coordination at multilateral parliamentary forums. The trip materialised the foreign policy set at the 13th National Party Congress that is enhancing relations with traditional Latin American friends, including Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay. VNS HA NOI National Assembly Chairman Vuong inh Hues trip to Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay, from April 18-28, was a success as it opened up a new development period in relations between Viet Nam and the three Latin American nations, said Bui Van Cuong, NA Secretary General and Chairman of the NA Office. Sharing Cuongs view, Vu Hai Ha, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations, highlighted the diverse and comprehensive contents of the meetings within the trip. Lai Xuan Mon, deputy head of the Party Central Committees Commission for Information and Education, said the Cuban side spoke highly of the visit as well as NA Chairman Hues speech at a special plenary session of the 10th NA of the Peoples Power of Cuba. The speech served as a source of encouragement for Cuban officials, Party members and people to overcome challenges caused by the embargo to continue with the path towards socialism, he noted. Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung said Cuban Party and State leaders offered special rituals to NA Chairman Hue and his entourage, and the two sides shared the view that the bilateral relationship has become an invaluable asset shared by the two nations. Mai Thi Phuong Hoa, Vice Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Judicial Affairs, who is also President of the Viet Nam-Argentina Friendship Parliamentarians Group and the Viet Nam-Uruguay Friendship Parliamentarians Group, said the Viet Nam-Uruguay Friendship Parliamentarians Group, established on April 14, 2023, made its debut on this occasion. This is an important parliamentary activity as it helps parliamentarians exchange professional experience, while promoting parliamentary diplomacy, she continued. Regarding the trips outcomes in economic cooperation, Minister of Construction Nguyen Thanh Nghi, who co-chairs the Viet Nam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee, said the committee will work harder to enhance trade ties between the two countries, thus raising the bilateral trade to US$500 million in the near future. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade o Thang Hai, who co-chairs the Viet Nam-Argentina Inter-Governmental Committee, emphasised that the NA Chairmans visit reiterated Viet Nams commitment to working together with Argentina to advance the bilateral economic, trade and investment ties to a new height. For agriculture, the two sides continued looking into market opening for farm produce of each other, and cooperation potential in fishery, he said, adding that new collaboration fields were proposed during the visit like food safety, customs, science-technology, software, wood exploitation and processing, renewable energy, and innovation. Following the trip, trade between Viet Nam and Argentina and Uruguay, especially Viet Nams exports to the markets, is expected to make progress, the official said. Asked about cooperation prospects between Viet Nam and the three countries, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said we can be optimistic about cooperative relations with Cuba, Argentina and Uruguay. The sides displayed their determination, efforts and actions to materialise cooperation potential and opportunities, he explained. Cuban and Argentine ambassadors to Viet Nam also shared the view that the trip will exert profound and long-term impacts on cooperation between the Southeast Asian nation and the Latin American region. VNS THANH HOA Famous for its jellyfish products, the coastal Hoang Truong Commune is enjoying one of the highest prices for their catches this year with an improved income for local fishermen. Returning after a fishing trip, fisherman Nguyen Van Long said: We often set sail to catch jellyfish in the late afternoon or around 1am. Jellyfish often swim to the surface for food at dawn, so this is the golden window for a catch. Fishermen only need to find the right current and drop the nets for three or four hours. Our boat has been catching around 100 to 200 jellyfish a day, small and big. Traders are buying them at the rate of VN30,000 (US$1.30) each, so we can make around VN3-6 million ($128-256) per trip. Long added that the jellyfish appeared later this year and in a smaller quantity than in previous seasons, but they are all large. Some weigh around 15-20kg. The price of jellyfish is also more than two-fold the usual rate in previous years. Fishermen are excited to take advantage of the favourable weather and set sail for what they dubbed the white gold of the sea. Hoang Truong Commune is also the largest location of procurement, processing and export for jellyfish in Thanh Hoa Province, with six major processing facilities providing jobs to hundreds of local workers. In the past, the most arduous step in jellyfish processing is to remove their mucus. Without any machinery, workers have to use their own hands. This slime can cause an extremely itchy sensation and can cause blisters and peel on workers hands if they are not covered correctly. In recent years, thanks to new technology, the jellyfish will be chopped into smaller pieces, which will then be sorted out and cleansed in a tank for eight or ten hours, removing the residual water and mucus. Following this step, the jellyfish will be soaked in a mixture of water, salt and alum for one week until their body becomes translucent, which means they are cooked. The product will then be packaged for shipment. Locals said that during this process, the salinity of the salt could preserve the jellyfish for up to two years while maintaining the clean, firm and crunchy texture. Truong inh Hien, the owner of a jellyfish procurement and processing facility, said: The jellyfish price is at the highest this year, almost double that of last year. Our facility buys jellyfish from around 50 fishermen households in Hoang Truong. We procure more than 20 tonnes of fresh jellyfish daily for processing. The current price for the finished product ranges from VN200,000 ($8.50) per 10kg of the jellyfish body, or VN300,000-350,000 ($13-15) for the tentacles, which is considered the best part of the jellyfish. Jellyfish dishes are becoming increasingly popular with tourists at the local beach. These include jellyfish salad, soup and hotpot. Unlike many other types of marine animals, jellyfish can be caught near the shore with simple and less expensive gear, yet bringing in substantial economic value. In 2022, Hoang Truong Commune produced more than 4,200 tonnes of jellyfish products. On average, locals can gain a total of VN80-90 billion ($3.4-3.8 million) each season. The produce has become a trademark of the locality. Pham Thanh Nam, vice chairman of Hoang Truong Commune Peoples Committee, said: Catching and processing jellyfish is a long-standing profession here, and is becoming a traditional vocation of Hoang Truong Commune. Hoang Truong Commune now has approximately 200 vessels dedicated to catching jellyfish. After nearly three years of being affected by COVID-19, the usual markets of China and Thailand are reopening. Therefore, jellyfish exports are doing well with high prices, so people are excited and feel secure to continue setting sail and develop the local economy. To protect and take advantage of this aquatic resource, Thanh Hoas fishery sector has coordinated with the authorities of the coastal areas to encourage fishermen to use the favourable season. They also recommend people protect the environment during the catches and processing, especially at tourist beaches. VNS In its strategy for attracting foreign direct investment until 2030, HCM City will prioritise high-quality non-labour-intensive projects that use advanced, new or clean technologies, have high value-added products and help boost the competitiveness of domestic firms and enhance their access to global supply chain. As the countrys economic locomotive, the city has always drawn the interest of foreign investors around the world. According to its Department of Planning and Investment, the city was a bright spot in attracting FDI last year with a total of US$4.43 billion. In the first quarter of this year it attracted $500 million, the fourth highest of any province or city in the country. As of last year it had nearly $80 billion worth of foreign registered investment in 11,220 projects, the latter being the highest in the country. FDI has been the main growth driver of its foreign trade and greatly contributed to its socio-economic development. It said 2023 would be a pivotal year in the implementation of the city's five-year plan for 2021-2025. The city wants to become a smart city and a modern services and industrial hub, retain its role as the growth engine of the country, especially the Southern Key Economic Zone, lead in innovation, and provide its residents with a good quality of life by 2025. So it would focus on attracting FDI in areas in which it has the potential and strengths to create a breakthrough in economic restructure and raise its competitiveness, the department said. Mai Phong Lan, a representative of the department, said: Since it has little land left, the city will not seek to attract investment at any cost but will focus on attracting projects with net-zero emissions, contributing to green and sustainable development and combating climate change. "The city will also focus on attracting investment in key industries and high-value manufacturing. The city wants to build new industrial and high-tech parks, a concentrated industrial zone and a pharmaceutical industrial zone." It realised that to be able to attract more FDI and foster connectivity between foreign and domestic businesses amid the current economic integration and volatile global trade and investment situation, it would need deeper reforms and more practical actions to resolve the problems faced by foreign investors, Lan said. "So the city has created the Department and District Competitiveness Index for which businesses assess the competitiveness of various government departments, agencies and district people's committees fairly and transparently to help them recognise their strengths and limitations," she said. Besides, the city is promoting construction of housing for workers and co-ordinating with universities to improve the skills of workers to ensure foreign investors can find the workers they need. The city regularly holds dialogues with foreign investors to know their difficulties and resolve them in a timely manner. The department is compiling a handbook to provide investors with necessary information on local investment procedures, she revealed. Challenges and recommendations Many foreign businesses describe HCM City as dynamic and an interesting destination for foreign investors, but they also say that, to attract foreign capital for rapid and sustainable development, the city has to address problems related to policies, infrastructure and human resources among others. At a recent roundtable meeting between the HCM City leadership and foreign business associations, James Ollen, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in HCM City, emphasised that the citys infrastructure hindered its production and tourism activities. He called on the city to continue its efforts to improve infrastructure and reform its investment environment to attract new investors and maintain and develop existing ones, pointing out that the ideal environment is fair, transparent and predictable. Alain Cany, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam, said there were many complaints by visitors about their experience at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and they needed addressing. To preserve Viet Nam's popularity as a tourist destination, the HCM City People's Committee and its Department of Tourism should speed up airport processes such as by restoring the fast-track lane and setting up a special lane for Vietnamese passport holders," Cany said. Foreign experts often have difficulty obtaining work permits due to the lengthy application processes and complicated documentation procedures. Work permits for experts, in particular international school teachers, are essential for attracting foreign investment. We strongly recommend that the leaders of HCM City should continue to make the process more efficient and predictable." He added: "The city also needs to apply digital transformation to public management to create a fair and transparent legal environment and reliable and consistent approval process." o Thien Anh Tuan, a lecturer at the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management, said: "With the global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent set to be applied next year in Viet Nam on multinational corporations with revenues of at least 750 million euros ($870 million), Viet Nam, especially HCM City, should focus on improving the quality of labour to draw foreign investors, instead of relying on tax incentives. "It should focus on creating a level playing field, investing in human capital, promoting R&D, upgrading infrastructure, improving the business environment, speeding up administrative reform, implementing green growth, and making itself a livable city," he added. Chairman of the city People's Committee, Phan Van Mai, said the focus was on improving the investment environment and clarifying the administrative responsibilities of agencies and the duties of each government worker. The city would speed up digital transformation to improve the investment environment and develop transport infrastructure, he said. With its favourable strategic location, stable political environment, steady economic growth, a massive workforce, and improving business and investment climate, Viet Nam, especially HCM City, will continue to be a prominent destination for foreign investment. VNS Many hospital infrastructure projects in HCM City have come on stream this year as part of the citys efforts to reduce patient overloading at major public hospitals and its strategy to develop into a centre for specialised medicine in the Southeast Asian region. The second branch of the Oncology Hospital in Thu uc City is one of the key projects that the city inaugurated with the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 15 to celebrate the 48th National Reunification Day on April 30. The hospital's construction began in 2016. The 1,000-bed hospital, with a cost of more than VN5.8 trillion (US$248.2 million) from the State budget, is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, 16 operation rooms and a helipad on the roof. The hospital has received 1,700-2,000 patients a day since it opened earlier this year. It was expected to reduce the prolonged overload of patients at the Oncology Hospital in Binh Thanh District where two or three patients had to share a bed, said Dr ang Huy Quoc Thinh, deputy director of the hospital. With new facilities and high-tech equipment, the time taken for examinations and treatment was reduced significantly and the quality of examinations and treatment was improved, Thinh said. It strives to become a specialised medical centre for cancer treatment in Southeast Asia, according to Thinh. Another hospital project that was also completed recently is two new buildings at the HCM City Traditional Medicine Hospital. On February 19, the hospital inaugurated the two buildings and its Department of Pharmacy received the WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certificate granted by the Ministry of Health. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Dr o Tan Khoa, director of the hospital, said it was the first traditional medicine hospital in the country that complied with WHO GMP qualifications. The tier-one hospital with 300 beds had invested to upgrade its infrastructure, facilities and medical human resources to comply with the qualifications, Khoa said. The Peoples Hospital 115 put into use a high-tech diagnostic and treatment building which was inaugurated on February 15 after six years of construction. The ten-storey building with investment of more than VN332 billion ($14.2 million) from the State budget has a rooftop helipad. Phan Van Bau, director of the hospital, said it was assigned by the citys Peoples Committee to jointly implement a plan on developing the city into a centre of medical care for the Southeast Asian region. The hospital would provide emergency deliveries by air, making it possible for patients across the country to receive timely treatment at the hospital, he added. The Hospital for Rehabilitation - Occupational Diseases on April 25 opened a new building with an investment of nearly VN354 billion ($15.1 million) from the State budget. The inauguration of the HCM City Forensic Centre was slated to take place on April 28. The Thu uc Regional General Hospital with an investment of VN1.9 trillion ($81.5 million), the Hoc Mon General Hospital with an investment of VN1.8 trillion ($77.2 million), and the Cu Chi General Hospital with an investment of VN1.8 trillion are expected to go on line by the end of this year. SE Asia medical hub As part of the citys plan to promote the city as a centre of high quality medical care in the region, a project to develop a hi-tech screening and diagnostic centre is being developed under the public-private partnership model to offer high-quality health check services and examinations, according to Tang Chi Thuong, director of the citys Department of Health. The project would help reduce the number of patients travelling abroad for medical examinations and treatment and develop the citys medical tourism in coordination with travel agencies, Thuong said. Treatment methods using traditional medicine combined with modern one would be used at many specific departments. The health sector would put proper investment in infrastructure, medical equipment and the application of advanced techniques, he said. It would also improve the capacity of disease control and prevention, strengthen grassroots healthcare networks and intensive care and ambulance services, and foster digital transformation and development of medical human resources, he added. VNS by Nguyen My Ha It was a day off for teachers and students at the primary school on Song Tu Tay Island (internationally known as Southwest Cay) in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. The blue painted two-storey school building houses only two teachers and about two dozen students. In his office, teacher Nguyen Ba Ngoc displays several of the island's white pebbles on which he writes black ink calligraphy in his spare time. Ngoc, now 30, wrote a letter volunteering to go and work on the island back in 2018 after he graduated from the Ha Noi Teachers College. He has been teaching two classes at the school. "I was very lucky and honoured to get this teaching job," Ngoc tells Viet Nam News. Having been teaching on the island for four and a half years, he's close to finishing his first five-year stint. "I will stay on if no new teacher comes. But I would like to tell other graduates of teachers' training college across the country to come out here to Truong Sa, it will be an experience you won't regret," he says. Two teachers are responsible for two classes at this school. One class has about a dozen pupils ranging from grade 1, 2 and 3, while the other has children in grade 4 and 5. Smaller children learn to read and write, bigger ones learn maths and Vietnamese language. They do not learn English, a required subject by the Ministry of Education and Training from grade 2, as there are no trained teachers for the subject. The school is close to the children's houses, so they all just walk to school. The teachers and parents know each other well. For children under 10, this is an ideal school with no motorbike exhaust fumes, no peer pressure, and no influential parents trying to buy children special treatment. There are no extra classes, nor too many electronic devices. There's no bullying or cyberbullying. The school, teachers and students enjoy a fresh environment, abundant in sunshine and sea breezes. But there is a lack of electricity, and the storm season can be devastating. The super tropical storm Rai in 2021 knocked down old trees on the island. Rai was a powerful and rare type of typhoon that comes only once every 50 years and leaves devastating consequences. Nearly two years have passed and today, small and new sea-water resistant trees have been planted, but it'll take years for them to grow and provide shade. Every day, Ngoc teaches two shifts of mixed classes. When some children learn new words or skills, others just revise old exercises. When city teachers would have to be busy getting students in crowded classrooms to pay attention, Ngoc has to balance different levels and skills of students. "This year is my fifth, I'll be leaving the island for home to join my wife and child soon," he says. During his leisure time, Ngoc picks seashells and designs what he calls 'Flowers of the Sea', or writes calligraphy on the island's signature white stones, which he gives away as gifts to visitors. "Here there's no market on the island, so we have to plant our own vegetables. I also learned calligraphy when I was home as a child, and now it's become my favourite pastime," Ngoc says. Building lives, sharing loves Every year, the third lunar month has always been a remembrance month, when families visit their ancestors graves, planting small flowers, lighting incense and offering a meal. In April, everyone in Truong Sa pays tribute to the 64 Vietnamese fallen soldiers who failed in a fierce battle on March 14, 1988 to protect Gac Ma (Johnson South Reef) against China's naval forces' invasion. This April has two national holidays that fall together for a long weekend. The commemoration of Hung Kings, the legendary founding fathers of the nation, coincides with National Reunification Day and May Day. In the last campaign to unite Viet Nam as one country in 1975, the Vietnamese army seized control of the Spratlys from the Sai Gon administration. General Vo Nguyen Giap wrote in his memoir that the Spratly archipelago played a very vital role not only in the marine routes in the East Sea, but also as strategic guarding positions for Viet Nam. The North Viet Nam army liberated Song Tu Tay Island on April 14th, Son Ca Island (Sand Cay) on the 25th, then Nam Yet (Namyit) Island on the 27th, Sinh Ton (Sin Cowe) Island on the 28th and the Great Truong Sa Island on the 29th, one day ahead of the liberation of Sai Gon on April 30, 1975, putting the end to the long war that separated the north and south of the country. Back then, it took them a little more than two weeks to move from island to island and re-confirm Viet Nam's sovereignty and territorial integrity over the Spratlys in the East Sea. This month, I took a marine voyage revisiting some of the islands in peace time, and was fortunate enough to see a school of dolphins swimming in front of our ship. Song Tu Tay, Sinh Ton and Great Truong Sa islands have become much greener havens among the waves. Strong seawater-resistant trees have been planted on the islands, green vegetables are precious, yet grown scattered on the islands. Fresh meat and poultry get transported by ship to the lands on a monthly basis. But some hardships on the islands never change: the sunshine, the tropical storms and strong wind are always abundant. They have been the prime source for generating energy on the islands: solar panels and wind turbines have been mobilised to provide electricity for lighting. "We moved here from Khanh Hoa Province," says Nguyen thi Xuan Hong, 33, a mother of two on Song Tu Tay island. "Life is tranquil here. Sometimes we have an electricity cut, and tap water limited. Our extended family also lives on another island off Khanh Hoa coast, so I went to live with them when I was six-month pregnant and gave birth to our second child. When he was three months old, we both moved here to settle down to work." Like her neighbours, they plant their own vegetables. As long as the children are small and go to primary school, the family can still stay on the island. But when they go to secondary school, they will have to consider moving or sending their child to a new community that's bigger. Hanoians on far flung islands The Truong Sa Island District has three smaller administrative units: Truong Sa Town, Sinh Ton and Song Tu Tay islands. They have a primary school, a medical centre and a lighthouse, where fishing vessels take refuge during storms, get oil and drinking water, and call help in an emergency. The medical centre in Truong Sa Town has two doctors and at the time we visited was treating some patients -- fishermen from surrounding areas. When we meet people on the islands, "Where are you from?" is always our first question. We get answers from everywhere in Viet Nam from the northern mountains to the coastal centre, to the Mekong Delta and deep southern districts of Ca Mau. The first time we hear, "We are from Ha Noi," is from the doctors working at the medical centre. "We have been functioning as a second-level field hospital here," says La van Tuan, Chief doctor at the centre. "We are an extended field Medical Centre of Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City. We do medical consultation when we need, and can call for a medical helicopter emergency if the condition becomes life-threatening. We had two helicopter emergencies in 2022." He then turns to a patient who has been taken to the centre unconscious after nearly drowning. Three days have passed, and he is recovering well and will soon be discharged. "Our assignment lasts for a year, and working with limited resources on the islands is a challenge we all have to overcome," the other doctor Kieu Cong Dan says. Life on the islands is full of challenges. While it lacks some creature comforts, such as the internet, the environment is clean, fresh and full of sunlight. A handful of people volunteer to go to these far-flung islands of the country and build their lives, and to keep the nation's sovereignty intact. VNS State President Vo Van Thuong and officials offer incense to the Hung Kings at the special national historical relic site of the Hung Kings Temple in Phu Tho province on April 29. (Photo: VNA) Phu Tho State President Vo Van Thuong, central and local officials, along with thousands of people offered incense in commemoration of the Hung Kings, the legendary founders of Vietnam, at the Hung Kings Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 29 (the 10th day of the third lunar month). The ceremony was held at Kinh Thien Palace on Nghia Linh Mountain, part of the special national historical relic site of the Hung Kings Temple.Reading the eulogy, Chairman of the Phu Tho Peoples Committee Bui Van Quang expressed the Vietnamese peoples deep gratitude to the Hung Kings, who established Van Lang the first state in Vietnams history, and other ancestors who defended the country. He also reported on the countrys enormous achievements in reforms, integration, and development.After that, Party and State leaders offered incense at the Tomb of Hung Kings and laid wreaths at a sculpted relief depicting then President Ho Chi Minh talking to officers and soldiers of the Tien Phong Division at the Gieng Temple on September 19, 1954, where he said: The Hung Kings established the country, we must together safeguard it.On this occasion, the provinces and cities housing temples dedicated to the Hung Kings and generals from the kings era also held ceremonies to commemorate the legendary founders of Vietnam. Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then gave birth to a pouch filled with 100 eggs, which hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest. Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri city in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 reigns of the Hung Kings. The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for bumper crops. To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month serves as the national commemorative anniversary for the kings. The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship traditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012. Incense offering ceremony held in honour of Hung Kings An incense offering ceremony was held in the northern province of Phu Tho on April 14, or the tenth day of the third lunar month, to commemorate the national founders, the Hung Kings. The information was shared on April 27 at a seminar entitled Digital Transformation to Build a Modern and Sustainable Logistics Industry, organised by the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Nguyen Tran Hoang Yen, supply chain director for Nestle Vietnam said, "Digital transformation is one of Nestle's priorities to promote sustainable development. This drive covers the entire operating system of the company, including the supply chain." Nestle estimates that up to 95 per cent of the group's total greenhouse gas volume comes from the value chain, including animal husbandry, farming, supply, and freight transport. Therefore, the digital transformation of its supply chains not only improves the company's operational efficiency, but also contributes to achieving the net-zero emissions target by 2050 set by Nestle Group. Vietnam is one of the markets where Nestle Group has implemented many initiatives related to the digital transformation of its supply chain. Specifically, Nestle Vietnam is investing in digital transformation for all logistics activities to connect with global markets and promote import and export activities. The company also optimises the transportation and distribution of goods in the domestic market. "We maintain smart logistics operations to bring flexibility and connectivity to our business. Digital transformation helps provide accurate and quality data. This, coupled with detailed reports, helps the company reduce costs and increase supply chain efficiency," Yen added. Nestle Vietnam exports products to more than 40 markets around the world, each of which has different requirements. Therefore, the company has invested in digital technology to support the connection between manufacturers, suppliers, transporters, and customers. In 2022, Nestle Vietnam will deploy a smart application called Cargoo to connect manufacturers with importers and shipping lines. This platform helps track the status of the entire freight process between partners for each order. Partners can also retrieve shipment information when needed, make reservations with shipping lines, and manage import and export documents. As of present, 14 shipping lines have been integrated into this platform, helping exporting countries accelerate reservations and ensure on-time delivery. Meanwhile, importing countries can also track orders and solve problems when needed. The move paves the way for Nestle Vietnam to increase packing efficiency and reduce shipping costs. For the domestic market, Nestle Vietnam applies a smart application for warehouse and transportation management called Transportation Hub. For the last two years, Nestle Vietnam has been digitising its freight centre system, changing the company's operations in terms of receiving orders, allocating transportation, operating warehouses, and tracking delivery to customers. Automated order allocation helps optimise transportation. For example, small orders are combined and transported on the same trip, shortening the total distance, reducing emissions from transportation activities, and contributing to the net-zero roadmap. In addition, analytics has become an effective tool for analysing and forecasting activities. Thus, sales, planning, and finance departments can make more effective decisions. Nestle Vietnam will continue to test and develop high-end analytical solutions to increase accuracy for forecasting and planning across the supply chain. This will help the company make faster and more accurate decisions in today's volatile world. The strategy helps the company improve customer service, ensuring a stable supply in the market. Digitalisation: a story of both technology and people It could be time to adopt a more realistic approach to digitalisation. Urs Kloeti, factory manager at Nestle Vietnam, explained to VIRs Van Nguyen why it may not be an appropriate approach to simply pursue external high-tech without first identifying remaining gaps in technology. Nestle Vietnam promotes the circular economy model On April 13, the 2023 Sustainable Development Conference brought together experts and representatives of industry leaders in Vietnam. These included Binu Jacob, general director of Nestle Vietnam, who shared his belief that environmental pollution and resource depletion are disrupting the natural regeneration cycle and causing climate change. This decision was made by Parkson Retail Asia Ltd. after nearly 20 years of operations in Vietnam. The company has built a total of eight centres, but only one is currently in operation, the Parkson Saigontourist Plaza located on Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Parkson Retail Asia Ltd. filed an application to the Peoples Court of Ho Chi Minh City for the commencement of voluntary bankruptcy proceedings on April 28. Photo: Le Toan According to Parkson Retail Asias announcement, Parkson Vietnam has historically been operating at a loss, with the issue being compounded lately due to the challenging business environment. As such, the group has assessed and determined that it is not commercially feasible to continue its operations in Vietnam and the Board of Directors for Parkson Vietnam has decided that it will be in the best interests of Parkson Vietnam to file the application, it added. In particular, the lack of support from Parkson Vietnams landlord, such as the negligible rental rebate and reduction during the lockdown period when the operation of Parkson Vietnams stores was restricted, had adversely impacted the company's financials. The high land tax imposed by the local government also added to the financial difficulties, claimed Parkson Retail Asia. This is in line with the groups focus on its operations in Malaysia, where the group remains optimistic about the overall market prospects with improving consumer sentiment and increasing numbers of foreign tourists. The application is, however, subject to approval from the relevant authorities in Vietnam. The company will only be able to determine the exact financial impact of the voluntary bankruptcy of Parkson Vietnam on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of the group for the current financial year ending December 31 upon the grant of the application. Under Vietnamese law, the liabilities of Parkson Vietnam will remain with and be limited to Parkson Vietnam and do not extend to the company, its other subsidiaries, or its holding companies, Parkson claimed. The group's maximum potential exposure resulting from the voluntary bankruptcy of Parkson Vietnam will therefore be limited to its capital contributions to Parkson Vietnam. The company has recognised full loss of these contributions in its audited financial statements. Going forward, the group will continue to enhance its operational efficiencies and cost improvement strategies, as well as identify new sites with the potential for opening new outlets in Malaysia. Parkson Retail Asia is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange and is a company in which Parkson Holdings Bhd (Malaysia) holds a 67.96 per cent stake. On the afternoon of April 28, stores inside Parkson on Le Thanh Ton street, Ho Chi Minh City were still operating normally. Their salesmen said that they have not yet received any information about Parkson's bankruptcy application. Parkson shutdown signals full retreat? With one more Parkson store in Ho Chi Minh City on the edge of closure due to continuous losses, it may be time for some to question if the Malaysian retailer could leave Vietnam altogether. Parkson renews shopping experience Malaysian retailer Parkson has begun a revamp at the site of its first Vietnamese store, located at the Saigon Tourist Plaza in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 1. The ring uses raw materials sent from Europe to make synthetic drugs in Vietnam. (Photo:VNA) HCM City Police in Ho Chi Minh City on April 28 announced that they have cracked down a ring that brought raw materials from Europe to make synthetic drugs in Vietnam. The ring is led by a man called Tri ca voi (whale). According to police, by the end of 2021, Tri connected with Vietnamese people residing in France to order ingredients for ecstasy. They used international express postal and door-to-door delivery services to send the ingredients to Ho Chi Minh City to make synthetic drugs. Tri and his accomplices were arrested by police on April 20. According to the investigative agency, the process of uncovering the entire criminal ring encountered many difficulties. The suspects used sophisticated methods and tricks, frequently changing the location of drug production and packaging. To date, Ho Chi Minh City Police have arrested 21 suspects, seized more than 18,000 synthetic drug pills, 900 grams of ketamine, 120 packages of "fun water", 21 packages containing colourless crystal sand tablets of all kinds which are being tested, together with means, equipment, and materials to serve the production of ecstasy. The investigative agency said that from 106 kg of raw powder, Tris gang produced about 230 kilograms of finished ecstasy tablets (about 450,000 tablets). After that, this group sold them at many places in many provinces and cities for dozens of billions of Vietnamese dong. The case is under further investigation and dozens of other related suspects are being searched for. Five people including an 8-year-old child were killed in a shooting at a home in Cleveland, Texas, ABC News reported on Saturday, citing local police and authorities, Azernews reports citing Reuters. The shooting took place late Friday and the police were still looking for the suspect, the report added. Officials from the San Jacinto County Sheriff's office received a call about harassment from Cleveland at around 11:31 p.m. local time but when they reached the scene they found several victims who had been shot, ABC reported. Advertisement Scroll to continue The San Jacinto County Sheriff's office told the broadcaster that the suspect was a Mexican man who was intoxicated, armed and on the run. The Cleveland Police Department did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for a comment. The San Jacinto County Sheriff's office could not immediately be reached for a comment. E Ji-sung, center, with Lee Eun-koo, left, and Casey Lartigue, the co-founders of Freedom Speakers / Courtesy of Casey Lartigue By Casey Lartigue I learned many things in my six years as a student at Harvard University. However, my education about freedom came before that when, as a pre-teen in Missouri City, Texas, I read all three of Frederick Douglass' autobiographies. Douglass was born a slave in 1818. He escaped to freedom at the age of 20 and later became a leading advocate and activist against slavery. His words about the importance of locomotion, individual dignity and education struck a chord in me way back then. His actions in saving people also had me thinking about the freedom of others. I have been engaged in freedom issues my entire professional life, but I didn't "do" freedom until I encountered North Korean refugees. Meeting people who had escaped from modern slavery made me feel that my work had been little more than toasting freedom at cocktail parties. The first logical thing it seemed was to get involved with rescues. North Koreans needed freedom. I guessed that it would not be a good idea for me, an American who is not Korean, to attempt to rescue North Koreans from China. I would probably be captured quickly. I did realize, however, that I could help those North Korean refugees who had escaped to freedom by helping them adjust to life in South Korea and empowering them to tell their stories. In the past 10 years, about 500 North Korean refugees have studied English, public speaking and career development at Freedom Speakers International (FSI), the NGO that I co-founded with South Korean researcher Lee Eun-koo. Several North Korean refugees who have studied with us have published books, given speeches around the world and gained confidence in themselves as humans. Still, in the back of my mind, I thought about rescuing people from slavery to freedom. Lee and I have gotten involved with some rescues of North Koreans, mainly by assisting their relatives who were trying to rescue them from China. Some colleagues who have known about my work have called me an abolitionist, but that still seems more of a dream than a reality. It has not been part of our main mission. Several years ago, I began hearing about a "Superman" who was rescuing North Koreans. I had met many people involved in North Korean human rights, but Superman seemed to be more of a myth than reality. Was there really one man who was responsible for more than 4,000 North Koreans escaping to freedom? The more North Korean refugees I met, the more often I heard about Superman. Perhaps he really was real. Then I met E Ji-sung. He is a best-selling author in South Korea who wanted to do more than write best-selling books. He wanted to make a difference in this world by supporting organizations and people who were helping North Koreans get to freedom. Meeting E has been a turning point in my life. Instead of thinking about being a modern-day Douglass rescuing people, I remembered something Douglass wrote: "The tools to those who can use them." That is, we can make a difference using our skills. E uses his many skills as a writer, polemicist, activist, abolitionist, intellectual, fundraiser, mentor and liberator. Superman uses his skills to rescue people from dangerous situations. It is appropriate that it is E who is telling Superman's story. The day will come when they will be recognized as liberators of North Koreans. I am thrilled to be starting a partnership and working closely with E. After reading an advanced copy of his book "10,000 KM: Days with North Korea's Schindler," I directed our team at FSI to translate it so I could share his book with people around the world. His publisher praised me and asked me to write a recommendation for the book and gave me the honor of adding my name on the book cover and my photo to the official marketing materials. Next week I will be attending the Harvard Crimson's 150-anniversary celebration with E as my special guest. I have shared the translation of his book with Harvard University students, alumni and staff. This may be the start of us "doing" freedom together for North Korean refugees by rescuing them from China and North Korea, helping them adjust to living in freedom and sharing their stories globally. Casey Lartigue is co-founder and co-president of Freedom Speakers International along with Lee Eun-koo and co-author of "Greenlight to Freedom" with Han Song-mi. This excerpt is from his recommendation in E Ji-sung's book "10,000 KM: Days with North Korea's Schindler." Visitors look at a BYD Dolphin during the 44th Bangkok International Motor Show in Bangkok, Thailand on March 22.(Photo: XINHUA) Bangkok The number of electric vehicles (EVs) registered in Thailand had soared to 61,594 by the end of March, boosted by government support measures, according to Thai government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri. EV registrations in March rose to 8,522, almost double Januarys figure of 4,543, Anucha said, citing data from the Land Transport Department under the Ministry of Transport. Most of the electric vehicles registered in March were cars with less than seven seats (6,205 units), followed by motorbikes (2,263 units). Anucha attributed the rise to the governments incentives for EVs buyers, as well as measures to help EV manufacturers penetrate the Thai market. Buyers of four-wheel EVs get discounts of 70,000 to 150,000 baht (2,050 -4,400 USD), depending on battery size. A subsidy of 18,000 baht is available for purchases of e-motorcycles. For manufacturers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs), import duties have been cut by 40% on units priced under 2 million baht and 20% for those priced between 2 million and 7 million baht. Other government incentives include a 24-billion-baht subsidy scheme for the local EV battery industry. Thailand targets to transform into an EV hub, with electric vehicles making up 30% of the total autos produced by 2030 and sales of combustion-engine vehicles phased out completely by 2035. Anucha said the Bangkok International Motor Show from March 22 to April 2 helped boost EV bookings, noting that registrations had also been bolstered by March deliveries from manufacturers including Tesla, BYD and MG. The governments promotion of EVs will help Thailand develop a sustainable economy that preserves the environment, he said, adding that this is the country's important stepping stone towards a low-carbon society. Thailands health ministry prepares for potential COVID-19 wave Following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases after the Songkran holidays, the Ministry of Public Health has said it is ready to accommodate potential COVID-19 patients. Thailand forecast to face severe drought this year Thailand is expected to face the harsh impact of the El Nino phenomenon around the middle of June, although this years summer season is predicted to end by the middle of May. This will lead to severe drought conditions, according to the countrys Meteorological Department (MD). PM Pham Minh Chinh (10th from left) and officials cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay and Mai Son - National Highway 45 sections at the ceremony in Binh Thuan province on April 29. (Photo: VNA) Binh Thuan - Two sections of the eastern North - South Expressway, Mai Son - National Highway 45 and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay, were inaugurated on April 29. The inauguration ceremony of the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay section was held in the south-central province of Binh Thuan in the presence of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. The event for the Mai Son - National Highway 45 one took place in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa and was attended by Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha. The two events were connected via videoconference.According to the Ministry of Transport, the Mai Son - National Highway 45 section is 63.37km long in total, including 14.35km in northern Ninh Binh province and 49.02km in Thanh Hoa, and invested with over 12 trillion VND (511.4 million USD). It had construction started in September 2020 and was technically opened to traffic in December 2022.The 99km-long Phan Thiet - Dau Giay section, traversing Binh Thuan and southern Dong Nai province, has total investment of more than 12.5 trillion VND. This project also kicked off in September 2020.In his speech, PM Chinh stressed that developing infrastructure, especially transport one, is a strategic breakthrough identified by the Party and State.Vietnam targets 3,000km and 5,000km of expressways by 2025 and 2030, respectively. Meanwhile, only about 1,000km was built between 2000 and 2020. Therefore, the remaining workload is extremely heavy, he pointed out. As the North - South corridor always plays a critically important role as it serves as the economic and transport artery of the country, the eastern North - South Expressway with the total length of 2,063km was planned to create momentum for localities along this corridor to make breakthroughs and tap into their potential and advantages. The expressway, starting in the northern border province of Lang Son and ending in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, will run through 32 provinces and cities. With the inauguration of the two new sections, 800km of this road has been put into use so far, he noted. The Government leader applauded the strong determination and efforts by the transport sector, ministries, central agencies, localities, as well as affected residents to overcome difficulties to put the two projects into operation. He also highlighted the importance of the Mai Son - National Highway 45 and Phan Thiet - Dau Giay sections to socio-economic development in Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, nearby localities, and the country as a whole. Also on April 29, PM Chinh inspected the construction progress of the Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet section of the eastern North - South Expressway. The over-100km section in Binh Thuan province is invested with nearly 11 trillion VND and had its work started in November 2020. More expressways to be built in central region by 2025 The Ministry of Transport has set a target of completing and putting into operation the eastern North-South expressway by 2025, bringing the total length of highways in the north central-central coastal region from 193km to 1,390 km, said Transport Minister Nguyen Van Thang. Visitors to a booth of Vietnam at the Paris Fair 2023 (Photo: VNA) Paris Traditional handicrafts, typical food dishes, and special musical performances have attracted a large number of visitors to the zone of Vietnam at the ongoing Foire de Paris (Paris Fair) 2023 in the capital of France. Lacquer paintings, fine handicrafts, silk products, ao dai, brocade items, confectionery, tea, and pho, among others, have made it outstanding and attractive to visitors. In particular, a special musical programme performed by artists from Vietnam and the Vietnamese Culture Centre in France has offered the audience a glance at the perse culture of the Southeast Asian country. Pham Thi Bich Nga, a representative of the Vietnamese zone organising committee, said 34 Vietnamese businesses are taking part in the 2023 fair, an increase from last year, bringing to the event signature products such as lacquer objects, handicrafts, and apparel products imbued with the countrys identity. Vu Anh Son, head of the Trade Office of Vietnam in France, said the Paris Fair is one of the oldest and biggest of its kind in the European nation. It is a good chance to not only advertise specialities of Vietnam to French consumers but also popularise the countrys culture. He suggested enterprises further improve their product quality and persity to meet local consumers growing demand. On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang visited the Vietnamese firms at the Paris Fair and had a meeting with the fairs leaders. Steven Abajoli, Director of the Paris Fair, highly valued the presence of Vietnamese enterprises, noting Vietnam is one of the important partners of the fair and its participation shows the importance it attaches to this event. He expressed his hope that Vietnam with its traditional handicrafts and culture will shine at the Paris Fair. Taking place form April 27 to May 8, the Paris Fair is the biggest in France for family space, cuisine, creativity, and traditional crafts. Organisers expect the over 1,250 booths at the 12-day event will attract about 400,000 visitors. Vietnam supports ASEANs cooperation priorities for 2023: ambassador Ambassador Vu Ho has affirmed Vietnams support for and readiness to realise the cooperation priorities for 2023 set by Chair Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). BIG BEAR CITY, Calif. (AP) A single-engine plane crashed near a California mountain airport on Monday, killing all three people aboard, authorities said. The Beechcraft A36 went down about 2 p.m. near Big Bear City Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane struck a vacant lot, and there was no fire, fire officials said. The victims weren't immediately identified. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Weather reports said it was partly cloudy at the time of the crash. Big Bear Airport is in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake, a popular resort area about a two-hour's drive east of Los Angeles. It was the second deadly small plane crash in three days in Southern California. On Saturday, one person was killed when a single-engine plane slammed into a grassy hillside above homes in a Los Angeles neighborhood amid dense fog, authorities said. The Cessna C172 crashed around 8:45 p.m. Saturday on the city's west side, about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Van Nuys Airport, the Los Angeles Fire Department and Federal Aviation Administration said. Joubin Solemani was at home with his family in the upscale Beverly Crest area when they all heard a loud crash. We thought it might be a car crash. But we looked outside and didn't see anything. We didn't know what the heck it was, Solemani said Sunday. Then search-and-rescue showed up and were all over the hillside. After searching for several hours in darkness and "thick ground-level fog, crews found the crash site and one person dead in the wreckage, the fire department said in a statement. The pilot was the plane's lone occupant, the FAA said. When the sun came up Sunday, Solemani said he could see the plane a few hundred feet (meters) above his property in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's totally mangled, he told The Associated Press. The pilot was not immediately identified. Fire department personnel recovered the body Sunday afternoon. The plane avoided hitting power lines and a large water tank and, officials said, there was minimal fire. An air traffic controller initially reported the plane as missing after losing radar contact with the aircraft while it was en route to Van Nuys Airport, the fire department said in an alert shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The final two former South Carolina lawmakers charged in a nearly eight-year investigation into corruption at the Statehouse have avoided time behind bars. Former Sen. John Courson was ordered Thursday to serve 100 hours of community service and once he finishes, his probation will end, The State newspape r reported. The Columbia Republican pleaded guilty in 2018 to taking $159,000 from his campaign account and using for personal expenses on the advice of a prominent Republican political consultant at the center of the corruption investigation. Former Rep. Tracy Edge was ordered to pay a $500 fine after he pleaded guilty to failing to fully report his campaign finances. The Myrtle Beach Republican chose the fine over six months in prison. The consultant at the middle of the investigation, Richard Quinn Sr., was sentenced to 18 months of home detention on April 19. Judge Carmen Mullen, who also sentenced Edge and Courson, agreed Quinn can leave the house to go to his office, to church, to see his doctors and lawyers or for special events with his grandchildren. Prosecutors said Quinn's political consulting firm was paid illegal fees from individual and corporate lobbyists and also paid lawmakers illegal salaries to influence legislation. The corruption probe began in 2014 as an investigation into ex-House Speaker Bobby Harrell, who pleaded guilty to spending campaign money on personal expenses. He was sentenced to probation. Quinn's son and onetime state Rep. Richard Quinn Jr. also pleaded guilty and received probation for taking $4 million from lobbyists and doing their bidding for the Quinns consulting business. Former state Rep. Jim Harrison was sent to prison for 18 months for lying during the investigation, while ex-Rep. Jim Merrill was sentenced to probation. All are Republicans. Courson, 78, said he trusted Richard Quinn Sr. when the consultant told him it was OK to convert his campaign money for personal use. The former Marine Corps reservist said he thinks about how he hurt his reputation and his family every day, The ethos of the United States Marine Corps is honor, courage, commitment, he said. I still live by that. Edge, 56, said the past eight years since the investigation started have been filled with pain and anxiety. Im very sorry for any failures on my part in this case and deeply regret them," Edge said. Both prosecutors and the judge praised Courson and Edge for cooperating with the investigation. At the end of its service, the state grand jury looking into the corruption released a 270-page report detailing the often-blurry line between political consultants, lobbyists and powerful businesses and state agencies in South Carolina. Major hospital company Palmetto Health, AT&T, the University of South Carolina, utility SCANA and a trial lawyers association called the South Carolina Association for Justice paid more than $350,000 in fines for using Quinn's firm to lobby on their behalf without disclosing it publicly. Two trustee positions for McLennan Community College are up for election May 6, and the four candidates agree on the colleges role in the community and the need to support it by increasing its engagement with prospective students. Both District 1 candidates, Jonathan Hill and Arash Abnoussi, said the community college provided essential rungs on their individual ladders to career success. For Ilda Sabido and James SoRelle, candidates for the District 3 seat held by longtime incumbent Pauline Chavez, their time in the community has shown MCCs importance to Waco and McLennan County and its role in equipping students for the next stage in their education or job. Hill, 32, holds the District 1 seat, appointed by the board in February after the December 2022 resignation of trustee Doug McDurham, who left after taking an out-of-state job. Hill said the community college played a crucial role in his education and career. MCC was such a tremendous gift to me in the transition from high school to college to a higher education career, he said. It gave me a second and third and fourth chance, which in higher education today is exceedingly rare. Hill, a senior brand strategy specialist for Baylor University, earned an associates degree in general academics in 2013 and went on to Tarleton State University through MCCs University Center, earning a bachelors in business administration in marketing in 2014. The colleges faculty and staff took him from where he was and guided him to where he realized he wanted to be. That personal touch and the schools wrap-around support services to meet various needs are valuable assets he wants to continue. The range in age and life situations for MCC students means their problems are varied, including transportation, housing and a dependable source of food, and his short time as a trustee has shown him the board works to address those needs as it can, Hill said. The 45-year-old Abnoussi, too, credits MCC for giving him the confidence and career training that has led to his present career as a math educational specialist for elementary education. Born in Texas and raised in Iran, Abnoussi returned to Texas at the age of 23 with an intent to pursue a music career despite a degree in psychology and occupational therapy from a Tehran university. MCCs music industry faculty and fellow students took someone from another country with shaky English, welcomed and supported him, bolstering his self-confidence, he said. When a godmother advised him to get a teaching certificate as a backup to a music career, MCCs Alternative Teacher Certification program provided that training, too. He left music to become certified to teach math. After 10 years in the classroom, which included being named a Midway Teacher of the Year at Hewitt Elementary School, Abnoussi progressed to being an instructional specialist at Midway ISD, then on to Education Service Center Region 12, which serves some 178,000 students and 76 school districts in a 12-county area. He has taught as a part-time lecturer in Baylor Universitys School of Education and in 2020 was president of the Texas Council of Teachers of Mathematics. MCC gave me my life. It gave me everything I had, he said. Both Abnoussi and Hill see a need to address MCCs declining enrollment, part of which involves convincing prospective students of the value of education or job certification. We want to be making sure that what we are offering students in course pathways or degree plans aligns with their career choices, Hill said. Abnoussi said District 1s minority population faces particular challenges with transportation and child care. Students who shifted to online instruction during the pandemic also are less persuaded of the value of in-person instruction on campus, he said. Hill said demand is high in Central Texas for new teachers and nurses, and MCC is positioned to address that supply with its instructional and certification programs. Hill and his wife, Erin, have a 10-month-old son. Abnoussi and his wife, Ansuya, have a 9-year-old daughter. District 3 Vying for the District 3 seat, held for 37 years by Pauline Chavez, are retired Baylor history professor James SoRelle, 73, and community volunteer Ilda Sabido, 39. Both are lifelong Waco residents, SoRelle graduating from Richfield High School and Sabido from University High School. SoRelle retired in 2020 after 40 years teaching at Baylor University, freeing up time to run and serve on the board if elected, he said. For 37 years of that time, SoRelles wife, Cynthia, taught theater in MCCs fine arts department, leading him to frequent encounters with MCC students, faculty and administrators. Siblings and a daughter also took classes at MCC over the years, SoRelle said. SoRelle, educated in Waco schools and the University of Texas, said MCC is an important link in affordable public education. I have long had a passion for public education. I have always loved that about my country and this community, he said. Sabido said she is running for the MCC board with her eye on the future. I can advocate for students in the next generation. I understand what this generation is up against, she said. As a Hispanic woman and a millennial, my perspective would be an important one on the board. She said Chavezs long service to her district has provided representation on the board that should continue. I think the board is phenomenal in being diverse. Its time for someone else to step up and do our part, she said. Both candidates said MCCs affordability in a time of rising education costs is crucial and that they would work to maintain that. Both also said the college is a gem not fully appreciated by the community at large. Sabido said MCC is well positioned to help small business owners and entrepreneurs, while SoRelle said the colleges continuing education courses enrich the quality of life and job training for county residents. SoRelle and his wife have two adult children. Sabido and her husband, Hector, a former Waco City Council member, have an 8-year-old son and a 5-year-old daughter. Sabido is a member of the Hispanic Leaders Network, Wacos Parks and Recreation Commission and the Alta Vista Neighborhood Association. SoRelle has been a member of the Community Race Relations Coalition and the city Historic Landmark Preservation Commission, and is longtime supporter of Mission Waco-Mission World. Voting Early voting started Monday in the May 6 city and school elections and will continue through Tuesday 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 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Through the first six days of early voting, 1,505 people cast an early ballot in-person in the elections the county is conducting for 15 entities, and another 131 mail-in ballots have been submitted in those elections. Few Waco leaders today were in charge in the first decade of the century, when the city mounted an all-out fight against the dairy industry in the North Bosque watershed to stop polluting the river that feeds Lake Waco. Led by Mayor Linda Ethridge, the city got state laws passed in 2001 to impose strict manure storage rules in the North Bosque River watershed around Erath County, then epicenter of the states dairy industry. City officials flew helicopter missions over the watershed to find and report polluters, enraging dairy farmers on the ground. A few years later, the city sued more than a dozen dairies under the Clean Water Act, in the name of protecting Lake Waco from the phosphorus that caused algae to bloom and foul the citys water. But in the past decade, as dairy farmers have invested in new waste systems and phosphorus levels have come down at testing stations along the Bosque, the two sides have settled into a kind of detente. Now a bill introduced by a Cleburne lawmaker has blown the dust off that chapter in Wacos history, and city leaders fear losing the gains of their predecessors. The bill would curtail input by the public and city of Waco in waste permitting applications, eliminating the need for individual permits tailored to the site in favor of more standardized general permits. The city fought for individual permits in the 2001 law and has joined with landowners to review and critique the permits, occasionally taking operators to a contested case hearing, which is similar to a civil trial. The bill would also eliminate solid waste training requirements for dairy operators, prohibit a general permit from requiring soil sampling of third-party waste application fields, and eliminate a regulatory trigger for dairy operators own waste application fields where tests find a phosphorus level above 500 parts per million. It leaves a similar trigger in place for tests showing phosphorus between 200 and 500 parts per million. City officials say it all adds up to a reversal of progress. The bill was likely filed in good faith to try to bring solutions to bear for the dairy industry, Mayor Dillon Meek said in an interview this past week. The unintended consequence of that would be, I think, losing the opportunity for the public to comment, and thus increase the risk of greater pollution in the North Bosque River. City officials said studies of Lake Waco have estimated that some 44% of the phosphorus in the lake comes from dairies in the North Bosque watershed. A typical dairy cow excretes 120 pounds a day of phosphorus-rich manure, meaning that a medium-size dairy of 2,000 cows could produce 43,800 tons of manure a year. The sponsor, Republican State Rep. DeWayne Burns, has said House Bill 2827 is not about weakening pollution control measures, which he said have been successful in lowering phosphorus pollution over the last two decades. Rather, he has said, the point is to reduce an onerous regulatory burden on North Bosque watershed producers that dairy industry leaders say has caused an exodus from the Central Texas dairy region. Because weve come this far, and because of where we are, its still incredibly hard for our dairies and dairymen to get permitting when they make an adjustment to their dairy or they want to change anything about their operation, Burns said in an April 13 hearing before the House Committee on Environmental Regulation, which passed the bill April 18. City of Waco officials attended but did not speak at the hearing. City Manager Bradley Ford said the city at the time preferred to try to work behind the scenes. Burns chief of staff, Dalton Moore, said his office reached out to the city of Waco and its lobbyists about the measures several times as far back as last year but never got a definitive response. However, Meek and city staff deny getting any communication before the bill was filed, and Ford said he was not made aware of the bill until April 10. State Rep. Charles Doc Anderson, R-Waco, said this past week that he is talking to both sides of the controversy and hopes to find common ground. State Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, who represents Waco as well as the dairy region, did not respond to a request for an interview on the matter. Ford said he had a conversation with Burns this past week about the bill. It feels like hes open to discussion, but were still pretty far apart, Ford said. Theres a reasonableness were bringing to the table with the both the dairy association and the bills author. But there are things were not willing to compromise on. There should be testing requirements, there should be training requirements, and there should be involvement in those public processes. The bill itself appears simple, mostly consisting of strike-throughs of language from the 2001 North Bosque watershed legislation and a change from individual to general permitting. Burns and Texas Association of Dairymen Executive Director Darren Turley say the new general permits would incorporate the waste reduction practices now incorporated in the individual permits. But an official analysis of the bill in March from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality suggests the changes would conflict with the longstanding plan for cleaning up the impaired North Bosque watershed. Two sections of the North Bosque were designed as impaired in 1998 under Section 303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act for both phosphorus and chlorophyll-a, a proxy for blue-green algae. That triggered the creation of a cleanup plan including a Total Maximum Daily Load limiting the total amount of phosphorus that could run into the North Bosque and its tributaries. The cleanup plan was followed by an implementation plan that formed the basis for the individual permitting system, including extra capacity in dairy lagoons and soil sampling to make sure that fields receiving manure could not have excess amounts of phosphorus. The TCEQ analysis in March found that the bills provisions eliminating the individual permitting system, eliminating waste handling training, repealing regulatory triggers for high levels of phosphorus on waste application fields and exempting third-party waste application fields from testing all conflict with the implementation plan. Any potential reduction in water quality in the North Bosque River that could result from less stringent CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) permit requirements of the bill may negatively affect water quality in Lake Waco and cause increased drinking water treatment costs for the City of Waco, the analysis says. These potential costs would be very difficult to estimate. City of Waco officials say a switch to general permits could trigger a round of public hearings and rulemaking for the TCEQ that could last far beyond the Sept. 1 effective date of the legislation. Assistant City Manager Paul Cain said it appears that if the bill passes the TCEQ would have to create a new type of general permit that incorporates the current requirements of the individual permits. Those individual permits are tailored to individual sites. Its a third type of permit, which doesnt exist today, he said. Its a little hard to understand how its going to work. The Total Maximum Daily Load implementation plan would also have to be rewritten, complete with a public input process that would likely include comments from the city of Waco, landowners and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, city of Waco Chief of Staff Ashley Nystrom said. A Texas Association of Dairymen analysis of the bill agrees that the implementation plan would have to be updated. The EPA would have to review and approve any changes to the permitting process, and it could object to the proposed changes on the basis of backsliding on protections to the watershed, Nystrom said. Our understanding is that state legislation cannot override federal Clean Water Act regulations and there could be certain aspects of this bill that may be superseded by EPA review and federal requirements, Nystrom said in an email. The city has hired former TCEQ Executive Director Mark Vickery as a consultant in this legislative process. In a recent letter to Meek and city staff, Vickery agreed that backsliding is a concern with the proposed legislation. While progress has been made in improving water quality within the North and Upper North Bosque Rivers, I do not think relaxing current regulatory standards is appropriate at this time and could trigger a comprehensive review by the Environmental Protection Agency, he wrote. The city and dairy industry representatives agree that the Total Maximum Daily Load program has resulted in a cleaner river, though it is still listed as impaired. The plan called for an average 50% reduction at five points along the North Bosque. While low-flow segments upstream of Stephenville have continued to miss their targets in recent years, downstream results below Stephenville and at Clifton and Valley Mills have shown significant improvement, according to a 2022 TCEQ report. Lisa Tyer, water utilities director for the city, said Lake Waco has not suffered major algae blooms in several years, and the citys dissolved air flotation plant has been successful at intercepting algae particles before they foul the taste of drinking water. In the early 2000s, Texas Association of Dairymen officials cast doubt on whether phosphorus-laden manure from dairies was the cause of impairment in the North Bosque, much less the algae blooms in Lake Waco, which is not part of the Total Maximum Daily Load area. Turley, a former Dublin-area dairyman who has led the state dairy association since 2009, has chosen instead to focus on farmers role in cleaning up the watershed. He said the operators who remain in the watershed are on the forefront of dairy waste management. He said two dairymen in the area are building methane digesters to convert manure into methane gas fuel and reusable water, leaving the remaining dry solids to be used for animal bedding. They really believe they can create a closed loop system, he said. But Turley said the individual permits in the North Bosque have created a punishing level of cost, time delays and legal risk for farmers wanting to expand or alter their operations. When this started, it shut the door on anyone coming here, and we havent seen that change, he said. He said many dairy farmers have moved on to other areas, such as the Panhandle, which has overtaken Central Texas as the state dairy industrys center of gravity. Some dairy experts have attributed the migration to West Texas to cheap land, plentiful feed supplies and above all a low-humidity climate that favors milk production. But in reports to the Legislature the Texas Association of Dairymen has argued farmers in Central Texas have gone west because of overregulation in the North Bosque watershed. Figures from The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research in Stephenville show the number of dairies in Erath County dropped from 200 in 1994 to fewer than 51 in 2021. However, figures from the USDA Census of Agriculture show the number of milk cows in Erath County dropped from 66,680 in 2002 to a low of 40,168 in 2012, but the population had rebounded to 64,000 by last year. Dwain Mayfield, a retired executive who lives on a ranch near Dublin, said he has seen improvement in dairy practices in the area in the last decade or so, but the time is not right to eliminate individual permits. In 2007, Mayfield protested a neighboring dairys permit application to double its herd to 2,500 cows. If there had not been an individual permit that he was about to double his capacity at a time when he was not in compliance with the TCEQ I would not have known anything about it, he said. The dairy withdrew the permit application, but Mayfield in 2011 successfully sued the dairy under the Clean Water Act, alleging its waste discharges were contaminating his lakes. The former dairy is now a very well run egg facility, he said. Mayfield said he does not believe the cost of individual permitting is prohibitive, and he would not want to see a switch to general permits. The House bill is trying to fix a problem that doesnt need fixing, he said. This beautiful New Orleans style home in historic Castle Heights shows quality in every detail! Built by a prominent Waco citizen in 1939 it is even more lovely today than it was when it was built! Current sellers are only the 2nd people to own this home. The spreading oak trees, and large beautifully landscaped double lot provide the perfect setting for playing, entertaining, relaxing and enjoying life to it's fullest! The outside of this home sets it apart from all others, but when you enter the lovely foyer, the full beauty of the home starts to truly unfold. At one end of the foyer is an expansive formal living area with a light filled sunroom at the far end. At the other end of the foyer is a large formal dining room that has plenty of space for celebrations around the table. Off the dining room is an open, well designed kitchen that offers a large island and plenty of workspace for a dedicated cook. The kitchen is open to a great table space for informal dining and then steps down into a grand den that was added for the comfort and flexibility of the home. Fireplaces in the formal living area as well as in the family room add warmth and hospitality to those areas. Both fireplaces have a gas jet and can be wood burning but are currently set up with gas logs. Enjoy sitting at the informal dining table in the bay window of the kitchen as a favorite spot to watch the neighborhood activites while enjoying the comforts of home. Also on the main floor is a private room perfect for an office or library space. There are 5 bedrooms and 3 & 1/2 bathrooms in the home. One bedroom and bathroom is attached to the garage with a separate entrance from the outside and an entrance from the garage making this a very private guest room, retreat or flex space. There are too many other amenities in this beautiful home to list them all, but following are a few. In addition to the two car garage attached to the home, there is a one car porte cachere at the end of the driveway. This space also includes a huge store room that is large enough to hold all the holiday and party decorations you could possibly desire. The driveway has an electric iron gate for full privacy. In the upstairs master suite, open the French doors to step out onto the upstairs balcony for a treetop experience. The exquisite partially covered New Orleans style brick patio in back extends out to a fountain and large open tree shaded brick patio area. Two extra pull-in parking spaces are just off the driveway in front for off the street guest parking. There is a basement to the home that has a sump pump and houses the mechanicals. Truly a one of a kind home in Waco! View More Anytime one of my liberal friends expresses alarm about Texas Republicans introducing another bill to make voting harder, I remind him or her that Trump-loving Texas still has two enormous benefits to ensure democracy thrives: two weeks of early voting and, in many places, countywide voting, instituted right here in McLennan County (and under Republicans) in 2015 so that busy, work-a-day citizens on Election Day need not vote in their assigned precincts but at any polling place in the county. Till those voter-friendly institutions are imperiled, I routinely tell liberal friends, all this frantic talk of fascism consuming the Republican Party of Texas must be ignored, ridiculed and summarily dismissed. Oops. This month every Republican present in the Texas Senate voted to junk Election Day countywide voting. This transpired even though under pressure the bills befuddled author, Republican state Sen. Bob Hall, 81, could offer no evidence countywide voting is actually a problem. His reason for uprooting this popular innovation and forcing voters to cast ballots only in their assigned precincts is that the status quo is probably rife with electoral discrepancies. Probably? Is that now the standard to justify scrapping latter-day election improvements? Thus we see further evidence of the dumbing down of a once-great intellectual movement in America, a movement reduced to passing legislation pivoting on what might be, not what is, all in the obvious interest of maintaining political power. Conservatism? Not the sort I was weaned on a half-century ago. Given that Republicans are so fond of labels and conspiracy theories about voting and democracy, I must label the partys latter-day ideology something else. And it aint conservatism. Consider this embarrassing exchange between Hall in my book, one of the most groveling, boot-licking of Texas lawmakers carrying water for conspiracy theorists in the State Capitol today and Democratic state Sen. Carol Alvarado, a former Houston City Council member. This exchange occurred during floor debate over Senate Bill 990 and ought to mortify any American patriot who champions liberty and equality. Alvarado: During committee testimony, it was said (this bill) was about some theoretical possibilities that a voter could vote in more than one location. Has that actually happened? Hall: Problem is, the way we manage the elections, we have no way of knowing because of the lack of, uh, monitoring on the poll books and the delays that occurs with them, uh, and theres very little check and balance on it, so we have actually a very, very sketchy way of doing that, so we really dont know. And thats one of the main problems the lack of knowing. Alvarado: And again here we are with yet another election bill. Ive lost track of how many weve passed now 20, thirtysomething I dont know because every day theres at least a handful and I dont know how you keep coming up with more ideas on this topic. And, again, theres no basis, theres no proof, theres no evidence that someone has voted in more than one (polling) location. Youre going on some theoretical approach here. Why not base it on factual evidence? Something you can point to and say, In this county somebody abused it (by voting) in more than one location. Hall: Because the way they handle it in collecting information, collecting data, and actually finding things like that is extremely difficult. And its not just people voting in more than one location thats not the issue but that you have precinct votes spread all over the county, and to aggregate these votes you never really know if something got lost in the translation of getting from the votes spread all over the county down to central counting, to one location. It makes it extremely difficult to ever audit that because of the way the votes are broken up. Alvarado: Do you know how many counties currently have countywide voting? Hall: About 90. Alvarado: Yeah, 91. Are you concerned now thats going to cause an extra burden on some counties finding more polling locations, more cost involved? Hall: Dont see that as a particular problem. What it does is trade security of the elections for convenience, and I think security of the elections is far more important than just convenience. Alvarado: Yes, senator, but has security been breached in any way? Do you have evidence? Hall: Security can be breached by mistakes. So, to answer the question put to Sen. Hall no, theres no evidence of election skullduggery, though during a March 27 State Affairs committee hearing one Texan did press for scuttling countywide voting on the logic it was time to get back to election fundamentals, whatever that might constitute. On the other hand, Veronikah Warms of the Texas Civil Rights Project warned that nearly 83 percent of Texas voters now live in counties where countywide voting exists. Tarrant County Elections Administrator Heider Garcia, representing the Texas Association of Elections Administrators, said alleging confusion in auditing Election Day countywide-voting tallies defies belief when counties also employ it in early voting. And of Republican-run forensic auditing of Harris, Dallas, Tarrant and ruby-red Collin county elections, all of which employ countywide voting, nowhere in that (final state audit) report does it mention the audit couldnt be done because of vote centers. Ouch. Republican oversight If one needs more evidence of how fast the Republican Party of Texas has abandoned its principles to fall into line with groundless conspiracy theories erupting in the wake of President Trumps loss in the 2020 election to the sorry point of now subscribing to hobgoblins of the voting dead and shadowy bogeymen stuffing ballots galore consider that countywide voting was shepherded into popularity across Texas through Republican oversight, including a series of Republican secretaries of state. National Public Radio at one point enlisted me to actually defend the Republican-endorsed practice of countywide vote centers from liberal criticism that the vote centers were insufficiently set up in areas where minority voters live. Thus logic dictates I now defend the same vote centers from Republican and right-wing claims theyre ripe for voter abuse, particularly given that Republicans can produce no more evidence for these charges than they could for claims of widespread malfeasance in the 2020 election. While I never quite understood why some liberals rallied so vigorously against placement of vote centers the abundance of them on Election Day ensured a vote center was usually nearby, a plus for a society as mobile as Texas the reason for Republicans now rallying against vote centers in Senate Bill 990 is more obvious: Its an effort to further undermine voting in our states more populated and racially diverse areas where the Republican Party is less likely to find overwhelming favor at the ballot box. This strategy might be compelling from a Republican perspective regarding left-of-center Harris, Travis, Bexar and Dallas counties, but the logic unravels in, say, McLennan County where sentiment for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 was so strong that it justified Trumps holding his debut 2024 campaign rally in Waco just last month. Consider it proof again that in its quest for power the Republican Party of Texas is willing to make voting harder even for loyal Republicans in midsized cities. Were collateral damage. Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat, suggested to Sen. Hall in floor debate this Republican strategy might backfire: I know you dont intend for this to be partisan, but in Harris County the people who use countywide voting more than anyone else are the Republican voters coming from Katy, Texas, working in the med center, and they cant get back (to their neighborhood precinct polling places) in time to vote and also (Republican voters from) Kingwood, Clear Lake and Baytown. All this seemed lost on Hall, though a Republican Senate colleague also from Houston appeared to nod in agreement with Whitmires rationale and then dutifully did as she was expected by voting to gut countywide voting. Yet not all Republicans have gotten the message from party central. Our voters love it, personable Republican Chambers County Clerk Heather Hawthorne told the House Elections Committee on March 9 of introducing countywide voting to her mostly white county in 2021: If there was an accident on the Trinity River Bridge and it was Election Day, you are not going to be able to get from your place of employment in Harris County to Smith Point, Texas, or Winnie, Texas, on time. It just makes sense that with the more and more voters we had, countywide voting would benefit. In a society where most citizens no longer read newspapers, this scheme raises the likelihood of what I witnessed in the 2022 elections after Republican legislators 2021 election overhaul: citizens learning on Election Day they couldnt vote where they thought they could vote and taking their wrath out on county election staffers who had nothing to do with passage of voting laws. We saw this confusion arise over state changes in mail-in voting procedures and the failure of some residents to register properly. More bills, contradictions And Senate Bill 990 isnt an isolated assault on democracy. In the avalanche of election bills this session, Hall also filed Senate Bill 1338 to strip mail-in voting privileges from people age 65 and over. Thus far, even fellow Republicans have balked at advancing this bill, likely in recognition many Republican voters are seniors who prefer voting by mail. And scandal-plagued Republican Rep. Bryan Slaton of East Texas filed House Bill 919 to shorten early voting from two weeks to one. Oops. It was interesting to hear Alan Vera of the Harris County Republican Party Ballot Security Committee lament the decline in voting places because of countywide voting thats a concern to us when Senate Bill 924 by Republican Sen. Drew Springer proposes allowing counties with populations of less than 1.2 million to reduce polling places by combining precincts. The Senate passed this bill the same day it voted to scrap countywide voting arguably, a side-by-side contradiction in policy. At one point in floor debate on Senate Bill 990, Democratic state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio attorney viewed as a likely challenger to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024, pressed Hall to cite specific counties where election complications existed to degrees warranting the scuttling of Texas entire countywide voting system. Hall: Were not talking about fraud. Were talking about accuracy. Gutierrez: Which counties? Hall: Several counties. Gutierrez: Which ones, Senator Hall? Hall: There have been a number of counties. The whole question is we do not know because there is no accountability. The system has no way of being audited. Gutierrez: Which counties, Senator Hall? Were here to solve problems, real problems. I want to know instances I want to know where this burning problem comes from because clearly I want to know which counties specifically you saw where there were inaccuracies between the precinct counts and the county counts. Hall: Two that come to mind, one is Harris County and one is Smith County. Gutierrez: You know, its funny because we did an audit of Harris County, did we not? Hall: Yes. Gutierrez: And then-Secretary of State John Scott found there was no fraud in Harris County, found that there were no issues there in regard to what youre talking about regarding polling sites and countywide voting. He found none of that. The fact is there were no issues with countywide polling sites open on Election Day. Hall: You only find what you look for. Gutierrez noted that Secretary Scott a Republican appointee who as a Texas attorney helped challenge 2020 election tallies in Pennsylvania on President Trumps behalf and thus was likely to share suspicions about election irregularities formally investigated claims of electoral wrongdoing in Texas and found nothing. Cornered, Hall by this time had settled on his stock response when confronted with his own stunning lack of evidence: You find what you look for. And this paltry argument was enough for every Republican senator present to vote to gut the ease of Election Day countywide voting for hardworking Texans. Which, should this bill pass in the Texas House, raises a moral dilemma for me when amid crazy talk of book bans and special courts and jailing election workers my liberal friends again insist Republicans are working overtime to destroy our democratic republic: Do Republicans rate the label conservative anymore or is another label more appropriate? WAHOO Five men shared their stories of military service and family during the April Saunders County Veteran of the Month presentation last week. Each month, veterans from the county are honored with an informal ceremony April 21 that was organized by William Bonney, the county veterans service officer, and the Saunders County Veterans Service Committee. Dennis Havlovic, William Bill Laughridge, Melvin Prochaska and brothers Eugene and William Bill Kremlacek were recognized for their military service as their family, friends and fellow veterans looked on. The Kremlacek brothers of Wahoo brought the most laughs with their conflicting stories of their childhood. Bill Kremlacek went first, but Eugene corrected a few of his brothers facts. The brothers were given great responsibility at a young age. Their father, Paul, had been enlisted in the Army Air Corps in World War II, but was given a medical discharge after five months because he was a diabetic. Paul Kremlacek returned home to Saunders County and got married. Bill and Eugene were born 13 months apart. When the boys were 11 and 12, (or 12 and 13, if you go by Bill Kremlaceks version) their father died. Their mother wanted to stay on the farm, so the brothers were put to work farming 160 acres and caring for the livestock. We saved the farm, Bill Kremlacek said. At the age of 14, Bill bought a tractor and planted the first soybeans in the area, along with corn. In the late 1960s, President Richard M. Nixon had instituted a lottery system for the military. Both Bill and Eugene knew theyd have to enlist at one point, but it didnt matter who went first. Knowing that Bill wanted to join the Army National Guard, which was a six-year enlistment, Eugene decided to go first. I didnt want to wait six years and get drafted, he said. Eugene joined the Army after graduating from Bishop Neumann High School in 1965, serving from 1966 to 1969. During his basic and advanced individual training, he tested well in field communications and was sent to Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he learned to climb poles and install telephones. I enjoyed it, he said. Eugene was sent to an infantry company in Schweinfurt, Germany, where he got the chance to travel, which became a lifelong passion. The only country he didnt get to see during his service was Czechoslovakia, where his ancestors once resided. He had a trip planned, but the Russians invaded Prague a few weeks before. His company was put on red alert until the situation was peacefully resolved. A few years ago, he was able to finally take that trip, this time with a group from Saunders County. While in Germany, Eugene was put in charge of the units weapons. When his brother later joined the Army National Guard, he held a similar job. After training, Bill was assigned to the 24th Medical Company in Wahoo, which was made up mostly of farmers from Saunders and Lancaster counties, he said. I enjoyed the 24th Med and the people we met, he said. During their two-week annual training exercises, Bills unit would have to take everything with them. He remembers sleeping in the back of the truck to protect the weapons in his charge. In his six years in the National Guard (1970-1977), Bill was called up to active duty for multiple occasions, including the Pathfinder Hotel explosion in Fremont and during civil rights riots in Omaha. One May, he had to stop planting his fields to go to western Nebraska to feed cattle during a blizzard. When youre in the National Guard, you have to go, he said. Army Reservists may also be called to active duty during their time in service. Laughridge, a rural Weston resident, was in college during the Vietnam War. After he graduated , he saw his friends being drafted, so he decided to enlist. Laughridge joined a special forces unit in Kansas. He was initially going to become an Airborne Ranger, but an injury from a civilian sky diving accident stopped that from happening, he said. He moved from Texas to Nebraska and was assigned to a unit in Fremont. Laughridge was promoted quickly during his time in the Reserves because many soldiers were getting out of the military after serving in Vietnam. Laughridge eventually retired from the Reserves. Its an honor and a privilege to serve my nation, he said. Melvin Prochaska was in the Navy from 1955 to 1959. Although he trained as a jet engine mechanic, he ended up training truck drivers while he was stationed in the Philippines. Everybody wanted to be a truck driver, but nobody knew how to drive, he said. His skill behind the wheel led to a 20-year career as a semi driver, Prochaska said. He was also a farmer. Havlovic served in the Army for two years (1957-59). The Prague native trained in construction engineering and as a heavy equipment operator. Like the Kremlacek brothers, Havlovic also had brothers who served in the military. The youngest of three brothers, he stayed home to take care of the farm for his disabled father until it was his turn to enlist after high school. Sharing stories and laughter during the informal ceremony can help veterans feel at ease, according to Bonney. The Veteran of the Month program was initiated in 2018 by the late Larry Mach, who was a member of the Saunders County Board of Supervisors. The program originally honored one veteran a month on the second Tuesday of the month. Each veteran received a plaque and recognition during the short ceremony. In 2021, the Saunders County Veterans Service Committee chose to change the ceremonys location and format, opting to honor more than one veteran at a time and to do it at a time and place other than during the supervisors meeting, saying the program had outgrown the original format. By Scott Shepherd "Oegugin churip geumji," said the doorman. Entry prohibited for foreigners. This article was nearly a very angry one. After I was denied entry to a bar two weeks ago for not being Korean, I was fulminating internally over the piece that I would write. I was going to write about the closemindedness and inherent insularity of Korea that the "no foreigners" rule reveals. Why should anyone support Busan's bid for the 2030 World Expo if the people it seeks to attract are not welcome here? Why should Scottish distillers or Belgian brewers sell their products to Korean pubs that refuse entry to the very people who created that precious nectar? Why should woke fans abroad laud K-pop as something special or somehow anti-racist when some of the genre's biggest stars (members of BlACKPINK and Twice, for instance) could themselves be banned from the country's pubs? That was the article that I nearly wrote: furious at the bar owners who devise this kind of policy and at the workers who implement it; raging against the successive governments that have failed to put a stop to it; angry even at the Korean people who protested COVID travel bans imposed by other countries but who willingly turn a blind eye at home to entry restrictions of a different kind. If my editors allowed me, I was going to name and shame the specific bar which denied me entry; I was thinking about posting a video of the incident online, organizing a protest, railing, fighting. That was the article I would have written. It would have been an angry piece, and not without reason. But I did know inside that I needed to calm down before I wrote anything and particularly before I published anything. There's enough hatred in the world and especially in the public sphere without more being added by me. I decided to take a week to calm down and reflect on the experience. Living in Korea, I try to understand prevailing perspectives here, even if I don't necessarily adopt them myself. From hideously saccharine potato chips to the tendency to let the door slam into the face of the person behind, from the tacit understanding of subway etiquette to the right way to conduct yourself in the public baths I have sought to understand and adapt to Korean culture, even when it's hard. What is easy, however, at least for a foreigner who speaks Korean, is noticing what some would call micro-aggressions, which occur if not on a daily then at least on a weekly basis. But we have to accept that this is Korea, not America and not Europe. Imposing Western frameworks of race and racism doesn't work here. Much of the oft-maligned Critical Race Theory is so fundamentally centered on the American experience that it just doesn't make sense in other parts of the world though it is true that scholars have been attempting to adapt its principles for other settings, including Korea. Korea is not a Western country. It has a different history and a different relationship with outside cultures. And it has no inherent duty to become a multicultural society in the mode of Western Europe or North America. So I have tried to accept that sometimes in Korea people talk about or treat foreigners in a way which would be considered unpalatable where I grew up. I seek gently to remind people who sneer at citizens of poorer countries that once Korea itself struggled with desperate poverty. To those who think all refugees should be spurned I try to point out that not so long ago those seeking refuge from war were in fact Koreans. As a general rule, when people express xenophobic views, I try to understand, even if I disagree. Otherwise it would be nearly impossible to stay in Korea for any length of time. (The obverse of this which you can find online if you look is the spectacle of non-Koreans responding to Korean racism by expressing their own racism against Koreans. This is of course just as worthy of condemnation.) But the "no foreigners allowed" rule is different. It's not a question of someone revealing an unrealized bias towards outsiders or an ignorant (in the purest sense of not knowing) attitude towards different cultures. No: it's a purely racist policy designed to exclude people based on the color of their skin. After all, the doorman announced that we were not allowed in before asking for any form of identification. And while I was remonstrating angrily at the door, a pair of men who looked East Asian were waved in without any form of ID check. Our skin was enough to prohibit our entry, just as their skin was enough to permit it. This is worth getting angry about. It's not an awkward slip or an incautiously-expressed generalization. It is an explicitly racist policy, not an accident: someone actually sat down and made the decision that the bar's best approach would be to exclude outsiders. Visitors here and foreign residents who cannot speak Korean may well be blissfully unaware of why they are sometimes turned away at the bar door. Perhaps it's full, they surmise; or I haven't matched the dress code. Maybe I need a ticket or something. And they wander off to another, less racist locale. I wonder if this at least contributes to why bars can still get away with banning foreigners. It's harder to get mad if you're not sure whether you're being barred because of your skin or your shoes. The question remains how to respond when you encounter this when you do understand. As for me, I'm not sure I reacted very well. I started to record the incident on my wife's phone and when one of the security people grabbed it, I wrenched the phone away and continued to point the camera and complain. I found to my disappointment later that he had pressed a button to stop the recording, meaning very little of the encounter was filmed. With or without video evidence, I made a scene. I suddenly realized that I knew most of the correct vocabulary and grammar to shout loudly about racist entry policies for pubs, and so I set about doing so with gusto. My Korean teachers would have been proud. This approach is certainly cathartic and it may have given the doormen something to think about, but it won't bring about long-term change. So the day afterwards we lodged a complaint with both the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) and the local council of the city where the incident took place. Disappointingly, the city council very quickly replied saying that the pub's policy is not against the law and there's nothing that they can do. The NHRCK are still investigating; we have more hope there. I believe there is a precedent where a similar incident took place and the organization required the bar to change its policy. In any case, to anyone who experiences this kind of prejudice I would recommend reporting it to the NHRCK; they have . Whatever happens in my particular case, it's clear that Korea needs to have a more open discussion about the foreigners who live here, and it's equally important not to import the toxicity of American debates around race. Anger may be the natural reaction, but we rarely make good decisions when the red mist descends. While I as a foreigner can't change Korean law, I can start talking at least. And it's possible necessary to talk about these topics honestly and openly, and to do so without resorting to hatred. Dr. Scott Shepherd (scottshepherd@chongshin.ac.kr) is a British-American academic. He has taught in universities in the U.K. and Korea, and is currently an assistant professor of English at Chongshin University in Seoul. The views expressed in the article are the author's own and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times. CEDAR FALLS Fifteen tons of newly fabricated carillon bells will return to the University of Northern Iowa campus Monday morning. Its been about six months since the bells last rung from the Campanile. At the time onlookers witnessed Verdin Company crew members pour molten bronze from a furnace into molds to fabricate seven new ones. The largest of what was 47 and now is 56 bells will be displayed beginning at 1 p.m. Monday through Tuesday before a crane begins hoisting the first bell up to the Campanile tower for installation Wednesday morning. At 8 a.m. Tuesday, President Mark Nook and his cabinet plan to recreate a 1926 photo of then-president Homer Seerley and colleagues with the original bells when the Campanile was first constructed. This truly is historic. This is one of the only the times the public gets to see the bells up close and personal, said Hillery Oberle, assistant vice president for strategy, communications, and campaigns. Weve been talking about it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it truly is. The scale of the bells is really impressive on its own with 15 tons worth of bell coming back. Two bells will be installed per day Wednesday and Thursday, before the bells get lighter and easier to place. Lots of fine tuning is required, including installation of the keyboard about 800 pounds on its own that was disassembled in Verdins Cincinnati factory and will be reassembled in the Campanille. At 5 p.m. Sunday, UNIs Student Guild of Carillonneurs, the seven-member ensemble responsible for playing the instrument at the top of the Campanile, will demonstrate how to play it at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., using a practice carillon and similar keyboard apparatus. A pop-up exhibit related to the Campanile also will be curated during the week by the Rod Librarys Special Collections & University Archives. The Campanile is one component of UNIs Our Tomorrow capital campaign and its goal of raising $250 million by its sesquicentennial in 2026. The carillon portion is the first phase of Campanile improvements. By the end of June, the expansion and restoration is expected to be complete. Once thats complete, then we need to finish up the fundraising, and then well be able to start work on the actual plaza, said Oberle. A live stream of all the activity will be in place next week and available on UNIs social media channels. To see it in person, public parking is available by the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center, 8201 Dakota St., a short walk from the Campanile. Photos: Postal workers demonstration, April 28, 2023 042823jr-postal-demonstration-5 042823jr-postal-demonstration-4 042823jr-postal-demonstration-3 042823jr-postal-demonstration-2 042823jr-postal-demonstration-1 WATERLOO A measure banning conversion therapy is back on the table Monday for the City Council. The council meets at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. In March, officials postponed discussion of an anti-conversion therapy ordinance, waiting until the Legislature was projected to finish its session, over concerns of possible liabilities. At that time, the Legislature was advancing bills that targeted LGBTQ+ youth. Since then, Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender children, among other bills regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. The Legislature is winding down but has not yet wrapped up its session. The ordinance Ward 2 Councilmember Jonathan Grieder has pushed would ban conversion therapy in Waterloo. Conversion therapy is the practice of attempting to change a persons sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. It does not pertain to gender reassignment surgery, which is a medical procedure that alters someones physical appearance and sexual characteristics to resemble a persons identified gender. In February, the council voted 5-1 to ban conversion therapy in the first of three readings of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Dave Boesen voted no. However, the council unanimously voted against suspending the rules, requiring the proposal to go through two more readings to gain final approval. Monday will be the second hearing. Currently, the ordinance states the city would enforce a ban through the city attorneys office. The city attorney would mail any medical or mental health professional who is allegedly practicing conversion therapy a written notice to immediately cease and desist. If that health professional doesnt comply, the violation would become a municipal infraction pursuant to city code. Since the ordinance has already had one approved reading, if any changes are made the council will have to start over. Prior to the councils regular meeting, an amendment to the proposal will be discussed during a 4:30 p.m. work session. The amendment states that if the human rights director or city attorney, or their designees, receive a report of a medical professional allegedly practicing conversion therapy, those officials may issue a letter notifying the provider that conversion therapy is prohibited. The act of sending a letter does not prevent any other enforcement power of the commission or another governmental body. Also coming before the council: A public hearing regarding the fiscal year 2024 sidewalk inspection and repair program for zone three. A public hearing about the fiber to the premises and backbone network project where the city clerk will read bids and refer them to a consultant for review. A public hearing focusing on an asbestos abatement services contract for the former St. Marys Villa, located at 123 E. Parker St. A public hearing for the sale and conveyance of city-owned property in the amount of $1 to DMJ Development, LLC, for the construction of a 14,000-square-foot trucking terminal with a future 21,000-square-foot expansion. A resolution approving a professional services agreement for a compensation and classification study for non-bargaining employees for $28,500. A resolution approving a professional services agreement with AECOM Technical Services Inc. for administration and inspection services for projects at the Waterloo Regional Airport in an amount not to exceed $423,000. Food prices fall on world markets but not on kitchen tables WATERLOO Almost a year after the creation of a task force to focus on gun violence, the Waterloo Safe Neighborhoods Commission held a forum Thursday at Jubilee United Methodist Church Freedom Center. Ward 2 Councilmember Jonathan Grieder, who is spearheading the committee approved by the City Council in June, said the group is in its first phase. Members are talking with experts, such as data scientists from Iowa State University, to look at strategies that work in other places. But Brent Carmichael, the founder and director of a nonprofit that provides social awareness services, said a phase that will make a difference is one that focuses on how to work with children. We as adults dont understand motivations and influences and whats causing them to do this, Carmichael said. We also have to look at dispute resolution and how to handle conflict, peace compromise and build respectful relationships. That would decrease some of the issues were having. This situation didnt happen overnight, and were not gonna solve it overnight, he continued. A lot of us are scared to talk to our kids, and so if we can increase our connections with them and decrease the need for them to have conflict we can solve some of the problem. He warned that summers coming, implying that more crime happens in warmer months. Members of the commission, as well as the public, spoke about the resources the area used to have in the summer months to give children something to do. My heart goes out to this generation of kids because my parents came here from Mississippi in the 70s, and I remember the Jesse Cosby Center, I remember the Book Mobile, I remember afternoon block parties, resident Rosie Julion said. And theres nothing like that here for the kids. I dont understand that. We throw money into everything else in this community. Another resident, Ali Raman, said the lack of resources is connected to the history of segregation in the city. She noted recent council meetings at which Councilmember Belinda Creighton-Smith decried the dearth of opportunities in her ward Ward 4 such as the removal of the pool in Gates Park and the lack of coffee shops. I think some of these issues are very systemic, and were never gonna solve it if we talk about just the guns themselves, Raman said. We need to deal with the truth and not run from it. Grieder said city leaders have been having this conversation for 20 years but nothing came out of it. Im not interested in blue ribbon stuff, he said. I will consider it an abject failure if we dont come up with long-term solutions. It will cost money and time, but we see what happens when we abandon kids. Photos: Arrests and protests at State Capitol in support of Rep. Zooey Zephyr WATERLOO The Waterloo Historic Preservation Commission is inviting the public to its 2023 awards ceremony at 6 p.m. on May 10 at the Grout Museum. Social hour will begin at 6 p.m. and the ceremony follows at 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Four recipients were chosen by the commission to receive recognition this year. Cedar Valley Real Estate is responsible for the restoration of the historic Friedl Bakery. The firm has transformed the building into a vibrant, safe and modern commercial and residential space for the multiple tenants within the structure. Lincoln Savings Bank worked to bring the Tech I Building at the TechWorks Campus back to its original appearance. The companys revitalization of the building brought in different organizations, such as the University of Northern Iowa/Hawkeye Community College Advanced Manufacturing Center and Design Lab, Lincoln Savings Bank, Waterloo Chamber of Commerce and the Cedar Valley Makers. The Grout Museum continued to maintain the Historic Snowden House to preserve its historic character and keep it full of life. Michael Magee was involved with a variety of organizations such as Cedar Valley Civil War Roundtable, the Northeast Iowa Genealogical Society and the State Association of the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries. He also helped preserve Civil War and pioneer grave sites, produce cemetery indexes, consult for the History Channel and completed many other activities for the preservation of history. While there is no charge to attend the banquet, guests are asked to RSVP to Lexi Blank in the Waterloo Planning and Zoning Office by calling (319) 291-4366 or emailing Lexi.Blank@waterloo-ia.org by Wednesday. Photos: Jerry Springer through the years, 1944-2023 DECATUR, Ga. 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 school's culture. Salim and her 6-year-old, Cho'Zen 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 Cho'Zen's 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, Cho'Zen attends a private, Afrocentric school joining kids across the country whose families embraced schools that affirm their Black heritage in a country where instruction about race is increasingly under attack. At Cho'Zen's school, Kilombo Academic & Cultural Institute in an Atlanta suburb, photos of Black historical figures hang on the walls. Every single student and teacher identifies as Black or biracial. Conservative politicians around the country are banning 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 were enacted in at least 16 states since 2021. Some teachers say the debates caused them to back away from controversy. Public school enrollment of Black students between prekindergarten and 12th grade 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 don't understand that. But that is why it is important to talk about it." Kilombo focuses on the students' rich heritage, from both Africa and Black America. "I want him to know his existence doesn't 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 COVID-19 pandemic. Lately, the enrollment growth reflected parents' increasing urgency to find a school that won't 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." 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 3 months, research has shown, and racial biases show up in preschoolers. Kilombo provides a space for kids to talk about their race. "I'm Blackity, Black, Black!" Robyn Jean, 9, said 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 can't." Last year, Georgia passed 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 others, 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 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. Kilombo follows academic standards from Common Core for math and language arts and uses Georgia's social studies standards to measure student success. But the curriculum centers on Black people, featuring many figures excluded in traditional public schools, said Tashiya Umoja, the school's 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 children's 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. 50 movies that address the history of racism in America 50 movies that address the history of racism in America Within Our Gates (1920) Shadows (1958) A Raisin in the Sun (1961) Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) In the Heat of the Night (1967) Symbiopsychotaxiplasm: Take One (1968) The Story of a Three-Day Pass (1968) The Learning Tree (1969) Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970) Sounder (1972) The Spook Who Sat by the Door (1973) Ganja & Hess (1973) Killer of Sheep (1978) Losing Ground (1982) She's Gotta Have It (1986) Tongues Untied (1989) Do the Right Thing (1989) Daughters of the Dust (1991) Boyz n the Hood (1991) Just Another Girl on the I.R.T. (1992) Malcolm X (1992) Hoop Dreams (1994) Devil in a Blue Dress (1995) The Watermelon Woman (1996) Down in the Delta (1998) Bamboozled (2000) How to Eat Your Watermelon in White Company (and Enjoy It) (2005) The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till (2005) The Great Debaters (2007) Trouble the Water (2008) The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011) 12 Years a Slave (2013) Fruitvale Station (2013) Dear White People (2014) Selma (2014) Rat Film (2016) I Am Not Your Negro (2016) O.J.: Made in America (2016) Loving (2016) 13th (2016) Get Out (2017) Did You Wonder Who Fired the Gun? (2017) Strong Island (2017) The Force (2017) Mudbound (2017) Hale County This Morning, This Evening (2018) If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) Sorry to Bother You (2018) The Hate U Give (2018) Just Mercy (2019) The key element of informed decision-making is facts. And not just any facts; the best, most tied-to-reality facts are needed to make the best decision. One more thing: Alternative facts only exist in alternative universes, so use them at your intergalactic peril. Which is what Verra, the worlds leading carbon standard for the rapidly growing $2 billion voluntary [carbon] offset market, appears to have done for years, reported The Guardian Jan. 18. According to the newspaper, research found that more than 90% of (the) rainforest offset credits, packaged by Verra and purchased by greenie-wannabes like Shell, Disney, and Gucci, are likely to be phantom credits and do not represent genuine carbon reductions. Specifically, that means that 94% of the credits Verra sold to internationally renowned companies had no benefit to the climate at all. Moreover, The Guardian continued, The threat to forests had been overstated by about 400% for Verra projects. Big Biz wasnt alone. Angst-filled grunge bands jumped on the CO2 bandwagon, too: Pearl Jam was among organizations that have bought rainforest offers approved by Verra. The findings hit experts like Barbara Haya, the director of the Berkeley Carbon Trading Project, like a sledgehammer. After all, reported The Guardian, Haya has been researching carbon credits for 20 years, hoping to find a way to make the system function. The implications of this analysis are huge, she told the newspaper. Companies are using credits to make claims of reducing emissions when most of these credits dont represent emissions reductions at all. Huge, sure; but they mirror what others found whenever forest carbon offsets are examined as a conscience cleanser for corporate CO2 creators. For example, when a ProPublica reporter dug into forest-based CO2 offsets four years ago she found spoiler alert the same sorry results as The Guardian found earlier this year. In case after case, wrote Lisa Song in her story, An (Even More) Inconvenient Truth, I found that carbon credits hadnt offset the amount of pollution they were supposed to, or they had brought gains that were quickly reversed or that couldnt be accurately measured. Ultimately, Song added, the polluters got a guilt-free pass to keep emitting CO2 but the forest preservation that was supposed to balance the ledger either never came or didnt last. Several ag researchers have sent up similar flares to warn farmers that carbon markets may not benefit the farm, the farmer or the planet. To start, todays highly industrialized farming makes long-term carbon sequestration the key to selling any carbon credit a tricky feat. Second, there are few market rules in any ag carbon credit market anywhere for any farmer or buyer to follow, noted J. David Aiken, an ag economist who specializes in water and ag law at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. What does the ag carbon credit market look like today? Aiken asked in a 2021 paper. It is the wild, wild west, he warned. The reason is simple: No rules or regulations exist, so let the buyers and sellers beware. From where I sit, the two largest players appear to be speculators and pilot project developers. But the lack of transparent markets, standardized rules, or even solid agronomic science behind ags possible carbon sequestration has not kept the federal government from entering and juicing the nascent, unproven enterprise. Last years bipartisan omnibus spending bill included the Growing Climate Solutions Act, explained Grist this winter, to get the nations growers to adopt climate-friendly practices by encouraging participation in the carbon market. Like everyone else in the carbon market, however, farmers are unclear how the law will address (their) biggest concerns. Other experts like William Rees, the University of British Columbia emeritus professor and co-creator of the human eco-footprint later renamed carbon footprint - are far more clear-eyed on carbon sequestration, carbon trading, and carbon net neutrality. Carbon neutrality, writes Rees in an April 17 email, ... is an engineers fantasy and popular wishful thinking. Or, as I like to put it, Humanitys propensity for socially constructing comforting shared illusions. The italics are his but the takeaway is clear: Theres nothing neutral about carbon neutrality and our wishful thinking wont make it so. There was a time when we honored those who created the prosperity and the freedom that we enjoy. Today we honor the complainers and sue the creators. Perhaps that is inevitable in an era when we no longer count our blessings, but instead count all our unfulfilled wishes. Thomas Sowell, economist, author and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution If you dont understand the facts, its impossible to govern. If you know the facts but misrepresent them, you dont deserve to govern. Im sure some great American is the source of that wisdom. In our current political environment there seems to be something to gain by insinuating, sometimes by outright accusation, that Americas richest citizens and corporate America are segments of society we should scorn. And they wouldnt mind if you and I imagined nefarious intent. Politics is inherently sloppy and cruel when it comes to characterizing the competition, but some political leaders have slipped so far into an alternate reality, its hard to correct the misinformation. On some issues our president seems to be leading the charge. If he believes the misstatements he makes, theres no way he can make the right policy choices. And if the public believes him, the quality of their candidate choices should be called into question. Im referring to the president regularly denigrating prosperous Americans. An obvious goal is to alienate voters against wealth holders whom he accuses of not paying their fair share of taxes. Hes hoping to create a campaign wedge issue. Following are examples of lets create some class warfare mischief. All are statements made by President Biden: If you make a billion or a million dollars, God love you. But just pay something. No, I mean it sincerely. Just pay something. ... The average tax for billionaires is about 3%, (alternatively hes used 8%) which is a lower tax than a schoolteacher or a firefighter. The Tax Foundation doesnt quite agree with those statements which can be confirmed in their Summary of the Latest Federal Income Tax Data, 2023 Update. In 2020 (the most recent data shown), the top 1% of taxpayers paid a 25.99% average rate. Its also worth noting that their share of all individual federal income taxes paid was 42.3%. That was up from 38.8% in 2019. The top 5% of income earners paid 62.7% of the total, and the top 10% of earners paid 73.7%. The top 50% of all taxpayers paid 97.7% of all federal individual income taxes. Quoting President Biden once again: Look, I think you should be able to be a billionaire if you can earn it, but just pay your fair share. I think you ought to pay a minimum tax of 25%. Its about basic fairness; I think its about time we started giving tax breaks and tax benefits to working-class families and middle-class families, instead of just the very wealthy. I found some more reality in the Tax Foundations 2023 updated report. The president clearly endorses a minimum tax rate for billionaires of 25%. As disclosed earlier, the top 1% of taxpayers paid a 25.99% average rate in 2020. If 25% is OK with the president, whats his complaint? Using these same official statistics, the bottom 75% of earners paid just 11.5% of income taxes collected. Slicing the data a different way, the Tax Policy Center found that, in terms of a raw count of taxpayers, approximately 60% of Americans paid no federal income taxes in 2020. The president insists we should share tax breaks and benefits with taxpayers other than the very wealthy. The data presented in the prior paragraph demonstrate that working-class and middle-class families are not, on average, suffering excessive federal tax burdens. While there are isolated exceptions to these averages, this data fairly represents overall impact for the various taxpayer groups. I just hope that readers, when making their political evaluations and choices, at least consider the information Ive provided. They shouldnt automatically accept partisan claims as determinative. While you may conclude that the rich dont pay enough taxes, or that tax rates are too low, make sure your opinions are based on accurate data. Whatever we conclude, these questions will never disappear: Whats a fair rate, and whats a fair share? Russia, Iran and China should send guns and money to Mexico to help fighting against the pending USA invasion It is what the USA does WtR Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (30 April 2023) Part I (see Part II) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, Operational-Tactical and Army aviation and artillery of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) close to Sinkovka, Kislovka, Kamenka, Masyutovka (Kharkov region), and Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Two sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have been disabled close to Olshana and Berestovoye. Up to 85 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three pick-up trucks have been neutralised. In Krasny Liman direction, ground-attack aircraft and artillery of the Tsentr Group of Forces engaged the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Makeevka and Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic), and Serebryansky forestry. Up to 65 Ukrainian personnel, one armoured fighting vehicle, three motor vehicles, and two D-20 and D-30 howitzers. In Donetsk direction, the assault detachments continue forcing the enemy out of the western part of the city of Artyomovsk, and have seized four blocks. Russias Airborne Troops have been paralysing the enemy in the northern and southern outskirts of the city. Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery, and heavy flamethrowers of the Yug Group of Forces have engaged the AFU units close to Bogdanovka and Artyomovskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The Russian aviation have made 4 sorties in this area during the day. The artillery of the Yug Group of Forces have performed 61 firing missions. More than 200 Ukrainian troops have been eliminated and around 280 more have been evacuated with injuries of varying severity as a result of a missile strike on temporary deployment areas of the 24th Mechanised Brigade and a unit of the AFU Special Operations Forces close to Konstantinovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). An artillery ammunition depot of the 54th Mechanised Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has been annihilated near Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The enemy losses in this direction have amounted to over 480 Ukrainian troops and mercenaries, 12 armoured fighting vehocles, 30 motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system during the day. #MoD @mod_russia_en Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (30 April 2023) Part II (see Part I) In South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, aviation and artillery of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU units close to Ugledar and Vladimirovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one armoured fighting vehicle, two motor vehicles, as well as Msta-B and D-30 howitzers have been neutralised in these directions during the day. In Kherson direction, over 10 Ukrainian servicemen, one motor vehicle, and one Msta-B howitzer have been neutralised by fire. In addition, a U.S.-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station was obliterated near Ponyatovka (Kherson region). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces have engaged 82 AFU artillery units, manpower and hardware in 115 areas during the day. The command post of the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was hit near Belogorovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). In the vicinity of Svessa (Sumy region), a military equipment and armament repair facility of the 117th Territorial Defence Brigade was hit. In addition, up to 200 tonnes of ammunition of the AFU troops have been destroyed as a result of a strike on a train at a railway station near Kramatorsk (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Air defence facilities have intercepted 7 HIMARS and Uragan projectiles. Moreover, 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been downed close to Novenkoye (Sumy region), Trudovoye, Chistopolye (Zaporozhye region), and Kirillovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). In total, 413 airplanes and 230 helicopters, 3,905 unmanned aerial vehicles, 421 air defence missile systems, 8,920 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,095 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 4,695 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 9,882 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. #MoD @mod_russia_en WtR Main theses: Today, in the context of the economic aggression of the West , the Parliament, the Government, all regional and local authorities need to act clearly and quickly, work as one close-knit, well-coordinated team. Our task is not to adapt, not to wait out a period of difficulties, challenges and external pressure, but to create a base, a basis for the long-term, independent, successful development of our country . I think that now parliamentary diplomacy is gaining additional, enormous importance. Our partners, or already, one might say, former partners, in some countries are maniacally destroying the legal framework and channels of dialogue, trying to impose their views and so-called rules on everyone . Russia is not going to go into self-isolation. On the contrary, we will expand pragmatic, equal, mutually beneficial, exclusively partnership relations with friendly countries in Eurasia, Africa, and Latin America. In the same States, by the way, we have many people who think the same with us, in Europe. Elites behave differently. But you and I know that the elites of these countries do not always pursue a policy aimed at the interests of their own peoples. They still get it. We are ready to work with those foreign partners, with global companies, corporations that value their business reputation and want to cooperate with Russia. WtR HD Hyundai President Chung Ki-sun, center, poses at HD Hyundai Electric's transformer factory in Montgomery, Alabama, Friday, with local employees of the electrical machinery firm whose family members fought in the 1950-53 Korean War. HD Hyundai said Sunday that Chung invited them to Korea to express his gratitude to Korean War veterans. He also visited HD Hyundai's other affiliates in Atlanta, Georgia, to encourage Korean employees living abroad. Courtesy of HD Hyundai https://m.vk.com/video-220061318_456239020?list=8d54ae21bcfa5a0372%2Fpl_post_578617852_32285 The Global Conference on Multipolarity The 17-hour global conference on multipolarity has ended, bringing together 124 intellectuals from 63 countries. This is an unprecedented success. Unlike Bidens elitist-globalist Summit for Democracy, a real dialogue of peoples took place. Among the speakers of our conference are Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, director of the Tsargrad Institute Professor Alexander Dugin , official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova , leader of the International Russophile Movement Nikolai Malinov, director of the African Freedom Institute Franklin Niyamsi, leader of the Turkish Vatan party Dogu Perincek, Brazilian international journalist Pepe Escobar. Representatives of 85% of the worlds population were able to discuss the prospects for a future just world order. The world in which we will live after the inevitable collapse of the colonial hegemony of Pax Americana. Global liberalism is dead. The end of history announced by Francis Fukuyama is a lie. The world of liberal democracy is a world of chaos, violence, segregation, racism and universal hatred. A world where minorities rule. One billion tried to dictate their will to seven. This system is collapsing before our eyes. The life of the American hegemon is ending. He clings to this world, trying to arrange a world war, but is doomed to the path of the British pseudo-empire. Collapsed after the Second World War, when all its colonies became independent states. Russian and American thinkers Nikolai Danilevsky and Samuel Huntington proposed a civilizational approach to the history of mankind the equality of different civilizations and mutual respect. In todays world, this is called multipolarity. And now, from under the blocks of the globalist liberal dictate, a wonderful world of the future is being born, in which all civilizations will play an equal role. Russia is now fighting for this world on the fields of Ukraine. So that people on different continents forever turn the page of Western colonialism. WtR Winona State University plans to build the first net-zero energy and carbon-neutral building in the Minnesota State System by May 2028. The new Center for Interdisciplinary Collaboration, Engagement, and Learning a $84 million, 73,000-square-foot three-story building will utilize solar panels on the outside of the building and will be designed to be water-balanced, low-waste and toxin-free. CICEL also supports the universitys campus-wide Leading Energy Savings and Sustainability Initiative. The project was started last year to reduce the universitys carbon imprint by 25% each year, making the university the most energy efficient in the Minnesota State System. First and foremost, its just the right thing to do. From all kinds of standpoints the environmental standpoint, stewardship of our state dollars if we can reduce waste and be efficient, and then provide a healthy, comfortable building, its just the right thing to do, said James Goblirsch, assistant vice president for facilities management. CICELs construction plans include the demolition of Watkins and Gildemeister halls, which the university says no longer adequately serve students and faculty. The new building will house the art and design, computer science, and mathematics and statistics departments. Ill just say for the three departments involved, its an exciting opportunity, Charla Miertschin, dean of the College of Science & Engineering. I think the vision for CICEL is to make flexibility to put in the infrastructure so that it could be adaptive down the road. Plans for the building will offer a variety of modern learning styles and include active-learning classrooms, maker spaces and studios, as well as high-tech computer labs. Construction of the building also brings benefits. Using better materials and designs, the annual building operating costs will be reduced by 50%, 1.8 million pounds of carbon emissions will be avoided, along with an annual campus energy reduction of 3.7%. I think todays students are very in tune with our interactions with the environment. Anytime we can show that we are being sustainable and trying to take sustainable practices, thats going to attract more students, Miertschin said. But on the academic side, thats what we hope really attracts young students, by having new, modern labs and technology that will take them into the future. The university continued its 2007 Climate Commitment a commitment from higher education institutions to show leadership and set an example for climate sensitive buildings by including additional greenspace during the projects planning. The geothermal well field needed for heating and cooling requires a large open space that will have the new, open greenspace on top of it. If youre familiar with Winona State you know were a very compact campus thats integrated into the city fabric. Because of that, we dont have the iconic greenspace found on many campuses in the country, Goblirsch said. So we thought, heres an opportunity to not only create a well field, but to create a much needed greenspace on our campus. Miertschin said she expects the design process to begin this summer as long as the project receives funding this legislative session. We keep making it on the bonding list. With this project, for the last couple rounds weve been in, weve been right at the cut off, Miertschin said. This time, we expect were going to be just above that. And this will be for design money. Its still not 100%, they still have to pass the legislature, but its looking much better this year than it has. Weather Alert ...Additional Showers and Thunderstorms Today into the Weekend... * Scattered rain/snow/pellet showers will once again develop today, with a 15-30% chance for a thunderstorm at any given location. Rain-snow lines will hover near 6000-7000 feet today, falling overnight, where heavier showers could bring snow as low as 4500-5500 feet at times. * Tonight and into Friday, there is a strong signal for the heavier showers to focus across north central Nevada, especially for Pershing County north of Lovelock. Elsewhere, shower activity will be more isolated in nature. * Yet another round of rain and snow showers arrives Saturday with the main focus in the Sierra and northeast California. * Roadway snow accumulation tends to be difficult this late into the season, but is still possible in heavier bands of snow and during the overnight hours. If you have travel plans through the Sierra, check with CalTrans and/or NDOT for the latest on road conditions. * Breezy southwest to west afternoon winds are expected each day today through the weekend. The greater concern is stronger winds from any thunderstorms that may develop, particularly across the west-central Nevada Basin and Range today. * High temperatures will remain 5-15 degrees below normal through the weekend, but at this point low temperatures in lower elevation valleys should remain above freezing. The one time frame to potentially watch is Saturday night into Sunday morning when typically colder valleys could fall near the freezing mark, with a 10% chance of dipping below freezing. Hard freezes are anticipated for all mountain valleys. The sheen of these California stars have burnished the Native American contemporary art field for decades. California Stars: Huivanius Putsiv highlights those landmark First California artists at Santa Fes Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian through Jan. 14, 2024. The show features artists working in fashion, photography, painting, mixed-media, sculpture, jewelry, video, printmaking and more. The featured artists include Fritz Scholder, Harry Fonseca, Jamie Okuma, Judith Lowry, Cara Romero, Liz Wallace and Rick Bartow. Jamie Okuma (Luiseno/Shoshone-Bannock) began beading powwow dresses at the age of 5. In our culture, in order to have an outfit, you needed beadwork, she said in a telephone interview from the La Jolla Indian Reservation north of San Diego. Her mother was a graphic designer; her grandmother was a painter. The Shoshone-Bannock people are known for their beadwork, she said. Its in my DNA. Today Okuma creates one-of-a-kind pieces by hand. She has been a professional artist since she was 18. Exhibiting her work at the Heard Indian Art Market in Phoenix and at the Santa Fe Indian Market, she has won seven best-in-show awards. Okuma is self-taught, gleaning pointers from YouTube videos. When she was younger, she wanted to be a costume designer, but the school she applied to rejected her for her lack of experience. They didnt know what they were looking at, so I just started creating, she said. I had success right out of the gate. Okumas silk jacket dangling parfleche leggings ensemble is a nod to hide clothing. It may not seem Native, but the aesthetics are there in the cut, she said. The top is loosely based on what a hide looks like with the long legs. Okuma turns Native aesthetics into contemporary fashion. Her work has been shown in Germany, Australia and France, and hangs in museums throughout the U.S., including New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum and the Smithsonians National Museum of the American Indian. Painter Judith Lowry (Hammawi Band Pit River/Mountain Maidu/Washoe/Scottish/Irish/Australian) won her first competition at the age of six for a drawing of a Lord of the Rings-meets-Fantasia world of vibrant creatures. She began her adult career as a photographer, later earning a masters degree in painting while raising a family. Many of her early works reflect the Maidu/Pit River creation stories told by her father. Lowry considers her work a modern extension of the tradition of storytelling. Dao Lulelek (Fire Dancers) reflects a story told to Native children to keep them from getting lost in the woods. It also reflects the fire danger looming across both California and the Southwest. The parents said, Dont go into the forest or these little guys will throw fire at you, Lowry said in a telephone interview from Nevada City, California. It was to keep them from wandering into places they shouldnt go. The regalia in the 4-by-5-foot acrylic painting reflects northern California tribes, flicker bird feathers flaming from their eyes. Lowry was visiting Lake Tahoe with her Australian cousins when the Caldor Fire broke out in 2021, scorching approximately 221,835 acres, including National Forest lands. We thought of Lake Tahoe as a rich peoples playground, she said. They burned to the ground. My cousins were just astonished. Where I live now is right in the forest, so its very dangerous. The Wheelwright has long championed California artists, dating as far back as tribal baskets collected when the museum opened in 1937, curator Andrea Hanley said. Many have exhibited California-to-New Mexico ties. Although he was originally from California, Harry Fonseca lived in Santa Fe for years. He was featured in so many exhibits here, Hanley said. Fritz Scholder, known for his expressionist paintings hanging in museums across the globe, taught at the Institute of American Indian Arts. We were one of the first places to give him a solo exhibition in 1977, Hanley said. These First California artists were inspired by personal expression, tradition and the complexity of everyday life, she said. They talk about issues of encroachment of their land, ideas around social justice. Its a location of diverse tribal communities, but theres been an impact of extractive colonialism; westward expansion and the gold rush. Its an ever-present constellation, Hanley said. These artists have guided us into a deeper level of complex issues. Those chamber music maestros from Chatter are taking a left turn and staging a program of Haitian music on Sunday, May 7. The works will be performed by cellist Janet Anthony and pianist Mari Tomizuka at 912 Third St. NW. For those who seldom think extraordinary classical music emerges from Haiti, the show will reveal how a country affected by poverty, recurring natural disasters and political instability can rise up to create joyful music. Recently retired as cello professor at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, Anthony is co-founder of BLUME Haiti, a nonprofit organization working in partnership with more than 50 music schools across Haiti. Centering Haitian voices and the needs of local communities, BLUME Haiti has helped build a thriving environment for music education. Anthony now lives in Corrales. She and Tomizuka, both Tucson natives, have known each other for nearly 60 years. Tomizuka is known for expertise with both modern piano and historical instruments. After 17 years of living in The Netherlands, she returned to Arizona, where she owns and manages the 17th Street Ear Palace, a space dedicated to soirees, lessons and master classes, sound recordings, recitals and public explorations of musical genres. Everyone deserves the safety and security that comes from stable housing, and housing outcomes are improved when lawmakers enact sound policies. Good policies, however, require good data, and without knowing the needs of landlords and renters, its impossible for lawmakers to identify ways to help city residents, improve housing security and make Albuquerque stronger in the process. Fortunately, the Albuquerque City Council has the opportunity to address this underlying barrier to better housing policies by passing O-22-59, which proposes a simple solution: create a rental database. By passing O-22-59, Albuquerque would be able to gather data about the citys residential rental market, improve communications between the city and landlords, and protect the health and well-being of rental occupants. In fact, Albuquerque already has a database of short-term rentals for individuals who rent their homes through platforms like Airbnb or VRBO because creating a database is a simple, logical approach to understanding and addressing housing outcomes. Rental databases are particularly helpful for mom-and-pop landlords. Small landlords face different challenges than large-scale landlords and own an increasingly smaller portion of rental units compared to investor-landlords. The easiest way to support landlords is through a rental database so lawmakers can implement specific policies and target their outreach to address the issues that mom-and-pop landlords face. For example, Philadelphia has a rental registry, which helps the city provide landlords up to $25,000 for property improvement. By helping mom-and-pop landlords, a rental database also helps the more than 95,000 renters in the city. This is because mom-and-pop landlords are more likely to offer affordable rental housing options and rent to tenants of color compared to large-scale landlords. Therefore, setting up a rental database and providing targeted support to mom-and-pop landlords allows Albuquerque to maintain its affordable housing and provide more housing options to residents of color. In addition, rental databases protect the health and well-being of tenants by improving code enforcement. In fact, an analysis of rental property registration in Austin found code inspectors used the citys rental database to track and prioritize the most hazardous properties so the city could work with landlords to take appropriate action. Before the rental database, inspections were driven by complaints, which was difficult because tenants did not always report code violations for fear of retaliation. Effective code enforcement is essential to ensure healthy and safe housing, which is important given that substandard housing can lead to negative health outcomes like chronic disease and injury. A rental database would also allow Albuquerque to identify households at risk of displacement, facilitate community outreach, and better enforce existing tenant protections. Given the positive impacts of a rental database for landlords and tenants, Albuquerque should join the growing number of municipalities that already use a rental database, such as the 20 cities in Texas and the eight in California. When the City Council meets on Monday, May 1, members should pass O-22-59 to build a foundation for good rental policies, improve housing outcomes and create a city where every resident can access the housing they need to succeed and thrive. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, center, poses with Boston Dynamics CLO Jason Fiorillo, left, and Boston Dynamics AI Institute Executive Director Marc Raibert at the office of Boston Dynamics in Massachusetts, U.S., April 28 (local time). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group By Lee Kyung-min Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang visited Boston Dynamics, the future robotics technology hub for Hyundai Motor Group in Massachusetts, U.S., the automobile giant said Sunday. The visit of Korea's top industry policymaker and a group of ministry officials, April 28 (local time), was a major schedule arranged in coordination with President Yoon Suk Yeol's six-day state visit to the U.S. Hyundai said the minister's visit will advance the alliance between Korea and the U.S. beyond military and security matters to encompass high-tech industries, an outlook bolstered further by an annual growth of 13 percent expected every year from $28.2 billion (37.8 trillion won) in 2023 to $83.1 billion in 2030. Hyundai said Lee attended a technical demonstration of Spot, a four-legged walking robot, Atlas, a humanoid robot, and Stretch, a collaborative logistics robot. Spot is able to handle exploration missions in industrial sites, as enabled by sound and temperature detection devices as well as vision sensors. It withstands temperatures of between minus 20 degrees Celsius and 45 degrees Celsius, and is waterproof and dustproof. Its 98-centimeter multi-purpose robot arm can hold, lift and move objects. The high-tech robot is currently used for safety maintenance at construction and industrial sites of Kia Autoland, a manufacturing plant, and Hyundai E&C. Atlas has a total of 28 hydraulic power joints and is able to best mimic human movements, according to the firm. It is able to maintain balance and stable posture thanks to cognitive sensors. The robot can move 2.5 meters per second and is able to grip objects for an extended period of time. "Korea will provide policy assistance to help expedite the development of the future mobility and smart technology industries," Lee said during the visit. "The Hyundai-Boston Dynamics cooperation in the robotics industry will help fortify the Korea-U.S. tech alliance, as underpinned by long-term investments and business planning leading to a successful market expansion." Tennessee Williams called The Two-Character Play my most beautiful play since Streetcar. Written in 1967, and revised constantly during the final years of Williams life, it follows a brother and sister act as they find themselves abandoned by their company, isolated and locked in by their distrust of the outside world. Their insularity and dependency mirrors that of a world emerging from a global pandemic, said Laurie Thomas, Fusion director. Fusion is staging the play from May 4-14. The play is prophetic in depicting that sense of isolation that results in a mistrust of people and a collective trauma, Thomas said. Theres definitely an autobiographical foundation his relationship with his sister Rose, Thomas continued. It lifts beyond the autobiographical and goes into who we become when a traumatic incident occurs, especially in childhood. And how they move forward. Brother and sister Felice (Ross Kelly) and Clare (Jacqueline Reid) experienced the violent death of a family member. On top of that, their theater company goes broke and cant pay their actors. But the insinuation is that both of them have lost their grip on life, Thomas said. Williams injects the play with a play-within-the play and an almost Hitchcockian sense of suspense. Theres a bit of the old-fashioned who-did-it, Thomas added. I think he was trying to expand himself as a writer. Writers like Samuel Beckett were changing around the structure. Williams (1911-1983) explored passion with daring honesty and forged a poetic theater of raw psychological insight that shattered conventional proprieties and transformed the American stage. The autobiographical The Glass Menagerie brought what Williams called the catastrophe of success, a triumph capped by A Streetcar Named Desire, one of the most influential works of modern American literature. Sax superstar Joshua Redman has emerged from the pandemic to play music celebrating the power of three. The musicians new 33 project emerged when he was on his way to the airport for a three-week European tour when the world shut down in March of 2020. On Friday, May 5, Redman brings his new trio to Santa Fes Lensic Performing Arts Center. The 10-time Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist found himself in the unprecedented situation of not being able to make music with another human being for more than six months. When I finally started getting together occasionally with folks for outdoor jam sessions, he said, the approach was predictably casual: Lets just play some tunes. Naturally, a lot of the tunes that were called were ones written by Duke, Monk or Wayne. With bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Marcus Gilmore, Redman formed the classic jazz trio format of saxophone, bass and drums. Redman views the canonical contributions of Duke Ellington, Thelonius Monk and Wayne Shorter as key-way stations in his own artistic development. The beauty and genius of Duke, Monk and Wayne is that their compositions beg no reinvention, he said. They are so cogent and complete, and yet so broadly malleable and interpretable just as they are. Of course, Im not promising I wont throw in a few of my own originals or original arrangements from time to time. Its jazz. Its improvisation. We go with the flow! National Public Radio said of the musician: Redman is among the most accomplished living practitioners of the jazz tenor saxophone. We stopped on the crowded Ciudad Juarez street by the burned-out migrant facility where 39 terrible and very unnecessary deaths occurred March 27, and a young man from Venezuela came up to our car to say his cousin had been among those killed. He looked stunned, in disbelief. We were unable to talk at length; there was too much traffic circling around us and, more importantly, I didnt know what to ask. It seemed too intrusive. Several questions have to be answered, however. First, how could those who were in charge at the National Immigration Institute have walked away without opening the cell doors and letting the detainees out to safety? The video we can now see makes it clear these guards were initially in no danger from the fire. Second, Mexicos President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) claims the detainees started the fire by setting mattresses ablaze in protest of being deported. Where did they get the matches? Werent they all searched when they were detained? And, most important, why were they locked up in the first place? In the last three years, Ive had a number of occasions to interview migrants who have been deported or expelled. It is a painful experience. These are men and women mostly men who have paid large sums, maybe $5,000 to $8,000, to coyotes to bring them to the U.S. border. What they have paid is more than the average annual income in Honduras, for example. They have borrowed the money from neighbors and family members on the assumption they will get to the United States where they can make better wages and repay these loans. But now they have to go back empty-handed. In addition, they are going back to the same violence and personal threats that caused them to flee in the first place. My experiences with those who have been deported or expelled were first at the Tierra de Oro shelter in Palomas, Mexico, population 5,000, and more recently at the Grupo Beta fire station facility also in Palomas. In both cases, these migrants who would be sent back to their home countries were free to come and go within Palomas. No one was locked up. For example, we visited the Grupo Beta site on March 10 and talked to a group of six men and one woman who would be returned to Colima, Mexico. They were all free to go to the OXXO store to retrieve money orders for transportation home. Why, therefore, did those in Juarez have to be locked up? This is a joint U.S.-Mexico issue, and we must work together to ensure the shelter system is adequate in terms of both space and safe treatment. There are models to emulate Respettrans just five minutes away from the site of the terrible fire, Colores United in Deming and Grupo Beta in Palomas. The need for decent shelter space on both sides of the border is going to continue; our two countries must work together to prevent further disasters. This is a challenge not only for AMLO and President Joe Biden but also the congressional delegations and governors of border states like New Mexico. Morgan Smith has been documenting conditions on the Mexican border for the last 12 years and can be reached at Morgan-smith@comcast.net. The New Mexico Legislature and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham delivered major victories for children and families during its 2023 meeting: expanding the child tax credit, free and healthy breakfasts and lunches for all students, tax rebates for families, and more childcare assistance, pre-K education and home visiting for pregnant families. We are reversing trends that pushed New Mexico toward the bottom of key national rankings for decades, and we have more work to do. Amidst news coverage of these accomplishments, one piece of good news for youngsters and families that slipped under the radar was the Legislatures historic appropriation of $20 million in funds to support new learning opportunities for youth through after-school, summer learning, and tutoring programs. For comparison, previous years funding was $10 million for the 21st Century Learning Centers. The new investment will serve 20,000 children and youth in after-school programs at public schools, charter schools, libraries, universities and at trusted community-based locations such as local museums, 4-H clubs and YMCA. Children and youth in programs are exposed to different perspectives and experiences they may not otherwise encounter, be it music, art and dance, coding, growing food or building robots, which help them gain confidence and realize their full potential. They have time to socialize, build relationships with peers and mentors, have a tutor, explore careers and gain workforce skills like teamwork, communication and problem-solving. The new funding comes at a critical time. Far too many of our children and youth are struggling today with serious issues impacting their mental health, learning and futures. Young people are experiencing high rates of anxiety and depression. Despite the heroic efforts of educators across our state, many students are still struggling after the pandemic and continue to be chronically absent from school. The positive outcomes of quality after-school and summer learning programs are undeniable. New Mexico State Universitys SOAR Evaluation and Policy Center partnered with the state Public Education Department 21st Century Community Learning Centers recently to conduct a statewide evaluation of nearly 8,000 students in programs. In both math and English/reading, the average grades of students increased. The data also shows 89% of all students like their program, and 90% of the K-12 students agree after-school teachers care about them. Participants also appreciated the program for providing opportunities for engagement in a safe environment. An independent report in 2019 supported by the respected Wallace Foundation showed after-school and summer learning programs across the country improved a whole range of student outcomes, including student attendance, achievement in math and English, grades, graduation rates and overall health and fitness. Still, too many children, especially in rural in New Mexico, have been left out for too long. Thanks to the work done during this years legislative session, thats going to change. A stable, consistent investment in our children who are the future, and the caring out-of-school-time educators who help these children attain that future, means moving New Mexico in the right direction. Carol Rising and Dana Brabson, owners of Quilts Ole in Corrales, found themselves parked at a Chevron station recently, awaiting instructions on how to pay off a supposed $1,200 PNM bill. They realized how odd the scenario was, and they made the one phone call to the real PNM that saved them from becoming the latest utility scam victims. We had the money in our hot little hands, Rising says. We got further along than we would have liked. In New Mexico, most PNM scams target homeowners rather than businesses. Last year, 95% of the 2,044 customer reports the utility received were from residential customers. And the fraud came mostly by phone, PNM says, although so far this year there have been a few attempts in person and by email. Phone was the preferred means in the Quilts Ole case. The caller spoke with the shops bookkeeper and threatened disconnection unless the business paid $1,200 in cash. The store manager also spoke to the caller several times. To make things seem more legitimate, the phone number provided led to recordings that sounded identical to the official PNM. Rising and Brabson stepped in and followed directions by traveling to the Chevron station, where they were supposed to call the bogus PNM person for a specific code so they could pay at a machine inside. Instead, they called the real PNM on a number they found independently and were assured they were not past due and that the whole thing was hogwash. All the warning bells went off, but its like every scam that wants money its an emergency, so you dont have time to think about it, Rising says. Says Brabson, If you lose electricity, you basically have to shut down your business. The couples advice is to contact the utility directly so you can talk to a person who knows what theyre talking about. PNM spokeswoman Shannon Jackson suggests doing this for an immediate check on whether your bill is past due: Log into your PNM.com account or text #BAL to PNM from the cell phone number associated with your account. You can also call the company at 1-888-342-5766, which is the number printed on your bill. A representative can tell you whether anyone from the utility tried to contact you and whether you owe money. The good news is the incidence of such scams has been declining. Last year, PNM received 2,044 reports from customers, down by 62% in 2020. (I)t appears customers are catching on to scammer tactics because the numbers are trending down, Jackson says. Sadly, there are still thousands of customers that fall victim to this crime each year. Imposter scams, in which the con artist pretends to be someone else, and identity theft were the two types of fraud that most plagued New Mexicans last year. The state racked up total losses of $38.2 million from all kinds of scams in 2022, with more than 17,000 reports submitted, according to the Federal Trade Commissions annual report. That put New Mexico at No. 31 in the nation. The worst place for scams was Georgia, while North Dakota is the best place to go for beating the odds of scam victimhood. Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com or (505) 823-3842 if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1 (844) 255-9210, prompt 5. Complaints can be filed electronically at https://www.nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/. Promises made, promises unkept. Last year, after U.S. Forest Service negligence caused the worst wildfire in state recorded history between early April and mid-June, federal leaders made a lot of promises about making New Mexicans whole. President Joe Biden flew over the perimeter of the 534-square-mile fire that destroyed more than 900 structures, including about 430 homes, in Mora, San Miguel and Taos counties. He vowed his administration would do everything it could to help families who lost their homes. Well do whatever it takes, as long as it takes, Biden said during his first visit to New Mexico as president. The long in that comment was prescient. Meanwhile, New Mexicos congressional delegation churned out news releases touting federal help was on its way. N.M. Congressional Democrats passed $2.5 billion to support New Mexico residents and business owners impacted by this years Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fires, read the secondary headline of a Nov. 15, 2022, news release from U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich. The release said the Federal Emergency Management Agency expected to start paying claims in early 2023. But FEMA is behind schedule and just opened regional offices Wednesday in Mora, Las Vegas and Santa Fe to help fire victims navigate the federal claims process. Its taken far too long. Peoples homes burned a full year ago. The wildfire was declared 100% contained on Aug. 21. U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury issued a news release Dec. 23, 2022, saying she, Heinrich, U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan and U.S. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, all D-N.M., partnered to add $1.45 billion in an omnibus appropriations bill to support New Mexicans impacted by the wildfires. So whats happened to that $4 billion in fire aid? An investigation by ProPublica in partnership with Source New Mexico found of the 140 households FEMA offered travel trailers or mobile homes, only about a tenth have moved in. Many victims cite slow approvals and strict rules as the reason. Many of them said FEMAs trailers were offered too late, cost too much to get hooked up or came with too many strings attached, the partnership reported. Several said they went through multiple inspections, only to learn weeks later that one rule or another made it impossible to get a trailer on their land. The partnership reported just 13 of the 140 eligible households had received FEMA housing as of April 19, and only two of them are on their own land. A total of 123 people withdrew their applications for trailers because of the red tape. FEMA says terrain and weather made it challenging to provide housing to survivors. The agencys rules require temporary housing structures be hooked up to utilities. But some residences lacked running water and septic tanks before the wildfire. Wood stoves are common in remote, mountainous areas, and so are wells. The agency needs to loosen its rules to meet its mission. I remain committed to restoring the health of our forests and watersheds and making sure that New Mexico families and communities are made whole again, Heinrich said in a Dec. 20 news release. Four months after that PR sound bite, they havent been made whole, not by a long shot. And our short-attention-span congressional delegation has seemingly moved on to the next issue, even while New Mexicans made homeless by federal incompetence struggle to get help through FEMAs stringent application process. As of late March, rancher Herman Lujan still couldnt reach the Mora Valley where he grazed cattle and sold Christmas trees. Post-fire flooding, sometimes as destructive as the wildfire itself, damaged a dirt road leading to land thats been in his family for generations. Mud and rocks made it impassable. At 88 years old, he may never be made whole. I lost everything up there, he told the Journal during a March 31 interview. Tens of thousands of residents were forced to leave their homes as the flames advanced; many had to leave all their pets, livestock and belongings behind. There were some people who just left without anything, said Ledoux Volunteer Fire Department firefighter Krystle Garcia. Its just disheartening to see how little has been done to this point. Its inexcusable that a year after the fires emerged people still cant get to their homes and others cant get into FEMA trailers. The rebuilding should have begun by now. Our congressional delegation should be up in arms, making clear to the federal government, You broke it, you fix it. Leger Fernandez, who touts herself as a 17th-generation daughter of rural New Mexico and who listed FEMA compensation for wildfire victims as one of her top five accomplishments in her first term representing northern New Mexico, should be incensed with FEMA, the Forest Service and the Biden administration. So should our two U.S. senators, and it wouldnt hurt for the rest of our delegation and Interior Secretary Deb Halland, also a New Mexican, to present a united front for N.M. residents injured and insulted by ongoing federal fecklessness. They all need to be more vocal, even if it means correcting an administration of their own political party. While FEMA ineptitude is not surprising its unfortunately become standard operating procedure since Hurricane Katrina we are disappointed our New Mexicans in D.C. havent done more to clear the bureaucratic logjam in the claims process. Promises made need to become promises kept. To get help To file a claim or learn about the process, residents should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency at (505) 995-7133 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, send an email to To file a claim or learn about the process, residents should contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency at (505) 995-7133 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, send an email to ClaimsOffice@fema.dhs.gov or visit fema.gov/hermits-peak (in English) or fema.gov/es/hermits-peak (in Spanish). This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. It was a morning like any other for Al Burson and his son, Andrew. It was Feb. 25, 2022. The older Burson had calls lined up all day, so he decided to work from home instead of going into the office. He wished 16-year-old Andrew a good day at school, and sat down at his desk. During one of his conference calls, alerts from West Mesa High School started trickling in, telling parents to come get their children. At first, he didnt think much of it. But as the minutes ticked by, his worry grew, and he sent his son a text: Are they letting you out of school? He never got a reply. Finally, he decided to just go to West Mesa. But as he backed out of his driveway, he got a call. Police told him to stay where he was, and that they would come to him. Two victim liaisons showed up about an hour later. Were sorry, Mr. Burson. Andrews dead,' Al remembers them telling him. In shock, and overcome with anger and loss, he walked inside and screamed. Unease and concerns about safety have been mounting at West Mesa since that day, when Andrew was shot and killed just off campus while fighting with a 14-year-old hed accused of stealing his gun. In recent months, concerns have grown even more. West Mesa has seen the most guns of any school, and gunfire has erupted several times on and around campus over the course of the school year, contributing to a culture of fear among teachers and students. This is still going on, after what happened to my son? Burson asked. God, help the parents if they ever have to get the same news I did. 3 guns confiscated at West Mesa Of the 17 guns reported at schools in and around Albuquerque this year, West Mesa has seen the most, with three gun seizures in two incidents separated by less than a month. And that doesnt count the shootings that have happened near the school. In December, a student reaching into his backpack during a fifth-period woodshop class told an Albuquerque Public Schools detective he accidentally pulled the trigger of a pistol he brought to school to look cool. He stood up and walked out, taking his backpack now with a fresh, 9mm hole on the bottom of it with him, leaving his teacher to collect bullet fragments from around his classroom. That was really a tipping point for a lot of us, because it was kind of nonchalant, like, Oh, we had another incident, English teacher Eric Brugger told the Journal. Less than a month later, an APS police officer confronted a student who was reportedly carrying a gun. The officer told the student that he would be searched, but before the officer could stop him, he pulled out two guns from his waistband. One of them, police said, was modified to be fully automatic. The officer arrested the student and took the guns, according to an incident report. One of them, which was not loaded, came back as stolen when Albuquerque police ran the weapons through the National Crime Information Center database. Less than two months later, a West Mesa student was shot and injured at a park across the street, in just one among several times gunfire has erupted near the school, according to a building background check run by APD. Expecting to hear the worst These days, students and educators say they feel a jolt of fear anytime the schools loudspeaker crackles on, expecting to hear the worst. I have never truly feared for my life like I did last year, seeing my teachers who I look up to terrified and confused, one student told school board members in early February. That day has stuck with all of us. I still get scared every time I hear the click of the loudspeaker, I still remember how terrified I was, thinking that one of my loved ones is hurt. For many, the clear solution is to bring on more security officers at the school. A student survey conducted by a teacher-led action group found that about 54% of 386 respondents saw more security personnel as the best option for the school. But the district has struggled to recruit more security officers, Superintendent Scott Elder told the Journal. The APS police department is facing significant vacancies. The chief estimates officer vacancies are around 10, and campus security aide vacancies total around 30. Still, APS has made moves to ramp up its security presence at West Mesa, in recent months moving an additional student resource officer to the school. APS has also floated the idea of installing weapon detection systems in schools, Elder said. But West Mesa staff have pointed out that there are many ways to get into the school, meaning several machines would be needed to make sure each student is checked. Theyve also pointed out that sometimes, students just jump the fences to get to school. APS also improved the schools gate card readers, fixed and upgraded security cameras, and the district is also moving forward with a crisis alert system that teachers can wear around their necks that will allow them to summon first responders in dangerous situations. The efforts the district is making arent going unnoticed, West Mesa family support liaison Carisa Yazzie-Gonzalez said, adding that she understands progress happens slowly. It doesnt happen overnight. This is a big mission, its a long mission, she said. But families and kids they dont get that. Afraid to speak out At a news conference in March, city, district and county leaders gathered to remind students of the consequences of bringing guns to school, and to tell someone anyone if they see any threats to schools. But students can also be afraid to speak out against their classmates, for fear of retaliation. Its sort of a lose-lose situation for the students, because they feel like they cant always tell somebody. But then again, if they do tell somebody, they can risk getting hurt, West Mesa sophomore Adriana Solis told the Journal. Theres even a fear of telling other students that someone has a gun, Solis added, because they could be friends with the gun-toter. If you get that person in trouble, and they find out that you were the person that got them in trouble, theyre gonna send their friends after you, she said. Still, APS school board members get an earful every month from the West Mesa community. Teacher Theresa Illgen says she worries that sometimes, there can be a general fear to act on gun issues. I think the minute that people hear gun, it becomes one of these politically charged things, because it automatically gets connected into the Second Amendment, she said. (But) the thing is, guns dont belong on campus. Pain and loss still fresh Andrew Burson is buried in a southeastern plot of Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Just about every week, his father goes to visit him. Each time, Al Burson kneels down, placing his hands on his sons headstone, which is etched with a helmeted figure riding a dirt bike much like his son loved to do. Each time, Burson says, hes overcome with the same sort of sadness he felt the day his son was killed. He stifles his sorrow, but it still pours out. I hate visiting him here. Id rather visit him at home, or see him playing in sports, Burson, standing over his sons grave, told the Journal one windy Friday in April. But, I mean, Im still his father, so Im still going to come see him. For him, firearms are not a political issue a gun owner himself, he said hes not a gun control advocate nor a gun rights advocate. But he does think something needs to change, even if its just from parents asking more questions of their kids. That comes from personal experience. Burson says he had heard about some of the problems at West Mesa, and regrets not asking Andrew more questions, because he doesnt have any idea where his son would have gotten the gun he was killed with. I dont think its the schools fault, but I dont know. I dont think parents are talking to their kids about guns and accountability and responsibility. And I may be in that boat too. I dont know, he said. We will never be the same because of one moment. A White Sands Missile Range employee has been arrested in the fatal shooting of a transgender woman in 2021 at her Albuquerque home. Sadou Maiga, 39, is charged with an open count of murder and tampering with evidence in the Dec. 29, 2021, death of Nicholas Turrietta, who went by Nikki and identified as a woman. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said U.S. Marshals were going to arrest Maiga but he turned himself in Thursday and declined to provide a statement. He has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center. Maigas family declined to comment and his attorney could not be reached Saturday. White Sands Missile Range staff told police, according to court records, that Maiga is employed as an IT specialist and was previously a security guard. White Sands Missile Range did not respond to questions and a request for comment. Prosecutors filed a motion to detain Maiga until trial, saying he exhibited a clear lack of value for the lives of others and is a perilous danger to everyone. Jennifer Struck, Turriettas aunt, said, Were not as happy as we thought we would be, noting that it is just the beginning of the judicial process. Theres a lot of mixed emotions with this arrest, she said. Im glad they were able to work the case its been a long road and they stuck to it. Out of the 110 homicides in 2021, Struck said she was glad Turrietta wasnt on the bottom of a pile. In the time since Turriettas death, friends had regularly posted on her Facebook page, sharing memories, saying they miss her and seeking justice. On Thursday, someone posted a story about Sadous arrest, writing I hope this helps you with a blue heart emoji. Another friend responded, Im crying (right now) because I thought they didnt care. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court: Police responded on Dec. 31, 2021, around 4:30 p.m. to a home in the 1000 block of Maggies NE after a friend reported they could see Turrietta unconscious inside. Officers found Turrietta and determined she had been shot once in the back of the head. Police found a .40 caliber bullet casing near her body and a mens reflective safety jacket on a chair. Turriettas phone was missing and police learned it had been taken to Socorro and eventually left in a rural area near Los Lunas. A friend of Turriettas told police she had recently been talking to a man named James. Relatives told police an army guy named James had broken into Turriettas home months earlier. Police found TextNow account messages that showed Turrietta met another person on Dec. 28 and the two spent the night together. The next morning Turrietta messaged the person asking what they had wanted on their burrito. Police said it was the last message between the two, noting Turrietta and the person had previously messaged each other 155 times in December. Detectives discovered many, but not all, of the messages had been deleted. Police learned the person had messaged another transgender person days before Turriettas death, that suggested they were meeting for sex. Detectives traced the number to a fake email of James Peppers, with Maigas number listed as a recovery number. Police learned Maiga had called Turrietta three times the morning of Dec. 29, as Turrietta was reportedly getting burritos. Detectives believe Turrietta was killed sometime in the next several hours as her phone traveled to Socorro by 6:30 p.m. The phone then reportedly returned to Albuquerque on Dec. 31, hours after Turriettas body was found, and was left near Los Lunas. Police learned Maiga drove a white car similar to one seen outside Turriettas home in the days before the homicide. Detectives reportedly never found Turriettas phone. An arrest warrant was filed for Maiga on April 12. Cover Images/KOI SOJER Celebrity The rapper and 'The Little Mermaid' actress prove that their relationship remains strong with the sweet photo after they were hit with breakup rumors earlier this year. Apr 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - DDG and Halle Bailey let the world know that things remain strong between the two. The rapper and "The Little Mermaid" actress, who were hit with split rumors earlier this year, put on a loved-up display in a new photo. On the snap, which was shared on Friday, April 28, the "Moonwalking in Calabasas" hitmaker and his girlfriend could be seen sharing a sweet hug as they posed for the camera. The couple looked happy together as they smiled ear-to-ear in the picture. For the outfit, DDG kept it casual in a white T-shirt and black pants. The Chloe x Halle member, in the meantime, sported a bright yellow three-piece set. DDG sparked speculation that he broke up with Halle in February. Eagle-eyed fans noticed thhat they unfollowed each other on Instagram and he deleted her pictures from his page. Moreover, the emcee vented on Twitter, "All these girls the same. Ain't no wayy," adding a crying emoji. However, hours later Halle and DDG have re-followed each other. Slamming "gullible" social media users for believing everything what is said on the Internet, the YouTuber wrote, "nobody cheated on nobody btw." Downplaying his previous tweets that sparked the breakup speculation, he also penned, "Don't take my tweets too serious." Halle, for her part, recently opened up about being in love with DDG. She told British Vogue, "Experiencing deep love for the first time in my life is something I feel has opened a whole new world for me creatively." "What it feels like to love someone other than your family, like somebody you may not have known two years ago but now theyre the centre of your world," she continued. "I like all of the scary feelings that come with that. I like the suspense, the not knowing what's going to happen, and I feel like that's what I'm supposed to be going through in womanhood." Halle wen on to note, "It's also deeply sacred... There's a lot of eyes on me now, especially with what's to come." She then elaborated, "And sometimes I wish I didn't have so many eyes on me, especially experiencing something like this for the first time." You can share this post! YouTube/ABC Celebrity The Alexis Rose of 'Schitt's Creek' reveals a man on the internet told her she looked like the 'Barbie' actress if she were purchased on the budget from an online store. Apr 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - "Schitt's Creek" star Annie Murphy was once dissed she looks like a cheap version of Margot Robbie. The 36-year-old actress - who portrayed Alexis Rose in the CBC sitcom - has shared a troll compared her to the bombshell Aussie actress if she was bought on the budget store Wish. "I was told by a man on the internet that I look like Margot Robbie if she was ordered from Wish.com," she told Us Weekly magazine. What's more, she's often been stopped by fans of the show on the street who tell her she looks like the actress that plays Alexis. She said, "The most common things fans ask me is, 'Has anyone told you that you kind of look like that girl from Schitt's Creek?' " The Emmy-winning star also revealed she has Hollywood actress Kate Winslet's phone number. She told the publication, "The most starstruck I've been was meeting Kate Winslet. I asked her for her number. She's the most famous person in my contacts." Meanwhile, the actress previously revealed she cried "12 times a day" before being diagnosed with depression. The star revealed how she struggled during the pandemic after moving back into her family home in Canada when she went for a planned vacation and filming on new series "Kevin Can F*** Himself" was delayed. She told The Zoe Report, "My mom was like, 'You're crying 12 times a day hysterically, to the point where your teeth are chattering. That's not normal.' " She went to a therapist, who diagnosed her with depression, and she admitted she was worried about what people would think if they knew. She added, "I was like, 'Damn it, I'm depressed.' Urgh... A lot of people are going to think that I sound like I'm playing a tiny violin for myself." " 'Oh, you're rich and famous. Why the f*** are you sad? You have nothing to be sad about.' But I'm not going to post photos of me covered in my own snot, lying on the floor, unable to get up. I don't want people to have to see that." Annie - who struggled months earlier when she was on the "Schitt's Creek" live tour - admitted she wasn't sure if she would have "been able to do [her] job" if filming on "Kevin Can F*** Himself" had started as planned. She explained, "[And] as excited as I was to get this huge part on [the show], I do not think if I had gone to work when I was supposed to go to work, I would have been able to do my job." Now, Annie is helped by regular therapy and antidepressants and she admitted they have saved her life. She said, "I do not cry every single day on the floor 12 times I am able to focus on other things in my life." "Now, honestly, if a friend's like, 'I'm having a really hard time,' I'm like, 'Get on drugs. Get on drugs!' You don't have to be on drugs for the whole time, but they truly, truly saved my life in the sense that I was not a functional human being and I was able to be a functional human being." You can share this post! Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, center, talks with President Yoon Suk Yeol and Moderna co-founder Noubar Afeyan, during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yonhap By Park Jae-hyuk President Yoon Suk Yeol wrapped up his six-day state visit to the U.S. with Korean business leaders, but the heads of Korea's two largest conglomerates have yet to finish their overseas trips, according to industry officials, Sunday. Instead of returning to Seoul with the president, Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong is said to be staying in the U.S. for two more weeks, to strengthen his ties with the CEOs of global enterprises. This is Lee's first trip to the U.S. since his appointment as full chairman last October. Given that he does not need to come to Korea until his next court hearing slated for May 26 for a trial on charges of fraud in a merger of two Samsung affiliates, he is expected to have meetings with U.S. business leaders all across the country. During the first week of May, he is likely to meet with top executives of Verizon in New Jersey, as Samsung signed a contract with the U.S. telecom firm in 2020 to supply $6.6 billion worth of network equipment. He is also expected to visit Moderna's headquarters in Boston, considering that Samsung Biologics manufactured the U.S. drugmaker's COVID-19 vaccine. After visiting the eastern side of the country, it is widely expected for the Samsung chairman to stop by Silicon Valley in the west to meet with Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Although the two U.S. tech giants compete with the Korean firm in the smartphone market, Samsung uses Google's Android operating system for its Galaxy smartphones, while Google uses semiconductors made by Samsung. In addition, Samsung Display supplies OLEDs for Apple's iPhone. Industry officials are paying keen attention on whether Lee will also visit Microsoft and Amazon. Considering the political tension between the U.S. and China over supremacy in the chip industry, the Samsung chairman is unlikely to visit the construction site for the company's new foundry factory in Taylor, Texas. When Lee visited China in March, he did not visit Samsung's semiconductor factory in Xi'an. "The chairman is expected to focus more on strengthening his personal networks with U.S. businesspeople," an industry official said on condition of anonymity. SK Group and Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won, left, talks with TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque during the Korea-U.S. Business Roundtable at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., Tuesday (local time). Yonhap Cover Images/Jennifer Graylock Celebrity The writer of a new book titled 'Depp v Heard: The Unreal Story' weighs in on the high-profiled legal battle between the two former married celebrity couple. Apr 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are described as "two troubled but fascinating human beings" by the author of a new book. The 59-year-old actor and Amber, 37, were embroiled in two high-profile court cases following their divorce in 2017 - but Nick Wallis insists he never found the trials to be "sordid or grim." "I thought they were two troubled but fascinating human beings, trying to find their way in the world. They went through an extraordinary process, played out on a global stage," Nick - whose new book is called "Depp v Heard: The Unreal Story" - told the Daily Mail newspaper. The two trials - the first of which was held in London and the second in Virginia - created headlines around the world, with lurid details being revealed about their turbulent relationship. But Nick - who covered both trials exhaustively - insists it never became "sordid or grim" at any stage. Depp was awarded over $10 million in damages after suing his ex-wife over an op-ed that she wrote in 2018 about being a victim of domestic violence. Camille Vasquez, the actor's lawyer, subsequently claimed that he was enjoying a "sense of peace" after winning his defamation case. She told Hola USA, "The court was very kind to provide us with a room that we used for lunch and meetings and when we FaceTimed him he was so relieved, happy and grateful. It was nice to see him smile. A mutual friend told me, 'I haven't seen Johnny smile like that in six years.' " "It's true, there's a sense of peace to him now that he just didn't have before. He was able to tell his story and was infinitely grateful and moved. We all were. I still get a bit emotional about it - to give him his life back." You can share this post! CNN Celebrity The 'Terminator' actor and his 'Twins' co-star have a surprise reunion as they poke fun at each other at the starry dinner hosted by President Joe Biden. Apr 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito reunited at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. The former Governor of California and his "Twins" co-star kicked off the annual event on Saturday, April 29 with a pre-recorded introduction video that also included the "Terminator" actor's pony Lulu and his donkey Whisky. "You're actually doing the people's work. You're the ally of the people. So never, ever stop shining a light on the truth and informing the public...," Arnold said as he addressed members of the press in the video, which was broadcast by CNN, while Danny fed the animals crackers. "I'm very proud of all of you. And it's not just me and it's also Lulu and Whisky and my twin brother Danny DeVito, we're all proud of you!" Arnie added. Danny, 78, joked, "I come over here and I'm going to get bit by a horse. That's the finger, ouch!" His 75-year-old pal told the horse, "Good girl, good girl." The pair then introduced White House Correspondents' Association President Tamara Keith, who fronted the celebrations live from the Washington Hilton. Host Roy Wood Jr. then gave his opening monologue, and he made plenty of jokes about Donald Trump. The 'Daily Show' star branded the former US President the "king of scandals" but joked the twice-impeached politician had been involved in "too many" scandals "to keep up with." He added, "Keeping up with Trump scandals is like watching 'Star Wars' movies. You gotta watch the third one to understand the first one. Then you can't miss the second one 'cause it's got easter eggs for the fifth one. Donald Trump is the only politician whose scandals got spin-offs on Disney+!" "Just for a moment, can we just all acknowledge, can we just all be honest and say that the Trump arrest didn't hit like we thought it was gonna hit. We're so desensitised to scandals now that the Trump arrest didn't do what I thought it was gonna do. The Trump arrest was like a pot brownie you ate 4 hours ago. You're like, 'Do I feel justice? This don't feel like justice!' " Meanwhile, President Joe Biden - who was joined at the dinner by his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff - showed he wasn't afraid to laugh at himself, with the 80-year-old Democrat poking fun at his age during his speech. He said, "Look, I get that age is a completely reasonable issue." Joking about the New York Times' jibes about his age, he added, "You might think I don't like Rupert Murdoch. That's simply not true. How can I dislike a guy who makes me look like Harry Styles? Call me 'old?' I call it being seasoned. You say 'I'm ancient,' I say I'm wise. You say 'I'm over the hill,' Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime!" And he quipped the evening would reflect his first two years in office. He said, "I'll talk for 10 minutes, take zero questions and cheerfully walk away." After joking about Trump, Elon Musk, and Tucker Carlson, Joe mocked Fox News over their recently-settled lawsuit. He said, "It's great that cable news networks are here tonight, MSNBC owned by NBC Universal, Fox News owned by Dominion Voting Systems." "Last year, your favourite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. This year, with that $780 million settlement, they're here because they couldn't say no to a free meal. And hell, I'd call Fox 'honest, fair and truthful.' But then I'd be sued for defamation!" The annual event traces back to 1921 and is historically attended by members of the White House Correspondents' Association, as well as high-ranking politicians. Notable other guests this year included Chrissy Teigen and John Legend, Julia Fox, Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, Liev Schreiber, and Winnie Harlow. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The former professional skateboarder, who recently got into an altercation with his brother Jess Margera, blasts the latter for making 'false accusations of me being on meth.' Apr 30, 2023 AceShowbiz - Bam Margera vows to never drink alcohol again. The former professional skateboarder made the declaration on social media as he called out his brother for accusing him of having a meth addiction. Making use of Instagram, the 43-year-old shared an old black-and-white photo of himself. In the caption, he wrote, "For the sake of Phoenix the wolf. Today is the day I will stop drinking," referring to his 5-year-old son with estranged wife Nicole Boyd. "I have been through official termoil with my family. My dumb brother doesn't understand that it's not called castle Jess," the stunt performer continued. "It's actually called castlebam. It's mine." Bam slammed his brother Jess even more in another post. "Well my brother made false accusations of me being on meth. But when I wear to god and Phoenix the wolfs life I'm not, I went with my lawyers to urgent care. Guess what Jesse margera. The results are negative. Now you will be evicted from castlebam sooner than later. Get your f**kin s**t out HOMOner. Oh wait not no more." Bam was involved in a physical altercation with Jess on Monday, April 24 at his family's home in Pennsylvania. Jess claimed Bam wailed on him and struck him multiple times in the head. In the report, cops noted visible injures that they observed. Bam allegedly also said he'd kill everyone in the house, which occupants at the time included his dad Phil and two other women. You can share this post! Sergio Mendes, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Marcus Miller are set to perform in an all-star celebration of jazz, hosted by Herbie Hancock. Sunday, April 30 is International Jazz Day. Billed as a jazz journey around the world, the day of celebration is a collaboration between UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, featuring participation from more than 190 countries with a series of events, workshops, and video tributes from around the world. Now in its 12th year, the International Jazz Day flagship event is the All-Star Global Concert featuring renowned artists from around the globe. This years lineup includes Somi (Rwanda), the Blue Note China Jazz Orchestra, and JazzWomenAfrica. (Read the full lineup on jazzday.com). The All-Star Global Concert will be live-streamed worldwide at 3 p.m. EST on jazzday.com, unesco.org, the International Jazz Day YouTube and Facebook channels, and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Facebook page. As the worlds largest, most inclusive celebration of jazz music, International Jazz Day unites people across the globe. Jazz has always been about expanding boundaries inspiring musicians toward the future and its infinite possibilities, Hancock said in a press release about this years events. This year, we are thrilled that the All-Star Global Concert will reflect this expansive identity in a new way, by sharing with our audience a rich palette of sounds on more than a dozen stages in every corner of the planet. April is also Jazz Appreciation Month. Created in 2001 by the Smithsonian Institute, the month-long tribute celebrates the heritage and history of jazz. Janet Jackson got a private tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute hours before she took the stage on April 22 at the BJCC for the Together Again tour. Jackson documented the tour on her Instagram account. She posted a photo of herself in the BCRI courtyard, thanking institute CEO Dejuana Thompson and historian Barry McNealy for guiding them through the galleries and sharing their invaluable knowledge. Jackson initially posted video of the tour to her Instagram story highlights. That video is gone now, but the Instagram account janetjacksonnewsandupdates reposted the footage. [Watch the full video of the tour] The video starts outside in the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute courtyard where Jackson and her team follow Thompson and McNealy up the steps and inside. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin is also seen walking alongside the group. Inside of the institute, the tour starts outside of the galleries in front of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther Kings eulogy of the four little girls killed in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963 before heading into the exhibition room. We start our experience taking you back in time, because its kind of hard to see what you see from 2023, said McNealy, before leading the group into the exhibitions So we take you back to 1871. The group followed McNealy and Thompson into the BCRI galleries (the BCRI tour experience starts with a movie about the founding of the city of Birmingham, which was charted in 1871). In the video, McNealy can be seen leading guests through the exhibitions while stopping at different points to explain text and artifacts. In the education portion of the gallery, McNealy discussed the disparities between segregated schools. Same city, same time, same school system. But you see a marked difference. And this difference permeates society, said McNealy, showing the difference between classroom in a white school and the classroom in a white school. Pointing the text display about the history of A.H. Parker high school in Birmingham, McNealy explained the significance of the first public high school for Black people in the city. When we talk about this school, it was known as Parker High School. It was called the largest Negro High School in the world by Ebony Magazine. Thats not a positive, said McNealy. It was the largest school because it was the only school for people of color in this area. The teachers at this school were heroes. They taught twice the students every day that their white counterparts did for half the salary. But thats not it. They also had to teach in the evening. Because before this high school was created, Black people couldnt get a high school diploma in Birmingham. Yall give it up for Dark Brandon, Roy Wood Jr. said as he took the stage following President Joe Bidens remarks Saturday at the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington D.C. The Birmingham-raised standup comedian and actor served as the featured entertainer at the annual dinner hosted by the White House Correspondents Association. The purpose of the event is to generate revenue to finance all of our work, including support of the journalists working to cover the president, events and programs to educate the public about the value of the First Amendment and a free press, and scholarships to help the next generation of journalists, according to the WHCA website. The dinner is traditionally attended by the President and First Lady as well as senior government officials and members of the press corps. Headlining the dinner in D.C. is a high-profile assignment as the proceedings are nationally televised and often go viral in politics and entertainer. The headliner typically follows the president on stage, and Woods job was to roast POTUS, the press and more. And he delivered. READ: Roy Wood Jr. on roasting Biden, showcasing Alabama and why he wants Kay Ivey on The Daily Show After Bidens own self-deprecating 20-minute set (cracking jokes about Fox News settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and Tucker Carlson), Wood took the stage. Real quick, Mr. President, Wood said, unfolding white sheets of paper, I think you left some of your classified documents up here. Dressed in a designer tuxedo of his own, Wood noted the glammed-up press corps in the audience, cracking it looked like everybody got a little piece of that settlement money from Fox News. Wood thanked the WHCA and then acknowledged few people in attendance even knew who he was. Half this room think Im Kenan Thompson, he said. The other half think Im Louis Armstrong. President Biden thinks Im the daddy off Family Matters. After making a dig about Rep. George Santos joining the cast of RuPauls Drag Race, Wood took a moment to weigh in on the drag conversation polarizing parts of the country. Speaking of drag queens, can we stop with the grooming stuff? Can you stop talking about that? Drag queens are not at a school to groom your kids. Stop it. And even if they were, most of them kids are going to get shot at school. It aint no problem, he said, drawing murmurs. Dont groan. Pass legislation. They think boos gonna bother me. Im like Mitch McConnel. I aint got no soul. He transitioned to Tucker Carlson, who recently parted ways with Fox News. The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job, Wood said, met with some applause. Some people celebrate it. But to Tuckers staff, I want you to know I know what youre feeling. I work at The Daily Show, so I too have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. He then told Biden they need to get Carlson back on the air because theres millions of Americans that dont even know why they hate you. Wood also joked about Don Lemons departure from CNN, noting the longtime host claimed he wasnt told about his termination directly by network management while CNN publicly said he was given an opportunity to meet with them. They had to part ways because Don Lemon cant even accurately report a story about Don Lemon, Wood said. Then came an Alabama reference, when Wood said he understood why CNN fired Lemon. There should be no place on air for someone who speaks with wild disregard, that doesnt consider the blowback to their coworkers or their company, he said. Thankfully, CNN has taken steps in the right direction. They got rid of Don Lemon, and theyve now given a show to Charles Barkley. Wood wished Barkleys new cohost Gayle King luck. The whole shows gonna be Charles Barkley saying something crazy, then Gayle King looking into the camera [saying] Charles...Charles... The Daily Show correspondent, who guest hosted the show in April, covered a broad spectrum of political humor throughout the 25-minute monologue including jokes about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Chinese spy balloon, TikTok and journalism. Wood took a few minutes to comment on the media industry, noting it isnt immune to scandal. The issue with good media is that most people cant afford that, he said. All the essential fair and nuanced reporting, its all stuck behind a paywall. People cant afford rent, people cant afford food -- not healthy food -- they cant afford an education, they damn sure cant afford to pay for the truth. Say what you want about a conspiracy theory, but at least its affordable. He mentioned his father Roy Wood Sr.s career as a journalist, covering the front lines with Black platoons in Vietnam and the South African Soweto riots. He also mentioned his mother Joyce Dugan Wood, who was in attendance, saying she was amongst a group of Black protestors fighting for equality at Delta State University during the 1960s. What would have become of my mother and those other protestors if a local journalist wasnt there telling the story? he said. He closed by thanking his mother, who works at Miles College, for helping countless students in Birmingham have the opportunity to see a college degree and to see an opportunity to grow. I dont know how to ever repay my mom for what shes done for me and what shes done for so many people in Alabama, Wood said. But just know, mama, if a white billionaire calls you an offers to buy your house, please sell it. Because I might want to become an NFT. Watch Roy Wood Jr.s entire White House Correspondents Dinner remarks in the video above. Wood is a comedian, writer, actor and producer who grew up in Birmingham, where he emerged as a jokester making prank phone calls on radio station 95.7 JAMZ. More on Roy Wood Jr.: Roy Wood Jr. pitches himself as Tucker Carlsons replacement at Fox News Roy Wood Jr. thanks Birmingham while hosting The Daily Show, vows not to get canceled Roy Wood Jr. absolutely wants to be considered for Daily Show gig In front of a national audience and with the President of the United States seated a few feet away, Roy Wood Jr. rose to the occasion as the featured entertainer at Saturdays White House Correspondents Dinner. The Alabama-raised comedian followed in the footsteps of other performers like Sinbad, Conan OBrien, Jon Stewart, Jay Leno, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, Wanda Sykes and his former colleague Trevor Noah assigned the tall task of roasting POTUS and the mainstream media directly to their faces. The 44-year-old comics star has risen the last several years through his hilarious work as a correspondent on The Daily Show (which he guest hosted in April), several standup specials and a growing number of acting roles in film and television. But the spotlight never shined brighter on Wood than it did Saturday night with President Joe Biden, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and seemingly every member of the D.C. news media in the same room. And its safe to say: Wood knocked em dead. He roasted Biden, Tucker Carlson, Clarence Thomas, the Chinese spy balloon, the media industry as a whole and everything else he could fit into a jam-packed 25-minute set. Here are 10 jokes that had us in stitches. READ: Roy Wood Jr. on roasting Biden, showcasing Alabama and why he wants Kay Ivey on The Daily Show Classified documents Yall give it up for Dark Brandon, Wood said as he took the stage following Bidens remarks, before he took a swift jab targeting POTUS and his predecessor. Real quick, Mr. President, Wood said, unfolding white sheets of paper, I think you left some of your classified documents up here. He began to hand them back to the president before changing his mind. No, dont give em to him. Ill put them in a safe please. He dont know where to keep em. Dominion, Cardi B or Gwyneth Paltrow Dressed in a designer tuxedo of his own, Wood noted the glammed-up press corps in attendance, cracking it looked like everybody got a little piece of that settlement money from Fox News, while referencing the networks $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems over defamation charges. But Wood played it cool. Im not fixin to have Dominion on my ass, he continued. I love Dominion. As a matter of fact, let me just say right now, my favorite voting machine is Dominion voting machine...If your election needs the truth, put Dominion in your booth! I aint fixing to get sued. Its three people you dont want to see in the courtroom. Thats Dominion, Cardi B or Gwyneth Paltrow. You gon lose. Tucker Carlson and fake news Wood (and Biden) spent a few lines on Tucker Carlson, who recently parted ways with Fox News. The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job, Wood said, met with a smattering of applause. Some people celebrate it. But to Tuckers staff, I want you to know I know what youre feeling. I work at The Daily Show, so I too have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. Don Lemon is out of a job Transitioning from Carlson, Wood said Speaking of a--holes, Don Lemon is out of a job. He then joked about Don Lemons departure from CNN, noting the longtime host claimed he wasnt told about his termination directly by network management while CNN publicly said he was given an opportunity to meet with them. They had to part ways because Don Lemon cant even accurately report a story about Don Lemon, Wood said. That aint how you fire somebody. Its messed up. How funny is it that you work in the news then watch on the news that you got fired from the news. Don Lemon is now the most obnoxious guy in the history of CNN. Thats now fair. Even Jeffrey Toobins lookin at Don Lemon like, Ohh, he rub me the wrong way. Trump arrest = pot brownie Calling him the king of scandals, Wood then joked about former President Donald Trump and said his recent arraignment when he was faced with a 34-count felony indictment charging him in a scheme to bury allegations of extramarital affairs. Can we just all be honest and say that the Trump arrest didnt hit like we thought it was going to hit? Wood said. Were so desensitized to scandals now, that Trump arrest, it didnt do what I thought it was gonna do. The Trump arrest was like a pot brownie you ate four hours ago...Do I feel justice? This dont feel like justice. Let me try one of them Georgia arraignment brownies. Maybe thatll kick in. This is America. We dont pass laws. Wood said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tries to activate voters by passing controversial laws in his home state, which he said is not how government works in this country. Thats not how you activate voters in this country, Ron, Wood said. Everybody knows how you do politics. This is America. We dont pass laws. You make a promise to voters, and then you dont do it. Thats what the great leaders in this room understand. You know how to make things not happen. Clarence Thomas, Instagram model Wood called out DeSantis for riling people up about topics like Critical Race Theory (CRT), saying people who are anti-CRT are trying to erase Black people and their contributions to American history. A lot of Black people wouldnt mind some of that erasure, as long as that Black person is Clarence Thomas, Wood said, referencing trips the Supreme Court justice took that were paid for by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. Flying Clarence Thomas all over the world on unreported trips, like a Instagram model, takin Clarence to the Maldives and the beaches... Wood said he had to give it up to billionaires. Yall always come up with something new to buy, he said. Yall always come up with something new to buy. Just when you think of everything you could buy on Earth, a billionaire will come up with a new thing. Yall buy space rockets, you bought Twitter. This man bought a Supreme Court justice. Do you own how rich you have to be to buy a Supreme...a Black one on top of that? Theres only two in stock! And Harlan Crow owns half the inventory. Biden begging to work Wood then referenced news in France when protestors rioted in resistance to a government proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. Meanwhile in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work, Wood joked about Biden. Let me finish the job. Thats not a campaign slogan, thats a plea. Wood then wished Biden luck on the campaign trail. What does Kamala do? After quipping about Bidens age and need for naps before getting work done, Wood said the most insulting scandal to fall to the feet of the Biden administration was placed at the feet of our Madame Vice President, the scandal of What does Kamala do? He called it a disrespectful question, adding Nobody ever asked that question of the vice president until a woman got the job. I dont know what Mike Pence did. The only thing I know about Mike Pence is that hes really good at playing hide-and-seek at the Capitol. You gotta be crafty to catch Mike Pence in that Capitol, baby. He know all the nooks and crannies. My daddy tells war stories like Brian Williams Wood mentioned his father Roy Wood Sr.s career as a journalist, covering the front lines with Black platoons in Vietnam and the South African Soweto riots. When his father returned home, he co-founded the National Black Network because he wanted to tell Black stories, American Urban Radio Network now. And I know it was hard, because Black daddies love telling you when something was difficult, Wood said. They were shootin at me, boy, but I never dropped my tape recorder. My daddy tells war stories like Brian Williams. Williams was NBC News lead anchor from 2004 until 2015, when he was suspended for falsely claiming that he had been in a helicopter hit by enemy fire during the Iraq War. Wood looked into the audience and said, Lester Holt didnt laugh at that one. Watch the Roy Wood Jr.s full remarks below. More on Roy Wood Jr.: Roy Wood Jr. pitches himself as Tucker Carlsons replacement at Fox News Roy Wood Jr. thanks Birmingham while hosting The Daily Show, vows not to get canceled Roy Wood Jr. absolutely wants to be considered for Daily Show gig Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun / Yonhap Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun will hold a lunch meeting with young applicants in a project modeled after "Warren Buffett lunch" to connect better with younger generations, a Korean business lobby said Sunday. The Federation of Korean Industries (FKI) planned the "God-saeng One meal" project as part of its efforts to restore its status as the country's leading business lobby group and strengthen communication with the public, an FKI spokesman said over the phone. God-saeng means a life that is lived very faithfully in Korean. It focuses on oneself and establishes goal-oriented routines for his or her development. In the first communication project, the FKI invited Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung, car-sharing company SoCar Chief Executive Park Jae-uk and entertainer-cum-entrepreneur Noh Hong-chul to a lunch meeting with the MZ generation. The FKI plans to select 30 MZ people for the God-saeng One meal project. Generation MZ refers collectively to millennials, who were born in the early 1980s to early 1990s, and Generation Z, born in the mid-1990s to early 2000s. The three business leaders will meet with the 30 selected people under the theme of "God-saeng for dreams and unyielding spirit," the FKI said in a statement. Chairman Chung leads the Korean automotive group's efforts to morph into a future mobility solutions provider, with focus on electrification and autonomous driving. David Shers ComebackTown Click here to sign up for newsletter. (Opt out at any time) Birmingham is unique in that a significant portion of its most educated and wealthy individuals live in one single adjacent suburb. One would think that with so many respected top corporate executives, physicians, and professionals, Mountain Brook would take great pride in setting an example not only for our Birmingham region, but for the rest of our country. Earlier this month the Alabama Political Reporter wrote, In the early 1940s, before the Supreme Court ruled that separate but equal was inherently unequal, many of these executives and power players saw the writing on the wall. In 1942, the city of Mountain Brook was incorporated as an almost entirely white, affluent enclave, safely nestled over the mountain and away from the grit, grime and racial integration of the city whose economy supported their paychecks. To leave the industrial and impoverished city of Birmingham and cross over Red Mountain into Mountain Brook was to enter an Upstairs, Downstairs world of disparate wealth and privilege. Long, winding, mountain roads protected residents million-dollar mansions from the public eye, and from the political strife of Birmingham. There, steel executives and other Birmingham power elites sequestered their families from the upheaval of the civil rights movement that they nevertheless influenced through money and politics behind the scenes. Remarkably in the 80 years since the establishment of Mountain Brook, not much has changed. According to the U.S. Census Bureau .4% of Mountain Brooks population is Black or African American. A series of unfortunate Mountain Brook incidents In May 2020, a video was featured on Snapchat of some Mountain Brook students painting a Nazi swastika on another students back. Then in January, 2022, a Mountain Brook High School history teacher invited his class to recite the Pledge of Allegiance while performing the Nazi salute. After the Snapchat incident, the Mountain Brook School Board formed a diversity committee to hopefully head off future incidents. The committee then signed an agreement with the Anti-Defamation League to train teachers and staff on how to address diversity. There was even a discussion of the possibility of allowing children of Mountain Brook school employees who live outside the district boundaries to attend its schoolsa concept that has been embraced by every other school district in Jefferson County, including the other over-the-mountain school systemsbut not Mountain Brook. This makes it easier for teachers whose children attend a different school system and opens up a world of opportunity for employees doing essential work at the schools. Since then the Mountain Brook Board Disbanded the diversity committee Terminated its contract with ADL Has gone quiet on allowing children of school employees to attend its schools Its just a matter of time The above gives the appearance that Mountain Brook is defaulting to its past. Its just a matter of time before the next embarrassing incident. The time to be proactive is now when things are quietnot after another outrageous event. Mountain Brooks next step should be to allow children of school employees to attend its schools. According to Dana Thompson Dorsey, a professor at the University of South Florida, in an article in Birmingham Watch, There is no way that we should be educating students to live in a world that looks like Mountain Brook when thats not what the rest of the world looks like. Research compiled by the Century Foundation shows that all students, regardless of their race or background, perform better in racially and economically diverse schools. They tend to have higher test scores and better social-emotional skills. This is not about diluting the success of the children and their experiences in Mountain Brook. This is going to make Mountain Brook better. I recently heard a thought provoking speech by Dr. Ray Watts, President of UAB. UABs diversity, he said, is among the very highest of any tier one research university in America and were proud of that. We want our students to be around others who might seem different, but really arent. We are all much alike than different. This year, he said, we have 1,400 international students. That is not an accident. 80% or so of our students are from Alabama. Many of them have never been out of the country. How can they understand the culture on the other side of the world if they dont have any interactions with them? We cant send them all around the world, but we can bring the world to them. So it gives them that experience so they understand others. Diversity matters. If UAB thinks its worth the effort to recruit students from around the world, its likely worth the effort for Mountain Brook schools to welcome a few students from across town. Editors note: You might be interested in reading Mountain Brook could quell criticsbenefit its children, parents, and community. David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP). Click here to sign up for our newsletter. (Opt out at any time) On March 28just two days before the congressionally proclaimed National Vietnam War Veterans DayPBS broadcast The Movement and the Madman, gleefully depicting Americas resistance to blatant international Communist aggression in Vietnam as moronic and portraying leaders of the so-called peace movement as heroes who saved the world from nuclear disaster. The program was as absurd as it was shameful. Jefferson advised that, when angry, count to 10 before speaking. When very angry, count to 100. Waiting a month did not quell my outrage, but todays forty-eighth anniversary of the Communist conquest of South Vietnam necessitated a response. I spent considerable time in Vietnam between 1968 and leaving during the 1975 final evacuation, including tours as an Army Lieutenant and Captain, a stint as a journalist, and multiple visits while serving as national security adviser to a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. After leaving the Army, I was a fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution, where I authored the first major English-language history of Vietnamese Communism. Beginning in 1965, I took part in more than 100 debates, lectures, teach-ins, and other programs on the war. During that time, I encountered a litany of arguments against the war from some of the most prominent war critics in the country. Most of their alleged facts were clearly falsea point confirmed by the Pentagon Papers. Their protests were hardly meaningless. They helped Hanoi snatch defeat from the jaws of victory when America and its allies were clearly winning the war on the battlefieldpaving the way for the slaughter of millions and the loss of any chance of freedom for tens of millions more in Indochina alone. The consequences beyond those borders included wars in Angola, Afghanistan, and Central Americaand a credible case can be made that they incentivized Osama bin Laden to attack America on September 11, 2001. Image: Human remains from Cambodias killing fields by Adam Jones. CC BY-SA 3.0. Neither PBS nor any of its talking heads explained why they believe American involvement in Vietnam was so inherently evil. Most of the substantive arguments it made seemed premised upon the reality that soldiers and civilians were dyinga common occurrence during armed conflicts and, certainly, a much stronger argument for abandoning our resistance to Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan during World War II, which claimed tens of millions more lives. There was not a single reference to Hanois postwar publication of its official historytranslated into English under the title Victory in Vietnamdocumenting its May 1959 decision to open the Ho Chi Minh Trail and smuggle troops, weapons, and supplies through Laos and Cambodia into South Vietnam to overthrow its government by armed force. Put simply, Hanoi demolished the claim by war critics that America was not resisting international aggression in Vietnam. It is true that the 1954 partition of Vietnam was supposed to be temporary. But the same is true of the 1945 division of Korea. When North Korea invaded South Korea in 1950, the UN Security Council denounced the aggression and authorized the United States to lead a multinational coalition under the UN flag to protect South Korea. Several speakers during the hour-long program asserted that their protests kept President Nixon from using nuclear weapons against North Vietnam. The apparent basis for that dubious premise was an options paper prepared for the president that included a broad range of policy alternatives ranging from immediate withdrawal to using nuclear weapons. Nixon told close advisers that he wanted to force Hanoi to the negotiating table by making them fear that he was a madman who might use nuclear weaponsan option Nixon had expressly dismissed while campaigning. It should be recalled that Nixon served as vice president under Dwight Eisenhower, who reportedly helped end the Korean War by leaking word to China through Indian diplomats that he was moving nuclear weapons to Okinawa for possible use against North Korea if a quick settlement could not be reached. Not everyone agrees that these threats were ever actually delivered, but even deniers generally acknowledge the assertions made about these threats. Decades later, former Secretary of State Colin Powell admitted that he had tried to deter Saddam Husseins 1990 aggression against Kuwait before Operation Desert Storm by hinting that America might use nuclear weapons. Typical of the outrageous misrepresentation in this pathetic propaganda piece was its identification of Cora Weiss as a peace activist anxious to make protests safe for families. There was no reference to the fact that Ms. Weiss had served as Hanois agent in efforts to blackmail the families of American POWs by promising mail and better treatment for their loved ones if they would publicly denounce the war. Peace activist, my assthat was constitutional Treason! Near the end of the program, various speakers lamented that their protests had accomplished very littlebut at least had saved lives. Both claims are patently false. Militarily, by 1969 Hanoi was on the ropes. Despite misreporting by the American media, the 1968 Tet Offensive was a military defeat for the Communists. All their attacks were repulsed, and their forces suffered more than ten times U.S. and South Vietnamese deaths. For the rest of the war, the puppet Viet Cong virtually ceased to exist as a fighting force. All the major fighting thereafter was done by North Vietnamese regulars. But the peace movement encouraged Hanoi to hang on, and ultimately persuaded a feckless Congress in 1973 to make it illegal to spend appropriated funds for U.S. troops to try to fulfill the solemn pledge the United States had made in the 1955 SEATO Treatyratified with but a single dissent in the Senate and reaffirmed by 99.6% of Congress in authorizing war at the time of the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin incident. Put simply, the peace movement was the most decisive factor in the Communist victory in Indochina. Perhaps the most absurd comment came from peace activist Susan Miller, who claimed the protests had saved peoples lives. Space will not permit a full discussion of how wrong she was, but after Congress threw in the towel and the Communists conquered South Vietnam and its neighbors behind columns of Soviet-made tanks, more people died throughout Indochina than had died in combat during the previous 14 years. In tiny Cambodia alone, the Yale University Cambodian Genocide Program concluded that Pol Pots Khmer Rouge (Red Cambodians) was responsible for the deaths of more than 20% of the populationabout 1.7 million human beings. National Geographic Today noted in a 2003 story on the killing fields that, to save bullets, small children were dispatched by picking them up by their legs and batter[ing] them against trees. The UN High Commissioner on Refugees estimated that as many as 400,000 South Vietnamese perished as boat people while fleeing their country in unseaworthy vessels. Countless thousands more were executed or died in Reeducation Camps and New Economic Zones. As for human rights, the distinguished human rights organization Freedom House observed in 1978 that the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam was as free as Korea (North), less free than China (Mainland). Thank you, American peace movement! Given the tragic realities of what happened and Hanois admissions that, in reality, it was engaging in armed international aggression, I find it shocking that PBS is hosting anti-Vietnam protesters today to brag about their behavior. If they had any decency, they would hide their faces in shame. UPDATE: This essay has been slightly edited since its initial publication to enhance clarity. Professor Turner holds both professional and academic doctorates from the University of Virginia, where prior to his 2020 retirement, he cotaught interdisciplinary postgraduate seminars on Vietnam for three decades. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. (Reinhold Niebuhr.) When I remarked, at a family gathering, that even the Catholic Church was following the times instead of the Gospel, a smart family member cried out Thank God! adding, Things are different now we dont have black-and-white TV anymore. This was to me a toying with constants of faith that dont meet the litmus test of progress, a symptom of profound ignorance among those of the liberal persuasion. The scope of meddling with what changes and what does not may be indicated with a few incisive questions: Who would play a game that includes the rule: all rules may be changed? Who would consciously meddle with fundamentals the givens of a system designed for a special function, such as powering electronic devices, or setting off a required alarm, or operating the 911 emergency system? Raising the point to the nth, who would vary the constants in math? The answer no one in their right mind would indicate that common sense still prevails, even in a world turned crazy by liberals who are disconnected from reality. Provision for a system that is to continue to function effectively has been called negative feedback. This may be described as a constant looping back of givens to the initial steps of the process, to keep the system from veering off course, becoming unstable, and eventually failing. A thermostat, for example, compares the air temperature to its setting and kicks into action when there is a mismatch between the two, so as to maintain the required temperature. Such corrective action to keep a system true to its function is in most cases more complex, but no less essential. Which brings me to the intent of this discussion, which is to point out that fidelity to the times assigns ones loyalties to variables instead of to constants. Skewing priorities this way is hardly something new. It used to be called by the alert putting the cart before the horse, or throwing the baby out with the bath water or, in plainer words, discarding what is essential and embracing what is replaceable. Regarding the freedom to change things that affect human beings most critically, a question rises to the top of the list: is there a freedom in society to destroy itself? With regard to the Christian faith, to be specific, the unhinging of its principles from the function to maintain the health of society weakens that function and allows it to fail over time. That such has occurred in America cannot honestly be denied. It has in fact become an article of the culture war between those who follow God and those who defy God. My opening anecdotal sample of letting the Christian faith cave-in to the times suggests how easy it is to block any constant from interfering with progress (however defined) by invoking freedom, code word for the license to destroy. With regard to Christianity, the willful and arbitrary subjugation even of the Gospel to goals that are irrelevant, inconsistent, even harmful to the faith is absurdly reckless beyond measure. Trifling with basics is a habit among those who play with religion (and with reality) the way kids play with toys, tinkering with constants and variables ad lib in preparation for their next adventure in La-La Land. Theologist Kenneth Baker has characterized such dabbling intellectuals by saying that they seem to be playing around in sand-boxes where they can construct their own worlds that have precious little to do with the world most people must live in, struggle in, and die in.[i] Theirs is a false liberalism, one that has been at play for many decades, undermining the foundations of the Christian faith, whether intentional or not. It has been a destructive activity that has made many churchgoers accept a falsified Christianity. For example, it has become common to embrace the mistaken notion that because Jesus conquered sin and because Gods love is unconditional, sin is automatically forgiven. God doesnt make junk, the argument goes, so it stands to reason that everyone is going to heaven. (Imagine Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and other monsters of humanity there.) This great distortion of Christian teaching removes from society the requirement for personal accountability for wrongdoing, which is a direct violation of Christs command to sin no more [John 5:14]. Deleting personal responsibility from ones actions encourages the moguls of society to take charge and straighten things out. Their success is on full display in todays America. Ignoring Christian tenets to keep in step with the times remember, things are different now, we dont have black-and-white TV anymore makes Christianity a lackey of the times instead of their chief advisor, a function established by Christ to keep society on the right path to material and spiritual sanity, regardless of calendar date. Faithful Christians have been persecuted since the days that Christ walked the earth. Why such ruthless opposition? What is it about the faith established by Jesus Christ, a faith centered on love of God and truth, on family, on mothers, fathers, and children, on profound respect for human life all of it set down for posterity by Christs witnesses, his disciples, in their gospels what is it about this faith that makes even the pope mess with the Gospel in obeisance to the times and turns his back on his own church? Why the obliteration of the real Christian message to the world? Faithful followers of Christ, waiting for an explanation, are instead condemned, as they were in Imperial Rome. Resistance to evil is ever a special burden of Christians and of all who embrace justice for humanity. This concern used to motivate parents in a saner America (before about 1980) to prepare their children for a good life in a wicked world. When a child, for example, veered from the givens of morality (e.g., holy writ, the Golden Rule), the youngster faced reprimand for venturing into off-limits areas of behavior. Any moppet philosopher thus checked who asked why? (and was perhaps secretly admired) received appropriate instruction on the constant do-nots and the variable you-mays of sensible conduct until such time as he or she was mature enough to form intelligent decisions regarding morality. While such early enlightenment is almost gone in America, parents who recognize and appreciate the great difference between the times and what is best for their children are smart to fight for their future. With their decision to take Tucker Carlsons show off the air, Fox Newss Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have failed to account for media and political dynamics that have, over a period of years, shifted under their feet. The Murdochs decision will inevitably prove catastrophic for Fox News and will likely be an inflection point that marks a wholesale change to a media landscape that, to paraphrase Matt Taibbi, has calcified in progressive concrete. The philosopher George Santayana famously opined that Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. That is not quite truejust ask the French, who, circa 1940, were fully prepared to refight World War I. The real lesson of history is that anyone who ignores history in context is doomed to failure. Such is the situation with Fox News. Rupert Murdoch launched Fox News in 1996. The late Charles Krauthammer, often a guest on Fox News, once quipped that Murdoch saw a niche market opportunity in the U.S. for conservative news, with the niche amounting to half the country. Over the past 27 years, Fox News lucratively occupied that niche as the only viable broadcast media source for center-right news and opinion. It grew to be the dominant news source in the cable market. The world has changed dramatically since 1996, though, and no more so than in the last seven years. Trumps election in 2016 tore off the last vestiges of moderate camouflage shielding the progressive cancer that infects America. Image: Wrecking ball generated by DALL-E. John Adams said that Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. That implies good faith as the glue holding the republic together. Today, there is not a scintilla of morality or good faith among our progressives, a narcissistic and historically illiterate group of people who have far more in common with Karl Marx than George Washington. Todays progressives are intent on manipulating our systems to take power, whatever the cost. These progressives used Covid-19 to war on religion, aberrant sexualization of children to war on families, post-modernism to war on objective truth, and politicized education to teach children corrupted history that identifies America as an evil nation. Progressives have criminalized ideological opponents, making conservatives out to be domestic terrorists. Progressives have silenced speech to a degree never before seen in our country. They have denied conservatives the most fundamental protection of due process and equal protection. And progressives are fundamentally altering our nation through hard-left regulations issuing from an unconstitutional bureaucracy operating outside of the ballot box. This is truly evil, and our nation has not been in such dire straits since 1861. Lastly, progressives have been openly advocating for a de facto coup since 2019. Progressives are within two votes in the Senateand now a few votes in the Houseto enable vote fraud throughout America. They would create new, reliably progressive states to give Democrats permanent power in Congress. They would get rid of the electoral college, turning our nation from a republic into a democracy of the type our Founders feared, and they would pack the Supreme Court to allow a progressive judiciary, unconstitutionally and unilaterally, simply to declare amendments to our Constitution. The world of 2023 is cosmically different from 2016, let alone 1996. We teeter on the precipice of disaster no one could possibly have imagined on New Years Day 2016. Technologically, the world has changed as well. In 1996, broadcast and cable were the only real means of mass news communication. That changed with the internet and then the growth of social media sitessites that years ago grew to be the nations dominant means of news access. Since about 2018, every single one of these social media siteswith the recent exception of Elon Musks Twittercriminally conspired with the government to censor conservative speech on a scale never before seen in history. Thus, the world Fox News now inhabits is very different from everything that came before. It is beyond dispute that Fox News built a very loyal viewing audience over the years because it was the only significant media site that gave conservatives a voice. As noted at Wikipedia, [i]n 2019, it was the top-rated cable network, averaging 2.5 million viewers in prime time. And it is also true that Fox has fired or parted ways with numerous employees and guests over the years with, at most, a bare speed bump in its ratings. Some, such as Megan Kelly, left on their own only to find that they were both replaceable at Fox and not viable in mainstream media. Others were fired when they seemed to stray too far from the mainstream, such as Glenn Beck. Foxs boldest move came in 2017 when it fired Bill OReilly, then host of the top-rated opinion show on Fox and in cable overall. Fox justified its decisionand the public accepted itbecause it became public that OReilly had a history of sexual harassment. All three of these people have faded onto the fringes of the media. Foxs decision to silence Tucker Carlson, though, is fundamentally different. Tucker did not commit malfeasance. There was no contract dispute. Tucker was averaging over 3 million viewers per night for Fox, and he was the single most popular primetime show on cable news. The speculations about why Fox canceled Tuckers show have been ludicrous. Moreover, it appears that Fox is trying to use its position to keep Tucker from broadcasting any shows through 2024. Reports Breitbart: Carlsons current contract runs through December 2024, and as of now three sources familiar with the matter told Breitbart News that executives at the network are trying to keep Carlson on contract and not release him until after the 2024 election. The only reasonable explanation for Fox Newss decision is ideological. Tucker is the most popular conservative voice in the U.S. and a cash cow for Fox. Nevertheless, the Murdochs felt they could silence Carlson on a whim, expecting Fox News viewers to just accept their decision. Could there be a more fundamental act of disloyalty to Foxs viewers? Could it have come at a worse time, when conservatives rightly feel that they face an existential threat from progressives set upon a coup? Fox is feeling the backlash for this incredible high-handedness. Its ratings are tanking. As Breitbart reports, Whats truly interesting is just how much blowback Fox is getting from its audience for canceling Carlsons and Bonginos showssomething that the brass, including the Murdochs, seem to not have calculated clearly ahead of time. In fact, the ratings crashed in primetime this week and Carlsons own video released on Twitter on Wednesday evening in its first hour post-publication got more views online than the networks 8:00 p.m. hourhis old time slotgot in total ratings. For now, the Murdochs think they are above it all and that this too shall pass. That is true arrogance. The Murdochs are living in a bubble worthy of a 1940 French general. Unlike the situation in 2016, conservatives realize that, today, the progressive threat to our Republic is both imminent and existential. To remove the most popular voice for conservatives at just this moment and without any reasonable business motive is something that I cannot see any conservative ever forgiving. This is Foxs Bud Light moment on steroids. If Carlson can find a voice outside of Fox that is accessible to Americans, he will thrive. Moreover, thanks to the nations most laudable free speech proponent, Elon Musk, the broadcast platform for Carlson to reach Americans already exists: Carlsons video, released on Twitter a few days ago, has had tens of million views. That is reaching an audience that dwarfs anything on Fox News many times over. It dwarfs any news show, including on broadcast television: Bill Maher asks about @TuckerCarlson's tweet that got 22 million views and 76 million impressions:@elonmusk: "Twitter has a tremendous audience. There are 250 million people that spend an average of half an hour a day on Twitter. So, it's about 120 to 130 million user hours per pic.twitter.com/GtkRQEw65K KanekoaTheGreat (@KanekoaTheGreat) April 29, 2023 This shows that Carlson has viable options for broadcasting himself. And more, it means that Carlson might well be able to establish a consolidation of conservative media that has a much greater reach over Twitter than anything that appears on cable, broadcast media, or the internet today. In any event, the Murdochs, like the French of 1940, are about to learn a hard lesson about knowing history in context. Wolf Howling is a pseudonym. A former infantry officer and lawyer, he blogs at Bookworm Room. Correction: Bill O'Reilly's firing date corrected to 2017, not 2016. Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) CEO Whang Joo-ho / Courtesy of KHNP By Lee Kyung-min Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) CEO, Whang Joo-ho, was elected as a member to the board of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the state-run energy firm said Sunday. He is the only Asian to join the group of 39 EPRI board members. Whang is among four directors elected for a four-year term during an EPRI annual board meeting at Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., on April 27 (local time). The remaining three are Justin E. Driscoll, acting president and CEO of New York Power Authority, Thomas J. Kent, president and CEO of Nebraska Public Power District and Jeffrey B. Guldner, president and CEO of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation. Guldner is chairman of the board and CEO of Arizona Public Service Company. The Korean CEO met with EPRI CEO Arshad Mansoor later in the day to discuss cooperation in the fields of small modular reactor (SMR) business, digitization and extended stable operation of nuclear power plants. "Whang is expected to strengthen cooperation with over 1,000 EPRI members, including power providers, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, government entities and stakeholders in the power industry in the U.S., France, Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)," a KHNP official said. EPRI is an American independent, nonprofit organization that conducts research and development related to the generation, delivery and use of electricity to help address challenges in the energy industry, including reliability, efficiency, affordability, health, safety and environment. Founded in 1972, the energy research and development organization with offices around the world continues collaborative research works with experts with over 450 firms in 45 countries. Its mandate includes driving innovation to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable and equitable access to electricity across the globe. Answers: 1) c 2) e 3) d 4) b 5) d 6) c 7) a 8) e 9) e 10) e If you experience technical problems, please write to helpdesk@americanthinker.com The ouster of Tucker Carlson is a gut punch to his fans, who have for seven years depended on his analysis of and insight into the major and minor issues affecting the nation and the world. I am guessing that Rupert Murdoch and his sons grossly underestimated his popularity. Millions of viewers have boycotted Fox News in just six days. This has of course hurt Hannity and Laura Ingraham; Carlson was their lead-in. Many of us have turned to NewsMax, a far less slick conservative news outlet, but their content is not censored by power brokers like the Murdochs. Never again on Fox? YouTube screengrab What would make them remove their highest rated host from the air? His clear-eyed opposition to the war in Ukraine? Hmmm. Could it be BlackRock, that company that is buying up single family homes in huge blocks throughout the country in keeping with the WEFs Youll own nothing and like it agenda? Then there is Pfizer, the gargantuan big pharma company that has committed something akin to a slow-motion genocide with their phony and dangerous Covid vaccines. Carlson frequently and justifiably went after both. One has only to thumb through Naomi Wolfs prodigious book on the Pfizer documents or Edward Dowds book Cause Unknown to realize that covid was a bioweapon developed in China with many millions of American taxpayer dollars in my opinion, thanks to the monstrous Anthony Fauci and his equally amoral pals, all of whom belong in prison. They knew; Naomi Wolfs book proves that they all knew the vaccines could not prevent transmission and that they did have countless, serious adverse consequences. Tucker Carlson addressed these facts and many others, such as how Twitter and the rest of social media colluded with the government to censor any opinions by other experts that deviated from the Deep States narrative re: covid. The FBI paid Twitter millions of dollars to ban tweets it opposed. The fact that Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine were effective treatments for Covid was censored. Instead they pushed ventilators and Remdesivir, both of which killed people. Carlson aired video of Fauci talking to a smart man in DC to whom Fauci and Mayor Bowser were trying to convince to be vaxxed. The man wisely noted that it takes longer than nine months to test a vaccine. Fauci then told him that the vaccine had been in development for twenty years. He and his cohorts had been dallying with gain-of-function for decades. Oops! Stopping President Trumps peace and prosperity, anti-war, pro-America with a thriving economy movement became the moment in time to deploy their weapons, a virus and a useless vaccine, in my opinion. Carlson addressed all of these ongoing catastrophes. He exposed the tragedy of the open southern border, the Biden regimes vast plan to flood the country with migrants to whom he would give amnesty. They would, the left assumes, then vote Democrat forever more. In the meantime, the regime is trafficking children; 85k who entered the country are missing! Carlson informed people about things the rest of corporate media wanted kept secret and the media, the propaganda arm of the Marxist Democrat party, could not let his freedom to speak continue. He had to be stopped. So the Murdochs pulled him off the air in a seemingly sudden fit of pique. Was it Carlsons overt religious faith as some have speculated? Perhaps. They fired Glenn Beck for uttering the word God too often, according to scuttlebutt. Was it the Murdochs hatred of President Trump and their determination to prevent his re-election? They are apparently atheistic oligarchs who need an uninformed and lobotomized public to develop their tyrannies. Or was it BlackRock, which acquired a 15% block of Fox, and Pfizer, whose advertising dollars are crucial to all corporate media? Whatever the reason, they cannot be allowed to silence the man. While the Biden regime has moved America a very long way toward being a communist state in just over two years, we still have an opposition party, albeit a weak and manipulable one. Eight of them just voted to remove tariffs from Chinas solar panels! Biden has been doing Chinas bidding from the moment he stole took office. Carlson informed his viewers of all of the above which had to enrage the powers that mean to control what we hear, learn, how we live, what we drive and eat. As for boycotting Fox News, I will be among the boycotters. Aside from the anger millions of us feel at the abrupt firing, the fact that the other allegedly conservative hosts did not walk away in support of Carlson is shocking. Hannity and Ingraham, both of whom have addressed some of the same issues as Carlson in less aggressive ways, should have resigned. That they barely had a word to say about Carlsons sudden dismissal reveals them to be both perhaps envious of Carlsons ratings and too cowardly to mount an in-house protest. Both of them can afford to put their money where their mouths are but they did not. I am done with them and the rest of Fox News. There are so many alternative news outlets now to choose from on which the hosts have no one censoring them: Bannons Warroom, Real Americas Voice, Megyn Kelly, Matt Walsh, Michael Knowles, Joe Rogan, Jordan Peterson, Mark Levin, Dan Bongino, etc., to name a few. So dont cry any tears for Fox News. Its most likely as nearly dead as CNN. Are Democrats emerging as the party that hates children and their guardian parents? Sure seems like it with this pair, who were caught insulting parents protecting their kids in southeastern Virginia. According to Fox News: 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. Virginia Democrats think having a say is "parental crap" and "stupid" Sen. Monty Mason: "It's all a part of this parental crap that they are selling." Rep. Shelly Simonds: We must keep the Senate because "the Republicans...can push through all kinds of stupid things." pic.twitter.com/dQvwk5I6DS RSLC Rapid Response (@RSLC_Rapid) April 24, 2023 They join hands with their fellow Democrats in school boards, local government, and teachers' unions around the country who've also been caught on hot mikes and in political bloopers ragging on parents and kids. There have been a lot of them. Who could forget the charmers of the Oakley School Board of Contra Costa County who iin 2021 were caught on hot Zoom mocking parents who pleaded for COVID-locked-down public schools to reopen as nothing more than pot smokers "looking for babysitters'? I wrote about that here, noting that Reason magazine picked out some of the money quotes: "They want their babysitters back," Lisa Brizendine, a trustee of Oakley Union Elementary School District, told her colleagues during a pre-meeting session that they believed was not open to the public. School board member Kim Beede mentioned a negative interaction with some frustrated parents? a frustrated parent, then described her own mindset: "Bitch, if you are going to call me out, I am going to fuck you up." Or how about the school board lovelies out on Scottsdale, Arizona, who kept detailed, trashcan-digging-style dossiers on parents with the same complaints about COVID-locked-down schools? I wrote about that here, with: Get a load: More than 600 parents in Scottsdale, Arizona, are demanding the resignation of the school board president after a shocking revelation. The president, or possibly his father, appears to have kept a dossier on 47 parents who dared to speak out against his policies at school board meetings a dossier complete with Social Security numbers, background checks, a divorce paper, mortgage documents, trade certifications, and screenshots of Facebook posts. Nor the hot-mike moment where San Francisco school board members (before the one making the nastiest charge was booted by voters in a recall) trashed parents calling for an end to the COVID-lockdown-imposed 'pass-fail' grading system at a competitive elite Lowell High School as "a bunch of racists": This was not a good day for San Francisco, said board member Rachel Norton after public comment. What Ive heard tonight from people who claim to support our system and claim to support our students is disgusting. Im really overcome by the ugliness. Board member Alison Collins, at one point, was heard on a hot mike, speaking apparently to someone outside the meeting saying, Im listening to a bunch of racists. Let's also not forget the 2021 slandering, beating and arrest of a distraught father at the hands of school board security guards who wanted answers as to why his teenage daughter had been raped by another student in Loudoun County, Virginia. The trans agenda targeting kids in general, and the attacks on parental knowledge of this agenda, and the agenda foisted on kids, which Democrats stand by in near-lockstep, is yet another kettle full of fish signaling the Democrats' hate-kids agenda. It's not just one school board after another. Let's also remember the wokester FBI directing its investigative resources against parents who spoke out in school board meetings as domestic terrorists. And the sickola insistence by American Federation of Teachers honcho Randi Weingarten to secretly direct the Centers for Disease Control to extend the school lockdowns, forcing children and their angry parents to endure at least an extra unnecessary year of lockdowns because she wanted it? Thomas Lifson has a good piece highlighting a parental takedown of Weingarten from an unexpected source after Weingarten falsely claimed to Congress that she had wanted lockdowns to end all along. Nobody believes that. And Joe Biden himself, who's been accused of showering with his unwilling daughter Ashley and whose handsiness around young children give voters the willies, has told teachers' groups that "children don't belong to their parents," following on from Terry McAuliffe's claim that "I dont think parents should be telling schools what they should teach. Had enough? With the consistent pattern of hostility towards children and parents, along with the sneaky means attempted to conceal it, we sure have been seeing a lot of hot mike moments exposing it, making one wonder how much more of this talk goes on behind closed doors. You'd think these Democrats would have fallen into some kind of introspection after the first few hot-mike incidents and the powerful voter recall in San Francisco along with the surprise election of Glenn Youngkin and Winsome Sears in Virginia. But what this Virginia incident shows is that they don't learn at all, they just keep on doing the things that embarass themselves when they get found out by the public -- and continue doing those things. To no one's surprise at all, public school enrollment is plunging across the country. It's ugly stuff given that Democrats have spent decades touting themelves as the party "for the chilllllllren," as Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi used to say. All that narrative-making, and it turns out that it was little more than a smokescreen for Democrats as the child-hating party. They need to own this and their Republican rivals need to pin it on them, again and again and again. Image: Twitter screen shot Down in Mexico, President Lopez-Obrador is committed to his "hugs, not bullets" policy. He looks to the camera with a straight face and doubles down on the approach. In the streets and neighborhoods, his citizens are hearing something like "shoot them, shoot them" as cartel gangs fight one another for territory. According to Mark Lorenzana, the AMLO years will go down as the bloodiest in Mexican history: In just over four years, and with still 17 months to go, the administration of Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) is on track to be the bloodiest six-year presidential term in the history of Mexico. To date, there ha[ve] been 154,000 homicides under Lopez Obrador's watch, practically the same number registered in the previous six-year term of former President Enrique Pena Nieto, which registered 157,158 murders between 2012 and 2018. "During the government of Felipe Calderon, during the so-called Drug War, the country had experienced 121,613 homicides, then the bloodiest six-year term at that time," wrote journalist Hector de Mauleon, in his Wednesday, April 26, opinion column for Mexican daily newspaper El Universal. Needless to say, murders under Lopez Obrador's watch have already exceeded Calderon's entire six-year term by a whopping 22 percent. "The figures presented by the National Citizen Observatory (ONC) are devastating," continued De Mauleon. "According to Francisco Rivas, director of the ONC, in this six-year term 'all records were already broken for the majority of violent crimes.'" The numbers are awful, but there is a larger question. The bulk of this violence is cartel-oriented, and Lopez-Obrador continues to avoid the problem. His approach toward drug cartels leaves many Mexicans, and I assume many in Washington, asking questions about his intentions. It's obvious that engaging criminal groups isn't reducing violence. In other words, he is avoiding the subject and letting hundreds of Mexicans die. And killing they are! PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.' Image: Andres Lopez-Obrador. Credit: Wikimedia Commons, public domain. It appears that Tucker Carlson may be hamstrung for the moment, unable to negotiate a move to a new home because Fox News reportedly still has him under contract, paying him $10 to $20 million a year while blocking him from creating and broadcasting new content on their platforms or anywhere else. While courts tend to look unfavorably on contracts with noncompete clauses and other provisions that gag people, in effect keeping them in involuntary servitude, the company has the resources to drag out a fight in court that could keep Carlson silenced as the wheels of justice slowly grind for years. Such a move to gag Tucker would risk a blowback from its core audience that would dwarf in scale and intensity the current calls for boycott, and could permanently damage the prospects of what had been the golden cash cow of the restructured Murdoch empire. Gagging important voices at the cost of tens of millions of dollars a year, purely out of ideology or spite, is not a good look for a company seeking the loyalty and affection of conservatives. As Wolf Howling points out on these pages today, the Murdochs timing was atrocious: Could there be a more fundamental act of disloyalty to Foxs viewers? Could it have come at a worse time, when conservatives rightly feel that they face an existential threat from progressives set upon a coup? All of this spells enormous opportunity for Tucker Carlson. As I see it, he has 3 different directions to choose from, in finding his new home, though he could mix elements from each into a blended approach. Stay with a cable/satellite platform, just not on Fox News. Move to an existing social media platform, such as Twitter, which, under Elon Musks ownership, could innovate a tweet-based platform that generates substantial revenue for Carlson. Create a new streaming service accessed via Roku boxes and similar streaming interface devices. Here are some preliminary thoughts on each. A cable/satellite platform Zero Hedge reported: I cant imagine Tucker Carlson accepting this offer. OAN doesnt have nearly enough clearance on cable and satellite systems to ring him a large audience, and I wonder about its ability to come up with the necessary cash on a continuing basis. And the sum mentioned is not enough more than he receives from Fox currently. Newsmax, which has considerably greater availability on cable and satellite systems is a more realistic possibility, and according to TMZ, is offering to let Carlson control more than just his program if he joins them. Newsmax, wants him to be more than just the face of the network, and it's putting on a full-court press to land him. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... the news channel is doing everything it can to sweeten the deal for Tucker to come on board -- including floating the idea of letting him program the whole channel, not just his own show. That would be a pretty enticing deal point ... in addition to having his own primetime show, Tucker would have a say over what shows lead into and out of his show, which can be key in achieving bigger TV ratings. While our sources stress Newsmax hasn't formally offered Tucker a job -- he can't have formal discussions due to his current Fox News contract -- we're told the network execs have made it clear to people around him, they would basically give him a big say in rebranding their channel. U.S. Marine Corps F-35B fighter jets are seen at Gwangju Air Base, April 14, in this photo provided on April 16 by South Korea's Defense Ministry. AP-Yonhap China hopes to keep OLED tools working within its OLED ecosystem ahead of possible US export controls: experts By Kim Yoo-chul The United States has implemented unprecedented initiatives in semiconductor policy over the last few years, identifying computer chips as the most crucial element of Washington's rivalry with Beijing. But the steps Washington has taken to keep China's technological development in check could expand as the Joe Biden administration is eyeing the Asian giant's display industry as the next possible target, two sources contacted by The Korea Times said. Because the U.S. semiconductor production chain is based off shore, Washington asked its allies including Korea, Japan, Taiwan and the Netherlands to stand together to stay ahead of Beijing in manufacturing advanced semiconductors as China makes rapid progress in defense and technological innovations. Semiconductors are essential for artificial intelligence, microelectronics, quantum computing, hypersonic technology, machine learning and data science, which are identified by Washington as strategically important for national security. China is also prioritizing those areas, aiming to beat the U.S. and its allies. Such efforts by China have already appeared on the U.S.' radar. Such initiatives pursued by Washington culminated in the passage of the CHIPS Act, which includes around $52 billion in federal incentives for U.S.-based chip manufacturing, the launch of the Chip 4 alliance and export controls in 2022. Both the Japanese and Dutch governments accepted the U.S.' requests to restrict the sale to China of advanced lithography machines used to manufacture high-end semiconductors. Because Samsung Electronics and SK, two of the world's largest memory chip manufacturers, are set to apply for U.S. federal funding, the South Korean chip duo is fated to follow Washington's regulations that limit the overall chip output capacity growth of funding recipients in China to 5 percent annually and 10 percent for legacy chips over the next decade. This would also curb Chinese President Xi Jinping's drive to boost chip self-sufficiency, according to political analysts in Seoul. The U.S. Department of Trade approved a one-year waiver for Samsung and SK, both of which have operated massive chip production facilities in China. Talks are underway between Washington and Seoul officials to extend the waiver as the grace period expires in October this year. Right now, China lags behind the U.S. by at least two or even more generations in the area of semiconductor technology. As a result, it is vital for China to receive substantial support from Samsung and SK over the next few years to get ahead of the U.S. Semiconductors are of strategic importance for advanced civilian and military applications. But displays, specifically organic light-emitting diode (OLED) screens, are increasingly viewed as a crucial technology for national security, according to the sources. Various parts of an LED display panel are seen during the Touch Taiwan 2023 Exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan, April 21. With enhanced brightness, better color accuracy and a longer lifespan than conventional LED and OLED displays, micro-LED display technology has emerged as a potential solution for the future generation of displays. EPA-Yonhap "The key rationale behind Washington's decisions for export controls for equipment to produce advanced semiconductors is that high-end chips using more advanced technology constitute the core parts of everyday products at the heart of U.S. economic life and are also needed for national security within the geopolitical context. As halting China's high ambitions for OLED dominance could set the stage for U.S. growth or the growth of its allies in that area, it's possible for the U.S. to apply similar export controls on OLED displays as it did so in chips," a senior government official, who is familiar with Seoul's trade policies, said in a telephone interview. OLED is what technology experts call an "emissive" technology as it does not use backlights and utilizes numerous pixels that emit their own light. Thanks to the nature of the technology, OLED is flexible and provides an enhanced contrast ratio with a wider viewing angle, making them the right fit for helmet mounts used in military, commercial vehicles, airplanes and jet fighters. The Pentagon is regularly checking on how to extend the life expectancy of F-35 stealth jet fighters' OLED helmet-mounted displays. China has become the world's largest display market since last year, followed by Korea, home to the world's leading display makers such as Samsung Display and LG Display. The Chinese government is aiming to keep OLED machine tools working within its supply chain system as a step to defend against possible sanctions imposed by Washington. The U.S. export bans in chip equipment systematically targeted Chinese chipmakers such as YMTC and SMIC. Possible sanctions, but not priority "Two years ago, Washington officials seriously reviewed the possibility of restricting the sale of OLED display-making tools and materials needed with the help of Korea, Japan and Taiwan. But because OLED could be replaced by conventional LCDs and LCD-variant LEDs, while China is also home to several fine display manufacturers, Washington decided to put more of its priority on squeezing China's chip industry. Still, there is a possibility of the Biden administration shifting its focus to OLED, because there are no signs of a truce between Washington and Beijing in ending their contest," an aide to former President Moon Jae-in said. In 2019, Korea tried to restrict exports of OLED equipment to China. However, the efforts did not materialize. Officials at Seoul's trade ministry said they have no official comments regarding the country's updated stance on this matter. Chinese President Xi Jinping visits LG Display's manufacturing base in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 12. Xinhua-Yonhap A further 89 Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Sudan, bringing the total Irish evacuees to 209, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said. The majority of Irish citizens evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on UK flights into Cyprus, the department said. The UK Government said a flight departed from Wadi Saeedna airfield late on Saturday night. Rescue effort were carried out amid a faltering ceasefire in the conflict-stricken north African country, with residents reporting heavy explosions and gunfire breaking out again in the capital Khartoum. Hundreds of people have died in the bloody conflict between two warring generals, one heading up the Sudanese army and the other in charge of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Micheal Martin, the Irish deputy premier and Foreign Affairs Minister, said Irelands Emergency Civil Assistance Team (Ecat) operation in Cyprus and Djibouti is now to be withdrawn. An update on the situation in #Sudan Read: https://t.co/J21gYNP5k9 Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 30, 2023 The mission, named Operation Piccolo, has involved Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials being stationed in the countries with the aim of assisting in the evacuation. Ireland has also received help from France and Spain to airlift Irish citizens, residents and visa holders to safety. Members of the Defence Forces Special Operations Forces unit and the Army Ranger Wing supported the operation. On deployment, the team secured the DFA personnel on the ground, liaised with key actors in the airport and assisted DFA in the processing and evacuation of identified Irish citizens/dependents, the Defence Forces said in a statement. The team were also on standby to provide medical assistance if required. The evacuation at Wadi Saeedna Air Base in Khartoum (Ministry of Defence/PA) Ireland will now maintain an enhanced multi-location consular presence for citizens who remain in Sudan operating from Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa. The department said embassies remain in close contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance. I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response, Mr Martin said. Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time. Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves. I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission, the Tanaiste added. On Sunday afternoon, a 72-hour extension of the armistice between the two sides was announced, prompting the UK Government to run an additional evacuation flight from Port Sudan on Monday. Citizens have been urged to follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice. Ofsted inspections are a brutal process and they need to change, the vice-president of the National Association of Head Teachers has said. Simon Kidwell believes the framework that underpins the inspection needs redesigning, declaring that it is not fit for purpose and its not working. Ofsted has been under scrutiny after Ruth Perry, a head teacher at Caversham Primary School in Reading, Berkshire, took her own life in January while awaiting its report which downgraded her school from the highest rating to the lowest. A vigil for Ruth Perry was held outside the offices of Ofsted following her death (Jonathan Brady/PA) Mr Kidwell told Times Radio: The tragedy of Ruth Perry, that could have been us. Ive been at my school for 12 years and if somebody had said your school is inadequate after 12 years, thats half my leadership journey. It would just have been a devastating impact on my own personal health and also the school, because the school now will have to be academised. Its got that label, so its a brutal process. A boycott is not an option because Ofsted needs the legal entry for schools, he said. Mr Kidwell, who said Ofsted visited his school earlier this month, also told the programme: Ive got to say they were a very good team, they really did go and take staff wellbeing into account. Ruth Perrys sister Julia Waters addressed the NAHT conference on Saturday (NAHT/PA) However, it was a very intense procedure and two of my staff have really struggled with that inspection process. Theyre (Ofsted) putting far too much accountability on classroom teachers rather than just school leaders. Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman has previously said she has no reason to doubt the inspection before the death of Ms Perry. An inspection report published on Ofsteds website in March found Ms Perrys school to be good in every category apart from leadership and management, where it was judged to be inadequate. NAHT gen sec, @PaulWhiteman6 asks why it is acceptable to be "reckless" with the lives of school leaders. "Shame on you, Ofsted" pic.twitter.com/t53jeFDAS4 NAHT (@NAHTnews) April 29, 2023 Delegates at the NAHTs annual conference in Telford observed a one-minute silence on Saturday in memory of Ms Perry. In a speech to the conference, her sister Julia Waters called on Ofsted and the Government to show some humanity and sensitivity and take urgent, meaningful actions to reform the inspection system. An Ofsted spokesman has said: Our inspections are first and foremost for children and their parents, looking in depth at the quality of education, behaviour, and how well and safely schools are run. We always want inspections to be constructive and collaborative and in the vast majority of cases school leaders agree that they are. The streets of Glasgow were awash with tartan as thousands of people stepped out on the Kiltwalk to raise money for more than 800 charities. A record number of 14,000 Kiltwalkers braved the rain to take part in the event on Sunday. Walkers lined up to take part in three routes: the 23-mile Mighty Stride, which left from Glasgow Green, the 14-mile Big Stroll from Clydebank, and the three-mile Wee Wander from Lomond Shores to Moss O Balloch Park. Kiltwalk has raised and distributed 37 million to more than 3,000 charities in the last seven years. Pets also dressed up for the occasion (Peter Sandground/Kiltwalk/PA) The event is being fully underwritten by The Hunter Foundation and is once again supported by headline sponsors Royal Bank of Scotland and Arnold Clark. Sir Tom Hunter, who led the walk, said: Todays Glasgow Kiltwalk will help 856 different Scottish charities, the biggest in one day. The efforts of every one of our 14,000 walkers will make a massive difference to people who need it so much. Its phenomenal. The Kiltwalk community have done us proud. At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is taking a terrible toll, its important that so many people have come out and walked and donated for the most vulnerable. Id like to thank each and every one for their Kiltwalk kindness. This year the entry fee for the Mighty Stride and Big Stroll was reduced by 37% from 32 to 20 to make Kiltwalk as accessible as possible amid the cost-of-living crisis. Every penny raised goes directly to the charities chosen by the walkers plus they can claim Gift Aid which can raise the totals to 125% of everything raised. Sir Tom Hunter (second left) led the way (Peter Sandground/Kiltwalk/PA) The amount raised by the event is still being calculated. Charities were out in force to cheer on walkers and boost their morale at the six pit stops along the way, where walkers were refreshed with snacks, fruit and soft drinks. Shona Langlands, senior fundraising manager at the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), one of the pit stop partners, said: The team from SAMH loved every second of our day at Glasgow Kiltwalk. We had over 200 SAMH supporters taking part in the event and it was so touching to engage with them at our pit stop and hear their stories of why they chose to raise much-needed funds for Scotlands mental health. Its also a great reminder that being physically active is a key way to support our mental wellbeing. From everyone at SAMH, a huge thank you to our supporters the need for our life-changing services continues to grow and your support is helping us transform lives. The next Kiltwalk event will take place in Aberdeen on June 4, then in Dundee on August 20 and Edinburgh on September 17. Anyone wishing to sign up for the events can do so at www.thekiltwalk.co.uk. Concerns about plans to install a new line of pylons through the Scottish Highlands have been raised with both First Minister Humza Yousaf and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, wrote to the two leaders to highlight great concern that the proposed power line will negatively impact beautiful stretches of scenery and heritage. It comes after energy firm SSEN put forward plans for a network of pylons to run for about 100 miles between Spittal in Caithness, in the far north of Scotland, to Beauly near Inverness. The plans are seen as critical in moving renewable energy generated in the Highlands to more populated areas of central Scotland and England. But local campaigners have already spoken about the impact they fear the pylons, which will be between 50 metres and 60 metres in height, will have on the area. Dan Bailey, a spokesman for the newly formed Strathpeffer and Contin Better Cable Route (SCBCR) group, said SSEN has selected potentially the most damaging line they could have chosen on all sorts of measures, citing concerns about its impact on the environment, habitat loss and rare species. The proposed pylon route through the north Highlands should be subject to a public inquiry I have written to both the First Minister and the Prime Minister outlining our concerns about SSEN's proposed pylon plans and calling on both Governments to fund a public inquiry. pic.twitter.com/0mdMgCmARx Jamie Stone MP (@Jamie4North) April 28, 2023 Mr Stone said he wants the Scottish and UK governments to jointly fund a public inquiry into the power line. In a letter to both Mr Sunak and Mr Yousaf, he said: I have received strong representations from a large number of constituents on this matter. There is great concern about how this power line will negatively impact beautiful stretches of scenery and heritage which should remain a significant attraction for both domestic and international tourists. Calling for a public inquiry to be held into the proposals, he said: The local community, the country and stakeholder companies should be allowed the opportunity to contribute. This is a major strategic issue for the whole of the UK and should therefore be subject to widest and most careful decision making. He said the issue is one for both the Scottish and UK governments, adding that the two administrations should jointly fund such an inquiry. Mr Bailey meanwhile is hoping Mr Yousaf will apply the same commitment he made with regard to proposed new no-fishing areas to the power line. Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone has written to both the PM and the FM to highlight concerns about the proposed power line (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA) Mr Yousaf pledged recently that the Scottish Government will not impose Highly Protected Marine Areas upon any community that is vehemently opposed to this. Mr Bailey said: In our area, the predominant reaction has been outrage that Spittal-Beauly is being bulldozed through despite so much local opposition. SCBCR has offered to work with SSEN to find an alternative route that will have less impact on the local environment and surrounding communities. The group wants a co-design process to be set up, with a neutral third party involved in drawing up a new route, using a more open and collaborative process. Speaking about the current proposed line, Mr Bailey said: Committing to a preferred route corridor prior to consultation, and without having a full picture of the wildlife, archaeology and cultural history in the identified route options, makes a mockery of public engagement. SSENs website states that following extensive system studies, Spittal to Beauly has been identified as a critical corridor to support the continued development of renewable energy in the north of Scotland. Lower Strathconon is one of the areas which campaigners say will be impacted by the new line of pylons (PA) A company spokesperson said previously that the project is part of a GB-wide programme of works that are required to meet UK and Scottish government 2030 renewable targets. With the project in the early stages of development, the spokesperson said SSEN has been seeking feedback on potential route options within approximately one kilometre wide areas and preferred substation locations. This will then help inform more detailed overhead line route options and our proposed substation site selections, which we will further consult on later this year. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: It is critical that investment in our grid infrastructure happens at the pace and scale required to enable the full utilisation of current renewable generation, and to realise the enormous potential of further deployment. It is also vital that such infrastructure is delivered at the most efficient cost to consumers. We are supportive of the SSENT Pathway to 30 Programme, with the planned investment in our grid infrastructure bringing benefits for our workforce, our supply chain, and our regional and national economies. Our planning and consenting system ensures large scale grid infrastructure are subject to consultation with the public and statutory and local bodies, and invite local communities to have their say on future proposals. Potential impacts on communities, nature and other valued natural assets or cultural heritage are important considerations in the decision-making process. A spokesperson for the UK Governments Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: Decisions on all new network infrastructure proposals are taken by the energy regulator, which is independent of Government. The UK Government continues to engage with local communities to ensure their views are heard on any projects. Ofgem is there to make sure due process is followed for any new developments. A ferry which ran aground, leading to the evacuation of 60 passengers, has been refloated and towed to its berth. The MV Pentalina will now be surveyed to establish the extent of any damage and monitored for pollution, the coastguard said. RNLI vessels went to the scene after the vessel issued a mayday message off Orkney on Saturday night. Pentland Ferries said smoke was detected in the engine room before the Pentalina became grounded off the village of St Margarets Hope. Sixty passengers, including three children and an infant, were evacuated from the ferry, as well as some of the crew. It is understood eight crew members have remained on the vessel to help manage the situation. A coastguard spokesman said on Sunday: The MV Pentalina was refloated at approximately 5.30am today after a tow was established by a tug whose services were acquired by Pentland Ferries. The Pentalina was brought alongside its berth in St Margarets Hope a short while later. HM Coastguards emergency towing vessel MV Ievoli Black observed the operation, alongside counter-pollution officers, and reported that there were no signs of pollution. The vessel will be surveyed later today to establish the extent of any damage, while the harbour master will continue to monitor for pollution. The MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) has also been informed. Coastguard teams from St Margarets Hope, Stromness and Kirkwall and the Stromness and Longhope RNLI boats were involved in the rescue operation after the mayday call at around 7.30pm on Saturday. The MV Pentalina serves the route from the mainland to Orkney (Alamy/PA) The fire was extinguished and passengers were evacuated by lifeboat to St Margarets Hope, where the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were waiting. The coastguard said all passengers have been reported safe and well. The Pentalina returned to service earlier this week to allow another ferry, the MV Alfred, to service CalMac routes on the west coast of Scotland. A statement from Pentland Ferries on Saturday evening said smoke was detected in the engine room before the vessel grounded, adding: The safety of our passengers is, of course, our first priority. An RMT union spokesman said: A thorough investigation will be needed to establish how this major incident aboard the Pentland Ferries vessel occurred. Local politicians are calling for answers from the Scottish Government over what the incident means for ferry users in Orkney. Transport Scotland said the current priority is for Pentland Ferries to assess the condition of the vessel and any next steps to determine whether there will be any loss of services on the Pentland Firth. It said any further actions to support capacity to Orkney will be considered in due course. Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, who is from Orkney, said the incident exposes the pitiful lack of resilience in Scotlands ferry network. Worrying reports from @The_Orcadian that the MV Pentalina has run aground. This is the boat which has been brought back into service to allow CalMac to charter the MV Alfred on the west coast routes. Hoping crew and passengers are OK, and everyone is able to get off safely. pic.twitter.com/0IBJyltGpu Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP (@jhalcrojohnston) April 29, 2023 He said: The Pentalina was only summoned back into action this week because the MV Alfred had to be seconded from Pentland Ferries to help plug gaps in the ageing, unreliable CalMac fleet. While it will be important to know just how this incident came about, my immediate concern is for what this means for Orkney and how long this vital link for our islands will be severed. There are a number of questions the Scottish Government needs to answer, including whether the 9 million agreement between CalMac and Pentland Ferries allows for the MV Alfred to be recalled to Orkney early, or if the Alfred will stay on the west coast and Orkney will be left without a key service. Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said there are important questions for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to answer, as he said it had recently inspected and certified the Pentalina as fit for service. He added: Answers are required too from the Scottish Government whose failure to procure new ferries in a timely fashion has left services both in the north and on the west coast extremely vulnerable. As a result islanders and island communities are left paying the price. An MCA spokesperson said: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in conjunction with the vessels classification society, completed surveys on the vessel Pentalina on April 18 and issued a passenger ship safety certificate; at this time the vessel met the standards required for issue of this certificate. Surveyors from the MCA will be attending the vessel today (Sunday) in St Margarets Hope to undertake initial fact-finding to establish the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident which occurred on the evening of April 29. While the facts havent been established yet, initial reports from the operator point to the cause of the grounding being a sudden mechanical failure. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: Ministers were quickly made aware of the incident involving the MV Pentalina and kept informed of developments throughout the night. We were relieved that all passengers and crew are safe and that arrangements were made to support passengers with onward travel. We would also like to express our appreciation to all those involved in the evacuation, including RNLI crews and other emergency services. Florida governor and US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has hailed Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for her efforts to make sure woke ideology is not corrupting British society. The Florida governor met with Ms Badenoch, as well as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, during a trip to Britain as he seeks to burnish his credentials ahead of a possible run against Donald Trump to be the Republican choice in the race for the White House. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr DeSantis commended Ms Badenoch, who is also the minister for women and equalities, for being outspoken on issues such as gender-neutral lavatories and the decolonisation of school curricula. He describes woke ideology as a war on the truth, telling the paper: When institutions get infected by woke ideology, it really corrupts the institutions. Mr DeSantis (Maya Alleruzzo/AP) We look at woke infiltrating schools as a problem, woke infiltrating bureaucracies as a problem and woke infiltrating corporate America as a problem. We say that Florida is where woke goes to die. During his meeting with Ms Badenoch, Mr DeSantis said she complimented what we are doing in Florida. She committed that it is what they are trying to do in Britain., he said. I commend her and her efforts to make sure that this is not corrupting British society. In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Mr DeSantiss press secretary Bryan Griffin wrote: Today @GovRonDeSantis met with @KemiBadenoch, who has been branded by British media as the Anti-woke darling of the right (a badge of honor!) Two great conservative fighters on mission. Today @GovRonDeSantis met with @KemiBadenoch, who has been branded by British media as the "Anti-woke darling of the right" (a badge of honor!) Two great conservative fighters on mission. pic.twitter.com/9Q7fWRC3pX Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) April 28, 2023 Earlier, the conservative firebrand and Mr Cleverly discussed ties between Britain and the US state he represents while visiting the Foreign Office. Mr DeSantis has not announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination but is widely expected to do so. In his interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he also addressed speculation over his potential run at the White House, telling the paper: Im going to go through our legislative session, get the peoples business done. Im still in the midst of that. Ive got about another week or so of that, and then I have the Budget and everything. Im not going to make any decision before then. But the end of that time is coming, its closer now than it was six months ago. So just stay tuned. The leader of the train drivers union has angrily attacked the Transport Secretary after he criticised a planned strike on the eve of the Eurovision Song Contest final for its impact on Ukraine. Union members will walk out on May 12 as part of a long-running dispute over pay, as well as on May 31 and June 3, the day of the FA Cup final. Mark Harper said on Sky he would have thought rail workers would want to stand in solidarity with their counterparts in Ukraine, which was due to host the Eurovision final before it was switched to Liverpool because of the invasion by Russia. Mick Whelan, general secretary of Aslef, said Mr Harpers accusation was bizarre, implying that the union was not standing in solidarity with Ukraine. He said: Of all the accusations I have ever heard, this really is the most ridiculous. He claims we are not standing in solidarity with Ukraine when he knows or should know that we have stood in solidarity with the people of that country much longer than he has. We were visiting workers in that country when Mr Harper and his pals in the Tory party were still pocketing hundreds of thousands of pounds from Russian oligarchs close to Mr Putin. I have been to Ukraine I was there as the Russian tanks invaded and Aslefs assistant general secretary, Simon Weller, has been there to talk to rail workers when the Russian bombs were falling. Mr Harper hasnt and we are members of the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign. Mr Harper isnt. So I am not going to take any lessons in solidarity from a Tory Cabinet minister who doesnt understand what he is talking about. Standing shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine has nothing to do with the Eurovision Song Contest, anyway, and we are not even on strike on the day of the contest anyway. The truth is that Mr Harper should tell the train companies to come back to the negotiating table and make train drivers who have not had a pay increase since 2019 a sensible offer so they can buy this year what they could buy four years ago. Then there would be no more strikes. The only people who are responsible for the ongoing strikes in this country in all the different sectors of the British economy are the Government and the employers. Transport Secretary Mark Harper speaks to media outside BBC Broadcasting House in London (Lucy North/PA) Seeking a pay increase has nothing whatsoever to do with Ukraine. Mr Harper told Skys Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme: Well, I think its very damaging that the rail unions are calling strikes specifically targeting the Eurovision Song Contest. Ive met with the head of Ukrainian Railways and Ukrainian Railways have been specifically targeted by Vladimir Putin, rail workers have been killed in their hundreds and I would have thought frankly rail workers would have wanted to stand in solidarity with them rather than targeting the Eurovision Song Contest which, if you remember, is not our song contest. Were hosting it but were hosting it for Ukraine and I think cynically targeting events that hard-working, working men and women across the country are spending their money on to try and attend and targeting those I think is very cynical. The UK will run a flight from Port Sudan as it continues its evacuation mission after officially ceasing the operation from an airfield near Khartoum, the Government has said. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said rescue efforts, which were previously focused on the Wadi Saeedna site near the Sudanese capital, would be moved to the east of the nation. Some 2,122 people on 23 flights have been flown out of the war-torn country from the airfield since fighting began but more than a thousand UK nationals may remain. A further journey will take off on Monday from Port Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Sunday. NEW: Over 2100 people have been evacuated from Sudan, in the largest and longest evacuation of any Western country. The UK is running an additional evacuation flight from Port Sudan tomorrow (May 1). Follow Sudan Travel Advice for the latest https://t.co/W7Ec57wa5F pic.twitter.com/iX94orU9Yk Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) April 30, 2023 It comes as Sudans army and its rival paramilitary said on Sunday they will extend a humanitarian ceasefire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, although it has not stopped clashes continuing to break out. Mr Cleverly said: The UK has now airlifted over 2,100 people to safety from Sudan in what has been the largest and longest evacuation of any Western country. I want to thank all of those working to deliver this evacuation and ensure as many people as possible are brought to safety. Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: I am grateful to our armed forces who have ensured there was an alternative to Wadi Saeedna and who are currently supporting FCDO and Border Force staff to facilitate the rescue effort. HMS Lancaster and the RAF are also there in support of HMG. The UK will continue to advocate for a long-term end to the conflict along with its international allies, Mr Cleverly said amid a faltering ceasefire. Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite the extension of an armistice between the countrys two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. The British Government previously announced it would end evacuation efforts from the capital on Sunday, with the last flight having taken off from Wadi Saeedna at 10pm local time. The Government later agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on its final journeys amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. Ministers answered calls to widen the remit, which had been limited to British nationals and their immediate family, after a significant decline in the number of UK citizens coming forward. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo attend a meeting of the U.S.-Korea Business Council at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 25, 2023. Reuters-Yonhap The summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden has paved the way for the "world's best" bilateral semiconductor partnership, the finance ministry said Sunday. President Yoon returned home Sunday from a six-day state visit to the United States, together with the chiefs of the country's four major conglomerates Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor and LG Group. In one of the visit's major achievements, Seoul and Washington agreed to build a partnership in case of any disruptions in the global supply chains of the cutting-edge semiconductor industry, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said in a statement. The two countries agreed to cooperate in the fields of next-generation semiconductors, cutting-edge packaging and high-end materials RD projects to secure leadership in the semiconductor sector, the statement said. They also agreed to minimize the uncertainties and business burdens of South Korean chipmakers in doing business in the U.S. with regards to the Chips and Science Act, it said. The Chips act is aimed at boosting the U.S. semiconductor industry by offering ample subsidies to global chipmakers to build chip plants on its soil. (Yonhap) (Getty) A family asked their neighbour to stop firing his gun so that their baby could sleep. Minutes later, five people including a nine-year-old boy were dead. Now, more than two days on from the horror mass shooting, their alleged killer is still on the run from law enforcement. The massacre unfolded on Friday night in Cleveland, Texas, when the family asked Francisco Oropesa to stop shooting rounds in his yard because they had children trying to sleep. Mr Oropesa then allegedly entered his neighbours home with an AR-15 style rifle and opened fire on the victims. Five victims Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, her nine-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso-Guzman, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18 were shot dead execution style from the neck up, police said. All five victims were originally from Honduras. Heres everything we know about the shooting: The motive The shooting was reported at around 10.30pm on the 100 block of Walters Road in the Trails End area in the community about 45 miles (72 kilometres) northeast of Houston. Night shift patrol deputies were dispatched to a residence in reference to a harassment complaint. Authorities have said that a family member walked up to the fence and requested the gunman stopped shooting rounds in his own backyard. The suspect then allegedly responded that it was his property and the violence unfolded. The neighbours walked over and said Hey man, can you not do that, weve got an infant in here trying to sleep or whatever, Mr Capers said. They went back in their house and then we have a video of him walking up their driveway with his AR-15. On their way there, they received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location. Three children covered in blood were transported to the hospital, where they were determined to be uninjured, while two other witnesses at the scene were evaluated by first responders and released. The SJCSO also said that Mr Oropesa has been known to shoot his 223 out in his front yard, which is evident by the shell casings that are laying in the front yard. The victims Ten people were in the residence at the time of the tragedy. Velazquezs husband Jefrey Rivera told the Honduran network HCH that his wife died protecting their children. He said she hid in a closet with some of the children in the home. The two other deceased women were found lying on top of two children covered in blood. Police said on Saturday that they died protecting the two minors, who are both believed to have survived. The house where the shooting took place (AP) Recounting the terrifying moments leading up to the massacre, Mr Rivera said that someone in his household asked Mr Oropesa to stop shooting rounds in his yard because they had several children in the home who were trying to sleep. Mr Rivera said that when he saw his very intoxicated neighbour approaching with an AR-15 rifle, he threw a machete at him in an attempt to protect other relatives in the home. I realised he was coming in our direction while armed with a rifle, so I tried to find something to defend myself with and found a machete. Mr Rivera told HCH in Spanish. But by the time I found the machete, shots had already been fired. Mr Oropesa and Mr Rivera then had a brief confrontation, in which the gunman allegedly said, Im going to kill you today. Mr Rivera then reportedly said: Im going to kill you first because youve already killed my family. He said he managed to escape the violence and called authorities. Guzman, meanwhile, was killed when she heroically confronted the gunman at the doorway to her home, according to her grieving husband Wilson Garcia. Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, and her eight-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso (Sourced) Mr Garcia spoke at a vigil for his son Daniel on Sunday night where he revealed how his wife Guzman bravely thought she could stop the gunman from opening fire. He said he saw the suspect running towards his house while reloading his AR-15-style rifle with ammunition and urged his wife to get inside away from the gunman. But she refused and went to confront Mr Oropesa instead. I told my wife, Get inside. This man has loaded his weapon, said Mr Garcia, according to The Associated Press. My wife told me to go inside because He wont fire at me, Im a woman. Guzman was wrong and she became the first victim shot and killed in the horror attack that has sent shockwaves across the country. Mr Oropesa then went room to room opening fire on the victims, said Mr Garcia. Mr Garcia also revealed that the family had made five separate calls to police in the 10 to 20 minutes between the initial confrontation and the massacre unfolding. During each call, Mr Garcia said police reassured them that help was on its way. But officers had not yet arrived when Mr Garcia said he saw the suspect entering his family home and opening fire. Guzmans cousin told HCH that she had moved to the US eight years ago, while her son had spent five years living in America. The mother of three leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, a six-month-old baby and her husband. Police respond to the scene of a shooting early on Saturday (AP) Her family has created a GoFundMe to raise funds so Guzman and her sons remains can be repatriated. I just spoke with her on the phone yesterday and now theyre sending her back to me in a casket, Guzmans mother Francia Guzman also told HCH through tears. The suspect Mr Oropesa is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who had been deported at least twice before the shooting, according to Univision 45 Houston. He is a married father, whose wife has been speaking to investigators about the shooting. Authorities were forced to admit on Sunday that they released an incorrect photo of Mr Oropesa and had been spelling his name incorrectly as Oropeza. As of Monday morning, the suspect has not been apprehended and it is unclear where in Texas he had been located. "The FBI has brought in investigative resources, tactical and victim services resources to assist in this investigation. We will be here until we are no longer needed to include when the subject is arrested, FBI Special Agent James Smith said. "We're still out there trying to find this individual. We consider him armed and dangerous. And we're not going to stop until we actually arrest him and bring him into custody. But he is out there, and he is a threat to the community." Mr Smith added: "So I don't want anyone to think something different than that. He is a threat to the community, and we need the community's help to hopefully locate him and soon and take him off the streets tonight. "But however, I will say this, we do not ask the community to take the matters into their own hands. Please call 911 if you happen to see this individual out there." Francisco Oropesa, 38 (KHOU11) Mr Oropesa is described as approximately 58 tall, last seen wearing blue jeans with a black shirt and work boots and with short black hair, ABC reported. An arrest warrant has been issued charging him with five counts of murder and burglary. The manhunt Mr Oropesa is considered armed and dangerous, with police admitting on Sunday that they have zero leads as to his whereabouts. Earlier reports by NPR suggested police had located and surrounded the suspect somewhere in the Houston area, but a Saturday night update by the SJCSO stated that Mr Oropesa was still at large. On Sunday night, the FBI said in a statement that Mr Oropesa was considered armed and dangerous and the public is advised not to approach him. Authorities have continued searching in the vicinity of the crime scene. Mr Capers said that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the scene of the shooting Mr Oropesas cellphone was initially being tracked but it was found abandoned along with some clothing on Saturday. Tracking dogs managed to pick up his scent before losing it in the waterways. Despite the efforts, SJCSO Sheriff Greg Capers said on Sunday that investigators have zero leads and admitted he could be anywhere, A reward of $80,000 is being offered for information leading to his arrest and the reward will be advertised on Spanish-language billboards in the hopes that someone speaks out. Investigators believe he must be in contact with friends. Mr Oropesas wife is said to have been in constant contact with investigators. Greg Abbott slammed for response Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been slammed for his response to the latest incident of gun violence in his state. The Republican governor, who has severely relaxed gun laws in Texas since taking office, failed to address the mass shooting for almost two days. Then, on Sunday, he finally broke his silence, with a statement on social media in which he announced his office was contributing a $50,000 reward to catch the suspect and labelled the victims illegal immigrants. Announcing a $50K reward for a @TxDPS top 10 fugitive who is in the country illegally and killed five illegal immigrants Friday night. I also directed #OperationLoneStar to be on the lookout for the criminal and any attempts to flee the country, he said. Announcing a $50K reward for a @TxDPS top 10 fugitive who is in the country illegally and killed five illegal immigrants Friday night. I also directed #OperationLoneStar to be on the lookout for the criminal and any attempts to flee the country.https://t.co/SLJcBRPrmO pic.twitter.com/2RWrSDkRBa Gov. Greg Abbott (@GovAbbott) April 30, 2023 The statement sparked an instant backlash with social media users quickly correcting his use of the words illegal immigrants with the term people. Star Trek actor George Takei was among those to slam Mr Abbott, tweeting: This is despicable. I would have thought bringing up the immigration status of the innocent victims of this senseless violence would be beneath even you. But I was wrong. Prior to the statement, Mr Abbott had come under fire for his radio silence on the incident. The political leader, who tweeted a picture of his pet dog along with the caption all smiles for the weekend on Saturday, waited almost two days before commenting on the matter. This is the Governor of Texas tweet AFTER learning that a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire on a family in his state, killing five people, including an 8-year-old, Ms Watts tweeted. Brett Cross, who lost his son Uziyah in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde last year, also lashed out at the Republican governor for not making mention of the deadly shooting. Assault rifles were designed to be used by highly trained soldiers in battle, not marketed to violent men to carry out revenge fantasies. From Newtown to Nashville, Las Vegas to Uvalde, these weapons of war are chosen and used to inflict as much harm as quickly as possible. Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) April 29, 2023 Mr Abbotts response is a far cry from the stance of local officials. In Sundays press conference, Sheriff Capers became emotional as he said I dont care if the victims were in Texas legally or illegally. My heart is with this eight-year-old little boy, I dont care if he was here legally, I dont care if he was here illegally, he was in my county, he said. Five people died in my county. And thats where my heart is, in my county protecting my people to the best of my ability. More than 170 mass shooting in the US this year The US is setting a devastating record pace for mass killings in 2023, according to the Associated Press. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. All those listed as mass killings in the report have taken the lives of four or more people since 1 January. Reacting to the deadly violence on Friday night, gun safety advocates slammed lax weapon laws in Texas. Assault rifles were designed to be used by highly trained soldiers in battle, not marketed to violent men to carry out revenge fantasies, gun violence prevention activist and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts tweeted on Saturday. From Newtown to Nashville, Las Vegas to Uvalde, these weapons of war are chosen and used to inflict as much harm as quickly as possible. Five people, including two children, are dead and a suspect is on the loose Saturday after a late-night dispute between neighbors escalated into an "almost execution-style" killing in Texas, authorities say. 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza was firing a rifle in his yard late at night when his neighbors asked him to stop, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. The man then went next door with his with an AR-style gun, opened fire and killed five people, including an 8-year-oldand a 15-year-old, authorities said. Capers said "everyone that was shot was shot from the neck up, almost execution-style." He also said some of the victims appeared to be protecting children. Authorities were using scent-tracking dogs and an overhead drone to search for Oropeza on Saturday after police say he fled toward a wooded forest a few miles away. As the search dragged into the evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as 10 to 20 miles" from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting. Capers said they found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest but that tracking dogs had lost the scent. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. The shooting occurred overnight in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles north of Houston. Capers asked residents nearby to avoid the area, due to a heavy police presence. Mass killing database:Revealing trends, details and anguish of every US event since 2006 Texas after-prom shooting:Four people of interest identified; victim count rises to 11 This image provided by KTRK shows the scene of a shooting early Saturday, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. A man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbors, killing several including an 8-year-old inside the house, after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday. Latest updates about shooting at Cleveland, Texas, home According to Capers: There were 10 people in the house four were confirmed dead at the scene, and the 8-year-old child was pronounced dead at a hospital. No one else was injured Three blood-covered children were found in the home but were uninjured. All the victims are believed to be from Honduras. Investigators believe Oropeza was intoxicated at the time of the shooting. The FBI is assisting in the search, the agency said. Law enforcement authorities removing bodies from a scene where five people were shot the night before Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Cleveland, TX. Authorities say an 8-year-old child was among five people killed in a shooting at the home in southeast Texas late Friday night. What authorities say happened before the shooting Family members walked up to the fence and asked the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. In response, the suspect told them it was his property, Capers said. One person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle, he said. Authorities have previously been to the suspect's home, and had "spoke with him about him shooting his gun in the yard," Capers said. Who are the victims? Two of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the 8-year-old was a boy and the victims were between the ages of 8 and about 40 years old. Rob Freyer, a prosecutor in San Jacinto County, also said a 15-year-old girl was one of the victims. Two victims were found by the front door. A slain child was in the front room. The final two victims were found laying over two children in a bedroom. They were laying over these children ... in such an effort as to protect the child, Capers said. Mass killings happening more often in US this year With at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead since Jan. 1, mass killings in the U.S. could set a new record this year. Recently, 11 people aged 15 to 19 were injured in a shooting in Texas last week after a prom after-party. Law enforcement authorities responded to a scene where five people were shot the night before Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Cleveland, TX. Authorities say an 8-year-old child was among five people killed in a shooting at the home in southeast Texas late Friday night. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Suspect identified, manhunt ongoing after 5 killed at Texas home Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) hasn't ruled out running for president in 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Now that the presidential campaign is underway, that low moan you hear is the sound of voters contemplating their likely fate: a choice between two elderly retreads, President Biden and former President Trump. Last weeks NBC News poll confirmed a consensus: Hardly anyone is yearning for this rematch. A whopping 70% of Americans dont want Biden to run, including 51% of Democrats. Almost as many, 60%, dont want Trump to run, including about a third of Republicans. But Americans are inventive. Cant some political entrepreneur find a way out of this dilemma? Enter the Washington-based group No Labels, which has done admirable work promoting bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Its leaders say theyve been mortally disappointed by Biden and Trump, and theyre determined to offer a third-party alternative. In 2016, Trump pledged to be a break from the stale version of conservatism that had previously dominated the GOP, the groups founder, former Democratic fundraiser Nancy Jacobson, wrote last year. Likewise, in 2020, Biden vowed to steer Democrats away from their activist base toward unity." Yet "both presidents ended up caving largely to their supporters on the various extremes, she said. Jacobsons big idea is to put a new party on the ballot and nominate a bipartisan ticket chosen from the center, such as Sen. Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat, and former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Maryland Republican both of whom have talked with No Labels and havent ruled out running. Jacobson, who once worked for Bill Clinton and Al Gore, says she hopes to raise $70 million and get a ticket on the ballot in all 50 states. No Labels has already qualified as a party in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska. In a three-way race, she noted, a candidate doesnt need a majority to win a states electoral votes. All you need is 34%, she said. This is a unique American moment, she told me last week. Can you imagine a Democrat and a Republican walking arm-in-arm down Pennsylvania Avenue? Its an appealing picture, even if the strolling heroes are the not-quite-charismatic Manchin and Hogan. What could go wrong? Plenty, worried Democrats warn. For one thing, history strongly suggests that a third party cant win as in, its never happened. The closest anyone has ever come was Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, with 27%. The unintended result: He split the Republican vote and delivered the White House to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. More recently, Ross Perot managed to win 19% in 1992. Nobody else has come close. The lesson: 34% is harder than it looks. That means a third-party ticket would almost surely be a spoiler, taking just enough votes from one of the two major-party candidates to tip the outcome. Thats arguably what happened in 2000, when Gore lost the decisive state of Florida to George W. Bush by 537 votes. (Ralph Nader was a third-party candidate.) And in 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to Trump by less than 1%. (Green Party candidate Jill Stein was the wild card then.) The 2024 presidential election promises to be close; head-to-head polls show Biden and Trump evenly matched. Early polls arent predictive, of course, but five of the last six presidential elections have been won by margins of less than 5%. Theres no reason to expect this one will be different. Democrats worry that Biden voters will be less committed and more likely to drift toward a third party than Trumps supporters. Thats reflected in the NBC Poll: Almost 70% of Republican voters said they were determined to vote for Trump, no matter how many indictments hes facing. A third party would probably take more votes from Biden than Trump, said William A. Galston, a former Clinton aide who worked with No Labels for a decade but has split from the group over its presidential project. Many Republicans agree, although theyve been less vocal about it. A third-party candidate like Manchin would be most likely to help Trump, Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review, wrote recently. The biggest problem with Jacobsons vision is more basic: The choice between Biden and Trump isnt just a coin flip between alternative policies. Trump has publicly proposed the termination of parts of the Constitution that get in his way. Biden, whatever his flaws, is committed to preserving our basic institutions. There is no equivalence between President Biden and a former president who threatens the survival of our constitutional order, Galston said. The risks of a second Trump presidency are simply too high to take chances. Jacobson says No Labels is alert to those dangers and wont nominate a candidate unless theres a clear path toward a win. We are committed that we will not have this experiment spoil" the election, she said. If it looks like its going to spoil there are offramps. Meaning No Labels could withdraw from the race. This is an insurance policy, she added. What happens if something happens to Biden? But offramps dont always stay open. Once a party is on the ballot, it may not be easy to take it off. A centrist third-party ticket may sound appealing in theory. In practice, it looks less like an insurance policy and more like a landmine. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A protocluster of seven galaxies has been confirmed a distance of redshift 7.9 for the first time. According to the European Space Agency an international partner on the James Webb Space Telescope with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency the term "redshift" refers to how the wavelength of light is stretched and seen as "shifted" toward the red part of the electromagnetic spectrum. The higher the redshift, the farther away and back in time the source. In this case, the protocluster of galaxies were a mere 650 million years after the big bang, according to data collected using the telescope. Using this data, astronomers calculated the cluster's future development, finding that it will likely grow in size and mass to resemble the Coma Cluster. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 25, 1990, HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE PLACED IN ORBIT BY SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY The seven galaxies highlighted in this James Webb Space Telescope image 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 cluster. The Coma Cluster contains thousands of galaxies and is more than 20 million light-years in diameter. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The measurements captured by the telescope's Near-Infrared Spectograph, one of Webb's instruments, were key to confirming the galaxies' distance and the high velocities are moving with a halo of dark matter, at more than two million miles per hour. "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," IPAC-California Institute of Technology's Takahiro Morishita, the lead author of the study published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, said in a statement. Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys has viewed a large portion of the Coma Cluster, stretching across several million light-years across. NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON SAYS JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE IS WINDOW TO UNIVERSE 'NEVER BEFORE ACHIEVED' Galaxy clusters are the greatest concentrations of mass in the known universe, and they can dramatically warp the fabric of spacetime in a process called "gravitational lensing." The researchers were able to look through Pandora's Cluster to view the protocluster, thanks to this magnifying effect. GREENBELT, MD - NOVEMBER 2: A technician stands next to the James Webb Space Telescope during assembly November 2, 2016, at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. The seven galaxies confirmed by Webb were first established as candidates for observation using the Hubble Space Telescope's Frontier Fields program, which dedicated Hubble time toward observations using gravitational lensing. However, while Hubble cannot detect light beyond near-infrared, Webb was designed to observe infrared wavelengths. The observatory detailed spectroscopic data in addition to imagery. NASAs Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will have 200 times Hubble's infrared field of view in a single shot and will be able to identify more protocluster galaxy candidates. That mission is targeted for launch by May 2027. By Lee Kyung-min A total of 150 companies made the list of Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023 on the back of their commitment to advancing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) practices in line with the global wave of prioritizing long-term sustainability into the future. The list compiled by Statista, an international data and market research expert, The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo, will function as a key reference for the global business community, policymakers and environmental rights advocacies among many stakeholders to help assess the standing of Korea's top industry players. The companies were selected based on the review of 2021 data on their performance as measured by 31 key indicators as well as analysis on sustainability surveys of more than 3,000 Korean citizens. This year's list is the second, after "Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2022," whereby 100 ESG sustainability leaders were selected after surveying over 1,250 companies. Partners of Statista's previous ESG research works include media outlets in the U.S., Italy and France. "America's Most Responsible Companies 2023," for example, was a collaborative work with Newsweek, an American weekly news magazine. The compiled list coincides with growing demands for corporate boards and government leaders to respond to fulfill ESG goals, as underlined by S&P Global, a financial information analytics firm. The global analytics institute said in a report released in January of 2022 that more entities are facing "rising pressure to demonstrate that they are adequately equipped to understand and oversee ESG issues from climate change to human rights to social unrest." This year's ranking of Korea's Sustainability Leaders is based on a holistic view of corporate responsibility. The Korea Times, the Hankook Ilbo and Statista have honored Korea's Leaders in Sustainability based on publicly available key performance indicators as well as an independent survey. The analysis was carried out in a 4-phase process. It is based on a pool of over 1,200 Korean companies that were screened using a set of defined criteria. The criteria include disclosure of at least two key performance indicators covering environment and social dimensions in an independent sustainability report or similar. All the companies that passed the pre-screening have been analyzed in detail. The detailed analysis consisted of an independent survey among more than 3,000 Korean residents and research based on publicly available key performance indicators derived from corporate annual reports and ESG reports. The independent survey was administered using an online access panel. For each company and for each dimension of ESG, a score was calculated based on the survey results as well as the analysis of the key performance indicators. The 150 companies with the best performance as measured under three ESG criteria were recognized as Korea's Sustainability Leaders 2023. Under the environment requirement, the companies were reviewed around their reduction rate of greenhouse gas emissions, waste, energy, and water consumption. Firms were reviewed under the "social" criteria on share of women in board, injury rate, philanthropic activities and more.? The evaluation criteria under "corporate governance" concerned financial stability, innovation capacity and disclosure regarding ESG reporting.? LG Energy Solution stood atop the overall list with an overall score of 90, followed by SK IE Technology (88.5), Yuhan Kimberly (87.8), LG Electronics (87.4), Hanwha Solutions (86.2), LG Innotek (84.5), Samsung Electronics (82.5), Hyundai Motor Company (82.2), and SK Telecom (82). By industry, Industrial Bank of Korea stood atop the list of banking and financial services industry category, followed by Mirae Asset Securities and KB Financial Group. In the transport manufacturing industry, Hyundai Motor claimed the top spot, followed by Hyundai Mobis, Kia, and Mando. Statista also selected outstanding performers in environment, social and corporate governance dimensions. In the environment dimension, LG Electronics was the leader, followed by Samsung Engineering, Yuhan Kimberly, Hyundai Motor and Samsung C&T. In the social dimension, Korea Gas Corp stood at the top of the list, followed by LG Energy Solution, SK Shieldus, Industrial Bank of Korea and SK IE Technology. In the corporate governance dimension, LG Energy Solution topped the list, followed by LG Innotek, LG Display, Hanwha Solutions and SK hynix. The institute also honored the top five performers in specialized areas such as global engagement, data transparency, climate commitment and ESG reputation. In the ESG global engagement area, SK Telecom stood atop, followed by KB Financial Group, LG Electronics, SK and JB Financial Group. In the ESG data transparency area, Samsung Engineering was the top performer, followed by KB Financial Group, Samsung SDI, Hyosung Advanced Materials and Samsung SDS. Climate commitment was best upheld by SK IE Technology, followed by Samsung Engineering, JB Financial Group, LG Electronics and SK Networks. Yuhan Kimberly had the best ESG reputation, followed by LG Energy Solution, LG Household & Healthcare, Yuhan and LG Electronics. The full list of 150 sustainability leaders, leaders per industry, top five performers per dimension and top five performers per specialized area is available at Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien presided over the rite for some young men on their way to the priesthood on the eve of today's World Vocations Day. Last Sunday, the Hanoi Catholic Church itself had celebrated its Youth Day by returning to gather 5,000 young people for the first time since Covid. Hanoi (AsiaNews) - "There is no vocation without mission. And there is no happiness and full self-realization without offering others the new life we have found. The divine call to love is an experience that cannot be silenced." Pope Francis writes this in his message for the 60th World Day of Vocations, which is being celebrated today in dioceses on every continent. "In the Church, we are all servants and servant women, according to different vocations, charisms and ministries," the pope reminds, pointing to the perspective in a "vocational symphony" in which each is related to the others. But one of the faces of this symphony certainly remains that of ordained ministers (deacons, priests, bishops) "placed at the service of the Word, prayer and communion of the holy people of God." After years of great flourishing, even Asia - especially in some of its regions - is beginning to come to terms with the phenomenon of a decline in vocations to this type of ministry. That is why on this day it is good to highlight the news from the Archdiocese of Hanoi in northern Vietnam, where - the diocesan website reports - on Wednesday, April 26, Archbishop Msgr. Joseph Vu Van Thien presided at the cathedral over the ordination rite of eight new deacons from the archdiocese's major seminary who are on their way to the priesthood. To the new deacons, Archbishop Van Thien reminded them that the three degrees of priesthood - the diaconate, presbyterate and episcopate - "are not titles or honors that indicate privilege, but tasks in service. You are called to serve the Church and serve your brothers and sisters." As was noted a few days ago during the presentation at the Vatican of Pope Francis' message for the World Day of Vocations, there is a very close link between the vitality of youth ministry and the readiness to give one's life totally in the following of Jesus and in the service of one's brothers and sisters. This is also confirmed by the account of the Archdiocese of Hanoi, where just last Sunday about 5,000 young people participated in the seventh Diocesan Youth Day. It was an event that came after years of forced suspension due to Covid-19. The young people gathered for a day that was marked by the theme "Mary rose and went in haste," proposed by Pope Francis ahead of World Youth Day to be held this summer in Lisbon. Archbishop Joseph Vu Van Thien dialogued by answering their questions, before the grand Eucharistic celebration followed by 30 minutes of silent Eucharistic adoration. The meeting closed with a performance in which young people from all seven pastoral zones of the archdiocese enacted what it means for them to walk together with Mary in their lives. ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. WOULD YOU LIKE TO RECEIVE IT EVERY SUNDAY VIA E-MAIL? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER HERE. Aspen Journalism is a nonprofit, independent news organization. For more, go to aspenjournalism.org. Aspen Journalism is supported by grants from the city of Aspen and Pitkin Countys Healthy Community Fund. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. 5. Honda CR-V Photo: Honda 4. Toyota Camry Photo: Toyota SUV 3. Ram Pickup Photo: Ram Trucks 2. Chevrolet Silverado Photo: Chevrolet 1. Ford F-Series Photo: Ford As the markets demand for burly family haulers grew over time, smaller cars like hot hatches or sedans saw their market share decline at an astonishing pace. Nowadays, top-selling vehicle charts leave little room for the latter, but this wasnt yet the case back in, say, 2012.The playing field used to be way more leveled out at the time, and looking at how buyer behaviors have changed since then makes for a pretty interesting case study. After carrying out some research and doing the math, we came up with a list enumerating the five best-selling nameplates of the last decade (or so) in the United States.The characteristics they all share spacious and comfy interiors, day-to-day practicality, and plenty of cargo room give us a clear insight into what the average American is looking for when buying a new car. Without further ado, lets dive right in and examine the top five most successful vehicles sold stateside since 2010.Starting us off at number five is the Honda CR-V, with approximately four million units making their way to customers during this timeframe. That acronym, in case you didnt know, stands for Comfortable Runabout Vehicle, and the model began appearing in U.S. showrooms back in February 1997. Alongside Toyotas RAV4, the CR-V pioneered the compact crossover movement way before this segment was even really a thing.The offering from Toyota may have arrived on the scene a little earlier, but it didnt take long for Hondas direct competitor to grow more popular in the States, outselling the RAV4 annually from 1998 up until 2016. Peak production occurred three years later when approximately 384,000 CR-Vs were sold across the land of the free an impressive figure, no doubt, yet one that falls short of its long-term rivals sales by nearly 64,000 units.Deeming it necessary to add some fresh blood to the lineup, Honda debuted the sixth-gen CR-V in 2022. Its available in four trims and with two engine options: the EX and EX-L variants both pack a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four, while the flagship Sport and Sport Touring models feature 2.0-liter four-bangers assisted by a two-motor hybrid system.Given the ongoing chip shortage, ridiculous dealer markups, and general state of economic uncertainty were currently in, its hard to predict what the future has in store for Hondas crossover. Only time can tell if the CR-V will go back to leading its segment anytime soon, so lets move on to the next entry on our list.The number four spot is taken by the trusty Toyota Camry, though some of you may not have seen that coming, considering the massive surge in popularity experienced by the RAV4 as of late. However, the saidis still visible in the Camrys rear-view mirror according to the total sales made from 2010 until now.Over the course of just 12 years, Americans bought more than 4.5 million of these mid-sized, four-door sedans, cherishing their reliability, roominess, and outstanding fuel efficiency. Now in its 8th generation, the long-running Camry appeared on U.S. soil for the first time back in 1982, and it sold like hotcakes!Toyota went on to develop a plethora of engine configurations and body styles over time, but the coolest variant theyre currently offering has to be the 301-hp XSE powered by a 3.5-liter V6. At the other end of the spectrum, theres the base LE trim with its tamer 2.5-liter inline-four, which can also be purchased as a hybrid for a little extra dough. MSRPs range from a reasonable 26 grand all the way up to $36,370.Now, we do hope pickup trucks are your cup of tea because our top three podium is exclusively occupied by these behemoths. Third place goes to the mighty Ram Pickup, whose various iterations racked up a whopping 5.5 million sales in just over a decade. Originally marketed as the Dodge Ram, this American icon has been around ever since the early 80s - towing, hauling, and traversing rugged terrain without so much as a complaint.Regardless of whether youre after a dependable work truck or an indestructible off-roading juggernaut, the present-day Ram lineup will gladly cater to your needs. Want to carry hefty loads from A to B? Then you should consider the three-quarter-ton 2500 , or perhaps the heavy-duty 3500 with its gargantuan 7,680-pound (3,480 kg) maximum payload and a towing capacity exceeding 18,000 pounds (8,164 kg).For those who seek performance, on the other hand, theres the 1500 TRX boasting a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 with 702 hp and 650 pound-feet (881 Nm) of torque on tap. This power can result in a 4.5-second zero-to-sixty time, and pricing starts at around $80,000 for the 2023 model. Youve also got the more affordable base trims to choose from in case youre budget-minded, so its not hard to see why the Ram Pickup appeals to this many people.Next, the silver medal is awarded to none other than the Chevy Silverado no pun intended, by the way. General Motors aims at different markets with the Silverado and its higher-class cousin, the GMC Sierra, but the two are almost identical on many levels. While the former offers a higher towing capacity and leans towards the inexpensive side of things, GMCs model targets the luxury segment with greater comfort and superior build quality.In other words, Chevys Goliath is like the rugged workhorse of the GM herd, and the Sierra is a well-tended mare destined for a more upscale stable though both of them are essentially the same breed; you get the idea. The Silverado name dates back to 1975 when Chevrolet began using it to denote the uppermost trim level of their C/K trucks.It wasnt until 1998 that the title got assigned to an independent model, which would go on to spawn four generations and a ton of commercial success. 2013 was the last year when GM sold fewer than 500,000 copies, with the total sales amassed between 2010 and now exceeding six and a half million. The latest Silverado 1500 models have more variations and engine options than you can shake a stick at, and their prices go from just under $36k to nearly $70,000.Now, the final entry on this top-five list is perhaps the least surprising of all, taking first place by a colossal margin. We are, of course, talking about the revered F-Series lineup continuously produced by Ford since 1948, over fourteen generations. The other vehicles weve talked about were, at best, still in their diapers when Blue Oval was killing the pickup game with these machines, which is part of the reason why their reputation remains unmatched to this very day.If were to focus on the F-150 variants that make up the largest portion of total sales, the crown jewel among all the trims is obviously the fearsome Raptor. Under its hood lies a 3.5-liter High-Output EcoBoost V6 with twin turbos and no less than 450 ponies at its disposal. Moreover, the Baja-proven F-150 Raptor will confidently tackle rough terrain thanks to its additional ground clearance and electronically-controlled FOX Racing shocks.Then theres the beastly Raptor R announced in 2022, benefiting from a 5.2-liter V8 that can spawn up to 700 horses at the crank. We doubt theres anyone out there who wouldnt regard these things as true off-roading monsters, but even their lower-ranking siblings can provide plenty of bang for ones buck!In an alternate reality where MSRPs still meant something, the base XL iteration could be yours for around 32,000 bones, while the range-topping Raptor R would cost about $110k. The F-Series was named Uncle Sams favorite line of trucks every year since 1977, and Ford had sold a mind-boggling 9.4 million exemplars during the last 12 years alone. The newly enforced judicial orders relating to bank accounts, known as the JBOS system, will ensure the swift execution of judicial orders immediately after they are issued by a judge, the Bahrain Association of Banks (BAB) has said. This system will contribute to reducing the burden of the accumulation of judicial orders and marks a significant improvement in litigation procedures for financial cases. BAB expressed its appreciation of the Central Bank of Bahrain's role in launching this system, providing its expertise and guidance. Additionally, the association acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf in launching and managing the JBOS system, and achieving the aspirations of Bahraini banks and their customers. The new JBOS system is now fully managed by the Ministry of Justice and has replaced the previous account suspension and cancellation system, known as BUB, which was previously managed by the Central Bank of Bahrain. Digital transformation Dana Khamis Al-Zayani, Undersecretary of Planning, Family Conciliation and Alimony at the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Waqf, has stated that the introduction of a new electronic system for judicial matters relating to financial transactions is part of the Ministry's commitment to leverage digital transformation in order to enhance services for all customers. This system is expected to increase flexibility, transparency, and speed in the overall process of procedures. Dr Waheed Al Qassim, CEO of BAB, highlighted the Association's role as an effective mediator between the Ministry and the banking sector during the testing period of the new system, ensuring that all parties' requirements were met. He stated that the system is expected to gradually evolve in the interest of all, taking into account all suggestions to ensure the implementation of all provisions smoothly while safeguarding the rights of individuals and banks. Amal Saif, Head of the Islamic Banks Committee at BAB, explained that the new system requires banks to respond daily to judicial requests related to funds and their collection in bank accounts. As a result, written electronic judicial letters to banks requesting amounts to be collected are no longer issued. Saif affirmed that the new system replaces the electronic letters previously sent by the courts directly to banks for the transfer of funds. The system provides information on the amounts that must remain in individuals' accounts, and it automatically sends an order to cancel the seizure of the amount and debit the individual's bank account immediately after the bank's response to the court order.-- TradeArabia News Service Lawmakers pass the Nursing Act during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap The opposition-controlled National Assembly on Thursday passed the Nursing Act aimed at defining the roles and responsibilities of nurses in a clearer manner amid fierce opposition from the ruling party and doctors. The bill was approved in a plenary session with 179 votes in favor and two abstentions out of 181 lawmakers present. All but two members of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), which has opposed the bill, boycotted the vote and walked out of the chamber en masse before voting began. The bill is aimed at stipulating the roles and responsibilities of nurses, as the Medical Service Act only states without laying out specific roles that nurses must perform medical assistance under the guidance of a medical doctor. The bill also aims to improve the working conditions of nurses. But doctors and other critics, especially practical nurses, have opposed the revision and threatened to go on strike upon its passage, arguing the legislation is aimed only at ensuring the interests of nurses while nursing assistants could be discriminated against. The PPP has said it would ask President Yoon Suk Yeol to veto the bill. (Yonhap) SUV CVT Over in the United States, the Japanese automaker has continuously increased the sticker price of the small crossover. From the original $23,650 sans taxes, the HR-V now costs $24,100 for the 2024 model year.The destination freight charge also increased from $1,245 to $1,295, which results in a net difference of $500 from 2023 to 2024. What are you getting for your hard-earned cash? From the press release below, it appears that nothing has actually changed in terms of standard equipment. Honda didn't mention a thing about newly available options either, which is a bit disappointing, just like the entire press release. Honda pats itself on the back for delivering America's most popularwith first-time buyers and the Gen Z. This claim is based on a study conducted by Strategic Vision, which is another way of saying absolutely nothing of interest to enthusiasts and potential buyers. Marketing white noise, if you will.Nonsense aside, is the HR-V worth the higher starting price? Based on the reassuringly extensive list of standard equipment and the reliability of its naturally-aspirated engine, it makes plenty of sense. Prospective customers are presented with three grades in total, beginning with the LX. The mid-range Sport is joined by the range-topping EX-L, and all three can be optioned with all-wheel drive for an extra $1,295.Specifying all-wheel drive has minimal repercussions in terms of gas mileage, with the Japanese automaker claiming 27 miles to the gallon (8.7 liters per 100 kilometers) compared to 28 (8.4). More powerful and torquier than the 1.8-liter unit of the previous gen, the HR-V's 2.0-liter mill develops a respectable 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet (187 Nm). If those output numbers seem familiar, that's because the Civic also comes with this engine connected to aCustomers in the market for the LX get 17-inch alloys, LED brake lights, heated side mirrors, automatic climate control, a 7.0-inch infotainment system, push-button start, and plenty of driver-assist systems. The EX sweetens the deal with sportier design cues, including 18s in gloss black.This mid-range specification further adds heated front seats, two additional speakers, leather on the steering wheel, and remote engine start. Priced at $27,650 excluding taxes, the EX-L is all the HR-V that one could wish for. Its list of standard features includes 9.0-inch infotainment, a power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, parking sensors, eight speakers, leather seats, as well as a power moonroof. EV SUV Photo: McLaren Automotive / Mercedes-Benz ICE Photo: McLaren Automotive / Mercedes-Benz If you wanted something incredibly quirky, then Lexus' new LM minivan was one of the safest bets ever. If you wanted Maybach's first, the Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680was more ostentatious than a regular EQS SUV and Tesla Model X Plaid combined. Swedish-Chinese automaker Polestar also presented a new EV, the Polestar 4 , which is not necessarily the most outrageous crossover coupe out there, but it sure attracts a lot of attention because it lacks a rear window. Instead, it has a rear camera and HD screen for the driver's rearview, plus an array of 12 cameras, 12 ultrasonic sensors, and a radar system, among other stuff like single- and dual-motor powertrain versions all set for a target price of around $60k in the United States.Speaking of the US, the cool Hyundai Elantra N also got refreshed but over in China! And we have to go on with the same Made in China ideas for North America because the all-new Lincoln Nautilus was presented with posh styling, a high-tech cabin, and manufacturing in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China! Alas, of course, everyone only had eyes for the 2024 Porsche Cayenne refresh while I was more interested in what Honda had to say about the Civic Type R snatching once again the FWD lap record on the Nurburgring Nordschleife. Oh, and speaking of the Japanese automaker, a little California-based aftermarket parts and racing supplier called Evasive Motorsports also showcased a demo restomod of the company's beloved roadster, called S2000R.Meanwhile, if we narrow the automotive industry's commotion to just this passing week, the seas settled slightly to give us a trio of exciting ideas. For starters, we heard the sixth generation Ford Mustang aka S550 by its internal code has bit the dust , and we decided to pour one out for the iteration. At the same time, we wait to see if the Blue Oval company botches another launch just like they did with the ultra-hyped, reinvented sixth-generation Ford Bronco a mere couple of years ago. If all goes according to plan, 2024 Ford Mustang production will kick off May 1, followed by first customer deliveries across the nationwide dealership network later this summer, ahead of hitting over 100 international markets. I hope we didn't just jinx it!Oh, well, moving on, there's an executive sedan that we need to discuss. The 2024 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, the sixth by its name (W214) since the rebranding of the mid-size series back in 1993, will be the subject of many jokes in the near future. To me, it looks like Droopy the Dog's car, just like the 2024 BMW XM Label Red felt like Porky Pig's ultimate ride into 738-horsepower plug-in hybrid V8 oblivion. But that's just me, so feel free to disagree. On the other hand, it looks like the upcoming G60 BMW 5 Series is in for a challenging ride because the new E-Class looks like a sensible upgrade over its predecessor. For example, the wheelbase is slightly bigger, the dashboard is in tune with the TikTok and Angry Birds times, an array of both-only and plug-in hybrid powertrains already exists, and the technology is overbearing there's even rear-axle steering alongside continuously adjustable damping or the optional Airmatic suspension.And although it looks a little sad with this front fascia design, I appreciate the subtle callback to the W210 and W211 generations' egg-shaped front lights. Besides, whether we like it or not, it will probably sell extremely well because it also exudes enough S-Class vibes to make it a potential darling of the aftermarket realm for years. Naturally, we also need to talk about the supercar elephant in the room, aka the 'all-new' McLaren 750S . Yep, the main beef I have with it, which a large part of the fanbase will probably support, is that we are basically dealing with a facelift rather than an all-new generation. It is what it is, though, as McLaren wanted it as the "lightest and most powerful series-production McLaren" to date without making the 765LT obsolete.To achieve the balance, it dropped some 66 lbs (30 kg) compared to the 720S, packed an additional 30 ponies for a grand total of 740 hp (750 ps), and some 30% of the components are new or improved. The pricing is also impressive - $324k for the coupe version and $345k for the Spider. We might as well see it as the true Ferrari (F8) killer instead of the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, which has 'just' 670 horsepower from its naturally-aspirated FPC mill against the Brit's twin-turbo V8 engine. However, at a starting MSRP of $105,300, the C8 Z06 is a way nicer grab for the rest of around $220k, you can ask any aftermarket outlet to make it ready to stand out in all McLaren 750S crowds, both visually and performance-wise. Photo: NEVS/PLINT Marketing kW kWh Photo: NEVS/PLINT Marketing Photo: NEVS/PLINT Marketing The Swedish website Carup talked to Nina Selander and Peter Dahl. They are, respectively, the NEVS CEO and Emily GT's project manager. According to both of them, NEVS is currently in hibernation mode, but the Emily GT can be sold to a company willing to finish the project and put the car for sale. Dahl believes that it would take one year and a half more to put this car for sale.To understand the whole story, it is worth remembering what happened after NEVS bought SAAB's assets in 2012. The company tried to establish itself independently, but the Chinese giant Evergrande eventually bought it. Considering the company also owned Protean Electric , it gave NEVS the mission to develop a car with in-wheel motors.Dahl was a development engineer who started working for SAAB in 1994. NEVS put him in charge of the project in 2019, giving him only ten months to complete it. He used four 90-(121-hp) Protean motors, one for each wheel, for a total power of 360 kW (483 hp). As any grand tourer deserves, a high-performance version of the Emily GT may receive new motors to deliver 488 kW (654 hp) and 2,200 Nm (1,622.3 pound-feet). The grand tourer was designed to accept a battery pack of up to 175and to work at 800V, which allows it to charge faster. NEVS was studying wireless charging for the Emily GT at up to 11 kW.This massive component would allow the grand tourer to travel around 1,000 kilometers (621 miles). Sadly, it would all be due to the "dumb range" strategy, as Peter Rawlinson classified using large battery packs to achieve longer ranges. A better approach is to pursue efficiency, which allows the car to drive longer with a lighter component. Some documents obtained by Carup show NEVS was probably considering more miniature battery packs : 140-kWh for a long-range derivative and 105-kWh for the regular Emily GT. The probable ranges for these other components were not disclosed. Ironically, the prototypes used a 53-kWh battery pack that was supposed to power an electric version of the SAAB 9-3.With the motors inside the wheels, the Emily GT can have plenty of space for passengers and cargo. The frunk accommodates 150 liters (5.3 cubic feet), while the trunk can carry 540 l (19.1 ft) of load. Unfortunately, NEVS did not disclose the dimensions of the grand tourer apart from how high it is: 1.40 meters (55.1 inches). The wheelbase must be quite generous: each wheel is placed at the extremes of the body, with really short overhangs.The project was supposed to have 20 prototypes, but the pandemic and the financial crisis forced it to build only six vehicles. As Dahl stated in the video embedded below, carmakers usually have two situations for building prototypes. Either they are meant for auto shows and have to be impeccable or for testing, which just demands these vehicles to work. NEVS joined the two ideas, which made these prototypes look almost like production cars. The project manager said they only lack airbags and automatic emergency braking (AEB) With most of the work to put it into production already done, Selander wants to sell the project to a carmaker or a startup that could put it into production. Sadly, I am not aware of many companies that would like to do that. Saudi Arabia wanted to have its own automaker and announced the Ceer brand. VinFast has already developed its vehicles but could wish to expand its lineup. Another company that crossed my mind was Foxconn , especially because it already manufactures a car with in-wheel motors the Lordstown Endurance. Does that mean any of these companies could be interested? Probably not.Grand tourers are not among the most popular body types nowadays. If there is one market in which it could go well, it is China, with its love for sedans. According to Dahl, NEVS developed 13 models in the almost 11 years since it bought SAAB's assets. The Emily GT is just one of them apparently, the only one they were authorized to present. Selander invited interested parties to contact her through the email address disclosed on the NEVS website. Car enthusiasts are now cheering for that to happen as soon as possible. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration CVT According to documents filed with the, said component is the stop lamp switch. On February 17, the Japanese company received a technical report alleging a brake light illuminating without brake pedal application. Subaru immediately started investigating, then identified the improper adjustment condition.Subaru of America is aware of a single warranty claim and four technical reports in the United States market, with receipt dates ranging between February 17 and April 18. On the upside, no crashes or injuries resulted from this problem. Said problem stems from the gap between the brake lamp switch and the stopper.In addition to the brake light illumination without applying any sort of pressure on the brake pedal, the gap in question makes it possible to start the vehicle and shift the transmission out of park without pressing the brake pedal. Safety risks aside, this issue goes against two federal motor vehicle safety standards: 108 for lamps and reflective devices and 102 for trans shift position sequence, interlock, and braking effect.Supplied by Toyotetsu America, the suspect brake pedal assemblies bear part numbers 36012FL00C and 36012FL01C. The issue was corrected on the assembly line on March 21. Dealers have already been instructed to inspect the gap between the stop lamp switch and stopper, and if necessary to adjust said gap.Owners can expect to receive Subaru -branded envelopes by first-class mail on June 23. The recall population comprises 941 sedans and 3,089 hatchbacks. These numbers alone pretty much explain why Subaru dropped the sedan for the 2024 model year Impreza. The vehicles in question were manufactured between February 1 and March 20 this year.We already know how much the MY24 costs, we also know what comes standard and what doesn't, yet the newcomer isn't available to configure at press time. The 2023 Subaru Impreza soldiers on with a sticker price of $19,795 for the Base Sedan and $20,295 for the Base 5-Door, sans destination charge.Rated at 36 miles per gallon (6.5 liters per 100 kilometers) on the highway and 28 (8.4) city, the Base Sedan is alright in terms of standard equipment. Highlights include all-wheel drive, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus EyeSight Driver Assist Technology. The 2023 model also boasts a standard manual transmission, whereas the 2024 comes exclusively with a chain-drivenThe Lineartronic continuously variable transmission may not be to everyone's liking, but a five-speed manual certainly doesn't have a place in a modern car. And that's coming from someone who owns and loves manuals. On that note, the hatchback-only 2024 model is $22,995 plus the $1,090 freight fee. Photo: Tesla Photo: Chile AI100 BEV EV Photo: Tesla Photo: Chile AI100 When he introduced the Cybertruck, Elon Musk disclosed it would have a stressed-skin design with an exoskeleton that would be a revolution in vehicle manufacturing. This was the reason for the electric pickup truck to have ultra-hard stainless steel exterior panels in the first place. The Tesla CEO even invited Franz von Holzhausen on stage to hit the Cybertruck with a dead blow hammer Musk said it was a sledgehammer, but that was not true. In the Tesla CEO's words, "the body and the bed don't do anything useful" in a body-on-frame construction: "They are carried like cargo, like a sack of potatoes."An exoskeleton pickup truck would have "the stress moved to the outside skin." Several people believed that promise myself included. I interviewed stressed-skin structure specialists and engineers. Everybody was excited by the perspective of a truck that saved weight and still delivered everything a body-on-frame competitor did.Electric vehicles face a literally massive issue with weight due to their battery packs. If Tesla managed to reduce mass with a stressed-skin structure, the Cybertruck would have a fantastic headstart against its competitors: it could present the same capabilities with a more extended range and better performance. After all, lighter vehicles also accelerate faster.That was just the most significant promise the Cybertruck made. It would also have a groundbreaking new cell with a structural battery pack that we still knew little about at the time. Its wiring harness system would be simpler and much lighter than in the current vehicles. Finally, Tesla had patented two new windshield wiper systems: one using lasers and one powered by an electromagnetic moving block that would make the wiper move only horizontally.In 2019, the Cybertruck still had the possibility of being the first electric pickup truck to reach the market, but themaker failed to develop it at the pace it predicted it would. The first competitor to reach its customers was the Rivian R1T, followed by the GMC Hummerand the Ford F-150 Lightning. All of them are body-on-frame vehicles. The Cybertruck was definitely not the first, but it could at least be the best.That hope only lasted long because Tesla took more years than expected to develop the Cybertruck. It promised its first customers would receive it in 2021. At least they are not in the same boat as second-generation Roadster buyers, announced in 2017. Some of them already paid $250,000 for a vehicle that should have arrived in 2020.The promises started to shatter just like the Cybertruck window when Tesla disclosed the 4680 cells . The first analysis revealed it was nothing more than a bigger and ordinary NMC 811 cell. The structural battery pack is not repairable, which means that you just throw it on a shredder to recycle the elements should anything fail. The Model Y uses a smaller version of the structural battery pack the Cybertruck was supposed to introduce. A while later, a Cybertruck prototype showed a humongous and conventional windshield wiper moving as they all do.In its Q1 2023 Update report, Tesla disclosed images of the Tesla Cybertruck pilot production line. They were enough for Cory Steuben, from Munro Live, to clarify that the Cybertruck does not have an exoskeleton. The engineer candidly shared in an interview that we are in front of a unibody structure. In other words, it "will be more like a Honda Ridgeline" or "a big old Model Y." Towing and transporting stuff in the bed will face massive challenges due to the way the truck will be built.In February 2021, I interviewed Sandy Munro about the use of massive castings in the Cybetruck. The engineer told me the vehicle would have a unique structure, possibly similar to the one the i3 presented. While the BMW had an aluminum frame and a carbon-fiber body installed over it, Tesla's electric pickup truck would have an aluminum frame with a stressed-skin body on top. The images Tesla disclosed deny that.The body structure is complete. The only difference Steuben could point out was a "fastening strategy just below the windshield" check the "tiny little circles" in the image. The bent stainless steel panels will just be attached to the body structure. In other words, the Cybetruck will just carry them "like a sack of potatoes." Steuben sums it up like this:"This is an evolution of the design philosophy of Tesla applied to a truck. It'd be like if you took the Model Y from Texas and said: 'Let's make this thing a truck.'"For a vehicle that would be a manufacturing revolution, being a larger Model Y and a competitor to the Ford Maverick, Honda Ridgeline, and other unibody pickup trucks is nothing short of frustrating. Cybertruck buyers may start praying that it at least has a decent range and reasonable towing and cargo capacities. 30 April 2023 23:51 (UTC+04:00) By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az This is just an amazing analogy. In one of the Russian TV series there is an episode when the investigator Shulgin is interrogating an Armenian named Araik. So, Shulgin suggests that this cinematic Araik take a maneuver, the essence of which boils down to a simple exchange - to hand over all his accomplices while he is conducting his case. There is, as Araik found out to his horror, an alternative scenario for the development of the situation. It consists in the fact that the case will be handed over to the investigator Mammadov, an Azerbaijani from Karabakh, who went through the war. Shulgin gives Araik three hours to decide on the proposal. Araik thought for a few seconds. The investigator had barely reached the door when he heard from him a categorical willingness to surrender the names, surnames, appearances of his accomplices. It was a serieal drama of Araik. And there is a real one. Surname Harutyunyan. This is a native of the city of Khankendi in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. Harutyunyan considers himself the head of the Karabakh separatists. In this status, and just hanging around in various positions in the ranks of members of the criminal group of ethnic Armenians, illegally located on our territory, he managed to get fabulously rich. Arayik from Khankendi dreamed that it would always be like this, but the historic victory of Azerbaijan during the 44-day war nullified all his plans. More precisely, they have shrunk to a thirst to save their own skins in any way. Whom only he is not ready to pray for protection - from the current leadership of Armenia to the successive leaders of the RCC. So he already managed to fall at the feet of Colonel-General Alexander Lentsov with a request to "remove all obstacles and ensure the security of bilateral communication." Between which sides, sorry? Between Armenia and the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan. Which in itself sounds ridiculous. Indeed, between Armenia and other countries that border on it, there is a checkpoint. The same checkpoint should be installed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the Lachin road, so that it is clear to our side who and for what purpose is going to Khankendi, what they are carrying with them. There were many cases when weapons, ammunition, mines smuggled from the Republic of Armenia in Khankendi. We have all the Armenian moves recorded. So, Harutyunyan's petitions to Lentsov or someone else are useless. Look, even in Yerevan, the Lachin corridor is already recognized as closed, since Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan agreed in Prague that the Karabakh economic region is part of Azerbaijan. Political analyst Beniamin Matevosyan wrote about this on his Facebook page. Actually, he is not the only person thinking like that in Armenia. It quite far to see yet a silver lining. But all this not only does not reassure, but even more worries Arayik Harutyunyan, who decided to put his signature in appeals to various actors of the international community with a request to "ensure the lifting of the blockade of artsakh." Again 25! How can Azerbaijan declare a blockade of its own territory?! It is obviously the illiteracy of Harutyunyan, but there is a limit to everything! It is also understandable that Araik from Khankendi is babbling something about this initiative, calling it "one of the effective ways of representing our collective will and voice." Here we also look at its "efficiency". I am sure that it will be equal to the effectiveness of the provocations of Nikol Pashinyan, who at first yelled at the whole of Yerevan that "Karabakh is Armenia and that's it," and now recognizes the territorial integrity of our country. The leadership of Armenia, as many foreign analysts have already acknowledged, seeks to shift the burden of responsibility for the fate of the Karabakh Armenians onto Russia, France, the United States ... Yes, at least to aliens, if only not to deal with it personally. The Karabakh separatists also understand all this, who also seek salvation wherever possible and even where it is impossible, without being known as inadequate. However, they have no image already. All of them and Arayik Harutyunyan first of all understand how huge the number of crimes recorded on them; and the fact that they simply do not have options. More precisely, there is only one chance for them - to flee on an Armenian passport, seeking salvation not even in Armenia, but somewhere else, after following in the footsteps of the cinematic Araik and agreeing to surrender all his accomplices. And whose names? surely, RCC management. For, otherwise, you will have to communicate with the investigator Mammadov. And apparently, this Khankendi Araik is even more afraid of cinema. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Lois Henry is the CEO and editor of SJV Water, a nonprofit, independent online news publication dedicated to covering water issues in the San Joaquin Valley. She can be reached at lois.henry@sjvwater.org. The website is sjvwater.org. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Chance of a shower or two during the morning, followed by partly cloudy skies this afternoon. High 67F. SSW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with overcast skies overnight. Low 51F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Hyundai Mobis CEO Cho Sung-hwan gives a keynote speech at the 44th International Vienna Motor Symposium in Austria, Thursday. Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis By Kim Jae-heun Hyundai Mobis CEO Cho Sung-hwan attended the 44th Vienna International Motor Symposium in Austria, Thursday (local time), illustrating the company's future strategy as a mobility platform provider, company officials said Friday. He spoke about the company's willingness to strengthen its key competitiveness in the future mobility sector, focusing on electrification, autonomous driving and connectivity. The CEO also introduced Hyundai Motor Group's vision for future mobility and gave a clear picture of Hyundai Mobis' strategy in connection with the group's approach. "Hyundai Mobis will deliver a differentiated platform to customers in the electrification, autonomous driving and connectivity sectors based on software with exceptional quality and optimum semiconductors," Cho said during his talk at the motor symposium on Thursday. He also discussed the company's plan to promote the new businesses as its next growth engines. That is, using electrification element technology, such as the battery system it has already secured, to propel new businesses, such as urban air mobility and robotics. Hyundai Mobis is producing and supplying battery system assemblies, the electric drive units and the integrated charging control units that are installed on electric vehicle platforms. The company plans to scale up such key electrification technologies as new growth engines in the near future. Cho emphasized that innovation in mobility technology is vital to enhancing the value and quality of people's lives. "Hyundai Mobis strongly believes that mobility technology is an important key to solving universal problems including climate change, urban overcrowding and the aging population," Cho said. The Vienna Motor Symposium is an internationally recognized annual symposium in the automotive industry. This year, the symposium focused on the theme of powertrain electrification, which has brought a huge wave of change in the global automotive industry. Over 1,000 people representing global carmakers, automotive suppliers and academics from 25 countries attended the event in Vienna. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. You can reach Ishani Desai at 661-395-7417. You can also follow her at @_ishanidesai on Twitter. The New Bern eye surgeon challenging North Carolina's certificate-of-need law in court hopes the N.C. Supreme Court's decision in another case will help his cause.The state's highest court agreed in March to take up Kinsley v. Ace Speedway Racing. In that case, the owner of an Alamance County racetrack accuses Gov. Roy Cooper and his top health official of unfairly targeting the track for a shutdown during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.A unanimous N.C. Court of Appeals ruled that Ace Speedway could proceed with its suit. The Supreme Court agreed to take up state Health and Human Services Secretary Kody Kinsley's appeal of that decision.Now, lawyers working for Dr. Jay Singleton hope the Ace Speedway case can bolster their own request for a state Supreme Court review. Singleton filed paperwork Monday asking to amend his request for high court action.according to a proposed footnote that would be added to an existing 30-page brief.Singleton first appealed to the N.C. Supreme Court in August 2022, less than two months after a unanimous state Appeals Court decision to dismiss his case.The John Locke Foundation, which oversees Carolina Journal, is participating in this case with a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Singleton.said Joshua Windham of the Institute for Justice in August. IJ attorneys represent Singleton.The CON case presents three issues for the N.C. Supreme Court's consideration, according to the initial filing with the state's highest court from Windham and his colleagues.according to Singleton's lawyers.the brief added.the filing listed as the third issue.Singleton's lawyers reminded the state Supreme Court that it struck down CON restrictions once before, in 1973. Five years later, the General Assembly approved a new,CON law. The state Court of Appeals then declared the original state Supreme Court rulingand now there isabout the original decision's status.according to IJ attorneys.The appeal labels the case's factsaccording to the court filing.according to the surgeon's lawyers.For example, Singleton could perform cataract surgeries for $1,800, while the facility fee alone at CarolinaEast reaches almost $6,000, according to the appeal.Current law blocks Singleton from applying for a CONaccording to the filing.In a later brief filed in October 2022, Singleton's lawyers argued that his case offered the court an opportunity to clear upabout the CON law.Since the Appeals Court panel's decision was unanimous, the state Supreme Court faces no obligation to take Singleton's case. Two months after federal appellate judges ruled in favor of N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein in his lawsuit challenging a state criminal libel law, Stein and Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman continue to engage in a legal dispute.In the latest development, Freeman's attorney filed paperwork Monday objecting to Stein's March 2 motion in U.S. District Court. Stein is seeking a summary judgment in his favor declaring the challenged law unconstitutional.wrote attorney Joseph Zeszotarski, representing Freeman.Freeman asked the same court on March 26 to dismiss Stein's suit.Stein based his motion for summary judgment on a favorable ruling from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. That court ruled on Feb. 8 that Stein was likely to win his argument that the challenged law violated the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.One day after the 4th Circuit's decision, Freeman announced her office had closed its case against Stein in connection with the challenged law, N.C. Gen. Stat. 163-274(a)(9).Zeszotarski wrote last month.A dismissalwould block Stein from filing suit again on the same issue.The deadline to pursue charges against Stein or any co-defendants ran out on March 23, according to Freeman's court filing.Zeszotarski wrote.he added.Zeszotarski wrote.Freeman's filing also referenced the 4th Circuit's decision favoring Stein.Zeszotarski wrote.The challenged law dates back to 1931. The statute declares it unlawful, as a Class 2 misdemeanor,A 2-1 ruling from the 4th Circuit last August gave Stein an injunction against the law. The injunction blocked Freeman's office from pursuing criminal charges against Stein and two colleagues.The 4th Circuit injunction arrived one day after the Wake grand jury asked the D.A.'s office to present indictments against Stein, chief of staff Seth Dearmin, and 2020 campaign manager Eric Stern.The controversy stemmed from Stein's 2020 re-election campaign. Stein, a Democrat, defeated Republican challenger Jim O'Neill, the Forsyth County district attorney. Stein's winning margin was just 13,622 votes out of 5.4 million ballots cast.Stein and O'Neill criticized each other during the campaign over the issue of untested rape kits. After O'Neill accused Stein of allowing thousands of rape kits to remain untested andStein responded with a TV ad titledThe ad featured Juliette Grimmett, a sexual assault survivor who worked for Stein in the N.C. Justice Department. At one point in the ad, Grimmett said,O'Neill filed a complaint with the State Board of Elections, calling the ad false and defamatory. O'Neill cited the now-disputed state law. A state elections board investigator looked into the case and turned over findings to the Wake D.A. in 2021.Freeman had recused herself from the case, turning it over to prosecutor David Saacks. Saacks sought a more thorough investigation from the SBI. Based on that work, the Wake D.A.'s office proceeded to the grand jury last summer with possible charges connected to the ad.Stein initially won a temporary restraining order in the case from U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles last July. But Eagles later reassessed her ruling and refused to grant Stein an injunction.Thead aired from August through October 2020. Misdemeanor charges in North Carolina come with a two-year statute of limitations. That means that Freeman's office faced an October 2022 deadline to proceed with charges stemming from that ad. A tolling agreement during the course of the litigation allowed the statute of limitations to extend three weeks beyond the resolution of the legal dispute. That deadline expired March 23. Elizabeth LaFave, center, celebrates winning the sixth annual Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge for her business idea, Invenire, which is latin for to discover. (ECU photos by Rhett Butler) Vern Davenport '81 - partner, QHP Capital John May '93 - managing partner, CORE Industrial Partners Sonja P. Nichols - president and owner, Southern Lion, LLC and member of the UNC Board of Governors Grant Smith - current ECU student and former PEC winner This post appears here courtesy of ECU News Services . The author of this post is Michael Rudd In 2019, East Carolina University graduate student Elizabeth LaFave was analyzing samples for the Country Doctor Museum in Bailey.The relationship soon revealed the museum was suffering the effects of COVID-19 with few patrons.That experience inspired LaFave to create Invenire, an app that presents virtual tours of small museums helping grow their audience and expand their reach beyond those within driving distance.This innovative thinking led her to a first-place finish in this year's Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge (PEC), sponsored by the Miller School of Entrepreneurship, where she was awarded $15,000 in prizes and in-kind services.After competing against five teams representing three ECU colleges with ideas ranging from technology, clothing, fitness and social enterprises, Invenire won the night and a chance toLaFave said.To add to her challenge winnings, an anonymous donor awarded Invenire an additional $15,000, and she will have another $15,000 in optional equity investment available to her.ECU Chancellor Philip Rogers said,LaFave leaned on her role as an innovation ambassador in ECU's Office of Licensing and Commercialization, where she helped develop business plans and presentations based on creating a unique digital experience - Invenire - for the Country Doctor Museum. Subsequently, in spring of 2022, she participated in the I-Corps@ECU program, which allowed her to grow that idea by conducting customer interviews that eventually revealed that other small museums were suffering.This was the third time LaFave participated in the PEC and pitched Invenire to a panel of judges with the hopes of winning the cash prize of $15,000.said LaFave, a Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences student majoring in chemistry.Additional awardeesTwo additional awardees left the PEC with cash prizes for their business ideas. College of Business student Katie Rowland took second place and $10,000 for her company Fosterline Support, an organization that creates a universal background check process to find short-term, affordable childcare for foster families. College of Health and Human Performance student Jennifer George won third place and $5,000 for her company Flourish Mind and Body, an integrated physical and mental wellness space for victims of sexual assault. PEC sponsors Red Shark Digital and Radiate Prints also awarded George $5,000 and $1,000, respectively.said Dennis Barber III, acting director of the Miller School of Entrepreneurship.To select the winners, PEC leaned on a panel of judges who know firsthand what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. The judges for this year's finals included:May said. In October 2022, May served as the keynote speaker at the COB's Business Leadership Conference.Nichols said."As the ideas continue to grow, so does the challenge's impact on the participants," said challenge organizer David Mayo.Mentors for this year's finalists were Ryan Butcher, a serial entrepreneur; Miller School; Tyler Lumely with the Small Business and Technology Development Center at ECU; Robby Carney with Duelboot Partners; Taylor Walden with Simple and Sentimental; and Grant Edwards, a fractional chief financial officer. This year's finals marked the first time all three winners were women, and all came from different colleges. By The Center Square Staff for Just The News A North Carolina bill to prohibit state agencies and subdivisions from using environmental, social and governance factors in hiring and financial decisions is on hold after it was left off a committee calendar. House Bill 750 would ban state agencies, political subdivisions, trusts, committees, or commissions from using ESG policies in employment decisions. The bill would also ban ESG policies for administration of state employee pension plans or in state contracts. The bill was slated for a hearing in the House State Government Committee on Thursday but was removed from the calendar. HB 750 would further prohibit economically targeted investments, which the bill defines collectively with ESG as "using a set of standards to screen potential investments based upon the perceived impact to the environment and the social relationships between a companys employees and the community. The term also includes how a companys leadership is structured in support of those standards." It follows criticism from state Treasurer Dale Folwell, a Republican candidate for governor, over BlackRock CEO Larry Finks focus on ESG initiatives that Folwell described in December as "wacktivism." North Carolina Retirement Systems invests about $14 billion through BlackRock in mostly passive funds and about $55 million in BlackRock stocks or bonds. Under Fink's leadership, BlackRock has leveraged its position as one of the world's largest asset managers with $9.5 trillion under management to push companies to adopt ESG policies with the help of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero and Climate Action 100+. The ESG initiatives, which screen investments based on how companies address climate change and other social issues, have drawn fierce backlash from conservatives who oppose the forced transition to "clean energy" and the social policies ESG promotes. "Unfortunately, Mr. Fink's political agenda has gotten in the way of his same fiduciary duty," Folwell argued in December when he called for Finks resignation. "A focus on ESG is not a focus on returns and potentially could force us to violate our own fiduciary duty of loyalty. "Ultimately, Mr. Fink's continued ideological pressure could result in using ESG scores against states and local governments, lowering their credit ratings and thus driving up their cost of borrowing at taxpayers' expense." Folwell manages the ninth-largest public pension in the country at $111.4 billion. HB750 would require fiduciaries of the states pension plans to "discharge duties with respect to a plan solely in the pecuniary interest of the participants and beneficiaries." Voting ownership interests would also be limited to the pecuniary interest of plan participants. HB750 defines a pecuniary factor as one "that has a material effect on the financial risk or financial return of an investment based on appropriate investment horizons consistent with the plans investment objectives and funding policy." The bills provisions on employment would ensure the most qualified are hired, regardless of their political perspective. HB 750 is sponsored by Republican Reps. Destin Hall of Caldwell County, Jason Saine of Lincoln County, Celeste Cairns of Carteret County, and Neal Jackson of Moore County, along with 20 Republican co-sponsors. A security guard stands near a sculpture of the Chinese Communist Party flag at the Museum of the Communist Party of China, May 26. AP-Yonhap China's military flew 38 fighter jets and other warplanes near Taiwan, the Taiwanese defense ministry said Friday, in the biggest such flight display since the large military exercise in which it simulated sealing off the island earlier in April. Naval vessels were also seen in the area as part of China's long-running campaign of intimidation against Taiwan. Later Friday, China's People's Liberation Army issued a protest over the flight of a United States Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft through the Taiwan Strait, which separates mainland China from the self-governing island democracy claimed by Beijing. Calling Thursday's flight a provocation that the U.S. "openly hyped up," the PLA's Eastern Theater Command said it scrambled fighter jets to monitor the plane's flight. Such acts "fully prove that the U.S. is a disruptor of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and a creator of security risks," the statement said. "Theater troops maintain a high level of alert at all times and resolutely defend national sovereignty and security as well as regional peace and stability." The U.S. 7th Fleet said Thursday's flight was in accordance with international law and "demonstrates the United States' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific." "The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate anywhere international law allows including within the Taiwan Strait," the statement said. The U.S. remains Taiwan's closest military and political ally, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between them. U.S. law requires Washington to treat all threats to the island as matters of "grave concern," though it remains ambiguous over whether American forces would be dispatched to help defend the island. Beijing has threatened to bring Taiwan under its control by force if necessary, and China's intensely nationalistic leader Xi Jinping has sworn never to give up "a single inch" of territory claimed by his country a pledge that applies to Taiwan, the disputed border with India , and the South China Sea that China claims almost in its entirety. A Sichuan Tengden's TB-001, nicknamed "Twin-Tailed Scorpion" for the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) flies at the 13th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China, Sept. 28, 2021. AFP-Yonhap SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said Saturday evening that the company's test flight of its Starship rocket earlier this month - which kicked up a "tornado" of rocks, sent debris flying hundreds of feet and ended up with the rocket tumbling and then exploding four minutes into flight - was "roughly what I expected." The damage to the company's private spaceport in South Texas "is actually quite small," he said on Twitter Spaces in his first extensive comments on the test flight. And the rocket, the most powerful in the world, achieved some significant milestones, he said, flying faster than the speed of sound and making it through the most aerodynamically challenging portion of the flight. It did that even though three first-stage engines failed to ignite on the pad and a few others went out during the flight, ultimately sending it end over end as it hit a top altitude of about 24 miles. But Musk noted the automated flight termination system, which is designed to destroy the rocket in case it goes off course, took too long - about 40 seconds - to ignite. That may mean it has to get it recertified by the Federal Aviation Administration. The company will also have to reinforce the launchpad with a water-cooled steel plate that would replace the concrete that was shattered and scattered like shrapnel during the first test flight. "We're putting down a lot of steel," he said. For now, SpaceX's Starship is grounded while the company investigates the failure with the FAA's supervision. In a statement this week, the FAA said SpaceX had to "perform analyses to ensure that the public was not exposed to unacceptable risks," including a "post-flight data review to ensure consistency between the assumptions used for their safety analyses and the data observed from the flight." Furthermore, the company "must demonstrate that any ground safety and flight hazards do not pose unacceptable risk to the public during licensed activities," the FAA continued. It had said that no people or public property was damaged during the flight. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also coordinating with the FAA. In a statement this week, it said that the rocket, which has 33 first-stage engines and stands nearly 400 feet tall, sent "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." It also ignited a 3.5-acre fire south of the pad, but "no dead birds or wildlife have been found on refuge-owned or managed lands," the FWS noted. Asked about the debris and the possibility of a lawsuit being brought by environmental groups, Musk conceded the event "did kick up a lot of dust, but . . . there has not been any meaningful damage to the environment that we're aware of." NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, testifying in Congress this week, said he was not concerned about the test flight and that he expected SpaceX to fly the rocket again within a couple of months. The explosion "is not a big downer in the way that SpaceX does things," he said. "They are hardware rich, meaning they've got a lot of those rockets ready to go. And that's their modus operandi. They launch. If something goes wrong, they figure out what it is. They go back and they launch it again." In 2021, NASA awarded a contract worth $2.9 billion to use Starship as the vehicle to ferry astronauts to and from the surface of the moon as part of its Artemis program. Since then, it awarded SpaceX a contract for a second moon landing worth $1.15 billion. The rocket is made up of two sections: the Super Heavy booster and the Starship spacecraft, which would be used to carry payloads such as satellites and eventually people. If the FAA signs off on SpaceX's investigation and grants it another launch license, Musk said the company would have a good chance of not just flying again but also reaching orbit. The next booster to fly will have some "significant reliability improvements" that will give the rocket a better chance of success, he said. "I don't want to tempt fate, knock on wood, but I think close to 100 percent chance reaching orbit within 12 months," he said. Beaumont Mayoral candidates James Eller, Jr., and Roy West made their pitches to the crowd gathered at the monthly Press Club of Southeast Texas meeting last week. Incumbent Mayor Robin Mouton was unable to attend after being called out of town on business. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The average superintendent in Region 5 made a base salary of $152,161, as of October 2022. The Beaumont Enterprise analyzed salary information released annually by the Texas Education Agency to determine the highest-paid superintendents in the region. Comparing that data revealed that larger district enrollments don't always equal higher paid superintendents. Superintendents are typically hired by locally-elected school boards who also set salaries, which are paid predominantly through property tax revenue. Of the 37 superintendents -- from traditional independent or consolidated school districts and open enrollment charter schools -- located in Region 5, about half made more than $152,000, according to data from the Texas Education Agency. The region's highest paid superintendent is Jeffrey Scott Campbell at East Chambers ISD, who made $252,846 as of October. East Chambers ISD, the only school district in Region 5 located in Chambers County, has an enrollment of just under 1,560 students. Only five superintendents in the region made more than $200,000 in base salary, including Campbell. Behind Campbell is Port Arthur ISD Superintendent Mark Porterie, who made $240,040 in base salary and is the highest-paid superintendent in Jefferson County. Porterie is followed by Beaumont ISD's Shannon Allen, who oversees the region's most populous school district at 16,730 students, with $233,580; Port Neches-Groves ISD's Mike Gonzales with $217,300 and West Orange-Cove CISD's Rickie Harris with $211,062. RELATED: Searchable database: Southeast Texas superintendent salaries Of the six counties fully contained within Region 5 -- Jefferson, Hardin, Orange, Jasper, Newton and Tyler -- Orange County's five school district superintendents have the highest average base salary at $183,837. In fact, four of those five superintendents rank in the top 10 highest-paid in the region, including Harris, Vidor ISD's Jay Killgo, Bridge City's Mike Kelly and Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD's Stacey Brister, who each make at least $180,000. There are just under 15,300 students in Orange County districts. Hardin County's five school district superintendents have the second-highest average base salary at $170,212. The county's lowest-enrolled district, West Hardin County CISD, which serves just over 550 students, has the highest-paid superintendent in the county with James Armstrong at $192,593. Armstrong has the seventh-highest superintendent salary in the region. The county's most populous district, Lumberton ISD, which has just under 4,200 students, has its second-lowest paid superintendent with Tony Tipton, who made $166,400. Jefferson County, which houses the most students of any county in Region 5 at just under 40,770, has the third-highest average superintendent base salary at $160,954. Of its nine school districts, three are open-enrollment charters. It is the only county in the region with charter schools. Four Jefferson County superintendents are ranked in the top 10 highest paid in the region, including Porterie, Allen, Gonzales and Nederland ISD's Stuart Kieschnick, who made $185,640. Newton County's three school district superintendents have the lowest average base salary and the fewest students at $113,333 and 1,745, respectively. Newton ISD's Michelle Barrow has the highest salary in the county at $131,000. Two superintendents in Region 5 make less than $100,000 at base salary. Deweyville ISD's LaJuan Addision makes $99,999 while Bob Hope Schools' Roberto Lopez makes $34,200. The districts serve 548 and 2,313 students, respectively. However, it should be noted that Addison's role as superintendent is full time, as opposed to Lopez, who reported to TEA that his full-time equivalent was 0.12 (1 being full time). "Full-time equivalent is the measure of the extent to which a person occupies a full-time position," TEA Senior Media Relations Coordinator Melissa Holmes told The Enterprise via email, adding that superintendents who report a full-time equivalent of less than 1 work in that role less than full time. "He or she may perform other duties that are attributed to a different role or responsibility," Holmes said. When Lopez's salary is calculated for its full-time equivalent, his base salary would be $285,000, according to TEA. "The superintendent's base pay is the actual amount they are paid in this role," Holmes said. "The calculated full (full-time equivalent) is the calculated base pay the person would make if working in the position full-time." Other superintendents who worked in their role less than full time were Paula Richardson of Tekoa Academy of Accelerated Studies STEM School; Dwaine Augustine of Hamshire-Fannett ISD; Richard Hyden of Evadale ISD; Scott Davis of Colmesneil ISD; and Tiffany Terrell-Spicer of Buna ISD. Two schools -- Harmony Science Academy and Evolution Academy Charter School -- while based within Region 5 in Beaumont, are head quartered outside of the region and therefore do not appear in the Region 5 superintendents listing. Harmony Public Schools-Houston West, which the Beaumont school falls under, is headquartered in Region 4 in Harris County. Harmony superintendent Faith Ay made a base salary of $226,948. Evolution Academy Charter School is headquartered in Region 10 in Dallas County. Superintendent Cynthia A. Trigg made a base salary of $188,390. Orangefield ISD Superintendent Shaun McAlpin's salary was misreported to TEA as $2,501. McAlpin corrected and confirmed his base salary of $136,581 to The Enterprise, as it appears in the database. A mother of five who was one of three who died in a tragic road traffic accident near Aughnacloy last week was described as someone who always gave a listening ear to those in need. The community of Glenock gathered on Sunday to bid farewell to Julia McSorley, one of the victims of the crash. The funeral mass took place in St Eugenes Church, Glenock, where Mrs McSorley had been a devoted parishioner for many years. The 75-year-old was remembered at her funeral as dynamic, joyful, helpful, selfless, smiling, kind, bubbly, happily putting everyone else before herself. Father Roland Colhoun spoke of how the grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of two loved life; how her goodness brought a smile to everybody she met. He also spoke of her maternal bond with all children and young people. Father Colhoun said: Julia was generous all the time, with her time, her possessions, to strangers and especially if it was a person who was in any kind of need. A maternal woman, young people gravitated toward Julia. She gave a listening ear to every person in need. Everyone felt understood and consoled. She treated her childrens friends as if they were her own children. Any one of them could walk into her home at any time and make themselves a cup of tea. They could ring her day or night to drive them or collect them in her car. If anyone asked, Julia said yes she didnt know the word no. Hundreds attend Strabane vigil for three family members killed in Co Tyrone road collision Father Colhoun continued the touching tribute, referring to Mrs McSorley as one in a million and stating that, although she didnt have an easy life, the pain she suffered never took away her kindness. He said: Julia didnt have an easy life. She buried many family members of all ages; battled cancer for years and recovered. But no pain could take away her kindness. Julia never entertained bitterness, just forgiveness. Julia never wanted to be first. But in many ways she was number one: she was described at her wake as one in a million; number one in the hearts of her family; her door number is also number one. Our hope at her funeral is that God embraces her good soul as the status of number one today. Father Colhoun then went on to say that Mrs McSorley was an outstanding person who devoted her life to her faith, attending pilgrimages and being present at mass regularly each week. Julia lived for God and for the family of God. Julia kept her holy water font filled and instructed family members and visitors to bless themselves each time they left her house. No words that you or I could say would do justice to this outstanding person. She loved hymns and she had a beautiful voice for speaking and singing. I will miss her angelic voice when I walk down the aisle today, because she always joined in the hymns, singing like an angel every Sunday morning. Father Colhoun remarked that Sundays held great significance in Julias life. She was born, baptised and confirmed on a Sunday. He felt it was fitting that her Requiem Mass also took place on a Sunday, in the same church where she started her spiritual journey, prayed regularly and persevered constantly. A representative of President Michael D Higgins, Colonel Stephen Howard, attended the funeral and paid his respects to the family during the ceremony, shaking their hands as a gesture of sympathy. Mrs McSorley was laid to rest in the adjoining cemetery. The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, when the minivan in which Mrs McSorley was travelling collided with a lorry near Aughnacloy. She and the other passengers were returning home from a family funeral in Corby, England, when the accident took place. Father Colhoun said that the loss of Mrs McSorley, the death side by side with her niece and nephew, and the hospitalisation of four has left the community engulfed in grief. He expressed gratitude for the courage and dedication of the first responders who attended the harrowing scene. We include in our prayers for Mass today Colette and Ina, who are still in hospital, and William and Anne Marie, who have been discharged, he said. The funeral of siblings Dan (54) and Christine McKane (49) will take place on Monday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Strabane. Women cry next to a memorial for the victims who died during Fridays Russian attack on a residential building in Uman, central Ukraine (Bernat Armangue/AP) Bernat Armangue Relatives and friends cried next to coffins as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on a central Ukrainian city, while fighting claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, six, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 12-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sundays funeral, while others paid respects to an 18-year-old boy. Mykhayl Shulha, centre, cries next to the coffin of his sister Sofia Shulha during a funeral prayer in Uman, central Ukraine (Bernat Armangue/AP) Bernat Armangue The priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear said the deaths hit the entire community hard. I live nearby, said Father Fyodor Botsu. I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptised them in this church. Im worried with everyone since I have children and Im a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years. He said he prayed that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russias 14-month-long war brought more deaths elsewhere on Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine (Libkos/AP) Libkos The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, nine kilometres (six miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defence systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighbouring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also on Sunday, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counter-offensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the counter-offensive would not wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. A Ukrainian soldier fires an RPG towards Russian positions at the front line near Avdiivka, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region of Ukraine (Libkos/AP) Libkos I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised, Mr Zelensky told Finnish, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian journalists. But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counter-offensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive western fighter jets, but Mr Zelensky said his forces will not delay the counter-offensive for that, so as not to reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Mr Zelensky said he spoke on Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Mr Macrons office said he reiterated Frances commitment to provide Ukraine with all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of Russias Wagner mercenary group that is leading his countrys battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counter-offensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counter-offensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted on Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraines northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. On March 4, 1937, Irelands high commissioner in London visited Buckingham Palace to see King George VI, then not yet three months into a reign that would later be dominated by World War II. Scappaticci, Sinn Fein and a shameful story of damage limitation How republican movement wheeled out big hitters and used its media might to bury scandal over super-spy in the ranks Freddie Scappaticci Suzanne Breen Sun 30 Apr 2023 at 08:45 Foreign office tells MP his query wont be followed up The Foreign Office has told a DUP MP it has no intention of asking the US authorities why President Joe Biden did not fly the Union flag from his official car while in Belfast. The president has been accused by some, including Baroness Foster, of snubbing the UK by not flying the flag on his car in Northern Ireland earlier this month. When the presidential limousine, dubbed the Beast, crossed the border for his visit to the Republic, the Irish tricolour was flown on the left hand side of the car. During his brief time in Northern Ireland for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the flags flown on the presidential limousine were the Stars and Stripes and the presidential standard. President Biden at Ulster University That prompted ex-DUP leader Lady Foster to tell the GB News channel: I hope its not the case that he does not recognise Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom, which is, of course, part of the Good Friday Agreement. I think that his administration should be asked. It would be very interesting to hear what the administration has to say. Baroness Foster Former Conservative Party leaser Sir Iain Duncan Smith also hit out at the choice of flags on the presidential car. Mr Duncan said: The government should have insisted that he fly the Union flag in Belfast whether he likes it or not. This was followed by a House of Commons question by Gregory Campbell, DUP MP for East Londonderry, to Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, asking: If he [Mr Cleverly] will have discussions with his US counterpart on protocols for the flying of hosting nations flags on the motor vehicle of the president of that country when visiting the UK; and whether he has made an assessment of whether the UK flag was flown from that presidents car when he visited Belfast in April 2023. Replying to Mr Campbells question, Foreign Office minister David Rutley said: There are no plans to discuss protocols for flying flags on the presidents vehicle with the US, including in relation to the presidents recent visit to Northern Ireland. The choice of which flags to fly on US official vehicles would be a matter for the US authorities. 'The Beast' in Belfast Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Sunday Life tried to contact Mr Campbell for comment on the response, but he could not be reached. Though he was accused of displaying an anti-British sentiment, Mr Biden spoke fondly of both his Irish and English heritage during his speech at the new Ulster University campus in Belfast, and of the importance of the Ulster-Scots people in the founding of the United States. He said his middle name, Robinette, was from French Huguenot ancestors who settled in Nottingham. When Barack Obama visited Belfast in 2013, his vehicle was pictured flying the Union flag, alongside that of the United States. George Bush flew the same standards during his visit here in 2008. However, when Bill Clinton made his landmark visit to Belfast in 1995, during which he met Gerry Adams on the Falls Road, his limousine also only flew the Stars and Stripes alongside the presidential standard. Primary principal looks back on winning our education gong Its your last chance to nominate the heroes you feel deserve to be recognised at the Sunday Life Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards, in association with Ulster Bank. Hundreds of readers have already been in touch to tell us about remarkable people and heart-warming feats of kindness sure to pose a predicament for the judging panel. Our judges have the unenviable task of sifting through a flood of nominations detailing all sorts of groups and individuals achieving truly extraordinary things. People such as Hilary Cunningham, who won last years Spirit of Education award and whose outstanding work as a primary school principal has had an impact that goes far beyond the school gates and into the heart of the community. She and her colleagues care and devotion to the children they look after not only makes a vital difference to their lives but to their families as well. Hilary with Lucy Dorrall and Christine Lampard Ms Cunningham is the principal of Fane Street Primary in south Belfast, which has unique classroom make-ups and challenges that set it apart from other schools. On the edge of the Village, an area of deprivation and educational under-achievement, Fane Street Primary serves not only the local community but the children of the many refugees that call the area home. Last Septembers ceremony was a night to remember for Ms Cunningham and all our other winners. She is now encouraging people to get their nominations in for this years show before its too late. Its lovely to get that recognition for something that youre doing, particularly in what we do, because a lot of the families are moved on quite quickly, she told Sunday Life. You dont really see the rewards of your work, so its lovely that somebody actually comes along and says, Yep, youre doing a good job here. It was also great to meet all the other winners and people from different walks of life because we tend to be quite insular in education and talk to each other a lot. In addition to educational challenges, Fane Street Primary deals with poverty, malnutrition, domestic and sexual violence, arrested development and displacement anxiety. Ms Cunningham explained: Some 86% of our children are from other countries. Were very unusual for Northern Ireland. We have 44 different languages at the last count, so there is the challenge of that as well. Were very lucky that we can use translators. Its kind of forming what we like to call a Fane Street family, rather than a school. Its a hard station, but nobodys here who doesnt want to be here to help and support our families. We all pull together and support each other. We have a diverse community in our school and quite a lot of children have been through very difficult situations, so we would look at the trauma that theyve experienced. Its making sure that children are getting their basics that theyre fed and getting heat and light. I do anticipate this is going to be a big issue for us this year. We make foodbank referrals to Storehouse, and we try to build up our own stores in school so that if somebody comes to us in need, we can help. Its helping the families with the basics, as well as education. If we dont meet the childrens basic needs, then we cant educate. Its kind of a two-pronged approach at our school, in that we are trying to help whole families rather than just the children. Every child gets a school jumper. We also have a free breakfast club that we use within the school where children who cannot afford breakfast can get fed in school. We never, ever let a child go hungry. We make sure every child who needs a meal will get a meal, should I have to pay for that myself. I think the award is not just for me, its for everybody in the school. Its for the children, its for the staff, its for the whole Fane Street family. Hilary in her school Ms Cunningham was presented with her award by TV presenter Christine Lampard and Lucy Dorrall of last years category sponsors iPro Hydrate at our gala ceremony. She was also given a special on-screen message from former world champion boxer Carl Frampton, who she taught as a boy when he was growing up in Tigers Bay. Ms Cunningham said: That was such a lovely surprise, and I was completely starstruck by all the celebrities who were present. I love Emmerdale and I had my photograph taken with all of them. It was great. The Spirit of Education award recognises an inspirational teacher who has helped children and young people fulfil their potential. This years sponsor is the Public Health Agency, which paid tribute to six-year-old Daithi Mac Gabhann, whose touching story saw him given a Special Recognition honour at last years awards. The brave west Belfast youngster, who needs a new heart, and his family campaigned to reform organ donation legislation. The new law, known as Daithis Law, means people will automatically become organ donors with an opt-out rather than opt-in system, which could save hundreds of lives each year. Public Health Agency chief executive Aidan Dawson said: Our purpose is to protect and improve the health and social wellbeing of our population and reduce health inequalities through strong partnerships with individuals, communities and other key public, private and voluntary organisations. One of our key areas of work is the promotion of organ donation to raise awareness of the gift of life which it can provide. We welcome the new organ donation legislation , which will come into effect on June 1 to help save more lives. Daithis Law will mean that unless they opt out, all adults will be considered a potential organ donor when they die. It was fantastic to see young Daithi win the Special Recognition award last year for all the work he and his family have done in campaigning for the law change and in promoting organ donation. The Public Health Agency recognises the importance of young people in championing topics such as organ donation and other health promotion messaging. We often work with dedicated and enthusiastic teachers to help engage with our young people, and this is why supporting the education category is important. If you know of a truly inspirational teacher who has helped children and young people fulfil their potential, we would encourage you to submit a nomination. This years ceremony, set to be hosted by UTVs Pamela Ballantine and Q Radio presenter Ibe Sesay, will be held at the Culloden Resort and Spa in Cultra on June 30. The deadline for nominations is midnight tonight, and the process for putting someone forward is simple. Just email your nomination to spiritofniawards@sundaylife.co.uk with an explanation of why you think they deserve to be recognised. Pamela Ballantine and Ibe Sesay launching this year's awards The categories Unsung Hero: Someone whose great deed or deeds have previously gone unnoticed but who will have made a major contribution to your life or to your community Overcoming Adversity: Someone who has overcome huge personal challenges, whether it is dealing with illness or disability or overcoming problems Spirit of Youth: Someone under the age of 18 who should be recognised for their special achievements 999 Hero: A member of the emergency services who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their job Charity Champion: Someone who has worked tirelessly for a charity or as a fundraiser for many years Spirit of Health: A medical professional who has gone the extra mile to improve the health and wellbeing of their patients Spirit of Education: This award recognises a truly inspirational teacher who has helped children and young people fulfil their potential Caring Spirit: A person, young or old, who has dedicated their time to caring for a friend or family member Spirit of Sport: Someone who has made an exceptional contribution to local sport over a number of years Environmental Hero: Seeks to recognise an individual or community group which has gone the extra mile to care for and protect the local environment for future generations A woman who disrupted a Christmas Eve Mass last year by shouting obscenities at a priest has been banned from going near the church. At Enniskillen Magistrates Court last week, Naomi Wilson (30) was given a two-year restraining order over the incident and prohibited from going within 100 metres of St Michaels Church in the town. She also received a two-month prison sentence, with time already served, and was ordered to pay 200 in compensation to a police officer for assault. Wilson had earlier been convicted in her absence of disorderly behaviour. Court hearings were told police received a report of an aggressive female shouting obscenities at a priest at the church. Wilson, of Coleshill Park, Enniskillen, was arrested and made admissions during police interviews. She was bailed until a court appearance last month that she failed to attend. Following her conviction, an arrest warrant was issued. After she was arrested on March 24, the police had to assist Wilson with a change of clothing inside Omagh custody suite. A hoodie she was wearing had to be changed, and she entered a cell to swap her clothes while a female officer stood at the door. However, Wilson bolted for the door and shoved the officer, causing her to fall before running off. She was quickly caught, restrained and received a caution, the court heard. Her solicitor, Saamas MacGiollaCheara, said in relation to this incident that the then unrepresented Wilson was unaware of the reason for her arrest, causing her to become confused and lash out. He added she was not a woman familiar with the criminal justice system and did not expect her to trouble the court again. Mr MacGiollaCheara said that due to Wilson being in custody for the last month, she had waived her right to a pre-sentence report. Deputy District Judge Liam McStay also convicted Wilson of assault on police on top of the disorderly behaviour conviction. The OpenAI logo is seen on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen which displays the ChatGPT home Screen, on March 17, 2023, in Boston. AP-Yonhap The European Union is likely to reach a political agreement this year that will pave the way for the world's first major artificial intelligence (AI) law, the bloc's tech regulation chief Margrethe Vestager said on Sunday. This follows a preliminary deal reached on Thursday by members of the European Parliament to push through the draft of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act to a vote on May 11. Parliament will then thrash out the bill's final details with EU member states and the European Commission before it becomes law. At a press conference after a Group of Seven digital ministers' meeting in Takasaki, Japan, Vestager said the EU AI Act was "pro-innovation" since it seeks to mitigate the risks of societal damage from emerging technologies. Regulators around the world have been trying to find a balance where governments could develop "guardrails" on emerging artificial intelligence technology without stifling innovation. "The reason why we have these guardrails for high-risk use cases is that cleaning up after a misuse by AI would be so much more expensive and damaging than the use case of AI in itself," Vestager said. While the EU AI Act is expected to be passed by this year, lawyers have said it will take a few years for it to be enforced. But Vestager said businesses could start considering the implication of the new legislation. "There was no reason to hesitate and to wait for the legislation to be passed to accelerate the necessary discussions to provide the changes in all the systems where AI will have an enormous influence," she told Reuters in an interview. While research on AI has been going on for years, the sudden popularity of generative AI applications such as OpenAI'S ChatGPT and Midjourney have led to a scramble by lawmakers to find ways to regulate any uncontrolled growth. An organization backed by Elon Musk and European lawmakers involved in drafting the EU AI Act are among those to have called for world leaders to collaborate to find ways to stop advanced AI from creating disruptions. Digital ministers of the G7 advanced nations on Sunday also agreed to adopt "risk-based" regulation on AI, among the first steps that could lead to global agreements on how to regulate AI. "It is important that our democracy paved the way and put in place the rules to protect us from its abusive manipulation AI should be useful but it shouldn't be manipulating us," said German Transport Minister Volker Wissing. This year's G7 meeting was also attended by representatives from Indonesia, India and Ukraine. (Reuters) A recent state ruling would require the business to maintain an access driveway from New Lenox Road for safety reasons, but neighboring condo groups are voicing concern about the impact on traffic and property values. A ferry transports 1,900 evacuees across the Red Sea from Port Sudan to the Saudi King Faisal Navy Base in Jeddah, April 29, during evacuations of people fleeing Sudan. AFP-Yonhap Warplanes on bombing raids drew heavy anti-aircraft fire over Khartoum, Saturday as fierce fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitaries entered a third week, violating a renewed truce. More than 500 people have been killed since battles erupted April 15 between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). "There is no right to go on fighting for power when the country is falling apart," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Al Arabiya television. Burhan and Daglo have agreed to multiple truces since the war began, but none has effectively taken hold as the number of dead civilians continues to rise, thousands flee the country and those without the means to escape face an increasing struggle to survive. The latest three-day ceasefire is due to expire at midnight Sunday (local time). It was agreed Thursday after mediation led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the United Nations. Dozens more have died over the past week since the United States announced that the warring sides had agreed to an initial truce, April 24. "We woke up once again to the sound of fighter jets and anti-aircraft weapons blasting all over our neighborhood," a witness in southern Khartoum told AFP. Another witness said fighting had continued since the early morning, especially around the state broadcaster's headquarters in the capital's twin city of Omdurman. Residents across Khartoum home to 5 million people have largely sheltered at home despite supplies of food and water dwindling to dangerously low levels, and a lack of electricity. Some managed to sneak out only during brief lulls in fighting to buy desperately needed supplies. European, Asian and African nationals prepare to board a ship to Saudi Arabia, at Port Sudan, April 28. Reuters-Yonhap Tonight's rundown: Talking Points Memo: Joe Biden continues to decline with the world watching and remains out of the press reach Presidential Historian Larry Cook weighs in on how Bidens relationship with the press compares to past presidents US Special Forces have been confirmed to be in Ukraine OReilly describes Democrats hosting the DNC in Chicago as Crazy Arrogant The trial of Fox News gets underway 58% of Americans are now living paycheck to paycheck even as inflation begins to cool off Smart Life: Utilizing Kelly Blue Book when searching for a new car This Day in History: FDR dies in office Final Thought: what to do when someone is disrespectful to you In Case You Missed It: Read Bill's latest column, "Reason to Believe" Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com! Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A further 89 Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Sudan, bringing the total Irish evacuees to 209, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said. The majority of Irish citizens evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on UK flights into Cyprus, the department said. The UK Government had said its final flight departed from Wadi Saeedna airfield late on Saturday night. It comes as a ceasefire in the conflict-stricken north African country appeared to falter, with residents reporting heavy explosions and gunfire breaking out again in the capital Khartoum despite the extension of the armistice between the countrys two warring generals. Hundreds of people have died in the bloody conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Micheal Martin, the Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister, said Irelands Emergency Civil Assistance Team (Ecat) operation in Cyprus and Djibouti is now to be withdrawn. Advertisement An update on the situation in #Sudan Read: https://t.co/J21gYNP5k9 Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 30, 2023 The mission, named Operation Piccolo, has involved Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials being stationed in the countries with the aim of assisting in the evacuation. Ireland has also received help from France and Spain to airlift Irish citizens, residents and visa holders to safety. Members of the Defence Forces Special Operations Forces unit and the Army Ranger Wing supported the operation. On deployment, the team secured the DFA personnel on the ground, liaised with key actors in the airport and assisted DFA in the processing and evacuation of identified Irish citizens/dependents, the Defence Forces said in a statement. The team were also on standby to provide medical assistance if required. The evacuation at Wadi Saeedna Air Base in Khartoum (Ministry of Defence/PA) Ireland will now maintain an enhanced multi-location consular presence for citizens who remain in Sudan operating from Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa. The department said embassies remain in close contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance. I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response, Mr Martin said. Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time. Advertisement World Government agrees to include NHS doctors on flight... Read More Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves. I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission, the Tanaiste added. Citizens have been urged to follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice. The brother of an Irish man killed fighting in Ukraine has paid tribute to his clear-eyed bravery and said he was against all forms of imperialism be it US, British or Russian. Finbar Cafferkey, who was in his 40s, was killed while battling Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, his family confirmed on Thursday. He was a military volunteer with previous combat experience in Syria where he assisted Kurdish militia in their battle against ISIS. He had recently travelled to Ukraine to assist local forces there. Tributes to Mr Cafferkey from the Tanaiste prompted a warning from the Russian embassy in Ireland and then further calls to expel the Russian ambassador from the country. In a statement, Mr Cafferkey's brother Colm paid tribute to a man who was always fair minded, strong willed and unafraid. Advertisement [Finbar] stood against all forms of imperialism, be it US, British, or Russian and was strongly opposed to Irelands support of US troops and any moves toward joining NATO, he said. He was in Ukraine to help the Ukranian people, as he would have helped any person in the world who was under attack. I loved him and always admired his clear eyed bravery. In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Governments position is crystal clear and its support for Ukraine is unwavering. The department said it would be maintaining its current diplomatic relationship with Russia but also hit out at Russian disinformation. It came after a chilling statement from the Russian Embassy in Ireland on Friday evening, which warned Ireland will suffer all consequences if Irish citizens are encouraged to fight in Ukraine. The same will happen if Russia considers Ireland a direct participant in the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement from the embassy posted on social media. This statement appeared to have been prompted by comments made by Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin about the late Mr Cafferkey. Mr Martin had said: My deepest sympathies to the Cafferky family on the sad passing of Finbar. Advertisement He obviously was a young man of clear principles. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the family today. I think the family have asked for privacy, Im not going to comment any further on it at this particular time. Ill allow the family space to grieve what is a very, very sad loss for them. In a statement on Friday evening, the Russian embassy hit out at the Tanaistes remarks. It said: We have noted that on April 28, (the) Tanaiste expressed his sympathies to the family of Finbar Cafferkey. Mr Martin called him obviously a young man of clear principles. We do not know what his principles were. What we do know, though, is that in a very big way it is the Irish Government and media who bear responsibility for the death of Finbar Cafferkey. The statement also claimed the Government and media have been misleading people like Finbar Cafferkey. Ireland Total of 209 Irish citizens and dependents evacuat... Read More It added: We do not know if Mr Martins remarks signify support for the Irish to take part in combat in Ukraine. But we do know that if that is the case, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences. Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is among those to criticise the statement, describing it as threatening, intimidating, and chilling and called for ambassador Yuri Filatov to be expelled. Prisoners serving sentences for homicide offences, weapons and explosives offences, and attempts or threats to murder are among those being granted temporary release by the Irish Prison Service. The prison system is grappling with severe overcrowding with anywhere between 350 and 380 inmates being given early release from their sentence over the past two months. A snapshot of temporary release from a single day reveals more than 20 per cent let out were women despite females making up less than five per cent of the prison population. There were also two male prisoners convicted of homicide offences freed from jail, both of them serving sentences of between five and ten years. One of them was serving time in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin while the other was doing their sentence in Castlerea Prison in Co Roscommon. Advertisement Eight people convicted of weapons or explosives offences were also granted temporary release as were 62 people serving sentences for controlled drug offences. There were eight out free from jail, who had been convicted of crimes relating to government, justice, or organised crime according to Irish Prison Service figures. 34 were on temporary release following convictions for attempts or threats to murder, while seventeen were released who were serving time for fraud, deception, or related offences. There was a single prisoner given release who had been convicted of kidnapping or related offences, and two inmates with convictions for robbery, extortion, or hijacking. The largest number of individuals on temporary release (TR) were serving sentences for road and traffic offences, with 85 such offenders on TR. There were also sixteen temporarily set free from convictions for burglary or related offences, twenty from public order and social code offences, and twelve for dangerous and negligent acts. The detailed headcount from 31 March shows that 358 prisoners were on temporary release that day, made up of 283 male offenders and 75 female prisoners. Numbers on temporary release have steadily risen since with 389 prisoners on release last Friday, the most recent day for which data is available. The March 31 headcount also shows that the majority of those given release are serving shorter sentences with 222 of them due to serve less than a year in jail. Advertisement There were 59 people with sentences of between one and two years, 36 with jail terms of two to three years, and 25 serving between three and five years. The Irish Prison Service said there were sixteen people with sentences of between five and ten years on temporary release, around half of them who were in jail for drugs offences. The highest number of prisoners were on release from Mountjoy in Dublin with 82, followed by Cork Prison with 57. There were 51 female prisoners granted temporary release from the Dochas Centre in Dublin, and a further 24 from the womens prison in Limerick. Ireland Gardai facing a recruitment and retention crisis,... Read More There was just a single prisoner from Portlaoise high-security jail free and nobody serving a sentence for sex offences was granted temporary release on the day in question. In a statement, the Irish Prison Service said the power to direct temporary release was a statutory power that must be exercised in accordance with law. A spokeswoman said: In addition, relevant statutory restrictions on the granting of temporary release for minimum mandatory sentences for certain drugs, firearms and second or subsequent serious offences also need to be considered. Decisions in relation to temporary release are considered on a case by case basis and the safety of the public is paramount when those decisions are made. A son of Sinn Fein TD Aengus O Snodaigh has been accused of public order offences at a Dublin garda station and possessing stolen tools. Lorcan O Snodaigh, 25, appeared before Judge Marie Quirke at a weekend sitting of Dublin District Court following his arrest on Saturday morning. He was charged with breach of the peace at Store Street station in the city centre, not complying with a garda direction to desist from that behaviour and leave the vicinity in a peaceable or orderly manner, and possessing a stolen Milwaukee angle grinder and power drill on April 29th. Judge Quirke heard he had gone to the station over a bench warrant in a district court case about a disputed Luas fare fine. Mr O Snodaigh, of Aughavanagh Road, Crumlin, Dublin, told Judge Quirke he did not have a solicitor and added, No, I am okay when she advised that the court could appoint one. Advertisement Garda Darragh OGorman said the accused was arrested at 9.05 am and replied, You have zero grounds, in answer to the charges. The garda also said the accused had been offered a solicitor several times. Mr O Snodaigh explained he did not want one and I just want to walk out those doors; I am only here on a warrant. He said the warrant was from not having a Luas ticket, but he added, Im entitled to free travel. However, the judge noted there were also other charges. As for the power tools, he said, They [gardai] are saying stolen property. There is no victim. There was no objection to bail. Judge Quirke ordered the disclosure of prosecution evidence. She told Mr O Snodaigh to return to court in June on the public order and stolen property charges and in May for the Luas fare matter, adding, You are free to leave. His father, Aengus O Snodaigh, a Sinn Fein TD for the Dublin South-Central constituency, is the party spokesperson on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht TDs across the political spectrum have criticised a statement from the Russian ambassador issued in response to the death of an Irishman fighting in Ukraine. But despite the Irish Government stating that its support for Ukraine was unwavering, and that Russian disinformation would have no impact on this, it said that diplomatic channels between the two nations should remain open. Finbar Cafferkey, from Achill Island in Co Mayo, was killed while serving as a military volunteer in the eastern part of Ukraine. Tanaiste Micheal Martin paid tribute to Mr Cafferkey as obviously a young man of clear principles, which prompted the Russian embassy in Ireland to question that statement. It claimed that the Irish government and media bear responsibility for his death by promoting anti-Russian propaganda and distorting the truth about the conflict in Ukraine, misleading people like Finbar Cafferkey. Advertisement The embassy said that if Mr Martin was encouraging Irish citizens to take part in the war in Ukraine, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences. A few words about my brother Finbar Cafferkey pic.twitter.com/qh8boTeJfL Colm MacEachmharcaigh (@colmcaff1) April 29, 2023 Following the statement, Mr Cafferkeys brother Colm described him as always fair-minded, strong-willed and unafraid. He stood against all forms of imperialism, be it US, British or Russian, and was strongly opposed to Irelands support of US troops and any moves towards joining Nato, he said in a statement on Saturday. He was in Ukraine to help the Ukrainian people, as he would have helped any person in the world who was under attack. I loved him and always admired his clear-eyed bravery. In response to the suggestion that the Russian ambassador should be expelled, Minister of State Mary Butler said that despite the outrage that people feel, Ireland needed to think of the bigger picture, which was offering consular assistance to Irish citizens. Speaking on RTEs The Week In Politics, she said that the Russian embassys statement must be difficult for the family, who had asked for privacy while they grieve. Advertisement People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said he knew Mr Cafferkey from the Shell To Sea campaign in Rossport, which opposed the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Co Mayo. When I heard the things that he had done after I knew him, it confirmed that this was a quietly courageous man who didnt look for any plaudits, went to help refugees in Greece, the victims of Fortress Europe; went to Rojava (in Syria) to fight with the Kurds against Isis; and then made the decision to go to Ukraine and to fight against Russian imperialism. He added: I think the Russian ambassadors statement was really disgusting, intervening into a family tragedy. Sinn Fein TD Louise OReilly said the Russian embassys statement was vile, and underlined the reasons for the ambassadors expulsion from the country, while Independent TD Thomas Pringle said that the statement was an absolute disgrace. It comes after former justice minister Charlie Flanagan called the statement threatening, intimidating and chilling, and said that the Russian ambassador Yury Filatov should be expelled from Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement over the weekend that Irelands position on Russias brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine was clear. Advertisement Ukraine has a right to defend this attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, it said. Ireland Family of Irish man killed in Ukraine pays tribute... Read More Irelands support for Ukraine is unwavering. Russian disinformation will have no impact on this. But it added: The Governments view is that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open. This is in the interests of our own citizens, both in Russia itself and in the five central Asian republics to which Ireland is accredited via our embassy in Moscow. Sudans army and its rival paramilitary said on Sunday they will extend a humanitarian ceasefire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes. In statements, both sides accused the other of violations. The agreement has de-escalated the fighting in some areas but violence continues to push civilians to flee. Aid groups have also struggled to get badly needed supplies into the country. The conflict erupted on April 15 between the nations army and its paramilitary force, and threatens to thrust Sudan into a raging civil war. Earlier on Sunday, an aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical aid landed in Sudan to resupply hospitals devastated by the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organised the shipment. Advertisement It arrived as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors association has said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. Smoke is seen over Khartoum as fighting rages (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) The supplies, including anaesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict, the ICRC said. The aircraft took off earlier in the day from Jordan and safely landed in the city of Port Sudan, it said. The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital of Khartoum and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said on Sunday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum. The fighting pits the army chief, general Abdel Fattah Burhan, against general Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Advertisement The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudans fitful transition to democracy, but they have since turned on each other. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. On Sunday, fighting continued in different parts of the capital where residents hiding in their homes reported hearing artillery fire. There have been lulls in fighting, but never a fully observed ceasefire, despite repeated attempts by international mediators. Over the weekend, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning in some areas of Khartoum as the scale of fighting dwindled after yet another shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Mr Youssef, the ICRC official, said the agency has been in contact with the top command of both sides to ensure that medical assistance could reach hospitals safely. With this news today, we are really hoping that this becomes part of a steady coordination mechanism to allow other flights to come in, he said. Advertisement Mr Youssef said more medical aid was ready to be flown into Khartoum pending necessary clearances and security guarantees. Sudans healthcare system is near collapse with dozens of hospitals out of service. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and evacuated employees. On Sunday, a US warship also arrived to Port Sudan to evacuate more American citizens, according to footage from the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV channel. Most of the estimated 16,000 Americans believed to be in Sudan right now are dual US-Sudanese nationals. The defence department said in a statement on Saturday it was moving naval assets toward Sudans coast to support further evacuations. Liz Truss is contesting a British government bill relating to her use of the grace-and-favour country house she had access to as foreign secretary. The former British prime minister has been asked to pay about 12,000 for costs incurred while she spent time at the Chevening estate, the Mail on Sunday reported. The invoice covers the period last summer when she was preparing for her short-lived premiership and is understood to have been received by Ms Truss several weeks ago. Chevening, a 115-room country retreat in Kent, was left to the nation by the 7th Earl Stanhope after his death in 1967 and has traditionally been used by the foreign secretary of the day. The PA news agency has been told Ms Truss is happy to replace any items said to be missing from the estate, reported to include bathrobes and slippers. Advertisement But the former prime minister maintains the vast majority of the invoice relates to official government business, for which she should not be liable, rather than personal expenses. A spokesman for Ms Truss said: Liz always paid for the costs of her personal guests at Chevening. The latest invoice contains a mixture of costs for her personally and costs for official government business with civil servants including (Cabinet Secretary) Simon Case and senior officials from other departments who met at Chevening during the transition preparations. Entertainment Labour would clean up politics and have independe... Read More The latter constitutes the majority of the bill. It would be inappropriate for her to pay the costs for officials as it would have breached the Civil Service Code for civil servants to accept hospitality during the leadership campaign. She has therefore asked for this to be billed separately. A Government spokesperson said: Costs and funding relating to Chevening House are a matter for the Chevening Trust. Where appropriate, we work closely with them to ensure costs incurred are allocated accordingly. Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for an end to Russias war in Ukraine and for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and the famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of his three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of neighbouring Ukraine. Citing local organisers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people participated at the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Tens of thousands gathered in the square for the Popes arrival. Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP. Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Advertisement Francis has expressed appreciation to Hungary for recently welcoming Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Mr Orbans hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-16 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. In his homily on Sunday, Francis urged Hungary and Europe to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, he said. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor. After the Mass, Francis had a final event in Budapest before returning to Rome a speech on European culture at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. The 86-year-old has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end the war, expressing solidarity with Ukraine while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. The Mass took place in Kossuth Lajos Square in the capital Budapest. Photo: Tibor Illyes/MTI/AP. On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Advertisement Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Vaticans embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as Kirills long-time foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Franciss Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungarys other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Franciss visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as he has been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Mr Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularising Western world. The faithful waved and cheered as Francis passed by. Photo: Andrew Medichini/AP. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass could not have been more appropriate for that message: The sprawling square is named after one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. Advertisement It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Later, at his final event in Hungary, Francis warned against the dangers of technology dominating human life during a speech at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. World Emergency medical aid supplies reach Sudan as figh... Read More Speaking broadly about Europes future, Francis said culture and scholarship forged by universities were the antidote to a future dictated by technology. The university, he said, is a temple where knowledge is set free from the constraints of accumulating and possessing and can thus become culture, he said. Such a culture, he said, cultivates our humanity and its foundational relationships: with the transcendent, with society, with history and with creation. Tens of thousands of Hungarians flocked to Budapests main square for Pope Franciss final Mass, gathering on the banks of the Danube as the pontiff wrapped up a weekend visit to the heart of Europe with pleas for a peaceful end to Russias war next door. The Mass on Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian parliament and Budapests famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop, provided the visual highlight of Franciss three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of neighbouring Ukraine. Citing local organisers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people participated at the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Tens of thousands gathered in the square for the Popes arrival (Andrew Medichini/AP) Advertisement Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. After the Mass, Francis has a final event in Budapest before returning to Rome a speech on European culture at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. The 86-year-old has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end the war, expressing solidarity with Ukraine while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. The Mass took place in Kossuth Lajos Square in the capital Budapest (Tibor Illyes/MTI/AP) On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Vaticans embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as Kirills long-time foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Franciss visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as he has been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Mr Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularising Western world. Advertisement The faithful waved and cheered as Francis passed by (Andrew Medichini/AP) Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass could not have been more appropriate for that message: The sprawling square is named after one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Sunday's front pages focus on a range of stories from a Red C Poll showing just one in three think Sinn Fein can solve the housing crisis to the firm at the centre of a row over fees for Pascal Donohoe election posters getting 68 million from the State. The Business Post lead with their Red C Poll which found just one in three trust Sinn Fein to solve the housing crisis. Our front page today. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/LyVcHklEWC for these stories plus: Politicians in fight with The Ditch Workhuman hosts cruise for some staff while others face redundancy TCD refuses release of recording pic.twitter.com/ZY4y39fpOZ Business Post (@businessposthq) April 30, 2023 The Sunday Independent reports that the firm who was paid to put up election posters for Paschal Donohoe have got 68 million worth of State contracts. Advertisement Sindo P1 - Michael Stone firm in Donohoe posters controversy got 68m in State contracts - Maeve Sheehan, Gene Kerrigan & Shane Ross on the Government v The Ditch/Paddy Cosgrave. Must-read stuff - Paul Kimmage & Joe Brolly hit hard in Sport - Great interviews - And lots more pic.twitter.com/QWBIv9364K Alan English (@AlanEnglish9) April 29, 2023 The Irish Mail on Sunday lead with a piece from the family of the Mayo man Finbar Cafferkey, who was killed in Ukraine. In todays paper: - Family of Irishman killed in Ukraine reject Russian Ambassador's claims - Gardai keep secret watch over crime boss Gerry Hutch - FG fear being left without sitting TD in half the countrys constituencies And lots more pic.twitter.com/vkXTRFymZr Irish Mail on Sunday (@IrishMailSunday) April 29, 2023 The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Times - subscribe here Subscribe: https://t.co/khOQ8Zq1f1 pic.twitter.com/HtC9GI5ITc The Sunday Times Ireland (@ST__Ireland) April 29, 2023 In the UK, the coronation dominates the front pages of Sundays newspapers as full details of Saturdays ceremony are revealed. The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday both concentrate on the homage to the King, with people watching at home urged to play their part in proceedings. Advertisement SUNDAY TIMES: Archbishop will ask millions to pledge allegiance to their King #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/4dDiKSzQmd Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 29, 2023 MAIL ON SUNDAY: We are ALL invited to swear our allegiance to the king #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/z10TbD5OdR Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 29, 2023 The Sunday People also focuses on the homage, saying the nation will join chant for Charles. PEOPLE: Nation to join chant for Charles #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/X2dggzcmoT Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 29, 2023 The homage also features in the Sunday Express, but it leads on the Kings pledge to serve the people during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. And while The Sun on Sunday touches on the homage, it concentrates on the Duke of Sussexs rapid return home to the US for his son Archies birthday after the coronation. On tomorrow's front page: Inside Prince Harrys whistlestop coronation visit as he plans to be on jet back to US within two hours of ceremonys endhttps://t.co/YSpamxnQK4 pic.twitter.com/KrgfZy76X6 Advertisement The Sun (@TheSun) April 29, 2023 The Sunday Mirror steers away from the details of the ceremony to focus on the rising cost of the coronation due to the security operation. Politics edges out royal events on the fronts of several newspapers The Sunday Telegraph leading on an interview with potential US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis backing Business Secretary Kemi Badenochs war on wokery. The front page of The Sunday Telegraph: 'DeSantis: I support Badenoch in her war on wokery'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/lc7NXW3S6x The Telegraph (@Telegraph) April 30, 2023 The Observer reports on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers bid to be bolder than previous prime minister Tony Blair on public service reform. Sunday's Observer: Starmer: I'll be bolder than Blair on public service reform #TomorrowsPapersToday #Observer pic.twitter.com/ldc9NW6znP Tomorrows Papers Today (@TmorrowsPapers) April 29, 2023 The Independent reveals the results of an investigation which pins the blame on pubs and clubs shutting down on Brexit. INDEPENDENT DIGITAL: Revealed: the great Brexit clubs and pubs shutdown #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/wcGW2iUKv6 Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) April 29, 2023 And the Daily Star on Sunday has an interview with comedian Bobby Davro about his fiancees cancer diagnosis. Welcome to Quick Q Monday Medias weekly Q&A series dedicated to finding out more about the personalities that matter most in the Australian media landscape. Every week The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age ask key figures across corporate media, business, sport, federal politics, radio, television and culture to answer questions about their lives, careers, hobbies and news habits. This weeks conversation is with Ian Collie, award-winning film and TV producer and founder of Easy Tiger Productions. His credits include Colin From Accounts, The Twelve, Rake, Jack Irish and the feature film Saving Mr Banks. TV producer Ian Collie. Credit: Easy Tiger Productions How did you get your big break? I was once a lawyer and fortunate to get a job at production company Hilton Cordell as their business affairs manager. Being the restless type, I kept pitching ideas until eventually one piqued their interest, an arts doc on Chunky Move Dance Company, which SBS commissioned. Potty mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay built his one-man brand as someone who doesnt shy away from a fight, but you have to wonder if he knew what he was getting into when he showed up at the Preston Market on Saturday. The TV performer was in the northern suburbs filming for his upcoming show Gordon Ramsays Food Stars, which he is making with reality TV serial appearer Janine Allis but the EndemolShine production crew soon found itself embroiled in some unscripted drama. Loading Long story short. The dispute over a proposed redevelopment of the much-loved market has descended into an ugly tit-for-tat, with the buildings owners and protesters publicly accusing each other of lies and false narratives. After Ramsay, Allis and the crew had packed up for the evening, Save the Preston Market activist Con Lambros took to the socials to say hed earlier been in the ear of one of the shows producers who had been shocked to hear of the false narratives being pushed by redevelopment proponents. In this section Logistics clusters over 600 hectares on the cards in Uttar Pradesh Trade body seeks fast-track desk for project clearance in Rajasthan Banking infra needs further strengthening in NorthEast: Bhagwat Karad Commerce Min urges export promotion council to meet targets set for FY23 EFTA, India aim at building on existing work: Helene Budliger Artieda Fifa World Cup: A migration story of players shooting beyond boundaries Six states report fewer formal jobs for youth in Sept qtr, shows EPFO data Social security, labour migration to top discussions at first L-20 meeting In 2020, Indians accounted for over 6 per cent of global emigrants Migration could be a major driver of economic growth amid ageing populations in high-income countries, according to the recently released World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies. Demographic changes in recent decades have meant that there are fewer working age people to support the social security needs of elderly populations in rich countries. Money earned by the working population helps support the expenses of those who have retired. There were seven working adults for every elderly person as of 1950 in high-income Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. This is expected to fall below two by 2050 (chart 1). Your browser does not support the audio element. To read the full story, subscribe to BS Premium now, at just Rs 249/ month. Key stories on business-standard.com are available only to BS Premium subscribers. Already a BS Premium subscriber?LOGIN NOW Register to read more on Business-Standard.com "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat is going global and hitting the century tomorrow. Don't forget to become witness to this historic airing as the PM directly connects with people all across the world," the party said. In a tweet from the party's official handle, the BJP tweeted the details of where one can watch the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. According to the Ministry of Education since 2018, at least 33 students have committed suicide across IITs. With another suicide at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), the focus for these prime engineering colleges is back on mental health, the Economic Times (ET) reported. To help students cope with the pressure of academic performance, depression, homesickness, stress and discrimination, the IITs are taking several measures like wellness sessions, awareness campaigns, psychological scale assessment platforms and tie-ups with external e-counselling services. There has been an increase in these suicide deaths at these IITs in the past few years and this has raised alarm for authorities as well as these colleges. The recent death of an IIT-Madras student by suicide on April 21 has again put the spotlight on the mental health challenges students face and has forced these colleges to take efforts in this direction. Here's a look at a few initiatives taken by colleges to deal with the challenges of mental health problems: IIT-Madras, which has already seen four student suicides this year, started a series of wellness sessions for its students recently. The programme was initiated with the support of the National Health Mission under the Tamil Nadu government's Department of Health and Family Welfare to spread awareness on mental health problems. Also Read Placement offers at IITs in 2023 may not be as high as last year: Report 3 IITians get Rs 4 crore-plus package on first day of placements: Report Day 1: IIT Guwahati bags highest foreign job offer of Rs 2.4 crore IITs likely to see less placement offers this year amid tech slump: Report IIT Madras launches electric racing car; mulls driverless vehicle by 2025 NCST launches probe into allegations of 'adverse' impact on local tribals ECL aims at more than double underground coal production of 20 mt by 2028 New York, New Jersey issue resolutions in honour of 100th Mann Ki Baat J-K Lt Governor flags off marathon to mark 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' DMRC remodels entry, exit points at Sarojini Nagar metro for greater ease The college is also hosting gatekeeper sessions for faculty and volunteers to identify students who are struggling to cope with stress and extend help to them. They are also working on expanding the counsellor network, the report said. IIT-Madras director V Kamakoti was quoted as saying that the college will carry out a wellness survey for the entire campus in the next academic session and the college is working with organisations, including Nimhans and National Health Authority (NHA). Aditya Mittal, dean of student affairs at IIT-Delhi, which runs multiple mentorship programmes, was also quoted in the report as saying that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to address mental health issues. Recently, the mental health of students was discussed at a recent IIT Council meeting in Bhubaneswar. The need to increase access to psychological counselling services, reduce pressure and reduce the fear of failure among students were primarily discussed at this meeting. IIT-Hyderabad runs a 'Sunshine buddy programme' to invite volunteers from the student body to be a buddy to support their peers from their department. IIT-D will be hosting a mentorship programme targeted at first-year students this year, a first since the Pandemic. Mittal further informed that IIT-D has three verticals in the post-pandemic era: for personal adjustment, for academic needs and for early detection either related to academics or non-academics. And there has been an increase in the number of sensitisation meetings and open house meetings as well. IIT-Roorkee has not reported any suicide in the last five years. IIT-Roorkee has taken several initiatives like establishing a wellness centre that provides psychological assessment and interventions by eight counsellors to counter the challenge of Mental health issues. Every counsellor in this centre has special training in specific therapeutic models and can cover different languages, which makes them more approachable. With the disqualification of BSP MP Afzal Ansari from the Lok Sabha almost a certainty now, following his conviction in a Gangsters' Act case, Uttar Pradesh seems to be setting up a record of sorts when it comes to disqualified lawmakers. In September 2013, Rashid Masood of the Congress had lost his Rajya Sabha seat after being convicted by the Supreme Court on charges of corruption and other offences. He became the first MP to lose his seat after the SC struck down a provision in the electoral law -- the Representation of the People Act of 1951 -- that provided immunity to MPs and MLAs from immediate disqualification. As per a Supreme Court order of 2013, the membership of an MP/MLA is annulled if s/he is convicted and sentenced to two years or more. The latest in the line is BSP MP Afzal Ansari, who had won the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Ghazipur constituency by defeating incumbent J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Ansari was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail in a case under the Gangsters Act by a Ghazipur court on Saturday. Among the UP legislators who have faced disqualification, are former SP MLAs Mohd Azam Khan (Rampur) and his son Abdullah Azam (Suar). Also Read Mukhtar Ansari convicted in murder case, sentenced to 10 yrs jail term ED arrests Abbas Ansari, son of UP don Mukhtar Ansari, for money laundering PTC India appoints Mohammad Afzal as power ministry nominee director J&K Police busts narcotics module in Kupwara, 5 cops among 17 arrested Money laundering case: Mukhtar Ansari's son, Mau MLA sent to ED remand Property prices in Noida could see major jump, circle rates going up Operation Kaveri: 229 more Indians leave Jeddah in Bengaluru-bound flight PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat impacted behavioural change in people: Officials Top Headlines: Adani on Sebi probe, 100th Mann Ki Baat episode and more 100th episode of PM Modi's Mann ki Baat today: Here's what to expect Azam Khan and Abdullah Azam were disqualified in February this year after being convicted in a case related to hate speech, holding a demonstration and blocking traffic. Abdullah Azam has been disqualified twice from the UP Assembly. He was earlier disqualified in 2020 after the Allahabad High Court set aside his election to the Assembly. His previous disqualification was effective from December 16, 2019. BJP MLA Vikram Saini (Khatauli-Muzaffarnagar) recently lost their memberships on the same ground. In December 2021, BJP MLA from Gosainganj (Ayodhya) Indra Pratap Tiwari a.k.a Khabbu Tiwari had lost his membership nearly one-and a-half months after being convicted by an MP-MLA court in a 29-year-old fake marksheet case. Tiwari was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in October 2021. It was alleged that Tiwari, despite failing in B.Sc second year in 1990, had managed to get admission in B.Sc third year. In December 2019, 'expelled' BJP MLA from Bangarmau (Unnao) Kuldeep Senger was disqualified following his conviction in a rape case by a Delhi sessions court. The Delhi court had pronounced its verdict of life imprisonment for Sengar, a four-term MLA. He was accused of rape of a girl in his village (Makhi) in 2017. The girl attempted self-immolation outside the CM's residence in Lucknow in 2018, allegedly after the police did not take action on her complaint. The victim's father, who was arrested by the police, died in police custody after he was allegedly beaten up in the lock-up, allegedly by Sengar's brother Atul Sengar. Following public outrage, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had handed over the case to the CBI. In April 2019, the BJP MLA from Hamirpur, Ashok Singh Chandel had lost his Assembly membership after he was convicted and awarded life term in a 1997 murder case by the Hamirpur district court and the verdict was upheld by the Allahabad High Court. He is currently in jail. --IANS amita/dpb Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Sunday said he had lodged a complaint with the CBI on a project implemented during the previous DMK regime (2006-11), over which he had recently levelled corruption allegations. Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said his party was committed to fighting against corruption and it would reflect in its proposed statewide yatra titled 'En Mann En Makkal' (my soil, my people), ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "You have started seeing it in Tamil Nadu also," he said, apparently referring to the recent release of the 'DMK Files' by him, in which he had listed the assets (and their valuation) allegedly belonging to leaders of the ruling party in the state. Responding to a question, Annamalai said he had lodged a complaint with the CBI about the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I project vis-a-vis kickbacks, and submitted proof as well. "I was told that six others too have filed complaints. A firm which had taken part in the biding process has filed a complaint." On April 14, Annamalai -- referring to the DMK rule between 2006 and 2011 -- had alleged that payments were received by the party as kickbacks from a company that won a bid related to the execution of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I project. He had alleged that "kickbacks of Rs 200 crore" had been channelled by a multinational company through two shell firms to "Chief Minister M K Stalin for DMK's 2011 election fund". The BJP leader had said at the time that he would lodge a complaint with the CBI, seeking a probe. Also Read Annamalai hits back at DMK's Rs 500 crore damages demand, calls it baseless Tamil Nadu BJP chief accuses Stalin of corruption; DMK says political stunt Performance high on BJP's agenda in Tamil Nadu for 2024 Lok Sabha polls Kolkata underwater metro to be completed by December 2023, says KMRC TN BJP urges police to arrest DMK leader for abusive language against Guv 90% of athletes of Haryana trust WFI, says President Brij Bhushan Singh Karnataka Assembly polls: BJP president Nadda to release manifesto tomorrow Vaccine market to reach valuation of Rs 252 bn by 2025: Jitendra Singh People of J-K can't be deprived of elected govt for long time: Azad BJP seeking votes in PM Modi's name, Cong going 'vocal for local': Jairam Referring to the recent discussions that the AIADMK's top leadership had with BJP chief J P Nadda and top leader Amit Shah in Delhi, Annamalai said he was asked by the party brass to take part in that meeting and he participated. A few days ago, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and other senior leaders including S P Velumani visited Amit Shah and Nadda in Delhi, along with Annamalai. "We had discussions. Our goal is 2024 LS polls. People are angry with the DMK government. We are seeing how this regime has become anti-people." The goal is to win all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu as well as the lone seat in neighbouring Puducherry. The talks were on those lines, he said. "The challenge before us is to transform into votes (favouring NDA) the mood that prevails in Tamil Nadu against the ruling DMK," he said. To a question related to seat sharing between the AIADMK and BJP, he said there was still a lot of time left for the LS polls and hence it was premature to talk about that. Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Sunday alleged that Congress "encourages riots" in society whenever the party gains power. Addressing a public rally in the poll-bound state of Karnataka, Nadda said that the BJP-led government has been committed to working for the development of the poor, farmers and women of the state. "Our government is committed to working for the development of the poor, farmers, and women of the state. We have empowered the woman of the state. Whenever Congress comes to power, it encourages riots in society," he said. Further attacking the Congress, Nadda said, "I have been asking for the past 5 days - why do they not give an answer on the big scams during the Siddaramaiah government? DK Shivakumar is out on bail - why do they not answer it? How do they get the courage to speak on corruption? People of Karnataka know everything well." Talking about the reservation issue that stoked controversy in the state, Nadda said that if the reservation of people belonging to the SC community is increased by 2 per cent then the reservation for the tribal community will be increased by 4 per cent. "Our government is working to advance the villages, poor, deprived, afflicted, exploited, Dalits, women, and farmers. If we are talking about economic development, then we have also given importance to social justice from a social point of view. If we increase the reservation of SC brothers by 2 per cent then we increase the reservation of tribal brothers by 4 per cent", he said. Also Read BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls J P Nadda begins whirlwind tour of Himachal for pro-incumbency votes J P Nadda's tenure as BJP president extends till June 2024 amid elections BJP President Nadda to tour poll-bound Karnataka on Feb 20 and 21 BJP appoints MLA Rajeev Bindal as party chief in Himachal Pradesh Himachal govt regularises services of contractual, daily wage employees ED searches: Byju's CEO says brought more FDI to India than any other firm People of Karnataka will give befitting answer on May 10: PM Modi FIR filed against Gajendra Shekhawat over Ravana remark against Gehlot 'Maun ki Baat': Cong slams Modi as his radio broadcast marks 100 episodes The BJP chief in the speech also said that India has overtaken Japan to become the third-largest automobile market. "9 years ago, 92 per cent of mobiles in India used came from China and other countries. Today, under PM's leadership, 97 per cent of mobiles are now being made in India. We used to know Japan for automobiles, today India has overtaken Japan to become the third largest automobile market", he said. Earlier hitting out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his derogatory remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the grand old party is shredding the traditions of a healthy democratic system. Coming down heavily on Congress for drawing parallels between a snake and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister on Sunday said that the people of Karnataka will give the party a "befitting answer" in the upcoming Assembly elections. PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress terming the party as an "outdated engine" and said that it halts development and gives fake guarantees. Karnataka will go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned people against the "dynastic Congress and JD(S)", saying both parties were responsible for political instability in Karnataka. Modi also alleged that both parties saw Karnataka as an ATM, and that they found opportunity in instability. The Congress and the JD(S) are responsible for the instability. They pretend to be two separate parties but are one in their hearts. They are together in Delhi. They assist each other in Parliament, he said at a public meeting in Channapatna in Ramanagara district, which is a JD(S) bastion. It was here that the JD(S) second-in-command H D Kumaraswamy won the 2018 assembly election defeating BJP candidate C P Yogeeshwara, and is again seeking reelection. Continuing his attack against both rival parties, Modi said, Both are dynastic parties and encourage corruption. Both the parties see opportunity in instability. The Prime Minister added, "For a very long time, Karnataka has seen the drama of unstable government. Unstable governments provide a chance to loot". Also Read Nepal votes to elect new parliament, provincial assemblies amid instability Though not a poor state, Karnataka can ill-afford election freebies BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls Gujarat Assembly elections to be held in 2 phases, results on Dec 8 Karnataka Assembly elections to be held on May 10, results on May 13 Collective efforts can eliminate cross-border narco-terrorism in J-K: Sinha A pain in neck for authorities, here's how Chinese firms scam Indians Kerala calls for national consensus on law regarding human-animal conflict Dubai-Delhi flight incident: DGCA issues show cause notices to airline CEO Delhi-bound C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers takes off from Jeddah There is always a fight to loot and (the focus is) not development in the unstable government, Modi further said. Hitting out at the JD(S), he said the party had openly declared that if it got 15 to 20 seats in the election to the 224-member Assembly, then it would be the kingmaker. This selfish approach may benefit one family but it causes losses to lakhs of families of Karnataka, the Prime Minister said. This was Modi's fifth public meeting in the past two days in poll-bound Karnataka, which goes to polls on May 10. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as India's "gift" during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3. The defence ministry said this on Sunday, a day ahead of Singh's visit to the Maldives, one of India's strategically key maritime neighbours. It said Singh's visit will be an "important landmark" in building strong bonds of friendship between the two countries. During his visit, Singh will call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Defence Minister Mariya Didi. "In tune with India's commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will gift one fast patrol vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces," the ministry said in a statement. On Singh's talks with the Maldivian defence and foreign ministers, it said the entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed. Also Read Blinkit to deliver boAt headphones and accessories within minutes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on 3-day visit to Maldives from Monday Top brass of Defence Forces pay homage at National War Memorial on Navy Day Robust defence finance system backbone of strong military: Rajnath Singh Has the rally in defence-related stocks run its course? Chardham yatra halted at Srinagar due to bad weather at Kedarnath Economic, demographic base driving interest in doing business: Report Indian economy to grow at around 6.5% in FY24: NITI Aayog member Kerala forest dept receives 1st radio collar signal from 'Arikkomban' 4G networks boost digital economy at Indo-China border, 100% coverage soon The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), billed as the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation. Under the project, a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect Maldivian capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. The Maldives is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of India's Neighbourhood First policy. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane visited the Maldives last month and held talks with his Maldivian counterpart, Major General Abdulla Shamaal. Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for the airline's lapses in reporting about the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27, according to a senior official. A show cause notice has also been issued to the airline's Head of Safety, Security and Quality Functions Henry Donohoe. 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 February 27. The show cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and head of flight safety on April 21 for not doing timely reporting of the incident to DGCA, which is in violation of the regulator's safety instructions, the senior official at the DGCA told PTI on Sunday. Besides, there was a delay in investigating the incident. Both the executives have been given 15 days to respond to the show cause notices, the official said. There was no immediate comment from Air India. Also Read DGCA orders probe after Pilot 'welcomes' his female friend in cockpit DGCA plans to hire 400 tech staff in 1-2 yrs; increase offices to 19: Chief A challenge to maintain, better India's aviation safety ranking: DGCA chief Air passengers to get compensation for involuntary downgrade of tickets DGCA issues Type Certification for Kisan drone made by Garuda Aerospace Delhi-bound C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers takes off from Jeddah Macrotech Developers to invest Rs 4,500 cr in FY23 on real estate projects Operation Kaveri: India brings back another batch of 229 people from Sudan PM Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' helped India to fight against COVID-19: MP Guv Amid rising suicides, here are initiatives by IITs for mental health Earlier this month, DGCA directed Air India to deroster the entire crew of the Dubai-Delhi flight till investigations are complete. On April 21, the airline 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 violation of norms. When Tim Cook arrived in India earlier this month to open Apple's first physical store in the country, he was welcomed like a hero, media reports said. Cook's visit, the latest by a top global executive, exemplifies the rising tide of interest that corporations and governments are showing in doing business with India, CNN reported. Just days after his landmark trip, Pret A Manger, a trendy British sandwich chain, set up its first outlet in the commercial capital of Mumbai, as it bet on the country's growing middle class, CNN reported. The case for investing in India - a nation of 1.4 billion - is clear, and only bolstered by recent geopolitical shifts. As Western leaders look to boost economic cooperation with countries that share similar values, India, the world's largest democracy, stands to gain. Until recently, many countries and companies "had put all their eggs in the China basket", said Partha Sen, professor emeritus at the Delhi School of Economics. As tensions continue to flare between the West and Beijing, there is "a move to diversify away, and India fits right into it," he added, CNN reported. Also Read Apple opens its first official store in Mumbai; what we know so far 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 Apple sets all-time sales record in India, retail store soon: Tim Cook India is hugely exciting market and major focus for Apple: Tim Cook Indian economy to grow at around 6.5% in FY24: NITI Aayog member Kerala forest dept receives 1st radio collar signal from 'Arikkomban' 4G networks boost digital economy at Indo-China border, 100% coverage soon Road transport sector contributes to max delayed projects: Govt report 'Mann Ki Baat' celebrates India's people, says PM Modi on 100th episode India's so-called "demographic dividend," the potential economic growth arising from a large working-age population, represents a major opportunity. Its vast consumer market and pool of affordable labor is also drawing more attention from global brands and trading partners. In a bid to boost the industrial sector and lift exports, the Indian government has sought to sign free trade deals, a move that's been warmly received around the world. Since 2021, India has struck agreements with Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius. It is also negotiating deals with the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, CNN reported. Beyond geopolitics, India's economic and demographic fundamentals are driving business interest, CNN reported. The International Monetary Fund expects the South Asian nation to outperform all major emerging and advanced economies this year, logging GDP growth of 5.9 per cent. By comparison, the German and UK economies will stagnate, while the United States will grow only 1.6 per cent. If it can maintain its momentum, India will overtake Germany as the world's fourth largest economy in 2026 and knock Japan from the number three spot in 2032, according to analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, CNN reported. India's working-age population stands at more than 900 million, according to 2021 data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the next few years, its workforce could be bigger than China's, according to Capital Economics, CNN reported. --IANS san/svn/ The first-ever joint parents-teacher meeting (PTM) was organised in all the Delhi government and MCD schools of the capital on Sunday with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal saying that they will now work to transform the civic body-run schools. According to officials, the meeting was conducted in more than 1,000 Delhi government schools and over 1,500 MCD schools. "Today, a mega PTM is being held in both MCD and Delhi government schools in Delhi. Just as Delhi government schools have been transformed with the help of all students, teachers, and parents, we will now work together to transform MCD schools as well," Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. Education Minister Atishi, who also visited some schools, said in 2015 when the Kejriwal government was formed, the condition of Delhi government schools was the same as MCD schools now. There was no cleanliness, no drinking facility and benches and desks were broken. But after years of hard work and dedication, the old education system in Delhi was fixed, he said. While interacting with parents, she expressed her delight at the number of parents who turned up early in the morning and said, "This shows that parents eagerly want to participate in their children's education, and after Delhi government schools, now this opportunity will be provided to parents in MCD schools too." "The education revolution that was brought in Delhi government schools will now be brought to MCD schools too," she added. Also Read Mega parent-teacher meeting in MCD, Delhi govt schools on Apr 30: Atishi Delhi MCD: All you need to know about the prestige battle in the capital LIVE news: GRAP Stage III revoked in entire NCR with immediate effect Operation Sheesh Mahal: Why do BJP and Congress want Delhi CM to resign? Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj, Atishi take charge of their respective depts NDRF team engaged in relief work at gas leak site in Ludhiana: Amit Shah Former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh condoles Ludhiana gas leak casualties PM's 'Mann ki Baat' programme has brought silent revolution: V K Saxena They must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs: Himanta on Cong claims BJP betrayed public, trying to divert from real issues: Priyanka Gandhi Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Atishi said it was in MCD for the past 15 years and left the schools reeling under several problems. Noting that the joint PTM is a symbol of the shared responsibility of parents and schools for the education and development of children, she said both parents and schools are equally responsible for the development of their child. "Our children will progress only when schools and parents will together participate in the process of their education," she opined. She also stressed the importance of parents engaging with their children for at least half an hour every day, even if they are not educated. This would boost the confidence of the children and help them open up about their school experiences. Mission Buniyaad was also discussed in the meeting. "Mission Buniyaad aims to strengthen the foundation of every child sitting in the classroom to prepare future engineers, doctors, and CEOs for the country. Our government is committed to provide every child with quality education and opportunities," Atishi had said earlier this month. Hospitality industry is flocking to Ayodhya as religious tourism in India witnesses accelerated growth and the upcoming Ram Temple is adding another attraction to the historical site. From leading 5-star brands like the Taj, Radisson and ITC Hotels to budget players such as OYO, companies lining up to open new hotels there have their share in the 25,000 rooms envisaged in future by the Uttar Pradesh government. Tata Group hospitality firm Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) plans to open two new properties, and Radisson also has a similar plan. Another major player, ITC Hotels is also exploring opportunities in Ayodhya to cater to increased demand that is projected to reach 4 crore visitors annually by 2031 under the Ayodhya Master Plan 2031, up from 2 crore visitors at present. At the other end of the spectrum, OYO plans to add 50 new properties -- 25 homestays and 25 small and medium hotels with 10 to 20 rooms each -- in Ayodhya in 2023 under a collaboration with Ayodhya Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation. IHCL Executive Vice President - Real Estate & Development Suma Venkatesh said spiritual tourism, which has existed in India since antiquity, has gained more importance in recent times, specially after the 'black swan' event like the COVID-19 pandemic, where people are looking to find deeper meanings of real life. Also Read ITC rally has more legs on FMCG biz scale up, high cigarette vols: Analysts President Murmu pays homage to victims of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks IHCL inks 2nd Taj in Kerala's Kochi; brand clocks 100 hotels in India Argentine tourist goes missing after testing Covid positive at Taj Mahal Titan to more than double Zoya luxury store counts, top-line by FY27 Single-day rise of 5,874 Covid cases recorded in India, active cases drop Maruti Suzuki remains vulnerable to supply side bottlenecks: Official 'Mann ki Baat' to be broadcast live at 1000 locations across Pune: BJP Kapil Sibal raises question of pliant investigation amid wrestlers' protest Mann Ki Baat's popularity indicates people have appreciated it: Nadda "With the (Ram) temple being built in Ayodhya we see more and more people coming in. There will be a need for quality infrastructure, tourism infrastructure...Ayodhya is an important pilgrim centre. It is known to be the birthplace of Lord Ram who is revered as one of the important deities in Hinduism," Venkatesh told PTI. IHCL has signed management contracts for two new properties in Ayodhya -- a 100-room hotel under the Vivanta brand and another 120-room Ginger hotel -- which are expected to be operational in 36 months. On the reasons for signing of the two new properties, she said,"We have been in many pilgrim destinations across the country and Ayodhya presents a great opportunity for brands like ours because with the temple being built, there is already huge interest." Hotel Association of India Vice President and Chairman Emeritus & Principal Advisor, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, KB Kachru agreed that there is a surge in interest among tourists to visit Ayodhya. "Over 2 crore people are going to Ayodhya (annually) today. So that's a very encouraging sign," he said adding, it is expected to increase to 4 crore annually by 2031 as per the master plan. However, he lamented that the Indian hospitality industry was late in moving to the destination. "The unfortunate part is our industry didn't move very quickly on it. But now, I think the efforts of all the companies are there. Everybody's opening hotels and backup facilities there. We're looking at, in the next six to seven years there'll be about close to 25,000 rooms." On Radisson's plans for Ayodhya, he said,"We as Radisson Hotels, are looking at doing two hotels on our own under the Radisson brand -- Park Inn and Individuals." At present Ayodhya has just about 17 hotels with less than 600 rooms available with demand outstripping supply, thus providing an opportunity to hospitality technology platforms like OYO to serve the current demand while enabling it to plan for the future as well. "Today, the plan is to open 50 hotels, because right now there are very less number of hotels available or homestays available in Ayodhya. The place is still building up, so our target is to tap the demand as soon as possible and start providing the accommodation or good experience and hospitality experience," OYO Chief Business Development Officer Anuj Tejpal said. As the Uttar Pradesh government invests heavily on infrastructure development of the city to improve its connectivity through rail, road and air targeting, hospitality players are enthused to set up new properties there. "We have seen that there is so much infrastructure development that has taken place (at Ayodhya)...there is a lot of interest in the market as well, in terms of hotel development," ITC Hotels Head, Growth & Development Smita Thadani said. When asked about ITC Hotels' plans for Ayodhya, she said,"We've been approached by separate developers to owners, who want to develop hotels, and we are evaluating certain opportunities across our brands to see, to bring all our brands into this city." With the state government focusing on creating good infrastructure to connect Ayodhya with main cities like Lucknow and Gorakhpur and other major economic centres, hospitality industry players feel that the city will attract more tourists across all segments thereby providing opportunity to operate hotels at different price points, from budget to luxury, to cater to different segments of the market. "Pilgrim centres attract people across all segments...As more and more people come we feel there will be increasing demand for hotels that operate at different price points and hotels that cater to different segments of the market. Therefore we see huge potential for all our brands to enter Ayodhya over a period of time," Venkatesh of IHCL said. PM Narendra Modi addressed the nation on Sunday on the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' and interacted with veterans who have appeared previously on the show. "Mann ki Baat gave me an opportunity to connect with the common man. For me Mann ki Baat is not just a show, but a devotion to the country. It has become an essential part of my spiritual journey," PM Modi said in his address. "Be it Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, love towards Khadi, nature-related concerns, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or that of Amrit Sarovar, whatever issue Mann Ki Baat got associated with, it has ignited a people's movement, PM Modi added. He further said, "Our show has showcased stories of talented individuals across diverse fields, from promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat to Make in India and space startups. The mission to re-establish our toy industry began with Mann Ki Baat...We were inspired to spread awareness towards our Indian breed dogs from Mann ki Baat." Speaking on women empowerment, PM Modi said, "I am glad that 'Mann Ki Baat' has covered various stories of women empowerment, such as the women of Deora village in Chhattisgarh, tribal women in Tamil Nadu making terracotta cups, and women rejuvenating Vellore Lake."He further said, "Our show has showcased stories of talented individuals across diverse fields, from promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat to Make in India and space startups. The mission to re-establish our toy industry began with Mann Ki Baat...We were inspired to spread awareness towards our Indian breed dogs from Mann ki Baat." PM Modi asserted that 'Mann Ki Baat' has connected him with those countrymen who have been working relentlessly for the public. The historic moment is here. PM @narendramodi shares the #MannKiBaat100. Live on https://t.co/eKMhLwynkM#MannKiBaat pic.twitter.com/dJKO6ZUulu Mann Ki Baat Updates (@mannkibaat) April 30, 2023 "'Selfie with daughter' campaign started in Haryana and when it came to Mann ki Baat it turned into a worldwide campaign," PM Modi said. Haryana's Sunil Jaglan, founder of the 'Selfie with daughter' campaign, also joined PM Narendra Modi in the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Another 'Mann ki Baat' veteran Vijayashanti from Manipur who made products from lotus stem fiber said she got greater reach from appearing on Mann Ki Baat and is looking to expand to a 100-women team and export to the USA this year. PM Modi also spoke about the significance of tourism, local businesses, and national campaigns in Mann Ki Baat's 100th episode. "Tourism sector is growing rapidly in the country. Be it our natural resources, rivers, mountains, ponds or our pilgrimage sites, it is important to keep them clean. This will help the tourism industry a lot," he said. The Healing Himalayas programme by Pradeep Sangwan also featured on Mann ki Baat. Sangwan thanked PM Modi for bringing him into the public eye from the Mann ki Baat platform. UNESCO DG Audrey Azoulay joined the 100th episode and said that India and UNESCO have strong relations, and asked PM Modi what efforts India is taking to preserve culture and spread education. Speaking about technology integration in education and New education policy, PM said Mann ki baat highlighted the efforts of individuals who encourage and spread education across India. India is determined to strengthen Global culture preservation and education efforts through its G20 presidency, he added. Citing verses from Upnishads "Charaiviti" or "Chalte raho" which mean to keep moving forward, he thanked those working to facilitate Mann ki Baat. "I would like to thank the individuals of All India Radio who record this entire program with great patience. I am also thankful to the translators, who translate 'Mann Ki Baat' into different regional languages really fast in a very short time. I also thank the personnel of Doordarshan and MyGov. I express my gratitude to all the TV channels, and people from electronic media across the country, who show 'Mann Ki Baat' without commercial breaks and lastly, I would also like to express my gratitude to those who don the mantle of 'Mann Ki Baat' - the people of India, people who have faith in India. All this has been possible only because of your inspiration and strength," PM Modi said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined the Indian community at another venue in the US, at Somerset in New Jersey, to listen to the radio programme that the former dubbed as the story of New India and a link between the country and the world. Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat which he described as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians went global with its 100th episode that was broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York in the early hours of Sunday. Azoulay featured in the broadcast on Sunday and thanked Modi for the opportunity to be a part of the 100th episode. Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), also hailed the radio broadcast, calling it one of the most celebrated, with millions of listeners in more than 50 languages and dialects. In the 100th episode, PM Modi said the broadcast filled the emptiness he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians that has ensured he is never cut off from people. UNESCO and India have a long common history. We have very strong partnerships together in all areas of our mandate education, science, culture and information and I would like to take this opportunity today to talk about the importance of education, Azoulay said in the broadcast. 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 100th Mann Ki Baat address today to go global, live broadcast at UN offices PM's 'Mann ki Baat' programme has brought silent revolution: V K Saxena 'Mann Ki Baat' celebrates India's people, says PM Modi on 100th episode Security provided to wrestlers who filed complaint against WFI chief Chintels collapse case: Firm ready to buyback flats or redevelop 3 towers Delhi's air quality in Jan-Apr 'best' since 2016, barring 2020: CAQM Multilateralism getting weakened by UN's resistance to reform: Jaishankar Put systems in place to deal with players' issues: Athletes' Commission Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modis address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the PMs broadcast. The milestone broadcast was an occasion for Modi to walk down the memory lane as he asserted that it was not merely a programme but a matter of faith and spiritual journey for him. Modi said the monthly radio broadcast, which mostly steers clear from politics, has become an important medium of learning from others. This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you, he said. Modi said the programme is a reflection of the mann ki baat or the point of view of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it Swachh Bharat, Khadi or Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, issues raised in the programme became peoples movements, he said. Noting that the programme started on October 3, 2014, on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, he said it has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity of the countrymen. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives. Modi said that as the Gujarat chief minister, it was natural for him to meet and interact with the common people. Recalling that his mentor Laxmanrao Inamdar, one of the early Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh functionaries in Gujarat, always advised worshipping the good qualities of others, including rivals, Modi said Mann Ki Baat has been an exercise for him to worship the qualities in others and learning from them. Fifty years ago, Modi said, he did not leave home just to find one day that it would be difficult to connect with the people of his own country. Mann Ki Baat gave me a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man, he said. But after coming to Delhi in 2014, I found that life here was very different. The nature of the work is different, the responsibility is different, and one is bound by circumstances, the rigours of security and time limits. In the initial days, something felt different, there was an emptiness, he said. Modi said, The people whom we mention in Mann Ki Baat are all our heroes who have made this programme come alive. Noting that he connected with people involved in inspiring journeys, like planting trees, cleanliness, educating the poor, for decades, he said these efforts of the countrymen have inspired him to keep striving. While senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah in Mumbai, Rajnath Singh in Delhi and its national president J P Nadda in Karnataka, joined people, chief ministers of the party-ruled states and governors were joined by eminent citizens at their official residences during the programme. In the message from Azoulay that was part of the broadcast, the UNESCO head also enquired about Indias efforts regarding education and cultural preservation, two issues that Modi has been highlighting at the programme. The Congress, however, took a swipe at Modi, saying the occasion of the 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare but it was maun ki baat (silence) on critical issues such as China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities and the protest by wrestlers in New Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda on Sunday said that Mann Ki Baat reaching 100th episode and its popularity among people indicates that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contributed towards social causes. PM Modi's monthly radio programme which started on October 3, 2014, will reach its 100th episode today as it is set to be aired at 11 am across the country. "Mann Ki Baat reaching 100th episode and its popularity among people indicate that people have appreciated it and PM Modi has contributed towards social causes," Nadda said while speaking to ANI. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said it is called 'Mann Ki Baat' but actually it is 'Jan Jan Ki Baat'. Talking to ANI, Uttarakhand CM said, "It might be called 'Mann Ki Baat' but actually it is 'Jan Jan Ki Baat'. This is about several people in the country who used to work hard without recognition." Ahead of the historic 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' which will be aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to join him live at 11:00 am and said that the journey of his radio monthly programme in which he addresses the common people has been "truly special". The Prime Minister said that during the journey, the "collective spirit" of the people of the country was celebrated. Also Read 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Chhattisgarh: Notices issued to 8 BJP functionaries for 'hateful' posts MCD polls: AAP working against interests of common man in Delhi, says Nadda J P Nadda begins whirlwind tour of Himachal for pro-incumbency votes PM Modi has changed political culture of the country: BJP's J P Nadda UP IAS association appeals Bihar govt to reconsider Anand Mohan's release Chapatis, khichdi made of bajra may soon be on mid-day meal menu in UP Over 19,000 water bodies in Odisha drying up of 'no use': Jal Shakti min Inspired by Raj, UP explores destination wedding market, proposal in works 'A truly special journey' says PM ahead of 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat "Do tune in at 11 AM for #MannKiBaat100. This has been a truly special journey, in which we have celebrated the collective spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspiring life journeys," PM Modi said in a tweet. PM Modi's radio monthly programme will be broadcast live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. The programme has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' made brought about a "behavioural change" among people with the kind of exchanges with the listeners during the show, Dr Amit Kapoor, Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness, said on Saturday. Kapoor said that the Prime Minister made conversations with the people on the issues which mattered to the citizens. "It made a very huge sense for us to understand the impact it creates, we found unique things as we went along. We saw behavioural change in people with the kind of conversations that PM Modi made with the people. About 100 crore people heard these conversations. These conversations discussed topics that mattered to citizens," he said while speaking to ANI. The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organise facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the programme. The programme will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has launched a probe into allegations that a mega infrastructure project being undertaken by the Centre in the Great Nicobar Island would be "violative" of the constitutional mandate and would "adversely impact" the lives of local tribals. The commission issued a notice to the Andaman and Nicobar administration on April 20, asking the archipelago administration to submit facts and an action-taken report in the matter within 15 days of the receipt of the communication. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) formed a high-powered committee earlier this month to re-examine the environmental clearance granted to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO) for the multi-component mega project involving an area of 16,610 hectares. Along with the development of an international container transhipment terminal, the project involves the development of a military-civil, dual-use airport, a gas, diesel and solar-based power plant and a township. The commission also said the project is being undertaken without "prior consultation with the NCST". It said it had received a representation on January 1 from a resident of Andhra Pradesh, who alleged that the mega infrastructure project in the Great Nicobar Island would be "violative of the constitutional mandate and would adversely impact the lives of the local tribals". Also Read Fill vacancy in National Commission for Scheduled Castes expeditiously: SC Govt invites EOIs for Rs 41,000 cr port project in Great Nicobar Island NTPC, Reliance, Adani top green hydrogen plays to bet on, say analysts NGT panel to revisit clearance granted for Great Nicobar Island project RS to discuss Bill seeking inclusion of Gonds in ST category in parts of UP ECL aims at more than double underground coal production of 20 mt by 2028 New York, New Jersey issue resolutions in honour of 100th Mann Ki Baat J-K Lt Governor flags off marathon to mark 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' DMRC remodels entry, exit points at Sarojini Nagar metro for greater ease Inadequate space for cheetahs in MP's Kuno National Park: Ex-WII official "The commission has decided to investigate/inquire into the matter in pursuance of the powers conferred upon it under Article 338A of the Constitution of India. You are hereby requested to submit the facts and information on the action taken on the allegations/matters within 15 days of the receipt of this notice," the notice read. The NCST said it would issue a summons for the personal appearance of representatives of the Andaman and Nicobar Island administration if it failed to respond to the notice within the stipulated time. The NGT had, on April 7, said there was a need for adequate studies on the project's adverse impact on coral reefs, mangroves, turtle-nesting sites, bird-nesting sites, other wildlife, and erosion, disaster management and other conservation and mitigation measures. Besides, an Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) notification of 2019 had to be complied with and tribal rights and rehabilitation had to be ensured, it had said. "The respondents (ANIIDCO and the environment ministry) are committed to complying with the ICRZ, 2019 and tribal rights. They have also planned compensatory afforestation and mangrove plantations and thus, by and large, the project is compliant and the EC (environmental clearance) does not call for interference," the NGT had said. It had, however, underlined some "unanswered deficiencies" such as a threat to 4,518 coral colonies, impact assessment being of only one season as against the mandated three seasons and a part of the project being in the area where a port was prohibited. "These aspects may call for revisiting the EC by a high-powered committee," the tribunal had said. Headed by the chief secretary of the environment ministry, the committee is required to finalise its proceedings within two months. The Ministry of External Affairs said that under Operation Kaveri, 229 more Indians rescued from Sudan have left Jeddah in a Bengaluru-bound flight on Sunday. Ministry of External Affairs, Official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah." On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri, while a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers reached the national capital on Saturday morning. As a ceasefire has been called in Sudan, several countries, including India, are attempting to evacuate their citizens from a conflict-ridden nation. Earlier, Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, successfully evacuated 288 stranded Indians under Operation Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. This was the 14th batch of stranded citizens headed to Jeddah to return to India. Previously, INS Sumedha, stationed at Port Sudan, had also left the crisis-hit country with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. Also Read Operation Kaveri: 362 Indian evacuees from Jeddah leave for Bengaluru How the world backed two generals, and put Sudan on the path to war Sudanese army says evacuation of diplomats expected to begin Operation Kaveri: How India is rescuing its citizens amid crisis in Sudan International govts race to rescue diplomats, citizens from Sudan PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat impacted behavioural change in people: Officials Top Headlines: Adani on Sebi probe, 100th Mann Ki Baat episode and more 100th episode of PM Modi's Mann ki Baat today: Here's what to expect With eye on Rajasthan polls, BJP connects with women, docs, engineers Goa debt swells to Rs 24,000 cr, repay it before taking loans: Oppn The Indian government under Operation Kaveri, is set to evacuate about 3,000 Indian-origin passengers from Sudan. Until Friday, more than 2,400 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan, where the country is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. The Indian evacuees shouted slogans like "Bharat Mata ki jai," and "Vande Mataram" and also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for rescuing them from Sudan under Operation Kaveri. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed due to 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' made brought about a "behavioural change" among people with the kind of exchanges with the listeners during the show, Dr Amit Kapoor, Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness, said on Saturday. Kapoor said that the Prime Minister made conversations with the people on the issues which mattered to the citizens. Kapoor was speaking on the report on the impact of 'Mann Ki Baat' by Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), Axis My India and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. "It made a very huge sense for us to understand the impact it creates, we found unique things as we went along. We saw behavioural change in people with the kind of conversations that PM Modi made with the people. About 100 crore people heard these conversations. These conversations discussed topics that mattered to citizens," he said while speaking to ANI. 'Axis My India' was the knowledge partner, the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) the research partner of the report and the research was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Pradeep Gupta, founder and CMD of 'Axis My India' which was the knowledge partner in the research, said that the issues impacting the people due to PM Modi's interaction varied from place to place. Also Read 'Mann ki Baat' created a mass movement, spurred community action: Report Philanthropist Bill Gates praises India's progress in different sectors 'That is how you lead,' says Aamir Khan on PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat Bill Gates praises India's progress in heath, climate, technology sectors PM Modi invites people to share inputs for 2022's last Mann Ki Baat Top Headlines: Adani on Sebi probe, 100th Mann Ki Baat episode and more 100th episode of PM Modi's Mann ki Baat today: Here's what to expect With eye on Rajasthan polls, BJP connects with women, docs, engineers Goa debt swells to Rs 24,000 cr, repay it before taking loans: Oppn Govt to set up helipads, drone landing facilities on highways: Gadkari "It was a different kind of study in itself as we had to know what kind of changes Mann Ki Baat made in the lives of the people. Different issues had impact on different places. For example, in Madhya Pradesh's village of Betul, people were initially not ready to get themselves vaccinated. But when PM Modi interacted with them directly about it. The villagers had their own concept of why they were not taking the vaccines. But within a few days of the Prime Minister's interaction, every villager got vaccinated and benefitted," Gupta told ANI. He said that the upcoming 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat which will be aired at 11 am today will create more awareness among people. "The 100th episode will create more awareness among people. Listening is one thing, being impacted is another, and the third thing is change. I think more people would start making the change when they listen to the episodes of Mann Ki Baat," he said. Speaking to ANI, Archana Vyas, Deputy Director, Policy, Communications & Behavioural Insights, at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said with Axis My India and IFC as partners, they looked back at all the episodes of Mann Ki Baat. "A thorough analysis was done about the themes that have been highlighted by the Prime Minister and there was tracing back of people to see if it did really generate any impact," she said. Vyas said Mann ki Baat has reached to both urban and rural populations. "There are two or three things which have stood out in the research. One, it is a unique platform which has reached out to both rural and urban populations effectively. The use of traditional as well as digital platforms has been unique and transformational. Nearly 100 crore people have actually watched at least one of the episodes of Mann Ki Baat. It is a case study," she said. "Second - it has spurred community action. We have seen through the case studies that communities have taken action on the clarion call of the Prime Minister. This community action can be sustainable because of community adoption," she added. The programme started on October 3, 2014, months after Narendra Modi took over the Prime Minister's Office in May. "This is a historic first and at the same time a 'going forward' futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific," Marape said in a statement. U.S. President Joe Biden and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will join Pacific Islands leaders next month for a "historic" future-oriented meeting, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said on Sunday. Papua New Guinea is being courted by China and by the U.S. and its allies, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Biden's May 22 stopover in the capital Port Moresby would be the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the resource-rich but largely undeveloped country of 9.4 million people just north of Australia. Washington has stepped up efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region after China struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year. China failed to reach a wider security and trade deal with 10 Pacific island countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018. Also Read President Biden offers $450 mn for clean energy projects at coal mines US President Biden prepares to announce re-election campaign next week Elon Musk's 'Twitter Files' details censorship, suppression of information India-US agree on restoring peace in Ukraine: Biden administration President Joe Biden's bullish 2024 talk does little to tamp down chatter State scan: A sounding board for 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh Public will soon end the pollution spread by BJP, says Akhilesh Yadav Act swiftly against hate speech or face contempt, SC tells states Release of Saharsa's strongman exposes caste fault lines in Bihar Politics to the rescue: Hakki Pikkis tribes of Karnataka in war-hit Sudan Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors. The 18 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands Forum cover 30 million square km (10 million square miles) of ocean. The region's leaders say climate change is their greatest security threat, amid worsening cyclones and rising sea levels. "In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said. Marape said he had invited Biden when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country". Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia. The Securities and Exchange Board, which was set to file a status report May 2, told the Supreme Court in a legal filing Saturday that it has collected information and documents from a number of entities, including seven publicly listed Adani companies and subsidiaries. Indias capital markets regulator urged the countrys top court to give it six more months to complete a probe into short-seller Hindenburg Researchs allegations against billionaire Gautam Adanis conglomerate. Adani said it welcomes the investigation and is fully cooperating with SEBI. The material will require verification, and the investigation will involve depositions from the relevant people, according to the filing, which was reviewed by Bloomberg News. The process of obtaining the companies bank statements, domestic as well as offshore, also needs more time. The regulator is looking into allegations made on Jan. 25 as well as market activity before and after that date, Adani said. SEBI cites the short-sellers report, which is still under investigation, and makes no conclusions of wrongdoing, it added. We are fully compliant with all laws, rules and regulations and are confident that truth will prevail, a company spokesperson said in a statement. Also Read Six Adani Group stocks locked in 5% lower circuit; ACC hits 52-week low Hindenburg effect: Retail investors are snapping up Adani group's stocks Hindenburg Research: All you need to know about US-based investment firm Adani Ports & SEZ starts first bond buyback after Hindenburg report Adani Group stocks sink up to 20%; CLSA sees limited risk to banks 1.45 cr households participate in YSRCP's survey on AP govt's governance Dantewada blast: Police releases photo of IED blast's mastermind LIVE news: PM Modi's 100th 'Mann ki baat' address today to go global Delhi Police to provide security to wrestlers, record their statement PM's Mann Ki Baat to be live broadcast at UN Headquarters on Sunday New York-based Hindenburg in January accused Adani Group of using a web of companies in tax havens to inflate revenue and stock prices, even as debt piled up. The conglomerate has repeatedly denied the allegations. By Shruti Mahajan The Delhi Police on Sunday provided security to the female wrestlers including a minor who levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, officials said. The complainants have also been asked to record their statements soon so that further investigation in the case can be carried out, they said. The Supreme Court had directed the Delhi Police to provide security to the grapplers following their complaints against Singh, who has been booked under sections of outraging the modesty of a woman, stalking, and Section 10 of the POCSO Act in two FIRs. The BJP MP, who has been accused of sexual harassment by seven women wrestlers and a minor girl, has denied the charges against him. A group of top wrestlers, who first levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Singh in January, had resumed their sit-in last Sunday at the Jantar Mantar here to demand that the findings of the Centre-appointed panel that probed the charges be made public. The Delhi Police had on Fridays filed the two FIRs at the Connaught Place police station against the BJP MP, who has completed 12 years as WFI President and is ineligible to become an office bearer. Also Read Wrestlers back to protest at Jantar Mantar: Everything you need to know PT Usha calls wrestlers' protest indiscipline, who said what so far! Delhi Police to register case against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Singh today All political parties can join, say wrestlers seeking action on WFI chief SC issues notice on wrestlers' plea against WFI chief: Here're the details Chintels collapse case: Firm ready to buyback flats or redevelop 3 towers Delhi's air quality in Jan-Apr 'best' since 2016, barring 2020: CAQM Multilateralism getting weakened by UN's resistance to reform: Jaishankar Put systems in place to deal with players' issues: Athletes' Commission Phone thrown towards PM during roadshow, police claims no ill intention The first FIR pertains to allegations levelled by a minor that has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning outraging modesty, a senior police officer said. The second FIR has been registered for carrying out comprehensive investigations into the complaints by adult complainants under relevant IPC sections on outraging of modesty, the officer said, adding that investigation into both the FIRs was being taken up in right earnest. The award-winning wrestlers have also been demanding that Singh be arrested and removed from his post pending investigation. he said: Agra will soon have a metro train. A hundred electric buses are in service in the city. The Agra Municipal Corporation has increased the area under its coverage after 37 years, since there is no shortage of finance in the AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) scheme under the BJPs twin-engine government. Last week he was in Agra, Mathura, and Vrindavan. Addressing a rally in Agra, On April 10, the state Cabinet approved tweaking the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012, removing a clause that states the prison terms for those convicted of killing a public servant cannot be commuted. It soon sparked a political controversy for the Nitish Kumar government, facing criticism from the Oppositio Mohan was convicted for his role in the 1994 murder of the then Gopalganj District Magistrate and Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer G Krishnaiah. A lower court sentenced him to death in October 2007 and the Patna High Court (HC) commuted it to life imprisonment in December 2008. The Supreme Court also upheld the HCs verdict in 2012. After Bihar, it is now the Uttar Pradesh IAS Association that has taken strong exception to the Nitish government's move of releasing former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who was convicted in the killing of the then Gopalganj district magistrate G. Krishnaiah in 1994. The association has made a strong appeal to the Bihar government to reconsider the decision in the national interest at the earliest. "We strongly appeal to the state government of Bihar to reconsider its decision at the earliest in the interest of the nation," said the association in a statement released on Twitter. The Bihar government, on April 24, notified about the release of 27 prisoners, including former MP Anand Mohan Singh, who walked out of jail on Thursday last. "Uttar Pradesh IAS Association expresses strong objection at the decision of the state government of Bihar to release the convicts of the brutal killing of late Shri G. #Krishnaiah, #IAS, former DM Gopalganj.... Born in the State of Andhra Pradesh in a humble family, Krishnaiah became an IAS officer by dint of his grit and determination and was allotted Bihar cadre. As an IAS officer, Krishnaiah always took decisions in favour of the poor and downtrodden. Even on the day when he was brutally killed, he was trying to safeguard his bodyguard from the mob," the statement said. Without naming any released prisoner, the association said, "Action of the state government in releasing the killer of such an excellent officer is appalling to say the least. Such an action of the Government will have adverse effect on the morale of not only IAS officers but also other civil servants. An IAS officer takes allegiance of oath to the Constitution to serve the country honestly and loyally. He or she performs duties as per the orders of the Government. If such an officer is attacked, then it is an open challenge to the Constitution of India and to the concept and functioning of the State. If the challenge is not met with an appropriate, consistent and a continuous response, it will erode the foundations of the Constitution. In this context, the orders of the State Government are unwarranted and created dangerous precedents for the future." Also Read Bihar by-polls: BJP's Kusum Devi wins Gopalganj with over 2000 votes Why has Anand Mohan become a headache for the Nitish Kumar administration Gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh released from Saharsa jail 2 more deaths reported in Bihar hooch tragedy; toll in Saran rises to 28 RCP Singh attacks Nitish Kumar, asks him to lift liquor ban in Bihar Chapatis, khichdi made of bajra may soon be on mid-day meal menu in UP Over 19,000 water bodies in Odisha drying up of 'no use': Jal Shakti min Inspired by Raj, UP explores destination wedding market, proposal in works 'A truly special journey' says PM ahead of 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat Green activists stage 'Chipko' agitation to protest tree cutting in Pune The Uttar Pradesh IAS Association has broken its silence on an important issue after a long time. Some former IAS officers have also condemned the Bihar government's action. Former IAS officer Vijay Shankar Pandey, who retired as secretary to the Union government, said, "This is very unfortunate and the Bihar chief minister should reconsider the decision." Former Uttar Pradesh director general of police (DGP) Prakash Singh, in a tweet, said, "All officers of All India Services of Bihar cadre should demonstrate peacefully and democratically their disapproval of state govt action." It may be recalled that Krishnaiah was lynched to death by a mob led by Anand Mohan in Muzaffarpur on December 5, 1994 during the funeral of criminal Chotan Shukla, who was killed in a police encounter. The Nitish Kumar government had dropped some crucial words from a provision in the Bihar Jail Manual, 2012, to facilitate the release of former MP Anand Mohan Singh, 69. In an order of April 10, the Bihar government dropped "murder of a public servant on duty" as one of the cases in which an accused would not be eligible for premature release. Anand Mohan Singh was sentenced to death by a trial court in 2007. A year later, the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment by the Patna High Court. He then challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court but no relief has been granted yet and he remained in Saharsa jail from which he was released on Thursday. --IANS amita/dpb Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations and protest by a section of top wrestlers, Sunday alleged that Congress leader Deepender Hooda hatched the conspiracy against him and praised SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for not supporting the agitators. Singh, who is also a BJP MP, alleged that Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist grappler Bajrang Punia was also involved in the conspiracy against him. The WFI chief is in the eye of a storm after the grapplers levelled sexual harassment charges against him and demanded his arrest as well as ouster from the Wrestling Federation of India. Various political parties, including the Congress and AAP, have lent their support to the wrestlers. Singh, who has till now remained defiant about not quitting his post, said that he was ready to resign if it would make the protesters go back home. "If they go back and sleep peacefully after my resignation, I am ready to do so." Interacting with reporters at his residence in Bishnoharpur, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh alleged that "this whole conspiracy was hatched by Congress leader Deepender Hooda and wrestler Bajrang Punia. We have an audio (clip) to prove this. When the time comes, it will be handed over to the Delhi Police." About political leaders visiting the protest site of wrestlers in Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the WFI president said, "The fight has now gone out of the hands of the players. Political parties have entered into this. I could see the signs from day one." Talking to PTI here, the WFI president said, "I want to thank the leader of the Samajwadi Party Akhilesh Yadav (for not siding with the protesting wrestlers). I know him since his childhood. I am elder to him. Though there are political differences between us, Akhilesh knows the truth." "If there are 10,000 wrestlers in Uttar Pradesh, 8,000 of them are from the Yadav community and belong to the Samajwadi family. Hence they know the truth," he said. The Delhi Police on Friday registered two FIRs against Singh on allegations of sexual harassment levelled by seven women wrestlers. While the first FIR pertained to allegations of a minor wrestler and was registered under the POCSO Act, the second was related to outraging modesty. The BJP MP from Kaiserganj added that the protesters are mere "toys" in the hands of the Opposition. Also Read My heart goes out to those affected: Abhinav Bindra on Wrestlers' protest Nothing has been done so far to resolve our issues: Wrestler Bajrang Punia Who is Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the WFI chief in the eye of the storm? Anurag called protesting wrestlers indisciplined, says AAP; BJP hits back Brij Bhushan isn't hiding, will expose protesters' lies soon: WFI official BJP govt gives free ration while Pak scrambles for wheat flour: UP min BJP's tactics won't work, TMC will win 240 seats in 2026 polls: Abhishek Pleasant April in Delhi: No heatwave and five western disturbances Modi holds mega roadshow in Mysuru, winds up 2-day whirlwind election tour Delhi BJP to stage indefinite dharna outside CM's house over renovation "All these players have become toys in the hands of the Congress and other opposition parties. Their motive is political and not my resignation," Singh said, adding that he was yet to receive a copy of the FIR registered against him. The WFI chief wondered why the railway board was not stopping wrestlers associated with the railways from sitting on protest in Delhi's Jantar Mantar. "It is their right to protest. But, can a player associated with the railways sit on a protest like this where objectionable slogans are being raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," he asked. Replying to a question, the BJP MP said, "Don't drag the party (BJP) into this. These allegations are levelled against me as the president of the Wrestling Federation of India and not as a BJP MP." "I have to prove my innocence... If the party asks me to resign, I will do so immediately." About Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's participation in the wrestlers' protest, Singh said "She does not know the facts. Deepender Hooda, the architect of this conspiracy, brought her to the protest site." "The day she comes to know the truth or the day the investigation report comes out she will realize that she should not have gone to the protest site. I openly challenge them to fight against me from Kaiserganj, Gonda, Shravasti or any Lok Sabha seat in the area. The result will clear all misunderstandings." The BJP MP claimed that "a big industrialist is responsible for the conspiracy against me." Asked to name the industrialist, he said, "If I do so, he will get me killed." The protesting wrestlers had on Saturday warned against using their platform for political gains claiming few people were trying to take their fight for justice in a different direction. The BJP, which was voted out of power in Rajasthan in the last election by a mere 0.5 percent vote margin by the Congress, has prepared a 'foolproof' plan to win the elections this time. The party, sources said, is working on the policy of voter connect. Till the elections, different campaigns will be run by the BJP in Rajasthan for voter connect. Professionals like doctors, engineers and CAs will be connected with the party, then for the first time 1000 women will be sent to other areas to connect with women voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party has set up its teams at 1126 Mandals, 8392 Shakti Kendras, 51187 booth level. Now the workers will reach every house to connect the voters with the BJP. In the election-related programs that are being made at the organization level, the main focus is on reaching out to the voters and connecting them with the BJP. Party leaders said that the BJP will run different campaigns till the elections. Also Read Himachal polls: Counting of votes to begin at 8 am; BJP eyes new record BJP CEC meeting today to finalise candidates for Karnataka Assembly polls J P Nadda begins whirlwind tour of Himachal for pro-incumbency votes BJP appoints MLA Rajeev Bindal as party chief in Himachal Pradesh Too early to speak now: Kharge on Gujarat, Himachal election results Goa debt swells to Rs 24,000 cr, repay it before taking loans: Oppn Govt to set up helipads, drone landing facilities on highways: Gadkari 4.1 magnitude earthquake hits J-K, administration to set up EOC in state Activist accords Mann ki Baat for success of Selfie with daughter campaign Cong govt mulling to legalise hemp cultivation to boost economy in Himachal 1. Social campaign: Efforts to Help Societies Under this campaign, BJP teams will contact such organizations which exist at the social level. In this, all small to big organizations will be focused on. BJP leaders say that there are many social organizations which do not have much connectivity politically. Their presence is not in the entire state, but they have their own influence in some special areas. By being in constant contact with such societies and castes, they will be linked to the BJP. 2. Mahila Pravasi Abhiyan: Focus on Women Voters The purpose of this campaign is to completely focus on women voters. Information will be given about the schemes of the central government related to women. Women beneficiaries will be continuously contacted. Women will be linked to the party by door-to-door contact. After 2019, the BJP is completely focused on voters who have completed 18 years of age. For this, a new voter contact campaign is being run. The BJP is trying to bring newly added voters in its side. They will be kept connected continuously and contacted repeatedly before the assembly elections. The BJP also plans to strengthen its grip on youth voters by holding new voter conferences at the booth and mandal levels. 3. Vistarak Abhiyan: Responsibility of every seat till Lok Sabha elections In all the assembly constituencies, such leaders are being deployed as Vistaraks who can work full time for the party. As Vistaraks, these leaders will remain in the respective assembly constituencies first till the assembly elections and then till the Lok Sabha elections. Vistaraks have been given the responsibility of implementing the programs received from the party headquarters in the assembly area along with the verification of the teams from the booth committee to the mandal level. Along with this, the organization has been given the task of preparing reports giving constant updates about the political and social equations of the region. 4. Beneficiary Contact Campaign: Separate teams formed for men and women In this campaign, a list of beneficiaries availing benefits from the schemes of the Modi government is being made. By contacting the beneficiaries door-to-door, they will be told that the Modi government at the Centre is giving you this benefit. The BJP has formed separate teams to contact male and female beneficiaries. Contact with such influential people who can influence 50 to 100 voters. This includes influential people associated with big institutions, people associated with the social, business sectors and operators of organizations like NGOs. The BJP is trying to contact influential people and convert such voters, who have not yet joined the party, towards them. 5. Enlightened mass conference A strategy has been chalked out for different conferences of people associated with professions like lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, chartered accountants to connect them with the party. The BJP is already active to connect the enlightened class. In order to focus on this class, an enlightened public cell has also been constituted in the party at the state level, through which continuous efforts are being made to make inroads in these classes. 6. Special Contact Campaign: Contact Support The BJP is working on a strategy to get support by contacting those who are not voters of the party. Through a special contact campaign among such people, the BJP will make inroads. With a special focus on women, this time the BJP has started work on a Mahila Pravasi Yojana for the first time. 1000 women in the age group of 18 to 50 years will be fielded for this. Such women are being selected who can leave their area and give time to the party in another area. These women will go to different assembly constituencies and work to connect women voters with the BJP. BJP Mahila Morcha state president Alka Mundra says that in the first phase 400 women have been selected as 'Pravasi'. They are being trained by the party. These women will leave their assembly constituency and go to another constituency. Staying in the area for 10 to 15 days, such women will work to connect women voters with the BJP. According to Mundra, this is the first time that like male workers in the party, this campaign has been started to encourage women workers to leave their homes and work for the party in other areas. State vice president of the Mahila Morcha, Jayashree Garg says that the women workers included in the Mahila Pravasi Yojana will inform the women about the schemes of the Central government. They will meet the women beneficiaries and tell them what the central government is doing for women. The BJP is analyzing each and every booth this time. A strategy is being worked out to get more votes from the booths where the BJP got less votes last time. To do this work systematically, the booths have been divided into A, B, C, D categories. A means where the BJP got more votes than all the other parties in the last three elections. The B category includes those booths where the BJP got more votes twice in the last three elections. The third category C includes those booths where the BJP got more votes only once in the last three elections and the D category includes those booths where the BJP got less votes than other parties in the last three elections. This time the BJP's strategy is to convert D booths into C category and C category booths into B category. That is, this time more votes should be obtained than the category in which the votes were received last time. Till now the BJP has prepared its team at 51,187 booths and all the booth presidents have been given I-cards. That means the BJP's army is ready for the elections. Recently, on its foundation day on April 6, the BJP distributed I-cards to its 51187 booth presidents by celebrating Kamal Sankalp Utsav simultaneously in 1126 mandals across Rajasthan. --IANS arc/bg The certification was compulsory for manufacturers from April 1, 2023, if they wanted subsidies under various EV-promotion schemes. The Centre has extended by six months the deadline to obtain the mandatory electric vehicle (EV) battery safety test certification from the ministry of heavy industries, Business Standard has learnt. After receiving several industry representations for deadline extension, the ministry has given an extension till October 1, 2023, senior government officials said. The development came after all the automakers, across segments, failed to obtain certifications under the ministrys November 2022 notification. The certification aimed at enhancing human safety of the battery used in EVs by requiring checks at three levels the cell, battery management system (BMS), and the battery pack. Fire instances were reported in vehicles of Okinawa Autotech, Ola Electric, Pure EV, Jitendra Electric Vehicles, and Boom Motors, according to the heavy industries ministrys statement in the Rajya Sabha. Following multiple instances of EVs catching fire last year, the ministry had notified these new testing parameters as mandatory for obtaining government incentives. The incentives were under the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles in India (FAME-II) and production-linked incentives (PLI) schemes. Also Read Can India become a global EV battery player? Jaguar Land Rover revs up for electric race; can it meet its 2030 target? India vs Australia 3rd Test Day 2 Stumps: Lyon's 8-64 demolishes IND to 163 Indian consumers concerned about residual value of EV battery: Survey Amara Raja to invest Rs 9,500 crore in Telangana battery-making unit Making a mark: Premium moves up the smartphone food chain, shows data Government to come up with angel tax rules for start-ups before April 30 Delays by approval authorities should be addressed by RERA: Naredco Import of key Chinese medical devices rises up to 152% till Dec FY23 India's smartphone market records steepest first quarter decline of 19% Battery testing standards are put in place to ensure the safety and reliability of batteries used in electric vehicles. Industry not ready for international testing standards EV industry representatives have urged the government to revise the current testing standards. This comes as the industry is already facing a challenge in complying with the new AIS 038 and AIS 156 EV battery safety standards issued under the central motor vehicle rules (CMVR). These were notified by the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) last September and implemented from March 31, 2023. However, the industry bodies have expressed concerns that some of the testing requirements are too stringent and difficult to comply with. Heavy industries ministry has followed the international battery safety testing standards. However, the Indian EV players claim that they are not ready to comply with the new norms and urged for their revision, a source said. While the heavy industries ministrys norms are necessary to claim incentives, the transport ministrys guidelines are mandatory for vehicle manufacturing. As the EV industry is in the early stages in India, the ministry is looking to see if it can come up with standards, which will strike a balance between consumer safety and international standards, the source said. To alleviate the concerns of EV manufacturers, the heavy industries ministry is also exploring if some of the new testing norms could be revised. Though the ministry is likely to start fresh rounds of consultations with the industry, there is little room for any major change in the testing standards. Establishing ultimate beneficial ownerships for FPIs is a very complex exercise. Several jurisdictions allow omnibus structures where the end beneficiaries are not required to be captured or are based in some other geographies. This entails writing to different regulators, some of whom may not be entitled to share information due to different pacts, said a person in the know. The Securities and Exchange Board of Indias (Sebis) investigation into the Hindenburg allegations is making slow progress when it comes to obtaining information from overseas regulators, particularly around ultimate beneficial ownerships of certain foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), said people in the know. Some of the information sought includes bank statements from offshore financial institutions, background of the offshore-related entities, licences received by them and letters submitted by Adani group companies to the offshore regulators. Sources said Sebi has been writing to various regulators in several jurisdictions over the past few weeks regarding the Adani issue. An email sent to Sebi did not elicit any response till the time of going to press. Transactions by the groups entities in places like Mauritius, UAE, Cyprus and British Virgin Islands have come under scanner following the allegations by Hindenburg. Also Read Adani Enterprises to raise Rs 20,000 crore through follow-on public offer Adani Enterprises Q3 results tomorrow: Know about its past performance here Adani Enterprises Q3 results: Net consolidated profit at Rs 820 crore Adani Enterprises bounces 17% from day's low on massive jump in Q3 profit Adani Group stocks sink up to 20%; CLSA sees limited risk to banks Global markets turn cautious again amid concerns of banking crisis Nexus Select Trust's Rs 3,200 crore REIT IPO to hit capital market on May 9 Sebi likely to seek more time from Supreme Court in Adani Group case Valuation comfort likely to limit downside for Axis Bank's stock Small- and mid-cap shares raced ahead of large caps in April, shows data For tax-related matters, information exchange is usually done under the double taxation avoidance agreements (DTAAs). Typically, Sebi has memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with offshore regulators for exchange of information. Sources said that the details sought by Sebi are to reconfirm certain transactions and connections among entities. It is also for independent verification and analysis of the information submitted by Adani group companies. The MoUs work in most cases. However, it also depends on the extent of data sought. Not all regulators are very forthcoming with providing voluminous information. It requires multiple requests and follow-ups, which can be a cumbersome process, said a legal expert. Sebi submits that the investigation would also require obtaining bank statements from multiple domestic as well as international banks. As the bank statements would also be for transactions undertaken more than 10 years ago, this would take time and be challenging. This process of seeking bank statements from the offshore banks would entail taking assistance from offshore regulators, which may be time consuming and challenging, Sebi has said in its submission to the apex court. On Saturday, Sebi filed a petition before the Supreme Court, seeking an extension in the deadline by six months to complete the Adani probe. The petition by the market regulator throws some light on the difficulties it has faced in trying to complete the probe within a stipulated time period of two months. The regulator has further submitted that it has formed only a prima facie view on the various allegations made in the Hindenburg report. And, to arrive at a final conclusion, it would require more time and analysis. Between February 12 and April 22, Sebi wrote to the Adani group 11 times seeking documents from various listed and unlisted entities. Some of these documents involve minutes of audit committee meetings, reasons for availing or granting loans along with the details on tranche-wise payments. They also include shareholding and director details and background of offshore entities. These include possible violations related to related-party transaction disclosures, public shareholding norms, insider trading and FPI regulations. The regulator has specifically highlighted eight areas where examination and investigations would require more time. Race against time: Areas which would require deeper probe Related-party transaction disclosures The Adani group, in a statement has said There are no conclusions of any alleged wrong-doing. The Sebi application only cites the allegations made in the short-sellers report, which are still under investigation. Minimum public shareholding norms Corporate governance-related matters Alleged violation of FPI regulations, P-note norms Possible share price manipulations Engineering major Larsen and Toubro (L&T), which won multiple bids for the project, including the countrys largest-ever government-funded civil contract of nearly Rs 25,000 crore for the design and construction of the Executed by the state-run National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), the project is based on Japans Shinkansen technology and the train will be embedded with the digital Shinkansen automatic train control system, with a special braking mechanism to prevent collision and overshooting of stations. By Carly Wanna Democratic Representative Ro Khanna said the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. should be seeking the lowest-cost alternative to rescue First Republic Bank as the regulator reviews final bids. US authorities are stepping in after the San Francisco-based banks stock plunged last week, leaving it down 97% this year. The FDIC has asked banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co., PNC Financial Services Group Inc., US Bancorp and Bank of America Corp. for bids, according to people with knowledge of the discussions. Thats their mandate, Khanna, whose district includes part of Silicon Valley and the Bay Area, said on CBSs Face the Nation. And right now they may need to work with banks and private capital to save First Republic. That is the state were in. Khanna, a progressive Democrat, was asked whether big banks should be prevented from stepping in to rescue First Republic in the name of avoiding a further concentration of deposits away from smaller institutions. He signaled now wasnt the time, while repeating a call for unlimited FDIC deposit insurance. Bids were due by around noon in Washington, with a result expected Sunday evening. Also Read Silicon Valley Bank looking for a buyer after dragged-out FDIC sale failed Silicon Valley Bank Financial must wait to get back $2 billion from FDIC US working on jet engine deal with India before PM Modi's visit: Ro Khanna Ro Khanna's US Senate plan sparks speculation about his White House bid FDIC to break up Silicon Valley Bank, seeks separate sale of private unit 40 years on, Microsoft bids adieu to mice and keyboards: Report China manufacturing activity contracts, but consumer spending strong G7 nations agree on 'risk-based' artificial intelligence regulation Last rate hike? Fed's Jerome Powell expected to face more opposition Pak PM Sharif, Hina Khar's discussion on US-China tussle leaked: Report A bidding process could avoid the messy drawn-out auctions that followed the failures last month of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. A possible option for First Republic is for regulators to use a bid for a so-called open-market solution that avoids formally declaring First Republic a failure and seizing it. The stocks drop leaving the company with a $650 million market value has made such a takeover somewhat more feasible. What will most likely happen is the FDIC will seize control and then simultaneously resell the asset to the successful bidder, he said on CBS. Gary Cohn, a former economic adviser to President Donald Trump and current IBM vice chairman, said he would expect an announcement before markets open Monday morning in Asia. Over 120 local and international jewellery brands will exhibit fine and exqusite jewellery collections, bridal pieces, and standout, multi-million-dollar creations at Saudi International Luxury Week starting in Jeddah on May 8. The highly anticipated event will showcase the best in highly-valued gemstones, creativity, heritage and savoir-faire. Taking place at Jeddah Hilton and running until May 11, this is the first time the prestigious jewellery exhibition will be held in the kingdoms second city. Moving to Riyadh The subsequent week, the event will move to Riyadhs Al Faisaliah Hotel, where it will open to the public from May 16 to 19. Designed to create a platform for conversation in the luxury jewellery space, Jeddah and Riyadh International Luxury Weeks are the largest of their kind to ever be held in Saudi Arabia. As part of the event programme, a series of Educational Seminars will be held in both cities. On the second day of the show in Jeddah, entrepreneur and jewellery maker Lilian Ismail and GIA-certified jewellery professional, writer and trainer Seema Haji will address current industry topics such as Innovation in Jewellery Design, The Art of Jewellery Making, and Trends in Sustainability & Ethically Sourced Materials. Riyadh seminars The Riyadh seminars will be held on May 17 and 18, opened by Krayem AlEnazi, President of the National committee for Precious Metals and Gemstones - Federation of Saudi Chambers. Guest of honour Ishaia Gol, New York based world-renowned diamond dealer, will join Ziad Khalid, GIA graduate and senior instructor at Danat, the Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones, and Dr Manal Saleh, Owner of Pearls Story boutique, touching on Buying Gemstones, Natural Pearls, The World of Coloured Diamonds, and Natural, Lab-grown & Imitation Diamonds, amongst other topics. Saudi International Luxury Week is supported by Platinum sponsor Al Rajhi Bank, as well as Lucid Motors, The National Committee for Precious Metals & Gemstones, Danat - Bahrain Institute for Pearls and Gemstones, Store Makers Middle East, and MPP-ME Arabian Watches & Jewellery Magazine.-- TradeArabia News Service People from all walks of life yesterday travelled to Gutu to bid farewell to the late liberation hero Cde Tongai Muzenda, who was buried at Chingito Farm, Tariro Village, near Mpandawana Town. People from all walks of life yesterday travelled to Gutu to bid farewell to the late liberation hero Cde Tongai Muzenda, who was buried at Chingito Farm, Tariro Village, near Mpandawana Town. Cde Muzenda (57), who was the last born to the late Vice President and national hero Dr Simon Vengesai Muzenda, died on Wednesday last week in a car crash on his way home in Harare. President Mnangagwa conferred liberation hero status on Cde Muzenda in recognition of his outstanding service to the development of post-independent Zimbabwe, which he served in various capacities. The late Cde Muzenda was general manager of the Minerals Marketing Corporation of Zimbabwe at the time of his demise. He previously served as Gutu West Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Labour, Public Service and Social Welfare. The late MMCZ boss was given a perfect send off by people from all walks of life, including senior Zanu PF and Government officials who thronged Chingito Farm to pay their last respects. Among those present at the burial were Zanu PF Politburo members Cde Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Cde Lovemore Matuke, Cde Sydney Sekeramayi, Cde Paul Mangwana, Cde Ottilia Maluleke and Cde John Paradza. Three Cabinet ministers July Moyo of Local Government and Public Works, Sekai Nzenza of Industry and Commerce and Winston Chitando of Mines and Mining Development were also present. President Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga had led the nation in mourning the late Cde Muzenda who they hailed for having served his motherland with distinction. Speakers paid tribute to Cde Muzenda for his conspicuous humility and high work ethic. Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira thanked President Mnangagwa for honouring the late Cde Muzenda by according him liberation hero status. This is a loss not only for the Muzenda family, but indeed a loss of all the people in this province, he said. Let us gear ourselves to pick up from where he left and make sure that everything that he wished for his family is indeed achieved and fulfilled. That is the least we can do for this great man. His untimely death has indeed left a huge void difficult to fill at a time we need gallant machinists to advocate and implement His Excellency the Presidents Vision of making Zimbabwe an upper middle income economy by 2030. The loss of cadres like Cde Muzenda was painful and came at a time when people like him were at the forefront of building Zimbabwe in the face of stumbling blocks being thrown in the way by the countrys detractors to derail its inevitable march towards prosperity. As a way of honouring gallant sons like the late Cde Muzenda, Minister Chadzamira urged Zimbabweans to remain united and to never surrender in the face of hostility from the countrys enemies, saying programmes like the Transitional Stabilisation Programme enunciated by Government had set the country on a growth trajectory. The roll out of landmark projects by President Mnangagwas administration such as the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge highway upgrading was testament that Zimbabwe is forging ahead towards prosperity using local resources and expertise. Minister Chadzamira narrated Cde Muzendas history from the beginning up to his unfortunate demise. He described him as a personal and professional friend. Minister Chitando told mourners of how he worked together with Cde Muzenda in the mining industry for 10 years before they separated. He said he was saddened by the untimely death of Cde Muzenda, who was now superintending over the sale, locally and externally, of the countrys minerals at MMCZ. Cde Muzenda was born on 11 August 1965 and held an Economics degree from the University of Zimbabwe. In 2002, he relocated to Gutu where he was a farmer, before that he had already started actively participating in Zanu PF politics where he had risen to become the Deputy Chair of the Zanu PF Youth League in Gweru. He continued his active participation in politics as a Zanu PF member culminating in his election as MP for Gutu West in the 2013 harmonised elections. He was also appointed Deputy Minister of Labour and Public Service after those elections. He was also a business and marketing leader with experience spanning 30 years in such sectors like mining, agriculture and public service. Cde Muzenda is survived by his wife Constance and two children. Herald Twitter Co-founder Jack Dorsey has admitted that the micro-blogging platform is performing poorly under Elon Musk, and blamed Twitter board for forcing the $44 billion sale to Tesla CEO. Dorsey now uses his new micro-blogging platform called Bluesky that is now available for Android users. Responding to a question from Bluesky user Jason Goldman regarding whether he felt that Musk proved the 'best possible' steward for the platform, Dorsey said: "No. Nor do I think he acted right after realising his timing was bad. Nor do I think the board should have forced the sale. It all went south". "But it happened and all we can do now is build something to avoid that ever happening again. So I'm happy Jay and team and nostr devs exist and are building it," Dorsey added. He also said that Twitter "never would've survived as a public company". After completing his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter, Musk has taken it private. Also Read Twitter removes legacy blue ticks for thousands; all you need to know How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? End to Twitter's legacy blue checkmarks; Pope losses tick, LeBron retains Elon Musk defends former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, says he has a pure heart Twitter Blue 'verification' rolled out in India, to cost Rs 719 per month Climate change sparks disaster fears in Anchorage Hillside, Alaska Mark Zuckerberg learns sewing; Starts designing, 3D printing dresses King Charles III's Coronation screen to have Commonwealth symbolism Federal Reserve seen boosting rates even as economic risks build in US Texas man kills 5 neighbours, including 8-yr-old boy on complain of gunfire Bluesky, backed by Dorsey, offers a host of new features and was initially launched to the iOS users in February in a closed beta. The platform aims to give users algorithmic choice, and includes basic tools for tracking likes or bookmarks, editing tweets, quote-tweeting, DMs, using hashtags and more. The app offers a simplified user interface where you can click a plus button to create a post of 256 characters, which can include photos. While Twitter asks "What's happening?", Bluesky asks "What's up?" The Bluesky project originated with Twitter in 2019, but the company was established in 2022 as an independent company focused on decentralised social network R&D. Bluesky last year received $13 million in funding with Dorsey on its board. --IANS na/prw/dpb President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks on Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the US and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the US access to four more bases on the islands as the US looks to deter China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Also Read Philippine Supreme Court voids oil exploration pact involving China India will not be a US ally, it will be another great power: White House China, Japan trade accusations over infringement on maritime territory US President Biden urged to craft grand strategy to counter Chinese threat US holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions over balloon spy US regulators racing to find a rescuer to buy First Republic Bank Emergency medical aid supplies reach Sudan, as fighting sputters on Sudan crisis: Fighting continues, ceasefire set to end at midnight Pak President Alvi returns bill seeking amendments to anti-corruption laws UBS looks to bring Tom Naratil back and mulls Swiss bank spin-off Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The US president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbours. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos' four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guard's BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close US-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A US appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about USD 2 billion against the elder Marcos' estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the UN General Assembly, where the US president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. The cloth screen to be used for the most sacred part of the religious ceremony at the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6 will have strong Commonwealth symbolism with each of the member-country names, including India, sewn into the fabric, Buckingham Palace has revealed. The "anointing screen" was unveiled this weekend to show a central design of a tree with branches filled with 56 leaves representing the Commonwealth nations, which the palace said is reflective of the 74-year-old monarch's "deep affection" for the organisation. The anointing, historically regarded as a moment between the Sovereign and God with a screen or canopy in place given its sanctity, takes place before the crowning of a British monarch. Each and every element of the design has been specifically chosen to symbolise aspects of this historic Coronation and the Commonwealth, from the birds that symbolise the joy and interaction among members of a community living in harmony, to the rejoicing angels and the dove that represents the Holy Spirit, said Aidan Hart, the Designer and Iconographer behind the project. During the anointing ceremony, the Dean of Westminster pours holy oil from the Ampulla into the Coronation Spoon, and the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints the Sovereign on the hands, chest and head. Ahead of the big day next Saturday, the screen was blessed at a special service of dedication at the Chapel Royal at St. James's Palace in London. The individual leaves were embroidered by staff and students from the Royal School of Needlework, as well as members of the Worshipful Company of Broderers, Drapers and Weavers. Also Read Armed forces veterans, get prime spots at King Charles Coronation Sunak, wife Akshata to lead with UK flag at King Charles III's Coronation Judgement a reminder that fugitives can't be considered above process: CBI UK's Cornwall rocket launch ends in failure after suffering 'anomaly' Hike in royalty payout to parent could weigh on Hindustan Unilever margins Federal Reserve seen boosting rates even as economic risks build in US Texas man kills 5 neighbours, including 8-yr-old boy on complain of gunfire China's factory activity contracts as economy struggles to sustain momentum China's factory activity contracts as economy struggles to sustain momentum US firms prioritize others over China: American Chamber of Commerce China It has been a wonderful collaborative project to be involved with, and an exciting celebration of craft techniques. The leaves were a particular pleasure as they were worked on by multiple embroiderers, said Anne Butcher, Head of Studio and Standards at the Royal School of Needlework. The materials used to create the screen have also been sourced sustainably from across the UK and other Commonwealth nations, with the cloth made of wool from Australia and New Zealand and woven and finished in UK mills. The script used for the names of each Commonwealth country has been designed as modern and classical, inspired by both the Roman Trojan column letters and the work of Welsh calligrapher David Jones. The palace revealed that the screen combines traditional and contemporary sustainable embroidery practices and has been gifted for the occasion by the City of London Corporation and City Livery Companies. While many things have changed since the last Coronation, one thing that remains the same is the City's unstinting loyalty to and support for the Monarchy, said Nicholas Lyons, the Lord Mayor of the City of London. The screen is supported by a wooden pole framework, designed and created by Nick Gutfreund of the Worshipful Company of Carpenters, and the oak wooden poles are made from a windblown tree from the Windsor Estate, which was originally planted by the Duke of Northumberland in 1765. I'm so pleased we were able to use sustainable materials at the heart of the screen, including using a windblown tree from the Windsor Estate for the wooden frame, said Project Lead Nick Gutfreund. Also forming part of the Commonwealth tree are the King's Cypher, decorative roses, angels and a scroll. The screen is three-sided, with the open side to face the High Altar in Westminster Abbey. The two sides of the screen feature a much simpler design than the front, with maroon fabric and a gold, blue and red cross. It has been revealed earlier that the predominantly Christian Coronation ceremony will also have multi-faith elements, including a multi-faith procession and representatives of the Hindu, Muslim and Jewish faiths handing over key royal regalia to the King at the altar. Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel has been discharged from a hospital in New Delhi after undergoing treatment for a chest-related ailment and he will return to Kathmandu on Sunday night, the President's Office said. Paudel, 78, was airlifted to India on April 19 for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi, after he complained of shortness of breath. "President Paudel is flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday through the regular flight of Nepal Airlines after he was discharged from the hospital following his successful treatment," the President's Office said in a statement here. He has gone through various health check-ups and treatment at the AIIMS, the statement said. Doctors involved in Paudel's treatment have advised him to rest for a few more weeks. "His health conditions have now improved significantly, said the statement issued by the President's Office Spokesperson Sagar Acharya. Also Read Senior leader Ram Chandra Paudel sworn in as Nepal's third President Nepal Prez Paudel airlifted from Kathmandu, to be admitted to AIIMS Nepal plane crash: At least 68 dead, rescuers search for 4 missing persons President Droupadi Murmu speaks to Nepal counterpart Ram Chandra Paudel AIIMS INI SS July 2023: Check how to download admit card released today Chinese who reported on Covid-19 outbreak to be released after 3 years Six students shot, wounded at Mississippi house party, says report Shooting kills 2 men, injures 3rd victim in Seattle park, says police Chinese hackers outnumber FBI cyber staff 50 to one: FBI director Wray Wall Street darlings, ESG-focused funds may be on the way out: Report President Paudel has thanked Nepalese and Indian health personnel involved in his treatment, government officials, security personnel, all brothers and sisters from within and outside the country who have expressed concern about his health and the government of India, the statement added. Paudel's family sources confirmed that the president would be flying back to Kathmandu at 8:30 pm on Sunday via a regular flight of the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines. He was admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu on April 18 after he complained of health problems and was referred to AIIMS, New Delhi, for further treatment after he was found to have developed a lung infection. Paudel of the Nepali Congress was elected as the president of Nepal last month, in a relief to the fragile coalition government. Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, successfully evacuated 288 stranded Indians under Operation Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. This is the 14th batch of stranded citizens heading to Jeddah. "14th batch of Indians leaves Port Sudan under #OperationKaveri. 288 passengers onboard INS Teg are enroute to Jeddah," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Previously, INS Sumedha, which is stationed at Port Sudan, had also left the crisis-hit country with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. As many as 2,400 Indians have evacuated from Sudan, where the country is experiencing bloodshed as a result of clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. "Nearly 2,400 Indians evacuated! INS Sumedha departs from Port Sudan with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. 13th batch of Indians evacuated under #OperationKaveri," Bagchi said in a tweet on Friday. Also Read Operation Kaveri: INS Teg reaches Sudan with relief material for Indians Operation Kaveri: How India is rescuing its citizens amid crisis in Sudan Operation Kaveri: 1st batch of stranded Indians leaves Sudan in naval ship How the world backed two generals, and put Sudan on the path to war Centre monitors evacuation of Indians from Sudan, 600 reach home: Kwatra Biden's economic diplomacy push with China sends high risk, low reward New Orleans restaurant shooting kills waiter, wounds Chicago tourist Death toll in clashes rises to 528, 4,599 injured: Sudanese health ministry Fire erupts at Crimea oil depot as hit by Ukraine's drone: Russian official 2024 polls Trump-Biden rematch: Majority of Americans prefer new candidates The Indian government under Operation Kaveri, is set to evacuate about 3,000 Indian-origin passengers from Sudan. On Saturday evening, a total of 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri. "More Indians come back home under #OperationKaveri. 365 passengers have just landed in New Delhi," External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar tweeted on Saturday. "Another flight carrying Indian evacuees departs from Jeddah to New Delhi. 365 passengers onboard this 6th outbound flight are on their way back home," MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. On Saturday morning, a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers evacuated from conflict-torn Sudan, reached New Delhi. The Indian evacuees shouted slogans like "Bharat Mata ki jai," and "Vande Mataram" and also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for rescuing them from Sudan under Operation Kaveri. Under Operation Kaveri, a total of 1,191 passengers have been evacuated from Sudan of which 117 are currently under quarantine as they are not vaccinated against Yellow Fever. The passengers will be released after seven days if they remain asymptomatic, according to an official press release. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed as a result of clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Even though there is a 72-hour ceasefire, there have been allegations of violence. 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. US intelligence documents have been leaked on the Discord messaging platform revealing conversations between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his junior Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on the foreign policy matters, according to a media report on Sunday. In one internal memo titled 'Pakistan's Difficult Choices', parts of which were published by the Washington Post on Sunday, Khar cautions that Pakistan should avoid giving the impression of "appeasing" the West, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. She warns that the country can no longer attempt to maintain a middle ground between regional neighbour China and the US. In the memo, Khar argues that preserving Pakistan's partnership with the US would ultimately sacrifice the full benefits of its "real strategic" partnership with China. The undated document does not specify how the US obtained access to Khar's memo, a report published by the Washington Post revealed. The leak of US intelligence documents, posted largely on social media websites, was believed to be the most serious security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. Also Read World sees Pakistan as 'epicentre' of terrorism, says EAM Jaishankar Pak summons Afghan diplomat to convey anguish over attack on envoy in Kabul Pakistan PM Shehbaz ready to sacrifice political capital at IMF altar Ex-Pak Prez Zardari rules out possibility of contesting elections with PDM Decision on next Pakistan Army chief being made in London: Imran Khan ESMA row: EU banks likely to turn Indian entities into subsidiaries Joe Biden, Ferdinand Marcos set to meet as tensions grow with China US regulators racing to find a rescuer to buy First Republic Bank Emergency medical aid supplies reach Sudan, as fighting sputters on Sudan crisis: Fighting continues, ceasefire set to end at midnight The episode embarrassed the US by revealing its spying on allies, including Pakistan, and the purported military vulnerabilities of Ukraine. The leaked documents provide a rare glimpse into the private calculations made by influential regional powers such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and Egypt. The documents also offer new insights into the obstacles that the Biden administration faces in securing global support for its efforts. Another leaked document related to Pakistan dated February 17 describes Prime Minister Sharif's deliberations with an unnamed subordinate about an upcoming UN vote on the Ukraine conflict. The document says that an aide advised Sharif that support for the measure would signal a shift in Pakistan's position, jeopardising its ability to negotiate trade and energy deals with Russia. Pakistan was among the 32 countries that abstained when the UN General Assembly vote took place on February 23. The Post report further said that Pakistani officials as well as those from other countries named in the leaked documents declined to comment. The story emerges at a time when Washington has already confirmed that it has no objections to Pakistan's decision to import oil from Moscow. "Each country will make its own sovereign decisions regarding its energy supply," US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a weekly briefing. According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Matias Spektor, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said developing nations are recalibrating their positions as America faces potent new competition from China and Russia. "It's unclear who will end up in a pole position in 10 years' time, so they need to diversify their risk and hedge their bets," Spektor told the Post. Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned a bill to the parliament about changes in the anti-corruption laws with observation that a similar previous amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court and was still sub-judice. The bill called the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed earlier this month by the parliament and it was sent to President Alvi for his endorsement to become an act. The bill not only empowers the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief to transfer corruption cases involving allegations of less than Rs500 million to the relevant agency, authority or department but also to close down pending inquiries and investigations. "The president sent back the bill to Parliament under Article 75 (president's assent to bills) of the Constitution, the President's Office said in a tweet. It added that the President stated that previous amendments to the NAB law were already under hearing in the Supreme Court and any more changes in the accountability laws without reviewing the effects of a pending matter should be reviewed once again. The government last year passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 to restrict the NAB's role in corruption cases of over Rs500 million and taking away the president's authority to appoint accountability court judges. The law also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau's prosecutor general to three years. Also Read Pak President Alvi returns to Parl Bill curtailing chief justice's powers PTI to write to Pak Prez Arif Alvi about Punjab caretaker govt's tenure Shehbaz govt to table Pak SC bill in joint session of parliament today Pak President Alvi okays appointment of Asim Munir as Chief of Army Staff Two HC judges elevated to SC, total strength of apex court reaches 34 UBS looks to bring Tom Naratil back and mulls Swiss bank spin-off Nepal's President Paudel discharged from AIIMS, to return home tonight Chinese who reported on Covid-19 outbreak to be released after 3 years Six students shot, wounded at Mississippi house party, says report Shooting kills 2 men, injures 3rd victim in Seattle park, says police Alvi had refused to sign the bill and it became a law after the joint session of the Parliament on June 10 last year approved it. However, former premier Imran Khan challenged it in the Supreme Court where it is still pending adjudication. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party allege that the ruling alliance is tweaking the anti-corruption laws to wriggle out of several graft cases but the government rejects the argument by saying that it is reducing the unnecessary intrusion of NAB powers that hamper business and investment. Environmental, social, and governance-focused funds, which were once deemed the darlings of Wall Street, may be on the way out, media reports said. They're currently weathering a "perfect storm of negative sentiment," said Robert Jenkins, head of global research at Lipper, a financial data provider, CNN reported. Despite the gloomy forecast, Jenkins remains optimistic. He sees this as a natural phase of the market's evolution. A new, more efficient system is taking shape that incorporates ESG standards into the bedrock of stock valuations, he said. ESG investing as a separate entity could be on its way out, but the approach was wrong to begin with, said Jenkins. Instead, it should be integrated into the fundamental analysis of every investor. Total assets under management in ESG funds fell by about $163.2 billion globally during the first quarter of 2023 from the year before, CNN reported. In March alone, total assets under management in the responsible investments fund market fell by $6.8 billion. Also Read Why a WSJ writer considers BJP 'most important foreign political party'? US retail giant Best Buy to lay off hundreds of employees amid inflation Twitter removes 'government-funded' news labels from all media accounts Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia, US condemns strongly Wall Street drops as job gains fuel rate-hike worries; Nasdaq falls 1.2% Chinese hackers outnumber FBI cyber staff 50 to one: FBI director Wray Nearly 80% of iPhone users own Apple Watch, highest share of any brand Vroom lays off 11% of workforce as part of 'organisational restructuring' Media publishers can soon charge users per article per click on Twitter New York, New Jersey issue resolutions in honour of 100th Mann Ki Baat It's not that the funds are underperforming, either. The average overall return for these funds was 2.2 per cent in March - outperforming the 12-month moving average return for the wider market by 2.8 percentage points. Instead, a confluence of political, geopolitical and market events has severely damaged interest in ESG investing, CNN reported. Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine forced traders to reconsider investing in energy and weapons stocks. Responsible investing funds also came up against mighty economic headwinds last year. These funds' outsized investments in tech stocks and lack of energy stocks (which was the only positive sector in 2022), led to noticeable losses last year, CNN reported. "I think ESG was overly trendy and it got caught up in itself," said Jenkins. "I was going to conferences two to three years ago, and I remember walking out and thinking 'these guys aren't saying anything new or different. They're all saying the same thing," CNN reported. Companies jumped on to the bandwagon and greenwashing, a marketing tactic to appear environmentally conscious in investments, became prevalent. That, in turn, hurt the movement's reputation. ESG won't be as glamorous as it was before, but it won't be a politically explosive term either, CNN reported. "It's actually going to fade a little bit from its marquee nature, it's just going to be a part of sound business strategy and management," said Jenkins. "They're just going to be put alongside all the other fundamental analytics that we're so used to hearing about, your earnings-per-share and your GAAP accounting. ESG ratings will just become part of that toolkit for investment managers." --IANS san/svn/ 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. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are "two troubled but fascinating human beings", according to the author of a new book. The 59-year-old actor and Amber, 37, were both involved in two high-profile court cases following their divorce in 2017 - but Nick Wallis insists he never found the trials to be "sordid or grim". Nick - whose new book is called 'Depp v Heard: The Unreal Story' - told the Daily Mail newspaper: "I thought they were two troubled but fascinating human beings, trying to find their way in the world. "They went through an extraordinary process, played out on a global stage." The two trials - the first of which was held in London and the second in Virginia - created headlines around the world, with lurid details being revealed about their turbulent relationship. But Nick - who covered both trials exhaustively - insists it never became "sordid or grim" at any stage. Depp was awarded over $10 million in damages after suing his ex-wife over an op-ed that she wrote in 2018 about being a victim of domestic violence. Camille Vasquez, the actor's lawyer, subsequently claimed that he was enjoying a "sense of peace" after winning his defamation case. She told Hola USA: "The court was very kind to provide us with a room that we used for lunch and meetings and when we FaceTimed him he was so relieved, happy and grateful. "It was nice to see him smile. "A mutual friend told me, 'I havent seen Johnny smile like that in six years.' "Its true, theres a sense of peace to him now that he just didnt have before. "He was able to tell his story and was infinitely grateful and moved. We all were. I still get a bit emotional about it to give him his life back." Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits. Fanatics will never learn that, though it be written in letters of gold across the sky. It is the prohibition that makes anything precious - Mark Twain Last month, my mom passed away. Since we were estranged lately by my own - now indescribably regrettable - choice, I never had the opportunity to say goodbye or so much more. I was raised by my grandparents and was shielded growing up but knew on some level as both my parents struggled with substance abuse, with dad dying when I was seven and my mom too often finding a system offering incarceration rather than treatment. I cannot help but dwell on the complex factors that contributed to their fates and reflect on one in particular: Drugs. In just the first 10 weeks of 2023, the Lookout Mountain Judicial Task Force investigated 15 fentanyl cases in Walker County. Compare this to the mere 10 cases throughout all of 2022. The unincorporated regions of the county have witnessed medical calls skyrocket to nearly 40 percent of last year's total in just the first 10 weeks of 2023. Indeed, the United States finds itself in the grip of a drug epidemic. In 2021, over 106,000 lives were lost nationally, with Georgia and Tennessee each accounting for over 3,000 of those. And despite President Nixon declaring the national War on Drugs more than 50 years ago, taxpayers continue to foot the ever-growing bill. Before we plunge headlong into yet another misguided "solution," let's take a step back and ask the fundamental question that's often overlooked: Why are these substances illegal, and is their prohibition justifiable? It is a futile endeavor to find a justifiable reason for outlawing certain substances for individual consumption while permitting others. It's even more preposterous to argue that force should be employed to prevent a sane adult from consuming whatever they wish, let alone for the government to enforce such prohibitions. "Nobody but a fool or an impostor pretends that he, as an individual, has a right to punish other men for their vices." - Lysander Spooner Alcohol, tobacco, sugar, and caffeine - just like all of these illegal substances - possess the capacity to alter our consciousness and carry health risks. It's not the government's job or anyone else's to determine the moral value or merit of these habits. Instead, each person has the right to decide what brings joy and happiness to their life. Its worth noting what role choices play in personal health beyond the decision to consume or not consume illegal drugs. Every year since 1999, the death rate due to diabetes has remained steady and significantly above drug overdose death rates. If life is what matters, is anyone up for a ban on sugar? Do we have the right to wield the power of government to prevent an individual from consuming substances we arbitrarily decide are bad? I think not. The prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s provides a cautionary tale, one that was sadly ignored in the ongoing War on Drugs. The disastrous experiment led to a surge in organized crime and started the growth of federal law enforcement agencies yet to find any check on expansion. The enforcement of Prohibition began leniently, allowing black markets and bootlegging to thrive. However, as enforcement ramped up, consumption remained unaffected, and the potency of illegal alcohol increased. Economists and social scientists studying the Prohibition era later introduced "The Iron Law of Prohibition," which posits that when drugs or alcohol are prohibited, black markets produce more potent and concentrated forms due to their efficiency in storage, transportation, and sales. Increasing law Law Enforcement >> Increasing Cost of Illegality >> Increasing Potency of Substance. "But we can't legalize drugs!" cry the naysayers. To them, I say yes, we can and we must. As a Republican, I find it disheartening that we champion a pro-life stance on abortion while promoting policies that criminalize personal habits and destroy lives. We can become a truly life-affirming party. "We'll turbocharge addiction across the country!" some fear. This is unlikely. In the 2012 GOP primary debate in South Carolina, Chris Wallace posed the question to Ron Paul. His response asking if anyone would go out and do heroin tomorrow if it was suddenly legal nailed it. No matter the number of users, individual users would be much better off if drugs were legal. Today, addicts face exorbitant prices, unknown and adulterated drug quality, and are driven to criminality and danger to support their habit. The lessons from Prohibition reveal that we cannot eradicate the drug trade and certainly have no business coercing drug abstinence. As long as drugs remain illegal and mountains of money are involved, it is pointless to expect an end to drug traffic or even a significant reduction. The Iron Law of Prohibition warns us of the consequences if we persist on this path, with even more potent opioids waiting in the wings to replace fentanyl. Instead, let's advocate for drug legalization, regulate them just like alcohol and other substances, eradicate the stigma individuals face, put an end to family destruction, deliver a crushing blow to drug cartels, save countless lives, and jumpstart economic growth, innovation, and research. In writing this piece, it gnawed at me that all of this was known three decades ago when my parents first confronted their own battles with substance abuse, facing a public more inclined to stigmatize than comprehend and a system that worked against them and countless others. Would they still be alive today, and would their lives have taken a different path had the general public and leaders set aside their personal biases, acknowledged the facts, altered drug policies, and reaffirmed our commitment to limited government predicated on the consent of the governed? It's entirely possible. Change on this issue will not originate from a political party or elected leaders and officials; it is the public, the communities, the neighbors, and the individual citizen that must serve as the catalyst, driving our leaders to implement these transformative changes. Elliot Pierce elliotpierce1@gmail.com * * * Elliot Pierce, please take this as a response to your opinion letter today, but not to you. You articulated your ideology very well, and even the most casual reader with rudimentary skill in processing thought would find it about the same as I have, absolutely guano, so I wont try to change your thinking. To everyone else a society with law becomes a lawless society. You asked the question, would more people have been alive today had we not prohibited the use of certain drugs. Again, to anyone who doesnt know the answer to this, it is NO, NO, and NO. The same would apply to a speed limit for vehicular traffic, just as it would for those crazy yellow lines in the center of the road. We have all exceeded the speed limit at one time or another and we have all crossed the yellow line. Even so, we dont want the speed limit removed or the yellow lines to go away. We still find value in them, just as we do limiting certain drugs being sold and used without restriction. Again, you opinion letter is well written and shows you to be articulate. The length you went to explaining your ideology adds no credit to it. If length of articulation would have always been necessary, the Gettysburg Address would have been much longer, but the words written and spoken by Abraham Lincoln were some of the best ever spoken. General U.S. Grant's terms of surrender for General Robert E. Lee were written on a small note and contained very few words, but they helped end the Civil War and begin the reuniting of our country. It is my hope and prayer, for our great country, that your words will be dismissed by its readers. J. Pat Williams * * * Wow, I never thought that I would 100 percent agree with a Republican about anything, but I am with you 100 percent, Mr. Pierce. In addition to your excellent points, I add that the near anarchy of Central America and Mexico is driven by the highly lucrative illegal drug business. This nasty business is creating murderous war zones where peaceful communities should exist thus creating refugees in massive numbers seeking escape to safer land (the USA). Thanks, Mr. Pierce, for your insight. Robert Landry, M.D. US Auto Sales is closing 30 dealerships, including the one at 5950 Lee Highway in Chattanooga. Officials said the closure is "for the foreseeable future." Employees are to be furloughed without pay. The website for the local dealership says it is "closed temporarily." Police received reports of a white male who was harassing the manager of Douglas Heights while she was working. The manager said she just wanted the man to move along. Police spoke to the man, who said that he was just trying to help her with the garbage. He agreed to go to his apartment (same location) and leave the manager alone. * * * A woman on Lake Lane told police that over a period of three months, someone used her information to open an account with AT&T. She said the person then charged approximately $150 to the account. * * * An employee of University Motors, 5725 Lee Hwy., reported that there had been an accident in front of the business. During the recovery of the vehicle, American Recovery lost control of the wrecked vehicle, which then crashed on University Motor's fencing, causing $1,500 of damage. * * * A woman told police she was staying at the Residence Inn, 2340 Center St., overnight. She said sometime during the night, someone entered her unlocked 2009 Kia Vorrego and stole her wallet and iPad. Inside of her wallet were her ID cards and credit/debit cards. There is no suspect information available. * * * While on patrol, police observed a silver Chrysler 300 displaying an expired Tennessee license plate traveling south on Tunnel Boulevard. Police initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the vehicle and its operator. Upon contact with the passenger side of the vehicle, police observed a firearm in an opened backpack in the passenger floorboard. The officer was provided consent to secure the firearm and operator identification was conducted. The firearm was a wrapped Canik 9mm pistol and the operator was identified. Investigation utilizing county court dispositions, Tennessee Crime Portal and Watson found the man was not a prohibited possessor of the firearm. The firearm was returned and he was provided a warning for the expired license plate. * * * The business manager at a store at 1110 Market St. told police a possible known suspect entered the store at approximately 1:15 p.m. and grabbed six crochet tank top shirts valued at $148 each. The man possessed and concealed these items, passing all points of sale without offering payment. The manager gave police the name of the possible suspect. He was allegedly wearing a brown leather jacket with black pants. There was no video footage nor any further information regarding the suspect. * * * An anonymous caller on Ashton Street left found property for an officer. The officer located a Nike backpack with notebooks and an HP laptop. The only identification found in the bag was the name Kayden Phillips on a piece of paper. The items were taken to property for safekeeping. * * * A woman on Elaine Trail told police that two checks she had mailed were forged and deposited. Check #1563 was forged to $547.26 and cashed through Walmart. Check #1564 was forged to $145.24 and written to a Mark Ingles. There is no suspect information. * * * Police observed a red Hyundai Accent parked at the very back of the parking lot of 200 E. 37th St. (abandoned school building). The vehicle was located without a tag and the inside was stripped. The vehicle had been reported stolen by Rossville PD. RPD was notified by Dispatch and told to have the vehicle removed from NCIC, but that the tag would need to be entered as stolen. The vehicle was towed by United Wrecker. The owner (Enterprise Rental) was also notified. An empty pill bottle belonging to a woman was located empty inside of the vehicle. It is unclear if this woman was the renter of the vehicle. * * * A shoplifting was reported at the EZPAWN, 5712 Lee Hwy. Police spoke with store staff, who said a black male came in to the store and asked to see a gold necklace valued at $3,100. After picking up the necklace, the man balled it up in his hand and walked out the door without paying for or discarding the item. The man was then seen getting into a black sedan and traveling north on Lee Highway. Police checked the tag of the vehicle and it came back to a woman who was not observed to be in the vehicle with the man. It is unknown at this time who or where the suspect is, or where he went. Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation Businesses leaders and officials, Housing Authority officials and board members and Sallisaw city officials broke ground on the new Red Bird Smith Estates housing addition in Sallisaw. 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 Were sorry to hear that. Hope youll give us another try and check out some other articles. Return to homepage. Travel: Come for an old church, stay for the place With the peak travel season just around the corner, now is the time to start planning a summer getaway. The following three places in no particular ranking are worth visiting. While each place has a notable old church, tourists will find more to do and see than ecclesiastical architecture or objects of religious art. Fredericton, New Brunswick Fredericton, the provincial capital of Canadas New Brunswick, can feel more like a small town than a capital city. For many, the draw is Christ Church Cathedral (Anglican), a nearly identical copy of an English Gothic church from the 14th century. While smaller than more famous cathedrals, it punches well above its weight. If you didnt know better, Fredericton could be somewhere in New England. Thats because New Brunswick was founded by loyalists who fled to Canada after the American Revolution. Just down the street is the seat of the provinces temporal power, the Second Empire-style building housing the New Brunswick Legislature. Of course, like just about everything else in New Brunswick, the British influence is omnipresent. This includes the legislative chamber, where a portrait of George III by Sir Joshua Reynolds hangs next to a throne used when the lieutenant governor, as King Charles IIIs viceregal, opens the provincial parliament in a ceremony comparable to the presidents state of the union or a governors state of the state speech. Other sights include the old British military buildings of the Historic Garrison District. Here, a community market is held every Thursday in the summer. Then there is Government House, a kind of palace where the lieutenant governor lives and works. When in Fredericton, book a room at the Crowne Plaza Fredericton-Lord Beaverbrook Hotel. Some rooms face the St. John River. Fulton, Missouri This English baroque church overshadows the small liberal arts college that surrounds it. The Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury is one of the oldest churches anywhere in the United States. Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built after the Great Fire in 1666 destroyed a much-earlier medieval edifice, it served the needs of a London parish for three centuries until the Nazi Blitz in 1940. Largely destroyed the Portland stone walls remained standing it stood in a ruinous state until British authorities developed plans for resurrecting London. While other churches were rebuilt or restored, St. Mary the Virgin remained a bombed-out ruin until its acquisition by Westminster College historically a Presbyterian institution of higher education. Fulton was where Sir Winston Churchill delivered his 1946 speech titled Sinews of Peace. Speaking at the invitation of President Harry Truman, the legendary wartime prime minister warned of the Soviet Unions post-war expansionism and what later became the Cold War. Reopened on the Westminster campus in 1969, the church is part of the National Churchill Museum. Located in the undercroft of St. Mary the Virgin, the museum tells the story of Churchills fascinating life as a historian, journalist, politician, soldier and statesman. Then there is the church, which rivals any of the Wren churches in London. Outside on a plaza stands a sculpture by Edwina Sandys, a granddaughter of Churchill, made from eight sections of the Berlin Wall. Stay at the Loganberry Inn, a bed-and-breakfast and the best option in Fulton. You might even get the room where Margaret Thatcher once slept. Spokane, Washington Washington states second-biggest city is probably the last place you would expect to find one of the last examples of Gothic architecture. And yet, the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, which serves as the seat of the Episcopal (Anglican) bishop, is one of the finest examples of Gothic anywhere in the United States. I consider it Gothic and not Gothic revival because it was constructed entirely of masonry in the same manner as true medieval Gothic, which is pretty impressive considering the fact that traditional architecture was well out of fashion by the time of its construction between 1925 and 1961. Beyond the sacred space of the cathedral is a great city with lots to offer visitors. Spokane, which hosted the Expo 74, a successor to earlier worlds fairs and international expositions, truly has something for everyone to see and do. Just as worlds fairs in 1899 and 1900 gave Paris the Eiffel Tower and other iconic landmarks, Spokane, too, has its own iconic leftover: the one-time U.S. Pavilion that today anchors Riverfront Park. The once-neglected park, which occupies land formerly blighted by industry and railroads, straddles both sides of the Spokane River around the unoriginally named Spokane Falls. Here, a gondola, the Numerica SkyRide, takes passengers on a 15-minute scenic ride above the falls. No visit to Spokane would be complete without an adventure on its namesake river. A couple of different outfitters offer excursions ranging from stand-up paddleboards to whitewater rafting and casual floats. I went with the approximately two-hour float from Wiley E. Waters that can easily be done by anyone, including those with zero experience. Arguably, Spokanes hidden gem is her wine scene. Several wineries, including Arbor Crest Wine Cellars and Barrister Winery, are producing wines from grapes that are, admittedly, sourced from elsewhere in Washington State. The quality to say nothing of the value for money are superb. One of the best hotel options is The Historic Davenport, part of Marriotts Autograph Collection brand. Dennis Lennox writes a travel column for The Christian Post. Eunuchs, 'Frankenstein level stuff' and ISIS: This trans sci-fi horror story is real Picture a 4-year-old boy dressed head-to-toe in pink, saying: If you want girl parts and you dont have them, you can do special surgery where they turn your penis inside out and theres a vagina inside. Unfortunately, that chilling scenario actually happened, and an even more disturbing scenario, where such a surgery occurred, has reemerged this week. Those conscience-shocking words that came from the mouth of a 4-year-old child were captured on home video and the boy who said them is named Jonas. He is featured in the indie documentary Dead Name by Broken Hearted Films, which was released on Dec. 20 and is a poignant glimpse into the lives of three families that have been upended by transgender ideology. In the interest of full disclosure, this Christian Post journalist was also a contributor in the film. Little Jonas, who was being socially transitioned by both his mothers ex-wife and his day care, probably did not even know what a pronoun was when he casually explained this experimental body modification to his mom, who was desperately trying to protect him from irreversible medical harm. Jonas apparently learned about this surgery from a video that his moms ex had shown him. This was probably highly digitized promotional footage from a gender surgery center, which deceptively portrays these operations as clean and normal medical procedures, free from risks and complications. But the truth is an entirely different story. And prominent people are now noticing, including Twitters new sheriff, Elon Musk. According to The Post Millennial Monday, previously unknown details have surfaced about the death of an otherwise healthy 18-year-old boy who had undergone the very surgery Jonas described, a vaginoplasty. In 2016, this boy participated in a linchpin Dutch study, and prior to going under the knife, doctors had arrested his natural puberty with hormone-blocking agents. Due to this intervention, his secondary sex characteristics did not develop normally. Since his genitals did not mature, there was no usable tissue to fashion a simulacrum of a vagina during the penile inversion surgery. When this is the case, surgeons routinely use a swatch of bowel tissue, which smells of excrement given the presence of fecal bacteria. The Dutch medical report explains that problems arose within 24 hours of the surgery, a laparoscopic intestinal vaginoplasty, and the boy developed lethal necrotizing fasciitis, a condition where flesh-eating germs spread throughout his body causing sepsis and, ultimately, his death. An investigation into the boys death revealed that the strain of E. Coli that made his organs fail was from his own intestine. A Twitter thread that activist Chris Elston (also known as "Billboard Chris") assembled included gruesome photos of the infection and his maimed private anatomy was seen by millions of users and has been retweeted tens of thousands of times. Among those with the largest followings who retweeted the thread was the British rapper Zuby (of Nigerian ancestry) who voiced his disgust, calling it Frankenstein level stuff and grotesque. Musk reply-tweeted to Zuby: I agree, this is super messed up, adding that adults should be allowed to do whatever they want but that this boy was too young to consent. Concurrent with several states passing laws prohibiting such surgeries on minors, this episode is further evidence that an awakening of the masses is brewing. As more detransitioners have begun filing malpractice lawsuits and are speaking out about how they were harmed, it appears that the corporate press can no longer gloss over the emerging medical issues with euphemisms such as gender-affirming care. Who, indeed, can continue to sugarcoat the brazenness of figures like Dr. Sidhbh Gallager? Gallagher is a Miami-based plastic surgeon originally from Ireland who infamously markets trans surgeries to teenagers on TikTok. Earlier this month, thanks to the fearless reporting of Genevieve Gluck and journalists from Reduxx magazine, a wide audience saw Gallagher promoting eunuchs as gender-diverse people who might need gender-affirmation care in a video she posted. As Gallagher noted, the latest iteration of the Standards of Care from the World Professional Association of Transgender Health contains a chapter describing eunuchs in such terms. How did eunuch become a gender identity and who influenced this outlandish standard? Reduxx magazine uncovered last May how Version 8 of WPATH SOC received input from a group of academics and others who congregate on a website called the Eunuch Archive, a child castration fetish forum. One of the members of that site, Thomas W. Johnson, is a retired professor from California State University-Chico. This forum hosts and creates violent and graphic written pornography and the independent feminist publication documented over 3,000 pieces of fictional smut that detail the rape, torture, and killing of children and include narratives where doctors raped children whose puberty has been stunted. Content wherein children are castrated by force as part of a sadistic sexual torture ritual is also featured on the site. On one occasion, Johnson shared a video on the forum of Dr. Marci Bowers performing a trans surgery on a male. A screenshotted image of an exchange between Johnson who uses the moniker Jesus on the forum and fellow site user Allen shows Allen thanking Johnson (Jesus) for sharing the video, describing it as arousing to watch. Bowers is the same surgeon who performed the trans MTF surgery on TLC star Jazz Jennnings. Following that surgery, Jazzs postoperative wound split open. More eerily still, Johnson co-authored a 2014 op-ed with another Eunuch Archive member, Richard Wassersug of the University of British Columbia, that was reprinted in the Washington Post explaining how the one thing the Islamic State lacked in order to complete its caliphate was eunuchs. Both of those men have released academic research justifying the pedophilic fantasies amongst castration fetishists, according to Reduxx, notably a 2015 paper titled The Sexual Side of Castration Narratives, in which fictional child sexual abuse material was called therapeutic for those with eunuch ideations. Both men have been invited to speak at WPATH conferences, including the 2011 gathering in Atlanta when Gender Identity Disorder was declassified as a psychological condition and was replaced with gender dysphoria as the recommended terminology. Falling down this rabbit hole is not for the faint of heart. It has brought together an unusual motley crew of people who, despite profound differences, cannot and will not be silent. It is a veritable ragtag army of conservative evangelicals, Roman Catholics, religiously observant Jews, far-left radical feminists (called TERFs), women's rights campaigners, dissident lesbians and gay men, some atheists, distraught parents, and the inestimable J.K. Rowling. Those of us who have peered into this abyss have seen and heard things that will haunt us for decades and it has often felt like we are screaming helplessly into the void. But giving up is not an option and, at long last, we are finally being heard. It is incumbent upon those of us who have refused to be quiet to persist and honor the memory of everyone that has been shattered by this scourge. This includes the teen boy who died of sepsis in the Dutch study, the victims of Sidhbh Gallager and WPATHs filth, and the fractured families such as those seen in Dead Name. We must keep telling the unvarnished truth no matter the cost. Myth 18: Divorce is the unpardonable sin and 'God hates divorce' Myth: God forbids all divorce, and divorce is an unpardonable sin. Truth: Scripture shows that God gives permission for divorce. And modern Bible translations NIV, ESV, and CSB do not translate Malachi 2:16 as God saying "I hate divorce." In my interviews with Christian divorcees, Ive often heard that they stayed in an unfaithful or abusive marriage for decades because they were taught that divorce was an unpardonable sin. This myth says that all divorce is forbidden by God, sinful, and unpardonable in Gods eyes. Or, similarly, it says that Jesus or Paul never mention the topic of physical or emotional abuse, so it must not be a biblical reason for divorce. In reality, Scripture shows us Gods permission for divorce in several places. It is a mercy that God gives to oppressed spouses. In addition to adultery, sexual immorality, and abandonment, emotional and physical abuse is mentioned in the Old Testament and repeated in the New Testament. Some of us haven't noticed it because we arent looking for it. (Below is a short explanation. See this 1-hour video, "Divorce as God's Protection of Women in the Bible," or read Chapter 6 in The Life-Saving Divorce book for a longer one). Jesus specifically allowed divorce for infidelity: Matthew 19:9 (ESV): "And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." Note that Jesus does not say this is the only reason for divorce. We find other reasons for divorce in Scripture. The Apostle Paul allowed divorce for abandonment: 1 Corinthians 7:14-15 (NIV): "For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. Yet if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace." The Law of Moses allowed divorce (and actually commanded divorce) for breaking any of the three marriage vows in Exodus 21:10: food, clothing, and "marital rights," which in this verse, can be defined as love, as we read in the New Testament passages earlier. Exodus 21:10-11 (ESV): "If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish [the first wifes] food, her clothing, or her marital rights. And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money." In the Book of Exodus, if a man took a second wife, it was against Gods command to reduce the first wifes food, clothing, or marital rights (love). He was not allowed to demote her to slave status. If he was unwilling to treat her as a wife, he had to let her go so she could marry someone who would treat her properly. The same was true for a prisoner-of-war wife who was captured during a battle. If a man took a captive as his wife, he had to do her the honor of letting her mourn before sleeping with her. As his wife, she must be treated properly. The Law of Moses required divorce in cases where a man reduced his wife to a slave or tried to sell her. He had to let her go and give her the freedom to marry someone else. The husband could not treat this woman any way he wanted. She was either a wife with rights, or she had to be set free. " if you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife. Bring her into your home and have her shave her head, trim her nails and put aside the clothes she was wearing when captured. After she has lived in your house and mourned her father and mother for a full month, then you may go to her and be her husband and she shall be your wife. If you are not pleased with her, let her go wherever she wishes. You must not sell her or treat her as a slave, since you have dishonored her." Deuteronomy 21:11-14 (NIV). This sounds like abusive marriages today where a woman has no voice and no power. All she can do is obey, like a slave. Read more about this in Chapter 6 of the Life-Saving Divorce book, which looks at many Bible verses on divorce (including verses you may never have read before). When a man chooses to be abusive, he breaks the covenant. An abusive man forfeits the right to remain married ...m Justin and Lindsey A. Holcomb [1] How can we be so sure that physical abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, substance abuse, and severe neglect are serious in God's eyes? How do we know? Because the Bible says God doesn't want abusive people in the Church. The apostle Paul told the Christians in Corinth to end their association with any sexually immoral, drunk, emotionally or financially abusive person. 1. We should not associate with people who claim to be Christians but are immoral. Not even to eat with them. 1 Cor 5:11-12 (NIV): "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people." 2. We are not to be partners with Christians who have even a hint of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed. Such Christians are deceivers. They aren't going to inherit the Kingdom of God. We hear the verse about not being "unequally yoked" all the time, but this verse says we shouldn't be partners with Christians who do such things. Eph 5:3-7 (NIV): "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for Gods holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person such a person is an idolater has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things Gods wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them." 3. We can and must talk about our spouse's bad behavior. It is not slander. This passage said that we must expose it and why. Eph 5:11-13 (NIV): "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible and everything that is illuminated becomes a light." 4. We can call a spade a spade. We can call bad behavior out, just the way the Bible does. We are to have nothing to do with such people. I know people will say this doesn't apply to marriage, but that argument doesn't hold water. 2 Tim 3:1-5 (NIV): "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." 5. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NIV): "Those who do not provide for their own family are the same as those who reject the faith. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." We can love them, forgive them, and still follow the biblical commands to get away from them. We are not called to hate them. We can divorce (or separate) and walk away. Perhaps they will learn their lesson when they lose a spouse. Of course, there are people who will say, "These verses don't apply to marriage and divorce." Why not? How can a pastor say these verses apply to everything except marriage? This behavior is so bad that Christians are to be thrown out of the church according to 1 Cor 5:11-12 and Eph 5:3-7. If God wants the Church to reject them, how can you ask a spouse to tolerate more than God does? If in God's eyes, this person does not inherit the Kingdom of God, then they are an unbeliever. If they abandon their duty, Christians are given permission to divorce in 1 Corinthians 7:15. Jesus taught that marriage doesn't exist in Heaven. So one day we all stand before the Lord singly as individuals, whether your marriage was good or bad. Those who have abandoned their obligations to their spouse are also considered to have denied their faith and are even worse than unbelievers. That situation falls into 1 Corinthians 7:15: abandonment by an unbeliever. In Exodus 21:9-11, a husband who reduced or didn't provide food, clothing, and marital rights to his wife was required to let her go free (presumably to marry someone who cared for her better). Wives couldn't be demoted to concubine status or slave status. The husband only had two choices: care for her properly or let her go. Does the Bible quote God as saying: I Hate Divorce? The Bible doesnt say, I hate divorce. The translation of this verse from the ancient Hebrew language to English is incorrect.[2] The earliest English Bibles (Wycliffe, Geneva, Bishops, and the Great Bible) didn't translate it as "I hate divorce" or "God hates divorce." And neither do the three most recent English Bible translations. Malachi 2:16 was written about 500 years before the time of Christ. For the first 2,100 years of Bible translating (from about 500 BC to AD 1600), no Bible translation said, "I hate divorce" or "God hates divorce." The entire context of Malachi 1 and 2 is God's stinging rebuke of hypocrites who make showy displays of loyalty to the Lord, but in reality, are cheating him. Then God says he doesn't answer their prayers because of how badly they treat their wives. This verse is not about Gods anger at divorce, but his anger at hypocritical, unfaithful, violent husbands who dump their wives without just cause. The Hebrew text does not say I hate divorce. Rather, it can be better translated from Hebrew to English like this in the New International Version of the Holy Bible. "So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. The man who hates and divorces his wife, says the Lord, the God of Israel, does violence to the one he should protect, says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful." Malachi 2:15b-16 (NIV) The same verses in the English Standard Version read like this: " let none of you be faithless to the wife of your youth. 'For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her,' says the Lord, the God of Israel, 'covers his garment with violence,' says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." Malachi 2:15b-16 (ESV). The Holman Christian Standard Bible published by Lifeway (Southern Baptist), translated it like this. (And the revision of the HCSB, the Christian Standard Bible, treats that phrase the same way): "So watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously against the wife of your youth. 'If he hates and divorces his wife,' says the LORD God of Israel, 'he covers his garment with injustice,' says the LORD of Hosts. Therefore, watch yourselves carefully, and do not act treacherously" Malachi 2:15b-16 (HCSB) God is not against all divorce. God is against treacherous divorce, divorce where the vow breaker abandons the faithful spouse. And God is also against the treacherous treatment of spouses, such as abuse, abandonment, neglect, and exploitation, as weve already seen. In this Bible passage the first two chapters of the book of Malachi God says he is fed up with his peoples disrespect toward him and their disregard of his covenant with them. God threatens to cut off the covenant with Judah. God rebukes and warns them due to their many betrayals, including the following: Judah disrespects God by violating the covenant. The priests cheat God by not offering the appropriate sacrifices (1:6-8). Judah profanes God by marrying foreign women who serve foreign gods, leading to spiritual adultery (2:11). Judah has been unfaithful by dealing treacherously with the wife of his youth, even though she has been his companion all these years (2:14). This entire passage is about breaking promises. And Gods hatred toward divorce is focused on those who break the marital contract by doing wrong and acting treacherously. First, we see the Lord is angry with the people and no longer accepts their offerings with favor. Malachi 2:13 (NASB): "This is another thing you do: you cover the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with groaning, because He no longer regards the offering or accepts it with favor from your hand." Why wont God accept their offerings? Because of treachery and marrying the daughter of a foreign god (possibly meaning worshiping other gods). Malachi 2:11 (NASB): "Judah has dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah has profaned the sanctuary of the LORD which He loves and has married the daughter of a foreign god." What kind of treachery does God condemn? Betraying the wife of your youth, who has been your companion and is legally your wife by the marriage covenant. Why? Malachi 2:14 (NASB): "Yet you say, For what reason? Because the Lord has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant." The treachery behind this makes God angry. He hates divorce by those who get rid of their wives wrongly. Malachi 2:16 (ESV): "For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." Notice Gods summary statement: "So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." God doesn't say, "Dont divorce for any reason." In fact, we see Israelites returning from exile taking vows before God to divorce their foreign wives (Ezra 9-10). It is treachery that God hates. God permits divorce, as long as it is justified. And it's not just the translators of the New International Version, the English Standard Version, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, and the Christian Standard Bible that know this verse has been translated incorrectly. Many Bible scholars have pointed this out, but to no avail. Our churches and Christian marriage authors and radio broadcasters either don't know, or they don't want to know. Despite our proclamations that we Christians "handle the Word of God rightly," I suspect that our leaders would prefer to ignore this rather than tell people the truth, that God does not hate all divorce. I suspect they fear opening the floodgates to divorce. I understand that. As a committed Christian myself, I don't want to open the floodgates to frivolous divorce either. Surely there is sensible option where we can approve of life-saving divorces without approving of immature sinful divorces. For more on the Bible and divorce, see Chapter 6, of the Life-Saving Divorce. Since God hates treachery toward wives, we can conclude this: Tolerating abusive marriages, along with illegitimate divorces, are both evidences of moral decay in society. 1. Justin Holcomb and Lindsay Holcomb, Does the Bible Say Women Should Suffer Abuse and Violence? JBC 28, no. 2 (2014), accessed 12/13/19, http://justinholcomb.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Does-the-Bible-Say-Women-Should-Suffer-Abuse-and-Violence-Holcomb.pdf 2. Link to Hebrew-English interlinear online for Malachi 2:16. Link to chart comparing 18 English Bible translations of Malachi 2:16. Originally published at Life-Saving Divorce. What people use WhatsApp, Telegram for in Iran, Afghanistan might surprise you In my homeland of Iran, Amir says he finally mustered the courage to explore the Christian faith on social media. Straight away, fear gripped him. Was this a real social media channel or a trap set by the Iranian secret police to identify and arrest apostates to the official state religion? In all honesty, I was afraid your (social media) channel would not be genuine, Amir told SAT-7 PARS, where I am a program presenter. Our Christian multimedia ministry reaches tens of thousands across the Middle East and North Africa via Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Telegram. From Algeria to Afghanistan, Turkey to Egypt, non-Christians like Amir, as well as Christians who have to practice their faith in secret, are turning to social media to learn more about Jesus and connect with others. In the Middle East, 97% are non-Christian, and generations have been raised to despise religion. Like Safia, a young woman in Egypt, many dare not risk watching Christian programs on satellite television for fear they might be discovered by family or neighbors. Social media, though, offers them a safe channel to watch programs and engage in live conversations anywhere, any time, in private, on their phones and hand-held devices. Social media is a lifeline for isolated believers For isolated believers across the Middle East and North Africa the birthplace of Christianity social media is a lifeline. And its arguably the worlds most powerful evangelism and discipleship tool, engaging people whod otherwise never hear about Gods love for them. Toofan, a 27-year-old father-of-five living in Afghanistan, says he met Jesus in a dream. He didnt know where to turn for support, or how to meet another believer. When he found SAT-7s social media channel in his native Dari language, it became his church. I am full of joy, he told us. Via WhatsApp and Telegram, I came to understand Christianity. Others in Afghanistan, like Nisha, tell us theyre caught in a desperate situation. People are terrified of the Taliban, she says. I am only 16 years old and cannot take what is happening around me. Im crying out to God right now. Ahmed (real name withheld for his safety) told us on social media hes receiving death threats after trying to share his faith in Christ with relatives and friends. These fragile believers need the encouragement and fellowship of the Church. Toofan, Nisha, Ahmed, and others like them are the reason SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) launched a digital church on social media in Afghanistan. Were engaging directly with isolated believers, and also reaching out to inquisitive minds that pepper us with questions on social media. Hostility due to lack of understanding At first, I was shocked at the lack of understanding about Christianity and the hostility toward Christians. But then I realized these people are desperate to be freed from the troubles in their hearts and minds. Theyre thirsty, but they have no real idea who Jesus is. As soon as they understand he offers them love and freedom, they really open up and the Holy Spirit touches their hearts. Apart from the few state-approved churches, there is no physical Sunday School in Iran for kids. So we started one on satellite television and social media. Teenagers are more sophisticated and curious, so we give them space to ask difficult questions about God, Christianity, and other topics. Of course, this ministry faces challenges. Since the recent violent protests in Iran, Instagram is censored. So we have to be creative and find new ways to get around censorship. Its like a cat and mouse game, but we are everywhere, using all the technology available to us. This I know God is using social media to draw the hurting and confused people of the Middle East and North Africa to Himself. John Piper: 'If our only good news is our healing ministry, we're going to disappoint millions of people' When it comes to having a physical disability, should a Christians hope to be healed in this life outweigh the ultimate promise we have of a physical resurrection at Christs coming? John Piper, founder and teacher at Desiring God Ministries and chancellor of Bethlehem College and Seminary, joined the "Joni and Friends Ministry Podcast" with host Crystal Keating to examine that question. In looking at the Second Coming of Christ, Piper spoke of the hope that not just those with physical needs and disabilities have, but also those who are growing older as they await the physical redemption of their bodies. Pointing to seminal passages like 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians 15, Piper said the reality of the resurrection of the saints is first and foremost a physical renewal for those in Christ. I'm 77 years old and my body is increasingly disabled, right? Even though I'm relatively healthy, I know it's going to get weaker and weaker, said Piper. And therefore, in the passage of 1st Corinthians 15, the body is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. Those are simply staggeringly, precious promises for those of us who are getting weaker and older and, and for people who've had a disability, oh my goodness. Keating said the promise of these life-changing events associated with the resurrection will be all the more precious to those who live with disabilities and their families. It's the ongoing daily focus toward the body and the hospital visits and the emotions that go with caring for one another in this, that we will no longer bear anymore, she said. What an amazing, amazing anticipation that we have. Piper, whose new book Come, Lord Jesus: Meditations on the Second Coming of Christaims at offering clarity on what believers can expect at the Lords return, also spoke some hard truths about divine healing, particularly in the Scriptures. While affirming his belief in divine healing, Piper said that because not all are healed, the resurrection of all believers really is at the heart of the Gospel. I believe in divine healing. I pray for everybody that wants me to pray for them to get well. I pray for them to get well, he explained. But it is clear from history and from Scripture that God ordains that not every disability is healed and therefore, we really need the resurrection of the body for good news. If our only good news is our healing ministry, we're going to disappoint millions of people. Keating added that Jesus came not only to heal physical bodies but to relationships as well. When Jesus came and He did heal people in their suffering and disability, it wasn't just a physical healing, she said. He was restoring people to community and we can't forget that that is a real part of the suffering of some who live with disability. It's the communal isolation, it's the rejection. According to Keating, the ministry of Joni & Friends hears from people who are considering physician-assisted suicide, even, she said, from believers because they are so overwhelmed. When asked how he would respond to such inquires, Piper emphasized that he would need to know the person to address them as individuals, and said he would first deal with the question of whether suicide is biblically permissible. One of the passages he would go to would be 1 Corinthians 6:19, which reads, Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. Your body was bought by the Lord Jesus when He died, said Piper. He didn't just buy your soul. He bought your body, which means he intends for your body to be a means of glorifying Him. And you need to ponder seriously whether your choosing to end the life of your body would be an honor to Jesus. He also said rather than considering physician-assisted suicide, families should try to provide any medical assistance possible to minimize the patients pain and revealed his own family faced that difficult question before the recent passing of his mother-in-law. She was 101 years old. She was ready to meet Jesus. And the question was, shall we use morphine and take away her consciousness and pain or shall we not? he said. So that you can keep trying to communicate with her and the family made the decision to relieve her. Relieve her. And so, they said their goodbyes. They gave her the dosage that she would need to get the relief, and they never communicated with her again. For Piper, being prepared for the Lords coming goes far beyond simply obeying his commands its also cultivating what he calls a heart affection for Jesus. He pointed to 2 Timothy 4:8 which reads, The Lord will give a crown of righteousness not only to me but also to all those who have loved His appearing as the source of inspiration for the book. And the reason I stress the affectional nature of the love is because the very next verse says, Demas, in love with the present world, has forsaken me, said Piper. So, what that means is Demas didn't do what Paul said. He loved the world and that means he desired the world. He had affections for the world. He wanted the world and his wanting and delighting in and treasuring Jesus faded away. So how can we cultivate a love for His appearing? Piper said it comes down to seeing Jesus in all His glory, His sovereign power, and His righteousness. Paul said, beholding the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to the next and that transformation is the transformation of our affections, said Piper. It's becoming more like Jesus in what He loved, what he delighted in, what he approved and treasured, and so beholding is the key to becoming. New Jersey churches excluded from historic preservation grant sue county for discrimination New Jersey-based Mendham Methodist Church and Zion Lutheran Church Long Valley have filed a federal lawsuit against Morris County, alleging religious discrimination after the county excluded them from the Morris County Historic Preservation Trust Fund. The legal action, undertaken by First Liberty Institute, Jones Day, and the Pepperdine Religious Liberty Clinic, contests the countys policy change that now prevents churches from accessing the grant. Grant recipients have included a variety of establishments such as a theater, a Masonic lodge, and a restaurant, but centuries-old churches are no longer eligible for the historic preservation program, First Liberty said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. First Libertys Senior Counsel Jeremy Dys called it a form of religious discrimination and unconstitutional. In 2018, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Morris Countys practice of providing historic preservation grants to churches was in violation of the New Jersey Constitution, overturning a lower court ruling. Thats when Morris County implemented a policy change that excluded churches from participating in the program. However, since the 2018 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court has clarified that the federal Constitution forbids excluding religious institutions from public funding programs solely due to their religious nature or activities, First Liberty said. State and local governments offering public benefits, such as historic preservation grants, cannot discriminate against an applicant solely because they operate as a house of worship, the group said, explaining that the grants primary purpose is to promote and support historic preservation, which ultimately benefits the entire community. Although the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in 2019, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, supported by Justices Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch, dissented from the denial of certiorari, stating that New Jerseys law appeared to violate the U.S. Constitution. They argued that excluding religious organizations from a general historic preservation grants program is pure discrimination against religion. In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Comer that a Missouri church should not be prohibited from benefiting from a secular aid program solely because it is a church. The highest court in the nation concluded that Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia should not be banned from a state program meant to help repair their daycare playground, reversing a lower court decision. "... The exclusion of Trinity Lutheran from a public benefit for which it is otherwise qualified, solely because it is a church, is odious to our Constitution all the same, and cannot stand, wrote Chief Justice Roberts. Last month, a group of Jewish parents sued California over a state law that prohibits religious schools from being eligible to receive special education funds meant to help children with disabilities. The legal filing alleged that the defendants violated the First Amendments Free Exercise Clause and the 14th Amendments Equal Protection Clause by refusing to provide funds for parents to send their children with special needs to Orthodox Jewish schools. The California Education Code requires that schools that receive federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act funding be nonsectarian. Defendants have not waived and will not waive the nonsectarian requirement necessary for private religious schools to access otherwise generally available public funding, read the complaint. This week in Christian history: Scottish Archbishop murdered, Donatists given toleration Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be previously unknown by most people. The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the murder of a Scottish archbishop, Notre Dame University allowing laity to serve as leaders, and Roman Emperor Constantine giving the Donatists religious toleration. 1 2 3 4 Next Vermont to pay tuition costs for religious private school students as part of legal settlement Vermont has agreed to pay legal fees and tuition costs of multiple families who plan to use the funds to send their children to religious schools after initially prohibiting public tuition funding from going to students who attend religious schools. The Green Mountain State has faced two lawsuits filed by several families and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington over how the state's tuition assistance program prohibited parents from using the funds to pay enrollment costs for attending religious schools. The Vermont Agency of Education and multiple school districts agreed to the legal settlement on Wednesday, with two lawsuits being dismissed in return. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a prominent national legal nonprofit representing the plaintiffs, released a statement Thursday celebrating the settlement. The legal group, which has won several religious freedom cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, believes the settlement is a constitutional victory. "All parents should be able to send their kids to schools that are the best fit for them, and the First Amendment protects parents' right to choose religious schools," said ADF Legal Counsel Paul Schmitt. "We are thankful the local school districts decided to do the right thing and give families the benefits they were entitled to. Many of these families made great sacrifices to provide their kids with a faith-based education and we hope even delayed benefits can provide some financial help." Vermont's Town Tuition Program provides tuition assistance to students living in towns without public schools. Through the program, those towns pay tuition to other schools on behalf of their students rather than paying to maintain their own public high schools. Although students had the option to choose private schools to attend, the towns would not allow the benefit to go to students attending religious schools, citing Vermont's "adequate safeguards" requirement. The settlement follows the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision in the case of David Carson et al. v. A. Pender Makin. The nation's high court ruled 6-3 that Maine could not prohibit parents from using a state tuition program to send their children to private religious schools. Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion, stating, "we have repeatedly held that a State violates the Free Exercise Clause when it excludes religious observers from otherwise available public benefits." "As noted, a neutral benefit program in which public funds flow to religious organizations through the independent choices of private benefit recipients does not offend the Establishment Clause," wrote Roberts. "Maine's 'nonsectarian' requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Regardless of how the benefit and restriction are described, the program operates to identify and exclude otherwise eligible schools on the basis of their religious exercise." In June 2021, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of four families and the Diocese of Burlington by issuing an injunction requiring the state to include students who attend religious s schools in its Town Tuition Program. On Sept. 13, Vermont Education Secretary Daniel French sent a letter to school superintendents explaining that, as a result of the Supreme Court decision, they could no longer deny tuition requests for accredited religious schools. "School districts may not deny tuition payments to religious approved independent schools or religious independent schools that meet educational quality standards based on the Vermont Constitution's Compelled Support Clause, Vermont Constitution Chapter I, Article 3," wrote French. "Requests for tuition payments for resident students to approved independent religious schools or religious independent schools that meet educational quality standards must be treated the same as requests for tuition payments to secular approved independent schools or secular independent schools that meet educational quality standards." Evangelical woman: New immigration bill will increase human trafficking risk If we turn our backs on them, who will protect and care for the least of these? This is the question our country should be asking itself when it comes to unaccompanied children at the border. But unfortunately, with the introduction of sweeping immigration legislation by the House Judiciary Committee last week, which intends to increase restrictions on asylum eligibility and expand detention of migrant families, our country could turn its back on countless children who need our help. We need increased border security, but this is not the way to get there. After another year of record border crossings, deaths along the border, and communities experiencing an influx of migrants, its clear that our nations immigration system is not effectively serving our country or the migrants who seek refuge in our borders. Though this legislation was proposed as a solution to these ongoing border security challenges, it would not actually lead to greater order or compassion. Instead, this bill in its current form would introduce a new humanitarian crisis to our border and leave vulnerable individuals at an increased risk of human trafficking by nullifying key protections established in the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. This law, passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate and signed by President George W. Bush after extensive advocacy from evangelical Christians, established standards for compassionate treatment of unaccompanied children encountered at the US-Mexico border that have protected countless children from danger. This proposed bill would not only remove anti-trafficking protections but would also forsake due process for individuals fleeing credible threats of religious persecution to seek asylum in the United States. Ultimately, this proposed border security bill would cause additional problems at the border and be counterproductive to efforts addressing the root causes of our nations broken immigration system. Just this week, I participated in a trip to the border and can attest firsthand to the reality that vulnerable migrants need our support not additional restrictions. Evangelicals around the country are concerned about the way this immigration plan would take our country backward in the fight against human trafficking. Recent polling conducted by Lifeway Research shows that conviction about the importance of caring for vulnerable migrants is only growing. Over 90% of evangelicals want secure borders but are equally committed to policies that respect the God-given dignity of all people and protect family unity. As Christians and as a country, we should not be forced to choose between a policy that ensures secure borders or one that protects children from trafficking and other violence. We can and must do better. To our elected officials I say, bring us an immigration reform bill that does both. Like other evangelical women, I am particularly passionate about the well-being of children and have joined in efforts to advocate for them. When our nation enacted zero tolerance policies in 2018 that separated children from their parents at the border, Christians were a leading voice denouncing this policy as unjust. In 2020, we spoke up again when administrative policies were effectively undermining this anti-trafficking laws essential provisions to protect unaccompanied migrant children. In addition to efforts on a national level, evangelical women around the country like me are taking action to ensure that our communities understand the perils of this proposed immigration plan and how to participate in the work of supporting children and other vulnerable immigrants. As of 2022, less than a third of Evangelicals have heard conversations about immigration within the Church. Both through discipleship efforts in our local communities and through national advocacy, strong bipartisan and evangelical cooperation has historically resulted in Congressional action, including the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. This collaborative will to act must continue and drive Americans to advocate for our country to establish more protections for vulnerable children, not take them away. Its time for Congress to act to deliver real solutions for the border. Its clear that this proposed immigration plan is not the answer. As Americans, we deserve a better solution that sets our country and the vulnerable children who depend upon us up for a safe and secure future. 5 reasons why prayer must accompany evangelism In June of this year, our Church Answers team will be releasing The Hope Initiative, a simple, reproducible strategy utilizing this tool by Thom Rainer to turn a church outward toward its community. One of the reasons I love this strategy is that it clearly connects prayer with evangelism. Many evangelism tools only assume prayer is taking place when its likely notand thats a problem. Heres why any outreach strategy must be grounded in prayer: 1. Evangelism is a spiritual battle. We are trying to reach people who are following the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:1-3), who are blinded by the god of this age (2 Cor. 4:3-4), who are living in the domain of darkness (Col 1:13), who are held captive in the devils trap (2 Tim. 2:26), and who are under the power of Satan (Acts 26:18). Any evangelism we do pushes into the darkness of the enemys kingdom, and we can expect an attack when we move forward with the Gospel. We need prayer. 2. We cannot open blinded minds. We cannot, in our own power, somehow change the heart of a non-believer. We sow and water the seed, but it is God who gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:7). He alone changes hearts and transfers people from the domain of darkness to the kingdom of His Son (Col. 1:13-14). Our prayer pleads with God to change those hearts even as we obediently share the Gospel. 3. Evangelism is seldom easy. Some folks are hesitant to speak to others about their faith. Some are afraid of rejection. Others worry they wont have the right answers. Some just dont know how to share their faith. At the same time, though, even someone as evangelistic as the apostle Paul needed the prayers of others that he might speak the Gospel boldly and clearly (Eph. 6:18-20; Col. 4:2-4). If Paul needed prayer support to be evangelistic, surely you and I do also. Prayer admits our inability to evangelize apart from the power of God. 4. Prayer is a confession that we need God in this process. In my book, The Potential and Power of Prayer, I describe prayer as an expression of our relationship with God and a confession of our dependence on Him. Prayer that accompanies evangelism is a cry that others will know Him and a confession that we need Him to change their lives. Serious, heartfelt prayer, on behalf of non-believers, expresses the depth of our burden for God to redeem someone. 5. Ongoing, genuine prayer should compel us to practice evangelism. That is, a relationship with God marked by prayer should overflow from our hearts that we a.) want to talk to Him and b.) want to talk to others about Him. If we truly meet with God in prayer, we will also want others to meet Him in prayer. Pastors, make sure youre equipping your church family to do evangelism but equip them to pray, too. Pray in such a way that they will want you to teach them to pray (Luke 11:1), lead them to the throne of God, and ask God to deepen their burden for the lost. Then, do as the book title says: Pray & Go! Originally published at Church Answers. Among the modern-looking buildings of the Houston Museum District, the Children's Museum Houston stands out from the crowda whimsical take on classic Greek architecture with its cartoonish bright yellow columns and pediment inlaid with mosaic tiles. Its inviting entryway is just the beginning of a fun journey. Kids and their adults can enjoy permanent and rotating exhibits, plus engaging and interactive experiences that happen year-round at the museum. What's the best way to get the most out of your visit to the Children's Museum Houston? From free admission days to interactive exhibits to classes and activities and special events, keep reading for all the ways to enjoy this magical place. About the Children's Museum Houston The Children's Museum Houston has been one of the city's top things to do for decades. In 2009, it underwent a $35 million expansion, doubling its size to almost 90,000 square feet. The museum's slogan that it's "a playground for your mind," makes this destination one that's full of educational experiences that are accessed through a child's favorite language: play. The Children's Museum Houston welcomes more than one million visitors annually, no surprise since Houston does have one of the largest populations of children in the U.S. It's also one of the top children's museums in the world. The museum's exhibits and regular events span a wide range of interests, geared toward getting kids to explore everything from art and nature to science and technology. It even has a group of kids ages eight to 13 who act as an advisory committee, weighing in on everything from how exhibits are made, to events and programming. Courtesy of Children's Museum Houston Crack codes and complete missions to become secret agents Kids approaching their tween years may feel like a children's museum is too childishbut this exhibit geared for older kids will change their mind. Secret Spy Game deems kids secret agents protecting the museum from a villain who wants to take it over. It gives kids six missions in different exhibits where they must crack codes and solve puzzles using gear and gadgets (think: special glasses to read messages other museumgoers can't see). Similar to an Houston escape room, in Secret, kids use clues, riddles, maps and problem-solving skills to complete the missions, which take about 45 minutes. After completing them all, agents get "Elite" status and access to additional missions that are more challenging. Note: The missions cost an additional $7 each with admission. Explore a Oaxacan village One of the museum's original exhibits, Yalalag: A Mountain Village in Mexico lets kids explore the daily life of people in Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. Featuring realistic environments, in this exhibit kids can "drive" the VW Combi bus, take a lesson at the school, make a traditional meal at home, go grocery shopping at la miscelanea, make a pair of sandals at Huaracheria Aquino and identify herbs by their scent at the market. Pro tip: Use the drop-down menu titled "What Can My Family Do?" on the museum's dedicated page for each exhibit for age-specific activities. Get cultured at a special event The fact that Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country is reflected in the events held every week at the Children's Museum Houston. Cultural events may center around a holiday like Cinco de Mayo, and feature traditional music and dancing, a tile-painting activity and games like dominoes and Loteria. Other events may have a wildlife expert demonstrating native Texas critters or feature a theater performance aimed at teaching kids about conservation. Constantly changing but always interesting, follow the museum's event calendar for the best things happening each month. Courtesy of Children's Museum Houston Practice adulting in Kidtropolis Kids can let their imagination run wild at Kidtropolis where the slogan, "be whoever you want to be" is reflected throughout the exhibit. Inside this mini city, kids can get jobs as bankers, police officers, postal workers, veterinarians or newscasters. They can also get "paid" and use their ATM card to buy groceries from H-E-B or a meal at the diner. The real highlight for kids in this exhibit is doing the grown-up things they see adults doing, and while they're at play, learning about how the world works. Get into the wild EcoStation is an indoor/outdoor exhibit that demonstrates how ecosystems work and the role each element plays in nature. Kids can learn to identify native Texas plants and animals, watch the stages of decomposition, see the growth cycle from egg to chicken with live chicks and learn from the living habitat of the pond, which is full of turtles and other critters. Courtesy of Children's Museum Houston Beat the heat at FlowWorks While the official purpose of the FlowWorks exhibit is to teach kids about the way water flow and movement can generate energy, kids know that it's really an opportunity to escape the Houston heat. They can get soaked when the cauldron fills and tips, create their own waterways and build and race boats, squirt cannons and get wet every which way. How to score free admission to Children's Museum Houston General admission to the museum is $17 for everyone over the age of one; seniors pay $16. Participation in the Secret Spy Game is an additional $7 per mission. Admission to the museum is accessible for CityPASS holders. Every Thursday evening, the museum extends its hours until 8 p.m. and admission is free from 5 p.m. to close. Museum membership also has its perks: Members have exclusive access to special events like character meet and greets, members-only hours and first dibs on admission ticket timed reservations. Courtesy of Children's Museum Houston Check out what's new at the museum There are two galleries at Children's Museum Houston that have rotating exhibits. At the What's New Gallery, the displays change every three months, while at the Cultural Gallery, visitors are immersed in a different culture, and the exhibit changes every 18 months. Get inspired at home Parents know that the struggle to keep kids occupied at home is real, so when you can't get to the museum in person, you can access their online library of free videos. The videos guide kids to learn a dance, make trail mix, shoot off a soda geyser and other fun, educational activities. Find it: Children's Museum Houston, 1500 Binz St., Houston, TX 77004; 713-522-1138 This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com. AUBURN, Wash. (AP) A fight erupted over the weekend at an illegal street racing event in a Seattle suburb, and four people were shot and seriously injured, authorities said. The Auburn Police Department said the shooting happened early Saturday morning. A rare reward poster seeking the capture of the men responsible for President Abraham Lincolns assassination has sold at auction for $166,375. The poster, printed on April 20, 1865, advertises a total of $100,000 in rewards for the capture of John Wilkes Booth and his accomplices. Booth fatally shot Lincoln on April 14, 1865, at Fords Theatre in Washington, D.C. The poster advertises $50,000 for the apprehension of Booth, to be paid out by the War Department. An additional $25,000 each was offered for the apprehension of John Surratt and David Herold (misspelled as Harold), described as two of Booths accomplices. Bidding for the document started at $100,000, according to a news release from Nate D. Sanders Auctions, which sold the poster on Thursday. The piece is from the first printing of the poster and is the rarest of three different poster designs released by the War Department, says the auction house. The poster has been handed down for decades within the same Philadelphia family, according to the release. This is the first time the artifact has been sold or auctioned. This poster viscerally brings you back to the days after he was killed the shock of the murder, and the anxiety of the assassin still out there on the loose, said auction owner Nate Sanders in the release. It was an incredibly tense few days and this poster is one of the few mementos that have survived from it. The poster advertises liberal rewards for any information that shall conduce to the arrest of either of the above-named criminals, or their accomplices. Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the land by the arrest and punishment of the murderers, the poster says. All good citizens are exhorted to aid public justice on this occasion. Every man should consider his own conscience charged with this solemn duty, and rest neither night nor day until it be accomplished. Booth, an actor, is described as Five Feet 7 or 8 inches high with a slender build and a heavy black moustache. Surrat is described as a slim man with hair rather thin and dark and eyes rather light. Herold is described as a little chunky man with a thin moustache. Booth was killed just six days after the printing of the poster. He was found hiding in a barn in northern Virginia and was shot by a Union soldier. Herold, who was hiding with Booth, surrendered and was sentenced to death by hanging. Surrat fled to Canada, then Europe and Egypt. His eventual extradition resulted in a mistrial and he was released. The not-quite-finished home on Rainbow Road, not far from Bradley Airport in Windsor, has the unmistakable scent of fresh paint. The trim four-bedroom sits in a row with three other identical Habitat for Humanity homes all, at first glance, functional and no-frills. But theyre actually a lot more than that. These houses represent the leading edge of energy efficiency and the move away from fossil fuel use in construction. Once solar is added to their roofs, these homes will be at or near net-zero for greenhouse gas emissions. Such potential speaks to the states ability to address what now constitutes its second-largest, and growing, category of greenhouse gas emissions building emissions. In fact, the states newly released updated Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory shows that for the first time, just the residential sector never mind commercial and industrial buildings has replaced the electric sector as the states second-largest emitter after transportation. Furthermore, the fact that Habitat built budget-conscious, emissions-free homes that are accessible to financially-challenged owners may well be a significant indicator that such design and construction is no longer the domain of wealthy homeowners. Yes, they cost a little more to build about 10% more said Kris McKelvie, director of construction for Habitats North Central Connecticut office, which means Habitat has to raise more money. If we raise a little bit more we could save them hundreds of thousands of dollars in their lifetime and potentially for generations, he said. McKelvie helped create the concept for the Habitat homes in 2017 and has overseen construction of eight since then, with 16 planned over the next three years six in Hartford and 10 in East Hartford. But the ability to build them does not necessarily mean the state has the willingness to make sure it happens. Until recently the state has invested little effort or money in lowering building emissions. So McKelvie, like others, has had to figure it out on his own. Hes been helped somewhat by federal programs and the Biden administrations funding, as well as searching out ideas from initiatives in other states. McKelvie is unlikely to get much help from this legislature. Several bills, including one proposed by the governor, that would have addressed building emissions more substantively are now dead or gutted. That leaves only a recent change to the state building code as a guidepost. Environment Committee Co-Chair Sen. Rick Lopes, D-New Britain, is likely used to such failure having been unsuccessful in his former role as co-chair of the Housing Committee in getting the legislature to ban fossil fuel use for things like heat, hot water and cooking in new construction. This session, he said, the hearing testimony was clear. The changes didnt quite make sense and needed more work, he said. Part of what may be hampering more robust action is that most folks legislators included have only a vague idea of what building emissions are. Its not as if buildings have tailpipes, like cars, right? There absolutely is a tailpipe on a building, said Melissa Kops, laughing. Kops wears several hats shes an architect who is a project manager for the City of New Haven, a volunteer and former board member of the Connecticut Green Building Council, and is actively involved with the current push to legislate ways to lower building emissions. But if you dont know what building emissions are, curbing them becomes even harder. The fact that they involve a multi-layered set of factors relating to climate change probably doesnt make anything easier. Addressing building emissions involves more than energy efficiency, insulation, electric heat pumps, solar panels and no longer using natural gas. And, contrary to the recent culture wars it does not involve someone coming to get your gas stove. At least not yet. What you didnt know about building emissions Building emissions tend to fall into two broad categories, operational and embodied. Embodied emissions come from constructing a building, while operational emissions come from running it. Those two categories are further divided into three so-called scopes. Scope 1 are those emissions literally created in a building from things like heat, use of natural gas and from industrial operations. Scope 2 are those emissions created outside the building to provide services such as electricity to the building. Scope 3 is everything else. It includes the emissions created getting water, bringing it to a building and then using it; ongoing maintenance and repair to the building; transportation needed to get to the building; and embodied emissions. They are the emissions created in providing the materials used in the building. The biggest emission offenders in that category are steel and concrete two of the most widely used and carbon-intensive materials. Building emissions in the states latest greenhouse gas inventory add up to a little more than a third of the states greenhouse gas emissions. Though largely unknown to the general public, theres been a bit of movement by policy makers to do more about it than just hand-wringing. For about a dozen years the state has been trying to cut emissions in the buildings it owns. Originally called Lead By Example, it morphed into GreenerGov, the result of an executive order by Gov. Lamont in 2019, which was then strengthened by another executive order in 2021. But now lowering building emissions includes more than the initial easy stuff, like switching to more efficient lighting and beefing up insulation in older buildings. In addition to obvious changes such as renewable energy like rooftop solar, it includes sustainability goals for water, waste and transportation which are useful in their own right, but also have an impact on building emissions. The states effort now includes benchmarking the industry term for figuring out what your emissions are so you can then figure out how to reduce them. Ryan Ensling, an associate research analyst with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, said the state uses a web-based platform to track utility information to see energy performance levels and greenhouse gas emissions from its buildings many of which have been benchmarked. We have about over 500 buildings benchmarked that were able to get really great data for, he said. A couple dozen have already had energy audits, which gets them in the pipeline for energy-saving retrofits next year. GreenerGov tracks the progress, but with only a couple of years of data so far, plus the aberration of the pandemic, its hard to tell how successful its been. A more recent focus that would apply far beyond state-owned buildings has been to update the states building codes which for years lagged behind the international and other codes that were available. Such codes do come into play with construction on existing structures. But their real power is with new buildings. To that end, last October the state adopted as part of its 2022 building code, the most updated building energy code out there the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code or IECC. Connecticut is one of the first states to adopt the 2021 IECC across the board. It's always the most cost effective thing to build this stuff in from the beginning, Kops said. If you don't plan for this now, it's much more costly to try to put it in or retrofit the building to be able to do these things later. So that's why new construction makes so much sense. The 2021 IECC has a different approach from past codes. Instead of prescribing specific levels of insulation or wall thickness, for example, it is essentially performance-based, setting efficiency outcomes that can be met in various ways through a menu or assembly approach, said Darren Hobbs, the deputy commissioner for real estate and construction services at the Department of Administrative Services. You're allowed to have a little bit more flexibility in the design and I think that way, we'll probably overall get a better result, Hobbs said, noting that the IECC is always evolving. As each code cycle comes and goes those menu options just set the bar a little higher. The broadest intent of the code is to reduce the use of energy, Hobbs said. But it is still geared to addressing Scope 1 and 2 emissions, leaving out Scope 3 which covers the energy used in construction and materials. To rectify that, the state is updating its high performance building standards, which also apply to a small number of properties that are not owned by the state but receive state funding. Connecticut is also considering adopting the International Green Construction Code or IgCC for state buildings. It is a more holistic construction approach not just about the buildings energy, and would look at many of the other aspects, such as building materials. Both the IECC and IgCC would have their biggest impact on new construction, and no doubt would be much more cost-effective and efficient than going back later to change things. But the number of new buildings that come into existence yearly is minuscule compared to whats already been built. Other than GreenerGov, however, there has been no broad-based move by this or previous administrations to deal with emissions from existing buildings which are typically old and inefficient, as is much of New Englands aging building stock. Meanwhile, energy efficiency programs are largely geared at lowering energy bills, not necessarily cutting emissions. And their main target tends to be lower income households. Connecticut is also facing the reality that it is not on track to meet its economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions targets in the Global Warming Solutions Act. The state's new Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, which covered the years 2019-2021, noted that the 2020 target was achieved. The next target, coming in 2030, is to cut emissions to 45% below 2001 levels. The state inventory specifically said, however: "To set the pace of reductions needed to meet the 2030 GWSA targets, deeper reductions in emissions must be achieved through retrofits of Connecticuts older housing stock." Some states and cities in the U.S., including some of our neighbors, are starting to deal with existing buildings. The notion of doing that is just beginning to change Connecticuts legislative mindset but not in time for this session. Connecticut has a long way to go, according to metrics released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in its annual ranking of top cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings. Energy Star is a federal program that gauges energy efficiency. No city in the state made any of the lists top 25 overall, mid-sized cities, or small cities. Session whiplash When the legislative session began in January, there were some ambitious plans for dealing with building emissions. More than a half-dozen bills, in addition to the governors bill, targeted aspects of building emissions. A few including one that specifically targets emissions and efficiency in new school buildings are still alive. But the governors bill is now a drastically shrunken version of its original self, consisting of really only two items. The main provision, which has failed in previous sessions, would require landlords to provide for most rental units a Connecticut Home Energy Label as an indication of energy efficiency. This would give renters some sense of what their energy bills might be. The labels would be developed by DEEP and rolled out over several years. Home sales do not require energy labels and previous legislative efforts to mandate them have failed, though the state's inventory recommended them as well. The only other item still in the bill aims to increase tree cover in environmental justice areas as a means to lower energy bills, especially during air conditioning season. Gone from the bill are provisions for training multiple trades on technologies needed to implement the IECC, and one that would allow DEEP to seek proposals for new energy transmission infrastructure. The latter is unlikely find a home in an energy bill this session. Most notably removed is a provision that had been championed by environmental advocates authorization to allow municipalities to choose an even stricter energy standard than the IECC. This sort of action is often referred to as a "stretch code." In this case, cities and towns could use the IECC now in place or they could opt for tighter standards in the IECC appendices to reach a zero energy level. Because they would be limited to that one set of tighter standards as an option, theres no threat of different energy codes in every municipality. The CT inventory also recommended adoption of a net-zero energy building code. The proposal was widely criticized during public hearings including by those who incorrectly argued it would allow each town to set its own standard. Our members service the 169 cities in Connecticut and I cant imagine trying to coordinate 189 (sic) different sets of codes, on top of the half dozen compliance codes we already utilize and follow today, wrote Leslie Anderson, president and CEO of the Propane Gas Association of New England. Anderson compared the measure to a ban on traditional fuels and heating equipment. Policymakers should heed the reaction by the public after the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the potential banning of gas cooking stoves which was met with outrage and ridicule. Many members of the construction community and rental property owners opposed energy labeling, as well as the stretch code provision. It will make the housing affordability crisis in Connecticut much worse than it is now, said Kenneth Mita of Central Connecticut Construction Management, incorrectly stating it would allow towns to set their own standards. I wish to underscore how much more difficult it would be to build in Connecticut when each builder could potentially have to build to different standards in each and every town he or she works. But it was Eric Santini of Santini Homes who brought up the issue of existing building stock. If we desire to make a real, substantial, and sustainable impact to our energy usage in the state, we should focus our attention on incentivizing energy retrofits. And that is where co-chair Lopes has now landed philosophically as well. We can fight industry [and] people till we're blue in the face over new construction, but new construction is not the problem, he said noting the standard IECC and other construction codes already in place will ensure energy efficiency and emissions reductions in new buildings. Where is my gain? Where's my bang for my buck? Going after new construction? It's just not there. How much do we want to fight with someone over a really small gain where we can put more effort next year into going after existing housing stock? Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media A former Pratt & Whitney executive and several other aerospace officials were found not guilty on Friday of conspiring to limit workers' mobility and career prospects, court documents show. U.S. District Judge Victor A. Bolden issued the acquittal in the case against former Pratt & Whitney director Mahesh Patel and five executives of outsourcing engineering suppliers who were accused of conspiring to allocate workers by agreeing not to hire or seek employees from each other's companies. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW HAVEN Six weeks after the city cleared unhoused residents from the "Tent City" encampment tucked between the West River and a soccer field along Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, some remain a part of an encampment in the backyard of activist Mark Colville's Amistad Catholic Worker House in the Hill section. The constantly-evolving community, which quietly existed on Rosette Street for months before Tent City got shut down, has served as a place to land where some Tent City residents, joined by other residents without traditional homes, are working to put their lives back together and move on. It's been an adjustment both for residents and neighbors in the densely-populated Hill neighborhood that surrounds. As of Friday, the backyard community was up to 13 residents living in nine tents and wood huts complete with electricity run from Coville's house, with a central hut that serves as a communal kitchen, living room and warming center, with a TV, microwave, toaster, wood stove and plenty of warmth and conversation. Four current residents came from Tent City. That number is down from five a few weeks ago. "Things are going good," said Suki Godek, who with her husband, Todd, was at Tent City and now lives in a tent in Colville's backyard while working for a moving company and collecting cans several days a week to earn money. "We're doing OK." Todd Godek, who also works at the moving company, was just offered as job as a mechanic, Suki said. While they enjoy the electricity, "which is awesome," they miss the community and relative privacy of Tent City. On Rosette Street, "we're smack in the middle of a residential neighborhood," Godek said. "For me, it's a lot less private." While the thought of having more than a dozen homeless people camped in a backyard in the middle of a neighborhood may make some people uneasy, Colville said that so far, neighbors appear to be OK with it. "So far, it seems that way," although "that doesn't mean we don't have complaints," he said. One thing that has minimized issue so far is that "the lines of communication are open." Among other things, the backyard community serves a communal brunch on Sundays, and neighbors are invited, Colville said. "I think people understand what we're doing here turning people who didn't have a place ... into neighbors," Colville said. While the community's presence hasn't been without friction, neighbors appear generally to be OK with it. "They don't bother me. I don't bother them," said a longtime Rosette Street neighbor who preferred to be identified as Miss Smith. "It's just that sometimes at night they're pretty loud." She said it's fine "as long as people are respectful." "He's trying to help them," said Valerie, another neighbor who lives just around the corner. "They're good neighbors. "All people need help," Valerie said. "They're not hurting anybody." Over at Annie's Deli, a small Mexican grocery across Rosette Street owned by Silvia and Facundo Eliosa, they also have no problem with the Amistad Catholic Worker House community, although sometimes people who may or may not be residents there "come on the street and ask (their customers) for money," said Silvia Eliosa. Lately, in the backyard enclave, "we've had a lot of new people," said Suki Godek. In general, though, "it's very similar" to Tent City. Colville who was arrested the day Tent City was cleared after he pitched a tent and refused to leave said the former Tent City residents are an asset. "The folks who came from over there and took up residence over here have provided a lot of wisdom," he said. "I think that the three years over there gave them that." They sometimes use that wisdom "to take care of people who come in here in the middle of the night," Colville said. If somebody doesn't have a space" to call home, "it's not their fault," said Colville, who sought to use his arrest to put the city on trial for dismantling Tent City. "It's the city's fault." The state recently nolled the charges against Colville. Suki Godek said that in the Rosette Street community, "I think our motto is, if there isn't a space for someone, we'll make a place." "The bulldozing of Tent City was an emotional thing," including for Colville, he said. But "when we got scattered, people didn't disappear" and "we turned this tragedy into a positive." Colville strongly believes that even if you're the city, "you have no right to destroy people's home." Several of the current residents had no connection to Tent City but have had their own struggles. "We try" to take care of each other, said Rico Jones, who just came back just over a week ago, although he lived there once in the past. "We do what we can for each other. The backyard community "is a blessing for a lot of people," Jones said. "There are a lot of people that come by here. ... We're OK. It's cold, but we have enough blankets to keep warm." Jones, who is handy, recently helped installed some old school gym lockers that a New Haven Register reader donated after reading a plea by Colville in a March 18 story about the backyard enclave, which said lockers would help alleviate people's greatest concern, theft. Jones also helped weatherize and secure a four-foot wooden hut for one of the community's other new residents, Blyss Sarania, who also arrived a little more than a week ago after living at the Columbus House shelter for four months. She said she felt uncomfortable in Columbus Houses more institutional setting. Before that, Sarania, 39, lived in a tent in Branford, not far from the Branford Walmart, for three months before police "chased me away," she said. She's originally from Alabama and lived there until about nine months ago, although she had lived in Connecticut at one point about 10 years ago. She became homeless after her partner, Gavin, died of an aneurysm, she said. Sarania came to Connecticut because "I knew I was about to be in the system" and thought Connecticut would be a better place for that. She initially stayed with a friend in Hamden but clashed with the friend's mother and knew it was time to leave, she said. "The local police" in Branford "actually were quite kind to me," Sarania said. The town of Branford put her up for a few weeks around Thanksgiving in a nearby motel, she said. Generally, Sarania has learned that "everybody wants it to be someone else's problem," she said. Sarania, who said she "has had a traumatic life," said she is recovering now after trying to take her life at one point after living in the tent in Branford, "because I felt that there was no place for me. "This is a better place to do it. Columbus House was really hard," Sarania said. "My mental health is a struggle," she said. She said she likes her new home, which has a door she can padlock, and "at least for the moment I have a space where I'm in control. It's a home. Columbus House never felt like a home for me." She said she "was very lucky to be put in touch" with Colville. She said she's hoping to get her life back together "and I hope this is a step toward that." In the backyard community, people tend to find their own ways to contribute, Suki Godek does the dishes in the morning. Jones gets up early and makes coffee in the morning. Orlando Sanchez, a visitor on a cold and rainy morning, brought firewood and was tending the wood stove fire in the center hut. He said he lives in an abandoned house nearby. "I've been through what they've been through, and I can relate to it," Sanchez said. He sat near a sign posted on the wall that read, "Respect this house. QUIET after 10 p.m." As he spoke, Roger X, who used to live in a closed store in Dixwell Plaza across town, which recently was sold and cleared for a new development, entered the hut, drew some coffee from a large, heavy plastic container and began sweeping the wood floor. A few minutes later, he took out the trash. For one day this past week, the community was without its host. Colville spent Wednesday night in the hospital after taking a bad spill while riding his bicycle and breaking four ribs. "I'm a little loopy," he said moments after returning home Thursday morning. "I did not think it was that bad," he said of his injuries, although the folks at Yale New Haven Hospital appear to have disagreed. "Anything exciting happen?" Colville asked. Jones told him that activists from U-ACT, the Unhoused Activists Community Team, met Wednesday with Mayor Justin Elicker at the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen on State Street to press their demands and discuss ways the city can improve the way it serves homeless residents. Jones and Suki Godek were among the attendees. While Elicker talked about some of the things the city is looking to do, including increasing access to showers and installing a permanent bathroom on the Green, "we don't believe it when he said he's going to do anything," Jones said. "We'll believe it when we see it." Elicker said he's "been open to talk to them for a long time" and that "overall, we had an honest and open discussion," although "I suspect they will share that they are not satisfied with my responses," he said. Among the issues activists would like to see the city implement are having the city provide more storage should homeless encampments be cleared in the future, increasing availability of showers and public bathrooms, as well as issues "around how we respond to encampments," Elicker said. "City staff and I are going to explore some possibilities and how to implement some changes," Elicker said. "Overall, I think we're aligned," Elicker said. "We're interested in making progress and think we have proposed some good improvements to supporting the unhoused. Specifically, we're working on a bathroom on the Green." The city was denied in its most recent attempt to obtain state funding "but we're working on other pathways," he said. One other area of common ground is that "we're very open to the concept of tiny houses," which activists have suggested, Elicker said. Tiny houses, a growing trend on the West Coast and elsewhere, "are a good opportunity to explore other options for housing," he said. They provide "a smaller space for people to live, but it's permanent, has a bathroom. One of the tricks is finding places where a tiny house is an option to build around the city. "We'd like to explore this," Elicker said. "We think it's an exciting opportunity." Over on Rosette Street, theyre not waiting for the city to take the plunge. Colville and others are raising money now to buy six tiny houses and put them in the backyard. Allies have scheduled a Mother's Day fundraiser May 13 at First Congregational Church in Guilford, featuring artisan baked goods, Moroccan chicken and poached salmon. The event will feature Suki Godek, representing U-ACT, and Colville as speakers, along with a silent auction. It will take place from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.. Suggested donation is $50, or $10 for children 10 and under. For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/inspiritofcommunity. On Rosette Street, Jones said he is eager for the tiny houses to arrive. "I'm waiting for the tiny houses," he said. "I really want to put them up when they arrive. I just want to build them. I love fixing things." boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images Harris County and Cypress-Fairbanks first responders were on the scene Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out at the Traders Village flea market, approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Houston. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted around 1:15 p.m. that the fire began in one vendor stall, and traffic by North Eldridge Parkway and West Road was gridlocked due to road closures. The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office later tweeted around 1:30 p.m. that the fire was contained to one building, affecting about 24 vendors. One firefighter had to be taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation but was in stable condition. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) Scores of Somalis fleeing violence in Sudan arrived in their Horn of Africa nation on Sunday, an official said. Some 148 Somali nationals, mostly students, arrived by plane in the capital Mogadishu, said Abdurahman Nur Mohamed Diinaari, a top official with the Somali foreign ministry. Through the assistance of the International Organization for Migration, Somalias foreign ministry has finally been able to relocate 148 Somalis from Sudan to Somalia today," he said. The Somalis had traveled by land from Sudan to Ethiopia and then onward by air to Somalia. Forty-five of those who arrived Sunday were later transported to Garowe, the administrative capital of the Somali state of Puntland, Diinaari said. Somalia itself has been plagued by violence for years. The Islamic extremist group al-Shabab, which opposes the federal government, frequently launches deadly attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of the country. One of the Somalis evacuated on Sunday said in an interview that she was happy to be alive and back in her country. I am pleased that I have finally arrived in my country. However, what we have been through is unusual and hard to describe, but I am grateful for the opportunity to survive," Ramlo Mohamed, one of the evacuees, told AP. "I pray in the meantime for God to assist our Muslim brothers in Sudan in alleviating their plight. There were an estimated 7,000 Somali nationals in Sudan before violence broke out earlier this month, most of them attending universities there. Others are business people and migrants hoping to reach Europe, according to Ewa Naqvi, deputy chief of mission of the U.N. migration agency. The fighting in Sudan pits the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum, the capital. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties in the violence, said Sunday that over the past two weeks 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form CLEVELAND, Ohio Aimenn Penny sat watching online videos of drag-queen story hour events in France, half a world away from his Alliance home, when he decided to attack, authorities say. Penny, a member of White Lives Matter Ohio, made Molotov cocktails, drove some 50 miles to a small Geauga County town and hurled them at a church planning to host drag events the following week. His only regret: that the church didnt burn to the ground, according to court records. Pennys arrest and indictment on federal hate crime charges, as well as a recent report from the Anti-Defamation League that showed a spike in white supremacist activity in Ohio, is emblematic of the growing problem of domestic hate groups, said Jonathan Lewis, a researcher at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism. It paints a really disturbing picture of the state of domestic terrorism and domestic violent extremism in this country, Lewis said. I think that the case that was recently brought in in Ohio is, unfortunately, a really good indicator of the types of violent extremism bubbling to the surface today. Groups becoming decentralized Pennys case in many ways mirrors the broader white supremacist movement and how some become radicalized via social media and ultimately carry out real-world attacks, Lewis said. Most white supremacists are no longer affiliated with organized groups, like the Proud Boys or Oath Keepers, he said. The new trend is groups that are very loosely affiliated. Theres no set hierarchy in the groups or membership dues. Meetings arent in person, but on apps like Discord, 4Chan and Telegram, among others, he said. The rhetoric is hate-filled, but theres no single person who issues orders or makes plans, Lewis said. Those who carry out violence often do so alone or in small groups, making it more difficult to detect or predict. The chatrooms stop just short of saying, Hey go commit a hate crime tomorrow, Lewis said. Its basically do-it-yourself terrorism. Members are typically younger, like the 20-year-old Penny. They get radicalized online and through public officials and politicians at the local, state and federal levels who use similar rhetoric, Lewis said. The result is people with different causes often blending. People with anti-LGBTQ+ ideologies team up with anti-Semites, racists with anti-LGBTQ and so on, Lewis said. It creates a really complex environment, particularly for law enforcement, Lewis said. Its tougher to infiltrate a group because its all decentralized. White Lives Matter increases presence in Ohio White Lives Matter of Ohio fits that mold, Lewis said. The group launched in April 2021. It is loosely affiliated with a nationwide group and uses Telegram to spread propaganda and disrupt drag shows like the one the Community Church of Chesterland organized. Many members, like Penny, distribute fliers on their own. The Anti-Defamation League report said there were 85 incidents of reported white supremacist propaganda efforts in Ohio in 2021 and 128 last year. Most of the efforts include dropping fliers at various locations, and the dominant group in Ohio in the last two years has been the Patriot Front. White Lives Matter Ohio increased its presence in the state last year, doling out fliers at a rapid rate in Euclid, Cleveland, Akron, Mentor, Eastlake, Vermilion and Lodi, among other places across the state, according to the Anti-Defamation League. The fliers for White Lives Matter say: Our children pay the price for our inaction. Stand up white man. They include a QR code that links the groups Telegram account. Ohios chapter held the third most events in the country, typically small monthly demonstrations of about five to 15 people along busy roads, overpasses, parks or outside government buildings, the report said. Anti-Defamation League of Cleveland Director Kelly Fishman said there has also been an increase in incidents on college campuses and at grade schools. White Lives Matter had the most incidents in Ohio, Fishman said. Were seeing crossover with certain groups and more participation in the groups. Horrific increase in online hate speech Penny in recent months had been on the radar of several hate-group trackers, including the Youngstown Area Jewish Federation. The organizations spokeswoman, Bonnie Deutsche Burdman, said the federation tracks people who espouse hate online and works with law enforcement if online chatter turns to direct threats. We are seeing a horrific increase in online chatter and threats and spewing of hatred, Deutsche Burdman said. Its happening nationally, but its certainly happening here in Ohio. At 15, Penny espoused homophobic views on Twitter. He created a barebones website in which he calls himself the preacher of Church 777. His Telegram account includes the bio one angry white man, and he posted about being pro segregation. On Oct. 11, Alliance police spotted him placing White Lives Matter fliers on cars, including police cruisers. He carried a large hunting knife and an expandable baton and told police he owned a gun. Penny told officers that he was there to spread the word that Black Americans were the problem. He said he wanted to educate people about Black people committing violence on white people and blamed Black people solely for committing violence in the country, according to court records. Penny said he looked forward to a race war in America and that the United States would not prosper unless all other races which he called weaknesses were eliminated. As he left, officers noted his car was filled with White Lives Matter fliers. On March 4, he and a group of about five other White Lives Matter members, including a Neo-Nazi who was on federal probation, hung up fliers in Wadsworth ahead of a drag queen story event. Penny yelled at officers, who noted that he had arrived there with his father. A week later, hundreds of Neo-Nazis and other white supremacists showed up at the drag event at Memorial Park. Penny joined in, wearing military-style gear, a tactical vest and a jacket with a patch showing a firearm, according to an FBI affidavit. The group shouted, Heil Hitler, carried guns and swastika flags and hurled racial and homophobic slurs. Fights broke out, someone shot pepper spray and police arrested two people. Video of the event went viral and stoked fears that a similar, or worse, incident could happen at events planned for April 1 at Christ Community Church of Chesterland and the Chardon restaurant Element 41. Members of the Patriot Front, White Lives Matter and others planned to be there, some armed, according to the FBI. The church received hate mail, messages and threats of violence. Penny later told FBI agents that he became convinced he needed to act to protect children and stop the drag event. He watched the videos of drag shows in France and became more and more angry, according to the FBI affidavit. On March 25, a week before the events in Chesterland, he assembled the Molotov cocktails using bottles of Denaka vodka and Corona beer that he had in his bedroom, according to the affidavit. Penny then made the hourlong drive to Chesterland and hurled them at the church, the FBI said. The devices left scorch marks on one sign and on a door to the church. The FBI arrested him a day before the events. Investigators searched his room and found a gas mask, gas cans, Nazi memorabilia, a handwritten manifesto describing his white supremacist ideas and a White Lives Matter shirt. The next day, only a handful of demonstrators, mostly Patriot Front members, showed up. One protester lingered for a second, afternoon event. An indictment, unsealed April 20 in federal court in Cleveland, accuses him of obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs, a hate crime that carries a 20-year maximum sentence if he is convicted. He also is charged with arson. If theres one thing that gives optimism, its that you have seen federal law enforcement really effectively disrupt the prominent pieces of this puzzle, Lewis said. Obviously youre not going to have a 100 percent batting average, but more often than not they will get the bad guys off the playing field. Adam Ferrise covers federal courts at cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. You can find his work here. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- While Asian Americans have been drinking bubble tea for decades, the sweet treat has only recently gained popularity in Northeast Ohio. For Layla Holmes the owner of Waffle-O-Waffle in Medina -- getting started in the bubble tea business was an easy choice, and it has been a staple best-seller on her restaurant menu from day one. Dining area of Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court Street north of Medina Square, is consistently ranked as among the best purveyors of bubble tea in Northeast Ohio on Yelp. Referring to herself as having been military-affiliated, Holmes says she was first introduced to the tea while in Japan more than a decade ago. It was just always something I had been drinking at home. No one here really knew what it was, so when we decided to start a food truck, I thought it would be a nice, unique addition to the menu and something new for the folks in Northeast Ohio to try, she explained. For the uninitiated, classic bubble tea -- also known as boba -- is a black tea brewed with milk and sugar, then poured over ice and tapioca balls. It can come in an array of other delicious flavors, using a base of everything from green tea to chai tea to fresh fruit juice, and featuring toppings, like mochi. Boba has the added fun of slurping up sweet and chewy tapioca balls through a colorful fat straw -- almost a beverage and meal combined into one aesthetically pleasing treat. But one bad bubble tea experience can ruin a potential bubble tea fan forever, says Holmes. Coconut raspberry milk tea with coconut jelly from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com A lot of people dont know how to preserve the tapioca so that it stays chewy in the drink, she explained. The whole thing about a successful bubble tea is maintaining the chew. So, I feel like your first impression of a bubble tea, you know, it needs to be the right one or you will not want it ever again. Apparently, Holmes has hit on the secret formula. Once she decided to park the food truck in favor of her brick-and-mortar diner, her customers were at the door looking for her signature drink offerings. Purple sweet potato from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com Bubble tea was popular from day one, and it has kind of become a business in itself, she explained. It is something that can be drunk any time of year and it will stand up, but when the weather starts to warm, it gets more and more popular because it is an easy thing you can incorporate into your day its half drink, and half chew, and its portable! Its a filling drink. When you are on the go and you dont have the time to sit down and eat, you can grab a bubble tea and then you have a chew and a drink at the same time and your brain will tell you Okay, I am eating, I will be fine for a couple of hours,' Holmes said. But the true fun of boba? The wide range of flavors Holmes manages to turn out. Strawberry cheesecake milk tea boba with fresh strawberry bobas from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com Her creative menu stretches from Strawberry Cheesecake boba to sweet corn. The strawberry cheesecake bubble tea consistently tops her menu as a best seller, as does her velvety Honey Vanilla boba -- but for the more adventurist of palates, be sure to snap up a Purple Sweet Potato, or perhaps a red bean bubble tea. And then there are seasonal flavors, based on Medina Countys most popular agricultural offerings, like sweet corn and pumpkins, which she makes from scratch from the fresh crops. Caramel green tea with honey tapioca from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com For those of us who choose to play it safe, Holmes suggests choosing a clear green tea with burstings, which are sweetly flavored tapioca balls. For the adults in your crew, Holmes also makes an adult alcoholic bubble tea made with rum. Each of her teas is made with the actual ingredients used to make the food it honors to give it a more honest flavor. We use the real ingredients you would put in a cheesecake to give it a more honest flavor, she explained. Some of the ingredients we had to learn to make from scratch, its not just some flavored powder we purchase and put a couple of teaspoons in the drinks, it is the true ingredients that give it the true flavor. One of Holmess most important ingredients? Patience. Fried Oreo Cheesecake waffle liege waffle stuffed with Oreo whole cookies until melted, topped with cheesecake, chocolate nut drizzle from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com I want my customers to understand that we are passionate about the food and the drinks that we put in front of them. I feel like if someone is coming in and paying $7 - $8 for a drink, it should be good, absolutely delicious all the way around, she said. So, we take our time and make something you can enjoy from the first taste to the very last. BBQ chicken pizza waffle liege waffle topped with grilled chicken, onion, cilantro, bbq sauce, and cheese from Waffle-O-Waffle, located at 799 N. Court St., #25, Medina - Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com My regular customers know they just cant come in and their food and drink is going to be ready in five or 10 minutes. We take our time in doing everything just right even the drinks. I care about the drinks as much as I do the food. And I feel like everyone will be pleasantly surprised with the results. Guest columnist Cheryl Kanetsky is the interim executive director for the Alzheimers Association Cleveland Area and Greater East Ohio Chapters. Today, there are more than 6 million people 65 and older who are living with Alzheimers disease, including 220,000 in Ohio, according to the Alzheimers Association 2023 Alzheimers Disease Facts and Figures report. The accompanying special report, The Patient Journey in an Era of New Treatments, offers insights from patients and primary care physicians (PCPs) on current barriers that impede early discussion about cognitive concerns. The report showed that too often, individuals with memory concerns and their doctors are not talking about the issue, missing a critical first step toward early detection, diagnosis and treatment. Individuals reported that they hesitate because they believe their experiences are related to normal aging, rather than to a potential diagnosable medical condition. For PCPs, the report shows they are not proactively asking their patients about cognitive issues. They tend to wait until the individual or their family bring it to their attention. But for the first time in nearly two decades, there are treatments for individuals in the early stages of the disease that can slow down the progression and give them more quality time with their families and loved ones. More than ever before, conversations between patients and PCPs about memory or other cognitive issues are critical and need to be addressed promptly when a concern is raised. Some forms of cognitive decline are treatable. To help individuals discuss their cognitive issues with their PCPs, the Alzheimers Association Cleveland Area Chapter offers these three tips: Find the right doctor In most cases, the first point of contact for concerns about memory and thinking is with your primary care physician. Most often, your physician will perform an initial assessment and, if cognitive decline is detected, order more advanced testing or refer you to a specialist for a more definitive diagnosis. If your doctor doesnt take your concerns seriously, seek a second opinion. Be prepared Come to your visit with a list of any changes in your health, including your mood, memory and behaviors. Include a list of past and current medical problems, current prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, including vitamins or supplements. Most importantly, be sure to have your list of questions and be prepared to answer the doctors questions honestly and to the best of your ability. Get educated When speaking to the doctor, be sure to ask what tests will be performed, what the tests involve, how long each test takes and when the results will be available. Individuals can contact the Alzheimers Association Cleveland Area Chapter for free monthly educational programs, caregiver support and other services. You can reach them by calling 216-206-8389 or visiting www.alz.org/cleveland. Discussing cognitive concerns with your doctor can be challenging, but it is essential and can help facilitate early detection and diagnosis. Early detection provides access to treatments, emotional and social benefits, access to clinical trials and more time to plan for the future. Dont put off talking to your doctor about your brain health and any cognitive concerns you may have. Readers are invited to submit Opinion page essays on topics of regional or general interest. Send your 500-word essay for consideration to Ann Norman at anorman@cleveland.com. Essays must include a brief bio and headshot of the writer. Essays rebutting todays topics are also welcome. European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager gives a press conference in Brussels, Belgium on Feb. 1, 2023. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Group of Seven advanced nations should adopt "risk-based" regulation on artificial intelligence, their digital ministers agreed on Sunday, as European lawmakers hurry to introduce an AI Act to enforce rules on emerging tools such as ChatGPT. But such regulation should also "preserve an open and enabling environment" for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values, G-7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Japan. While the ministers recognized that "policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G-7 members," the agreement sets a landmark for how major countries govern AI amid privacy concerns and security risks. "The conclusions of this G-7 meeting show that we are definitely not alone in this," European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager told Reuters ahead of the agreement. Governments have especially paid attention to the popularity of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by Microsoft -backed OpenAI that has become the fastest-growing app in history since its November launch. "We plan to convene future G-7 discussions on generative AI which could include topics such as governance, how to safeguard intellectual property rights including copyright, promote transparency, address disinformation" including information manipulation by foreign forces, the ministerial statement said. While there has been plenty of buzz about how successful patients have been in losing weight while taking a new class of obesity medications, there is a growing realization that when people stop taking these pricey drugs, the pounds can creep back on. There was a frank discussion of this on Eli Lilly's first-quarter earnings conference call on Thursday. "My expectation is many patients may try coming off the drug completely to see what happens," said Daniel Skovronsky, Lilly's chief scientific and medical officer, on the call. "Maybe some will be successful maintaining their weight, but many of them will probably experience some regression of their weight back towards baseline. And this could prompt them to come back on the drug. That's probably natural, and we can expect that." Lilly manufactures tirzepatide, which is sold under the brand name Mounjaro as a type 2 diabetes treatment. Clinical trials are underway for its use as a weight loss treatment, and the Food and Drug Administration is widely expected to approve it later this year. But when it gets the FDA's nod, the company's work won't be over. Lilly will need to change the way people and insurers view weight loss. "On the commercial side, as we launch into the chronic weight management market for tirzepatide, we'll be very upfront with payers and health-care professionals and consumers that this is a chronic disease and a chronic medication that needs to be adhered to long-term," said Michael Mason, who heads up Lilly's diabetes unit, on Thursday. It's the chronic nature of obesity that will make these drugs so profitable, analysts have said. Some have predicted tirzepatide will become a blockbuster with annual sales of as much as $100 billion by 2035 , by Bank of America's forecasts. But there is a growing chorus focused on who will bear the burden of these costs. If health insurance companies push back against it, the lofty sales forecasts will not materialize. Already some private insurers that cover the drug will do so only for a set period of time. It's even worse news under Medicare. The federal health insurance program for the elderly and long-term disabled is banned from covering weight loss medications, although it will fund bariatric surgery. 'It's hard to imagine' For now, both Eli Lilly and the analysts who cover the company remain optimistic. Lilly expects medications to become the standard of care for obesity, and analysts are ratcheting up their near-term sales forecasts for tirzepatide based solely on the trends seen in Lilly's first quarter with type 2 diabetes patients. "It's hard to imagine by the end of this decade, that everyone doesn't just accept that pharmacologic treatment for overweight and obesity should be the standard of care and it will save the health-care system trillions of dollars over time," CEO David Ricks told analysts. "So you know, that's our position and we need to fight for that position." To make this case, Lilly and other pharmaceutical companies in the space, including Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk , are pointing to the assumption that treating obesity and overweight will reduce the occurrence of other comorbidities, producing cost savings for the system. This includes conditions like sleep apnea, heart disease and cancer, among other chronic conditions. The companies are conducting trials that hope to prove this argument but it will take some time to gather enough information to document it. Specifically, Novo and Lilly are looking at whether these drugs can prevent stroke or heart attacks in patients with diabetes. They are also monitoring the impact on sleep apnea and osteoarthritis in the knee. As research continues, there are also other variations of these drugs being studied. This class of medications are often referred to as GLP-1 drugs because they mimic incretin hormones in the body known as glucagon-like peptide-1. Wegovy uses semaglutide in a once a week injection. This same drug is also sold by Novo as the brand Ozempic for diabetes treatment. Mounjaro includes a second incretin hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, or GIP. It also is administered by injection once a week. Both companies, as well as others such as Pfizer , Amgen , and Viking , are studying other incretin combinations, including ones that could be administered orally. The current state of play Novo and Lilly have the edge. Novo was the first to win approval for weight loss, but Lilly has been shown to be slightly more effective in clinical trials . Both drugs suppress the appetite of patients and slow how quickly food passes through the gastric system. The news was pretty upbeat for Mounjaro on Thursday. "Mounjaro was the highlight of the quarter with sales coming in ahead of expectations on higher [average selling prices] and with patient access continuing to tick up," wrote JPMorgan analyst Chris Schott, in a research note. Schott expects the trend to continue in the second quarter and build further in the second half of the year. "And more broadly on the story, LLY continues to represent our favorite pick in the group as we see meaningful upside to Street estimates for Mounjaro and LLY's broader incretin portfolio over time as well as a favorable setup on the stock heading into a number of important catalysts in 2023 and early 2024," he said, referring to Lilly's next-generation incretin drugs and data on its Alzheimer's treatment, among other factors. Several firms increased their price targets for Lilly shares in the wake of this week's results. Lilly shares are up 8% year to date. That's on top of a 32% gain the stock logged in 2022. On Friday, shares set a fresh 52-week high of $404.31. Credit Suisse analyst Trung Huynh expects Lilly shares could hit $420 in the coming year, which is about 6% above where shares closed Friday. Huynh increased his target due to higher expectations for Mounjaro sales this year. Schott has a Dec. 2023 price target of $430. LLY 1Y mountain Eli Lilly shares hit a fresh 52-week high on Friday In the first quarter, Mounjaro tallied $568.5 million in sales, 8% above consensus estimates. Huynh boosted his prediction for the drug's sales this year to $3.7 billion from an prior estimate of $2.7 billion. One factor driving the drug's use is an increase in health insurers covering the drug, which can cost about $12,000 a year. As of April 1, about 60% of insurers are covering Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, up from 40% of insurers at the end of last year. During the first quarter, Morgan Stanley analyst Terence Flynn said Mounjaro's gross-to-net improved to $243 per script from $136 per script as more insurance companies added the drug to their formularies. Still, there could be a hiccup in the Mounjaro's growth trajectory. In June, coupons that help patients cover the drug's cost will expire. With the coupon, type 2 diabetes patients have been paying just $25 a month for the drug. The expiration could force some patients to stop taking it, or slow additional patients from making the move to it from other treatments. This is why it is truly important to realize it is still very early days with this drug. 'At the precipice' "We are basically just at the precipice of this market taking off," Mizuho analyst Jared Holz said on CNBC's "The Exchange" on Friday. He noted that although investors have been talking about this for a while, the ramp up in revenue is still to come. Novo Nordisk's experience with Wegovy has been encouraging for what could happen once tirzepatide gains approval for obesity treatment. In mid-April, Credit Suisse upgraded Novo Nordisk , citing the strength it was seeing in its relaunch of Wegovy after manufacturing issues that were causing shortages of the drug were resolved. However, Holz said the current usage of these medications almost makes them "vanity" drugs. "From the numbers that you've seen, I'm not really sure that the people that are really most suited for the drugs are actually getting them," he said. Holz is among those who have expressed concerns that health insurance companies may resist adoption. "$48 billion is a monster number," Holz said, referring to an annual sales estimate that Bank of America has floated for future Mounjaro sales. "... It just seems like at some point, the payers are going to, you know, obviously be impacted." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Sept. 22, 2022. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday was essential in advancing his country's national interest and strengthening the "very important alliance" between Manila and Washington. Before leaving for his four-day official visit to Washington, Marcos said on Sunday he would convey to Biden his determination to forge "an even stronger relationship" with the United States to "address the concerns of our times," including issues related to the economy. "During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region, and for that matter for the rest of the world," said Marcos, the son of the late strongman whom Washington helped flee into exile in Hawaii during a 1986 'people power' uprising. Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years, and the latest in a series of high-level meetings the Philippines has held with leaders of the United States and China, which are jostling for strategic advantage in the region. Biden and Marcos are expected to reach agreements on greater business engagement, as well as "military enhancements" amid shared concerns about China, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters. The senior U.S. administration official said it was impossible to underestimate the strategic importance of the Philippines, although the relationship was more than just about security. Saudi Arabia is gearing up for a major expansion in its hospitality sector by developing 315,000 hotel keys by 2030, according to global property consultancy Knight Frank. This growth, Knight Frank says, will see Saudi Arabias hotel room inventory swell to become larger than Dubais current 140,000 keys. The development of the hospitality sector is a cornerstone of the Kingdoms economic diversification plans. Faisal Durrani, Partner Head of Middle East Research explained: "The volume of hotel room keys planned to be delivered in the Kingdom by 2030 is nothing short of incredible, with a total likely stock of close to 450,000 hotel rooms. For context, the UAE today has a combined total of around 200,000 rooms, including Dubais 140,000 keys, so Saudi is gearing up to see nearly 58% more than this figure. A major part of the success of the Kingdoms future tourism and hospitality market will be its domestic tourism sector. The sector is already alive and thriving, with 65% of Saudis already traveling within the Kingdom between one- and three- times a month. Whats fascinating however is the fact that 58% of Saudis we spoke to as part of our 2023 Saudi Report opt not to stay in hotels. Addressing the need for diversity in accommodation options, Durrani said: The prevalence of large families traveling together may clearly be a factor, but so is cost, quality and location, with these three reasons being cited by our 2023 Saudi Report respondents. Notably, just 17% of the planned hotel supply falls in the 3 star or below category, and with 56% of the Kingdoms population aged below 35, the demand for various accommodation types will likely continue to emerge as a significant consideration for the industry. We will need to think broader and incorporate the likes of luxury glamping sites and youth hostels to cater to this increasingly important segment of the market if it is to thrive and flourish, being mindful of the cultural sensitivities and the need for appropriate adaptations. The rapid expansion of hospitality-linked offerings across the country is expected to play a critical role in boosting domestic tourism, which Knight Frank forecasts will form a key part of the future of the Kingdoms hospitality landscape and is already a thriving industry. Turab Saleem, Head of Hospitality, KSA commented: With a total development cost of $37.8 billion for all the hotel rooms planned in the Kingdom, according to our estimates and Giga projects like NEOM leading the supply pipeline, Saudi Arabia is on the cusp of becoming one of the worlds major tourist markets. The key to achieving this goal lies in catering to the diverse accommodation needs of the domestic tourists including the younger generation. Furthermore, supporting hospitality infrastructure, such as new airports and national airlines, both of which are coming, combined with a legislative framework that eases access to the sector for international investors will be critical. TradeArabia News Service Soaring investment from big tech companies in artificial intelligence and chatbots amid massive layoffs and a growth decline has left many chief information security officers in a whirlwind. With OpenAI's ChatGPT, Microsoft's Bing AI, Google's Bard and Elon Musk's plan for his own chatbot making headlines, generative AI is seeping into the workplace, and chief information security officers need to approach this technology with caution and prepare with necessary security measures. The tech behind GPT, or generative pretrained transformers, is powered by large language models (LLMs), or algorithms that produce a chatbot's human-like conversations. But not every company has its own GPT, so companies need to monitor how workers use this technology. People are going to use generative AI if they find it useful to do their work, says Michael Chui, a partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, comparing it to the way workers use personal computers or phones. "Even when it's not sanctioned or blessed by IT, people are finding [chatbots] useful," Chui said. "Throughout history, we've found technologies which are so compelling that individuals are willing to pay for it," he said. "People were buying mobile phones long before businesses said, 'I will supply this to you.' PCs were similar, so we're seeing the equivalent now with generative AI." As a result, there's "catch up" for companies in terms of how the are going to approach security measures, Chui added. Whether it's standard business practice like monitoring what information is shared on an AI platform or integrating a company-sanctioned GPT in the workplace, experts think there are certain areas where CISOs and companies should start. Start with the basics of information security CISOs already combating burnout and stress deal with enough problems, like potential cybersecurity attacks and increasing automation needs. As AI and GPT move into the workplace, CISOs can start with the security basics. Chui said companies can license use of an existing AI platform, so they can monitor what employees say to a chatbot and make sure that the information shared is protected. "If you're a corporation, you don't want your employees prompting a publicly available chatbot with confidential information," Chui said. "So, you could put technical means in place, where you can license the software and have an enforceable legal agreement about where your data goes or doesn't go." Licensing use of software comes with additional checks and balances, Chui said. Protection of confidential information, regulation of where the information gets stored, and guidelines for how employees can use the software all are standard procedure when companies license software, AI or not. "If you have an agreement, you can audit the software, so you can see if they're protecting the data in the ways that you want it to be protected," Chui said. Most companies that store information with cloud-based software already do this, Chui said, so getting ahead and offering employees an AI platform that's company-sanctioned means a business is already in-line with existing industry practices. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) Egyptian immigration authorities allowed 340 Filipinos fleeing embattled Sudan to enter Egypt after they were held for two days at the border, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Sunday. 340 were finally issued visas and clearances to enter Egypt. [Philippine] Ambassador [to Egypt Ezzedin] Tago on hand to direct all operations, Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes said. From the border, the 340 are now on their way to Cairo where they will be billeted in hotels and then to be flown to Manila within the week through DFA funding, he added. Before they were allowed to enter Egypt, the Filipino evacuees were held at an immigration facility in the Argeen border of Sudan and Egypt. The desert became their toilet while in the immigration facilities kasi hindi naman handa ang Egyptian side sa dami [because the Egyptian side was not prepared for so many] so they were exposed to the elements, Migrant Workers Secretary Susan Ople said in a Sunday briefing. From the border, they were transported by bus to Cairo. It was a 15-hour ride, Ople added. She also said four hotels had been booked to accommodate all Filipino evacuees upon their arrival in Cairo. Cortes said the 340 Filipinos would be repatriated within the week. Meanwhile, the Department of Migrant Workers said 116 more Filipinos are currently on their way from Khartoum, Sudan to Argeen. Upon arrival, they too will be held by immigration for two to three days before they are allowed to enter Egypt. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he aims to forge an "even stronger" relationship with the United States as he left the country on Sunday for his official visit to Washington. Speaking at the Villamor Air Base past 1 p.m., Marcos said his visit to the US from April 30 to May 4 is an "important one," saying it is the "first in more than 10 years by a Philippine president." "During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region, and for that matter, the rest of the world," he said. "I intend to convey to President (Joe) Biden and his senior Cabinet officials that the president is determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests," he added. The chief executive's official visit to the US is amid regional tensions as China warned the Philippines over opening up additional sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the US. The locations of the four new sites were announced on April 3. RELATED: PH urges US, China to 'manage rivalry' amid rising tensions in Taiwan The Philippine Coast Guard has accused Beijing of "aggressive tactics" in disputed waters, with the latest resulting in a near-collision between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels in waters off Ayungin Shoal. RELATED: Respect our rights: PH studying possible action after near-collision with China ship Marcos is expected to promote the country's economic agenda, boost cooperation in various sectors, and raise security issues during his trip, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Teresita Daza earlier said. READ: Marcos to highlight PH economic agenda, security issues in US trip The president also said one of his priorities is to push for greater economic investment through trade and investment, science and technology, and innovation cooperation. "I intend to speak and find opportunities in the semiconductor industry, critical minerals, renewable and clean energy, including nuclear, and infrastructure projects that will improve our digital telecommunication systems and facilitate sustainability efforts to address climate change," he added. This will be Marcos' second bilateral meeting with Biden, building upon previous exchanges with US Vice President Kamala Harris and numerous visits and meetings of government officials on both sides. The country's delegation will consist of Marcos' economic team and key Filipino private sector leaders. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) The Philippine National Police (PNP) will deploy thousands of its personnel to make sure Labor Day celebrations in the country remain safe and peaceful. In a statement on Sunday, the PNP said 59,587 police personnel would be deployed "to ensure order and security in all places of engagement." "The PNP will assist in all lawful and peaceful activities in commemoration of Labor Day," said PNP chief PGen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. as he reminded all police to observe maximum tolerance. Acorda also reminded the public to be vigilant and alert against groups who "may take advantage of the situation to foment chaos and violence." In the statement, the PNP said it would "also be strictly implementing the operational guidelines to effectively cover various aspects of police operations, including traffic management, civil disturbance management, anti-criminality, and counter-terrorism." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 30) The United States on Saturday urged China to "desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct" in the South China Sea after a Chinese ship conducted dangerous maneuvers that nearly led to a collision with a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel in the disputed waters. The United States stands with The Philippines in the face of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) Coast Guards continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Imagery and video recently published in the media is a stark reminder of PRC harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone, the US Embassy said in a statement. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. The United States continues to track and monitor these interactions closely, it added. Washington also reiterated its support for Manila and its mutual defense commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. "The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea, on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft, including those of the Coast Guard, would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments under Article IV of the 1951 U.S. Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty," the US said. The PCG confirmed reports of a near-collision in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal located 105 nautical miles west of Palawan on April 23 after a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) ship with bow number 5201 maintained a perilous distance of only 50 yards from the Philippines BRP Malapascua. Another CCG vessel, with bow number 4202, persistently tailed the Philippines BRP Malabrigo at a distance of 700 yards and closely monitored its movements. The PCG also said that from April 18 to 24, over 100 Chinese ships still lingered in the West Philippine Sea even after being asked to leave. READ: PCG reports near-collision due to Chinese ships dangerous maneuvers in Ayungin Shoal In a Twitter post on Sunday, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu also called out Chinas conduct in the South China Sea. Concerned by further reports of unprofessional and dangerous conduct against the Philippines in its Exclusive Economic Zone, Australia reiterates our call for peace, stability, and respect for UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) in the South China Sea, a vital international waterway, Yu said. The Philippines and Australia also share an MDT. The two countries earlier said they were exploring possible joint patrols over the West Philippine Sea. The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier said Beijings aggressive actions against Manila continues on a daily basis in the West Philippine Sea. READ: DFA: Chinese harassment in West PH Sea a daily occurrence Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 1) The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 is experiencing a power outage Monday morning, marring the Labor Day and long weekend. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista told CNN Philippines that flight delays are possible. He added Terminal 3 is currently using a power generator to cover important functions including check-in operations and departures. The power outage started at 1:05 A.M at the terminal that services several international and domestic flights. This is a developing story. Please refresh page for updates. The congenital rivalry within the two sets of twin sisters -- India-Pakistan and South-North Koreas -- may take more time to resolve, but would definitely be resolved in mutual interest once the common gains are in view and a once matured, forward looking political leadership is there to steer the respective countries. A pan Asian Union would make peace and economic progress in the region real. Look at the history of Europe. Countries have been forming and re-forming there for the greater part of its history. Violence was a daily reality in most of the prosperous countries of today. Factional disputes within its imported religion of Christianity -- an Asian religion -- was good enough for countries of Europe to go to war for a good part of its latter history. And to engender violence within its societies too. Internal conflicts and violence within the European boarders drastically reduced with the launch of imperialist onslaughts. They shifted the theatres of war and violence to the rest of the world, turning most of Asia into its victim. Europe changed this rule only with the first and second pan European wars, wrongly called world wars, and the second big war devastated the warring imperial countries militarily and economically, to our good fortune, resulting in their departure from the countries they had occupied. If the countries of Europe whose history is rightly be termed savage, could shed their hostility, end wars and eventually give up a large part of their respective national sovereignty to create the powerful EU, can't the countries of Asia unite in our common interest. Incidentally, it is worth noting that the EU was created in 1993, marking five hundred years of Colombus invasion of what was later called America and the subsequent occupation of the continent. The treaty signing was not held in 1992, the exact year of five centuries, to provide time for the political leaders and diplomats to engage in the Earth Summit process of that year. There are greater reasons for Asia to unite than Europe had. To overcome the entrenched poverty, to build our economies based on our vast resources, to realise the potential of the immense human talent available, to protect the natural environment and more importantly to keep Asia peaceful and free of external interference. A collective Asian position on economic issues in the negotiations with the West can end the skewed trade relations and mark an end to the post colonial exploitation. Asia is home to the ancient civilisations of the Arabs, India, China and Persia; it produced all the religions practiced on earth as well as the atheist Confucianism. The West has nothing even remotely comparable to the tremendous cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Asia. It is high time Asia had its well mandated regional organisation to secure a common Asian future, ending the costly hostilities and political egos. We can have the Asian Union even when the bilateral hostilities, unique to Asia, refuse to go away completely.Asia is the only continent where there are live hostilities today: India-Pakistan and South-North Koreas; the conflicts in a few West Asia countries are, however, not openly bilateral. The China-Japan rift is more emotional than anything and could be more readily surmounted through sensible diplomatic endeavors.The congenital rivalry within the two sets of twin sisters -- India-Pakistan and South-North Koreas -- may take more time to resolve, but would definitely be resolved in mutual interest once the common gains are in view and a once matured, forward looking political leadership is there to steer the respective countries. A pan Asian Union would make peace and economic progress in the region real.Look at the history of Europe. Countries have been forming and re-forming there for the greater part of its history. Violence was a daily reality in most of the prosperous countries of today. Factional disputes within its imported religion of Christianity -- an Asian religion -- was good enough for countries of Europe to go to war for a good part of its latter history. And to engender violence within its societies too.Internal conflicts and violence within the European boarders drastically reduced with the launch of imperialist onslaughts. They shifted the theatres of war and violence to the rest of the world, turning most of Asia into its victim. Europe changed this rule only with the first and second pan European wars, wrongly called world wars, and the second big war devastated the warring imperial countries militarily and economically, to our good fortune, resulting in their departure from the countries they had occupied.If the countries of Europe whose history is rightly be termed savage, could shed their hostility, end wars and eventually give up a large part of their respective national sovereignty to create the powerful EU, can't the countries of Asia unite in our common interest. Incidentally, it is worth noting that the EU was created in 1993, marking five hundred years of Colombus invasion of what was later called America and the subsequent occupation of the continent. The treaty signing was not held in 1992, the exact year of five centuries, to provide time for the political leaders and diplomats to engage in the Earth Summit process of that year.There are greater reasons for Asia to unite than Europe had. To overcome the entrenched poverty, to build our economies based on our vast resources, to realise the potential of the immense human talent available, to protect the natural environment and more importantly to keep Asia peaceful and free of external interference.A collective Asian position on economic issues in the negotiations with the West can end the skewed trade relations and mark an end to the post colonial exploitation. Asia is home to the ancient civilisations of the Arabs, India, China and Persia; it produced all the religions practiced on earth as well as the atheist Confucianism. The West has nothing even remotely comparable to the tremendous cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Asia. Collective Asian position on economic issues in negotiations with West can end skewed trade relations, mark end to post-colonial exploitation It has not colonized countries -- with the aberration of Japan -- but has been victim of all the predatory imperialists of Europe and suffered massive theft of its resources. Asia has survived the imperial onslaught, bounced back and chartered its development course that is already yielding remarkable results. And it is time to take it forward by forging political and economic alliance across the region. Asia already has two good precedents to build upon. The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the east and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the west. Both these bodies are fairly concrete groupings and have yielded valuable lessons to their respective members in regional collectivity. The acronyms ASEAN and GCC appear on the daily conversations of the peoples of the respective regions. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had a modest start and continues to remain weak. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is emerging as a strong regional body with its expanded membership that includes Russia, and deepening its agenda progressively. All these experiences can be creatively applied to establish a pan Asian body of 48 countries for political and economic cooperation. One reason why Africa has no wars or self-defeating hostility between countries is, in great measure, the influence of the African Union. When Asia attains that level of maturity the world shall be a better place. The threat of NATO in the region can be avoided and the incongruous QUAD can be done away with. Countries can trade among them in a number of currencies of the region and people can travel without visas. Our democracies are at different stages of development; however, nearly all are on the trajectory towards maturity. India where its democracy is facing a crisis too shall return to normalcy sooner than later. The Asian Union can accelerate the process of deepening democracy across the region as the economic and social dividends of democracy would then become more obvious. Japan may not be initially enthusiastic about the Asian Union due to its dependence on the US on foreign policy, but once convinced that the US is actually a dispensable burden and that the Chinese threat is largely imaginary they would want to join too. The statute of the new union could be designed in a way that the reach of its mandate and the coverage of subjects could be incremental, and allowing room for accommodating the differences across countries. Europes experience vividly tells us that the neighboring countrys progress and ones own is inextricably linked, which should be a compelling reason to shed hostility and envy towards the neighbours. The government leaders, given to conventional thinking, may take a long time to address the goal of an Asian Union. It would be the role of the civil society, political movements and the progressive media to take this up on their agenda and build a peoples movement to create the Asian Union. --- *Ecologist specializing in international environmental policy, UN environmental negotiator Europe, once a theatre of internecine wars, now has a robust European Union shaping the common destiny of its people. Although Europe is only a subcontinent of Asia as Arnold Toynbee had observed and as is visible to anyone looking at a map, we still not have a common Asian platform for economic and political cooperation. Bjoern Wylezich / TNS HARTFORD A Hartford mental health clinician was ordered to pay the state $140,000 in restitution after pleading guilty Thursday to health insurance fraud, officials with the state Division of Criminal Justice said. Alicia Thompkins, 42, of Hartford, was accused of submitting claims to the state-run Medicaid program for behavioral health services that she didn't provide, according to a DCJ news release. NEW BRITAIN The New Britain City Council voted 11 to 3 Wednesday to name Capt. Matthew Marino the new chief of the 165-officer New Britain Police Department. Marino, 36, was chosen from an initial pool of five finalists, which was whittled down to three, all of whom work for the New Britain Police Department. He becomes the youngest chief in the department's history. Marino, who began working in his new role Thursday, said in a written statement that he was humbled and honored to have an opportunity to serve the community he always has and always will call home. "I am beyond proud of the efforts the men and women of our department put in every day and, moving forward, only hope to build on how far we have come as an agency," he said. "Our success will always depend on our positive relationship with the community, and we can never lose sight of that." Marino, a New Britain High School graduate, third generation police officer and current member of the city's Board of Education, bested interim Chief Benjamin Murphy and Capt. Adam Rembisz for the job, which was vacated by Chief Christopher Chute. He served in that capacity from 2019 to this January, when he retired. At a community forum earlier this month, each finalist pledged to support the new chief and work for the department and the city's residents no matter the outcome of the race for the top job. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart noted Thursday that Marino is a life-long city resident and dedicated to serving the community. "I have the utmost trust in his ability to lead the New Britain Police Department, and I know he will work diligently to keep our city safe," she said. Marino's salary has not been announced yet, but the salary range for the position is $112, 451 to $147,979, according to city officials. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Republican secretaries of state in Ohio, West Virginia and Missouri have promoted their states elections as fair and secure. Yet each also is navigating a fine line on how to address election fraud conspiracies as they gear up campaigns for U.S. Senate or governor in 2024. The split-screen messaging of Ohios Frank LaRose, West Virginias Mac Warner and Missouris Jay Ashcroft shows just how deeply election lies have burrowed into the Republican Party, where more than half of voters believe Democrat Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president. Even election officials who tout running clean elections at home are routinely pushing for more voting restrictions and additional scrutiny on the process as they prepare to face GOP primary voters next year. All three withdrew their states last month from the Electronic Registration Information Center, a bipartisan, multistate effort to ensure accurate voter lists. LaRose did so less than a month after calling the group one of the best fraud-fighting tools that we have and vowing to maintain Ohio's membership. He defied backlash against the organization stoked by former President Donald Trump before relenting. The three also have supported increased voter restrictions in their states part of a national trend for Republicans that they say is intend to boost public confidence. Those bills impose new voter ID requirements, shrink windows for processing ballots or ease the ability to consolidate voting precincts. For Republicans aspiring to higher office, "its kind of hard to skip some of these things if you want to succeed in GOP primaries, said Nancy Martorano Miller, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton. That includes appearing responsive to Republican voters' belief in Trump's false claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election at the same time they promote the job they're doing in their own states. Youre secretary of state, so its your job to run elections and make sure theyre fraud-fee, Martorano Miller said. Youre kind of stuck between, I need to show Im doing these things to battle fraud,' but at the same time, 'if I make it seem like theres too much fraud, it looks like Im not doing my job. Warner and Ashcroft have announced campaigns for governor while LaRose is considering a U.S. Senate run. When he unveiled legislation in February aimed at standardizing election data, LaRose said it was all about providing transparency so voters would "have confidence in knowing that when the election is over, that the true voice of the people was heard. A couple weeks later, he was sitting on an elections panel titled They Stole It From Us Legally at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. LaRose's spokesperson said the panel was renamed at the last minute, but the secretary used the opportunity to promote the integrity of Ohio elections. Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Ohio because we take election security very seriously, aggressively pursue those who commit it and refer the potential crime to the attorney general and county prosecutors, Rob Nichols said. Similarly, Ashcroft has said Missouri has secure elections and praised Gov. Mike Parson for signing a package of election law changes last year that included a new photo ID requirement. Missouri voters are passionate about their right to vote," he said. "This bill makes Missouri elections safer and more transparent, which instills confidence and trust. Then in January, Ashcroft hosted a meeting at his office with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a conspiracy theorist who travels the country fueling distrust in elections. The meeting alarmed some voting rights advocates in the state. Warner has defended Trumps false claims of a fraudulent 2020 election and demonstrated alongside Stop the Steal protesters, while also promoting the integrity of West Virginia's elections. He said in a recent interview that he is working to strike a balance between those on the right who believe the 2020 election was stolen and those on the left who argue theres nothing to see here. The truth is obviously somewhere in the middle, he said, while adding: I will admit Biden won the election, but did he do it legitimately? Or did that happen outside the election laws that legislatures in certain states had put in place? Thats where I balk and say no. Warner said he would like to see an after-action review of the 2020 election, like those conducted in the military, to ease citizens minds and make elections better. Trump and others have criticized the expansion of mail voting in 2020 in the COVID-19 pandemic, although there is no evidence of any widespread fraud and multiple reviews in the battleground states where Trump contested his loss have upheld the results. The House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol found that Trump advisers and administration officials repeatedly debunked allegations of fraud in the weeks after the 2020 election, but Trump continued to push the lies, anyway. In a recently settled defamation case against Fox News, a Delaware Superior Court judge ruled it was CRYSTAL clear that none of the claims repeatedly aired on the network about Dominion Voting Systems machines rigging votes against Trump was true. Christopher McKnight Nichols, an Ohio State University professor of history, said its confusing for voters when secretaries of state claim elections they run are fair but then raise questions or hint at problems, without evidence, about elections elsewhere. An earlier era of Republicans absolutely would have been chagrined, embarrassed, and perhaps pushed out fellow Republicans who flip-flopped so radically, or promoted lies, he said. "Their brand was the principled and consistent politician. In Ohio, LaRose spent years assuring the public that voter fraud represents a tiny fraction of Ohio's cast ballots and that election tallies were nearly perfect. Then during his reelection campaign last year, he said Trump "is right to say that voter fraud is a serious problem and blamed the mainstream media for trying to minimize voter fraud to suit their narrative. In October, he joined a national Republican trend by opening a unit to investigate election law violations in Ohio, among other duties. He said that day that Ohio has a strong national reputation for secure, accurate and accessible elections but added that anything short of absolute confidence in election integrity weakens the very foundation of our democracy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CAIRO (AP) Sudan's army and its rival paramilitary said Sunday they will extend a humanitarian cease-fire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes. In statements, both sides accused the other of violations. The agreement has deescalated the fighting in some areas but violence continues to push civilians to flee. Aid groups have also struggled to get badly needed supplies into the country. The conflict erupted on April 15 between the nations army and its paramilitary force, and threatens to thrust Sudan into a raging civil war. The U.N. warned on Sunday that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan was at a breaking point. The scale and speed of what is unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented, the UNs humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in as statement. He said water and food are becoming increasingly hard to find in the countrys cities, especially the capital, Khartoum, and that the lack of basic medical care means many could die of preventable causes. Griffiths said that massive looting of aid supplies has hindered efforts to help civilians. Earlier Sunday, an aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical aid landed in Sudan to resupply hospitals devastated by the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organized the shipment. It arrived as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400 and aid groups warned that the humanitarian situation was becoming increasingly dire. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors' association has said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. The air-lifted supplies, including anesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict, the ICRC said. The aircraft took off earlier in the day from Jordan and safely landed in the city of Port Sudan, it said. The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital of Khartoum and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said Sunday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum. The fighting pits the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudan's fitful transition to democracy, but they have since turned on each other. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. On Sunday, fighting continued in different parts of the capital where residents hiding in their homes reported hearing artillery fire. There have been lulls in fighting, but never a fully observed cease-fire, despite repeated attempts by international mediators. Over the weekend, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning in some areas of Khartoum as the scale of fighting dwindled after yet another shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Youssef, the ICRC official, said the agency has been in contact with the top command of both sides to ensure that medical assistance could reach hospitals safely. With this news today, we are really hoping that this becomes part of a steady coordination mechanism to allow other flights to come in, he said. Youssef said more medical aid was ready to be flown into Khartoum pending necessary clearances and security guarantees. Sudans healthcare system is near collapse with dozens of hospitals out of service. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and evacuated employees. On Sunday, a second U.S.-government organized convoy arrived in Port Sudan, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. He said the U.S. is assisting American citizens and others who are eligible to leave for Saudi Arabia where U.S. personnel are located. There were no details on how many people were in the convoy or specific assistance the U.S. provided. Most of the estimated 16,000 Americans believed to be in Sudan right now are dual U.S.-Sudanese nationals. The Defense Department said in a statement on Saturday it was moving naval assets toward Sudan's coast to support further evacuations. Meanwhile, Britain has announced that an extra evacuation flight will depart from Port Sudan on Monday, extending what it called the largest evacuation effort of any Western country from Sudan. The government asked British nationals who wish to leave Sudan to travel to the British Evacuation Handling Centre at Port Sudan International Airport before 12:00 Sudan time. The flight comes after an evacuation operation from Wadi Saeedna near Khartoum, involving 2,122 people on 23 flights. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others on Sunday, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor and for an end to Russias war in Ukraine. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and Budapests famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of Francis three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of migrants and the war in neighboring Ukraine. Citing local organizers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square, on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation for Hungarys recent welcome of Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Orbans hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-2016 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. Upon arrival, Francis urged Hungary and Europe as a whole to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, Francis said in his Sunday homily on the Danube. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor. Please, let us open those doors! he said. In a final prayer at the end of the Mass, Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and a future of hope, not war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of brothers and sisters, not walls. The 86-year-old Francis has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end Russias war, expressing solidarity with Ukrainians while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Holy See's embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as the Russian church's longtime foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Francis Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungarys other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Francis visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as hes been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularizing Western world. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass couldnt have been more appropriate for Francis' message: The sprawling square is named for one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys iconic neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Sister Marta, a nun of Hungarian origin from Brazil who attended the Mass, said she hoped Francis' message of welcome would be heard in Hungary. We (Brazilians) have gotten accustomed to openness towards others, and we hope that Hungary as well will open in this direction, she said after the liturgy. But Budapest resident Erno Sara said the country is fine as it is. I dont know if we (Hungarians) need to change. There is nothing at all in this country that is out of the ordinary, any kind of behavior that we would have to change, Sara said. Later Sunday in his final event in Hungary, Francis warned against the dangers of technology dominating human life, during a speech at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. Speaking broadly about Europes future, Francis said culture and scholarship forged by universities were the antidote to a future dictated by technology. The university, he said, is a temple where knowledge is set free from the constraints of accumulating and possessing and can thus become culture, he said. Such a culture he said, cultivates our humanity and its foundational relationships: with the transcendent, with society, with history and with creation. ___ Bela Szandelszky contributed to this report. ___ 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. A Connecticut law requires every police officer and patrol car to be equipped with body and dashboard cameras, but there is no mechanism to enforce the mandate and no one is keeping track of which agencies are not in compliance, officials say. You would have to contact the individual agencies, Amie Ledoux, administrative assistant at the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, said when asked if there is a list of departments not in compliance. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association had a similar response: We dont keep track of that here. Part of the Police Accountability Act passed in 2020, the law required the cameras by July 1, 2022. But Marc Pelka, undersecretary of Criminal Justice Policy and Planning at the Office of Policy and Management, said no agency is assigned by statute to monitor the state's more than 100 police departments for compliance. One way to get a sense of which departments are making an effort to comply is to review the states list of municipalities that have received funding for cameras. However, the fact a municipality received a grant doesnt mean it is fully complying with the law. Even those that received partial reimbursement for body-worn cameras may not be in full compliance, Pelka said, because theres no way to know if the officers are wearing them. And the town may not have cameras in its police cars. Westport, for example, just finished installing a dashboard camera system that syncs with its body-worn devices earlier this year, but missed the states July 1 deadline. Weve had body-worn (cameras) for several years. We just completed the installation and rollout of body-worn and dash cam, Westport Lt. Eric Woods said. As for state officials, They put the mandates out there and dont tell you how you were going to do it," Woods said. Westport police started looking for dashboard cameras once they learned of the new law, joining dozens of other departments talking to a limited number of vendors, Woods said. Although two years sounds like a long time, he said it's also a long process. Its very time-consuming, even getting the process going. We had to move to a whole new body-cam system, dash cam system. The storage of this stuff is insane, Woods said. Supply chain problems also slowed the process. What is mandated by the state and what is reality dont always jibe, Woods said. Finally, he said, the cameras are a huge expense. Westport, which is paying about $700,000 the first five years for both types of cameras and storage, plans to apply for a grant to reimburse at least part of the cost. More than 70 miles northeast of Westport, Vernons police cars lack cameras, putting it in violation of the law. Dashboard cameras are on order, Chief John Kelley said and the department is also replacing its body-worn cameras. Kelley said he didnt think the process of putting together a request for proposals for the cameras would take as long as it did. The towns submission deadline was Nov. 30 and has chosen a $710,783 bid from Axon Enterprise Inc. for new body-worn and dash cams. Kelley's lieutenant indicated that money, or a lack of it, also delayed the purchase. The town of Vernon's Police Department has been doing its due diligence to acquire dashboard cameras for its cruisers," Lt. Robert Marra said in a statement. In addition to equipment purchases, the town also had to address financing this unfunded mandate. Mayor Dan Champagne, a Republican who is a former state senator and ex-Vernon police sergeant, voted against the Police Accountability Act. Through a spokesperson, Champagne said his opposition to the law has nothing to do with the delay in purchasing dashboard cameras. The department has had body-worn cameras since 2015, but the body-cam contractor Vernon used does not offer dash cams, said David Owens, the towns communications specialist. That necessitated starting over because the department wanted an integrated body cam/dash cam system because that is in the best interest of the community and is an industry best practice. The department spent a significant amount of time evaluating these camera systems, Owens said, and then had to identify funds to pay for this unfunded state mandate. The town could not go to bid in good faith without having the funds available to cover the cost of this equipment. Like Westport, Vernon is looking to apply for partial reimbursement. However, Vernon is only eligible for a 30 percent reimbursement for first-time camera purchases. Municipalities that are considered distressed qualify for a 50 percent reimbursement. The failure to equip Vernon patrol vehicles with dash cams came to light after a fatal high-speed collision involving a town police SUV and a Nissan Sentra on April 2. Ironically, the Nissan did have a dashboard camera, but investigators found that it contained no video images or usable files, according to the warrant for the arrest of its driver, Phillip Vargas. Investigators concluded Vargas was under the influence of alcohol and THC when he turned into the path of the Vernon police SUV, which was speeding down Hartford Turnpike lights and sirens on at more than 85 mph to help a fellow officer at a violent scene where he thought a gun had been fired, the warrant stated. Vargas front-seat passenger and fiancee, Bianca Colon Hernandez, died in the crash. A teacher at Springfield Preparatory Charter School in Massachusetts, Colon Hernandez grew up in Bridgeport. Many police departments have dashboard cameras in addition to body cameras, and some have had them for years. When I was hired in 2007, we had in-car cameras that had VHS tapes, South Windsor Police Sgt. Mark Cleverdon said. Meriden did, too. We had VHS tapes in the trunks of the cruisers, Sgt. Michael Boothroyd said. Passing on state grants Of the 94 local police departments in Connecticut, 14 are not on the list of municipalities that have received funding for body-worn and/or dashboard cameras. Hearst Connecticut Media Group contacted those departments, and each said they have both body and dashboard cameras that were funded through local budgets, federal grants, private donations or other sources. Cleverdon said South Windsor is not on the list of grant recipients because it didnt ask for money. He said the town paid for body-worn and dash cams long before the state accountability bill passed. Meriden didnt want to depend on the state to contribute to the cameras because of the requirements that would have come with the grant money, Boothroyd said. Windsor Locks funded its cameras through its budget for the same reason, Lt. Paul Cherniack said. At the time of the government grant, there were a lot of stipulations and variables that had not yet been worked out, so we were able to do it ourselves and move forward with a system that meets our needs, Cherniack said. We received our cameras last year, about April or May, he said. Both cruiser and body cams are in place." Windsor Locks leases its cameras, so they are constantly being upgraded with the latest, greatest technologies as they evolve, Cherniack said. The New Britain Police Department came up with a combination of local, state and federal funding sources to pay for its cameras, according to Rachel Zaniewski, spokesperson for Mayor Erin Stewart. Some money came from the U.S. Department of Justice, and some came from state Asset Forfeiture funds, which are proceeds of illegal drug sales. New Britain has had body-worn cameras since 2021 and dashboard cameras years earlier, Zaniewski said. One police department benefited from used cameras. Matt Carl, interim deputy chief of the East Windsor Police Department, said his agency received donated body-worn cameras from Branford about four years ago. The town has had dashboard cameras since 2013 or 2014, he said. We were one of the early ones," he said. Our whole department has been on both body and car since 2020, Carl said. 'Dont know how we worked without them' Carl said cameras are valuable tools that capture officers doing their jobs properly more often than they catch them making mistakes. Its used as a training aid for how to handle something differently, Carl said. If someone has an unfounded complaint against an officer, police can show the person footage of the interaction, he said. Were able to sit down with the folks, Carl said, "and say, Heres the video. Our officers wouldnt work without them now, he said. It is overwhelmingly supported by the officers. Basically, theyre like, I dont know how we worked without them. Even though the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association doesnt track which departments are complying with the camera requirement, the organization has embraced the law requiring the use of body-worn and cruiser cameras in Connecticut, said Neil Dryfe, the group's president who is also chief of the Cheshire Police Department. Video footage has helped show the public the outstanding work the men and women of Connecticut law enforcement perform, sometimes in situations where their lives or the lives of ordinary citizens are in danger, said Dryfe, who added that he is not aware of any departments that lack body-worn cameras. Stamford Assistant Police Chief Richard Conklin said videos provide helpful evidence, especially at chaotic scenes. You have it on film and often from different angles. Once you get back to headquarters, you can have different views, and it makes wonderful evidence. Theres less to debate. Mike Lawlor, associate professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven and former advisor on crime for former Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's administration, said videos have become so commonplace that juries expect them during trials. At this point, if you dont have video, I think people are going to wonder, said Lawlor, who also was a prosecutor. Its almost like DNA evidence: If you dont have it, its a flaw in the case. As far as using them to monitor police officers, he agrees cameras help them more than they hurt. The vast majority of the times, those videos help solve cases, help prove cases and exonerate them when police are accused of wrongdoing, Lawlor said. The vast majority of the time, it puts to rest conspiracy theories. And when police lie or abuse their authority, that is often on camera, too. Lawlor cited the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols in Memphis earlier this year as two examples. In the Memphis case, Lawlor said, videos from body and street cameras revealed how the entire situation unfolded. You found out ... they completely lied about what happened," he said. Staff writer Ken Dixon contributed to this story. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is nearly ready to reveal his decision on entering the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, saying Sunday that he would make an announcement on May 22. Scott didn't definitively say that he'll be announcing his official campaign, but he told those gathered at a downtown Charleston school during a town hall that he would be coming out with his decision at an event in about three weeks in North Charleston, which he calls home. It is time to make the final step, Scott said to a room packed with cheering supporters, as well as a film crew, which a longtime Scott adviser said was gathering content for future use, a flick at a potential launch or campaign ad video. We will have a major announcement, Scott added. Scott, 57, has been inching ever closer to formally entering the GOP nomination race, where he would join other announced candidates, including former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and anti-woke biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Another of those is Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and former South Carolina governor who appointed Scott in 2012 to the Senate, where he is the sole Black Republican. Haley hasn't commented on Scott's potential entry into the race, while Scott has dismissed suggestions of any awkwardness in running against the former governor who appointed him to his Senate seat. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence are among those considering launching their own presidential campaigns in the coming months. Last month, Scott created an exploratory committee, a mechanism that allowed him to raise money for polling and travel related to making a determination on the race. In a video announcing that effort, Scott positioned himself as the antidote to the radical left, with a self-made success story as the son of a single mother who overcame poverty, and bemoaned Democratic leaders as needlessly dividing the country by fostering a culture of grievance." When I fought back against their liberal agenda, they called me a prop. A token. Because I disrupt their narrative, he said in the video, which was shot on the site of Fort Sumter in his hometown of Charleston, where the Civil Wars first shots were fired. I threaten their control. In February a day after Haley's official campaign launch Scott kicked off a listening tour that has taken him to other early voting states, including Iowa and New Hampshire, where he's held events ranging from political meetings with evangelical pastors to town halls and speeches. In his time on the trail, Scott has tried to present a more positive vision for the future than many of his potential rivals for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Scott told The Associated Press in Iowa that voters he has spoken with respond favorably to his optimistic outlook for the country and his conservative ideals. I think my candidacy is really designed around what the American people want to talk about, what their priorities are and what their issues are, Scott told AP. If Scott enters the race, he would have just over one month to raise money before the end of the second quarter, with more candidates in the GOP field intensifying the competition for donor dollars. But Scott has already proven that he can attract significant money. A pro-Scott super PAC, Opportunity Matters Fund, spent more than $20 million to help Republicans in 2022 and reported $13 million-plus on hand to start 2023. Tech billionaire Larry Ellison has donated at least $30 million to the organization since 2021, according to federal filings. Sunday's town hall took place at Meeting Street Academy, part of a charter school network founded by one of Scott's top donors, Charleston philanthropist Ben Navarro. Scott was introduced by South Carolina businessman and longtime supporter Mike Johnson, who is serving as a national finance co-chair for Scott and a day after the planned May 22 announcement is hosting a day-long call day and retreat with Scott supporters. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP Chances are you have heard of dialysis before from a friend or family member. What you may not have heard of is who provides the dialysis care. The answer will depend on what state you are in and what the statutes and regulations are. Dialysis is a lifesaving treatment needed when the kidneys are unable to clean blood effectively. To perform this treatment, dialysis patients require a way to access their bloodstream. There are three ways to do this: a catheter, fistula or graft. The most common dialysis catheter is an artificial tube that is generally placed with the tip leading into the heart. This is considered a high-risk direct access to the bloodstream. A fistula or graft surgically combines an artery or vein to form a large vessel that requires needles to access the bloodstream. Whichever type the person has carries risks of complications and needs to be used as a means of direct access to the bloodstream at each treatment. This is considered their lifeline. If the patients lifeline is not functioning properly or showing signs of infection, this can be life threatening. In Connecticut, is the catheter, fistula or graft being assessed by a licensed nurse or physician at each treatment? Not anymore. Connecticut statutes are shockingly silent on the care of these patients lifelines. CT Statute 19-13-D55A states unlicensed staff can collect patient care data and initiate treatment. This has opened the door for dialysis clinics to permit unlicensed staff without nursing or medical background to perform the lifeline assessment at each treatment to determine whether it is safe for use, instead of a licensed nurse or physician, by placing it under the patient care data category. In Connecticut, unlicensed technicians administer some medications such as heparin, lidocaine and saline during treatments and initiate dialysis using these high-risk catheters. While technicians are integral to the dialysis operation, assessments and catheter management are outside of their scope of practice. In 2021, the American Nephrology Nurses Association called for action after reviewing each states legislative language pertaining to dialysis care due to the increasing responsibilities of unlicensed assistive personnel in the dialysis unit. Our sister state New York restricted catheter access and lifeline assessment to licensed nurses. Connecticut did not. To be clear, Connecticut does not require a licensed health care provider to determine whether any of these lifelines are safe for use before each treatment while unlicensed staff access the bloodstream and start dialysis treatments. Bloodstream infections are one of the leading causes of death in the dialysis patient. The National Health Safety Network requests data from all outpatient clinics in the U.S. regarding dialysis bloodstream infections. Per the latest NHSN reporting data in 2020, 110 out of 301 (or 1/3 of outpatient clinics) in New York were higher than the national blood stream infection rate, whereas, 23 out of 51 (or almost half of outpatient clinics) in Connecticut were higher than the national blood stream infection rate. These patients deserve to be adequately monitored and cared for. Why is our state not protecting these dialysis patients? The Department of Public Health needs to address this loophole for the safety of our dialysis patients by amending CT 19-13-D55A to restrict use of dialysis catheters to licensed nurses and add language requiring the assessment of these patients lifelines pre and post treatments. Find your state representative by going to https://www.cga.ct.gov/ and let them know how they can protect our friends and family members on dialysis in the state of Connecticut by amending CT 19-13-D55A. Christine Daniels is a graduate student in the University of Connecticuts nursing program. As budget talk heats up in Hartford between the governors office and the General Assembly, the sense of alarm from varying quarters has grown significantly. Nonprofits say theyre being shortchanged. Higher education leaders warn of layoffs. Municipalities say aid from the state is not keeping up with needs. Everyone is trying to be heard above the din. It bears repeating that this is happening at a time of unprecedented budget surpluses. This isnt the bad old days when the future was dominated by red ink. Instead, were taking in far more as a state than were spending, with the result that were paying down long-term obligations and planning a big tax cut, the details of which are yet to be determined. To hear from various stakeholders around the Capitol, youd never know it. The predictions of doom from, to name one interest group, higher education if current budget proposals pass would make you think the budget was in a perpetual deficit. The issue is the guardrails. The General Assembly, as one of its first orders of business this year, passed rules that severely limit spending options for the next few years to direct surpluses toward paying pension obligations rather than funding new programs. Proponents, including the governor, say this is necessary so that the state doesnt go right back into crisis once the good times end, as they inevitably will. Lawmakers may object, but the rules are in place as passed by the Assembly. Now everyone has to live with them. The result is that many people are going to be disappointed with whatever budget is ultimately passed. Interest groups are using the current interim period as a time to make their cases. Leaders of the state college and university system say they are facing hundreds of layoffs and potentially the closure of campuses. Nonprofit groups say their workers, called heroes during the height of the pandemic, deserve to be treated as such. But not all groups making their case are the same. Take, for instance, the campaign being led to speed up a K-12 spending increase, which is being championed by a coalition of education leaders and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. There is no one who would say education doesnt deserve more, but this is not a straightforward request. The crux of the issue is an already planned increase in the Education Cost Sharing grant that supplements local property taxes to pay for public schools. A coalition active in Hartford wants that increase phased in faster. It is also seeking increased funding for charter schools, which has been much less discussed. Charter schools have their supporters, but if their funding mechanism is going to be changed, it should happen on its own merits, not as an add-on to an otherwise straightforward funding increase to traditional K-12 public schools, which serve a huge majority of students. Lawmakers and the governors office have to make many choices in coming weeks, and due to the nature of this request and its underpublicized aspects, it is clear that the K-12 funding piece could be left behind. Sir Keir Starmer's mask will finally slip this week or rather, be torn away when the results of a Civil Service probe into his appointment of senior Whitehall mandarin Sue Gray as his chief of staff are revealed to Parliament. Ministers have been kept in the dark about the inquiry Gray's former colleagues have wanted to ensure there could be no suggestions of political interference as they investigated one of their own. But The Mail on Sunday understands that the Cabinet Office has concluded the informal examination into her defection. And apparently it will make grim reading for Labour's leader. I'm told the investigation will confirm that none of the meetings between Gray and Starmer were disclosed to Ministers or senior Government officials. At the time, she was Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office one of the most powerful roles in Whitehall. But the talks were held covertly, and when news of them leaked, it came as a bolt from the blue to Gray's own bosses. Ministers have been kept in the dark about the inquiry Gray's former colleagues have wanted to ensure there could be no suggestions of political interference (pictured in February) This would prove a damning conclusion, because it appears to represent a clear breach of the Civil Service Code the benchmark by which every Government official, junior or senior, is judged. Every new appointee is told that the code 'sets out the standards of behaviour expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the core values which are set out in legislation.' But the investigation appears to have found that Gray failed to maintain those standards in a number of key areas. One of them is 'impartiality'. Gray was involved in secret discussions with the Leader of the Opposition to join his office as his most senior political appointee at the same time as she was serving the Government of the day and conducting sensitive meetings with Ministers. Another issue is 'honesty'. The code is clear. Civil servants cannot 'deceive or knowingly mislead Ministers, Parliament or others'. But Ministers were kept completely in the dark about her talks with their political rivals. A third matter is 'integrity'. The code stipulates that staff must 'always act in a way that is professional and that deserves and retains the confidence of all those with whom you have dealings'. Yet again, how could Tory Ministers have confidence in a civil servant who was holding secretive meetings with their opponents? From the perspective of senior civil servants, this inquiry could not have come at a worse time. Dominic Raab's fall, brought about in part by a series of unsubstantiated complaints from a shadowy cabal of Ministry of Justice officials, has placed Civil Service neutrality back in the political spotlight. And Gray's actions have only added to the perception there is indeed a small clique in Whitehall seeking to actively undermine Rishi Sunak's Government. That's why the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) watchdog, which advises on the efficacy of appointments for former Ministers and civil servants, is expected to block Sue Gray from taking up her position with Labour for the maximum period of two years when it rules on her case. And that would represent a serious blow for Starmer. First, it would leave a big hole at the heart of his political operation. Gray was involved in secret discussions with the Leader of the Opposition (pictured on April 27) to join his office as his most senior political appointee at the same time as she was serving the Government of the day Gray's appointment was his first major decision in preparation for his hoped-for transition from Opposition to Government. And it has dramatically backfired The job of chief of staff for a Prime Minister does not have the public profile of the communications or campaigning roles. Jonathan Powell, who held the post under Tony Blair, never attracted the attention of the scriptwriters in the same way as Alastair Campbell or Peter Mandelson. But the role is similar to the one of a senior engineer, responsible for ensuring the machine of government keeps running. And with such a lengthy prohibition on taking up her position, it's impossible to see how Gray could still join Starmer's inner circle. Another problem for Starmer is what it says about his judgment. Gray's appointment was his first major decision in preparation for his hoped-for transition from Opposition to Government. And it has dramatically backfired. Labour still enjoys a healthy poll lead. There are hundreds of experienced former civil servants and public officials who would have been only too happy to accept the position. Yet for some reason he decided to make a clumsy grab for the one senior official he couldn't have. Even worse, he was unable to conduct his negotiations with her without them leaking to the media. With the effect that he has compromised her as much as he has compromised himself. But the biggest impact of Gray-gate is not what it reveals about her personal and professional integrity, it is what it says about Sir Keir Starmer's integrity. Since becoming leader, he has wanted voters to see probity as his unique selling point. When Partygate was raging, Starmer told the Commons: 'The motion I have tabled seeks to defend the simple principle that honesty, integrity and telling the truth matters in our politics. It is a British principle.' But not, it seems, a principle upheld by himself and his new chief of staff. Technically, the Cabinet Office investigation will only reference Gray's actions and any breaches of the code a code she once policed herself as the civil servant responsible for propriety and ethics within Government. But by encouraging and plotting her defection, Starmer is just as guilty as she is. He is, in effect, an accessory to the fact. Obviously this Whitehall morality play will not be high on the list of priorities for voters struggling to pay their bills or secure a GP appointment. But it matters. One reason we know it matters is because Starmer never stops banging on about how it matters. Integrity in public office. Obeying the edicts of the Ministerial Code. Restoring public faith in the individuals and institutions that govern them. But it also matters because it feeds into the perception that, for all his preaching, when you scratch the surface Starmer is just as slippery and conniving as any other politician. Last week, details were published of a focus group conducted by J.L. Partners, run by several former No 10 aides. The public's views of Labour's leader were brutal but consistent. Sample opinions were: 'Insincere, slimeball, can't stand the man as he comes off so insincere and don't believe a word he says.' 'Very grey, doesn't have a stance on anything.' 'Just keeps skipping from one thing to another.' Starmer decided from the outset of his leadership to place integrity at the heart of his personal brand. Yet, slowly but surely, that brand image is being eroded. We've seen the abandonment of his Ten Pledges made during his leadership bid. His flip-flopping on trans rights. His online smears against Rishi Sunak. His selective and self-serving framing of his time as Director of Public Prosecutions. His eviction from the party of his former 'friend' Jeremy Corbyn. And now his maladroit clumsy manipulation of Sue Gray. Starmer's allies attempt to spin all this as proof of his single-minded focus on securing power. 'Keir is prepared to do whatever it takes to win,' one told me. Maybe he is. But in the process, Labour's leader is gradually being found out. In truth, to him, integrity and honesty were just another couple of soundbites to be discarded when political expediency dictates. This week, Sir Keir Starmer's mask will be torn away. The British people are unlikely to warm to what lies underneath. Good public policy should be rooted in learned experience, but great public policy looks forward and anticipates the challenges on the horizon. Thank you to Sun Sentinel reporter Susannah Bryan for reminding us of the connection between development and the ramifications from flooding (Think Development Doesnt make Flooding Worse? Think Again, April 15). Bryans article touched on the negative impact of tall buildings in vulnerable areas, but more on that topic as it pertains to redevelopment must be considered, particularly on barrier islands such as in Hollywood. Developers, and even some elected officials, argue whats the harm in redeveloping an area that is already covered by concrete or asphalt with old low-rise buildings in need of replacement? This thinking is dangerous, especially on beaches like Hollywoods, as there are many safety and environmental reasons to keep buildings low in such locations. These include inevitable beach erosion, shifting land and, critically, not making evacuations in an emergency more challenging than they already are. Hollywood City Commissioner Caryl Shuham represents District 1, which includes much of east Hollywood, including the barrier island. By replacing low-rise with high-rise residential structures, the difficulties and complexities of evacuations in a hurricane or other emergency are multiplied. Simply put, more units means more people whose lives may be at risk. Unbelievably, in Florida, developers can in some cases mitigate the negative impacts their projects have on evacuation times by simply making cash payments, contributing land or building hurricane shelters and transportation facilities. But none of those are going to help anyone get off the barrier island any faster. We should learn from our experiences, such as the recent historic flooding here on the east coast or the storm surge that devastated the west coast of Florida last year or the impacts of sea-level rise that sometimes mean flooded neighborhoods on bright sunny days. The function of barrier islands and the geological implications of sea-level rise are more reasons not to allow any new high-rise buildings on barrier islands. As professors and environmental scientists Orrin H. Pilkey Jr. and Andrew G. Cooper explained in an op-ed for the Tampa Bay Times, The global problem with high-rises on beaches is their total inflexibility. When the expected 3 to 6 feet (or more) sea-level rise occurs by the end of this century, it will be far too costly to move hundreds of very large buildings to higher ground. And in Florida there often is no nearby higher ground. As reported by the Associated Press after last years devastating Hurricane Ian, Barrier islands were never an ideal place for development, experts say. They typically form as waves deposit sediment off the mainland. And they move based on weather patterns and other ocean forces. Some even disappear. Building on the islands and holding them in place with beach replenishment programs just makes them more vulnerable to destruction because they can no longer move, according to experts. If you build on them, one of those experts told the Associated Press, youre just waiting for a storm to take them away. Fortunately for the residents of Hollywood, our past government leaders wisely put in place building height limitations on the barrier island. Smart, forward-looking public policy accounts for the challenges we can plainly see coming and supports maintaining low building heights on Hollywood Beach as the right decision for our current residents, as well as for the future of the city we all love. Hollywood City Commissioner Caryl Shuham represents District 1, which includes much of east Hollywood, including the barrier island. I can't even say, I guess, how old I am. I can't think of the number anyway. It doesn't it doesn't register with me.' Oh dear. It wasn't the most reassuring answer President Joe Biden could have given when asked last week about pretty much the only issue Americans are talking about in the wake of his re-election announcement: his age. Already the oldest President in US history, Biden is now clearly senile. At press conferences, reporters' questions are printed for him on cue cards though even then he struggles to give coherent answers. According to White House aides, it is difficult to schedule public or private events with the President 'in the morning, in the evening, or at weekends'. If this is the 80-year-old Biden, what on earth would he be like at the end of a second term, aged 86? President Joe Biden speaks at North America's Building Trades Union National Legislative Conference at the Washington Hilton in Washington, April 25 How terrifying for the world that this is the man whose wizened finger is on the nuclear button and who supposedly commands the most fearsome military machine ever built How terrifying for the world that this is the man whose wizened finger is on the nuclear button and who supposedly commands the most fearsome military machine ever built. Let's hope the next global crisis doesn't happen in the morning, in the evening, or at a weekend. Meanwhile, as the latest poll put him 30 points ahead of his nearest rival in the Republican race to be Biden's opponent, Donald Trump was busy. Not laying out plans to take on the threat of China or fight the drug and people-smuggling cartels causing chaos on the US border with Mexico. Instead, the former President was battling his accuser in a New York rape trial, raging about a 'witch-hunt' and saying his accuser was 'using the ol' Monica Lewinsky 'stuff' ' a reference to then White House intern's blue dress which had an incriminating stain containing Bill Clinton's DNA. It is staggering that in a country of more than 330 million people, with brilliant leaders in so many fields: governors, mayors, senators, entrepreneurs and billionaires, celebrities and sporting heroes the 2024 presidential election looks like being a Biden/Trump rematch. How did we get here? A big part of the answer can be found in the spectacular political belly-flops of the two people expected to be the more palatable alternatives: Vice President Kamala Harris, and on the Republican side, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. During his first low-key presidential campaign, Biden repeatedly described himself as a 'bridge' to the next generation. Aware even then of concerns about his age and mental capacity, he implied he would be a one-term President a temporary salve after the drama of the Trump years. Clearly he was hinting that his Vice President would then take the reins. Indeed, as a black woman, Harris was one of Biden's main selling points to identity-obsessed party activists. Unfortunately, Harris's comically inept performance having been assigned the two important policy tasks of immigration and voting rights has scuppered that plan. With regards to immigration, she preposterously denied that a crisis existed, made a futile attempt to deflect blame and bizarrely refused to visit the border on the grounds that she hadn't 'been to Europe' either. But the real stake in the heart of her reputation has been her alarming (and growing) tendency to spout gibberish in public. For example, this is an unedited quote from a speech on the day she and Biden announced they were running for re-election. 'I think it's very important for us at every moment in time, and certainly this one, to see the moment in time in which we exist and are present, and to be able to contextualise it. To understand where we exist in the history and in the moment as it relates not only to the past but the future.' Perhaps it's no wonder Biden decided to extend his 'bridge' to the next generation for another four years, and soldier on. As for his Republican rivals, the hope of many had been that Ron DeSantis would turn his successful tenure as Governor of Florida into a credible pitch for 'Trumpism without Trump' the Trump policy agenda and fighting spirit (which remain broadly popular) without all the chaos and scandal. Following last year's midterm elections, in which disappointing results for the Republicans were blamed on Trump's backing for under-performing candidates, DeSantis seemed the inevitable standard-bearer for Trump's 'America First' populism. Unfortunately, Harris's comically inept performance having been assigned the two important policy tasks of immigration and voting rights has scuppered that plan Monica Lewinsky attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The former President was battling his accuser in a New York rape trial, raging about a 'witch-hunt' and saying his accuser was 'using the ol' Monica Lewinsky 'stuff' Following last year's midterm elections, in which disappointing results for the Republicans were blamed on Trump's backing for under-performing candidates, DeSantis seemed the inevitable standard-bearer However, since he stepped out on to the national stage, it has been one stumble after another for DeSantis. He has been for, and against, the Ukraine war; for, and against, Trump on his New York criminal indictment; he has moved from a mainstream to a minority position on abortion, and is mired in a petty feud with Disney. But still, you might think, how is it possible that after everything the denial of the 2020 election result, the Capitol Hill riot, the lawsuits Trump is the candidate with a commanding lead? The explanation is that Trump is winning because of those things, not despite them. It is impossible to overstate the importance of the 'stolen election' narrative in grassroots Republican thinking. Of course, the 2020 presidential election was not stolen. As I argued at the time, there were certainly serious issues with the election, for example the tech companies censoring evidence of the Biden family's shady overseas business dealings. And in key 'battleground' states, Democrats introduced last-minute changes to voting procedures that were, arguably, not in line with constitutional rules and designed for partisan advantage. How is it possible that after everything the denial of the 2020 election result, the Capitol Hill riot, the lawsuits Trump is the candidate with a commanding lead? But the time to challenge all that was before the election, not afterwards. Claims of large-scale fraud were tested in the courts and rejected, which is why I for one never gave them the time of day. Nevertheless, most Republicans sincerely believe that Trump was cheated, and that is a major factor in his enduring support. On top of that, the media's incessant focus on Trump's 'legal woes' is inadvertently helping him, because the disdain of the media and the ruling establishment is Trump's political life force. The fact is that his core, working- class supporters see him as their champion: the only thing standing between them and the hated coastal elites who would send their jobs to China, their gas cookers and petrol-fuelled cars to the scrapheap and their kids to woke indoctrination camps. Trump's 'legal woes' are not a distraction from his campaign, they are his campaign. All this may be a painful prospect for British observers. It may not even be the election choice most Americans want. But, it seems, it's the choice that Americans will get. They're not the kind of couple who indulge in Public Displays of Affection (or PDAs) during their royal duties, but the Prince and Princess of Wales have their own subtle ways of showing their unity - particularly with their fashion choices. Whether it's deliberate or the synchronicity that comes from being part of a long-term couple who also work together, Kate Middleton and her husband have matched their outfits on numerous occasions. Their twinning moments range from stepping out in the same colours to more understated touches, such as Prince William matching his tie to his wife's ensemble. Some of their most notable matches have occurred during important milestones, includng the birth of their first child, Prince George, in 2013. Glowing: Kate and William even matched on the birth of their newborn son, George, with Kate wearing a polka dot Jenny Packham dress Adventurous: The Prince and Princess of wales both rocked khaki coloured coats an their visit to Ireland on the 6 March 2020. Kate is wearing a Dubarry Friel Utility Jacket, Alexa Chung x Barbour Pussy-Bow Herringbone Cotton Shirt and Penelope Chilvers boots Ravishing in red: The Prince and Princess of Wales matched again on January 30, as William wore a red tie and Kate sported a gorgeous, bold red Alexander McQueen suit and her Chalk earrings for the Shaping Us campaign launch As the pair introduced the little royal to the world for the first time on the steps of the Lindo Wing, William matched his wife's polka dot Jenny Packham dress in a blue shirt of a similar shade. Another significant occasion, was the day when the second part of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix series came out in December 2022 on the day of Kate's carol concert at Westminster Abbey. The Prince and Princess of Wales put on a united front by co-ordinating with their children. Charlotte twinned with her mother, as they both donned plum coloured longline coats, and George followed in the footsteps of his father wearing a smart, navy coloured suit. William also matched his tie to Kate and Charlotte's outfits, highlighting their united family unit. Two days after the release of Harry's bombshell memoir, Spare, William and Kate ignored the drama over the book and matched again when they visited Royal Liverpool University Hospital. William sported a forest green jumper under a navy blue blazer and trousers, which paired perfectly with Kate's Holland Cooper tartan longline coat, again showing their unity as a couple . William and Kate waved as Kate donned a forest green and navy blue tartan longline coat from Holland Cooper and a pine green Mulberry bag, which matched William's jacket and jumper The couple opted for matching shades of green for a reception at the Pakistan National Monument in Islamabad during their royal tour in 2019. Kate wore a glittery emerald dress by Jenny Packham Subtle but sweet! William wore a burgundy jumper to match his wife's Roland Mouret suit The Prince and Princess of Wales even matched with trousers in muted tones and light-coloured shirts on their hike to Paro Taktsang in Paro, Bhutan, on April 15, 2016. Kate's shirt is from Jaeger and her boots are her go-to Penelope Chilvers Prince William matched his shirt and tie to his wife's Emilia Wickstead dress when they attended Wimbledon in July 2019 Smart casual: The Prince and Princess of Wales they matched white shirts with blue blazers when visiting the Rainforest Biome at Cornwall's Eden Project in 2016. The Princess's blazer is by SMYTHE and her trousers are from Gap Kate donned a royal blue jumper with a chequered shirt, skinny jeans from Zara and knee boots by Penelope Chilvers. William complemented her with a navy jumper and striped shirt during their Canada tour in September 2016 All snuggled up: Kate looked cosy in her grey patterned bobble hat and a burgundy scarf which matched William's on one of their Royal visit to Sweden in January 2018. The Princess is sporting a black shearling coat by Burberry Kate flashes a smile at William as they both dress in navy. Her elegant coat and dress are from Beulah London Flawless: William and Kate both wore powder blue when they attended day the Royal Ascot on June 18, 2019. Kate's gorgeous ensemble is by Elie Saab The couple presented a Pride of Britain award to thank those on the NHS frontline for their work during the pandemic in October 2020. Kate paired her Lisou rainbow print blouse with a navy blazer by Smythe and gold earrings by Spells of Love Amid all the debate over who will and will not be present at the Coronation, we can be confident that Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester will have a prominent place in Westminster Abbey. Quiet, understated and committed to royal duty, for decades he has worked tirelessly to represent the late Queen Elizabeth and now King Charles. Yet, if not for the death of his older brother Prince William in a plane crash in 1972, his life would have been very different. The tragedy shook the whole Royal Family. His parents were bereft. Quiet, understated and committed to royal duty, the Duke of Gloucester was a first cousin to Her Late Majesty The Queen. Above: The pair in 2012 Prince Richard pictured with his elder brother, Prince William, in 1958. William was killed in a plane crash in 1972 Prince William at a 1970 polo match at Windsor. He was a pilot who competed at air shows The Duke of Gloucester is seen with his cousins the Duke of Kent (centre) and Prince Michael of Kent on the day of the Queen's funeral William had been a popular figure, a suave pilot known for a string of glamorous girlfriends. Now, at the age of 28, it was Prince Richard, an architect by training, who was thrust into the limelight. Then, two years later, he inherited the family dukedom on the death of his father in 1974. As a full-time working royal, he has represented both the Queen and now King Charles at hundreds of engagements both at home and overseas and is associated with 150 charities and organisations. Now 78, Prince Richard was born on August 26, 1944, less than a year before the end of the Second World War. A first cousin of the late Queen, his father, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was a younger brother of King Edward VIII and King George VI. Richard's mother, Princess Alice, was the daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch, Scotland's largest landowner. Duty ran in the family. Both Prince Henry and Princess Alice set a high standard of commitment to the Royal Family. During the war, Henry served in the British Army and then became governor-general of Australia from 1945 until 1947, while Alice was head of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF). Prince Richard spent the first two years of his life in Australia before the family moved back to their home at Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire, with its 2,500 acres of farmland. Richard was initially educated at home by a private tutor before he went first to Wellesley House private school in Broadstairs and then on to Eton. Prince Richard and his bride Birgitte seen on their wedding day in July 1972 at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell, Northamptonshire. This was just two weeks before the death of his brother A Daily Mail article from the same year reporting that the married couple would live in Camden Prince Richard (seated) is seen with his father Prince Henry, mother Princess Alice and brother Prince William at Barnwell Manor, Northamptonshire, in 1950 Prince William of Gloucester, left, with younger brother Richard at Barnwell Manor Prince Richard, later the Duke of Gloucester, on his way to his job at the Ministry of Public Building and Works in 1966 Students together at Eton, Princes Richard and William with their mother in 1959 How the Daily Mail covered Prince William's fatal air crash The Duke studied architecture at Cambridge and it was there, in the mid 1960s, that he met the woman who would become his wife. Birgitte van Deurs Henriksen, the daughter of a lawyer, was working as a secretary at the Danish Embassy - but spent time in Cambridge learning English. The couple got to know each other over dinner dates and trips to the cinema and theatre, as well as dance outings. In July 1972, two months after the death of the his uncle the Duke of Windsor and just two weeks before the death of his brother, Richard and Birgitte tied the knot at St Andrew's Church, Barnwell. His father was then too ill to attend, but Prince Charles and the Queen Mother were among the guests, who numbered around 50. Richard's quiet world - he was a partner at a London architectural firm - was shattered when his brother was killed on August 28. He had been competing in an air race, the Goodyear International Trophy at Halfpenny Green, near Dudley in the West Midlands. His plane, a Piper Cherokee Arrow, crashed 30 seconds after taking off in front of 30,000 spectators. The plane banked steeply before the left wing hit a tree and sheared off. The rest of the plane landed in a country lane and burst into flames. William and co-pilot Lieutenant-Commander Vyrell Mitchell were killed. so badly burned that they were identified from dental records and personal belongings. William's former girlfriend, Zsuzsi Starkloffe, from whom he had split not long before his death, later said they had been deeply in love and had come 'very close' to marriage. His girlfriend at the time of his death was Nicole Sieff, who joined Prince Richard and his family at his funeral. Prince Henry's cripplingly poor health meant he could attend. Indeed, his wife later wrote that she did not even tell him about the loss because of his fragile state. He died aged 74 in June 1974, the last surviving child of King George V and Queen Mary. Prince Richard, meanwhile, gave up his architectural career to focus on royal duties and work for the family estate. In October 1974, his wife gave birth to their first, Alexander Windsor, the Earl of Ulster . The Duke and Duchess would go on to have daughters Lady Davina Windsor and Lady Rose Gilman in 1977 and 1980 respectively. In 1995, however, the Gloucesters hit financial trouble, with Prince Richard blaming crippling death duties imposed following the passing away of his brother and father. As a result, the couple moved out of Barnwell Manor along with his 93-year-old mother, Princess Alice, to live full-time at at 'grace and favour' apartment in Kensington Palace. The family home was rented out for a long period before last year it was finally sold for 4.75million. The eight-bed home boasts 40 rooms including four reception rooms, six bathrooms and a gatehouse with twin round towers and ancient stone walls. The home had been granted to the family of Princess Alice, the Montagus, by Henry VIII. The Duke and Duchess have three children together: son Alexander (born 1974) and daughters Lady Davina (right - born 1977) and Lady Rose (born 1980). Above: The family in 1989 The Duchess and Duke Of Gloucester with Their Daughter, Lady Rose Windsor at their home, Barnwell Manor in Northamptonshire in 1989 Lady Rose Windsor and her father the Duke of Gloucester at her wedding to George Gilman, which took place at the Queen's Chapel near St James's Palace on July 19, 2008 Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, in the Royal Box on Derby Day at Epsom in 2012 In her childhood, it was owned by her grandfather, the 6th Duke of Buccleuch, until he sold it in 1913. Prince Henry then bought the property in 1938. At the Platinum Jubilee last year, the Duke of Gloucester was among the royals to join his cousin, Queen Elizabeth on the Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour. He again joined his cousins in the Royal Family for a very different occasion - walking in her funeral cortege following her death last September at the age of 96. The tiara was worn by both Princess Margaret and Princess Anne Kate Middleton wore the delicate Cartier Halo tiara for her April wedding - flawlessly paired with that iconic Alexander McQueen gown. However, the dazzling tiara was not in fact Kate's first choice for the big day, which was 12 years ago this weekend. And she almost didn't wear a formal headpiece at all. It is understood that The Princess of Wales had hoped to wear a flower crown, as her mother Carole Middleton had done on her own wedding day, according to The Mirror. But Kate, observing tradition, eventually agreed to the 739-diamond and 149 baguette-diamond tiara. Kate Middleton wore the stunning Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day in April 2011 - but it has been reported that her first choice had been a simple crown of flowers Prince William smiles at his bride during the Westminster Abbey ceremony Prince William and Kate Middleton share a public kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace Lent to to the bride by the late Queen Elizabeth, this turned out to be her 'something borrowed' on the day itself, April 29. Although Kate chose not to wear a flower crown, she still paid tribute to her family with her Robinson Pelham earrings - a gift from her parents - which featured a diamond acorn, intended to represent the Middleton family's coat of arms. The four young bridesmaids, including William's cousin Lady Louise Windsor and Queen Camilla's granddaughter Eliza Lopes, wore white flower crowns Lily Of The Valley and ivy. These were believed to mirror the headpiece worn by Carole at her wedding in 1980. Made by Cartier in 1936, the Halo tiara had been bought by King George VI, King Charles's grandfather. Still then the Duke of York, George VI (Bertie to use his family name) had bought it for his wife on their anniversary. The then Duchess of York would become Queen and then Queen Mother, of course, before her death in 2002. She, in turn, made a gift of the platinum tiara to her daughter Princess Elizabeth, by on her 18th birthday in 1944. While the young Elizabeth was never seen with the tiara in public, her younger sister, Princess Margaret, was frequently pictured wearing it. The Halo tiara was a gift from the Duke of York (later George VI) to his wife, Elizabeth Princess Margaret often wore the tiara, including at this event circa 1970 Princess Anne, too, wore her mother's tiara, including on this visit to New Zealand in 1970 Margaret made her first appearance in the Halo tiara during the inauguration celebrations for Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in September 1948. She also wore it on for her sister's coronation in June 1953. The next member of the royal family to borrow the tiara was the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, who wore it for the State Opening of Parliament in October 1967. The Halo tiara eventually went into the royal vault where it was kept for years before Kate wore it for her wedding in 2011. Since then, the tiara has been exhibited around the world, including at a Royal Wedding Exhibition at Buckingham Palace in 2012. Royal tradition dictates that tiaras are only to be worn by brides on their wedding day or by married women. It has been expected that brides-to-be will choose a headpiece from their family collection on their wedding day, and afterwards will from the collections of their husband's family. Priceless: The tiara is paved with 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette-cut diamonds The late Queen Elizabeth lent the Halo tiara to Kate for her wedding to William In December 2018, Kate (left) dazzled in the Cambridge lover's knot tiara, which was frequently worn by Diana (right) The Princess of Wales has been spotted in three different tiaras publicly: the stunning Cartier Halo, the Lotus Flower, and the Lover's Knot, which was a favourite of Kate's late mother-in-law, Princess Diana. It is said that the now Princess of Wales had struck up a friendship with Angela Kelly, who oversaw the late Queen's jewellery collection. 'Generally, Kate is allowed to borrow whatever she fancies,' a palace source told Grazia. A 43-year-old woman who spent years battling infertility because of her weight has turned to Ozempic to help fulfill her dream of becoming a mother. Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, who lives in Los Angeles, had endured three unsuccessful pregnancies back-to-back when her doctor advised her to consider IVF. But because she had a body mass index of 40 at the time, which is classed as obese, specialists considered it to be a 'hurdle.' The digital strategist turned to Ozempic - a drug originally intended as a Type 2 diabetes treatment - in a bid to lose weight and within the first month alone had shed 20 pounds. Wynter Mitchell-Rohrbaugh, who lives in Los Angeles, endured three unsuccessful pregnancies back-to-back when her doctor advised her to consider IVF Wynter (pictured in 2022) had always struggled with her weight and was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome - which can cause issues with hormones and metabolism - at age 17 The digital strategist turned to Ozempic (stock image) - a drug originally intended as a Type 2 diabetes treatment - in a bid to lose weight and within the first month alone had shed 20 pounds Wynter had always struggled with her weight and was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome - which can cause issues with hormones and metabolism - at age 17. She learnt to embrace her curves, but conceiving remained an issue. Heartbreakingly, she told Cosmopolitan that she was forced to undergo 'three medically necessary abortions of very wanted babies in just 18 months.' The content creator went online to share her frustrations on Facebook in a group for women over 40 who were trying to get pregnant. And she was quickly flooded with responses with many suggesting that she try Ozempic - a treatment using the drug semaglutide which suppresses appetite to trigger weight loss. Wynter, who has insulin resistance which mimics pre-diabetic symptoms, was easily able to get a prescription that was covered by her health insurance. She began administering the drug in July 2022 and told the publication: 'Taking Ozempic allowed me to reset my relationship with my body and focus on taking care of it.' Speaking about the success, she has since told Today: 'Within a month, I dropped 20 pounds and it was marvelous. I couldn't believe it. I hadn't lost that much weight since I was in my mid-30s. The content creator went online to share her frustrations on Facebook in a group for women over 40 who were trying to get pregnant She and partner Allan have since been able to have five embryos successfully retrieved since beginning their IVF journey 'I just said, this is a way forward. This is going to get me to the finish line. 'If I got down to a weight that was reasonable for me to be seen, which seemed like it was a BMI of under 35 for all of these specialists, then there would be no question at this point. 'I would have a successful stimulation and a successful retrieval.' To date, Wynter has lost 50 pounds with her BMI reading dropping to 33. She and partner Allan have since been able to have five embryos successfully retrieved. Wynter is hoping to stay on Ozempic until she loses 30 more pounds to ensure she is in the best position possible to have an embryo placed later this year. Stephanie Sofokleous reminded of her past, as every bell in Britain will soon ring We all have a nugget of information about ourselves that surprises people. Mine has served me well for the past 15 years; I've dined out on it and even secured dates thanks to it. It came up most recently when news broke that 8,000 bell ringers had to be found to peal every bell in Britain for King Charles's coronation. 'How hard can it be?' a friend sniffed. It's very hard, actually. That's right: my name is Steph and I am a (partially) trained bell ringer. I have another royal Prince Philip to thank for my introduction to the world of campanology. Aged 15 and keen to gain my bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award, I had to commit to learning a new skill. Stephanie Sofokleous recounts being 15 and keen to gain her bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Pictured, Eric and Ernie on the Morecambe & Wise show in 1970 Bell ringing is not the obvious choice for a teenager but growing up in rural Bedfordshire, my friend Alex and I weren't spoilt for choice. The location for said skill-learning needed to be within walking distance of Alex's house (where we'd hang out after school) and that turned out to be St Owen's Church in the village of Bromham. Notable for our flamboyant personal style, to say we didn't exactly look the part is an understatement. Alex sported a bleached blonde fauxhawk while I was deep into my bright drainpipes, winged eyeliner and studded belts phase. The first time we met our mentor, 'Eyebrows', we got a shock. Obviously, that wasn't his real name but the moniker we gave him. The Tower Captain was very stern and very serious, with extremely bushy eyebrows. I'd go as far as to say 'plaitable'. The pair of us were expecting The Hunchback of Notre-Dame-style scenery ancient bells, exposed beams, doves fluttering around so it was a bit of a disappointment when we entered a space that looked like our school staff room: beige carpet, noticeboards and the smell of soup in the air. The only unusual thing was a lot of ropes with colourful striped grips hanging from the ceiling. Eyebrows wouldn't let us touch the ropes. Not yet, not before he'd given us the 'danger talk'! Yes, bell ringing is perilous. He recounted tales of broken bones, torn fingernails, extracted teeth even death. He must have thought this was what we wanted to hear to prove that bell ringing was cool. We were terrified. Eyebrows changed tack and called the other ringers together to perform some 'rounds' for us. What he lacked in rapport with teens he made up for in passion for his bells. The sound was angelic and hypnotic, being so close that we could almost feel the chimes as they rang. Where it fell apart was with the terminology: two teenagers with a juvenile sense of humour should never be let loose on equipment that involves a middle-aged man yelling 'tail stroke', 'back stroke', 'hand stroke' and, of course, 'bell'. It was too innuendo-laden. When Alex and I got really silly, Eyebrows would bellow 'Stand' (bring the bell safely to rest). One time, I lost track of my place (where my bell sat in the round) and which stroke I was on, causing me to grapple at my rope in a panic. I pulled at the wrong time and the bell snatched the rope from my hands, sending it darting around the room like a hosepipe in a cartoon, hitting the face of a boy who had joined us for the session. I look back and wonder if I became one of the cautionary tales in Eyebrows's danger talk. However, there were moments when we genuinely gave it everything we had. We wanted to be a part of a smooth-flowing and long-lasting round, but, sadly, an hour a week while we did our bronze award wasn't enough. There's so much to think about, from how hard to pull, when to release, all the while imagining the position of a bell you can't see. Add to that the fear of accidental hanging and we were never going to be more than novices. But I'm so grateful for those bizarre weeks with Alex and Eyebrows a memory of two teenagers in the throes of self-expression, giving up their Tuesday evenings to hang out with a group of churchgoers. When I hear church bells ring, it's with fondness and appreciation. And when people wonder why it's been tough to train enough ringers for the coronation I can tell them exactly why. I tried to ignore White Ferrari Man, aka David 2.0, but he kept texting me. 'Liz, it was a shame the food wasn't more to your liking. [The vegan beetroot pasta was stuck together in a cloying lump and had a weird taste. Honestly, I should be a food critic.] You were entertaining, and I wasn't intimidated. You were good fun. Three hours flew by. You didn't tell me David 1.0 had sent you a gift. [Why should I? Also, stop reading my column!] Sounds as though he cares for you. Perhaps he doesn't like the thought of a competitor with the same name. [I doubt that.] If you are up for another meet, I will look for a more vegan restaurant [there isn't one in the Dales]. Unless, of course, I should back off and let romance with David 1.0 run its course. He seems sweet.' I texted my friend Isobel, as she had responded to my selfie in the Ferrari with, 'For real, then. How did it go?' 'Food horrendous. Didn't fancy him. Normal people are so boring, whereas I have tales about sitting in Bruce Willis's bath and taking a selfie with Helen Mirren, which made her very frightened. He didn't make me laugh once.' 'Stop it, Liz. I remember being in Ireland and John Hurt was coming up with all these anecdotes about Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton, and it was boring s***e.' This week Liz Jones booked to see a flat in Dalston, East London - having lived in Hackney for most of her life I was quite Hurt, actually. I'd have loved to have heard John Hurt's stories! You see, this is why I was so attracted to Quality Nigel, as he had been a war photographer, and we had so much in common.* He regaled me in the back of an armoured vehicle about how he had woken up to the ghost of an old woman in Rwanda, where he had been sent just days after the massacre. The elderly woman had been killed so suddenly and violently, she had no idea she was dead. A man telling me he plays badminton four times a week just doesn't cut it. Jones Moans... What Liz loathes this week Hipster hotels. I stayed in one on Tuesday night for work. Even though I pre-paid for the room, they took 150 off my card for 'incidentals'. But I only drink fizzy water! It will take weeks to be reimbursed! The NHS stress control course. 'Here is a picture of a tiger. This is why stress can be useful. It triggers the fight-or-flight response.' It's like psychotherapy for toddlers. Week 3, therapist off sick. I'm never off sick! Advertisement I was in London earlier this week and almost, almost texted David 1.0. He must still love me, given the Tiffany gift I swiftly exchanged. But don't you find the idea of men (dates, the wedding day, sex, actually living with the b******s) so much better than the reality? So, aside from work, I spent the two days on my own. I'd booked to see a flat in Dalston, East London: I really have come full circle, as I lived in Hackney for most of my life, briefly moving upwards to Islington before, now, crashing back down again. In the cab on the way, I got confused between Queensbridge Road and Dalston Lane. It was like that scene between Tom Hanks and his son in Sleepless in Seattle: 'I'm starting to forget her.' Dalston is still a s*** hole, but the flat was lovely. Not as tidy as in the photos, but still. I called the estate agent. 'I love it!' I didn't mention the laundry hanging everywhere. 'The thing is, the couple are taking the marble mantelpiece with them to their other home.' 'But that's the feature I love the most! Who removes the mantelpiece? How mean!' 'It has sentimental value.' Why do horrible, mean people manage to inhabit lovely homes? When I sold my Islington town house, I left the American fridge-freezer, the Italian wardrobe, the solid brass Georgian inserts in the fireplaces, the marble mantelpieces (!), the antique light fittings, and several rolls of Timorous Beasties wallpaper, in case the walls got scuffed. And a bottle of champagne, as well as a laminated note that I'd written for the buyer, headed, 'Useful things you might need to know.' I really hate smug, rich, hipster couples. I will never understand why horrible, mean people manage to inhabit lovely homes and sail through life whereas everything for me is so stormy and difficult. *He also resembles Liam Neeson. I'd planned to message him when I landed in Sydney and had de-puffed, but despite me sending several emails about a travel piece, the Australian tourist board has ghosted me From the outside, the ageing brick building on a North London industrial estate looks as far removed from the glamour, pomp and pageantry of the coronation as it's possible to get. But the 65 men and women inside have a pivotal role to play in its success. Some might say the event couldn't go ahead without them. This is Kashket & Partners, a family-run business that makes the most iconic uniforms in the world, from the Tower of London Beefeaters' coats to the red tunics of the Buckingham Palace King's Guards even Prince William and Prince Harry's wedding outfits. Founded in the 1950s, Kashket & Partners also owns Firmin & Sons, purveyors of metalwork for military clothing since 1655. And in the run-up to King Charles III's coronation next Saturday, they're busy preparing 8,000 spectacular individual garments. The factory opens at 5.30am. We're met bright and early by Nathan, 25, the impeccably dressed youngest Kashket, who has worked here since he was 16. He walks me past the fitting room, with its Union Jack rug, leather Chesterfield sofa and wall-to-wall fabric sample books, to meet his family in the boardroom. Here hang royal warrants (including King George III from 1796 and Queen Victoria from 1837) and a letter from Catherine, Princess of Wales, thanking the family for making her pageboys' outfits. This is Kashket & Partners, a family-run business that makes the most iconic uniforms in the world 'Growing up, when people asked what my parents did, I'd simply say, 'We make clothes'.' Only when I started working here did I realise just what an amazing business it is,' says Nathan. The family's tailoring origins date back to Nathan's great-grandfather Alfred, who made felt hats for Tsar Nicholas II in Russia before moving to London in the 1920s. Alfred's son Bernard, now 87, officially retired 20 years ago, but still visits the workshop on Fridays, while his son Russell, 60, the current boss and master tailor, personally makes uniforms for the royal family. 'Dad started here aged 14. There's nothing he can't do, from basic skills to the high-end stuff,' explains Nathan. With nine different monarchs on their books and customers in more than 45 countries, Nathan's mother Cheryl, 55, handles the international side of the business, negotiating contracts and dealing with military and ceremonial clients worldwide. In the UK, as well as making bespoke uniforms in the London workshop, Kashket & Partners has tailors at barracks across the country, with a dedicated service providing uniforms for young officers passing out of Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, while also making uniforms for the RAF, Royal Navy and Royal Marines at a larger factory in Leeds. And because Firmin & Sons specialises in buttons, badges, armour and swords, the family firm delivers every part of the outfit, including helmets and spurs. While there are new items to be made for the coronation, much of the Kashkets' work is about changing cyphers the sovereign's monogram from EIIR (Elizabeth II Regina) to CIIIR (Charles III Rex) on thousands of uniforms, across collars and belts, buttons and cap badges. The workshop appears to be organised chaos, with racks of paper patterns, rolls of crimson fabric, tunics, collars and trousers in various stages of completion, plus bobbins of thread and dressmakers' scissors across every surface. There's a busy hum, a clacking and whirring of sewing machines, the whoosh of steam presses and an overwhelming sense of purpose. Everyone knows exactly what they are doing. 'It's not a sweatshop we want people to love their jobs,' says Cheryl. 'That's the secret to getting things done.' Theyre busy preparing 8,000 spectacular garments for the coronation Making a bespoke uniform starts on the cutting table, where 26 different measurements per client are translated into paper patterns to be outlined on fabric with chalk then cut out by hand. These pieces are then labelled (to keep track of who they're for) and sewn together for a personal fitting where they're marked up, taken apart again, recut and sewn back together so the finished item fits like a glove. Any badges, cyphers and gold details are sewn on by hand or machine. The embroidered feathers and crowns are like tiny works of art. 'We'd be nothing without our amazing team,' says Nathan, giving us a tour. 'We find the best people and have around 20 nationalities here, with staff originally from Vietnam, Ukraine, Latvia, Ghana, India, Sri Lanka and Turkey. It's such detailed and complex work, they have to be special to manage the speed and quality required. Everyone is like a professional chef doing five things at once; making it look easy.' To be the best in the business takes a lifetime of training, and many for example, Hati, 58, assembling trousers, or Jazz, 65, sewing backslashes for jackets (the flaps at the back) have been here more than two decades, while the head of trouser production, Albert, 64, has been working for Kashket for 35 years and Lloyd, 65, operating a steam press, came back from retirement as he missed his job. Kashket & Partners production manager Olga Snigur with (centre) Russell Kashket and (right) head cutter Timmy Ha 'We'll keep people for as long as they want to be here,' says Nathan. 'They're not just amazing workers, they have huge hearts, and we try hard to support them.Everyone here feels like family.' Having said that, the company is investing in the future. 'We do take on apprentices we can't let these skills die out,' explains Russell's brother Marlon, 56, a master tailor with 40-plus years' experience, who began helping out aged ten. 'I keep a few secrets to myself, but everything is written down, to pass on if needed.' In recent weeks, Russell has held a meeting, 'Operation Orb' (the coronation codename), every morning at 7am. 'I've been preparing for this moment my whole life,' he says with a smile. 'I was fortunate to have met our late Majesty [the Queen] and also Prince Philip, who was charming and intelligent. I am privileged to have worked for the monarchy they all have a keen eye for attention to detail and really understand their uniforms.' Russell is decidedly bushy-tailed considering he was texting Malaysia at 4am. 'I have no intention of ever retiring,' he says. 'You don't do this for the money it's about passion.' He holds up a drum major's sash with intricate golden embroidery that took four weeks to make. 'When I look at this, I see beauty. Every little bit is proper.' Cheryl met Russell as a teenager, and now regularly travels to the Middle East for work. 'I started doing small things then slowly got sucked in!' Working with her husband isn't a problem. 'We're a team. We may argue, but I bow to his knowledge. He was born to do this, as was Nathan. I'm more about the customers, making people happy, as it means we've lasted another generation.' The work is mostly government contracts, so the family can't reveal how much a ceremonial uniform costs, but they do offer bespoke tailoring to select clients, from 2,500 for a suit, which seems remarkably good value considering that includes free alterations for life. 'We'll always look after you, as we want your children to come to us, for our children to look after,' says Cheryl. From the workshop staff to the soldiers they dress, all are incredibly proud. 'It's an honourto play a part in making that happen,' says Cheryl. 'And when we're at home watching the coronation on television, it'll be incredibly exciting to spot the uniforms and think, 'We did that!' For the first time the family has let cameras into the workshop for a BBC documentary, Coronation Tailors: Fit For a King. 'We've been described as the country's best-kept secret, but it's time people knew about the work we do here,' says Cheryl. 'We're making history.' Coronation Tailors: Fit For a King will be on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday 3 May 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.com will earn an affiliate commission. Click here for more information. If youve ever been bitten by mosquitoes, youll be aware that it can make skin swell up, turn red and become incessantly itchy. The trick is to repel them before they bite, which is where the Natural Patch comes in. Perfect for people sensitive to bug lotions and sprays, the Natural Patch smiley face patches can be stuck on to you or your child to protect against mosquitoes for up to 8 hours. And theyre currently reduced by 51 per cent if you buy them direct from Natural Patch. The Natural Patch Co 3-Pack (180 Patches) These fun, eco-friendly all-natural patches will keep bug bites at bay without any toxic chemicals or sticky creams that could cause skin irritation. Adults and kids should stick them to clothes and they'll release citronella and other natural oils that hide your carbon dioxide emissions so mosquitoes can't detect you. A three-pack now costs $36 (instead of $74.97) - making a pack just $12 each. Shop Each patch contains an all-natural c. Citronella essential oil blend thats carefully formulated to repel mosquitos. The non-woven fabric patches can be stuck onto clothes, making them an ideal way to protect children who cant sit still long enough to apply lotion, sprays or creams. Mosquitoes find us by sensing the carbon dioxide we emit when we exhale. Certain compounds, including specific essential oils, overpower the carbon dioxide we emit, essentially hiding us from mosquitoes. It's recommended that children aged three to five stick one patch on their top and one on their shorts or skirt so there's enough scent across the body to repel mosquitoes all over Its recommended that children over the age of six and adults protect themselves with between two to four BuzzPatches a day. One patch on the clothing next to each exposed limb, such as on short sleeve t-shirts and on shorts. Children under six need fewer as you can get away with placing them centrally or one on the top and one on the shorts, as their smaller size means theyre easier to hide from mosquitoes. The patches are not only better for skin due to the all natural oils and lack of chemicals but better for the environment too. Unlike topical sprays, there is no DEET or Picaridin, which are toxic to birds, fish and invertebrates. The Natural Patches contain natural ingredients and no harsh chemicals like DEET so they are safe for babies, children, adults and not harmful to marine wildlife or birds Each patch is biodegradable so it wont take up space in landfill or leave a lasting impact on the planet. There are thousands of glowing reviews on the Natural Patch website, with shoppers calling them the best ever. Since using BuzzPatch, I havent had a single mozzie bite, which is a huge change from the loads of bites Im often covered in, explained one thrilled reviewer. They dont leave a sticky residue and arent messy like a spray is. I wont buy anything else now. Stick a patch onto a child's top and it will confuse mosquitoes through scent, preventing the mosquitoes from detecting and biting them Another added: My 16month old daughter was getting bitten every time she played outside in the backyard. She would get multiple bites and they would turn into huge angry welts. Since using the patches, she hasnt had any new bites. Originating from Australia, the idea for Natural Patch was conceived by parents wanting to protect their children from bites so they could enjoy summer more. After collaborations with Australian Research Universities, they became a reality and the feedback could not be better. If you want to try how they work for the lowest possible price, head to the Natural Patch website now while theres a sale. According to a behavioural scientist even the most confident killers' can slip up If you were sat opposite a serial killer on a bus... would you know it? Here are the creepy tell-tale signs and traits that can expose someone as a murderer, according to an expert. And while you may be thinking that you know it all after binging Netflix true crime shows on Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer, there is far more to it than that. Cliff Lansley, a behavioural scientist, spoke to The Hippocratic Post and explained the odd body language, tiny signs and gestures that apply to killers in real life. He said that even the 'most confident, hardened killers' can slip up, and little signs in the face, body, and voice can help spot whether a killer is lying. But, the key is to know what you are looking for - so here are the signs... Peter Sutcliffe (left) was sentenced to 20 consecutive life sentences for a total of 22 murders. Meanwhile, Harold Shipman (right) was a GP that murdered his patients using a lethal dose of diamorphine Police mug shot of convicted serial killer Ted Bundy (left). After nine years in Florida State Prison, on Jan. 24, 1989, Ted Bundy was put to death by the state. Mugshot of cannibal serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (right) who was also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or Milwaukee Monster According to a study conducted in 1971 by social psychologist Professor Albert Mehrabian at the University of Los Angeles, body language makes up for 55% of the meaning in how someone communicated their feelings. And around 38% comes from the tone, pitch and pace they use, while just seven per cent comes from the actual words. Following this, Mr Lansley says that when trying to determine whether someone is lying about being a murderer - it is not whether they maintain eye contact, sweat, or evade questions it is all about how their behaviour changes. While the circumstances in which you interrogate a killer may vary, at the beginning of an interview, a interviewer may hold a conversation with a suspect that makes them feel comfortable. For example, they may discuss family, skills, education and their dreams. It is during this period Mr Lansley says that 'we note how often they blink, the normal colour of their skin, their speech rate and how they maintain eye contact. 'Later on, when the real questioning begins, we can assess changes to these normal baseline patterns to assess discomfort, stress and lying. However, some criminals might use eye contact to gauge whether the interrogator is buying their story, while others may try and avoid it altogether. Theodore Bundy gestures as he cross examines witnesses for the prosecution while members of the jury look on in the Miami courtroom, July 9, 1979. The expert says that even the 'most confident, hardened killers' can slip up Theodore Bundy, seated in court, charged with the killings of two Florida State University students Therefore, when police interview potential suspects, they are trained to question them in such a way as to reveal their innermost feelings and thoughts. And while we may be accustomed to believe that someone looking away from you means that they're lying, this is actually not true. The behavioural scientists explains: 'Studies show that maintaining eye contact while telling an account is actually a stronger indicator of deception than looking away, since this suggests someone is checking to see if they are being believed.' So there you have it. Finding out whether someone is a serial killer is all about noticing behavioural changes - even if they are small or unnoticeable at first. An 80-year-old grandmother has strutted her stuff in a bandeau-style wedding gown with a mermaid silhouette as she prepares to get married. Janet Merryman, from Maryland in the US, was widowed when she was in her 60s after her first husband sadly took his own life. However, after falling in love for the second time with a man 20 years her junior, Janet decided to make the most of her big day. A video posted on TikTok by Janet's granddaughter Danielle shows the glamorous grandmother doing a catwalk strut in the bridal shop after trying on one of three gowns. Speaking on Good Morning America after the video went viral, Janet encouraged other women approaching their older years not to give up on love. Janet Merryman, from Maryland in the US, went viral on TikTok after strutting her stuff in a lace bandeau wedding gown as she prepares to tie the knot at the age of 80 'Take a chance, that's all I can say. That's what I'm doing,' Janet said. 'I don't have that many more years left and I'm happy now.' Janet revealed she met her fiance when he was her next-door neighbour, but for the first seven years they lived on the same street, he was married with children. When his marriage ended, Janet began inviting her beau over for lunch and the pair fell in love. Preparing for her big day, Janet went to the wedding dress shop with Danielle and picked out three dresses to try on. Janet, 80, is preparing to wed her 60-year-old fiance after her first husband sadly took his own life 16 years ago After putting on the bandeau lace gown, she recalled thinking: 'Wow, this thing looks really good on.' Danielle revealed that Janet was the star of the store as all eyes were on her while she tried on the gowns. 'There are all these other brides who are trying on dresses who are stopping they were doing to look at her,' she said. As Janet prepares to walk down the aisle for the second time, she revealed her own health battles which changed her perspective on life. The grandmother said she had been diagnosed with colon cancer but recovered. However, she then found out she had a blood clot on her lung. 'I honestly didn't think I would be sitting here today,' she said. After partially raising Danielle, Janet revealed how she felt 'lonelier and lonelier' after her granddaughter moved out. However after meeting her fiance, she found happiness and companionship. She said: 'Everybody used to say to me, 'Why don't you smile more?' I smile a lot more now.' A video posted on Danielle's TikTok channel yesterday revealed Janet had married in the show-stopping dress, which she'd had altered to add straps. She is now 87, but says she has no plans to retire from The New Castle soon A 87-year-old pub landlady has insisted she is still 'not old enough to retire' - because she wouldn't know what to do with her time. Judith Birkett, from Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, runs The New Castle, and has no plans to give up control of the taps in her 'happy ship' any time soon. She said she has to keep moving - because 'they'll bury you if you don't'. Ms Birkett has worked behind the bar at various pubs for 40 years. Judith Birkett, from Sneinton, Nottinghamshire, runs The New Castle, and has no plans to give up control of the taps in her 'happy ship' any time soon 'I'm not old enough to retire. I like people and to be honest the thought of retirement is not something I want to contemplate. What would I do with my time? Drive all the neighbours mad probably,' she told NottinghamshireLive. 'I think my customers would be more than a little upset if I departed even though I tend to be a bit heavy on them sometimes. The general opinion seems to be better the devil you know.' The divorced mother-of-four said 'one advantage of maturity is that you don't have to apologise for anything... you can put it down to old age or senility'. 'I'm not old enough to retire. I like people and to be honest the thought of retirement is not something I want to contemplate,' she said Ms Birkett began working in pubs in 1983, at The Willow Tree near Newark She also made clear that she 'doesn't take prisoners' in her bar - and very rarely has any problematic customers. 'Most of the customers regard me as an ancient treasure,' she said. 'It takes a lot to faze me.' Ms Birkett began working in pubs in 1983, at The Willow Tree near Newark. She has described herself as a 'survivor' of the trade. 'They will have to drag me screaming to my coffin because I'm not going to be a willing participant even when I get round to being 110,' Ms Birkett said. Prince Oscar of Sweden stole the show during a balcony appearance today as the royals gathered to celebrate the King's birthday. The Prince, seven, took a leaf out of the UK's Prince Louis's book as he looked restless during a public appearance on the balcony at the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm as King Carl XVI Gustaf turned 77. The royal appeared with his mother Crown Princess Victoria, 45, father Prince Daniel, 49, and sister Princess Estelle, 11. He was also joined by Queen Silvia, Princess Sofia and Prince Gabriel. Oscar, who turned seven at the beginning of March, was pictured taking shelter in his mother's blue coat as the family waved to royal fans. As he stood towards the front of the balcony, he put his head in his hands and began brushing his hair away from his face with a look of anguish in antics that were reminiscent of Prince Louis's cheeky balcony appearance to mark the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee last June. Prince Oscar of Sweden, 7, took a leaf out of Prince Louis's book during a balcony appearance of the Swedish royal family to celebrate King Carl Gustaf's 77th birthday Another photo showed Oscar, Duke of Skane, looking particularly glum as the sun shone in his eyes and the wind whipped his hair. Meanwhile, the other royals present on the balcony beamed and waved at the crowds to mark the occasion. In one snap that particularly harked back to five-year-old Prince Louis's funny balcony appearance at the Queen's Jubilee, Crown Princess Victoria leaned down to kiss her restless son on the head. The mother-of-four's attempt to settle her child was much like the Princess of Wales's gentle whisper to Prince Louis during the Red Arrows flypast last June. Oscar, Duke of Skane, looked restless as the sun appeared to get in his eyes during the appearance The young prince appeared alongside his family members including his mother, Crown Princess Victoria and father Prince Daniel Prince Oscar looked anguished as he pushed his hair from his face and looked down at the crowd with a concerned expression At one point, the young prince was sheltered inside his mother, Crown Princess Victoria's coat The 7-year-old prince looked glum as he stood on the balcony during the appearance to mark his grandfather's birthday Elsewhered on the balcony at the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Princess Sofia did her best to shield her children from the wind A doting mother: Crown Princess Victoria, 45, leaned down to kiss her son on the head as he looked serious and solemn Prince Oscar's hilarious antics were reminiscent of Prince Louis larking about at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations last June (pictured) Last month the Swedish royal family released angelic photos of Prince Oscar to mark his seventh birthday, which were taken at the family's home of Haga Palace in Haga Park, Solna. In the first of the two images, Oscar, who has his hair perfectly combed in place, beams as he cuddles he family's Cavapoo, Rio while sitting on a cream sofa. In the second photograph, Oscar is joined by his sister Princess Estelle, 11. The pair were captured sitting back-to-back on a staircase as they grinned at the camera. Oscar opted for grey jeans and a brown cardigan with black shoes. His sister looked equally smart in a white top and a houndstooth skirt. Elsewhere the Swedish royals, including Queen Silvia, Princess Estelle and Princess Sofia, looked stylish, if a little windswept, as they appeared on the balcony Prince Carl Philip missed out on the balcony appearance and instead appeared in a procession dressed in military gear The pictures were posted with the caption: 'Prince Oscar turns seven today. Congratulations!' when translated from Swedish to English. The two images appeared to be from the same photoshoot shared on Princess Estelle's birthday last month. Royal fans rushed to comment on the images, with one person writing: 'Charming and lovely Prince Oscar who turns 7 today!! Happy birthday to you!' Another said: 'Sweden's cutest!!!! Big congratulations to the prince,' while a third added: 'Big congratulations to you our little prince.' Prince Osckar was born at the Karolinska University Hospital in the Swedish capital of Stockholm at 8.28pm on 2 March 2016. If you dont own a mac by now, youre really beginning to feel like the person who didnt get the memo. Which partly explains why I found myself in John Lewis last week, browsing rainwear. These were not any old raincoats. These were raincoats from the late Danish designer Ilse Jacobsen Hornbaek, the Waitrose plus of raincoat brands - not so luxe that John Lewis cant find a place for them, but in the top most desirable league, with price tags to match. Ive never liked trench coats - supposedly the classic iconic raincoat. Despite their recent resurgence I cant get behind them. For me theyre too bulky and belted, and half the time they arent even rainproof. If Im considering a raincoat, I want maximum weather protection (hood non-negotiable) with all the latest technical pluses, for the same reason I want trainers with cushioned soles not canvas plimsolls. And, of course, I want all this wrapped up in a modern, stylish package. Royal approval! Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, opted for a navy blue mac with pockets and orange zips Fashionista: US actress Katie Holmes looks relaxed in a belted beige mac with jeans and black mules Stylish: I'm a Celeb star Myleene Klass wore a lightweight white mac over a pale pink dress out in London Which brings me to the main reason why, after all these years, I went mac-hunting on the eve of summer. A desire to get some Danishness. As you probably know, in the chart of fashionable women to aspire to, the Danes are way out in front. This development is partly to do with the bold, clean Danish aesthetic, but also to do with us catching up with the principle of making the everyday wonderful. Danes dont separate clothes for best and work and casual. They buy a coat to suit the weather and choose one they feel proud to wear anywhere. Once youre on board with this simple philosophy that all your clothes should be practical, functional and very stylish the Danish brands, who have been at it for years, have extra appeal. Ive just bought an Ilse Jacobsen raincoat in the sale is the fashion brag of 2023, in the same way owning a Mulberry handbag was back in the Noughties. The most affordable of the Ilse Jacobsen styles is a slippery unlined navy mac (131, johnlewis.com), which caught my eye on a woman walking her dog in the park. This is a simple raincoat that you can slip on over anything, and its the one I was planning to buy until I saw the waisted 07 plain raincoat (215). Selena Gomez has thrown her Wardrobe NYC mac over sparkly gold trousers for a cool and understated look US actress Regina Hall paired her classic beige belted mac with jeans and animal print boots If you want something more substantial thats got a bit of glamorous skiwear about it, this is it, although it will be too warm to wear year round. Still, in the end, the one I picked was the long raincoat (236) because its the lighter option I can wear it now and in the autumn with a gilet and because it looks chic and modern. SCANDI MACS: A GUIDE Go for navy or khaki. Look for double-welded seams. Get longer for maximum protection. Choose a detachable hood. Advertisement This style is as Danish as coats come: navy, long line (it finishes just above the knee), light but windproof, and beautifully finished with taped seams, elegant zips, poppers on the side vents and a detachable hood. Naturally, its coating is biodegradable. I do feel a bit Danish in it. Your stylish raincoat doesnt have to be Danish. It could be Swedish. Tretorn, who make the best cropped rubber boots, do several styles, including the Wings rain jacket (95, uk.tretron.com), which has a slightly Sixties feel (it may be the plastic press buttons). Rains is a UK brand specialising in lightweight, soft, barely there macs made of its signature rubberised polyurethane fabric. Its long jacket (95, uk.rains.com) is the go-to choice for minimal, unisex rainwear. Otherwise, if youre hankering for something with more of a trench look, its Curve jacket is belted with two front pockets (105), although be warned, all Rains hoods come with an inbuilt peak which is not to everyones taste. All these brands offer a wide range of colours (Tretorn does 14 in total), but if youre diving in for the first time, you cant beat navy (indigo), khaki or a pale khaki called aloe. Another Swedish brand, H&M, does a neat, zip-up, A-line hooded mac (59.99, 2.hm.com), which is water repellent rather than proof you get what you pay for with a mac but it will certainly keep you dry in a light shower. She's now the owner of a Laser Clinics Australia franchisee Jodi Cottle left behind her corporate job to regain control of her life Five years ago mum Jodi Cottle quit her well-paying corporate job to regain control of her life - now she works when she wants and earns a six-figure salary. The 40-year-old former sales manager and mortgage adviser struggled maintaining a work-life balance shortly after becoming a mum and knew something needed to change. 'When I worked in corporate, I was doing the constant mum juggle,' Ms Cottle told FEMAIL. 'I'd get up early, check emails before my son woke up, rush around the house and do the morning drop-off. 'I'd then go to work and have to sit through meetings where things were mansplained to me or where my male colleagues took credit for my ideas. I finally thought: Enough is enough!' Taking matters into her own hands, she opted to become a Laser Clinics Australia franchisee and now rakes in more than $100,000 a year. She now has complete freedom over her working hours and wants to help more Aussie women find that balance. Jodi's advice for others wanting to start a business Map out the values and make these an essential core of the business Work on building a great team No matter what, you need to persevere and push through the tough times Don't be driven by money - consider your 'why' and what you're doing it for Advertisement Jodi Cottle was sick and tired of hustling endlessly in the 'rat race' and wanting a better work-life balance (Jodi pictured with her son) Jodi, who is from New Zealand but now lives on the Gold Coast, had a strong advantage in branching out on her own after completing a Masters in Business. At the start of 2018, she and her family moved from Sydney to the Gold Coast and for 18 months she toyed with different business ideas. 'The first few months were terrifying, I knew I wanted to start a business, but I wasnt quite sure what I wanted to do,' Jodi said. Rather than building a brand from scratch, she turned to franchising an already existing company - an option she believes is overlooked - and bought a laser clinic in Tweed Heads in September 2019. With her background in business, she conducted research herself on the numbers and took a 'calculated' risk - which paid off. Taking matters into her own hands, she opted to become a Laser Clinics Australia franchisee and now rakes in more than $100,000 a year With her background in business, she conducted research herself to pull numbers together and take a 'calculated' risk (Jodi and staff member pictured) After being handed the keys to her own franchise it took a further 18 months to build a thriving team. Today, Jodi's base salary as an owner is $100,000 with quarterly distributions based on profits. But it hasn't all been smooth sailing - the clinic has faced huge challenges from bushfires, floods, border closures and Covid. 'There have been tough times, but I wouldn't change it for the world,' Jodi said. 'Now I trust my staff and only work when it's necessary.' 'There have been tough times, but I wouldn't change it for the world,' Jodi said Jodi has always been great with handling money as when she was 19 she bought her first property, and by 25 she owned six. She worked as a mortgage adviser during this time before turning to sales and senior leadership. Her experience with handling property combined with her Masters in Business greatly assisted when it came to franchising. Jodi hopes her story will inspire other Australian women to escape the rat race and take back control of their own lives. To help inspire other women to make the same leap of faith, Jodi has written a book titled 'The Pocket MBA: A Woman's Playbook for Succeeding in Business'. For more information, click here. It's not often that I feel left out of the loop when it comes to sexy antics. I've got frisky in the great outdoors, considered a threesome, experimented with various pleasure toys, and kept up to date on all the latest sex trends. But there's one thing that a lot of you have been doing behind a very specific door I was not aware of. This revelation came to light on Monday night when I was hosting my usual 'tell me a saucy secret' game on my Instagram. There is always at least one confession that sees my jaw drop to the floor. And this week it was a person who wrote in to say: 'I masturbate at work daily in the bathroom. It's my version of a smoke break.' Jana Hocking: It's not often that I feel left out of the loop when it comes to sexy antics, but there's one thing that a lot of you have been doing behind a very specific door I wasn't aware of Well, to be fair, that's one of the tamer ones. But it's what happened next that really shook me. Poll Have you ever masturbated at work? Yes - I do it all the time No! I'd never even consider it Yes, and I almost got caught No - but I really want to Have you ever masturbated at work? Yes - I do it all the time 384 votes No! I'd never even consider it 1461 votes Yes, and I almost got caught 111 votes No - but I really want to 103 votes Now share your opinion I decided to conduct a scientific poll with my 27,000 followers to ask everyone if they had ever masturbated at work. I was thinking the results would come back with a very low number of people who do but no, no, no. Turns out a whopping 51 per cent of my cheeky followers have done it. And what was more surprising, a lot of them were women. Umm excuse me what?? While we've been tut-tutting the naughty workers going on their 'smoke breaks', we've completely missed the randy bunch 'sorting themselves out' in the work toilets. I let my mind wander to the toilets at my work. Could I? The sterile white walls, the horrible squeaky doors and the slight waft of other people's excrements really didn't scream sexy. For me, it's a firm no. This girl needs a very comfy bed, dim lighting, nice smelling sheets and absolute quiet. Well, apart from my 'movie' of choice. Jana was shocked when the results on an Instagram poll revealed that over 51 per cent of people had masturbated at work I decided to reach out to one of my girlfriends who had ticked the 'yes' box to my cheeky question to find out how? Why? Where? And thankfully she really came to the party. She revealed that she regularly takes her waterproof vibrator to her gym. She explained the bathrooms are gorgeous, with heavenly lighting, a nice smelling candle always burning, and the showers are next level chic. She said, 'I don't spend that much money on a boujee gym not to get my money's worth.' She further explained that she's usually high on endorphins after a really good work out, and a quick 'shower session' was the perfect way burn those final calories. She goes to the gym most weekday mornings, and she said the thought of a delayed orgasm not only helped get her out of bed and into the gym, but also made her speed through her workout. This girl has a rocking body, and now I know her secret. But what about people who actually do it at work. My investigation was not complete until I delved deeper. I have a wonderfully candid friendship with one of my guy friends so I asked him directly: 'Why the heck are people blowing their load in work toilets?' He laughed and revealed that for many blokes, himself included, it was a great way to let off steam. He said he once did it after a work colleague wore a short skirt to work. 'She looked hot, and I was distracted all day. So rather than thirst after her I took myself to the bathroom and sorted it out. I felt a million times better and could get on with my job productively.' Note to self: burn all short skirts. (Joking). Jana revealed that several of her male friends thought 'half the fun' of masturbating at work was 'trying to do it quietly' I asked him if he was scared of getting caught, and he laughed again and said 'no, half the fun is in trying to do it quietly.' Another friend chimed in and said he gets off on the idea of getting caught. Wow. Now we all know that masturbation works wonders for stress relief, but should we be incorporating it into our work routine? Megan Fleming, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and instructor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University specialising in sex and relationships, recently told InStyle Magazine: 'Masturbation can act as a reset button. It tells your brain that things are OK, that you can breathe and relax. And from a more relaxed state, energy can again be expansive and you can have access to the best parts of you to make decisions and be more creative.' However, I'm pretty sure all our bosses are screaming 'no' to doing it in the office - and to that I say 'fair call'. But perhaps we can make it part of our daily self-care. An orgasm a day may very well keep the doctor away. US regulators were last night racing to clinch a sale of First Republic as it looked set to become the latest bank to fail amid a global crisis for the sector. JP Morgan and PNC Financial Services Group were understood to be among those left in the running for the San Francisco-based lender, whose share price has collapsed by 97 per cent this year. It follows the demise of three other US firms Silicon Valley Bank, Signature and Silvergate as well as European giant Credit Suisse, which is being taken over by rival UBS. Casualty: First Republic is expected to be sold imminently The crisis blew up in March, jolting stock markets and temporarily freezing the appetite of bond investors to provide funds to banks. Markets have since calmed but all eyes will be on how they respond to the latest collapse today and when UK markets reopen tomorrow after the May Bank Holiday. First Republic had already been the target of a sharp share price sell-off when the crisis began but was given a stay of execution when Wall Street banks agreed to inject 24billion in deposits. But that proved to be short-lived as first-quarter results published last week showed that - stripping out that injection - customers pulled out 80billion of funds in the three-month period. Reports over the weekend suggested that roughly half a dozen banks were bidding for First Republic. A deal was expected to be finalised in time to be announced by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) - an industry-funded scheme - before Asian markets opened. It will be closely watched for signs of how much support the government will need to provide. The FDIC officially insures all deposits up to $250,000 (199,000). But it the case of SVB and Signature regulators took the exceptional step of guaranteeing all deposits, fearing further damaging bank runs could happen otherwise. First Republic marketed itself to high-net worth customers with preferential rates on mortgages and loans. It had a high level of deposits over and above the FDIC threshold - 68 per cent. The bank's likely demise was becoming clear by the end of last week though the wider banking sector remained calm at the time. Unlike SVB, First Republic does not have a UK subsidiary. However, the Bank of England was understood to be monitoring the situation over the weekend. SVB's British arm was bought by HSBC for 1 in a deal brokered by the Bank in March. UK banks have been largely insulated from the crisis - having been forced by regulators to beef up their balance sheets following the financial crisis in 2008. But the spectacle of billions being drained rapidly from bank deposits - thanks to easy to access online accounts - has made authorities think again about how ready they are to handle a bank run. Officials have ordered an urgent review of the UK savings guarantee limit, which stands at 85,000. Shocking photos show children exposed to rampant drug abuse and blood-filled needles around a controversial injecting room where 'meth and heroin zombies' roam free. It's the seedy underbelly of an inner Melbourne suburb where the median price for a house is over $1,400,000 but has junkies injecting in public view. The Medically Supervised Injecting Room (MSIR), where health professionals monitor narcotics use to prevent overdoses, has been running in Richmond since 2018 and after a five-year trial period has been made permanent. Richmond resident Sharon Neven, 58, told Daily Mail Australia that children attending the Richmond West Primary School, across the street from the MSIR, are exposed daily to drug use and its consequences. She shared photos with Daily Mail Australia of the area surrounding the drug injecting room that she had taken over the last five years. 'There are people who are publicly injecting in our kids' parks. There are people injecting in front of our faces,' she said. 'Kids still have to walk to and from school, so they still have to walk past this behaviour, people naked, people running around with their tops off and the kids go 'he's on ice' and (for) one nodding off 'he's on heroin'. A Richmond resident says school children are regularly exposed to users shooting shooting up around the controversial Medically Supervised Injecting Room In a letter sent to then state education minister James Merlino in April 2021 Richmond West parents, some who said they were refugees, provided horrifying testimonies of what their children had been exposed to. 'After two lockdowns in one week, my daughter is traumatised,' one wrote. 'She is needing professional counselling. She is terrified to come to school. 'My older children walk her to school; she grips their hands so tightly on the walk it hurts them.' A man and two children watch what appears to be addict shooting up in the street near the injecting room One local said their kids came home from school and told her, 'mum, we saw a man put his doodle in a lady's mouth'. Another recorded: 'My child saw two women having a physical fight through the school fence and told me 'one lady's wig came off' it wasn't a wig, she was witnessing a woman's hair being pulled out.' Richmond resident Sharon Neven, who has lived in the area for 23 years, says the neighbourhood had deteriorated since the injecting room opened In early April, Ms Neven spied a blood-filled discarded syringe in bushes across from the school and rang the number the injecting room provides for them to collect needles, but they did not pick up because it was after 5pm. She then rang the Yarra City Council's number for syringe collection, which despite being advertised as an after-hours service, was only answered with a recorded message instructing her to call the next business day. Despite repeated calls to the injecting room and council the needle remained in place from Thursday until it was finally picked up on Monday, by which time two other syringes had joined it. A blood-filled needle that was found by Ms Neven sitting below bushed opposite the school The MSIR, which is run by the local North Richmond Community Health Centre, was declared a permanent facility in early March by the Andrews government. 'This is changing lives and saving lives,' Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said in announcing the room's ongoing status. The next day after Ms Neven reported the used syringe to the injecting room she saw that it was still there and had been joined by two others He claimed the room had 'successfully managed almost 6,000 overdoses' since it opened in June 2018 and had saved 63 lives. The figures come from the Ryan Review, chaired by Mr John Ryan, that was delivered to the state government in February. Its estimate of 63 lives saved comes from extrapolating how many of the injections overseen by the centre would normally end in overdose. One drug user told the Ryan Review that the area around the injecting room was so scary he didn't like going there While the review stated ambulance call-outs within a 1km radius of the injecting room for overdoses had almost halved, official figures showed an increase in overall incidents requiring paramedics. There were 61 ambulance call-outs to to Lennox St in the year before the room opened compared to 123 in 2019, which was a 101 per cent increase over two years. The Ryan Review acknowledges the MSIR has shown almost no impact in curbing Richmond's drug market. The review also found the area around the injecting was so menacing even addicts were afraid to go there. Drug user Jerry told the review: 'It doesn't make you feel safe as you're walking down Lennox Street to the room. Also, there's people trying to rip you off or rob you. As I say, you've just got to have your wits about you all the time.' This man was photographed outside the West Richmond school in 2019 with some parents saying their children have been traumatised by what they have seen Ms Neven, who has lived in Richmond for 23 years, said crime had grown worse since the injecting room opened. 'We have our cars broken into, our homes broken into a guy across the road got punched in the face by a drug user,' she said. 'No one does anything about it because they know if they are caught with an amount they are let go.' A man and a child walk past a figure lying near the controversial injecting room in Richmond Ms Neven claimed police, who cannot make any drug-related arrests within 300 metres of the injecting centre, were largely ignoring the problem. 'They ride their bikes around, they drive their cars around, they say 'well what can we do, they're not going to put them into prison',' she said. 'The police are doing nothing. The drug dealers are winning. 'We cater for all the drug users in Melbourne, they all come here for needles,' she said. 'They do not like to use the room. They do not like to be watched. They do not like the clinical area that it is. They like to inject in groups and have fun. 'The fact that it's outside our maternal health clinic and our health clinic and next to a primary school I have issues with that,' she said. 'We are talking about mums with babies who have come from Afghanistan, Somalia, the Sudan they have been through war and they have to walk through this and they are terrified.' Ms Neven said that mothers could sometimes been seen injecting within sight of their children A review found that ambulance call-outs for overdoses had decreased in the injecting room's council area but other figures showed that overall call-out for emergency services had gone up A spokesperson for the injecting room told Daily Mail Australia that the service has 'removed barriers to critical health and social supports for people who need them'. 'Critically, more than 700 people have now started specialist treatment through the MSIR to help manage their addiction' the spokesperson said. The Victorian minister for Health has been contacted for comment. The corpses of more than 100 Kenyans who starved themselves to death 'to meet Jesus' have been found in mass graves in a case that has shocked the world - but they are just the latest victims of a cult that ended in unimaginable tragedy. As fears grow that the death toll could rise, the grim discovery has sparked memories of some of the world's worst cases of cult-related deaths which have - in some cases - seen hundreds of people take part in mass suicides and murders. History has demonstrated that cult leaders, often using religion as a means to persuade their followers to obey them in order to achieve some form of divine ascension, have the power to persuade their flock to commit the unthinkable. Cult leader Paul Mackenzie Nthenge has been accused of the 103 deaths linked to his church. Should he be found guilty, he would join the likes of Jim Jones, Marshall Applewhite, Shoko Asahara and David Koresh as being a notorious cult leader responsible for the deaths of dozens and possibly hundreds of followers. As the mass starvation in Kenya joins a terrifying list of cults that have ended in tragedy - either for their members, detractors or the general public - MailOnline looks at some of the most infamous death cults... The corpses of around 100 Kenyans who starved themselves to death 'to meet Jesus' have been found in mass graves in a case that has shocked the world - but they are just the latest victims of a cult that ended in unimaginable tragedy. Pictured: Police and locals carry exhumed bodies of victims of the starvation cult in a makeshift stretcher, April 23 As fears grow that the death toll could rise, the grim discovery has sparked memories of some of the world's worst cases of cult-related deaths which have - in some cases - seen hundreds of people take part in mass suicides and murders. Pictured: Digged holes are seen after exhuming bodies at the mass-grave site in Shakahola, Kenya, on April 25 The People's Temple of the Disciples of Christ (United States/Guyana) The People's Temple of the Disciples of Christ was an American religious organisation founded by Jim Jones, combining Christianity and communist ideology. Jones and his followers forged ties with many left wing political figures, and at its height claimed to have 20,000 members, although the true number was more likely around 3,000 to 5,000 people. Founded in 1954 by Jones in Indianapolis, the group - which would later go on to be regarded as a destructive cult - famously met a tragic end in 1978. Four years earlier, in 1974, the People's Temple signed a lease to rent land in the South American nation of Guyana, where the cult established the People's Temple Agricultural Project, that was informally dubbed 'Jonestown'. Pictured: This 1976 photograph shows Reverend Jim Jones, the founder of The People's Temple. He eventually moved himself and other followers to Guyana, where more than 900 people drank Jones saw the project as a socialist paradise, and as sanctuary from the media scrutiny he was received following a series of reports about his cult in 1972. Jonestown had around 50 members by 1977, but as media scrutiny over Jones's organisation grew, the population grew to over 900 by late 1978. Those who moved to Jonestown were promised a socialist paradise, sheltered from the outside world. But there was a darker truth lying beneath the surface. US Representative Leo Ryan visited Jonestown on November 17, 1978 to investigate claims of abuse within the temple. While he was there, a number of the cult's members expressed their desire to leave with him back to America. However, as Ryan and a group of journalists went to the local airstrip at Port Kaituma on November 18, Jones's self-styled security guards opened fire on the group. Ryan and three journalists were killed along with one of the defectors. That same evening, Jones and several other members argued that the congregation should commit 'revolutionary suicide' fearing the US military would soon arrive. Since 1976, Jones had been receiving monthly shipments of cyanide after he had obtained a jeweller's licence to buy the chemical, purportedly to clean gold. Pictured: An aerial view of some of the bodies at Jonestown, seen on November 18, 1978. Over 900 members of the People's Temple Cult - led by Reverend Jim Jones - either killed themselves with cyanide-laced Flavor Aid, or were killed by other members of the cult Pictured: The aftermath of the mass suicide of the religious cult, The People's Temple, led by Jim Jones, is seen in Jonestown in 1978 Pictured: Representative Leo Ryan of California, who was shot and killed in Jonestown, shortly before members of the cult committed mass suicide, or were killed when they did not In a room guarded by armed guards, he ordered his congregation to drink cyanide-laced Flavor Aid. Those that resisted were injected with the poison, as were infants, while some managed to escape the mass suicide by fleeing through the jungle. Jones recorded the event on audio tape, which later gave investigators a better picture of the events and how they unfolded. The tape captured his last words. 'Take our life from us. We laid it down. We got tired. We didn't commit suicide. We committed an act of revolutionary suicide protesting the conditions of an inhumane world,' he is heard saying. Until September 11, 2001, the Jonestown massacre was the largest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act on record. A sign over Jones's altar read: 'Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it'. Jonestown put the spotlight on cults and cult leaders, while also stoking a morbid fascination in such groups from many who wanted to understand what drove the members of the People's Temple to such extreme acts. Author Stewart Stafford explains: 'Cults tend to follow similar patterns. First, there's financial exploitation where members hand over money and assets to increase the cult's power over them and make them dependent on it. 'Then the sexual exploitation begins. Finally, there's physical exploitation involving confinement, punishment, and isolation from family members.' Stafford adds: 'If the cult's leader has become delusional enough to think they have the God-like power of life and death over their followers, they may demand the ultimate sacrifice - mass suicide.' Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God (Uganda) Like the People's Temple and many on this list, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God was a religious group. It was founded by Credonia Mwerinde and Joseph Kibweteere in southwestern Uganda in 1989 after the pair claimed they had seen visions of the Virgin Mary. The group's primary goals were to spread the word of Jesus Christ and to obey the Ten Commandments - in order to avoid damnation in the apocalypse. Fear of the ten commandments was so strong among the group that its leaders even discouraged talking so as not to break the ninth commandment, which states: 'Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour'. But despite this strict adherence to the ninth commandment, the cult met a tragic end when its leader disobeyed the sixth: 'Thou shalt not kill.' The cult was born from a time of political and social turmoil in Uganda. The rule of Idi Amin, the AIDS pandemic and the Ugandan Bush War had wreaked havoc across the African nation, and many were losing faith in the Catholic Church. Pictured: Religious statues ornament a table March, 19, 2000, in a classroom of the Ugandan cult, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God This left a void ready to be filled by others, such as Mwerinde and Kibweteere and other leaders inside the cult, such as Dominic Kataribabo - a respected and popular priest with a PhD from a university in the US. In the late 1990s, the leaders declared that the year 2000 would bring the apocalypse, and the group began its preparation for the end. As the start of a new millennium approached, the cult's members were worked up into a frenzy. They sold their belongings - including their clothes and cattle - and handed over the proceeds to the cult leaders. Past members were recruited back into the group. However, when January 1, 2000 passed without the world ending, the movement began to collapse around Mwerinde and Kibweteere. In a desperate attempt to bring people back under their control, they announced another date - this time March 17, 2000 - for the 'true' end to the world, and a huge party was organised in the town of Kanungu. But minutes after the members arrived for the end of the world party, a huge explosion ripped through the building, gutting it in an intense fire. All 530 people in attendance were killed - unable to escape on account of the doors and windows having been boarded up to prevent their escape. In the four days that followed the blast, police discovered hundreds of more bodies at Movement properties across southern Uganda. A soldier views the burned remains of Ugandans of Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, who two days earlier were killed in their makeshift church in Kanugu in the Rukungiri district, western Uganda, March 19, 2000 In one location, 153 bodies were found, and in another they found 155 - where people had been poisoned and stabbed. Police later said the people had been murdered about three weeks before the church inferno. In total, 395 people who did not die in the fire had been poisoned - taking the total death toll from the cult's massacre to 925. It was initially believed that the killings were part of a mass suicide, but later it was re-classified as a mass murder. The whereabouts of the movement's five key leaders - Joseph Kibweteere, Joseph Kasapurari, John Kamagara, Dominic Kataribabo, and Credonia Mwerinde - remains unknown. It is likely that they escaped, and a warrant remains out for their arrest. No one has been held accountable. Heaven's Gate (United States) Another American new religious movement, Heaven's Gate, also ended with a horrific tragedy when its members - persuaded by their leader - committed suicide. Academics have described the group as a mixture of Christian millenarianism, New Age, and ufology, and as such it has been characterised as a UFO religion. The central belief of the group's followers was that they could transform themselves into immortal extraterrestrial beings by rejecting their human nature - and would then be able to ascend to heaven while still alive on board a UFO. A truck containing some of the bodies of the Heaven's Gate cult, which committed mass suicide, is shown outside the cult's compound in San Diego, Calif., March 27, 1997 However, when its co-founder Bonnie Nettles died of cancer in 1985, the group's views on ascension changed. Instead of believing they would be alive when they travelled to heaven on a UFO, her death led them to believe the human body is merely a vessel for the soul - and their consciousness would be the one to transcend. It was this belief that led them to their final act. On its website outlining its beliefs at the time, the cult said: 'We know that it is only while we are in these physical vehicles (bodies) that we can learn the lessons needed to complete our own individual transition, as well as to complete our task of offering the Kingdom of Heaven to this civilisation one last time.' In October 1996, the group rented a large 9,600 square feet home in Santa Fe, California. That same month, they also all purchased alien abduction insurance. Marshall Applewhite, the second co-founder, video taped a final message in which he said mass suicide was 'the only way to evacuate this Earth' on March 19-20. He said a spacecraft was following Comet HaleBopp (one of the most widely-observed comets of the 20th century) and that the souls of those who committed suicide would board this UFO to heaven. The comet, he said, would represent the 'closure to Heaven's Gate'. 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 drug's potency, before tying plastic bags over their heads so they would suffocate. All 39 members were dressed in an identical way - with black shirts and sweat pants, and brand-new black-and-white Nike Decades shoes. They also wore armband patches reading 'Heaven's Gate Away Team'. Each had $5.75 - made up of a five-dollar bill and three quarter coins - in their pockets. Pictured: The Heaven's Gate cult's official logo. Academics have described the group as a mixture of Christian millenarianism, New Age, and ufology, and as such it has been characterised as a UFO religion Pictured: Marshall Herff Applewhite speaks on videotape. Applewhite, who founded the organisation known as Heaven's Gate, lead 38 others in a mass suicide near San Diego Pictured: Two bodies are seen inside a home rented by the Heaven's Gate cult, where 39 of its members took it in turns to commit suicide before their bodies were arranged A survivor later said this was a reference to a Mark Twain story, which says '$5.75 was 'the cost to ride the tail of a comet to heaven.' Other former members said the five-dollar bill was the cost of covering vagrancy laws, while the three quarters were to cover the cost of pay phones. After each member died, a living member would arrange their body by removing the plastic bag and placing them on a bed, covering the face and torso with a purple blanket - reportedly to give them privacy. Applewhite was the third-last to die, with the final two members to take their lives both found with bags still over their heads on account of no one taking them off for them or arranging them like those who had died before them. A police officer discovered the 39 bodies in the house on March 26 as an anonymous tip suggested they 'check on the welfare of the residents.' The Heaven's Gate deaths received mass media coverage at the time. When the news broke that their beliefs were tied to the Hale-Bopp comet, its co-discoverer Alan Hale said his phone 'never stopped ringing the entire day'. Responding to the links in 1998 at the Second World Skeptics Congress in Heidelberg, Germany, he slammed the cult's belief. A report of his comments said that 'he lambasted the combination of scientific illiteracy, willful delusions, a radio talk show's deception about an imaginary spacecraft following the comet, and a cult's bizarre yearnings for ascending to another level of existence that led to the Heaven's Gate mass suicides.' It also said that Hale had warned a colleague that there could be suicides related to the comet well before the deaths at Heaven's Gate. 'We are probably going to have some suicides as a result of this comet',' he later quoted himself as saying. 'The sad part is that I was really not surprised. Comets are lovely objects, but they don't have apocalyptic significance. We must use our minds, our reason.' Aum Shinrikyo (Japan) The Aum Shinrikyo (Supreme Truth) cult was a Japanese new religious movement and doomsday cult founded by Shoko Asahara in 1987. The group drew on elements of early Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism, as well as Hinduism, while also taking on Christian millennialist ideas. Despite warnings from religious and cult experts, the Japanese government granted Aum Shinrikyo and his organisation recognition as a legal religious corporation in 1989, and he went on to appear on television - expanding his following. In 1992, Asahara declared himself as Christ, saying he could take others' sins upon himself and that he could transfer spiritual power to them - all while propagating conspiracy theories about the Jews, the Freemasons, the Dutch, the British Royal Family - as well as rival Japanese religions. He also outlined a doomsday prophecy, which included a third World War, and described how a final conflict would culminate in nuclear Armageddon. Unlike with The Peoples Temple, the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God and Heaven's Gate, however, Aum Shinrikyo did not end with mass suicide. Infact, the organisation continues to exist in Japan to this day. This file photo taken on October 1, 1990 shows Shoko Asahara, guru of the doomsday Aum Shinrikyo cult. He was executed in 2018 for his role in terrorist attacks in Tokyo This is despite the fact that on March 20 1995, members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult attacked the Tokyo subway with the nerve agent sarin. In five coordinated attacks, the cultists released the deadly gas on three lines of the Tokyo subway simultaneously, resulting in the deaths of thirteen people while thousands more suffered from its effects - such as temporary vision problems. Authorities accused Aum Shinrikyo of being complicit in the attack - Japan's deadliest ever terrorist attack - as well as a number of other incidents on a smaller scale which also used sarin and other biochemical agents. In a crackdown on the group, dozens of Asahara's disciples were arrested, the group's facilities were raided, and a warrant was issued for Asahara's arrest. On May 16 that same year, Asahara was found by authorities inside a small room in one of the cult's facilities - and was charged with 27 counts of murder. He was also accused of masterminding the Matsumoto incident (another sarin attack that killed nine people, nine months after that on the Tokyo subway) as well as the murder of the Sakamoto family. The father of the family, Tsutsumi Sakamoto, was working on a class action lawsuit against the doomsday cult. His wife and child were also killed. Pictured: An Aum Shinrikyo follower meditates in front of a picture of Aum Shinrikyo, 1999 Pictured: Members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult sit on the ground to perform a rite A commuter is treated by an emergency medical team at a make-shift shelter before being transported to hospital after being exposed to Sarin gas fumes - released by members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult - in the Tokyo subway system on March 20, 1995 The trial took more than seven years to conclude, and saw some of the Aum Shinrikyo disciples testify against Asahara. Finally, on February 24, 2004, he was sentenced to death in what was dubbed 'the trial of the century' in Japan. Appeals on the grounds of Asahara being mentally unfit were declined and - 23 years after the Tokyo sarin attack - he was executed by hanging on July 6, 2018 along with six followers. Six more were executed on July 26 that same year. Nevertheless, Aum Shinrikyo did not break up upon Asahara's death, and its members have been behind several other attacks. The group has been formally designated a terrorist organisation by several countries, including Russia, Canada, Kazakhstan and the European Union. Branch Davidians (Waco, Texas, United States) The Branch Davidians were an eccentric religious group in Waco, Texas, whose leader, David Koresh, had multiple wives and slept with under-age girls. But he was not the founder of the group. That was a man named Benjamin Roden in 1955, although its roots date back even further to 1935 and a Bulgarian immigrant to the US by the name of Victor Houteff. Houteff formed the General Association of Davidian Seventh-Day Adventists, and he and some of his followers moved together to a tract of land outside of Waco. There, they built a community called the Mount Carmel Center, which served as the headquarters for the movement. Houteff died in 1955, at which point his wife Florence took control of the Davidian organisation. That same year, Roden - a follower of Houteff - proclaimed what he said to be a new message from God. Pictured: The flag of the Branch Davidians flies over their Waco compound in 1993, as two Houston attorneys leave the Mount Carmel Center after trying to end a siege He wrote a series of letters presenting the message to the Davidians, and those that accepted this became the Branch Davidians Seventh Day Adventists. Meanwhile, in 1957, Florence sold the original Mount Carmel Centre and purchased 941 acres of land near Elk, Texas. She named the property the New Mount Carmel Centre, not knowing it would become the site of a siege forever imprinted on American history. After Florence's doomsday predictions failed to materialise in April 1959, she dissolved the Davidian Association in 1962. Roden took possession of New Mount Carmel in 1962 and eventually took over the whole plot of land it was on. From this point, it was simply known as 'Mount Carmel'. Roden died in 1978, three years before a young named Vernon Howell arrived at the centre, and studied biblical philosophy under Roden's widow Lois. Howell - also known as David Koresh - began to form a group of followers. Things escalated after Lois's death, when Koresh said he had found a document claiming to be the president of the Davidians, and took control of much of the cult. Journalist Mary Garafolo, who covered the events at Waco, said of Koresh: 'He claimed that when he was a child, God had spoken to him and said, 'You're the chosen one. You are my messiah.'' Others described him as a 'drifter' and had a car that he claimed the Lord had given to him. Pictured: Branch Davidian leader David Koresh Pictured: Flames engulf the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, April 19, 1993 On how he was able to seize control of much of the group, former Davidian David Bunds told ABC news: 'His message changed over the years because he was always looking for the next big thing to teach that would shock people into listening to him. 'It was important for David Koresh to isolate the group from the world because the world is an influence that is constantly pulling and distracting you from the message.' In 1987, Koresh went to Mount Carmel and was involved in a shootout with George Roden - the son of Benjamin and Lois . He then took over the land. This ultimately led to the events of 1993 - the infamous Waco siege. A 51-day standoff between federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and members of the Branch Davidians - led by Koresh. 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 ATF attempted to execute search and arrest warrants at the Mount Carmel Center ranch on February 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. The Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, is shown engulfed by flames in April 20, 1993 This May 12, 1993, file photo, shows the charred remains of the Branch Davidians' 77-acre ranch east of Waco, Texas He told federal agents he was waiting for 'further instruction from God.' The FBI finally led an assault on the ranch on April 19, using heavy weaponry such as .50 calibre (12.7 mm) rifles and armoured combat engineering vehicles (CEV) to fight against the heavily armed cultists. The siege led to the buildings burning to the ground, after three fires broke out across the compound simultaneously. The government maintains that the fires were started by the cultists - either deliberately or accidentally. 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. Order of the Solar Temple (France/Switzerland/Canada) The Order of the Solar temple is another religious group-turned cult, and claims to be based on the ideals of the Knights Templar. However - founded by Joseph di Mambro and Luc Jouret in 1984 in Geneva - the name has become associated with far more than ancient military orders. In a 1975 book, an author laid out goals later adopted by the group. There were to: prepare for the Second Coming of Christ as a solar god-king; establish the 'correct notions of authority and power in the world'; affirm the primacy of the spiritual over the temporal; assist humanity through a great 'transition'; and unify of all Christian churches and Islam. The OTS's central authority was the secretive Synarchy of the Temple. Within that, 33 top members made up the Elder Brothers of the Rosy Cross based in Zurich. Lodges - found across the globe in Quebec, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Martinique and others - were run by a regional commander and three elders, and progression through the Order was by levels and grades. Pictured: Police and firemen lay out the bodies of persons found at a farm on October 05, 1994 in Cheiry, Fribourg county, Switzerland. On the 4th and the 5th of October, 25 and 23 people were found dead, respectively, in Salvan and Cheiry villages in a mass suicide connected to the Order of the Solar Temple Each lodge had altars, performed rituals and wore costumes - and during ceremonies members wore Crusader-type robes. A sword - which Di Mambro claimed was an authentic Templar artefact - was also used in rituals. But in October 1994, things took a horrific turn. The infant son of a man named Tony Dutoit, aged just three months, was killed at the group's Morin-Heights centre in Quebec, Canada. The baby was stabbed repeatedly by a wooden stake. It is believed that Di Mambro ordered the murder after claiming to have identified the baby as the Antichrist described in the bible. Some time after the killing, Di Mambro and twelve followers performed a ritual Last Supper, before mass suicides and murders were carried out in Cheiry and Salvan - two villages in Western Switzerland. At Morin-Heights, 15 inner-circle members committed suicide with poison, while 30 others were killed by bullets or through smothering. Eight more were killed by other means. Di Mambro was among the dead in Salvan. Many of the victims in Switzerland were found in a secret underground chapel lined with mirrors, and dressed in ceremonial robes - lying in a circle. Most had plastic bags over their heads - and had each been shot in the head. Evidence was found to suggest that many of the victims had been drugged before being shot. The deaths all occurred around the time of the solstice, with Swiss police discovering a document which read: 'The next big voyage will take place on the night of a solstice.' Quebec Police Force spokesman Pierre Robichaud (left) on March 27, 1997 displays, capes, a sword (also seen right) and a crucifix found inside the burned-out St. Casimir house in relation with the five victims of a suicide pact Rescue workers sift through rubble of house where two members of the order of The Solar Temple cult bodies were found in Montreal, Canada Elsewhere, victims were found in three sky chalets, where several dead children were found lying together. A mayor, journalist and civil servant were also found among the dead in Switzerland. Records seized in Quebec found some members had donated more than 1 million Canadian dollars to Di Mambro. Another mass death incident took place between 15 and 16 of December 1995, this time in the French Vercors mountains. It was found that two of the dead had shot the others before killing themselves. The dead, 13 adults and three children, were again found in a circle - feet on the inside - around the remains of a campfire. Among the dead was Olympian Edith Bonlieu. Less than two years later in March 1997, a further five members of the OTS took their own lives in Quebec. They were found after a small house erupted in flames. Dozens of people died in total in incidents linked to the OTS. The cult of Ca Van Liem (Vietnam) A lesser-known cult-related mass-suicide was that involving the cult of Ca Van Liem. Liem was a blind man who self-proclaimed himself to be a prophet and the king of Ta He, a small hamlet in Vietnam found some 180 miles northwest of Hanoi. He promised his followers - most of whom were impoverished or illiterate hill tribe villagers - a fast road to paradise if they gave him donations of cash. This saw him rack up about 10,000 dollars worth of donations by October 1990 - a huge sum of money for people living in that region of Vietnam. It was at this point that Liem persuaded 53 of his followers to kill each other - promising that it would allow them to quickly enter paradise. Using flintlock guns and other primitive weapons, the villagers took it in turns to take each-other's lives. It is not clear why Ca Van Liem convinced his followers to kill themselves, but one school of thought is that he feared being uncovered as a fraud. He was never caught, and is thought to still be on the run. Kenyan starvation cult The discovery of dozens of bodies buried in Shakahola forest near the coastal town of Malindi 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. The gruesome saga, which has been dubbed the 'Shakahola Forest Massacre', has shocked the world and has prompted calls for a crackdown on fringe religious outfits in the largely Christian country. Coast Regional Coordinator Rhoda Onyancha Onyancha said on Wednesday that 39 people had been found alive so far in the 800-acre bush around Shakahola, while 22 people have been arrested. As of Friday, 109 bodies have been found. Hassan Musa, a Kenya Red Cross official, told AFP news agency that 311 people, including 150 minors, had been reported missing to its support staff in Malindi. Pictured: An aerial view shows the mass-grave site in Shakahola, outside the coastal town of Malindi, on April 25 'We are talking about people mostly from Kenya, but also from Tanzania and Nigeria. Some have been missing for years.' 'We don't know how many more graves, how many more bodies, we are likely to discover,' Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki told reporters during a visit to the site on Tuesday, adding the crimes were serious enough to warrant terrorism charges against Nthenge. Most 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. Hussein Khalid, executive director of the rights group Haki Africa, which tipped off police about Nthenge's activities, said the pastor's Good News International Church 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 inside shallow pits. 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'. Officials seemed to have heeded this call on Thursday with the arrest of one of the country's highest-profile pastors, who will face charges over the 'mass killing of his followers' just days after the discovery of the bodies. 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. He said education was not recognised by the Bible. Body bags are laid out at the scene where dozens of bodies have been found in shallow graves in the village of Shakahola, near the coastal city of Malindi, in southern Kenya Monday, April 24 Pastor Paul Makenzi, who was arrested on suspicion of telling his followers to fast to death in order to meet Jesus, accompanied by some of his followers, appears at a court in Malindi, Kenya on Monday, April 17 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. For confidential suicide support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. For confidential support or information regarding cults, visit the Cult Information Centre's website cultinformation.org.uk. When you think of McDonald's, some distinct features are likely to come to mind - the golden arches, Big Macs and the mascot Ronald McDonald. But this particular California restaurant is proof that the beloved chain has come a long way since it originated in the 1950s. This fast food joint, located on Lakewood Boulevard in Downey, Southeast Los Angeles County, is the oldest surviving McDonald's in the world. It first opened in 1953 - the third restaurant to be franchised by the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald who founded the chain in 1948 - and it still has its original vintage decor, as well as its own museum. But the biggest pull for McDonald's fans is that it is the only restaurant on the continental United States where you can order a deep-fried apple pie. The iconic dessert, which was first rolled out in its fried form 1968 - the same year the company started serving Big Macs - was discontinued in 1992. In response to growing health trends, the fast food chain instead opted to baked the desserts. But not at this LA restaurant, which is a far cry from newer locations, such as a fully automated drive-thru store which opened in Texas last year. The oldest operating McDonald's in Downey, California, features an original single arch design. The location was the third McDonald's restaurant franchised by the brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald who founded the chain in 1948. It opened in August 1953 The restaurant sign features a chef named 'Speedee' - inspired by the fast and efficient service The restaurant has a museum next door, with an original menu showing a 15 cent burger The history of McDonald's Apple Pie 1968: The first McDonald's pie, created by a franchise in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1960, is added to the menu 1971: Spurred by the popularity of the dessert, McDonald's introduces its Apple Pie Tree character along with the Hamburglar, Ronald McDonald and other 1992: Frozen apple pies are struck off the menu in favor of a baked version to keep up to date with health trends 2011: McDonald's expands its pie selection to include, cheery, peach, strawberry, pumpkin and sweet potato versions 2012: McDonald's adds even more pies - including mixed berries and lemon pie, a cherries and creme version and a peaches and creme 2016: McDonald's starts using a new recipe that calls for sliced apples rather than diced. Its solid top is replaced with a lattice crust 2018: McDonald's tries to make the pie even healthier, with the new recipe containing even less suger - but more cinnamon for flavor Advertisement The restaurant has kept much of its 1950s, including a single arch instead of two with a sign in the middle that says 'Your Kind of Place' and 'Hamburgers: We Have Sold 500 million'. The sign also features a different mascot than the familiar face of Ronald McDonald, who was first introduced in 1963 - a chef named 'Speedee' - inspired by the fast and efficient service given to customers. The location was originally a self-service drive-in, and now you have to walk straight to the window to order, and the only seating on offer is inside the museum located next door. The museum displays memorabilia, a small-scale version of the restaurant complete with mannequins, and even old menus showing the original burger cost only 15 cents. One of the biggest pulls of this vintage gem is that it is the only place outside Hawaii where fast food fans can order an original deep-fried apple pie. All other US locations now serve baked pies. The location was the third McDonald's to be opened, in August 1953, and was originally operated by the McDonald brothers who founded the chain. Longtime owner Ray Kroc bought out the brand for $2.7 million in 1961, and grew the company by selling increasing numbers of franchises. As the restaurant had been franchised under the McDonald brothers' original terms, it was not subject to the modernization as other franchisees. This meant that it its menu different from other stores - and did not include popular orders such as the Big Mac, and its sales suffered. In 1994, the restaurant was closed and McDonald's planned to demolish it. However it was listed as an Endangered Historic Place by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and, faced with widespread public support, the burger giant decided instead to restore it. It opened the museum and won a National Trust Preservation Honor Award. This McDonald's was also one of the filming locations for the 2016 movie The Founder, starring Michael Keaton as Kroc. It depicts the story of him forcing out the company's original founders to grow it into America's most iconic fast food giant. And despite recent price rises at McDonald's, it appears customers are still loyal to the long-time brand. This McDonald's location is the only spot outside Hawaii where you can order a fried apple pie The museum also features a statue of mascot Ronald McDonald, who was introduced in 1963 The museum displays mannequins of McDonald's workers, alongside vintage memorabilia The museum also displays original memorabilia, collectors' cups and newspaper clippings The fast food joint featured in the 2016 film The Founder about long-time owner Ray Kroc Michael Keaton starred in the film about the meteoric rise of the iconic fast food franchise This week, the fast food firm reported first quarter sales and profit which exceeded analysts' expectations. McDonald's Corp. reported that comparable sales rose nearly 13 percent for the quarter in the US and globally. It reported $5.9 billion in sales, and for the first three months ended March 31, and net income of $.1.8 billion - up 63 percent from the same period last year. CEO Chris Kempczinski said the company's growth strategy was working as sales grew through a 'healthy balance of strategic menu price increases and positive traffic growth'. He added in a statement: 'Amidst a challenging operating environment, customer demand for McDonalds Brand remains strong.' It comes after the Chicago-based company laid off hundreds of workers and cut pay packages for others earlier this month. A vintage 1950s-style menu can be seen at the Downey branch, 10207 Lakewood Blvd The first ever McDonald's store was opened by the McDonald's brothers, Dic and Mac, in San Bernadino, California in 1948 The burger giant slashed roles across departments including marketing, operations and field offices - and even temporarily shuttered some offices as it started to terminate corporate staff remotely. The cutbacks come as McDonald's pushes to pursue an aggressive extension plan. The company is reportedly looking to significantly expand its restaurant footprint in the US and Europe for the first time in years, after saying many locations are operating at full capacity. The corporate job cuts will not impact the roughly 2 million restaurant workers at franchised locations around the world - but menus could be affected by the shake-up. Kempczinski reportedly warned there had been too much duplication. 'We had across the globe 70 different, distinct versions of what a crispy chicken sandwich would look like,' he allegedly wrote in an email. 'I don't need 70 different permutations of a chicken sandwich.' In December 2022, the company also opened a test location of its new concept drive-thru store in Fort Worth, Texas. The restaurant, which is run completely by machines, is reportedly part of a bid to re-invent the drive thru across the world. A high-speed bullet train connecting LA to Sin City is currently in the works - thanks to a billionaire private equity investor and some prospective federal funding. Billed as Brightline West, the planned desert route is the brain child of Wes Edens - a part owner of both the Bucks and Aston Villa FC - and will cost at least $12 billion to create. Its part of his vision to create high-speed lines between some of America's least traversable - and most traveled - paths, with the 270-mile stretch between the starcrossed cities a prime candidate for the gargantuan undertaking. Edens, who is worth $3.7 billion, estimates the project will cost $12 billion to complete by 2028. It will be carried out by his corporate partner, Brightline - the only private passenger rail firm in the US. The company this summer is set to unveil another project with Edens - an anticipated rail that connects the Florida metropolises of Orlando to Miami, at a cost of roughly $6b, $100m of which came out of the 61-year-old's own pocket. However, unlike Wes' latest venture, the Florida train utilizes preexisting tracks - and runs on diesel that grants it a top speed of just 125 mph. The new line, however, will run on renewable power, Edens says - similiar to systems seen in Japan and China. Not yet seen in the US, the technology will grant the train the ability to traverse the notorious Nevada desert in just two hours - as opposed to the usual four or five. Travelers will make the journey at speeds of roughly 200 mph, Edens says, along routes that follow highways rather than more costly viaducts. Billed as Brightline West, the planned route would extend 218 miles and connect to The City of Angel's Metrolink commuter rail, all while running on '100 percent' renewable power A high-speed train connecting LA to Sin City is currently in the works thanks to a billionaire private equity investor - who claims it will cost just $12 billion to create the 218-mile system 'It'll be 100% electrified and will use renewable power,' Edens said in an interview this week with Forbes, advertising the already anticipated bullet train a day after after the project passed a major hurdle in Congress. 'It will literally be, not an embellishment, the greenest train in the world.' Edens added that if he can secure the same tax-exempt bonds secured for his Brightline rail service in the Sunshine State, the system could be up and running as soon as 2028, just in time for the LA Summer Olympic games. That would come as welcome news to the millions of Americans who travel from Southern California to Vegas on a yearly basis, with the lion's share coming from the City of Angels. Accounting for both directions, approximately 50 million one-way trips are made annually between the two cities - 85 percent by car or bus. At full operations, both Edens and Brightline expect to sell 12 million tickets one-way trips each year. That said, roughly 20 percent of all US citizens to visit the glitzed-up tourist hot spot last year hailed from Southern California - something Edens cited while explaining the need for such a route on Tuesday. 'Vegas-to-LA is probably the best system in the world that hasn't been built yet,' said Edens, who previously worked as a partner at the now-defunct Lehman Brothers and now runs Manhattan-based Fortress Investments. 'When you look at the systems in Japan, at the systems in China, nine major cities in Japan are connected with true high-speed rail,' Edens continued, pointing to the US' current lack of a bullet train. The billionaire businessman went on to cite the struggles currently being felt by state officials as they for years have tried finish work on a separate bullet train, one that would connect LA to San Francisco. 'China has 26,000 miles of high-speed train routes. We have zero,' Edens scoffed, as that project has remained marred by setbacks for more 15 years, and has already cost taxpayers an eyewatering $108b. Its first 171-mile phase alone - which would see the NorCal and SoCal cities directly linked by a passenger rail for the first time in history - is expected to still run residents another $35.3billion by the time construction is finished in 2030. By comparison, Edens claims it will cost him just $12billion to forge the 218-mile desert path, all in a fraction of the time - after the Covid-19 pandemic uprooted his plans for a passenger rail future for more than three years. Not yet seen in the US, the technology will grant the train the ability to traverse the notorious Nevada desert in just two hours - as opposed to the usual four or five A rendering of the high-speed California-to-Las Vegas train, which will make stops in Ranch Cucamonga, Hesperia, Victor Valley, and last but not least, Las Vegas. It connects to an existing commuter line that extends to the City of Angels The planned 218-mile desert route is the brain child of Wes Edens, 61, a part owner of both the Bucks and Aston Villa FC worth $3.7billion. He says it will cost $12 billion to create Prepared to funnel millions more dollars to make the burgeoning rail empire a reality, Edens spoke to the outlet the same day Brightline celebrated the opening of its station in Orlando, which will connect passengers to Miami come July. A day later, last Friday, the rail company - which was acquired by Edens in 2007 - submitted a 4,000-page application to the Federal Railroad Administration, after receiving backing from all six of Nevada's elected federal lawmakers and four House members from California. All 10 officials indicated that they're on board with the proposal - addressed to US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg - adding they were willing to spend more than $10billion help lay the historic track. While speaking to Forbes, Edens claimed he would only need $3.75 billion in federal funds for the high-speed rail - which will carry up to 500 passengers and reach speeds of 186mph. This, Edens explains, is thanks to a unique approach masterminded by the investor that includes avoiding traffic crossings and the purchasing of large swathes of land by putting trains on the ground along existing freeways. The comes in contrast to the alternative: constructing viaducts for the sole purpose providing a rail path - a strategy that has so far proved unsuccessful for the struggling California High-Speed Rail Authority. Edens says he will easily raise an additional $8b from private investors, whom he said were already enthralled by his plans for the four-stop passenger rail, which will be powered by solar farms currently spread across California and Nevada desert. The mogul further forecasts that its four stations - set in Ranch Cucamonga, Hesperia, Victor Valley, and Las Vegas, respectively - will soon become destination commercial properties, generating more revenue in the not-so-distant future. Edens' vision, finally now starting to become a reality, began back in 2007, when Edens and his investment firm Fortress took over South Florida-Brookline for $3.5 billion. Tthe system could be up and running as soon as 2028 - welcome news to the more than 7.5million Americans who travel the 270 miles to Las Vegas from SoCal on a yearly basis Roughly 20 percent of all US citizens to visit the glitzed-up tourist hot spot last year hailed from Southern California - with the lion's share coming from the City of Angels (seen here) Travelers will make the journey at speeds of roughly 200 mph, Edens says, along routes that follow preexisting highways through the arid Nevada desert Over the years, his plans for the firm would blossom - while drawing inspiration from the Paris-to-London Eurostar and other bullet trains in Asia, He eventually grew confident enough to put more than $100million of his own money into the venture, before pitching his idea two high-speed train lines linking Orlando to Miami and Las Vegas to California to both state's governors. At the time, the respected financier touted the two trains' potential to build up their respective economies - and ultimately secured several tax-exempt bonds for the Sunshine State expansion, now set to open in just two months. In April 2020, he was awarded $600 million in private-activity allocation from California to start work on the more daunting Golden State undertaking, which was stalled that month due to coronavirus lockdown measures seen at the time. Up to $2.4billion worth of bonds from that award, as well as any further funding from the government, can in turn be sold to investors, as construction for the large-scale infrastructure project looks to be in the cards after lawmakers' letter last week. Speaking to Forbes Monday, the same day Brightline released realistic renderings of some of the routes stations and a proposed map for the route, Edens insisted how the model for the country's first true high-speed rail system is economically viable - adding that he's happy to wait for several years before seeing the fruits of his efforts. 'I don't think it's a get-rich-quick business. It's more of a get-rich-very-slowly business,' Edens explained. 'But the value you're creating over years or generations I think will be tremendous.' He added: 'What I'm very focused on is it being viable economically because that means there'll be more of them.' Now, with the hurdle of federal funding seemingly addressed, the last obstacles are likely only unforeseen challenges that might arise with such a large-scale project, which Brightline claims will cost about $55 million per mile of track. The company this summer is set to unveil another project with Edens - an anticipated rail that connects the Florida metropolises of Orlando to Miami. Pictured is an existing train on that line, which is being extended to link the distant cities - an undertaking that cost $6billion However, unlike Wes' latest venture, the Florida train utilizes preexisting tracks - and runs on diesel that grants it a top speed of 125 mph. The new line, however, will run on renewable power, and reach speeds of 186 mph The passenger train will be able to carry up to 500 passengers, and will be offer first-class seating. Other planned amenities include checked luggage, and hotel check-in services The train will include free onboard WiFi, ADA accessibility from station to train, and a wide selection of food and drinks - just as its slower Florida counterpart does The company said in a statement this week: 'After more than a decade of working to find a pathway, Brightline West will be the first true high-speed rail system in America.' The firm further added that the train - which will include free onboard WiFi, ADA accessibility from station to train, and a wide selection of food and drinks - 'will serve as the blueprint for how we can connect major city pairs that are too short to fly and too far to drive.' That said, the route will not see the City of Angels and Sin City connected directly, and will instead connect Vegas to Rancho Cucamonga, a Southern California city linked to LA by an existing commuter line. Other planned amenities for passengers include checked luggage, and hotel check-in services, Edens said, adding that union labor will be used during its construction. Now coming to fruition after years of setbacks, the proposed route, Eden claims, is a huge step in addressing issues like climate change and rising gas prices, citing how out of the 50 million people who travel between LA and Las Vegas annually, 85 percent do so by car. 'You'll move about 3 million cars off the road,' he told Forbes Tuesday as his plan, after a decade and a half, began to gain federal traction. 'That's 20 percent of the current car traffic between Vegas and LA. This thing creates the blueprint for how you replicate this in 20 different places around the country or more.' Nevada Democrat Jacky Rosen this week also touted the train's importance, as they wait to hear back if the Biden administration will help back the undertaking with the $3,75 asked by Edens. 'This project is a major priority because it will make southern Nevada more accessible to millions of visitors each year,' Rosen, a Democrat, said. '[It] will boost our economy and create more good-paying jobs.' However, some still remain skeptical as to the planned train's money making ability - citing the money pit that's surfaced during construction for the state's San Francisco-LA line. 'I don't necessarily believe these initial cost estimates of the Vegas line,' Ethan Elkind, who analyzes California transportation issues at the University of California, Berkeley, told Forbes of how be believes the $12billion pricetag specified by Edens is somewhat dubious. 'We'll see if they are accurate and if Brightline has adequately assessed the challenges.' Meanwhile, Edens is optimistic - and even has plans on the backburner for more rail lines for the future, including ones connection Dallas and Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte, Chicago and Minneapolis, and Seattle and Portland. Mike Reinigner, the CEO of Brightline, added that while it is likely there will be unforeseen issues with the lofty expansion, hes ready for them. 'When you start to do something that hasn't been done before you get to experience what our chairman [Edens] likes to call the "pioneer premium" - mud in your face and arrows in your back,' he said at the opening of Brightline Orlando station last week. He added: '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."' The company says the project, if granted the federal funding it needs, will be finished in just over five years. Edens says that when finished, he hopes it will address climate change, as well as inequities seen across the two states by bolstering interstate travel and creating jobs. He told Forbes: 'Its a gigantic opportunity.' Stalactites taller than the Eiffel Tower, limestone caverns that are one of the marvels of the world and most stunning of all a river of gold running deep underground for mile after mile, flowing with riches beyond any mans dreams. Adventurer Earl Dorr certainly didnt mince his words when he finally set out what he claimed he had discovered under Californias Mojave Desert. This is to certify that there is located in San Bernadino County, California, about two and hundred and fifty miles from Los Angeles, a certain cave. So began a sworn statement written in 1934 by Dorr, a cowboy-turned-miner who went on to describe an extraordinary four-day journey he had made seven years earlier deep into the bowels of the earth beneath Mojaves Kokoweef Peak, which is part of the remote Ivanpah mountain range. He told of how he and an engineer, identified only as Mr Morton, gained access to a subterranean cave system via Kokoweefs Crystal Cave, one of three large limestone caverns inside the mountain. Then, descending several thousand feet, they discovered a half-mile-deep underground canyon, at the bottom of which flowed a river, 300ft wide, and rising and falling as if it were breathing. As the water receded, it revealed black sand that was fabulously rich in fat gold nuggets. In fact, Dorr insisted, there was so much gold that prospectors are still searching for that underground river more than 90 years later. And can you really blame them? For, they now claim that the discovery of the lost passageway down to that glittering water course will lead them to deposits of the precious metal worth as much as $1 trillion yes, a trillion. Prospectors now claim that the discovery of the lost passageway in the Crystal Cave will lead them to deposits of gold worth as much as $1 trillion. There are three known large limestone caverns inside Kokoweef Peak. Critics, including geologists, have long warned, however, that miners are doomed to disappointment. That there cannot possibly be that much gold down there - and that its highly unlikely there would be such a large watercourse running under a region as parched as the Mojave. Dorr, they say, was either a charlatan trying to con investors into financing a madcap gold hunt or someone whod simply been out in the hot desert sun a little too long and let his imagination run away with him. Even his own family weren't sure if he found anything noteworthy. Either Uncle Earl Dorr discovered the richest gold deposit in the United States or he was the most imaginative liar in the state of California, said his nephew, Ray, in 1967. Nonetheless, it seems entirely fitting that Kokoweef is only 75 miles from Las Vegas, given what a gamble it has been for the men and women who have already reportedly invested millions of dollars on the bet that Dorr who died nearly 70 years ago was not exaggerating. Over the years, a shanty town of huts and trailers has been established out at Kokoweef as those who keep the faith keep burrowing away waiting for that lucky strike. Looking for gold is tedious and expensive. And mining operations at 6,038-ft Kokoweef are currently being headed by Larry Hahn, owner of an army-surplus store in Las Vegas, who has been prospecting at the peak since 1977 and estimates he and his partners have sunk a staggering $2.5 million into the search. But, given Dorrs estimate that there was at least 50 tons of gold which, it must be said, is worth $3 billion in todays money, rather than the $1 trillion figure Hahn advertises perhaps these successors to the 49ers, who flooded west in the 1849 Gold Rush, feel that its a case of nothing ventured, nothing gained. Hahn keeps some 500 investors whose identities are not known regularly updated with breathlessly optimistic newsletters. But, as he told DailyMail.com this week, hes confident they wont be mining for much longer. Were reasonably sure where its at, we just cant get at it, he says of the river of gold. Kokoweef Peak in the Mojave desert is part of the remote Ivanpah mountain range. A sketch detailing the elaborate underground canyon Earl Dorr claimed he discovered. He claims that they have also recently acquired a map drawn up by another man a Robert McGeeky who found a way to reach the river in the 1970s but who didnt have the rights to mine anything inside: Were just a few feet away. With luck well be able to get in this year. He knows what the critics say but hes not dissuaded the potential rewards, he says, are worth it: If you hit it, you're talking about the biggest thing that ever happened. The last few feet of rock, he claims, are being excavated by hand as the space is too tight to use the large drills that have previously been employed. As for what hell do with his vast haul, Hahn says he intends to turn the area into a resort, featuring a one-million sq ft domed facility that would get 100,000 visitors daily via a bullet train from Vegas. Has he also caught too much of the desert sun? Only time will tell. Its true that extensive and spectacular cave systems do stretch under the Mojave and, long before Dorr arrived, miners believed they were connected by a huge underground river, possibly stretching for up to 300 miles all the way to Mexico. But Dorr was the one who first raised the notion of a great bounty. Certainly, he sounds as though he was plucked straight from an Indiana Jones movie a blue-eyed adventurer who wore a gun on a shoulder-holster. However, his detractors have pointed out how his story repeatedly changed over the years. And how, whenever he spoke to treasure hunting magazines, who obviously relished the tale, he had a tendency towards embellishment. Born in 1885 to rich Colorado cattle ranchers, Dorr told two different stories about how he first learned of the caves leading beneath Kokoweef which means gopher snake canyon in the language of the local Paiute Native Americans. Larry Hahn steps into a tunnel dug by treasure hunters into Kokoweef Peak. Certainly, Earl Dorr (pictured) sounds as though he was plucked straight from an Indiana Jones movie - a blue-eyed adventurer who wore a gun on a shoulder-holster. In one, he was traveling in the South West looking for a mine that would make him a fortune when he heard a story about three Native American brothers whod emerged from the caves with gold worth $57,000 (equivalent to more than $1 million today). In another version, he said hed actually known the brothers, last name Peysert, since childhood as they had once worked at his familys ranch. He met them again years later in San Francisco where they said tribal elders had told them about a mighty underground river canyon. Dorr said two of the brothers managed to bring out a substantial amount of gold while the third had dived into the river and died when he hit an unseen rock. His death, under tribal laws, meant they could never return. And so, they told Dorr of its whereabouts, for him to continue the search. In his 1934 sworn statement, Dorr recounted how he and his companion, Mr Morton, squeezed through a tight gap in Kokoweefs Crystal Cave. Passing on their way a gigantic and glistening white stalactite 500ft taller than the Eiffel Tower that challenged us with amazement and wonder, they then descended to the river. Running along the walls beside the river were ledges also covered in the gold-rich black sand which allowed the pair to follow the watercourse for a full eight miles before they were stopped by a waterfall. Despite being many miles from the sea, the river appeared to be tidal, widening to 300ft across at high tide and, at low tide, revealing vast swathes of glistening sand fabulously rich in gold. Dorr said that upon returning to the surface with his pockets stuffed with gold-filled sand, he dynamited the cave entrance to keep others from plundering his bounty while he filed a mining claim for the area. According to some accounts, he and Mr Morton (who curiously never came forward to back up Dorrs claims) had seen a distant shaft of light while underground which indicated there was a second entrance to the river canyon. A map drawn by Earl Dorr detailing the location of his alleged find. It seems entirely fitting that Kokoweef is only 75 miles from Las Vegas, given what a gamble it has been for the men and women who have already reportedly invested millions of dollars on the bet that Dorr - who died nearly 70 years ago - was not exaggerating. Its also even been claimed in some versions of the tale that Dorr and Morgan ran into two rival prospectors at the passageway entrance. They spotted Dorrs gold stash and he ended trapping them inside before he set off the dynamite. (No human remains have ever been found during subsequent explorations of Crystal Cave). The tale gets even more convoluted in explaining why Dorr never managed to return for the gold. It was widely reported that he was unable to file a mining claim covering the entrance hed allegedly found because someone else a prospector named Pete Ressler who was said to have been a member of bank robbers Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids Hole-in-the-Wall Gang had already done so. Instead, Dorr turned to looking for that other entrance hed spotted which may explain why he built a miners shack in a nearby mountain range, the Mescal, where he proceeded to dig a 100ft shaft that seemingly led to nowhere. The publication of his account in 1934 prompted some LA investors to bankroll his continued hunt and they even eventually managed to raise enough to buy the mining rights under some of Kokoweef Peak. However, the initial search was soon scotched by a surprising development the prospectors discovered zinc ore instead. And when the Second World War broke out and the government banned mining for any minerals that like gold werent important to the war effort, Dorrs backers switched to digging out the zinc (used in making various metal and rubber products as well as medicines). Thwarted, Dorr gave up mining and died in 1957 with just a few hundred dollars to his name his secrets going with him. To his credit, there is evidence that he did penetrate quite far underground as, in 1948, a team of cavers found DORR burnt into the rock using a carbide lamp in various locations. But some of the efforts of others to succeed where hed failed and find the gold river also ended in tragedy. A 1967 report on the on-going search for the treasure. In 1959, two unlicensed treasure hunters suffocated from dynamite fumes when they set off a blast in the Crystal Cave. Four years later, rival prospectors almost ended up shooting at each other at Kokoweef after a row over access to the caves. One of the teams had brought in an oil rig drill that punched a deep hole down into the rock from which fresh air reportedly flowed but nothing came of that discovery either. Everyone from cocktail waitresses to newly discharged soldiers have caught the Kokoweef bug and either invested in the on-going prospecting operation or visited themselves to help the search. Its estimated that, over the past 50 years, at least 20 separate tunnels and shafts totaling well over a mile have been bored out of the rock under Kokoweef Peak. In recent years, advanced technology such as electronic geophysical surveys, and a deep drilling rig that has burrowed down several thousand feet, have been employed. But is everyone, including Larry Hahns latest team of hopefuls, just wasting their time and an awful lot of money? Sceptics also point to a 1942 study of local caves by the National Park Service that found no evidence whatsoever of any dynamite blasting under Kokoweef, nor any major cave systems in the area and concluded that Dorrs assertions were improbable. Perhaps, however, its the thrill of the chase as much as the dream of riches that still keeps some people burrowing down into the ground for gold. A teenager suffocated to death in a soybean storage bin in Greenwood, Missouri. In Guam, a falling crane crushed a ship rigger to death. In Maplesville, Alabama, faulty cables saw a 36-year-old paper mill worker electrocuted and killed. Those are just three recent and tragic examples of the workplace hazards that claim the lives of 343 employees every day, according to AFL-CIO, the nation's biggest union group. And the death toll is climbing. Some 5,190 workers were killed on the job in 2021, the latest year for which data are available. As a proportion of the overall workforce, that's the highest rate America has seen since 2016. The death toll in America's workplaces is climbing again. Loggers, fishers, hunters, roofers and pilots are the nation's most dangerous trades Riegler Blacktop, an asphalt mixing and paving company in Florence, Kentucky, posted online about the tragic loss of five-year employee Autumn Collinsworth earlier this month The numbers are particularly bad for minorities. Latino workers perish at above-average rates. Some 656 black workers died on the job in 2021, the group's highest death toll in 19 years. The general trend this past half century has been towards safer factories, mines and farms, but experts told DailyMail.com the latest figures marked an alarming step backwards. They blamed the shortage of inspectors for monitoring workplaces, and called for bigger penalties imposed on the bosses who take shortcuts that lead to deaths. The group's president Liz Shuler said Americans should be 'alarmed and outraged by the tragic data.' 'Every worker who died on the job represents another empty seat at a family's kitchen table,' Shuler said. 'It is unconscionable that in the wealthiest nation in the world, black and Latino workers are facing the highest on-the-job fatality rates in nearly two decades.' Mom-of-four Autumn Collinsworth, an asphalt roller operator, died in Kentucky this month A recent workplace tragedy involved Autumn Collinsworth, a mom-of-four and equipment operator with Riegler Blacktop, an asphalt mixing and paving company in Florence, Kentucky. Collinsworth, who also went by the name Fabre, over five years worked her way up from a part-time flagger to become a roller operator, the company's president Michael Riegler said online. She died on April 12 in a 'terrible accident on a job site,' added Riegler, without elaborating. The firm is understood to be investigating the tragedy, while cooperating with local authorities and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the body charged with inspecting worksites. Later, in a Facebook post, Collinsworth's eldest son Brayden posted a photo of the family together at Christmastime, wearing plaid. He asked friends and family for donations to help raise the 'three other kids who I'll be taking care of from now on.' 'Rest in peace, mom,' he added. 'Rest in peace mom,' Brayden Collinsworth posted about the tragic death of his mom in a workplace accident. He asked friends and family for donations to help raise the 'three other kids who ill be taking care of from now on' A roofer works on a townhouse after a hurricane in Mexico Beach, Florida. Roofers, along with loggers, fishers, and hunters, have one of the most dangerous jobs in the country Workers clean oil from the rocks and beach at a beach park in Goleta, California, after a spill. The oil and gas sector has an alarmingly high number of fatalities Collinsworth is by no means the only recent tragedy in the building trade. Construction, along with agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, mining, quarrying, transport, and hydrocarbons are the most dangerous sectors of America's $27 trillion-a-year economy. In 2021, nearly 1,000 construction workers were killed on the job. Roofers, who spend many hours on angled building tops, have one of the most dangerous jobs in the nation. But America's riskiest trade is logging, followed by fishers and hunters, pilots and flight engineers, iron and steel workers, truck drivers, and garbage collectors. Many of the deaths are concentrated in six states that are known for rugged outdoors work Wyoming, North Dakota, Montana, Louisiana, Alaska, and New Mexico. Children and young adult workers are increasingly getting caught up in the carnage. Many of them are immigrants without work permits who toil in dangerous conditions and bosses know they are not likely to complain. In 2021, 24 minors and 350 adults under the age of 25 died on the job, says the union report. The problem, experts said, is a lack of enforcement the OSHA doesn't have enough inspectors, and the civil penalties it imposes are too low to deter cost-cutting bosses. A welder works on an overpass as part of an infrastructure project in Irving, Texas. Construction and metalworkers are also prone to deadly workplace accidents 'Every worker who died on the job represents another empty seat at a family's kitchen table,' said AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler The agency has only 1,871 inspectors to keep tabs on the 10.8 million workplaces under its jurisdiction. That's only enough inspectors to check each worksite once every 190 years. 'That's not many enforcement agents when you divide it by 50 states,' Reid Maki, an expert on child labor at the National Consumers League, a nonprofit advocacy group, told DailyMail.com. 'Agriculture definitely doesn't get enough attention. There are millions of acres of farms that are not being investigated.' Meanwhile, the average penalty for a worker's death is between $7,000 and $12,063, depending on whether the case is handled by state or federal investigators. Only 128 worker deaths have been criminally prosecuted under OSHA since 1970. AFL-CIO's safety director Rebecca Reindel urged Congress to spend more money and raise the number of inspectors. 'It's past time that they received the funding and staffing they need to create and enforce worker protection standards,' said Reindel. 'Employers should be held accountable.' Wisconsin-based Packers Sanitation Services is one firm that recently managed to dodge a steep fine over workplace safety. The cleaning firm illegally worked 102 minors at 13 hazardous meat-packing plants from Minnesota to Texas faced a penalty of only $1.5 million in February. A Packers employee cleaning with limited visibility at the JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota Some of them endured chemical burns from powerful detergents and had to clean dangerous carcass-cleaving machines in overnight shifts. Maki, the coordinator of the league's Child Labor Coalition, said the penalty was too small to deter future abusers. 'You have to put fear into the employers that there are repercussions for hiring children illegally,' Maki said. 'We have to send a powerful message to companies that employ children illegally in dangerous settings must stop, and the way to do that is with really significant fines that actually hurt the company's bottom line.' Industry experts say the Packers scandal is just the 'tip of the iceberg' of America's child labor crisis. Federal investigators recorded a massive 37 percent jump in the number of kids working illegally in America's factories, eateries and other workplaces this past year, a DailyMail.com investigation revealed. Department of Labor inspectors found 3,876 children working in breach of labor rules in the 2022 fiscal year. That includes a worrisome 688 who toiled in hazardous conditions, often involving dangerous equipment a 26 percent rise on 2021. Labor officials and experts on child abuses said those figures are only a fraction of how many are truly working in violation of labor rules, which may number in the hundreds of thousands. Faced with low unemployment and a shortage of adult workers, bosses have turned to teens to fill the gap, experts said. Unscrupulous managers also benefit from the influx of desperate young migrants who need cash and don't ask questions. City leaders want to 'move on' from the heinous crimes, but Rexburg is still gripped by the case - and some there even maintain Daybell's innocence JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were found in shallow graves at the property of Vallow's husband, Chad Daybell, whose daughter now lives at the home with her family Rexburg in east Idaho dubs itself 'America's family community', but is now better known as the city where cult mom Lori Vallow allegedly killed two of her children For years, the small Mormon enclave of Rexburg in east Idaho has proudly dubbed itself 'America's family community' - a slogan that's emblazoned on municipal buildings around the city as a symbol of its fierce embrace of traditional values. But in 2019, that reputation was upended and the little-known community gained national attention for another reason: the epicenter of a 'murderous cult' which shocked America. Lori Vallow, a blonde beauty pageant-winning mom from California, allegedly murdered her two children, Tylee Ryan, 16, and Joshua Jackson 'JJ' Vallow, seven. Vallow and her husband, doomsday obsessed author Chad Daybell, were convinced the children were 'zombies' possessed by evil spirits. Their mutilated bodies - Tylee's burned beyond recognition and JJ's bound in trash bags and duct tape - were buried in shallow graves at Daybell's yard on the fringes of Rexburg. Vallow, whose murder trial began on April 10, and Daybell told followers they were chosen by God to lead 144,000 humans through the second coming of Jesus Christ - and Rexburg was the sanctuary where 'warriors and soldiers' should gather. Daybell's daughter, Emma, still lives at the property where Vallow's mutilated children were buried in the yard. She is raising her own children just yards from the burial sites An aerial photograph shows police and FBI investigators search the Daybell property. One of Daybell's daughters now lives at the home with her husband and young children Vallow's children, JJ and Tylee, were last seen in September 2019. Relatives and authorities spent months pleading with the mother to reveal their whereabouts, but she refused. Their remains were discovered in the yard of Chad Daybell's Rexburg property in June 2020 Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell claimed the cult mom's children were possessed by zombies and allegedly murdered the kids before burying their remains in Daybell's backyard in Rexburg The fallout in Rexburg is a town desperate to shake off its newfound infamy, but still gripped by the troubling case whose central figures were once friends, neighbors and fellow worshippers. City leaders talk publicly about the desire to find justice and 'move on', while locals watch screenings of Vallow's trial in the Fremont County Courthouse and gossip over the chilling-but-captivating testimony. Behind closed doors, there is soul-searching about Vallow and Daybell's manipulation of the Mormon faith, which an estimated 95% of the town's 33,500 people subscribe to. And, what's perhaps most jarring, it's said there is still a small 'underground' sect who refuse to believe Daybell - once viewed as a nothing more than a weird but 'faithful' follower of Christ - is guilty. Peggy Jeppesen, a local who helps maintain a memorial wall for JJ and Tylee beside the Daybell property, said: 'I hope there isn't skepticism anymore. I hope not. But I wonder, because even now, there are people that just don't want to discuss it, just really choose to believe that he isn't what he's accused of being.' Jeppesen, a grandmother with two adult sons, lives with her husband in a tidy, rural bungalow just a couple of miles from the Daybell property. Like many families in Rexburg, their home is decorated with symbols of their faith. She recalled the heartbreaking morning of June 9, 2020, when Tylee and JJ's remains were unearthed in Daybell's backyard. A memorial to Tylee and JJ was created near the Daybell property after their bodies were found in June 2020 and remains in place today. Pictured: Jeanine Harrop Hansen, a local who helped build the memorial, replaces some of the tributes on April 22 during Lori Vallow's murder trial Jeanine Harrop Hansen has tended to the memorial for Tylee and JJ since it was built in June 2020. As the story unfolded, no one could believe what was happening in this small town of Rexburg,' she said Peggy Jeppesen, who also helps keep the memorial, said: 'I cannot believe that someone in our community that is supposed to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and a faithful believer in God, could possibly be any part of murdering those children' 'Horrifying, disgusting, disturbing,' Jeppesen said. 'I cannot believe that someone in our community that is supposed to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and a faithful believer in God, could possibly be any part of murdering those children. 'They slaughtered them, allegedly, from what we're hearing. And it's right there. There's proof in the ground.' The case gained national attention in December 2019, six months before the discovery, when Rexburg Police Department and the FBI issued an appeal to locate Tylee and JJ, who had not been seen since September. The appeal hinted their disappearance was linked to the death of Daybell's wife, Tammy, 49, in October. Daybell had married Vallow on a beach in Hawaii just weeks later. The perplexing case was further compounded by the fact Vallow's former husband, Charles, was shot dead by her brother in mysterious circumstances months earlier. Jeppesen would ask people in Rexburg: '[Tylee and JJ] are not being found, what's going on?' Some 'would put their hands up, physically put their hands up, and say, 'don't even go there with me. Chad would never. Chad is the most amazing, strong individual. He's so faithful in the Gospel, there is no way he is he would have anything to do with any of this.' Another local, who has followed the trial in Madison County Courthouse, said those who remain loyal to Daybell have gone 'underground'. A towering LDS temple which overlooks Rexburg is a symbol of the town's strong faith. Daybell and Vallow used teachings from the religion to justify their sick crimes and the people of Rexburg have since gone 'back to the basics of their faith' and they process what happened Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill said: 'We havent loved having Rexburg be the in the spotlight for this particular situation and I dont think anyone would and I think the citizens are ready to kind of have this done... and not be the center of worldwide attention for a situation like this' The perplexing case began to unravel in 2019 and includes a tangled web of individuals linked to Vallow and Daybell, who were convinced they were chosen by God to prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ Jeanine Harrop Hansen, a close friend of JJ's grandparents who has was born and raised in Rexburg, said: 'As the story unfolded, no one could believe what was happening in this small town of Rexburg. We were all going what? 'We thought, the national news, in Rexburg, we've got children missing, and their bodies were found in Chads backyard. This beautiful young lady was mutilated. 'I mean, nothing happens like this in Rexburg, Idaho. Its a place where you felt safe and secure.' Daybell had drawn a handful of followers to Rexburg after he moved there with his family in 2014. He lured them with fantastical tales about his 'near death experiences' which brought visits from God. The author, who self-published more than 20 books, would 'test' people by drip-feeding them his warped views. Those who believed him were sucked in further by increasingly deranged ideas - like that JJ and Tylee were possessed. 'It has bothered me, how many people have moved here to be near Chad, the rumblings of that is unreal,' Jeppesen said. 'He clearly had a hold on people.' Hansen added: 'When I'm when I'm in conversation with people that I grew up with, we just go, "how did he take our religion and justify zombies and murdering children?"' People who knew Daybell in Rexburg, where he moved in 2014 with his wife of 28 years and their five children, described him was 'weird and different'. His circle of friends dwindled as he turned 'crazy', said one acquaintance. The acquaintance said he even broke up with his ex-girlfriend because of her obsession with the case. Chad Daybell's five children spoke out together in 2021 to protest his innoence and claim he was manipulated by Vallow. The couple also allegedly murdered Daybell's wife, Tammy Vallow (pictured in 2004) is a beauty pageant winner from California. She met Daybell at a doomsday 'prepper' conference and the pair immediately bonded over their shared religious beliefs Daybell, 54, maintains his innocence despite a mountain of damning evidence and he will stand trial for the murders of JJ, Tylee and Tammy at a date to be confirmed. He met Vallow at a Preparing A People conference in Utah in 2018 and they immediately hit it off. They 'flirted' at Daybell's stall at the doomsday 'prepper' conference as he told her they'd been married in several previous lives. Vallow drank the Kool-Aid and over time their beliefs went from deluded to downright evil. They gathered a small group of followers who Daybell told 'he had been the heavenly father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost'. Some of their acolytes, who were told they had 'powers', moved to Rexburg to be close to him. 'He would have been spiritually the highest of anybody [Vallow] was his companion and therefore put her in the same spiritual standing,' former friend Zulema Pastenes told Vallow's trial. Melanie Gibb, a former member of Vallow and Daybell's inner circle, said: '[Vallow] felt she was part of the 144,000. She felt they were the head, leaders of it.' Throughout the saga, Daybell's most loyal backers have been his five adult children, who spoke out together in 2021 to protest his innocence and claim he was manipulated by Vallow. Their strongest show of support has undoubtedly been the macabre choice to remain at his property after the bodies were found. Daybell's lawyer reportedly has a lien on the home and it's been rented back to the family. Vallow (left) pictured with her former close friend Melanie Gibb, who was part of Vallow and Daybell's inner circle. Gibb told Vallow's trial: 'She felt she was part of the 144,000. She felt they were the head, leaders of it' Daybell at a doomsday prepper conference. He met Vallow at one of the events and wooed her with tales of his near death experiences and claims they were married in a previous life Daybell's daughter, Emma Murray, her husband and their young children currently occupy the property where Tylee and JJ were buried in the yard. Today, just yards from the murdered children's shallow graves, toys and strollers are strewn across the land. A tree swing is fastened close to where the family keep chickens and grows vegetables. On the porch, a large sign warns off the media. Across the street, a neighbor's fence has been transformed into a small memorial for the murdered children. Banners with pictures of the children include the words 'Justice for Tylee and JJ'. Hansen sees the family from time to time when she goes to maintain the tributes. 'I've tried to talk to them. And, you know, they don't want to talk to people. I don't blame them,' she said. The Daybell family have 'made it quite clear' they don't intend to attend any of Vallow's trial, which is expected to conclude in mid to late May. Jeppesen said she has 'interpreted them to be standoffish, not wanting much to do with the community'. 'And maybe rightfully so, you know, perhaps they feel villainized for something that their father did.' Daybell's son Garth, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his father, teaches at a school in the area. One parent said their child has found him to be a 'good teacher' with 'fun classes'. Unsurprisingly, the case involving his father has never been mentioned. Meanwhile, the Daybell name itself has become a 'red flag' in Rexburg and his children have faced abuse and even death threats. Rexburg Mayor Jerry Merrill said: 'I think overall we're trying to be understanding of the family and understanding of what they are going through, and trying to just do what we can to be helpful to them so that they can kind of put their lives back together a little bit too. And not be too judgmental of them.' An apartment in Rexburg where Vallow lived when he children were murdered has become a magnet for true crime fans. The woman who lives there with her young family only learned about its grim past when a person showed up asking to take pictures inside Jeanine Harrop Hansen, who grew up in Rexburg, said: 'We will be Rexburg where this tragedy has happened. But we will be Rexburg that has continued to survive and thrive.' The memorial and the Daybell house are among a handful of locations in Rexburg which have become a magnet for true crime fans. The Daybell address is listed on a website called 'Morbid Tourism'. A suburban apartment in Rexburg where Vallow lived when her children were murdered also attracts thrill-seekers. Cops searching for JJ and Tylee raided the address in November 2019 and found a jarring combination of guns, knives and children's toys scattered about the place. A woman who now lives at the rented home with her young family said she only learned about its history when someone showed up several weeks after they moved in and 'asked if they could come inside and take pictures'. 'I am trying to make it a nice place for my family to live. I dont really want to be associated with her or that I dont like it at all,' said the woman, who initially considered moving out. 'Its been a really, really sweet neighborhood to be in. I did not love finding out about that. I was actually just blindsided... I felt so sick about it just being in Rexburg.' The woman's sentiment is one shared by many in Rexburg - a city sickened by the murders of Tammy, JJ and Tylee, but determined to move on. Mayor Merrill said: 'We havent loved having Rexburg be the in the spotlight for this... I think the citizens are ready to have this done, have the trial over and move on and not be the center of worldwide attention.' Hansen, whose grandfather homesteaded the land around Rexburg in the 1800s, added: 'We will be Rexburg where this tragedy has happened. But we will be Rexburg that has continued to survive and thrive.' Men in suits turned up on the day they shut A former Porter Davis worker has shed light on the day employees discovered they were soon to be out of work as one of Australia's biggest home builders collapsed. Lottie found herself suddenly out of a job when turned up to work at the business on Friday, March 31 and for the first time ever saw 'men in suits' standing out the front of the company Melbourne showroom, World of Style, in Southbank. About 1,700 homes across Victoria and Queensland were left unfinished and their owners in limbo when the major home building firm went into liquidation last month. Lottie told Daily Mail Australia she was 'devastated' to discover that the job she loved had come to such an abrupt end. Former Porter Davis employee Lottie has revealed the details of the day employees discovered the company had collapsed 'Basically, we rocked up to work like any other day,' she explained. 'As I approached the door, I was like 'what's going on?' as no one was allowed in.' Lottie said she initially thought it was a 'crime scene' and that someone had died. However, she said staff had 'no inkling' of anything being wrong at the firm before that morning. Lottie said another staff member asked one of the suited men: 'How bad is it?' 'He replied, 'worst case scenario',' she said. Lottie explained that staff waited out the front of the building with 'crippling anxiety'. Lottie told Daily Mail said she was 'devastated' at discovering the company she worked for had gone bust Once workers were finally allowed inside the building, Ms Griffin described the mood as being 'weird', and she spotted managers 'in the boardroom crying'. Lottie, who didn't at that point think she would be made redundant, recalled how the CEO told staff to attend a meeting on Microsoft Teams. 'The address from the CEO was basically him bawling his eyes out and apologising,' she said. 'It was the grimmest thing I've ever seen.' It was at that moment she found out that she would be losing the job she loved forever. Lottie said she still has 'a lot of respect' for the company and it had been a 'great place to work'. Porter Davis homes Group , Australia's 12th biggest home builder, was handed to liquidators Grant Thornton on March 31 Hundreds of families who had contracts with Porter Davis found that despite paying a deposit, which included an insurance premium, the company had not lodged the insurance policies with the state's Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA). The company, Australia's 12th biggest home builder, was handed to liquidators Grant Thornton on March 31. The liquidators confirmed a combination of factors had contributed to the firm's collapse. 'Rising input costs, supply chain delays, labour shortages, and a drop in demand for new homes in 2023 impact[ed] the Group's liquidity,' a Grant Thornton spokesperson said. A recent report filed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission found the company had amassed $32,939,409 of debt with the Commonwealth Bank. As well as worked halting on 1,700 homes, another a further 779 signed contracts that are yet to start. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has committed about $15million to pay out the deposits for a group of nearly 600 families affected by the collapse. The state government will allow 560 families who paid for a deposit on a build that Porter Davis never commenced to apply for compensation. Andrews said the payouts would average about $25,000, with a full refund of up to five per cent of the purchase price. Mark Latham has mocked TV star Hamish Macdonald after The Project host described the shame and confusion he felt as a gay student at an elite private boys' school. The NSW One Nation leader downplayed Macdonald's experiences at Scots College in Sydney's eastern suburbs by describing him as 'dripping with privilege'. Mr Latham claimed homosexuals were 'massively over-represented' in the media and it was 'the greatest con job in the history of politics' that gay people were considered disadvantaged. Macdonald attended Scots College as a rural boarder from Year 6 to Year 12 and while he became school prefect he was also taunted as a 'p****er'. Mark Latham has mocked TV star Hamish Macdonald after The Project host described his shame and confusion as a gay student at an elite private boys' school. Macdonald is pictured with long-term partner Jacob Fitzroy, a manager with accounting firm Deloitte On April 20, Macdonald penned an opinion piece for Nine Newspapers in which he revealed he had endured 'verbal, psychological and sometimes physical torment' at the Presbyterian school. The 41-year-old sometime ABC radio presenter wrote he was surprised and disappointed at the Presbyterian Church's proposed ban on gay and sexually active students from holding leadership roles. The next night Macdonald appeared on Network Ten's The Project to discuss what it was like being a gay teenager at Scots College before he had told anyone he was homosexual. 'When I think back to my time at school, I wonder what a difference it would have made to know that I wasn't the only one,' the former Q+A host told viewers. 'A consequence of being schooled in an environment where being gay is considered thoroughly wrong is that you're left with a deep sense of shame that takes a lifetime to shake. 'Today, I lead a happy, fulfilling and productive life. I love my partner and am loved in return and I take great pride in the work I do. 'But I'm surprised even still by the extent to which the dark, disruptive shadows of my time at school can creep up on me unexpectedly, casting a pall over my work or home life.' NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham downplayed Hamish Macdonald's experiences at Scots College in Sydney's eastern suburbs by describing him as 'dripping with privilege' Mr Latham referred to Macdonald's comments, without naming him, when he was interviewed by broadcaster Chris Smith on TNT Radio on Thursday afternoon. 'The biggest fraud in the history of our politics is the idea that because you're gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender that somehow you're automatically disadvantaged in life,' he said. 'There's an ABC journalist who's writing in the Herald, who educated at Scots College,' Mr Latham continued. He then said Macdonald was highly paid for his broadcasting roles and was 'dripping with privilege'. '[He's saying] I'm the disadvantaged person, I'm the vulnerable [one], I'm the person in need of special government protection because someone said something to him when he was at school. 'It's Scots College. Most of the people I've represented in public life for decades could never dream of having the money to ever go to Scots College. 'This is the greatest con job in the history of politics that the gays in particular - who are massively over-represented in parliament and the media these days - are somehow disadvantaged. Macdonald (pictured at Scots College) penned an opinion piece for Nine Newspapers in which he revealed he had endured 'verbal, psychological and sometimes physical torment' at school 'What they're saying is that we're dripping in money and media and political access and opportunities in life but because someone might say something about our sexuality we're the real vulnerable ones, much more than some kid growing up in Claymore in a public housing estate in Campbelltown.' Mr Latham said politics should be about helping the disadvantaged rather than 'the LGBT alphabet baloney that they try and inflict upon us as a way of diverting the fact that these are massively privileged people.' 'The gay community has a higher level of income, education, opportunities in life,' he told Smith. 'I mean they're all over politics and the media. And to have this as some new form of disadvantage in society is just complete and absolute BS.' Mr Latham's attack on Macdonald came after he was asked to explain an offensive tweet he posted about about gay MP Alex Greenwich last month. Mr Greenwich had called Mr Latham a 'disgusting human being' for attending a rally where Christians clashed with LGBTQI activists on March 21. 'Disgusting?' Mr Latham responded on Twitter. 'How does that compare with sticking your d*** up a bloke's a*** and covering it with s***?' Mr Latham, who has refused to apologise for the tweet, went even further when speaking with Smith. 'I speak for a lot of straight men, Chris, in saying that the idea of having anal sex with another man would make you vomit,' he said. 'That's what makes us straight.' The 41-year-old ABC presenter wrote he was surprised and disappointed at the Presbyterian Church's proposed ban on gay and sexually active students from holding leadership roles When Smith asked Mr Latham if he would use the same crude language in the tweet if he had his time over again he said: 'Well, it's code for anal sex between blokes'. 'I can tell you, Chris, if someone held a gun to my head and said I had to have anal sex with a bloke I'd vomit. I'd vomit all over him. And I speak for straight men and this is what makes us straight.' The Australian Law Reform Commission is reviewing religious schools and their exemption from federal anti-discrimination law. The Presbyterian Church argues sexually active students would 'not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling of Christian living'. Scots College principal Dr Ian Lambert told parents in an email there was no specific ban against gay students holding leadership positions at the Bellevue Hill school. Macdonald co-hosts The Project on Fridays and Mondays as well as reporting for the show from around the country. He is also heard on the ABC's Radio National. The Walkley Award winner is in a long-term relationship with Jacob Fitzroy, a manager with accounting firm Deloitte. Daily Mail Australia attempted to contact Macdonald through the ABC and Network Ten. One Nation's founder and federal leader Pauline Hanson has publicly called on Mr Lathan to apologise for his tweet about Mr Greenwich but he told Chris Smith she had not contacted him. The party will have three representatives - Mr Latham, Rod Roberts and former Labor MP Tania Mihailuk - in the upper house when parliament resumes sitting after the March election. Mr Cruel's victims never saw his face. He always wore a distinctive black balaclava A woman who believes she knows where feared child killer Mr Cruel lives claims she is being ignored by 'stubborn' homicide squad detectives. Mr Cruel, whose identity is still unknown, assaulted at least four young girls in Melbourne in the late 1980s and early 1990s, abducting three and killing one. Karmein Chan, a 13-year-old private schoolgirl snatched from her home after her sisters were forced into a wardrobe, was shot three times in the head. Daily Mail Australia can reveal the Melbourne woman, who asked to remain anonymous, has fought for three years to be formally interviewed by Victorian homicide detectives who have refused to speak with her apart from a brief phone conversation. 'I can't sleep knowing what I know and not being able to tell Karmein's family. This has really impacted me mentally and I think the police have been pretty cold in not even offering me any kind of support.' 'They've spent 10 or 12 hours over the years writing letters and making excuses about why they won't talk to me when they could have interviewed me in an hour,' the woman said. 'I just want to tell them what I know and they can make up their own minds on how to act upon it.' Karmein Chan (pictured) was executed by Mr Cruel after being abducted from her home Karmein Chan's mother visited the site where her daughter Karmein's body was found a year after she was abducted from her home. Mrs Chan and her husband had made tearful public appeals for Karmein's safe return. Police believe the girl may have seen her abductor's face The woman claims to hold detailed information on the abduction of Karmein and claims the killer is still alive, well and residing in Melbourne. During his reign of terror, Mr Cruel broke into suburban Melbourne homes at night armed with a knife and handgun, tied up parents and siblings then abducted girls as young as 11 who he held for up to 50 hours. He forced the girls he assaulted to wash and carefully brush their teeth and fed some of them meals even while they were being abused. No useful forensic evidence was recovered from any of his crime scenes. There were no fingerprints to compare or any trace of DNA. The woman claims she contacted Crime Stoppers multiple times in the hope of being interviewed by cold case detectives in charge of the case. While she spoke briefly to a detective over the phone for 'about five minutes', her further attempts for a sit down interview have fallen on deaf ears. Desperate, the woman spoke to a senior crime detective from her local police station, who advocated on her behalf to the homicide squad without success. The frustrated woman even contacted retired homicide squad detective Ron Iddles in the hope he might be able to pull some strings. 'I didn't want to go public with this. I don't want this man destroying evidence now after all these years. I just want to tell police what I know.' While Mr Cruel is now an elderly man, the woman remains fearful he could still pose a threat. A Victoria Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a homicide squad detective spoke to the woman on the phone, however determined the information she supplied via Crime Stoppers was not able to progress this investigation. Mr Cruel was also responsible for an attack on an 11-year-old girl in her Lower Plenty home in 1987, the abduction of Sharon Wills, 10, in 1988 (left) and the kidnap of Nicola Lynas, 13, in 1991 (right). This sketch of Mr Cruel's bedroom was made with the help of one of his child victims. Mr Cruel kept the first child he abducted for 18 hours and the second for 50. The last child he snatched, Karmein Chan, was found dead a year after her disappearance. She had been shot in the head THE TERRIBLE REIGN OF RAPIST 'MR CRUEL' The rapist known in the media as 'Mr Cruel' attacked girls as young as 11 in Melbourne in the 1980s and 1990s. August 22, 1987, Lower Plenty: Mr Cruel broke into a house in the night, locked the parents in a wardrobe and attacked their 11-year-old daughter. December 27, 1988, Ringwood: Broke into a house, tied up the parents and abducted their 10-year-old daughter, releasing her at a school 18 hours later. July 3, 1990, Canterbury: Broke into a house, abducted a 13-year-old girl and drove her to another house where he kept her for 50 hours before release. April 13, 1991 Templestowe: Broke into a house and abducted Karmein Chan, 13. Her body was found a year later. Mr Cruel has never been identified. Advertisement In 2016, Victoria Police announced a $1 million reward for anyone who could provide information leading to the conviction of Karmein's killer. The woman believes that reward combined with the historic cost of the Mr Cruel investigation is behind the homicide squad's decision. 'Money appears to be the real pressure point now with this investigation,' the woman said. 'They're paranoid about people just wanting to get their hands on the reward.' The mystery clean freak's brazen attacks were so meticulously planned and committed in such a calculated fashion he was initially known as 'Mr Cool'. None of his surviving victims ever saw Mr Cruel's face, which was hidden by a chilling black balaclava with white stitching around the eyes and mouth. The woman claims Mr Cruel did not act alone and believes his accomplice is the man detectives believe is Mr Cruel. Last year, Channel Nine's Under Investigation produced an image of a man it believed was Mr Cruel, suggesting he may have worked or posed as a substation employee, or lived closeby. Mr Cruel's first victim was not removed from her house and was instead assaulted just metres away from her parents, who'd been bound and gagged. But the next three were all abducted, two would return home but Karmein would never be seen again. Pictured is a sketch of what a Channel 9 investigation determined Mr Cruel may look like This map from Cold Case Investigations showed the sites where Mr Cruel attacked and abducted children, where he released them and where Karmein Chan's body was dumped His second victim was dropped off near the Bayswater electrical substation 18 hours after being abducted. His third victim was released near a substation in Kew, just ten minutes from her house. Both victims also lived near substations just 20 minutes apart in East Camberwell and Ringwood, while the first victim lived near one in Lower Plenty. His fourth victim, Karmein's remains were found near a substation known as the Thomastown Terminal Station, also in close proximity to the other electrical substations. Karmein and one of Mr Cruel's other victims also both attended the Presbyterian Ladies College - which was across the road from a substation. 'The fact that it's all in about a 20 minute drive from each other, in that area the offender has to feel comfortable in order to function,' senior law enforcement investigator, Mike King told presenter Liz Hayes. 'From a geographic perspective we just have to keep thinking, why is he comfortable in this area? Why is he selecting the victims where he is? And why is he disposing of them where he is?'. Mr King said he didn't believe in coincidences and that there was a definite reason behind Mr Cruel's movements. 'There are reasons why he selected those locations to drop off those victims, there are absolute reasons why he selected the victims he did,' he said. Shockingly, a witness told the program that in 1988 her brothers saw a strange man filming one of his victim's homes six weeks before she was taken. The house backed onto a block of electrical towers. Karmein Chan's parents John and Phyllis Chan (pictured) appeared on national television appealing for their daughter to be returned. They had been working at their Chinese restaurant when the 13-year-old girl was abducted while babysitting her younger sisters Karlie and Karen The body of Karmein Chan (left) was found a year after she was abducted from her parents' home. She had been shot three times in the head. One of the girls who was released from Mr Cruel's clutches helped police draw this sketch (right) of the inside of her abductor's car Mr Cruel came to the attention of police on August 22, 1987 when he broke into a family home at Lower Plenty, in Melbourne's north-eastern suburbs. Once inside he tied up the parents in their bedroom, covered their eyes with surgical tape and forced them into a wardrobe. He then blindfolded and gagged their six-year-old son, tied him to his bed and went after his 11-year-old sister. After making the girl brush her teeth he assaulted her. He cut the phone lines and told the girl she could free her parents after she counted slowly to 100. All up he spent about two hours in the house, even making himself a meal. Mr Cruel next struck on December 27, 1988 when he broke into a family home where he found four girls at Ringwood. Having threatened the parents with a gun and tying them up with copper wire he bound their ten-year-old daughter, covered her mouth and eyes with tape and abducted her. The next night, 18 hours after she had been snatched, the girl was dropped from a car at nearby Bayswater High School wearing a man's shirt and green garbage bags. She told police her attacker had made her shower and brush and floss her teeth. He had kept her blindfolded throughout the ordeal and given her food while she was being assaulted. 'We can only dread what the man would have done if the girl had pulled off the blindfold and seen his face,' Detective Chief Inspector Des Johnson said at the time. 'It is that close to being a homicide.' The next attack came 18 months later on July 3, 1990 at Canterbury. Both parents were out for dinner with friends but their daughters a 13-year-old and 15-year-old were home. Mr Cruel broke into the house armed with a gun and a knife and threatened the sisters before bundling 13-year-old into a stolen rental car. He made her bring her Presbyterian Ladies College uniform. The woman spoke to legendary Melbourne homicide squad detective Ron Iddles about what she knows about the Mr Cruel case A $300,000 reward was increased to $1million in 2016 Time is running out for Melbourne detectives tasked with bringing Mr Cruel to justice Fifty hours after her abduction Mr Cruel dropped her, blindfolded and wrapped in a blanket, at a power substation in Kew. She reported she had been made to brush her teeth and wash herself thoroughly. She had been given food and water regularly while held captive. Her abductor had watched a press conference in which her father pleaded for the return of his daughter and had spoken to the girl about it. By now police had this description of the offender: Caucasian, aged between 30 and 50, from 173 to 180 centimetres tall, of medium build with a small pot belly. Nine months after Nicola's abduction Mr Cruel appeared again on April 13, 1991 at Templestowe. John and Phyllis Chan were at work in their Chinese restaurant leaving daughters Karmein, 13, Karlie, nine, and Karen, seven, at home. Armed with a knife Mr Cruel forced Karlie and Karen into a wardrobe and disappeared into the night with Karmein. This time there would be no family reunion. A year later, on April 9, 1992 a dog walker found Karmein's decomposing remains near a landfill site at Thomastown. She had been shot three times in the head. Detectives believe Karmein may have seen Mr Cruel's face or recognised him in some other way, leading to him killing her. Karmein's murder was the last attack attributed to Mr Cruel. Over the next couple of years Taskforce Spectrum would examine 30,000 houses and eliminate 27,000 persons of interest from their inquiries. A poster featuring the faces of Sharon, Nicola and Karmein and the details of their abductions was distributed to 1.4million homes. The FBI also provided a profile. From 2010 to 2013 police brought together under Taskforce Apollo re-examined the crimes attributed to Mr Cruel but still the identity of the offender eluded them. Not all investigators were convinced Karmein's murder was committed by Mr Cruel. Even the name given to the offender by a Melbourne newspaper has caused police problems - they say he is unlikely to seem cruel to those around him. It is possible Mr Cruel stopped abducting children after Karmein's murder. Anyone with information is urged to call crime stoppers on 1800 333 000. A group of parents whose children have changed gender plan to sue the Department for Education for not protecting them from trans ideology in schools. They accuse Ministers of failing to issue guidance to teachers and letting a 'damaging' gender ideology pushed by LGBT lobbying groups take root in thousands of schools. Some teachers have not told parents when their children switch gender. Others have been accused of encouraging pupils to transition even after NHS psychologists warned against it. Barrister Dr Anna Loutfi, who is bringing the case, told The Mail on Sunday: 'The parents wish to bring a joint claim in negligence against the Department for Education for a failure to act on the foreseeable harms caused to children by gender ideology. 'Gender ideology', which the case would seek to define in law, is promoted across primary and secondary schools. A group of parents whose children have changed gender plan to sue the Department for Education for not protecting them from trans ideology in schools. Pictured: Education Secretary Gillian Keegan READ MORE: Damning report exposes how children are being 'put at risk' by the gender ideology sweeping Britain's schools Advertisement It is the belief that sexual differences are not important and can be changed or ignored. 'The DfE has done nothing to prevent this. They have recommended materials from controversial groups such as Stonewall who have been accused of misrepresenting the law when advising schools on gender issues.' The case, brought by the Bad Law Project campaign, comes after the Policy Exchange think-tank warned that many secondary schools allow children to present as the opposite gender without informing their parents. The claimants include a mother whose daughter's private school 'encouraged' the autistic 16-year-old to change gender without her consent, ignoring NHS gender psychologists who warned against social transitioning. The parents of a teenage boy claim his school hid his gender transition until teachers told them they would address him by a girl's name. He has since suffered psychologically, they say. The mother of a 16-year-old boy said his college ignored the advice of NHS psychotherapists who said he should not be allowed to transition to female. When she raised concerns, a tutor said the college 'did not need to work with her' because at 16 he was an adult. She said: 'The college ignores emails with regard to safeguarding my child. The college have shown zero accountability. The DfE needs to act now.' Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch are drawing up guidelines that are expected to tell schools they must inform parents if pupils want to change gender, start using a new name or wear a different uniform. The DfE said: 'This guidance will clarify schools' legal position and the importance of involving parents.' Chuck Schumer and actress Julia Fox were among some of the early arrivals for Saturday's White House Correspondents' Dinner - with the unlikely pair raising some eyebrows as they made their way down the red carpet side by side. Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the Uncut Gems actress, who last month vehemently denied using diabetes meds to lose weight during an ill-fated fling with rapper Kanye West. Known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, the 33-year-old model elected for a less traditional getup - donning some dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud. Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job. Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton included Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones' Lena Headey. All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a boisterous group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry. Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the Uncut Gems actress, who donned dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble for the black tie gathering at the Washington Hilton Saturday evening Schumer was among several who arrived early for the anticipated event - where the president is poised to speak - and is seen offering two thumbs up to the cameras after posing with Fox Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton Saturday evening included Live! host Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones's Lena Headey Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job CNN's Wolf Blitzer and and Parks and Rec star Billy Eichner were also among those in attendance before the dinner was underway CBS broadcaster Gayle King waved to paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with hot-pink, full length dress - like something out of Legally Blonde All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry Others seen mingling outside the Washington Hilton's hallowed auditorium included CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and Parks and Rec's Billy Eichner, with President Biden poised to arriving within the hour as well. The youth-led group posed up outside previously posted a video accusing the president of committing 'ecocide' - a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action. Outside the Hilton around 7pm - about an hour removed from the dinner's scheduled start time - members who have taken issue with Biden's recent approval of several oil projects were seen shouting and egging on members of the Metro police. The procession has so far remained peaceful, but remained stationed outside as other notable personalities arrived at the event - with the chaos outside doing little to deter the festivities. CBS broadcaster Gayle King, for instance, was seen waving at paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with a hot-pink, full length number that harked back to Reese Witherspoons' character in Legally Blonde. Kaitlan Collins, who up until last week was Don Lemon's co-anchor on CNN This Morning before the newscasters' abrupt ouster, also stopped to pose for the cameras, showing off tasteful, bedazzled black dress - with a bag to match. Outspoken Democrat - and onetime George W. Bush Diplomat - Fran Drescher also was seen making her way in the hotel, with the 65-year-old Nanny star emanating class in an all-white suit. Also donning all-white was White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who also arrived unhindered despite the activists still seen outside. Back on Thursday, the 48-year-old Biden staffer incited controversy when she addressed a recent photo of the head of state holding what appeared to be a cheat sheet of a reporter's question during a White House press briefing, calling it 'entirely normal.' The president will get a rare chance to flex his comedic muscles Saturday, as perhaps the most anticipated speaker of the night - in front of a star-studded audience that will also include his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and recently released WNBA star Brittany Griner. Aside from the array of film and TV stars, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts (left) was also seen arriving, and was among several to stop to pose for pictures. Meanwhile, Fox, known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, elected for a less traditional getup - one that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud Kaitlan Collins, previously Don Lemon's co-anchor on This Morning before his ouster last week, also stopped to pose for the camera while dressed in a tasteful black number Nanny Star Fran Drescher, 65, poses on the red carpet arriving for the annual White House Correspondents' Association Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre arriving to the White House Correspondents' Dinner Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman also made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele a month removed from his six-week hospital stint for depression Replacing old boss Trevor Noah as the dinner's host, Wood Jr. previously said he plans to pull no punches while lambasting the powers that be in Washington at tonight's dinner After making headlines Thursday for using a 'cheat sheet' to address reporter's questions, the president was seen sitting at the head of the auditorium at the event's start Saturday - his second dinner as president, and his first since announcing his intent to run again come 2024 Griner, who recently said she was 'done' playing overseas following he ten-month detention in Moscow, is set to attend with partner Cherelle Griner as guests of CBS News. The pair were not seen among the amalgam of stars and political personalities arriving ahead of the event's scheduled 8pm start. That said, other big names spotted included Father-son journalist pair Peter and Steve Doocy, of Fox News, who also stopped to wave at snappers before finding their seat. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, too, made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele roughly a month removed from his six-week stint at Walter Reed for depression. Fetterman, 53, finally dressed up for the occasion after being met with backlash online for his unformal attire during his first day back at the Capitol less than two weeks ago, of a hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers. Since facing criticism for donning clothes many felt unbecoming of an elected official, the politician refused to take any questions from reporters, a few months removed from his hard-fought victory over Republican Rival Mehmet - better known by his TV descriptor, 'Dr' - Oz. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton Father-son Fox News journalists Peter and Steve Doocy are seen waving at snappers on the red carpet America's Next Top Model alum Winnie Harlow was also among the many notable guests as well as, X-Men actress Rebecca Romijn and husband Jerry O'Connor - of Kangaroo Jack fame Australians will soon be able to buy a house with their friend as major changes are brought in to help millions of residents enter the property market. The federal government is expanding three major grant schemes that were originally only available to married couples or people in de facto relationships. From July 1, 'any two eligible individuals' will be able to apply for the first home guarantee, the regional equivalent and the family home guarantee. Friends, siblings or parents are among those who will now be able to team up to take advantage of the grants. A lifeline has been thrown to millions of Australians frustrated at being unable to enter the property market with a major change that allows friends to buy a home together Under the three schemes, the federal government acts as guarantor on up to 15 per cent of a loan for home buyers. This allows residents to buy a property with a deposit as low as five per cent. The schemes allow homebuyers to avoid paying lender's mortgage insurance, or LMI, saving them thousands of dollars more. Federal housing minister Julie Collins said the change would go a long way to helping people get their foot in the door of the real estate market. 'We know that things are changing and we're having friends, siblings, all type of people going into home ownership right across Australia and we need to move with the times,' she told Channel Nine's Today on Sunday. Ms Collins said from July 1 single people and Australian permanent residents would also be eligible to apply, instead of just citizens. 'We want to support more Australians to get into a home particularly those who have been long term renting [and] those who have been having difficulty overcoming the 20 per cent mortgage deposit threshold,' she said. 'With this scheme they can get into home ownership sooner and we'll save them tens of thousands of dollars because they won't need lender's mortgage insurance because the government will guarantee that other 15 per cent of the deposit.' Currently on an $800,000 property where a buyer has a five per cent deposit they could pay LMI of up to $41,300, depending on the lender. The family home guarantee will be expanded to include single legal guardians of children alongside Australian permanent residents, meaning aunts, uncles and grandparents would also become eligible. It is currently only open to single parents with at least one dependent child. Ms Collins said caps will be introduced over concerns widening eligibility criteria would make housing even more unaffordable by driving up prices even further. 'We're targetting it, we're capping the number so there's 50,000 places across the family home guarantee across the country in the [next] year,' she said. Ms Collins said 'price caps' would also be used. 'What we don't want to do is impact prices, but obviously we do want to support Australians into home ownership sooner,' she said. Ms Collins said more is being done on other issues contributing to the housing crisis, which is affecting not just home buyers but millions of renters as well. She said the Albanese government wants to see returns from the Future Fund, Australia's sovereign wealth fund which was established in 2006, be 'invested in social and affordable homes'. Federal housing minister Julie Collins said the change would go a long way to helping people get their foot in the door of the real estate market The change clears the way for people to buy with friends, siblings or parents to access the first home guarantee, the regional equivalent or the family home guarantee She urged the Greens and the opposition to support by passing that reform through the Senate. The announcement on grant eligibility comes after state and territory housing ministers announced last week they would be meeting to discuss reforms that 'strengthen renters' rights'. On Friday Ms Collins announced the government would allocate an extra $2billion to the the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation for more social and affordable rental housing in next month's Budget. 'This boost in the Budget will help get more Australians into affordable rental homes sooner,' she said. 'This is action that will have a real impact on people's lives, and will support our plans to build tens of thousands of additional social and affordable rental homes right across the country.' The government will also offer incentives in next month's budget intended to increase the supply of rental housing by changing arrangements for investments in built-to-rent accommodation. They include increasing the depreciation rate from 2.5 per cent to 4 per cent per year for eligible new build-to-rent projects where construction commences after 9 May 2023. The government will also reduce the withholding tax rate for eligible fund payments from managed investment trusts to foreign residents on income from newly constructed residential build-to-rent properties after 1 July 2024 from 30 to 15 per cent. Moaning civil servants were criticised as snowflakes last night after a series of online whinges came to light including one from a senior official who said commuting to work made them 'homesick'. The claim and other posts written anonymously online led a senior Tory to describe moaning officials as the 'Snivel Service'. It comes after former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was forced out over bullying claims. One official, who claimed to have been a 'head of service', said travelling to London once a week for a meeting was 'incredibly stressful', writing on the UK Civil Service group page on the Reddit social media site: 'Our deputy director is mandating that the team travels weekly into London for team meetings. This is causing me a great deal of stress and panic attacks.' Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab was forced out over bullying claims Dominic Raab, seen leaving his home in Esher, Surrey, resigned as justice secretary and deputy prime minister with a furious public broadside at mandarins who could not handle 'the pace, standards and challenge that I brought' The 'Grade 7' official in a 'strategic role' disliked staying overnight because they 'got terribly homesick'. An official at the Insolvency Service called Ministers 'scum', adding: 'I can't put into words the immense hatred I have for them. I want to see this Government obliterated, just utterly destroyed.' There has been a backlash against the so-called 'Blob' Whitehall officials critical of the Government in the wake of Mr Raab's exit and accusations that Health Secretary Steve Barclay bullied staff. An 'executive officer on the Counter Fraud, Compliance and Debt team in the Department for Work and Pensions' claimed in the Reddit 'snowflake dossier' that a request by his boss for him to be available online on Microsoft Teams conferencing software could be bullying. Officials also discussed plans for days when they were on strike. One wanted a lie-in followed by a 'haircut and mooch about the shops'. The senior Tory said some Ministers were up against the 'Snivel Service', adding: 'The idea that being asked to come into work could count as bullying will be laughable to the people who do exactly that every day and pay the salaries of these snowflakes.' An Australian man accused of wreaking havoc during a drunken rampage on an Indonesian surf trip has begged for forgiveness saying he is 'deeply ashamed'. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones, 23, from Noosa in Queensland's Sunshine Coast, was arrested at the Lantik Moonbeach Resort on Simeulue Island on Thursday. He is accused of running naked and drunk through a village, creating havoc in a coffee shop and knocking a man off a motorbike, leaving him with a broken leg and a gaping wound that required 50 stitches. Mr Risby-Jones' father Ben said on Saturday his son was 'deeply ashamed of the trauma and ongoing distress he has inflicted upon his family' and issued an apology. Ben said his son wanted to 'hand on heart apologise' to all the people he had 'disrespected and hurt'. Australian man Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones (pictured) is accused of wreaking havoc during a drunken rampage on an Indonesian surf trip He told The Courier-Mail his son is remorseful, apologetic and 'acknowledges the pain he has caused Mr Edi Ron, the man allegedly knocked off the motorbike. 'He further acknowledges the waste of resources his actions have caused the Simeulue Police,' Ben said. He said his son is disturbed by his actions and takes full responsibility for what happened. 'He also wants to apologise to the Australian people for embarrassing them and is deeply ashamed of the trauma and ongoing distress he has inflicted upon his family,' Ben said. Mr Risby-Jones previously broke his silence on the matter saying he did not feel like himself during the alleged incident. 'Like, almost possessed, it was not a good feeling,' he said. 'I wasn't myself, normally I'm a very nice guy.' Police allege that Mr Risby-Jones left his hotel room naked and drunk on vodka before assaulting a security guard and then the motorcyclist. Mr Risby-Jones disputed that he was drunk, instead claiming he had only one shot of vodka that was exacerbated by sunstroke he'd suffered while surfing. 'We were at the pool, and we had a duty-free bottle of vodka. I only had one shot, just one shot,' he claimed to the ABC. He also claims that he was not naked but was wearing underwear. Police allege he fled to the beach when a mob of locals formed to apprehend him before he was assaulted and a citizens' arrest performed. 'I've got hit a lot of times on the ground, people kicked my head, made me forget,' Mr Risby-Jones. According to Simeulue police chief detective Mayyuhdi, Risby-Jones was on the surfing trip because 'he was depressed'. Bodhi Mani Risby-Jones (pictured) from Noosa in Queensland 's Sunshine Coast was arrested at the Lantik Moonbeach Resort on Simeulue Island on Thursday According to Simeulue police chief detective Mayyuhdi, Risby-Jones was on the surfing trip because 'he was depressed' 'According to the people who were present at the scene, Bodhi went out of his room completely naked and yelling and causing a ruckus,' he said. 'The people there tried to stop him, but Bodhi hit one of them instead.' The island of Simeulue is a surfing hotspot in Aceh, the only province ruled under strict Sharia Law. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had not been briefed when questioned about the incident on Saturday. 'I don't make comments about things that have happened overseas without being briefed,' he said. 'But DFAT, when incidents occur, DFAT do a very good job.' Mr Risby-Jones is facing two-and-a-half years imprisonment if the motorcyclist's injuries are considered minor, or five-years imprisonment if they are considered major. He may also be tried under Sharia Law over the charge of drinking alcohol which is illegal for Muslims and non-Muslims in the province, in which case he faces being caned 40 times. Police can keep Mr Risby-Jones in custody for 20 days while they investigate. State government cabinet minister Leeanne Enoch said the consulate was offering assistance to Mr Risby-Jones and his family. 'There's not been a lot of details since then,' she said. 'At the moment, it's a case of ensuring that foreign affairs are able to work closely with that gentleman and his family.' Australia's third highest ranked university has been forced to apologise after making students sit a 'white privilege' assessment as part of their coursework. The University of Queensland ditched the results of the test after students said they thought they might be expelled for failing it - which most of them did. First year medical students were asked to write about their 'white privilege' and racism in their field in a two-part task. Australia's third highest ranked university has been forced into a humiliating apology after making students sit a 'white privilege' assessment as part of their coursework (stock image) One student said they thought those who got a passing grade did so by gaming the system and pretending they had been racist. 'The people who did well have frankly lied, they played into the notion that they're racist, even if they're not,' they told the Courier Mail. The assessment sparked fierce backlash prompting University of Queensland, which is ranked 53rd best in the world, to issue an apology. The university has also removed the results from the 'white privilege' assessment from the overall grades of the students. Several students who failed the controversial test said they were worried that they could be expelled from their course. One student, who spoke anonymously, said they feared failing the assignment could affect what jobs they would get after graduating as it would lower their results. They said that while the University of Queensland has a good global reputation, graduates with all As in assignments are looked at as better than those with Bs. 'You could be the best doctor in the world but fail on this (white privilege test),' they said. The University of Queensland (pictured) ditched the results of the test after students said they thought they might be expelled for failing it - which most of them did The University of Queensland denied students would have been expelled for failing the 'white privilege' assignment. 'After listening to students feedback on the assignment, we have advised students that the results from this assignment will not contribute to their end-of-year grades. 'The university also acknowledged the concerns of students and apologised for any distress caused,' a spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia. 'There has been no suggestion that students would be expelled for failing this assignment as a "whole of program" approach is taken regarding progression.' The spokesperson said learning and teaching about Indigenous Health is embedded throughout UQ's medical program, as required by the Australian Medical Council Accreditation Standards. 'It is our responsibility to graduate well-rounded doctors who understand the challenges faced by our Indigenous and marginalised communities. 'The students will be provided with further opportunities to deepen their understanding of the important and sometimes challenging concepts the assignment addressed,' the spokesperson said. An email from its medical school dean Professor Stuart Carney sent to students reportedly said the results had been removed from the final grade. A University of Queensland spokeswoman said the student's feedback had been taken seriously by the faculty. 'After listening to students' feedback on the assignment, we have advised students that the results from this assignment will not contribute to their end-of-year grades,' she said. One student said they understood it was important to learn about different cultures in the industry, but claimed the assessment took things 'too far'. 'It should be a skill that's promoted, but not tested on,' they said. The Left-wing Guardian newspaper was last night accused of 'shocking' antisemitism after publishing an offensive cartoon of ex-BBC chairman Richard Sharp featuring Jewish stereotypes. The controversial image by Martin Rowson showed a grinning caricature of Sharp, who is Jewish, with what experts described as a string of antisemitic tropes. Sharp dramatically quit as BBC chairman on Friday after a report found that he broke the rules by failing to disclose his role in helping Boris Johnson secure an 800,000 loan. The cartoon, published yesterday, depicted the former Goldman Sachs banker carrying a box from the bank stuffed with a squid and what appeared to be gold coins. Stephen Pollard, former editor of the Jewish Chronicle, described the illustration as 'unambiguously antisemitic', adding: 'It takes a lot to shock me. But I still find it genuinely shocking that not a single person looked at this and said, 'No, we can't run this.' The Left-wing Guardian newspaper was last night accused of 'shocking' antisemitism after publishing an offensive cartoon of ex-BBC chairman Richard Sharp featuring Jewish stereotypes Boris Johnson last night suggested those responsible at The Guardian for publishing the image should resign. 'Frankly whoever commissioned and printed this has made a far worse mistake than Richard Sharp,' he said. 'They should take his lead.' Writing on Twitter, award-winning screenwriter Lee Kern said: 'The Guardian is antisemitic. If a paper can be institutionally racist, it's them.' While the squid seemed to be a reference to Goldman Sachs once described by Rolling Stone magazine as 'a great vampire squid' it is also a 'common antisemitic motif' used to depict a supposed Jewish conspiracy, according to Dave Rich, an author who specialises in antisemitism. He added: 'You might argue that outsized facial features and tentacles are common to other topics too, so it's just a cartoon thing. Except where something has a long and familiar antisemitic history, it takes on a different meaning when you apply it to Jews.' Critics also highlighted that the cartoon appeared to feature a bloodied pig's head and Rishi Sunak portrayed as a puppet. Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, said: 'It is extraordinary that so many classic anti-Jewish motifs were squeezed into one cartoon, without The Guardian editors objecting.' Richard Sharp quit as BBC chairman and will leave at the end of June In a 1,000-word statement, Rowson said he knew Sharp was Jewish because they both attended the fee-paying Merchant Taylors' school in North London, but insisted that Sharp's Jewishness 'never crossed my mind as I drew him'. 'I was trying to draw him looking silently furious, by implication with Johnson, in the standard caricatural way common to all political cartoons of exaggerating various of his features. READ MORE: BBC chaos as Richard Sharp QUITS as chairman to avoid being a 'distraction' after report found he breached appointments rules by failing to declare part in Boris Johnson loan guarantee Advertisement 'I thought at the time it was a fairly mild caricature compared with how I'd draw Johnson.' He denied the box in the cartoon was stuffed with gold insisting the coins were actually the squid's 'yellow polyps' and that the red colour near the pig signified liquorice, not blood. A spokesman for The Guardian yesterday said: 'We understand the concerns that have been raised. This cartoon does not meet our editorial standards, and we have decided to remove it from our website. 'The Guardian apologises to Mr Sharp, to the Jewish community and to anyone offended.' The latest controversy comes just a week after The Observer The Guardian's sister paper published a letter by former Labour Shadow Minister Diane Abbott suggesting that Jewish, Irish and Traveller people were not subject to racism 'all their lives'. She was suspended as a Labour MP and party leader Sir Keir Starmer described her remarks as antisemitic. The father of a young British aristocrat who was tortured to death in a Kenyan police cell spoke of his dismay yesterday after his sons four killers were freed from prison on appeal after serving less than 18 months. Nicholas Monson, 67, told The Mail on Sunday he was shocked, surprised and saddened by the release of the policemen following their manslaughter conviction. His son, Alexander, 28, died in 2012 after being brutally tortured and struck in the head in a cell in the coastal town of Diani, where he was held for a minor drug offence. In November 2021, nearly a decade later, the four men were finally brought before a court. There was insufficient evidence to convict them of murder. But after describing how Alexander was subjected to a savage attack Judge Eric Ogola gave Chief Inspector Charles Munyuri, Corporal Naftali Chege, and Constables Ismael Baraka and John Pamba manslaughter terms ranging from nine to 15 years. Chief Inspector Charles Munyuri, Corporal Naftali Chege, and Constables Ismael Baraka and John Pamba have been freed on appeal after serving less than 18 months for the manslaughter of young British aristocrat Alexander Monson, 28 Alexander, pictured with his sister Isabella, was found dead in 2012 after being brutally tortured and struck in the head in a cell in the coastal town of Diani Last night Lord Monson said: The message sent to the Kenyan police with the conviction of my sons killers was that they had to think twice about abusing their powers. Everyone rejoiced. 'This has gone up in smoke. 'The release of these guilty men is a retrograde step for the international perception of Kenya. Alexander was arrested for allegedly smoking cannabis in Mombasa in May 2012. The next day, a friend found him unconscious at Diani police station having received blows to his head, groin and arm. He died from a blow that caused bleeding to the brain. Police insisted that he be tested in hospital for a drug overdose. But the judge said this was clearly to cover up the attack, and a report showing he took cocaine, diazepam and other substances was falsified. It was beyond a shadow of a doubt that an officer killed him. But on Friday, three appeal court judges said unresolved issues in the case ought to be resolved in favour of the appellants. Lord Monson said: The suggestion that Alexander may have been injured prior to being brought to the police station is nonsense. A mother told of her nerve-shredding escape from war-torn Sudan with her two young daughters yesterday as the RAF airlift of Britons ended with thousands feared left behind. Safa Yahya, 27, from Nottingham, said she endured a 'terrifying' 45-minute taxi journey to the evacuation airfield while shielding Awowa Abdalla, four, and three-year-old Amany Abdalla. 'The children were scared and crying. We could hear gunshots,' Safa told The Mail on Sunday after arriving back in Britain. They got one of the last flights out of the capital Khartoum. 'It was such a difficult journey to the airport and then it was a very long and nervous wait to see if we could get on a flight to Cyprus and then the UK.' The last mercy flight took off at around 6pm yesterday. It is unclear how many British citizens remain in the country, where fighting between Russian-backed rebels and government troops has cost more than 500 lives in a fortnight and sent hundreds of thousands of people fleeing over borders. Safe at last : Safa in London with children Amany and Awowa and a friend READ MORE: Anguished Britons evacuating war-torn Sudan tell of their journey of hell to the airstrip Brits evacuated war-torn Sudan Advertisement Gunfire and heavy artillery rang out in Khartoum yesterday despite the extension of a ceasefire. Safa was visiting friends in Sudan when she was caught up in the fighting. She hid in a house for two weeks before making the dash to the airfield. They finally made it to London's Stansted Airport last night. A friend drove them back to Nottingham for a reunion with Safa's husband, who had remained at home because of illness. 'They had a very dangerous journey to the airport and the children were very upset. They are tired but relieved to be here and to be safe,' said the friend. Earlier yesterday Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden chaired a Cobra meeting to discuss the security situation in Sudan. He denied that the Government had effectively abandoned those unable to make the potentially dangerous journey to the evacuation site. The airlift was halted because of a drop-off in applicants 'and the risk of renewed conflict'. But the Government has been criticised over delays in rescuing citizens and prioritising diplomats. It is understood that by last night the fifth day of the UK's airlift more than 1,650 people had reached Cyprus, before being flown on to Stansted. There are about 4,000 dual UK-Sudanese nationals and 400 UK nationals in Sudan. Pictured: British nationals walking to board an RAF aircraft, during the evacuation to Cyprus, at Wadi Seidna Air Base in Sudan Pictured: A ferry transported around 1900 evacuees across the Red Sea from Port Sudan There remains a shortage food, water and fuel in Khartoum, where millions of people are trapped. Former Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok said it could be a 'nightmare for the world' and worse even than Syria. Foreign Office Minister Andrew Mitchell claimed the evacuation was 'extremely successful'. He told the BBC it was right that the evacuation flights were ending. 'I don't think there's a single Briton in Khartoum who won't know about the evacuation, and the flow of people who've been coming to the airport indicate that that is correct,' he said. Sir Keir Starmer will come under pressure this week following his attempt to hire Partygate investigator Sue Gray ahead of the conclusion of an inquiry into whether she breached official rules by meeting the Labour leader secretly. Conservatives are expected to demand to know when she was first approached by Labour to become Sir Keir's chief of staff and whether the appointment will go ahead if she is censured. The move by Ms Gray, who carried out the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson's behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic, triggered a fresh row over the neutrality of the Civil Service and angered Mr Johnson's supporters. Now insiders predict that the Cabinet Office will conclude that the talks were kept secret from Whitehall officials in breach of the Civil Service code. Sir Keir Starmer will come under pressure this week following his attempt to hire Partygate investigator Sue Gray ahead of the conclusion of an inquiry into whether she breached official rules by meeting the Labour leader secretly Sue Gray (pictured) carried out the Partygate inquiry into Boris Johnson's behaviour in Downing Street during the pandemic The Tories are planning to address the 'issues raised' and 'lessons learned' in a written statement laid before the Commons on Tuesday. It follows reports last week that Ms Gray who was recruited to head Labour's efforts to 'transition' into Government could be banned from working for the party until after the next Election, which is expected by autumn 2024. The five key questions 1. When did you first approach Sue Gray? 2. Will you still hire her if she has breached the Civil Service code? 3. Will you still hire her if she is blocked from taking the job for two years? 4. Will you guarantee there will be no contact with Labour during that period? 5. Have you or your team had any other undisclosed contacts with civil servants? Advertisement She resigned after news of her hiring leaked in March before her new job had been discussed with the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, the body that vets the roles civil servants take after leaving Whitehall. The watchdog could recommend a cooling-off period of up to two years because of the seniority of her role as Second Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office, it is claimed. Sir Keir is likely to face a barrage of questions from the Tories, such as when Ms Gray was approached, whether he will still hire her if she is found to have breached the code or is blocked for two years. They are also expected to demand a guarantee that she will not be in touch with Labour during a cooling-off period and to know if Sir Keir's office has had any other secret contacts with civil servants. Insiders told The Mail on Sunday they expect the Cabinet Office to conclude she breached the code on the grounds of 'impartiality', because she was involved in secret discussions with Labour when she was conducting sensitive meetings with Ministers; of 'honesty', because Ministers were in the dark over the talks; and of 'integrity', because her professionalism could be called into question. Government sources predict the Cabinet Office findings are likely to make 'extremely uncomfortable reading' for Ms Gray. BBC's Springwatch has been caught up in a 'whodunnit' after a badger that featured on the conservation show was hit and killed by a car at a reserve. The poor creature, called Bernie, was run over during filming at an RSPB reserve in Suffolk. The 7kg one-year-old sow was legally tagged with fellow badger buddies Max, Millie, Milo, Boris, Barry, Flint and Fossil. There was a frantic search for answers after Bernie the badger was discovered with abdominal bruising, a broken upper and lower jaw and a fractured skull. Conservationists on the show were worried Bernie was killed when an off-road car that was rushing towards filming struck it. Co-host Chris Packham (left) went to see the site of the accident in 2015, when the incident took place The poor creature, called Bernie, was run over during filming at an RSPB reserve in Suffolk. Pictured: A badger on the show Co-host Chris Packham went to see the site of the accident in 2015, when the incident took place. It has only come to light after a nature-lover posted on a blog asking if the BBC would let people know what had happened to Bernie. A conservationist who was on the reserve at the time told The Telegraph: 'I know if I had done something similar I would have had my a*** kicked. It is just ironic that Springwatch, which tries to promote wildlife, might have wiped some of it out.' The BBC said: 'Sadly one of the badgers featured on Springwatch in 2015 was found dead on a public road at RSPB Minsmere, which we discussed on the programme at the time and reported as per licence requirements. No further details are known about the accident.' The BBC added: 'There is no evidence of who hit the badger or any suggestion it was a BBC managed vehicle.' In a statement to MailOnline, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Sadly one of the badgers featured on Springwatch in 2015 was found dead on a public road at RSPB Minsmere, which we discussed on the programme at the time and reported as per licence requirements. No further details are known about the accident.' The Health Secretary has accused a militant union of risking patient safety as nurses prepare to strike from 8pm tonight. Steve Barclay said it was 'hugely regrettable' that some patients will not receive care over the bank holiday weekend. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will walk out until 11.59pm tomorrow. 'I echo fears from NHS leaders on the impact on patient safety,' Mr Barclay writes in an exclusive article for Mail Plus today. He adds: 'There will be disruption The NHS will be doing everything possible to mitigate this and will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma.' Most of the 14 NHS unions are set to back the Government's 5 per cent pay deal this week, but the RCN and Unite are still prepared to continue walkouts. Steve Barclay said it was 'hugely regrettable' that some patients will not receive care over the bank holiday weekend Ministers are reportedly planning to impose the deal even if the RCN and Unite continue to reject it. Great Ormond Street Hospital was yesterday granted exemptions from the strike. The RCN previously said it would not agree to derogations care areas where unions agree to provide staff in industrial action. RCN leader Pat Cullen said mitigations had been agreed and insisted nurses at the London children's hospital would 'never ever' leave child patients at risk. Exemptions have also been agreed at St Thomas's Hospital A&E in London and the paediatric intensive care unit at Addenbrooke's in Cambridge. Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, which represents hospitals, warned trusts were 'deeply concerned' about how they will cope during the strikes. A bitter 'concreting the countryside' row erupted last night after Labour vowed to impose compulsory local housebuilding targets ditched by the Tories. In the week of crucial local elections, Sir Keir Starmer pledged to take on 'speculators and Nimbyism [not in my back yard] in the name of the next generation of homeowners'. Boasting that Labour was 'the party of home ownership', he branded Rishi Sunak 'weak and reckless' for abandoning a similar compulsory housebuilding plan last year in the face of a Tory backbench rebellion. But Theresa Villiers, Tory MP for Chipping Barnet, hit back, saying: 'Excessive compulsory housebuilding targets are a recipe for concreting over the countryside. 'That's why the Government rightly dropped this idea and it's why Starmer's plan will damage the environment.' Sir Keir Starmer pledged to take on 'speculators and Nimbyism [not in my back yard] in the name of the next generation of homeowners' Starmer also branded Rishi Sunak 'weak and reckless' for abandoning a similar compulsory housebuilding plan last year in the face of a Tory backbench rebellion Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove added that 'you can't take Labour seriously on housing', saying it had attacked the Government's previous policy as a 'developers' charter'. The row broke ahead of Thursday's local elections involving more than 8,000 seats in 230 English councils in a contest seen as hugely important for the Tories and Labour ahead of the next General Election. Both major parties have been accused of playing down their prospects, with the Tories fearing losses of more than 1,000 seats and Labour predicting that a net gain of just 400 overall would be a success for the party. A shirtmaker and a tailor to the King are backing calls to scrap the 'tourist tax' on shoppers. Emma Willis, who sells bespoke shirts that have been worn by King Charles, said axing the tax would benefit the Exchequer. And Anda Rowland, director of Savile Row tailor Anderson & Sheppard, whose double-breasted suits are sported by the King, has also added her voice to the campaign, saying the British economy is missing out on the 'huge positive effect' of the Coronation due to the tax. More than 130 business leaders have written to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt calling on him to bring back VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors. Ms Willis says the high-end tourist trade is 'hugely important' for her Jermyn Street shop and her neighbours at the upmarket address close to Buckingham Palace in London. A shirtmaker and a tailor to the King are backing calls to scrap the 'tourist tax' on shoppers. Emma Willis (right) and Anda Rowland (left) 'The tourist tax is not just an issue for retailers but for manufacturers,' says Ms Willis, 60. 'We make all our own shirts so it is not helping British manufacturing. We have 30 people in our factory in Gloucester, where we employ and train young people.' Ms Willis added: 'About 40 per cent of our sales are to overseas customers. Without any doubt at all, scrapping the tax would lead to more sales and it would be a benefit to the Exchequer.' A long-standing concession allowing international tourists to shop here tax-free was abolished in 2021. Ms Rowland added that some customers were cancelling trips to the UK short so they can go shopping in Milan or Paris instead. 'London's a wonderful destination for culture, theatre, the arts. Shopping used to be a great part of that,' she said. Read more: How Paris, Milan and Dubai are cheaper city breaks for foreign tourists than London due to brutal tourist tax Advertisement She expects the fallout will 'get worse' as more tourists find out about the tax. 'Americans only really started travelling again last year, so a lot of people aren't aware [of the tax change]. I don't think we have really seen the effect of this.' The Treasury has resisted calls to scrap the tax, claiming it would cost 2 billion a year. But economists argue these figures are an overestimate that are more than offset by the tax generated if visitors spent more cash here. Supporters of the campaign include Victoria Beckham and luxury retailers such as Harvey Nichols, Paul Smith and Fortnum & Mason. Pamela Harper, the boss of luxury gift company Halcyon Days and President of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, warned that visitors will 'vote with their feet' if the tax is not ditched. 'If you're buying a luxury watch, it's [the extra cost of the tax] a few thousand pounds,' she said. 'It's short-sighted and makes no sense.' Heavy rainfall and strong winds have battered coastal areas in southern NSW and Sydney, with authorities continuing to watch the situation closely as they cautiously lift a severe weather warning. The SES received 133 calls for help across parts of the state by Sunday morning including reports of downed trees and branches as well as requests to assist with leaking roofs and water damage. Some roads in Sydney were affected by flash flooding on Saturday night as significant rainfall fell in parts of the city. A low pressure system is causing heavy rain and wild winds along the southern NSW coast The heavy rainfall forecast caused the SES to issue a warning of flash floods and landslips Approximately 100 millimetres of rain was recorded at Point Perpendicular, near Nowra, in 24 hours. A severe weather warning for the Illawarra and South Coast was lifted just before 10am on Sunday but a low-pressure system continues to hover over the coast between Nowra and Narooma. 'The immediate threat of severe weather has passed, but the situation will continue to be monitored,' the Bureau of Meteorology said. 'Heavy rainfall and damaging winds remain a possibility over coastal areas during Sunday, and a severe thunderstorm warning could be issued if necessary.' SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said authorities would remain on alert particularly during the next 24 hours when the weather in the region could quickly turn wild. 'The threat from this weather system has not yet passed,' she said. 'We are still seeing rain fall and while it will ease during the day, gale winds have been forecast for the Illawarra, Batemans and Eden coastal areas.' The SES said minor flooding was likely at Canowindra early on Sunday morning. River rises have been detected on the Belubula River and Mandagery Creek. Authorities said the weather could quickly change bringing flash flooding and damagins winds Rainfall in the region could see between 80mm and 120mm in some areas but is expected to ease into Monday as the weather system moves offshore. Further south, Melbourne is also in for a wet week with showers forecast through to Wednesday and maximums nearing 20C. Similar forecasts are also in place for Canberra, Adelaide and Hobart. In the north, the cloud should ease in Brisbane and fine weather is forecast during the week with a top of 27C on Wednesday. Darwin will be hot and sunny with maximums reaching 35C. While on the west coast Perth is in for a gorgeous week with fine weather and tops in the mid to high 20s. Millions of television viewers know her as the quirky eight-year-old who is passionate about the environment and jazz music. But Lisa Simpson may actually be an undiagnosed autistic girl, according to a British author whose bestselling Geek Girl books are set to be adapted for a Netflix series. Holly Smale, who was herself diagnosed as autistic two years ago, only realised after publishing her books about a clumsy, unpopular and socially awkward teenager that she had been writing about someone who had the condition. And she believes books, television and films are full of undiagnosed characters whose autistic traits have gone unrecognised for decades. The 41-year-old said: 'Lisa Simpson is a very clever girl with a rigid sense of right and wrong, social difficulties, no friends, and an extreme hyperfocus on her interests and hobbies. Lisa Simpson may actually be an undiagnosed autistic girl, according to a British author whose bestselling Geek Girl books are set to be adapted for a Netflix series 'The lead character of the French film Amelie could be autistic, from the sensory way in which she experiences the world to her focus on collecting photos of a gnome in different locations around the world. 'Even Daryl Hannah's mermaid character in Splash, in her isolation and the way she feels apart and different from everyone else, is very much like an autistic woman.' She also cited the example of the eponymous heroine of L.M. Montgomery's 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables, saying [she] 'has a strong sense of justice, which is a highly autistic trait, and she is hyperlexic which means she is precocious and speaks in a very adult way at a young age.' Ms Smale added: 'It's great that these women, or other characters like Amy from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, exist in fiction and on television, so we can see ourselves reflected. But we need more characters to be openly autistic and not just "coded" as being autistic.' Other fictional figures who are thought to be autistic include Sherlock Holmes, Boo Radley the reclusive protagonist of Harper Lee's novel To Kill A Mockingbird and Tom Hanks's character Forrest Gump. Holly Smale (pictured) said: 'Lisa Simpson is a very clever girl with a rigid sense of right and wrong, social difficulties, no friends, and an extreme hyperfocus on her interests and hobbies' Lili Reinhart played Beth Harmon in the hit Netflix show The Queen's Gambit The suggestion has also been made of Maurice Moss, Richard Ayoade's character in the sitcom The IT Crowd, the orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon played by Anya Taylor-Joy in the Netflix show The Queen's Gambit, and Lisbeth Salander, the computer hacker from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Ms Smale has been particularly keen to identify female characters who may be autistic because women are often better at 'masking' these traits and are consequently less likely to be diagnosed. She has described her own attempts at 'masking' including making 'painful' eye contact and trying to seem less 'aloof' as being like 'acting'. The author, whose adult novel The Cassandra Complex comes out next month, said: 'The more openly autistic female characters we see and read about, the less alone autistic girls and women will feel.' The family of a British charity medic being held prisoner by the Taliban in Afghanistan last night made a desperate plea to his captors to release him, amid fears his health is worsening. Kevin Cornwell's distraught relatives revealed their 'shock, horror and disbelief' after he was seized by the Taliban's feared secret police in a raid at his hotel in January. The 53-year-old and another British national, the hotel's manager, have been accused of being foreign spies and being in possession of an illegal firearm, despite Mr Cornwell having a licence for the gun. The former British Army medic was working in Afghanistan for Iqarus, a non-profit medical agency that works on United Nations missions to provide free healthcare to people in conflict zones. Taliban officials seized hundreds of pages of risk awareness reports from Iqarus's security company, which they mistook for secret intelligence files. Kevin Cornwell's (pictured) distraught relatives revealed their 'shock, horror and disbelief' after he was seized by the Taliban's feared secret police in a raid at his hotel in January They also wrongly claimed a satellite phone kit used in remote areas was a signal jammer. Mr Cornwell's family fear his health is deteriorating in custody after he missed an NHS appointment to treat kidney stones last month. He sounded in discomfort during a rare phone call home earlier this month. He and the unnamed hotel manager are being held in the basement of a top-secret prison in Kabul run by the Taliban's General Directorate of Intelligence. They have been denied legal representation. Also being held in a separate facility is 'danger tourist' Miles Routledge, 23, from Birmingham, who was arrested last month. In an open letter to the Taliban, released to this newspaper, Mr Cornwell's relatives said: 'There are no words to express the full extent and impact Kevin's detention has had on our family. 'Kevin is a man who values honour and integrity in everything he undertakes in life. As part of his mission to bring quality healthcare to Afghanistan, Kevin was forced to make some harsh family sacrifices that leave him separated from his loved ones. His commitment and passion for his work have been difficult for the family over the years. 'But we all love the purity of his intention. Even with an illness that requires consistent medical attention, Kevin still chose to work, managing his pain between treatments.' The family said for the first six weeks of his detention they did not know where he was or if he was still alive, adding: 'Devastation, fear, and anxiety gripped us all. We remained frozen in time as the world continued to move forward.' Finally, the Taliban allowed Mr Cornwell to contact the British Embassy in Doha, Qatar. Mr Cornwell and other detainees have been allowed to phone home twice since The Mail on Sunday broke the story of their incarceration last month. Mr Cornwell's family had hoped the Taliban would release him at the end of Ramadan but it did not happen. They now fear he 'may die from the absence of medical treatment not because he committed a crime but because he cared for people. His only crime is helping those who cannot help themselves'. The CEO of Moderna has been given a 50 percent pay raise after he cashed in $400million in stock - despite the company facing backlash for rising the COVID-19 shot from $26 to $130. Stephane Bancel, 50, received a merit raise last year of around 50 percent, raising it to $1.5million. His target cash bonus was also raised, according to the Washington Post. Bancel's stock also went up nearly $2billion, despite him owning around $3billion to begin with. He said he will donate the stock sale to charity. His target stock raised 67 percent in 2021. The CEO's heavier pockets come as the company faces massive backlash for rising their jab's cost quintuple, taking it from $26 to $130. The shot is estimated to cost just $1.18 to make, representing a 10,000 percent markup. Senator Bernie Sanders blamed the company recently for the price markup, saying: 'In the pharmaceutical industry today, we are looking at an unprecedented level of corporate greed, and that is certainly true with Moderna.' Stephane Bancel, 50, received a merit raise last year of around 50 percent, raising it to $1.5million. His target cash bonus was also raised Bancel's stock also went up nearly $2billion, despite him owning around $3billion to begin with. He said he will donate the stock sale to charity. His target stock raised 67 percent in 2021 The company - which turned an estimated $39billion in profit last year - benefitted from a multi-billion-dollar taxpayer-funded support package for designing and testing its COVID-19 shot as part of the Trump administration's Operation Warp Speed. Bancel told DailyMail.com in January: 'It's [the price] going up a little bit because the previous price was massively discounted... we got help from the US Government. 'When we did the first contract with the US, we proposed an offer to them [with] a big discount.' He added: In the US it's $26 now. That was the discounted price, it's going to go up. Pfizer said theyre going to price it between $110 and $130. Wed want to be the same ballpark as that. Pfizer was heavily criticized when it announced in October plans to raise the price of its shot to $130 later this year. Moderna had previously considered raising the commercial price to between $82 and $100 per dose. The CEO's heavier pockets come as the company faces massive backlash for rising their jab's cost quintuple, taking it from $26 to $130. The shot is estimated to cost just $1.18 to make, representing a 10,000 percent markup. Covid vaccines have been free to Americans regardless of insurance status during the pandemic. The pandemic made billionaires out of Bancel, as well as, two co-founding board members and the company argues Bancel's merit pay increase was 'appropriate in light of the increased scope of increasingly global responsibility for Modernas executives,' according to the Washington Post. In addition to his hefty salary, Moderna spent around $1million on security because he experiences a 'heighten threat' level due to being connected to the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Post. The company struck gold during the pandemic, increasing their profit margins 300 percent, bringing in a whopping $18.5million in 2021. Moderna's board is also one of only five where with three directors bringing in more than $1billion in stock. Despite the company's profit margins about to rise due to the higher priced dose, Bancel, who joined Moderna as the CEO in 2011, claimed he took a pay cut to join the pharmaceutical tech company at the time. 'I took a risk on an untested medical technology when the rate of failure in the pharmaceutical industry is around 90 percent,' he wrote in March 2023. The CEO currently lives in a $6million home in Boston, where the company is based Two years into his tenure, he received $4.5million in stock that he had the ability to exercise at 99 cents per piece. By 2021, his few million in stocks rose to around a $1billion estimated worth, according to the Post. 'Moderna has provided my family with financial security the likes of which I never imagined or, frankly, sought,' he said in 2022. He donated the sale profit - $176million - to charity and donated another $76million this year. Moderna largely pays its executives in stocks that they earn over time, which has drawn criticism. Glass Lewis, a shareholder advisory firm, criticized Moderna for bumping up Bancel's pay without tying it to performance goals. However, the company argued that the executives are only rewarded when shareholders are. When its stock dropped 29 percent in March, Bancel reportedly only received $302million, whereas when the stock rose nearly 150 percent the year prior, his pay package was worth around $800million, according to the Post. Employees are being tempted to head back to the office with offers of discounts on dog daycare and extra time off to celebrate their birthday or have a 'duvet day'. The switch to working from home during the Covid-19 lockdowns saw a 24 per cent rise in pet ownership, with the number of dogs soaring from nine million pre-pandemic to more than 13 million. As bosses worry about a slump in productivity levels, they have begun offering to pay to look after employees' dogs during work hours or are letting pets in the office and some are even giving additional days off. Among those advertising roles with discounts on dog daycare include Lancashire County Council. Stationery firm Maison Papier said it now allows dogs into its London office 'because it believes in the fun company culture associated with working alongside dogs'. Employees are being tempted to head back to the office with offers of dog daycare and extra time off to celebrate their birthday or have a 'duvet day'. [File image] The switch to working from home during the Covid-19 lockdowns saw a 24 per cent rise in pet ownership. [File image] Other firms, such as Zetter Recruitment in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, also offer 'a day off for your birthday' and a 'duvet day' as perks. Petra Tagg, director at recruitment firm Manpower UK, said: 'When employers are really struggling to attract and retain talent, it's a smart move to find ways to keep employees happy. That said, employers need to weigh up the pros and cons before they consider offering any pet-related perks. 'They should ask, is the benefit appropriate to their business and will it have an overall positive effect?' A 'prosperous' financial adviser has been jailed after defrauding clients out of $3.35million to fund his gambling addiction. Gavin Fineff was married with two children and earning around $160,000 a year with Sydney company Sentinel Management when his gambling got out of control. He borrowed $90,000 from his mother to buy a share in Sentinel, but started gambling, losing and then gambling more to try to recover his losses. Fineff, 44, swindled sums ranging between $60,000 to $745,000 from a dozen victims who trusted him to look after their savings and increase it. He was sentenced in the NSW District Court to at least five years and four months in jail after pleading guilty to 12 charges of dishonestly obtaining a financial advantage by deception. 'Prosperous' financial adviser Gavin Fineff (pictured) has been jailed for defrauding 12 clients, some of whom were elderly, out of $3.35million to fund his gambling gambling addiction 'I am satisfied his decision to gamble the substantial sum given to him by his mother and his subsequent "chasing" of those funds was the start of his slide into the serious criminal conduct,' Judge Christopher O'Brien said in sentencing Fineff. 'It saw the unravelling of what would likely have been a promising and prosperous future.' Between October 2016 and March 2020, Fineff stole millions from clients who, Judge O'Brien said, trusted him to act in their best interest. Before being arrested and charged, Fineff admitted in a letter to the owner and managing director of Sentinel that he got money from family, friends and clients and lost it gambling. He was fired from his job and Sentinel Wealth used forensic accountants to figure out the extent of his fraud. He had proposed to his clients that they give him a loan so he could buy shares in either Sentinel, Surf Lakes Holdings Ltd or QBiotics Group Ltd. But rather than investing the money he got and investing it, he gambled it, 7 News reported. He told his boss: 'I'm sorry. I borrowed money from people to buy shares in QBiotics but the disease got me and I gambled their money away. 'So I borrowed more to win it back and I won some and then lost it again. 'Some people bought shares in QBiotics, they all wanted to help me buy some shares too so they lent me money but I lost it all and now I am in huge debt,' he said. Fineff stopped gambling when he saw that he had lost $3.1million on just one betting app. 'How am I going to fix that,' he told the court during his trail. 'There was no way to justify it I stopped because I realised I couldn't fix it.' Judge O'Brien said Fineff's crimes were not done on impulse, but were 'well-planned, deliberate and sophisticated' and that in some case he had become close friends with his victims and their families over years. 'His victims let him into their lives, and he seriously abused their generosity, hospitality and trust,' he said. Gavin Fineff stole sums ranging between $60,000 to $745,000 from a dozen victims. Pictured is a stock image of a man in handcuffs Fineff stopped gambling when he saw that he had lost $3.1million on just one betting app. Pictured is an image of Australian $100 notes Joyce Williams, 85, who had $325,000 stolen from her, got an email from Fineff in March 2020 apologising and admitting he used her money to gamble. Ms Williams told the police, but the theft left with limited funds and she was issued an eviction notice because she couldn't pay her rent. The NSW police and her local MP helped her stay in the house, but she died from breast cancer later that year. Her daughter Sharon wrote in her victim impact statement that her mum worked hard to be able to live independently, then Fineff took her life savings. The judge said other victim impact statements spoke of the stress, anxiety, embarrassment, betrayal and loss of security the victims felt. Most of the victims have not got any of their money back. The police investigation found that Fineff had accounts with several betting agencies and in total lost more than $4.4million. 'The age of these victims ... means that it is virtually impossible to envisage them ever recovering the loss they sustained,' judge O'Brien said. Since being arrested in May 2021, Fineff has helped to recover an estimated $1.3million that will be paid to the victims. Judge O'Brien said while this was nowhere near the amount of money he stole, Fineff had not just 'walked away from his victims without any effort to reimburse them'. Fineff has spent a period in a psychiatric hospital being treated for his addiction and has also attended Gamblers Anonymous meetings. The court heard he'd become a 'crusader' for gambling reform, and worked with MPs seeking to make betting companies liable if a gambler uses stolen money to bet. He got a 30 per cent discount on his sentence for pleading guilty and for helping the police in their investigation. He was sentenced to nine years behind bars, with a non-parole period of five years and four months. Protesters have moved to close off access to the White House Correspondents' Dinner - but have so far failed in their effort to bar reporters are politicians from entering. Having promised to block all entry to the event, activists who have taken issue with Biden's recent approval of several oil projects were seen attempting to block guests' arrival to the Washington Hilton Saturday as the dinner was being held. Footage shows members of the climate group, called Climate Defiance, shouting and egging on members of the Metro police while moving to block an official vehicle carting one of the many politicians or media personalities the dinner attracts. The anticipated dinner draws a wide array of celebrities and media moguls to Washington, with some of the high-profile attendees seen arriving including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, Vice President Harris, and the president himself. Reality stars were also widely represented this year, with notable personalities like Lisa Vanderpump and Chrissy Teigen both seen in the ballroom where the event is held every year. Protesters formed a blockade with hopes of preventing their entry - an effort that's largely proved unsuccessful as of 10pm, with the dinner two hours underway. Scroll down for video: Protesters formed a blockade with hopes of preventing their entry - an effort that's largely proved unsuccessful as of 10pm, with the dinner now two hours underway Footage shows members of the climate group, called Climate Defiance, shouting and egging on members of the Metro police while moving to block an official vehicle carting one of the many politicians or media personalities the dinner attracts The group, identified as Climate Defiance, had promised to block all entry to the event after taking issue with the president's recent approval of several oil projects. Still stationed outside, the dinner has continued as scheduled, with no guests being barred entry as of 10pm Still stationed outside, the dinner has continued as scheduled, with no guests being barred entry as both Biden and Daily Show headliner Roy Wood Jr. are poised to speak. Already seated alongside his wife Jill and VP Kamala Harris, Biden said he plans to use his time at the podium to address questions pertaining to the freedom of the press and the detainment of American journalists. The declaration incensed members of the grassroots group who had rallied to shut down the dinner, due to the president's apparent decision to ignore their procession and what it stands for. In statements to the media ahead of Saturday's dinners, organizers said the blockade served as an effort to hold Biden, who just announced his reelection bid, accountable for what they claim is a failure to uphold a 2020 campaign promise. That promise, to end all fossil fuel extractions, recently came into question - culminating in the procession seen outside the Hilton Saturday night. The youth-led group, which was set up in January, posted a video accusing Biden of committing 'ecocide' - a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action. It has held a series of non-violent protests in preparation for the dinner including disrupting talks featuring White House climate advisers John Podesta and Ali Zaidi. The group said it is not aiming for any protesters who join the cause to get arrested - but to gather enough people to make arrests 'impossible'. That said, Saturday's event went forward without so much as a hitch, with speeches delivered by both Biden and headliner Roy Wood Jr., who replaced Trevor Noah - his old boss on the Daily Show - as the night's headliner. Tasked with following the event's most anticipated speaker, Wood Jr. stayed true to promises made to the media over the past week, in which he said his goal as this year's host was to walk away still with a job. With this in mind, an ensuing series of pointed remarks from the 44-year-old seemed to subtly roast the 80-year-old head of state, who minutes before tore into GOP figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump. Saving his venom for easy marks such as Don Lemon and embattled Fox News, Wood only made fun of Bidens age, while devoting the rest of his set to calls to support for local journalism and barbs toward figures already lambasted by the president. The most substantial of the night at just over 25 minutes, Woods' speech made light of Biden's advanced age - while joking about his mental faculties. Biden's set, meanwhile, was met with race reception by those in attendance, with the procession seen outside early Saturday evening for the most part having dissipated by the night's end. Metro police have yet to report any arrests or incidents of violence outside the dinner. Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. went easy on Joe Biden during his set at the White House Correspondent Dinner - after the president used his own time on the podium to make jokes at the expense of several of his contemporaries Will Wilkerson, 38, a former executive who was vice president of operations for the Trump Media and Technology Group, overseeing the development of Truth Social is now working as a barista trainer at Starbucks in North Carolina in a $16-an-hour job. He was fired six months ago by Trump after giving 150,000 internal documents, contracts, and emails to the Securities and Exchange Commission and federal and state investigators. Wilkerson's high-paying job with Trump together with stock options had the potential to make him a millionaire, but he decided to distance himself from the Truth Social platform after he became concerned that investors in the company might be at risk of losing their investments. Despite the earning potential he had while working for Trump, Wilkerson said he's more focused on doing what's right. 'I made the conscious decision. I knew the risks ... especially in regards to retaliation. But I don't think I could have sat back and stayed quiet, even if I was compensated handsomely for doing so. I'm here and I'm not going away' he told the Washington Post. 'Ultimately, you know, I just want to do what's right.' After contacting investigators in New York and Florida he accused the Trump Media and Technology Group of violating securities laws revealing inconsistencies in the company's expenses that could put shareholders at risk. Wilkerson has now become a federally-protected whistleblower. Will Wilkerson, 37, was fired as an executive VP at Donald Trump's Truth Social after giving 150,000 emails and documents to federal and state investigators Wilkerson's high-paying job with Trump together with stock options had the potential to make him a millionaire, but he decided to distance himself from the Truth Social platform after he became concerned that investors in the company might be at risk of losing their investments Despite the earning potential he had while working for Trump, Wilkerson chose to prioritize doing 'what's right.' Among the emails submitted to investigators is an exchange between Wilkerson and fellow co-founder Andy Litinsky, who was allegedly fired as payback for refusing to hand over some of his shares, worth millions of dollars, to former first lady Melania Trump, according to the Post. Trump had already been given 90 percent of the companys shares in exchange for the use of his name and some minor involvement. Wilkerson was fired with the company explaining he had 'concocted psychodramas.' This month, the company's chief executive, former Republican congressman Devin Nunes, sued Wilkerson for defamation in a court in Florida. Nunes claims he had been subjected to 'anxiety,' 'insecurity,' 'mental anguish' and 'emotional distress' as a result of Wilkerson's comments. Wilkerson applied for hundreds of jobs after leaving Truth Social, but he believes that the drama surrounding the ordeal led hiring managers to steer clear of him, but Starbucks called him back the day after he submitted his resume. He had previous barista experience from his 20s. Truth Social had marketed itself as the next big media empire, with plans for a presence in social media, video streaming, live events and online payments - not just as a rival to Twitter but Disney, Google and Amazon. Wilkerson said the truth inside the company was very different He now works the 5:30am shift inside a Harris Teeter grocery store in North Carolina. Wilkerson told the Post said that he is happy with his new job. 'It's an honest day's work. I love what I do,' he said. 'Obviously, I don't shout from the rooftops here about my past history and my whistleblower status,' Wilkerson said. The Post has described Wilkerson as 'one of the biggest threats to the Trump company's future.' In October last year Wilkerson publicly accused Trump Media and Technology Group of violating securities laws. He says that he could not stay silent while the company's executives gave what he viewed were misleading information to investors, many of whom are small-time shareholders loyal to the Trump brand. Truth Social marketed itself as the next big media empire, with plans for a presence in social media, video streaming, live events and online payments - not just as a rival to Twitter but Disney, Google and Amazon. In October last year Wilkerson publicly accused Trump Media and Technology Group of violating securities laws. He says that he could not stay silent while the company's executives gave what he viewed were misleading information to investors, many of whom are small-time shareholders loyal to the Trump brand Wilkerson is now working as a barista trainer the 5:30am shift inside a Harris Teeter grocery store in North Carolina But Wilkerson said from his position inside the company it was a different story with bitter infighting, technical failures and chaotic jockeying for power among Trump allies which sullied its potential with some workers left crying at their desks. 'One day, you know, he [Trump] would be in a very, very happy mood,' Wilkerson said. 'The next day he would read something in the paper and just yell, just be livid. That's who we were dealing with.' Truth Social has seen surges of interest, but its user base remains tiny compared to the growth targets TMTG laid out in its plans when the company told investors that the app would reach 56 million users by 2024 and 81 million by 2026. Truth Social has been downloaded about 7 million times across both platforms, Trump had 5.2 million followers on Truth Social as of Saturday, compared to the more than 88 million followers he had on Twitter when the platform suspended him following the January 6 Capitol riots. Trump Media was originally set to go public after a merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp., but the company has been pushing a vote to delay the merger. The merger, which is now being investigated by the SEC, something TMTG has alleged is keeping the deal from going forward. Wilkerson also shed light on inconsistencies in the company's expenses. 'The vast majority of SPACs just don't rack up these kinds of expenses and the shareholders could be in some danger of getting pursued by the unpaid vendors,' he said. 'It could be an interesting and somewhat fitting end for Trump's SPAC: that it ends in failure and liquidation and sticks its shareholders presumably many or most of whom are his political supporters with the bill.' If the SEC takes action against Trump's company Wilkerson could make millions of dollars through the agency's whistleblower reward program, but there is no guarantee. Wilkerson says the former president's media company has a troubling history. The early hype of Trump Media had made it into a financial blockbuster with an initial public offering raising $300 million for Digital World, while a group of private investors pledged another $1 billion. Investors had sent the stock price of the SPAC (special purpose acquisition company) soaring to a high of $175 on the strength of its proposed merger with Trump Media. In September 2022, shortly before Wilkerson was fired, Forbes magazine estimated that Trump's stake in Trump Media was his 'single most valuable asset,' worth roughly $730 million. But the value of the venture has plummeted since then, with each Digital World share now worth about $13. Former President Donald Trump is of the impression Ron DeSantis' fundraising efforts are failing, despite a new report suggesting the Florida Governor is pulling in masses more donations than Trump currently. On Friday, it was revealed in a Politico report how DeSantis has managed to amass $110million campaign war chest that would go towards a presidential bid, compared with Trump's $55million that was reported as being on hand at the end of 2022. But Trump claimed 'off the record' that Republican donors are actually abandoning DeSantis and instead supporting his own 2024 presidential campaign. Trump made the assertions during an hour long conversation on The War Room podcast presented by his former advisor and right-wing media personality Steve Bannon, on Friday. Trump criticized DeSantis, who is seen as his top rival within the Republican Party, although he has not yet declared himself to be running as a candidate in the 2024 presidential campaign. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has raised $110 million in donations for his potential 2024 presidential bid, surpassing Donald Trump's $55 million Speaking with Steve Bannon, right, Donald Trump claimed DeSantis is 'failing badly' with GOP donors now abandoning him to support Trump's campaign instead Despite DeSantis' recent fundraising success, Trump asserted that he is 'failing badly' referring to the governor by his given nickname 'Ron DeSanctimonious.' Trump insisted that donors are leaving DeSantis and calling him up instead. 'The donors are largely leaving him now, you know,' Trump said. 'I think so,' Bannon agreed. The reason for the switch, Trump said, was that donors were closely following the polls and have decided that the momentum is shifting and once again with Trump. 'In fact, I will tell you off the record. Off the record except for the millions of people that watch your show,' Trump jokes. 'But what's happening is the donors are calling me right now because the donors follow the polls and when they see a guy getting clobbered' Trump chose to bring up the subject of money during the podcast despite recent reports that DeSantis has raised more funds than any other possible or declared candidate, including Trump. Trump explained it as simply donors following the polls and see the momentum shifting back to Trump; DeSantis has not yet declared himself as a candidate Trump repeated his claim that he had saved DeSantis' career, but called him a 'lousy politician,' a term Trump had once used to describe himself during his 2016 campaign Trump also repeated his claim that he had saved DeSantis' career, but called him a 'lousy politician,' a term Trump had once used to describe himself during his 2016 campaign. 'Ron DeSanctimonious. I mean, you know, it's always bad, you endorse somebody. He's dead, he's, he's over, his political career. He's going to be looking for a job. They'll be lucky to get a job. Comes to me, begs me for an endorsement. I give it to him,' Trump recounted. 'He ends up winning the election, winning the nomination, winning the election by numbers that you wouldn't believe. I mean, he was so far down, he was gone. And then they shout to him a couple of years later, Will you run against the president? 'I have no comment.' Now, no comment means the answer is yes, right? 'But today a very interesting thing happened. He said he's going to form a committee. He's going to form an exploratory committee to determine [whether he should run]. Well, that's a big step because he was never looking at committees. Now he's looking at committees. It's amazing what being 40 down does.' Trump chose to bring up the subject of money during the podcast despite reports that DeSantis has raised more funds than any other possible or declared candidate, including Trump Ron DeSantis is said to be eyeing the first two weeks of June to formally jump into the presidential race. Pictured, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis arrives at the Foreign Office to visit Britain's Foreign Secretary in London on Friday DeSantis is eyeing the first two weeks of June to formally jump into the presidential race, Bloomberg News reported citing people familiar with the deliberations. The governor and his team are considering a campaign kick-off in the Florida governor's hometown of Dunedin or in Ohio or Pennsylvania, swing states where he has family ties. Publicly DeSantis has said he remains undecided about running for president this cycle. But he's been on a book tour to the important early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Michigan, which many see as a precursor to a presidential campaign. He trails former President Donald Trump in the polls for the GOP nomination however. And there is chatter among Republican donors that they may not support the Florida governor, questioning his qualifications. Trump has been almost singularly focused on swinging at DeSantis, whom he has attacked for policy positions on entitlement reform, his loyalty to conservative causes, even his character. While DeSantis has largely ignored Trump's jabs, a pro-DeSantis super political action committee, Never Back Down, began to respond in paid ads this month. DeSantis is currently on a tour of the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Israel intended to burnish his foreign policy credentials. He's facing fire from all sides - Trump has hammered at him on the campaign trail and, back home in Florida, DeSantis is in a knife-match with Walt Disney Company, one of the biggest employers in the state. On Thursday, a Fox News poll showed Trump with a whopping 32-point lead against second place finisher DeSantis, who earned 21 percent support to the former president's 53 percent. Other than Trump and DeSantis, no other announced or potential Republican candidates garnered double-digit support from those surveyed in the new Fox News poll. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who has not yet announced a run, came in third place to Trump and DeSantis, earning 6 percent and Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and once-Trump's ambassador to the UN who is officially running, came in fourth with 4 percent. Longshot candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who made his millions in the biotech and investment firm fields, is coming in at 3 percent. Meanwhile, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, both unannounced but rumored to be considering a run, are tied for sixth with 2 percent support among Republican primary voters. Joe Biden used his time on the podium at the White House Correspondents' dinner to take some well-timed digs at Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and even Donald Trump - flexing his comedic muscles in the process. The jokes from the head of state came after he touched on the serious subject of the freedom of the press and the recent detainment of journalists like the Wall Street Journal's Evan Gershkovich, as well as WNBA star Britney Griner. Griner was among the various figured in attendance at the Washington Hilton auditorium to hear the president speak, and was even called on by Biden to stand during his speech, before being met with a round of uproarious applause. But after those topics were addressed, Biden, 80, took the rare chance to lambaste his conservative counterparts using humor - seizing it with virtually no verbal flubs or mishaps to take away from his timing. The result were a barrage of barbs that honed in on not only the Georgia Firebrand and axed Fox News personality, but Don Lemon and Gov. Ron DeSantis, honing in on recent comments that may have gotten the former axed from his post at CNN, in which he suggested that women over 40 were no longer 'in their prime.' Joe Biden used his time on the podium at the White House Correspondents' dinner to take some well-timed digs at Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and even Donald Trump Biden roasts Don Lemon at #WHCD, while taking on age issue plaguing his 2024 re-election: "Call me old? I call it being seasoned. You say I'm ancient. I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill. Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime." pic.twitter.com/G9kbQoXCRO Daniel (@TheDancuso) April 30, 2023 Seeing the opportunity for a needle at the expense of his fellow progressive, Biden began the joke by referencing his status as the oldest head of state in history. 'Call me old? I call it being seasoned,' he joked, before adding, 'You say I'm ancient. I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill. Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime.' The dig spared no expense toward the recently fired Democrat, who was axed from CNN last week after 17 years with the company - two months after he suggested on-air to his female coworkers that GOP candidate Nikki Haley, 51, should tread lightly when pushing a proposal that elderly politicians should face competency tests. His reasoning behind the remark, offered to outraged coanchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at the time, was because 'a woman is in their prime in their 20s and 30s and maybe 40s'. Collins was among the hundreds in attendance who whooped and applauded the president during his set, which, while brief, was enough to get multiple more shots in - with members of the GOP bearing the brunt of the rest of the verbal assault. The president went on to joked that Fox News was here 'because they cant afford to say no to a free meal' - referencing their recent $787million settlement to Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit. 'I'd call Fox News fair, honest and truthful, but then I'd been sued for defamation,' Biden ruthlessly sniped in the wake of that bombshell payment, which was made early last week after the network had promised to fight the defamation suit in court. For their part, Fox News' staffers in attendance - including father-son Fox & Friends stars Steve and Peter Doocy - took the gag in stride, and were seen chuckling along with the rest of the audience. Before honing in on another Fox personality, Biden poked further fun at himself - and his advanced age - while slipping in a not-so-subtle barb against the owner of Fox's parent company, 93-year-old Rupert Murdoch. 'I get that age is a completely reasonable issue,' Biden said during his less-than-ten minute spiel. 'Its on everyones mind - by everyone I mean the New York Times. Of the elderly FoxCo. owner, he said: 'I like Rupert Murdoch - how can I dislike a guy who makes me look look Harry Styles?' Biden offered some choice words for Carlson, Ron DeSantis and Don Lemon Saturday night, as well as figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene Biden went on to reference his recently announced White House bid, while bashing Murdoch's recently axed golden goose, 53-year-old Carlson, telling members of the crowd of his new campaign, 'The job isnt finished.' He quickly added of the Fox firebrand, whose firing the same day as Lemon came as part of a historic shakeup never before seen in the world of cable journalism: 'I mean, it is finished for Tucker Carlson.' Attendees applauded the dig, after Biden took a particularly pointed jab toward Greene, the polarizing Republican congresswoman whose controversial comments have been the subject of headlines in recent months. Biden began his roast of the polarizing politician by telling those in attendance: 'I want everybody to have fun tonight, but please be safe.' He quickly added: 'If you find yourself disoriented or confused, its either youre drunk or Marjorie Taylor Greene.' The punch line went on to land, with members of the crowd from both parties seen laughing and applauding shortly afterward. Shortly before, Biden bashed both of his potential opponents come 2024, first zeroing in on DeSantis - and a suit filed against he aspiring GOP presidential candidate this week amid his ongoing row with Disney World resort. 'I believe in the First Amendment, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it,' Biden began before referencing the Florida governor. 'I had a lot of Ron DeSantis jokes ready, but Mickey Mouse beat the Hell out of me and got there first.' The president then proceeded to take a swipe at Donald Trump, referencing his 2020 rival's recent indictment in New York over a hush money payment made in 2015 to porn star Stormy Daniels. Setting up the joke by praising headliner Roy Wood Jr, he jokingly told the crowd that the Daily Show correspondent - who went on after the president - told him to keep his set brief, and less than ten minutes. Biden said Wood - who replaced his ousted boss Trevor Noah as host for this year's dinner - offered him $10 to stay within that time limit. He went on to joke, at Trump's expense: 'That's a switch - a president being offered a hush money payment!' The president's set was met with rave reception in real-time both on social media and in the Hilton's ballroom, where a slew of high-profile personalities gathered to hear him and others speak. The president's set was met with rave reception in real-time both on social media and in the Hilton's ballroom, where a slew of high-profile personalities gathered to hear him speak WNBA star Brittney Griner was among the various figured in attendance at the Washington Hilton auditorium to hear the president speak, and was even called on by Biden to stand during his speech, before being met with a round of uproarious applause After making headlines Thursday for using a 'cheat sheet' to address reporter's questions, the president sat at the head of the auditorium at the event's start Saturday Pres. Biden takes a swipe at Donald Trump with a hush money joke pic.twitter.com/Wzyo34lSmt NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 30, 2023 Chuck Schumer and actress Julia Fox were among those applauding the president during his speech - after the unlikely pair raised some eyebrows as they made their way down the red carpet side by side. Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the actress, who last month vehemently denied using diabetes meds to lose weight during an ill-fated fling with rapper Kanye West. Known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, the 33-year-old model elected for a less traditional getup - donning some dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud. Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Wood Jr., who said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job. Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton included Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones' Lena Headey. All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a boisterous group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry. Others seen mingling outside the Washington Hilton's hallowed auditorium included CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and comedian Billy Eichner, with President Biden poised to arriving within the hour as well. The youth-led group posed up outside previously posted a video accusing the president of committing 'ecocide' - a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action. Outside the Hilton around 7pm - about an hour removed from the dinner's scheduled start time - members who have taken issue with Biden's recent approval of several oil projects were seen shouting and egging on members of the Metro police. The procession has so far remained peaceful, but remained stationed outside as other notable personalities arrived at the event - with the chaos outside doing little to deter the festivities. Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the Uncut Gems actress, who donned dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble for the black tie gathering at the Washington Hilton Saturday evening Schumer was among several who arrived early for the anticipated event - where the president is poised to speak - and is seen offering two thumbs up to the cameras after posing with Fox Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton Saturday evening included Live! host Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones's Lena Headey Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job CNN's Wolf Blitzer and and comedian Billy Eichner were also among those in attendance before the dinner was underway CBS broadcaster Gayle King waved to paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with hot-pink, full length dress - like something out of Legally Blonde Aside from the array of film and TV stars, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts (left) was also seen arriving, and was among several to stop to pose for pictures. Meanwhile, Fox, known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, elected for a less traditional getup - one that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud Kaitlan Collins, previously Don Lemon's co-anchor on This Morning before his ouster last week, also stopped to pose for the camera while dressed in a tasteful black number Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre arriving to the White House Correspondents' Dinner Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman also made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele a month removed from his six-week hospital stint for depression Replacing old boss Trevor Noah as the dinner's host, Wood Jr. previously said he plans to pull no punches while lambasting the powers that be in Washington at tonight's dinner All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry CBS broadcaster Gayle King, for instance, was seen waving at paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with a hot-pink, full length number that harked back to Reese Witherspoons' character in Legally Blonde. Kaitlan Collins, who up until last week was Don Lemon's co-anchor on CNN This Morning before the newscasters' abrupt ouster, also stopped to pose for the cameras, showing off tasteful, bedazzled black dress - with a bag to match. Outspoken Democrat - and onetime George W. Bush Diplomat - Fran Drescher also was seen making her way in the hotel, with the 65-year-old Nanny star emanating class in an all-white suit. Also donning all-white was White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who also arrived unhindered despite the activists still seen outside. Back on Thursday, the 48-year-old Biden staffer incited controversy when she addressed a recent photo of the head of state holding what appeared to be a cheat sheet of a reporter's question during a White House press briefing, calling it 'entirely normal.' The president will get a rare chance to flex his comedic muscles Saturday, as perhaps the most anticipated speaker of the night - in front of a star-studded audience that will also include his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and recently released WNBA star Brittany Griner. Griner, who recently said she was 'done' playing overseas following he ten-month detention in Moscow, is set to attend with partner Cherelle Griner as guests of CBS News. The pair were not seen among the amalgam of stars and political personalities arriving ahead of the event's scheduled 8pm start. That said, other big names spotted included Father-son journalist pair Peter and Steve Doocy, of Fox News, who also stopped to wave at snappers before finding their seat. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, too, made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele roughly a month removed from his six-week stint at Walter Reed for depression. Fetterman, 53, finally dressed up for the occasion after being met with backlash online for his unformal attire during his first day back at the Capitol less than two weeks ago, of a hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers. Since facing criticism for donning clothes many felt unbecoming of an elected official, the politician refused to take any questions from reporters, a few months removed from his hard-fought victory over Republican Rival Mehmet - better known by his TV descriptor, 'Dr' - Oz. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton Father-son Fox News journalists Peter and Steve Doocy are seen waving at snappers on the red carpet America's Next Top Model alum Winnie Harlow was also among the many notable guests as well as, X-Men actress Rebecca Romijn and husband Jerry O'Connor - of Kangaroo Jack fame A former Florida school principal, who was forced to resign after students were shown an image of Michelangelo's iconic statue of a nude David, visited the statue in Florence. Hope Carrasquilla, her husband and two children, came straight to the museum right after they arrived in the city to meet with Accademia Gallery Art Director Cecilie Hollberg to view the statue that got her fired in real life. Carrasquilla stepped down as principal of Tallahassee Classical school in the Florida city last month after one parent claimed the towering sculpture was pornographic. Other parents complained they weren't notified in advance that their children would be shown the nude figure during a lesson featuring the Renaissance. Carrasquilla also received an award from the City of Florence 'in the name of art and culture,' Florence Mayor Dario Nardella revealed. 'Art is civilization and whoever teaches it deserves respect. Welcome Professor Hope Carrasquilla!' he wrote. Hope Carrasquilla (right), her husband and two children, came straight to the museum right after they arrived in the city to meet with Accademia Gallery Art Director Cecilie Hollberg (left) to view the statue that got her fired in real life Carrasquilla (right) also received an award from the City of Florence 'in the name of art and culture,' Florence Mayor Dario Nardella (left) revealed Hollberg invited the former principal to the gallery as her guest and said it was an 'immense pleasure' to show her the statue in real life. 'I am happy to be able to welcome her and introduce her to the beauties of our museum, besides showing her the David, a sculpture that, I repeat as I have said, has nothing to do with pornography,'' Hollberg said in a written statement. 'It's a masterpiece, it represents a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the victory of good over evil.' Hollberg added that the work's nudity 'is a clear expression of the Renaissance, which puts man at the center of attention.' Michelangelo's marble sculpture depicts the Biblical David, naked, with a sling over his shoulder and a rock in his hand, ready for battle with Goliath. Hollberg noted that currently more than 50 percent of the gallery visitors come from the United States. 'I am sure that Mrs. Carrasquilla will find here, in Florence, the welcome and the solidarity that she deserves,'' the director added. Hollberg invited the former principal to the gallery as her guest and said it was an 'immense pleasure' to show her the statue in real life Carrasquilla (pictured with the mayor of Florence) stepped down as principal of Tallahassee Classical school in the Florida city last month after one parent claimed the towering sculpture was pornographic. Other parents complained they weren't notified in advance that their children would be shown the nude figure during a lesson featuring the Renaissance David was created between 1501 and 1504, it is widely considered to be the world's greatest sculpture, but the Tallahassee parents considered it inappropriate because of David's nudity. The sculpture was among artworks being studied in a Renaissance art class for students aged 11 and 12. The parents are now demanding to be given an advanced-vote on any topic or lesson that could be considered 'controversial.' 'Parental rights are supreme, and that means protecting the interests of all parents, whether its one, 10, 20 or 50,' said School Board President Barney Bishop. He admitted at the time to giving Carrasquilla an ultimatum, telling her she had to either hand in her resignation or would be fired. Carrasquilla told The Tallahassee Democrat she was 'saddened' that her brief tenure at the school came to an end. She was only in the job for a year. The Florida school is attended by some 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade. School Board President Barney Bishop gave Carrasquilla an ultimatum to either leave her position or be fired. 'Parental rights are supreme, and that means protecting the interests of all parents, whether its one, 10, 20 or 50,' he said The Victorian government could slap millions of residents with a new property tax as it struggles to pay for its social and affordable housing scheme. Daniel Andrews' government is reportedly looking into new ways to boost its bottom line after a similar proposed tax last year was scrapped following backlash. It comes as a fresh blow for Victorians with residents already paying the most taxes in the country, according to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The Andrews government is expected to introduce property industry reforms this year which could include hitting residents with a new tax to pay for its stalling social housing initiative An average resident paid $5,638 in 2021-22 to the local and state governments compared to $5,537 paid by NSW residents and $3,952 by Queenslanders. The Andrews Government and councils collected an extra $7.3bn in land tax, stamp duty, rates and other charges in the last financial year alone. Mr Andrews confirmed last week he was looking at a suite of construction industry reforms that could include a new tax, councils being stripped of approval powers for major developments, and requiring a portion of new builds to be social housing. Property Council of Australia Victorian executive director Cath Evans said the government should be cautious about any new levies. 'The Property Council has made our position clear the Victorian taxation system is in need of a review to fully examine the impact that taxes are having on both the supply and affordability of housing,' she told the Herald Sun. 'Any change to the State's tax settings needs to be aimed at driving economic growth and delivering new housing supply to an increasingly stressed market. Last year the Andrews government proposed an $800million social housing tax that would have slapped a 1.75 per cent levy on developers building a project with three or more dwellings. But after backlash from the property industry, who said it would add $20,000 to the median cost of a house in the state, Mr Andrews scrapped the tax within two weeks. Despite the push for a social housing piggy bank, data from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing revealed affordable housing in Victoria grew by just 74 units in the last four years under the Andrews Government. The DFFH report said 86,887 social housing dwellings existed across the state as of June 30, 2022, up from 86,813 in June 2018 Across the same period, waiting lists for affordable housing quadrupled. Victorians already pay more than any other state in taxes with an average of $5638 per person going to local and state governments in 2021-22 Victorian Shadow Treasurer Brad Rowswell claimed Victorians were copping the effects of the Andrews government's poor money management. 'It's only going to get worse when the Andrews Government hands down what promises to be a horror State Budget next month,' Mr Rowswell said. 'By the Andrews Government's own numbers, their tax take will rise by 14 per cent over the next three years with the land tax take set to increase by 21 per cent over the same time.' He said the total state taxes were forecasted to rise to $35.6 billion by 2025 to 2026, rising $17.3 billion compared to the number in 2014. 'And young Victorians continue to struggle to enter the property market thanks to some of the highest stamp duty rates in the nation under the Andrews Government,' he added. 'For as long as the Andrews Government is in power, every Victorian will continue to pay more and get less because it simply can't manage money,' he said. The Victorian State Budget will be delivered on May 23. Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. went easy on Joe Biden during his set at the White House Correspondent Dinner - after the president used his own time on the podium to make jokes at the expense of several of his contemporaries . Tasked with following the event's most anticipated speaker, Wood Jr. stayed true to promises made to the media over the past week, in which he said his goal as this year's host was to walk away still with a job. With this in mind, an ensuing series of pointed remarks from the 44-year-old seemed to subtly roast the 80-year-old head of state, who minutes before tore into GOP figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Tucker Carlson, and Donald Trump. Saving his venom for easy marks such as Don Lemon and embattled Fox News, Wood only made fun of Bidens age, while devoting the rest of his set to calls to support for local journalism and barbs toward figures already lambasted by the president. The most substantial of the night at just over 25 minutes, Woods' speech made light of Biden's advanced age - while joking about his mental faculties - by likening himself to Reginald VelJohnson's perpetually sleepy character in Family Matters. Scroll down for video: Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. went easy on Joe Biden during his set at the White House Correspondent Dinner - after the president used his own time on the podium to make jokes at the expense of several of his contemporaries Tasked with following the event's most anticipated speaker, Wood Jr. stayed true to promises made to the media over the past week, in which he said his goal as this year's host was to walk away still with a job 'Is Joe Biden awake?' ' Wood Jr. joked in one of the few segments of his lengthy set that addressed Biden, whom the comic ardently shook hands with upon taking the stage. The comic went on to offer the crowd a subtle snap toward the American leader, by declaring: 'Say what you want with our president - when he wakes up from that nap. Work gets done. He might doze off but then it's infrastructure bill.' Wood went on to emulate what he perceived as the president's train of thought - a thought process the Daily Show reporter seemed to suggest was fragmented and perhaps poorly thought out. 'Student loan forgiveness. Bring Brittney Griner home,' Wood Jr. said, simulating Biden's stilted, at time slow speech. The comic, who replaced ousted boss Trevor Noah as this year's roast master, went on to remind guests such as Chrissy Teigen and Kelly Ripa who exactly he was - while again slipping a relatively tame jab toward Biden. 'Im well aware that not everybody in this room knows who I am,' began Wood Jr., who is black. 'So lets just address the elephant in the room. I know it is.' The comic then offered a punchline that obliquely poked fun at the president, who this week announced plans to again run for office. 'Half of this room think Im Kenan Thompson. The other half think Im Louis Armstrong,' Wood Jr. joked. 'President Biden think Im the daddy on Family Matters.' The joke was immediately met with applause, seemingly giving the comic the confidence needed to take on subjects such as Don Lemon's recent nixing from CNN, as well as competitor Fox News's $787.5 million settlement to Dominion Voting - both subjects covered by Biden, somewhat ruthlessly, in his own speech. The comedian began his set with the declaration that the media and government - and both stations despite their different schools of thought - were are all unified under one thing - and thats scandal. He proceeded to turn his attention to former President Donald Trump, and the politician's multiple, ongoing controversies. 'Keeping up with Donald Trump scandals is like watching Star Wars movies - Donald Trump is the only politician whose scandals got spin offs on Disney', Wood said, joking that one would need to watch several different 'episodes' to fully understand Trump's legal woes. However, it was not Trump who bore the brunt of Wood's remarks, but members of the media such as Lemon, who was lampooned by the comic just minutes after being made fun of by Biden himself. 'My dog, Don Lemon,' Wood recalled on stage. 'Don Lemon released a statement saying he got fired from CNN, then CNN released a statement saying that they offered Don a meeting.' Leaving the audience captivated by the simple mention of the media personality. Wood then offered the punchline 'They had to part ways, because Don Lemon cant even accurately report a story about Don Lemon.' The joke, like others not made at the expense of his high-profile opener, killed, and garnered levels of laughter that while pronounced, paled in comparison to reception seen during Biden's remarks shortly before. And like Biden before him, Wood did not pass up on the chance to take some well-timed jabs at Fox News and its recently axed golden boy Tucker Carlson, that pointed to claims Carlson regularly offered commentary he himself did not believe. 'To Tuckers staff, I want you to know that I know what youre feeling,' Wood quipped, 'I work at "The Daily Show", so I too have been blind-sided by the sudden departure of a host of a fake news program.' Moments before, Biden offered his own speech - one markedly shorter that touched on the serious subject of the freedom of the press, while also offering choice words for figures such as Tucker Carlson, Ron DeSantis and Don Lemon, all of whom Wood made fun of as well Biden used his time on the podium at the anticipated Saturday dinner to take some well-timed digs at Marjorie Taylor Greene, Carlson, and even Donald Trump - jokes that were received extremely well by media professionals, celebs, and politicians in attendance Replacing old boss Trevor Noah as the dinner's host, Wood Jr. previously said he plans to pull no punches while lambasting the powers that be in Washington at tonight's dinner Moments before, Biden offered his own speech - one markedly shorter, and one that touched on the serious subject of the freedom of the press and the recent detainment of journalists like the Wall Street Journal's Evan Gershkovich. Also mentioned by Biden was Brittney Griner, the WNBA star whose recent detainment in Russia threatened to reignite lingering tensions between Moscow and Washington. Griner, released in December, was among the various figured in attendance at the Washington Hilton auditorium to hear the president speak, and was called on by Biden to stand during his speech, before being met with a round of applause. But after those topics were addressed, Biden, 80, took the rare chance to lambaste his conservative counterparts using humor - seizing it with virtually none of his now trademark verbal flubs or mishaps to take away from his comedic timing. The result were a barrage of barbs that honed in on not only the Georgia Firebrand and axed Fox News personality, but Don Lemon and Gov. Ron DeSantis, honing in on recent comments that may have gotten the former axed from his post at CNN, in which he suggested that women over 40 were no longer 'in their prime.' Seeing the opportunity for another needle at the expense of his fellow progressive, Biden began the joke by referencing his status as the oldest head of state in history. Biden roasts Don Lemon at #WHCD, while taking on age issue plaguing his 2024 re-election: "Call me old? I call it being seasoned. You say I'm ancient. I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill. Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime." pic.twitter.com/G9kbQoXCRO Daniel (@TheDancuso) April 30, 2023 'Call me old? I call it being seasoned,' he joked, before adding, 'You say I'm ancient. I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill. Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime.' The dig spared no expense toward the recently fired Democrat, who was axed from CNN last week after 17 years with the company - two months after he suggested on-air to his female coworkers that GOP candidate Nikki Haley, 51, should tread lightly when pushing a proposal that elderly politicians should face competency tests. His reasoning behind the remark, offered to outraged coanchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at the time, was because 'a woman is in their prime in their 20s and 30s and maybe 40s'. Collins was among the hundreds in attendance who whooped and applauded the president during his set, which, while brief, was enough to get multiple more shots in - with members of the GOP bearing the brunt of the rest of the verbal assault. The president went on to joked that Fox News was here 'because they cant afford to say no to a free meal' - referencing their recent $787million settlement to Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit. 'I'd call Fox News fair, honest and truthful, but then I'd been sued for defamation,' Biden ruthlessly sniped in the wake of that bombshell payment, which was made early last week after the network had promised to fight the defamation suit in court. For their part, Fox News' staffers in attendance - including father-son Fox & Friends stars Steve and Peter Doocy - took the gag in stride, and were seen chuckling along with the rest of the audience. Before honing in on another Fox personality, Biden poked further fun at himself - and his advanced age - while slipping in a not-so-subtle barb against the owner of Fox's parent company, 93-year-old Rupert Murdoch. 'I get that age is a completely reasonable issue,' Biden said during his less-than-ten minute spiel. 'Its on everyones mind - by everyone I mean the New York Times. Of the elderly FoxCo. owner, he said: 'I like Rupert Murdoch - how can I dislike a guy who makes me look look Harry Styles?' Biden went on to reference his recently announced White House bid, while bashing Murdoch's recently axed golden goose, 53-year-old Carlson, telling members of the crowd of his new campaign, 'The job isnt finished.' He quickly added of the Fox firebrand, whose firing the same day as Lemon came as part of a historic shakeup never before seen in the world of cable journalism: 'I mean, it is finished for Tucker Carlson.' Attendees applauded the dig, after Biden took a particularly pointed jab toward Greene, the polarizing Republican congresswoman whose controversial comments have been the subject of headlines in recent months. Biden began his roast of the polarizing politician by telling those in attendance: 'I want everybody to have fun tonight, but please be safe.' He quickly added: 'If you find yourself disoriented or confused, its either youre drunk or Marjorie Taylor Greene.' The punch line went on to land, with members of the crowd from both parties seen laughing and applauding shortly afterward. Shortly before, Biden bashed both of his potential opponents for his newly announced presidential bid, first zeroing in on DeSantis - and a suit filed against he aspiring GOP candidate this week amid his ongoing row with Disney World. 'I believe in the First Amendment, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it,' Biden began before referencing the Florida governor. 'I had a lot of Ron DeSantis jokes ready, but Mickey Mouse beat the Hell out of me and got there first.' Then, the president could not help but take a swipe at his old, embattled rival, Trump, referencing the Republican's recent indictment in New York over a hush money payment made in 2015 to porn star Stormy Daniels. Setting up the joke by praising headliner Wood, he jokingly told the crowd that the Daily Show correspondent - who went on after the president - told him to keep his set brief, and less than ten minutes. Biden said Wood - who replaced his ousted boss Trevor Noah as host for this year's dinner - offered him $10 to stay within that time limit. He went on to joke, at Trump's expense: 'That's a switch - a president being offered a hush money payment!' The president's set was met with rave reception in real-time both on social media and in the Hilton's ballroom, where a slew of high-profile personalities gathered to hear him and others speak. The president's set was met with rave reception in real-time both on social media and in the Hilton's ballroom, where a slew of high-profile personalities gathered to hear him speak WNBA star Brittney Griner was among the various figured in attendance at the Washington Hilton auditorium to hear the president speak, and was even called on by Biden to stand during his speech, before being met with a round of uproarious applause Pres. Biden takes a swipe at Donald Trump with a hush money joke pic.twitter.com/Wzyo34lSmt NowThis (@nowthisnews) April 30, 2023 Chuck Schumer and actress Julia Fox were among those applauding the president during his speech - after the unlikely pair raised some eyebrows as they made their way down the red carpet side by side. Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, the 72-year-old Senate leader posed for multiple photos with the actress, who last month vehemently denied using diabetes meds to lose weight during an ill-fated fling with rapper Kanye West. Known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, the 33-year-old model elected for a less traditional getup - donning some dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud. Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Wood Jr., who said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job. Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton included Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones' Lena Headey. All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a boisterous group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry. Others seen mingling outside the Washington Hilton's hallowed auditorium included CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, and comedian Billy Eichner, with President Biden poised to arriving within the hour as well. The youth-led group posed up outside previously posted a video accusing the president of committing 'ecocide' - a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action. Outside the Hilton around 7pm - about an hour removed from the dinner's scheduled start time - members who have taken issue with Biden's recent approval of several oil projects were seen shouting and egging on members of the Metro police. The procession has so far remained peaceful, but remained stationed outside as other notable personalities arrived at the event - with the chaos outside doing little to deter the festivities. After making headlines Thursday for using a 'cheat sheet' to address reporter's questions, the president sat at the head of the auditorium at the event's start Saturday. Several other notable guests were seen arriving at the anticipated event in the hours before Clad in a tuxedo for the black-tie event, 72-year-old Chuck Schumer posed for multiple photos with Julia Fox on the event's red carpet, with the Uncut Gems actress donning dramatic face makeup and a black, leather ensemble for the black tie gathering at the Washington Hilton Schumer was among several who arrived early for the anticipated event - where the president is poised to speak - and is seen offering two thumbs up to the cameras after posing with Fox Other high-profile attendees seen piling into the Washington Hilton Saturday evening included Live! host Kelly Ripa and Game of Thrones's Lena Headey Also seen arriving was headliner Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who recently said that his goal as host is simply to walk away still with a job CNN's Wolf Blitzer and and comedian Billy Eichner were also among those in attendance before the dinner was underway CBS broadcaster Gayle King waved to paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with hot-pink, full length dress - like something out of Legally Blonde Aside from the array of film and TV stars, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts (left) was also seen arriving, and was among several to stop to pose for pictures. Meanwhile, Fox, known for daring, sometimes atypical fashion choices, elected for a less traditional getup - one that would make both Beetlejuice and Kiss proud Kaitlan Collins, previously Don Lemon's co-anchor on This Morning before his ouster last week, also stopped to pose for the camera while dressed in a tasteful black number Biden's Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre arriving to the White House Correspondents' Dinner Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman also made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele a month removed from his six-week hospital stint for depression All dressed to the nines, the amalgam of stars and politicians managed to circumvent a group of climate activists who formed a blockade outside, promising to prohibit entry CBS broadcaster Gayle King, for instance, was seen waving at paparazzi while posing on the red carpet with a hot-pink, full length number that harked back to Reese Witherspoons' character in Legally Blonde. Kaitlan Collins, who up until last week was Don Lemon's co-anchor on CNN This Morning before the newscasters' abrupt ouster, also stopped to pose for the cameras, showing off tasteful, bedazzled black dress - with a bag to match. Outspoken Democrat - and onetime George W. Bush Diplomat - Fran Drescher also was seen making her way in the hotel, with the 65-year-old Nanny star emanating class in an all-white suit. Also donning all-white was White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, who also arrived unhindered despite the activists still seen outside. Back on Thursday, the 48-year-old Biden staffer incited controversy when she addressed a recent photo of the head of state holding what appeared to be a cheat sheet of a reporter's question during a White House press briefing, calling it 'entirely normal.' The president will get a rare chance to flex his comedic muscles Saturday, as perhaps the most anticipated speaker of the night - in front of a star-studded audience that will also include his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, and recently released WNBA star Brittany Griner. Griner, who recently said she was 'done' playing overseas following he ten-month detention in Moscow, is set to attend with partner Cherelle Griner as guests of CBS News. The pair were not seen among the amalgam of stars and political personalities arriving ahead of the event's scheduled 8pm start. That said, other big names spotted included Father-son journalist pair Peter and Steve Doocy, of Fox News, who also stopped to wave at snappers before finding their seat. Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, too, made a red-carpet appearance, posing for a photo with wife Gisele roughly a month removed from his six-week stint at Walter Reed for depression. Fetterman, 53, finally dressed up for the occasion after being met with backlash online for his unformal attire during his first day back at the Capitol less than two weeks ago, of a hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers. Since facing criticism for donning clothes many felt unbecoming of an elected official, the politician refused to take any questions from reporters, a few months removed from his hard-fought victory over Republican Rival Mehmet - better known by his TV descriptor, 'Dr' - Oz. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton. Others seen before the dinner' start included United States Army General Mark Alexander Milley and the reverend Al Sharpton Father-son Fox News journalists Peter and Steve Doocy are seen waving at snappers on the red carpet Two people were shot in Manhattan on a busy Saturday night in New York after an argument on the street between three men suddenly boiled over into gun violence. The attack occurred on West 46th Street close to 9th Avenue in the Hell's Kitchen area of the city around 5:45pm after an argument suddenly escalated into gunfire, causing tourists to flee for their lives. Surveillance footage from outside a smoke shop sees passers-by ducking for cover as shots rang out. The shooter could be seen speaking with one of the victims before walking away, only to return and fire the shots. The footage sees two men, one of whom is wearing a black jacket and the other a blue jacket, arguing on the sidewalk as people walk by when one of the men turns away. A violent shooting took place in New York City on a bustling Saturday night, resulting in two people being wounded after an altercation between three men Shaquille Bailey, 28, was taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital by friends for treatment for multiple gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hip, police said Bailey appeared to in pain judging by the look on his face following the shooting Bailey was placed into an ambulance and taken to hospital for several gunshot wounds Suddenly, the man in the blue jacket can be heard saying: 'What? What?... Stop playin', bro!' as the man he was arguing with walked off. Less then 10 seconds later, the man in black can be heard saying, 'What's up, n****,' before shots are fired, holding a gun at point-blank range. Video footage from the store captured flashes emanating from the muzzle of the gun as the bullets flew. Terrified bystanders on the street can be seen darting out of danger. One man dragging a suitcase falls to the floor and runs into the doorway of a restaurant to avoid the gunfire. Another woman can also be seen ducking down onto the ground as she attempts to understand what is happening around her. The shooting occurred outside of a smoke shop in Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan The shooter engaged in a conversation with one of the victims before leaving, only to return and begin shooting Police were on the scene on Saturday evening as they attempted to work out what happened Others in the background can be seen turning around and rushing away in fear with one woman falling over onto the road. The attacker fled the scene after carrying out the assault. Incredibly, only two people was shot in the melee. Shaquille Bailey, 28, was taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital by friends for treatment for multiple gunshot wounds to his shoulder and hip, police said. A second victim was also taken to Mount Sinai Hospital by friends. Detectives are now looking through the surveillance footage for clues as to the identify of the perpetrator. Ayushma Shrestha, who works at a nearby juice shop, described the incident as 'terrifying' and said she locked herself inside to avoid the gunmen. 'It was like two gunshots. I saw a guy limping. I think he got shot in his thigh,' said Shrestha, 25, told the New York Post. 'I locked the door and we ran to the back,' she explained. 'That was very scary. I made sure to lock the door so they wouldn't come in,' Shrestha added. Police were on scene for some time as the investigation got underway The 11-year-old boy mauled by a shark off the Western Australian coast has identified as Archie Blake. Archie had left Hobart, in Tasmania, with his parents and three siblings to go on the trip of a lifetime. The 11-year-old was snorkelling near Exmouth, 1,250km north of Perth, in Western Australia, when he was bitten by a shark at 3pm on Saturday. Archie and his mother Hazel, who is a teacher, were about 50 metres away from the shore when the attack unfolded. He was left with 'serious lacerations' to his left leg and rushed to Perth Children's Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Marc De Sousa, who witnessed the attack, revealed how he and others helped get Archie to safety before giving him emergency first-aid. The 11-year-old boy mauled by a shark off the Western Australia coast on Saturday afternoon has been named as Archie Blake (pictured on the stretcher) from Hobart, Tasmania Emergency service vehicles are pictured the scene where an 11-year-old boy was attacked by a shark 'I saw a fair bit of splashing, wasn't sure what had happened at the time, but as the mum and the two kids started swimming in, the mum waved out for help,' he said. 'We ran over and the elder of the boys, I think, got bitten on the leg by a decent shark, I'd say,' he told the ABC. 'We just made sure he was conscious, made sure he was as good as he could be.' Mr De Sousa said his father got to the scene soon after and then went to get Archie's dad Kieren, who is a paramedic. 'We dragged the boy further up the beach, I think it was a rash shirt we used just to apply pressure to one of the bite marks,' he said. Mr De Sousa then ran to the nearby Kurrajong Campground to call for an ambulance, which took about 40 minutes to arrive. Paramedics from St John WA treated the boy on the beach before taking him to the closest hospital at Exmouth in a serious but stable condition. The Royal Flying Doctors Service airlifted him to Perth Children's Hospital for further treatment later that night. Swimmers in the area have been urged to take extra caution and beaches were closed from Pilgramunna north to Bloodwood Creek in Cape Range National Park. The entire Blake family were all nearby when the attack happened. Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt set up a GoFundMe on Sunday to raise money for the family. The funds will go towards any accommodation, travel logistics, or any rehab that Archie may need for his recovery. Archie (pictured) and his mother Hazel, who is a teacher, were about 50 metres off the shore when the attack, which left Archie with 'serious lacerations' to his left leg, happened Archie is expected to have surgery on Sunday and is likely to need several more over the coming days. Mr Posselt said he started the fundraiser 'to take financial worry out of the minds of a family who serve the community in their capacity as a school teacher and paramedic everyday. 'Removing financial worry from their minds will allow them to focus entirely on caring for their children and simply organising the logistics,' he said. 'Accomodating the family of 6 near Perth hospital wont be cheap and then getting Archie, the family and all their gear (including car and trailer) home to Tasmania is going to be a costly exercise.' WA's Tourism Minister Roger Cook said he didn't think the attack would affect tourism to the area. 'People are attracted to Western Australia because of its wild environment and the interaction with that environment,' he said. 'If this young kid was camping with his family at ... a fairly remote campground in Cape Range National Park, they were obviously there because they liked that remoteness and the interaction with the environment that that brings. 'But of course, that comes with a certain element of risk.' A young couple with a toddler were left devastated after returning to Australia from an overseas holiday to find all their possessions had been stolen. Anna, a British expat and podcaster, and her partner Ryan Sevelj, discovered that $20,000 worth of personal possessions had been stolen from a storage lock-up on their property. The couple took their one year old son Sebastian on six month world holiday in October 2022, including a trip back to the United Kingdom. Anna, a British expat, and her partner Ryan Sevelj, discovered that $20,000 worth of personal possessions had been stolen from a storage lock-up on their property when they returned from holiday Ms Moran said she spent a week unable to concentrate until a solution came from left field But when they returned to Perth in April 2023 they found all their personal belongings had been stolen from storage. The scale of the theft was heartbreaking for the couple that had been excited to begin raising their child in Australia. Clothes that the couple left here were all gone, as were appliances, gadgets, bedding, towels and even spare cushions. Also missing were toys given to the couple when Sebastian was born. 'Every single item of my clothing, my baby's clothing, and most of my partner's clothing,' Ms Moran said. 'It was a real shock. It felt very invasive. It actually felt quite abusive when somebody's been through your stuff without you allowing them to.' The only things left was the furniture they left in their home, which they rented out while they were away. Ms Moran said she spent a week unable to concentrate until a solution came from left field. When she needed a toaster and jug on Good Friday and the shops were closed, she turned to Facebook. Remarkably the members of a community group, Buy Nothing which was designed to share spare goods and even services without charge, replaced everything they'd lost Members of a community group Buy Nothing, which was designed to share spare goods and even services without charge, found them what they needed. The group eventually helped to replace everything the young family had lost. 'It's nice to know that there are people out there when you've had such an awful experience,' Ms Moran said. Buy Nothing is 'a worldwide gift economy network' followed by more than 362,000 people. Goods and services are exchanged through local Facebook groups and it was through one of these that the couple's possessions were replaced. A vicious brawl broke out between more than 50 party guests leaving three men in hospital with 'serious injuries' after tension boiled over at a barbeque. CCTV footage shows several men wielding bats and planks of wood outside a Laverton North warehouse in Melbourne's west. It is understood about 20-30 employees were enjoying a barbecue at Tiger Trailers after work when a second group of men appeared between 9 and 10pm. Paramedics were called to the bloody scene but did not treat or pick anyone up. Police were able to track six people involved in the brawl who went to hospitals around the Melbourne's west. A group of men are seen walking out on the street some carrying wooden planks at around the time of a mass brawl in Melbourne's west A 36-year-old, a 35-year-old and a 28-year-old, all from Melbourne's western suburbs, remain in hospital with serious injuries on Sunday, with two of the men suffering head wounds. Officers said they were baffled about why a 'nice barbecue' after work turned violent and what the relationship between the two groups is. Officers say there's no clear motive for the clash and detectives are still unable to determine 'why the other party has attended, or the relationship between the two parties'. 'For something like this to happen, with six victims overall, for people that were just meant to be having a nice barbecue after work, it's obviously of great concern for us,' Detective Senior Constable Erin Hardie said. CCTV footage is being scoured to discover the exact number of men involved and to gather other information for the ongoing investigation. So far no arrests have been made. Footage from the incident shows figures running from the scene with the combatants dispersed by the time police arrived Constable Hardie said there was no indication the trailer business was involved in the incident but the second group who arrived at the barbecue may have been known by the owner. 'There was an agreement that was made for the barbecue to take place, but obviously things have gone south,' Hardie said. Andy, the owner of an adjacent steel business who did not want to give his last name, told The Age the fight happened outside his business but did no damage to it. He was notified about what occurred by the trailer business owner on Sunday morning. 'It's very strange,' Andy said. 'This shouldn't be happening.' Police were yet to identify anyone from the second group who arrived and are scouring CCTV footage to investigate this. 'We are hoping with anyone that might have information we can start to piece together why these two parties have come together and what the beef is between them,' Constable Hardie said. Police have urged anyone with information about the matter to come forward. Florida governor and US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has hailed Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for her efforts to make sure 'woke ideology' is not 'corrupting British society'. The Florida governor met Ms Badenoch, as well as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, during a trip to Britain as he seeks to burnish his credentials ahead of a possible run against Donald Trump to be the Republican choice in the race for the White House. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr DeSantis commended Ms Badenoch, who is also the minister for women and equalities, for being outspoken on issues such as gender-neutral lavatories and the decolonisation of school curricula. He describes 'woke ideology' as 'a war on the truth', telling the paper: 'When institutions get infected by woke ideology, it really corrupts the institutions. The Florida governor met Ms Badenoch, as well as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, during a trip to Britain as he seeks to burnish his credentials ahead of a possible run against Donald Trump to be the Republican choice in the race for the White House. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr DeSantis commended Ms Badenoch, who is also the minister for women and equalities, for being outspoken on issues such as gender-neutral lavatories and the decolonisation of school curricula. He describes 'woke ideology' as 'a war on the truth', telling the paper: 'When institutions get infected by woke ideology, it really corrupts the institutions.' 'We look at woke infiltrating schools as a problem, woke infiltrating bureaucracies as a problem and woke infiltrating corporate America as a problem. 'We say that Florida is where woke goes to die.' During his meeting with Ms Badenoch, Mr DeSantis said she 'complimented what we are doing in Florida'. 'She committed that it is what they are trying to do in Britain.,' he said. 'I commend her and her efforts to make sure that this is not corrupting British society.' In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Mr DeSantis's press secretary Bryan Griffin wrote: 'Today @GovRonDeSantis met with @KemiBadenoch, who has been branded by British media as the 'Anti-woke darling of the right' (a badge of honor!) Two great conservative fighters on mission.' Earlier, the conservative firebrand and Mr Cleverly discussed ties between Britain and the US state he represents while visiting the Foreign Office. Mr DeSantis has not announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination but is widely expected to do so. In his interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he also addressed speculation over his potential run at the White House, telling the paper: 'I'm going to go through our legislative session, get the people's business done. I'm still in the midst of that. 'I've got about another week or so of that, and then I have the Budget and everything. I'm not going to make any decision before then. 'But the end of that time is coming, it's closer now than it was six months ago. So just stay tuned.' Mr DeSantis hoped his first international trade mission would generate lucrative business deals and boost his foreign policy resume ahead of an expected presidential run. Instead, he faced questions about losing ground to former President Donald Trump and being taken to court by Walt Disney World. Mr DeSantis hoped his first international trade mission would generate lucrative business deals and boost his foreign policy resume ahead of an expected presidential run. Instead, he faced questions about losing ground to former President Donald Trump and being taken to court by Walt Disney World. The trip reflected the intensifying pressure confronting DeSantis as some of his allies grow increasingly anxious about his White House prospects. Within a few short years, he rose from relatively a relatively obscure congressman to Trump's leading Republican rival by embracing the former president's cultural grievances without the constant tumult. But it turns out DeSantis isn't immune from drama. Facing questions this week about his standing within the GOP and his fight with Disney, he's sometimes appeared agitated, reinforcing concerns within corners of his own party about his readiness for the rigor of presidential politics. Some in the GOP said that rather than burnish his image as a fighter, the confrontation with Disney over an anti-LGBTQ law and the theme park's right to self-governor is becoming a distraction. 'My goal would be for this spat to end. They've been our longtime partner,' said Republican state Sen. Joe Gruters, the immediate past chair of the state GOP and a Trump supporter. 'We should be focused in a positive way on helping our job creators.' Speaking in Israel, DeSantis expressed confidence in his actions and is showing no sign of letting the Disney issue go. 'I don't think the suit has merit, I think it's political,' said DeSantis, whose political team has used the Disney fight to raise money. 'The days of putting one company on a pedestal with no accountability are over in the state of Florida.' The fight has been going on for more than a year. It began when Disney spoke out against legislation that would prevent discussion of sexual preference and gender identity in grades K-3. DeSantis responded by accusing Disney of being 'woke' and calling lawmakers to Tallahassee to punish Disney by stripping it of a decades-old right to make development and expansion decisions on its own. 'There's a new sheriff in town,' DeSantis said last year when he announced plans to get back at Disney. And in his new book, he boasted about outsmarting the company. But some are questioning who is outsmarting who as Disney waited until the governor was out of the country before suing him, claiming that he's retaliating against the state's largest private employer for simply speaking an opinion. Democratic state Sen. Linda Stewart, whose district is near Disney, said she understands that DeSantis made big headlines when he first stood up to Disney, and that it rallied his core supporters. But the longer the feud drags on, the more it could backfire. 'I'm betting on Disney. They probably have more money and lawyers than the state of Florida,' Stewart said. 'As he progresses on, people are getting mad at him. The citizens of Florida do not like him going after family-friendly, economic development for the community. People don't want government involved in business.' Stewart says that DeSantis's anti-Disney comments are getting more petty. The governor this month pointed out that the Disney district the state took over controls a lot of undeveloped land. He told reporters that the land could go to a prison, a competing theme park or some other project. 'Really? A prison? A nuclear plant? A new theme park? I mean, what kind of rationale is he putting out there?' Stewart said. 'It doesn't even make any sense.' DeSantis is eyeing a presidential campaign launch once the state legislature wraps up its session next month. As that moment nears, public familiarity with the governor is improving. Just 24% of U.S. adults say they don't know enough to rate him in the April AP-NORC poll, compared with 30% in October and 42% in July 2021. Still, that increased familiarity has translated almost entirely to increased negative views toward DeSantis: 45% have an unfavorable view of him, up slightly from 40% in October and 30% in July 2021. Overall favorable ratings for DeSantis have largely remained the same: 31% say they have a favorable opinion of him in the new poll. Unfavorable ratings, however, are concentrated among Democrats. Among Republicans, 63% now say they have a favorable view of DeSantis, a tick up from 57% in October. The shift is concentrated among moderate and liberal Republicans, who have grown more familiar with him. With that shift, favorable ratings of DeSantis (63%) and Trump (68%) are largely similar among Republicans. Trump's unfavorable ratings are slightly higher than DeSantis' (30% vs 20%), while more say they are unfamiliar with DeSantis than Trump. Overall, about half of Republicans say they have a favorable view of both men. There's an open question of whether the continuation of the Disney fight will dent DeSantis' political standing. Now that it's in court, the lawsuit will keep popping up in headlines if DeSantis eventually enters the presidential race. DeSantis' own U.S. senator and predecessor as governor, Republican Rick Scott, told Fox Business that he agrees with DeSantis on the law Disney spoke out against, but he said he hopes the feud will die down. 'What I hope is that cooler heads are going to prevail here,' Scott said Wednesday. 'We've got to figure out how to solve this problem, how to make sure Disney continues to grow in our state, how Disney continues to invest and add more jobs.' Union activists are planning to inflict corresponding strikes at hospitals and schools across the country in order to cause maximum damage, it is claimed. The move to co-ordinate industrial into a general strike-style military action could see the country brought to a grinding halt. Militants in the union-supported Strike Map group are hoping nurses, teachers and junior doctors will walk out at the same time to hit the Government where it hurts, The Sun reports. Their draft proposal suggests the BMA junior doctors union, NEU teachers union and RCN nurses union meet to advance their aims. Over 200 participants in the scheme logged into an online meeting this week, where they said workers could take heart from the 1984 miners' strike. The call by the National Education Union last night sparked fears that pupils could face more misery less than two months before some sit their GCSE exams (strikes in February) During the session NEU activist Paul McGarr said: The Strike Map motion is fantastic because it talks about coordination. We need to be not dividing our struggles but uniting. 'Escalation is necessary. We need much more sustained action.' But it has been vehemently opposed by Tory MPs, who insist it would mean misery for millions of people already tiring of repeated strikes. Former Education Secretary Kit Malthouse said: 'This is a very worrying development. 'I know millions of families will be distressed to hear that a hardcore of activists are trying to hijack these disputes and inflict maximum pain.' It comes as the chief of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said strikes by nurses could drag on for years if the Government does not listen to their concerns over pay. RCN chief executive Pat Cullen blasted the legal action taken against the union's planned 48-hour strike, in which the High Court ruled in the Government and NHS's favour. She said the motion had only served 'to drive nurses further away,' The Independent reports. RCN chief executive Pat Cullen blasted the legal action taken against the union's planned 48-hour strike, in which the High Court ruled in the Government and NHS's favour, saying it has served to 'drive nurses further away' Most RCN members will strike again from 8pm tonight until 11.59pm tomorrow, despite some receiving WhatsApp messages from hospital bosses offering up to quadruple their normal hourly rates She said: 'A few things that happened have left nursing staff feeling that their own employers now are turning their back on them. 'If we have the same approach to pay negotiations next year, do we just grind the cycle again? Well, there is a strong possibility, because it appears that for our nursing staff that is the only way that they can get their voice heard.' 'If they [the government] take the same blinkered approach to addressing pay for nursing stuff, well, then we will find ourselves in the same position.' The RCN's industrial ballot was secured on November 2 last year and is valid for six months. The High Court found that it would have expired before the close of today's planned 48-hour-strike, meaning it lacked standing. As a result, nurses will stage a shorter 28-hour walkout - quitting work from 8pm this evening until 11.59pm tomorrow. The six-month strike rule that saw the RCN dragged into a High Court battle The Royal College of Nursing lost a High Court battle with the Government over whether it could strike on May 2. By law, unions have six months to take industrial action after a strike ballot closes. Last year, RCN members voted on whether they wanted to strike and the ballot closed on November 2. Earlier this month, the union announced fresh strikes to run from 8pm on April 30 to 8pm on May 2. However, NHS Employers, a membership organisation of NHS trusts, warned that the action would be unlawful because its strike mandate expires at 11.59pm on May 1. When the RCN refused to call of its strike on May 2, it asked Health Secretary Steve Barclay to take the case to court. In his ruling, Mr Justice Linden sided with the Government, concluding that the six-month period in which industrial action can be taken following the RCN balloting members last year expires at midnight on May 1. Advertisement NHS trusts have urged nurses to reconsider leaving their duties over the Bak holiday weekend, warning it could endanger critically ill patients. Ms Cullen revealed nurses have been bombarded with WhatsApp messages from hospital bosses, in some cases offering triple and quadruple their usual hourly rates over the strike period. She added: 'Those nurses looked at that and said it's despicable. We're only important on the day of the strike to pay [that rate] we're not important to pay any other day of the weekSo, they felt that that was a major insult, not an incentive.' Health Secretary Steve Barclay claimed ministers 'couldn't stand by and let plainly unlawful strike action go ahead'. The Government's barrister, Andrew Burns KC, told the court that the RCN had been 'incompetent when looking at the calendar' and was putting its members' at risk of regulatory sanctions by ordering them to strike illegally. This morning, nurses protested outside the High Court, with Ms Cullen vowing to 'stand up' to government 'bullies' in court. In his ruling, Mr Justice Linden concluded that RCN window to take action expires at midnight on May 1. He said that the ruling was 'inevitable' and that instead of 'grasping the nettle and conceding', the union forced the case to court. The judge also ordered the RCN to pay the 35,000 legal costs of the hearing' after the union showed a 'high degree of unreasonableness' instead of calling off the strike. Speaking outside the court, Ms Cullen said RCN members 'will not do anything that isn't legal' and will conclude its strike on May 1. Ms Cullen, who said the ruling marked the 'darkest day' of the pay dispute so far, accused Mr Barclay of 'dragging' nurses through court proceedings. She added: 'It's absolutely shocking in my mind, that any Government would drag their nurses through the Royal Courts of Justice. 'What a way to treat the nursing staff of England. Nursing staff that have held this NHS together while it has been left to crumble by this Government.' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said it is 'obviously regrettable' that the dispute went to court. They said: 'The Government never wanted to take this to court. We did indeed try every possible way to avoid a court case. 'The NHS presented the RCN with clear legal evidence that their planned strike for May 2 was unlawful. We asked them to call it off. The RCN refused. 'That's why the NHS asked the Government to intervene and seek the view of the court. 'Late yesterday, Steve Barclay wrote the RCN, to Pat Cullen again, and asked them to call off their final day of the strike given we were confident that it was not legal. They refused again.' Mr Barclay said he 'firmly supports' legal industrial action but the Government 'could not stand by and let plainly unlawful strike action go ahead'. He said: 'Both the NHS and my team tried to resolve this without resorting to legal action, but unfortunately, following a request from NHS Employers, we took this step with regret to protect nurses by ensuring they are not asked to take part in an unlawful strike. 'We welcome the decision of the High Court that the Royal College of Nursing's planned strike on 2 May is illegal. 'The Government wants to continue working constructively with the Royal College of Nursing, as was the case when we agreed the pay offer that was endorsed by their leadership. 'We now call on them to do the right thing by patients and agree derogations for their strike action on 30 May and 1 April.' More than 500,000 NHS appointments and operations in England have been cancelled as a result of staff striking over pay The RCN's planned strike action is causing alarm among health leaders who fear plans to withdraw so-called life and limb care could put patients at risk over the bank holiday weekend. Previous walkouts 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. None of these will apply for the upcoming strikes. The past six months of industrial action by several NHS health unions, including the RCN, has seen over half a million operations and appointments postponed. READ MORE Fury as tens of thousands of rival Manchester football supporters are blocked from getting to FA Cup Final as train drivers confirm strikes Train drivers will stage three fresh strikes in a long-running row over pay, including on FA Cup final day. Members of Aslef will walk out on May 12 and 31 - and when Wembley hosts Manchester City and Manchester United on June 3 (Wembley Stadium is pictured) Advertisement Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has also now waded into the row. Speaking to ITV's Good Morning Britain, Sir Keir said: 'What's happened in the nurses' case is really instructive, because actually the union recommended the deal and the nurses themselves rejected it. 'That tells you just how angry the nurses are, because that's quite unusual.' It comes after accusations that Mr Barclay is bullying the nursing profession, as well as staff in his own office. In the wake of Dominic Raab's resignation over a bullying report, 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. In other NHS union news, midwives voted to accept the latest NHS pay offer despite it not being 'perfect', the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) has announced. In a turnout of 48 per cent of eligible members working in the NHS in England, 57 per cent voted to accept the deal, with 43 per cent rejecting it. Alice Sorby, director of employment relations at the RCM, said: 'The offer was not perfect, and it was not everything we asked for or that midwives and maternity support workers deserve. Speaking outside the court, Ms Cullen said RCN members 'will not do anything that isn't legal' and will conclude its strike on May 1 Ms Cullen, who said today marked the 'darkest day' of the pay dispute so far, accused Mr Barclay of 'dragging' nurses through court proceedings 'However, it was a step forward from the Government's entrenched position on 2022/23 pay and improved on its directions to the Pay Review Body for 2023/24. 'It was the power of the collective unions standing together, with our members behind us, that brought the Government to the table and led to this improved offer.' Another strike, this time by teachers, is already causing massive disruption today for thousands of pupils. Tens of thousands of teachers launched another wave of industrial action over pay just weeks before GCSE and A-Level exams - with most schools expected to either restrict access to classrooms or shut them completely. The action by members of the National Education Union (NEU) saw picket lines mounted outside schools around the country, and a number of rallies are due to be held. Many secondary schools are expected to prioritise Year 11 and Year 13 students during the strikes, as GCSE and A-level exams are weeks away. The NEU said it will support arrangements during the strikes that 'provide the minimum level of teaching staff needed' so GCSE and A-level students can attend school for revision activities or exam practice. Emirates has launched a new City Checkin and Travel Store in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), enabling customers to book travel, check-in for flights, drop luggage, shop for travel essentials, and save time at the airport. Located in the elite ICD Brookfield Place, a vibrant hub of business and leisure, the City Check-in and Travel Store has a prime and premium location for busy professionals in Dubais finance hub and allows customers to drop their luggage as early as 24 hours and up to 4 hours before a flight, arriving at the airport at leisure. Customers can visit the space and check in anytime from 8:00am to 10:00pm daily, beginning their travel experience with seamless service via self check in kiosks, at dedicated desks with Emirates agents, or with the help of the worlds first ever checkin robot assistant - Sara. Sara is an innovative portable robotic check-in system, who can match faces with scanned passports, check passengers in, and guide them to the luggage drop area. With an eye-catching 2.5-metre LCD screen showing the latest destination content from Emirates, and more screens showing an interactive touchscreen map, the City Check-in and Travel Store is a stylish and spacious contemporary space which offers the opportunity to book tickets, browse travel merchandise, drop luggage, and check in with paid valet parking and self-parking ensuring an elevated, hassle-free check in experience for Emirates passengers. Visitors can also get expert advice and offers on trending destinations, while dedicated travel consultants can assist with purchasing tickets for future journeys, managing current bookings, purchasing upgrades, selecting preferred seats, and arranging extra baggage if required. Emirates passengers with valid boarding passes who wish to discover the area or spend time relaxing before their flight, will have complimentary access to select lifestyle facilities in the world-renowned ICD Brookfield Place, and exclusive discounts and special offers across a range of restaurants, gyms, and luxury stores - including Josette, 1Rebel, Lulu and the Beanstalk, and Embody Fitness. Around the DIFC, visitors can enjoy a diverse range of services, shopping, world-class cuisine, and art galleries, including the extensive promenade at DIFCs Gate Avenue. When its time to fly, passengers can then connect directly to the airport via taxi, Emirates chauffeur service, or take a short 10-minute walk to Financial Centre Metro Station connecting seamlessly into the Airport Terminal 3 Metro Station. Adel al Redha, Emirates' Chief Operating Officer said: Emirates City Check In is our latest addition to the Emirates travel experience, showing our commitment to providing customers with an array of check-in options. Our new location is the first ultra-convenient check in and baggage drop facility conveniently located in the DIFC area. People can avoid busy periods at the airport and minimise queuing. We are pleased to collaborate with ICD Brookfield on this project and look forward to providing our customers with more technology-focused solutions in the future, Al Redha added. Rob Devereux, CEO of ICD Brookfield said: We are thrilled to welcome Emirates City Check-In and Travel store to ICD Brookfield Place, further enhancing our ecosystem as an attractive destination for workers, visitors, and residents. This exciting new addition will bring the convenience of city check-in to the central business district, allowing Emirates passengers more time to go about their daily routine, spend productive time at work and enjoy the wonderful lifestyle Dubai has to offer. TradeArabia News Service British citizens attempting to flee Sudan have told of how they dodged gunfire and airstrikes to reach the UK's final evacuation flight from the war-torn country last night. The aircraft departed from the Wadi Saeedna airfield, near the capital of Khartoum, at 10pm local time on Saturday, The Foreign Office confirmed. The deadline for UK nationals to reach the site and be processed for the last flight passed at 12pm local time, after the Government confirmed it was winding down its rescue operation. At least 1,888 people on 21 flights have been evacuated from Sudan - the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents. But thousands more UK citizens may remain are understood to have failed to reach the airbase in time and say they now face a 400-mile trip to Port Sudan, where the Foreign Office has said an additional evacuation flight will leave on Monday. British nationals fill an RAF aircraft while on their way to Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus Violinist Othmano hugs his daughter before boarding an RAF C-130 flight from Sudan to Cyprus A Royal Marine assists evacuees on to the RAF C-130 during the evacuation of British citizens at the airfield The FCDO said British nationals who wish to leave Sudan on the extra flight are asked to travel to the British Evacuation Handling Centre at Port Sudan International Airport on May 1 before 12pm local time to allow for processing. It will allow for the evacuation of a limited number of UK nationals who remain in in the country, a statement added. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: 'The UK has now airlifted over 2,100 people to safety from Sudan, in what has been the largest and longest evacuation of any western country. 'I want to thank all of those working to deliver this evacuation and ensure as many people as possible are brought to safety. 'Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan. We continue to do everything in our power to secure a long-term ceasefire, a stable transition to civilian rule and an end the violence in Sudan.' Defence Secretary Ben Wallace added: 'I am grateful to our armed forces who have ensured there was an alternative to Wadi Saeedna and who are currently supporting FCDO and Border Force staff to facilitate the rescue effort.' Meanwhile, the roads outside the Wadi Saeedna airfield are said to have been particularly fraught with danger, leaving many risking their lives to have made the final flight from the site. Ahmed, a doctor in the UK for seven years who returned to Sudan due to a family emergency, told The Times he was unable to reach the airbase because his taxi was attempting to evade 'shooting in the road'. He first made an attempt to reach the airfield on Thursday when his neighbour was killed by shelling. A Foreign and Commonwealth Rapid Response team member helps evacuees before they fly to Cyprus Royal Marines and Duke of Lancaster's Regiment personnel attend a meeting during the evacuation of British citizens Military personnel unload stores during the evacuation of British citizens at the Wadi Seidna airport The roads outside the Wadi Saeedna airfield (pictured) are said to be particularly fraught with danger British-Sudanese teaching assistant Saida Yassier Abdalgadir, 25, also told the newspaper she was informed she would be unable to take her family with her. A British aid worker added: 'People are trying to get the hell out of Dodge, but the road to the airbase is dangerous, has been since this started, so they can't get there, which is presumably part of why [the British government] is stopping them.' Other European countries are also reportedly closing down their evacuation routes from the airbase. The site is said to have descended into chaos as masses tries to make it onto the final flight following treacherous journeys just to get there. British citizens have been encouraged to get to Port Sudan, where a diplomatic bridgehead has been established in a hotel. It comes after the Government yesterday agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on the last flights out of the country amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. Ministers answered calls to widen the remit, which had been limited to British nationals and their immediate family, after a significant decline in the number of UK citizens coming forward. Meanwhile, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell told the BBC the evacuation operation has been 'extremely successful', but stressed: 'We can't stay there forever in such dangerous circumstances.' A view of a bank building burnt out in clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces At least 1,888 people on 21 flights have been evacuated from Sudan - the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents A car is wrecked in clashes between the two forces despite the ceasefire in Khartoum yesterday The civilian death toll jumped to 411 people yesterday, according to the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate A statement on the Government's foreign travel advice for Sudan website said: 'The UK Government is no longer running evacuation flights from Wadi Saeedna airfield. 'The last evacuation flight departed the airfield at 10pm Sudan time on April 29.' Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite the extension of an armistice between the country's two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. The civilian death toll jumped to 411 people yesterday, according to the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The fighting has wounded another 2,023 civilians so far, the group added. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people. Fighters have moved into homes and taken over stores and hospitals as they battle in the streets, the syndicate said. On Friday, a Turkish evacuation plane was shot at by paramilitary forces in Sudan as it was landing in the capital of Khartoum, damaging the fuel supply. Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shot at the aircraft at the Wadi Saeedna airbase, the army said, in a sign of just how dangerous the situation is for those racing to evacuate civilians from the war-torn country. The plane managed to land safely after the paramilitary forces opened fire and is being fixed, Sudan's army said. The RSF denied firing at the plane and said the army was 'spreading lies', adding: 'Our forces have remained strictly committed to the humanitarian truce that we agreed upon since midnight, and it is not true that we targeted any aircraft in the sky of Wadi Seyidna in Omdurman.' Putin's men were struck down with radiation sickness after they camped in a forest near Chernobyl's nuclear disaster amid their infiltration of Ukraine last year. Ukrainians living in Chernobyl have told of how they warned their Russian enemies of the dangers despite last year's invasion, with soldiers even fishing in the nuclear reactor's cooling chamber. The Russian soldiers spent around a fortnight in the vicinity of the radioactive nuclear reactor in March last year, which 37 years ago exploded and spilled reactor core into the environment. Ukrainians have told how the Russian men crossed from Belarus and dug defensive positions in the nearby 'Red Forest', named after the colour the trees turned after the nuclear disaster. Some suggested that the Russians chose the area as they knew they would not come under attack from Ukrainian shelling. Trenches and firing positions sit in the highly radioactive soil adjacent to the Chernobyl nuclear power plant near Chernobyl, Ukraine, April 16, 2022 Drone footage shows an aerial view of the trenches dug by occupying Russian forces, located mostly in the 'Red Forest' Ukrainians have told how the Russian men crossed from Belarus and dug defensive positions in the nearby 'Red Forest' Ukrainian servicemen attend a joint drills at the border with Belarus near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, in the abandoned city of Pripyat, January 20, 2023 Speaking to The Sunday Times, Oksana Pyshna, 30, an official responsible for the exclusion zone, said 'don't try to find logic' regarding the upheaval of radioactive soil by Putin's men in Chernobyl's nearby forest. Russian soldiers are said to have spent two weeks with six mile vicinity of the radioactive reactor No 4, where they slept, ate, and drank. 'It's the most dangerous territory in the special zone, because under the ground we have nuclear waste.' Some suggested that Russian troops made their base there as they knew Ukrainian forces would not attack the area as they knew the catastophic dangers around the nuclear plant. The Russians are also said to have fished in the reactor's cooling chamber, catching the catfish that swim in the destroyed nuclear base. But others were struck down with radiation sickness from simply being in the area, walking around, and kicking up the dust. The Sunday Times reported that some of the very few elderly locals who live in the area and have become significantly blase about the dangers surrounding them where particularly shocked at how the Russians would act. 'I think they understood the risks, but they're just thick.' 70-year-old Chernobyl local Galyna Voloshnya said. Around two weeks after arriving in the area, the Russians left to mount the failed attack on Kyiv in early April, leaving Chernobyl to its hauntingly quiet state. Russian soldiers spent around fortnight in the vicinity of Chernobyl's radioactive nuclear reactor in March last year Chernobyl staff attempted to keep the Russian troops out of the most dangerous areas in last year's invasion, but many dug trenches anyway Employees of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant plant during the 37th anniversary of honoring the memory of the Chernobyl disaster victims on April 26, 2023 President Zelensky lays flowers at the memorial mound 'To the Heroes of Chernobyl' in Kyiv, April 26, 2023 Ukrainian servicemen attend joint drills at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine near Chornobyl, Ukraine, February 20, 2023 Two Ukrainian servicemen are seen last year at the border with Belarus, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine near Chornobyl, Ukraine February 20, 2023 A fire burns near Ukraine's border with Belarus amid Russia's attack on Ukraine near Chornobyl last year, February 20 To the east, in Moscow-annexed Crimea, fighting has now intensified after a suspected drone attack hit an oil depot as shelling deprived Russian border villages of power. The recent attacks on Saturday came one day after Kyiv said preparations for a long-awaited counteroffensive were nearly complete, having vowed to expel Russian forces from territory they seized in the east and south following their 2022 invasion. On Friday, a Russian strike on a block of flats in the central Ukrainian city of Uman killed 23 people, including a baby boy. On Saturday, officials in Moscow-controlled Crimea, towns under Russian occupation in southern Ukraine reported attacks. The governor of a Russian region near the border with Ukraine also said two people were killed when a Ukrainian missile hit a village. 'As a result of the strike inflicted by Ukrainian nationalists, unfortunately, two civilians were killed,' Alexander Bogomaz, governor of Bryansk oblast, said in a message posted on Telegram, reporting an attack on Suzemka. Fears of Ukrainian reprisals more than a year into Moscow's offensive have grown in Russia, where a range of cities have cancelled traditional May 9 celebrations to mark the Soviet victory over the Nazis at the end of World War II in 1945. In Sevastopol, home to Russia's Black Sea Fleet, clouds of smoke rose high into the sky as fuel reserves burned. The Crimean port city has been hit by a series of drone attacks since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine began more than a year ago. The mother of a young man who was stabbed to death by his 'controlling and coercive' girlfriend has revealed he felt 'too ashamed' to go to police about her ongoing abuse. Tai O'Donnell, 19, from Croydon, south London, was a popular teenager with aspirations to become a music producer when he fell into the clutches of Kamila Ahmad, then aged 22, in summer 2020. Despite standing at just 5ft tall and with a notably high voice, Ahmad already had a string of 11 convictions to her name, including battery, robbery and assault, and had previously stabbed a boyfriend in 2015, The Times reports. The relationship saw Tai become isolated and withdrawn, until he was eventually stabbed by Ahmad in the early hours of March 3, 2021, and bled to death after she failed to call an ambulance. Following a trial at Croydon Crown Court this month, Ahmad was convicted of murder as well as grievous bodily harm for the attack on her previous boyfriend. She was jailed for life with a minimum 23-year term. Tai O'Donnell, 19, from Croydon, south London, was a popular teenager with aspirations to become a music producer when he fell into the clutches of Kamila Ahmad, then aged 22, in summer 2020 Following a trial at Croydon Crown Court this month, Kamila Ahmad, 22, was convicted of murder as well as grievous bodily harm for the attack on her previous boyfriend. She was jailed for life with a minimum 23-year term Tai's devastated mother Stacey O'Donnell revealed how the 6ft 2in student doted on his four younger siblings and was a trusted confidante to his wide circle of friends. Mrs O'Donnell said: 'Id seen his stress. But I made the wrong assumption that it was just an average toxic relationship. There was nothing average about it. It was serious abuse. My son did not want to die.' She said Tai felt too embarrassed to tell police that he was being attacked by his girlfriend - who hardly reached his chest in height. 'Tai wasnt a timid boy,' she said. 'He had a strong spirit. Never in a million years would I have thought that he would end up in a situation like this. 'He was a young, popular boy, he didnt want to be seen as someone who was being terrorised by a girl. He was embarrassed.' The youngster was a student at Croydon College with dreams of reaching the top of the music industry when friends introduced him to Ahmad, who had a reputation of being a 'bad girl'. The young woman had endured a troubled childhood in which she witnessed her father repeatedly abuse her mother. She was still on licence for an offence of robbery and possession of a bladed article when she met Tai. Within two months of meeting, Tai confided to his mother that Ahmad would 'kick off' over minor issues, although he attempted to joke about it. Over time, it became apparent he was not allowed to see friends without his girlfriend's say-so or stay out without her permission. Tai's devastated mother Stacey O'Donnell (pictured together) said he felt too embarrassed to tell police that he was being attacked by his girlfriend - who hardly reached his chest in height He once called his mother in the middle of the night frightened after Ahmad began banging on his front door. When family arrived, Ahmad was inside and Tai insisted everything was okay. On another occasion his mother noticed bite marks on his neck, and Ahmad also used a brick to smash her way into their home. Mrs O'Donnell stated Ahmad would threaten suicide each time her son talked of ending the relationship and had threatened to 'shank [stab]' him at other times. On March 2, 2021, she went to see her son and his girlfriend in their home and told them to end their 'toxic' relationship once and for all, advising them: 'The two of you are not good for each other.' As she said goodbye to her son for what would be the last time, she said: 'Its killing me to see you living like this.' The couple were overheard arguing later that evening and CCTV caught Ahmad swinging her bag in the street and hitting Tai in the face at 12.25am. At 3.27am, Ahmad message a family member she had 'stabbed someone' and 'no one is helping me clear him up'. A neighbour called police at midday and officers found Tai's body at the scene. A pathologist judged that had an ambulance been called, Tai probably would have survived his injuries. Ahmad lied to police, insisting she was a younger sister of a neighbour and had nothing to do with the deceased. However, officers found a bloodstained jacket and rucksack which was linked to the scene by DNA. Judge Peter Gower said: 'It demonstrates with chilling clarity how highly dangerous a young woman you are. You were indifferent that he died and have shown not the smallest bit of remorse. 'He posed no physical threat to you. What you did was not in self-defence, it was done in anger.' The judge also rejected Ahmad's narrative that she was the victim of domestic abuse in the relationship, describing her behaviour as 'controlling and coercive'. Following Ahmad's arrest, previous boyfriend Karim Hussein, 25, came forward and revealed how he had been stabbed by her during their relationship in 2015. Tai's mother, who attended each hearing in court dressed in black, was praised by the judge for her composure and 'quiet dignity' throughout the proceedings. Mrs O'Donnell said she visited her son's grave every day in the first year after he died. At one point, she says she contemplated suicide and even wrote a victim impact statement to be read out in court after her death. She said: 'When you have full responsibility for keeping someone safe, and something like this happens to them, you feel responsible. If I had just been more patient, if I had just taken more time with him, why did I let him move out from so young?' After being helped by victim support charities, she has recognised that Ahmad is the only person to blame for her son's death. 'She did something truly evil,' she said. Mrs O'Donnell is now dedicating herself to combating knife crime in under-25s and is encouraging prison facilities to work with troubled youths. She said: 'I would like for young people to focus on bettering themselves, and being successful and happy, because this anger and rage that they all carry around with themselves is weighty.' Armed robbers have stolen millions of pounds worth of jewellery from a Bulgari store next to the Ministry of Justice in Paris for the second time in two years. The latest raid saw three men arrive at the boutique in Place Vendome in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon, as dozens of tourists and other passers-by looked on. 'Two were carrying assault rifles while the other concentrated on filling bags with stolen goods,' an investigating source said. 'They hit a security guard around the head, causing him a serious injury. 'Jewels and luxury watches worth multi-millions were taken in the robbery, which started at around 1.45pm on Saturday and took just a few minutes. Three men raided the boutique in Place Vendome in broad daylight on Saturday afternoon Pictured here is one of the robbers. The raid took just a few minutes before the three of them escaped 'The raiders then got back on to their two black motorbikes, and calmly escaped across the square.' Dramatic video posted on social media shows the raiders wearing motorbike helmets and black balaclavas as they calmly rob the prestigious store. The Ministry of Justice is in Vendome, as well as the Paris Ritz hotel, but there were no police patrols immediately in the area. The same Bulgari store was first targeted in daylight by armed robbers in September 2021, when the criminals made off with some 10million worth of goods. Following the heist, one of the robbers was wounded in the leg by a police officer during a shoot-out by Les Halles shopping centre around a mile-and-a-half away. By June 2022, three men had been arrested, charged and found guilty of armed robbery. Bulgari, the luxury Italian house, is now owned by the French LVMH luxury goods conglomerate, which is run by the richest man in the world, Bernard Arnault. Multi-billionaire Mr Arnault lives in a mansion less than a mile from the Bulgari store that was hit on Saturday. The Vendome raids are the latest in a long series of high profile armed robberies in the square. Pictured: French police stand in front of the Bulgari jewellery store following a robbery at Place Vendome in Paris in September 2021 Last year, robbers openly carrying assault rifles made off with jewellery from a Chanel store. The four criminals, also wearing helmets with visors down, were also filmed as the they calmly left the Vendome store after filling up their bag with designer goods. 'That's a hold-up,' said an astonished witness, as he filmed the drama on his mobile phone, before posting it on social media. Jewellery stores in Paris have been hit frequently by robbers over the years, and celebrity homes are also targeted. In July 2022, thieves made off with goods worth almost 2m from a Chaumet store near the Champs-Elysees, and a Dinh Van store was also hit in the same month. And in October 2016, more than 7m worth of jewellery was stolen after American reality TV star Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint by a group of masked men in her Paris hotel room. Thousands of people could face fines for celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III next weekend if they hold street parties without getting permission from their local council, the public is being warned. Many royal fans are planning a day of celebration over the bank holiday weekend, organising informal street get-togethers or large-scale neighbourhood events. With less than a week to go until King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are anointed in Westminster Abbey, final preparations are underway across the country. But to avoid risking a hefty penalty, street party organisers must have applied to the council for a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order to close the road - or they could be breaking the law. Those who fail to apply for the order could face a fine or up to 51 weeks in prison. Many royal fans are planning a day of celebration over the bank holiday weekend, organising informal street get-togethers or large-scale neighbourhood events (Pictured: Platinum Jubilee street party, June 2022) There is less than a week to go until the King's Coronation ceremony on Saturday The government recommends requesting a road closure six weeks in advance of the planned party - although there is no legal deadline, so those without permission can still request it from their council now. Some councils may charge for road closures or for administrative fees, but the Local Government Association (LGA) tells councils they should make the process cost-free for the Coronation, saying: 'benefits vastly outweigh admin costs.' A statement adds: 'Street parties are a great way to bring neighbours together to get to know each other better. 'There is lots of research to show that these informal, resident-led events have a positive and lasting impact on the communities that take part. 'They can help reduce isolation and loneliness, strengthen community spirit and civic pride and bring people of different ethnic backgrounds together. Some councils may charge for road closures or for administrative fees, but the Local Government Association (LGA) tells councils they should make the process cost-free for the Coronation (Pictured: Platinum Jubilee party in June 2022) 'They also offer a good opportunity to bring together communities for fundraising for local, national and International good causes.' Although residents may fear the consequences if they have not applied for permission in time, it is understood that there is no particular enforcement guidance which has been issued ahead of the weekend. A source told the Sun that no action will be taken unless events become a 'nuisance', or more than 500 people turn up where alcohol is being sold. Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove told the paper: 'Street parties should be encouraged. 'I look forward to the creative ways which you and your communities choose to mark the coronation.' He also urged councils to offer complete flexibility when it comes to road closures. The LGA advised councils to make the application process 'clear, simple and accessible' and to minimise the turnaround time when dealing with applications. As Britain gears up for the Coronation of King Charles III next week, revellers in high streets up and down the country gave a taste of what's to come. Already, town centres are lined with Union Jack flags and bunting in preparation for the big day on May 6, which is being held for the first time in living memory for most people. Partygoers hit the tiles last night ahead of the first May Bank Holiday, showing off their summer outfits as temperatures hit 19C (66.2F). A recreation of Geri Horner's famous Union Jack dress from her Spice Girls days was among the outfits on show alongside a Teletubby and Top Gun's Maverick. Elsewhere, mermaid skirts, laced corsets, tartan kilts and even a naughty vicar made an appearance. A young woman leads a throng dressed in a laced corset and floral headdress, while friends follow - one in a tartan kilt and another in Hawaiian fancy dress Priests and cardinals were also a chosen theme for fancy dress for these partygoers in Leeds Cities are braced for an invasion of May Bank Holiday 'stags and hens' aimed at partying till the sun rises. But the top ten list of favourite destinations doesn't include London, where maybe the prices are too high. From Bristol, Brighton, Bournemouth, Bath and Belfast, to Edinburgh, Newcastle and Liverpool, bridegrooms will be chained naked to lamp posts and brides-to-be will be faced by male strippers as all sorts of naughties take place. It's the busiest weekend for stag and hen dos across the country as the nation prepares for time off. And it's followed by King Charles' Coronation extended holiday weekend to allow for continuous partying for those who have been crafty enough to re-jig their work rotas. Stagweb.com and gohen.com, two of the UK's leading stag and hen party providers, predict this weekend is expected to be a staggering 25 per cent busier than the next busiest weekend. Jon Stainer, creative director of both Stag Web and Go Hen, said people are ready to let their hair down after the long, dreary winter months. 'The early May Bank Holiday is always one of the busiest weekends of the year as everyone gets an extra day of partying, plus it allows for a comfortable gap between the December and January festivities and the weddings in the summer. A recreation of Geri Horner's famous Union Jack dress from her Spice Girls days (right) was among the outfits hitting the tiles alongside a Teletubby and Top Gun's Maverick Revellers enjoy the 'Otley Run 16 Pub Crawl' in Leeds yesterday, as the celebrate the Bank Holiday weekend A dashing Roman emperor wearing a leaf crown and flowing red cloak lifts up a girl dressed in a ballerina ensemble Revellers hit the town in Birmingham early on Friday evening to start the early May Bank Holiday weekend The party showed no signs of abating in Leeds last night, as drinkers took plastic cups into the street A hardy band of mates out on a session donned hi-vis jackets and builders' safety helmets as they went out in Leeds A cheerful redheaded duo cling on to each other as they cross the road as festivities broke out in Leeds Snow White has had enough! This would-be Disney Princess is helped along the street by two friends in Leeds Revellers make the most of Friday night out in Soho, central London at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend Soho's famous red lights lit up the terraces next to its bars and clubs as young people enjoyed the Bank Holiday Peace man! A group of young women make the peace sign in Soho as they enjoyed a fun night out The capital was abuzz with groups of young people out drinking yesterday as they enjoyed the long Bank Holiday weekend Easter throwover? Bunny headdresses were still on show in Birmingham last night as partygoers hit the streets A trio of young women make a peace sign while walking home in Birmingham city centre on Friday evening Union Jack flags and bunting fluttering in the light breeze in Dartford High Street as the Kent town prepares for the Coronation Covent Garden Market is adorned with lines of bunting in readiness for the King's Coronation Bristol is set to see the biggest boom in stag and hen dos, with Liverpool a close second and Edinburgh in third. Jon said 'Bristol and Liverpool have always been hugely popular destinations for both stag and hens, but the most surprising name on the list is Bath in fourth. 'Whilst Bath isn't particularly popular with stags, it's been the most popular hen party destination in the UK for years due to its stylish vibe, vibrant bar scene, and the world-famous Thermae Spa. Brighton is fifth on the list - nearly 10 per cent of all Stag Web and Go Hen's UK bookings are for the seaside city this weekend. Jon said 'Brighton has always been popular with hens in particular because it is the perfect mix of a vibrant UK seaside destination and bouncing party city. 'With a load of incredible activities on offer - both on land and at sea - there's plenty to take on and conquer when they're not enjoying those big nights out. 'Interestingly, all of our groups heading to Brighton this weekend are hen parties with stags preferring to go to places like Bristol, Liverpool and Edinburgh.' Her two children were rescued A woman in her 40s has drowned at a popular Aussie surf break known for international competitions. At about 3.15pm on Sunday, emergency services were called to Snapper Rocks in Coolangatta after three people had come into trouble while in the water. Her two children were rescued from the rough surf by a group celebrating a gender reveal party. 'The had just been getting smashed against the rocks,' a witness named Ashleigh told 9News. Another beach-goer said: 'We saw a mother and daughter drowning. My brother jumped in and saved the daughter. My brother-in-law jumped in as well.' A woman in her 40s has drowned at famous Aussie surf break Snapper Rocks in Queensland (scene pictured) The woman's two children were rescued from the rough seas by a group celebrating a gender reveal party (pictured) 'They got the daughter out and went back in to get the mother.' But it was too late. Emergency services attempted to resuscitate the woman, but she sadly died at the scene. The child are in a stable condition. A report will be prepared for the coroner. The popular surf spot, about 30 km south of the Gold Coast, is known for its fast but sometimes unpredictable waves and is popular among surfers. World class competitive surfers and amateur hobbyists alike are known to flock to the location. Snapper Rocks will play host to the World Surfing League Boost Mobile Gold Coast Pro competition in May. A disgruntled drug dealer has left a brutal one-star review for an Uber Eats driver who refused to deliver a bag of meth. The driver, who wished to be known only as Jess, said the rideshare giant had also scolded her at the time for not delivering the package. Her bizarre encounter unfolded on April 22 when she was asked to pick up an item at a restaurant on Botany Road in the south west Sydney suburb of Mascot as part of the app's Uber Connect service - which enables parcel delivery. 'I walk out of the restaurant and the guy is standing there and he said: 'You're Jess? here's the parcel' and walked off,' she told the Sydney Morning Herald. When Jess looked at the 'totally dodgy' plastic bag held together with black zip ties she called the person she was supposed to deliver it to and asked: 'Would you mind telling me what you ordered?' Uber driver Jess took a suspicious package she had been asked to deliver to police who discovered drugs in the package The disgruntled drug dealer left Jess a brutal one-star review for failing to deliver the bag of meth Her suspicions were raised even more when the person on the other end of the phone said the $16 package was 'toothpaste'. Jess, who works full-time as a teacher but picked up some extra work with Uber to supplement her income, immediately cancelled the delivery and went straight to Mascot Police Station. Officers opened the package and found a toothpaste tube that contained what is believed to be two grams of meth, which they seized. 'As inquiries continue, anyone who may have information about this incident, or the supply of prohibited drugs, is urged to contact Mascot Police Station or Crime Stoppers,' a police spokeswoman said. Jess said she tried to report the incident to Uber Eats but could only do so with automated forms that sent back generic replies. In a letter sent to her Uber said they would only 'look into' removing the dealer from the app. 'In order to maintain the reliability of our rating system, we are unable to provide or adjust ratings for individual trips,' the company advised her. 'We also understand you wish to be compensated for your lost hours. In general, we compensate partners for trips that they have completed on the Uber App.' Only after going to the media was she contacted by the company and offered and apology. The package was contained in a plastic bag with a black zip tag that was handed to Jess outside a restaurant Uber told her 'appropriate internal actions have been taken' against the dealer, with his one-star rating would be removed and the $16 delivery fee refunded to her. 'When sending goods, riders must agree immediately prior to requesting that they will not send prohibited or illegal items (including drugs),' Uber's spokesperson said. 'Our dedicated Law Enforcement Response Team, which includes former Australian police officers, is also available to assist police in their investigation into any such matter.' But Jess has vowed never to drive for Uber again. 'I'm not going to be doing this anymore because I'm so disgusted how they've treated me,' she said. 'But on principle I'm pushing it because they could do this to other drivers.' A senior Scottish Tory says nationalist trolling has gone through the roof since the SNP imploded over a police probe into its finances. Meghan Gallacher said she was being targeted by separatists who branded her a 'bint', a 'Tory c***' and a 'stupid daft wee lassie' in the past few weeks. The Scottish party's deputy leader, 31, has launched a campaign against online abuse of politicians to coincide with the annual conference in Glasgow. 'It's got worse because they know they're on the back foot, in terms of their political party and the independence movement more widely, and because of what's happening just now with the SNP,' she told the Telegraph. She added: 'I do believe, unfortunately, that has caused the aggression. It has automatically now jumped to [nationalists] defending their cause. 'One of the best examples I have was that I posted a picture of my parrot, Odin, who's an Indian ring-necked parrot. 'And all of a sudden that was: ''You're a Tory bint, you're a Tory''' Meghan Gallacher said she was being targeted by separatists who branded her a 'bint', a 'Tory c***' and a 'daft wee lassie' in the past few weeks. The Scottish party's deputy leader has launched a campaign against online abuse pf politicians to coincide with the annual conference in Glasgow. She said she was abused after posting a picture of her parrot, Odin Ms Gallacher last night suggested the SNP is set to enter into a 'sleekit' post-election 'stitch-up' with Labour that threatens to break up the Union. She used her conference speech to warn that a hung Parliament south of the Border could lead to a 'grubby' handshake between Humza Yousaf and Sir Keir Starmer, which would force Labour to surrender to a veto on a second independence referendum. Her alert came after the SNP leader declared last week that he would be happy to work with a minority Labour administration to kick the Tories out, although labour has declined to return the favour as it seeks a full majority in Westminster. Ms Gallacher claimed that Scottish Labour was also courting a partnership with the SNP, knowing Sir Keir might need its support after the next Westminster election. A deal with the SNP would come at the price of London handing over its section 30 order powers over independence votes. Ms Gallacher said at the heart of Mr Yousaf's plans to secure another separation vote was 'a sleekit backroom deal with Labour to demand Indyref 2 as the price of SNP support for a Keir Starmer Government'. She added: 'Humza Yousaf would never in his wildest dreams expect any Conservative Government to barter away the future of our country. That is because the SNP suspect what we in this hall already know Labour are weak on the Union.' She used her conference speech to warn that a hung Parliament south of the Border could lead to a 'grubby' handshake between Humza Yousaf and Sir Keir Starmer, which would force Labour to surrender to a veto on a second independence referendum. Speaking at the Scottish Conservative conference in Glasgow, she said there was a strengthening alliance between the two parties, making reference to Anas Sarwar's support for the SNP's gender reforms. Sir Keir has repeatedly ruled out making any post-election pact with the SNP. But senior Tories last night claimed his pledge would count for nothing in a hung Parliament. Senior backbencher Peter Bone said: 'The voters have been warned a grubby post-election stitch-up would be the result of a hung Parliament, one that could pose a deadly threat to the future of the UK.' The fears come amid predictions that with the funding crisis engulfing the SNP, Labour could advance from just one Westminster seat in Scotland to as many as 20 potentially putting it on course for an overall majority. Nationalist MP Tommy Sheppard said: 'At the general election next year, voting SNP is the best way to beat the Tories in Scotland and the only way to get rid of Westminster Tory governments for good is with independence.' Russian commanders are understood to be imprisoning their own troops in grilled holes underground as the struggling invasion resorts to extreme methods of discipline in Ukraine. Amid reports of drunkenness, soldiers are said to have been thrown in what has been called 'Zindans' - holes in the ground covered up with metal grilles. It is a stark shift in policy from the 'relatively light touch' which military commanders used in the early days of the war, even allowing dissenting troops to quietly go home if they wished. The UK Ministry of Defence stated online: 'In recent months, Russian commanders have likely started punishing breaches in discipline by detaining the offending troops in Zindans which are improvised cells consisting of holes in the ground covered with a metal grille. 'Multiple recent reports from Russian personnel give similar accounts of being placed in Zindans for misdemeanours including drunkenness and attempting to terminate their contracts. Russian commanders are understood to imprisoning their own troops in grilled holes underground as the struggling invasion resorts to extreme methods of discipline in Ukraine (pictured: Pro-Russian soldiers from Donetsk People's Republic wait out an incoming artillery strike in Mariupol) The harsh punishments are believe to have come into force when Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov assumed command of the army in January 2023 'In the early months of the war, many Russian commanders took a relatively light touch in enforcing discipline, allowing those who refused to soldier to quietly return home. 'Since Autumn 2022, there have been multiple increasingly draconian initiatives to improve discipline in the force, especially since Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov assumed command of the operation in January 2023.' On Friday, Russia boasted its missile strikes were 'right on target' in a sickening Telegram post made just hours after Vladimir Putin unleashed a barrage of rockets on Ukrainian homes. More than 20 cruise missiles and two drones were fired at cities and towns across Ukraine that were miles away from the front lines, killing at least 23 civilians including a mother and her two-year-old daughter as they slept inside their homes. Families were blown to pieces, with many victims buried amongst the rubble of their homes, as Russia's missiles thundered through the air and smashed into residential buildings. Five hours after the first rocket struck the town of Uman and wreaked havoc there, Russia's Defence Ministry posted a sinister message that read 'right on target' alongside a photograph of a rocket being launched. The ministry later insisted that its strategic bombers had conducted 'high-precision' attacks on Ukrainian army reserve units overnight to prevent them from getting to the frontline. But the screams of those who watched their relatives and neighbours blown to pieces and the distraught firefighters picking their way through the rubble show the reality of Putin's missile blitz. Rescuers search for survivors in the rubble next to damaged residential buildings in Uman, south of Kyiv on Friday after Russia launched missile strikes on Ukraine Five hours after the first rocket struck the town of Uman and wreaked havoc there, Russia's Defence Ministry posted a sinister message that read 'right on target' alongside a photograph of a rocket being launched A woman carries her child past blown-up residential buildings in the central town of Uman this morning after Russia unleashed a series of missiles on Ukraine A relative of a victim killed in the Russian missile strike breaks down in tears in the town of Umam on Friday In a haunting scene, survivors, stricken with grief, broke down in tears and grasped at each other for some form of comfort as they watched their neighbours being carried away from the rubble in body bags Olga Bilash, 31, was killed alongside her two-year-old daughter (pictured together) after Russia launched missiles at the city of Dnipro on Friday The missiles began raining down on the central city of Dnipro at 4am this morning, with one striking a house where Olga Bilash, 31, and her two-year-old daughter were sleeping, killing them both. Four others were wounded. Harrowing photographs show their destroyed home, where an entire wall is reduced to rubble. Inside, the remaining walls are blackened from the blast and rubble covers the toddler's highchair. Olga's cousin Tetyana Bilash, 21, said: 'I want all Russians to rot and die, I want for this country to never exist. I hate them. My world is ruined and empty.' In the central town of Uman, families were woken by the sound of explosions tearing through their homes. At least two cruise missiles smashed into a nine-storey building, killing at least 17 people including two 10-year-old children and wounding 17 others. In a haunting scene, survivors, stricken with grief, broke down in tears and grasped at each other for some form of comfort as they watched their neighbours being carried away from the rubble in body bags. Hours after the strike, firefighters were still clambering their way through the debris in the hope of finding survivors trapped under the rubble. Kyiv was also rocked by explosions in the first attack on the capital in nearly two months, with air raid sirens beginning at 4am. Ukraine's air force managed to intercept 11 cruise missiles and two drones launched at the city. Explosions were also reported after midnight in Kremenchuk and Poltava in central Ukraine as well as in Mykolaiv in the south. The bombardment was nowhere near the war's sprawling front lines or active combat zones in eastern Ukraine, where a grinding war of attrition has taken hold. Moscow has frequently launched long-range missile attacks during the 14-month war, often indiscriminately hitting civilian areas. Survivors of the Uman strikes recounted terrifying moments as the missiles hit when it still was dark outside. Halyna, a building resident, said she and her husband were covered in glass by the blast. They saw flames outside their window and scrambled out, but first Halyna checked whether her friend in a neighboring apartment was OK. 'I was calling, calling her (on the phone), but she didn't pick up. I even rang the doorbell, but still no answer,' she told The Associated Press. She used the spare keys from her friend's apartment and went inside to check on her. She found her lying dead on her apartment floor. Halyna refused to provide her last name out of security concerns. Olga Bilash, 31, (pictured) was killed alongside her two-year-old daughter after Russia launched missiles at the city of Dnipro on Friday Inside Olga's home, the remaining walls are blackened from the blast and rubble covers the toddler's highchair Harrowing photographs show their destroyed home, where an entire wall is reduced to rubble The body of a woman who died after a Russian attack lies in her home surrounded by debris in Uman, central Ukraine, on Friday Rescuers carry a body bag from a burnt-out residential building in Uman on Friday A local resident witnesses her neighbours in body bags on the ground after they were killed in a Russian missile strike in Uman Another resident Serhii Lubivskyi said he was woken at 4.30 am by the explosion. He ran to the front door but couldn't open it. His bathroom and kitchen were in tatters, dishes and doors smashed. A bone fragment was found on a hacksaw that investigators say was tossed in a dumpster by Brian Walshe after he allegedly killed and dismembered his wife, Ana. Brian, 47, appeared in Norfolk County Superior Court Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, misleading police, obstruction of justice and improper conveyance of a human body. He is accused of killing the mother of three, Ana, 39, on New Year's Day. Her body has not yet been found. However, investigators say they have evidence that links Brian to the murder. In court documents made public this week, it was revealed investigators found a 'small bone fragment' on the hacksaw that Brian had allegedly dumped near Ana's mother's home in Swampscott, Massachusetts. A search of the dumpsters also led to investigators finding Ana's COVID-19 vaccination card and Volkswagen keys. They found pieces of her clothing and jewelry, including a Hermes watch and Gucci necklace, Hunter boots, a black Prada purse and a short black coat, according to the court documents. A bone fragment was found on a hacksaw that cops say was tossed in a dumpster by accused killer Brian Walshe after he allegedly killed and dismembered his wife, Ana. Pictured: Walshe is seen tossing a trash bag in a dumpster outside an apartment complex in Massachusetts A dumpster where police say they found a bone fragment on a hacksaw dumped by Brian Walshe Brian, 47, appeared in court Thursday where he pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, misleading police, obstruction of justice and improper conveyance of a human body Last week, surveillance footage photos revealed Brian bought cleaning supplies and also showed him a trash bag in a dumpster in the hours after his wife Ana was murdered. The images became public last week in court filings submitted as part of the murder case against Brian, who prosecutors say beat Ana to death then dismembered her in the basement of their home. One image shows Brian wearing a face mask and pushing a shopping cart in Rockland Home Depot on January 8 between 4:12 p.m. and 4:56 p.m., according to the search warrant. The warrant revealed he had several items in his cart, including three mops and brushes, two large clear tarps, drop cloth, two rolls of Scotch Heavy duty tape, a Tyvek suit with hood boot coverall, a mop bucket with a ringer, three buckets with lids, two splash-resistant goggles, a utility knife, two 12-pound bags of baking soda and a hatchet. Those items were later found in a search of their home on January 8. In another image, Brian is shown in the parking lot of Vinnin Liquors in Swampscott, where he's seen throwing out a black garbage bag around 5:13 p.m. on January 1. He was spotted just an hour later at Lowe's in Danvers, where he allegedly bought $450 worth of tools, including a hacksaw, according to the warrant. That hacksaw was found by investigators who believe is what he used to kill Ana. Brian Walshe is shown on January 1 purchasing cleaning supplies, a hack saw, hatchet and other items from Lowes, hours after allegedly murdering his wife Ana Walshe pushing his cart through the home store. He is accused of murdering and dismembering Ana at around 4:30am on January 1 Ana, a mother-of-three, had been having an affair for several months with an unidentified man. The man told police that the pair spent Thanksgiving together in Dublin What did Brian Walshe's search history show? January 1: How long before a body starts to smell? How to stop a body from decomposing. Ten ways to dispose of a dead body if you really need to. How long for someone to be missing to inherit. Can you throw away body parts? What does formaldehyde do? How long does DNA last? Can identification be made on partial remains? Dismemberment and the best ways to dispose of a body. How to clean blood from wooden floor. Luminol to detect blood. What happens when you put body parts in ammonia? January 2: Hacksaw best tool to dismember. Can you be charged with murder without a body? Can you identify a body with broken teeth? January 3: What happens to hair on a dead body? What is the rate of decomposition of a body found in a plastic bag compared to on a surface in the woods? Can baking soda mask or make a body smell good? Advertisement The court documents also revealed investigators found rugs that appeared to be from the Walshe's living room and kitchen that 'contained red brown staining' and 'numerous items identical' to Brian's alleged purchases he had made at Lowe's and Home Depot. The court documents stated that Ana, a mother-of-three, had been having an affair for several months with an unidentified man. The man told police that the pair spent Thanksgiving together in Dublin. Ana, who is originally from Serbia, was last seen early January 1 following a New Year's Eve dinner at her Massachusetts home with her husband and a family friend, prosecutors said. Brian said she was called back to Washington on New Year's Day for a work emergency. He didn't contact her employer until January 4, saying she was missing. The company - the first to notify police Ana was missing - said there was no emergency, prosecutors said. By the time she died, Ana had become the family's sole breadwinner. She was working in real estate in Washington DC, while her husband remained in Massachusetts with their three young sons. Brian was awaiting sentencing for a fraud conviction, after stealing and then passing off as real an Andy Warhol painting. Friends say Ana was ready to leave him and broke down in tears at a dinner in the days before she vanished. The new information about the affair was contained within a search warrant for the home. Police say Ana was murdered at around 4am on January 1, three hours after saying goodbye to her friend and former boss who they rang in the New Year with. In the hours following her death, Brian is accused of using his son's iPad to search Google for 'how to dispose of a body' and 'how long before a body starts to smell'. His attorney conceded that the searches were 'problematic'. The next day, he visited several stores, including Home Depot, Lowes and CVS, buying a combination of cleaning agents, plastic sheets, hazmat suits, a hatchet and a hacksaw. Brian was seen in the days following visiting the dumpsters of apartment complexes near his mother's home. It is the prosecution's claim that Ana's dismembered remains were in the bags, but that they were removed by trash services and incinerated by the time police searched the dumpsters. By the time she died, Ana had become the family's sole breadwinner. She was working in real estate in Washington DC, while her husband remained in Massachusetts with their three young sons after being convicted of fraud Walshe shook his head as the charges were read in court Thursday They discovered items of clothing and jewelry - including the Prada boots, Hermes watch and Gucci necklace she'd been wearing when last seen alive - along with traces of her blood and DNA. Last week, Brian's attorney admitted his mother hired a private investigator to trail Ana in Washington DC because she suspected she was having an affair. She, however, claimed that Brian had nothing to do with it, and had no reason to suspect his wife of infidelity until she vanished. They made the claim that Ana could have 'disappeared' because she wanted to. Prosecutors have also pointed to the fact that Brian stood to gain $2.7million in life insurance payouts in the event of his wife's death as a motive. His attorneys dismissed that suggestion on Thursday, saying instead that he had 'no need' for money because his mother was so wealthy. Brian is scheduled to be back in court in August. Two high schoolers are dead and four more are in serious condition after a teenager opened fire at a house party in southern Mississippi. Cameron Everett Brand, 19, was identified by police as the shooter that fired multiple rounds after midnight on Sunday in Bay St. Louis, about 29 miles west of Biloxi. A 16-year-old and 18-year-old died as a result of their injuries. Family members identified the 18-year-old as De'Arreis Smith, according to WLOX. Two of the victims are students at Bay High School in Bay St. Louis. Four of the students attend Hancock High School in Kiln, 13 miles northwest of Bay St. Louis. Video from the incident showed multiple gunshots were fired in the incident. Cameron Everett Brand, 19, faces charges in connection to a shooting at a Mississippi house party that left two dead Police have not said what led to the shooting that left two dead and four people hurt None of the victims attended Bay High's prom, which was held earlier Saturday night. Police say they arrested Brand as the sole shooter at the party. It appeared the gunman had fled the scene after opening fire as officers said he was arrested at his home without incident. He was charged with four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of murder. He is being held in a Mississippi jail without bail. A motive has not been released and police have not said what led to the deadly encounter at the home along Mississippi's coast. A witness said that Brand came into the home and started shooting, sending the crowd scattering. Trails of blood could be seen outside the home on Sunday. The Hancock County School District posted on social media after the shooting: 'Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of two Hancock High School students who were victims of the shooting in Bay St. Louis last night. 'Our hearts are with their families, friends, and the school staff during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep them, along with the others who were injured from Hancock and Bay High Schools, in your thoughts and prayers. 'To our students and staff, please know that there will be support services available at the high school tomorrow to help you through this. 'Let us come together as a community to show our support and love during this difficult time.' The shooting was one of a few high-profile shootings in recent days, including in Texas where a man gun downed five people, including an eight-year-old. Francisco Oropeza, 38, allegedly opened fire Friday near the town of Cleveland, Texas - north of Houston - around 11.30pm. Police investigate after a shooting left five people dead, including an eight-year-old, in Texas The street where the shooting unfolded is of often unwind by firing off guns, residents say. The neighbors - a family of ten all living together - had asked Oropeza to stop firing his weapon because they were trying to get a baby to sleep. Oropeza, who was known to fire his gun in his yard often, replied 'I'll do what I want in my front yard' and shot five members of the family with an AR-15 before fleeing. A manhunt in search of the gunman has been sparked with the FBI getting involved as of Sunday. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropeza allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. Part of a house collapsed and 14 people were injured near The Ohio State University Saturday evening when people climbed onto a roof that was not designed to hold significant weight, authorities said. Columbus Division of Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin said his department received a report around 7:40 p.m. of a roof collapse on East 13th Avenue and arrived to find the roof above a front porch had collapsed while the rest of the home remained intact. "The few people that were trapped, I believe, were probably unpinned," Martin said. "It was like their leg was caught under some of the structure and some of the students lifted that off the students. So everybody was kind of out." First responders initially found 10 injured people and eventually transported 14 accident victims to area hospitals with "various states of injuries" but they all were in stable condition, Martin said. Authorities said over a dozen people were hurt when a roof collapsed at a home near The Ohio State University The roof at the Columbus, Ohio, home collapsed around 7:40 p.m. Saturday "It appears the roof was overloaded with students," Martin said, with estimates ranging from 15 to 45 people on a rooftop "that was not designed to have anybody on it, and it gave way." The names of the home owner or occupants were not immediately available. The home is not on the property of The Ohio State University. The main campus in Columbus has an enrolled student population of 61,677 for the 2022-2023 school year, according to the university's website. Police arrived on scene and initially found some people pinned under rubble All of the victims were listed in stable condition People had gathered outside the home after the roof collapsed, an unnamed student told local media including WSYX. 'Just a lot of panic happening,' the student said. 'I saw a lot of people covered in black soot almost.' Martin said people heard a crack before the roof fell. It was estimated that 15 to 45 people were on top of the roof when it collapsed. Fire officials said the collapse happened during a party at the house. A police watchdog has launched a probe into the death of a heavily pregnant teacher killed by her partner in a suspected murder-suicide. Marelle Sturrock, 35, was 29 weeks pregnant when she was found dead in the couple's home in Jura Street, Glasgow, on Tuesday morning. The discovery of her body prompted a police search for her fiance David Yates, 36, but his body was recovered from a reservoir within Mugdock Country Park, East Dunbartonshire, two days later. Police are now understood to be facing an investigation over the incident, The Daily Record reports. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'As this is being investigated by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) we are unable to comment further.' Marelle Sturrock, 35, was found dead two days before her partner David Yates in what police believe was a murder-suicide Marelle Sturrock, 35, was 29 weeks pregnant when she was found dead in the couple's home on Jura Street, Glasgow Police Scotland officers outside the couple's home in Jura Street, Glasgow, on Thursday Further details of the PIRC probe have not been revealed. Meanwhile, a source told the Daily Record: 'It is thought to have been pre-planned because David brought the dog to his mums house the night before and told her he had plans the next day. 'It is not being considered as an accident - it was a brutal, frenzied attack.' Following the discovery of her body on Tuesday, Yates' white Seat Ateca was found at Mugdock Country Park, some eight miles north of the couple's property, sparking a major search. He was last seen near Mugdock Country Park, just outside the city in East Dunbartonshire, and was wanted in connection with her murder. It is thought that Mr Yates did not leave the park after he travelled there. Helicopter search teams could be seen flying above the park and police divers were involved, with large sections of the reservoir cordoned off with police tape. His death is not being treated as suspicious. Police maintain there is no information to suggest anyone else is involved with Ms Sturrock's death, though an investigation remains ongoing. Deputy Superintendent Nicola Kilblane previously refused to comment on the couple's relationship or if there had been any prior police involvement. Friends say Ms Sturrock was 'really excited' about becoming a mother and was 'brilliant with kids'. But friends of Yates said he had struggled with his mental health in the past. One said: 'David had a bit of a breakdown before his dad died last year. He was in a band for a few years and wanted to make a go of that and he was still doing his theatre shows and things. Nobody can get their heads around what has happened here.' She had worked as a teacher at Sandwood Primary School for more than six years and led its choirs. She was also a keen actress outside the school. Fiona Donnelly, the headteacher of Sandwood Primary School, said: 'Marelle had been a much-loved member of our school community since her probationary year more than six years ago and has taught many year groups throughout her time at the school. Marelle Sturrock, 35, pictured with her fiance David Yates, 36 'We all miss her so much. She was a lovely, kind, diligent and considerate person who loved and made time for everyone. 'Marelle used her artistic talents across the school and was our music champion who has been a key player in the success of our school choirs; with one of her classes going to see her on stage at The King's in one of her many acting roles outside of school. 'We are a school community in mourning and devastated by the tragic news of her death.' Sarah Sturrock, Marelle's sister shared the family's heartbreak, writing: 'There are no words how utterly devastating this is for us as a family & how we are going to cope without her. 'How this could of happened to her I will never get my head around this.' It is understood the couple got engaged in 2015. According to neighbours, the couple would sometimes visit Mugdock Country Park to walk their dog. Neighbour Alex Collie said his wife had spotted Ms Sturrock's worried colleagues at the house on Tuesday morning. He told the Daily Record: 'My wife walked past when they were at the house. 'They were knocking on the door and seemed worried. I think concern was raised when she didn't show up for work. Police pictured searching Mugdock Country park, Milngavie, Scotland, prior to the discovery of Mr Yates 'A few hours later we saw the police here. We got the shock of our life when we heard what had happened to Marelle. It's tragic. I can't believe it.' Pupils at Sandwood Primary School are being supported after the tragedy. Dept Supt Kilbane, of Police Scotland, said in a statement: 'Our thoughts are with Marelle's family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy. 'We are providing her family with specialist support at this incredibly difficult time.' A drone strike over the weekend in Crimea could be laying ground in preparation for a counter-offensive against the Russian invaders, a Ukrainian defence spokesman has suggested. It follows a major fire yesterday at a fuel tank in the peninsula's capital Sevastopol - home to Russia's Black Sea fleet - which Russia has attributed to a Ukrainian drone. Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the depot after the strike destroyed 10 tanks of petroleum products with total capacity of 40,000 tons, according to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (GUR). '[The strike] is one of the elements of preparation for a counteroffensive', said Natalya Gumenyuk, spokeswoman for the South Operational Command of the Armed Forces. The Russian military is said to have been made anxious by the strike and have mounted efforts to evacuate their families and potentially flee Crimea themselves, News In France reports. A firefighter speaks on the walkie talkie as smoke and flame rise from a burning fuel tank in Sevastopol, Crimea Plumes of smoke could be seen rising from the depot after the strike destroyed 10 tanks of petroleum products with total capacity of 40,000 tons, according to Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (GUR). 'This work is preparatory to a broad, full-scale offensive, which everyone expects,' said a representative of the defense forces. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel. The strike came as Ukraine prepares for a long-promised counter offensive to push Russian forces back from territory they seized since invading in February 2022. Ukraine says control of all its legal territory, including Crimea, is a key condition for any peace deal. Russian forces occupied the peninsula in 2014. Moscow has accused Kyiv of sending waves of aerial and seaborne drones to attack Crimea. Razvozhayev said only one drone hit the oil tanks and claimed two other attempted drone strikes were intercepted. He urged Crimeans to 'remain calm' and said 'nobody was hurt'. He estimated the fire was 'around 1,000 square metres' (11,000 square feet). Razvozhayev insisted the peninsula's reserves had not been impacted and authorities had enough fuel for all civilian needs. A map shows the strategic location of Sevastopol, gateway to the Black Sea The strike came as Ukraine prepares for a long-promised counter offensive to push Russian forces back from territory they seized since invading in February 2022 The aftermath of the drone strike on the Black Sea's largest port city could be seen for miles around it 'The enemy... wanted to take Sevastopol by surprise, as usual, by staging a sneak attack in the morning,' Razvozhayev wrote on the Telegram app. Russian firefighters had shown how to defeat a major blaze 'and prevent a catastrophe', he added. Ukraine is thought to lack longer-range missiles that can reach targets in places such as Sevastopol, but has been developing drones to overcome this hurdle. Ukrainian officials do not usually claim responsibility for explosions at military sites in Crimea, although they sometimes celebrate them using euphemistic language. It came less than 24 hours after Russia struck a Soviet-era housing block in the historic city of Uman, killing more than two dozen residents. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his evening address on Saturday, said six children had been killed in the attack. 'We will do everything possible to ensure that the terrorist state is held accountable for its actions as soon as possible,' he added. 'Anyone who prepares such rocket attacks cannot but know that they will become an accomplice to murder.' Zelensky did not refer directly to the months-long fighting for the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, focus of repeated Russian assaults that have slowly closed in on the centre. The Ukraine leader said that next week would be important in terms of 'our struggle for justice'. Ukraine is thought to lack longer-range missiles that can reach targets in places such as Sevastopol, but has been developing drones to overcome this hurdle Ukrainian officials do not usually claim responsibility for explosions at military sites in Crimea, although they sometimes celebrate them using euphemistic language He stressed that Kyiv was preparing 'several important, powerful steps to consolidate our partners and give more energy to the creation of a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression, and to accelerate the defeat of the terrorist state'. Earlier Kyiv had identified an 18-month-old baby boy as among the victims. 'One woman is considered missing. The search continues,' Ukrainian Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said. Ukraine did not claim the Crimea attack, but military intelligence implied it was revenge for Uman. Andriy Yusov, from the defence ministry's intelligence unit, said it was 'God's punishment, in particular for the civilians killed in Uman'. He warned people in Crimea to 'avoid being near military facilities and facilities providing the aggressor's army in the near future'. Russian attacks on Bakhmut are largely led by the Wagner private army. Its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said his forces had advanced between 100 (300ft) and 150 metres on Saturday and claimed pro-Kyiv units now only controlled three sq km (1.2 sq miles). Prigozhin, speaking in a voice message posted to Telegram, repeated his complaints that Moscow was not sending his men enough ammunition. Prigozhin has made over-optimistic statements about Wagner's military successes in the past and Reuters was not able to immediately verify his latest claim. Razvozhayev said the fire at the city's harbour was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained. The governor said the oil depot was attacked by 'two enemy drones,' and four oil tanks burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimea's Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview this week that his country will seeking to reclaim the peninsula in the upcoming counteroffensive. In southern Ukraine, Russian occupation authorities said a key city they control - Novaya Kakhovka - had come under 'intense shelling' and had been cut off from power. The city fell to Russian forces on the first day of their invasion on February 24, 2022. It lies in the part of the Kherson region that Moscow still controls, having withdrawn from the eponymous regional capital last November. Russian forces urged people in the city 'to keep calm', saying work to restore power would start 'after the shelling ends'. The shelling of Novaya Kakhovka came a day after Russian shelling killed a 57-year-old woman in a southern Ukrainian village. Zelensky had promised a response. Inside Russia there are fears of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. The governor of the border Belgorod region - also hit by several attacks during the course of the war - said on Saturday that five frontier villages were without power after Ukrainian shelling. 'The power lines are damaged,' Gladkov said, adding that there had been no victims. Elsewhere, Russia accused Poland - with whom it has historically poor relations - of a 'blatant violation' of international norms after Warsaw impounded a school run by the Russian embassy in the Polish capital. Moscow called the move an 'illegal act' and promised 'harsh' consequences. Held against his will in alleged extortion plot A pensioner from China was lured by a fake business deal to a rental property in Perth where he was allegedly kidnapped and tortured. The victim, aged 68, had travelled from China to Perth but stopped in Melbourne where he met with a 29-year-old man about a business proposition. The pair then flew to Western Australia on April 23 when the victim was driven to a house in Caversham, north east Perth, where a third man was waiting. House of horrors: the Caversham property where the alleged kidnap and torture took place The man was then held against his will and tortured in an alleged extortion plot. His captors allegedly rang his relatives, demanding sums of money for his release. But the man's terrifying ordeal came to an end after two days when police identified his location and smashed down the door of the Caversham property. The man was found inside the house with various injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. Three men a 29-year-old, a 37-year-old and 31-year-old - have each been charged with kidnapping offences. The property was a short-term rental unit, according to 7NEWS. Police smashed the door down and freed the man who was taken to hospital with injuries A Western Australia police spokesperson said: 'It will be alleged the 68-year-old man was subsequently held against his will and assaulted a number of times. 'It will be further alleged members of his family were also contacted, requesting sums of money for his release.' Both the 29-year-old man and-37-year-old man first appeared in Midland Magistrates Court on 27 April 2023. Their next court appearance will be in Midland Magistrates Court on 12 May 2023 and 26 May 2023, respectively. A 31-year-old man will appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on 29 April. Also arrested was Dennis Novoa - both were charged with first-degree murder She was alleged to have been involved in a fatal shooting nearly two months ago A preschool teacher was arrested while her students were napping for her alleged involvement in the fatal shooting of a man found dead by a California hillside earlier this month. Diana Ornelas, 22, was arrested on Wednesday around 3pm for the murder of Oliver Waterfall, 24, and appeared in court on Friday. She was charged with first-degree murder. She was arrested on the same day as Dennis Novoa, 27, also charged with murder in connection to Waterfall's death. Ornelas continued to educate the toddlers for nearly two months after the alleged killing. Sheriff's deputies say Waterfall's remains were found in April along a hillside in California, but he had been killed a month earlier. She was a teacher at the Children's Center of the Stanford Community, which offers childcare for children of Stanford University students, staff and faculty aged between 8 weeks to 5 years old. Diana Ornelas (pictured left), 22, was arrested from a preschool for children of Stanford faculty, staff and students Wednesday for her involvement in the murder of Oliver Waterfall. On the same day Dennis Novoa (pictured right), 27, also arrested and charged with murder in connection to Waterfall's death Ornelas was a teacher at the Children's Center of the Stanford Community (pictured), which offers childcare for children of Stanford University students, staff, and faculty aged between 8 weeks to 5 years Santa Cruz Sheriff's deputies said both Ornelas and Novoa knew Waterfall and that the motive for his murder was 'personal', but did not clarify their suspected roles. Waterfall posted a photo to Facebook in February of a flowering cannabis plant and mentioned Novoa. 'Shoutout to the homie Dennis Novoa for teaching me how to grow,' wrote Waterfall. Other photos on his page are of psychedelic paraphernalia, bundles of cash and in one, a handgun is visible. Sheriff's deputies say Waterfall had been dead for almost a month before his body was found 'down a hillside of Highway 9'. 'The arrest happened at naptime, and outside of the perimeter of the CCSC campus,' the school wrote in a message informing parents about the arrest, which was obtained by The Stanford Daily. Children's Center of the Stanford Community said children were not present when Ornelas was arrested Wednesday afternoon because they were napping 'Children were not present when this occurred, and it did not disrupt operations,' it added.' We are all shocked and distressed by this news because CCSC is a place and community that means so much to all of us.' A spokesperson said in a statement the 'event that led to the arrest did not have a connection to the campus community.' Ornelas was booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder without bail, Santa Cruz jail inmate records show. Novoa was booked into jail on one count of first-degree murder and his bail was set at $1 million. The duo is expected to be arraigned May 17, according to Santa Cruz jail records. A passenger on the Spirit of Tasmania has reportedly died after going overboard. The man's body was recovered from the water off Geelong around 8.50pm. Crew had earlier told other passengers he had been safely retrieved, according to 7NEWS. It is understood the ship turned around shortly after 8pm while bound for Tasmania, as a search for the missing passenger and a headcount was conducted onboard. The death is not being treated as suspicious. The ship is now returning to the port. The man's body was recovered from the water off Geelong around 8.50p Crew had earlier told other passengers he had been safely retrieved, according to 7NEWS One passenger revealed on social media: 'After trying crew were not able to revive him so we are heading back to Geelong to take him off the boat, very sad.' It comes just days after an Australian man went overboard on a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean. Warwick Tollemache, 35, from Brisbane was identified as the man who fell from the Quantum of the Seas into the Pacific Ocean about 1400km south of the Hawaiian islands late on Tuesday night. Mr Tollemache's shattered family shared a tribute to the missing man after the US Coast Guard suspended the search on Friday morning Australian time. A spokesperson for Victoria Police said: 'Police will prepare a report for the Coroner after a mans body was recovered from waters off Geelong about 8.50pm on Sunday 30 April. 'The mans death is not being treated as suspicious.' The Texas man who allegedly gunned down five people, including an eight-year-old, after neighbors asked him to stop firing off an AR-15 in his yard is still on the run after 36 hours as authorities admit he 'could be anywhere' as the FBI joins the manhunt. Francisco Oropeza, 38, fled after the shooting unfolded around 11:30pm Friday near the town of Cleveland, Texas, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. But target practice turned deadly when neighbors confronted Oropeza, asking him to stop because a baby was trying to sleep. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, and allegedly turned the gun on them, killing five people. The search for the suspect, now in its second day, has been widened as far as 20 miles from the scene of the shooting, with San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers admitting 'he could be anywhere now.' The FBI's Houston field office stated they have joined in the search and 'will be her until Francisco Oropeza is captured'. Francisco Oropeza, 38, who allegedly gunned down five people, including an eight-year-old, after being asked to stop shooting his AR-15 is on the run as cops admit he 'could be anywhere' The FBI has joined the search for Oropeza who fled the area after the shooting on Friday night in Cleveland, Texas that left five people dead Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area for Oropeza that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropeza allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. Capers became emotional at a Saturday news conference where he revealed that the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot 'almost execution style' 'from the neck up,' he said. Capers said there were 10 people in the house - some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week - but no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. 'In my opinion, they were actually trying to take care of the babies and keep them babies alive,' he said. A total of three children were found covered in blood in the home and taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. A hazardous cleanup crew handles what appears to be a body bag at the scene of a mass shooting in Cleveland, near Houston, on Friday. The search for the suspect, now in its second day, has been widened as far as 20 miles from the scene of the shooting A loved one is consoled by others as he arrives at the scene where five people were shot A manhunt is ongoing in the search for a suspect who gunned down five people in Texas San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers became emotional at a Saturday news conference where he revealed that the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot 'from the neck up,' he said The confrontation was sparked by neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim's home, while in the front yard of Oropeza's house a dog and chickens wandered. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn't think anything of it. 'It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work,' Arevalo said. 'They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there.' A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. 'I tell my wife all the time, `Stay away from the neighbors. Dont argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,'' Arevalo said. 'I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way.' Oropeza has a large tattoo of what appears to be a female Aztec on the left forearm The scene of shooting in Cleveland, Texas, where five people were fatally shot by a neighbor The suspect's home next door. He had been shooting in his yard when at 11.30pm and his neighbors asked him to stop so they could get their baby to sleep The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about 'shooting his gun in the yard.' It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places - a Nashville school , a Kentucky bank , a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home. Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about 'shooting his gun in the yard.' It was not clear if any action was taken at the time Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A fit New York City cop is under investigation after she tried to allegedly prevent narcotic detectives from busting her drug dealer boyfriend. Bronx cop Alisa Bajraktarevic, 33, wreaked havoc when she was pulled over along with the suspect Saturday - as officers said she attempted to use her cop status to get away and caused a scene when they wouldn't let them go. Bajraktarevic and the alleged drug dealer's romance sparked when they met at the gym, a source told the New York Post. She had previously warned by her colleagues to stay away from her unnamed lover after it was revealed narcotic investigators have been watching him for some time. The cop's protective stunt lead her to get her guns confiscated and moved to desk duty. Meanwhile, her boyfriend wasn't named because officers let him go. Alisa Bajraktarevic, 33, was reassigned after she tried to stop detectives from searching her alleged drug dealer beau, according to sources Bajraktarevic's boyfriend, whose name wasn't disclosed since he wasn't arrested, had been on police radar for 'some time' Recalling the moment Bajraktarevic and her lover were pulled over, police had planned to search the car of the man they referred to as 'a major player' and arrest him for drug trafficking, according to the source. Without hesitation, Bajraktarevic immediately jumped out of the car in determination to get herself and the drug dealer off scot-free. 'They didnt know who she was until she stepped up and said who she was,' the source told the news outlet. 'She definitely gave them a hard time,' another source chimed in. Bajraktarevic refused to abide by the officer's commands, leading them to call backup. It's unclear if police ended up searching the drug dealer's car, but they may have been too distracted by Bajraktarevic's tirade. 'They ended up letting him go,' the source said while adding Bajraktarevic was reported. 'They dropped a log on her.' The cop and the boyfriend were involved in a traffic stop when she attempted to use her cop status to get off scot-free. Pictured: Alisa Bajraktarevic Bajraktarevic, who previously worked 11 years for the NYPD police with a reported $115,250 salary, insisted her beau wasn't a drug dealer She had previously warned her by her colleagues to stay away from her unnamed lover after it was revealed narcotic investigators have been watching him for some time Bajraktarevic's relationship with the drug dealer had been known by the department for about a year, since she tried to interfere with a search at his Manhattan home. Speaking about the dealer, the source said, 'Hes a really bad guy and known to the department.' Despite being warned by officer's to stay away from the dealer, Bajraktarevic continued her love affair and even brought him to a company party. 'This person eventually is going to use you as a get-out-of-jail card, which is what he did,' the source added. But, Bajraktarevic insists that her gym beau isn't a drug dealer. 'Hes not a drug dealer,' she told the news outlet. Bajraktarevic, who previously worked 11 years for the NYPD police with a reported $115,250 salary, gave vague comments as she insisted she couldn't reveal much of what happened due to department policy. 'But the alleged drug dealer? Thats not under investigation,' she insisted. Last year, Bajraktarevic moved to work on the Bronx Robbery Squad to assist with city-wide robberies, including residential. Sources speculate she could've used her status to inform the dealer about various warrants. Sen. Bernie Sanders said Democrats could get behind spending cuts for the military and President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy could start negotiating immediately if Republicans would take default off the table. 'Is it time for President Biden to start negotiating?' the Vermont senator was asked by CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday. 'I think we can start negotiating tomorrow,' he said. 'But you cannot be holding the world's economy hostage. What the Republicans have got to say is absolutely we are calling to make sure that we pay our debt. Let's sit down and negotiate a budget.' Last week Republicans passed a sprawling debt limit bill that they said would save $4.5 trillion in exchange for lifting the nation's borrowing cap by $1.5 trillion. Now GOP leadership insists the ball is in Biden's court to come to the negotiating table. Asked what sort of budget cuts Democrats could negotiate on with Republicans, Sanders said: 'I think we can move towards cutting military spending without spending 10 times more than the people of any other country on Earth. Massive cost overruns in the Pentagon.' 'Is it time for President Biden to start negotiating?' the Vermont senator was asked by CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday. 'I think we can start negotiating tomorrow,' he said He also called for tax increases on the wealthy, adding he was 'willing' to look at budget cuts related to government. 'The largest corporations in this country, the wealthiest people [need to] have their fair share of taxes.' On Saturday on CNN Sanders had said he did not think billionaires should exist. 'We should go back to a very progressive tax policy,' he said. 'I think people can make it on $999 million.' And after running against Biden in a primary in 2020, Sanders said he thought Biden could 'win in a landslide' in 2024. After running against Biden in a primary in 2020, Sanders said he thought Biden could 'win in a landslide' in 202 "I think the choice is pretty clear." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) tells CNN's Dana Bash why President Joe Biden should be the choice for voters in 2024 and what the president needs to do to get reelected. @CNNSotu #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/4RK7SLVtL4 CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 30, 2023 The senator it's 'no great secret' he and Biden 'have strong differences of opinion' but stressed Biden was the right person to take on Republicans. 'We live in a nation where you have a major political party, the Republican Party, where many- not all, but many of their leadership doesn't even believe in democracy, they maintain the myth that Trump won the last election. They're trying to keep people from voting. They're trying to deny women the right to control their own bodies,' Sanders said. 'If you believe in democracy, you want to see more people vote, not fewer people vote, I think the choice is pretty clear. And that choice is Biden,' he said. Sanders also shrugged off concerns about Biden's age. 'Well, I think when you look at a candidate you consider a lot. I think age is one thing, I think experience is another thing, I think your record that you have established is another thing,' Sanders said. The leader of Russia's feared Wagner Group of mercenaries has said the firm could soon dissolve as he attacked the Russian military's record on ammunition supplies. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, regularly publicises his group's successes on the battlefield, despite his claims of a media blackout. He has laid a charge at the Russian defence ministry's door, accusing it of stifling his access to ammunition and extra troops, The Telegraph reports Commentators have suggested this is the work of Russia's defence minister Serge Shoig in an attempt to counter Progozhin's influence. In an interview with Russian war blogger Semyon Pegov, he said: 'Now, with regard to the need in general for shells at the front, what we want. Today we are coming to the point where Wagner is ending. Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, regularly publicises his group's successes on the battlefield, despite his claims of a media blackout (Pictured: Wagner boss Yevheny Prizgozhin, left, with Russian president Vladimir Putin) Prigozhin told a broadcaster that his mercenary group is 'ending' and in a short period of time 'will cease to exist' 'Wagner, in a short period of time, will cease to exist. We will become history, nothing to worry about, things like this happen.' Mr Prigozhin made the comments after joking about Bakhmut, where the Wagner Goup has been leading an assault. The mercenary leader is known for his confrontational manner and dry humour, leading some to question the authenticity of his statements. The Ukraine war has seen the Wagner Group shift from a secretive Moscow unit allegedly hired to carry out Putin's dubious activities in Syria and Africa - where Russia has military and mining interests - to a mainstream militia widely talked about in the media. Mr Kremlin has denied belittling or downplaying Wagner's conquests, despite complaints from Mr Prigozhin. UK members of Parliament have called for the group to be categorised as a terrorist organisation after learning its had played a part in the Sudan conflict. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sudan accused Wagner of training troops in Sudan, handing weapons to both warring sides and field false rumours during recent pro-democracy protests. Wagner reportedly has a 'bot farm' in St Petersburg, dedicated to IT research and new drone tech. Recently, mercenaries for Russia's infamous Wagner Group have been aided by 'secret drones' supplied by Chinese intelligence services (Pictured: a thermal power plant heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike) Yevgeny Prigozhin set up the armed militia during the Syrian conflict in 2014 when his men were deployed to look after Russian interests in the country. Now, the Kremlin has ordered Prigozhin to send troops to support the Russia's stalled offensive in Ukraine, where the mercenaries have been accused of murdering civilians. Reports suggest Prigozhin has been recruiting men from Russian prisons, offering them pardons if they complete their military service. According to The Telegraph, ChVK Wagner Centre has been registered as a company in Russia which is primarily focused on 'management consultancy'. It is illegal under Russian law to operate a mercenary company. In January, Wagner was recruiting in Serbia, running adverts on local media seeking volunteers to join the fight against Ukraine. Jeffrey Epstein's newly-released private calendar revealed he had scheduled meetings with a slew of prominent individuals, including the current CIA director, after he was convicted as a sex offender. The documents contain emails and scheduled meetings with now-CIA Director William Burns, Bard College president Leon Botstein, Obama's White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler and professor Noam Chomsky. The meetings were scheduled between 2013 to 2017 after the pedophile had served time in jail in 2008 for sex crimes involving a teenage girl. The purpose of the meetings was not revealed in the trove of documents, which were obtained by The Wall Street Journal and published on Sunday. Epstein, who was dogged for years by allegations that he sexually abused girls and young women, was found dead in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The city's medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. Jeffrey Epstein's newly-released private calendar revealed that he had scheduled meetings with a slew of prominent individuals, including the current CIA director and an attorney who served in the Obama administration, after he was a convicted sex offender William Burns, who has been the director of the CIA since 2021, met with Epstein a decade ago when he was leaving government service, CIA spokeswoman Tammy Kupperman Thorp said Burns, who has been the director of the CIA since 2021 under President Joe Biden, met with Epstein a decade ago when Burns was preparing to leave government service at that time, according to CIA spokeswoman Tammy Kupperman Thorp. 'The director did not know anything about him, other than that he was introduced as an expert in the financial services sector and offered general advice on transition to the private sector,' she said. 'They had no relationship.' Documents containing the private calendar revealed that Burns, who met Epstein in Washington and once went to his townhouse in Manhattan, had meetings scheduled with him in 2014. Many other appointments with prominent people were scheduled to take place at Epstein's townhouse - a place where prosecutors in 2019 alleged Epstein sexually abused female victims, many of them underage. Kathryn Ruemmler, who was a White House counsel in the Obama administration, and joined Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in 2020, had dozens of meetings planned with Epstein. She had also been scheduled to join Epstein on a trip to Paris in 2015 and a visit to Epstein's private island in the Caribbean in 2017, according to the documents. They first met after he called her to ask if she would be interested in representing Mr. Gates and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, a Goldman Sachs spokesman told the Wall Street Journal. There was a discussion between Epstein and his staff about whether Ruemmler would be uncomfortable with the presence of young women who worked as assistants at the townhouse, according to the documents. Kathryn Ruemmler, who was a White House counsel in the Obama administration, and joined Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in 2020, had dozens of meetings planned with Epstein. Pictrured: Ruemmler appears on 'Meet the Press' in Washington, D.C., Sunday, June 29, 2014 In emails detailed in the documents, a few of the women alleged to have worked for Epstein asked if they should avoid the home while Ruemmler was there. Epstein told one woman not to be around, but told the other it would be OK. During her meetings at the townhouse, Ruemmler didn't express any concern about their presence, the Goldman spokesman said. Ruemmler had more than three dozen appointments with Epstein, including lunches and dinners, according to the documents. 'In the normal course, Epstein also invited her to meetings and social gatherings, introduced her to other business contacts and made referrals,' the Goldman spokesman said. 'It was the same kinds of contacts and engagements she had with other contacts and clients.' She was scheduled to fly with Epstein to Paris and in 2017 and his island home in the U.S. Virgin Islands for the day, according to the documents. But Ruemmler never visited his island and 'never accepted an invitation or an opportunity to fly with Jeffrey Epstein anywhere,' the Goldman spokesman said. Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College, had dozens of meetings with Epstein at his townhouse, the first in 2012 to thank him for his donations, which continued. In 2015, Epstein donated 66 laptops, the documents show. President of Bard College Leon Botstein had meetings with Epstein, the first in 2012 to thank him for his donations. He was aware of Epstein's past but added they 'believe in rehabilitation' 'I was an unsuccessful fundraiser and actually the object of a little bit of sadism on his part in dangling philanthropic support,' Botstein said. 'That was my relationship with him.' Botstein admitted he was aware of Epstein's past. 'We looked him up, and he was a convicted felon for a sex crime,' he said. Bard has a large program providing education to prisoners, he said. 'We believe in rehabilitation.' According to the documents, Botstein, who was also the music director for the American Symphony Orchestra, invited Epstein to an opera at Bard in 2013, and a concert at the college in 2016. Epstein planned to bring some of his young female assistants each time. Epstein also had a meeting with noted liberal activist and professor Noam Chomsky, who told the outlet that they discussed political and academic topics, specifically about Israel-Palestine relations. The meetings between Chomsky and Esptein also included former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Noam Chomsky said he met with Epstein in 2015 to discuss political and academic topics. All of the meetings with Epstein happened before federal investigators accused him with a slew of sex-trafficking crimes. The charges happened after media reports of his sweetheart deal in Florida in 2008 that saw him quietly serve time for sex crimes. The reports sparked backlash and fervor over the deal with Epstein. Prosecutors then charged and arrested Epstein. He was found dead in his federal jail cell as he awaited trial on the latest charges. Officials ruled his death a suicide, but there have been questions raised on if foul play was involved. Epstein's mistress, Ghislaine Maxwell, was convicted of crimes related to the sex ring and sentenced to 20 years in prison. She is appealing her conviction. Virginia Roberts also sued Prince Andrew for his alleged role in Epstein's sex ring. The case ended when a settlement was reached in February 2022, with Andrew paying a reported $12million. Donald Trump Jr. tore into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for remaining silent on Fox News' firing of Tucker Carlson, accusing him of being 'afraid to cross Paul Ryan.' 'It's been almost a week since Fox News fired Tucker Carlson & Ron DeSantis STILL hasn't found the courage to say a word about it. Wonder why?' Trump Jr. wrote on Twitter. 'We already know he flip-flopped on Ukraine because of his donors, so i guess it's unsurprising that he's afraid to cross Paul Ryan & Fox.' Rupert Murdoch's media empire went all-in for DeSantis in the 2024 race for the presidency after it deserted Trump over his baseless claims that Biden's victory in the 2020 election was fraudulent. Former Speaker Paul Ryan sits on the board at Fox News. DeSantis has not yet jumped into the race but Trump and his allies are all-in lobbing attacks at the governor, now considered Trump's only viable rival in the race. Donald Trump Jr. tore into Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for remaining silent on Fox News' firing of Tucker Carlson, accusing him of being 'afraid to cross Paul Ryan' Trump Jr. previously went after DeSantis for waiting days to defend his dad when he was indicted by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg over hush money payments. Last month DeSantis tried to clean up comments where he called Russia's brutal war on Ukraine a 'territorial dispute' after drawing rebukes against 'isolationism' but praise from Fox News host Tucker Carlson. 'While the U.S. has many vital national interests securing our borders, addressing the crisis of readiness within our military, achieving energy security and independence, and checking the economic, cultural, and military power of the Chinese Communist Party becoming further entangled in a territorial dispute between Ukraine and Russia is not one of them,' DeSantis originally said last month. DeSantis told Piers Morgan more than a week after his initial comments: 'Well, I think it's been mischaracterized. Obviously, Russia invaded that was wrong. They invaded Crimea and took that in 2014 That was wrong.' Rupert Murdoch's media empire went all-in for DeSantis in the 2024 race for the presidency after it deserted Trump over his baseless claims that Biden's victory in the 2020 election was fraudulent After Carlson's shock ouster former President Trump speculated that he had been let go because he wanted 'free rein' and said he was 'shocked' by the Fox News host's departure and 'surprised' that the network settled the 2020 election Dominion Voting Systems case. Well I'm shocked. I'm surprised,' the former president said on NewsMax. 'He's a very good person, a very good man and very talented as you know and he had very high ratings. We're just learning about it almost as we speak.' 'I don't know if it was voluntary or was - somebody fired, but I think Tucker's been terrific,' Trump continued. 'He's been - especially over the last year or so - he's been terrific to me.' As part of the Dominion lawsuit some of Carlson's emails were unsealed. 'We are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. I truly can't wait,' Carlson allegedly said about Trump, according to the lawsuit. 'I hate him passionately,' the Fox host had texted his producer Alex Pfeiffer on January 4, 2021, the suit said. But in an interview with Trump earlier this month, Carlson told his Fox audience that Trump came off as 'moderate, sensible and wise.' In turn, Trump was pleasant with Carlson throughout their sit-down. With Kelly, Trump made it known that he didn't know what happened. 'I'm not representing them at all by any means but the Tucker situation - you don't know if it's a firing, maybe he left because he wasn't given a free rein - he wants free rein maybe,' Trump said. 'I was suprised by it.' Trump also suggested that the Dominion Voting Systems case was winnable. 'Well I was surprised that they made a settlement in their case,' Trump said. 'I thought that was a case that should easily be won and they made a settlement.' A walrus named after a Norse God who captured the world's attention last summer has been honoured with a bronze sculpture in Norway. Freya, a 600kg (1,300lbs) playful walrus, who became a global celebrity last year after she was seen frolicking and basking in a Oslo fjord, was euthanised by the authorities after they said people had got too close to her. She has now been honoured with a life-size sculpture by Norwegian artist Astri Tonoian, which was unveiled on Saturday at the Oslo marina not far from her favourite sunbathing spot. The walrus, named Freya, quickly become a popular attraction among Oslo residents but Norwegian authorities later made a decision to euthanise her - causing public outrage - because they said people had not followed recommendations to keep a safe distance away from the massive animal. Norwegian news agency NTB said a crowdfunding campaign was kicked off last autumn to finance the sculpture. Freya, a 600kg (1,300lbs) playful walrus, has been immortalised in a bronze sculpture placed in Oslo's marina The walrus, named Freya, quickly become a popular attraction among Oslo residents in the summer of 2022 The private initiative managed to gather about 270,000 Norwegian kroner (around 20,200) by October. Campaign organiser Erik Holm said: 'I started this because I'm furious about the way the Fisheries Directorate and the state handled this situation. 'Beyond the issue of Freya, we need to ask ourselves how we treat animals and nature. We need to think about our relationship to wildlife,' he added. The walrus is a protected species that normally lives in the more northerly latitudes of the Arctic. Walruses do not normally behave aggressively towards humans, but they can feel threatened by intruders and attack (Freya in naval port of Den Helder) The walrus is a protected species that normally lives in the more northerly latitudes of the Arctic (Freya in naval port of Den Helder) Despite repeated appeals to stay away, curious onlookers approached the mammal, sometimes with children in tow, to take photographs. Walruses do not normally behave aggressively towards humans, but they can feel threatened by intruders and attack. Critics said the decision to put the animal down was rushed and did not take her well-being into account. Officials said sedating Freya and moving her to a less populated area would have been too complex an operation. Police were forced to keep gender critical activists and pro-trans protesters apart from each other at a rally held by women's right's campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen in London today. The meeting of Standing For Women was led by Ms Keen - who is also known as Posie Parker - at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park saw the two groups face off. Parker is leading a campaign for the word 'woman' to be defined as 'adult, human, female' in law, but has been met with protests from trans activists - most recently in Belfast earlier this month. In Hyde Park the opposition group held LGBT flags and signs reading 'Terfs Go Home', the pro-trans protesters demonstrated against the meeting behind a line of police officers, while chanting 'LGB with the T'. Last month Parker was forced to cut short a tour of New Zealand in the face of protests by local pro-trans activists and at one rally had tomato sauce thrown over her by one protester. Police officers stand next to pro-trans activists as they protest a rally by Posie Parker in Hyde Park today People gathered at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London, today for a meeting of Standing For Women At Sunday's event in the capital mounted police were on patrol to ensure the rally and protests went off without incident. READ MORE HERE: Dozens of police keep rival protesters apart at Posie Parker rally in Belfast Advertisement Asked if she felt threatened by the presence of the protest, Jackie Cole, 64, from Sussex said: 'Yes, not by the police, but by the people who have come to protest (against) us. She added: 'This is the first time that we've had sufficient presence from the police to keep it under control.' 'Speakers' corner is the home of free speech. Of course, we should be able to come here and talk about the things that concern us without people trying to shut us down, and trying to shout over us.' However, Suzanne Cunningham, 50, from Essex, said that the protesters were entitled to be there. 'Well, they're perfectly entitled to say their piece and do what they want,' she said. 'I probably would have been one of them years and years ago. As long as they're not doing anything illegal and they're not inviting violence.' She said she did not want to hurt anyone's feelings. 'We're all human, nobody wants to hurt anybody else's feelings. It shouldn't need to be said. 'We all know that. It's a woman's rights movement, we're not anti-trans. That's what annoys me, the whole anti-trans thing.' Pro-trans activists protest the meeting at Speakers' Corner today, holding signs saying 'Posie is a fascist' Women's rights campaigners stand looking towards the pro-trans activists, with one holding a sign that says 'Lesbianism excludes those born with a penis' Parker, pictured here in Belfast on April 16, has seen her rallies picketed by pro-trans activists in recent months She added that they had met there for years without protesters appearing. 'We didn't used to have this at all,' she said. 'I've been coming for years and there didn't used to be anybody here on the other side that was against us. 'We used to just sit and have a chat and a talk, and eat some crisps, and listen to what everybody was saying.' Earlier this month around 50 police officers were drafted in to keep pro-trans activists and women's rights campaigners from clashing at a rally by Parker in Belfast. Hundreds of people gathered in the Donegall Quay area of the city centre to hear Keen, also known as Posie Parker, calling counter-protesters 'f*****g deranged' Last month Keen was forced to cut her 'Let Women Speak' tour short following an incident at Albert Park, in Auckland's CBD. She was due to give an address when she was mobbed by counter protesters and covered in tomato soup before being taken away under police protection. A video taken by New Zealand Herald columnist Shaneel Lal, who praised the fact she wasn't allowed to deliver a speech, showed counter-protesters taking over the area where the rally was taking place. Parker was doused with tomato soup by a protester at a rally in Auckland, New Zealand, last month Speaking to MailOnline during her tour Down Under, Parker said she felt like 'public enemy No 1' and admits she fears for her safety after becoming 'a hate figure'. She said: 'I didn't realise how much women are hated by some parts of society before I came here. 'I feel like there are some great powers somewhere who don't want women talking. 'I can take being called a transphobe, but calling someone a Nazi? One of the politicians here called me a c***. They used rhyming slang of "dropkick and punt". 'The war on women in these countries is absolutely frightening. 'I have got to have a team of seven security guards out here with me. I genuinely do feel my life could be in danger sometimes.' Kansas governor Laura Kelly has the largest estate but the smallest house The house on the sprawling 210-acre estate is built in a Greek revival style Almost all of the 50 U.S. states have an official residence for their state governor - and naturally, the size of the estates on which their homes are built varies a lot. And some offer massive properties that seem to be fit for a king. The governor of Kansas, Laura Kelly, lives on the largest estate by far, around 210 acres, but ironically her home itself is one of the smallest mansions. Kelly's Cedar Crest estate is nearly 12 times larger than that of the governor with the second largest estate - Brian Kemp of Georgia. A study by MoverDB used public sources and Google Maps estimations to rank the size of the estates of 31 U.S. governors. All findings were based on the size of the entire estates and not the houses on them. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly lives in the smallest house on the largest estate. Cedar Crest in Topeka spans more than 200 acres Kelly's Cedar Crest is nearly 12 times larger than that of the governor of with the second-largest estate The 24,000 square-foot house on Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's 16-acre estate features 30 Doric columns along a front porch, which wraps around the entire square building Kelly's French-Norman-style house in Kansas was built in 1928, bequeathed to the state in 1955 and became the official governor's residence in 1962. It is located in Topeka, to the west of Kansas City, and overlooks the Kansas River from the south. Though built on a larger estate, it is perhaps not as grand as the Georgia governor's mansion in northeast Atlanta. Though the second-largest official home amongst all governor's residence, it is significantly smaller than the Cedar Crest property, sitting on a comparatively small 16 acres of land. The 24,000 square-foot house was built in a Greek-Revival style in 1967 and featured 30 Doric columns along a front porch, which wraps around the entire square building. Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington State, lives on the third-largest estate, which is next to the state's capitol building. The house is a Georgian-style building with 19 rooms and sits on 12 acres of land, donated to the state in 1855 by Edmund Sylvester, one of the founding fathers of Olympia, the state's capital city. The first floor has a ballroom with a musicians' gallery, a state dining room, a living room and the governor's study. The second floor has eight rooms and three bathrooms, according to the online encyclopedia of Washington State, HistoryLink. The exterior was finished in red brick, trimmed in white Alaskan marble and sandstone copings. Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, lives on the third largest estate, which is next to the state's capitol building The New Mexico governor's mansion sits on the fourth largest plot - 12 acres in Santa Fe. It became the governor's official residence in 1954 with the retirement of its previous governor's mansion in downtown Santa Fe that resembled the White House, but was painted yellow. The current governor's residence is a humble one-story structure and contrasts greatly with its predecessor, which like the many other official governor's houses in other states, was Greek Revival. The new residence, however, draws on the styles of New Mexico's era as a territory and features red brick trim around the roof, according to the Sante Fe New Mexican. The 8,000-square-foot home includes a dining room with a stenciled ceiling inspired by the Spanish palace near Madrid in Spain, where King Philip III signed the papers authorizing the settlement of Santa Fe, according to a state website. Missouri has one of the oldest governor's mansions in the US - it has been the official residence since 1872 The governor with the smallest estate of those measured is Mike Dunleavy of Alaska, though the house is 12,900 square-foot The fifth-largest governor's residence marks a return to the norm, with a Neo-Renaissance house on a 10-acre plot of land in Missouri. Occupied by current Missouri governor Mike Parson, it is one of the oldest governors' homes in the U.S. and has been the official residence since 1872. Situated in Jefferson City, it is characterized by four pink granite columns at its entrance that come from Brown's quarry in the state's Iron County. The governor with the smallest estate of those measured is Mike Dunleavy of Alaska. His home sits on a plot less than a single acre in area. The residence, in Juneau, Alaska, was first occupied in 1912 and still features tall grand columns. The 12,900-square-foot three-story house is large with 26 rooms. Arizona, Idaho, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont dont have active state governor homes at all for various reasons. The man has since been identified as Jeremy Lee Pauley of Pennsylvania Scott, an ex-mortuary worker, sold the parts to a man she met on Facebook An Arkansas woman pleaded not guilty after being indicted for allegedly selling stolen body parts from medical school corpses for $11,000 to a man she met on Facebook. Former mortuary worker Candace Chapman Scott, 36, stands accused of selling at least 20 boxes of body parts to Jeremy Lee Pauley, 40, whom she met in a social media group about 'oddities.' In the April 5 federal indictment, Pauley - who was arrested for abuse of a corpse in 2022 - is not named as the buyer but he was named in separate state charges. 'Just out of curiosity, would you know anyone in the market for a fully in tact, embalmed brain?' Scott allegedly wrote to Pauley in her first Facebook message. Scott has pleaded not guilty to 12 counts, including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property. An Arkansas woman has pleaded not guilty after being indicted for allegedly selling stolen body parts from medical school corpses for $11,000 to a man she met on Facebook. Pictured: The University of Arkansas's Medical School in Little Rock In the April 5 federal indictment, Jeremy Lee Pauley - who was arrested for abuse of a corpse in 2022 - is not named as the buyer but he was named in separate state charges According to the indictment, which was unsealed Friday in federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, Scott worked at Arkansas Central Mortuary Services. In her role, Scott was tasked with transporting, cremating and embalming remains. The funeral home was where the University of Arkansas Medical Services would send the remains of cadavers after students had examined them. In October 2021, the woman allegedly approached Pauley and offered to sell him remains from the medical school. She reportedly told the man the mortuary she worked at needed to cremate and return the remains. After the initial message, the two allegedly conspired back and forth over the course of nine months. In that time, the indictment claims, Scott sold Pauley fetuses, brains, hearts, lungs, genitalia, large pieces of skin and other body parts. At one point, Scott allegedly sold Pauley the remains of a fetus. She gave the man a discount on the remains because 'he's not in great shape,' the indictment alleges. The funeral home where Scott worked would receive remains from the University of Arkansas Medical Services after students had examined them PICTURED: part of a mouth Pauley purchased before his arrest in August Pauley allegedly purchased the remains from a woman named Candace Scott for $4,000. The shipment included a liver, a lung, two kidneys, a female pelvis, a torso with a nipple, and four human hands. PICTURED: Pauley's latest purchase of 'medical bones' before his arrest Another message from December 2021 alleged Scott offered to sell Pauley '2 brains, one with skullcap, 3 hearts one cut, 2 fake boobies, one large belly button piece of skin, [one] arm, one huge piece of skin and one lung.' That cost Pauley $1,600 and the woman received a PayPal payment later that day. Throughout their relationship, the indictment states Scott was sent $10,975 in 16 separate PayPal payments. Prosecutors asked Judge J. Thomas Ray on Friday that Scott remain behind bars until her trial and said they were worried she might flee if released. 'I think that the facts underlying the indictment and in the indictment are uniquely egregious and objectionable and we believe there is going to be some significant public outcry as a result of this,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Jegley said. The judge said the accusations against her are 'shocking and depraved' but that they could only hold her without bail if she was dangerous or a flight risk. 'The indictment alleges horribly egregious conduct, shocking conduct,' Ray said. 'But under the Bail Reform Act, those aren't factors that I consider for dangerousness that goes to danger to the community or risk of the community,' Ray continued. Scott's indictment comes eight months after Pauley (pictured) was arrested for abuse of a corpse into Pennsylvania PICTURED: Teeth purchased by Pauley. While investigating, police found 'several' buckets of human remains in his home PICTURED: 'Antique articulated partial pelvis' Pauley sold in early August Some of Pauley's other purchases have included 'very old' skulls from children. 'Note the adult teeth haven't dropped yet,' he wrote on Facebook 'As shocking and depraved as the alleged conduct is, none of that would go toward dangerousness so the only thing I see here that would support a request for detention is obviously flight risk.' She remains in jail until a hearing on her bail, which is scheduled for Tuesday. Scott's indictment comes eight months after Pauley was arrested for abuse of a corpse into Pennsylvania. He has also been charged with a felony count of receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property and a felony count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities. At this time, Pauley is free on bail and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 7. A five-month-old baby was rushed to hospital after being viciously mauled in a dog attack. Police and paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to an address in Penyrheol, Caerphilly, at around 9.10am on Saturday. The baby suffered non-life-threatening injuries and the dog was seized by Gwent Police following the attack. No other animals were involved and police have not released the breed of dog. The baby was rushed to the University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff and police remained in the area to carry out further investigations. Police and paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service were called to an address in Penyrheol, Caerphilly, on Saturday morning following reports of the attack The five-month old was taken to hospital in Cardiff with 'non-life-threatening injuries', police said after the attack A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'One patient was transferred to University of Wales Hospital in Cardiff for further treatment.' Gwent Police Chief Inspector Laura Bartley said: 'Officers will be making further enquiries at this time and will remain at the scene as the investigation progresses. 'It is possible that you may see ongoing police activity in Caerphilly as part of this work but please do not be alarmed. 'If you have concerns or information then please do stop and talk with us.' This is not the first dog attack in the area. In November 2021 Jack Lis, 10, was brutally savaged by an eight-stone hound and Shirley Patrick, an 83-year-old retired nurse died after suffering life-threatening injuries in a dog attack last December. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise denied recent reports of internal strife between him and Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday. 'We have a very strong, open relationship,' Scalise told ABC's This Week. 'We don't always agree on everything, but we have a very candid relationship.' The New York Times reported earlier this month McCarthy has told colleagues he cannot rely on Scalise, describing his second-in-command as 'ineffective, checked out and reluctant to take a position on anything.' The paper cited three anonymous GOP lawmakers. 'I know palace intrigue sells papers,' Scalise said. 'People like anonymous sources. Ultimately, I enjoy working with my colleagues.' The Times also reported that Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, a Scalise ally, tried to shore up support for the Louisiana Republican as an alternative when ballot after ballot McCarthy was not getting the votes to be speaker. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise denied recent reports of internal strife between him and Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday The support was not there, according to the report, which also said McCarthy has told people he has no confidence in Budget chief Arrington. McCarthy's next biggest test was getting his sprawling debt limit legislation through the House, which he ultimately did after days of political wrangling and negotiations. The bill ticks off $4.5 trillion in savings in exchange for lifting the debt limit by $1.5 trillion. Scalise cited his close work with McCarthy throughout the week as evidence of their tight relationship. 'The Speaker and I talked multiple times a day in these last few days leading up to the debt ceiling vote,' Scalise said. 'In fact, Kevin called me the night before the vote, at around midnight, we were still working at the Capitol, working out final details, and the Speaker called me.' Scalise then accused Biden of 'clearly trying to run out the clock and create a debt crisis' by not meeting with McCarthy. 'That's irresponsible. Republicans at least said if the president is going to sit this one out, we're not. We're going to lead. We passed a bill to address the problem. It's time now for the president to get in this game, get off the sidelines and let's start negotiating and figuring this out not in June when we get into the midnight hour, but today,' Scalise said. Scalise cited his close work with McCarthy throughout the week as evidence of their tight relationship Asked about his reportedly tense relationship with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House GOP Leader Steve Scalise tells @MarthaRaddatz they have a very strong, open relationship." We dont always agree on everything. But we have a very candid relationship. https://t.co/szahxtdmcx pic.twitter.com/UyXZ9UMlBF This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 30, 2023 'The White House needs to ultimately get into this negotiation. The president's been in hiding for two months, Martha. That's not acceptable to Americans. They expect the president to sit in a room with Speaker McCarthy and start negotiating, not hiding.' He called on the Senate to pass its own bill on the debt ceiling. 'We just passed a bill that addresses the debt ceiling. And for all that we hear from our Senate friends, Martha, they've yet to pass anything. If they got a better idea, I want to see that bill and tell them to pass it through the Senate. We just passed the bill through the House, and we've been very vocal,' he said. British nationals trying to flee Sudan have until noon to reach an airport to be processed for an extra flight out of the conflict zone as rescue efforts shift to the country's east. Armed Forces personnel are working around the clock to assist UK citizens and others trying to escape the war-torn nation amid an uneasy ceasefire, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said. Some 2,122 people on 23 flights have been evacuated from the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum but more than 1,000 British passport holders may remain. The Government announced on Friday it was ceasing operations from the site on Saturday as an armistice between the country's warring generals appeared to start breaking down. UK citizens are now being advised to travel to Port Sudan where an 'exceptional' flight will take off on Monday, the FCDO said, as warring factions agreed to extend the fragile ceasefire for a further 72 hours. Joint Forces board the C-130 bound for Sudan to evacuate British embassy diplomats and their families, in RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus April 25 Evacuees get assisted to board an RAF C-130 aircraft during the evacuation of British citizens, at Wadi Seidna airport, Sudan April 27 People gather by the port at night, to be evacuated from Sudan to escape the conflicts, in Port Sudan, Sudan, April 29 A view of streets as clashes continue between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) despite a ceasefire agreement Civilians of different nationalities arrive at Jeddah Sea Port in Saudi Arabia, after being evacuated from Sudan to escape the conflict In order to be processed for the journey, people are being urged to arrive at the city's international airport before midday local time. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: 'Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan.' The armed forces and border force staff have been supporting the FCDO with the evacuation mission, with HMS Lancaster and the RAF redirected to the area. The UK will continue to advocate for a long-term end to the conflict along with its international allies, Mr Cleverly said. The Government has agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on its final journeys amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. But its decision not to offer escorts to those making the potentially perilous journey to the airfield near Khartoum was also called into question. Flights have been touching down in Cyprus, which has activated a humanitarian rescue mechanism for evacuating third-country civilians, before arriving in the UK hours later. Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite a truce having been brokered last week. Evacuees are transported aboard a tugboat before boarding a Saudi vessel on April 30, 2023 during a rescue operation from Port Sudan to Jeddah Smoke has been seen above Khartoum throughout the day, despite a ceasefire agreement between the opposing generals A fire at the industrial area given as Omdurman, Sudan, April 30, 2023. Some of the most intense fighting has been in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum The conflict pits army chief General Abdel Fattah Burhan against General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudan's fraught transition to democracy, but they have since turned on each other. Evacuated Britons told of how they dodged gunfire and explosions to make their way to the airfield and escape the war-savaged country. But thousands more are believed to have been left stranded and now face a 400-mile trip to Port Sudan, where Monday's flight will take off. The head of the armed forces said on Sunday that he is 'pleased' with how the evacuation from Sudan has gone, ahead of the extra flight out today. Despite the temporary ceasefire, which has been extended before, scuffles between the Sudanese Army and their paramilitary contenders, the RSF, have been recorded, including in the country's capital, Khartoum, where smoke could be seen rising above the skyline. Some 2,122 people have been flown out on 23 flights from an airfield near Khartoum since fighting began but more than 1,000 UK nationals may remain. A military plane with evacuees from Sudan arrive at the military airport Eindhoven Air Base in Eindhoven, the Netherlands A view of streets as clashes continue between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday, despite an extended ceasefire Both sides said a formal ceasefire agreement, which was due to expire at midnight would be extended for a further 72 hours, in a move the RSF said was 'in response to international, regional and local calls'. The army said it hoped what it called the 'rebels' would abide by the deal but it believed they had intended to keep up attacks. The warring parties have kept fighting through a series of ceasefires secured by mediators including the United States. Heavy clashes could be heard on Saturday evening in the city centre of Khartoum but the situation had calmed on Sunday, according to reports from Reuters. The army said on Sunday it had destroyed RSF convoys moving towards Khartoum from the west. The RSF said the army had used artillery and warplanes to attack its positions in a number of areas in Khartoum province. At RAF Odiham on Sunday during a full-scale rehearsal for the King's coronation, Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said he was pleased with how the evacuation had been handled. He said: 'We've got the capacity to deal with lots of different things at different times. I was in Ukraine earlier this week and met my opposite number General (Valerii) Zaluzhnyi. 'I accompanied the National Security Adviser Tim Barrow and we had a meeting with President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. 'We have also been involved in the evacuation from Sudan. And I'm pleased with how that has gone. 'We can do this ceremonial parade and at the same time we fulfil all of our operational duties to keep our nation safe and to help it prosper.' Asked whether he would rule out military intervention in Sudan, Sir Tony said: 'The armed forces respond to whatever is required. 'But this is what we call a non-combatant evacuation operation and it's firmly remained in that space.' A Russian fashion designer known as the 'Soviet Christian Dior' has died at the age of 85. Owner of fashion label Slava Zaitsev, Viacheslav Zaitsev, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016, passed away today, according to Russian media. Russian state channel Perviy Kanal reported Mr Zaitsev had died and claimed he was a man who 'dictated Soviet and Russian fashion for decades'. A spokesman for Mr Zaitsev also confirmed he passed away and said he had only celebrated his birthday in March with friends who could 'already see he was very, very, weak'. In the 1960s, French media dubbed him the 'Soviet Christian Dior' for his flamboyant personality and fashion industry success. Viacheslav Zaitsev (pictured), owner of fashion label Slava Zaitsev, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2016, passed away today, according to Russian media In the 1960s, French media dubbed him the 'Soviet Christian Dior' for his flamboyant personality and fashion industry success Mr Zaitsev achieved global success with bright dresses adorned with the flower patterns found on traditional Russian shawls. From a modest childhood in Ivanovo, a town of 400,000 people to the northeast of the Moscow, his career took him to the catwalks of Paris, New York and Tokyo. He was watched closely by the KGB because of his contacts with Western designers and was initially refused permission to leave the Soviet Union, with his first collections shown abroad without him. In 1962, Zaitsev's first collection of clothes - a uniform for female workers that featured skirts with the flower patterns of traditional Russian shawls and multicoloured boots - were rejected by Soviet authorities. He told AFP in 2018: 'The colours were too bright and contrasted with the greyness of Soviet everyday life, where an individual should not differ from the rest of societ.' New report indicates damage nears $10B per year, up 157% from six years ago Quakes come as California continues to see uptick in natural occurrences Southern California was hit with multiple earthquakes over the weekend A swarm of earthquakes hit Southern California over the weekend as the Golden State continues to see a massive uptick in the cost of quake damage. One earthquake that shook the Salton Sea region - located south of Joshua Tree - registered as a 4.5 in magnitude on the Richter scale. The first earthquake occurred near the U.S.- Mexico border town of Herber around 12pm Saturday and more than four dozen tremors were subsequently registered over the next 18 hours, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The latest quakes come after a new report from USGS indicated that California is projected to lose an average of $9.6 billion a year from earthquake damage. That number is a 157 percent jump from 2017 when it was just $3.7 billion a year. A swarm of earthquakes hit Southern California over the weekend as the Golden State continues to see a massive uptick in the cost of quake damage The latest quakes come after a new report from USGS indicated that California is projected to lose an average of $9.6 billion a year from earthquake damage That estimated cost is a 157 percent jump from 2017 when it was just $3.7 billion a year The earthquake and tremors in Herber reached up to 3.7 in magnitude. According to USGS, around 60 residents felt the first quake and the following tremors. A second series of earthquakes struck near Niland, a town 40 miles north of the border. After the first, more than 25 tremors shook the area after midnight Sunday. There, the earthquakes lasted until 5.28am and reached a magnitude of 4.5. Those tremors were felt by roughly 30 people in the area. Between the Herber and Niland earthquakes, a 3.2-magnitude quake hit the shore of the Salton Sea around 10.55pm. At this time, there are no reports of damage or injuries from any of the quakes. Seismologists say in the most recent report that California and Nevada have seen around 230 earthquakes each year between magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0. In the latest hazard report from the USGS, published in April, the organization outlines the potentially catastrophic damage that could come from the quakes. 'In any given year a big earthquake strikes ... you can easily anticipate a $100-billion loss,' USGS research structural engineer Kishor Jaiswal told The Los Angeles Times. Multiple earthquakes shook the Southern California area Saturday and Sunday Between the Herber and Niland earthquakes, a 3.2-magnitude quake hit the shore of the Salton Sea around 10.55pm Seismologists say in the most recent report that California and Nevada have seen around 230 earthquakes each year between magnitudes of 3.0 to 4.0 'In any given year a big earthquake strikes ... you can easily anticipate a $100-billion loss,' USGS research structural engineer Kishor Jaiswal told The Los Angeles Times According to the new USGS report, Los Angeles and Orange counties are the most costly places that can be hit by earthquakes at a projected annual loss of $3.3 billion a year California has been hit with numerous devastating earthquakes in the past that have left areas scrambling to rebuild for years - if not decades - afterward. According to the new USGS report, Los Angeles and Orange counties are the most costly places that can be hit by earthquakes at a projected annual loss of $3.3 billion a year. Right behind the Southern California places is the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro area, with a projected loss of $1.8 billion a year. Shockingly, the report also indicates California's expected costs make up around 65 percent of the nation's total damages. Over the next three decades, California is projected to lose $288 billion. Five counties in Southern California - Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties - could lose nearly $150 billion. Nine counties in the San Francisco Bay Area would lose around $90 billion. 'It's a sobering reminder about why we need to prepare for those rare but large earthquakes, as just one major event can eclipse the costs of the more frequent but smaller ones,' USGS Director David Applegate said in a statement. Three U.S. Army soldiers who died when two helicopters collided in Alaska while returning from a training mission have been identified. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah, were killed in the crash, the U.S. Army said Saturday. Eramo's wife Jennilee Eramo posted a tribute on her Facebook page with a photo of Eramo in his military gear. A fourth soldier was injured and was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital and was listed in stable condition. He was not identified Saturday. The helicopters were headed to Fort Wainwright from a mission in the Donnelly Training Area when they crashed at 1:39 p.m. Thursday, about 50 miles east of Healy. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York, along with two other soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash Thursday. His wife posted a tribute on Facebook An AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, fly over a mountain range near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, in 2019. The U.S. Army says two helicopters similar crashed Thursday, near Healy, Alaska, killing three soldiers The U.S. Army announced Friday that it grounded aviation units for training after 12 soldiers died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky. 'The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training,' the Army said in a statement. 'The battalion is devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best,' said Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, the 1-25th AB commander. Their loss can't be compared to the suffering felt by the soldiers' families, he said. 'The entire team has come together to focus our thoughts, prayers, and actions to provide and sustain them with whatever comfort and support they need at this time, and I promise that this will continue long into the future,' he said. The U.S. Army announced Friday that it has grounded aviation units for training after 12 soldiers died within the last month in helicopter crashes in Alaska and Kentucky A Safety Investigation Team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, based at Fort Novosel, Alabama, is leading the safety investigation, officials said in an email A recently installed new sign at the main entry point to U.S. Army Garrison Alaska Fort Wainwright on April 5, 2023, in Fairbanks, Alaska Brig. Gen. John Lubas talks to the press in regards to the Black Hawk helicopter crash on March 30, 2023, outside Fort Campbell in Christian County, Ky. There have been three U.S. military helicopter crashes and a rollover recorded so far this year, in Alabama, Kentucky, and Alaska A Safety Investigation Team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, based at Fort Novosel, Alabama, is leading the safety investigation, officials said in an email. Department of Defense instructions and Army regulations prohibit the investigators from releasing any information to the public concerning the causes, analysis or internal recommendations, the statement said. 'The loss of these Soldiers is devastating and is being felt by family, friends and military communities across Alaska,' said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. 'The families of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as strong a team as Ive ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of the fallen.' A group of Americans became the first to board a U.S. naval boat at Port Sudan Sunday as part of the first evacuation of citizens from the war-torn country. Some 200 to 300 Americans arrived in the port Saturday after a convoy of buses carried them over 500 miles from the country's capital Khartoum, U.S. officials confirmed. The dangerous land journey took place under the escort of armed drones, which had been keeping an eye on evacuation routes for days. From Port Sudan, the Americans will use the navy vessels to cross the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. The group is fleeing deadly fighting that erupted two weeks ago between the Sudanese army and the rebel paramilitary group, RSF. Their evacuation effort came as the two groups agreed to another 72-hours ceasefire to facilitate the evacuation of foreigners. A group of Americans boarded a naval boat at Port Sudan Sunday during the first evacuation of U.S. citizens from the war-torn country American nationals board USNS Brunswick as they are evacuated from Port Sudan on Sunday The U.S. sent the Navy ship USNS Brunswick, a fast-transport vessel, to Port Sudan temporarily to assist with the evacuation, officials confirmed to Reuters on Sunday. One of the officials said hundreds of citizens were likely to be evacuated on the boat and taken to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Officials said exact figures of the number evacuated in the convoy would be announced once the Americans made it safely to Jeddah, NBC News reported. 'The Department of Defense deployed U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support air and land evacuation routes, which Americans are using, and we are moving naval assets within the region to provide any necessary support along the coast,' wrote Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh on Saturday. Some of the Americans are understood to have arrived in Jeddah on Saturday, though it is again unclear how many. The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia also confirmed on Saturday that Americans were among 1,866 people to have arrived in Jeddah after evacuating Sudan. A U.S. soldier uses a metal detector to search American nationals arriving for evacuation from Port Sudan on April 30 Officials said exact figures of the number evacuated in the convoy would be announced once the Americans made it safely to Jeddah The Foreign Ministry of Saudi Arabia confirmed on Saturday that Americans were among 1,866 people to have arrived in Jeddah after evacuating Sudan The U.S., which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation from Khartoum, was previously criticized by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for ruling out an evacuation on the grounds it was too dangerous. U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, on April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. But several thousand U.S. citizens were left behind, many of them dual-nationals. More than a dozen other nations had already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a combination of military planes, navy vessels and on-the-ground personnel. Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out on April 15, the US has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though officials tried to link up Americans with other countries' evacuation efforts. U.S. soldiers evacuate citizens from Port Sudan on Sunday as clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese army continue But that changed when officials opted instead to exploit a relative lull in the fighting to organize their own convoy for Americans. Without evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, U.S. citizens were forced to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the country's main port on the Red Sea, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried U.S. citizens, local people employed by the U.S. and citizens of allied countries. 'We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan,' he said. Two Americans are confirmed to have been killed in the fighting that erupted on April 15. One was a civilian who officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was a doctor from Iowa City who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum as part of the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting. So far more than 500 people have been killed in the fighting. A convicted rapist who forged a 2.5million Lotto ticket could have his home taken away from him after he refused to give back the cash. Edward Putman is still yet to pay back the money he owes after being jailed for nine years for his role in the multi-million fraud in 2019. The 57-year-old crafted the scheme with a National Lottery employee, but was caught after his co-conspirator took his own life. Putman was ordered by the court to pay back more than 900,000, but has refused to do so, leaving authorities frustrated in their bid to recoup the money. However, prosecutors have now been given the power to go through his possessions and could be allowed to sell them - including his 700,000 Hertfordshire home, the Mirror reports. Edward Putman, pictured here in his police mugshot, was jailed for nine years for defrauding the National Lottery in 2019 The convicted sex offender forged a Lotto ticket to claim a 2.5million jackpot with an employee at Camelot Putman, who was jailed for seven years in 1993 for raping a 17-year-old pregnant girl, had been threatened with an additional six years in prison by the authorities for his refusal to cooperate and only paying back less than 100,000. READ MORE HERE: National Lottery conman who cashed in fake 2.5million winning ticket is blamed for driving his accomplice to suicide Advertisement However, now they won't need his help after being given an enforcement receiver order at St Albans Crown Court, meaning prosecutors can 'take possession of assets, sell them and pay money to the courts'. This means they could take control of his house and land in Kings Langley, where he had planned to build a hotel. The house, close to the M25, currently stands in a scruffy, unkempt state with curtains drawn shut and the land resembles a vehicle graveyard with at least twenty cars and vans parked up alongside caravans and mobile homes. A source told the publication: 'Putman had the chance to settle up but he's too greedy - now it's out of his hands. 'The authorities are desperate to get the cash back, they won't stand by and let him squirrel away the cash. 'Putman played the coward and tried to fight the application but prosecutors won.' The sex offender undertook the scam in 2009 alongside Giles Knibbs, an employee of Camelot, which runs the National Lottery. He now faces losing his 700,000 property in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, after the court gave prosecutors special powers to recoup the money Putman, pictured, allegedly lived a jet set lifestyle after claiming the money, flying all over the world and buying multiple properties He received millions after Knibbs, who worked in the company's fraud detection unit, made a fake ticket. Putman then submitted this and it was accepted despite missing the bottom half and having no barcode. The former bricklayer told Camelot he had found the ticket under the seat of his van, and claimed it days before the six-month time limit. After this Putman was jailed for three months in 2012 after he was found fraudulently claiming 13,000 in benefits despite the lottery win. He and his partner allegedly lived a jet set lifestyle, flying all over the world and buying multiple properties. Putman was found out after co-conspirator Giles Knibbs (pictured) took his own life But his relationship with Knibbs deteriorated after his co-conspirator began to feel he had not received his fair share of the 2.5million prize. The Camelot worker went on to confess what he had done to loved ones, before killing himself in 2015. After his suicide police found notes detailing the fraud, and an investigation was opened, but it was closed when Camelot was unable to locate the alleged forgery. It was then opened again in 2017 when the ticket was finally located by a Camelot employee, and he was charged in 2019. He was found guilty by jury and sentenced to nine years in prison. Passing sentence at the time, Judge Grey said the 'sophisticated, carefully planned, and diligently operated fraud' struck at the heart of the integrity of the National Lottery. He said: 'You would have got away with this but quite plainly you were greedy. 'Whatever the exact monetary split you and Mr Knibbs had agreed, you did not pay him what split he felt he was owed. The two of you fell out spectacularly. 'This crime struck at the integrity of the National Lottery. You have also undermined the public's trust in the Lottery itself.' Two former police officers jailed for taking photos of murdered sisters have been released early despite one of them offering to share the sickening images again. Mina Smallman, the mother of the victims, said yesterday she feared the gruesome pictures of their bodies could re-emerge after one of the jailed officers lied about deleting them and was overheard offering to show others. She spoke out as the Mail can exclusively reveal today that Deniz Jaffer, 49, and Jamie Lewis, 34, have been let out of prison early after serving less than 17 months. The two constables were jailed for two years and nine months in December 2021 for misconduct in public office but have been released automatically after serving half of their sentence. The shamed pair were assigned to protect the cordon of a murder scene after Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were stabbed to death in a Wembley park in June 2020 by 19-year-old devil worshipper, Danyal Hussein. Two former police officers jailed for taking photos of murdered sisters have been released early despite one of them offering to share the sickening images again. Pictured: ex-officer Deniz Jaffer, 49 Ex-officer Jamie Lewis (pictured), 34, has also been let out of prison early after serving less than 17 months But instead the two officers took six photographs of their bodies, which were sent on WhatsApp to a group of police officers and members of the public including a doctor and a dentist. As they stood at an inner cordon, Lewis messaged colleagues saying: 'Unfortunately I am sat next to the two dead birds with stab wounds.' Jaffer then risked contaminating the crime scene as he crept beyond the cordon to take more photographs on his phone. The duo were reported by a colleague who received the shocking messages and witnessed them prowling around the scene. When they were caught, Jaffer insisted that the images had been deleted. But Mrs Smallman, who was the Church of England's first black female archdeacon, learned that one of the men had kept a copy. She has requested the pair be banned from discussing or sharing the appalling photos as part of their licence conditions. 'There are some conditions they can't get in touch with us and I've actually requested that they put an additional clause that if they attempt to show any images of our girls then they go straight back in,' she said. Mina Smallman (pictured), the mother of the victims, said yesterday she feared the gruesome pictures of their bodies could re-emerge after one of the jailed officers lied about deleting them and was overheard offering to show others The police officers were assigned to protect the cordon of a murder scene after Nicole Smallman (right), 27, and Bibaa Henry (left), 46, were stabbed to death in a Wembley park in June 2020 READ M Fact-box text Advertisement 'One of them said they had deleted the picture and they hadn't. The IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) got in touch with us because one of them had been heard offering to show the image. 'He could have sent it to anybody. He was called in and made to delete it again. Will one day those pictures suddenly appear? 'That's my biggest worry. That's the one thing Chris [her husband] and I could not do. We couldn't see the bodies. I want to remember the girls as they were, not get images of them after. 'That's a cause of great concern and anxiety.' Officials failed to inform the family when the pair were released on Friday, April 21, waiting until the following week to notify them. 'I knew the day would come. I choose not to look at the calendar. They're unimportant to me. They're a lost cause. 'When I got the call I was on my own and it's not a nice thing,' Mrs Smallman said. Yesterday Jaffer was pictured shopping in the sunshine near his home in Hornchurch, east London. A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: 'These offenders' crimes were grossly offensive and our thoughts remain with the family of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman. 'Lewis and Jaffer are subject to strict licence conditions and can be returned to prison at any time if the rules are broken.' Independent MP Alex Greenwich will sue Mark Latham for defamation after the One Nation politician refused to apologise for a homophobic tweet. Mr Greenwich on Monday announced he was launching legal action against Mr Latham and had filed complaints with NSW Police and Anti-Discrimination NSW on the grounds of vilification. Mr Latham has refused to apologise for a tweet he posted on March 30 that Mr Greenwich described as 'defamatory and homophobic'. 'He followed that up with media commentary that doubled down on his attack,' Mr Greenwich said in a statement on Monday. Independent MP Alex Greenwich has launched legal action against Mark Latham (pictured) after the One Nation politician refused to apologise for a vile homophobic tweet Mr Greenwich, who married husband Victor Hoeld in 2012, said he decided to take legal action against the politician because 'enough is enough' (the pair is pictured) Mr Latham fired off his homophobic tweet after Mr Greenwich slammed him as a 'disgusting human being'. Mr Greenwich was critical of Mr Latham for giving a speech while Christians clashed with LGBTQI activists outside St Michaels Church in Belfield, south-west Sydney, in March. Mr Latham responded: 'Disgusting? How does that compare with sticking your d*** up a bloke's a*** and covering it with s***?' After an uproar, the One Nation politician tweeted: 'Never apologise, never explain.' He then issued a statement, saying: 'Sometimes in public life when you throw out insults they come back at you harder and truer So boo-hoo Alex Greenwich.' He tripled down on his comments on Chris Smith's TNT Radio Show last week, claiming he was speaking on behalf of straight men. Mr Latham said he had felt 'attacked' when Mr Greenwich called him a 'disgusting' human. 'I took it as an attack on my love of my children, the role in my community, my work in public life,' he told Smith. In a statement on Monday, Mr Greenwich said: 'Enough is enough.' 'I've been openly gay in public life for 15 years and in NSW Parliament for over 10 years, and never have I experienced such a homophobic, sexualised attack that exposed me to contempt, ridicule and extreme abuse, based on my sexuality.' Mr Greenwich said he is taking action for young and old LGBTQIA+ people who face regular abuse. His legal team will also approach Twitter about its provision of a platform that 'freely allows extreme homophobia, transphobia, racism and religious bigotry'. Mr Greenwich (pictured) has initiated defamation proceedings against Mr Latham and filed a complaint ti = with NSW Police and Anti-Discrimination Australia Mr Latham is scheduled to return to parliament during the next session after he was re-elected for an eight-year term on March 25. NSW Premier Chris Minns is pushing for a bi-partisan agreement to bar the One Nation leader from having any additional powers in the new parliament. He slammed Mr Latham as a 'bigot' for his tweets, which were also criticised by Pauline Hanson, and conservative commentators Ray Hadley and Andrew Bolt. Ms Hanson, the federal leader of One Nation, urged Mr Latham to apologise for the 'disgusting' tweet and said her party did not condone his actions. 'I want you to know that I don't condone them and neither do my members of parliament or party associates. I think they are disgusting,' she said. 'I've actually tried to ring Mark a couple of times, to no avail. And I have clearly sent a text message to him, telling him my views. 'I've asked him to give the people an apology. I will leave it at that. It is now over to Mark to answer to the people.' Mr Greenwich (pictured in March) told reporters last month that after a decade in politics and being re-elected he was shocked to still being subjected to homophobic abuse Mr Greenwich, who married husband Victor Hoeld in 2012, revealed earlier this month that the tweets had brought him to tears. 'This has obviously been hurtful for me. I had a bit of a cry late yesterday at the end of the day,' he told reporters last month. 'After being in this gig for a decade and getting re-elected, I didn't think I'd still be subjected to homophobic abuse.' A concerns notice relating to the proceedings was sent to Mr Latham on April 19. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mark Latham for comment. The missile strike took place in Uman, a city in Cherkasy Oblast, central Ukraine Mourners have gathered to pay respects to children who were among those killed in a Russian missile attack in a Ukrainian city. Weeping parents, relatives and friends lined the streets of Uman, in central Ukraine, on Sunday as they buried those killed after two of Vladimir Putin's rockets struck a residential building on Friday. A total of 23 people died in the attack, with Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko saying six children were among the dead - including eight-year-old Uliana Troichuk, 11-year-old Sofia Shulha and 17-year-old Pisarev Kiryusha. Following the attack the Kremlin had bragged on Telegram its missiles were 'right on target', despite the fact they hit cities and towns that were miles away from the front lines of the conflict which has raged for more than a year. Yesterday Sofia's six-year-old brother Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his sister, and while other mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God 'Quick to Hear' waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. Men carry the coffins during funeral service for sister and brother Shulga Sophiya, 11, and Pisarev Kiryusha, 17, at a church in Uman A woman carries a portrait of a child Uliana Troichuk (8), killed during the Russian attack on a residential building in the village of Apolyanka, outside Uman Inna (centre), the mother of a child Uliana Troichuk (8), killed during the Russian attack on a residential building, reacts with other relatives and friends at the funeral Father Fyodor Botsu, who lives close to the apartment building, said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. 'I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptised them in this church. 'I'm worried with everyone since I have children and I'm a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years.' READ MORE HERE - 'Right on target': Russia brags about missile strike on Ukraine that killed civilians while they slept including mother and her two-year-old daughter Advertisement He said he prayed 'that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country.' At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's 14-month-long war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, nine kilometers (six miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defence systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. A woman carries her child past a damaged residential building in Uman after the attack on Friday Rescue workers try to save people trapped in the building after it was hit by a Russian missile Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the counteroffensive wouldn't wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. 'I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised,' Zelensky told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. 'But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather.' Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelensky said his forces wouldn't delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to 'reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start.' Zelensky said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its 'speed and specificity.' Macron's office said he reiterated France's commitment to provide Ukraine 'all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russia's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. Sen. Ron Johnson accused Antony Blinken of telling a 'boldface lie' to Congress about his communications with Hunter Biden after it his emails with the first son were revealed. The Wisconsin Republican revealed that Blinken, when he was still working for the Biden campaign in December 2020, had come in to sit for a transcribed interview with his team. He was then aiming for the secretary of state job, a Senate-confirmed position. 'Now, because of more information that's come out, we know that he lied boldface to Congress about never emailing Hunter Biden,' Johnson told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo Monday. 'My guess is he told a bunch of other lies that hopefully we'll be able to bring him and his wife back in, tell them to preserve their records. You cannot trust Joe Biden. You cannot trust Hunter Biden.' Sen. Ron Johnson accused Antony Blinken of telling a 'boldface lie' to Congress about his communications with Hunter Biden after it his emails with the first son were revealed Emails from Hunter's abandoned laptop show Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan have long had contact with the first son Asked if he believed Blinken lied under oath, Johnson said: 'Yes, he did.' 'He said he did not email Hunter Biden, and now we have those emails. We also know that his wife, using her private email address when she was a[n] employee of the State Department, was basically a conduit between her husband and Hunter Biden as well,' Johnson continued. The Wisconsin Republican said Blinken needs to be subpoenaed, but without Democrat support he would not have the authority to do so. 'If he wants to proclaim his innocence, I doubt he'll do that, but he must and she must preserve their records, their personal emails. When you get to the bottom of this, we need to show how corrupt these individuals are.' The Functional Government Initiative, a government watchdog group, obtained a trove of emails from Blinken during his time in the Obama administration showing Blinken and Hunter Biden writing to each other and setting up personal meetings through his private AOL account during his time as deputy secretary of state. Emails obtained by Fox News showed that Blinken met with Hunter Biden at the State Department in 2015 while Hunter was on the board of Burisma. Emails from Hunter's abandoned laptop show Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan have long had contact with the first son. On multiple occasions, Hunter forwarded communications about setting up meetings with Blinken to fellow board members of Burisma. .@SecBlinken lied boldface to Congress about never emailing Hunter Biden. Biden family co-conspirators inside intel agencies, DoJ, FBI, and the legacy media need to be exposed. They represent the greatest threat to our democracy. More whistleblowers need to come forward. pic.twitter.com/z4oRfH6Rmg Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) April 30, 2023 Meanwhile, Mike Morell last week told the House Judiciary Committee that he was asked by Blinken - who at the time was a senior member of the Biden campaign - to help discredit the laptop reporting. Morell was a former acting CIA director, serving for two months in 2011 and four months from 2012 to 2013. He retired from the CIA in September 2013. He coordinated a letter from former intelligence chiefs claiming that Hunter Biden's laptop was Russian disinformation because he wanted to help Joe Biden's presidential campaign. The Judiciary Committee, led by Jim Jordan, is currently investigating Hunter Biden's laptop, as well as the Biden family businesses. Morell 'recently' conducted a transcribed interview with Jordan's team and was asked about the Biden campaign's response to the laptop. Mike Morell was acting CIA director for several months in 2011 and again in 2012-13. He was asked by the Biden campaign in October 2020 to help recruit other former intelligence chiefs to discredit reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop Hunter Biden is seen with his father Joe and aunt Valerie in Dublin on April 14 The laptop, which had been left in a Delaware repair store, was touted by Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's lawyer, as providing evidence of supposed corruption among the Biden family. The Biden campaign said the efforts to publicize the contents of the laptop bore the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign. The laptop included explicit photos of the troubled Hunter Biden naked, with prostitutes, and taking drugs, as well as multiple emails and texts between the 53-year-old and his father. Morell said that he was asked by Blinken to rally former intelligence chiefs to agree that the laptop looked like a smear campaign. He carried out 'a little bit of my own research,' and then reached out to retired CIA senior operations officer Marc Polymeropoulos for assistance in compiling the letter. The letter was ultimately signed by 51 former intelligence officials, including himself and four other former CIA directors, including John Brennan and Leon Panetta. The letter was published by Politico five days after The New York Post first reported on the contents of the laptop. The headline for Politico's story, on October 19, 2020, was: 'Hunter Biden story is Russian disinfo, dozens of former officials say.' The letter alleged that The New York Post story 'has all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation.' Several media outlets, including DailyMail.com, have since confirmed the contents of the laptop and that it belonged to Hunter Biden. Photo of a laptop owned by Hunter Biden that was left with a computer repair shop A photo found on the laptop abandoned by Hunter Biden. Jordan and other House Republicans feel the claims from the letter signed by Morell were a 'concerted effort' to discredit the damning information found on Hunter's laptop Hunter Biden is pictured on July 7, 2022 inside the White House Joe Biden used the letter during the October 22 debate against Donald Trump, saying he thought the reporting around his son's abandoned computer was the work of Russia. Morell was thanked for his work in coordinating the letter, with Steve Ricchetti, chairman of the Biden campaign, telephoning him after the debate to say thank you. He was then said to be in consideration for the role of CIA director - a job that ultimately went to William Burns. Morell, who has been a consultant, strategist, lecturer and author since his resignation almost a decade ago, said he was never formally in talks for the role. On Thursday, Jordan and Michael Turner, the chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence, wrote to Blinken requesting his communications with Morell around the laptop. They issued a statement accusing Morell and the other intel chiefs of 'concerted effort to minimize and suppress' information harmful to the Biden campaign. 'Based on Morell's testimony, it is apparent that the Biden campaign played an active role in the origins of the public statement, which had the effect of helping to suppress the Hunter Biden story and preventing American citizens from making a fully informed decision during the 2020 presidential election,' they wrote. 'Although the statement's signatories have an unquestioned right to free speech and free associationwhich we do not disputetheir 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.' A Victoria Cross awarded to a heroic Second World War pilot has been saved for the nation with the help of Mail readers. Squadron Leader Arthur 'Pongo' Scarf was the only member of the RAF serving in the Far East to receive Britain's highest award for valour. He was awarded the medal posthumously for 'supreme heroism' against 'tremendous odds' in a solo raid on an enemy airfield. But his medal was bought by a private overseas buyer for a record 660,000 last year. It was put under embargo by the Government, preventing it from being taken abroad on condition that a UK-based buyer or institution matched the sale price by April 30. He was awarded the medal posthumously for 'supreme heroism' against 'tremendous odds' in a solo raid. The VC will now remain in the UK Squadron Leader Arthur 'Pongo' Scarf was the only member of the RAF serving in the Far East to receive Britain's highest award for valour following a feat of particular courage The RAF Museum had just three months to hit the target. Donations flooded in from the public, together with 390,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and money from trusts and foundations. The appeal was highlighted by the Mail in March. Last night, Maggie Appleton, the RAF Museum's chief executive, thanked readers for their help. She added: 'We're thrilled. It's also only one of 22 VCs won in the Second World War by the RAF so it's really significant for us and the RAF's history as well as being an amazing personal story.' It is hoped the medal could go on display at the museum's north London base by the end of May. The VC was awarded in 1946 and presented to his widow Sallie by George VI at Buckingham Palace Squadron Leader Scarf was awarded the VC in recognition of his bravery in a daylight raid on a Japanese airfield in December 9, 1941. Aged 28, he took off in his Bristol Blenheim bomber after the rest of the squadron's planes were damaged on the ground in a Japanese air strike. Squadron Leader Scarf completed his mission successfully despite constant attack from enemy fighters. He managed to land his bullet-riddled plane in a paddy field in Malaya without causing injury to his two crew mates who had to hold on to him as he touched down because he was so badly injured. His pregnant wife Sallie, a nurse at the hospital he was taken to, donated two pints of blood and his last words to her were 'Don't worry, keep smiling, chin up' as he was wheeled into the operating theatre. Sadly, he died a few hours later. His traumatised wife lost their unborn baby. The VC was awarded in 1946 and presented to his widow by George VI at Buckingham Palace. In a letter to a friend, Sallie told how she was 'bottled up' after hearing the King say: 'Your late husband did a wonderful act for which this country will be eternally grateful.' The suspected leader of ISIS has been killed in an operation carried out by Turkish forces in northern Syria, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday. 'The suspected leader of Daesh, codename Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, has been neutralised in an operation carried out yesterday by the MIT in Syria,' he announced on television. The news comes as Erdogan looks to recover support ahead of the presidential elections on 14 May. He has been in the role since 2014 but faces waning support in key areas. Local outlets said Turkish intelligence agents and local military police, backed by Turkey, had on Saturday sealed off a zone in Jindires, in the northwest region of Afrine, about four miles from the Turkish border. Al-Qurashi's predecessor, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al-Qurashi, was killed last November. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (pictured) said the suspected leader of ISIS has been killed in Syria in an operation carried out by his country's MIT intelligence agency Erdogan told Turkish media that intelligence forces had killed Qurashi near the border Residents said an operation had targeted an abandoned farm that was being used as an Islamic school. Turkey's national intelligence organisation, MIT, launched the operation at around 1am on Saturday and reportedly breached a house, clashing with ISIS fighters. BNO News reported they were able to surround the ISIS leader, who blew himself up with explosives strapped to his body. Erdogan said Turkish intelligence had 'been tracking the so-called leader of Daesh, Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, for a long time'. The US carried out a helicopter raid in northern Syria in an operation in mid-April, saying the Islamic State group had been planning attacks in Europe and the Middle East. US Central Command said they had killed a senior leader of the group in the operation. Al-Qurashi had become ISIS's fourth leader in only November, after Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al-Qurashi was killed while fighting in Syria. Abu al-Hasan al-Hashmi al-Qurashi had only been in the role a matter of months, replacing former chief Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi, who also killed himself in a bomb explosion during a US raid in February 2022 in northwestern Syria. Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi led ISIS from 2019 after the death of ISIS founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who was killed by American forces in 2019 after years spent in hiding. Al-Baghdadi was found by attack dogs in an underground tunnel in northwestern Syria. At its peak, ISIS controlled approximately one third of Syria and Iraq in 2014. Despite having been driven out of much of the territory it once controlled, the Islamic State group still launches attacks in Syria. Northern Syria still finds itself embroiled in a brutal civil war, and the border region with Turkey was hit by a string of earthquakes in February which left thousands dead. A number of ISIS leaders have been killed in recent years in war-torn Syria Pictured: a masked ISIS soldier with banner in the deserts of Syria or Iraq, in 2015. Al-Qurashi became the group's leader last year after Abu al-Hasan al-Hasmi al-Qurayshi also died in Syria ISIS confirmed Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi (pictured) was killed early last year and pledged allegiance to Abu Hasan al-Hashemi al-Qurashi in March 2022, before he was killed in November and replaced by Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, reportedly killed on Sunday The news comes at a vital time for Erdogan, who is looking to recover support in key areas ahead of the presidential elections on 14 May. He was made Prime Minister in 2003 until 2014, and has since been in power as President. Erdogan has overseen a number of key changes in Turkey's foreign policy, tussling for influence with regional powers in the Middle East. Internally, the country has experienced another backslide in democracy, corruption and press freedom. Turkey has also seen huge inflation, not helped by Erdogan's unique monetary policy - which saw property prices in Istanbul rise 241% in the 12 months to October last year. Support even appears to be falling in the President's hometown of Rize as the cost of living crisis takes it toll. The government has increased its number of polling stations across Europe in a bid to find support among the Turkish diaspora. Vladimir Putin relayed his confidence in Erdogan at a virtual meeting to celebrate the opening of Turkey's first nuclear power plant last week. He said that the construction of the Akkuyu plant was a 'convincing example of how much you, Mr President Erdogan, are doing for your country, for the growth of its economy, for all Turkish citizens'. Recent polling shows opposition parties have made significant gains on Erdogan's AKP since 2018. PolitPro warns the government may not stay in office based on currently trends, expected to achieve 45.7% of the vote at the time of writing. The FBI confirmed more than 250 law enforcement officers are hunting for an illegal immigrant who shot and killed five people on Friday, insisting they would not rest until he was caught. Francisco Oropesa, 38, opened fire after his neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, asked him to stop firing the gun in his back yard. He marched into their house and turned his gun on his neighbors, killing five people aged between eight and 31. The FBI initially used the wrong photo in their wanted poster, but on Sunday corrected it. They also corrected the spelling of his last name, which was initially Oropeza. A $55,000 reward was increased to $80,000. Francisco Oropesa, a 38-year-old Mexican, is on the run after shooting dead five people in Cleveland, Texas on Friday night 'We consider him armed and dangerous,' said James Smith, FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge. 'He's out there, and he's a threat to the community.' Smith admitted that they initially publicized the wrong photo, but corrected it as soon as they realized their error. 'In an investigation like this we are receiving a whole slew of information,' he said. 'It was a mistake on our side. We are now 100 percent confident we have the right photo out there.' Oropesa, a Mexican national, had been deported multiple times, sources told Fox News. His last encounter with immigration authorities was in 2016. He has a large tattoo on the inside of his forearm of what appears to be a female Aztec, wearing a headdress. FBI agents are seen at the neighborhood in Cleveland, Texas where Oropesa shot and killed five people Five people - the youngest only eight years old - were shot and killed inside this house on Friday night A sign nearby warns people that the owner is armed Honduran flags are seen decorating a tree where the five people were shot and killed Police have found an abandoned cell phone and articles of clothing lying around, and tracking dogs from the Texas Department of Correction 'picked up a scent and then lost that scent in the water,' according to the sheriff of San Jacinto County, Greg Capers. 'He could be anywhere now,' said Capers. Oropesa allegedly shot the victims after one them asked him to stop firing off rounds outside his home just before midnight. Police had been called to the home before for reports about the firing of guns. It is not illegal to fire guns in your own yard, but it remains unclear why officers did not ask for a permit - which, as a person in the country illegally, he could not have. The victims have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, 8; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. They were all Honduran nationals shot 'from the neck up,' in their home, Capers said. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. Capers said there were 10 people in the house, including three children who were not hurt. Officials from the FBI are pictured on Sunday, as the manhunt continues Sheriff Greg Capers of San Jacinto County is seen in the hat standing next to James Smith, FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge, on Sunday Some of those in the house had moved in earlier in the week. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives close to Oropesa's house, said he heard gunshots around midnight but was unperturbed, as gunfire is normal in the neighborhood. 'It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work,' Arevalo said. 'They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there.' He told ABC 13 that Oropesa threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood. His dog chased a pit bull in Oropesa's truck. 'I tell my wife all the time, 'Stay away from the neighbors. Don't argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,'' Arevalo said. 'I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way.' The chairwoman of the Republican party has warned that candidates will need to address the abortion issue 'head on' in order to win back the presidency in 2024. Ronna McDaniel said on Sunday that Democrats have turned the issue of abortion into a rallying cry following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade last summer, while Republicans have tried to steer clear of the issue. But if Republican presidential candidates instead challenge Democrats on their beliefs, the party may be able to win back swing voters, McDaniel said on FOX News Sunday. Recent polling, however, suggests a majority of independent voters, and even a handful of Republican voters, support abortion in most if not all cases. And her remarks just days after traditionally red states Nebraska and South Carolina passed measures prohibiting abortion bans. Ronna McDaniel said on Sunday Republicans need to address the issue of abortion 'head on' in order to win back the presidency in 2024 Discussing the upcoming 2024 presidential election with FOX News Sunday host Shannon Bream, McDaniel acknowledged that Republicans fell short of winning back the Senate and only gaining the slightest majority in the House due to the abortion issue. 'What I will say is the biggest takeaway we are taking is that independents did not break our way, which has to happen if we're going to win in 2024, which usually that's what causes the red wave,' she said. 'And abortion was a big issue in key states like Michigan and Pennsylvania,' McDaniel continued. 'And so the guidance we're going to give our candidates is you have to address this head-on.' She noted that the Democratic Party spent $360million campaigning on abortion rights in the midterm elections last year, 'and many of our candidates across the board refused to talk about it, thinking, "Oh we can just talk about the economy and ignore this big issue," and they can't.' Instead, McDaniel suggested Republican candidates put Democrats on the defensive by asking if they support late-term abortion, which some consider to be infanticide. 'What abortion is a bad idea to Democrats? Nine months? Eight months? Seven months?' she asked, rhetorically. She then went on to ask whether people should be allowed to have an abortion 'if it's a girl' or whether people who are against it for religious reasons would have to support 'tax-funded abortions,' saying 'That's where Joe Biden was years ago. 'They can't even articulate an abortion that's a bad idea,' McDaniel said of Democrats. 'So I think put them on the defensive and articulate where you stand, and that's going to be that critical message that we have to get out ... before 2024.' She also told FOX News Sunday host Shannon Bream that the Republican party needs to remain united McDaniel also told Bream that it is important for presumed frontrunner Donald Trump and other candidates to participate in primary debates, and said that all candidates should pledge to back the eventual nominee. She explained that unity is important for Republicans to win back the White House, as Biden and Democrats try to paint the party as fractured. 'I think one of the other takeaways we took from the midterms in 2022 is that we just don't need independents, we need every Republican,' McDaniel said. 'And we need to bring every Republican together.' She said during the midterm elections some Republicans refused to vote for their party's nominee 'and that was a big factor of why we lost some key Senate races.' And, McDaniel said, Biden was 'right' that 'we cannot win if we're not united. 'If Republicans don't vote for other Republicans, we're not going to win,' she said. 'And we don't just need all of the Republicans, we need independents too.' Abortion rights activists are pictured in front of the Supreme Court ahead of the landmark Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling last year Anti-abortion activists also protested for an end to the legal right to abortion But a poll from February conducted by University of North Florida found that 75 percent of the state's residents opposed the six-week ban, including 61 percent of Republicans. A whopping 64 percent of Americans also believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to the newest data Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). Sixty-three percent disagreed with the decision to overturn Roe. Sixty-eight percent of Independent voters said abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to PRRI, as did 90 percent of Democrats and 36 percent of Republicans. And some 21 percent of independents said the abortion matter was a deal-breaker - they would only vote for a candidate who shared their views. Meanwhile, 30 percent of respondents think abortion should be legal at all stages of pregnancy, 34 percent think it should be legal in most cases, 25 percent say it should be illegal in most cases and 9 percent say it should be illegal in all cases. Just 9 percent of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in all cases and 25 percent believe it should be illegal in most cases. In recent days, abortion bans in normally conservative Nebraska and South Carolina each fell a single vote short of passing their legislatures, amid debate on the issue by Republican state lawmakers. Abortion will now remain legal in Nebraska through 20 weeks of pregnancy, and legal in South Carolina through 22 weeks. Thirteen other states have bans in place 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. And four others states have bans throughout pregnancy, but are legally blocked from enforcing it by the courts. A nurse who had just finished her shift has been killed in a horror crash, along with two other women. Acting District Superintendent Brad Inskip said that all of the victims were Maryborough locals and 'this is a tragic set of circumstances that will have a ripple effect right through the community'. It comes as a 13-year-old boy who allegedly stole a Mercedes hours earlier is charged over the deaths. The Mercedes allegedly slammed into the back of a Holden, which then collided into a Mazda, on Saltwater Creek Road at Maryborough, four hours north of Brisbane, in Queensland, at 11pm on Sunday. Two of the Holden's passengers - a 29-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl - died at the scene, as did the 52-year-old female Mazda driver. Three people have been killed in a horror crash with a teenager charged after allegedly stealing a Mercedes Benz. The scene is pictured A 23-year-old woman who was badly injured in the Holden is in a critical condition and has been taken to Royal Brisbane Women's Hospital. Police allege the Mercedes Benz had been stolen by the teenage boy just hours earlier at 8.40pm. The driver of the Mercedes Benz suffered minor injuries to his foot. Superintendent Inskip said 'we believe there may have been a passenger in the vehicle at the time' of the crash. The passenger is believed to have fled the scene. The police spokesman said they were aware that the car had been stolen before the crash happened, but were not in pursuit of it at the time of the crash. The driver is 'known to police' but was not on police bail of any type at the time and the spokesman was not aware of any community order against the boy. An ambulance spokesman praised the work of the emergency services and said that a Royal Flying Doctors plane that had been flying overhead at the time was diverted to Maryborough airport. Nurses and paramedics responding to the scene were treating a woman they knew and had worked with. He said 'All these people are someone's family' or work colleague and 'this is having a tremendous impact' on the community. The spokesman was asked how the first responders are coping with the tragedy and replied that 'we have great support services' for affected officers. He said that 41 years ago he lost a brother and four friends in a car accident on Anzac Day and that this had brought the memories of that tragedy flooding back. Two of the Holden's passengers - a 29-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl - died at the scene (pictured), as did the 52-year-old female Mazda driver The 13-year-old boy was charged with three counts of dangerous operation of motor vehicle causing death and one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle. He will appear before Maroochydore Children's Court at a later date. Detectives have launched an investigation into the matter. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage is urged to contact local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The two-hour Coronation service on May 6 will both honour the ancient tradition of anointing and crowning monarchs while also reflecting the ways the UK has changed since the last such celebration 70 years ago. Its theme is 'Called to Serve' and the authorised liturgy released last night by the Church of England details how it will involve leaders of different religions, women clergy and prayers in Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic. Below is everything that will happen during the historic day at Westminster Abbey. The theme of the coronation is 'Called to Serve' and the authorised liturgy released last night by the Church of England details how it will involve leaders of different religions Members of the Chapel Royal Boys' Choir at St James's Palace, London. Several hymns will be heard throughout the ceremony The Procession of Faith Leaders & Representatives of Faith Communities and Realms As part of the King's desire to represent all faiths, leaders from the Jewish, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Bahai and Zoroastrian communities will be part of the procession into Westminster Abbey. They are followed by members of the Christian church in the UK and a procession of the 15 Realms which recognise the King as head of state. The Procession of The King & The Queen The anthem I Was Glad will be heard. It has been used at the entrance of the monarch since at least 1626. This version was composed by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (d 1918) for the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902. It includes the cry 'Vivat Rex!' (Long Live The King!). Greeting The King The King will be met by one of the youngest people in the abbey chorister Samuel Strachan, 14. Charles will tell Samuel: 'I come not to be served but to serve.' The anthem I Was Glad will be heard during the procession through Westminster Abbey. It has been used at the entrance of the monarch since at least 1626 A Moment of Silent Prayer This reflects Charles and Camilla paying homage to God before anyone pays homage to them. Greeting and Introduction The service starts with a blessing of God's love. The introduction invites all who participate to share in a commitment to serve one another. Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison is Greek for 'Lord, have mercy' an ancient prayer used for around 1,600 years. It will be sung in Welsh. The Recognition A powerful first element of the traditional Coronation Rite. The congregation on each of the four sides of the 'theatre' the special platform inside the Abbey affirms support for the King by shouting 'God Save King Charles' in turn. New to this Coronation, the subsequent declarations are made by Lady of the Garter, Lady of the Thistle and a George Cross Holder from the Armed Forces. The Presentation of the Bible The Bible is the church's first gift to the King. Its presentation dates back to the Coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689. The Oath The Archbishop of Canterbury reaffirms the belief of Queen Elizabeth II by saying the Church will 'seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely'. The Archbishop asks Charles III if he is willing to take the Oath and to 'promise and swear to govern' to which the King will reply: 'I solemnly promise so to do.' Anthem 'Prevent us, o Lord', by William Byrd (d 1623). This collect a thematic prayer is taken from the Book of Common Prayer and was written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (d 1556). The King's Prayer The King offers a specially composed prayer, the first time such a personal prayer has been voiced so publicly by the Sovereign. Gloria Mass for Four voices William Byrd Gloria In Excelsis is one of the ancient songs of the Church, originally associated with Midnight Mass. Here it is used as a hymn of celebration, with this version composed by Byrd during the reign of Elizabeth I. Collect This prayer has been written specially and addresses the themes of loving service at the heart of the Coronation. The Epistle Colossians 1 9:17 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will read from the first chapter of the Epistle to the Colossians. Sung Alleluia By Debbie Wiseman (British composer for film and television). The music was commissioned for this service. Gospel Luke 4:16-21 The Gospel Greek meaning 'Good News' is St Luke's account of Jesus at worship in the synagogue. Sung Alleluia By Debbie Wiseman. Sermon Archbishop Justin Welby is seen during the Christmas morning Eucharist service at Canterbury Cathedral in 2022. He will deliver a sermon during the ceremony The Archbishop of Canterbury revives the historic use of the Sermon, setting out the theme of the ceremony: Called to Serve. Veni Creator Plainsong, mode VIII The Veni Creator Spiritus (Come Creator Spirit) will be sung for the first time in the traditional languages of the British Isles: English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic. Thanksgiving for the Holy Oil With a newly composed prayer, the Archbishop is presented with the Coronation Oil by Reverend Dr Hosam Naoum, the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem. The oil is created from olives harvested from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and perfumed with sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin, amber and orange blossom. The Anointing Zadok The Priest, Frederic Handel As the King prepares to be anointed upon the Coronation Chair, he removes the Robes of State. Zadok The Priest was composed by Handel (d 1759) for the Coronation of George II in 1727. Zadok was the high priest of Israel at the time of King Solomon. This sacred part of the ceremony will not be visible to the abbey congregation and to those watching on TV. It is the King's only moment of privacy during the Service. The Presentation of Regalia Peers from the House of Lords and Senior Bishops in the Anglican Church make the presentation, which will include regalia without Christian motifs. The aim is to underline interdependence of neighbours, whatever the faith. The Spurs Made for Charles II in 1661, the use of spurs in the Coronation dates back to that of King Richard I in 1189. The Spurs' original symbolism harks back to an era when the monarch rode at the head of an army and derives from ceremonies for the creation of knights. Psalm 71 During Exchange of Swords The Greek Choir has been commissioned to pay tribute to the King's father, the Duke of Edinburgh, who was born a Prince of Greece. The Sword The Sword of Offering was made in 1820 and has a steel blade, is mounted in gold and set with jewels For the first time, the Sword of State and Sword of Offering will be presented by a woman the Lord President is Penny Mordaunt MP. The Sword of Offering was made in 1820 and has a steel blade, is mounted in gold and set with jewels. The sword was first used at the Coronation of King George IV. The Archbishop blesses the Sword and it is then delivered to the King to be used for the protection of the good. The Armills The Armills or Bracelets of Sincerity and Wisdom - represent a bond between the Sovereign and the People The Armills or Bracelets of Sincerity and Wisdom have deep echoes of coronations back to the time of King Solomon, who prayed for wisdom. They represent a bond between the Sovereign and the People. The Robe and Stole Royal These represent what the King, as Sovereign, has been given by God. A new Stole (from the ancient Greek word for 'scarf') has been specially commissioned. The Orb The Orb is a representation of the sovereign's power. It symbolises the Christian world with its cross mounted on a globe The Coronation Glove that was worn on Queen Elizabeth II's right hand during her Investiture in 1953 The Orb, made in the 17th Century and divided into three sections with bands of jewels, symbolises the world under the cross of Christ. The Ring Acknowledged but not worn by Charles. Its significance compares to rings exchanged in marriage and is a symbol of commitment. The Glove A demonstration of the Sovereign as advocate and challenger for the protection of the People. The Sceptre and Rod The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross 1661. Later additions included gold, diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires, spinels, amethyst and enamel, and it is known as the 'First Star of Africa' The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross has been used at every coronation since Charles II's in 1661, when the monarchy was restored Delivered to Charles's gloved hands and represents the Sovereign's temporal power and authority. The Crowning St Edward's Crown (made in 1661) represents the King's vocation before God and is a reminder of the promises and vows he has made to the People, who cry the prayer, 'God, Save The King!' St Edward's Crown (made in 1661) represents the King's vocation before God and is a reminder of the promises and vows he has made to the People The Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare By Richard Strauss (d 1949). The Abbey bells will then ring for two minutes. The Blessing This will summarise all that has gone before and entreat God's protection upon the King. Anthem By Thomas Weelkes (d 1623). This anthem sets verses from Psalm 61. Enthroning The King The King, wearing his crown, is settled on the Throne in a moment of historic significance. The Homage of The Church of England The Archbishop describes the King as 'Defender of the Faith'. The Homage of Royal Blood Prince William kneels to pay homage to his father, placing his hands between the King's hands and pledging to be his 'liege man of life and limb'. The Homage of The People The public is called to swear their 'true allegiance' to the King and his heirs. The Archbishop will invite those who wish, including those watching at home, to make their homage by sharing in the same words: 'God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live for ever.' Anthem Confortare By Sir Henry Walford-Davies (d 1941), written for the Coronation of George V in 1911. The Coronation of the Queen In a shorter sequence to that of the King, Queen Camilla has her own Coronation which begins with a brief anointing this time in full public view. The Ring The Consort's Ring is presented to Camilla a symbol that 'marries' Consort to King, and them both to God in duty and to the People. The Crowning The Queen is crowned with Queen Mary's Crown. The Rod & Sceptre In a shorter sequence to that of the King, Queen Camilla has her own Coronation which begins with a brief anointing (pictured in 2013) Queen Consort's Ivory Rod with Dove, a controversial item as it contains ivory, which the Prince of Wales has campaigned against These are presented to Camilla as she commits herself to a life of service in support of her husband and her Sovereign. Enthroning The Queen Andrew Lloyd-Webber's coronation anthem, Make A Joyful Noise, is sung. Camilla joins the King on her own Throne next to him. Offertory Hymn Gifts of bread and wine are brought before the King. Prayer over the Gifts This prayer over the offerings was used at the 1953 Coronation. Eucharistic Prayer This prayer begins with words used at the 1953 Coronation and adds further words from the Bible. Sanctus By Roxanna Panufnik (British composer of Polish heritage). Eucharistic Prayer continues Words recalling the Last Supper that Jesus held with his disciples before he died. The Lord's Prayer The Archbishop will invite everyone to join, in the language they use for prayer. Agnus Dei Composed by Tarik O'Regan (London-born but based in San Francisco, whose work is influenced by his dual Arab and Irish heritages). Prayer after Communion Taken from the Book of Common Prayer. A member of the Royal School of Needlework hand embroiders Camilla, the Queen Consort's cypher onto her Robe of Estate ahead of the coronation on May 6 The Final Blessing Given by the Archbishop of Canterbury, followed by sung Amen by Orlando Gibbons (d 1625). Hymn Praise My Soul, written by Henry Francis Lyte (d 1847). This is based on Psalm 103. Anthem Set from verses from Psalm 21. This version was composed for the Coronation of George III by William Boyce (d 1779). Te Deum Sir William Walton Dates back to the 4th Century and is sometimes called The Hymn Of The Church. This is sung as Their Majesties go to St Edward's Chapel to be vested in the Robes of Estate and Charles puts on the Imperial State Crown. The National Anthem The King's Outward Procession & Organ Voluntaries will then play Edward Elgar's Pomp & Circumstance March No 4, and Parry's March from The Birds. Greeting Faith Leaders & Representatives and The Governors-Generals In an unprecedented gesture marking the significance of the religious diversity of the Realms, the Sovereign will spend his final moments in the abbey receiving a greeting from the leaders and representatives from the major non-Christian faith traditions. Royal superfans are continuing to camp out on The Mall this weekend as they try and bag front row seats to the procession for King Charles' coronation. A number of royal supporters have erected temporary homes made of tarpaulin along the iconic road just over a week before the big day on May 6. Keen observers will notice camping beds and bags of belongings underneath the huge blue mass, along with some familiar faces. When the procession itself comes past on Saturday, with the King and Queen being taken to Westminster Abbey and back to Buckingham Palace, the stretch of road is expected to be lined with thousands of people. So perhaps it's no surprise that some of the keenest fans of the monarchy have got there early in an attempt to beat the last minute rush for the prime spots along The Mall. Royal fan John Loughrey kneels next to a banner with a portrait of King Charles on it on Saturday John Loughrey (left), Carol Foster (centre) and Sky London (right) sit next to their temporary camp on The Mall The royal superfans have brought a huge blue tarpaulin for shelter and cover their belongings in the lead up to the big day Royal enthusiasts talk with passers by as they camp along the Mall, ahead of the coronation of King Charles III in London, Sunday Royal enthusiasts hold a flag-themed umbrella as they camp along the Mall, ahead of the coronation Among those who has got there early is John Loughrey - a royal devotee who is no stranger for being at the front of crowds for major royal events. READ MORE HERE: Full details of Coronation revealed with Queen Camilla to be anointed in full public view and presented with a ring which 'marries' her as consort to the King Advertisement Mr Loughrey, who lives in south London, earned a reputation as Princess Diana's number one fan after quitting his job working in a kitchen so he could attend every court session of the inquest into her death in 2008. He spent days on a bench outside the hospital where Prince George was born in 2013 and did it again for Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018. He also attends Westminster Abbey every week to say a prayer for Diana. And after the death of the Queen he tried to camp for the full 10 day mourning period outside Buckingham Palace - but he was told to pack away his tent for 'security reasons' as crowds descended. Also joining him nice and early at the barriers are Sky London and Carol Foster, who decided to get to The Mall with six days to spare. Mr London is also a familiar face at big royal events, having previously camped out ahead of the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth II last September, the late-monarchs Platinum Jubilee earlier in the year and the births of all three of the Prince and Princess of Wales's children. Asked why he had set up camp a full week ahead of the coronation, Mr London said: 'There's a saying, the early bird catches the early worm.' He added: 'We intend to hold this place, we don't want anybody else to take it.' It was at the birth of Prince George that he met Ms Foster, and the pair have since become firm friends, meeting up to celebrate their own birthdays, as well as the birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales. Asked what she was most looking forward to about the coronation, Ms Foster said: 'Seeing everybody dressed up, the pomp and ceremony. 'I'm looking forward to seeing what Catherine and Camilla are wearing. It's a once in a lifetime thing.' Royal enthusiasts hold images of Britain's King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort as they camp along the Mall On the day itself the barriers are expected to be lined with thousands of royal devotees to see the procession A huge blue tarpaulin has been attacked to the railings to keep them dry, while a camp bed and several bags can be spotted underneath A personal shopping trolley prips up one end - but the makeshift tent can be seen billowing in the wind Members of the Household Division rehearse the military accompaniment to the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Aldershot Barracks Around 700 Guardsmen, officers and bands of the Household Division took part in the rehearsal ahead of procession on May 6 King Charles III will be crowned as the UK's reigning monarch on Saturday, 6 May at Westminster Abbey. Although she was previously set to be known as Queen Consort, Camilla will also crowned as Queen at the ceremony. In line with a tradition dating back centuries, King Charles III's coronation ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey. READ MORE HERE: Coronation will be a family affair for Coldstream Guards officer set to carry flag from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace - his ancestor carried sword of state when Charles II was restored to the throne in 1661 Advertisement The ceremony will begin at 11am, once the royals have completed their arrival procession from Buckingham Palace. People can line the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the royals, with huge crowds expected given the significance of the event. The ceremony - which will be broadcast on the BBC - is believed to last about an hour, although exact details on the timings of service and its duration remain unclear. Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953 took three hours. Following the ceremony, a return procession, following the same route back, will begin. In the afternoon, 15 members of the royal family will gather on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the traditional fly-past to pay homage to Charles and Camilla. It comes as members of the Household Division rehearse the military accompaniment to the coronation at Aldershot Barracks. Around 700 Guardsmen, officers and bands of the Household Division took part in the rehearsal ahead of the big day. The coronation will see the largest military ceremonial operation in 70 years, with more than 6,000 men and women of the UK's armed forces taking part in the historic royal event. Sailors, soldiers, and aviators from across the UK and the breadth of the Commonwealth will accompany Charles and Camilla to and from Westminster Abbey. Later in the day, military personnel will conduct a six-minute flypast of more than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. In all corners of the Union - including at firing stations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast - gun salutes will take place to herald the moment the King is crowned. The ceremony will also be the first major ceremonial occasion since the late Queen's funeral in September. Featuring more than 400 personnel, across 13 locations and deployed Royal Navy ships, 21 rounds will fire to mark the coronation with the exception of the Tower of London and Horse Guards Parade, where a 62-round salute and a six-gun salvo will fire respectively. People are being invited to take part by vocally offering their 'true allegiance' The historic rite of aristocrats pledging their oath to the King has been scrapped A call for millions of citizens to 'pay homage' to King Charles during his coronation brought an unexpected backlash yesterday. The Archbishop of Canterbury's office this weekend revealed plans to make the ceremony more of a 'People's Coronation' by scrapping the historic rite of aristocrats pledging their oath to the new sovereign. Only the Prince of Wales will now kneel before the King and pledge to be his 'liege man of life and limb'. In a trailblazing move Lambeth Palace said citizens of the UK and Commonwealth would be offered the chance to 'make their homage in heart and voice to their undoubted King' instead. But the move sparked much conversation yesterday as the nation debated whether it would heed the call. Only the Prince of Wales will now kneel before the King (pictured) and pledge to be his 'liege man of life and limb' The Homage of the People is one of a number of significant updates to the ancient ritual to make it more inclusive and up to date That led to a Lambeth Palace source stressing that it was an 'invitation' for people watching the ceremony on Saturday to take part by vocally offering their 'true allegiance' to the monarch and his heirs, rather than an 'expectation or request'. READ MORE HERE: Only six days to go! Royal superfans continue camping out on The Mall ahead of King Charles' coronation Advertisement The order of service will read: 'All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.' A spokesman for Lambeth Palace said: 'The Homage of the People is particularly exciting because that's brand new. 'Our hope is at that point, when the archbishop invites people to join in, that people wherever they are, if they're watching at home on their own, watching the telly, will say it out loud - this sense of a great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King.' While it was clear there is no diktat whatsoever to do so, both Buckingham Palace and Lambeth Palace were clearly taken aback yesterday by the strength of feeling the invitation provoked, however. Many felt their well-meant rallying cry played into the hands of Republicans and critics of the ceremony generally, sparking an outpouring of comment and criticism on social media. Labour MP Clive Lewis told the Guardian that he thought the proposed oath would be 'either unwelcome or ignored by many'. Republic, the anti-monarchist organisation, said it was 'an offensive and tone-deaf gesture that holds the people in contempt'. But Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Sky News he would be swearing the oath and said MPs already pledge allegiance to His Majesty. The order of service will read: 'All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God' Labour MP Clive Lewis (pictured) told the Guardian that he thought the proposed oath would be 'either unwelcome or ignored by many' He said the coronation would be a 'fantastic opportunity' and a 'great showcase for Britain around the world'. READ MORE HERE: Full details of Coronation revealed with Queen Camilla to be anointed in full public view and presented with a ring which 'marries' her as consort to the King Advertisement Labour's Shabana Mahmood MP agreed, saying it was a 'lovely idea to involve the people' and that the oath was a 'lovely touch'. Last night a Lambeth Palace source clarified that the invitation was very much optional and simply an opportunity for people to join in should they so wish. They said: 'This is very much an invitation rather than an expectation or request, as you can see from the Archbishop's introduction to the homage. 'It's simply an opportunity offered by the Archbishop so that, unlike previous Coronations, those who wish to join in with the words being spoken by the Abbey congregation could do so in a very simple way. 'For those who do want to take part, some will want to say all the words of the homage; some might just want to say 'God Save The King' at the end; others might just want to it to be a moment of private reflection. ' They added: 'We live in a wonderfully diverse society with many different perspectives and beliefs, and it's quite right that people decide for themselves how they relate to this moment. 'Much like the National Anthem, it's for people to join in if that feels right for them. 'For those who may wish to join in, we hope it's a moment of joy and celebration - both in the Abbey, and in homes around the country and beyond.' The Homage of the People is one of a number of significant updates to the ancient ritual to make it more inclusive and up to date. Key roles will be handed to representatives of other faiths, as well as the Church of England. Female members of the clergy will also be involved for the first time. Queen Camilla will also become the first consort in history to be anointed with Holy oil in full public view. While her husband's anointing will take place behind a screen in order to protect the solemnity of the moment, his wife has dispensed with the canopy previously used by sovereign's wives such as The Queen Mother and Queen Mary. Sources said it was her personal preference and would also help 'speed up' the ceremony, which is being crammed into two hours. The King will also be heard for the first time praying aloud with a specially commissioned 'King's Prayer'. There will also be multiple outfit changes for both Charles and Camilla with two sets of robes each. The multi-faith service will also include prayers said in the traditional languages of the British Isles: Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction - but a company in Utah has already implanted brain chips in dozens of patients. Blackrock Neurotech, based in Salt Lake City, has the grand ambition of curing physical paralysis, blindness, deafness and depression. The chip known as NeuroPort Array allow people to control robotic arms and wheelchairs, play video games and even feel sensations. It works by using nearly 100 microneedles that attach to the brain and read electrical signals produced by someone's thoughts. More than three dozen people have so far received it. The device was first implanted in a human in 2004. Company leaders hope to bring it to market soon, announcing in 2021 they aimed for the next year. Nathan Copeland (left) has had a BCI for eight years he uses his device to create art and play video games. James Johnson (right) has been able to return to his career as a digital graphic designer after his paralysis cut it short The NeuroPort Array (pictured) was developed by Salt Lake City-based Blackrok Neurotech. The device can read a person's brain signals and use them to control a robotic arm, type or perform other functions. Some hope that the rise of these devices will be a revelation for treating paralysis and other conditions Tech mogul Elon Musk has also launched similar plans with Neurolink, an implantable device he hopes can help similar groups. Mr Musk's initial plans were deterred by regulators earlier this year, who rejected a bid to trial his implant in humans. We are the only company with direct-brain BCI implants in humans,' Marcus Gerhardt, Blackrock's co-founder, told DailyMail.com. Our implantable arrays have enabled people to connect directly to computers, control robotic arms and wheelchairs, play video games, even regain sensation with just their brain signals. Blackrocks technology uses an implantable microchip that has 96 arrays small needle-shaped brain chips that can read and stimulate electrical signals. It can be placed anywhere on the brain's surface. Multiple devices can be placed on the same person's brain. After implantation, the chip detects electrical signals generated by the wearers thoughts. Machine learning software decodes these signals into digital commands such as cursor movements, which can be used to control prosthetics and computer equipment. This can help a person draw using a robotic arm, use computer programs or control a wheelchair or prosthetic limb. But the company is now seeking FDA approval for devices built for use outside the lab, to be used at home by people with paralysis. Gerhardt said: We are pursuing regulatory approval of the worlds first-ever BCI designed specifically for at-home use: MoveAgain. 'This medical device aims to increase independence and mobility, and ultimately, quality of life, for people with paralysis. He hopes that BCIs will become as ubiquitous for paralyzed patients as pacemakers for people with heart issues. He continued: Once home-use BCIs are available, theyll help people build new lives that may have seemed impossible following their disability; we think well see people return to work, establish greater independence, and engage with the world in powerful new ways. 'Our long-term vision is that our implants will become as readily available to people with paralysis as pacemakers are for people with heart issues.' The company is already developing brain-computer interfaces to restore hearing and vision. Mr Gerhardt said: As the technology continues to advance, well see BCIs with indications for memory and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. It has been used on more than three dozen people who Blackrock, which has no relation to the asset management firm, refers to as BCI pioneers. The device has been implanted in patients for a combined 80 years without any reports of serious adverse effects. However, the device does have some pitfalls. The arrays on the implant slowly break down over time, causing its signal quality to degrade after around two years. The device will usually need to be removed after around five years, requiring another surgery to take it out and then replace it. Nathan Copeland has had a BCI for eight years and uses his BCI to create art with a robotic arm as well as play video games. He is even able to feed himself, recently showing off his ability to eat a Taco Bell Cheesy Gordito Crunch using a robot arm controlled by his brain. Mr Copelands art is now on display at The BCI Exhibit at AAAS in Washington DC. Mr Gerhardt said: When it comes to art, Nathans medium of choice is MS Paint or GIMP, but James Johnson is the most proficient BCI Photoshop user weve seen. Marcus Gearhardt (pictured), CEO and co-founder of Blackrock Neurotech, told DailyMail.com he hopes his company's devices will help cure mental health illnesses and help revitalize people's memory 'Before James became paralyzed, he had a small business doing photo manipulations for clients. 'Using his BCI, he has been able to get back to using Photoshop, and some of his artwork is on display at The BCI Exhibit, as well. Mr Gerhardt says that Blackrock first implanted a BCI in 2004, but has often tended to shun publicity because of concerns about public perception of the devices. As a company, weve also taken a much more active role in stepping out from behind the curtain and helping enthusiastic patients tell their stories,' he said. 'Once patients have access to these devices outside the lab, I think well really see an increase in public interest. The skys the limit for what BCIs will be able to do in the future.' Mr Gerhardt believes that the technology could be used in the near future to deal with everything from restoring lost memories to PTSD to depression. For instance, with depression, BCI could show promise for modulating neural activity in the regions of the brain that are involved in mood regulation,' he said. When it comes to disorders like depression or PTSD, spatially and temporally focused electrical or magnetic stimulation of neural tissue could help disrupt or reprogram firing patterns that lead to the disorder. The data could also lead to new understanding of conditions such as depression - and how they are diagnosed and treated. In the long term, BCI technology could be used to restore lost memories. Gerhardt says, Memory is a complex phenomenon, but advanced implantable BCI technologies can potentially use targeted electrical recording and stimulation of individual neurons and circuits to help restore some of the functionality associated with memory formation and retrieval. 'Its possible that BCI technology could also record the patterns associated with specific memories and recreate them as needed. Any death, whenever it occurs and whomever to, sends shockwaves through familial and social units who are often completely blindsided by the loss no matter the circumstances of the departure. But in and amongst the blur of those grey days and weeks spent planning funerals and memorial services, one crucial aspect of the deceased lives almost always gets neglected: namely, what on earth are we supposed to do with their social media? It's a sad truth that social media has fundamentally changed the way we live and interact with the world and our loved ones. Many of us live our life through our phones and when we're gone we leave behind a vast digital footprint that can seem impossible to control or erase which can cause your loved ones unexpected stress alongside their grief. Luckily, there are ways to get a hold of your online presence before you kick the bucket. But you'll need to have a few awkward conversations first! When a person dies they leave behind an online legacy that can be hard to remove Sites like Facebook and Instagram allow you to memorialise your account when you're gone According to Dipti Tait, a behavioural psychologist and hypnotherapist, the effects of social media can linger long after a person's death - and the impacts can be positive or negative. How to take control of your a dead person's social media when they're gone Facebook, Twitter and Instagram all offer users the option of nominating someone to look after their social media pages once they've passed. Facebook From your main profile, click your profile photo in the top right of Facebook. Select Settings and privacy, then click Settings. Below General profile settings, click Memorialisation settings. Type in a friend's name in Choose a friend and click Add. To let your friend know they're now your legacy contact, click Send. To change or remove a legacy contact, follow steps 1-3 above, then click Remove. From there, you can add a new legacy contact if you'd like. If your main profile is memorialised, your legacy contact will be notified. Twitter Twitter are unable to provide a family member or friend access to the deceaseds account for security reasons. You can request the removal of a dead person's account. You will need: Information about the deceased A copy of your ID A copy of their death certificate Instagram Instagram allows users to memorialise or delete a dead persons account. As with other platforms, you will need to provide proof of death. Should you wish to remove a person's profile you would use this form. To memorialise, you would need to use this request form. Advertisement She told the MailOnline: 'Social media can be a positive thing and a hugely negative thing. 'For some people it isnt useful to have reminders of the departed person due to a variety of delicate and sensitive reasons. 'On the other side, theres a sense of community in grieving together. 'Of course the level of which you would like to be memorialized is up to you. 'There are steps people can take before you die to set the boundaries of how you will be remembered.' Getting access to a person's social media once they've passed can be a strenuous and emotionally exhausting task. Most platforms now allow people to select a legacy contact to pass control over to in the event of their death but the chosen party will still need to send off a death certificate to be granted access. Dipti continued: 'Its important to talk to your close ones before you pass so they avoid the bureaucracy of dealing with the social media companies. 'Sometimes it can be hard to get your message across which can cause unnecessary grief. 'Its a strange conversation to have but its one worth having.' According to Dipti, whose book Planet Grief touches on a variety of emotional and practical responses to death, there are some instances when having any reminder of a loved one online can be a negative. She continued: 'For some, the reminders of the people no longer with us can be untimely and provoke a reaction in a place that we feel is inappropriate. 'This can affect us when we have not fully accepted the reality of the death or the loss, and we may react by pushing down our emotions quickly so that the grief feels contained.' One person who knows all to well the comfort social media can bring to those we leave behind is branding expert Sonya Dhillon who was forced to suddenly come to terms with the loss of her close cousin. When he passed away from cancer, aged just 22-years old Sonya said that his planning ahead had made the grieving process - online at least- far more streamlined. She said: 'There are settings involved where you can appoint someone when you pass away who can make it a memorial or deactivate it. 'When my cousin passed away there wasnt that option, he had to give his dad his password so he could get it set up. 'We made him a memorial, we like to have it there so we can talk to him and wish him a heavenly birthday. 'For me its nice to know that your socials will be looked after. Nowadays if someone dies all people do is go there to reminisce.' 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 The Holiday Guru is here to answer travellers' questions. This week he tackles queries around the upcoming security staff strikes at Heathrow, how many blank pages you need in your passport, the best non-Dover ferry routes to the Continent, and more... Q. Whats the latest on the security staff strikes planned at Heathrow? Audrey Johnson, Bath A. Strikes by the Unite union are planned to hit Heathrows Terminal 5 for eight days during May. They start this week, from Thursday to Saturday, as well as on May 9 to 10 and 25 to 27. Strikes by the Unite union are planned to hit Heathrows Terminal 5 for eight days during May The other terminals are unaffected. The union hopes for May mayhem, but the impact should be limited, as it has been during similar walkouts. Some flights may be cancelled perhaps one in 20 but these should be on short-haul routes, such as to Geneva and Dublin, where alternatives are available on the day. Long-haul services should run as normal. Q. What happens if my flight is cancelled due to the strikes? Ben Watson, via email A. You are entitled to a place on a reasonable replacement flight or a full refund. Q. Do we need to arrive especially early at the airport on strike dates? Sarah Kenworthy, Penrith, Cumbria A. No, the recommended arrival times of two hours before a short-haul flight and three hours before long-haul flights are fine. Q. I need a new passport for travel in August. If I apply for one now, will I be all right? Mr Owen, Rochdale A. Despite strikes by more than 1,000 Passport Office workers that have run since April 3 and are due to end on Friday, there has been no effect on the standard passport application time of ten weeks. See gov.uk or apply at a post office. Those seeking passports sooner can request an appointment for a one-week fast-track service. But act quickly as these slots are being snapped up. Q. My sons passport will have two-and-a-half months validity left when travel to France in August. Will this be enough? Kate Peters, Teddington, London A. No. He will need at least three months on his passport to visit the European Union. You should apply for a renewal. Q. My passport is filling up with stamps and theres hardly any space left, but its got a couple of years to go. What should I do? Dan Penton, Manchester You need at least three months on your passport to visit the European Union A. You, too, need to apply for a renewal. Some countries can be fussy about passports with pages filled Italy and South Africa require at least two full blank pages. Q. Can you suggest ferry alternatives to the Continent to avoid possible delays at Dover? Sally Hamilton, via email A. Try Brittany Ferries for Portsmouth to Caen, St Malo, Cherbourg and Le Havre (brittany-ferries.co.uk), DFDS for Newhaven to Dieppe or Newcastle to Amsterdam (dfds.com), P&O Ferries for Hull to Rotterdam (poferries.com), or Stena Line from Harwich to the Hook of Holland (stenaline.co.uk). It you do go via Dover, see traffic updates at trafficengland.com. Q. My husband and I were robbed of a rucksack containing a laptop and a scanner at Victoria Station in London. We submitted a claim to Free Spirit, our travel insurer, but we do not have receipts and our bank statements are not good enough. We are in our 80s and the claim feels like a war of attrition. Can you help? Margaret Edwards, via email A. We contacted the claims handling agent, Davies Group, which looked into the matter. The bank statements and other evidence have now been accepted and a settlement of 1,000 has been made. WERE HERE TO HELP If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions. Email us at holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk. It's official, Amazon Prime's spy thriller series Citadel starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, 40, and Richard Madden, 36, is the second most expensive series to make. The six-episode first season cost $300 million to make. That's $50 million per episode. Reportedly, the series is a big passion project for the Head of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke. Part of the reason for the inflated cost is the fact that the series was renewed for a second season before the first season dropped. Prime Video is looking to expand Citadel into a franchise with spin-offs. Stunning in fuschia: It's official, Amazon Prime's spy thriller series Citadel starring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, 40, and Richard Madden, 36, is the second most expensive series to make Spies like us: The six-episode first season cost $300 million to make. That's $50 million per episode Other factors also drove the cost up, including the break in production for the pandemic, calling the actors and crew back to begin shooting again and the high cost of COVID 19 protocols that was not factored in when the series was greenlit. Priyanka also fought for equal pay with her male co-star Madden - something she's never had before in her nearly 20 year career. 'If your contribution, time and what you bring to the table is the same as your male counterpart, there is a very serious conversation to be had about compensation,' she said. 'It was not a conversation I was encouraged to have for a very long time because it was just a given when I started out in movies that your male counterpart would have a substantially larger pay check,' she continued. 'I think my generation of female actors really stood up for themselves,' she added. The actress, who is married to Jonas Brother Nick Jonas, plays the character of Nadia Sinh. The synopsis for the series reads, 'The global spy agency Citadel has fallen and the memory of its agents has been erased. Now, the powerful Manticore crime syndicate is filling the power vacuum. Citadel agents must remember their past and find the strength to fight back.' The mom of Malti Marie has sustained an injury while shooting Citadel that has left her with a small scar on her gorgeous face. Lady in red: Priyanka makes as much as her co-star Madden as she fought for pay equity Inflated cost: Part of the reason for the inflated cost is the fact that the series was renewed for a second season before the first season dropped The accident happened during a rainy London day near the end of filming for the day. 'The ground was wet, and I went an inch in front of where I was supposed to stop. So the camera came an inch closer to me and the matte box took out my eyebrow,' she told Variety. 'But you know, I have a cool scar and a good story to tell. I just put some surgical glue on her and closed her up and finished the day,' she said. And that didn't stop her from continuing with shooting: 'I didn't want to come back and have to do that whole thing again,' she explained. Other factors: Other factors also drove the cost up, including the break in production for the pandemic, calling the actors and crew back to begin shooting again and the high cost of COVID 19 protocols that was not factored in when the series was greenlit Spin offs: The series is a passion project for the Head of Amazon Studios, Jennifer Salke, who hopes to spin the series off into other series 'I was just like, 'Let's just get it done.' I had fake blood and mud and stuff on my face anyway so you couldn't event tell.' And the Quantico star isn't itching to be her own stunt double again anytime soon. 'I didn't want to do my stunts,' she told the outlet.'I trust myself to do it. The mandate from the filmmakers was, "We would love for the actors' faces to be seen as much as you can and where you feel safe."' For what it's worth, the most expensive series to make is Amazon Prime's Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power at $58 million per episode. She's had several jobs since leaving the Royal Family: Mills & Boon author, Weight Watchers spokeswoman, TV correspondent... and now the Duchess of York can add another entry to her CV: Winnebago driver. Sarah Ferguson has gamely volunteered to join the support crew when her friend, the Countess of Bathurst, embarks on a charity bike ride from Lands End to John o Groats in September. Getting behind the wheel of the motorhome means Fergie will be providing vital back-up during the 1,200-mile trip to raise money for the Countesss new charity, the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA). Sarah, 63, might even take the Queens corgis along for the ride, since she adopted Sandy and Muick after her late Majesty died last September. They are very supportive of the NFRSA, Fergie joked to me at the charitys launch last week. However, the corgis were not at the party at Christies auction house in Central London even though plenty of labrador puppies training to be service dogs were there with Sarah explaining: Sandy and Muick would chase the puppies. Sarah Ferguson has gamely volunteered to join the support crew when her friend, the Countess of Bathurst, embarks on a charity bike ride from Lands End to John o Groats in September She's had several jobs since leaving the Royal Family: Mills & Boon author, Weight Watchers spokeswoman, TV correspondent... and now the Duchess of York can add another entry to her CV: Winnebago driver Of her stint as Winnebago driver, the Duchess added: Im delighted to do this work with Lady B especially because I just cant bear to think that these animals have served us so well and then theres no one to look after them. She added that she was happy to help as were only as good as the team around us. Fergie previously showed her support for the work of the charity by posing with its fundraising calendars early this year. And the Winnebago wont be the only help Lady Bathurst, 57, will be getting, as shell be doing her challenge on a 10,000 Porsche e-bike, which can nip along at 15mph thanks to its battery-powered motor. Fergie was not the only famous face at the NFRSA launch, as other attendees included Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes and Dragons Den star Deborah Meaden, who bid 2,100 for the chance to watch a police alsatian being trained by handlers in the West Midlands. Jett Kenny has spoken candidly about his grief following the death of his big sister Jaimi three years ago. The 29-year-old's world was shattered in September 2020, when Jaimi died at the age of 33 after battling alcoholism and an eating disorder. While Jett's Olympian mother Lisa Curry discusses her mental health regularly on social media, Jett usually keeps his struggles more private. 'How I would deal with the grief is different compared to how mum deals with it. Obviously as a parent, that's not something you'd never want to go through,' the SAS Australia star told The Daily Telegraph. Jett, whose father is Ironman Grant Kenny, said he copes with grief by rationalising his tragic loss as 'something part of life', and reminding himself that 'these things do happen.' Jett Kenny has spoken candidly about his grief following the death of his big sister Jaimi three years ago. (Pictured with Jaimi) 'Obviously we have times where some days are harder than others, especially around birthdays, Easter and Christmas,' he added. Jett also revealed that he honours Jaimi's memory every day by keeping photographs of her in his bedroom. It comes after Jett partnered with non-profit organisation Liptember to show his support for women's mental health struggles. While Jett's Olympian mother Lisa Curry (left, with Jaimi) discusses her mental health regularly on social media, Jett usually keeps his struggles more private 'How I would deal with the grief is different compared to how mum deals with it. Obviously as a parent, that's not something you'd never want to go through,' the SAS Australia star told The Daily Telegraph The Ironman is the new ambassador for the Lip-Stick-It campaign and is urging men to wear lipstick on May 11 to show their support for the women in their lives. The Kenny-Curry family announced Jaimi's death on social media on September 15 2020, one day after her passing. 'Our beautiful daughter Jaimi has lost her battle with a long-term illness and passed away peacefully in hospital yesterday morning with her loving family by her side,' Jaimi's mother, Lisa Curry, wrote at the time. Jett, whose father is Ironman Grant Kenny, said he copes with grief by rationalising his tragic loss as 'something part of life', and reminding himself that 'these things do happen' Back in 2021, Jett told HIT Queensland's Breakfast with Cliffo & Gabi Jaimi was struggling with her mental health even when she seemed happy. 'It's behind closed doors [people struggle], it's not really a public conversation. It was the same for our family,' he said. 'When Jaimi was out in public it was all sunshine and rainbows, but with that comes the dark clouds and the storms. It's hard because you don't truly understand,' he added. 'You can do everything you can for that person, but in the end it comes down to that person wanting to help themselves. It's an unfortunate situation.' For free and confidential support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Butterfly Foundation for eating disorder concerns on 1800 ED HOPE Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that he was a very proud father-in-law on Friday when he heaped praise on Chris Pratt after seeing his new film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The legendary action star, 75 who recently introduced the world to his pet mini pig Schnelly gave a heartwarming shoutout to Pratt via Twitter, telling the Marvel mainstay that he is 'very, very proud' of him. Arnold wrote: 'I saw #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 last night and WOW. @prattprattpratt, you crushed it. A non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action. I loved it and I'm very, very proud of you.' The third installment of Pratt's blockbuster franchise will premiere in theaters on May 5, putting a final chapter on the adventures of Star-Lord and company, at least for the time being. Chris, 43, is married to Schwarzenegger's eldest child, Katherine, 33, with whom he shares two daughters: Lyla Maria, two, and Eloise Christina, 11 months. Making him proud: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, declared that he was a very proud father-in-law on Friday when he heaped praise on Chris Pratt, 43, after seeing his new film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Superhero son-in-law: The third installment of Pratt's blockbuster franchise will premiere in theaters on May 5, putting a final chapter on the adventures of Star-Lord and company, at least for the time being The former Governor of California has become very close with his beloved daughter's A-list husband since their romance began in 2018. 'I get along with him really well,' Schwarzenegger told Jimmy Kimmel in 2019 the year that Katherine and Chris tied the knot. In addition to both being action stars, the Hollywood heavyweights immediately connected over their shared love of fitness. Arnold told Kimmel: 'Of course, the first thing when we met, [Chris] says, 'Can we have a workout together? I need to have the inside scoop to the pumping iron. 'Pumping iron was the decision-making factor, absolutely. We were in the gym, that was it.' The Terminator icon went on to say that he was 'blown away' when his daughter told him that she was dating the Jurassic World hero. 'I was blown away when my daughter was telling me that she was going out with him. '[I was like], 'Do you have to be so competitive? I mean, do you have to have a guy that is taller than me, that is bigger than me, that is doing bigger movies than me makes more money than me? What is going on here?'' Sweet: The legendary action star gave a heartwarming shoutout to Pratt via Twitter, telling the Marvel mainstay that he is 'very, very proud' of him and calling Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 'a non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action' Lovely pair: Chris is married to Schwarzenegger's eldest child, Katherine, 33, with whom he shares two daughters Lyla Maria, two, and Eloise Christina, 11 months Ultimate father-in-law: The former Governor of California has become very close with his beloved daughter's A-list husband since their romance began in 2018. 'I get along with him really well,' Schwarzenegger told Jimmy Kimmel in 2019 the year that Katherine and Chris tied the knot Heavenly love: The deeply religious couple connected in church, and Katherine recently described their meet-cute as 'super sweet' during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show In a touching moment, Arnold spoke to Kimmel about how grateful he was that Chris was such a kind and loving partner to his daughter. 'I'm really happy that he is such a great guy,' said the superstar. 'Not only a very talented guy and a great actor and a great star and all this stuff, but a really kind man and kind to my daughter, which is the most important thing for me.' The deeply religious couple connected in church, and Katherine recently described their meet-cute as 'super sweet' during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. And more children appear to be on the way for the pair as Katherine told Us Weekly that she's open to having more children: 'I come from a big family, so I love the idea of having a lot of kids around and a big family. Whatever God has in his plan for us is what we'll do.' Alex Nation has been rushed to the emergency room in the early hours of the morning after suffering an acute health scare days after welcoming her third chid via C-section. The Bachelor star, 31, shared a photo of herself lying in hospital hooked up to an IV drip on Saturday, alongside a lengthy caption detailing her ordeal. Describing her night as 'proper f**king cooked', the reality star wrote: [My newborn daughter] Pearl woke at 1am for a feed and I woke drenched in sweat.' 'While I was feeding her I felt my heart racing, short of breath and began to feel nauseas [sic]. 2am came and I was violently vomiting.' By 2am, the podcast host was violently vomiting every 10-15 minutes. Alex Nation, 31, (pictured) has been rushed to the emergency room in the early hours of the morning after suffering an acute health scare days after welcoming her third chid via C-section The Bachelor star shared a photo of herself lying in hospital hooked up to an IV drip on Saturday, alongside a lengthy caption detailing her ordeal 'My C-section wound felt like it was being pulled at internally and was incredibly painful,' she lamented. Alex's fiance Carson Jory called an ambulance at around 4.30am and she was rushed to hospital with an elevated heart rate. 'I was feeding Pearl whilst vomiting into a bucket at the same time. I was absolutely inconsolable. What nightmares are made of,' Alex wrote. She described waking up in a sweat and violently vomiting while breast feeding her newborn daughter in the middle of the night. 'My C-section wound felt like it was being pulled at internally and was incredibly painful,' she lamented Alex's fiance Carson Jory (left)called an ambulance at around 4.30am and she was rushed to hospital with an elevated heart rate. Fortunately, the doctors successfully treated her and she is now recovering from what she believes to be a nasty bout of gastro Fortunately, the doctors successfully treated her and she is now recovering from what she believes to be a nasty bout of gastro. 'Vomiting eight days after a C-Section is horrific, I'll tell you that for free!' she added. Alex and Carson Jory welcomed daughter Pearl earlier this month following a difficult pregnancy. 'Pearl. 200423. Her entrance was pure magic and we are all just so in love,' Alex captioned the heartwarming picture. Alex and Carson already share a son named Maxwell, one, while Alex is also mother to son Elijah, 11, from a previous relationship. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez held hands on Saturday when enjoyed a day date in Beverly Hills. The power couple were joined by Jennifer's 15-year-old kid Emme, who appeared to be very busy on their phone as Lopez and Affleck put their love on display. The Shotgun Wedding star, 53 who recently flaunted her incredible abs in a sizzling crop top looked chic and stylish in a plaid coat, high-waisted jeans and a sultry black top. Affleck, 50, kept it dapper and casual in his dark gray pants, matching blazer, and back button-up shirt. The pair's blended family is comprised of five children, with Lopez sharing her 15-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Affleck sharing his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner Seraphina, 17, Violet, 14, and Samuel, 11. Sweet Saturday: Ben Affleck, 50, and Jennifer Lopez, 53, held hands on Saturday when enjoyed a day date in Beverly Hills Looking good: The Shotgun Wedding star looked chic and stylish in a plaid coat, high-waisted jeans and a sultry black top, while Affleck kept it dapper and casual in his dark gray pants, matching blazer, and back button-up shirt Last week Ben appeared on The Drew Barrymore Show and revealed that the Jenny From the Block hitmaker 'eats whatever she wants' and still maintains her killer physique. 'Let me tell you something that's gonna upset you,' began the Oscar winner. 'Jennifer just eats whatever she wants. Whatever she wants. She eats cookies, ice cream, everything.' Asked if his wife's workout routine is her secret to keeping fit, Affleck said: 'She works out. I work out too but I don't magically appear to be twenty years old, you know what I mean, with perfect skin and the whole thing.' The Air filmmaker went on to gush about Jennifer's 'work ethic' and her 'superhuman' ability to be 'the most gorgeous woman in the world.' 'There's no taking away of the work ethic,' he said. 'The work ethic is real, the discipline is real, but also the superhuman thing is real. She's the most gorgeous woman in the world, she looks spectacular.' Barrymore asked the lovestruck Armageddon star if there was anything that his beloved wife would change about him. 'She would probably want to cultivate brevity in the way I speak,' he answered. 'I don't know if you've noticed but I go on and on and on. I talk in circles. She's never said that to me but that would be my guess.' Quality time: The power couple were joined by Jennifer's 15-year-old kid Emme, who appeared to be very busy on their phone as Lopez and Affleck put their love on display The Bennifer Bunch: The pair's blended family is comprised of five children, with Lopez sharing her 15-year-old twins Emme and Max with ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Affleck sharing his three children with ex-wife Jennifer Garner Seraphina, 17, Violet, 14, and Samuel, 11; pictured in March 2023 Bennifer's bliss: The happy couple have built solid foundation for their family since tying the knot last year cementing a full-circle love story in Hollywood after their first engagement unraveled in 2004; pictured in January 2023 The happy couple have built solid foundation for their family since tying the knot last year cementing a full-circle love story in Hollywood after their first engagement unraveled in 2004. Jennifer has described the blending of their teenagers as 'an emotional transition.' 'We moved in together. The kids moved in together,' Lopez explained during an appearance on TODAY in January. 'It's been, like, a really kind of emotional transition, but at the same time all your dreams coming true.' And all is well when it comes to working with his ex Jennifer Garner, 51. in an interview with Vogue, Lopez praised the Alias star as 'an amazing co-parent,' sharing that Garner and Affleck 'work really well together.' Gillian McKeith's daughter Afton has revealed she does not go out with English men because they know her mother from You Are What You Eat. The nutritionist's role on the show involved studying other people's poo and saw her labelled the 'Poo Lady'. Afton, 23, told the Mirror: 'I get nervous dating men from England as they know my mum from TV. I stopped going out with them because it was too weird.' Meanwhile, her elder sister Skylar, 28, revealed she was bullied at school because of her mother's role on the show. She said: 'I was at secondary school in London and I had people shouting down the hallway, "Skylar, I saw your mum sniffing poo on TV last night." They were horrible and made fun of me. I really struggled.' Fame: Gillian McKeith's daughter Afton has revealed she does not go out with English men because they know her mother from You Are What You Eat (pictured: Skylar, Gillian and Afton in 2018) Expert: The nutritionist's role on the show involved studying other people's poo and saw her labelled the 'Poo Lady' She continued: 'One day, a boy pushed me against a wall and held a lighter to my face. I was like, 'I'm done', and was homeschooled for a bit.' Both sisters spoke to the publication after their mother and Shaun Ryder lost their trial and left I'm A Celebrity. They also revealed that they think their mother is 'misunderstood' and 'not irritating' and gushed about her. Afton studied musical theatre at The Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London which was attended by famous alumni including Sharon Osbourne, Naomi Campbell and Russell Brand. She now lives in Texas, and regularly shares modelling snaps to her 42k Instagram followers. Meanwhile, Skylar lives in South Dakota with her husband Aaron and their son Landon, two. Last year, Afton won Miss USA Spokesmodel and looked sensational as she posed up a storm competing in the glamour event. The red headed dancer told MailOnline that she 'worked really hard' preparing for the pageant - entering as the Sioux Falls contestant. Praise: Skylar and Afton revealed that they think their mother is 'misunderstood' and 'not irritating' and gushed about her (pictured together in 2018) Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Afton shared: 'I am really proud to win because I worked hard preparing for the pageant. I got to also showcase my acting skills which was a major factor in my win and a passion of mine. 'The platform is a great way to bring awareness to the importance of health and fitness which was my main focus as there was a also fitness portion in the competition.' Gillian also shared her pride for daughter Afton, explaining she was 'absolutely delighted' with the win. The Scottish TV personality detailed: 'I am absolutely delighted that Afton won the competition. I am so proud of all her achievements! Kyle Sandilands paid tribute to his wife Tegan Kynaston's Jewish heritage by incorporating several customs into their show-stopping nuptials over the weekend. During the reception, the happy couple were lifted above the crowd on chairs while guests danced the hora, a joyful tradition performed at Jewish wedding receptions. The radio shock jock was lifted by several of his groomsman and beefy security guards, while Tegan was carried by fellow guests. The pair each waved handkerchieves in the air as guests sang a rousing rendition of Hava Nagila, a Jewish folk song is usually sung at weddings. Couples traditionally each hold one end of a handkerchief to signify their union while they are being lifted on chairs. Kyle Sandilands paid homage to his bride Tegan Kynaston's Jewish heritage with traditional customs during their $1million wedding on Saturday Further honouring Tegan's Jewish faith, the couple participated in the ceremonial breaking of the glass at the end of their wedding ceremony. For the extravagant reception, Tegan slipped into her second wedding outfit - a glitzy white mini dress that displayed her trim pins. Their celebrity-studded guest list included the likes of John Ibrahim, who was seen puffing on a cigar as the wedding party posed for pictures at the luxurious venue. During the reception, the happy couple were lifted above the crowd on chairs while guests danced the hora, a joyful tradition performed at Jewish wedding receptions The radio shock jock was lifted by several of his groomsman and beefy security guards During the hora, the couple each holds one end of a handkerchief or napkin to signify their union The bride and groom made sure to mingle with their guests outside, with Kyle spotted smoking a vape alongside a group of bridesmaids. The bridesmaids looked stunning in elegant blue slip dresses and giggled together as they chatted with the radiant bride. Tegan, dressed in a breathtaking Michelle Mason gown for the ceremony, appeared delighted as she chatted with the girls while her new husband Kyle relished his smoke. Photos of the private ceremony obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia show the shock jock proudly standing arm-in-arm with the blushing bride after the newlyweds took their vows. As the guests sat down to a three-course dinner at the reception that followed, Kyle took the microphone to tell his bride: 'Baby we've done it.' 'I always thought that the love I was looking for and that I wanted was a delusion and wasn't achievable,' Sandilands said in his speech. In photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, the shock jock was proud as punch with his the blushing bride on his arm at the ceremony The shock jock said 'I do' with the communications executive at a heritage-listed mansion in Sydney's Darling Point at about 3pm in front of 130 guests - the most notable being Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. She walked down the aisle to the sound of an organ player As guests sat down to a three-course dinner, Kyle took the mic to say to his bride: 'Baby we've done it' 'I always thought that the love I was looking for and that I wanted was a delusion and wasn't achievable' he added. 'You've changed my life and made me a better man. I love you, baby' The wedding party posed for photos on a day to remember 'You've changed my life and made me a better man. I love you, baby.' Kyle added that watching Tegan become a mother to their son Otto 'made him fall in love with her all over again'. Before saying 'I do', Sandilands spoke exclusively with Daily Mail Australia while he was getting ready for the big day at the InterContinental hotel in Double Bay on Saturday morning. He also shared exclusive details about his and his groomsmen's $5,000 suits, revealing he and his son wore matching jackets embroidered with the family crest. 'I wanted it to be a bit of a royal-ish wedding. But Tegan said, 'No, no. No swords, no medals. It's not a costume party,' he explained. Kyle added that watching Tegan become a mother to their son Otto 'made him fall in love with her all over again' The pair had their first dance to Hallelujah I Love Her So, an old Ray Charles hit, performed live by Guy Sebastian The newlyweds could barely wipe the smiles off their faces as they shared their first dance as Mr and Mrs Sandilands However, things quickly amped up when the radio shock jock demanded all his guests jump to the dance floor and join the newlyweds They spun the night away on the dance floor as Guy Sebastian performed. A string quartet complemented Guy's heart-warming performance Guy returned to the stage to churn out some hits once the party got pumping The newlyweds shared a kiss as they cut their wedding cake at the reception Sandilands said his wedding cake, which he described as a 'five tier monster', cost more than $9400 'So I got embroidered my family crest on the on the pocket and I've got my son wearing the same thing. I'm very happy. I'm looking at it right now and it looks incredible.' Sandilands officially kicked off his wedding preparations at 9am on Saturday when he was seen arriving at the InterContinental Hotel. The shock jock said 'I do' with the communications executive, 37, at a heritage-listed mansion in Sydney's Darling Point at about 3pm in front of 130 guests - the most notable being Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Dakota Johnson put on a stylish display as she stepped out in New York City on Saturday. The 33-year-old actress who recently attended the special screening of her Roku series Slip with her mother, Melanie Griffith wore a regal-looking black, white, and gold blouse. She also donned a stylish patterned jacket with black accents and gold hardware. Johnson is one of dozens of high-profile celebrities who have been spotted out and about in the Big Apple ahead of Monday's Met Gala. The 2023 Met Gala will be return to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, with everyone from Kim Kardashian to Paris Hilton set to attend the annual fundraising event. Dakota Johnson put on a stylish display as she stepped out in New York City on Saturday Style queen: The 33-year-old actress wore a regal-looking black, white, and gold blouse The Lost Daughter star added a pair of loose-fitting, flared black trousers to her look. The fashion-forward beauty, who's dating Chris Martin, 46, rounded out the ensemble with a pair of white Adidas sneakers. Dakota's sweater had a cream-colored collar and green and gold fringe along the hem. The entertainer's rich, brunette locks were styled in her signature fringe bangs and she pulled them into a high ponytail. Despite the gray, rainy day, the actress shielded her eyes in a pair of large, square-shaped sunglasses. Underneath the shades the silver screen siren flaunted a full face of makeup, including blushed cheeks and a rosy lip stain. She accessorized with a gold chain necklace and dangling gold cross earrings. Johnson carried her belongings in a chic black leather Gucci bag and was escorted through the city by a man who held an umbrella over her head. Earlier this week the superstar wore a cropped white T-shirt and a pair of high-waisted Gucci trousers while out and about. She also sported a pair of patent leather loafers adorned with gold hardware. Earlier this month Johnson enjoyed a coffee run in Malibu with her beau, who is the frontman of Coldplay. The pair who live together in a lavish $12.5 million mansion began their romance in 2017. Footwear: The fashion-forward beauty, who's dating Chris Martin, rounded out the ensemble with a pair of white Adidas sneakers On the go: Earlier this week the superstar wore a cropped white T-shirt and a pair of high-waisted Gucci trousers while out and about Her love: Dakota has been dating beau Chris Martin, 46, since 2017 Fans have speculated that the couple is engaged, but neither party has yet to confirm the rumors. Johnson and Martin often spend time with his children from his marriage to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Martin and his ex-wife share daughter Apple, 18, and son Moses, 17. They were married for more than 10 years before they 'consciously uncoupled' in 2014 and finalized their divorce in 2016. The Guardian, October 5, 2022 Last week, a suicide bomber killed at least 53 people mostly girls from the minority Hazara ethnic group outside an education centre in Kabul. Here, relatives and friends of four young women who died remember their loved ones. Omulbanin Asghari, 17 My sister had many dreams and would have made our country proud. My family and I are immensely proud of her for standing up as a woman who fought through many struggles as a young Hazara girl, from taking private classes when education was banned to preparing for university. She was taken away from us in the most brutal manner possible. We are broken, but determined to support her friends who survived this cowardly attack to achieve their dreams. As an educator, I will do everything I can to help them. She was the baby of our family, the youngest of five, the kindest and most intelligent. She never lacked hope, she was always positive and determined. Her biggest life goal was to study political economy at Harvard University. She had planned for that in advance improving her command of the English language and preparing for the Toefl test [Test of English as a Foreign Language for those applying to English-speaking universities]. In recent months, she studied day and night for the Konkor exams [Afghanistans university entrance test]. Over the years, she began watching a lot of motivational videos online and strengthened her will to succeed by reading books about revolutionaries such as Che Guevara and global leaders like Nelson Mandela. An avid reader with a thirst for knowledge, she read everything from books on economy to psychology.One thing few people knew about her is she was a foodie. Potato chips and Kabuli palaw (traditional Afghan pilaf) were her favourite dishes, and she loved barbecue. She wished to leave a positive impact in the world, not only for her country but for the people of Afghanistan. Omulbanin always spoke of her intention to work towards the betterment of Afghan women. She wanted to dedicate her life to service. Her determination to defend the women of this country was so strong that she took taekwondo classes. It breaks my heart that she could have done so much good in this world. All these aspirations came to a stop on the morning of 30 September when I rushed to the blast site and found her lifeless body on the ground. I had no words then and no more now. By her brother, Mukhtar Modabber Waheda, 18 What did she mean to me? She was my everything. My friend who spent every hour of the day for the past 18 months sitting by my side, sharing every moment of happiness, sadness and beyond. Waheda wasnt just my best friend, she was like a mother to me. She saved me. She wanted to save many others and aspired to become a doctor. A rare mix, because she was as good at science as she was at mathematics. We spent hours studying for exams and talked at length about our dreams. We wanted to study at Kabul University. If I had to define her dreams in one word it would be education. One of her most impressive qualities was her fierce loyalty. She would do everything to protect her friends and stand by them. Fierce, yet polite. A smile that was kind and honest it made your day. She was beautiful. When Im asked about one of my most unforgettable memories of her, I cant pick one. I am crying as I write this, but every moment we spent together is unforgettable. No matter what problem I went to her with, she would be willing to solve it. She wouldnt leave you in the lurch. She always said, Maryam, I am here, I will take care of it for you. She was here with me four days ago. I was running late on my way to the Kaaj Educational Center. I reached it a few minutes after the explosion. I searched for her, as many of our friends were on the ground. I finally found her lifeless body. Frozen, shocked and shivering, I didnt leave her side until her father arrived. I sat beside her as I did all these past months. Since that day, her father and her entire family have not stopped crying. Its difficult to put into words how broken they are. Her seven sisters and two brothers, who loved her very much cant get over this tragedy. I visit them every day. I wish I hadnt arrived late, I wish I was by her side. It is hard to move on, but I will continue to work towards our collective dreams. I want to tell the world, I promise, we are wounded but we will continue. For Waheda and for all my friends.By her best friend, Maryam Shafaie Bahara, 20 I remember Baharas mischief during childhood. We tried to hide new things from her because she was always such a curious kid, and as soon as she saw something new she would start taking it apart. Not just toys but random things lying around the house. Humour was one of her best traits.Since Friday, we have been asking ourselves, why would someone take her away from us? She never hurt anybody; was kind, well-mannered and always had a smile on her face. I am repeating myself, but she really was one of the funniest people you could ever meet. Bahara aspired to study computer science. She never wanted to leave Afghanistan. Her goal was to rebuild this nation and help her people. She was killed because she was a Hazara woman. An intelligent woman who was a great combination of playful, yet seriously determined. She enjoyed studying and was a good student, but sometimes took some time off to watch Indian movies although she wasnt a big fan of Hollywood movies. Shah Rukh Khan and Tiger Shroff were her favourite Bollywood stars one of her favourite movies was Khans Dilwale. She liked the simple things in life and was hoping to make a successful future. I cant forget the moment I heard about the blast. I couldnt breathe. I didnt want to believe it, even when I reached the hospital and found her. Why did God take her away from us? I am speechless. She was just like any other young woman who wanted to fulfil her dreams and live a happy life. To make us and this country proud. My family has lost my precious sister. My siblings and I need to gather strength to deal with this tragedy that we are yet to come to terms with. Until then, I hope God helps all the families who lost their loved ones. We are in this together. By her brother, Zohair Yaqubi Marzia Mohammadi, 16 In one of Marzias diary entries she made a list of all the things she wanted to do in life; her bucket list. Top of the list was to meet the renowned author Elif Shafak, followed by a visit to the Eiffel Tower and Paris and eating pizza in an Italian restaurant. Marzia also wrote that she wanted to ride a bike while listening to music, walk late at night in the park, learn the guitar, travel the world and write a novel. These life goals reflect her vibrant personality, says her uncle, Zaher Modaqeq, who discovered her diary. She was different, he says, at a loss for words to describe his niece who died in the suicide bombing on Friday. As the youngest sibling in an extended family, Marzia was an average student, more interested in the creative arts, Modaqeq says. But after the Taliban takeover, she was more determined than ever to complete her education and achieve her goals. On 15 August, the day the Taliban returned to power, she wrote about peoples fears, the shock and disbelief of girls like me. An entire day was wasted, she wrote. On 24 August, she wrote: I had a tiring day I had some nightmares I cant remember, but I was crying in my sleep and screaming. When I woke up, I had an uncomfortable feeling. I went to a corner and cried and felt better. In the entries that followed, Marzia wrote about wanting to take the Konkor exams. Her family discovered that she had dreamed of becoming an architect, a career that combined her love of art with academia. She kept motivating herself every week, encouraging herself to study for longer. There are regular entries of her preparing for the weekly mock tests that took place at the Kaaj Educational Centre that was targeted. She would take the simulation tests every Friday and her scores gradually improved, Modaqeq says.In her last entry, on 30 September, she wrote: Wow, bravo Marzia! Marzias diary reveals the world of a teenager who wanted to learn and explore the world. I didnt even know she used to keep such a diary, Modaqeq says, the grief evident in his voice. Some of her thoughts were so profound that I couldnt believe they were expressed by such a young child.As told to Hikmat Noori Jessica Alba celebrated turning 42 on Friday by enjoying a weekend getaway with her closest gal pals. The day after ringing in her birthday, the actress took to Instagram to share photos of herself with a homemade cake as well as various snaps documenting her relaxing and fun trip. As shown in her post, the Dark Angel star enjoyed a day of taking in the nature by the rural escape and hanging out by a creek with her friends. The Spy Kids alum who enjoyed a spring break trip to Hawaii with her family a couple weeks ago also commemorated the fun day a friendship lock. 'Thank you for all of the birthday wishes,' the Golden Globe nominee wrote in her caption. 'So grateful for another trip around the sun'. Birthday celebration: Jessica Alba celebrated turning 42 on Friday by enjoying a weekend getaway with her closest gal pals. The day after ringing in her birthday, the actress took to Instagram to share photos of herself with a homemade cake as well as various snaps documenting her relaxing and fun trip 'Shout out to my girls for making the weekend extra special,' she continued. 'Heres to more love, light & growth!' The first post as part of her carousel post was of the entrepreneur herself sitting in front of a chocolate cake adorned with raspberries and flowers. Lit up by the light of the candles, Alba smiled radiantly as she posed with the confection. In the photo, she put on a casual display and opted for a classic black sweater. She jazzed up the comfortable look with a pair of dangling earrings with an aquamarine gemstone. She was dazzling in layers of silver necklaces with a bird pendant strung on one chain and another with a lavish display of diamonds. Her subtly-highlighted, brunette tresses were styled in voluminous, luscious curls. She sported a minimal makeup look highlighting her flawless, glowing skin to showcase her natural beauty. Relaxing getaway: As shown in her post, the Dark Angel star enjoyed a day of taking in the nature by the rural escape and hanging out by a creek with her friends With her gal pals: The Spy Kids alum who enjoyed a spring break trip to Hawaii with her family a couple weeks ago also commemorated the fun day a friendship lock Group activity: For her birthday, Alba also participated in some form of a healing ritual as suggested by a snap of seven bundles of sage around a lit candle Peaceful: She also shared a scenic photo of the sun's rays coming through a forest of trees by the aforementioned creek For her birthday, Alba also participated in some form of a healing ritual as suggested by a snap of seven bundles of sage around a lit candle. She also shared a scenic photo of the sun's rays coming through a forest of trees by the aforementioned creek. Earlier this month, she shared photos of her fun spring break trip with her husband, Cash Warren, 44, and their three children. The longtime couple who have been married since 2008 are parents to Honor, 14, Haven, 11, and Hayes, five. Hollywood has Barbie fever ahead of the release of Greta Gerwig's new comedy film starring Margot Robbie. And Rebel Wilson, 43, threw her support behind fellow Aussie Margot by donning a T-shirt emblazoned with the famous Barbie logo. The new mother was spotted leaving the gym in Los Angeles on Saturday wearing the striking black T-shirt along with matching capri leggings, white slip-on brogues and a yellow New York Yankees cap. She completed her look with reflective aviators and a navy handbag. Before heading home, the comedian purchased a pink smoothie from an upmarket cafe. Rebel Wilson, 43, (pictured) sported a T-shirt emblazoned with the famous Barbie logo as she headed to the gym in LA on Saturday Rebel is a longtime fan of the Barbie brand, having dressed up as the popular Mattel-made toy for Halloween last year. The Pitch Perfect star attended the Casamigos Tequila Halloween party in Beverly Hills dressed up as a 'limited edition' Barbie, complete with a large pink box and doll-inspired attire. She was joined by her fiancee Ramona Agruma along with three other pals, all of whom dressed in a similar fashion. The new mother paired her top with capri leggings, white slip-on brogues and a yellow New York Yankees cap 'Come of Barbies, let's go party! Happy Halloween!' Rebel wrote in the caption. Rebel announced in June last year she had started a romance with Ramona who is the owner of sustainable clothing brand Lemon Ve Limon. The lovebirds were initially introduced to one another by a mutual friend in late 2021. She completed her look with reflective aviators and a navy handbag Rebel previously spoke to People and recalled she and her now-fiancee had made an effort to establish a genuine connection prior to their first date. The pair had already been dating for several months before the Australian actress announced the relationship and came out of the closet. 'I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince... but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,' Rebel wrote on social media at the time. She announced the couple's engagement in February, posting photos to Instagram of the precious moment Ramona put on her engagement ring. Months later, Rebel surprised fans when she announced the birth of her daughter Royce Lillian, born via a surrogate. Rebel is a longtime fan of the Barbie brand, having dressed up as the popular Mattel-made toy for Halloween last year Camila Morrone channeled her inner Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany's in new stunning photos and clips shared on her Instagram page on Saturday. The Daisy Jones & The Six actress, 25, who is still seeing ex, Leonardo DiCaprio 'all the time, donned the elegant ensemble to attend a Vogue pre-party held on Friday in NYC ahead of the MET Gala which is slated to take place on Monday, May 1. The model uploaded a clip to her 4.5 million followers as she showcased a backless, Givenchy black gown that flowed down past her ankles and clung to her fit physique. The dress was held up with thick straps wrapped around her shoulders and contained a plunging, deep V-neck cut on the front. Swags of pearls were located near her lower back for a classy touch to the ensemble. She added a pearl-embellished, choker necklace that coincided with the theme of her outfit and added a flashy touch to the look. Elegant: Camila Morrone, 25, channeled her inner Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany's in new stunning photos and clips shared on her Instagram page on Saturday Channeling Audrey Hepburn: Swags of pearls were located near her lower back for a classy touch to the ensemble She additionally added a pair of sheer, black gloves that were secured with thin fabric that wrapped around her wrists. Her brunette locks were slicked back and styled into a chic bun to prevent any loose strands from falling onto her face. Aside from the choker necklace, Camila opted to not add any other jewelry pieces to her ensemble to allow the gown to be the main focal point for the evening. Her makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes, as well as a black liner and smoky shadow around her eyes. A light pink blush and highlighter was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a pinkish matte tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. In the caption of the post, the Valley Girl actress typed out, 'Nueva York. @voguemagazine pre party theme Clutching Your Pearlsso we gave it our best Audrey in Breakfast At Tiffanys,' followed by a blue heart emoji. This year's MET Gala theme is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line Of Beauty, and is in tribute to the late designer, who notably was the creative director of luxurious brands such as Chanel. He passed away in 2019 at the age of 85. In the background of the reel, the track titled, Theme From New York, New York, by Frank Sinatra, could be heard playing in reference to the bustling city she was in. Breathtaking details: The dress was held up with thick straps wrapped around her shoulders and contained a plunging, deep V-neck cut on the front Stunning: The model uploaded a clip to her 4.5 million followers as she showcased a backless, black gown that flowed down past her ankles Party theme: In the caption of the post, the Valley Girl actress typed out, 'Nueva York. @voguemagazine pre party theme Clutching Your Pearlsso we gave it our best Audrey in Breakfast At Tiffanys' Striking a pose: She added a pearl-embellished, choker necklace that coincided with the theme of her outfit and added a flashy touch to the look In the clip, Camila paused for a slew of photos in an ornate space, and posed in front of wallpaper that was covered with branches and birds. She also took a few snaps on a wooden-staircase to give her fans a closer look at the length of the gown as well as the intricate details. Social media users flocked to the comment section to gush about the jaw-dropping look, including fellow actress, Elle Fanning, who typed out, 'Beautiful!!!' Morrone additionally uploaded a few photos onto her Instagram stories that captured special moments from the glitzy evening. One snap showed the star leaning against a wall that was next to the staircase, while a bright light was aimed in her direction to illuminate the space. She also flashed the backless portion of the sultry Givenchy gown once she reached the base of the steps. The beauty lastly took a selfie in the reflection of a mirror to also show off the sparkling, pearl strands near her lower back. The actress will join other A-list celebrities at the annual MET Gala which is held evert first Monday in May. Special tribute: Camila chose to channel her inner Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany's, which took place in NYC, which is also where the MET Gala will be held on Monday, May 1 Beautiful: Her makeup was glammed up, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes, as well as a black liner and smoky shadow around her eyes Having a blast: Morrone additionally uploaded a few photos onto her Instagram stories that captured special moments from the glitzy evening Wow! One snap showed the star leaning against a wall that was next to the staircase, while a bright light was aimed in her direction to illuminate the space Selfie time: The beauty lastly took a selfie in the reflection of a mirror to also show off the sparkling, pearl strands near her lower back Support: Social media users flocked to the comment section to gush about the jaw-dropping look, including fellow actress, Elle Fanning, who typed out, 'Beautiful!!!' Some stars that will make an appearance include Elle Fanning and also Kim Kardashian, who notably donned the beaded gown that Marilyn Monroe had worn when she sang Happy Birthday Mr President to President John F Kennedy in 1962 at last year's event. Her latest Instagram post comes shortly after a source close to Camila exclusively told DailyMail.com that both she and her ex, Leonardo DiCaprio, are still in regular contact - despite splitting last summer after a five-year romance. 'They are on great terms, they see each other all the time because they share custody of their dog,' the source said. DailyMail.com has reached out to spokespersons for Leo and Camila for comment. Camila and Leo fostered two huskie puppies during lockdown in 2020, but after rehoming one dog, Jack, they decided to adopt his sister, Sally. Anticipated event: The actress will join other A-list celebrities at the annual MET Gala, which is held evert first Monday in May, such as Elle Fanning and also Kim Kardashian Still 'see each other': Camila and Leo fostered two huskie puppies during lockdown in 2020 but after rehoming one dog, Jack, they decided to adopt his sister, Sally (seen with Camila) in 2021 The pair first began dating in 2018 when Leo was 43 and Camila was just 20 years old. Despite their 23-year age gap, the couple proved they were serious and went on to date for five years. However, just one month after Camila's 25th birthday, the couple unceremoniously broke up. In the aftermath of their separation, Leo was seen boarding a yacht in St Tropez with 23-year-old Ukrainian model Maria Beregova. But it seems there are no hard feeling as a source said: 'Leo's a great guy, the relationship just ran its course - Camila's acting career was taking off and like many people, they grew in different directions but they still have a strong friendship.' Sharna Burgess was a guest on the Not So Hollywood podcast this week and she opened up about her and boyfriend Brian Austin Green's co-parenting relationship with Megan Fox. The 37-year-old Dancing With The Stars professional - who attended the iHeartRadio Music Awards last month - called the trio's dynamic 'great.' 'Honestly, the relationship is great. We're actually all going to Universal [Studios] today. All together, which is amazing for the kids,' she gushed to host Adrianna Costa. Brian, 49, and Megan, 36, share three sons: Noah, 10, Bodhi, 9, and Journey, 6. Sharna and Brian welcomed 10-month-old son Zane last year. The actor also shares a son Kassius, 21, with ex Vanessa Marcil. The mother-of-one explained, 'The reason it's great is because the focus is the kids. There's nothing else that needs to be considered other than making this a beautiful, healthy, whole environment for them.' Candid chat: Sharna Burgess was a guest on the Not So Hollywood podcast this week and she opened up about her and boyfriend Brian Austin Green 's co-parenting relationship with Megan Fox 'People try to protect kids from divorce as much as they can so that they're not affected, but the truth is they're going to be affected,' she admitted. 'So you can only choose that there's a positive effect or a negative effect.' The blonde beauty, who began dating Austin Green in late 2020, stated, 'For [the kids], representation matters.' She emphasized that although 'mommy and daddy aren't together anymore' the children need to see that 'they still get along really well.' Burgess, who hails from Australia, named communication, mutual respect, and love as some of the values the three adults strive to teach their brood. 'There's this weird, archaic idea that exes can't be friends and that co-parenting has to be hard,' the influencer noted on the podcast. She praised Brian and Megan's relationship as she shared, 'They have worked so hard to make it a positive effect on the kids, to make sure everything is smooth, and loving, and kind always for them.' In February the Beverly Hills 90210 alum took to Instagram to credit his ex-wife Megan while bashing former partner Vanessa. Co-existing: The 37-year-old Dancing With The Stars professional called the trio's dynamic 'great' It began when the 54-year-old actress answered a fan's inquiry about whether co-parenting has been difficult. Taking to her Instagram Stories she replied, 'We didn't and don't co-parent. I raised my son alone.' Brian refuted her statement as he screenshot the post and wrote, 'Megan and I [busted] our a**es to give Kass a well-rounded childhood [because] his mom was rarely there.' He began the post by stating, 'So, I can't tell you how frustrating it is to read continued lies from a 50+ year old woman on social media like she is still in high school.' The disgruntled father-of-five continued, 'She has never in her life been someone to walk the walk.' Austin Green and Fox met while working together in 2004 and they married in 2010. The former couple then split for good in May 2020, after numerous breakups throughout their marriage. Megan filed for divorce for the second and final time in November 2020. The blue-eyed bombshell moved on with her Midnight in the Switchgrass costar Machine Gun Kelly. The two became engaged in January 2022 and although they reportedly took a break earlier this year, they reunited for a beach vacation at the beginning of April. Last October Brian took to Instagram to pay tribute to Sharna on their two-year anniversary. Blended family! Brian, 49, and Megan, 36, share three sons: Noah, 10, Bodhi, 9, and Journey, 6. Sharna and Brian welcomed 10-month-old son Zane last year. The actor also shares a son Kassius, 21, with ex Vanessa Marcil Sweet: Last October Brian took to Instagram to pay tribute to Sharna on their two-year anniversary New relationship: After her divorce from Brian, the blue-eyed bombshell moved on with her Midnight in the Switchgrass costar Machine Gun Kelly; pictured in February Sharing a carousel of intimate family photos, he captioned, 'October 16th 2 years ago was a day like any other day, but I made plans to meet someone new for coffee. 'My god am I thankful every single day for that. You are a light in my life, our kids lives, and the most amazing person I have ever met. 'The life that we have created and continue to create is better than anything I ever thought was possible :)) I love you.' Burgess replied in the comments, 'I love you baby, this is so beautiful. 2 years ago all my dreams came true, I just didnt know it yet. Now I do.' Jackie 'O' Henderson shared a heartwarming post-wedding tribute to her radio co-host Kyle Sandilands and his new bride Tegan Kynaston on Sunday. The radio queen, 48, posted a gallery of precious wedding photos to her Instagram capturing her and daughter Kitty, 12, having the time of their lives at the ritzy event. One adorable snap showed Jackie O and Kitty posing up a storm in designer floral gowns and another captured Jackie chatting to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. She also commemorated the occasion by sharing a video of her and Kitty serenading Kyle with a touching rendition of Taylor Swift's Fearless, a ballad about finding love. The blonde beauty captioned the gallery with some touching words: 'From start to end, Kyle and Tegan's wedding was everything I'd hoped for and more.' Jackie 'O' Henderson shared a heartwarming post-wedding tribute to her radio co-host Kyle Sandilands and his bride Tegan Kynaston on Sunday. Pictured: Jackie O with Guy Sebastian at the wedding 'Had the time of our lives and felt so lucky to share this special day with them and all the people in the room. They truly are perfect for one another.' Kyle married Tegan in a lavish ceremony in front of 130 guests held in a late-Victorian Gothic Revival property with a $60million price tag. Jackie had been shedding for Kyle's wedding to Tegan - losing an impressive 18kg in just five months and she looked blooming beautiful for the nuptials on Saturday. The radio queen, 48, posted a gallery of precious wedding photos to her Instagram capturing her and daughter Kitty, 12, having the time of their lives at the ritzy event The Sydney native showed off her slimmed-down figure in a $1500 floral Zimmermann dress as she arrived to the star-studded ceremony at Swifts in Darling Point, Sydney with her daughter Kitty. Jackie paired her frock with designer pink rhinestone strappy sandals and a matching fluffy pink clutch. She was glowing in a glamorous makeup palette and her platinum locks were coiffed in old-Hollywood style waves. Kyle married Tegan in a lavish ceremony in front of 130 guests held in a late-Victorian Gothic Revival property with a $60million price tag Jackie had been shedding for Kyle's wedding to Tegan - losing an impressive 18kg in just five months and she looked blooming beautiful for the nuptials on Saturday Jackie came close to missing the ceremony after getting caught in terrible traffic on the way to the stunning venue. Rushing into the venue after finally arriving in a black BMW she said she was thrilled for her radio co-star and best friend. 'Finally he's settling down, he's a happy man, it will be a happy day,' she said. Chloe Veitch has come out as bisexual - and she even has a crush on Megan Barton-Hanson, who she described as 'hot'. The reality star, 24, who shot to fame as the 2020 winner of Netflix's Too Hot To Handle, admitted her sexuality had felt like a 'dirty little secret' up until now. But after some soul-searching on E4's upcoming series The Big Celebrity Detox, she was forced to 'dig deeper' and face what had been 'bothering' her. According to The Sun, Chloe said: 'I've definitely been battling it, to be honest. I mean, being in and out of little flings with girls. I felt like it was my dirty little secret so it has taken the weight off my shoulders. 'Because I've been on heterosexual dating shows, I'm just a bit anxious of public opinion. But at the end of the day, if I'm happy, that's all that matters. Brave: Chloe Veitch has come out as bisexual - and she even has a crush on Megan Barton-Hanson, who she described as 'hot' 'I'm itching to go out there and date both guys and girls. It's really exciting.' Megan, who co-starred alongside Chloe in The Big Celebrity Detox, reportedly quit the show after just two days of filming. It was claimed Megan decided the bizarre wellness treatments were too much and so she jumped ship. A TV insider told The Sun: 'Megan realised very quickly into filming that the show was a bit too much for her. 'The "treatments" are really full-on and quite radical, and she just felt like she had bitten off more than she could chew. 'It wasn't the shows fault, they were upfront about what she was signing up for, but Megan didnt really appreciate the reality of how intense it all would be until she got on set. 'Producers were gutted and tried to persuade her to stay, but she just couldnt stomach it.' MailOnline contacted a representative for Megan at the time. Opening up: The reality star, 24, who shot to fame as the 2020 winner of Netflix's Too Hot To Handle, admitted her sexuality had felt like a 'dirty little secret' up until now Big reveal: But after some soul-searching on E4's upcoming series The Big Celebrity Detox, she was forced to 'dig deeper' and face what had been 'bothering' her Oh no! Megan, who co-starred alongside Chloe in The Big Celebrity Detox, reportedly quit the show after just two days of filming Stars set to appear on the series include Ibiza Weekender star David Potts, Homes Under The Hammer presenter Martin Roberts and former Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona. among others. Chloe recently revealed she had a difficult childhood and went on a school trip to a prison when she was younger. She said: 'I bet my teachers from school thought Id be on the run for different reasons though! I reckon they thought theyd see my mug shot on TV or some police programme rather than me on the run for a TV programme! 'To be honest with you, when I was a lot younger I got taken out of my high school and put into a separated sector of the school, which was for children who were underprivileged, children who were bullied, or who had learning disabilities. 'There were about 15 of us that were taken out of normal school and we were isolated away from the rest of the kids. 'My first school trip was a trip to a prison. They took us into the prison and told us, "If you don't sort yourself out, then you will end up being in prison. So, it wasnt exactly like a trip to Thorpe Park like other kids got at that age. 'They were trying to shock us into changing our behaviour. So, it will be shock to those teachers who thought I was difficult I hope they are proud of me that Ive managed to turn my life around.' Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic spent Saturday night partying at Kyle Sandilands' wedding. And on Sunday, they had another, much more laid back celebration - their daughter Harper's third birthday. The doting parents headed to Vitaland Kids Cafe in Sydney's Alexandria for the tot's birthday party. The Today show host, 48, carried a pink Minnie Mouse cake into the venue and had a huge smile on his face. He dressed casually for the outing in a black T-shirt under a grey blazer, paired with loose dark trousers and a blue cap. Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic spent Saturday night partying at Kyle Sandilands' wedding. And on Sunday, they had another, much more laid back celebration - their daughter Harper's third birthday. Both pictured Jasmine, 39, carried in a box of treats and was also beaming on her way into the venue. The shoe designer looked chic in a white shirt with a navy blue blazer along with a pair of jeans. Also at the party were Karl's sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys, Karl's mother and Jasmine's father. Karl and Jasmine recently revealed their toddler daughter Harper May has a fear of balloons. The doting parents headed to Vitaland Kids Cafe in Sydney's Alexandria for the tot's birthday party. The Today show host, 48, carried a pink Minnie Mouse cake into the venue Jasmine carried in a box of treats and was beaming on her way into the venue He dressed casually for the outing in a black T-shirt under a grey blazer, paired with loose dark trousers and a blue cap Jasmine shared a sweet shot of Harper posing with a bright blue balloon on Instagram when Karl revealed her phobia. 'You,' Jasmine's post was captioned, before Karl commented underneath. 'Back when [she] wasn't afraid of balloons,' he wrote. Jasmine added: 'I knowwww what's happened?!? We need to fill the whole house with balloons to help her beat this fear.' Also at the party were Karl's sister-in-law Sylvia Jeffreys (pictured) Karl's mother and Jasmine's father likewise attended The Channel Nine star has three older children with his ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn: sons River, 15, and Jackson, 22, and daughter Willow, 16. He met the former model at a boat party in Sydney just months after his separation from Cassandra in 2016. The Stefanovics married at the One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, in December 2018. Rylan Clark shared no less than 18 updates from his disaster-filled journey to Liverpool, where he is due to present the Eurovision Song Contest. The presenter, 34, left fans in hysterics on Saturday as he posted a series of tweets during the train ride, which began at London's Euston station. Disruption due to engineering works had affected Rylan's trip up north, with the melodramatic star first writing: 'All trains suspended at Euston you cannot be serious. This is how I perish.' The Essex-native soon added: 'A group of women have just screamed RYLAN at the top of their voice on the concourse. Slowly dying.' He later revealed: 'I've befriended an elder who has just come back from Japan and is looking to get to Birmingham. Lovely man . This is real.' 'This is how I perish!' Rylan Clark shared no less than 18 updates from his disaster-filled journey to Liverpool, where he is due to present the Eurovision Song Contest Packed: The presenter, 34, left fans in hysterics on Saturday as he posted a series of tweets during the train ride, which began at London's Euston station It wasn't long before he joked: 'EUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM,' before sharing snaps of the chaotic-looking station and a glass of red wine. The Radio 2 presenter posed for a selfie with fellow passenger who had also been stranded - but he soon made it to the train. However, the situation had not been resolved with Rylan typing: 'The train has been declared Declassified. No drinks. No good. No seats. 'Nothing matters anymore. A lady has give me a pornstar martini. This could be the end. God speed x. He quipped in another tweet: 'I will give 50 to anyone that will cuddle me at the end of this experience, preferably throughout the night.' Rylan issued a public appeal for Sheridan Smith to play him in a dramatisation of his calamatous journey. He wrote: 'I wish for SHERIDAN to play me in the tv drama.' Actress Sheridan soon replied, 'With pleasure.' The former X Factor contestant's spirits were lifted when he discovered a karaoke machine had been left in his hotel room. Hilarious: Disruption due to engineering works had affected Rylan's trip up north, with the melodramatic star first writing: 'All trains suspended at Euston you cannot be serious. This is how I perish' In a video shared at 10:39pm, he said, 'So, I've just got to my hotel and they've f*****g put a karaoke machine in my f*****g room. I just wanna apologise to every other guest but... da da da da da da, hey!' It comes after Rylan credited Eurovision for helping him get over his divorce. The TV personality had to pull out of covering the annual competition for the BBC in 2021 because he was so devastated by his split from Dan Neal. Rylan suffered a mental health breakdown following his marital split that year from now ex-husband Dan, who he was with for five years. Following the breakdown of his marriage the telly favourite took five months away from the spotlight due to his deteriorating health. But he said flying out to Italy for last year's musical extravaganza was exactly what he needed to feel back to himself again. He told the Daily Star Sunday: 'Last year I needed to get away from the UK and the Eurovision bubble was perfect for that. 'It was what I needed on a personal level. Being there was a full circle moment for me. It was like, 'I'm back, I'm ready to go'. 'That's why Eurovision is so important to me. If you cut me open, it's there.' Eurovision's first semi-final takes place on Tuesday May 9 at M&S Bank Arena, with the second scheduled for Thursday May 11. The grand final, which will also be broadcast on BBC One, has been set for Saturday May 13. Joel Creasey, Tim Campbell and Shane Crawford are just three of the personalities in the running to replace Dr Chris Brown as host of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia. The beloved vet is set to leave Channel 10 for rival Seven, ending his tenure alongside Julia Morris. According to a report in the Herald Sun this week, a number of performers have been named to possibly take over from the hunky TV star. Joel Creasey has previously been a contestant on the show and is being touted as a shoo-in for a possible role. Darren McMullen, who is a staple star on Ten with him previously hosting The Real Love Boat, has also been named as a possibility. Joel Creasey, Tim Campbell and Shane Crawford are just three of the personalities in the running to replace Dr Chris Brown (pictured) as host of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia Neighbours star Rob Mills, Dave Thornton and The Projects Sam Taunton are names also being thrown around as possible hires. Chris and his co-star Julia Morris are known to be friends off-screen with her recently praising him in TV Week magazine amid his farewell. 'Life is life, and we roll with it. Fortunately, we have a solid friendship, so it hasn't rocked the boat,' she said. Comedian Joel Creasey has previously been a contestant on the show and is being touted as a shoo-in for a possible role. Pictured Darren McMullen is a staple star on Ten with him previously hosting The Real Love Boat, which unfortunately failed to get a steady audience. Pictured Julia also revealed how Dr Chris broke the news to her of his move to Channel Seven. They were in the middle of shooting the dancing-themed promo for the new season of I'm a Celebrity when he said, 'Hey, can I bend your ear for a second?' She joked that at first she thought he was going to ask her out, only for him to reveal he was leaving the show and Channel Ten. 'Life is life, and we roll with it. Fortunately, we have a solid friendship, so it hasn't rocked the boat,' she said of Dr Chris Brown. Pictured here on the IAC set 'I thought, "Finally, here we go, he's going to ask me out." There was a step, a turn, a dip and then, well' she said. Dr Chris announced his exit from Ten in February, after 15 years at the network. He first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit and was syndicated around the world. The factual series was based on his real-life experience as a vet at the Bondi Junction Veterinary Hospital in Sydney's east. Dr Chris announced his exit from Ten in February, after 15 years at the network. He first joined Ten in 2008 to host Bondi Vet, which became a surprise ratings hit He went on to become a part-time panelist on The Project and also co-hosted I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and The Living Room, which was axed last year. The move to Seven is a homecoming of sorts for Dr Chris. He started his TV career in 2003 as a presenter on Harry's Practice on Seven, a role that earned him a Logie nomination for Most Popular New Talent. Keith Lemon enjoyed a star-studded fancy dress 50th birthday bash on Saturday night with a host of his famous pals who spent the night drinking and dancing. The comedian invited the likes of Emily Atack, Myleene Klass, Holly Willoughby and Laura Whitmore to the event in London where everyone made a true effort with their costumes. Emily, 33, put on a glamorous display as she dressed the late Marilyn Monroe in a white off-the-shoulder dress with a thigh-high split and a matching wrap which she draped over her shoulders. She shared snaps from inside the party as she posed with the birthday boy and her former Celebrity Juice co-star Laura, 37, and her husband Iain Stirling. They looked like they were all having a great time as they hit the dance floor and sipped on Champagne. Celebrations: Keith Lemon enjoyed a star-studded fancy dress 50th birthday bash on Saturday night with a host of his famous pals who spent the night drinking and dancing (pictured with Emily Atack) Outfits: Myleene Klass and her husband Simon Motson dressed as Mozart and Salieri, with Simon dressing as a piano Crew: The comedian invited the likes of Emily Atack, Myleene Klass, Holly Willoughby and Laura Whitmore to the event in London where everyone made a true effort with their costumes Elsewhere Myleene Klass and her husband Simon Motson dressed as Mozart and Salieri, with Simon dressing as a piano. Myleene, 45, looked like she was making the most of the party as she busted some moves and shared the clips on her Instagram Story. Laura also gave a glimpse at the lavish venue which was decorated with huge light up 50 signs and the birthday cakes that had been made for Keith. Elsewhere Holly, 42, was seen wearing a bright pink flared jumpsuit with stars on the lapels and legs in the style of Barbie from the upcoming movie starring Margot Robbie. She was joined by her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield, 61, who dressed as Ron Burgundy from the Anchorman movies. Also in attendance was Emma Bunton, 47, who stepped out with her husband Jade Jones, 44. Spice Girl Emma looked sensational as she put on a leggy display in a white shirt dress. Baby Spice added a few inches to her stature by wearing a pair of beige platform shoes and carried a handbag shaped like a seashell with her. She wore her long blonde hair in waves as she dressed as the character Madison from the 1984 film Splash. Fun: She shared snaps from inside the party as she posed with the birthday boy and her former Celebrity Juice co-star Laura, 37, and her husband Iain Stirling Fun: Laura also gave a glimpse at the lavish venue which was decorated with huge light up 50 signs and the birthday cakes that had been made for Keith Having a laugh: They looked like they were all having a great time as they hit the dance floor and sipped on Champagne (Keith playing Myleene's piano) Effort: Laura praise Myleene and Simon for their efforts as they came to the party in their musical costumes Drinks! Laura had a boozy night out as she sipped on Champagne throughout the evening in London Incredible: The other party goers were seriously impressed with Myleene and Simon's efforts on the night Played by actress Daryl Hannah, the movie follows the story of a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid. Pop star Emma seemed in good spirits as she arrived with former boyband star Jade as the pair walked arm-in-arm. Elsewhere, Fearne Cotton, 41, who was also a regular on Celebrity Juice, wore a bright yellow top and a brown checked skirt as she arrived. She donned a beret and a scarf and boosted her height by wearing pair of black heels for the evening. TV and radio star Fearne was seen walking alongside husband Jesse Wood, 46, who looked dapper in a grey suit and brown hat. LOL: People were shocked at Myleene's incredible costume as she posed with others who were attending Boozy: Laura was seen letting her hair down at the party as she danced and busted some moves in clips Having a great time: Myleene shared some videos as she danced on the dance floor with the birthday boy Crew: The Celebrity Juice stars reunited at the star-studded party in London on Saturday night Wow: Emily put on a glamorous display as she dressed the late Marilyn Monroe in a white off-the-shoulder dress Getting ready: Laura and Iain donned their fancy dress and got ready to leave for the party earlier in the night Hitting the dance floor: Myleene also shared snaps of Keith and Iain letting loose on the dance floor Playing the part: Holly took to her Instagram Stories to share a picture of herself in her costume as she wished Leigh a happy 50th ahead of his birthday on Sunday Acting up: Phillip Schofield was seen posing in his suit as he dressed as broadcaster Ron Burgundy from the Anchorman films Family affair: Phillip and his wife Stephanie (left) were joined by their daughters Molly, 30, and Ruby, 27, with the pair both dressing as secret agents Double trouble: Phillip posed with fellow television presenter Joel Dommett (left) who wore the same costume for the night Seeing double! Kelly Hoppen shared a fun snap with Emily after both arrived dressed as Marilyn Monroe Pals: Kelly also posed for a pic with Phil, looking very glam in her red sparkly dress and wig Many of the stars took to their Instagram pages to share pictures of themselves in their costumes or from inside the party. Emily was seen posing with her arm around Leigh, also known as Keith Lemon, with the funnyman dressed as Star Wars character R2-D2. Keith took to Instagram ahead of his birthday to joke about his age, jesting he was as old as some retro items. He wrote: 'My birthday tomorrow! Im as old as #Atari, #theexcorcist #mcdonaldsmcmuffin #pharrellwilliams #tyrabanks #nevecampbell #davechappelle #swampthing. OCHA, October 6, 2022 People in Afghanistan are no strangers to hardships, having endured 40 years of conflict, poverty, displacement, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is now also facing a failing health system and an economy on the brink of collapse. Even before the Taliban entered the capital, Kabul, on 15 August, the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan was one of the worst in the world. Nearly half of the countrys 40 million people, or 18.4 million people, already needed humanitarian assistance. One in three Afghans faces food insecurity, and more than half of all children under age 5 are likely to face acute malnutrition. Protection and safety risks were also reaching record highs, as 1,659 civilians were killed and more than 3,000 injured in the first half of the year. Women and girls in Afghanistan are facing seriously high levels of gender-based violence, with 51 per cent of women and girls experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. Since 15 August, the impact of the crisis on basic services, including financial and health systems, has worsened the situation for vulnerable people across Afghanistan and risks tipping many more people into humanitarian need. Here are 9 facts you need to know about the situation in Afghanistan now. 1. Millions have fled their homes Since the beginning of the year, more than half a million women, children and men have fled their homes due to escalating violence. Being displaced puts them at risk of violence, exploitation and abuse, with women and girls at greater risk of gender-based violence including sexual violence, early marriage and trafficking. They urgently need food, water and essential health-care services. But most importantly, they seek safety and stability. In addition, more than 5 million people have been in protracted displacement across Afghanistan since 2012. 2. An economic crisis is looming Afghanistan faces an economic crisis marked by the sudden withdrawal of large-scale development assistance, lack of access to cash, and reduced overseas remittances. Markets still function, but prices are soaring. As more than 12 million people are facing food insecurity, these poor families are now selling their belongings and borrowing money to buy food. Limited supplies of cash are also making it difficult for humanitarian organizations to pay salaries on time, procure critical humanitarian supplies and provide rapid assistance. Finding solutions to facilitate the flow of money into Afghanistan without breaking sanctions is critical to prevent an economic breakdown and to ensure aid organizations can continue addressing urgent needs. 3. Health care is on the verge of collapse Millions of people in Afghanistan have lost access to basic services such as vaccinations and treatment for malnourished children and pregnant women. Sixty-eight per cent of women surveyed said they faced challenges in accessing health facilities. Medicines, medical supplies and fuel are running out across the country. Cold chains for vaccines are compromised. Nurses and doctors are not being paid. Only 17 per cent of the 2,300 health facilities of the World Bank-funded Sehatmandi Project remain fully functional. Two thirds have run out of essential medicines. On 22 September, UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths released US$45 million from the UNs Central Emergency Response Fund to help prevent Afghanistans health-care system from falling apart. But much more support is needed. Afghanistan has made significant health gains over the last 20 years. A roll-back of these gains must be prevented at all costs. 4. Schools have reopened but not for everyone In September, secondary schools reopened in Afghanistan following months of pandemic-related closures. Sadly, only boys were allowed to attend; girls were left behind. Education in Afghanistan has progressed significantly over the past two decades. In 2001, barely any of the countrys girls were enrolled in school. But by 2021, the number of schools had tripled and 9.5 million children were enrolled in school, 4 million of whom were girls. Missing out on education will affect childrens lives, well-being and future. Girls out of school are at greater risk of early and forced marriage, and they face life-threatening health complications from teenage pregnancies. Girls and boys must receive equal education opportunities for a better future. 5. Womens and girls rights are at risk The recent crisis has affected everyone in Afghanistan, but women and girls bear the consequences the most. Their rights and freedom of movement have been curtailed, and womens rights, including to education, work and holding public office, are in danger of being rolled back. Womens full participation in all aspects of life is essential, not only for their empowerment but also for advancing all of society. Restricting womens involvement in the workforce, including in humanitarian activities, will directly impact the ability of women and girls to access critical services. Their experience, capacities and leadership are invaluable for peace and security in Afghanistan. 6. A fourth wave of the pandemic is possible Afghanistan has just emerged from the peak of a third wave of COVID-19, in which positivity rates surged. Before August of this year, 2.2 million people had been vaccinated against COVID-19. Afghanistan received 5.24 million doses, but only 3 million of those doses have been administered and 1.6 million doses could expire if not used quickly. Nine of the countrys 37 COVID-19 hospitals have already closed and all aspects of the pandemic response have slowed down, including surveillance, testing and vaccinations. If the vaccination drive doesnt resume soon, the country is at risk of a more intense fourth wave amid critical gaps in the health systems medical supplies, personnel and equipment. It is a perfect storm that could lead to a health crisis and cause more deaths. Swift action is needed to reach the national goal of vaccinating at least 20 per cent of the population by the years end. 7. Drought is causing continued hardship Afghanistan is facing its second drought in four years, affecting one third of the country. Seventy per cent of all Afghans live in rural areas and rely on agriculture for food and income. Opportunities for farm work in drought-affected areas have been cut by 28 per cent. This has pushed poor families to rely on child labour, early and forced marriage, and risky irregular migration. The current drought also led to a water scarcity crisis and lack of drinking water. This will further increase sanitation and hygiene needs. Today, 9 million people in Afghanistan need access to clean water, basic toilets and hygiene. This severe drought will worsen water shortages. Waterborne diseases and cases of acute watery diarrhoea are on the rise. 8. We are still here Staying and delivering means reaching affected people in Afghanistan, wherever they are, with vital assistance. Day and night, the UN is working with humanitarians, including local teams, to provide food, water, health care, education, protection and livelihood assistance. To continue this work, the international community must honour its promises and provide urgent and flexible cash funding that can be distributed quickly and allow humanitarians to help those in need. 9. Winter is coming The struggles and human suffering of millions of Afghans will be exacerbated by the harsh winter, which is only a few weeks away. Plummeting temperatures will lead to an increase in acute respiratory infections and deaths. Providing much-needed winter assistance early will be a lifeline for millions. Many affected families, particularly those who live in open spaces or tented camps, will desperately need warm clothes and shelter to fend off the bitter cold. The worlds attention to Afghanistan may soon subside, but the plight of the Afghan people continues. The impact of recent changes will be felt for years and decades. But we will not abandon the people of Afghanistan. We will not abandon the countrys people. We will not abandon ethnic minorities. We will not abandon women and girls. Catherine Zeta-Jones looked incredible in a sizzling lace ensemble for a photo call for her hit show Wednesday on Saturday night. The Welsh beauty reunited with her co-stars for the special event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. She defied her 53 years with her incredible black lace dress, showing off her curves as she posed on the purple carpet. The Morticia Addams actress' sensational figure was hugged by the delicate design, which featured a bustier-style top, corseted torso, and elegant midi skirt. Wow: Catherine Zeta-Jones looked incredible in a sizzling lace ensemble for a photo call for her hit show Wednesday on Saturday night Looking fab: The Welsh beauty reunited with her co-stars for the special event at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery Catherine cosied up to co-star Luis Guzman, 66 who plays her onscreen husband Gomez Addams for a series of fun snaps before the group headed inside to chat about their hit Netflix show. Wednesday has become a bona fide phenomenon for Netflix, breaking streaming records and catapulting its lead star Jenna Ortega onto the A-list. The global sensation has spawned legions of adoring fans and Wednesday mania around the world, turning Ortega into Hollywood's hottest property. The young actress recently joined Maya Hawke in a Dior ad after notching a major career milestone by hosting SNL. One of her upcoming projects is starring alongside The Weeknd in his film debut, as the pair are reportedly starring in a mysterious movie together. Announcing Wednesday's renewal in January, show creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar said, 'We can't wait to dive head first into another season and explore the kooky spooky world of Nevermore.' Season two has not yet begun filming and no premiere date has been set. Speaking to TV Guide, Gough and Millar hinted that Principal Weems could come possibly return after dying in season one. And they also said the show's next chapter will undoubtedly include more quirky romance and creepy happenings, specifically when it comes to Wednesday's mysterious stalker. Pose: She defied her 53 years with her incredible black lace dress, showing off her curves as she posed on the purple carpet Reunited: Catherine cosied up to co-star Luis Guzman, 66 who plays her onscreen husband Gomez Addams for a series of fun snaps All-star cast: Gwendoline Christie and the show's lead Jenna Ortega posed with Catherine at the event Victoria's Secret star Georgia Fowler was one of the lingerie giant's greatest ever catwalk stars at their famed shows. And the New Zealand model, 30, dazzled onlookers yet again on Saturday as she fronted the red carpet for Gucci. Georgia, who recently gave birth to her first child Dylan, one, looked incredible in a strapless snakeskin dress and matching boots. The star showcased her svelte frame on the carpet as she attended the new boutique in the meatpacking district in New York. Georgia wore her brunette tresses down and opted to wear minimal makeup to the event choosing a rather muted palette. Georgia Fowler, 30, kept it glam in strapless snakeskin dress and heels as she dazzled at a new Gucci boutique in New York on Saturday night. Pictured Elsewhere, she posed with pal Megan Williams at the event. The event was to honour the opening of 'Bungalow Gucci'. Georgia is currently in the Big Apple with her businessman husband Nathan Dalah and their daughter. The couple tied the knot in the NSW Southern Highlands in January. The star showcased her svelte frame on the carpet as she attended the new boutique in the meatpacking district in New York. She posed with pal Megan Williams The newlyweds announced their engagement on July 30 last year. At the time, Georgia revealed on Instagram Nathan had proposed during a photo shoot for Tiffany & Co. The model was shooting a campaign called 'Tiffany Love' when Nathan dropped down to one knee on set. In a video, Nathan was seen getting down on one knee in front of Georgia. Georgia is currently in the Big Apple with her businessman husband Nathan Dalah and their one-year-old daughter Dylan 'I would say that I had this really crazy idea,' he said in the clip. Georgia replied, 'Yes, I will,' before the crew cheered for the happy couple. The mother of one is back in NYC after living in Australia for the past few years. In a recent Instagram post, she confirmed she was working with IMG models. 'Can't believe I'm back in NYC and this time with my mini me. It was no small choice bringing my daughter to the other side of the world - that 17-hour direct [flight] is no joke! But you just couldn't kick the love of work out of me,' she wrote. A child actor who played a minor role in the classic film Titanic has revealed that he still gets royalty cheques for his part in the movie which was released 25 years ago. Reece Thompson, now a digital marketing director in Utah, played the role of an Irish third-class passenger in James Cameron's 1998 hit when he was five. He appeared in one tragic and memorable scenes where the the ship is filling with water as Reece's character, his sister, and his mother are seen lying in their cabin waiting to die after failing to get a place in the one of the lifeboats. Before that, he had one line - asking his on-screen mother: 'What are we doing, Mommy?' She responded: 'We're just waiting, dear. When they finish putting first-class people in the boats, they'll be starting with us, and we'll want to be ready, right?' Wow! A child actor who played a minor role in the classic film Titanic has revealed that he still gets royalty cheques for his part in the movie which was released 25 years ago Minor: Reece Thompson, now a digital marketing director in Utah, played the role of an Irish third-class passenger in James Cameron's 1998 hit when he was five Asked about his role on Australia's Network 10, he said: 'Yeah, I still do [receive royalty cheques], it's true. 'But I haven't updated my address in several years, honestly since the last time I got interviewed for this. 'So, I haven't seen them [the cheques] in a few years. I'm just assuming that they are still coming.' Elsewhere in the interview, touching on the regular interest in his life, he explained: 'It's interesting, I'd say my family and I mostly just think that it's interesting that people are still finding it interesting. 'My wife and I mostly just get a kick out of comments. 'They are mostly just interesting to read, but yeah it feels like a dream it was so long ago. 'Any number of different things [are said], honestly, some of the comments I just can't believe that it's happening 25 years later. Nice: Asked about his role on Australia's Network 10, he said: 'Yeah, I still do [receive royalty cheques], it's true' Sad: He appeared in one tragic and memorable scenes where the the ship is filling with water as Reece's character, his sister, and his mother are seen lying in their cabin waiting to die after failing to get a place in the one of the lifeboats 'Now people are beginning to associate my face with it, whereas before it was a random fact about me, it's kind of weird.' Titanic starred Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio as the main roles and catapulted them to stardom. More than 100 years after she sank while crossing the Atlantic on her maiden voyage, RMS Titanic is still widely regarded as the most famous ship in history. The luxury ocean liner owned and operated by British company White Star Line tragically sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912 after a collision with an iceberg, killing an estimated 1,517 of the 2,224 people on board. Her remains now lie on the seafloor about 350 nautical miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, although the delicate wreck is deteriorating so rapidly underwater that it could disappear completely within the next 40 years. The 'unsinkable' liner was going at around 22.5 knots or 25 miles per hour, just 0.5 knots below its top speed of 23 knots. Titanic's captain Edward Smith powered the ship through the Atlantic even though there had been ice warnings from neighbouring ships. Lara Worthington has a knack for looking stylish at all times, even when she's just out running errands. The 35-year-old model went for a stroll in New York City on Saturday in a chic ensemble. The beauty opted for a black puffer jacket with red zip detailing over a dark T-shirt. She added a pair of blue jeans and black and white sneakers, as well as designer sunglasses. Lara finished the look with a Prada purse and appeared to have on minimal makeup while wearing her blonde bob straightened. Lara Worthington (pictured) has a knack for looking stylish at all times, even when she's just out running errands. The 35-year-old model went for a stroll in New York City on Saturday in a chic ensemble She was busy chatting on her phone as she walked along and appeared to be having an animated discussion. The model shares three sons, Rocket, seven, Racer, six, and River, two, with her actor husband Sam Worthington. The family spent most of 2021 in Australia, after living in the U.S. for several years. However, they have since returned to America are living in New York City, where they previously resided. The beauty opted for a black puffer jacket with red zip detailing over a dark T-shirt. She added a pair of blue jeans and black and white sneakers, as well as designer sunglasses Lara has become known for her bold fashion sense ever since she reinvented herself from swimsuit model to chic socialite. She is known for wearing lots of black, and often adds a tomboy twist to her ensembles with oversized blazers, sneakers and T-shirts. Lara has previously said she has a relaxed attitude when it comes to fashion. She told Stellar magazine: 'I wear whatever the hell I want and I don't care!' The mother of three also told The Daily Telegraph her must-haves include a 'black dress in a statement silhouette' and 'a leather dress [that] stands the test of time'. Poh Ling Yeow has shared her heartbreak after the death of her beloved pet. The MasterChef Australia star shared a photo of her dog, Rhino, and revealed the sad news that he'd died. 'My lil Rhinoceros is gone,' the 49-year-old cook revealed in the caption alongside a shooting star emoji. She was inundated with support from her fans and friends, with The Wiggles star Emma Watkins commenting: 'Awww so much love'. 'My heart breaks for you. Sending you love of the biggest kind to get you through this sad time. Thinking of you. Love you,' added model Maria Thattil. Poh Ling Yeow (pictured) has shared her heartbreak after the death of her beloved pet The MasterChef Australia star shared a photo of her dog, Rhino, and revealed the sad news that he'd died Fellow MasterChef star Melissa Leong, who hosts the cooking competition, chimed in: 'I'm so sorry for your loss.' Supermodel Megan Gale added in the comments: 'Oh Poh I'm sorry. Sending you so much love'. While The Block host Shaynna Blaze also shared her condolences, writing: 'That's so sad. Sending love and hugs'. 'Omg so sorry Poh,' said The Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton with fellow MasterChef star Sarah Tiong writing, 'Love you'. Poh frequently shared photos of Rhino to her social media alongside her other dog, called Tim 'My lil Rhinoceros is gone,' the 49-year-old cook revealed in the caption alongside a shooting star emoji Poh frequently shared photos of Rhino to her social media alongside her other dog, called Tim. She used the hashtag '#rhinoandtim' when sharing the adventures of her beloved animals. In addition to running the Jamface cafe in Adelaide, Poh is well known as a fan favourite on MasterChef. She was the runner-up on the first season of the cooking competition in 2009 and returned in 2020 on the Back to Win edition, where she placed 6th. Dan Edgar has sparked speculation he's split from his girlfriend Amber Turner, as she continues to enjoy her Dubai family getaway without him. The TOWIE cast member, 32, has unfollowed his co-star, 29, on Instagram - however she continues to follow him, MailOnline can confirm. They have both wiped all trace of each other from their grids. Amber is currently in UAE city celebrating her mum Suzanne's 60th birthday, but Dan doesn't seem to be present. MailOnline has contacted Amber and Dan's representatives for comment. Trouble in paradise: Dan Edgar has sparked speculation he's split from his girlfriend Amber Turner, as she continues to enjoy her Dubai family getaway without him Lookalike: Amber is currently in UAE city celebrating her mum Suzanne's 60th birthday, but Dan doesn't seem to be present Odd: The TOWIE cast member, 32, has unfollowed his co-star, 29, on Instagram - however she continues to follow him, MailOnline can confirm Despite being an item since 2017, it's certainly not the first time cracks have shown in Dan and Amber's relationship. Last year, Ella Rae Wise slammed the former electrician for acting 'inappropriately' in a nightclub and claimed Amber shouldn't trust him. TOWIE star Ella, then 22, told MailOnline Dan 'needs to keep his hands to himself' and she was shocked he behaved in such a way given he's in a long-term relationship. In an exclusive interview, Ella explained that Dan is yet to apologise for the incident, which allegedly took place during a night out last year, and she's been branded a 'liar' by her co-stars, including Amber's close friends Chloe Meadows and Courtney Green. She said: 'Dan needs to keep his hands to himself really. He shouldn't touch up other girls when he has a girlfriend. 'He was hands on and given he has a girlfriend, it was inappropriate. 'With his track record I don't know how she can allow her man to go out. 'I'm not the biggest fan of theirs and they're not the biggest fans of me but I'm the worst person he could have touched up in a club because I'm not going to keep it a secret. 'I've been called a liar, which is fine because I've been called a liar before on the show and I can see why they would have animosity towards me but if her boyfriend were to touch up someone I'm not the best person because I am going to tell the truth. Oh dear! Despite being an item since 2017, it's certainly not the first time cracks have shown in Dan and Amber's relationship (pictured in 2022) 'He was hands on': Last year, Ella Rae Wise slammed the former electrician for acting 'inappropriately' in a nightclub and claimed Amber shouldn't trust him 'Those girls automatically thought I was lying about it, but I wasn't. Dan was horrible to me afterwards, but you'll see on the new series.' A source close to the show told MailOnline: 'Dan put his hands around Ella's waist while they were in a club nothing more.' MailOnline revealed last June that Amber's relationship with Dan had been rocked following claims he 'always wanted a piece of Ella.' In a voice note that will be aired on the new series, Ella described her account of events to co-star Harry Derbidge and the allegation quickly circulated in Essex. Speaking in defence of Amber and Dan's relationship, Chloe accused Ella of fabricating the incident and claims her only concern is raising her public profile. Chloe said: 'I just think the person that started that rumour is starving, absolutely starving. She's starving for storylines, clout, attention, fame; you name it she is gagging for it. Yes, I'm talking about Ella.' A statement posted by Ella on Instagram today, read: 'Some of you may have seen some press stories today saying that I said that Dan Edgar touched me inappropriately. 'I do want to make it clear that Dan Edgar did not touch me inappropriately without my consent. 'What I did mean is that I think how he has acted towards me whilst having a girlfriend is not okay. Rocky: MailOnline revealed last June that Amber's relationship with Dan had been rocked following claims he 'always wanted a piece of Ella (pictured in 2022) 'No boyfriend should hold someone's hand or put his hands around another girl's waist while in a relationship. 'This is a story that is covered in the upcoming series of TOWIE, where you will see both sides to the story from myself and Dan.' Ella explained that tension between herself and Dan caused a rift in the cast and Amber and her close group of friends ostracised her. She said: 'The other group don't let a lot of people in. 'If they don't like the look of you, they don't want you in their group. With us, where we don't comply and we won't agree with everything they say, they would rather not get on with us and that sits completely fine with me because they're not my people either.' Ella, who's previously admitted to having a 'flirty relationship' with Pete Wicks, 33, says the pair dated this series but their romance has never gone further than a kiss. She's also not fazed by the couple's 11-year age difference and says even her mum encourages her to date an older man. 'I did have a few cheeky, little dates with Pete', Ella explained. 'We have never gone any further than a kiss. With us it can't go any further than that because I don't want to ruin our friendship because I appreciate him a lot as a person. 'Age is nothing but a number and it's more about their mindset than their age. I'm 22 but I'm going on 35. My mum said to me that I need an older man in my life.' Danniella Westbrook has been rushed back into hospital in 'extreme pain' just days after undergoing facial surgery in Turkey. The former EastEnders actress, 49, went under the knife after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002 alongside osteoporosis which has weakened her bones. Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday she penned: 'Only I could land back in Portugal after surgery only to end up in hospital. 'The pain I've experienced is unreal, most frightening few days. Need it like a hole in the head, literally.' Danniella had a thread lift, liposuction into her cheeks and lips and fat grafting on her chin and jawline etched. Under the knife: Danniella Westbrook, 49, has been rushed back into hospital in 'extreme pain' just days after undergoing facial surgery in Turkey (pictured earlier this week) Road to reocvery: The former EastEnders actress went under the knife after her septum collapsed from excessive drug use in 2002 alongside osteoporosis which has weakened her bones (pictured in 2022) In gruesome surgery photos, Danniella appeared bloodied and bruised in her hospital bed and said when she first woke up, she looked 'like she had done 10 rounds with Tyson Fury'. The former soap star said she has wanted to have the reconstruction done for the last seven years, but was unable to find a surgeon who would operate because her septum had completely collapse. She told The Sun: 'I was very fearful. My mum and my son Kai were on the phone constantly - I wrote up a will before I left and my son is the executor of that. 'But luckily Im still here and Ive come through the other side. Someone is looking over me. I looked like Id gone 10 rounds with Tyson Fury. 'But the swelling has actually gone down really quickly. Im already happy with the results.' Earlier this week Danniella said she paid for the surgery all herself despite being offered freebies from clinics all over the world, after a health scare last year left her in intensive care because she struggled to breathe through her nose. In the recovery stage, Danniella had to just stick to ibuprofen and paracetamol, because any pain killer stronger could be a trigger for her past cocaine addiction. She previously revealed she needed five operations to correct her 'collapsing' face due to a previous cocaine addiction and osteoporosis, and was planning to have it done on the NHS. Scart stuff: Taking to her Instagram Stories on Sunday she penned: 'Only I could land back in Portugal after surgery only to end up in hospital Important: Danniella says she paid for the surgery all herself despite being offered freebies from clinics all over the world (left pictured in 2022, right in 1996) She previously told The Sun: 'I've spent the last seven years trying to get somebody to do it, but they said no in case it failed and they got struck off. 'Plastic surgeons wanted 500,000 to change my face, so I thought I was never going to get it done. It was only because I went into intensive care before Christmas. 'I couldn't breathe because I had a cold. There was a build up of fluid and after I fell asleep I couldn't wake up properly and ended up in ICU. 'I was sent over to Aintree Hospital in Liverpool and it's only because I was put in front of the right doctors, or else I'd still be waiting now to find someone. 'They're doing it for me under the NHS now.' Danniella previously underwent a rib insertion procedure in 2018, after osteoporosis rotted away her cheekbones and gums and, after spending the last year getting lip filler and Botox, in addition to surgery on her face, she is hoping to get back to her best. In April, Danniella stepped out with a bandage over her nose after another procedure. Living it up! Ahead of her surgery, Danniella has been soaking up the sunshine on a relaxing break in Portugal Damage: Danniella previously revealed she needs five operations to correct her 'collapsing' face due to a previous cocaine addiction and osteoporosis The actress' battle with drugs has been well-publicised, and she famously had her nose reconstructed after her septum collapsed from excessive cocaine use in 2002. At the height of her use it was reported she would take up to five grams of cocaine a day, blowing close to 250,000 on the drug. The star has since embarked on multiple rehab stints in order to battle her demons - and revealed she was finally clean in June 2021, after attending a clinic in Mijas, Spain. Danniella first appeared in EastEnders in 1990 at the age of 16 and acted on the soap for three years. She returned in 1996 but her time was cut short when her off-screen behaviour got her sacked. She returned again shortly after, but was axed again in 2000 after further disruptive behaviour, admitting she blew 100k on cocaine at the time. The part was recast between 2002 and 2005, and played by Kim Medcalf, but Danniella returned to the role once more in 2009 until 2010. She was back once more in 2016 for the storyline surrounding on-screen mother Peggy Mitchell's death, which is to date her final appearance. Chris Pratt opened up about the difficult audition process he experienced while trying to land a role within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The 43-year-old actor revealed to Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday that he had a 'rough run' auditioning and losing out on multiple roles, including parts in the Thor and Captain America movies. Pratt auditioned for so many different roles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe that he nearly gave up before landing Star-Lord in Guardians Of The Galaxy. 'I auditioned for them all. I had a rough run with Marvel,' said Pratt. 'I auditioned for Thor, but not even to be Thor but to be one of the sidekick guys, and I didnt get a callback.' He added, 'It got to the point where I was never gonna audition for Marvel again. I was like, "This is stupid; Im never gonna be in a Marvel movie."' Persistence pays off: Chris Pratt revealed that he auditioned for so many different roles within the Marvel Cinematic Universe that he nearly gave up before landing Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy He finally landed a role with Marvel: The third installment of Pratt's blockbuster franchise will premiere in theaters on May 5, putting a final chapter on the adventures of Star-Lord and company, at least for the time being He explained, 'Anything that came out that needed a guy that even remotely looked like me, I auditioned for in some way or another. I would either submit a tape, and then they would say, "Nah, we don't need to see him."' Pratt jokingly revealed that he came to believe, 'Well, I definitely don't have that 'It Factor' they're looking for because they don't even want me to come back.' In addition to his leading role as Star-Lord, Pratt voiced the voice of Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which premiered earlier this month. On Friday, Pratt's superstar father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger praised Chris after seeing his new film Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3. The 75-year-old action star who recently introduced the world to his pet mini pig Schnelly gave a heartwarming shoutout to Pratt via Twitter, telling the Marvel mainstay that he is 'very, very proud' of him. Arnold wrote: 'I saw #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 last night, and WOW. @prattprattpratt, you crushed it. A non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action. I loved it, and I'm very, very proud of you.' The third installment of Pratt's blockbuster franchise will premiere in theaters on May 5, putting a final chapter on the adventures of Star-Lord and company, at least for the time being. Chris is married to Schwarzenegger's eldest child Katherine, 33, with whom he shares two daughters: Lyla Maria, two, and Eloise Christina, 11 months. Wasn't easy: The 43-year-old actor told Jimmy Kimmel 'It got to the point where I was never gonna audition for Marvel again. I was like, "This is stupid; Im never gonna be in a Marvel movie."' Busy guy: In addition to his leading role as Star-Lord, Pratt also voiced Mario in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which premiered earlier this month Making him proud: Arnold Schwarzenegger, 75, declared that he was a very proud father-in-law on Friday when he heaped praise on Chris Pratt, 43, after seeing his new film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Ultimate father-in-law: The former Governor of California has become very close with his beloved daughter's A-list husband since their romance began in 2018. 'I get along with him really well,' Schwarzenegger told Jimmy Kimmel in 2019 the year that Katherine and Chris tied the knot Sweet: The legendary action star gave a heartwarming shoutout to Pratt via Twitter, telling the Marvel mainstay that he is 'very, very proud' of him and calling Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 'a non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action' The former Governor of California has become very close with his beloved daughter's A-list husband since their romance began in 2018. 'I get along with him really well,' Schwarzenegger told Jimmy Kimmel in 2019 the year that Katherine and Chris tied the knot. In addition to both being action stars, the Hollywood heavyweights immediately connected over their shared love of fitness. Arnold told Kimmel: 'Of course, the first thing when we met, [Chris] says, 'Can we have a workout together? I need to have the inside scoop to the pumping iron. 'Pumping iron was the decision-making factor, absolutely. We were in the gym, that was it.' The Terminator icon went on to say that he was 'blown away' when his daughter told him that she was dating the Jurassic World hero. 'I was blown away when my daughter was telling me that she was going out with him. '[I was like], 'Do you have to be so competitive? I mean, do you have to have a guy that is taller than me, that is bigger than me, that is doing bigger movies than me makes more money than me? What is going on here?'' First look: Sylvester Stallone reprised his role of the space pirate captain Stakar Ogord/Starhawk in the new Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 3 Vin Diesel's character: As the walking tree spins around and fires a gun at approaching enemies, he changes his usual catch 'I am Groot' to show that his friends are a part of him now. ' We are Groot,' he shouts while firing Fierce: Zoe Saldana's Gomora is back for more tense action scenes in vol 3 Bad guy: Chukwudi Iwuji is revealed as the film's main villain, the High Evolutionary. His organic face appears to be plastered on to some kind of robotic skeleton, and he seeks to transform all living beings into hybrid creatures Lovely pair: Chris is married to Schwarzenegger's eldest child, Katherine, 33, with whom he shares two daughters Lyla Maria, two, and Eloise Christina, 11 months Heavenly love: The deeply religious couple connected in church, and Katherine recently described their meet-cute as 'super sweet' during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show In a touching moment, Arnold spoke to Kimmel about how grateful he was that Chris was such a kind and loving partner to his daughter. 'I'm really happy that he is such a great guy,' said the superstar. 'Not only a very talented guy and a great actor and a great star and all this stuff, but a really kind man and kind to my daughter, which is the most important thing for me.' The deeply religious couple connected in church, and Katherine recently described their meet-cute as 'super sweet' during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. And more children appear to be on the way for the pair as Katherine told Us Weekly that she's open to having more children: 'I come from a big family, so I love the idea of having a lot of kids around and a big family. Whatever God has in his plan for us is what we'll do.' Love has been blossoming between Sonia Fowler and her new flatmate Reiss Colwell. But it seems as if the pair are set to hit a rocky patch when she learns the devastating truth about the newcomer, who is the great-nephew of the late Dot Branning (June Brown). In scenes set to air next week, a furious Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) will be seen throwing Reiss (Jonny Freeman) out of her home, chucking a bag full of belongings at him in the process. The fan favourite will be seen raging as Reiss braces himself for impact as his belongings fly through the air. It comes after Rocky Cotton (Brian Conley) told Sonia he had suspicions about Reiss, prompting her to question his motives. Trouble ahead: Sonia Fowler and Reiss Colwell are set to hit a rocky patch when she learns the devastating truth about the newcomer in upcoming scenes next week Dramatic: A furious Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) will be seen throwing Reiss (Jonny Freeman) out of her home, chucking a bag full of belongings at him in the process Next week, Sonia will be seen in good spirits as she prepares to celebrate her 38th birthday after Reiss planned a party for her. She then tells Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) she had felt so cared for in a long time. However, it seems Reiss has other plans, as he then tells Sonia he will be celebrating King Charles' coronation and not Sonia's birthday. Sonia becomes fed up with Reiss when he makes a fuss over his planning of the coronation party and, when Rocky makes a romantic gesture for Kathy, he suggests Sonia and Reiss get to know one another better. Nurse Sonia then makes it plain she wants to celebrate her birthday, prompting Reiss to put more effort in. Reiss arrived in Walford ahead of Dot Branning's funeral last year as her great-nephew. He and Sonia quickly struck up a bond at Dot's wake as they play their trumpet and trombone together. Sonia was then seen taking Reiss upstairs before Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero) revealed trumpeter Sonia and Reiss had slept together. Albert Square arrival: Reiss arrived in Walford ahead of Dot Branning's funeral last year as her great-nephew Good pals: He and Sonia quickly struck up a bond at Dot's wake as they play their trumpet and trombone together However, things quickly took a turn for the worst when Reiss ghosted Sonia for a month. He eventually answered her calls and met up with Sonia to help her with her inheritance tax issues, enabling her to find a loophole in the law that meant she could keep her home without losing any money. Reiss then told Sonia he had not been in contact as he hadn't had many girlfriends and he didn't want to mess anything up between the pair. They later celebrated Sonia keeping her house by playing the trumpet and trombone together once again before enjoying a glass of champagne which led to a kiss. Jessica Alves has insisted she is '100% done with plastic surgery' as she posed for a raunchy topless shoot on Sunday. The television personality, 39, spoke exclusively to MailOnline as she returned home to Brazil for a much deserved holiday. On the trip Jessica showed off the results of her third boob job - the latest out of a jaw-dropping 1million spent on surgical procedures. Saying: 'I am 100% done with plastic surgery, so my nose is fixed I can breathe well, I look amazing and feel amazing'. The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate relaxed on a windowsill for the sizzling Instagram snaps as she took in the country's stunning and exotic views. Sensational: Jessica Alves has insisted she is '100% done with plastic surgery' as she posed for a raunchy topless shoot on Sunday Cheeky: The television personality, 39, spoke exclusively to MailOnline as she returned home to Brazil for a much deserved holiday She retained her modesty by crossing her arm over her ample assets before turning to flash her pert bottom for the camera. Jessica also said she was still single and searching for love but was tired of men who only 'wanted her for sex'. 'I'm looking for a relationship, and it's very hard to find a partner, it's easy to find men for sex but I want a partner,' She continued: ' I really want a husband and a family but it's really hard, I don't know if it's the way I look that attracts these kinds of men'. The stunner also discussed her OnlyFans and said that she refuses to do 'odd' things that many followers ask. '[My OnlyFans] is very classy and very elegant with pictures I take with a professional photographer'. The TV star - who recently revealed she's made 2million from OnlyFans - has 2220cc implants and thinks spending 1million in over 100 operations is all worth it as it's an 'investment in my happiness'. She previously told MailOnline: 'I love being a woman and I take pride in it. Growing up, in my mind I had long hair and a voluptuous body shape and today I am the woman of my dreams. And that is such a great feeling to be happy with my looks. Hot stuff: Jessica also said that she was still single and searching for love but was tired of men who only 'wanted her for sex' 'It has been a long journey to be who I am today. With more than 100 operations and over 1million spent, I see that as an investment in my happiness and in my future - at least I will age as a happy woman.' She continued: 'I understand that I dont fit into the normal or classic beauty standards and it was my personal choice, and people should just respect it and let it go. It is my life and it makes me happy to be who I am. 'I have just had a 3rd boob job in Brussels at BeClinic by doctor Frank Plovier. 'He removed my old 1500cc and replaced them with 2220cc implants and I couldnt be any happier. 'I hardly have any pain and the results are fantastic.' Jessica went on to explain she doesn't let cruel online trolls and bullies deter her from being happy as she's finally the woman she's always wanted to be. 'We live in a free society when we are free to be who and how we want to be', she shared. Working out: She went on to offer her Instagram followers an insight into the trip as she hit the gym Busty: She put on a very busty display in a skin tight beige jumpsuit Massage: And no luxury holiday is complete without a trip to the masseuse Nude: She appeared nude as she laid down and enjoyed the pampering session 'Sometimes I get funny looks from people, especially from women and on my Instagram often I get terrible comments from bullies. Also females tend to block and delete then but they keep coming back. 'It doesnt affect me whatsoever what those bullies have to say - I am a glamorous voluptuous woman and I love to be who I am!' And despite being content within herself, Jessica admitted the one thing missing in her life is a boyfriend to settle down with, something she said she is struggling to find. She said: 'I am still looking for my Prince Charming but it is a tough ask as most men just want fun and nothing too serious.' France 24, October 7, 2022 A bomber blew himself up on Friday at a Kabul study hall as hundreds of pupils were taking tests in preparation for university entrance exams in the city's Dasht-e-Barchi area. The western neighbourhood is a predominantly Shiite Muslim enclave and home to the minority Hazara community - a historically oppressed group that has been targeted in some of Afghanistan's most brutal attacks in recent years. Police said at least 20 people were killed but the United Nations mission in Afghanistan considers the number to be higher, with at least 35 fatalities and an additional 82 wounded. On Saturday about 50 women chanted, "Stop Hazara genocide, it's not a crime to be a Shiite", as they marched past a hospital in Dasht-e-Barchi where several victims of the attack were being treated. Dressed in black hijabs and headscarves, angry protesters carried banners that read: "Stop killing Hazaras", an AFP correspondent reported. Witnesses have told AFP that the suicide attacker detonated in the women's section of the gender-segregated hall. "Yesterday's attack was against the Hazaras and Hazara girls," protester Farzana Ahmadi, 19, told AFP. "We demand a stop to this genocide. We staged the protest to demand our rights." Protesters later gathered in front of the hospital and chanted slogans as dozens of heavily armed Taliban, some carrying rocket-propelled-grenade launchers, kept watch. Since the hardline Taliban returned to power last August, women's protests have become risky, with numerous demonstrators detained and rallies broken up by Taliban forces firing shots in the air. No group has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack at the Kaaj Higher Educational Centre. But the jihadist Islamic State (IS) group regards Shiites as heretics and has previously claimed attacks in the area targeting girls, schools and mosques. The Taliban also regard the Hazara community as heathens, and rights groups often accused the Islamists of targeting them during their 20-year insurgency against the former US-backed government. Since returning to office the Taliban have pledged to protect minorities and clamp down on security threats. However, rights group Amnesty International said Friday's attack was "a shamefaced reminder of the inaptitude and utter failure of the Taliban, as de-facto authorities, to protect the people of Afghanistan". In May last year, before the Taliban's return to power, at least 85 people mainly girls were killed and about 300 were wounded when three bombs exploded near their school in Dasht-e-Barchi. No group again claimed responsibility, but a year earlier IS claimed a suicide attack on an educational centre in the same area that killed 24. IS has emerged as a key security challenge for the Taliban, but officials claim their forces have defeated the jihadists. Rose Ayling-Ellis and Giovanni Pernice proved they have kept up their close friendship since Strictly as she arrived to support him at the London Palladium on Sunday. In 2021 the pair won Strictly Come Dancing together - where Rose competed as the show's first deaf contestant - winning over the hearts of millions of viewers. Rose, 28, looked stunning in a mint green zebra print top which she paired with a long leather coat for a chic appearance. She added tailored black trousers for a smart look to support her friend, but chose a pair of sneakers to keep it relaxed. Her blonde tresses were slightly windswept as she kept her make-up natural with a swoosh of black eyeliner for her evening out. Reunited: Rose Ayling-Ellis, 28, arrived at the London Palladium on Sunday to support her former Strictly partner Giovanni Pernice, 32 Star of the show: The Strictly Come Dancing hunk is performing in Made In Italy Meanwhile Giovanni, 32, who is starring in his show Made In Italy, beamed as he greeted fans before his performance. The Italian-themed show, which will run until later this month, features extravagant dancing and choreography. It sees him joined on stage by fellow professional Lauren Oakley, 31, who is the female lead. Rose and Giovanni have kept up their firm friendship outside the show, after they previously reunited in December for Rose's West End show As You Like It. Taking to his Instagram, the hunky dancer posted pictures of himself and actress Rose joking around in Soho Place's theatre bar. Giovanni looked dapper in a double breasted navy blue blazer worn with a white open-collar shirt and khaki chinos. Rose kept things casual in a baby blue roll neck jumper and indigo pair of straight leg jeans, following her performance as Celia in the play. In addition to a smiley snap together, the Italian dancer included animated shots, which showed Rose holding him in a headlock and pulling a funny face. Stylish: Rose looked stunning in a mint green zebra print top, while she added a leather long coat Winner: Actress Rose Ayling-Ellis was best known for her role as Frankie Lewis on BBC soap EastEnders when she joined Strictly Together again! In December the close friends reunited at Rose's West End show, As You Like It Giovanni captioned the upload: 'Another amazing evening, watching my second partner in crime @rose.a.e at @sohoplace with As You Like It. Brilliant performances!' It comes after Giovanni reportedly split from his fellow Strictly professional Jowita Przystal over their 'hectic work schedules'. Jowita and Giovanni's reported break-up came just days after the Italian dancer appeared to confirm his romance with Jowita during an interview slip-up, where he referred to them as 'we'. Despite attempting to say that he wasn't going to discuss the romance rumours, Giovanni accidentally referred to himself and Jowita as one by saying: 'We are not talking about anything'. Sources allegedly confirmed the split to The Sun, sharing: 'As time has passed they have found it increasingly difficult to build on their relationship because of their hectic work schedules. 'Giovanni is on tour for the next five months and trying to make time for each other has proved absolutely impossible.' Giovanni's last relationship was with Love Island star Maura Higgins who he split from in October 2021 before going on to enjoy a string on dates with Made In Chelsea star Verity Bowditch. Taking to Instagram after the split, Giovanni insisted that sometimes 'great relationships with great people can come to a natural end' which he said is what happened with him and Maura. The 2022 Strictly series saw Hamza Yassin and Jowita lift the Glitterball Trophy as they were crowned the winners. Margot Robbie was nearly unrecognizable as she arrived at JFK Airport in New York City wearing a face mask on Sunday. The 32-year-old Australian actress who was spotted doing Barbie reshoots in Los Angeles two weeks ago hid her slender frame under a black double-breasted overcoat and brown trousers as she grabbed her luggage. The Wolf Of Wall Street star's honey-highlighted hair fell naturally over her shoulders as she moved through the travel hub solo. Robbie's NYC landing comes after she promoted her hotly-anticipated new film with co-star Ryan Gosling, 42, at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star wowed at the event in a pink two-piece ensemble that showed off her incredibly toned physique. Barbie girl: Margot Robbie arrived at JFK Airport in New York City wearing a face mask on Sunday Low-key look: The 32-year-old Australian actress hid her slender frame under a black double-breasted overcoat that hung loosely on her and brown trousers as she grabbed her luggage Margot posed with her costar Ryan who will play a version of the Ken doll in the quirky new movie that is set for a July 21, 2023 release. The cast is a who's who of Hollywood powerhouses, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel and Helen Mirren as the narrator. Dua Lipa, who also plays one of the Barbies, will release a single written for the movie, MailOnline has revealed. Robbie is the executive producer of the new film, and also plays the lead role, and is set to cash in big time if the film is a success. Photos from the set of the film have been whetting fans' appetites for over a year, and viewers got another official glimpse of what to expect in a new trailer released Tuesday. In what appears to be a fish-out-of-water comedy, Margot's Barbie is seen having fun with Ryan's Ken in a hyper-real Barbie-inspired world dubbed 'Barbieland' where there are many iterations of the iconic dolls in existence. Playing on the quirky premise of what the Mattel dolls would do if left to their own devices, the teaser features a comical scene between Ryan and Margot about spending the night together. 'I thought I might stay over tonight,' Ryan's Ken asks Margot's Barbie. 'To do what?' she replies innocently. After a brief awkward pause he responds: 'I'm not actually sure.' Promo-mode: Robbie has been promoting her highly-anticipated new film Barbie, which stars Ryan Gosling Robbie is set to make an extraordinary amount of money from her new movie Barbie as she is the executive producer and also plays the lead role Barbie and Ken go rogue: Their plastic-fantastic lives are turned upside down (quite literally) when they are seen traveling to the 'real world' in a car the spins up in the air Hi Ken! Gosling displays his abs while channeling Barbie's love interest Living dolls! Margot channeled her inner Barbie for the press conference earlier this week - alongside co-star Gosling who will be playing Ken Star studded: (L-R) Margot's producer husband Tom Ackerley, Gosling, America Ferrera, Margot, director Greta Gerwig and producer David Heyman at CinemaCon on Tuesday However, their plastic-fantastic lives are turned upside down (quite literally) when they are seen traveling to the 'real world' in a car that spins up into the air. The film is based on the fashion doll line by Mattel, where the CEO Mattell Ynon Kreiz said the company expected the Barbie product to continue growing, adding: 'We couldn't be more excited about Barbie's long-term prospects.' Will Ferrell's character, who is in charge of the toy company, somehow brings his figures to life, welcoming them into civilization. The Barbie brand generated over USD 1.2 billion in gross sales last year and the doll turned 64 this week, first debuting the original on March 9, 1959. Sydney Sweeney, 25, put on a leggy display as she arrived as New York City's Bar Pitti for dinner with her fiance Jonathan Davino, 38, on Saturday night. The Euphoria star rocked a monochromatic brown look in a pair of brown suede shorts and a matching ribbed, crew neck, long-sleeved sweater. She wore sheer brown tights and knee-high brown boots to complete her sartorial look. The White Lotus star wore her blonde hair in a ponytail with face-framing curtain bangs and carried a black clutch handbag. She shared on her Instagram Story that the couple was going to a performance of Little Shop of Horrors starring her Euphoria co-star Maude Apatow. Blonde bombshell: Sydney Sweeney, 25, put on a leggy display as she arrived as New York City's Bar Pitti for dinner with her fiance Jonathan Davino, 38, on Saturday night Monochromatic: The Euphoria star rocked a monochromatic brown look in a pair of brown suede shorts and a matching ribbed, crew neck, long-sleeved sweater The outing comes as the actress faces rumors that she and her Anyone But You co-star Glen Powell, 34, are having an affair. Fans seem to think the two actors took their on screen chemistry off screen especially as the Top Gun: Maverick star's girlfriend of three years Gigi Paris, 30, broke up last week. Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Davino was seen leaving Sydney's West Los Angeles home with packed bags and her dog last week. Compounding the situation is the fact that the Everything Sucks alum hasn't been wearing her $150,000 engagement ring lately. She was spotted at an Armani Beauty event in New York City Friday night without her ring. And on Thursday, Sydney was spotted at her home in Los Angeles with her bare ring finger visible in photos obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com. However, after the Armani Beauty event on Friday, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood star was spotted walking the streets of New York City with her man. And the couple were out on their date night on Saturday with Sydney sharing two images to her Instagram Stories revealing she and Davino were attending Little Shop of Horrors. Blonde beauty: Sydney had an active weekend, attending an Armani Beauty event on Friday, then hanging out with her future husband and dinner and a play on Saturday as a couple So Excited: The engaged couple took in Little Shop of Horrors with Maude Apatow in the role of Audrey Backstage: She greeted her friend and Euphoria co-star, who is starring in Little Shop of Horrors through April 30, backstage One of the snaps was a backstage shot with Maude, which Sydney captioned: '@maudeapatow you completely blew me away. I love you so much. You're so f*cking talented,' and added a heart emoji. Sources close to Sydney recently said the actress is still happily engaged to her fiance Jonathan. The source told TMZ that the costars 'are not dating' and that the Sharp Objects actress is back to living with Davino since wrapping filming on her upcoming romantic comedy. 'All is well between them,' a source said on Tuesday, before she was spotted out without her engagement ring. They spent a million dollars to make sure their wedding was nothing short of spectacular. But were there fireworks at the end of the night for Mr and Mrs Kyle Sandilands? Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday, the 51-year-old radio presenter revealed he did seal the deal with his new wife Tegan Kynaston after the reception. 'A lot of people are asking, "Did you consummate the marriage?" You bet your arse!' declared Sandilands, who admitted he was feeling 'a little dusty' after a weekend of partying. 'Did you?' asked his surprised co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson. 'Yes, of course!' he responded. They spent a million dollars to make sure their wedding was nothing short of spectacular - but were there fireworks at the end of the night for Mr and Mrs Kyle Sandilands? Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday, the 51-year-old radio presenter revealed he did seal the deal with his new wife Tegan Kynaston after the reception. 'A lot of people are asking, "Did you consummate the marriage?" You bet your arse!' he declared Sandilands explained they were both 'exhausted' when the night ended with him 'lying in bed in my undies waiting to be serviced' while Kynaston, 37, was 'on the floor beside me on the phone, talking to her girlfriends'. When Kynaston said she was going to call another friend, Sandilands wondered: 'When is this sex going to happen?' 'Anyway, we got there,' he added, before admitting it was over 'pretty quick'. A recent survey found just 40 per cent of couples have sex on their wedding night. One in five newlyweds don't get round to doing the deed because they are too tired from partying all night with friends and family. Sandilands and Kynaston tied the knot on Saturday in a show-stopping wedding that is rumoured to have cost the KIIS FM host and Australian Idol judge a cool $1million. Sandilands and Kynaston tied the knot on Saturday in a show-stopping wedding that is rumoured to have cost the KIIS FM host and Australian Idol judge a cool $1million The shock jock said 'I do' with the communications executive at Swifts, a heritage-listed Gothic mansion in Sydney's Darling Point, at about 3pm in front of 130 guests - the most notable being Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The heavens didn't open up despite forecasts of rain and thunderstorms in parts of coastal NSW, much to the relief of the newlyweds and their A-list friends. The guest list included the likes of Today host Karl Stefanovic and wife Jasmine; Guy and Jules Sebastian; NSW Premier Chris Minns and wife Anna; ex-Geelong mayor Darryn Lyons; and 'King of the Cross' John Ibrahim and his partner Sarah Budge. Sandilands' best man was Simon Main, who was infamously jailed in Italy in the year 2000 over his role in attempting to shift 333,000 ecstasy pills worth $10million. The Only Way Is Essex viewers were left unimpressed by Saffron Lempriere after she clashed heads with Chloe Brockett during Sunday's dramatic episode filmed during the cast's trip to Thailand. The reality star, 30 didn't hold back from revealing how she felt to Chloe about her friend 'leaving' her out. Chloe has been at the centre of action recently, after she locked horns with her ex boyfriend Jordan Brooks over his new relationship with Sophie Kasaei. As for 'friends' Chloe and Amber Turner, an 'explosive' row erupted between the pair last month, after a recent night out went wrong. But after travelling to the exotic location to be by her side, Saffron admitted she felt 'dropped' by Chloe. Angry: The Only Way Is Essex viewers were left unimpressed by Saffron Lempriere after she clashed heads with Chloe Brockett during Sunday's dramatic episode filmed during the cast's trip to Thailand And meeting up for a drink to chat things over, the situation quickly turned frosty. Chloe said, walking in: 'I was gonna message you and ask what you was wearing but you'd left the group chat! You ok?' 'Not really which is why I left the group chat', Saffron replied. She continued: 'I've come here as your friend. I've not seen you for days. You had a lot to say about that other lot, but when it's all sorted you just drop me. 'I've not see you. You've dropped me out. You ain't even asked me to go for dinner Chlo. I wouldn't do that to you.' Defending herself, Chloe said: 'We've both been out, we've been going out with separate groups. 'When you asked me about what was going on with the girls, I wasn't in the best headspace about the girls and I was open about that and I've said everything I said to the girls to them. Saffron said abruptly: 'No you haven't.' Critical: Chloe has been at the centre of action recently, after she locked horns with her ex boyfriend Jordan Brooks over his new relationship with Sophie Kasaei Honest: After travelling to the exotic location to be by her side, Saffron admitted she felt 'dropped' by Chloe Awkward: Meeting up for a drink to chat things over, the situation quickly turned frosty Getting frustrated, Chloe argued: 'You're lying.' Saffron responded: 'No I'm not. How do I know everything then?' 'It's because you're in everyones business, that's why!' Chloe said. Saffron replied: 'Nah you're lying Chlo. You're a clever clever girl and you're lying because you don't wanna cross Amber but she's the orchestra. She's the conductor of the orchestra and you all play to her music. 'I can't stand Amber, that's different. Forget Amber, I can deal with her myself if I have to, that's nothing. 'My problem is my friendship with you and I feel like you've just left me. I might as well call the landfill. You've dumped your waste on me. I don't understand that behaviour. That's all.' Still defensive, Chloe replied: 'But the thing is Saff, I'm sunbathing. I'm not even sunbathing with them. I like my own f***ing space. You've not been around. You've been on a boat with everybody. And that's what I did to you. It's just what's happening.' Saffron said: Alright, even if you're with your friends and Amber happens to be there - you still ask.' 'I think you've been a bit unfair', Chloe admitted. Concluding, Saffron said: 'You've hurt me and you won't own it. We've come a long way. 'I don't ever want to go back to that place again. Even if me and you are just civil. Listen, I know it's an odd place to be in and you're stuck. Anyway, I do defend you and it ain't a chore.' Taking to Twitter as the episode aired, fans were left extremely unimpressed with Saffron's behaviour. One wrote: 'Saff's problem with Amber seems very one-sided. Like you never hear Amber even mention her at all. Odd.' A second added: 'Saff is miserable and she wants to be best friends with the girl band.' 'Saffron is a bit of a p***. If you're there for Brockett you should be there out of the kindness of your heart, not to hold her to ransom about it!', a third said. Another added: 'Saffron really is miserable. Does she ever do anything other than moan?' It comes after Saffron slammed Gemma Collins over her criticism of the reality show, which launched her to fame. Having tuned in to a recent episode, former cast member Gemma, 42, blasted the ITVBe programme for being 'terrible' and having 'no stars' while vowing to never return. And in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, her ex best friend Saffron didn't bite her tongue when asked about the dig. The reality star reignited her feud with The GC, insisting she's 'unhappy' and 'bored of her own life' - and that being justified as a star by her would be 'an insult'. She said: 'TOWIE put her on the map. She earned a lot of money through TOWIE. I used to run her business for her. She earned a fortune. 'And because she's not on it and she's bored of her own life and watching now this play out, she's unhappy and she has to dig and that's my return on that, really.' 'Being justified as a star by HER would be an insult!' It comes after Saffron slammed Gemma Collins over her criticism of the reality show, which launched her to fame Shock: Having tuned in to a recent episode, former cast member Gemma, 42, blasted the ITVBe programme for being 'terrible' and having 'no stars' while vowing to never return Happier times: Saffron (right) said: 'None of us are gonna lose sleep because Gemma's saying bad things about the show. We're doing well and it's still here' (pictured in 2018) Junaid Ahmed added: 'She said there are no stars in the show. There are five stars here.' Saffron continued: 'But I'm not offended by that. Gemma Collins justifying me as a star would be an insult anyway. It's bad enough being compared to her all the time. 'But what I'm saying is that none of us take her opinion to heart. None of us are gonna lose sleep because Gemma's saying bad things about the show. We're doing well and it's still here.' It's not the first time Saffron's made a savage dig at her former best friend. In 2021, she took part in a candid Q&A session where she encouraged fans to write assumptions about her and she would confirm whether they were true or false. During the session, Saffron candidly spoke about her fall out with Gemma and brutally said that eight years of friendship was 'enough'. The reality star first revealed that September that she was 'no longer talking' to Gemma and that they had gone their 'separate ways'. Asked about their fallout, one fan asked: 'You've always been friends with Gemma Collins' to which Saffron replied with an animated face and added: '8 years was enough' followed by a crying laughing emoji. While a different follower wrote: 'You and Gemma aren't friends' to which Saffron responded with: 'True I've been asked this about 30 times. No big deal.' Castaway viewers praised 'vulnerable' Ruby Wax following the latest episode her new show on Sunday. The Channel 5 series sees the 70-year-old comedian stranded and living alone for ten days on a desert island in the depths of Madagascar. Ruby, who has been open about her mental health battle, spoke about her dysfunctional childhood during the latest episode, leaving fans in awe of her honesty. Viewers took to Twitter to praise the star with one writing: 'Ruby, you are an amazing, strong and beautiful person, even without make-up. You make me feel stronger. Thank you for being you'. While a second commented: 'Thank you for Castaway: Ruby Wax. A raw, emotional programme which shows that some time on your own is not only good for you, it's almost cathartic. Ditch the phones! We're happier without them!'. Praise: Castaway viewers praised the 'vulnerable' Ruby Wax, 70, following the latest her new show that sees her stranded on a desert island Honest and open: Ruby, who has been open about her mental health battle , spoke about her dysfunctional childhood during the episode, leaving fans in awe of her honesty Traumatic: Ruby previously told MailOnline: 'I wish I could forget about my early days but I cant. My mother was mentally ill and I grew up in a climate of constant criticism' (pictured with her parents in 1998) Ruby previously told MailOnline: 'I wish I could forget about my early days but I cant. My mother was mentally ill and I grew up in a climate of constant criticism'. 'Dad was a sausage manufacturer and my eccentric mum an accountant. We were probably the most dysfunctional family I knew my mother was obsessed with straight lines and wrapping things in plastic'. Another viewer said on social media: 'Ruby your story broke me, you are a survivor'. While someone else wrote: 'Loving this, her vulnerability and honesty is heartwarming. Not sure I could do it'. Last week before heading off to the tropical location viewers saw Ruby meeting pal Joanna Lumley, 76, who offered advice after she made a similar show in 1994 - famously turning her bra into shoes to cope with the island's treacherous terrain. After reaching her new home Ruby left viewers 'in awe' as she wielded a machete to cut down trees to build herself a shelter. The actress emotionally confessed to the camera she was 'out of her depth' before declaring in later scenes 'mental health people are survivors because we know what it's like to be alone'. Racing to Twitter one fan gushed: 'Castaway with Ruby, what a champion to never giving up and showing strength not resilience. Helping others as she helps herself'. Sad: Ruby previously told MailOnline: 'I wish I could forget about my early days but I cant. My mother was mentally ill and I grew up in a climate of constant criticism' In awe: Fans took top Twitter to praise the star with one writing: 'Ruby, you are an amazing, strong and beautiful person, even without make-up. You make me feel stronger. Thank you for being you' Back in January Ruby sparked concern amongst fans after sharing a video from her hospital bed as she trained for life on the island. The trip has appeared to take a turn as she ended up showing footage of herself in hospital instead of exploring island life. Speaking directly to fans in the video, Ruby said: 'Hi my name is Ruby Wax and this is the cover of my new book. 'I think it says it all. No comment from me. It's coming out May 11 and you can preorder it by the link on my bio. It's my new baby.' She captioned the post: I'm thrilled to share with you all the cover of my new book, 'I'm Not As Well As I Thought I Was' - which I think says it all. A little help:Last week before heading off to the tropical location viewers saw Ruby (right) meeting pal Joanna Lumley (left) 76, who offered advice after she made a similar show in 1994 Wow: After reaching her new home Ruby left viewers 'in awe' as she wielded a machete to cut down trees to build herself a shelter Inspiring: She later declared 'mental health people are survivors because we know what it's like to be alone'. 'This could be my most honest and raw book to date which feels good, but also a little scary. 'I do hope it might provide some reassurance and guidance for anyone else struggling with their own mental health. It's coming out May 11th and you can pre-order it now via the link in my bio. Ruby x'. Amongst several hashtags in the post, Ruby wrote: '#DepressionSupport', '#DepressionRecovery' and #PsychiatricHospital. Fans were quick to send Ruby their well wishes with many concerned at seeing her in hospital with a monitor attached to her heart. One wrote: 'Wtf. hope u ok In hospital bed Ruby ..... cyber hug of soothing vibes coming your way.' Concern: Back in January Ruby sparked concern amongst fans after sharing a video from her hospital bed as she trained for life on the island Another added: 'Can't wait to read it.... But are you ok Hun?As we can see you are in hospital.... X' A third said: ' I hope you're going to be OK my ex wife has been in hospital for nearly two weeks now.' Last year, Ruby bared her soul by admitting to fans she is suffering from her first big bout of depression in 12 years, and saying she has 'dead eyes'. The comedian, 69, who has battled with her mental health over the years and quit TV 25 years ago as a result of depression, admitted she is 'frazzled' and 'didn't spot the signs' as she told fans that battle with the illness that made thoughts 'so agonising it's hard to stay alive.' Daisy Edgar-Jones looked incredible as she attended Bungalow Gucci in celebration of the opening of Gucci Meatpacking District in New York City on Saturday. The Normal People actress, 24, flashed her toned abs in a stylish black crop and matching trousers. She elevated her height in a pair of black stilettos and accessorised with dainty gold jewellery. Daisy opted for a soft glam makeup look which showed off her natural beauty, while her blonde locks were styled in loose waves. The star carried a black and gold handbag as she posed up a storm outside of the event. Wow! Daisy Edgar-Jones looked incredible as she attended Bungalow Gucci in celebration of the opening of Gucci Meatpacking District in New York City on Saturday Stunning: The Normal People actress, 24, flashed her toned abs in a stylish black crop and matching trousers Daisy scored her breakthrough role in 2022, when she played the main role of Marianne in Sally Rooney's Normal People opposite Paul Mescal as Connell. The romantic drama, which was released on BBC Three in 2020, focused on the on-off relationship between Irish teenagers Marianne and Connell, beginning in their school days through to their time at university. It comes after she previously revealed her mother didn't want her to become an actress. The actress - who was born and raised in Muswell Hill, North London - told her parents she wanted to pursue a career in acting at the age of 15. Daisy's parents, Wendy and Philip, both worked in television (her mother an editor; her father is now the head of Sky Arts). When speaking on being and only child, she told Elle UK: 'We get a hard rap but being an only child was great. I'm very good at making friends. 'I remember going on holidays as a child, seeing kids playing in the pool and having to go up and ask, 'Can I play?' It was a good life lesson.' At 15, her mum suggested Daisy audition for the National Youth Theatre after she'd said she wanted to be an actor. She added: 'I think she kind of hoped I wouldn't get in. Not in a mean way just because it's a really hard job.' She went on to speak about her career now and resilience in the industry: As an actor, you have to be resilient. 'If I have a bad day at work, its judged by a lot of people, and I have to live with it forever. But I still have to make brave choices to have a shot at making something remarkable. Daisy split with her boyfriend Tom Varey last year after two years of dating, with reports that she was looking to 'focus on her career'. A source speaking to The Sun claimed: 'They got on really well during lockdown last year, but they're both young and passionate about following their careers. Beauty: Daisy opted for a soft glam makeup look which showed off her natural beauty, while her blonde locks were styled in loose waves Glam: The star carried a black and gold handbag as she posed up a storm outside of the event Former flames: Daisy split with her boyfriend Tom Varey (pictured in December 2019) last year after two years of dating, with reports that she was looking to 'focus on her career' 'Daisy has been inundated with opportunities and feels she has to put them first, Tom's also really dedicated to his acting and wants the best for both of them. And it appears she wasn't wrong, as the actress starred in hit Where The Crawdads Sing this year and has just been cast as the leading lady Carole King in the film adaptation of stage show Beautiful. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical ran on Broadway for five years and played 2,418 performances. The show earned Jessie Mueller a Tony Award for her lead performance as King. In an interview with Variety , King spoke highly of Jones: 'Daisy has a spirit and energy that I recognized as myself when I was younger. Shes a tremendous talent and I know shes going to give a great performance.' Love Island's Will Young and Jessie Wynter have sparked rumours they got engaged at Disneyland Paris. The farmer, 23, lifted the Australian bombshell, 26, into his arms while posing for sweet snaps in front of the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle. The coupled donned matching blue Mickey Mouse sweatshirts and ears during the fun day out. Will captioned the loved-up snaps: 'No words can describe how much I love and adore this girl! I still can't believe that we are in Paris and going to Disneyland. 'This was honestly the most magical and best day ever, and so fortunate I get to spend it with Jessie. 'I can't wait for our next adventure': Love Island's Will Young and Jessie Wynter have sparked rumours they got engaged in Paris Smitten: The farmer, 23, lifted the Australian bombshell, 26, into his arms while posing for sweet snaps in front of the famous Sleeping Beauty Castle 'Travelling and spending all this time together just gets me so excited for the future and crazy to think we have only known each other for 4 months!! 'I can't wait for our next adventure, possibly going back to Jessie's home and creating even more memories.' Teasing future plans, Jessie said: 'Love you so damn much!! Exciting things to come.' Jessie surprised Will with a romantic trip to Paris for his birthday this week, with the two keeping fans updated on their adventure. Revealing the trip was all her idea, Jessie captioned the post: 'In the villa, I asked Will where he would like to travel and he said Paris. SO for his birthday his family and I surprised him with a trip to Paris. 'Paris was also on my bucket list but I didn't think I'd be going anytime soon or ticking it off with someone I'm so in love with. 'Who would have thought that a girl all the way from little Tasmania and a farmer from the country in the UK would be madly in love visiting Paris together. Love you, Will.' It comes after Jessie hit back at a wild rumour that her youngest sister is secretly her daughter. The reality star told Cosmopolitan UK the strangest gossip she has heard about herself, saying it was claimed her baby sister, two, is actually her child. Jessie said there was a rumour circulating that she had gone to Tasmania to secretly give birth two years ago. Shutting down the wild rumours, Jessie insisted that her youngest sister, whose name is not known, is definitely not her child. She told Cosmopolitan UK: 'The weirdest rumour I've heard about myself is that my baby sister who's two-years-old is my baby. 'There was a rumour that I moved back to Tasmania to give birth to the child and then pretended that it was my mum's, but it's my sister, I promise I haven't had a kid.' As well as her baby sister, Jessie - who is from Australia - also has another younger sister Rachel, 23, and a brother Brock. Will captioned the loved-up snaps: 'No words can describe how much I love and adore this girl! I still can't believe that we are in Paris and going to Disneyland.' Sweet: The coupled donned matching blue Mickey Mouse sweatshirts and ears during the fun day out He penned: 'I can't wait for our next adventure, possibly going back to Jessie's home and creating even more memories.' Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview, Jessie opened up about her relationship with farmer Will, 23, who she met on the 2023 winter series of Love Island. She said they plan to visit her family in Australia this year before moving into together as she gushed that they are having the 'greatest time'. 'We're looking at getting our own apartment, but we do want to go and visit my family in Australia first,' she revealed. Jessie is currently living on Will's family farm in Buckinghamshire and she also gave an insight into their daily routine, with Will getting up at 6am to work on the farm. She said she often sleeps until around 9am before helping Will's mother Jenny, 53, tidy the kitchen when she then heads out on to the farm herself. Jessie, who starred on Love Island Australia in 2019 before appearing on the UK version of the show this year, also candidly spoke about her struggles with anxiety. She admitted her anxiety almost stopped her from applying for Love Island, saying she 'freaked out' and felt like she couldn't to do it, before signing on to the show. It comes after Jessie revealed her and Will's next steps as she shared that she will be returning to Australia at the end of May , when her UK visa is set to expire. 'Will might be coming with me, which is really exciting, and then we're going to look at what other types of visas I can have when I get back over here,' she told the The Sun . 'I do see myself long-term in the UK, if Will doesn't enjoy Australia too much. Everyone I know from the UK has been saying Will's going to love Australia, so I'm concerned,' she joked. Jessie also admitted she misses her family in Australia, having not seen them since Christmas, but gushed that she has been welcomed by Will's loved ones. 'I feel if I hadn't gone back to the farm it might have been too overwhelming coming straight into a new country, the hustle and bustle,' she added. 'I know it's different. It's not the typical Love Island setting, but we're so happy with how it's worked out. Wild claims: Jessie Wynter has hit back at a wild rumour that her youngest sister is secretly her daughter 'There have been periods where I've felt so homesick, but Will and his family have been so comforting for me. I'd be lost without them, they're so lovely.' Their relationship has been going from strength-to-strength after leaving the Love Island villa in South Africa last month. The couple narrowly missed out on making it to the final and came in fifth place after they were voted out by their fellow Islanders. Watch the full Jessie Renee Wynter interview on the Cosmopolitan UK YouTube channel. Two women have gone viral on TikTok after approaching a man to ask him if he'd like to go on a date with them - but failed to realise he is a very famous British actor. YouTuber Ruby Hexx and her pal Ivy Fox were taking part in a popular TikTok trend where they asked strangers if they'd rather have $100 or go on a date with the pair of them. But the pair were clueless when they approached Love Actually and Maze Runner star Thomas Brodie-Sangster. In the video, the two girls run up to Thomas on the street with a microphone and ambush him with the question: 'Would you rather $100 or a date with us two.' He responded: 'Oh, I'm in a relationship, so I'd take the $100, no offence! Funny: Two women have gone viral on TikTok after approaching a man to ask him if he'd like to go on a date with them - but failed to realise he is a very famous British actor 'How do they not know who that is!': The pair were clueless when they approached Love Actually and Maze Runner star Thomas Brodie-Sangster Thomas is currently dating Elon Musk's ex wife Talulah Riley after meeting on the set of Disney's Pistol. As the girls walked away giggling, he called after them: 'But I'm also English so dollars are no use to me. So I'd have neither.' Bargaining with Thomas, one of the girls suggests 90? to which he replied: 'All right, 90 quid then.' One of the girls then realises she recognises him and asks: 'Just out of interest, are you an actor?' He replied: 'I am an actor' She then appeared to confuse him for actor Skandar Keynes as she quipped: 'Did you do The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?' Thomas politely told the girls: 'No. I went to the premiere but I wasn't in it.' After uploading the clip to TikTok it went viral as fans were shocked and flooded the comment section with films Thomas has appeared in. One wrote: 'How can you not know who that is' Another said: He's in loads of movies' A third quipped: 'The kid from Love Actually' Another pointed out: 'Swear that was the guy from Maze Runner' It comes after Brodie-Sangster recently made an appearance on ABC's Diane Sawyer special The Laughter & Secrets of Love Actually: 20 Years Later. Sawyer, 76, traveled to filming locations of the 2003 rom-com Love Actually in Brooklyn and London, to chat with the cast and writer-director Richard Curtis. In the video, the two girls run up to Thomas on the street with a microphone and ambush him with the question: 'Would you rather $100 or a date with us two' Surprised: After uploading the clip to TikTok it went viral as fans were shocked and flooded the comment section with films Thomas has appeared in During one of her stops in London, she chatted with Brodie-Sangster when their interview was cut short with an 'abrupt' visit by the police. Sawyer and Brodie-Sangster were sitting on the same London bench where he filmed an iconic scene with his on-screen stepfather Daniel (Liam Neeson). During their chat, a crew member approaches and tells them they have to leave because they 'don't have the proper permit and they're going to arrest us.' Brodie-Sangster called the interruption 'abrupt,' while Sawyer responded with a joke. 'Oh they are? Now we run,' Sawyer said with a laugh. Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A. (OTCMKTS:BPCGF Get Rating) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,335,800 shares, a decline of 29.3% from the March 31st total of 8,957,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Banco Comercial Portugues from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. Get Banco Comercial Portugues alerts: Banco Comercial Portugues Price Performance OTCMKTS:BPCGF remained flat at $0.22 on Friday. Banco Comercial Portugues has a 52-week low of $0.12 and a 52-week high of $0.23. The firms fifty day moving average price is $0.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.17. Banco Comercial Portugues Company Profile Banco Comercial Portugues SA engages in the provision of banking and financial services. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking; Companies, Corporate, and Investment Banking; Private Banking; Foreign Business; and Other. The Retail Banking segment consists of Retail Network of Millenium bcp (Portugal), retail recovery division, and Banco ActivoBank. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Banco Comercial Portugues Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Comercial Portugues and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. euro news, April 29, 2023 A group of Afghan women protested in Kabul on Saturday, defying a crackdown on dissent to urge foreign nations not to formally recognise the Taliban government ahead of a United Nations summit next week. Protesters opposing creeping curbs on womens rights have been beaten or detained since the Taliban surged back to power in 2021, and security forces have fired into the air to disperse some rallies. However, small groups of women have continued to stage sporadic gatherings. Around 25 women marched through a residential area of the city on Saturday ahead of the summit in Doha that the UN says will discuss a durable way forward for the country. Recognition of Taliban violation of womens rights, the women chanted during the march, which lasted no longer than 10 minutes and passed without confrontation with security forces. Other chants included Afghan people, hostages of Taliban and We will fight, we will die, we will take our rights. No nation has yet acknowledged the government as legitimate since the Taliban returned to power after the United States withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in 2021. A previous Taliban government that ruled from 1996 to 2001 was only granted formal recognition by three nations Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Diplomats, NGOs and aid agencies are deeply divided over the issue. Some believe the international community might cajole Taliban authorities into reversing curbs on womens rights by dangling the prospect of recognition. Others say even discussing it grants the Taliban government some legitimacy at a time when they are squeezing women out of public life. UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said last week the Doha meeting starting on Monday could see envoys discuss baby steps on a path to recognition, albeit with conditions. Earlier this month Mohammed had tweeted "Giving up on women's rights is simply not an option." Barry Callebaut AG (OTCMKTS:BYCBF Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 13,000 shares, a growth of 106.3% from the March 31st total of 6,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 130.0 days. Barry Callebaut Price Performance BYCBF remained flat at $2,080.00 during trading on Friday. Barry Callebaut has a 52 week low of $1,783.55 and a 52 week high of $2,304.00. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $2,090.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $2,011.08. Get Barry Callebaut alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms recently issued reports on BYCBF. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Barry Callebaut in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Barclays lowered Barry Callebaut from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,233.33. Barry Callebaut Company Profile Barry Callebaut AG engages in the manufacture and trade of cocoa, chocolate, and confectionery products. It distributes its products under the following brands: Barry Callebaut, Callebaut, Cacao Barry, Carma, Van Leer, Van Houten, Bensdorp, Delfi, Chadler, Caprimo, Le Royal, and Ogonblink. The company was founded by Klaus Johann Jacobs in December 13, 1994 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Barry Callebaut Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barry Callebaut and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Western Bank (OTCMKTS:CBWBF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,509,100 shares, a drop of 19.3% from the March 31st total of 1,870,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 15,091.0 days. Canadian Western Bank Price Performance OTCMKTS CBWBF traded up $0.42 on Friday, reaching $17.99. 100 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 789. Canadian Western Bank has a one year low of $15.70 and a one year high of $25.96. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $18.32 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $18.53. Get Canadian Western Bank alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$29.00 to C$28.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$36.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Desjardins raised their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$30.00 to C$29.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, TD Securities dropped their price target on shares of Canadian Western Bank from C$34.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Canadian Western Bank Company Profile Canadian Western Bank engages in the provision of business and personal banking; specialized financing; comprehensive wealth management offerings; and trust services. The firm focuses on providing business banking services for small- and medium-sized companies. The company was founded by Charles R. Allard and Eugene Pechet on March 22, 1984 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Western Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Western Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CEMEX (NYSE:CX Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report report published on Wednesday morning. Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of CEMEX from $5.20 to $5.90 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, CEMEX presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $4.93. Get CEMEX alerts: CEMEX Trading Up 1.9 % Shares of NYSE:CX opened at $6.00 on Wednesday. CEMEX has a 12 month low of $3.20 and a 12 month high of $6.09. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $5.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $4.75. The firm has a market cap of $8.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.17, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.42. Institutional Trading of CEMEX CEMEX ( NYSE:CX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 13th. The construction company reported ($0.12) EPS for the quarter. CEMEX had a return on equity of 5.09% and a net margin of 5.54%. The company had revenue of $3.87 billion for the quarter. As a group, research analysts forecast that CEMEX will post 0.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. bought a new stake in CEMEX in the 1st quarter valued at about $67,000. Employees Retirement System of Texas bought a new stake in CEMEX in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,700,000. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D bought a new stake in CEMEX in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,588,000. Thoroughbred Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in CEMEX in the 1st quarter valued at about $57,000. Finally, D Orazio & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in CEMEX in the 1st quarter valued at about $63,000. Institutional investors own 28.74% of the companys stock. About CEMEX (Get Rating) CEMEX SAB de CV operates as a global construction materials company. It offers cement, ready-mixconcrete, aggregates, and urbanization solutions. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Mexico, United States, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia (EMEAA) and South, Central America and the Caribbean (SCA&C). Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CEMEX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CEMEX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of America cut shares of Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao (NYSE:CBD Get Rating) from a buy rating to an underperform rating in a report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. They currently have $2.80 price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of $5.00. Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Get Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao alerts: Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao Stock Up 3.4 % CBD stock opened at $3.03 on Wednesday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao has a 1-year low of $2.54 and a 1-year high of $4.64. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CBD. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in shares of Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao by 24.2% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 94,451 shares of the companys stock worth $476,000 after buying an additional 18,403 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao by 199.9% during the first quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 725,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,657,000 after purchasing an additional 483,600 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its position in Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao by 46.6% during the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 497,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,508,000 after purchasing an additional 158,211 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its position in Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao by 16.7% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 282,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,425,000 after purchasing an additional 40,525 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao by 268.4% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 98,924 shares of the companys stock valued at $499,000 after purchasing an additional 72,075 shares during the last quarter. 5.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) Companhia Brasileira de Distribuicao engages in the retail of food, clothing, home appliances, and other products through its chain of hypermarkets and supermarkets. It operates through the Food Retail, and Cash and Carry segments. The Food Retail segment sells food and non-food products to individual consumers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Companhia Brasileira De Distribuicao and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.20-$0.24 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.21. The company issued revenue guidance of $130.00 million-$135.00 million, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $132.83 million. Core Laboratories Stock Performance Core Laboratories stock traded down $0.05 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $22.51. The stock had a trading volume of 379,043 shares, compared to its average volume of 293,352. Core Laboratories has a 12 month low of $13.19 and a 12 month high of $31.42. The firms 50-day moving average price is $22.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.05 billion, a PE ratio of 45.02, a P/E/G ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 2.66. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.90. Get Core Laboratories alerts: Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.19 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $127.57 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $130.12 million. Core Laboratories had a return on equity of 15.23% and a net margin of 4.72%. Core Laboratoriess revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.20 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Core Laboratories will post 0.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Core Laboratories Announces Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Monday, May 8th will be given a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 5th. This represents a $0.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.18%. Core Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 8.00%. A number of research firms recently issued reports on CLB. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Core Laboratories from $21.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Core Laboratories in a research report on Tuesday. They issued a hold rating for the company. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on Core Laboratories from $24.00 to $25.00 in a research note on Friday. Finally, Bank of America lowered Core Laboratories from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and set a $21.50 price objective on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Core Laboratories Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Core Laboratories by 1.2% in the first quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 39,608 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,253,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE grew its position in Core Laboratories by 15.3% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 5,945 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $188,000 after buying an additional 790 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in Core Laboratories by 185.7% in the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,903 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $60,000 after buying an additional 1,237 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in Core Laboratories by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 40,251 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,306,000 after buying an additional 1,251 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. boosted its position in shares of Core Laboratories by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 55,506 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $748,000 after purchasing an additional 1,505 shares in the last quarter. 97.44% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Core Laboratories (Get Rating) Core Laboratories NV engages in the provision of proprietary and patented reservoir description, production enhancement, and reservoir management services to the oil and gas industry. It operates through the Reservoir Description segment and Production Enhancement segment. The Reservoir Description segment encompasses the characterization of petroleum reservoir rock, fluid, and gas samples and provides analytical and field services to characterize properties of crude oil and petroleum products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Core Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Core Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SHIMAMURA Co., Ltd. (OTCMKTS:SHAOF Get Rating) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 14,400 shares, a decline of 46.3% from the March 31st total of 26,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently days. SHIMAMURA Stock Performance Shares of SHAOF remained flat at C$93.74 during mid-day trading on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$93.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$88.72. SHIMAMURA has a one year low of C$93.74 and a one year high of C$93.74. Get SHIMAMURA alerts: SHIMAMURA Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More SHIMAMURA Co, Ltd. operates stores in Japan and Taiwan. The company's stores provide clothing, fashion, food, and housing-related products. SHIMAMURA Co, Ltd. was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Saitama, Japan. Receive News & Ratings for SHIMAMURA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SHIMAMURA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shore Capital reissued their buy rating on shares of International Personal Finance (LON:IPF Get Rating) in a report issued on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. Separately, Peel Hunt reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a GBX 150 ($1.87) target price on shares of International Personal Finance in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Get International Personal Finance alerts: International Personal Finance Trading Down 2.0 % LON IPF opened at GBX 98 ($1.22) on Thursday. International Personal Finance has a fifty-two week low of GBX 62.77 ($0.78) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 117.44 ($1.47). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 128.08, a quick ratio of 3.69 and a current ratio of 3.19. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 100.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 86.68. The stock has a market cap of 219.30 million, a P/E ratio of 408.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.67. International Personal Finance Increases Dividend Insider Activity The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th will be paid a dividend of GBX 6.50 ($0.08) per share. This is an increase from International Personal Finances previous dividend of $2.70. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.77%. International Personal Finances dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 3,750.00%. In other International Personal Finance news, insider Katrina Cliffe bought 40,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of GBX 110 ($1.37) per share, for a total transaction of 44,000 ($54,951.92). In other news, insider Aileen Wallace acquired 21,443 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 101 ($1.26) per share, for a total transaction of 21,657.43 ($27,048.12). Also, insider Katrina Cliffe acquired 40,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 110 ($1.37) per share, with a total value of 44,000 ($54,951.92). Company insiders own 8.02% of the companys stock. International Personal Finance Company Profile (Get Rating) International Personal Finance plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides consumer credit in Europe and Mexico. The company offers home credit products, such as money transfer loans direct to bank account, cash and microbusiness loans, home, medical and life insurances, and repayments services. It also offers digital business services comprising of instalment loans and repayment schedules, credit line products, and mobile wallet payments. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for International Personal Finance Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Personal Finance and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund (NYSE:JPC Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 18,500 shares, a drop of 58.9% from the March 31st total of 45,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 376,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.0 days. Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Price Performance NYSE:JPC traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $6.41. The stock had a trading volume of 252,859 shares, compared to its average volume of 356,708. Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund has a twelve month low of $6.04 and a twelve month high of $8.45. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $6.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $7.18. Get Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund alerts: Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a $0.044 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $0.53 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.24%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Company Profile A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in JPC. Citigroup Inc. purchased a new position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund in the first quarter valued at about $29,000. Selway Asset Management purchased a new position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund in the third quarter valued at about $47,000. IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund by 117.0% in the first quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 7,185 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 3,874 shares in the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund in the first quarter valued at about $87,000. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new position in Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund in the first quarter valued at about $67,000. (Get Rating) Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC, Nuveen Asset Management, LLC, and NWQ Investment Management Company, LLC. It invests in the public equity and fixed income markets of the United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen Preferred & Income Opportunities Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SoftBank Group Corp. (OTCMKTS:SFTBF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,073,700 shares, an increase of 40.1% from the March 31st total of 1,479,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 13,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 149.2 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On SoftBank Group A hedge fund recently bought a new stake in SoftBank Group stock. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of SoftBank Group Corp. (OTCMKTS:SFTBF Get Rating) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 3,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $102,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 25.02% of the companys stock. Get SoftBank Group alerts: SoftBank Group Price Performance Shares of SFTBF stock remained flat at $37.02 during trading hours on Friday. 4 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,289. SoftBank Group has a twelve month low of $33.54 and a twelve month high of $49.52. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $39.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $42.16. About SoftBank Group SoftBank Group Corp. operates as a holding company which engages in the management of its group companies. It operates through the following segments: SoftBank Vision Fund, SoftBank, Arm, Brightstar, and Others. The SoftBank Vision Fund segment engages in the investment business. The SoftBank segment provides mobile communication, broadband, and telecom services in Japan. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for SoftBank Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SoftBank Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Rating) will release its earnings data after the market closes on Monday, May 1st. Analysts expect Sonoco Products to post earnings of $1.25 per share for the quarter. Parties interested in registering for the companys conference call can do so using this link. Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The industrial products company reported $1.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.25 by $0.02. Sonoco Products had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 32.53%. The company had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.90 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 16.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect Sonoco Products to post $6 EPS for the current fiscal year and $6 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Sonoco Products alerts: Sonoco Products Trading Up 1.5 % NYSE SON opened at $60.62 on Friday. Sonoco Products has a one year low of $51.52 and a one year high of $65.96. The companys 50 day moving average price is $59.20 and its 200 day moving average price is $59.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.84, a PEG ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.71. Sonoco Products Increases Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, May 10th will be given a $0.51 dividend. This is an increase from Sonoco Productss previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 9th. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.37%. Sonoco Productss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 41.53%. A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Sonoco Products in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Seaport Res Ptn upgraded shares of Sonoco Products from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Citigroup dropped their price target on shares of Sonoco Products from $71.00 to $69.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 13th. Bank of America boosted their price target on shares of Sonoco Products from $76.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Sonoco Products from $61.00 to $57.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $66.17. Insider Activity In other news, insider Ernest D. Haynes III sold 1,093 shares of Sonoco Products stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.11, for a total transaction of $66,793.23. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Sonoco Products news, insider Ernest D. Haynes III sold 1,834 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $110,040.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,729 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $103,740. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Ernest D. Haynes III sold 1,093 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.11, for a total value of $66,793.23. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 3,458 shares of company stock valued at $207,291 over the last 90 days. 0.51% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Sonoco Products A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SON. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Sonoco Products by 12.2% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 65,349 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,088,000 after purchasing an additional 7,130 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Sonoco Products by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,286 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $894,000 after purchasing an additional 1,087 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its position in Sonoco Products by 22.6% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 23,239 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,454,000 after acquiring an additional 4,281 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its position in Sonoco Products by 164.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 43,701 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,744,000 after acquiring an additional 27,157 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers raised its stake in Sonoco Products by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 274,058 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $17,145,000 after buying an additional 3,941 shares during the last quarter. 76.43% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Sonoco Products Company Profile (Get Rating) Sonoco Products Co engages in the manufacture of industrial and consumer packaging products and services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Packaging, Paper and Industrial Converted Products, Protective Solutions, and Display and Packaging. The Consumer Packaging segment offers round and shaped rigid containers, fiber and plastic caulk and adhesive tubes, and aluminum, steel, and peelable membrane easy-open closures for paper and metal cans. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Sonoco Products Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sonoco Products and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Tejon Ranch Co. (NYSE:TRC Get Rating) was the target of a large drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 192,400 shares, a drop of 20.5% from the March 31st total of 241,900 shares. Approximately 0.8% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 41,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.6 days. Tejon Ranch Stock Performance TRC traded up $0.06 during trading on Friday, hitting $17.28. 22,903 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 35,150. The firm has a market capitalization of $461.57 million, a P/E ratio of 29.79 and a beta of 0.70. Tejon Ranch has a 1-year low of $14.31 and a 1-year high of $20.65. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $18.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $18.45. The company has a quick ratio of 6.62, a current ratio of 6.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10. Get Tejon Ranch alerts: Tejon Ranch (NYSE:TRC Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 8th. The real estate development and agribusiness company reported $0.07 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.01 by $0.06. Tejon Ranch had a net margin of 19.95% and a return on equity of 3.36%. The business had revenue of $17.45 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $12.04 million. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Tejon Ranch will post 0.55 earnings per share for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insider Activity Separately, StockNews.com lowered Tejon Ranch from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Wednesday. In other Tejon Ranch news, major shareholder Towerview Llc acquired 11,329 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $17.00 per share, with a total value of $192,593.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 3,826,329 shares in the company, valued at approximately $65,047,593. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 21.68% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Tejon Ranch A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in TRC. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL lifted its holdings in shares of Tejon Ranch by 1.2% during the third quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 627,324 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock worth $9,033,000 after purchasing an additional 7,301 shares during the period. Santa Monica Partners LP boosted its holdings in Tejon Ranch by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Santa Monica Partners LP now owns 175,701 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock valued at $2,530,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Tejon Ranch by 29.8% in the 3rd quarter. Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC now owns 986,573 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock valued at $14,207,000 after purchasing an additional 226,779 shares in the last quarter. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Tejon Ranch in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Swiss National Bank grew its stake in shares of Tejon Ranch by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 51,180 shares of the real estate development and agribusiness companys stock worth $964,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the period. 60.65% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Tejon Ranch (Get Rating) Tejon Ranch Co engages in real estate development and agribusiness. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate-Commercial and Industrial, Real Estate-Resort and Residential, Mineral Resources, Farming, and Ranch Operations. The Real Estate-Commercial and Industrial segments activities include: the entitling, planning, and permitting of land for development, the construction of infrastructure, the construction of pre-leased buildings, the construction of buildings to be leased or sold, and the sale of land to third parties for their own development. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tejon Ranch Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tejon Ranch and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd lessened its position in AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU Get Rating) by 74.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 52,673 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 152,696 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltds holdings in AngloGold Ashanti were worth $1,023,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Balyasny Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 214.4% in the third quarter. Balyasny Asset Management LLC now owns 1,651,582 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $22,825,000 after buying an additional 1,126,297 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 120.8% during the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,687,400 shares of the mining companys stock worth $23,320,000 after purchasing an additional 923,200 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI acquired a new position in shares of AngloGold Ashanti during the 4th quarter worth $14,719,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its stake in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 159.4% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,187,190 shares of the mining companys stock worth $17,559,000 after purchasing an additional 729,600 shares during the period. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its holdings in shares of AngloGold Ashanti by 51.6% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 2,050,334 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $48,572,000 after purchasing an additional 697,908 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 24.90% of the companys stock. Get AngloGold Ashanti alerts: AngloGold Ashanti Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of AU opened at $26.58 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 2.50 and a quick ratio of 1.60. AngloGold Ashanti Limited has a 1-year low of $11.94 and a 1-year high of $28.13. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $22.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $19.72. AngloGold Ashanti Cuts Dividend Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 17th were issued a $0.177 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.4%. AU has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of AngloGold Ashanti from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. HSBC cut AngloGold Ashanti from a buy rating to a reduce rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price objective on AngloGold Ashanti from $20.00 to $27.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Investec lowered AngloGold Ashanti from a buy rating to a sell rating in a report on Monday, April 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upgraded AngloGold Ashanti from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $27.00. About AngloGold Ashanti (Get Rating) AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. engages in the exploration, mining, and production of gold. It operates through the following business segments: Africa, Australia, and Americas. The Africa segment consists of Ghana, Guinea, the DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo), and Tanzania. The Americas segment comprises of Argentina, Brazil, and projects in Colombia and the United States. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AngloGold Ashanti Limited (NYSE:AU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AngloGold Ashanti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AngloGold Ashanti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 2.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 16,670,455 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 379,356 shares during the quarter. Bank of America accounts for about 2.5% of Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 5th biggest holding. Diamond Hill Capital Management Inc. owned about 0.21% of Bank of America worth $552,125,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Bank of America by 70.5% during the 3rd quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 91,399 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,760,000 after buying an additional 37,794 shares during the last quarter. Vista Wealth Management Group LLC increased its position in shares of Bank of America by 1.7% during the third quarter. Vista Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 22,879 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $802,000 after purchasing an additional 393 shares in the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Bank of America by 18.8% in the 3rd quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 221,443 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $6,690,000 after purchasing an additional 35,107 shares during the last quarter. Cyndeo Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter valued at about $641,000. Finally, Plimoth Trust Co. LLC grew its stake in Bank of America by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Plimoth Trust Co. LLC now owns 82,856 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $2,744,000 after buying an additional 5,432 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock. Get Bank of America alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have commented on the company. Atlantic Securities lowered Bank of America from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and set a $40.00 price target on the stock. in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Odeon Capital Group lowered Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $35.20 price target on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Bank of America from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Piper Sandler lowered Bank of America from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and cut their price target for the stock from $36.00 to $33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on Bank of America from $43.00 to $41.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of America has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.83. Bank of America Trading Up 1.3 % Shares of BAC stock opened at $29.28 on Friday. Bank of America Co. has a fifty-two week low of $26.32 and a fifty-two week high of $38.75. The stock has a market cap of $234.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.36. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $30.11 and a 200-day simple moving average of $33.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.94 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.83 by $0.11. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 21.85%. The business had revenue of $26.26 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $25.28 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.80 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that Bank of America Co. will post 3.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Bank of America Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.01%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.43%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 214,745 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total transaction of $7,711,492.95. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,711,564.77. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the sale, the insider now owns 319,803 shares in the company, valued at $10,959,648.81. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Bank of America Company Profile (Get Rating) Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boston Family Office LLC reduced its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Rating) by 3.8% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 53,088 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,111 shares during the period. Boston Family Office LLCs holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. were worth $5,890,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MRK. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Merck & Co., Inc. by 41.5% in the 4th quarter. Tradewinds Capital Management LLC now owns 317 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 93 shares during the last quarter. Mcrae Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Mcrae Capital Management Inc. now owns 9,524 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,057,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advantage Inc. raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advantage Inc. now owns 14,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,592,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Arbor Trust Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 5,106 shares of the companys stock valued at $570,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Advisors Network Inc. raised its stake in Merck & Co., Inc. by 1.8% during the 4th quarter. Financial Advisors Network Inc. now owns 5,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $629,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 72.89% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Merck & Co. Inc. alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Mizuho restated a buy rating and issued a $130.00 price objective on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Guggenheim upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $123.00 to $124.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a report on Monday, March 6th. They issued a buy rating and a $125.00 target price for the company. Atlantic Securities upped their target price on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from $122.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Merck & Co., Inc. from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $110.00 to $130.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Merck & Co., Inc. currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.65. Insider Buying and Selling at Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. Trading Up 0.3 % In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,436 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.25, for a total value of $462,453.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 39,900 shares in the company, valued at $4,159,575. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink . In other Merck & Co., Inc. news, CEO Robert M. Davis sold 143,329 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.93, for a total value of $16,472,801.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 271,817 shares of the companys stock, valued at $31,239,927.81. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, EVP Steven Mizell sold 4,436 shares of Merck & Co., Inc. stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.25, for a total transaction of $462,453.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 39,900 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,159,575. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders sold a total of 293,635 shares of company stock worth $33,635,080 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE:MRK traded up $0.31 during trading on Friday, reaching $115.47. 8,050,414 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,009,422. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.47 and a quick ratio of 1.23. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $109.81 and its 200-day simple moving average is $107.26. Merck & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $83.05 and a 12-month high of $116.86. The firm has a market capitalization of $293.13 billion, a PE ratio of 22.55, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.34. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.34 by $0.06. Merck & Co., Inc. had a net margin of 22.52% and a return on equity of 38.40%. The firm had revenue of $14.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.81 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $2.14 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Merck & Co., Inc. will post 6.96 EPS for the current year. About Merck & Co., Inc. (Get Rating) Merck & Co, Inc is a health care company, which engages in the provision of health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceutical, Animal Health, and Other. The Pharmaceutical segment includes human health pharmaceutical and vaccine products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MRK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Merck & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price target raised by Evercore ISI from $2,000.00 to $2,100.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. CMG has been the subject of a number of other reports. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,100.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,750.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. TD Cowen reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $2,050.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,600.00 to $1,800.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,021.37. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 1.5 % CMG stock opened at $2,067.62 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $1,660.54 and a 200-day moving average of $1,567.73. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12-month low of $1,196.28 and a 12-month high of $2,071.00. The company has a market cap of $57.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.93, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.32. Insider Buying and Selling Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.34 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $5.70 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 43.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,448,306.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other Chipotle Mexican Grill news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,448,306.54. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, 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 transaction of $1,818,335.00. Following the completion of the sale, 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. In the last three months, insiders sold 12,724 shares of company stock valued at $21,674,555. Company insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 4.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,620,725 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $3,938,320,000 after acquiring an additional 114,699 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 1.2% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,966,428 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $2,955,068,000 after acquiring an additional 23,107 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,058,549 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,590,745,000 after purchasing an additional 5,450 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.7% in 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 during the last quarter. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.7% in 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 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. 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. Edge Capital Group LLC cut its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Get Rating) by 29.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 551,561 shares of the companys stock after selling 225,560 shares during the period. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF comprises approximately 1.8% of Edge Capital Group LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Edge Capital Group LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $25,758,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Lansing Street Advisors boosted its position in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 406.3% during the 4th quarter. Lansing Street Advisors now owns 109,655 shares of the companys stock worth $5,121,000 after buying an additional 87,995 shares during the period. Rollins Financial raised its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 47.2% during the 4th quarter. Rollins Financial now owns 7,363 shares of the companys stock worth $344,000 after purchasing an additional 2,362 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 0.3% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 109,449 shares of the companys stock worth $5,111,000 after purchasing an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. bought a new position in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF during the 4th quarter worth approximately $219,000. Finally, Eldridge Investment Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 74.0% during the 4th quarter. Eldridge Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 13,889 shares of the companys stock worth $649,000 after purchasing an additional 5,907 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Up 0.5 % iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF stock traded up $0.24 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $48.58. 9,728,877 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,775,403. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 12 month low of $41.44 and a 12 month high of $53.26. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $48.19 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $47.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $69.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.75. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Profile 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IEMG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Get Rating). 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. Greencoat UK Wind PLC (LON:UKW Get Rating) declared a dividend on Friday, April 28th, Upcoming.Co.Uk reports. Investors of record on Thursday, May 11th will be paid a dividend of GBX 2.19 ($0.03) per share on Friday, May 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.39%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. This is a positive change from Greencoat UK Winds previous dividend of $1.93. The official announcement can be accessed at this link. Greencoat UK Wind Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of LON UKW opened at GBX 157.40 ($1.97) on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 28.40, a quick ratio of 14.31 and a current ratio of 0.14. Greencoat UK Wind has a 52 week low of GBX 130.40 ($1.63) and a 52 week high of GBX 168.50 ($2.10). The stock has a market capitalization of 3.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 383.90 and a beta of 0.20. The stocks fifty day moving average is GBX 157.65 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 154.59. Get Greencoat UK Wind alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Shonaid Jemmett-Page purchased 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 159 ($1.99) per share, for a total transaction of 19,875 ($24,822.03). 0.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Greencoat UK Wind Company Profile Greencoat UK Wind PLC specializes in renewables infrastructure investments in energy, wind generation assets and onshore and offshore wind farm projects with a capacity of over 10 megawatt. For offshore wind farms, the fund seeks to invest 40% of the Gross Asset Value at acquisition and where a utility company retains an equity interest for a lock-up period. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Greencoat UK Wind Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greencoat UK Wind and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in shares of United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) by 6.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 232,840 shares of the transportation companys stock after buying an additional 14,461 shares during the quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in United Parcel Service were worth $40,477,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). 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 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 buying an additional 601,166 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in 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 buying an additional 54,401 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in United Parcel Service by 2.3% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,163,287 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $892,858,000 after buying an additional 93,463 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,103,236 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $501,354,000 after acquiring an additional 82,716 shares during the period. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System lifted its position in United Parcel Service by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 2,653,108 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $428,583,000 after acquiring an additional 179,296 shares during the period. 58.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get United Parcel Service alerts: Insider Activity at United Parcel Service In related news, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 20,724 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.26, for a total value of $3,777,156.24. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Brian Newman sold 19,000 shares of the firms 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 completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 11,677 shares in the company, valued at $2,130,585.42. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Norman M. Brothers, Jr. sold 20,724 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $182.26, for a total value of $3,777,156.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 54,341 shares of company stock worth $9,848,061. Insiders own 0.12% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes United Parcel Service Price Performance A number of analysts have commented on UPS shares. StockNews.com cut United Parcel Service from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on United Parcel Service from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Melius started coverage on United Parcel Service in a research report on Monday, March 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $225.00 price target for the company. Wolfe Research raised United Parcel Service from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Loop Capital decreased their price objective on United Parcel Service from $219.00 to $212.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, fourteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, United Parcel Service currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $193.58. NYSE:UPS opened at $179.81 on Friday. United Parcel Service, Inc. has a 12 month low of $154.87 and a 12 month high of $209.39. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $186.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $180.54. The company has a current ratio of 1.34, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. The firm has a market cap of $154.41 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.62 and a beta of 1.09. United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.19 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $22.93 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.98 billion. United Parcel Service had a return on equity of 57.68% and a net margin of 10.90%. The businesss revenue was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.05 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that United Parcel Service, Inc. will post 10.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. United Parcel Service declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, January 31st that permits the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the transportation company to purchase up to 3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically an indication that the companys leadership believes its stock is undervalued. United Parcel Service Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 21st were issued a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 17th. This is a boost from United Parcel Services previous quarterly dividend of $1.52. This represents a $6.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.60%. United Parcel Services dividend payout ratio is currently 52.43%. United Parcel Service Company 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 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. Horan Capital Advisors LLC. reduced its holdings in shares of AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,929 shares of the companys stock after selling 255 shares during the period. Horan Capital Advisors LLC.s holdings in AbbVie were worth $2,898,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABBV. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of AbbVie by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 156,022,414 shares of the companys stock worth $20,939,769,000 after purchasing an additional 2,442,663 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of AbbVie by 0.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 77,486,317 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,399,439,000 after acquiring an additional 366,695 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of AbbVie by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,904,988 shares of the companys stock worth $1,443,588,000 after acquiring an additional 176,026 shares in the last quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System grew its position in AbbVie by 11.1% during the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 6,340,454 shares of the companys stock worth $850,952,000 after acquiring an additional 631,064 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boston Partners increased its holdings in AbbVie by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 6,150,074 shares of the companys stock valued at $827,315,000 after purchasing an additional 174,102 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.71% of the companys stock. Get AbbVie alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays raised their target price on AbbVie from $155.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of AbbVie from $169.00 to $167.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 6th. SVB Leerink raised shares of AbbVie from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their price target for the company from $135.00 to $153.00 in a research note on Friday, February 10th. StockNews.com raised AbbVie from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Finally, Atlantic Securities lowered their target price on AbbVie from $157.00 to $154.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AbbVie currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $162.56. AbbVie Trading Up 1.5 % Shares of ABBV stock traded up $2.25 on Friday, hitting $151.12. The stock had a trading volume of 7,123,969 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,881,684. The firm has a market cap of $266.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.73, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 0.58. AbbVie Inc. has a twelve month low of $134.09 and a twelve month high of $168.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $156.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $154.93. AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $2.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.02. AbbVie had a return on equity of 147.43% and a net margin of 13.37%. The company had revenue of $12.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.23 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $3.16 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 9.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that AbbVie Inc. will post 10.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AbbVie Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a $1.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $5.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.92%. AbbVies dividend payout ratio is currently 139.95%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, EVP Azita Saleki-Gerhardt sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.53, for a total value of $3,738,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 233,208 shares in the company, valued at $34,871,592.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Carrie C. Strom sold 28,541 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.04, for a total value of $4,310,832.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 37,921 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,727,587.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Azita Saleki-Gerhardt sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $149.53, for a total value of $3,738,250.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 233,208 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,871,592.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 191,897 shares of company stock valued at $29,455,233. Company insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. AbbVie Company Profile (Get Rating) AbbVie, Inc is a research-based biopharmaceutical company, which engages in the development and sale of pharmaceutical products. It focuses on treating conditions such as chronic autoimmune diseases in rheumatology, gastroenterology, and dermatology, oncology, including blood cancers, virology, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), neurological disorders, such as Parkinsons, metabolic, comprising thyroid disease and complications associated with cystic fibrosis, pain associated with endometriosis, and other serious health conditions. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABBV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AbbVie Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AbbVie and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB Get Rating) had its target price hoisted by Barclays from $131.00 to $140.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Kimberly-Clark from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 24th. Berenberg Bank upped their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $132.00 to $144.00 in a report on Wednesday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Kimberly-Clark from a sell rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the company from $122.00 to $123.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Kimberly-Clark from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their price objective for the company from $137.00 to $139.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Kimberly-Clark from $134.00 to $138.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $134.45. Get Kimberly-Clark alerts: Kimberly-Clark Stock Performance Shares of Kimberly-Clark stock opened at $144.89 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $48.88 billion, a PE ratio of 24.81, a P/E/G ratio of 3.36 and a beta of 0.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 9.23, a quick ratio of 0.47 and a current ratio of 0.82. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $131.88 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $130.91. Kimberly-Clark has a one year low of $108.74 and a one year high of $147.87. Kimberly-Clark Announces Dividend Kimberly-Clark ( NYSE:KMB Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $1.67 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.32 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $5.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.06 billion. Kimberly-Clark had a net margin of 9.75% and a return on equity of 279.42%. The firms revenue was up 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.35 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Kimberly-Clark will post 6.21 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of $1.18 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. This represents a $4.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.26%. Kimberly-Clarks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 80.82%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,434 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total transaction of $495,388.84. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 17,229 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,485,455.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Kimberly-Clark news, CEO Michael D. Hsu sold 46,508 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.28, for a total value of $6,710,174.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 111,668 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,111,459.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Tristram Wilkinson sold 3,434 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total value of $495,388.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 17,229 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,485,455.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 57,912 shares of company stock worth $8,362,169 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 1,475.0% during the 4th quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 189 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares during the period. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Affiance Financial LLC purchased a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. Retirement Financial Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Kimberly-Clark during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kimberly-Clark by 221.5% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 389 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 74.16% of the companys stock. About Kimberly-Clark (Get Rating) Kimberly-Clark Corp. engages in the manufacture and marketing of products made from natural or synthetic fibers. It operates through the following segments: Personal Care, Consumer Tissue, and K-C Professional. The Personal Care segment offers disposable diapers, training and youth pants, swim pants, baby wipes, feminine and incontinence care products, and other related products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kimberly-Clark Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimberly-Clark and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC Get Rating) (NYSE:MFC) has received an average recommendation of Hold from the twelve research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1 year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$27.55. Several analysts have issued reports on MFC shares. Barclays lifted their price target on Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$31.00 in a research note on Monday, February 27th. CIBC lifted their target price on Manulife Financial from C$23.00 to C$27.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. National Bankshares upped their price target on Manulife Financial from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. CSFB lifted their price objective on shares of Manulife Financial from C$27.00 to C$28.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Cormark increased their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$25.00 to C$27.00 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Manulife Financial Stock Up 1.3 % Shares of Manulife Financial stock opened at C$26.75 on Friday. Manulife Financial has a 1 year low of C$20.81 and a 1 year high of C$27.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.99, a current ratio of 4.70 and a quick ratio of 2.58. The company has a market capitalization of C$49.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.96 and a beta of 1.12. The business has a 50-day moving average of C$25.73 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$24.73. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend Manulife Financial ( TSE:MFC Get Rating ) (NYSE:MFC) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The financial services provider reported C$0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.81 by C$0.07. The firm had revenue of C$15.40 billion for the quarter. Manulife Financial had a net margin of 47.00% and a return on equity of 12.46%. As a group, equities analysts predict that Manulife Financial will post 3.4383033 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.365 dividend. This is a boost from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. This represents a $1.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is currently 39.67%. Insider Transactions at Manulife Financial In other news, Director Marianne Harrison sold 36,995 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$26.78, for a total transaction of C$990,607.72. In related news, Director Marianne Harrison sold 36,995 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$26.78, for a total value of C$990,607.72. Also, Director Donald Richard Lindsay purchased 50,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$26.64 per share, for a total transaction of C$1,332,005.00. Corporate insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. About Manulife Financial (Get Rating) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in Dollar General Co. (NYSE:DG Get Rating) by 10.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 161,469 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 15,047 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd.s holdings in Dollar General were worth $39,838,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its holdings in Dollar General by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 17,769 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,262,000 after buying an additional 789 shares during the last quarter. Toroso Investments LLC increased its position in Dollar General by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 10,874 shares of the companys stock worth $2,607,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. raised its stake in Dollar General by 27.5% in the 4th quarter. Wesbanco Bank Inc. now owns 1,568 shares of the companys stock valued at $386,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Dollar General by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. NorthRock Partners LLC now owns 1,562 shares of the companys stock valued at $385,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Dollar General by 6.3% during the 3rd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 54,387 shares of the companys stock worth $13,045,000 after purchasing an additional 3,217 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.73% of the companys stock. Get Dollar General alerts: Dollar General Price Performance DG opened at $221.46 on Friday. Dollar General Co. has a 52-week low of $183.25 and a 52-week high of $261.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $215.17 and a two-hundred day moving average of $233.18. The company has a market cap of $48.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.33. The company has a quick ratio of 0.14, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. Dollar General Increases Dividend Dollar General ( NYSE:DG Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 16th. The company reported $2.96 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.94 by $0.02. Dollar General had a net margin of 6.38% and a return on equity of 40.63%. The business had revenue of $10.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.24 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $2.57 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Dollar General Co. will post 11.19 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 11th were issued a dividend of $0.59 per share. This is an increase from Dollar Generals previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, April 10th. Dollar Generals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.10%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In DG has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Dollar General from $255.00 to $235.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 24th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Dollar General in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Dollar General from $255.00 to $230.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an outperform rating and issued a $242.00 price target on shares of Dollar General in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Dollar General from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $250.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Dollar General currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $248.82. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, Director Timothy I. Mcguire acquired 3,550 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The stock was bought at an average price of $202.00 per share, with a total value of $717,100.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 11,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,243,008. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.73% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Dollar General Profile (Get Rating) Dollar General Corp. engages in the operation of merchandise stores. Its offerings include food, snacks, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares, and seasonal items. It sells brands including Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kelloggs, General Mills, and PepsiCo The company was founded by J. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding DG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Dollar General Co. (NYSE:DG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Dollar General Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dollar General and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB Get Rating) updated its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.52-$0.57 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.62. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Truist Financial cut their price target on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $15.00 to $16.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $15.25 to $15.50 in a report on Thursday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $17.70. Get Pebblebrook Hotel Trust alerts: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Trading Up 2.4 % Shares of PEB traded up $0.33 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $14.23. 1,882,240 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,325,753. The company has a current ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $14.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $14.82. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has a 52-week low of $12.37 and a 52-week high of $26.01. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Dividend Announcement Pebblebrook Hotel Trust ( NYSE:PEB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 21st. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.34) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by ($0.52). Pebblebrook Hotel Trust had a negative return on equity of 0.34% and a negative net margin of 0.73%. The business had revenue of $319.61 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $309.55 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.06 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 29.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Pebblebrook Hotel Trust will post 1.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.01 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.28%. Pebblebrook Hotel Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -10.26%. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, CEO Jon E. Bortz bought 14,865 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $14.93 per share, for a total transaction of $221,934.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,039,967 shares in the company, valued at $15,526,707.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CEO Jon E. Bortz bought 11,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $12.95 per share, for a total transaction of $142,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,122,102 shares in the company, valued at $14,531,220.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Jon E. Bortz bought 14,865 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $14.93 per share, for a total transaction of $221,934.45. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,039,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,526,707.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have bought 39,865 shares of company stock worth $555,064. 2.40% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pebblebrook Hotel Trust A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PEB. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 48,151 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,179,000 after buying an additional 4,591 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 176,918 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,475,000 after buying an additional 6,388 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,551,178 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $478,613,000 after buying an additional 226,216 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 5.5% during the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 30,800 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $754,000 after buying an additional 1,607 shares during the period. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $237,000. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Pebblebrook Hotel Trust is a real estate investment trust, engages in investments and acquisitions in hotel properties. Its hotels are located in markets like Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Key West, Miami and Naples, Florida, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, California, Nashville, Tennessee, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. S&CO Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Get Rating) by 0.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 40,712 shares of the medical research companys stock after selling 20 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises 2.0% of S&CO Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. S&CO Inc.s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $22,419,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA now owns 31,116 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $17,135,000 after buying an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 36.3% during the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 5,583 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,075,000 after buying an additional 1,486 shares in the last quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 6,417 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $3,534,000 after buying an additional 580 shares in the last quarter. Western Financial Corp CA purchased a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $627,000. Finally, Sepio Capital LP grew its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 4.5% during the 3rd quarter. Sepio Capital LP now owns 787 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $399,000 after buying an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.92% of the companys stock. Get Thermo Fisher Scientific alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total transaction of $4,083,675.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 66,655 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,292,980.95. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 20,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $569.18, for a total transaction of $11,383,600.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 128,705 shares in the company, valued at approximately $73,256,311.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $544.49, for a total value of $4,083,675.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 66,655 shares in the company, valued at approximately $36,292,980.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 30,100 shares of company stock worth $16,966,971 in the last ninety days. 0.43% of the stock is owned by insiders. Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 2.2 % TMO opened at $554.90 on Friday. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 12 month low of $475.77 and a 12 month high of $611.06. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $560.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $551.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $214.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 36.17, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.79. Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $5.03 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $5.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 19.16% and a net margin of 13.75%. The firm had revenue of $10.71 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $7.25 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.25%. This is an increase from Thermo Fisher Scientifics previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. Thermo Fisher Scientifics payout ratio is 9.13%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TMO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $670.00 to $620.00 in a report on Thursday. Barclays dropped their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $610.00 in a report on Thursday. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $700.00 to $650.00 in a report on Thursday. Evercore ISI dropped their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $615.00 to $610.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, SVB Leerink lifted their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $620.00 to $630.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $627.91. About Thermo Fisher Scientific (Get Rating) Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc engages in the provision of analytical instruments, equipment, reagents and consumables, software, and services for research, analysis, discovery, and diagnostics. It operates through the following segments: Life Sciences Solutions, Analytical Instruments, Specialty Diagnostics, and Laboratory Products and Services. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TMO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermo Fisher Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. S&CO Inc. lessened its holdings in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Get Rating) by 4.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 71,428 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,575 shares during the quarter. S&CO Inc.s holdings in Citigroup were worth $3,230,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of C. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. bought a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Arlington Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Annapolis Financial Services LLC boosted its stake in Citigroup by 59.0% during the 3rd quarter. Annapolis Financial Services LLC now owns 935 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 347 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.90% of the companys stock. Get Citigroup alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In C has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. TheStreet raised shares of Citigroup from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Oppenheimer lifted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $62.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective 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. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Citigroup currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $54.74. Citigroup Price Performance NYSE C opened at $47.07 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $91.49 billion, a PE ratio of 6.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.57. The firms 50 day moving average is $47.77 and its 200-day moving average is $47.55. Citigroup Inc. has a 12-month low of $40.01 and a 12-month high of $54.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 14th. The company reported $2.19 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.53. The business had revenue of $21.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.07 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 7.84% and a net margin of 12.96%. Citigroups revenue for the quarter was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.02 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Citigroup Inc. will post 6.05 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Citigroup Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.33%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.45%. Insider Activity at Citigroup In related news, insider Zdenek Turek sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.87, for a total value of $598,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 155,979 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,778,672.73. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Michael Whitaker sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total value of $645,375.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 239,429 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,361,719.27. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Zdenek Turek sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.87, for a total transaction of $598,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 155,979 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,778,672.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 39,353 shares of company stock valued at $2,001,830 over the last quarter. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Citigroup (Get Rating) Citigroup, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Corporate and Other. The Global Consumer Banking segment provides traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, including commercial banking, and Citi-branded cards and Citi retail services. Featured Articles 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. NS Solutions Co. (OTCMKTS:NSSXF Get Rating) saw a significant decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 35,300 shares, a decrease of 18.9% from the March 31st total of 43,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently days. NS Solutions Price Performance Shares of NS Solutions stock remained flat at $28.21 during trading on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $28.21 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.21. NS Solutions has a 1 year low of $24.85 and a 1 year high of $28.21. Get NS Solutions alerts: About NS Solutions (Get Rating) Featured Stories NS Solutions Corporation provides information technology solutions in Japan and internationally. The company offers business and information system consultation services; and plans, designs, develops, implements, operates, and maintains information systems. It also develops, manufactures, and sells software and hardware; and provides outsourcing services using information technology. Receive News & Ratings for NS Solutions Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NS Solutions and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC reduced its position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:MDY Get Rating) by 11.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,666 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 223 shares during the quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLCs holdings in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust were worth $743,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in MDY. Coco Enterprises LLC purchased a new position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust in the 3rd quarter worth $3,965,000. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 116.0% in the 4th quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 83,583 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $37,010,000 after buying an additional 44,895 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 7.7% in the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 511,015 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $227,351,000 after buying an additional 36,750 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 97.9% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 67,337 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $33,026,000 after purchasing an additional 33,318 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James & Associates raised its position in SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust by 9.5% in the third quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 383,277 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $153,955,000 after purchasing an additional 33,124 shares during the period. Get SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust alerts: SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust Price Performance NYSEARCA:MDY opened at $454.75 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $456.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $455.91. SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust has a 12 month low of $398.11 and a 12 month high of $499.48. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.74 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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for SPDR S&P MidCap 400 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:MDY Get Rating). 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. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ternium (NYSE:TX Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Wednesday morning. Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Bank of America upgraded Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $38.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley upgraded Ternium from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the company from $34.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Monday, March 6th. HSBC raised their price target on Ternium from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Ternium in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Finally, Itau BBA Securities downgraded Ternium from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and raised their price target for the stock from $40.00 to $49.00 in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $46.43. Get Ternium alerts: Ternium Stock Performance Shares of Ternium stock opened at $43.35 on Wednesday. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $41.45 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.78. Ternium has a 12 month low of $26.01 and a 12 month high of $47.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 2.42 and a current ratio of 4.00. Ternium Announces Dividend Ternium ( NYSE:TX Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The basic materials company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.93. Ternium had a return on equity of 9.84% and a net margin of 8.68%. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.95 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 15.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Ternium will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be issued a dividend of $1.80 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 6.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. Terniums dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 25.86%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ternium Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ternium by 793.8% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 715 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 635 shares during the period. Sound Income Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ternium during the first quarter worth about $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ternium during the first quarter worth about $37,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Ternium by 100.0% during the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,000 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ternium during the third quarter worth about $35,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 10.41% of the companys stock. Ternium Company Profile (Get Rating) Ternium SA engages in the production of flat steel. It operates through the Steel and Mining segments. The Steel segment includes the sales of steel products. The Mining segment involves in the sales of mining products, mainly iron ore and pellets. The company was founded in September 1961 and is headquartered in Luxembourg. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Ternium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ternium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. USANA Health Sciences (NYSE:USNA Get Rating) had its price target lifted by DA Davidson from $52.50 to $56.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. DA Davidson also issued estimates for USANA Health Sciences Q2 2023 earnings at $0.77 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $3.05 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $3.50 EPS. Separately, StockNews.com upgraded USANA Health Sciences from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. Get USANA Health Sciences alerts: USANA Health Sciences Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:USNA opened at $66.37 on Wednesday. USANA Health Sciences has a one year low of $48.61 and a one year high of $77.58. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $62.68 and a 200-day moving average of $57.95. The company has a market capitalization of $1.28 billion, a PE ratio of 19.58 and a beta of 0.77. Insider Activity USANA Health Sciences ( NYSE:USNA Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.66 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by $0.31. USANA Health Sciences had a return on equity of 15.31% and a net margin of 6.70%. The company had revenue of $227.96 million during the quarter. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.03 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that USANA Health Sciences will post 3.05 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, insider David Mulham Mulham sold 1,138 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.40, for a total value of $76,701.20. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 13,598 shares in the company, valued at $916,505.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Kevin Guest sold 13,288 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.28, for a total transaction of $801,000.64. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 9,355 shares in the company, valued at $563,919.40. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider David Mulham Mulham sold 1,138 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $67.40, for a total value of $76,701.20. Following the sale, the insider now owns 13,598 shares of the companys stock, valued at $916,505.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 27,770 shares of company stock worth $1,701,731 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of USANA Health Sciences Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in shares of USANA Health Sciences by 123.5% during the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 1,424 shares of the companys stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 787 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System purchased a new stake in shares of USANA Health Sciences during the first quarter worth $210,000. Strs Ohio increased its position in USANA Health Sciences by 2.0% during the first quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 10,100 shares of the companys stock worth $635,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in USANA Health Sciences by 47.7% during the first quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 787 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 254 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in USANA Health Sciences by 22.5% during the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 5,008 shares of the companys stock worth $315,000 after buying an additional 921 shares during the last quarter. 52.62% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. USANA Health Sciences Company Profile (Get Rating) USANA Health Sciences, Inc develops and manufactures nutritional, personal care and weight-management products. It operates under the following segments: USANA Nutritionals, USANA Foods, Personal Care and Skincare, and All Other. The firms brands include Procosa and MagneCal D. The company was founded by Myron W. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for USANA Health Sciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for USANA Health Sciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Veolia Environnement SA (OTCMKTS:VEOEY Get Rating) announced a dividend on Saturday, April 29th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of 0.4677 per share by the utilities provider on Friday, May 26th. This represents a dividend yield of 5.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 5th. This is a positive change from Veolia Environnements previous dividend of $0.41. Veolia Environnement Price Performance Shares of VEOEY stock opened at $15.87 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $15.23 and a 200-day moving average of $13.86. Veolia Environnement has a 12-month low of $9.20 and a 12-month high of $16.50. Get Veolia Environnement alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently commented on VEOEY. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Veolia Environnement from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Veolia Environnement from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. About Veolia Environnement Veolia Environnement SA engages in the management of water supplies and distribution systems and provides waste management services. It operates through the following business segments: Water, Environmental Services, and Energy Services. The Water segment integrates drinking water and waste water activities such as water distribution, water and waste water treatment, industrial process water, and manufacture of water treatment equipment and systems. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Veolia Environnement Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Veolia Environnement and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Capital, the listed financial services group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard McIntosh as Corporate Counsel and Company Secretary effective 17 April 2023. Richard brings over 25 years of legal and compliance experience to the General Capital Group having previously worked as General Counsel at NZX/ASX listed Tower Limited and AIA New Zealand. Mr. Brent King, Managing Director said, We are pleased to have someone with Richards background join the Group. Richards wealth of experience in legal and compliance will significantly contribute to the Group following its strong growth in deposits, total loans, equity, and profits in the last few years. For further information contact: Mr. Brent King Managing Director +64 21 632 660 Brent.King@gencap.co.nz Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: NZ's biggest wind farm open for business CHATHAM CONFIRMS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ITS MCP PROJECT General Capital (GEN) Announces BB Credit Rating Retained AFT Pharmaceuticals to announce full year results on Monday IKE performance update for Q4 and FY23 ArborGen Announces Repurchase of Warrants May 4th Morning Report PLP - Redemption of Units GMT FY23 annual result details Turners Full Year FY23 Results Presentation WMS Partners LLC lowered its holdings in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating) by 1.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 41,622 shares of the companys stock after selling 455 shares during the quarter. WMS Partners LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $2,648,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Paragon Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Exos TFP Holdings LLC bought a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Worth Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Coca-Cola by 956.1% during the 4th quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC now owns 433 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 392 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new position in shares of Coca-Cola during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Institutional investors own 68.74% of the companys stock. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Coca-Cola Stock Up 0.7 % KO stock opened at $64.15 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $61.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.16. The company has a market capitalization of $277.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12 month low of $54.01 and a 12 month high of $66.38. Coca-Cola Dividend Announcement Coca-Cola ( NYSE:KO Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.78 billion. Coca-Cola had a net margin of 22.69% and a return on equity of 42.96%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.64 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Friday, June 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.46 per share. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.87%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 15th. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 80.70%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts recently commented on KO shares. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Credit Suisse Group set a $70.00 price objective on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola from $70.00 to $68.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $67.00 price target on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $69.00 price target on shares of Coca-Cola in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Coca-Cola has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $67.80. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO James Quincey sold 34,875 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.32, for a total transaction of $2,103,660.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 351,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $21,216,775.84. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Nancy Quan sold 74,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.71, for a total transaction of $4,344,540.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 219,790 shares in the company, valued at $12,903,870.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 155,296 shares of company stock valued at $9,256,671. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Coca-Cola Profile (Get Rating) The Coca-Cola Co engages in the manufacturing and marketing of non-alcoholic beverages. It operates through the following segments: Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, Global Ventures, and Bottling Investments. The company was founded by Asa Griggs Candler on May 8, 1886 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy wil lay the foundation for the Vizag IT Tech Park in Visakhapatnam's Madurawada area. (Photo: Twitter) Vijayawada: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy would visit Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts on May 3. He would address two public meetings during the day-long visit. Officials said the chief minister would lay foundation stones for construction of the Bhogapuram international greenfield airport in Vizianagaram district, the Chinthapalli fish landing centre and the surplus works of the Tarakarama Thirtha Sagaram project. Jagan Reddy would also lay the foundation for the Vizag IT Tech Park in Visakhapatnams Madurawada area. According to the CMs schedule for Vizianagaram, he would leave his Tadepalli residence at 8am and reach the helipad at A Ravivalasa village of Bhogapuram mandal at 10am. He would be at the GMR Experience Centre at 10.25am and lay the foundation stone for the greenfield airport at 10.30am. The CM would lay the foundation stones for construction of the fish landing centre, and launch the surplus works of the Tarakarama Thirtha Sagaram project. At 10.55am, Jagan Reddy would be present at the public meeting venue in Savaravilli. After the meeting, he would leave for Visakhapatnam at 1.20pm. At 1.40pm, he would be at the helipad at IT Hills No. 3, Visakha Maduravada. The CM would leave by road and reach the venue at IT Hills - 4 at 2 pm. Between 2.30pm and 3pm, he would participate in the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Vizag IT Tech Park. He would view the photo exhibition there and then address industrialists. At 3.50pm, Jagan Reddy would leave there and reach Visakha MP, Satyanarayanas residence at Rushikonda. There, he would bless the recently married MPs son and his wife. He would depart from Madhurawada helipad at 5pm and reach Visakhapatnam airport at 5.20pm. He would leave Visakhapatnam at 5.30pm and reach Tadepalli at 6.45pm. Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi during a public meeting for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, in Kolar district, Sunday, April 30, 2023. (PTI Photo) New Delhi/Channapatna (Karnataka): Blaming "dynastic parties" like the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) for political instability in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on both former allies while reminding Kannadigas that the two Opposition parties pretend to be two separate parties "but are one in their hearts". Seeking votes for a "double-engine" government, the PM, who addressed three rallies in the poll-bound state, warned that "every vote to the JD(S) would straightaway go to the Congress and bring instability in Karnataka", and said both parties are "symbols of instability". The PM also replied to the "poisonous snake" barb hurled at him by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, saying for him "the people of the country are a form of Lord Shiva" and that he "accepts being the snake on the neck of God-like public", asserting that the people of Karnataka will give them a "befitting answer" on May 10. Attacking both the JD(S) and Congress, Mr Modi said that on one hand, the Congress unit in Karnataka is engaged in the service of a family sitting in New Delhi, on the other, the JD(S) is "completely a private limited party of a family". Accusing the JD(S) and Congress of being responsible for the political instability in Karnataka and encouraging corruption, the PM claimed that both parties saw Karnataka as an ATM, and they found opportunity in instability. "The Congress and the JD(S) are responsible for the instability. They pretend to be two separate parties but are one in their hearts. They are together in Delhi. They assist each other in Parliament," he said at a public meeting at Channapatna in Ramanagara district, which is a JD(S) bastion. JD(S) second-in-command H.D. Kumaraswamy, son of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, had won the 2018 Assembly election from this constituency by defeating BJP candidate C.P. Yogeeshwara. Mr Kumaraswamy is again seeking re-election. "Both are dynastic parties and encourage corruption," Mr Modi said, adding that for a very long time, Karnataka had seen the drama of unstable governments, which provide a chance to loot. "There is always a fight to loot and (the focus is) not development", said the PM. Hitting out at the JD(S), he said the party had openly declared that if it got 15-20 seats in the elections to the 224-member Assembly, it would be the kingmaker. "This selfish approach may benefit one family but it causes losses to lakhs of families of Karnataka," the PM said. He also alleged that every vote to the JD(S) would straightaway go to the Congress and bring instability to Karnataka. "Whenever the Congress and JD(S) come to power, some families thrive but for the BJP, every family of India and Karnataka is the partys own family," Mr Modi said. "When the BJPs double-engine government came to power, bank accounts of three lakh people were opened in Ramanagara. Here, 2.5 lakh families got insurance cover, 50,000 became eligible for the Atal Pension Scheme and 7,000 concrete houses were sanctioned," he said. "The Congress is synonymous with betrayal. It has betrayed farmers. The Congress used to employ its energy to create a system that would burden farmers under debt and then used to pretend about loan waiver," Mr Modi alleged. In 2008, the Congress declared a "false loan waiver", the Prime Minister claimed, adding: "This loan waiver was only for those associated with the Congress." "When crores of marginal farmers did not have bank accounts, for whom the doors of banks were never opened, how were those marginal farmers benefited when the loan waiver was announced?" Mr Modi asked. According to him, farmers were forced to borrow money from private lenders in the open market. The benefit of the loan waiver did not reach farmers but "their brothers and relatives (of those belonging to the Congress)". The money "reached corrupt people", Mr Modi said, adding: "The truth is that the loans of not even 10 per cent farmers were waived. This is the track record of the Congress." The PM said that Congress leaders were "roaming around with fake guarantee schemes", but the reality was that their every guarantee and promise was a "bundle of lies". Vedic priests and scholars perform puja in the new Secretariat building on Sunday. (DC Photo: Gandhi) Hyderabad: Arriving at the main entrance of the new Secretariat building at 1.15 pm, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday assumed his seat on the sixth floor of the building amid chanting of hymns by Vedic scholars. Upon assuming his seat, the Chief Minister signed six files to extend government benefits to various sections, with ministers, secretaries and other staff following suit, all at the auspicious time. Officials said that approaching the building, the Chief Minister stopped at the point where roads and buildings minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy was waiting, to perform Sudarshana Yagam and Chandi Homam. He was accorded a traditional welcome by the Vedic priests and scholars. After performing purnahuti, Rao got back into his vehicle and headed to the main door. At the entrance, the Chief Minister was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour, following which he took the staircase to reach the main door of the building. Here, he unveiled a plaque and cut a ribbon, marking the formal inauguration of the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat at 1.24 pm. Later, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari and Prashanth Reddy, was driven for about 50 metres on the ground floor corridor of the Secretariat in a battery car. After attending another puja, he took a car ride to take the lift to reach his office on the sixth floor. After another brief puja and taking harathi in his office, Chandrashekar Rao assumed his seat at the muhurtam at 1.32 pm, immediately signing his first file. He was helped by CS Santhi Kumari, his personal secretary Smita Sabharwal and a battery of officials to sign the files. After the file signing, Vedic scholars blessed the Chief Minister, who was then greeted by Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy and Legislative Council chairman Guttha Sukhender Reddy, with the rest of his team following suit. All ministers, except Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Sabitha Indra Reddy, paid obeisance to the Chief Minister by touching his feet, after presenting him with a bouquet. IT minister K.T. Rama Rao was at his office on the third floor, undertaking MA&UD ministry works. Later, senior government and police officials, besides peoples representatives, greeted and congratulated the Chief Minister. CM KCR addressing the gathering after inaugurating the new Secretariat of Telangana. (Image: DC) Hyderabad: The new secretariat of Telangana has been named after B R Ambedkar with the intention that people's representatives and the entire government machinery should work to realise the ideals of the Architect of the Indian Constitution, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Sunday. Rao inaugurated the new Secretariat complex, which stands 265 feet tall and is spread over an area of 10,51,676 square feet in a sprawling of 28 acres of land here. He said he considered it the opportunity of a lifetime to have inaugurated this "magnificent secretariat complex". It is with Ambedkar's message and in Gandhi's way that the journey of Telangana continues, he said. The chief minister said that the earlier Planning Commission (since replaced by NITI Aayog) had kept nine districts of Telangana under the backward districts category but now there was no village as progressive as those of Telangana. He thanked officials and stakeholders for striving hard for the development of the state. A 'Sudarsana Yagam' was performed from 6 AM and Rao occupied his chambers in the sixth floor after the rituals concluded at around 1.30 PM. The ministers of the state government also occupied their respective chambers. Considering the inadequacies of the former Secretariat complex built during undivided Andhra Pradesh, a government-appointed expert committee favoured construction of a new building. The chief minister had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Secretariat on June 27, 2019 but the works started only in January 2021, delayed by the covid-19 pandemic, court cases and other issues. The building stands 265 feet tall, and a press release issued by the government said no state had such a tall Secretariat. It is also one of the largest Secretariats in the country, the release added. The domes of the new Secretariat have been built in the styles of the Neelakanteswara Swamy temple of the Kakatiya period in Nizamabad, designs of the palaces of the royals of Wanaparthy 'Samsthanam' in Telangana and the pattern of the Hanuman temple in Sarangpur, Gujarat, according to the release. The construction was done "flawlessly" with the instructions of Roads and Buildings (R&B) department, IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), Telangana State Technological Services and the State police department, the release added. Coming down heavily on the Congress on the issue of corruption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the grand old party had always been associated with "85 per cent commission", and its "shahi parivar" (royal family) was out on bail in connection with scams worth thousands of crores of rupees. Training guns on the Congress over its party president M Mallikarjun Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at him, Modi said that the snake was the charm of lord Shiva's neck, and for him the people of the country were a "form of god", and he was fine with being compared to the snake on their necks. Also Read: PM sounds poll bugle, woos Lingayats "There is a reason why the country has lost trust in Congress and its 'shahi parivar': Congress's identity has always been associated with 85 per cent commission. During Congress's rule its top leader and then prime minister used to say with pride that if he sends Rs one from Delhi,15 paise reaches them (people) on ground. Congress's claws used to snatch away 85 paise of the poor," Modi said. Addressing a public meeting in Kolar, the Prime Minister said, "This is not BJP's allegation, but it is the public acceptance of the Congress's former prime minister. Congress that eats 85 per cent commission can never work for the development of Karnataka." The Prime Minister's attack on the Congress comes following the party's strong campaign against the ruling BJP in Karnataka over allegations that it was taking "40 per cent commission" from contractors. "Hundred per cent of the amount sent by the BJP government today reaches the beneficiary. In the past nine years, with the strength of 'Digital India', Rs 29 lakh crore has been credited into the bank account of the poor, under various schemes," the PM said. "If Congress that eats 85 per cent commission had continued, Rs 24 lakh crore out of this could not have reached the poor," he claimed, adding that BJP came to power only nine years ago and stopped this. He asked people to "imagine about the lakhs of crores of rupees that Congress leaders had filled in their lockers before that". Stating that Congress "prospers" in corruption and it can never take action against the corrupt, Modi said, "Congress can never design any scheme or programme which doesn't involve a scam." "Even today, Congress's 'shahi parivar' and people close to it are out on bail in a scam involving thousands of crores of rupees. Those facing charges of corruption and are out on bail are today coming to Karnataka and preaching. Congress, whose top leaders are facing charges of corruption and members of whose 'shahi parivar' are out on bail cannot take action against corruption," he added. "During the nine years before 2014, during Congress rule, only Rs 5,000 crore worth property of the corrupt was seized, while in the past nine years under the BJP rule, properties worth over Rs 1 lakh crore of those who looted the country have been seized," Modi said, asserting that only the BJP could swiftly act and take strong action against corruption. Noting that Congress was facing the most difficulty due to his actions against corruption, the PM said that was the reason that the party's "hate" against him had increased day-by-day. "They have further increased their attack against me. Congress people are issuing threats these days. They are saying 'Modi teri qabr khudegi' (Modi your grave will be dug). Now in Karnataka's election, Congress's biggest issue is the snake and its venom," he said. Congress and its leaders were comparing him to a snake and were asking for votes from the people, Modi said, "but snake is the charm of lord Shankar's (Shiva) neck, and for me the people of the country are the form of Lord Eshwar, they are the form of Shiva. So I'm fine with being the snake that adorns the neck of the people." "I know that the people of Karnataka, the land of saints and sanskar, will give a befitting reply to Congress's abuses through votes. The anger of the people against the Congress will reflect through votes on May 10," he added. Making a speech in a campaign rally in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, Kharge likened Modi to a venomous snake. As a row erupted, he later backtracked stating that his intention was not to hurt anyone's feelings and the "statement was not for PM Modi, but for the ideology he represents". US intelligence documents have been leaked on the Discord messaging platform revealing conversations between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his junior Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on the foreign policy matters, according to a media report on Sunday. In one internal memo titled 'Pakistans Difficult Choices', parts of which were published by the Washington Post on Sunday, Khar cautions that Pakistan should avoid giving the impression of "appeasing" the West, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. She warns that the country can no longer attempt to maintain a middle ground between regional neighbour China and the US. In the memo, Khar argues that preserving Pakistan's partnership with the US would ultimately sacrifice the full benefits of its "real strategic" partnership with China. Also Read | Pakistan remains China's priority in its neighbourhood diplomacy, top Chinese General tells Pak Army chief The undated document does not specify how the US obtained access to Khar's memo, a report published by the Washington Post revealed. The leak of US intelligence documents, posted largely on social media websites, was believed to be the most serious security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. The episode embarrassed the US by revealing its spying on allies, including Pakistan, and the purported military vulnerabilities of Ukraine. The leaked documents provide a rare glimpse into the private calculations made by influential regional powers such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and Egypt. The documents also offer new insights into the obstacles that the Biden administration faces in securing global support for its efforts. Another leaked document related to Pakistan dated February 17 describes Prime Minister Sharif's deliberations with an unnamed subordinate about an upcoming UN vote on the Ukraine conflict. The document says that an aide advised Sharif that support for the measure would signal a shift in Pakistan's position, jeopardising its ability to negotiate trade and energy deals with Russia. Pakistan was among the 32 countries that abstained when the UN General Assembly vote took place on February 23. The Post report further said that Pakistani officials as well as those from other countries named in the leaked documents declined to comment. The story emerges at a time when Washington has already confirmed that it has no objections to Pakistan's decision to import oil from Moscow. "Each country will make its own sovereign decisions regarding its energy supply," US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a weekly briefing. According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Matias Spektor, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said developing nations are recalibrating their positions as America faces potent new competition from China and Russia. "It's unclear who will end up in a pole position in 10 years' time, so they need to diversify their risk and hedge their bets," Spektor told the Post. The conflict between rival generals in Sudan threatens neighbouring African countries that are already struggling with refugee flows and armed rebels at their borders. If the two-week-old war between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamad Hamdan Dagalos Rapid Support Forces becomes protracted, as many fear, the implications for the region would be dire. Ethnic militias, anti-government insurgencies, paramilitary groups and Russian mercenaries operating in porous, mineral-rich borderlands could use the crisis to launch attacks or foment rebellions. Also Read: As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 Its a region where we have a lot of gold and diamonds, said Anicet-Georges Dologuele, former prime minister of the Central African Republic. The armed groups finance their operations through these resources. I fear this could be a pull factor. CAR to the southwest is one of seven countries that border Sudan, along with Egypt, Libya, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many of the nations have dealt in recent years with some combination of sustained conflict, food insecurity, armed rebellions and civil unrest. Credit: Bloomberg Analysts say Chad and South Sudan are at the most immediate risk from the conflict in Sudan. The United Nations estimates that the two countries, which rank among the worlds poorest, could receive as many as 270,000 refugees in the coming weeks. The spillover effects are already visible. Thousands of people have arrived in the neighbouring countries, South Sudan included, Deng Dau Deng, acting foreign minister of South Sudan, said at a briefing in Juba on Friday. Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against terrorism and a bulwark against growing Russian influence in the region, has in recent years beaten back two serious coup attempts that emerged from just over the border in Sudans Darfur region, where intense ethnic fighting has already killed scores during the current war. Many of the rival groups in Darfur may also have connections over the borders in Chad and CAR, said Sarra Majdoub, a Sudan-based independent conflict analyst. Dagalo was leader in the Janjaweed militias that brutalized the area, and his cousin is a senior adviser to interim President Mahamat Deby, whos tried to mediate in the current crisis. Soon after fighting broke out in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15, Chad closed its border and deployed troops at checkpoints. The rebels might try to enter Chad, Chads Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said by phone from the capital NDjamena. They could join forces with groups already at Chads borders. Sudans relationship with its neighbors is at the moment very asymmetric, said John Lechner, a Central African researcher based in Washington. What happens in Khartoum will have an impact in CAR and Chad, while these countries have little control over the situation in Khartoum. Wagner influence Among the armed groups operating in the region is the Russian paramilitary company Wagner Group. The Kremlin-linked mercenary operation has forces in Sudan, Libya and CAR, where its involved in the diamond and gold trade. The group also has ties to a gold processing facility outside Atbara in Sudan, according to recent EU sanctions. The foreign fighters have helped the CAR government secure its gold-rich northern region thats rife with armed groups, some with links to rebels in western Darfur. CARs government maintains that the only Russian forces in the country are unarmed trainers. The worsening security situation with rebels operating on both sides of our borders, which arent very well-protected, could see Wagner strengthen its position in CAR and Sudan, Martin Ziguele, another former CAR prime minister, said by phone from Bangui. Humanitarian crisis Those borders are now seeing an influx of refugees fleeing Sudans violence, with at least 30,000 people having arrived in Chad and South Sudan so far, along with 16,000 whove fled north to Egypt, according to authorities. Most hope to enter fragile countries hit hard by their own protracted conflicts as well as the impacts of climate change and food insecurity. More than two million people in South Sudan have been displaced by war, and some two-thirds of the nations 11 million population is in need of humanitarian assistance. In neighbouring CAR, prices of staple foods such as millet have doubled since the fighting in Sudan began. More than 12,000 refugees from Sudan arrived in CAR in recent days and more people are massing at the border, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The situation is very worrying, said Dologuele, the former CAR prime minister. Our government has no leverage in what happens in Khartoum. We will just have to face the crisis if, or rather when, it hits here. The top United Nations humanitarian official is heading to the Sudan region due to the rapidly unfolding impact of the war there and its wider fallout, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday. The announcement came shortly after rival Sudanese forces announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated, as warplanes roared overhead and fighting continued on the ground in Sudan's capital. "The scale and speed of what is unfolding is unprecedented in Sudan. We are extremely concerned by the immediate as well as long-term impact on all people in Sudan, and the broader region," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for Guterres, said in a statement. He said the UN chief was "immediately" sending Martin Griffiths, his emergency relief coordinator, to the area "in light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan." Also Read | Sudans neighbours pay the price as rival forces vie for power Deadly hostilities between the army and heavily-armed paramilitaries in Khartoum and other parts of the country have entered a third week. The latest widely-breached ceasefire was scheduled to formally expire at midnight (2200 GMT) before the rival forces announced an extension for 72 hours that the Sudanese army said came due to "US and Saudi mediation". More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes for safer locations within the country or abroad since battles erupted on April 15. The fighting pits the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his ex-deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Witnesses on Sunday evening reported continued armed clashes as well as fighter jets soaring above various parts of the capital and its twin city Omdurman, across the Nile River. The civil aviation authority on Sunday announced Sudan's airspace would remain closed until May 13, with the exception of aid and evacuation flights. "There has been very heavy fighting and loud gunfire," a southern Khartoum resident told AFP earlier in the day. Further complicating the battlefield, Central Reserve Police, a paramilitary unit, were being deployed across Khartoum to "protect citizens' properties" from looting, the Sudanese police said, confirming an army statement. Police said Central Reserve had arrested 316 "rebels", a reference to the RSF, which did not confirm the information and had previously warned police against joining the fight. Washington last year sanctioned the Central Reserve for "serious human rights abuses" related to its use of "excessive force" against pro-democracy protests after the October 2021 coup that brought Burhan and Daglo to power. Daglo's RSF is descended from the Janjaweed unleashed by former strongman Omar al-Bashir in Sudan's western Darfur region, leading to war crimes charges against Bashir and others. With projectiles crashing into residential buildings, supplies running short and daily life increasingly untenable for civilians, foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate their nationals by air, road and sea since the war began on April 15. But millions of Sudanese are still trapped in the country, where aid workers are among the dead and the UN said humanitarian facilities have been looted, forcing a halt to all of its aid operations. Also Read | Sudan civil war would be 'nightmare' for world: former PM "We once again urge all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, allow safe passage for civilians fleeing areas of hostilities, respect humanitarian workers and assets, facilitate relief operations, and respect medical personnel, transport and facilities," the UN spokesman Dujarric said. A first Red Cross plane brought eight tonnes of humanitarian aid from Jordan to Port Sudan, which is so far untouched by the fighting. The aid included surgical material and medical kits to stabilise 1,500 patients. On Saturday the health ministry said the violence has wounded around 4,600 people and killed at least 528. Those figures are likely to be incomplete. Sudan's former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok cautioned Saturday against the conflict's deteriorating into one of the world's worst civil wars. The UN World Food Programme has warned the unrest could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people already needed aid to stave off famine. Only 16 percent of health facilities are functioning in Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization, with many shelled. "The situation cannot be sustained" as medical supplies run short, warned Majzoub Saad Ibrahim, a doctor in Ad Damar, north of Khartoum. An envoy of Burhan's met on Sunday in Riyadh with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who urged the restoration of calm in Sudan, his ministry said. Egypt has called an Arab League meeting of its permanent delegates Monday to discuss the "situation in Sudan". More than 75,000 people have been internally displaced in Sudan, the UN said, and almost 40,000 have crossed borders, mostly into Chad but also South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African Republic, aid workers said. More than 5,000 people have escaped to safety on Saudi Arabian ships across the Red Sea from Port Sudan, the kingdom said. Among them was Badriah al-Sayed, her Omani husband and their son, who joined about 50 other evacuees who reached Jeddah on a Saudi warship Sunday. Sayed told AFP she was grateful for their safety but could not shake the feeling she was "losing a country". Britain said it would operate an additional evacuation flight, from Port Sudan on Monday, after already airlifting more than 2,000 people out of the country from an airport near Khartoum. Canada ended its air evacuations "due to the dangerous conditions", having flown out more than 540 people, after large airlifts by France, Germany and other nations. Along with battles in the capital, fighting, looting and lawlessness in the long-troubled Darfur region has raised particular international concern. At least 96 people were reported killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, the UN said. Chinese leaders appear to have such territorial greed deep in their mindset and this is now becoming more visible by N. S. Venkataraman Since 1980s, in the last four decades, China has recorded spectacular growth in the industrial and economic front. Several multinational companies have invested several billion dollar in China to set up projects , which happened due to the imaginative and proactive policy of Government of China. Aided by the investment and technology from multinational companies, China gained immensely. China is now well recognised as one of the world economic super power. With the economic power , China is also expanding its military capability and its present annual military budget is around 2030 billion USD. This photo taken on Oct 16, 2022 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua] Unfortunately, along with the economic and industrial growth, Chinas territorial greed have also increased to an alarming level. . To achieve its territorial greed , China is using its military and economic power. This is now causing concern worldwide Chinese leaders appear to have such territorial greed deep in their mindset and this is now becoming more visible Case study Tibet In the 1950s, China forcibly occupied Tibet and massacred thousands of protesting Tibetans brutally. In the last few decades after Chinas unethical occupation of Tibet, China has been trying to destroy the Tibetan culture and traditional practices and brainwash the youth, as if Tibet is only an extended territory of China. While China took over Tibet militarily, there was no significant protest in the world and this encouraged China to move on with its territorial greed adventures. Case study India After this occupation of Tibet, in 1962, China waged a war against India and occupied thousands of kilometres of Indian territory, which it is continuing to hold under its control till now. India has around 3500 kilometre length of land in China border which China calls as disputed territory, and wants to occupy. Frequently, China has been trying to intrude into Indian territory and it is reported in the media that in the year 2020, large area of Ladakh region has been taken over by the Chinese army. Further, not satisfied with so much occupation of Indian land , China now demands that Arunachal Pradesh in India should be part of Tibet region , now occupied by China. To conceal its territorial greed , China often talks about peace with India and mischievously says that India and China share far more common interest than differences and says that bilateral relations between both the countries should be strengthened. However, territorial greed of China is now too blatant to be concealed. Case study Taiwan China claims that Taiwan should be part of China, which is thoroughly unjustified. There was a civil war in China when the communists occupied most parts of China except the Taiwan region. It was forcible occupation by China. Under the circumstances, the ground reality is that while the Chinese leaders claim that Taiwan should be part of mainland China, certainly, the government of Taiwan can legitimately claim that mainland China should be part of Taiwan. In its territorial greed to grab Taiwan, China is threatening to invade Taiwan at any moment. The recent news is that China has sent 38 war planes and 6 navy vessels to areas near Taiwan. Case study South China Sea: Apart from the above territorial greed acts of China , it is laying claims on South China sea, Senkaku Island , which is creating tension with Philippines , Japan and other neighbouring countries. It is a matter of concern now that China is planning to have military installations in Co Co Island in Myanmar. Economic domination: Apart from such military oriented aggressive tactics, China has effectively brought countries like Pakistan, North Korea under its control, exploiting the economic and other weakness of these countries. Sri Lanka is also now facing a threat of going down under Chinas grip due to its excessive dependence on China for infrastructure projects and the consequent debt burden , which has forced Sri Lanka to undergo the humiliation of handing over Hambantota port to China on 99 years lease. The fact is that Sri Lanka has now virtually no control over the activities of China in Hambantota port . China A threat to world peace: While most countries in the world are concerned about the territorial greed of China, it is strange that China has offered to mediate between Ukraine and Russia to end the Ukraine war. This is like the devil quoting scripture China emerging as an economic superpower in the world has resulted in a situation , where it competes with USA in economic super power status. USA is all the time trying to extend its influence over other countries in the world and now China too is trying to do the same. But, the difference is that USA is extending its influence without territorial greed and this is not so in the case of China. It appears that ultimate result of Chinas territorial greed would inevitably result in disturbing peace in the world. It appears that the ambition of Adolf Hitler and Chinese President do not seem to be different. Views expressed in this article are the authors own Delhi BJP will hold an indefinite sit-in outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's house over his allegedly spending Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official residence, a party functionary said Sunday. The party will stage a sit-in outside Kejriwal's official residence 6, Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines from Monday, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said. Earlier in the week, the BJP had alleged that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official house during 2020-22. Also Read: Delhi L-G seeking report on Kejriwal's home renovation 'unconstitutional', 'undemocratic': Atishi "The most shameful thing in this is that this scam was done at a time when Corona was in its worst form in Delhi and hundreds of people were dying every day," Sachdeva said. The dharna will be led by BJP MP Harsh Vardhan with workers from Keshav Puram and Chandni Chowk districts, he said. Posters were found in a few villages in Assam's Sonitpur district on Sunday, claiming that those belonged to neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, officials said. The incident comes days after the two states signed an agreement to resolve the longstanding border disputes between them. The posters, printed on white paper, had 'ABPF' written at the bottom -- an organisation not known earlier, officials said. These posters were found in Daflagarh, North Karibil, Nalinibari and Mangalbaria in Helem sub-division of the district, located within 10 km of the inter-state border, they said. Also Read: Assam, Arunachal sign pact to resolve decades-old border disputes Sub-divisional officer Lukumoni Bora along with a team of Helem police visited the areas, and seized the posters, they added. The posters claimed the land belonged to Arunachal Pradesh, and asked Assam to vacate it at the earliest. An inquiry has been started, officials said. The two states share a 804-km-long border, and have been engaging in discussions to resolve the boundary disputes. An agreement was signed by Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart Pema Khandu on April 20 in New Delhi in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. Arunachal Pradesh, which was made a Union territory in 1972, claims that several forested tracts in the plains that had traditionally belonged to hill tribal chiefs and communities were unilaterally transferred to Assam. After Arunachal Pradesh achieved statehood in 1987, a tripartite committee was appointed which recommended that certain territories be transferred from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh. Assam contested this and the matter is in the Supreme Court. Authorities on Sunday carried out an anti-encroachment drive at the Archaeological Survey of India's Tughlaqabad Fort. The action was taken days after the Delhi High Court directed the ASI to remove encroachments in the historic fort. The drive was carried out under the supervision of a team of officials from the South East Delhi district administration, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police and the ASI, sources said. "About 40-45 per cent of encroachment was removed by authorities in accordance with the April 24 order of the Delhi High Court. This encroachment had been a lingering issue and more action will be taken later," a source told PTI. Also Read | Forest dept fails to act as encroachment cases mount The encroachment included various structures such as dwellings, shanties and shops which had sprung in the period of the last several years, he said. About "250 bigha of land was reclaimed at the Fort site in 2000," the source said. A senior police officer said, "Under the supervision of district authorities, the demolition drive was conducted on the land of ASI, as per the court order. Police force was deployed for the protection of officials to ensure that there was no obstruction to officials in charge of carrying out their work." The Delhi High Court on April 24 had directed the ASI to remove encroachments in the historic Tughlaqabad Fort within four weeks, saying it cannot be a "silent spectator" on the issue. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while hearing pleas against rampant encroachment in Tughlaqabad Fort, warned it will order the personal appearance of top officials, including the ASI director, MCD commissioners, the sub-divisional magistrate and senior police officers in the event of non-compliance with its directives. It noted that in 2016 the Supreme Court had passed an order for the removal of encroachments in the area and the ASI has already pasted 1,248 notices on various structures within the fort. Delhi L-G V K Saxena on Sunday denied spending Rs 15 crore on renovating Raj Niwas as alleged by AAP, and said his house is open for every individual to come and see. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had on Wednesday made the allegation saying Saxena spent Rs 15 crore on repair work alone at his official residence, which is built on six acres of land. Also Read | Delhi L-G seeking report on Kejriwal's home renovation 'unconstitutional', 'undemocratic': Atishi In comparison, a new house was built for the Delhi CM on only one acre, he had said. Saxena on Sunday inspected the phase 1 of the Yamuna Rejuvenation Project from Signature Bridge to ITO Barrage, a project that is under the monitoring of a high level committee. "Raj Niwas is open for everyone to come and see for himself," he said on the sidelines of the event. As the weekend concluded, the newly inaugurated Kochi Water Metro service in Kerala gathered a footfall of over 10,000 on Sunday with long queues seen at various stations. Kerala government's ambitious Kochi Water Metro service, a first in the country, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25. The commercial operations of the water metro service, which commenced on April 26 through two routes-Vypin to High Court and Vytila to Kakkanad, has been receiving an "overwhelming response" since then with an increasing ridership each day. "While there was a footfall of 8,415 on Saturday, the Water Metro service ferried over 10,000 on Sunday as per initial reports," a Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) official told PTI. The official said the mainly tourist crowd used the Metro along the Vypin-High Court route. A total of nine boats are in service out of which five are being used in the Vypin-High Court scenic route. The panoramic windows of the vessels provide a visual treat of the scenic backwaters of Kochi. Cutting across age barriers, people from all walks of lives were seen crowded at High Court station, which witnessed huge rush during all the day. See Pics | PM Modi to flag off Water Metro in Kochi on April 25 Weekend and vacation adds to the rush, the official said, adding that besides the Water Metro employees, staff from Kochi Metro Rail have also been deployed to handle the rush. The Vyttila-Kakkanad route is now being operated only during the peak hours. To ensure last mile connectivity, feeder buses and autorickshaws have been arranged from Kakkanad Water Metro Terminal to Infopark. The flagship water metro 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, once fully operational. Initially, 15 electric air-conditioned catamaran boats will ferry city residents across eight water routes. There are 15 proposed water routes. The Water Metro service is aimed to provide safe and affordable travel for people including tourists from across the world using solar-powered electric vessels which can ferry up to 100 people each across the proposed 76-kilometre routes. The vessels, which are fitted with the most advanced and safest battery technology, are also equipped with life-saving equipment and technology to prevent overcrowding. 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. CACI International (NYSE:CACI Get Rating)s stock had its maintains rating reaffirmed by research analysts at 888 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. CACI has been the topic of a number of other reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of CACI International from $355.00 to $357.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of CACI International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of CACI International from $313.00 to $330.00 in a research note on Monday, January 9th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat, CACI International has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $338.20. Get CACI International alerts: CACI International Stock Performance CACI stock opened at $313.32 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.23. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.97. CACI International has a 1 year low of $245.32 and a 1 year high of $319.33. The stocks fifty day moving average is $296.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $296.50. Insiders Place Their Bets CACI International ( NYSE:CACI Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The information technology services provider reported $4.92 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.64 by $0.28. CACI International had a return on equity of 13.60% and a net margin of 5.57%. The company had revenue of $1.74 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.66 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $4.64 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that CACI International will post 18.28 EPS for the current year. In other CACI International news, Director William L. Jews sold 1,018 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $284.43, for a total value of $289,549.74. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 8,065 shares in the company, valued at $2,293,927.95. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.23% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On CACI International Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CACI. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV purchased a new position in CACI International in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP increased its stake in CACI International by 262.5% in the 4th quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 87 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 63 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. purchased a new position in CACI International in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC purchased a new position in CACI International in the 1st quarter worth about $49,000. Finally, Quent Capital LLC increased its stake in CACI International by 33.0% in the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 234 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 58 shares in the last quarter. 87.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. CACI International Company Profile (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. Further Reading 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. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc. reduced its position in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Get Rating) by 0.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 31,318 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 277 shares during the period. Exxon Mobil comprises approximately 1.2% of Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. Mitchell Mcleod Pugh & Williams Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $3,454,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in XOM. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD increased its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 94.1% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 39,666,941 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $3,463,672,000 after acquiring an additional 19,230,872 shares in the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in shares of Exxon Mobil during the third quarter worth approximately $347,253,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 12.3% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 28,269,263 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,468,477,000 after purchasing an additional 3,094,957 shares during the period. Barclays PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 70.9% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 6,546,333 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $571,557,000 after purchasing an additional 2,716,651 shares during the period. Finally, CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 8,427.5% during the third quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,930,117 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 1,907,483 shares during the period. 57.49% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Exxon Mobil In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $115.50, for a total value of $288,750.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 31,772 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,669,666. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.06% of the companys stock. Exxon Mobil Price Performance Shares of Exxon Mobil stock opened at $118.34 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $111.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $110.48. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 1-year low of $80.69 and a 1-year high of $119.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $480.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.92, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.08. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.65 by $0.18. Exxon Mobil had a net margin of 13.47% and a return on equity of 31.25%. The business had revenue of $86.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.07 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.07 earnings per share. Exxon Mobils revenue was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.9 earnings per share for the current year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th will be issued a $0.91 dividend. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 15th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 27.45%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on XOM. Argus raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $128.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $125.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $111.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Exxon Mobil from $140.00 to $147.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $110.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $124.61. Exxon Mobil Profile (Get Rating) Exxon Mobil Corp. engages in the exploration, development, and distribution of oil, gas, and petroleum products. It operates through the following segments: Upstream, Downstream and Chemical. The Upstream segment produces crude oil and natural gas. The Downstream segment manufactures and trades petroleum products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding XOM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:DNP Get Rating) Director Mareile B. Cusack bought 4,752 shares of DNP Select Income Fund stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $10.50 per share, for a total transaction of $49,896.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 4,752 shares in the company, valued at $49,896. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. DNP Select Income Fund Trading Up 3.8 % DNP Select Income Fund stock opened at $10.88 on Friday. DNP Select Income Fund Inc. has a 52-week low of $9.83 and a 52-week high of $11.95. The companys 50 day moving average is $11.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $11.13. Get DNP Select Income Fund alerts: DNP Select Income Fund Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.065 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a yield of 7.27%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On DNP Select Income Fund About DNP Select Income Fund A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in DNP. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. increased its position in shares of DNP Select Income Fund by 795.6% in the 4th quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 2,248 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 1,997 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp purchased a new stake in shares of DNP Select Income Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Romano Brothers AND Company purchased a new stake in shares of DNP Select Income Fund in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group increased its position in shares of DNP Select Income Fund by 88.9% in the 3rd quarter. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group now owns 4,568 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 2,150 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of DNP Select Income Fund in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $49,000. 7.75% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. (Get Rating) DNP Select Income Fund, Inc is a closed-end investment fund. Its investment objectives are current income, long-term growth of income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in a portfolio of equity and fixed income securities of companies in the public utilities industry. the company was founded on January 21, 1986 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DNP Select Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DNP Select Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:PINE Get Rating) Director Mark Okey Decker, Jr. bought 2,000 shares of Alpine Income Property Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $15.60 per share, with a total value of $31,200.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 20,028 shares in the company, valued at $312,436.80. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Alpine Income Property Trust Price Performance PINE stock opened at $16.08 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $226.25 million, a P/E ratio of 6.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 11.14 and a current ratio of 11.14. Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $15.41 and a 52-week high of $20.79. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $16.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $18.16. Get Alpine Income Property Trust alerts: Alpine Income Property Trust Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 9th were paid a dividend of $0.275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 8th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.84%. Alpine Income Property Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.41%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Alpine Income Property Trust Analyst Ratings Changes Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in shares of Alpine Income Property Trust by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 11,396 shares of the companys stock worth $185,000 after buying an additional 565 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Alpine Income Property Trust by 4.8% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 12,780 shares of the companys stock worth $244,000 after buying an additional 580 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in shares of Alpine Income Property Trust by 17.5% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,275 shares of the companys stock worth $82,000 after buying an additional 636 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its stake in shares of Alpine Income Property Trust by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 59,767 shares of the companys stock worth $969,000 after buying an additional 657 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG boosted its stake in shares of Alpine Income Property Trust by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 24,253 shares of the companys stock worth $455,000 after buying an additional 703 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 73.69% of the companys stock. Several brokerages have recently commented on PINE. Raymond James reduced their target price on Alpine Income Property Trust from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. EF Hutton Acquisition Co. I restated a buy rating and issued a $23.00 target price on shares of Alpine Income Property Trust in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Alpine Income Property Trust from $21.25 to $20.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Jonestrading lifted their price target on Alpine Income Property Trust from $22.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $21.60. Alpine Income Property Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc (NYSE: PINE) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and operates a portfolio of high-quality single-tenant net leased commercial income properties. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Alpine Income Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alpine Income Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 1,724 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $78,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ellevest Inc. lifted its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 27.2% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 8,498 shares of the banks stock worth $387,000 after acquiring an additional 1,817 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its position in Bank of New York Mellon by 17.8% during the 4th quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 13,127 shares of the banks stock worth $598,000 after acquiring an additional 1,984 shares in the last quarter. Mendota Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. CX Institutional acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $305,000. Finally, Epacria Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in Bank of New York Mellon during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,601,000. 82.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bank of New York Mellon alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada upped their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $44.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Barclays cut their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $64.00 to $62.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Bank of New York Mellon in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $46.00 to $47.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on Bank of New York Mellon from $42.00 to $41.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $51.61. Bank of New York Mellon Price Performance Shares of NYSE BK opened at $42.59 on Friday. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a twelve month low of $36.22 and a twelve month high of $52.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The company has a market capitalization of $34.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.08 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.83. Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 18th. The bank reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $4.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.40 billion. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.45% and a net margin of 11.98%. The firms revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.86 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 4.75 earnings per share for the current year. Bank of New York Mellon Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 11th. Investors of record on Friday, April 28th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.47%. Bank of New York Mellons payout ratio is currently 46.84%. Bank of New York Mellon Profile (Get Rating) The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of financial services. It operates through the following segments: Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and Other segment. The Securities Services segment includes Asset Servicing business, which provides global custody, fund accounting, integrated middle-office solutions, transfer agency and data and analytics solutions. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of New York Mellon Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of New York Mellon and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. On April 11th, a flatbed tractor trailer carrying a 45-ton Russian T-90A tank had to park at a truck stop because of a mechanical problem. This enabled nearby civilians to take a lot of photos. One photo of a shipping label attached to the tanks 125mm indicated the tank was on its way to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. Some of the tank components were removed and apparently shipped separately, probably by air. The missing items included ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) panels, the machine-guns and the APD (Active Protection System) as well as electronics. This is where tanks from many countries, and the United States, are subjected to destructive testing. That means using anti-tank guns and missiles against vehicles to determine what they are vulnerable to. Western tanks, particularly the American M-1, are the most resistant to anti-tank weapons. After the M-1 comes the German Leopard 2 and the South Korea K2, which was deliberately based on the M-1 and has the unsuccessful destructive tests to prove it, Russian tanks have proved extremely vulnerable. The T-90A headed for Aberdeen as captured in late 2022 by the Ukrainians and turned over to the Americans as part of an effort to send Ukraine M-I and other Western tanks. Those tanks finally arrived in early 2023 and are forming tank units that will deal with the most determined use of Russian tanks and anti-tank weapons. Photos of the T-90A interior revealed, to M-1 crew men, that the Russian crews did not take good care of their tanks, especially the interior. Photos showed rust and dirt that has been there for some time. M-1 crews have much higher standards, keeping the interiors clean and equipment, including the engine, well-maintained. The Ukrainians learned the value of well-maintained tanks after 2014 when they had many western military advisors with experience in well maintained tanks, including T-72s captured in the 1990s. The T-72 evolved into the T-90. Originally, this was done as a fallback design. The T-80 was supposed to be the successor to the T-72. But like the T-62 and T-64 before it, the T-80 didnt quite work out as planned. The T-72, with a much improved turret and all manner of gadgets, was trotted out as the T-90. At 47 tons, it's still 23 feet long, 11 feet wide and 7.5 feet high. Same package, better contents. And with well-trained crews, it could be deadly. Russia had few such crews in Ukraine and T-72s and T-90s proved extremely vulnerable to the Western anti-tank weapons shipped to Ukrainian forces. The Aberdeen tests will attempt to see just how vulnerable the T-90 is to various anti-tank weapons and artillery. In Ukraine some T-72s and T-90s have been disabled by 152mm and 155mm artillery fire. Aberdeen has a list of weapons that these tanks appear vulnerable to. Aberdeen will try to confirm what is a battlefield risk to these tanks and why. In the 1990s, T-72s obtained from Cold War Russian allies were subjected to a lot of similar tests but the weapons used in Ukraine are different and more data on that is what Aberdeen uncovers. Police are appealing for information following a report of arson at business premises at the Ferryquay Street area of Derry on Saturday 29th April. Inspector Craig said: Shortly before 6:55pm, it was reported that a fire had started in a shop in the area. "Fire damage was caused to the toiletries section, with staff and customers evacuated from the shop as Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service dealt with the fire. There were no reports of any injuries, with smoke damage also caused to the shop following the incident. Two young males were seen in the area at the time of the incident. The first male is described as wearing a dark coloured tracksuit top and trousers, with short dark hair. The second male is described as wearing dark clothing, with short dark hair and wearing a green camouflage style jacket with an orange inner lining. Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with any information is asked to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 1573 29/04/23. "Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org." Almost half of people believe Mary Lou McDonalds statement that she would not have allowed Jonathan Dowdall to be a councillor for the party if she knew he was involved in criminality, a poll has indicated. According to the survey conducted by Red C Research on behalf of the Business Post, around 45% of people said they believe the Sinn Fein leader, with some 37% saying they did not believe her, while 19% said that they did not know. The Red C poll also found that people were split on whether they trusted a Sinn Fein justice minister to fight organised crime groups and subversive activity, with 43% of people saying they would not trust the party and 41% saying they would. Sixteen percent said they did not know. Dowdall, who worked as an electrician and businessman, is serving a four-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. He had been a Dublin City councillor for Sinn Fein from May 2014 until he quit the party in October 2015. Dowdall was a key witness in the States unsuccessful case against Gerry The Monk Hutch in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, during which some evidence sparked questions being asked of Sinn Fein. Among the evidence heard was a taped conversation of Dowdall from 2016 that suggested Sinn Fein officials knew about a 2011 gun attack on the home of his uncle, which the government has said undermined Ms McDonalds claim that the party had no knowledge of Dowdalls involvement in criminality. Ms McDonald and Sinn Fein have strenuously denied evidence heard during the trial, including that Mr Hutch had donated money to the party calling the claims false and deeply offensive. The verdict, read out by Ms Justice Tara Burns, raised repeated concerns about Dowdalls relationship with the truth, and suggested that he had offered to testify out of his own self-interest. Ms Justice Burns said a video of Gardai interviewing Dowdall in May 2016 make for very uncomfortable viewing and that the manner in which he told convincing lies to gardai was extremely concerning. Ms Justice Burns also said Dowdall was extremely reluctant to fill in details around the Regency murder trial, including about his relationship with an infamous and dangerous IRA terrorist Pearse McAuley. She said Dowdall had only accepted his friendship with McAuley after prison records showed 14 booked visits; Dowdall had initially said he visited McAuley on two or three occasions. She said Dowdall had told a barefaced lie to hide the friendship with McAuley which he had bizarrely not envisaged being questioned about. In the wake of the verdict, Sinn Fein issued a statement from Ms McDonald saying that Dowdall should never have been a member of the party. Had I known what he would become involved in, he would not have been a party member for one minute, never mind running for public office I would not tolerate that, Ms McDonald said. Dowdall was also given an eight-year sentence for false imprisonment and other charges relating to evidence on a USB key found during a search of his house as part of the Regency murder investigation. Gardai found on the USB stick a recording of Dowdall and his father Patrick torturing an individual in the garage of their home in January 2015. The man was tied to a chair with cable ties, waterboarded with a tea towel, had his head shaved and was threatened with being maimed or killed over the course of two hours. Latest @businessposthq political polling figures suggest a very stable voter landscape so far this year. pic.twitter.com/GDUUjSSkYS RED C Research (@REDCResearch) April 30, 2023 The Sunday Business Post Red C Research poll also shows that support for Sinn Fein and Fine Gael remains unchanged compared with last month, at 31%, and 22% respectively. Fianna Fail is up by one point to 16%, as is the Green Party, which is now on 4%. The Social Democrats are down by one point to 5%, Labour is unchanged at 4%, People Before Profit-Solidarity are down a percentage point to 2%, and Aontu remains at 2%. Tanaiste provides update on Sudan consular response Press release The Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheal Martin TD, has announced that as of this morning, 209 citizens and dependents have now been assisted to depart from Sudan. The majority of those evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on flights operated by the UK into Cyprus. The Government is grateful for the support of the UK and the Republic of Cyprus during this period. The Tanaiste furthermore announced the withdrawal from Cyprus of the Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) mission which has been based in that country since Thursday 27th April. The mission involved Defence Forces personnel, in support of Department of Foreign Affairs officials, to assist with the process of evacuating Irish citizens and their dependents from the crisis in Sudan. In line with changed operational requirements since the ending of flights from Sudan into Cyprus, the ECAT element of our consular response will conclude today 30 April. Ireland will maintain an enhanced multi-location consular presence in support of citizens remaining in Sudan. Consular assistance will continue to be provided on an ongoing basis from our consular teams in Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa. Our Embassies remain in close and ongoing contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance. The Tanaiste said: I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response. Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time. Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves. I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission. Citizens should follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice. If urgent, the Embassy's out of hours consular assistance phone line can be contacted at +254 716 353 999, and the Department of Foreign Affairs can be contacted at +353 1 408 2000. ENDS PRESS OFFICE 30 April 2023 Previous Item | Google is all set to launch a number of new Pixel phones, and two of those devices have been much in talks lately. One of which is a foldable device, the Pixel Fold, while the other one is Pixel 8 Pro. They are a few months away from launch now and are one of the most awaited smartphone launches of 2023. Every other day there is a new leak or tip about certain specifications of these phones. After all, people are waiting eagerly for these devices and are very keen to know if the phones match their expectations. Now, thanks to @evleaks, we get an even better idea of how the Pixel Fold would look like. Pixel Fold leaks Pixel Fold's certain features and specifications were revealed a couple of days back through leaks, but nothing specific about the charging of the phone could be figured out. Tipster Yogesh Brar is certain that the Pixel Fold will come with a 4,500mAh battery along with a 23W charger. It isn't yet clear if the charger is a wired one or wireless. So, this suggests that the Pixel Fold won't come with fast charging and adapts the same as its predecessors. So, the upcoming Google device won't have any differences when it comes to charging if you compare it with the predecessors. Pixel 8 Pro expected details There have been steady rumours about certain Pixel 8s features, including details about other phones launching with the Pixel 8 Pro. But nothing major about the camera was mentioned. Another unnamed tipster for all things Samsung has suggested that Pixel 8 Pro will have a major camera upgrade. Its rumoured the Pixel 8 Pro will sport Samsung's biggest ISOCELL GN2 sensor which is 1/1.12-inch in size. The resolution will go up to 50MP for native and 12.5MP after binning. This is a huge upgrade in terms of camera when compared to the Pixel 8 Pro's predecessors. So, these were tips suggested by tipsters who haven't ever set a wrong benchmark for the devices. Well have to wait and watch if theyre in fact 100-per cent right until the Pixel 8 series and Pixel Fold launches later this year. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Realme is all set to launch the latest Realme 11 series on May 10 at 2 PM (local time) in China. We are expecting three phones namely, Realme 11, Realme 11 Pro, and Realme 11 Pro Plus. Here, in particular, we will be discussing about the Pro models as the company has just shared their unique design details with us. Realme 11 Pro design Realme 11 Pro will flaunt 3 colours, namely Sunrise Beige, Oasis Green, and Astral Black. The man behind the new Realme 11 Pro design is Matteo Menotto, who was previously a Gucci Prints designer. On the back of the phone, there is a circular camera island. It slightly protrudes from the surface. But, thats nothing new these days. Whats unique is the way the phones lychee leather back consists of a lace-like strip thats tailored to encircle this camera mesa and runs right to the bottom. He has apparently took inspiration from the rising sun of his city in Italy. Even the Surise Beige colour adds to that look. Well, its not just about the way it looks, the textured 3D woven leather back supposedly adds to the grip when you hold the device. Realme 11 Pro series specifications As for specs, the Realme 11 Pro+ could come with a 6.7-inch curved Amoled display with FHD+ resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 10bit colours. You also get 2160Hz PWM Dimming and a centered punch hole. Online sources have also revealed the phone will reportedly have a MediaTek Dimensity 7000 series chipset, a 5000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support, and 5G compatibility. (Inputs from G S Vasan) For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. TicWatch Pro 5 is the next big thing from the Chinese wearable brand Mobvoi. We call it big because the smartwatch would follow the fairly popular TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GPS and also seems to have a large screen. We get to see the watchs listing on Amazon.ca as spotted and first shared by folks over at DroidLife. We also learn pretty much everything about the upcoming TicWatch smartwatch, which you can too by simply scrolling through. TicWatch Pro 5 specs and features 1. TicWatch Pro 5 could come with a 1.43-inch round display. It is OLED in nature with an additional dynamic and colourful FSTN layer. You get Gorilla Glass protection on top along with oleophobic properties. 2. The watch is MIL-STD-810H military grade tested for endurance and also offers 5ATM water resistance. It is a chunky wristwear with 50.15 48 12.2mm in dimensions and 44.3 grams in heft. 3. Inside, the new TicWatch could be bearing Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 platform with Wear OS 3. You get the usual trackers for heart rate, SpO2, sleep, stress, and even VO2 Max measurement. An interesting feature seems to be the new colour codes for various heart rate zones. The display will light up in 6 different colours based on your current heart rate. 4. The smartwatch is said to run for 80Hrs in smart mode and 45 days in essential mode with a 611mAh battery. From the leaked images, the adapter looks like a magnetic pogo-pin based that claims to fast charge 65 percent of the watchs battery in just 30 minutes. 5. Among other features, the watch will also bring Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, NFC (with Google Pay support), a mic, and a speaker. This is pretty big for a leak and so, we suppose the TicWatch Pro 5s official release couldnt be too far. We shall keep you posted when we have some details about the same. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. All those high-rise towers and parking lots in downtown Fort Lauderdale only made the flooding worse when the mother of all rainstorms hit on April 12, say some experts. But developers and at least two Fort Lauderdale politicians argue thats not true at all. I dont care how much development you have, Commissioner Steve Glassman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. You could have a field and a cow and that cow would drown. Kiss your cow goodbye. Theres going to be flooding if you have 26 inches of rain. We have a stormwater system, but any system you have would be overwhelmed. Developer Charlie Ladd shipped off an email to the Sun Sentinel and City Hall blasting the engineers who were quoted in a Sun Sentinel article on April 16 saying Fort Lauderdales building boom only made things worse. Every building of any size built in the last 15 years is equipped with one or more drainage wells, said Ladd, who owns commercial properties downtown on Las Olas Boulevard and Federal Highway. While streets flooded everywhere, that was due to street drainage systems going to the Intracoastal and canals. The system could only take so much. Mayor Dean Trantalis also took exception to the claim. Homes in low-lying neighborhoods were hard hit by the deluge while the tall towers and parking lots downtown fared much better, he said during a commission meeting held six days after the storm soaked Fort Lauderdale and shuttered a waterlogged City Hall. A woman wades through the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale on April 13, 2023. South Florida was drenched by 26 inches of rain on April 12 that led to major flooding. No playbook for this So much worse could have happened, Trantalis said. I think we need to focus on that. I think we need to realize that natural events like this are often unanticipated and sometimes difficult to respond to. Its hard to write a playbook for something weve never experienced before. I take exception to comments that say paving over the city is causing flooding when in fact its not. We should focus on facts and stop trying to distract public attention with misstatements. The storm was one for the record books, dumping 26 inches of rain on Fort Lauderdale in a matter of hours, Trantalis said. Hopefully well have lessons that we learn, Trantalis said. There more than likely will be other intense weather storms, whether it be a simple rainstorm or a hurricane or even tornadoes. All the new construction actually helped make the flooding less intense, Ladd said. Many of the new buildings and shopping centers in downtown Fort Lauderdale have drainage wells that send filtered stormwater 100 feet down into the aquifer, Ladd said. If you were to have driven around downtown [on the day of the storm] you would have seen that the paved shopping center parking lots were pretty much dry, Ladd said. The worst flooding was in areas that have not been redeveloped, like Edgewood. Without all those high rises and shopping centers diverting all that water, things would have been worse. Look at the airport. It has massive swales and natural drainage and it was one of the last areas hit by the rain to recover. The airport was hammered by the storm and got the bulk of the rain, the National Weather Service said. Drone pilot Doug Thron captured overnight video of more than 100 cars stranded in high floodwaters in downtown Fort Lauderdale on April 13. It looked like a war zone New development has to adhere to a higher flood standard, said Stephen Botek, president of Botek Thurlow Engineering in Oakland Park. The development standards in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County and probably throughout the world are more strict today in most aspects than they were 50 years ago, Botek said. The new high-rise projects are designed to a higher standard than the buildings that were there before. In many cases, they are replacing buildings that were not designed to any standards in terms of flood requirements and elevation and hurricane code. Jay Flynn, owner of Flynn Engineering in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, estimates that more than half of the buildings downtown are equipped with drainage wells that send rain water down into the aquifer. Some of the older buildings like City Hall dont have them, Flynn said. Theyd most likely be connected to the street drainage. If City Hall had a drainage well and was built to current standards, it would not have flooded. Some developments might have seven or eight wells. Some have only one, depending on the size of the parcel. Its usually one drainage well per acre, Flynn said. New buildings have to be built higher than the street. The reason the streets flood, said Flynn, is because theyre too low. And with older buildings, the water flows from the buildings roof to the parking lot and then to the street. Raising the streets is the answer, but that has to be done globally, Flynn said. Ladd lives in downtown Fort Lauderdale. His home, built to code in 2017, didnt flood. But the street in front of his home did. My house is 5 feet above sea level, Ladd said. The street is 3.6 feet above sea level. My floor is at 7 feet and my garage is at 6.3. Water in that area got up to 5 feet. The garage didnt flood. Like so many others, developer Jimmy Tate got caught in the floodwaters on 17th street while making his way home. I took alleys and backroads and went around cars till I got to I-95, he said. Cars were stalled all over the place. It looked like a war zone. But you cant blame it on development, Tate said. All of the experts will tell you that if we are going to overcome sea level rise, we need to raise our seawalls, we need to raise our ground and we need to raise our buildings, Tate said. And that can only happen through development. You also need to make sure the utility systems have sufficient capacity. Developers help pay for that upgraded infrastructure when they pull permits and pay impact fees, he said. Everybody needs to realize what we experienced that week was a once in a lifetime phenomena, Tate said. It was a unique scenario, almost like a biblical-type event. And you cant engineer and build based on things that never happen, or have never happened before. The trio of experts quoted in the April 16 article all stood by their initial assessment that development can exacerbate flooding. What I said stands, said Jeanne-Pierre Bardet, a civil engineering professor at the University of Miami. Development is putting pressure on our system. If the downtown area floods the water will flow to lower lying areas. Its like a chain reaction, a domino effect. Once one parking lot floods, it floods the other parking lots like a chain reaction. The water will move. It will go from one catchment to another catchment. And the next one cannot cope because it has to take the burden of its own catchment plus the burden of the neighboring catchment. Cars remain stuck in floodwaters at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on April 13, the day after the record-breaking rainstorm. Why did the airport flood? The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport flooded so badly it was forced to close for two days. Ralph Zeltman, a retired engineer who lives in Fort Lauderdale and sits on the citys Infrastructure Task Force, said theres good reason the airport flooded. Its at a lower elevation, he said. Water seeks the lowest elevation. New construction downtown is built at a higher elevation to help prevent flooding, Zeltman said. Some neighborhoods outside downtown suffered intensive flooding partly because theyre on lower ground and partly because they lack a proper drainage system, Zeltman added. Fred Bloetscher, a civil engineering professor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, agreed. We need to rethink infrastructure systems if we densify, he said. The old systems require re-engineering. The gravity wells can only drain so much. The rest cannot drain due to the impermeable property. Ladd had a different spin. The problems were in the streets, he said. The pipes couldnt drain fast enough or some of the neighborhoods dont have drainage systems. The most rain fell between 17th street and the airport. Those neighborhoods are older and have not seen a lot of redevelopment. They have swales for drainage. If youre in a home with a ditch for drainage and you get 26 inches of rain, youre going to flood. People try to save their belongings while wading through the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale on April 13. No crystal ball So is it true that development only makes flooding worse? I would say no, Flynn said. The development handles the water onsite [through drainage wells or retentions ponds]. Im sure in the next 50 years there will be new concepts developed [on how to handle extreme weather events]. But I dont have the crystal ball to say what theyre going to be. People forget that South Florida was built on swampland, said Eric Fordin, senior vice president of The Related Group. But he believes theres a way to engineer our way out of all the challenges related to flooding and sea level rise. Nows the time to be improving our infrastructure network, not burying our head in the sand, Fordin said. We need to be building up our sidewalks and streets. People are fixated on height. They should be fixated on making improvements to the infrastructure, whether thats burying powerlines and improving our stormwater and sewer capacity. Those are the things we need to be looking into. All the experts interviewed by the Sun Sentinel agreed on one thing: No system has been designed to handle 26 inches of rain. The rainstorm we got is not what we designed for, Botek said. Its like saying we have to design for a Category 8 hurricane. Weve never seen one before. Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @Susannah_Bryan Jose Padilla, the Broward County man convicted of terrorism conspiracy and support charges, was re-sentenced Tuesday to 21 years in prison nearly four more years than his original punishment. Prosecutors had recommended a prison term of 30 years but already conceded in court filings that a sentence of four months less was legally permissible. Padilla nodded and gave a brief smile to his family as he was led into the federal courtroom in Miami. He kept his head bowed for most of the sentencing and barely interacted with anyone, including his lawyer, Federal Public Defender Michael Caruso. Dressed in beige jail scrubs, Padilla wore shackles and was handcuffed to a chain around his waist. When the judge asked if he wanted to speak on his behalf, Padilla responded in a low voice: No, Your Honor. But his mother, Estela Lebron of Plantation, condemned the governments treatment of her son who, his lawyers said, was abused while imprisoned awaiting trial. Jose has been tortured in his own land, Lebron told the judge. His mind is not there. I dont care what anyone says, Joses mind is gone. Lebron reminded the judge that Padilla was born and raised in the U.S. The way they treated him, you dont even treat an animal like that In the United States of America, we have a Constitution and we have to follow the laws. One of Padillas younger brothers, Tomas Texidor, of Tamarac, sobbed and paused frequently to compose himself as he talked about how the brother who was his father figure and role model has been destroyed by torture and isolation over the last 12 years. Texidor said its as if his brother has passed away. When family visited him at the federal detention center in Miami, Texidor said Padilla only expressed concern for them, not himself. He would just tell me Why are you here? You dont need to do this to yourself. Im OK. I hope this kind of stuff never happens again in our country,Texidor said. Ive never seen a U.S. citizen go through this kind of torture in his own country. After the sentencing, Padillas mother said she hopes that she will still be alive when her son gets out of prison, possibly around 2025 or 2026. Prosecutors said that Padilla deserved a tougher sentence than his two co-defendants who are both scheduled for release from prison in three years because of his prior criminal record and because he traveled to Afghanistan for terrorist training in an al-Qaida camp. Caruso said his client was recruited and manipulated by more educated and more sophisticated operatives, who persuaded people like Padilla that it was their duty to protect fellow Moslems who, at the time, were being raped and executed in Chechnya. Padilla signed up for what he believed was a military training camp that would help him to defend abused members of his faith and that he never had any intent to harm innocents, Caruso told the judge. A sentence of 21 years, and the knowledge of what Padilla has gone through, would send a strong message to young men not to get involved in such activity, Caruso said in court. He, told the judge it could embolden and encourage the people who recruit disaffected young men, including U.S. citizens like Padilla, if they get the message that the recruits they manipulate will serve more time behind bars than them. U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke pointed out that prosecutors admitted during Padillas trial that they could not and would not use statements that Padilla made during what they said was harsh treatment and others have labeled torture during his 3 1/2 years of detention in a Navy brig. That decision was based partly on the belief that he was denied access to a lawyer for years and that his statements were coerced and could not stand up in a civilan court, she said. Padilla will receive no credit for the time he spent in the brig and it wont count as time served towards his federal prison term, the courts have ruled. Padilla is the only U.S. citizen to be arrested on American soil and treated as an enemy combatant while being denied access to a lawyer for years. The former Broward County mans 2002 arrest evolved into an extraordinary saga about the rights of U.S. citizens accused in terrorism cases that continues today. Padilla, 43, was convicted of conspiracy and providing support for a terrorism group. Hes already spent more than 12 years in solitary confinement, enduring some of the harshest incarceration conditions ever imposed on a U.S. citizen. Padilla was re-sentenced Tuesday after an appeals court ruled that the 17 years and four months imprisonment initially imposed by Cooke was not enough. That punishment would have seen him released in May 2022, at age 51. Prosecutors have agreed to recommend a prison term of no more than 30 years for Padilla, who converted to Islam in a Broward jail in the 1990s, was recruited at a Sunrise mosque and later signed up for al-Qaida training. The prosecution suggested the minimum he could legally get is 20 years and 10 months. Padillas lawyer, Caruso, highlighted in court documents the extraordinarily severe treatment he received at the hands of government operatives. That mistreatment, he said, merits a lesser penalty. The defense portrayed Padilla as a middle school dropout and fast food restaurant worker who was easily manipulated by sophisticated terrorist operatives. Most importantly, Caruso wrote, Padilla has been completely broken and subdued by aggressive and inhumane tactics, including constant isolation. Jose has always been peaceful and compliant with his captors. He was, and remains to the time of this [court] filing, docile and resigned, Caruso wrote. Many of the conditions Jose experienced were inhumane and caused him great physical and psychological pain and anguish All of the deprivations and assaults were employed in concert in a calculated manner to cause him maximum anguish and to break him, Caruso wrote. As is evident to anyone who has had any contact with Jose in the ensuing years [it has] succeeded. Padilla was arrested in May 2002 at Chicagos OHare International Airport, accused of plotting to detonate a radioactive dirty bomb on U.S. soil. Prosecutors later dropped that claim. He was detained for 3 1/2 years as an enemy combatant at a Navy brig in South Carolina. At the brig, the defense said Padilla was held in solitary confinement with no access to a lawyer, his family or the outside world. The intent: to maximize his disorientation, discomfort, hopelessness, and despair. According to court records, interrogators assaulted and screamed at him, shackled him for hours in excruciating stress positions, and threatened to kill him. They also used extreme temperature changes, glaring lights and darkness to disorient him, confined him to a windowless cell and injected him against his will with substances they said were truth serums, the defense wrote. His interrogations were filmed, but the government said it lost the DVD of his final interrogation. When Judge Cooke sentenced Padilla in January 2008, after presiding over his five-month jury trial the year before, she found no evidence he personally committed any violence or planned attacks against the United States. Padilla and two co-defendants were convicted of conspiring to murder, maim and kidnap people overseas, and providing material support to terrorist groups. The judge said their support for Islamic fighters was a serious criminal offense, but didnt call for life terms in prison. Padilla played an extremely limited role in the crime and was an inconsequential figure in the global terrorism movement, Caruso wrote. The harsh treatment of Padilla continued after his sentencing, the defense wrote. Padilla has been in solitary confinement at the Federal Detention Center in downtown Miami awaiting re-sentencing for the past two years. But he was kept in the notorious Supermax federal prison in Florence, Colo. which one former warden called a clean version of hell from 2008 to late 2012. He will likely be sent back there after Tuesdays re-sentencing. Padilla spends 24 hours a day in solitude in a cell the size of a small bathroom, with just five hours a month of exercise in an outdoor cage that Supermax inmates call the dog run. Hes allowed no physical contact visits and just one monthly social phone call. Padilla was born in Brooklyn and raised in Chicago and Broward, where he lived between 1991 and 1998, before moving to Egypt and training at an al-Qaida camp in Afghanistan in 2000. His mother, Estela Lebron, lives in Plantation and attends all of his court appearances. Prosecutors Brian Frazier and Ricardo Del Toro argued that Padillas 17 prior arrests, including his involvement in a murder when he was a juvenile, as well as hands-on terrorist training with al-Qaida, mean he could still pose a threat and should spend 30 years behind bars. pmcmahon@tribune.com, 954-356-4533 or Twitter @SentinelPaula A Cork charity has welcomed the news that a new doll with Down Syndrome (DS) has gone on sale here. The Head of Services for Down Syndrome Cork, Amanda Cooper, has described the new Barbie doll as "so important for representation". The new doll gives our individuals a chance to see themselves reflected in a positive way," she said. "It's not stereotyping, and it highlights the fact that we are all unique. "It helps to show more diversity and acceptance and when you when you look to promote diversity, it helps to build knowledge and understanding." Toy company Mattel worked closely with the USA's National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to design the doll, which is now available to order from Smyths across the country. Ms Cooper welcomed the new toy and commended the major toy franchise for work towards inclusivity for those with DS. The Barbie doll is such a big, iconic toy as well," she said. "Its well known everywhere. I think every girl had a Barbie doll. To use something like the Barbie doll, to use it in a positive way, it helps all our members towards inclusion for both our members and their families. Launching the doll, Mattel has said that it is designed to reflect the world kids see today". Ms Cooper believes the new toy can have a positive impact on the next generation. Children are more receptive to learning from a young age," she said. "When they are taught at a young age to accept differences, its not an issue when they become older. I think all schools should be building knowledge on disabilities. "If you teach children young, that it's OK to be different, it's OK to be unique, they are then more accepting as they grow." Meaningful symbols are incorporated throughout the dolls outfit, such as butterflies -- which are a symbol of Down syndrome -- and the blue and yellow colour palette, which represents Down syndrome awareness. Her pink pendant necklace has three arrows to represent the third 21st chromosome that individuals with Down syndrome have, and they point outwards to represent rising up and moving forward. The Barbie dolls pink ankle foot orthoses (AFOs), which match her outfit perfectly and support her as she walks, are similar to those often used by children with DS. Currently Down Syndrome Cork (DSC), the biggest branch of Down Syndrome Ireland in the country, helps 400 members and their families. DSC has three locations in Cork which are primarily kept running through support from local fundraising and offers services from early years to the training of adults with Down Syndrome for employment. THE Tanaiste Micheal Martin has admitted more capacity is needed in Cork hospitals but said there is a lot of hard work going on to reduce the waiting lists. The Tanaiste said unprecedented resources have been allocated to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). I think there has been a significant backlog since covid which has created challenges for hospitals, he acknowledged on Friday. There is a lot of work going on to try and reduce the waiting lists. There have been reductions in scopes for example which is more in the diagnostic front. There has been very significant work done there particularly in working with the GPs in the whole diagnostic area. In terms of certain procedures unprecedented resources have been given to the NTPF and indeed hospitals to try and get the list down. The Government last year gave approval for Corks new elective hospital to be built at St Stephens Hospital in Sarsfields Court, Glanmire. The Tanaiste said he would like to try and accelerate this project but it has to go through various stages before construction. We have earmarked money for the elective centre in Glanmire but it has to go through planning and design and all of that, he said. That is going to be very important. We do need more capacity and we are working with the hospital authorities to move on projects. Deputy Martin said that a significant focus is concentrating on the prevention of injuries and chronic illnesses developing. The stroke unit at the Cork University Hospital has been a huge success, he said. The most significant development in the last two years in Cork has been the Enhanced Community Care in Gurranabraher and the various clinics that are there in respect of cardiac respiratory monitoring, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the aging centre where people can get checked. There is a whole range of services there. That is the way to go in the future to prevent injuries and chronic illnesses developing. All of that is a significant focus. A SUSTAINABLE society ensures that everybodys voice is heard and that government can listen and respond. This is not the case for one of the most vulnerable communities children with disabilities. In Ireland, there are 30,000 children with disabilities on the community health waiting list. Similarly, in South Africa, children with disabilities cannot access services that non-disabled children enjoy. Children with disabilities from low socio-economic backgrounds lose out on opportunities to learn, socialise, and develop their potential because of limited service delivery in rural areas. With government provision inadequate to meet the needs of the community, individuals or groups fill the gap and provide for those that need it most. An example of this selfless vocation can be seen in the work of Mrs Glennie Marubini, at the Light Centre in the community of Krugersdrop in South Africa. To address the needs of children with disabilities from low-income households, the Light Centre provides a 24/7 care facility for children with severe disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, hydrocephaly and paraplegia. Due to complex social and economic factors, some families cannot provide or care for their own. It is in these instances that the Light Centre supports parents who are unable to provide for the complex care needs of their family member. As such, the Light Centre guarantees the protection, health, and well-being of the child. Unfortunately, funding can be difficult to secure for private non-profit organisations like the Light Centre. These centres are heavily dependent on donations and need equipment to provide sensory development experiences and learning opportunities to children who have disabilities. The transition-year group at Scoil Mhuire, Kanturk, has joined up with a technology education team from the School of Education at the University of Limerick, which is led by Dr Nicolaas Blom and Dr Donal Canty, to design and create devices that can support the sensory development and learning needs of children at the Light Centre. The belief is that all students are able to bring about positive change in their environment by using their creative and critical-thinking abilities. The technology subjects provide students with opportunities to investigate real-world problems and design and make solutions that can bring about positive change. The transition-year programme in Scoil Mhuire is an excellent opportunity for its students to learn through a project-based pedagogical approach in the classroom. The Light Centre cultivates and utilises the imagination and talents of the pupils to make a positive change in the lives of those less fortunate. In recent weeks, the UL team, comprised of Dr Nicolaas Blom, Dr Donal Canty, Sean OConnor, Maria McCarthy and Paddy Rowsome, introduced the Light Centre project to the transition-year students in Scoil Mhuire. Dr Blom, who is South African, led a Live MS Teams interview with Glennie Marubini, the director of the Light Centre, to help the TY students get a first-hand insight into the needs of the children and the work that is being done to help support them and their families. Some students said,We are excited to be a part of the Light Centre project, where we can help people like Glenny and the children. Students also said: I was very sad to know that there are children in the world that are neglected. I am very happy to make a difference for them, if I can. The TY students also asked Glenny: What do the children at the Light Centre enjoy the most? and What is your dream for the Light Centre and the children? Following the interview with Glenny, Belinda Murphy led a session where students thought deeply about their involvement in the project and the opportunity it provided to begin to address inequality and social justice. Dr Donal Canty said: It is wonderful to see the level of empathy the TY students had for the children of the Light Centre and the buzz of enthusiasm and excitement that they have as they begin to design and create devices/artefacts that will enhance the lives of the children. In true Scoil Mhuire style, the TY students have already taken the initiative in helping the Light Centre by raising more than 3,000, which will be used to enhance the lives and well-being of the children. Mr Crotty and the transition-year group are due to start designing and making devices for the children of the Light Centre from mid-November and hope to ship them out to South Africa in the spring. This project is a great example of how an integrated TY curriculum can build on the key skills from junior cycle and create change and authentic learning experiences for all involved. Well done to the group and we look forward to updates on the project in the months ahead. Scoil Mhuire principal, Denis Keating, congratulated transition-year students and the technology department on this latest collaboration with the University of Limerick. This project reflects on the many core values that we promote in Scoil Mhuire Kanturk, such as care and empathy towards the disadvantaged in society, while, at the same time, seeking high quality in teaching and learning, supported by the most up to date technology, he said. Mr Keating added that he is looking forward to seeing the innovative solutions to come from this project to assist the Light Centre and the children in the community of Krugersdrop in South Africa. CORK County Council has cancelled an invoice for 2,024 following a call to emergency services during recent gorse fires. David Roche was abroad when the caretaker of his home phoned emergency services to alert them to a fire in Kealties, Durrus near his home last February. The Sheeps Head local said the call was made out of a civic duty and that firefighters never entered his property. With this in mind, the West Cork resident said he was willing to fight Cork County Council every step of the way to ensure the fee was waived. Mr Roche had penned a letter to Cork County Council arguing that the fire was started on commonage. His letter was accompanied by supporting documentation that included photographs and videos he had recorded of the gorse fires. Mr Roche was among a number to be issued with similar invoices in recent months. Large fires caused severe damage to West Cork beauty spots more than two months ago with harrowing images emerging online that showed fires raging through Mount Gabriel on the Mizen Peninsula near Schull. Several blazes had occurred simultaneously according to eye witnesses. Mr Roche said he is glad Cork County Council took his concerns seriously. "This is a good example of how democracy works in a local environment with local people and local media who want to put things right. At the end of the day the person who handled my complaint in Cork County Council was very helpful. He invited me to submit my findings and replied to emails promptly. "Once I submitted my documentation he came to a decision to cancel the invoice in 24 hours." He hopes that lessons can be learned from the experience. "It was, in a sense, a big mistake to hand out bills for gorse fires to anybody because it casts the public service in a bad frame. It makes them look mercenary. Its a public relations mistake and causes grief to people who often feel intimidated. Its a vast amount of money to ask for and I think that was where the mistake was made. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA Almost half of people believe Mary Lou McDonalds statement that she would not have allowed Jonathan Dowdall to be a councillor for the party if she knew he was involved in criminality, a poll has indicated. According to the survey conducted by Red C Research on behalf of the Business Post, around 45 per cent of people said they believe the Sinn Fein leader, with some 37 per cent saying they did not believe her, while 19 per cent said that they did not know. The Red C poll also found that people were split on whether they trusted a Sinn Fein justice minister to fight organised crime groups and subversive activity, with 43 per cent of people saying they would not trust the party and 41 per cent saying they would. Sixteen per cent said they did not know. Dowdall, who worked as an electrician and businessman, is serving a four-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. He had been a Dublin City councillor for Sinn Fein from May 2014 until he quit the party in October 2015. Dowdall was a key witness in the States unsuccessful case against Gerry The Monk Hutch in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, during which some evidence sparked questions being asked of Sinn Fein. Among the evidence heard was a taped conversation of Dowdall from 2016 that suggested Sinn Fein officials knew about a 2011 gun attack on the home of his uncle, which the government has said undermined Ms McDonalds claim that the party had no knowledge of Dowdalls involvement in criminality. Ms McDonald and Sinn Fein have strenuously denied evidence heard during the trial, including that Mr Hutch had donated money to the party calling the claims false and deeply offensive. The verdict, read out by Ms Justice Tara Burns, raised repeated concerns about Dowdalls relationship with the truth, and suggested that he had offered to testify out of his own self-interest. Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall being cross-examined during the trial at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin, of Gerry The Monk Hutch (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Ms Justice Burns said a video of Gardai interviewing Dowdall in May 2016 make for very uncomfortable viewing and that the manner in which he told convincing lies to gardai was extremely concerning. Ms Justice Burns also said Dowdall was extremely reluctant to fill in details around the Regency murder trial, including about his relationship with an infamous and dangerous IRA terrorist Pearse McAuley. She said Dowdall had only accepted his friendship with McAuley after prison records showed 14 booked visits; Dowdall had initially said he visited McAuley on two or three occasions. She said Dowdall had told a barefaced lie to hide the friendship with McAuley which he had bizarrely not envisaged being questioned about. In the wake of the verdict, Sinn Fein issued a statement from Ms McDonald saying that Dowdall should never have been a member of the party. Had I known what he would become involved in, he would not have been a party member for one minute, never mind running for public office I would not tolerate that, Ms McDonald said. Dowdall was also given an eight-year sentence for false imprisonment and other charges relating to evidence on a USB key found during a search of his house as part of the Regency murder investigation. Gardai found on the USB stick a recording of Dowdall and his father Patrick torturing an individual in the garage of their home in January 2015. The man was tied to a chair with cable ties, waterboarded with a tea towel, had his head shaved and was threatened with being maimed or killed over the course of two hours. Latest @businessposthq political polling figures suggest a very stable voter landscape so far this year. pic.twitter.com/GDUUjSSkYS RED C Research (@REDCResearch) April 30, 2023 The Sunday Business Post Red C Research poll also shows that support for Sinn Fein and Fine Gael remains unchanged compared with last month, at 31 per cent, and 22 per cent respectively. Fianna Fail is up by one point to 16 per cent, as is the Green Party, which is now on 4 per cent. The Social Democrats are down by one point to 5 per cent, Labour is unchanged at 4 per cent, People Before Profit-Solidarity are down a percentage point to 2 per cent, and Aontu remains at 2 per cent. Twitter might provide publishers with a new way to earn from their content outside of the typical recurring subscription option. According to company chief Elon Musk, Twitter will allow media publishers to charge users for access to individual articles they post on the website as as soon as next month. Users will end up paying a higher per-article price than what the cost of access to every article would amount to if they had a subscription instead. But Musk said it's for those who want to read the occasional story from a specific outlet, so each article probably wouldn't cost as much as a monthly subscription. Rolling out next month, this platform will allow media publishers to charge users on a per article basis with one click. This enables users who would not sign up for a monthly subscription to pay a higher per article price for when they want to read an occasional article. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2023 At this point in time, though, details about the upcoming feature remain vague. Musk only said that it will start rolling out next month it's unclear what kinds of accounts and media outlets will be able to offer per-article charging. In addition, Twitter's owner didn't say how much the website would be taking as commission. When the company officially replaced Super Follows with Subscriptions, Musk announced that it won't be taking any money from creators for the next 12 months. After the year is up, Twitter will be taking a 10 percent cut on subscriptions. Engadget has reached out to the website for clarification, but it doesn't have a press team anymore. We'll have to wait for more information to know if Twitter will implement the same rule for per-article payments. Ultimately, the company will be taking a cut Twitter, under Musk, has been introducing more and more paid features to boost revenue. It's pretty common knowledge at this point that its verification badge now comes as a perk for its $8-a-month Blue subscription. Twitter also shut down its free API to launch a new one that users would have to pay for. It would cost enterprise customers almost $50,000 a month to access the new API, so some organizations and companies such as NYC's transport authority had chosen to end Twitter integration or to leave the website instead. A widening manhunt for a Texas gunman who killed five neighbors continued turning up nothing Sunday as officers knocked on doors, the governor put up $50,000 in reward money and the FBI acknowledged they had zero leads after nearly two days of searching. What we need from the public is any type of information, because right now were just were running into dead ends, James Smith, the FBIs special agent in charge, said during an afternoon news conference. I can tell you right now, we have zero leads. The search for the suspect has grown in scale since the Friday shooting, with more than 200 police from multiple jurisdictions searching for Francisco Oropeza, many going door to door, looking for the 38-year-old suspect and asking for tips. Local officials and the FBI also chipped in reward money, bringing the total to $80,000 for any information about Oropezas whereabouts. Oropeza is considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the area Friday night, likely on foot, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said late Saturday. He said authorities had widened the search beyond the scene of the shooting, which occurred after the suspects neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard. Capers said the suspect responded by telling them that it was his property. Doorbell camera video captured him walking up to the front door with a rifle. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Authorities were able to identify Oropeza by an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who reside outside the country, as well as the doorbell camera footage. He said police have also interviewed the suspects wife multiple times. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that they said Oropeza used in the shootings, but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. There were other weapons in the suspects home, he said. Were looking for closure for this family, said Capers, who said he hopes the reward money will be a good motivator to encourage someone turn the suspect in. Capers said there are plans to alert the public to the reward money in Spanish billboard ads. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a rural street where single-story homes sit on 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. Some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight Friday but didnt think anything of it. Its a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. It was a much quieter scene Sunday. Police crime scene tape had been removed from around the victims home. Some people stopped by to leave flowers. An FBI agent, several Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers could be seen walking around the neighborhood, going door to door and trying to speak with neighbors. The agent and officers declined to comment about what they were doing. One trooper stopped a red truck and asked to look inside before letting the driver continue on his way. Veronica Pineda, 34, who lives across the street from the suspects home, said authorities asked if they could search her property to see if he might be hiding there. Thats good for them to do that, said the mother of five, adding that she remained fearful because the gunman hasnt yet been captured. It is kind of scary. You never know where he can be. I dont think he will be here anymore, she said. She said she didnt know Oropeza well but occasionally saw him, his wife and son ride their horses on the street and believes the family have lived there five or six years. Pineda said neighbors have called authorities in the past to complain about the firing of guns. The victims of Fridays shooting were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and all were believed to be from Honduras, Capers said. All were shot from the neck up, he said. A GoFundMe page was set up to repatriate the bodies of two victims, a mother and son, to their native country. Enrique Reina, Honduras secretary of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was contacting the families in connection with the repatriation of remains as well as U.S. authorities to keep apprised of the investigation. The FBI in Houston said in a tweet on Sunday that it was referring to the suspect as Oropesa, not Oropeza, to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. His family lists their name as Oropeza on a sign outside their yard, as well as in public records. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. He said they were staying with family members. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe those at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report. A boycott can happen for many reasons, from political decisions to world events. They mostly center on national corporations, but they can also target local businesses. And there are many businesses facing gripes from San Antonians. At least, according to one Reddit thread posted on Wednesday morning that has seen more than 150 upvotes (akin to likes) and nearly 600 comments. One Reddit user asked those on the San Antonio Reddit page that local businesses they boycott and why. Users were quick to respond. "The San Antonio Aquarium," user natxnatx23 wrote. "I met the owner once and he does not care at all about his animals." Many followed up with gripes against other businesses specializing in animal care, including many a veterinary clinic. "Potranco Veterinary Clinic," another user commented. "Carried my dying dog in (it had just been attacked by an unleashed dog while on a walk). They refused to help me because they 'don't do emergencies.' Only time I've ever seen red while in a place of business." The user wrote that they felt "overwhelmed" when trying to find help for their bleeding dog, despite the fact that Potranco advertises emergency services on its website. More local complaints: 'What type of hell is this?': Here are San Antonio's least favorite roads Other veterinary clinics mentioned were Becker Animal Hospital and Covenant. There was one veterinarian given positive credit, however. "If it's not an emergency, we've been going to Animal Hospital of San Antonio," user doombuggy110 wrote. "Dr. Rachel Smith is incredibly knowledgeable, loves animals and is no-nonsense. She will suggest what is best for your pet without ulterior motives." Others complained about places due to politics and businesses being perhaps too vocal about theirs. "I want a sandwich/drink/shirt and am not trying to make a point," user 720hp wrote of businesses both on the left and the right. Many agreed, writing they simply did not wish to know businesses' political beliefs. "If I have to listen to the owner or manager stand there and crow about anything political, I immediately dont want to go back," the original question asker, user Sterling_-_Archer, commented. "I have enough of that already in my life." One place not mentioned: H-E-B gets high marks in customer loyalty. But one chain topped it in a study of grocers nationwide. However, others complained about businesses due to their political beliefs and donations. Such complaints ranged from Summer Moon Coffee to Black Rifle Coffee to Laika Cheesecake. Iconic San Antonio-based chain Bill Miller was even mentioned due to its right-wing political donations. "You boycott Bill Miller because of the owners' views. I boycott Bill Miller because its portions have decreased by 70 percent since like 2015," user Fhaksfha794 wrote. "We are not the same." Other restaurants mentioned included those of chef Johnny Hernandez, over allegations of improperly paying employees, Taco Cabana and Magnolia Pancake Haus. "For how many people go there, I'm surprised no one besides me has found a used creamer cup in their coffee, had a fork with egg crusted on it, or gotten sick," user AlternativeCap6085 wrote. "Clean yourself up, Magnolia." shepard.price@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate It was an audacious pitch: Constructing a loop of tunnels to shuttle visitors in Teslas between San Antonio International Airport and downtown. And when the Alamo Regional Mobility Authority voted to enter negotiations with Elon Musks Boring Co. on the transportation project it proposed, it drew plenty of attention. Now more than a year later, there still are no signed agreements and little apparent progress. In fact, the authoritys board hasnt heard from The Boring Co. since December, when it sent a draft development agreement to the tunneling firm. Its a project the city of San Antonio has passed on and that residents, professors and lawyers have deemed too expensive, potentially hazardous to the environment or simply unnecessary. RELATED: Innovation or rabbit hole? Experts weigh in on Musk-backed firms San Antonio tunnel plans But the mobility authority is still quietly working on the plan it has said will relieve traffic congestion while providing revenue for the independent government agency to meet the rapidly growing regions other transportation needs. Secretary/Treasurer David Starr said he expects the mobility authority board on May 17 to receive results of a feasibility study from an outside firm to determine whether the project should be streamlined. And hes all in on continuing to explore the project. San Antonio has a great opportunity to grow and technology can bring headlines and show that the city is looking forward in progress, he said. I know there are people that are for this and against it. I just think that if once we analyze the purpose, cost and if theres any harm to the community, then a good evaluation can be made on it. At a standstill Details of the so-called Alamo Loop Project among the most ambitious and futuristic transportation projects in the state have largely been discussed by the mobility authoritys board in executive sessions and secret talks with Musks tunneling firm. Chairman Michael Lynd Jr. did not respond to several requests for comment. Bexar County Engineer Renee Green, who serves as the RMAs director of engineering and operations, declined to comment. RELATED: Elon Musks SpaceX, Boring Company take over rural Texas area RMA spokesperson Monica Trevino-Ortega said only that Boring Co. has the boards proposal and is reviewing it internally. Starr declined to discuss specifics of the agreement but said the balls in the tunneling companys court. We wanted their response back and their commitment to the project, he said. We were going to be at a standstill waiting for them. The Boring Co. did not respond to a request for comment. Starr attributed the companys silence to everything going on with Musks other business ventures, including his acquisition of social media platform Twitter, growth of his electric-car maker Tesla and challenges with rocket maker SpaceX. That put a lot of people and a lot of situations on hold, he said of such developments. So, it doesnt surprise me that we havent gotten any strong response back yet. The project The Alamo Loop appeared to be on a fast-track after the RMA board unanimously voted to enter negotiations with Boring in March 2022. The Boring Co. had earlier proposed its tunnel loop, a move that led the RMA to seek other pitches. It received four more by late 2021 and last March settled on the one from Musks company. It has said that the system, at an estimated cost of $247 million to $289 million, could carry as many as 112,000 passengers daily on a route roughly following U.S. 281, producing annual revenue of up to $25 million for the RMA. UNANIMOUS VOTE: RMA picks Elon Musks Boring Co. for airport-to-downtown loop project The RMA board whose members are appointed by the Bexar County Commission and its chair by Gov. Greg Abbott said it could provide revenue bond financing for the project. Revenue bonds are repaid with money generated by the enterprise for which the debt was issued. While pitching for support, Lynd repeatedly reminded the public that the Regional Mobility Authority lacks the billions of dollars required to build transportation projects that can handle population growth in the coming decades. The authority is primarily funded by money from annual vehicle registrations and lacks the toll-road revenue stream of its counterparts in other Texas metropolitan areas. Lynds push reflected his desire to solve the cash flow problem and address future transportation needs in San Antonio, one of the fastest-growing metros in the nation. But while the RMA sketched out a financing plan it said would have no taxpayer impact, locals balked at the possibility that the city would be saddled with cost overruns. RELATED: Elon Musks Boring Co. may pour millions more into San Antonio airport tunnel project In September, Lynd and Starr said Boring Co. had increased to as much as $60 million what it was willing to put up to get the project started increasing its stake by $15 million. Thats a lot of money thats not coming from taxpayers to improve community transportation, he said at the time. I dont see anybody else coming and giving us $50 million thats not funded by taxpayers in some way, shape or form. Lynd, CEO of real estate developer Kairoi Residential, said the RMA had also been working with Boring Co. to identify the route along U.S. 281. And he said the board was on track to hire consultants to study route issues and financing by the end of the year. But since then, the board has not discussed the project in open session. And it canceled its regular monthly meetings in December and March. Failed projects To date, Boring Co. has completed only one tunnel thats open to the public. In April 2021, it opened a $47 million, 1.7-mile tunnel loop system to carry passengers in Tesla electric vehicles under the Las Vegas Convention Center. Last year, the company built a connector between the center and Resorts World casino and hotel. Clark County, Nev., also approved Boring Co.s plans for a 29-mile underground system with 51 stations between the Las Vegas Strip and into downtown two years ago. But the company is now trying to expand the projects footprint to add several more miles of tunnels with 69 stations. It hasnt begun digging. RELATED: Secrecy shrouded Kyles shelved, Elon Musk-backed tunnel project In Texas, Boring Co. has touted its Las Vegas tunnel system as its worked to collaborate with cities along the fast-growing Interstate 35 corridor in the past few years. It has discussed building an underground transportation loop connecting Austin and San Antonio. While such a project would rely heavily on tax dollars, the company has been working with local officials along the route largely in secret. Among its other plans, Boring has expressed interest in digging a tunnel beneath Musks Tesla factory near Austin. It filed an application with the city of Austin for a project called Colorado River Connector Tunnel, which would include a private access tunnel with associated improvements in eastern Travis County. The city of Kyle scrapped a $3 million pedestrian tunnel in November. The Hays County city spent $50,000 on pre-engineering services and entered into an agreement shrouded in secrecy for a tunnel to be built underneath a set of railroad tracks. Outside of Texas, other proposed deals in Los Angeles, Chicago, Maryland and elsewhere have gone dark. Despite the companys history of failed projects, Starr said last week he would be reticent to at least not be exploring the proposed Alamo Loop Project. I take things as theyre brought to us and I never worry about what somebody else did somewhere else, he said. I wouldnt be doing justice to the (Bexar County) Commissioners Court unless I at least participated in looking at it and evaluate it once we have all the facts. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE (as of 12:30 Wednesday): The Cleveland mass shooting suspect, Francisco Oropeza, was captured by police Tuesday night, ending a four-day manhunt that involved more than 200 law enforcement officials from multiple agencies. Heres the latest since news broke of Oropeza's arrest. Law enforcement officials Sunday continued to search for a man they say killed five people "execution-style" in San Jacinto County late Friday with a rifle identified by authorities as an AR-15. As friends and family gathered to mourn the victims, ages 9 through 31, authorities employed aerial drones and police dogs to locate the killer. Here's how the story unfolded over the weekend as the Chronicle learned more about the victims and their loved ones, the law enforcement response and the ongoing manhunt for the suspect, who has so far evaded authorities. Abbott praises 'pursuit of justice' while speaking in Austin At a ceremony for fallen officers in Austin on Sunday, Gov. Greg Abbott told more than 1,000 officers and their families that the bravery of law enforcement was on full display in San Jacinto County as they hunted for Francisco Oropeza. Law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels are working as we speak to try to find him, to arrest him and to provide Texas Justice to him, Abbott said at the Texas Peace Officers Memorial ceremony and vigil. Abbott said the suspected shooter had been deported four times and had re-entered the United States illegally. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers had planned to be in Austin for the ceremony honoring San Jacinto Deputy Constable Neil Pat Adam, one of 58 men and women added to a memorial on the grounds of the Texas Capitol Complex. But Abbott said Capers remained back in the county in the pursuit of justice. Family stayed in Cleveland for electrical business Four couples and their children were gathered at the Cleveland home Friday night so they could be in place for a Saturday morning job for the family's electrical business. The people in the house were members of a tight-knitHonduran family. Ramiro Guzman, who lived in the home, said their neighbor got mad when they asked him to shoot from some other part of his property, further from their home and frightened children. He said he was going to do what he wanted because it was his property, he told the Houston Chronicle in Spanish during a phone interview on Sunday. - Gabrielle Banks Daniel Guzman, 9, killed, other children saved Cleveland ISD Family members said 16 people, including eight children, were inside the home at the time of the shooting, although authorities previously reported the number of people to be 10. Daniel Enrique Lazo Guzman was shot and killed along with his mother. Law enforcement originally reported that Laso was 8 years old, but his stepfather, Wilson Garcia, said his son was 9. Guzman's school, Northside Elementary in Cleveland, held a vigil on Sunday. "I don't have words to describe what happened," Garcia said in Spanish. " Its like were alive but at the same time were not. What happened truly was horrible." MORE ON THE FAMILY: Survivor says ask for 'small favor' led to unthinkable tragedy Cleveland Independent School District announced crisis counselors would be on call during the weekend and available at schools starting Monday. The other three children present during the shooting survived and were taken to a hospital. They were were covered with the blood of Diana Velazquez Alvarado and Julisa Molina Rivera, who were both shot while laying on top of the children to cover them, law enforcement officials said. They also used clothes to hide Garcia's second son, who is less than two months old, Garcia said. As of Sunday, all three children were released from the hospital and placed with family, according to Sheriff Greg Capers. Search for Francisco Oropeza expands The manhunt for the suspected shooter, Francisco Oropeza, currently has "zero leads," FBI Special Agent in Charge James Smith told reporters. On Saturday, more than 150 officers gathered to search a wooded area near the site of the shooting where authorities initially believed Oropeza had fled, but only turned up some of his belongings. On Sunday, the search expanded to "well over 200" officers going door to door searching for tips, Sheriff Greg Capers said. Still, the investigation had yet to turn up any information about Oropeza's whereabouts as of Sunday afternoon. "We do not know where he is. We don't have any tips right now to where he may be," Smith said. "Right now, we're running into dead ends." Smith said he expected the search to become more difficult as time goes on. Authorities plan to put up large posters in Spanish advertising the $80,000 cash reward for information in hopes that someone will turn in Oropeza, according to Capers. Oropeza's wife is in "constant contact" with law enforcement, he said. Officials repeated that Oropeza should still be considered armed and dangerous. Abbott tweets about reward, Operation Lone Star support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted about the mass shooting for the first time Sunday, calling out the $50,000 reward for information on Francisco Oropeza, part of $80,000 total in rewards offered by law enforcement, and stating he's directed Operation Lone Star personnel to be on the lookout for Oropeza. Abbott's statement drew immediate criticism from some Twitter commenters for referring to the five victims as "illegal immigrants." Law enforcement officials have described all five victims as being from Honduras, but have not confirmed their immigration status. Sonia Argentina Guzman, one of the victims, is listed as owning the home where the shooting took place in San Jacinto County records. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers dismissed debate over the immigration status of the victims. "My heart is with this 8-year-old little boy. I don't care if he was here legally. I don't care if he was here illegally. He was in my county. Five people died in my county," Capers said. The boy's stepfather, Wilson Garcia, later reported that the child was 9 years old, despite previous information from authorities. Where did the Cleveland mass shooting happen? This map offers a look at the location of the Garcia family home and that of Francisco Oropeza, the man accused of fatally shooting five people in the Garcia home on Friday, April 28. The homes are located in unincorporated Cleveland, Texas, in San Jacinto County, about 45 miles northeast of Houston. Ken Ellis/Houston Chronicle $80,000 reward announced during FBI news conference 3:12 p.m.: Law enforcement authorities have announced an $80,000 award for anyone with information leading to the arrest of Francisco Oropeza. Authorities say the suspect's last name also is spelled "Oropesa" in certain law enforcement records. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said his office would supply a $55,000 award, with the FBI adding an additional $25,000. More than 250 law enforcement officers from local, state and federal agencies have joined the manhunt for Oropeza, who has yet to be caught. Megan Munce Law enforcement, reporters gather in otherwise quiet community 2:38 p.m.: Walter Drive was quiet Sunday afternoon, aside from a gaggle of reporters and law enforcement officers interviewing residents. The front of the slain familys home was littered with bikes, broken chairs, wooden planks and other miscellaneous items. At one point a man who lived nearby and a few of his friends and family members dropped off sunflowers near the front door. At the fenced-in home of the neighbor who police have accused of being the gunman, a black pickup pulling lawn equipment and a grey sedan were parked outside. A horse milled around a stable in the backyard. The suspect frequently rode a horse down the street, said Veronica Pineda, who moved a few houses down the from suspected shooter about five years ago. She had not personally known the man, or members of the homeowner's slain family. But she said many of the nearby residents moved to the neighborhood around the same time. It became normal to hear gunshots on weekends and holidays. She was scared for her young children, who often play outside. She says stray bullets pierced homes and cars. People frequently called police. They dont come, she said. Or if they come, they dont do anything. Pineda had been in bed Friday night when she heard a burst of six or seven gunshots. Her two younger children, 2-year-old twins, retreated under the covers with her. My babies got scared, she said. She didnt realize a family had been killed until she saw police walking down the street early the next morning. Its sad for both families, she said. Its a tragedy. Officials with the FBI said they planned to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. Julian Gill 16 people staying at Cleveland property 2:22 p.m.: Before five people were killed in the San Jacinto County home this weekend, as many as 16 people, related by blood or through marriage, had decided to stay together at the property Friday night. Four of the 16 were men who worked as electricians and had an early job the next morning, according to one survivor. FBI releases wrong photo of wanted gunman 2:10 p.m.: Officials with the FBI early Sunday released a photo of a man they alleged was connected to the Friday shooting in San Jacinto County before pulling it from their social media pages a short time later. The news release with the man's photo was so detailed it even provided a close-up of one easily recognizable tattoo on the man's arm. However, the photo released was not of the correct suspect, according to Connor Hagan, a spokesman for the FBIs Houston field office. Officials with the federal agency later released several photos of Francisco Oropeza. They are now spelling his name "Oropesa" to "better reflect his identity in law enforcement databases," Hagan said. Matt deGrood Two verified GoFundMe accounts established 1:32 p.m.: Two verified fundraisers have been set up on GoFundMe to help pay for burial and funeral costs as well as the cost of shipping the bodies of victims back to their native Honduras. One was established by Wilson Garcia, who survived the shooting but lost his wife, Sonia Argentina Guzman, and his 8-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso. A second GoFundMe was set up to benefit all five victims and their families. The three women who died Diana Velazquez Alvarado, Sonia Argentina Guzman and Julisa Molina Rivera leave behind six children, according to a friend of the families who set up the second GoFundMe. Aja Shepherd, a spokeswoman for GoFundMe, said the company's verification protocol ensures the crowdfunding platform has confirmed the identity of the organizer and their relationship to the fund's recipients and GoFundMe will not release the funds to anyone but the intended recipient, meaning any potential donors can rest easy knowing the proper person will receive the funds. The two pages combined had raised more than $135,000 as of Sunday afternoon. Megan Munce Here's more background on the shooting and manhunt: How did the Cleveland mass shooting happen? Around 11:30 p.m. Friday, Francisco Oropeza, 38, was shooting an AR-15-style rifle in his front yard when his neighbor asked him to stop shooting because his infant was trying to sleep, according to authorities. Oropeza first went home but then is alleged to have come back, entered his neighbor's house and started shooting inside. AR-15s: 5 things to know about style of rifle used in San Jacinto County mass shooting Wilson Garcia, the neighbor and homeowner, accused Oropeza of shooting his wife at the front door, then going from room to room looking for more victims, Garcia told ABC 13. Authorities said there had been 10 people inside the house at the time. Oropeza was accused of fatally shooting five people before fleeing. Has a Cleveland gunman been arrested? A judge has issued an arrest warrant for Oropeza with a $5 million bond, but authorities have been unable to locate him. On Saturday, authorities searched a heavily wooded area near the home and then expanded their search area Saturday night into Sunday morning. Authorities said they believe Oropeza ran away. Although officials said they recovered the gun they believe Oropeza used during the shooting, the FBI Houston office warned he's still considered armed and dangerous. Who are the victims? The first victim was Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, the wife of homeowner Wilson Garcia, he told ABC13. She was found shot at the front door. Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, and Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, both were found dead inside a bedroom, their bodies draped across three small children, who survived. The last two people fatally shot were Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18, and Daniel Enrique Laso, 9. All of the victims were from Honduras, but they were not all related, according to authorities. Wilson Garcia, the homeowner, told ABC13 he was having company over at the time of the shooting. Enrique Reina, secretary of foreign relations for Honduras, said the Honduran consulate in Houston is in touch with the families to express support and offer help with repatriating the bodies of the victims, if necessary. Who is Francisco Oropeza? Francisco Oropeza is the San Jacinto County man accused by authorities of fatally shooting the five people after his neighbor asked him to stop shooting his rifle in his front yard. The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office had received multiple calls in the past about Oropeza shooting his gun, Sheriff Greg Capers said. Capers said it was unclear how many times that happened, or whether Oropeza was committing a crime by shooting his gun. A search of criminal court records in San Jacinto County shows no prior arrests for Oropeza. Neighbors told the Houston Chronicle gunfire in the area is common and most residents keep to themselves. In the interview with ABC13, Wilson Garcia said he'd never had a problem with Oropeza before the night of the shooting. Where is San Jacinto County? San Jacinto County is northeast of Houston. The shooting occurred on Walter Drive in the Trails End Subdivision in unincorporated Cleveland, about 45 miles northeast of downtown Houston. What law enforcement agencies are investigating? The search for Oropeza was being carried out by state, local and national law enforcement agencies, including the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office, FBI, U.S. Marshal's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, Montgomery County Constable's Office Precinct 4, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The travel industry is experiencing a boom in cruising, as the intent to cruise is stronger than ever amongst travellers, with 85% of cruisers intending to take a holiday at sea again, said luxury cruise experts at Panache Cruises. This comes after CLIA data revealing British and Irish holidaymakers took approximately 1.7 million cruises in 2022, up from 479,000 the previous year. The growth of the expedition holiday market indicates a desire for adventure post-lockdown with tourists keen to explore lesser-trodden routes. And with travel restrictions a thing of the past after many months of being unable to travel, holidaymakers are looking to tick off the destination at the top of their bucket lists. The industry is responding to consumer demand for more environmentally friendly forms of travel with sustainability at the centre of many travel businesses' plans for 2023. This is most evident in the cruise sector as cruise lines introduce cleaner fuels, eliminate plastics and reduce waste whilst producing fresh water on board. With more regional UK ports open to cruise vessels than ever before, holidaymakers need to travel less by road or air before they start their holiday proper. This not only saves time but also has environmental benefits too. James Cole, Founder and Managing Director at the specialist in ultra luxury cruises said: Following the pandemic, we have seen a shift in the priorities of travellers across the wider travel sector as people move away from mass-market style holidays. After being cooped up inside for two years, people are looking for adventure further afield. Advancements in cruise ship technology such as hydrodynamic hull design and more efficient propulsions systems mean that vessels can cruise comfortably at over 20 knots whilst using much less fuel. This is allowing tourists to travel further from home even on shorter itineraries. Destination trends in Europe have been impacted significantly by the war in Ukraine as ships are no longer stopping at various ports in both the Baltic and the Black seas. This has led to travel itineraries moving the focus away from Russia to other less explored Eastern European destinations like Tallinn in Estonia - which has seen cruise tourists almost double in the past 12 months. And with sustainability an increasing concern for consumers, a growing number are voting with their wallets by choosing travel brands that provide sustainable options. We are seeing a big shift towards environmentally friendly travel generally across all modes of transport and the cruise sector is driving this change. Cruise operators are building ships that run on greener fuels as well as developing wastewater management systems to eliminate water pollution. Marine engineers are coming up with more streamlined hulls which reduce drag and are therefore much more efficient. This is allowing passengers to travel further afield in a much more efficient manner. Luxury cruise experts at Panache Cruises have analysed the market and booking data to uncover the travel trends we can expect to see this summer and beyond. 1. Bucket List Holidays The demand for big-ticket bucket list trips has increased in popularity after the confines of lockdown. Travellers are looking to spread their wings with a renewed sense of perspective and a desire for adventure. Cruise lines are seeing an increase in bookings to destinations such as the US, Canada and Australia as well as previously inaccessible destinations. The pandemic halted everyones ability to travel and now holidaymakers are realising they can, and should, visit somewhere they have always wanted to go whilst they now have the opportunity. 2. Expedition Holidays A surge in interest in expedition cruises reflects a desire within Brits to travel further afield and create new experiences. The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have fuelled a desire to explore off the beaten track. Adventurists want to see some of the most remote parts of the world and walk along yet-to-be-trodden paths. Antarctica cruises are a popular choice amongst those wanting to see landscapes that have only been seen by a few. The rapidly growing expedition cruising sector has seen many new ice rated expedition vessels - equipped with submarines, helicopters and Zodiac inflatable boats to explore remote areas up close. 3. More of a focus on our environment Environmental issues are to the fore in the travel sector in 2023 with a bigger focus on sustainability and protecting the natural environment. The cruise industry is taking a lead with new greener fuels and more efficient vessels. More regional UK ports are opening up for large vessels too meaning that holidaymakers have significantly less distance to travel between home and their nearest cruise ship dock. Many holidaymakers wont need to board a plane and generate further emissions as a result. 4. Baltic travel changed inexorably by the Ukrainian war The cruising industry in particular has seen a switch in tourism to other eastern European seaports because of the war in Ukraine. Rather than visiting Russian ports such as St. Petersburg, cruise ships are stopping off in ports such as Tallinn in Estonia and Riga in Latvia. As a result, tourism numbers to these eastern European countries are soaring - bringing in more money to these countries. Tallinn alone has seen tourist numbers from docking cruise ships almost double in the past year. 5. Being able to cruise further on shorter trips CLIA data shows for the previous year, the average length of cruise for British and Irish holidaymakers was 9.7 days, which is down slightly on the length of cruise in 2019. Recent advances in cruise ship technology have seen the creation of vessels which can cover greater distances per day due to improved hydrodynamic hulls and more efficient engines. In 2023 travellers heading away on a weeks cruise on the most modern ships will be able to explore further afield due to this new technology. With sailing speeds in excess of 20 knots, travellers are now able to spend more time at each port and experience destinations within Scandinavia and the Mediterranean more easily than ever before. Panache Cruises is the leading UK provider of luxury and ultra-luxury cruises and partners only with the World's most luxurious cruise lines. With full ATOL financial protection, Panache Cruises customers also benefit from the companys Customer Trust Fund. TradeArabia News Service Fiesta ends today how many events did you attend this year, and did the festivities keep you away from the news? Not to worry, weve got you covered. Click on the headlines to read the news that grabbed San Antonios attention as you get the confetti out of your hair. Courtesy of HEB Charles Butt, the former CEO and grandson of H-E-Bs founder, is San Antonios richest billionaire and just cracks the top 300 worldwide, albeit at a lower net worth than the last time he made the list. Read to find out which other San Antonio magnates made the list, as well as what other members of the Butts family are worth. Courtesy A day after Dr. Jerry Teague was reported to be missing and having cognitive issues, the dental anesthesiologist was back at work. His patient was Maria Elena Lugo Querales. She now lives in a nursing facility after suffering brain damage. Her husband now is suing, saying that Teague failed to intubate her and administered excessive amounts of anesthesia drugs. Find out more about what happened to Teague and about the medical malpractice lawsuit. Mike Sutter/Staff Mike Sutters list of the top 25 restaurants in San Antonio has dropped from sushi and tacos to fried chicken and steak, check out the best eats in the Alamo City and see if your favorite spots made the cut. Students at OConnor High School have been sharing information on social media in recent days about the unexplained departure of an English teacher there, including court documents detailing a sexual encounter he had with a 12-year-old boy in 2017. OConnor High School didnt tell parents about David Eric Vetters being arrested. Find out why and more about the case and Vetters' sentence. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images SpaceXs Starship launch sparked fires, rocketed debris miles away and showered Port Isabel residents in grime. Find out more about the damage found by a nonprofit that surveyed the area, what federal agencies are reporting and what it means for SpaceX. William Faulkner once wrote, The past is never dead. Its not even past. The haunting past came rushing back on Tuesday night, when Carolyn Bryant Donham died in hospice care in Westlake, La. She was 88. Donham was the white woman who in August of 1955 accused a Black teenager, Emmett Till, of making improper advances toward her in the small grocery store in Money, Miss., where she was working. It was an accusation that would prove to be a death sentence for the 14-year-old boy. Till was lynched for supposedly whistling at Donham. His body was dumped into the Tallahatchie River, mutilated beyond recognition; a 75-pound fan from a cotton gin was tethered to his neck. The country was shocked, all the more so because, in an act of profound and heartbreaking courage, his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, demanded an open casket so the world could see the brutality perpetrated on her son. Jet Magazine published the photos. What makes this tragedy even sadder is that the two white men acquitted of the murder by an all-white jury Donhams husband Roy Bryant and brother-in-law J.W. Milam later confessed in an interview with Look Magazine. It seemed as if nothing could exacerbate the pain and sorrow, but in his 2017 book, The Blood of Emmett Till, Timothy B. Tyson claimed Donham, 21 at the time of the murder, told him she lied about the flirting incident that led to the slaying. Nothing that boy did could ever justify what happened to him, Tyson quoted Donham as saying in 2008 in his book. Donham later denied recanting her earlier testimony, and federal investigators, unable to determine the truth, closed the case they had reopened because of the book. Now, with her death, the Till family has lost any chance of holding someone accountable for his killing. She was never tried in the court of man, Ollie Gordon, who was 7 when his cousin was killed, told the Associated Press. But I think she was judged by God, and his wrath is more punitive than any judgment or penalty she could have gotten in a courtroom. I dont think she had a pleasant or happy life. Gordon may be responding with the wisdom that comes from a lifetime of sorrow and regret, and he should be commended for that. But an unhappy life is an inadequate sentence for the taking of another life. Neither Tills family nor the country received justice. Traveling from Chicago to visit relatives in Mississippi, Till was jovial and outgoing, by all accounts. He had a kind nature captured in a photograph widely circulated after his death. The youngster is smiling in the picture. It is a haunting smile, so warm and bright that it seems to emanate from his eyes, not his lips. His death led to the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964, and now, 68 years after he was killed, we console ourselves with the usual platitudes. It was Mississippi, people say. It was the Deep South, people say. It was 1955, people say. The past is never dead. That cannot happen now, in the South or anywhere else, the refrain goes. But it can and does, not in such a grotesque or heinous manner, perhaps. But it does. We see progress undermined by regression. The Civil War freed the slaves; then came Jim Crow. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act; then came legislation incarcerating Black people at a higher rate than white people. We are witnessing the undoing of the Voting Rights Act in state legislatures across the country. And through all this movement backwards, we have numerous incidents of police officers killing unarmed Black men and women. Its part of this bigger story, part of a history that we can learn from, the Rev. Wheeler Parker, now in his 80s and a pastor in suburban Chicago, said of the grocery store where he accompanied his cousin that day. He is right. It is too late for Till. But it is not too late for the country, no matter how bleak the landscape may look. The past is never dead, and if we honor that reality, then we can build a more just and equal future. The headstone and grave of Sammy Williams in Meadowview Cemetery in Manhattan, Montana (Photo courtesy of Rachel Phillips). About the only thing that can be said for certain about Sammy Williams is that he died in Manhattan, Montana, on Dec. 10, 1908. Even how Williams died, his name and the rest of his lifes story are conflicting, murky or uncertain. What can be said beyond the date of Sammys death is that the local undertaker, George R. Safely, was shocked to learn as he prepared the affable, longtime community member for burial that Sammy had the anatomy of a woman despite being known to everyone as a man. Hardly knowing what to do, the members of the community, many who had been helped by Sammys famous charity, chipped in for a headstone that still sits in Meadowview Cemetery, south of Manhattan: A female whose real name is unknown but who has been for many years known as Sammy Williams. Died Dec. 10, 1908. Age about 68 yrs. Though no one can say anything about Williams reasons for arriving in Montana (although escape seems the most plausible), we know that he came to Montana, was accepted and loved, remembered for doing what any wild and wooly cook would do when arriving in Gallatin Valley: HE was known for loving to dance with the ladies, enjoying a stiff drink without every getting drunk, and for being a great cook. When Sammy died, there was an outpouring of grief from the men who worked the Heeb Ranch in Manhattan. Williams was known for caring for those who were sick, and some reported that at their most destitute moments, they would find $5 or $10 in their pocket, the quiet charity of Sammy. And he also voted. Charlotte Mills, the former Clerk and Recorder of Gallatin County, works as a part-time volunteer at the Gallatin Historical Museum and has helped Research Director Rachel Phillips dig for clues about Williams past. In most elections, Phillips said, women were not allowed to vote, except for certain races, like school boards. In Montana, women secured the right to vote in 1914, ahead of the franchise going nationwide in 1920. However, polling books show that Sammy voted at least three times in elections in Gallatin County before 1900. And he also had land 320 acres, which he held at the time of his death. As county property records show, his estate was auctioned off and in a handwritten note, it said the land belonged to Sammy H. Williams, a female. What the H stood for is not recorded, but Mills guesses it might stand for Heeb the ranch for which he worked as a cook. That seems plausible, Mills said. But its his first and last name that seem so intentional for the time period, Sam and Williams were both common a lot more so than Ingebjorge Amundsdatter Wekans Viko. That was name given to Sammy in Norway, likely in 1833. However, Sammys story is really one told in two different halves. The Wekans immigrated to America, settling in Allamakee County in Iowa, sometime in the middle of the nineteenth Century, and Ingebjorge came to the country with her childhood friend and fiance, Sven Norem. But Norems family broke off the engagement, even as Ingebjorge was sewing her wedding clothes. According to historical documents and newspaper accounts after Sammys death as the community tried to figure out Sammys past, Norems family opposed the marriage because the Wekan family status was too low. At that point, Ingebjorge disappears from the historical record. However, in the late 1850s, census records in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, show a Billy Williams, who arrived to work as a camp cook for the areas thriving timber industry. Williams is recorded as a small, delicate-looking man with black hair, a feminine voice and a slightly hunched back. Billy frequently went out with the lumberjacks where never hesitated to dance with the girls and spend his money. While he loved to drink and have a good time with his buddies, he was always careful never to become intoxicated, wrote Phillips in an article for Bozeman magazine in March 2017. Word quickly spread about Billys talent as a cook, and nearby logging camps hired him without delay. As a cook for nearly 30 years, he acquired a lot of money, which he used to purchase buildings and lots in Eau Claire, a rarity that caught the attention of town leaders. Billy Cook was noted for speaking Norwegian, English and German fluently as well as picking up the languages of the Native Americans in the area. Even after leaving Eau Claire sometime in the 1880s, Billy Williams sent gifts of money back to his friends who still resided there, Phillips article said. The sick were never neglected when Billy was around he made it a point to visit them and often stayed to nurse them through the night. However, trouble came to Wisconsin when a family moved from not-so-distant Iowa to Eau Claire and noticed Billys remarkable resemblance to the Wekan family. Word got back to Iowa and one of the Wekan brothers was sent to Eau Claire to persuade Billy to return home. Billy made one last trip from Eau Claire back to Iowa, dressed as a tramp to apparently get one final look at his parents, and his former fiance and his wife. From there, Billy went farther west, working in North Dakota for several years before a Sammy landed in Manhattan. It was there that Henry Heeb, a horse and cattle rancher, was in need of a ranch cook to replace his former employee who was getting older and wanted to return to his homeland of China. Williams motives, his reasons, and even his backstory are vexingly elusive and simultaneously alluring, leading historians to think as much about what isnt known as what is. She wanted to disappear, Mills said, believing that was the most plausible reason for the transformation. For 18 years, Sammy cooked and worked for different ranch outfits, Phillips records, including the Heeb Ranch, the Meadowbrook Ranch, the Number I Ranch and the Manhattan Company. He chewed tobacco and slept in the bunkhouse with the hired hands. One source claims he was the first to get up in the morning and last to climb up to bed at night, changing his clothes in the dark while others slept, Phillips said. The mystery of the former identity of Williams was only learned after his death when a local Gallatin County jeweler, C.J. ODell, believed that he had seen Sammy years before in Eau Claire. The Eau Claire chief of police was later able to fill in the details, recalling that Billy had disappeared shortly after his connection to the Wekan family was discovered. I think lots more things like this happened and some are known, and others happened because of what we know about the time period: It was a low population, and it took awhile for law and government to be established, and so to have this flexibility to be who you wanted to be was not uncommon, Phillips said to the Daily Montanan. I havent come across many stories like it. But because its unique, it could lead to new information to other people in similar places and owned property. But its important to note he lived a different life than many others, but from all accounts it was fulfilling and he died surrounded by friends. The post The remarkable life, death and tombstone of Manhattans Sammy Williams appeared first on Daily Montanan. While the demand to ban the controversial film Kerala Story is gaining momentum, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has responded to the matter. Pinarayi Vijayan said that the trailer of the film "Kerala Story" indicates that it is following Sangh Parivar propaganda. The Chief Minister stated that at first glance, it seems that the hate campaign against Kerala has been deliberately and intentionally created with the aim of communal polarisation. He also said that legal action would be taken against anti-social activities. The Chief Minister's response was through Facebook. The trailer of the Hindi movie "Kerala Story", which at first glance seems to have been deliberately produced with the aim of communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda against Kerala, was released the other day. The hint from the trailer is that this movie is taking on the Sangh Parivar propaganda by placing Kerala, the land of secularism, as the centre of religious extremism, Pinarayi Vijayan said. Propaganda films and the marginalisation of Muslims in such films should be viewed in the context of various efforts made by the Sangh Parivar to gain an advantage in electoral politics in Kerala. To use "love jihad" allegations as a theme is part of the planned move. "love jihad" is something which was dismissed by investigating agencies, courts and even the Union Home Ministry. G. Kishan Reddy, then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and still Union Minister, replied in Parliament that there is no such thing as love jihad. Yet in the film, this false allegation is made the main story premise only because of the eagerness to humiliate Kerala in front of the world. Sangh Parivar is trying to destroy the atmosphere of religious harmony in Kerala and sow poisonous seeds of communalism. Parivar politics in other places does not work in Kerala, so they are trying to spread politics of division through the film based on fake stories. The Sangh Parivar is spreading such myths without the support of any fact or evidence. In the trailer of the movie, we could see the hoax that 32,000 women in Kerala had converted and became members of the Islamic State. This bogus story is a product of the Sangh Parivar's lie factory. Justifying those who use cinema only to create sectarianism and division in the country in the name of freedom of expression is not right. Freedom of expression is not a licence to communalize this country, spread lies, and divide people. It is requested that the Malayalis reject communal and sectarian movements altogether. Everyone should be vigilant against communal attempts to spread unrest in society through false propaganda. Legal action will be taken against anti-social activities, Pinarayi Vijayan added. The Kerala Story is an upcoming Indian Hindi-language film directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The plot follows the story of a group of women from Kerala who are converted to Islam and enlist with the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The film has courted controversy for portraying itself as a real story and for making false claims that thousands of women from Kerala are being converted to Islam and recruited into ISIS. The film is expected to release on May 5th. Now actor and filmmaker Vijayakumar Prabhakaran has come out in full support of Sreenath Bhasi. As reported by Asianet News, Vijayakumar Prabhakaran came out in support of Sreenath Bhasi at the press conference held in Kochi for the film Kundara Andi Aapees starring Sreenath Bhasi. The 'ban' imposed on actors Sreenath Bhasi and Shane Nigam by film organisations is being discussed in the Malayalam film industry. Those working in various fields of the film industry have come forward to react against this. In the case of Sreenath Bhasi and Shane, the film organisations say that instead of a ban, they will not cooperate. Vijayakumar Prabhakaran announced that he will do a film with Sreenath Bhasi and will release the film this year. No one can say that Bhasi used drugs. Those who say this should correct themselves. It is not right to restrict a talented actor like Sreenath. Never put people off by their attitude. Sreenath Bhasi was supposed to act the other day. But we decided not to. The organisations that are making the claims should clarify the mistakes of Sreenath Bhasi. The issues they raise do not concern us. But the shooting has stopped for now. There has been a loss of eight lakh rupees. But now there is no complaint. If there is a situation where it is not possible to shoot with Bhasi, another actor will be considered instead. But now we want Bhasi to act in this film and Bhasi also wants to act. The shoot was scheduled because Bhasi was free till May 5. But when some people said that there is such a problem, it was postponed. We hope that Bhasi will give another date - says Vijayakumar Prabhakaran. It is believed that no one has the power to ban any actor. What if he files a case saying that he is being insulted. Bhasi is the victim. Society should not intentionally make someone a miscreant. Don't create a situation for that - Vijayakumar Prabhakaran said. It is believed that no one has the power to ban any actor. What if he files a case saying that he is being insulted. Bhasi is the victim. Society should not intentionally make someone a miscreant. Don't create a situation for that - Vijayakumar Prabhakaran said. There are many multi-talented artists in Tamil cinema. Anirudh Ravichander, a vocalist and music director, and actress Andrea Jeremiah are two among them. These days, Andrea is very picky about the roles she accepts. At the same time, Anirudh is a rock star in Tamil cinema. All the songs composed and sung by Anirudh Ravichander are hits. It is being said in the industry that if Anirudh is the music director, then the songs will be a sure-shot hit. Gossip about stars entering the glamorous world of cinema is very common. When working together, the artists become closer. That's when such gossip starts spreading. In 2012, some private pictures between Anirudh Ravichander and Andrea Jeremiah were leaked online. It was at the beginning of Anirudh's career. At first, many people believed that these private pictures of both stars were morphed. It was also the time when Anirudh's 'Kolaveri' song was a blockbuster hit. Anirudh had a sizable fan base as a result. Many people were surprised to see Anirudh's intimate pictures with Andrea. As the pictures spread, the audience and fans realised that the two were in love. According to the report, Anirudh was 22 years old at that time. Andrea was 27 years old. After the pictures came out, there was a discussion among the fans about the big age difference between the two. After the pictures were leaked, both responded about the same. Both said that they were not sorry for their leaked pictures. Andrea is reported to have said that such things should not have come online but was not worried about the leak. The actress is also reported to have said that the most important people in her life stood by her as a pillar of strength at that time. Those pictures are 18 months old. Anirudh and I are not shy about such a thing. It was a beautiful relationship that we shared. But we had to leave it later, Andrea said. Anirudh responded by saying that he was upset when the intimate pictures were leaked online. Someone downloaded these photos from my phone. It's unfortunate and annoying that someone picked it up and released it while I was charging my phone on someone's laptop. Families are involved. And my fans are also upset, he said. My parents raised me with certain values. They stood by me amid speculation and debate. I don't want to distract myself by worrying about the past. Anirudh once said, Speaking to India Today. Anirudh Ravichander is Superstar Rajinikanth's relative. Anirudh has provided music for many songs like Selfie Pulla, Vaathi Coming, Arabic Kuthu, etc. Currently, he is busy composing music for films like Thalapathy Vijay's Leo, Jr. NTR's NTR 30, and Atlee-Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. HER mother Diya Kumari of Jaipur and her brother Padmanabh Singh may be the most photographed Indian former royals, but Gauravi Kumari has just about stepped out in social circles. Shes just a year younger than her international jetsetter of a brother, Padmanabh Pacho Singh, but has remained in his shadow for a while. Until the 23-year-old beauty attended the Dior show in Mumbai, and was photographed by the eager paparazzi there. Gauravi has introduced the an online and a retail store for the The Princess Diya Kumari Foundation. The foundation encourages Rajasthani crafts and supports the livelihood of local women. It was retailed at a counter at the museum store of Jaipurs City Palace, Gauravi launched it in its current ecommerce avatar in 2020, as well as giving it a bigger physical presence at the palace last year. Ive learned so much working with the women at the foundation, Gauravi tells me. Its a very different sort of work experience as everyone comes from different backgrounds. It was challenging, but the ladies made it so easy for me, she smiles. Gauravi, along with French designer Claire Deroo, create contemporary designs using traditional local craft techniques. The women upskill and make the products, which are then sold at the store and online. Personally, I love all the Rajasthani crafts. Over the years Ive taken the effort of learning more about them. Ive just become so conscious of how much there is to learn and Im curious to keep the learning going, Gauravi says. The PDKF store sells a lot of very special blockprint dresses. Blockprinting is our most popular technique, and at the store we do some beautiful clothes inspired by Jaipurs frescoes and motifs. We wanted to match block-printing with todays world, and create relevant designs. I think Rajasthans gota patti is also lovely. I also love lac bangles, which is a struggling industry. I really want to take some efforts in reviving that. And of course the famous Jaipur minakari work on jewellery is always in style, she avers. Diya Kumari, currently a member of Parliament from Rajsamand, and the BJP State General Secretary for Rajasthan, started her foundation in 2013. She aimed at providing a better life for women from economically or socially disadvantaged parts of society. It operates seven centres across Rajasthan and is headquartered in Jaipurs Badal Mahal. It also partners with donors and other governmental and non-governmental institutions to facilitate funds of work opportunities for the women. The foundation has received recognition from the UN National Committee Canada for its efforts in empowering women. Mum started this to help local women, from Jaipur and the neighbouring villages. The store needed an update, we needed to give the women a bigger and possibly an international platform, Gauravi reasons. We have womenswear, menswear, home, and accessories, and Jaipurs famous blue pottery. We also do some fun Jaipur-themed tshirts that are quite popular. My mum is so busy with her political career, but she is still so involved with the foundation. Even with the store, I keep asking her for advice and assistance. Gauravi has had a global upbringing too. After schooling at Ajmers Mayo College Girls School, she went to college at New York University. I absolutely loved my boarding school, I gave it so much credit for shaping me. And NYU was such an independent space to be in too. In both, I was treated just like one of the other girls and I honestly enjoyed that, she smiles. In 2019, she made her debut with Paris Le Bal where young girls from privileged families across the world announce their arrival on to a global social debut. Actor Ananya Panday also made her Le Bal debut with Gauravi. It was so much fun really. One is exposed to so many amazing people from across the world doing great things with their lives. Im still in touch with so many of them, she says. Interestingly, she also interned at the New York-based Paper magazine. The lifestyle journal is best loved for Kim Kardashians Break the Internet cover, as well as Ranveer Singhs near-naked pictures recently. The magazine has laid off its entire staff only a few days ago. Thats just so terrible, Gauravi says. Mickey Boardman was my boss and we had such a great learning experience with him. We werent only carrying files around or doing desk jobs, he put together an interns magazine where we did our own sourcing and shoots. This definitely was my favourite internship, she says. I actually liked the Ranveer cover too. Shes far from modelling like her older brother Pacho has done, for several international brands like Dolce & Gabbana. I thought he was so amazing, I told him he needs to do more of it. But no, no one has asked me to model for them as yet. I would love to try it too, she says. My younger brother Lakshraj was actually asked to model in New York, but hes still in school, she laughs. For now, both Gauravi and Pacho are thrilled to be building Jaipur from the grassroots up as well as turning the Pink City into an international destination. Namrata Zakaria is a seasoned writer and editor, and a chronicler of social and cultural trends. Her first book, on late fashion designer Wendell Rodricks Moda Goa museum, is due to be published shortly. Zakaria is especially known for her insiders take on fashion, luxury and social entrepreneurship in India. Her writing is appreciated for shaping opinions, busting myths, making reputations and sometimes breaking the odd career. Zakaria is also involved in putting together philanthropic efforts in the field of economic and environmental sustainability. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Chardham Yatra has been stopped at Srinagar as a precautionary measure due to bad weather at Kedarnath and Badrinath, police said here on Sunday. On Saturday, Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar issued instructions in view of rain and snowfall during the Chardham yatra and directed officials to be extra vigilant. Chardham Yatra has been stopped by Srinagar Police as a precautionary measure due to bad weather at Kedarnath and Badrinath. There are adequate arrangements for staying in Srinagar, and the passengers will not face any kind of problem. Passengers are being appealed to continue their journey when the weather clears up, said Ravi Saini, Station House Officer of Srinagar police station. In view of the weather alert of rain and snowfall during the Chardham Yatra and the security of the proposed G20 meeting in Narendra Nagar, DGP Ashok Kumar yesterday reviewed the situation through video conference and issued directions to the concerned district in-charges. DGP Kumar directed that the passengers coming for Chardham Yatra should be informed about the weather forecast at all the checkpoints located on the travel routes from Rishikesh. Also, ensure to update the passengers about the weather alert of rain and snowfall during Char Dham Yatra through various mediums, Kumar added. DGP also directed to install of State Disaster Response Force duty with wireless sets on both sides of the glaciers on the Kedarnath Dham route.SDRF duty with wireless sets should be installed on both sides of the glacier located on the Kedarnath Dham route. Arrangements should be made for the devotees to cross the glacier carefully from around the glaciers. In case anything unusual appears, the passengers on both sides should be directed to stop at a safe place, said Kumar. DGP directed to appoint duty charts and in-charges of all the arrangements well in time for the proposed G20 meeting.In view of security, a separate corridor should be made for the delegates, he added. Kumar also mentioned installing CCTV cameras at every meeting place and drones and special rafts should be used for security during Ganga Aarti in Parmarth Niketan. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bengaluru: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to release its election manifesto for Karnataka Assembly polls on Monday, said sources. The manifesto will be released by party president JP Nadda in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and party veteran BS Yediyurappa. Sources said the party manifesto may focus on welfare measures for the youth, infrastructure development and women empowerment. Further, to take the first-time voters on board, a special announcement can be made for the youth and girl students who have passed class 12. In the 2018 election manifesto, BJP touched every section of society. The party had also included cow protection measures in its manifesto. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Kolar on Sunday, came down heavily on Congress for drawing parallels between him and a snake. PM Modi said that the people of Karnataka will give the party a befitting answer in the upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in an election rally in Karnatakas Kalaburagi on Thursday, said, PM Modi is like a poisonous snake, you might think its poison or not. If you lick it, you are dead. Lashing out at Congress over the remark, PM Modi said, Today when I am fighting against corruption, Congress is disturbed the most. Congress is now threatening. They say Modi teri kabra khudegi. Congress topic in Karnataka elections is snakes poison. They are comparing me with a snake and seeking votes from people. For me, the people of the country are a form of Lord Shiva. I accept being the snake on the neck of the god-like public. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10. PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress terming the party as an outdated engine. Congress is an outdated engine. Development halted due to them. Congress has a bundle of fake guarantees. They dont fulfil any promise made to the public. Unfulfilled guarantees are their record. They betrayed the public, but BJP fulfilled all the guarantees by doing several development works, PM Modi said. Notably, Congress has promised a number of guarantees to the people of Karnataka ahead of the state Assembly polls slated on May 10, including 200 units of free electricity. The Prime Minister further said that corruption has always prospered under Congress and said that only the BJP can act against corruption. Congress has a reputation of 85 per cent commission. People have no faith in their government. One of their Prime Ministers said that he sends Rupee 1 but 15 paise reach the ground. Congress has always done appeasement politics. BJP is not for appeasement but for satisfaction. Congress has always grown under corruption. Only BJP can take immediate action on corruption, he said. Congress has done nothing for the farmers. They made promises to them but gave nothing to them. It was BJP who gave Rs 2.5 lakh crore to them (farmers) in their accounts. They always neglected the poor. We are constantly working for the development of the farmers, he added. Hitting out at Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) which are contesting the elections separately, PM Modi said that both the parties are the biggest hindrance in the development work and added that the unstable government cannot have a vision. Unstable governments cannot have a vision. During the Congress regime, the world was hopeless of India, but as soon as BJP came to power, the world now looked up to India as a bright spot. Karnataka has decided to elect BJP. The double-engine government is very important in the state for continuous development. During Congress and JDS rule the development pace slowed down, he said. PM Modi said that Karnataka has to be saved from the corrupt government of Congress and JDS. Todays gathering will make Congress and JDS lose sleep. Both parties are the biggest hindrance in the process of development. The public has clean-bowled them. We have to save the people of Karnataka from the corrupt government of Congress and JDS, he said. The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows to turn the tide in favour of the party, in what is expected to be a tripartite contest among BJP, Congress and JDS. Assembly elections will be held in Karnataka on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. 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 30 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Papua New Guinea next month for the Third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit, during which US President Joe Biden will also be visiting the Pacific Island nation, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has said. PM Marape said this after the White House officially confirmed that President Biden would make a historic visit to the country on Monday, May 22. President Biden will have a bilateral meeting with PM Marape as well as have a meeting with 18 Pacific Island leaders of the Pacific Island Forum, who will be in Port Moresby at the same time for the Third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit, a news report said. Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the Congress must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs, as it has been predicting victory for the grand old party in the Karnataka Assembly polls. The southern state will go to polls on May 10 and counting of votes will be undertaken on May 13, with the Congress seeking to oust the incumbent BJP government. Earlier, they (Congress) used to accuse us of problems with EVMs So, if they can predict the result in advance, then I have to say that the party in Karnataka must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs, Sarma told reporters here. The Congress has sounded confident of emerging victorious in Karnataka. Senior Congress leader and former minister M B Patil told PTI that it will come to power on its own with 130-odd seats out of 224 in the southern state. The BJP has announced candidates in 212 constituencies, the Congress 165, while the JD(S) has named 93 nominees. 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 scathing attack on Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that both parties are the biggest obstacles in the development of the poll-bound state of Karnataka. PM Modis comments came during an address in Kolar district where he said that the people of Karnataka will clean bowl Congress and JDS, making way for another BJP term. Accusing the grand old party of failing to deliver their promises to farmers, Modi said that the Congress is running an outdated engine. He also slammed Congress for promoting dynastic politics. We have worked hard to transform Karnataka. We have given a new direction and momentum to its growth. We have ensured that every citizen gets the benefits of our schemes. We have made Karnataka a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship, the prime minister said. He urged voters to bring BJP back in power as its the only way the state will witness development and that the party will work tirelessly to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people in Karnataka. I urge you to vote for the BJP and make it victorious in Karnataka. We have a proven track record of good governance and development. We have a dedicated team of workers who will serve you with honesty and sincerity, he said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lashed out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges remark on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that he is not just a person but an institution. Kharge, while addressing a rally in poll-bound Karnataka, said, PM Modi is like a poisonous snake, you might think its poison or not. If you lick it, youre dead. The defence minister added that the grand old party is shredding the traditions of a healthy democracy. Singh said, PM is not just a person but an institution on its ownThe manner in which Congress leaders are making personal attacks on the PM, theyre shredding the traditions of a healthy democratic system. Kharge later clarified that what he wanted to say is BJPs ideology is as dangerous as a snake and didnt mean to make a personal attack against PM Modi. The Congress chief further clarified his stance on Twitter, saying, BJPs ideology is divisive, hostile and full of hatred and prejudice towards the poor and Dalits. I discussed the politics of hatred and malice. My statement was neither for PM Modi personally nor for any other person. But for the ideology he represents. Our fight with PM Modi is not a personal fight. It is an ideological battle. My intention was not to hurt anyones feelings and if knowingly or unknowingly someones feelings were hurt, then it was never my intention, Kharge added. His clarification, however, was not convincing enough for the ruling party. Union Minister for State for Home, Nityanand Rai, said that Congress is a habitual offender when it comes to defaming PM Modi and the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Earlier on Friday, Telangana BJP in-charge Tarun Chugh wrote to the Election Commission urging it to file an FIR against the former and bar Kharge from campaigning in the upcoming Karnataka elections. 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. Mann Ki Baat: PM Narendra Modis monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat completed its 100th episode on Sunday as he has an emotional connect with the people of India, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar said on Sunday. Addressing the Indian diaspora that gathered in New Jersey to listen to the live broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, the EAM said, It is an important day and for many of us an emotional day. Addressing the gathering, Jaishankar said that he often faces the question of why PM Modi, who is the most tech-savvy Prime Minister, uses a medium which is almost 100 years old. He added, You have to understand that PM Modis Mann Ki Baat has an enormous impact not because the medium is 100 years old, somewhere there is an emotional connect between PM Modi and the people of India. Jaishankar also tweeted, Joining diaspora and friends of India in New Jersey, USA for #MannKiBaat100. Meanwhile, author Amish also listened to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat at India House in London. He said, I think you couldve seen the enthusiasm of the audience for Mann Ki Baat by noticing that at 6:30 in the morning, the hall was packed. He also said, In fact not just here, we had our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh as well to run this programme live. The participation was here, the enthusiasm was there and I think that it truly shows the connection that honourable PM has with people not just in India but Indian diaspora across the world. PM Modis radio monthly programme completed its 100th episode today which was aired live at 11 am. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the governments citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. 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 begun addressing the nation during the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat. Lakhs of people, both in India and abroad, tuned into the show at 11 am today. In a historic moment, the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat will be broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Indian diaspora in Somerset, England gathered ahead of the screening of Mann ki Baat. VIDEO | Indian diaspora in Somerset, South West England ahead of the screening of Prime Minister @narendramodis 100th #MannKiBaat at 11 am today. pic.twitter.com/u8oSZmyqJU Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2023 Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ! the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a tweet. Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ! #MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in s developmental journey pic.twitter.com/6ji4t1flmu India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) April 28, 2023 BJP has organised facilities at 100 venues on average in every assembly constituency across the country for people to come together and listen to it. The party has arranged around four lakh venues around the country and abroad for people to hear Modis address. Party President J P Nadda will oversee the entire exercise to make it a historic success. Do tune in at 11 AM for #MannKiBaat100. This has been a truly special journey, in which we have celebrated the collective spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspiring life journeys. pic.twitter.com/FL0vCy9P15 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023 In order to make the broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat historic and to give it a comprehensive format, the Bharatiya Janata Party has released a detailed programme under which unprecedented arrangements are being made for its telecast at about 4 lakh booth level centres across the country, BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam said. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the governments citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. Dr Amit Kapoor, Chairman of the Institute for Competitiveness, said that Mann ki Baat has brought behavioural changes among people. He told ANI, It made a very huge sense for us to understand the impact it creates, we found unique things as we went along. We saw behavioural change in people with the kind of conversations that PM Modi made with the people. About 100 crore people heard these conversations. These conversations discussed topics that mattered to citizens. 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. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his US counterpart Joe Biden will meet in Papua New Guinea next month where they will join Pacific Islands leaders to take part in the historic future-oriented meeting, the islands Prime Minister James Marape said. This is a historic first and at the same time a going forward futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific, Marape said in a statement. Bidens visit to Papua New Guineas capital Port Moresby will be the first such visit by a sitting US President to the resource-rich but largely undeveloped country of 9.4 million people just north of Australia. Papua New Guinea has been on the radar of both China and the US and its allies. The last time Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation was in 2018. Washington has stepped up efforts to counter Beijings growing influence in the region after China struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year. China failed to reach a wider security and trade deal with 10 Pacific island countries. The island nation is working out security pacts with the US and Australia while Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the worlds greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth, Marape said. The 18 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands Forum cover 30 million square km (10 million square miles) of ocean. The regions leaders say climate change is their greatest security threat, amid worsening cyclones and rising sea levels. Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia. Marape said he had invited Biden when they met in Washington last year and was very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our 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. Ludhiana Gas Leak: At least 11 people have been killed and around a dozen were hospitalised following an alleged case of gas leak in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana in Punjab on Sunday. #WATCH | Punjab: An incident of gas leak reported in Giaspura area of Ludhiana. Police say, At least 5 casualties reported. 5-6 people fell unconscious and they have been admitted to a hospital. A rescue team has been called to the spot. A team of doctors & ambulances have pic.twitter.com/e3NTMKBu3z ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 "A total of 11 persons are dead. There are five females and six males including 2 male children of 10 years and 13 years," an official told the media. The two deceased at SPS Hospital have been identified as Naveent Kumar (39) and Neetu Devi (39), they said. #WATCH | Punjab: NDRF personnel reach the spot in Giaspura area of Ludhiana where a gas leak claimed 9 lives; 11 others are hospitalised. Local officials say that the area has been cordoned off. pic.twitter.com/BuxUEb8SCq ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 Officials were quoted as saying by ANI that the area has been cordoned off. Officials from the local administration and police have reached the spot along with NDRF teams. #WATCH | Ludhiana gas leak | Locals narrate their ordeal as Giaspura area, where the incident occurred, gets vacated by the administration. "...I came to know that five members of my family are unconscious," says a local. #Punjab pic.twitter.com/KlXNNj13BZ ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 "Definitely, it is a gas leak case. The NDRF team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation. Nine people died in this incident and 11 are sick," Ludhiana West SDM Swati Tiwana said. #WATCH | Punjab: Nine dead, 11 hospitalised in an incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana. Visuals from the spot as local administration and medical team reach the spot. Local officials say that the area has been cordoned off. pic.twitter.com/moDPTVG8XS ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 Further investigation is underway. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Hitting out at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his venomous snake barb, prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that snake is the charm of lord Shivas neck, and for him, the people of the country were a form of god, and he was fine with being compared to the snake on their necks. The PM was addressing a public meeting in Kolar in poll-bound Karnataka. I know that the people of Karnataka, the land of saints and sanskar, will give a befitting reply to Congresss abuses through votes. The anger of the people against the Congress will reflect through votes on May 10, he added. Earlier this week, Kharge called PM Modi a venomous snake during a campaign rally in Karnataka. The Congress president later backtracked on his remark saying that his comment was not directed at the PM and that he was referring to the BJPs ideology. Congress associated with 85% commission: PM Meanwhile, coming down heavily on the Congress on the issue of corruption, PM Modi on Sunday said the grand old party had always been associated with 85 percent commission, and its shahi parivar (royal family) was out on bail in connection with scams worth thousands of crores of rupees. There is a reason why the country has lost trust in Congress and its shahi parivar: Congresss identity has always been associated with 85 percent commission. During Congresss rule its top leader and then prime minister used to say with pride that if he sends Rs one from Delhi,15 paise reaches them (people) on the ground. Congress claws used to snatch away 85 paise of the poor, Modi said. This is not BJPs allegation, but it is the public acceptance of the Congresss former prime minister. Congress that eats 85 percent commission can never work for the development of Karnataka, he added. The PMs attack on the Congress comes following the partys strong campaign against the ruling BJP in Karnataka over allegations that it was taking 40 percent commission from contractors. Hundred percent of the amount sent by the BJP government today reaches the beneficiary. In the past nine years, with the strength of Digital India, Rs 29 lakh crore has been credited into the bank account of the poor, under various schemes, the PM said. If Congress that eats 85 percent commission had continued, Rs 24 lakh crore out of this could not have reached the poor, he claimed, adding that BJP came to power only nine years ago and stopped this. He asked people to imagine about the lakhs of crores of rupees that Congress leaders had filled in their lockers before that. Stating that Congress prospers in corruption and it can never take action against the corrupt, Modi said, Congress can never design any scheme or program which doesnt involve a scam. Even today, Congresss shahi parivar and people close to it are out on bail in a scam involving thousands of crores of rupees. Those facing charges of corruption and are out on bail are today coming to Karnataka and preaching. Congress, whose top leaders are facing charges of corruption and members of whose shahi parivar are out on bail cannot take action against corruption, he added. During the nine years before 2014, during Congress rule, only Rs 5,000 crore worth of property of the corrupt was seized, while in the past nine years under the BJP rule, properties worth over Rs 1 lakh crore of those who looted the country have been seized, Modi said, asserting that only the BJP could swiftly act and take strong action against corruption. Noting that Congress was facing difficulties due to his actions against corruption, the PM said that was the reason that the partys hate against him had increased day by day. They have further increased their attack against me. Congress people are issuing threats these days. They are saying Modi teri qabr khudegi (Modi your grave will be dug). Now in Karnatakas election, Congresss biggest issue is the snake and its venom, he said. Karnataka goes to polls on 10 May and the results will be declared on 13 May. 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. After two out of the 20 cheetahs brought from Namibia and South Africa died in Madhya Pradeshs Kuno National Park, a former official from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has claimed that Kuno does not have adequate space for the felines. An emergency meeting has been called by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the body which is responsible to oversee the ambitious project, in New Delhi on Monday in the wake of the two deaths. According to some experts, a cheetah needs about 100 square kilometre area for its movement. The KNP is spread over an area of 748 sq km and has a buffer zone of 487 sq km. Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala, the former dean of WII, told PTI that KNP has inadequate space for these animals. A 750 sq km area alone is not sufficientWe have to make (more than one) cheetah population and manage it like a metapopulation where you move animals from one place to another. It is very essential to establish a second, third population, he said. Jhala, who has experience working on similar cheetah projects in the past, added, Kuno is a protected area, but the landscape in which cheetahs can live in Kuno is spread over 5,000 sq km, which includes agricultural parts, forested habitats, communities living within the area. One of the eight Namibian cheetahs brought to KNP, Sasha, aged more than four-and-a-half-years, died of a kidney ailment at the park on March 27. The KNP witnessed a second cheetah fatality in less than a month as a six-year-old male feline named Uday, translocated from South Africa in February, died on April 23. On the other hand, however, one cheetah named Siyaya recently gave birth to four cubs in KNP. The forest department of Madhya Pradesh sent a letter to NTCA earlier this month, seeking an alternate site for the translocated cheetahs. We have sent a request letter by official mail to the NTCAThey have not replied yet, a forest official told PTI on Saturday on condition of anonymity. We cant release all the 18 cheetahs into the wild in KNP, he said while citing a lack of logistical support and space for the felines. 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 mobile phone was thrown at prime minister Narendra Modi on Saturday while he was holding a roadshow standing on a specially designed vehicle in poll-bound Karnatakas Mysuru, police said. The phone was hurled out of excitement by a female BJP worker who had no ill-intention, according to police. The phone landing on the bonnet of the vehicle after it was flung at the vehicle did not go unnoticed by the Prime Minister who indicated about the object to the Special Protection Group (SPG) sleuths who were accompanying him. The Prime Minister was under the protection of the SPG. The lady (whose phone fell on PMs vehicle) was a BJP worker. The SPG people returned it to her later, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Alok Kumar told PTI. In the excitement (of the event), it was thrown and she had no (ill) intention but we are trying to trace the lady because the phone was handed over to her by the SPG sleuths, he added. The incident happened when Modi, flanked by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and former ministers KS Eshwarappa and SA Ramadas, was waving at people who gathered in large numbers on both sides of the roads. 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. Chennai, Apr 30 (UNI) Bangladesh ' Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, on the 3rd day of his visit to India, attended the Officers Training Academy in Chennai on Saturday as the chief guest, he received the salute and inspected the parade. After inspecting the parade, General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed interacted with the media persons. He attended the dinner organized in honour of the chief guest and paid courtesy calls on military and civilian officials of various ranks. On the first day of his visit to India (April 27), Army Chief General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed paid tributes to the brave soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives defending the country by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. After paying tribute, General Shafiuddin met the Chief of Army Staff of India, General Manoj Pandey. During the meeting, comprehensive strategic partnership between the armies of the two countries was discussed regarding training, counter-terrorism mutual assistance and bilateral cooperation. Before the meeting, the visiting Bangladesh Army Chief was given a guard of honour by the Indian Armed Forces. Later General Shafiuddin paid a courtesy call on India's Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar, Vice Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal AP Singh, Defense Secretary and Foreign Secretary. At that time, he was briefed by the Department of Defense Production (DDP) and the Army Design Bureau about the Indian domestic defense equipment manufacturing eco-system. Also during the visit, an 'Implementation Arrangement' was signed between the Center for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), India and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT) for cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations and training between the militaries of both countries. On the second day of the tour (April 28), they attended the band symphony and dinner organized to mark the end of the training at the Officers Training Academy in Chennai, India. UNI MAZ RKM As of 27 April 2023, fresh nuclear fuel was brought to the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant (NGS), which is under construction in Mersin, to be used in energy production. Thus, the facility will have the status of nuclear power plant and has been put into service from a technical point of view. The next step is to move on to the testing phase for power generation. Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plants first nuclear fuel delivery ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin via live link. One more promise fulfilled Stating that they are together to share the joy of a great move that will put Turkey among the worlds nuclear power countries, Erdogan thanked all guests, especially the partners of the Peoples Alliance, and all citizens at their screens who participated in this day of pride. With this ceremony, we are also fulfilling one more promise we made to our nation, one more oath, Erdogan said. Stating that they witnessed the delivery of nuclear fuels to the plant site, which is the previous stage of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plants production, Erdogan said, With the delivery of nuclear fuels coming by air and sea to our plant, Akkuyu has now gained the identity of a nuclear facility. Thus, our country has risen to the league of nuclear power countries in the world, albeit after a 60-year delay, he said. Russia-Turkey cooperation Explaining that there are 422 nuclear reactors in operation in the world today and 57 of them are still under construction, Erdogan continued his words as follows: The European Union gets 25 percent of its electricity from nuclear [power]. Last year, the European Commission accepted nuclear energy as green energy and eliminated the hesitations on this issue. With Akkuyu, we made our country a part of these developments. I would like to express my gratitude to all Russian Federation authorities, especially Mr. Putin, who have supported our project from the very beginning. I congratulate all the Turkish and Russian personnel who took part in the construction of our power plant and in the process of starting production. Largest joint investment between Turkey and Russia Noting that a nuclear power plant with 4 reactors, each of which has a capacity of 1200 megawatts, is being built in Akkuyu, Erdogan shared the following evaluations: Like many important projects of Turkey, Akkuyu has been implemented with a financing model that does not burden our national budget. Akkuyu is the biggest joint investment between us [Turkey] and Russia. This project, with an investment value of 20 billion dollars, was designed and built by ROSATOM, Russias related institution. Along with the construction of the project, the responsibility of the maintenance, operation and decommissioning processes, which are of great importance for nuclear power plants, belongs to the contractor. All units of the power plant will be put into service gradually until 2028. 10 percent of our countrys electricity consumption will be provided by this power plant alone. When full capacity is activated, approximately 35 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity will be produced here annually. Undoubtedly, even with this feature alone, our power plant deserves the title of strategic investment with its unique contribution to the energy supply security of our country. This project, which will contribute 1.5 billion dollars annually to the decrease in our natural gas imports, will also have a positive impact on the increase in our national income. Contributive to the neighbourly relations Putin said that the raising of Akkuyu NPP to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey was realised thanks to Erdogans personal success. Putin said: Turkey will now be a country with nuclear energy, one of the lowest-cost sources in the world. Akkuyu NPP, one of the biggest joint projects in Turkish-Russian history, will contribute to the neighbourly relations between our countries. We will encourage both countries to be more active in each others markets and tourism, and for this we have decided to increase the number of flights. The system in Akkuyu NPP is one of the most modern and reliable security systems in the world. Mr Erdogan personally and the Turkish government show us what great services he has done for the development of the countrys economy. More of a necessity than a choice Akkuyu NPP is more of a necessity than a choice for Turkiye. Authorised names who made a statement on the subject state that Akkuyu NPP alone will meet approximately 10 percent of Turkeys electricity needs. Speaking about the facility, which has a total cost of approximately 20 billion dollars, Research Director Aaron Stein from the Foreign Policy Research Institute think-tank said: A Russian nuclear power plant built by a Russian company with Turkish workers in the south of Turkey, with provisions to take over. With this, the Build-Operate-Own model is being implemented for the first time in the nuclear industry. It is stated that with the completion of the project, Turkey will pay Russia 12.35 cents of a dollar per kilowatt hour for 15 years. When Western media outlets publish editorials about the supposed decline of democracy in the world, India inevitably takes centre stage. Indias low rankings on global democracy indices result from a combination of Western intellectual chauvinism abroad and establishment intellectual resentment at home. When the intellectual class is angry and united, no survey of intellectuals is going to look good for a government they despise. Its no surprise that both global and local intellectuals despise the BJP. The partys mix of populist politics and religious conservatism is an anathema to them, and the phenomenon of an outsider party maintaining itself in power by winning a plurality of votes against a fractured opposition is tantalisingly frustrating. But Indias experience of declining democracy rankings under the BJP is not unique. It closely mirrors the experience of one other country, a country that is culturally and historically very different from India, but politically very similar. That country is Poland. Poland does not at first glance seem like a likely comparison case for India. But in each country, the governing party represents an outsider political class that has deep roots in its societys particular religious, territorial, and civilizational traditions. Polands Law and Justice Party (known by its Polish acronym: PiS) repeatedly wins elections over the staunch opposition of the countrys political, economic, and intellectual elite by delivering on pro-poor, pro-family policies that benefit the majority of voters. Like Indias BJP, it relies disproportionately on the votes of the less educated and the poor, despite being portrayed by its opponents as a party of right-wing conservative businesspeople. In Poland as in India, the outsider party has nonetheless remained at the head of government for two consecutive terms, with every expectation of winning a third. In both countries, the 2019 election platform of the main opposition party was devoid of positive policy proposals, focusing instead on vilifying the party currently in government. And in both countries, the opposition dreams of winning the next election through the formation of a grand coalition of disparate parties with competing agendas. Like the BJP, the PiS turns for ideological support to a newly emerging national intelligentsia, in contrast to the countrys long-established international intellectuals. The national intelligentsia is that portion of a countrys intellectual class that tends to read, write, and argue in the national language, drawing lessons from their countrys particular national historical experiences. But the international intellectuals overwhelmingly shape international understandings of their native countries. To the extent that people in the outside world know anything at all about the politics of a country like Poland or India, they know it through the accounts of their internationalised intellectuals. As a result, the PiS and the BJP share one more thing in common: Both are routinely vilified in the international press. Search democracy in danger and four cases come up again and again: The United States (of course), Hungary (deservedly so), Poland, and India. India at least stands a chance of righting the record. Anyone outsider who cares can follow Indian politics by reading the English-language press, and many politically-active Indians can write and speak fluently in English. India faces serious structural challenges to getting its message out, but at least language isnt one of them. Polands situation is very different. Virtually no one outside Poland studies Polish as a foreign language. International views on Poland, its political cleavages, and the PiS are based almost entirely on insights provided by Polands own international intellectuals. There is no alternative point of view. Even worse, when the European Union has a dispute with Poland, the Western media treats the EU as the trusted party, almost by default: Brussels Eurocrats are closely tied into Western intellectual networks, while their Polish counterparts are not. This is ironic, considering that the European Union is not generally well-respected in the Anglosphere. When its a case of Brussels versus Washington, London, or Silicon Valley, the Western media does not necessarily take the EUs word at face value. But when its a case of Brussels versus Warsaw, it does. The democracy in danger label has been attached to both Poland and India despite the lack of any meaningful evidence to suggest that it is true. Neither the PiS nor the BJP has silenced hostile media voices, restructured their countries universities, or made major changes to their countries electoral systems to entrench themselves in power. Instead, the PiS and the BJP have won by delivering on their electoral promisesin other words, by doing what any government is supposed to do. A common criticism of both parties is that they have taken credit for efficiently implementing policies that had been enacted years before by other governments. An objective observer might respond: Yes, exactly. Reading the international criticisms of Polish and Indian democracy, it seems obvious that many of them would disappear overnight if Polands Civic Platform or Indias Congress Party won a national poll and returned to government. If that appraisal is correct, then its not Polish or Indian democracy that the international activists dont respect; its the Polish and Indian people. The author is an associate professor at the University of Sydney and the executive director of the Indian Century Roundtable. He earned his MS (mathematical sciences) and PhD (sociology) from the Johns Hopkins University. 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. This is the second part of Gautam Sens series on Politics of Hinduphobia in Britain. Read part one How Conservatives recognition of Hinduphobia and grooming gang threat is a mere political move A desperate Conservative Party, fearing indefinite electoral oblivion is combining the ruse of creating a political backlash over grooming gang rape by trying to mobilise the not insignificant Hindu vote as well. The traditional Hindu vote in favour of the Labour Party has been shifting over time to the Conservative Party as they achieve greater prosperity and become less dependent on welfare handouts, unlike most other non-white immigrants to Britain. Suddenly offering them protection from the threat of Muslim rioters and recognizing the alleged phenomenon of Hinduphobia is considered an effective tactic to harvest most of their votes. Something similar is afoot with an apparent crackdown on British Khalistani militants who openly incite secession in India and fund violence. In this context, the calculation is that the six hundred thousand British Sikh community is mostly located in areas that vote for the Labour Party and their voting patterns do not seriously impact Conservative Party electoral prospects. In addition, India reading the riot act on Khalistani attacks against it and the earnest British desire for a free trade treaty with it, in order to access its rapidly growing market, has injected a dose of political realism in the incumbent British Conservative government. Yet, the political calculus is not so unambiguous because the Indian Hindu constituency does not vote in significant numbers and organising to change their complacency was repudiated before the 2019 British general elections by virtually every supposed British Hindu organisation. Virtually all such British Hindu organisations are overwhelmingly composed of Hindus of East African origin whose goal is economic and commercial success and they maintain a low political profile. However, the leadership of British Hindu organisations is mostly in cahoots with political parties and do their bidding. They are now stirring, as instructed by their political masters, to collectively join the Conservative political conspiracy, which will in the final analysis be contrary to Hindu interests. It may be anticipated that some awards of OBEs and MBEs to compliant Hindus are likely in the forthcoming New Years Honours List. Hindu activists on both sides of the Atlantic and their organisations are now mobilised to define Hinduphobia and gain official recognition for the alleged phenomenon, with the usual display of intellectual confusion and lack of political nous. Offshoots of the RSS are especially energised on this matter without grasping what Hinduphobia might actually mean and exactly what practical goals and political measures potentially are implied by it. The effective monkey balancing of Hinduphobia with the non sequitur counterpart of Islamophobia is the first illustration of the intellectual and political disarray of Hindu activists. The practising lawyers, banking financiers and IT professionals, who have preempted the discourse on Hinduism, mostly lack domain knowledge though their moneyed status seems to override the need for it. A paradoxical consequence of Hinduphobia being accorded the official recognition being sought by some Hindus will inadvertently bring welcome diversionary relief and intellectual legitimacy to the notion of Islamophobia. It will occur at a moment when the very idea of Islamophobia is increasingly being challenged with derision by the public. The absurdity of Islamophobia it is being argued implies an irrational animosity towards the faith and its adherents owing to general ignorance of the peaceful nobility of Islam. In reality, the very notion of Islamophobia is a patently inaccurate fabrication. It is designed to intimidate and browbeat into acquiescence the understandable negative reaction of ordinary people to myriad crimes committed in the name of Islam. These range from murder, bombings, enslavement for sex and constant threats against all other religious dispensations. There is no phobia whatsoever in relation to Islam, but a fear grounded on well-founded anxiety that stems from the very real criminality of some Muslims and the unspoken support they enjoy from many within their own community. Why would Hindus wish to implicitly or explicitly establish, in effect, a supposed Hinduphobia parallel with such a criminal situation? The censorious public discourse on Islam prompts outrageously untruthful allegations of Islamophobia in an attempt to shut down the legitimate adverse reaction to crimes committed in the names of Islam. What Islamic radicals have managed to do successfully is to conflate the quite unjust and illegal hostility towards individual Muslims with the perfectly legitimate critique of an ideology that justifies and promotes mass murder, rape and mayhem. On a practical level, defining the specific goals that ought to arise from official recognition of the idea of Hinduphobia are deeply problematic. In many local authorities, Muslim activists and their organisations have managed to impose their menu on what constitutes Islamophobia. It includes among other things, not being permitted to suggest minorities are ill-treated in Muslim majority countries or to denounce the acts of terrorism in Kashmir. These local authority government resolutions, often passed by elected Hindu councillors, are accompanied by threats of sanctions that could include cessation of public grants, etc. Do Hindus really wish to go down this absurd path and become associated with the phenomenon with their notion of Hinduphobia as a counterpart to Islamophobia, which is found heartily distasteful by almost everyone, even as they are silenced by intimidation? In fact, there is no such phenomenon of Hinduphobia as an instinctive dislike of Hindus that translates into individual experience though racism remains not uncommon. In fact, the report of Charlotte Littlewood clearly indicates that anti-Hindu hostility in British schools is mostly of Islamic origin, which dates back thirteen hundred years and is not amenable to resolution. It is highly unlikely the feeble and terror-struck British establishment that always bowed before terrorism, whether Zionism of an earlier era or Irish Republicanism more recently, will dare suggest amendments to Islamic texts and monitoring of teaching in mosques and madrassas to curb anti-Hindu spewed hatred by them. The ordinary British person is not Hinduphobic in the sense of harbouring an instinctive unease with Hindus and their worldview as they clearly do for Islam. But they are almost totally ignorant of Hinduism and their heads are filled with officially-sponsored deliberate disinformation on it. The hostility towards Hinduism is almost entirely inspired for political reasons and the sordid purpose of justifying religious conversion by denying it all legitimacy. The contrived insistence is that Hinduism is almost exclusively about the racist abomination of caste discrimination, with the accusation of discrimination against women thrown in for good measure, highlighted by spurious allegations about the practice of Sati. All such demonic anti-Hindu propaganda originates in British universities as a result of long-established official state political instigation that operates in conjunction with the diabolical goals of the Christian church. This cynical stance originated in the late seventeenth century and was mightily reinforced much later by the Cold war to denounce and de-legitimise India. It was a corresponding effort to offer succor to Pakistan, the Cold War ally of the West created by a British geopolitical conspiracy. Thus, seeking official recognition for Hinduphobia amounts to meaningless gesture politics that accords fifteen minutes of fame to Hindu activists who always display an unhealthy ardent desire to be in the public eye. There are no meaningful goals that can result from any official pronouncement that Hinduphobia is a reality and should not be allowed to persist. Will it lead to the church ending the war of religious conversion against Hindus, which continues to gather at an inexorable pace, with the vile propaganda accompanying it? Indeed, will British universities modify their course content on Hinduism and India, which obsessively focuses on caste, womens oppression and the poor human rights record of Hindu societies, past and present? Nor will the media in the Anglosphere and indeed elsewhere cease the constant libel misrepresenting India and portraying Narendra Modi as a fascist Hindu nationalist? A legitimate Hindu demand might have been to be accorded the right of reply to ensure a level playing field, but that too is a forlorn hope because established media practices will not allow it. An unfortunate spinoff to pressing on with the campaign against supposed Hinduphobia will be to lose the sympathy of many educated British people who regard the very idea of Islamophobia with dismay, as constituting an assault on freedom of expression. Hindu claims and demands for action on an alleged Hinduphobia parallel to it will simply add fuel to the fire in this context. Activists should get real and restrain their personal aspiration for the limelight momentarily and the supposed honour of meeting government officials with some sort of irrelevant manifesto to hand over. Ultimately, the resolution to the misrepresentation of Hinduism, India and its leaders lies in India itself and squarely with its governments. If it truly concerns them, they need to change the history curriculum in Indian universities and schools and ensure national institutions totally dominate research and articulation of the view of its culture, history and traditions. It is not an endeavour that should be left to malicious foreign universities, Oxbridge and US Ivy League colleges, which merely heap relentless calumny on it. The recent attempt in India to excise Mughal history from class 12 textbooks is only an indication that India is not serious in bringing forward change. By contrast, the Chinese have ensured that no foreigner dare speak on behalf of their country if they hope to undertake research on it and indeed visit their country. Indians remain reflexively deferential to the White man and institutions abroad and unable to resist an invitation to visit a foreign university that routinely libels their civilisation and country. This is part two of Gautam Sens series on Politics of Hinduphobia in Britain. Read part one How Conservatives recognition of Hinduphobia and grooming gang threat is a mere political move The writer taught international political economy for more than two decades at the London School of Economics and Political Science. 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. When the Peoples Liberation Army of Manipur led a motley group and cold-bloodedly killed Col. Viplav Tripathi and his wife and five-year-old son, India woke up to an alarm which proclaimed that non-state action was entering a new reality that had irregular manoeuvre as its new normal. But such action is not entirely new in the Indian subcontinent. Kashmir had been bearing the brunt of the nauseating battle-space for long. But the North East had generally steered clear of uncharacteristic behaviour. Non-combatants have seldom been deliberately targeted in the distant past. There isaccording to this authora crisis of definition comprehension in New Delhi. Although it has long been felt (once again by this author) that there exists a non-articulated comprehension in Indian officialdom about what constitutes insurgency and terrorism, the fact of the matter continues to be such that state action has never been able to counter non-state action in correct measure. Therefore, even if retribution was sought to be meted out for the killing of jawans of the Dogra Regiment in 2015, nothing visible was done for the Churachandpur attack on Col. Tripathis family. Anecdotal reports have suggested that the attack by the Peoples Defence Force (the armed wing of the National Unity Government of Myanmar which is waging a war against the Myanmar army) on the Indian Insurgent Group Senam camp in the Southern Cluster of Myanmars Sagaing Division had a component of Indian Special Forces. But this has not been borne out by facts. At any rate the magnitude of harm to the Senam camp was negligible. In any event, the time has clearly come to separate the wheat from the chaff. To that end, it is important to discern that clearer the definition of terrorism as a certain tactic of political violence, the less space it leaves for political deception. On the part of terrorists themselves and for political speculations on the part of any other actors, including governments that may tend to interpret terrorism too broadly; the popular saying that one mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter is to allow oneself to be dragged into a muddle. No matter how universal this maxim is and how well it underscores the politicised and speculative nature of terrorism, the fact of the matter is that it ison most occasionsmisleading. An insurgent group normally advances a political goal that can be interpreted as freedom fightingwhether just by the group itself and its supporters or even by a section of the international community (as one witnessed in the case of the NSCN when it sought the good offices of Kreddha). Such a phenomenon has also been the case with anti-colonial struggle or resistance against foreign occupation. Sometimes, this political goalfor instance, the end of the occupation of the Palestinian territoriesmay be even recognised as legitimate by the international law and ratified by a resolution in the UN Security Council. Whether or not a group that pursues such a goal qualifies as a group engaged in terrorist activities depends, however, not on the nature of its political goal, but solely on whether or not it actually uses or threatens a certain violent tacticpolitically motivated, intentional, asymmetrical use or threat of violence against civilians and non-combatants designed to have a broader destabilising and intimidating effect, namely terrorism. The same ultimate political goalfor instance, the independence of India from British rulecan be shared by different groups who use different tactics: Some of the more radical ones would employ terrorism, while others, as in the case of Indias struggle for independence led by Mahatma Gandhi may even opt for mass non-violent resistance. In other words, freedom fighting as a goalwhether it implies anti-colonial struggle, resistance against occupation, the fight for greater autonomy etc. and terrorism as a tactic are not mutually exclusiveterrorism has been used to augment freedom fighting in certain cases, and in the name freedom fighting. Apart from subjective political interpretations and the high level of politicisation of the notion of terrorism, the main reason for the lack of agreement on its definition is the wide diversity and multiplicity of forms and manifestations of terrorism. To achieve the broadest destabilising political effect, terrorists seek to tailor, and time their actions as closely as possible to a certain political context, which makes the phenomenon extremely context-dependent and context specific. This has been seen to be the case in the North East when non-state actors resort to violence on or during 26 January or 15 August, or even when an important dignitary comes avisting. It is hardly unexpected, therefore, that, given the array of political contexts, terrorism can take various forms. This obscures the task of trying to fit all these different forms and manifestations of terrorism under one single, sweeping definition without running the risk of leaving some important aspect of terrorism aside. This also explains why the classification of terrorism is closely connected to its typology. In other words, while there are some general criteria that apply to all types of terrorism there may also be considerable specifics of and variations between different types of terrorism. One of the traditional and common typologies of terrorism involves a basic distinction between international and domesticinternal or homegrownterrorism. In demarcating one from the other, international terrorism has usually been defined, both in legal and political documents, and in academic literature, in a rather simplistic, technical manneras any terrorist activity carried out on the territory of more than one state or involving citizens of more than one state. This is precisely how international terrorism, for instance, is defined in the US legislation, as well as in many other national anti-terrorism laws. It is unfortunate that India, which is one of the most terror-affected countries, does not have an anti-terror doctrine. This author has attempted to shape one in his October 2005 paper [Template for Anti-Terror Doctrine] which was published in the prestigious security journal Aakrosh. A revised paper was also published in The War College Journal (2021).The theory of non-articulated distinction in India was put forward in these papers by this author. In the past, a distinction between insurgency and terrorism had never been too strict in practice. Modern day terrorism emerged as a specific asymmetrical tactic of political violence in the second half of the 19th century; especially when it began to systematically perpetrate violence, often crossing state borders. This phenomenon has become almost a given in the North East with Myanmar acting as the primary launching pad for non-state action. The terms of logisticsbases, funding, arms and materials supplyor/and could be guided by some form of internationalist ideology, perhaps at the goading of anti-India powers such as China. But even as insurgency emerged as one of the main forms of political violence in the 1960s1980s for groups such as NSCN, UNLF, PLA and ULFA, the situation still stood lower than the violence that was being perpetrated in the Valley. Today it is more relevant to distinguish between local/regional terrorism employed to pursue an agenda confined to a particular armed conflict, national borders or regional context and internationalised to some extentand the truly transnational terrorism employed by networks pursuing unlimited goals in a trans-regional or even global context. While these are two ends of the spectrum, a range of groups and movements involved in terrorist activities may fall somewhere in between internationalised terrorism at the local level and transnational super terrorism of the genre of the al-Qaeda or the Islamic State with a global outreach. This author has been researching on different typologies of insurgencies and terrorism for the last quarter of a century. One of the aspects that he was able to fathom was the fact that it was an act that defined a grouping. Therefore, there was clarity that ULFA can be characterised as a terrorist group when it detonated the Programmable Time Delay Device on 15 August 2004 killing innocent children in Dhemaji. As a matter of fact, it is this author who raised the issue in a roundtable in 2004 in New Delhi which was attended by important representatives of the United States. Former Chief of Army Staff, Gen V P Malik who was also one of the personages attending wholeheartedly supported this author. The result was the placing of ULFA as Other Selected Terrorist Organisation when the United States reworked its list soon afterwards. The Indian state should similarly draw up lists of groups responsible for heinous crimes. Certain observers have been of the view that there should be no dialogue with groups such as the PLA (Manipur). Not even if repentant terrorists responsible for the attack were to come over ground. There should be no quarter for terrorists who kill a five year old child in cold-blood. Dialogue with such elements not only showcase weakness, but embolden other hyenas on the lurk. It is one thing to engineer celluloid accomplishments and mouth insipidities that showcase triumph to a gullible electorate. Yet another to achieve a reality by bringing the culprits to justice. It is a sad commentary of the times. But what seems to be happening is the scape-goating of able officers for the crimes of a Sanatombathe PLA (Manipur) hit team leader responsible for the Churachandpur attackwho rests pretty across the borderlands and in the lap of despicable anti-India clout. The author is a conflict theorist and bestselling author. 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. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to visit South Korea in coming weeks and meet with President Yoon Suk Yeol, officials said, reciprocating a Tokyo visit by the South Korean leader last month. A Japanese government official and another official from a Group of Seven government said the meeting was expected before Kishida hosts a G7 summit from May 19. Japans Kyodo news agency said on Saturday the two will meet around May 7 or 8, citing multiple unnamed Japanese and South Korean diplomatic sources. Their aim will be to confirm the two neighbours strengthening of cooperation over North Korea ahead of the Hiroshima G7 summit, Kyodo said. Asked about reports of the bilateral summit, Kishida said in remarks broadcast by public network NHK that nothing concrete had been decided. An answering machine at Japans foreign ministry on Saturday said no one was available over the weekend. Ties between Japan and South Korea, long strained by issues including war time compensation and trade, have been improving in recent months in the face of North Koreas frequent missile launches and Chinas more muscular role on the global stage. The two sides agreed to revive shuttle diplomacy when Yoon met with Kishida in Tokyo in March, the first Japan visit by a South Korean president in 12 years. The last visit by a Japanese prime minister to South Korea was made by Shinzo Abe in 2018, according to NHK. U.S. President Joe Biden this week praised Yoons efforts toward improving relations with Japan during a visit by Yoon to Washington. Biden, Yoon and Kishida are to meet on the sidelines of the Hiroshima summit, according to Japanese media reports. North Koreas Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of leader Kim Jong Un, said a U.S.-South Korea agreement this week about the need to shore up South Korean security will worsen the situation, according to state media KCNA. North Korea is convinced it must further perfect a nuclear war deterrent as a result, Kim was quoted as saying. After a near-collision between a Philippines coast guard boat and a Chinese military vessel in the disputed South China Sea, the United States (US) called on China to stop provocative and unsafe conduct. Ramping up rhetoric two days ahead of a visit by Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos Jr to the White House, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Saturday that the incident was a reminder of Chinas harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels in the contested maritime region. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct, he said, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. Joe Biden has been working to bolster relations with Asian allies as the US-Chinese relationship remains in a historically deep chill, and the Philippines proximity to key sea lanes and Taiwan gives it particular strategic importance. The near-miss Sunday off the Spratly Islands was the latest in a long string of maritime incidents between China and the Philippines. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. The Philippine vessels approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Renai Jiao, in the Spratly archipelago. As one boat, the BRP Malapascua, which was carrying Filipino journalists, neared the shoal, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path. AFP journalists watched the incident from the other Philippine Coast Guard boat, which was less than a kilometer (0.6 miles) away. The Malapascuas commanding officer said the Chinese ship came within 45 meters (50 yards) of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other. The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday that the Philippine boats had intruded without Chinas permission and called it a premeditated and provocative action. But Manila hit back, saying that routine patrols in our own waters can be neither premeditated or provocative and insisting they will continue to conduct the patrols. The near-miss came just a day after Marcos hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for talks in Manila aimed at defusing tensions in the waterway. Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines rights in the sea, and has gravitated toward the United States as he seeks to strengthen defense ties. Early this month, the Philippines identified four additional military bases in addition to five existing sites to which US forces will have access, including one near the Spratly Islands. The two countries also carried out their biggest ever military maneuvers in recent weeks. This shift has alarmed China, which has accused Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila. US-Philippine ties were badly frayed under Marcoss predecessor, the authoritarian Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos has sought to allay public fears that the reviving alliance with the US could bring the Philippines into the conflict if China were to invade Taiwan. He has said that with Biden he will discuss the need to tone down the rhetoric over the South China Sea, Taiwan and North Korea. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier in the month that Biden intended, in the meeting with Marcos, to reaffirm the United States ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. 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 wastewater collected from 16 countries, an Australian-led study discovered 18 new psychoactive compounds that have effects similar to those of well-known street drugs. In order to avoid being caught, these drugs are designed to replicate the effects of well-known illicit drugs, the study found. In the study, the team led by the University of Queensland examined samples collected during three separate New Years periods from 2019 to 2022 in 47 cities from Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, China, Brazil, and South Korea. They discovered 18 novel compounds that resembled mind-altering street drugs but had minor structural changes to their chemical makeup. As a result of being synthesised to replace illegal compounds, they have a slightly altered chemical structure, according to Bade. Since they are typically produced in smaller quantities than more well-known illegal substances, it is challenging for law enforcement to monitor their circulation. The study revealed widespread usage of so-called novel psychoactive substances (NPS), but it also identified distinct regional trends. The most common type of NPS was synthetic cathinones, which share chemical similarities with the stimulant cathinone found in khat. One such substance, 3-methylmethcathinone, was discovered in exceptionally high concentrations throughout Europe, particularly in Slovakia and Spain. The first year, it was only discovered in Europe; however, it later spread to North America and Oceania. Phenethylamines, which can mimic the effects of amphetamines, and synthetic benzodiazepines were also widely used. Mephedrone, ethylone, and eutylone are just a few of the seven novel psychoactive compounds the scientists discovered in Australia alone. These drugs all operate similarly to cocaine or ecstasy. The plant-based analgesic mitragynine was discovered in unusually high concentrations in the United States. Despite several warnings from the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the risks associated with the kratom plant, mitragynine is not currently subject to government regulation. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brazil on Saturday stopped blocking Telegram on Saturday after a federal judge partially revised a ruling suspending the social media app over its failure to surrender data on neo-Nazi activity. However, the judge kept in place a daily fine of $1 million reais (about $200,000) for Telegrams refusal to provide the data, according to a press statement provided by the federal court that issued the ruling, an AP report said. Complete suspension unreasonable Complete suspension is not reasonable, given the broad impact throughout the national territory on the freedom of communication of thousands of people who are absolutely strangers to the facts under investigation, judge Flavio Lucas was quoted as saying in the statement. Telegram had been temporarily suspended in accordance with a police inquiry into school shootings in November when a former student armed with a semiautomatic pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest fatally shot three people and wounded 13 after barging into two schools in the small town of Aracruz in Espirito Santo state. The 16-year-old is believed to have been a member of extremist channels on Telegram, where tutorials on murder and the manufacture of bombs were disseminated, the courts statement said. Federal police ordered Telegram to provide details on names, tax identity numbers, profile photos, bank information and registered credit cards of channel members and later disputed Telegrams claim that it could not comply because the channel had been suspended, the court statement said. Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said in a statement Thursday that the company was appealing the Brazil-wide ban ordered the previous day, claiming compliance was technologically impossible and arguing that it is Telegrams mission is to protect privacy and free speech. The company says in an online FAQ that it has never shared data on users with any government. Its unclear how much of the requested data Telegram is able to provide. Only a phone number is required to create a Telegram account and pseudonyms are routinely used. Further, beginning in December, Telegram offered the option of creating accounts with anonymous numbers. The court statement noted Telegrams past clashes with the judiciary in Brazil. Last year, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a nationwide shutdown of Telegram, arguing it hadnt cooperated with authorities. It lasted two days and was lifted after Durov blamed his companys initial lack of response on a communications snafu. Technology companies need to understand that cyberspace cannot be a free territory, a different world with its own rules created and managed by the agents who commercially exploit it, Lucas, the judge in the current case, said in Saturdays statement. Brazil has been grappling with a wave of school attacks. There have been almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since 2000, half of them in the last 12 months, including the killing of four children at a day care center April 5. Brazils federal government has strived to stamp out school violence with a particular focus on the influence of social media. The goal is to prevent further incidents, particularly holding platforms responsible for failing to remove content that allegedly incites violence. Regulation of social media platforms was a recurring theme earlier this month when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with his Cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices, governors and mayors. Telegram has been blocked in the past by other governments, including Iran, China and Russia. Durov, an ethnic Russian whose company is based in the United Arab Emirates, has managed to coexist with the Kremlin despite its crackdown on speech and Western media following Moscows invasion of Ukraine last year. So-called patriotic hackers loyal to the Kremlin use the app to organize cyberattacks on Ukrainian and NATO targets. The other side uses it to fight back. Security researchers and intelligence agencies regularly track certain Telegram groups, focusing on ransomware gangs and other cybercriminals, disinformation purveyors, terror groups and others inciting violence. With inputs from AP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Due to severe fuel shortages, Cubas communist government decided to cancel the annual May Day parade scheduled for Monday. Every year on International Workers Day, tens of thousands of people are bused into Havanas Revolution Square from all over the island. The celebrations havent been postponed due to financial constraints since the 1959 revolution. Long lines have built up at gas stations in recent weeks, with cars frequently waiting days. President Miguel Diaz-Canel claimed earlier this month that Cuba only received two-thirds of the fuel it needed and that suppliers were breaking their agreements. Although the US-sanctioned island of Cuba has access to low-grade crude, it lacks the infrastructure to process it. The major supplier of petroleum to Cuba, Venezuela, has seen a 50% decrease in deliveries of higher-quality oil in recent years. Analysts claim that because of its own serious issues, Venezuela is having a hard time supporting its socialist ally. The shortages have increased the daily stress that Cubans experience. A normal monthly wage in Spain, according to the El Pais daily, is between $150 and $200 (120 and 160), whereas a litre of cooking oil costs $30. The administration maintains that its socialist, state-run model is the most beneficial for the nation and attributes the issues to ongoing US sanctions. To assure the success of the May Day celebration, Cuban authorities have historically deployed significant resources, sending workers in large numbers to Havana. Prior to this year, the Covid pandemic only ever forced the cancellation of the event in 2020 and 2021. Instead, local events are anticipated to proceed with a foot march. Such actions, according to Ulises Guilarte de Nacimiento, the leader of the countrys largest labour union, the Workers Cuba, will highlight the obstacles to the development programmes due to the ironclad economic blockade, he stated on Tuesday. 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 Pakistan, where social attitudes influenced by radical religious doctrine demand that couples should produce big families, a rather dubious method of boosting the male libido has become quite popular. The main ingredient of this unusual potion is freshly rendered lizard fat which is marinated in scorpion oil and garnished with a fiery hot spice. However, the balm locally referred to as sanda tael has no scientific backing and has been panned by experts. Apart from the potential adverse effects of this balm on its users, it has another negative effect it relies on poaching of the reclusive Hardwickes spiny-tailed lizard, which is a protected species under Pakistans wildlife act. The lizard is cruelly butchered on the pavement before its innards are cooked on a crude gas hob. You just apply five drops over the affected area and massage, said Yasir Ali, one of four vendors in Rawalpindis Raja Bazaar was quoted as saying by AFP. It does magic in terms of promoting sexual stamina, he added. As he speaks, a lounge of paralysed lizards is spread out on his tarpaulin sheet cluttered with glass vials. Ali entices a gaggle of customers perusing his potions by telling them it is a solution to bring joy and happiness which will make them strong like steel. It will make your wife happy, he promises with a glint in his eye. Buy it and try it. Sultan Mehmood, 62, a user for three decades says it works like a miracle, as he launches into a vivid description of his sexual performance. The meek lizards measuring up to 60 centimetres (24 inches) as adults are plucked from the plains of Punjab and Sindh as they peep out of their burrows to sunbathe. As night fades, Muhammad Nasir, 25, lays a web of fishing wire snares on the arid plateaus surrounding the village of Adiala, Islamabad. Within hours he has caught more than a dozen. We break the lizards back after capturing them, the fourth-generation poacher said. This is done to make sure they dont run away, because the animal moves with the speed of a bullet. Sometimes its quite painful to hunt these lizards and deprive them of their right to live in a natural habitat, but this is how we make a living. In a nation where social pressure dictates couples produce sprawling families, infertility is deeply stigmatised and Viagra is outlawed, the quack remedy for sexual impotence remains popular. But Islamabad clinician Ahmad Shahab says the trade is capitalising on naivety stemming from the taboo of sexuality in deeply conservative Pakistan. It is absolutely rubbish and there is no truth in claims that the oil helps, Shahab said. Sex is a subject people are quite curious about and these quacks are making fools out of them, he added. We have to change the mindset of our people and to educate them. WWF senior research and conservation manager Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry agreed claims of healing properties are totally false and devoid of any truth. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classes the spiny-tailed lizards as vulnerable. The over-exploitation of lizards will lead them to the verge of extinction, Chaudhry warned. Ali, the vendor, says he has been arrested many times by wildlife protection officers, but after fines no larger than 10,000 rupees ($35) he was freed to continue his trade. Ali cuts the sand-coloured lizards necks while they are immobilised but alive ending their 15-year lifespan and melts down the fat inside their plump bellies. He says the unction is infused with saffron an exorbitantly expensive spice but given the oil sells for between 600 and 1,200 rupees ($2 to $4) that seems unlikely. He also claims its miracle properties include healing joint aches, back pain, sciatica and hair loss. I have regular customers from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Sharjah, Malaysia and several African countries, he boasts. Muhammad Azam, 65, remains unconvinced. Its nothing but a fraudulent activity, he said. I used this medicine but found it useless. Its full of germs and bacteria. Still, Alis fellow vendor Muhammad Rafiq, 40, says others turn to the oil to satisfy their wives and to have children. This is a great human desire which is undeniable, he said. (With agency inputs) 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 Duke and Duchess of Sussex are heading to Africa for a new Netflix documentary. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan signed a $100 million, five-year contract with the streaming service in 2020 and following the success of their docuseries 'Harry and Meghan', their next project will see cameras follow them as they visit communities in the region. The 38-year-old prince has been a regular visitor to Africa over the years and set up his own children's charity, Sentibale, in Lesotho, and the documentary will see the cameras follow the couple - who have Prince Archie, three, and Princess Lilibet, 22 months together - as they work on various good causes, including helping to build houses in the villages they visit, with the former 'Suits' actress particularly keen to raise awareness of safe birth practices. A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper the documentary will be a joint project between Netflix and the couple's own Archewell Productions as they "return to South Africa". The insider added: "The focus will be very much humanitarian. "The cameras will follow them as they visit compounds and share medical education. "Meghan is particularly keen to share information about giving birth safely with the women she meets. "And the plan is they will also help with building houses and resources." The news comes just a day after it was revealed Harry's brother, Prince William, is to feature in his own documentary series, which will cover his charity work to help end homelessness. A TV source told The Sun newspaper: "This is pretty extraordinary its never been done before. "Generally access to senior royals is very limited and totally controlled, but William clearly wants to change that. Hes keen to highlight his work, particularly on a homeless project which was a subject very close to his mothers heart, and to connect with the public on a new level. He knows all too well how important it is that the monarchy develops a more modern relationship with the British people. TV is a great way to do that." Mann Ki Baat: The Indian diaspora in New Jersey, US had a distinguished guest during the 100th broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat programme. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Sunday joined the Indian diaspora in New Jersey, US to listen to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat. PM Modis radio monthly programme completed its 100th episode today which is being aired live at 11 am. Union Minister Jitendra Singh too interacted with the Indian diaspora in London before the broadcast of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat. He said that PM Modi has raised the esteem of the Indian Diaspora abroad, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The EAM minister said, the world is looking up to the Indian Diaspora with great hope and expectation and it is high time that they also rise to the occasion and contribute to the well-being of the entire humankind in the true spirit of the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as given by PM Modi during Indias G20 presidency. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the governments citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 All India Radio broadcast centres. The 100th episode of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat is also being broadcast live at the UN headquarters. As European lawmakers rush to introduce an AI Act to impose rules on emerging tools like ChatGPT, the Group of Seven advanced nations agreed on Sunday that risk-based regulation of artificial intelligence should be adopted. But according to a joint statement released by G7 ministers at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Japan, such regulation should also preserve an open and enabling environment for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values. The accord establishes a benchmark for how big countries regulate AI amid privacy worries and security risks, even if the ministers acknowledged that policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G7 members. The conclusions of this G7 meeting show that we are definitely not alone in this, European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager told Reuters ahead of the agreement. The success of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, a chatbot created by Microsoft Corp-backed (MSFT.O) OpenAI that has become the fastest-growing app in history since its November launch, has drawn the attention of governments in particular. We plan to convene future G7 discussions on generative AI which could include topics such as governance, how to safeguard intellectual property rights including copyright, promote transparency, address disinformation including information manipulation by foreign forces, the ministerial statement said. Italy, a G7 member, took ChatGPT offline last month to investigate its potential breach of personal data rules. While Italy lifted the ban on Friday, the move has inspired fellow European privacy regulators to launch probes. EU lawmakers on Thursday reached a preliminary agreement on a new draft of its upcoming AI Act, including copyright protection measures for generative AI, following a call for world leaders to convene a summit to control such technology. Vestager, EUs tech regulation chief, said the bloc will have the political agreement this year on the AI legislation, such as labelling obligations for AI-generated images or music, to address copyright and educational risks. Japan, this years chair of G7, meanwhile, has taken an accommodative approach on AI developers, pledging support for public and industrial adoption of AI. Japan hoped to get the G7 to agree on agile or flexible governance, rather than preemptive, catch-all regulation over AI technology, industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Friday ahead of the ministerial talks. Pausing (AI development) is not the right response innovation should keep developing but within certain guardrails that democracies have to set, Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister for Digital Transition, told Reuters, adding France will provide some exceptions to small AI developers under the upcoming EU regulation. Besides intellectual property concerns, G7 countries recognised security risks. Generative AIproduces fake news and disruptive solutions to the society if the data its based is fake, Japanese digital minister Taro Kono told a press conference after the agreement. The top tech officials from G7 Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States met in Takasaki, a city about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Tokyo, following energy and foreign ministers meetings this month. Japan will host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in late May, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss AI rules with world leaders. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. An Israeli army officer was sacked from his job on Sunday for attending a political protest while wearing his uniform. The first of its kind incident occurred amid the ongoing crisis over the governments proposed judicial overhaul, has stoked animosity within the military ranks. In an effort to counteract months of protests against the reforms, a pro-government gathering was held on Thursday. Local media identified the officer as a major who was televised carrying a stretcher in a PR stunt. The military acknowledged his rank but did not elaborate on his offence in a statement, other than to note that he had participated in a protest last week while wearing his uniform and had since lost command authority. The push by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus religious-nationalist coalition to rein in Israels Supreme Court has set off concern over judicial independence. He says the legislation, currently on hold, aims to balance branches of government. The feud has resonated within Israels armed forces, which draw heavily on conscripts and have long sought to serve as a melting pot for a fractious society. Some military reservists have threatened to refuse call-up orders if the reforms happen. Yoav Gallant, the minister of defense, spoke out against the pace of the reform in March, expressing concern for the nations readiness for war. In response, Netanyahu declared Gallant had been fired. However, he later changed his mind, citing the necessity to address security issues. (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. Mysuru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a mega roadshow in Mysuru on Sunday to give a boost to BJPs campaign for the assembly polls in Karnataka. A large number of people and BJP supporters had gathered on both sides of the road to greet the Prime Minister. PM Modi was on a specially designed vehicle and reciprocated the greetings by waving to people. People also showered flowers and waved BJP flags along the route as an expression of support. Along with the Prime Minister, former BJP leader, KS Eshwarappa was also present during the roadshow. Notably, he had announced retirement from electoral politics just before the party announced the list of its candidates. Earlier in the day, PM Modi came out hard against Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) parties terming them as symbols of instability, and said that the people of Karnataka have decided to end the rule of unstable coalition governments in the state. Addressing a public meeting here in Belur, PM Modi said, This time, the people of Karnataka have decided to end the unstable governments that have ruled the state for the past decades. Congress and JD(S), both are symbols of instability. In whichever state, Congress party is left, they make headlines only due to the tussle among the regional leaders. Everyone is watching what is happening in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. People are in a dire state, development works are halted. While Congress is busy with its infighting. JD(S) is daydreaming. It is Congress partys B Team and wants a share in looting the people, he added. The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows. The Assembly elections will be held in Karnataka on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Mann Ki Baat: Freddy Svane, the ambassador of Denmark to India, listened to the 100th edition of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday in Delhi and praised the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been able to connect with the countrys common people through the radio show. I think its a great initiative. Really, its connecting with people and whatever the honourable Prime Minister is doing is connecting with the people. Ive seen all these pitches like Swachh Bharat, and green hydrogen Viksit Bharat. And I was at the Independence Day back in 2014 so I see this development towards including the people and what India stands for and what honourable Prime Minister stands for to connect with the people, Svane told ANI. A nation cannot develop without engaging with its citizens, according to Denmarks envoy, and Mann Ki Baat is the best step in that direction. Mann Ki Baat is the way forward really and Im so happy to see all the good stories about the fibres, the cleaning of the Himalayas, the jobs being created in Kashmir and so forth thats the peoples movement and we need that, said Svane mentioning the stories he liked in the 100th episode of PM Modis radio show. In the historic 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation and claimed that his radio programme is the Mann Ki Baat of millions of Indians and an expression of their emotions. Thousands of letters and comments from the public, the prime minister claimed, left him swept away by emotions when he read them. He stated that the nations citizens should be applauded for his monthly radio show, which debuted on October 3, 2014, reaching its 100th episode. Today is the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. I have got thousands of letters, lakhs of messages. I have tried to go through more and more of them. I got emotional while reading your letters on many occasions, was swept away by emotions, and then held myself. You have congratulated me on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, but all the listeners, our countrymen deserve to be congratulated. Mann Ki Baat is the Mann Ki Baat of millions of Indians and the expression of their emotions, PM Modi said. The governments citizen outreach project, which targets a variety of social groups like women, youth, and farmers, has grown significantly since the launch of the Mann Ki Baat programme on October 3, 2014, and it has inspired local action. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. London: After listening to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday at the India House here, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said it was a nice opportunity for everybody to bond together about a community-based program that Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs. Its been a great pleasure to host people from our community here at our High Commission in London on this Sunday morning at the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The idea of taking an event that is focused on community and having it done as a community event is quite special. As you can see around, there has been a lot of enthusiasm from diverse people across the large 1.8 million community here in London in the UK to be part of it, Doraiswami told ANI. The High Commissioner added that the MannKiBaat address was also done live on community radio, community web channels and at Indian consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh. Its also been sort of done live on community radio, community web channels and also in our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh So that has made it a nice opportunity for everybody to bond together about a community-based program that the Prime Minister runs, Doraiswami said. In a separate statement, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that he did not expect the MannKiBaat at India House in London a huge turnout. We didnt expect such a huge turnout. The entire diaspora, I think across England, is over here at the India HouseIts also an indication of the kind of trust that people have in PM Modi, the Union Minister said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too described the broadcast of the 100th episode of MannKiBaat as an emotional event. Addressing the Indian diaspora that gathered in New Jersey to listen to the live broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, the EAM said, It is an important day and for many of us an emotional day. Jaishankar said that he often faces the question of why PM Modi, who is the most tech-savvy Prime Minister, uses a medium which is almost 100 years old. He added, You have to understand that PM Modis Mann Ki Baat has an enormous impact not because the medium is 100 years old, somewhere there is an emotional connect between PM Modi and the people of India. Meanwhile, author Amish also listened to the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat in London. He said, I think you couldve seen the enthusiasm of the audience for Mann Ki Baat by noticing that at 6:30 in the morning, the hall was packed. He also said, In fact not just here, we had our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh as well to run this programme live. The participation was here, the enthusiasm was there and I think that it truly shows the connection that honourable PM has with people not just in India but Indian diaspora across the world. PM Modis radio monthly programme completed its 100th episode today which was aired live at 11 am. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the governments citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr left for his four-day visit to the US to meet his counterpart, Joe Biden. During this visit, Marcos will extend the Philippines national interest and strengthen the very important alliance between Manila and Washington. Before leaving for his four-day official visit to Washington, Marcos said on Sunday he would convey to Biden his determination to forge an even stronger relationship with the United States to address the concerns of our times, including issues related to the economy. He said, During this visit, we will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region, and for that matter for the rest of the world. Marcos visit to the US will be the first such trip by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. Also, his visit comes amid a growing threat by China in the disputed South China Sea. Biden and Marcos are expected to reach agreements on greater business engagement, as well as military enhancements amid shared concerns about China, a senior Biden administration official told Reuters. The official added that ignoring the Philippines strategic importance is nearly impossible in the current situation. As part of moves to boost commercial ties, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo would lead a presidential business delegation to the Philippines. Although Marcos is seeking to strike a balance with both China and US, the administration of Manila acknowledges the growing threat posed by Beijing and is concerned about provocative diplomacy by the country and seeking stronger ties with allies. Were seeking not to be provocative, but to provide both moral and practical support for the Philippines as they try to make their way in a complex Western Pacific, the official said. Their geographic position is critical, the official added. Experts say Washington sees the Philippines as a potential location for rockets, missiles and artillery systems to counter a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory. 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. Russia-Ukraine War: Russia has blamed Ukraine for a drone strike that has set a major fuel depot in Crimea on fire. A Ukrainian drone strike set ablaze a Russian fuel storage facility in the Crimean port of Sevastopol early on Saturday, sending a vast column of black smoke into the sky in the latest attack on the Russia-occupied peninsula. The citys Moscow-installed governor blamed Ukraine and later said the fire had been put out before a disaster occurred. A Ukrainian military intelligence official said more than 10 tanks of oil products with a capacity of about 40,000 tonnes intended for use by Russias Black Sea Fleet were destroyed, RBC Ukraine reported. The strike came as Ukraine prepares for a long-promised counter offensive to push Russian forces back from territory they seized since invading in February 2022. Ukraine says control of all its legal territory, including Crimea, is a key condition for any peace deal. Russian forces occupied the peninsula in 2014. Moscow has accused Kyiv of sending waves of aerial and seaborne drones to attack Crimea. Sevastopol governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said only one drone hit the oil tanks. The enemy wanted to take Sevastopol by surprise, as usual, by staging a sneak attack in the morning, Razvozhaev wrote on the Telegram app. Russian firefighters had shown how to defeat a major blaze and prevent a catastrophe, he added. Russian soldiers who dug trenches in the Chernobyl forest during their takeover of the area fell ill with radiation sickness. When the Russians arrived, local Ukrainians living close to the nuclear power plant that detonated 37 years ago and engulfed the area in radioactive contamination warned them against establishing up camp in the forest. However, the soldiers even after initially understanding the risks, installed themselves in the forest, reportedly dug trenches and fished catfish, and shot animals from the reactors cooling channel. Chernobyl resident Baba Hana, 90, recalled a clash with the occupying forces in an interview with The Times by saying, I started yelling at them. According to reports, Vladimir Putins forces camped out close to reactor No. 4 and dug defensive trenches into the deadly soil beneath the surface. The last of the occupants departed on April 1 when Ukrainian troops launched counterattacks from Kyiv, leaving behind mountains of trash. Diplomats have reported that radiation illness has since struck down Russian servicemen stationed in the woodland. After exposure, symptoms may appear within an hour and linger for several months, frequently leading to death. On April 26, 1986, the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants reactor number 4 erupted. The worlds worst nuclear civil incident is how most people refer to it. As a result, numerous people perished, and less than six years later, the USSR fell. Prypiats city and the 30 km exclusion zone around it were emptied of all of its inhabitants, and the cleanup was planned to be finished in 2065. Teams of workers were sent to remove the contaminated topsoil and bury it underground in the Red Forest, which got its name from the colour the disaster-affected trees took on. This work was done in the years following the occurrence. Russian military entered Chernobyl on February 24, 2022, from Belarus, and stayed there for five weeks. Oksana Pyshna, 30, a former tour guide who now works for the state ministry in charge of the exclusion zone, told the newspaper, Dont try to find logic, its stupid. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Turkey abruptly restricted its airspace to low-cost Armenian airline FlyOne Armenia on Saturday. Aram Ananyan, the chairman of FlyOne, said, For reasons incomprehensible to us and without any obvious grounds, Turkish aviation authorities revoked the permission previously granted to the FlyOne Armenia airline to operate flights to Europe through Turkish airspace. Our airline and our passengers were placed in an uncomfortable situation because Turkish aviation authorities implemented the cancellation without prior notice, he added. The Moldovan airline FlyOnes affiliate, FlyOne Armenia, started operations in December 2021. According to Ananyans statement to Armenpress in February 2023, the airline operated flights to 14 locations in eight different European and Middle Eastern countries using five Airbus aircraft. Since the 1990s, Ankara has not maintained diplomatic or business ties with Armenia. The main point of contention between the two countries is to Armenias claims that the Ottoman Empire, the forerunner of contemporary Turkey, slaughtered 1.5 million people in 1915. Armenia claims that this amounts to genocide, a claim Turkey refutes. To allow relief for the victims of the terrible earthquakes in southern Turkey, a border gate between the neighbours was opened in February for the first time in 35 years. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In a bid to ban terrorists from hoarding, the United Kingdom has introduced new restrictions on the number of books that convicted terrorists can keep in their cells. The new rules also forbid terrorists from playing a leading role in religious services. About 200 people who are currently lodged in UK prisons and have been found guilty of terrorism are only permitted to bring two medium-sized boxes of books that cannot weigh more than 15kg. Books can be ordered from authorised shops, picked up at prison libraries, or sent to inmates by friends and family. The administration backed the changes by citing a recent incident in which a convicted terrorist had 200 books in his cell, as evidence that the change would make it simpler for prison staff to check for banned content. It comes in response to a report from 2022 that expressed worry about radicalization and Islamist gangs inside prisons. The restrictions, according to the new Justice Secretary Alex Chalk, will prevent terrorists from pushing their own sinister agenda. However, there are worries about extremist content being cloaked in books that have already been approved or having their covers changed to hide it. The High Court declared a previous blanket prohibition on prisoners receiving books from individuals outside of prison to be illegal in 2014, less than a year after it had been enacted. 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 Ukrainian government has asserted the Ukraine military retains control of a key supply route into Bakhmut despite several months of assault by Russia. This statement was put out by a Ukrainian military spokesperson on Saturday even as the head of Russias mercenary Wagner Group threatened to withdraw some of his troops from Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine if Moscow did not send more ammunition. Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000. Kyiv has pledged to defend Bakhmut, which Russia sees as a stepping stone to attacking other cities. For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the road of life, as well as about constant fire control over it, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. Yes, it is really difficult there (but) the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to cut off our logistics. The road of life is a vital road between the ruined Bakhmut and the nearby town Chasiv Yar to the west a distance of just over 17 km (10.56 miles). If Bakhmut fell, Chasiv Yar would probably be next to come under Russian attack according to military analysts, though it is on higher ground and Ukrainian forces are believed to have built defensive fortifications nearby. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russias Wagner Group, who has often claimed unverifiable successes, said that his forces have advanced some 100 to 150 metres (109 to 164 yards) in Bakhmut, leaving just under 3 square km of the city in Ukrainian hands. But he said he lost 94 troops. It would have had been five times fewer if we had more ammunition, Prigozhin said in an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app of his press service on Saturday evening. Separately, in a nearly 90-minute video interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov published on Saturday, Prigozhin threatened to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, saying they had enough ammunition left only for days. If the shortage of ammunition is not replenished, then most likely, we will be forced to withdraw part of the units, Prigozhin said, quoting a letter he said was sent to Russias Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, giving an April 28 deadline. It was not immediately known when the interview was recorded. Prigozhin has often said the regular armed forces are not giving his men the ammunition they need and has sometimes accused top brass of betrayal. We need to stop deceiving the population and telling them that everything is fine, Prigozhin said in the interview. I must honestly say: Russia is on the brink of a disaster. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay interacted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 100th episode of the monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. The UNESCO Director-General congratulated Indians and PM Modi for the wonderful journey of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat and also asked questions on education and cultural preservation in India. I have received another special message from Audrey Azoulay, DG, UNESCO regarding Mann Ki Baat. She has wished all the countrymen for this wonderful journey of 100th episode, PM Modi said during his 100th Mann Ki Baat address. Audrey Azoulay is a French civil servant and politician who has been serving as the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017, becoming the second female leader of the organization. Speaking to PM Modi in his radio broadcast today, the UNESCO Chief said, Dear Prime Minister, on behalf of UNESCO, I thank you for this opportunity to be part of the hundredth episode of the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast. UNESCO and India have a long common history. We have very strong partnerships together in all areas of our mandate education, science, culture and information. She also asked various questions to PM Modi on education and cultural preservation amid Indias ongoing G20 Presidency. UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by2030, with the largest population in the world. Could you please explain the Indian way to achieve this objective? UNESCO also works to support culture and protect heritage, she said. PM Modi thanked the UNESCO Chief for taking part in the 100th episode of the Radio broadcast and said that he is happy that she raised important issues. He further said that Mann Ki Baat has been a catalyst in igniting numerous mass movements. Be it NEP or the option of studying in regional languages, many initiatives such as Gunotsav and Shala Praveshotsav were highlighted in MannKiBaat, the Prime Minister said. Maan Ki Baat is a programme that allows every citizen to inspire others; this positivity will propel our nation in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Be it Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, love towards Khadi, nature-related concerns, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or that of Amrit Sarovar, whatever issue Mann Ki Baat got associated with, it has ignited a peoples movement, PM Modi added. Ahead of the historic 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat which aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to join him live at 11:00 am and said that the journey of his radio monthly programme in which he addresses the common people has been truly special. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that during the journey, the collective spirit of the people of the country was celebrated. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday joined the Indian diaspora in New Jersey to listen to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Union Minister Jitendra Singh too interacted with the Indian diaspora in London before the broadcast of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat. He said that PM Modi has raised the esteem of the Indian Diaspora abroad, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Minister said, the world is looking up to the Indian Diaspora with great hope and expectation and it is high time that they also rise to the occasion and contribute to the well-being of the entire humankind in the true spirit of the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as given by PM Modi during Indias G20 presidency. PM Modis monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode today which aired at 11 am and broadcast live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme, which began on October 3, 2014, has inspired community action and grown to be an essential tenet of the governments citizen outreach programme, which targets a variety of social groups including women, youth, and farmers. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on peoples lives. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast by more than 500 All India Radio broadcast centres. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Afghanistan Humanitarian Crisis: Even as the humanitarian catastrophe continues to worsen under the harsh Taliban regime, the World Food Programme of the United Nations (UN) has asserted that it will carry out its duty in Afghanistan regardless of political divide and security issues. Hsiao-Wei Lee, the head of the UN World Food Programme in Afghanistan, stated on Thursday this week in Berlin, Germany, that the organization had no plans to leave the country, as the people of Afghanistan continue to live miserably. Humanitarian aid is vital to most vulnerable people, including women, children and people with disabilities, she said. Earlier, the UNICEF representative in Afghanistan remarked that the organisation supports Afghan mothers and children despite all difficulties. The UNICEF representative in Afghanistan estimates that 28 million people in Afghanistan, including 15 million children, need humanitarian aid and protective support, Khaama Press reported. Earlier in January the World Food Programme underlined that an estimated 875,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition in 2023 in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported. The WFP report also stated that 2.3 million children as well as 840,000 women are also on the verge of suffering from moderate acute malnutrition. The economic and political situation of Afghanistan has only gone worse since the Taliban took control of the country in mid-August of 2021. Afghanistan is currently grappling with a serious humanitarian crisis as according to international assessments, the country now has the highest number of people in emergency food insecurity in the world. Additionally, the Ukraine crisis has had a massive impact on the rise in food costs and how it was out of reach for many Afghans. Afghan children and women are impacted the most by the atrocities that the Taliban has unleashed in the country since taking control. The de facto government forbade the UN relief workers from working, which caused a global outcry, Khaama Press reported. The UN organisations encouraged the Taliban to remove the ban on women working for humanitarian organisations, arguing that it would be challenging to aid the nation without female assistance. 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 head of Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin on Sunday warned that an upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive could turn into a tragedy for Russia and complained that his fighters lacked ammunition. For months Wagner has spearheaded the Russian attack on Bakhmut, the east Ukrainian town at the epicenter of fighting. Prigozhin is an ally of President Vladimir Putin but as head of the private military group has been involved in a power struggle with Russias defence ministry. We (Wagner) have only 10-15 percent of the shells that we need, he said, blaming the leadership of the Russian army. He spoke in an interview with Russian pro-Kremlin war correspondent Semyon Pegov. Prigozhin said he expected a Ukrainian counterattack in mid-May. This counteroffensive could become a tragedy for our country, he said. Ukraine said recently that it was finalising preparations for a long-expected counteroffensive. On Sunday, the governor of Russias western Bryansk region said Ukraine had shelled a border village, killing four people and wounding two others. A day earlier, a suspected drone hit a fuel depot in Moscow-annexed Crimea. Russia replaces logistics commander Meanwhile, the Russian Army on Sunday replaced its highest-ranking general in charge of logistics ahead of an expected counteroffensive by Kyiv. Speculation had been rife about the sacking of Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev, under British sanctions for his role in the siege of the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol, which Russian troops captured a year ago. 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. The Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (Southern Defenders) has condemned the conviction and four-year prison sentence imposed on opposition Transform Zimbabwe party leader Jacob Ngarivhume saying it was a clear violation of his rights. Ngarivhume was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of inciting public violence after calling for anti-government nationwide protests in July 2020. He will stay behind bars for three years after the court set aside one year on condition of good behaviour. The sentence is seen as setting a precedence for other suspects facing similar charges. Job Sikhala, a popular opposition politician has been in prison for over 300 days for allegedly inciting violence during a speech. He still awaits judgment, which is due next week. "The conviction and imprisonment of Jacob Ngarivhume, a democracy activist, for calling for anti-corruption demonstrations in 2020 clearly violates his fundamental freedoms. This sentence conveys to other activists that they risk imprisonment for exercising their rights," the Southern Defenders said. Amnesty International, a human rights lobby organization, also urged authorities to quash Ngarivhume's sentence as this was the ruling party's way of silencing dissenting voices. "It is unthinkable that Jacob Ngarivhume has been sent to prison for exercising his constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. "Authorities must quash this sentence. Ngarivhume's sentencing is a cynical ploy to suppress dissent and it is an abuse of the justice system to intimidate and harass opposition voices," said Amnesty International's Interim Deputy Director in Southern Africa Vongai Chikwanda in a statement. Meanwhile, main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Tendai Biti has described Ngarivhume's conviction and lengthy jail sentence as irrational and shocking. "The conviction and 4-year prison term for Jacob Ngarivhume is shocking and irrational. "Decision has no leg in both law and logic. It is a gross assault on the basic right to protest codified in the constitution and a massive reflection of the paranoia and psychotic nature of this regime. "Regime must understand that Ian Smith's copybook of repression, closure of political space, assassinations and imprisonment of opponents does not work and will not work. "No tank will stop an idea whose hour has come," said Biti. The city centre of Nairobi, Kenya from the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (file photo). Kisumu The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection has signed bilateral labour agreements with seven countries to assist qualified unemployed Kenyans to secure jobs abroad. Labour Cabinet Secretary (CS) Florence Bore said so far, seven agreements have been signed adding that the initiative would benefit thousands of Kenyans in different cadres as the government moves to address rising unemployment in the country. Among the agreements signed, she said, was between Kenya and Saudi Arabia where about 130, 000 opportunities have been identified for qualified Kenyans to tap into. Kenya, she added, was looking beyond the gulf countries which have traditionally absorbed Kenyan workers to ensure that as many Kenyans as possible benefit from the programme. She disclosed that negotiations were at an advanced stage with Canada, South Korea and Germany to secure more job opportunities. "Germany will be here next week. They have assured us that they have about seven million jobs. This is huge and we want our people to benefit," she said. To make the programme a success, the CS said the ministry was working on packaging job seekers to ready them for the available opportunities abroad. "What we have as a country is the human resource. People have graduated with various degrees and courses but do not have jobs. We want to sell this out there and be able to secure opportunities for them," she said. She added that the ministry was in the process of reviewing existing bilateral labour relations with different countries to safeguard Kenyans working outside the country. This comes against the backdrop of Kenyans being tortured and mistreated abroad with the CS assuring that they were reviewing targets to address teething problems affecting the programme. Through the initiative, the government aims to ensure that all Kenyans who secure jobs abroad are put in the right cadres, get the right salaries and work in a conducive environment. Bore added that the government was equally developing a National Labour Policy and a National Labour Management Bill to regulate and control recruitment. This, she disclosed, has seen the number of registered recruitment agencies reduced from 900 to 500 adding that vetting would continue to ensure that only agencies that meet the set standards are allowed to operate. .Speaking at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu during the World Day for Safety and Health celebrations, Bore asked all unemployed Kenyans to register with the National Employment Authority to benefit from the opportunities being sought abroad and within the country. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Business Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Over the last one year, she said 177 Kenyans died while an additional 4, 398 suffered injuries while at work. During the same period, she disclosed 741 workers were reported to have contracted occupational diseases. "We gather here today in solidarity with our fellow workers to remember those who have lost their lives and those who have suffered while at work. Let the gospel of prevention of this loss of human resource be amplified," she said. She called for the institution of measures at the work place to guarantee safety and health for all workers in the country. "When we reduce injuries and accidents at the places of work we are able to save what we spend on the injuries and use it on other things," she said. Bore said the Ministry of Labour has partnered with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to enhance occupational safety and health at work. Various government departments, state agencies, private sector firms and the jua kali sector were feted for enhancing safety and health at the workplace. Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts 1. "Billy Bishop Goes to War" is the brainchild of two Canadians, who also comprise the original cast, as well as the cast of the filmed versions. Who are these two performers? Answer: John Gray and Eric Peterson In his preface to the 1981 printed edition of the play, John Gray describes how he and Eric Peterson were working with Theatre Passe Muraille in Ottawa in 1976, when Peterson brought him a copy of Bishop's book "Winged Warfare", written when Bishop was 21 years old and a fighter pilot in the Royal Flying Corps (which merged with the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918 to become the Royal Air Force). Gray and Peterson put their heads together, did a lot of historical research, wrote some songs and first performed their play in Vancouver in November 1978. John Gray is better known as a composer and musician than as an actor. His role in "Billy Bishop..." is as the Piano Player and Narrator. He also sings. Eric Peterson is a well-known actor on Canadian TV, appearing as a regular in "Street Legal" (1987-94); "Corner Gas" (2004-09) and lending his voice to the animated reboot of the latter (2018-21), as well as numerous guest appearances in other series. He plays Billy and approximately seventeen other characters in the play. Butt and Ewanuick are two of his co-stars in both versions of "Corner Gas". 2. More than once during the play, Billy mentions Owen Sound. Why? Answer: It is his hometown. Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada is a small city on an inlet of Georgian Bay (which is part of Lake Huron) that had a population of about 12,000 at the beginning of World War I. Billy mentions his small town roots in contrast to the high society that he finds himself part of after he's had some success as a pilot, and especially late in the play when he meets King George V, who pins some medals on Billy's chest, including the Victoria Cross. Billy's home in Owen Sound has been turned into a museum, which I had the pleasure of visiting a few years ago. He is also buried in his hometown, having died in Florida in 1956, aged 62. 3. The play's first song talks of being off to fight in the war, even though most Canadians wouldn't know a German if they met one. How would "our medals" shine? "Like a sabre in the sun." Bishop and the Piano Player sing this song together, to open the play, and it has the feeling of a song sung by a group of kids setting out on a great adventure. A recurring line is "Somehow it didn't seem like war at all, at all, at all. Somehow it didn't seem like war at all." That sentiment is changed fairly early on, even before the front is reached, mostly due to a horrific ocean crossing on a cattle boat full of seasick soldiers and horses, because at this point Billy Bishop is a cavalry officer, destined for futile cavalry charges against machine guns. The song doesn't use the word "German", but a less PC word that rhymes with "sun" and "gun". Answer:Bishop and the Piano Player sing this song together, to open the play, and it has the feeling of a song sung by a group of kids setting out on a great adventure. A recurring line is "Somehow it didn't seem like war at all, at all, at all. Somehow it didn't seem like war at all." That sentiment is changed fairly early on, even before the front is reached, mostly due to a horrific ocean crossing on a cattle boat full of seasick soldiers and horses, because at this point Billy Bishop is a cavalry officer, destined for futile cavalry charges against machine guns.The song doesn't use the word "German", but a less PC word that rhymes with "sun" and "gun". 4. Fed up with training in the mud in England, Billy decides to become a flyer. He completes his training and is immediately dispatched to France as a pilot. Answer: False Although it is his ambition to become a fighter pilot right away, at his interview Bishop is told that they have enough pilots at the moment and what they really need is observers: "You know, the fellow who goes along for the ride, looks about." He wants to fly, so he agrees, and arrives in France as an observer in January 1916. He is not satisfied with the situation, and writes letters to his sweetheart Margaret, bemoaning his lot. As if to confirm that Billy is homesick, the Piano Player sings: "Nobody shoots no one in Canada, At least nobody they don't know. ... Take me under That big blue sky, ... Wish I was in Canada today." Instead, Bishop ends up in hospital in England, after his pilot makes a heavy landing. Whilst there he's taken under the wing of Lady St Helier, who knew his father, and who expedites his acceptance for pilot training. He sings, "Flying Canadian, machine gun in my hand..." and manages to survive his first solo flight, and is soon back in France as a pilot. 5. Act 1 ends on the day that Bishop scores his first victory over an enemy aircraft. How does he celebrate? Answer: He spends the night in a British trench, having suffered engine failure. In a long monologue, complete with sound effects, Billy describes that first victory. Suddenly he realises that his engine has stopped, possibly flooded by oil when he dived after his prey. He lands in no-mans-land and is happy to hear English being spoken in the nearest trench. He is not able to take off again until morning. The act ends with Billy and the Piano Player singing a song that has stuck in my head since I saw the play performed at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto in 1982. "Oh, the bloody earth is littered With the fighters and the quitters." It goes on to speak of the soldiers on the ground yearning to fly, as Billy had done, and of the dance that opposing pilots perform together "in the sky". 6. Act 2 begins with a jocular song about a macabre subject performed by both cast members. Where does the dying "bold Aviator" tell his mechanics they will find three spark plugs? Answer: In his lung This song is a variation of a traditional ditty popular in both World Wars, in which the poor airman is giving instructions to the mechanics so they can find all of the bits and pieces necessary to put the engine back together so it can be used again. It's the joystick clinging to his fingers, the cylinders in his kidneys and the crankshaft in the small of his back. Its inclusion here is a reflection of the fatalistic attitude of many fighter pilots at this point of the war, when the life expectancy of a new pilot was less than two weeks. Bishop reflects on survival, and the best way to ensure that you survive and your enemy doesn't. As the lovely Helene (a chanteuse) he sings a rather cynical song about patriotism, survival and keeping one's emotions under control. He notes that his flying skills are nothing compared to (Albert) Ball (VC) or (William) Barker (VC), but his shooting makes up for that. 7. "The Dying of Albert Ball" is to be performed in what manner, according to the stage directions? Answer: Like a Robert Service poem British-born, claimed by Canada and known as the Bard of the Yukon, or the Canadian Kipling, Robert Service is known for poems that lend themselves to being read or recited with a certain cadence. They include "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee". It can be seen by the title that "The Dying of Albert Ball" is meant to emulate these ballads. It is lengthy (some 14 stanzas) and has the recurring lines: "But the British like their heroes Cold and dead, or so it seems, And their hero in the sky was Albert Ball." By the end, Bishop is convinced that he will replace Ball, both as top scoring ace, and as a dead hero. When I saw this performed in Toronto in 1982, a larger than life photo of Ball, standing in front of his aircraft and looking impossibly young was projected on the backdrop behind Peterson, as Bishop, as he recited the piece. It's a well-known photo in certain circles (I've seen it in many books about VC recipients or WWI flyers). He looks so young because he was only 20 when he died. I was somewhat disappointed to find that the LP record that I purchased in the theatre lobby after the performance did not include "The Dying of Albert Ball". As it was not sung, I suppose that is why. 8. "The Dying of Albert Ball" is immediately followed by the Piano Player singing a "sad song", in which Billy joins him. It speaks of names on statues and friends dying and something "I can't believe". What is it that is so unbelievable? "How young we were back then." "One thing's for sure, We'll never be that young again. We were daring young men, With hearts of gold, And most of us never got old." This is another song whose lyrics I have never forgotten, and which still has the power to bring tears to my eyes, even as I write. By this time the war definitely seems like war, and Bishop runs through a list of squadron mates who have not survived to grow old. Answer:"One thing's for sure,We'll never be that young again.We were daring young men,With hearts of gold,And most of us never got old."This is another song whose lyrics I have never forgotten, and which still has the power to bring tears to my eyes, even as I write. By this time the war definitely seems like war, and Bishop runs through a list of squadron mates who have not survived to grow old. 9. Bishop relates the story of the exploit for which he is to be awarded the Victoria Cross. How did he get the idea? Answer: Albert Ball suggested they do it together. Before his death, Ball had suggested to Bishop that two daring pilots (Ball and Bishop, of course) could conduct a raid on a certain German airfield, deep in enemy territory, and destroy many aircraft as they took off to engage the raiders. To Bishop's query "How do we get out?" Ball responds that it was a grand gesture and getting out wasn't a consideration. Nevertheless, Bishop decides to go ahead on his own, causing a lot of damage to the Germans and somehow makes it home. He ends the war with 72 confirmed victories, the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and bar, Distinguished Flying Cross, Military Cross and some other bits and bobs. After his meeting with the King (in the play) the action moves on, and our players sing about "The Empire Soiree" which speaks of the "dance of history" and hints at future conflict. 10. "Billy Bishop Goes to War" ends on a sombre note, with a sad reprise of "In the Sky" which also ended Act 1. What is happening that is so sad? Answer: World War II has begun. The play, as published in 1981, has Billy giving a rousing recruiting speech in 1941, and speaking of how proud he and Margaret are of their son, now a pilot, and daughter, also in uniform. Billy himself is now a senior officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and still has fifteen years to live. The 2010 TV version, which I re-watched before writing this quiz, made a few changes. The most obvious is that both Billy and the Piano Player are now portrayed as old men, instead of youngsters in RFC uniform. Billy plays the entire show in pyjamas, sometimes donning a uniform jacket or other costumes. The obvious reason for this is that Gray and Peterson were, by then, both 64 years old. The ending is also changed a bit, but quite effectively. Instead of stressing the onset of WWII the speech is more general. Throughout the production, it can be seen that the players are playing to an empty house, that is, until the end. As the final speech and song are performed, the camera pans to an audience of older veterans in Legion blazers, and young servicemen in uniform, some of whom were very likely veterans of Afghanistan. Source: Author spanishliz This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ponycargirl before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system. Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts 1. Vincent van Gogh Vincent van Gogh painted "The Starry Night" in 1889 while he was staying at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, France. Van Gogh suffered from mental illness and admitted himself to the asylum to seek treatment. During his stay, he painted many of his most famous works, including "The Starry Night." The painting depicts the view from his window at the asylum, looking out at the village of Saint-Remy and the Alpilles mountains beyond. Van Gogh's interpretation of the scene is highly expressive and emotional, featuring swirling brushstrokes and bold colors that convey his feelings of isolation and despair. 2. Leonardo da Vinci Leonardo da Vinci painted the "Mona Lisa" between 1503 and 1506, during the Italian Renaissance. The painting is believed to have been commissioned by Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy Florentine merchant, to commemorate the birth of his son. Some believe that the subject of the painting, Lisa Gherardini, was pregnant or had just given birth when she sat for da Vinci. Da Vinci's masterful technique is on full display in the painting, particularly in his use of sfumato, a technique in which the edges of forms are gradually softened to create a hazy effect. The painting is also notable for its use of chiaroscuro, or the contrast between light and shadow, which gives the figure a three-dimensional quality. 3. Gustav Klimt Gustav Klimt painted "The Kiss" in 1907-1908, during the height of the Art Nouveau movement in Vienna, Austria. The painting was commissioned by a wealthy patron named Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, who was an avid supporter of Klimt's work. The painting depicts a couple locked in a tender embrace, surrounded by ornate patterns and motifs inspired by Klimt's obsession with Byzantine mosaics and Japanese art. The gold leaf (similar to that used in the much older Byzantine art he was so fond of) gives the painting a shimmering, ethereal quality. Gustav Klimt painted "The Kiss" in 1907-1908, during the height of the Art Nouveau movement in Vienna, Austria. The painting was commissioned by a wealthy patron named Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, who was an avid supporter of Klimt's work.The painting depicts a couple locked in a tender embrace, surrounded by ornate patterns and motifs inspired by Klimt's obsession with Byzantine mosaics and Japanese art. The gold leaf (similar to that used in the much older Byzantine art he was so fond of) gives the painting a shimmering, ethereal quality. 4. Edward Hopper Edward Hopper painted "Nighthawks" in 1942, during the height of World War II. The painting depicts a late-night scene at a diner in Greenwich Village, New York City, one that is based on a real-life diner he was said to frequent. However, the figures in the painting are not based on any specific individuals. The painting has been interpreted as a commentary on the loneliness and alienation of modern life, as well as a reflection of the wartime mood of uncertainty and anxiety, though Hopper has said in the past that he didn't initially intend to paint a work that tackled loneliness so bluntly. He later stated he probably included that theme subconsciously and agreed with viewers' interpretations. 5. Edvard Munch Edvard Munch painted "The Scream" in 1893, during a period of personal and artistic turmoil. The painting depicts a figure with a distorted face, standing on a bridge and screaming out into the void. Munch was inspired to create the painting after experiencing a powerful sense of anxiety and dread while walking along a path overlooking the Oslofjord in Norway. The figure in the painting is meant to represent the artist himself, as well as the human condition of angst and despair. 6. Katsushika Hokusai Katsushika Hokusai painted "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" in 1831 as part of a series of prints titled "Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji." The painting depicts a giant wave towering over a fishing boat with Mount Fuji in the background. The painting was created during Japan's Edo period, a time of relative stability and prosperity that saw a flourishing of art and culture. The painting was created using the ukiyo-e technique, a type of woodblock printing that was popular in Japan during the Edo period. The technique allowed for the creation of multiple copies of a print, making it possible for Hokusai's works to reach a wide audience. 7. Johannes Vermeer Johannes Vermeer painted "Girl with a Pearl Earring" in 1665, during the Dutch Golden Age. The painting depicts a young woman wearing a blue and gold turban and a large pearl earring. It is an example of a Dutch "tronie", which is a painting that doesn't depict any particular person, but instead the face of a fictional person, often with an exaggerated expression. Despite its fame and enduring popularity, the painting remains shrouded in mystery, with little known about the identity of the sitter or the circumstances surrounding its creation. 8. Raphael Sanzio Raphael painted "The School of Athens" between 1509 and 1511 as part of a series of frescoes for the Vatican Palace in Rome. The painting depicts a group of philosophers and scholars gathered in an imagined ancient Greek setting, with figures such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates prominently featured. The figures in the painting are depicted with a remarkable degree of realism and expressiveness. "The School of Athens" is housed in the Stanza della Segnatura, a room in the Vatican Palace that was used by the pope for meetings and receptions. Raphael painted "The School of Athens" between 1509 and 1511 as part of a series of frescoes for the Vatican Palace in Rome. The painting depicts a group of philosophers and scholars gathered in an imagined ancient Greek setting, with figures such as Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates prominently featured. The figures in the painting are depicted with a remarkable degree of realism and expressiveness."The School of Athens" is housed in the Stanza della Segnatura, a room in the Vatican Palace that was used by the pope for meetings and receptions. 9. Grant Wood Grant Wood painted "American Gothic" in 1930, during the Great Depression. The painting depicts a farmer and his daughter (not his wife) standing in front of their house, with the man holding a pitchfork and the woman wearing a distinctive apron. Wood painted "American Gothic" in his studio in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, using his sister and his dentist as models for the two figures in the painting. The house in the background of the painting is based on a real house in Eldon, Iowa, that Wood saw while driving through the countryside. 10. Edgar Degas It is believed that Edgar Degas painted "The Dancing Class" sometime around 1870, during the height of the Impressionist movement in France. The figures in the painting are depicted with an incredible degree of realism and detail, with critics commenting positively on the grace and fluidity of the figures' movements. Degas was known for his fascination with the world of dance, and he produced a large number of works that depict dancers and ballet scenes. Source: Author trident This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system. The National Assembly this week agreed to investigate the Central Procurement Board of Namibia's tender-awarding processes, including the legal framework. Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) lawmaker Nico Smit tabled a motion in parliament last month calling for an investigation into the procurement process. The aim of the investigation is to uncover any areas that require improvement, notably in the area of due diligence, to regain the public's confidence and trust in the procurement board. While motivating the topic titled 'All Aspects of the Procedures Dictating Tender Awarding Process of the CPBN' in parliament, Smit said the CPBN has been at the centre of widespread public debate and controversy. Following a public outcry, the procurement board was forced to withdraw N$650 million health supply tender this year. Amnics Trading was to be awarded a multimillion-dollar two-year contract to procure clinical products worth N$400 million for surgical gloves and N$111 million for condoms and other medical supplies. It was part of the health ministry's N$2,8 billion health tender. As such, Smit said it was critical that the procurement board not only receives priority at the highest level, but that it is also reviewed and enhanced on a regular basis. "The Central Procurement Board of Namibia is a gate of sorts for taxpayers' money, for which we've been charged to act as custodians, to ensure value for every dollar, and to meet the needs of the Namibian people," he said. "We read allegations of the manipulation of the procurement process to allow for emergency procurement, and we hear of extensive and widespread non-compliance, without consequence," said Smit. Health minister Kalumbi Shangula has backed the investigation. He said a large portion of his ministry's budget is allocated for the procurement of clinical supplies, medical equipment and pharmaceuticals. Shangula said most of the health ministry's procurement activities are managed by the CPBN since they exceed the N$25 million threshold stipulated by the Public Procurement Act of 2015. The motion on all legal aspects of the CPBN's tender awarding process will now be referred to the parliamentary standing committee on public accounts for further scrutiny. Acting parliament spokesperson Raphael Hangula told The Namibian on Wednesday once a motion is adopted, it signifies that the assembly has agreed to do or implement what the motion requests. He said the relevant committee will decide how to address the proposal. This could involve calling the CPBN board of directors and management to appear before the committee to answer questions, as well as holding public hearings before reporting back to the house for a decision. Meanwhile, Smit, a member of the public accounts committee, informed The Namibian on Wednesday that the committee will request the auditor general's office handle the investigation. The lawmaker has committed to seeing the investigation through and has said that after the committee receives the auditors' findings, he will propose a public hearing. "Before we submit the report to the National Assembly, I will sort of propose we have a public hearing. "Summon the procurement board for a public hearing, and we will question them," Smit said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Namibia Business Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The reason I will demand a public hearing is that when it is a public hearing, they are under oath. They took the oath, and if they lie, we will charge them for perjury." Auditor general Junias Kandjeke told The Namibian last month that other parliaments have put mechanisms in place to ensure accountability in the public sector. He cited Kenya, which established an implementation committee in its parliament. Other countries like Uganda and Ghana have gone to extremes where public officials can be arrested during public hearings for failing to account, he said. "But with us, I think what should be done is for people to be serious with their work. We don't want to arrest people and make them afraid, but they must just do their work and account," he said. President Museveni has said it is high time corrupt government officials paid heavily for their sins of stealing from the public. "Our big problem now is corrupt govt officials. This is what is slowing down our rate of growth. Those people must go to jail and they must lose opportunities of leadership, but they must pay back everything they have stolen," Museveni said. The president was on Friday speaking at the 6th annual prosecutors' symposium held at Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo. Museveni said government has made great strides in resurrecting the economy that he said had gone to the dogs by 1986 but noted the remaining problem now is corruption, especially by government officials. He said these must be forced to cough what they have stolen. "Our big problem now is corruption by public officials. This is what is slowing down our rate of growth but I am very glad that the DPP is very harsh on them. They cause us loss but we shall cause much more loss to them." Earlier, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Abodo had noted that her office has not left any stone unturned in prosecuting those involved in corruption. The development comes on the backdrop of the Karamoja iron sheets scandal in which several senior government officials including ministers have been implicated in diverting iron sheets meant for the Karamoja Community Empowerment Programme. So far three ministers including Mary Goretti Kitutu, Amos Lugoloobi and Agnes Nandutu have been arraigned before courts of law to face charges related to diversion of the iron sheets. President Museveni recently said all those implicated in the scandal will face a political action, a statement many have since interpreted to mean sacking the ministers from cabinet. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. UAE President's Visit to South Africa Above Board - Govt There is nothing untoward about United Arab Emirates (UAE) President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan and his entourage's visit to South Africa. On Wednesday, April19, 2023 the landing of the UAE raised concerns, taking place at a decommissioned Bulembu military airbase in Bisho in the Eastern Cape, which was renovated with funds donated by the UAE president. At a media briefing, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has said that nothing improper unfolded in the Eastern Cape's preparations for the private visit by UAE President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan and his entourage. "We are here today to share with the nation that this visit has been made possible with the diligence and integrity required of government as we interact with people from all walks of life, including persons of the standing of the UAE president," the minister said. South Africa was dealt a hefty blow by the UAE recently, with the middle eastern country refusing to extradict the Gupta brothers - Atul and Rajesh - who fled to Dubai after they were implicated by the Zondo Commission of among others, the irregular awarding of tenders, influencing various political appointments and of the capture of the South African Revenue Service. The Guptas drew the attention of South Africa 10 years ago when they landed their private plane at the Waterkloof airforce base in Pretoria, to attend a family wedding. DFA Welcomes First Group of Filipino Evacuees from Sudan Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA, 29 April 2023 -- The Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo, together with officials of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs (OUMWA), Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed the first batch of seventeen (17) government-assisted Filipino evacuees from Sudan, who arrived in Manila this afternoon after flying out yesterday from Athens, Greece and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Eight (8) overseas Filipinos were hotel workers in Sudan who boarded a military evacuation flight after successful representations made with the Greek government by the Philippine Embassy in Athens. The Embassy received the group in Athens on the morning of 28 April 2023, Friday, and afterwards immediately arranged for their flight back to the Philippines, through the DFA's Assistance-to-Nationals Fund. The remaining nine (9) overseas Filipinos, including one infant, fled Khartoum via Port Sudan where they boarded a C130 plane of the Saudi Royal Air Force bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah received the group on 27 April 2023, Thursday, and immediately provided assistance to the evacuees by issuing travel documents to those who did not have their original passports with them. The OWWA provided the repatriation tickets for eight (8) of the evacuees who are overseas Filipino workers, while the Consulate arranged for the flight of the other evacuee who is a student in Sudan. "The Philippine government is working round-the-clock to assist our kababayans who have left Sudan", said Secretary Manalo, who highlighted that DFA-led teams are present on the ground to facilitate the repatriation of these overseas Filipinos. Personnel from the DMW, OWWA, and the Department of National Defense have also been deployed to augment the evacuation efforts. Secretary Manalo took the opportunity to thank other countries who have lent a helping hand to the Philippines, noting the instrumental role of diplomacy in ensuring the welfare of overseas Filipinos during times of crisis. As of writing, a total of 610 Filipinos have evacuated from Khartoum, with 391 having crossed to the Egyptian side of the border in buses chartered by the Philippine Embassy in Cairo and the Philippine Honorary Consulate in Sudan. The Embassy is currently arranging for their temporary visas and repatriation flights to the Philippines, while DMW and OWWA are preparing for shelter and other welfare assistance during transit. Another 45 overseas Filipinos are expected to be evacuated by sea to Saudi Arabia, where the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah has also been providing the necessary support. "Our DFA offices and diplomatic missions concerned are determined to bring our people home safely, as soon as possible", Secretary Manalo assured. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran evacuates 65 nationals from Sudan as fighting enters third week Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 8:48 AM The spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry says the Islamic Republic has managed to evacuate dozens of Iranian nationals from Sudan, in face of the persisting conflict among the North African country's military forces. Nasser Kan'ani announced in a statement on Saturday that 65 Iranians were moved from the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Port of Jeddah in view of the continuing clashes between the Sudanese army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has so far stranded thousands of foreign nationals. "The Foreign Ministry had seriously put high on its agenda the withdrawal and transfer of the 65 Iranian citizens living in Sudan since unrest broke out in the country [on April 15]. Following necessary arrangements, they were safely transferred from Khartoum to Port Sudan, and from there onwards to the Jeddah port," Kan'ani explained. Early on Saturday, meanwhile, the sounds of airstrikes, anti-aircraft weaponry and artillery could be heard in Khartoum, and dark smoke rose over parts of the city, as fighting in Sudan entered a third week. Fighting between the army and the RSF continued despite the announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire extension on Friday, when strikes by air, tanks and artillery rocked Khartoum and the adjacent cities of Bahri and Ombdurman. At least 512 people have been killed and close to 4,200 others wounded so far, according to the United Nations, which believes the actual toll is much higher. More than 75,000 people were internally displaced within Sudan just in the first week of the fighting, according to the world body. Only 16 percent of hospitals were operating as normal in the capital. The latest ceasefire, brokered by foreign powers, is supposed to last until Sunday at midnight. The RSF accused the army of violating the truce with airstrikes on its bases in Omdurman as well as Mount Awliya. The army, in return, blamed the RSF for violations. The violence has sent tens of thousands of refugees across Sudan's borders, and threatens to stir instability across a volatile swathe of Africa between the Sahel and the Red Sea. Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner For Human Rights, has called upon both sides of the fighting in Sudan to "immediately end hostilities" and to "halt hostilities in residential areas and the targeting of civilian population and infrastructure." "Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes to find places of greater safety, at any cost, and face abuses en route. While a welcome ceasefire meant some reprieve in the fighting, clashes continued to be reported. "We are concerned at the serious risk of violence escalating in West Darfur as the hostilities between the RSF and SAF have triggered inter-communal violence. In El Geneina, West Darfur, deadly ethnic clashes have been reported, with an estimated 96 people killed since April 24," she said in a statement. "It is deeply alarming that inmates have been released from, or escaped from, a number of prisons. We are very worried about the prospect of further violence, amid a generalized climate of impunity. "We call on the parties to immediately end hostilities, and in particular to halt hostilities in residential areas and the targeting of civilian population and infrastructure. The protection of civilians must be paramount. International humanitarian law demands it," the senior UN official further emphasized. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US army grounds all army flights, pilots after two fatal crashes Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 7:29 AM The US Army's chief of staff has grounded all army flights and pilots not involved in critical missions until aviation squadrons complete required training after four helicopters crashed in a matter of weeks, causing multiple deaths. The grounding of the pilots and flights comes after 12 soldiers died in two separate midair collisions as they were under training missions. On Thursday, two Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopters collided in Alaska, killing three soldiers, and injuring the fourth. Earlier, in Kentucky, two Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks crashed late last month, leaving nine dead and no survivors, four in one helicopter and five in the other. "The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand-down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel," General James McConville, the Army's chief of staff, said in a statement on Friday. "During this stand-down, we will focus on safety and training protocols to ensure our pilots and crews have the knowledge, training, and awareness to safely complete their assigned mission," he added in the statement. For the active-duty units, the training is set to begin as early as Monday and would focus on topics including risk mitigation, maintenance, and flight planning, according to the army statement. The active-duty units are required to complete their training by May 5, meanwhile, the army national guard and Reserve units will have to complete the training until May 31. The units can resume flights after completing the daylong training. The US military has seen multiple crashes of military aircraft in recent years despite its state-of-the-art military R&D and massive amounts of the allocated military budget, which stands at $1.98 trillion for the financial year 2023. One of last year's major incidents was the time when four US Marines were killed during NATO exercises in Norway when their V-22B Osprey aircraft went down. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Bosnia Forms New Government Day After International Envoy Imposes Amendments By RFE/RL's Balkan Service April 29, 2023 Bosnia-Herzegovina's House of Representatives has appointed a new government in an urgent session held on April 28, a day after the high representative of the international community imposed changes to the country's constitution and the criminal laws. The 16 new ministerial positions will be split among members of the Croatian Democratic Union, the Social Democratic Party, the Croatian Democratic Union 1990, and the political parties Nasa Stranka and Narod i Pravda. Vice President Refik Lendo opposed the new government appointments, demanding his Party of Democratic Action be given a portfolio. His party organized protests outside the parliament during the vote. Christian Schmidt, the high representative of the international community in Bosnia, on April 27 made changes to the constitution and the criminal laws of Bosnia's entities to facilitate the formation of the new regional government and prevent election fraud. Schmidt's amendments to the constitution were imposed on an interim basis to help form the new regional government after a deadlock lasting almost seven months following elections in October. The changes will take effect in one year unless the parliament passes its own version of the amendments. Schmidt, who has vast powers as the international community's envoy to Bosnia, amended the constitution so that only two out of three federation presidency members need to support a proposed government in order to forward it to parliament. Schmidt, who has powers to change laws and fire officials seen as obstructing the Dayton peace accords, came under criticism for changing the election law on election night in October 2022 aimed at removing gridlock in the federation government formation. Schmidt has the powers as overseer of civilian and administrative aspects of the 26-year-old peace deal that still governs Bosnia along ethnic lines. The changes to the criminal laws were prompted by the need to "strengthen the integrity of elections" and apply to Bosnia and Republika Srpska, the other entity within Bosnia. These changes make it illegal to ask for or take money or any benefit, such as employment, from politicians and set the punishment for anyone found guilty of such actions at 10 years in prison and a fine. The amendments to criminal laws also imply dismissal from a legislative, executive, other administrative or judicial body or from any service that is fully or partially financed from entity budgets for anyone found guilty of election bribery. In addition, anyone found guilty of the offense cannot be employed in any public service for five years after being punished, pardoned, or amnestied. The changes take effect immediately on an interim basis until they are adopted by Republika Srpska and the Bosnian federation "without amendment and with no conditions attached." With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-new-government- constitution/32384919.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 Evacuation Efforts of U.S. Citizens From Sudan Press Statement Office of the Spokesperson April 29, 2023 A U.S. government-organized convoy carrying U.S citizens, locally employed staff, and nationals from allied and partner countries arrived at Port Sudan on April 29. From there, we are assisting U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where additional U.S. personnel are positioned to assist with consular and emergency services. This builds on the work the U.S. government has done this week to facilitate the departure of our diplomats by military assisted departure, and hundreds of other U.S. citizens by land convoys, flights on partner air craft, and sea. Hundreds of U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents have departed Sudan through these options facilitated by the U.S. government. The U.S. government has taken extensive efforts to contact U.S. citizens in Sudan and enable the departure of those who wished to leave. We messaged every U.S. citizen in Sudan who communicated with us during the crisis and provided specific instructions about joining this convoy to those who were interested in departing via the land route. We encourage U.S. citizens who want to leave Sudan but chose not to participate in this convoy to contact the Department of State using the crisis intake form on our website. Intensive negotiations by the United States with the support of our regional and international partners enabled the security conditions that have allowed the departure of thousands of foreign and U.S. citizens, including through today's operation. We continue to call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to end the fighting that is endangering civilians. We reiterate our warning to U.S. citizens not to travel to Sudan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We will not abandon the women and girls of Afghanistan Statement by Ambassador Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan 29 April 2023 Colleagues, Let me start by commending the penholders, UAE and Japan, for their approach to securing the Council's support for this important resolution. Since the Taliban took power, they have imposed restriction after restriction, resulting in the systematic erasure of women and girls from society. Banning Afghan women from working for the UN in country is the latest example of the Taliban's complete disregard for women's fundamental rights. This latest ban is a direct violation of the core tenets underpinning the UN Charter, including the principle of non-discrimination. It will severely impede the delivery of life-saving aid to women and girls in a time when 28 million people - over two-thirds of all Afghans - are in need of assistance. So we welcome the Council's unanimous condemnation of the Taliban's latest decision and call for an immediate reversal of all policies which restrict women's rights and fundamental freedoms. We join other Council members and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries in co-sponsoring this resolution to send an unequivocal message to the Taliban: there is no justification for what you are doing to women and girls in your country. Since April 2021, the UK has given $662 million to address the deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. We remain committed to supporting the UN and our partners working in country. We will not abandon the women and girls of Afghanistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 1888 airlifted to safety by UK evacuation 1888 airlifted to safety by UK evacuation, as focus turns to supporting those remaining in Sudan 29 April 2023 The final UK evacuation flight will depart from Wadi Saeedna airfield this evening after the longest and largest evacuation by any western nation Follows the successful evacuation of 1888 people since flights started on Tuesday The UK government remains committed to supporting British nationals who remain in Sudan or are sheltering in other parts of the country The final UK evacuation flight from Wadi Saeedna airfield will depart this evening, ending the longest and largest evacuation from Sudan of any Western country. The successful operation has evacuated more than 1888 people on 21 flights, the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents. Focus will now turn to providing consular support to British nationals in Port Sudan and in neighbouring countries in the region. The government decided to end flights today because of a decline in demand by British Nationals, and because the situation on ground continues to remain volatile. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: The UK has brought more than 1888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuation - the largest of any Western country. We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people. Those still in Sudan who wish to leave should continue to follow our travel advice. The UK is pursuing all diplomatic avenues to end the violence in Sudan and return to civilian rule, with the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and Minister for Africa all speaking with international partners. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Air Force modernizes nuclear security with advanced JLTV vehicle Published April 29, 2023 By Joseph Coslett Jr. 90th Missile Wing F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFNS) -- Security Forces Airmen from the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron conducted the first operational mission with the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle supporting launch facility maintenance near Harrisburg, Nebraska, April 24. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Daniels and Senior Airman Zion Hill, 90th MSFS maintenance support team, made history by conducting the first real-world JLTV operation for Air Force Global Strike Command. "It is built like a tank," Hill said. "When you climb into the Humvee, you are stepping back in time 20 years. The JLTV is like driving the Batmobile into the future to better defend our nation." The JLTV is a new armored truck that is set to replace the aging Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, commonly known as the Humvee. This is part of AFGSC's efforts to modernize and enhance defenders' capabilities and better protect one of the nation's most critical assets, its nuclear arsenal. "The JLTV is an extremely robust and versatile vehicle, offering improved point of view, responsive suspension systems, increased power and modern safety features," said Lt. Col. William Brokaw, 90th MSFS commander. "Many of the defenders who will operate the vehicle, were born after the (Humvee) entered service and are anxious to take advantage of all the new capabilities." The JLTV is a step forward in terms of safety and protection. However, Brokaw emphasized that the JLTV is a complex vehicle and requires investment in training to ensure operators' safety and skills. Every operator must complete 40 hours of training, both classroom and hands-on familiarization and driving. A large number of Airmen are already trained, and once the truck is released for general use, it's expected to be moving across the complex within a matter of weeks. First Lt. Joseph Struzik, 90th Missile Security Operations Squadron officer in charge of logistics and sustainment, shared his first impressions between the Humvee and the JLTV. "It is a night and day difference. When you climb inside a Humvee you are walking into a historical box," he said. "You will see old analog gauges, a classic steering wheel, a center console with a radio. Whereas the JLTV gives defenders a better tool to perform their nuclear security duties." Humvee drivers adjust to the vehicle, while the JLTV adjusts to the driver, according to Struzik. As the JLTV is rolled out across the U.S. military, it will help Airmen fit into any joint operations of the future, Brokaw said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Uzbek Ballot Promises Freedom, Justice, but Some Have Doubts By Navbahor Imamova April 29, 2023 For the third time in less than three decades, Uzbekistan is asking citizens to vote on the country's constitution. After becoming independent in 1991, the country held votes in 1995 and 2002 focused on changing the presidential term and creating a bicameral parliament. The latest ballot, set for Sunday, would introduce a new constitution. VOA interviews with political and civil society leaders revealed a mixed outlook, with many citizens and observers suspecting ulterior motives, although some were encouraged by aspects of the proposed draft and called on the government to live up to its promises. The constitutional commission said it received more than 220,000 proposals from citizens during the drafting of the proposed law. The Oliy Majlis, Uzbekistan's bicameral parliament, approved the draft last month, with members of the Legislative Chamber and Senate hailing it as "the people's constitution filled with unprecedented guarantees," especially for human rights. "Why doubt a document that outlines more freedoms than ever?" asked Eldor Tulyakov, head of the Development Strategy Center in Tashkent. He rejected criticism that the referendum is reminiscent of orchestrated events staged during the rule of Uzbekistan's autocratic founding president, Islam Karimov. "The parliament could have adopted it, but President Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged us to hold a referendum - let our people choose," Tulyakov said. He admitted that Uzbekistan faces systemic problems but asserted those should not stop the nation from renewing its basic law. Much of the debate on social media centers on an extension of the presidential term from five to seven years, which many suspect will pave the way for Mirziyoyev, currently serving his second and constitutionally final term, to run again. Tulyakov, whose center monitors reforms undertaken by Mirziyoyev, told VOA that "the constitutional opportunities" for the president to nullify his previous terms were not yet on the agenda. "No such discussions have taken place," Tulyakov said, "because the priority is to continue the reforms, to enshrine democratic values and strengthen the legal foundation. We are not changing course. This new constitution must guide us forward." Lawmakers have been characteristically silent on what will come next, but several sources in Tashkent indicated to VOA that Uzbekistan could be heading toward snap elections later this year, with Mirziyoyev seeking a fresh term under the new constitution. Central Asia recently saw a similar move in Kazakhstan, which amended its constitution in March 2022 and gave President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev a fresh seven-year term. While Kazakhstan's new constitution allows only one presidential term, the Uzbek one permits two, meaning that Mirziyoyev could remain president for 14 more years. Bobur Malikov, justice minister when Uzbekistan adopted its first constitution in 1992, said he saw Sunday's referendum as "the pretext to keep Mirziyoyev in power for as long as possible." "Why else change the constitution, which already offers democratic guarantees and freedoms? Yes, it was mainly written by Karimov, but it's substantially based on Western models. Uzbekistan can be a sovereign, secular and social state based on the current constitution," he said, citing the hundreds of laws adopted over the past three decades. "In a strong state with a robust nation, it is never this easy to renew or even amend the basic law. So, Uzbekistan going through such change under each leadership reveals how fragile the system is and how weak is society," said Malikov, who also served as first ambassador to the U.S. but never returned to Uzbekistan, fearing persecution for dissenting against Karimov. Uzbek activists and critics such as Malikov emphasize that if Uzbekistan needs anything, it is vigorous political opposition to keep the government in check. But since the current establishment does not brook challenge, they say, "New Uzbekistan" propaganda is further evidence of continued autocracy. For human rights activist and documentary maker Khoorshid Alimardonov, the underlying problem is the absence of rule of law. "What is the point of having well-written documents that don't work in reality?" he asked. He told VOA that Uzbekistan's citizens want to live in a system that does not punish them for their opinions. "We want independent courts, and not just on paper," he said. "Our freedom of speech as well as media freedom must be tolerated. Human rights must be respected by everyone and, most importantly, by the authorities." Uzbek blogger Aqida Khanum, a promoter of social justice and compassion, detects some positive public reaction to the draft document. "I don't watch TV and I'm yet to check out the text myself," she told VOA. "But I've been hearing that specialists are quite happy about specific and relevant parts of the new constitution, such as the articles on the protection of the environment, health and education." Another blogger, lawyer Zafarbek Solijonov, collaborated with the constitutional commission and is content that his proposals were considered. "But I've long argued that our constitution should be as succinct as possible," he told VOA. Solijonov said he thought the current draft, bursting with more than 150 articles, was too long. "We want a constitution that is easily understood and applied by the citizens," he said. "Along with the constitutional court, our parliament must be resilient enough to uphold the constitution's protections of legal rights." The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which has observed nine elections in Uzbekistan and judged none of them to be free or fair, has sent 10 international experts and 14 long-term observers this time. They began their work on April 5. The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) said the mission "will assess the referendum for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards, as well as with national legislation." Among other things, ODIHR is monitoring the referendum campaign and media coverage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 29 April 2023 - Day 430 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 in the early hours of 28 April 2023, Russia launched the first major wave of cruise missile strikes against Ukraine since early March 2023. Although Ukraine shot down most of the missiles, at least 25 civilians were killed. The attacks suggest a departure in Russia's use of long-range strikes. The wave involved fewer missiles than those over the winter and was unlikely to have been targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. There is a realistic possibility that Russia was attempting to intercept Ukrainian reserve units and military supplies recently provided to Ukraine. Russia operates an inefficient targeting process and prioritises perceived military necessity over preventing collateral damage, including civilian deaths. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of April 29, Russian forces launched 1x missile and 29x air strikes and around 12x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. The attacks have killed and wounded civilians, destroyed and damaged private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure. The likelihood of further missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains quite high. The Russian forces' main efforts are the offensive operations on Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes, with more than 40x Russian attacks repelled. The fiercest fighting is for Bakhmut and Mar'inka, Ukrainian soldiers are bravely holding the line. Volyn and Polissya axes: no major changes in the operational situation. No signs of the formation of Russian offensive groups were found. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: during the day of April 29, Russian forces launched air strikes on the settlements of Halahanivka and Leonivka. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Khrinivka, Zarichchya (Chernihiv oblast), Ukrainske, Seredyna-Buda (Sumy oblast), Chervona Zorya, Hoptivka, Krasne, Ternova, Vovchans'k, Vovchans'ki Khutory, and Nesterne (Kharkiv oblast) with mortars and artillery. Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations, actively using UAVs to spot for artillery fire. The Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at Stroivka, Kam'yanka, Topoli, Fyholivka, Novomlyns'k, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Lyman Pershyi, Kyslivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast), and Novoselivs'ke (Luhansk oblast). Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives towards Bilohorivka. Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Novosadove, Tors'ke, Bilohorivka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast) came under artillery fire. Bakhmut axis: Russia continues its offensive operations. Heavy battles for the city of Bakhmut continue. In addition, during the day of April 29, Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives towards the settlement of Predtechyne. Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Novomarkove, Hryhorivka, Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Kostyantynivka, Bila Hora, Oleksandro-Shul'tyne, Dyliivka, Pivnichne, Toretsk, Shumy, Pivdenne, and New York (Donetsk oblast) suffered from Russian shelling. Avdiivka axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinity of Pervomais'ke. The Russian invaders shelled the settlements of Novokalynove, Avdiivka, Karlivka, Vodyane, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: during the day of April 29, Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous adversary attacks in the vicinity of settlement of Mar'inka and Novomykhailivka. Krasnohorivka, Mar'inka, Pobjeda, Paraskoviivka, and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast) were shelled by Russian forces. Shakhtars'ke axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations during the day of April 29. The invaders shelled the settlements of Bohoyavlenka, Vuhledar, Novoukrainka, Prechystivka, Shakhtars'ke, and Velyka Novosilka (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: Russian forces stay on the defensive. At the same time, during the day of April 29, the Russian invaders shelled more than 20x settlements near the line of active combat. Among them are Vremivka, Novosilka, Novopil', Zelene Pole (Donetsk oblast), Ol'hivs'ke, Hulyaipole, Bilohir'ya, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhya oblast), Havrylivka, Zmiivka, Beryslav, Kozats'ke, Ivanivka, Zymivnyk, Bilozerka, Dniprovs'ke, Kizomys (Kherson oblast), and the city of Kherson. Cases of collective refusal to participate in active combat have become more frequent in the units of the Russian occupation forces stationed in the vicinity of Mar'inka. It has been established that the main drivers for the refusals are heavy casualties, late ammunition supplies, short supply of personal protective equipment, and russian troops being forced to launch assault operations with no heavy equipment or artillery support. The Russian occupation forces have reinforced the counterintelligence and police regime in the temporarily occupied territory of the Kerch Peninsula (Autonomous Republic of Crimea). Thus, since April 26, the Russian occupiers have increased the number of patrols, reinforced police posts on local roads with Russian Federal Security Service officers. They randomly check civilians, searching through their mobile phones, and whether they have Russian passports. During the day of April 29, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 3x air strikes on the concentrations of Russian troops. Also, Ukrainian defenders intercepted 2x Shahed-136/131 UAVs, 1x Orlan-10 reconnaissance UAV, and 1x more unidentified Russian UAV. During the day of April 29, Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x fuel and lubricant depots, 2x air defence assets, 1x artillery unit, and 1x other important Russian target. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, during an interview with military correspondent Semyon Pegov, reported that statements about the role of regular units of the Russian Armed Forces near Bakhmut were inconsistent with reality. The entrepreneur noted that the flanks, which are formally held by the army, do not cease to be the area of responsibility of the Wagner PMC, since if the fighters are removed from these positions, the enemy will be able to pass through the abandoned positions and cut off the advancing group of "musicians". However, despite all this, the assault detachments of the "orchestra" continue to push the enemy in a strategic city and attack from several directions at once. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), meanwhile, outlawed foreign mercenaries near Bakhmut and warned the public about the need to provide up-to-date information about arms smuggling by foreigners. The situation in other areas Over the past day, the Russian armed forces hit 92 artillery positions and 126 areas where enemy troops were concentrated. At the same time, a Ukrainian Mi-8 was shot down over Raygorodok, and 14 drones and 4 rockets were intercepted. About 925 servicemen, 11 armored vehicles, 23 vehicles, 3 D-20 and 4 D-30 howitzers, 3 tanks, 3 infantry fighting vehicles, Akatsiya and Gvozdika self-propelled guns, 2 AN/ TPQ-50. Separately, it is noted that on the evening of April 28, a high-precision weapon struck at the cluster of command of the Ukrainian Kherson grouping. Declared achievement of the purpose of the attack. In addition, over the past day, ammunition depots of the 72nd and 110th brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed in the areas of Shakhtyorsky and Uspenovka. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EAC Major General In DR Congo Quits Amid Safety Concerns The East Africa Community Regional Force Commander Major general Jeff Nyagah has announced that he is quitting the command of the force, Kenneth Kazibwe writes for Nile Post. The Kenyan commander who was deloyed in DR Congo, cited safety reasons, before jetting back to Nairobi in Kenya. DR Congo has seen a flareup of conflict in the eastern region, where thousands of human rights abuses are being committed against civilians by armed militants. Bintou Keita, the UN Secretary-General's special representative and head of the UN Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo, noted the recent declaration of a "state of siege" in Ituri and North Kivu provinces, where violence by armed groups has been among the worst in the country. Sudanese hackers target Israeli aviation, weapons industries websites Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 2:14 PM Hacker groups have had Israeli firms and facilities in the cross hairs over the past few months, and now Sudanese hackers have carried out a massive cyber-attack against a number of Israeli websites, including that of a major aerospace and aviation manufacturer. Palestinian media outlets reported that the websites of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Israel Weapon Industries (IWI) - an Israeli firearms manufacturer, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. and Evigilo Ltd., which develops and delivers emergency mass-notification and alert multi-channel solutions, went down on Saturday. The attack was claimed by a group of hackers that goes by the name 'Anonymous Sudan.' The same hacker group recently targeted the websites of the Israeli spy agency Mossad, the so-called internal security service Shin Bet, and several other companies across the occupied territories. The Hebrew-language Maariv daily newspaper reported on April 24 that various Israeli websites were knocked offline due to a widespread cyber-attack by Anonymous Sudan. Among those targeted were television, communication companies, banks, service companies, universities, newspapers, and Israel's water company. On Wednesday, a group of hackers known as 'Sharp Boys' targeted the Atid vocational training institute, and put the stolen information up for sale after publishing part of it, including a file containing 200,000 names, identification numbers and addresses of the students. The hacker group claimed it had obtained the personal information of Israelis, including identification documents of people who served in the military and police forces of the occupying regime. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US announces sanctions against IRGC intelligence service IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 29, 2023 New York, IRNA -- Pursuing Washington's dual policies, the US Department of Treasury has announced sanctions against the intelligence service of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), accusing it of hostage-taking and illegal detention of US citizens. On Thursday, April 27, the Foreign Assets Office of the US Treasury Department announced that four high-ranking commanders of the Intelligence Organization of the IRGC will be sanctioned. The Treasury claimed that IRGC's intelligence service had been sanctioned due to its role in illegal hostage-taking of US citizens traveling to Iran. It claimed that the organization, in addition to its direct role in suppressing the demonstrators in recent unrest in Iran, had also arrested a large number of protesters, including dual national citizens. The Treasury said that IRGC commanders Ruhollah Bazqandi, Mohammad Kazemi, Mohammad-Mahdi Sayyari, and Mohammad-Hassan Mohaqqeqi, had been added to the US sanctions list. 4257** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Zionist forces must swiftly leave Persian Gulf: IRGC navy cmdr. IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Apr 29, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- The commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says the "illegitimate" presence of the United States and the Zionist regime of Israel is disruptive to the peace and security of the Persian Gulf, calling for their immediate departure from the strategic waterway. "The illegitimate presence of the aggressive United States and the child-killing Zionist regime in this region has endangered the stability and security of the Persian Gulf. We emphasize that they leave this area as soon as possible so that this sensitive region becomes safer," Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri said Saturday in comments marking the Persian Gulf National Day. April 30 marks the Persian Gulf National Day in the Iranian calendar, an occasion to commemorate the exit of colonial and foreign forces from the strategic waterway. Tangsiri pointed out that the Persian Gulf features some of the most vital maritime borders of Iran and its geographic location has influenced the country's geopolitics and international relations throughout history. Sitting atop vast oil and gas reserves, the Persian Gulf is located on one of the most important global shipping routes, the commander said, adding that, the waterway has historically attracted the attention of world powers. The Strait of Hormuz, at the southern mouth of the Persian Gulf, is a strategically important narrow transit point for at least a third of the world's seaborne oil. Tangsiri said the IRGC will resolutely "protect and safeguard" the Persian Gulf and its resources. "We will not allow any act of aggression against its resources," he stressed. Furthermore, the commander warned that the presence of foreign naval vessels in the Persian Gulf poses a serious threat to its ecosystem and marine life. In the event of any accidents involving these vessels, which are primarily nuclear-fueled, the Persian Gulf's ecosystem could be impacted for decades, he pointed out. On Thursday, Iranian Navy commanders seized a US-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, and directed the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel toward the Islamic Republic's territorial waters after it hit an Iranian fishing ship and tried to flee the scene in violation of maritime regulations. **2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC Navy Cmdr: US, Israel must leave Persian Gulf, Iran to resolutely protect waterway Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 4:51 PM The commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy says his forces will resolutely "protect and safeguard" the Persian Gulf and its resources, urging the United States and the Israeli regime to immediately leave the strategic waterway. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri made the remarks in an interview on the occasion of the National Persian Gulf Day on Saturday. "The Persian Gulf is our home. We will resolutely protect and safeguard the Persian Gulf and its resources. We will not allow any act of aggression against its resources," he said. Tangsiri also noted that "the illegitimate presence of the aggressive United States and the child-killing Israeli regime in this region has endangered the stability and security of the Persian Gulf," calling on Washington and Tel Aviv to leave the area as soon as possible "so that this sensitive region becomes safer." The senior Iranian commander further said the Persian Gulf features some of the most vital maritime borders of Iran and its geographic location has influenced the country's geopolitics and international relations throughout history. Tangsiri also warned that the presence of foreign naval vessels in the Persian Gulf poses a serious threat to its ecosystem and marine life. "In the event of any accidents involving these vessels, which are primarily nuclear-fueled, the Persian Gulf's ecosystem could be impacted for decades," he said. The Persian Gulf a which spans some 251,000 square kilometers a is bounded by the Arvand River in the north, which forms the frontier between Iran and Iraq, and the Strait of Hormuz in the south, which links the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean. The inland sea is an international trade route connecting the Middle East to Africa, India, and China. It has been referred to by historians and ancient texts as "Persian" since the Achaemenid Empire was established in what is now modern-day Iran. Every year, Iranians observe the Persian Gulf Day on the 10th of Ordibehesht, the second month on the Persian calendar, which usually falls at the end of April. The date coincides with the anniversary of a successful military campaign by Shah Abbas I of Persia in 1622, which drove the Portuguese navy out of the Strait of Hormuz. While historical documents show that the waterway has always been referred to as the "Persian Gulf," certain Arab states and their allies have frequently used the fictitious name "the Arabian Gulf" to point to the body of water. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran Ready to Ramp Up Joint Drills With China to Challenge US' 'Unipolar World' Sputnik News 20230429 Ilya Tsukanov Iran has repeatedly hosted joint maritime drills with its Chinese and Russian partners, and cooperated extensively with Moscow in the joint battle against jihadists in Syria. In 2021, Tehran signed a major, 25-year strategic cooperation agreement with Beijing. Negotiations on a similar deal with Moscow are currently being finalized. Iran welcomes the expansion of joint military drills with China, and believes such exercises will help defuse the threat posed to both nations by American-led unilateralism, Defense Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani has said on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers meeting in New Delhi, India, held on April 28-29. "The regional and international situation is changing, and as a result, the expansion of relations between Iran and China has become more important than in the past," Ashtiani said, speaking to his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, on Saturday. Highlighting efforts by Washington to escalate tensions and conflicts across a broad geographical area, from Eastern Europe to West Asia, Ashtiani said that America and the West's "unilateralist and totalitarian approaches" are a danger to both Tehran and Beijing. "American policies are a common threat to Iran and China. We are against a unipolar world," he said. Calling for ramping up joint exercises with the People's Liberation Army, as well as "dialogue and [...] exchanges of military defense and intelligence delegations at different levels," Ashtiani recalled the success of the recent Maritime Security Belt drills with China and Russia in the Sea of Oman in March. "This showed that the three countries are against the hegemonic views of the West and the United States, and we are ready to expand joint drills and exercises in the fields of sea, land and air defense quantitatively and qualitatively," Ashtiani said. Li Shangfu, for his part, praised the "deep and long-term" relationship between the Islamic Republic and the People's Republic of China, and said the two countries "enjoy mutual strategic trust" and "favor independence and an end to the status quo," while cooperating effectively in opposition to "the dominance of some countries." Speaking to Tajik Defense Minister Sherali Mirzo on Saturday, Ashtiani said that the Islamic Republic would like to enhance defense cooperation with its regional neighbor, especially against terrorism, and invited the Central Asian nation's armed forces to take part in future drills with Iran's military. Ashtiani also highlighted efforts by "extra-regional powers" to meddle in Central Asia's affairs, and said such interference could be squashed through strengthened cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan. Ashtiani also expressed Iran's readiness for joint naval maneuvers with all of the security bloc's members, and proposed the creation of a "Shanghai Maritime Security Belt" mechanism to improve the security of maritime routes and the safety of global trade. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization is a major Eurasian political, defense, and economic organization created in 2001 by Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The bloc's membership has since been expanded to include India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran, with Tehran formally applying to join in 2022. In addition to its security and counter-terrorism mandate, the bloc serves as an important platform for the resolution of security-related disputes between its members. With a population of over 3.3 billion people and a geography stretching from the shores of the Baltic and Arctic Seas to the Pacific Coast, the East and South China Seas, the Indian Ocean, and the Persian Gulf, the SCO is the largest regional organization in the world, accounting for over 30 million square kilometers of territory, and about 25 percent of the world's economy. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar, neighbors including Thailand hold Track 1.5 dialogue without ASEAN members Beyond refusing to invite the junta to its meetings, ASEAN has done little except let down the people of Myanmar. A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2023.04.29 -- Two years ago this week, ASEAN negotiated a five-point consensus with the Burmese military that had seized power in a February 2021 coup and arrested many leaders of Myanmar's elected government. The consensus was a roadmap for ending violence and starting a political dialogue, but the generals never intended to abide by it. The consensus called for an immediate end to violence; a dialogue among all parties; the appointment of a special envoy from the regional bloc; the provision of humanitarian assistance by the Southeast Asian bloc; and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet with all parties. The Burmese junta has since steadfastly ignored the consensus and waged a multi-front war against Myanmar's civilian population. The toll has been horrific - more than 4,000 people have been killed while the regime has arrested more than 17,000 and more than 150 people have been tortured to death or died in government custody. ASEAN continues in vain to use the five-point consensus as the basis for all talks. Other than refusing to give the junta a seat at its meetings, ASEAN has done little else except let down the people of Myanmar. In March, Thailand did an end run around ASEAN when it held a Track 1.5 dialogue with a handful of like-minded member states and the junta. Those in attendance included the authoritarian states of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam along with China, India, Bangladesh and Japan. Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore refused to attend and seemed genuinely angry at Thailand for having direct talks with the junta and denying Indonesia its prerogative as ASEAN's 2023 chairman. Unbowed and unapologetic, Thailand argued that it was a Track 1.5 dialogue - meaning that government officials were present but not necessarily acting in their official capacity, along with a few non-governmental experts. But few bought that fig leaf interpretation, noting that Wunna Maung Lwin, the junta's foreign minister, was clearly there in his official capacity, exactly as Bangkok had wanted. This week, India hosted the second Track 1.5 dialogue with Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Bangladesh, Vietnam and China. Indonesia attended as an observer in its capacity as chairman of the regional bloc. The Thais were smart to let the Indians take over to deflect criticism that Thailand was trying to do an end run around ASEAN. Instead, the April 25 meeting could be billed as a gathering of neighboring countries who were directly impacted by the quagmire as well as other states searching for a solution. Craving legitimacy Yet it was another opportunity to give the junta the international legitimacy it so desperately craves. It follows another failed attempt at diplomacy by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. Thailand sent its own foreign minister and special representative for Myanmar to meet with Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in Naypyidaw. All of these serve to normalize ties with a regime that should be ostracized by the international community. Moreover, it's hard to take seriously the idea that the neighboring countries are not in the junta's corner. India, is much less a champion of democracy under the increasingly illiberal government of Narendra Modi, whose control over the eastern portion of the nation is tenuous. India also fears a failing junta being even more dependent on China - the last thing that New Delhi wants is a greater Chinese presence on another part of its border. Bangladesh is hoping to exchange normalized ties for the return of thousands of Rohingya to their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Thailand, meanwhile, sees itself as a political model for the junta to hold elections and maintain power. Not hedging bets China is no longer hedging its bets and has doubled down on the junta to protect its economic interests, pipelines and Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects. Lately, China has been applying pressure on Ethnic Resistance Organizations that are actively supporting the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) or quietly arming its People's Defense Forces over fears they might be tilting the balance away from Naypyidaw. As it increases air attacks, Myanmar's Air Force has violated the airspace of Thailand, Bangladesh and India. None have lodged diplomatic complaints, a clear signal to the NUG. Reuters reported that a topic of discussion at the Indian 1.5 talks was the possible inclusion of the opposition government. That seems far-fetched as the junta has steadfastly refused to talk with its NUG leaders, officially labeling them "terrorists." It seems far more likely that this was an attempt to dampen the international criticism of holding such a meeting. While the junta is bogged down in a multi-front war that it can't win, it does have a theory of victory. The military has increased attacks on civilians to terrorize them into submission. There have been more beheadings and mutilations, rape, and the razing of homes. And they have stepped up their air assaults. The military has given itself the means to do so, with a 50% increase in its budget for 2023. The junta has stepped up attempts to deprive the NUG of funding, including a recent threat of even incarcerating children for having a game on their phones whose proceeds go to support the NUG. The military, having recently disqualified a number of political parties for not registering under the new election law or having communications with "terrorist organizations," continues to make plans for "elections." More than 1,200 members of the overthrown National League for Democracy party are in jail, while the military has seized properties of more than 600 NLD members. Finally, the junta seeks to peel away ERO support from the NUG either by offering side deals, allowing China to pressure them or simply letting the traditional mistrust with the NUG manifest. Junta members believe that time is on their side and they can slog it out. Any international legitimacy conferred on them only helps achieve this goal. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or RFA. 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 Russia vows harsh response to Poland's 'illegal' seizure of embassy school Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 5:39 PM Russia has promised a harsh response to Poland's "illegal seizure" of an embassy school in the capital Warsaw. Polish media reported that the country's police had showed up outside the Russian embassy school in Warsaw on Saturday morning. Polish authorities had burst onto the embassy school's grounds with the aim of seizing it, Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement later in the day, describing the move as a "blatant violation" of international agreements. The ministry slammed the move as a "hostile" act in violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and as an encroachment against Russian diplomatic property in Poland. "Such an insolent step by Warsaw, which goes beyond the framework of civilized inter-state relations, will not remain without a harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Polish interests in Russia," it added. But when asked about the incident, Polish foreign ministry spokesman ukasz Jasina said the building, used as a high school for the children of diplomats, belongs to the Warsaw city hall and that the authorities had acted on a bailiff's order. "Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally," Jasina added. Russia's ambassador in Poland Sergei Andreyev also reacted to the incident, warning Warsaw of retaliation. "This is an illegal act. An intrusion on a diplomatic facility," said Andreyev. "Of course, there will be a reaction [from Russia]." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Defense Minister Says Actions of US, Allies Eroded Global Security Sputnik News 20230429 NEW DELHI (Sputnik) - Actions of the United States and its allies aimed at preserving the US's world dominance have eroded the global security architecture, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday. "In an effort to maintain its world dominance, the United States and its allies have seriously eroded the global security architecture. On their initiative, the process of demolition and dismantling of key agreements on arms control and confidence building has been launched," Shoigu told a meeting of the defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in New Delhi. The Russian defense chief recalled that Washington had first unilaterally terminated the Soviet-US Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, refused to ratify the Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, and then had withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and the Treaty on Open Skies. In addition, Shoigu noted that the current meeting with colleagues from SCO member states was taking place in "an extremely unstable" international environment. The formation of a new multipolar world is causing drastic, dynamic and irreversible changes, which are opposed by the collective West, the Russian defense minister said. Sergei Shoigu also highlighted that the conflict in Ukraine confirms the focus of Washington and its allies on provoking other countries to a military confrontation with Moscow and Beijing. "Today, Washington and its accomplices are implementing their strategic plan, which consists in provoking other countries into a military confrontation with ... primarily with Russia and China. A clear confirmation of such a criminal policy is the conflict in Ukraine. Its true goal is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, threaten China and maintain its monopoly position in the world," Shoidu said at a regular defense ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states. The United States seeks to reformat the system of interstate relations by creating controlled regional alliances, using blackmail and threats, the minister added. Russian, Chinese Defense Chiefs Hold Talks at SCO Ministerial Meeting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, held talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defense ministers' meeting in New Delhi on Friday to discuss issues of mutual interest, a Sputnik correspondent reported. The negotiations between the Russian and Chinese defense ministers were not planned in advance, as follows from the protocol of the event. In addition, Shoigu and Li briefly exchanged views on a number of pressing issues before the start of the SCO ministerial meeting and between its sessions. On April 18, the Chinese defense chief paid a visit to Moscow, where he had a meeting with Shoigu. Following the negotiations, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Li's trip to Russia demonstrated the deepening of mutual trust and partnership between the countries' armed forces. The SCO is an international organization founded by China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia and Uzbekistan in 2001. In 2017, India and Pakistan were also admitted to the organization. The SCO also has Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia as observer states, while Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey are partner countries. In July 2022, Belarus submitted its application to join the SCO as a full-fledged member. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese senior diplomat meets with Syria's Assad Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 1:40 PM China's Special Envoy for the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, as part of a new push to find a political solution for the long-running Syrian conflict. Syria's official SANA news agency reported that the Chinese envoy held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the capital Damascus on Saturday, before meeting with Assad. The Syrian Foreign Ministry had announced Zhai Jun's planned visit to Damascus a day earlier. The latest development comes almost a week after Moscow hosted a meeting of the defense ministers and intelligence chiefs of Russia, Syria, Turkey, and Iran as part of efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Damascus. Achieving lasting peace and security topped the agenda of the four-party talks. The participants reaffirmed their desire to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and intensify efforts for the speedy return of Syrian refugees. Meanwhile, China has repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional lifting of all US sanctions against Syria, so that the war-torn Arab country could develop its economy and compensate for the losses caused by the war. Last April, Beijing voiced concern about the dire economic situation in Syria, emphasizing that the responsibility of helping the Syrian people lies with the international community. Also last March, Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, reiterated at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council that "Syria's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity must be recognized, as well as the Syrian people's right to sustainable livelihood opportunities and development." Syria suffers harsh economic woes because of the US sanctions and military presence in the country. Damascus has also accused American froces of plundering Syria's natural resources. The United States invaded Syria in 2014 at the head of scores of its allies under the pretext of battling the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group. The US-led coalition has maintained its illegal presence, despite the fact that it was Syria and its allies, including Iran and Russia, who defeated the terrorist outfit in late 2017. The Pentagon claims that the deployment is aimed at preventing the oilfields in the area from falling into the hands of terrorists. Damascus, however, maintains the deployment is meant to plunder the country's natural resources. Former US president Donald Trump admitted on several occasions that American forces were in the Arab country for its oil wealth. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. help to Taiwan over Chinese threat should be 'fully global': Bolton ROC Central News Agency 04/29/2023 08:20 PM Taipei, April 29 (CNA) The United States should engage with other democracies around the world to help Taiwan fend off threats from China, former U.S. national security adviser and outspoken China hawk John Bolton told a pro-Taiwan independence event in Taipei on Saturday. "The U.S. response to help Taiwan against the Chinese threat has to be fully global," Bolton said at the Global Taiwan National Affairs Symposium hosted by the World Taiwanese Congress, suggesting the establishment of "new structures of deterrence" against China. Taiwan is "the center of gravity of the Chinese threat" to the world, said Bolton, who served as national security adviser under President Donald Trump from April 2018 to September 2019 and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 2005 to 2006. According to Bolton, Taiwan can be "very helpful" as the U.S. tries to work with its allies to address the economic challenges posed by China, such as the theft of intellectual property and control of some of the supply chains concerning national security. On the security front, Washington needs "a much deeper and richer strategic dialogue" with Taiwanese officials handling national security issues while urging the European Union to "stand up to" Chinese threats, he said. "It's not just a question of supplying this weapon system or that weapon system," he said, "we need coordination, as we have with many other allies, and contingency planning, thinking through what China might do and how we respond." Bolton, who has advocated that the U.S. should recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation, said he maintained Washington "should extend full diplomatic relations with Taiwan" and that the duel recognition of Taipei and Beijing "still makes sense." "Full diplomatic recognition would signal that the United States felt that Taiwan was not just meeting the definitions of statehood, but was legitimate [and] had a legitimate government," Bolton said. "It would show that the relationship between our two countries is fixed and is not going to go away," he said. The U.S. severed diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, in 1979, shortly after it announced its decision to establish diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China, although the two countries have maintained close unofficial relations ever since. Beijing has made the non-recognition of the ROC a prerequisite for establishing diplomatic relations with other countries and has opposed any official interactions between countries it has diplomatic relations with and Taiwan. Bolton also said the U.S. should abandon its longstanding policy of strategic ambiguity toward Taiwan, under which Washington does not commit itself to sending troops to Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion. He argued that strategic ambiguity now indicates the U.S. will not intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan, adding that eliminating such ambiguity would "diminish chances for military activity [by Beijing]." In addition, Bolton said, it should be made clear that China would be excommunicated from the international economic system, if it was to take military action against Taiwan, including attempting a blockade of the island. He went on to say that Taiwan should also be included in military cooperation between the U.S. and its allies in the region and around the world, mentioning in particular the QUAD security dialogue involving the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India, as well as AUKUS, a security pact between the U.S., U.K. and Australia. "The more Taiwan is embedded with other countries in collective security [and] collective defense efforts, the lower the likelihood that China would take military action." At the same time, Taiwan needs to continue building up its defense capability, including people's willingness to fight, he said, adding: "Strength is not provocative; weakness is provocative." On the other hand, he argued, China sees Taiwan's existence as provocative. "Every morning when Taiwan wakes up, Beijing is offended, and that's not gonna change." Bolton observed that how the U.S. could better address Chinese threats will be a focus of the U.S. presidential election in 2024. The 74-year-old ambassador said he was "considering" vying for the Republican Party nomination for president against current front-runner Trump at the event, which marked his first public appearance since arriving in Taiwan on Wednesday for a week-long trip. Previously a senior adviser to former President George W. Bush, Bolton was a major supporter of the Iraq war in 2003 and has continued to defend the U.S. invasion of Iraq which led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Drone strike sparks huge fire at Crimea fuel depot Iran Press TV Saturday, 29 April 2023 11:18 AM A drone strike has led to a massive fire at a fuel storage facility in the Crimean port city of Sevastopol, its governor Mikhail Razvozhaev has said. The fire was still burning, but it had been contained as firefighters reached the site, and no one was injured, Razvozhaev said on Saturday. "According to preliminary information, it was caused by a drone strike," he added on the messaging app Telegram. In a video posted on his Telegram channel, he said the four fuel tanks that were hit, are practically burnt out already. The attack comes five days after Russian officials said they had fended off a drone attack by the Ukrainian military in the same area. The Crimean Peninsula houses Moscow's main naval base for its Black Sea fleet. With newly supplied equipment from its Western allies, Ukrainian forces have announced their preparedness to launch new attacks. The report comes amid a brewing dispute between Ukraine and the Europeans over the flood of Ukrainian grain into Europe. Ukraine's foreign ministry said on Saturday it had passed notes to Polish and European Union representatives in Ukraine, describing the limiting of Ukrainian grain imports into EU countries as "categorically unacceptable". "Such restrictions, whatever the justification for them, do not comply with the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and the principles and norms of the EU Single Market," the ministry said. "There are full legal grounds for the immediate resumption of exports of Ukrainian agricultural goods to Poland, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, as well as the continuation of unhindered exports to other EU member states," it said. With the intention of protecting their own farmers from cheaper Ukrainian grain and a massive amount of lying surplus, Ukraine's neighbors, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania restricted imports of Ukrainian products earlier this month in response to a supply glut caused by disruption to exports through the Black Sea. Romania on the other hand has not imposed its own restriction but has joined hands with the four other countries to call for a restriction at the EU level. The Ukraine conflict has caused massive disruptions in Europe and within its trade ecosystem. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Wagner Chief Threatens To Pull Out Of Bakhmut As Zelenskiy Calls For Modern Air Defenses By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 29, 2023 Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russian paramilitary group Wagner, has threatened to withdraw his troops from the embattled Ukrainian city of Bakhmut if ammunition supply problems are not resolved, as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed for modern air-defense systems following one of the deadliest Russian strikes on civilian targets in recent months. In an interview published on April 29, Prigozhin said he would be "forced to withdraw some units" from Bakhmut if Wagner didn't soon receive more ammunition, continuing a complaint he has been voicing for weeks. Bakhmut, a key transport hub in Donetsk region, has been the site of the war's fiercest fighting for the past several months, with both sides suffering high casualties. Ukrainian military officials have said the loss of Bakhmut, which is located on high ground, offering a natural defense, would open up its troops located in other parts of the eastern region to attack. Wagner has been leading the Russian push to take Bakhmut since last year but has been unable to dislodge Ukrainian fighters, who still hold the western corners of the city. Prigozhin warned that a Wagner pullout from Bakhmut would lead to a Russian collapse along other parts of the 1,000-kilometer front. As Prigozhin spoke, Russian forces kept up the pressure on the Bakhmut-Adviyivka-Maryinka front line, launching 48 unsuccessful assaults on Ukrainian positions, Ukraine's General Staff said in its daily update on April 29. Russia has been laying siege to Bakhmut since last summer, making only incremental gains at enormous cost in lives and equipment. Zelenskiy meanwhile called on Ukraine's allies and partners to supply Ukraine with better air defenses after at least 25 people, including several children, were killed in a wave of Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, early on April 28. The worst-hit was Uman, a city in central Ukraine's Cherkasy region, where at least 23 people, including four children, were killed when a Russian missile hit a nine-story apartment building, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry. As many as 109 people are believed to have been residing in the part of the building that was hit. The Uman city council announced a three-day mourning period, and prosecutors have opened a war crimes investigation into the strike, authorities said. In Dnipro, a large city on th Dnieper River in central Ukraine, a woman and a little girl were killed in the Russian attack, despite Ukrainian air defenses managing to shoot down seven missiles. One person was killed by Russian shelling in the town of Bilozerka, in the southern Kherson region. "Air defense, modern aircraft, without which there is no fully effective air defense -- artillery, armored vehicles. Everything that is necessary to provide security to our cities, to our villages, both in the hinterland and on the front lines," Zelenskiy said in his nightly address late on April 28. Speaking to journalists from the Nordic countries on April 29, Zelenskiy said that modern fighter planes would be of "great help," but a Ukrainian counteroffensive will not be tied to their delivery. Ukraine has repeatedly asked for Western aircraft to beef up its air defenses. "We will not delay, we will start [the counteroffensive] even before we have [U.S.-made] F-16s or something else," he said. Earlier, Zelenskiy condemned the strikes as "a night of Russian terror." "Russian evil can be stopped by weapons -- our defenders are doing it. And it can be stopped by sanctions -- global sanctions must be enhanced." Russia, with the help of third countries, has been evading some of the sanctions, reducing the anticipated impact on its budget and ability to finance the war. The attack also targeted Kyiv but the Ukrainian air defense shot down most of the missiles coming toward the capital. Ukraine's Air Force Command later reported that the multipronged attack on Ukrainian cities was executed from strategic Tu-195 Russian bomberso coming from the Caspian Sea region. The command said that Ukrainian air defense destroyed 21 out of 23 cruise missiles and two drones in central, eastern, and southern Ukraine. The United States and some other allies have provided Ukraine with a few Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, considered to be one of the most advanced defense weapons in the NATO arsenal. Each Patriot system can protect one city. Western allies have also given Ukraine other air-defense systems but recently leaked U.S. intelligence reports have indicated that Ukraine's air defense remains a weak link. With reporting by AP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskiy-air- defense/32384787.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Says Fire At Crimean Fuel Depot Extinguished After Drone Attack By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, RFE/RL's Russian Service April 29, 2023 Russia has put out a massive fire caused by a drone attack at a fuel storage depot in Sevastopol, the main port in the occupied Ukrainian region of Crimea and the home of Moscow's Black Sea Fleet, the region's Kremlin-installed governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said on April 29. Razvozhayev said the storage depot was attacked by two drones, one of which was shot down. Ukraine denied responsibility for the strike, which sent a huge cloud of black smoke into the sky that could be seen kilometers away. "According to preliminary information, the fire was caused by a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) strike.... All the necessary special services are working on the spot. The area of the fire is about 1,000 square meters, the fire has been assigned the fourth class class [highest danger]," Razvozhayev wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian military intelligence claimed that more than 10 oil-product storage terminals were destroyed while Russia said only four were engulfed. Video from the scene shows at least seven on fire. Razvozhayev said there were no injuries reported and the fire posed no threat to the region's residents so that no evacuation was necessary. He also said the city's fuel supply would not be hampered by the fire, as the tanks destroyed were used to supply fuel to gas stations. It was not immediately clear whether the Russian armed forces used the fuel as well. Explosions have been heard almost daily in Crimea and Sevastopol since August. Russian occupation authorities claim the blasts are being caused by air defense firing at "Ukrainian drones." Moscow said earlier this week that it had "repelled" a drone attack on the port. A Ukrainian military spokesman said he did not have any information to suggest Kyiv was responsible for the fire in Sevastopol, which came a day after Russia launched a massive wave of strikes on civilian taargets in Ukraine, killing at least 25 civilians. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia- crimea-oil-fire-drone/32384844.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 Kiev Sends Note of Protest to Poland, EU Over Ban on Ukrainian Imports Sputnik News 20230429 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has applied to embassies of Poland and the European Union with a note of protest against restrictions on import of its products, Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said on Saturday. "Yesterday, notes were sent to embassies of the Republic of Poland and the European Union regarding the absolutely unacceptable situation with trade restrictions on import of Ukrainian agricultural products," Nikolenko said on social media. Nikolenko said that the imposed restrictions corresponded neither to the agreement between Ukraine and the EU nor the principles and standards of the European single market. There are all the necessary legal grounds for immediate resumption of the import, Nikolenko added. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he urged the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, to resolve the issue with restrictions against the import of Ukrainian products. Ukraine was granted a temporary duty-free trade arrangement with the EU last June. In March 2022, the EU additionally launched green corridors to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain to the world market. However, the cheap grain from Ukraine ended up flooding EU markets instead, prompting outrage among local farmers. On April 15, Poland and Hungary said they were banning imports of Ukrainian agricultural products until June 30, citing the need to protect domestic farmers from the uncontrolled influx of cheap grain from Ukraine. Slovakia followed suit on April 17 and Bulgaria on April 19. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Loses Nearly 600 Military, Mercenaries in Donetsk Direction Over Past Day - Russian MoD Sputnik News 20230429 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The total losses of the Ukrainian army in the Donetsk direction over the past day amounted to 575 servicepeople and mercenaries, as well as 24 pieces of military equipment, including two US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radars, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "Total enemy losses in this direction amounted to more than 575 Ukrainian servicepeople and mercenaries, two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, two armored fighting vehicles, twelve vehicles, two self-propelled artillery units Akatsiya and Gvozdika, one D-30 howitzer, and two US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radars," the ministry said. Over the past 24 hours, the Russian aviation made seven combat sorties and artillerymen carried out 58 firing missions in the Donetsk direction and near Artemovsk, the ministry said. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022, after the Donetsk and Lugansk people's republics appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian provocations. In response to Russia's operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Preparing Ukrainian Soldiers for Counteroffensive - Reports Sputnik News 20230429 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - German instructors are training Ukrainian soldiers for urban combat at a dozen military bases across the country ahead of Kiev's much-touted spring offensive, a German tabloid reported on Saturday. The report said that over 1,000 personnel of Ukraine's special forces are being trained in Germany at "a good dozen" of Bundeswehr bases. In particular, they are being taught to conduct urban combat and operate heavy equipment, including Leopard 2 tanks and self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000, the newspaper said. Earlier this month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kiev could mount a counteroffensive as late as this summer. Later, he said the offensive would begin soon. US media have reported that the operation was scheduled for April 30. Last week, Foreign Policy reported, citing a Ukrainian lawmaker, that Ukraine hoped to launch the offensive in April, but the shortage of weapons has delayed it indefinitely. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Not enough that Russia is weak, it must be held accountable for everything it has done - address of President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 29 April 2023 - 20:42 Dear Ukrainians! Search and rescue operations were completed in Uman only this afternoon. I want to thank the entire team of the State Emergency Service, the National Police, our doctors, Uman utility services, the military, our volunteers - everyone who took part in the rescue operation and helped the rescued people. I wish a speedy recovery to everyone who was injured by this blow and was traumatized. We will do everything possible to make the terrorist state answer as soon as possible for what it has done. Anyone who prepares such missile attacks cannot but know that he will be an accomplice in the murder. Anyone, who guides and launches missiles, who handles planes and ships for terror. Not only those who give orders but all of you, you are all terrorists and murderers and you must all be punished. And definitely - those who committed the primordial crime, from which all others began - the crime of aggression against our people, against our state. Six children lost their lives in this attack on Uman, a total of 23 people died... May their memory be bright! My condolences to all relatives and friends! Next week will be quite important from the point of view of our struggle for justice for Ukrainians, that is, for punishment for the terrorist state and all its war criminals. We are preparing several important, potent steps to further consolidate partners and provide more energy to creating a tribunal for the crime of Russian aggression. And to speed up the defeat of the terrorist state. It is not enough for Ukraine and the world that Russia is weak, as it is already happening. It must fully answer for everything it has done. We are also preparing new sanctions decisions against individuals and companies involved in the terrorists' defense industry and against foreign entities, which supplies help Russia extend this aggression. Our decisions will be made public soon. Recently, I signed new decrees awarding our defenders, our heroes. Almost 450 more soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ground Forces, paratroopers, Air Force, territorial defense, and over 300 more - from the National Guard, our police, State Emergency Service, and our border guards. In total, during the full-scale war, 45,038 Ukrainian men and women were awarded state awards. And it is evidence of the extraordinary daily heroism of our people. All those who fight for the sake of Ukraine, all those who work for our victory. Glory to all who are in battle for our country, at combat posts! Glory to all who train our soldiers! Glory to everyone who treats and rehabilitates after injuries, who rebuilds life after Russian shelling and occupation. Who returns our people from Russian captivity. I thank everyone in the world who helps us! It is important now. We highly appreciate it. Together, we are bringing the verdict for the evil state closer. We are nearing our victory. So be it! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Crimean Fuel Depot and Punishing War Crimes By VOA News April 29, 2023 Rescuers have finished searching for survivors in Uman after two Russian missiles struck an apartment building, destroying 27 apartments and 33 cars in the blast. Rescue teams recovered 22 bodies from the rubble, while one victim died later in the hospital, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said on Saturday. Among the dead were six children, three boys and three girls. Two women remain missing. Nine people were wounded. A total of 17 people were rescued from the rubble. In Dnipro, airstrikes killed a 2-year-old and her mother. Moscow claimed its target was Ukrainian reserve troops and that it struck successfully, preventing them from reaching the front lines. Russia supplied no evidence to support this, according to Reuters. Crimea attack Russia blamed Ukraine for a drone strike early Saturday that set fire to a fuel storage facility in the Russian-occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol. The fire has been extinguished, Moscow-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said later in the day on Telegram. Razvozhaev said the fire would not affect fuel supplies in Sevastopol and that no one had been injured. He said another drone was downed and its wreckage found on the shore near the fuel terminal. However, Ukrainian military intelligence official Andriy Yusov said more than 10 tanks with a capacity of about 40,000 metric tons were destroyed. The tanks, he said, contained oil products intended for use by Russia's Black Sea Fleet, RBC Ukraine reported. Yusov did not say Ukraine was responsible for the attack. Instead, he said it was "God's punishment" for the Russian strikes on Uman Friday. "This punishment will be long-lasting. In the near future, it is better for all residents of temporarily occupied Crimea not to be near military facilities and facilities that provide for the aggressor's army," RBC quoted Yusov as saying. Ukraine does not have missiles that can reach targets as far away as Sevastopol, but it has been developing drones with longer ranges, according to Reuters. Ukrainian counteroffensive "There will be a counterattack and I think it will succeed," Zelenskyy said in an interview with Scandinavian media published Saturday. "I will not give details. Have we had enough armaments for that? I would say that we are on the way to the fact that we are." According to The Kyiv Independent, the Ukrainian leader said the counteroffensive will happen with or without U.S. F-16 fighter jets. "It would help a lot," he said. "But we understand that we will not delay this, and we will start even before we have F-16s or something else." Ukrainian officials have repeatedly asked for more fighter jets as their counteroffensive nears. In a tweet on Thursday, Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba wrote, "Giving Ukraine F-16s will deter Russia rather than 'provoke' it. Time to take this step." Types of weapons that, we were told, would 'provoke Russia to escalate' if supplied to Ukraine but never did:ArtilleryMLRSAir DefenseTanksLong-range missilesF-16s will not either. Giving Ukraine F-16s will deter Russia rather than 'provoke' it. Time to take this step. a Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 27, 2023 So far, Poland has provided eight MiG-29s, The Kyiv Independent reported. However, The Washington Post reports that military experts and Ukrainian officials say MiG-29s may not be as effective in a Ukrainian offensive against Russian forces. "The MiG radar doesn't work far; their missiles don't fire far," said Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force. "We need new, modern generations of aircraft," he noted. 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 Con motivo de la proxima visita al Peru del Canciller del Japon, Yoshimasa Hayashi, conoce como el respeto a la democracia, la promocion y proteccion de los derechos humanos, el libre comercio y el multilateralismo, son valores que nos unen con el pais del sol naciente. ?????????? pic.twitter.com/zT5sJl6BDT UBA Ghana posts 16% growth in balance sheet Charles Benoni Okine Business News Apr - 29 - 2023 , 09:51 United Bank for Africa (UBA) Ghana Ltd posted a strong financial performance last year despite the economic headwinds that negatively impacted the entire financial sector. Overall, the bank closed the year with a significant growth of 16 per cent of its balance sheet from GH5.4 billion in 2021 to GH6.2 billion in 2022. The bank also managed to increase its shareholders funds from GH1.13 billion in 2021 to GH1.19 billion in 2022, representing a 5.2 per cent growth rate. Customer deposits went up by 16 per cent in 2022, thus GH4.7billion from GH4.1 billion in the previous year. Profitability Although the banks profit after tax dropped significantly to GH59.6 million in 2022 from GH141 million the previous year, largely as a result of significant impairment losses resulting from the governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), its net operating income increased by 51.8 per cent from GH449.5 million to GHS682.0 in the year under review. The increase in net operating income, the bank explained, was mainly due to a conscious effort to increase risk assets which saw an increase in Gross Loans and Advances by GH581.1 million from GH1,135.1 million to GH1,716.2 million, representing 51.2 per cent increase. Again, for the second year running, the bank saw strong performance for net trading and revaluation income. For instance, net trading and revaluation income increased by 70.7 per cent, a remarkable improvement on the 22.8 per cent increment in 2021. The bank described the feat as a testament to the prudent treasury operations despite volatile markets and cedi. AGM address Addressing the banks shareholders and other stakeholders at the 2022 annual general meeting (AGM) in Accra yesterday, the Chairman of the bank, Kweku Awotwi said: Our strong operational performance notwithstanding, profit before tax declined by 58.3 per cent from GH281.8million in 2021 to GH91.2 million in 2022, largely as a result of significant impairment losses resulting from the Government of Ghanas Domestic Debt Exchange Programme. Our impairment losses for the period increased by a total of GH311.4 million, out of which GH282.1 million, representing 90.6 per cent, is an impairment on Government of Ghana securities. DDEP impact The DDEP undertaken by the government to restore its debts to sustainable levels has seriously affected the entire financial sector which is estimated to have lost about GH6 billion in the year under review. The development has forced some analysts and the Ghana Association of Bankers to advise its members to be critically mindful of their exposure to government securities which was, until now, described as the safest. Financial details Giving further details on the banks financial performance, Mr Awotwi said for the second year running, the bank saw strong performance for net trading and revaluation income. Net trading and revaluation income increased by 70.7 per cent, a remarkable improvement on the 22.8 per cent increment in 2021. This is a testament to the prudent treasury operations despite volatile markets and cedi, he said. Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) reduced significantly to 15.8 per cent from 29.4 per cent in 2021. Although the banks liquidity ratio, which measures its ability to meet its short-term financial obligations, reduced from 86.9 per cent in 2021 to 75.4 per cent in the year under review, it indicates that the banks balance sheet is still strong and healthy despite the challenging operating environment. Resilience The board chairman said as evidence of the resilience of its business model and healthy balance sheet, the bank remains liquid and well-capitalised in the face of the phenomenal challenges which have been experienced during the year under review. The bank ended 2022 with a capital adequacy ratio of 20.20 and a liquidity ratio of 75.40 per cent, a development Mr Awotwi said, puts the bank in a strong position to take advantage of opportunities that may arise in the future. He said the achievements were made possible by the banks commitment to providing exceptional services to its customers, robust risk management systems and focus on digital banking solutions. We continue to invest in cutting-edge technology to improve our customer experience while remaining innovative and adaptable to market trends, he said. The future The Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Chris Ofikulu, said: Our main focus for 2023 and beyond is to concentrate on areas we can improve, which will allow us to respond more effectively to our operating environment. This will allow us to focus on delivering improved performance and achieve better returns for shareholders over both the short and long term, as well as broaden our contribution to society as a whole, he said. Mr Ofikulu said to achieve the above, we will need to invest efforts and commitments to certain factors including the need to constantly leverage technology and innovation to ensure excellent and timely customer service delivery. He said the bank will also drive efficiency in all its aspects by streamlining all processes to provide faster, more convenient and seamless services to the banks customers, ensure value for money and eliminate waste. Bra Purple and Gabrielle Sey collabo on Drawn To You Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Apr - 29 - 2023 , 17:49 UP-and-coming artiste, Bra Purple and London-based-Ghanaian act, Gabrielle Sey had just one assignment at the start of 2023. The mission was to let the world know that distance is never a barrier to true love. And to demonstrate their belief, the two who live in different countries have joined forces on a new song, Drawn To You, which drops tomorrow, Friday, April 28. Produced by Swit, the lyrics of the Afrobeats tune hope to establish that nothing builds a special connection among people than love and the duo take turns to sing about their perception of love. Bra Purple is a determined young musician aspiring to set himself apart with his style. Gabrielle Sey, on the other hand, has made some significant gains with her young career in London. In the last few months, she has featured on BBC Radio 6 Music, Fresh on the Net and AFROPUNK, with the aim of promoting and enforcing what she says is music of my heritage. As such, collaborating with Bra Purple on Drawn To You falls in line with her larger goals and that was suitably evident with her delivery on the tune. In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz, Bra Purple mentioned his confidence in the performance of Drawn To You is high with positive reviews from industry persons who have listened and professionally assessed it. This song has Afrobeats and Soul influences, rich lyrics driven by our unique perspectives on love and connection. Perhaps, people have the chance to assess our music skills and lend us the needed support to succeed, he said. Both artistes agreed the collaboration marks a new chapter in their respective careers and they intend to make the best out of the present situation by intensely promoting the song on various radio stations in and outside Ghana along with live radio interviews. Yango partners VGMA Graphic Showbiz Showbiz News Apr - 29 - 2023 , 14:43 YANGO Transport Services is this year partnering Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) as the official ride-hailing service. The partnership does not benefit only Yango and VGMA but also the general community of riders especially music lovers. Well known for its affordable prices, safe travels and service quality, Yango intends to give more to riders during this years VGMA season. The benefits include a discount to and from the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre during the main VGMA night on May 6, luxury shuttle services for celebrities and special guests of the VGMA and give-aways of up to 50 tickets to its loyal patrons to experience this years event. According to Yango Country Manager for Ghana, Tom Ofonime, in every market of its presence, Yango is looking to engage with the activities that matter. For us, partnering with Ghana Music Awards means supporting the spirit of the youth and the artistes who are most relevant. Just recently, it has been revealed that one of the things that people cherish most about their experience in Yango is good music during rides. Yango will help you get wherever you need to go with grace, style and good music. Speaking on the partnership, Head of Public Events & Communications of Charterhouse, organisers of music awards, Robert Klah said, a great VGMA experience starts with the ride that brings you to the grounds. While we are keen on providing you an unforgettable 24th VGMA, we also care about how you get to your destination safely when the programme is over. That is where Yango comes it. We are happy for such partnerships. Since its launch in 2019, Yango has experienced strong growth in Ghana. For people of the country, the Yango brand has already become synonymous with fast, comfortable and safe travel. I recently watched Lawrence of Arabia in its entirety. (It clocks in at three and a half hours; I had seen bits and pieces previously.) Its a great movie, and I could give a summary of the plot, but I want to focus on one aspect of the voyage to Aqaba. This was a city occupied by the Ottoman Turks during World War I. It was primarily defended against a naval invasion, since approaches from the desert were thought to be too hazardous. But thats the route T.E. Lawrence and his Bedouin allies took. I have never made a desert trek, let alone one as grueling as the deserts of Arabia. Clearly, the most important commodity is water. I recall the scenes of the burning sun and frightening heat, the whipping wind of the sandstorms, and the camels laboring in that oven. There is another desert trek that comes to mind, and it involves Moses and the children of Israel, having fled the slavery of Egypt. They have been in the wilderness for three days, without finding water at least, not water fit to drink. Exodus 15 tells us of the peoples grumbling. I think grumbling would be putting it lightly! Imagine three days without water. Imagine their thirst and the thirst of their animals. When they do come upon water, it is undrinkable. It is bitter, so they named the place Marah, which just happens to mean bitter. Moses finds a tree with curative properties. It is used to render the water clean and potable. Theologians, scientists and madmen have weighed in on the nature of this plant. Ultimately, its power flows from the obedience of Moses to the Lords direction. Listen to my voice, because I am the Lord who heals you. The foul, bitter water is healed. We are now over a week into the month of Iyar, second month in the biblical calendar. Iyar has a focus on healing. It is also a month of transition. In the case of Moses and the people, it is a transition from slavery to freedom, from the diseases in Egypt to healing. What transitions are we in need of? What healings are we in need of? As we reflect on this month of healing and transition, we must face the cold reality that so far this year, America has suffered a mass shooting basically every day. A mass shooting or mass murder is labeled as such when there are at least four victims. I know I am not alone in losing track of these horrible events. They begin to just wash over us. Aside from countries actually at war, the United States suffers from more violence than almost any nation on Earth. And too often, the prompting of these shootings is based on the pettiest of reasons, on pure nonsense. Certainly, there are political, cultural and emotional aspects involved, but we need a healing. We are dealing with more than what meets the eyes. We need a casting out of the spirits of hate and murder. We need a cleansing with the fresh, flowing water that rejuvenates and renews the world. After the incident at Marah, when the Israelites finally had fresh water, we are told, Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees, and they camped there by the water (v. 27). They arrived at an oasis, which relatively speaking would have been small, considering the large number of travelers. Twelve springs wouldnt have produced an abundance of water, but it seems to have been enough. That seems to be the way God deals with us. We usually have just enough. We have just enough, and indeed much more than enough, when we approach Christ when we approach him for the water that is always fresh and never runs dry. As it says, On the last day of the (Feast of Tabernacles), the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink.' As the scripture has said, Out of the believers heart shall flow rivers of living water. (John 7:37-38). Jesus says to us, Come to me and drink, and I will give you life. Strange way to fight Lawrence Darmani Opinion Apr - 29 - 2023 , 15:31 The problem on hand was nationwide, and it bordered on deaththe total destruction of an entire nation. But the one who had come to help went about his strategies as though this was just a small scuffle. It was wartime for Israels small army, and Gideon, the leader, mobilised some 32,000 fighters against Midians enemy warriors who numbered about 135,000. The captain of the Lords army told Gideon, "Your army is too large; reduce your numbers." How am I to do that? Gideon asked. Tell everybody who is afraid to go home! Apparently, the fearful fighters outnumbered the brave ones. A staggering 22,000 soldiers went home, leaving 10,000. Gideon had hardly begun grumbling about this great loss of military strength when another illogical instruction came forth: "Reduce the number further; 10,000 are too many. In a strange process, Gideon reduced the number from 10,000 to a mere 300. The nation was on the brink of a suicidal warfare, for the Midianites were referred to in multitudes. By their sheer numbers, they made a highway whenever they went through a field. Gideon wondered, "Didn't God know how many soldiers there were in the Midianite army that threatened to walk over his people? And didnt the Lord know how strong they werehow many other big armies the Midianites had conquered over the years? If God knew, why then did he go about this warfare as though it was a couple of military people in practice? Questions More questions have been directed to God than we can count. Why did I fail my exam when I should have passed? Why did my loved one die so soon when he still had his future ahead of him? Why doesn't my husband love me; I thought he was a man of God? Why did God allow this war to take place that has destroyed so many people? Why is my business failing? Why hasn't God healed me when I've prayed so much? Why did he reduce the strength of an army from 32,000 to a mere 300 to fight an army of 135,000 fierce warriors? When the time of battle was up, the 300 soldiers didn't even need to fight. Simply by blowing their trumpets and lifting a praise to God, the enemies began to destroy one another. The people only rushed in to claim victory. Then Gideon and all the people knew without a shade of doubt that the victory did not belong to them but to the captain of the armies of the Lord. From Judges chapters 6-8, we read this account. Certainly, facing a broken home or a broken relationship or financial crisis or a critical ailment or a court case is not like going to battle the Gideon way. Many of us may not have to take up a gun and fight an enemy that is made of flesh and blood. But those bloodless "battles" are nevertheless wars that many of us fight in our life. How should we fight them? One thing is obvious: those who want God to fight their battles for them have to submit to God's sometimes "tactless" ways. For example, soldiers wield sophisticated weapons and fight on their feet, but God tells his followers to fight their battles on their knees. Kneeling may sound foolish in our eyes but more challenging life battles have been won on knees than with human weapons. Or, imagine a boy with a sling and a stone facing a spear-wielding giant. Davids weapon of victory was not military armoury but the name of the living God. Weapons Since we fight not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces, the weapons of this warfare cannot be physical but spiritual. It is like Joshua and his leaders bringing down the wall of Jericho simply by marching around the thick wall with praise and worship. So the battle is not always to the swift or the well-armed but to those who call on the Lord. This does not rule out the need for hard work, strategies and prudence. It simply means that even in the abundance of resources, victory belongs to God. Anger and hatred are weapons that work for furious fighters. But those who want God to fight their battles are required to be kind and loving and even pray for their enemies. Absurd, of course, but God always wins his battles. And who said the kneeling fighter does not make plans and apply wisdom? He does. Even with his pathetic 300 soldiers, Gideon still planned strategies. We may have a battle to fight against sickness, financial problems, human beings and human institutions. And we may need to use our minds to plan and make strategies. But the fact remains that those who follow God's instructions will be victorious. Tussle between 2 generals causes havoc in Sudan International News Apr - 29 - 2023 , 14:57 Since fighting between paramilitaries and the regular army began on April 15, in Sudan, at least 512 people have been killed and more than 4,200 wounded, according to the United Nations (UN). Western powers have sent special forces and military aircraft to repatriate their nationals and diplomatic personnel for fear of an all-out civil war in an already unstable region. Many other countries began evacuations by road and sea shortly after the 72-hour United States (US)-brokered cease-fire went into effect last Tuesday. Rival factions of Sudan's military have, however, agreed to renew the three-day ceasefire shortly before it was due to expire yesterday. The extension of the ceasefire for another 72 hours follows intensive diplomatic efforts by neighbouring countries, as well as the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and the UN. Evacuation There are continuing reports of heavy fighting in the capital, Khartoum. The previous truce allowed thousands of people to attempt to flee to safety while dozens of countries have tried to evacuate their citizens. Those who cannot leave Khartoum, a city of more than five million people, are trying to survive without water and electricity and are also exposed to food shortages and telephone and internet cuts. Mounting tension between Sudans two most powerful generals, each backed by a formidable force, has boiled over into open conflict just 18 months after they conspired to derail the countrys transition to democracy with civilians caught in the crossfire of a deadly power struggle. The deadly fight is the result of a vicious power struggle between the army chief and de-facto head of the country, Gen. Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan, and Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, who leads the powerful Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group. Internationally backed plan Tension had been building for months between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (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 Islamist 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, and the second was the timing for when the army would be formally placed under civilian oversight. When fighting broke out, 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. The power struggle The protagonists in the power struggle are General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the Army and Leader of Sudan's ruling council since 2019, and his deputy on the council, RSF leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. As the plan for a new transition developed, Hemedti aligned himself more closely with civilian parties to form a coalition, the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), that shared power with the military between Bashir's overthrow and the 2021 coup. Diplomats and analysts said this was part of a strategy by Hemedti to transform himself into a statesman and cement his position at the centre of power. 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 had 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. Role of International Actors 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 but the current fighting, centred on one of Africa's largest urban areas, 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 US, and between regional powers who have courted different actors in Sudan. Western powers, including the US, had swung behind a transition towards democratic elections following Bashir's overthrow. They suspended financial support following the coup, then backed the plan for the new transition and a civilian government. Energy-rich powers Energy-rich powers, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have also sought to shape events in Sudan, seeing the transition away from Bashir's rule as a way to roll back Islamist influence and bolster stability in the region. The Gulf states have pursued investments in sectors, including agriculture, where Sudan holds vast potential and ports on Sudan's Red Sea coast. Russia has been seeking to build a naval base on the Red Sea while several UAE companies have been signing up to invest. The two generals, Burhan and Hemedti, both developed close ties with 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. The growing humanitarian crisis in a country already reliant on aid to feed its people could lead to large numbers of refugees. Already, up to 20,000 have left for neighbouring Chad, 10,000 for South Sudan and growing numbers are heading north to Egypt. The Mirror's Health , Lifestyle and Fashion Accra, books in happy embrace Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng Lifestyle Apr - 29 - 2023 , 23:29 In September 2021, the Director-General of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay, named Accra as the UNESCO World Book Capital for 2023. Last Monday, April 24, 2023, the long-awaited declaration finally took place and Accra was named the Book Capital of the whole wide world. Ghanas President, Nana Akufo-Addo, Madam Audrey Azouley, and Accra Mayor Elizabeth Sackey were on hand to do Accra the honours. The World Book Capital is an initiative of UNESCO which recognises cities for promoting books and fostering reading for a year, starting on April 23, the World Book and Copyright Day. Cities designated as UNESCO World Book Capital carry out activities with the aim of encouraging a culture of reading in all ages and sharing UNESCOs values. There is no financial prize for being nominated as host. World Book According to UNESCO, Ghanas capital won this prestigious accolade following the positive evaluation of Accras bid by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. UNESCO says that Accra was selected for its strong focus on young people and their potential to contribute to the culture and wealth of Ghana. Accras proposal said the city would use the power of books to engage young people, as an effective way of skilling up the next generation. That is not all. Accra also made some extraordinarily bold declarations in its proposals. For example, Accra proposes a broad programme that targets marginal groups with high levels of illiteracy including women, youth, migrants, street children and persons with disabilities. Accra has also promised to implement measures to reinforce school and community infrastructure and institutional support for lifelong learning in order to foster the culture of reading. There is more, but lets stop to catch our breath and congratulate Accra for winning this privilege, and more importantly, for dreaming this extensive vision. Accra deserves this honour, standing as it does, on the shoulders of giants. This city has been home to a multitude of literary titans; too many to name or count. In recent years, Accra has seen an increase in the number of literary activities such as book festivals, book launches and public readings on a scale not seen since the early post-independence years. However, to be brutally honest, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (the authority of the City of Accra) itself has not got a track record of promoting literary events or even supporting them. However, as the President said, the selection of Accra was catalyst for future investments. For us in Ghana, the Accra World Book Capital is more than a reading campaign. Its an opportunity for government and international partners to leverage the diverse linkages to culture and education to deepen our collective actions to make progress of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals . In that sense, we must embrace this new opportunity and make the most of it. While looking forward, it is important to take a backwards glance to ensure that we are set fair and square on our forward march. I have not seen Accras proposals and the full line-up of its activities for the year, but one would hope that measures to honour Ghanaian writers would be near the top. Apart from Efua Sutherland for whom the Childrens Park is named (of which more soon), there is hardly any monument to Ghanaian literature or writers anywhere in the city. The city authorities can redeem themselves by doing some simple things such as naming some important and relevant streets, buildings and institutions after famous and notable writers and other contributors to the development of literature and books such as publishers and booksellers. As you would expect, last Mondays function upped the ante even further. The President gave a stirring speech as did our UNESCO august guest, and our host, the Mayor of Accra. No one doubts that these dignitaries are sincere in what they said, however, when it comes to implementation, all stakeholders must open their eyes wide. To begin with, it is a pity that the book stalls that were erected at the venue, the Accra International Conference Centre, were dismantled almost immediately after the official event. Given that it was a holiday, not many people got the opportunity to sample or buy books. This means that most of the publishers and booksellers who bought space to display their books went away without any financial or moral satisfaction. One would have thought that the Book Capital of the World would keep book stalls open for at least one week. As I mentioned already, Accra has not honoured its writers. The Efua Sutherland Park, which has been named after the redoubtable Aunty Efua for her commitment to both childrens rights and literature, is an undeveloped eyesore. It only comes alive during the annual flower show and other such events. There is nothing there that celebrates books or children. The Accra proposals promise to make books available to marginalised communities in the city. How it plans to do this may be in some document that has yet to be published. But here are a few ideas. Between 2010 and 2019, the Ghana Association of Writers made a demand at every opportunity for the government to buy 1,000 books of all books published in Ghana that pass an agreed quality threshold. The book industry must support and amplify that demand during the year. The city authorities can erect book kiosks around public places such as taxi ranks, lorry parks, and markets to bring books to the masses. The proposals also make a lot of play about books and youth development. This should not just be a pie in the sky kind of promise; while other stakeholders are expected to be inspired by this assurance, the city cannot rely on others to fulfil the pledges on which it won its bid. Naturally, the nations capital expects the entire nation to rally to its cause, which is something the President alluded to in his speech. This is an honour for Ghana, but Accra must show the way. For now, we must congratulate the city but also caution it not to break the hearts of its book lovers and those to whom a lot has been promised. For now, it is Accra and books in a happy embrace. We shall return to this subject again and again. Dont abandon duty post for all-night prayers, funerals DCOP Boadu-Ekumah Alberto Mario Noretti, HO Life Apr - 29 - 2023 , 23:43 The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Volta Region, (DCOP) Andrews Boadu-Ekumah, has warned police officers to desist from engaging in activities that will undermine the smooth execution of their assigned duties. According to him, Under no circumstance should an officer abandon his duty post for religious activities such as all-night prayers or fasting sessions, because the duty call of a police precedes other consideration, he added. DCOP Boadu-Ekumah was speaking at the first quarterly meeting of the 82-member Volta Regional Police Ladies Association (POLAS Volta) in Ho on Tuesday. He pointed out that it was rather ungodly for a police officer to skip his or her duties for church activities or a funeral, adding that the core role of the police was to protect life and property and that cannot be compromised for any reason. Perform your duties diligently and God will bless you in abundance, instead of citing church or funeral as an excuse for staying off duty, DCOP Boadu-Ekumah added. Trust The Volta Regional Police Commander said the Ghana Police Service was committed to building a strong bond of trust and confidence with the public, for which reason any wayward conduct on the part of any officer would not be tolerated. He urged the police personnel to execute their duties with patriotism and be abreast with the law and the dynamics of contemporary society to win respect from the public. DCOP Boadu-Ekumah further entreated police officers to eschew all forms of unprofessional conduct, explaining that hardworking and dedicated officers would not be deprived of the reward due to them. The President of POLAS Volta, Superintendent Benedicta Ansah, urged members of the association to be one anothers keepers and work hard to lift the image of the Ghana Police Service in the region and Ghana to astonishing heights. Birthday platform The meeting coincided with the inauguration of the social media birthday platform of the association. Superintendent Ansah, who is also the Kpetoe District Police Commander, explained that the aim of the platform is to enable us to readily help one another and share the little that we have with one another in times of need. She said POLAS Volta, which was established a few years ago, also has members in the Greater Accra and Upper East Police regions due to its vibrancy. Meanwhile, the POLAS Volta President lauded five female police officers in the region for excelling in the recently held highly competitive entrance examination for the Police Academy in Accra. What category of leave is one entitled to under laws of Ghana? The Mirror Lawyer Life Apr - 30 - 2023 , 02:11 Dear Mirror Lawyer, What is the category of leave one is entitled to under the laws of Ghana and why is it necessary to provide for this time off? Thomas Sefiamor, Tema Dear Thomas, Leave is provided for in the Labour Laws and terms and conditions of employment negotiated between the employer and employee. Taking time off or what is known in popular parlance as leave is vital to promote good physical and mental health in the workplace and will improve employees work-life balance, productivity, will help teams solve problems, think creatively and reduce absenteeism. It also allows the worker to take time to rest and re-energise which can result in stress reduction and improve mood, benefiting staff morale. Employees who take regular annual leave holidays can perform more efficiently and have higher motivation compared to those who do not. The biggest risk in staff not taking their annual leave is that they burnout. Burnout is a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Employee burnout can prompt a multitude of problems in the workplace, resulting in a lack of engagement, drop in efficiency, increased absenteeism and more mistakes at work. In Ghana, the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) makes provision for different categories of leave a worker can enjoy. The first is the annual leave with full pay. This is an entitlement for every worker to be taken annually. The period ranges between 15 working days to 40 working days depending on the status and position of the worker in the establishment. Every worker is entitled to enjoy an unbroken period of leave but an employer, in cases of urgent necessity, may require a worker to interrupt his or her leave and return to work. Where a worker is required by the employer to interrupt his or her leave, the worker shall not forfeit the right to the remainder of the leave but shall take the leave anytime thereafter. A worker may also be permitted to take his or her annual leave in two approximate equal parts. In the past, workers could sell off their leave entitlements for cash. Under the current Labour Act, this has been discontinued. Any agreement between an employer and worker to sell off, relinquish the entitlement to annual leave or to forgo such leave is void. Another category is sick leave. This is not part of the annual leave. It is a period of absence from work allowed owing to sickness, which is certified by a medical practitioner. Different institutions have periods within which such sick leave could be taken after which if the sickness persisted, they would be entitled to half pay or be discharged from employment on medical grounds. There is also maternity leave. A woman worker, on production of a medical certificate issued by a medical practitioner or a midwife indicating the expected date of her confinement, is entitled to a period of maternity leave of at least 12 weeks in addition to any period of annual Leave she is entitled after her period of confinement. Such a woman worker on maternity leave is entitled to be paid her full remuneration and other benefits which she is otherwise entitled. The period of maternity leave may be extended for at least two additional weeks where the confinement is abnormal or where in the course of the same confinement two or more babies are born. A nursing mother is entitled to interrupt her work for an hour during her working hours to nurse her baby and shall be treated as working hours and paid for accordingly. An employer shall not dismiss a woman worker because of her absence from work on maternity leave. Compassionate or casual leave is another category which is not specifically provided in the Act but permitted under the Collective Bargaining Agreement or conditions of service negotiated between the employer and the employee pursuant to the Act. This is a time away from work permitted by the employer for personal reasons such as crisis, bereavement or illness of a close relative. Study leave is a period of time agreed with the employer for the employee to undertake agreed education, training and development activities relevant to his or her schedule or area of expertise in an institution. Continuous Professional Development is now mandatory in many professional bodies and businesses to enable the worker to achieve agreed business objectives. Study leave may be granted with or without pay. If the leave is granted with pay, the worker may be bonded to serve the institution for a period of time before he or she can leave the organisation otherwise a penalty would be imposed on the person. Other businesses have found creative ways of crafting various categories of leave of absence to make life flexible for the employee. This is usually negotiated with management and accepted as lawful provisions within the conditions of service. 3 public servants non-declaration of assets; Special Prosecutor terminates prosecution Graphic Online Apr - 30 - 2023 , 06:43 The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed a nolle prosequi to terminate the prosecution of three out of four persons who failed to declare their property and income. The OSP is doing a lifestyle audit on the three and therefore charged them for non-declaration of assets. Declaration of assets after charge Following the commencement of the prosecution, the three have gone on to submit their asset declaration forms hence the termination of the legal proceedings against them by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP). The High Court in Accra has therefore gone ahead to discharge the three reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA) The officers are James Keck Osei, a civil servant working at the Office of the Vice President, John Abban, and Peter Archibald Hyde, both senior custom officials. A fourth person, Issah Seidu, another public servant, is however still in court for non declaration of property and income.. The Office of the Special Prosecutor entered the nolle prosequi to terminate the prosecution of the three out of four persons on April 19, 2023. The termination of the trial was because the three have now fully complied with the directive. The substantive case is still under investigations. The case in court has been adjourned to May 11, 2023 for the plea of the first accused person, Issah Seidu to be taken on the amended Charge Sheet. Special Prosecutor arrest and charge Related: Lifestyle Audit: 4 busted by Special Prosecutor for failing to declare source of income The four people, made up of three public servants and one civil servant were arrested and charged by the Special Prosecutor on corruption related offences. It followed a Lifestyle Audit by the Special Prosecutor on them and a request for them to declare the source of their various incomes and their refusal to do so. The Special Prosecutor charged them for failing to comply and declare sources of income in contravention of regulation 20 of L.I. 2374. Issah Seidu works with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) while James Keck Osei works with the Office of the Vice President as an administrator. John Abban and Peter Archibald Hyde are senior Officers with Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Facts The facts adduced against them in court by the Special Prosecutor are that, they are all suspects under investigation in respect of corruption and corruption-related offences regarding the importation from Thailand and auction processes of two hundred and fifty (250) tonnes of Lele rice. In December 2022, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of his functions, served on them, respectively, notices to declare their property and income under regulation 20(1) per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374). They were duly notified, according to the Office of the Prosecutor (OSP) as per the statutory forms and by cover letters under the seal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the seal and mark of the Special Prosecutor, that they were required by law to make the specified declarations and return same to the Office of the Special Prosecutor as per Form 12 of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374, within thirty (30) days of the service on them of the notices as per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374. As of the close of business on February 9, 2023, they had failed, without lawful excuse, to return the duly completed statutory forms to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, more than thirty (30) days after the service of the forms on them. They were therefore duly charged with the respective offences. Hisense Ghana donates to TVET GraphicOnline Apr - 30 - 2023 , 15:58 Hisense Ghana, an electronics company has donated home appliances worth thousands of cedis to the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) Greater Accra Regional office. The donation which was done on Friday, April 28, 2023, included five new Hisense refrigerators, three Hisense television sets, and Hisense microwaves. According to Hisense's Marketing Coordinator, Renee Quaye, the company's aim is to assist the regional office in operating efficiently in their day-to-day activities. Quaye stated that the donation was made in response to a request for support, and that the high-quality items provided would be of significant help to the offices. The Acting Regional Director of Greater Accra TVET, Eng. Juliana Nkrumah, and her deputy, Philip Aheto, expressed their immense gratitude to Hisense Ghana for the generous gesture. They acknowledged the donation as being extremely helpful to their operations and extended their appreciation to the company. Minority Leader slams government for challenges faced by Ghanaian Banks Kweku Zurek Politics Apr - 30 - 2023 , 09:24 Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, has criticized the banking sector's challenges and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government's policies, which he believes have caused the erosion of capital in some Ghanaian banks. Dr. Forson specifically cited the implementation of the government's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) as a major factor in banks' inability to lend to businesses. He expressed concern that many local banks, which play a vital role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are currently facing significant financial difficulties. Dr. Forson called for discussions among stakeholders to find ways to support local banks during this difficult period. "I am deeply concerned about the current state of our banking sector, especially the impact of government policies on our local banks. It's no secret that many of these banks, which are essential to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are facing severe financial difficulties," he posted on Facebook. "Under the leadership of Alhaji Bawumia, the Head of EMT, the NPP government has implemented policies that have seriously eroded the capital of most of our banks. This is having a devastating effect on their ability to lend to businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of our economy. "I believe it's time for a serious discussion about how we can support our local banks and help them weather this difficult period". The restructuring of Ghana's local currency and overseas debt caused GCB Bank Plc and Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd. to report significant losses. According to Bloomberg, banks operating in Ghana have suffered a total loss of about $1.4 billion due to the restructuring of most of the country's public debt, estimated at 576 billion cedis. Vulcan Energy Resources signed a Term Sheet agreement with Nobian GmbH (Nobian) for the formation of a 50/50 joint venture over, and equity financing of, Vulcans Central Lithium Plant (CLP), which forms part of Vulcans Zero Carbon Lithium Project (earlier post). The strategic partnership is subject to the parties entering into definitive agreements, which are targeted to be completed within 10 weeks from the date of the term sheet. The planned CLP is contained within a Joint Venture Special Purpose Vehicle known as SPV2. As part of its project financing, Vulcan has split Phase One of its integrated 24,000tpy Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM) and renewable energy project into two separate Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs): SPV1 includes the plant and infrastructure associated with the production of renewable energy and lithium chloride (LiCl) and includes land, wells, pipelines, geothermal and lithium extraction plants. SPV1s output includes renewable energy and LiCl, the latter which is sold to SPV2. SPV2 includes the CLP which converts LiCl into LHM, with a by-product of HCl.LHM will be sold to the Vulcan parent company which will then distribute it to Vulcans offtakers. Nobian has a strong pedigree in chlor-alkali operations and a heritage stretching back more than 100 years. Its first chlor-alkali electrolysis plant in Bitterfeld was started up in 1894. Nobian is a European leader in the production of salt, essential chemicals and energy solutions for industry and has a deep and long-standing expertise in crystallization, electrolysis, and the production of chlor-alkali products. Through the proposed strategic partnership both parties seek to leverage both Nobians deep and long-standing experience in industrial crystallization and electrolysis and operating chlor-alkali plants, as well Vulcans Zero Carbon Lithium Project, which uses chlor-alkali type electrolysis cells to produce lithium hydroxide. Nobian has existing production sites in the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, including at the same site as Vulcans planned CLP, at the Hoechst Chemical Park, providing additional synergies. The Term Sheet builds on and reflects 15 months of collaboration between Nobian and Vulcan. Proposed contributions, valuation and key terms The Term Sheet provides that, subject to execution of Definitive Agreements for the Transaction and the satisfaction of other conditions, Nobian shall contribute 161 million in cash as equity to fund CAPEX for the CLP, to acquire 50% of the SPV2 Joint Venture, on the basis of an agreed pre-money valuation of 322 million for the CLP SPV2. As per Vulcan's Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) published in February 2023, SPV2s CAPEX requirement is estimated at 322 million. It is expected that Nobians equity contribution, alongside expected project debt finance to be obtained by the Company, which BNP Paribas, Vulcans financial advisor, is assisting Vulcan on arranging, will fully cover the funding requirement for the CLP. The Company is targeting a debt-to-equity ratio of 65:35 for the overall funding of Phase One. Based on the DFS, SPV1s Net Present Value (NPV) represents 77% of Phase One total NPV whilst SPV2s NPV represents 23%. There is no guarantee that the parties will execute definitive agreements, and the final definitive agreements remain subject to negotiation and may be on terms that are different to those set out in this announcement and the term sheet. By adapting existing technologies to efficiently extract lithium from geothermal brine, Vulcan aims to deliver a local source of sustainable lithium for Europe, built around a net zero carbon strategy with strict exclusion of fossil fuels. Already an operational renewable energy producer, Vulcan will also provide renewable electricity and heat to local communities. AUBURN The Rev. Paris Price had a notable congregant for worship at Harriet Tubman Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church on Sunday. New York Attorney General Letitia James attended the morning service at the church named for the famed abolitionist and civil rights icon, who spent the latter part of her life in Auburn. James arrived in Auburn Sunday morning and met with Price, local leaders and churchgoers. She was introduced and spoke during the service. "I know that I am in a sacred place, a historic place and I am overwhelmed knowing that I'm next to the relatives of Harriet Tubman," James said. Tubman descendants, including Pauline Copes Johnson, are members of the congregation and attended the service. She continued, "I can touch her and feel her and that her DNA flows through mine and that she was once in this space. It gives me the power to continue to raise my voice and to speak truth to power and to challenge those who do not believe in a just society. It is truly an honor of a lifetime to speak in the church home of one of our most highly esteemed ancestors, Harriet Tubman." In Tubman's time, the church was at a different location. The former Thompson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church on Parker Street is where she attended services and the site of her 1913 funeral. The church is now part of the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn and will open to visitors later this year. The existing Harriet Tubman Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church is on Franklin Street in Auburn. James, who hails from Brooklyn, said she will think about the church when driving on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. In 2005, the New York City Council voted to co-name the street Harriet Ross Tubman Avenue. She served on the council at the time of the vote. In her remarks during the service, James highlighted her work as attorney general, including the gun buyback events that were held across the state on Saturday. The buyback events, including one in Syracuse, were a success. James told the congregation that 3,056 guns were turned in statewide and 700 in Syracuse. In return, individuals were given $500 gift cards. "These are not your grandmother's guns, James said, noting that 186 of the guns were assault weapons, such as AR-15s. Preventing gun violence is James' top priority. As attorney general, her office has sued gun manufacturers and targeted those selling ghost guns. During her long career in public service, she said she has prayed "over too many open caskets of too many Black boys and Black girls, too many people of color who have died" due to gun violence. James mentioned the upcoming one-year anniversary of the racist mass shooting at a Tops grocery store in Buffalo. Auburn has a connection to that tragedy. Andre Mackniel, a city resident, was one of the 10 people killed in the attack. She lauded the church and the community for helping Mackniel's family after he was murdered while buying a birthday cake for his son. "You're doing it because that's what God would've wanted," she said. Although gun violence was the main reason for James' trip to central New York over the weekend, she also discussed her office's work to address housing issues, combat scams and crack down on individuals engaged in price gouging. She recently announced legislation to make deed theft a felony offense. "As the guardian of the public trust, it is my responsibility to ensure that all of the rights are protected and I'm particularly concerned about vulnerable individuals and individuals who are marginalized, standing up for all of them and making sure that their rights and the Constitution applies to each and every one of them," she said. It was James' second visit to Auburn as attorney general. With both stops, she has taken a different approach than other statewide officials. Instead of holding brief press events and leaving town, she has opted for longer, unannounced visits. In 2021, she spent more than an hour touring the Equal Rights Heritage Center. On Sunday, she stayed for nearly the entire hour-long service at Harriet Tubman Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. "This will not be my last time visiting this wonderful church," she said. The WH-CH720N are Sony's latest alphabet soup wireless noise-canceling headphones. The CH-series is Sony's mid-range offering with a balanced feature set that sits under the more premium 1000X series and alongside more specialized models like the XB extra bass series. The CH720N sits at the top of that range with a fairly broad feature set that makes it essentially a lite version of the 1000XM5. You get Sony's active noise-cancellation along with a claimed 'balanced' tuning for the sound, all powered by the dedicated Sony V1 processor, also found on the 1000XM5. Let's see how they perform. Design and comfort The CH720N have a fairly restrained, understated design that is typical of Sony products. They draw very little attention to themselves and had it not been for the fact that very few people now wear full-sized headphones outdoors no one would even give you a second glance. For a lot of people, this is a positive if all you want to do is listen to your music or podcasts in peace without drawing constant attention to yourself. The headphones have fairly large ear cups with a flattened outer surface. The yokes are large and designed to fit flush with the cutouts on the cups. The flat headband connects with a concealed hinge although the extension mechanism is exposed. The left ear cup houses the power and pairing switch, charging port, and analog input. The right ear cup has the volume and playback buttons along with the toggle for ANC modes. The body is made entirely out of plastic with a matte finish. It doesn't feel premium but at the same time is of perfectly acceptable quality. Sony claims the CH720N are its lightest overhead ANC headphones yet at 192g. Lightest doesn't necessarily mean light; you can still quite easily feel their weight and there was never a moment I forgot I was still wearing them. The earpads are reasonably soft and plush. There is about 2.5cm of room before your ears come in contact with the foam padding covering the driver enclosure. I found the space adequate for my ears, which wasn't the case with the shallower 1000XM5 earpads. Like the more expensive 1000XM5, the CH720N don't fold inward but rather the earcups just swivel till they lie flat against your chest. This also means they take up more space inside your bag and there isn't a carry case provided with these. Considering the price difference, that's not a major issue but it would be nice if Sony went back to properly folding designs considering how many people buy these headphones specifically for travel use. Overall, the CH720N are reasonably well-built with an understated design and good comfort but the lack of folding is a hassle. Software and features The CH720N support the Sony Headphones Connect app on iOS and Android. This app has been a staple of Sony wireless products for several years now and has come to be quite a bit bloated off late. For starters, it takes at least 17 clicks before you can reach the main page of the app after installing it because of the overwhelming number of configuration options the app dumps on your as soon as you launch it. Some on-screen prompts will also not go away unless you dig through the tutorial section to dismiss them. It's all becoming increasingly frustrating and it's baffling how no one at Sony sees it this way. Instead, they just keep throwing more things in the app with additional prompts when you first launch the app. Status and System settings Once you get through the setup chore, you are greeted with the same familiar UI that we have had for a while now. The Status page will show your currently playing track with playback controls and the Adaptive Sound Control menu, which adjusts ANC by tracking your movements and location. The sound page has all the exciting options. The Ambient Sound Control menu lets you configure the ANC options, although this has now been limited to toggling between ANC, Ambient Sound (transparency mode), and Off. Sony did used to let you manually dial in the level of ANC you like but that has now been set to adjust automatically based on the ambient noise levels. The company likely figured out it can eke out a few more hours of battery life by adjusting it automatically instead of letting the user keep it maxed out at all times. Sound settings The equalizer option has a five-band EQ with a sixth Clear Bass dial and several presets with blank ones to save your custom values. The CH720N also support the 360 Reality Audio feature, which creates an HRTF map of your head and ears using the camera to create a personalized profile. This data is then used in apps that offer 360 Reality Audio content, which admittedly are few and far between. Finally, you also get DSEE or Digital Sound Enhancement Engine. This feature aims to recover detail lost during compression although I've never actually heard any difference with it enabled. The CH720N only gets DSEE and not DSEE Extreme found on the 1000X series headphones. The difference is seemingly the use of AI on Extreme but even that one never produced an audible difference. Other features on the CH720N include being able to connect to two devices at the same time (both can be managed through the app), being able to use a voice assistant with Amazon Alexa integration in the app, customizing the options you toggle through the ANC button, an automatic power off mode when the headphones have been idle for a certain amount of time (15/30/60/180 minutes), and ability to update the firmware. A useful feature missing on the CH720N is automatic pausing when the headphones are removed. While full-sized wireless headphones have historically shipped without this feature, Sony recently started adding it to its 1000X series headphones with the 1000XM4. You don't realize how much you miss it until it's gone. There were times I removed the headphones forgetting they wouldn't pause and they kept playing in the background for hours. At this point, it's fair to expect this feature even on full-sized headphones seeing how it's all but a given on TWS earbuds. All processing on the CH720N is handled by Sony's Integrated Processor V1. It's the same chip also found on the more expensive 1000XM5, although that model also features a second QN1 processor dedicated to ANC. This, along with the two fewer microphones per earcup (2 versus 4 on the 1000XM5), is the reason for the CH720N having a lower advertised ANC performance over the 1000XM5. The CH720N have a single 30mm dynamic driver per ear. These are the same size as the 1000XM5 drivers but they aren't the same drivers, with the 1000XM5 drivers having a wider frequency response and lower impedance. The CH720N also support only SBC and AAC codecs while the 1000XM5 also adds LDAC. Both support Bluetooth 5.2. Overall, the CH720N have a good number of useful features but there are also several that don't add much value, and the companion app is in urgent need of trimming and streamlining to improve the setup experience. Performance Audio quality The CH720N have decent audio quality. Sony describes them as having a balanced tuning, which is likely to distinguish them from its other offerings, more specifically the XB series. Despite that, the CH720N still have a warm, bassy sound. Like most of Sony's headphones, there is a wide bass shelf, particularly in the mid-bass and upper-bass regions. Since most of the bass in music falls in this region, you get a pretty robust increase in low-frequency energy that adds a sizable thump and rumble to your tracks. It's not quite as extensive as on the XB series headphones and it also doesn't extend especially low so it feels less overwhelming and boomy in comparison. Still, the somewhat lumpy and dense quality of the bass does add a bit of congestion to the low frequencies. The mid-range does get some of this surplus energy coming in from the low-end and the lower mids do sound thicker than they should. There is a slight peakiness to the mid-mids, which adds a bit of honkiness to them and awkwardly projects them further into the mix for certain vocals. This does mess slightly with the timbre but by and large most voices and instruments sound natural. Unfortunately, there is a definite issue with the upper mids leading into the treble. It seems Sony has either forgotten or chosen to ignore factoring in pinna gain into the tuning, as the upper mids sound rather deflated and lacking. Our head shape and outer ear influence how we hear the world around us and headphones effectively bypass all that, which is why they need to be tuned factoring in the impact of our head and ear shape. Without that, headphones will simply not sound natural, which is what's happening with the CH720N. Without the 2-5kHz bump, vocals sound congested and dry, and the lower treble is dull and raspy, as most of the treble energy comes in further up in the frequency range. This adds to the somewhat dark tonality of the sound as most of the energy is coming from the low end without sufficient support from the top end. Having said that, the tuning isn't terrible and based on your choice of music can still be perfectly enjoyable, especially when you are outdoors and don't particularly care about sound quality. I also found it relatively easy to fix with EQ in the Sony app, even though it has a rather limited range of frequencies available. As a side note, there is a noticeable difference in the tonality with ANC disabled. Bass frequencies, in particular, are less exaggerated with the ANC off, which does result in a slightly cleaner, tighter low-end presentation. In terms of technical performance, the CH720N are nothing special. The resolution and detail are mediocre although that's more on the drivers than the codecs used as plugging in the bundled cable doesn't result in an appreciable improvement. Without the audio processing, the drivers sound particularly awful in wired mode, revealing once again how little effort goes into designing and tuning the drivers on Bluetooth headphones and how much work the onboard audio processing has to do to make them palatable. Imaging and soundstaging are also quite lackluster in wireless mode and in passive wired mode the headphones may as well be mono. Microphone The CH720N have respectable microphone performance. Voices sound clean and intelligible with enough amplitude to not require you to shout to be heard. You still get that telltale Bluetooth compression and tonality isn't as natural as a good wired microphone but for the purposes of phone calls the quality here is perfectly acceptable. Noise cancellation The CH720N have very good active noise cancellation performance and improve significantly over their predecessors. The attenuation works well across a wide frequency range, which means you get good coverage across the spectrum for all types of ambient sounds. Low-frequency attenuation is particularly good but Sony has also excelled at mid and upper frequencies, something you often find lacking on products from other brands. I'm sure there is a measurable difference between the CH720N and the 1000XM5 cancellation but without a side-by-side comparison, even the cheaper model sounds good enough to not make you miss the flagship. The Ambient Sound or transparency mode also works well, although Sony does prioritize the intelligibility of the sounds over accuracy. As a result, the sound isn't exactly natural but you do hear everything around you well, which in most cases is what you are after. Also, unlike noise cancellation, you can adjust the level of transparency and also enable voice passthrough, which puts focus on voices while suppressing other frequencies. Latency The CH720N have good latency performance. For non-video tasks, the latency is low enough to not be a concern and many users will likely not even notice it. Video hasn't been a concern for a while as mobile operating systems will sync the video automatically to compensate for the delay. Connectivity The CH720N had excellent connectivity performance during testing. There were no issues with connection drops or hitches and stutters of any kind during testing. During normal operating conditions, the headphones should work reliably. Battery Life The CH720N have a rated continuous music playback time of 35 hours with ANC enabled and an impressive 50 hours with ANC disabled. In my testing, the CH720N played for 47 hours and 9 minutes with ANC enabled, which was a rather staggering result. I am used to Sony headphones routinely shooting past their rated battery figures but this is perhaps the largest discrepancy on record. And yes, ANC was double-checked to be enabled during the test. I also tested battery life after a 10-minute charge from 0% and the headphones played for 5 hours 51 minutes with ANC, which is also a great result. While I didn't test it, DSEE is known to consume additional battery power and significantly eat into the battery life figures. Also, all testing here was done using AAC but should also apply to SBC as they often have similar power consumption. Conclusion The WH-CH720N are priced at $150 but can be had for around $128 at the time of writing. Compared to the $400 1000XM5, I didn't feel like I was missing out on a lot. The 1000XM5 are better tuned and have better ANC but you can make up for the tuning with EQ and you'd be hardpressed to tell the ANC difference in most conditions. The 1000XM5 come with a case but neither headphone is foldable. The CH720N also have better battery life and I found them to be more comfortable. The prospect of getting the 1000XM5 for less than half the price is enticing. The price difference is even larger here in India, where the CH720N (INR 9,990) is a third of the price of the 1000XM5 (INR 29,990). Sony may have just made the CH720N a bit too good for its own good and I can't think of too many reasons to pick the 1000XM5 over these, especially if the only thing you are interested in is travel headphones. Considering both price and performance, the CH720N are the new benchmark for travel headphones. Weekly deals: the best smartphone deals from the UK, the US, Germany and India This week brings discounts for Samsung and Apple flagships and there are many interesting offerings in the mid-range too. You can use the links below to jump to the region thats relevant to you: UK The Samsung Galaxy A34 is barely a month old, but its price is falling significantly the 8/256GB model is down to 300. For comparison, the 6/128GB model launched at 350. The phone is a solid mid-ranger with a 6.6 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display, IP67 rating, a Dimensity 1080 chipset, a 48+8+5MP camera setup and a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging. The Poco F4 GT is older, it turned one year old a few days ago. But this old dog still has it, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset driving the 6.67 120Hz FHD+ AMOLED display (HDR10+). With pop-up magnetic shoulder triggers, this looks and feels like a gaming phone. The original 8 Gen 1 chip tends to run hot, but it still brings a lot of GPU power for 450. The next generation of Pixel phones is around the corner and the 7a is shaping up to be an interesting offering. It may prove to be better value for money, but it wont be as good in terms of pure hardware. And time has helped reduce the Pixel 7 price so it should be close between those two. If youre getting a Pixel, you may want to go all-in on the Google ecosystem with a Pixel Watch and some noise canceling buds like the Pixel Buds Pro. If not, here are the alternatives from Samsung. The Galaxy Watch5 and Watch5 Pro themselves will soon be replaced by the next generation. However, these have been through a year of price cuts. There are also the Galaxy Buds2 as a cheaper alternative to the Pixel Buds Pro. USA Samsungs Galaxy S23 series held its price for a while, but now you can grab the Ultra for $1,000. It has one of the best cameras on the market, especially the US market. The Galaxy S23+ is $150 less than the Ultra, though it doesnt have its screen and S Pen capabilities, not the 200MP camera either. As for the base Galaxy S23, it now makes more sense to get the 256GB model instead of the 128GB one as there is only $60 between them and Amazons offer is below what Samsung.com charges - $800 for the 128GB unit, $860 for the 256GB one. The new Galaxy A54 brings the much-improved Exynos 1380 chipset. It features a 6.4 120Hz FHD+ display, an IP67 rated body, a 50+12+5MP camera and a 5,000mAh battery with 25W charging. You can pair the Galaxy phones with a Galaxy Watch. The Watch5 and Watch5 Pro models are trending down in price as the launch of the 6-series grows near. We found some interesting gaming options this week. The Logitec G Cloud is $50 down from its MSRP. This is a streaming-focused handheld with over 12 hours of battery life and a good quality 7 1080p display, plus excellent hardware controls from Logitec. You can use it services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now if you dont have a console or gaming PC at home. If you do, you can stream from those too. Alternatively, you can grab a Razer Kishi controller and put it on your phone for a similar setup. Depending on your phone, you can do some AAA mobile gaming too, which is outside the capabilities of the G Cloud. Note that this is the original version of the Kishi rather than v2, but its on clearance, so its pretty cheap. Germany The Samsung Galaxy A34 costs more in Germany than it does in the UK, but imports from the UK are not as easy as they once were. Still, a 40/50 discount is nothing to sneeze at. On the other hand, the Poco F4 GT is a beat cheaper than it is in British stores. It may be a year old, but this phones Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 has a powerful GPU and there are on-board shoulder triggers for gaming. The Realme C55 launched a month ago and while the hardware isnt jaw-dropping, it checks several important points. For 200 you can have a large 6.72 FHD+ IPS LCD (90Hz) and a large 5,000mAh battery with decently fast 33W charging (0-50% in 29 minutes). The Helio G88 and single 64MP camera are not quite impressive. The older Motorola Moto G82 and G42 are worth considering too. The G82 is a bit pricier than the Realme, but it has 5G connectivity (Snapdragon 695) and its 6.6 FHD+ display is a 120Hz AMOLED panel. Plus, you gen an 8MP ultra wide camera. The 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging is quite similar. The Moto G42 is smaller than its sibling with a 6.4 FHD+ AMOLED display (60Hz) and is a 4G phone due to the Snapdragon 680 chipset. The 50+8+2MP camera is similar (neither can record 4K video), while the 5,000mAh battery is knocked down to 18W charging. Still, this phone is 40% cheaper than ht G82. If you need a basic smartphone, the Xiaomi Redmi A2 fits the bill. Its around 100 and offers a large 5,000mAh battery (10W), has expandable storage and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The 2GB of RAM limit it to Android 12 Go edition, the 6.52 IPS LCD has HD+ resolution. Weve linked both the A2 and A2+ below, the only difference between them is that the plus has a fingerprint reader (whether thats worth the premium is up to you). Next up, a couple of cheap tablets from Lenovo. The Lenovo Tab M10 (3rd gen) has a 10.1 IPS LCD with 1,920 x 1,200px resolution. Compared to a similarly priced Amazon Fire HD 10, youre getting a better chipset and a more standard Android version (instead of Amazons highly customized version). There is also the Lenovo tab M10 Plus (3rd gen). This particular model has LTE connectivity on board, if thats something you need. It also packs a much better chipset and slightly better 10.61 IPS LCD (2,000 x 1,200px), plus a larger 7,700mAh/20W battery (compared to 5,100mAh/10W) than its non-plus sibling. The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 costs less than half what it did when it was new. That was 2 years ago, so it has been a while. Still, Samsung has committed to 4 years of OS updates, so the Watch4 is only halfway through its life cycle. If you prefer the newer model, there is also the Galaxy Watch5, but the 44mm model is nearly 90 more expensive. Also, the Watch5 wont be the new model for long, the Watch6 series is coming in a couple of months. India We wanted to start off with some premium offerings and spotted decent discounts for Apple phones. The older iPhone 13 in particular caught our eye, its 10,000 less than the iPhone 14. Of course, the new model is better, but the upgrades were quite minimal same chipset, except for the extra GPU core, and 2 extra gigs of RAM are the only changes worth mentioning. If you dont consider the vanilla models premium, check out the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which enjoy discounts of 10,000 and 12,000, respectively. The Max version is 8,000 more than the regular Pro and gets you a larger display (6.7 vs. 6.1) and larger battery (4,323mAh vs. 3,200mAh), but is otherwise identical. Okay, lets have a look at phones in the 20,000-30,000 range. The iQOO Z6 Pro is equipped with the Snapdragon 778G chipset, which is still one of the more powerful mid-range options. It drives a 6.44 FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED display and runs on a 4,700mAh battery with fast 66W charging (1-50% in 18 minutes). The OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite uses the Snapdragon 695 whose GPU is almost twice as slow in certain benchmarks compared to the 778G. You do get a larger display a 6.72 IPS LCD with 120Hz refresh rate and a slightly larger 5,000mAh battery (67W charging) for 4,000 less. Another member of the iQOO family, the Z6 Lite, brings the Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 to the party. Its less powerful than the 695, but the gap isnt as big as the one between the 695 and the 778G. This phone has a 6.58 IPS LCD (120Hz) and a 5,000mAh battery with 18W charging. For basically the same price, you can get the Samsung Galaxy M14 instead. It has a similar display (6.6 90Hz LCD) but brings a larger 6,000mAh battery (with 25W charging in India). It is powered by an Exynos 1330. The new Realme Narzo N55 is a 4G phone thats just above the 10,000 mark. It features a 6.72 90Hz IPS LCD with FHD+ resolution, a Helio G88 and a 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging (0-50% in 29 minutes). If you want to go under 10,000, theres the Lava Yuva 2 Pro. It does drop to an HD+ display (6.52 IPS LCD) and a Helio G37 chipset. Also, its 5,000mAh battery supports only 10W charging, not to mention that the camera has a 13MP sensor (vs. 50MP on the Narzo). We may get a commission from qualifying sales. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra remains the most popular phone in our database, a week after it went live. Clearly, it has captured peoples attention but most people arent rushing out the door to get one. Last weeks poll shows that despite its elite pedigree, the phone will have to prove itself in reviews. Is it really the camera king? Were in the process of finding out. Its predecessor, the 12S Ultra, earned a place in our hearts, but its limited availability made it a non-starter for most fans around the world. The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is different, it is a global phone, even if the company hasnt detailed its rollout plans yet. The new Ultra went on sale in China last week with a staring price of CNY 6,000 for a 12/256GB unit. Xiaomi hasnt revealed the global pricing yet either, but we can look at the 13 Pro for comparison the 12/256GB unit has an MSRP of CNY 5,000 in China and 1,300 in Germany. Solving for X reveals that the 13 Ultra should be around 1,560. Thats pricey, but can you really put a price on the photos you will take with the quad 50MP cameras? Of course, this isnt the only phone with Sonys 1 IMX989 sensor, so just over 40% of voters are waiting on detailed reviews to find out if the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is the beset phone to be entrusted with taking cherished family photos. A smaller contingent has already made up their minds and are just waiting on the phone to arrive in their region. As for the first group, they may not have much of a choice if they want a premiere camera phone the Oppo Find X6 Pro and vivo X90 Pro+ are not getting a global rollout and those are two of the chief rivals of the Ultra. Then there is the group that already knows that the Xiaomi 13 Ultra is not for them. For everyone else, stay tuned, our review will be out soon. vivo unveiled its first clamshell foldable last week, the vivo X Flip. It features a large 3 cover display and benefits from the companys refinements of hinge design. The second generation horizontal foldable, the vivo X Fold2 was announced as well and it brings a number of refinements (and some downgrades). The two foldables launched in China, vivo has not shared any plans to sell them in other markets for now. And if it does, will it offer both of them or will it do what Oppo did and only offer the Flip to a wider audience? We can only speculate for now and while were on the subject, do you feel that it would be a missed opportunity to not sell the X foldables globally? To put it another way, would you buy one if its available in your region? vivos new hinge design helped the X Fold2 slim down to 12.9mm when folded, down 1.7mm compared to the X Fold+, even though the unfolded thickness of the two is fairly similar (6.0mm and 6.3mm). The phone is 33g lighter to boot. The company also upgraded to the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and boosted wired charging to 120W (up from 80W), so a full charge takes 26 minutes instead of 35 minutes like on the old model (with comparable battery capacities of 4,800mAh and 4,730mAh). The X Fold+ had some of the best cameras on a foldable, the X Fold2 takes a step back in this respect. Gone is the 125mm periscope, replaced by a simple 47mm portrait cam (with only 12MP resolution its sensor doesnt offer much in the way of digital zoom). Also, the 48MP ultra wide camera was dropped in favor of a 12MP unit with a narrower field of view (16mm vs. 14mm). vivo did this for a reason the company addressed a key concern about foldables, namely the price. The X Fold+ base model (12/256GB) was CNY 10,000, the X Fold2 with the same memory configuration starts at CNY 9,000. But is that 10% discount really worth losing the excellent tele and ultra wide cameras? And is the price drop enough to entice people who wrote off foldables as too expensive? A quick look at the competition shows that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 also starts at CNY 9,000 for a 12/256GB model, while the Oppo Find N2 is cheaper at CNY 8,000 (for a 12/256GB model, CNY 9,000 gets you 16/512GB). Samsungs Galaxy Z Fold4 has the biggest footprint in terms of availability and goes for a hefty CNY 13,000 in China (12/256GB). Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 Oppo Find N2 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 With all that in mind, are you interested in getting the vivo X Fold2? The vivo X Flip has a cover display thats large enough to actually be usable (it can handle texting, maps, social networking apps and so on) and it features an LTPO panel for the main display, unlike a certain Galaxy. It uses the older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset and arrives with 50+12MP camera duo (basically the X Fold2 setup without the portrait lens). vivo used a waterdrop hinge, which is designed to hold the phone at different angles. The vivo X Flip starts at CNY 6,000 for a 12/256GB unit, doubling the storage is just a CNY 700 upgrade. An Oppo Find N2 Flip in a 12/256GB configuration goes for a bit more, CNY 6,400, a Galaxy Z Flip4 (8/256GB) is CNY 7,500, while the Motorola Razr 2022 (8/256GB) is cheaper at CNY 5,600. Oppo Find N2 Flip Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 Motorola Razr 2022 What do you think vivo X Flip, yay or nay? Sandy Yow and Duane Pahl are associated brokers with Todays Realty. They have decades of experience with all types of real estate issues on Guam and internationally. U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams supported the House Republicans' bill to slash federal funding by $4.8 trillion over the next 10 years and increase the debt limit. The Limit, Save, Grow Act narrowly passed the House by a 217-215 vote, with four Republicans joining 211 Democrats in opposing the bill. The legislation would repeal green energy tax credits, halt President Joe Biden's plan to cancel student loan debt and return government spending to 2022 levels. It would also claw back unspent COVID relief funds and defund the Internal Revenue Service's plan to hire more employees. Tenney, R-Canandaigua, explained that she supported the legislation because it raises the debt ceiling while "prioritizing responsible spending on bipartisan priorities." "It will lead to trillions in taxpayer savings over the next decade and enacts critical reforms that will enhance our economic prosperity," she said. Williams, R-Sennett, described the vote as a "Save The Union moment." "We have now passed the largest spending reduction in our nation's history," he said. "Our vote today signals to the American people that we are committed to confront critical issues head on, provide real solutions and work to retake our place on the world stage." One of the bill's provisions that Williams highlighted was the addition of work requirements for Medicaid and expanded work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Democrats criticized the legislation because they say it will lead to massive cuts to critical programs. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters last week that more than 2 million New Yorkers could lose Medicaid coverage because of the proposed work requirements. He panned other cuts in the bill, including the loss of funding that would support efforts to boost domestic semiconductor chip manufacturing. The bill won't advance in Congress Schumer says it is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. Even if it passed out of both houses, Biden said he would veto the legislation. But the bill does reflect where Republicans stand in the debate over raising the debt ceiling. If they are going to support any debt limit increase, they want spending cuts as part of that package. Schumer prefers a different approach: The passage of a clean debt ceiling hike, then negotiations over spending in the budget process. Other votes in the House this week: A resolution demanding the Chinese government to release Mark Swidan passed by a 418-0 vote. Tenney and Williams voted for the measure. Swidan, a U.S. citizen, has been held as a prisoner in China since 2012. He was charged with drug-related crimes and sentenced to death in 2019. A vast majority of House members passed a resolution calling for the expansion of the Abraham Accords agreements to normalize relations with Israel. Israel has agreements in place with Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates. The vote was 401-19, with Tenney and Williams supporting the resolution. The House passed the Advanced Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act, or ALERT Parity Act, by a 422-1 vote. The legislation requires the Federal Communications Commission to provide emergency communication services, such as 911 calls, in unserved areas. According to the bill's summary, the FCC would develop an approval process for companies to "access the electromagnetic spectrum in order to provide emergency services in unserved areas." The companies must show that they have a proposal to offer services and that their service would not be disrupted by natural disasters, such as hurricanes. Tenney and Williams voted for the bill. The Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act passed by a vote of 409-11. Tenney and Williams supported the bill's passage. The legislation would require the FCC to review rules for satellites that support precision agriculture. The House rejected a resolution to direct the president to remove U.S. armed forces from Somalia. While 102 members supported the resolution, 321 voted against it. Tenney and Williams opposed the measure. Tenney and Williams sided with most Republicans in passing a resolution that would end a U.S. Department of Commerce rule regarding duties on solar panels with Chinese-made parts. The vote was 221-202. The Commerce Department submitted a rule that suspends duties on solar panels from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam but use parts that are made in China. In June 2022, President Biden issued an unprecedented Emergency Declaration, which allowed Chinese solar product manufacturers to flood our economy with unfairly traded solar products with no additional tariffs for two years. Tenney, who cosponsored the resolution, worries that the rule will have a negative impact on U.S. jobs and industries. "We must overturn President Biden's harmful rule that allows Chinese solar manufacturers to skirt U.S. trade laws, harming American businesses and manufacturing workers," she said. Haiti - News : Zapping... Haitians stranded in Peru The President of Peru Dina Boluarte Zegarra, on April 26, 2023, declared a state of emergency at the borders and ordered to block migrants traveling from Chile (mainly from Haiti and Venezuela) trying to leave the country and have been stranded at the border for several weeks between Tacna (city in southern Peru) and Arica (city in northern Chile). Corruption : Search at the Town Hall of Ouanaminthe Following numerous denunciations of possible significant facts of corruption concerning the Town Hall of Ouanaminthe, sworn agents of the ULCC searched for nearly 5 hours the premises of the Town Hall and other public spaces related to the investigation. Cholera : UNICEF helping the population Since the resurgence of cholera in Haiti, UNICEF has distributed 6.8 million water treatment tablets, 341,000 soaps and 8,000 sachets of oral rehydration salts to the population and health facilities. Meeting between the PM and the President of Senegal "I had a very fruitful telephone conversation with the President of Senegal Macky Sall around the current situation in our country. I thank him and congratulate him for his support for the Haitian people and his appeal to the UN Security Council to accompany our police forces, with a view to restoring peace and security on the national territory," PM Ariel Henry Distribution of mosquito nets The Ministry of Public Health, via the Infectious and Communicable Diseases Coordination Unit, will launch the major 2023 Campaign for the mass distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated mosquito nets. This 2023 campaign targets : 86 municipal sections in 37 municipalities in 7 geographical departments. Embassy of Canada closed The Embassy of Canada in Haiti will be closed on Monday, May 1, 2023 due to Labor and Agriculture Day. Activities will resume on Tuesday, May 2. In case of consular emergency, contact : toll free at 1-613-996-8885 sos@international.gc.ca HL/ HaitiLibre 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 More than 3,000 guns were collected, including hundreds in Syracuse, during a statewide firearms buyback program Saturday. The New York State Attorney General's Office said that 751 firearms were turned in at a community gun buyback event hosted by that office and the Syracuse Police Department. That event the largest gun buyback hosted in Central New York was one of nine simultaneous events on the same day in communities throughout the state. The statewide collection of more than 3,000 guns included 185 assault rifles, 1,656 handguns and 823 long guns. Guns collected from the Syracuse event included 36 assault rifles, 447 handguns and 215 long guns. Gun violence has caused so many avoidable tragedies and robbed us of so many innocent New Yorkers, Attorney General Letitia James said in a news release. Through our partnership with local law enforcement and public officials, we were able to organize this historic, single-day gun buyback event in nine locations throughout New York state. Every gun that we removed out of Syracuse homes and off the streets is a potential tragedy averted and another step in protecting communities throughout New York state. We're a family of seven living in Georgia where Andrew's working as a professor at GSU. You can read more about us here You dont have to be George or Jane Jetson to have a robot to wait on you anymore. Next time you order a beer or a coffee at Billings Logan International Airport, an autonomous server might be the one bringing it to you. Of course, they arent quite as sophisticated or as charismatic as Rosey, the classic cartoon familys robot maid. But the high-tech helpers now being rolled out as part of the citys $55 million terminal expansion are getting closer to what was only imagined in the futuristic world of the Jetsons when it first aired in 1962. Among the offerings the robots will be serving are local craft beers, cocktails and espresso drinks from the new airport bar, Skyward Brews, and the recently opened Mountain Mudd coffee stand. The food court is now up and running too. Logans Diner, Cinnabon and Stacked, A Montana Grill started serving passengers last week. The new restaurant options are a welcome change for hungry travelers. For years, the airport had only a small concession counter with a limited selection of snacks and beverages available for those waiting to board flights after passing through security screening. Sky blu Gifts has reopened and is now selling souvenirs and a variety of Montana-made products in its new spot just beyond the screening checkpoint. In addition to the new shopping, dining and drinking options, travelers can now wait for flights in the wide-open "great room" that features a fireplace and a wall of windows that look out onto the runways. They can pursue the new art displays, perhaps even take a selfie in front of BILs latest claim to fame, the worlds largest belt buckle. The improvements also include free wifi throughout the terminal and extra charging spots were added so passengers can plug in their devices next to seats at the bar and coffee shop and along the external walls of the concourses. The new A concourse is up and running with four new gates. Each is now served by a jetbridge, eliminating the need for passengers to have to go down stairs, walk outside across the tarmac and up the aircraft stairs during routine boarding. Short hops around Montana will be the exception. Cape Air will continue ground loading its nine-passenger airplanes. It is now operating flights from the nearly complete C concourse to Sidney, Havre, Glasgow, Wolf Point and Glendive. Construction is still underway on the B concourse, which will house four gates. When it opens in 2024, the airport will have three more jetbridge gates than before the expansion. Thats a significant increase in capacity, Billings Aviation and Transit Director Jeff Roach said. The expansion will allow more flights and make room for United, American, Delta, Alaska and Allegiant to each operate out of separate gates. Several airlines are already adding flights and new destinations this summer. American plans to start daily direct service to Chicago O'Hare International Airport but is dropping flights to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Allegiant, however, will continue flying to the citys Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport three times a week. The low-cost carrier is also adding one weekly flight to Las Vegas to the two currently offered. United is picking up a fourth daily flight to Denver. And Alaska is resuming its seasonal service to Portland on Saturdays from June 17 to Sept. 2. Airport officials are working to add flights to either Los Angeles or San Francisco next. Those are the top two markets the community feels its important to get into, Roach said. He and his team hope to get a federal grant from the Small Community Air Service Development Program to help Billings add future destinations. After California, they plan to focus on cities, such as Nashville, Orlando, Houston and Miami. This summer, Roach said, he expects to see lower airfares, based on a number of factors in the industry, including fuel prices and availability. Billings will have lower prices and better connection times on many flights, than other Montana airports, he said. It really depends on your destination and timing. With passenger counts continuing to rise, Roach expects the airport to be slightly busier this summer than it was last year. From March 2022 to March 2023, Billings saw an 11 percent increase in the number of departures. Arrivals were up almost 20 percent during the one-year period. There are three peak travel times that on busy days can cause the security line to stretch out the door, leaving passengers waiting on the sidewalk in front of the terminal. The busiest time is early in the morning when planes that remain on the tarmac overnight depart, Roach said. Thats when the line will back up, he said. Lunchtime and evening rush hour between 5 to 6 p.m. are also peak times. The airport has no control on how many screening lanes are open at any given time. The federal Transportation Security Administration sets the schedule and staff for its screening checkpoint. But the newly upgraded security area includes extra space in case TSA decides it's needed, Roach said. Cindy Metzger said she was happy to see the changes at BIL when she passed through on her way to Orlando a couple of weeks ago. Metzger worked at the airport as a customer service agent for Horizon Air for more than 25 years before becoming a flight attendant in 2007. She then commuted from Billings, using her employee benefits to fly standby to work out of the airliness Seattle base, until she retired in 2012. That meant Metzger had to go to the airport well before her scheduled trip and wait for a flight with an empty seat. That sometimes took more than a couple of tries, especially around the holidays and during the busy summer travel season. So she spent a lot of time stuck at the airport with little to do other than wait. Wait and hope the next plane wouldnt go out full, too. The added amenities sure would have made it easier to pass the time during her commuting days. The free wifi would have been nice, Metzger said. The jetways are great for passengers not having to walk outside. The food options will definitely be nice as before there wasnt much after you passed through security. As for BILs next destination, Metzger said, she'd personally prefer San Francisco over Los Angeles since it would sometimes make travel easier for her family. But, a flight to either of the two California cities, both major hubs for international travel, would benefit Billings travelers. Construction crews will continue working on terminal renovations through the summer. They expect to finish remodeling the bathrooms near baggage claim by Memorial Day, the start of the busy air travel season. The new staircase from the gates to the baggage claim area is scheduled to be complete this fall Improvements are underway outside the terminal, too. In the airfield, concrete pads are going in to allow additional parking for airlines and freight carriers. A new road for services such as fueling, deicing and moving aircraft is also being built, among other upgrades. The money for the construction, which started in 2019, comes from federal grants and revenue generated through airport fees, tenant charges and bond financing. Airport officials are now looking for ways to pay for future projects, such as updating the area around the ticket counters and baggage claim carousels and to refresh the front of the airport where passengers are dropped off and picked up. I'm actually pretty impressed that they stood up the new terminal as quickly as they did, Baldassare Adam Lucido, director of global sales for United Airlines, said. They did a pretty good job. Lucido started his career in 2006 as a ground and customer service agent at BIL. He now works at the legacy carriers headquarters in Chicago but still follows happenings at BIL closely. I've been frustrated by the airport's lack of vision and aggressiveness in growing their market profile, Lucido, an MSU-B graduate and former student body president, said. They need to be more aggressive like Bozeman is. Billings has more business travel demand. That segment of the market is making a slow climb back from the nosedive it took after COVID-19 shut down activities across the country. Lucido said business travel is now at about 90 percent of what it was before the pandemic in most sectors. Pilot shortages have added recent challenges for BIL and many of the regional airlines that serve the city. Lucido said the airport has been struggling with schedules because large carriers, such as United, Delta and American, were gobbling up regional pilot pools and had to reduce flying to many smaller cities. Last year, United cut two flights from the daily schedule that served Billings for more than a decade. But, Lucido said, that trend is finally starting to turn around. This summers schedule brings United back to four of the six daily flights it previously operated from Billings during the peak travel season. And the Chicago service is a godsend, said Lucido, noting that hed, of course, prefer the flight to be provided by United instead of its competitor American Airlines. He and his wife, Lindsey, grew up in Forsyth and each started their respective careers in the airline business in Billings. BIL can do much better, Lucido said. But the airport can only be as strong as the community and community vision. Airport officials are now planning for future needs and looking for ways to pay for additional improvements, said Roach, who moved from Nashville to start his job as Billings airport director in January. This fall, they'll be kicking off a two-year planning process to prepare the airport for the future. Roach said the community will have plenty of chances to weigh in during the public process. Thatll be the next big project we do for the long term, he said. Were trying to be the best service provider for the regions transportation needs. The summer is upon us, and there is no better way to beat the heat than getting a steal deal on your favourite AC model at the upcoming Samsung Fab Grab Fest. The good news is that the shopping extravaganza is going to start very, very soon! So, whether you are looking to upgrade to a new side by side refrigerator to stock up on summer coolers or a split AC to beat the scorching heat, or a brand new washing machine to take away those laundry woes, or even better, a specially curated combo offer for the bestselling flagship Samsung smartphone + an accessory (get extra 5% off above all offers). You can get all these offers and much more at the Samsung Fab Grab Fest at unbelievable prices. The Samsung Shop App Advantage Wondering why samsung.com is the best destination for you? As part of the upcoming Samsung Fab Grab Fest, you save more when you buy more! On purchasing two or more products you will get up to 10% additional Buy More Save More discount on the final bill. In addition to the special sale pricing, for the first time Samsung is offering loyalty points up to 3% on your purchase value. You can also avail Welcome voucher discount up to 5000 on Samsung Shop App and bank cashback up to 20% on debit and credit cards of leading banks like HDFC, ICICI, etc. Over and above all of these advantages, get additional 10% discount on Samsung Axis Bank Credit Card. Samsung is also promising the highest exchange value when you trade in your old products like smartphones or tablets for a brand new product at the Samsung Fab Grab Fest. Where else would you get all these benefits? Now, lets take a look at what is in store. Smartphones, tablets and smart wearables For those looking to upgrade their smartphone, Samsung will be introducing a range of combo offers on best-selling smartphone models in all price segments right from the popular Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S21 FE 5G, Galaxy S20 FE 5G (starting 24999), Galaxy Z Flip3 (starting 42999), the Galaxy F14 5G (starting 11640) or the Galaxy M33 5G (starting 14149) Smartphone users can enhance their Samsung ecosystem experience with limited time offers on Galaxy Watch4 (starting 9990) or Galaxy Tab S6 Lite (starting 22999) Consumer durables Theres more in store for you with the Samsung Shop App. Its got your back with unbelievable deals on a plethora of products. You can expect special offers and limited time deals running on a wide range of home appliances, a category in which Samsung is a household name in India. For instance, you can bring home a Samsung 55" (38 cm) QLED TV for under 72,000 or a WindFree Split AC for under 35,000, a 6.5 kg top load washing machine for about 15,000, even a 633L side by side refrigerator at a very special deal at the Samsung Fab Grab Fest. Sounds unreal, doesnt it? TVs, monitors, laptops and projectors You thought that was all? The Fab Grab Fest has something for everyone with immersive TVs, smart monitors and the most sold-out product Samsung Freestyle Projector, will be available at mind-blowing deals. Be it your binge sessions, study assignments or the unending meetings, students and working professionals are in for a treat with the Galaxy Book2 series of high-performing laptops, which will be available for less than 60,000. Select deals live now! Sale starts 4th May Although, this bumper sale goes live from 4th May 2023, there are select mind-blowing deals available to grab now. Head over to samsung.com or Samsung Shop App today to grab these deals or get notified to be the first one to know about the upcoming offers. So, welcome the summer break by treating yourself to the biggest summer sale. Make sure you free up your calendar to access the limited-time deals on some of Samsungs best-sellers before anyone else. This is truly a game of fastest-finger-first! Hurry! Head over to samsung.com or Samsung Shop App now! Disclaimer: This article has been produced on behalf of Samsung by HT Brand Studio. Tata Sons Chairman Ratan Tata was awarded with Australias highest civilian honour while, the government named Siddhartha Mohanty as the first chief executive of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). This and more in our weekly wrap of the top business stories that made headlines: Ratan Tata and EPF logo.(Agencies) Titan of biz: Ratan Tata awarded Australia's highest civilian honour Tata Sons' Chairman Emeritus Ratan Tata has been conferred with Australias highest civilian honour, the countrys High Commissioner to India Barry OFarrell announced on Twitter. The Order of Australia (AO) award was presented for the industrialists efforts in strengthening the India-Australia bilateral relations. Read more EPFO's e-passbook facility down, users express concern on Twitter The e-passbook service facility of the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has been down for many subscribers for the past few days who shared their ordeal on social media. Read more BYJU's CEO Raveendran's offices searched by ED over FEMA violations The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday carried out searches at the three premises of Byju Raveendran, the founder and chief executive officer of Think and Learn Private Ltd' that runs edtech platform under the name of BYJU's. Read more Jet Airways CEO-designate Sanjiv Kapoor resigns Sanjiv Kapoor, the CEO-designate of the grounded airline Jet Airways, has resigned from the company. Kapoor will leave the company on Monday, said Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC), which is all set to takeover ownership of the airlines. Read more LIC names Siddhartha Mohanty as its first CEO; why chairman post discontinued? The government has named Siddhartha Mohanty as the first chief executive of the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for the term beginning in June 2024 to June 2025. Read more Centres PLI spend 3,000 cr so far, attracts 53,500 cr investment, 3 lakh jobs The 1.97 lakh crore production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, which was launched initially with three sectors in March 2020 and subsequently extended to 11 others, has so far attracted 53,500 crore of investment, generated 3 lakh jobs. Read more Income of 'less-skilled' Indians in US improving? Study observes 500% jump 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. Read more The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its decision to send its leaders for campaigning in the Maratha belt of Karnataka for the assembly elections scheduled on May 10, despite an appeal from the pro-Maharashtra organisation Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) to not campaign in the bordering region for the upcoming polls, leaders close to developments said on Sunday. The BJP has announced its decision to send its leaders for campaigning in the Maratha belt of Karnataka for the assembly elections. (Agencies) According to the leaders, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis have confirmed their campaign dates for the BJP this week. A few other BJP leaders from the southern part of Maharashtra, adjoining the northern part of Karnataka, will also campaign for the party, they added. In contrast, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and both the factions of Shiv Sena have not yet responded to the MESs request to deploy leaders to campaign for it in the election. MES, which lost all the seats it contested in the 2018 assembly elections, will contest six constituencies, hoping to win the Belagavi South and Khanapur seats. According to leaders privy to developments, the MES had appealed to the all political partiesnot to assign any leaders for campaigning in Karnataka, as politicians in Maharashtra, mainly those from the southern region, have more influence on Marathas in Karnataka. Recently, a delegation of MES leaders met Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis, and Gadkari. The delegation appealed to them not to assign anyone for the campaign for BJP as it could affect the MES poll prospects. While the organisation also requested Shiv Sena former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray to campaign for it along with his team in the election, the Shiv Sena factions and the BJP have not assured, the above-cited leaders said. The MES also appealed to NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who has fielded his party candidates in a few constituencies and has agreed to campaign for MES in the constituencies where the party is not contesting. NCP has not fielded in Belagavi South, north and Khanapur constituencies, where the MES hopes to win. MES spokesman Vikas Kalghatagi told HT that Marathas who supported BJP in the last two elections are turning back on the organisation for which there is a ray of hope of winning the election. Maharashtra ruling party leaders, including CM Shinde, assured us of not interfering in the Karnataka election, and former CM Uddhav Thackeray promised of sending his party leaders to campaign for MES. However, unfortunately, Maharashtra BJP is standing with the party instead its linguistics in Karnataka, Kalghatagi said. Belagavi district BJP (rural) president Sanjay Patil, who represented the Belagavi Rural constituency twice in 2008 and 2013, told HT that retaining the power is important to the party, for which it invited leaders from Maharashtra to campaign in Maratha belts in the state. Winning one-two seat would not impact Maharashtra in its border dispute case at Supreme Court, for which Marathas in Maharashtra need not be worried, he said. After deliberating for nearly two hours on Friday, a conference committee accepted the majority of an amendment brought for a bill that would codify parts of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act into state law. Known as ICWA, the Indian Child Welfare Act determines how Native children are put in foster or adoptive homes, prioritizing family and tribal placements. The federal law was enacted in 1978 in response to decades of state child welfare and private adoption agencies separating Native children from their families. House Bill 317, which has received strong public support in its committee hearings, comes as the federal ICWA is under threat. The federal Supreme Court in July will issue a ruling on a case that challenges ICWAs constitutionality. The bill passed out of the House and Senate but with different amendments, so it was heard in the conference committee as a form of reconciliation. The amendments approved by the committee will then move to the floor where they can be concurred. Committee action The committee on Friday was tasked with reviewing an amendment proposed by Rep. Jonathan Windy Boy, D-Box Elder, who also sponsored the original bill. While the committee approved most sections in the amendment, there were three main areas of contention. First, the amendment contains a section about the determination of Indian status, instructing courts to treat the child as an Indian child, unless and until it is determined on the record that the child does not meet the definition of an Indian child. Opponents of this section argued it would delay processes and leave children in limbo, but supporters argued the opposite, saying treating a child as if they are Native actually saves time and streamlines processes. On the contrary, supporters said if a child is treated as non-Native and later found to be Native, the process of undoing that work could delay placements. This section also included language saying that tribes must verify a childs membership status. Windy Boy argued that as sovereign nations, tribes determine their own membership and said it is not the business of the state to do so. The committee ultimately voted to remove this section of Windy Boys amendment from the bill, and after the vote, Windy Boy, half-jokingly said, See you in court, alluding to his comments on tribal sovereignty. Second, Windy Boys amendment also removed a section calling for contingent voidness. That section stated that only if the federal court strikes ICWA down in its entirety would the Montana ICWA become law for two years. Windy Boy and others argued that the U.S. Supreme Court is not challenging ICWA in its entirety, so it would therefore be unlikely for the court to strike down the law in its fullness. The committee voted to remove the contingent void section from the bill, without much further discussion. Finally, Windy Boys amendment also got rid of a termination date that would sunset the legislation in June 2025. Supporters of the amendment said the bill is meant to keep Native children safe, arguing it should not terminate in two years. Others said that the termination date makes sense because the Legislature will likely need to revisit the law after the Supreme Court issues a ruling. Sen. Jason Small, R-Busby, said he feared the termination date could put some cases into limbo, if the legislation terminated as cases were ongoing. He said he would prefer if the bill required a revisitation in 2025, not a termination. The committee ultimately voted to keep the 2025 termination date in the bill. Ahead of Karnataka assembly elections, PM Modi set foot in the southern state to campaign for the BJP which is aiming to retain the power. Today was his second day of his ninth visit to Karnataka. He held multiple public meetings and a road show. He also addressed the crowd in three public meetings on Sunday which were scheduled at Kolar, Channapatna and Belur. He held a road show at Karnataka's Mysuru on Sunday evening. On Saturday, PM Modi held a 5.6-kilometer road show in north Bengaluru . He covered Magadi Road, Nice junction and Sumanahalli in the city and huge number of supporters were seen on both sides of the road. Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency, also known as RR Nagar, is one of the largest in Bengaluru, with over 400,000 voters and 14 wards. Rajarajeshwari Nagar constituency, also known as RR Nagar, is one of the largest in Bengaluru, with over 400,000 voters (Agencies) As such, it is a key constituency to watch in the upcoming assembly elections in Karnataka where the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Munirathna, who has won three times from the constituency, will be seeking re-election on May 10. He faces tough competition from Congresss Kusuma H. Although the JD(S) has fielded Narayanaswamy and Anantha Subhash Chandra is contesting from AAP, the main battle is likely to be between Munirathna and Kusuma. Munirathna is the horticulture minister in the current BJP government, led by Basavaraj Bommai, and was a film producer before entering politics. He was originally elected as an MLA in 2013 and again in 2018 as a member of the Congress. However, in 2019 he joined the BJP, which caused controversy as he was accused of election malpractice during his Congress days. The BJP leader has also been in the thick of several controversies. In 2018, Munirathna was accused of alleged voter ID card irregularities. The Election Commission had raided an apartment and seized over 9,000 voter ID cards of the people from the constituency. Munirathna was in Congress then, and the BJP had accused him of indulging in election malpractice. Munirathna was among the 17 MLAs from the JD(S) and Congress to resign their assembly membership and cross over to the BJP to help the party form the government in 2019. Munirathna won the by-election in 2020 on a BJP ticket with a large margin of 58,000 votes, against Kusuma, breaking his previous record of winning the 2018 assembly election with a gap of 28,000 votes. However, he has also faced controversy, including allegations of demanding bribes from contractors and distributing sarees to voters in violation of the model code of conduct. He was also booked for alleged hate speech against Christians in April this year. Meanwhile, Kusuma H is contesting on a Congress ticket from the constituency and has been campaigning vigorously after losing the by-elections to Munirathna in 2020. Kusuma, a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, is an assistant professor at Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bengaluru. She and her father Hanumantharayappawere previously in the JD(S) before switching to Congress in 2020. She is also the wife of late IAS officer DK Ravi, who reportedly died by suicide in 2016. RR Nagar, which has a mixed demography, has been in the news for various civic issues. While it is among the fastest-growing areas of the city, narrow roads and congested junctions continue to affect the residents. The Outer Ring Road that goes through the area is used by thousands of commuters, resulting in several choke points. Last year, heavy rains, which brought Bengaluru to a standstill, caused floods in the constituency, and the residents complained of delayed response by the BBMP officials to their distress calls. It had also triggered a minor landslide in the area. In March this year, residents and activists were up in arms following reports of a road built through the Hosakerehalli Lake in Rajarajeshwari Nagar to allegedly benefit a real estate project coming up nearby. However, the BBMP officials and Munirathna had stated that no permanent road was being built inside the lake. With various civic issues plaguing the constituency and a stiff fight likely between Munirathna and Kusuma, RR Nagar, with 14 wards, is an important constituency to watch out for in the upcoming Assembly elections. With 36.3 mm of rain this month, this April was the wettest since April 2020 as per the India meteorological department (IMD) data. Due to above normal western disturbances in the region, May is also expected to have a wet start with chances of rain till Thursday as per the IMD. A family enjoys an outing in Chandigarh on Sunday (Keshav Singh/HT) Almost 36.3 mm rain was in excess of the 13.4 mm rain that is expected this month. It was 171% above normal as per the officials. This is the highest since 2020 when 43.1 mm rain was recorded in the entire month. Its much higher than last year when only 0.1 mm rain was recorded in the entire month. IMD Chandigarh director Manmohan Singh said, We had above normal western disturbances which affected the region this year. There is no single reason why we had multiple western disturbances this month, but it can be attributed to factors, including global warming, as well, he said. The average maximum temperature of the entire month at 33.1C was also significantly lower than in 2022 when it was at 38.5C, the highest in 13 years. Rain is likely in the city from Monday onwards and can continue till Thursday. Manmohan Singh added, This is also an offshoot result of global warming as May is supposed to be one of the driest months in the city. We are expecting a good amount of rain as two western disturbances are already active in the region and a third western disturbance will affect the city from Monday. The maximum temperature is likely to take a hit and can fall down to 25C by Monday. The rain is likely to stop by Friday and the temperature will start to rise again. Due to strong winds going up to 40km/h, the maximum temperature fell from 34C on Saturday to 30.9C on Sunday, 6 degrees below normal. Minimum temperature went down slightly from 21.9C on Saturday to 21.6C on Sunday, 0.8 degrees below normal. In the next three days, the maximum temperature will remain between 25C and 26C while the minimum temperature will remain between 20C and 22C. Chief minister Bhagwant Mann has condemned Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami campaigning for SAD-BSP candidate for the upcoming Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. In a tweet, Mann said, Is it right for the SGPC president to campaign in favour candidate of a political party, who is accused of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib? Isnt it playing with religious sentiments of the people? Mann asked how far it was justified that Harjinder Singh Dhami, the president of SGPC campaigned for the SAD. (HT File Photo) Mann in his tweet was apparently referring to the incidents related to the theft of a bir (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib, putting up handwritten sacrilegious posters, and torn pages of the holy book being found scattered in Bargari village of Faridkot during the SAD-BJP rule in the state in 2015. The bypoll is scheduled to be held on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13. Mann asked how far it was justified that Harjinder Singh Dhami, the president of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, an apex gurdwara body, campaigned for the SAD. Dhami, along with the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders and Bahujan Samaj Party leaders, campaigned in favour of their candidate Sukhwinder Kumar Sukhi in Adampur in Jalandhar. The bypoll was necessitated due to the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. Meanwhile, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami in a statement reacted strongly to Manns statement. Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, you have no right to talk about the matters of beadi (sacrilege) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Chief Minister, how can you exonerate yourself from recent Morinda sacrilege incident? Many more sacrilege incidents took place during your government. These incidents hurt every Sikh, they should not take place. But playing politics on sacrilege is also a crime. It is the constitutional right of everyone to campaign for their party, which the chief minister of Delhi is also using by coming here. Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, you should think about the concerns, rights and interests of Punjab, from which you are turning your back, said Dhami. As many former international students from India face possible deportation from Canada in a case related to fake documentation, Canadian authorities have issued their first removal order in this regard. The majority of affected students were represented by the agent Brijesh Mishra of the Jalandhar-based counselling firm EMSA Education and Migration Services Australia. (REUTERS file photo) Karamjeet Kaur, based in the city of Edmonton in the province of Alberta, received the removal order from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) on April 24, after exhausting her legal options in challenging potential deportation. Kaur, originally from Faridkot in Punjab, was sent an air ticket for New Delhi, via Toronto, for May 29. Kaur, who arrived in Canada in 2018, described the official action as unfair and said that she was not a criminal. Kaur is among a group of several such former students. There are at least 30 other such students facing removal proceedings, though that hasnt escalated to the final order being passed, as yet. Another 130 or so cases are being investigated. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020. They started receiving notices from the CBSA in 2021 and last year, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake. The majority of affected students were represented by the agent Brijesh Mishra of the Jalandhar-based counselling firm EMSA Education and Migration Services Australia. The ex-students said they were being victimised for no fault of theirs. In an open letter under the banner of Victim Students released in March, they said, We are desperate for justice; we are victims of fraud; we have no criminal level but facing a removal order. No one can understand our anguish when we learned for the first time through CBSA that the offer was fake, and we have been dying and struggling ever since, the letter added. The letter to Kaur stated the removal order had now become enforceable and the foreign national against whom it was made must leave Canada immediately. Some of the impacted students have joined together and staged protests to bring attention to their plight, seeking some leniency from the Government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They are planning another such demonstration in Toronto this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two Haryana residents registered their place prominently in Prime Minister Narendra Modis landmark 100th Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast on Sunday. PM Modi interacted with Sunil Jaglan, who has made a mark for himself through his inspiring Selfie with Daughter campaign, and Pradeep Sangwan (in picture), who has founded Healing Himalayas, an NGO that lifts trash thrown at various altitudes of mountains. (Instagram/pradeep_sangwan_) PM Modi interacted with Sunil Jaglan, who has made a mark for himself through his inspiring Selfie with Daughter campaign, and Pradeep Sangwan, who has founded Healing Himalayas, an NGO that lifts trash thrown at various altitudes of mountains. Jaglan is a resident of Bibipur village of Jind district and Sangwan hails from Charkhi Dadri. As the Mann Ki Baat episode began, Jaglan had the opportunity to speak with PM regarding his Save the Girl Child campaign. During the conversation, PM Modi applauded Jaglan for his unique initiative and referred to Haryanas gender ratio and Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign. Modi said Jaglans Selfie with Daughter was not about technology or anything else, but about daughters. Under his campaign, Jaglan urges people to take photographs with their daughters and upload them on social media platforms. Inspired by Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, Jaglan has been working for women empowerment with a focus on female foeticide. Modi appreciated Sangwan for his drives in the Himalayas and said as a result of this campaign, awareness has been generated and now mountaineers are also posting photos related to cleanliness. Sangwan informed the PM that the turning point came when in 2020, his campaign was mentioned in Mann Ki Baat. He said that earlier, he could complete six to seven cleanliness drives in a year, but now he has been collecting five tonnes of garbage every day from various places. Awareness about cleanliness has increased among the people, who are coming forward and joining this campaign, he added. In previous episodes too, PM Modi has lavishly applauded achievements of Haryanas sportspersons, progressive farmers and personalities doing outstanding work in the society. Meanwhile, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat became special for entire Haryana when PM Modi specially mentioned the efforts of two Haryanvis. It is a matter of pride for entire Haryana that in todays episode, PM Modi lauded the efforts of Jaglan and Sangwan. He appreciated the efforts of both the citizens, which would not only inspire the Haryanvis, but also the people of other states, the chief minister said. In Haryana, more than 10 lakh people listened to Mann Ki Baat, while across the country, the programme recorded viewership of three crore people, he added. The Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway was closed near Bajpur Chada Near Govind Ghat in Chamoli district due to heavy mud and boulder falls resulting in road blockage for the traffic leaving the pilgrims stranded on both sides of the road for several hours on Sunday. Heavy mud and boulder falls resulted in road blockage for the traffic leaving the pilgrims stranded on both sides of the road for several hours. (HT Photo/Rajeev Kala) The district administration stopped pilgrims from moving towards Badrinath shrine in the wake of the landslide at Srinagar, said officials. NK Joshi, district disaster management authority officer Chamoli said, The road was closed for traffic early morning on Sunday and disaster management teams along with the public works department (PWD) reached the site with JCB machines to remove the huge boulders and mud debris. The pilgrim movement has been halted at Srinagar till the road is not cleared of debris and it is safe to continue with the Yatra. Surjan Singh, a resident of Chamoli, said The road is closed in three places on Badrinath Highway near Bajpur, Sahia Pul, and Pinaula and it could take more than five hours to clear the road of mud debris and open it for traffic. The pilgrims on their way to Badrinath shrine and those returning from the shrine were stuck at the spot of the incident and had to wait for several hours and long queues were observed at the landslide incident spot. The district police officials said that the pilgrim vehicles were halted for a brief period to avoid long queues of pilgrim vehicles towards Badrinath at Srinagar as a precautionary measure. DP Kala, district disaster management authority officer Pauri said, The traffic was slowed down at Srinagar to avoid long queues for a brief period but now the pilgrim vehicular movement has been restored by the Police department at Srinagar. In view of the inclement weather alert by India Meteorological Department (IMD) Dehradun on Saturday, the state government extended the stopping of the Char Dham yatra registration process till May 3 for Kedarnath shrine. Meanwhile, at Kedarnath, the fresh spell of snow and rain has hampered the snow-clearing work and the pilgrims were being asked to move with caution towards Kedarnath from Gaurikund. NS Rajwar, district disaster management authority officer Rudraprayag said, In view of the fresh spell of snow we have increased the number of workers from 34 to 30 to clear the snow and the pilgrims are being advised to move cautiously, especially near the Bhairav glacier area. Over 8,000 pilgrims had visited the Kedarnath shrine till noon, said NS Rajwar. IMD Dehradun has sounded a yellow alert with a forecast for five days of light to moderate rain, thunderstorms and snowfall accompanied by gusty winds, and squall likely to occur in many places. The IMD forecast also said that snowfall is likely to occur at many places over 3,500 metres. A Delhi court on Saturday convicted Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Seelampur Abdul Rehman and his wife Asma under charges of assaulting and criminally intimidating a school principal in Delhi in 2010. AAP MLA from Seelampur Abdul Rehman. (HT Archive) Additional chief metropolitan magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal convicted the two accused in a case registered against them in 2010 under sections 353/506 (Para II) r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (use of assault to deter public servants from discharging his duty, criminal intimidation and acts done in furtherance of common intention). Asma was additionally convicted in charges under section 332 of the IPC (voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his or her duty). The AAP MLA and his wife face a maximum jail term of seven years. According to rules, if the MLA is sentenced for the more than two years, he will be disqualified from the membership of Delhi legislative assembly. Also Read: Mukhtar Ansari convicted in kidnapping, murder case, gets 10-year jail term According to the prosecution, Asma had slapped school principal Razia Begum for denying permission to her daughter to commute to the school by a scooter, and failing to make provisions for safe parking of the vehicle. Begum also alleged that Rehman, along with a few other persons, had barged into the school and threatened to kill her, and abused her with an intention to outrage her modesty. Rehman said the charges against him are false. I will move higher court if necessary, he said. The lawyers for the MLA and his wife had argued that no medico-legal certificate (MLC) was placed on record to substantiate the allegations made by Razia Begum. They contended that there was a delay of one day in filing the First Information Report, which also lays ground to disbelieve the prosecutions story. The lawyers also noted that all the witnesses have turned hostile. However, the court noted that since all other witnesses were government servants they might have found it difficult to depose against an MLA, but there is no embargo that the case cannot be believed based on the testimony of sole witness (Razia Begum). It also rejected the other two arguments while convicting the two accused. The court will now hear the case on May 3. Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena took a motorboat ride through the 11-km stretch of the Yamuna River on Sunday and inspected the cleaning works at significant points such as Garhi Mandu, ISBT, Loha Pul, and Asita West, which are being carried out under the first phase of the rivers cleaning operation, which is being monitored by a high-level committee (HLC) formed by the National Green Tribunal. Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena inspects and reviews Phase 1 of the HLC-monitored Yamuna Rejuvenation Project in New Delhi on Sunday. (HT Photo) Reiterating that the ghats and flood plains will be cleaned by June 30 this year, Saxena, HLCs ex-officio chairman, said that a significant improvement in various parameters in the Yamuna has already occurred, with the removal of 1,200 metric tonnes of garbage from the river since work in this regard began on February 12 this year. The results are so encouraging that we hope to provide Chhath devotees with clean and safe ghats this year. The second phase will begin on Monday, focusing on transformation via Yamuna bank cleaning and midstream muck desilting. The cleaning of the Najafgarh drain has also produced the desired results, with the drains Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) level consistently declining. The BOD levels in the Yamuna at ISBT are also reflecting this. Therefore, we need to stabilise the BOD while also lowering it, said Saxena. He added that the participation of society at large, including industry, students, pujaris, residents, and government agencies, had made a positive difference. Testimony to the exercise was seen on Sunday when 30 motorboats cruised through the river simultaneously for 11 km. As a result, works on floodplain restoration, drain trapping, sewage line desilting, and the construction of STPs and DSTPs, among other things, are proceeding on schedule, he said. According to Saxena, Delhi currently generates 768 million gallons of sewage per day (MGD), of which only 580 MGD (75.5%) is treated. We need to treat 727 MGD (95%) of sewage by June of this year, with a total treatment capacity of 814 MGD by December 2023 and 964.5 MGD by June of next year. This committee is monitoring the construction of three new STPs at Okhla, Delhi Gate, and Sonia Vihar, as well as the construction of 40 new DSTPs at various locations and rehabilitating three existing STPs, and the upgrading of 18 existing STPs. We also allotted land for this purpose in less than a month, pending for the previous eight years, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Days after the lieutenant governor VK Saxena sought a report on the renovation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwals residence, Public Works Department (PWD) minister Atishi on Sunday shot back and wrote a letter addressed to the LG, alleging that his action is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Delhi PDF minister Atishi said she is primarily responsible for all government business related to PWD, and the LGs letter bypasses the minister concerned. (PTI) The minister said she is primarily responsible for all government business related to PWD, and the LGs letter bypasses the minister concerned. She requested the LG to withdraw his communication to the chief secretary, adding that she hopes that the elected government will not be forced to approach the court once again in view of your (the LGs) actions. The LG hit back, saying that he has issued the orders using his constitutional power. Also Read: Delhi LG Saxena on AAPs claims: My house is open for all As per Rule 4(2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules, 1993 (ToBR), I find myself compelled by my constitutional duty to the people of Delhi in whose name I hold my mandate, to write to you regarding my concerns with the unconstitutional and undemocratic nature of your communication dated April 27, 2023, Atishis letter said. The controversy pertains to the 44.78 crore spent by PWD on renovations at the CMs official residence at Civil Lines. HT reported on Saturday that the details of the expenditure might be examined by authorities to check if the expenditure was in violation of the rules. Though the details of the expenditure were sought from PWD, the official who spoke to HT did not reveal which agency sought the details. On April 27, the LG directed chief secretary Naresh Kumar to secure all relevant records, examine the records, and submit a report on the alleged gross irregularities committed while carrying out the renovation within 15 days for his perusal. Also Read: Good governance apt reply to oppositions blame game: AAP Atishi said that the insinuations and allegations made by the LG are baseless and devoid of merits and have been made for political reasons. She added that under the under Article 239AA of the Constitution and according to the Supreme Court orders, the lieutenant governor of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, and he has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. Your letter by directing those certain records be seized and taken into protective custody and further directing the submission of a report on the same to your office, grossly oversteps the limited jurisdiction conferred on the lieutenant governors office by the constitutional scheme. The communication does not exercise the power to seek information at all. It issues executive orders, a power not conferred on the LG office, she wrote. The LG, however, said that said that he has always followed the rulebook. I know my powers and limitations as well. Ive gone through every legal and constitutional aspect of the issue relating to expenditure on CMs residence. Only after that, Ive issued the orders using my constitutional power. No violation has been made in this order, he told HT on Sunday. Over the last week, the Bharaitya Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party have sparred over the issue of renovations at the CM house. The BJP alleged that the CM while claiming to be a common man, lives like a king. The AAP, meanwhile, hit back at the allegations by raising the issue of expenditure on repairs of official residences of the LG and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Montana farmers and ranchers, spring typically brings warmer temperatures, thawing soil, the planting of new crops, and the inevitable rise of water levels as snow melts. But this year, as the snowmelt begins to send water across the pastures and fields of our farms and ranches, Montana agriculturalists are grappling with tremendous uncertainty in the face of a new EPA rule that grants the federal government sweeping authority over land that precipitation has touched. The rule, called waters of the United States (WOTUS), defines which waters are regulated by the federal government under the Clean Water Act. We are ardent supporters of the Clean Water Acts protections for our nations precious water resources, because our crops, our livestock and our families depend on clean water to live healthy and productive lives. Yet this rule goes far beyond Congress original intentions when it first created these safeguards in the 1970s. One of the most troubling parts of the WOTUS rule for my family is its expansion of EPA jurisdiction over ephemeral or intermittent streams. My family farms on a coulee east of Conrad, located miles from any waterway. It remains bone-dry for years on end, except for the extremely rare occasions when it becomes wet from snowmelt. Yet under this new WOTUS rule, our dry coulee now could be regulated by the EPA and require a Clean Water Act permit just to carry out everyday tasks such as building a fence or plowing a field. As president of the Montana Farm Bureau, I have received several phone calls from my members who are troubled by the implications of this rule on properties. The regulations language is so ambiguous and convoluted, most ag producers will be forced to pay exorbitant fees for attorneys and consultants just to determine if any of their land falls under EPAs authority. If private farmlands become regulated under WOTUS, the price tag will undoubtedly lead to less farming and less domestic food production. One estimate asserts that an individual Clean Water Act permit on average takes 788 days and costs more than $200,000. Growing crops and raising livestock requires extensive planning for months, even years, in advance. We cannot wait years to know if we can even start planning. Montanas beloved family farms stand to lose the most. Two District Courts and a bipartisan majority of Congress, to include our U.S. Senators John Tester and Steve Daines and Representatives Ryan Zinke and Matt Rosendale, have now recognized the EPAs egregious overreach with WOTUS, even granting a temporary reprieve in our state. Yet President Bidens recent veto of this bipartisan resolution proves this administration has no intention of backing away from its repeated attempts to broaden the power of the federal government. Montana farmers and ranchers now turn to Sen. Tester and his colleagues to take bold action again against the executive branchs incessant efforts to hamstring the ability of agriculture producers to grow and raise American food and fiber. Movement of vehicles on the Nangloi flyover on Rohtak Road will be affected from Monday as the Public Works Department (PWD) will replace expansion joints on the Peeragarhi-Tikri Border carriageway, the Delhi traffic police said on Sunday. Movement of vehicles on the Nangloi flyover on Rohtak Road will be affected.(HT photo/representative) An advisory issued by the traffic police said that traffic on the Peeragarhi-Tikri Border carriageway will be diverted to the Nangloi flyover. At the same time, vehicular traffic will be free on one lane of the Peeragarhi-Tikri Border carriageway, police said. Commuters were advised by the police to avoid the affected roads and stretches and choose alternative routes instead. Commuters going towards Mundka and Tikri border should leave well in time to accommodate possible delays on that route. The public is also advised to avail public transport to help decongest the roads, the traffic police said. The traffic police said it was unclear how long the repair works will take. A bull elephant notorious for breaking into homes and ration shops to steal rice, earning him the moniker of Arikomban (ari meaning rice in Malayalam and komaban meaning elephant with tusks) was on Sunday morning released into the deep interiors of Periyar Tiger Reserve, forest officials said. This picture taken on April 29, 2023, shows forest officials transporting 'Arikomban' the wild elephant, at Idukki district in India's Kerala state. (Photo by Shiyami / AFP)(AFP) The elephant was radio-collared, a forest official said. We are getting signals from the radio collar. His location will be monitored from the tiger reserve. He is very healthy, another official said. The tusker, transported by truck, to the tiger reserve on Saturday evening after a 12-hour long operation to tranquilise and capture it. Giving details of the operation, which involved a large number of forest personnel and four kumki (trained) elephants, a forest official said progress evaded them till the second day of operations, when another tusker, who was a competitor of Arikomban, brought the rice-favouring elephant before the forest officials enabling them to tranquilise it. The officials also said that the journey to the tiger reserve from Chinnakanal and Santhanpara areas of this hill district, where Arikomban had caused damage to human settlements, took some time due to the forest roads becoming slushy following rains. After reaching the deep interiors of the tiger reserve, a ramp was put up beside the truck, the elephant was untied and after it was provided an antidote to the tranquiliser, the tusker got off and walked into the forest, officials said. The efforts to tranquilise and remove him from Chinnakanal were surrounded by controversies, with animal rights activists opposing the move of the forest department to capture and tame it to make it a Kumki elephant at Kodanad Elephant Training Centre in Ernakulam district. The matter reached the Kerala high court, which stopped the departments move. The court, thereafter, appointed an expert committee to study the issue and decide the fate of the tusker, and the panel suggested that the elephant be translocated to a wild area where there would be no chance of conflict with humans. The committee suggested shifting the elephant to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. However, protests against the move led to the Kerala government suggesting an alternative location before the court which asked them to keep it a secret. A photo of Uttar Pradesh police taking an undertrial prisoner to a wine shop in the Hamirpur area has sparked outrage on social media. The officer is seen standing beside the convict in the shop at Kingroad. A bystander recorded the entire incident on camera. The prisoner, who was booked under Section 151 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), was being taken to court from the police station when the incident took place. He was with two police officers. On the way, the prisoner stopped in front of a liquor store and went inside to purchase alcohol, while one of the cops assisted him, India Today reported. A bystander recorded the entire incident on camera As the video went viral, Hamirpur Superintendent of Police (SP) issued a statement stating that necessary actions have been initiated against the said police official. In a similar incident, a video of four policemen entering a shopping mall in Lucknow with a prisoner went viral in March. The incident led to the suspension of the police personnel for 'dereliction of duty'. Reportedly, the prisoner was granted permission by a court to visit a government hospital after complaining about some health issues. He was then taken to the hospital by police officers, and after the medical examination, he had to return to jail. On the way, the cops took him to a shopping mall. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The state is likely to get two more multi-specialty hospitals as part of the investments promised during the investors summit held in February this year. Multi-specialty chains such as Medanta and Apollo are already running their hospitals in the state. Medanta, which has its presence in Lucknow, is expanding its OPD services to 44 districts, with a focus on eastern Uttar Pradesh. (For representation) While a hospital group has evinced interest in setting up a 400-bed facility in Lucknow, the state health department has received another proposal for a multi-specialty hospital with a similar bed strength on the Varanasi-Mirzapur border. The groups interested in new medical ventures in UP had participated in the Uttar Pradesh Investors Summit-2023. They have now identified the lands where they will build their hospital, said a senior health official. The state government will ensure that nothing in the entire process is delayed at any stage, be it during documentation or for seeking departmental permissions, said the official. Meanwhile, Dr Girdhar Gyani, director general of the Association of Healthcare Providers in India (AHPI), said the state government should provide cheaper electricity to private hospitals. Clearances are to be obtained at over two-dozen points for a new venture. Smooth processing under single window system for investors in the healthcare sector can really make a better growth, said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general the Association of International Doctors. Uttar Pradesh already has multi-specialty chains such as Medanta and Apollo running their hospitals. Medanta, which has its presence in Lucknow, is expanding its OPD services to 44 districts, with a focus on eastern Uttar Pradesh. Four people have died and a few feared trapped after a ground-plus-two storey building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi. Around 10 people are undergoing treatment in hospital after they were rescued earlier. Two children named Prem and Prince were also rescued from the site. Rescue operation is underway as three persons were killed after a two-storey godown collapsed at Bhiwandi city, in Thane on Saturday.(HT/Praful Gangurde) The rescue operation is being carried out for over 20 hours since the building collapsed at 2 pm on April 29. Teams of police, Target Disaster Response Force (TDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed for rescuing people trapped in debris. At around 8 am on Sunday, 42-year-old resident Sunil Pisal was pulled out alive. The deceased have been identified as Navnath Sawant, 43, a driver, who had come to a warehouse in the building, Lalita Ravi Mahto, 26, who resided on the second floor along with her husband and two children and the third death was reported late in the evening as five-year-old girl Sona Mukesh Kori was pulled out dead from the debris around 9.30 pm. On Saturday night, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde visited the Indira Gandhi Hospital to meet with people injured in the collapse after he visited the incident site earlier. He also announced 5 lakh assistance to each of the kin of the deceased. Over the last four years, 58 persons have died in various building collapse incidents in Bhiwandi. In one of the worst incidents involving a building collapse, 38 people were killed and 25 others were injured in the Jilani Building collapse in September 2020 at Bhiwandis Patel Compound. CM Shinde said any questions related to redevelopment of the site will be proposed and decided soon. "Any questions related to redevelopment will be proposed and decided soon. I have given instructions to Collector and concerned officers that they must survey those buildings which are dangerous and can collapse anytime during monsoon season," he said. (With ANI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The death toll in the building collapse in Maharashtras Bhiwandi has risen to four after one more body was pulled out from the debris by the teams of the National Disaster Relief Force and the Thane Disaster Relief Force. The deceased is yet to be identified. One resident, Sunil Pisal, 42, was pulled out alive from the debris after 20 hours around 8am on Sunday. (HT Photo/Praful Gangurde) The relief and rescue operation continued through night. One resident, Sunil Pisal, 42, was pulled out alive after 20 hours around 8am on Sunday. A Ground-plus-three storey building had collapsed in a heap around 1pm on Saturday in Vardhman Compound in Bal village in rural parts of Bhiwandi. Two floors in the 10-year-old building were being used as a warehouse by a company. 22 residents were believed to be trapped in the debris out of which 10 injured are being treated at IGM hospital in Bhiwandi while four have been declared dead. Officials believe at least four to five more are trapped and efforts to locate and rescue them are on. The 10 injured were identified as Sonali Kamble, 22, Shiv Kumar Kamble, 2.6 years, Mukhtar Mansuri 26, Chiku Mahato, 5, Rince Mahato, 3, Vikaskumar Rajbhar, 18, Udaybhan Yadav, 25, Anita 30, Ujjwala Kamble, 30, and Sunil Pisal 42. The deceased were identified as Navnath Sawant 40, Lakshidevi Mahato 26 and Sona Kori, 5 years. One person is yet to be identified. Maharashtra recorded a steady rise in the daily number of new Covid cases in the week but marginally declined towards the end of the week. On Wednesday (April 26), the state logged most number of cases, 784, while on Monday (April 14) it reported 226 new Covid cases. Maharashtra Covid cases: he state on Saturday (April 29) reported 489 new Covid cases. (File/ ANI) Read here: Delhi Covid wrap: The national capital recorded over 4,000 new cases this week The state on Saturday (April 29) reported 489 new Covid cases and one fatality, which took the state's total case tally to 81,65,466 and the death toll to 1,48,514, news agency PTI reported citing the Health department data. The number of active cases in the state now stands at 4,079. The health department did not release the data on Thursday. So far, 8,69,82,528 coronavirus tests have been conducted in Maharashtra, including 14,564 on Saturday. Here's a table summarising Maharashtra's Covid data this week: DAY NEW CASES DEATHS MONDAY 226 0 TUESDAY 722 3 WEDNESDAY 784 1 THURSDAY - - FRIDAY 597 2 SATURDAY 489 1 The number of deaths remained nominal throughout the week. At present, the dominant variant of Covid is Omicron XBB.1.16. As of Saturday, a total of 1,112 cases were found to be infected with this variant in the state so far. There were 10 deaths reported among the cases of this variant till now. Read here: Weekly Covid wrap: India's cases seesaw while positivity rate remains below 5% In the midst of an increase in Covid-19 infections recorded in Maharashtra, experts on the newly formed state Covid-19 Task Group have advised that patients with Covid-19 be treated in hospitals using tablets Metformin and Paxlovid. BHIWANDI: A day after a ground-plus-three commercial-residential building Wardhaman Compound collapsed into a heap of concrete in Bhiwandi, three more dead bodies were pulled out from the debris, taking the death toll in the incident to six. MMRDA officials said the collapsed building was unauthorised. Thane, India - April, 30, 2023: the second day, rescue operations are underway at the site of a two-storey building collapse at Vardhaman Complex Val Pada village Bhiwandi ,in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on,Sunday, April, 30, 2023. (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo) The owner of the building Indrapal Patil has been arrested, police officials confirmed. The rescue operations by the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the Thane Disaster Relief Force (TDRF) continued throughout the night. While they managed to rescue 26-year-old Sunil Pisal after 20 hours at around 8am, three others pulled out dead. They were identified as Sudhakar Gavai, 35, Pravin Pramod Chaudhary, 22 and Triveni Prasad Yadav, 40. Four NDRF teams, two TDRF teams along with Bhiwandi fire brigade personnel were engaged in clearing the debris along with a trained sniffer dog squad. According to NDRF officials, four JCBs, gas cutters, and a victim tracing camera, among other tools were used for the rescue operation. Deepak Pandey, commander of NDRF Pune headquarters said, We have four teams, including three teams from Mumbai. One team comprises 20 to 25 NDRF personnel. We are working in shifts. The building is a pancake collapse, wherein the building collapses vertically in a few seconds, making it difficult for people inside to escape. The chances of survivors after 24 hours are bleak. However, since the injured told us that there were others inside the debris, the rescue teams are still searching for more people. Our sniffer dogs Pitter, Tiger, and Sultan have been playing a vital role in sniffing out the trapped people. Pandey added that they had received information that around 50 to 60 tonnes of edible products were stored in the warehouses on a ground-plus-one floor occupied by the company named MRK Pvt Ltd. On Sunday morning, Sudhakar Gavai, 35, a driver who also served as Diva Yuva president, RPI (Deepak Nikalje faction), was pulled out dead around 10.30. Initially, his family members did not recognise him. Later, they moved to IGM hospital and his Aadhar card, and drivers licence was found in his pocket, thus confirming his identity. Pravin Pramod Choudhary, 32, a porter in MRK Pvt Ltd, was pulled out from debris at about 3.30 pm. He worked on the first floor of the building. He was also rushed to IGM Hospital in Bhiwandi. Rajendra Prasad, who is a relative of Chaudhry, told HT that Chaudhry hails from Basti district in UP. He was employed in the company for the last five years. Pravin and his brother Bipin Chaudhry were working together in the company. But Bipin had gone to the village one month ago. Bipin has now left the village and will come to Bhiwandi tomorrow. We will take Pravins body to UP by ambulance for final rites, said Prasad. Triveni Prasad Yadav, 40, worked as the delivery man of edible food and worked in the company for the last 12 years. MRK Pvt Ltd started operating from Vardhman Compound in Bhiwandi in 2022. One of the roommates of Triveni told HT that he was unwell a day before the incident and wanted to rest, but a manager called him and asked him to report to work. He went to work on Saturday which cost him his life. Meanwhile, Adhik Patil, Tahsildar, Bhiwandi said, The building is illegally constructed by the owner. Prima facie, he does not have any appropriate permission from the MMRDA department. Madan Ballal, Senior police Inspector, at Narpoli police station said, We have arrested owner Indrapal Patil and booked him under sections 304(II) (Culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety ) 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering human life), 427 (Mischief causing damage) 34 of Indian Penal Code. The accused will be produced before the court on Monday. Further investigation is on. A senior MMRDA official said, MMRDA has not issued any permission for this building and neither authority has received any application for regularisation for the building. In December 2013, the MMRDA had written to the Thane collector about the responsibilities of local authorities with regard to actions on dilapidated structures. (With inputs from Sajana Nambiar) Assams Cachar police have arrested four youths, aged between 19 to 23, for allegedly assaulting employees of a newspaper organisation in Silchar town. (Representative Photo) Cachar superintendent of police (SP) Numal Mahatta said that four persons were arrested for assaulting employees of the local daily Bartalipi Dainik. The miscreants looted cash and a mobile phone. We have identified the accused and have recovered the mobile phone. Lawful action is underway against the culprits, the SP said. The arrested youths have been identified as Pritam Sutradhar (21), Rupak Sutradhar (23), Akash Roy (19) and Jeet Bhattacharjee (22), all residents of Silchar town. Also Read: Meerut man arrested for killing Delhi Police head constable Police said the incident took place around 5:30am on Saturday when the newspaper workers were returning home from their night-long duties. Police said that they have registered a first information report (FIR) based on the victims complaint, according to which the four accused initially attacked him and snatched his mobile phone and other belongings. However, the attackers managed to escape after the victims friends, who were also returning home from late-night duty, saw the incident and rescued him, said the FIR. Bartalipi Dainik owner Rudranarayan Gupta told HT on Sunday that the employees who were attacked work in the machine room and they work till the wee hours every day. It was an unfortunate incident and we are thankful that these boys are safe. As per the medical reports, the injuries are not severe. The police department has acted promptly and arrested the culprits but we insisted the SP to find the root cause of this, Gupta said. Locals allege that it was the work of drug-addict youths who attack people for money. Similar incidents have been reported in the past, they said. From a devoted homemaker to now the godmother of late mafioso Atiq Ahmeds gang IS-227, Shaista Parveen has emerged as the dark horse in the past decade. Even as authorities and media reports continue to bring out new details about Shaista and her involvement in illegal activities, the 51-year-old wife of slain gangster, who is at large, remains an enigma to the state police. The 51-year-old wife of slain gangster, who is at large, remains an enigma to the state police. (HT Photo) Shaista, who chose to remain behind a niqab (a veil covering the face) for the better part of her married life, switched to hijab (which covers just the head and chest) and started looking after business affairs following the confinement of all the influential men in her family. She is currently believed to be guarding her husbands illegal empire -- comprising benami properties and shell companies -- which is estimated to be worth hundreds of crores. The exact net worth of the empire is yet to be determined though. In the last three years, properties worth over 416.92 crore belonging to Atiq and his kin have been seized. On the other hand, illegally-constructed properties by the family worth over 752.27 crore have been demolished by the police and other district authorities. Additionally, police have also discovered properties worth over 1,169.20 crore while probing the cases against Atiq and his associates. Shaista is desperate to protect whats left of his husbands illegal empire, said a senior police official. Since the assassination of Atiq and his brother Khalid Azeem (Ashraf) and the encounter killing of Atiqs son Asad, police teams have been frantically conducting raids to nab Shaista, who has cases of serious offences filed against her, but only in vain. At present, she carries a reward of 50,000. To evade arrest, she didnt even attend the funeral rites of her son Asad, her husband Atiq, and brother-in-law Ashraf. Police even checked all burqa-clad women during the burials to check for Shaistas presence there. In the last few days, Shaistas locations have been traced to Naini and Dhumanganj areas of Prayagraj to small villages in the neighbouring Kaushambi district. Cops are carrying out continuous raids and questioning women who were close to her to find out more about her whereabouts. The fact that she has been able to evade dozens of police teams searching for her should not be underestimated, said a police officer. Desperate for her arrest, police are keeping an eye on the activities of those who have traditionally been the financers of Atiq. After receiving inputs that Shaista may have taken shelter in villages along the banks of Ganga in Prayagraj and Kaushambi, police teams carried out raids and searched some homes there. However, Shaista and other women of Atiqs family were not found there. Now, police teams are carrying out combing operations in the wetlands of Ganga and are also taking the help of drones to trace Shaistas whereabouts. Some women, who were close to Shaista, have been questioned and their activities are under watch, officials further said. Search operations have also been launched in Hatwa, Sallahpur, Mariadih, Asrauli, Ujahni, and other villages in the region. Additionally, cops in plain clothes have also been deployed at the Kasari Masari graveyard, where Atiq, Asad, and Ashraf are buried. Police officials suspect that Shaista and Zainab, Ashrafs wife, may try to visit the graves of their husbands. Officials are also monitoring the movements around Rajrooppur childrens home of Prayagraj, where the two minor sons of Atiq and Shaista are lodged since March 3 when they were found wandering in the city by the police. Even the family members who have not been booked are also under the radar in a bid to zero in on Shaista. Contrary to the social media chatter, we believe she is still in the Prayagraj region as she has the maximum support base here, said a senior police official. Early life A resident of Damupur village in Allahabad West constituency, Shaista is the eldest among four sisters and two brothers. Shaista completed her schooling at Kidwai Girls Memorial Inter College in Prayagraj. She went on to pursue graduation subsequently. While Shaistas father Harun Ahmad is a retired police constable, her two brothers are posted as madrasa principals. She spent her childhood in Pratapgarh where her father was posted as a constable. In 1996, Shaista was married to Atiq Ahmed. She had five sons but her third eldest son Asad was killed in an encounter with U.P. STF in Jhansi on April 13. Her two elder sons Umar and Ali are lodged in jail while the two younger ones have been put in a government facility. None of her sons are married. One of Shaistas kin, who is not named in any criminal cases, says that Shaista was a hands-on mother and never even missed parent-teacher meetings at the top English-medium school where her sons studied. Shaista used to keep a watch on the activities of her sons, especially the three younger ones, including Asad who performed well academically. With her face covered in niqab and always in the background of her mafia husband, Shaista was rarely seen in public, said another senior police officer. Till just a few months back, police even did not have a proper photograph of her. They managed to get a few of her shots only from the items left behind in her rented accommodation in Chakia, which was demolished in March on account of illegal construction. Rise to prominence When her husband and brother-in-law were at the forefront, Shaista was known to visit only family functions or immediate neighbours, said a senior police officer. However, with most grown-up men of her immediate family in jail, she gradually started to assert herself. She held press conferences, joined All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in the presence of its chief Asaduddin Owaisi in September 2021, and later, joined Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in January 2023 -- all to provide a way out to the men of her family who had been facing difficult times despite efforts of Atiq Ahmed, a five-time legislator and one-time parliamentarian. In fact, she was touted to be BSPs mayoral candidate but the party retracted its decision after her involvement in the Umesh Pal murder came to the fore, the official added. Following Atiqs arrest in 2017, Shaista acted as the main guardian of the children. This is evident from her signatures on the academic documents and affidavits which were found in the rented house where she was staying for the past over one year in Chakia locality. Shaista remained a devoted housewife and mother for most of her married life. She got involved in handling the illegal businesses only after Atiq, her brother-in-law Ashraf, and two eldest sons Umar and Ali got locked up in different cases, said former police officer Lalji Shukla, who served as SP (city) in Prayagraj (then Allahabad) between April 1998 and September 2003 and retired as Inspector General of Police (IG) in 2015. Supporting claims of police officials that Shaista is slowly taking control of her husbands gang while observing her Iddat, the period of four lunar months and 10 days that a woman must observe after the death of her husband, Lalji Shukla added that Shaista remained a revered figure for Atiqs family and gang members and commands great respect among Atiqs followers. At a time when all the men in her family are either jailed or dead, Shaista is the only one who has the support and the calibre to take command of the gang and its assets, he further said. On the run According to police, Shaista is constantly changing her location to evade arrest. Police officials suspect that Shaista is probably in touch with her CA and lawyers to claim Atiqs movable and immovable assets worth several hundred crores. She is also trying to manage the benami properties and funds that are lying with Atiqs partners in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and other places, said a senior police official. Shaista knows very well that once arrested, she may have to spend a long time in jail for her involvement in Umesh Pals murder conspiracy and other criminal cases lodged against her. Before her arrest or surrender, she wants to take control over Atiqs properties and funds which will help her in securing bail and contesting the cases of her sons lodged in jail, claim police officials. Cops add that Atiqs old and trusted associates are still helping her in evading arrest and are also financing her. According to police records, Shaista has four criminal cases registered against her at Colonelganj and Dhumanganj police stations of Prayagraj. The first three cases filed at Colonelganj police station date back to 2009. They are filed under different sections of the IPC, including 420, 467, 468 and 471 and section 30 of the Arms Act. In these three cases, chargesheets have been lodged by the police at the court of special chief judicial magistrate, Prayagraj (then Allahabad). The fourth case was registered against her on February 24, 2023, at Dhumanganj police station. It concerns the daylight killing of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards in Prayagraj and has been lodged under the relevant sections of the IPC. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As a business owner, I have always treasured Montanas rugged independence and economic freedom, which allows me to operate according to the needs of my employees and customers. Thats why Im concerned by President Bidens choice to nominate Julie Su, Californias former chief labor regulator, as the U.S. Secretary of Labor. Ms. Su will attempt to make Montana and the rest of the country look more like California. When Ms. Su served as Secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, she supported multiple policies that would pose an existential threat to franchise businesses like mine. I am the Chairman & CEO of Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe, which is headquartered in Dillon and has nearly 200 locations across the country. Franchising is a critical part of our economy here in Montana, with more than 3,000 establishments supporting almost 33,000 jobs and $3.2 billion in economic output for the state. I know franchising inside and out and have experienced its positive impact firsthand. Before joining Great Harvest, I spent quite a few years as a franchisee of a different brand to learn how to operate a small business. I also spent time consulting for that same franchise company, later acting as their Chief Financial Officer. This combination of franchisee and franchisor experience has allowed me to see up close how this business model changes lives. For one, it enables people to start their own business using a pre-existing and proven recipe, making entrepreneurship less risky and creating pathways for people to own businesses who might not otherwise have the chance. While women and people of color are underrepresented in the business community broadly, they make up more than a quarter of franchisees. None of this has stopped Julie Su and her California allies from attacking the foundation of our entire business model. Take California Assembly Bill 5 (A.B. 5) for example, which Ms. Su championed before it was rejected by California voters. AB 5 would have classified local franchise owners and their workers as employees of the parent brand, essentially demoting these small business owners, killing their autonomy, and ending their ability to tailor benefits and schedules to the needs of their own workers. Ms. Su also supported Californias FAST Act, which was signed into law last year. The bill creates a council of unelected political appointees to set labor rules for quick-service restaurants, allowing the state to bypass the will of voters to do whatever it pleases to these establishments, whether hiking the minimum wage or mandating expensive benefits for hourly workers. As a result of the increased costs, many franchisees are forced to cut workers hours or eliminate jobs entirely. Those costs also get passed onto customers in the form of higher prices on goods and services. I cant think of a worse time to be raising prices on consumers than now. You know a law goes too far when even California voters turn against it, as they did with AB 5 and are doing now with the FAST Act. Over one million Californians signed a petition to reject the FAST Act and bring it up for a vote on the 2024 ballot. As a franchisor, I dont need Julie Su to tell me how to take care of my people. Great Harvest is passionate about providing great jobs and giving back to our communities. We offer our franchisees access to capital, training, managerial assistance, as well as the freedom and individuality to operate according to the needs of their own communities, employees, and customers. A key line in our mission statement is Give Generously to Others. You see this same mindset all across the franchising world. Franchise businesses range from restaurants to auto body shops to hotels, and they are upstanding members of their communities. They pay higher wages and offer health insurance to more of their employees than their non-franchise counterparts. After all, the incentives of franchisors and franchisees are aligned. The parents company cant succeed unless the franchisees and workers succeed. For the sake of the 33,000 Montanans who work for franchise businesses, I sincerely hope Ms. Su does not have the opportunity to take her job-killing policies national. Senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines must now decide whether she becomes Americas next Secretary of Labor. Lets hope they continue their excellent record of standing with small businesses and workers by opposing her nomination. The fate of the franchising business model hangs in the balance. Darbhanga airport in Bihar has emerged as the top airport in the country under the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN since commercial flights began here two-and-a-half years ago, according to an official of the Airport Authority of India (AAI). The Darbhanga is run by Indian Air Force. (HT archive) The airport has handled 14,13,510 passengers and 9,610 flights since it was launched on November 8, 2020, to April 15, 2023, the official said. The number of passengers rose from 1,53,232 in financial year 2020-21 to 6,19,586 in FY 2021-22 and then to 6,16,058 in FY 2022-23. Since its launch, the airport has seen a total of 6,81,945 arrivals while the number of departing passengers stood at 7,06,931 till March 31, 2023, according to the data. Meanwhile, the expansion of the passengers and flight handling capacity at Darbhanga airport has already begun on the additional 2.42 acres of land provided by the Indian Air Force, Darbhanga airport director Satyendra Jha said. The existing terminal area of 1400 square metres will be expanded by an additional 1700 square metres, with a peak hour passenger handling capacity of 600 and a security hold area capacity of 660 passengers. The new facility will also have 11 check-in counters, four security checks, two X-ray machines, two hand baggage X-ray machines, two conveyor belts and four boarding gates, the director said. Moreover, ground work to set up the instrument landing system (ILS) to facilitate night landing and cope up with bad weather on 24 acres of land will be carried out by IAF from October. The AAI has given its nod to IAF in this regard. Darbhanga airport, having longest runway of 9,000 feet in the state, is under the control of IAF. The construction of the permanent terminal building on 54 acres of land will commence soon even as installation of ILS on 24 acres is carried by IAF, AAI said in response to a query. The process to rope in a consultancy firm to prepare the detailed project report has already commenced, Jha said. Meanwhile, former Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh, Prabhat Jha, who was in the town two days ago, said he would soon be meeting civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia with a request to prioritise development of Darbhanga airport. Prabhat Jha hails from nearby Sitamarhi. Recently, Bihar minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, who also hails from the area, had criticised selected airline operator Spicejet for soaring prices of air tickets from Darbhanga in comparison to Patna airport while underlining that this ran contrary to the stated objective of UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), which was to enable the common man to fly. UDAN scheme was launched to enhance regional air connectivity. The scheme has connected 473 routes and 74 operational airports, heliports and water aerodromes, benefitting over 1.2 crore passengers, according to a press statement of ministry of civil aviation. The first flight under UDAN scheme was launched between Delhi and Shimla on April 27, 2017, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PRAYAGRAJ Following the death of mafioso-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Khalid Azeem (aka Ashraf), cops suspect that his henchmen may fight each other to take control of his illegal empire worth several hundred crores. This struggle for supremacy is more likely as none of Atiqs sons are in a position to run his illegal operations. Police are also keeping an eye on those gang members who are now out on bail. (HT Photo) While Atiq had five sons, one of them, Asad, was killed in an encounter with police. The older two -- Umar and Ali -- are lodged in jails whereas the younger two (both minors) are also in a government facility. Therefore, several of Atiqs henchmen are now looking to take over his illegal businesses. Cops suspect that a dispute over supremacy in the gang may result in gang wars in Prayagraj -- something that the police are determined to prevent. To this end, police are also nabbing as many of the gang members as possible for the various crimes committed by them. Police are also keeping an eye on those gang members who are now out on bail and have been inactive for the past many years, confirmed senior police officials. As per police records, there are over 135 members in Atiqs gang known as IS-227. Officials say that many members of Atiqs gang have a tendency to change their tactics according to the situation. An analysis of Atiqs gang reveals that many members become active when conditions are favourable while they remain at large (or inactive) during crackdowns. During the last many decades, Atiq has grabbed hundreds of bighas of land at prime locations in Prayagraj by purchasing them from their owners in return for an amount much lower than their actual cost. Some landowners who dared to oppose were threatened and murdered, said officials. Atiq purchased much of these lands in name of his gang members and associates in Jhalwa, Kasari Masari, Peepalgaon, Bamrauli, Devghat, Karehnda, Puramufti and even in Kaushambi districts. Atiqs earlier township projects Alina City and Ahmad City were also handled by his associates and gang members. Officials said that real estate business in Prayagraj and elsewhere was the biggest source of finance for Atiqs gang. Atiqs associate used to develop illegal townships and sell small plots of lands on high rates. Atiq used to take major share of profits in such deals. Atiq and Ashraf used to keep strict watch on persons involved in their real estate business and take regular details of transactions made. However, after Atiq and Ashrafs arrests, many associates and gang members started betraying them. Some even lodged FIRs against Atiq, Ashraf and their loyal associates in a bid to distance themselves from the gang and grab the land which Atiq had purchased in their names. Atiqs relative and one-time associate Zeeshan (aka Janu) lodged an FIR against Atiq his son Ali and some others for extortion in December 2021. Later, Ali surrendered in the same case and went to jail. The deaths of Atiq and Ashraf are repeating the same trend. Atiqs former aides are lodging FIRs against his sons and others. Builder Mohd Muslim on Friday registered a case of extortion and abduction against Atiqs sons Umar and Ali, accusing them of harassment. Police officials suspect that many more associates of Atiq may now come forward to lodge cases against his sons and other gang members. The gang members may even clash over ownership of hundreds of bighas of land that Atiq has illegally grabbed. A senior police official said a strict watch is being kept on all persons who were associated with Atiq and Ashraf and are co-accused with them in different criminal cases. There are inputs of differences between members of Atiqs gang over real estate business and its profits, he added. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Prayagraj on Tuesday to campaign in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates in fray for the urban local bodies elections, confirmed the BJP office bearers. Police and district administration officials inspecting the site for the proposed May 2 rally of UP CM in Prayagraj on Sunday. (HT Photo) The chief minister will address an election meeting at Leader Road Press Ground in Lukerganj under the Allahabad West Assembly constituency area at 10am, stated BJP mayoral candidate and partys city unit president Ganesh Kesarwani. The election campaign for the first phase of the civic polls is set to end at 5 pm on Tuesday with polling scheduled to take place on May 4. Earlier, on the last day of campaigning during the 2022 assembly elections, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had done a roadshow from near Chakia office of slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed to Nakhas Kohna. Even before the 2022 elections, in December 2021 too, the chief minister had visited Lukerganj to lay the foundation stone of the housing scheme for the poor on the land freed from the illegal possession of Atiq Ahmed. After the chief ministers programme was fixed, the police and district administration officials inspected the Leader Road Press Ground on Sunday. The officials decided that monitoring of the event will be done through CCTV cameras and drones during the programme. Following the February 24 murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards followed by April 15 killings of Atiq and his younger brother Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf while in police custody remand, the officers of the intelligence department are on special alert to prevent any untoward incident. Initially, the programme of the chief ministers roadshow was being prepared earlier, but due to security reasons, the roadshow was not conducted, shared a senior BJP leader. Officials are also brainstorming over managing the flow of traffic on the day of the event and are expected to announce diversion if required for May 2. The Bihar government has finalised the pay scale for the new lot of 1.78 lakh teachers to be appointed through the Bihar Public Service Commision (BPSC), which will likely go to the cabinet for approval on Tuesday, officials familiar with the matter said. Bihar Public Service Commission office in Patna. (HT archive) Though the pay scale is significantly higher than what over 3.5 lakh teachers appointed through the panchayatI raj institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies (ULBs) since 2006 are currently getting, it is lower than the old prescribed pay scale for teachers, under which around 60,000 still remain in service. The government had taken a policy decision to make it a dying cadre after it started appointment through PRIs and ULBs, officials said. Under the new recruitment process, primary teachers (class 1-5) will have a basic salary of 25,000 while the gross salary with dearness allowance, house rent and medical allowances will come to around 38,000. For middle school (class 6-8) teachers, the basic salary will be 28000 and the gross 42,000. For teachers appointed in secondary schools (class 9-10), the basic salary would be 31,000 and the gross 46,000. Higher secondary (class 11-12) teachers will get a basic salary of 32,000 and a gross salary of 48,000. The appointment of 1.78 lakh teachers will cost the state exchequer 10,623 crore. For the existing list of teachers appointed through the BPSC, there will be an option to take the uniform exam for an upgrade to get the status of government employees. With the Nitish Kumar cabinet giving its nod to the new teachers recruitment rules in early April, decks were cleared for the long-pending recruitment of teachers in Bihar. After the cabinet nod to the pay scale, the government will advertise the posts. The number of vacancies identified include 85,477 in primary schools, 1,745 in middle schools, 33,186 in secondary schools and 57,618 in higher secondary schools. Appointing teachers through BPSC is a major policy shift of the Nitish Kumar government, which was stuck with the appointments through PRIs and ULBs all through since 2006, despite concerns expressed over quality and controversies surrounding the alleged doctoring of documents landing in the Patna High Court. A vigilance probe has been going on under HC watch for the last seven years. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Bihar police constable allegedly died by suicide by shooting himself with his service revolver on the premises of police line at Motihari, headquarters of East Champaran district, police said. (Representative Photo) Police have identified the deceased constable as Shambhu Kumar, a resident of Nalanda. The body has been handed over to his family members after the postmortem, said Ram Pukar Singh, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Motihari (Sadar). Also Read: Couple, their 3 children killed in Ludhiana gas leak; kin share horror It was around 1.30am when a policeman raised alarm after he came across the body. After reaching the spot, we found Shambhu Prasad lying in a pool of blood. He was taken to the hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors, said another police officer. Ramesh Kumar, deputy superintendent of police (DSP), police line Motihari said, Prasad was the bodyguard of additional district judge- 06. He recently returned from a month-long leave after the marriage of his daughter. He said the reason behind the incident is unknown. It could not be known immediately. We are looking into the matter, the DSP added. Tushar Gandhi, an author and great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of lowering the dignity of political speeches and said it was he, who as the chief minister of Gujarat, started the tradition of using foul language to criticise his political rivals. Author and great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi Tushar Gandhi (Agencies) Tushar was speaking at a seminar on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in current political scenario, organised by the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) on Sunday. Referring to PM Modis campaign in Gujarat ahead of state assembly elections in December last year, he said the prime minister should be mindful of the tradition when he started abusing his political rivals. Also Read: Enhanced pay for Anganwadi workers if voted to power in Karnataka: Priyanka Gandhi Lauding the impact of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, he said the people of the country shall draw inspiration from Congress leader Rahul Gandhis drive to plant saplings of love amidst growing hatred. The country is grappling with the kind of hatred, which it was prevailing at the time of the freedom struggle. India today needs to wage a war for freedom after 75 years of independence, said Tushar. Attacking the ideology of Sangh Parivar, he said they did not have a single leader who could be praised. Sangh people continued to enjoy the good company of Britishers when Indians were fighting for freedom. They say they killed Mahatma Gandhi for dividing the nation, which is a complete lie. Can they show a letter or petition in which their leaders had opposed the division? They cant, Tushar claimed. The seminar was presided over by BPCC chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Twenty-five hospitals in the Pune district have been served with a show cause notice for violating the terms of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), the states cashless insurance scheme. Twenty-five hospitals in the Pune district have been served with a show cause notice for violating the terms of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), the states cashless insurance scheme. (REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE) According to officials, All these hospitals are frequent violators, which were found to exploit patients by demanding money for the cashless treatment scheme. The MPJAY is a flagship cashless health insurance scheme launched by the Maharashtra government in 2012. It is currently offered in 966 hospitals (both government and private) throughout the state, as well as 66 hospitals (53 private and 13 government) in the Pune district. This scheme guarantees an amount of 1.5 lakh per year per household, and 2.5 lakh for renal transplants. According to Dr Vaibhav Gaikwad, district coordinator of MPJAY, all 25 facilities slapped with the notice are private hospitals that have been proven to consistently violate the regulations. Even though the scheme is cashless, the majority of the cases involve hospitals demanding money from the patients. The empanelled hospitals are not allowed to charge patients anything. In some circumstances, patients were told to go out and buy drugs, injections, implants, or stents for cardiac problems, which is also against the scheme, he explained. This scheme covers a total of 996 diseases divided into 30 separate categories. People with yellow, Antyodaya or Annapurna ration cards for people living below the poverty line (BPL) are eligible. According to officials, those with an annual income of up to 1 lakh (orange ration card) are also eligible, as are farmers families from suicide-prone areas, even if they have a white ration card (annual income of more than 1 lakh). Dr Gaikwad went on to say, All complaints are valid and supported by documentation. As a result, we have put the payment to these institutions for the treatment of those patients who have filed the complaint on hold. The payment wont be cleared unless the complaint is solved. The show cause notices have been issued and further action will be taken based on the explanation, he explained. Under the MPJAY scheme in the year April 2022 to March 2023, as many as 66,815 patients have availed healthcare treatment worth 172 crores. It was discovered that, despite government restrictions, most hospitals continued to exploit patients, and the administration received 252 complaints against medical facilities in the state this year. 147 of them have been resolved, while the remaining 105 are still pending. Another senior officer, who requested anonymity, stated that the majority of the accusations involve large private hospitals and private medical institutes. The majority of these hospitals have multiple complaints. There are multiple complaints about most of these hospitals. Out of these 252 complaints, almost 75 per cent of the complaints received are regarding illegal demand for money and 25 per cent about denial of treatment. But whenever the payment is put on hold the hospitals try to resolve the complaint. As the money taken from the patients is less in comparison to the payment amount kept on hold. Mostly the hospitals refund the money to the patients and close the complaint, the official explained. PUNE The Indian Embassy has contacted the sugar factories in Rabak city in Sudan, a day after Hindustan Times reported that more than 160 people from the Pune district are stranded in the conflict-ridden country. Indian nationals, evacuated from war-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri, prior to leaving for Delhi in an IAF C-130J aircraft, in Jeddah on Sunday. (HT HOTO) India has launched Operation Kaveri with the aim of repatriating all the citizens who have been stranded in Sudan due to the ongoing conflict which resulted from clashes between the army and paramilitary forces in the country, causing a volatile situation that has put many people at risk. According to employees stranded at Kenana Sugar Company, a representative from the Indian Embassy had contacted them to ensure the safe passage of around 460 workers from Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. The embassy has approached the concerned company and the firm will provide transport facilities from Rabak to Sudan Port which is 1,100 km from their current location, said the workers. According to Charles Inascio Mendes, 57, a resident of Mumbai, who is working in the sugar factory for the last two years, Initially the company was asking us to raise $250 per head to make available transport to all employees from Rabak to Sudan port, but we dont have that much money. However, after intervention from Indian Embassy now the company is ready to provide seven buses. Our journey will start from Rabak to Sudan port from Monday. Initially, two buses are arranged for women, children and for those workers whose work agreement has expired. After that more five buses will be arranged in a phase-wise manner, he said. Within the next two-three days all workers will be evacuated from Rabak, he said. Uttam Narayan Patil, who hails from Kalewadi area in Pimpri-Chinchwad, and has been working in Sudan for the past 29 years, said, In our recent meeting, the company has assured us to make available safe passage for all workers. According to the website of the Indian embassy in Khartoum, there are around 2,800 Indian nationals in Sudan. Along with this, there is also a settled Indian community of around 1,200 people - which has been in the country for nearly 150 years. Due to difficulties with land acquisition, Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) ambitious Shivane-Kharadi road project, which was undertaken more than ten years ago, is still incomplete. According to officials, the price of acquiring the land is now higher than the price of developing the road itself. Due to difficulties with land acquisition, Pune Municipal Corporations (PMC) ambitious Shivane-Kharadi road project, which was undertaken more than ten years ago, is still incomplete. According (HT FILE PHOTO) At present, the corporation claims to have completed more than 60 per cent work on the Kharadi-Shivane riverside road, but it is in parts and will not serve the purpose of easing traffic congestion in the area. Out of the total 17.10km road length, PMC needs to acquire land in the 2km stretch between Kalyaninagar and Mundhwa Bridge. VG Kulkarni, chief superintendent engineer of PMC road department, said, Due to increasing land cost, we need more than 300 crore to acquire land. There is already a residential structure on the proposed land. We have also approached the state government to provide funds for the project, but nothing has happened yet. At present, we have 30 crore budget for undertaking work here. If we will get the required land, we will need around 100 crore to complete the cement concert road between Kalyaninagar and Mundhwa bridge, he said. Earlier, it was decided to develop the road on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. After that, PMC decided to develop a round on deferred payment mode, he added. According to road department officials, PMC requires around 9519.60 square metres of land to develop the 2km stretch. The civic body will need more than 300 crore to acquire the land. PMC plans to construct the road in two phases the first phase being the Shivane to Mhatre bridge stretch which is a 5.95km stretch, and the second phase from Sangamwadi to Kharadi which is 11.8km. Aryan Khan recently made his directorial debut with the first ad for his clothing brand D'YAVOL X. The ad featured none other than his superstar dad Shah Rukh Khan. Now, in a new interview, likely his first, Aryan spoke about the brand, what inspired it and what it was like working with dad on sets. (Also read: Shah Rukh Khan comes to Aryan Khan's rescue when latter loses hope in new ad that marks his directorial debut. Watch) Aryan Khan has directed his father Shah Rukh Khan in the first ad for DYAVOL X. Aryan directed his debut ad for a luxury streetwear brand D'YAVOL X which is being endorsed as a luxury streetwear line. Last Tuesday, the complete ad was released via the official handle of the brand after teasing the audience by releasing a teaser video. Speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Aryan said, Working with my father is never challenging, because, with his experience and dedication, he makes everyones job easier on set. He also makes the entire crew feel at ease and has tremendous respect for everyone. When hes on set I always make sure to pay extra attention, so I dont miss out on anything I can learn. When asked if Shah Rukh ever gave an input, he said, Of course, he did, and everyone involved in the project gave their input in some way. And it is important to at least listen to them because filmmaking is a collaborative effort. If my dad's input is different from mine, and if both seem valid, you can always shoot it both ways; but dont tell my producer. Previously, in 2019, Shah Rukh appeared on David Letterman's talk show, where he talked about his son Aryan's career ambitions. On Netflix's My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman, Shah Rukh told the eponymous host that Aryan doesn't want to be an actor. Shah Rukh said though his son is a 'good writer,' he doesn't have what it takes to be an actor. "He (Aryan) doesn't have what it takes to be an actor and he realises that too but he's a good writer... I think wanting to be an actor has to come from within. Something you really need to do and find a set of skills that helps you do it and learn it. But I think I realised it from him when he said that to me," Shah Rukh had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A huge celebration came upon us at the gym when nine people were promoted on Apr 1 at the seminar: two white belts, three blue, two purple, one brown, and one black, all my training partners. I wish I were there to congratulate them and especially Jon, who earned his blackbelt after 11 years of dedication! He has always been friendly, respectful, and encouraging to me. On the mat, he choked me many times with triangles or from the back. Outside, he is a fireman and one of the guys with abs, a totally cool dude. Lessons on takedowns and counters from Pablo impressed me because I felt ready and could see myself executing them. When my opponent grabs either my collar or the back of my neck, I'll break the grip and keep the arm (two-on-one). Standing partly behind him, I can try to shove him to the ground. If he defends by trying to pull his arm out, I'll let go and as his lower body is exposed, shoot in for a double or single. Otherwise, I'll try to pull his hand to the ground and when he is not defending, pick his ankle for a single. When he defends by pushing my head away with his free hand, I'll release or push up his arm and lower level for a double. Pablo taught another takedown from the Russian tie position that I liked very much: release the tie with my hands grabbing his head and elbow, lean into my opponent, and spin for a scarf-hold on the ground. It was when big Ed, our super-heavyweight champ, taught the push-and-pull choke (he called it by another name) that I realized that the smaller guy does have his advantages. It is easy for big guys to leave space for the small guy to move into. Being small is one thing; being small and dazed not knowing what to do is quite another. The important thing is to recognize every situation. Once I have that knowledge and training, I won't be afraid of bigger guys. Professor Weiqi has been helpful as ever. He showed again the guillotine and added the handgun variation. He told me that once I knew the basics I should try to look one step ahead in my game. For example, when he defended my cross-collar choke from guard, instead of giving up everything and starting from scratch, I could keep the collar grip and transition to the arm-wrap choke and, if that fails, the straight armlock, etc. He taught me another defense technique at the turtle bottom, i.e., to have a two-on-one on my opponent's arm. I was ready for his teachings and applied them almost right away. Chris my Canadian alumnus taught me the knee-bar from half-guard. Every time he got an under-hook of his opponent's top leg in z-guard, he would try the knee-bar. This was easy and I should be able to execute, especially without a gi. My confidence grew in Rickson's idea to just flow. As I keep training five days a week, my moves become smoother. My defense, escapes, takedowns, and even attacks, have all improved. My hands suffer much less as I have loosened grips. My left ear, however, has grown a bulge at the upper edge from constant scraping. So far I have failed to drain it. The elbow escape stood out as a possible cause where I had the habit of turning to my left, ear to the mat. It burned, especially after a gi-session. To prevent a full-blown calliflower, I ordered grappling head gear. Great news is that Tim has returned to Sat's class, out of his own volition. He's bigger, stronger, and more patient than six months ago and is willing to drill with me. He seemed to start to see the moves in a different light. I was happy to show him my killer attacks and try his of-the-cuff ideas. We have had such fun. Actors Madhuri Dixit and Shahid Kapoor along with filmmaker Rohit Shetty attended a special event to commemorate the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio talk show Mann Ki Baat in Mumbai's Raj Bhavan on Sunday. The artistes spoke about the impact the program has had on the country and shared their feelings at being invited for the milestone episode. (Also read: Malayalam actor Unni Mukundan meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calls it the best 45 minutes of his life) Shahid Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit and Rohit Shetty were invited to an event at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. The radio show Mann Ki Baat first aired on October 3, 2014 and will complete 10 years next year. The Prime Minister stated in his opening remarks, "'Mann Ki Baat' is a reflection of 'Mann Ki Baat' of crores of Indians, it is an expression of their feelings." He also thanked the listeners for making the program a success over the years. Speaking at the event, Shahid Kapoor told the news agency ANI, "Modi ji wanted to stay connected with people, that is the sign of a great leader. Historically, whoever has been the greatest, most popular leaders, be it kings or prime ministers, they've always been connected to people. I think it's a simple thing but the connection is quite deep. To speak your mind and listen to what people have to say, tell them what you think, there can't be a deeper connection than that. It's a fantastic format. I enjoyed listening to it. I felt very fortunate that I was called here. It's almost ten years, so it's fantastic that I was a part of this today. It's a privilege to be here." Madhuri added, "He's such a big leader, he saying something and taking time out for the people. He's trying to understand their problems which is amazing. He's reaching different kinds of people in small towns and villages. He's doing such great work, highlighting those that many aren't really aware of, and bringing their heroism to the forefront. Not only in our country, but even globally, he is being heralded, which is amazing. If he can reach out into small villages, I am sure it is going to inspire even a lot of youngsters. Age no bar, he'lll inspire everyone." Rohit Shetty also shared that the Prime Minister was an inspiration to all citizens. Citing examples from the 100th episode, the filmmaker said that the show was bringing people together. There are events planned to celebrate the 100th episode in Indian consulates in other parts of the world as well. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Gauahar Khan and her husband Zaid Darbar hosted a baby shower in Mumbai on Sunday for their close friends and family. Zaid's brother Awez Darbar, actors Gautam Rode and Pankhuri Awasthy, along with brothers Raghu Ram and Rajeev Laxman and their partners also attended the baby shower with gifts for the mother-to-be Gauahar. (Also read: Eid special: Mom-to-be Gauahar Khan hopes she gets double Eidi from husband Zaid this time) The couple announced they were expecting their first child in December 2022. At the Mumbai venue, the couple posed for photographs in front of the paparazzi and also welcomed their guests to the baby shower. Gauahar wore a colourful floral gown, while Zaid donned a striped shirt in blue, red and green and paired it with white pants. Their guests including Gautam and Pankhuri, and Gauahar's co-workers Raghu and Rajeev also posed for the media before heading indoors. Gauahar and Zaid at the baby shower. Raghu Ram and Rajeev Laxman, Gautam Rode and Pankhuri Awasthy, and Awez Darbar all attended the baby shower. Gauahar and Zaid, who is the son of composer Ismail Darbar, had announced that they are expecting their first child in December 2022. The actor had shared a sweet video on Instagram revealing the big news. The musical video states, "One became two when Z met G and now the adventure continues as we soon become three! Gauahar & Darbar + 1, In Sha Allah seeking all your prayers and blessings in this new journey." On Saturday, Gauahar posted an Instagram video of herself, busting pregnancy myths about not working and focusing on the baby. The actor captioned the Reel, "True story !!! each persons journey is personal , n one must be allowed to experience it on their own ! Work , rest , low , high its unique ! #beyou #behappy #momtobe #reelitfeelit #trendingaudio Ma sha Allah." Wearing a blue striped shirt and white pants, she shared a positive message, telling other moms-to-be to do things according to their own personal needs. Gauahar won Bigg Boss 7 in 2013 and went to make her film debut with Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year starring Ranbir Kapoor in 2009. Last year, she appeared in three web series, Bestseller, Salt City, and Shiksha Mandal. She recently hosted the Netflix dating show IRL- In Real Love with Rannvijay Singha. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The highly-anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe film, Blade, has added a new writer to its crew. Nic Pizzolatto, best known for his work as the creator of True Detective, has joined the film as a writer. This reunion will see Pizzolatto work alongside Blade star Mahershala Ali, whom he collaborated with on Season 3 of HBO's True Detective. This exciting news comes from The Hollywood Reporter. Marvel's most skilled vampire hunter, a half-mortal, half-immortal who hunts vampires to avenge his mother's death. (Image Credit: Marvel) Pizzolatto will be working alongside Michael Starrbury, who previously received an Emmy nomination for his phenomenal work on an episode of When They See Us. Starrbury is the original writer of the Blades script, and Pizzolatto has reportedly been working on it for a few weeks now. The upcoming MCU film, directed by Lovecraft Country's Yann Demange, has faced a few hurdles during its pre-production process. Bassam Tariq, who was initially set to direct the film, left the project back in September 2022 due to creative differences. This prompted Marvel to hit a pause on Blade, with several release dates shifting as a result. Blade in Marvel Comics The vampire-action saga will feature Mahershala Ali in the titular role, alongside Mia Goth and Delroy Lindo. Ali's Blade will be a reincarnation of Marvel's most skilled vampire hunter, a half-mortal, half-immortal being who hunts vampires to avenge his mother's death. Wesley Snipes previously played the character in the original Blade trilogy from New Line Cinema. While Snipes' films were rated R, they were not a part of the MCU. Blade will be Marvel's first R-rated hero, and hopes are skyrocketing that the new film can match the original trilogy's gritty tone. Wesley Snipes as Blade. (Image Credit: Marvel) The film is set to begin production in Atlanta in late May and is currently scheduled for a September 6, 2024 release date. With Yann Demange in the director's chair, the movie is said to be a darker affair than the typical MCU movie, offering an exciting opportunity to explore the character's gritty roots. ALSO READ| | From Spider-Man to Assassin's Creed, best parkour games on PC 2023 The addition of Nic Pizzolatto to the Blade crew is an exciting development for Marvel fans. With Pizzolatto's impressive track record and a talented cast and crew, the upcoming Blade film promises to be a thrilling addition to the MCU. Fans of the original trilogy will be eager to see how the new film compares, and with a darker tone promised, Blade could become one of the most beloved Marvel movies yet. Harry Potter fans woke up to a pleasant surprise from Google on Sunday morning. The search engine paid tribute to British actor Alan Rickman with a beautiful Google Doodle. Fans took to social media to share it and remember the late beloved actor. Google Doodle has paid a tribute to Harry Potter star Alan Rickman. Alan Rickman was known for playing the feared and misunderstood Professor Snape in the Harry Potter movies, vengeful villain Hans Gruber in Die Hard, gentlemanly Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, and even voiced Marvin the Paranoid Android in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Google Doodle for Alan Rickman. On this day in 1987, Alan Rickman performed in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, a Broadway play that was instrumental in launching his career. He played the anti-hero Le Vicomte de Valmont in it and even received a Tony. He also won a Golden Globe and an Emmy during his career and despite his reputation for playing the baddie, he was also acclaimed for more sensitive roles in films such as Truly Madly Deeply, and Love, Actually. His exceptional portrayal of Professor Snape made him famous across the world. Every Harry Potter fan was heartbroken when Alan died of pancreatic cancer in 2016. Many used his line always from the films as a tribute to the actor. Alan Rickman in 2011 had also told HitFix that Harry Potter writer JK Rowling had given him one tiny, left-of-field piece of information about Snape. He said, It helped me think that he was more complicated and that the story was not going to be as straight down the line as everybody thought. If you remember when I did the first film shed only written three or four books, so nobody knew where it was really going except her. And it was important for her that I know something, but she only gave me a tiny piece of information which helped me think it was a more ambiguous route. When asked what the tiny info was, she said, I told Alan what lies behind the word 'always'. Even on Sunday, fans shared pictures of the doodle on social media and mentioned how they will remember him always. Google doodle in onore di Alan Rickman. Always, wrote a fan. Nice to see Alan Rickman being remembered by Google today, wrote another. Others shared movie recommendations for Alan fans. Since Google is Celebrating Alan Rickman. Let's just say If you haven't watched Dogma, please watch it! Alan Rickman was amazing in it, read a tweet. A fan also raised awareness for pancreatic cancer. Google is celebrating the wonderful Alan Rickman today. Honour him by not letting your loved ones die way to young, they wrote. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Matthew Lawrence, famous for his role in the popular sitcom Boy Meets World, has recently come forward with shocking allegations of sexual harassment in Hollywood. According to the actor, he was propositioned by an Oscar-winning director for a role in an upcoming Marvel film but was subsequently fired from his agency after refusing to strip for the director. "Boy Meets World" star Matthew Lawrence accuses Oscar-winning director of sexual harassment, alleges being fired after refusing to strip for role.(Twitter) In a recent episode of his podcast Brotherly Love, Lawrence expressed his support for the #MeToo movement and revealed that he had been propositioned by directors, both men, and women, for major roles in various films. He claimed that he had lost his agency after refusing to comply with the demands of a prominent Oscar-winning director who had asked him to take his clothes off and pose for Polaroids. According to Lawrence, the director promised him a role in an upcoming Marvel film if he complied with his demands. Although Lawrence did not reveal the name or location of the director, he claimed that he was not the only man this had happened to and that many of his friends had been through similar situations. Lawrence cited the example of Terry Crews, who claimed he was groped by a WME agent at a party in 2016. Lawrence said that people did not believe Crews and that he was not supported in the same way that women who come forward with similar allegations are. "They kick him out. Why? Because he's a man that represents masculinity, and I think our society is less ready to hear that situation going on with men than they are with women," Lawrence said. It remains to be seen whether any action will be taken against the director in question, but Lawrences allegations are a stark reminder that sexual harassment is a serious issue that affects people of all genders, races, and backgrounds. Sima Aunty is back. The third season of Netflixs popular reality show Indian Matchmaking is here to inspire a fresh barrage of memes, reels, and hot takes. Not to mention giving us a new roster of folks looking for love who become the subject of our judgement, unhealthy obsessions, and catty commentary. Sima Taparia has not been able to fix a match over three seasons of Indian Matchmaking. But, compared to the previous two seasons, season three seems to have received something of a lukewarm response. It would appear that the internet didnt take to it quite as much. Perhaps its because season three offers more of the same tried and tested structure with very little evolution or reinvention in the shows format. All this while the conversation around Sima Auntys old-fashioned conservative approach to marriage and relationships invites the same criticism time and again. Of course, she sees it differently. My traditional Indian values have spread throughout the world and now youngsters are saying Sima Aunty said we won't get more than 70% of our criteria and we should listen to her. I'm just spreading my traditional values around the world and that's what's made me a star she says. Following the release of season 3, over Zoom, I spoke to her about why the shows poor track record of successful matches, the strangest criteria shes ever received, and what life after the series might look like. Edited Excerpts: You've talked a lot about how much love and attention you've got from the show and how you get recognised all the time. But is there anything annoying about fame? Its never annoying. Its my pleasure that people are loving and respecting me. And they always know who I am. They always say the full sentence - Sima Taparia from Mumbai (laughs). Its now a famous tagline. They come and tell me they love the show and love my advice. Ive always felt that, through the three seasons of the show, the kind of women who come to you are these very accomplished, headstrong, successful women who know what they want. Unlike the men who seem a lot more confused and unimpressive. Would you agree? I think each person is different. It doesnt matter if theyre man or woman. Each of them is different. My job is just to help them. If theyre confused I guide them. But I don't feel that. I think both men and women are impressive. I treat them all like my sons and daughters. But theres always some criticism and I welcome critics. The show becomes popular with both responses, negative and positive. That is the beauty of this show. And everyone has their own right to an opinion. You've talked about how young people today tend to be a lot more confused about what they want. Do you think movies play a role in that at all? Do you feel people who watch too many movies have unrealistic expectations about marriage and love? Yes, the youth dreams a lot. They want everything in one person. But as a matchmaker, I just tell them that they won't get everything. They need to be realistic. The real world doesnt work like that. You won't get 100%. If you get 60-70% you should be happy. Two people have to make that 100% together. And it is possible that if you see a movie you think I must get this kind of partner. It does happen. Thats why we are here to guide them. The one thing that keeps coming up is people wondering why there hasnt been a single successful match across the three seasons. People will always find things to criticise. And they have a right to also. Netflix just showed the process of Indian matchmaking. Thats what they wanted to do. In 5 months do you think its possible that everyone will get married? No. It would be a miracle. The show only shows the process. You have to understand, this is a reality show. If it wasnt a reality show, I could have matched all 8 couples. But it is a complete reality show, so its very difficult to actually match anyone. We are just showing the process to the world nothing else. Would you ever be open to matchmaking for same-sex couples? I don't have options for that. When options come, we can think of that. Have you thought about life after the show? Would you still want to keep doing something on TV? My life has completely changed because of this show. Ive done The Fabulous Lives Of Bollywood Wives, Ive done Big Boss, Ive done a lot of brand endorsements. Im doing all of this and if more opportunities come after the show, Ill happily do it. Whats the strangest criteria youve ever been given for a match? I read an interview where you spoke about someone who was looking for a very specific height for their daughter-in-law. That was a unique case. They wanted a specific height, skin colour, and hair length for their daughter-in-law. It was a challenge but they got their demand. That happens sometimes. The directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to Air India chief executive officer (CEO) Campbell Wilson and chief of flight safety Henry Donohoe for lapses in reporting an incident of a pilot letting his friend inside the cockpit in violation of safety norms in February. DGCA had off-rostered the entire crew of Air India flight AI 915 Delhi to Dubai during which the pilot in command Captain Harsh Suri had invited his woman friend into the cockpit in violation of safety norms on February 27. HT had first reported about the breach on April 21, prompting the civil aviation regulator to launch a probe into the matter. Show cause notices have been issued to CEO Air India and Chief of Flight safety both, on April 21. For the lapses in not timely reporting of the DGCA safety instructions violations to DGCA and for the delay in investigating the incident, an official familiar with the investigation said on condition of anonymity. They have been given 15 days to respond, the official added. Air India comment was awaited till the time of going to press. Last week, DGCA had off-rostered the entire crew of Air India flight AI 915 Delhi to Dubai during which the pilot in command Captain Harsh Suri had invited his woman friend into the cockpit in violation of safety norms on February 27. Also Read: Darbhanga emerges as top airport under UDAN scheme The development was a result of HTs report that highlighted a complaint by the cabin supervisor on March 3. The complaint alleged that the captain wanted the crew to make sure the cockpit appeared welcoming before inviting his friend in, and asked that she be served food given in business class. The airline, however, had not taken action, following which the complainant had approached DGCA. The civil aviation regulator has constituted a committee to probe the matter. On April 21, Captain Suri, the first officer (co-pilot) and cabin crew, including the ones who were serving passengers in the economy class, were summoned by DGCA and their statements were recorded. The pilots, officials earlier said, will remain grounded till the investigation is over. Suri has declined to comment on the matter. The official quoted above recalled how an incident in November wherein a male passenger urinated on an elderly woman passenger on a New York-New Delhi Air India flight was reported to the top management which did not initiate any action till the matter was highlighted by the media. This (cockpit case) is prima facie a default yet again by the airline. Lack of timely intervention and action forced the whistleblower to escalate the matter to DGCA, the official said. In the wake of the February incident, Air India, in an order dated April 24, asked its crew to report all safety related matters within 12 hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Sunday weighed in on the controversy surrounding the movie The Kerala Story which falsely claims that around 32,000 missing women in the state converted, got radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at Parliament House complex during Budget Session, in New Delhi, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (PTI Photo/Vijay Verma)(PTI04_05_2023_000044A)(PTI) It may be *your* Kerala story. It is not *our* Kerala story, Shashi Tharoor said in a tweet as he posted a poster of the film that says uncovering the truth that was kept hidden. Kerala Congress has urged the state government not to give screening permission for the film which it said was full of lies and painted the Muslim community in bad light. Leader of the Opposition in Kerala legislative assembly V D Satheesan said the film was part of a vicious agenda to sow seeds of hatred and religious animosity but the people will stand united to defeat such forces. The film is a bundle of lies. It says 32,000 women were converted and sent to Islamic State-held areas. Its trailer gave enough hints of its content. It is intended to defame the state and community and Sangh Parivar outfits are behind this, said V D Satheesan. The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, is set to hit the screen on May 5. The film, written and directed by Sudipto Sen, is portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly going missing in Kerala. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday hit out at the makers of the The Kerala Story, alleging that they were pushing the propaganda of Sangh Parivar an umbrella term used to refer to a family of organizations that are affiliated with or inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janta Party of projecting the southern state as a centre of religious extremism. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Industrialist Anand Mahindra on Sunday took a swipe at Europe amid reports claiming the Western countries are buying Russian fuel through India and are paying a huge markup. Tagging external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Mahindra wrote, Hypocrisy carries a high price tagIndia was transparent about its compulsions from the start" Anand Mahindra. (HT photo) The report that Mahindra shared in the tweet cited a Bloomberg analysis titled Russian oil still powering Europes cars with help of India. In December last year, the European Union barred seaborne crude oil imports from Russia owing to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. It extended the prohibition to refined fuels two months later. India, meanwhile, snapped up cheap Russian crude, turning it into fuels like diesel, and shipping it back to Europe at a markup, reported Bloomberg. Zero Hedge, a far-right libertarian financial blog and news aggregator, said that in last August they showed how Russia was bypassing Europe's commodities embargo by selling LNG to China which was then re-selling it to Europe at a substantial mark up. "Russia was using a similar sanctions bypass for oil, this time using India instead of China, few were willing to confirm as much: after all, it would seem very shortsighted if European consumers were paying an extra surcharge to India, while Russia was not suffering any adverse consequences from Europe's laughable "sanctions," the outlet reported. Another report by analytics firm Kpler stated that India has become Europe's largest supplier of refined fuels in April while simultaneously buying record amounts of Russian crude. The firm's data showed that Europe's reliance on Indian crude oil products has grown since the ban on Russian oil. Europe's refined fuel imports from India are set to surge above 360,000 barrels a day, edging just ahead of those of Saudi Arabia, reported ANI. Several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders lauded and congratulated Narendra Modi on the 100th episode of his monthly radio show Mann Ki Baat on Sunday, with Union home minister Amit Shah claiming that through the broadcast, the prime minister crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation and builds bridges between the people and the government. PM Narendra Modi(PTI Photo) The 100th episode of Mann ki Baat, which was first aired on October 3, 2014, was broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York as well. Senior BJP leaders listened to the prime minister's address at different places across the country as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. "Through 'Mann Ki Baat', PM @narendramodi Ji crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation, building bridges between the people and the government. Platforming dialogues on different regions, languages and dialects, he strengthens India's social democracy," Amit Shah tweeted. After listening to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat at India House in London, Union minister Jitendra Singh said, "...We didn't expect such a huge turnout. The entire diaspora, I think across England, is over here at the India House...It's also an indication of the kind of trust that people have in PM Modi..." Indian high commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said the great bit for the community was to be involved with it as a community rather than individually listening to it at home. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called the programme a mass revolution. He added that Modi's show has been beneficial in bringing forth the good deeds of civilians. "Mann Ki Baat has become a social campaign, a mass revolution..," said Chouhan. Praising the prime minister after the programme, defence minister Rajnath Singh said, "...Interacting with people and connecting with them can be done only by someone who is large-hearted" Grateful to PM Sri @narendramodi Ji for inspiring millions of youngsters across the country every month & reiterating collective efforts for #NewIndia through #MannKiBaat said Tejasvi Surya, MP for Bengaluru South Lok Sabha Constituency. Meanwhile, just ahead of the airing of the programme, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted: "Today is FekuMaster Special. The 100th day of Mann ki Baat is being heralded with great fanfare. But it is Maun ki Baat on crucial issues like China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities, price rise of essential commodities, terror attacks in J&K, insults to women wrestlers, non-fulfilment of promises made to farmer organisations, corruption in so-called double-engine state governments like Karnataka, conmen with close links to BJP, etc." "IIM Rohtak does some doctored study on Mann ki Baat's impacts while its Director's academic credentials have been questioned by the Ministry of Education itself," Ramesh said. The Congress, from its official Twitter handle, also took a dig at Modi, alleging that he has been silent on issues such as Chinese aggression, unemployment, price rise, charges against industrialist Gautam Adani's business conglomerate and women's security. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I'm getting really excited about this upcoming release from Billy Bragg. Entitled, The Roaring Forty (1983-2023), it's a celebration of the best of his music, spanning the 40 years since the release in May, 1983 of his first album, Life's a Riot with Spy vs Spy. In the promo video he explains: The frustration of seeing nothing that spoke to me on Top of The Pops in the early 80s made me realise if I wanted to hear music that had something to say about the state of the world and real life, I'd have to make it myself. 18 months later I recorded my first LP. To mark the 40th anniversary of Life's A Riot with Spy vs Spy, I've compiled a number of commemorative releases that trace the arc of my career since those fateful Thursday nights. Head to the Billy Bragg website to pre-order The Roaring Forty and to get info about his upcoming UK and Ireland tour, in Autum 2023. In the meantime, I'm reliving all of the hits through the playlist he put together. Enjoy! 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 Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday hit out at the makers of the controversial movie The Kerala Story, alleging that they were pushing the propaganda of Sangh Parivar an umbrella term used to refer to a family of organizations that are affiliated with or inspired by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological fountainhead of the Bharatiya Janta Party of projecting the southern state as a centre of religious extremism. The chief minister said the makers raised the issue of the so-called love jihad despite the concept being rejected by the courts, probe agencies and even the Union home ministry. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. (PTI)(HT_PRINT) He said in a statement that the movie trailer appears to be "deliberately produced" with the alleged aim of creating communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda against the state. The chief minister also accused the Sangh Parivar of trying to destroy the religious harmony in the state by "sowing the poisonous seeds of communalism". "In the movie trailer, we see a hoax that 32,000 women in Kerala were converted and became members of the Islamic State. This bogus story is a product of the Sangh Parivar's lie factory," the CM contended in his statement. He said that freedom of expression could not be a justification for using cinema to spread sectarianism in the state and create divisions. "It is not a licence to spread lies and communalism and divide the people in the state," he added. 'The Kerala Story', written and directed by Sudipto Sen, is portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly going missing in the southern state. The film falsely claims they converted, got radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. Pinarayi Vijayan's statement came amid Congress's request to not give screening permission for the film saying it was full of lies and painted the Muslim community in bad light. The film is a bundle of lies. It says 32,000 women were converted and sent to Islamic State-held areas. Its trailer gave enough hints of its content. It is intended to defame the state and community and Sangh Parivar outfits are behind this, said opposition leader V D Satheesan. 'The Kerala Story', starring Adah Sharma, is set to be released in cinemas on May 5. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Defence minister Rajnath Singh will be on a visit to the Maldives from May 1 to 3 to hold talks with the top leadership of that country, the defence ministry said in a statementon Sunday. Defence minister Rajnath Singh will hold bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi, minister of foreign affairs Abdulla Shahid and he will also call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. (Agencies) In line with Indias commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Singh will hand over one fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces, the ministry said in a statement. The entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed during the deliberations, it said. Singh will hold bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi, minister of foreign affairs Abdulla Shahid and he will also call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The Raksha Mantris visit will be an important landmark in building the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries, the statement said, adding that India and the Maldives are working closely to address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters. Singh will also visit the ongoing project sites in the country and interact with the Indian diaspora. The development of a key naval facility in the Maldives with Indian help will end the practice of sending vessels abroad for maintenance and improve the archipelagos security capabilities, Shahid had earlier said. Work on developing the harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu base under a bilateral agreement is ongoing and the project is aimed at creating a hub for vessel maintenance. In 2021, India extended a $50 million line of credit to the Maldives for defence projects and the two countries signed a pact to develop the harbour at Uthuru Thila Falhu. In the absence of a navy, the coast guard functions as the armed maritime component of the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), which has received patrol vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft from India. The Maldives is one of the biggest beneficiaries of Indias Neighbourhood First policy. Delhi Public Works Department Minister Atishi on Sunday wrote to lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena criticizing the letter he sent to the chief secretary seeking records of the renovation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence. In the letter, L-G asked chief secretary Naresh Kumar to secure all relevant records related to the renovation of Kejriwal's residence and submit a report within 15 days. Delhi PWD minister Atishi (PTI) Lodging her objection, Atishi wrote, I have seen media reports of your letter dated 27.04.2023 addressed to the Chief Secretary, Delhi in which you have sought that the records relating to PWD renovations at the Delhi Chief Minister's official residence be seized and taken into protective custody at your instance and further that a factual report on it be submitted to you. Needless to say the insinuations made in the letter are baseless and devoid of merits and have been made for political reasons. But even more importantly the letter seeks to exercise a power that is wholly outside the jurisdiction and authority of the office of the Lieutenant-Governor, she added. A Raj Niwas order issued on April 27 cited reports on alleged "gross irregularities" in the renovation of the residence by the PWD. LG, while taking note of media reports and keeping in view the sensitivity of the issue, has desired that all relevant records in this matter be immediately secured and taken into protective custody. Subsequently, after the records are examined, a factual report in the matter be submitted within 15 days for the perusal of the LG," said the order issued to the chief secretary of the Delhi government. AAP leaders have defended Kejriwal citing expenses on the residences of the prime minister and the chief ministers of BJP-ruled states. The Congresss foremost campaigner for the upcoming polls, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is a son of the soil who speaks the language people easily understand. He has been addressing four public gatherings everyday despite a painful herpes infection on his left arm, which he can barely move. Siddaramaiah spoke to Hindustan Times on his partys prospects and the general outlook ahead of the elections. Edited excerpts: PREMIUM Congress leader Siddaramaiah. (PTI) As the partys star campaigner, youve travelled across the state. Whats your projection for the Congress in the May 10 elections? 130-plus (out of 224). I met your old colleague and erstwhile leader in the Janata Dal (Secular), Mr Deve Gowda a couple of days ago. On being reminded of the 2013 elections when you became CM with a clear majority, he dismissively said Those days are over, that itll never happen again See, its his illusion. He claims that his party will win 123 seats. Is it possible? In 2004 we won only 59 seats when I myself, former Union minister CM Ibrahim, Dr Madadevappa (former state minister) and Satish Jharkaholi (the Belgaum strongman whos now the Congresss state working president) were with the JD(S). (Gowdas son) Kumaraswamy became the CM (with the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party) after I was expelled from the party in 2005. He was there as CM for 20 months. Then elections took place. How many seats did they win? Down from 59, they got only 28. In 2013, they got 40 seats and in 2018, when Kumaraswamy became CM again (with Congress support), they won only 37 seats. How can they possibly win the numbers Gowda is now claiming? You mean the figures cited by Gowda are a pipe dream? Yes, yes. Gowda blames you for the 2021 fall of Kumaraswamys coalition he set up with the Congress in 2018. He didnt specifically name you but dropped enough hints to suggest that you were among the Congress leaders who played disrupters. Such being the case, may I ask why three MLAs from the JD(S) joined the BJP besides 14 from our party. Regardless of who they blame, Kumaraswamy lost the government because he did not take the MLAs and workers into confidence. As CM he lived in Taj Westend for the 14 months he was in power. How can anyone run a government from a hotel? The MLAs got fed up with him. They became unhappy. Thats why they all went with the BJP. He had no one else but himself to blame? Kumaraswamy himself was responsible, nobody else. If the Congress is winning 130-plus indeed, why did you the other day say that the impending elections will be your last? Im asking because politicians normally turn elections into swansongs if theyre not confident of the outcome. You are just 75. Im 76. Okay, youre 76. But Deve Gowda is 89 and (Congress president) Mallikarjun Kharge is 80. They are older than you. Theyre elder to me its okay (but) I dont want to be in electoral politics after Im 80. Im 76 now and will be 81 after five years. Id be active in politics thereafter but will not contest elections. Does that mean if you become CM again, youd demit office in the last year of your tenure and let someone else take over? No, no. I was CM earlier for a full five years. I did not want to run away from responsibility. Thats why I contested the last (2018) election. This time Im in the race because the BJPs has been the most corrupt and communal government which is spreading hatred in the state. Im contesting again to dislodge this government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi mocked you the other day, saying youre seeking votes as a retirement benefit. What do you have to say to him? Hes a great liar. The country never had a PM who lies in such a manner. But Deve Gowda had praise for him. Mutually, the PM and BS Yeddyurappa also had a good word for Gowda. When I asked Gowda, he said... (Interjects) Theres an internal understanding between Deve Gowda and Narendra Modi and Yeddyurappa. Which means the JD(S) will not support the Congress if it falls short of a majority? That question does not arise because the Congress will have a comfortable majority. My ground assessment is that well get 130-plus seats. If you get 130-plus, whats your assessment of the seats in the BJPs kitty and that of the JD(S)? The JD(S) may get 20-25 and the BJP 60-65. Are you and DK Shivakumar (the other CM aspirant in the Congress) really working as a team? We are cooperating with each other. The gas leak from a chemical plant in Ludhiana's Giaspura area in which at least 11 people were killed on Sunday has reminded people of many such incidents over the past one year. NDRF team officials wear protected suit and mask arrive for the rescue operation after a gas leak incident occur at a factory in Giaspura area of Ludhiana, (ANI) The following is a jog-back to the incidents resulting from poisonous gases seeping into the air. 1. Ammonia gas leak in Haryana's Jhajjar A gas leak was reported at a factory in the Jhajjar district of Haryana on April 28, 2022, in which no one was injured or affected. The leakage of ammonia was reported from a 'Kathha' making factory. 2. Vishakhapatnam's laboratory gas leak On June 3, 178 women workers fell ill following a gas leak at the laboratory in Atchutapuram of Andhra Pradesh's Vishakhapatnam. The workers fell sick after they inhaled the poisonous gas that leaked at Porus Laboratories Pvt Ltd. 3. Balaghat gas leak Five people died due to the leakage of poisonous gas in a well in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat on June 8, 2022. 4. Andhra gas leak As many as 121 women workers were affected after gas was leaked in a garment factory in Andhra's Anakapalle district on August 3, 2022. 5. Odisha's Balasore prawn plant On September 28, 2022, 28 workers fell ill after inhaling ammonia gas that leaked from a prawn processing plant in Odisha's Balasore district. The workers who came in contact with the gas complained of a burning sensation in the throat, nose and respiratory tract. No loss of life was reported in the incident. 6. Ammonia gas leak in Aligarh On September 29, an incident of ammonia gas leak at a meat factory in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh was reported in which 50 people were rushed to hospital. 7. Kasturba Government College chemical gas leak in Hyderabad On November 18, at Hyderabad's Kasturba Government College, 25 students suffered from giddiness after a gas leak in a college lab. 8. Ammonia gas leak at Kamalgazi Pepsi plant in West Bengal On November 21, an ammonia gas leak was reported from the Kamalgazi Pepsi plant in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in which no one was injured or affected. 9. Ammonia gas leak in Kakdwip ice factory in West Bengal On November 25, two local residents in West Bengal's Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas fell sick after they came in contact with ammonia gas which was leaking from an ice plant. 10. Chlorine gas leakage in Swimming pool in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada Ten students aged between 8 to 14 years fell ill following chlorine gas leakage in a municipal swimming pool in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh on December 7. The accident took place in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Swimming Pool while the children were practising in the pool. The Kuno National Park (KNP) of Madhya Pradesh has inadequate space for the cheetahs translocated from Africa, a former official of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has claimed after two felines died in less than a month. The national park is spread over an area of 748 square kilometre and has a buffer zone of 487 square kilometre and experts suggest that a cheetah needs about 100 sq km area for its movement. (Also Read | Poacher arrested from Kuno National Park, forest officers say no risk for cheetahs) A cheetah at the Kuno National Park. (PTI) Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala, the former dean of WII, told news agency PTI that the Kuno National Park has inadequate space for these animals but maintained that the felines can thrive if they can adapt to the larger landscape in Kuno which includes agricultural parts, forested habitats, and communities living within the area. He also suggested it is critical to establish multiple populations managed as a metapopulation, where animals are moved from one location to another, according to PTI. A 750 sq km area alone is not sufficient...We have to make (more than one) cheetah population and manage it like a metapopulation where you move animals from one place to another. It is very essential to establish a second, third population," PTI quoted Jhala as saying. "So, it all depends on how we manage the communities, ecotourism, giving them incentives, making sure that (human-animal) conflict levels are appropriately compensated if there are any," he added. When asked about the metapopulation, he said KNP is one site, Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve (in Rajasthan) is one site, Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary and Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary in MP are two other sites. Each of these sites in itself is not viable. To shift one or three cheetahs after one, two generations from here to there is called metapopulation management so that there is genetic exchange. This is an important exercise. Without this, we can't manage cheetahs in our country, he said. Without this, we can't have viability in the long run, Jhala added. A six-year-old cheetah brought from South Africa, named Uday, died last Sunday weeks after Sasha, brought in the first batch of cheetahs from Namibia, died of renal failure. A post-mortem examination of Uday indicated a heart attack was the cause of death, with experts suggesting that the condition may have itself been triggered due to a toxin that entered the big cats bloodstream. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which is overseeing the ambitious cheetah reintroduction project in the country, has called a meeting in New Delhi on Monday in the wake of the death of two cheetahs. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh campaigned in poll-bound Karnataka, he posted a photo on Sunday in front of a store adjacent to Koppa's Gajanana Bhavana restaurant. Making it a poll pitch, Jairam Ramesh said the owner of the store where Nandini products are available -- as written on the board -- was relieved that a Congress government would be coming to power and that "Nandini would get a fresh lease of life". Read | What is Amul-Nandini controversy that erupted political slugfest in Karnataka? Jairam Ramesh posted a photo from Karnataka's Koppa which had a Nandini reference. "The owner in Koppa was heaving a sigh of relief that a Congress Sarkara was taking over shortly and Nandini would get a fresh lease of life," Jairam Ramesh tweeted as Nandini became a major issue ahead of the election. In April, Gujarat's Amul announced the launch of fresh milk and curd in Bengaluru which was met with stiff opposition as the state has its own dairy brand Nandini. As the Congress blamed the BJP for the entry of Amul, the BJP said the actual entry of Amul in Karnataka took place during the Congress regime. Rahul Gandhi too made a statement as he bought Nandini's ice cream and called it the best during the campaigning. "Nandini is Karnataka's own. It has been made by your hard work. During Congress' time, there used to be so high production of milk through Nandini that we used to give milk to school children. Now the BJP has created a fake shortage of milk to bring in Gujarat's Amul. What happened in the last three years?" Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said on Nandini on Saturday. Jairam Ramesh in an interview with PTI said Karnataka needs Vitamin P after four years of BJP rule and P stands for performance, not polarisation. The Congress would get a "clear majority" that would render "Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary, Jairam Ramesh said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Eleven people including two children are feared dead and many others are feared trapped inside a factory on Sua Road near Sherpur Chowk in Punjab's Ludhiana after a gas leak on Sunday after it was first noticed first around 7:15am. According to initial reports, the gas leaked from a block with different establishments including - a cold drink store, a grocery store and a medical clinic. Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as an official of Gujarat chief minister's office (CMO) and president of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), and on the charge of raping a model on the promise of giving her a job, an official said here on Sunday. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 (pretending to hold any particular office as public servant), 417 (cheating), 467 (forgery), and 376 (rape). The accused conman, Viraj Patel, was arrested on Saturday, he said, adding that his real identity came to light after he was brought to a police station in Vadodara following his quarrel with someone. "The man was brought to the police station on Friday night along with the model accompanying him after he entered into a quarrel with someone at a multiplex. The accused initially told the police that he was a CMO official who had come to watch a movie with the woman. He also claimed that he was the president of the GIFT City," Assistant Commissioner of Police A V Katkad said. When then police checked his identity, it was found that he used a different surname on his PAN card, while there was no surname mentioned on his Aadhaar card. During his interrogation, Patel revealed that he was neither working in the CMO nor was he the president of GIFT City, he said. After his real identity came to light, the model from Mumbai accompanying him claimed that he raped her on the pretext of giving her a job as the brand ambassador of GIFT City and promised to marry her, Katkad said. In the preliminary investigation, it was found that he is a resident of Gandhinagar, the ACP said, adding that further probe into the case was handed over to the city crime branch. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 (pretending to hold any particular office as public servant), 417 (cheating), 467 (forgery), and 376 (rape), the police officer said. 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This AI can cut back on hundreds of hours with its bulk article generator, producing content in 20+ languages including English, Spanish, French, and more. Rated 4.9/5 stars on ProductHunt and Capterra and a Spring 2023 High Performer on G2, the Worldplay AI Content Generator can keep your ideas ranking high. Get a lifetime subscription for 49% off at just $99.99. Prices subject to change. The journey to 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat has been truly special,' prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Sunday, ahead of the 11 am broadcast of this historic edition of his monthly radio programme. PM Modi recording 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat (ANI) Do tune in at 11 AM for #MannKiBaat100. This has been a truly special journey, in which we have celebrated the collective spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspiring life journeys, he said in his tweet. The first episode of Mann Ki Baat was aired on October 3, 2014, a Friday. In recent years, however, the address has been broadcast at 11 am on the last Sunday of each month. Accordingly, the previous edition was aired on March 26. As per a July 2021 statement in Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the main purpose of the programme is to establish a dialogue with the citizens on issues of day-to-day governance. 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat The historic 100th episode will be watched live at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, India's mission to the UN announced. The London-based India's High Commission to the UK, too, has made arrangements for people to watch the special telecast. Back home in India, the Union government, as well as states governed by PM Modi's BJP, are organising events to mark the occassion. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday hit out at the Congress on a host of issues, including Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's "Modi a poisonous snake" remark. Sitharaman said: "Abusing the prime minister is part of the Congress DNA". Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. (Deepak Salvi ) Abusing the PM is in Congresss DNA. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi talks about opening a love shop, while on the other hand, his party president calls PM Modi a poisonous snake. The more the Congress abuses PM Modi, the more strongly the public will stand with him. Whenever Congress feels that they cannot defeat anyone, they shower abuse over him in the same manner, Sitharaman said. The finance minister further countered the grand old party's criticism of Mann ki Baat, saying that there's no politics in Mann Ki Baat, and Modi speaks to people like a 'pradhan sevak' and not a prime minister. Also read | 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat: 'A truly special journey, tweets PM Modi ahead of broadcast There is no politics in Mann Ki Baat... There is positivity in the spirit of Mann ki Baat. If the Congress is obsessed with talking about the agenda set by its first family, it's up to the party," she said. When reporters asked her about wrestlers protesting for the last 8 days at Delhis Jantar Mantar, Sitharaman said, If you listen to all the episodes of PMs Mann Ki Baat, he has raised every issue. It is not a matter of any one class, but every important issue has been discussed. Earlier in the day, the Congress took a swipe at Modi over his 100th 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast, saying there was much fanfare in the run-up to the episode but it was "maun ki baat (silence)" on critical issues such as the border dispute with China, stock manipulation allegations against the Adani Group, "increasing" economic inequalities and the wrestlers' protest. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined the Indian diaspora in New Jersey to listen to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat as the monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode today. External affairs minister S Jaishankar. Union Minister Jitendra Singh also listened to the broadcast with the Indian diaspora in London and said that PM Modi has raised the esteem of the Indian Diaspora abroad, statement released by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The world is looking up to the Indian Diaspora with great hope and expectation and it is high time that they also rise to the occasion, he added. The Mann Ki Baat programme started on October 3, 2014 and is broadcast in 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects and 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. The 100th episode of PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat is also being broadcast live at the UN headquarters. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 100-year-old Gujarat woman, Ramiben, who is currently living in New Zealand hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the true son of the soil and a leader with strong determination during the special broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. The centenarian led the event attended by 100 Indian-origin women at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland. 100-year-old Ramiben blessing PM Modi during the broadcast of 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' in New Zealand's Auckland. (ANI) Members of the Indian diaspora, the New Zealand Parliament, and the countrys political leaders were also present at the event which was organised by the NID Foundation and Indian High Commission at New Zealand. According to an official statement, Ramiben got emotional during the programme after seeing the picture of Prime Minister Modi on-screen, and blessed the PM for continuing the efforts to lead India to new heights as she said Sada shukhi raho. It is an honour to be a part of the historic 100th episode. PM Modi is the true son of the soil and a leader with strong determination. He has done a lot for the development of Gujarat as the Chief Minister of the state," Ramiben said as the event concluded. Now, as the Prime Minister of India, he has been working with similar zeal for taking the country on the path of progress and development and realizing the vision of a Developed India by 2047 in Amrit Kaal, she added. High commissioner of India to New Zealand, Neeta Bhushan, and honorary consul of India, Bhav Dhillon, were also present at the special screening of 100th Mann Ki Baat episode. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) director-general Audrey Azoulay congratulated on the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' a flagship radio broadcasting programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the organisation and India have long common history in all areas including education, science, culture and information. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).(REUTERS) Azoulay talked about UNESCO's target to provide everyone in the world access to quality education by 2030. In this area, she asked PM Modi about the Indian way to achieve the target. Responding to the UNESCO chief, PM Modi recalled instances from the show where he mentioned names of those who worked selflessly towards imparting education. He recalled names of late D Prakash Rao, who was tea seller and made his life's mission to educate underprivileged children; Sanjay Kashyap, who runs digital library in villages in Jharkhand; Hemlata NK, who helped children through e-learning during Covid-19. Referring to G-20 summit which is being headed by India this year, Azoulay asked how the country is going to put culture and education at the top of the international agenda. PM Modi both cultural preservation and education remained the favourite topics in the show. Be it Lakshadweep's Kummel Brothers Challengers Club or Karnataka's Kavemshri Ki Kala Chetna Manch, people from every corner of the country have sent me such examples through letters. We also talked about three competitions for composing patriotic songs, rangoli and lullaby, he said. He added that the resolve to further enriching the diverse global culture has strengthened. Vladimir Putin faces threat of military mutiny? Ukraine asserts Bakhmut gains Russian President Vladimir Putin might face "military mutiny" from the Wagner Group, former Russian commander Igor Girkin warned. Read more Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Reuters) Mann ki Baat: Live broadcast at UN, special screenings for PM Modi's 100th show The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made massive arrangements for the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 100th episode of 'Mann ki Baat' show on Sunday. Read more Met Gala 2023: When and how to watch Met Gala red carpet livestream, timing, who is attending, theme explained and more The countdown has begun to fashion's biggest night - Met Gala. The first Monday of May is celebrated annually as Met Monday. Read more Homi Adajania says Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo explores family politics and manipulation In the upcoming drama series Saas Bahu Aur Flamingo, the central family members are all hiding something from one another. Read more 'It was completely wrong. He should've seen Marsh...': Shastri, Pietersen rip Umran Malik apart after 22-run over vs DC A new and improved Umran Malik was the talk of IPL 2022. His raw pace and ability to pick wickets left veterans and experts all praise for the youngsters who was soon handed his debut India cap a month after the tournament. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Nepals President Ramchandra Paudel has been discharged from a hospital in New Delhi after undergoing treatment for a chest-related ailment and he will return to Kathmandu on Sunday night, the President's Office said. Nepals President Ramchandra Paudel. (REUTERS) Paudel, 78, was airlifted to India on April 19 for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi, after he complained of shortness of breath. "President Paudel is flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday through the regular flight of Nepal Airlines after he was discharged from the hospital following his successful treatment," the Presidents Office said in a statement here. He has gone through various health check-ups and treatment at the AIIMS, the statement said. Doctors involved in Paudel's treatment have advised him to rest for a few more weeks. "His health conditions have now improved significantly, said the statement issued by the Presidents Office Spokesperson Sagar Acharya. President Paudel has thanked Nepalese and Indian health personnel involved in his treatment, government officials, security personnel, all brothers and sisters from within and outside the country who have expressed concern about his health and the government of India, the statement added. Paudel's family sources confirmed that the president would be flying back to Kathmandu at 8:30 pm on Sunday via a regular flight of the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines. He was admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu on April 18 after he complained of health problems and was referred to AIIMS, New Delhi, for further treatment after he was found to have developed a lung infection. Paudel of the Nepali Congress was elected as the president of Nepal last month, in a relief to the fragile coalition government. The government has received over 20,000 submissions from the public as feedback over the proposed digital data protection law, officials aware of the matter have said, adding that the response is manifolds more than the typical suggestions for tweaks they receive, The draft will need to be approved by the Cabinet, before it is tabled in Parliament. (AP) A draft of the digital data protection bill was shared in November, 2022, and became controversial for a number of provisions that gave the government a variety of exemptions from privacy protections, and falling afoul of the 2017 Supreme Court judgement that held privacy as a fundamental right. Usually, the government receives 1,500 to 2,000 suggestions, officials familiar with the matter said. The Bill is set to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament this year. According to one of the officials who asked not to be named, the government has taken into consideration Europes GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which is largely regarded as the standard-bearer for privacy protections, and has combined them with measures that do away with cumbersome compliances for businesses. Also Read: The how of data protection - The importance of autonomy and consultation There will be checks and balances, especially to regulate sharing of personal data with a data fiduciary, the official said. In case personal data has to be shared by a data principal, there will be safeguards to ensure that the third party does not divulge it either, the person added, without disclosing specifics. The draft will need to be approved by the Cabinet, before it is tabled in Parliament. The government, including ministers, at the time defended the draft, saying it struck the right balance of protection while being industry friendly. One of the respondents who sent in suggestions, Supreme Court lawyer and founder of Cybersaathi, NS Nappinai, submitted that protection of individual rights and balancing the requirements of industry against abuse by them of personal data is critical to a robust personal data protection enactment. To formulate a draft that neither protects individuals from corporate or Government excesses does not spell out a robust privacy legislation. Also Read: Looking at the cross-border data flow regime in the DPDP Bill 2022 Exemptions and protection of governance requirements are essential but the same ought to be proportionate. Any such exemptions ought to be clearly laid down within the parameters of the parent Act and not be left to subordinate legislations, her response stated. With reference to childrens data, Nappinai said that the provision gives unfettered powers to the executive is untenable and ought to be deleted. Similarly, digital rights body Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) too flagged issues, saying the 2022 draft allowed data fiduciaries to deem or assume consent of the data principal if the processing is considered necessary as per certain situations which Clause 8 lays down. Here, essentially the DPDPB, 2022 allows for non-consensual processing of personal data. It is essential that consent is the foundational framework upon which any data protection regulation in the country is built and any derogation from it needs to be tailored narrowly, it said in its response to the ministry. In the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday credited his monthly radio broadcast for allowing him to stay connected with people without the impediments of protocol and security. Prime Minister Narendra Modi address 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat (Twitter Photo) Today, we are completing the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat with the same spirit of Charaiveti Charaiveti. In strengthening the social fabric of India, Mann Ki Baat is like the thread of a rosary, holding each bead together, he said. Addressing the 100th edition of the show, PM Modi said the radio broadcast showed him the way to connect with the people, while the official duties and protocol remain confined to the system. He said that it had become a catalyst for social causes. Mann Ki Baat has become a spiritual journey of my being, he added. Also Read: As Mann ki Baat turns 100, PM Modis thank-you to million of Indians: Top quotes This programme has never let me stay away from you. I remember when I was the chief minister of Gujarat, it was natural to meet and interact with the common people there. The work and tenure of the chief minister is like that, but in 2014 after coming to Delhi, I realised life was quite different, he said. I did not leave my home decades ago so that one day it will become difficult to connect with my countrymen, he added. The PM who has during his tenure stressed the need for government functionaries and his party colleagues to remain connected with people, said he was dismayed by the distance between him and the people. He recalled the journey of the radio broadcast aired which made its debut on October 3, 2014, and said that this show has given him a platform to share and celebrate the success stories of ordinary Indians. ...Every month I witnessed brilliant aspects of my countrymen. One after the other, I witnessed the pinnacle of hard work and dedication. I never feel that I am even slightly away from you. For me, this is not just a programme, rather it is faith, worship and resolve. Just as people worship deities by offering prasad, for me, Mann Ki Baat is that offering at the feet of my countrymen, he said. Paying tribute to Lakshman Rao Inamdar, one of his mentors, for teaching him the virtue of recognising and imbibing good qualities, the PM said, I had a mentor we used to call him Vakil Sahab, he used to always say that we must worship the good qualities in others, whoever it might be an associate or an opponent, we must always try to know the good qualities and imbibe those. His words have always inspired me and the broadcast has become an important medium of learning from others. The PM also acknowledged the publicity his show has garnered across the globe. While it was aired live at the United Nations headquarters on Sunday, the PM recalled how his joint address with the then US President Barack Obama was discussed across the world. The PM said social causes that were amplified by the broadcast, included the initiatives to reverse the skewed gender ratio (Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao); the cleanliness mission (Swachh Bharat Mission) and the support for local products (Vocal for Local). It is difficult to believe that Mann Ki Baat has traversed so many months and years. Each episode was unique and every time there was the novelty of sharing new successes and stories from all corners of the country and of people of all ages...whatever the issue may be, Mann Ki Baat associated with it. It became a peoples movement, he said. While he reconnected with some of the change-makers and trailblazers on the broadcast that he had earlier spoken, the PM also stated that some of the exchanges made him emotional. On many occasions, I got emotional and was swept away by emotions... he said adding that the public broadcaster All India Radio that records his show has had to redub some portions when he expressed his emotions. I have received thousands of letters from all of you, lakhs of messages. Many a time while reading your letters, I got emotional, filled with emotions. The listeners of Mann Ki Baat deserve congratulations. Mann Ki Baat is the Mann Ki Baat of crores of Indians, it is the expression of their feelings, PM Modi added. Also Read: On Mann ki Baat, UNESCO chief asks Indian way to impart education globally The PM also took a question from UNESCO director-general Audrey Azoulay on how India intends to put culture and education at the top of the international agenda at a time it is chairing the G20. UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by 2030. With the largest population in the world, could you please explain the Indian way of achieving this objective? she asked. Responding to her question, the PM said both issues are favourite topics of Man Ki Baat. India he said, has a rich history of education as well as conservation and promotion of culture. ...In this direction, the country is making commendable efforts, be it the national education policy, the option of studying in regional languages or technology integration in education, Modi said. The PM cited the efforts made by the government to check dropout rates and initiatives by individuals who contribute to teaching those in need. I firmly believe that significant changes can be brought through collective efforts. This year, in which we are moving forward in the Azadi Ka Amritkaal, we are also presiding over the G20. This is also one of the reasons why our resolve to enrich diverse global cultures along with education has become stronger, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing his 100th episode of his monthly radio program Mann ki Baat on Sunday said that this is the "Mann Ki Baat" of millions of Indians and an expression of their emotions. PM Modi recording 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat (ANI) Read here: Watch: S Jaishankar joins Indian diaspora in US to listen to PM's Mann Ki Baat The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. PM Modi top quotes: Mann ki Baat has become festival that celebrates India's positivity, its people. Mann ki Baat gave me solution to connect with people, it's not merely a programme but faith, spiritual journey to me. Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', issues raised in Mann ki Baat became public movements. I have got thousands of letters, lakhs of messages. I have tried to go through more and more of them. I got emotional while reading your letters on many occasions, was swept away by emotions, and then held myself. In every episode, the spirit of service and capability of the countrymen have inspired others. In this program, every countryman becomes an inspiration to other countrymen. In a way, every episode of Mann Ki Baat prepares the ground for the next episode. "Selfie with Daughter" campaign is not about technology or anything else, but about daughters. Mann Ki Baat has showcased stories of talented individuals across diverse fields, from promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat to Make in India and space startups. 'Mann Ki Baat' has always moved ahead with goodwill, the spirit of service-spirit and the sense of duty. Tourism sector is growing rapidly in the country. Be it our natural resources, rivers, mountains, ponds or our pilgrimage sites, it is important to keep them clean. This year, where we are moving forward in the Azadi Ka Amritkaal, we are also presiding over the G-20. This is also one of the reasons why our resolve to enrich Diverse Global Cultures along with education has become stronger. (With inputs from agencies) A new video has surfaced: "Don Carmignani, the ex-fire commissioner who was allegedly beaten by a homeless man with a crowbar, is now accused of macing several homeless men himself in eight different incidents." Don Carmignani, the ex-fire commissioner who was allegedly beaten by a homeless man with a crowbar, is now accused of macing several homeless men himself in eight different incidents. Footage of a man attacking several homeless people has been released: pic.twitter.com/Yymyn8VDtQ Mission Local (@MLNow) April 26, 2023 As reported by Mission Local, Carmignani has claimed that Garrett Allen Doty attacked him with a crowbar. That is not the entire story, as video footage offers a different narrative. "That attack, however, allegedly came only after Carmignani purportedly bear-sprayed Doty. Police sources in mid-April told Mission Local about the series of prior attacks on homeless people in the neighborhood, which we published on April 13. Carmignani's attorney denied that the vigilante behind the spate of anti-homeless attacks was his client." The New York Post reports that the charges against Doty were dropped. "Prosecutors heeded Doty's arguments and ruled that the attack was not senseless they said Carmignani instead instigated the vicious assault after deploying pepper spray on the homeless man, who lived outside his mother's property in the city's affluent Marina District." For more on the crisis of homelessness see Matt Desmond's multiple award-winning, including the Pulitzer Prize, book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City. "Evicted transforms our understanding of poverty and economic exploitation while providing fresh ideas for solving one of twenty-first-century America's most devastating problems. Its unforgettable scenes of hope and loss remind us of the centrality of home, without which nothing else is possible." This week, some notable individuals have been in news, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose "Mann ki Baat" has reached a milestone of 100 episodes since its inception. Also, the upcoming coronation of King Charles III on May 6 has been widely reported. Apart from these two, there are some other newsmakers who have been in the limelight. Take a closer look. Coronation of King Charles III is scheduled on May 6. PM Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popular monthly radio programme, "Mann Ki Baat," has reached a significant milestone with its 100th episode. This special episode is particularly noteworthy as it will be aired at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The programme, and it highlights the global reach of the programme. Through this programme, which started on October 3, 2014, PM Modi has sought to connect with people from all walks of life and has used the platform to highlight important social issues, share success stories. King Charles III: The highly anticipated Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6. This historic event is a religious ceremony that marks the beginning of King Charles III's reign and symbolizes the continuity of the British monarchy. The Coronation is a tradition that has been observed for over a thousand years and serves as a pivotal moment in British history. It represents the embodiment of the monarchy and the nation, as the new king or queen is presented to the people as the rightful successor to the throne. Kim Jongs Sister, Kim Yo Jong: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's sister Kim Yo Jong has issued a warning against a recent US-South Korean agreement, stating that it would only increase the danger on the Korean peninsula, AFP reported. The agreement, which was made following a meeting between the leaders of South Korea and the US involves strengthening deterrence against North Korea and threatening a nuclear response if the country uses its own arsenal. In response, Kim Yo Jong stated that North Korea was convinced that its nuclear deterrent should be further perfected, suggesting that the country is unlikely to be deterred by threats of military action. Byju CEO Raveendran: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at three locations belonging to Byju Raveendran, the founder and CEO of Think and Learn Private Ltd, which operates the edtech platform BYJU's. The probe agency has alleged that the company received foreign direct investment (FDI) amounting to 28,000 crore over the period of 2011 to 2023. During the same time, around 9,754 crore was transferred to overseas jurisdictions as part of overseas direct investment. Mark Zuckerberg : Meta chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg's wealth shot up by $10 billion to $87 billion ( 7.11 lakh crore), this amid layoffs of thousands of employees in recent times, according to Bussiness Insider report. On Thursday, Meta stocks rose by 14 per cent on Thursday after the social media behemoth reported revenues of #28.6 billion in the first quarter of this year. Zuckerberg's wealth rose by highest margin in over a year, making him the 12th richest person on the planet as per the Bloomberg Billionaire Index. The 38-year-old tech boss derives most of his fortune from his stake in Meta. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday trained guns at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his venomous snake barb at him, saying the people of Karnataka will give a befitting reply to the opposition party in the upcoming assembly polls for making such remarks against him. Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves at supporters during a roadshow ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, in Mysuru, on Sunday. (PTI) The prime minister, who was on a two-day visit to the poll-bound state, addressed three public meetings in the Vokkaliga-dominated Old Mysuru region. Polling for the 224-member Karnataka legislative assembly will be held on May 10 and counting of votes on May 13. They are comparing me to the snake and seeking votes from people. But the snake is a garland on Lord Shivas neck. For me, people of the country are like Lord Shiva. So, Im fine with being the snake that adorns the neck of the people, Modi said while addressing a rally in Kolar. I know that the people of Karnataka, the land of saints and sanskar (culture), will give a befitting reply to Congresss abuses through votes, he said. The anger of the people against the Congress will reflect through votes on May 10. During an election campaign on April 27, Kharge likened Modi to a venomous snake. Dont make a mistake. Modi is like a venomous snake. If you say, no, its not poisonous, lets lick it and find out, dont go to lick it. If you lick, you die, Kharge had said in Kalburgi district. Facing mounting criticism, he later backtracked his statement and said his intention was not to hurt anyones feelings and that he was referring to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the partys ideology in his remark. Modi, who held a series of rallies in north Karnataka and a roadshow in Bengaluru a day ago, ended his two-day trip to the poll-bound state by taking part in a mega roadshow in Mysuru on Sunday evening. Attacking the Congress on the issue of corruption, the prime minister said the identity of the grand old party was that of 85% corruption during its rule. During Congresss rule its top leader and then prime minister used to proudly say that if he sends 1 from Delhi,15 paise reaches the ground (to the people), he said, adding that it was an indication that the Congress used to snatch 85 paise of the poor. On the other hand, under the BJP rule, 100% of the money meant for the poor reaches them. In fact, we sent 29 lakh crore in the last nine years to beneficiaries accounts through direct benefit transfer. If it was Congress, considering its 85% commission, about 24 lakh crore would not have reached beneficiaries, he alleged. Modis remarks came as counter to the 40% commission allegation levelled against the BJP-led Karnataka government by the Congress. Referring to the Gandhi family, Modi said that their close associates were out on bail in cases related to irregularities worth thousands of crores. Since top leaders of the party are involved in corruption, Congress cannot be anti-corruption. Only BJP can fight corruption, Modi claimed. Congress is an outdated engine. Development halted because of them and they have a bundle of fake guarantees, he said. They betrayed the public, but the BJP fulfilled all of them through development works. Addressing another public meeting at Channapatna in Ramanagara district, a bastion of the Janata Dal (Secular), Modi called the JD(S) the B-team of Congress. The Congress and the JD(S) are responsible for the instability. They pretend to be two separate parties but are one in their hearts. They are together in Delhi. They assist each other in Parliament, Modi said. Both are dynastic parties and encourage corruption. Both the parties see opportunity in instability...For a very long time, Karnataka has seen the drama of unstable government. Unstable governments provide a chance to loot, he said, adding that this time Karnataka has decided to end the decades of coalition politics. The BJP has been trying to make inroads into the Old Mysuru region, which sends 61 legislators to the 224-member assembly, where the party has not performed well in previous polls. Hitting back, state Congress chief DK Shivakumar said instead of keeping a tab of criticism by Opposition parties against him, the prime minister should give an account of his partys achievements in the state. The prime minister and chief ministers of different (BJP-ruled) states are coming to campaign for the BJP. Modi, who is called as Vishwaguru, is in such a big position that he is coming to the state and giving an account of the criticisms against him. But the people of the state are waiting for him to give an account of their achievements and development programmes, Shivakumar said. Congress in-charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala took to twitter to attack the PM. On the second day of PM Modis FLOP show in Karnataka, one thing is absolutely clear - Modi ji is giving excuses and justifying #40Percentsarkara & Corrupt, Commission Culture! he said. Modi ji, dont lower the dignity of the PMs chair by justifying 40% commission. People of Karnataka have made up their minds - No More #PayCM, we want 5 Guarantees of Congress! The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made massive arrangements for the broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 100th episode of 'Mann ki Baat' show on Sunday. The 100th episode of Modis monthly radio address will air at 11am. The live broadcast of the programme in the early hours of Sunday in the UN headquarters will be historic and unprecedented. It will be aired in the UN's Trusteeship Council Chamber. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 'Mann ki Baat' show. BJP targets 4 lakh venues for 'Mann ki Baat' The BJP is going all out to make the 100th episode of Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast an "unprecedented" mass outreach programme and has planned to organise facilities at 100 venues on average in every assembly constituency across the country for people to listen to it. BJP sources told news agency PTI that the party will make arrangements at around four lakh places, including abroad, for people to hear Modi's address, with party president JP Nadda overseeing the entire exercise to make it a "historic" success. In all Raj Bhawans, official residences of governors, and the homes of chief ministers from the BJP or its allies, arrangements have been made for eminent citizens to listen to the programme. Broadcast live at United Nations headquarters In a historic moment, the episode will be broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modis "Mann Ki Baat" is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ! the Permanent Mission of India to the UN said in a tweet. #MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in Indias developmental journey, the Permanent Mission said. The BJP has made arrangements for the broadcast in 2000 enclosures at the booth level across Odisha and appealed to the people and other political parties, like the BJD and Congress to listen to it. The episode will be historic as it is all set to make a world record and the elaborate arrangement has been made so that it can reach out to more and more people, Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal said on Saturday. Special screening at Indian high commission in London The Indian high commission in London, UK, will at 6:30am on Sunday host a special screening of the episode. "@HCI_London is hosting a special screening of #MannKiBaat tomorrow at 06:30 am. #MannKiBaatAt100. Tune in for the 100th Maan Ki Baat on 30th April 2023," the Indian high commission in London tweeted on Saturday. Studies show programme has promoted inclusivity Studies have shown that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. A survey by IIM Rohtak said there were 23 crore regular listeners of Mann Ki Baat and 96 per cent of the population was aware of the radio programme. The powerful and decisive leadership of Modi and emotional connection with the audience were cited as reasons for the popularity of the programme by the listeners, the survey said. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said the radio programme has transformed into an inspirational platform encouraging sustainable progress on priority themes that are core to India's efforts towards achieving sustainable development goals. Since its inception in 2014, the monthly radio broadcast has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme, the study titled 'Mann KI BaatA Decade of Reflection' added. The objective of the study, the report said, was to perform a quantitative and qualitative textual analysis of 99 transcripts of the Mann Ki Baat episodes published from 2014-2023 using text-mining tools as well as to identify the most prominently discussed thematic areas in the programme. Tourism ministry plans '100 days of action' From a pan-India design challenge for entrepreneurs to develop substitutes for single-use plastic items to the visit of youths to lighthouses, the Union ministry of tourism has planned "100 days of action" to mark the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat broadcast. The ministry will celebrate the 100th episode through its Yuva Tourism Clubs. The ministry has constituted 30,000 Yuva Tourism Clubs till date, it said, adding that it proposes to increase the number to 50,000 in the 100 days starting May 1. Modi has mentioned tourism from time to time on "Mann ki Baat". Woman goes into labour at Mann Ki Baat conclave Poonam Devi, a member of a self-help group in Uttar Pradesh who was rushed to a hospital after she went into labour pain while attending the Mann Ki Baat @100 Conclave in New Delhi, gave birth to a baby boy. The 24-year-old woman had travelled to the national capital from Samaisa village near Lakhimpur Kheri as a special invitee as Modi had mentioned her achievements in creating additional sources of income for women in one of the episodes of Mann Ki Baat, his monthly radio programme. Jamia vice chancellor lauds Mann ki Baat Jamia Millia Islamia vice chancellor praised the programme saying that it has been a "game-changer" from everyone and has become the cornerstone of Indian broadcasting. Najma Akhtar made the remark during an event where she released the special issue of the Journal 'Media Mimansa' on "Mann ki Baat" at MF Husain Art Gallery of the university, according to a statement. (With inputs from PTI, ANI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The man behind the 'Selfie with Daughter' initiative, Sunil Jaglan, says the campaign which was launched from a small village in Haryana about eight years ago to raise awareness about ills like female foeticide has gradually snowballed into a success. Sunil Jaglan, sarpanch of Bibipur, with his daughter. Jaglan began the Selfie with Daughter campaign which was praised by PM Modi in his radio programme Mann Ki Baat. Jaglan has been working towards righting the skewed gender ratio in his village after the birth of his daughter. Follow | Mann Ki Baat 100th episode LIVE updates Jaglan, a former Sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind, had launched the campaign from the village in June 2015. His initiative had drawn praise from even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who even mentioned it in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address. Under the campaign, Jaglan urged people to take photographs with their daughters and upload them on social media. He later created a dedicated website for the initiative where people could share selfies with their daughters. "I am happy to state that eight years after the 'Selfie with Daughter' campaign was launched, it has been a success. The campaign has also received great support from different parts of the world," Jaglan said. On Jind, his native district, he said it used to be among those Haryana districts where sex ratio was terribly skewed, but now things have reversed. "I feel the campaign has had some positive impact in my own district and some other places as well and has helped bring a change in the people's mindset towards the girl child," he said. Father of two minor daughters, Jaglan has been working for women empowerment and village development for the past several years with a focus on female foeticide. Jaglan said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign from Panipat in January 2015, he felt inspired by the initiative and wanted to do something which could supplement the government's efforts. "I would say the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign has had tremendous impact in Haryana and helped improve the skewed sex ratio," he said. Last month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said that Haryana, which was once infamous for female foeticide, is now celebrating the birth of every girl child and at present, there are 923 girls for every 1,000 boys in the state. Jaglan, who found mention in various episodes of 'Mann ki Baat', said this week alone he participated in several events in Delhi organised by Prasar Bharti to celebrate the 100th edition of the PM's monthly radio address. The 100th 'Mann ki Baat' will be broadcast on Sunday. Jaglan said he also attended a national conclave, which was addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, on Wednesday. The activist said he has created an online museum too where people can post selfies with their daughters. "During the last eight years, we have received selfies from 80 countries. Many of these selfies were posted by prominent personalities from the world of cinema, sports, and politics," he said. About his other initiatives, he said Bibipur Panchayat had earlier launched Digital India with Laado, a campaign to replace names of family-heads on nameplates with their daughters' name. Jaglan said he has put a nameplate outside his house bearing the name of his elder daughter Nandini. He also recalled how everyone in his village thought a son had been born to him when he had celebrated and distributed sweets on the birth of his first daughter. In 2012, Jaglan had organised a "Lado Panchayat", a women-oriented Khap Panchayat in Bibipur village, where a number of women participated and raised their voice against female foeticide. The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat on Sunday featured activist Sunil Jaglan who initiated Selfie with Daughter, a social media campaign. He also had the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister in the special episode, which was also aired at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Modi stated that the "Selfie with Daughter" campaign is not about technology or anything else, but about "daughters." As the converdsation began, PM Modi wished Jaglan, who was already excited. The activist then replied, I'm very happy to listen to your voice. Modi then thanked him for bringing the campaign to life and making it a success in the spirit of Beti-Padhao, Beti-Bachao. The Prime Minister also mentioned about the gender ratio in the state of Haryana when discussing the female-oriented campaign. Modi stated that the Selfie with Daughter campaign is not about technology or anything else, but about daughters. Modi inquired about his daughters as well.Kaise hai bethiya? Kya kar rahe hai abhi ? (How are your daughters, what are they doing now?) asked Modi. In turn, Jaglan told the Prime Minister that everything is fine. He also took note of their names and the standard they are in. At the end of the conversation, PM Modi bestowed his blessings on Jaglan's daughters, saying, "They will reach great heights." Ealier, Sunil Jaglan said the campaign "Selfie with Daughter" which was launched from a small village in Haryana has gradually snowballed into a success. He thanked PM Modi for giving a push to the initiative. Under the campaign, Jaglan urged people to take photographs with their daughters and upload them on social media. He has been working for women empowerment and village development for the past several years with a focus on female foeticide. Jaglan said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign from Panipat in January 2015, he felt inspired by the initiative and wanted to do something which could supplement the government's efforts. Jaglan, who found mention in various episodes of 'Mann ki Baat', said this week alone he participated in several events in Delhi organised by Prasar Bharti to celebrate the 100th edition of the PM's monthly radio address. The 100th 'Mann ki Baat' will be broadcast on Sunday. Jaglan said he also attended a national conclave, which was addressed by union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi, on Wednesday. (With PTI inputs) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The offence for which Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was handed a maximum sentence of two years in jail was not a serious matter that warranted his disqualification from contesting elections for eight years, his lawyer argued in the Gujarat high court on Saturday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File Photo) The court began hearing the case on Gandhis plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the Modi surname criminal defamation case. Gandhis counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi pleaded for a stay on the conviction in a case that is neither serious in nature nor of moral turpitude and is a non-cognizable and bailable offence. The state government argued that Gandhis offence was of a serious nature and the complainant, Purnesh Modi, a Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, questioned the maintainability of Gandhis application, claiming that the plea was filed under the wrong provisions of the law. Also Read: Rahul mounts fresh attack against govt ahead of Karnataka elections After a sessions court in Surat refused to stay the March 23 conviction by a magisterial court that sentenced the Congress leader to the maximum permissible punishment of two years imprisonment, Gandhi moved the high court. When Singhvi argued that Gandhi is facing irreversible damage, losing his seat in Parliament and his disqualification as an MP, the judge commented that greater duty is cast on him towards the people at large, and he should make statements within limits. The lawyer stressed much on the consequences of the conviction and submitted that Gandhis political career is at stake. He argued the conviction could be reversed in the future, but after losing a place in the Parliament and if re-election is announced for the Wayanad constituency in Kerala, the acquittal would be a hollow victory for Gandhi. If a bypoll was conducted for the Wayanad constituency which Gandhi represented before he was disqualified, its result cannot be undone even if the Congress leader won his appeal against the conviction, Singhvi said. After hearing Singhvis arguments, the high court adjourned the hearing for May 2 as advocate Nirupam Nanavati and lawyer Purnesh Modi sought time to file a reply. Justice Hemant Prachchhak on Saturday began hearing Gandhis revision application against the Surat sessions courts April 20 order declining a stay to his conviction for criminal defamation over his `why all thieves have the Modi surname remark. Singhvi questioned the locus of the state government to oppose Gandhis plea and said Purnesh Modis insistence on opposing it at this stage is to see that Gandhi remains disqualified and thus, these efforts bring the matter into the political sphere. Gandhi had not named Purnesh Modi in his speech at the election rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, where he made the remark in question, Singhvi said. Under section 499 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal defamation), the complainant must be an aggrieved person, which was not the case here, he argued. Also Read: Not a supersonic lawyer: Singhvi on why Congress didnt challenge Rahul Gandhis conviction right away Also, there is no identifiable class of Modi community so as to maintain a complaint, he said, adding that no one from the 13 crore strong so-called community can file a complaint against Gandhi unless that person was specifically named. The judge asked the public prosecutor to make submissions on the provisions under which Gandhis plea has been filed. Later, Modis counsel, Nirupam Nanavati, submitted that Gandhi could not have filed his plea under multiple provisions and hence his plea was not maintainable. Justice Prachchhak asked the parties to make final submissions on Tuesday. I will complete this matter because I am going out of India on May 5, he said. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha on Sunday announced a series of nationwide mass protests between August 1 to August 15 to press for their demands of legal sanctity of minimum support price, farmers pension and a comprehensive crop insurance scheme. The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has also led a massive agitation last year. The decision was taken at the national meeting of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of various farm unions, held on Sunday. According to the farmers body, more than 200 farmer leaders of constituent organisations attended the meet. It said agitations will be held in all states/Union territories of the country, from May 26 to May 31, over its core demands of minimum support price (MSP) law, liberation from debt, farmer and farm workers pension, comprehensive crop insurance scheme, among others. "This will include leading large protest marches to all Members of Parliament and key political leaders in their home constituencies and submitting memoranda to them, warning them to immediately resolve all farmers demands failing which they will face further protests," the SKM said in a statement. In the months of May, June and July, state and district level conventions of the SKM shall be held in every state/UT to galvanise and organise farmers and farm workers, it said. Between August 1 to 15, mass protests in coordination with workers unions and organisations shall be held to put an end to the sale of interest of farmers and workers to corporates by the Centre, the statement said. "Between September to mid-November, massive all-India yatras shall be held all over the country, which shall be led by national leaders of SKM. The yatras will specially focus on states that will see assembly elections such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, etc," it noted. The farmers body also announced 'India Shaheedi Diwas' to be observed on October 3, the day eight people, including four farmers, were killed in 2021. "On November 26, the day on which the historic Dilli Chalo march of farmers reached the borders of Delhi, 'Vijay Diwas' shall be celebrated by way of holding day-night dharna for at least three days in all state capitals," it said. The SKM also expressed solidarity with the protesting women wrestlers against WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. It lent its support to former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik, who it said has been a supporter of farmers. The current surge of respiratory illnesses in the country is being caused by the two viral strains of Sars-Cov-2 and influenza B Victoria , genome sequencing data has revealed. At least 2,000 samples of patients suffering from SARI and ILI, and undergoing treatment in various hospitals across the country, have been sequenced so far. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo) While in the beginning of the year, influenza A H3N2 was the viral strain largely driving the surge of flu cases, currently people admitted in hospitals for severe flu-like symptoms report positive for Sars-Cov-2 and Influenza B Victoria, a government official said, requesting anonymity. These results were found from whole genome sequencing of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and influenza like illness (ILI) samples by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) labs that HT has accessed. Last week, 24 samples returned positive for Sars-Cov-2 that causes Covid-19, and five for influenza B Victoria, according to whole genome sequencing results from laboratories connected to the surveillance network of ICMR. At least 2,000 samples of patients suffering from SARI and ILI, and undergoing treatment in various hospitals across the country, have been sequenced so far. Although Covid-19 and influenza cases have seen a surge, the rate of hospitalisations and deaths, which determine disease severity, has not seen an increase so far. The numbers have been going up, but fortunately, hospitalisations are low. And not many admitted in hospital require oxygen support, said Dr RK Singal, senior director and head of the department of internal medicine, BLK Super Speciality Hospital. That said, people must be careful and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour. As flu cases started rising, the Union government asked states to boost genome surveillance. States need to set a target of about 25 tests per week of SARI and ILI cases to check the spread of virus subtypes for effective management, the central government directed, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. There are many subtypes of viral influenza and some of those strains dominate during the flu season. Typing helps in detecting the dominant strain so that measures can be taken accordingly, which includes recommending the flu shot, a government scientist said. While H3N2 was circulating more in until some weeks ago, currently Sars-Cov-2 has again taken over. Symptoms for both Covid-19 and seasonal influenza are similar, characterized by a sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe malaise, sore throat and a runny nosewhich is why doctors ask people to be cautious. Fever is the most common symptom in the hospitalized cases of severe respiratory illnesses, with at least 90% experiencing it, followed by cough in 80% of the cases and breathlessness in 25% of the cases, according to government data. If you have symptoms, it is advisable to isolate yourself for a few days. If you must step out, then it is best to take the Covid test, said Dr GC Khilnani, former head of the pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine department at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and current chairperson of the PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Tamil Nadu government has set up a high-level expert committee headed by retired IAS officer S Machendranath having members from IIT-Madras and Anna University to suggest remedial measures to protect water bodies at the site of second airport for Chennai at Parandur in Kancheepuram district, 70km from the capital city, a government official said. For Chennais second airport, the residents of 13 villages will have to make way for land acquisition of 4,791.29 acres, of which 2,605 acres are wetlands. (Representative Image) The Tamil Nadu government has proposed a new international greenfield airport to be built latest by 2030 at a cost of 20,000 crore with a capacity to handle 10 crore passengers a year. The residents of 13 villages will have to make way for land acquisition of 4,791.29 acres, of which 2,605 acres are wetlands. A senior government official, who was not willing to be named, said that the geography of Chennai and its surroundings is such that it is fully surrounded by water bodies. We are aware of the issues on the pattern of water-flow, which is why the expert committee has been formed to study how we can manage the situation and prevent flooding, the official said. Headed by Machendranath, who has been government director in public sector companies including Air India and Airports Authority of India (AAI), the committee comprises members from IIT-Madras and Anna University, said a senior government official quoted above. The government and experts from the industries and aviation sector believe the second airport will bring in more investment and air traffic, which can help in the growth of Tamil Nadu (which aims to be a $ 1 trillion economy by 2030), and thereby the entire southern region. The official said that the file for the site clearance is with the Union ministry of civil aviation. The Union minister has sought an OLS from us before giving a site clearance, he added. An OLS is an Obstacle Limitation Surface which refers to an airspace to be protected for aircrafts initial and final stages of operations and when maneuvering in the vicinity of the airport, which is a time consuming technical assessment, said officials. Once the site clearance from the civil aviation ministry is obtained, the state would move on to the next stage of preparing a detailed project report. The official added that the government will also hire an independent consultant soon to prepare the techno economic report for the airport. These developments come simultaneously as residents of Parandur have been protesting for more than 270 days against the ambitious project. The residents, who are primarily farmers owning agricultural land, do not want to give up their homes and fertile lands even after the government increased the compensation package. On August 26 last year, the state government announced that they will provide 3.5 times the compensation for each of their lands based on market value, an alternative land to move and a government job for one member of each of the project affected families. The government and the protestors from 13 villages have had several rounds of discussions and the first consensus they reached was last December. Three senior ministersThangam Thenarasu (industries), E V Velu (public works) and T M Anbarasan (rural, cottage and small industries), after two rounds of discussions at the state secretariat said that the protestors have agreed to cooperate for conducting a detailed techno economic report. The Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) had on December 5 floated a tender to appoint a consultant to carry out the techno economic report. This report will include environment impact assessment, environment management plan, and social impact studies. The epicentre of the protest is the Eganapuram village in Parandur. Today, is the 274th day of our protest, said S Bhupathi, a resident of Meleri village. Tomorrow we are holding a gram Sabha meeting where for the 6th time we will pass a resolution against the airport project. Initially, 11 locations were shortlisted near Chennai by the state government. The AAI chose four of these, eventually bringing it down to two locations Parandur in Kancheepuram district and Pannur in Thiruvallur district. Last August, the state conveyed its choice of Parandur during a meeting with Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. The state industries minister Thennarasu has previously explained how the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led government zeroed in on Parandur. When they began scouting airport locations around Chennai there were several constraints such as the Vedathangal bird sanctuary in the south and Paraverkadu, Pulicat lake and bird sanctuary in the north, the presence of Kalpakkam atomic energy plant and the Tambaram air base. So, the Parandur in west of Chennai presented fewer challenges. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The wife of slain IAS officer G Krishnaiah, the then Gopalganj district magistrate who was killed in 1994 by a mob led by former Bihar lawmaker Anand Mohan, on Saturday moved the Supreme Court challenging the premature release of the gangster-turned-politician from prison. Uma Devi, wife of slain IAS officer G Krishnaiah. (ANI File Photo) A Rajput leader, Mohan was released from the Saharsa jail on April 27 early morning, days after the Nitish Kumar government on April 10 tweaked 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. Mohan was awarded life sentence in the murder case of G Krishnaiah, a 1985-batch IAS officer from Mahbubnagar in present-day Telangana, on December 5, 1994 in Muzaffarpur. The IAS officer was lynched by a mob when his vehicle tried to overtake the funeral procession of gangster Chhotan Shukla. Mohan, then an MLA, was leading the procession. A trial court in October 2007 pronounced death sentence for Mohan, which was commuted to life imprisonment by Patna high court in December 2008. He challenged it in the Supreme Court, but got no relief and remained in Saharsa jail since 2007. Uma Krishnaiah, the wife of the slain IAS officer, in her petition has challenged both the April 10 amendment to the prison rules and the subsequent release of the former Bihar MP. The petition, filed through advocate Tanya Shree, prayed for stay of the two orders. Sentence of imprisonment for life given to a convict as a substitute for the death sentence must be viewed differently and segregated from the ordinary life imprisonment given as the sentence of first choice, the petition said. It added that the amendment has been brought to ensure benefit of remission to Mohan, who was among the 27 people granted premature release. Speaking about the petition, advocate Tanya Shree said: The decision of the state government has been assailed on the ground that it goes contrary to past decisions of the Supreme Court, which lay down that life sentence means the entire life. The state cannot mechanically release any prisoner at their whims and fancies after completion of 14 years. The petitioner challenged the circular issued by the Bihar home department (prisons) on April 10 amending Rule 481(1)(c) of the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012. This rule, prior to amendment, required life convicts facing punishment for murder of a public servant on duty to be considered for premature release under Section 433A (relating to the states remission policy) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) after completion of 20 years (including remission). The April 10 amendment excluded this category of offence from the requirement of 20 years sentence and placed it under the general rule of 14 years. The Bihar governments move that allowed the early release of Mohan, who has a dubious record of being the first Indian politician to be sentenced for life imprisonment, has been widely criticised not only by parties opposed to Mahagathbandhan, but also civil servants. The petition said the state government order was contrary to the past apex court decisions applicable to remission. These include conduct of prisoner in jail, past criminal antecedents, socio-economic conditions, larger public good, propensity to commit future crimes. The release has been purely on extraneous considerations, said the petitioners lawyer. The relevant factors to be examined for premature release have not been considered. The petition said that the convict is a politically influential person and has committed the murder of a serving IAS officer while himself being an MLA at the time of the incident. A new investigation from The Wall Street Journal has uncovered details about the private social calendar of the late billionaire sex offenderJeffrey Epstein. Epstein was known for cavorting with other wealthy and powerful individuals, but the new revelations include amongst other things several dates with Noam Chomsky. These include a shared flight to a dinner party with Woody Allen and his wife slash ex-wife's-daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, circa 2015, as well as a meeting with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Epstein famously donated nearly a million dollars to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology during the time that Chomsky taught there donations which were kept secret, due to the fact that Epstein was a registered sex offender after being convicted of soliciting minors for prostitution. The revelation of Epstein's clandestine patronage to MIT was explosive. When reached for comment, Chomsky reportedly replied: First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone's. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally. [] If there was a flight, which I doubt, it would have been from Boston to New York, 30 minutes. I'm unaware of the principle that requires that I inform you about an evening spent with a great artist. [] What was known about Jeffrey Epstein was that he had been convicted of a crime and had served his sentence. According to U.S. laws and norms, that yields a clean slate. The Journal article also reveals that Epstein had met on numerous occasions with Williams Burns, the current CIA director who was serving as deputy secretary of state at the time. A spokesperson for the CIA issued a statement saying that, "The director did not know anything about him, other than that he was introduced as an expert in the financial services sector and offered general advice on transition to the private sector. They had no relationship." Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to write the future Pulitzer-winning script about a fictionalized version of this supposed dinner party between Epstein, Chomsky, and Allen. Epstein's Private Calendar Reveals Prominent Names, Including CIA Chief, Goldman's Top Lawyer [Khadeeja Safdar and David Benoit / The Wall Street Journal] Thrissur Pooram 2023: Kerala is gearing up to celebrate the 36-hour-long temple festival, Thrissur Pooram. It is a vibrant and colourful festival celebrated in Kerala, India, and is known as the mother of all poorams. The festival is a dazzling display of rich cultural traditions and customs, including caparisoned elephants, colourful parasols, and percussion music. This magnificent spectacle merges the spiritual and cultural essence of Kerala and is celebrated in the Malayalam month of medam (April-May) at the Thekkinkadu Maidanam in Thrissur. From the history and significance of Thrissur Pooram to the various events and rituals that take place during the festival, here is everything you need to know about this iconic celebration. (Also read: Thrissur Pooram 2022: How Kerala's famous temple festival is celebrated ) Thrissur Pooram is an important temple festival in Kerala. (HT photo) Thrissur Pooram date and time: Thrissur Pooram 2023 will take place on May 1, with the Pooram Nakshathram starting on April 30 at 3:30 PM and ending on May 1 at 5:51 PM. The star event 'Vedikkettu' or fireworks will be held on May 1 at 3 pm. The 'Pakal Pooram' or 'Day Pooram' will begin at 8 am, followed by the concluding ceremony of 'Upacharam Chollal' at 12 noon. The 'Pakal Vedikkettu' fireworks display will take place at 12.45 am. Thrissur Pooram history: Thrissur Pooram is an important temple festival in Kerala that dates back over 200 years. The festival was founded by Shakthan Thampuran, the ruler of the Kingdom of Cochin from 1790 to 1805. The story behind the festival goes back to the year 1796 when a group of temples were banned from attending the popular Arattupuzha Pooram due to heavy rains. Upon hearing their complaints, Shakthan Thampuran decided to start his own festival, Thrissur Pooram, on the same day in May. The festival has since become a significant cultural and spiritual event in Kerala, attracting both domestic and international tourists. Today, it is one of the most famous temple festivals in the world. Significance of Thrissur Pooram: Thrissur Pooram is a significant festival that attracts a huge number of tourists every year and is considered one of the largest gatherings in Asia. Prior to Thrissur Pooram, Arattupuzha Pooram was the most significant temple festival in Kerala. During Thrissur Pooram, various temples in and around Thrissur are invited to offer prayers and homage to Lord Vadakkunnathan, the presiding deity of the Vadakkunnathan Temple. The festival features a grand procession of over 50 decorated elephants and is accompanied by the traditional music of Chenda Melam and Pancha Vadyam. The festival is also famous for its elaborate fireworks display known as Vedikkettu. It has a heritage of more than two centuries and is known as the mother of all poorams. Thrissur Pooram celebrations: Thrissur Pooram celebrations start a week in advance with flag hoisting and fireworks. Poora Vilambharam is another tradition where an elephant carrying the idol of 'Neithilakkavilamma' opens the south entrance gate of Vadakkunnathan Temple. The Sample Vedikettu, a one-hour firework show by Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, takes place four days after flag hoisting. The pooram starts in the early morning, and the Madathil varavu, a panchavadhyam melam with more than 200 artists, is a highlight. The main fireworks display is held in the early morning of the seventh day, which is followed by Pakal Vedikkettu, a fireworks display that marks the end of Thrissur Pooram. Carnatic music is mind-boggling. You would know if you were to listen to this classical style of music. But this piece is about Karnatakas politics, not music. The similarity is that Karnatakas politics is complex, just like Carnatic music. National parties have little choice but to rely on local bigwigs to steer their ship in the state. The latest example is the forthcoming elections on May 10. PREMIUM The Lingayats, who account for 17% of the population, have traditionally supported the BJP. Yeddyurappa is the most visible political face of this community (HT PHOTO) At the last election, Karnataka denied political parties a clear mandate in the 224-seat legislature. Despite its best efforts, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fell nine seats short of a majority with 36.43% votes. The Congress cornered 38.6% votes, but won only 78 seats. Naturally, the scenario favoured regional parties. Former Prime Minister (PM) Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowdas Janata Dal (Secular) became the kingmaker. It bagged 27 seats with 20.6% of votes, and Deve Gowda, instead of making someone else the king, installed his eldest son, HD Kumaraswamy as the chief minister (CM). Because the JD(S) campaigned against the BJP, claiming to be secular, it could not explicitly support the saffron party. Kumaraswamy became the CM after several rounds of talks with the Congress. But there were too many cooks in this arrangement, and the broth was sure to be spoiled. The partnership, as expected, did not survive long. The last assembly elections were fought on issues such as corruption, unemployment, and social harmony, and, surprisingly, the Opposition still relies on those same old issues now. The Congress has been fighting against 40% commission Sarkara for more than a year. Could natural discontent with the state government and suspicions of corruption provide the Congress with an absolute majority in this election? It should not be forgotten that during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spent 21 days the longest in a state in Karnataka. At the time, leaders of the state Congresss two main factions one led by former CM Siddaramaiah and the other by state Congress chief DK Shivakumar came together. So, can the Congress overcome its self-harming infighting? It is a political adage that rebellion within the ruling party is far more destructive than a rebellion by the Opposition. During ticket distribution, the BJP lost some big names such as Jagadish Shettar, a former CM and Laxman Sangappa Savadi, the deputy CM both powerful Lingayat leaders. Ten Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) and Legislative Council members, including Savadi, have left the BJP. The Lingayats, who account for 17% of Karnatakas population, have traditionally supported the BJP. BS Yeddyurappa is the most visible political face of this community, but with Shettar and Savadi gone, there is concern that this vote bank would be weakened, though the BJPs roster includes 68 candidates from the community, who could counteract the insurrection. That the BJP refused tickets to nearly 20 existing MLAs and this is fuelling further discontent. But will the exit of these leaders lead to a breach in the BJP fortress? Many are already making conclusions after three JD(S) MLAs, Shettar and Savadi, joined the Congress. But keep in mind that the BJPs election machine is famed for leaving no stone unturned till the final vote is cast. No wonder PM Narendra Modi personally contacted five-time MLA KS Eshwarappa after the party decided to refuse his son a ticket and praised him for his commitment and service to the party. PM Modi also frequently speaks with BJP workers. Clearly, the BJP wants to demonstrate to its workers and leaders how concerned the PM is about this election. Besides, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda are campaigning there day and night. Yogi Adityanath, the CM of Uttar Pradesh, has also been utilised to polarise voters. Another question emerges here. Will these elections have any bearing on the 2024 general elections? In 2019, the BJP won 27 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats there. This figure, in and of itself, answers the question. During these elections, the Congress and the JD(S) ruled Bengaluru. The people of Karnataka saw the assembly and Lok Sabha elections differently in the two general elections held after PM Modis debut on the national political stage. However, if the Congress can form the government in the state, the champions of Opposition unity will undoubtedly benefit in 2024. Also, efforts to negotiate with the Congress will be heavily influenced by it. This is why Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are sweating it out in Karnataka. Also, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is interacting with the state leadership as it is his home state. Let us wait and watch to see which of these political melodies strikes a chord with Karnatakas voters. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, HindustanThe views expressed are personal OpenAI's ChatGPT continues to make headlines this week as well after it closed a share sale of over $300 million, marking the company's valuation between $27 billion and $29 billion. While we are at valuation, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's wealth seen a massive jump by $10 billion in the backdrop of job slits across departments of the company. He holds up to $87 billion worth of wealth now. Read about all that happened over the week in the technology section.(Representative image) Speaking of billionaires, Elon Musk has been constantly coming up with policies for Twitter's business model. It has recently announced taking a 10% cut on content subscription after the first year. Here are the top technology stories from this week: Microsoft to discontinue Windows 10, current version to be final Microsoft has announced the end of support to its popular Windows 10 operating system (OS), adding that the current version of Windows 10 will be its last. Read more Jack Dorsey criticises Musk on Twitter deal: It all went south Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey once a supporter of Elon Musks $44 billion acquisition of the site is now offering sharp criticism of the new owner and his handling of the deal. Read more Musk announces pay-per-article feature for media publishers on Twitter Elon Musk announced on Saturday that Twitter will implement a feature next month that will allow media publishers to charge consumers per article through the social media platform. Read more Zuckerberg's wealth rose to $87 billion amid thousands of job cuts: Report Meta chief executive officer (CEO) Mark Zuckerberg's wealth shot up by $10 billion to $87 billion ( 7.11 lakh crore), this amid layoffs of thousands of employees in recent times. Read more Tim Cook's back-to-office move upsets some Apple employees: Nonsensesilly Apple chief executive officer (CEO) Tim Cook's back-to-office drive has upset a section of employees in his company. In March, the Cupertino-based giant in an email had told the employees that action will be taken against those not going to office at least three days in a week. Read more ChatGPT restored in Italy after OpenAI addresses regulator's issues The ChatGPT chatbot was reactivated in Italy after its maker OpenAI addressed issues raised by Italy's data protection authority, the agency and the company confirmed on Friday. Read more Elon Musk's Twitter to take 10% cut on content subscription after 1 year Twitter Inc CEO Elon Musk said on Friday that the social media platform will take a 10% cut on content subscriptions after the first year, as the company looks to monetize content on the website in a bid to diversify its revenue sources. Read more OpenAI closes $300 million funding round at $27 billion-$29 billion valuation: Report OpenAI, the company behind the ChatGPT chatbot, has closed a more than $300 million share sale at a valuation between $27 billion and $29 billion, TechCrunch reported on Friday. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Indian currency notes not only serve as a medium of exchange but also showcase the countrys rich cultural heritage through the historical monuments printed on them. While Delhis Red Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is prominently featured on the Rs. 500 note, the Konark Sun Temple, an iconic temple in Odisha, can be found on the Rs. 10 note. Now, a Twitter thread featuring historical sites and events depicted on Indian currency notes is going viral. The image of the Red Fort is printed on the Indian Rs. 500 banknote.(Twitter/@desi_thug1) Also Read: 7-seater solar vehicle made from scrap wows Harsh Goenka Historical monuments and events printed on Indian currency notes, wrote Twitter user Desi Thug. The user shared a picture of a 10 banknote featuring the Konark Sun Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site, against the backdrop of the temple. According to UNESCO, it is a monumental representation of the sun god Suryas chariot. It has 24 wheels with symbolic designs, and a team of six horses leads it. The next on the list is the 20 banknote featuring Kailash Temple. According to Indian Culture, the 13th-century temple in Ellora is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built from top to bottom rather than bottom to top. The Rs. 50 note features Hampi Stone Chariot. According to Karnataka Tourism, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was built in the 16th century by the orders of King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire. The emperor was impressed by Konarks Sun temple during the war with Kalinga and wanted a similar one in Hampi. Rani Ki Vav, located in Gujarat, is printed on the Rs. 100 banknote. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stepwell was built in the 11th century in the unique Maru-Gurjara architectural style, according to UNESCO. The Twitter user next shared a picture of Sanchi Stupa with an individual holding a Rs. 200 banknote. Emperor Ashoka built the UNESCO World Heritage Site to preserve and spread Buddhist philosophy, according to Madhya Pradesh Tourism. Red Fort in Delhi, built by Shah Jahan, is next on the list. It is printed on the Rs. 500 note. According to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the Red Forts construction began in 1639 and was completed after nine years. Last on the list is Rs. 2000 banknote, the most prominent Indian denomination banknote. It features Mangalyaan, Indias first successful Mars mission to explore the planets features, morphology, mineralogy, and atmosphere, according to NASA. The primary tweet, shared on April 28, has accumulated over 1.7 million views, and the numbers are quickly increasing. The share has also prompted many to leave their thoughts in the comments section. Check out the reactions below: A Twitter user shared, Amazing facts and thread. Excellent information, posted another. A third wrote, Amazing thread. Fantastic stuff! I so look forward to content like this! commented a fourth. A fifth expressed, Loved the way images are captured. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON People in Barcelona did not completely know the answer to What just happened when former US President Barack Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama and film maker Steven Spielberg joined tourists to visit some of the city's main sites. Ofcourse, the giveaway was so much--- security. Former US President Barack Obama, centre takes a walk in the center of Barcelona, Spain.(AP) The three were in Barcelona to attend a concert by their friend Bruce Springsteen at Barcelona's Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium, Reuters reported. But Barack Obama, Steven Spielberg and Bruce Springsteen were not too lowkey about their city explorations. The three dined at the Amar restaurant in the Palace Hotel following which a staff member uploaded a photo of them posing with wait staff and chefs to Instagram. The pleasure this job brings you!, Pol Perello wrote. The Obamas and Steven Spielberg also visited some of Barcelona's most famous cultural sights- including the Sagrada Familia basilica, designed by Antoni Gaudi, and the Picasso museum. The former president and the first lady were seen walking hand in hand through central Barcelona as they were surrounded by a large group of security guards. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON US President Joe Biden and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will join Pacific Islands leaders next month for a "historic" future-oriented meeting, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said on Sunday. PM Modi and Joe Biden. (File) Read here: Xi Jinping on a global roll, China eyes ports on West Africa and Argentina "This is a historic first and at the same time a 'going forward' futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific," Marape said in a statement. Biden's May 22 stopover in the capital Port Moresby would be the first visit by a sitting US president to the resource-rich but largely undeveloped country of 9.4 million people just north of Australia. Papua New Guinea is being courted by China and by the US and its allies, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018. Washington has stepped up efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region after China struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year. China failed to reach a wider security and trade deal with 10 Pacific island countries. China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors. Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. "In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said. The 18 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands Forum cover 30 million square km (10 million square miles) of ocean. The region's leaders say climate change is their greatest security threat, amid worsening cyclones and rising sea levels. Read here: Joe Biden senile, brave but irresponsible, Kim Jong Uns sister fumes Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia. Marape said he had invited Biden when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country". Toronto: As many former international students from India face possible deportation from Canada in a case related to fake documentation, Canadian authorities have issued their first removal order in this regard. Former international students from India, facing deportation from Canada, staging a protest in downtown Toronto on March 30, along with supporters. (Supplied pic) Karamjeet Kaur, based in the city of Edmonton in the province of Alberta, received the removal order from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) on April 24, after exhausting her legal options in challenging potential deportation. Kaur, originally from Faridkot in Punjab, was sent an air ticket for New Delhi, via Toronto, for May 29. Kaur, who arrived in Canada in 2018, described the official action as unfair and said that she was not a criminal. Kaur is among a group of several such former students. There are at least 30 other such students facing removal proceedings, though that hasnt escalated to the final order being passed, as yet. Another 130 or so cases are being investigated. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020. They started receiving notices from the CBSA in 2021 and last year, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake. The majority of affected students were represented by the agent Brijesh Mishra of the Jalandhar-based counselling firm EMSA Education and Migration Services Australia. The ex-students said they were being victimised for no fault of theirs. In an open letter under the banner of Victim Students released in March, they said, We are desperate for justice; we are victims of fraud; we have no criminal level but facing a removal order. No one can understand our anguish when we learned for the first time through CBSA that the offer was fake and we have been dying and struggling ever since, it added. The letter to Kaur stated the removal order had now become enforceable and the foreign national against whom it was made must leave Canada immediately. Some of the impacted students have joined together and staged protests to bring attention to their plight, seeking some leniency from the Government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. They are planning another such demonstration in Toronto this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An Indian-origin crime gang boss is serving an eight-year-10-month prison sentence after admitting to drug smuggling and money laundering charges in a British court. The NCA caught the Singh and Iqbal after intercepting their messages to buy and supply Class A drugs and guns.(AP) The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said its officers proved that Raj Singh, 45, from Surrey in south-east England ran an organised crime group and regularly worked together with Waqas Iqbal, 41, to buy and sell Class A drugs and firearms. The duo also planned to launder money and send ketamine to Canada. In February, Singh whose full name is Rajinder Singh Bassi pleaded guilty to charges of supplying Class A banned substance cocaine, conspiracy to supply Class B banned substance ketamine and money laundering at the Guildford Crown Court. He also admitted to assault in a separate matter, when he was involved in a pub fight in which he kicked a police officers leg as she tried to restrain him. His sentence includes 16 months for causing actual bodily harm to the officer, who required significant rehabilitation on her knee and cannot return to frontline policing due to the injuries. The NCA revealed details of the case this week after Iqbal was sentenced to 12 years in prison at the same court in southern England on Friday after he admitted conspiracy to import Class A drugs, conspiracy to transfer a prohibited weapon and money laundering. Though Iqbal and Singh operated within the London area they had criminal connections in multiple countries within mainland Europe and further afield, said Dean Wallbank, NCA operations manager. Like other high-end dealers, Iqbal and Singh are toxic and responsible for causing very serious levels of harm to society. They didnt care what bloodshed the guns and drugs led to, just as long as they made money. Protecting the public from the threats of Class A drugs and firearms is a priority for the NCA, he said. The NCA caught the duo after intercepting their messages to buy and supply Class A drugs and guns on the encrypted communications platform EncroChat. They were not known by their real names on EncroChat but by handles, with Singh as Salmonagent and Iqbal as Ghostshooter. The crucial phone evidence also showed the pair conspiring on firearms details. The duo was held as part of the NCA-led Operation Venetic, the UK response to the takedown of EncroChat in 2020 after the messages between Singh and Iqbal revealed how significant their offending was. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, issued a warning to the US and South Korea as the countries signed a new nuclear weapons agreement while calling US President Joe Biden 'senile' and 'too miscalculating and irresponsibly brave' for his remarks. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, delivers a speech.(AP) When we consider that this expression was personally used by the president of the US, our most hostile adversary, it is threatening rhetoric for which he should be prepared for far too great an after-storm, Kim Yo Jong was quoted as saying by state news agency KCNA. "The more the enemies are dead set on staging nuclear war exercises, and the more nuclear assets they deploy in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, the stronger the exercise of our right to self-defence will become in direct proportion to them," she added. The pipe dream of the US and (South) Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength," she further said. This comes as Joe Biden said that Kim Jong Un's regime would cease to exist if he were to launch a nuclear attack on the United States or its allies. "A nuclear attack by North Korea against the United States or its allies or partners is unacceptable and will result at the end of whatever regime were to take such an action," Biden had said earlier this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will wear two different sets of robes during the coronation-the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate- on Saturday. Images released by the Buckingham Palace showed Royal School of Needleworks embroidery team conserving the Kings Robe of State, which will be worn by him on arrival at Westminster Abbey, and the Queen Consorts Robe of Estate, which will be worn by her after she is crowned, on departure from Westminster Abbey. Camilla, Queen Consort. (AFP) Royal School of Needlework workers engaged in embroidery of the royal robes. (Royal.UK) King Charles' Robe of State- to be worn on arrival The royal family stated that this robe is made of crimson velvet and was worn by King George VI at the Coronation in 1937. In preparation for the coronation service, the velvet has been conserved by the Royal School of Needlework, with the lining and gold lace conserved by Ede and Ravenscroft. There are a number of plants featured in the robe, all chosen for their personal associations, said the palace. (Royal.UK) Queen Consort Camilla's Robe of State The Robe of State to be worn by Camilla was originally made for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The robe is made of crimson velvet and has been conserved with adjustments ahead of the coronation. King Charles' Robe of Estate- to be worn on departure This robe is made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold and was worn by King George VI in 1937. Robemakers have conserved and prepared the robe ahead of the coronation. Queen Consort Camilla's Robe of Estate The Queen Consorts new Robe of Estate was designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. The Robe itself was made by Ede and Ravenscroft. Design of the train draws on the themes of nature and the environment, featuring the national emblems of the United Kingdom. (Royal.UK ) Insects' maiden appearance on the robes For the first time, insects including bees and a beetle feature on the coronation robe, drawing on the themes of nature and the environment and reflecting the King and Queen Consort's affection for the natural world. Whenever Hollywood endeavors to produce a remake of a classic film, there's one phrase that always comes to mind. To quote Pet Sematary, "Sometimes dead is better." Remakes can usually be hit or miss. Occasionally- as is the case with Scarface and The Fly- remakes have the potential to eclipse the original. However, other times you get the American version of the classic Korean film Oldboy, and everyone loses. Generally speaking, if you're going to remake or reboot a film, it's best to choose an IP that's flown under the cultural radar. Disney chose to go the other route and decided to remake 1998's vampire masterpiece Blade under their Marvel cinematic universe umbrella. As you can imagine, the film has faced quite an uphill battle in pre-production. Reports about the movie's star Mahershala Ali becoming frustrated with the film's script, as well as the original director exiting the project, have plagued the movie for months. According to Variety, Blade has now snagged Nic Pizzolatto, the creator of True Detective, to help amend the film's script. "True Detective" creator Nic Pizzolatto has signed on to write Marvel Studios' "Blade" movie, reuniting with Mahershala Ali, who starred in the third season of his HBO crime series. "Blade" boasts Oscar winner Ali as the title vampire slayer, with Aaron Pierre, Delroy Lindo and Mia Goth among the starry cast. Pre-production on the film is underway, with Pizzolatto taking on writing duties, working from a draft of the script by Emmy nominee Michael Starrbury, which has been said to be "darker than most MCU movies." Directed by Yann Demange, who helmed "White Boy Rick" and the pilot for "Lovecraft Country," the film is expected to begin filming in late May in Atlanta. King Charles has still not decided on whether to address the nation or not and what he would speak, a report claimed. This comes just a week ahead of the coronation. King Charles is forgoing many traditions set out by his late mother and grandfather, who both gave addresses hours after being crowned. King Charles Coronation is seen. (AP) But King Charles has no plans to record a special broadcast message, although a few words could be released to thank the people for joining the celebration, The Mirror reported. In his first address as monarch following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September, King Charles talked about the importance of faith, family and unity. In his inaugural Christmas speech, King Charles paid tribute to the late Queen as well. He also talked about the Ukraine war and the cost-of-living crisis in UK. It would be frankly astonishing and a great shame if King Charles did not address the people after he is crowned, the report claimed. At 74, King Charles is set to be the oldest monarch to ascend the British throne, surpassing William IV who became King in 1830 aged 64. The coronation will include a tribute to the late Prince Philip as it will feature a rendition of Psalm 71 by The Greek Choir in a nod to his late father, born a prince of Greece. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON King Charles' coronation is set to cost around 250 million as a huge security operation will be underway at the historic ceremony. Around 150 million of the total will be required to fund the deployment of police officers and protection squads, while the remaining costs will be given for staging the ceremony and three days of celebrations, several reports claimed. King Charles Coronation: A view of souvenirs designed for the Coronation of Britain's King Charles in Windsor, Britain.(Reuters) In contrast, the cost of staging Queen Elizabeths coronation in 1953 was 1.57 million. Security threats and domestic protests resulted in the hike of the costs from for the event- far above previous estimates of 100 million. For the ceremony, a special air traffic control schedule has been drawn up for dignitaries flying in and landing spots will have tightened security amid concerns that climate change protests would aim to disrupt private jet arrivals. A large operation to prevent activists from stopping the event is also in place. It will include snipers on rooftops, huge numbers of armed officers and police drones monitoring crowds. Special Forces will also be on standby as part of the UK Counter Terrorism Defence Mechanism, with Blue Thunder 2 helicopters poised. Security alone will be up to 150million, possibly more. Its a crazy sum, but this is one of the biggest public events in recent history. Thousands are involved many working overtime. Just getting dignitaries into the country and to their accommodation is a hell of an operation in itself. They will mostly be taken by police escort from the airfields," The Mirror reported. Security expert Mark Scoular a tactical commander for the weddings of Prince William and Prince Harry said, 150million is a lot, but I think the final sum could be a lot more, because the work that goes into an event like this is monstrous. On Coronation Day itself, there will be entire CBRN chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear units across London. There will be ammunition technical officers, firearms units will be doubled up, the public order officers on duty will be staggering. As part of the UK preparedness strategy, the ambulance service will quadruple their efforts, the fire and rescue service will redouble their efforts. The number working on intelligence will be monumental. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry is planning to return to the US just two hours after his King Charles' coronation so that he can celebrate his son Archie's birthday with his family as Meghan Markle will not join him in London for the ceremony, The Mirror reported. Prince Harry will be "in and out of the UK in 24 hours" and that he will leave after the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the report added. Prince Harry will soon be seen at his father King Charles III's coronation in the UK. After the ceremony, Prince Harry will head to the airport straight after, possibly leaving the country soon. The Sun reported that he might return to California in a private jet. After much back and forth, Harry said that he would be returning for the King's Coronation but it will only be a fleeting visit. Organisers have been told Harry won't be attending the concert with the rest of the Royal Family, which is a great shame as it will be such a spectacular event, The Mirror reported. Archie's birthday has provided the perfect excuse for Meghan to stay behind and, with all things considered, it's probably the right thing to do, the report added. The coronation will be Prince Harry's first appearance in a public setting with King Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate Middleton since the publication of his memoir Spare. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Through inheritance, royal estates and shrewd investing while a prince, Charles III will be crowned on May 6 with a considerable fortune to his name. The coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles III and his wife, Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Realm nations is scheduled to take place at Westminster Abbey, in London, on May 6, 2023. (AFP) Queen Elizabeth II bequeathed her son an estimated 360 million ($448 million) upon her death in September last year, boosting Charles's fortune to 600 million, according to an estimate by The Times. The former prince of Wales built up his coffers by an ambitious investment programme following his 17 million divorce from wife Princess Diana in 1996, according to a royal aide quoted by the newspaper. When his mother became queen in 1952, Charles also received an income from the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate established in the 14th century to give the heir to the throne apparent financial independence. For Charles, the duchy "encompasses everything he is passionate about", his second wife Camilla told an ITV documentary aired in 2019. In addition to 260 farms, the duchy, which has now passed to his heir Prince William, owns 52,450 hectares (nearly 130,000 acres) of land and leases 345 million of commercial property. Charles even created a community, Poundbury, on duchy land close to Dorchester on England's south coast, where he put his architectural ideas into action. Under his leadership, the duchy amassed assets worth more than a billion pounds, generating the then heir an income of around 23 million per year, an increase of more than 40 percent over 15 years. - Billionaire king? - Because of a centuries-old tradition, confirmed by a 1993 clause agreed by the then prime minister John Major, monarchs do not have to pay any tax on assets left by their predecessor, to guard against the royal estate being broken up. The monarch's will is not made public in the UK, meaning the content of Queen Elizabeth II's will remains private. We do, however, know that Balmoral Castle in northeast Scotland, where the royal family spends its summers and where the queen died last September, and the Sandringham estate in eastern England were left to Charles. Both are privately owned. By contrast, Buckingham Palace in central London and Windsor Castle, west of the capital, belong to the state. Another historical symbol of the British monarchy, the Crown Jewels, are also the property of the nation and are therefore excluded from the evaluation of the royal fortune. They are estimated to be worth several billion pounds. As sovereign, Charles receives the annual "sovereign grant" -- an endowment of one quarter of the profits on the income generated by the Crown Estate, a vast collection of lands and holdings. The rest goes to the Treasury. The sovereign grant hit 86.3 million in 2021-22. A final fund completes the royal fortune: the Duchy of Lancaster, which is controlled by the sovereign and which generated 24 million for the queen in 2022. When it comes to estimating the totality of the Crown Estate, "I don't think anyone knows what it is", Geoff Kertesz, a trust and probate lawyer at law firm Stewarts in London, told AFP. In a series of articles titled "The Cost of the Crown", The Guardian newspaper attempted to put a figure on it. It included the Duchy of Lancaster, which is legally defined as state-controlled but whose entire profits accrue to the monarch, and luxury vehicles, technically owned by the state but exclusively used by the royal family, as well as works of art and jewellery. Taken all together, it estimates Charles' fortune at 1.8 billion. Law enforcement officers were going door-to-door Sunday searching for clues about a gunman who fled after killing five people in a rural Texas town after his neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard. A warning sign is seen Sunday, April 30, 2023, outside the home where a mass shooting occurred Friday night, in Cleveland, Texas. (AP) The alleged shooter, Francisco Oropesa, 38, was considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the area Friday, likely on foot, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said late Saturday. He said authorities had widened the search to 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the scene of the shooting. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Authorities were able to identify Oropesa by an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who reside outside the country, as well as doorbell camera footage. He said police have also interviewed the suspect's wife. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropesa allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. There were other weapons in the suspect's home, he said. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. It was a much quieter scene Sunday. Police crime scene tape had been removed from around the victims' home. Some people stopped by to leave flowers. An FBI agent, several Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers could be seen walking around the neighborhood, going door-to-door and trying to speak with neighbors. The agent and officers declined to comment about what they were doing. As the troopers were speaking to residents at one house, a red truck pulling a travel trailer drove through the neighborhood. One trooper stopped the truck and asked the driver, Mind if I take a look inside the truck? The driver agreed and allowed the trooper to go inside the vehicle. After inspecting the trailer, the trooper let the driver continue on his way. Veronica Pineda, 34, who lives across the street from the suspects home, said authorities asked if they could search her property to see if he might be hiding there. Thats good for them to do that, said the mother of five, adding that she remained fearful because the gunman hasn't yet been captured. It is kind of scary. You never know where he can be. I dont think he will be here anymore, she said. She said she didn't know Oropesa well but occasionally saw him, his wife and son ride their horses on the street and believes the family have lived there five or six years. Pineda said neighbors have called authorities in the past to complain about the firing of weapons. The victims of Friday's shooting were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and all were believed to be from Honduras, Capers said. All were shot from the neck up, he said. A GoFundMe page was set up to repatriate the bodies of two victims, a mother and son, to their native country. Enrique Reina, Honduras' secretary of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was contacting the families in connection with the repatriation of remains as well as U.S. authorities to keep apprised of the investigation. The suspect's last name was originally given as Oropeza by authorities, but the FBI in Houston said in a Tweet on Sunday that it was now referring to him as Oropesa to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. The FBI said the case remains a fluid investigation. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe those at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. The confrontation came after the neighbors walked up to a fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. He said the suspect responded by telling them that it was his property. Doorbell video captured him walking up to the front door with a rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victims' home, while in the front yard of Oropesas house a dog and chickens wandered about. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didnt think anything of it. Its a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. Meghan Markle's estranged family made several scathing comments on her as they are set to take part in a television interview ahead of King Charles' coronation. The show will be broadcast on Australia's Channel 7 marking the family's last-ever interview which will include unseen videos and "treasured memories, home truths and secret tapes" of Meghan Markle. Thomas Markle Sr (left), Meghan Markle's dad. (Getty images) Here are six of the biggest bombshells from the trailer: "Toxic relationship" Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha Markle said that her marriage with Prince Harry is "toxic". They're really unhealthy for each other, it's a toxic relationship. While Samantha's mother Rosalyn said that she was simply "jealous" of Meghan Markle. She's just doing it because she's got nothing better to do and it's what she's always done. It's why nobody talks to her and hasn't for a long, long time. Leave Meghan alone already it's ridiculous," she said. "We're not going away" Meghan's estranged brother, Thomas, said that they are not going away. This is going to change everything, he said. She'd still be a waitress Samantha claimed that Meghan Markle would still be a waitress if it wasn't for their dad, Thomas Markle. "Biggest Prince Andrew bombshell yet" The trailer also referred to Prince Andrew as the voice-over said, "Is this the biggest Prince Andrew bombshell yet?" A lady is then asked, "What was your relationship with Prince Andrew?," which leaves her looking uncomfortable. "Meghan emboldened Harry" A voiceover can also be heard saying, "Harry already had a lot of these thoughts and feelings and Meghan just kind of emboldened him." How do I fix this? In a separate part of the trailer, Thomas Markle made a "deathbed plea" to "the daughter he lost". SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince William will have a special role in King Charles' coronation which is scheduled to take place on May 7. The ceremony is set to have several sections, including the anointing and crowning of King Charles III. Throughout the event, Prince William is set to have a significant role although his brother Prince Harry- who has stepped down from royal duties- will watch the ceremony without taking part. Prince Harry: Britain's Prince William and Prince Harry are seen. (AP) Prince William will take part in a section known as The Homage of Royal Blood, in which he will swear his loyalty to King Charles, The Mirror reported. Prince William will recite the following, I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God. He will also have a significant role in the Robe and Stole Royal section. He will enter as the stole and robe will be brought to King Charles. The Bishop of Durham will vest King Charles in the stole while Prince William will assist bishops. Prince William will also follow behind the monarch in the royal procession with his wife Kate Middleton and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Prince Harry will watch all the proceedings from the side lines at Westminster Abbey while being seated with other non-working members of the royal family, including Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and their husbands. Prince Harry does not have a role in the event and will not take part in the Kings procession, the coronation procession to and from Buckingham Palace. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A mysterious object fell down from the sky near Bydgoszcz, a small town in northern Poland, sparking speculation on social media. Local media claimed the object to be a surface-to-air missile with "Cyrillic writing" on it, saying that it belonged to the Russian military, Newsweek reported as tensions run high between NATO and Russia following Moscow's Ukraine invasion. Local media claimed the object to be a surface-to-air missile with "Cyrillic writing" on it.(Representational) In November 2022, a missile crossed into Polish territory and was confirmed to have come from a Ukrainian air defense system. Poland's RMF24 radio station reported that initially the object was thought to be a drone, with inscriptions in Russian. But social media users speculated the object to be a UFO. "UFO crashed in Poland, Bydgoszcz," a Reddit post read. "Is this the object that crashed in Poland? Recorded same day in the same area. If not, hell of a [coincidence]," wrote another user. With a video in which panoramic footage featuring the same object was seen, a third user questioned the object. Reports of large "military presence" and temporary restrictions around the site following the fall of the object fuelled several theories suggesting that the Polish authorities were "covering up" an alien spaceship crash site. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Russian President Vladimir Putin might face "military mutiny" from the Wagner Group, former Russian commander Igor Girkin warned. The private military unit's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin had earlier threatened to withdraw his troops from Bakhmut and has also publicly criticized the Russian defense ministry, Newsweek reported. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen. (AFP) Calling for the withdrawal of units from the front without the consent of the high command is a military rebellion and nothing else, Igor Girkin said, adding that Yevgeny Prigozhin "openly" blackmailed Russia's military leadership as he is aware that withdrawing his troops could lead to "catastrophic consequences" for Russia. Earlier Reuters reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted that his forces are suffering heavy casualties because Vladimir Putin is not supporting his group. He previously spoke extremely badly of both the Russian command and the Russian army as a whole, [saying] we must forget the word Airborne Forces are doing something in Bakhmut, Igor Girkin said. "Since his political ambitions (multiplied by psychopathy, the organization's demonstrative war crimes, a tendency to shamelessly and in many respects falsely self-promote and spread rotten 'criminal concepts' to the armed forces)only harm both Wagner and the common cause of victory over 'Ukraine,'" Igor Girkin added. This comes as a Ukrainian military spokesman said that Kyiv remains in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, but the situation remains "really difficult". "For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it," Serhiy Cherevatyi said as per news agency Reuters. Yes, it is really difficult there, because their attempts to seize the road continue, as well as attempts to establish fire control. But ... the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics, the spokesman added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The top United Nations humanitarian official is heading to the Sudan region due to the rapidly unfolding impact of the war there and its wider fallout, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Sunday. A view shows a fire at the industrial area given as Omdurman, Sudan.(via REUTERS) The announcement came shortly after rival Sudanese forces announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated, as warplanes roared overhead and fighting continued on the ground in Sudan's capital. "The scale and speed of what is unfolding is unprecedented in Sudan. We are extremely concerned by the immediate as well as long-term impact on all people in Sudan, and the broader region," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for Guterres, said in a statement. He said the UN chief was "immediately" sending Martin Griffiths, his emergency relief coordinator, to the area "in light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan." Deadly hostilities between the army and heavily-armed paramilitaries in Khartoum and other parts of the country have entered a third week. The latest widely-breached ceasefire was scheduled to formally expire at midnight (2200 GMT) before the rival forces announced an extension for 72 hours that the Sudanese army said came due to "US and Saudi mediation". More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes for safer locations within the country or abroad since battles erupted on April 15. The fighting pits the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his ex-deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Witnesses on Sunday evening reported continued armed clashes as well as fighter jets soaring above various parts of the capital and its twin city Omdurman, across the Nile River. The civil aviation authority on Sunday announced Sudan's airspace would remain closed until May 13, with the exception of aid and evacuation flights. "There has been very heavy fighting and loud gunfire," a southern Khartoum resident told AFP earlier in the day. Further complicating the battlefield, Central Reserve Police, a paramilitary unit, were being deployed across Khartoum to "protect citizens' properties" from looting, the Sudanese police said, confirming an army statement. Police said Central Reserve had arrested 316 "rebels", a reference to the RSF, which did not confirm the information and had previously warned police against joining the fight. Washington last year sanctioned the Central Reserve for "serious human rights abuses" related to its use of "excessive force" against pro-democracy protests after the October 2021 coup that brought Burhan and Daglo to power. Daglo's RSF is descended from the Janjaweed unleashed by former strongman Omar al-Bashir in Sudan's western Darfur region, leading to war crimes charges against Bashir and others. - 'God forbid' - With projectiles crashing into residential buildings, supplies running short and daily life increasingly untenable for civilians, foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate their nationals by air, road and sea since the war began on April 15. But millions of Sudanese are still trapped in the country, where aid workers are among the dead and the UN said humanitarian facilities have been looted, forcing a halt to all of its aid operations. "We once again urge all parties to the conflict to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, allow safe passage for civilians fleeing areas of hostilities, respect humanitarian workers and assets, facilitate relief operations, and respect medical personnel, transport and facilities," the UN spokesman Dujarric said. A first Red Cross plane brought eight tonnes of humanitarian aid from Jordan to Port Sudan, which is so far untouched by the fighting. The aid included surgical material and medical kits to stabilise 1,500 patients. On Saturday the health ministry said the violence has wounded around 4,600 people and killed at least 528. Those figures are likely to be incomplete. Sudan's former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok cautioned Saturday against the conflict's deteriorating into one of the world's worst civil wars. The UN World Food Programme has warned the unrest could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people already needed aid to stave off famine. Only 16 percent of health facilities are functioning in Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization, with many shelled. "The situation cannot be sustained" as medical supplies run short, warned Majzoub Saad Ibrahim, a doctor in Ad Damar, north of Khartoum. An envoy of Burhan's met on Sunday in Riyadh with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who urged the restoration of calm in Sudan, his ministry said. Egypt has called an Arab League meeting of its permanent delegates Monday to discuss the "situation in Sudan". - 'Dangerous conditions' - More than 75,000 people have been internally displaced in Sudan, the UN said, and almost 40,000 have crossed borders, mostly into Chad but also South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African Republic, aid workers said. More than 5,000 people have escaped to safety on Saudi Arabian ships across the Red Sea from Port Sudan, the kingdom said. Among them was Badriah al-Sayed, her Omani husband and their son, who joined about 50 other evacuees who reached Jeddah on a Saudi warship Sunday. Sayed told AFP she was grateful for their safety but could not shake the feeling she was "losing a country". Britain said it would operate an additional evacuation flight, from Port Sudan on Monday, after already airlifting more than 2,000 people out of the country from an airport near Khartoum. Canada ended its air evacuations "due to the dangerous conditions", having flown out more than 540 people, after large airlifts by France, Germany and other nations. Along with battles in the capital, fighting, looting and lawlessness in the long-troubled Darfur region has raised particular international concern. At least 96 people were reported killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, the UN said. Bruce Springsteen was joined by former first lady Michelle Obama on stage in Barcelona Friday night, where she sang and played tambourine during "Glory Days," alongside Springsteen's wife, Patti Scialfa, and actress Kate Capshaw. Consequence: Springsteen and Obamas' relationship extends back to 2008, when Barack Obama first ran for president. Springsteen played several of Obama's early campaign rallies and inauguration, and hit the road for him again during his 2012 reelection campaign. He even wrote Obama's campaign theme song. Later, near the end of his presidency, President Obama awarded Springsteen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Authorities widened search for the suspect after the killing of five of his neighbours in the town of Cleveland in Texas. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said that the police were searching for 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza. The gunman remained at large more than 15 hours after the shooting in which five including eight-year-old boy and a teenage girl were killed. Texas US Shooting: Law enforcement search for the suspect a few miles from the scene where five people, including an 8-year-old child, were killed after a shooting inside a home.(AFP) When the family asked Francisco Oropeza to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, he fatally shot his neighbours, authorities said. Francisco Oropeza used an AR-style rifle and all of his rounds were from the neck up, so basically in the head, the police informed. Read more: Zelensky says would have fought to death had Russians stormed Kyiv headquarters Authorities were using scent-tracking dogs and an overhead drone in the search for the suspect, who was intoxicated at the time of the shooting after which he fled toward a forest. At the time of the shooting there were 10 people in the house.Two of the victims were found by the front door and the eight-year-old boy was in the front room while three other blood-covered children in the home were taken to a hospital. The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child, the police said. Since January 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead in the US, Associated Press reported. Major mass shootings have also occurred in Texas which include last year's shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019, shooting at a church in Sutherland Springs in 2017. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A morphed image of a female figure above blast smoke tweeted by the Ukrainian defence ministry on Sunday triggered outrage, with netizens accusing it of mimicking the Hindu deity Kali and labelling it disrespectful and "Hinduphobic." Ukraine defence ministry deleted the picture after backlash for being Hinduphobic.(Twitter) The official account, @DefenceU, tweeted a photo of a female in an upskirt pose reminiscent of Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe with the caption, "Work of art." However, it wasn't received well by several Indian users, and the backlash forced its removal. "I am absolutely appalled to see the Ukrainian defence handle mocking Maa Kali, a revered Hindu goddess. This is a gross display of insensitivity and ignorance. I urge them to take down the offensive content and issue an apology. Respect for all religions and beliefs is paramount," a user tweeted. ALSO READ: Taking stock of Indias policy on Ukraine war Even when it was deleted, the screengrab of the post was widely shared on social media platforms asking for an apology, with some even tagging the Indian foreign ministry and EAM Jaishankar to intervene. While many condemned the posts, there were also some users who claimed it was unnecessary controversy. "Wake up to yourselves; it's only a cartoon and a joke. Are you so far up your...that you are unable to take a joke?" a user tweeted. The Ukrainian defence ministry has yet to respond to the controversy. Maa Kali photo morphed into blast smoke from a Russian plant! The "Hindu goddess Kali" caricature was blended over a blast fume picture purportedly coming from a Russian fuel storage facility in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, which was allegedly hit by a Ukrainian drone on Saturday. (ALSO READ: India becomes Europe's largest supplier of refined fuels after Russian oil ban) According to Reuters, quoting RBC Ukraine, a Ukrainian military intelligence official stated that more than ten tanks of oil products with a capacity of roughly 40,000 metric tonnes meant for use by Russia's Black Sea Fleet were destroyed. Some linked the post to the Ukraine ministry "hurting the sentiments of Indians" for their "support for Russia". US President Joe Biden laughed off jokes about his age at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, and hit back with a few of his own as well as Washington's political and media elites gathered for the event that was headlined by "Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood Jr. US President Joe Biden gestures during the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.(AFP) As Roy Wood mocked Joe Biden, 80, for running for a second term, he talked about the recent protests in France against raising the retirement age. "They rioted because they didn't want to work until 64. Meanwhile, in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work," he said, adding, 'Let me finish the job' -- That's not a campaign slogan, that's a plea. Say what you want about our president, but when he wakes up from that nap, work gets done. Joe Biden targeted media mogul Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, saying, You might think I don't like Rupert Murdoch, that's simply not true. How can I dislike a guy who makes me look like (29-year-old pop star) Harry Styles? On CNN presenter Don Lemon, Joe Biden joked, Call me old -- I call it being seasoned. You say I am ancient -- I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill -- Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime. "Folks, it is wonderful to be back here again, proving I haven't learned a damn thing," Joe Biden said to mark the occasion that celebrates US constitution's First Amendment guarantees of free speech and advocates for a free press around the world. On a sombre note, Joe Biden talked about Evan Gershkovich- a Wall Street Journal reporter arrested and imprisoned in Russia last month- saying, We are working every day to secure his release. We're looking at opportunities and tools to bring him home. "We keep the faith," Joe Biden added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With Beijing eyeing ports on the west coast of Africa and in South Argentina, President Xi Jinping has launched China on a mission to be an alternate Communist power pole to Democratic America by boosting its ability to project military power around the globe. Chinese President Xi Jinping While consolidating its hold in South-East Asia with a new port in Ream in BRI debt ridden Cambodia, China is now eyeing to establish military presence in Bata in Equatorial Guinea on the west coast of Africa and is pushing Argentina to build a naval base at Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego province to open the door to Antarctica and monitor sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The Chinese have already expanded their military footprint off the coast of Beijing dependent South Africa with the PLA's strategic surveillance and missile tracking ships often in the vicinity. Even today PLA strategic surveillance and missile tracker Yuan Wang 5 is stationed off the coast of Durban, monitoring sea traffic between Indian Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, passing off the coast of Cape of Good Hope. China has already ports in Hambantota and Gwadar in BRI debt ridden Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively and is eyeing ports in Chah Bahar, Iran and Port Khalifa in UAE. The Chinese military expansion around the globe is supported by Middle-Kingdoms hyperactive diplomacy after President Xi Jinping was elected for the third term as a President after the October 2022 National Party Congress. With the US looking inwards and taking its eye off the global ball, China has moved swiftly into areas where Americans were either indifferent or overbearing. The first move in April 2022 was China's security pact with Solomon Islands in the Far Pacific, an area largely ignored by the US and its allies but critical to monitoring the Indo-Pacific. After being formally reelected for the third term, paramount leader Xi Jinping moved swiftly by taking deft diplomatic steps to wean Europe from its traditional ally US by first inviting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Beijing in November 2022 with the lure of more Chinese business to Bonn. The next Chinese step was even more classic when they used the angst of Saudi Arabia and UAE with the US to carve out a detente with Iran on March 10, 2023, with the Sunni and Shia shoulders of Islam re-establishing diplomatic relations after seven years of deadly rivalry. This was followed by French President Emanuele Macrons three-day visit to Beijing on April 5-7 with the visitor publicly asking Europe to distance itself from the US objective to deter China over its aggression towards the independent democratic state of Taiwan. While Macron may have taken this step to project Frances traditional strategic autonomy stance, fact is that the Chinese deft move has divided Europe as Beijing has vowed to increase trade with Europe while posing no military threat to the continent. In rapprochement with Germany and France, China has a secret ally in big businessmen of Europe who are making hay by selling high end cars and luxury goods to the Middle Kingdom. Macron's visit was followed by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, who espouses Left ideology, paying obeisance to President Xi in Beijing on April 11-14 with the aim of increasing trade with the Middle-Kingdom and signing a slew of agreements. Continuing with his diplomatic offensive, President Xi made a call to Ukraine President V Zelensky on April 26 by offering him to be peacemaker with Russia to end the 14-month on-going war. With the Biden administration committed to teach Russia a lesson for invading Ukraine, the Chinese move will lead to a rethink in eastern Europe over the futility and economic costs of a never-ending war with western Europe not affected by the crisis in any way. While the US and India are getting ready for yet another election to elect President and Prime Minister respectively in 2024, authoritarian China is well on its way to establish a military network around the globe and become a global superpower before the end of this decade. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History opened the exhibit "Mirror, Mirror: Reflections of American Stories in Disney Parks," curated by Bethanee Bemis. I'm hoping to get to Washington, DC to see it. Attractions Magazine previewed the exhibit. "Inside the gallery, Bemis and her colleagues showcased photos that told several compelling narratives from throughout park history. Those include stories from families who felt out of place or unsafe elsewhere but could vacation safely in the Disney Parks. "'We saw that a lot in these stories that people sent us particularly among immigrant families what it meant to get to go to Disneyland',' Bemis said .'It meant, "we've made it, we're part of the American Story.''' "Some examples include a biracial family who safely vacationed at Disneyland when the parents' marriage was illegal in their home state of Texas and a featured Japanese family who had been in a concentration camp just a decade before snapping a photo with Walt himself at Disneyland." The exhibit seems to celebrate the Disney World and Disneyland's inclusivity, and its increasing sensitivity to inclusive issues (or, as Ron DeSantis would derisively call it, "wokeness."), including changes made to the Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain rides. But I wonder whether it deals with the implicit cultural exclusion that has existed in the parks since their inception, and has only really been mitigated in recent years. And of course there is the huge issue of financial exclusion that less wealthy Americans of all types have felt not being able to afford to get to and/or gain admission, which has been greatly exacerbated in recent years. I was surprised to learn that Bob Gurr, one of the very most important Imagineers in the history of Disney, spent much of his career, starting in the 1950s, as a closeted gay man. Bob is truly one of the seminal creators of Disneyland, credited with designing the ride vehicles for Autopia, The Haunted Mansion, the Submarine Voyage, the Matterhorn Bobsleds, and many more vehicles, rides, and ride elements. Here is Gurr being interviewed about his career: Gurr eventually drove the Omnibus he had designed for Disneyland in the Los Angeles Pride Parade in 2019, officially representing the Walt Disney Company. That's the kind of progress DeSantis wants to obliterate. Dubai, UAE - More than USD1 trillion worth of real estate and infrastructure projects, including 315,000 hotel keys, are under development or in the pipeline in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, underpinning the ambition set out in the countrys Vision 2030 strategy, according to industry experts speaking ahead of the upcoming Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) Saudi Arabia, taking place at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, 7-9 May 2023. The number of hotel keys is likely to almost double to around 200,000 in the next four to five years, with at least 50 per cent of the proposed supply becoming operational by 2028, with some existing properties exiting from the market to make way for new, more competitive and appealing hotels and resorts. KSA is set to take its place on the world stage and showcase its vision of an ultra-modern future to a global audience, with a diverse array of giga and mega projects that will transform the countrys real estate landscape and redefine tourism, living and lifestyle, according to leading real estate consultancy and FHS Saudi Arabia Sponsor, Knight Frank. The KSA governments strategy includes attracting 100 million visitors by 2030, and that means creating and delivering first class gateways and developments, such as the USD500 Billion NEOM. The USD1 trillion projects already under way represent just one third of the total spending plan, reinforcing the countrys aggressive plan to deliver world class infrastructure, hospitality, tourism and residential facilities to meet the targets set out in Vision 2030. The outlook for hospitality investment in KSA looks promising, with hotel and tourism development not only focused on the major cities of Riyadh and Jeddah, but spreading quickly to other parts of the country, too. Our analysis shows that the delivery of all planned hotel rooms which cover the luxury, mid-market and serviced apartment sectors will cost around USD110 billion. Turab Saleem, Head of Tourism and Hospitality at Knight Frank Knight Franks views on hospitality investment in Saudi Arabia are echoed by FHS Sponsor, HVS, the leading global consultancy focusing on the hospitality sector, which says that the government continues to make significant strides in facilitating the growth of different sectors across the country, with notable investments in the hospitality and tourism space. The surge in tourism and arrivals into KSA over the last 18 months alone largely the result of legislation changes and visa facilitation is a testament to the countrys growing allure. Interestingly, this uptick is not confined to established destinations and sectors such as commercial and religious tourism. Bleisure and leisure tourism are equally on the rise, with secondary cities welcoming new visitors from far and wide. As the country continues to diversify its offering, the outlook looks positive, and, while it is early days in terms of planning and future investment, the hospitality market and investment opportunities are significant. Hala Matar Choufany, President Middle East, Africa and South Asia at HVS Knight Franks data research on KSA hotels outside of the giga projects shows that there are currently 129,000 hotel and serviced apartment keys in the country. By 2030, that figure will have grown by more than 60 per cent to 212,000 keys in 5-star, 4-star, 3-star and under, and serviced apartment sectors, with 4-star properties accounting for almost half of the total development cost of USD21.3 billion. Meanwhile, the Kingdoms giga projects represent nearly 73 per cent of the hotel supply pipeline, with a 62 per cent surge in the number of 4- and 5-star hotel rooms by the end of the decade. And Saudi Arabias tourism expansion is not limited to land-based destinations and attractions. The cruise industry, which is set to create up to 50,000 jobs in the country, is expected to bring in 1.5 million visitors annually within the next five years, according to the KSA Public Investment Fund. Turab Saleem continued: As we stand at the precipice of a sea-change for Saudi Arabias hospitality landscape, we are moving from vision to reality. The herculean, USD110 billion task of transforming Saudi Arabias hospitality landscape goes well beyond the delivery of extra hotel room keys, and care and attention must be taken to launch the correct quantum of product in the right locations. Delivering as per the plan will create a number of opportunities and challenges; challenges that we believe can be overcome and turned into even more opportunities by forcing other sectors to develop in parallel and support KSAs hospitality development strategy. HVS anticipates that franchises and lease agreements are set to become a new trend in the Saudi Arabian hospitality market. Hala Matar Choufany said: Considering the size and scale of developments as well as the nature of ownership, it is evident that the Saudi market will benefit from multiple arrangements, such as franchises, as it relates to some of the established hotel owners, growth in local management companies, and rise and growth of homegrown brands. We also foresee an increase in lease agreements as the markets become more mature and stable. While the traditional hotel operating model remains relevant, terms have become more competitive and operators ability to drive value is key to negotiations. To effectively invest in change, there needs to be a shift in mindset from offering not only a room but creating an overall, memorable experience. This means establishing a much deeper understanding of the type of guests and their needs, expectations, willingness to spend and other preferences, which will be key in the success of positioning an asset as a destination rather than merely a hotel. With rising competition and declining brand loyalty, the challenge to remain relevant has become more important than ever. Organised by The Bench, FHS Saudi Arabia will bring together the industry leaders from across the region and beyond for discussions, deals and insight on the continued growth of the Kingdoms hospitality and tourism sectors. Six months later, the Future Hospitality Summit will take place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the first time. The event will be hosted at the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, 25-27 September 2023. For more information on the 2023 editions of FHS please visit https://www.futurehospitalitysummit.com/. About The Bench The Benchhas established a legacy for delivering world-leading investment forums and conferences in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The key principle behind these platforms has remained "dealmaking'. Transforming the way business connect, Bench has developed a reputation for creating innovative and high-impact meeting spaces for the industry. For over two decades - government leaders, tourism ministries, global travel & tourism associations, the world's most influential hospitality brands, hotel owners & investors, renowned restaurant groups, airlines & aviation authorities, destination developers, asset managers, financial groups and consultants have been participating in The Bench's events for their respective objectives. These include AHIC, AHIF, GRIF, FHS, AHF, IDEEA, AviaDev and RENEW where industry players showcase their brands, position themselves as thought leaders or innovators, and connect with the right opportunities and knowledge. Learn more on thebench.com FHS Saudi Arabia Dates: 7-9 May 2023 Location: Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh, KSA Sponsors: Al Faisaliah Hotel and Al Khozama Management Holdings as Host Sponsors; Accor, Boutique Group, Dur Hospitality, NEOM, Radisson Hotel Group, Rua Al Madina Holding, SRG, and Tourism Development Fund as Platinum Sponsors; Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Diriyah Company, IHG Hotels & Resorts, KAFD, Marriott International, Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Miral, Rotana and Taiba Investments as Emerald Sponsors, Aleph Hospitality; Blink Design Group, CBRE, Colliers; Compass Project Consulting, Crossover Lodge, DAR, Domus Management Housing, Dorsett Hospitality International, ELAF Group; HBA; IHCL, Insignia; JLL, Kerten Hospitality; Knight Frank, Legal Advisors Abdulaziz Alajlan & Partners in association with Baker & McKenzie Limited, Louvre Hotels Group; Mapal, Minor Hotels; OBMI, PwC, QUO, Rove Hotels, SECC Group, Spectrum, SSH, The Boundary, Voltere by Egis, Whitewater and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts as Gold Sponsors, Deutsche Hospitality, Hospitality Management Holding, HVS and Keane as Silver Sponsors and TGP International as GRIF-Saudi Arabia Platinum Sponsors. Anne Bleeker In2 Consulting +971 56 603 0886 The Bench With Summer Travel on the Horizon, 7 in 10 Americans Are Ready to Roam Despite Economic Challenges MMGY Global survey observes decrease in overall travel intent but also notable upticks in trip frequency, international trips and planned spending With the spring break travel season in full swing for most Americans, new research by MMGY Travel Intelligence suggests that U.S. travel intentions may be softening somewhat overall. According to the latest edition of the research firms 2023 Portrait of American Travelersstudy released today, 7 in 10 U.S. adults plan to take a vacation in the next 12 months. While still a strong majority at 70%, the figure is down from 73% in October and down significantly from 86% a year ago. Any softness were seeing in travel intentions is tied almost entirely to lower-income households where concerns over personal finances and the affordability of travel inherently carry more weight, said Chris Davidson, Executive Vice President of MMGY Travel Intelligence. At the same time, a majority of travelers appear poised to travel more and spend more in the year ahead, and this should effectively offset those who may opt out. Despite a decrease in the percentage of U.S. adults planning to travel in the next 12 months, the intended number of trips (4.2 trips, up from 3.9 in February 2022) and spending intentions ($4,339, up from $2,581 in February 2022) of those still planning to travel continue to increase. Another positive takeaway is that interest in international travel continues to rise. According to the study, 8 in 10 active leisure travelers are interested in traveling abroad in the next two years, up significantly from the 73% who reported interest in February 2022. This may be partially due to a subset of travelers who are prioritizing international travel, but it could also be pent-up demand for destinations that have only just rolled out the welcome mat for inbound international travelers, said Davidson. This is good news for places like Asia and Oceania only recently available again to U.S. tourists that have gained significant interest as a travel destination since last year. The Portrait of American Travelers Spring Edition examines the behaviors and preferences of more than 4,500 U.S. adults from data collected in February. Other key observations include: The hotel industry appears to be bouncing back after the pandemic shifted travelers interests to alternatives like short-term rentals and camping. In fact, 70% of active leisure travelers planning to take a vacation in the next six months are planning to stay in a hotel/resort, up from 60% in February 2022. Despite concerns about COVID-19 decreasing, cleanliness standards are still among the top features travelers are looking for when choosing accommodations. appears to be bouncing back after the pandemic shifted travelers interests to alternatives like short-term rentals and camping. In fact, 70% of active leisure travelers planning to take a vacation in the next six months are planning to stay in a hotel/resort, up from 60% in February 2022. Despite concerns about COVID-19 decreasing, cleanliness standards are still among the top features travelers are looking for when choosing accommodations. Regarding sustainability, 6 in 10 active leisure travelers are willing to pay more to patronize travel service providers that demonstrate environmental responsibility, relatively unchanged from 62% last year. Younger generations specifically are more willing than older generations to make monetary commitments to help fund sustainability programs, while older generations are willing to change their travel behaviors if it doesnt increase the cost, such as visiting in the off-season or using less single-use plastics while traveling. 6 in 10 active leisure travelers are willing to pay more to patronize travel service providers that demonstrate environmental responsibility, relatively unchanged from 62% last year. Younger generations specifically are more willing than older generations to make monetary commitments to help fund sustainability programs, while older generations are willing to change their travel behaviors if it doesnt increase the cost, such as visiting in the off-season or using less single-use plastics while traveling. Finally, when it comes to sources of information for travel ideas and inspiration, travelers report seeking out more sources than in 2022 communicating their increased usage of review websites, online visitor guides, destination websites and other travel mediums. For more insights from the study or to purchase a copy of the 2023 Portrait of American Travelers Spring Edition, visit mmgyintel.com. MMGY Globals Portrait of American Travelers study provides an in-depth examination of the impact of the current economic environment, prevailing social values, and emerging travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans. Now in its 33rd year, it is widely regarded as a leading barometer of travel trends and an essential tool for both the development and evolution of brand and marketing strategy. The travel trend information presented in this Spring Edition report was obtained from interviews with 4,530 U.S. adults in February 2023 featuring data from four generations: Gen Zers (1825), Millennials (2641), Gen Xers (4257) and Boomers (5876). The Silent/GI generation (77+) was also surveyed, but results are not broken out for this specific generation due to a small respondent sample size. This is the first of four quarterly reports to be released this year. CORINTH, Miss. (AP) Natural gas is flowing again in a Mississippi pipeline after a towering blaze Friday that officials believe was caused by a lightning strike. The pipeline's owner, TC Energy Corp. of Calgary, Alberta, said Saturday that it had completed operational adjustments. The Canadian company notified its customers through an electronic system that it was lifting the force majeure it had declared on Friday. The contract term allows the pipeline to curtail deliveries because of forces outside the owners control. Oh, look! Tucker Carlson can add Mike Lindell to the illustrious list of people offering him a job. Additional sources of Russian propaganda that have expressed an interest in the former Fox News figurehead are Newsmax and Russia's own RT. Lindell and Carlson seem like a pretty good match. Neither tells the truth; both love Russia, conspiracy theories, and playing a buffoon on TV. I do not know how Carlson's 2004 hosting of Jon Stewart on Crossfire left Tucker with a career at all, let alone to become the most trusted source of lies in Red America. Crooks and Liars: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has some fantastic news for unemployed former Fox News MAGA clowns Tucker Carlson and Dan Bongino. On The Lindell Report (I have no idea what that is), the pillow salesman tells his viewers he wants them on his team. "And by the way, Brandon, I've reached out to both of them," he said to a dude named Brandon who appeared to be napping. "I texted them both, both Don Bongino and Tucker, and said, hey, you're welcome over here at Lindell TV at Frank Speech." "We would love to have them here as part of our team," he added. For memory sake: LAWRENCE, Mass. (AP) One person was fatally shot and five others were injured by gunfire at a house party in Massachusetts early Sunday morning, authorities said. Police responded to a disturbance call at a third-floor apartment in Lawrence at about 3 a.m., which is when they found the victims, according to statement from Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker's office. Yi-Chin Lee/Staff photographer Officials with the FBI early Sunday released a photo of a man they alleged was connected to the Friday mass shooting in San Jacinto County before pulling it from their social media pages a short time later. The news release with the man's photo was so detailed it even provided a close-up of one easily recognizable tattoo on the man's arm. However, the photo released was not of the correct suspect, according to Connor Hagan, a spokesman for the FBIs Houston field office. A man has turned himself in and is charged with murder in a shooting at an apartment complex in Spring. Isiah Leitreil Young, 24, has been charged with the murder of Rashad Cannon, 22. MORE ON LOCAL: Houston man charged with the stabbing of 63-year-old roommate Harris County Precinct 4 deputies responded to a crash at 3:20 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of 2800 Hirschfield Road in Spring, officials said. Authorities said that Cannon drove a white sedan into an apartment complex parking lot that he and his brother were considering moving into. A man approached their vehicle and started shooting, as Cannon drove toward the exit gate, according to official documents. Cannon's brother told authorities that he got out of the vehicle and expected his brother to leave as well, but he did not and the car kept moving until it struck a fence. MORE ON LOCAL: Houston gang member sentenced to life for 2017 murder in Humble Authorities found surveillance footage of the shooting, which took place within five minutes of the brothers driving into the complex. Authorities also found Youngs girlfriend, Celeste Villegas, who lives at that apartment complex, according to official documents. Villegas stated that Young called her after the shooting at 3:30 p.m., while she was working and claimed someone tried to rob him, authorities said. Young allegedly told Villegas that someone was trying to steal her dog and he shot them, officials said. Using the surveillance footage, authorities were able to determine that the situation never occurred, officials said. Young was charged with the shooting, but was not in police custody, authorities said. Young turned himself into authorities Friday night and is in Harris County Jail, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. C.J. Lammers of the Conway School of Landscape Design gives details about the red oak planted by City Council President Peter Marchetti and Parks Manager James McGrath on Friday. City Council President Peter Marchetti and Parks Manager James McGrath finishing the planting of the red oak donated by the Conway School at Springside Park. Conway School Executive Director Bruce Stedman holds the 50-year anniversary sign for the school to be placed in front of the tree. Brian Clark of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation gives a talk on the seed forest planted at Springside. PreviousNext Pittsfield Celebrates Arbor Day at Springside Park Landscape architect Martha Lyon speaks about the historical context of trees at Friday's Arbor Day celebration in Pittsfield. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Springside Park gained a red oak tree on Friday as the community celebrated Arbor Day. Over the next 20 years, it will absorb about 900 pounds of carbon dioxide and release upwards of 260 pounds of oxygen a year. The tree was donated by the Conway School of Landscape Design in Northampton in honor of its 50th anniversary and replaces one that fell down during a windstorm last about a year ago. "This new red oak is our replacement oak and will forever be that tree planted during Arbor Day 2023 here at Springside," Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath said. The event began with a ceremony and was followed by a ceremonial tree planting, an overview of the Chestnut Seed Orchard project in the park, a hike led by the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, and a tree walk led by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team. "When I look out I see the best of Pittsfield," McGrath said. "I see my colleagues from park maintenance who give it their all every day to keep our parks safe and open, I see countless volunteers who give their time and talents to beautify our parks, I see members of our city government who care enough to serve so that we have wonderful community spaces like Springside, and I see you. You care about Pittsfield in so many different ways and you do your part every day to strengthen this community, our natural environment, and this park." He has been involved with the ceremony since 1999 and believes it to be the sixth time being held at Springside Park. McGrath said the Friday event was different because he feels like the park has come full circle. "In 2003, it was right here where the city unveiled its Adopt a Park program. In 2005, we held the ceremony at the future site of the boundless playground on Springside Avenue and that is the first and still the only fully accessible all-access playground in Berkshire County," he explained. "In 2006, we held a ceremony almost in this exact same spot to highlight the recent listing of the Springside House on the National Register of Historic Places, and in 2007, we honored the many volunteer groups that contribute to keeping Springside a magical place and in 2016, we celebrated the initial plantings at the Chestnut Seed Orchard, which is just a stone's throw from here. So full circle, you say." The Conway School, first established in the town of Conway, is an intensive graduate program of 18 students that teaches and practices land design that is ecologically and socially sustainable. Both McGrath and his wife graduated from the school in the late 1990s. Executive Director Bruce Stedman reported that the school has graduated about 800 students since it was founded in 1973 and has done about 600 community projects. This includes a 2016 project titled "A Vision for Pittsfield's Conservation Areas: Linking Landscape & Community." He pointed out that the U.S. Champion Red Oak in Ashtabula, Ohio, is 337 inches in diameter and is 92 feet tall. "That tree is emblematic of all of our efforts to work forward, to pay forward, to volunteer forward," Stedman said. Martha Lyon, the owner of an eponymous Northampton landscape architecture firm, spoke about the historical context of trees, Arbor Day and Springside Park. She shared a personal tale about a 2007 microburst that swept through her neighborhood and took down a 75-year-old white pine that damaged her house. She said this event presented her with a dilemma "On the one hand, I and we revere the graceful beauty of trees, the coolness of their shade, their generosity towards birds, allowing them to nest rent-free, their ability to absorb carbon and hand us back oxygen without complaint," Lyon said, adding that on the other hand, people fear the destruction that trees can cause, disparage the leaves that fall, and dislike that they block the sun from solar panels. To her, this illustrates the need to find better ways to live in harmony with "towering friends." Lyon said this be accomplished by putting utility lines underground, prioritizing tree care, and planting a new tree for every tree removed to accommodate solar panels. "My conclusion is that we need trees much more than they need us," she explained. "And moving ahead we need to carry that with us and pay our respects." Two local parks volunteers who had recently died were recognized during the event: Pittsfield resident Robert Presutti, and Lanesborough resident Dean Maynard. McGrath joked that if Presutti was at the Arbor Day planting, he would have jumped right in and guided the process. "But that was what Bob did," he said. "Bob was an educator and he was always sharing his knowledge with anyone who was up here. He was often running tree pruning workshops. He was a really a magnificent volunteer, a great human, and he'll be missed." Maynard was a 1983 graduate of Conway School and a past president of Springside's Herbert Arboretum and had a successful career in landscaping. Williamstown Select Board Candidates Meet for Pre-Election Forum WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The three candidates for two seats on the Select Board each espoused a similarly thoughtful, inclusive approach to decision making in a pre-election forum sponsored by the local chapter of the League of Women Voters. But their answers at the Tuesday event did reflect some differences on the starting points that each will bring to deliberations that may come before the board in the next three years. On Tuesday, May 9, voters will decide whether to return three-term incumbent Andrew Hogeland for another three-year term and whether one or both newcomers in the race, Stephanie Boyd and Paul Harsch, will join the board. The ballot in the annual town election actually will have four names running for the two available seats; Andrea Bryant announced earlier this month that she decided to pull out of the race after the deadline for candidate withdrawals. The top two vote-getters from the remaining three candidates will join the five-person Select Board after the annual town meeting on May 16. All three candidates indicated an openness to be persuaded on issues and a willingness to gather feedback from their constituents if elected. "When faced with a challenge, many of you will know that I am quite a bulldog at trying to figure out what to do," Boyd said in her closing remarks. "I look at it from every angle. I talk to people. I research, read. I do analysis. "And I know the most important issues that we are going to face on the Select Board will be complex and multifaceted." Harsch attempted to put the same principles in action in real time at the candidate forum. When a resident asked from the floor about what opportunities the candidates saw for more regional cooperation with Williamstown's North Berkshire neighbors, Harsch turned the question around. "I'd be curious to hear from you as to what you had in mind by asking the question," Harsch asked the inquisitor, Catherine McKeen. "Did you have something in mind? Any particular areas where you'd foresee opportunities?" When she answered that she was more interested in hearing the candidates' thoughts, Harsch said he agreed in principle to regional cooperation as a way to hold down the cost of municipal government, adding that, "If I was serving on the Select Board, I would welcome suggestions, and we'd investigate." Hogeland talked about active listening in his opening comments and, when the forum concluded, said he appreciated hearing his fellow candidates' ideas at the event. "I like to do things in a rational, deliberative, well-reasoned way," Hogeland said in his opener. "I learn from people. I like to listen to them attentively and see what they say. I don't like to win public arguments. I think the better result is to resolve them." Hogeland returned to the theme of listening to constituents during a discussion about diversity and equity. Harsch used his time on the topic to stress that he believes Williamstown is a welcoming place for people of different backgrounds. "I think we're a pretty inclusive community," he said. "There's always room for improvement on any topic. But we cannot pretend that we can be all things to all people. I think people who want to come here from diverse backgrounds will seek us out. I'm not lamenting anything about the town. I think it's a wonderful town. And not everybody wants to live here." Hogeland said his experience over the last three years says otherwise. "I think we want to be inclusive in town," he said. "I am not sure if you asked people, you would get universal agreement that we are inclusive. "The last three years, I just have heard way too many stories from people who do not feel included. They feel frightened. They feel submerged. So we need to reach out because there are actually some problems out there we need to deal with." Boyd pointed to the forum's venue as an indication that the town has work to do about being inclusive across all spectrums, not just race and ethnicity. She pointed to the sign in the hall that points to the "Selectmen's Meeting Room." "Last week, we [on the Planning Board] had a public hearing in here where a number of people came with walkers, and it was so uncomfortable getting people in and out of this room," Boyd said. "I think physical accessibility, the signs, lots of small things we can do in our community. Spring Street is almost impossible to navigate if you have any kind of mobility aids. "I agree with all the things about getting people together, but we have to look at our physical infrastructure, too, and see what that communicates to our community." One of the major topics at the Tuesday event was taxes. It came up both in multiple questions submitted to the League of Women Voters online and was raised again when moderator Jennifer Howlett opened the event to questions from the floor. Harsch, who used an iBerkshires.com candidate Q&A to suggest an "across-the-board" cut to municipal budgets, reiterated that idea at Tuesday's forum. "Could we possibly, unlike Congress, get together and look hard at the entire budget of the town and make some cuts? Harsch asked. "One equitable way to do that is an across-the-board 10 percent cut in all budgets. It's a tough thing to do, a tough thing to pass. But that's the alternative." Boyd suggested there mechanisms the town can look at to lower the tax burden on specific classes of residents and said there may be ways to lower costs at the margins without impacting services, but she admitted that would be difficult. "What we can do on lowering expenses is really difficult," Boyd said. "I've only ever heard people who want more things. But I've also rarely seen an organization that doesn't have some inefficiencies we can work on. That's probably even more challenging than getting some revenue." Hogeland touted one mechanism for targeted tax relief that he worked on in the last year as a Select Board member. At town meeting, members will have a chance to expand a senior property tax exemption program by lowering the age eligibility and increasing the income and asset minimums to the maximums allowed by the commonwealth. He also talked about advocating for more state aid, referencing his work as president of the Massachusetts Select Board Association and on the governor's Local Government Advisory Committee. At the end of the day, though, Hogeland said Williamstown's municipal budget, in recent history, has generated the least debate of any item on the floor at town meeting. "The other thing to realize is we all go to town meeting, and we all vote for the budget," Hogeland said. "That budget turns into taxes. So if you're worried about the taxes, you should be worried about it a few months earlier when we vote for the budget." One of the mechanisms that Boyd referenced for targeted tax relief is the commonwealth's Residential Exemption program, which allows communities to shift the tax burden away from moderately-priced homes to more expensive properties and second homeowners. Harsch said he was open to persuasion on the topic but did not think shifting the tax burden is a "favorable path." "One piece of educational information I got from our town tax assessor: He said this particular program was initiated around the Boston area, where property values are much higher," Harsch said. "It's not a concept that has been utilized much west of Boston." Hogeland, who has joined the rest of the Select Board in rejecting the Residential Exemption each August or September for nearly a decade, cited that exact argument about incompatibility outside the Boston metro area. He also called the exemption program a "blunt instrument" that is not sufficiently targeted to residents in need because home value is not always directly linked to one's ability to pay property taxes. Boyd, on the other hand, appeared the most open to considering the Residential Exemption as a way to make the town's taxation more progressive. "It does, as Paul mentioned, shift the tax burden from lower valued houses to higher valued houses," Boyd said. "The reason this is important is because property tax is a regressive tax. There's all kinds of papers written on that: The people with the lowest amount of wealth pay more than people with higher wealth when we're just looking at property tax. "There are a number of reasons that happens. One is we're not particularly good at evaluating high-end property values. Also people's wealth is not tied up in real assets like it was when we first invented property taxes. Particularly if you're at the wealthy end, your house is a small percentage of your net worth." RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) Internet providers and wireless carriers in Brazil stopped blocking Telegram on Saturday after a federal judge partially revised a ruling suspending the social media app over its failure to surrender data on neo-Nazi activity. However, the judge kept in place a daily fine of $1 million reais (about $200,000) for Telegrams refusal to provide the data, according to a press statement provided by the federal court that issued the ruling. Complete suspension is not reasonable, given the broad impact throughout the national territory on the freedom of communication of thousands of people who are absolutely strangers to the facts under investigation, judge Flavio Lucas was quoted as saying in the statement. Telegram had been temporarily suspended pursuant to a police inquiry into school shootings in November, when a former student armed with a semiautomatic pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest fatally shot three people and wounded 13 after barging into two schools in the small town of Aracruz in Espirito Santo state. The 16-year-old is believed to have been a member of extremist channels on Telegram, where tutorials on murder and the manufacture of bombs were disseminated, the court's statement said. Federal police ordered Telegram to provide details on names, tax identity numbers, profile photos, bank information and registered credit cards of channel members and later disputed Telegram's claim that it could not comply because the channel had been suspended, the court statement said. Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said in a statement Thursday that the company was appealing the Brazil-wide ban ordered the previous day, claiming compliance was technologically impossible and arguing that it is Telegram's mission is to protect privacy and free speech. The company says in an online FAQ that it has never shared data on users with any government. It's unclear how much of the requested data Telegram is able to provide. Only a phone number is required to create a Telegram account and a pseudonyms are routinely used. Further, beginning in December, Telegram offered the option of creating accounts with anonymous numbers. The court statement noted Telegrams past clashes with the judiciary in Brazil. Last year, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a nationwide shutdown of Telegram, arguing it hadnt cooperated with authorities. It lasted two days and was lifted after Durov blamed his company's initial lack of response on a communications snafu. Technology companies need to understand that cyberspace cannot be a free territory, a different world with its own rules created and managed by the agents who commercially exploit it, Lucas, the judge in the current case, said in Saturday's statement. Brazil has been grappling with a wave of school attacks. There have been almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since 2000, half of them in the last 12 months, including the killing of four children at a day care center April 5. Brazils federal government has strived to stamp out school violence with a particular focus on the influence of social media. The goal is to prevent further incidents, particularly holding platforms responsible for failing to remove content that allegedly incites violence. Regulation of social media platforms was a recurring theme earlier this month when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with his Cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices, governors and mayors. Telegram has been blocked in the past by other governments, including Iran, China and Russia. Durov, an ethnic Russian whose company is based in the United Arab Emirates, has managed to coexist with the Kremlin despite its crackdown on speech and Western media following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine last year. So-called patriotic hackers loyal to the Kremlin use the app to organize cyberattacks on Ukrainian and NATO targets. The other side uses it to fight back. Security researchers and intelligence agencies regularly track certain Telegram groups, focusing on ransomware gangs and other cybercriminals, disinformation purveyors, terror groups and others inciting violence. AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this report. Hong Kong: Southern care teams launched Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki and Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak officiated at the pledging ceremony of care teams in the Southern District today. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan pointed out that the care teams strengthen community support and build relationships with residents, adding that they will offer assistance to those in need and disseminate important messages to residents, with a view to tackling the pressing needs of people. While addressing those gathered at event, Miss Mak said the care teams in the Southern District leverage the connections between the Government, the business sector and the community, as well as the power of love of both the motherland and Hong Kong. She added that the team of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau will continue to live up to the spirit of serving the community to address residents' concerns. Right before the pledging ceremony, Mr Chan and Miss Mak visited two elderly households in Shek Pai Wan Estate in Aberdeen where they distributed health and anti-deception messages to the seniors while an accompanying volunteer from the care team provided them with a simple health check. After the pledging ceremony, the Southern District's 17 sub-district care teams set up street booths to provide service information about the care teams to residents. Upholding the spirit to serve the community with heart, the care teams emphasised that they will strive to provide caring services and organise activities for residents and people in need in the district. This story has been published on: 2023-04-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A garage fire that spread into a home on Sandy Beach Road caused more than $300,000 damage, the Grand Island Fire Company reported Saturday. City of Tonawanda and Sheridan Park firefighters assisted Grand Island volunteers at the blaze, which was reported shortly after noon Wednesday. Crews arriving at the scene found the garage fully engulfed in flames, which were extending into the attached 2 1/2-story house. According to the report, the fire was brought under control in less than an hour. All units returned to service by 2:40 p.m. Damage was estimated at $200,000 to the structure, $50,000 to the contents and $50,000 to a vehicle in the garage. Damage to a neighboring house, where siding melted, was estimated at $1,000. The cause remains under investigation. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A new Google Doodle remembers the late actor Alan Rickman and celebrates the 36th anniversary of a role that is said to have launched his career. Rickman made his debut as Vicomte de Valmont in a Broadway production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on 30 April 1987. Todays (Sunday 30 April) Google Doodle commemorates this moment in the late actors resume. It was one of his first leading theatre performances, and is described by Google as being instrumental in launching his career. Rickman went on to star in major films, including Die Hard (1988), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) and the Harry Potter franchise as Professor Snape. In 2016, Rickman died at age 69 from pancreatic cancer. Artist Helene Leroux, who drew the Google Doodle, said for her it was a privilege to honour Rickmans life and career in the image, which shows him raising his eyebrows and surrounded by leaves. She added: I wanted to illustrate Alans passion for creativity represented in the soft watercolours of the background in reference to some of Alans most beautiful artwork. Following his death, Alans popular autobiographical diaries also captured the nations attention; these candid and entertaining reflections are represented by the fine, fountain-pen-like scratches layered on a background resembling white lined paper. Alan Rickman (Getty) She continued: The branches either side of the Doodle are also inspired by his diary scribbles. His diverting on-screen performances have no doubt left a unique and lasting imprint on British culture, and I am thrilled that it lives on via my doodle today. In October, Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries were released posthumously, giving readers an intimate look at his life and career. It was shortlisted for a prize at The British Book Awards this year. One of the topics explored in the book reveals Rickmans reasons for staying in his role as Snape in the Harry Potter films, despite previously wanting to quit. Additional reporting provided by PA 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 US has warned the Chinese Coast Guard to stop harassing Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, it was reported. On Saturday, the US state department said in a statement: We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Last week, the Philippines accused Chinas coast guard of aggressive tactics and dangerous manoeuvres in the South China Sea, amid simmering geopolitical tensions between the two nations. Foreign ministry spokesperson Teresita Daza said at the time that China had interfered with a routine patrol and should refrain from actions that may cause an untoward incident. Chinas foreign ministry had said that the Philippine vessels had intruded into Chinese waters and made deliberate provocative moves. However, the US state department said Washington stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order. Associated Press reported last week that China has angered the Philippines by repeatedly harassing its navy and coast guard patrols and chasing away fishermen in the waters close to Philippine shores but which Beijing claims as its own. The Philippines has, meanwhile, filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, including at least 77 since president Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in June. Earlier this month, China warned that a deepening security alliance between the United States and the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests and interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. When asked to comment on the combat exercises between American and Filipino forces that started earlier in April in the Philippines, the Chinese Embassy in Manila issued a statement by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin, who said that such drills should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. In Washington, the US and Philippine defence and foreign secretaries met earlier in April to discuss the development of nine Philippine military camps, where American forces have been allowed to stay indefinitely under the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. These sites will support combined training exercises and interoperability between our forces to ensure that were even better prepared for future crises, US defence secretary Lyoyd Austin said. He added the US was allocating more than $100m to build infrastructure at the sites, where Americans would be stationed. Indias federal government yesterday celebrated 100 episodes of prime minister Narendra Modis flagship radio programme, hailing it as a platform that has strengthened the countrys democracy. Mann Ki Baat (Point of View) was launched on 3 October 2014, just months after Mr Modi won his first general election in a sweeping victory that brought his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to power, ending almost seven decades of the Indian National Congress rule. The 30-minute radio show is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month on state broadcaster All India Radio and Doordarshan. 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 Twitter handles of Indian news broadcaster NDTV (New Delhi Television) and news agency ANI were locked temporarily and restored after a few hours on Saturday. Smita Prakash, editor of ANI tweeted a screenshot of the handle of the agency being locked on Saturday evening. So those who follow @ANI bad news, @Twitter has locked out Indias largest news agency which has 7.6 million followers and sent this mail - under 13 years of age! Our gold tick was taken away, substituted with a blue tick and now locked out, Ms Prakash tweeted, tagging Elon Musk. Ms Prakashs screenshot included a message from Twitter that said that the account had been locked out as it did not meet the age requirements required to be on the platform and would be removed. Shortly after, broadcaster NDTV tweeted from the handle of its Hindi news channel that the Twitter account of its English news counterpart had been locked. Tagging Mr Musk, NDTV India tweeted: Twitter has blocked @ndtv (Indias most-followed English news handle). The account has been run by journalists since 2009. Please help restore it. Many thanks, Team NDTV. An immediate reason for the suspension of the two accounts was not given. Both accounts appeared to be restored shortly afterwards. International media accounts including US National Public Radio (NPR) and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) had stopped posting to their Twitter accounts earlier this month after the social media platform labelled them Government-funded. Earlier this month, the BBC had objected to a similar label on its main Twitter account. The labels were later dropped. Neither NDTV nor ANI are government-funded. Last year, NDTV was acquired by billionaire Gautam Adani leading to speculations about the future of one of the countrys last bastions of free media. ANI is also listed as a private company. Neither is known to have any funding from the government. Earlier this week, Twitter said that India was among the top countries that had requested the platform to remove content last year. It said on Tuesday that it received approximately 53,000 legal requests to remove content from governments across the globe from 1 January to 30 June 2022. Japan, South Korea, Turkey and India -- which topped these requests --- requested, according to The Economic Times. The social media platform which was purchased by Mr Musk in 2022 for $44bn has seen widespread changes since his takeover. In January, Twitter had said accounts will only be suspended for severe or ongoing and repeated violations of the platforms policies. It added that such suspensions could however be subject to appeal. (Additional reporting by agencies) 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 }} Japans health ministry has approved, for the first time, the sale of an oral abortion pill in the country, it was reported on Friday. The ministry said that the pill made by British pharmaceutical company Linepharma International which had filed its product for approval in Japan in December 2021 can terminate a pregnancy of up to nine weeks of gestation. In Japan, abortion is legal up to 22 weeks, but according to The Japan Times, consent is usually required from a spouse or partner, and until now a surgical procedure had been the only option. The ministry had first convened in January to review the drug, before asking for the public to submit their opinions through an online portal. The medication consists of two types of pill and can be used within nine weeks of pregnancy, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. In a clinical trial in Japan, 93 per cent of participants had a complete abortion within 24 hours, NHK reported. The Japanese panels decision on Friday was celebrated by the countrys medical experts online. According to CNN, Kanako Inaba, an obstetrician and gynaecologist said that the approval of abortion pills was an opportunity to spread greater sex education and awareness about contraceptive methods. NHK also reported that said the total cost of the abortion pill and a medical consultation would be around 100,000 yen (585). Abortions are not covered by public health insurance. And surgical abortions can cost between 100,000 yen and 200,000 yen. There were 126,174 abortions in Japan in fiscal 2021, according to the health ministry. The approval of the abortion pill by the health ministry was seen as a major step for reproductive rights in the country. Activists in Japan have been pushing for years for approval of abortion pills. Mifepristone was first approved in France in 1988, and in the US in 2000. 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 }} Too Hot To Handle star Chloe Veitch has reportedly come out as bisexual after appearing on E4s new reality series. Essex-based Veitch, who also starred in Netflixs The Circle and Perfect Match, admitted shes been battling coming out in a new interview. However, she told The Sun that her stint on E4s forthcoming show The Big Celebrity Detox helped her embrace her sexuality. Doing breath work forced me to dig deeper, Veitch, who coupled up with former Love Is Blind contestant Shayne Jansen during season one of Perfect Match, said. The show featured former contestants from other Netflix reality series such as The Mole, and Too Hot To Handle. In an interview with TODAY last month, Veitch confirmed she and Jansen parted ways after filming the show and the bubble we had around us just popped. At the time, she said: Were not together unfortunately. Towards the end of the episodes in Perfect Match, there were some bumpy roads, up and down. Speaking to The Sun, Veitch said she had definitely been battling her sexuality since shes had little flings with girls. I felt like it was my dirty little secret so [coming out] has taken the weight off my shoulders, she added. Veitch also said that while shes anxious of public opinion having appeared on heterosexual dating shows, at the end of the day, if Im happy, thats all that matters. The Independent has contacted Veitchs representatives for comment. The reality TV star also reportedly revealed she had a crush on former Love Is Blind contestant Megan Barton Hanson. Im itching to go out there and date both guys and girls. Its really exciting, she told the publication. 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. Close King Charles III and Queen Camilla spotted leaving coronation rehearsal 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 Prince and Princess of Wales went for a visit to The Dog and Duck pub in Soho after hopping on the Elizabeth line from Acton to Tottenham Court Road on Thursday afternoon (4 May). Prince William and Kate Middleton were greeted by crowds who cheered for them outside the pub, as they carried out the engagement ahead of the coronation. It comes as police have said they will not stop anti-monarchy protests during the big day on Saturday 6 May unless the demonstrators cause serious disruption or break the law. Meanwhile, many royal fans who want to watch the grand procession after the coronation ceremony in person may have to prepare for wet weather, as the Met Office has predicted rain and thunder in parts of the UK. London could see the warmest coronation in history, with highs of 19C in south London predicted. On Wednesday morning (3 April), the monarch was spotted leaving Westminster Abbey after attending rehearsals, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children. Prince George, nine, will be a Page of Honour to the King at Saturdays ceremony, alongside Queen Consorts three grandsons. One of her grandsons, Gus Lopes, was spotted wearing a sling on his right arm during the rehearsals yesterday and reportedly broke his arm during a biking accident while on holiday. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles III is Britains new monarch, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022. Charles wife, Camilla, was subsequently named Queen Consort as the couple began a new chapter in a relationship that has spanned more than 50 years. Having first met in 1970, Charles and Camilla were married 18 years ago at Windsor Guildhall in a low-key ceremony. For most royal fans, the couples journey will always be intrinsically linked to the story of Charles and his ex-wife Lady Diana Spencer, the Princess of Wales. Over the years, the public, and other members of the royal family, became more accepting of the match. Yet for decades the couple were pursued by gossip and scandal following Charless fraught marriage to Diana. Here, we detail Charles and Camillas complicated love story. 1970 - Charles and Camilla meet for the first time A 22-year-old Charles met Camilla Shand, 24, the daughter of a British Army officer, at a polo match at Windsor Great Park. In 1992, People magazine reported that, when the pair met for the first time, Camilla said to Charles: My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common. The couple subsequently began dating. February 1973 - Charles goes away to the Caribbean and Camilla gets engaged to someone else After meeting Camilla, Charles joined the Royal Navy. He was assigned to frigate HMS Minerva in November 1972 and, in February 1973, the ship was posted to the Caribbean, not to return until November that year. While Charles was away, Camilla announced her engagement to Andrew Parker Bowles, then a lieutenant, whom she met in the late 1960s. The Prince of Wales was reportedly heartbroken by the news, which Camilla shared with him herself in a letter. In his book about Camilla, The Duchess: The Untold Story, royal author Penny Junor wrote: She wrote to Charles herself to tell him. It broke his heart. July 1973 - Camilla gets married Andrew and Camilla Parker Bowles together in 1992 (PA) Camilla married Parker-Bowles at the Guards Chapel in London on 4 July, followed by a reception at St Jamess Palace. The ceremony was attended by The Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and Princess Anne, who Andrew Parker Bowles was rumoured to also previously have had a relationship with. July 1980 - Charles starts dating Lady Diana Spencer Charles and Diana initially met in 1977 when Diana was just 16 and Charles was 29 (and dating her older sister). Diana and the Prince of Wales grew close a few years later when Diana went to stay with a mutual friend, Philip de Pass, at his family home in Sussex for a weekend. While there, Diana spoke to Charles about the assassination of his great uncle, Lord Mountbatten, with whom he had been very close. The next minute, he leapt on me, practically, she claimed in the tapes that were released in Diana: In Her Own Words. But then it sort of built up from there, she added of their courtship. 1981 - Charles and Diana announce their engagement Prince Charles and Diana at Caernarvon Castle during an official tour of Wales in October 1981. (Getty) Charles and Diana announced their engagement on 24 February. However, all already didnt seem well between the pair. In Diana: In Her Own Words, the Princess of Wales recalled a joint interview the couple gave the same day. Charles married Diana at St Pauls Cathedral in London on 29 July 1981 (AFP/Getty) "We had this ghastly interview the day we announced our engagement, she said. And this ridiculous [reporter] said, Are you in love? I thought, what a thick question. So I said, Yes, of course, we are, and Charles turned round and said, Whatever love means. And that threw me completely. I thought, what a strange answer. It traumatised me. 1981 - Charles buys a bracelet for Camilla Weeks before his July wedding to Diana, Charles bought a bracelet for Camilla, which was engraved with the letters G and F. This stood for Gladys and Fred, the couples nicknames for one another, which were inspired by BBC radio programme The Goon Show. Diana discovered the bracelet, she later told her biographer Andrew Morton. She said: I was still too immature to understand all the messages coming my way. And then someone in his office told me that my husband has had a bracelet made for her. I walked into this mans office one day and I said, Ooh, whats in that parcel? And he said Oh, you shouldnt look at that. So I opened it and there was the bracelet. I was devastated, and I said Well, hes going to give it to her tonight. So rage, rage, rage. You know, Why cant you be honest with me? But no, absolutely cut me dead. It was as if hed made his decision, and if it wasnt going to work, it wasnt going to work. 1986 - Charles and Camillas affair begins American journalist and historian Sally Bedell Smiths biography of Charles, Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes, states that his affair with his ex-girlfriend Camilla began in 1986. In 2017, Camilla spoke about having been initially reviled by the press and the effect it had on her. She told You magazine: It was horrid. It was a deeply unpleasant time and I wouldnt want to put my worst enemy through it. I couldnt have survived it without my family. 1989 - Diana confronts Camilla Lady Diana Spencer and Camilla Parker-Bowles together in 1980 (Getty Images) In 2004, an audio tape Diana made for her biographer Andrew Morton was broadcast for the first time on NBC for the first time. On the tape, Diana recounted an incident at a party in 1989 when she confronted Camilla, interrupting a chat between Camilla, Charles and another man. I was terrified of her. I said, I know whats going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that, Diana is heard saying in the recording. I said to the two men, OK, boys, Im just going to have a quick word with Camilla and Ill be up in a minute," she said. And they shot upstairs like chickens with no heads and I could feel, upstairs, all hell breaking loose What is she going to do? Diana said Camillas response was very interesting. She recalled: She said to me: Youve got everything you ever wanted. Youve got all the men in the world fall in love with you and youve got two beautiful children, what more do you want? So I said, I want my husband. And I said, Im sorry Im in the way... and it must be hell for both of you. But I do know whats going on. Dont treat me like an idiot. December 1992 - Charles and Diana announce separation On 9 December, Prime Minister John Major announced that the Prince and Princess of Wales had separated amicably. 1993 - Charles and Camillas explicit phone call revealed Details of a secretly recorded explicit phone call between Charles and Camilla, which took place in 1989, were published by tabloid newspapers. The leaked phone call did not make it into royal drama The Crown as Josh OConnor, the actor who portrays Charles, point-blank refused to do it. When they offered me the role, he told SiriusXM. One of my first questions was I say questions, I think it was pretty much a statement We are not doing the [phone call]. January 1995 - Camilla and Andrew announce divorce Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles announced that they intended to divorce. However, Charles still refused to confirm divorce proceedings between him and Diana, with a spokesperson telling The New York Times that a previous statement denying that a divorce was in the works was still absolutely the case. The original statement said that there is no truth in reports which state that it has been agreed that a divorce should take place or that there have been discussions about a financial settlement between the parties. November 1995 - Princess Diana is interviewed by Martin Bashir Diana during her interview with Martin Bashir for the BBC (PA) In her now-infamous BBC Panorama interview, Princess Diana said there were three people in her marriage, a reference to her husbands relationship with Camilla. Diana said that womans instinct meant she knew about Charless affair but that she was also told by her staff and those who minded and cared about our marriage. Bashir asked the princess: Do you think Mrs Parker-Bowles was a factor in the breakdown of your marriage? Diana replied: Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded. August 1996 - Charles and Dianas divorce is finalised Newspapers reporting that Queen Elizabeth had sent a letter to both Prince Charles and the Princess Diana spelling out her desire for an early divorce (AFP/Getty) The couple were finally legally separated in 1996, almost four years after their separation was first announced. July 1997 - Charles hosts birthday party for Camilla Charles hosted a 50th birthday party for Camilla at his home Highgrove in Gloucestershire. Sept 1997 - Diana is killed in a car crash The Princess of Wales died in a car crash in a road tunnel in Paris while being chased by paparazzi. Her partner, film producer Dodi Fayed, also died in the accident alongside the couples driver, Henri Paul. A woman places flowers in front of the Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris where Diana was admitted following the fatal crash (AFP/Getty) August 1999 - Charles vacations with Camilla and his sons Camilla joined Charles, Harry and William on a holiday to Greece. 2000 - The Queen attends an event Camilla is invited to Up until this point, the Queen had declined invitations for events Camilla was going to be attending, including a private 50th birthday party for Charles in 1998. In 2000, however, she accepted an invitation to a 60th birthday party for the King of Greece at Charless home in Highgrove. 2003 Camilla moves into Clarence House Charles and Camilla moved into official London residence Clarence House in 2003. February 2005 The couple announce their engagement Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles formally announced their engagement, and that the wedding date had been set as 9 April 2005. In a statement released at the time, the Prince of Wales said the occasion would mark a very special day for us and our families. Princes William and Harry also released a statement, which said: We are both very happy for our father and Camilla, and we wish them all the luck in the future." It was also announced that Camilla would use the title HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, following her marriage to Prince Charles. It is intended that Mrs Parker Bowles should use the title HRH The Princess Consort when The Prince of Wales accedes to The Throne, the statement continued. April 2005 The couple marries 35 years after first meeting A family photo taken on Charles and Camillas wedding day (Getty Images) The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall married on 8 April 35 years after their first meeting at Windsor Guildhall, with Prince William as best man. The Queen and Prince Philip didnt attend the civil ceremony, but were present for the service of prayer in St Georges Chapel, after the civil ceremony. Camilla wore a cream dress by Anna Valentine. April 2020 The couple celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary The couple marked 15 years of marriage amid the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. They released a picture of them with the duchesss dogs Bluebell and Beth on the anniversary. February 2022 Queen Elizabeth II acknowledges Camilla as Queen Consort The Queen said she hoped the Duchess of Cornwall will be known as Queen Consort when Prince Charles takes the throne. She used her Platinum Jubilee message celebrating her 70th year as the monarch to set out her hopes for her daughter-in-law, once a royal mistress, to be called Queen. This was a a huge U-turn after Camilla took the lesser title Princess Consort when she married Charles 17 years ago, The late Queens message, expressing her succession support for Charles, read: And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service. September 2022 - Prince Charles and Camilla receive new titles after Queen Elizabeths death After Queen Elizabeth IIs death on 8 September, Prince Charles immediately became King Charles III. Addressing the nation outside 10 Downing Street, the countrys new prime minister Liz Truss said: Today the Crown passes as it is has done for more than a thousand years to our new monarch, our new head of state: His Majesty King Charles III. The Duchess of Cornwall was bestowed the title of Queen Consort, as per the late Queens wishes. On 9 September, King Charles referred to Camilla as Queen Consort officially, in his first address to the nation since his mothers death. In the televised speech, recorded from the Blue Drawing Room of Buckingam Palace, he said: I count on the loving help of my darling wife, Camilla. In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort. I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much. Measuring when and how much raw sewage and stormwater flows into area streams, creeks and rivers during a heavy rain fall or snow melt is its own challenge aside from the major construction projects designed to prevent these combined sewer overflows from happening in the first place. Overflows in the Buffalo sewer system arent measured by actual meters at each of the 52 outfall locations. Instead, the Buffalo Sewer Authority relies on what it calls a modeled year in estimating combined sewer overflows for the Environmental Protection Agency and the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The modeled year uses historical precipitation data to arrive at overflow numbers giving a more accurate reading on whether an overflow has happened and at what volume, according to Rosaleen B. Nogle, principal sanitary engineer for the Buffalo Sewer Authority. BSA has installed some meters, but the data from them so far has been unreliable, said Nogle. Such meters are expensive to buy and maintain, and more than 200 of them would be needed to monitor the system, she said. They sometimes are difficult to calibrate correctly or have battery issues. They also dont decipher from which direction water is moving and often get fouled with debris such as flushable wipes that prevents them from making an accurate reading, said Nogle. It becomes millions of dollars spent trying to measure the issue instead of correct the issue, she said. But clean water advocates such as Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper Executive Director Jill Spisiak Jedlicka said they want to see better data spelling out more precisely when a combined sewer overflow happens, how much sewage overflows into waterways, and the changes in those numbers over time. They should be able to tell you with some numbers and with some volumes, not just say, Yeah, its getting better, said Jedlicka. We have asked for that kind of information, but we get the anecdotes, we dont get the data, we dont get the volume. They have the numbers available to them. Its just not packaged in a way thats shareable to the public. The data void extends well beyond Buffalo. This past January, the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that the EPA wasnt doing enough to collect and track data from sewer system operators nationwide so that it could effectively monitor if those operators were doing enough to control combined sewer overflows. The EPA plans to require permitted operators of combined sewer systems by 2025 to report data in a national database that will be available to the public, according to the GAO report to Congress. 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 }} On 9 April 2023, King Charles III and his wife, the Queen Consort Camilla, celebrated 18 years of marriage. The pair were married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall in 2005, following divorces on both sides, to Diana, Princess of Wales, and Andrew Parker Bowles, respectively. But Diana was not the first woman in Charless life, as the popular Netflix series The Crown has demonstrated, dramatising the new monarchs dating history in the lead up to his first marriage. While Camilla and Diana are considered to be the most significant love interests of the prince, Charles was not short of admirers during his youth, as season four of The Crown makes clear. Between meeting his first girlfriend while studying at Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1967 and marrying Lady Diana Spencer in 1981, the future king was romantically-linked to a number of women. At the urging of his uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who served as a father figure for him, Charles did not hold back during his twenties and reportedly dated more than 20 women in the space of a decade. According to Netflix documentary The Royal House of Windsor, Mountbatten wrote a letter to Charles in 1974, encouraging him to sow his wild oats. In a case like yours, the man should sow his wild oats and have as many affairs as he can before settling down, he wrote. But for a wife, he should choose a suitable, attractive and sweet-charactered girl before she met anyone she might fall for. The 1970s were a trying time for the prince as, under pressure from the royal family and public opinion, he attempted to find a wife deemed suitable. Model Jane Priest stole a kiss from Prince Charles during his 1979 visit to Perth, Australia (Rex) During his first ever TV interview with the BBC that same year, Charles opened up about the importance of choosing the right partner, stating: This is obviously very difficult because youve got to remember that when you marry, in my position, youre going to marry somebody who, perhaps one day is going to become queen. Youve got to choose somebody very carefully, I think, who can fulfil this particular role, because people like you, perhaps, would expect quite a lot from somebody like that, and its got to be somebody pretty special. In his search for that special someone, biographer Christopher Wilson said the prince had a string of arm candy adding that, while he fell deeply in love with a handful of partners during his younger years, many were women he would take out simply because it made him look good. So, who were the women that did not quite make the cut? From sprigs of aristocracy to actors and Princess Dianas older sister, here we take a look at some of Charless many girlfriends over the years. Lucia Santa Cruz Prince Charles Pictured With Lucia Santa Cruz Leaving The Fortune Theatre Drury Lane in 1970 (Rex) Lucia Santa Cruz, who is the daughter of the former Chilean ambassador to London, is said to have had a brief but passionate romance with Charles some 40 years ago when he was studying at Cambridge. Shortly after joining Trinity in 1967, Charles met Lucia, who was five years his elder, at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend. According to biographer Sally Bedell Smith, Charles cousin Lady Elizabeth Anson, who was also a friend of Lucias, commented: She was the first real love of his life. Ironically, it was Charless first love who introduced him to the great love of his life. In his authorised biography, author Jonathan Dimbleby says Lucia told Charles she had just the girl for the young prince and subsequently arranged for the royal to meet Camilla Shand later Parker Bowles. Lucia has remained close to Charles and Camilla. In 2009, when the then-Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall embarked on an official tour of South America, they visited her in Lima. Then, in 2011, she was invited to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges wedding. Camilla Shand Prince Charles Talking to Camilla Parker Bowles at a Polo Match in 1975 (Rex) Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles's relationship has made headlines from the very beginning. According to the biography Charles and Camila: Portrait of a Love Affair by Gyles Brandreth, the two reportedly first met in 1971. While it is widely believed that Charles and Camilla met at a polo match in 1972, Brandreth wrote that they were actually introduced by their mutual friend Lucia Santa Cruz. The two quickly started dating but broke up before Charles left to serve in the Royal Navy. When he returned eight months later, Camilla was engaged to her on-again-off-again boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles, whom she went on to marry in 1973. In 1981, Charles married Diana Spencer but, he began an affair with Camilla five years later. In 1994, Charles admitted to committing adultery during his marriage in an interview with Dimbleby. When asked if he tried to be faithful and honourable to Diana, Charles initially replied: Yes, absolutely, but when prompted further by Dimbleby, he added: Yes until it became irretrievably broken down, us both having tried. (Getty) In December 1993, prime minister John Major announced that Charles and Diana had officially separated and two years later, so did Camilla and Andrew. Following the death of Diana in 1997, Charles and Camilla rekindled their relationship but were not photographed together until 1999. It was not until 2003 that the couple moved in together at Clarence House residence, before announcing their engagement in February 2005. Charles proposed with an art deco-style ring that features a five-carat emerald cut diamond in the centre and three diamond baguettes on each side. The ring belonged to his grandmother, the Queen Mother. On 9 April 2005, Charles and Camilla got married in a civil ceremony. Prince William served as the best man and Camilla's son Tom was a witness. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip did not attend the ceremony but did make an appearance at the Service of Prayer and Dedication at St Georges Chapel. Lady Jane Wellesley Prince Charles and Lady Jane Wellesley at the Royal Tournament, held at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London, in 1972 (Getty) Daughter of the 8th Duke of Wellington, Lady Jane Wellesley reportedly had a courtship with the young Prince of Wales in her early twenties and was considered by many to be a prime candidate for marriage. The couple were together between 1973 and 1974 and when they eventually parted ways, the blame was placed on intense media scrutiny. When asked on one occasion if there was to be an engagement announcement, Jane said: Do you honestly believe I want to be queen? Davina Sheffield Prince Charles pictured with his girlfriend Davina Sheffield in 1979 (Rex) The granddaughter of 1st Lord McGowan and a cousin of Samantha Cameron, Davina Sheffield was romantically linked to Prince Charles in 1976. In her 2005 book The Firm, author Penny Junor delved into the romance, which she said was killed stone dead after an ex-boyfriend of Davinas spoke to the press. In 1976, the prince fell for another girl, Davina Sheffield, who could have been the soulmate he was searching for, Junor wrote. She seemed ideal in so many ways, and they appeared to be very much in love but she already had a boyfriend when Charles met her, an Old Harrovian and powerboat racer named James Beard. He was subsequently conned into talking about his relationship with Davina by what turned out to be a Sunday tabloid reporter and the story of their affair, complete with photographs of their love nest, made headline news. The admission meant that Davina was no longer considered a suitable wife, as royal brides were at that time expected to still be virginal by the time they walked down the aisle. This was exactly the same obstacle that had prevented Charles from settling down with Camilla a few years before. Lady Sarah Spencer Prince Charles and Lady Sarah Spencer (Rex) Daughter of 8th Earl Spencer and elder sister to Princess Diana, Lady Sarah Spencer briefly dated Prince Charles in 1977. But, after she spoke about their relationship in the press, the two split. While it sounds strange that her own sister started seeing Charles after they broke up, Sarah took pride in the fact that she set the two of them up. I introduced them, she once said. Im Cupid. Lady Amanda Knatchbull Lord Mountbatten and his granddaughter, Amanda Knatchbull in 1978 (Rex) After his relationship with Sarah Spencer came to an end, Charles resumed his search for a suitable bride and, in 1980, proposed to Lady Amanda Knatchbull, the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten. Writing in his 2007 biography Charles: The Man Who Will Be King, Howard Hodgson explained how Amanda had become fond of the Prince of Wales. She was equally impressed with his energy, enthusiasm, sense of fun, kindness and modest self-deprecation, he wrote. She was indeed a very sensible and loving girl, who genuinely did share all the same interests as the heir to the throne. Amanda turned Charless proposal down, citing the glare of the royal spotlight. Anna Wallace Anna Wallace, former girlfriend of Prince Charles (Rex) Having passed his self-ordained deadline of the age of 30 to get married, Charles remained undeterred and proposed to Anna Wallace, the daughter of a Scottish landowner, later that same year. In the book The Duchess of Cornwall: Camillas Story and Secrets, author Jessica Jayne claimed that Anna broke off their relationship during the Queen Mothers 80th birthday party because Charles had ignored her all evening. However, in her 2017 book The Duchess, Junor stated that the two actually parted ways due to the princes relationship with Camilla. Charles had taken her to two successive balls and then danced with Camilla for most of both evenings, Junor wrote. Anna dumped him with the words: No one treats me like that not even you. The couple had only just broken up when Charles met Diana in the summer of 1980. Lady Diana Spencer Prince Charles and Diana at Caernarvon Castle in 1981 (Getty) Diana and Prince Charles initially met through her older sister, Sarah, in 1977, when she was just 16 years old and he was 28. Recalling their first meeting, Charles said in an interview conducted in 1981 that he could remember thinking what a very jolly and amusing and attractive 16-year-old she was, describing her as great fun, and bouncy and full of life. The two next met in 1980, a year after the assassination of Lord Mountbatten and, in a private tape released in the documentary Diana: In Her Own Words, Diana can be heard saying that she sympathised with how lonely Charles must have been feeling at the time. It soon became apparent that Charles was considering Lady Diana Spencer as his bride when she was invited to spend some time with the royal family at Balmoral in November 1980 and in February 1981, the couple announced their engagement. During a television interview to share the news, an interviewer behind the camera asked the couple: Are you in love? While Diana immediately replied with a giggle, Of course, Charles added: Whatever in love means. After six months, they were married in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey, described by many as the wedding of the century. The couple went on to have two children William and Harry however, their relationship was not meant to be. In 1986, Charles began an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, according to Dimbleby, while Diana also admitted to being unfaithful in the marriage with James Hewitt a former household cavalry officer in the British Army. Six years later, then-prime minister John Major announced that Charles and Diana were separating and their divorce was finalised in 1996. Just one year later, Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris alongside her partner, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul. You can read more about the story of Charles and Dianas first meeting here. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles IIIs coronation, which takes place on Saturday 6 May, is set to be attended by 2,000 guests, including foreign monarchs across the world. The coronation will be held in London at Westminster Abbey, which can seat up to 2,200 people. The limited guest list marks a departure from the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation, which was attended by 8,000 guests with 129 nations and territories officially represented at the ceremony. In early April, Buckingham Palace unveiled the official invites for King Charles and Queen Camillas coronation. The elaborate invitation, which was reportedly sent to 2,000 people, invited guests to attend The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III & Queen Camilla By Command of the King the Earl Marshall is directed to inviteto be present at the Abbey Church of Westminster on 6th day of May 2023. As the Kings coronation fast approaches, theres been much speculation over who will be attending the slimmed-down service. While members of the British royal family are likely to attend, many royal families throughout the world are also expected to attend the coronation. The move marks a break from royal tradition. According to The Telegraph, the coronation was considered a sacred ceremony between a monarch and their people in the presence of God, but Charles is set to do away with the tradition and invite his counterparts from around the world. Heres a list of all the foreign royals who have confirmed their attendance so far. On 11 April, Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko of Japan confirmed they will be attending the coronation of King Charles III on May 6, according to local media. The Imperial Household Agency announced they received an invitation from the British royal family in March requesting that the head of state or proxy attend the ceremony. The crown prince will represent his brother, Emperor Naruhito, at the coronation, seeing as the emperor doesnt attend foreign royal coronations per protocol. However, Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, attended the Queens funeral last September. Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko confirm attendance at Kings coronation (Getty Images) The Danish royal family also confirmed their attendance at the coronation earlier this month. In an announcement shared to the Danish Royal Houses website, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark said they will participate in the coronation of HRH King Charles III and Queen Camilla of Great Britain at Westminster Abbey in London. Frederik attended Queen Elizabeths funeral in September with his mother, Queen Margrethe II. In addition to Denmarks royal family, the Swedish Royal Court has also confirmed the coronation attendance of King Carl XVI Gustaf, along with his daughter and heir, Crown Princess Victoria. The Swedish monarch is one of the few foreign rulers to attend the British kings coronation, rather than sending a consort to represent him. Prince Albert II of Monaco was the first foreign head of state to confirm he would be attending the Kings coronation. In January, Monacos reigning sovereign told People that he and his wife, Princess Charlene, will be among the guests at Westminster Abbey. Im certain that its going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one, the 64-year-old royal said. Weve maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I havent talked to him personally since the Queens funeral. Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 (Getty Images) The prince shared that hes certain the King will add his own personal touches to the coronation. However, he was unsure whether their eight-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, will be invited. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain confirmed their attendance on 11 April, as well as King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will also attend the coronation, while their daughter, Princess Catharina-Amalia, and Willem-Alexanders mother, Princess Beatrix, will attend the reception at Buckingham Palace on 5 May. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will represent Norway at the coronation, following their recent visit to the UK where they were hosted by the Prince and Princess of Wales at Windsor Castle in March. Grand-Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand-Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg will also attend, along with Queen Anne-Marie of Greece and her son and daughter-in-law, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal. A source previously told The Mail on Sunday: At the Queens Coronation there were no crowned monarchs, only the protectorate rulers like the Queen of Tonga. Its been a tradition for centuries. Inviting the King of Jordan, the Sultan of Brunei, the Sultan of Oman and the Scandinavian royals who are all friends of Charles will be a good bit of soft power and diplomacy. Buckingham Palace previously announced that King Charles III has invited more than 850 community and charity representatives to his and Queen Camillas coronation. More than 450 British Empire Medal (BEM) recipients were invited to see the service from inside Westminster Abbey, while some 400 young people representing charities will be able to watch the coronation and procession from a special private viewing at the nearby St Margarets Church. Although not a foreign monarch, President Joe Biden has confirmed that he will not be attending King Charles IIIs coronation. Instead, his wife First Lady Jill Biden will be going on behalf of the United States. 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 }} Millions watching the coronation around the world are to be asked to cry out and swear allegiance to the King, with the public given an active role in the ancient ceremony for the first time in history. Charless coronation has been modernised to include the first ever Homage of the People. Lambeth Palace said it was hoped the significant change to the historic service will result in a great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King from those watching on television, online or gathered in the open air at big screens. It replaces the traditional Homage of Peers in which a long line of hereditary peers knelt and made a pledge to the monarch in person. The liturgy words and actions of the coronation service have been revealed, having been decided upon in close consultation with the King, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the government. The Stone of Destiny is seen during a welcome ceremony ahead of the coronation of Britain's King Charles III (AFP or Licensors) The new Homage of the People was introduced to allow a chorus of millions of voices to be enabled for the first time in history to participate in this solemn and joyful moment, Lambeth Palace said. The Archbishop will call upon 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. The order of service will read: All who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere, say together: All: I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God. It will be followed by the playing of a fanfare. The King and Queen Consort (AP) The Archbishop of Canterbury will then proclaim God Save The King, with all asked to respond: God Save King Charles. Long Live King Charles. May The King live for ever. A spokesman for Lambeth Palace, the Archbishops office, said: The Homage of the People is particularly exciting because thats brand new. Thats something that we can share in because of technological advances, so not just the people in the Abbey, but people who are online, on television, who are listening, and who are gathered in parks, at big screens and churches. Our hope is at that point, when the Archbishop invites people to join in, that people wherever they are, if theyre watching at home on their own, watching the telly, will say it out loud this sense of a great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the King. The words printed in the service are for everyone to share in, the spokesperson said. Before the Homage of the People, the Archbishop of Canterbury will pay homage representing the Church of England, followed by the Prince of Wales performing what is the only Homage of Royal Blood. Just like his grandfather Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh did for his wife Elizabeth II at her coronation, William will kneel before the monarch, place his hands between his fathers and vow to be his liege man of life and limb. He will say: I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God. The symbolic act means the heir to throne, as liege man to the King, has a mutual obligation to the monarch. In the past, other dukes of royal blood would pay homage, but this time, with only William taking part from the royal family, it removes the need for the controversial Dukes of Sussex and York to undertake this role. The removal of the homages of hereditary peers also has the benefit of helping to reduce the length of the service, which is now two hours instead of around three as it was at the late Queens coronation. William has another duty during the service. He will enter the coronation theatre earlier in the ceremony in the investiture segment and help clothe the King in the robe royal, also known as the mantle, ahead of the crowning. William will join Baroness Merron, former Board of Deputies of British Jews chief executive, and help bishops to lift the robe of righteousness on to his father. The robe represents what the King, as sovereign, has been given by God. 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 royal photographer has revealed what the British public can expect to see as the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla unfolds on Saturday 6 May. Tim Rooke, who has photographed the royal family for Shutterstock for the past 30 years, tells The Independent that he believes the coronation will have all the pomp and significance youd expect of a royal event despite being significantly smaller than the 1953 coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II. He also shares a few of his favourite photographs of Charles and Elizabeth from his career. Rooke, who has been in his line of work since 1991, has had some rare insights into the unique personalities of the royal family over the years. He thinks there will definitely be symbolic nods to the late Queen throughout the ceremony that will pay tribute to her legacy. Her Majesty reigned over the UK for 70 years, celebrating her platinum jubilee last summer before her death in September. The coronation invitations that have already been sent also feature touching tributes to the late monarch, including her favourite flowers and fruits, he noted, referring to the roses and wild strawberries that appear on the official invitations. The coronation invitations were designed by artist Andrew Jamieson. They also feature shamrock, thistle, daffodils, and a sprig of rosemary for remembrance. As for how Charles and Camilla will behave on the day of their crowning, Rooke expects them to be themselves, nodding to their many years of being a couple and their frequent public appearances together as having prepared them for this moment. (Getty Images) Although the occasion is important for them, theyve been together and even married for a long time, so they have plenty of experience touring and making public appearances together, he says. The photographer notes that, at the late Queens coronation, no crowned monarchs were in attendance, only those from British protectorates and those at the same level as the then Prince and Princess of Wales. In contrast, it appears that all reigning monarchs have been invited to King Charless coronation, for what is set to be one big celebration, he says. (Getty Images) Foreign royals who have confirmed their attendance at the coronation include Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene; King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain; King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden; and King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark will not be present due to recent back surgery, but she will be represented by her son and daughter-in-law, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary. The King and Queen of Norway are also sending representatives in the form of Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, while Emperor Naruhito of Japan will send his brother, Crown Prince Fumuhito. Rooke also shared his ideal spots for capturing iconic moments during the coronation. He says that, having never experienced a coronation before, it is hard to prepare for momentous events such as this one, particularly as he does not know his allocated position yet. Some members of the royal family gather on the iconic balcony at Buckingham Palace (AFP via Getty Images) If I had the opportunity to choose, Id love to have the spot right in front of the [Buckingham Palace] balcony for that historic shot of them waving, he says. Alternatively, theres a spot called the Crimea Statue where you have the best view opposite Westminster Abbey. The photographers who are here will be the first to capture the King and Queen in all their Regalia outside the Abbey another truly iconic moment. He describes Charles as really great to photograph because of the monarchs natural ease in front of the camera. Charles is often smiling and laughing, which makes for a really good image, Rooke says, adding: It can be challenging to get people looking natural in an image, but Charles is fantastic at looking natural and unposed. Charles, then Prince of Wales, takes a photograph with the Spice Girls (Tim Rooke/Shutterstock) Rooke says that his favourite photographs of Charles include one of him looking serious and another, much more light-hearted shot of him with the members of the Spice Girls, just after Geri Halliwell kissed him on the cheek. In the image, Charles is seen beaming after Halliwell plants a red lipstick mark on the side of his face, surrounded by Melanie C (Sporty Spice), Halliwell (Ginger Spice), Emma Bunton (Baby Spice), Melanie B (Scary Spice), and Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice). Meanwhile, his other favourite photograph of the royal family is one of the late Queen peeking out from behind a curtain inside Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth II peers out a window from behind a curtain in Buckingham Palace (Tim Rooke/Shutterstock) This image really shows the natural side of the royal family, making it stand out from other shots which can often feel posed, he explains. I love to capture the everyday moments and the stunning, iconic ones to showcase the full range of the royal familys personality. 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 }} Sydney Sweeney was recently photographed with her fiance Jonathan Davino amid speculation over her relationship with Top Gun actor Glen Powell. Sweeney, 25, and Powell, 30, recently completed filming their forthcoming Netflix romcom Anyone But You in Australia. Photos and video from the set left fans wondering whether there was more to the actors on-screen chemistry, with one clip showing Powell dipping Sweeney in a Dirty Dancing-style move. The rumours intensified when they noticed Powells long-term girlfriend and model Gigi Paris had unfollowed Sweeney on Instagram. Earlier this week, Paris appeared to confirm rumours that that she and Powell had broken up after she posted an Instagram video of herself walking down the street with the caption: Know your worth and onto the next. Fans also noticed Paris had unfollowed Powell on Instagram. While neither Sweeney nor Powell have commented on the unsubstantiated infidelity rumours, the Euphoria star was recently spotted with Davino, a Chicago-based restauranteur, in New York after she attended an Armani beauty event. Sweeney and Davino, 38, were wearing matching, all-black leather jacket ensembles in photographs obtained by the Daily Mail on Saturday (29 April). Sweeney completed her look with a short dress, thigh-high boots, hoop earrings, and sheer tights. The Handmaids Tale actor recently appeared to address the infidelity rumours in a behind-the-scenes video posted to Instagram on Monday (24 April). In it, Sweeney sported a black and white crop top emblazoned with the tongue-in-cheek phrase, Kiss the boys and make them cry. The clip was shared by hairstylist Glen Oropeza and makeup artist Melissa Hernandez. On Tuesday (25 April), TMZ reported that Sweeney and Davino are still engaged and living together, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the situation. 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 UK will run a flight from Port Sudan as it continues its evacuation mission after officially ceasing the operation from an airfield near Khartoum, the Government has said. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said rescue efforts, which were previously focused on the Wadi Saeedna site near the Sudanese capital, would be moved to the east of the nation. Some 2,122 people on 23 flights have been flown out of the war-torn country from the airfield since fighting began but more than a thousand UK nationals may remain. A further journey will take off on Monday from Port Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Sunday. It comes as Sudans army and its rival paramilitary said on Sunday they will extend a humanitarian ceasefire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, although it has not stopped clashes continuing to break out. Mr Cleverly said: The UK has now airlifted over 2,100 people to safety from Sudan in what has been the largest and longest evacuation of any Western country. I want to thank all of those working to deliver this evacuation and ensure as many people as possible are brought to safety. Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: I am grateful to our armed forces who have ensured there was an alternative to Wadi Saeedna and who are currently supporting FCDO and Border Force staff to facilitate the rescue effort. HMS Lancaster and the RAF are also there in support of HMG. The UK will continue to advocate for a long-term end to the conflict along with its international allies, Mr Cleverly said amid a faltering ceasefire. Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite the extension of an armistice between the countrys two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. The British Government previously announced it would end evacuation efforts from the capital on Sunday, with the last flight having taken off from Wadi Saeedna at 10pm local time. The Government later agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on its final journeys amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. Ministers answered calls to widen the remit, which had been limited to British nationals and their immediate family, after a significant decline in the number of UK citizens coming forward. 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 }} One man has died and seven others have been injured after a stabbing outside a nightclub in Cornwall. A man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene, the force said, while those injured were sent to hospital for examination. None are being treated as life-threatening. Officers are supporting the next of kin of the deceased. Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they have launched a murder inquiry and have urged anyone with information to come forward. In a statement, police said that a 24-year-old man from Bodmin was arrested on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent. He remains in police custody at this time, the force added. Police remain at the scene of Victoria Square on Castle Canyke Road near the Eclipse Nightclub in Bodmin after the serious incident in the early hours of this morning. The statement said: Police were called at 3.15am on Sunday 30 April to the area of Victoria Square on Castle Canyke Road following a report of a serious altercation. It was further reported that someone was in possession of a knife and that multiple people had sustained suspected stab wounds. A man in his 30s was confirmed deceased at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Detective inspector Ilona Rosson, from the Major Crime Investigation Team, said: Following an incident in Bodmin last night, a man in his 30s has been confirmed deceased and officers are supporting his next of kin. At this time we are treating this as an isolated matter and we are not seeking anyone else in connection to this incident. This is a live and active police investigation, and I would urge people not to speculate on social media but if you have information which may assist us, please report it. The incident comes as people flock to Cornwall to make the most of the warm Bank Holiday weather, with temperatures in the mid-to-high teens across the county. Cornwall councillor Leigh Frost said the attack in his ward was shocking and devastating for Bodmin. He told BBC News: Bodmin is a small town and its not rife with crime, its quite a friendly place. We are a strong community and we will pull together and get though this together. My thoughts are with everyone involved, the victim and his family. I also praise the emergency services for responding so quickly and the police for ensuring there is a full investigation. 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 }} Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has conceded that interaction between the Prime Minister and the press could have been handled better at the partys conference after claims Mr Sunak attempted to dodge journalists. Mr Ross also said the party is absolutely open and transparent, although he could not provide current membership figures. Number 10 officials had originally planned to have a press conference with the Prime Minister and only a small number of invited journalists after his address to the conference in Glasgow on Friday. When more than the invited number arrived they were initially allowed to stay, but an aide then told journalists Mr Sunak would only be doing a single interview with a broadcaster that could be shared with other outlets prompting outrage from those in the room. Almost an hour later, as a result of negotiations between journalists and Number 10, aides said Mr Sunak would speak to the journalists, taking questions from the six initially invited, and also do a pooled broadcast interview. When asked about the incident on the BBCs Sunday Show, Mr Ross said of the Prime Minister: He was on the stage for about 30 minutes and he spoke to the audience, he took questions from members across Scotland, he then did media interviews. Look it could have been handled better, I accept that, but he also spent a lot of time with members upstairs in one of the rooms in the SEC, so he had a lot of different priorities at conference. But again he was very upbeat, he was robust in saying that we need our two governments to work together, hes absolutely determined to see that, because for example when they do work together we create two freeports in Scotland, one at Cromarty and one at Forth and thats a huge investment for these areas. People can see when the governments work together they can actually deliver rather than what we get from the SNP, which is more division and trying to pick battles and fights with the UK Government. Mr Ross said he undertook 90 minutes of media interviews after his own speech at the conference, adding he is always happy to answer any questions from journalists. Asked whether the Scottish Conservatives are open and transparent Mr Ross said: Absolutely. However, when asked how many members the Scottish Tories have, he told interviewer Martin Geissler: Ive also answered this question many times, this is something we put out when there is a leadership election, thats always been the case, and when those numbers come out they will be numbers that you and the public can trust. He said the figure was last issued in 2020 before he was party leader and that he thinks it was about 6,000 or 7,000, adding I cant remember off the top of my head. 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 Government has agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on the last flights out of Sudan, amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. Ministers answered calls to widen the remit, which had been limited to British nationals and their immediate family, after a significant decline in the number of UK citizens coming forward. The decision was announced with hours to go until the final flight takes off from the Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum at 6pm UK time. Some 1,888 people on 21 flights have been evacuated from Sudan the vast majority of them British nationals and their dependents, the Government said. The Foreign, Common and Development Office said shortly after 9pm UK time that the final flight was yet to leave the airfield near Khartoum, despite it being previously scheduled for 6pm. The Government-mandated deadline to reach the site in order to be processed for the last flight passed at 12pm local time, after it confirmed it was winding down its rescue operation amid a faltering ceasefire. Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite the extension of an armistice between the countrys two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. The Government has said it will continue to advocate for an end to the conflict alongside its international allies. A spokesman said: We have made the decision to extend the evacuation criteria to include eligible non-British nationals in Sudan who are working as clinicians within the NHS and their dependents who have leave to enter the UK. We are able to offer this increased eligibility thanks to the efforts of the staff and military who have delivered this evacuation, the largest of any western country. 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. It comes after concerns were raised that the Governments previous approach to evacuation could see families split up or some members left behind. Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy had urged the Government not to turn away British residents without passports, including NHS doctors trapped in the conflict zone. Criticism has also been levelled at the pace of the British evacuation and the decision not to offer escorts to people travelling to the airfield. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden chaired a Cobra meeting on Saturday to discuss the security situation in Sudan in advance of the final flight taking off. Mr Dowden denied the Government will effectively abandon those who have been unable to make the potentially dangerous journey to the site with its decision to cease flights. He told the BBC: We are in touch with and engaging rapidly with the Sudanese Doctors Association to see what further support we can provide for them. An update on the number of evacuations is expected later on Saturday. 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 Kings coronation will be a complex, multi-pronged operation for police, who are working to stem potential terror threats, disruptive protests and criminal opportunists in dense crowds. Thousands of officers are being drawn from across the UK for the occasion, which comes months after a huge operation to protect the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Independent understands that authorities are bracing for significant potential disruption from protests, while monitoring jihadists, neo-Nazis and other extremists who revile the royal family as a symbol of the British state. Armed officers will be deployed to guard coronation attendees and foreign dignitaries, while police are also responsible for ensuring the locations where events are held are secure. Search teams will be sweeping the procession route, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, for potential threats hidden in phone boxes, drains, bins and other everyday objects before sealing roads off. Snipers will be deployed on rooftops, as well as armed officers on overt and covert patrol to protect crowds and high-profile figures attending the coronation. With the date announced months in advance, any hostile actors have had longer to plan for the event than they did for the Queens funeral, but the security services have also had longer to track and mitigate any threats. Physical barriers, as well as a heavy police presence, will be in place to ensure the safety of both dignitaries and members of the public expected to crowd Londons streets for the occasion. A former royal protection officer told The Independent that the solemnity of the Queens funeral suppressed protest groups who did not want to score an own goal by generating public outrage. Those who wish to cause mayhem didnt, but its well-documented now that republican and environmental groups are looking to get their cause across, Simon Morgan said. The risks are slightly different this time. Even though the King has said hes going to scale down the coronation, the people attending are still senior royals, government figures and global dignitaries. Its a multifaceted threat event and the response to that is quite complex. The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic has announced that it will not be mounting any disruptive stunts on 6 May, instead organising protests along the procession route and a not my King rally in Trafalgar Square. However, authorities fear other organisations or lone demonstrators may attempt to cause disorder or block roads, following government vows to crack down on highway obstruction and slow walking protests. Protesters await the arrival of Charles and the Queen Consort for the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire) Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, told The Independent that forces from right across the UK would be involved in the huge operation. Policing has had a very important role ensuring the safety of everybody involved in the Platinum Jubilee and Queens funeral, and well be very proud to do so again next week, he added. Asked whether the transfer of officers from regional forces into London would affect communities outside the capital, Mr Stephens said: We have strong resilience in policing, one of my responsibilities is coordinating that national effort. We have been working very hard with colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to ensure its a safe and secure and momentous time in our history. Mr Morgan, now the director of operations for security firm Trojan Consultancy, said that plans had been underway for many years under the codename Operation Golden Orb. He said senior officers would be assessing and adapting the operation following the Queens death, and checking for any changes in the terror threat after a rise in dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland. Mr Morgan said that intelligence analysis would also be run on royal stalkers and fantasists fixated on the King and his family, and that officers on the ground would also have to deal with ad hoc criminality such as pickpockets and sexual offenders in crowds. Its a massive policing operation, he added. Youre protecting the individuals but also the office and what it stands for, and what that in turn looks like for His Majestys government and how that is seen across the globe. Its high stakes - if anything goes wrong its immediately broadcast and it reflects on Britains standing in the world. For decades, Pearl Young devoted herself to feeding her community. Through the food pantry and soup kitchen at Good Samaritan Church of God in Christ, which was on Leroy Avenue in Buffalo until it moved to Cheektowaga, Young made sure there was plenty of food to give away and that no one left hungry. Photos: Pearl Young's loved ones give away food in her honor In memory of Pearl Young, one of 10 people killed in the May 14 attack at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue last year, her family and churc On Saturday, nearly a year after she was murdered in the May 14 massacre at the Tops supermarket on Jefferson Avenue, hundreds of people were back on Leroy. A giant sign posted on the green grass read: "Pearl Young Food Giveaway. April 29th. Starting @ 11 a.m." Young's family and fellow church members from Good Samaritan held a free food giveaway in her memory on a vacant lot across from the old church. There they hope to build a permanent food pantry named after her and their church. "Right now, I'm thinking about my mom, if she was here, how she would feel. How overjoyed. How overwhelmed she would be with the love," her son, Damon Young, said Saturday as volunteers under a white tent handed out bag after bag of groceries. "We're just not allowing the tragedy to cancel my mom's name. It's not just about what happened to her that day. We're going to carry this on for years and years and years. Decades. Generations if possible. I'm glad to see it. I want to always be able to continue what she wanted to do and that was to help the community." Though the food giveaway was advertised to start at 11 a.m., by 10, a long line of people were already waiting. Volunteers from the church packed recyclable red and black Tops bags with cereal, canned goods and fresh bread. Another group of volunteers with the Daily Bread food truck gave away cartons of fresh soup and chunks of bread wrapped in foil. They estimated at least 300 people walked away with a big bag of groceries Saturday. Bishop Glenwood H. Young, who was Pearl's brother-in-law and pastor, said the food giveaway was a fitting tribute to Pearl Young. "We're not going to forget her," he said. "She was so loyal. She was dedicated and faithful, not only to the community but the local church." Young's friend, Madge A. Whiskey, who volunteered alongside her at the church, knows her friend would have been delighted to see so many people being helped. "She would be ... in our religious terms ... she would be shouting. She would be dancing all around here and shouting: Come get your food. Come get your food." Whiskey helped organize the event, but had just had surgery and wasn't expected to show up on Saturday. But she couldn't stay away. "That's her," Whiskey said of her friend's love for the community. "That's her vision. That's the type of person she was. Always cooking. Always giving away." Pearl Young's daughter, Pamela, believes if her mother were alive, she would have been right in the middle of the action, encouraging all the volunteers. "She'd be giving all of directions. She'd be saying: 'Come on y'all. Let's get this together and take care of the people." 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 British former commander of coalition forces in Afghanistan is urging the government to show solidarity and friendship towards an Afghan pilot being threatened with deportation to Rwanda. Backing The Independents campaign, General Lord David Richards of Herstmonceux said it would be a travesty of justice if the airman, who arrived in the UK via small boat, was to be kicked out. The Afghan Air Force lieutenant worked alongside British and coalition forces, flying more than 30 combat missions, and escaped the country under threat of death from the Taliban, leaving his young family behind. Lord Richards, a former chief of defence staff and head of UK armed forces, told The Independent: Those who fought together in Afghanistan, the Afghan, British and other coalition forces did so with unwavering courage, dedication and solidarity. They forged a fellowship in battle. We need to stand by each other at times of need and continue to show that solidarity now. Stressing the need to uphold the values of decency and fairness in this country, he said: To deport this brave man would be so contrary to British instincts that I am confident the home secretary would do the right thing and allow him to remain here. Anything less than that would be a travesty of justice. Lord Richards with the Queen in 2012 (PA) Lord Richards intervention follows a number of senior military, political and diplomatic voices who have joined in the call to help the pilot. Rishi Sunak promised to look into the case when he was asked about it by a select committee. As head of Isaf (International Security Assistance Force) in Afghanistan, Lord Richards was the first non-American to command US forces since the Second World War. He has maintained close contact with Afghanistan and its people and has advised a number of international organisations on the country. He has also commanded Natos sword arm the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. His military career had not been without controversy. In 2000 he was in charge of a military force sent to rescue British and other foreign nationals trapped in the bloody civil war in Sierra Leone. He decided the British military could not abandon the people of Sierra Leone as militias, who were carrying out murders and mutilations, descended on the capital Freetown. Without orders from London, he intervened with his forces and saved the city. Richards faced criticism from some Whitehall mandarins and some in the military hierarchy. However, public reaction in the UK and Sierra Leone was overwhelmingly positive. He later received the DSO (Distinguished Service Order) military honour for the Sierra Leone mission. An Afghan pilot threatened with deportation to Rwanda is urging Rishi Sunak to let him stay in the UK (Supplied) The Afghan fighter pilot, who we are not naming for the safety of his family in Afghanistan, said he had no choice but to travel to the UK via a small boat because there were no viable safe routes. He said that he felt he had been forgotten by the American and British forces that he worked alongside. We are not Taliban, we are not Isis, so why are they leaving us like this? he told The Independent. In an email to the pilot, a Home Office official said that it had evidence that he had travelled through a number of other European countries before reaching the UK. They said this could have consequences for whether your claim is admitted to the UK asylum system. The government has said that it will send Afghans to Rwanda if it decides that passing through France makes them inadmissible for asylum in the UK. The email added: [The pilot] may also be removable to Rwanda under the terms of the Migration and Economic Development Partnership between Rwanda and UK. It explained that the Home Office may also share your personal data with Rwanda in order to ask Rwanda, another country we consider to be safe, whether it would admit you. He has now applied to stay in the UK under the Afghan relocations and assistance policy (Arap), which is designed to resettle those employed by British forces or those who materially contributed to the success of UK operations in Afghanistan. Afghans are now the largest nationality of small boat migrants, government figures show, with 909 of them making the journey during the first three months of this year. The pilot is worried for his family who are still in Afghanistan (Supplied) The Home Offices main resettlement pathway for Afghans to come to the UK has only brought 22 people here since the 2021 evacuation. Lord Richards joins more than 20 senior military chiefs and politicians in backing The Independents campaign to let the lieutenant stay in the UK. Veterans charity The Royal British Legion has also urged Britain to honour its commitment to help Afghan war heroes who worked with the British. Former head of the army General Lord Richard Dannatt, former Nato chief Lord Robertson, and General Sir Richard Barrons, a former chief of joint operations who served in Afghanistan, have also urged the government to look into the pilots case. 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 mum is raising her premature twins alone after conceiving with sperm from a stranger she met on Facebook. Sarah Mangat, 34, had been single for nearly eight years when she decided to embark on solo motherhood in July 2020. She had planned to use a sperm bank but found the process too impersonal so instead found a Facebook group for sperm donors. After hitting it off with someone, Sarah underwent 14 months of fertility tests at Victory Reproductive Health Fertility Clinic, Ontario, Canada, where they medically monitored her cycle. When the time was right, she used the strangers sperm and was shocked to discover she had not only fallen pregnant on the first go but was expecting twins. Despite her joy, she had a difficult pregnancy and was told her short cervix could cause premature birth or miscarriage. Doctors performed a cervical stitch to stop it opening too soon, but the procedure failed after two weeks, and Sarah went into premature labour in April 2022. Her daughters, one-year-old Elora and Addison, arrived at 27-weeks on 30 April 2022 at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Elora was born at 6.38pm weighing 2lb 20z and Addison arrived shortly after at 6.42pm weighing 1lb 9oz. The pair suffered a catalogue of health issues including a bleed on the brain, heart defects, jaundice, and infections. (Sarah Mangat / SWNS) Despite the odds stacked against them, Elora spent 70 days in hospital and Addison was in for 79 days, until they were all able to go home. Sarah, an HR business partner, from Toronto, Canada, said: I had tried every dating app under the sun and wasnt meeting someone. You cant wait forever for the right person to come into your life. If youre thinking about doing it alone, I say do it. Its the best decision I ever made. I nearly had a heart attack when they told me there was two. But I cant imagine my life without my daughters. (Sarah Mangat / SWNS) Sarah, who had been single for nearly eight years, was never sure about having children. But one morning, in July 2020, she woke-up with the desire to have a baby. She said: I enjoyed being selfish and not being responsible for someone else. But that day I woke up and thought, I want to have a baby now. It was so strange like a flick switched and I was ready. Without a partner, Sarah decided to do the process solo and opted for a sperm donor. But she found the sperm banks too clinical and began exploring other options. After researching online, Sarah found a Facebook group called Canadian Sperm Donors. At the sperm bank, you can only meet them when your child turns 18, she said. But I wanted to know the person before that. I was already becoming a mum unconventionally why not find the donor myself. (Sarah Mangat / SWNS) Sarah spoke with a few people on the Facebook page and eventually found one she clicked with. In February 2021, she met him in person, and he agreed to undergo STI checks and genetic tests and be her sperm donor. She said: Of course, I was a bit wary of meeting someone from online. I had a few weird messages. But made sure we I met up in a public place and we got on really well. I knew he was the one to be my donor. We actually became quite good friends because we stuck with me through all my fertility issues. Sarah also joined Victory Reproductive Health Fertility Clinic, Ontario, Canada where routine tests revealed she wasnt ovulating correctly. She underwent 14 months of fertility tests and treatment which involved medically monitoring her cycle. Sarah spent around 5,000 on hormonal injections to increase her fertility. In October 2021, she was underwent her first full medicated cycle and was delighted to conceive in November 2021 using the strangers sperm. But just six weeks later she experienced severe cramping and was scheduled for an early ultrasound. To her shock, Sarah was told during a scan that she was expecting twins. (Sarah Mangat / SWNS) She said: I was so delighted, but first trimester was terrible. I was so nauseous and barely able to keep any food down. I survived on French fries for weeks. At 20 weeks along, Sarah went for a routine check-up and doctors discovered her cervix had shortened to 1cm and was at risk of opening too early. She underwent a cervical stitch which she was told would prevent it the babies arriving too soon. But it only worked for two weeks and medics told Sarah the babies could come at any time. She said: The doctor asked me if Id want them to try and save the babies lives or just provide comfort care which was support if the babies didnt make it. I asked them to do anything they could to save them. Every day I was talking to my bump begging them to stay in longer. At 26 weeks and six days, Sarah went to the bathroom and saw a toilet full of blood. She was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, and one day later, when she hit 27 weeks, she went into labour. After 36 hours, her premature daughters Elora and Addison arrived within minutes of each other on 30 April 2022 weighing 2lb 2oz and 1lb 9oz, respectively. The twins were rushed to prenatal ward where medics fought to save their lives. Sarah said: I was given an epidural and told they would arrive around midnight. But they arrived really quickly, and doctors were running in from the hallway. They were so tiny. Literally all skin and bone - they looked like aliens. Both of them were wrapped in plastic to stay warm. I later found out that Addison had to be resuscitated which was terrifying. Both girls suffered from grade 1 bleeds on the brain, had heart defects and needed blood transfusion. The twins also had underdeveloped lungs and were on breathing machines for the first few months of their lives. Elora developed a blood infection and a UTI during her stay in hospital. Sarah continues: Every day I left the hospital at 5pm and go home to an empty house. That was a difficult part about doing it by myself. I couldnt comfort them when they cried. Being there became my nine to five, and for the first few weeks my mum, Jane, 63, went every day too. I couldnt have done it without her. I was allowed to hold one at a time for a few hours a day. After a long health battle, the twins defied the odds and were able to go home. They needed to wear a helmet because theyre heads are flattened but otherwise doing great, Sarah said. Its really important to share my NICU journey - it was very traumatic. I know a lot of parents have been through this. I still have hard moments as one person two babies. But I also have very wonderful moments. So true what people say - the days are long, and the years are short. Theyre a year old now and I cant believe theyre mine. 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 }} Dealing with China is not a comfortable chit chat over tea and biscuits, the Foreign Secretary has said. James Cleverly insisted it was important to maintain dialogue with Xi Jinpings regime, as hawkish Conservatives urge him to take a harsher line with China over reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang province and Hong Kong. In response to this criticism, the Foreign Secretary told The Telegraph his meetings and discussions with Chinese ministers are far from cosy chats. Mr Cleverly told the newspaper: In terms of defining diplomatic language, people need to really understand that engaging with China does not mean agreeing with China. I've always criticised their decision to sanction my parliamentary colleagues and I've always demanded that they lift those sanctions Foreign Secretary James Cleverly Talking to China is not about comfortable chit chat over tea and biscuits its about highlighting our opposition to the actions they take that we disagree with, it means doing so directly. Whenever Ive had a conversation with a Chinese minister, whether face-to-face or over the phone, I have always highlighted the plight of the Uighur Muslims, Ive always highlighted their posture towards Hong Kong. Ive always criticised their decision to sanction my parliamentary colleagues and Ive always demanded that they lift those sanctions. In a keynote address to the Lord Mayors Easter Banquet in London last week, Mr Cleverly said the UK must engage directly with the country in order to promote stability across the globe. But he also said the UK must be unflinchingly realistic about Beijings authoritarianism, as he warned it against invading Taiwan. Mr Cleverly denied China should be classed as a threat, arguing its scale and complexity cannot be reduced to one-word descriptions. Influential Conservative MPs including former minister Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns have previously called for the Government to take a harder stance with China. Several Tory critics of Beijing, including Sir Iain, are subject to sanctions by the Chinese government. Former prime minister Liz Truss recently joined calls for a tougher stance on China, calling on ministers to ensure that it does not join the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), an international trade agreement. The short-lived premier, who once served as foreign secretary, also criticised moves by Frances President Emmanuel Macron to ask for Chinas help in ending the war in Ukraine. 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 Ukrainian DJ who will be part of a simultaneous rave in both Liverpool and Kyiv hopes that the party with a purpose will allow Ukrainians to feel the great support from the UK through music. Nastia Haman, who is more commonly known by her artistic name Mingulitka, is to perform in Liverpool on May 7 as part of Rave UKraine, which will see simultaneous raves taking place at Liverpool music venue Content and at HVLV Bar feat Hangout in the Ukrainian capital, with each event being live-streamed to the other. The simultaneous raves will begin at 4pm in Liverpool, which is 6pm in Kyiv. The Kyiv event finishes at 10pm local time, which is 8pm in the UK. Mingulitka, who is currently based in London and living with a host family, came to the UK via the Homes for Ukraine scheme in May of last year. She told the PA news agency that she is excited about the event and hopes it encourages people to continue supporting Ukrainians as the war continues. I was really excited to receive an invitation to play as part of Rave UKraine and Im looking forward to playing my DJ set, the 31-year-old, who is also a musician, said. I will share some electronic underground music, as well as British and European (music) for people in Liverpool. I hope a lot of Ukrainians will also come to this event and I guess its really important for people in Kyiv and Ukraine to feel this connection with the UK and to feel great support. Mingulitka said that in the first two to three months after arriving in the UK, I didnt really want to play music. It was super strange for me to play my first DJ sets. Im not in Ukraine and sometimes I feel guilty for it, but then I started to play. It was a turning point for me because I realised that through music and my sets and gigs, I can help my country to fundraise some money. She added that playing close to Eurovision will be special. Eurovisions a really big event, so I think it can be something really liberating. Each venue will have different acts performing, with Hot Chip, James Lavelle and Jodie Harsh, among others, taking the stage at the Liverpool rave. Jez Collins who sparked the idea, and is organising the logistics from the Liverpool side, said that he wanted to create a party with a purpose. Were safe in the UK and Eurovision is happening which is a huge global party lots of glitter and dance, the 53-year-old who is based in Birmingham and runs the Birmingham Music Archive told PA. This event is not just a rave, its a party with a purpose and its a really important way of showing the connections between people. It does not matter if you cant speak Ukrainian or English, or what rave music you like, its this idea that music really does bring people together. The war is not going to stop because a rave is going on, but for a few hours we can celebrate and show solidarity with people who are going through things we really cant imagine. Funds raised are to go to Music Saves UA, a non-profit fundraising initiative created by the Ukrainian Association of Music Events to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by the war in Ukraine. Vlad Yaremchuk, who is the partnership manager at the organisation, told PA, from Kyiv, that the money raised from the event will make a big difference on the ground. We will be providing humanitarian help to those in Ukraine with the money raised thats really our speciality. So far we have been able to help more than 40,000 civilians thanks to collaborations like these, said the 26-year-old, who is also the programming director at Atlas Festival a Ukrainian music festival. Jez found us on Google as he was looking for a Ukraine-based charity that has something to do with music. It was great for us to know that we can be googled. We instantly replied and said yes. For me it was especially exciting since I come from an electronic music background myself, its my passion in life. Andy Yankovsky, who is the co-owner of HVLV Bar feat Hangout in Kyiv, spoke about the music scene in Ukraine. Despite March marking the one-year anniversary since Russia invaded Ukraine, he said it was one of the most interesting years in Ukrainian music. If you look at how many records have been released, its just insane its probably one of the most fruitful years weve ever had, the 29-year-old, who is also a creative producer, told PA from Berlin. Mr Yaremchuk added: Music is a form of activism, but its not the type of activism where you pretend everything is normal. The war continues and people are dying every day, but events help us to relieve tension, to process collective trauma, to process our complex emotions by uniting and dancing together Were still here, were still dancing and every single event makes its contribution to our resistance by raising funds and helping people stay sane and united. Mr Yankovsky who is to attend the rave in Liverpool said he is looking forward to seeing the city for the first time, meeting everyone at the event and finding out more about the Ukrainian community in the UK. Its really cool that Liverpool is the capital of rock and roll and we are having this rave everything is bizarrely connected and its really interesting. Mr Yaremchuk said: I just hope that people who are going to be there, especially in Liverpool, will enjoy it and become inspired, but also understand what this event is all about. I hope it reminds those in the UK how important and appreciated their support for Ukrainians is. Im happy for Sam (Ryder) and Im happy for the UK for hosting Eurovision. The UK has been so supportive of Ukraine. My only hope is that once Ukraine is ready to host Eurovision, it will take place in Ukraine. More information about acts and tickets can be found at: ra.co/events/1681963 The event is part of EuroFestival, a line-up of cultural events happening in Liverpool across two weeks in May while the city hosts the Eurovision Song Contest on behalf of 2022 winners Ukraine. 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 ferry which ran aground, leading to the evacuation of 60 passengers, has been refloated and towed to its berth. The MV Pentalina will now be surveyed to establish the extent of any damage and monitored for pollution, the coastguard said. RNLI vessels went to the scene after the vessel issued a mayday message off Orkney on Saturday night. Pentland Ferries said smoke was detected in the engine room before the Pentalina became grounded off the village of St Margarets Hope. My immediate concern is for what this means for Orkney and how long this vital link for our islands will be severed Jamie Halcro Johnston, Highlands and Islands MSP Sixty passengers, including three children and an infant, were evacuated from the ferry, as well as some of the crew. It is understood eight crew members have remained on the vessel to help manage the situation. A coastguard spokesman said on Sunday: The MV Pentalina was refloated at approximately 5.30am today after a tow was established by a tug whose services were acquired by Pentland Ferries. The Pentalina was brought alongside its berth in St Margarets Hope a short while later. HM Coastguards emergency towing vessel MV Ievoli Black observed the operation, alongside counter-pollution officers, and reported that there were no signs of pollution. The vessel will be surveyed later today to establish the extent of any damage, while the harbour master will continue to monitor for pollution. The MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) has also been informed. Coastguard teams from St Margarets Hope, Stromness and Kirkwall and the Stromness and Longhope RNLI boats were involved in the rescue operation after the mayday call at around 7.30pm on Saturday. The fire was extinguished and passengers were evacuated by lifeboat to St Margarets Hope, where the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland were waiting. The coastguard said all passengers have been reported safe and well. The Pentalina returned to service earlier this week to allow another ferry, the MV Alfred, to service CalMac routes on the west coast of Scotland. A statement from Pentland Ferries on Saturday evening said smoke was detected in the engine room before the vessel grounded, adding: The safety of our passengers is, of course, our first priority. An RMT union spokesman said: A thorough investigation will be needed to establish how this major incident aboard the Pentland Ferries vessel occurred. Local politicians are calling for answers from the Scottish Government over what the incident means for ferry users in Orkney. Transport Scotland said the current priority is for Pentland Ferries to assess the condition of the vessel and any next steps to determine whether there will be any loss of services on the Pentland Firth. It said any further actions to support capacity to Orkney will be considered in due course. Scottish Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston, who is from Orkney, said the incident exposes the pitiful lack of resilience in Scotlands ferry network. He said: The Pentalina was only summoned back into action this week because the MV Alfred had to be seconded from Pentland Ferries to help plug gaps in the ageing, unreliable CalMac fleet. While it will be important to know just how this incident came about, my immediate concern is for what this means for Orkney and how long this vital link for our islands will be severed. There are a number of questions the Scottish Government needs to answer, including whether the 9 million agreement between CalMac and Pentland Ferries allows for the MV Alfred to be recalled to Orkney early, or if the Alfred will stay on the west coast and Orkney will be left without a key service. Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said there are important questions for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to answer, as he said it had recently inspected and certified the Pentalina as fit for service. He added: Answers are required too from the Scottish Government whose failure to procure new ferries in a timely fashion has left services both in the north and on the west coast extremely vulnerable. As a result islanders and island communities are left paying the price. An MCA spokesperson said: The Maritime and Coastguard Agency, in conjunction with the vessels classification society, completed surveys on the vessel Pentalina on April 18 and issued a passenger ship safety certificate; at this time the vessel met the standards required for issue of this certificate. Surveyors from the MCA will be attending the vessel today (Sunday) in St Margarets Hope to undertake initial fact-finding to establish the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident which occurred on the evening of April 29. While the facts havent been established yet, initial reports from the operator point to the cause of the grounding being a sudden mechanical failure. A Transport Scotland spokesman said: Ministers were quickly made aware of the incident involving the MV Pentalina and kept informed of developments throughout the night. We were relieved that all passengers and crew are safe and that arrangements were made to support passengers with onward travel. We would also like to express our appreciation to all those involved in the evacuation, including RNLI crews and other emergency services. 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 }} All 60 passengers have been rescued and brought back to land safe and well after a ferry ran aground. RNLI vessels went to the scene after the MV Pentalina issued a Mayday broadcast off Orkney on Saturday evening. Pentland Ferries said smoke was detected in the engine room before the MV Pentalina became grounded at the village of St Margarets Hope. Sixty passengers, including three children and an infant, were evacuated from the ferry, as well as some of the crew. It is understood eight crew members have remained on the vessel to help manage the situation. The coastguard said: St Margarets Hope, Stromness and Kirkwall Coastguard rescue teams, alongside Stromness and Longhope RNLI lifeboats, responded to a passenger vessel reporting a fire and having subsequently grounded, with minor water ingress, near St Margarets Hope at approximately 7.30pm. A Mayday broadcast was issued. The fire was extinguished and passengers were evacuated by lifeboat to St Margarets Hope, where they were met by the Scottish Ambulance Service and Police Scotland. All passengers have been reported safe and well. The MV Pentalina returned to service earlier this week to allow another ferry, the MV Alfred, to service CalMac routes on the west coast of Scotland. A statement from Pentland Ferries on Saturday evening said smoke was detected in the engine room before the vessel grounded, adding: The safety of our passengers is, of course, our first priority. The ferry company later said: All passengers that were onboard MV Pentalina tonight are safe and are either at home or at their accommodation. Our customer services team are contacting all customers that are due to travel. Further updates will follow. An RMT union spokesman said: A thorough investigation will be needed to establish how this major incident aboard the Pentland Ferries vessel occurred. Scotlands transport minister Kevin Stewart tweeted on Saturday evening that he was sorry to hear of the incident, but that all on board are safe and well and that emergency services are in attendance. Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston tweeted: This is the boat which has been brought back into service to allow CalMac to charter the MV Alfred on the west coast routes. Hoping crew and passengers are OK, and everyone is able to get off safely. 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 }} The coronation dominates the front pages of Sundays newspapers as full details of Saturdays ceremony are revealed. The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday both concentrate on the homage to the King, with people watching at home urged to play their part in proceedings. The Sunday People also focuses on the homage, saying the nation will join chant for Charles. The homage also features in the Sunday Express, but it leads on the Kings pledge to serve the people during the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. And while The Sun on Sunday touches on the homage, it concentrates on the Duke of Sussexs rapid return home to the US for his son Archies birthday after the coronation. The Sunday Mirror steers away from the details of the ceremony to focus on the rising cost of the coronation due to the security operation. Politics edges out royal events on the fronts of several newspapers The Sunday Telegraph leading on an interview with potential US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis backing Business Secretary Kemi Badenochs war on wokery. The Observer reports on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmers bid to be bolder than previous prime minister Tony Blair on public service reform. The Independent reveals the results of an investigation which pins the blame on pubs and clubs shutting down on Brexit. And the Daily Star on Sunday has an interview with comedian Bobby Davro about his fiancees cancer diagnosis. 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 }} More than half the public expects the Conservatives to lose seats at the local elections on Thursday, a poll suggests. Some 55% of people told Ipsos UK that they thought the Tories would lose seats while just 9% thought the party would make gains. The picture for Labour was much better, with 45% saying they expected the party to pick up council seats. The public was also more likely to say Labour councillors were better than those from other parties at delivering local services, setting the right level of council tax and listening to the views of local residents, but a large proportion of voters said that either no party was better than the others or they did not know who would be best. The findings of the survey, carried out between April 21 and 24, chime with the results of other polls that see Labour maintaining its double-digit lead over the Government when it comes to how people would vote in a general election. But the Ipsos poll of 1,850 UK adults, published on Monday, found people put more weight on local factors when deciding which council candidates to vote for. If the public are right, the Conservatives are likely to face a difficult set of results on Thursday, reflecting the current unpopularity of the Conservative government nationally Keiran Pedley Asked what factors were very important when deciding who to vote for, 42% mentioned the local councils performance in running their area and 41% mentioned the promises local parties made. However, 33% said policies on national issues were an important factor and 31% mentioned the Governments performance in running the UK. Only 24% said their opinion of national leaders such as Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer would factor into their local election votes. But on specific issues that would determine how people would vote, 52% talked about the cost of living and 45% mentioned the NHS, more than any other issue. Crime and the condition of local roads were the joint third most-mentioned issues on 38%, but were more likely to be mentioned as top priorities by older voters. Some 60% of those aged 55-75 said local roads were an important issue, with only 47% mentioning the cost of living. Keiran Pedley, research director at Ipsos, said: These results show how local elections are different to general elections in the minds of voters, who prioritise local issues over national ones when deciding how to vote in them. However, the national picture is never far away, with the cost of living and NHS still on voters minds as they head to the polls, especially for those aged under 55. Meanwhile, if the public are right, the Conservatives are likely to face a difficult set of results on Thursday, reflecting the current unpopularity of the Conservative government nationally. 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 }} Airstrikes rocked parts of Sudans capital Khartoum on Saturday despite the extended ceasefire by the countrys two warring factions, as the former Sudanese prime minister urged both sides to get together for peace talks. Terrified residents in some areas of the city reported explosions nearby and fighters ransacking houses, although residents in other areas said shops were reopening as the scale of the fighting dwindled. Clashes were continuing around the presidential palace as well as the state broadcasters HQ and a military base in Khartoum. The continued fighting comes despite the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) having agreed to a renewed ceasefire from Friday until Sunday after heavy international pressure. According to Sudan Doctors Syndicate, 411 civilians have died and another 2,023 have been injured since 15 April, when a long-simmering power struggle between the army and RSF boiled over into conflict. The countrys former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok on Saturday urged for both sides to come together for peace talks to stop a full-blown civil war on the scale of the Libya and Syria conflicts. The US has now started evacuating citizens out of Sudan (AP) He said in a press conference in the Kenyan capital Nairobi: This is not a war between an army and a small rebellion. It is almost like two armies well trained and well armed. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a proper civil war ... it is a huge country and very diverse ... it would be a nightmare for the world. Fighting broke out earlier this month after a disagreement between army leader Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo over how to transfer to a democracy after the fall of dictator Omar al-Bashir. The military has appeared to have the upper hand in the fighting, with its monopoly on air power, but it has been impossible to confirm its claims of advances. The Sudanese army has been blamed by the RSF for airstrikes on residential blocks being hit. "Soon, the Sudanese state with its well-grounded institutions will rise as victorious, and attempts to hijack our country will be aborted forever," the Sudanese military said in a statement on Saturday. International diplomats have been unable to travel to Sudan to mediate. However, a UN official said on Saturday that both sides are more open to negotiations and have accepted the conflict cannot continue. Volker Perthes, UN special representative in Sudan, said the sides had nominated representatives for talks which had been suggested for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, or Juba in South Sudan, although he said there was a question over whether they could get there to actually sit together. He said no timeline had been set for talks. As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 Show all 3 1 / 3 As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 Sudan Evacuations Sudan Evacuations UK MOD Crown copyright 2023 As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 Chad Sudan Chad Sudan Notice: UNICEF photographs are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any medium without written permission from authorized As battle for Sudan continues, civilian deaths top 400 Egypt Sudan Evacuees Egypt Sudan Evacuees Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved For now, Khartoum, a city of 5 million, has been transformed into a front line, while more than 50,000 refugees mostly women and children have crossed over to Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the UN said. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said that paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks outside Khartoum, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. Theres an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF, he said, They dont have a supply line in place. That could get worse in the coming days. The fighting has left areas of Khartoum without electricity and running water. There have also been reports of UN offices in Darfur being looted which a peace coordinator called unacceptable and prohibited under international law. Meanwhile, the UK Foreign Office organised the final flight for British nationals out from Wadi Saeedna airfield near Khartoum at 1200 local time [1000 GMT] and said 1,888 people have now been rescued on 21 flights. Having previously prohibited non-passport holders from boarding the last flight, the government moved to include NHS doctors without UK passports. The change of policy was announced just hours before take-off. Having closed its base in Khartoum, the British government has now set up a diplomatic presence in Port Sudan on the east coast and said British nationals can present themselves. If you are a British national in Port Sudan who needs help to leave Sudan, visit our team who will be able to signpost you to options for departure, a statement reads on the UK government website. The east coast is still being used as a transit point with large ships continuing to carry out thousands of multinationals into Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of Americans fleeing the conflict reached the port on Saturday in the first US-run evacuation, under the escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed guard for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 800km (500 miles) to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, US officials said. The US, which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticised by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any American-run evacuation for those among an estimated 16,000 Americans in Sudan who wish to leave. US special operations troops briefly flew to the capital on 22 April to airlift out American staff at the embassy and other American government personnel. More than a dozen other nations have already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and ground personnel. 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. Are there quarantine camps in New York? Will you be imprisoned if youre suspected of illness? These are questions circulating on social media about a New York State rule, developed during the Covid-19 pandemic, over quarantining and isolation. The rule drew a lawsuit and stoked panic online. The state is appealing a lower court decision against the rule and arguments are expected this fall. One Facebook post urged followers: "stop NY Governor Hochuls quarantine camps! She wants to imprison you if youre just suspected of being exposed to a disease!" The lawsuit centers on a regulation adopted during the pandemic. The rule had been extended in 90-day periods, and the state has said it wants to make it permanent. The rule states: "For the purposes of quarantine orders, quarantine locations may include home quarantine, other residential or temporary housing quarantine, or quarantine at such other locations as the public health authority issuing the order deems appropriate, consistent with any direction that the State Commissioner of Health may issue." Under the disputed rule, the setting for quarantine and isolation can include a temporary housing location chosen by a public health authority, though in most cases people would voluntarily isolate in their homes. The rule calls for coordination with law enforcement to ensure people comply with isolation or quarantine orders when necessary. The state has not operated camps for people infected with Covid-19, and experts have said it wont start. What follows is a fact-check of the statement circulating online not of claims in the lawsuit. State Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, joined others in a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state Health Department over the rule, arguing it breached the separation of powers. Borellos lawsuit said the department lacked the authority to institute the rules isolation and quarantine procedures. Borrello, who represents Jamestown and Batavia, contended New Yorks existing public health laws provide for civil commitment for people who are known to be sick, and they allow for due process, whereas the state Health Department rule did not. The plaintiffs argued that the disputed rule allows for someone who is ordered to isolate or quarantine to seek relief from the courts after the fact, which is a breach of due process. In existing law, they said, judicial relief can be sought before quarantine. "Petitioners have a fundamental right to freely go about their lives without the fear of, or the actuality of, being forced to isolate themselves or quarantine in a facility designated by Respondents, for however long Respondents deem appropriate, simply because the Respondents suspect the Petitioners may have a communicable disease," the plaintiffs wrote. Borrello told PolitiFact that in certain circumstances, involuntary detention is called for in the rule. "You can use a variety of terms, including some that may sound less alarming. But in the end, they are all the same thing: involuntary detention facilities," Borrello said. "The language used in the (Health Department) regulation does not specify or rule out any type of structure." Borello and his co-plaintiffs won their lawsuit in State Supreme Court in a July decision issued by acting State Supreme Court Justice Ronald D. Ploetz in Cattaraugus County. Ploetz said the rule conflicted with existing state law and was unenforceable. The state said the new rule clarifies existing law. But Ploetz found the state Health Department acted beyond the Legislatures intent, saying the rule "disregards any balancing of individual rights against public safety needs." Ploetzs decision also said the rule gives "lip service" to constitutional due process, though he added that his ruling did not determine whether the regulation breached the states due process protections. The state is appealing in the Appellate Divisions Fourth Department. Oral arguments are expected this fall. The states appeal maintains the state has long-standing powers that the Legislature has authorized to contain communicable diseases. Civil commitment, a more restrictive environment than quarantine and isolation, is not a feature of the states quarantine and isolation laws, though it could be a consequence of violating it, state lawyers wrote. They rejected arguments that due process would be denied in these cases. We asked Lawrence O. Gostin, a Georgetown Law School professor who has been involved in public policy pertaining to epidemics such as Ebola and Zika, about the Facebook quarantine camp claim. He said New York State doesnt intend to introduce quarantine camps. "This is completely untrue," he said of the Facebook claim. "Every state in the country allows for quarantine of individuals who are exposed to dangerous infectious diseases and may transmit the infection to others. Quarantine has been used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, and is also a power held by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said. "Imagine if someone was exposed to extremely drug resistant tuberculosis or to smallpox. We wouldn't want to have them flying on a plane if they might be infectious and infect all the passengers. This is just Public Health 101 and is nothing out of the ordinary," Gostin said. The quarantine period lasts only until its known whether a person is infected, he said. Kathleen Hoke, director of the Eastern Region of the Network for Public Health Law, said quarantine doesnt necessarily involve putting people somewhere. Most of the time, she said, it takes place in someones home. "There is no such thing as quarantine or isolation camps created in these regulations," Hoke said. "Before these regulations were changed, state law gave the Department of Health and local departments of health broad power to prevent the spread of infectious disease." The new regulation was meant to clarify a previous regulation, she said. If people cannot quarantine in their own homes or live in close quarters with other people or are homeless, the state will provide a place to quarantine. When people are known to be sick, they can isolate at a hospital. If someone has an active case of Ebola or tuberculosis, highly infectious diseases, the state could petition a court to isolate someone without their consent, Hoke said. But, she added, this is not a new power and was not born of the Covid-19 epidemic. "New York has always had these kinds of provisions, just as other states do," Hoke said. Assembly Member Josh Jensen, a Republican who represents towns in western Monroe County, told WHEC in Rochester that the rule doesnt call for "quarantine camps." State Department of Health spokesman Cort Ruddy told us the department has not created or operated "camps" for people with Covid-19. "In congregate settings, isolation and quarantine remain important tools to reduce the spread of communicable diseases, including Covid," Ruddy said. Our ruling The claim is that Hochul wants "quarantine camps" and to "imprison people" suspected of having a disease. This fact-check considered the evidence for the social media claim and did not consider the merits of the arguments in the lawsuit. Under the disputed rule, the setting for quarantine and isolation can include a temporary housing location chosen by a public health authority, though in most cases people would voluntarily isolate in their homes. State law allows for civil commitment for people who refuse isolation orders. The rule in dispute in this lawsuit does not call for civil commitment, but that could be a result if this rule is violated, state lawyers told the court. But taking the states public health measures and saying they amount to camps and imprisonment takes this rule too far. A Republican state lawmaker told a Rochester reporter that this rule doesnt call for "quarantine camps." The state has not operated camps for people infected with Covid-19, and experts said that the state has no intention of doing so. Experts said the rule challenged by the lawsuit is no different than other quarantine and isolation procedures that have existed for years. We rate this claim Pants on Fire! 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 }} A Southern California man who assaulted police with pepper spray during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison, federal authorities announced. Jeffrey Scott Brown, 56, of Santa Ana received a sentence of 54 months in federal prison for felony and misdemeanor charges related to the mob attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a Friday press statement. More than 1,000 individuals have been arrested, including more than 320 people who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, the DOJ said. Trump supporters that day tried to stop Congress from certifying presidential election results for Joe Biden, a Democrat, over Trump, a Republican. Brown and two co-defendants were found guilty at trial in December. Peter J. Schwartz of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is scheduled to be sentenced in May. It was not clear why Markus Maly of Fincastle, Virginia, was not sentenced Friday as scheduled. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 70 months for Brown, who they say dove toward the front of a makeshift police line and used on officers a stolen can of pepper spray handed to him by Schwartz. Brown's attorney, Samuel C. Moore, sought 40 months in prison, according to court documents. Moore said that the conduct involved less than 10 minutes of Mr. Browns life and the alleged pepper spray did not make contact with any specific victim. Still, Moore wrote, Brown admits he should never have been in the Capitol tunnel that day and that he takes responsibility for doing so. 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 for the suspect in the deadly shooting in Cleveland, Texas, entered its second day with no leads on his whereabouts, authorities said. Nearly 48 hours after the violent massacre that left five people dead, the FBI Houston Field Office and the San Jacinto County Sheriffs Officer said in a press conference on Sunday (30 April) that the suspected gunman, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, is still at large. Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters that investigators have zero leads and more than 200 law enforcement personnel from several agencies continue an extensive search in the rural area just outside of Cleveland. Mr Oropesa, who is accused of killing five people, is considered armed and dangerous. The office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott is offering a $50K reward for information that leads to Mr Oropesas arrest, Mr Capers said. FBI Special Agent James Smith said his agency is also contributing $25K to that sum, while local law enforcement is offering an extra $5K, bringing the total amount of reward to $80K. Mr Smith was confronted by reporters who pointed out the FBI had released the picture of a man who is not Mr Oropesa in connection with the investigation, causing the photo of the wrong individual to be used by the media. Law enforcement also first said the suspects last name was Oropeza, but has since corrected the spelling. An investigation like this, were receiving information from a whole slew of agencies, and citizens Mr Smith explained. It was a mistake on our side, we identified it and we worked quickly to have it removed. Sheriff Capers became emotional as he announced a Sunday night vigil for eight-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso, who was among five fatal victims in Fridays (28 April) massacre. Francisco Oropesa (SJCSO) My heart is with this eight-year-old little boy, I dont care if he was here legally, I dont care if he was here illegally, he was in my county, Sheriff Capers said. Five people died in my county. And thats where my heart is, in my county protecting my people to the best of my ability. The other victims have been identified as Daniels mother Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, her eight-year-old son, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Josue Jonatan Caceres, 18, according to 12 News. Texas Mass Shooting Authorities said Mr Oropesa is likely communicating with friends, noting that they hope the large reward sum incentivises somebody to come forward with information. At this point, officials said, it is not known whether Mr Oropesa is in the vicinity of the crime scene or if he has already left the county. Investigators are now going door to door, asking neighbours about Mr Oropesa, and billboards and poster signs have been distributed across San Jacinto, Harris and Montgomery County. We have zero leads, Mr Smith said. Right now were running into dead ends. Sonia Guzman and her eight-year-old Daniel were killed during the violence on Friday (Sourced) Mr Oropesa, who is originally from Mexico, has been charged with five counts of murder and burglary for allegedly shooting his neighbours dead when they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they had children in the home who were trying to sleep. Describing the devastating scene that his deputies found on Friday night, Sheriff Capers said two women were found lying on top of three children to avoid the bullets from striking the minors. The women were pronounced dead at the scene. The three children that we put in an ambulance that night, they were covered in blood from the same ladies who died trying to protect them, he said. Theyre [now] safe, theyre with family. 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 for the Texas gunman accused of killing five neighbours continues despite earlier reports that law enforcement had cornered him. The San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office and the FBI have said 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa could be anywhere more than 24 hours after he allegedly opened fire on his next-door neighbours when they complained about him firing rounds in his yard. The victims were identified on Sunday as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, her eight-year-old son Daniel Enrique Laso, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, and Josue Jonatan Caceres, 18, according to 12 News. Several children were at the home when the violence unfolded. Earlier reports by NPR suggested police had located and surrounded the suspect somewhere in the Houston area, but a Saturday night update by the SJCSO stated that Mr Oropesa is still at large. On Sunday night, the FBI said in a statement that Mr Oropesa is considered armed and dangerous and the public is advised not to approach him. SJCSO Greg Capers said Mr Oropesa could be anywhere, adding that investigators have found a cell phone and clothing believed to belong to Mr Oropesa. K-9 units from the Texas Department of Correction picked up a scent and then lost that scent in the water, according to Fox News. Authorities have continued searching in the vicinity of the crime scene. Mr Capers said that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the scene of the shooting. (SJCSO) The FBI has brought in investigative resources, tactical and victim services resources to assist in this investigation. We will be here until we are no longer needed to include when the subject is arrested, FBI Special Agent James Smith said, per Fox. Were still out there trying to find this individual. We consider him armed and dangerous. And were not going to stop until we actually arrest him and bring him into custody. But he is out there, and he is a threat to the community. Mr Smith added: So I dont want anyone to think something different than that. He is a threat to the community, and we need the communitys help to hopefully locate him and soon and take him off the streets tonight. But however, I will say this, we do not ask the community to take the matters into their own hands. Please call 911 if you happen to see this individual out there. Mr Oropesa, originally from Mexico, reportedly charged at his neighbours when they asked him to stop shooting rounds in his yard because they had children at home trying to sleep. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, according to Capers, and that one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The neighbors walked over and said Hey man, can you not do that, weve got an infant in here trying to sleep or whatever, Mr Capers said, per the Washington Post. They went back in their house and then we have a video of him walking up their driveway with his AR-15. Jefrey Rivera, whose wife was killed in the Friday night shooting, told the Honduran network HCH that when he saw his very intoxicated neighbour approaching with an AR-15 rifle, he threw a machete at him in an attempt to protect other relatives in the home. Sonia Guzman and son Daniel Lazo Guzman, victims of Cleveland shooting (Sourced) I realised he was coming in our direction while armed with a rifle, so I tried to find something to defend myself with and found a machete. Mr Rivera told HCH in Spanish. But by the time I found the machete, shots had already been fired. The US is setting a devastating record pace for mass killings in 2023. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. Anyone with information regarding Mr Oropesas whereabouts is asked to call the FBI at 936-653-4367. This article was amended on May 2 2023. It originally contained an incorrect spelling of the suspects name, as this was how the FBI initially identified him. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have arrested two Philadelphia teenagers after a Friday afternoon shooting left three others dead, including a student still in eighth grade, and a fourth teen hospitalised. The 15- and 16-year-old suspects have not been identified but have been charged with violation of the Uniform Firearms Actand related offenses, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Police on Saturday named the victims as Malik Ballard, 17; Khalif Frezghi, 18; and Salah Fleming, 14. A fourth victim, 16, arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach, the paper reported. Both the wounded teen and the youngest victim, Fleming, were students at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School of Philadelphia, Inc, the schools founder and chief administrative told the Inquirer. Fleming had enrolled at the school and begun eighth grade in September, said Veronica J Joyner, reporting that his teachers praised him as very manner able, very quiet and hardworking. The injured student is an 11th-grader she described as having a smile that would light up the room. Ms Joyner told the Inquirer: Both of the young men are very respectable and theyre good students. The school and the school family is very saddened that this continues to happen to young people. She called the deaths a travesty. The shooting happened about 3.30pm in the Crescentville section of the city; Ballard was found on the sidewalk, Frezghi on a front porch and Fleming just inside the front doorway, the Inquirer reported. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Scene of the shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) After the fourth student arrived at the hospital, police found a black Ford Edge thought to have been involved and said they believed the 15- and 16-year-old subsequently arrested had just dropped off the teen who suffered a stomach gunshot wound. Ms Joyner told the Inquirer that the 1,000-student school has expanded its staff of grief counselors from two to four six this year amidst Philadelphias plague of shootings; before the Friday incident, 57 children under 18 had been shot so far in 2023 in the city, eight fatally, the paper reported. We have about two typed pages of students that have lost either mother, father, brothers, sisters or other family in shootings, Ms Joyner said, adding: The schools now, they have to deal with a lot of things they didnt deal with when I went to school. The Independent has reached out to Philadelphia police. 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 }} Authorities in Texas have identified the five people killed in a mass shooting on Friday night. The shooting was reported at around 10.30pm in a rural area just outside the city of Cleveland, Texas, the San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. A gunman, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, allegedly opened fire on his neighbours with an AR-15 style rifle and killed them execution style. Mr Oropesa, who is originally from Mexico, is considered dangerous and his whereabouts are unknown. The victims have been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25, Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21, Julisa Molina Rivera, 31, Josue Jonatan Caceres, 18, and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8, according to 12 News. Sonia Guzman (Sonia Guzman/Facebook) They were originally from Honduras. Velazquezs husband Jefrey Rivera told the Honduran network HCH that his wife died protecting their children. He said she hid in a closet with some of the children in the home. The two other deceased women were found lying on top of two children covered in blood. Police said on Saturday that they died protecting the two minors, who are both believed to have survived. Recounting the terrifying moments leading up to the massacre, Mr Rivera said that someone in his household asked Mr Oropesa to stop shooting rounds in his yard because they had several children in the home who were trying to sleep. Mr Rivera said that when he saw his very intoxicated neighbour approaching with an AR-15 rifle, he threw a machete at him in an attempt to protect other relatives in the home. I realised he was coming in our direction while armed with a rifle, so I tried to find something to defend myself with and found a machete. Mr Rivera told HCH in Spanish. But by the time I found the machete, shots had already been fired. Mr Oropesa and Mr Rivera then had a brief confrontation, in which the gunman allegedly said, Im going to kill you today. Mr Rivera then reportedly said: Im going to kill you first because youve already killed my family. Mr Rivera said he managed to escape the violence and called authorities. Francisco Oropesa, 38 (KHOU11) Family members in Honduras told HCH on Sunday morning that Guzman was the mother of the eight-year-old killed in the shooting. A cousin of Guzman told the network that she had moved to the US eight years ago, while her son had spent five years living in America. Guzman, a mother of three, leaves behind a two-year-old daughter and a six-month-old baby. Her husband survived the shooting. Her family has created a GoFundMe to raise funds so Guzman and her sons remains can be repatriated. I just spoke with her on the phone yesterday and now theyre sending her back to me in a casket, Guzmans mother Francia Guzman also told HCH through tears. More than 24 hours after the tragedy, the suspect has yet to be apprehended. An earlier press release by the SJCSO stated that he was believed to have fled the country but more recent reports suggest he is in the Houston-Cleveland area. A Saturday report by NPR suggested police had located and surrounded the suspect, but an update by the SJCSO later that night stated that Mr Oropesa is still at large. Mr Oropesa is described as approximately 58 tall, last seen wearing blue jeans with a black shirt and work boots and with short black hair. 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 }} Massachusetts authorities discovered and confiscated a weapon called a vampire straw at Bostons Logan International Airport after a passenger attempted to conceal it in carry-on luggage, authorities said. TSA spokesman for New England Dan Velez on Monday tweeted a photo of the vampire straw, which can be used like a dagger, and wrote: These items are not allowed in passenger carry-on bags. A passenger found that out yesterday @BostonLogan when @MassStatePolice confiscated the item and eventually arrested the 26-year-old man on a state charge. #travelfail Arman Achuthan Nair, of Chicago, was detained on Sunday evening and charged with carrying a dangerous weapon after a 10-inch long titanium straw with a beveled end was found in his backpack, AP reported. The straws, which can be used to consume drinks, is referred to as a weapon on the website of knife retailer Szaboinc.com. Designed for self defense, the Vampire straw is super tough and long enough to be used like a dagger; its chiseled tip is sharp enough to puncture most synthetic materials, the site states. TSA spokesman Velez told McClatchy News that the Logan passenger had artfully concealed the Vampire straw with other straws. Nair posted bail and was next due in court on 30 May, AP reported. 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 }} The circle of global power players who continued to meet with Jeffrey Epstein after his first sex conviction was far wider than previously revealed, according to an extensive report fromThe Wall Street Journal published on Sunday. Using source documents including Epsteins schedules, the paper identified meetings between the disgraced financier and figures including the current director of the CIA, a former White House lawyer, a college president and a member of an international banking dynasty. None of their names appear in Epsteins now-public black book of contacts or in the public flight logs of passengers who traveled on his private jet, the WSJ reported. The documents show that Epstein arranged multiple meetings with each of them after he had served jail time in 2008 for a sex crime involving a teenage girl and was registered as a sex offender. The documents, which include thousands of pages of emails and schedules from 2013 to 2017, havent been previously reported. Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected New York financier, pleaded guilty in June 2008 to one count of solicitating prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He was released from jail the following year but, after a decade of public accusations of abuse by multiple women, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died in jail weeks later and the death was ruled a suicide. Speculation has always swirled regarding the extent of Epsteins contacts and the nature of their interactions, and a redacted version published online in 2015 set off a flurry of explanations and denials amongst the worlds elite. The new WSJ report, however, reveals heretofore unknown contacts, some who say they regret their association with the sex offender or deny any knowledge of his criminal activities. The documents used as source material dont reveal the purpose of most of the meetings and the Journal couldnt verify whether every scheduled meeting took place, it reported. William Burns, who became CIA director in 2021, had scheduled meetings with Epstein in 2014 when he was deputy Secretary of State, according to the newspaper a lunch planned at a Washington DC law office and two scheduled appointments at Epsteins townhouse. After one of the scheduled meetings, Epstein planned for his driver to take Mr. Burns to the airport, WSJ reported. A CIA spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that Mr Burns remembered being introduced in DC to Epstein by a mutual friend and meeting the financier once briefly in New York but does not recall any further contact, including receiving a ride to the airport, she said. Mr Burns stepped down from the State Department in October 2014 and served as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace until he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as CIA director. The agency did not immediately return a request for comment from The Independent. Jeffrey Epstein died in prison while awaiting trial in what was ruled a suicide (New York State Sex Offender Registry) Also reportedly meeting with Epstein in 2014 was Kathryn Ruemmler, White House counsel under President Barack Obama. According to the WSJ, Epstein called Ms Ruemmler in 2014 within weeks of her leaving the White House and planned a lunch in August 2014 at his townhouse, followed by a series of meetings to introduce her to a wider circle of his acquaintances. The disgraced financier and his staff also discussed whether Ms. Ruemmler, now 52, would be uncomfortable with the presence of young women who worked as assistants and staffers at the townhouse, the documents show, the paper reported. Women emailed Epstein on two occasions to ask if they should avoid the home while Ms. Ruemmler was there. Epstein told one of the women he didnt want her around, and another that it wasnt a problem, the documents show. A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs, where Ms Ruemmler currently serves as chief legal officer and general counsel, told the paper that the lawyer did not see anything concerning at the townhouse. Over the next few years, Ms. Ruemmler, then a partner specializing in white-collar defense at Latham & Watkins, had more than three dozen appointments with Epstein, including for lunches and dinners, the Journal reported. She told the paper: I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told The Independent that many of Ms Ruemmlers contacts involved potential representation of a major foundation, representation of a major bank and other business opportunities. Some who interacted with Epstein following his 2008-2009 conviction and jail stint said they felt hed served his time. Leon Botstein, president of Bard College since 1975, told the Journal he first visited Epsteins townhouse in 2012 to thank him for unsolicited donations to Bards high schools, then he returned over several years in an attempt to get more donations. In 2015, Epstein donated 66 laptops, the documents show. We looked him up, and he was a convicted felon for a sex crime, Mr Botstein said., adding that the college provides education to prisoners. We believe in rehabilitation. The Bard president also invited Epstein to an opera at the school in 2013 and a concert at the college in 2016, the paper reported. Mr Botstein had visited the financiers townhouse and told the paper: He presented himself as a billionaire, a really, really rich person. I found him odd and arrogant. And what I finally came to believe, which is why we stopped contact with him, is that he was simply stringing us along regarding donations to the school. The Bard president did not immediately return a request for comment from The Independent on Sunday. Another member of academia who associated with Epstein was MIT professor Noam Chomsky, with whom the financier arranged meetings in 2015 and 2016 to discuss geopolitical and academic topics, WSJ reported. Commenting on the story to The Independent, Mr Chomsky said: I notice that several people quoted said the obvious: all the reporting has to do with 2015-16, when what was known about Mr Epstein was that he had been sentenced, and therefore had a clean slate according to US law and norms. Britain too. The Journal report also included scheduled meetings with powerful international figures; Ariane de Rothschild, now chief executive of the Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild Group, had more than a dozen meetings with Epstein, discussing not only business matters but also staffing and furnishings, it reported. A Frenchwoman who married into the famous de Rothschild banking family, she bought nearly $1m worth of auction items on Epsteins behalf in 2014 and 2015, the documents show, according to the WSJ. It added: In 2019, after Epstein was arrested, the bank said that Mrs. de Rothschild never met with Epstein and it had no business links with him. The bank acknowledged to the Journal that its earlier statement wasnt accurate. It said Mrs. de Rothschild met with Epstein as part of her normal duties at the bank between 2013 and 2019, and Epstein introduced the bank to US finance leaders, recommended law firms and provided tax and risk consulting. In parallel to that, Epstein solicited her personally on a couple occasions for advice and services on estate management, the bank told the paper. Mrs. de Rothschild had no knowledge of any legal proceedings against Epstein and was similarly unaware of any questions regarding his personal conduct, the bank said. After later learning of his behavior, the bank said, she feels for and supports the victims, the Journal reported. A spokesperson for the Edmond de Rothschild Group told The Independent on Sunday that it had no further comment. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former President Donald Trump continued his contradictory campaign of attacks targeting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis this weekend, insisting that the poltician who has been the subject of his relentless sniping in fact poses no threat to him. The ex-president posted his latest take on the state of the 2024 Republican primary on Truth Social late on Sunday morning, writing that he couldnt care less if Mr DeSantis chose to run against him for the GOP nomination. I couldnt care less if Ron DeSanctus runs, but the problem is the Bill he is about to sign, which allows him to run without resigning from being Governor, totally weakens Election Integrity in Florida, wrote Mr Trump, apparently now shortening the Ron DeSanctimonious nickname he previously came up with for the governor. Instead of getting tough, and doing what the people want (same day voting, Voter ID, proof of Citizenship, paper ballots, hand count, etc.) this Bill guts everything. It will allow dirty Voter rolls to get dirtier, weakens transparency, and is a total mess. Its simple, all we want is a Free and Fair Election, and an honest count, he continued. Even so, Mr Trump has taken every available opportunity to prove the opposite: that he views Mr DeSantis as his top rival and most serious obstacle ahead of the 2024 primaries. The Florida governor has been targeted by his would-be opponent in speeches, video messages, Truth Social rants, and even targeted press releases from the Trump campaign as Mr Trump seeks to snuff out a DeSantis bid before it gets off the ground. Mr DeSantis has not yet said for certain whether he plans to run, though he has never denied plans to do so. GOP operatives close to the Florida governor revealed last week that Mr DeSantis plans to launch an exploratory bid for the nomination in May; such a move would be the unofficial launch of a campaign for which he has been laying the ground work for months, including trips to early primary states, Capitol Hill, and even abroad as he searches for allies and looks to build his national profile. In polling, he remains the only Republican able to register support levels in the double-digits; still, he remains far behind Mr Trump in surveys of the hypothetical 2024 landscape, and has slipped even further behind in recent weeks following Mr Trumps indictment on 32 criminal counts. The Florida governor was confronted with this polling slip during a press conference last week as reports about the early stages of his campaign continued to trickle out, and had a blustery response that was mocked by supporters of the former president and some Democrats across social media platforms in the days following. 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 }} Voters in Uzebekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the country's president to stay in office until 2040. Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. But although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mirziyoyev's predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the region's most repressive countries. Mirziyoyev, who took over after Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum originally was planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of deadly unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding Karakalpakstan's right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, that proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistan's territory but holds only about 5% of the country's 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital Nukus; at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. 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 }} Albania's prime minister has said Britain is in such a "bad, bad place" over the Channel migration crisis that government ministers are resorting to blaming his country "to feel like they still have muscle". Edi Rama told the Delphi economic forum in Greece that he thinks Britain is suffering a nervous breakdown over immigration. They are in such a bad place, the poor Brits, that they have to go after Albanians to feel like they still have muscle, Mr Rama said. No problem. We have a great respect for Britain and for what Britain represents and for British history and culture, so we will bear with them until they have overcome this situation. We used to think in terms of: Wow, the Brits are talking evil about us. So what? It is not our problem. It is their problem. Mr Rama added: We have fought against [rhetoric used against its citizens] and now we see they have calmed down a bit. But they are going through something of a nervous breakdown as a country so we have to understand them. It is not something we cant understand, we have to understand them. They have lost a lot of points of reference and they are really in a bad, bad place. The UK faces a backlog of 140,000 cases through its asylum system, which ministers have admitted is broken. Last month, Mr Rama hit out at the disgraceful way Suella Braverman had recently singled out migrants from his country, after the home secretary referred to Albanian criminals while addressing parliament. The Cabinet minister also said that Albanians should not be claiming asylum in the UK because they are coming from a safe country, with Mr Rama saying the row marked a very low point in the relations between the two countries. Earlier this week, Ms Braverman said migrants crossing the English Channel on small boats have values at odds with British norms and are 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 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. Edi Rama outside No 10 with Rishi Sunak (EPA) The illegal migration bill, which has cleared the Commons, 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 third country such as Rwanda. The bill was attacked by critics including senior Tory Sir Bob Neill, who said Home Office failures are to blame for the small boats crisis. Asked on GB News whether the reforms in the Bill will work, Sir Bob said: Im not convinced they will. A lot of the emphasis has been put on changing the law and on legislative solutions. I dont think thats where the issue lies. The real problem is that the system doesnt work efficiently enough. Were not getting a system where people who come in, potentially unlawfully, are being sent through the immigration tribunal and asylum system quickly enough. Administrative failures of the Home Office are to blame. Thats happened under successive home secretaries going back over years. The Home Office is not efficient. At the Delphi economic forum, Mr Rama said he wants Britain to adopt a system like the one in Germany, which would allow visas for Albanians arriving for certain jobs. This model would still see anyone arriving illegally deported. The UK government has no plans to shift its position, which currently sees a points-based system in operation for immigration. For a young family still new to Buffalo, each day has settled into a quiet routine. The two boys head off to school. Their uncle, Nasim, rises in the morning to prepare for his job at Walmart, then returns to care for a toddler daughter, Parasto, while his wife Shafiqa leaves for English lessons at Erie Community College. They both study a new language while keeping the curious and energetic Parasto occupied. Shafiqa, 28, has a list of English phrases hanging from a kitchen window, so she can work on them while she does the dishes not far from the life goals she taped to a cabinet, as reminder and inspiration. Those dreams all revolve around a call they have anticipated for months one their 14-year-old nephew, Mojtaba, finally received a few weeks ago. He was granted legal asylum, putting him among a tiny handful of new Afghan arrivals in Buffalo to reach that plateau. To Shafiqa and Nasim, Mojtaba's news is a landmark for a couple for whom 2021 equated to a frightening ordeal, touched off when the old government collapsed amid the Taliban's rise to power. Mojtaba's call was also a flash of hope for Julie Kruger and Kelsey Reff, the lawyers providing the family with free representation. According to advocates for refugees, some 600 newcomers from Afghanistan many who directly supported American military personnel, diplomats and aid workers found safety in greater Buffalo after the Taliban took over. But almost none have achieved asylum, which carries life-changing importance. For reasons tied to friends and relatives in Afghanistan, Reff asked that Nasim and Shafiqa's last names be kept out of this piece. They are both of the Hazara, an historically oppressed people in their homeland. Nasim, 31, served with the government and often worked closely with Americans. Shafiqa was an outspoken activist for women's rights and also held a government position. Any of it was enough to put their lives at risk. For young pupils at Buffalo String Works, music as shared language Dim Lam Lun made the decision the first time she touched the keys. She was a teenager in Burma, forced to seek an education far from home amid sweeping reprisals in 1988 that shut down government schools. She enrolled at a seminary school that had a piano, the first one Dim had ever seen. In a place where she They are among about 80,000 Afghan refugees granted humanitarian parole by the Biden administration after Kabul fell, a status that most will lose in early autumn. Jennifer Rizzo-Choi, executive director of the International Institute of Buffalo, said the hope was the "higher obligation" of pure conscience these were people who put themselves in danger, to aid Americans would accelerate the asylum process. Instead, advocates say only a few cases, at most, have reached decisions from federal Citizenship and Immigration Services administrators. Rizzo-Choi calls it a limbo period. Without federal intervention, she said, adult refugees could lose the legal right to work, which is how they care for their families day to day. She described the best potential options as asylum or extending humanitarian parole, while Gretchen Gonzalez, executive director of the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, said such alternatives as special immigration visas are limited and would not protect entire families. You cant get a more sympathetic situation than people being forced out of their own country because they put themselves in danger by helping ours, said Gonzalez, whose office provides the largest free immigration counsel for new Americans in the state outside of New York City, which is how Kruger and Reff connected with Nasim and Shafiqa. Gonzalez said her agency has provided dozens of lawyers within a collective legal effort involving many Buffalo organizations with longstanding commitments to immigrants and refugees. They are working cooperatively to make sure anyone in this new Afghan community "who wants a lawyer, has a lawyer," as Rizzo-Choi puts it. Rep. Brian Higgins, D-Buffalo, said he has written to immigration administrators, urging new focus on the logjam facing this community. He said he witnessed the selfless and courageous aid provided by many Afghans on visits to that nation. Higgins was a House of Representatives co-sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act, a bipartisan attempt to ease the route to permanent residency that has not made it out of Congress. This situation where returning to their birthplace could mean death ought to transcend ideological differences, Higgins said, even in a fiercely divided nation. "If someone makes themselves susceptible to persecution on behalf of all of us, then morally we have an extraordinary obligation," he said. Gonzalez, of the Volunteer Lawyers Project, also works closely with Paul Buchanan, a former Erie County Family Judge now representing Abdul Khalid Andish, 26, a young Afghan journalist. Andish made a harrowing escape from Kabul, helped by the international Committee to Protect Journalists a flight to safety that Lucy Westcott, the CPJs emergencies director, mentioned in a digital diary. Andish worked in both television and radio. He wanted to reach the voices of those unheard to officials, he said through an interpreter in a recent interview. He produced stories on opportunities for women and the struggles of the Hazara, work that hardly endeared Andish to the Taliban. He lost both a cousin and a friend, a cameraman, when a suicide bomber attacked a Hazara rally. As Kabul fell, he bid a fast, clandestine farewell to his family, who grieved but were pleased my life would be out of that misery, he said. Sean Kirst: For founder of clinic in South Sudan, rescue in blizzard built on Epiphany Lost in the Christmas weekend blizzard, Fidele Dhan was led to safety by a family who set out looking for him. Some of his rescuers offer this thought as both a fact and a point of wonder: He was saved, without question, because of the three kings. Trapped, Andish took shelter for days in a friend's apartment. He finally reached a hotel protected by the Qatari army. From there, he said, the CPJ helped him escape. I was lucky to get out alive, said Andish, who arrived in Buffalo with a single duffel bag. He lives now in Niagara County, where he works as a truck driver and aspires to be a journalistic "voice for this generation of young Afghans." None of it will happen without asylum a status Buchanan believed Andish would achieve months ago. He said lawyers within the process have told him the delay is based on a lack of enough federal staffing to do fast, safe and thorough security reviews of each applicant. "That's what's holding a lot of people up from establishing their lives," he said. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees that process, wrote in an email that departmental officials remain "committed to supporting Afghan nationals paroled under Operations Allies Welcome, and we continue to explore opportunities to provide avenues for humanitarian relief. Homeland Security, the spokesperson wrote, hopes to "provide guidance" to those refugees "as soon as possible." In Buffalo, that would include Shafiqa and Nasim, parents to young Parasto, who still carry the fear of almost being separated as they left Afghanistan. They have also cared for their nephews, 17-year-old Hamed and his younger brother Mojtaba, since just before their 2021 flight from Kabul. The boys parents were traveling and far from home when the city fell. Nasim and Shafiqa say they were all at high risk because of their heritage, danger compounded by their careers before the Taliban takeover. That led to a desperate choice: Through friends, they found a taxi driver willing to drive through chaotic streets to the airport. Shafiqa was entirely covered in a burka. Taliban soldiers, she said, routinely banged on the windows and asked where they were going. I was terrified to say anything, she said, though whatever faith she had about refuge at the airport quickly dissolved. Every entrance was overrun by frightened people, jammed in shoulder-to-shoulder. Afghan soldiers used rifles or rods to beat back the crowds. The driver managed to reach the far side of the airport, where American soldiers were doing their best to check papers before letting anyone in, a trickle through two gates maybe 500 feet apart. Tear gas hung in the air. There was barely room to move. In their effort to push through, the couple was torn apart, struggling toward separate gates. Nasim, frightened he might never again see his wife or nephews, sought help from a young American soldier, who made a lightning-quick decision: He took Parasto in his arms, held the child high and pushed into the crowd. The soldier was gambling: He figured the one chance they had was that a mother would somehow spot her child, even within madness. It worked. I turned and saw my wife, Nasim said of a moment that will stay with him forever. They were able to climb onto a military transport aircraft, packed with refugees. For 24 hours, as they waited, they had water but no food. When the plane finally touched down in Qatar, hundreds of desperate, hungry travelers burst into applause, and for an instant Nasim wondered: Why applaud being torn away from home? He realized they were cheering because they had saved their lives. From Qatar, they flew to Germany and then to Washington, where the couple faced one last, wrenching hurdle. Immigration officials, checking passports, asked about their bond with their nephews. Because Nasim and Shafiqa were not the actual parents, they were temporarily separated from the boys. The couple was led toward a car and away from their nephews, Shafiqa said, when a woman in an administrative position saw her weeping. "What's wrong?" asked the woman, who reacted with compassion and somehow intervened. We took the kids back, Shafiqa said of her sister's children, and were happy. The family spent several months in Wisconsin before embracing the chance to relocate in Buffalo. Nasim found his job, and Shafiqa this week received long-awaited authorization to work. Every day, she reads that handwritten list of goals dreaming of a career in journalism or public service and her hope intertwines with the gratitude they both express: We are lucky to be here. That defines asylum, though it will not feel real until they get the call. Russian commanders are likely punishing soldiers by forcing them into caged holes in the ground, the Ministry of Defence has said. In its daily intelligence update on Sunday, the MoD said that troops are likely facing the makeshift dungeons as a form of punishment for actions such as being drunk or refusing to fight in the Ukraine war. The holes, called Zindans, consist of holes in the ground covered with a metal grille, it said. The MoD said in the statement that it had heard multiple reports of the Zindans being in use. Investors in loan notes sold by Rathcoole-based investment firm Solar 21 to finance its plans to build a major renewable energy plant in the UK have for many weeks awaiting further information from the company about the status of their money. Irish News BREAKING | RTE's Caitriona Perry to leave Six One News role to take up new job with BBC in US There are no customs, borders or trade barriers to entry and there's no exchange rate risk in the eurozone. Photo: Niall Carson PA Niall Carson The eurozone is one of the worlds largest economic regions and offers extraordinary opportunities for Irish enterprise and Irish business owners. It is a journey you dont have to make alone. Enterprise Ireland recently published new export results which showed that exports by companies it supports increased by 19pc in 2022 to a record 32.1bn, the highest ever level of growth in terms of export value. Exports to the eurozone were particularly positive as they increased by an unprecedented 28pc, reaching 7.9bn, and the eurozone now accounts for one quarter of all exports from Irish companies supported by our organisation. These figures, building on strong growth over the last 5 years, are evidence of the real opportunities Irish businesses are unlocking. Food and high-tech construction exports are particularly strong for Irish companies at the moment. However, all sectors are delivering double digit growth and we are only starting to unlock the potential, so if you are a new exporter or have never exported to the eurozone, now might be the right time to consider your first step into Europe. The eurozone hasnt typically been the first port of call for Irish companies on their exporting journey. The different languages, cultures and market characteristics across the 19 other markets can be perceived as barriers. However, these are all very addressable. Our membership of the EU means that there are no customs, borders or trade barriers to entry, and our adoption of the euro eliminates all costs associated with foreign exchange. This means the eurozone is essentially an extension of our own domestic market. We advise companies interested in exploring these opportunities to first do some research to identify their best first market in Europe, based on attractiveness and accessibility for their particular product or service, and this will help uncover any complexities which may need to be addressed. Irish people, products, services and companies have a very strong reputation across Europe, and Irish entrepreneurs are known for being reliable, innovative and flexible, often winning against local providers who are not always willing to adapt and customise products and services in the same way Irish companies are. In Enterprise Irelands 8 offices across the eurozone, our market advisers are working one to one with hundreds of clients, helping them to finetune their value proposition in order to scale within markets and across the region. We invite Enterprise Ireland clients who have not yet entered the eurozone to consult with their development advisor who will make the necessary introductions to these market advisers and advise you of other available supports. You might consider Enterprise Irelands four-month Enter the Eurozone programme, which helps new exporters prepare a comprehensive market entry plan for Europe. With that in hand, one of our market advisors will support you implement your plan. Ambition, knowledge and support are key to unlocking potentialin this enormous market, and Enterprise Irelands team are ready to support Irish companies on this stage of their exporting journey. Anne Lanigan is regional director for Europe at Enterprise Ireland Perceived security risk to cabinet members who approved lockdowns and vaccine rollout Gardai have recommended that the three super-junior ministers who attend cabinet meetings should get garda protection. Their warning comes after a sinister death threat letter was received by Fianna Fail minister of state Jack Chambers. It was sent to the constituency office of the Dublin West TD and junior minister in the Department of Transport and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. Gardai in Blanchardstown, with support from Garda HQ in Phoenix Park, have been investigating the letter. A source said a review by the Garda National Crime and Security Intelligence Service has recommended garda protection for government ministers be extended to the three super-junior ministers. It will be up to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to decide whether to implement the recommendation. News in 90 Seconds Garda drivers were reinstated to all senior cabinet ministers last September following a recommendation from Harris over increased security concerns. This did not apply to Chambers, Hildegarde Naughton and Pippa Hackett, the three junior ministers who attend cabinet and continue to use civilian drivers. In 2011, when Fine Gael and Labour came to power, they introduced civilian drivers for most government ministers, although the Taoiseach, Tanaiste, Justice Minister and Attorney general all retained garda protection. That has changed in recent years, with more ministers being given garda drivers due to increased risks associated with their work. Simon Harris, the acting Justice Minister while Helen McEntee is on maternity leave, has been informed of the threat against Chambers, but security sources indicate it is for the garda chief to recommend whether the complement of garda protection drivers should be extended to the three super-junior ministers. Chamberss office did not respond to a request for comment. The cost of the ministerial civilian drivers is reported to be about 2.5m a year. It was nearly 6m when all senior ministers had a garda driver, and the ministerial pool of drivers had 77 gardai assigned to it. Speaking last year, Micheal Martin said it was not a financial matter. Its not a cost issue, its a security issue. The Government didnt start this, he said. A lot of ministers dont want to return to garda drivers. They are quite happy with the civilian drivers they have, which cost less as well. Im not sure about the net cost between transitioning from where ministers have civilian drivers to garda drivers, but the commissioner is adamant. You recall there was a review done in terms of the vulnerability of politicians to assault, attack and so on. So this is a security matter. The commissioner is adamant that if this isnt done, theres a risk to senior ministers and thats the bottom line. There has been a spate of incidents involving government and opposition TDs, with protesters now frequently targeting politicians homes. Only last week, Patricia Ryan, a Sinn Fein TD in Kildare South, told the Dail her assistant was attacked at her constituency office. The assistant had to be given a tetanus injection as the attack drew blood. A 58-year-old woman was sectioned last week under the Mental Health Act in the wake of the assault. She was arrested in the street in Athy after earlier entering Ms Ryans office. The 33-year-old assistant was abused, pummelled and scratched and her laptop was damaged. Last year, An Garda Siochana told the Government there is enough intelligence to suggest a potential threat against all members of the cabinet, based on monitoring of those involved in far-right anti-vaccine movements. The fact the entire cabinet signed off on such decisions as the Covid lockdowns and the vaccine rollout is seen as effectively putting all ministers at potential risk. Civilian drivers who were made redundant last year were offered ex-gratia severance payments or a redeployment to temporary clerical officer vacancies at the Department of Social Protection. Officers are surprised that former investigator at acquittal party for The Monk is still in Ireland There are concerns for the safety of the former garda watchdog investigator who was arrested last week on suspicion of passing on confidential information to the Hutch crime gang, the Sunday Independentunderstands. The man, aged in his 60s, was arrested in Dublin on Thursday morning and questioned about his links to the gang. He was released without charge on Friday, and gardai will now prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was placed under investigation after he told colleagues he had attended a party for Gerry The Monk Hutch following the Dubliners acquittal 13 days ago for the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne in February 2016. The investigator resigned from the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) shortly afterwards. He was interviewed under caution by gardai earlier last week and admitted attending the party in north Dublin. As a result of that process, and other information investigators have since received, the decision was made to arrest him on Thursday morning. Detectives suspect he may have passed confidential information to the Hutch crime gang over a long period. He was detained under Section 81 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005, which relates to the confidentiality of information. This makes it an offence for a member of Gsoc to disclose information they have obtained in their line of work. The investigation is being led by gardai attached to the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI). A source with knowledge of the investigation said that, given the developments of the past few days, the man is now at the centre of a storm involving the Hutch mob, who are watching developments very closely. The source added said: This man is a civilian, not previously involved in the world of organised crime. Given his arrest over links to the Hutch gang, this makes him a potential serious problem for the gang. From the moment it emerged that this man was under garda investigation for his links to the Hutches, he became a potential target a liability. The NBCI continues to build its case against Gerry Hutch over being the leader of the Hutch organised crime gang, as well as against other key members of the gang. A separate source said the ex-Gsoc officer, a former police officer from a jurisdiction outside Europe, is not considered a key ally of the Hutch mob. They have only known him a few years. He is friendly with a female relative of Gerrys. As a former policeman, there would be natural distrust of him from the Hutches. He is certainly not one of them, the source said. He is considered a bit erratic in terms of his behaviour too. The Hutches will consider him very foolish for walking himself into trouble by bragging about partying with Gerry, which directly led to his arrest. Is he a liability? Most certainly. The source added that investigators were a little surprised this man did not leave Ireland and return to his home country after he resigned from Gsoc over the furore, which he was free to do. As he has now been released without charge, he remains free to leave the country whenever he wants. Gardai have been examining communication devices, including his phone and computer, and are confident they know the extent of his interactions with members of the Hutch family. Father of woman who died in hospital shocked by stories from maternity unit The father of a young mother who died shortly after giving birth at St Lukes General Hospital in Kilkenny has called for a public inquiry following a series of adverse findings against senior consultants who worked in the hospitals maternity unit in recent years. James Campbell said there was a need for a detailed examination of the operation of the hospital because of a number of avoidable deaths of women and babies. His daughter, Tracey Campbell-Fitzpatrick (36) from Nurney, Co Carlow, bled to death from a massive haemorrhage within three hours of giving birth to her second child, Max, on March 28, 2016 in St Lukes. A fitness-to-practise inquiry held by the Irish Medical Council in February heard evidence that the on-call consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist on the night had delayed returning to the hospital after being alerted about Ms Campbell-Fitzpatricks deteriorating health following the birth of her baby. The consultant, David McMurray, was found guilty of professional misconduct over the delay when he knew her clinical condition required his attendance in the maternity unit. The inquiry heard Dr McMurray took over 40 minutes to get to the hospital after first being called by a midwife who phoned him three times within half an hour, despite living within a short drive of St Lukes. In 2018 another consultant, Trevor Hayes, admitted to several counts of poor professional performance over his treatment of a patient with bladder cancer between 2009 and 2014. In the same year, a high level of non-compliance with standard on maternity care was identified in St Lukes by the health services watchdog Hiqa. In 2019, another consultant gynaecologist at St Lukes, Ray OSullivan, was suspended by the HSE after he was the subject of complaints that he had allegedly carried out unauthorised and unapproved procedures on five female patients in September 2018. The suspension triggered a legal battle which is now before the Supreme Court after the HSE appealed a ruling by the Court of Appeal last year that Prof OSullivan, who denies all allegations of any wrongdoing, was entitled to return to his job. Although none of the women were physically harmed, the court heard they were psychologically injured when informed of the procedure that had been performed on them. In September 2021, Dr Hayes admitted at an inquest that there had been failures in the care of a baby boy, Laurence Somers, who died five days after suffering an acute event at his birth in St Lukes in January 2018. The inquest, which returned a verdict of medical misadventure, also heard admissions by the consultant over failings in the treatment of the babys mother, Grainne, including the failure to carry out an ultrasound on her when she was overdue in breach of the hospitals own protocol. According to Mr Campbell, the mounting list of incidents where patients have suffered adverse outcomes warrants further investigation. In my opinion, all these different incidents point to a problem with the culture at the hospital, particularly in the maternity unit, he said. Mr Campbell said he had received feedback from staff and patients of St Lukes about problems at the hospital. Im genuinely shocked at some of the stories Ive heard about how people have been treated. If true, such conduct is entirely unacceptable, he added. We need something that will restore confidence for the people who rely on the hospital. A spokesperson for the Ireland East Hospital Group, which runs St Lukes, said it could not comment on individual cases. Significant steps have been taken to improve all aspects of maternity/obstetric care with the addition of further specialist clinical staff to the service, the spokesperson said. It's a public health issue and its only going to get worse, says addiction expert A leading addiction expert has revealed that cocaine addiction, once considered an urban issue, is now a growing concern among members of the farming community in Ireland. According to Professor Colin OGara, a consultant psychiatrist and the clinical lead of addiction services at St John of God Hospital in Dublin, the problem is particularly prevalent among farmers aged in their 50s and 60s. OGara said he has seen a growing number of farmers full-time and part-time, and of all ages seeking help for cocaine addiction. There was a time it was restricted to urban areas, but thats not the case anymore. We can expect to encounter more farmers taking cocaine, and it would be unreasonable to think that these individuals would not be affected. Although the stereotype of a cocaine user is a young person, OGara has had older patients who are farmers. He said cocaine addiction can happen to anyone and farmers are not immune to taking cocaine and developing problems off the back of compulsive use. The use of cocaine can have severe physical and mental impacts. On the physical side, there are a lot of cardiac problems, arrhythmias, the development of cardiovascular emergencies, burst blood vessels in the brain, increased blood pressure, he said. In terms of mental health, depression and psychosis are huge issues. The more you take, the more you predispose yourself to developing psychosis, which is a serious psychiatric condition where you lose touch with reality. He would like the Government to recognise the scale of the issue. We need to consider cocaine use a public health issue. All the indicators from the distribution of cocaine, to the levels of use were seeing at the moment are much higher than had been predicted, and it will increase even further. I believe its a public health emergency. News in 90 Seconds One farmer from Co Limerick, who asked to remain anonymous, spoke out about his struggle with a 4,000-a-month cocaine addiction that lasted almost five years. I would be in the tractor and would lean back on the seat to take it. I would use the key of the tractor to take a bit from the bag and get it into me that way. I could be walking across the yard and do the same. I remember I used to lean up against a bale of hay to take cocaine, he told the Sunday Independent. He described how the drug gave him a sense of confidence he had never felt before, and also took away his fears, worries, and insecurities. However, his drug use kept increasing. It gave me a new lease of life and made me really comfortable talking with people. But it became an addiction, and I was completely powerless. The farmer explained how he would meet dealers to buy his drugs. Say youre in a bar and you go to the toilets, and as youre doing your business at the urinal, someone will come in with the drugs and theyll ask: Do you want a bump of it? He said his addiction had devastating consequences on his life and his work, which saw him driving tractors under the influence of cocaine. I once hit the side of a shed about 20 times while trying to reverse a tractor. I would interrupt my work to make phone calls to get drugs, and once I had them, Id want more. I would have been reluctant to take cocaine if you offered it to me, unless I knew there was a chance of more because I knew that, once I took it, the compulsion meant Id have to have more. Id rather be without it than take some and not have more. He said his family and friends did not know what was going on and he would not let on. My family and friends thought I was distracted for other reasons, so they would help on the farm to make sure the animals were looked after. He said the issue is widespread among his peers, with many having no one to check if their cattle have been fed. This has become a very serious issue in the farming community, because its being pushed on people. I know one man who sold all his livestock to pay for his drug habit, and I know there are farmers who have had cattle die in the shed due to starvation. Realising he had a problem, the farmer eventually sought help and spent four weeks in rehab. However, when he came out, he found it difficult to resist the temptation to use again. I did four weeks in rehab and I came out and all I thought about was: I can never ever take a drink or a drug again. That idea was very frightening to me. How can somebody live without drink and drugs? he said. I managed to stay sober for eight weeks. I had money in the bank again. Then I took cocaine and all bets were off. I was right back where I started. Eventually he sought help again, and with the support of his family was able to overcome his addiction. Im a true believer that addiction was supposed to be part of my life, so that recovery could become part of my life. Im living a life today that I couldnt possibly have lived unless Id gone through all that. He believes the Government needs to do more to address the growing problem of cocaine addiction in rural areas. Farmers are easy targets. Its very simple: we need support. A counselling service for farmers would be a massive thing. A free confidential helpline where you can call and have a chat. Professor OGara compares the situation to the painkiller crisis in the United States, where the government there was eventually forced to act. Its just like the opioid crisis in the States, he said. This is a public health emergency, and we need to deal with it in that way. Every sector is affected, including the farming community. Some 209 Irish citizens and their dependents have now been assisted to depart from Sudan, according to newly released figures. The majority of those evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on flights operated by the UK into Cyprus. A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs said that the Government is grateful for the support of the UK and the Republic of Cyprus during this period. Tanaiste Micheal Martin also announced the withdrawal from Cyprus of the Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) mission which has been based in that country since Thursday 27 April. The mission involved Defence Forces personnel, in support of Department of Foreign Affairs officials, to assist with the process of evacuating Irish citizens and their dependents from the crisis in Sudan. In line with changed operational requirements since the ending of flights from Sudan into Cyprus, the ECAT element of the departments consular response will conclude today 30 April. Ireland will maintain an enhanced multi-location consular presence in support of citizens remaining in Sudan. Consular assistance will continue to be provided on an ongoing basis from consular teams in Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa. The department said that our embassies remain in close and ongoing contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance. Mr Martin said: I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response. Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time. Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves. I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission. Citizens should follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice. Something Terrible Happened Last Night by Sam Blake is published by Gill Books this Friday, or pre-order from Eason, Dubray, Bookstation or kennys.ie Floral-print chemise, 49; Floral-print long kimono robe, 57, both M&S X Ghost, see marksandspencer.ie Ghosted Marks & Spencer has extended its M&S X Ghost collection to now include lingerie and sleepwear, with a 37-piece limited edition collection, in the Ghost aesthetic florals and soft pastels. LH Floral-print chemise, 49; Floral-print long kimono robe, 57, both M&S X Ghost, see marksandspencer.ie NECESSITY Nuori The One, 59, see nuori.com One for all Claiming a face cream is The One might seem over-confident, but Danish skincare line Nuori isnt holding back. Its newest all-natural cream is a one-stop shop of the ingredients you may currently apply in layers and buy separately, ranging from vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, to bakuchiol and more. Its expensive, but as its the one, you wont be buying anything else.SC Nuori The One, 59, see nuori.com NECESSITY SALT, see Instagram: @saltprojectgalway and @cultureworks.ie Coastal crew Two multidisciplinary ritual beach performances celebrating the ocean will take place; one on Tracht Beach in Kinvara, Co Galway, on April 30, and the second on Ladies Beach in Salthill, Galway city on May 1. Attendees are invited to the beaches at dusk for an immersive, performative ritual lasting 30 minutes. A free event, SALT is a collaboration between a community of sea-swimmers based in Kinvara, composer Robbie Blake, poet Mary Madec, and marine scientists, led and directed by theatre-maker Vanessa Earl and produced by Culture Works. LH See Instagram: @saltprojectgalway and @cultureworks.ie NECESSITY Upcycled waterproof backpack, 69.99 (reduced from 74.99), see jiminy.ie Bounce back These backpacks from Irish eco toy store Jiminy are made from broken bouncy castles. Big enough to fit A4 folders, and waterproof, they make the perfect sustainable school bag. LH Upcycled waterproof backpack, 69.99 (reduced from 74.99), jiminy.ie NOTION Lemon Nasal Balm, 24.95; Lemon Nasal Oil, 24.95; bundle of both, 39.95, see coasences.com Ready to inhale Ideal, in particular, for air travel, Irish brand Change of Airs handmade nasal balms and oils, when applied round the nostrils, trap germs with shea butter, beeswax and coconut oil. At the same time, the products feature tea tree oil for its anti-bacterial and -viral properties and essential oils of lemon, grapefruit or peppermint for scents that uplift and promise to relieve stress. SC Lemon Nasal Balm, 24.95; Lemon Nasal Oil, 24.95; bundle of both, 39.95, see coasences.com NECESSITY Something Terrible Happened Last Night by Sam Blake is published by Gill Books this Friday, or pre-order from Eason, Dubray, Bookstation or kennys.ie Killer moves Sam Blakes latest thriller Something Terrible Happened Last Night is a must-read for teens, but worth a go for anyone whos suffered post-party dissonance, and who hasnt? With her parents away, Katie throws a 17th birthday party that gets out of hand and ends with a fight. The next morning, Katie and her friends find a dead body. Are there clues to be found in her schoolmates online party post-mortem? SC Something Terrible Happened Last Night by Sam Blake is published by Gill Books on Friday, May 5, or pre-order from Eason, Dubray, Bookstation or kennys.ie WASHINGTON "We thought we could die." The Russian invasion had just begun when Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Ukraine, the House speaker then the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to lead a congressional delegation to Kyiv. Pelosi and the lawmakers were ushered under the cloak of secrecy into the capital city, an undisclosed passage that even to this day she will not divulge. "It was very, it was dangerous," Pelosi told The Associated Press before Sunday's one-year anniversary of that trip. "We never feared about it, but we thought we could die because we're visiting a serious, serious war zone," Pelosi said. "We had great protection but, nonetheless, a war theater of war." Pelosi's visit was as unusual as it was historic, opening a fresh diplomatic channel between the U.S. and Ukraine that deepened with the prolonged war. In the year since, a long list of congressional leaders, senators and chairs of powerful committees, both Democrats and Republicans, followed her lead, punctuated by President Joe Biden's own visit this year. The steady stream of arrivals in Kyiv served to amplify a political and military partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine for the world to see, one that will be tested anew when Congress is again expected this year to help fund the war to defeat Russia. "We must win. We must bring this to a positive conclusion for the people of Ukraine and for our country," Pelosi said. "There is a fight in the world now between democracy and autocracy, its manifestation at the time is in Ukraine," she said. With a new Republican majority in the House whose Trump-aligned members balked at overseas investments, Democrat Pelosi remains confident Congress will continue backing Ukraine as part of a broader U.S. commitment to democracy abroad in the face of authoritarian aggression. "Support for Ukraine has been bipartisan and bicameral, in both houses of Congress by both parties, and the American people support democracy in Ukraine," Pelosi told AP. "I believe that we will continue to support as long as we need to support democracy as long as it takes to win." Now the speaker emerita, an honorary title bestowed by Democrats, Pelosi is circumspect about her role as a U.S. emissary abroad. Having visited 87 countries during her time in office, many as the trailblazing first woman to be the House speaker, she set a new standard for pointing the gavel outward as she focused attention on the world beyond U.S. shores. In her office at the Capitol, Pelosi shared many of the honors and mementos she received, including the honorary passport she was given on her trip to Ukraine, among her final stops as speaker. A new generation of House leaders may or may not choose to emulate Pelosi. She said it's up to the new leaders what they will do on the global stage. "Other speakers have understood our national security we take an oath to protect and defend and so we have to reach out with our values and our strength to make sure that happens," she said. When Pelosi arrived in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood outside to meet the U.S. officials, a photo that ricocheted around the world a show of support for the young democracy fighting Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion. "The courage of the president in greeting us on the street rather than us just meeting him in his office was yet again another symbol of the courage of the people of Ukraine," she said. Pelosi told Zelenskyy in a video released at the time "your fight is a fight for everyone." A year on, with no end to the war in sight, Pelosi said: "I would have hoped that it would have been over by now." Pelosi's travel abroad has not been without political challenges and controversy. During the Trump era she acted as an alternative emissary overseas, reassuring allies that the U.S. remained a partner despite the Republican president's "America First" neo-isolationist approach to foreign policy. Last year, in one of her final trips as speaker, Pelosi touched down with a delegation in Taipei, crowds lining the streets to cheer her arrival, a visit with the Taiwanese president that drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing, which counts the island as its own. "Cowardly," she said about the military exercises China launched in the aftermath of her trip. Pelosi offered rare praise for new Speaker Kevin McCarthy's meeting with Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library this month, particularly its bipartisan nature and the choice of venue. "That was really quite a message and quite an optic to be there. And so I salute what he did," she said. In one of her closing acts as House speaker in December, Pelosi hosted Zelenskyy for a joint address to Congress. The visit evoked the one made by Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Britain, in 1941 to speak to Congress of a "long and hard war" at the start of World War II. Zelenskyy presented to Congress a Ukrainian flag signed by front-line troops that Pelosi said will eventually be displayed at the U.S. Capitol. The world has changed much since Pelosi joined Congress one of her first trips abroad was in 1991, when she dared to unfurl a pro-democracy banner in Beijing's Tiananmen Square shortly after the student demonstrations that ended in massacre. Russia and China remain at the front of her mind. The role of Putin in terms of Russia that is a bigger threat than it was when I came to Congress, she said. Despite the work she and others in Congress have done to point out concerns over Chinas military and economic rise, and its human rights record, she said, that has only gotten worse. Photos: The scene in Taiwan upon Pelosi's visit Are the politicians we trust part of the problem and do we need to elect TDs who are the solution? May Day is tomorrow but its alternative meaning as a state of high alert is all too apt every day of the year, with droughts in Europe and with Ireland experiencing its wettest March on record. No wonder more of us worry about climate change. But we console ourselves that the Government is taking action, using our taxes to fund what needs to be done. Seamus Heaney saw the tree as a shimmering tree of desire even in botanical Latin The catkins of a shattered silver birch hung in the dismal rain and chill of an afternoon like wretched wooden clothes pegs on an abandoned clothes line. The peeling strips of tattered bark, like flapping pages of a forgotten book, pleaded for sympathy from those passers-by who might have glanced up as they trudged along in the wind and rain. Underneath and round about lay the dead mulch of the seed pods like contorted invertebrates, ignored by scavenging gulls, feral pigeons and rats that scurry after dark. But this is spring, after all, and new life may be noticed on the thin topmost branches of this lone tree in tiny fringes of emerging green. No whitened ghost has totally given up. Seamus Heaney saw other signs in a small log of birch lying on his desk during his tenure as Boylston Professor of Rhetoric at Harvard College. He saw the birch as a shimmering tree of desireeven in botanical Latin and quoted another poet, Louis Simpson, seeing it as a room filled with breathing/ The sway and whisper of love. Poet Robert Frosts memory was sharp. After an ice storm in a New England wood, he saw birches bowed down like girls on their hands and knees throwing their hair before them over their heads in the sun. Thomas Pakenham of Tullynally Castle, who has written scholarly work on Irish trees, reminds us that Betula pendula produces a million seeds annually which can travel great distances to produce new beginnings. There is one ancient tree in Scotland, its bark corrugated with age, yet with the envelope unbroken, a mesh of delicate twigs ready to inflate into a balloon of pale green leaves. Although not a noble of the wood in early Celtic lore, birch was nevertheless an ancient symbol of purity and grace, of birth and re-birth. Mad Sweeney, the banished king forced to live among wild thorns, considered it smooth and blessed. Hats of birch were placed on the heads of dead chieftains dressed in silk. In the poem, The Wife Of Ushers Well, three dead sons return to their mother wearing hats of birk which grew at the Gates of Paradise. The young king Aengus of Bru na Boinne, a god of love about whose head four birds flew in circles of enchantment, gave refuge to the lovers Diarmuid and Grainne on soft rushes and birch tops on their flight from the Fianna. In old Irish poetry, birch was compared to finnbhean na coille, or fair woman of the woods. And in Welsh literature birch and love was a constant. There is considerable folklore about this remarkable tree, the name of which in Irish is beith, the first consonant of the Ogham alphabet, as it is the first tree to colonise open ground. Evidence of its respect in the Ireland of a century ago is reflected in traditions of tying sprays to horse harnesses, and hung on doors and infants cradles to ward off the sidhe who might try to steal the child. Seamus Heaneys desk talisman was found near a pond in New Hampshire he described as a little torso a-gleam in its own whiteness. Perhaps it returned to Ireland with him to his house in Sandymount, Dublin, and now is held with other artefacts at the Heaney HomePlace museum in Co Derry me in place and the place in me. Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of King Charles III and the Queen Consort taken by Hugo Burnand in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, London PA On March 4, 1937, Irelands high commissioner in London visited Buckingham Palace to see King George VI, then not yet three months into a reign that would later be dominated by World War II. Alan Rickman has been celebrated with a Google Doodle on the 36th anniversary of one of his first leading theatre performances which the technology company described as instrumental in launching his career. The English actor, who died in 2016 aged 69, had opened his Broadway performance as anti-hero Le Vicomte de Valmont in a production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses on April 30 1987. Artist Helene Leroux, who drew the Google Doodle, said for her it was a privilege to honour Rickmans life and career in the image which shows him raising his eyebrows and surrounded by leaves released on Sunday. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content She added: I wanted to illustrate Alans passion for creativity represented in the soft watercolours of the background in reference to some of Alans most beautiful artwork. Following his death, Alans popular autobiographical diaries also captured the nations attention; these candid and entertaining reflections are represented by the fine, fountain-pen like scratches layered on a background resembling white lined paper. The branches either side of the Doodle are also inspired by his diary scribbles. His diverting on-screen performances have no doubt left a unique and lasting imprint on British culture, and I am thrilled that it lives on via my doodle today. In October, Madly, Deeply: The Alan Rickman Diaries were released posthumously, giving readers an intimate look at his life and career, and have this year been shortlisted for a prize at The British Book Awards. Dame Emma Thompson, who wrote Sense And Sensibility. (Ian West/PA) Ian West Born on February 21 1946 in West London, Rickman graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company and having a breakthrough role in the 1982 BBC adaption of Anthony Trollopes Barchester Chronicles. Rickman also had theatre roles in The Tempest and Loves Labours Lost before earning a Tony nomination as Valmont in a 1987 New York production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons) based on the French novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos. He was then cast as German criminal mastermind Hans Gruber who appeared in the American Film Institutes list of the greatest movie villains in the 1988 action film Die Hard. Four years after that movie, he won a Bafta for best supporting actor for Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, where he once more played an antagonist as the Sheriff of Nottingham. That same year he was also nominated for a leading role Bafta for Truly, Madly, Deeply in which the actor stars as a ghost in the romantic comedy with Bend It Like Beckham actress Juliet Stevenson as his girlfriend, who is dealing with his death. Rickman was once again Bafta-nominated for 1995 Jane Austen period drama Sense And Sensibility which won Dame Emma Thompson a screenwriting Oscar and 1996 biographical flick Michael Collins, before taking on the role of Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin. The 1996 period drama Rasputin: Dark Servant Of Destiny, which chronicled the life of the Tsars in Russia before the October revolution in 1917 that was led by Bolsheviks, earned him both an Emmy and Golden Globe Award. Maggie Smith, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Harris and Alan Rickman star as Minerva MacGonagall, Professer Sprout, Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape (Visual/allaction/PA) Supplied by Visual/allaction.co. Rickman then had arguably his best-known role as the complicated potions master Severus Snape in 2001s Harry Potter At The Philosophers Stone. He would go on to star in all eight of the Harry Potter films, set in JK Rowlings Wizarding World, as he helped the hero of the story overcome the evil Voldemort while also being hostile towards his pupil. Ms Leroux also said: (Rickmans) unique and moving performance as Severus Snape touched the lives of so many, and he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest actors of his time, not only in the UK but across the globe. Alan brought Snapes discerning personality to life on screen with his especially expressive brow, emphasised in the centre with a moving image. Also known for his role in the 2007 musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Rickmans last film roles included 2014 period drama A Little Chaos and 2015 thriller Eye In The Sky. Foreign countries continue to evacuate citizens, while thousands of Sudanese flee the fighting Civilians arrive at Jeddah port after being evacuated. Photo: Reuters VIA REUTERS Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted yesterday in parts of Sudans capital Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a ceasefire between the countrys two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives. The civilian death toll jumped yesterday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties. Another 2,023 civilians have been wounded, the group added. And in the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people. Fighters have moved into homes and taken over stores and hospitals as they battle in the densely populated streets, the syndicate said. Theres a bandit-like nature to the RSF militia Khartoum, a city of five million people, has been transformed into a frontline in the grinding conflict between General Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemedti) who leads the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces, which has dashed once-euphoric hopes of Sudans democratic transition. Foreign countries continued to evacuate diplomatic staff and nationals while thousands of Sudanese fled across borders. Britain said it was ending its evacuation flights yesterday after demand for spots on the planes had declined. More than 50,000 refugees mostly women and children have crossed the borders with Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, said the UN, raising fears of wider instability. German air force transport aircraft AP Ethnic fighting and turmoil has scarred South Sudan and the Central African Republic, while Chads own democratic transition has stalled after a coup. Those who escape Khartoum face more obstacles on their way to safety. The overland journey to Port Sudan, where ships then evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long and risky. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said that paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks out of the capital, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. Theres a bandit-like nature to the RSF militia, he said. And that indicates they dont have supply lines in place, so that could get worse in the coming days. Airlifts from the country have also posed challenges, with a Turkish plane hit by gunfire near Khartoum on Friday. Fighters are going from house to house, stealing whatever they can find Yesterday, despite a ceasefire extended by 72 hours early on Friday, clashes continued around the presidential palace, the state broadcaster, and at a military base in Khartoum. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. In a few cities, including in Omdurman, west of Khartoum, residents reported some shops were reopening as the scale of fighting dwindled amid the tenuous ceasefire. But in other areas, residents sheltering at home said fighters were going from house to house, stealing whatever they could find. Now in its third week, the fighting has left swaths of Khartoum without electricity and running water. The Sudanese health ministry put the latest overall death toll at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Those sheltering at home say theyre running out of food and basic supplies. Residents of Omdurman yesterday said theyd been waiting three days to get fuel complicating their escape plans. Destroyed vehicles in southern Khartoum last week AFP via Getty Images UN relief coordinator Martin Griffiths said UN offices in Khartoum, and in Genena and Nyala in Darfur, had been attacked and looted. Genenas main hospital was also levelled. Despite 15 days of pummelling each other, the generals have failed to deal a decisive blow to the other in the struggle for Africas third largest nation. The military appears to have the upper hand, with its monopoly on air power, but it has been impossible to confirm this. Soon, the Sudanese state with its well-grounded institutions will rise as victorious, and attempts to hijack our country will be aborted forever, the Sudanese military said yesterday. Both sides have a long history of human rights abuses. The RSF was born out of the Janjaweed militias, which committed widespread atrocities when the government deployed them to put down a rebellion in Sudans western Darfur region in the early 2000s. A unit of Sudans armed forces, known as the Central Reserve Police, have also been sanctioned by the US for grave human rights violations against Sudans pro-democracy protesters. Accusations of the rape and torture of demonstrators carried out by the unit first surfaced in 2021, after Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a military coup that ousted the civilian government. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a proper civil war it is a huge country The Sudanese interior ministry confirmed the deployment of the Central Reserve Police in Khartoum yesterday, posting photos of the fighters riding with heavy machine guns mounted on pickup trucks. Former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in the 2021 coup, appealed to the international community to push for an immediate halt to the conflict. He warned that a full-blown civil war in the strategically located country would have consequences not just for Sudan but for the world. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a proper civil war... it is a huge country and very diverse... it would be a nightmare for the world, he said. But the generals have so far rejected attempts at a compromise, and regional mediators have been unable to travel to Khartoum because of the chaotic fighting. Still, African Union chairperson Moussa Faki said he would help initiate a Sudanese-led political process. Im ready myself to go there, even by road, Faki said. We ask the two generals to create the conditions for us to go to Khartoum. RSF general Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti REUTERS Meanwhile, armed drones are reportedly escorting US citizens as they flee Khartoum in a convoy of buses. On Friday, 300 US nationals began a 800km journey to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, the first American move to evacuate its private citizens. US diplomats were among the first people to be evacuated from Sudan in a lightning operation carried out by US special forces. The group of vehicles was closely followed by US drones that hovered high overhead, looking for a threats. The US reportedly operates its drones from an airbase in Djibouti. There are believed to be around 16,000 US citizens in Sudan. Some have been able to leave Khartoum on flights organised by allied nations. Others have travelled by road alongside tens of thousands of Sudanese to Egypt and Ethiopia. Since Tuesday, Britain has evacuated over 1,500 people, while Germany and France have evacuated 1,700 by air. Over 3,000 people from other nations have travelled from Port Sudan to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. Many families fleeing the violence are now stuck at the border with Egypt, where crossing on foot is banned and only those travelling on buses with special permits are permitted to enter the neighbouring country. The BBC is reporting that drivers are currently demanding fees of up to 45,000 to hire a bus to travel over the border. Aid agencies struggle to bring in supplies as thousands flee warzone Yamama Hasani Alhussein cries with relief as she arrives at Abu Dhabi airport after being evacuated from Sudan. Photo: Rula Rouhana/Reuters REUTERS Sudans army and its rival paramilitary have vowed to extend a humanitarian ceasefire a further 72 hours amid doubts either side will stick to their promises. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes, with the capital Khartoum pounded by army air strikes. In statements, both sides accused the other of violations. The agreement has de-escalated the fighting in some areas but violence continues to push civilians to flee. Aid groups have also struggled to get badly needed supplies into the country. The conflict erupted on April 15 between the nations army and its paramilitary force, and threatens to thrust Sudan into a raging civil war. An aircraft carrying eight tonnes of emergency medical aid landed in Sudan yesterday to resupply hospitals devastated by the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which organised the shipment. It arrived as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors association has said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. The supplies, including anaesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict. The Red Cross aircraft took off earlier in the day from Jordan and safely landed in the city of Port Sudan. The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said yesterday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum. The fighting pits the army chief, general Abdel Fattah Burhan, against general Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudans fitful transition to democracy, but they have since turned on each other. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners including more than 200 Irish have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. Fighting continued yesterday in different parts of the capital where residents hiding in their homes reported hearing air strikes. There have been lulls in fighting, but never a fully observed ceasefire, despite repeated attempts by international mediators. Over the weekend, residents reported that shops were reopening and normality gradually returning in some areas of Khartoum as the scale of fighting dwindled after yet another shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Mr Youssef of the ICRC said the agency had been in contact with the top command of both sides to ensure medical assistance could reach hospitals safely. With this news today, we are really hoping that this becomes part of a steady coordination mechanism to allow other flights to come in, he said. Mr Youssef said more medical aid was ready to be flown into Khartoum pending necessary clearances and security guarantees. Sudans healthcare system is near collapse with dozens of hospitals out of service. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and evacuated employees. A US warship also arrived yesterday to Port Sudan to evacuate more American citizens, according to footage from the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV channel. Most of the estimated 16,000 Americans believed to be in Sudan right now are dual US-Sudanese nationals. The defence department said in a statement on Saturday it was moving naval assets toward Sudans coast to support further evacuations. Counter-offensive may not deliver any knockout blow in face of Putin brutality As Ukraine prepares to launch a much-anticipated counter- offensive against Russia, it is worth asking what exactly would constitute a success for them. Following the euphoria and sense of momentum generated by victories last year over Russia in Kharkiv to the north and Kherson in the south, there is a sense that the forthcoming offensive will deal another massive defeat to Putins forces perhaps even a knockout punch. Such talk, however, is overblown and dangerous. It is overblown because nothing in war is guaranteed. Russias humiliation on the Ukrainian battlefield stands as testament to that fact. A year ago, Vladimir Putin thought he had the second-best army in the world. Today, it is obvious to everyone that he has the second-best army in Ukraine. But he has mass, and he has built a military and political machine with a complete absence of morality at its centre. That means he is happy to pay with thousands of young Russian lives the butchers bill for the meagre advances his troops are achieving. It also means he will be content to use what bodies he has left to soak up any Ukrainian counter-offensive. The smartest plan in the world, delivered by the most motivated soldiers equipped with the best technology the West can provide, could falter against waves of Russians who know that any retreat or capitulation will be met by bullets fired by their own officers. So there is a great need for expectations of victory to be managed if pride is not to be followed by a very costly fall. Talk of an imminent Ukrainian breakthrough is also dangerous because of how it frames the debate around success and failure. If launched amid a backdrop of expectation with no caveats, any counter-offensive that proves to be an anticlimax achieving only a minor advance, say, or one that results in heavy casualties without a decisive breakthrough, or a combination of the two could fuel calls for a negotiated settlement, which is an agenda currently being pushed by China, Brazil and much of the Global South. It is perhaps easier here to characterise what failure would look like. Despite the obvious and humbling determination to stand up to Russian aggression expressed daily by the citizens of Ukraine, in and out of uniform, the country has been kept in this war in no small part thanks to the military hardware gifted by external supporters. That initiative is derived directly from political support. Democracy, as Winston Churchill said in the House of Commons in 1947, is the worst form of government, except for all the others. The pesky thing about democracy is, as Putin might attest, the baffling addiction to free and open elections. That these elections might usher to power parties that have not offered full-throated support for Ukraine has not been lost on the man in the Kremlin hence his habitual fascination with meddling in the internal politics of other nations. Suggesting that anything other than a decisive thrust through Russian lines resulting in the recapture of swathes of previously occupied territory is a failure will help those parties around the world who are opposed to the level of support Kyiv currently enjoys. So how much territory would be enough to satiate this one-dimensional thinking? A push through Melitopol to the sea, cleaving Russian forces in two. The recapture of the blasted city of Mariupol, the scene of dogged resistance in the Azovstal steel plant last year? The encirclement of thousands of Russian soldiers and vital equipment? And what cost is acceptable in terms of the number of Ukrainians dead or injured, and when does that tip into failure 5,000, 10,000? It is almost impossible to settle on an idea of what success looks like. Failure, however, should be characterised as any outcome that results in the dwindling of international support for Ukraine. Seen through that lens, aiming for modest gains that maintain Ukraines military strength and coherence without jettisoning international political support may be a better outcome to aim for. If smaller victories can easily be shown to be part of a bigger plan the little pieces of a big jigsaw slowly taking shape then the morale and support of the Ukrainian public and international community alike will be bolstered, and better able to withstand the inevitable battlefield reversals. Modest aspirations will promote resilience. Allowing the development of an intellectual framework for how victory might look that is too narrow and unrealistic risks creating fragility in these tense times. Unrealistic expectations could place an unbearable strain on Ukraines political and military leadership, and the international support flowing into the country. Success, it is said, has many fathers. Failure is an orphan, and that is not a position that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wants to find himself in. Francisco Oropeza, 38, the subject of a manhunt who police say shot dead five neighbours, including an 8-year-old boy Photo: FBI/Handout via Reuters via REUTERS A Texas man allegedly opened fire on his neighbours after they asked him to stop shooting rounds in his yard, authorities in Texas said. Five people, including an eight-year-old child and a 15-year-old girl, were killed in the Friday night violence, according to the San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office. The gunman, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, shot his neighbours with an AR-15 style rifle after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they had children trying to sleep. Mr Oropeza fled the scene after the violence, but has since been surrounded by law enforcement, NPR reports. The neighbours walked over and said Hey man, can you not do that, weve got an infant in here trying to sleep or whatever, Sheriff Greg Capers said, per the Washington Post. They went back in their house and then we have a video of him walking up their driveway with his AR-15. The deceased, who ranged in age from eight to their early 40s, were originally from Honduras. Authorities at the scene told reporters that Mr Oropeza, an illegal alien from Mexico, had been deported at least twice before the tragedy on Friday night, according to Univision 45 Houston. Heres everything we know about the shooting: The motive The shooting was reported at around 10.30pm on the 100 block of Walters Road in the Trails End area in the community about 72km northeast of Houston. Night shift patrol deputies were dispatched to a residence in reference to a harassment complaint. On their way there, they received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location. Three children covered in blood were transported to the hospital, where they were determined to be uninjured, while two other witnesses at the scene were evaluated by first responders and released. The SJCSO also said that Mr Oropeza has been known to shoot his 223 out in his front yard, which is evident by the shell casings that are laying in the front yard. The victims The names of the victims have not been released pending notification to their next of kin, police said. Authorities have said that a family member walked up to the fence and requested the gunman stopped shooting rounds in his own backyard. The suspect then allegedly responded that it was his property and the violence unfolded. The youngest victim of the shooting was eight years old. Two female victims were found in the bedroom lying on top of two children who survived the ordeal, the report added. The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child, Mr Capers said. Ten people were in the residence at the time of the tragedy. The suspect The suspect has not been apprehended and it is unclear where in Texas he had been located. An earlier press release by the SJCSO stated that he was believed to have fled the country but more recent reports suggest he is in the Houston-Cleveland area. One of the survivors reportedly caught the moment the suspect walked into the house with the rifle on video. Mr Oropeza is described as approximately 58 tall, last seen wearing blue jeans with a black shirt and work boots and with short black hair, ABC reported. More than 170 mass shooting in the US this year The US is setting a devastating record pace for mass killings in 2023, according to the Associated Press. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. All those listed as mass killings in the report have taken the lives of four or more people since 1 January. Reacting to the deadly violence on Friday night, gun safety advocates slammed lax weapon laws in Texas. Assault rifles were designed to be used by highly trained soldiers in battle, not marketed to violent men to carry out revenge fantasies, gun violence prevention activist and Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts tweeted on Saturday. From Newtown to Nashville, Las Vegas to Uvalde, these weapons of war are chosen and used to inflict as much harm as quickly as possible. Ms Watts went on to criticize Texas Governor Gregg Abbotts reaction or lack thereof to the massacre. The political leader, who tweeted a picture of his pet dog along with the caption all smiles for the weekend on Saturday, had yet to issue a statement regarding the shooting by midday on Saturday. The Independent has reached out to his office for comment. This is the Governor of Texas tweet AFTER learning that a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire on a family in his state, killing five people, including an 8-year-old, Ms Watts wrote. Brett Cross, who lost his son Uziyah in a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde last year, also lashed out at the Republican governor for not making mention of the deadly shooting. Actor Michael J Fox has said that "optimism is sustainable" in the face of Parkinson's despite the disease becoming "harder and tougher" to live with. The 61-year-old activist and former Hollywood actor - who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease a year after Back To The Future Part III was released in 1990 - is also known for the films Teen Wolf and Doc Hollywood along with the TV series Spin City. Fox told CBS Sunday Morning: "It sucks, having Parkinson's...for some families, some people, it's a nightmare, it's a living hell. They have to deal with realities that are beyond most people's understanding. "I'm alive... it's getting tougher, it's getting harder, every day you suffer but that's the way it is. You know, who do I see about that?" The condition causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years. The three main symptoms are involuntary shaking of parts of the body, known as tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. Fox - who starred in all of the Back To The Future movies in the science fiction trilogy which began in 1985 - has had a string of injuries from falling, including breaking bones in his face and other parts of his body, along with a benign tumour on his spine. He added: "All these subtle ways that get you, you don't die from Parkinson's, you die with (the condition). I'm not going to be 80. I won't be 80." Fox also said: "I recognise how hard this is for people and recognise how hard it is for me but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff and I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. "If you can find something to be grateful for then you find something to look forward to and you carry on." Fox founded the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research in 2000 which has raised more than $1.75bn for research funding, according to the charity's website. The foundation also sponsored a study, which came out this month, that says researchers have discovered a biomarker for Parkinson's. Fox said: "This changes everything. I know where we are right now. In five years, they will be able tell if you have it, they will be able to tell if you're ever going to get it and we'll know how to treat it." The actor, who has four children with his wife, actress Tracy Pollan, retired in 2020. He was honoured at the Governors Awards with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognising outstanding philanthropic efforts in November and is to release an Apple+ documentary. Mourners at the funeral of two children, Sofia and Kyrylo, in the town of Uman, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria REUTERS The caskets of two children, Sofia and Kyrylo, are carried in the town of Uman, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters/Carlos Barria REUTERS Relatives and friends cried next to coffins as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on a central Ukrainian city, while fighting claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian interior minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha (6) cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 12-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sunday's funeral, while others paid respects to an 18-year-old boy. The priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Quick to Hear" said the deaths hit the entire community hard. "I live nearby," said Father Fyodor Botsu. "I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptised them in this church. "I'm worried with everyone since I have children and I'm a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years." He said he prayed "that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country". At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's 14-month-long war brought more deaths elsewhere on Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, 9km from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defence systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighbouring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also on Sunday, governor Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counter-offensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the counter-offensive would not wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. "I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised," Mr Zelensky told Finnish, Swedish, Danish and Norwegian journalists. "But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counter-offensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather." Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive western fighter jets, but Mr Zelensky said his forces will not delay the counter-offensive for that, so as not to "reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start". Mr Zelensky said he spoke on Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its "speed and specificity". Mr Macron's office said he reiterated France's commitment to provide Ukraine with "all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity", and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group that is leading his country's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counter-offensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counter-offensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted on Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. I am writing today to clarify the inaccuracies in " 'A tipping point': New Buffalo charter school gets ready to open as divide with school districts widens" (Buffalo News - March 18, 2023). Buffalo Schools Superintendent Tonja M. Williams states that she supports a familys right to make decisions on behalf of their childs education. However, some officials at Buffalo Public Schools continue to make false claims about public charter schools; schools that serve families who are looking for high-quality public options that provide a sense of safety, community and educational achievement. Buffalos public charter schools continue to academically outperform district schools, all while receiving less funding, facing extremely high bureaucratic and administrative obstacles and being held to the highest accountability standards of any type of public school in the state. In New York, district schools receive significantly more revenue and much larger year-over-year funding increases than public charter schools. While the district may complain that the exiting of a student to a public charter school affects their revenues, the district actually receives close to $1,000 per student in funding to offset transition costs, which means they are receiving tuition dollars for students that they no longer serve. As a result of how school aid for public charter school students is distributed in New York, state funding passes through school districts. The money is earmarked for our citys students, and is not an entitlement for BPS. When families decide to transfer their student out of the district to attend a high-performing suburban school, the money follows the student; it cannot be claimed by BPS. The only difference is that in those instances BPS doesnt (at least publicly) scapegoat those surrounding districts or the families who have made those decisions; they appear to reserve that vitriol for public charter schools and their families. While the district has cherry-picked performance data, any argument that BPS narrowed the achievement gap with charters was a result not of BPS growing achievement, but of the sad reality that the pandemic has taken a toll on all students. In many cases, rates dropped more steeply for public charter school students, which is a testament to the value of an in-person charter school education. And, in spite of the pandemic, charter proficiency rates today remain higher than the district in both ELA and math. The public charter school community is not looking to point fingers or ascribe blame. We know the heroic efforts that all schools (district, charter) have made these past few years to manage through the pandemic. Our purpose is to unequivocally support a familys right to decide which type of public school will best meet their childs needs regardless of their income or ZIP code. We only ask that Buffalo city officials do the same in practice, not just in words. Joseph B. Polat has been the executive director of the Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School (BuffSci) and Rochester Academy of Science (RocSci) since September 2015. Mick Cullen, otherwise known as Speedo Mick, walks through Glencoe in sub-zero temperatures wearing only his swimming trunks during his fundraising trek (PA) Jane Barlow A man who has raised 1 million over seven years by trekking across the country wearing only his bright blue swimming trunks says he now believes he has made amends after finishing his final challenge, a four-month walk from John OGroats to Lands End, on Saturday. Michael Cullen, 58, from Liverpool, better known as Speedo Mick because of his eye-catching attire, set up the SpeedoMick Foundation to provide grants to grassroots charities that support mental health, disadvantaged young people and the homelessness. His challenge was sparked by his recovery from alcohol and substance addiction, and Mr Cullen said he believes he has done what I needed to do to make amends and to give back. Its definitely my last (challenge), the fundraiser told the PA news agency. I cant sit still for very long so Im going to have to put my energy somewhere, so Im going to put it into the Speedo Mick projects for mental health and stuff like that. I think Ive just about equalised, havent I? I think Ive done what I needed to do to make amends and to give back, to shine my bit of light onto this world which is on fire at the moment. He added: Im just trying to also challenge myself and fill me boots with life. Im an ordinary fella just trying to do some extraordinary things. I believe with all my heart that every single person not that theyd want to run up Ben Nevis in a pair of knickers at minus 18C but I believe everybody has got that power within them. If its just to run a 5k, when they believe they cant do it, its in there. Mick Cullen, otherwise known as Speedo Mick, walks through Glencoe in sub-zero temperatures wearing only his swimming trunks (Jane Barlow/PA) Jane Barlow Throughout his latest walk, he has camped in a tent, walked through treacherous weather and met an array of people, and even managed to scale the three highest national peaks Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in sub-zero temperatures. The Everton fan said loads of people came out to support him as he approached the finish line in Cornwall, but added he was running on fumes. There was loads of people whod come to support me, to see me in, and they were all walking with me, he said. Its just better we all do it together, its not about me, its about us. 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 It was just amazing. The feeling was mostly a feeling of relief that it was over, because I really never had anything left honestly. I put everything into that. Im emotionally, physically and mentally drained. I (was) literally running on fumes yesterday, fumes and pasties! The fundraiser said he had experienced about eight days where the suns shone adding the cold weather takes its toll. While Mr Cullen said his latest walk will certainly be his final challenge of that nature, he said the famous Speedos may continue to make an appearance, adding that Speedo Mick is just another side of my personality. Speedo Mick during a Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool (Peter Byrne/PA) Peter Byrne I think theres a lot of people who wish that they could just fling their clothes off and go on a big mad walk, do you know what I mean? he said. Hes the best part of me as well, and my brothers next to me nodding his head. My wife says to me now, when things start getting on top of me and my tolerance starts getting a little bit low, she just looks at me and goes what would Speedo Mick do?' To find out more about the SpeedoMick Foundation, visit www.thespeedomickfoundation.org. Image Credit: Pixabay New York: Twitter CEO Elon Musk has drawn flak after the company changed its parental leave policy by slashing the period from 20 weeks to 14 days (2 weeks), as per internal company documents accessed by New York Times. The change will have a drastic impact on employees who reside in those parts of the United States which have no paid leave policy. Currently, only 12 states in the US have the provision for paid family and medical leave. As per the new policy, a woman has to get back to work just two days after giving birth or go for a long unpaid leave, a Twitter user said. The users felt that 20 weeks of paid maternity leave helped reduce the financial burden on new parents. "This is how the gender pay gap is entrenched, a user wrote. Kolkata/IBNS: Enamoured by its beauty, even Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, in a poem, had expressed a desire to turn into the Ichamati River if he ever acquired the magical power to change his form to whatever he wished for. Standing by the quietly flowing, polluted Ichamati - a river which marks the international boundary between India and Bangladesh - today it is difficult to imagine that more than a century ago, it was a free-flowing picturesque stretch of water. One of the key pollutants choking the river today is plastics, according to experts from the Ichamati Kawtha (Ichamati Talk) project, which has been working to raise awareness about the importance of the river through dialogues and actions for the past one year. The project participants, who have been working with local environmentalists and pro-river crusaders, to invoke climate action and waste management along the transboundary river, with focus on key habitations such as Duttapulia, Bongaon, Basirhat and Taki (all in West Bengal), presented their findings at an event organised by the US Consulate in Kolkata and non-profit organisations Bridge and The Water Chronicles here last week. Said Adrian Pratt, Director of the American Center Kolkata, and the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata, The US Department of State has supported projects focused on ASEANs plastic pollution challenge and the importance of promoting integrated solid waste management strategies for creating sustainable local and regional solutions." Prithviraj Nath, Director of non-profit BRIDGE, talked about the activities consisting of perception surveys in five locations that included stakeholder groups such as fisherman, local business owners, and others. Subsequently, they conducted brainstorming sessions with women, leaders, experts, entrepreneurs and children. According to Nath, more than 300 participants took part in climate walks and mangrove walks. The project led public advocacy dialogues in each location that reached out to more than 550 participants and these local advocacy dialogues were in collaboration with the panchayat and municipalities to gain further insight and ideas, he said. Nath said looking at the river from a larger basin perspective, there should be dialogue with the neighbouring country (Bangladesh) as Ichamati is a transboundary river. A young activist, Soumen Das, talked about his experience of collecting plastic from the river; starting with 25 student volunteers, he now has over 95 of them working along with him. Sasanka Dev, Secretary, Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA), said, "Salinity in water is increasing but that doesn't affect fish population. It changes the variety of fish. The reason for fish drastically decreasing is due to pollution. The Ichamati river surrounding is not urbanized so it can be linked to pesticides and chemical fertilizers used in the agricultural lands." Suprotim Karmakar, author and river researcher, touched on a different aspect of river conservation by commenting on the emotional, historical, and cultural tools linked to the river. He said that songs, poems and folktales can help in finding the historical path of the river and reveal how the river has shifted over time. This could help in river mapping while the traditional knowledge helps in fighting pollution, he said. A skit, "Jawl Atonko" (Anxiety over Water), presented the dire situation that mankind might face from the lack of water if timely action is not taken to keep the water bodies clean and preserve water. (Reporting by Radhika Sen) Image Credit: Wallpaper Cave The Zhurong rover, a fully automated robot from China that arrived on Mars in 2021, has made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting signs of recent water activity on the Red Planet. The findings suggest that Mars may have certain regions that could support living organisms, reported NDTV. The evidence of liquid water was found by the rover on sand dunes located in low latitudes, specifically in areas closer to the equator and further away from the poles. A report detailing these findings was published in the journal Science Advances. The study conducted by Chinese researchers highlighted the long-standing belief among scientists that Mars once had a climate similar to Earth's and had an ocean flowing on its surface roughly three billion years ago. However, due to significant climate changes, most of the water on the planet is thought to have frozen and become trapped in the outer layer or crust of Mars. Until now, there had been no evidence found to support the presence of liquid water in low latitude areas on Mars. The latest research is considered a significant breakthrough in the understanding of Mars' evolutionary history, as it provides new evidence of liquid water on the Red Planet in areas where it was previously thought to be absent. According to the analysis of data gathered by China's Zhurong rover, scientists have noted that the rover did not detect water in the form of frost or ice directly. Instead, the rover's observations were focused on dunes that were rich in salt, and contained cracks and crusts. For the first time, the rover identified layers of cracks on small Martian dunes, indicating that the Red Planet was once a world with a significant amount of water and salt as recently as 400,000 years ago, as stated in the study. "This is important for understanding the evolutionary history of the Martian climate, looking for a habitable environment, and providing key clues for the future search for life," stated lead researcher Professor Qin Xiaoguang, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). "According to the measured meteorological data by Zhurong and other Mars rovers, we inferred that these dunes surface characteristics were related to the involvement of liquid saline water formed by the subsequent melting of frost/snow falling on the salt-containing dune surfaces when cooling occurs," Mr Qin stated further. As per the Chinese scientists, the temperature on Mars is highly variable, and it significantly rises in the mornings which causes the saltwater to evaporate, leaving behind newly formed minerals and salt. These then seeped into the spaces between the sand grains of the dunes and cemented them together to create a crust. Members of a puppy yoga class play with puppies at Selfie Love in Columbia. (Photo by Lucas Owens) For the petcare industry across the globe, pandemic sparks growth and creativity. Alyse Pfeil, Stephen Vierling, Lucas Owens and Heather Wang from the USA's Midwest and Amir Bin Rafi from India's Kashmir report. Two orange tabby cats pawed at each other playfully near the feet of their owner, Eli Bolding. The cats, named Tax Fraud and Ponzi Scheme, are brothers who were inseparable at the shelter they were adopted from, and they remain that way today. They get noticeably anxious when apart from each other for too long. Bolding, of Columbia, Missouri, says the cats fill a void in his life as pets do for millions of others around the world. I get to college, Im kind of here on my own everythings fun but theres something missing, said Bolding. Now that I have a cat it feels right. Yoga instructor Sarah Judd teaches her class while a puppy attempts to interrupt on Saturday, Apr. 8, 2023, at Selfie Love in Columbia. The class was a collaboration between Selfie Love, Sarah's Yoga Studio, and Little Rays of Sunshine Animal Rescue. ( Photo by Lucas Owens) During the COVID-19 pandemic, pet ownership rose sharply across the world. In the pandemics early months, lockdowns forced people to stay home. When restrictions loosened, some continued to work from home. Many brought new pets into those homes for companionship, and others grew closer to the pets they already had. Businesses worldwide reacted, rushing to meet their needs with everything from pet food to veterinary care to elaborate dog parks. The already-flourishing pet care industry in the U.S. grew even bigger, while a burgeoning pet care industry in India also saw significant growth. According to a 2022 Forbes Advisor survey, 78% of pet owners got pets during the pandemic. In Missouri, operators of dog shelters in the St. Louis area and Columbia said they saw huge upticks in adoptions. Eli Bolding holds his two cats, Tax Fraud and Ponzi Scheme, on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, in Columbia. Bolding adopted his cats during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Zeyu Wang) Initially, we saw a lot of dogs being adopted (during the pandemic), said Jennifer Alley of Dirks Fund Golden Retriever & Large Breed Rescue near St. Louis. We, maybe in a two week period, only had seven dogs within our care, which was unheard of. Some want to test the waters by fostering pets before adopting them. We have more families that are fostering than weve ever had before, she said. Alley and others said some people unfortunately returned their pets to the shelter after lockdowns ended. But many of those who kept them spared no expense to provide for their needs. Amaan having a day out with his pet, on Feb. 13, 2022, on the Hari Parbat hillock in Srinagar. (Photo by Amir Bin Rafi) Business growth of popular online pet food and products retailer Chewy.com reflects these changes in consumer spending habits. According to Chewys annual report, its 2022 sales totalled over $10 billion a 13.6% improvement year-over-year. And a March 2023 letter to shareholders said existing customers are spending more, with net sales per average customer growing 15% year-over-year. According to Chandradeep Singh, an analyst at Market Decipher, a market research and consultancy firm, last year, the pet care market in India was estimated to be around $9 million. At a compound annual growth rate of roughly 19%, its expected to grow to $25 million by 2032. Aayat feeding her cats on Jan. 9, 2022, in Kashmir, India. She owns more than 12 cats. (Photo by Amir Bin Rafi) That increase is on account of rising nuclear families, double-income households, changes in lifestyle, urbanization, and increasing pet ownership, Singh said. A number of people during the lockdown filled their emptiness by adopting a pet. A Local Business Boom Business owners and entrepreneurs in Missouri are also responding to consumer needs. Jessica and Kyle Schlosser, owners of Lizzi & Roccos Natural Pet Market in Columbia, opened their business in 2009. Since then, its grown to two locations offering pet food and supplies, plus dog training and grooming services. Over the course of the pandemic, Jessica Schlosser noticed a huge increase in pet ownership. Retail sales and eventually demand for grooming and training services increased significantly. We are stronger than we were before by a long shot, she said. Schlosser said spending so much time at home during COVID especially during lockdowns helped people understand their pets on a deeper level and develop stronger relationships with them. And the depth of that human-pet bond persisted even as people resumed more traditional schedules, she said. Rebecca Welly feeds her dogs (River and Forest), treats on Monday, April 10, 2023, at her home in Columbia. Welly is the founder of start-up Dog Wild, which won third-place at Missouri start-up weekend. (Photo by Lucas Owens) This shift in relationship has translated into changes in consumer purchasing, such as buying more enrichment toys like puzzles and more engaging and interactive toys. People are realizing that animals can get bored too, said Schlosser. They can also get anxious. Sales of products like LickiMats, which help reduce anxiety in dogs, have taken off, said Schlosser. So have sales for stress-relief and CBD products. COVID gave rise to another challenge for pet owners: behavior issues in dogs lacking proper training and socialization during the pandemic. Schlosser has a name for these dogs: COVID puppies. Our dog training went from, in essence, nothing in March of 2020 to now our trainer is jam packed. Lizzi & Roccos plans to hire a second trainer to accommodate the demand. Demand for grooming services at Lizzi and Roccos has also shot up. Since 2020, they went from two groomers to five. After they build out a new space, theyll have six groomers. Another Columbia entrepreneur, Rebecca Welly, was inspired to start a different pet-related business during the pandemic: Dog Wild, an indoor/outdoor dog park where dogs can run around freely, and pet owners arent limited by the size of their home or yard or fluctuations in the weather. The idea came to Welly during COVID lockdowns while stuck working from home with her family and dogs. River, one of Rebecca Welly's dogs, rests on a dog bed on Monday, April 10, 2023, at Welly's home in Columbia. Welly adopted River in the winter of 2019. (Photo by Lucas Owens) After some searching online, Welly realized others had already started similar business concepts. She found companies like Bar K an indoor/outdoor fully-staffed dog park, modern bar/restaurant, and event space based in Kansas City, Missouri. So in March 2023, Welly entered a startup competition. She tied for third place. There was a lot of positive feedback from people like, Oh my goodness, when are you opening? The enthusiastic response from the public created momentum for Welly, who continues developing the idea. While she doesnt have an opening date for Dog Wild, Welly is actively moving the concept forward. Shes had meetings on insurance, legal and accounting aspects of the company to start formal business operations. Shes also developing a website with a marketing professional and planning fundraising events. Its become very busy, Welley said. Ive been trying to do something every day. A Zigly store is full of merchandise at the Bangalore Experience Center in Bangalore, India. (Courtesy Photo) Pet Care Grows in India Nearly 8,000 miles away in India, entrepreneurs are also scrambling to meet the rising needs of pet owners. Dua Mushtaq, who owns Pet Erena clinic in Srinagar's Karan Nagar area in Kashmir, said some people are increasingly willing to spend lots of hard-earned rupees on 4-legged members of their families. She said people want to give their pets the best lives they can. Pet parents are very serious about their pets nowadays, said Mushtaq. They keep waiting for new playtime toys, food, and grooming accessories for their pets. Tahir sits with his cat, Snowbear on Jan. 12, 2022. in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Amir Bin Rafi) The same is true in Rainawari locality of Old Srinagar, where Tahir Ahmad lives with his white fluffy cat, Snowbear, who has become accustomed to a high standard of living. Snowbear now only eats the expensive cat food Royal Canin a high-end habit that once compelled Tahir to travel all the way to South Kashmirs Anantnag district (almost 40 miles away) to buy it. Dr. Iqra Shafi Khan, a veterinarian at Pet Erena, said people not only are concerned about the health of their pets, but they also are very much serious about their grooming. This has created more opportunities for businesses including startups. On December 13, 2022, a Gujarat-based pet training and grooming brand, Zoivane Pets, announced that it raised over $600,000 in seed money from an investor. Nishma Singhal, co-founder of the company, said the main aim of the fundraiser is to become a permanent partner in peoples pet parenting. Suhaar holds a pair of Australian budgies on Jan. 17, 2022, in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Amir Bin Rafi) The faith that pet parents have demonstrated in Zoivane Pets primarily increased our confidence in raising funds and expanding our portfolio, Singhal said. Im extremely proud of what weve accomplished at Zoivane and appreciate listening from pet families who have noticed and experienced benefits in their furry family members from our natural products. As more people have gotten pets, at least one employer the Indian e-commerce firm Simpl has responded with a policy that allows workers to take time off to care for their animals. We curated this new leave policy keeping employee centricity at the core. We are cognizant of the varied needs of a diverse workforce to take time-off from work. Hence, we have tried to make our leave policy as inclusive and flexible as possible, said Sneha Arora, the chief human resources officer at Simpl. It allows people to take time off when needed for emergencies, family occasions, personal milestones, or to just relax and rejuvenate. In recent years, pet ownership in India has become much like pet ownership in the U.S. But it has its roots in an ancient culture of pet keeping. On a recent day, sexagenarian Mohammad Sultan walked out of his houseboat on the banks of the river Jhelum in Kashmir, and gently placed his hand on the head of his pet sheep. Looking at the silent waters of the river, he remembered his fathers flock of sheep, hens and birds. Mohammad Sultan with one of his sheep on Mar. 10, 2022, in Kashmir, India. (Photo by Amir Bin Rafi) My father Mohammadd Siddique owned a variety of pets, Sultan recollected. He used to do this because he was fond of it, and not for showoff or popularity. For Sultan, keeping animals doesnt involve buying new pet products. It is about holding the memories of his father. Like the motive of keeping pets, his pet care routine is also different. Sultan himself bathes his sheep once every fifteen days, trims their fur in summer and gives them fodder, rice and fruits to eat. Every evening he takes them on a walk. This routine keeps both of us healthy. (This report is a collaboration between the students from the Business Journalism department of the University of Missouri, USA and young journalists from India. The project is overseen by Laura Ungar, a senior journalist at The Associated Press, and Sujoy Dhar, founder-editor of the Indian news agency India Blooms News Service. Both are adjunct journalism instructors at University of Missouri) Image Credit: Twitter/MEA New Delhi/IBNS: A seventh outbound flight carrying 229 Indians departed from crisis-hit Sudan 's Jeddah on Sunday as a part of the ongoing Operation Kaveri. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet wrote: "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah." #OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/Zvfwx5Q0CJ Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 30, 2023 On Saturday evening, a sixth flight arrived in India carrying 365 Indians rescued from Sudan. With these, nearly 2400 Indians evacuated! arrive in India so far. Meanwhile, INS Sumedha departed from Port Sudan with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah on late Saturday night. 13th batch of Indians evacuated under #OperationKaveri, Bagchi tweeted. 14th batch of Indians leaves Port Sudan under #OperationKaveri. 288 passengers onboard INS Teg are enroute to Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/oN0EcBQNpI Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 29, 2023 On Saturday, two batches of Indians arrived in India one batch of 362 Indians touched down in Bengaluru, while another C-17 flight carrying 392 passengers reached New Delhi. India on Thursday deployed the third naval ship for the rescue operation, INS Tarkash. When the fighting broke out between rival factions, there were over 3,000 Indian nationals living in Sudan, besides around 1,000 Persons of Indian Origin. Image credit: Videograb Ludhiana/IBNS: At least nine people have died and 11 got sick after a gas leak incident occurred at a factory in the Giaspura area of Punjab's Ludhiana . A rescue team has been rushed to the spot, and doctors, ambulances, and a fire brigade team have also been dispatched to the location. The affected area has been cordoned off. "Definitely, it is a gas leak case. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation. 9 people died in this incident and 11 are sick," Swati Tiwana, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Ludhiana, told ANI. The nature and sources of the gas are not known yet. The NDRF team will investigate it, she said. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has assured of all possible help in dealing with the incident. "The incident of a gas leak at a factory in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being provided. Rest details soon," he tweeted in Punjabi. Image credit: Press Information Bureau New Delhi/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday addressed the 100th episode of his monthly radio talk "Mann Ki Baat", which was aired globally. The programme featured guests who had appeared in earlier episodes of the talk, with the PM interacting with them about the progress they have made. In his opening remarks, PM Modi said: "Mann Ki Baat is a reflection of 'Mann Ki Baat' of crores of Indians, it is an expression of their feelings." He thanked the people of the country for making it a huge success. "Mann Ki Baat has been a catalyst in igniting numerous mass movements, be it 'Har Ghar Tiranga' or 'Catch the Rain', Mann Ki Baat has enabled mass movements to gain momentum," he said. 'Mann Ki Baat' is an excellent platform for spreading positivity and recognising the grassroot changemakers. Do hear #MannKiBaat100! https://t.co/aFXPM1RyKF Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 30, 2023 "Every episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' has been special. It has celebrated positivity, people's participation," he said. "Mann Ki Baat has showcased stories of talented individuals across diverse fields, from promoting Aatmanirbhar Bharat to Make in India and space startups," the PM said. The address was broadcast live at the UN headquarters in New York, India's mission there said. "A special message has been received from UNESCO Director-General AAzoulay regarding #MannKiBaat100. She inquired about India's efforts regarding education and cultural preservation," the PM said in his address. "For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' has been about worshipping the qualities in others. Mann Ki Baat' gave me the platform to connect with the people of India," PM Modi said. Mann Ki Baat was first aired on Oct 3, 2014, the year PM Modi's government came to power after the United Progressive Alliance's 10-year rule. The radio talk is broadcast every month. The Tourism Ministry had earlier announced "100 days of action" to mark the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. During the address, PM Modi said: "Tourism sector is growing rapidly in the country. Be it our natural resources, rivers, mountains, ponds or our pilgrimage sites, it is important to keep them clean. This will help the tourism industry a lot." The activities include a design challenge for entrepreneurs to develop substitutes for single-use plastic items. PM Modi expressed his gratitude to the entire AIR team, MyGov, media, and especially the people of India for making 'Mann Ki Baat' a resounding success. Image Credit: UNI Berlin: German instructors are training Ukrainian soldiers for urban combat at a dozen military bases across the country ahead of Kyiv's much-touted spring offensive, the Bild tabloid reported on Saturday. The report said that over 1,000 personnel of Ukraine's special forces are being trained in Germany at "a good dozen" Bundeswehr bases. They are, particularly, being taught to conduct urban combat and operate heavy equipment, including Leopard 2 tanks and self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000, the newspaper said. Earlier this month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Kyiv could mount a counteroffensive as late as this summer. Later, he said the offensive would begin soon. US media have reported that the operation was scheduled for April 30. Last week, Foreign Policy reported, citing a Ukrainian lawmaker, that Ukraine hoped to launch the offensive in April, but the shortage of weapons has delayed it indefinitely. (With UNI/SPUTNIK inputs) Image Credit: Facebook/Rishi Sunak London/IBNS: The Archbishop of Canterbury's office has declared that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will be presenting passages from the Bible's book of Colossians during the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6 as part of the official Liturgy. The fact that Rishi Sunak, who is of Indian heritage and practices Hinduism, will be reading from a biblical book at the Coronation of King Charles III, aligns with the multi-faith theme of the Christian ceremony, reported NDTV. According to Lambeth Palace, which is the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the first time, members of other faith traditions will be actively involved in the service. Traditionally, the Archbishop of Canterbury is responsible for authorizing a new Liturgy for each Coronation ceremony, which dictates the form of public religious worship that takes place. "The Archbishop of Canterbury has selected a new Epistle for this coronation, which will be Colossians 1:9-17. This passage has been chosen to reflect the theme of service to others, and the loving rule of Christ over all people and all things, which runs through this Coronation Liturgy," Lambeth Palace said. "Following the recent tradition of British Prime Ministers giving readings at State occasions - as Head of the host Nation's government - this will be read by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak," it said. While the three oaths made by the King during the ceremony, including the vow to maintain "the Protestant Reformed Religion," remain unchanged, the overall theme of the Liturgy for the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III is "Called to Serve." This theme is meant to reflect the King's commitment to serving both God and the people of the United Kingdom. Lambeth Palace has confirmed that during the upcoming Coronation of King Charles III, members of the House of Lords will present the Regalia, including items that hold no Christian symbolism, such as the Sovereign's Ring and the Coronation Glove, which will be presented by Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel and Lord Indrajit Singh, representing the Hindu and Sikh faiths, respectively. Lord Syed Kamall, who is of Indo-Guyanese heritage, will represent the Muslim faith and present the Armills. Additionally, representatives from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist communities will deliver a spoken greeting to the King at the end of the service. The Coronation ceremony will follow the historic "English Coronation Rite," consisting of five elements that will occur in their traditional order, which include The Recognition, The Oath, The Anointing, The Investiture and Crowning, and The Enthronement and Homage. The thousands congregated at the Abbey and millions expected to be watching on screens as the ceremony is telecast live will be invited to say the words: "I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law - so help me God". The service will be structured around a Holy Communion, featuring prayers and Bible readings, and King Charles and Queen Camilla will receive Holy Communion during the service. You may be unaware of who certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are, but if you have ever had surgery, its likely that a CRNA was involved with your care. I want to provide the facts about CRNAs and why New York needs to recognize CRNAs with licensure. Nurse anesthetists were the first health care providers dedicated to the specialty of anesthesiology and have safely administered anesthesia in the United States for more than 150 years. CRNAs are advanced practice registered nurses, who safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics nationwide each year. There are four delivery models in which anesthesia is administered; physician anesthesiologist alone, CRNA alone, anesthesiologist medical direction of CRNAs and medical supervision of CRNAs. Studies have shown that regardless of which model is used or which provider administers the anesthetic, the outcomes for patients are the same. Supervision is an artificial construct that is no longer needed given the education and training of CRNAs in New York. This was proven during the Covid-19 pandemic when supervision requirements were removed. In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services temporarily removed physician supervision of CRNAs thus granting the profession full practice authority. In New York, Executive Order 202.10 was issued in March 2020 and physician supervision was subsequently waived until the end of the emergency was declared in June 2021. In September 2021, physician supervision was once again lifted when Gov. Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order 4 to address the health care worker shortage in the state. Executive Order 4 remains in effect today, which means that for nearly three years, CRNAs have practiced collaboratively with no increase in adverse outcomes for patients. As the sole anesthesia providers in most of the nations rural hospitals, CRNAs enable these facilities to offer a multitude of surgical services. Removing barriers to practice is a key part to ensure that vulnerable populations have access to care and that there are enough providers available to serve the needs of all patients in New York. In addition to increasing access to care for all New Yorkers, creating a scope of practice for CRNAs in New York will help to contain costs. Hospitals and surgical facilities are under increased pressure to provide access to high quality care to the communities they serve and need the flexibility to choose the provider model that makes sense for their unique situations. Supporting New York Senate bill S769, which will grant CRNAs recognition and a full scope of practice for the first time in New Yorks history, is the innovative, evidence-based answer to improving patient care and access to anesthesia services in New York State. Removing unnecessary supervision requirements increases access to care for all New Yorkers. This must be the priority. Right now, New York is the only state in the country that has not formally recognized the title and scope of practice of a CRNA. No more waiting! New York needs to come through for its CRNAs. Visit anesthesiafacts.com for more on CRNAs. Sean P. McGarry is president of the New York State Association of Nurse Anesthetists (NYSANA). Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said the Mission in Egypt was making arrangements for the payment of visa fees for stranded Nigerians at the border of the country. Information Nigeria reports that the Federal Government had on Friday called on relevant authorities along contiguous borders of Sudan to create a humane condition for about 7,000 nationals, including Nigerians, to have unfettered access to their various destinations. Dabiri-Erewa, who made this call on Saturday, said the nationals were not being allowed to cross the border into Egypt since their arrival on Thursday evening. While giving updates on the stranded Nigerians at the Egypt border, Dabiri-Erewa said, The mission has made arrangements to pay nine dollars per person and 25 dollars visa fees. Within Egypt itself, one cannot travel from one region to another without an exit permit. We are expecting a CI30 to take off within the hour. NAF is getting set to depart with food etc for Aswan. Meanwhile, some State governments on Saturday evacuated their indigenes or those sponsored by them as gathered by Punch. It was gathered that Borno, Jigawa and Kaduna States came for their indigenes. Hashim NaAllah, chairman of the Nigerian Community (Elders Forum) in Sudan, confirmed, saying, Yes, Kaduna State and Jigawa State governments evacuated their students today. READ ALSO: Sudan Crisis: NAF To Begin Airlifting Of Nigerian Evacuees Today, Says FG Abdullah Anyuabuga, one of the students, said, Kaduna government moved their students and left today. However, those who were not evacuated expressed disappointment, as the ceasefire ends Sunday. The Embassy of Nigeria in Sudan had on Friday said the second batch of the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Khartoum to Egypt would commence on Saturday. The President of the Association of Yoruba Student Union in Sudan, Mubarak Ahmed, said the embassy officials claimed that they were waiting for an alert as there was no money available. According to him, the students had convened at the university earlier in the day and waited for a resolution to their plight which proved abortive. Ahmed added, We have been here since 5am. We are tired of sitting in the bus, since morning. Up till now, the buses did not move. The drivers claimed that they have not been paid. The embassy officials are saying there is no money, They are waiting for the alert. We converged here this morning at El-razi University in Azhari, Khartoum. Similarly, the President of the Nasarawa State Students Association in Sudan, Al-Ameen Ahmad, stated, We are tired of this situation. We were very happy when we saw these buses. Every morning, we were all seated in the bus but after some hours, we came down. We had enough buses stationed at various universities but the drivers refused to move because they claimed they had not been paid. The Nigerian government is playing with this ceasefire. By Sunday, it would be over. I wonder what will become of some of us here. Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dino Melaye has given an insight into what his government will look like and how hell manage the affairs of Kogi State, if elected governor. Melaye, the PDP candidate for the November 11 Kogi governorship poll in the middle belt State, disclosed that his government will be built on equity, fairness and justice as he would run an inclusive government if elected into office. According to a statement released on Saturday by Melayes media team, the PDP candidate spoke during a visit to the palace of Abdulrazaq Isa Koto, Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfi. The former senator representing Kogi West who said he would run the State with the fear of God if elected, added that he would be a governor for all regardless of ethnic differences. As youre aware, His Royal Majesty, in the space of 4 years as senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I did 19 projects in your Kogi LGA. I have a very special relationship with Kogi and by the grace of God, when elected as governor, Ill focus attention on the needs of our people, particularly the ecological challenges in this area, the PDP candidate vowed. READ ALSO: Dino Melaye Wins Kogi PDP Guber Primary We are not unaware that the major business in this area is agriculture, trading and transportation. We shall make these ventures the focus of our administration by providing incentives that will encourage our people. I will be a Kogi governor that will govern our state with the fear of God. I will run an all-inclusive governance not as an Igala, Ebira, Okun, Kakanda, Bassa, Koto or Nupe governor but as a governor for all under the guidance of the Almighty God. I congratulate you as the leader of the Kogi west traditional rulers and I pray that under your leadership, Kogi West will produce a governor. I, therefore, seek your blessings as we go into the polls. Recall that on April 16, Melaye won the PDP primary for the Kogi gubernatorial election scheduled for November 11, defeating Idoko Ilonah, his closest challenger by 189 votes. The Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO), has confirmed that the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has disconnected major feeders that supply electricity to its franchise areas. Information Nigeria reports that TCN had last week disclosed that it has disconnected the Kano, Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company and Aba Power Limited Electric (APLE), for failing to adhere to rules governing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and for failing to meet up with their financial obligations. According to TCN, the three companies failed to produce their Bank Guarantees when it was demanded for by the Market Operator, an arm of the TCN. TCN said, Recently the Market Operator suspended APLE Electric Limited, Kano and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Companies for breach of the Market Rules, which governs and sanitizes the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Due diligence was observed by the Market Operator before issuing the suspension/disconnection order which is in accordance with procedures of the rules guiding the market. This is to ensure the preservation of the Market and that non-compliant Participants are held accountable for their actions. READ ALSO: FG To Add 817 Megawatts To National Grid: TCN Abdulazeez Abdullahi, Head, Corporate Communication, KAEDCO, confirming the disconnection at the weekend, apologised to its customers, assuring that the company was engaging with stakeholders to have the issue resolved. His words: The outage which has entered its 5th day has affected parts of Kaduna metropolis including, Ahmadu Bello Way, Gwamna Road, Poly Road, Isa Kaita, Lugard Hall, Rabah Road, Kurmin Mashi, Abakpa, Mogadishu, Tudun Wada among others. We understand that this is a frustrating and inconvenient situation for you, and we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience that it has caused. We want to assure you that our team has been working around the clock engaging relevant stakeholders to resolve the issue. We understand that electricity is vital to businesses and livelihoods, he added. Chijoke James, the chairman of Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, in a chat with Vanguard on Saturday, condemned the actions of the operators that have left millions of Nigerians without public power supply. Over the years, consumers have been at the receiving end of arbitrary behaviour from the operators. Both the government that regulates the sector and the operators have scant respect for consumers. They do not care about us and treat us like we are least important in the power supply equation. While bills and tariffs keep going up, the value of service keeps decreasing. Im not surprised at what is going on in Aba, Kaduna and Kano. At the end of the month those without meters will still get bills for what they have not consumed. It is the nature of the industry, he said. After permit withdrawal, the Federal Government has granted the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) permission to use Eagle Square in Abuja for the May Day celebration. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Employment, disclosed this on Saturday in a statement signed by the Ministrys Director of Press and Public Relations, Olajide Oshundun. Information Nigeria reports that the NLC had announced that the FG, acting through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), had withdrawn the permit granted the NLC to use the Eagle Square for this years May Day celebration. According to the union, the permit was revoked for reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu. However Ngige, having contacted the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, said the initial denial was attributed to some overzealous officials of the FCDA, acting without his authority. Following his consultation with the FCT minister, Ngige noted the NLC had been asked to go ahead with its preparation for the workers day celebration at the Eagle Square, which the president, ministers, other top government officials and the diplomatic missions were expected to attend. The statement read, The attention of the Honourable Minister has been drawn to press releases and statements in the media that the Federal Government disapproved of the NLC using the Eagle Square for the annual May Day parade for reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Tinubu. READ ALSO: Buhari Wouldve Set Nigeria On Fire With Fuel Subsidy Removal NLC, TUC On receiving the report, the Minister contacted his colleague, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, who blamed the development on some overzealous officials, acting without his authority, as well as a minor communication gap between the FCDA, the Federal Government Transition Committee and the NLC. It was actually the contractor handling the renovation of the Eagle Square that informed the Transition Committee for the handover ceremony that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by the President. Consequently, the FCT Minister assured the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment that the place is available for NLC to use on May 1st, which is the workers day. This May Day is the last in the life of this administration. The NLC parade belongs to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions and members of the public. The President, Ministers and others cannot shut themselves out. The Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals. All invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, the diplomatic missions and the international partners. The Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment has been in touch with the leadership of organised Labour led by Comrade Joe Ajaero and has briefed them on these developments and equally extended the apologies of the Honourable Minister of FCT for the unintended embarrassment occasioned by the action of their officials who misinterpreted the general intention and work plan of one month of Messrs Julius Berger the company in charge of the renovation of the Eagle Square for the May 29 inauguration to also include May 1, 2023. Son of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Seyi, has assured Nigerians of a better country and a renewed hope once the incoming administration hits the ground running. Seyi gave the assurance on Saturday in Abuja when he joined other supporters of Tinubu at the Day 34 of the pre-inauguration hangout at the Unity Fountain. Information Nigeria reports that the daily pre-inauguration hangout which began March 26, was organised by a political pressure group, Patriots in Defense of Democracy. Upon arrival at the venue, News Agency of Nigeria reports that Seyi along with his team, was ushered in with various scintillating cultural displays. He further commended all admirers present at the hangout and assured youths that the incoming administration would give priority to their needs in all areas, particularly in appointive positions. READ ALSO: Do Free Concert For Your Fans, Seyi Tinubu Tells Davido Tosin Adeyanju, the groups convener said the daily pre-inauguration hangout was in solidarity with the mandate freely given by Nigerians to Tinubu. According to him, the hangout was aimed at redirecting the ongoing narratives about the presidential election and the emergence of Mr Tinubu as the president-elect. Adeyanju said that the hangout would continue until May 29, when Tinubu would be sworn in as the countrys 16th democratically elected president. The attendees had been here for 34 days now to chase out anti-democracy preachers as well as to stand on the mandate freely given to Mr Tinubu, the President-elect. We have had several events, including a medical outreach to bring health facility closer to the attendees as a way to adding colour to the hangout, he said. The convener added that the hangout was being sustained by contributions from friends and Tinubus well-wishers. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have seized 126 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, weighing 63 kilograms concealed in a used Toyota Corolla car imported from Toronto, Canada at the Tincan port in Lagos. This is even as an attempt by a freight agent, Mordi Chukwuemeka Samuel, to export 900 grams of the same substance, Loud, hidden inside walls of a travelling bag containing food items, to Kenya, was thwarted by NDLEA officers at the SAHCO export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos on Saturday 29th April. READ ALSO: NDLEA Arrests Edo Cripple Who Sells Drugs While On Wheelchair Spokesman of the Agency, Femi Babafemi said that When Modi presented the bag, which he claimed contained food items for export, operatives noticed that in the course of searching the consignment, the side walls of the bag were unevenly bloated, after which they dismantled the false packings and recovered the illicit substance. The previous day, Friday 28th April, NDLEA operatives at the Tincan port intercepted 63kg Canadian Loud packed in bags in the boot of one of the five used vehicles in a container marked, TLLU4840762 coming from Toronto via Montreal, during a joint examination with other stakeholders at the port. Similarly, men of the Agencys Directorate of Operations and Investigation, DOGI, attached to courier firms also on Thursday 27th April intercepted 1.53kg skunk concealed in old hard drives meant for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirate. In Benue, operatives recovered 859 bottles of Codeine based Syrup weighing 117.3kg abandoned by a suspected dealer about two kilometers away from NDLEA checkpoint along Enugu Otukpo road on Wednesday 26th April. Two suspects: Kabiru Muhammed, 35, and Isah Muhammed, 28, were arrested with 20 blocks of cannabis weighing 11.2kg concealed in a bag of cassava flakes (garri) along Zaria-Kano road, Kano on Friday 28th April. No fewer than seven bags of cannabis with a gross weight of 74.5kg were recovered when operatives raided an uncompleted building located in a bush in Ala town, Akure area of Ondo state. Also, 60kg of the same substance concealed among footwear in two jumbo sacks was recovered from one Aminu Mohammed along Ibadan Oyo road, Oyo state while waiting to board a vehicle to Kebbi State. In Adamawa state, NDLEA operatives on Saturday 29th April raided a clandestine factory in Mubi, where a new psychoactive substance, Akuskura, was being produced in large quantity and distributed to Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic. At the time of the raid, production activities were ongoing in the premises. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) has commended the officers and men of MMIA, Tincan, DOGI, Kano, Ondo, Oyo, Benue and Adamawa Commands of the Agency for their vigilance and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities. He charged them and their colleagues across the country not to rest on their oars. See photos below: The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has accused the two main opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) of being fraudulent over their claims that the 2023 presidential election was marred by rigging. Mohammed urged the opposition should stop their endless griping over the 2023 presidential election which they lost woefully. According to the minister in a statement, issued on Sunday, he said President Muhammadu Buharis analysis of the reasons for the oppositions loss in the 2023 elections was incontrovertible. Lai Mohammed said the opposition lost the election because of their overconfidence and complacency. READ MORE: Buhari Will End Tenure With Legacy Of Quality Healthcare Delivery Lai Mohammed He added that the President deserves nothing but accolades for delivering undoubtedly the best election in Nigerias history, adding that the tempestuous but predictable reaction to the Presidents comments by the opposition has shown them for what they are: shameless sore losers. President Muhammadu Buhari lived up to his billing by delivering a free, fair and credible election, and his legacy is assured. The President would rather lose his state and many of his partys strongholds than tamper with the fidelity of the election, and that is why he provided a level playing field for all parties, Mohammed said. Mohammed claimed the oppositions overconfidence going into the election stemmed in part, from the blitzkrieg of social media propaganda as well as faulty and procured opinion polls, which were meant to hoodwink their foreign backers and a section of the international media into uncritically reporting that they were coasting home to victory when they were indeed heading into the ravine of defeat. The Minister said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, won the presidential election fair and square, clinching the majority of the votes cast and surpassing the constitutionally-stipulated 25% of votes cast. The Federal Government has reacted to the public outcry in some quarters over the exorbitant rate it had to pay for the buses hired to evacuate Nigerians from Sudan to Egypt owing to the ongoing conflict in the Sudan. The government in a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD) on Saturday explained that it paid the sum of $1.2 million to hire the buses because negotiations were done in a condition of war and there were competing demands for the same buses from other countries. According to the statement signed by the Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary (MFA), Janet Olisa and FMHADMSD Permanent Secretary, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the noise about the amount paid for the buses is uncalled for. READ ALSO: Sudan: Some Of Us Are Contributing Transport Fare To Egypt Nigerian Student The general public is also advised to discountenance unverified information being circulated on social media as some of them are either due to ignorance or sheer mischief. The outcry over the negotiated sum of $1.2 million for the buses hired for the exercise, is uncalled for. The amount in question was negotiated in a condition of war and where there are competing demands for the same bus services by other countries also trying to evacuate their citizens. Therefore, cooperation and understanding of all and sundry are required to complement ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring the safe return of every Nigerian trapped in Sudan. Funds released by the government to hire 40 buses to convey stranded Nigerians from Sudan to Egypt was said to have been paid to an undisclosed transport company on Tuesday at 12:37 pm by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The affected Nigerians are expected to be airlifted from Egypt back to the country. Just few weeks to presidential inauguration, the Nigeria President-elect Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos, days after he returned to Nigeria from a four-week stay in Europe. Tinubus return put dead to speculation by a section of members of the opposition political parties and his adversaries that he may not be on hand to take over power after the end of President Muhammadu Buharis tenure in May 29, due to ill- health. Recall that Tinubu, while addressing his supporters, after returning from France, he said, Let me take some rest for tonight after a long flight. Eat some Amala and Ewedu. After that, sleep a little, and then tomorrow, well meet. On rumours about his health, Tinubu said, Whatever they like, they speculate. Im healthy, sound, and okay. READ MORE: Jubilation In Abuja As President-Elect, Tinubu, Wife, Return From France The two times Lagos State governor arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigerias commercial capital on Saturday evening. Tinubu was received by some of his associates amongst others. His return to Lagos is coming just one month before his swearing-in alongside Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima. Amtrak personnel help passengers board a new train Saturday after their original train, headed from New York to Washington, struck and killed two juveniles on the tracks in Chester. Read more UPDATE, MAY 1: The children killed by an Amtrak train on Saturday were Chester residents, ages 9 and 12 The two children struck by an Amtrak train and killed in Chester on Saturday were believed to be between the ages of 11 and 13 and may have been part of a group of young people that had gathered at the site of the fatal accident, Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland said Sunday. Details of the incident remained sparse on Sunday, and the identities of the victims were not made available. Were still investigating, said Kirkland. Advertisement According to an Amtrak spokesperson, two people had been trespassing on the tracks near Engle Street, in Chesters West End, when they were struck about 4:30 p.m. by southbound Train 161, which had originated in New York and was headed to Washington. Family members are devastated, Kirkland said, adding that he had spoken to the victims parents. City Council member Stefan Roots, who is running against Kirkland in the mayoral primary, said that he, Kirkland, and council member Will Morgan went to the site after the accident. We were all left speechless, he said in a blog post. No injuries to the trains 368 passengers or crew were reported, Amtrak said in a statement late Saturday night. The incident delayed eight trains, Amtrak said, but travel along Amtraks Northeast Corridor between New York and Washington had largely resumed about 6 p.m. Train 161 remained stalled at the site of the crash for over four hours. In its statement, Amtrak said incidents such as Saturdays serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings. Said Kirkland, We got to pay better attention to our children. He said he recalled a time when your neighborhood was your mother and father. Its different now. My hope is this is something that brings the whole community together. They say theyre not asking to ban books. But when Jackie Best and her fellow members of the local Moms for Liberty chapter ask that books be removed from school libraries, that is exactly what they are attempting. Remove is merely a kinder, gentler word for ban. Just because books arent being burned in the town square doesnt make restricting public access any more acceptable. While its true that many of the books found in todays school libraries are quite different than the ones previous generations of students may have seen, its also true that times change and issues that were barely on the horizon 20 years ago are now part of childrens shared experiences. Preventing access to books that some see as having difficult or disturbing content is not the answer to negotiating challenging times. Know what is? Being parents. As the American Library Association states, Librarians and governing bodies should maintain that parents and only parents have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children and only their children to library resources. AnnaLee Dragon, executive director of the New York Library Association, who is very concerned about the increasing number of book challenges, concurs: The overarching message here is that you get to decide what is right for your family and your children, but you dont get to make that decision for everybody elses family and children. School districts have policies about what to do when books are challenged, including having a committee read the book and recommend what should be done. The material is removed or restricted in the library when a decision to ban the material is made. Such decisions should be few and far between. In addition to having masters degrees in library science, public school librarians are also certified teachers. They are taught to curate well-rounded collections that represent a range of viewpoints, especially on contentious topics. They use award lists, reviews and other publications to inform their choices. This expertise is under attack nationwide. Both the American Library Association and PEN America attest to a surge in book bans. PEN America reported 2,532 instances of books being banned in schools last year, affecting 1,648 unique book titles. About 41% of those were books that tell stories related to LGBTQ people or that have a queer lead or prominent secondary character, according to the report, which also notes that another 40% of the titles have main characters who are people of color, while 21% of titles directly address issues of race and racism. Of the 2,532 bans, 96% were enacted without following the best practice guidelines for book challenges outlined by the American Library Association and the National Coalition Against Censorship. Nationwide, many books are being challenged by those who dont even have school-age children. These challenges are directly connected with a widespread, well-organized conservative movement to remove books about race, history, gender identity, sexuality and reproductive health from Americas public and school libraries. The main objective of this movement is to gain political power for itself by inflaming its constituents. Its a playbook that has become all too common. Moms for Liberty, an organization with 240 chapters in 42 states, and more than 100,000 members, is a leader in the growing nationwide book-banning crusade. The national group, founded in Florida in January 2021, started out fighting masks and Covid-19 precautions; moved on to contest critical race theory, a legal concept that is primarily taught in higher education but has been co-opted by critics to mean any discussions on race; and has also been leading book-banning campaigns across the country. Moms for Liberty chapters have challenged Martin Luther King Jr. and the March to Washington because of photographs of political violence and Ruby Bridges Goes to School because of racist remarks. Whether knowingly or not, the Western New York chapter of Moms for Liberty is an extension of a national movement that has little to do with parenting and everything to do with stirring up the conservative base. As tracked by the American Civil Liberties Union, right-wing targeting of books with LGBTQ+ content is happening in concert with more than 430 anti-LGBTQ+ bills recently introduced in statehouses across the country. All of this is having a chilling effect in school libraries throughout the country. Some librarians have quit after being harassed online. Others have been fired for refusing to remove books from circulation. Librarians should be allowed to do their job and parents should continue to do theirs. As Jackie Best has said, she first got interested in scrutinizing school library books last year, when another parent told her about a book on a summer reading list for a class that Bests high school-age son was taking. This was an elective list, not required reading. It was a choice. Book bans are about removing that choice. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Runners are reflected in a puddle at Broad and Windrim Ave. during the 43rd annual Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run in Philadelphia on Sunday. Read more The rains were a pain for at least some of the 28,000 participants in the Broad Street Run, and forecasters warned that rainfall might become a bigger problem Sunday evening, as what had been an abnormally dry April ends with a serious soaking. A flood watch is up for the entire region until 10 p.m. Sunday with heavier showers and possibly strong thunderstorms possible during the evening, said Sarah Johnson, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly. Some minor tidal flooding was occurring along the back bays in Ocean County, N.J., and Sussex County, Del., the weather service reported, due to a prolonged spell of onshore winds. In the immediate Philly area, the primary threat would be road ponding and street flooding, Johnson said, but no flood-level crests were forecast along any waterways, even though close to 2 inches of rain had fallen officially in Philadelphia through Saturday. Advertisement READ MORE: The wet Broad Street Run in photos. A fresh round of rain got underway midmorning Sunday as the top finishers were breaking the tape at the end of the Blue Cross Broad Street Run, the nations biggest 10-mile race. It was unclear whether the rain threat was a motivation, or pre-rain conditions were especially favorable, but a number of records fell along with the precipitation. The vision of all those soaked runners belied the fact that before Friday, the entire region was having a quite a dry run, which speaks to the generally low probability of stream flooding. From March 1 through the third week in April, rainfall was about half of normal. In fact more than half of all the rain this month fell on Friday and Saturday. READ MORE: Before Friday, it had been quite dry. The sun is due to make at least a cameo appearance Monday, but shower chances return during the afternoon and remain into Wednesday. It will be quite chilly for the first days of May, with highs the low 60s Monday, and perhaps not reaching 60 Tuesday and Wednesday. Normal highs would be around 70. This story will be updated. Christian Watson, 17, looks for medication to fill a prescription. Students from Brimm Medical Arts High School are getting training at the Bell Pharmacy, 1201 Haddon Avenue, Camden on Wednesday morning April 26, 2023, Read more Shortly before the Bell Rexall Pharmacy opened for business in Camdens Parkside neighborhood, a group of students from the nearby Charles Brimm Medical Arts High School arrived for their lesson. The eight seniors are enrolled in a new program believed to be the only one in the state for high school students that provides hands-on experience with pharmacology. They will have a chance to become pharmacy technicians when they graduate in June. It is the latest effort by the South Jersey school system to promote career and technical education by providing students with academic and technical skills and training for a career. Some may pursue college, while others will join the workforce after high school. Were giving our kids hands-on instruction, said Tom Levy, who runs the districts career and technical program. Theyre graduating with skills. Brimm launched the program in September with about 16 students, Levy said. A Camden County College professor gave in-class instruction for a semester that wrapped up in February, he said. Typically, the class is taught at the college level, he said. Advertisement The students took various health-care classes their freshman, sophomore and junior years to learn medical terminology, nutrition, and anatomy and physiology. Brimm, a magnet high school, focuses on exposing and preparing students for careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, and allied health professions. After completing the class work, students were sent to Cooper University Hospital, where they trained in the pharmacy for several weeks, giving them additional exposure to how different pharmacies operate. Their assignment at Bell Rexall Pharmacy began in March and will run through May. READ MORE: To stem the tide of overdose deaths, pharmacies across New Jersey gave out free doses of naloxone The students report to Bell three times a week in groups of four. They get dropped off at the corner pharmacy on Haddon Avenue at a bustling intersection shortly before opening at 9 a.m. On Wednesday, dressed in colorful scrubs, students Ariel McNeil, Raheem Smith, Johnathan Ramos and Christian Watson jumped into action. They unpacked and sorted prescription deliveries that arrived overnight, retrieved messages left by customers, and picked up orders sent by fax. I see it as exciting, said Watson, 17. This is a new opportunity. Why not take it? The students are supervised by Allen Morton, one of several pharmacists on duty, so every step is reviewed for accuracy. They fill prescriptions manually, carefully counting what is dispensed, or use a state-of-the-art automated Parata machine that spits out pills in rapid fashion. Morton said he teaches the students the workflow routine, which they would follow in any retail pharmacy. He also shows them how to work the counter and offer customers a personal touch. Were productive every minute. I like this place a lot, said Ramos, 18. McNeil, 17, carefully checked the inventory in the automated machine. Some of the slots can hold 1,000 pills. She made sure each was labeled with the correct content. I wanted to dive into something else, said McNeil, who is considering studying health and science at Rowan University. Instead of learning everything in a textbook, you get hands-on experience. Smith, 18, said taking the pharmacy classes helped him figure out his future. He believes it is a spiritual calling. When I started learning, I knew I could do it, said Smith. This is going to be a great fit. Watson, who plans to attend college and pursue dreams of becoming an actuary, said he would likely get a job as a pharmacy technician to help pay his expenses. READ MORE: Camdens beloved Bell Pharmacy celebrates its 90th anniversary Anthony V. Minniti, owner, vice president of business development at Bell, and a second-generation pharmacist, welcomed the chance to train students at the pharmacy, which has been in business since 1931. His family purchased the business in 1997. Once licensed, the students will be able to work in settings such as neighborhood pharmacies like Bell, retail chains, hospitals and nursing homes. They can register with the state to become technicians after they graduate. A few already have job offers. Theyre going to be ready to work on Day 1, Minniti said. Theres a whole world thats open to them. During the pandemic, the pharmacy was a hub in Camden, vaccinating thousands of school children and conducting testing for teachers and parents. Back in its heyday, every Camden neighborhood had several pharmacies, according to Minniti. Residents went to the pharmacy for many of their health-care needs, not solely to have prescriptions filled, he said. Today, only a handful of neighborhood pharmacies remain in the nine-square-mile city. The pharmacy was the hub of everything health care, Minniti said. People want that specialized care. From left to right front row are Christopher Rogers, Judith Robinson, Hasan Roland, and Jacquline Wiggins. On stairs in background from left are Kevin Upshur and Salim Ali. Friends of the Henry Ossawa Tanner house gathered outside the row house located at l2908 W. Diamond Street in Philadelphia on Thursday morning, February 24, 2022. Henry Ossawa Tanner was an American artist and the first African-American painter to gain international acclaim. Read more Historic preservation graduate students at the University of Pennsylvania have suggested a number of ideas for future uses of the Henry O. Tanner House in North Philadelphia. Last week, they presented their proposals at the end of a semester-long Preservation Studio workshop. The childhood home of the artist Henry O. Tanner, who studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and later gained international acclaim after moving to Paris, has been deteriorating for years now. Preservationists are scrambling to try to save it. The Friends of the Tanner House, a grassroots group, launched a fund-raising campaign to stabilize the house at 2908 W. Diamond St., after The Inquirer reported last year that the house, a National Historic Landmark, has suffered structural damage. Advertisement The fund-raising campaign is coordinated with the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, which acts as the fiduciary agent. The Friends group also connected with Randall Mason, a professor of historic preservation at Penns Weitzman School of Design to discuss ways to promote salvaging the house. Expansion of historical significance Nearly all of the students said they would first expand the historical significance of the house beyond the artist to include the extended Tanner family, including the Mossell and Alexander relatives. They said future uses for the house should recognize the importance of the family, who across generations made significant contributions in medicine, law, and civil rights. Mason said the eight students who presented on the Tanner House mainly have architectural backgrounds, but some also studied fine art, history, and theology before signing up for the class. One proposal was to establish the Tanner House for African American Art and Culture that would include an artist-in-residence space with an art gallery on the first floor, and the living spaces for an artist on the upper floor. The artist would also give art lessons. Another idea was to convert it into a day-care center on the first and second floors, that would serve the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood, with tenant housing on the third floor. That proposal noted that because Tanner was inspired to become an artist when he walked to Fairmount Park and saw an artist painting at an easel, the day-care center could incorporate art and nature into the educational program for the children. Another said the house would best serve the neighborhood by providing affordable housing. Mason said the students went inside the house a couple of times and used drones to capture photos of the deteriorating roof. Engineering stabilization report Justin Spivey and a team from the engineering firm, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, better known as WJE, served as mentors and guides for the students. The WJE team completed a stabilization report on what needs to be done to keep the house from deteriorating further. The stabilization report said three major corrections must be prioritized: Install shoring posts and walls, per drawings in the report; Remove deteriorated areas of the upper roof and replace with framing and sheathing; Install a temporary roof covering over the entire upper roof. While the house has been badly damaged by water that came in through the shattered roof, Spivey said, I do think the structure can be salvaged. He said that when students visited the house, he guided them to avoid safety hazards. As a structural engineer, Spivey said, I understand how to be in a compromised structure and move around safely. I can guide students through the house, by telling them, Step here, dont go into the middle of that room, dont stand underneath that unstable area of the roof. He said WJE became involved with the project through a combination of paid consulting funded by the Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites and engineers pro bono services, which included meeting with students, answering their questions, and attending the studio review. Our work was also made more cost-effective by [working with] two Penn historic preservation students who, separately from the studio project, helped measure the house and create floor-plan drawings, he said. Christopher Rogers, co-coordinator of Friends of the Tanner House, said he was impressed by the students ideas. But he said the group is also working with Strawberry Mansion community organizations to learn about community proposals as well. For now, the house still belongs to private owners. Michael Thornton, a biology professor at Florida A&M University, said he wants to sell it to a nonprofit organization, which would make it eligible for major grants. But the house has a tangled title and he is making applications through the courts to be able to sell it. Still, Rogers said, Friends of Tanner are seeking contractors to bid on the stabilization work. READ MORE: Once the center of the Black intellectual community in Philadelphia, the Henry O. Tanner House could be demolished Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites The house also fits into Masons role as faculty director of Penns Center for the Preservation of Civil Rights Sites at the Weitzman School of Design. Tanners father, Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner, of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, served as the editor of the Christian Recorder newspaper, which advocated for newly freed Black Americans. Its such an important Black family in the history of Philadelphia, and the nation. Randall Mason Tanners sister, Dr. Halle Tanner Dillon Johnson, was the first woman to pass the Medical Boards in Alabama. Booker T. Washington, founder of what is now Tuskegee University, visited the Tanner House to persuade her father to allow her to move to the segregated South. She established a nursing school at Tuskegee Institute. Tanners mother, Sara Elizabeth Miller Tanner, was one of 11 children placed on a wagon to escape slavery on the Underground Railroad to freedom in Pennsylvania. Tanners grandniece, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, for whom the Penn Alexander School is named, was both a lawyer and the first Black person male or female to earn a doctorate in economics in 1921. And Judge Raymond Pace Alexander, Sadie Alexanders husband, worked with his wife to file lawsuits challenging segregated schools and theaters, as early as 1924. Its such an important Black family in the history of Philadelphia, and the nation, Mason said. We have to circle back to the fact that this is a National Historic Landmark. We have a responsibility, all of us, not just Black folks and not just folks in North Philadelphia, but all of us to help tell this story because its been forgotten and made invisible over the years. Longtime South Philadelphia resident Ivonne Pinto-Garcia cannot vote. But that didnt stop her from spending a downcast Saturday afternoon hearing from mayoral candidates about their policy priorities at the Community College of Philadelphia. Pinto-Garcia, 42, is an undocumented artist from Mexico. She has a 15-year-old daughter who will be an American voter one day, and wants to make sure her daughter is civically engaged. She was interested in seeing which candidates were on the front line, interacting with our community, she said, in an exchange translated for The Inquirer by Alana Adams, a coordinator with the nonprofit Juntos. The forum was organized by United Voices for Philadelphia, a coalition of city organizations that support refugees and immigrants in Philadelphia, to allow candidates running for municipal office to interact with constituents in advance of the May 16 primary election. Six Democratic mayoral candidates participated, including Warren Bloom, Jeff Brown, James DeLeon, Helen Gym, Cherelle Parker, and Rebecca Rhynhart, while Allan Domb sent a representative in his stead. David Oh, the GOPs mayoral candidate, also fielded questions from attendees. Among Pinto-Garcias policy priorities: being able to obtain a drivers license. Another attendee, Tina Tran, a Temple University pharmacy professor and immigrant from Vietnam, wanted to hear about plans to make health care more accessible to immigrants as she helps her parents address their medical issues. Advertisement Much immigration policy is federal, and states control consequential decisions about whether to allow undocumented residents to get drivers licenses or how to cover them in insurance plans. Philadelphias 100th mayor will necessarily be limited in how much change they can enact, but can still voice support for change. They can decide the extent to which local law enforcement officials cooperate with federal immigration authorities. And they can improve access to city services and economic opportunities among vulnerable populations who may need them but struggle to access them because of linguistic or cultural barriers. Phillys mayoral candidates made pledges along these symbolic and practical lines over the course of the afternoon. Oh supported the idea of giving undocumented immigrants licenses; Gym, Parker and Rhynhart reiterated their support for Philadelphias sanctuary city status; nearly every single candidate wanted to invest in translation and language resources. DeLeon said he would create a cabinet position dedicated to coordinating services for immigrants. For Northeast Philly resident Asmaa Diab, a Syrian refugee and newly minted American citizen, English was a primary hurdle in adapting to American society. She hopes that the city will offer more opportunities for children to access scholarships and practice English, a language she didnt speak when she arrived on American shores seven years ago. This is the first election her family will vote in. I like democracy, she said. Many candidates played up their personal experiences with immigration and immigrants in an effort to connect with attendees. Ohs father started the first Korean-American church in Philadelphia, he said, while DeLeon emphasized his career as an immigration lawyer helping Korean and Hispanic residents. Parker stressed her training as an English as a second language teacher. Gym pointed to her efforts to prevent displacement in Chinatown, while Brown reminisced about his immigrant grandfather. Many attendees were still researching candidates and hadnt settled on supporting just one, though Gym got the loudest round of applause at the conclusion of her speech. But South Philly resident Christina Cokes experience with the American immigration system has her tentatively supporting Browns bid for mayor. Coke, 52, spent many years as an undocumented immigrant, and even stayed in an abusive relationship for a time because she feared deportation, she said. When she eventually did seek legal recourse, she was able to leave her relationship and even secure a visa through a program for survivors of domestic abuse. Shes grateful for her new lease on life, and thats intensified her support for Browns chain, ShopRite, hiring formerly incarcerated people, she said. Coke became an American citizen in 2022, and cast her first vote in a U.S. election in the midterms. At some point in time, I was an illegal immigrant. Did they ultimately hold that against me, that I was here illegally for an amount of time? No, she said. Not everything that you do should define who you are. Amy Nieves-Renz had her 2018 Kia Soul stolen right before Thanksgiving, she is shown here with the vehicle, on her block in Philadelphia. Read more Thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles are rising faster than those of any other manufacturer in Philadelphia after a viral TikTok trend explained how to steal them with just a USB cable and a screwdriver. Car thefts overall have more than doubled in Philadelphia from 2019 to 2022, and most car brands common in the city saw similar increases in reported thefts. But Kia and Hyundai saw nearly 800% and 400% respective spikes in theft reports over the same period, buoyed by the rise of the Kia Boyz Challenge. The TikTok challenge captured For You pages during summer 2022 as a group of Milwaukee teens earned notoriety for building an almost mythic ring of car thieves focused exclusively on Kia and Hyundais. An analysis by The Inquirer found that the trend hit Philadelphia in the last quarter of 2022, when tallies of Kia and Hyundai thefts roughly doubled each month. Now, the Kia Boyz Challenge has left residents without a sense of a safety as TikTok, the car manufacturers, and law enforcement agencies struggle to build a centralized response. Advertisement READ MORE: A national TikTok trend is sparking thefts of Kias and Hyundais in Philadelphia and residents are feeling the impact TikTok said in a statement it is working to remove videos that glorify car theft. Amid a class action lawsuit that alleges the car manufacturers ignored standard theft protections, Kia and Hyundai announced a slate of security software updates that would make it impossible to start older cars without a key in the ignition. Both brands also started a program that provides local law enforcement agencies with steering wheel locks to distribute free of charge. North Philadelphias 35th police district will be distributing steering wheel locks as part of Kia and Hyundais programs on Feb. 28. The crowd at the BUILD Philly mayoral forum before the candidates went on stage. Read more The proposal for a Roosevelt Boulevard extension of the Broad Street subway was the surprise star of Tuesdays mayoral forum on development and construction, as candidates across the ideological spectrum embraced an idea that SEPTA has rejected. The Roosevelt Boulevard project I think is a really interesting one that could benefit a huge number of Philadelphia residents, said Rebecca Rhynhart, the former city controller, when asked how she would marshal federal infrastructure funding from the Biden administration. Former Councilmember and real estate magnate Allan Domb echoed her interest, as did all of the candidates (except grocer Jeff Brown) when asked to theoretically select between that project, a Navy Yard extension of the Broad Street line, or capping parts of I-676 and I-95. The answer highlighted both a lack of dissension among the candidates there was almost no visible conflict at the event and the way that some new ideas have penetrated the often insular conventional wisdom of Philadelphia politics. (Those hoping for rent control will likely be disappointed, however. Former Councilmember Helen Gym was the only candidate who didnt answer with an unequivocal negative when asked about the policy.) Advertisement The audience for Tuesdays forum, organized by a coalition of real estate, architectural design, and historic preservation groups, filled much of the Kimmel Centers over-600-seat Perelman Theater. Before the forum, six of the seven major candidates circulated among the assembled developers, architects, and lobbyists, sipping tepid coffee as snow swirled outside. Former Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker was not in attendance. The candidates were given a chance to respond at length about their vision for affordable housing and historic preservation and quickly answer specific questions about issues ranging from remote work for municipal workers to the future of property tax abatements to incentivize development. In the lightning round, the candidates were asked whether they supported the 2019 compromise that reduced by half the value of the 10-year property tax abatement on new residential construction. There seemed to be no appetite to revisit the issue, with the exception of a recent proposal to apply it to affordable housing. Former Councilmember Derek Green noted he would extend such a policy across the city, instead of having district Council members decide where and if to use it. Domb noted that the abatement should also be revisited when it comes to finding new uses for converting commercial offices into residential buildings. Its a tool that we need to start using again on office buildings from City Hall to 20th and JFK to Market, because those buildings are empty, Domb said. We just saw a deal fall out at 1701 Market. We need to figure out how to get that deal back on track. On the question of getting municipal workers back into offices a frequent complaint among the citys real estate industry former Councilmember Maria Quinones Sanchez, Brown, and Domb all said they would end expansive remote work policies for the city workforce. Im for returning everyone to work 100% of the schedule, Brown said. In my business, no one currently works remotely. And why should anyone do it if we [the municipal government] dont set the example? The only hints of conflict between the candidates emerged around Brown, who owns 12 Fresh Grocers and ShopRites in the region. Hes one of the front-runners, according to the few polls of the race (one of which he commissioned). During a segment on housing affordability, Brown stated that councilmanic prerogative the tradition that gives district Council members control of land use in their territory is killing us in this area. We should take away the prerogative for affordable housing. That brought a retort from Rhynhart: There was a mention about councilmanic prerogative. Thats a practice; its not a law, so theres no way to get rid of it. Instead, she said, as mayor, she would work with Council to advance her priorities, a move away from what critics described as Mayor Jim Kenneys unwillingness to confront or negotiate with members to avoid the district-by-district lawmaking that has prevailed under City Council President Darrell L. Clarke. Brown wasnt alone in criticizing prerogative, which also manifests in district members being given precedence on bureaucratic matters in their territory. Domb said that the practice was at the root of much municipal gridlock and corruption, and said he would begin to address it on day one. Councilmanic prerogative is antiquated and and out of step with modern principles of good governance. As mayor, I will issue an Executive Order directing city agencies to cease any deference to councilmanic prerogative in decision-making unless required by law. https://t.co/CewqFqMX3Q Allan Domb (@VoteDomb) March 14, 2023 Brown also said the city should sell off all its vacant properties and end the land bank, an institution created by Quinones Sanchez to bring all municipally owned land under one roof. Many of the vacant parcels in the land bank are in areas that arent ripe for private-sector development, making them difficult to sell although the land bank has come under much criticism for Council interference in sales and, relatedly, difficulties in moving parcels off the citys books even in hot neighborhoods. As the author of the land bank, Im the first to acknowledge that we are underutilizing this important tool, said Quinones Sanchez. The tool is not only about managing land. It is the acquisition of delinquent land, which is the tool that we do not utilize effectively. The forum also touched on historic preservation, with many candidates agreeing that the citys handsomely antiquated built environment is core to its identity and appeal but that many lower-income and working-class Philadelphians need help maintaining rowhouses that mostly predate the Second World War. Domb and Gym, who do not align on much, agreed that the city needed to actually pursue the recommendations of its Historic Preservation Task Force. This first-term Kenney administration initiative suggested that the city create an inventory of unprotected historic buildings and craft incentives to ensure that historically protected properties bring benefit and not just cost to owners. Im interested in strengthening the Historical Commission and support expanded staffing to grow and reevaluate our historical districts, Gym said. Will Harris, of North Philadelphia, leads the audience in singing 'I Need You to Survive' during a vigil and healing event Saturday at Franklin Square Park in Center City. The event marked the annual national Crime Victims' Rights Week observance. Read more Their numbers small but their voices strong, members and supporters of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice held a healing vigil Saturday morning in Franklin Square Park. Seven adults including activists, clergy, and several who have lost loved ones shared stories, sang, and prayed inside the park pavilion as a chilly rain fell. Two of the participants brought along young children. We had people who couldnt be here because of the weather, but the people who are here they need to be here, and we hope when they leave here they will spread the word, said Yolanda Jennings, who heads the Philadelphia chapter of the 180,000-member national grassroots organization. The Franklin Square event also marked the last day of National Crime Victims Rights Week, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice. Im here because Im a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence, and because my only biological sister, Talitha Jennings, was murdered in Inglewood, California, in 2004, said Jennings, who lives in West Philly and is an outreach specialist for a medical case manager. Im here using my voice to help other crime victims become survivors. Advertisement READ MORE: A city-led effort to reach potential shooters has produced encouraging results, Philly officials say Will Harris, a Center City street musician, led the group in a spirited rendition of the contemporary gospel tune I Need You to Survive. With so many shootings in the city and across America, it gets to be a bit too much, because things seem to only get worse, he said. I hope people take away from this vigil knowledge that there are resources out there to help them, and that they stand up with us and let the politicians know that we need assistance, and trauma resource centers, so folks can get mental health services including for people who are incarcerated, said Harris. READ MORE: Rec centers near gun violence hot spots will soon offer trauma therapy: Its something we never had Several of the participants are involved in grassroots and faith-based efforts to assist people who have lost loved ones or been traumatized by Philadelphias gun violence crisis. Others are active in programs to intervene in neighborhood conflicts before violence begins. As of midnight Friday homicide victims in the city so far this year numbered 154, according to the Philadelphia Police Department. All of the work we do as advocates comes from a place of experience, said G. Lamar Stewart, senior pastor of the Taylor Memorial Baptist Church in the citys Nicetown section. The church has established a nonprofit organization, Taylor MADE, that conducts violence interruption work on the streets. Working on the front lines takes courage and commitment, so I want to thank everyone who is doing this work ... and transforming your pain into purpose, said Stewart, who is helping support the city charter school community that has been impacted by Fridays quadruple shooting in the Northeast that killed three teens and injured another. Tanya L. Amir, a church elder at Hesed Empowerment Ministries in Southwest Philly, counsels the grief-stricken members of Love, Life, Healing, and Hope, a Facebook support group she founded three years ago. Some group members have lost loved ones to natural causes, but others are mourning spouses, children, siblings, or friends who have been killed by guns. Some of the stories are horrible, said Amir, who lives in West Philly and works for the city as an accountant. Ive been able to help over 250 people so far. One young lady called and she was so full of rage, because someone posted her big brothers murder on Instagram. North Philly resident Sayonara Tolen said she attended the vigil because my grandson lost his father who was killed on the streets, and I lost my nephew to gun violence. This May 11 it will be a year, said Tolen, who teaches fourth grade at the citys Laboratory Charter School. This is my third event with the Philadelphia chapter. And Im not going to stop. Just a few weeks shy of finishing a year abroad at Temple University, two British students died in a car crash in Upstate New York on Saturday. Francesca Ward, a student at the University of Southampton, and Olivia Moore, from the University of East Anglia, were traveling with two other international students from Temple. According to a police statement, the group was driving west on I-90 through the town of Manchester in western New York when their car exited the roadway and struck a guide rail. Ward and Moore, whose ages were not released, were pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel. The two other students were taken to Clifton Springs Hospital, about 30 miles outside of Rochester, where they were examined and later discharged. Their identities are being withheld by the university to protect their privacy. We are in shock and mourning over this terrible tragedy, wrote Temple President JoAnne A. Epps in a statement, and have reached out to the families of all four students. Deirdre Childress Hopkins, a Temple spokesperson, said that the students were traveling together on a trip not related to university activities. Hopkins said the university wasnt aware of the students itinerary or which one of them was driving at the time of the accident. Right now, we just want to help these families get through the worst day of their lives, said Hopkins. New York State Police are investigating and have not yet provided further details. Kevin Rogers's Kia Soul was found vandalized outside of his home on 47th Street and Baltimore Avenue on Jan 12, 2023. The back right window had been smashed and the ignition had been pulled out. Read more Heres a dystopian sentence: A TikTok trend created by a group of Milwaukee teens has led to a national spike in car thefts, inadvertently causing at least 14 crashes and eight deaths nationwide. Called the Kia Boyz Challenge, the social media trend has over 79 million views on TikTok, spawning hundreds of since-removed videos that demonstrate how to steal older Kia and Hyundai models with just two household items. When the challenge hit Philadelphia in summer 2022, it helped generate respective 400% and 700% increases in Kia and Hyundai thefts. Those rates have persisted in 2023 as both car manufacturers and Philadelphia police struggle to coordinate responses. Heres what to know about the Kia Boyz Challenge, and how you can protect your vehicle from theft. Advertisement READ MORE: A national TikTok trend is sparking thefts of Kias and Hyundais in Philadelphia and residents are feeling the impact How are thieves stealing Kias and Hyundais? The Kia Boyz Challenge teaches viewers how to steal a Kia or Hyundai with a USB cord and screwdriver. Some caveats: The car theft hacks work on turnkey Kia models from 2011 to 2021 and turnkey Hyundai models from 2011 to 2022. Those models lack engine immobilizers, an increasingly standard theft protection that prevents vehicles from starting without a key in the ignition. Kia and Hyundai say impacted models comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, but that hasnt prevented legal challenges: A pending class-action lawsuit against Kia and Hyundai alleges the car manufacturers deliberately chose not to include engine mobilizers as a cost-cutting measure, creating an entire criminal ecosystem. Several major cities are also suing Kia and Hyundai, claiming the lack of theft protections wasted police resources on what couldve been preventable thefts. Philadelphia isnt one of them. What are Kia and Hyundai doing about theft? A few things. Both Kia and Hyundai have offered to send free steering wheel locks to local law enforcement agencies to distribute, but its on officers to reach out. The Philadelphia Police Department confirmed Kia and Hyundai sent steering wheel locks to Districts 12, 18, 19, and 35 after officers reached out in February. Those districts gave away 284 wheel locks before higher-ups halted the program over perceived legal liability issues, leaving over 250 more to sit in storage as officers decided between returning the locks or off-loading them to a third party. READ MORE: As Kia and Hyundai thefts climb in Philly, police halt wheel lock distribution program designed to curb crime Kia and Hyundai are also offering a free-to-install anti-theft software update to some 8 million drivers that lengthens the duration of security alarms and renders it impossible to start turn-to-start vehicles without a key in the ignition. Kia and Hyundai drivers have to go to a dealership to redeem the update, and it only takes an hour to install. If your Kia or Hyundai was stolen, does car insurance cover it? Yes. Casualty or property insurance companies are not allowed to discriminate against clients with stolen Kias or Hyundais based on where it was located at the time of theft, per a recent bulletin from Pennsylvania Acting Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys. Pennsylvania has two laws that ... prohibit insurers from canceling, refusing to review, or refusing to write a motor vehicle insurance policy based on location of a vehicle, Humphreys said in the announcement. However, both State Farm and Progressive have stopped issuing new insurances polices on turn-to-start Kia and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021 in Pennsylvania, citing concerns over how the uptick in thefts has made the cars riskier to insure. Can you be reimbursed for buying theft prevention for your Kia or Hyundai? How? Yes. Both Kia and Hyundai have offered to reimburse drivers who bought a steering wheel lock to protect turn-key Kia and Hyundai models. Heres how reimbursement works for both car brands: The House floor in the Pa. Capitol. The chamber is controlled by Democrats for the first session in more than a decade. Read more Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG Pennsylvania Democrats used the first full week of the session since they solidified their majority in the state House to make their priorities clear: They intend to pass long-requested changes to election administration and antidiscrimination laws. Committees in the House considered dozens of bills last week, and sent more than 40 to the floor for votes by the full chamber. Democrats argue that the half-dozen GOP-sponsored proposals they included in that blitz show they intend to run the chamber in a bipartisan way. All bills, whether introduced by a Democrat or Republican, will be considered if they have a positive impact on Pennsylvania, said Beth Rementer, spokesperson for House Majority Leader Matt Bradford (D., Montgomery). However, the biggest proposals represent top priorities for Democrats alone and advanced out of committee in party-line votes. These include a proposal to ban sexual orientation discrimination in housing, employment, and all other public accommodations, legislation that has been introduced and shut down in Harrisburg for 22 years. Advocates around the Capitol expressed hope that not all these priority bills will get a totally partisan reception on the floor. But Democrats say that after a decade-plus of being stymied in the minority, they feel emboldened to respond to their base. Advertisement We would protest and have events in the main rotunda about bills that were very popular with the public, and they would go nowhere in Harrisburg, State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D., Philadelphia), who chairs the House Insurance Committee, told Spotlight PA. So I think the responsibility is on the likes of me to make sure that those measures are passed out of committee and then ultimately, pass our state House. Read on for Spotlight PAs rundown of key bills that show House Democrats early priorities, and what they say about the way this session could unfold. Election administration A top priority for county administrators got a boost last week when the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee approved a bill that would give counties seven days before each election to open and prepare mail ballots for a final count on Election Day. That process is commonly known as pre-canvassing. It passed without any support from the Republicans on the committee, and state Senate Republicans have already indicated they wont approve it without significant changes. Votebeat previously reported that the bill would also allow counties to accept mail ballots that are undated or lack a secrecy envelope, a so-called naked ballot. In addition, it would require counties to contact voters who forgot to sign the outer envelope of their mail ballot so that they have a chance to fix it. Another change under the bill is that voters would have four fewer days to remotely request a mail ballot tightening the timeline from a week before Election Day to the second Friday before an election. That change matches a common demand from counties for more time to turn around ballot requests. The bills final language also included a provision that would let voters request a mail ballot in person at their county election office until the day before Election Day. That addition raised concerns with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, which represents election workers. Any benefit counties would see by pre-canvassing in the seven days before is likely to be undermined by adding workload, including processing last-minute updates to poll books, during the exact same time, said Lisa Schaefer, executive director of the association, in a statement. Other interest groups are also weighing in. Voting rights advocates have argued that pre-canvassing is a bare minimum update to the law, and hope to see Democrats expand ballot access by approving changes such as same-day voter registration and in-person early voting. As for the GOP-controlled state Senate, theyve made clear they expect an expanded voter ID law to be part of the election conversation. Senate GOP spokesperson Kate Flessner told Votebeat this week that the provision is a key component of any holistic election bill. Threading that needle is now up to new Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and the divided legislature a tall order, but one that State Rep. Scott Conklin (D., Centre), who chairs the House State Government Committee, said must be tried. After 25 years of being elected, I found that not everybody always gets exactly what they want, Conklin said. But if we can come close and do something thats good for the public, thats the most important thing. LGBTQ nondiscrimination After 22 years of repeated introduction and inaction in the legislature, a bill that would ban discrimination against LGBTQ people received a committee vote Monday. LGBTQ people who believe that they have been fired or denied another service on the basis of their sexual orientation can already file a complaint with the Human Relations Commission thanks to a Dec. 2022 administrative change pushed by former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. That policy is based upon the 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Bostock v. Clayton County, which found that the definition of sex in federal law includes sexual orientation and gender identity. Republicans, who unanimously voted against the nondiscrimination bill in committee, pointed to the ruling and the state rule change to argue the proposal was unnecessary. They also brought up concerns that trans individuals would lodge complaints against doctors who refused to provide gender-affirming care, or against domestic violence shelters that refused to host them. But Democrats countered that the absence of a state law leaves Pennsylvanias current nondiscrimination rule vulnerable to being overridden if the federal ruling is ever reversed. We talk about unintended consequences, but lets talk about real consequences when we dont have a state law that protects all LGBTQ Pennsylvanians, said state Rep. LaTasha Mayes (D., Allegheny). During his campaign, Shapiro said making such a change was a top priority and that he would use my political capital to get it done. Public sector workplace safety Even during Republicans years of control of the General Assembly, organized labor always held sway within the halls of the Capitol. When the GOP set the agenda, that influence could be seen in unions successful lobbying efforts against bills they opposed, such as a measure that would have ended the automatic deduction of union political contributions from public paychecks. But with Democrats setting the voting calendar, organized labor, which contributed dollars and man power to Democrats election efforts, now has a chance to further its priorities. It is clear that the current Democratic majority in the House is a pro-worker majority, and we will continue to work with them on policies that improve the lives of AFSCME members and all working people in Pennsylvania, said David Henderson, who heads Pennsylvanias AFSCME Council 13, which represents more than 65,000 workers in the commonwealth. One of those policies advanced this week, as the state House Labor and Industry Committee passed a bill that would create a board to monitor public sector workplaces for safety violations and levy fines of up to $10,000 for noncompliance. It is now before the full chamber. The board would also oversee working conditions at any nonprofit, charity, or other private group receiving grants or appropriations from Federal, State or local government. A study commissioned by Wolf in 2022 to estimate the cost of implementing public sector workplace safety standards found it would take $54.8 million to bring state government workplaces into compliance with such a law. The bill is opposed by associations representing a number of local government bodies, including counties, cities, townships, and municipal authorities, which called for a complete study of workplace injuries and deaths before implementing a board. The expenditures [the bill] would entail, both in diversion of local funds and the cost to the commonwealth of establishing and maintaining a vast new regulatory regime, should be devoted instead to many other pressing and urgent needs, they said in testimony on the bill last month. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, at least four nonfederal government workers died on the job in 2021, the most recent full year for which there are data. Gun access One of the most contentious meetings of lawmakers Wednesday session was in the state House Judiciary Committee, where Democrats put up a slate of bills exclusively related to gun violence. Every vote in the committee passed along party lines, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans voting against. This marks a significant change in the committee, which under Republican control has for years refused to consider legislation that would tighten gun laws. Most recently, the former GOP leader of the committee, state Rep. Rob Kauffman (R., Franklin) blocked gun control bills that Democrats attempted to push through last June after a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, killed nearly 19 students and two teachers. The committee passed bills that would require gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms, mandate background checks for all firearms, establish safe storage rules, and allow a judge to temporarily take away a persons firearms if law enforcement or family members deem them in crisis commonly known as a red flag law. Republicans repeatedly raised concerns about the bills enforceability, with the bulk of their questioning focused on the details of the red flag legislation. State Rep. Joe Hamm (R., Sullivan) questioned whether the judges who would be charged with ordering a persons firearms to be temporarily seized would have the training necessary to determine whether that person was a risk, and argued that the bill could affect law-abiding gun owners. There are many fine judges, but there are certainly others who I would say shouldnt be hearing these types of cases because they dont have the experience, Hamm said. State Rep. Darisha Parker (D., Philadelphia), who sponsored the safe storage bill, said that regardless of the fate of the bills on the House floor, Democrats had to advance stricter gun laws to signal to their voters that they take the issue seriously. And with a key special election approaching in suburban Philadelphia next month that could make or break the partys hold on the lower chamber, Parker said that Democratic voters need proof that their representatives can accomplish top priorities. Now I can go back to my neighborhood and say, This is one of many things I ran on, said wed do, and with your support we can get them done, Parker told Spotlight PA. Brandon Flood, deputy director of advocacy group CeaseFire PA, added that although he believed that there were some useful policy discussions in the committee meeting, some lawmakers complaints about the gun control bills seemed purely partisan. I dont want to impugn anyones character, but certainly it seems like folks werent solutions-based as opposed to nitpicking, Flood said. Hopefully Im wrong about that. WHILE YOURE HERE If you learned something from this story, pay it forward and become a member of Spotlight PA so someone else can in the future at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. A system where dysfunction is baked in. These words by the editorial board were meant to express their hope that endemic dysfunction did not infect the Buffalo Public School system. Let you be the judge. A rank of parked school buses is the image the Buffalo News chose to illustrate this teacher contract signing story. What this image space did not contain is a wide shot of an auditorium crammed with families eagerly watching a cap and gowned procession of smiling graduates lined up to receive a diploma. Nowhere in the story about the teacher pay was there the assertion of how the scholarly accomplishments of the students clearly justified a pay increase. These factors tell the sad truth of the derailment of an education process that was created to provide neighborhood schools for the children of neighborhood homes born to stable traditional man/woman marriages whose children were loved at home and came to school eager to learn. The school buses are mobile escape hatches to daily rescue ill-disciplined children from dysfunctional neighborhoods and broken homes. Instead of a healthy walk to school the children endure a chaotic tri-level school day start and intra-family confusion. But the true message at the heart is teacher pay is meant to compensate them for being professional babysitters. And the proof is the admission in the article that school board members owe their election strictly to teacher union support. Not happy parents. Jack Joyce Buffalo Dwayne Davis headed around the corner from his apartment to Cherry Hill Diner on Sunday afternoon, just as he had done hundreds of times before. He planned to order his usual: a plate of waffles and eggs, with some soup to go. It was going to be my Last Supper there, and I was ready, said Davis, 62. They know how I like it there. He never got to have it. After slinging classics like chipped beef and shrimp salad for 55 years, the shining neon castle known as Cherry Hill Diner served its last dish well before closing time on Sunday. The Route 38 landmark will be replaced by a car wash. By 3 p.m., the place had run out of food, emptied out by a week of emotional regulars crowding in for one last burger or just one more cup of coffee. Davis showed up just after 4 p.m. and had to content himself with a menu to take home, given to him by the staff as a souvenir. Advertisement Its very sad. Its the end of an era, said Margie Buckley, a server at the diner for about four years. There have been a lot of tears around here. Emotions ran high amongst the staff, whom Buckley described as family, despite their various national origins and ages, which range from 17 to Buckleys 67. Locals, too, are both upset and befuddled about the diners fate. As one decades-long regular, John Smarkola, told The Inquirer in January, We need another car wash like we need another Wawa. That is: Not at all. After all, theres another car wash just across the street. Others worry about what will become of the regulars, many of whom are elderly and rely on the diner as a kind of community center. Older people go in there morning and night for their coffee and tea. What goes through my mind is, I wonder if these people are just going to be home alone, said Davis. This is going to have a terrible effect on people on a lot of different levels. The diners demise isnt the outcome that anyone wanted including management. Co-owner Dimitrios Jimmy Manetas, who owns a host of diners across New Jersey, said that at 68, he just needed to downsize. Manetas, who has owned the Cherry Hill Diner for 20 years, tried for two years to find a buyer who would keep the diner as-is, but in the end, he couldnt. The car wash came in and gave us the right price, he said. Im not too happy, but we had no choice. Buckley, for her part, had no hard feelings against management, whom she described as the most respectful and respectable people shes ever worked for. True to that description, the owners did their best not to let anyone go, placing staff at one of Manetas other restaurants, Seven Star Diner in Sewell and Jimmys American Grill in Bordentown. But still, on Sunday, after the last mozzarella sticks were fried and the final burger was flipped, the mood at Cherry Hill Diner was bittersweet. Im very upset, Im very depressed today, to tell you the truth, said Manetas, who was celebrating, mourning, and enjoying one last dinner with his staff in Cherry Hill. Diners are like my babies. After the failure of hard-fought battle to save Fishtown's St. Laurentius Church, the building at Berks and Memphis Streets has been reduced to rubble. Read more Give Jim Kenney this much: He was the first and maybe the last mayoral candidate to take up the cause of Philadelphias beleaguered architectural heritage. Once in office, he convened a promising task force to come up with better strategies for protecting the citys gorgeous old buildings. So, its been frustrating to watch as Mayor Kenney has struggled to convert his good intentions into effective policy. Yes, he did manage to beef up staffing at the woefully understaffed Historical Commission. He also introduced some modest incentives to encourage renovations. But nearly five years after the historic preservation task force issued its final report, his administration still hasnt completed the top item on the groups to-do list: compiling an inventory of preservation-worthy buildings. In the meantime, its pretty much been business as usual. Beloved buildings continue to disappear as they always have, casualties of flagrant neglect and a zoning code that favors new construction. The Historical Commission, always deferential to real estate interests, continues to allow developers great leeway. Despite all Kenneys talk about respecting the citys treasures, we saw the commissions board cut a deal with developer Leo Addimando in 2020 to significantly modify International House on the very day it placed the award-winning student dormitory in West Philadelphia on the citys historic register. Even worse, the board allowed Harvey Spear, who had already razed one historic building from Philadelphias early 19th-century maritime heyday, to demolish a second one at Front and Chestnut. Like the first casualty, it had been deemed structurally unsafe in 2020 after years of neglect. For decades, the citys building officials have been largely incapable of policing owners who let their historic buildings fall apart. And then theres the crater on Jewelers Row, where a hive of artisan workshops once stood. Kenney publicly decried the decision by Toll Bros. to demolish five buildings in the middle of that storied Sansom Street block and even spoke with company executives. Then things proceeded as they always do. Advertisement Philadelphians like to proclaim, Its a Philly thing when our city behaves in a way that is authentic and counters the homogenizing trends in American life. There is no doubt in my mind that the origins of our quirky municipal spirit are rooted in the citys unique physical form its tight blocks of rowhouses, its dense, but cozy, neighborhoods that orbit around familiar churches, firehouses and local shopping streets. If that form disappears, so does the Philly thing. Attitudes shifting toward preservation What keeps me from despairing over that possibility is the change in public attitudes toward preservation over the last few years. Kenney and the Historical Commission deserve some of the credit for the shift. But so do members of City Council. For a long time, Philadelphias preservation battles centered primarily on individual landmarks, such as the Boyd Theatre, St. Laurentius Church, the Frankford Chocolate & Candy factory. Theres no doubt those glorious buildings were familiar touchstones that resonated with many Philadelphians. But in a city distinguished more by ensembles of buildings and the cultural memories embedded in them, its not enough to fight for stand-alone monuments; its more important to concentrate our efforts on protecting places. The way to do that is by creating historic districts. The Historical Commission did a pretty good job of designating those districts in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Yet some neighborhoods resented that approach. The push for districts happened to coincide with the beginning of the citys building boom and, by extension, an acceleration in gentrification. Historic districts were seen as harbingers of neighborhood change. Fearful that a historic designation would increase the cost of home repairs, and eventually force them out of their homes, residents fought against the creation of historic districts, sometimes going as far as deriding preservationists as Nazis. As a result of that backlash, some district Council members at the time, including Curtis Jones and Jannie Blackwell, shut down plans for more historic districts. Efforts to protect Spruce Hills spectacular Victorian townhouses and Overbrook Farms grand stone homes were suspended. So were plans for a district around Washington Square a designation that might have saved Jewelers Row. Between 2011 and 2017, not a single historic district was approved in the city. It soon became clear that blocking historic districts did nothing to put a brake on gentrification. Instead, it simply freed developers to scour neighborhoods for unprotected buildings that could be replaced with larger structures. The leafy northwest neighborhoods Roxborough, Wissahickon and Mount Airy took an especially heavy beating. So did the neighborhoods around Drexel and Temple Universities. It got to the point where perfectly good, fully occupied, three-story buildings were being torn down so developers could build four-story ones. And the rents in those new buildings were nearly always higher than before. Jones was the first Council member to have a change of heart about historic districts. The breaking point came after a developer knocked down a fine Victorian apartment house on Ridge Avenue in Roxborough to build a Wendys drive-thru. Jones introduced a moratorium in 2018 on further demolitions to give preservationists time to create the Ridge Avenue Roxborough Thematic District. A year later, Jones finally green-lighted the long-delayed Overbrook Farms District. The loss of that Roxborough building, known as the Bunting House, was like having a family member taken away, Jones told me. Shortly after the demolition, he came across James Howard Kunstlers classic The Geography of Nowhere, a screed against the rise of sprawl and the loss of authentic, walkable towns, and he realized his district was becoming more generic. Over time, he came to see historic districts as a tool to manage change and preserve neighborhoods. Since then, other Council members have come around to Jones way of thinking. Kenyatta Johnson, who represents the neighborhoods south of Center City, including Graduate Hospital and Point Breeze, helped create a historic district for Black Doctors Row, a stretch of Christian Street that was once a mecca for Black professionals and intellectuals. Despite the celebrated figures who lived there, the rows contribution to Philadelphia history had never been fully acknowledged. Using cultural history rather than architectural quality alone as the supporting basis for the nomination was a watershed moment that made preservation in Philadelphia more inclusive and meaningful, says the Preservation Alliances Paul Steinke. A stealth way to change neighborhoods As is often the case, it can take a brutal demolition to change peoples minds about preservation. Powelton Village, another elegant Victorian neighborhood, had been clamoring for district protection for years. But it wasnt until a developer extracted a pair of townhouses from an intact Lancaster Avenue block one designed in the Italianate style in 1875 that the momentum picked up. After Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, who defeated Blackwell in 2019, gave the effort her blessing, residents pooled $45,000 of their own money to fund the research that led to the creation of a historic district last year. George Poulin, a member of the civic association, says the district would never have been possible under Blackwell, despite the overwhelming desire of neighbors to pursue designation. All told, the Historical Commission has approved the designation of 25 new historic districts during the Kenney years. Just 16 were in place when he came into office. The number of new districts could have been even greater, but the commission still does not have enough staff to vet the requests. Some will argue that historic districts are a stealth way to stop new development and thereby limit the supply of housing. But the districts should really be seen (and used) as a mechanism to manage changing neighborhoods in a more thoughtful way, especially given the anything-goes aspects of Philadelphias zoning code. One of the advantages of historic districts is that they are still flexible enough to permit construction of new buildings. Developers can insert new buildings on empty lots and replace undistinguished buildings, such as gas stations and garages, with larger structures. Overbuilds are also permitted. When Jones helped establish the Overbrook Farms historic district, the boundaries were drawn to ensure that high-density development could still occur on Market Street. It makes sense to concentrate dense construction on wide, transit-oriented streets such as Market, while protecting the more intimate feel of rowhouse blocks. Another way to gain flexibility would be to create a less restrictive type of historic district, known as Neighborhood Conservation District, which would permit more latitude with renovations. Establishing a tiered system was one of the task forces top recommendations. Although working out the details has been tricky, city planners could produce new rules before Kenneys term expires. While the issue of historic preservation has hardly rated a mention during this mayoral campaign, that doesnt mean the public isnt interested. Its clear that housing affordability and gentrification are very much on voters minds. They may not use the word preservation, but their concerns are deeply intertwined with the fate of Philadelphias architectural heritage. There are currently no standards that the beauty industry must meet in order to market their products as sustainable. The industry itself has implemented a broad range of strategies to actively contribute to the sectors sustainability and there are calls to regulate the use of terms such as clean and sustainable. However, greenwashing, the exaggeration of a companys environmental credentials, continues to occur. The Net Zero Reality check report recently unveiled by climate consultancy the Carbon Trusts Net Zero Intelligence Unit states that the beauty and personal care sector has not yet demonstrated the urgency and credibility needed to effectively tackle its contribution to climate change. The report, looked at the sustainable practices of the large players within the industry, suggesting that companies shift their focus towards actively pursuing change and reducing their largest sources of emissions. An environmentally-conscious approach to beauty isnt simple but small business is already looking to these changes as a matter of choice over lining their pockets. Mark Walton of Voya Mark Walton and his wife Kira began their journey with a pot in their kitchen as they created new products and developed ideas for Voya, an award-winning organic lifestyle brand which promotes sustainable organic luxury. With certified organic skincare, Voyas story is embedded in innovation, integrity, and respect for the sea. The development of organic products has always been in the DNA of Voya with the concept of organic, sustainability, the lifecycle of products, their development, and the impact on the environment being very much their business ethos. VOYA Lazy Days Seaweed Bath All our products are certified organic, says Walton, and thats really important because there are a lot of brands which claim to be natural, organic, but theyre not certified as such. But it comes down to profitability in business. Everything that we do like organic certification adds 30 to 40% to your base cost or sustainable packaging may add 50%. So, its frustrating to see companies greenwashing. When asked whether he thinks that sustainability is a barrier to the beauty industry in a business or cost-effective sense, Walton says that what small businesses like Voya can achieve would essentially erode the profits dramatically of larger companies such as Unilever. But our company and the targets we set are a lifestyle choice for us, he says. Its hard for people who are starting off and to them I say, do what you can when you can. COMMITTED APPROACH With companies such as Boots Ireland, a member of the Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), long been embedded in the need for sustainable applications, their committed approach recognises that healthy communities also need a healthy planet, assuring the way they work cares for the environment and positively impacts communities. In the 2022 Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) Environmental, Social, and Governance report Senior Vice President, and Global Chief Commercial Officer, Annie Murphy said, Our goals are ambitious, but theyre absolutely necessary. I know WBAs customers are conscious of how the choices they make impact the planet. So is our team. Together, we want to offer simple solutions to show our commitment to this movement. The Body Shop's almond milk and honey body butter Similarly, The Body Shop, believes there is a more sustainable way of living and has developed programmes and partnerships that will activate change. As a leader in social and environmental justice for over 40 years, the company is dedicated to being as ethical, sustainable, and inclusive as possible. This work is vital and urgent, but challenging, said CEO David Boynton in the 2021 Body Shop Sustainability report. Its only possible because, right across The Body Shop family, thousands of people share the same vision, grit, and determination. We have many challenges ahead but, together, were achieving great things. Advocates for sustainable products and brands, are alive and well in Ireland, as the trend towards disrupting the beauty industry in this way is at the forefront of Irish companies who consciously choose and work towards sustainable products and practices. Helena McMahon of Seabody CULTURES OF SUSTAINABILITY Seabody, a Kerry-based wellness and beauty brand, won the Guaranteed Irish Best Beauty Brand Award this year and was selected to feature at this years Cosmoprof Exhibition in Bologna, Italy. At Seabody we have our hero ingredients such as our novel marine bioactives, says co-founder Dr Helena McMahon, and our Pentabrite eye serum, which is becoming our hero product and features in the Not So Trashy category of the Cosmotrends report. We have an upcycled blueberry extract as well, so not only do we produce our own ingredients sustainably, but we also spend a lot of time curating and sourcing ingredients that are of a shared ethos with our company. Seabody Moment Gift Set 144 from seabody.com. As a business focusing on a culture of sustainability, McMahon recognises that the practices involved throughout are of a very high standard. Additional hurdles are placed in front of us in terms of how we innovate and all of the choices that we make within a business, she says. But I dont look at it as a barrier. I look at it as a principle that can drive sustainable innovation. Its another way of making decisions that will enable you to create products that are more sustainable because of how we select the core ingredients, because of the packaging choices we make, and because we look at society around us. McMahon advises that the ESG framework is a good place to begin when setting out on a business embedded within a sustainable journey. Its not just the product that you want to be sustainable, she says. Your business needs to be sustainable too. Its no good in isolation, saying, look at this amazing product with great sustainability credentials. Looking within the company, around your energy usage, your water usage, your waste usage is when you start to transition to a sustainable business. There are so many challenges along the way, says Donagh Quigley, founder of The Handmade Soap Company. The only truly sustainable business is the one that doesnt exist. We need to continually ask the questions; how can I minimise my impact and how can I contribute to the greater good? Anam deodorant by the Handmade Soap Company INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATIONS The Handmade Soap Company, known as Irelands kindest brand, has become the first Irish personal care brand to be awarded the international B Corp accreditation, which is the leading worldwide business accreditation that verifies social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Receiving the B Corp accreditation was one of Quigleys proudest moments as B Corp is a global movement using business as a force for good, and we are extremely happy to now be a part of that change. Quigley, whose journey began as he and his wife made soaps by hand in the kitchen and who continue to advocate for the kinder things in life, believes that for businesses to ultimately be sustainable, you have to take positive actions and offset the negative actions. Our thinking is that everything we do along the way is a stepping stone to get to that bigger change, he says. Nothing we do at this moment in time is going to be the perfect solution, nor do we want to tout it as such. But what we try to do is use the best technology thats available to us and when better technology comes along, we will invest in it and embrace it. The intention for the growth of The Handmade Soap Company is to continue its ethos of sustainability and grow with the industry in the right direction. In terms of disrupting the beauty industry, the focus on sustainability is a driver for innovation, for creating not only new and consumer-led products but positive business practices creating collaboration, and solutions, and driving real change in the industry. Trade unionist Mick Lynch has told a crowd of workers and activists that the ultra right is causing division during the cost-of-living crisis, and it should be resisted. He also praised unions across Northern Ireland that had taken industrial action in recent months, and called for the trade union movement to begin in every town and county, saying that people were ready for change. The general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said he has received a tremendous welcome as he met and marched with activists and trade unions through Belfast. Mr Lynch rose to prominence last summer following a series of media interviews about a rail workers strike held in the UK in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions. The trade union leader, whose father left Cork city in 1941 to travel to Britain to work, and whose mother is from Co Armagh, addressed a rally gathered at Belfast City Hall on Saturday. Addressing trade union groups including Unison, Nipsa, Unite and the Northern Ireland Teachers Council, who have all taken industrial action in recent months, Mr Lynch said that the values of the trade union movement are back on the agenda. Mick Lynch (James Manning/PA) He said that nurses in Britain are on the move towards industrial action following on from strikes by nurses in Northern Ireland, which was met with applause. The trade unionists on this island are the salt of the earth, and theyve kept the movement going through thick and thin, through all the struggles that youve had, the struggles for peace and justice and democracy. Its been the trade unions that have kept our spirits alive, that have kept this movement going, bringing all of our people together, no matter what their heritage, no matter what their background, and we have to keep doing it. Because we know whats being said: the ultra right are going to exploit division. Theyre seeking to do it in the south, theyre seeking to do it up here. Theyre seeking to do it in England. He said that open Nazis are trying to divide our people one from another, by trying to blame some of the poorest people in the world for our problems over here. We cannot allow that to happen, he said. He added: Weve been going into the temples, the mosques, the synagogues, bringing everyone together. And thats our task: to build a labour movement that reflects all of our working class people and brings them together behind our values and not allow others to exploit them and create that division. We have to celebrate our diversity. Diversity is wonderful, but solidarity and unity is powerful, and thats what we got to build. He warned against authorities using global crises for denying workers better pay and conditions. They can dress it up wherever they want, they can blame it on the pandemic. They can blame it on the economy. Now theyre blaming it on a war in eastern Europe. What is to blame is capitalism, exploitation, the deliberate creation of poverty so that they can enrich themselves and weve got to stand up to that. As trade union members gathered in Writers Square ahead of the march through Belfast, Mr Lynch was asked to pose for pictures and selfies with workers bearing various trade union banners. He was given a small bust of the founder of the Irish Labour party James Connelly, a book about the history of trade unions in Ireland and pinned a University and College Union badge given to him to his jacket. As he began to address, he praised the prominence of women in Northern Ireland in the trade union movement, after the crowd was addressed by leaders including Unisons Patricia McKeowan and Unites Susan Fitzgerald. Ictu assistant general secretary Gerry Murphy said Mr Lynch was addressing the May Day march as every trade unionist across these islands, and many outside our movement, have been inspired and encouraged by the wisdom and clarity offered by Mr Lynch. In a series of media interviews which became internet phenomena, Mick ignored attempts to sideline the justified demands of his members by trivial and stereotypical questioning, and instead outlined their just cause for decent pay and working conditions with style and wit, he said. By doing so, Mick has assisted trade union representatives from every sector of our economy and society to explain with clarity why so many working people are taking the principled and initially costly decision to vote for strike action. Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of his address, Mr Lynch said the warm welcome he received as he walked through the streets of Belfast with trade unions in Northern Ireland was not unusual. Some people applauded the RMT general secretary as he held an Ictu banner and marched with workers towards Belfast City Hall, while one man went to shake his hand. Mr Lynch told the PA news agency he tends to get a good reception across Britain and Ireland. People are reaching out to trade unions, they want to hear the message and they want to show their support. So its all good stuff. When asked does the support of punters put pressure on him personally to deliver a deal for the RMT, he said: Youre always under pressure and thats a good thing. Youve got to deliver, and our members have shown their commitment to our campaigns, to our industrial action and its my job to get them a deal. Were working on that, but weve got a very tough opponent. The Tories dont want to give anyone anything, just 4-5% norm. He said that having all workers on zero-hour contracts would be degrading, saying: We cant have that, thats a degrading of the workplace and it degrades society in the long run, so weve got to fight that, for our people. On Thursday, RMT said rail workers at 14 train operators would strike on the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final after the latest offer aimed at resolving the pay dispute was rejected. Almost half of people believe Mary Lou McDonalds statement that she would not have allowed Jonathan Dowdall to be a councillor for the party if she knew he was involved in criminality, a poll has indicated. According to the survey conducted by Red C Research on behalf of the Business Post, around 45% of people said they believe the Sinn Fein leader, with some 37% saying they did not believe her, while 19% said that they did not know. The Red C poll also found that people were split on whether they trusted a Sinn Fein justice minister to fight organised crime groups and subversive activity, with 43% of people saying they would not trust the party and 41% saying they would. Sixteen percent said they did not know. Had I known what he would become involved in, he would not have been a party member for one minute, never mind running for public office I would not tolerate that Dowdall, who worked as an electrician and businessman, is serving a four-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016. He had been a Dublin City councillor for Sinn Fein from May 2014 until he quit the party in October 2015. Dowdall was a key witness in the States unsuccessful case against Gerry The Monk Hutch in the non-jury Special Criminal Court, during which some evidence sparked questions being asked of Sinn Fein. Among the evidence heard was a taped conversation of Dowdall from 2016 that suggested Sinn Fein officials knew about a 2011 gun attack on the home of his uncle, which the government has said undermined Ms McDonalds claim that the party had no knowledge of Dowdalls involvement in criminality. Ms McDonald and Sinn Fein have strenuously denied evidence heard during the trial, including that Mr Hutch had donated money to the party calling the claims false and deeply offensive. The verdict, read out by Ms Justice Tara Burns, raised repeated concerns about Dowdalls relationship with the truth, and suggested that he had offered to testify out of his own self-interest. Former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall being cross-examined during the trial at the Special Criminal Court, Dublin, of Gerry The Monk Hutch (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Ms Justice Burns said a video of Gardai interviewing Dowdall in May 2016 make for very uncomfortable viewing and that the manner in which he told convincing lies to gardai was extremely concerning. Ms Justice Burns also said Dowdall was extremely reluctant to fill in details around the Regency murder trial, including about his relationship with an infamous and dangerous IRA terrorist Pearse McAuley. She said Dowdall had only accepted his friendship with McAuley after prison records showed 14 booked visits; Dowdall had initially said he visited McAuley on two or three occasions. She said Dowdall had told a barefaced lie to hide the friendship with McAuley which he had bizarrely not envisaged being questioned about. In the wake of the verdict, Sinn Fein issued a statement from Ms McDonald saying that Dowdall should never have been a member of the party. Had I known what he would become involved in, he would not have been a party member for one minute, never mind running for public office I would not tolerate that, Ms McDonald said. Dowdall was also given an eight-year sentence for false imprisonment and other charges relating to evidence on a USB key found during a search of his house as part of the Regency murder investigation. Gardai found on the USB stick a recording of Dowdall and his father Patrick torturing an individual in the garage of their home in January 2015. The man was tied to a chair with cable ties, waterboarded with a tea towel, had his head shaved and was threatened with being maimed or killed over the course of two hours. Latest @businessposthq political polling figures suggest a very stable voter landscape so far this year. pic.twitter.com/GDUUjSSkYS RED C Research (@REDCResearch) April 30, 2023 The Sunday Business Post Red C Research poll also shows that support for Sinn Fein and Fine Gael remains unchanged compared with last month, at 31%, and 22% respectively. Fianna Fail is up by one point to 16%, as is the Green Party, which is now on 4%. The Social Democrats are down by one point to 5%, Labour is unchanged at 4%, People Before Profit-Solidarity are down a percentage point to 2%, and Aontu remains at 2%. The brother of an Irish man killed fighting in Ukraine has paid tribute to his clear-eyed bravery and said he was against all forms of imperialism be it US, British or Russian. Finbar Cafferkey, who was in his 40s, was killed while battling Russian forces in eastern Ukraine, his family confirmed on Thursday. He was a military volunteer with previous combat experience in Syria where he assisted Kurdish militia in their battle against ISIS. He had recently travelled to Ukraine to assist local forces there. Tributes to Mr Cafferkey from the Tanaiste prompted a warning from the Russian embassy in Ireland and then further calls to expel the Russian ambassador from the country. In a statement, Mr Cafferkey's brother Colm paid tribute to a man who was always fair minded, strong willed and unafraid. [Finbar] stood against all forms of imperialism, be it US, British, or Russian and was strongly opposed to Irelands support of US troops and any moves toward joining NATO, he said. He was in Ukraine to help the Ukranian people, as he would have helped any person in the world who was under attack. I loved him and always admired his clear eyed bravery. Russian Ambassador to Ireland Yuri Filatov. Photo Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the Governments position is crystal clear and its support for Ukraine is unwavering. The department said it would be maintaining its current diplomatic relationship with Russia but also hit out at Russian disinformation. It came after a chilling statement from the Russian Embassy in Ireland on Friday evening, which warned Ireland will suffer all consequences if Irish citizens are encouraged to fight in Ukraine. The same will happen if Russia considers Ireland a direct participant in the war between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement from the embassy posted on social media. This statement appeared to have been prompted by comments made by Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin about the late Mr Cafferkey. Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin. Mr Martin had said: My deepest sympathies to the Cafferky family on the sad passing of Finbar. He obviously was a young man of clear principles. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the family today. I think the family have asked for privacy, Im not going to comment any further on it at this particular time. Ill allow the family space to grieve what is a very, very sad loss for them. In a statement on Friday evening, the Russian embassy hit out at the Tanaistes remarks. It said: We have noted that on April 28, (the) Tanaiste expressed his sympathies to the family of Finbar Cafferkey. Mr Martin called him obviously a young man of clear principles. We do not know what his principles were. What we do know, though, is that in a very big way it is the Irish Government and media who bear responsibility for the death of Finbar Cafferkey. The statement also claimed the Government and media have been misleading people like Finbar Cafferkey. It added: We do not know if Mr Martins remarks signify support for the Irish to take part in combat in Ukraine. But we do know that if that is the case, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences. Former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan is among those to criticise the statement, describing it as threatening, intimidating, and chilling and called for ambassador Yuri Filatov to be expelled. Some 150 citizens from all EU member states have brought forward recommendations for expanding Erasmus-like learning opportunities to different ages and sectors in a panel format inspired by Ireland's use of citizens' assemblies. Among the 21 recommendations from 12 separate groups, one of the more popular suggestions involved urging member states to teach English as a first foreign language. The recommendation noted that English is established as a vehicular language within the EU and is easy to learn. Participants noted that English is already widely spoken and would not contradict a multilingual Europe. European Commission communication chief Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen acknowledged Irelands use of the Citizens' Assembly to look at difficult topics". File picture: Commission.europa.eu Another suggestion was the promotion of learning abroad for employees which would involve time off work to learn certain skills in other EU countries. The recommendation would see employers obliged to allow employees to spend a maximum of six months learning languages or skills related to their profession. The EU citizens panel took inspiration from Irelands use of the citizens assembly according to the European Commission director general of communication Pia Ahrenkilde-Hansen. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Ms Ahrenkilde-Hansen said the decision to use panels to inform policy at an EU level looked to Irelands experience and use of the format. She said: The Citizens Assembly and indeed the Irish experience has been inspiring for us, both when it comes to how we designed the process for the conference on the future of Europe, and now also for the European citizens panel. A Commission official acknowledged Irelands use of citizen assemblies to look at more difficult topics", after criticism from one citizen in particular with the subject choices so far. The panel on learning mobility is the third so far, following food waste and virtual worlds. The Greek participant noted that countless asylum seekers are dying off European coasts and urged for more humanistic issues to be addressed by the use of citizens panels and not obvious topics such as learning abroad. The three rounds of European citizens panels so far have examined the topics of food waste, virtual worlds, and learning mobility abroad. File picture: Ctizens.ec.europa.eu Its completely understandable that citizens have thought about which other topics could be important or even more important, we take very good note of that also as we move forward deciding which topics come up next, said Ms Ahrenkilde-Hansen. Elliot Moriarty from Dublin was one of the Irish people on the panel which he said can become heated at times. Mr Moriarty believes there is a disconnect in Brussels among EU officials who are optimistic despite Europes enormous, intractable problems. He said: Were trying to pretend that Europe is functioning as it should and now were just going to improve it with more education, there is a bit of a disconnect. Randomly selected participants initially began working on the citizens panel in February, with three sessions in total, two of which involved weekend trips to Brussels. The format with the help of interpreters for each session allowed for participants to speak in their native languages with Shauna Hartigan from Galway choosing to speak in Irish at times. I dont really use it that much anymore but I just wanted to throw it in because theres two other Irish people but they dont speak it so I kind of felt obliged to get it in, she said. Thousands of Irish passengers are set to be affected by flight cancellations this bank holiday Monday, due to disruption from the latest air traffic control strikes in France. Well over a dozen flights between Dublin and France-based destinations are already listed as cancelled on the airports website, although it is expected this figure could rise further. It is understood the situation may also affect flights in Cork and Belfast and passengers have been urged to check with their airline for any updates on whether their own flights are affected. Aer Lingus said it has contacted all customers impacted by cancellations to advise them of their options. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary: 'It is unfair that flights from the UK to Spain or from Italy to Portugal are being cancelled simply because a bunch of French air traffic control units want to go on strike.' File picture: Brian Lawless It said: While the rest of our schedule will operate as planned customers travelling to other European destinations may experience some delays as a result. The routes affected include journeys to and from Paris CDG, Paris BVA, Lourdes, Nimes, Bordeaux, and Nice. On Saturday, Ryanair boss Michael OLeary said the airline would be cancelling 220 flights on Monday due to the strikes, which would affect around 40,000 passengers. These passengers will have been informed and the airline would do its best to accommodate them, he said. Mr OLeary said that France is using minimum service legislation to protect local French flights. But all of the cancellations are then being disproportionately passed on to English flights, Irish flights, Italian flights Spanish, German flights. This is unfair. The airline recently launched a petition calling on action at European level to protect such flights from being cancelled and it said there have been more than 620,000 signatures on the petition. Mr OLeary also said that overflights are protected from strikes in the likes of Italy and Greece. It is unfair that flights from the UK to Spain or from Italy to Portugal are being cancelled simply because a bunch of French air traffic control units want to go on strike, he said. We respect their right to strike. But if they want to strike cancel the French flights, protect the overflights. Mr OLeary, meanwhile, hit out at the French authorities and urged intervention from the European Commission and its president Ursula von der Leyen. The airline recently launched a petition calling on action at European level to protect such flights from being cancelled and it said there have been more than 620,000 signatures on the petition. Ryanair has previously said that Eurocontrol - which coordinates aviation across the EU - should be allowed to manage flights over France during the strikes in order to prevent disruption to travellers. The cancellations come as Irelands major airports geared up for a busy May bank holiday weekend. Cork Airport had prepared for 52,000 passengers this bank holiday weekend, with a new Aer Lingus Regional service to Bristol entering service. The airport has 44 scheduled routes on offer this summer. In Dublin, just 400,000 passengers were expected across the weekend and Shannon Airport expected 45,000 people travelling through the airport this weekend, a 27% increase on pre-pandemic levels. The planned action by French air traffic control staff will be the 51st such day of strike action in recent months. Workers in France have been holding regular strikes over Government plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. How did you get started in your role? I took a circuitous route into Occupational Therapy. As a school leaver I wasnt sure what I wanted to do so I decided to study what interested me and completed an Arts degree in History and Archaeology in University College Cork. After graduation I worked for COPE Foundation for a few years as a Special Needs Assistant in schools and a Care Worker in Residential Units. I found that I enjoyed working in a caring role and that is when I discovered Occupational Therapists (OT). The OTs were trying to help clients to live their best lives and be as independent as possible and I admired that. So at the age of 26 I went back to college and studied a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in University of Limerick. Similar to an accelerated degree, it was a two year full-time program that attracted students of a mixed age profile, with many having studied Social Science at undergraduate level. We did a lot of site placements as part of the Masters which I found very valuable. "Patients can tell when OTs bring something of themselves as a person to the interactions and respond to that," advises Mercy University Hospital's James Deasy. After leaving college, I worked as a Staff Grade OT in St. Itas Community Hospital in Limerick for a year. In St. Itas, I would work with older adults and help them to regain their independence in meaningful occupations, i.e. tasks such as washing, dressing, getting out of bed and preparing meals unaided. I would visit the patients homes and see how they manage everyday tasks in the home environment. Then I would give advice to them and their families about how best to set up the home environment to make it more suitable, like how to set up the bathroom or bedroom for example. I would also give advice on what equipment might be helpful, e.g. wheelchairs, ramps, dressing aids, etc, advise how to access them and assess people for other aids that may be beneficial. Following a year in St Itas, I took up a Staff Grade Occupational Therapist role in Cork University Hospital. This was a more hospital based role. Here I got experience in an acute hospital setting and did rotations in General Medicine, Hand and Plastics (dealing with hand injuries), Rheumatology, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Rehab of the Older Adult. I stayed here for five years. Why did you choose to work with Mercy University Hospital? I joined Mercy University Hospital in 2013 as they offered me an opportunity to be a Senior Occupational Therapist in Care of the Older Adult on St. Marys Ward. As a Senior OT I had more responsibility in that I supervised two Staff Grade OTs and was responsible for developing OT initiatives in the area of older adult care. Most of the patients I worked with had either physical, cognitive or social issues. Some of the common diagnoses patients presented with were chest and urinary tract infection, heart disease, stroke or dementia. As OTs we focus on function. We interview patients and find out what their life was like before they became ill or encountered disability. We discuss their home set up, their social supports, their function, e.g. could they dress, wash or walk unaided, could they take stairs or get their own shopping. OTs look at the person holistically. While a Doctor may focus on a medical diagnosis, an OT is interested in all physical, social, environmental (home), and wellbeing (mood and cognition) factors and determine where the patient may need more support or rehabilitation. What are you working on at present? Im now working as the Occupational Therapy Manager in Mercy University Hospital. I still do some clinical work but I also manage a team of 11 Occupational Therapists. My management work involves developing policies and procedures to ensure we, as OTs, practice in a safe and effective manner. We hold weekly team meetings where we discuss caseloads, issues with patients and ways to improve the OT service in the Mercy. I also go onto the wards to support the OTs as required. What is the best part of your job? The best part of my job is seeing patients. Its the reason I started in the profession. I love finding ways to help provide the best quality of life for them and help them live the best lives they can. I find it really worthwhile and rewarding. Is there a career moment you are particularly proud of? Looking back on my career, the high points have definitely been some of the patients I have dealt with. I can recall specific patients from ten years ago who meant a lot to me. Sometimes this is because there had been a specific achievement reached in their therapy but more often than not it's simply because I went on a therapeutic journey with them and we both know that I did my best for them. As an occupational therapist, James helps patients to regain their independence through everyday activities such as making a cup of tea or dressing themselves. One patient I can recall had worked with me for a year and we developed a great relationship. I assisted him in achieving greater range of motion in his arms, sourced a specialist wheelchair for him and did a home visit assessment. But more than that we developed a mutual respect and appreciation of each other. He even bought me a gift for my wedding which I still have! Patients can tell when OTs bring something of themselves as a person to the interactions and respond to this. Where do you see healthcare/hospitals/your profession going five years from now? I hope well see a far greater integration of care from acute hospital services to community services so that the patient receives a more seamless result. I have also seen ward OT referrals increase dramatically which does show an increasing understanding of the benefits OT can deliver. Hopefully, the OT team will continue to grow in numbers to meet increasing demand and provide high quality care in the future. And similar to the nursing profession, which has multiple layers and specialist areas, I can see the Occupational Therapy profession develop more clinical specialist roles in the future which again would benefit the patient and the profession. What's the best piece of professional advice you've received? A former manager of mine advised that if you are ever asked to give a commitment or give an answer on the spot, say that youll have a little think about it. This works because the person asking now knows that you are considering the request but it also takes the pressure off you to answer immediately. Dont feel that you have to answer in the moment. I completed a course on validation theory which is a way of communicating with older adults with cognitive impairment. The course director advised us to address older people as Mr or Mrs, and not by their first name. She stated that we are not the peers of older people and that it is a sign of respect to address them in this way. It also gives the patient the gift of being able to say Call me John or whatever their first name is. The dynamic immediately shifts and it makes for a more successful interaction. If you could go back in time and give yourself a piece of advice at the start of your career, what would that be? This may sound pretty obvious, but understand that you will learn more from your mistakes than from any successes. When I started off, I used to be crushed by getting things wrong or making a mistake. What Ive come to realise is that when you make a mistake, you should reflect on it and come up with better answers. See it as an opportunity to grow and dont be crushed by failure or defeat. What advice would you give to someone who is thinking about interviewing for this position? Prepare for the interview. Look into the organisation and know a little about it and what their values are. Also bring something of yourself to the interview. Have specific examples prepared of where you have encountered a scenario, rather than just answering theoretically. Interviewers fully appreciate that nerves can get the better of people but preparation really does help. It shows you care. And obviously as an OT it is important that people show us that they are patient-centered and are willing to learn. What would you say are the key skills and capabilities necessary to be good at what you do? Firstly, you really need a genuine curiosity and interest in people in order to be able to help them. OTs use the word occupation to describe the meaningful things that people do every day. These include work, leisure/play and self-care occupations. Occupational Therapy has a really broad scope. We work in lots of different settings, from the acute hospital setting to mental health settings, to schools, to rehab and the community. In my setting (the acute hospital) an OT needs to have core skills such as interview and information gathering, the assessment of personal activities of daily living, the moving and handling of patients, cognitive and perceptual assessments and seating and positioning. As a senior therapist in an area such as stroke or ICU care you would then develop specialist skills particular to these areas. "While a Doctor may focus on a medical diagnosis, an OT is interested in all physical, social, environmental and wellbeing factors and determine where the patient may need more support or rehabilitation," James explains. However, in another setting an OT might have a different skill-set. My wife, for example, works as an OT with teenagers with mental illness. Her work looks different to mine but we have the same overarching philosophy and goal. As OTs we both use occupation as therapeutic modality using every day or meaningful occupations to help people achieve health and well-being. In my work, that could involve helping someone to achieve independence such as making breakfast or a cup of tea or becoming independent in dressing themselves. In my wifes work with teenagers, she might have them engage in age appropriate tasks like baking, shopping, art or physical activity to help them return to normal teenage roles like going to school, socialising with friends, engaging in hobbies, etc. The aim is the same; to use meaningful occupation to overcome illness and disability, restore the persons function, show them that they are capable and help them to heal through engagement in a task. What is the best career lesson you have learned so far? Give yourself time to think. You dont have to answer straight away. Take time to reflect on the best solution if you need to. I would also say that its really important to become really proficient as a Staff Grade OT and focus on helping patients. When you move to Senior OT or OT Manager it becomes less about your own practice and more about the therapists you supervise and how best to nurture, support and develop them. Which industry professionals should people be following on Twitter/ LinkedIn? It can be useful to follow the AOTI the Association of Occupational Therapists in Ireland. Is there a particular book or resource youd recommend to someone early in their career? I found books that dealt with peoples stories about overcoming adversity such as Mans Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albon quite inspiring and easy to read. The Man who mistook his Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks is also a great read for anyone who works with people with neurological conditions. On a more clinical basis Pedrettis Occupational Therapy: practice skills for physical dysfunction is a very valuable resource for someone starting off working in the acute hospital setting. Im reading these books at the moment; Lean Daily Management for Healthcare A Strategic Guide to Implementing Lean for Hospital Leaders by Brad White, and Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead by Brene Brown. To learn more about Mercy University Hospital, and the career opportunities available there, visit their official website. News / National by Staff reporter The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Saturday that it has destroyed a major Ukrainian command center. Cruise missiles launched from the sea were used to target the facility, the ministry's spokesman, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, announced during a media briefing."On the evening of April 28 of this year, Russia's Armed Forces delivered a group strike with sea-based long-range precision weapons at the location of the commanding officers of Ukraine's joint troops grouping Kherson,'" Konashenkov stated, adding that the goal of the strike "had been achieved." The official did not provide any estimates on potential Ukrainian casualties.The strike comes as both sides in the ongoing conflict, which has been raging since February 2022, have seemingly ramped up long-range attacks against each another. Earlier this week, Russia launched a cruise missile salvo targeting groupings of Ukrainian military reserves. The strikes successfully prevented their redeployment towards the frontline, according to the Russian military.As a result of the attack a multistory residential building was damaged in the Ukrainian city of Uman, located in the central Cherkasy Region. It was not immediately clear what exactly struck the building, given the many instances of Ukrainian air defense projectiles having hit civilian sites in the country and even beyond. Nevertheless, Kiev squarely blamed Russia for the incident, which left more than 20 civilians dead, according to local officials.Ukrainian forces, meanwhile, appear to have intensified attacks on residential areas in the Russian city of Donetsk, which has seen almost daily shelling throughout the conflict. On Friday, the city and its vicinity were subjected to particularly intense shelling, which left at least nine civilians dead and over a dozen injured. The attacks destroyed multiple residential homes and damaged a local hospital. Kiev's forces also landed a direct hit on a passenger bus, killing all of its occupants.The uptick in strikes comes ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive, long-advertised by the country's top officials. On Friday, President Vladimir Zelensky said he expected the offensive to be "successful," dismissing Western concerns over Ukraine's capabilities that have appeared in several media outlets in recent weeks."A counteroffensive will happen. We are preparing for it," Zelensky said in an interview with several Nordic media outlets. "I strongly believe that it will be successful and that we will de-occupy our territories." Voters in Uzbekistan are casting ballots in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but will also allow the countrys president to stay in office until 2040. With elections in Uzbekistan widely regarded as non-competitive, approval appears certain and supporters of the changes have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities. With four hours until the polls closed, the central elections commission reported turnout at more than 62%, well above the 50% threshold for the referendum to be valid. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. But although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is currently in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mr Mirziyoyevs predecessor Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the regions most repressive countries. Mr Mirziyoyev, who took over after Mr Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum was originally planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding the areas right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, the proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistans territory but holds only about 5% of the countrys 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital Nukus, and at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. Tens of thousands of Hungarians flocked to Budapests main square for Pope Franciss final Mass, gathering on the banks of the Danube as the pontiff wrapped up a weekend visit to the heart of Europe with pleas for a peaceful end to Russias war next door. The Mass on Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian parliament and Budapests famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop, provided the visual highlight of Franciss three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of neighbouring Ukraine. Citing local organisers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people participated at the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Tens of thousands gathered in the square for the Popes arrival (Andrew Medichini/AP) Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. After the Mass, Francis has a final event in Budapest before returning to Rome a speech on European culture at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. The 86-year-old has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end the war, expressing solidarity with Ukraine while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. The Mass took place in Kossuth Lajos Square in the capital Budapest (Tibor Illyes/MTI/AP) On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Vaticans embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as Kirills long-time foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Franciss visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as he has been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Mr Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularising Western world. The faithful waved and cheered as Francis passed by (Andrew Medichini/AP) Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass could not have been more appropriate for that message: The sprawling square is named after one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for an end to Russias war in Ukraine and for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and the famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of his three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of neighbouring Ukraine. Citing local organisers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people participated at the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Tens of thousands gathered in the square for the Popes arrival (Andrew Medichini/AP) Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation to Hungary for recently welcoming Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Mr Orbans hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-16 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. In his homily on Sunday, Francis urged Hungary and Europe to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, he said. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor. After the Mass, Francis had a final event in Budapest before returning to Rome a speech on European culture at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. The 86-year-old has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end the war, expressing solidarity with Ukraine while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. The Mass took place in Kossuth Lajos Square in the capital Budapest (Tibor Illyes/MTI/AP) On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Vaticans embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as Kirills long-time foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Franciss Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungarys other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Franciss visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as he has been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Mr Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularising Western world. The faithful waved and cheered as Francis passed by (Andrew Medichini/AP) Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass could not have been more appropriate for that message: The sprawling square is named after one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Later, at his final event in Hungary, Francis warned against the dangers of technology dominating human life during a speech at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. Speaking broadly about Europes future, Francis said culture and scholarship forged by universities were the antidote to a future dictated by technology. The university, he said, is a temple where knowledge is set free from the constraints of accumulating and possessing and can thus become culture, he said. Such a culture, he said, cultivates our humanity and its foundational relationships: with the transcendent, with society, with history and with creation. News / National by Staff reporter BULAWAYO council clinics have been hit by a critical shortage of nurses, with Magwegwe said to be the worst affected, according to residents."The shortage of nurses is affecting service delivery because we do not get the services we want and services we should be getting," a Magwegwe resident Felix Ncube said."More staff should be employed at the clinic. We are forced to queue for several hours waiting for attention because of a shortage of nurses."While council director of health services, Charles Malaba, refused to comment, deputy mayor Mlandu Ncube, however confirmed the staffing challenges saying the council was planning to recruit more nurses."Yes, the council has a plan to recruit nurses and other clinic personnel," Ncube told Southern Eye.The local authority has not been spared the mass exodus of health workers, many of whom have been leaving the country for the United Kingdom after that country relaxed visa regimes for medical personnel.Council clinics are reportedly operating at less than 50% staffing capacity, according to previous council minutes of the health department.Council reports indicate that most council clinics are now largely manned by locum nurses inexperienced nurses hired on a temporary basis as the local authority struggles to fill vacant posts. Today Mostly sunny. Becoming windy this afternoon. High near 75F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Tonight Windy with mainly clear skies. Low near 55F. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Tomorrow A mainly sunny sky. High around 80F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Today Clear skies. Low 56F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tonight Clear skies. Low 56F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine along with some cloudy intervals. High around 75F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph. In the 17th weekly demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus governing coalition, tens of thousands of Israelis protested proposals to overhaul the judiciary on Saturday. The protests began earlier this year and will continue, according to organizers, despite Netanyahu delaying the changes last month. The leaders of the massive protests want the proposed changes eliminated entirely. In Tel Aviv, Israels economic hub, a main protest rally was attended by demonstrators brandishing a banner which read, We are just getting started. Smaller demonstrations were held in other parts of the country. A video message aired on a large screen in Tel Aviv saw Spanish Prime Minister and Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez lend support to the Israeli antigovernment protesters. We as Socialist International have always fought for freedom, equality, justice, and democracy. Yet, as many of you know, these are values that we cannot take for granted, Sanchez said. Protesters argue that the proposed changes threaten Israels democratic values, weakening a system of checks and balances, and placing authority in the hands of Netanyahu and his extremist allies. They also claim that the prime minister has a conflict of interest in attempting to reshape the countrys legal system at a time when he is on trial. The changes would weaken the Supreme Court, grant parliament, which is controlled by Netanyahus allies, the power to overturn its rulings, and restrict its capacity to review laws. The protest was supported by the militarys elite reserve force, businesses, and large sections of the Israeli community. However, on Thursday, tens of thousands of right-wing Israelis supporting the legal changes gathered in Jerusalem to rally for the proposal. (AP) Thousands of people, including many undocumented migrants, marched in Paris and other French towns on Saturday, protesting against planned changes to the immigration law and evictions from the Indian Ocean island of Mayotte. In the French capital, demonstrators marched behind a banner proclaiming No to the Darmanin law. Against repression, imprisonment and deportations, for a welcoming migration policy, in a reference to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. The immigration bill, which the government has just postponed until the autumn, is a racist law, which aims to criminalise foreigners and leads to more deportations, said Aboubacar, 31, an undocumented Malian. The problem is not immigration, its exploitation and rogue bosses, added the post office sub-contractor who, with colleagues, has been fighting for 17 months to obtain his official documents to live and work in France. The protesters also took aim at Operation Wuambushi (Take Back) being carried out by the authorities on the French Indian Ocean Island of Mayotte to send back illegal immigrants, most from neighbouring Comoros, currently housed in unsanitary shanty towns. The way undocumented Comorans are treated is unworthy of a country like France, said Marie-Christine Vergiat, vice-president of the French Human Rights League and a former member of the European parliament. >> Read more : Mayotte expulsions: France moves to expel migrants in a context of serious violence The Darmanin bill and the operation in Mayotte are linked, Said Mhamadi, a Comoran civil leader, said in the southern port city of Marseille, where up to 300 people demonstrated. The controversial bill, entitled Controlling immigration while improving integration, is aimed, among other things, at providing greater scope for deportation, especially for foreigners who commit crimes. It also stipulates a minimum level of French be required before a multi-year residence permit is granted and allows for mandatory fingerprinting as well as tightening requirements for the renewal of long-term permits. In the northwestern city of Rennes, over 1,500 people took to the streets chanting down with the police state. I came in solidarity with the Comoros and to protest against the brutal measures taken by France in Mayotte, its very violent and there are other ways of dealing with it, 32-year-old Theodore Sobezy told AFP. Heavy fighting continues in Sudans capital, leading to tens of thousands of people fleeing the country and a former prime minister warning of the risk of full-scale civil war. Despite the latest ceasefire set to end on Sunday, army forces and paramilitaries clashed in downtown Khartoum for the third week. Clashes were also reported around the army headquarters in central Khartoum, and the army carried out airstrikes in the capitals twin city of Omdurman. Foreign nations are evacuating thousands of their citizens due to the fighting, with millions of Sudanese enduring shortages of basic supplies and tens of thousands fleeing to neighbouring countries. The conflict could potentially worsen as army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continue their power struggle. At least 528 people have been killed and about 4,600 wounded, according to the health ministry, and the UN World Food Programme warned that the violence could cause millions more to suffer hunger. Although multiple truces have been agreed upon, none have taken hold, causing chaos and lawlessness to grip Khartoum and other regions. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged negotiations to end the bloodshed and to support an African-led initiative for peace in Sudan. About 75,000 people have been displaced from the fighting, and the conflict has triggered a mass exodus of foreigners and international staff. Fighting, looting and lawlessness have also been prevalent in the Darfur region, with at least 96 people reported killed in the city of El Geneina. Darfur is still recovering from a war that erupted in 2003, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths and displacement. News / National by Staff reporter THE Council for Churches in Africa (CCA) has pledged to mobilise votes for the ruling Zanu PF party in Bulawayo after it was given a stand to build a church in Cowdray Park.Zanu PF has struggled to win seats in Bulawayo since the turn of the millenium with the formation of the opposition MDC.CCA president Rocky Moyo said their membership would repay the ruling party with votes in the general elections after a ribbon-cutting event for the stand in the suburb yesterday.CCA is an umbrella body for pentecostal, apostolic sects and Zion denominations, among others."Our call has been heeded and we are on cloud nine. The stand that was given to one of our churches is in Cowdray Park. We got the stand through the help of a Zanu PF councillor in the area," Moyo told journalists during a visit to the sprawling suburb."We are happy that Umkhumbi weNkosi Church of God in Zion which is led by the Archbishop Mqalisi Sibanda now has a place of worship here in Cowdray Park, away from bushes. On our part as CCA, we pledged to work with Zanu PF, and we will mobilise votes for the party."Cowdray Park is the only suburb in Bulawayo with a Zanu PF councillor.Finance minister Mthuli Ncube is eyeing the constituency on a Zanu PF ticket.According to Moyo, at least 60% of churches under the CCA banner do not have proper structures of worship.Bulawayo City Council has been conducting raids on open-air worshippers."We are very happy that the government and ruling party are working with churches, giving them land for places of worship which was a challenge for the churches. We thank them for fulfilling the promises that they had made," Moyo added.President Emmerson Mnangagwa has targeted churches, especially apostolic sects, for support in his re-election bid. Reddit Email 262 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) What does it mean to say that there has never been a Palestinian state in the Holy Land? This is one of the allegations Florida Governor Ron DeSantis made on his trip to Israel, where he fell all over himself taking far right wing colonialist stances. DeSantis actually did a history degree at Yale University and his professors must spit up a little bit when they hear him talking like that. Or just hear him talking. Ron DeSantis is an Italian-America and all of his great grandparents were born in southern Italy. You could also say that there had never been an Italian state in Italy until the 1860s. The Roman Empire doesnt count since it wasnt Italian-speaking. If you want to count it, then we have to count the Canaanite Empire of 3000 1550 BCE as the first Palestinian state. Both todays Palestinians and many Jews are descended from the Canaanites, but the latter were not Jewish in religion. Archeology doesnt find signs of what we would now call Judaism until about 200 BCE. So about southern Italians. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 400s, what is now Italy was divided into several mini-states and some of it was ruled by empires. Southern Italy, from whence DeSantis hailed, was ruled by the Byzantines, by the Muslim Arabs, by the Normans, by Aragon in Spain, by the Spanish Habsburgs and then Bourbons, and by France. Here is what Italy looked like in 1810: . Via Wikipedia under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. So like the southern Italians, the Palestinians lived under empires. First the Byzantine, which had three provinces called Palestine. Then the Muslim empires the Commanders of the Faithful, the Umayyads,the Abbasids, the Crusaders, the Ayyubids, Mamluks and Ottomans. But empires are layered. Sometimes groups can be relatively autonomous and still pro forma be under imperial rule. Universe in Universes correctly notes, Prior to the emergence of statehood in its modern conception, Palestine saw the formation of political entities that were quasi-independent from the Ottoman state. These entities played a significant role in guiding the construction of the urban centres that would become Palestines coastal cities. Although the rulers of Palestine (thats what local people called it) were supposedly Ottoman governors, they were actually more like semi-autonomous rulers in the 1700s, when the Ottomans decentralized. Universe in Universes says, Daher al-Omar grasped the importance of the coast and made Akka (Acre) his capital in 1748. His rule lasted six decades, during which he consolidated his authority despite Ottoman rule. This authority had a significant impact on the formation and development of his power as well as on the policies concerning fellahin, Bedouins, and various religious groups in northern Palestine. His rule saw the construction of coastal towns and the restructuring of the countrys interior. This laid a solid foundation for cities prosperity and the creation of an economic powerhouse reliant upon agriculture and foreign trade, especially cotton. So there, Governor DeSantis, is your Palestinians ruling Palestine. Daher was not a mere Ottoman lackey. Indeed, at one point the Ottoman officials in Damascus invaded Palestine to get rid of him, and he fought them off. Of course, Palestinians is a modern political identity with a genealogy that goes back to the reign of al-Omar. But so, too, is the Israeli political identity modern. It had not existed before the mid-20th century and is unconnected to ancient kingdoms. And Italians are a modern invention, of people like Garibaldi, too. The 19th and 20th century saw a vast reorganization of the world away from empires and toward nation-states with national identities. The 1939 British White Paper of colonial Palestine scheduled the Palestinians to be an independent state by 1949, just like the Syrians and Iraqis. It did not happen not because there were no Palestinians but because the new political identity of the Israeli emerged and the Palestinians were ethnically cleansed and then occupied. Yet these very events contributed to the solidifying of a Palestinian identity. Article continues after bonus IC video Velshi On Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: The Right To Exist Goes Both Ways | MSNBC A final question for Mr. DeSantis: Dont you think the 5 million people whom you refuse to recognize as being under Israeli occupation deserve basic human rights, the rights that derive from being citizens of a state? Your people emigrated from southern Italy, where they were very possibly not born Italians, to the United States, where they were granted a new citizenship. That citizenship afforded them constitutional rights. Palestinians dont have such rights. What are you going to do about that? This story, was originally by Egyptian Chronicles, a personal blog since 2004. An edited version is republished here with permission. ( Globalvoices.org) The ongoing conflict between Sudans Armed Forces, led by Abdel Fattah Burhan -an army general who is the de facto ruler of Sudan- and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a group of militias under the command of former warlord General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, has entered its second week. During the civil war in Sudans western region that began in 2003, Burhan and Hemedi worked together to counter insurgency against Darfuri rebels. However, Burhan was a career soldier, while Hamedti was an ambitious militia leader whose power grew significantly with the support of the Sudans then-military ruler, Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir set these two men against each other, with the hope that no single armed group would have enough power to depose him. Little did he know that they would end up doing precisely that. Now, the ambitions of these two military men ambitions have clashed, bringing chaos to Sudan and its people. The ongoing conflict highlights the power struggle between these two infamous generals, and the impact it has on Sudanese civilians caught in the middle. Refugees Flee, Foreign Nationals Evacuated as Sudan Violence Escalates Several countries have begun evacuating their citizens from Sudan with the help of neighboring countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It appears that saving foreign nationals is a top priority, while the citizens of Sudan are not the priority for anyone, especially not for Abdel Fattah Burhan, and Mohamed Hamdan Dalago. People in Sudan fear that, as expatriates depart Sudan, the situation could deteriorate, resulting in more bloodshed. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese are fleeing to neighboring countries to escape the violence and chaos that has claimed more than 459 lives so far and left more than 4,000 wounded in the past week and a half, according to UN reports. However, the actual death toll is expected to be much higher. Refugees are heading to both Port Sudan or Wadi Halfa to cross the border into Egypt, as well as west towards Chad. Satellite imagery shows the aftermath of the intense fighting and the long queues of cars, trucks, and buses on highways leading to the border crossings. The three-day-ceasefire between the RSF and the Sudanese army, imposed by the US from midnight on April 25, is fragile, with violations from both sides. The Egyptian governments response to the Sudan crisis Egypt has eased visa requirements so that women, children, and the elderly over 50 years old can enter Egypt without a visa. As of the publishing of this article, 10,000 people have crossed into Egypt through the Arqeen border crossing. Thousands more are waiting at the Arqeen border crossing, where the Egyptian Red Crescent has established a relief centre. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is scaling up efforts to assist people seeking safety in countries neighboring Sudan, where the fighting looks set to trigger further displacement both within and outside the country. However, more relief efforts are urgently needed, especially during an economic crisis. Its worth noting that, in 2004, Egypt and Sudan signed the Four Freedoms Agreement that permits citizens of both countries to move, live, work, and own property without restrictions. However, despite being signed and ratified, the agreement has not been fully implemented, particularly regarding freedom of movement, due to national security concerns from both nations. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry called for Egyptian citizens residing outside Khartoum to head to either the city of Wadi Halfa in Northern Sudan or Port Sudan in Eastern Sudan to be evacuated on Sunday, April 23. Over the past 48 hours, over 1,000 Egyptians have returned aboard military planes. The ministry also urged Egyptian citizens in Khartoum to remain safe until they receive instructions from the Egyptian Embassy, given the volatile situation. Egyptian and Sudanese armed forces are working together to initiate these evacuation operations. Sudan has provided Egypt with information on safe corridors leading to designated evacuation sites. News reports indicate that the Sudanese army is escorting convoys of Egyptians to the border crossings between the two countries for their evacuation. So far, two Egyptian citizens in Khartoum have been reported dead, including Mohamed El-Gharawy, an administrative assistant working at the Egyptian Embassy in Khartoum, who was killed while in his car on his way to the embassy on Monday. The Sudanese Army has accused the RSF of being responsible for the attack, while the RSF has claimed it will cooperate with the Egyptian authorities to identify the culprit. Saber Nasr El-Din, a 23- year-old student at Khartoum Universitys Faculty of Medicine, also passed away on Sunday due to a severe drop in blood pressure. His roommates reported that he suffered due to his diabetes and was unable to find insulin because of the ongoing conflict. Nasr El-Dins family, who reside in Assuits Dayrout, was unable to transfer his body from the apartment where he was staying in Khartoum due to the ongoing fighting. His mother made social media pleas for him to be brought back to Egypt to be buried in his hometown in Upper Egypt. However, Nasr El-Dins father, Mohamed Nasr, announced that his son was buried in a cemetery in Khartoum for the time being. The young Egyptian student was not the only victim of the dire humanitarian situation in Sudan. The collapse of the health sector in the capital has led to over 52 hospitals in Khartoum being completely out of service due to the lack of power and medical supplies. News / National by Staff reporter The prestigious Cisco Youth Leadership Award, with a prize of $250,000 (R4.6m), this year went to Zimbabwean science teacher Nkosana Butholenkosi Masuku.He founded Phenomtech-Sciency to make science, technology and engineering (Stem) accessible to rural learners."Sciency was started because when I was teaching in rural areas, I realised it was difficult for learners to comprehend practical science subjects. This was due to lack of [study] aid materials.The advantage of teaching them practicals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) is that it enables learners to retain their knowledge thereby reducing the dropout rates," Masuku said as he accepted the award in New York this week.Masuku is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship.His award is part of Global Citizen's effort to honour young leaders spearheading change through innovative means in their localities."Stem education is critical for opening doors of opportunity and Nkosana's vital work utilising innovative technology to offer Stem learning to rural schools across Zimbabwe is transformative," said Fran Katsoudas, a representative of Cisco."Investing in education reaps a lifetime of benefits, not only for children but also for their communities. The work of young leaders like Nkosana is helping to usher in a more inclusive future by empowering youth in Africa and around the world to thrive in the digital economy."The Global Citizen awards, hosted by Nomzamo Mbatha in New York, also honoured:- Deja Foxx, activist and founder of GenZ Girl Gang, for her role in engendering sex education for the youth in the US;- Ineza Umuhoza Grace, global co-ordinator and co-founder of Loss and Damage Youth Coalition in Rwanda, who campaigns for those causing climate change damage to help take care of those affected by global warming;- Pashtana Durrani, executive director, LEARN Afghanistan, who has taken up the challenge of educating women and children despite an injunction by the Taliban that barred women from schools and work places; and- Wangari Kuria, founder and CEO of Farmer on Fire, who works with poor women from Kenya to ensure food security."The world needs innovators who will courageously pursue positive change in their communities and inspire others to action through their ingenuity," said Global Citizen president Liza Henshaw."It is an honour to recognise these inspirational, young changemakers who are advancing the fight to end extreme poverty." TimesLIVE It's no doubt that the South Korean industry is slowly taking over the international scene with its plethora of engrossing television programs. In the past year, Netflix alone offered hundreds of amazing Hallyu works that enjoyed syndrome-level success worldwide like "Business Proposal," "Our Beloved Summer" and more. Here are the television shows that completed Netflix's Top 10 in the final week of April 2023. Read on to know more. 'QueenMaker' Not only did Kim Hee Ae and Moon So Ri boast their timeless acting prowess but they also entertained the viewers with their womance in the political drama "Queenmaker." Released on April 14, the series enjoyed great reception from the public. It recorded 16 million viewing hours just three days after its release. The series is also loved for its themes like women empowerment and revenge. 'Doctor Cha' Uhm Jung Hwa returned to the acting scene as a housewife-turned-medical-resident in the brand new dramedy "Doctor Cha"! The legendary actress takes on her first ever titular roles in years where she portrays the struggles of a homemaker who becomes a first year resident in a medical hospital after 20 years. It was released on Netflix on April 15 and since its premiere, "Doctor Cha" received nothing but praises and good reviews from viewers all around the world. 'Earth Mabul World Tour' "Earth Mabul World Tour" is a travel variety show starring Noh Hong Chul, Joo Woo Jae and Joo Hyun Young. It is the only variety program that topped the Netflix charts this month, proving its success. It follows travel YouTubers who embark on an adventure to a random country. What piques viewers' intrigue is the scoring among the participants. Whoever scores the highest will be given the chance to travel to space. Cool, isn't it? 'Pale Moon' Kim Seo Hyung also made her drama comeback this April with the thriller series "Pale Moon"! With her timeless beauty, she effortlessly immersed herself into her new acting role; a sophisticated homemaker who embezzled money from her VIP clients after landing a job at a distinguished bank. If it isn't interesting enough, her life takes a dark turn when her world collapses right before her due to her greed-filled heart. As of this writing, the drama has released six episodes. Its pilot was screened at the 2023 Cannes International Series Festival earlier this month. 'The Glory' Even after a month of its release, Song Hye Kyo, Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon's revenge drama "The Glory" is still dominating the charts nonstop! Since its release, the series became a blockbuster hit after it received massive attention from viewers around the globe. It revolves around the big revenge plan of a school violence victim who becomes her perpetrators' child's homeroom teacher 18 years later. During the first week of its premiere, "The Glory" received more than 300 million viewing hours on Netflix. 'The Real Has Come!' Ahn Jae Hyun is back in the acting scene with his dramedy "The Real Has Come!" with Baek Jin Hee. In the series, he plays a genius obstetrician and gynecologist who pretends to date a single mother due to an unforeseen incident. Because of its plot, many viewers, especially young women, were intrigued. It aired in March and as of this moment, "The Real Has Come!" is one of most streamed works among new releases. BONUS: "Divorce Attorney Shin," "Brave Detectives," "I'm Solo" and "Mr. Sunshine," which were released in the past three years, were also included in Netflix's most streamed works this April! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. After 3 years of patiently waiting, viewers get to finally see the reunion of the Doldam Hospital family as "Dr. Romantic 3" releases its pilot episode. Headlined by Han Suk Kyu along with the returning lead stars Lee Sung Kyung, Ahn Hyo Seop, and Kim Joo Heon, the medical K-drama made a massive comeback after garnering a double digit viewership during its premiere. 'Dr. Romantic 3' Viewership The much awaited season of the SBS series kicked off with an impressive rating. As obtained by a media outlet, "Dr. Romantic 3" episode 1, had an average nationwide rating of 12.7 percent. With this, the medical K-drama lands as the most-watched program for the day. In addition to its successful premiere, the 16-part episode K-drama received the second-highest premiere ratings of any Friday-Saturday drama slot in SBS history. "Dr. Romantic 3" is next to "The Penthouse 2," which scored 16.7 percent on its first broadcast. 'Dr. Romantic 3' Episode 1 Recap The staff of the Doldam Hospital received a call about a ship on board with wounded North Korean defectors. Military doctor Lee Seon Wung is expecting the arrival of doctors from South Korea; however, until then, he needs to perform the necessary steps in order to prolong the life of the patient. Thankfully, Seo Woo Jin together with Murse Park Eun Tak and ER doctor Jung In Soo, boarded the ship to save the critical patient. On the other hand, Cha Eun Jae and rookie doctor Jang Dong Hwa are looking for Kim Sa Bu, who is on vacation. Fortunately, after going into the woods, the two managed to locate the senior doctor and convince him to join Seo Woo Jin at the ship. Meanwhile, Seo Woo Jin and the group were struggling to continue with the surgery since the vessel lacks medical equipment, and despite Kim Sa Bu performing a surgery, the patient needs to be transferred to a hospital as early as possible. However, since South and North Korea are still undergoing peace talks, they managed to convince the captain to keep things under wraps and transfer them to Doldam Hospital's trauma center. In the last scene, Dr. Park Min Guk came with a new visitor, whom he offered to be part of the hospital. However, Cha Jin Man, a sought after surgeon, wants to see the trauma center first. Little did they know that Kim Sa Bu and his team were keeping a high profile secret. Upon meeting the visitor, Kim Sa Bu expressed apprehension towards Dr. Cha, especially after he ignored his handshake. "Dr. Romantic 3" episode 1, wrapped up the pilot episode with a shocking revelation. Dr. Cha Jin Man was Cha Eun Jae's father, raising anticipation for the upcoming episode. For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills A month after confirming their relationship status, "The Glory" stars and real-life couple Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun finally made their first public appearance. Celebrity Couple Lim Ji Yeon & Lee Do Hyun Make Their First Public Appearance According to a media outlet on April 29, the cast of "The Glory," Song Hye Kyo, Jung Sung Il, Lee Do Hyun, Lim Ji Yeon, Park Sung Hoon, Kim Hieora, Cha Joo Young, and Kim Gun Woo, gathered at a known restaurant for a meal. It has been said that the drama's lead actress treated her co-stars. Aside from stealing attention with their unexpected reunion, people immediately noted the first public appearance of the new celebrity couple Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun. In the picture released, the two are seen sitting side by side. Their warm visuals and sitting comfortably next to each other gave delight to many. Meanwhile, Cha Joo Young left a message to co-star Lim Ji Yeon for winning the Best Supporting Actress (TV Category), as well as to Song Hye Kyo, who bagged the Best Actress award at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Lee Do Hyun Said To Have Stopped Doing THIS Because of Lim Ji Yeon "The Real Has Come" star wrote, "Lim Ji Yeon, Saranghae, congratulations my friend," and "Our Dong Eun, sister, Song Hye Kyo, I sincerely congratulate you!." What's Next for Lee Do Hyun & Lim Ji Yeon After admitting their relationship in public, Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon received overwhelming love and support from their fans. As they successfully concluded their first drama team-up "The Glory," the duo is about to work on their upcoming individual projects. Lim Ji Yeon is confirmed to join Kim Tae Hee in the suspense-thriller drama "House With a Yard." It features the story of a woman (married to a doctor with a genius and good-looking son) who used to enjoy happiness in her almost perfect house, starting to doubt her life and overturning the illusive value of her "happy house with a yard." Lee Do Hyun, on the other hand, currently stars in the healing series "The Good Bad Mother," alongside Ra Mi Ran, Ahn Eun Jin, and Yoo In Soo. It runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 p.m. (KST) on JTBC. In addition, the actor also has a forthcoming film "Pamyo," where he will share the frame for the first time with award-winning actress and "Little Women" star Kim Go Eun. The occult-thriller movie tells the story of a work between a feng shui expert and a funeral director who were asked to relocate the tomb of Hungji. Furthermore, Lim Ji Yeon and Lee Do Hyun will have a busy year working on their solo activities. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Eun Bin & Song Hye Kyo's Interaction at 59th Baeksang Arts Awards Creates Buzz What can you say about Lee Do Hyun and Lim Ji Yeon's first public appearance as a couple? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. Hillary Clinton speaks at the Clinton Global Initiative, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, in New York. Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, the first woman to run as a major party candidate for United States president, will headline the Liberal Party of Canada's national convention on May 5. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Julia Nikhinson A vehicle crosses an empty street in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, April 29, 2023, as gunfire and heavy artillery fire continued despite the extension of a cease-fire between the country's two top generals. Canada is stopping flights out of the capital Khartoum and relocating its Sudan evacuation efforts to the Red Sea, joining other nations in a move to continue removing people from Port Sudan as violence in the country continues. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marwan Ali News / National by Staff reporter Zanu-PF factional tussles are far from over with the recent primary election rigging exposing the Chiwenga faction which is being fingered in Gutu East primary election dispute which saw the winner being disqualified and the second contender emerging the winner.There are two main factions in Masvingo, with one aligned to vice president Constantino Chiwenga and the other one aligned to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.The Chiwenga faction fronts provincial chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa and a number of members of the provincial executive while the other faction is allegedly led by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.Mavenyengwa and former National Political Commissar and politburo member retired army general Engelbert Rugeje and other provincial party stalwarts in the province are being accused of manipulating the process that turned George Vhengere's win to Benjamin Ganyiwa who had won to come second in the election.The faction was trying to consolidate power by imposing loyal candidates in all constituencies hence the disqualification of Vhengere.Through politburo members aligned to it, the Chiwenga faction is alleged to have influenced the "disqualification" of Vhengere to pave way for Ganyiwa who is a Chiwenga loyalist.Vhengere is said to have been disqualified on the basis that his transfer was unprocedural though they had cleared him in the first place even though the same executive had accepted him.Though Vhengere refused to comment on the matter saying he was not authorized to speak to the media over such matters, sources privy to the on-goings said Gutu East could be one of the areas where reruns are looming as it was discovered that Vhengere's disqualification was unwarranted and a result of factional politics at play.Vhengere was disqualified on allegations that his transfer was not done properly despite having been read in Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) and PEC meetings and having been allowed to contest in the first place."What happened is that, Vhengere transferred from Mashonaland East to Masvingo a year and some months ago. His transfer was read in the PCC and PEC together with Maone Vheremu (also from Mash East) and one Rundare who won a council seat in Ward 12 and had transferred from Harare."Vhengere submitted CVs to contest in primary elections and was recommended by both the province and Politburo. He contested against Benjamin Ganyiwa (who came out 2nd), who was later declared the party representative, Mafios Mlambo, Maone Vheremu, Christopher Marusho and Chibamu. He won the first round of elections though some centres were alleged not to have voted," said the source.Sources further said while people were waiting for the proclamation of results, the National Political Commissar Mike Bimha pronounced that George Vhengere was disqualified because his transfer papers were not done properly and Ganyiwa who came out 2nd will represent the party.Vhengere's team went on to appeal to the party structures and investigations are still being contacted while Vhengere never got official communication on his disqualification nor the outcome of the investigations questioning how he was disqualified last minute when all along he was allowed to contest.Other sources claim that Ganyiwa was named heir to the office by sitting MP Berita Chikwama and said he paid some money to Chikwama and other provincial members who thought it was a outright win for them.The outgoing Chikwama is said to have been telling people that she is stepping down and is leaving Ganyiwa in her place, a development that angered locals who felt that they could choose own leaders.Ganyiwa donated a number of grinding mills in the constituency and brought some buses though they were not in good shape but went on to lose to Vhengere because of his alliance to Chikwama who is unpopular in the constituency.Locals questioned the logic behind the alleged disqualification saying it was not possible for someone to transfare from another province together with another candidate to submit CVs and is vetted, goes on to contest elections, wins then the issue of transfer is raised.However, contacted for comment, Rugeje said he knew nothing about the allegations and could not comment on anything to do with the primary elections."I know nothing about what you are saying, and I can also not comment on primary elections, you can contact the national PC or spokesperson," said Rugeje.Zanu-PF provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa poured down water on the possibilities of a rerun in Gutu East saying the MP issues were done and dusted and reruns if there are any, will be for councilors only."We are sitting down as the province tomorrow (Sat April 29). If there are any reruns, we will discuss that tomorrow. However, we can only have reruns in council elections not parliamentary, that one was done and dusted," said Mavhenyengwa.On why Vhengere was disqualified Mavhenyengwa despite his executive having recommended Vhengere and recived his transfer, referred questions to the Political Commissar and National Spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa.Provincial spokesperson Pepukai Chiwewe also said he was not privy to Gutu East issues and added that they were yet to receive communication on areas likely to have reruns in the province."I am not sure about the issues in Gutu East, what I know is the winners were announced by the Politburo and that is what we work with as a province. On reruns, I am not sure if we have any in the province. We did not have any contested issues as a province and we had our inter-district meetings where winners were announced. However, if there is any, we will know in our next PCC meeting," said Chiwewe.The Gutu East is one of the many constituencies where elections were not done properly with the Chiwenga faction seeming to be in control of the election.In Masvingo Central, after having discovered that their candidate had won in their strongholds, they went on to avoid elections in other centres which their major rivalry Phainos Makwarimba had an upper hand.In Masvingo South, a similar situation happened with a number of centres being said to have not voted at all. Eleven-year-old Abby sat nervously in the emergency department, her eyes darting around the room as she clutched Patches, her beloved stuffed sheep. Her guardian sat beside her, anxiety etched on her face as she explained the situation to me. Abby had been diagnosed with depression at the tender age of nine after suffering years of abuse and neglect at the hands of her biological parents. A few months ago, a loving foster family took Abby in, providing her with the safety and security she desperately needed. But Abbys emotional scars ran deep so much so that she began expressing thoughts of wanting to die. Yesterday, she had been caught searching ways to end her life on a school computer. Later that evening, her guardian discovered a belt ominously wrapped around a bedpost. As I spoke with Abby, she seemed hesitant to share her feelings, but we soon found common ground in our love for Taylor Swift. Abbys eyes lit up as she talked about how much she wished she could see Taylor in concert, and how Fearless was her favorite album. She shyly admitted to sometimes having thoughts of killing herself but stressed that she didnt feel that way right now. The overwhelming sadness I felt for Abby was difficult to bear. It seemed so unjust that someone so young had experienced such hurt and despair. Needing to offer even the smallest of comforts, I retrieved a bag of Goldfish crackers from our snack storage and presented it to Abby. The brilliant smile that graced her face at that moment would stay etched in my memory for a long time to come. That night, Abby was voluntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric hospital. I spoke at length with the attending physician there, and we both silently acknowledged the arduous journey ahead for Abby. However, we also shared a glimmer of hope hope that Abby would find the strength to heal from her past and embrace a brighter future. Before my shift ended, I decided to visit Abby and her guardian in their hospital room. Her guardian had fallen asleep in a chair, weary from the days events, while Abby lay curled up with Patches in the hospital bed. As a parting gift, I left another bag of Goldfish crackers by her hand, whispering a quiet prayer for her before slipping out of the room. Working in the ER is a potent reminder that there are many people in desperate need of help. Though the immediate care we provide can make an impact, the long-term outcome for our patients remains largely unknown. In these moments, we hold onto hope and compassion, trusting that our actions might spark a turnaround in lives like Abbys. As the days turned into weeks, I found myself thinking often of Abby. I hoped that she had gained the strength to walk the path towards recovery, and perhaps even find happiness in the simple joys of life like the soft warmth of a stuffed sheep or the crunchy delight of a bag of Goldfish crackers. Abbys story served as a poignant reminder of the difference we can make, even in the face of immense sadness and adversity. Ton La, Jr. is a physician and can be reached on LinkedIn. News / National by Staff reporter A Chiredzi magistrate who bungled a case of an 'unauthorized' meeting involving a CCC councilor by convicting him at the close of the State case apologised for the error and wrote to the High Court in Masvingo to help him rectify his mistake.In a ruling made on April 12, 2023, Justice Garainesu Mawadze who reviewed the case in concurrence with Justice Sunsleey Zisengwe ordered that the case be taken to a different magistrate and be heard afresh.He said the case was just as good as there is no trial to talk about.Justice Mawadze expressed surprise at the magistrate's haste' to convict Councillor Roger Chikonye. He said the haste resulted in a serious misdirection of the case. Justice Mawadze wondered in his ruling whether it was overzealousness, keenness to convict the accused or sheer ignorance that led to such a serious departure from the legal procedure.The name of the erring magistrate is not mentioned in court papers in accordance with review processes that seek to protect the dignity of the court. The Mirror however, established that the case between the State and Chikonye was handled by Brian Munyaradzi.According to the correction sought, the accused applied for discharge at the end of the State case and instead of granting the discharge or placing the accused on his defense, the erring magistrate made a the State case and instead of granting the discharge or placing the accused on his defence, the erring magistrate made a final judgment and declared the accused guilty. This means that the accused was convicted without being afforded an opportunity to say his side of the story or calling his witnesses.On realising or being alerted of his mistake, the magistrate wrote to the High Court to help him correct it."I humbly place the record before the Honourable Judge. The accused applied for discharge at close of State case and in error the court pronounced a final judgment and pronounced verdict guilty.The trial magistrate concedes to this regrettable error and seeks the Justice's directions," read Magistrate Munyaradzi's application to the High Court.Justice Mawadze however, had no kind words for the error which baffled even natural justice."The proceedings in this matter cannot be allowed to stand. This is so because the procedural irregularity is so fundamental it goes to the root of trial itself. As things stand one may even venture to say as things stand there is no trial at all to talk about," said Justice Mawadze.According to the State case Chikonye was arrested for convening a meeting in his ward in Melbourne Park where about 25 people attended. Police acting on a tip-off asked him to produce the authority of convening the meeting which he could not and was arrested.The accused who is represented by Ross Chavi of Chavi Law Firm however, pleaded not guilty and argued that he did not require to give a notice under the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act as he was merely discharging his duties as an elected local councillor by giving residents feedback. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes! In this episode, we have Bruce Rosky, who is a patient advocate. Bruce shares his personal journey as a caregiver for his wife Jennifer, who was diagnosed with adult polyglucosan body disease (APBD), a rare neurodegenerative disorder. He talks about the challenges he faced as a caregiver, how he coped emotionally with the diagnosis, and how he found support and resources to help him in his role. Bruce also shares his insights on how to balance the practical and emotional aspects of caregiving and how to find ways to adapt to new challenges. Join us for this insightful and inspiring conversation. Bruce Rosky is a patient advocate. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, A couples journey with a rare neurodegenerative disorder. The Podcast by KevinMD is brought to you by the Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience. With so many demands on their time, physicians today report record levels of burnout. Burnout is caused by many factors, one of which is clinical documentation. Studies indicate physicians spend two hours documenting care for every hour spent with patients. At Nuance, we are committed to helping physicians do what you love care for patients and spend less time on clinical documentation. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is an AI-powered, ambient clinical intelligence solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 83 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Rediscover the joy of medicine with clinical documentation that writes itself, all within the EHR. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/xLIJXa Powered by CMEfy. 17 Shares Share The ACLU is currently tracking over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills this legislative session, the highest number on record. Over 150 of these pertain to transgender people, including many targeting health care for transgender youth. As of April 2023, thirteen states have passed laws or policies banning gender-affirming care for youth, while more than fifteen others have introduced similar bills and policies. These actions may forbid or criminalize evidence-based medical treatment for gender dysphoria, label such interventions as a form of child abuse, and/or impose penalties, including felony charges, on health care professionals who provide or refer for this care. The Human Rights Campaign reports that over half of transgender youth, ages 13 to 17, have lost or are at risk of losing access to medically necessary gender-affirming care in their state. Some of these bills may extend limitations on gender-affirming care to transgender young adults aged 18 to 26, including Texas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. Alternatively, these bills may attempt to outlaw gender-affirming care for all patients by restricting reimbursement for health care providers or prohibiting public funds to cover such treatments. This sets a dangerous precedent and opportunity for the conservative proponents of these bills to expand bans to gender-affirming care for all patients. Research has shown that these bills go against medical recommendations for gender-affirming care, including those published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Endocrine Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and exacerbate already existing health disparities for this vulnerable population. Transgender youth experience significantly higher rates of suicide compared to their cisgender peers The Trevor Project found that more than half of transgender and non-binary youth had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Studies on transgender youth have demonstrated that those who receive gender-affirming hormone therapy or puberty blockers experience a decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression, a reduction in suicidal thoughts, and an increase in appearance congruence, positive emotions, and overall life satisfaction. Numerous national medical bodies, including but not limited to the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, are advocating against these legislative attacks. In addition, states such as Minnesota, Illinois, Vermont, and California have introduced and passed protective bills for patients and physicians seeking and providing gender-affirming care. However, the list of states with bans on gender-affirming care seems to grow longer and longer. On the other hand, some countries in Europe, such as the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, and France, which were ahead of the U.S. on allowing medical interventions for gender dysphoria in youth, are now pulling back on what they allow. Countries like Denmark and Slovenia have allowed youth as young as 15 to obtain cross-sex hormone therapy. Many experts call for more long-term studies, but politicizing this care makes research in this area very difficult. This legislative climate puts not only patients but physicians in jeopardy. In 2022, Boston Childrens Hospital and Akron Childrens Hospital received threats of violence due to the fact that these hospitals provide gender-affirming care for youth. Penalties against physicians in states such as Texas include felony charges for practicing gender-affirming care on youth. Similar to the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade and is now impacting OB/GYN residency training, these bills and policies targeting gender-affirming care for transgender individuals can also have significant implications for medical training in LGBTQ health. Trainees in states with bans on gender-affirming care may miss out on critical training opportunities in this area. Furthermore, these policies may influence the decisions of transgender and non-binary pre-medical and medical students regarding which fields to pursue or where to live, as well as their sense of safety within health care settings. The potential threat of legal consequences, government interference in medical decision-making, and violence may also discourage aspiring health care providers from entering the field of transgender care altogether. I believe that denying gender-affirming care to transgender youth is not only harmful but goes against the fundamental principles of medicine. As health care providers, it is our responsibility to ensure that all patients, including those who are transgender, receive evidence-based care that is tailored to their unique needs. Restricting access to gender-affirming care not only leads to negative health outcomes but perpetuates the stigma and discrimination faced by the transgender community. It is crucial that we, as health care providers, stand in solidarity with the transgender community and advocate for their right to access medically necessary care. Carson Hartlage is a medical student. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Sun and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 81F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early then periods of showers late. Thunder possible. Low 56F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Opinion / Columnist It is existentially draining and disempowering that the leader of Transform Zimbabwe Jacob Ngarivhume, has been shockingly convicted and sentenced for an effective three years in jail for some tweets posted in July 2020 calling for a constitutionally protected peaceful demonstration - by Mrs Feresi Chakanyuka, a Harare Magistrate who by the oath of her office is sworn to "uphold and protect the Constitution" and to "administer justice to all persons alike without fear, favour or prejudice in accordance with the Constitution and law".Ngarivhume's quoted pinned-tweet and video posted on 8 July 2020 - which is still accessible on #Twitter need no interpretation.Given sections 56, 58, 59, 60 and 61 of the 2013 Constitution, it beggars belief that any magistrate would be fooled by political prosecutors some three months before a general election - into making a manifestly political decision to convict and impose a draconian sentence to knockout an electoral opponent of the sitting president, as a way of sending a chilling message to other presidential aspirants or voters.The conviction and sentence make a mockery of the judiciary and leave it in utter disrepute.Truth be told, the judiciary's shocking mishandling of Bill of Rights cases these days is eerily reminiscent of the gukurahundi years, when the Rhodesian State of Emergency retained between 1980 and 1990 was ruthlessly enforced.But there was an important difference then, now lost to the judiciary.While government used a decade of the retention of the Rhodesian State of Emergency for political purposes against targeted political enemies especially Zapu and the population in Matabeleland and parts of the Midlands the judiciary then stood firm as the protector of the Bill of Rights and defender of human rights and freedoms.Ironically, this was under a Lancaster Constitution whose Bill of Rights was in fact meant for the white minority and was entrenched only for 10 years precisely to give the white minority time to either take the gap to apartheid South Africa or the white Commonwealth countries, if not back to Britain itself.The point here is that during the gukurahundi years in which the order of the day was the Rhodesian State of Emergency whose effect was the obliteration of the Lancaster Bill of Rights draconian convictions and sentences like the one imposed on Ngarivhume by Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka were unheard of.It is a sociological truism that individuals lose their freedom when they join or belong to any group, because doing so necessarily requires them to give up some right or freedom in exchange for the pursuit of some common good. Because of this, threats to human rights and freedoms typically come from the groups to which individuals belong.The worst of such threats anywhere in the world come from the State in general and the government of the day in particular. This is because the State monopolises the use of violence through the government of the day.Thus, every government is by definition a threat to human rights and freedoms.In constitutional democracies with an entrenched and justiciable Bill of Rights, the guarantor of human rights and freedoms is the judiciary, not the government of the day but the judiciary, failure of which it has to be the people themselves.In Zimbabwe today the judiciary has tragically abdicated its constitutional responsibility and duty to guarantee and protect human rights and freedoms; hence the tragedy now happening to the Jobs and Jacobs in the nation's midst, which tragedy has exposed everyone's constitutional rights and freedoms to jeopardy! Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Rating) has earned a consensus rating of Moderate Buy from the fifteen research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $214.71. A number of research firms have commented on AJG. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $211.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial raised their price target on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $225.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $215.00 to $233.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Insider Activity In related news, Director Kay W. Mccurdy sold 182 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.59, for a total transaction of $35,779.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 31,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,112,179.69. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, Director Kay W. Mccurdy sold 182 shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.59, for a total value of $35,779.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 31,091 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,112,179.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director David S. Johnson sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $189.62, for a total transaction of $189,620.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 46,508 shares in the company, valued at $8,818,846.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 27,783 shares of company stock worth $5,262,891. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Down 0.5 % Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 25,783,678 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,414,680,000 after purchasing an additional 266,711 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the 4th quarter worth about $1,431,788,000. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 5,534,252 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $947,576,000 after buying an additional 300,053 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 1.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,534,836 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $853,932,000 after acquiring an additional 66,186 shares during the period. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 5.6% during the 4th quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 2,688,886 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $506,963,000 after acquiring an additional 141,783 shares during the last quarter. 82.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. NYSE:AJG opened at $208.06 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $44.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 40.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a fifty day moving average of $192.06 and a 200 day moving average of $190.88. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 52 week low of $148.24 and a 52 week high of $209.13. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $2 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 13.22% and a return on equity of 19.38%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.98 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 8.72 earnings per share for the current year. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s dividend payout ratio is 42.31%. About Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Get Rating) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following business segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by Evercore ISI from $2,000.00 to $2,100.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,550.00 to $1,885.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,600.00 to $1,800.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of 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. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,100.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $1,960.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Six 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, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $2,021.37. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance NYSE:CMG opened at $2,067.62 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $1,660.54 and its 200 day simple moving average is $1,567.73. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a one year low of $1,196.28 and a one year high of $2,071.00. The company has a market cap of $57.09 billion, a PE ratio of 55.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.32. Insiders Place Their Bets Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last posted its 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 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The business had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.34 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $5.70 EPS. The firms revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 43.26 EPS for the current year. 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 sale, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,128,219.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares in the company, valued at $38,448,306.54. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 2,193 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,128,219.17. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 12,724 shares of company stock valued at $21,674,555 over the last quarter. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Signaturefd LLC raised its holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 19.2% in the first quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 311 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $531,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 28.0% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 475 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $811,000 after acquiring an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc increased its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 17.1% during the first quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 137 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $234,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.2% during the first quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 13,240 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $22,618,000 after acquiring an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strategic Blueprint LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.9% during the first quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 2,159 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $3,688,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors 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. 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. CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $3.06-$3.12 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $3.10. The company issued revenue guidance of -. CMS Energy also updated its FY23 guidance to $3.06-3.12 EPS. CMS Energy Stock Down 0.4 % NYSE:CMS traded down $0.24 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $62.26. 2,377,863 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,959,118. The company has a market cap of $18.16 billion, a PE ratio of 21.85, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.01, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 0.78. CMS Energy has a one year low of $52.41 and a one year high of $71.97. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $60.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.67. Get CMS Energy alerts: CMS Energy (NYSE:CMS Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.04. CMS Energy had a return on equity of 9.66% and a net margin of 8.09%. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.20 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts predict that CMS Energy will post 3.1 EPS for the current year. CMS Energy Dividend Announcement Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 5th will be issued a dividend of $0.4875 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $1.95 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. CMS Energys payout ratio is presently 68.42%. CMS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of CMS Energy from $74.00 to $73.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $71.00 price objective on shares of CMS Energy in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. TheStreet upgraded CMS Energy from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on CMS Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on CMS Energy from $59.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $68.11. Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total transaction of $75,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 64,131 shares in the company, valued at $3,847,860. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In related news, SVP Brandon J. Hofmeister sold 1,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.00, for a total value of $75,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 64,131 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,847,860. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Shaun M. Johnson sold 814 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.74, for a total value of $50,256.36. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 57,304 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,537,948.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 7,314 shares of company stock valued at $447,136. Insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On CMS Energy Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec purchased a new position in shares of CMS Energy in the first quarter valued at about $188,418,000. Morgan Stanley raised its stake in CMS Energy by 75.0% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 4,457,642 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $282,303,000 after purchasing an additional 1,910,519 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in CMS Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $115,134,000. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in CMS Energy by 11.0% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,331,901 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,142,253,000 after purchasing an additional 1,613,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. boosted its stake in CMS Energy by 1,894.2% in the 4th quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 829,600 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $52,539,000 after purchasing an additional 788,000 shares during the period. 92.16% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. CMS Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) CMS Energy Corp. engages in the provision of electric and natural gas activities. It operates through the following business segments: Electric Utility, Gas Utility, and NorthStar Clean Energy. The Electric Utility segment focuses on generation, purchase, distribution, and sale of electricity. The Gas Utility segment includes purchase, transmission, storage, distribution, and sale of natural gas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Opinion / Columnist "We are confronted by wars which are sure to remake the global order as we have known it until now. Africa must jealously guard against her interests and position in the unfolding global drama. We are no one's underdog and we should not be drawn into foreign wars as proxies of any power or combatant," said VP Constantino Chiwenga at the official opening of Connect Africa Symposium."Gone are the days when foreign powers come to our meetings and try to override our own agendas. No. The agenda must be written by Africans for Africans. We see repeated attempts of (forcing) Africa into answering to issues that are peripheral to its interests."That must end. We also see attempts by bigger powers to fight over our resources which they want to control and to detect partnerships for us. We know our interests. We do not need to be lectured through hypocrisy."We know what Zanu PF's agenda is, it has not change ever since the country gained her independence in 1980 - to establish a de facto one-party dictatorship and retain absolute power at all costs.President Mnangagwa has mounted a protracted campaign portraying his regime as the victim of the British and her fellow western allies' white colonial empiricism ambitions. The accusation that the sanctions impose on the country was the root cause of Zimbabwe's economic meltdown was gaining traction. Many African leaders had called for the lifting of the sanctions against Zimbabwe at UN General Assembly last September. SADC leaders had gone as far declaring 25 October as anti-sanctions day.In November last year South Africa's ruling ANC made a party resolution "never to allow regime change in Zimbabwe". As far as President Cyril Ramaphosa and his party were concerned the any regime change in Zimbabwe was being initiated by the sanctions and nothing else.The four part Zimbabwe: Gold Mafia documentary on Al Jazeera has reveal how Zimbabwe was losing US$ 1.6 billion or 80% of her US$2 billion gold per year to gold smuggling. This constitutes nearly 6% of the country's US$28 billion GPD. Corruption is rampant in diamonds, lithium, platinum and in other areas such as procurement of fuel and medicine.Even the most optimistic guesstimate of the losses brought by sanctions have put the figure at a few million dollars per year nowhere near the US$1.6 billion per year in gold smuggling alone! Mnangagwa knows the Al Jazeera documentary has just shot down his sanctions balloon.President Cyril Ramaphosa may still try to endorse rigged 2023 elections and grant Zanu PF legitimacy, as before, but even he knows he will be helping to prop up a corrupt, tyrannical and vote rigging regime. No one will buy the sanctions hen's teeth excuse.What is more, the people of South Africa will be forced to sit up and take note: if ANC is condoning vote rigging in Zimbabwe, what is there to stop the party rigging SA elections?President Mnangagwa is concerned about rigging the 2023 elections but being denied political legitimacy because the process is judged to be flawed and illegal. He is so concerned about that, he is seriously considering denying the EU, Commonwealth, Americans and all certain to condemn the flawed process, election observer status.All this anti-foreign powers interfering in Africa's affair, we are "no one's underdog" rhetoric, etc. is preemptive strike to justify the decision to deny the western nation election observer status and reports condemn the election as a farce.Anyone who has been paying attentions to Zimbabwe these last 43 years will tell you they saw this coming! Zanu PF is a party of ruthless thugs who would rather burn down the house than give up power particularly now they are addicted to absolute power and all the influence and wealth it has brought.During India's struggle for home rule, Mahatma Gandhi and his fellow Indian nationalist leaders resisted the temptation to wage an armed struggle. "What kind of leaders will an armed struggle throw up?" they asked. "Will those be men and women we would want to rule India?"In Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF cronies Zimbabwe's armed struggle has provided the world with the answers to worse case scenario of what Gandhi and company feared! It is fair to say Zimbabwe end white colonial rule in 1980 only to replace the white oppressor with the black ones.Blacks did not have a meaningful vote before independence, now they are frogmarched to vote. Any whites who point out the meaningless change are dismissed as hypocrites. And any blacks who demand free and fair elections are ruthless silenced under the pretext they are puppets promoting their white masters' regime change agenda.Zanu PF turned the guns used to defeat the white colonial government on the people they were supposed to liberate to impose themselves as the new rulers. They had the means, the guns, to make the country ungovernable if they did not get what they wanted and they have held the nation to ransom ever since. Of course, we are tuck! Boston Family Office LLC lessened its position in Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF (NYSEARCA:VRP Get Rating) by 6.8% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 310,187 shares of the companys stock after selling 22,726 shares during the quarter. Boston Family Office LLC owned about 0.40% of Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF worth $6,945,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in shares of Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF by 1,818.0% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,918 shares of the companys stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 1,818 shares in the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $54,000. Regal Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $202,000. Comerica Bank purchased a new position in Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $206,000. Finally, Commerce Bank increased its position in Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF by 32.8% during the third quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 12,007 shares of the companys stock worth $263,000 after buying an additional 2,964 shares in the last quarter. Get Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF alerts: Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF Price Performance Shares of VRP stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $22.27. 454,381 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 500,037. Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF has a fifty-two week low of $20.88 and a fifty-two week high of $23.86. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $22.33 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $22.50. About Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF The Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF (VRP) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in broad credit fixed income. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of variable- and floating-rate preferred stocks. VRP was launched on May 1, 2014 and is managed by Invesco. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Variable Rate Preferred ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. B&M European Value Retail S.A. (OTCMKTS:BMRRY Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,100 shares, a decrease of 27.9% from the March 31st total of 4,300 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 16,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. B&M European Value Retail Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of OTCMKTS:BMRRY traded up $0.27 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $24.10. 9,667 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,807. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $23.59 and a 200-day moving average price of $20.87. B&M European Value Retail has a 12 month low of $12.74 and a 12 month high of $25.20. The company has a current ratio of 1.59, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.49. Get B&M European Value Retail alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on BMRRY shares. Barclays raised their price target on shares of B&M European Value Retail from GBX 475 ($5.93) to GBX 485 ($6.06) in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Royal Bank of Canada raised B&M European Value Retail from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of B&M European Value Retail from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, B&M European Value Retail has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $447.50. B&M European Value Retail Company Profile B&M European Value Retail SA is a general merchandise discount retailer. It offers FMCG brands and a variety of non-grocery products at range of categories and price points. The companys product range is spreaded over a number of non-grocery merchandise categories, including housewares, DIY, electrical, toys and pet products. Featured Stories 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. West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of $7.50-$7.65 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $7.42. The company issued revenue guidance of $2.96 billion-$2.99 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $2.96 billion. West Pharmaceutical Services also updated its FY23 guidance to $7.50-7.65 EPS. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently commented on WST. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $250.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $315.00 to $375.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Stephens raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $330.00 to $400.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $313.00. Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts: West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance Shares of WST traded up $6.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $361.24. 1,032,610 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 384,450. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 2.90 and a current ratio of 3.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $337.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $277.27. West Pharmaceutical Services has a 1 year low of $206.19 and a 1 year high of $372.06. The stock has a market cap of $26.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.79, a P/E/G ratio of 7.42 and a beta of 1.09. West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement West Pharmaceutical Services ( NYSE:WST Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.31. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 19.15% and a return on equity of 24.73%. The firm had revenue of $716.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $697.28 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.30 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services will post 7.57 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 2nd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 25th. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.21%. West Pharmaceutical Servicess payout ratio is 9.84%. Insider Activity In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, SVP Silji Abraham sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.57, for a total transaction of $483,855.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,209 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,357,697.13. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, CEO Eric Mark Green sold 44,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.35, for a total value of $14,183,400.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 85,705 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,627,006.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Silji Abraham sold 1,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.57, for a total transaction of $483,855.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 4,209 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,357,697.13. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of West Pharmaceutical Services Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 54.7% in the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 246 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $57,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 70.9% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 258 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares during the period. Centaurus Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 66.5% in the first quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 408 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $168,000 after purchasing an additional 163 shares during the period. Journey Strategic Wealth LLC purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $202,000. Finally, Graham Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $213,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.51% of the companys stock. About West Pharmaceutical Services (Get Rating) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following business segments: Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers proprietary packaging, containment and drug delivery products, along with analytical lab services, to biologic, generic and pharmaceutical drug customers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. By Krzysztof Iwanek In a previous commentary for The Diplomat, I argued that Russia and China have grown so close to each other over the past few years that India has no leverage to stop the process. Some of the replies to that text included this interesting point: regardless of the above, Moscow-Beijing cooperation does not hurt New Delhi's core interests. It is a point worth considering. One potential way to interpret this line of argument is that even if New Delhi does not have a way to stop Beijing and Moscow from deepening their partnership, whatever happened so far between them was not directed against India. With Russia being India's partner and China being India's rival, this is certainly how Moscow would like to portray things. New Delhi prefers to present this complex issue in the same way otherwise, how could India explain its partnership with Russia? The other way to read the point about not hurting national interests and this is, I assume, what some commentators imply is that India does have leverage, but we do not see it being used openly. In other words: The fact that Russia has not helped China hurt India in any way could be a result of New Delhi's silent pressure. The element of backdoor diplomacy is indeed often raised in discussions on the relations in the tangled India-Russia-China triangle. It is believed that while New Delhi does not want to counter Moscow's ties with Beijing openly (in order to avoid hampering its own partnership with Russia), it continues to send some signals to the Russians about forms of cooperation with the Chinese that India considers a redline. However, hard facts speak against this. Silent pressure is, of course, impossible to properly analyze, unless one is an insider. However, if we see the Russians and Chinese issuing statements and performing actions that hurt India's national interests and we do then the point about backdoor diplomacy becomes irrelevant. India's silent pressure, whatever form it is taking, is clearly not working. And here are the facts that prove this. First, Russia has been the biggest supplier of arms to China. Obviously, Russia has played exactly the same role for India. But I fail to see how this is not hurting India's national interests. A better way to express this would be that Russia is hurting both India and China's national interests by selling to both countries. Second, China has clearly been treated as a more important client for Russian weapons than India (and overall, China is a much more important client for Russia than India is). Moscow sells some of its more advanced platforms to Beijing but not to New Delhi. This short list includes Su-35 fighter jets; it also used to include the S-400 system. In the latter case, the situation has admittedly changed: A few years after selling S-400s to the China, Russia exported the same product to India as well (and negotiations with New Delhi were being held at the same time as with Beijing). Third, what often goes unnoticed is that Sino-Russian exchange has strengthened India's other rival: Pakistan. It is widely believed that Russia prefers India over Pakistan (when it comes to both security relations as well as political ties). This has been always true and remains true, and yet certain changes have occurred. Pakistan is no longer a country with which Russia has no security cooperation. Fourth, Russia and China have also gone against Indian national interests on the narrative level. Russians are not inclined to criticize India in the context of Sino-Indian tensions; they clearly do not want to be seen as siding with either country. But Russian diplomats do indirectly criticize India when it comes to the China-U.S. rivalry. Here Moscow is clearly picking a side: with China against the United States. Hence any initiative that involves Washington's cooperation with other countries against Beijing is criticized also by Russian diplomats, not only Chinese. While it is not India that is condemned here directly (but rather U.S.-led initiatives as such), India is one such state that cooperates with the United States against China. That Russian diplomats were also asking India to join the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could have also been a diplomatic inconvenience for New Delhi, given its declarations that India will not join. I leave aside the fact that I never liked the discussions on "joining or not joining" the BRI. As the BRI is a not an organization, it does not offer formal membership. But what is important here is what Russia has been implying that India should open itself to deeper economic cooperation with China and even partially endorse Beijing's political narrative (on the BRI). Yet what we have witnessed over the last few years has been New Delhi trying to do the exact opposite. All such initiatives or actions the Quad, Indo-Pacific, AUKUS, THAAD in South Korea, and many more are aimed at balancing the growing Chinese threat. Thus, all of them represent a direct or indirect benefit to India. At the same time, all of them have been diplomatically countered by Russia. India, China, and Russia joining the same organizations, projects, or events is a detail used by Moscow to claim that it is striving to build bridges of friendship between New Delhi and Beijing. This is of benefit to Russian diplomacy which thus acquires more navigating space between India and China. But at the same this is a challenge for Indian diplomacy. New Delhi's post-2020 position that India is now bolder in its dealings with China is being diluted by its other moves, such as the ones pointed to above. As backdoor pressure is clearly not yielding any benefits, in time India will likely be forced to draw its redlines on Sino-Russian cooperation openly. Krzysztof Iwanek is the head of the Asia Research Centre at the War Studies University in Warsaw, and a South Asia expert with the Poland-Asia Research Centre. He also teaches the history of India at Warsaw University. This article was published in The Diplomat and distributed by Tribune Content Agency. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi gestures after casting his vote during presidential elections at a polling station in Tehran, Iran, June 18. Reuters-Yonhap Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi will travel to Damascus on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported, touting a "very important" two-day visit against the backdrop of increased regional engagement with the Syrian regime. "Dr Raisi's trip to Damascus next Wednesday is a very important trip due to the changes and developments that are taking place in the region," IRNA state news agency on Sunday quoted Iran's ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, as saying. According to IRNA, Raisi will lead a "high economic-political delegation" in his two-day trip at the official invitation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Tehran, a major ally of Assad, has supported his government during Syria's 12-year-old conflict, but no Iranian president has visited there since the war started in 2011. The visit comes weeks after a landmark rapprochement agreement between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, which has also underlined greater Arab willingness to re-engage with the once isolated Syrian government. "This trip will not only be beneficial for Tehran and Damascus, but it is also a very good event that other countries in the region can also take advantage of," Akbari was reported as saying. There was no immediate official comment from the Syrian presidency. The last Iranian president to visit the Syrian capital was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in September 2010. Assad last visited Tehran in May, in his second reported trip to the Islamic republic since the war began. (AFP) BTS Suga has made his entry in the UK Official Charts for the first time with new album "D-DAY." Read more of the details here! BTS Suga Debuts in UK Official Charts With New Album 'D-DAY' Suga has made an amazing accomplishment in the music charts! On April 28, local time, Suga has now officially joined the United Kingdom's Official Charts, which is the equivalent of Billboard charts in the United States. The rankings released were covered for the week of April 28 to May 4. It included Suga's title track "Haegeum," that secured the No. 77 spot on the Official Singles chart. Aside from Official Singles, "Haegeum" also entered multiple charts such as the Official Singles Download Chart in No. 5, Official Singles Sales Chart in No. 8, and Official Video Streaming Chart at No. 10. "D-DAY," as an album, also made its mark in No. 41 on the Official Albums Chart. This makes Suga's second solo entry following his second mixtape "D-2," in May 2020, which claimed No. 7. Among all feats, this achievement led Suga to become the first Korean solo act to place multiple releases on the UK OFFICIAL Albums Chart. Suga's "D-DAY" also debuted on other numerous charts such as the Official Albums Downloads Chart, and the Official Hip Hop and R&B Albums Chart, both securing the No. 2 spot. It also landed on the Official Album Sales Chart at No. 23, and the Official Albums Streaming Chart at No. 77. BTS Suga Sets New Record For Highest First-Day Sales Among Soloists in Hanteo In other news, Suga also made headlines on the Hanteo Chart. On April 21, it was reported that Suga's "D-DAY" garnered a figure of 1,072,311 copies on its first day. This feat marks the highest first-day sales made by a solo album, scoring a new history in Hanteo. In a separate note, Suga is the second soloist to become a first-day million-seller in Hanteo, following his fellow bandmate Jimin, who previously owned the record with solo debut album "FACE." Overall, Suga has become the fifth artist to do so, following his group BTS, TXT, SEVENTEEN, and Stray Kids. Afterwards, "D-DAY" achieved its highest first-week sales from April 21 to 27. In the week's course, the album had sold 1,2777,218 copies. Notably, this also led Suga to have the ninth highest first-week sales, following SEVENTEEN, BTS, Stray Kids, NCT DREAM, NCT 127, BLACKPINK, and bandmate Jimin. Congratulations to Suga for this wonderful accomplishment! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Riely Miller JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli army officer was removed from his post on Sunday for attending a political protest in uniform, the first such case during a crisis over the government's planned judicial overhaul that has stirred rancour within the military ranks. Local media identified the officer as a major who was televised carrying a stretcher in a publicity stunt during a pro-government rally that was convened on Thursday in an attempt to off-set months of demonstrations against the reforms. The military confirmed his rank but, in a statement on his offence, said only that he had taken part in a protest last week while in uniform, and was stripped of his command authorities. The push by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition to rein in Israel's Supreme Court has set off concern over judicial independence. He says the legislation, currently on hold, aims to balance branches of government. The feud has resonated within Israel's armed forces, which draw heavily on conscripts and have long sought to serve as a melting pot for a fractious society. Some military reservists have threatened to refuse call-up orders if the reforms happen. Voicing worry for the country's war-readiness, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant came out in March against the pace of the overhaul. Netanyahu responded by announcing Gallant's ouster, but backtracked, citing a need to tackle security challenges. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise) Mourners preparing to bury the remains of 104 Yazidi victims in a cemetery in Sinjar, Iraq on Feb. 6, 2021. The Yazidis were killed by the Islamic State group in 2014, and were given a proper burial after the bodies were exhumed from mass graves and identified through DNA tests. (AP Photo/Farid Abdulwahed) Behind each door and gate in Sinuni, Iraq, there is a different story of trauma and resilience. The Yazidi community is still coping with the trauma and mental health burden following the ISIS genocide of 2014, where thousands of men, women and children were killed, tortured and kidnapped for sexual slavery. Eighty-one mass graves have been discovered, the most recent of which was found in June 2022. Ornamental property gates from random houses in the Sinuni region of Iraq. (Mylene Ratelle), Author provided The Yazidi community is based in Sinjar region, which is located in Nineveh Governorate, in northern Iraq. For thousands of years, this Mesopotamian-based population was persecuted for their unique ethno-cultural and religious beliefs, which promote harmony and peace. After the genocide of 2014, members of the Yazidi community looked for safety in countries all over the world. However, a community core still stands with resolution on the land where their ancestors were born, around the Sinjar Mount. Some by choice, some because they were not able to leave. A study from 2015 estimated that 2.5 per cent of the Yazidi population was either killed or kidnapped over the course of a few days in August 2014. Thousands were kept as sexual slaves. As such, it is not surprising that a study published in 2022 investigating the traumatic experience of displaced Yazidis living in a Kurdistan camp estimated that about four out of five respondents had PTSD symptoms, and that women had a higher rate and score of trauma and PTSD symptoms. Resilience strengthening is a key for the treatment of those survivors, especially for the Yazidi individual, collective and transgenerational traumatization. Link between mental health and cultural identity Research has indicated that a positive cultural identity contributes to better mental health. Cultural identity is a concept that encompasses personal, ethnic and social self-identity, which is critical for self-esteem. In a longitudinal study with Asian and Latino youth, cultural identity was associated with lower levels of depression symptoms. In addition, for Syrian refugees, the sense of belonging to a social or cultural community was a predictor of lower levels of depression symptoms, as well as greater life satisfaction. Story continues Historical colonialism, oppression and marginalization have contributed to poor mental health of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Australia. However, cultural identity seems to have a role to play in health and well-being. For example, for Australian Indigenous people in custody, their cultural engagement was associated with non-recidivism. Cultural continuity helped Indigenous communities of Canada to thrive, and promoting the sense of collective pride might contribute to positive mental health. As such, the idea was suggested recently that mental health programs should support the development of cultural identities, with the potential to improve psychological well-being. Since the genocide, some Yazidis report a renewed interest in their Yazidi cultural and political identity. They have a stronger will than before to protect Yazidi holy sites, preserve oral traditions and hymns and their unique cultural practices. Humanitarian intervention My work is usually done in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples in North America, who deal with systematic racism, exclusion and stigma, generational trauma, awful abuses from residential schools and thousands of unmarked graves of children. The Yazidi issues are a different type of deliberate horror, and are still very recent in the memory of survivors. Medecins Sans Frontieres warned the world in 2019 of the mental health crisis and of increasing suicide rates in the region. I was recruited by Medecins Sans Frontieres in summer 2022 to support a health promotion program in Sinuni, Iraq. The role of our health promotion team was to provide a bridge between the local hospital services and the population, as well as to implement preventive initiatives to improve physical and mental health in the community. In parallel, mental health professionals were offering support to the residents. Sinjar Mount is the core of the Yazidi community location in Iraq. (Mylene Ratelle), Author provided During our outreach activities, we often got a glimpse of the depth of the trauma of some community members, and witnessed their mental challenges. These included expressions such as: How can I be stress-free while there are 21 members of my family who are still missing? My fathers house was destroyed years ago. Every time I see it, next to my house, it makes me sad. I think about killing myself, day after day. We dont have skills, hobbies, hope. Many of us have someone we dont let alone in the house because we fear they might kill themselves. As part of the mental health activities, I developed the content of a series of workshops, with the aim to: destigmatize mental health issues, improve individual resiliency to stress by learning techniques to decrease anxiety at home, increase community support, social capital and cultural identity to prevent and cope with mental health issues. Those workshops were implemented by the team in homes and schools. As part of the last workshop, there were participatory activities on the importance of peer groups, on the role of cooking and traditional practices. One key activity was to invite participants to sing traditional songs together. The aim of those activities was to bring awareness on the positive impact of cultural identity, and strengthen social relations between neighbours. Those activities were evaluated, with participants reporting immediate and lasting positive impacts. Assessment of the workshops indicated increased happiness index: 58 per cent were above the threshold for depressive symptoms before the workshop while 92 per cent of participants were above the threshold immediately after. In addition, after two weeks post workshop, there were fewer participants self-isolating and meeting socially once a month or less (30 per cent versus 10 per cent post-workshop), and there was an increased average number of social activities. Our team observed that the Yazidi are collectively strong, resilient and hopeful. However, the trauma is still acute, and the extent of the mental health issues is such that it could pass on a generational trauma. As several NGOs cease their activities in the region, there are fewer organizations offering mental health care for the Yazidis, on the south and north side of Sinjar Mount. However, more work needs to be done to improve mental health in the region via health promotion, counselling, therapy and psychiatry. There is also an opportunity to support cultural identity to reinforce mental health resilience. 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: Mylene Ratelle, University of Waterloo. Read more: Mylene Ratelle worked on a health promotion program for Doctors without Borders in 2022-2023 in Iraq, but her views are not those of Doctors Without Borders. Kolkata, Apr 30 (PTI) Activists of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and a rival faction clashed at Beleghata in the northern part of Kolkata on Sunday, officials said. A party office was reportedly vandalised in the skirmish, they said. Also Read | Bhiwandi Buidling Collapse: Death Toll Rises to Six, Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Video). TMC MLA Paresh Pal, who visited the area after the incident, said the matter is being resolved and the situation is under control now. Local TMC leader Raju Naskar alleged that some party workers, who had recently switched sides from the BJP, were creating disturbance in the area. Also Read | JEE Advanced 2023 Registration Begins at jeeadv.ac.in; Here's How to Apply. They vandalised my office and car, and beat up party activists, he claimed. Meanwhile, Alok Das of the rival faction alleged that loyalists of Naskar attacked one of its supporters with firearms on Saturday night. A police officer said adequate security personnel have been deployed in the area and the situation is peaceful at present. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 30 (ANI): Owing to the problems caused due to snowfall in Kedarnath and Badrinath and the rains in the low-lying areas, the late-night Char Dham Yatris are being stopped by Police in Srinagar itself. Along with this, an announcement is being made to appeal to the passengers to stay in nearby cities. Also Read | Char Dham Yatra 2023: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar Issues Advisory for Pilgrims in View of Rain, Snowfall Alert. According to officials, checking points have been made near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Char Dham Yatris are being stopped "In Srinagar Garhwal police have made checking points near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Char Dham Yatris are being stopped and those who have online bookings for a night stay will be allowed to go towards Rudraprayag. But the passengers who have not booked the passes are being appealed to stay in Srinagar only," said SHO Srinagar, Ravi Saini. Also Read | Operation Kaveri: 365 Indians Evacuated From Strife-Torn Sudan Arrive in New Delhi. Ravi Saini said that there are adequate arrangements for staying in Srinagar, and the passengers will not face any kind of problem. "Passengers are being appealed to continue their journey when the weather clears up," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday advised the devotees to plan for the pilgrimage only after clearing all medical tests, including for Covid-19. The chief minister said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been laid by the state government in different languages, and those undertaking the pilgrimage this year need to abide by the same. With the ceremonial opening of the portals of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham, the four of the holiest sites in the country, the Char Dham Yatra has officially started.With the commencement of the yatra, the state police have also mobilised steps to extend all assistance to the pilgrims and help them reach the holy sites. As the doors of Badrinath Dham opened for pilgrims on Thursday morning, the first puja was performed in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The portals of Badrinath Dham opened amid chants of Vedic shlokas (hymns). Thousands of devotees were present to witness the ceremonial opening of the holy shrine. The process of opening the doors started at 4 am on Thursday. Kuber-ji, Shri Uddav-ji and Gadu Ghada were brought into the temple premises from the south gate, informed officials. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) London [United Kingdom], April 30 (ANI): Highlighting the country's strides in the pharma and biotechnology sector, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said the Indian vaccine market is expected to reach a valuation of Rs 252 billion by 2025. Singh, who is leading a high-level official Indian delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology on a 6-day visit to the United Kingdom, visited the 175-year-old London Science Museum on Sunday. He spoke about setting up similar science museums in India by the government. Also Read | Korati-Kolhar Curd That PM Narendra Modi Tasted in Vijayapura Facing Fodder Shortage. The Minister said that the idea of setting up these museums is to help enable the common citizens particularly the youngsters to realise their hidden potential and sometimes even discover their inherent aptitudes of which they themselves may not be aware of. It also ignites curiosity in them which then may help sharpen their scientific temper and inspire creative innovation. The Science Museum is a major museum on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, London. It was founded in 1857. Also Read | Mizoram: Assam Rifles Recovers Heroin Worth Rs 1.54 Crore in East Lungdar, Two Arrested. The Minister was taken around the exclusive pavilion set up to trace the history of the Covid pandemic right from the first case that appeared to the first person who got vaccinated. The history has been recorded in chronological order for the awareness and education of people. India's lead role in the management and prevention of Covid has shown to be recognised in the pavilion. Singh said that India is fast emerging as the world's major bio-economy and over the last few years, it has grown by leaps and bounds regarding innovation and technology. He pointed out that India has developed four indigenous vaccines in just two years. The Minister added that the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in the Ministry of Science and Technology has through "Mission COVID Suraksha", delivered four vaccines, augmented the manufacturing of Covaxin, and created the necessary infrastructure for the smooth development of future vaccines so that the country is pandemic ready. Singh said that the world is now increasingly realising India's superlative capacities in preventive healthcare and we are now in the process of developing several other vaccines in the series. Recently after the first DNA vaccine, the first nasal vaccine has also been successfully manufactured and another vaccine related to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) which has helped in the prevention of cervical cancer has also been developed. The Minister underlined that the Indian vaccine market, which has carved out a place for itself at the global level, is expected to reach a valuation of Rs 252 billion by 2025. He also called for extended collaboration in biotech startups and vaccine development between India and the United Kingdom. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pune, Apr 30 (PTI) An office-bearer of a hospital management services firm has been arrested from Pune city in Maharashtra in connection with alleged cheating of PMRDA which was given a contract to run a jumbo COVID centre, police said on Sunday. Also Read | Kolkata Fire: Blaze Erupts at Five-Storey Building in Bangur Area (Watch Video). A case was registered against the accused, Rajiv Salunke, an office-bearer of Life Line Hospital Management Service (LHMS), at Shivajinagar police station for allegedly cheating Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Also Read | Operation Kaveri: India Brings Back Another Batch of 229 People From Violence-Hit Sudan. He was arrested on Friday and presented before a local court, which remanded him in police custody till Monday. According to the police officials, Salunke is one of the office-bearers of LHMS. He was arrested on the charge of cheating PMRDA which had got the contract to run a COVID centre in Pune, they said. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya tweeted, "Pune Shivaji Nagar Jumbo COVID Center Scam. Police arrested Raju Salunkhe Partner of Lifeline Hospital Management Services Mumbai. 3 COVID Patients had died due to this scam. I had exposed this scam of Sanjay Raut's Partner Sujeet Patker. Pune & Mumbai Police registered FIR". (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], April 30 (ANI): The radio program 'Mann Ki Baat' has been a popular platform for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to connect with the people of India. The program, which is held on the last Sunday of every month, has been successful in reaching out to millions of Indians across the country, said a report. According to the report, the consistent message of the broadcasts is that the citizens of India are special people and need to have the confidence to act in a manner that assists in pushing forward the trajectory of the country. Also Read | Delhi Shocker: Two Stab Man for Refusing To Give Them Cigarette To Smoke in Nand Nagri Area, Accused Arrested. In several episodes of 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Modi has talked about Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of the region. He has spoken about the Community Mobilisation Programme 'Back to Village', which aimed to reach the doorsteps of villagers across 4500 panchayats. Also Read | Uttarakhand: Badrinath Highway Closes Due to Hill Debris in Chamolis Bazpur Area (Watch Video). He has also mentioned the increase in demand for lotus stem, known as 'Nadru' in the Kashmir language, which led to the formation of a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) for farmers cultivating Nadru in Dal Lake. In addition, he has talked about the self-reliance of the country in the field of pencil making, thanks to the efforts of the people of Pulwama. He has also highlighted the success of beekeeping in Jammu, where a beekeeper has been earning Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh annually. The efforts of the government in Jammu and Kashmir have been commendable, and 'Mann Ki Baat' has been successful in bringing these efforts to the forefront. The program has provided a platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and encourage them to take part in the development of the region. It has also highlighted the success of various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of the region. Overall, 'Mann Ki Baat' has been a successful platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of India and to encourage them to take part in the development of the country, added the report. The program has been successful in highlighting various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and it has provided a platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of the region. It is important that such initiatives continue to be taken to ensure the development of the region and the country as a whole. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Panaji [Goa], April 30 (ANI): As Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' completed its 100th episode on Sunday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the programme inspires and ignites the aspirations of the people of India. Chief Minister of Goa Pramod Sawant and BJP state president Sadanand Shet joined the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' by Prime Minister Modi. Also Read | Didi Ki Library in Bihar: Libraries Promote Reading Habit Among Children in Villages. Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Sawant said, "PM Narendra Modi Ji's conversation with the people of India, sharing people's stories that inspire, ignite aspirations of the people of India. The Mann Ki Baat did not remain a one-way conversation, it became a 'Swayam Se Samashti' movement celebrating people's participation." The Chief Minister said that Goa's stories also appeared in various episodes of Mann Ki Baat which not just gave a platform to the people of Goa but also changed the lives of the individuals. Also Read | Weather Update: IMD Issues Rain, Hailstorm Alerts for Several Parts of Country During Next 3 Days. He further expressed gratitude on behalf of the people of Goa and congratulated the Prime Minister for marking the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. "Goa's stories also appeared in various episodes of Mann Ki Baat. It not just gave a platform to Goa's people and its culture but also changed the lives of individuals. On behalf of the People of Goa I once again thank and congratulate PM Narendra Modi Ji on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat," he added. 'Mann Ki Baat', which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' has set a new narrative in the country which celebrates achievements of the common man. Chugh said a new world record has been set as the Prime Minister addressed the 100th episode of the programme. Also Read | Bhiwandi Buidling Collapse: Death Toll Rises to Six, Rescue Operation Underway (Watch Video). The BJP leader said the programme has built an intense connection between the PM and the people and helped boost his international stature as it is telecast in 11 foreign languages simultaneously. "The entire nation is grateful to the Prime Minister for disseminating the achievements and aspirations of the common man on the national platform," said Chugh. Also Read | Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor and Rohit Shetty Attend the Screening of Mann Ki Baats 100th Episode in Mumbai!. He said examples of personal initiatives from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with a message from the Prime Minister have inspired the entire nation since 2014 when the first programme was aired. Be it fight against Covid or call for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Chugh said PM Modi has made exemplary efforts through this programme to inspire the nation. PM Modi's monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode on Sunday. The programme was broadcasted live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, April 30: A nine-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a boy in east Delhi's Kalyanpuri area, police said on Sunday. The juvenile accused has been detained in connection with the alleged incident, which took place on Saturday, they said. A complaint regarding the assault was lodged at Kalyanpuri police station late on Saturday. The police said the victim was playing in the street on Saturday when the accused took her to a vacant house near a park close to his residence and allegedly sexually assaulted her. Maharashtra Shocker: Woman Sexually Assaults Minor Boy in Kalyan and Nashik for Three Years, Arrested Under POCSO Act. The victim returned home and narrated the incident to her parents, who took her to a hospital, a senior police officer said. Her medical examination was conducted at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital where the doctors confirmed the assault, the police said. She was also counselled by a child care counsellor. Thane Shocker: Minor Boy Sexually Assaulted by Relative, Case Registered. A case under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act was registered and the juvenile accused apprehended, the senior officer said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 30 (ANI): The Gujarat High Court will hear the plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 'Modi surname' defamation case on May 2. This comes after Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, made lengthy arguments today before Gujarat High Court. Also Read | Char Dham Yatra 2023: Uttarakhand DGP Ashok Kumar Issues Advisory for Pilgrims in View of Rain, Snowfall Alert. The complainant's lawyer sought time to produce certain documents on record, after which the court allowed it and adjourned the hearing to May 2. Earlier on April 25, Rahul Gandhi moved the Gujarat High Court challenging the Surat Sessions court verdict that rejected his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case over the 'Modi surname' remark. Also Read | Operation Kaveri: 365 Indians Evacuated From Strife-Torn Sudan Arrive in New Delhi. A Surat court on April 20 rejected Rahul Gandhi's plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case. In his judgement, Additional sessions judge Robin P Mogera had cited Gandhi's stature as an MP and former chief of the country's second-largest political party and said he should have been more careful. He cited prima facie evidence and observations of the trial court and said it transpires that Gandhi made certain derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi apart from comparing people with the same surname with thieves. Mogera said the surname of the complainant in the case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Purnesh Modi, is also Modi. "...the complainant is [also an] ex-minister and involved in public life and such defamatory remarks would have certainly harmed his reputation and caused him pain and agony in society," he said. Mogera cited the disqualification criteria under the Representation of the People Act and added that removal or disqualification as MP could not be termed irreversible or irreparable loss or damage to Gandhi. Earlier on April 3, the Sessions Court granted bail to the Congress leader. While granting bail to the former MP, the court had issued notices to Purnesh Modi and the state government. It heard both parties and then reserved the order for April 20. Rahul Gandhi was a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad but was disqualified after a lower court in Surat sentenced him to two years in jail on March 23 under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed by Purnesh Modi. The case pertained to a remark Rahul Gandhi made using the surname 'Modi' while addressing a campaign event ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At a rally in Karnataka's Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA is automatically disqualified if convicted and sentenced to two years or more. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Madhu Garikaparthi, right, holds a bag full of green chili peppers that her husband Satish Garikaparthi recently brought back to Yellowknife from a trip to Winnipeg. (Marc Winkler/CBC - image credit) Some people who go on trips bring back little souvenirs for their families. Madhu Garikaparthi's husband brings back green chili peppers two and a half kilos of them. "They won't last long, really," said Madhu. "We are very careful to make them last as long as possible." Her family processes them and stores them in airtight containers, where they stay good for a couple months. They're an important ingredient for many Indian dishes and a tough ingredient to get in large quantities in Yellowknife. Madhu grows some as well, as a backup supply. But the meal Madhu and her mother, Sujata Kolisetty, were making on April 21 when they welcomed the CBC's Marc Winkler into their kitchen was something else altogether: Chinthapandu Pulihora, also known as tamarind rice. It's a comfort food, Madhu explained, and something you might expect to eat during a festival like Diwali, or after a wedding. Marc Winkler/CBC "Whenever you do a celebration, this is a must," she added. "It doesn't matter [if] you do 100 per cent of the other traditional stuff, you still have to do this because without this, your celebration is not complete." Madhu, who has lived in Canada for more than 20 years, recently brought her parents over from Andhra Pradesh in southeast India to live with her in Yellowknife. Both in their 70s, her parents arrived last summer. Recipe for Chinthapandu Pulihora (tamarind rice) Pulihora powder (we keep the powder prepared ahead and store it) 1 cup of white sesame seeds 1/4 cup of coriander seeds 1/4 cup of chana dal 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds 1/2 teaspoon peppercorns 2 dried red chili Dry-roast all the ingredients and grind. Tamarind pulp soak in warm water for half an hour and extract thick pulp. Instructions: Cook 1 cup of rice and keep aside. In small pan, heat 1 tbsp oil. Add 1 tsp each of mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Add a few cashew nuts and a pinch of asafoetida. Add a sprig of curry leaves and 2 pinches of turmeric powder. Story continues When the ingredients are medium roasted, add 2 tbsp of tamarind pulp. Add salt to taste. Once the pulp is cooked, add 2 tbsp of the pre-ground pulihora powder. Stir the contents well and mix with the cooked rice. Let it sit for an hour so the rice can absorb the sauce. She said she and her husband, Satish Garikaparthi, always wanted her parents to come, but they'd hesitated to leave Andhra Pradesh. Now that they're here, they have plenty to keep them busy: her mother Sujata spends her time doing a wealth of arts and crafts, when she isn't cooking, and her father SatyaNarayana Murthy Kolisetty keeps busy reading books and meditating. Sujata meditates, too, waking up at 3 a.m. to do so a practice she has done for Madhu's whole life. Speaking in Telugu, translated by Madhu, Sujata said she lived all her life in Andhra Pradesh. Her house back in India was full of greenery, flowers and birds "like a paradise," Madhu noted. Marc Winkler/CBC "She fondly remembers but never misses her home," Madhu said. For Madhu, being back with her parents after decades of living so far away brings two particular delights: she can act like a daughter again, and Sujata has taken over much of the cooking a task Madhu hates doing. "I was mom of the house now, she's mom of the house," she explained. "She cooks all the traditional foods. My cooking is YouTube. But she has authentic, traditional recipes that came from her mom ... so there's definitely a difference in flavour." There's also a huge sense of relief to have her parents close by, and Madhu and Satish's daughter is excited to have her grandparents living with them. "I used to talk to my mom every day, sometimes twice a day ... but I was never sure how they were really doing," Madhu explained. Visiting them used to take a 36-hour journey. "My daughter is very excited to have the experience of having a grandpa and grandma at home. And she started to really learn Telugu." Marc Winkler/CBC Satish, Madhu's husband, said the integration of family and culture is important for many immigrants and having family around makes a big difference in their lives. Madhu's parents are the only parents he has now, as both of his parents have passed away. He said they're fortunate and thankful to have Madhu's parents spending time with them. "When you ask how [we] feel? [We] feel complete. The family picture is complete," he said. "You go home and look forward to spending time with mom and dad. And that is the whole purpose and meaning of life." This article is part of a series from CBC producer Marc Winkler, who is meeting new Canadians and their families in their kitchens to cook a meal together. Firozpur (Punjab) [India], April 30 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Sunday found a packet containing around 1 kg heroin, stuffed inside a sock, near the border fence in Firozpur. The recovery was made near the border fence in Kilche village in Firozpur district. Also Read | Maharashtra Reports 425 New COVID-19 Cases, Including 105 in Mumbai in Past 24 Hours; Active Tally Now at 4,005. "On 30th April 2023, vigilant BSF troops, during area domination duties recovered a sock stuffed with a packet of suspected heroin, close to own side of border fence near border village - Kilche, Distt - Ferozepur," the BSF said in a statement. As per the BSF, the recovered drugs weighed around 1 kg, and the sock was found from a harvested wheat field. Also Read | Karnataka Assembly Election 2023: PM Narendra Modi Holds Roadshow in Mysuru (Watch Video). Further investigation is underway in the case. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh will embark on an official 3-day visit to the Maldives between May 1 and 3, a government release said on Sunday. According to the government release, the Defence Minister will hold bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid during the visit. Also Read | TS EAMCET 2023: Telangana Board Releases Hall Tickets for Common Entrance Test Exams at eamcet.tsche.ac.in; Know Steps To Download. "The entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed during the deliberations. The Defence Minister will also call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih", the statement said. The release further stated, "In tune with India's commitment to capacity building of friendly countries & partners in the region, minister Rajnath Singh will gift one Fast Patrol Vessel ship and a Landing Craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces." Also Read | ED Raids BYJUs Office: CEO Byju Raveendran Says Brought More FDI to India Than Any Other Startup, Company in Compliance. "During his stay, he will also visit the ongoing project sites in the country and interact with the Indian diaspora. The Defence Minister's visit will be an important landmark in building the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries", the statement added. The government release further said, "India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters." "India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) along with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy as well as Maldives' 'India First' policy seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean Region", the statement said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 30 (ANI): Strict on illegal construction in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's government is now going to run bulldozers on encroachments on all government lands including parks, ponds and puddles in urban bodies. On behalf of the government, all the urban bodies have been instructed to identify illegal constructions and encroachments and take action as per the rules. Also Read | Mann Ki Baat 100th Episode Today: PM Narendra Modi's Monthly Radio Programme Created a Revolution, Says Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan. It has also been asked to ensure that information regarding encroachments is provided on the Anti Land Mafia Portal (IGRS Portal). It is notable that the State Government has already taken strict steps regarding illegal construction in the state. Land worth thousands of crores has been freed from the clutches of the land mafia. In this sequence, it has now been decided to free the government land from illegal construction by running this campaign in the urban body. Also Read | Sudan Crisis: Was Holed Up in Basement Room As Fighting Raged Outside, Recalls Himachal Pradesh Man Rescued From Khartoum. The order issued by the State Government said, "Every urban body is expected to mark such public lands, parks, ponds, puddles etc. in its body which are being encroached by the land mafia or anyone else. All such government property should be freed from encroachments and necessary legal action should be taken against the illegal occupants. It should also be ensured that they are registered on the IGRS Portal (Anti Land Mafia Portal) with the help of the Revenue Department." The order adds, "It will be the responsibility of every urban body to provide information related to its body to the Director, Directorate of Local Bodies, who will make this information available to the government." It is worth mentioning here that in order to remove encroachment from public land and to take effective action against illegal encroachers, the Revenue Department had been running an anti-land mafia campaign since 2017. A four-level task force has also been constituted to review the anti-land mafia campaign at the state, divisional, district and tehsil levels. Chief Secretary Daya Shankar Mishra is the Chairman of the State Level Anti Land Mafia Task Force, while Principal Secretary Urban Development Department along with other departments are members of this State Level Anti Land Mafia Task Force. From time to time, review meetings of the State Level Anti Land Mafia Task Force are held by the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department. In the review meeting of the recently concluded State Level Anti Land Mafia Task Force, it was found that the information about illegal encroachments and illegal occupants on public land in urban bodies is negligible on the Anti Land Mafia portal. This step has been taken by the State Government in view of the possibility of holding a review meeting of the state-level anti-land mafia task force at a higher level in future. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) For Walpurgis Night, the April 30 feast associated with witchcraft in German folklore, DW's Karin Helmstaedt looked into the tragic story of her ancestor who was burned as a witch.I remember the day I learned we had a witch in the family. I walked with my parents up a leafy hillside overlooking Winningen, a picturesque wine-making town on the banks of Germany's Moselle River. It was a pilgrimage to the top of the "Hexenhugel," or Witches' Hill, where a sombre obelisk commemorates 21 people who died as a result of the Winningen Witch Trials. Also Read | Jada Pinkett Smith and Jaden Smith Enjoy Quality Time at Louis Vuitton Show in Seoul. For a Canadian kid just discovering Europe, it was quite a revelation. My mind was instantly filled with horrifying images. I ran my finger over the rough engraving of my 9th great-grandmother's name: Margarethe Krober. She had died over 300 years earlier, burned as a witch in November 1642. Also Read | Brave: Web Browser and Search Engine Removes Microsoft Bing From Its Search Results Page. Decades later, I was still haunted by her story and tried to find out more. "Her case is particularly tragic," historian Walter Rummel told me. The hands-down expert on the topic in Winningen says the area was unique for the fact that its extensive witch trial records over 8,000 pages worth were not only highly detailed but also extraordinarily well preserved. Cross-referenced with tax records, church and commercial registers, they offer a window into how the townspeople reacted to the threat of alleged witches in their midst and how some knew to use the situation to their advantage. A complex chapter The European Witch Hunts represent a complicated chapter, and by its very nature misconceptions abound. Add literature, radical feminist politics and the rise of neo-pagan religious movements like Wicca into the mix and things get even murkier. From the Brothers Grimm to the Wizard of Oz, mythology surrounding the figure of the witch has been crystallized into our cultural subconscious. But beyond the imagery we often see as historical fact for instance, that witches were burned at the stake in the Middle Ages, that midwives or red-haired women were most likely to be targeted, or that witch hunts were an instrument of the patriarchal Church to keep women down things were far more complex. Early modern Europe saw a collusion of circumstances social, political, religious and climactic that set the stage for three centuries of witch hunts. Wolfgang Behringer, an expert on early modern history, researched this tumultuous period and found that the major waves of witch hunts in Europe were linked with a noticeable climatic deterioration now referred to as the Little Ice Age (1306-1860), when a prevalence of epidemics and natural disasters meant European populations were massively stressed and looking for explanations. "If we assume that failed harvests played a big role in the desire for witch hunts, then we find that most of them are not initiated by the state or the Church, but rather by the populace," said Behringer, who describes with hunts as a "form of protest" initiated by citizens. Witch hunts had less to do with religion and more to do with forms of settlement, added Behringer: "There are practically no witch hunts in nomadic societies, or if a population is sparse. The village structure where people sit on top of each other, watch each other and get suspicious if any misfortune occurs, is (a more likely scenario for witch hunts) as so often witch trials are about subsistence." According to Rita Voltmer, historian and author of "Hexen" (2008), the figure of the witch was repeatedly instrumentalized and romanticized by early feminists like Matilda Joslyn Gage and even by Nazi propagandists to bolster the argument that the Catholic Church was the main driver of witch hunts. "They were all part of this movement that took up the idea of the wise woman priestess sometimes of Celtic origin, sometimes of Germanic origin and that the blond and red-haired women, our forefathers and mothers, were deliberately persecuted by the Jewish-influenced Christian Church that was out to destroy the true Germanic race," she said. A lethal mix in Germany Currently, experts agree that some 50-60,000 people died between 1450 and 1789 in Europe as a result of witch hunts. And while there were "hot spots" in many countries, it's a grim fact that roughly half or 25,000 were killed within the boundaries of present-day Germany. Nearly 80% of the victims were women, but there were stark regional variations and in places like Iceland, Russia, or the province of Normandy, the vast majority of those accused of witchcraft or sorcery were men. In Germany, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, the persecution of witches had a legal basis, thanks to the "Peinliche Gerichtsordnung" enacted by Emperor Charles V in 1532. This early penal code, also known as the "Carolina," counted sorcery as a serious crime. From then on witch trials across the Empire could supposedly be conducted in the name of law and order, but divided as it was into countless entities, and coupled with religious pressure and conflicts in the wake of the Reformation, Germany's social fabric made for a particularly lethal mix. Anatomy of a witch trial Which brings us back to Winningen. Of the 24 people accused there of witchcraft, 19 were executed, two died in prison, and the remaining three managed to fight their case and be acquitted. My ancestor Margarethe came from a well-situated family. She married Zacharias Krober, a judge, so together they belonged to the town's social elite. Written records indicate that she had a rebellious nature. She had been married eight years and had two small boys when she was officially denounced for being a witch. And it turns out she wasn't the only one in the family to die on the Witches' Hill. Margarethe's own mother was in fact the first person in Winningen to be executed for witchcraft. Subsequently her aunt, her cousin and, as time went on, all her sisters and brother-in law met the same fate. A clear case of the the upper crust being a target of witch hunts, which was typical for this area, but even Walter Rummel agrees the systematic destruction of an entire generation of Krober spouses is exceptional. "Witchcraft was an accusation that couldn't be topped," he said, "and like a reactor, it irradiated everyone and everything around it." Through the witch trial protocols, all in ornate 17th-century script, I learned that she was accused of a long list of charges, including attending a Witches' Sabbath, flying and poisoning people. Margarethe had thumbed her nose at any rumors surrounding her for years, but was eventually arrested, strip searched, shaved and interrogated. She denied all the charges against her, and called on her husband to vouch for her innocence. But in a heartbreaking turn of events and ostensibly to protect his position in the town Zacharias left her in the lurch, claiming that if she was a devout Christian, her body would withstand the torture, and that at any rate, she should simply confess "because you know you're a witch." To extract her "confession," the Witch Commission then resorted to torture, using crushing devices such as the so-called "boot," and submitting her to "reverse hanging." At this point the trial records are excruciating to read. Her screams and suffering "clamat et torturam" were duly recorded. Tragically, her only way out of the torment was to lie a mortal sin from a devout 17th-century perspective. After two days of agony, she confessed to being a witch, effectively sealing her own death sentence. She was also forced to denounce another woman for witchcraft, ensuring the cycle of witch hunts could continue. Two days later she was hauled up to the execution site and forced to beg forgiveness from the townspeople who had gathered to witness her execution. Thus exonerated, she was granted a "merciful" death by beheading before her body was burned. The final anomaly came next in the form of a feeding frenzy: According to records, 250 liters of wine were carted up to the execution site ensuring the whole town was complicit, while the caterers made a killing. Margarethe's husband was handed the bill. In short, power, money, envy and resentment were behind the witch trials which, in Winningen, were always directed at society's upper echelons. The last witch trial in Winningen in 1659 did not end in execution, as families mobilized resources to fight for their alleged witches' cause. It was the beginning of the end as people simply doubted so many could be guilty of witchcraft. Witch hunting hysteria in Europe began to die down as key laws were changed. The age of Enlightenment meant science and reason took precedence over superstition. Food was more plentiful, and the advent of insurance meant people were less prone to disaster. The last alleged witch in Europe was beheaded in Switzerland in 1782 marking the end of a dark chapter in European history. Edited by: Elizabeth Grenier (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2023 08:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New York, Apr 30 (PTI) An Indian-origin has been found guilty of killing three teenage boys who played a doorbell-ringing prank at his house in the US state of California, according to a media report. Anurag Chandra, a Riverside County resident, was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree murder on Friday, the New York Post reported. Also Read | Operation Kaveri: 229 More Indians Leave Jeddah From Sudan in Bengaluru-Bound Flight (See Pics). The incident took place on January 19, 2020, when a group of teenage boys rang Chandra's bell on a dare, the report added. Chandra said that one of the teens flashed his buttocks before running away. Also Read | US Shooting: Gunman Kills Five Neighbours, Including a Child in Texas After Family Complained About Gunfire. The crash killed all three teenagers who were 16 years old, it said. Chandra, who drank 12 beers the day of the crash, said he was extremely, extremely mad at the prank and claimed he was worried about his family's safety. He followed the boys and rammed their Toyota Prius off the road, which slammed into a tree in Temescal Valley. The suspect testified that he did not plan to crash into the boys' car, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Chandra also said he did not stop after rear-ending their vehicle because he did not think anyone had been injured. The driver, who was 18 years old, survived, along with two 13-year-old passengers. Chandra is already facing charges in connection with a domestic violence incident in 2020 before the fatal crash. PTI (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Orleans, Apr 30 (AP) A shooting outside a well-known New Orleans restaurant on Friday killed an employee, and one bullet penetrated the restaurant and wounded a Chicago tourist visiting for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Interim New Orleans police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork told reporters on Saturday that the shooting happened outside Mandina's Restaurant in New Orleans' Mid-City neighbourhood. No suspects have yet been named. Also Read | Earthquake in Somalia: Quake of Magnitude 4.7 Strikes Near Caluula. Woodfork said police believe two assailants targeted the waiter, whom family members identified to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans as 23-year-old Hilbert Walker III. A private security guard returned fire, Woodfork said, and was not injured. Diners told local news outlets that they dived to the floor seeking cover and that police didn't let them leave for more than an hour. Also Read | US: New Omicron Subvariant Becomes Second Dominant COVID-19 Strain in United States. The 54-year-old Chicago woman was visiting for Jazz Fest and was at Mandina's to celebrate the birthday of a friend, when she was shot, Woodfork said. She did not say what condition the tourist was in. The shooting caused alarm in New Orleans, a city with an economy dependent on tourism. It came on the first day of the two-weekend Jazz Fest, one of the busiest tourist periods in the city. This was an isolated incident that did not occur in the vicinity of the festival, Woodfork said. The restaurant announced it would be closed on Saturday and Sunday. The police department has about 150 to 180 officers providing security and directing traffic at the festival, Woodfork said. It's held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, about 3.2 km from the restaurant. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell sent her condolences to the victims in a statement. A celebratory day was later marred by another senseless act of violence, she said. Concerns about crime and poor city services recently drove a racially polarising effort to recall Cantrell, a Black Democrat who is the first woman to lead the city. That effort failed in March after organisers fell far short of the number of signatures required to force a recall election. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jeddah, April 30: The Ministry of External Affairs said that under Operation Kaveri, 229 more Indians rescued from Sudan have left Jeddah in a Bengaluru-bound flight on Sunday. Ministry of External Affairs, Official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah." Operation Kaveri: Indian Navy Ship INS Teg Evacuates 14th Batch of 288 Stranded Indians From Port Sudan (See Pics). 229 More Indians Leave Jeddah From Sudan: #OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah. pic.twitter.com/Zvfwx5Q0CJ Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 30, 2023 On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri, while a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers reached the national capital on Saturday morning. As a ceasefire has been called in Sudan, several countries, including India, are attempting to evacuate their citizens from a conflict-ridden nation. Earlier, Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, successfully evacuated 288 stranded Indians under Operation Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. This was the 14th batch of stranded citizens headed to Jeddah to return to India. Previously, INS Sumedha, stationed at Port Sudan, had also left the crisis-hit country with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. The Indian government under Operation Kaveri, is set to evacuate about 3,000 Indian-origin passengers from Sudan. Until Friday, more than 2,400 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan, where the country is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Operation Kaveri: 365 Indians Evacuated From Strife-Torn Sudan Arrive in New Delhi. The Indian evacuees shouted slogans like "Bharat Mata ki jai," and "Vande Mataram" and also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for rescuing them from Sudan under Operation Kaveri. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed due to 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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) IAF C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers is on its way to Delhi. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@MEAIndia) Jeddah, April 30: An Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers onboard took off from Jeddah on Sunday for New Delhi as 'Operation Kaveri' progresses further to evacuate stranded Indians from battle-torn Sudan. It was the 8th flight carrying Indian evacuees that took off from Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, since 'Operation Kaveri' began. Taking to Twitter, the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "#OperationKaveri 8th flight carrying Indian evacuees takes off from Jeddah. IAF C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers is on its way to Delhi." Operation Kaveri: 229 More Indians Leave Jeddah From Sudan in Bengaluru-Bound Flight (See Pics). C-130J Aircraft With 40 Passengers Onboard Takes Off From Jeddah: #OperationKaveri 8th flight carrying Indian evacuees takes off from Jeddah. IAF C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers is on its way to Delhi. pic.twitter.com/NBjp7Ul7Tw Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) April 30, 2023 The 7th flight destined for Bengaluru took off from Jeddah earlier today, with 229 passengers onboard. "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri, while a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers reached the national capital on Saturday morning. As a ceasefire has been called in Sudan, several countries, including India, are attempting to evacuate their citizens from a conflict-ridden nation. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Earlier, Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, successfully evacuated 288 stranded Indians under Operation Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. This was the 14th batch of stranded citizens headed to Jeddah to return to India. Operation Kaveri: Indian Navy Ship INS Teg Evacuates 14th Batch of 288 Stranded Indians From Port Sudan (See Pics). Previously, INS Sumedha, stationed at Port Sudan, had also left the crisis-hit country with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. The Indian government under Operation Kaveri, is set to evacuate about 3,000 Indian-origin passengers from Sudan.Until Friday, more than 2,400 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan, where the country is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. The Indian evacuees shouted slogans like "Bharat Mata ki jai," and "Vande Mataram" and also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for rescuing them from Sudan under Operation Kaveri. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], April 30 (ANI): After the terror case, new charges have been filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President and Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, ARY News reported. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Gujranwala filed a case against Elahi citing a source report, in which the former Punjab CM has been accused of taking a bribe worth Rs 2 billion for the contract of a development scheme. Also Read | Earthquake in Somalia: Quake of Magnitude 4.7 Strikes Near Caluula. Haji Tariq, the owner of the contracting company, SDO Highway Gujarat and previously arrested Sohail Asghar Chaudhry have also been nominated in the case. Earlier, Punjab police booked PTI President on terror charges following a late-night raid at his residence. Also Read | US: New Omicron Subvariant Becomes Second Dominant COVID-19 Strain in United States. The case has been registered against 50 individuals including the former chief minister in Lahore's Ghalib Market police station, according to The Express Tribune. The FIR invokes Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and has 13 other charges included pertaining to attempted murder, rioting and assault on government officials. According to the FIR, the raid tea was attacked with petrol bombs, stones and batons. Furthermore, the complaint claimed that Elahi assisted in escaping arrest during the raid. The registration of the terrorism case against Elahi comes just hours after a team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Punjab, and the Lahore police conducted a raid to arrest the PTI ally. Police had sealed off Zahoor Elahi Road at both ends before launching the operation. At the outset, the raiding team had approached the legal team Elahi, which informed them that Elahi had secured protective bail from the court, The Express Tribune reported. When the negotiations between the legal team and the ACE team failed, the ARF made an attempt to enter the premises. However, it was met with severe resistance from the workers inside the house. The police made further attempts to break the gate, as they climbed over the wall but because of the stone pelting, their attempts failed again. Reportedly water mixed with petrol and kerosene oil was also thrown at the police from inside the house, reported The Express Tribune. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Uman (Ukraine), Apr 30 (AP) Relatives and friends cried next to coffins on Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Also Read | Chinese Crew Member Dies After MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur Collide Near Corregidor Island (Watch Video). Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sunday's funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths hit the entire community hard. Also Read | India: Womens Fight for Dignity with More Toilets. I live nearby," said Father Fyodor Botsu. "I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. I'm worried with everyone since I have children and I'm a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years." He said he prayed "that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's 14-month-long war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, nine kilometers (six miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldn't wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised," Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. "But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces won't delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to "reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Macron's office said he reiterated France's commitment to provide Ukraine all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group that is leading his country's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Central Armed Police Forces (AC) Exam 2023 https://career.webindia123.com/career/dates_and_events/entrance/upsc/central-police-forces-exam-cpfe.htm Details of Central Armed Police Forces (AC) Exam 2023 2022-8-9 2023-5-10 https://career.webindia123.com/career/images/exams.png India India Central Armed Police Forces (AC) Exam 2023 UPSC UPSC Central Armed Police Forces Exam, 2023 - On 6th August, 2023 Central Armed Police Forces (AC) Exam 2023 Category : UPSC Recruitment 2023 Published : On August 9, 2022 By Webindia123 Editor Important Dates Date of Notification April 26th, 2023 Last Date for Receipt of Applications May 16th, 2023 Date of Examination August 6th, 2023 Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has commenced the recruitment process for 323 posts in Central Armed Police Forces (Assistant Commandants) Examination, 2023. UPSC released the dates and the procedure for applying on its official website upsc.gov.in on April 22, 2020. The last date for applying for UPSC CAPFs post is May 12, 2020 till 6:00 pm. The UPSC CAPF 2020 written examination will be conducted on August 9, 2020. Out of the 323 UPSC CAPF vacancies, Border Security Force (BSF) will recruit 100 candidates, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will recruit 108 people, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will recruit 28 people, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will recruit 21 people and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) will recruit 66 people. These vacancies will be filled up in accordance with the UPSC CAPF examination. The number of vacancies is currently tentative. Before applying for UPSC CAPF examination, candidates should check the official website for eligibility conditions and other instructions at www.upsconline.nic.in The eligible candidates will be issues an e-admission certificate three weeks before the examination date, which isDecember 20,, 2020. No admit card will be sent by post. Eligibility Conditions Nationality : No person who is not a citizen of India shall, except with the consent of the Central Government signified in writing be appointed or employed under these Rules. Provided that nothing contained in these rules shall debar the appointment, enrolment or employment of a subject of Nepal or Bhutan under these Rules. Sex : Both Male and Female candidates are eligible for appointment to the post of Assistant Commandants. Age Limits : (a) A candidate must have attained the age of 20 years and must not have attained the age of 25 years on 1st August, 2020, i.e. he/she must have been born not earlier than 2nd August, 1995 and not later than 1st August, 2000. (b) The upper age limit prescribed above will be relaxable. (i) upto a maximum of five years if a candidate belongs to a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe. (ii) upto a maximum of three years in the case of candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes who are eligible to avail of reservation applicable to such candidates. (iii) upto a maximum of five years for Civilian Central Government Servants in accordance with the existing instructions of the Central Government. Ex-Servicemen will also be eligible for this relaxation. However the total relaxation claimed on account of Government Service will be limited to five years. (iv) upto a maximum of five years if a candidate had ordinarily been domiciled in the State of Jammu & Kashmir during the period from 1st January, 1982 to the 31st day of December, 1991. Educational Qualifications : A candidate must hold a Bachelors degree of a University incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature in India or other educational institutions established by an Act of Parliament or declared to be deemed as a University under Section-3 of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 or possess an equivalent qualification. How to Apply : Candidates are required to apply online only by using the website www.upsconline.nic.in Brief instructions for filling up the online Application Form have been given in Appendix-II. Detailed instructions are available on the above mentioned website. Contact Details Address : Union Public Service Commission Dholpur House, Shahjahan Road, New Delhi - 110069 Phone : 011-23098543 / 23385271 / 23381125 / 23098591 Fax : Mobile : E-mail : Contact I Website : www.upsc.gov.in Find it Useful ? Help Others by Sharing Online Comments and Discussions Washington [US], April 30 (ANI): As war intensified in Sudan, countries including India and the United States are leaving no stone unturned to evacuate citizens, America is undertaking its first effort to move hundreds of citizens out of Khartoum. The US government-organized convoy carrying its citizens, locally employed staff, and nationals from allied and partner countries arrived at Port Sudan on Saturday, the State Department informed in a statement. Also Read | Earthquake in Somalia: Quake of Magnitude 4.7 Strikes Near Caluula. "The US government has taken extensive efforts to contact US citizens in Sudan and enable the departure of those who wished to leave," the State Department said. "We messaged every U.S. citizen in Sudan who communicated with us during the crisis and provided specific instructions about joining this convoy to those who were interested in departing via the land route," the department added. Also Read | US: New Omicron Subvariant Becomes Second Dominant COVID-19 Strain in United States. The State Department further stated that they encourage its citizens, who want to leave Sudan but chose not to participate in this convoy, to contact their team using the crisis intake form on our website. "Intensive negotiations by the United States with the support of our regional and international partners enabled the security conditions that have allowed the departure of thousands of foreign and U.S. citizens, including through today's operation. We continue to call on the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces to end the fighting that is endangering civilians," the state department said. The department also reiterated its warning to its citizens not to travel to Sudan. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed as a result of clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Even though there is a 72-hour ceasefire, there have been allegations of violence. 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. Committed to ensuring that no Indian national is left behind in Sudan, India started Operation Kaveri on April 24 and has also deployed its military planes and warships in the war-torn country. On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from strife-torn Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Manila, April 30: A Chinese crew member died while 18 more were rescued after two vessels MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur collided in the vicinity waters of Corregidor Island last Friday, Phil Star reported citing the Philippine Coast Guard. After the incident, one crew member from the MV Hong Hai 189 went missing, with search and rescue operations still ongoing, Phil Star reported. "The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responds to a collision between MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur at the vicinity waters off Corregidor Island yesterday, 28 April 2023," the PCG said on Saturday. "The Coast Guard Sub-Station Corregidor was informed that MV Hong Hai 189 had already capsized. The PCG vessel, BRP Capones, was directed to proceed to the incident area." China Warns US, South Korea Against 'Provoking Confrontations and Playing Up Threats' With North Korea. MV Hong Hai 189 is a dredger-type vessel which bears the flag of Sierra Leone while the MT Petite Soeur is a chemical/oil product tanker carrying the flag of Marshall Island, Phil Star reported. The former's last port was recorded in Botolan, Zambales while the latter was in Mariveles, Bataan. Vessels Collide Near Island The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responds to a collision between MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur at the vicinity waters off Corregidor Island yesterday, April 28, 2023. Courtesy: PCG pic.twitter.com/UaowrV4bli ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) April 29, 2023 Rescue vessel Heng Da 19, which was near the vicinity of the incident, came to the rescue of 16 out of 20 crew members of MV Hong Hai 189. The PCG on Saturday likewise responded and dispatched another vessel, plus a minimum and rubber boats to assist in the rescue operations, Phil Star reported. "As of 7:30 AM, the SAR team recovered one cadaver (Chinese crew)," the Coast Guard said. "They also rescued two more crew who were immediately brought to the nearest hospital for identification and medical assistance," it added. Coast Guard Aviation Force members are currently conducting an aerial survey to augment the search and rescue operations. All 21 crew members of the MT Petite Soeur are said to be in good physical condition, Phil Star reported. "The authorities will conduct a port state control inspection to MT Petite Soeur to hold and detain the vessel," the PCG said. The incident occurred just a few days after a Chinese coast guard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists nearby Ayungin Shoal, an area officially within the Philippine exclusive economic zone of Manila, which almost ended in a near-collision, Phil Star reported. Argentina Ditches US Dollar for Yuan for Imports From China. Beijing condemned the incident as a "premeditated and provocative action." Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring a 2016 international arbitral ruling in the West Philippine Sea which favours the Philippines. (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 30: The National Testing Agency (NTA) released the exam city slip for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate examination today, April 30. The NTA released the exam city slip for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate or NEET UG 2023 exams. Candidates who will be appearing for the NEET UG 2023 exam can visit the official website of NTA at neet.nta.nic.in to download the exam city slip. This year, the NEET UG 2023 entrance exam is scheduled to take place on May 7. Candidates appearing for the NEET UG 2023 exams must note that the entrance exam will be held in a single shift and in pen-and-paper mode. The exams will be conducted from 2 pm to 5:20 pm. However, candidates must note that the exam city slip is not the admit card for NEET UG 2023 exam. TS EAMCET 2023: Telangana Board Releases Hall Tickets for Common Entrance Test Exams at eamcet.tsche.ac.in; Know Steps To Download. Steps to Download NEET UG 2023 Exam City Slip: Visit the official website of NTA at neet.nta.nic.in Click on the "NEET city slip 2023" link on the homepage A new page will open Enter using your application number and date of birth Your NEET UF 2023 city intimation slip will be displayed on the screen Take a printout for future reference The National Testing Agency issues exam city slips for various exams held by NTA. The exam city slip contains details about the name of the city in which the NEET UG 2023 examination centre will be located. The NTA is expected to release the admit cards for NEET UG 2023 examination soon. CUET UG 2023 Exam City Slip Likely to Be Released Today At cuet.samarth.ac.in; Know Steps to Download. It must be noted that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate or NEET UG 2023 exam is a qualifying entrance exam to secure admission to various undergraduate courses such as Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS) among others. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2023 04:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bhuj, April 30: The chief officer of Bhuj municipality in Kutch district in Gujarat was placed under suspension with immediate effect for dozing off during a function attended by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. Jigar Patel was suspended by the state's Urban Development and Urban Housing Department on Saturday evening, hours after cameras caught him sleeping at the Bhuj function, an official said on Sunday. Defamation Case: Gujarat High Court To Resume Hearing Rahul Gandhis Appeal on May 2. "The order to suspend him for gross negligence and lack of devotion to duty was issued under Rule 5(1)(a) of Gujarat Civil Service (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1971. Disciplinary action was taken due to his misconduct and lapse," the official said. At the function, CM Patel distributed documents of ownership (property cards) of residential housing for the rehabilitation of around 14,000 earthquake affected people in Kutch. 'Modi Surname' Defamation Case: Gujarat HC to Hear Rahul Gandhi's Plea on May 2. "After the (2001) earthquake, rehabilitation of the affected people was done on a very large scale. Hon'ble Shri Narendrabhai Modi also had a unique love for Kutch. Under his leadership and guidance, Kutch has come out of many difficulties and has become a pioneer in the development path," CM Patel tweeted after the event. New Delhi, April 30: Around 2,300 Indian citizens have safely reached India from war-torn Sudan, as another batch of 40 people arrived in the national capital on Sunday. Giving an update on Operation Kaveri, foreign minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet that a C-130J Indian Airforce aircraft landed in Delhi with 40 passengers. Sudan Unrest: French Ambassador Emmanuel Lenain Thanks India for Evacuating Embassy Staffer From Khartoum Under Operation Kaveri. With this flight, around 2,300 people have reached India, he informed further. More than 500 people have been killed in Sudan, ever since fights broke out between the country's army and paramilitary forces from April 14 onwards. One Indian citizen, too, had been killed in the civil war. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken a review of the situation prevailing in Khartoum around 10 days back, where he had emphasised an evacuation plan for Indian citizens living there, it was decided to launch a large scale rescue operation titled Operation Kaveri, to bring Indian citizens back from the troubled nation. Operation Kaveri in Sudan: Indian Air Force Rescues 121 Personnel From a Small Airstrip at Wadi Sayyidna in Daring Operation (See Pics). With the help of Indian Navy warships and Indian Air Force carriers, 2,300 Indian citizens have been successfully brought back from Khartoum to India via Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 01, 2023 12:07 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). San Francisco, April 30: Privacy-focused web browser and search engine Brave has announced that it will no longer use Microsoft's Bing search as a source for its web searches. "Every Web search result seen in Brave Search is now served by our own index. We've removed all search API (Application Programming Interface) calls to Bing," Brave said in a blogpost. The announcement follows Microsoft's recent decision to implement significant price increases for third-party use of its search API. Brave called the price increase "unprecedented". ChatGPT Outperforms Doctors, Shows Better Empathy to Patient Questions, Says Study. "We feared for the continuity of the Bing service, which turned out to be a prescient concern, as Microsoft recently announced an unprecedented increase in its API pricing. This created undue pressure for search engines that rely partly or fully on the Bing Search API. The consequences of their reliance on Bing will play out in the following months when their long-term contracts expire," Brave said. With Bing no longer in the picture, Brave Search will now exclusively rely on its own index, at least as the default option. "By default, Brave Search users will now receive 100 per cent of results from the Brave Index, giving users fully independent results," the company said. Brave users who feel that they are not receiving satisfactory results from their searches have the option to integrate Google search results as a fallback. Additionally, they can choose to participate in Brave's Web Discovery Project, which helps the browser build its index. Artificial Intelligence Tech Powered Microsoft Bing, You.com Threaten Googles Search Dominance. Moreover, the company stated that it is planning to release the Brave Search API to power other search applications in the near future. With this, developers and companies will be able to build search experiences that compete on quality with Big Tech, according to the company. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2023 08:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Delhi, April 30: A man in USs Texas who was allegedly scammed of $40 in parking fees while on a date shot and killed the man who posed as the lot's attendant and then walked away to proceed with his dinner plans as if nothing happened, court records show. The accused 29-year-old Erick Aguirre has been charged with the murder of Elliot Nix. The Guardian reported that Aguirre stepped away from a dinner date he had with a woman to grab a pistol from his car and shoot 46-year-old Elliot Nix dead after Aguirre learned from a restaurant employee that he had been scammed by a parking attendant. United States: Man From Chicago Arrested at Boston Airport for Carrying Titanium 'Vampire Straw' Weapon in Carry-On Luggage. On the evening of April 11, Aguirre paid Nix $40 after the victim claimed he was the parking attendant and said that it would cost $20 to park Aguirre and his date's cars, investigators said. Aguirre was later informed by the restaurant staff that Nix did not work for the parking lot. A witness who saw the 29-year-old's initial interaction with Mr Nix told the cops that he saw the defendant sprint to his car, grab a gun and run after Mr Nix who was out of his view, court documents showed. US Woman Bites and Punches Arkansas Airport Security Officials After They Take Away Her Apple Juice, Arrested. The witness heard a gunshot and then "observed the suspect nonchalantly walking back to his car with the gun in his hand," according to the affidavit. Another witness who found Nix bleeding in the street called 911. The police said that Aguirre shot Nix in the torso, and he died later at the hospital from his wounds. Aguirre, after leaving the scene, put the gun in his car and walked back to where his date was waiting, then they entered the restaurant, according to the affidavit. The woman on the date later told police she did not see or know about the shooting at that point, the affidavit states. When Aguirre came back to the woman after chasing after Nix, he told her "he just scared the guy and everything was fine," the woman told investigators. Aguirre would face life imprisonment if he is convicted of murder. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2023 05:18 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Times Staff Writer There was no room on the operating tables this week for 64-year-old Apolonia Ramos. So doctors performed her gastrectomy in the hallway of Manilas Tondo General Hospital. Tondo General is in the heart of one of Asias worst slums, two blocks away from Manilas main garbage dump. There are no screens on the windows. Filth, soot and bacteria constantly blow into the hallway where Apolonia Ramos cancerous stomach lay gaping under the surgeons knife. And, because of shortages, the disposable surgical gloves that the doctor was wearing had been used and reused after they had been washed and hung up to dry in the same filthy air. But it hardly mattered. When the surgeon found the tumor in Ramos stomach Monday morning, he realized that the cancer had spread too far for the woman to be saved. Advertisement No Doctors in Barrio Like most unemployed, lower-class Filipinos, Ramos had not been to a physician in years. There are none in her poverty-stricken barrio. When the pain became unbearable, the only care available was at a government hospital, facilities generally so understaffed and poorly equipped that one American relief worker this week called them the last step before the grave. That was true for Apolonia Ramos. The surgeon said she had only a few days to live. Ramos was merely a single statistic in what is fast becoming one of the worlds worst--yet least-known--health and medical crises, a nightmare of needless death and chronic disease caused largely by two decades of manipulation, corruption and neglect under deposed President Ferdinand E. Marcos. According to statistics gathered from the World Health Organization, the United Nations, Philippine government physicians and health officials and several international relief agencies working in the Philippines, tens of thousands of Filipinos die each year simply because there are too few hospitals, too few doctors, too little medical equipment and medicine and too little money to help the government cure its national disaster. Declined Under Marcos For years under Marcos, the nations health was gradually deteriorating into what has now become a seemingly insoluble crisis; yet the danger signs were not only ignored but deliberately hidden by a government determined to show the world that the nation was healthy and strong. According to documents obtained by The Times and interviews with present and former political leaders, many of the national and local officials in the Marcos administration routinely diverted huge sums of government health-care funds to favorite or political projects. They just juggled the funds and then lied, said Msgr. Antonio Y. Fortich, the bishop of Negros Island, where hundreds of children continue to starve to death each year despite millions of dollars in foreign aid that has been pumped into the island. In the Marcos regime, Fortich said, Marcos was very careful not to release the statistics regarding undernourished children. He (Marcos) told the international relief people, Nobody is dying here of hunger, so it is better you send your aid money to other countries. Dr. Rodolfo Maceda, now the director of Tondo General and former vice chairman of a national nutritional council under Marcos, said that four years ago he sent First Lady Imelda Marcos a report showing that 20% of the children whom his council surveyed were severely undernourished. The next day, the first lady said, No, it is only 2%, Maceda recalled this week. That was a signal that we had to be careful with the real statistics. During Marcos, there was censorship of our true health conditions. We were told not to show those things. Aquino Ordered Increases Since President Corazon Aquinos rise to power a year ago, though, she personally has lifted the lid on one of the nations best-kept secrets. Aquino ordered immediate increases in health department budget allocations, and appointed a professional secretary of health who is now struggling with still meager resources to re-equip and retrain the nations medical service. In the recently approved national constitution drafted by Aquinos handpicked commission, health is specified for the first time as a basic right of the people, and the government is bound by law to instill health consciousness among them. The nations prognosis has slowly begun to improve. Tondo General, for example, which is built on a landfill and is sinking into the ground beneath it, has just received hundreds of thousands of dollars to relocate. Dozens of district and provincial hospitals nationwide have received money for the same purpose. Health Problems Listed But the true picture facing Aquino and her technically bankrupt government in the wake of those 20 years of statistical manipulation remains staggering. Here, based on studies and surveys by international aid agencies, private foundations and Philippine government figures, is just a glimpse of the nations critical condition: -- Seventy-nine percent of all preschool children in the Philippines suffer from malnutrition. -- Forty-four of every 1,000 Filipino babies die before the age of one, primarily because four-fifths of all babies here are delivered by unskilled hands in rural, unsanitary conditions. -- Measles has reached epidemic proportions, killing thousands of children each month, yet the nation lacks both the vaccine and an effective delivery system to inoculate its largely rural population. -- The Philippines has the highest incidence of whooping cough, diphtheria and rabies in the world, and the largest number of tuberculosis, schistosomiasis and polio cases in the Western Pacific. -- A recent Asian Development Bank study showed that Filipinos have the lowest average food intake in Asia, lower even than that of Bangladesh. -- The Philippines has the third-highest number of blind people in the world, most of the cases resulting from a deficiency of vitamin A. -- Eighty percent of the population suffers from communicable, but preventable, diseases, and 43% of all deaths in the country could have been avoided if the patients had been given even the most basic medical care. -- Yet, 62 of every 100 Filipinos who die each year do so without receiving any medical attention. -- More than half of the nations 1,600 municipal districts do not have health centers or hospitals. Forty-six percent of all hospital beds in the nation are in Manila, where only 12% of the population lives. On the neglected southern island of Mindanao, for example, there is only one public health doctor for every 38,520 residents. -- The regional, provincial and district hospitals that do exist are so poorly equipped that, statistically, some patients are safer staying away. A recent study at one rural hospital on Negros Island, for example, showed that its water supply was so polluted with fecal waste that patients grew sicker every day they stayed there. Lacked Blood Bank The medical director of the islands largest hospital says that he could have saved at least half of the 1,368 people who died there last year if only he had a blood bank. Yet another Negros hospital is still using a 1930s-vintage X-ray machine so dangerous that one visiting American medical expert this week said, That thing has probably caused more cases of breast cancer than it has diagnosed, just from the radiation. At every hospital visited by The Times during the past several months, though, medical directors said their biggest problems are not just inadequate equipment but understaffing--even though the Philippines has more medical schools and better trained doctors than most other Third World countries. The explanation is contained in a recent study indicating that 68% of all Filipino doctors are living abroad, as are 80% of all Philippine-born nurses. The country ranks as the biggest exporter of nurses and second-biggest exporter of doctors in the world, according to figures released by a California-based hospital group this week. Discussing the problem Monday with a team of 25 visiting American doctors and hospital administrators sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Hospital Council of Southern California, Aquinos health secretary, Alfredo Bengzon, said it, too, has its roots in the Marcos administration. A Marcos Legacy That is one of the unhappy legacies of the Marcos years, Bengzon said. You could put up a medical school with political connections. It was a political tool to get votes. But Bengzon added that the nations economy had deteriorated so badly under Marcos that government salaries for medical personnel were too low and regional facilities too few to keep Filipino doctors and nurses from emigrating to the United States, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and other countries where they would be paid far more. Even today, the government can afford to pay its physicians at government hospitals nationwide just 3,000 pesos ($150) a month. And in many rural regions of the country, where a burgeoning Communist insurgency produces most of the hospitalized casualties, many doctors and nurses are simply afraid to work. As a result, 17.8 million of the Philippines 57 million people do not have access to medical attention when they are sick. Antonio Mabayag was a stark illustration of the problem. Caught in Crossfire Mabayag was shot and hit in the head last Dec. 17 by soldiers pursuing Communist rebels through his barrio in a remote region of Negros. He was one of the hundreds of civilian bystanders who are caught each year in the insurgencys crossfire. Mabayags 8-year-old son was killed that day, and he himself was left for dead. But his family noticed that Mabayag was still breathing. They rushed him to Negros regional hospital in the capital city of Bacolod. A government physician examined him just once, the day he was admitted. The next day, he received a blood transfusion. But, despite the fact that he remained in the hospital for three more weeks, Mabayag got no more treatment. He was scheduled for a second transfusion on Dec. 19, but the hospital staff was too busy and forgot. They forgot him the next day, and the day after, and every day after that. It was not until Jan. 5 that a nurse discovered the expiration date on a second bag of blood allocated to Mabayag days before. The date was Jan. 4. During his entire stay at Negros Regional Hospital, Mabayag received only a constant stream of intravenous dextrose solution, even after he was well enough to eat and swallow medicine. Demanded Explanation On Jan. 9, still ill, scarred and angry, Mabayag finally asked a visiting team of independent health-care workers why he was in the hospital if the hospital was not caring for him. We told him there was absolutely no reason for him to be in there, and we got him discharged to his village, where we are caring for him when we can, said Dr. Remy Ortaliz, the head of the independent health-care team. There are so many cases just like him, not only in Negros but all over the country. There just arent enough resources in the government to take care of our people. Ortalizs group, a volunteer, nonprofit organization, may well be the model for a short-term solution to the nations health-care crisis. It is called Concern for Health, and all of its 33 members are upper-class doctors, nurses and concerned women of Negros society who travel at their own expense to the islands most remote villages, where the government has not managed to reach. The women, whom Bishop Fortich has nicknamed the Valiant Women, help to treat the sick. They dispense medicine that they buy with their own money, and they survey village elders about local medical needs. Use Traditional Remedies Because they have no access to modern medicine, most of these people are using herbal medicines and acupuncture to treat their sick, Ortaliz said. The so-called primitive medicine actually does work, she said, but the women are trying to deliver modern antibiotics and other drugs for more complex diseases such as tuberculosis, which is endemic in the villages. But the Concern for Health group, whose members are close friends and relatives of prominent political and business leaders, has also become a powerful lobbying force for the villagers. It was through their pressure, for example, that the district hospital in the town of Himamaylan secured government money to replace its polluted water system. The group also helped to secure millions of pesos from the government to pay for a major expansion of the regional hospital in Bacolod, and, through its lobbying efforts, helped to direct the Southern California medical team, which brought in 15 tons of donated medicine and equipment, to their provincial medical facilities. The American team has been able to give immediate help. An American medical technician in the group toured one provincial hospitals dental facilities, where all of the equipment dated back to the 1930s. None of it worked, and the chief dentist said the only service he provides his daily average of 60 patients is to pull out teeth. Repaired Equipment The technician spent the next two days repairing much of the equipment, and the dental room was fully operational for the first time in years. Ortalizs group also directed the team to the hospitals laboratory, where two of the three spectrometers had been out of order for months, as had the centrifuges and all but one of the microscopes. The team promised to try to find donated equipment in the United States to replace them. But at one hospital that the team visited in the southern Negros city of Kabankalan, there were also signs of inequity in the Philippine medical-care system and of how politics has played a key role in it for years. The tiny, 25-bed hospital actually was better equipped than the islands 400-bed regional hospital in Bacolod. A new, unused X-ray machine sat in a storage room, still in the crate that it had arrived in more than two years ago. The hospital has no space for an X-ray room. The machine came courtesy of a powerful national politician who served under Marcos; the same connection brought the hospitals four microscopes, two of them still sealed in their original bags. The hospitals head nurse and its medical director both said the equipment will be used when the facility relocates in May to an abandoned resort hotel that it is converting into a hospital with the help of a $100,000 government grant. Cites Examples of Waste Health Secretary Bengzon, in his meeting with the American medical team, cited other examples of waste in the health-care system resulting from political deals under Marcos. Among the most expensive examples overall, Bengzon said, has been a virtual monopoly on the supply of intravenous bottles, solutions and a wide variety of drugs that was signed with two private, multinational corporations during the Marcos years. John Battaglia, a medical consultant from New Jersey who was among the visiting Americans, said he has investigated the arrangement. Among his discoveries, he said, was that, because of the monopoly, the Philippine government is buying hundreds of thousands of intravenous bottles for $2 each, items that Battaglia said cost 37.5 cents on the open market. Similarly, the government is locked into buying 2.5-cubic-centimeter syringes for 23 cents each, which Battaglia said can be bought for six cents. On the whole, I think the situation is very bad, he said. I think the people in this government now are dedicated. They just have nothing to work with. But there are a lot of ways they can do more with what little theyve got, and I think theyre trying to do that now. A similar opinion was voiced by Sister Marie Therese Kholes, assistant administrator at St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. After touring Tondo General and wincing as she watched Apolonia Ramos hallway operation, Sister Therese said, Im just amazed by how they survive; how they do so much with so little. Dr. Ortaliz was asked whether she still has hope for her nations ultimate recovery. You know, in the last nine months, a lot of improvement really has happened, she replied. Mostly, I think, the government has really recognized how great the problem is, and it has made a sincere commitment to solve it. Times Staff Writer In the late 1950s, Jimmy Swaggart was roaming around the back roads of Louisiana in a broken-down Chevrolet, earning about $40 a week from his preaching and gospel singing. He has come a long way since then. The controversial evangelist now heads a tax-exempt enterprise that ranks, by almost any measure, as one of the most successful of its kind. Jimmy Swaggart World Ministries and its Bible college boasted revenues of $150 million in 1987--more than $500,000 each working day. And Swaggarts vast revenues, interviews and documents here reveal, finance more than his nonprofit ministry. Behind a veil of secrecy, Swaggart and his family have adopted a life style that, had it not been achieved in pursuing what he is fond of calling the work of the Lord, Swaggart himself might include in some of his public condemnations of secularism and materialism. Advertisement His two-story, high-columned parsonage, as it is called by ministry officials, sits behind a tall fence to assure privacy and is situated on 20 landscaped acres, including a swimming pool. The highly polished parquet living room floor is partly covered with an Oriental carpet, and off the master bedroom is a step-up Jacuzzi with faucets in the shape of golden swans. Swaggart and his wife, Frances, drive matching late-model Lincoln Town Cars and fly to appearances around the country in a private Gulfstream jet aircraft that once was owned by the Rockefeller family. The Swaggarts have accepted gifts from loyal members of his video flock that include a diamond-studded gold Rolex watch, fine clothes and a mink coat. When asked about such a life style, Elizabeth Fuller of Chattanooga, Tenn., a board member of the ministry, told The Times: After years of hardship and traveling in poor circumstances, if the Lord chooses to bless him in his latter days, I dont quarrel with that. Swaggarts temporary suspension from preaching as of last month, a result of his self-confessed moral lapse with a prostitute, may have a devastating effect on his ministrys income. But ministry officials have enough taped broadcasts to keep his weekly show on the air for months to come--if local stations still want it. Officials said Friday that because of a sudden drop-off in contributions, more than 100 employees had been laid off and construction of new ministry buildings had been halted. The organization said it would hold a telethon in an effort to revive donations. Seen on 200 Stations Of Swaggarts $150 million in 1987 revenues, fully $135 million came from voluntary contributions generated both by his television ministry--which appears on 200 stations in the United States and is beamed to 145 countries in English and 15 foreign languages--and by fund-raising letters that are mailed at a rate of 7 million pieces a day. The rest represented proceeds from the sales of gospel records and tapes, Bibles, books and T-shirts by the largest mail-order business in Louisiana and one of the biggest in the country. Officials of Swaggarts ministry insist they can account for the spending of every penny of the $150 million. Almost half, they say, paid television production costs, including the purchase of equipment, and bought air time for the broadcasts seen around the world. Other large shares were used to build schools and to run food programs for children overseas and to meet administrative expenses that include a payroll of 1,200 employees and teachers. The rapid growth of Swaggarts ministry--just six years ago, revenues were only $60 million--has gone largely unnoticed because Swaggart, until his confessed indiscretion, has avoided national controversy and because his organization has maintained such financial secrecy. Although nonprofit charitable organizations are exempt from taxation, most of them file with the Internal Revenue Service an annual information return that is open to public inspection. These returns, called Form 990s, show the amount of contributions received by the organization and for what purposes its funds were disbursed. But according to IRS analyst Wilson Fadely, the Swaggart organization asked for and received official classification as a church in the late 1970s, and so it is not required to file any documents with any government agency, not even Form 990s. Congress, as part of the Internal Revenue Code, has long exempted churches from federal scrutiny. Adding further to the ministrys financial secrecy is the fact that it is largely a family affair, with few outsiders in positions of influence. The ministrys seven-member executive board was effectively controlled for many years by four Swaggarts--Jimmy, Frances, their only son, Donnie, and Donnies wife, Debra. In recent months, however, the board has been expanded to 11 members with the addition of two more Assemblies of God preachers and two longtime Swaggart contributors. Family members also hold important operating positions. Donnie, who like his father built a home in the fenced-in family compound with a loan from the ministry, is the organizations director of marketing and development. Frances brother, Robert Anderson, is director of purchasing, and Andersons wife is in charge of data processing. Frances mother is a department supervisor and her sister is Jimmy Swaggarts personal secretary. In all, 22 Swaggart relatives are on the payroll, accounting for more than $350,000 of the ministrys annual pay-out of $11.5 million to its 1,200 employees. Paid Out of Sales William D. Treeby, the ministrys general counsel, said the salaries of family members are taken out of the proceeds--$10 million last year--from the sales of Swaggarts best-selling gospel albums. So its a very small part of this, Treeby said. In an interview in his New Orleans law office, Treeby declined to say how much salary the organization pays Swaggart himself, although others have placed the figure at less than $100,000. Treeby said Swaggart also receives an unspecified housing allowance, which he said is a customary thing. It enables a church to pay their ministers less money in salary, he said. Its the same thing the government does for people in the military. Secrecy also surrounds Swaggarts large fenced-in parsonage. Treeby said the homes of both Swaggart and his son were built partly with a loan of $1.8 million from Jimmy Swaggart World Ministries. He declined to give specific figures, saying the loan proceeds also were used to construct parsonages for some other ministers of the Assemblies of God Church. He said the Swaggarts have made monthly payments on the loan, but he refused to give amounts. $1.5-Million House Public records in Baton Rouge show the tax assessor values Jimmy Swaggarts home at $1.5 million and his son Donnies home at $726,000. The courthouse records indicate that Jimmy and Frances Swaggart borrowed $650,000 from the ministry in May, 1980, apparently to buy land to build their home, which was completed in 1984. Donnie Swaggart and his wife similarly borrowed a total of $410,000, according to the records. In each case, Treeby filed a statement with the county court asserting that these loans were paid off in June, 1985, but that the actual mortgage documents had been lost. William Martin, a sociologist at Rice University who has made a study of television evangelists, said Swaggarts secrecy is part of a pattern which some ministers have adopted not to let folks know how their money is being spent. An extraordinarily high percentage of their receipts goes for such things as television production costs, buying airplanes and paying the direct-mail costs of raising more money, Martin said. This would be a shock to most contributors, who like to think their funds are going for evangelism and needy causes overseas. Martin said Swaggart has sought to portray himself as a man of humble origins and a humble life style. I have heard him tell his television audience that a thought came to him while he was working in his small study, Martin laughed. But he never says that his little study is in a great big mansion. Jeffrey K. Hadden, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia who has also studied television evangelists, says the sales and solicitation program of the Swaggart ministry is the most aggressive he has seen. Swaggart pitches his records, tapes, Bibles and study course with seriousness and aplomb, Hadden said in a recent book. Viewers who get on his mailing list are asked to contribute to a variety of causes, like feeding children in India (and) building churches in Africa. They also get the chance to buy eight-track tapes or cassettes of Jimmy Swaggarts Greatest Hits. Because many items are offered for a donation of a specified amount, the purchasers can claim their purchases as a federal tax deduction, Hadden said. But Hadden, in an interview, predicted that as a result of his confessed indiscretion, Swaggart is going to be faced with some real problems in continuing to raise funds. Deeply Disillusioned However it turns out, Hadden said, some station managers are going to say, As a matter of policy, I dont want Jimmy Swaggart on here. Were not going to renew his contract. Some people are deeply disillusioned. Already, Swaggarts ministry has had to abandon one of its fund-raising methods in recent years as too controversial. Under the stewardship program, ministry officials formerly showed elderly donors how they could make bequests by including the ministry in their wills. In 1981, a court dispute resulted from just such a bequest. Zoe Vance, a wealthy reclusive widow of La Jolla, Calif., left a multimillion-dollar estate to Swaggart not long after Swaggart had baptized her and after other Swaggart aides had made repeated visits to her home. A family member contested Vances will, claiming Swaggart had exploited her. The suit was settled in 1984 with the Swaggart ministry receiving 70% of the estate, or a total of $7 million. The remainder went to a medical foundation named for Vances son. Swaggart used most of these funds to build the Zoe Vance teleproduction center, one of 12 buildings that have sprouted up at his 257-acre World Ministry Center and Jimmy Swaggart Bible College south of Baton Rouge. Ministry officials said the Bible college, with 1,400 students who pay an average tuition of $1,000 a year, is being spun off as a separate entity. The college offers state-accredited bachelor of science and associate of science degrees, and is seeking state approval of its teacher-training department. Another controversy erupted six years ago when charges were made by a former aide, George Jernigan, that only $2.1 million was given by the ministry to provide food assistance for starving children overseas, even though millions more had been collected. Ministry officials responded that Jernigan failed to understand that such funds had to be paid out to foreign missions more slowly than they were collected. Jernigan was dismissed by the organization after a local television station broadcast his charges. His case received scant support, and the issue soon faded. Sociologist Martin, however, predicts that Swaggart will be subjected to increasing pressure from his major contributors and from others to begin publishing a strict, audited statement of his ministrys income and expenses each year. He has never felt this pressure before, Martin said. But hes wounded now, and I believe people will demand a more adequate accounting of his affairs. Jerry Kirk is the founder and president of the Cincinnati-based National Coalition Against Pornography, an alliance of representatives from more than 70 religious denominations and private organizations It is tempting to do our best to forget Ted Bundy, but this man and the lessons that his life offers must not be forgotten. Bundy roamed the country on a 20-year trail of premeditated, sadistic violence--a trail marked by rape, mutilation and murder. In a chilling final interview beforehis execution, he discussed at length some of the formative influences in his destructive life. The role of alcohol abuse is not surprising, but the role of hard-core pornography in his life sheds new light. Bundy documented his early exposure to hard-core pornography, saying that the material had a crystallizing effect on his violent tendencies and his eventual acting out of the fantasies he had seen depicted for so long. Bundy referred to hard-core pornography as the fuel for his fantasies. Advertisement We could dismiss these conclusions as the 11th-hour ramblings of a psychopathic murderer if the evidence supporting them were not so strong. Most Americans are unaware of a 1985 study of 36 other serial murderers by the FBI. According to the final report of the 1986 Attorney Generals Commission on Pornography, 81% of those studied said their biggest sexual interest was in reading pornography. The words of Arthur Bishop, executed in June for having sodomized and murdered five boys (ages 4 to 13) in Utah, are particularly illustrative: Pornography wasnt the only negative influence in my life, but its effect on me was devastating. I lost all sense of decency and respect for humanity and life, and I would do anything or take any risk to fulfill my deviant desires. Like Bundy, Bishop went on to describe his progress in the use and abuse of pornography. Starting with addiction to common pornography, he escalated to a need for more violent, degrading material and to an increased propensity to act out fantasies portrayed in such material. For those who have seen todays hard-core pornography, the progression is not surprising. The range of degradation includes the explicit depiction of simulated and real rape, whipping, bondage, torture, urination and bestiality (sex with animals). The material is a far, far cry from the airbrushed centerfolds of 20 years ago. When one sees the true content of the hard-core world, its not difficult to believe that, as many researchers and studies have confirmed, it has contributed to the rise in the abuse and degradation of women. Ted Bundy, like so many who have gone unnoticed before him, reminds us that the time has come to stand together in opposing pornography. In most states, laws are already on the books to prosecute this material. The Supreme Court has declared unequivocally that obscenity is not a protected form of speech. Yet hard-core pornography remains readily available on the shelves of adult bookstores and so-called family video outlets. So what lesson can we learn from the death of a serial killer? That we no longer can remain ambivalent. Each of us must stand up and let our local, state and federal officials know that hard-core pornography destroys lives and must be stopped. The world of hard-core has already produced enough victims. How many more Bundys or Bishops must tell us of pornographys destructive role? How many more studies must be completed? How many more lives must be lost before we say enough ? Its time that the charade of hard-core pornographys innocence ended. Camp Valor Outdoors is returning to Farmington with three days of activities, May 3-5, in which wounded veterans, as well as the public, can participate. Based in Kingsville, Camp Valor Outdoors is a non-profit organization that helps wounded veterans. Founded by retired Marine Major John Schwent Jr. in 2013, it helps reconnect ill, injured, and wounded veterans through various outdoor activities including fishing, shooting, and archery. In 10 years, Camp Valor Outdoors' mission has expanded to 26 states, with Farmington's being the largest event on its calendar. Every aspect of the outdoor-sporting collaboration is completely coordinated by volunteers, and completely funded by contributors. The veterans pay for nothing, not even lodging. Leadington VFW Post 5741 Commander Bill Henson said 10 warriors, some of whom bring family members, will arrive on Tuesday and be welcomed with a dinner at 6 p.m. at the Farmington Elks Lodge, 1001 KREI Blvd. in Farmington. At the dinner, participants will receive their fishing gear for the next two days. On Wednesday, Henson said, the veterans will leave the hotel and travel to the 270-acre Nims Lake at S-Bar-F Boy Scout Ranch south of Farmington, where they will fish all day in the bass-only tournament. On Thursday, the second day of fishing will continue at the lake with the crappie-only tournament. Lunch and dinner will be provided to the veterans and their families on both days. The fishing events are guided, and boats and guides are provided. A pontoon boat will be available to accommodate wheelchair veterans. Four-footed support animals, like comfort dogs, must wait on shore. After Thursday's tournament, a ceremonial dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at the Leadington VFW, located at 600 East Woodlawn Dr. Thursday evening, they [the veterans] will come back to the VFW in Leadington and we will do our ceremony; hand out the awards and have the ROTC to place the flag and have our dinner there, said Henson. On Friday, the veterans will have breakfast at the VFW Hall in Farmington starting at 7:30 a.m. and head over to the Lead Belt Gun Club outside of Desloge for a five-stand tournament. Five stand is a type of shotgun sport, not unlike skeet, in which participants shoot clay birds. The public is welcome to attend the shooting tournament, which is expected to last until about 2 p.m. After the five-stand tournament is finished, the veterans are wished a safe trip home. More information on Camp Valor Outdoors can be found on the website, www.campvaloroutdoors.org or online at Facebook under Camp Valor Outdoors. Donations can also be made on the website. ASSOCIATED PRESS Thirty miles north of this dusty outpost, along a bumpy and treacherous dirt road, an ancient forest stands as a Berlin of sorts, a green island amid a sea of deforestation. Its a forest that is fighting back. The owners and friends of the Mbaracayu Nature Reserve say it is a model for conservation, an attempt to thwart civilizations advance on eastern Paraguays dwindling forests. Nearly 400 square miles of forest are lost to loggers every year in this California-size country. To make matters worse, forest land is set ablaze daily by farmers and ranchers to create more open space, producing smoke that impairs visibility and air quality for hundreds of miles. Advertisement The pressure here against saving these forests from destruction is tremendous, Frank Fragano, an environmentalist with the U.S. Agency for International Development, said during an aerial survey of the reserve. We want to avoid making this place an island. Owned by two conservation groups, Mbaracayu is a dense, subtropical mix of hardwoods, grasslands and wetlands, home to thousands of species of plants and animals, some extinct or severely endangered in other regions. These include jaguars, tapirs, peccaries, giant armadillos, and the bush dog. Birds like the king vulture, large macaw and bare-throated bellbird nest there. The park is also the traditional hunting grounds of the Ache Indians, primitive hunters and gatherers whose way of life, until the 1970s, had changed little for 10,000 years. But the flora and fauna of the 220-square-mile reserve remain little changed, and its lush canopy is a small reminder of the vast, primordial forest that covered much of eastern Paraguay and Brazil. To save the reserve, Mbaracayu officials plan to expand the parks borders, and they are showing nearby settlers how to farm the land without cutting down or burning trees. Officials also have enlisted the help of the Ache to maintain the reserve--while helping the Indians protect their culture against modern mans onslaught. This is the largest tract of interior Atlantic forest in Paraguay and the reserve is the most important conservation area in Paraguay, said Alberto Madrono, a field biologist who lives and works on the reserve. But the situation around here is really serious, he added. Its appalling that most of this forest has disappeared in the last 50 years when it took thousands of years to create. In the 1970s, a series of business misfortunes saved Mbaracayu from destruction. A forestry company that owned the land defaulted on a World Bank loan and the bank, as part of its new policy to help preserve wild lands, protected the parcel and sought an appropriate buyer for about decade. In 1991, the U.S.-based Nature Conservancy and the Moises Bertoni Foundation, a private Paraguayan conservation group formed to manage the reserve, bought the property for $2 million with help from private sources and the U.S. government. Until then, Paraguay had been largely neglected by international conservation efforts. While the government has set up a small national park system in response to accelerated deforestation, private interests have assumed the task of saving the countrys wild lands and created Mbaracayu in the process. The Paraguayan government, still grappling with democracy after 35 years of dictatorship that ended only five years ago, has supported the reserve, as have the countrys urban middle-class and news media. Some landowners see the reserve as a way to make their own land more valuable. They say they can make more off the land by growing an herb called mate and harvesting palm hearts. Complaints about the reserve have been few. Mostly, they come from the poor farmers who have settled near the park, said Alan Randall, the Nature Conservancys director of program development. Struggling to feed their families, some of the farmers have difficulty understanding why they cannot hunt or log in the reserve, Randall said. Others see the reserve as just another plaything for overbearing foreigners. Rather than preaching to the locals about conservation, we are providing a leadership model to show ways of living with the forest, Randall said. And they are not particularly bothered by it. Creating Mbaracayu could not have happened without the Ache, considered among South Americas most genetically pure and socially isolated Indians. The Moises Bertoni Foundation was able to secure their support for the reserve by donating land to enlarge the Aches nearby reservation. The Ache, some of whom live outside the reserve in scattered huts without electricity and running water, consider Mbaracayu the heart of their territory. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, large numbers of the nomadic tribe were killed by ranchers, sold into virtual slavery or died of disease. The Ache have been given exclusive hunting rights in the reserve--as long as they use only bows and arrows--and they are free to forage for wild honey, fruits and insect larva. That is expected to help them overcome a decline in health from the sedentary life in their nearby reservation. In the long run, foundation officials hope to integrate the Ache into the management and protection of the reserve. Aside from deforestation and an influx of settlers, the biggest problems confronting the reserve are poaching, illicit logging and marijuana-growing within its borders. Several guards are employed to keep out troublemakers. But officials of the foundation say managing the reserve is not enough. They are trying to educate the public and persuade local landowners to conserve. You dont have to cut down trees to make a living. FT. BRAGG, North Carolina Within the tight circle of Army spouses, Kris Johnson and Rebecca Sinclair became close friends as their ambitious husbands advanced rapidly in the officer corps. Both women were ultimately betrayed by their philandering spouses. Both endured public humiliation as their high-ranking husbands were hauled before courts-martial amid salacious testimony about adultery and other sex-related military crimes. And both women, along with their children, risked losing a lifetime of military benefits if their husbands were dismissed from the Army. Advertisement Youre advised to keep your mouth shut and let him retire because you could lose everything, said Johnson, whose now ex-husband, an Army colonel, pleaded guilty in 2012 to adultery, bigamy and other charges. Rebecca Sinclair begged a military judge here March 16 not to strip her and her two young sons of military benefits after her husband, Brig. Gen. Jeffrey A. Sinclair, pleaded guilty to a long-running, coercive affair with a junior officer. The general was allowed to retire at a reduced rank, preserving up to $830,000 in benefits he and his family had earned for his 27 years of service. Fear of losing benefits keeps many military wives from exposing sexual misconduct or other offenses committed by their husbands, say many of those familiar with the military criminal justice system. Johnson kept quiet about her husband, Col. James H. Johnson III, while he carried on an affair with an Iraqi woman while deployed to that country. But when Col. Johnson moved his mistress into his military quarters in Italy, his wife turned him in painfully aware that she and her two children might be cut off from benefits as a result. A military jury in 2012 allowed the colonel to retire at reduced rank, keeping the benefits intact. In both the Johnson and Sinclair cases, court concerns that dismissing the officers would also punish their families helps explain the relatively light sentences. Kris Johnson and others have campaigned for changes that would provide benefits to spouses of service members kicked out of the military for crimes even if the offender is sentenced harshly. Congress responded in January with a provision that requires the Pentagon to study the feasibility of providing transitional benefits to families in these cases. The study, to be completed in May, will consider such questions as how long benefits might last and who would be eligible for them. The changes would strengthen the military justice system, advocates contend. They would encourage spouses to report criminal behavior and clear the way for military judges or jury panels to impose heavier sentences. At the same time, they say, the proposed protections would support spouses who are otherwise cut loose after sacrificing for years to support a philandering spouses career. Since 2000, at least 19,000 service members have been dismissed from the military for misconduct, according to the Pentagon. In the last five years, 116 senior service members who have otherwise earned full military pensions with more than 20 years of service have been ejected from the military after a court-martial. For families suddenly stripped of health and dental care, military IDs and base housing after many years of service, the impact can be devastating. Among those affected was Kari Bales, wife of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, convicted of killing 16 Afghan civilians and sentenced to life in prison. She stands to lose her benefits if and when Bales life sentence is made final by the Army command in a review set for this summer, officials said. Family members have called us with heart-rending stories of suddenly being cut off through no fault of their own, said Joyce Wessel Raezer, director of the National Military Family Assn. Kris Johnson spurred the family group to petition Congress for the changes. Senior officers like her ex-husband and Brig. Gen. Sinclair can feel invincible and entitled after years of command authority and time spent away from their families, she said. When they had their zippers unzipped, they werent thinking of their families, she said of the two officers. Transitional benefits are already available to spouses of service members convicted of domestic violence. Families get up to three years of healthcare, commissary and PX privileges and other benefits, including travel expenses to escape an abusive spouse. Jeffrey Sinclairs sentencing March 20 drew widespread outrage. The 51-year-old general was allowed to retire at a lower rank, with benefits, after pleading guilty to adultery, mistreating his mistress, misusing his government charge card, impeding an investigation and other charges. He was fined $20,000 and ordered to repay $4,156 in charge card bills. He had faced life in prison if convicted on original charges of sexual assault and making death threats, which were dismissed as part of a plea deal. Col. Johnson was fined $300,000 in 2012, but allowed to retire as a lieutenant colonel. He pleaded guilty to adultery, bigamy, fraud, misuse of government funds and other charges that could have resulted in up to 54 years in prison. Kris Johnson said prosecutors told her that the five Army officers on the jury panel kept him in the Army because they wanted to protect benefits for her and her children. Justice was not served, she said. Johnson said she supported her husbands career for 25 years, constantly moving and enduring multiple deployments while caring for two children. Like many military spouses, she was unable to build her own career; she relied instead on military benefits, including a generous pension earned after 20 years of service. I served too, said Kimberly Henne, who was married for 21 years to an Army master sergeant who was reduced in rank and sentenced to four years in prison for inappropriate contact with a minor. She kept her benefits when a judge allowed her ex-husband to remain in the Army. Those benefits are their meal ticket, their means of support, Henne said of spouses. Theyre too important to risk. Henne said she wrote the judge, citing her benefits and asking him not to dismiss her ex-husband. She said he imposed the prison sentence and reduction in rank to specialist in order to compensate for not discharging the master sergeant. Johnson said she finally turned her ex-husband in because his behavior had become so audacious; he lived with his mistress and appeared with her at gatherings with fellow officers. I knew no one else was going to stop him, so I had to, she said. In Rebecca Sinclairs letter to the judge, she said dismissing her husband from the Army would punish her and her sons, 12 and 10, the only truly innocent victims of the scandal. A fair sentence, she added, is one that doesnt punish us any further. david.zucchino@latimes.com The Rev. Timothy McDonald, senior pastor at Atlantas First Iconium Baptist Church, addresses a rally in support of 11 Atlanta public school teachers and administrators who were convicted of cheating on test scores. Bowing their heads in prayer, a congregation of teachers, pastors and civil rights activists pleaded for mercy. Our teachers were crucified the other day, the Rev. Anthony Motley, pastor of Lindsay Street Baptist Church, cried from the pulpit as the crowd linked arms and swayed to the sound of an electric organ. One of these days, one of these days, one of these days our teachers are going to rise up from this unjust grave. Several hundred people had gathered at the First Iconium Baptist Church in East Atlanta for a prayer vigil to support a notorious group 11 former Atlanta educators convicted of cheating to inflate student test scores. Advertisement While many civic leaders, including Mayor Kasem Reed, welcomed the guilty verdicts earlier this month as the final resolution of a scandal that roiled the city for nearly six years, some are uneasy about the prospect of teachers serving up to 35 years in jail. Jurors in the Atlanta case one of the largest academic misconduct trials in U.S. history found 11 of 12 defendants guilty April 1 of violating Georgias Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. Some were also found guilty of additional felonies, such as influencing a witness, theft by taking, false swearing or making a false statement or writing. Their supporters complain that the teachers and administrators all African Americans who worked in low-income neighborhoods were unfairly targeted with a racketeering statute popularly associated with mobsters and gangsters. Let me just say that this town is stirred up, said Andrew Young, the civil rights leader and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. It made no sense, he said, for educators to face lengthy prison sentences when so many Wall Street financiers were spared after taking part in lending abuses that devastated the U.S. economy. It really made me angry to see teachers in handcuffs, because Ive never seen a banker in handcuffs, Young said. To try this under a RICO statute was a sin and a shame, and the folk who did that will probably go to hell. Opinion on the sentencing is sharply divided across Atlanta. About 51% of those who responded to an online poll on 11 Alive.com, the website of the local NBC affiliate, said the convicted educators should serve prison time, while 49% said they should not. After the verdict, former Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican who initiated the investigation into suspicious jumps in test scores in 2009, called the verdict justice for the overwhelming number of passionate, dedicated Georgia educators. Yet even some parents of children who were taught by the convicted teachers have misgivings about lengthy jail sentences. Her sitting in jail is not going to help my daughter, said Vanessa Haynes, whose 16-year-old daughter testified during the trial that her fourth-grade teacher, Angela Williamson, gave students answers to tests. Williamson faces up to 35 years in prison. What are they going to do now for the children? Haynes said. What I want is restitution. Rather than have the lady locked up, she should tutor my daughter until she completes college. The misconduct case sprang from a state investigation that implicated at least 178 teachers and administrators in organized and systemic misconduct in 44 Atlanta elementary and middle schools. By 2011, more than 80 educators had confessed to test tampering some immediately, and others later, in exchange for immunity from prosecution. During the trial, prosecutors claimed that administrators set up a high-stakes testing system in which teachers received bonuses or were threatened with demotion, depending on students performance in standardized tests. The result was that thousands of low-income African American students who struggled to read and write were denied the opportunity of federal funds for remedial education. While cheating was undoubtedly wrong, Young said the teachers were not racketeers. They were teachers who cracked under the heavy burdens a depressed society placed on them, he said. This is a time for us to judge by the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., has also called for leniency. It would not lift humanity to have 11 educators subjected to an eye-for-an-eye sentence, she said in a statement. The teachers were themselves victims of a corrupt education system, she argued, and the systemic issues that have plagued APS and other educational entities should be considered when weighing sentencing. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Jerry W. Baxter has set sentencing for 10 of the 11 convicted educators for Monday. One, who was pregnant throughout the trial and delivered a son Saturday, remains free on bond and is likely to be sentenced in August. All face a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison for the racketeering charge. However, Judge Baxter has discretion to sentence them to probation or suspend the sentences altogether. There were more than 200 RICO convictions across the United States in 2014, and the average prison sentence was just over 11 years, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which compiles federal government statistics. Jay S. Albanese, a criminologist and professor at Virginia Commonwealth University who specializes in RICO cases, said the Atlanta educators were unlikely to receive average RICO sentences, however, as they did not have extensive prior criminal records and posed little danger to society. Still, at the prayer vigil Tuesday night, many celebrated the convicted teachers as heroes who had been unjustly persecuted. The crowd belted out gospel hymns and shouted Hallelujah! Some stomped the floor, while others stood on pews as a string of speakers, including a retired state judge and a former Atlanta school superintendent, railed against prosecutors and the judge presiding over the trial. The horrible face of white supremacy has rose again in black robes and blackface, said First Iconium Deacon Tony R. Graves to thunderous applause. I pray we will put a new face on the civil rights movement and make this a clarion call for everyone. Speakers urged the congregation to sign petitions, write to Judge Baxter and rally outside the courthouse as sentencing takes place Monday. If your minister doesnt talk about this Sunday, you need to go on and find another church, former Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jerome Harris told the crowd to loud whoops and cries of Amen. Follow @latimesnational for news from across the country. The National Weather Services Mount Holly station declared a Flood Watch advisory on Sunday morning for many parts of the tri-state area, including both Lehigh and Northampton counties. At 8:57 a.m. on Sunday, Mount Holly issued a flood warning announcement for a number of counties, including both Lehigh Valley counties in Pennsylvania. Another Mount Holly report also includes Warren and Hunterdon counties. The flood watch, which warns that excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams and other low-lying and flood-prone locations, according to the report, is in effect until this evening. The expected rainfall is one to two inches, according to the report from Mount Holly, which may be enough to cause creeks and streams to rise out of their banks. The Storm Prediction Center has much of the region under a similar advisory, with counties across Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Connor Lagore may be reached at clagore@njadvancemedia.com. Businesses in the Midlands explored how the transition to a low carbon economy and the increased use of digital technologies can help their business at an event in the Midland Park Hotel, Portlaoise. A number of State agencies attended and offered practical advice as well as outlining the range of supports available, including grants and loans, to help businesses on their green journey and to enhance their use of digital technology. The Building Better Business event was hosted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and was open to business in the Midlands region, namely counties Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath. It was the second in a series of regional events to be staged throughout the country during this year following the inaugural event in Letterkenny last month. A key element of the Building Better Business event were stands featuring agencies and organisations including Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices, Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, IDA, Microfinance Ireland, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, Skillnet Ireland, Intertrade Ireland, Pobal, Midland Regional Skills and the ATIM Cluster. They advised attendees on how businesses could lower their running costs by implementing energy efficiency measures, unlock new opportunities and create new green jobs, raise finance and learn how to win new business as large businesses and public sector organisations increasingly require suppliers to be more sustainable. Staff were also available to demonstrate the Governments Climate Toolkit 4 Business, a user friendly tool which will estimate your businesss carbon footprint and suggest actions and supports to help reduce it Advice given on how digital transformation can help business in a range of ways including laying the ground for future growth, making more productive use of time and resources, expanding markets, increasing sales, enabling better customer engagement and better use of data to inform strategy as well as improving security. Building Better Business included panel discussions featuring businesses from all four counties who will be talking about the practical actions they have taken to improve their businesss bottom line. Experts gave insights into how businesses can grow and prosper by embracing the opportunities presented by transitioning to a low carbon economy and digital transformation. Building Better Business also featured an update on the Midland Regional Enterprise Plan by its Chair, Dr Anne Cusack, who outlined the progress of the Plan and its impact in the areas of digital transformation and the transition to a low carbon economy. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney as did the Minister of State at the Department, Dara Calleary attended the event held on Thursday, April 27. A man admitted two separate hit and run offences in Laois including one which left an elderly man with injuries. Patrick Maughan, 62, of St Margarets Park, Ballymun, Dublin appeared before Portlaoise District Court from prison via video link. Garda Alan Dunford said the defendant sideswiped a car in Abbeyleix on May 15, 2019 at 3.05pm. He said the defendant pulled in 20 or 30 metres away and his passenger, a woman, verbally abused the injured party. The defendant was identified by dashcam footage. Garda Dunford said the damage to the car amounted to 1,829. I believe the Motor Insurance Bureau of Irealnd have looked after it, he said. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the defendant was involved in a second hit and run at The Heath on October 6, 2019. He said the defendant was in a blue ford focus that left the scene. Sgt Kirby said the injured party, who was 73-years-old, suffered a cut to his left hand which bled heavily. He said the defendant has 78 previous convictions including 12 for burglary. Solicitor Aonghus McCarthy said his client had been with a woman who was 15 years his junior but has significantly more convictions than the defendant. He described the woman as a force to be reckoned with and said it was she had been abusive to the first injured party. Mr McCarthy said his client was to a certain extent under the influence of the woman. He said his client has significant health issues and is taking a plethora of medication while in custody. He is not a gent who ever benefited from an education, Mr McCarthy added. Judge Andrew Cody said the man was disqualified from driving for 15 years at the time of the offending. He noted he had ten previous convictions for no insurance and would have 12 once sentenced. Judge Cody sentenced the man to four months in prison to commence on the expiry of the sentence he is currently serving. I am sorry for getting into so much trouble, the man said as he was sentenced. Judge Cody fixed recognisance in case of appeal. A woman who crashed into two parked cars while trying out a car she bought was charged with hit and run. Dorothy Umukoro, 39, with an address at the Montague Hotel, Cappakeel, Emo admitted dangerous driving, hit and run and having no insurance or licence at her address on April 8, 2023. Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said gardai were called to the hotel following a report that a car had crashed into two parked cars. Responding gardai viewed CCTV and identified the defendant, he said. She was arrested and admitted the offence, he said. The woman has no previous convictions, he added. Solicitor Philip Meagher said his client has lived in Ireland for eight years and works part time as a security officer. He said one of her acquaintances at the refugee centre wanted to sell a car and she foolishly agreed to buy it. Mr Meagher said she was driving it around the car park to test it when the collision occurred. She is extremely embarrassed and ashamed of what happened, said Mr Meagher. Judge Andrew Cody fined the woman a total of 700 and disqualified her from driving for two years. He granted legal aid in the case. On February 25, 2022, the day after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the United Nations (UN) Security Council voted on a Western draft resolution calling for the "immediate withdrawal" of Russian troops. Eleven members of the Council approved the document, which was rejected because Russia predictably vetoed it. Surprisingly, however, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), along with China and India, abstained from the vote. Five days later, undoubtedly due to American pressure, the UAE voted at the UN General Assembly for a resolution "demanding that Russia immediately cease the use of force against Ukraine." But UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ) did not alter his supposedly "neutral" stance in the Ukrainian crisis. In actual fact, his country now enables key financial transactions in support of the Russian military campaign, all the while becoming a coveted haven for oligarchs who find themselves targeted by Western sanctions. Vladimir Putin and Mohammed bin Zayed, at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 15, 2019. CHRISTOPHER PIKE / REUTERS Arming and laundering Any lingering doubts about the UAE's "neutrality" were dispelled in February, during the IDEX international arms fair held in the capital, Abu Dhabi, on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Indeed, the Kremlin used the venue to exhibit armored vehicles, combat helicopters and anti-aircraft missiles, all combat-tested in Ukraine and intended for export. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who opened his country's pavilion, welcomed the fact that the UAE has become Russia's chief partner in the Arab world, with "trade up 68% in 2022." At the same time, the UAE Central Bank granted a now-revoked license to the Russian bank MTS on the grounds that it "helps sustain legitimate trade between the two countries and serve the Russian community in the UAE." This "Russian community" was already highly active in Dubai before the invasion of Ukraine, particularly around networks linked to Ramzan Kadyrov, the autocrat appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as head of the Chechen Republic. The oligarchs have since retreated en masse to the emirates to escape the sanctions that now impact them in Europe and the US. Nearly two million Russian passengers used Dubai airport in 2022, more than double the number from the previous year. As for private aircraft flights from Russia, there were five times as many with Dubai as their destination in the three months following the invasion of Ukraine. In fact, the Russian owners of some 100 private jets have chosen to base them in Dubai in order to escape Western sanctions. Such an influx of Russian wealth has given Dubai's already thriving real estate market a tremendous boost: It saw housing sales increase by 80% in 2022, to the point where the emirate has now earned nicknames like "Dubaigrad." You have 43.85% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A MAN lost his wife, a son his mother and the whole of east Limerick lost a friend with the sudden passing of Liz Grant. Originally from Bodyke, Clares loss was Limericks gain after she made Cappamore her home thanks to loving husband Tom. Liz epitomised the strong community spirit in Cappamore. Liz, aged 69, was one of the founding staff in Cappamore Day Care Centre and has been its manager since Sr Mercy ODea retired. It is a home from home for many elderly people in east Limerick who come every week for meals, medical care, music, dancing, bingo, fun and lots more. Liz called in sick on Monday, March 27, which in itself was strange, and on the following day she went to her God after a short illness. Josephine Ryan, who is the acting manager of the day care centre, said the staff and clients are still in shock. It is the saddest thing that ever happened here. I started with Liz on the very first day when the doors opened 23 years ago. She loved the day care centre - she lived and breathed it. Her big thing was the clients and staff. She even had trips planned for June and a summer party planned in her head. We will honour her wishes as best we can. It is hard to keep the door open but we know we have to for the clients and we have to for Liz. We have to honour her memory and thats what she would want, said Ms Ryan. She said the clients are really missing Liz. We have a beautiful altar when you come in the door with a big photo of Liz on it. She is the first face you see when you come in the door. We also have a little candle lighting for her. The clients love to talk about how good she was to them. She led the prayers, did the exercises, called the bingo, brought them down to the sitting room and had them laughing with her jokes. She always had presents for them, said Ms Ryan. Liz was due to retire this summer but planned to return as a client and continue to say the prayers and call the bingo. Its so sad she didnt get to see her retirement. Were all heartbroken, said Ms Ryan. Cllr Martin Ryan said Liz was looking forward to being spoiled as opposed to doing the spoiling in the day care centre. She is a massive loss to the parish. Liz was her own character, there is no character like her. Liz was a mother to young and old, said Cllr Ryan. The large attendance at her removal and funeral showed just how highly she was held, he said. She had a community guard of honour from the whole village, said Cllr Ryan. Cathaoirleach of the Cappamore-Kilmallock municipal district, Cllr John Egan said Liz was an outstanding person. Her kindness to people was unreal. She had a natural affinity with people and to mind and look after people. Her contribution to the day care centre will be greatly missed and her legacy will be remembered forever by the clients she cared for and the staff who worked with her. She will be remembered for her kindness and how good she was, said Cllr Egan. Ms Ryan, Cllr Ryan and Cllr Egan all extended their sympathies to Lizs loving husband Tom, son Bobby, family and many friends. On the way to her final resting place in Ballinure Cemetery the hearse stopped outside Cappamore Day Care Centre one last time. May she rest in peace. Anyone claiming the 3-plus inches of rain that fell Friday would slop up the Foxfield steeplechase course should have checked with jockey Barry Foley. The ground is lovely, and its a great cover of grass, Foley told The Daily Progress shortly before the days final race. And theres been good racing. Foley ought to know, as the resident of Cork, Ireland, won two of the six races at the 44th running of the Foxfield Spring Races on Saturday. Launched in 1977, Foxfield was born as a steeplechase but got discovered a few years later by University of Virginia and other East Coast college students who wanted a replacement for a now-canceled spring festival called Easters. Lately, Foxfield has experienced a rebirth after surviving cancellations during the worst of the COVID pandemic and a brush with extinction roughly six years ago. In 2017, neighbors sued to prevent if from being sold as a luxury farmette community called Hermit Thrush. The new owner is a nonprofit group that wants to share the wealth. And share they did with a check for over $51,000 to Camp Holiday Trails, which serves children with special needs. It takes a community, said Foxfield advisory board member Olivia Branch. The community on Saturday numbered about 12, according to Foxfields executive director, Kelsey Cox. Our big focus is safety, whether its equine or attendee, said Cox as she gestured out toward whats commonly called the student section. Now equipped with free water, it is officially known as the New Orange Section. Thats where a couple who just moved here from Minnesota found themselves. I think were in the wrong section, said the wife, Anja Bielinsky, who chairs the department of biochemistry at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Everyone is about 30 or 40 years younger. Husband Eric Hendrickson, who studies human genetics at UVa, agreed. Weve seen one race so far and lots of scantily clad 16-year-olds, said Hendrickson. Nearby, two young women were sound asleep against the course rail with at least one pair of buttocks catching rays. When security appeared, the women arose from their slumber to a round of applause. Suddenly, a shirtless young man who was covered in mud emerged from a pond and began running across the course toward the Orange Section. Onlookers urged him keep running, but security guard Lynn Dixon stopped him and directed him into the back of a Kubota utility vehicle, where he was whisked away. Youre not supposed to jump the fence, and youre not supposed to go in the pond, said Dixon. He was just having some fun, said attendee Elizabeth Wiegman. Its the last weekend before finals, so why not? Thats his choice, said fellow Orange Section occupant Jeff Pete. Hes got to live with that one. Just past the Orange Sections northern tip, Sherrie Spalthoff, in her dress and sun hat, was asked what her group with its carefully curated tailgate was doing so close to the student revelry. We accidentally parked here, answered Spalthoff. There was no signage that there was a student section right here. Still, her party said they got a decent deal, as $400 bought them not only four tickets but also their parking spot which turned out to be a front row seat on bad decisions, she said. They were dropping like flies, said Spalthoff. Capt. Darrell Byers of the Albemarle County Police Department reported no arrests by the time of the final race. Weve just been assisting rescue making sure that people are properly hydrated, said Byers. At the nearby medical tent, paramedic and physician assistant Alexander Patton said the days partial cloudiness and moderate temperatures helped limit the problems. What we saw today was a lot like what weve seen in the past, said Patton. A lot of dehydration, a lot of intoxication and heat-related injuries, but nothing too serious, thank goodness. Youthful attendee Mariah Reeves said that students got a taste of the New Orange Section last spring, when its new location was unveiled, and planned accordingly this year. People came strapped, said Reeves. They knew where to hide the alcohol. Tiffany Smith from the Virginia Shop had several Foxfield-branded flasks available for sale at her booth, a temporary outpost of her Barracks Road retailer, but she sold just one. I think they already came with flasks, Smith said with a laugh. Nearby, a group of men, two of whom sported bowties and two of whom wore seersucker pants, was checking out the loafers made from handmade kilim rug remnants at a booth called J. Wilder Imports. You put them on with a tuxedo or a dinner jacket, and theyre fabulous, said proprietor James Alexander Brodie. They just pop. To longtime neighbor John Deal, attendees do seem to be behaving better these days, and he said the rows of chartered buses are an example of a more civilized Foxfield. Theyve done a good job taming it, said Deal. We used to have people throwing up and peeing in our yard and knocking on the door asking for mixers. A horse named West Newton, owned by Upland Flats Racing and John W. Lewis, trained by Ricky Hendriks and ridden by Harrison Beswick, won the days biggest prize, the $60,000 purse of the days final race. AN ENVIRONMENTAL organisation has launched High Court proceedings against a 30m student halls development in Limerick city. The development is earmarked to accommodate 318 students. Environmental Trust Ireland (ETI) is seeking to challenge the permission granted to Cloncarragh Developments to build a complex on lands opposite Punchs Cross. Last month, the firm got the green light from An Bord Pleanala for a second time to construct 30 build-to-rent apartments. Additionally, there are 68 apartments accommodating 318 students planned. The proposed facility - on land idle for two decades - is designed to meet the needs of those studying at Mary Immaculate College, whose students last year staged a demonstration over the lack of suitable accommodation in Limerick. Papers were lodged in the High Court late last week from ETI, which is seeking to take a judicial review case against An Bord Pleanala, Limerick City and County Council, and the Attorney General. A judicial review is a mechanism by which an application can be made to the High Court to challenge the decision making processes of administrative bodies like An Bord Pleanala. Its unclear at this stage on what basis the challenge to the High Court has been taken. ETI initiated proceedings with the High Court last year over the same project. On that occasion, Mr Justice David Holland took a decision to quash An Bord Pleanalas decision to grant permission to Cloncarragh Developments. This was due to what he described as the failure of An Bord Pleanala to circulate an objection to the planning permission from ETI to all the relevant parties in a timely manner. A date for the latest matter to come before the court has yet to be set. A TEAM of volunteers who provide a life-saving service to the community in Limerick have held talks over having a home of their own. Based at Ennis Road, the Community First Responders (CFR) is a community group working with National Ambulance Service to respond to specific 112 or 999 telephone calls north of the Shannon. On call around-the-clock, they would aim to get to the scene of an incident before the emergency services and start treatment. Up to now, they were relying on the goodwill of the Woodfield House Hotel to hold meetings, and their gear was transported around in members cars. Now, talks have been held with the group about using a council-owned facility in the old Cleeves factory for its services. Rosie Cleary, a nurse by profession, is the fundraising officer for the CFR group. She says having a base in the city will allow the group to give training to more people, to increase the level of awareness of how to provide a potentially vital early intervention. What we hope to do by doing this is to increase survival rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. We want to really expand on our awareness programme. At present, we cannot do it as we dont have our own premises, and weve had to drag our equipment here, there and everywhere. The group founded in 2018 only gets limited State funding. Rosie believes there should be mandatory training for life-saving first aid in Irish schools, and has called for the Department of Education to support this. The group is always on the look out for volunteers. Click here for details. WHEN Mrs Frances OFarrell died at Laurel Hill Cottage, Victoria Terrace, South Circular Road, aged 80 in 1860, her obituary in the Limerick Reporter revealed fascinating details about her now long-forgotten family. In 1805 Frances uncle, James OSullivan funded the construction of a new entrance to the city on the Dublin Road from Park Hill to Baals Bridge. To carry out the work, he drained a large area of swamp. The Limerick Gazette reported that the new road being opened into Clare Street makes that avenue into this city one of the finest in Europe, and we have to thank James OSullivan, merchant, who at his own expense, of 500 purchased those wretched cabins at Pennywell. The public who enjoy the delightful new road to Castleconnell must remember Mr. OSullivan. He also built, on Clare Street a fashionable range of houses. By 1807, he was described as a slitter and sole leather merchant and also had for sale 65 crates of crown glass, English kiln tiles, and fire brick, an indication perhaps of the buoyant building trade in the city. His business premises were situated on Clare Street. However, James prosperity was not to last, and he was declared bankrupt in 1818. A few years later, he died in much reduced circumstances at Garrykennedy, County Tipperary, in the house of his son-in-law. His daughter, Teresa died of cholera at the family home on Clare Street in March 1849. The range of houses on Clare Street became known as OSullivans Houses. In 1840 no. 6 underwent an extensive renovation including plasterwork of the interior, kitchen raised one foot and reflagged, the brickwork at the front of each house to be pointed, coloured and drawn, iron balconies to be put to each drawing room window, the interior to be painted and papered, the walls enclosing the front areas to be replaced by iron railing. The notice, in the Limerick Chronicle, advised prospective tenants who wish to unite comfort and economy to be assured they will find it in their interest to reside on the street, which will be lighted with gas, and watched at night, the houses were heretofore, the abode of some of the most respectable of our fellow citizens including Rev. Dr. Young and Walter Fisher. OSullivan family members seem to have retained and lived in nos. 10, 11, and 12, the latter being home to Jeremiah OSullivan. Most of the houses built by James OSullivan were demolished from the 1950s to the 1970s. Frances OFarrells brother, Henry OSullivan was long known for his commercial integrity, entrepreneurial spirit, and sincerity of friendship. Her son, Rev. Henry OFarrell spent nine years in Italy studying, returning in 1842, and devoting himself to alleviating the distress of the poor during the famine. Henry served as treasurer of the Thomondgate Relief Fund and worked to raise money for soup kitchens. In February of that year, he received donations from some of the leading merchants of the city including William Gabbett of North Strand and Thomas Myles of Hartstonge Street. Henrys success at raising funds continued later in that year when the Rev. William Lewis donated 20 to the relief of the poor of Killeely, part of which came from his son in Smyrna (now Izmir, Turkey) on the Aegean Coast of Greece. Donations such as these provide an insight to the difficult years of the famine for the urban poor of Limerick. In 1851 Henry OFarrell was appointed Roman Catholic Chaplain of the Boherbuoy auxiliary workhouse. He quickly gained a reputation for challenging the authorities about the conditions that children in particular endured in the workhouse. For instance, in July 1852, an investigation into its management concluded that the officer of the workhouse neglected to supply clean linen to the inmates and allowed dancing to be carried on between paid officers and inmates. Henry provided a detailed account of the conditions of the workhouse I heard a rumour sometime in May that the children had been left without a change of linen since Christmas. I observed that the children were very dirty, full of flea bites, their necks soiled, I noticed a great itch on many of them, and their bedding was covered in vermin. In 1854, Henry OFarrell assumed the role of President of the Limerick Young Mens Society and delivered public lectures on topics ranging from the life and times of St. Patrick to the story of Sarsfield. The Young Mens lecture rooms were situated on Charlottes Quay. By the 1870s, Henry had been appointed parish priest of Cratloe. He died in 1888 and is buried in Kilquane Graveyard, Parteen, County Clare. The inscription on his headstone reads Pray for the soul of the Rev HENRY O FARRELL P.P. Cratloe who died 22 Jan 1888 aged 76 years, a staunch friend of the poor sick and dying in appalling years of Famine and Cholera. The OFarrell familys association with Laurel Hill Cottage appears to have come an end shortly after the death of Frances OFarrell when the house was acquired by the Ebrill family. According to Mark Humphrys (https://humphrysfamilytree.com/) John Ebrill died at Laurel-hill Cottage in July 1863. William Ebrill settled at the renamed Summerville Cottage from 1874. He lived there until his death in 1892. His family continued to live there for decades. By the time the 1901 census was recorded Summerville Cottage is listed as having 14 rooms, 7 windows in front of house, and 7 out-buildings. In 1911 census, it is listed as having 18 rooms, 7 windows in front of house, and 5 out-buildings. Summerville Cottage was demolished sometime in the c.1960s. Pauls free walking tours of Limerick have recommenced - all welcome, no booking required. 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. TDs across the political spectrum have criticised a statement from the Russian ambassador issued in response to the death of an Irishman fighting in Ukraine. But despite the Irish government stating that its support for Ukraine was unwavering, and that Russian disinformation would have no impact on this, it said that diplomatic channels between the two nations should remain open. Finbar Cafferkey, from Achill Island in Co Mayo, was killed while serving as a military volunteer in the eastern part of Ukraine. Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin paid tribute to Mr Cafferkey as obviously a young man of clear principles, which prompted the Russian embassy in Ireland to question that statement. It claimed that the Irish government and media bear responsibility for his death by promoting anti-Russian propaganda and distorting the truth about the conflict in Ukraine, misleading people like Finbar Cafferkey. The embassy said that if Mr Martin was encouraging Irish citizens to take part in the war in Ukraine, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences. A few words about my brother Finbar Cafferkey pic.twitter.com/qh8boTeJfL Colm MacEachmharcaigh (@colmcaff1) April 29, 2023 Following the statement, Mr Cafferkeys brother Colm described him as always fair minded, strong willed and unafraid. He stood against all forms of imperialism, be it US, British or Russian, and was strongly opposed to Irelands support of US troops and any moves towards joining Nato, he said in a statement on Saturday. He was in Ukraine to help the Ukrainian people, as he would have helped any person in the world who was under attack. I loved him and always admired his clear-eyed bravery. In response to the suggestion that the Russian ambassador should be expelled, Minister of State Mary Butler said that despite the outrage that people feel, Ireland needed to think of the bigger picture, which was offering consular assistance to Irish citizens. Speaking on RTEs The Week In Politics, she said that the Russian embassys statement must be difficult for the family, who had asked for privacy while they grieve. People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said he knew Mr Cafferkey from the Shell To Sea campaign in Rossport, which opposed the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Co Mayo. When I heard the things that he had done after I knew him, it confirmed that this was a quietly courageous man who didnt look for any plaudits, went to help refugees in Greece, the victims of Fortress Europe; went to Rojava (in Syria) to fight with the Kurds against Isis; and then made the decision to go to Ukraine and to fight against Russian imperialism. He added: I think the Russian ambassadors statement was really disgusting, intervening into a family tragedy. Sinn Fein TD Louise OReilly said the Russian embassys statement was vile, and underlined the reasons for the ambassadors expulsion from the country, while Independent TD Thomas Pringle said that the statement was an absolute disgrace. It comes after former justice minister Charlie Flanagan called the statement threatening, intimidating and chilling, and said that the Russian ambassador Yury Filatov should be expelled from Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement over the weekend that Irelands position on Russias brutal and illegal aggression against Ukraine was clear. Ukraine has a right to defend this attack on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, it said. Irelands support for Ukraine is unwavering. Russian disinformation will have no impact on this. But it added: The Governments view is that diplomatic channels between Ireland and the Russian Federation should remain open. This is in the interests of our own citizens, both in Russia itself and in the five central Asian republics to which Ireland is accredited via our embassy in Moscow. Product Terms and Conditions These Terms and Conditions (T&C), as amended from time to time are the complete and exclusive statements of understanding between HT Media Limited (HTML) & the Users and shall enroll for availing the Services on (hereinafter referred to as the BOARD RESULTS https://www.livehindustan.com/career/results/ or https://www.hindustantimes.com/education/board-exams and EDUCATION SERVICES https://www.livehindustan.com/career or https://www.hindustantimes.com/education). All representation or other communications between HTML & the User amounts to acceptance of these terms & conditions. 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We take no responsibility for the content of advertising materials, including any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies included therein. HTML reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to amend or vary any of these Terms & Conditions at any time without prior notice or intimation. The Federal Reserves banking supervisors failed to take forceful action to address growing problems at Silicon Valley Bank before it collapsed last month, the central banks top regulator said, signaling a broad push to toughen rules on the industry. Have you ever faced this dire situation when you insert your debit card at an ATM in an unguarded area and then your card gets stuck in the machine? If yes, you are not alone. Fraudsters on two-wheelers are prowling around unguarded ATMs to pounce on unsuspecting debit card users to cheat them of their hard-earned money/savings by cloning the cards and even deftly replacing them. The story doesn't end here because a few moments after your card is replaced by fraudsters, one starts getting a series of shocks as the person would get a message about withdrawal from the account linked with the debit card. By the time you realise that you have been tricked, you are robbed of a few thousands to a couple of lakhs. Hard to believe, but the story is true. Many such gangs are operative in several parts of the country in the garb of helping hapless debit card holders who might have punched in PIN for withdrawal. But after dispensing money, the card gets stuck and the ATM screen starts displaying balance amount, phone number and other details. As soon as you realise that something is wrong with the machine, two or three persons would barge in and one of them would engage you in a conversation while the other would replace your card with another one. In no time, they will be gone and thereafter your registered mobile will receive messages of withdrawal after sometime. By the time the panic-stricken customers call up the bank for blocking the card, he or she is already down by a few thousands. Card deactivation itself is a tedious process as banks don't have a dedicated line or team to handle such issues. As the card is being blocked, many more thousands are gone. Disappointed card holder would be forced to recall 'RBI Says...' or 'RBI Kehta Hai...', an ad campaign often seen either on electronic, digital or print medium. Following RBI advice, you would approach your branch and simultaneously file a case with the cyber crime branch, thinking that they would help in getting back your money. However, banks would come up with a standard reply that your PIN may have been compromised, so it cannot refund money while the cyber crime branch may not have time for your case as they have files of such cases. So your case is one in thousands. If the issue involves more than one bank then coordination is another issue. As per the RBI data, 65,893 frauds related to 'Card/InternetATM/Debit Card, Credit Card & Internet Banking' have taken place in 2021-22 involving a sum of 258.61 crore. There are some customers who have faced such instances and have shared their experience. For example, a senior journalist in Delhi faced swapping of his card at one such ATMs. His private sector bank debit card was replaced by a public sector bank's card on the pretext of helping him to take out his stuck card. He realised that he had been tricked within 10 minutes after the ATM incident when he received withdrawal notifications on his mobile. He called the helpline to block the card and, to his surprise, money was being debited from his account as the bank's customer care person took time to deactivate the stolen debit card. To show that he had call details but neither the concerned bank admitted the call details nor the RBI Ombudsman considered it after following the RBI's advice of lodging complaints sooner than later. The bank expressed inability to accede to the request for reversal of the amount lost after the complainant deactivated the card. "Complaint is rejected under Clause 16(2)(a) of the Reserve Bank - Integrated Ombudsman Scheme, 2021 : 'In the opinion of the Ombudsman, there is no deficiency in service," reply he received by the concerned Ombudsman. Same day a similar incident happened again in East Delhi where the victim was a housewife, who went to the home bank ATM of a public sector lender but in this case the stuck card was replaced by fraudsters of the same bank. With the stolen card, the fraudsters had done shopping by swapping cards. Notification of withdrawal alerted the customers and deactivation was done after losing close to 1 lakh. Fraudsters are inventing new ways of cheating customers on a daily basis while the grievance redressal mechanism is not getting corrected at the same pace. There is an urgent need for the grievance redressal mechanism to be nimble footed so that the digital and less cash transaction can be promoted. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Uday Kotak has clarified his previous statement calling the US dollar the "biggest financial terrorist in the world". In a tweet, he explained that he was referring to the disproportionate power that a reserve currency holds. Kotak believes that the US Dollar's status as a reserve currency gives it the ability to control global transactions, leading to situations where other countries may become dependent on it. In a recent discussion on US$ I inadvertently used words financial terrorist" which I would like to correct. What I meant was that a reserve currency has disproportionate power, whether it is nostro account, 500 bps rate increase, or emerging countries holding $ for liquidity (sic)," the billionaire investor tweeted. The CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank further explained that a reserve currency has the power to control the money in nostro accounts, and that someone in the US can dictate whether or not it can be withdrawn. He suggested that the world is currently looking for an alternative reserve currency and proposed that India has an opportunity to make the Indian Rupee the reserve currency for the world. Speaking at the ET Awards for Corporate Excellence 2023, Kotak expressed his belief that this is a pivotal moment in history where the world is looking for an alternative reserve currency. He suggested that other countries, such as Europe, the UK, Japan and China, do not have the necessary conditions to establish their currencies as reserve currencies. Kotak emphasised that India must focus on building strong institutions and a framework that is not dependent on the whims of others to make the Rupee a reserve currency. Kotak stated that it would take about 10 years to achieve this goal and that India must earn the trust of other countries to establish the Rupee as the reserve currency. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sounak Mukhopadhyay Sounak Mukhopadhyay, who also goes by the name Sounak Mukherjee, has been producing digital news since 2012. He's worked for the International Business Times, The Inquisitr, and Moneycontrol in the past. He's also contributed to Free Press Journal and TheRichest with feature articles. He covers news for a wide range of subjects including business, finance, economy, politics and social media. Before working with digital news publications, he worked as a freelance content writer. Read more from this author Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio program Mann Ki Baat is all set to hit the century on Sunday, April 30, when he will address the 100th episode of his radio talk at 11 am today. The show will be broadcast live at the UN headquarters in New York, India's mission. Here's a 10-point guide on Mann Ki Baat's 100th episode 1) The program was started on October 3, 2014. It has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach program addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. 2) Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. 3) The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organize facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the program. 4) It will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. 5) Culture Ministry, in collaboration with NGMA, has curated an immersive experience through an art exhibition called the Jana Shakti, which will be inaugurated on April 30. It will showcase paintings by 12 renowned artists. 6) The Indian High Commission in London will also host a special screening of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat today. 7) Seventy-five percent of the respondents felt that 'Mann Ki Baat' has emerged as a platform, which introduces grassroots innovators working selflessly to ensure a significant difference in the lives of people living in remote areas of India. 8) Union Minister of Science and Technology Jitendra Singh on Saturday said, "#MannKiBaat is an iconic feature in itself. I think, it's for the first time in the history of our memory that any Head of Govt had chosen to address his countrymen regularly month after month without break. He did so far 100 episodes." 9) The program highlights government and citizen action in these priority areas and in turn, encourages listeners to establish or participate in "change-making" initiatives in their own communities with the aim to have a lasting and sustainable impact on the lives of people and for the country. 10) The Consulate General of India in New York, along with community organization Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-NE and others, is also organizing the broadcast of the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' for members of the Indian-American and diaspora community in New Jersey during a special event at 1:30 am Sunday. (With inputs from agencies) This article has been edited from its original version. As another election season gears up, more than 100 people turned out Thursday night for a 90-minute candidates forum hosted by the Culpeper Republican Committee at the American Legion. Candidates for state and local offices seeking the local partys endorsement or nomination were invited to attend the timed question and answer exchange, hosted by Culpeper Times editor Maria Basileo, with GOP Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Carter. The main event was saved for lastan onstage matchup between three-term incumbent State Sen. Bryce Reeves, of Spotsylvania, and retired educator and MAGA Republican Mike Allers, of Ruckersville. Allers is challenging Reeves as an anti-establishment candidate to represent the new 28th District. Republican voters in the district that includes Culpeper will decide between them in a party-held primary May 6. Russ Rabb for Culpeper County Commonwealths Attorney took the stage first at Thursdays forum followed by Joe Watson for Culpeper County Sheriff, Missy White for Culpeper County Treasurer, Paul Bates for Board of Supervisors Catalpa District and Jon Russell for Culpeper Town Council. Friday morning, both Reeves and Allers were quick to declare victory at the forum in Culpeper. Reeves made a strong showing tonight, with clear and distinct answers both focused on what he has accomplished during his time in the legislature and what the future holds for the 28th district, according to a campaign release. Im glad so many people were able to take the time to come out tonight, said Reeves. I believe that this was one of the strongest showings of support I have ever seen at an event like this. Theres a reason my opponent refuses to discuss policy and differentiate himself from my stances, and instead resorts to baseless attacks to gain support. Tonight was a prime example of this, and I am proud that the voters of the 28th district have refused to fall for my opponents divisive rhetoric, and instead are focusing on the results I continue to produce in Richmond. Team Allers swiftly responded, saying they were very pleased and thankful for the turnout at the candidates forum. The Folks of the 28th District are tired of the establishment, crony politics, and the uni-partys approach to governing the Commonwealth. The GRASSROOTS do not want a pay for play corporately funded representative under thumb of Dominion, Pace-O-Matic, and Chinese owned Smithfield, Allers said in a message to the Star-Exponent. They want a Senator who represents WE THE PEOPLE not the Elite Club Member Set. I will ONLY be beholden to the voter. I cannot wait to REPRESENT YOU! I will never forget that I WORK FOR YOU. I WILL be your VOICE in Richmond. Voting will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at three sites in the 28th District. There will be no absentee, provisional or write-in voting. Voters who reside in Fauquier and Rappahannock will cast ballots in person at Grace Miller Elementary School, located at 6248 Catlett Road in Bealeton. Voters residing in Culpeper, Madison and Greene will cast ballots at Reformation Lutheran Church, located at 601 Madison Road in Culpeper. Voters residing in Orange and Spotsylvania will cast ballots at Unionville Elementary School, located at 10285 Zachary Taylor Hwy. in Unionville. In order to vote, the districts Republican committees are requiring registered voters to sign a Declaration of Voter Qualification form stating they are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and will support the Republican nominees in the Nov. 7 general election. Voters wanting to participate in the Reeves-Allers primary must also acknowledge that if they publicly support a candidate in opposition to a Republican nominee, they will be banned from party actions for four years, and they have not participated in the nominating process of another party in the last five years. Or, the Declaration of Voter Qualification form states, voters acknowledge they have participated in the nominating process of another party in the last five years, but renounce affiliation with any party other than Republicans. The 28th Senate District Republican Committee will provide a copy of any signed renunciation statements to the Republican Party of Virginia, according to a party release. Voters participating in the upcoming firehouse primary can check a box agreeing to a voluntary contribution of $10 to defray the cost of the canvass via check or money order, payable to the 28th Senate District Republican Committee. The $10 voluntary contribution is not required to vote. Pick up Wednesdays paper or go to starexponent.com for more photos of the candidates forum and the separate views of Reeves and Allers. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday announced that citizens aged above 65 years, 'divyang' (disabled) persons, and students up to Class 12 can avail of a 25% concession in the fares of Mumba Metro - Line 2A and 7 - from May 1, celebrated as Maharashtra Day. In an official statement, the chief minister said that the benefit will be extended to thousands of holders of the National Common Mobility Card (Mumbai One) and the discount will be given on Mumbai One passes for 45 or 60 trips, according to the news agency PTI. CM Shinde called the move a gift to Mumbai residents from Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL), which operates and maintains Metro Lines 2A and 7, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDAA). Metro 2A (yellow line) connects Dahisar E and DN Nagar in Andheri West, while line 7 runs between Andheri E and Dahisar E (red line). To avail of the concession, divyang persons will need to submit valid documents like medical or government certificates for disability, while senior citizens will have to provide age proof. Students will have to show their or their parent's PAN card along with school ID to be eligible for the concession, the statement read as quoted by PTI. It added that these documents can be shown at any ticket window on the Line 2A and 7 route. The chief minister said his government has made travel free for senior citizens on state transport buses, while women can avail of a 50% concession in bus fares. (With PTI inputs) Under the ongoing Operation Kaveri to evacuate nearly 3000 Indians from Sudan, around 229 more Indians were rescued from the crisis-struck nation and departed on a Bengaluru-bound flight on Sunday. The rescue of 229 more Indians from Sudan, which is currently witnessing its worst civil unrest, was done by the 7th outbound flight of India which departed from Jeddah, informed the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi on Sunday. Ministry of External Affairs, Official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi tweeted, #OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah." The operation is being performed in full swing and around 600 people were rescued from Sudan and taken back to India on Saturday. Indian Armed forces safely took back 365 Indians from Sudan to New Delhi on Saturday evening, whereas 231 Indian passengers landed on the national capital on Saturday morning. Moreover, Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, brought the 14th batch of Indians stranded in Sudan. Around 288 people were brought under Opertion Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. Before that, INS Sumedha, stationed at Port Sudan, had also brought back 300 passengers to India. The rescue operation began after a ceasefire was called in Sudan by the two forces. Several other countries are also attempting to evacuate their citizens from the conflict-ridden nation. Until Friday, around 2,400 Indians have been rescued from Sudan. Earlier videos of rescued Indians expressing their cheerfullness and happiness by shouting slogans like Bharat Mata ki Jai and Vande Mataram, had gone viral on social media. Rescued Indians also thanked PM Modi and EAM S Jaishankar for speedy execution of the rescue operation. Notably, Sudan is experiencing bloodshed as its two military forces fight for power. Fighting erupted between the paramilitary forces and Sudanese Army after they failed to resolve the issue of how the former will be merged with the latter. (With inputs from ANI) Yet another batch of Indians flew home from crisis hit Sudan on Sunday evening with a ceasefire set to end at midnight. Tens of thousands have left the country in recent days as fighting continues and former officials warn of the "nightmare" risk of a descent into full-scale civil war. Fighting continued in some areas on Sunday even as the paramilitary RSF indicated that the tenuous truce would continue for another three days. A C-130J Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2300 people have reached India," tweeted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday evening. Meanwhile an IAF C-130J transported 135 Indians from Port Sudan to Jeddah. The country has so far brought home around 2,000 people with many others waiting at an interim camp in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah. ALSO READ: 117 passengers returned from Sudan are in quarantine for being unvaccinated Under "Operation Kaveri", India has been taking its citizens from the conflict zones of Khartoum and other troubled areas to Port Sudan in buses. From where they are being taken to Jeddah in the IAF's heavy-lift transport aircraft and the Indian Navy's ships. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded since a long-simmering power struggle between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted into conflict on April 15. The parties have fought on for about three weeks now - despite a series of ceasefires secured by mediators including the United States. The latest truce period - set to end at midnight - was extended with mere hours to spare. "In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian truce for 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight, in order to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents and enable them to fulfil their needs and reach safe areas," an RSF statement said. Sudan's former premier Abdalla Hamdok warned Saturday that the conflict could deteriorate into one of the world's worst civil wars. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play. I think it would be a nightmare for the world," Hamdok said during an event in Nairobi. (With inputs from agencies) The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio program is all set to be broadcast worldwide today, Sunday, April 30. It will be a historic moment with the 100th episode to be broadcast live in the United Nations headquarters in New York. "Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modi's "Mann Ki Baat" is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ!" the Permanent Mission of India to the UN tweeted. The Consulate General of India in New York, along with community organizations is also hosting the broadcast of the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' for members of the Indian-American and diaspora community in New Jersey. "Don't miss #MannKiBaatAt100 at 0130 hrs EST on April 30th, 2023! Let us celebrate the landmark 100th episode of #MannKiBaat as Hon'ble @PMOIndia connects with Indians, Indian diaspora and listeners across the world," the Consulate added. The central government has also released a video showing how the radio show is recorded by the Prime Minister. PM Modi can be seen interacting with a group of technicians before moving to the recording studio in the video. Later, he addresses the audience without any written script. The program, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach program addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari, and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centers of All India Radio. The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organize facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the program. The program will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended the valedictory session of the National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100 on Wednesday, said that Mann Ki Baat is a unique experiment that has strengthened the foundation of democracy in the country. The event, which was also attended by Union Minister for Railways Ashwani Vaishnav and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur marked the release of a stamp and coin commemorating 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday released 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 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 program 'Mann Ki Baat' on the nation. The 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat will be broadcast on Sunday. The program started on October 3, 2014, months after Narendra Modi took over the Prime Minister's Office in May. There has been an occurrence of a gas leak in the Giaspura locality in the district of Ludhiana in Punjab. The police have confirmed that at least 11 individuals have been reported as casualties. #UPDATE | "11 deaths confirmed till now...In all likelihood, there is some gas contamination which has happened...It is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholes...All of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples..," says Ludhiana Deputy pic.twitter.com/7LHXjhXeOV ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 Five to six individuals have lost consciousness and have been swiftly transported to a medical facility, according to ANI. A rescue team has been deployed to the area and a team of medical professionals along with ambulances have been called to the site. Swati, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Ludhiana West, has confirmed that the incident is indeed a case of gas leak. According to her statement, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team is currently present at the site to help evacuate the affected individuals and carry out necessary rescue operations. #UPDATE | Ludhiana gas leak | "Definitely, it is a gas leak case. The NDRF team is present at the spot to evacuate the people and will conduct the rescue operation. 9 people died in this incident and 11 are sick," says Swati, SDM Ludhiana West. pic.twitter.com/wSCkZw5Sz1 ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 She further stated that the incident has resulted in the unfortunate death of nine people, while eleven others have fallen ill. #WATCH | Punjab: NDRF personnel reach the spot in Giaspura area of Ludhiana where a gas leak claimed 9 lives; 11 others are hospitalised. Local officials say that the area has been cordoned off. pic.twitter.com/BuxUEb8SCq ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, has expressed sorrow over the occurrence of the gas leak incident in Ludhiana. He has stated that the police, administration and NDRF teams are currently present at the location of the incident, and all possible assistance is being provided to those affected. As per the preliminary information shared by the local media, the Goyal Milk Plant, a dairy product manufacturing facility, has encountered a gas leak caused by its cooling system. As a consequence, nearby residents have apparently lost consciousness within their houses, and it is presently deemed hazardous for individuals to enter the affected zone. People within a 300-meter range of the gas leakage are finding it hard to breathe, resulting in the evacuation of the area. Police and civil administration personnel are present at the location to offer aid and support. Social organisations' ambulances have also reached the site to help relocate the affected individuals. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has requested a six-month extension from the Supreme Court to complete its investigation into possible lapses in securities market laws and regulatory disclosures by the Adani Group. This move by the market regulator has been criticised by Mahua Moitra. The powerhouse Trinamool Congress MP, known for being articulate in her criticism of the government, has alleged that SEBI is trying to protect its favourite businessman, Gautam Adani, by allowing him time to cover up his actions. She tweeted that SEBI has been investigating the matter since October 2021 when they replied to her letter of July. While SEBI prima facie sees violations, they are seeking six more months to give Adani the time to cover up his actions. This is a joke. @SEBI_India has been investigating since October 2021 when they replied to my letter of July. While they prima facie see violations (no surprise)-they want 6 months to protect their favorite businessman so that he can get maximum time to cover up," she tweeted. The Supreme Court asked SEBI to investigate the matter within two months and had set up an expert panel to look into the protection of Indian investors following a damaging report by US short seller Hindenburg Research. The report wiped out more than $140 billion of the Adani Group's market value. SEBI said that further investigations were necessary in cases where preliminary findings point to violations of securities laws. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has called for a probe by a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), saying the expert committee cannot (and will not want to) investigate the entire political science and business practices of the Group". He hopes that the request for an extension is not an effort to bury the scam or drag it out in the hope that the furore will die down. SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, while calling the Adani issue "elephant in the room", earlier refused to comment on it during her media appearance in late March as the matter was sub-judice. With his cold look and decisive demeanour, Professor Snape, is an eternal character for Potterheads. The character was brought into life by actor Alan Rickman. However, this was not the only iconic role played by the actor. On Sunday, Google is celebrating the unforgettable role of Alan Rickman in 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses' play which proved to be a launchpad for his career in his initial phase. Also Read: Absolute radio silence between Prince Harry and William but King Charles Alan Rickman performed in the play in 1987, and it was instrumental in launching his career, wrote Google. He is also known for his stupendous performance in Die Hard , Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Born on February 21, Alan Rickman was a natural painter and developed interest in different art forms after being encouraged by his teachers and family. He built special interest for acting, and also earned a scholarship to continue pursuing this interest at Latymer Upper School in London. Also Read: Succession, other exclusive HBO and Warner Bros content coming to Jio Cinema soon Later, he studied graphic design at Chelsea College of Art and Design adn the Royal College of Art. After completing his studies he started his own design company with close college friends and continued participating in the amateur Group Court Drama Club. When he was 26, Alan Rickman decided to seriously pursue acting, earning a spot at RADA, one of the most prestigious acting schools in the world. Also Read: When is Met Gala 2023? Theme, guest list, Indian celebs attending and how to watch After joining the Royal Shakespeare Company, he acted in The Tempest and Loves Labours Lost. His anti-hero role of Le Vicomte de Valmont in the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses (Dangerous Liaisons), earned him significance recognition at that time. He also earned a Tony nomination for his performance, and also started getting different film offers. Also Read: New Twitter feature: Elon Musk opens up earning opportunity for users, calls it a major win-win Alan Rickman rose to fame with most of his anti-hero roles like that of a criminal mastermind Hans Gruber in the film Die Hard. The actor was remembered for decades for his role in the movie. Later, he went ahead to playing other antagonist roles in films like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. He was also starred in in Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (1996). Other than acting, he is also remembered for his philanthropy, and kind-sensitive nature off-screen. It was in 2001, when he took the role of scene-stealing Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. The movie got immense success, and so was the actor who played the role with immense conviction. His role as the professor made him star in the following seven Harry Potter films, and made him an international sensation. New Delhi: India is considering raising bilateral ties with Mexico to the level of a strategic partnership", said people aware of the matter, underscoring New Delhis growing tilt toward Latin America. Mexico, one of Indias largest trade partners in the region, has also made an aggressive push toward India in the last few years. External affairs minister S Jaishankar visited Mexico in 2021 and Mexicos foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard has visited New Delhi twice in just the last year. India currently enjoys strategic partnership"-level ties with countries such as Italy and Mongolia. According to the people cited above, both sides are currently working to establish a security dimension to bilateral ties, which have traditionally remained underdeveloped. They said prior to lifting the ties to strategic partnership level, both sides will have to broaden their existing ties to include security affairs. While traditional military exercises may not be on the table, a potential avenue for cooperation can be joint training for peacekeeping exercises. As Indias trade with Latin America tops $50 billion, the potential development of lithium reserves for electric mobility is a key impetus to deepen bilateral ties. Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding earlier this year to further cooperation in the lithium sector. In a recent interview, Federico Salas Lotfe, Mexican Ambassador to India, said his country was looking to bring Indian electric mobility firms like Sun Mobility to Mexican shores. He also stated that joint ventures between Indian and Mexican firms on the uses of lithium could also be realized over the medium term. India has a $10 billion bilateral trade with Mexico, which includes energy trade. Mint earlier reported India and Mexico holding talks on a Free Trade Agreement. Early stage talks are also taking place to expand the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with MERCOSUR, which counts Brazil and Argentina among its membership. This forms part of a broader push towards Latin America that has intensified in recent years. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is currently in the region and has visited Guyana, Panama and Colombia. He is currently visiting the Dominican Republic, the last stop in his tour of the region. Prior to this, he undertook a three-nation tour of Latin America in 2022. Increasing trade, energy diversification needs and the possibility of collaboration on critical minerals are all crucial economic imperatives for India. The highly-anticipated Met Gala 2023 is just around the corner, set to take place on Monday, May 1 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The annual event is traditionally held on the first Monday in May every year. Met Gala 2023 theme The exhibit, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty," looks at "the designer's stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019". Lagerfeld made an indelible mark on luxury fashion in his long career at Chanel, Fendi and elsewhere. Andrew Bolton, the Met's acclaimed curator, has once again been the creator of the event. View Full Image This combination of photos shows Michaela Coel, from left, Penelope Cruz, Dua Lipa and Roger Federer who will co-chair the Met Gala on May 1. (AP Photo) (AP) Met Gala 2023 guest list The Met Gala's guest list is always a topic of interest, with only the most famous and powerful invited to attend. This year, there will be roughly 400 guests, similar to recent years but still lower than pre-pandemic highs of 500-600. Vogue's Anna Wintour and her team still get to approve every guest. Trying to predict who will attend? Newly-minted Oscar winners and Broadway stars are a good bet. Indian celebs at Met Gala 2023 While the guest list has not been officially announced, the Met Gala has always been known to attract a wide range of international celebrities. In recent years, Indian actors such as Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, and Isha Ambani have made headlines for their stunning looks on the Met Gala's red carpet. With Indian fashion making a global impact, it will be interesting to see which Indian celebrities will make an appearance at the event. As per media reports, Alia Bhatt is all set to make her Met Gala debut this year. Bhatt will wear an outfit from the Nepalese-American designer Prabal Gurung, whose creations have been worn by several international personalities including Kate Middleton, Michelle Obama, Demi Moore, Oprah Winfrey and Deepika Padukone. Some reports suggest that Priyanka Chopra Jonas will also attend the gala event. How to watch Met Gala 2023 Those in New York can watch from behind barricades on Fifth Avenue or further east on Madison. In previous years, celebrities like Timothee Chalamet have greeted fans. If you can't attend the Met Gala in person, you can watch the red carpet on a Vogue livestream. (With AP inputs) Carnatic music is mind-boggling. You would know if you were to listen to this classical style of music. But this piece is about Karnatakas politics, not music. The similarity, though, is that just as Carnatic music, Karnatakas politics is complex. National parties have little choice but to rely on local bigwigs to steer their ship in the state. The latest example is the coming assembly election. At the last election, Karnataka denied everyone a clear mandate in the 224-seat legislature. Despite its best efforts, the BJP fell nine seats short of a majority with 36.43% of votes. The Congress cornered 38.6% votes, but won only 78 seats. Naturally, the scenario favoured regional parties. Former prime minister Haradanahalli Doddegowda Deve Gowdas Janata Dal (Secular) had acquired the role of kingmaker. It bagged 27 seats with 20.6% of votes, and Deve Gowda, instead of making someone else the king, enthroned his eldest son, H.D. Kumaraswamy as the chief minister. Because JD-S campaigned against the BJP, claiming to be secular, it could not explicitly support the saffron party. Kumaraswamy managed to become the chief minister after several rounds of talks with the Congress. But in this arrangement, there were too many cooks, and the broth was sure to be spoiled. The partnership did not survive long. The last election was fought on issues such as corruption, unemployment, and social harmony, and, surprisingly, the opposition still relies on those same old issues now. The Congress has been fighting against 40% commission sarkara for more than a year. Could natural discontent with state government and suspicions of corruption provide the Congress with an absolute majority? It should not be forgotten that during his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi spent 21 daysthe longest in a state in Karnataka. At the time, leaders of the state Congresss two main factionsone led by former chief minister Siddaramaiah and the other by state Congress chief D.K. Shivakumarcame together. So, can the Congress overcome its self-harming infighting? It is a political adage that rebellion within the ruling party is far more destructive than a rebellion by the Opposition. During ticket distribution, the BJP lost some big names such as Jagadish Shettar, a former chief minister and Laxman Sangappa Savadi, the deputy chief minister both powerful Lingayat leaders. Ten MLAs and Legislative Council members, including Savadi, have left the BJP. Lingayats, who account for 17% of Karnatakas population, have traditionally supported the BJP. Yeddyurappa is the most visible political face of this community, but with Shettar and Savadi gone, there is concern that this vote bank would be weakened, though the BJPs roster includes 68 candidates from the community, who could counteract the insurrection. That BJP refused tickets to nearly 20 existing MLAs, is fuelling further discontent. But will the exit of these leaders lead to a breach in the BJP fortress? Many are already making conclusions after three JD-S MLAs, Shettar and Savadi, joined the Congress. But keep in mind that the BJPs election machine is famed for leaving no stone unturned till the final breath. No wonder Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally contacted five-time MLA K.S. Eshwarappa after the partys decision to refuse his son a ticket and praised him for his commitment and service to the party. Modi also frequently speaks with BJP workers. Clearly, the BJP wants to demonstrate to its workers and leaders how concerned the PM is about this election. Besides, home minister Amit Shah and BJP president J.P. Nadda are campaigning there day and night. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has also been utilized to polarize voters. Another question emerges here. Will these elections have any bearing on the 2024 general election? In 2019, the BJP won 27 of the 28 Lok Sabha seats there. This figure, in and of itself, answers the question. Bengaluru was ruled by the Congress and the JD-S during these elections. The people of Karnataka saw the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections differently in the two general elections held after Modis debut in national politics. However, if the Congress can form the government in the state, the champions of Opposition unity will undoubtedly benefit in 2024. Also, efforts to negotiate with the Congress will be heavily influenced by it. This is why Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are sweating it out in Karnataka. Also, Mallikarjun Kharge is interacting with the state leadership as it is his home state. Let us wait and watch to see which of these political melodies strikes a chord with Karnatakas voters. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. Close Fabian Chavez holds a party hat Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, reaches for a balloon Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Vanessa Chavez, 9, climbs on a play structure Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Gwendolyn Cisneros, 3, picks dandelions Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Cata Contreras-Colin records families celebrating Dia del Nino on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Veronica Nunez of Philomath kisses her 1-year-old son, Yunuen Trejo, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Paper and pipe brush crafts are visible Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children take turns smacking a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Parents release candy from a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, of Albany hoists a stick over his head before smacking a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Dia del Nino-themed gift packs were handed out Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, awaits his chance to smack a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Veronica Nunez, of Philomath, jumps rope with her 1-year-old son, Yunuen Trejo, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children scramble for candy Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. David Sarmiento, 6, smiles while holding a balloon and a fruit cup Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children take turns smacking a pinata with a stick on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Matteo Garcia, 7, of Corvallis, winds up to smack a pinata with a stick Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, of Albany, eats a cupcake Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Gwendolyn Ciscneros, 3, of Corvallis, peers over fruit cups Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. A broken and empty pinata is removed from a rope Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Photos: Dia del Nino brings smiles, pinata to Corvallis picnic shelter Mothers at the April 29 celebration in Bruce Starker Arts Park said that the scant hour and half set aside for Spanish-only conversation is important to the identity of some families hailing from all over the Americas. Fabian Chavez holds a party hat Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, reaches for a balloon Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Vanessa Chavez, 9, climbs on a play structure Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Gwendolyn Cisneros, 3, picks dandelions Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Cata Contreras-Colin records families celebrating Dia del Nino on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Veronica Nunez of Philomath kisses her 1-year-old son, Yunuen Trejo, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Paper and pipe brush crafts are visible Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children take turns smacking a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Parents release candy from a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, of Albany hoists a stick over his head before smacking a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Dia del Nino-themed gift packs were handed out Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, awaits his chance to smack a pinata Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Veronica Nunez, of Philomath, jumps rope with her 1-year-old son, Yunuen Trejo, on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children scramble for candy Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. David Sarmiento, 6, smiles while holding a balloon and a fruit cup Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Children take turns smacking a pinata with a stick on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Matteo Garcia, 7, of Corvallis, winds up to smack a pinata with a stick Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Adrian Chavez, 4, of Albany, eats a cupcake Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Gwendolyn Ciscneros, 3, of Corvallis, peers over fruit cups Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. A broken and empty pinata is removed from a rope Saturday, April 29, 2023, at Bruce Starker Arts Park in Corvallis. Veronica Nunez joined a few other moms in a Corvallis park on Saturday to show her kids something about having fun. Where she grew up, Nunez got to celebrate being a kid. El Dia del Nino was celebrated worldwide as the annual recognition of a childs right to a childhood. And in Mexico, it was a day for families to set aside a little precious time and be together in their communities. Even though we celebrate them every day, this gives parents a chance to play with them, Nunez said. Grupito Bilingue is an expression of community. Founded by a local consultant, the group began as a gathering point for folks with common interests in cultural celebrations and Spanish immersion. Nunez said her kids will grow up speaking English and celebrating U.S. holidays. But Nunez and several other mothers at the celebration April 29 in Bruce Starker Arts Park said that the scant 1 1/2 hours set aside for Spanish-only conversation is important to the identity of some families hailing from all over the Americas. Its to celebrate our culture, Nunez said, to show our kids how we grew up. The fruit cups were handed out, the pipe cleaner and paper crafts made, the pinata busted, and the kids were smiling. That meant the moms were smiling, too. Caty Contreras-Colin called the children from a playground to a picnic shelter with a drawn out niiiiinos! and some encouragement to line up for a chance to smack a rainbow-shaped pinata filled with candy. A 4-year-old boy began the customary song about swinging a stick. Dale, dale, dale! Ady Ibarra, the mother of a 3-year-old girl, Gwendolyn Cisneros, smiled and obliged him with a response. No pierdas el tino porque si lo pierdes, pierdes el camino. Do not lose focus because if you lose it, youll lose the path. Contreras-Colin consults with primarily nonprofit organizations about driving family engagement. That means she gets folks to show up to nonprofit-sponsored events. In 2019, a few months before the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Contreras-Colin wanted to reverse the paradigm take community events to folks in the mid-Willamette Valley. Contreras-Colin said holidays were very important in her family, and for a lot of families from Mexico. It was an excuse for folks from impoverished households to stop working for a minute. Being able to spare some time is a luxury, Contreras-Colin said. El Dia de los Muertos, los Posadas, festivities that largely go unobserved in the United States, provided natural opportunities for local families to find a reason to get together. She started with three moms and a promise of festival-like celebrations and summer camps to give kids in a chance to speak Spanish. About 3 1/2 years later, there are 12 moms and a bunch of kids who get to see the delight on their faces. Once Oregons health department said it was OK for people to gather outdoors, the group quadrupled in size, Contreras-Colin said. Its circular. It established trust. It established community, Contreras-Colin said. 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. Contreras-Colin runs two Spanish-only organizations for any kid in two age sets, Grupito Bilingue for preschool to second-grade students; and Campamento Bilingue for older children. "Many of the kids have grown together," she said. The group became a first stop for some families looking for help finding contractors or schools or other advice. And, of course, a chance to have a little party. All of these celebrations were common for me, and I want my kids to know how I grew up, Brenda Avila of Albany said. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Karnataka for the ninth time this year, holding a grand roadshow in Bengaluru as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fights anti-incumbency. That Modi is staking so much of his political capital is not a surprise. Its a tough election battle the BJP faces in the state that could also influence other state polls lined up this year as we head for general elections next. No chief minister has been able to retain power in Karnataka since Ramakrishna Hegde in 1985. So, the odds might be stacked against the BJP. It did overcome similar odds in Uttar Pradesh, where Yogi Adityanath won a second consecutive term, a first for any party since 1985. But southern politics differs, broadly. It privileges a local caste calculus over the partys saffron appeal, and its strained relations with B.S. Yediyurappa may have weakened its Lingayat support. A stir of the Hindu right over Muslim students wearing headscarves or burkha in class and the partys move to revoke a quota for this religious minority could be part of a larger attempt at majority consolidation. The BJPs tack may help divert attention from the record of its state government. In efforts to blot it, the Congress has been calling it a 40% commission sarkar," alleging it takes a slice of pelf on state contracts. Another BJP disadvantage might be its shift into central-show mode, as in most other states, with a local leadership vacuum after Yediyurappas sway was sought to be replaced with a sub-campaign focused on Lingayat teachings. The party has also faced exits amid dissent over candidacy tickets. Though he has been CM barely for two years, Basavaraj Bommais leadership hasnt done much to bolster the partys re-election chances either. That his party projects him as its next CM may well have more to do with avoiding a negative signal sent out than confidence in his leadership. With Modi leading the campaign, the BJP would hope that local discontent gets offset by the Prime Ministers national appeal. To be sure, the ruling party did poll more than half the states votes in the 2019 national elections. So, its bet on Modis stewardship might actually be its best option. Whats clearly working in favour of the BJP, though, is a divided opposition, with the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) riven by internal fights and exits. The former was once a dominant party in the state, but has been struggling. With the BJP apparently on a back-foot and the JD(S) weakened, the Congress fancies a shot at power in Bengaluru. It has pitched for womens votes, though the gender ratio of its ticket handouts is just as dismal as that of other parties. Also, a tussle for leadership between former CM Siddaramaiah and state unit president D.K. Shivakumar could roil its prospects. Although seen as the third player, the JD(S) would play a pivotal role in case neither of the top two wins a majority in the assembly. The fray also has the Aam Aadmi Party and Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, making political forecasts in times of change even more hazardous. Given its 2019 vote share, any further division of the opposition will aid the BJP. And with states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Telangana set for polls over the next few months, the outcome in Karnataka would impact morale on both sides of our basic political divide. The Rights ascendancy from here on will track how well the BJPs expansion strategy for the south is working. The City of Laredo signed a declaration of disaster Sunday regarding the upcoming end of Title 42. "The declaration states that the Biden administration has announced the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023, possibly ending all use of Title 42 as a mechanism to control the border," the city said in a statement. "The City of Laredo was notified on April 28, 2023, by the U.S. Border Patrol of a significant influx of migrants in Laredo. Therefore, Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino, determined that extraordinary measures must be taken to alleviate the process and transfer of the migrants." Title 42 is a public health order created by the CDC during the Trump administration to quickly expel migrants from the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic to help prevent the virus' spread. It is currently set to expire on May 11. Disaster declarations often open up increased funding opportunities. This particular declaration is effective for only seven days but can be renewed by Laredo City Council. "As the mayor of a border community, we understand our local immigration challenges are intertwined with our binational challenges involving immigration reform," Trevino said. "With this in mind, its imperative that we protect the City of Laredos limited resources while balancing the treatment and services available to incoming immigrants. Therefore, the Emergency Declaration is necessary in light of previous experiences and the current and imminent rise of immigrants arriving at our southern border with the expiration of Title 42." The city's Office of Emergency Management recently provided a report on its response to the COVID-19 migrant crisis and discussed plans for how various scenarios will be handled going forward. The city said that there's not much movement crossing the river or at the bridge. Instead, there's a lot of lateral movements from areas like The Valley or Del Rio to help them be processed. Phase I of Laredos Immigration Response Plan is for when there are between zero and 1,000 immigrants being released per day from the CBP Enhance Processing Center to NGOs. Heard said the city plays a minor role in this scenario mostly providing medical triage coordination with NGOs. Phase II of the plan would be for if 1,000 to 2,000 immigrants are released per day. In this scenario, the NGOs would be near or at capacity and would require an increase in assistance. Heard said Laredo would take a more active role with increased medical triage personnel, increased security from the Laredo Police Department, shelter preparation and more. The projected cost would be $4,785,126. Phase III of the plan would be for if the immigrants released per day exceeds 2,000. In this scenario, NGOs would exceed capacity and the City of Laredo would need to assist in providing travel to final destinations using busing, airlines and other methods. The projected cost for Phase III would be $10,983,350.99. Also in Phase III, the Emergency Operations Center would expand to being open 24 hours per day, the Laredo Fire Department would provide triage at the ECPC, the Laredo Police Department would increase its presence downtown and around NGOs, community development would create shelter operations for overflow from NGOs, and the health department would provide surveillance of immigrants at shelters for COVID-19 and other communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. Last Thursday, the Biden administration announced plans to set up migrant processing centers in Latin America. The measures are meant to stop migrants from illegally crossing the border. The U.S. hopes to quickly screen migrants at the border seeking asylum, deport those who aren't qualified and punish more significantly those who try to cross illegally. Laredoans can now see their own city in a movie as a film recorded mostly in the Gateway City has made its debut. The film "Journey," which was predominantly shot in various areas around Laredo, is now officially available to be watched with video on demand. As the movie has released to the public, LMT chatted with Journey creators including Cristopher Rodriguez, director, and Orlando Briones, cinematographer and executive producer, regarding the film and their experiences in Laredo. journeythemovie.com Courtesy / Nataly Briones About the film According to Briones, the film's main plot focuses on the character of Roberto -- a young college student who finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. After that news, he decides to look for a job, and in that search he gets deported. The movie shows his struggles trying to get back into the country before the birth of his child. The creators said the film is something that all people, including Laredoans, should watch to better understand the struggles of people who go through these kinds of ordeals because of immigration problems. I feel that people, in general, should watch Journey because of the theme the movie has is universal, Rodriguez said. People around the world can relate to the theme of love for ones family and are willing to do everything to make the journey back to them no matter the circumstances. I feel people from Laredo should watch the film because its a story that will feel extremely familiar to them. They have all heard of these types of stories in their life, but now they get to see it represented and reflected appropriately on screen. Also they get to see their city Laredo in a different light, not only that they can be proud of the movie and that people around the world will be watching and actually seeing a true version of it. Briones said that the film is not alien to them, as they wrote the stories of their parents and family members and took a great amount of joy in creating a polished film that is respectful of these situations in the communities represented. Courtesy / Nataly Briones journeythemovie.com journeythemovie.com Behind the scenes Rodriguez said that the experience was truly a great one. He said that in particular the cast was a pleasure to work with. Working with this cast was really a pleasure and a great experience, the director said. Rafael Cebrian and Meaghan Martin were amazing together. They really clicked, and you know just seeing them on screen was a joy every day showing up to set. Also working with Arcelia Ramirez and Gustavo Sanchez Parra was incredible. Getting to see them work and the level of which they are at in their craft made my days just that much better. All the actors brought their best, and it really shows on screen. I would love to work with all of them again at some point in the future. Just like everything else during that time, the pandemic did affect the film being released. In fact, it finished shortly before the country effectively shut down. The film was completed in February of 2020, right as the world was hit with the pandemic, Briones said. We had to take extra time to clear contractual obligations to guarantee a clear distribution plan for the project. We are excited for you to see what we have been working on behind the scenes for such a great amount of time. As for the future of these filmmakers, Briones has another film titled "FIGHTBOY" that was directed by the writer of "Journey" in Christian Briones. The film will be released this year as well. For his part, Rodriguez is now working on TV as well as another film. I am currently working on developing several projects as a director and producer role -- two of which are to be television series and the third a feature film, Rodriguez said. At the moment I can not really speak too much about them, but they are a variety of genres including comedy, sci-fi and action. Looking forward for those to begin filming later this year, and I still have Laredo in my site for future projects. journeythemovie.com journeythemovie.com Experiences in Laredo Briones said he was very comfortable shooting in Laredo. He found it an optimal location for him to film due to his previous times traveling through the area. I was very familiar with Laredo before filming there, Briones said. I spent most of my childhood traveling through Laredo to get to Mexico with my family, and I always remembered that Laredo looks so similar to Mexico. So when thinking about locations and still filming in Texas, Laredo came to mind right away. A lot of work was done with Laredo College. He said it was also a great experience as they were open to any ideas that they had and opened their campus for them on a couple occasions for filming. Together with LC, they were able to provide some of their students an opportunity to be production assistants on their production. Briones said that about 60% of the film was shot in Laredo. He added that more than 80 locals were employed in the production, including police, firefighters, students and extras. Additionally, the duo thanked the city and the Laredo Visitors Bureau for being extremely helpful and accommodating to their needs. They said the city was a perfect match to show the culture and look they wanted, and they did a great job of securing roadways and locations that were vital to the production. Overall, the experiences locally were enjoyed by the creators as they say they have nothing but gratitude for the people and their city. We officially want to thank the City of Laredo, the police department and the beautiful community that embraced our story, Rodriguez said. This movie would not have been made without Laredo as the backdrop. You opened the door to us, and hope that we can make them proud with this film. I would definitely love to come back and film another project in Laredo, Briones added. Journey was self-distributed as video on demand via journeythemovie.com where it was released to be purchased beginning Sunday, April 30. It is also set to release on Tubi in the summer of 2023. Laredoans also will get the chance to see it in town as the creators said they will soon announce a promotional screening or two locally. journeythemovie.com You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Family members say that a Michigan couple who died in a Georgia plane crash on Wednesday were seasoned pilots who lived life to the fullest. Clondra or 'Cluain Da Rach' means the field of the two ringforts. It suggests the ancient origin of the village that nestles between three significant water bodies. The River Shannon, the Camlin and the Royal Canal create a frame for the picturesque community. The population has grown in the last two decades, but still numbers in the low hundreds. Despite its small size there is a wealth of heritage in the area from Richmond Mills and Harbour to the recently developed bog walks. Just over the bridge from the harbour is St Brendan's Church. The church graveyard is a repository of the ancient; including the medieval ruin of The Abbey, sculptured stones, a 9th century sculpted headstone, a 12th century bullaun stone and a unique 18th century graveslab. The maintenance and care of the graveyard in the environs of the beautiful church is undertaken by a voluntary community group, the Clondra Cemetery Committee. The group were recently awarded 100,000 under the Community Monuments Fund. The purpose of the fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection, and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. This allocated funds aim to take on a huge body of work: We have already removed some of the ivy from the Abbey. It's delicate work, because even though it's damaging the stonework, it also holds it together, Seamus Murtagh points to the work already undertaken. The Abbey building in Clondra graveyard is almost certainly 12th century, but there's evidence to suggest that the lower part of the walls are the foundations of the remains of an even earlier church, possibly a 9th century one. Part of the south end indicates later rebuilding, perhaps in the 15th century. Very little is known about the history of the Abbey. It may have been the church of an early monastic settlement, but there's no evidence to substantiate this. The Annals of the Four Masters and the Book of the Clans of Ireland reference the death of Gilla Arnin O'Casey, who was Ernach of the Church of Cluain Da Rath. Back in the 80s the graveyard was a mess, Patricia Carrig Brady told the Leader, it was overgrown. Some of the men of the parish got together to clean it up. Mick Gavigan, Michael Kelly, Robert Carrig, Bob Carrig, Noel Skelly, and John Feeney were among the local men to put their shoulder to the wheel. It was general maintenance work. Because the graveyard is owned by the people of the community there was no support, all the work was undertaken by volunteers. The graveyard is the final resting place of people of neighbouring parishes of Killashee, Tarmonbarry, and Coothall: The river is now a divide, but in historic times it was a unifier, Seamus explains. The day-to-day work of the Clondra Cemetery Committee is the general maintenance of the graveyard. The funds allocated can now switch attention to the preservation of the 900 year old Abbey. The poor condition of the Abbey walls require urgent works to prevent further loss and local collapse. The careful ivy clearance carried out by David Prunty was essential for surveying its condition. At present, sporadic loss of stone from the wall means the ruins pose risks to the public due to stones falling from a height. Work will require expert advice and conservation skills. The committee engaged Fergal McNamara of 7L Architects to assess the project. He recommended vegetation removal, retrieval and sorting of stone placed in stairwell under archaeological supervision, consolidation of quoin stones to each corner, repair of structural cracking to each corner using stainless steel ties and a rebuild using lime and sand mortar. This work must be informed by best conservation practice, be reversible and should not detract from the setting of the historic place or structure. Patricia says they want to give visitors to the site information on what they see: It's a very special building. First and foremost we want to fix it, so it won't fall down. We would like to commission interpretative panels to present the main themes of the cultural heritage of Clondara. The cross slabs and bullaun stone could be presented in a secure and sheltered environment within the conserved church ruin. The funding of the restoration work is just the start of the story for the ancient ruin: It's a historic site, a tourist attraction. People who visit want to know about it. We would like to be able to do something to answer those questions, Patricia concluded. Clondra Cemetery Committee will host a public meeting in the coming weeks to outline their plans and seek input from the local community. (Sharecast News) - The Financial Mail on Sunday's Midas column recommended investors buy shares of Jersey Oil&Gas Focused on the North Sea Buchan field and others in the area, the outfit was in the process of finding investors to help finance the former. Earlier in April it clinched a deal with NEO Energy, which is backed by a 7bn Norwegian investment firm and which took a 50% stake in the Buchan field. Jersey is now looking to find investors to whom to sell another 30% interest in the field. The field was estimated to hold nearly 100m barrels of oil or some 30,000 barrels a day worth of crude oil production. "Hopes are high, as the field is well known and several North Sea operators have already expressed their interest," Midas said. The company also stood to benefit from government subsidies for investments in the North Sea which could allow it to skirt the existing energy levy thanks to a substantial tax break. Furthermore, new oil supplies were expected to fall dramatically over the next decade, while consumption was not expected to do the same, Midas pointed out. "With decades of experience and a clear plan for the future, [Jersey Oil&Gas boos, Andrew] Benitz, should deliver results. At 2.45, JOG is a buy." Shares of Currys may be a bargain at current levels, the Sunday Times's Lucy Tobin said. The shares halved in value at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the market bet against its future. They had since kept on falling. But the electrical goods retailer had reduced its debt pile by nearly two-thirds and the shares were trading a third cheaper than its historic levels. And its upcoming trading update might deliver a pleasant surprise, she said. Its UK business had seen its gross margins grow thanks to increased sales of its service add-ons, including credit, insurance and repairs. Management had also slashed 300m from its costs thanks to improvements in its supply chains and IT systems. According to Liberum analyst, Adam Tomlinson, that could stand the company in good stead once consumer confidence grew and sales began to improve. Pessimism around its Nordic operations may also be excessive, Tomlinson said. Rescuers were searching for four people Sunday after a boat carrying more than a dozen scuba divers sank at a World Heritage-listed marine sanctuary in the Philippines, authorities said. The Philippine Coast Guard said 28 people were rescued after Dream Keeper went down on Sunday morning in the pristine waters at Tubbataha Reef off the western province of Palawan. Four Chinese nationals were among those on board the dive boat. The owner of the vessel, a dive master and two guests were still missing, coast guard spokesman Rear Admiral Armando Balilo said. A coast guard vessel and about 10 dive boats were searching the waters. ADVERTISEMENT Its full of diving enthusiasts now and its on their bucket list. Its a dream dive, said Balilo, referring to Tubbataha. The 97,000-hectare (240,000-acre) Tubbataha Reef is one of the countrys largest marine protected areas and was listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1993. Despite its protected status, the marine sanctuary is under constant threat from illegal fishing and poaching, according to authorities. The PCG immediately launched a search and rescue effort after receiving information at 6:49 a.m. from their Command Center in Palawan for the sunken yacht. In a report by the Coast Guard, the yacht departed San Remegio, Cebu City on late afternoon last April 27 and arrived at Tubbataha Reef at around 10 PM on April 29. PCG dispatched BRP Melchora to aid the divers in conducting SAR operations. Coast Guard Sub-Station Tubbataha also sent other dive boats to the area to expand the search and rescue operations. As of press time, the joint SAR team from different agencies, units, and organizations said that 28 people have been rescued, while four remain missing. Meanwhile, PCGs Balilo said in an interview four Chinese nationals were among the rescued individuals and all rescued passengers were brought to BRP Teresa Magbanua for physical checkup before transporting to Puerto Princesa City in Palawan. Balilo also disclosed that the four missing persons were the yacht owner, the dive master, and two passengers. Balilo shared that they were in contact with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command regarding the possible deployment of air assets to help find the missing people. An investigation will be conducted regarding the sinking of the ship as the weather was good on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, PCG said that 15 passengers survived the collision between two vessels in the waters off Corregidor Island last Friday. PCG said on Sunday that at least three were confirmed dead, 15 survivors, and two missing. Balilo said that an investigation into the collision was already ordered by PCG commandant Admiral Artemio Abu. The chemical and oil tanker MT Petite Soeur, one of the involved vessels, had already filed a marine protest against Sierra Leone-flagged dredger MV Hong Hai 189. The MV Hong Hai 189 came from Botolan, Zambales, while the MT Petite Soeur left the port of Mariveles, Bataan prior to the incident. With AFP Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday less than 100 Filipinos decided to stay in Sudan despite the ongoing clashes between the Sudanese military and a paramilitary group. DFA Assistant Secretary Paul Cortes stressed the Filipinos who opted to stay in Sudan did so because of their families and other work commitments. Nonetheless, the DFA official gave assurances the Philippine government would assist them should they decide to be repatriated. Our honorary consulate is still there. The only way for us to know where they are, would be if they communicate with our honorary consulate and, of course, with the Embassy in Cairo, Cortes said. ADVERTISEMENT This is the way for us to know if they have money, how they are, if they are injured, or if they want to evacuate. If and when they decide to really evacuate or if their employers will evacuate at least we know where they are, he added. The first batch of evacuees from Sudan consisted of 17 Filipinos arrived in Manila on Saturday. There were also 340 Filipinos who had made it to Egypt after escaping from the violence in Sudan, according to the DFA on Saturday. There were also 100 more Filipinos who have yet to travel from Khartoum to the border, while 14 others were waiting to cross the border into Egypt, she added. DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega earlier said there could be around 700 Filipinos in Sudan, most of them undocumented. In related developments: Sen. Grace Poe expressed hope that support systems are in place to assist returning Filipinos from Sudan. She said Filipino displaced workers from Sudan should find alternative jobs or livelihood in the Philippines or undergo skills retooling or training if they wish to. While jobs are important, she emphasized theres no replacement for life and safety. She commended the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Migrant Workers for acting quickly and working tirelessly in facilitating the passage of our OFWs to secure borders on their way home. We trust that the government will continue to undertake all efforts to bring Filipinos to safety, she said. Some Filipinos who got home from Sudan on Saturday night recalled one of the most challenging periods of their lives, with chaos still engulfing the nation. Irene Toralba, a 26-year-old chef and among the nine Filipino workers who arrived in the country on Saturday night, illustrated the dire situation in Sudan, saying it reached a point when they were forced to stay underground and sometimes she was hiding inside a cabinet for her safety. Ronald Andal, 48, lived in Sudan for 14 years and worked as an operator in a printing press. Andals situation was almost similar to Torralbas, lamenting how the fighting between warring generals in Sudan affected civilians like them. Lst Friday, Foreign Undersecretary Eduardo De Vega told a public briefing the lack of travel documents from Filipinos also delayed their entry to Egypt, where the countrys embassy is. The agency expects 40 people arriving on May 2, officials said, adding 610 Filipinos have so far been evacuated. Migrant Workers Assistant Secretary Vennie Legaspi said they distributed emergency kits that have toiletries and basic necessities, as well as financial assistance, to returning Filipinos from Sudan. Fighting broke out on April 15 between Sudans army led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the paramilitary RSF commanded by his deputy-turned-rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Hospitals have been shelled and more than two-thirds are out of service, the doctors union said, reporting at least eight civilians killed in Khartoum alone on Wednesday. The World Food Program has said the violence could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people one-third of the population need aid. The violence has trapped many civilians in their homes, where they have endured severe food, water, and electricity shortages. With a report from Agence France-Presse Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Ramps up rhetoric after WPS near-crash ahead of PBBM Washington trip The United States called on China Saturday to stop provocative and unsafe conduct in the disputed South China Sea after a recent near-collision with a Philippine Coast Guard boat there, ramping up rhetoric ahead of a visit by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to the White House. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in a statement two days before President Joe Biden is to host President Marcos, said the incident was a reminder of Chinas harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels in the contested waterway. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct, he said, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. Biden has been working to bolster relations with Asian allies as the US-Chinese relationship remains in a historically deep chill, and the Philippines proximity to key sea lanes and Taiwan gives it particular strategic importance. The near-miss Sunday off the Spratly Islands was the latest in a long string of maritime incidents between China and the Philippines. ADVERTISEMENT Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis and finding for the Philippines in its territorial dispute with China. The Agence France-Presse was one of several media outlets that witnessed the incident after journalists were invited to join two Philippine Coast Guard boats on a six-day patrol of the waters, visiting a dozen islands and reefs. The Philippine vessels approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in the Philippines as Ayungin and in China as Renai Jiao, in the Spratly archipelago. As one boat, the BRP Malapascua, which was carrying Filipino journalists, neared the shoal, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path. AFP journalists watched the incident from the other Philippine Coast Guard boat, which was less than a kilometer away. The Malapascuas commanding officer said the Chinese ship came within 45 meters of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other. The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday that the Philippine boats had intruded without Chinas permission and called it a premeditated and provocative action. But Manila hit back, saying that routine patrols in our own waters can be neither premeditated nor provocative and insisting they will continue to conduct the patrols. The near-miss came just a day after Marcos hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for talks in Manila aimed at defusing tensions in the waterway. Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines rights in the sea and has gravitated toward the United States as he seeks to strengthen defense ties. This was in stark contrast to his predecessor, President Rodrigo Duterte, who appeased the Chinese and shunned the Americans. Early this month, the Philippines identified four additional military bases in addition to five existing sitesto which US forces will have access, including one near the Spratly Islands. The two countries also carried out their biggest-ever military maneuvers in recent weeks. This shift has alarmed China, which has accused Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila. US-Philippine ties were badly frayed under Marcoss predecessor, Duterte. Marcos has sought to allay public fears that the reviving alliance with the US could bring the Philippines into the conflict if China were to invade Taiwan. He has said that with Biden he will discuss the need to tone down the rhetoric over the South China Sea, Taiwan, and North Korea. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier in the month that Biden intended, in the meeting with Marcos, to reaffirm the United States ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. On Sunday, Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said complications arising from a possible China-US conflict cannot be avoided. The implications to the Philippines of the China-US dispute over Taiwan are unavoidable if something happens, even if we say we are not directly involved, and it will also affect the entire ASEAN region, Romualdez said in Filipino in an interview on radio dzBB. We cant avoid getting dragged into it somehow. Thats what we are discussing with our friends in the ASEAN. They know the importance of the China-US tension not erupting into serious conflict, he added. In the case of the Philippines, Romualdez said, the country is only strengthening its defense. Romualdez said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be ready to defend the country with full force against threats in the next three to five years with the assistance being provided by the United States. Filipino soldiers are now better trained and better equipped than before, he said, in the wake of the recently concluded 2023 Balikatan Exercise between the armed forces of the Philippines and the US. I think, and many also think about it here in America, that within the next three to five years, our Armed Forces will be better. They [will be] ready to defend our country with full force. This years Balikatan was the biggest iteration of the joint military exercises, with more than 17,600 participants, including 12,200 US troops and 5,400 Philippine soldiers. Meanwhile, Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who heads the Senate defense committee, said the Philippines must work with regional allies and form an alliance with them to deal with Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Estrada said Chinese bullying such as the latest near-collision has happened over a hundred times. We file diplomatic protests. We have filed hundreds of diplomatic protests, but nothing has happened, Estrada said. Senator JV Ejercito also lamented Chinas bullying tactics, despite their insistence that they are an ally and a friend to the Philippines. He acknowledged that the Philippines cannot match China militarily, so they are really bullying us and slowly taking over our territory. Estrada said this was why the country must form an alliance with right-thinking nations countries who are allies and who are also being bullied, like Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This alliance can then work with Australia and the United States, he said. Senator Risa Hontiveros, a member of the Senate defense panel, also called on the Philippines to actively and boldly pursue larger alliances. A broader alliance is a better alliance, she said. Let us urgently work on building this bigger coalition of countries who are against Chinas misbehavior, who uphold our victory at The Hague, and who want to preserve peace and stability in the region, she said. We must also seriously look into reviewing our national policy towards China, she further stated. In the House, Batangas Rep. Ralph Recto said Chinas acts of aggression in the West Philippine Sea must be met with indignation atevery turn because not doing so would play into Beijings game plan that the Philippines would eventually tire out from protesting. Even if we have to wallpaper the Great Wall with diplomatic protests, we should continue because once we show any sign of wavering, it normalizes Chinas misbehavior inside our territory, he said. Even if they are deaf, we have to blow our whistle again and again. At least, the whole world would hear, he added. With AFP and Vince Lopez Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. It is expected that President Biden will reaffirm US commitment to the defense of the Philippines The Philippines might be a small nation, but our country has a coast guard with a big heart that is willing to serve the Filipino people and an overwhelming loyalty and bravery to protect the republic. This was the bold statement that Philippine Coast Guard Commander Julio Colarina made on the cutting-off maneuver instigated by a China Coast Guard ship against one of our PCG vessels just a day after President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang aimed to defuse ongoing tensions. Well, so much for that. This is the umpteenth time that Beijing has committed these bullying tactics and is increasing in frequency with more threatening language. The PCG vessels BRP Malapascua and BRP Malabrigo was on patrol in the South China Sea carrying journalists from several media organizations as they were approaching the Second Thomas Shoal, where Philippine Marines are stationed. CCG vessel 5201 reportedly made dangerous maneuvers that would have resulted in collision hadnt it been for the quick reaction of the PCG crew. ADVERTISEMENT Malapascua commanding officer Rodel Hernandez described the encounter as a David and Goliath incident against a CCG ship that was more than twice its size. On Saturday, the PCG reported more than 100 Chinese maritime militia (CMM) vessels, a Peoples Liberation Army Navy corvette, and two CCG vessels again doing their swarming tactics at Whitsun Reef which is well inside the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The PCG told to the Chinese intruders to leave but was again ignored. Senators have expressed their outrage and called for broadening alliances with like-minded countries in light of these increasing incidents of blatant disrespect to Philippine sovereignty and international law. As our PCG is now implementing a firm and active stance to protect our sovereign rights, it looks like these close encounters with the CCG and Chinese Maritime Militia are going to be a more daily occurrence and therefore emphasizes the urgency to modernize our defense capabilities that the government must accelerate both in military hardware, upgraded proficiencies, and deeper alliances with like-minded states. President Marcos Jr. has consistently maintained his administration will maintain a strategic balancing act in pursuing an independent foreign policy that focuses on cooperation with like-minded friends while being guided by Filipino peoples interests. Unfortunately, we are not getting any cooperative reciprocity to de-escalate but instead we are getting more intimidation and threats in our maritime territories. This is what we get for former President Dutertes pivot to China which allowed six years of incursions and unprecedented Chinese militarization in the WPS and South China Sea wanton destruction of marine resources which will have long term effects to the regions food security. Also participating as observers were Australia with approximately 100 personnel and Japan. These are three among many like-minded states that are now gravitating into an Indo-Pacific alliance to uphold the rule of law in these international waters which are critical maritime routes that must be kept open. Any disruption will create a crisis to the global economy that is already struggling with the effects of the Ukraine war. Its really about time the Philippines does its own pushing back against Chinese bullying. In strong show of force, the recent Balikatan exercises was our largest joint war games with our only military ally, the United States. Approximately 12,200 US and 5,400 Philippine troops took part in over two weeks of maneuvers focused on maritime defense, coastal defense, and maritime domain awareness. This was also the first time that a combined joint littoral-live fire drill was conducted wherein some 1,400 marines, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and PCG together with US troops simulated the sinking of an enemy vessel off the coast of San Antonio, Zambales. Early last month, the President named four additional sites expanding access to US military troops under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. This increases the total to nine EDCA sites. US$82 million has been allocated by the US for upgrading projects in various EDCA sites. Today is the start of the bilateral meeting between US President Joe Biden and our President. According to the White House statement, the two leaders will review opportunities to deepen economic cooperation and promote inclusive prosperity, expand our nations special people-to-people ties, invest in the clean energy transition and the fight against climate change, and ensure respect for human rights. The two leaders will also discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. It is expected that President Biden will reaffirm US commitment to the defense of the Philippines. It is also expected that President Marcos Jr. will share his plans to actively participate in the promotion of the rules-based international order guided by his commitment to advance Philippine national interest. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, signed an agreement with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines to establish two Food Shed Farming Enterprise projects in the province of Surigao del Norte. The projects seeks to provide food source and economic resiliency for low-income urban communities through food security, and sustainable livelihood among the locals. Sun Life Foundation officers hand over the giant check donation to World Wide Fund for the two Food Shed Farming Enterprise projects during the signing of the memorandum of agreement on February 24, 2023 The Food Shed Farming Enterprise projects aim to secure food and livelihoods as well as mitigate food shortages in the community by using sustainable agriculture interventions, increasing the capacity to utilize technology, and promoting climate-resilient and sustainable production systems that minimize the impact of the stresses that contribute to limited food accessibility. With this collaboration, we hope to further improve the resiliency of the food supply of communities, especially with the threats that climate change poses to our food resources, said Katherine Custodio, executive director of WWF. Located in Del Carmen, Siargao Island, the Food Shed Farming Enterprise projects will be established in Barangay. Caub and Halian Island and are expected to benefit 250 individuals through sustainable livelihood, as well as provide almost 2,000 locals with access to hyperlocal nutritious food. ADVERTISEMENT Through this collaboration with WWF, the Sun Life Foundation aims to provide food security, sustainable livelihood, and climate-adaptive technologies for the locals of the island in an environmentally sustainable manner, says Kristine Dianne Millete, executive director of the Sun Life Foundation. It is our earnest hope that through this project, we can alleviate the effects of food shortages and help our farmers with alternative farming technologies that support food security even during times of pandemic, Millete added. The Sun Life Foundation strives to uplift communities as part of its commitment to sustainability. Other notable projects in the provinces include the Sun Life Barangay Health Stations, which provide basic healthcare in remote areas. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. International Workers Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated on May 1st every year in many countries globally. The holiday commemorates the historic struggles and achievements of workers and the labor movement, with roots dating back to the late 19th century. May Day has origins in the United States, specifically in the events of May 4, 1886, in Chicago. During this time, workers and their supporters held a series of strikes and demonstrations advocating for an eight-hour workday. Unfortunately, violence erupted, and a bomb exploded near Haymarket Square on May 4th as police attempted to break up a rally. This led to the death of several workers and police officers, resulting in international outrage and the establishment of May Day to honor workers rights and labor movements. In the Philippines, Labor Day is celebrated on May 1st in solidarity with the international labor movement. It is a day to recognize the contributions and sacrifices of Filipino workers who have fought for better working conditions, fair wages, and social justice. This years Labor Day theme from the Department of Labor and Employment, Pabahay, Bilihing Abot-Presyo, Benepisyo ng Matatag na Trabaho Para sa Manggagawang Pilipino, highlights the need for secure housing, affordable commodities, and robust employee benefits for Filipino workers. ADVERTISEMENT These are essential components of a just and equitable society that supports the well-being of workers and their families. It is worth noting that although the history of International Workers Day is rooted in struggle and conflict, things are different now. With the progress made in protecting workers rights, it is no longer necessary for the bloodshed to occur to advance the cause of labor. Instead, we can work together to promote and protect workers rights nationally and globally. As we celebrate Labor Day in the Philippines this year, let us remember and be grateful for all the advancements that have been made in promoting workers rights. Thanks to the efforts of labor organizers, unions, policymakers, and the government, we have seen significant progress in securing better working conditions, fair wages, and social protections for workers. However, much work remains to be accomplished to ensure that workers are protected and treated fairly. On this Labor Day, let us renew our commitment to advancing the cause of labor and promoting the well-being of all workers in the Philippines. By working together, we can continue building a brighter future for workers and their families so that the fruits of our labor extend beyond secure housing, affordable commodities, and robust employee benefits toward a more just and equitable society for all. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The Legislatures Joint Agriculture Committee is slated to hear Monday about the sale of raw, or unpasteurized, milk as it considers testimony on nine bills. Other agricultural measures concern cultivation of cranberries and hemp. A bill filed by Sen. Anne Gobi of Spencer (S 43) would allow for dairy farmers to sell raw milk through direct delivery, third-party delivery, or farm-share programs. It would also allow dairy farmers to sell raw milk at their farm stands even if the stand isnt contiguous with the dairy property. Right now, according to the UMass Extension Service, raw milk sales in Massachusetts are legal only through the direct sale from the farm in which it was produced. According to the Raw Milk Institute, the unpasteurized beverages benefits include facilitating production of lactase enzyme in the intestinal tract, allowing many people who are lactose intolerant to digest raw milk with no problems. The Department of Agricultural Resources, in its fact sheet on raw milk in Massachusetts, cautions that pasteurization destroys organisms that may be harmful to human health. Proposals from Cape Cod and South Coast lawmakers deal with a cranberry wetland mitigation bank (S 539) and a cranberry water use transfer program (H 909). A bill from Northampton state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa and Ludlow Sen. Jacob R. Oliveira (H 94) would add hemp and marijuana growing to the definition of agriculture in state law. Another bill by Western Mass. Reps. Smitty Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and Natalia Blais, D-Sunderland, aims to expand the states agriculture preservation restrictions to include hemp cultivation (H 93). The hearing starts at 11 a.m. Monday in Gardner Auditorium. A man who died in custody at Lawrence Police Department headquarters Saturday morning was given drugs by another man who he was sharing a cell with, the Essex County District Attorneys Office said Sunday. Christian Marte-Martinez, 25, was placed in a cell at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday after being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property. At about 5 a.m., officers found him unresponsive and performed CPR and other life-saving measures before he was brought to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Officials said Sunday that Javier Garcia, 49, had also been in custody in the same cell after being arrested for disorderly conduct. Police claim Garcia gave drugs to Marte-Martinez before the latters death, and he has now been charged with distribution of a Class A substance. Garcia will be arraigned in Lawrence District Court Monday. Marte-Martinezs death remains under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and the Lawrence Police Department. A Massachusetts man was killed in Vermont Saturday when he crashed head-on into a pickup truck during a bicycle race, according to Vermont State Police. At about 9:20 a.m., police received a report of a crash between a pickup truck and a bicyclist near the intersection of Brook and Carter Roads in Burke. The bicyclist, Richard Wantall, 54, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, was riding south on Brook Road during a local bicycle race at the time of the crash. A preliminary investigation showed that he crossed over onto the northbound side of the road and crashed head-on into a 2007 Dodge truck driven by a 27-year-old man from East Haven, Vermont. Wantall was brought to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the truck was not injured and the truck received minor damage in the crash. The crash is under investigation and anyone who may have witnessed it or have information is encouraged to contact Vermont State Police. WESTFIELD Westfield High School 10th grader Sydney Drugan, who was crowned Miss Western Massachusetts Teen in January, returned to her former kindergarten on April 28 as a send-off before she competes to become Miss Massachusetts Teen next weekend. She read books to the pupils of her own former kindergarten teacher, Lori Lincovsky, at Southampton Road Elementary School. Her book selections were about one of her many passions, bees. The person killed in a two-car crash on I-495 in Norton early Saturday morning has been identified as Jeffrey Tagger, 52, of Randolph, a Massachusetts State Police spokesman said Sunday. At 2:33 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the crash on 495 North south of Exit 27. A preliminary investigation indicated that a 2004 Nissan Maxima driven by Tagger hit the rear of a 2014 Toyota RAV4 that was driving in front of it. After hitting the other car, Tagger lost control of the Nissan, veered off the right side of the road, rolled over and caught fire. The Toyota swerved to the left and hit a guardrail. Norton Fire Department put out the fire, after which Tagger was found dead inside the car. The driver of the Toyota, a 48-year-old man, and his passenger, a 34-year-old man, both from Brockton, were brought to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro for treatment of minor injuries. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by State Police. In the last week of March 2023, the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) hosted a team from the Asian Development Bank to exchange views on operational policies. The visiting team met with various teams across the Bank, including the Policy and Strategy department, Business Transformation and Business Process Reengineering, Corporate Performance and Accountability, Management Operations and Programming and Budget department. They also visited the gender, women and civil society and risk departments. The Asian Development Bank is launching a new operating model by the end of the second quarter of 2023 which has some similar features to that currently in force at the African Development Bank. Caroline Kende-Robb, Senior Director of the Policy and Operational Strategy department of the African Development Bank, said: These exchanges with our ADB sister institution enabled us to reflect on our mandate, vision, and various operating models. As regional MDBs, it is invaluable to work together closely as we evolve to respond to a rapidly changing development environment, including addressing global public goods and extending our financial capacity. By working together, we all benefit. Bobur Alimov, Head, Transformation Office (Asian Development Bank) said, ADBs new operating model will increase our capacity as Asia and the Pacifics climate bank and strengthen our role as a catalyst for the private sector. Our discussions with AfDB colleagues were focused and practical, providing valuable insights on coordination between countries, sectors, and operations support, and between sovereign and nonsovereign operations. The lessons we learned from AfDBs recent transformation experience will help us ensure a smooth transition and improved collaboration with our members. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Mass killings in the United States by day of year, 2006-2023. 2023 data as of April 29. The year 2023 saw more mass killings than any other year except 2009 since data collection started in 2006. A mass killing is defined as an incident in which four or more victims, not counting the assailant, are killed. Data: The AP/USA TODAY/Northeastern University mass killings database. Graphic: AP By Stefanie Dazio and Larry Fenn 21 April 2023 LOS ANGELES (AP) The U.S. is setting a record pace for mass killings in 2023, replaying the horror on a loop roughly once a week so far this year. The carnage has taken 88 lives in 17 mass killings over 111 days. Each time, the killers wielded firearms. Only 2009 was marked by as many such tragedies in the same period of time. Children at a Nashville grade school, gunned down on an ordinary Monday. Farmworkers in Northern California, sprayed with bullets over a workplace grudge. Dancers at a ballroom outside Los Angeles, massacred as they celebrated the Lunar New Year. In just the last week, four partygoers were slain and 32 injured in Dadeville, Alabama, when bullets rained down on a Sweet 16 celebration. And a man just released from prison fatally shot four people, including his parents, in Bowdoin, Maine, before opening fire on motorists traveling a busy interstate highway. Nobody should be shocked, said Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter, Jaime, was one of 17 people killed at a Parkland, Florida, high school in 2018. I visit my daughter in a cemetery. Outrage doesnt begin to describe how I feel. People gather during a community vigil for the Half Moon Bay shootings in Half Moon Bay, California, on Friday, 27 January 2023. Multiple people were killed in two related shootings at a mushroom farm and a trucking firm in a coastal community south of San Francisco. The U.S. is setting a record pace for mass killings in 2023, replaying the horror in a deadly loop roughly once a week so far this year. The bloodshed overall represents just a fraction of the deadly violence that occurs in the U.S. annually. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / San Francisco Chronicle / AP The Parkland victims are among the 2,842 people who have died in mass killings in the U.S. since 2006, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. It counts killings involving four or more fatalities, not including the perpetrator, the same standard as the FBI, and tracks a number of variables for each. The bloodshed represents just a fraction of the fatal violence that occurs in the U.S. annually. Yet mass killings are happening with staggering frequency this year: an average of once every 6.53 days, according to an analysis of the AP/USA Today data. The 2023 numbers stand out even more when they are compared to the tally for full-year totals since data was collected. The U.S. recorded 30 or fewer mass killings in more than half of the years in the database, so to be at 17 less than a third of the way through is remarkable. From coast to coast, the violence is sparked by a range of motives. Murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. All have taken the lives of four or more people at once since 1 January 2023. Yet the violence continues and barriers to change remain. The likelihood of Congress reinstating a ban on semi-automatic rifles appears far off, and the U.S. Supreme Court last year set new standards for reviewing the nations gun laws, calling into question firearms restrictions across the country. Five stuffed animals left by the the Enoch Elementary School PTA are pictured at a makeshift memorial near the police tape at a home where eight members of a family were killed in Enoch, Utah, on Thursday, 5 January 2023. A Utah man fatally shot his five children, his mother-in-law and his wife, then killed himself two weeks after the woman had filed for divorce, according to authorities and public records. Photo: Laura Seitz / The Deseret News / AP The pace of mass shootings so far this year doesnt necessarily foretell a new annual record. In 2009, the bloodshed slowed and the year finished with a final count of 32 mass killings and 172 fatalities. Those figures just barely exceed the averages of 31.1 mass killings and 162 victims a year, according to an analysis of data dating back to 2006. Gruesome records have been set within the last decade. The data shows a high of 45 mass killings in 2019 and 230 people slain in such tragedies in 2017. That year, 60 people died when a gunman opened fire over an outdoor country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip. The massacre still accounts for the most fatalities from a mass shooting in modern America. Heres the reality: If somebody is determined to commit mass violence, theyre going to, said Jaclyn Schildkraut, executive director of the Rockefeller Institute of Governments Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium. And its our role as society to try and put up obstacles and barriers to make that more difficult. But theres little indication at either the state or federal level with a handful of exceptions that many major policy changes are on the horizon. Some states have tried to impose more gun control within their own borders. Last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a new law mandating criminal background checks to purchase rifles and shotguns, whereas the state previously required them only for people buying pistols. And on Wednesday, a ban on dozens of types of semi-automatic rifles cleared the Washington state Legislature and is headed to the governors desk. [] The National Rifle Association did not respond to the APs request for comment. [more] Frequent shootings put US mass killings on a record pace Chain Store Age, Sunday, April 30, 2023 3:20 PM unded in Sweden in 1852, Hastens currently operates 15 stores and 15 in-store shops in the U.S. The company said it is on a mission is to change the way people think about and prioritize sleep, so they can enjoy a better quality of life." Family-owned Swedish luxury bed brand Hastens is planning to expand in the United States. "Luxury distributor MadaLuxe Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Hastens to open 20 Hastens stores across the U.S. during the next five to seven years," per Chain Store Age. "Fo Read the whole story at Chain Store Age by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 30, 2023 Google has resolved a class-action lawsuit brought by Android users over location tracking, according to papers filed Friday with U.S. District Court Judge Nathanael Cousins in San Jose. While Google and the smartphone users have agreed on all material terms, they have not yet signed a final agreement, according to court documents. Google and lawyers for the consumers plan to do so by the end of May, and seek preliminary approval from the court before June 29. Settlement terms have not yet been made public. If ultimately granted approval, the deal will bring an end to a battle dating to 2018, when San Diego resident Napoleon Patacsil alleged in a class-action complaint that Google wrongly collects data about smartphone users' whereabouts. Patacsil's complaint, later joined by other Google users, stemmed from an August 2018 Associated Press report that Google stores some location data -- like data gathered through its mapping service -- even when users attempt to keep that information confidential. advertisement advertisement The AP specifically reported that even when the "Location History" setting is turned off, Google gathers some location data unless people turn off a separate setting -- "Web and App Activity." After that report came out, Google revised a help page by adding language informing people that turning off Location History doesn't affect other location services, and that some location data may still be saved. The AP report also resulted in lawsuits by attorneys general who accused Google of misleading consumers about the collection of location information. Last year, Google agreed to pay $392 million to settle claims brought by officials in 40 states. Map of air pollution in Thailand on 30 April 2023. Graphic: PlumeLabs Bangkok, 20 April 2023 (AFP) About 2.4 million people in Thailand have sought hospital treatment for medical problems linked to air pollution since the start of the year, health officials said, as toxic smog chokes parts of the country. Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai were among the most polluted cities in the world on Thursday morning, according to air quality monitoring firm IQAir. The poor air quality has seen 2.4 million people seek medical treatment since the start of the year, with 184,465 hospital admissions this week alone, Public Health Department permanent secretary Dr Opas Karnkawinpong said Wednesday. Opas said respiratory problems, dermatitis, eye inflammation and sore throats were among the most common medical issues. Health officials have urged people to use high-quality N95 anti-pollution masks, close windows and doors, minimise time outside, and exercise indoors. Today is so smoggy. I cough so much, a Thai Facebook user said. I have a sore throat and cough so much. I did a test for Covid but its not that. Looking at the pollution level, that could be it. Smoke from forest fires and farmers burning crop stubble have polluted the air in parts of the country, according to experts. Thailand is home to more than 70 million people and its poor air quality has become a hot button issue ahead of the countrys May 14 election, with the incumbent government accused of not doing enough to tackle the problem. Thailand air pollution leads millions to seek medical help by Ray Schultz , April 30, 2023 The challenge of moving local public notices online has been partially solved, at least in a couple of places: The North Carolina Press Association (NCPA) has endorsed the Illinois Press Associations web platform as its partner for aggregating statewide public notices for North Carolina Newspapers. Now aggregated in one central location are public notices from local municipalities, county governments, school districts, and other public agencies within the state. The Illinois Press Association's web platform features an interface that allows users to search and filter public notices by location, date, and keywords. It also provides notifications and updates on new public notices. "It's an efficient and effective solution that streamlines the process of accessing public notices, helping to foster transparency and accountability in government operations," says Phil Lucey, executive director of NCPA. Don Craven, president and CEO of the Illinois Press Association, said the platform is used by 19 Press Associations and growing. Craven adds, Our platform upholds the principles of a public notice. Notices should be published by an independent third party, should be archivable, should be verifiable, and should be accessible. BIG RAPIDS Nicole Alexander, the executive director of the homeless shelter Our Brothers Keeper, has been keeping a roof above the heads of the less fortunate for the last two years. Alexander has worked with the homeless population for the last 14 years and previously did work with homeless veterans. After starting at Mid Michigan Community Action, she worked on a project funded through Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency. I found OBK. I had been here in this area working previously and OBK was looking for an executive director and I was looking for a new calling, she said. Alexanders biggest struggle at the shelter is housing her residents. Things are just so unaffordable, she said. A majority of what we're doing here currently is to get people into housing. It's just very limited. Despite the challenges, Our Brothers Keeper, 405 S. 3rd Ave., has resulted in success stories. Alexander shared about a man whose house burned down. The man stayed at the shelter for a year and got a job the first day he stayed at the shelter, which was also the first day it was open in October 2021. He left the job to focus on mental health issues, and afterward, he was able to set goals for the future. After going through Michigan Works to get his GED, he went to a truck driving school and got his commercial drivers license. Today, he is out driving across the country and doing fantastic. I just heard from him not too long ago, and things are going well, Alexander said. He just needed that stability to be able to break down all of those barriers and get to where he needed to be. Alexander said the shelter does assessments to see the residents' needs and measures success based on the individuals and what they can achieve after using OBK as a jumping-off point. It's already traumatic coming into the shelter. Nobody wants to be in a room with a bunch of other people with a bunch of rules, Alexander said. OBK has several community partners. Manna Pantry provides a majority of the food. It is also partnered with Community Mental Health across from the shelter on Third Avenue. The Department of Health and Human Services helps people apply for assistance, and Mid Michigan Community Action provides funding. The shelter prioritizes its limited resources based on ever-changing daily needs. We're in survival mode, much like our guests. We're trying to survive and keep our organization going and keep people safe, Alexander said. Most people living on the streets are asking, Where am I going to get my next meal? Where am I going to sleep tonight? Where am I going to stay warm? It's kind of the same concept. Alexander makes sure her staff is equipped to assist the homeless population through training, including crisis intervention, de-escalation, mental health, first aid and motivational interviewing training. In the future, Alexander looks to move the shelter out of the office building it currently inhabits to a fully-fledged shelter with more room for training facilities, space for residents and resources. My job is to keep everybody healthy and safe. In the environment we're in right now, we're doing it, and we'll continue to do that, but we definitely need a shelter, something that's built and designed to house, Alexander said. The only community space in the shelter is a small lobby at the entrance with room for no more than three or four people to stand in at once. Having an adequate facility is really our goal for the future, Alexander said. We've been out meeting with some potential funders and trying to get our feet wet and see where this can take us. For more information, visit www.obkshelter.org or call 231-629-8160. All women are invited to attend the Midland Christian Women's Connection luncheon on Wednesday, May 10, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Midland Country Club. Cynthia Lemen, owner of Divine Beauty Studio in Midland, will help those in attendance "Feel GOOD about being beautiful YOU." And Carol Bardacos of Winter Haven, Florida, will share her story on how rose-colored glasses are dangerous and can hurt you. Cost is $17, payable at the door either by cash or check; checks can be made out to CWC. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BIG RAPIDS The Haymarsh State Game Park in Paris has multiple new wood duck nesting habitats thanks to the Ducks Unlimited chapter at Ferris State University. On Tuesday, April 18, members of Ducks Unlimited collaborated with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the Haymarsh Lake State Game Area in Paris to wrap up a year long project. The groups installed 10 wood duck houses in the swamp. The project began as a brainchild for the chapter after wanting to increase community outreach. They came up with the idea of wood duck boxes. "We brought it up (with) the DNR, and they were all for it because there's none up there right now. They had to take them all down because people weren't maintaining them," chapter president Jordan DeGroot said. "They said, 'We're all for it, but you got to get the materials. We can't provide funding for it. Then you guys are in charge of managing them for as long as they last.' We agreed to it." The group worked with Big L Lumber, in Stanwood, to get materials for the project. The group then worked with Jeff Hovey, industrial arts teacher with Big Rapids Schools, to put the habitats together at the school's wood shop. After making a few adjustments as requested by the DNR, a group of eight students went put up the habitats in the swamp at Haymarsh Lake State Game Area, 22250 Northland Drive, Paris. The project took around 10 months to complete from idea generation to installation. "For us, it's basically showing the people that come to our banquet to support us that we are actually trying to preserve wetlands. We're just trying to make the local wetland up here a better place, and by putting wood duck boxes out, our goal is to increase the population here and have them have a better, safer place to nest," DeGroot said. DeGroot said Ducks Unlimited is a nonprofit wetlands conservation group. There are four college chapters of the nonprofit in Michigan. The Ferris State chapter began operations last school year and has grown to 30 members in 2023. The clubs first goal is to raise money for the main organization, which the club did after its first year, raising $25,000 and earning three national awards: A bronze award for raising over $25,000, new chapter of the year, and the Grand Slam award for their banquet. For more information on Ferris State's Ducks Unlimited Chapter, visit their club page at ferris.presence.oi. Connor Veenstra/Huron Daily Tribune Last year, Harbor Beach Community Hospital's Senior Life Solutions held its first Go Green Walk for Mental Health to promote awareness of mental health issues. According to one of the organizers, Susan Rochefort, the walk was a success at both Harbor Beach and Ubly Schools where the walks were hosted. She said that school faculty reported afterward that many students reached out to them for help or more information on mental health, which was exactly the walk's intended purpose. MOUNT PLEASANT Sarah R. Opperman, chair of Isabella Bank Corporation, announced that Jae A. Evans will retire as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2024. The board of directors elected Bank President Jerome Schwind to serve as new President and CEO of Isabella Bank Corporation and CEO of Isabella Bank, effective January 2024. Chief Financial Officer Neil M. McDonnell will replace Schwind as the Bank President at that time. Evans has been CEO since January 2014. He will continue to leverage his 47 years of banking experience as a member of both the corporate and bank Boards of Directors. During his tenure as CEO, Evans has led the corporation to record earnings and assets, an expanded geographic footprint and new, state-of-the-art online banking services. Jae has been a strong, effective leader, Opperman said. We are thankful for his steady leadership, especially during the last several years of volatility in the economy and our industry. Isabella Bank has remained strong and grown through it all. The bank has a robust succession planning process, investing in the development of leaders and employees throughout the organization. Opperman said the board conducted a thorough review of the executive team and is confident in its leadership and experience. Jerome has been with Isabella Bank 24 years, and we are confident in his ability to guide our strategic direction as a preeminent, independent community bank, Opperman said. Likewise, Neils 30 years of banking experience and impressive leadership skills are widely respected. Evans has been with Isabella Bank for 15 years, guiding the corporation beyond $2 billion in assets, up from $1.5 billion when he took the reins as CEO. Deposits climbed from $1.04 billion to $1.74 billion and loans rose from $808 million to $1.26 billion. Earnings per share went from $0.38 to $2.95. Evans started as President of the Banks Greenville Division and then served as Chief Operations Officer before becoming CEO. While retiring was not an easy decision, he said Schwind, McDonnell and the full Isabella Bank team will do well in furthering the Banks 120-year history. Our success is a reflection of our customers, shareholders, the communities we serve and each of our nearly 400 employees who deliver quality service and customer support every day, Evans said. Schwind has been President of Isabella Bank since 2015, previously serving as its Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, and Mecosta Division President. He has played an instrumental role in technology advancements and geographic expansion, which are key elements of the banks strategic plan. He also maintains a deep understanding of the seven counties served by the Banks 30 branches. Schwind also is board chair of the Michigan Bankers Association. McDonnell has been CFO since joining Isabella Bank in 2018 and has led a number of initiatives that have driven the Banks strategic plan and improved key metrics, including shareholder value. They include the companys stock buyback program, reducing high-cost borrowings, and raising capital without issuing additional shares. He also leads Isabella Wealth, the Banks investment and trust management business, which has grown more than 15% since 2020. McDonnell has more than 30 years of banking experience and previously held executive roles at large international banks, local community banks and de novo banks in the eastern U.S. Isabella Bank has locations throughout seven Mid-Michigan counties: Clare, Gratiot, Isabella, Mecosta, Midland, Montcalm and Saginaw. MANISTEE COUNTY The following includes reports made to the Manistee County Sheriffs Office from April 18-19. All calls may not be reported. This is part of a lengthy report and is compiled by assistant editor Arielle Breen. April 18 A minor was reported to have been incorrigible in Maple Grove Township. Larceny was reported at 1:44 p.m. in Bear Lake Township. Deputies helped adult protective services at 1:58 p.m. in Springdale Township. A vehicle was towed at 2:46 p.m. in Stronach Township. Trespassing was reported at 4:29 p.m. in Norman Township. Assault was reported at 7:17 p.m. in Manistee Township. A domestic incident was reported at 7:24 p.m. in Cleon Township. A personal protection order violation was reported at 8:55 p.m. in Pleasanton Township. Deputies responded to an alarm at 11:50 p.m. in Arcadia Township. April 19 A person was driving without insurance at 2:22 a.m. in Norman Township. Deputies assisted adult protective services at 8 a.m. in Manistee Township. A domestic incident was reported at 8:40 a.m. in Cleon Township. Malicious destruction of property was reported at 10:17 a.m. in Bear Lake Township. Deputies helped a person at 10:25 a.m. in Brown Township. Deputies were on civil standby at 1:13 p.m. in Filer Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check at 2:01 p.m. in Marilla Township. Deputies conducted a well-being check at 2:07 p.m. in Springdale Township. Deputies helped the Norman Township Fire Department with an unoccupied boat/possible rescue situation at 5:56 p.m. in Norman Township. A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 8:09 p.m. in Brown Township. Deputies responded to an alarm at 8:25 p.m. in Arcadia Township. A vehicle-deer accident was reported at 10:15 p.m. in Manistee Township. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) The search for a Texas man who allegedly shot his neighbors after they asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard stretched into a second day Sunday, with authorities saying the man could be anywhere by now. Francisco Oropeza, 38, fled after the shooting Friday night that left five people dead, including an 8-year-old boy. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Saturday evening that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the scene of the shooting. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropeza allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot from the neck up," he said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim's home, while in the front yard of Oropeza's house a dog and chickens wandered. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn't think anything of it. It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about shooting his gun in the yard. It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. I tell my wife all the time, Stay away from the neighbors. Dont argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,' Arevalo said. I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way. ____ A previous version of this story, based on information from a San Jacinto County prosecutor, incorrectly identified one of the victims as 15 years old. This story also clarifies that police recovered an AR-15-style rifle in 4th paragraph. _____ Weber reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report. CT State Police / Contributed MIDDLETOWN A man died after he was struck by a car early Sunday on Route 9 in Middletown, and officials need help identifying him, State Police said. The crash occurred around 12:43 a.m. in the southbound lanes on Route 9, near the old exit 10, state police said. While authorities said the man was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, they later announced he had died. WASHINGTON (AP) Hundreds of Americans fleeing two weeks of deadly fighting in Sudan reached the east African nations port Saturday in the first U.S.-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles, or 800 kilometers, to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said. The U.S., which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticized by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for Americans who wanted out, calling it too dangerous. U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, on April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. Several thousand U.S. citizens were left behind, many of them dual-nationals. More than a dozen other nations had already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on the ground personnel. A wide-ranging group of international mediators including African and Arab nations, the United Nations and the United States has only managed to achieve a series of fragile temporary cease-fires that failed to stop clashes but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate thousands of their citizens by land, air and sea. Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out April 15, the U.S. has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though U.S. officials have tried to link up Americans with other nations evacuation efforts. But that changed as U.S. officials exploited a relative lull in the fighting and, from afar, organized their own convoy for Americans, officials said. Without the evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, many U.S. citizens have been left to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the countrys main Red Sea port, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried U.S. citizens, local people employed by the U.S. and citizens of allied countries. We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan, he said. From Port Sudan, away from the fighting, the Americans in the convoy can seek spots on vessels crossing the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. U.S. officials also are working with Saudi Arabia to see if one of the kingdoms naval vessels can carry a larger number of Americans to Jeddah. U.S. consular officials will be waiting for the Americans once they reach the dock in Jeddah, but there are no U.S. personnel in Port Sudan, officials said. Two Americans are confirmed killed in the fighting that erupted April 15. One was a U.S. civilian whom officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was an Iowa City, Iowa, doctor, who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum, in the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting. In all, the fighting in the east African country has killed more than 500 people. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the U.S. and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands as the U.S. looks to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Marcos official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The U.S. president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbors. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close U.S.-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A U.S. appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about $2 billion against the elder Marcos estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the U.N. General Assembly, where the U.S. president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Infielder Vinny Capra is re-signing with the Blue Jays on a Minor League deal, reports Robert Murray of Fansided. Capra had been non-tendered by the Jays on Friday and had received strong interest elsewhere before opting to remain with Toronto, per Murray. Capra, a 20th-round pick in the 2018 draft, made his MLB debut in early May. He had one hit, two walks, and a strikeout in seven plate appearances before being sent down to Triple-A Buffalo near the end of the month. He had three separate stints on the 7-day IL before undergoing left middle finger tendon surgery in early October and being placed on the 60-day IL. Despite several injuries, Capra had a productive season at Buffalo, hitting .283/.378/.403 with five homers and six doubles. Perhaps most impressive was his low strikeout rate (13.1%) and high walk rate (13.1%). Capra will likely receive an invite to Spring Training and attempt to earn a spot on the Blue Jays bench for the 2023 season. Aaron Judge left Thursdays game due to hip discomfort, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone updated reporters (including Peter Sblendorio of the New York Daily News) today that the star slugger has a mild strain located at the top of his hip. The Yankees will look to make a decision by Monday about whether or not Judge needs a stint on the 10-day injured list to fully heal up, though Boone noted that Judge has shown a lot of improvements here in the last two days. Though the IL is still a possibility, it is at least good news that Judges MRI didnt reveal anything serious, and that the hip injury seems as minor as initially believed. Since IL placements can be backdated up to three days, Judge would only miss a minimal amount of time. Of course, losing Judge for any amount of time is naturally a big blow to New Yorks lineup, and if he does have to hit the 10-day IL, the Yankees wont have their best player for their upcoming series with the Rays on May 5-7. Judges importance to the club might also be a reason to err on the side of caution, however. If Judge isnt feeling quite right on Monday, the Yankees might feel that a 10-day IL trip to correct the problem now is preferable to Judge trying to play through any discomfort, and risking worsening the hip strain. Should a 10-day absence be all that Judge needs to get himself right, hell be able to return in plenty of time for another key stretch of games, as New York has eight games against the Rays and Blue Jays from April 11-18. Perhaps inevitably, Judges numbers have dropped from his all-timer of a season in 2022, but he is still hitting an impressive .261/.352/.511 with six homers in his first 108 plate appearances. With Judge out of action at least through the weekend and Harrison Bader and Giancarlo Stanton already on the IL, the Yankees have been forced into a less-than-ideal outfield mix that includes Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera, Willie Calhoun, the newly-selected Jake Bauers, and utilityman Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The Nationals have selected the contract of right-hander Andres Machado, per a team announcement. To make room for Machado on the 40-man and active rosters, the club designated left-hander Anthony Banda for assignment. Machado, 30, made his MLB debut with the Royals during the 2017 season. Machado struggled badly in his first taste of big league action, surrendering nine runs on 10 hits (two home runs) and three walks while striking out just one in 3 2/3 innings of work. After that disastrous debut, Machado wouldnt return to the big leagues until he joined the Nationals in 2021. Machado has put up solid numbers for Washington since then, with a 3.41 ERA (117 ERA+) in 95 innings of work the past two seasons, though his 4.55 FIP leaves plenty of reason for caution. Heading out in favor of Machado is Banda, a 29-year-old lefty currently in his seventh season in the majors. The journeyman has a 5.69 ERA in 118 2/3 innings of work during his career, during which he has played for seven different clubs. That includes what has been a very difficult stint in Washington during which Banda has allowed five runs in seven innings of work. Without Banda, the Nationals have no left-handed relievers in their bullpen, though Jose Ferrer and Matt Cronin are both on the 40-man roster as possible options down the road. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI -- People who love Mexican food know how important it can be to find a go-to restaurant that has quality and freshness. Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti seem to have plenty of Mexican restaurants to choose from whether someone is looking for a spot to scarf down tacos, burritos, nachos and quesadillas or try something new. Heres a look at five different Mexican restaurants in the Ann Arbor area. MLive file photo of a dish Chela's Restaurant & Taqueria former location in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.Jack Zellweger Chelas Restaurant & Taqueria Get your fix for Mexican cuisine throughout the day at Chelas Restaurant & Taqueria in Ann Arbor. The restaurant has a variety of menu items to choose from, including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, tortas, salads and tamales. Chelas also offers breakfast from 10:30 a.m. to noon, offering breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros and chilaquiles con huevos. Chelas, 693 S. Maple Road, is open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant also has another location in Dexter at 7065 Dexter Ann Arbor Road that is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Find Chelas online, on social media or by phone at 734-332-6055. A specialty burrito at Maiz Mexican Cantina, 36 E Cross St. in Ypsilanti on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020.Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com MAIZ Mexican Cantina MAIZ Mexican Cantina, 36 E. Cross St. in Ypsilnti, offers customers salads, tacos, enchiladas, specialty burritos, quesadillas, fajitas and some other Mexican favorites like chimichangas, flautas and Chile rellenos which are stuffed poblano peppers. Some of MAIZs taco selections include carnitas tacos, spicy chicken fresco tacos, fish tacos and carne asada tacos, along with meatless options like fried cauliflower and fried avocado tacos. The restaurant also has burritos, including California club, ultimate veggie, spicy steak fajita and big Barbacoa. MAIZ prepares menu items from scratch every day and brings a fresh approach to traditional favorites and Tex-Mex specialties, according to its website. MAIZ Mexican Cantina is open noon to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Find it online, on social media or by phone at 734-340-6010. Huarache at Miny's Mexican Restaurant, 2866 Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti on Friday, Sept. 25, 2020. Minys Mexican Restaurant Minys Mexican Restaurant, 2866 Washtenaw Ave. in Ypsilanti Township, serves burritos, quesadillas, tortas, tostadas, nachos, fajitas and a variety of specialty tacos filled with fish, shrimp, veggies, barbacoa and other meats. Minys menu also features other popular Mexican dishes like huaraches, gorditas and pambazos, as well as dessert options like Tres Leches cake, fried Oreos and churros. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week. Find Minys online, on social media or by phone at 734-434-0857. The Sopes with steak are served at Chapala Mexican Restaurant, 211 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. J. Scott Park | MLive.com Chapala Mexican Restaurant Chapala Mexican Restaurant brings the flavor of Mexico to Ann Arbor, according to its website. The downtown Mexican restaurant at 211 N. Main St. brings a menu packed with enchiladas, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and nachos. The restaurant even features a dish called Tater Tachos which are Tater Tots topped with queso, pico, guacamole, sour cream and a fried egg. The restaurant also offers some kid-friendly and vegetarian options, along with different types of margaritas, specialty cocktails, beer and wine. The restaurant is open noon to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Find it online, on social media or by phone at 734-996-1456. Isalita Cantina Mexicana Isalita Cantina Mexicanas menu is influenced by the street food found in the open air markets frequented in Mexico City, according to its website. Customers can find starters like Mexico City ribs, shrimp ceviche and forest mushroom empanadas along with other dishes like tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, salads and soup. The restaurant also offers a variety of cocktails, beer, wine and margaritas that customers can even try with house infused tequila. Plenty of tequila options are on the menu and customers can try them with a tasting flight. Isalita Cantina Mexicana, 341 E. Liberty St., is open 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. Find it online, on social media or by phone at 734-213-7400. More great places in Ann Arbor: 5 great dive bars to check out around Ann Arbor 5 great places in Ann Arbor to dine and drink with your dog 5 great places to get a beer in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a cookie in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a frozen treat in Ann Arbor 5 great places to sip on bubble tea in Ann Arbor 5 great Ann Arbor spots to watch March Madness action 5 great spots for seafood in Ann Arbor 5 great restaurants for Italian food in Ann Arbor 5 great places to find candy and chocolate in Ann Arbor 5 great pastry shops in Ann Arbor 5 great spots for Indian cuisine in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a midnight snack in Ann Arbor 5 great Ann Arbor restaurants that opened in 2022 5 great places to get pizza in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a burger in Ann Arbor 5 great spots for brunch in Ann Arbor 5 great hidden gem restaurants in Ann Arbor 5 great spots for breakfast in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get plain or hard cider in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a sandwich in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get soup in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get a salad in Ann Arbor 5 great walkable coffee shops in downtown Ann Arbor 5 great places to play trivia (almost) every night of the week in Ann Arbor 5 great places for poutine in Ann Arbor 5 great places for meals under $10 in Ann Arbor 5 great places to try a brew and something new in Ann Arbor 5 great places to try chicken wings in Ann Arbor 5 great places to get macarons in Ann Arbor 5 great bakeries for doughnuts in Ann Arbor ANN ARBOR, MI City Planner Jeff Kahan has seen a lot of change in 30 years working at Ann Arbors city hall. Not only has he witnessed growth that has physically transformed the city under policies he helped shape and developments he had a hand in reviewing, Kahan has been part of the transition to the digital era. Technology was in its infancy, he recalls of his early days in the planning department. The computers that we used, they didnt do a whole lot. I remember being able to send emails. I suppose you could create a spreadsheet. But theres, of course, no internet, no digital cameras, no cell phones, no laptops. He remembers having to take photos of properties and taking film to be developed at the Westgate Shopping Center. Then wed stick it in a slide deck, when slide decks were actually slide decks, and then we would run the slide deck at the city Planning Commission meetings, he said. City planners also had to drive house to house to deliver documents to planning commissioners ahead of meetings. These days, most everything is digitized and readily available online and via email. Its a very different world now, said Kahan, who is winding down his career and plans to retire in early July. Retiring Ann Arbor City Planner Jeff Kahan poses at Larcom City Hall in Ann Arbor on Thursday, April 13, 2023.Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com As he looks back, Kahan is proud to have been a public servant and of the city initiatives he worked on to encourage more sustainable land-use practices, including new bicycle parking requirements, reduced requirements for car parking, new electric vehicle parking requirements and new standards regarding building setbacks, density and height that have led to taller and denser development in the city. He has worked on changes to policies that resulted in land being used more efficiently and transit being better supported, and helped develop a plan for Lower Town that called for a mixed-use urban village with buildings between five and eight stories a vision now realized with new development off Broadway Street. I always value the perspective that he brings to a matter, said Brett Lenart, the citys planning manager. Hes a big-picture thinker, and its been wonderful to see how he continues to learn and evolve, well into the stages of a career where lesser professionals would become more staid. The planning department will miss Kahans technological prowess, seemingly endless extent of planning knowledge and steady stream of optimism and joy, Lenart said. We now value things that are different A Livonia native, Kahan completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Oregon before getting a masters degree in urban planning from the University of Michigan in 1990. He worked as a planner in Sacramento County, California, before coming back to Ann Arbor in 1993 in part to be closer to family. I just felt a desire to settle down someplace and buy a home, and in California at the time, for me being a single person, I wasnt able to afford a home in any neighborhood in Sacramento where I would want to live, he said. I would have to live way out and commute to buy an inexpensive little ranch house and that didnt appeal to me. But Ann Arbor did appeal to me. Ann Arbor was more affordable then and hes glad he laid roots here. He has now lived for 30 years in the same house on Fountain Street where he and his wife have raised three children. I think its such a livable city in so many ways and its a fabulous city for people at any age, Kahan said. City Planner Jeff Kahan appears before the Ann Arbor City Council in December 2010 to talk about a corridor improvement strategy for Washtenaw Avenue, joined by Terri Blackmore of the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Kahan also is a lecturer at UMs Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, where he started teaching a land-use class over 20 years ago. Ann Arbors land-use policies have changed considerably during Kahans career as the city has gradually embraced denser development, including a wave of apartment high-rises downtown since the early 2000s that have been mostly geared toward UM students in addition to other developments on previously undeveloped land, including a lot of new housing on the north side of town. In the earlier part of my career, I think decision makers were more sensitive to the concerns of NIMBYs, Kahan said. More recently, decision makers are more interested in advancing a sustainability agenda that includes not only sustainable development projects, but also additional housing. City Council in the past would deny projects or use city parkland acquisition funds to buy properties to stop development in response to neighbor concerns, Kahan said. City officials are now more interested in welcoming new residents, while taking a more scientific approach to acquiring parkland, he said. Kahan said he looked at the citys codes when he first started on the job and was shocked to see the city requiring a massive amount of parking for new developments, huge front setbacks and really low density, which he saw as reflective of values from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. The city also was widening road intersections and preventing people from having accessory dwelling units on their properties, he said. We now value things that are different, he said. That took citizens, elected officials and planners to push the envelope to move us in the direction of sustainability, he added. And so I think that may have been the biggest change in the last 30 years that we transitioned from a community that outside of downtown was mandating suburbia to a community that is now encouraging sustainable land-use practices. Helping to push the envelope As the city next updates its comprehensive land-use plan, which comes on the heels of new high-density zoning for transit corridors, Kahan expects the city to look at changes to allow more density in single-family zones that make up much of Ann Arbor. In a single-family neighborhood, nothing is permitted by-right except single-family homes, he said. And so from the standpoint of zoning, theyre exclusive enclaves. You cant even propose a duplex in a single-family neighborhood. You cant propose a store or any kind of retail. City Planner Jeff Kahan at a city meeting in March 2011.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News Communities around the country are rethinking that, Kahan said, arguing Ann Arbor has painted itself into a corner with much of the city still off limits for denser housing. Reviewing development proposals has made up a significant portion of Kahans work, in addition to working on planning initiatives and code changes, and serving as the coordinator for the citys Design Review Board. He also has been a liaison to the public services unit with regard to non-motorized transportation, which the city is working to encourage more, and has participated in Downtown Development Authority projects. One of the most impactful projects Kahan worked on involved code changes that doubled, tripled and quadrupled densities in non-residential districts. We also required buildings to be located closer to the street because we wanted to encourage non-motorized access, he said. We also increased height. Projects that resulted from some of those changes include the Arbor Hills outdoor shopping mall on Washtenaw Avenue and the strip of businesses including Starbucks Coffee that now line the north side of Plymouth Road east of Nixon Road. Kahan still hopes to see the city further embrace mixed-use development to allow more businesses like the Jefferson Market, Washtenaw Dairy and Big City Small World Bakery, which are woven into the fabric of residential neighborhoods. A view looking south toward Michigan Stadium from downtown Ann Arbor with The Standard, a new 10-story apartment high-rise at the corner of Main and William streets, in the foreground on Oct. 7, 2022.Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News While worried Ann Arbor has grown increasingly unaffordable, he leaves confident the city has a bright future ahead. I think we will continue to be a really livable community that will become increasingly friendly to pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, he said. My hope is that downtown will continue to become more and more vital. I think were going to see a lot more infill development as our greenfields get built upon. Were almost done with greenfield development, and so now were heading into this phase where basically everything is going to be infill. That means taking sites like the UM Credit Union on William Street and building more high-rise apartments, he said. Personally, I dont think there are many things that we do that are more sustainable than approving a residential tower downtown, he said. Because that tower may have cleaned up a brownfield site, is likely detaining stormwater for the first time, is providing hundreds of new units for residents who can walk to get most of their needs met, and it will have updated energy systems. So that, I believe, is helping to push the envelope toward a more sustainable future. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Denser neighborhoods, diversity a focus with Ann Arbor plan update Ann Arbor nets federal funds to design huge-scale geothermal energy system Should Ann Arbor build a new downtown library? Survey shows support Coming out of pandemic, Ann Arbor sees need for more downtown residents Should Ann Arbor cash in on development? City administrator makes case ANN ARBOR, MI - A new resurfacing project is kicking off east of the University of Michigans central campus in Ann Arbor and the Ypsilanti-area will see construction on Michigan Avenue and I-94 interchanges. Heres a list of road work that could affect commute times and travel across Washtenaw County for the week beginning Sunday, April 30. ANN ARBOR Geddes Avenue: The street will be closed to through traffic between Observatory and Hill streets beginning Monday, May 1 for a resurfacing and utility project. The project will proceed in phases, with the first estimated to conclude on Friday, June 9, when Geddes will reopen to westbound traffic only. South Main Street: The street is closed between William and Liberty streets until Friday, May 5, for the first phase of a major resurfacing project. The Liberty and Main street intersection also is closed. Local businesses will remain open, and pedestrians can still access the businesses in the Main Street commercial district. Crews will replace a water main, make crosswalk improvements and put new pavement on the crumbling downtown street. The project will progress between Liberty and Huron streets between May and July, with additional sewer work at the Main and Huron intersection in July and August. Read more: Whats that under Ann Arbors Main Street? Mysterious bricks spark theories William Street: The westbound street is closed at South Main Street as part of the resurfacing project, with the protected bike lanes at the intersection closed in both directions. The eastbound lane of William is also closed at Main Street. The closures are expected to last until May 5. South State Street: The downtown street is closed to vehicle traffic between North University Avenue and Huron Street until Friday, Sept. 1, for the second phase of a major overhaul extending curb-less design in the area near the University of Michigan Diag and bringing water and sewer upgrades. The intersections on either side of the work zone will remain open. Regular updates can be found online from the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. Broadway Street: The street is closed through Monday, Aug. 21 between the Traver Creek pedestrian crossing island, just south of Jones Drive, and Plymouth Road for a project bringing water main upgrades, sidewalk improvements and pavement resurfacing. The dead-end section of Broadway southwest of the roundabout next to the Beekman on Broadway development is also closed as crews complete utility installations through June 9. East Hoover Avenue: The street is closed until Monday, May 8, in the westbound direction between State and South Division streets for a city sewer-lining project. Platt Road: The road on the citys east side is reduced from four lanes to two between Packard Road and Huron Parkway until Friday, Aug. 1. The restrictions will allow for crews to replace an existing water main, as well as replace curb, sidewalk and ramps while resurfacing Platt Road. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. Scio Church Road: A section of the road between South Seventh Street and South Maple Road is closed until May for a resurfacing project, bringing improvements for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction on the first phase of the project is set to run through Friday, May 26, when Scio Church Road will reopen in the eastbound direction, and officials will notify residents of a new traffic pattern. During the project, the Maple Road intersection will remain open to traffic turning left onto Maple or right onto Scio Church to ease congestion because of the damage to the Liberty Road I-94 overpass. Research Park Drive: The west side of the road will close between Tuesday, April 25 and May 26 for the installation of a new water main. Long-term projects: North Fifth Avenue from Detroit to Catherine streets will have a lane shift through June 2024 for a new development. Eastbound South University Avenue traffic between East University Avenue and Church Street is closed long-term for high-rise construction. The Liberty Road bridge over I-94 is reduced to single-lane traffic, with temporary traffic signals, until further notice after being damaged by a truck on March 13. The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to design and contract for a bridge replacement, officials say, though no timeline has been released for the project. OTHER WASHTENAW COUNTY PROJECTS: Pittsfield Township - U.S. 23/Michigan Avenue: A major project widening Michigan Avenue in Pittsfield Township and upgrading the U.S. 23 interchange will cause shoulder closures and lane closures on a stretch of U.S. 23 south of Ann Arbor. On westbound Michigan Avenue from Carpenter Road to U.S. 23, a single-lane closure with a lane shift is also in place. The construction is scheduled to run through November. Pittsfield Township is posting regular updates. Ypsilanti - I-94 ramp/Huron Street: The northbound Huron Street ramp to westbound I-94 is closed for a bridge maintenance project until May 5. The left lane of southbound Huron Street over I-94 is also closed for the project. Ypsilanti Township - Michigan Avenue: A road reconstruction project will close Michigan Avenue between I-94 and Hewitt Road beginning May 5 and running through June 30. A detour map is available online. The westbound I-94 off-ramp at Michigan Avenue will also close during the project. Northfield Township - 6 Mile Road: The 6 Mile Road bridge over U.S. 23 will see a single lane closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on May 1 for maintenance. Northfield Township - North Territorial Road: The North Territorial Road bridge over U.S. 23 will see a total closure between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. on May 1 for maintenance. Sylvan/Lima townships - I-94: The interstate will see overnight single-lane closures in the westbound and eastbound directions between Freer Road and the Washtenaw/Jackson county line for construction until Tuesday, May 2. Overnight single-lane closures in the eastbound direction on the same stretch will last until Tuesday, May 9. York Township - U.S. 23/Willis Road interchange: Willis Road at U.S. 23 is closed in both directions through late June as bridge construction takes place. The eastbound Willis Road ramp to northbound U.S. 23 also is closed during the project. Augusta Township - Pitman Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between Judd and Willis roads for drainage, forestry work and limestone resurfacing through Thursday, May 4. Augusta Township - Talladay Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between McCrone and Hitchingham roads for drainage, forestry work and limestone resurfacing during the week of May 1. Augusta Township - Judd Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions between McCrone and Pitman roads for drainage, forestry work and limestone resurfacing during the week of May 1. Dexter Township - Intersection of Dexter-Pinckney and North Territorial roads: The intersection will see intermittent lane closures through Friday, May 12 for traffic signal work. Lyndon/Sylvan townships - Various roads: Several roads in the townships will see intermittent lane restrictions through July for a Consumers Energy natural gas pipeline replacement project. A project map is available online. Sylvan Township - Sibley Road: The road will be closed between Conway and Bush roads from April 17 to Saturday, July 1 for the Consumers pipeline project. Pittsfield Township - Morgan Road: The road between Carpenter Road and Michigan Avenue is closed for sanitary sewer installation until June 30. A detour map is available online. Morgan Road east of Platt road will also see intermittent lane closures through Saturday, April 29 for a private road installation. Pittsfield Township - Platt Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Bemis Road and Michigan Avenue through September for construction of a non-motorized pathway. Pittsfield Township - Crane Road: The road between Textile Road and Michigan Avenue will be closed through Wednesday, May 26 for sanitary sewer installation. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield Township - Lohr Road: The road will see lane restrictions between Weatherstone Drive and Lohr Circle until May 5 for the installation of a pedestrian crosswalk. This project has been extended. The road is closed between Textile Road and Regents Park Court for a resurfacing project until May 5. Pittsfield Township - Textile Road: The road is closed between Carpenter and Crane roads for sanitary sewer installation. The project runs through September. A detour map is available online. Pittsfield/Ypsilanti townships - Textile Road: The road will see intermittent lane closures beginning Wednesday, May 3 between Crane and Rawsonville roads for resurfacing. The project will run through August. Ypsilanti Township - Textile Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions beginning May 1 between Hitchingham and Whittaker roads for drainage work. The project will run through Monday, May 15. Scio Township - Huron River Drive: The road will see intermittent lane closures between Zeeb and Delhi roads for Border-to-Border Trail construction through Nov. 15. York Township - Hack Road: The road between Maple and Ridge roads will see intermittent lane restrictions through May 4 for forestry, drainage work and limestone resurfacing. This project has been extended. York Township - Judd Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions for drainage work and limestone resurfacing between Platt Road and U.S. 23, as well as between US. 23 and Carpenter Road, until May 4. These projects have been extended. York Township - Moon Road: The road between Stony Creek Road and Saline-Milan Road will see intermittent lane closures through May 4 for forestry, drainage work and limestone resurfacing. This project has been extended. York Township - Bishop Road: The road between Willis and Moon roads will see intermittent lane closures through May 4 for limestone resurfacing. This project has been extended. York Township - Willow Road: The road will see intermittent lane restrictions west of Moon Road for drainage work and limestone resurfacing through May 4. This project has been extended. Ypsilanti Township - Ruth Avenue: The avenue will see daytime lane closures between Georgina Street and Hull Avenue for DTE Energy gas line replacement running through November. Ypsilanti Township - Grand Boulevard: Speed hump replacement will result in daytime lane closures until May 5 between Michigan Avenue and Forest Avenue. Ypsilanti Township - Rue Deauville Boulevard: Speed hump replacement will result in daytime lane closures until May 5 between between Holmes and Clark roads. Ypsilanti Township - Rue Willette Boulevard: Speed hump replacement will result in daytime lane closures until May 5 between Rue Deauville Boulevard and Clark Road. Ypsilanti Township - Sweet Road: Speed hump replacement will result in daytime lane closures until May 5 between Holmes and Clark roads. An updated list of Ann Arbor city street closures is available online here. The weekly Washtenaw County Road Commission schedule is here and the MDOT road closure map is here. More from The Ann Arbor News: Striking grad workers get $25K gift from Ann Arbor City Council member Residents rally for and against Ann Arbor suicide prevention nonprofits proposed center Ann Arbor school modifies Oklahoma! production as it grapples with use of guns These are the 7 proposals on the Washtenaw County ballot for May special election CHELSEA, MI - It was nothing but a farmers field when Kathy and Jim Callery bought their property on a hill overlooking a dirt road just outside Chelsea. They built their home in 1996. Jim worked midnights for an airline, got off his shift and drove out the property. With his son, he dug holes the size of a trash can lid, planting two-foot blue spruce trees, a few at a time. Now, those same trees are no more. An 80-year-old natural gas pipeline runs along their lot, and this summer Consumers Energy is embarking on a $550-million dollar effort to lay a replacement line across five counties. The utility needs a portion of the Callerys property for a temporary work zone that will be piled with dirt, the couple said. It was nothing when we first built the house. It was dirt. There wasnt a tree to be found. This is why its so emotional to us, Kathy Callery said. She and her husband understand the need to replace aging infrastructure and knew they lived by the line. But theyre frustrated with the level of communication from Consumers and want people to know the impact of the sprawling multi-year project. I can put new trees in, but Ill be six feet in the ground before those trees get big, Jim Callery said. The utility sued the Callerys in November 2022 after they didnt accept a cash offer for easement rights, initiating condemnation proceedings using the power of eminent domain, according to the complaint filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The Callerys and a spokesperson for the utility both declined to speak about the specifics of the litigation, which is ongoing. We totally sympathize with them. This is frustrating and hard, but its one of those situations where we have to balance the individual wants and needs of property owners with the reality we have to do projects like this to be able to deliver affordable and reliable energy to customers, Consumers Spokesperson Tracy Wimmer said. An old photo of the beginning construction of Kathy and Jim Callerys house near Chelsea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Callerys planted over 25 blue spruce trees when they first built their house in 1996.Sydney Verlinde | MLive.com Stakes arrive, questions follow The Callerys said they learned in 2016 or 2017 that the pipeline running near their house would be replaced. Workers told them not to worry and that the line would be swapped out in the existing easement, a portion of which touches a corner of their property without any trees on it. It would be a lift and lay project, Jim Callery remembered. Then one day, stakes appeared next to their driveway, protected from the wind by the spruces they planted all those years ago. The markers read TWS which stood for temporary work space the Callerys would later learn. They called officials in Sylvan Township, who didnt know what they meant. Eventually, they got the news that spelled the end for their trees. Even though theyre planted on the Callerys property, not in the current pipeline easement, the area is necessary for crews to store large amounts of dirt excavated for the new line, theyve been told. The replacement project, approved by the Michigan Public Service Commission in 2020, is now slated to use parallel construction, where new 36-inch pipeline is installed alongside the aging 20-inch line that dates back to the 1940s. Thats because as the design progressed, the utility realized it wouldnt be able to take the old pipeline out of service until late summer, not leaving enough time for construction before the winter heating season, Wimmer said. Although its possible it was misplaced, Jim Callery said he never received notice of the hearing before state regulators approved the project, and by the time he knew the details the utility was ready to file to take his property. Youre talking about 28 carbon-eating trees that are going to be gone so they can put a fossil fuel pipeline in, he said, adding he wished there had been more communication and flexibility to change the construction plans. They arent alone in the inconvenience. In a public letter, their neighbors have lamented the planned removal of a massive oak nearby, marked by its wide canopy. Others along the route have seen trees cut down, Jim Callery said. We cant save our trees. Its just not going to happen. We know that, he said. They do what they need to do in the most economic way for them. Several trees waiting to be cut down in the backyard of Kathy and Jim Callery near Chelsea on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Callerys planted over 25 blue spruce trees when they first built their house in 1996.Sydney Verlinde | MLive.com Massive project brings with it unfortunate reality, utility says The magnitude of the 55-mile Mid-Michigan pipeline project means crews need room to maneuver in their construction areas, faced with the task of moving large amounts of dirt and equipment, Wimmer said. It requires an incredible amount of space. It is the unfortunate reality of a project this size that situations like this are going to happen where we have to take up way more space than it seems necessary, she said. There is a plan, as required by law, for Consumers to compensate the Callerys for the temporary work zone, with the details being resolved through the litigation, Wimmer said. She maintains the Callerys had consented to the temporary easement through an order entered by the court in February, though Kathy Callery said the couple has never agreed to the tree removal plan, requesting Consumers instead shift the project away from their property. What happens to the Callerys property after the construction is complete and the work zone vacated will be part of the compensation determined through the legal proceedings, Wimmer said. In public project materials, the company has described extensive efforts to protect threatened or endangered species and work with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to restore habitat along the route, which passes through several state nature areas. On the Callerys property, workers have relocated two buried pets near the project area, and Consumers is also moving their well for the project, Kathy Callery said, complementing on-site crews for their professionalism. On Saturday, April 29, they returned with machinery to uproot the trees. They came this morning and pulled them all out. Sad day, she said. Workers remove trees on the property of Kathy and Jim Callery near Chelsea on Saturday, April 29, 2023.Provided by Kathy Callery More from The Ann Arbor News: 3-part development jigsaw puzzle proposed for long-discussed 237 acres near Dexter Residents rally for and against Ann Arbor suicide prevention nonprofits proposed center These are the 7 proposals on the Washtenaw County ballot for May special election Petition campaign could threaten chosen location of new Dexter fire station DAVISON, MI About 600 Davison High School students celebrated in style while attending their 2023 prom Saturday, April 29 on the Detroit Princess Riverboat. Senior Mandi Tower said she was excited to enjoy a night out with Emylee Miles. FLINT, MI -- Flint police have searched for the source of it and come up empty. East side residents say theyve heard and felt it for years. Now the city is asking the state and federal government for its help in identifying whats causing seemingly random, powerful booms in and around Flints Rollingwood neighborhood. Ive been running around for the last year ... trying to track down where its at, said 3rd Ward Councilman Quincy Murphy, who represents the area where the neighborhood is located. Whatever it is, its big, its underground and dont nobody know what it is. Annette Reynolds, president of the Rollingwood Neighborhood Association, said the booms occur without a pattern -- sometimes on consecutive days, sometimes more than a month apart -- and vary in intensity. She said people in her neighborhood dont agree on where the noises are coming from and have nowhere else to turn for help. Its hard to explain what it is, said Reynolds, whose family has lived in her home since 1986. This happens on random days at random times. To me, it sounds like something is blowing up underground ... You can feel the floor shake. It feels like fireworks underground. The City Council voted April 24 to file a complaint about the booms with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Environment, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Councils approved resolution says that city officials have talked to representatives of companies surrounding the area to determine if an incinerator, junkyard, gas lines or bomb range could be the source of the booms. So far, they have received no answers. Both Murphy and Reynolds said not knowing whats causing the noises is scary for residents, particularly since a Nov. 22, 2021, explosion on Hogarth Avenue in Flint that killed two people. Although investigators have said a natural gas leak contributed to that explosion, its cause has officially remained undetermined. Related: Gas leak contributed to deadly Hogarth Avenue explosion, but cause remains undetermined: state I dont want what happened on Hogarth Street to happen over here, Murphy said. We dont know what it is. Im clueless and Im concerned ... Whatever it is, these neighbors are worried. 4th Ward Councilwoman Judy Priestley said the noises have also been heard in the northern end of her ward, and shes heard reports that some booms have been so intense that home foundations were damaged. Flint Police Detective Sgt. Tyrone Booth said the department has received 911 calls from residents in the area surrounding North Dort Highway and Stewart Street for several months now. Residents are describing the sounds as explosions, Booth said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. Our investigation into the sounds to date, has not uncovered any useful information. Therefore, we are asking the public to notify (the) Genesee County 911 system immediately upon hearing any large explosive sounds, he said. Notifying area law enforcement will aid in solving this investigation. In 2013, after east side residents complained of hearing similar periodic booms that rattled the walls of their homes, police acknowledged the department maintained a bomb range in the area at an undisclosed location but didnt confirm it was connected to the sounds. Booth said this week that the bomb range has been ruled out as being the source of the booms. Related: Flints mystery booms explained: Police confirm secret bomb range Reynolds said police have told her that reports of the explosive noises havent matched up with the detonation of explosives at the range. The council resolution calling for state and federal response to the booms says sounds have generally been heard in an area bounded by Carpenter Road on the north, Leith Street on the south, Center Road on the east, and North Saginaw Street on the west. Priestley said shes aware of other reports of repeated loud booms being heard around the country as well as investigations that have yielded no certain answers. I know that there are other areas of the country where there are these types of loud noises and they found no resolution, but if we dont go out and search for those, how do we know this is the same thing? Priestley said. Unexplained boom sounds have been reported in areas across the country for decades. In 2018, the Associated Press reported that residents of Mohave County, Arizona, also reported loud booming noises, powerful enough to rattle windows throughout the region. Similar reports have been made in states including Utah, Massachusetts, and Oklahoma. Reynolds has started a Facebook page called Loud,. ground shaking Booms. in an effort to collect information on the explosive sounds here. Im trying hard to help in this fight and yes I NEED you all to help in that fight, she said in a post on the page this week. Maybe some say why worry its just a boom, well your families could be destroyed if this has anything to do with an explosion further down the line. Im (taking) this pretty serious as my life matters as well as my neighborhood matters and we all deserve to know what is causing this. Read more at The Flint Journal: Company planning to build autonomous dredges picks Shiawassee County for new plant Flint Councilman Eric Mays gets no jail time for disorderly conduct conviction Deal would put Genesee County in charge of grass cutting at every Flint park FLINT, MI - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services will continue to provide nutritious food by the truckload to Flint residents throughout May. MDHHS has provided the Flint mobile food pantries since February 2016 in partnership with the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint. Mays mobile food pantry distribution will have plenty of delicious, vitamin-rich produce, including apples and potatoes. Mays schedule is set as follows: Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Hwy. Monday, May 1, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 8, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 15, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 22, at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road Tuesday, May 2, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 9, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at 10 a.m. Mark Baptist Church, 3020 Dupont St. Wednesday, May 3, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 17, at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, at 9 a.m. Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Hwy. Thursday, May 4, at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 11, at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 25, at 10 a.m. Flint residents can also pick up free nutritional food at the three Flint Help Center locations: Bethel United Methodist Church, 1309 N. Ballenger Highway, open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mondays; Asbury United Methodist Church, 1653 Davison Road, open Tuesdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; and Greater Holy Temple, 6702 N. Dort Highway, open Thursdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Information about additional food distributions will be announced as they are scheduled. To check food distribution schedules, visit the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan website at FBEM.org and find the updated schedule on the Mobile Pantry Distribution page, or call 810-239-4441. Read more at The Flint Journal: Activists take on Flint water crisis issues on 9-year anniversary Michigans Best Local Eats: Slider Joint aims to become icon in Lapeer Harbor Freight set to open first Lapeer County store this summer After daughters suicide, Michigan woman buys a Big Apple Bagels to honor her dream New pond and garden center now open in Genesee Township HOLLAND, MI Firefighters quickly extinguished a fire Sunday morning inside an apartment complex, the Holland Department of Public Safety reported. There were no injuries reported in the blaze. Firefighters were dispatched around 5 a.m. April 30 to 403 Stratford Way in Holland for a possible electrical fire in the building. Occupants tried to extinguish the fire, visible on the deck of the apartment. Fire crews arrived at the scene at 5:09 a.m. and noticed an active fire in the exterior wall and eaves. Quick work by firefighters contained the fire and limited damage to a small area of the exterior of the building. The department remained on scene about two hours. An investigation into the origin and cause of the fire will be conducted by the departments Fire Marshal. Residents were able to return to their apartments once the fire was extinguished and the building was determined to be safe. Read more on MLive: State police find vehicle along I-75 abandoned, struck by gunfire Its so cool that we get to do this together: Mom, daughter graduate from GVSU at the same time Should invasive swans on Muskegon Lake be targeted by sharpshooters? KENT COUNTY, MI A former student has sued the Potters House over its response to allegations she was molested by an artist in residence at the school. The lawsuit says officials at the private school failed to protect the girl and did not immediately report allegations of child abuse to authorities. The case involved allegations against James Wallace Treadwell, 64, who now lives in Oakland County. Potters House had invited him to be an artist in residence. He rented workspace in the church building the school owned next door. Treadwell was sentenced to two weeks in jail and 18 months on probation after he pleaded no contest to attempted second-degree criminal-sexual conduct. Two counts of second-degree criminal-sexual conduct were dismissed in a plea agreement. Treadwell is on the state sex-offender registry. Related: Artist accused of sexually assaulting girl at school, another girl at a home Attorney Kay Rivest Butler, representing the school and school officials, said she would not comment on pending litigation. She has not yet filed a response to the lawsuit, which was originally filed in Kent County Circuit Court then moved to U.S District Court for the Western District of Michigan on March 31. The Potters House has about 600 students in all grades. The Potters House provides a Christ-centered education for students of all ethnic heritages and income levels, equipping them to serve God and society to their fullest potential, its mission says. The lawsuit says the school bought Roosevelt Park Community Church in 2015 and soon rented workspace to Treadwell It said the school did not conduct a background check on Treadwell, who was part of a Christian brotherhood living communally in Grand Rapids. The girl was 10, in fifth grade, when she was sexually assaulted Jan. 18, 2016, the lawsuit said. She went with her class for art in the churchs basement before she was left alone with Treadwell. He isolated her, pushed his hands down her pants and told her, This is okay, the lawsuit said. She had had no contact with him before that. About eight months later, a school counselor told Superintendent John Booy about potential sexual harassment and assault allegations, the lawsuit said. Booy then allegedly told a parent, an elder at a local church, that Treadwell will remain my friend until proven otherwise, the lawsuit said. The parent/elder then sent an electronic message to Booy that others - not involved in the lawsuit - were concerned about Treadwells relationships with children of church friends. One couple said he began building a stronger relationship with their girls rather than the parents, the lawsuit said. He had sleepovers at their house, but the parents, increasingly suspicious, made sure one of them always slept with the girls. After that, (one of the parents) noticed a pattern developing, the parent/elder wrote to the superintendent. For example, when he came over for the sleepover, he asked the girls to show him to his room. When (one of the parents) followed up to see where they were, they were playing tickle games with him on his bed. The parent/elder wrote that the girls parents provided other examples that raised concerns. The parents talked to church elders whose children also interacted with Treadwell. The elders recommended the parents call police, which they did, according to the letter contained in the lawsuit. A few days later, Booy sent an email thanking the elder, the lawsuit said. I am still at a quandary over who should know what. But I will err in keeping that circle very small, he wrote, the lawsuit said. The following January, other parents, whose names were redacted, wrote to school officials that they became aware of serious allegations of sexual misconduct with young girls from multiple families . In May 2020, Treadwell was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing two girls. He was sentenced April 13, 2022. Attorneys Antoinette Frazho and Karen Truszkowski, representing the student, who was identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe, said the school did not take action against Treadwell upon learning of the allegations. Defendants failed to commence an internal investigation, failed to implement protections, failed to provide accommodations for Plaintiff, and failed to have any Title IX policy whatsoever, the lawsuit said. Jane Doe was victimized a second time, when she was 14, the lawsuit said. She was in high school and had a physical relationship with a senior who was on a student visa. School officials were aware of their relationship through monitoring of emails, the lawsuit said. The senior student eventually was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. School officials did not remove the senior from school grounds for months, and then, only to protect the senior, the lawsuit said. He attended school online and graduated from Potters House High. In both of these incidences, Defendants went above and beyond to accommodate the perpetrator in every way possible, causing the victim additional emotional trauma, the lawsuit said. The attorneys said that the conduct by school officials would discourage other students from reporting similar circumstances. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Paul Maloney in Kalamazoo. Read more: Judge denies stay of trial for ex-police officer in motorist Patrick Lyoyas killing Design, restaurant concepts unveiled for 36-room Ada Hotel Whats that next to the Chick-fil-A in Walker? Construction will be done this summer Grand Valley State University board approves 4.7% tuition increase OTTAWA COUNTY, MI Police are searching Sunday, April 30, for those responsible for shooting into a home, Ottawa County sheriffs deputies reported. Police responded to a 4:30 a.m. report of shots fired in the area of Lakewood Boulevard and Douglas Avenue in Holland Township. At the scene, police found several spent shell casings in the roadway and discovered a house that was struck by gunfire. No injuries were reported. Evidence was collected by responding deputies and the incident remains under investigation. Police ask anyone with information to call the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office at 616-738-4000 or Silent Observer at 1-877-88-SILENT. Read more on MLive: Fire crews put out blaze inside Holland apartment Two arrested near MotorCity Casino after fleeing from police Former student sues Grand Rapids-area school after sex assault by artist in residence NEWAYGO COUNTY, MI A 20-year-old Kent City man died after losing control of a vehicle, which then crashed into trees, according to Newaygo County sheriffs deputies. The man was not immediately identified on Sunday, April 30. Police were dispatched around 4:55 a.m. to a crash Saturday, April 29, near South Spruce Avenue and East 96th Street in Brooks Township. Police said a vehicle was heading south on Spruce Avenue when the driver lost control. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation. The Newaygo County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Newaygo Fire Department, Grant-Ashland Fire Department, Life EMS, Newaygo County Road Commission, Jerrys Towing, Newaygo County Central Dispatch, Kent County Sheriffs Office, and Mid-Michigan Medical Examiner Group. Read more on MLive: Several injured after head-on collision in Northern Michigan Two arrested near MotorCity Casino after fleeing from police House struck by gunfire in West Michigan MANISTEE COUNTY, MI Several people were hospitalized after a head-on crash with some injuries considered life-threatening, Manistee County sheriffs deputies said. A portion of M-55 will be closed from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 30, for additional accident investigation. Police responded to a 4:21 p.m. report of a three-vehicle crash Friday, April 28, at the intersection of M-55 and Stronach Road in Manistee Countys Stronach Township. Police said a 39-year-old Harrietta woman, along with her three children, were traveling in a Chrysler Town and Country on M-55 when the driver attempted to turn south on Stronach Road. The driver failed to yield to a Chevrolet Equinox driven by a 93-year-old Newaygo man along with a 92-year-old woman. The vehicles then collided head-on. After the initial crash, the Equinox then struck a Chevrolet Suburban, stopped at the stop sign at the intersection and driven by a 62-year-old Irons man traveling with his 14-year-old son, . The occupants of the Chrysler Town and Country were all transported to Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital for treatment. A 7-year-old child was then transferred by helicopter to DeVos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids. Stronach Township firefighters extricated from the vehicle those in the Chevrolet Equinox. The 93-year-old Newaygo man was transported to Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital. His injuries are not life-threatening, police said. The 92-year-old passenger was flown from Munson Manistee Hospital to Munson Hospital in Traverse City with life-threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the Suburban were treated and released at the scene. The Manistee County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Department of Public Safety, the Mason County Sheriffs Office, Stronach Township Fire, Norman Township Fire, MMR EMS, and Manistee County Central Dispatch. Read more on MLive: Two arrested near MotorCity Casino after fleeing from police House struck by gunfire in West Michigan Former student sues Grand Rapids-area school after sex assault by artist in residence GRAND RAPIDS, MI A free, high-energy youth summit aimed at helping teens navigate tricky topics like substance abuse, social media pressures and more is returning this May to West Michigan. The Kent County Prevention Coalitions 12th annual Youth Summit is scheduled for 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, May 12, at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. The teen-centric event is open to all middle and high schoolers in West Michigan, according to a news release from the coalition. Officials say the event will be a high-energy, immersive experience complete with a DJ, as well as workshops covering topics like social media perfectionism, living in a fake news culture, understanding if you have a substance abuse issue, how to become your own boss, and more, the release said. We focus on providing the tools and encouragement to inspire youth to overcome life obstacles and redefine their future by building the character and tenacity needed to achieve ones own dreams, said Nadia Kimble, the Youth Summit 2023 organizer. Through dynamic speakers and workshops, we explore what it means to overcome pop culture messages that suggest that alcohol, tobacco and other drugs are not harmful and to walk free from stigma, shame, and past mistakes. Kimble has spent the last few months working with teen leaders to curate the events programming so that it is as relevant as possible to todays teens, adding in technology, art and innovation for maximum engagement. We provide the safe harbors allowing our youth leaders to share the pain points lurking underneath the surface of todays teens, which help our event team to translate these issues into teen-centric programming, Kimble said in a statement. This years theme is Homecoming: The Return, to celebrate the fact that this is the first year the event is mostly in-person since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Veola Nelson, assistant principal at Godwin Heights Middle School, said she was eager to sign up her middle schoolers for this years event. She has been attending the event with students for years, she said. I have never quite experienced an event like this that can relate to and inspire todays teens the way the Youth Summit does, Nelson said. Year after year, the Youth Summit provides this one-of-a-kind vibe that makes it cool for students to engage in some heavy topics and conversation with peers from other schools. The event helps students realize that theyre not alone in their issues, and they coping mechanisms and ways to rise above societal pressures, Nelson said. Enrollment to the six-hour event is free for any public, private or homeschool educator throughout West Michigan. For more information about the event, visit the Kent County Prevention Coalition website. More on MLive: 2 Kent County students among first group of 2023 National Merit Scholars Families can explore free preschool program in Kent County at open house event The Rapid bus system launches new tap-and-pay contactless payment options High schooler who wants to work for NASA wins award named for astronaut Eufaula City Schools has announced the Boys State and Girls State representatives for Eufaula High School. They are Derrick Williams and Trinity Gant. Alabama Boys State and Girls State are two of the highest honors granted to Alabama high school students. Students are chosen based on their leadership, hard work, strong morals, motivation in school and community activities. Boys and Girls State delegates from across the state will spend a week in the summer building new friendships, participating in a mock government, and hearing from and meeting a diverse array of Alabama leaders, including congressmen, elected officials, business leaders and more. Boys State will be held May 28June 3 at Troy University. Girls State will be June 49 at Troy University. JACKSON, MI Tears and rain fell in equal measure Saturday evening as dozens gathered to remember Jordan Jarrell. Family identified Jarrell, of Jackson, as the teen killed after being thrown from a crashing vehicle during a police chase early Friday, April 28. He was 15 years old. Related: Police release video of Jackson County chase that ended with 15-year-olds death Despite Saturdays rainy weather, Jarrells memory drew a crowd of dozens to the Ella Sharp Park rotunda. Many teens attended the vigil wearing the same attire they would wear to prom the same night. We got every walk of life here young, old, rich, poor my baby touched everybodys life, said Shawndra Mundinger, Jarrells mother. Among the mourners was 15-year-old Jayden Eilth, a friend of Jarrells going back to second grade, when the pair attended Stockbridge Community Schools together. Though Jarrell left Stockbridge later in his elementary years most recently, he was taking classes online, he and Eilth remained close friends. When you were close to him, he was just a sweet, nice guy who really cared for everyone, Eilth said. Jarrell was very protective of his family and a loving elder brother to seven siblings and two cousins close enough to be sisters, Mundinger said. (Jordan) was my first-born I learned so much through him. We grew up together, Mundinger said. My baby never intended for this to happen and I didnt intend for it to happen either. Jarrell was one of five teenaged occupants of a vehicle involved in a chase with the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. A passenger, he was thrown from the vehicle after it crashed and rolled over multiple times near the intersection of Roberts and E. Ganson streets, police said. He later died from his injuries at Henry Ford Jackson Hospital. A GoFundMe set up to help Jarrells family with funeral expenses had raised more than $3,000 toward a $10,000 goal. Addressing the 15-year-olds many friends and peers attending the vigil, Jarrells aunt Makayla Clemens tearfully called on the teens to take their lives seriously. The fun will happen with your friends, but you guys at such a young age have to look at the long-term effects of what you are doing today, Clemens said. You dont want to be the next candlelight (vigil) that all your friends are attending. Four other teens ranging between 15-17 years of age were injured in the crash, with two remaining in serious and critical condition, police said Friday. Officers found a fifth of alcohol in a search of the vehicle, police said. They also found an Orbeez or toy gun the boys had allegedly been using to shoot small gel balls at other vehicles. An investigation is continuing to determine how and where the teens purchased the alcohol, police said. Mundinger said she believes an area party store had sold the boys alcohol. Despite the the behavior of her son and the other teens, Mundinger believes it was the officers choice to aggressively pursue the vehicle that led to the fatal crash. Im not saying my son was doing anything right Im not saying my son should have been there at that time, Mundinger said and contended police are culpable. What Im saying is (police) didnt follow protocol they caused my childs death. Mundinger said she plans to take legal action against police in the future. The sheriffs office reported the vehicle quickly accelerated when deputies spotted it and continued to pick up speed, prompting the pursuit. The office released a video the same day as the chase. Like all pursuits, the incident is being investigated internally and I wont make a comment until the investigation is complete, Jackson County Sheriff Gary Schuette previously said in an email to MLive. As the responding agency, the sheriffs office is handling the investigation into the crash, Schuette said. Police have not yet addressed questions of whether deputies followed proper chase protocols. More from MLive: Fire chief retires, County Commissioner dies: Jackson headlines April 22-27 New house takes shape on former city-owned lot in Jackson 19 birds, 1 cat abandoned outside Ann Arbor humane society BATTLE CREEK, MI An investigation is underway to determine how an abandoned residence caught fire, the Battle Creek Fire Department reported. Firefighters responded to a 7:40 p.m. report of a structure fire Saturday, April 29, at 239 E. Michigan Ave. in the city of Battle Creek. Crews arrived to find the garage fully involved with an abandoned vehicle inside, and extension into the rear of the vacant structure. Additional firefighters assisted in command, search, extinguishment, and overhaul at the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire caused roughly $46,000 worth of damage to the two-story structure. No injuries were reported. Read more on MLive: Michigans hummingbirds are back, what to know about feeding them this year State police find vehicle along I-75 abandoned, struck by gunfire Fire crews put out blaze inside Holland apartment MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI Sharpshooter removal of invasive swans has been approved once again for White Lake, but those efforts are practically worthless as long as they continue to thrive on Muskegon Lake. Thats according to the Muskegon Conservation District, which says aggressive culling of the mute swan is needed to protect other waterfowl and wildlife. Those include the native trumpeter swan, which recently were removed from the states threatened species list. Its just a constant trying to control the (mute) swan population because there are so many in the area, Emily Grasch, executive director of the conservation district told MLive/The Muskegon Chronicle. We have a local population that keeps going back and forth. The cities of Whitehall and Montague have approved mute swan culling on White Lake for more than 10 years and the Whitehall City Council recently agreed to continue the culls for the next five years. However, a paper produced for the Muskegon Conservation District determined that those culls have been minimally effective because of the enormous population living on the Muskegon Lake Watershed. In the last six years, the mute swan population on Muskegon Lake has more than doubled, from 170 observed in 2016 to 380 in 2022, according to Grasch. Efforts to get other municipalities to agree to mute swan removal are ongoing, she said, declining to name those communities. Last year, 75 swans were removed from White Lake., according to information provided by the conservation district. The state allows several method of euthanizing mute swans, including capturing them and poisoning them or breaking their necks. But the use of sharpshooters is by far the most cost effective way to do it, Grasch said. The states goal is to reduce the overall mute swan population to fewer than 2,000 by 2030. But thats not likely to happen, Grasch said. I can tell you thats not happening because of the numbers, she said. The state estimates there were more than 14,000 mute swans in the state in 2022. Statewide, an average of 1,045 mute swans have been removed annually over the past 17 years, ranging from 207 in 2006 to 2,624 in 2012. Last year, 1,139 were removed, according to information provided by the conservation district. Mute swans are considered one of the worlds most aggressive waterfowl and will drive out other waterfowl including geese, ducks and loons -- and other wildlife with their hostile behavior, according to information from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. They also are known to attack humans. In addition, their feeding threatens wetland plants needed to support birds, fish and invertebrates. They also can contribute to e. coli water contamination. The mute swan is considered a threat to successful breeding of the trumpeter swan, which was removed this year from the states threatened species list. The most noticeable difference between the two types are trumpeter swans have black beaks while mute swans beaks are orange. Necks of mute swans are in the shape of an S while trumpeter swans have a C shaped neck. Mute swans were introduced to North America in the mid-1800s, and in Michigan in 1919, as decorations for parks and estates. Typically raising six cygnets at a time, the mute swan numbers have been increasing dramatically, especially in recent years. Mute swans were federally protected as migratory birds from 2002 to 2005. An order by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources allows for mute swans and their eggs and nests to be taken under permit to reduce the population. However, hunting of mute swans is not allowed. The state allows euthanizing of swans by several methods, including a with a single shot to the head or by capturing them and killing them with the use of carbon dioxide inhalation, injection of euthanasia drugs or breaking their necks. Their eggs and nests can be destroyed by coating eggs in corn oil, shaking eggs, chilling eggs, or removing and disposing them. Also on MLive Great Lakes water levels are above normal, expected to rise in May Trout season opens Saturday, dont forget to do this one thing Why Michigan is seeing Northern Lights more often Happy Sunday! Lets catch up on a busy week in the Lansing-sphere. 1. Signs of election season FILE: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listens to President Joe Biden at SK Siltron in Bay City on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com Its not yet even the summer before, but an election year is already poking out its head. Heres why: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will play a key role in President Joe Bidens reelection bid. She was named a national co-chair this week. Expect her duties to include managing Michigan staff, attending fundraisers and making national media appearances. Thats what John Sellek, who directed Mitt Romneys 2012 presidential campaign in Michigan, told me. If Joe Biden wins or loses, Gretchen Whitmer is making sure that she is capitalizing on her growth as a national rising star, Sellek said. One of Bidens longshot challengers, self-help author Marianne Williamson, spoke this week at Michigan State. Her agenda seeks an inspirational burst of energy, she told MLives Simon Schuster, and shes focused on fundamental economic reform. We need to make an economic U-turn in this country, Williamson said. Joe Bidens not going to do that, but I would. Going down the ballot, Michigans open U.S. Senate race gained another contender this week. Dearborn businessman and Arab American civil rights activist Nasser Beydoun announced his candidacy. In a speech, he decried expensive health care, a failing education system, and the fact some full-time workers are still in poverty. A top-down approach hasnt worked, Beydoun said, but career politicians from both sides of the aisle keep delivering more of the same: politics that divides us. More for 24: Michigan anti-solar group withdraws proposed ban on rural utility projects 2. Ex-speakers corruption plea FILE: Medical Marihuana Licensing Board member Donald Bailey, left, and chairman Rick Johnson, right, during a meeting held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2017 in Lansing, Mich. (Kaytie Boomer | MLive.com)Kaytie Boomer I MLive.com Former Michigan House Speaker Rick Johnson pleaded guilty in federal court this week to accepting more than $110,000 in bribes. The details: Bribes included private jet trips in 2018, when Johnson chaired a state board that granted Michigans first medical marijuana business licenses. Johnson was visiting a Canadian marijuana company. Johnsons charge of accepting a bribe carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence and a $250,000 fine. He has already agreed to forfeit at least $110,200 as part of his plea agreement. Catch up: What to know about Michigan marijuana corruption probe that ensnared a former House Speaker 3. Life without parole debate FILE: Michigan State Sen. Jeff Irwin (D) talks to people after the first day of session of the year at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. (Joel Bissell | MLive.com)Joel Bissell | MLive.com A Senate committee saw fierce debate last week over whether to ban life without parole for Michiganders under 19 years old. MLives Jordyn Hermani dug into the issue this week. Two bills recommend sentences of at least 10 years and no more than 60 years. Catch up: Michigan and federal court rulings have already found life without parole to be cruel and unusual punishment. Changing state law would align Michigan with 27 other states. Weve heard loud and clear from our department of corrections that when they have young people in their facilities that have no light at the end of the tunnel, no opportunity for rehabilitation, no opportunity for redemption that makes their lives more difficult, said Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor. Bonus: Michigan has fourth highest rate of incarcerated girls in the country, report shows 4. One groups sex ed crusade File photo of high school lockers.Carly Geraci file photo | For MLive.com Interested in the continued classroom culture wars? Jordyn has a view from the front line. A group called Great Schools Initiative alleges five school districts violated parents rights regarding sex education. The districts: Troy, Walled Lake, Rochester, Birmingham and Benzie. GSIs complaints include failure to notify parents of sex ed subjects being taught and rejection of parents written statements. Catch up: GSI made news last year by creating tailor-made opt-out forms to overwhelm districts and set up a potential court fight. Read Jordyns full story for more on this saga. Bonus: Michigan school district sued for making boys remove Lets go Brandon sweatshirts 5. Democratic defectors FILE: Hundreds of people gathered at Majestic Friesians Horse Farm on Saturday, April 22, 2023 to rally against Gotion's proposed $2.3 billion electric vehicle battery parts plant in Mecosta County. (Photo by Rose White | MLive) Last week saw Democratic senators approve $175 million for an electric vehicle battery plant in Big Rapids, but three of them voted no. Simon investigated that 10-9 vote this week, probing Democratic defectors. Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, said she doesnt like attracting businesses with the states development fund. Gotions financials also worried her, she told Simon, but its Chinese ownership wasnt important to her. Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, felt the project didnt compete well on pay, benefits, work conditions and more. He also criticized people stoking vague and xenophobic fears about China. I havent heard anything specific out of them, other than saber rattling and intentions to make China our enemy, Irwin said. More on Gotion: No communist plot: Gotion addresses claims about Michigan battery plant 5 more stories from MLive: Mileage fees, higher gas tax among options to fund Michigans crumbling roads Whats in a hate crime? Michigan looks to add sexuality, disabilities to 35-year-old law Michigan DNR denies expansive Camp Grayling lease proposal Man wants accountability for his childhood abuse. Michigan law wont allow it. Livingston County leaders take aim at red flag gun laws, vote to become constitutional county RICHLAND, MI-- Parchment students headed to Gull Lake Country Club Saturday evening for prom 2023. The Panthers came dressed to impress for their Great Gatsby themed prom on April 29. ANN ARBOR, Mich. - On what is expected to be an exciting Senior Day in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Wolverines get set to finish up their three-game set with the Indiana Hoosiers. Watch NCAA Softball on FuboTV (7-day free trial) The opening two games of the weekend, both taking place on Saturday in a doubleheader, have not gone in favor of the Wolverines. Indiana scored a pair of runs in the first inning in the opening game of the set, and cruised the rest of the way to a 4-1 win. Then, later that afternoon, the Hoosiers pounded the Maize and Blue, scoring seven runs in the sixth inning, going on to win via mercy rule, 15-1. Things have not been going well for Michigan as of late. Though they earned at least one win last weekend against ranked opponent Northwestern, the Wolverines have lost four of their last five games. They have stumbled down the Big Ten standings to a tie for fifth with the Ohio State Buckeyes, both 5.5 games back of the first-place Wildcats. The two wins on Saturday are the continuation of excellent play for the Hoosiers. They sit second in the conference, 1.5 games behind Northwestern. After losing four-straight games earlier this month, including getting swept by Nebraska at home, Indiana has won five consecutive contests, as they swept Rutgers last weekend. Following the first two games, the Wolverines are now 94-31 all-time against the Hoosiers, having won eight-straight meetings prior to this weekend. NCAA Softball Who: Indiana Hoosiers (36-15, 14-5 B1G) vs. Michigan Wolverines (24-20, 10-9 B1G) When: Sunday, April 30 Time: 2 p.m. ET Where: Alumni Field (Ann Arbor, Mich.) Channel: ESPNU Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream Check out the NCAA Softball rankings The one-week observation of Maa Adwoa was held at her family house in Kumasi on Thursday 27th April 2023. 26-year-old Victoria Dapaah , popularly known as Maa Adwoa was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Police Officer, Inspector Ahmed Twumasi. He fired multiple shots to kill Victoria Dapaah. Inspector Twumasi was apprehended at his hideout in Sekyere, near Effiduase, on April 23, 2023, after allegedly committing the act on April 20, 2023. Some friends and sympathizers of Maa Adwoa thronged the venue of the one-week to mourn with the family. A video which has surfaced on social media shows that instead of the people mourning with the family, they rather went there to enjoy themselves and get drunk at the event which was supposed to be a sober moment. Netizens who have come across the video are left in shock asking why these people mostly made up of 'slay queens' would be enjoying the moment. Some of the netizens are of the view that their character and behaviour at the event someone showed that they were happy about the death of the young lady. Watch the video below: The first group of evacuees from Sudan arrived at NDjamenas Hassan Djamous International Airport in Chad late yesterday (27.04) in two special flights chartered by the Chadian authorities. The group included 116 males and 110 females, 39 of whom were children. IOM helped the Chadian authorities with the registration of the new arrivals, the identification and referral of vulnerable cases, and post-arrival assistance including cash to support onwards transportation to reunite evacuees with their families. We are working around the clock to continue supporting the Government of Chad in this delicate and complex situation, despite massive gaps in much needed funding, says Anne Kathrin Schaefer, IOM Chief of Mission in Chad. These efforts are closely coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chadians Abroad and International Cooperation which heads a Government Crisis Cell established to coordinate the evacuation operations from Sudan. Our priority is to ensure that all those who have arrived receive adequate support to help them reunite with their families, but also medical assistance, including mental health and psychosocial support, she adds. Since the start of fighting in Sudan in mid-April, thousands of people have fled to neighboring countries, including an estimated over 20,000 arriving in Chad . Despite multiple ceasefire announcements, fighting escalated over the past few days, leaving many more people stranded in Khartoum and other major cities due to the volatile security situation. Caroline, 36, who lived in Khartoum for two years was one of them. There were gunshots and lootings, and I couldnt communicate with others as the internet connection was disrupted, she recalls. When the situation became calmer during the first ceasefire announcement, Caroline and at least 300 other Chadians signed up with the Embassy of Chad in Khartoum for voluntary return home. I am very happy to be back home. I havent slept properly for a week. All I want is to go home and rest, she adds. Ousmane was also among the evacuees, and he remembers the chaotic situation in Khartoum. We could not find food as all the stores and markets were closed. We seized the opportunity of the first ceasefire to find shelter with other Chadians, he says. There are many more Chadians there who want to come back home because the situation is unlivable. According to Chadian authorities, Thursdays flights are the first of a series of evacuations of Chadians as well as migrants from other countries stranded in Sudan. In Eastern Chad along the border with Sudan, IOM has deployed its emergency and Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) teams to support the pre-registration of people fleeing the violence. The situation remains very fragile, and needs are rapidly growing as more information becomes available, says IOMs Anne Schaefer. We cant stress enough the need for urgent financial support to enable us to provide relief to those most vulnerable including through voluntary humanitarian return, protection, health, and mental health and psychosocial support. The 2024 elections will be evidence-based since President Akufo-Addo has carried out his mandate, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, governments spokesperson for security and governance has said. According to him, since both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have been in power before, it is better to compare their track records and achievements. He noted that, in terms of job creation, road infrastructure and education, among other sectors, the NPP government has a stronger track record than the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Palgrave Boakye-Danquah claims that Akufo-Addos record of providing the country with infrastructure and healthcare supports an evidence-based campaign. The 2024 election will be based on track records between the works the Presidential candidates have done in previous years.We have outperformed them in all sectors and the evidence is there for everybody to see and so I am sure the people would make an informed choice between the two parties on December 7. Right now, Free SHS has helped Ghanaians and a lot of people are benefiting, the government has also established more than factories all over Ghana which is creating jobs for citizens,. There are those who argue that this election is about those who can make the most mouthwatering promises to young people. Promises are important and they are easy to make but I dare say that this election is not so much about who can make the best promises to young people. It is about who has the best track record when it comes to supporting the young men and women of Ghana, Palgrave Boakye-Danquah told GTV. The NPP, he said, was miles ahead of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in terms of achievements in government and that the electorates would endorse the party with a better record. Comparing the track records of both parties, he emphasized that the NPP has in the past initiated social interventions that catered for the basic needs of Ghanaians. Some of these policies Palgrave Boakye-Danquah said are the Capitation Grant and School Feeding Programme. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah said Ghana could not afford to truncate the pace of development and transformation of all sectors of the economy by changing the Akufo-Addo-led government in the 2024 election. A pediatrician and Malaria Case Management Expert, Dr. Justice Sylverkine has advised pregnant women to treat malaria as a very serious issue, warning that it can cause stillbirth. According to him, severe malaria attack on pregnant women can also cause premature abortion, premature delivery and low birth weight. Dr Sylverkine was speaking in an interview with Captain Koda, host of the Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM's morning show 'Nyansapo' on Thursday April 27,2023. "The immune system of pregnant women by their nature goes down due to the enormous changes in their body. "This makes it difficult for the pregnant women to fight malaria attacks and it get worse when the malaria parasite hides in the placenta, it blocks food and blood supply to the unborn baby causing stillbirth in the process," he said. He called on pregnant women to regularly attend antenatal clinics to ensure adequate protection against malaria. Pregnant women should ensure they dont miss antenatal visits to ensure adequate protection against malaria. Ghanas measures to eliminate malaria Dr. Justice Sylverking who also works at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) stated that continued investment, transformative innovations as we well as effective implementation are critical to realising the malaria elimination goal of Ghana. According to Dr. Justice Sylverkine the theme for this years World Malaria Day was Invest, Innovate and Implement, adding that there was the need to mobilise resources domestically and internationally to augment existing resource streams including donor contributions to close the national funding gap. This needs to be done urgently by expanding our networks and strengthening our partnerships. Without adequate resources, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to deliver on the goal and objectives of the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan, he explained. Dr. Justice Sylverkine stated that this years theme was a clarion call on what the country had already begun to champion; galvanising all the needed support and resources for a malaria-free nation despite the numerous challenges. It is a call to collectively raise our voice in unison to keep malaria high on the health and development agenda, raise a sense of urgency and communicate the optimism for what we can achieve together if we act now, he explained. Dr. Justice Sylverking urged all stakeholders to adopt the strategies outlined in the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan and partner with the Ministry of Health and government to fully implement all planned activities towards malaria elimination. NEWTON The Newton Public Library in the historic Oates-Reynolds Memorial building here was the recipient of some 50 new books, hand-delivered Friday afternoon by members of the Emassee-Robert Grierson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Newton Mayor Lonnie Daniels, town councilmembers, town citizens and library board members joined Newton Librarian Amy Galletly in welcoming the DAR members to the library, housed in the building that once served as womens dormitory for the Baptist Collegiate Institute that was based in this Dale County town from 1898 until 1929. Founded in 1890, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage organization, meaning that all members can trace their lineage back to someone who served in, or aided in some way, the American Revolution, explained Emassee-Robert Grierson Chapter Regent Jessica Gautney. The organization has three main areas of focus: patriotism, historical preservation and education, she said. Our society works tirelessly in service to veterans. We seek to restore historical sites including grave sites of veterans and of course, especially Revolutionary War veterans. The DAR has one of the two largest genealogical records databases in the world, she added. Finally, but not least, we focus on education. One of the ways the society supports education is through service to libraries, by volunteering and donating books. Today we are here to celebrate National Library Week by donating books to the Newton Library. We would be interested in partnering with the library in other ways in the future, she added. We can provide activities focusing on the Revolutionary War or history in general, to include a story time in period costume for children or perhaps a session on genealogy and tracing your roots. The roots of the Oates-Reynolds Memorial Building were what Dale County historian Charles Zeigler shared with the group assembled there Friday afternoon. Reading from Ann Mortons book on the history of the Baptist Collegiate Institute, Zeigler said that although the BCI was organized on the site in 1898, the actual Oates-Reynolds Memorial Building was not built until 1922. Zeigler said that in 1920 there were 189 students from Alabama, Florida and Georgia attending the BCI, 29 of them preparing for the ministry and several of the women were mission volunteers. The school was in financial trouble with teachers unpaid and debts outstanding. The Baptist Convention came to the rescue with a donation of $6,000. Then a fire destroyed the boys dormitory. In 1921, a junior college was added to the high school institute. Also in 1921, the administration building was damaged by fire the second time in nine years. In 1922 the administration building was rebuilt and that same year Martha Ann Oates of Headland gave $25,000 for a new girls dormitory, which is the present Oates-Reynolds Memorial Building. The dormitory was constructed by Emmett Davis of Ozark and furnished by the Womens Missionary Society of Alabama. The old girls dorm was used to board male students. The Baraca Class of Troy First Baptist Church furnished the science lab and several hundred books were added to the BCI library. The books the Emassee-Robert Grierson Chapter of the DAR donated Friday include history, cookbooks, science and fiction. The library may choose to put them in their collection or may put them in fundraising book sales to benefit the library, Gautney said. Either way we hope that our donation will help the library. The Neuro Spinal Hospital (NSH), a one-of-a-kind medical facility in Dubai dedicated to the treatment of neurology, spine, and orthopedic conditions and a comprehensive and advanced cancer centre has opened its doors to training medics from Africa. Chief Operating Officer, Dana Msaddi, explained to representatives of African Media that the state of the art facility is poised to giving out knowledge to physicians in the region because they are on a mission to better healthcare across the world. Education is a passion for us and rooted in our DNA since we opened our doors two decades ago. Our founder and CEO is building to legacy not to business, and on the mission to raise the standards of care across the region, she said. Since its establishment in 2002, the Neuro Spinal Hospital (NSH) has evolved into becoming a leading hospital in the UAE for treatment of neurosurgical and spinal disorders, and now is home to an advanced cancer centre, and a destination for many patients across the region. The hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art medical technology, including an advanced neuroimaging centre that provides the most accurate and precise imaging of the brain and spine, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis and safer procedures. Currently, it is the only facility with one of the most advanced technologies, the CyberKnife, which is a non-invasive robotic radiosurgery system that delivers high doses of radiation to the targeted tumours with pinpoint accuracy. This allows to destroy cancer cells without impacting healthy tissue around it with no anesthesia, incisions, and no or minimal side effects. The hospital hosts regular conferences and workshops on the latest advances in spinal surgery, open to all surgeons of the region. 30.04.2023 LISTEN Ghana Soybeans Farmers and Aggregation Association (GHASFAA) has expressed worry about the extent of the effect of the ban on soybean production in the country. The situation according to the group is affecting the income of the farmers as well as discouraging many from venturing into the sector despite the potential for economic growth. The group therefore called for the repeal of the export and import restriction of soybean regulation 200(L.I 2432) to allow Ghanaian farmers to make money from their toil. The imposition of the L.I 2432 is obstructing soybean production and trading in Ghana, according to the Northern Regional chapter of GHASFAA. It added that ever since the ban became operational, none of the local buyers have been able to buy soybeans because they want them cheap which might affect the amount injected into the production and also the revenue of the farmers. The group said this in a press release signed by the Regional Director of Administration of GHASFAA, Abdul-Hakeem Issah and Chairman Mr. Abdulai Andrews and copied to the media houses. According to the group, investors are withdrawing their investment from soybean production due to the challenges confronting the farmers and the processors which is having negative impact on the activities of the youth in agriculture of the country. The group complained that the ban has made the price of the commodity drop from GHS650 to GHS400 at the farm gate which is affecting the revenue of the farmers. It intimated that a smallholder farmer has to inject about GH1, 674 to produce an acre of soybeans. "On average, when we put all farmers together, the average quantity a farmer get is three bags this 100 kg of soybeans per acre and the farmer needs to sell the 100kg at GH558 in order to breakeven but the farmer had to sell the bag at GH400 and with this, there are no buyers on the field," the association said. The Regional Director of Administration of GHASFAA, Abdul-Hakeem Issah said the ban has had negative effect on maize production as farmers are unable to have good prices on their products to be able to generate revenue to inject into the production of maize. He added that smallholder farmers who took loans are struggling to repay their loans due to the unavailability of soybean buyers. He noted that the local soybean processing companies do not have the ready cash to pay for the produce as they mostly buy them on credit which farmers and aggregators are no longer willing to accept. "If government fails to heed our call by May 15, 2023, we will not fight him but cut down the production of soybeans in the 2022/24 farming season. "As an Association, we call on government to dissolve the seven member committee set up to license exporters of soybeans in the country. We are also calling on government to allow Ghanaian farmers and Aggregators to export the soybean without restrictions," he said. The Northern Regional Dagbon Students Association (DASA) has congratulated the newly appointed principal of the Bagabaga College of Education, Dr. Gazali Issahaku. In a press statement, signed by the regional secretary of the Association, Mr. Sule Iddrisu said the appointing authority had made the right choice for the Institution following the appointee's credentials. This great feat achieved, comes as no surprise to DASA, taking cognizance of how well you have served the University for Development Studies (UDS) your former Institution at different levels and in various capacities. "Indeed, your hard work, dedication and resilience in the Education sector, have duly been acknowledged, he said. Mr. Iddrisu hoped that the appointment of the new principal would help improve the standard of academic excellence at the college and Northern Ghana at large. He pledged the Association's commitment to supporting the principal and the entire management of the college. Read the full Press Statement Below: DAGBON STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION (DASA) CONGRATULATES NEWLY APPOINTED PRINCIPAL FOR BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION (BACE) DR. GAZALI ISSAHAKU The Dagbon Students Association (DASA) writes to congratulate you, Dr. Gazali Issahaku on your appointment as the new Principal of Bagabaga College of Education (BACE). This great feet achieved, comes as no surprise to DASA, taking cognizance of how well you have served the University for Development Studies (UDS) your former Institution at different levels and in various capacities. Indeed, your hard work, dedication and resilience in the Education sector, have duly been acknowledged. It is our hope that, having served as a Head of Department in your former Institution you will help improve the standard of education in the Northern region and Ghana at large. We equally hope your appointment will be of utmost benefit to Dagbon students. With Dr. Gazali Issahaku at the helm of affairs of BACE, DASA is optimistic that, you will bring your expertise to the fore, to help make the BACE greater. DASA assures you of its full commitment to support you whenever need be, to help in the smooth running of the university. May your steps be well guided as you take on the mantle, of yet another enviable position. Once again, the Dagbon Students Association (DASA) wishes to congratulate you on your appointment as the Principal of Bagabaga College of Education (BACE). Signed Sule Iddrisu (DASA Regional Secretary) 30.04.2023 LISTEN Some parts of Techiman in the Bono East Region were left flooded following heavy rainfall. The havoc which occurred on Thursday, 27 April, 2023 started from 4:00pm to 9:00pm The 5 hours of flooding left most residents and motorists stranded. 42 houses, 6 electricity poles and a school block were affected at Ahembroniso. Other areas such as Sansama, Ahenfie, Anyinabrem, Abanimu and other suburbs of the Techiman South Municipality were greatly affected by the rain. Some residents who spoke to this portal disclosed that they may lose their farm produce because they fear they cannot transport the food stuff from their farms to marketplaces. Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Director for Techiman South, Mr Eric Aseidu, says one Mr Yussif Issaka met his untimely death due to the heavy downpour. He however applauded the Techiman Municipal Fire Command for their yeomans work as they made two separate rescues in the midst of the downpour. For his part, the Techiman municipal fire commander, DO III Henry Esson urged the residents to change their attitude towards managing natural disasters. He said, dumping rubbish into the gutter serves as a catalyst for floods. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is struggling in many opinion polls ahead of the May elections. Challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu has promised to mend strained ties with Turkey's Western allies, a move which could be bad news for Moscow and might pose a dilemma for the European Union. With Turkey's economy in crisis, Kilicdaroglu is ahead of Erdogan in many polls. Kilicdaroglu has promised economic reform and a diplomatic reset with Turkey's Western allies. "Some of the relations, such as with the United States, with Nato, with the EU, are going to come back, predicts political scientist Zeynep Alemdar of Istanbul's Okan University. "Since a Western orientation is no doubt going to be one of the first priorities of a new administration." Erdogan's deepening ties with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, involving energy deals and purchases of Russian weapons, are straining relations with some of Turkey's Western allies. Turkey, a member of Nato, is blocking Sweden's membership bid. However, Zaur Gasimov, a professor of history and expert on Russia at Bonn University, says that Moscow sees Erdogan's foreign policy as an asset. "It is not perceived by Moscow as pro-Russian. It's perceived as pro-Turkish and tough pro-Turkish. But it is also not perceived as pro-Western. I guess that is the main aspect that fits into the agenda in Moscow," said Gasimov. Energy, tourism and support in Syria Turkey depends heavily on Russian energy, tourism, and cooperation in Syria. So untangling ties with Moscow will not be easy. "It would be tough to balance relations with Russia," said Alemdar. "No matter what, given the economic interdependency between the two countries. "So, one would hope for a renewed and better relationship with the EU in terms of the green transition as well, for example, so that the Russia relations can also be rebalanced again," added Alemdar. Turkey's poor human rights record caused its EU membership bid to be frozen long ago. Relations are now more transactional, for example, Ankara's EU deal to host Syrian migrants in exchange for cash. Kilicdaroglu vows a new constitution based on rights that will allow Turkey's EU bid to advance. But Alemdar warns such a reset poses the EU a dilemma. "I think the relationships with the EU would definitely be much better from Turkey's side. But the ball is in the EU's court because, with the migration deal and its domestic effects in Turkey, I think it would be would be necessary for the EU to devise new ways of interacting with the Turkish government as well," said Alemdar. Some Europeans happy to see Erdogan go Given that several EU members are opposed to Turkey's bid, some observers suggest that some European figures may welcome a change in Turkish leadership. "This Europe is not the Europe of a decade or two decades ago when Erdogan first came to power, and Turkey's accession talks started. Europe no longer wants enlargement, observes Asli Aydintasbas of the Washington-based think tank, the Brookings Institution "The EU is no longer willing to see Turkey as a member of the club. And as such, Erdogan is a transactional partner, a person they can engage in a given situation, but a person whom they know is never going to be part of the European club works for their long-term interests. "An opposition victory would smooth out the wrinkles in the relationship, but it would force Europeans to think hard about Turkey and whether or not they see Turkey as part of the club. Neither Washington nor Europe is prepared for a post-Erdogan world," concluded Aydintasbas. Analysts point out that Turkey's Western allies were surprised when Erdogan's AKP Party stormed to power in 2002. A Kilicdaroglu win, they say, could again see diplomats scrambling. 30.04.2023 LISTEN Naadi-Ziara community is located in the Dorimon Area Council in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region. The community with a population of about 200 residents have been drinking from an ancient well for decades. The incredible plight of women and children in Naadi-Ziara community is that they trek for over five kilometers for water. The community water collection system- the well is poorly constructed and contaminated. It is not only the health risk of being infected with water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and dysentery, the mechanism of using a rope and a gallon to draw water put minors at a very high risk. The wall protecting the well is approximately at knee level and this increases the risk of children falling into it when there is a slip. The community have made frantic effort to reach out to appropriate authorities and equally appealed to politicians, some development partners, government and the likes but to no avail. The community continues to bemoan the decades of neglect in terms of their socio-economic need. The people of Naadi-Ziara are therefore appealing to philanthropists, Non- Governmental Organizations, government and all well-meaning persons to come to their aid to enable them get portable water. Tahiru Lukman Tel: 0209154057/ 0551018778 Email: [email protected] 29.04.2023 LISTEN Let me start by saying that I am not an indigene of Ekiti State but Oluwafunmilola, my beloved wife, is from the famous Awosusi family in Aramoko-Ekiti, which, by the by, is only a stones throw from Ijebu-Jesa, my Native Nazareth in Osun State. So, apart from being a stakeholder in the Ekiti project, so keen has my interest been in the Fountain of Knowledge that I authored a touching tribute, Funmi Olayinka: Yes, I knew her, to Olufunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, the late Deputy Governor of the State, who died on April 6, 2013. That said, there are basic principles about social ties and development that help to stabilize and ensure the growth of a society. A cardinal principle out of the lot is apprenticeship. Insignificant as it might appear in these modern times, apprenticeship holds the key to the substantial stability of the society, especially, within the political landscape. Within the hierarchies and the Modus Operandi of the political parties, seamless office distribution is also central to the continued sustenance of party organization. During succession time, internal dynamics and power play, this reflects in all kinds of pranks, machinations and deliberate manipulations, which become overtly manifest, obviously, with unintended consequences. However, such albatross could be avoided if the principle of mentorship and apprenticeship is embraced by all. By this, the question of competence and experience is being adequately taken care of; and, afterwards, stability is ensured. Intractable conflicts are avoided and internal wrangling is eliminated. In the end, the political party is stronger for it. A case in hand is between former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Biodun Oyebanji, his successor in office. Well, one cannot but notice the smooth sail of the party machinery during the electioneering and the general elections. And Oyebanji is not just learning the ropes because he has been part of the system from the outset. So, while Fayemi should be commended, other political parties should learn from the 'Maturity of Ekiti.' For instance, to say that political parties that are now in crises did not get the dynamics of change right cannot be too far from the truth. Is it any wonder therefore that such conflicts have become open-ended in shape and size? For reasons best known to them, certain individuals have created power blocs, expecting that their demands must be met; otherwise there would be no solution. Not unexpectedly, it is an opportunity for some people to become rich. Yes, they are being mischievous! But unless their bidding is done, achieving peace becomes a very risky and costly business. Whereas if we had heeded the advice of our ancient fathers, the man who's to become the next governor would have been adequately prepared for the office! So, everybody would have known that he's the governor-in-making; and all internal strife would have been settled even before presenting him to the electorate. In 1979, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, presented political candidates men of impeccable character and credible pedigree for governorship positions. Bola Ige (Old Oyo, now Oyo and Osun States); Olabisi Onabanjo (Ogun State); Lateef Jakande (Lagos State); Adekunle Ajasin (Old Ondo, now Ondo and Ekiti States); and Ambrose Ali (Bendel, now Edo and Delta States). There was no acrimony or bickering because these were not only very solid people in the society but also leaders who had passed through the furnace of mentorship since the Action Group (AG) days before getting to where they were at the time. In other words, they didnt just wake up one day, wanting to be governor. So, the electorate voted for them without any hassles. But what do we have these days? The nouveau riche, the impious cabal and the man with the seeming power and control of violence now crowding together and scheming dangerously to become governors; plus a society that delights in justifying bad behaviors with sentiments! In the olden days, debates were used as a tool for picking credible leaders. Democracy came to Nigeria and debates were introduced to help ascertain competent candidates for political offices. But it was ridiculed! Remember the bo o tie soro, o ti wole of the University of Ibadan (UI) fame. Its showing up again! But, again, that belonged to the ancient times when the Remi Fani-Kayodes dominated our political space like a plague. It only manifested itself at the UI some three decades back. It is unfortunate that ours has become such a dangerous society that, if care is not taken, a thug can become governor. A complete fool can demand to have a shot as Nigerias first citizen. In fact, Nigerians will just wake up one day and find a man without sound pedigree at the helm of the country's affairs. And who will stop him, once he has the backing of the moneybags? The more reason society should strive to return Nigeria to sane times. Those who want to play politics or participate fully in political affairs must make a commitment to public life. They must also live their lives in accordance with that commitment. A man who has never been elected even by his own colleagues, either in school or outside the school environment, can hardly become a successful politician. One thing about Fayemis case is that he did not support Oyebanjis emergence for the purpose of superintending his successors actions but to save the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State from headaches. One other thing thats working for JKF, as Fayemi is fondly called by his admirers, is that Oyebanji went through mentorship. Otherwise, the story would have been different! Of course, thats why the former governor is now at peace even as the state looks forward to experiencing sustainable development. The governor will be able to build on his predecessors foundation, which is a plus for the ruling party because a new government would have started all over again, abandoning what his predecessor has done. The irony of it is that, eventually, nothing will be achieved, since nothing is coordinated. From the look of things, Fayemi is a very good mentee of President-elect Bola Tinubu. Unlike others who were also mentored by Tinubu, Fayemi remains a leading star. The more reason his altruistic step should not be misconstrued for one who wants to exert undue influence or control over Ekiti State. The truth is: JKF has left! However, he ensured that he did not leave the party in tatters. He also ensured that thered be continuity of development in the state. With regard to Oyebanji, that he has started on an excellent note is no longer news! Discreet investigations have shown his administration as prudent and driven by basic urges and desires for institutional changes. He is not an Owambe or Awa la wa nbe leader. Instead, he is a seasoned technocrat who has a good grasp of the sociology of Ekiti State and the chemistry of its people. It is also on record that he has been tapping into the windows of international opportunities as a significant step in bringing back the agrarian heritage of the state. While Nigerians wish the governor well, he should focus on development projects that will further endear his administration to the hearts of the good people of Ekiti State. To this end, if he needs to get thinkers, let him pay for them so that they can come up with brilliant ideas that will sincerely address the needs of the people. May the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us peace in Ekiti State! *Komolafe wrote in from Ijebu-Jesa, Osun State, Nigeria ( [email protected] ) The Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has slammed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for challenges being faced by the banking sector. According to him, some reckless policies implemented by the government have eroded the capital of some banks in Ghana. He said the implementation of governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) is having a toll on the various banks making it impossible for them to lend to businesses. In a tweet on April 29, the Minority Leader lamented, I am deeply concerned about the current state of our banking sector, especially the impact of government policies on our local banks. Its no secret that many of these banks, which are essential to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are facing severe financial difficulties. Under the leadership of Alhaji Bawumia, the Head of EMT, the NPP government has implemented policies that have seriously eroded the capital of most of our banks. This is having a devastating effect on their ability to lend to businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of our economy. Dr. Forson opined that stakeholders engage in some discussions on how to support local banks. I believe its time for a serious discussion about how we can support our local banks and help them weather this difficult period, he suggested. Background Ghana's move to restructure its local currency and overseas debt resulted in the first loss on record for two of the countrys top banks. GCB Bank Plc , the country's largest lender by assets, posted a GH593.4 million ($50.5 million) net loss for the year 2022. According to Bloomberg, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd., the biggest by market value, also reported a loss of 297.8 million cedis. Banks operating in West Africa's second-largest economy have taken a hit of about $1.4 billion, according to Bloomberg calculations, as Ghana restructures most of its public debt, estimated at 576 billion cedis. Read below Dr. Ato Forsons tweet folks, I am deeply concerned about the current state of our banking sector, especially the impact of government policies on our local banks. Its no secret that many of these banks, which are essential to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are facing severe financial difficulties. Under the leadership of Alhaji Bawumia, the Head of EMT, the NPP government has implemented policies that have seriously eroded the capital of most of our banks. This is having a devastating effect on their ability to lend to businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of our economy. I believe its time for a serious discussion about how we can support our local banks and help them weather this difficult period. citinewsroom The Convention People's Party (CPP), leadership and members gathered at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Memorial Park in Accra, to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the death of Ghana's first President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Osagyefo Dr. Nkrumah founded the CPP, which worked to achieve Ghanas independence in 1957 but was deposed in a military coup on February 24, 1966. The CPP Chairperson and Leader, Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankumah, led members of party leadership and contemporaries of Osagyefo Dr. Nkrumah to honour Osagyefo at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the CPP Leader stated that Ghanas First Prime Minister, died in exile on April 27th, 1972. The Chairperson, the CPP leadership, and members of the party laid wreaths on his tomb and called at the Otublohum Palace on the Paramount Chief and good people of Odododiodio, a Parliamentary seat won by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1951. After the overthrow, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah lived in Conakry, Guinea, she said. He travelled to Romania for medical treatment in August 1971, but died on April 27, 1972, at the age of 62, in Bucharest, Romania. After being buried in Conakry, Guineas capital, and later relocated to his hometown of Nkroful, in Ghanas Western Region, he was laid to rest in the mausoleum. Rare antiques from Ghanas independence are housed at the mausoleum. Nana Kumankumah stated that the party still believed in the former presidents beliefs, identifying him as an Africanist, political theorist, and revolutionist who deserved a proper funeral following his death. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in Nkroful, Gold Coast, Ghana. Despite growing up in a small fishing village, he attended college in the United States. He graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Arts (1939) and a Bachelor of Theology (1942), and continued his studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned Masters of Philosophy and studies (1942, 1943). GNA 30.04.2023 LISTEN Dr. Barbara Ayesha Anawana Karbo, Head of the Accident and Emergency Department of the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH) said men's lackadaisical attitudes regarding sexual health treatment must change. She expressed concern that most men conceal or avoid discussing their health needs and that they are sometimes hesitant to have an honest discussion about their sexual health history and current problems when they visit health facilities. Dr. Karbo went on to say that most men do not seek immediate care for a variety of health issues, and when they do, they do not open up about their problems, particularly those concerning their reproductive systems. Dr. Karbo, an Emergency Medicine Physician, issued the warning during the weekly "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility," a Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination in order to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy. The Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office launched the public health advocacy platform "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" to investigate the elements of four health communication approaches: informing, instructive, persuasive, and urging. Speaking on the topic of "First aid at home and basic life support," Dr. Karbo noted that male mortality is higher than female mortality because women address their worries openly without hiding anything, but men keep it hidden, sometimes even from their families. Dr. Karbo went on to remark that health practitioners relied on the information they were given to provide therapy; as a result, accurate and exact information made it easier for healthcare providers to get to the root of the illness. She went on to explain that men tended to self-manage their health difficulties, which frequently aggravated their position, and that men needed to change their thinking and obtain regular health exams. The IMaH Accident and Emergency Specialist warned that there were a lot more males in the health sector, and as a result, they could prefer to be cared for by someone with whom they would feel comfortable discussing their health status in depth. She stated that men's unwillingness to seek healthcare may be one of the reasons they die younger than women, despite the fact that public health facilities are more readily available to women in the country. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency Tema, urged health personnel to provide a welcoming environment for men to share their health concerns using both informal and official approaches. He noted that there is a need for a greater understanding of the male gender, emphasizing the need for health institutions to create unique, gender-sensitive approaches to providing male healthcare. Mr. Ameyibor emphasized that most health facilities are gender-sensitive, and he requested a paradigm shift to better accommodate guys and their health needs. He also urged the media to initiate a broad-based discussion about men's health issues as a public health enhancer that can help raise awareness of a health problem, boost understanding about health themes, and make a health topic or problem more relevant, so sensitizing the public. -CDA Consult || Contributor Vietnamese model Co Ngan has revealed that she got back together with her American entrepreneur boyfriend Wynn Katz about 18 months ago. Co Ngan's 75-year-old boyfriend drives her around on April 26, 2023. Photo from Ngan's Instagram Co, 29, said that during the pandemic, due to social distancing rules, she and her now 75-year-old boyfriend Wynn Katz were having to maintain a long-distance relationship, which led to frequent arguments. After Katz's 73rd birthday in the summer of 2021, the couple had a huge row and did not talk for weeks before deciding to end their relationship. "I was stressed about not having an American visa despite waiting for a year. Our work and plans had to be postponed as Vietnam and the US closed international borders. At the end of 2021, after I was scheduled for an interview for the American visa, I felt better," said Co in an interview with Ngoi Sao on Thursday. "Around this time, Wynn also started to text and check up on me frequently. Both of us had not dated anyone else until that time, so we decided to get back together. Only a few close connections of ours knew that we started to date again." On Monday, Co reunited with her septuagenarian lover in the United States after three years apart. The couple is now staying in Los Angeles, California. Co revealed that she flew to the United States three days after her visa was granted, and didn't have enough time to arrange her work in Vietnam. "I only informed my mother and younger brother about my plans. I havent thought about immigration and will probably just stay for a few months. We do not have any marriage plans either, as we argue a lot. Everything will have to wait for its right moment," Co said. The couple first met in 2019 when Katz was visiting Vietnam on business after talking to each other on Instagram. The billionaire was impressed with Cos honesty and liberal views. Before returning to the United States, Katz confessed his love to the young model and promised to give her everything she wanted. But Co turned him down as they had only known each other for a short time Love-struck Katz didn't give up and continued chasing her until she accepted his advances. Since then, the couple have gone on trips to various places including Cambodia, Singapore and China. Co is staying with her billionaire boyfriend in a villa in Los Angeles. Photo from Ngan's Instagram Due to their busy schedules, Co stays in Vietnam while Katz stays in the United States, in what is largely a long-distance relationship. Despite promising to go on trips together once a month, Katz has not been able to spend much time with his girlfriend which has left him insecure. In June 2019, the aging billionaire proposed to Co while the couple were on vacation in Seoul, South Korea. They later had an engagement party at a six-star hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Katz is the owner and designer behind Rough Roses, a fashion brand famous for handbags and leather belts. Co is a well-known model. The Ayawaso Central Municipal Directorate of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) marked the 2023 Accra World Book Capital (AWBC) with a reading party for students and residents of the municipality. Mrs. Rhoda Akueteh, Director of Ayawaso Central NCCE, told reporters that the reading session gave students and citizens the opportunity to read anything from a book. She emphasised the importance of reading in early childhood development, noting that parents and other stakeholders must encourage citizens' love of reading. Mrs. Akueteh went on to declare that the reading party would be replicated in other parts of the municipality, with a request to duty bearers to spread the word. Mr. Emmanuel Benefo, Public Relations Officer, Ayawaso Central Municipal Education Directorate, thanked the program's organisers, emphasising that reading was an academic deficiency affecting many students in the municipality and that consistent reading would help them broaden their horizons. He indicated that the local education directorate would continue to encourage such projects in order to spark students' interest in reading more to learn more. Since 2001, UNESCO has designated a city as the World Book Capital. The Accra World Book Capital 2023 campaign aims to foster positive social change in Accra by encouraging people to read and utilise books. The week-long event began on Monday and ended on Friday, April 28, 2023. The event's theme is "Reading to Connect Minds for Social Transformation." The AWBC was a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) strategy that sought to foster the habit of reading in children and society as a whole. Accra is Africa's fourth city to win the policy competition this year. The title promotes the domestic book industry, libraries, books, reading, literacy awareness, book culture, tourism, and the cultural heritage of the city. Accra's triumph in 2023 so confirms UNESCO's admiration for the numerous efforts done to develop the habit of reading and promote books in Accra and Ghana as a whole. -CDA Consult || Contributor Oninku Drive Number One School has presented an award it received for emerging first for its outstanding performance during the 66th Independence Day parade in Tema, to Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten Member of Parliament (MP) Tema East Constituency. Mr. Isaac Ashai Odamtten, Member of Parliament (MP) Tema East Constituency, got an award from Oninku Drive Number One School for coming in first place for its remarkable performance during the 66th Independence Day parade in Tema. The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council handed the award to the school in recognition of its outstanding performance in the parade competition. During the procession, Mr. Odamtten, MP for Tema East Constituency, praised the school's students, headmistress, and staff for enhancing Tema's, particularly the constituency's, image. He added that the country's educational structure was designed to help pupils develop their intellectual and vocational abilities. "When you go through basic school, we expect you to demonstrate literacy, numeracy, and any talent you have, and so some of you will have technical skills, life skills, and things that will allow you to start life after secondary school," he explained. Mr Odamtten advised that in order for these expectations to be met, a suitable climate, a teaching technique, and the availability of learning and teaching materials, as well as an effective administration, were required. He stressed that the school's present record indicated that children will achieve academically if they were given a sound foundation and a suitable atmosphere to learn in. The MP applauded the school's administration for taking risks and pushing themselves to succeed. Madam Theresa Kpontsu, the headmistress of Oninku Drive Number One Junior High School, said an online course organized by MUSHAF under the Israeli government taught her how to empower and promote the well-being of her students. She went on to remark that as a result of the dynamics, the school's administration has had a significant influence, resulting in the children's outstanding achievement. She emphasized that the pupils' discipline was one of the primary reasons for the school's success during the parade. -CDA Consult || Contributor The UK said Saturday it was readying its final evacuation flight for British citizens from war-torn Sudan, airlifting nearly 1,900 people out during fragile ceasefires. But some of those fleeing the fighting between warlords in Sudan, now in its third week, said they had been forced by the British government's rules to leave relatives behind. The Royal Air Force (RAF) flights began on Tuesday from the Wadi Saeedna airfield north of Khartoum, limited initially to UK passport holders and immediate relatives who have British residency. But after strong criticism at home, the government late Friday allowed Sudanese doctors working in Britain's National Health Service (NHS) to join the flights. Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell denied the government was abandoning anyone in Sudan, after it was accused by opposition parties of repeating the mistakes of its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. "I don't think there's a single Brit in Khartoum who won't know about the evacuation and the flow of people who've been coming to the airport indicate that that is correct," he told the BBC in Nairobi. But Mitchell added: "We can't stay there forever in such dangerous circumstances." Some 2,000 Britons in Sudan had signed on to a Foreign Office list, and anyone eligible was given until Saturday morning to reach the airfield for processing and boarding of the final flights. A total of 1,888 have been taken out on 21 flights, including on the final one due to depart Wadi Saeedna later Saturday, the Foreign Office said. The eligibility criteria still left UK nationals with family in Sudan facing the choice of coming home or staying, despite the risks, if their relatives had no right of residency in Britain. And more than 20 NHS medics from Sudan were initially told they could not board the flights because they were not British nationals, UK media reported. Sudanese doctor Abdulrahman Babiker, who works in a hospital in the northern English city of Manchester, was one of those refused a place at first before he was allowed to join an RAF flight to Cyprus. Still trapped "I am happy that I am finally in a safe place, away from a war and on my way back to the UK," Babiker told the BBC. "At the same time I feel down that my family -- my dad, mum, brother and sister -- are still endangered by this deadly fighting in my country," Babiker added. "I am thinking about them now and trying to work out what I can do to help them escape the danger zone." The British government said it was maintaining consular support at exit routes to the north and south of Sudan, as well as at the eastern city of Port Sudan. The airlifts began after Sudan's warring parties agreed an initial three-day US-brokered ceasefire, which was then formally extended, though fierce fighting has resumed. "We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long-term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Saturday. Many Britons and other nationalities were trapped in Sudan after heading back to visit family during Ramadan. Thousands gathered in central London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the festival concluding the Islamic fasting month. Performers at the gathering offered prayers for Sudan. "We know there are many Londoners whose country of origin is Sudan, and there are many Londoners who are really worried about their families and friends stuck in Sudan," London mayor Sadiq Khan said at the event. "It's really important that the Foreign office continues to help those Brits and Londoners who are stuck in Sudan." Vice President Bawumia and His Confidante, Chief Akilu Sayibu 30.04.2023 LISTEN In an era where dubious schemes around Campaign financing have been identified as a major contribution to the abuse of Political office and Corruption with impunity, it has become increasingly troubling to the conscience of hundreds of Ghanaians on various social media platforms to have an unemployed former deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Exports Promotion Authority (GEPA), who prides himself as Aide and confidante of the Vice President, Dr Bawumia, make loud claims how he has been able to buy some 57 delegates in his constituency to Vote for the Veep in the upcoming NPP flagbearership race. Contributing to a discussion on his Candidate, Dr Bawumias dwindling prospects of winning the upcoming Presidential primaries, Chief Akilu Sayibu, the man with no known salaried job since he was sacked from GEPA, bursted out he had some 57 delegates now, even as a former Parliamentary candidate, in his pocket who would do as his whims and caprices please. I have 57 delegates in my pocket. Even Angels cant tell who to vote for. I am their President. Akilu Sayibu, early 2022 on WhatsApp group; A New Breed of Ghanaians Paradoxically, he lost the contest in 2012 at the Tamale north constituency. But where were these 57 delegates? What happened to his hold on delegates at the time? Is it the case his Lord, Dr Bawumia had not become Vice President as yet? Your guess is as good as mine! ENIGMA! This was said over a year ago and so one would assume it was one of those vain speeches but wed be wrong. Chief Akilu in yet another WhatsApp group exchange on why he thinks Dr Bawumia would win the NPP Presidential Primaries, repeated same braggadocious feat to be in full control of the minds of some 57 delegates of the NPP in Tamale North constituency where he failed woefully to win for the party in 2012. I am not an MP but over 57 relatives in my constituency are delegates. They will vote who I want them to vote. Chief Akilu Sayibu, 29th April, 2023 on WhatsApp group, Help Nana Rule Ghana. Consequently, the Vote buying Akilu has advised the leading candidate Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen after a successful execution of the Accra version of the Aduru Woso Walk, to focus on winning (buying) delegates instead of assembling thousands of Ghanaians to prove his love by the ordinary Ghanaian and apparently, an important reason to be voted for, by the delegates. Now schemes like what Chief Akilu Sayibu confesses to, raise serious questions on the kind of government Ghanaians can expect in the very unlikely event the Vice President, Dr Mahamud Bawumia becomes President with juicy appointments handed over to people like Chief Akilu Sayibu whose major contribution apart from registering an online media agency to advance the cause of the Veep, has been the ability to buy votes of some 57 delegates to render them slaves of his choice and caprices. But the deeper question remains how an unemployed man garners temerity to arrogate for himself the status of a financier for some 57 NPP delegates in the Tamale North Constituency merely by a close association with the Vice President of Ghana. Indeed, his last publicly known source of salary ended once he was sacked in June 2018, but he boldly commits Vote Buying and heralds same as a reason his candidates never materialising anticipated victory. Meanwhile on the international front, Vote buying has been seen as a threat to freewill of humans with a right to choose in all sane considerations, who to lead them in a cause and as a major nourishment to corruption. The Young African Leadership Initiative YALI, has published some effects of Vote buying in a media resource published in May 2017. In the report as presented by Thierry Uwamahoro, a former senior program officer with the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), some effects of vote buying are identified below. First, Uwamahoro posits, Vote buying is rarely an isolated action as it perpetuates corruption throughout the entire political system. He opines, when a candidate chooses to pay for support, rather than compete fairly for votes, they show a disregard for democratic norms and a willingness to use illegal means. If they see that buying off supporters worked during the election, what is to stop them from using that strategy in other areas of governance? He quizzes. This is clearly the situation Ghanaians stand to face with characters like Chief Akilu Sayibu working for the Vice President of Ghana to be made the NPPs flag bearer by all means apparently foul. It remains illegal for any candidate to go about a Vote buying spree and even more perverse, have their assigns and Aides, tout it loudly in public spaces to further worsen efforts to ensure sanity within our Politicos. For a party like the NPP which has an age old record of association with solid Democratic credentials, this comes as a tragedy. A second effect of Vote Buying is the fact that Vote buying obstructs the democratic process by interfering with the rights of citizens to freely decide who will represent them and their interests. This can result in the candidate with the deepest pockets winning the election, rather than the candidate who would best serve the constituents, Uwamahoro said. Ideally, elections create a social contract between candidates and constituents who voted with the presumption and holy expectation that the candidates will govern along the lines of their stated policy platforms. Yet here we are with Vote Buying from Aides to a Flagbearer aspirant with no convincing message properly calved to win delegates and the disappointed Ghanaian populace in his uninspiring handling of the Ghanaian economy. Wait, is it the case theyre involved in Vote buying as a means to cushion the suffering delegates JUST FOR THIS WHILE THEY NEED THEIR VOTES? ENIGMA!! Yet another dire effect of Vote Buying the YALI scholar identifies is the fact that Vote Buying enables poor governance and undercuts citizens ability to hold their elected officials accountable. I mean once delegates have successfully been commoditised and votes paid for, they would naturally have no morally good reason to demand responsible governance. If a candidate believes all they need to do to be elected is pay off voters and government officials, they will have no good incentive to be responsive to issues their constituents care about. Issues like water and sanitation, education and unemployment, Uwamahoro said. Even more, Vote buying presents a huge impediment in the way of potential leaders. Along with damaging the candidates credibility, vote buying deters aspiring political leaders from running for office because it suggests that money, rather than ideas or experience, is how to win an election. People like Chief Akilu have proved ill-gotten money is the way to win elections and that is outright foul play. That discourages qualified candidates from running for office, while entrenching corrupt officials in their positions, Uwamahoro said. In places where vote buying is common, candidates face the dilemma of needing to mobilize most of their resources to buy the votes and assuming offices with significant debts from campaign financing. This explains why most good men become complicit in all forms of nation wrecking deals because they owe so much from their campaigns and must find monies to take care of such debts once theyre in government. In fact, Chief Akilu Sayibu, an Aide and self acclaimed confidante of the Vice President, is not some philanthropist who would go about financing the needs of random ordinary Ghanaians but an opportunist who carefully selects delegates from the Tamale north constituency like hes claimed publicly to be doing, just for the pleasure of their votes. This means in the unlikely event Dr Bawumia becomes flagbearer and President, people like Chief Akilu would be given juicy appointments to be able to first recoup their losses before peradventure, they would attend to the needs of the suffering masses. This is a self gratification exercise that helps no one in the end as the rich and the poor gap gets widened. Finally, international standards have it established that in a true democracy, every citizen has the right to stand for office, subject to reasonable considerations. Uwamahoro identifies Vote buying makes it impossible to meet these standards by unduly penalizing potential candidates who are at an economic disadvantage. Amongst these groups often rendered incapable of competing with these Vote buyers are women and minority politicians who are not known to control huge contracts and monies. To conclude, this remains a call to all sane and fair minded Ghanaians to resist the regime of Vote buying politicians as seen in the campaign of the Vice President. The effects are dire and a major setback in the development of our nation, Ghana. Let us arise and shame empty politicians whose only resort is vote buying to ascend to seats they cannot functionally occupy. Thank you! Heavy fighting again rocked Sudan's capital Sunday as tens of thousands have fled the bloody turmoil and a former prime minister warned of the "nightmare" risk of a descent into full-scale civil war. Army forces clashed with paramilitaries in downtown Khartoum as deadly hostilities have entered a third week despite the latest ceasefire, which was formally set to expire at the end of Sunday. "There has been very heavy fighting and loud gunfire every few minutes since the early morning on my street," one southern Khartoum resident told AFP by phone. Clashes were reported around the army headquarters in central Khartoum, and the army also carried out airstrikes in the capital's twin city of Omdurman across the Nile River. A Maxar Technologies satellite photograph of scores of evacuee buses at the Argeen Sudan-Egypt border crossing. By - (Satellite image 2023 Maxar Technologies/AFP) Foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate thousands of their citizens by air, road and sea since the fighting plunged the poverty-stricken country into deadly turmoil on April 15. Millions of Sudanese have endured crippling shortages of water, food and other basic supplies, while tens of thousands have fled to neighbouring countries, with more on their way. Satellite images showed long bus convoys at the Egyptian border, while the UN said tens of thousands had escaped to Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic. Activists demonstrate in front of the White House, calling on the US to intervene to stop the fighting in Sudan, on April 29, 2023. By Daniel SLIM (AFP/File) The turmoil could deepen further in the power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Sudan's former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warned that the conflict could deteriorate into one of the world's worst civil wars if not stopped early. "God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play," Hamdok told an event in Nairobi. "I think it would be a nightmare for the world." Risk of famine The violence has killed at least 528 people and wounded about 4,600, the health ministry said Saturday, but those figures are likely to be incomplete. The fighting has affected 12 out 18 states across Sudan, including the Darfur region, the ministry said. The UN World Food Programme has warned the violence could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people already need aid to stave off famine. The warring sides have agreed to multiple truces but none has taken hold, as chaos and lawlessness have gripped Khartoum, a city of five million, and other regions. The latest three-day ceasefire -- due to expire at midnight (2200 GMT) Sunday -- was agreed Thursday after mediation led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the United Nations. Map of Sudan and neighbouring countries as civilians flee the country during a fragile ceasefire. By Sophie RAMIS (AFP) As the battles have raged regardless, the rival generals have taken aim at each other in the media. Burhan again branded the RSF a militia that aims "to destroy Sudan" while Daglo called the army chief "a traitor". Sudan was ruled for decades by Islamist-backed strongman Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted by the military in 2019 after mass pro-democracy protests. The coup brought Burhan and Daglo to power, and they seized full control in another coup, in 2021, before turning on each three weeks ago. Tens of thousands flee Debris scatters the ground in the market of El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, after at least 96 people were reported killed in the city acoording to the UN. By - (AFP/File) UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged negotiations to end the bloodshed. "There is no right to go on fighting for power when the country is falling apart," he told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television on Saturday. "My appeal is for everything to be done to support an African-led initiative for peace in Sudan." Guterres also said on Twitter that "the UN is scaling up efforts to help people seeking safety in neighbouring countries". About 75,000 have been displaced by the fighting, the UN said. A ferry transports some 1,900 evacuees from Sudan across the Red Sea to the Saudi King Faisal navy base in Jeddah, on April 29, 2023, during mass evacuation efforts. By Fayez NURELDINE (AFP) At least 20,000 have escaped to Chad, 4,000 to South Sudan, 3,500 to Ethiopia and 3,000 to the Central African Republic, it said. The fighting has also triggered a mass exodus of foreigners and international staff. Saudi Arabia said it had taken almost 4,880 people to safety on ships across the Red Sea. A US-organised road convoy arrived in Port Sudan Saturday to join the exodus, the State Department said. And the UK Foreign Office said just under 1,900 Britons had been taken out on 21 flights, following similar mass airlifts by France, Germany and other nations. Change in the number of refugees from Sudan, by destination country, under the UNHCR mandate. By Nalini LEPETIT-CHELLA, Laurence SAUBADU, Sabrina BLANCHARD (AFP) Fighting, looting and lawlessness have raged in the Darfur region. In West Darfur state, at least 96 people were reported killed in the city of El Geneina, the UN said. "What's happening in Darfur is terrible, the society is falling apart, we see tribes that now try to arm themselves," Guterres said. Darfur is still scarred by a war that erupted in 2003 when then Bashir unleashed the Janjaweed militia, mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes, against ethnic-minority rebels. The scorched-earth campaign left at least 300,000 people dead and close to 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures. Bashir was charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court. The Janjaweed later evolved into the RSF, which was formally created in 2013. A government that serves its citizens always acknowledges failure and even apologizes to its citizens for broken promises. However, since Akufo Addo's leadership is not for the people but rather for the survival of the political party, its politicians, and the appointees, the NPP government has failed to apologize to the people they have disappointed, since assuming power almost seven years ago. Instead, greed and the thirst for continuous power wouldnt let people like Richard Ahiagbah accept EIU's assertions that the NDC will win in 2024. This article will reveal why the NPP government has failed. If the Ghanaian media is not afraid of Akufo Addo and is doing an excellent job, the NPP government wouldn't have any platform to lie about its accomplishments or declare that it will break the 8th cycle. On November 25, 2022, I wrote 1,000 Years Of The NPP Being In Opposition, Won't Be Enough Of A Punishment For What Akufo Addo And The Party Have Done To Ghanaians, after analyzing the destructive nature of this government and how they deceived Ghanaians. The collapse of Ghana's economy and both domestic and foreign investments has nothing to do with Mahama, COVID, or the Russian-Ukrainian war; instead, the president, Akufo Addo, and his relative, the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, are to blame for their pervasive corruption and incompetence. Even though Gabby Otchere-Darko doesn't hold any post in the government, he is part of the destructive force. As director of communications, Richard Ahiagbah is paid to make nonsensical and illogical comments; therefore, he will continue to do that. He will continue to claim that the NPP will break the eighth cycle even if the party has destroyed Ghana, and stolen COVID funds that should have been used to create employment for the thousands of unemployed youth. Despite the widespread corruption that caused both domestic and foreign investments to decline, Ahagbah will still tell Ghanaians his party will win. On what basis can Richard Ahiagbah or any NPP politician claim to have delivered the best government ever seen in Ghanaian political history and that, as a result, they are deserving of victory in 2024? According to Akufo Addo, Mahama is unqualified, dishonest, and corrupt; as a result, the people ought to grant him the authority to improve the country. He was handed power, but today Ghana is a wasteland, its poor people are jobless, leading to crime and suicides. Akufo Addo claimed that if he is elected, he will protect the public's finances, but instead of doing so, he advanced corruption by refusing to remove any NPP officials involved in significant corruption scandals from office. The country is deeply in debt, with Ghanaians unaware of the purpose of the funds, even though they failed to finish all the uncompleted projects of the previous administration. He could not even complete one-tenth of the projects that were started by the previous administration. So, Richard Ahiagbah, if you don't mind, what has the NPP government achieved to ensure that this dismal political party wins in 2024? Akufo Addo is the most criminal president in Ghana's political history, not just the most corrupt. Even though many people came up against Mahama's best administration, including heads of churches, Mensa Otabil, Ace Ankomah, and others, we are unable to locate the same individuals to protest against this destructive cartel that has been institutionalized as a democratic government. In the eyes of any intelligent person, what does a president appointing his relative as finance minister mean? Though Ghanaians permitted, such appointments are uncommon in politics. Are you not naive to think that appointment will advance Ghana? The NPP government has failed because such appointments merely expand the corruption's tendrils. Since it appears that many NPP politicians fear Akufo Addo, none of them were able to stop the tragedy that has befallen the country. The only thing left for the NPP government to do is to place the blame for their apparent failure on Mahama, COVID, and the Russia-Ukraine war after the economic collapse. There have been compilations on several platforms, including the official website of the NDC government, revealing the achievements of John Mahama, although Ghanaians have been requesting the same from the NPP government, it has never been provided because they have nothing to offer. However, idiots like Richard Ahiagbah and Bawumia will come to tell Ghanaians that We will break the 8th cycle, which even tells Ghanaians that the entire government has a mental problem. Who claims the NPP is unaware they will no longer be in power in 2024? Akufo Addo is aware of this, which is one of the reasons he stated twice that he would do everything in his power to keep the NPP in power. This was followed by Bryan Acheampong's idiotic statement that the "NPP will never hand over power." Since everything they said against Mahama has increased by 500%, under the NPP government, they are aware that they have lost their trust and are completely rejected by the people. As domestic and foreign investments crashed, widespread corruption destroyed the nation's infrastructure and stopped the thriving business activities at the ports. The president is approving the illegal mining he professes to be fighting against. The government has neglected to look into several murder cases, including the Ayawaso shooting incident, and the murders of journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale and J.B. Danquah-Edu, among others. This indicates to Ghanaians that the goal of this regime is not to aid the poor but rather to plunder by using force or murder to gain power. How much money has Ghana lost since the foundation of the bogus cathedral hasn't even been started? How much money has Ghana lost as a result of the destruction of governmental buildings, including judges bungalows, and the hospital that served the people of La-Teshie-Nungua? And how many businesses did Akufo Addo ruin once the scam E-Levy failed? Akufo Addo has been exposed in his illegal gold trades, which cost Ghana billions of dollars annually by Al Jazeera. He now threatens the media company to apologize. Does he think Al Jazeera is one of the weakest media outlets in Ghana that he can threaten? Do NPP leaders, such as Richard Ahiagbah, believe that Ghanaians as a whole are foolish because they are silent despite the harm that Akufo Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta have done to the country? Is Akufo Addo foolishly hoping that Jean Mensa will rig the elections once more like they were rigged the last time? Akufo Addo ought to be aware that a silent voice is more dangerous than one that is protesting. Never refuse to give someone what they want when they are sick, tired, hungry, or in need. Everyone is aware that Akufo Addo does as he pleases and doesn't even give a damn if people die in the process, but this time, Mr. President, there is a season for everything. Following the president's Al Jazeera expose, which went viral globally, Akufo Addo gained notoriety as one of Africa's most nefarious leaders. Now that a large number of people, even non-Ghanaians, want this administration down, the NPP has no right to instigate violence and lay the blame at Mahama's feet as they have in the past. They have gone too far with the fabrications, lies, and charges they have brought against the former president. An Accra High Court has discharged three out of the four public officers who were charged by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for failing to declare their assets. The OSP had informed the court that it had filed a nolle prose qui to the effect that it had no basis to continue with the prosecution of the three officers. The officers are James Keck Osei, a Civil Servant working at the Office of the Vice President, John Abban, and Peter Archibald Hyde, both senior officials of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority. Mr Issah Siedu, another public servant, who was also accused, was, however, not discharged. After the publication by the Office of the Special Prosecutor about their declaration of assets, it came to light that as at January 6, 2023, Mr Osei had submitted his forms to the OSP before he was charged on February 9, 2023. In the case of Mr Hyde, on the day he was charged, he had proceeded earlier in the morning to the OSP to present his forms, but he was asked by the Office to return in the afternoon. However, he was given a criminal summons when he reported. The two others; Seidu and Abban, submitted their forms later. The OSP stated that it would amend Seidu's charges pending further investigation by the Office. The Office had earlier held that it was fulfilling its mandate by going after public officials who may be breaching the law as established. Meanwhile, Issah Seidu has sued the Customs Division of the GRA, one Alex Takyi, a businessman, and others over 10 containers of rice said to have been imported from Vietnam, but which the businessman allegedly claimed was from Thailand. The matter is currently pending at an Accra High Court in relation to the ownership of the rice. GNA Director of Communications of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Richard Ahiagbah, has belittled the Economic Intelligence Unit's report that suggests the main opposition NDC will win the 2024 general elections in the wake of Ghanas economic woes. He said the current global economic challenges were occasioned by several problems rather than mismanagement on the part of the government. Even Jesus or Prophet Mohammed will not be able to manage the countrys economic challenge stemming from the said difficulties, he said. Mr Ahiagbah made the comment on Friday, 28 April 2023. He said no economic messiah could survive the global economic challenges. He denied the economic crunch being experienced by Ghanaians was the doing of the NPP. ''If you run an economy that is driven by imports, how will you survive some of these shocks? he queried. ''We have an import-driven economy, he said. Mr Ahiagbah explained that Ghanas economic challenges are threefold: The Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war as well global economic recession. These are not the doing of the government, he stressed. ''Some of the things said in the EIU's report tie in with the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) propaganda over the years, he argued on Accra-based Citi FM. For his part, one of the aides to former President John Dramani Mahama and NDCs parliamentary hopeful for Abura Asebu-Kwamankese Constituency in the Central Region, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the NPP does not deserve to be retained in government and for that matter must be booted out for mismanaging the economy. Source: Classfmonline.com Pope Francis on Sunday called on Hungarians to be open toward migrants as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the country. The appeal a blatant contrast to Hungary's veteran leader Viktor Orban came during an open-air mass attended by 50,000 people in Kossuth Lajos Square in Budapest. "Let us encourage one another to be increasingly open doors," the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff said. "It is sad and painful ... to see closed doors. "The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others ... the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor." Orban, who was elected to a fourth term in April 2022, has espoused anti-migration rhetoric to defend what he calls a Christian Europe since coming to power in 2010. Throughout his visit to a country where nearly 40 percent of the 9.7 million inhabitants say they are Catholics, the Pope has emphasised that he wants a welcoming attitude towards those fleeing poverty or conflict zones. Comfort On Saturday, Pope Francis gave a speech to refugees mostly from neighbouring Ukraine and poor people at a Budapest church. Orban's government has welcomed those fleeing the war in Ukraine, which borders Hungary. But social welfare activists say there is barely a support system in place and Orban's insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow has also alienated Ukrainians. On Saturday, Pope Francis met Gergely Karacsony, the mayor of Budapest and one of Orban's main political opponents. He also held brief talks with Bishop Hilarion, who was ousted as head of the Russian church's department for external relations by the Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch Kremlin backer. The Pope will deliver a speech at a private Catholic university in Budapest before returning to Rome. The IMF can best protect the future of children in Ghana, by demanding anti-corruption reforms before providing funds for the government that has bankrupted their nation. It can do so by: 1) Asking for passage of new laws by Ghana's Parliament giving prosecutorial powers to the Auditor General. 2) Demanding new laws being passed under a certificate of urgency, to end public procurement sole-sourcing. 3) Demanding passage of new laws banning all mining in forest reserves to protect the remainder of Ghana's priceless natural heritage. 4) Demanding new laws requiring all ministerial and high level public sector appointees to publicly publish their assets, and those of their spouses, before assuming office - and immediately after their tenures end. 5) Demanding passage of new laws indemnifying whistleblowers from prosecution and guaranteeing their being rewarded with 30 percent shares of recovered stolen public funds made possible by their whistleblowing. The children of Ghana know just how caring the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, is. She must not let them down. No. No. No. Bailing out their leaders without laws to drastically reduce high-level corruption will be tantamount to fetching water in a wicker basket. Ghana's rapacious and hard-of-hearing ruling elites must be left to stew in their own juice if they resist the aforementioned reforms designed to curtail the egregious and ruinious state-capture rent-seeking designed to send their personal net worth to stratospheric heights, which is ruining the future of children in Ghana. Enough is enough. Case closed. Yoooooooo... LAS VEGAS (AP) State emergency managers are projecting clean-up and repair costs of at least $10.6 million following severe winter storms that affected rural parts of Nevada in March. Nevada Division on Emergency Management spokeswoman Gail Powell said Friday the amount is expected to increase as state, tribal and local entities complete assessments and apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance. The cost estimate came after President Joe Biden issued a disaster declaration authorizing FEMA cost-sharing funds for damage from flooding, landslides and mudslides from March 8 to March 19 in Douglas, Eureka, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral and Storey counties. All but four of Nevada's 17 counties and Yomba Shoshone tribal lands were included in an emergency declaration initially enacted March 9 by Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo following a series of wet winter storms that swept off the Pacific Ocean, dumping extraordinary amounts of snow in the Sierra Nevada and rain on rangelands. U.S. 95, a key highway between Las Vegas and Reno, was closed for several days due to a rock fall near Walker Lake in Mineral County. Eric Holt, emergency services director in Lincoln County, said it will cost several million dollars just in his eastern Nevada county to repair roads, a washed-out spillway at the Echo Canyon dam and other infrastructure. He pointed to a 75% cost share from FEMA and said there was no way Lincoln County would have been able to cover repair costs itself. The declaration from the president, a Democrat, said federal funds also will be available for hazard mitigation measures statewide. 30.04.2023 LISTEN India and Bangladesh have close and friendly defence relationship that covers diverse areas of cooperation and is guided by the spirit of their shared sacrifices during the Liberation War of Bangladesh. Defence cooperation between India and Bangladesh has made significant progress in the last few years. It is depicted in the exchange of visits between the leaders of the two countries, as well as the conduct of training programmes, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). Bangladesh Army Chief General S.M. Shafiuddin Ahmed has just completed a tour to Delhi to further strengthen the defense and bilateral ties between the two nations. Bangladesh General's tour destination in India, manifests his respect for Bangladesh and the historic and existing good relations between the two armies. Bangladesh Army Chief General S.M. Shafiuddin Ahmed, who on Thursday arrived India for a three-day visit, met General Manoj Pande, the Chief of the Army Staff, and discussed anti-terrorism collaboration and overall bilateral cooperation. Apart from this, the two Army chiefs also discussed various issues pertaining to enhancing and strengthening interoperability, training, and overall bilateral cooperation as part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations. During General Ahmeds visit, he will also meet Indias senior military and civilian leadership where he will discuss avenues for enhancing India-Bangladesh defence relations. After meeting General Manoj Pande, General Ahmed later called on General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Air Marshal A.P. Singh, Vice Chief of Air Staff, Defence Secretary and the Foreign Secretary. The Ministry of Defence informed that he was also briefed on the Indian indigenous defence equipment manufacturing eco-system by the Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Army Design Bureau. An Implementing Arrangement for UN Peacekeeping Operations and Training Cooperation between Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK), India and Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (BIPSOT), Bangladesh was signed between both Armies during the visit, the defence ministry official added. The Bangladesh Army Chief was the Reviewing Officer for the Passing Out Parade at Officers Training Academy, Chennai on April 29. He also visited the Officers Training Academy Museum and interacted with the cadets of the passing out course. The Ministry of Defence said that India and Bangladesh share the historical legacy of cooperation and support during the Liberation War of 1971. The active engagement on the defence side includes high-level exchanges at the level of Service Chiefs, conduct of the inaugural Annual Defence Dialogues by the Defence Secretaries, Tri- services and Service-specific Staff Talks. The exchange visits of Bangladesh Mukti Jodhas and Indian war veterans take place every year in December to mark the Victory Day celebrations in Dhaka and Kolkata, the ministry officials added. The Bangladesh Army Chief commenced his visit by paying tributes to the fallen heroes of the Indian Armed Forces by laying a wreath at the National War Memorial on Thursday. The General was accorded a Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns after which he called on General Manoj Pande, the Chief of the Army Staff. Significance of regular bilateral visit At present, India and Bangladesh share a warmer relationship, and they are cooperating in the various socio-economic, political, military, technological, and cultural contexts of South Asia. There are now regular reciprocal visits by leaders of their governments and armed forces. President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi paid a landmark visit to Bangladesh in December and March 2021 respectively. Undoubtedly, these regular top-level visits play a significant role in consolidating the dynamism of contemporary ties. Because, the visits provided an opportunity to renew bonds between the two countries based on a shared geographical space, shared heritage, and shared history. Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pranay Verma last month proposed Dhaka to develop and produce defence equipment jointly while inviting Bangladesh Armed forces to benefit from India's cost-effective and high-quality military gear. The envoy also expressed India's readiness to partner with Bangladesh in its defence modernisation through the $500 million Defence Line of Credit extended by New Delhi to Dhaka earlier. The Bangladesh Army chief praised India's defence manufacturing capabilities and proposed closer cooperation between the two sides for closer defence industry partnership. The visit of Bangladesh General is testimony to the high priority that both countries attach to each other and their desire to further strengthen this relationship based on shared values, mutual trust, and understanding. It will act as a catalyst for closer coordination and cooperation on a host of strategic issues. Ongoing talks between the top leadership of the armed forces can help dispel misconceptions harboured by both parties and are contributing to a mutual understanding of each others viewpoints. Growing Indo-Bangla relations It is noteworthy that Indias relationship with Bangladesh is one of the main pillars of its Neighbourhood First and Act East Policies. Recently, India and Bangladesh enjoy robust and multifaceted bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, including trade and connectivity, energy and power, border management, defence and security, culture, and people-to-people links. Understandably, Bangladesh is key to Indias land links eastwards. When Prime Minister Hasina came to power in 2009, Dhaka assured Delhi that it would never allow even an inch of its territory to be used by any extremist activity against India in line with the formers zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy. New Delhis major security concerns in seven sisters had already been addressed significantly by Bangladesh. Former DG of the Indian National Security Guard said recently that the security challenges India faced in its northeastern region have been controlled and managed, in part thanks to the enormous assistance Bangladesh has provided. India is today one of Bangladeshs most important economic partners. Bangladesh is Indias largest trade partner in South Asia and India is the second largest trade partner of Bangladesh. Despite the pandemic, bilateral trade grew at an unprecedented rate of 14 percent from USD 9.46 billion in the year 2019-20 to USD 10.78 billion in 2020-21. Bangladesh is also Indias most important development partner both in terms of value and range of cooperation. India extends about a third of its total global development assistance under the lines of credit to Bangladesh. The recent trend of military ties Bangladesh is one of the most outstanding strategic military partners of India from a security standpoint. Defence cooperation has seen significant progress in the last few years. This push is demonstrated in the exchange of visits between leaders of the two nations, as well as the conduct of training programmes, joint exercises, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). Bangladesh is a long-time tested and genuine strategic friend of India. Apart from economic cooperation, major engagements in border management, counter-terrorism, capacity-building, technology exchange, space research, cyber security, connectivity, shipping, and other areas of cooperation are expanding. Under joint training and exercises, the defence services of both countries are now participating in joint exercises, medical assistance, and training programmes. SAMPRITI, the joint military exercise operation to counter terrorism completed its 10th edition at Jashore Military Station on June 16, 2022. The exercise provided an opportunity for the contingents from both Armies to understand each others tactical drills and operational techniques as well as to share their experience in Counter Insurgency/ Counter Terrorism, Peace Keeping, and Disaster Relief Operation under the United Nations mandate. As the Bay of Bengal, regions are prone to cross-border organized crimes such as human trafficking, and fake currency, arms, and narcotics smuggling, a high level of cooperation between security agencies can help tackle such challenges as well as secure maritime trade for littoral countries, especially for Bangladesh. Though Bangladesh is heavily dependent on China for conventional military weapons, some security expert views that time has come to move away from a single source supply of defense equipment and thus China needs to be balanced by strengthening defence cooperation with India and Russia too. It is worth mentioning Bangladesh and China have an umbrella agreement on defence cooperation signed in December 2002, under former PM Khaleda Zia. During Prime Minister Hasinas 2017 visit to India, the two countries signed a series of agreements and MoUs for enhancing cooperation in the field of national security, and strategic and operational studies. Both the countries inked a pact on the defence cooperation framework apart from signing an agreement for extending a $500 million Line of Credit (LOC) for the purchase of military hardware. To conclude, India-Bangladesh bonhomie in the security dimension has undeniably reached new heights in the past few years and it can easily be speculated that Indo-Bangladesh strategic relations will continue to add more depth and momentum in the defence and security aspect of the bilateral relationship as both countries are committed to address each others concerns and work towards common solutions. India can assist Bangladesh in achieving the goal of implementing Bangladeshs visionary military plan, Forces Goal 2030. This could assist in bolstering bilateral ties and reflecting better bilateral understanding. This visit is highly important for Bangladesh and India in the region. Indrajit Kumar is an educator, Op-ed columnist, international affairs analyst and freelance researcher. The Ghana National Association of Private Schools week celebration has taken place in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region with a call on the Government, the Ghana Education Service (GES), and other regulatory bodies to relax some of their rules to help promote and encourage private schools. The launch of this years GNAPS week celebration is under the theme Education is a right: Stakeholders must Support Low-Cost Private School Children. It was observed with some school children carrying placards with various inscriptions as they marched through the principal streets of Bolgatanga and finally converged at the Ghana Health Service Training Centre. The GNAPS week celebrations theme for this year seeks to draw attention to a very important segment of private school children who attend private schools that are located in deprived communities with modest facilities and low-capacity staff yet they offer quality education comparable to the public schools. In his speech delivered at the launch, the President of the GNAPS Dr. Damasus Tuurosong said every social intervention that targets the poor and marginalized in society should be supported by Government. He noted that yet private schools (PS) are left to fend for themselves lamenting that perhaps the Ghana Education Service (GES) did not appreciate the crucial role played by private schools in educating the Ghanaian child. Dr. Tuurosong stated that there is a need to re-orient policymakers into realizing that some private schools are also social interventions aimed at providing education in communities where there is no access to quality education. He added that, according to the 2019 USAID Report, the Upper East Region charges the lowest school fees in Northern Ghana, and possibly the entire country, with an average GHC212 per year or GHC70.67 annually. However, the National Schools Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA), the National Teaching Council (NTC), and the National Council for Curriculum (NaCCA) are all placing charges that are crippling the operations of private schools. The Upper East Regional Director of Education Bright Armston Lawoe, who doubles as the guest of honor, advised proprietors to work hard to ensure discipline in their various schools, especially in some Senior High Schools. He further urged that students should be encouraged to forge ahead in their education ladder. A plane laden with humanitarian aid on Sunday landed in Sudan, where deadly clashes between the forces of rival generals have raged for just over two weeks. The aircraft took off from the Jordanian capital Amman and arrived in the eastern city of Port Sudan bearing eight tonnes of cargo including surgical material to support Sudanese hospitals and volunteers from the Sudan Red Crescent Society, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said. Fighting erupted on 15 April between troops loyal to General Abdel-Fattah Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) led by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo in a dispute over the RSF's integration into the military as part of the transition towards civilian rule. Neither side has managed to land a decisive blow as the death toll has risen, according to the country's health ministry, to 528 people. Thousands of civilians have been wounded in the clashes and thousands have left their homes. Hassan Faraz, who was waiting in Port Sudan to board a ship headed for Saudi Arabia, told Reuters news agency: "I was hoping that while I'm here things would be resolved and that there would be some kind of reconciliation, or some kind of peace settlement. "Unfortunately that is not in the near future, it doesn't seem like this." Faraz added: "I'm hopeful for Sudan. It is an amazing country, beautiful people, a lot of potential there, and I hope I can contribute to it no matter where I am in the world." Scenes Bodies have remained in the streets in the capital Khartoum, said the ICRC on Sunday. Patrick Youssef, the ICRC's Africa regional director said that the Sudanese Red Crescent was trying to clear away the corpses. Mediators from across the world have struggled to persuade either side to observe ceasefires. A bloc of east African nations put forward a initiative for the two sides to hold talks. Burhan on Friday ruled out negotiations with Dagalo, accusing him of orchestrating a rebellion against the state. "Dagalo wants to rule Sudan, seize its resources and magnify his wealth, Burhan said in an interview with US-funded Alhurra TV, denying that he wants power for himself. Both Burhan and Dagalo have been involved in crushing pro-democracy activists and together they pushed out civilians from an interim government in a coup in 2021. Banks are now suffering because of the policies of the economic management team led by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has said. In a tweet, Dr Forson said: "I am deeply concerned about the current state of our banking sector, especially the impact of government policies on our local banks". "Its no secret that many of these banks, which are essential to supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ghana, are facing severe financial difficulties", he noted. He said: "Under the leadership of Alhaji Bawumia, the Head of EMT, the NPP government has implemented policies that have seriously eroded the capital of most of our banks". This, in his view, "is having a devastating effect on their ability to lend to businesses, create jobs, and contribute to the growth of our economy". "I believe its time for a serious discussion about how we can support our local banks and help them weather this difficult period", Dr Forson suggested. A few days ago, Bloomberg reoorted that Ghanas move to restructure its local-currency and overseas debt has resulted in the first loss on record for two of the West African nations top banks. GCB Bank Plc, the countrys largest lender by assets, posted a 593.4 million cedis ($50.5 million) net loss for the year to end-December, its first since 1993 when Bloomberg started maintaining data. Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Ltd., the biggest by market value, reported a loss of 297.8 million cedis. Bloomberg said banks operating in West Africas second-largest economy have taken a hit of about $1.4 billion as the country restructures most of its public debt, estimated at 576 billion cedis. The impairments prompted Guaranty Trust Holding Co., Nigerias largest bank by market value, to vow to slow lending and bond trading in Ghana. GCB Bank took a charge of 1.83 billion cedis after impairing its debt securities, while for Standard Chartered Bank Ghana the amount was 173 million cedis. Ghanas lenders were allowed a months extension to release full-year earnings. The nations debt rose after spending pressures from an energy crisis between 2013 and 2015 and a sweeping banking-sector cleanup in 2018 were compounded by shocks from the Covid-19 pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine. As part of the revamp, Ghana exchanged 87.8 billion cedis of local notes that paid an average of 19%, with bonds returning as little as 8.35% resulting in losses for financial institutions. President Nana Akufo-Addos government has also started discussions with international debt holders as it seeks to finalise a $3-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund. The IMF wants Ghana to bring its debt down to 55% of GDP by 2028. Before the governments interventions, it had been projected to reach 109%. Source: classfmonline.com If you continue to have symptoms after utilizing a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT), seek a laboratory test for malaria. Dr. Mrs. Dorothy Hanson, a Medical Officer at the International Maritime Hospital (IMaH), has urged the public, emphasizing that while the RPD might help with malaria diagnosis, it was not always successful due to how it was administered. Dr. Mrs. Hanson gave the advice at the weekly "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility," a Ghana News Agency Tema Regional Office initiative aimed at promoting health-related communication and providing a platform for health information dissemination in order to influence personal health choices through improved health literacy. The Tema Regional Office of the Ghana News Agency created the public health advocacy platform "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" to examine the aspects of four health communication approaches: informing, instructing, persuading, and urging. In terms of malaria, Dr. Mrs. Hanson remarked that microscopy laboratory testing has remained the 'gold standard' for malaria testing due to its dependability and precision in locating and counting the number of parasites in the patient for accurate therapy. She further claimed that if the latter's instructions were not followed correctly, some RDT could yield a negative test result even if the patient had the parasite. According to Dr. Mrs. Hanson, each brand of RDT may have specific instructions, such as the number of drops of blood to use and the number of minutes to wait before examining the results, that if not followed would result in an inaccurate diagnosis. As a result, she argued for enough training for pharmacy attendants in order for them to properly do the test and receive reliable results, which might then inform the treatment to be delivered. She advised the public to minimize mosquito bites by keeping their surroundings clean to limit mosquito breeding sites, sleeping under treated mosquito nets, spraying pesticides, and using repellents, among other things. She also advised the public to always test for malaria before taking any malaria treatments, highlighting the possibility that malaria symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. Every year on April 25, the international community observes Globe Malaria Day to reflect on the progress and challenges of the malaria fight. "Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, and Implement" is the theme for World Malaria Day 2023. Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Regional Manager of Ghana News Agency Tema, explained that "Your Health! Our Collective Responsibility" is part of a collaborative effort to establish a means for the dissemination of health information in order to influence individual health decisions by increasing health literacy. He also stated that it aims to employ the communication abilities of Ghana News Agency and medical professionals to inform the public that everyone's health is important and should be prioritized. Mr. Ameyibor stated that the health of parents should be a concern for children, and vice versa, as should the health of employees and employers, as well as the public and health experts. Mr. Ameyibor noticed that in order to develop a healthy society, everyone must be concerned about the well-being of others. According to Mr. Ameyibor, the weekly health debate platform will also be used as a beneficial communication channel for health specialists to inform the public on healthy behaviours and other general health concerns. -CDA Consult || Contributor The former Member of Parliament for the Okaikwei North constituency, Fuseini Issah, says the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will take a cue from the Economist Intelligence Units (EIU) report in order to retain the seat of government in the 2024 polls. The EIU in its latest report released on Friday, April 28, 2023, predicted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is likely to win both the presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana in the 2024 polls. The NDC, therefore, stands a strong chance of winning the 2024 presidential poll and securing a legislative majority, EIU noted. The Unit cited poor governance and economic hardship as being, largely, the deciding factors for the expected voting patterns. Speaking on the Big Issue, Citi TV/Citi FMs news analysis programme, hosted by Selorm Adoono, Fuseini Issah argued that a government under an NPP is far better than that of the NDC adding that they will work hard to be retained. For us [NPP] we are going to take it [EIU report] as they have presented. We are going to take lessons from it, where we think that we are falling short, we are going to work harder. Ghanaians will attest to the fact that a government under the NPP is always much better, the former legislator said. He observed that incumbent governments around the world including the Government of Ghana have become unpopular due to the global economic crisis. The former MP assured that Ghanaians will soon reap the benefits of the governments Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) which now seems like a bitter pill. EIU is being consistent in the last couple of years of elections. Their predictions and reports have had far-reaching outcomes when it comes to elections in Ghana. I think that incumbent governments around the world are not too popular given where the global economy is. No incumbent government now expects to be popular to easily win an election. Things will have to happen for an incumbent government to be able to retain power. Thankfully, in our context, they say elections are won even before elections come up. But we have some months to elections things might change. He added We know that we have been through some quite challenging times. They mentioned that the DDEP may cause the NPP government some disaffection, which should be expected. But on the reverse, when we start having the positives or reaping the benefits of the bitter exercise that we have gone through. Im sure that Ghanaians will be the first to attest to the fact that this was us taking chloroquine to be able to cure the malaria we had. Until we break those vicious cycles and structures we cannot make a headway. He said the NPPs presidential candidate will floor former President John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 general elections. We know former President Mahama, hes no stranger to us, he had the opportunity to be in the helm of affairs and performed abysmally. He brought the economy to its knees even when there was no global crisis. Ghanaians had to endure Dumsor for 3 to 4 years under his tenure, Fuseini Issah said. -citinewsroom Hasan Faraj was brushing his teeth on the morning of April 15 when gunfire erupted outside his building near Khartoum's airport, early shots in a war that caught him totally unprepared. The Pakistani national had recently handed in his passport to a government office, complicating any effort to leave, and his paltry stash of food and other supplies meant he would struggle to wait out the fighting at home. His solution finally came early Sunday morning when, after days of haggling with multiple Pakistani embassies, Faraj joined 51 other evacuees on a Saudi warship bound for Jeddah, clutching a special travel permit allowing him to fly home to Karachi. "I feel very privileged," the 48-year-old told AFP, recounting "very scary" days cowering from constant gunfire, shelling and aerial bombardment. Saudi naval and special forces hoisted up the evacuees. By Fayez Nureldine (AFP) At the same time, he said he was worried for the many millions of Sudanese who have little hope of escaping the ongoing fighting that pits army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, head of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The violence has killed at least 528 people and wounded about 4,600, according to the health ministry, but those figures are likely to be incomplete. "My friends, I'm really worried about them, especially in Khartoum," he said. "I know quite a few people, they have relocated to other locations which are safer, but for how long? Nobody knows." - 'Losing a country' - Sunday's operation was carried out by the Saudi navy, which for more than a week has dispatched its fleet to Sudan to help evacuate thousands of civilians from all over the world. The 52 evacuees are among thousands, from all over the world, whom Saudi Arabia has helped to escape Sudan's war across the Red Sea. By Fayez Nureldine (AFP) Well before dawn, the beleaguered passengers quietly lined up on a dock in Port Sudan, which has so far been untouched by the fighting, to board a tugboat that transported them out to the 102-metre-long corvette. As choppy Red Sea waters rocked the vessel, Saudi naval and special forces hoisted the passengers -- and their luggage -- aboard, where they were greeted with dates, juice and Arabic coffee. Some had clearly left in a rush, carrying only plastic bags with stray articles of clothing, while others like Faraj had managed to bring multiple suitcases. Faraj had even managed to pack a large white shell and bag of hibiscus leaves, souvenirs from a happier trip he made to Port Sudan as a tourist just four months ago. Sunday's group also included Badriah al-Sayed, one of the relatively few Sudanese nationals who has participated in the evacuations, aided by her husband's home country, Oman. Saudi naval and special forces perform morning prayers aboard HMS Al-Diriyah during the evacuation operation from Port Sudan to Jeddah. By Fayez Nureldine (AFP) In early April, the couple and their son had travelled to Sudan in hopes of spending a peaceful Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr holiday with Sayed's relatives, but they were soon caught up in intense urban battles. "Usually during Eid they distribute sweets, but this Eid they have distributed bullets," she said. The family's journey to Port Sudan involved days of overland travel and, at one point, five hours of walking on a road too rough for vehicles. Pulling away from Sudan's coast on Sunday morning, Sayed told AFP she was grateful for their safety but could not shake the feeling she was "losing a country". "All of the Sudanese people are sad," she said. "There's no house which has happiness inside it." - 'Very painful' - It's a feeling that Mohammed Ali, a 44-year-old Pakistani national who lived for 13 years in Khartoum, can easily relate to. Passengers were burdened with feelings of pain, worry and loss. By Fayez Nureldine (AFP) The engineering professor had left his wife and children back in Pakistan several months ago so his daughters could sit for secondary school entrance exams -- a blessing in retrospect, given how much easier it made his flight from Sudan. But it also meant that, during the long passage to Jeddah, Ali was on his own to reflect about how the war had upended their lives and would force them to start over. "It's very painful really. Because you know, my children were born here. They were studying here," he said, beginning to tear up. "Now I'm coming blank. I left everything. My house, everything. All the memories." Nine hours later, as the warship approached the Jeddah port, Ali began crying again, this time for a different reason: He was envisioning the reunion with his family. "They have been waiting for me for days," he said. Will they go or will they stay? This week South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said he would pull his country out of the International Criminal Court. Then he said he would not. South Africa has had a fraught relationship with the Hague-based war crimes court, and the issue will come to a head in August with a possible visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted by the ICC on suspected war crimes. Ramaphosa said on Tuesday that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) would aim to repeal South Africa's membership of the ICC, which hears cases of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. But on Wednesday, Ramaphosa's office said he had made a mistake, citing a communications error from the 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. When questioned by a journalist, Ramaphosa said the ANC had decided it was "prudent that South Africa should pull out of the ICC". But the presidency said that "r egrettably, the President erroneously affirmed a similar position ". South Africa will stay in the ICC South Africa will stay in the ICC, the presidency said, in line with a resolution by the ANC's national conference in December to drop a previous decision to withdraw. South Africa had started the process of leaving the ICC in 2016, following a dispute a year earlier over whether or not to arrest then president of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, who was in South Africa for an African Union summit. Bashir was the subject of an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and, as a signatory to the ICC, South Africa was obliged to obey the warrant. But it refused. It did not arrest Bashir and it started the process of leaving the ICC, which it has accused of holding double standards. The ANC decided in December to abandon the withdrawal which was ruled unconstitutional by a domestic court and instead try to change the institution from the inside. 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. Will South Africa arrest Putin? In the meantime Putin, who has been invited to a summit in South Africa of the Brics group of emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) in August, is the subject of an ICC warrant issued in March, which accuses him of forcibly deporting children from Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine a war crime. Russia denies committing any crimes, and it says the ICC has no authority given that Russia is not a member. When questioned on whether or not South Africa would arrest Putin if he came to the summit, Ramaphosa said the matter was under consideration. The ANC's secretary general Fikile Mbalula earlier declared that Putin could "come anytime" to the country. The Kremlin has said Putin would make a decision on whether or not to attend the summit at a later date. He has not travelled outside of Russia since the warrant was issued. South Africa's Russian ties South Africa and Russia have close ties dating back decades to when Russia supported the ANC's fight against apartheid. South Africa has not followed other countries in condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, saying it wants to stay neutral and prefers dialogue to end the war. Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Putin several times and that his message was clear that "there needs to be negotiation". 30.04.2023 LISTEN This publication is put out as a culmination of the countless bitter experiences and subsequent expression of total disgust at such biased or discriminatory attitudes by the Ghanaian organisers of funerals in their foreign countries of abode. Having self-styled, or self-elected, myself, as the voice for the voiceless, I could not hesitate to put out this publication to alert, or advise, my fellow Ghanaians about our attitude at funeral celebrations as organisers in the capacity of bereaved families. When I attended the funeral of my late father-in-law, Philip Basoah (Hon.), the member of parliament for Kumawu constituency on Saturday, 29 April 2023, in London, in the company of my wife (his daughter), Mr Ankrah (my father) and Kwaku Osei (my sibling), almost all as per the Akan tradition, the following incident which has necessitated this write-up, happened. No sooner had we walked into the funeral ground, shown to our seats, than we were offered drinks by the nominated female servers. We went to meet a very beautiful woman already seated on the first chair on the horizontally-arranged row of chairs we were taken to. The woman from her body language and facial expression was not happy at all. She was very angry within. The number of times that the drinks and sweets servers attended to us, the woman refused to accept anything offered to her. After about an hour into our arrival and sitting beside her, she opened up to my wife who was sitting next to her. She said, Ghanaian bereaved families in London here have a biased attitude towards people they dont know when you attend their funerals. They completely blank you as though you dont exist. They dont serve you anything. For all the duration that I have been here, nobody has made any attempt to serve me anything until you people came. I have been to a few funerals before coming here but they are all the same. This is a very bad attitude by our Ghanaian funeral organisers (bereaved families) My wife rendered immediately an apology to her and persuaded her to accept something but she refused. A few minutes later, she stood up and said she was leaving. However, she passed by the donation table to offer her sealed-envelope containing her donation before leaving. From her conversation of regret at the Ghanaian deplorable attitude at funerals which may not be intentional on the part of the bereaved families, I have decided to alert all of us Ghanaians to what goes on on the blind side of bereaved families that are not appreciating to some invited or non-invited mourners that come to mourn and sympathise with us in times of our bereavement. Back home in Ghana, things may be better and different than they prevail in abroad. The womans observations are not peculiar to any one Ghanaian funeral but across-the-board. Therefore, an effective solution must be found to redress the issue before she decides not to attend any more funerals or events organised by Ghanaians. She may not be the only person holding on to such a negative idea or impression about Ghanaians as far as the funeral celebrations for our departed loved ones are organised. I will suggest as following. There should be nominated persons to monitor the arrival and seating of mourners and sympathisers as they come in, to quickly alert the drinks servers, or the appointed persons to approach people to ask about their mission to the venue in line with our funeral traditions. By this, many newly arrived mourners may not be forgotten but served drinks and titbits, if any. This will avoid the reoccurrences of the bitter experiences of the woman under discussion. This advice goes to all Ghanaians for their future awareness when organising any function open to the public without special invitation. It is better that the woman opened up to give me a topic to write about in correction of a fault we are beset with but unaware of. Anyone coming across this publication should please forward it to their friends until it reaches all Ghanaians abroad in their nooks and crannies to help us correct the mistake raised. It is good that the woman expressed her bitterness. It is also good that I overheard the conversation and could witness her facial expression prior to her opening up or else, I would have had to silently battle with myself figuring out why such a very beautiful woman was very sorrowful and refusing any drinks offered to her. When speaking for the voiceless or defenceless people in the society, I am guided by Proverbs 31:8-9 that reads Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor. Rockson Adofo Sunday, 30 April 2023 Bank of China Limited (OTCMKTS:BACHY Get Rating) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 40,800 shares, a growth of 16.2% from the March 31st total of 35,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 86,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.5 days. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Bank of China from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Get Bank of China alerts: Bank of China Stock Down 0.2 % Shares of OTCMKTS BACHY traded down $0.02 on Friday, hitting $9.94. The company had a trading volume of 27,207 shares, compared to its average volume of 34,196. Bank of China has a 12-month low of $7.98 and a 12-month high of $10.15. The business has a 50 day moving average of $9.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $9.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $117.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.70 and a beta of 0.27. Bank of China Company Profile Bank of China Limited, together with its subsidiaries, provides various banking and financial services. It operates through six segments: Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, Treasury Operations, Investment Banking, Insurance, and Other Operations. The Corporate Banking segment offers current accounts, deposits, overdrafts, loans, trade-related products and other credit facilities, foreign currency, derivatives, and wealth management products to corporate customers, government authorities, and financial institutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bank of China Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of China and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DRAPER, UTAH (AP) Two dangerously unstable homes whose occupants were ordered to evacuate six months ago collapsed down a hill Saturday in suburban Salt Lake City. No one was injured when the unoccupied houses on the edge of the hill broke apart early in the day in Draper, about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City. Officials say the homes had been in danger due to sliding that resulted from shifing ground and breaks in their foundations. Two other nearby residences were evacuated for safety reasons afterward. With the winter snowpack melting amid the spring thaw, authorities said other homes in the neighborhood will also be evaluated. The collapses were documented in videos taken by police officers and firefighters, who went to the scene after sections of a retaining wall holding back soil fell apart and the homes began making noises. At one, metal fell from the porch ceiling moments before the second story fell backward down the hill. The other home sank downward and slid down the slope, leaving little left of the structure. City officials had issued an evacuation order in late October and said they followed up with the developer, Edge Homes, for months on engineering studies of the stability of the area. Edge Homes did not immediately respond to a call and text message seeking comment. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $7.95-$8.25 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $8.06. The company issued revenue guidance of $47.08 billion-$47.08 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $46.84 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb also updated its FY23 guidance to $7.95-8.25 EPS. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 1.2 % NYSE BMY traded down $0.84 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $66.77. 10,695,008 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,632,355. The businesss 50-day moving average is $68.92 and its 200-day moving average is $72.67. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $65.28 and a twelve month high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $140.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.63, a P/E/G ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.45. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.63% and a net margin of 15.95%. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.96 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 77.29%. BMY has been the subject of several recent research reports. Atlantic Securities increased their price target 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. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.63. Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was 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 owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms 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 completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Bristol-Myers Squibb Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. 1832 Asset Management L.P. boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1,062.5% in the 1st quarter. 1832 Asset Management L.P. now owns 3,720 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $269,000 after purchasing an additional 3,400 shares in the last quarter. NBW Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at $225,000. CIC Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at $210,000. Certified Advisory Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at $203,000. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 319.9% in the 1st quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 2,469 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $179,000 after purchasing an additional 1,881 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.51% of the companys stock. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,840,000 shares, an increase of 15.0% from the March 31st total of 4,210,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,680,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.9 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts recently issued reports on ALK shares. Wolfe Research cut Alaska Air Group from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Alaska Air Group from $71.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Barclays upgraded Alaska Air Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $54.00 to $62.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Alaska Air Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Alaska Air Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $65.77. Get Alaska Air Group alerts: Insider Activity In related news, Director J Kenneth Thompson sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.58, for a total value of $170,030.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 29,907 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,452,882.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.68% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Alaska Air Group Alaska Air Group Stock Up 1.1 % Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its stake in Alaska Air Group by 78.2% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 9,980 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $579,000 after purchasing an additional 4,379 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Alaska Air Group by 23.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 34,204 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,984,000 after buying an additional 6,520 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its stake in shares of Alaska Air Group by 7.1% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 16,847 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $977,000 after acquiring an additional 1,119 shares during the period. APG Asset Management N.V. acquired a new position in shares of Alaska Air Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $980,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its stake in Alaska Air Group by 3.4% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 17,972 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $1,077,000 after acquiring an additional 592 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.04% of the companys stock. Shares of Alaska Air Group stock traded up $0.49 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $43.46. 1,894,071 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,882,639. The stock has a market cap of $5.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 94.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.28 and a beta of 1.51. The company has a 50 day moving average of $43.56 and a two-hundred day moving average of $45.31. The company has a current ratio of 0.64, a quick ratio of 0.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49. Alaska Air Group has a fifty-two week low of $37.19 and a fifty-two week high of $56.08. Alaska Air Group (NYSE:ALK Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The transportation company reported ($0.62) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.48) by ($0.14). The company had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.19 billion. Alaska Air Group had a net margin of 0.58% and a return on equity of 17.03%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 30.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted ($1.33) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Alaska Air Group will post 6.29 EPS for the current fiscal year. About Alaska Air Group (Get Rating) Alaska Air Group, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of air transportation services. It operates through the following segments: Mainline, Regional, and Horizon. The Mainline segment includes scheduled air transportation on Alaskas Boeing and Airbus jet aircraft for passengers and cargo throughout the U.S., and in parts of Mexico, Costa Rica and Belize. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Alaska Air Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Alaska Air Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:AMS Get Rating) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. American Shared Hospital Services Price Performance Shares of AMS opened at $2.78 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 3.62 and a quick ratio of 3.62. American Shared Hospital Services has a 1-year low of $2.19 and a 1-year high of $3.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.18 million, a P/E ratio of 13.24 and a beta of 0.77. Get American Shared Hospital Services alerts: American Shared Hospital Services Company Profile (Get Rating) Read More American Shared Hospital Services engages in leasing radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to healthcare providers. Its equipment includes Gamma Knife, PBRT, and IGRT. The Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment is a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. Receive News & Ratings for American Shared Hospital Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Shared Hospital Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC Get Rating) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 979,287 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 27,657 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc.s holdings in AmerisourceBergen were worth $162,278,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ABC. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 1.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,220,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,601,062,000 after purchasing an additional 292,173 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in AmerisourceBergen by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,990,466 shares of the companys stock worth $946,020,000 after buying an additional 165,682 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners increased its stake in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 11.4% during the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,041,639 shares of the companys stock valued at $684,631,000 after acquiring an additional 514,462 shares during the last quarter. Edmp Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 16,285.3% during the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 2,295,746 shares of the companys stock worth $13,854,000 after acquiring an additional 2,281,735 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 42.3% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,079,491 shares of the companys stock worth $321,717,000 after acquiring an additional 618,248 shares during the last quarter. 84.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get AmerisourceBergen alerts: AmerisourceBergen Stock Down 0.3 % NYSE ABC opened at $166.85 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $33.75 billion, a PE ratio of 20.25, a P/E/G ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 0.52. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $159.64 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $160.56. AmerisourceBergen Co. has a fifty-two week low of $135.14 and a fifty-two week high of $174.63. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.30. AmerisourceBergen Dividend Announcement AmerisourceBergen ( NYSE:ABC Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.62 by $0.09. AmerisourceBergen had a net margin of 0.72% and a return on equity of 597.57%. The business had revenue of $62.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $62.77 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $2.58 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that AmerisourceBergen Co. will post 11.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 27th. Investors of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.485 dividend. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 9th. AmerisourceBergens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.54%. Insider Activity at AmerisourceBergen In other AmerisourceBergen news, CAO Lazarus Krikorian sold 5,711 shares of AmerisourceBergen stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.82, for a total transaction of $889,888.02. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 18,732 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,918,820.24. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Lazarus Krikorian sold 5,711 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $155.82, for a total transaction of $889,888.02. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 18,732 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,918,820.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.34, for a total transaction of $1,756,902.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 257,967 shares in the company, valued at $43,168,197.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 28,633 shares of company stock valued at $4,522,208. Insiders own 20.10% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on ABC shares. Mizuho upped their price target on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Evercore ISI reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $185.00 target price on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. StockNews.com initiated coverage on AmerisourceBergen in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Argus boosted their price target on AmerisourceBergen from $170.00 to $190.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 12th. Finally, TheStreet lowered AmerisourceBergen from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, AmerisourceBergen currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $180.46. AmerisourceBergen Profile (Get Rating) AmerisourceBergen Corp. engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products and business solutions that improve access to care. It operates through the Pharmaceutical Distribution Services and Other segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment distributes an offering of brand-name, specialty brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, and long-term care and alternate site pharmacies. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ABC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for AmerisourceBergen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AmerisourceBergen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Crane NXT (NYSE:CXT Get Rating) and Advanced Deposition Technologies (OTCMKTS:ADTC Get Rating) are both business services companies, but which is the superior business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, profitability, earnings, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends and risk. Risk & Volatility Crane NXT has a beta of 1.49, meaning that its share price is 49% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Advanced Deposition Technologies has a beta of 5.86, meaning that its share price is 486% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Crane NXT alerts: Profitability 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 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 This is a summary of current recommendations for Crane NXT and Advanced Deposition Technologies, as reported by MarketBeat. Insider and Institutional Ownership 70.8% of Crane NXT shares are held by institutional investors. 2.4% of Crane NXT shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 36.5% of Advanced Deposition Technologies shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Crane NXT and Advanced Deposition Technologies revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Crane NXT $3.37 billion 0.80 $401.10 million $7.55 6.27 Advanced Deposition Technologies N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Crane NXT has higher revenue and earnings than Advanced Deposition Technologies. 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. Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided EPS guidance of $8.47-$8.60 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $8.32. The company issued revenue guidance of $4.34 billion-$4.38 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $4.35 billion. Analyst Ratings Changes AIT has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Loop Capital lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $160.00 to $161.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Applied Industrial Technologies from $138.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Applied Industrial Technologies Trading Down 0.2 % AIT traded down $0.25 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $135.66. 217,789 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 175,641. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 3.14. Applied Industrial Technologies has a one year low of $88.09 and a one year high of $149.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.94 and a beta of 1.20. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $137.25 and its 200 day simple moving average is $130.95. Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement Applied Industrial Technologies ( NYSE:AIT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The industrial products company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.34. Applied Industrial Technologies had a return on equity of 26.15% and a net margin of 7.73%. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $996.44 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.46 EPS. Applied Industrial Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts forecast that Applied Industrial Technologies will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Applied Industrial Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.45%. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 21,526 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.06, for a total transaction of $3,122,561.56. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 318,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,160,703.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 4,186 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total value of $606,970.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 339,744 shares in the company, valued at approximately $49,262,880. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 21,526 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.06, for a total value of $3,122,561.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 318,218 shares in the company, valued at approximately $46,160,703.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of AIT. Raymond James & Associates lifted its stake in Applied Industrial Technologies by 13.1% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 14,939 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,534,000 after acquiring an additional 1,726 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the 1st quarter worth approximately $271,000. Citigroup Inc. increased its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 38,917 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $3,995,000 after purchasing an additional 1,262 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can increased its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 35.6% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 16,704 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,702,000 after purchasing an additional 4,388 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 53.9% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 20,446 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $2,099,000 after purchasing an additional 7,164 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.02% of the companys stock. About Applied Industrial Technologies (Get Rating) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of industrial parts and products. It operates through the Service Center Based Distribution, and Fluid Power & Flow Control Business segments. The Service Center-Based Distribution segment provides customers with a wide range of industrial products through a network of service centers. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning. ADM has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Robert W. Baird reduced their price target on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $98.00 to $90.00 in a report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $94.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. They set an outperform rating and a $100.00 price objective on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $100.78. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Up 0.1 % ADM opened at $78.08 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $42.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.80 and a beta of 0.80. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $79.34 and its 200-day moving average price is $86.26. The company has a current ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Archer-Daniels-Midland has a 12 month low of $70.02 and a 12 month high of $98.28. Institutional Trading of Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.38. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a net margin of 4.36% and a return on equity of 18.39%. The company had revenue of $24.07 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.90 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 1.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that Archer-Daniels-Midland will post 6.78 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ADM. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter worth approximately $525,111,000. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 4th quarter worth approximately $369,091,000. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 29.4% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 6,524,033 shares of the companys stock worth $524,856,000 after buying an additional 1,483,115 shares during the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 1,328.8% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 902,850 shares of the companys stock worth $83,468,000 after buying an additional 839,659 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 9.2% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 6,744,254 shares of the companys stock worth $626,204,000 after buying an additional 570,811 shares during the last quarter. 78.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Archer-Daniels-Midland (Get Rating) Archer-Daniels-Midland Co engages in the production of oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed into vegetable oils and protein meals. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Armstrong World Industries (NYSE:AWI Get Rating) had its price target raised by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $77.00 to $78.00 in a report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. AWI has been the topic of several other research reports. Loop Capital downgraded Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the company from $98.00 to $75.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their target price on Armstrong World Industries from $97.00 to $86.00 and set a buy rating on the stock 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 research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Bank of America lowered their price objective 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. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Armstrong World Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $83.63. Get Armstrong World Industries alerts: Armstrong World Industries Stock Performance NYSE AWI opened at $68.66 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $3.10 billion, a PE ratio of 15.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 1.11. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $71.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $74.03. Armstrong World Industries has a 1-year low of $66.06 and a 1-year high of $94.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 2.18 and a quick ratio of 1.35. Armstrong World Industries Dividend Announcement Armstrong World Industries ( NYSE:AWI Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The construction company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.06 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $310.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $310.86 million. Armstrong World Industries had a return on equity of 41.94% and a net margin of 16.32%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 9.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.02 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Armstrong World Industries will post 4.87 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 18th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be paid a $0.254 dividend. This represents a $1.02 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.48%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 3rd. Armstrong World Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.60%. Insider Activity In other news, SVP Mark A. Hershey sold 6,835 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.14, for a total value of $547,756.90. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,062,790.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Armstrong World Industries Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the 1st quarter valued at $29,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the 2nd quarter valued at $38,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Armstrong World Industries in the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Armstrong World Industries by 32.3% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,029 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $82,000 after buying an additional 251 shares during the period. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its holdings 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 buying an additional 602 shares during the period. 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. First Pacific Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Get Rating) by 32.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,800 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 1,654 shares during the quarter. First Pacific Advisors LPs holdings in Blackstone were worth $504,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of BX. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Blackstone in the third quarter valued at $25,000. HWG Holdings LP purchased a new position in shares of Blackstone during the third quarter worth about $28,000. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. purchased a new stake in Blackstone during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in shares of Blackstone by 133.3% in the 3rd quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 350 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Ellevest Inc. raised its stake in shares of Blackstone by 107.9% during the third quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 420 shares of the asset managers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. 62.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Blackstone alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 180,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $30.63, for a total value of $5,513,400.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 8,812,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $269,934,440.61. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, Director Joseph Baratta sold 85,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.32, for a total value of $7,337,200.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,145,448 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,875,071.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 180,000 shares of Blackstone stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.63, for a total value of $5,513,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 8,812,747 shares in the company, valued at $269,934,440.61. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders purchased 10,950,338 shares of company stock worth $18,744,064 and sold 140,757,216 shares worth $1,738,001,650. Insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Blackstone Price Performance Shares of BX traded up $2.98 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $89.33. The stock had a trading volume of 4,964,010 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,161,994. The firms 50 day moving average price is $86.79 and its 200-day moving average price is $86.94. Blackstone Inc. has a 52 week low of $71.72 and a 52 week high of $123.18. The company has a market capitalization of $63.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 108.94, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Blackstone (NYSE:BX Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The asset manager reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.97. The firm had revenue of $1.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.44 billion. Blackstone had a net margin of 12.92% and a return on equity of 18.08%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 73.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.55 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Blackstone Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 8th. Investors of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a dividend of $0.82 per share. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. Blackstones payout ratio is presently 400.00%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently weighed in on BX. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on Blackstone from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their price target on Blackstone from $94.00 to $99.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Blackstone from $100.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of Blackstone from $111.00 to $106.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Blackstone has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $103.04. About Blackstone (Get Rating) Blackstone, Inc engages in the provision of investment and fund management services. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions. The Real Estate segment includes management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, high-yield real estate debt funds, and liquid real estate debt funds. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Braemar Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:BHR Get Rating) and Iron Mountain (NYSE:IRM Get Rating) are both finance companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their valuation, dividends, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, risk, profitability and earnings. Dividends Braemar Hotels & Resorts pays an annual dividend of $0.20 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.3%. Iron Mountain pays an annual dividend of $2.47 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.5%. Braemar Hotels & Resorts pays out -166.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Iron Mountain pays out 130.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Braemar Hotels & Resorts is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get Braemar Hotels & Resorts alerts: Valuation and Earnings This table compares Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Iron Mountains gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Braemar Hotels & Resorts $669.59 million 0.37 $17.76 million ($0.12) -31.67 Iron Mountain $5.10 billion 3.16 $556.98 million $1.90 29.07 Profitability Iron Mountain has higher revenue and earnings than Braemar Hotels & Resorts. Braemar Hotels & Resorts is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Iron Mountain, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. This table compares Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Iron Mountains net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Braemar Hotels & Resorts 2.65% 4.27% 0.81% Iron Mountain 10.91% 79.49% 3.25% Volatility & Risk Braemar Hotels & Resorts has a beta of 2.35, suggesting that its share price is 135% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Iron Mountain has a beta of 0.9, suggesting that its share price is 10% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and price targets for Braemar Hotels & Resorts and Iron Mountain, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Braemar Hotels & Resorts 0 0 3 0 3.00 Iron Mountain 0 1 3 0 2.75 Braemar Hotels & Resorts currently has a consensus target price of $10.33, indicating a potential upside of 171.93%. Iron Mountain has a consensus target price of $60.00, indicating a potential upside of 8.62%. Given Braemar Hotels & Resorts stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, research analysts plainly believe Braemar Hotels & Resorts is more favorable than Iron Mountain. Institutional & Insider Ownership 75.2% of Braemar Hotels & Resorts shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 77.1% of Iron Mountain shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.7% of Braemar Hotels & Resorts shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.2% of Iron Mountain shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Summary Iron Mountain beats Braemar Hotels & Resorts on 10 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks. About Braemar Hotels & Resorts (Get Rating) Braemar Hotels & Resorts is a conservatively capitalized REIT that invests primarily in high RevPAR, full-service luxury hotels and resorts. We are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHR and are externally-advised by Ashford (NYSE American: AINC). About Iron Mountain (Get Rating) Iron Mountain, Inc. engages in the provision of storage and information management solutions. It operates through the following business segments: North American Records & Information Management Business, North American Data Management Business, Western European Business, Other International Business, Global Data Center Business and Corporate & Other Business. The North American Records & Information Management Business segment offers record management, destruction, and fulfillment services throughout the U.S. and Canada. The North American Data Management Business segment handles data protection and recovery, server and computer backup services, and safeguarding of electronic and physical media in the U.S. and Canada. The Western European Business segment offers records management, data protection and recovery services, and document management solutions throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Switzerland. The Other International Business segment offers storage and information management services throughout the remaining European countries, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. The Global Data Center Business segment p Receive News & Ratings for Braemar Hotels & Resorts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Braemar Hotels & Resorts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. President Xi Jinping on Sunday extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country's working people ahead of International Workers' Day, which falls on May 1. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, sent the greetings and wishes on behalf of the CPC Central Committee. Xi called on the working people to foster an ethos of work, foster respect for model workers, and promote quality workmanship. He asked them to work diligently and boldly engage in innovation to make solid progress in advancing Chinese modernization, encouraging them to play a leading role on the new journey to build China into a stronger country and realize national rejuvenation. Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels to protect workers' legitimate rights and interests, earnestly help them solve their problems and difficulties, and promote a social atmosphere in which work and working people are treated with reverence and great respect. Shares of The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU Get Rating) have been given a consensus rating of Hold by the seventeen research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and nine have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $13.81. WU has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Western Union in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wolfe Research upgraded Western Union from an underperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their price objective on Western Union from $15.00 to $12.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on Western Union from $12.50 to $11.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Western Union from a sell rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, April 10th. Get Western Union alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Union A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WU. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Western Union by 16.2% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 30,665 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $575,000 after purchasing an additional 4,265 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its holdings in Western Union by 137.8% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 117,142 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,195,000 after acquiring an additional 67,876 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Western Union by 14.8% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 58,715 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,100,000 after acquiring an additional 7,576 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in shares of Western Union by 18.2% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,410,073 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $45,173,000 after purchasing an additional 370,987 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its stake in shares of Western Union by 3.2% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 72,887 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $1,403,000 after purchasing an additional 2,286 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 97.66% of the companys stock. Western Union Stock Performance WU opened at $10.93 on Tuesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $11.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.07. The firm has a market cap of $4.09 billion, a PE ratio of 4.67 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.48. Western Union has a fifty-two week low of $10.07 and a fifty-two week high of $18.23. Western Union (NYSE:WU Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The credit services provider reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.35 by ($0.03). Western Union had a return on equity of 151.54% and a net margin of 20.35%. The company had revenue of $1.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.07 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.64 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 15.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts predict that Western Union will post 1.59 EPS for the current fiscal year. Western Union Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a $0.235 dividend. This represents a $0.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.60%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 16th. Western Unions payout ratio is 40.17%. Western Union Company Profile (Get Rating) The Western Union Co is a holding company, which engages in the provision of money transfer and payment services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer-to-Consumer, Business Solutions, and Other. The Consumer-to-Consumer segment facilitates money transfers between two consumers. The Business Solutions segment offers payment and foreign exchange solutions, cross-border, and cross-currency transactions for small and medium size enterprises and other organizations and individuals. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Western Union Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Union and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CBD of Denver Inc. (OTCMKTS:CBDD Get Rating) was the target of a significant drop in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 235,100 shares, a drop of 58.8% from the March 31st total of 571,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 12,984,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. CBD of Denver Stock Performance Shares of CBDD stock remained flat at $0.00 on Friday. 5,460,381 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 27,854,576. CBD of Denver has a 52 week low of $0.00 and a 52 week high of $0.01. Get CBD of Denver alerts: CBD of Denver Company Profile (Get Rating) See Also CBD of Denver, Inc engages in the production and distribution of cannabis and CBD products in Switzerland, Europe, and the US. Its brands include CBD Social Network, Black Peal CBD, and Rockflowr. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Centennial, CO. Receive News & Ratings for CBD of Denver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CBD of Denver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Societe Generale upgraded shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (NYSE:CCEP Get Rating) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Societe Generale currently has $61.15 price target on the stock. Several other research firms have also issued reports on CCEP. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $63.00 to $66.00 in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, April 14th. Argus lifted their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $60.00 to $62.00 in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.66. Get Coca-Cola Europacific Partners alerts: Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Price Performance NYSE CCEP opened at $64.47 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $57.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $54.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 0.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has a 12-month low of $41.80 and a 12-month high of $64.61. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Cuts Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Coca-Cola Europacific Partners The business also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.74 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners during the first quarter valued at $146,000. Janney Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 33.9% during the first quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 6,567 shares of the companys stock valued at $389,000 after purchasing an additional 1,663 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC lifted its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 106.0% during the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 11,613 shares of the companys stock valued at $687,000 after purchasing an additional 5,976 shares during the period. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 89.4% during the first quarter. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,914 shares of the companys stock valued at $704,000 after purchasing an additional 5,624 shares during the period. Finally, Simplicity Solutions LLC lifted its position in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 9.5% during the first quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 9,899 shares of the companys stock valued at $586,000 after purchasing an additional 856 shares during the period. 28.63% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Company Profile (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. Read More 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. Laboratory Co. of America (NYSE:LH Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $265.00 to $240.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $275.00 to $285.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $250.00 to $277.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Credit Suisse Group lowered their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America from $304.00 to $288.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Laboratory Co. of America to $300.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of Laboratory Co. of America from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $277.25. Get Laboratory Co. of America alerts: Laboratory Co. of America Price Performance Laboratory Co. of America stock opened at $226.71 on Wednesday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $229.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $234.46. Laboratory Co. of America has a 1 year low of $200.32 and a 1 year high of $263.13. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.57 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 1.35 and a current ratio of 1.63. Laboratory Co. of America Dividend Announcement Laboratory Co. of America ( NYSE:LH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The medical research company reported $3.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $3.99 by ($0.17). Laboratory Co. of America had a net margin of 6.78% and a return on equity of 15.56%. The company had revenue of $3.78 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.11 EPS. Laboratory Co. of Americas revenue was down 3.1% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Laboratory Co. of America will post 16.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. Laboratory Co. of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 26.13%. Insider Activity at Laboratory Co. of America In related news, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 173 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $253.90, for a total value of $43,924.70. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 5,341 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,356,079.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Laboratory Co. of America news, CEO Paul R. Kirchgraber sold 8,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $250.58, for a total value of $2,004,640.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 9,069 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,272,510.02. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, EVP Der Vaart Sandra D. Van sold 173 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $253.90, for a total transaction of $43,924.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,341 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,356,079.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 12,598 shares of company stock valued at $3,058,283. 0.65% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of LH. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 1.6% during the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 7,793 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $2,055,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management lifted its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 1.2% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 34,800 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $9,175,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 105.7% during the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 1,654 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $441,000 after purchasing an additional 850 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Laboratory Co. of America during the first quarter worth about $213,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Laboratory Co. of America by 18.9% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 89,167 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $23,543,000 after purchasing an additional 14,186 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.70% of the companys stock. About Laboratory Co. of America (Get Rating) Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings operates as a life sciences company, which engages in the provision of vital information to help health professionals make clear and confident decisions. It operates through the Drug Development and Diagnostics segments. The Drug Development segment consists of lead optimization, preclinical safety assessment, analytical services, clinical trials, central laboratories, biomarkers, and companion diagnostics, market access, and technology solutions. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Laboratory Co. of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Laboratory Co. of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DNB Bank ASA (OTCMKTS:DNBBY Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,600 shares, an increase of 128.6% from the March 31st total of 700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 137,500 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days. DNB Bank ASA Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of DNBBY traded up $0.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $17.59. 535,126 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 77,299. The firm has a market cap of $27.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 1.26. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $18.56 and a 200 day simple moving average of $18.55. DNB Bank ASA has a 12-month low of $15.58 and a 12-month high of $21.03. The company has a quick ratio of 1.70, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.48. Get DNB Bank ASA alerts: DNB Bank ASA Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, April 27th will be paid a $1.0048 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 5.44%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 26th. This is a positive change from DNB Bank ASAs previous dividend of $0.90. About DNB Bank ASA DNB Bank ASA provides financial services for retail and corporate customers in Norway and internationally. The company offers personal banking products and services, including savings and investment products; loans, such as home mortgages, and car and consumer loans; pet, home and property, travel, and personal insurance products, as well as insurance products for vehicles; retirement savings products; foreign exchange and treasury activities; and Internet and mobile banking services, as well as cards. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DNB Bank ASA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DNB Bank ASA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund (NYSE:EXG Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 82,100 shares, a growth of 50.4% from the March 31st total of 54,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 610,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CNB Bank bought a new position in Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Allworth Financial LP bought a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Accurate Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp raised its position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund by 330.2% in the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 4,302 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 3,302 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $42,000. Get Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund alerts: Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund Stock Up 0.8 % EXG opened at $7.81 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $7.65 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $7.71. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund has a one year low of $7.09 and a one year high of $9.31. Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund Increases Dividend About Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 24th were given a dividend of $0.0553 per share. This is a positive change from Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Funds previous monthly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 21st. This represents a $0.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 8.50%. (Get Rating) Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund acts as closed-end investment fund. It intends to provide current income and gains with an objective of capital appreciation. The company was founded on February 27, 2007 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Diversified Equity Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eli Lilly and (NYSE:LLY Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $8.65-$8.85 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.45. The company issued revenue guidance of $31.20 billion-$31.70 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $30.64 billion. Eli Lilly and also updated its FY23 guidance to $8.65-8.85 EPS. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have weighed in on LLY. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and from $421.00 to $430.00 in a report on Friday. Guggenheim reduced their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and from $395.00 to $392.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and from $432.00 to $485.00 in a research report on Friday. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and from $395.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Eli Lilly and from $375.00 to $440.00 in a research report on Friday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $395.50. Get Eli Lilly and alerts: Eli Lilly and Price Performance Eli Lilly and stock traded up $5.51 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $395.86. 5,350,064 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,684,382. The firm has a market cap of $376.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 62.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $344.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $350.86. Eli Lilly and has a 1-year low of $283.00 and a 1-year high of $404.31. Insider Transactions at Eli Lilly and Eli Lilly and ( NYSE:LLY Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.73 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.87 billion. Eli Lilly and had a net margin of 20.54% and a return on equity of 63.64%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.62 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that Eli Lilly and will post 8.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other news, EVP Anne E. White sold 2,500 shares of Eli Lilly and stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.47, for a total value of $866,175.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 57,926 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,069,621.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 205,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $342.01, for a total value of $70,112,050.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 102,543,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,071,008,458.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Anne E. White sold 2,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $346.47, for a total transaction of $866,175.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 57,926 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $20,069,621.22. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 689,703 shares of company stock valued at $237,930,004 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Eli Lilly and Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and in the 1st quarter worth approximately $107,000. Cowa LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and in the 1st quarter worth approximately $206,000. Merit Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and in the 1st quarter worth approximately $210,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and in the 4th quarter worth approximately $210,000. Finally, CIC Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Eli Lilly and in the 4th quarter worth approximately $210,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.13% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Get Rating) Eli Lilly & Co engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceutical products. The firms products consist of diabetes, oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and other products and therapies. The company was founded by Eli Lilly in May 1876 and is headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Essex Property Trust (NYSE:ESS Get Rating) issued an update on its FY23 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $14.59-14.97 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $14.84. Essex Property Trust also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $14.59-$14.97 EPS. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have commented on ESS shares. BMO Capital Markets lowered shares of Essex Property Trust from a market perform rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $239.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $235.00 to $246.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $250.00 price target on shares of Essex Property Trust in a report on Thursday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company started coverage on Essex Property Trust in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. They set an underweight rating and a $208.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Essex Property Trust from $260.00 to $245.00 in a research report on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $247.33. Get Essex Property Trust alerts: Essex Property Trust Stock Performance Shares of ESS stock opened at $219.73 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.88. The business has a fifty day moving average of $214.89 and a 200 day moving average of $217.68. Essex Property Trust has a 1 year low of $195.03 and a 1 year high of $344.55. Essex Property Trust Increases Dividend Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essex Property Trust The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a $2.31 dividend. This is a positive change from Essex Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $2.20. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $9.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.21%. Essex Property Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 122.55%. A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ESS. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 120 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 60 shares during the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 51.3% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 295 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $71,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 243 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $83,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. BOKF NA purchased a new position in shares of Essex Property Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $203,000. Finally, Wetherby Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Essex Property Trust by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 635 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $219,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.76% of the companys stock. About Essex Property Trust (Get Rating) Essex Property Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. It engages in the ownership, operation, management, acquisition, development, and redevelopment of predominantly apartment communities. The company was founded by George M. Marcus in 1971 and is headquartered in San Mateo, CA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Essex Property Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Essex Property Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Euro Manganese Inc. (OTCMKTS:EUMNF Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 92,000 shares, a growth of 42.9% from the March 31st total of 64,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 18,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.1 days. Euro Manganese Stock Performance Shares of Euro Manganese stock remained flat at $0.15 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $0.17 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $0.20. Euro Manganese has a 1-year low of $0.15 and a 1-year high of $0.35. Get Euro Manganese alerts: Euro Manganese Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles Euro Manganese Inc engages in the evaluation, exploration, and development of mineral assets. Its principal property is the 100% owned Chvaletice manganese project, which is involved in the re-processing of a manganese deposit hosted in historic mine tailings located to the east of Prague, the Czech Republic. Receive News & Ratings for Euro Manganese Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Euro Manganese and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Farfetch Ltd (NYSE:FTCH Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the sixteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $11.77. Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. JMP Securities assumed coverage on shares of Farfetch in a report on Friday, March 24th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of Farfetch from $7.00 to $7.50 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 27th. Citigroup decreased their price target on shares of Farfetch from $6.00 to $4.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 24th. Credit Suisse Group decreased their price target on shares of Farfetch from $17.00 to $13.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, KeyCorp reduced their target price on shares of Farfetch from $13.00 to $11.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 30th. Get Farfetch alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of FTCH. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Farfetch by 30.4% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 23,272 shares of the companys stock valued at $352,000 after acquiring an additional 5,425 shares during the period. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Farfetch by 96.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 253,614 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,835,000 after acquiring an additional 124,803 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Farfetch by 95.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 86,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,302,000 after acquiring an additional 42,006 shares during the period. US Bancorp DE lifted its position in shares of Farfetch by 14.2% during the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 30,731 shares of the companys stock valued at $465,000 after acquiring an additional 3,818 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of Farfetch by 94.8% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 12,848 shares of the companys stock valued at $194,000 after acquiring an additional 6,253 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.07% of the companys stock. Farfetch Stock Down 0.7 % FTCH stock opened at $4.03 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 1.41. Farfetch has a 12 month low of $3.64 and a 12 month high of $12.89. The companys 50-day moving average price is $4.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $5.83. Farfetch (NYSE:FTCH Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The company reported ($0.42) EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of ($0.42). The firm had revenue of $629.17 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $626.97 million. Farfetch had a net margin of 15.51% and a return on equity of 22.84%. On average, analysts predict that Farfetch will post -1.37 EPS for the current year. About Farfetch (Get Rating) Farfetch Ltd. engages in the retail of fashion and luxury goods. It offers womenswear, menswear, kidswear, vintage, fine watches, and fine jewelry. The company was founded by Jose Manuel Ferreira Neves in 2007 and launched in 2008 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Farfetch Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Farfetch and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Political settlement of Ukraine crisis supported by developing nations South African Ambassador to China Siyabonga Cwele has praised China's efforts to mediate the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to advance the political settlement of the crisis, saying China, as a peacemaker, is supported by developing countries and peace-loving people. Cwele made the remarks in Beijing during an interview with a group of Chinese media on Thursday, one day after President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During their talk, Xi reiterated the country's commitment to promoting peace talks regarding the Ukraine crisis, and said China will send a special representative of Eurasian affairs to visit Ukraine and other countries. The international community responded positively to the phonecall. "We commend China, in particular, President Xi Jinping's efforts to stop the conflict in Europe. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is causing untold harm to ordinary people from both sides," Cwele said. "(The conflict) is killing people, destroying infrastructure, disrupting global supplies and affecting other countries." China issued a position paper on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis in February. During his meetings with foreign leaders who have visited China in recent months, including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Xi also emphasized the need to facilitate peace talks to end the conflict. Cwele said that the conflict couldn't be ended unless parties concerned could sit around the table, talk to each other and listen to each other's concerns to find a solution. "In situations like that, you need someone who has got no personal interests to help discuss and come together to find a solution. And that's why the efforts by his excellency, President Xi Jinping, are highly welcomed," said the ambassador. China-Africa relations During the interview, the South African diplomat also spoke positively about the development of relations between China and South Africa. "Our relations with China are unique in one way. It is a relationship which is based on mutual benefit, unlike the relationship with our former friends or colonizers who tend to impose their own values on our value or systems," he said. "Our relationship with China is of 'we grow together'. It's not where 'I extract from you'. " The ambassador hailed the progress made in projects under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. "My president (Cyril) Ramaphosa and President Xi Jinping have been stressing we must move away from just broad political agreement. They encourage us to have concrete projects on the ground, from which you have material benefits to the people." Cwele talked about China's assistance to Africa in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in terms of providing vaccines and medical supplies, saying that without the Chinese aid, "our African brothers and sisters would remain exposed to the deadly virus". "That's the benefit of what happened in our relations with China. We don't feel we were colonized. There's another narrative which comes from other countries that there's some form of neocolonialism which is being practiced. And we don't see that as we are seeing mutually beneficial relations between Africa and China," he added. First Majestic Silver Corp. (TSE:FR Get Rating) (NYSE:AG) Senior Officer Todd Anthony bought 2,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$9.33 per share, for a total transaction of C$23,325.00. Todd Anthony also recently made the following trade(s): Get First Majestic Silver alerts: On Thursday, March 23rd, Todd Anthony bought 3,483 shares of First Majestic Silver stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$8.68 per share, for a total transaction of C$30,232.44. First Majestic Silver Stock Performance Shares of First Majestic Silver stock opened at C$9.57 on Friday. The company has a market cap of C$2.63 billion, a PE ratio of -16.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.14 and a beta of 0.94. First Majestic Silver Corp. has a 52 week low of C$7.59 and a 52 week high of C$13.76. The business has a 50 day moving average price of C$9.36 and a 200-day moving average price of C$10.75. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 17.57. First Majestic Silver Cuts Dividend First Majestic Silver ( TSE:FR Get Rating ) (NYSE:AG) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 23rd. The mining company reported C($0.10) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C($0.05) by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$201.20 million during the quarter. First Majestic Silver had a negative return on equity of 8.10% and a negative net margin of 18.31%. Equities analysts anticipate that First Majestic Silver Corp. will post 0.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a $0.007 dividend. This represents a $0.03 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. First Majestic Silvers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -5.26%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on First Majestic Silver from C$9.00 to C$8.50 in a research note on Friday, February 24th. National Bankshares dropped their price target on First Majestic Silver from C$14.50 to C$11.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. HC Wainwright reaffirmed a buy rating and set a C$12.00 price target on shares of First Majestic Silver in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Cormark dropped their price target on First Majestic Silver from C$17.00 to C$15.00 in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Finally, TD Securities dropped their price target on First Majestic Silver from C$11.00 to C$9.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. About First Majestic Silver (Get Rating) First Majestic Silver Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of mineral properties with a focus on silver and gold production in North America. It holds 100% interests in the San Dimas Silver/Gold Mine covering an area of 71,868 hectares located in Durango and Sinaloa states; the Santa Elena Silver/Gold Mine covering an area of 102,244 hectares located in Sonora; Jerritt Canyon gold mine that covers an area of approximately of 30,821 hectares located in Elko County, Nevada; and the La Encantada Silver Mine covering an area of 4,076 hectares situated in Coahuila, as well as surface land ownership of 1,343 hectares. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for First Majestic Silver Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for First Majestic Silver and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. First Pacific Advisors LP trimmed its stake in Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI Get Rating) by 1.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 8,497,573 shares of the pipeline companys stock after selling 91,212 shares during the period. Kinder Morgan accounts for about 2.4% of First Pacific Advisors LPs holdings, making the stock its 16th largest position. First Pacific Advisors LPs holdings in Kinder Morgan were worth $153,636,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. now owns 204,306 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $3,694,000 after purchasing an additional 6,224 shares during the last quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 11.3% in the 4th quarter. Fort Pitt Capital Group LLC now owns 2,171,316 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $39,257,000 after purchasing an additional 221,231 shares during the last quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC grew its position in Kinder Morgan by 172.9% in the 4th quarter. Metis Global Partners LLC now owns 81,717 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $1,477,000 after purchasing an additional 51,778 shares during the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kinder Morgan by 11.3% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 2,669,747 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $48,269,000 after acquiring an additional 270,422 shares during the period. Finally, MTM Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Kinder Morgan by 6.3% during the 4th quarter. MTM Investment Management LLC now owns 250,961 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $4,537,000 after acquiring an additional 14,815 shares during the period. 60.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Kinder Morgan alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Kinder Morgan news, VP Anthony B. Ashley sold 13,232 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.14, for a total value of $240,028.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 27,826 shares of the companys stock, valued at $504,763.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 12.64% of the companys stock. Kinder Morgan Price Performance KMI stock traded up $0.11 during trading on Friday, hitting $17.15. 14,690,744 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 10,632,156. Kinder Morgan, Inc. has a one year low of $15.77 and a one year high of $20.20. The stock has a market cap of $38.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.18, a P/E/G ratio of 5.34 and a beta of 0.94. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $17.29 and a 200 day simple moving average of $17.89. The company has a current ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.91. Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The pipeline company reported $0.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by $0.01. Kinder Morgan had a net margin of 13.62% and a return on equity of 8.06%. The company had revenue of $3.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.75 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.32 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 9.4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Kinder Morgan, Inc. will post 1.08 EPS for the current fiscal year. Kinder Morgan announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, January 18th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the pipeline company to buy up to 2.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Kinder Morgan Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be paid a $0.2825 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. This is an increase from Kinder Morgans previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. This represents a $1.13 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.59%. Kinder Morgans payout ratio is currently 98.23%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Kinder Morgan from $21.00 to $20.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Kinder Morgan from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, January 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Kinder Morgan from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $19.00 to $22.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Kinder Morgan in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. They set a sector perform rating and a $20.00 price objective for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $20.56. About Kinder Morgan (Get Rating) Kinder Morgan, Inc engages in providing pipeline transportation of natural gas services. It operates through the following business segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, Products Pipelines, Terminals, and CO2. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment operates major interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines and storage systems. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Kinder Morgan Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kinder Morgan and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC bought a new position in Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 13,673 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,360,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of PRU. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new position in Prudential Financial during the first quarter valued at $36,000. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in Prudential Financial by 160.3% during the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 367 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares in the last quarter. VitalStone Financial LLC bought a new position in Prudential Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $37,000. Archer Investment Corp grew its holdings in Prudential Financial by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 375 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Prudential Financial during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.33% of the companys stock. Get Prudential Financial alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have issued reports on PRU. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Prudential Financial from $104.00 to $88.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Prudential Financial from $110.00 to $99.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Prudential Financial from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $114.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Prudential Financial from $97.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 13th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Prudential Financial in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $100.67. Insider Buying and Selling Prudential Financial Price Performance In related news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total transaction of $409,299.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,214,307.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . In related news, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 4,126 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.20, for a total transaction of $409,299.20. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 12,241 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,214,307.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, EVP Andrew F. Sullivan sold 11,405 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.95, for a total value of $1,151,334.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 12,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,685. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Corporate insiders own 0.31% of the companys stock. PRU stock opened at $87.00 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $31.93 billion, a P/E ratio of -22.08, a PEG ratio of 0.70 and a beta of 1.38. Prudential Financial, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.37 and a twelve month high of $112.41. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $87.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $96.94. The company has a current ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 0.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 7th. The financial services provider reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.57 by ($0.15). The firm had revenue of $12.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.78 billion. Prudential Financial had a negative net margin of 2.33% and a positive return on equity of 13.31%. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.18 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Prudential Financial, Inc. will post 12.09 EPS for the current year. Prudential Financial Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 21st were issued a dividend of $1.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 17th. This is an increase from Prudential Financials previous quarterly dividend of $1.20. This represents a $5.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.75%. Prudential Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -126.90%. Prudential Financial declared that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Tuesday, February 7th that permits the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization permits the financial services provider to repurchase up to 2.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Prudential Financial Company Profile (Get Rating) Prudential Financial, Inc engages in the provision of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers. It operates through the following segments: PGIM, U.S. Businesses, International Businesses, Closed Block, and Corporate and Others. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PRU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Prudential Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Prudential Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hersha Hospitality Trust (NYSE:HT Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $0.39-$0.45 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.42. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Hersha Hospitality Trust Price Performance NYSE HT traded up $0.08 during trading on Friday, reaching $6.30. 532,245 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 422,858. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 2.46 and a current ratio of 2.15. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $6.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.28. The company has a market cap of $250.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 2.01. Hersha Hospitality Trust has a 1-year low of $5.76 and a 1-year high of $12.15. Get Hersha Hospitality Trust alerts: Hersha Hospitality Trust Cuts Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.05 per share. This represents a $0.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. Hersha Hospitality Trusts payout ratio is 6.43%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Transactions at Hersha Hospitality Trust HT has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. B. Riley Financial reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a report on Saturday, February 25th. StockNews.com downgraded Hersha Hospitality Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Friday. B. Riley reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Barclays cut their target price on shares of Hersha Hospitality Trust from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $10.75. In related news, Director Thomas J. Hutchison III bought 5,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $8.56 per share, for a total transaction of $42,800.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 151,319 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,295,290.64. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 22.40% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hersha Hospitality Trust Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 5,708,933 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $45,556,000 after acquiring an additional 183,089 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 4.5% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,823,991 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $22,536,000 after acquiring an additional 122,345 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,698,461 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $13,639,000 after acquiring an additional 17,776 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 1,635.3% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,310,139 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $11,162,000 after acquiring an additional 1,234,641 shares during the period. Finally, LSV Asset Management raised its stake in Hersha Hospitality Trust by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 787,202 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $7,148,000 after acquiring an additional 19,638 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 65.29% of the companys stock. About Hersha Hospitality Trust (Get Rating) Hersha Hospitality Trust is a self-advised real estate investment trust in the hospitality sector, which owns and operates hotels in urban gateway markets. Its hotel properties are located in in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, the District of Columbia, Miami, and select markets on the West Coast. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hersha Hospitality Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hersha Hospitality Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Huhtamaki Oyj (OTCMKTS:HOYFF Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 249,700 shares, a growth of 21.6% from the March 31st total of 205,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, Handelsbanken raised Huhtamaki Oyj from an underperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Get Huhtamaki Oyj alerts: Huhtamaki Oyj Trading Up 1.6 % Shares of HOYFF stock traded up $0.54 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $34.50. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $34.50 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.22. Huhtamaki Oyj has a 1 year low of $34.50 and a 1 year high of $34.81. About Huhtamaki Oyj Huhtamaki Oyj manufactures and sells packaging products in the United States, Germany, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Thailand, China, South Africa, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, Findland, and internationally. It operates in foodservice packaging, flexible packaging, and fiber packaging business areas. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Huhtamaki Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Huhtamaki Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MTM Investment Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 2.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 6,300 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 149 shares during the quarter. MTM Investment Management LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $692,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $14,955,557,000 after buying an additional 2,011,683 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,138,862 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $7,173,676,000 after purchasing an additional 351,136 shares during the period. Polen Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the third quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 15,689,512 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,518,117,000 after purchasing an additional 316,416 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,523,473 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $1,363,917,000 after purchasing an additional 218,683 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 8.6% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,226,688 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $989,536,000 after purchasing an additional 813,894 shares during the last quarter. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In other Abbott Laboratories news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the businesss 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 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 value of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares in the company, valued at $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Abbott Laboratories Price Performance Shares of ABT opened at $110.47 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $102.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $105.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories has a twelve month low of $93.25 and a twelve month high of $118.23. The company has a market cap of $191.99 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.91 and a beta of 0.67. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates 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 analysts expectations of $9.64 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.73 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed 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. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is currently 62.01%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Sanford C. Bernstein increased their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $132.00 to $133.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Mizuho lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Barclays increased their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Wolfe Research lowered their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $107.00 to $103.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.37. 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. See Also 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. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:NML Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 36,400 shares, an increase of 29.1% from the March 31st total of 28,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 165,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.2 days. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of NML. Kingsview Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund in the 2nd quarter worth about $62,000. Almitas Capital LLC increased its stake in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund by 132.0% in the 4th quarter. Almitas Capital LLC now owns 11,137 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $74,000 after purchasing an additional 6,337 shares in the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund in the 1st quarter worth about $80,000. Baker Ellis Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund in the 4th quarter worth about $83,000. Finally, Daymark Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $87,000. Get Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund alerts: Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Stock Up 1.7 % NYSEAMERICAN:NML traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $6.62. 195,513 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 171,878. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund has a 1-year low of $5.66 and a 1-year high of $7.51. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Dividend Announcement Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Company Profile The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th were issued a dividend of $0.0584 per share. This represents a $0.70 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.59%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 14th. Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Funds payout ratio is currently -227.59%. (Get Rating) Neuberger Berman MLP Income Fund, Inc is closed-end mutual fund. It seeks total return with an emphasis on cash distributions by investing in master limited partnerships. The company was founded on November 16, 2012 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Neuberger Berman MLP and Energy Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ninety One UK Ltd decreased its position in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (NYSEARCA:KSA Get Rating) by 74.2% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 224,001 shares of the companys stock after selling 643,364 shares during the period. Ninety One UK Ltd owned about 0.98% of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF worth $8,449,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 85.9% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,091 shares of the companys stock valued at $431,000 after buying an additional 4,201 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC bought a new stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF in the first quarter valued at about $222,000. Barometer Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF in the first quarter worth about $598,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its stake in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 335.8% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 308,644 shares of the companys stock worth $14,648,000 after purchasing an additional 237,816 shares during the period. Finally, Flow Traders U.S. LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF by 336.3% during the first quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC now owns 163,891 shares of the companys stock valued at $7,778,000 after purchasing an additional 126,323 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of KSA opened at $41.17 on Friday. iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF has a 1 year low of $35.78 and a 1 year high of $51.12. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $38.45 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.12. The stock has a market cap of $942.79 million, a PE ratio of 19.03 and a beta of 0.56. iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Profile The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI Saudi Arabia IMI 25-50 index, a market-cap-weighted index of Saudi Arabian firms covering 99% of the market cap spectrum. KSA was launched on Sep 16, 2015 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding KSA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (NYSEARCA:KSA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (NYSE:PAGS Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,520,000 shares, a decline of 17.8% from the March 31st total of 7,930,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,210,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.0 days. PagSeguro Digital Stock Performance Shares of PAGS traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $9.84. The stock had a trading volume of 3,184,886 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,365,135. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $8.58 and a 200 day moving average price of $9.86. PagSeguro Digital has a fifty-two week low of $7.51 and a fifty-two week high of $19.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.18, a PEG ratio of 1.01 and a beta of 1.61. Get PagSeguro Digital alerts: PagSeguro Digital (NYSE:PAGS Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.02. PagSeguro Digital had a net margin of 9.81% and a return on equity of 17.41%. The firm had revenue of $752.91 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $759.47 million. As a group, analysts predict that PagSeguro Digital will post 0.95 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Institutional Investors Weigh In On PagSeguro Digital Several analysts recently weighed in on PAGS shares. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of PagSeguro Digital from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price target on shares of PagSeguro Digital from $9.00 to $8.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 20th. Citigroup upgraded shares of PagSeguro Digital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $12.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Credit Suisse Group downgraded shares of PagSeguro Digital from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $11.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of PagSeguro Digital from $12.00 to $10.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $13.54. Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Boit C F David purchased a new stake in PagSeguro Digital in the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital during the third quarter worth $28,000. Advisors Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital during the first quarter worth $66,000. Turim 21 Investimentos Ltda. purchased a new stake in shares of PagSeguro Digital during the third quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its holdings in shares of PagSeguro Digital by 99.1% during the third quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,816 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 2,895 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.50% of the companys stock. About PagSeguro Digital (Get Rating) PagSeguro Digital Ltd. is engaged in the provision of financial technology solutions focused on consumers, individual entrepreneurs, micro-merchants, small companies and medium-sized companies in Brazil. Its business model covers the following pillars: Multiple digital payment solutions; In-person payments via POS devices that sell to merchants; Free digital accounts; Issuer of prepaid cards to clients for spending or withdrawing account balances, and Operating as an acquirer. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PagSeguro Digital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PagSeguro Digital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (NYSE:PEB Get Rating) had its price target cut by Barclays from $18.00 to $16.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, The Fly reports. A number of other analysts have also recently commented on PEB. StockNews.com started coverage on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $13.00 to $12.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $17.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on Pebblebrook Hotel Trust from $15.00 to $16.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.70. Get Pebblebrook Hotel Trust alerts: Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Stock Up 2.4 % Shares of NYSE:PEB opened at $14.23 on Wednesday. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust has a 52 week low of $12.37 and a 52 week high of $26.01. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.71. The companys fifty day moving average is $14.08 and its 200-day moving average is $14.82. The company has a market capitalization of $1.75 billion, a PE ratio of -36.49, a P/E/G ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.85. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Dividend Announcement Pebblebrook Hotel Trust ( NYSE:PEB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.34) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.18 by ($0.52). The company had revenue of $319.61 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $309.55 million. Pebblebrook Hotel Trust had a negative return on equity of 0.34% and a negative net margin of 0.73%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 29.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.06 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Pebblebrook Hotel Trust will post 1.69 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a $0.01 dividend. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.28%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. Pebblebrook Hotel Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently -10.26%. Insider Buying and Selling at Pebblebrook Hotel Trust In other news, CEO Jon E. Bortz purchased 14,865 shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $14.93 per share, for a total transaction of $221,934.45. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 1,039,967 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,526,707.31. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Jon E. Bortz purchased 14,865 shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 8th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $14.93 per share, for a total transaction of $221,934.45. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 1,039,967 shares in the company, valued at approximately $15,526,707.31. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Jon E. Bortz bought 11,000 shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was bought at an average price of $12.95 per share, for a total transaction of $142,450.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,122,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,531,220.90. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have acquired a total of 39,865 shares of company stock worth $555,064 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PEB. Versant Capital Management Inc acquired a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $28,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 429.6% during the 1st quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 2,092 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 1,697 shares during the period. C M Bidwell & Associates Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 3rd quarter worth $48,000. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Pebblebrook Hotel Trust during the 3rd quarter worth $64,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. lifted its holdings in Pebblebrook Hotel Trust by 91.6% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 4,686 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $68,000 after purchasing an additional 2,240 shares in the last quarter. About Pebblebrook Hotel Trust (Get Rating) Pebblebrook Hotel Trust is a real estate investment trust, engages in investments and acquisitions in hotel properties. Its hotels are located in markets like Atlanta, Georgia, Boston, Massachusetts, Chicago, Illinois, Key West, Miami and Naples, Florida, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, California, Nashville, Tennessee, New York, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pebblebrook Hotel Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Vietnams trade surplus reached US$6.35 billion in four months (Photo: vccinews.vn) Throughout the January - April period the domestic economic sector suffered a trade deficit of US$8.04 billion, while the foreign-invested sector enjoyed a surplus of US$14.39 billion. The four-month import-export turnover was estimated at US$210.78 billion, while both exports and imports endured declines in value. GSO reported that US$27.54 billion was generated from exports in April, a decrease of 7.3% from the previous month and a drop of 17.1% year on year. The April figure caused the four-month export earnings down 11.8% year on year to US$108.57 billion. Processed industrial products brought in US$96.1 billion, accounting for 88.5% of the total export earnings in the four-month period. Meanwhile, Vietnam spent US$26.03 billion on imports in April and US$102.22 billion in the four-month period, down by 20.5% and 15.4% respectively, with the majority of them being production materials. In the first four months of this year, the United States remained the countrys largest export market, spending US$28.4 billion on Vietnamese goods, while China was the largest goods supplier to Vietnam, earning US$33.3 billion. In order to maintain growth, the Ministry of Industry and Trade stated that relevant agencies and localities must support businesses in accessing market information in a timely manner, taking full advantage of free trade agreement commitments, and finding new markets to boost exports. The Ministry also underlined the necessity of closely monitoring global market fluctuations, and actively assessing their impacts on local production, imports, and exports in order to make appropriate adjustments and responses in support of businesses and business associations. Con Dao National Park recognised as ASEAN Heritage Park The Con Dao National Park off the coast of the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau received the ASEAN Heritage Park certificate at a ceremony held on April 28, according to the Vietnam News Agency. A corner of the Con Dao National Park (Photo: condaopark.com.vn) The ceremony also celebrated the parks 30th founding anniversary (March 31, 1993 - 2023) The Con Dao National Park covers more than 15,000ha, including over 6,000ha of land and 9,000ha of sea. It comprises 14 islands of Con Son Archipelago, located to the southeast of Vietnam. With its rich biodiversity, the park was included by the World Bank among the top priority areas among global maritime reserves. In 2013, it was named the worlds 2203rd wetland of international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, making this park the 6th Ramsar site in Vietnam and the first maritime site earning this title in the country. The park is harbouring and conserving hundreds of vascular plant species, many of which are listed in the Red Data Book. Meanwhile, the sea turtle conservation programme implemented here over the last 30 years has helped recover the population of the rare green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). Nearly 2.5 million baby turtles have been released to the nature so far. A Nicoba pigeon in the Con Dao National Park (Source: VNA) Besides, the Con Nao National Park was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park thanks to not only its unique marine biodiversity but also rich historical and cultural values. At the ceremony, the park was also granted with a certificate of merit from the Prime Minister for its achievements in turtle conservation. Vietnam leaves strong impression at Paris Fair 2023 Traditional handicrafts, typical food dishes, and special musical performances have attracted a large number of visitors to the zone of Vietnam at the ongoing Foire de Paris (Paris Fair) 2023 in the capital of France, said the Vietnam News Agency. Lacquer paintings, fine handicrafts, silk products, ao dai, brocade items, confectionery, tea, and pho, among others, have made it outstanding and attractive to visitors. Visitors to a booth of Vietnam at the Paris Fair 2023 (Photo: VNA) In particular, a special musical programme performed by artists from Vietnam and the Vietnamese Culture Centre in France has offered the audience a glance at the diverse culture of the Southeast Asian country. Pham Thi Bich Nga, a representative of the Vietnamese zone organising committee, said 34 Vietnamese businesses are taking part in the 2023 fair, an increase from last year, bringing to the event signature products such as lacquer objects, handicrafts, and apparel products imbued with the countrys identity. Vu Anh Son, head of the Trade Office of Vietnam in France, said the Paris Fair is one of the oldest and biggest of its kind in the European nation. It is a good chance to not only advertise specialities of Vietnam to French consumers but also popularise the countrys culture. He suggested enterprises further improve their product quality and diversity to meet local consumers growing demand. On this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang visited the Vietnamese firms at the Paris Fair and had a meeting with the fairs leaders. Steven Abajoli, Director of the Paris Fair, highly valued the presence of Vietnamese enterprises, noting Vietnam is one of the important partners of the fair and its participation shows the importance it attaches to this event. He expressed his hope that Vietnam with its traditional handicrafts and culture will shine at the Paris Fair. Taking place form April 27 to May 8, the Paris Fair is the biggest in France for family space, cuisine, creativity, and traditional crafts. Organisers expect the over 1,250 booths at the 12-day event will attract about 400,000 visitors. First air route linking Hanoi and Ca Mau launched Bamboo Airways opened a new route connecting Hanoi and Ca Mau on April 29, marking the first direct flight between the two localities, Radio the Voice of Vietnam reported. The carrier is operating three commercial flights per week on this route, starting from April 29. The flight is scheduled to depart from Hanoi at 7:05 a.m. and from Ca Mau at 9:55 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Bamboo Airways opens a new route connecting Hanoi and Ca Mau on April 29. (Photo: Baophapluat.vn) The new service will make use of a E190 aircraft which has a capacity of 98 passengers, including six business-class seats. Bamboo Airways will create favourable conditions in order to ensure the effective and safe exploitation of flights. Huynh Quoc Viet, head of the Ca Mau provincial administration, said the opening of the Hanoi-Ca Mau route is of great significance in facilitating travel and trade exchanges between the capital city and the southernmost locality. Ca Mau Airport currently welcomes 35,000 to 40,000 passengers per year, with the airfield having an annual capacity of receiving 200,000 passengers./. PetroChina Company Limited (OTCMKTS:PCCYF Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,243,900 shares, a growth of 24.5% from the March 31st total of 4,211,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 772,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 6.8 days. PetroChina Stock Performance Shares of PetroChina stock remained flat at $0.68 during midday trading on Friday. 154,864 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 301,083. PetroChina has a fifty-two week low of $0.37 and a fifty-two week high of $0.69. Get PetroChina alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, HSBC upgraded shares of PetroChina from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Read More Receive News & Ratings for PetroChina Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PetroChina and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSE:CP Get Rating) (NYSE:CP) Investment analysts at National Bank Financial dropped their Q2 2023 earnings per share estimates for Canadian Pacific Railway in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, April 26th. National Bank Financial analyst C. Doerksen now forecasts that the company will post earnings per share of $0.86 for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.89. The consensus estimate for Canadian Pacific Railways current full-year earnings is $4.49 per share. National Bank Financial also issued estimates for Canadian Pacific Railways Q3 2023 earnings at $1.13 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $1.17 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $4.03 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $1.13 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $1.32 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $1.50 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $5.37 EPS. Get Canadian Pacific Railway alerts: Canadian Pacific Railway (TSE:CP Get Rating) (NYSE:CP) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The company reported C$1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.06 by C$0.04. The business had revenue of C$2.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$2.45 billion. Canadian Pacific Railway Stock Up 0.8 % Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$120.00 to C$125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. Barclays cut their target price on Canadian Pacific Railway from C$90.00 to C$89.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. CIBC decreased their target price on Canadian Pacific Railway from C$128.00 to C$125.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Berenberg Bank raised their price target on Canadian Pacific Railway from C$99.00 to C$110.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 24th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their price objective on Canadian Pacific Railway from C$116.00 to C$122.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$110.67. CP stock opened at C$106.80 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of C$99.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.50, a PEG ratio of 1.81 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a current ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 51.23. Canadian Pacific Railway has a twelve month low of C$86.42 and a twelve month high of C$111.43. The companys 50 day moving average is C$104.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$103.96. Insider Transactions at Canadian Pacific Railway In other Canadian Pacific Railway news, Senior Officer Keith E. Creel sold 3,608 shares of Canadian Pacific Railway stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$77.31, for a total value of C$278,934.48. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock. Canadian Pacific Railway Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.71%. Canadian Pacific Railways payout ratio is currently 18.86%. Canadian Pacific Railway Company Profile (Get Rating) Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (NYSE:NTB Get Rating) had its price target reduced by Raymond James from $36.00 to $32.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com began coverage on Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $48.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son from $41.00 to $35.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $35.75. Get Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son alerts: Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Price Performance NYSE NTB opened at $25.73 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.55 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.62. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $29.37 and a 200 day moving average of $31.50. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son has a one year low of $24.51 and a one year high of $38.31. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Dividend Announcement Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son ( NYSE:NTB Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The bank reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $147.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $145.86 million. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son had a return on equity of 27.78% and a net margin of 36.85%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 17.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.90 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son will post 4.66 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th will be given a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 5th. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.84%. Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Sons payout ratio is currently 37.93%. Institutional Trading of Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 136.6% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 13,090 shares of the banks stock valued at $353,000 after purchasing an additional 7,557 shares during the period. Inspire Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 61.6% during the 1st quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC now owns 23,968 shares of the banks stock valued at $647,000 after purchasing an additional 9,136 shares during the period. Denali Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Denali Advisors LLC now owns 119,404 shares of the banks stock valued at $3,224,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. IFP Advisors Inc raised its stake in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 1,646.7% during the 1st quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 2,393 shares of the banks stock valued at $115,000 after purchasing an additional 2,256 shares during the period. Finally, HM Payson & Co. raised its stake in Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son by 40.0% during the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 2,800 shares of the banks stock valued at $76,000 after purchasing an additional 800 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.21% of the companys stock. About Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (Get Rating) The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Ltd. provides community banking and wealth management business. The firm operates through the following geographical segments: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, The Bahamas, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Bermuda and the Cayman Islands segment offers a range of retail and corporate banking services to individuals, local businesses, captive insurers, reinsurance and trust companies, and hedge funds. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Redwood Trust, Inc. (NYSE:RWT Get Rating) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten research firms that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation, five have assigned a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $8.81. A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Redwood Trust from $7.50 to $8.50 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Redwood Trust from $8.00 to $7.50 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. StockNews.com downgraded Redwood Trust from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $9.00 price target on shares of Redwood Trust in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Raymond James dropped their price objective on shares of Redwood Trust from $11.00 to $10.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Sunday, March 5th. Get Redwood Trust alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of RWT. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its stake in Redwood Trust by 164.5% during the first quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 3,859 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 2,400 shares during the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY lifted its stake in shares of Redwood Trust by 29.6% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY now owns 7,213 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,649 shares during the period. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY boosted its position in shares of Redwood Trust by 29.6% during the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 7,213 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,649 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its stake in Redwood Trust by 78.4% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 9,094 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 3,996 shares during the period. Finally, Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Redwood Trust by 43.5% in the third quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 10,130 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $58,000 after purchasing an additional 3,070 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.73% of the companys stock. Redwood Trust Price Performance Redwood Trust Dividend Announcement Shares of Redwood Trust stock opened at $6.28 on Friday. The firms 50 day moving average is $6.93 and its 200 day moving average is $7.22. Redwood Trust has a 1 year low of $5.51 and a 1 year high of $10.44. The company has a quick ratio of 5.29, a current ratio of 5.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.97. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th were issued a dividend of $0.23 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 14.65%. Redwood Trusts payout ratio is -55.09%. About Redwood Trust (Get Rating) Redwood Trust, Inc is a financial company, which focuses on several distinct areas of housing credit. It operates through the following segments: Residential Mortgage Banking, Business Purpose Mortgage Banking, and Investment Portfolio. The Residential Mortgage Banking segment consists of a mortgage loan conduit that acquires residential loans from third-party originators for subsequent sale, securitization, or transfer into the investment portfolio. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Redwood Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Redwood Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC bought a new stake in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund bought 68,972 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,471,000. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF accounts for approximately 1.7% of Richard W. Paul & Associates LLCs holdings, making the stock its 12th largest holding. A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in FLOT. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its stake in iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 122.7% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 112,302 shares of the companys stock worth $5,674,000 after purchasing an additional 61,884 shares during the last quarter. Roundview Capital LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 19.2% during the 1st quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 121,500 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,138,000 after acquiring an additional 19,580 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 976.0% during the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $163,000 after acquiring an additional 2,928 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 9.0% during the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 118,015 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,983,000 after acquiring an additional 9,772 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. boosted its position in shares of iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF by 126.2% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 81,715 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,128,000 after acquiring an additional 45,589 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Trading Down 0.0 % Shares of FLOT stock traded down $0.01 on Friday, hitting $50.61. 1,353,804 shares of the stock traded hands. The firms 50-day moving average price is $50.39 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $50.35. iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF has a twelve month low of $50.76 and a twelve month high of $51.10. About iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF The iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (FLOT) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in investment grade fixed income. The fund tracks a market value-weighted index of USD-denominated, investment-grade floating rate notes with maturities of 0-5 years. FLOT was launched on Jun 14, 2011 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FLOT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF (BATS:FLOT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Floating Rate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT 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 6,471 shares of the retailers stock, valued at approximately $918,000. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Walmart by 1,519.2% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 8,129,341 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,054,376,000 after purchasing an additional 7,627,286 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Walmart by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 96,570,711 shares of the retailers stock valued at $12,525,224,000 after acquiring an additional 2,712,886 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 130,176,496 shares of the retailers stock worth $16,883,890,000 after buying an additional 1,832,388 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 34.2% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,258,231 shares of the retailers stock worth $783,056,000 after buying an additional 1,340,328 shares during the period. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted 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 worth $357,339,000 after buying an additional 1,104,427 shares during the period. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Walmart alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets WMT has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $155.00 price objective on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 21st. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Walmart from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $145.00 to $160.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. Cowen lifted their price objective on shares of Walmart from $175.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 15th. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Finally, Tigress Financial upgraded Walmart from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $170.00 to $176.00 in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $165.09. Insider Activity at Walmart Walmart Trading Down 0.3 % In other Walmart news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total transaction of $122,940,535.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 266,841,420 shares in the company, valued at approximately $38,494,543,249.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In related news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 852,215 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.26, for a total value of $122,940,535.90. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 266,841,420 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,494,543,249.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 completion of the transaction, 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 21,039,627 shares of company stock worth $2,980,507,683 in the last 90 days. Company insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE WMT traded down $0.41 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $150.97. The company had a trading volume of 4,696,193 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,144,607. Walmart Inc. has a one year low of $117.27 and a one year high of $156.22. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firms fifty day moving average price is $144.91 and its 200-day moving average price is $144.17. The stock has a market cap of $407.22 billion, a PE ratio of 35.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.54 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 for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.20. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The company had revenue of $164.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $158.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, December 8th will be issued 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 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. 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. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) had its target price upped by Loop Capital from $260.00 to $285.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Other equities analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $260.00 to $235.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Zelman & Associates cut shares of Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $245.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Sherwin-Williams in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Sherwin-Williams from $230.00 to $220.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $257.83. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Sherwin-Williams Trading Up 2.1 % NYSE SHW opened at $237.54 on Wednesday. Sherwin-Williams has a 12 month low of $195.24 and a 12 month high of $285.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.03, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.55. The company has a market capitalization of $61.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.07. The companys fifty day moving average price is $223.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $231.17. Sherwin-Williams Dividend Announcement Sherwin-Williams ( NYSE:SHW Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.84 by $0.20. Sherwin-Williams had a net margin of 9.41% and a return on equity of 86.29%. The firm had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.14 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.61 EPS. The firms revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Sherwin-Williams will post 8.67 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be given a $0.605 dividend. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. Sherwin-Williamss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 29.69%. Insider Buying and Selling at Sherwin-Williams In other Sherwin-Williams news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was 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 directly owns 7,955 shares in the company, valued at $1,756,145.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of SHW. Standard Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Sherwin-Williams during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. MADDEN SECURITIES Corp bought a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. RFP Financial Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Finally, Capital Directions Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. 76.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Sherwin-Williams Company 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. Further Reading 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. SITE Centers Corp. (NYSE:SITC Get Rating) KeyCorp reduced their Q3 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for SITE Centers in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, April 26th. KeyCorp analyst T. Thomas now expects that the company will post earnings of $0.28 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $0.29. The consensus estimate for SITE Centers current full-year earnings is $1.14 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for SITE Centers Q4 2023 earnings at $0.29 EPS, Q1 2024 earnings at $0.29 EPS, Q2 2024 earnings at $0.29 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $1.19 EPS. Get SITE Centers alerts: SITC has been the topic of a number of other research reports. Mizuho boosted their target price on SITE Centers from $13.00 to $14.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of SITE Centers in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $14.56. SITE Centers Stock Up 1.8 % SITE Centers Announces Dividend Shares of NYSE SITC opened at $12.34 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $2.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.45 and a beta of 1.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95. SITE Centers has a 52-week low of $10.42 and a 52-week high of $16.69. The businesss 50 day moving average is $12.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $12.79. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 6th. Investors of record on Friday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 16th. This represents a $0.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.21%. SITE Centerss payout ratio is currently 69.33%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On SITE Centers Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. CWM LLC grew its stake in shares of SITE Centers by 338.0% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,501 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,930 shares in the last quarter. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in SITE Centers in the third quarter valued at $41,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in SITE Centers in the first quarter valued at $76,000. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in SITE Centers by 365.5% in the third quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 7,197 shares of the companys stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 5,651 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Manhattan Co. acquired a new position in SITE Centers in the first quarter valued at $155,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.96% of the companys stock. About SITE Centers (Get Rating) SITE Centers Corp. is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the acquisition, development, lease, and management of shopping centers. It operates through the Shopping Centers and Loan Investments segments. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Beachwood, OH. See Also Receive News & Ratings for SITE Centers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for SITE Centers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. South Dakota Investment Council decreased its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 802,477 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 15,457 shares during the period. Pfizer accounts for 0.9% of South Dakota Investment Councils holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. South Dakota Investment Councils holdings in Pfizer were worth $41,119,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of PFE. RB Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. RB Capital Management LLC now owns 5,446 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 341 shares during the period. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Ironwood Wealth Management LLC. now owns 36,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,868,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. United Bank boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 46,671 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $2,416,000 after purchasing an additional 290 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 136.3% during the 1st quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 36,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,903,000 after acquiring an additional 21,209 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 1,337,418 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $69,238,000 after acquiring an additional 79,887 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Insider Activity In related news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc bought 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2.76 per share, with a total value of $4,999,999.44. Following the purchase, the insider now owns 5,952,263 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,428,245.88. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.05% of the companys stock. Pfizer Price Performance PFE stock opened at $38.89 on Friday. The firms 50-day moving average price is $40.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.11. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $38.31 and a 12-month high of $54.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $219.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.10, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.22, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $24.30 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.40 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.27% and a return on equity of 42.03%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current year. Pfizer Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.41 per share. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers payout ratio is 29.93%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research firms have recently issued reports on PFE. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 10th. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded shares of Pfizer from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $51.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Bank of America decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.80. Pfizer Company Profile (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PFE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Staffline Group plc (LON:STAF Get Rating) insider Thomas Spain bought 42,762 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were bought at an average price of GBX 39 ($0.49) per share, for a total transaction of 16,677.18 ($20,828.25). Thomas Spain also recently made the following trade(s): Get Staffline Group alerts: On Monday, April 24th, Thomas Spain purchased 150,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 39 ($0.49) per share, with a total value of 58,500 ($73,061.07). On Thursday, April 20th, Thomas Spain purchased 400,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 38 ($0.47) per share, with a total value of 152,000 ($189,833.90). On Thursday, April 13th, Thomas Spain sold 65,237 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 38 ($0.47), for a total value of 24,790.06 ($30,960.48). On Tuesday, April 4th, Thomas Spain sold 118,240 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 34 ($0.42), for a total value of 40,201.60 ($50,208.07). On Tuesday, March 28th, Thomas Spain purchased 70,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 36 ($0.45) per share, with a total value of 25,200 ($31,472.46). On Wednesday, March 22nd, Thomas Spain sold 45,428 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 37 ($0.46), for a total value of 16,808.36 ($20,992.08). On Thursday, February 9th, Thomas Spain purchased 50,000 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of GBX 35 ($0.44) per share, with a total value of 17,500 ($21,855.88). On Monday, February 6th, Thomas Spain sold 20,721 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 35 ($0.44), for a total value of 7,252.35 ($9,057.51). On Tuesday, January 31st, Thomas Spain sold 222,289 shares of Staffline Group stock. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 36 ($0.45), for a total value of 80,024.04 ($99,942.60). Staffline Group Price Performance LON STAF opened at GBX 40.80 ($0.51) on Friday. Staffline Group plc has a twelve month low of GBX 31.23 ($0.39) and a twelve month high of GBX 56.80 ($0.71). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.10, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market capitalization of 67.63 million, a PE ratio of 2,040.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.74. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 37.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 37.39. Staffline Group Company Profile Staffline Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides recruitment and outsourced human resource services, and skills training and probationary services. It operates through three segments: Recruitment GB, Recruitment Ireland, and PeoplePlus. The company provides solutions to the agriculture, drinks, food processing, manufacturing, e-retail, driving, and logistics sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Staffline Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Staffline Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 30. Trendyol, the leading e-commerce platform in Turkiye and one of the largest technology companies in Europe, has today signed an Agreement with Baku-based PASHA Holding, a leading conglomerate in Azerbaijan. Under the deal, the two parties will provide e-commerce services in Azerbaijan, Trend reports. Caglayan Cetin, President of the Trendyol Group, said: The synergies created by PASHA Holdings experience in the Azerbaijan market and Trendyols expertise in technology, logistics and manufacturing will make significant contributions to the development of the e-commerce ecosystem in Azerbaijan. In this sense, we wholeheartedly believe in the success of our strategic partnership and the positive impact it will create on our brotherly country, Azerbaijan. PASHA Holding CEO Jalal Gasimov commented: For some time, there has been significant consumer demand for Trendyol products and services in Azerbaijan. With this Agreement, we have taken one more step to expand our footprint in digital retail ecosystem and are excited to enable the sharing of e-commerce know-how between our two brotherly countries. Trendyol, the leading e-commerce platform in Turkiye and one of the largest technology companies in Europe, is entering the Azerbaijan market. Signing an Agreement with the Baku-based PASHA Holding, one of the largest conglomerates in Caucasus region, Trendyol is taking another step in its international growth strategy. Trendyol and PASHA Holding reached an Agreement to establish a joint company to provide e-commerce services in Azerbaijan. Strategic partnership will achieve synergies Caglayan Cetin, President of the Trendyol Group stated: We have taken the first step in this exciting strategic partnership with PASHA Holding and once our infrastructure has been finalized, we will begin our operations in Azerbaijan. Last year, Azerbaijan ranked first in terms of international orders placed on Trendyol. In addition, according to data provided by App Annie, Trendyol was the most downloaded app in Azerbaijan in 2022. The synergies created by PASHA Holdings experience in the Azerbaijan market and Trendyols expertise in technology, logistics and manufacturing will make significant contributions to the development of the e-commerce ecosystem in Azerbaijan. The platform will also serve to bring together Turkish and Azerbaijani producers, sellers and customers and thus will be the first ecosystem to serve the interests of both countries. In this sense, we wholeheartedly believe in the success of our strategic partnership and the positive impact it will create on our brotherly country, Azerbaijan. As part of Trendyol's vision to expand into international markets, Mr. Cetin stated: This initiative also strengthens the collaborative relationship between Turkiye and Azerbaijan by facilitating cross-border trade and promoting economic growth in the region. This collaboration brings together two nations with complementary strengths and resources to create a mutually beneficial partnership. We will pursue new opportunities PASHA Holding CEO Jalal Gasimov commented: The interest for e-commerce has surged in Azerbaijan due to its convenience, wider product selection, and competitive pricing. This Agreement will enhance the customer journey by providing easy access to a wider product assortment at affordable prices, while also offering embedded finance products and other services of Azerbaijani companies including PASHA Ecosystem to improve overall financial health. This initiative will facilitate technological transfer and help to strengthen the logistics ecosystem that will add value to other verticals such as grocery and food delivery, creating new jobs in the process. It will promote e-commerce culture, attracting MSME traders to online sales, and reducing the prevalence of the grey economy. Ultimately, this initiative is expected to increase foreign investment in the country. About Trendyol Founded in 2010, Trendyol is the leading e-commerce platform in Turkiye and one of the largest technology companies in Europe. Trendyol continues to create value by maintaining one of Turkiyes pioneering R&D centers, Trendyol Tech; Turkiyes fastest growing logistics network, Trendyol Express; instant grocery and meal delivery service, Trendyol Go and Turkiyes largest secondhand goods platform, Dolap. Trendyol brings Turkish manufacturers together with 27 European countries, via trendyol.com/de for German customers, and trendyol.com/en. Trendyol also reaches customers in more than 90 countries through partner platforms with its B2B model. Trendyol enables domestic producers to e-export to more than 100 countries. Trendyol will serve customers directly through its own platform in Azerbaijan. About PASHA Holding Established in 2006, PASHA Holding is a leading business conglomerate in Azerbaijan, with diverse business interests across a wide range of sectors, including banking, insurance, construction, groceries, agriculture, hospitality and others. In addition to its traditional offline businesses, PASHA Holding has established a significant presence in the digital retail ecosystem by offering value-added services around its core retail banking services (i.e. BirBank by Kapital Bank) for consumers. These services include a merchant-sponsored bonus program across main consumption categories, a B2C marketplace with a focus on consumer electronics, beauty, and household goods, digital wallet services, and other services from different business verticals. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (NYSE:WH Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Stifel Nicolaus from $87.00 to $81.00 in a research report report published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on WH. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft assumed coverage on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. They set a buy rating and a $79.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reduced their target price on Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $87.14. Get Wyndham Hotels & Resorts alerts: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Trading Up 2.1 % Wyndham Hotels & Resorts stock opened at $68.22 on Thursday. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts has a 52 week low of $58.81 and a 52 week high of $91.66. The company has a market capitalization of $5.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.95 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $70.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.95. The company has a quick ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 0.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.14. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Increases Dividend Wyndham Hotels & Resorts ( NYSE:WH Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.05. Wyndham Hotels & Resorts had a return on equity of 34.17% and a net margin of 21.94%. The company had revenue of $313.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $322.68 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.95 earnings per share. Wyndham Hotels & Resortss revenue for the quarter was down 15.6% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Wyndham Hotels & Resorts will post 3.97 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.35 dividend. This is an increase from Wyndham Hotels & Resortss previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.05%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. Wyndham Hotels & Resortss dividend payout ratio is currently 39.66%. Insider Activity at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts In related news, CMO Lisa Checchio sold 6,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.90, for a total value of $461,400.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 13,692 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,052,914.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 2.29% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts by 139.3% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 438 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the 2nd quarter worth $46,000. North Star Investment Management Corp. acquired a new stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the 1st quarter worth $47,000. Finally, EWG Elevate Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts in the 4th quarter worth $49,000. 91.13% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Get Rating) Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Inc engages in the franchise and operation of hotels under the Wyndham brand. It operates through the following segments: Hotel Franchising and Hotel Management. The Hotel Franchising segment offers licenses of brand names and associated trademarks to hotel owners under long-term franchise agreements. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Financial LLC decreased its position in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (NYSEARCA:IEMG Get Rating) by 22.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 47,920 shares of the companys stock after selling 14,125 shares during the quarter. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF were worth $2,238,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of IEMG. Bank of New Hampshire increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF by 70.5% during the third quarter. Bank of New Hampshire now owns 629 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. 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 buying an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. 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 buying an additional 272 shares during the last quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position 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 buying an additional 239 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF alerts: iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Stock Up 0.5 % IEMG traded up $0.24 during trading on Friday, reaching $48.58. 9,728,877 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 13,775,403. The companys 50-day moving average is $48.19 and its two-hundred day moving average is $47.64. The company has a market cap of $69.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.26 and a beta of 0.75. iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF has a 12-month low of $41.44 and a 12-month 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. Read More 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. Summit Trail Advisors LLC trimmed its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,074 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 341 shares during the quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLCs holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $996,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. JDM Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Arcus Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. CarsonAllaria Wealth Management Ltd. increased its position 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 purchasing an additional 289 shares during the period. Finally, Glassy Mountain Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $44,000. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Abbott Laboratories In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 40,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. 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. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes Abbott Laboratories Price Performance A number of brokerages have issued reports on ABT. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $117.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 6th. UBS Group boosted 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. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $118.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Barclays boosted 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. 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $122.37. ABT opened at $110.47 on Friday. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $191.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.58, a P/E/G ratio of 4.91 and a beta of 0.67. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $102.47 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $105.09. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $93.25 and a 52-week high of $118.23. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $9.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.64 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 13.98% and a return on equity of 22.48%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 18.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.73 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.85%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 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 Articles 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. Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.90-$1.98 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.02. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Sun Communities also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $7.22-$7.42 EPS. Sun Communities Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SUI traded up $3.43 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $138.93. 668,325 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 603,354. The company has a quick ratio of 2.11, a current ratio of 2.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.89. Sun Communities has a 12 month low of $117.63 and a 12 month high of $182.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 80.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.71. The firms fifty day moving average price is $139.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $141.54. Get Sun Communities alerts: Sun Communities (NYSE:SUI Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.24) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.18 by ($1.42). Sun Communities had a net margin of 6.87% and a return on equity of 2.63%. The company had revenue of $651.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $610.32 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 18.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Sun Communities will post 7.29 earnings per share for the current year. Sun Communities Increases Dividend Analysts Set New Price Targets The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.93 per share. This represents a $3.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.68%. This is a positive change from Sun Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.88. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. Sun Communitiess payout ratio is presently 215.03%. A number of analysts recently issued reports on SUI shares. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Sun Communities from $166.00 to $163.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Barclays decreased their target price on Sun Communities from $185.00 to $168.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 10th. StockNews.com upgraded Sun Communities to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Sun Communities in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $151.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $160.00 target price on shares of Sun Communities in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Sun Communities presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $164.50. Insider Activity In other news, Director Clunet R. Lewis sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.51, for a total transaction of $222,765.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 26,900 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,994,919. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 2.25% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Sun Communities Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Centersquare Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Sun Communities by 7.7% during the 1st quarter. Centersquare Investment Management LLC now owns 1,804,196 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $316,257,000 after acquiring an additional 129,321 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Sun Communities by 6.4% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 96,689 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $16,949,000 after acquiring an additional 5,824 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in Sun Communities during the 1st quarter valued at about $215,000. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. lifted its holdings in Sun Communities by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 42,383 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $7,430,000 after buying an additional 1,565 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP purchased a new stake in Sun Communities in the 1st quarter worth approximately $3,583,000. 93.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Sun Communities Company Profile (Get Rating) Sun Communities, Inc provides real estate management services. The firm operates through the following segments: Manufactured Home Communities, Recreational Vehicle, and Marina. The Manufactured Home Communities segment owns, operates, and develops manufactured housing communities and is in the business of acquiring, operating, and developing ground up communities to provide housing solutions. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Sun Communities Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sun Communities and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI.B Get Rating) (NYSE:RCI) had its target price raised by TD Securities from C$80.00 to C$83.00 in a research report released on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an action list buy rating on the stock. A number of other brokerages have also commented on RCI.B. National Bankshares cut their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 3rd. CIBC boosted their price objective on shares of Rogers Communications from C$75.00 to C$76.00 in a report on Thursday. UBS Group upgraded shares of Rogers Communications from a neutral rating to a buy rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from C$64.00 to C$75.00 in a report on Monday, February 6th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$69.00 to C$68.00 in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$70.00 to C$72.00 in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$75.98. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Stock Performance Shares of RCI.B stock opened at C$66.94 on Thursday. Rogers Communications has a 12 month low of C$50.53 and a 12 month high of C$71.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 364.11, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 0.58. The firm has a market capitalization of C$26.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.16, a P/E/G ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.38. The companys fifty day moving average price is C$64.04 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$62.00. About Rogers Communications Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) issued an update on its second quarter 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $1.15-$1.40 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $1.27. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.20 billion-$1.21 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.20 billion. TriNet Group also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $5.40-$6.35 EPS. TriNet Group Stock Up 2.0 % TriNet Group stock traded up $1.81 during trading on Friday, reaching $92.78. 903,019 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 369,259. The firm has a market cap of $5.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.81 and a beta of 1.15. TriNet Group has a 52-week low of $60.60 and a 52-week high of $92.83. The companys 50-day moving average is $82.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $75.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.18. Get TriNet Group alerts: TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.78. The firm had revenue of $310.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $250.09 million. TriNet Group had a return on equity of 47.82% and a net margin of 6.96%. On average, analysts predict that TriNet Group will post 4.26 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Transactions at TriNet Group A number of research firms have weighed in on TNET. Cowen upped their price objective on shares of TriNet Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. StockNews.com cut TriNet Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have issued a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $81.25. In other TriNet Group news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,555 shares of TriNet Group stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.59, for a total value of $228,902.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 34,111 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,056,004.49. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other TriNet Group news, CEO Burton M. Goldfield sold 6,250 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.54, for a total value of $528,375.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 103,525 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,752,003.50. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,555 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.59, for a total value of $228,902.45. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 34,111 shares in the company, valued at $3,056,004.49. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 15,180 shares of company stock valued at $1,239,975. Insiders own 37.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TriNet Group Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of TriNet Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,685,000. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in TriNet Group by 11.4% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,190,526 shares of the business services providers stock worth $412,181,000 after acquiring an additional 430,430 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its stake in TriNet Group by 65.2% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 200,653 shares of the business services providers stock worth $15,575,000 after acquiring an additional 79,165 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its stake in TriNet Group by 60.0% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 183,930 shares of the business services providers stock worth $12,471,000 after acquiring an additional 69,001 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in TriNet Group in the 4th quarter worth about $4,182,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.65% of the companys stock. TriNet Group Company Profile (Get Rating) TriNet Group, Inc provides human capital management (HCM) solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. Its services include HR expertise, benefit options, payroll services, risk mitigation, and a technology platform. The company was founded by Martin Babinec in 1988 and is headquartered in Dublin, CA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TriNet Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TriNet Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $5.40-$6.35 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.30. The company issued revenue guidance of $4.93 billion-$4.98 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $4.93 billion. TriNet Group also updated its Q2 2023 guidance to $1.15-$1.40 EPS. TriNet Group Stock Up 2.0 % TNET traded up $1.81 on Friday, reaching $92.78. The companys stock had a trading volume of 903,019 shares, compared to its average volume of 369,259. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.17. TriNet Group has a 1 year low of $60.60 and a 1 year high of $92.83. The businesss 50 day moving average is $82.20 and its 200 day moving average is $75.07. The stock has a market cap of $5.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.81 and a beta of 1.15. Get TriNet Group alerts: TriNet Group (NYSE:TNET Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The business services provider reported $0.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.78. TriNet Group had a net margin of 6.96% and a return on equity of 47.82%. The business had revenue of $310.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $250.09 million. As a group, research analysts forecast that TriNet Group will post 4.26 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insiders Place Their Bets A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded TriNet Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday. Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of TriNet Group from $67.00 to $74.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $81.25. In other news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,555 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $89.59, for a total transaction of $228,902.45. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 34,111 shares in the company, valued at $3,056,004.49. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other TriNet Group news, SVP Alexander G. Warren sold 2,555 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.59, for a total transaction of $228,902.45. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 34,111 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,056,004.49. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Burton M. Goldfield sold 6,250 shares of TriNet Group stock in a transaction on Friday, March 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.73, for a total value of $473,312.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 187,399 shares in the company, valued at $14,191,726.27. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,180 shares of company stock worth $1,239,975. Insiders own 37.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On TriNet Group A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in TriNet Group by 13.5% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 5,307 shares of the business services providers stock worth $522,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in TriNet Group by 3.5% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 192,517 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $18,937,000 after acquiring an additional 6,480 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in shares of TriNet Group by 46.5% in the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 39,685 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,904,000 after purchasing an additional 12,604 shares in the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of TriNet Group by 53.6% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 21,581 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,123,000 after purchasing an additional 7,535 shares during the period. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in TriNet Group by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 44,248 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,352,000 after buying an additional 3,280 shares in the last quarter. 91.65% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. TriNet Group Company Profile (Get Rating) TriNet Group, Inc provides human capital management (HCM) solutions to small and mid-sized businesses. Its services include HR expertise, benefit options, payroll services, risk mitigation, and a technology platform. The company was founded by Martin Babinec in 1988 and is headquartered in Dublin, CA. See Also Receive News & Ratings for TriNet Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TriNet Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $7.50-$7.65 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $7.58. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.94 billion-$1.97 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.95 billion. Tyler Technologies Trading Down 1.9 % Shares of TYL stock traded down $7.17 on Friday, hitting $379.03. 299,081 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 237,901. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 103.56 and a beta of 0.84. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $342.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $330.13. Tyler Technologies has a one year low of $281.11 and a one year high of $425.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a current ratio of 0.89. Get Tyler Technologies alerts: Tyler Technologies (NYSE:TYL Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 15th. The technology company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.21 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $452.22 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $452.13 million. Tyler Technologies had a return on equity of 9.02% and a net margin of 8.31%. Equities analysts forecast that Tyler Technologies will post 5.58 EPS for the current year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Insider Transactions at Tyler Technologies A number of research analysts have commented on the company. DA Davidson lowered Tyler Technologies from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $395.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Friday. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies from $450.00 to $465.00 in a report on Friday. JMP Securities reduced their target price on Tyler Technologies from $465.00 to $415.00 in a report on Friday, February 17th. StockNews.com began coverage on Tyler Technologies in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Tyler Technologies from $410.00 to $425.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $434.92. In related news, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 1,000 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $322.73, for a total value of $322,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,287 shares in the company, valued at approximately $415,353.51. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other Tyler Technologies news, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 1,000 shares of Tyler Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.73, for a total value of $322,730.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 1,287 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $415,353.51. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Brian K. Miller sold 838 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $326.37, for a total value of $273,498.06. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 18,456 shares in the company, valued at $6,023,484.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 18,898 shares of company stock worth $6,195,979 over the last quarter. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tyler Technologies A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its position in shares of Tyler Technologies by 31.1% during the 1st quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 14,256 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,339,000 after acquiring an additional 3,379 shares during the period. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its holdings in Tyler Technologies by 1.6% during the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 37,706 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $16,775,000 after purchasing an additional 611 shares during the period. Bridgewater Associates LP bought a new stake in Tyler Technologies during the first quarter valued at about $1,014,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P increased its position in Tyler Technologies by 3.3% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 70,390 shares of the technology companys stock worth $31,316,000 after buying an additional 2,227 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in shares of Tyler Technologies by 8.0% in the first quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 1,933 shares of the technology companys stock worth $860,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.45% of the companys stock. Tyler Technologies Company Profile (Get Rating) Tyler Technologies, Inc engages in the provision of integrated technology and management solutions and services for the public sector with a focus on local governments. It operates through the following segments: Enterprise Software and Appraisal and Tax. The Enterprise Software segment provides municipal and county governments and schools with software systems to meet their information technology and automation needs for mission-critical back-office functions such as financial management, courts and justice processes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Tyler Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tyler Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. reduced its holdings in shares of Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY Get Rating) by 4.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 12,210 shares of the companys stock after selling 513 shares during the quarter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s holdings in Sysco were worth $933,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of SYY. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in Sysco by 166.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 16,127 shares of the companys stock worth $1,338,000 after buying an additional 10,065 shares during the period. Sei Investments Co. boosted its stake in shares of Sysco by 6.9% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 258,746 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,068,000 after purchasing an additional 16,772 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of Sysco by 12.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 22,139 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,808,000 after purchasing an additional 2,522 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Sysco by 1.0% in the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 659,712 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,865,000 after purchasing an additional 6,711 shares during the period. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Sysco by 54.8% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 833 shares of the companys stock valued at $68,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the period. 81.18% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Sysco alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In SYY has been the subject of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of Sysco from $96.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of Sysco from $100.00 to $94.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Sysco from $92.00 to $87.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Sysco from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Sysco from $86.00 to $83.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $88.00. Sysco Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SYY traded up $1.66 on Friday, reaching $76.74. 2,716,972 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,063,782. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.70, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.10. Sysco Co. has a fifty-two week low of $70.61 and a fifty-two week high of $90.74. The businesss 50-day moving average is $75.62 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.20. Sysco (NYSE:SYY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.84 by ($0.04). Sysco had a return on equity of 140.94% and a net margin of 1.93%. The firm had revenue of $18.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.59 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.57 EPS. The firms revenue was up 13.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Sysco Co. will post 4.05 EPS for the current year. Sysco Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 28th. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a $0.50 dividend. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.61%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. This is a boost from Syscos previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. Syscos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 70.76%. About Sysco (Get Rating) Sysco Corp. engages in selling, marketing, and distribution of food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, and lodging establishments. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Foodservice Operations, International Foodservice Operations, SYGMA, and Other. The U.S. Foodservice Operations consists of U.S. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SYY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Sysco Co. (NYSE:SYY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Sysco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sysco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW Get Rating) announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday. The industrial products company reported $9.61 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.57 by $1.04, Briefing.com reports. W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.65% and a return on equity of 61.00%. The company had revenue of $4.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.08 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $7.07 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 12.2% on a year-over-year basis. W.W. Grainger updated its FY23 guidance to $34.25-36.75 EPS and its FY 2023 guidance to $34.25-$36.75 EPS. W.W. Grainger Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of GWW stock opened at $695.57 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.75, a quick ratio of 1.36 and a current ratio of 2.70. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $670.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $613.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.96 billion, a PE ratio of 21.33, a PEG ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.19. W.W. Grainger has a 52-week low of $440.48 and a 52-week high of $709.21. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: W.W. Grainger Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th will be paid a $1.86 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 5th. This is a boost from W.W. Graingers previous quarterly dividend of $1.72. This represents a $7.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.07%. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio is 21.10%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Buying and Selling at W.W. Grainger GWW has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of W.W. Grainger in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of W.W. Grainger from $730.00 to $760.00 in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada raised W.W. Grainger from an underperform rating to a sector perform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $502.00 to $679.00 in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. UBS Group increased their target price on W.W. Grainger from $800.00 to $815.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, Loop Capital boosted their price target on W.W. Grainger from $670.00 to $750.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $698.63. In other news, SVP Kathleen S. Carroll sold 1,690 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $671.56, for a total value of $1,134,936.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 3,275 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,199,359. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Kathleen S. Carroll sold 1,690 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $671.56, for a total value of $1,134,936.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 3,275 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,199,359. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Donald G. Macpherson sold 49,121 shares of W.W. Grainger stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $694.36, for a total transaction of $34,107,657.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 80,240 shares in the company, valued at $55,715,446.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 55,434 shares of company stock valued at $38,315,317 over the last ninety days. 9.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of W.W. Grainger Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Retirement Group LLC increased its holdings in W.W. Grainger by 2,450.0% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 51 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new stake in W.W. Grainger in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. purchased a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. 71.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About W.W. Grainger (Get Rating) W.W. Grainger, Inc is a supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating products, with operations in North America, Japan, and the United Kingdom. It operates through the following segments: High-Touch Solutions N.A., Endless Assortment, and Other. The High-Touch Solutions N.A. segment is involved in value-added MRO solutions that are rooted in deep product knowledge and customer expertise. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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. Industry players and exporters of footwear have urged the government to immediately extend the implementation of the quality control order (QCO) by 12 months as the businesses are not yet prepared to follow the norms. According to the 'Footwear Made from Leather and Other Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2022', which will come into force from July 1, manufacturers have to modify their processes to comply with the new standards. This includes establishing testing laboratories, obtaining BIS licences, and adhering to the rules for issuing the ISI mark. Economic think tank GTRI said that these changes require time and investment, and most manufacturers may be unable to meet the timelines. Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) co-founder Ajay Srivastava said there is a need for the government to provide clarity on the selling of existing stock. "QCO provides no guidelines on using existing stock post application of QCO. Leather is a long-lasting item; many retailers store shoes for 2-3 years. Since it will be difficult to segregate inventory, the QCO may be applied to retailers after 12-24 months," he suggested in a report. An industry expert too said that the government should exempt footwear above a certain price band from this quality order. "In India, the average price of imported footwear is around USD 10 per pair. This is based on the import data of last three years. It is therefore logical to assume that CIF (cost, insurance, freight) price per pair of majority of footwear imported in India is well below USD 20 per pair. Therefore, we are seeking exemption for footwear of more than USD 40 per pair," the expert said. Providing this exemption will not harm the interest of local manufacturers and at the same time allow import of hig-end products, which are of high quality, he said. GTRI further suggested seven measures for rapid growth of India's footwear production and exports and it included evaluating the impact of QCO on small firms, focus on non-leather shoes,check on low-priced imports, and manage imports from countries having trade pacts with India. It added that setting up of testing and certification facilities before applying for the BIS registration and certification process takes time and money as existing facilities are insufficient to cater to the current requirements. "80 per cent of shoe-making units are cottage or tiny scale. For WTO (World Trade Organization) compatibility, QCO must apply to all units. Most will not meet the requirements and shut the shop," it said. Footwear in India is mainly imported from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Bangladesh. China is the largest supplier, with a 38.2 per cent share in India's imports. Imports from Vietnam rose fast, from USD 76.6 million in 2017 to USD 267.3 million in 2022. "India imports about 25 per cent of shoes at less than USD 3 per pair. Such low-priced imports can be curbed by charging the applicable 35 per cent basic customs duty @ the minimum import price of USD 5 per pair," it said. The industry provides jobs to about 4.42 million people; women's employment is predominant, with about 40 per cent share. "A well-timed and effective QCO, investment in high quality and scale production facilities for non-leather shoes and a heart to protect small firms will take the sector to new heights," the report said. Chintels India Private Limited, the developer of Chintels Paradiso housing society in Gurugram, a portion of which had collapsed in February last year killing two women, has offered two options to the residents of towers D, E, and F of the complex. These include a buyback at the rate of Rs 6,500 per square feet (psf), or redevelopment of flats at the same site. The builder has decided to discontinue the rentals being given to residents of these towers, from April 30. Also Read: One year of Chintels roof collapse in Gurugram: An uncertain future awaits residents The developer said that those opting for reconstruction of flats will have to pay an extra Rs 1,000 psf (based on the super built-up area) as there has been exponential increase in the prices of building material and labour. The developer has apprised the district administration about these offers through a letter to the Gurugram Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Director General of Town and Country Planning, Haryana. Towers D, E, and F of Chintels Paradiso housing complex, located in sector 109 in Gurugram, were declared structurally unsafe by IIT-Delhi, and residents were told to evacuate. The residents of tower D have been living on rent paid by the builder in alternative accommodations. In its letter to the DC, Gurugram, Chintels India said that as instructed by the administration they are offering two options for settlement to the flat owners of towers D, E, and F. In option one, the builder has offered to pay an all-inclusive price of Rs 6,500 psf (super built-up area). In addition, it will also refund the stamp duty paid by the flat owners. Since a large number of flat owners expressed their desire to continue to stay in the project, so in option two, we are willing to get the property repaired or re-built by some reputed contractor, as per the technical requirements recommended by CSIR-CBRI, and hand over possession within 36 months from the date of receipt of all necessary approvals and removal of any other hurdles in going ahead with the construction, the developer said in its letter to the administration. There has been no reaction yet from Gurugram Deputy Commissioner Nishant Yadav on this development. Also Read: Haryana issues notice to engineer, architects over Chintels Paradiso tower collapse The builder added that in case any tower needs to be re-built, each flat owner who opts for this offer will receive a flat of the same size and layout as the flat owned by them at present. Furthermore, considering the exponential increase in the prices of building materials and labour, we will charge a nominal amount of Rs 1,000 psf (super built-up area), which shall be paid in easy instalments. In light of these two options, from which all flat owners of towers D, E, and F are free to choose, we will discontinue payment of rent for all alternative accommodation provided by us for the flat owners with effect from April 30, 2023, the developer said. Rakesh Hooda, President of the Residents Welfare Association (RWA) of the society, said that the RWA would like the DC to decide in consultation with homeowners, who are the impacted parties. "For us, the priority is to protect the interests of homeowners, who have invested hard-earned money in these apartments, and whose dreams have been shattered," Hooda told Moneycontrol. Also Read: Chintels Paradiso developer asked to evacuate residents of two towers immediately, pay rent at Rs 15 psft JN Yadav, Senior VP, Chintels India, said that the rate being offered is higher than the prevailing market rate of several similar projects in the vicinity. As the well-being of our customers is of utmost importance to us, we have given these two options and we are confident that many of the residents will be satisfied. The rate we are offering is higher than the prevailing market rate of several similar projects in the vicinity. We understand the difficulties and uncertainty that was faced by residents following the incident and hope that this will satisfy them and restore their faith in our commitment to give them a safe and secure home, Yadav said. On February 10, 2022, two women were killed after the ceilings of several flats in tower D of Chintels Paradiso collapsed. Following the collapse of the towers, besides the police, an investigation team from IIT-Delhi was asked to conduct a structural audit. In November 2022, the Gurugram district administration ordered the demolition of tower D after it was found unfit for habitation. The demolition order also noted that there was sagging in one of the balconies of tower F and other signs of distress in various other flats of towers E and F. IIT-Delhi, in its report in February this year, recommended the evacuation of residents from towers E and F as well, which is yet to be done. Nita Rana, a resident of Nainital, said the little picturesque town tucked in the Himalayas has transformed since her childhood. "Today, it rains several months in the year, and even in the winter. And, the frequency of landslips (falling rocks) has increased over the years," she added. Anup Shah, another resident and a wildlife photographer, said that houses in parts of the city and near roads like Mall Road have already started showing cracks. "With unplanned development and road works, several trees in the forest have tilted," he added. Joshimath, a small town in Uttarakhand, began "sinking" in January. More than 700 homes developed cracks, and several families were evacuated. Shah has witnessed at least a dozen cracks in houses across Nainital over the last few years. Kamal Jagati, a local journalist, told Moneycontrol that most of the cracks show up in weak and landslide-prone parts of the city like Sher Ka Danda, which has 2,000-3,000 houses, and Ballia Nala, which has about 25 houses. "Most of the houses in Ballia Nala have been demolished after the area became extremely unstable, and people have been rehabilitated at another village, Durgapur, with minimal compensation," he said. A National Green Tribunal (NGT) complaint filed by advocate Akash Vashisht flagged several infrastructural failures in Nainital, as the city inches closer to a tragedy. Experts say due to illegal construction, and deforestation, among other such activities, parts of Nainital have already started sinking. In the last Uttarakhand state budget, the government set aside Rs 1,000 crore out of Rs 77,407.08 crore for immediate relief to Joshimath. Additionally, as per the state government order, the compensation for evacuated residential buildings has been fixed at Rs 31,201- 36,527 per square metre (sq mt). For commercial buildings, the rates are Rs 39,182-46,099 per sq mt. However, environmentalists say the cost of a disaster is much more than the investments required to fix the infrastructure and planning failures. For example, Jagati said, building a house in Nainital is three times more expensive than building one on the plains. The elevation is a major hurdle, coupled with restrictions placed by the state government in recent times. Even then, Jagati estimates, due to illegal constructions, the carrying capacity of the town has exceeded by 30 percent. "Today, a 1,000 square feet (sq ft) construction costs about Rs 50 lakh. Rebuilding will be more expensive given the prices of commodities today and soaring land costs," he added. The complaints Vashisht said, according to a letter from Nagar Palika Parishad, Nainital has 148 hotels registered under the tourism department. "Contrary to the stated figure of 148 hotels, Nainital has 600-700 hotels / resorts / guest houses / homestays, etc," the complaint pointed out. Additionally, the construction and installation of iron sheets and girders on steep slopes have disrupted the ecological balance of the mountainous town. "Massive land erosion and landslides were clearly seen on the slopes immediately below the huge iron structure, as a result of this construction and the tremendous load exerted by the platform on the steep, soft slopes below," the complaint added. Vashisht added that the slopes of the area were geologically very unstable and since the vegetation was cleared for such construction, the absorbing capacity of the hill slopes has been drastically weakened. Vashist also pointed out that a defunct Tree Felling (Permission) Committee to scrutinise deforestation and reckless vertical hill cutting for road widening have added to the woes. Several landslides were seen on the stretches and spots where roots of trees were exposed and vegetation cleared in the process of vertical hill cutting. Most importantly, the stormwater drains leading to the Naini Lake have been covered with thick concrete slabs to widen the road and offer more space for traffic movement. A ticking time bomb Ajay Rawat, a historian and environmentalist, added that the urbanisation of Nainital started in 1841. The first two landslides occurred in 1867 and 1880. "The second landslide killed 151 people and the British government built a series of stormwater drains connecting the Naini Lake. However, post-2005 much of it has been encroached upon," he added. Rawat approached the Uttarakhand High Court with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and got several of the encroachments removed over the next couple of years. In 2015, massive rainfall struck the town. A letter addressed to Rawat from the district magistrate office dated March 2016, accessed by Moneycontrol, said, "On July 5, when heavy rainfall lashed Nainital; mud and water cascaded freely down the drains. Had the gushing debris been blocked owing to encroachments, there would have been a tremendous loss of life and property[sic]." One of the outlets of Nainital is the Ballia ravine that pours into the Ballia valley. The town sits on top of its shoulders. Experts say, such unregulated developments and encroachments have put tremendous pressure on the foothills and the Ballia valley has started to sink. In Ajay Singh Rawat v/s Union of India's March 1996 Supreme Court judgment, the court ordered a ban on multi-storeyed group housing and commercial complexes in the town area of Nainital, allowing only construction of smaller residential projects. "Development has exceeded the capacity Nainital can accommodate. Any further triggers can cause water to flow out of Ballia valley and reach the foothills like Haldia. Parts of Nainital like the Mall Road, area around Sherwood College, and Snow View area have already started sinking," Hemant Dhyani, a member of Char Dham High Powered Committee constituted by the Supreme Court, added. Policy interventions required Dhyani said that Joshimath has only a fraction of Nainital's population. "Any similar tragedy will lead to a huge loss of life and involve thousands of crores in damage," he added. However, experts say, the policies for remedies are already in place. "For example, the state has Climate Change Action Plan 2014 that articulately explains how development is supposed to take place. However, a lack of implementation has left the town in limbo," Dhyani said. In fact, in 2021, the state government mulled a climate budget to regulate ecological activities considering the effect of climate change on the Himalayan region. Vishal Singh, Director of the Dehradun-based Centre for Ecology Development and Research (CEDAR), said that the town needs to be urgently decongested. "In peak seasons, we see more tourists than the total number of residents. The planning and development bodies have ignored the characteristics of the Himalayan region," he added. Dhyani said with lessons learnt from Joshimath, the government needs to assess the carrying capacity of Nainital based on ecological factors. "We need a more sustainable approach to development and should incorporate indigenous traditional architecture suitable for the mountainous region," he added. A senior official at the Uttarakhand district development authority told Moneycontrol, "The concrete coverings for stormwater drains in Nainital have been constructed through a state government project. We will take further action if needed." Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for the airline's lapses in reporting about the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27, according to a senior official. A show cause notice has also been issued to the airline's Head of Safety, Security and Quality Functions Henry Donohoe. 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 February 27. The show cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and head of flight safety on April 21 for not doing timely reporting of the incident to DGCA, which is in violation of the regulator's safety instructions, the senior official at the DGCA told PTI on Sunday. Besides, there was a delay in investigating the incident. Both the executives have been given 15 days to respond to the show cause notices, the official said. There was no immediate comment from Air India. Earlier this month, DGCA directed Air India to deroster the entire crew of the Dubai-Delhi flight till investigations are complete. On April 21, the airline 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 violation of norms. 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 At least nine people have died and 11 hospitalised after a gas leak occurred at a factory in Ludhiana. Several others suffered from respiratory problems and other health issues. The incident took place in a factory located in the Giaspura industrial area. The gas leak was first noticed around 7.15 am. ANI reported that locals in the Giaspura experienced breathing difficulties and the bodies of the deceased turned blue. Two men, four women and two children were brought dead to the civil hospital. Shambhu Narayan, resident of Jamalpur, lost five members of his family -- his 40-year-old nephew Kabilash Kumar, his wife Barsha Devi and three children -- Kalpana, 20, Abhay Narayan, 12, and Aryan, 9. The area has been cordoned off while a fire brigade, ambulances, and a team from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed the nine deaths. Three establishments affected by the leak were Goyal cold drink, Kamal Kiryana and Arti clinic. Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana Surabhi Malik said that it is being investigated whether chemicals reacted in manholes and led to the toxic fumes spreading in the area. She confirmed that samples collected from manholes in the area has been sent for investigation. "The NDRF is extracting samples from manholes for various kinds of chemical test then we will get more information if possible cause. The gas has been diluted but MC teams, PPCB teams are working to check if any more such chemical reactions are there in the vicinity," she said. Civil Surgeon Ludhiana, Dr. Hatinder Kaur suspects that neurotoxins led to the fatalities. "As per the medical examination till now the deaths were not caused by suffocation but by the gas's harmful effect on the nervous system of the victims," she said. A delegation of people opposing a proposed oil refinery project at Barsu in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district called on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Sunday. A section of residents in and around Barsu have been opposing the proposed refinery as they fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood. On Friday, as tempers ran high among protesters, the police used tear gas to disperse them. Pawar tweeted that a delegation led by Satyajit Chavan called on him at the YB Chavan Centre here. NCP leader and former state minister Jitendra Awhad was also present during the meeting. On Friday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the proposed refinery project will not be implemented without the local people's consent. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said one should ensure development projects do not cause any damage to the environment. He urged the Maharashtra government to hold discussions with all the stakeholders and find the best possible way out. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, whose party is supporting the protesters, on Saturday claimed there was no coordination between Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on the proposed refinery project. 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 recent years, the e-commerce sector has widely adopted AI technology. Such amalgamation is a significant step forward for the development of the company. E-commerce sites are increasingly adopting AI-powered features. AI technology has made this possible. It produces works of art that are incomprehensible to the human mind. COVID-19 has accelerated the transition from traditional retail to online purchasing by approximately five years, according to IBM's US Retail Index. The use of AI-enhanced apps is growing across a wide variety of industries. Their widespread acceptance can be attributed to their desire to perform duties that are difficult for humans to handle. There is no doubt that the application of AI has improved the e-commerce and retail industries. Meticulous Market Research, 2020 states that the retail sector is experiencing greater demand for AI due to the pandemic crisis. Examples of AI in e-commerce include customer-focused video search and image recognition. In addition, virtual assistants are a widely adopted form of AI across all industries. Evolution of AI in online shopping Researchers in China reported in 2015 that AI is being utilised extensively to boost marketing's effectiveness. According to a 2019 study by German academics, AI is already widely employed to improve retail productivity. According to studies from Romanian academics in 2020, artificial intelligence is increasingly being employed to boost the effectiveness of automated marketing. According to European academics, online retailers powered by AI offer automatic support to customers at every stage of the buying process. It's a huge plus, particularly for older people who tend to be resistant to new forms of technology. Researchers from the United States and Taiwan stated that AI could better comprehend consumers' online information search and product selection habits to provide a more personalised purchasing route. The Romanian researchers hypothesised that it is a beautiful opportunity for online retailers to analyse the customer profiles of their existing and potential customers and then recommend marketing strategies specifically tailored to them. According to specialists, however, AI systems also have disadvantages. The implementation of AI systems necessitates massive investments. They are most effective with large data sets. To summarise, AI systems automatically analyse enormous volumes of data in real time to interpret and shape consumer behaviour to deliver personalised products and services, improving the shopping experience. The significance of trust in online shopping In online commerce, the significance of trust cannot be overstated. According to the research team from the United States and Singapore, consumer confidence positively affects a consumer's intent to purchase. The greater a consumer's trust in an online store, the more likely they will complete the purchase. When a consumer perceives a financial risk, faith is of utmost importance. The experts identify two categories of trust: general and specific. Faith in the e-commerce environment relates to consumer beliefs and attitudes. Typical trust is associated with purchasing in a particular virtual store. Through interactive communication between the retailer and the consumer, confidence can be increased by using appropriate product descriptions and images to reduce the perceived risk. According to experts, "trust rules the Internet, not price." Brands that want to remain competitive must always be looking for and adopting the latest industry trends. Here are a few tendencies that we expect to see in 2023. Customisable Products Interactive content assists internet retailers in understanding customer expectations. More merchants are allowing customers to personalize or have the brand personalize their purchases. Customers appreciate this e-commerce service. Customers can personalise their purchases online. Voice Search Digital consumers are increasingly using voice searches to find information online. So, it's no surprise that voice assistants are rapidly catching up, with Alexa, Siri, and Ok Google leading the pack. By incorporating NLP into their online shops, companies can offer voice search. Mobile shopping Mobile shopping allows consumers to shop from anywhere in the world, using only their smartphones. An e-commerce site is compatible with all devices, including laptops, desktop computers, and mobile phones. Payment options include several payment methods, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets make it easier for customers to complete a purchase. Augmented and Virtual Reality To increase the profitability of online stores, several retailers have begun employing augmented and virtual reality technologies to provide customers with a more realistic view of the products they are purchasing. Chatbots Chatbots have been used in e-commerce for some time, but they can now be implemented in various settings. Customers favour chatbots over traditional customer service because chatbots provide rapid and straightforward responses. Social media There's a new trend in the world of e-commerce, which involves a different way of making purchases online. Instagram has rapidly become one of the most prominent platforms for immediate online purchases. Users can also link to the product pages using the site's "checkout on Instagram" function. In addition, 87 per cent of users said they relied on social media platforms while deciding. Drone delivery Drone delivery has just begun to take off. The level of enthusiasm for the proposal, though, is astounding. Additionally, many large corporations are investigating it as a potential improvement to local and lightweight distribution. When billionaire Harsh Goenka agreed to meet at his offices in Worli, Mumbai, a few weeks ago, he had a condition: masks would have to be worn. At the time the request seemed unusual, maybe even eccentric, but at the present time, given the sudden resurgence of the coronavirus, it would appear almost clairvoyant. Goenka, 65, who used to come to office every day before the lockdowns, says he now only attends twice a week but is working harder than ever, thanks to digital mediums. We catch up on the fifth floor at RPG House in an elegantly-appointed, art-filled lounge that adjoins his corner office where there's an early painting by master S.H. Raza that was presented to Goenka. I'm seated right in front of a series of small sculptures depicting the life stages of a politician. Birth, rise and then passing. In the end, only the hat remains. Goenka, clad in white half-sleeved shirt and dark trousers and an all-black watch that was presented to him by his mother, is indeed masked up, as am I. Goenka is prolific on social media and makes no bones about his passion for food and art and I break the ice by asking if he will ever start a restaurant or an art gallery. His response: "I don't like to mix business with passion." Master of reviews How does he keep tabs on the $3.2 billion diversified group with ventures in information technology, auto components, life sciences and engineering and infrastructure that is RPG? To those who've worked with him, Goenka is the 'master of reviews' and takes stock of results, updates and performance. He dismisses that notion, however, modestly adding that "I believe in being surrounded at my workplace with people who are smarter than me. My interest has always been in human resources, and we in the Group believe that happiness is at the core of all that we do." While Goenka and RPG may be best known for Ceat tyres, its lower profile engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) venture KEC International is actually a $1.8 billion enterprise with a niche advantage. "KEC is the largest business in the world in transmission and distribution, but five years back, we realized that this business cannot grow more than 6-8 percent, so we diversified into railway, civil, and oil and gas infrastructure. That's a recent development of about five years," he explains. "So, we are number one in India, as far as railway infrastructure is concerned, and civil is an area in which we are growing at 40-50 percent CAGR every year. That's a good space to be in and we are working on beefing up our engineering strengths." Tyres for electric vehicles Given his business exposure to the growing trend of electric vehicles, how does he see changes in the development of tyres? "As far as EV tyres go, it's not a problem. The rolling resistance is a little different. Also, the interesting debate is, an electric vehicle doesn't make a noise. So should the tire make a noise or not?" I realize Goenka has turned interviewer and answer, "Perhaps not." Goenka laughs as he says: "There's no right answer. Because half the people cross the roads hearing the car (screeching of the tyres). So if you create a 100 percent silent tyre, which we have done, what about the man crossing the road?" The takeaway for him is that it's the carmakers who have to take the call as to the type of tyres they want on cars. India is turning out to be the manufacturing hub of the world and the government is thinking ahead in terms of leading in AI, EV and other technologies of the future. Good news, bad news What does Goenka, a self-confessed art lover and gourmand spend most of his work-time on? "I would say over 50 percent of my time is spent on HR issues and I do not get involved in the day-to-day operations unless it's some major crisis, some capex issue," he says. Thats the bad thing about being a chairman; they come to you only when there is bad news. Good news, they dont come to you." The problem, he says, is that post-COVID, time seems to have stretched out of control. "I used to work from the late morning to maybe three o'clock am, thanks to COVID and US operations. That's because 43 percent of our turnover comes from our global operations. So, we have plants and businesses in Brazil, Mexico, and we have our IT business where our CEO and our critical people are based out of the US. So, it is pretty standard for my meetings to start at one o'clock at night." Besides Sundays, Goenka says he is used to that sort of round-the-clock routine. Great time to be in India Of late there's been much talk of "India shining", "China Plus One" and other such monikers that seem to have been created to position India as the next greatest investment destination. How does Goenka feel about that? "I feel very positive about India. Most countries are going through a downturn. In a seemingly depressed world, India and some of the Asian countries are shining stars." Goenka says his personal view is that it is a great time to be in India. "The economy is doing well. India is turning out to be the manufacturing hub of the world and the government is thinking ahead in terms of leading in AI, EV and other technologies of the future." Of course, there are always hurdles, so how does India move ahead without any hiccups? "If you ask me what are the dangers which may slow down Indias growth, they are a. Fractures in society and politics. b. Rogue neighbours, and c. Self arrogance leading to complacency." That being said, "we have a young vibrant population, we have a startup system which is doing well. I think we are very well placed now", he adds. An Indian-origin former Apple employee has been sentenced to three years in jail and ordered to pay back $19 million (about Rs 155 crore) after defrauding the tech giant of $17 million (about Rs 138 crore). Dhirendra Prasad pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Apple and related tax crimes in November 2022. He has also been ordered to pay Rs 15 crore for tax evasion. The 55-year-old has also been ordered to forfeit more than Rs 44 crore worth of assets and pay an additional Rs 65 crore in cash. Prasad, who was employed by the iPhone maker between 2008 and 2018, was a buyer in Apples global service supply chain, purchasing parts and services from vendors, The Verge reported. In his plea, he admitted to siphoning money from his employer by accepting bribes, stealing parts, inflating invoices, and charging Apple for goods that were never delivered. The 55-year-old also did not pay tax on the money he made from defrauding the tech giant. He was helped by the owners of two vendor companies, who have been charged in separate cases, the publication reported. The US Department of Justice stated that Prasad tried to hide his criminal activities by exploiting his position as a buyer and using insider information on Apples fraud detection techniques. By virtue of his position at Apple Prasad was given substantial discretion to make autonomous decisions to benefit his employer, the Department of Justice stated in a release. Prasad betrayed this trust, and abused his power to enrich himself at his employers expense all while accepting hundreds-of-thousands of dollars worth of compensation from Apple in the form of salary and bonuses. Read more: Delivery executive in Gurugram replaces 10 iPhones with replicas, booked A "work of art" meme shared by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has created an uproar among Indians across the world because of its resemblance to the goddess Kali. The now-deleted tweet showed a massive cloud from possibly a bomb explosion morphed into a figure with blue skin, with her tongue hanging out and a garland of severed heads around her neck -- all features characteristic of the Hindu goddess -- in a signature Marilyn Monroe pose. Reacting to the post, Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor to the Ministry of Broadcast and Information wrote, "Recently Ukraine Deputy Foreign Minister was in Delhi soliciting support from India. Behind that fakery lurks the real face of the Ukraine government. Indian goddess Ma Kali has been caricatured on a propaganda poster. This is an assault on Hindu sentiments around the world." Recently #Ukraine Dy Foreign Minister was in Delhi soliciting support from #India Behind that fakery lurks the real face of Ukraine Govt. Indian goddess Ma Kali has been caricatured on a propaganda poster. This is an assault on Hindu sentiments around the world.@UkrembInd https://t.co/r84YlsUtZc pic.twitter.com/q7jSG0vGXH Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) April 30, 2023 "Sad to see the government of Ukraine harbour such hate and mock more than a billion Hindus worldwide. Its unbecoming of a country that claims to be a victim of war. Instead of deriding Kali Ma, try seeking her blessing to fight off evil of all kinds. Ukraine could really use it right now," journalist Shubhangi Sharma tweeted. "This centuries-old obsession with disparaging Goddess Kali Ma continues to run deep in the West. Its replete with ignorance and bigotry and no matter how woke the new generations get, some malicious fixations will remain deeply entrenched forever." This incident comes days after a German magazine faced severe criticism for its racist portrayal of India in a cartoon after its population surpassed China's. 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 URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. Voting on amendments to the Constitution of Uzbekistan is underway at the polling station No. 49 in the city of Urgench, Khorezm region, Trend reports from the scene. Since early morning, people have come to the polling station to cast their votes. Over 1,200 people can vote at this polling station. Residents of Urgench also go to vote with their families. Those who voted immediately take a photo for memory. No violations were observed in the voting process at the polling station. Early voting took place from April 19 through April 26. More than 611,000 citizens of Uzbekistan voted early in the referendum on amendments to the Constitution. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. After an engaging session at the Aakhar Dakshin: A Festival of South Indian Languages in Bengaluru, Malayalam author KR Meera sat on a couch outside the auditorium waiting to sign books for her readers. It was an interesting glimpse of what the award-winning writer means to her fans. A young girl handed the Hangwoman (2012) book to Meera and talked about feeling numb for a day or two after reading the translation of Aarachar (2012) which, incidentally, won the 2013 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, and tells the story of a woman grappling with the legacy of her familys profession of being executioners. I want to dedicate my first book to you, the fan gushed, professing her interest in writing. Next a father gave a copy of Qabar (2021) and asked Meera to autograph it for his daughter. Another young woman requested Meera to autograph the books for her and all the brave women. At the session, Meera had quibbled over the word feminist with a male member of the audience who wondered why there should even be such a word pertaining specifically to women. In reply, Meera asked him if he believed in the Indian Constitution which gave equal rights to every Indian. If you believe in the Indian Constitution, you are a feminist, she said, correcting the misconception the word elicits. On the subject of her feminist stories making an impact, she reminisced about an aunt who said that her son had changed: He has become a feminist after reading your books! He doesnt allow anyone to wash his plate even. Thats my success story, Meera said. She spoke of someone asking her if she was writing a new book (she is!) and if that, too, is a feminist book. Meera had retorted: If its a good book, it should be a feminist book. All writing should be feminist. From starting out as a journalist to writing the serialised story of Aarachar for Madhyamam Weekly that ran for 53 volumes and then later, writing novellas, novels and TV scripts, Meera commented on how she had changed as a person. When writing, I just write whatever I want but later, I read and reread to check for problematic scenes because I dont want my publishers to get into trouble. I love my critics and if they have issues with what I have written, I feel thats on me because I havent been able to communicate my ideas to them. The world belongs to all. My understanding of life and people have changed. As an aside, this line of thought, too, worries me. Through the entire session, Meera often spoke of her exhaustion and if she would want to write after a couple of years. That was the author being candid of her creative process and the toll it unleashes on her. In a conversation on the couch, Meera talked about some key points: On feminism I had not studied about feminism. Only after I became a writer, I started reading feminist writings and I realised that even without studying about feminism, my writings were in line with all the feminist writings that are there. I strongly believe that theres a continuity of experience for every woman all over the world. On depression After I finished writing the Hangwoman, I experienced a tidal wave of depression. Everything was dark and black. I felt helpless. A young friend, who is a doctor, told me that my symptoms indicated clinical depression. I never expected that I would get it because I have always been a bold and courageous woman. But I went to a psychiatrist, he told me that theres a link between creativity and depression. Hangwoman was a dark subject. The doctor put me on anti-depressants for three months but just a week or so of having the medicine, I felt a complete change. Did that stop me from writing about dark emotions? Well, I started writing Jezebel about a young doctor in Kerala who struggles against the cruelty of a patriarchal world. Maybe, I have some kind of violence in me which keeps coming out which is why my stories are such. I am not sure whether depression is the reason for the dark novels I write or it is these novels which leaves me depressed. On the publishing world I am a writer and not that well informed to comment about the publishing world. In my experience, all the publishers have been kind to me. The difference between Malayalam and English publishers is that the latter are not very keen on the sales of the books. As writers, we are always looking at reaching out to as many new readers as possible. I feel the (translated) books, once published, are on their own. On readers I am engrossed in the love of my readers. Almost all of them have painstakingly searched for my books after coming across one story or one book. I enjoy their love which is because my stories have touched their hearts. Their number has surely increased and although they are from all age groups, I am particularly happy about having readers from my daughters age group (she is 25 years old). I think it is an honour to be able to write books which are relatable to them. On writers block I have never had writers block for fiction but I find it difficult to write non-fiction these days. More than writers block I have readers block. On writing in the future I am exhausted from writing but as far as I am alive and can type on the computer, I cant see myself doing anything else. I try my best to update myself but a new generation of writers is coming who have new ways of narration. I look forward to reading other peoples stories. A woman whose husband was trapped in war-torn Sudan and was rescued during Operation Kaveri has thanked the Centre for springing into action. Sharing that her husband was one of the first batches of Indians to return to the homeland, Meenakshi Agrawal said that she never felt as safe being an Indian. A Feng Shui consultant, Agarwal, had first sought help from the government via a tweet on April 21. After her husband landed in Delhi, she wrote, "My husband is the first person to reach India back last night from Sudan. Within 24 hours of my tweet, the government sprung into action. I have never felt as safe to be an Indian as I feel today. While other countries evacuated their diplomats first, we prioritised our citizens." My husband is the first person to reach India back last night from Sudan. Within 24 hours of my tweet, the government sprung into action. I have never felt as safe to be an Indian as I feel today. While other countries evacuated their diplomats first, we prioritised our citizens. Meenakshi agrawal (@Meenakshiagra17) April 27, 2023 Praising the Ministry of External Affairs, Agarwal added, "Your call centre, the kindness of your staff has been outstanding. Ambassador Akbar in Khartoum and Anil Kumar his second in command have been super helpful and available to the citizens stuck there." My husband with you at Jeddah airport. He was on the first #airlift out from port Sudan. pic.twitter.com/EpUmNgcpY9 Meenakshi agrawal (@Meenakshiagra17) April 27, 2023 She also thanked the army officer who travelled with her husband and the Indian Air Force (IAF). "Grewal, Major you are a hero for flying out my husband and so many others. IAF, your patience and strength, your smiling face gave reassurance and hope to all." @narendramodi @DrSJaishankar @PiyushGoyal @IndianAirforce Thank you for bringing my husband home. Flying back in safe hands with Major Grewal #bjp4india #operationkaveri #firstairliftopkaveri pic.twitter.com/EGS7Z4ELwT Meenakshi agrawal (@Meenakshiagra17) April 25, 2023 The man was also spotted with Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan apparently at Sudan's Jeddah airport. India brought home another batch of 229 people on Sunday under its mission to evacuate stranded Indians from violence-hit Sudan. The fresh batch of evacuees arrived in Bengaluru, a day after 365 people returned from the African country to Delhi. "Operation Kaveri: One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted. Under the evacuation mission, 754 people arrived in India in two batches on Friday. The total number of Indians who have been brought back home from Sudan now stands at 1,954, according to official data. (With inputs from PTI) Read more: 'With limited staff, Indian embassy in Sudan did unlimited work': Indians after landing in Mumbai It might have taken the Ponniyin Selvan (PS) phenomenon to put the spotlight back on one of Indias most illustrious kingdoms. It has rekindled the romance with the Cholas. By the 11th century, the Chola empire didnt just cover large parts of southern and western India, but wielded significant clout across the ocean as far wide as the Maldives and Indonesia. The Cholas were among Indias first thalassocracies or maritime superpowers. Aside from their successful naval campaigns, they also left an indelible imprint with their breath-taking architecture. You can explore it over a weekend; the trail begins in Thanjavur. Also read: Temple run with 'Ponniyin Selvan' The Big temple In 1987, the Brihadeeshwarar temple became one of Indias first UNESCO recognized World heritage sites along with two other temples that are now referred to as the Great Living Chola temples. Living because these three temples continue to exist in almost the same shape and form since they were built and are active places of worship. Locals call it the Periya koil (The Big Temple). This architectural masterpiece was constructed in just eight years. The main shrine of this temple is a staggering 216 feet tall and built entirely in granite. The kumbam (the bulbous capstone) alone weighs about 80 tonnes. Modern-day architects continue to be puzzled about how such a large heavy stone was placed on top of this structure. The mystique doesnt end there; the closest source of granite is at least 60 km away and yet a whopping 60,000 tonnes of granite was used to build this temple, including a large single block that was used to carve out the Nandi statue at the entrance of the shrine that is 16 feet long and 13 feet high. Theres no better time to be here than sunrise, as the temple dome gets accentuated by the first rays of light. Sunset is an equally photogenic time, as Ive discovered during my last two visits to one of my favourite temples in Tamil Nadu. Capital connection: Gangaikonda Cholapuram Rajendra Chola I succeeded his father (Raja Chola) in 1014 and consolidated the influence of the Chola dynasty. He tasted success in his campaigns in the north of India and won a strategic battle over the Pala Dynasty. It was this success that earned him the title Gangaikonda Chola (bringer of the Ganges). Which is why he called his new capital (that he established in 1025 AD) Gangaikonda Cholapuram where he built a slightly smaller version of the Brihadeeshwara temple (with the same name) around 1035 AD that stands at 180 feet tall. Some of the temples highlights include intricate sculptures (of Chandesa Anugraha Murthy and Saraswati) that are found in the niches near the northern entrance. Its now a nondescript village; the only connection with its illustrious past is the imposing temple. I would suggest reaching here in time for sunset for the best images. If youre planning to make a pit-stop in Pondicherry, you could time yourself for sunrise (its 90 minutes away from Thanjavur) and then do the two-hour drive to Pondy for breakfast. The epitome of Chola architecture? If theres one temple where youre likely to put your wide-angle lens or panorama mode into overdrive, its the Airavatesvara temple at Darasuram (an hour away from Thanjavur). This temple was completed during the reign of Rajaraja II (1143-1173 AD). Most experts consider this the pinnacle of Chola architecture. It may not be as imposing as the other two temples but is highly ornate and features intricate carvings. The front mandapa (conceptualized as a chariot with wheels) is the highlight. I soon discovered that the temples layout and design are a photographers delight. Detours The Thanjavur Marathas ruled this region between the 17th and 19th centuries. The Sarasvathi Mahal library, one of Asias oldest, is a treasure trove and received the patronage of Serfoji II one of the last great Maratha kings. Among the many rare manuscripts are documented recipes, culinary insights from the royal kitchen that date back two centuries. Its part of the Palace complex that also includes the grand Durbar Hall and Art Gallery which houses rare stone and bronze sculptures from the Chola Era. Thanjavurs musical icon, the Thanjavur veena that takes 15 days to handcraft. Its the only veena to have been recognized with a GI tag (a geographical indication is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin). You can visit one of Thanjavurs veena makers who keep this rich tradition alive. Stay Great Trails by GRT hotels: On the banks of the Vennar river with unhindered river views from most of their villas. The resort offers Tamil Nadu-style banana leaf meals and a smattering of Sri Lankan signatures like the watalappam and string hoppers. Svatma: is a heritage home that has been reimagined as a luxury hotel. The hotel pays homage to the mighty Chola empire with showstopper Chola-style bronzes and a swimming pool that is reminiscent of a temple tank. Eat Coffee Palace: Kumbakonam (an hour away) is famous for its filter coffee also called degree coffee. Coffee Palace serves the best filter coffee in town; their crispy rava dosa is also a big draw. Thevars Biryani: you dont have to go too far from the temple for the best biryani in Thanjavur. Its crafted with the small grain Seeraga Samba rice and truly hits the spot. A woman was arrested for allegedly assaulting three personnel from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport over a dispute regarding apple juice, authorities said on Wednesday. The woman, who was identified as 19-year-old Makiah Coleman, allegedly attacked the officers as she was going through the airport security just before 6 am on Tuesday. As per court documents, Coleman became annoyed since TSA officers took away her apple juice while she was completing her security formalities since large amounts of liquid are not permitted. Coleman reportedly was ranting as she tried to take the juice from the disposal bin, but was pushed away by a TSA agent. Documents further revealed that Coleman then had a scuffle with the other officers and allegedly, bit one agent, punched and elbowed another in the head and grabbed the ponytail of a third. Phoenix police were called on to the scene and the woman was taken into custody. As per the police, Coleman faces a number of misdemeanor assault charges, one count of criminal damage and a low ow-level felony count of aggravated assault and was being held on a $4,500 bond. Two TSA agents were taken to a hospital for treatment and were later discharged, as per TSA officials. TSA spokesperson Lorie Dankers called it an unprovoked and brazen physical attack and revealed that the incident led to the closure of the checkpoint and compelled 450 passengers to move to another checkpoint for security screening. Also read: Texas police arrests woman for assault on Indian Americans 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 India brought home another batch of 229 people on Sunday under its mission to evacuate stranded Indians from violence-hit Sudan. The fresh batch of evacuees arrived in Bengaluru, a day after 365 people returned from the African country to Delhi. "#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. Under the evacuation mission, 754 people arrived in India in two batches on Friday. The total number of Indians who have been brought back home from Sudan now stands at 1,954, according to official data. The Indians were brought back from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah where India has set up a transit camp for the evacuees. The first batch of 360 evacuees returned to New Delhi in a commercial plane on Wednesday. The second batch of 246 Indian evacuees arrived in Mumbai in a C17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday. Under "Operation Kaveri", India has been taking its citizens in buses from the conflict zones of Khartoum and other troubled areas to Port Sudan from where they are being taken to Jeddah in the IAF's heavy-lift transport aircraft and the Indian Navy's ships. From Jeddah, the Indians are being brought back home in either commercial flight or IAF's aircraft. India has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, and the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been coordinating with them, besides being in touch with the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. Jaishankar announced the launch of "Operation Kaveri" on Monday to bring back stranded Indians from the African country. April 30, 2023 Last week's post on Moon of Alabama: Its annoying when you get lectured to by more successful countries. Its especially annoying when the lecture comes from self righteous societies that dont follow their own advice. Is it any wonder that developing countries have lost respect for the US government. < TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 30. The diplomatic and other representations of the Republic of Uzbekistan abroad, embassies and consulates of the country abroad held early voting procedures on the referendum on the amendments to the Constitution on April 19-26, Head of the Central Election Commission Zayniddin Nizomxo'jayev said during a press briefing, Trend reports from the scene. "A total of 1,003 early voting polling stations were organized in 40 countries, including cities where our diplomatic missions are not located. Some 159,276 of our citizens used their constitutional rights during early voting," he said. Also, according to him, foreign representatives have organized more than 500 meetings and briefings with the participation of compatriots, foreign media, and officials. "Currently, 55 polling stations have been organized for holding referendums in 39 countries where diplomatic missions and consular offices of our country are located. The first of the referendum processes abroad began on April 30 in the diplomatic missions of our country in Japan and Korea at 04:00 Tashkent time, while the last one will end at 05:00 on May 1 in the missions in the US," the head of the CEC said. April 30, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-103 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 30, 2023 at 14:17 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Reliable energy supplies that are also low emission is in increasingly high demand by Permian Basin oil and gas producers. One large West Texas oil producer, which was unidentified, believes it has found the answer in a microturbine from Capstone Green Energy. Capstone, through its southern US distributor Lone Star Power Solutions, is providing the operator with an additional C800S Signature Series microturbine. This is in addition to the 3.6-megawatt Energy-as-a-Service contract between the two parties signed earlier this year. The operator will use the microturbine energy system to power production loads, using on-site natural gas produced from its day-to-day operations. The demand for these types of application is increasing for a number of reasons, Doug Demaret, president of Lone Star Power Solutions, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. Among them is the worlds appetite for American energy increases due to geopolitical issues and availability. Also, because our products are considered a clean air technology, we can produce energy onsite that is roughly 90% cleaner than any other combustion technologies and, in some cases, cleaner than the power coming from the electrical grid. Our products are also unique in that they are American made, which is reflected in the availability of our product for our customers. With greater control over our supply chain, we can deliver new products to our customers in six to 12 weeks, which is unheard of today. Lone Star is the exclusive distributor of Capstone Green Energy products in Texas and the Gulf States, according to Demaret. His company has approximately 15 megawatts of microturbines delivered in the Permian Basin in 2023 with orders for an additional 40 megawatts to be delivered by the end of the year, he wrote. As part of that, Lone Star is 100% focused on the full Capstone product portfolio, which includes product rental and sales. Demaret wrote that the needs of the customer dictate whether the project is a sale or rental as all customers regardless of size have specific needs that dictate how we move forward. Our goal is to support our customers transition to clean reliable power that allows them to maintain or expand their operations while lowering their site emissions, he wrote. While a majority of Lone Stars projects are using natural gas as a fuel, the company does have several sites using alternative fuels, including the different forms of biogas and hydrogen, Demaret added. Capstone provides customized microgrid solutions and battery storage solutions that can include hybrid energy systems and larger frame industrial turbines and a combination of battery technologies and monitoring software. To date the company has shipped more than 10,000 units to 83 countries and estimates that in FY2022 alone, it saved customers more than $213 million in annual energy costs and approximately 388,000 tons of carbon. Environmental concerns are not new to the Permian Basin oil and gas industry. This has led Midland Colleges Petroleum Professional Development Center and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association to bring the industry and regulators together to discuss issues, share concerns and try to craft effective solutions through its annual Permian Basin Environmental Regulatory Seminar. This years seminar is set for May 11 at the Bush Convention Center, 105 N. Main St. It will open with registration at 7:30 a.m. and end with an ethics talk presented by Michele Harmon with The Energy People Group. During the lunch break, Steve Melzer of Melzer Consulting will be presented the Bruno Hanson Midland College Environmental Excellence Award. Our primary focus this year is air emissions, Erin Van Evera-Welch, director of the PPDC, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. While this is not a new topic for the Permian Basin oil and gas operators and contractors to be cognizant of in their regular processes, its one of tremendous importance. This is especially so, given the multiple recent modifications of federal and state air emission regulations that directly affect our Permian Basin energy sector and therefore the quality of life for all of us who live and work in the basin, she wrote. Presentations at this years seminar are designed to assist local operators to be aware of these emission policy changes and update their operations accordingly, she added. One effort includes the first-ever panel discussion offered by the seminar. Seth Long with Shepherd Safety Systems, Jennifer Black with Scepter Inc. and Jennifer Blackledge with ChampionX will discuss emissions monitoring technologies, comparisons and certification standards. Another emissions-related presentation will be from Craig Pritzlaff with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding compliance and enforcement in Texas. David Elam with TRC Companies will provide an update on both federal and state methane regulations. Dan Naatz with the Independent Petroleum Association of America will offer a federal regulatory update while Stephen Robertson, executive vice president, Permian Basin Petroleum Association, will offer an update from both the Texas and New Mexico legislative sessions. Other topics to be discussed include updates from the Texas Produced Water Consortium and the New Mexico Produced Water Research Consortium and critical infrastructure regulations by Jared Ware, Mysti Doshier and Jarrod Eberly with the Railroad Commission. A special presentation by Richard Brantley, senior vice president, operations with University Lands will cover the 100th anniversary of the Santa Rita No. 1, discovery well of the Big Lake field in Reagan County that opened the oilfields of the Permian Basin to exploration and development, not to mention the billions in royalties and lease payments made to the Permanent University Fund that benefits the University of Texas and Texas A&M systems. We are excited to highlight the centennial anniversary of the Santa Rita No. 1 well, Van Evera-Welch wrote. Four new members took their place alongside Petroleum Hall of Fame members who range from pioneers like Frank Pickrell, responsible for the Santa Rita No. 1, to those currently influencing the industry like Jim Henry, Tim Leach and state Rep. Tom Craddick. Former US Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are also members of the hall. There are now 158 members in the hall, which dates back to 1967. The class of 2023, F. Marie Hall, Kenneth B. Nolen, Edward Runyan and Don Sparks, were inducted into the Petroleum Museums Petroleum Hall of Fame at a recent dinner at the Bush Convention Center. The late F. Marie Hall, a native West Texan, was an accomplished businesswoman, working in banking and law. She also served as director of the State National Bank of Big Spring, but she is remembered more for her philanthropic efforts. Her philanthropy embraced medicine, nursing, health sciences, rural health care, rehabilitation, fine arts, higher education, research, architecture, interior design, sports, law and urban forestry. In 2011, she established the FMH Foundation and served as president until her death in 2017. After graduating from Texas A&M University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1957, Ken Nolen joined Shell Oil as a production engineer, beginning his career-long passion for optimizing production from artificially lifted wells. In 1970 he left Shell and partnered with the late Sam G. Gibbs to form Nabla Corp., eventually growing the company to design and diagnose hydraulic and submersible pump systems and building digital dynamometers, pump-off controls and fluid level instruments. Nolen and Gibbs reteamed in 2014 to form GreenShot LLC, specializing in automated well fluid level technology that was sold to WellWorx Energy in 2018. Nolen has eight patents and has written textbooks and technical papers on artificial lift. Ed Runyan made his way from southern Illinois to the University of Tulsa, where he graduated from the petroleum engineering school in 1955, joining Sohio Petroleum Co. as a reservoir engineer. After a stint in the military, he moved to Midland in 1960 as a district engineer working on Sohios biggest project, the Spraberry Driver Unit waterflood that ultimately failed. His career has taken him from Permian Enterprises to Elcor to the public arena with Bell Petroleum Services. He entered the private arena with the formation of Texon Oil, and in 1990 he acquired controlling interest in Mid-America Petroleum, taking the company private and renaming it Seaboard. Over the last 25 years, Texon and Seaboard have discovered the R.A. Clearfork field, Weeks field, Horned Frog field, Double E field and Marilee field. He also served as president of the Society of Petroleum Engineers International in 1974. Don Sparks joined Shell after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in petroleum engineering, assigned to Midland. After serving in the Navy, he returned to Shell as an exploitation engineer responsible for all drilling procedures and completion procedures of development wells in West Texas. After working for Freeport Oil Co. and then Baily, Sipes, Williamson and Runyan, he formed Discovery Operating with Ernest Angelo in 1973. Two years later he bought out Angelo and has since built Discovery into an independent oil and gas company with 31 employees operating 420 wells within a 300- to 400-mile radius of Midland producing 10,700 barrels of crude and condensate and 13 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. The referendum on the Constitution is an important political event for the people of Uzbekistan, Firuza Adambayeva, member of the referendum commission at the polling station No. 49 of the city of Urgench of the Khorezm region, told Azerbaijani reporters, Trend reports from the scene. "We have a total of 1,276 voters. Some 40 percent of them have already taken part in the voting. The process started at 8:00 in the morning. Our people are in a great mood. Everyone is very happy to attend this event. This is a great holiday for us," she said. According to her, 40 observers from different countries, such as the UK, Iran, Tajikistan, as well as local observers are also present at the polling station. Early voting took place from April 19 through April 26. More than 611,000 citizens of Uzbekistan voted early in the referendum on amendments to the Constitution. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Terrica Purvis squinted through goggles as her hands carefully guided a pipette full of indigo-tinted fluid into clear glass test tubes. It was the last chemistry lab of the winter quarter for her community college. Purvis was working through the steps of what chemistry professor Valerie Mosser jokingly refers to as the "post-apocalypse survival" lab an experiment using boiled red cabbage water to test the acidity of common household chemicals. Purvis, 27, is in her first year of study for an associate degree in nursing. She is also one of more than 6,000 Washington community and technical college students enrolled in the state's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training program. Students who need extra help in subjects such as algebra struggle to learn if the content is taught in an abstract way, educators say. So the programs feature two teachers in the classroom: One provides job training and the other teaches basic skills in reading, math or English language. Nationally, two-year community colleges have the worst completion rates in higher education, with only slightly more than 40% earning degrees within six years. In Washington state, students in the program graduate at a higher rate. Among students who started college from 2015 to 2018, an average of 52% enrolled in the program's classes earned a degree or certificate within four years. That compares with 38% of students who did so while enrolled in traditional adult basic education coursework. The program is so successful that 12 states have begun implementing a model at one or more education institutions. For Purvis, who hadn't been in school for nearly a decade, this class meant getting extra math help when she needed it: during a chemistry class. Each time Mosser gave a lecture or held a lab, she was joined by Candace Ronhaar, who works as a tutor and extra math instructor. In one session, Ronhaar drew a heart on the whiteboard. She wrote the word "mole" beside it, and explained it is a unit of measurement equivalent to the amount of atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12. She guided students through practice problems, calculating the mass of chemical compounds. All six students in Chemistry 121 were also taking an entry-level statistics class, and Ronhaar was co-instructor for both courses. Mosser said Ronhaar's presence was the most valuable part of the model. "I'm an assessment instructor," Mosser said. "She's just a helping instructor. In the minds of students, the difference is incalculable. They have a different relationship with her. They're more willing to go to her, because she doesn't grade them." Purvis said chemistry was the first class that ever "humbled" her. She doesn't think she would have passed without the program. Students fresh out of high school had an easier time remembering chemistry and math, Purvis said, but she hadn't studied those subjects for 10 years. "They couldn't have picked a better second instructor," Purvis said of Ronhaar. "I loved it. We went to her office hours all the time." After high school, Purvis spent six years as a cook in the Navy, and took classes at a couple other colleges. Last year, she was medically discharged and returned to school at Everett Community College full-time. She plans to go on to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and hopes to work in labor and delivery at a hospital. Helping more students graduate from nursing school has a larger societal benefit. In the first year of the pandemic, from 2020 to 2021, the number of working registered nurses in the United States decreased by more than 100,000 the highest drop in four decades. An estimated 200,000 jobs for registered nurses are expected to open each year in the U.S. through 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2021. Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training was launched as a state pilot program almost 20 years ago as data suggested students needed vocational training to improve job prospects. The program was to change the remediation model in most community colleges, where students who don't do well on placement tests must take pre-college classes in their weak subject essentially a repeat of high school. Enrollment in the state has increased by more than 20% in the past five years, bringing in a diverse group of students. Forty-six percent of its students are students of color, 55% are women and 39% have dependents. The Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training program opens the door to federal financial aid by making it available to students who didn't graduate from high school. Under financial aid rules, students must either have a high school diploma or prove their "ability to benefit" from aid by being enrolled in a qualifying program, such as I-BEST, where they learn basic skills as part of their career pathway. Along with nursing, other high-demand job pathways include aeronautics, manufacturing and information technologies. At Bellevue College, students enrolled in Business 101 meet with instructor Eric Nacke for an adult basic education class on a separate day. Nacke teaches English in the context of the business world. Student Forouzan Barfibafeghi moved from Iran to the U.S. in 2020. She holds a bachelor's degree in business from Islamic Azad University in Tehran, where she graduated in 1999. She said Nacke's classes have helped her develop her English skills and given her a sense of community. "We have created a strong bond between us. That is one of the highlights for me," said Barfibafeghi, who hopes to find work in the insurance industry after completing an associated degree in business. In Washington, because Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training uses a mix of state, federal and other grant funds, the state doesn't know how much the program costs. But the model calling for two instructors does make it more expensive than other adult basic education programs. The program might be more broadly replicated if it weren't so costly, state community college spokesperson Laura McDowell said. As Purvis prepared for her next quarter of classes, the student said she hoped her future instructors would be as helpful as Ronhaar. "She's my favorite instructor so far since I've been going to Everett," Purvis said. "We needed her. She had to be there." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Move over "Dick and Jane." A different approach to teaching kids how to read is on the rise. For decades, two schools of thought have clashed on how to best teach children to read, with passionate backers on each side of the so-called reading wars. The battle has reached into homes via commercials for Hooked on Phonics materials and through shoebox dioramas assigned by teachers seeking to instill a love of literature. But momentum has shifted lately in favor of the "science of reading." The term refers to decades of research in fields including brain science that point to effective strategies for teaching kids to read. The science of reading is especially crucial for struggling readers, but school curricula and programs that train teachers have been slow to embrace it. The approach began to catch on before schools went online in spring 2020. But a push to teach all students this way has intensified as schools look for ways to regain ground lost during the pandemic and as parents of kids who can't read demand swift change. A history lesson One historical approach to teaching reading was known as "whole language." (Close cousins of this approach are "whole word" and "look-say.") It focused on learning entire words, placing the emphasis on meaning. A famous example is the "Dick and Jane" series, which, like many modern-day books for early readers, repeated words frequently so students could memorize them. The other approach involved phonics, with supporters arguing students need detailed instruction on the building blocks of reading. That meant lots of time on letter sounds and how to combine them into words. In 2000, a government-formed National Reading Panel released the findings of its exhaustive examination of the research. It declared phonics instruction was crucial to teaching young readers, along with several related concepts. Whole language had lost. What emerged, though, was an informal truce that came to be known as "balanced literacy" and borrowed from both approaches. The goal: Get kids into books they found enjoyable as quickly as possible. But in practice, phonics elements often got short shrift, said Michael Kamil, professor emeritus of education at Stanford University. "It wasn't a true compromise," said Kamil, who had sat on the national reading panel. The approach often led to students learning how to guess words, instead of how to sound them out. Now, as schools look to address low reading scores, phonics and other elements of the science of reading are getting fresh attention, fueled in part by a series of stories and podcasts by APM Reports. Textbook makers are adding more phonics, and schools have dumped some popular programs that lacked that approach. Science of reading While the phrase doesn't have a universal definition, it refers broadly to research in a variety of fields that relates to how a child's brain learns to read. Neuroscientists, for instance, have used MRIs to study the brains of struggling readers. In practice, this science calls for schools to focus on the building blocks of words. Kindergartners might play rhyming games and clap out the individual syllables in a word to learn to manipulate sounds. Experts call this phonemic awareness. Students later will learn explicitly how to make letter sounds and blend letters. To make sure students aren't just guessing at words, teachers might ask them to sound out so-called nonsense words, like "nant" or "zim." Gone is rote memorization of word spellings. Instead, students learn the elements that make up a word. In a lesson using the word "unhappy," students would learn how the prefix "un-" changed the meaning of the base word. Does it matter? For some kids, reading happens almost magically. Bedtime stories and perhaps a little "Sesame Street" are enough. But 30% to 40% of kids will need the more explicit instruction that is part of the science of reading, said Timothy Shanahan, a professor emeritus at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Other kids fall somewhere in between. "They're going to learn to read," said Shanahan, also one of the members of the 2000 panel and the former director of reading for Chicago Public Schools. "They're just not going to read as well as they could be or should be." Complicating the situation, colleges of education often have stuck with balanced literacy despite concerns about its effectiveness. That means teachers graduate with little background on research-backed instructional methods. The upshot: Parents often pick up the slack, paying for tutors or workbooks when their children struggle, Shanahan said. Extra help can be costly, contributing to racial and income-based disparities. As a result, a growing number of NAACP chapters are pushing for wider adoption of the science of reading, describing literacy as a civil rights issue. Dyslexia's role Parents of children with dyslexia have led the push to use the science of reading. For them, the issue has special urgency. Kids with dyslexia can learn to read, but they need systematic instruction. When the wrong approach is used, they often flounder. "I can't even tell you how many screaming fits we had," recalled Sheila Salmond, whose youngest child has dyslexia. "My daughter would come home and say, 'Mom, I'm not learning.' And then it became, 'Mom, I'm stupid.'" Salmond found herself testifying before Missouri lawmakers, taking a graduate class so she could tutor her daughter and eventually moving her from a suburban Kansas City district to a parochial school. She now is making progress. What is changing Just a decade ago, it was rare for a state to have laws that mentioned dyslexia or the science of reading. Now every state has passed some form of legislation. The laws variously define what dyslexia is, require that students are screened for reading problems and mandate that teachers are trained in the most effective strategies, said Mary Wennersten of the International Dyslexia Association. States often look to duplicate what has happened in Mississippi, which has credited reading gains to a curriculum revamp that started a decade ago. The multi-million dollar effort includes training teachers on the science of reading. The changes have put some curriculum programs in the crosshairs. Some Colorado districts, for instance, have ditched instructional materials that didn't pass muster under a state law that requires schools to use scientifically based reading programs. New York City, whose mayor often talks about his personal struggle with dyslexia, is making changes in its schools as well. For parents ... Should they be researching the tenets of the science of reading? Do they need to help their children form letters out of Play-Doh? What about drilling their kids on nonsense words? Flashcards? Only if they want to, said Amelia Malone, director of research and innovation at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. What parents must do, she said, is read to their kids. Otherwise, she recommends helping teachers when they ask for it and pushing for evidence-based practices in their children's schools. "Parents can be part of the solution," she said, "if we educate them on why this is kind of the movement we need." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate One day in June 1921, the editor of the Herald newspaper in Troy, Alabama, finally had enough. A clipping from the previous Sundays Brooklyn Daily Eagle lay on his desk. An Assassins Monument, the headline said. It had been reprinted in papers nationally. The editor angrily banged out his reply on a typewriter. The people of our city do not appreciate the publicity we are getting out of this thing, he fumed. You couldnt blame them. After all, for 15 years, the tiny town of Troy had been stuck with a notoriety not of its own making. It was home to the only monument honoring a presidential assassin. And not just any president-killer, either, but the most despised villain of them all: John Wilkes Booth. Blame it on Pink Parker. Its important to understand at the outset that Pink wasnt a backwoods redneck. He was educated, a law officer, a devout Christian, a loving husband and father, a man well-liked by his neighbors. With one huge exception. He had a burning hatred of Abraham Lincoln that grew into a psychotic obsession. Because he simply was unable to let go of the terrible things that had happened to his family. His story began quietly enough. Joseph Pinkney Parker was born into a respectable family in Coffee County, Alabama, in 1839. He had just finished his education when the Civil War broke out. Pink put on a gray uniform and marched off with the Confederate Army. Returning home in 1865, he was trapped in the nightmare that was Reconstruction. The family farm was overrun by weeds, livestock gone, personal property stolen, his sister deeply embittered by the treatment she had received from Union soldiers. The county soon took his home for unpaid taxes. He tried being a schoolteacher but gave it up when his pupils parents couldnt pay him. He got a job as a railroad walker carrying a sledgehammer and bag of iron spikes to keep rails in order. It was grueling, exhausting, low-paying work. Pink Parker married and started a family. (Relatives remembered he never called his wife anything but Darling.) He was a dedicated Baptist, became a police officer, and eventually built a comfortable home in Troy. But somewhere in his heart was a hurt too painful to heal, a cut so deep no scar could ever cover it. Pink Parker simply never got over what the Yankees had done to his home, family and future. And in his mind, the blame lay entirely at one mans feet: Abraham Lincoln. This otherwise friendly, likable man would erupt in a volcano of hatred whenever Lincolns name was mentioned. In fact, the only time he ever swore was when he heard Lincolns name, and the torrent of obscenity was so profane he was eventually kicked out of the Baptist Church because of it. His family and neighbors tried to overlook this single glaring flaw. But that grew harder and harder to do. Then he devised a scheme in 1906. He would put up a marker honoring the man who took Lincolns life assassin John Wilkes Booth. The people of Troy were horrified one day when Pink displayed a 4-foot-tall stone marker inscribed, Erected by Pink Parker in honor of John Wilks (sic) Booth for killing Old Abe Lincoln. Pink offered to erect it on the courthouse lawn or in a city park. But nobody touched it with the proverbial 10-foot pole. So, Pink put it in his front yard. He even sent a postcard to President Theodore Roosevelt, inviting him to come and see the monument for himself. (The White House never replied.) With Pinks house in a quiet residential neighborhood, few people saw the marker. Every so often, a newspaper reporter from a Northern state would write a story about it, causing great mortification to the people of Troy. But it had been bought with private money and placed on private property, so there wasnt much they could do about it. By 1921, Lincoln had been dead for 56 years. To many people, the Civil War seemed as remote as the Vietnam War seems today. Pink was 82 then, nearly blind, and in rapidly failing health. Boys tipped over the monument as a Halloween prank. Pinks family didnt put it back up. It was still lying in the dirt when he died that December. His sons hauled the monument to the local stone carver. The writing was wiped away, replaced by Pinks name and birth and death dates. What had started as a tribute to a murderer was turned into his tombstone. And so it stands today in Oakwood Cemetery, tilting to one side like the leaning Tower of Pisa. No trace remains of the words that once reminded the world of Pink Parkers inability to forgive and forget, to heal and move on. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) Police have charged a 19-year-old man with killing two teenagers and wounding four others in an early Sunday shooting at a house party on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Cameron Everest Brand of Pass Christian is charged with murder and aggravated assault, jail records show. Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said in a news release that police identified Brand as the sole shooter through witness and victim statements. An 18-year-old and a 16-year-old died in a New Orleans hospital, Schwartz said. The Orleans Parish coroner did not return a phone call seeking to confirm their identities. Friends and family identified them as DeArreis DD Smith, 18, and Haeleigh Stamper, 16, classmates at Hancock High School. Smith was a senior getting ready to graduate, according to Kecia Sams, who considered him an adopted member of her family. DeArreis Smith was an amazing soul, a loyal friend, brother and uncle, Sams told Nola.com. He was loved by many and will be missed so very much by his family. A GoFundMe account was set up to help with funeral expenses for Stamper. In the posting, the organizer, Lillie Smith, described the teen as a sweet soul. Her beautiful smile would light the whole room up, Smith said. Brand was arrested at his home in neighboring Pass Christian and taken to jail, Schwartz said. Bay St. Louis Municipal Court Judge Stephen Maggio denied Brand bail, and he was being held in the Hancock County jail. It is unclear if Brand has a lawyer who could speak for him. Students had gathered for a party at the home on a sparsely populated road after Bay High Schools prom. Local news outlets reported that trails of blood could be seen on the pavement Sunday outside the home, while cars were peppered with bullet holes. The home is less than a mile from Bay High. Police said the six victims wounded by gunfire ranged in age from 15 to 18. All were taken to area hospitals, some by helicopter. Casey Woods, an 18-year-old student at Pass Christian High School, told the Sun Herald of Biloxi that he was at the party with a girlfriend. He told the paper he saw Brand talking to people and then walking away before he returned and the shooting started. Me and my girl looked up and saw sparks coming from the gun, Woods said, adding many people ran into the woods. Both of the teens who died had attended nearby Hancock High School in Kiln, officials in that school district said. Two more Hancock High students were shot and wounded, as were two students from Bay High. Those are the only two public high schools in Hancock County, on the western end of the Mississippi Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Gulfport. Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of two Hancock High School students who were victims of the shooting in Bay St. Louis last night, the Hancock County school district said in a statement, saying counselors would be available Monday at school. Let us come together as a community to show our support and love during this difficult time." Sandra Reed, superintendent of the Bay St. Louis-Waveland school district, said both of the wounded Bay High students were expected to recover. Bay High Principal Amy Necaise said the school was making faculty and staff available on campus Sunday afternoon to counsel students. Run Studio/Getty Images CARLINVILLE A Staunton man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for delivery of methamphetamine. Brian T. Gray, 60, of Staunton was sentenced Thursday by Judge Joshua A. Meyer, according to Macoupin County State's Attorney Jordan J. Garrison. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UMAN, Ukraine (AP) Relatives and friends cried next to coffins on Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting in the 14-month-long war claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sunday's funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. I live nearby," said Father Fyodor Botsu. "I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. Im worried with everyone since I have children and Im a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years." He said he prayed "that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, 9 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldn't wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised," Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. "But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces wouldn't delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to "reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Macron's office said he reiterated Frances commitment to provide Ukraine all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russia's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. Under the leadership of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, a number of reforms were implemented in the country, and thanks to them, people were provided with many benefits, Oksana Karimova, member of the commission for holding a referendum at polling station no. 19 in the city of Urgench of the Khorezm region, told Azerbaijani reporters, Trend reports from the scene. "A total of 1,698 people can vote at our polling station. Some 907 people have already cast their votes at the moment. All residents of Khorezm actively participate in the voting. They vote in a festive mood. Everyone, from young to old is here today. People come to express their opinions. We are all proud that we live in a peaceful Republic of Uzbekistan," she said. A referendum on the Constitution is being held in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. Biden, Marcos set to meet as tensions grow with China View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navys harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos visit to Washington comes after the U.S. and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands as the U.S. looks to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Mondays Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Koreas nuclear program. Marcos official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The U.S. president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbors. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close U.S.-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A U.S. appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about $2 billion against the elder Marcos estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the U.N. General Assembly, where the U.S. president acknowledged the two countries sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. ___ Gomez reported from Manila. By AAMER MADHANI and JIM GOMEZ Associated Press Relatives bury children killed in Russian missile attack View Photo UMAN, Ukraine (AP) Relatives and friends cried next to coffins on Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting in the 14-month-long war claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sundays funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. I live nearby, said Father Fyodor Botsu. I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. Im worried with everyone since I have children and Im a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years. He said he prayed that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russias war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, 9 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldnt wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised, Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces wouldnt delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Macrons office said he reiterated Frances commitment to provide Ukraine all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russias battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraines northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. By ANDREA ROSA Associated Press Man arrested after $3M worth of drugs shipped to restaurant View Photo AUBURN, Maine (AP) Employees of a Maine restaurant got a surprise when they opened a large wooden crate that they thought was a shipment of mugs they had recently ordered. Instead, they found a plastic tote that contained what law enforcement suspect is 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl with an estimated street value of $3 million, Auburn police Deputy Chief Timothy Cougle said in a statement Saturday. The tote had a shipping label with the restaurants address but the name of someone who did not work there. Employees who opened it saw what they thought looked like drugs, so they contacted police, Cougle said. The crate from Arizona that arrived in the Maine town about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Portland was taken to the police department, where a chemical field examination confirmed it contained fentanyl. About an hour later, the man whose name was on the shipment showed up looking for the crate and was arrested, police said. Jeremy Mercier, 41, of Auburn, was charged with drug offenses and for violating bail conditions. He is being held in a county jail without bail. It could not be determined if he had an attorney. Mercier previously spent time behind bars on a 2007 federal drug conviction, Cougle said. The investigation is ongoing, and Cougle said he anticipates state and federal law enforcement getting involved. Mike Peters, the co-owner of Macs Grill, told WMTW-TV in an email that he is glad the drugs did not make it to the streets. The instances of overdose in our, and surrounding, communities is awful, and fentanyl seems to be front and center when it comes to fatalities, he said. It is very sad. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 30. The referendum on amendments to the Constitution of Uzbekistan was recognized as valid, since more than half of the country's citizens included in the voter lists had voted at the polling stations by 13:00 local time, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Committee (CEC) Bakhrom Kuchkarov told reporters, Trend reports from the scene. "As of 13:00, the number of those who voted reached 12,083,105, which is 62.24 percent of the number of citizens included in the lists. These figures mean that the CEC has grounds to recognize the referendum as valid," Kuchkarov said at a briefing. Early voting took place from April 19 through April 26. More than 611,000 citizens of Uzbekistan voted early in the referendum on amendments to the Constitution. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. OPPOSITION Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has embarked on a diplomatic offensive to court the support of regional leaders in his partys push for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. President Emmerson Mnangagwa said he will announce election dates next month. CCC has raised concern that the electoral field is not level, but skewed to produce a disputed election. Chamisa yesterday could not immediately reveal more details about his foreign meetings citing diplomatic protocols, but said the reception he received abroad was convincing. We want to make sure that Zimbabwe is friends with all and we are not a pariah state or a Banana Republic, Chamisa told The Standard. We have a speed dial for those who matter for purposes of helping Zimbabweans to deal with their own issues. Ultimately as Zimbabweans, we have the power and capacity to solve our problems, but we need the helping hand and solidarity of the global community to fix our own issues. Thats why we are reaching out. Chamisa said global solidarity was critical as the country moved closer to the elections. The liberation struggle was possible because of the solidarity from the then Yugoslavia, Norway, Scandinavian countries, Russia and even China, he said. We are leaving no stone unturned. The beauty is that Zimbabweans are not alone. They have the support of the globe. They have support across the globe. CCC has raised various complaints about electoral irregularities and malpractices. It also accuses the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of refusing to release the voters roll for an independent audit. CCC says it has previously engaged regional institutions such as the South African Development Community (Sadc), African Union (AU) and the United Nations among others over the need to implement electoral reforms. I know for a fact that internationally, there is a chorus for a credible election in this country, Chamisa said. And the chorus is definitely an echo to the call and clamour by all citizens that certain things reforms have to be put in place. Political analysts said Chamisas meetings with foreign leaders were critical, but acknowledged they had limited influence on the countrys electoral process. Its appropriate for him to meet foreign leaders to seek solidarity and new ideas, but he must not be under any illusion that the meetings will yield results to directly influence the call for Mnangagwa to implement the needed electoral reforms, political analyst Eldred Masunungure said. But he has to do it. He should not think they will necessarily intervene in the issues, but it will definitely help him get new ideas or just knowing he has solidarity. Masunungure said the AU and Sadc have let Zimbabwe down before. The most active of all the African regional bodies is Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) otherwise, others like Sadc, they exist but only in name, so Chamisa should not entirely rely on them, he added. The Standard Breaking News via Email President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a strong hater of western imposed sanctions, on Friday made a tongue-in-cheek admission the measures were good for Zimbabwe as they have almost turned the troubled country into an attraction for foreign exhibitors. He was addressing journalists soon after touring stands at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) while being accompanied by visiting Eswatini King Mswati III who officially opened the fair. Mnangagwa felt overwhelmed by the high number of international exhibitors who have graced the countrys premier trade showcase. He said a lot of exhibitors were drawn to the ZITF through curiosity over how a country under sanctions went about its business operations. People get excited by sanctions; that is why they come here to see what happens under sanctions, Mnangagwa said. In fact, you see that sanctions are very good. Numbers are increasing, increasing, and increasing. The Americans are here, the British are here, the European Union is here, what else would we want? Everybody is here, so this re-engagement and engagement is bearing fruits. You see, perhaps they (international exhibitors) heard that His Majesty (King Mswati) is coming. Thats why they are here. In fact, if that is the reason next year he is going to come again. Mnangagwa said exhibitors had improved from previous years. Its better than last year, the quality is better. The displays are fantastic, majestic because His Majesty is here. All the exhibitions we have seen are just majestic exhibitions. On his part, King Mswati III also said the exhibitions at the fair were impressive. I must say that, you know, when I was last here in 1995, there was a lot of change, a lot of development and even for the city, Bulawayo to be here in the trade fair. Im impressed. Even the exhibitors who are here, there are quite a lot more of them than the last time l was here. So, I want to say well done to the people of Zimbabwe. While delivering his official opening speech, King Mswati III also called on Zimbabwe to work together with Eswatini on economic development issues. I wish to extend invitations to the business and trade communities to visit the Kingdom of Eswatini anytime of the year and also during our annual trade fair usually held in August. We believe that this will present many opportunities for our people and businesses which will also increase activity trade and tourism between our two countries. The prospects of success and growth for our people are limitless. Let us therefore use every chance before us After the end of his official opening remarks, King Mswati also presented awards to exhibitors who had outstanding displays at the fair. The trade fair opened its doors to the business community from April 25 to 27, where high-level conferences took place. On Friday the fair was open to the public and is set to close on Saturday. ZimLive Breaking News via Email Conor here: A few days late on this as Workers Memorial Day was April 28, but the following piece by Tom Conway is a good reminder of why unions are so important. Last year was good year for unions in the US although there wasnt really anywhere to go but up. Americans approval of unions hit a nearly 60-year high, and an additional 200,000 signed up (although the unionization rate dropped to from 11.6 percent 11.3 due to more nonunion jobs being created). On top of that, more than 60 million workers wanted to join a union, but couldnt. Maybe thatll change this year. By Tom Conway, the international president of the United Steelworkers Union. This article was produced by the Independent Media Institute. He was known to be aggressive and argumentative, the kind of patron who made others at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh branch uneasy. But one day last year, the man walked into the building in a much darker mood, harassed a librarian, and threatened to kill her. Fortunately, library workers had joined the United Steelworkers (USW) in 2019 and built safeguards into their first contract to address dangers exactly like this. The librarian received a temporary transfer to another building. And the library system banned the patron, ensuring he wouldnt turn up again either to look for the person he threatened or target somebody else. April 28 is Workers Memorial Day in America and the Day of Mourning in Canada, a time to remember those killed, injured, or sickened at work. Its also a day when union workers rededicate themselves to the fight for safer working conditions and renew their pledge to look out for one another, along with others in the workplace, leveraging all of the power that collective action provides. We are open to the public, which means everybody is welcome to come in, and we do our best to serve everybody, explained David King, a steward for USW Local 9562 and a librarian in the music, film, and audio department at the systems main location in Oakland. Were proud of that. Were sincerely proud that were one of the few truly public spaces still left. But that does come with some of these dangers, he added, noting that library workers face patrons who create disruptions, brawl, carry in weapons, damage property, overdose in restrooms, and even stalk them. Because library management failed to adequately address these risks, union members stood in solidarity together and negotiated a contract that not only provides temporary transfers for endangered workers but also includes notification procedures to alert workers at various branches when a patron is banned. That is a huge change from before we negotiated the contract, King pointed out, noting that workers previously had no recourse if they were harassed. They just had to put up with it. They just had to stay in the same location. The contract also establishes minimum staffing at the 19 branches to ensure the safety of workers and visitors, said King, noting some locations have delayed opening at times because of worker shortages. And the union advocates for workers as other issues arise, such as when it forced repairs to the fire alarm system on the third floor of the Oakland building last summer, secured increased security after a student brawl and other violent incidents at another branch several months ago, and won systemwide protections at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unionization gave us the power to say, You need to listen to us, recalled Kate Buick, a Local 9562 steward who works at the North Side branch, noting the pandemic measures included remote work options, safe spacing of computers at every branch, safety walkthroughs of the buildings, and creation of a labor-management safety committee. Having that committee was a game-changer, she said. We at least knew there would be no retaliation and we could say what we wanted. Because they deliver these kinds of protections, unions help to ensure that workers return safely home at the end of their shifts. A study by the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for example, found that union construction sites had significantly fewer health and safety violations than nonunion ones. Another study, led by researchers at George Washington University and other institutions, revealed that unionized nursing homes had much lower COVID-19 infection and death rates than nonunion facilities. When incidents occur, unions fight to hold employers accountable. But the drive for safer working conditions neednt be adversarial, as a recent collaboration between the USW and Safety-Kleen in East Chicago, Indiana, shows. The union and company sometimes disagreed on various issues. But Local 1011 President Steven Serrano repeatedly pointed out the benefits of cooperation and responded enthusiastically a few months ago when Safety-Kleen, which provides environmental services to various industries, sought the unions help on a new safety initiative. The parties negotiated a memorandum of agreement that, among other improvements, convened a union-management health and safety committee, established union-management incident investigations, and empowered workers to unilaterally stop work when confronted with hazardous conditions or processes. The unions involvement boosts the companys efforts to obtain Voluntary Protection Program recognition from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. And it built solidarity among the 80 or so USW members at Safety-Kleen, who belong to Local 1011 along with hundreds of workers from the nearby Cleveland-Cliffs steel plant. Now, they have a seat at the table, said Serrano, noting workers understand the dangers of their workplace better than anyone else. Now, they have a voice. (Natural News) The final heading of our late March article about fluoridated water in the U.S. says, Now we know why Americans are so stupid. Artificial fluoride was introduced into the U.S. water supply in the late 1940s. The science is now crystal clear. (Article republished from TheCOVIDBlog.com) Toxic artificial fluoride stunts brain development in children. The data continually show inverse correlations between fluoride exposure and IQ as the previous goes up, the latter goes down. By the year 2000, nearly 60% of Americans lived in municipalities with fluoridated water. But fluoride alone cannot explain the obsequious, sycophantic, tribal nature innate in most Americans. We literally live in a society where 40% believe Donald Trump is god, and another 40% believe that men are really women. At least 80% of Americans rolled up their sleeves to receive at least one mRNA and viral vector DNA injection that were branded as vaccines from January 2021 to January 2023. Most pregnant women wouldnt drink one glass of wine, smoke one cigarette or take one aspirin in nine months of pregnancy up to the 1980s. They feared even the remote possibility of potential birth defects. But in 2021 forward, pregnant women were willy-nilly allowing Walmart employees to inject them with experimental gene therapies because Fauci, mainstream media, and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) told them to do it. Granted pregnant women took more ibuprofen and Tylenol in the 1990s because they thought it was safer than aspirin. But taking an over-the-counter pain reliever while pregnant is a lot different than injecting witches brew-type concoctions with no safety or effectiveness records into your pregnant body. This blogger saw (albeit on film) three controlled demolitions of three New York City skyscrapers on September 11, 2001. But the U.S. government said 19 Muslims with boxcutters were responsible for crashing two planes into the first two buildings, and jet fuel caused them to collapsed. World Trade Center 7 collapsed hours later because a few offices were on fire, according to the government and mainstream media. Perhaps the most dramatic building fire in history was the 32-story Windsor Tower in Madrid, Spain on February 12, 2005. The building burned for almost 24 hours from top to bottom. It did not collapse. But a few alleged office fires that werent even visible on the outside of the 47-story World Trade Center 7 in New York on September 11, 2001, caused the building to collapse, according to U.S. government. As ridiculous as all that sounds, more than half of Americans still believed the official 9/11 story in 2007. This blogger, ever since 2001, has gradually become more reclusive because of the foregoing. It became increasingly impossible to pretend like everything was okay among people who obsequiously believe government and mainstream media propaganda. More than 90% of Americans identified as some sort of Christian/Catholic in 1990. That number dropped to 81% in 2001. It was still significant. But all these people, including those in this bloggers former Church of God In Christ (COGIC), ignored their own religious tenets in favor of government propaganda: Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7-8 Christians, en masse, turned into grazing lambs awaiting instructions from the shepherd. We know that vaccines have been the primary cause of increased autism rates since the mid-1990s. But fluoride and vaccines cannot explain why Americans engage in the exact same, recycled tribal sparring on social media and in real-life 24/7/365. All of this is deliberately orchestrated from the very top and has been since the end of World War II. Now in 2023, the old instruction manual is aided further by artificial intelligence and mainstream news theater that will forever blur the lines between fantasy and reality. Read more at: TheCOVIDBlog.com (Natural News) What the police state wants is a silent, compliant, oblivious citizenry. (Article by John & Nisha Whitehead republished from Rutherford.org) What the First Amendment affirms is an engaged citizenry that speaks truth to power using whatever peaceful means are available to us. Speaking ones truth doesnt have to be the same for each person, and that truth doesnt have to be palatable or pleasant or even factual. We can be loud. We can be obnoxious. We can be politically incorrect. We can be conspiratorial or mean or offensive. We can be all these things because the First Amendment takes a broad, classically liberal approach to the free speech rights of the citizenry: in a nutshell, the government may not encroach or limit the citizenrys right to freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and protest. This is why the First Amendment is so critical. It gives the citizenry the right to speak freely, protest peacefully, expose government wrongdoing, and criticize the government without fear of retaliation, arrest or incarceration. Nowhere in the First Amendment does it permit the government to limit speech in order to avoid causing offense, hurting someones feelings, safeguarding government secrets, protecting government officials, discouraging bullying, penalizing hateful ideas and actions, eliminating terrorism, combatting prejudice and intolerance, and the like. When expressive activity crosses the line into violence, free speech protections end. However, barring actual violence or true threats of violence, there is a vast difference between speech that is socially unpopular and speech that is illegal, and its an important distinction that depends on our commitment to safeguarding a robust First Amendment. Increasingly, however, the courts and the government are doing away with that critical distinction, adopting the mindset that speech is only permissible if it does not offend, irritate, annoy, threaten someones peace of mind, or challenge the governments stranglehold on power. Take the case of Counterman v. Colorado which is before the U.S. Supreme Court. Under the pretext of clamping down on online stalking, Colorado wants the power to be able to treat expressive activities on social media as threats without having to prove that the messages are both reasonably understood as threatening an illegal act and intended by the speaker as a threat. While protecting people from stalking is certainly a valid concern and may be warranted in this particular case, the law does not require speech to be a true threat in order to be criminally punished. The Supreme Court has defined a true threat as statements where the speaker means to communicate a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence to a particular individual or group of individuals. Indeed, Colorados stalking law is so broad that a person can be charged with stalking for repeatedly contacting, surveilling or communicating with an individual in such a way that a reasonable person would feel serious emotional distress. In the absence of any substantive guidelines on what constitutes a true threat on social media, such laws could empower the government to misinterpret any speakers intent and meaning in order to criminalize legitimate political speech that is critical of government officials and representatives. Case in point: in Oklahoma, a street preacher who expressed his moral outrage over public drag queen performances that occur in front of children and churches that endorse same-sex marriage was given a five-year restraining order and threatened with arrest after citing Bible verses on social media about Gods judgment of sin. The Rutherford Institute has taken on the case, warning that the ramifications of it going unchallenged could render anyone who quotes the Bible a criminal if it makes a listener feel unsafe or threatened or judged. This is what it means to criminalize free speech: it turns those who exercise their free speech rights into criminals. This criminalization of free speech, which is exactly what the governments prosecution of those who say the wrong thing using an electronic medium amounts to, was at the heart of Elonis v. United States, a case that wrestled with where the government can draw the line when it comes to expressive speech that is protected and permissible versus speech that could be interpreted as connoting a criminal intent. The case arose after Anthony Elonis, an aspiring rap artist, used personal material from his life as source material and inspiration for rap lyrics which he then shared on Facebook. For instance, shortly after Elonis wife left him and he was fired from his job, his lyrics included references to killing his ex-wife, shooting a classroom of kindergarten children, and blowing up an FBI agent who had opened an investigation into his postings. Despite the fact that Elonis routinely accompanied his Facebook posts with disclaimers that his lyrics were fictitious, and that he was using such writings as an outlet for his frustrations, he was charged with making unlawful threats (although it was never proven that he intended to threaten anyone) and sentenced to 44 months in jail. The question the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to decide in Elonis was whether his activity, in the absence of any overt intention of committing a crime, rose to the level of a true threat or whether it was protected First Amendment activity. In an 8-1 decision that concerned itself more with criminal-law principles concerning intent rather than the First Amendments protection of free speech, the Court ruled that prosecutors had not proven that Elonis intended to harm anyone beyond the words he used and context. That was back in 2015. Despite the Supreme Courts ruling in Elonis, Corporate America has taken the lead in policing expressive activity online, with social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube using their formidable dominance in the field to censor, penalize and regulate speech and behavior online by suspending and/or banning users whose content violated the companies so-called community standards for obscenity, violence, hate speech, discrimination, conspiracy theories, etc. The fallout is as one would expect. The internet has become a forum for the governmentand its corporate partnersto monitor, control and punish the populace for speech that may be controversial but is far from criminal. Everything is now fair game for censorship if it can be construed as hateful, hurtful, bigoted or offensive provided that it runs counter to the established viewpoint. In this way, the most controversial issues of our dayrace, religion, sex, sexuality, politics, science, health, government corruption, police brutality, etc.have become battlegrounds for those who claim to believe in freedom (of religion, speech, assembly, press, redress, privacy, bodily integrity, etc.) but only when it favors the views and positions they support. In more and more cases, the government is declaring war on what should be protected political speech whenever it challenges the governments power, reveals the governments corruption, exposes the governments lies, and encourages the citizenry to push back against the governments many injustices. Indeed, there is a long and growing list of the kinds of speech that the government considers dangerous enough to red flag and subject to censorship, surveillance, investigation and prosecution: hate speech, conspiratorial speech, treasonous speech, threatening speech, inflammatory speech, radical speech, anti-government speech, extremist speech, etc. In recent years, the government has used the phrase domestic terrorist interchangeably with anti-government, extremist and terrorist to describe anyone who might fall somewhere on a very broad spectrum of viewpoints that could be considered dangerous. As I make clear in my book Battlefield America: The War on the American People and in its fictional counterpart The Erik Blair Diaries, the ramifications are so far-reaching as to render almost every American an extremist in word, deed, thought or by association. You see, the government doesnt care if you or someone you know has a legitimate grievance. It doesnt care if your criticisms are well-founded. And it certainly doesnt care if you have a First Amendment right to speak truth to power. It just wants you to shut up. Yet no matter what ones political persuasion might be, the right to disagree with and speak out against the government is the quintessential freedom. When exercised regularly and defended vigorously, these First Amendment rights serve as a bulwark against tyranny. WC: 1374 Read more at: Rutherford.org (Natural News) Ann Vandersteel told her viewers that an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) whistleblower is coming forward with more dirt on the Biden crime family. Specifically, the whistleblower is about to expose the deep cover-up in the Hunter Biden investigation, which also involves Attorney General Merrick Garland. An IRS whistleblower has actually informed Congress that he wants to come forward to reveal a cover-up in the tax evasion investigation focused on the First Son Hunter Biden, Vandersteel said during the April 20 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel on Brighteon.TV. Vandersteel added that a lawyer for the whistleblower told a group of congressional committee leaders on April 19 that he wants to expose the preferential treatment and false testimony to Congress by a senior political appointee. According to Vandersteel, the unnamed whistleblower is a career IRS criminal special advisory agent, who has been overseeing the ongoing and sensitive information of a very high-profile controversial subject. Mark Lytle, the attorney who wrote to nine members of Congress, talked about the 53-year-old presidential son. Vandersteel said a congressional source confirmed that the complaint pertains to the First Son, who reportedly borrowed about $2 million last year to pay off a tax bill assessed on income earned overseas. Vandersteel also showed a showed a video clip of South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, who said in an interview with Fox Business that this is just the tip of the iceberg. Fry added that they are doing what Democrats have failed to do, which is to examine the Bidens relationships with foreign entities and to find out possible conflicts of interest. Multiple members of Biden family linked to transactions with Chinese energy company The South Carolina congressman pointed out that this development came on the heels of an explosive RT report implicating multiple members of the Biden family to transactions with a Chinese energy company. And my question is how deep does it go? What is this whistleblower willing to testify to? What are they going to say? But its already alarming to me and to the American people that were even in this position to begin with, Fry said. Vandersteel commented it is really alarming considering how long Joe Biden has been involved in American politics and how much money his family has taken from China. (Related: Biden family ties to Communist China even more extensive than thought; author details scariest investigation in exposing first family corruption.) She also cited that Hunter Biden was involved in dealing with the Ukraine-based Burisma Holdings Limited. The president and co-chair of the Zelenko Freedom Foundation noted that the Biden crime family was laundering money through Ukraine and funneling it right back into the Democratic National Committee and some Republican candidates. This explains why Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky can get whatever he wants from the U.S. government. Vandersteel said the sensitive information taken from Hunter Bidens laptop includes images of him with young children and Russian prostitutes while doing drugs. She added that so much more is coming out like a tsunami that wont stop coming ashore, and the Biden crime family is in the center of it all. The fact that an IRS whistleblower who is a supervisory special agent involved in their case is now coming forward to testify against the Biden crime family is explosive, she said. This is one of the reasons why Americans are going to see more and more chaos will ensue. Expect more topsy-turvy times ahead as the Biden crime family continues to be exposed. Follow Corruption.news for more news about about corruption in America and around the world. Watch the April 20 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel below. Right Now with Ann Vandersteel airs Monday to Friday at 8:00-8:30 p.m. on Brighteon.TV. More related articles: Another Biden link to Beijing found: Tens of millions in anonymous Chinese donations to UPenn Biden Center revealed. Hunter Bidens controversial laptop contents will soon be made available to the public. Ex-acting CIA director reveals he had 50 spies sign a letter saying Hunter Biden laptop scandal was Russian disinformation to help Joe win the presidential election. Former Trump national security official Kash Patel rips emerging Biden regime narrative on massive Pentagon leak: Extensive cover-up. Former Obama-era official calls Joe Biden a criminal, says he has evidence first family compromised by China. Sources include: Brighteon.com Twitter.com URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. The youth of Uzbekistan does not stand aside from the referendum on the Constitution, a resident of the city of Urgench Miyasar Allaberganova told Azerbaijani reporters, Trend reports from the scene. "Not staying aside from what is happening in our country, today I came to cast my vote in the referendum. I am glad that a separate amendment to the Constitution concerns young people. Our state pays great attention to young people and gives us confidence. I will personally try to justify this trust, to be a loyal citizen of my country," she said. A referendum on the Constitution is being held in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. (Natural News) A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that temporarily blocked the enforcement of Illinois ban on so-called assault weapons and firearms with high-capacity magazines. The injunction lasts until a lawsuit challenging the law is resolved. Judge Stephen P. McGlynn of the District Court for the Southern District of Illinois granted the injunction. McGlynn argued that the state law passed by Illinois, the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), will likely be declared unconstitutional when the lawsuit against its enforcement is resolved. Plaintiffs have satisfied their burden for a preliminary injunction, wrote McGlynn. They have shown irreparable harm with no adequate remedy at law, a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits, that the public interest is in favor of the relief, and the balance of harm weighs in their favor. McGlynn wrote a 29-page opinion approving the injunction request. He acknowledged that the passage of PICA was precipitated by a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, a suburb of Chicago, which resulted in seven deaths and left nearly 50 others injured. (Related: Gunshots fired, cars torched and smashed in Chicago riot.) He then asked whether the senseless crimes of a relative few be so despicable to justify the infringement of the constitutional rights of law-abiding individuals in hopes that such crimes will then abate or, at least, not be as horrific? The simple answer at this stage in the proceedings is likely no,' he wrote. McGlynns passage of the injunction came just one week after another federal judge, Lindsay C. Jenkins of the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, reached an opposite conclusion and denied a motion to prevent the enforcement of the law. State claims law consistent with historic tradition of gun control Illinois proposed state law would have prohibited the manufacture, sale and possession of over 190 different types of firearms, as well as dozens of types of firearm grips, stocks and attachments, including large-capacity magazines. McGlynn argued that, based on recent Supreme Court cases, the Illinois state government needed to prove that the firearms items being banned are not in common use and that they are the types of firearms that have a history and tradition of being regulated by the government. The state argued that the law is consistent with historical tradition because neither assault weapons nor high-capacity magazines were in common use when the Second Amendment and the Fourteenth Amendment were ratified. But McGlynn countered that this argument was bordering on the frivolous, because the Second Amendment is not limited just to the types of firearms that existed when the amendment was ratified. The judge noted that his ruling is not a final resolution of the case. But he did write that the state already has a wide array of laws that can be properly enforced to address concerns regarding gun violence. He wrote: There is a wide array of civil and criminal laws that permit the commitment and prosecution of those who use or may use firearms to commit crimes Law enforcement and prosecutors should take their obligations to enforce these laws seriously. Families and the public at large should report concerning behavior. Judges should exercise their prudent judgment in committing individuals that pose a threat to the public and imposing sentences that punish, not just slightly inconvenience, those guilty of firearm-related crimes. Learn more about the preservation of and the threats against the constitutional right to keep and bear arms at SecondAmendment.news. Watch this clip from The Record with Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax as host Greta Van Susteren interviews Cam Edwards of Bearing Arms about how gun control advocates cant agree on the proper definition of what an assault weapon is. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Illinois judge issues restraining order blocking new assault weapons ban from taking effect. Illinois sheriffs rebel, vow to not enforce restrictive new gun control law that includes assault weapons ban, registration. Growing number of Illinois sheriffs say theyll refuse to enforce new gun control law passed by Democrats. Authoritarian Dem Governor of Illinois signs worthless assault weapons ban that is likely to get overturned by Supreme Court. Sources include: BearingArms.com ABC7Chicago.com CBSNews.com 1 Brighteon.com (Natural News) The sole manufacturer of gunpowder in the United States remains offline more than two years after the Louisiana-based facility exploded, putting U.S. national security at risk even as the world becomes a much more dangerous and volatile place. Nearly two years ago, an errant spark inside a mill caused an explosion so big it destroyed all the buildings equipment and blew a corrugated fiberglass wall 100 feet at the Minden, La., plant, The Wall Street Journal reported this week. It also shut down the sole domestic source of an explosive the Department of Defense relies on to produce bullets, mortar shells, artillery rounds and Tomahawk missiles. The makeshift facility produces black powder, the original form of gunpowder, which is a highly combustible substance with numerous military applications. Black powder is an irreplaceable component used in small quantities to ignite more potent explosives in munitions, the report continued. While no one was injured in the explosion, the factory is still not up and running. At the end of the Cold War, military suppliers came under pressure to cut defense costs and streamline the nations industrial base, leading to consolidation. In the last three decades, the number of fixed-wing aircraft suppliers in the United States has decreased from eight to three. Similarly, major surface ship producers have declined from eight to two, and currently, only three American companies provide more than 90 percent of the Pentagons missile stockpile, the WSJ noted. Lower-tier defense firms are often the sole maker of vital partssuch as black powderand a single crisis can bring production to a standstill, said the outlet. According to defense experts, congressional staffers, and U.S. military officials, the dwindling number of military suppliers in the United States is becoming a significant concern. This is particularly evident in the challenges faced when supplying weapons and ammunition to Ukraine or restocking reserves to prepare for potential conflicts with China in the era of great-power competition, said the outlet. Following months of providing Ukraine with anti-armor systems, Stingers, howitzers, and artillery ammunition, both the United States and its NATO allies are now facing low stocks. The shortage is particularly noticeable in 155mm howitzer shells, which have played a critical role in repelling 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? Jeff Rhoads, executive director of the Purdue Institute for National Security, a defense-research center at Purdue University, asked the WSJ. They could be in trouble very quickly. In existence for over a millennium, the Minden explosion incident, as its been called, serves as a stark reminder of the dangers confronting the U.S. military. The explosion, which destroyed a building from the World War II era in a secluded facility located 30 miles from Shreveport, led to the complete cessation of black powder production in North America. Black powder has been an essential material for both military and commercial applications for over a millennium. Although it is now a specialty commodity with limited commercial uses, it remains crucially important for over 300 types of munitions. These include bullets for M-16 rifles and M4 carbines, cruise missiles, and, most importantly, the vital 155mm shells. Even today, black powder continues to play a significant role in modern weaponry, said the outlet. Due to limited sales volume, profits from black powder production can be insufficient to support multiple manufacturing facilities. This vulnerability is widespread and commonly referred to as the single source problem by the Pentagon. For instance, there is only one foundry in the U.S. that produces the titanium castings required for howitzers, and only one company manufactures the rocket motor utilized in the widely-used Javelin anti-tank missile in Ukraine, the WSJ reported. One of the primary issues is that the Pentagon can be an unpredictable customer. The demand for products can rise or fall depending on various factors, such as inventory levels, the current state of military engagements, or budget priorities. This has created challenges for black powder mill operators, who must contend with changing orders and costly regulations. In the meantime, U.S. military contractors who use black powder have been drawing on stockpiles, according to people familiar with the matter and U.S. officials. Other producers of black powder exist in Germany, Poland, Switzerland, Brazil and China, the WSJ reported. Sources include: WSJ.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Gabe Kaminsky of the Washington Examiner is out with another report on the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), a UK-based group which targets and blacklists conservative websites in order to drain them of revenue and support by working with advertisers and the ad tech industry in assessing the reputational and brand risk when advertising with online media outlets and to help them avoid financially supporting disinformation online. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) As Kaminsky reports, software giant Oracle announced on Wednesday that it will no longer collaborate with GDI, which has received just under $666,000 from the US State Department between 2020 and 2021. The news comes one day after GDI was cited in a lawsuit against the Biden administration which claims the government has colluded with big tech to censor free speech. This same British entity, which has two affiliated United States nonprofit groups that have come under fire for shielding information from their 2021 tax forms, was cited in a Tuesday friend-of-the-court brief filed by Alliance Defending Freedom in State of Louisiana v. Biden a lawsuit filed in May 2022 that claims the government has colluded with Big Tech to stifle discourse online. -Washington Examiner All signs point to a growing government influence over social media, reads the brief. The Biden Administration admitted as early as 2021 that it was flagging and reporting posts on Facebook, YouTube, and other platforms as COVID-19-related misinformation. A recent report found that the U.S. State Department sent $330 million [sic] to The Global Disinformation Index, a British organization that is attempting to discredit and blacklist many conservative news outlets for peddling disinformation.' Kaminsky notes that the brief mistakenly attributes $330 million sent to the National Endowment for Democracy to the GDI, when in reality the NED has granted money to GDI out of the $330 million. Following the Examiners reporting on the grants, the NED announced in late February that they were cutting off funding to GDI. Louisiana v. Biden was brought forth by Republican attorneys general Jeff Landry of Louisiana and then-Missouris Eric Schmitt, now a senator for The Show-Me State. The lawsuit alleges that the Biden administration infringed on the publics First Amendment Rights through its efforts working with Big Tech employees to engage in content moderation related to election integrity, COVID-19, Hunter Bidens infamous abandoned laptop, and more. For instance, Landry released a Rob Flaherty tells facebook to censor @tuckercarlson pic.twitter.com/mxUT2C8nna AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) Rob Flaherty tells facebook to censor @tuckercarlson pic.twitter.com/mxUT2C8nna AG Jeff Landry (@AGJeffLandry) January 6, 2023 _src=twsrc%5Etfw>January 6, 2023 _src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1611509683818270720%7Ctwgr%5Ec0c7361dbbefda1882520d68afdbf3205c1a497b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2023%2F01%2F06%2Fwhite-house-facebook-tucker-carlson-censor%2F target=_blank>document in January showing that the White House urged a Facebook employee in April 2021 to restrict posts about Fox News host Tucker Carlson claiming that there have been efficacy issues with vaccines. The White House also told Facebook in May 2021 that slowing down posts appearing to be anti-vax would be reasonable, and also urged Twitter to remove a post by anti-vaccine critic Robert Kennedy, Jr., who recently announced his Democratic bid for White House in 2024, documents show. -Washington Examiner Government should be freedoms strongest defender, not its greatest threat, said senior counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, Travis Barham, in a Wednesday statement. Americans dont look to the White House or Silicon Valley to discover and express the truth. Thats not the role of government, and it certainly isnt the role of Big Tech. Oracle, meanwhile, told the Examiner that it would no longer maintain a relationship with GDI, which they had previously announced a 2021 collaboration with in order to engage in brand safety. After conducting a review, we agree with others in the advertising industry that the services we provide marketers must be in full support of free speech, which is why we are ending our relationship with GDI, said Michael Egbert, vice president for corporate communications at Oracle. Microsoft has similarly launched an internal investigation into its partnership with GDI after ad industry whistleblowers revealed how conservative sites were being blacklisted by the Microsoft-owned Xandr as false/misleading , reprehensible/offensive , or hate speech. Meanwhile, GDIs co-founder and CEO Clare Melford was sent a letter on Tuesday by Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), who demanded its two affiliated nonprofit groups in the U.S. release a complete and unredacted list of donors. The letter came days after a Washington Examiner investigation revealed that the private AN Foundation, also known as the Disinformation Index Foundation, and its affiliated public charity, Disinformation Index Inc., are shielding items like board members, officers, and donors from tax forms, while claiming to be harassed under a little-known federal exemption law. -Washington Examiner This is outrageous, said Paul Kamenar, counsel to the National Legal and Policy Center, a conservative watchdog that plans to file an IRS complaint against both GDI groups, in a statement last week. Read more at: ZeroHedge.com (Natural News) Despite sanctions imposed by the West, Russian oil continues to power European vehicles but only after passing through Indias oil refineries. Bloomberg reported on this development in an April 28 article, citing data from analytics firm Kpler. According to the piece, the South Asian country is on track to become Europes largest supplier of refined fuels. It also pointed out that India is simultaneously buying record amounts of Russian crude. Russian oil is finding its way back into Europe despite all the sanctioning. India ramping up fuel exports to the West is a good example of it. With India taking in so much Russian barrels, its inevitable, said Kpler lead crude analyst Viktor Katona. On one hand, data from the analytics firm showed that Europes refined fuel imports from India are set to surge about 360,000 barrels per day (bpd), just ahead of those from Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, Russian crude oil arrivals to India are expected to surpass two million bpd amounting to almost 44 percent of the countrys overall oil imports. The revelation serves as a double-edged sword for the European Union. As the bloc needs alternative sources of fuel after it cut off direct flows from Russia, India easily fills this role. However, it ultimately boosts demand for Russian oil that India will refine and send back to Europe. This translates to more profits for New Delhi and extra freight costs that Europeans will shoulder. It also means more competition for European oil refiners with no more access to cheap Russian crude. At least one petroleum company has expressed concern about where Europes diesel is coming from. Josu Jon Imaz, the CEO of Spanish oil company Repsol, alleged that Russian diesel is entering Europe illegally. He clarified, however, that he does not pertain to the diesel refined by India. Imaz called on Spanish authorities to clamp down on the activity. In response, a government official said authorities did not find evidence of the Repsol CEOs claims. Nevertheless, the official remarked that a probe on the matter is ongoing. New deal bolsters Russian oil shipments to India Prior to the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, more than half of Moscows seaborne oil shipments were to the EU and the Group of Seven (G7) nations. However, the bloc slashed purchases of Russian crude in retaliation against Russias special military operation. Later in December 2022, the EU barred almost any seaborne crude oil imports from Russia. Two months later in February 2023, this prohibition was expanded to include refined fuels. However, these bans did not prevent countries like India from purchasing discounted Russian crude. Capitalizing on the cheap oils, India then refined these into diesel and other fuels and sold them back to Europe at a markup. A deal signed by two oil companies from India and Russia will only bolster European imports of fuel. New Delhi will rake in huge profits for the crude oil it refined into fuels, while Moscow can bypass import bans and price caps for its petroleum products. While this serves as a win-win situation for both countries, it essentially renders the EU dependent on India for energy. Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin said in a March 29 statement that his company signed a deal with the Indian Oil Corporation Limited. Under the deal, the state-owned Rosneft will substantially increase oil supplies as well [as] diversify the grades to India. Sechin did not specify the volumes or the value of the oil supplies it agreed upon with the Indian firm. (Related: Russia to increase oil supplies to India under new deal.) Representatives for both companies also discussed the possibilities of making payments in national currencies, namely the Indian rupee and the Russian ruble. The announcement of the deal followed Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novaks proclamation that Moscows oil sales to New Delhi had surged more than 20-fold in 2022. Watch former National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlows remark that Russias oil production is at pre-February 2022 levels because of China and India. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: OIL LAUNDERING: India imports Russian oil at a discounted price, refines it and sells to the West for massive profits. Circumventing sanctions: Oil shippers are hiding Russian crude by going dark to avoid backlash. Report: Russia SLASHED oil output in March in response to Western sanctions, price cap. US-EU price cap on Russian oil threatens Indias crude imports and economic growth. Russia to shift 75-80% of oil exports to friendly nations. Sources include: Bloomberg.com TheNewAmerican.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In the pharma world, medications and vaccines are approved right and left, with very little regard to the safety and health of the unaware humans that are part of the living trials. Oftentimes, the clinical trials on animals prove the treatments to be quite dangerous, but the FDA still waves them onward, to be used on humans. Then, after several years of horrible adverse events and deaths, the lawsuits start piling up, and once a few victims win a small fortune in court, then finally the FDA might recall the medication or vaccine. Too little, too late is that recurring story. As for the Covid clot shots, they have yet to be recalled, even though millions of vaccine victims around the world have died, suffered, and are continuing to suffer the aftereffects of spike protein syndrome right now. This should be of great concern to every living person. Pharma plays catch and release when news about the deadly clot shots gets too popular After millions of people rushed to get their first (and second) Covid clot shots, many of them suffered repercussions almost immediately. Nobody knew that the spike proteins did NOT remain at the site of injection, and the aftermath was like something out of a zombie movie, where perfectly healthy people started dropping like flies, from sudden myocarditis, pericarditis, and blood clots. Mass media and Big Pharma needed some damage control, in the news, to slightly admit the issue, but to play dumb and pretend it was only happening in rare instances. That was a massive lie. It turns out that if you follow the science, as fraudulent Fauci always says to do, that spike proteins DAMAGE the cardiovascular system and can cross over the blood-brain barrier, causing brain damage. Who knew? Well, the scientists who created mRNA already knew this, from the animal trials, but they did not want to disclose it, for fear the clot shots would never make it to market. Thats why the FDA had to use the Emergency Use Authorization protocol to release them into circulation (pun intended), even though the clot shots still did not qualify for EUA. A group of Canadian scientists revealed that the spike proteins do in fact travel from the injection site and accumulate in tissues and organs, including the liver, spleen, adrenal glands, bone marrow, and in quite high concentrations in the ovaries. Talk about population control. Heres a quote from one of those researchers: We made a big mistake. We didnt realize it until now, We thought the spike protein was a great target antigen, we never knew the spike protein itself was a toxin and was a pathogenic protein. So by vaccinating people we are inadvertently inoculating them with a toxin. Top 5 validated, scientific concerns about Covid vaccines Pharma never mentions until theyre forced to #1. Spike proteins LEAVE the site of injection and SPREAD throughout the vascular system, traveling to vital organs, causing horrific health nightmares. #2. Covid clot shots can cause brain damage, because the spike proteins can cross the blood-brain barrier. #3. Fauci Flu injections can deposit spike proteins in the ovaries, causing spontaneous abortion, miscarriage, and infertility. #4. Wuhan Virus gene therapy shots can exacerbate cancer, causing tumors to grow quickly, also known as turbo cancer. #5. Spike protein prions can attach to blood platelets and cells that line blood vessels, causing clumping, clotting, and bleeding (a.ka. VITT vaccine-induced thrombotic thrombocyteopenia). A pediatric rheumatologist, Dr. J. Patrick Whelan, literally warned the FDA that mRNA vaccines created by Pfizer and Moderna could in fact cause microvascular injury to the liver, kidneys, heart, and brain. He said the clot shots had the potential to cause microvascular injury (inflammation and small blood clots called microthrombi) to the brain, heart, liver and kidneys in ways that were not assessed in the safety trials. Bookmark Vaccines.news to your favorite independent websites for updates on the Vaccine Holocaust thats sweeping the nation and the world as you read this. Sources for this article include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Despite an agreed-upon truce, fighting between Sudans army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of Sudan are ongoing. And the latest news is that a national health facility that stores measles and cholera pathogens for vaccine production has been taken over by one of the warring parties. Reuters reported that the United Nations (UN) World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the situation to have a high risk of biological hazard following the laboratory seizure, which occurred after more foreigners and locals fled the volatile capital city of Khartoum. The WHO did not provide any details as to which side of the fight captured the biolab, which also contains a major blood bank for Sudan. All we know is that there has been a mass exodus from Africas third largest country, exacerbating fears that any civilians who choose to remain will be in danger once the three-day truce comes to an end on Thursday. The clashes have paralysed hospitals and other essential services, and left many people stranded in their homes with dwindling supplies of food and water, media reports state. The WHO has reported 14 attacks on health facilities and is relocating staff to safety. (Related: There are dozens of Pentagon-run biolabs in Ukraine that are being used to create deadly bioweapons.) Political coalition calls on humanitarian groups to help restore water and electricity in Sudan The U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA) announced that shortages of food, water, medicines, and fuel are becoming extremely acute while prices for basic goods such as bottled water are skyrocketing. The situation is getting so bad that Yassir Arman, a leading figure in a civilian political coalition called the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC) issued a public plea for humanitarian groups and the international community to do whatever it takes to help restore water and electricity in Sudan, as well as to get much-needed generators to local hospitals. There are bodies scattered in streets and sick people who cannot find medicine, no water nor electricity, Arman said. People should be allowed to bury their dead during the ceasefire. It is expected, according to the UN, that hundreds of thousands of people will end up fleeing Sudan into neighboring countries, potentially creating problems there as well. Many of these people say they feel abandoned with nowhere else to go as they await what could become even more conflict and bloodshed in the days to come. Why is the world abandoning us at a time of war? complained 27-year-old Sumaya Yassin, who further accused foreign powers of being selfish. Sudanese people are afraid that there might be unethical practices in the war against civilians and using civilians as human shields, added another man from Khartoum who called himself Ahmed. These are our fears after the evacuation of expatriates. Since the fighting first erupted on April 15, tens of thousands of Sudanese people have already fled for neighboring Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan, even though conditions in these places remain uncertain. Khartoum, meanwhile, has become a ghost town with very few people still waiting there to see what happens. There is nothing left in stores, no water, no food, one person said. People have started to go out armed, with axes, with sticks The situation has become very dangerous, including in areas not under bombardment. At the lab that was taken over, the WHOs Nima Saeed Abid said that technicians from the National Public Health Laboratory were thrown out, which has left the facility in a precarious position. And there is high risk of biological hazards because in that lab we have already isolates, we have measles isolates as well as cholera isolates, Abid warned. More related news can be found at Bioterrorism.news. Sources for this article include: YourNews.com NaturalNews.com The biggest gold nugget discovered in Colorado weighs 11 pounds and is known as "Tom's Baby." The popularity of shows like "Gold Rush," "Parker's Trail," "Bering Sea Gold," and "Yukon Gold" has increased over time, so many people are very interested in learning about the history of gold mining in Colorado. Tom Groves and Harry Lytton, two miners, discovered the largest gold nugget ever discovered in Colorado in 1887. The nugget was found in the vicinity of Breckenridge, close to Farncomb Hill. Tom's Baby: An 11-Pound Gold Nugget Wrapped in a Blanket The gold nugget, known as Tom's baby, was over 11 pounds in weight, despite conflicting reports to the contrary, according to the Town of Breckenridge. The nugget was named Tom's Baby because Groves wrapped it in a blanket like a baby and then carried it to Main Street where the proud "father" displayed his prize to everyone. The gold nugget weight a little over 11 and 1/3 pounds when Prospector Park opened in 2015. To date, the largest gold nugget ever discovered in Colorado is still Tom's Baby. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science says the nugget now weighs eight pounds. It is also in display inthe said museum. The nugget is believed to weigh less than it did when it was first discovered because of a piece that is said to have fallen off and was never found, but there is no confirmed information on what actually occurred. In Breckenridge's Prospector Park, Groves has a bronze sculpture that commemorates the tale of Tom's Baby. According to the Denver Public LIbrary, Tom's Baby the largest crystallized gold nugget unearthed in Colorado history. Also Read: Rare 'Beating Heart' Diamond-Within-a-Diamond Found in India To Be Left Uncut, Unpolished Gold panning Gold panning is one of the many enjoyable activities for families in Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Although this is open to all, those who find gold in chinks or nuggets within the boundaries of the state park should show the gold to the park staff. CPW recommends securing the equipment needed for gold panning. A shovel or scoop, instruction books, and waders are good starters. Castlewood Canyon State Park is a CPW favorite, but they also adore Point Barr at Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. A creek or stream with calm, slow-moving waters can ensure safety. Randy Howell, a volunteer, advises looking for dark, even black, sand by digging in a creek close to its bank. Practicing could help in honing the skills of gold panning. Experimenting in neighborhood parks to find the best location is a learning process, according to CPW, and could also be half the fun. CPW later concluded that it makes no difference whether or not gold seekers return home with a vial full of gold because they have spent time in stunning Colorado outdoors and engaged in a tradition that Coloradans have engaged in for centuries. However, as CPW says, it is also important for the visitors of the state park to also take in the scenery and the history because the riches are found in the experience rather than the gold, FOX31 reports. Related Article: Rare 1.9-Carat Brown Diamond Found in an Arkansas State Park by Couple Celebrating 10th Anniversary The two recently born Humboldt penguin chicks, a species listed as vulnerable, were gladly welcomed in a zoo in Washington State. Two Vulnerable Humboldt Penguin Chicks This spring, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle welcomed two adorable baby Humboldt penguins. The unnamed, female chicks, which hatched on March 1 and March 17, respectively, made their press debut on World Penguin Day. They were part of the zoo's baby bird boom this year, which also included the hatching of an Orinoco goose and the births of five merganser ducklings this week. The parents of the two new chicks at Woodland Park Zoo were paired per a breeding recommendation via the Humboldt Penguin Species Survival Plan. According to the IUCN, Humboldt penguins are a vulnerable species. Breeding Penguins in the Zoo Since the start of the zoo's first breeding season in 2010, there have been 90 successful hatchings in the penguin habitat, which was opened in 2009. With the addition of these chicks, that number has increased to 91, according to CBS News. This summer, more penguin chicks are anticipated to hatch at the zoo. Breeding season at the Woodland Park Zoo begins in November and lasts until the molting season, which takes place in late summer. One of the zookeepers, Celine Pardo, claims that the zoo is occupied for about nine months of the year with breeding and nesting, then rearing and fledging chicks. The two Humboldt penguin chicks that were born in March are getting ready to leave their nest and their parents in early summer to join the colony of 42 other penguins. They will remain with their parents in hidden nesting burrows until that time. The 31-year-old matriarch of the colony will assist in teaching the chicks to swim as they shed their downy feathers and develop their water-repellent fledgling feathers. Penguin Starter Kit Pardo claimed that the zoo's Humboldt penguin chicks were becoming anxious as they were honing their natural swimming skills. The zoo gave them access to a small pool far from the colony so they could learn and develop because they would splash around and scare themselves. The robust wings of Humboldt penguins enable them to "fly" underwater at speeds of up to 20 mph while controlling their direction with their feet and tail. The staff is preparing the chicks for hand-feeding while they practice maneuvering underwater and holding their breath in their private pool. Similar to what they would eat in the wild, the zoo feeds the penguins fish that has been caught sustainably. The chicks are regularly weighed to make sure they are meeting growth milestones. The younger chick is developing more quickly than the older one, which has a slower rate of development. The smaller chick, however, experienced a growth spurt and is now approximately three-quarters the size of its mother. Also Read: Arctic: Dangerous, Hostile Environment for Penguins, Expert Explains Raising Penguins At about 80 grams each, the two Humboldt penguin chicks emerged from the egg. The older chick weighed 3.03 kilograms as of Tuesday, whereas the younger one weighed 2.66 kilograms. Male Humboldt penguins weigh between 4 and 5 kilograms, compared to 3 to 4 kilograms for adult females. Merlin and Groucho, the parents of the older chick, both hatched there, while mother Rosalita, a hatchling from Woodland Park, and father Leonardo, who was born at the Columbus Zoo, are the parents of the second chick, the Seattle Times reports. Related Article: Japanese Aquarium Penguins Refuse to Feed on Cheaper Fish Antarctica is known today as a vast icy continent located in the Southern Hemisphere of our planet. A desolate terrestrial landmass, its temperatures remain low throughout the year, with a slight increase every summer season that spans from October to March each year. However, in recent years, anthropogenic global warming is causing glacier melt or retreat in the continent. Now, a new study led by scientists from Brazil and Chile confirmed the evidence that Antarctica was once green but frequently ravaged by forest fires. They asserted such natural phenomenon is due to active volcanism during the age of dinosaurs in the later part of the Cretaceous period 75 million years ago. This occurred approximately 9 million years before the Chicxulub impactor struck Earth. Paleontological evidence showed Antarctica as we know today is very different during such geologic period. It was filled with forests and grasslands which served as natural habitats for a wide range of ecosystems, ranging from dinosaurs to smaller mammals at that time. The discovery also confirmed the continent helped animals migrated when it was once connected with South America and Australia. Antarctica Forest Fires The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Earth Science on April 14, wherein researchers from the Chilean Antarctic Institute and the Brazilian Antarctic Program collected samples on King George Island, located in the Shetland Islands archipelago of the Antarctic Peninsula during expeditions. The research team provide evidence from plant fossils that frequent forest fires disturbed the continent. The team was led by Brazilian paleobotanist Dr. Joseline Manfroi, who had already proven the first evidence of forest fire in Antarctica back in 2015, as part of a paper published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Paleoecology. Manfroi said the intense volcanism linked to the Cretaceous was the driving force behind the forest fires in the continent, emphasizing that it was not the contact between molten lava and active volcanism that ravaged the vegetation, but rather the contact of vegetation with hot ash clouds and pyroclastic clouds emitted by volcanoes, as cited by Phys.org. The researcher also added the contact of fire with vegetation in Antarctica also influenced the evolution and biodiversity in the continent's southern forests. Also Read: Sediment Cores Millions of Years Old May Provide Clues About Previous Climate Change Antarctic Forest Evidence The recent Frontiers in Earth Science study is not the first one to discover about the ancient Antarctic forests. In fact, other research in recent years have also found evidence that the continent was not always a frozen site. In 2020, an article by the Imperial College London stated that researchers from the UK and Germany found evidence of ancient rainforests near the South Pole region of Antarctica 90 million years ago, which suggested that the climate at such time was exceptionally warm. It was part of a separate study by an international team led by geoscientists not only by the Imperial College London but also those from the Alfred Wegener Institute. Their study was published in the journal Nature. Related Article: Antarctic Ice Caps Formed 33.6 Million Years Back: Researchers Say URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. Every citizen of Uzbekistan should be involved in political processes, a resident of Urgench Sodikbayeva Mavjuda told Azerbaijani journalists, Trend reports from the scene. "I am also participating in the referendum, fulfilling my duty. A lot of people are taking part in the voting today, and this is very encouraging," she said. A referendum on the Constitution is underway in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 30. Turnout at the referendum on amendments to the Constitution of Uzbekistan by 17:00 local time stood at 81.39% of the number of citizens included in the lists, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Committee (CEC) Bakhrom Kuchkarov told reporters, Trend reports from the scene. "According to information received from the polling places before 17:00, out of 19,722,809 citizens with the right to vote, 15,802,095 citizens or 81.39 percent voted. So far, the voting process has been completed at the polling stations in Vladivostok, Tokyo, Seoul, Gwangju, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. At these polling stations, the summing up of the voting results and the counting of ballots began," he added. A referendum on the Constitution is underway in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. Gurbir Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Two southern states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have created a stir by passing legislation amending the Factories Act, 1948, to allow for extending the working day up to 12 hours a day. This will help employers like international iPhone vendor Foxconn to bring in more flexible timings and make their operations more productive. These labour changes are necessary, the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments say, if India is to compete with China and become the worlds new manufacturing hub. Replying to critics, the two governments point out that the 48-hours-per-week regimen will remain unchanged, and those who introduce longer hours per day will have to recalibrate to shorter 4 or 5 working days per week. Be it as it may, the new legislation has stirred a hornets nest. Tamil Nadu, seeing the writing on the wall, has put the amendment on hold. The Karnataka government frankly concedes it has been done at the behest of Foxconn to bring labour conditions in line with the competitive sweatshops operating in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. ALSO READ | 12 hour work days Might lead to reduction in labour force, say Experts Industrial Revolution The lawmakers of the two states seem to be blissfully unaware of the evolution of the 8-hour working day. The 18th century Industrial Revolution in Britain created a new capitalist economy on machine production and 12 to 16 hours of debilitating work in slave labour conditions. Children too went to work for a pittance. Amidst this law of the jungle, socialist and English entrepreneur Robert Owen first raised the demand for a 10-hour working day in 1810. Owens slogan: Eight hours labour, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest caught on with the trade unions. Legislation followed. The US Congress in 1868 brought in a universal 8-hour day. In the UK, it was the Beckton East London gas workers who after a prolonged strike forced a reduction of their 18-hour day to an 8-hour shift in 1869; and 4 days after the October Revolution of 1917, the 8-hour day was among the first edicts promulgated by the new Soviet state. The British Raj in India too faced the demand. Social reformer BR Ambedkar was the first to push for the 8-hour working day as Labour Member to the Viceroys Council in 1942. Finally, it was legislation that completed the circle. Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1948, legalized 9 hours of work and half an hour of break time in between to provide rest to the working hand, while Section 51 capped the number of hours of work per week at 48. Unfortunately, though this legislation exists more in its breach, it still acts as a deterrent to those wanting to cross the line. And if we dismantle what we have won over centuries of advocacy, those at the bottom of the pyramid will be left defenseless. Scratch the surface, and it is a laissez-faire regime that Foxconn and other production chain contractors are now demanding. It is a regime based on high productivity, long working hours, and mandatory overtime. The Foxconn story For those who have been following Foxconns history chart in China, know it is not a pretty picture. The companys credibility came into question when in 2010 there were a spate of suicides linked to low pay and brutal working conditions at the Foxconn City industrial park in Shenzhen. Mental illness and breakdowns were personified in nets being hung out under the ledges of overcrowded dormitories to prevent workers from jumping to the ground. Outraged public opinion and intervention by Apple forced the company to improve wage rates. However, during the Covid pandemic, pressure for ramping up production of the iPhone 14 Pro, brought back the same conditions of assembly line harassment in Foxconns newer facilities in Chinas impoverished provinces such as Henan, Hubei, and Sichuan. In a long read, the magazine Rest of The World has documented the life and working conditions at Foxconns compound in Zhengzhou through conversations stretching over several months with a worker nick-named Hunter. The iPhone City reviewed makes about half of the worlds iPhones, covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers, and at full capacity employs some 200,000 workers. Hunter describes in detail how in a normal 10-hour shift he had to attach a tiny cable to the back of an iPhone cover, which charges the battery, and then screw it into place with two tiny screws for every iPhone. His target of 600 phones and 1,200 screws per shift can only be done at a relentless pace and without rest or toilet breaks. Falling behind the production schedule meant supervisors yelling at him, and the loss of bonuses and stoppage of overtime. Hunter also talks of the windowless conditions and being forced into compulsory living on campus due to pandemic restrictions. Many workers fled for home after dodging guards and climbing the fences; sometimes there was violence as company executives forced an unbearable pace of work. iPhones are made in hell, he concludes. Back to India. Working hours that allow rest and recreation are all about the dignity of labour. And our governments must reexamine legislation that tend to compromise this important principle. NEW DELHI: Two southern states Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have created a stir by passing legislation amending the Factories Act, 1948, to allow for extending the working day up to 12 hours a day. This will help employers like international iPhone vendor Foxconn to bring in more flexible timings and make their operations more productive. These labour changes are necessary, the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments say, if India is to compete with China and become the worlds new manufacturing hub. Replying to critics, the two governments point out that the 48-hours-per-week regimen will remain unchanged, and those who introduce longer hours per day will have to recalibrate to shorter 4 or 5 working days per week.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Be it as it may, the new legislation has stirred a hornets nest. Tamil Nadu, seeing the writing on the wall, has put the amendment on hold. The Karnataka government frankly concedes it has been done at the behest of Foxconn to bring labour conditions in line with the competitive sweatshops operating in China, Vietnam and Taiwan. ALSO READ | 12 hour work days Might lead to reduction in labour force, say Experts Industrial Revolution The lawmakers of the two states seem to be blissfully unaware of the evolution of the 8-hour working day. The 18th century Industrial Revolution in Britain created a new capitalist economy on machine production and 12 to 16 hours of debilitating work in slave labour conditions. Children too went to work for a pittance. Amidst this law of the jungle, socialist and English entrepreneur Robert Owen first raised the demand for a 10-hour working day in 1810. Owens slogan: Eight hours labour, Eight hours recreation, Eight hours rest caught on with the trade unions. Legislation followed. The US Congress in 1868 brought in a universal 8-hour day. In the UK, it was the Beckton East London gas workers who after a prolonged strike forced a reduction of their 18-hour day to an 8-hour shift in 1869; and 4 days after the October Revolution of 1917, the 8-hour day was among the first edicts promulgated by the new Soviet state. The British Raj in India too faced the demand. Social reformer BR Ambedkar was the first to push for the 8-hour working day as Labour Member to the Viceroys Council in 1942. Finally, it was legislation that completed the circle. Section 54 of the Factories Act, 1948, legalized 9 hours of work and half an hour of break time in between to provide rest to the working hand, while Section 51 capped the number of hours of work per week at 48. Unfortunately, though this legislation exists more in its breach, it still acts as a deterrent to those wanting to cross the line. And if we dismantle what we have won over centuries of advocacy, those at the bottom of the pyramid will be left defenseless. Scratch the surface, and it is a laissez-faire regime that Foxconn and other production chain contractors are now demanding. It is a regime based on high productivity, long working hours, and mandatory overtime. The Foxconn story For those who have been following Foxconns history chart in China, know it is not a pretty picture. The companys credibility came into question when in 2010 there were a spate of suicides linked to low pay and brutal working conditions at the Foxconn City industrial park in Shenzhen. Mental illness and breakdowns were personified in nets being hung out under the ledges of overcrowded dormitories to prevent workers from jumping to the ground. Outraged public opinion and intervention by Apple forced the company to improve wage rates. However, during the Covid pandemic, pressure for ramping up production of the iPhone 14 Pro, brought back the same conditions of assembly line harassment in Foxconns newer facilities in Chinas impoverished provinces such as Henan, Hubei, and Sichuan. In a long read, the magazine Rest of The World has documented the life and working conditions at Foxconns compound in Zhengzhou through conversations stretching over several months with a worker nick-named Hunter. The iPhone City reviewed makes about half of the worlds iPhones, covers an area of 5.6 square kilometers, and at full capacity employs some 200,000 workers. Hunter describes in detail how in a normal 10-hour shift he had to attach a tiny cable to the back of an iPhone cover, which charges the battery, and then screw it into place with two tiny screws for every iPhone. His target of 600 phones and 1,200 screws per shift can only be done at a relentless pace and without rest or toilet breaks. Falling behind the production schedule meant supervisors yelling at him, and the loss of bonuses and stoppage of overtime. Hunter also talks of the windowless conditions and being forced into compulsory living on campus due to pandemic restrictions. Many workers fled for home after dodging guards and climbing the fences; sometimes there was violence as company executives forced an unbearable pace of work. iPhones are made in hell, he concludes. Back to India. Working hours that allow rest and recreation are all about the dignity of labour. And our governments must reexamine legislation that tend to compromise this important principle. Donna Eva By Express News Service BENGALURU: A 22-year-old university student, who was stabbed, died at a private hospital in the city on Friday night. The victim, Bhaskar Jetty, was stabbed several times during a group clash that broke out at an inter-university festival hosted by a private university near Yelahanka. Jetty was a fourth-year mechanical engineering student of the university. According to sources, two groups of students clashed around 9.30 pm during the festival and Jetty was stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen. Jetty, who hails from Gujarat, was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he succumbed to injuries. A case of murder has been registered in Bagalur police station and investigation is on, said Laxmi Prasad, DCP North East. A student told this newspaper that Jetty was not involved in the clash. He only intervened to stop the clash when he was stabbed. An argument broke out between two groups when a student wanted to take a picture with another student. Soon, two groups started attacking each other. Jetty stepped in to stop the fight when he was stabbed, the student said. The police said Jettys parents from Gujarat and his guardian, who is residing at Mathikere, have been informed about his death. BENGALURU: A 22-year-old university student, who was stabbed, died at a private hospital in the city on Friday night. The victim, Bhaskar Jetty, was stabbed several times during a group clash that broke out at an inter-university festival hosted by a private university near Yelahanka. Jetty was a fourth-year mechanical engineering student of the university. According to sources, two groups of students clashed around 9.30 pm during the festival and Jetty was stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen. Jetty, who hails from Gujarat, was rushed to a nearby private hospital where he succumbed to injuries. A case of murder has been registered in Bagalur police station and investigation is on, said Laxmi Prasad, DCP North East. A student told this newspaper that Jetty was not involved in the clash. He only intervened to stop the clash when he was stabbed. An argument broke out between two groups when a student wanted to take a picture with another student. Soon, two groups started attacking each other.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Jetty stepped in to stop the fight when he was stabbed, the student said. The police said Jettys parents from Gujarat and his guardian, who is residing at Mathikere, have been informed about his death. Aknisree Karthik By Express News Service BENGALURU: The entire stretch of Magadi Road turned saffron with thousands of BJP workers and people gathering to have a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in Bengaluru on Saturday. Modi landed at the BIEC helipad around 6 pm and reached NICE Road Junction on Magadi Road and boarded an open van around 6.20 pm. Former Union minister and Bengaluru North MP Sadananda Gowda and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accompanied Modi in the van. People kept showering flower petals throughout the roadshow as Modi reciprocated by waving at the crowd. Modi collected the petals and threw them back at the crowd, thanking them for their overwhelming reception. PM Narendra Modi waves at the crowd during a roadshow in Bengaluru | Vinod Kumar T While BJP workers were anxious about rain playing a spoilsport as the city witnessed rainfall in the afternoon, the roadshow continued unhindered. Tight police security was deployed to control the swelling crowd. However, on the narrow Magadi Road, the crowd was too close to the prime minister. On one side of the road, the van kept moving, while on the other side, the crowd was elated to see him. From Nice Road junction, Modis van covered around 5.5 km crossing Gollarahatti, Byadarahalli, Anjananagar, Herohalli Cross, Sunkadakatte, Kottigepalya and reached Sumanahalli flyover around 7.30 pm. At Sumanahalli, he got down from the van, got into his official car and headed to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay for the night. Many among the crowd said that they came from far-off places and waited for hours just to see Modi. In the evening, Modi was welcomed with traditional dance troupes performances. Even as the crowd was chanting Modi, Modi, a section also voiced its support for Royal Challengers Bangalore. BENGALURU: The entire stretch of Magadi Road turned saffron with thousands of BJP workers and people gathering to have a glimpse of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in Bengaluru on Saturday. Modi landed at the BIEC helipad around 6 pm and reached NICE Road Junction on Magadi Road and boarded an open van around 6.20 pm. Former Union minister and Bengaluru North MP Sadananda Gowda and BJP MLC Chalavadi Narayanaswamy accompanied Modi in the van. People kept showering flower petals throughout the roadshow as Modi reciprocated by waving at the crowd. Modi collected the petals and threw them back at the crowd, thanking them for their overwhelming reception. PM Narendra Modi waves at the crowd during a roadshow in Bengaluru | Vinod Kumar T While BJP workers were anxious about rain playing a spoilsport as the city witnessed rainfall in the afternoon, the roadshow continued unhindered. Tight police security was deployed to control the swelling crowd. However, on the narrow Magadi Road, the crowd was too close to the prime minister. On one side of the road, the van kept moving, while on the other side, the crowd was elated to see him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); From Nice Road junction, Modis van covered around 5.5 km crossing Gollarahatti, Byadarahalli, Anjananagar, Herohalli Cross, Sunkadakatte, Kottigepalya and reached Sumanahalli flyover around 7.30 pm. At Sumanahalli, he got down from the van, got into his official car and headed to Raj Bhavan, where he will stay for the night. Many among the crowd said that they came from far-off places and waited for hours just to see Modi. In the evening, Modi was welcomed with traditional dance troupes performances. Even as the crowd was chanting Modi, Modi, a section also voiced its support for Royal Challengers Bangalore. By Express News Service CHENNAI: A nine-year-old girl who was allegedly abused by her stepmother was rescued by the police and child protection office on Thursday. The girl, found with burn injuries, had run away from home and hid for five hours in the motor room of a building next to their house. The incident happened at Dharapuram near Mogappair. Murugan* (name changed) separated from his first wife and married a single mother in 2019. We suspect the stepmother tortured the nine-year-old girl. The girl has injury marks on her body including burn injuries. On Thursday, the girl escaped from her house and hid inside a remote motor room in an apartment next to their house, said a police officer. Since the girl did not return after a long time, Murugan lodged a complaint at the Nolambur police station. The security guard of the apartment found the girl when he went to switch on the motor. He found injuries on the girl and informed the police control room. After the investigation, police informed the district child protection unit and sent her to a home. The parents are being questioned, police said. A senior official in the district child protection unit said that the girl is getting medical care and the investigation will resume once the girl is physically and psychologically fit. CHENNAI: A nine-year-old girl who was allegedly abused by her stepmother was rescued by the police and child protection office on Thursday. The girl, found with burn injuries, had run away from home and hid for five hours in the motor room of a building next to their house. The incident happened at Dharapuram near Mogappair. Murugan* (name changed) separated from his first wife and married a single mother in 2019. We suspect the stepmother tortured the nine-year-old girl. The girl has injury marks on her body including burn injuries. On Thursday, the girl escaped from her house and hid inside a remote motor room in an apartment next to their house, said a police officer. Since the girl did not return after a long time, Murugan lodged a complaint at the Nolambur police station. The security guard of the apartment found the girl when he went to switch on the motor. He found injuries on the girl and informed the police control room.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After the investigation, police informed the district child protection unit and sent her to a home. The parents are being questioned, police said. A senior official in the district child protection unit said that the girl is getting medical care and the investigation will resume once the girl is physically and psychologically fit. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, worked for communal harmony during his lifetime in the 17th century. Now, over 350 have brought right and left-wing experts on the same page. Renowned leftist historian Professor Irfan Habib and well-known right-wing archaeologists who held top positions in the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), such as former ADG BR Mani and former regional director (north) KK Muhammed, have expressed agreement with a Delhi-based civil engineers findings on Shikohs grave. Sanjeev Kumar Singh, who works in MCDs Heritage Cell, claimed in 2020 that he discovered the Mughal princes grave after meticulous research on contemporary historical texts and architecture in Humayuns Tomb in Delhi, which has over 140 graves of various Mughal family members. He submitted his research work before an expert committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Culture on January 27, 2020, for the conservation of heritage associated with Dara Shikoh and poet Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan. Prof Habib, Professor (Emeritus) at Aligarh Muslim University, in a written communication to Kumar, said that his effort was valuable for a very substantial reason. Dara Shikoh is not only a historical figure in the political history of the Mughal empire but also contributed to intellectual history, notably by his translation of the Upanishads. To seek out where his mortal remains lie today was a very worthwhile project, Prof Habib said. He added, I am not an archaeologist or indeed an architect myself. But as far as I can comprehend, his identification of Dara Shikohs grave seems to be quite definitive and should secure general acceptance. Both Prof Mani and Muhammed too said he had correctly identified the grave of Prince Dara Shikoh. Their acknowledgment letter was been signed by three other renowned ASI experts as well, which include former joint director general Dr KN Dixit, former director of Institute of Archaeology BM Pandey, and former director of epigraphy (Arabic and Persian), Dr GS Khwaja. Dr Dixit, Dr Mani, Pandey and Muhammed were on the expert committee. It is a matter of great pride for me to get an appreciation for my work from internationally- acclaimed experts. However, it is important that his tombstone should get official recognition from the concerned authorities, Kumar said, adding that giving official recognition to his work will go a long way in giving due credit to Daras contribution to Indian history and culture. Before Prof Habib, one of the renowned historians with a left-leaning, Dr R C Mazumdar, while quoting another historian Dr Klika-Ranjan Qanungo, wrote in 1934, It is hardly an exaggeration to say that anyone who intends to take up the solution of religious peace in India must begin the work where Dara Shikoh had left it and proceed on the path chalked out by the prince. NEW DELHI: Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, worked for communal harmony during his lifetime in the 17th century. Now, over 350 have brought right and left-wing experts on the same page. Renowned leftist historian Professor Irfan Habib and well-known right-wing archaeologists who held top positions in the Archeological Survey of India (ASI), such as former ADG BR Mani and former regional director (north) KK Muhammed, have expressed agreement with a Delhi-based civil engineers findings on Shikohs grave. Sanjeev Kumar Singh, who works in MCDs Heritage Cell, claimed in 2020 that he discovered the Mughal princes grave after meticulous research on contemporary historical texts and architecture in Humayuns Tomb in Delhi, which has over 140 graves of various Mughal family members. He submitted his research work before an expert committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Culture on January 27, 2020, for the conservation of heritage associated with Dara Shikoh and poet Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan. Prof Habib, Professor (Emeritus) at Aligarh Muslim University, in a written communication to Kumar, said that his effort was valuable for a very substantial reason.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Dara Shikoh is not only a historical figure in the political history of the Mughal empire but also contributed to intellectual history, notably by his translation of the Upanishads. To seek out where his mortal remains lie today was a very worthwhile project, Prof Habib said. He added, I am not an archaeologist or indeed an architect myself. But as far as I can comprehend, his identification of Dara Shikohs grave seems to be quite definitive and should secure general acceptance. Both Prof Mani and Muhammed too said he had correctly identified the grave of Prince Dara Shikoh. Their acknowledgment letter was been signed by three other renowned ASI experts as well, which include former joint director general Dr KN Dixit, former director of Institute of Archaeology BM Pandey, and former director of epigraphy (Arabic and Persian), Dr GS Khwaja. Dr Dixit, Dr Mani, Pandey and Muhammed were on the expert committee. It is a matter of great pride for me to get an appreciation for my work from internationally- acclaimed experts. However, it is important that his tombstone should get official recognition from the concerned authorities, Kumar said, adding that giving official recognition to his work will go a long way in giving due credit to Daras contribution to Indian history and culture. Before Prof Habib, one of the renowned historians with a left-leaning, Dr R C Mazumdar, while quoting another historian Dr Klika-Ranjan Qanungo, wrote in 1934, It is hardly an exaggeration to say that anyone who intends to take up the solution of religious peace in India must begin the work where Dara Shikoh had left it and proceed on the path chalked out by the prince. Shrimansi Kaushik By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Reimagining how we create and consume a book has never been more significant than in present times when a book is available not only for reading but also for listening, watching and experiencing. Shedding light on some pertinent questions such as what importance a physical book holds in the age of the digital revolution, how the process of writing and reading has changed with technology and how one can preserve the material documents available for future generations, the organising committee of Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) held a panel discussion on The Many Lives of a Book: Reimagining Books in the Digital Age at Saptaparni here on Saturday. The panellists included Zareena Parveen, director, of Telangana State Archives & Research Institute, Hyderabad; Ali Niroomand, regional director, Noor Microfilm International Centre (NMIC), New Delhi; Hari Ram, author and management consultant; and Vinoo Alluri, assistant professor, Cognitive Science Lab, IIIT-Hyderabad. The discussion was moderated by Usha Raman, professor of Media Studies, University of Hyderabad. While Ram presented a neurological perspective of enhancing the reading experience, Alluri offered a cognitive perspective. Speaking about the archival process in an age where both fetishisation of a physical book and its discarding takes place simultaneously, Zareena Parveen said, Humans are bad at handling physical books, which need as much care as an ailing human body. The idea of preservation does not include digitisation only, the material book also needs to be preserved. We have developed herbal ways of conservation, which include the usage of natural and harmless materials. Explaining the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the State government with Iran government-backed NMIC to restore and preserve Urdu and Persian historical documents, Zareena Parveen said the Telangana government has provided a yearly budget of `1 crore for digitisation and archiving of rare ancient manuscripts. She mentioned that the State archives hold around 43 million records including about 772 manuscripts dating back to 7th century BC. The script used for writing these documents is very difficult to read. Even experts in the field have difficulty deciphering the cursive style of writing. Therefore, restoration and preservation is a fundamental and laborious work, she said. Commenting on the same, Ali Niroomand said, If someone needs to know the history of the Deccan region, knowledge of old Persian scripts is very important since it was the language of the court until 1885. He added that the preservation method that they are using currently will ensure that a text lasts for about 200 years. Emphasising how the experience of reading a book has changed over the years, Hari Ram said that AI-driven technology will bring promising changes in keeping ideas alive and presenting them in customised forms. Scientists are surely having a lot of fun with AI entering the picture but nothing can replace the experience of reading a physical book. We can surely enhance the experience of it by adding music and visual aids, which is not a new concept, said Vinoo Alluri, who is currently researching on how music changes the experience of reading a book. HYDERABAD: Reimagining how we create and consume a book has never been more significant than in present times when a book is available not only for reading but also for listening, watching and experiencing. Shedding light on some pertinent questions such as what importance a physical book holds in the age of the digital revolution, how the process of writing and reading has changed with technology and how one can preserve the material documents available for future generations, the organising committee of Hyderabad Literary Festival (HLF) held a panel discussion on The Many Lives of a Book: Reimagining Books in the Digital Age at Saptaparni here on Saturday. The panellists included Zareena Parveen, director, of Telangana State Archives & Research Institute, Hyderabad; Ali Niroomand, regional director, Noor Microfilm International Centre (NMIC), New Delhi; Hari Ram, author and management consultant; and Vinoo Alluri, assistant professor, Cognitive Science Lab, IIIT-Hyderabad. The discussion was moderated by Usha Raman, professor of Media Studies, University of Hyderabad. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While Ram presented a neurological perspective of enhancing the reading experience, Alluri offered a cognitive perspective. Speaking about the archival process in an age where both fetishisation of a physical book and its discarding takes place simultaneously, Zareena Parveen said, Humans are bad at handling physical books, which need as much care as an ailing human body. The idea of preservation does not include digitisation only, the material book also needs to be preserved. We have developed herbal ways of conservation, which include the usage of natural and harmless materials. Explaining the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the State government with Iran government-backed NMIC to restore and preserve Urdu and Persian historical documents, Zareena Parveen said the Telangana government has provided a yearly budget of `1 crore for digitisation and archiving of rare ancient manuscripts. She mentioned that the State archives hold around 43 million records including about 772 manuscripts dating back to 7th century BC. The script used for writing these documents is very difficult to read. Even experts in the field have difficulty deciphering the cursive style of writing. Therefore, restoration and preservation is a fundamental and laborious work, she said. Commenting on the same, Ali Niroomand said, If someone needs to know the history of the Deccan region, knowledge of old Persian scripts is very important since it was the language of the court until 1885. He added that the preservation method that they are using currently will ensure that a text lasts for about 200 years. Emphasising how the experience of reading a book has changed over the years, Hari Ram said that AI-driven technology will bring promising changes in keeping ideas alive and presenting them in customised forms. Scientists are surely having a lot of fun with AI entering the picture but nothing can replace the experience of reading a physical book. We can surely enhance the experience of it by adding music and visual aids, which is not a new concept, said Vinoo Alluri, who is currently researching on how music changes the experience of reading a book. By Express News Service When Pa Ranjiths Natchathiram Nagargiradhu was released, a film that stood apart in his oeuvre, it told a poignant and powerful message through the lens of a Dalit woman. Rene was the centre of the drama troupe the film was based on, and she proudly asserted her identity as a Dalit woman and Ambedkarite. Her path wasnt easy, as a glimpse of her childhood oppression is shown, (which had parallels in Ranjiths short from The Victim), but Natchathiram Nagargiradhu certainly benefitted from a woman at its heart of it. This aspect of intersectionality felt elevated in Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, amid the many other films about people from the fringes of caste-riddled society. Rene is one among the many intersectional characters that Tamil cinema has been witnessing of late, including Kovai Saralas Veerathayi in Sembi, Rohini as Indrani in Witness, and Thamilarasi (Bhavani Sre) from the recently released Viduthalai. All these women not only try to break away from the shackles of the identity that they carry from being the lowered caste but always bear the brunt of gender-based oppression too. For director Deepak, who helmed Witness (which chronicles a conservancy worker-mother fighting for justice for her son who deceased during a manual scavenging act), it is important such stories are told through a womans perspective simply because it holds more power. He recalls how it has been mothers through whom some of the most important stories were told. Be it Arputhammals struggle to fight for her son Perarivalan, or Henriette Pressburg, communist philosopher, and Karl Marxs mother, stories told from these mothers point of view stand the test of time. In Witness, since we are talking about a political issue not seen in commercial cinema, we wanted to bring a psychological and emotional connection as well. A mother only would have been able to tell this story, he adds. What does history show? While the gender scale has been imbalanced throughout the history of Tamil cinema, it cannot be completely written off that feminism was not a core point of storytelling. But what remained absent was the representation of women from all classes and sections of society. Writer Stalin Rajangam says that Indias modernity in terms of technology, thoughts, and communication has been evolving, with women too embracing it, but it was always those on the upper side of the caste ladder and the privileged ones that tapped into these developments. Quoting examples of K Balachanders films where women began to speak about liberation and questioned the structure, Stalin adds that literature works by Jayakanthan, and T Janakiraman, shattered the set frameworks of what society perceives women to be. Mara Pasu by Janakiraman talked about a woman who breaks away from the pressure of marriage and leads an independent life. She talked about Marxism. This leads to societal norms and hierarchy being broken. At the same time, these women were not the ones who came from marginalised communities. In the 80s and 90s, stories on women's freedom were curtailed. Rural stories, traditions, and caste pride became the topics for films and did not give importance to stories of women. Films like Ponnumani (1993), Uttama Raasa (1993) showed regressive practices against women, Stalin recalls. Tamil cinema also had a phase notoriously known for showcasing the bodies of Dalit women as objects of desire or lust. From Radhas character in Mudhal Mariyadhai to Poonguzhali in Ponniyin Selvan, they have been sexualised. Actors like Disco Shanti, and Silk Smitha have been depicted voyeuristically and they seldom played as a lead and were always seen through the lens of lust. For example, Aasaiya kaathula thoodhu vittu song (Johnny, 1980) is also one of the instances, which sexualises tribal women's bodies, points out Shalin Maria Lawrence, a writer. Intersectional characters are important for bringing in the much-needed diversity for a platform that is about communicating stories. Apart from the representation and inclusivity, bringing in intersectional characters paves way for heterogeneity. When there were just films that talked about the White culture, Pursuit of Happiness showed a different walk of life by talking about poverty and race. Film directors reflect only what the general society thinks, and nuances within the femininity have not been explored beyond showing women characters who come from a privileged background. Even if they had shown such characters, they have been reduced to be eye candy or comical characters, Shalin adds. However, in the 2000s, there was a change when directors began to identify with the subaltern culture, says Stalin, adding, Directors like Pa Ranjith, Mari Selvaraj, TJ Gnanavel came to the forefront when stories of Dalits rose. They had their ears on the ground, and showed how women from the lower strata fought, so naturally the discourse changed. Still a long way ahead? Even as we think Tamil cinema is on the path of progression with more Dalit women characters being forth onscreen with dignity, there is still a long way to go. Theatre artist, trans, and Dalit rights activist Living Smile Vidya says, It is important how we show Dalit women. After directors like Pa Ranjith's entry in cinema, the way they are portrayed has changed. It also gave pressure to filmmakers that the women cannot show them in a bad way, or make them adhere to wrongful stereotypes." At the same time, she asserts the need to show more trans women onscreen, which adds to the importance of intersection. For me, you need not necessarily talk about Dalit politics, but you can have them in your films and that helps a lot. Trans and queer characters should also be included and normalised. Gay men are mostly represented for comic effect, and we almost never see lesbian characters. A lesbian woman can still be a daughter, sister, friend, or lover, apart from just being known for her sexual orientation. It is high time we move past just showing their existence, and write roles for them that has agency, Vidya adds. Vidya strongly believes the one simple way to enforce this change is to hire queer people. She mentions that filmmakers need not always hire on the basis of caste or gender, but keeping inclusivity in mind can go a long way in saying better stories for wider audiences. You should let Dalit and trans actors play every character. If a cis heterosexual person can play a trans person, it should be the other way too. Transwomen too should be hired to play cis heterosexual women onscreen. If makers can offer training to people to act like trans people, it can be done by hiring us too. If this is not done, it becomes an unfair system, right? Out of the 100 transwomen roles written in cinema, it is not often we come across a powerful character like Super Deluxe's Shilpa, and we don't get cast in that role too. When a character needs to 'look like a transwoman,' you hire a man, and when you need an actor for a character that nobody immediately identifies as a trans woman, you go for a woman like in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. Why not just cast trans women?" she questions. Need for women onboard off screen too Actor Semmalar Annam has portrayed two strong Dalit woman characters in Maadathy and Sennai. While in the first film, she played a woman from the oppressed, washerwoman community, in Sennai, Annam essayed the role of an undertaker who never finds a resting place for herself. Echoing Vidya's sentiments, Annam thinks it is important that women should come behind the camera to elevate the representation onscreen. With Maadathy, it was a woman director (Leena Manimekalai), which automatically brings the perspective of a woman. There are also new directors coming up who would want to bring new thought processes and different voices of people. These films might have less commercial value, but documenting such voices and pain is important. With my experience, I feel when such people take the reins, intersectional characters will automatically come to the fore, says Annam. Working on such films ignited Annams passion for direction, and the actor is set to turn director soon. The film will talk about a womans pain and struggle. Since I have done both indie and commercial films, it could be my experiences drawn from them that made me write such a film. Many filmmakers do understand that women are not just sex objects. Shalin points out we are yet to show more women from the minority sections and there is still a major lack of representation when it comes to women directors from marginalised communities. OTT is trying to break this space, but when it comes to mainstream theatrical releases, we have been following the same template. We need more women counterparts of Pa Ranjith, signs off Shalin. When Pa Ranjiths Natchathiram Nagargiradhu was released, a film that stood apart in his oeuvre, it told a poignant and powerful message through the lens of a Dalit woman. Rene was the centre of the drama troupe the film was based on, and she proudly asserted her identity as a Dalit woman and Ambedkarite. Her path wasnt easy, as a glimpse of her childhood oppression is shown, (which had parallels in Ranjiths short from The Victim), but Natchathiram Nagargiradhu certainly benefitted from a woman at its heart of it. This aspect of intersectionality felt elevated in Natchathiram Nagargiradhu, amid the many other films about people from the fringes of caste-riddled society. Rene is one among the many intersectional characters that Tamil cinema has been witnessing of late, including Kovai Saralas Veerathayi in Sembi, Rohini as Indrani in Witness, and Thamilarasi (Bhavani Sre) from the recently released Viduthalai. All these women not only try to break away from the shackles of the identity that they carry from being the lowered caste but always bear the brunt of gender-based oppression too. For director Deepak, who helmed Witness (which chronicles a conservancy worker-mother fighting for justice for her son who deceased during a manual scavenging act), it is important such stories are told through a womans perspective simply because it holds more power. He recalls how it has been mothers through whom some of the most important stories were told.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Be it Arputhammals struggle to fight for her son Perarivalan, or Henriette Pressburg, communist philosopher, and Karl Marxs mother, stories told from these mothers point of view stand the test of time. In Witness, since we are talking about a political issue not seen in commercial cinema, we wanted to bring a psychological and emotional connection as well. A mother only would have been able to tell this story, he adds. What does history show? While the gender scale has been imbalanced throughout the history of Tamil cinema, it cannot be completely written off that feminism was not a core point of storytelling. But what remained absent was the representation of women from all classes and sections of society. Writer Stalin Rajangam says that Indias modernity in terms of technology, thoughts, and communication has been evolving, with women too embracing it, but it was always those on the upper side of the caste ladder and the privileged ones that tapped into these developments. Quoting examples of K Balachanders films where women began to speak about liberation and questioned the structure, Stalin adds that literature works by Jayakanthan, and T Janakiraman, shattered the set frameworks of what society perceives women to be. Mara Pasu by Janakiraman talked about a woman who breaks away from the pressure of marriage and leads an independent life. She talked about Marxism. This leads to societal norms and hierarchy being broken. At the same time, these women were not the ones who came from marginalised communities. In the 80s and 90s, stories on women's freedom were curtailed. Rural stories, traditions, and caste pride became the topics for films and did not give importance to stories of women. Films like Ponnumani (1993), Uttama Raasa (1993) showed regressive practices against women, Stalin recalls. Tamil cinema also had a phase notoriously known for showcasing the bodies of Dalit women as objects of desire or lust. From Radhas character in Mudhal Mariyadhai to Poonguzhali in Ponniyin Selvan, they have been sexualised. Actors like Disco Shanti, and Silk Smitha have been depicted voyeuristically and they seldom played as a lead and were always seen through the lens of lust. For example, Aasaiya kaathula thoodhu vittu song (Johnny, 1980) is also one of the instances, which sexualises tribal women's bodies, points out Shalin Maria Lawrence, a writer. Intersectional characters are important for bringing in the much-needed diversity for a platform that is about communicating stories. Apart from the representation and inclusivity, bringing in intersectional characters paves way for heterogeneity. When there were just films that talked about the White culture, Pursuit of Happiness showed a different walk of life by talking about poverty and race. Film directors reflect only what the general society thinks, and nuances within the femininity have not been explored beyond showing women characters who come from a privileged background. Even if they had shown such characters, they have been reduced to be eye candy or comical characters, Shalin adds. However, in the 2000s, there was a change when directors began to identify with the subaltern culture, says Stalin, adding, Directors like Pa Ranjith, Mari Selvaraj, TJ Gnanavel came to the forefront when stories of Dalits rose. They had their ears on the ground, and showed how women from the lower strata fought, so naturally the discourse changed. Still a long way ahead? Even as we think Tamil cinema is on the path of progression with more Dalit women characters being forth onscreen with dignity, there is still a long way to go. Theatre artist, trans, and Dalit rights activist Living Smile Vidya says, It is important how we show Dalit women. After directors like Pa Ranjith's entry in cinema, the way they are portrayed has changed. It also gave pressure to filmmakers that the women cannot show them in a bad way, or make them adhere to wrongful stereotypes." At the same time, she asserts the need to show more trans women onscreen, which adds to the importance of intersection. For me, you need not necessarily talk about Dalit politics, but you can have them in your films and that helps a lot. Trans and queer characters should also be included and normalised. Gay men are mostly represented for comic effect, and we almost never see lesbian characters. A lesbian woman can still be a daughter, sister, friend, or lover, apart from just being known for her sexual orientation. It is high time we move past just showing their existence, and write roles for them that has agency, Vidya adds. Vidya strongly believes the one simple way to enforce this change is to hire queer people. She mentions that filmmakers need not always hire on the basis of caste or gender, but keeping inclusivity in mind can go a long way in saying better stories for wider audiences. You should let Dalit and trans actors play every character. If a cis heterosexual person can play a trans person, it should be the other way too. Transwomen too should be hired to play cis heterosexual women onscreen. If makers can offer training to people to act like trans people, it can be done by hiring us too. If this is not done, it becomes an unfair system, right? Out of the 100 transwomen roles written in cinema, it is not often we come across a powerful character like Super Deluxe's Shilpa, and we don't get cast in that role too. When a character needs to 'look like a transwoman,' you hire a man, and when you need an actor for a character that nobody immediately identifies as a trans woman, you go for a woman like in Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui. Why not just cast trans women?" she questions. Need for women onboard off screen too Actor Semmalar Annam has portrayed two strong Dalit woman characters in Maadathy and Sennai. While in the first film, she played a woman from the oppressed, washerwoman community, in Sennai, Annam essayed the role of an undertaker who never finds a resting place for herself. Echoing Vidya's sentiments, Annam thinks it is important that women should come behind the camera to elevate the representation onscreen. With Maadathy, it was a woman director (Leena Manimekalai), which automatically brings the perspective of a woman. There are also new directors coming up who would want to bring new thought processes and different voices of people. These films might have less commercial value, but documenting such voices and pain is important. With my experience, I feel when such people take the reins, intersectional characters will automatically come to the fore, says Annam. Working on such films ignited Annams passion for direction, and the actor is set to turn director soon. The film will talk about a womans pain and struggle. Since I have done both indie and commercial films, it could be my experiences drawn from them that made me write such a film. Many filmmakers do understand that women are not just sex objects. Shalin points out we are yet to show more women from the minority sections and there is still a major lack of representation when it comes to women directors from marginalised communities. OTT is trying to break this space, but when it comes to mainstream theatrical releases, we have been following the same template. We need more women counterparts of Pa Ranjith, signs off Shalin. Naveen Kumar Tallam By Express News Service KARIMNAGAR: Annamraj Saritha, a 43-year-old software engineer from Karimnagar who now lives in the US, recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of reaching Mount Everests south base camp from Nepal. She reached an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) above sea level. Saritha has been passionate about trekking since childhood and was thrilled to achieve her goal. She began her climb on April 8 and reached the base camp on April 19. After climbing down the mountain, Saritha returned to her hometown of Karimnagar to spend time with friends Aitha Manjula and Dachavaram Padam. Saritha and her husband Annam Raj Venkateshwar Rao currently reside in California, where she works for the multinational financial services company Wells Fargo & Company. Saritha also mentioned her previous trekking experience in Peru, where she trekked Machu-Picchu within five days. My passion is climbing mountains. For satisfaction in my life, I set a goal and do my best to achieve it, she says. KARIMNAGAR: Annamraj Saritha, a 43-year-old software engineer from Karimnagar who now lives in the US, recently fulfilled her lifelong dream of reaching Mount Everests south base camp from Nepal. She reached an altitude of 5,364 metres (17,598 ft) above sea level. Saritha has been passionate about trekking since childhood and was thrilled to achieve her goal. She began her climb on April 8 and reached the base camp on April 19. After climbing down the mountain, Saritha returned to her hometown of Karimnagar to spend time with friends Aitha Manjula and Dachavaram Padam. Saritha and her husband Annam Raj Venkateshwar Rao currently reside in California, where she works for the multinational financial services company Wells Fargo & Company. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Saritha also mentioned her previous trekking experience in Peru, where she trekked Machu-Picchu within five days. My passion is climbing mountains. For satisfaction in my life, I set a goal and do my best to achieve it, she says. URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. Amendments to the Constitution will open up new opportunities for Uzbekistan, a resident of Urgench Ulugbek Adambayev told Azerbaijani journalists, Trend reports from the scene. "These constitutional changes will have a very positive impact on our youth and give us new opportunities. There will also be many opportunities for teachers. Therefore, being a teacher, I also came to cast my vote and made my choice today," he said. A referendum on the Constitution is underway in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service ASSAM: Chitra B Tamang has been within striking distance of venomous snakes umpteen times and has even been bitten by cobras twice but he has not severed his relationship with the reptiles. This Indian Air Force (IAF) employee not only rescues snakes but also spreads awareness of their conservation in Borjhar, his current place of posting, and other parts of Assam. Tamang receives more calls on his mobile phone from strangers than from his colleagues and acquaintances. People seek his help to rescue snakes. There have been times when he has rescued 20-25 snakes every single day. The 46-year-old visits various places to educate people how they can identify a snake venomous or non-venomous from its fangs and teeth. He tells them how they should behave when a snake appears at their house or the neighbourhood. He insists that one must not kill the snakes as they too contribute to the ecological balance. Tamang has been rescuing snakes for the past 15-16 years but he did not know much about them initially. He gained knowledge by reading books and interacting with people. Once I befriended someone who was pursuing his graduation in zoology. He had some knowledge about snakes. Soon, we started rescuing snakes together. As my interest developed, I purchased some books and read them. I gained a lot of knowledge. I then decided that I would protect the snakes. I realised that people have to be educated, the IAF personnel said. He says people kill snakes due to the fear of death but they drink alcohol and drive despite being aware of the deadly consequences. Tamang and his friends Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Milu Medhi and Dr Jayaditya Purkayastha work in tandem for the conservation of snakes and other reptiles. When we rescue a snake, we tell people what species it is and whether it is venomous or otherwise. People have become more aware of snakes now, Tamang says, adding, I normally release a non-venomous snake in the neighbourhood itself but if it is venomous, I release it at a distance.He was critical of people who release them in the jungle without monitoring whether they are going to get enough to eat. When I rescue a python with the help of forest officials, I release it at a jungle in Rani which has a lot of monkeys, so it does not face a food crisis, he says. The list of snakes he has rescued is long 10 king cobras, over 2,000 monocled cobras, 800 rat snakes, some 150 Burmese pythons, one greater black krait, 253 banded kraits, seven lesser black kraits, five pit vipers and 1,700 copper headed trinkets. Rescuing snakes is not easy and Tamang has learnt it the hard way. A monocled cobra bit me in 2015. I immediately took a photo of it and drove to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. I recovered after treatment. But very few people have this knowledge that one should go to a hospital immediately after snakebite, he says. He says the first 45-60 minutes after snakebite is very important. If people can reach a hospital within this time, they will not die, he adds. But people may die even if bitten by a non-venomous snake. Our brain functions the way we want it to. So, we should not panic if bitten by a snake but go to a hospital, he says. ASSAM: Chitra B Tamang has been within striking distance of venomous snakes umpteen times and has even been bitten by cobras twice but he has not severed his relationship with the reptiles. This Indian Air Force (IAF) employee not only rescues snakes but also spreads awareness of their conservation in Borjhar, his current place of posting, and other parts of Assam. Tamang receives more calls on his mobile phone from strangers than from his colleagues and acquaintances. People seek his help to rescue snakes. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); There have been times when he has rescued 20-25 snakes every single day. The 46-year-old visits various places to educate people how they can identify a snake venomous or non-venomous from its fangs and teeth. He tells them how they should behave when a snake appears at their house or the neighbourhood. He insists that one must not kill the snakes as they too contribute to the ecological balance. Tamang has been rescuing snakes for the past 15-16 years but he did not know much about them initially. He gained knowledge by reading books and interacting with people. Once I befriended someone who was pursuing his graduation in zoology. He had some knowledge about snakes. Soon, we started rescuing snakes together. As my interest developed, I purchased some books and read them. I gained a lot of knowledge. I then decided that I would protect the snakes. I realised that people have to be educated, the IAF personnel said. He says people kill snakes due to the fear of death but they drink alcohol and drive despite being aware of the deadly consequences. Tamang and his friends Rupankar Bhattacharjee, Milu Medhi and Dr Jayaditya Purkayastha work in tandem for the conservation of snakes and other reptiles. When we rescue a snake, we tell people what species it is and whether it is venomous or otherwise. People have become more aware of snakes now, Tamang says, adding, I normally release a non-venomous snake in the neighbourhood itself but if it is venomous, I release it at a distance.He was critical of people who release them in the jungle without monitoring whether they are going to get enough to eat. When I rescue a python with the help of forest officials, I release it at a jungle in Rani which has a lot of monkeys, so it does not face a food crisis, he says. The list of snakes he has rescued is long 10 king cobras, over 2,000 monocled cobras, 800 rat snakes, some 150 Burmese pythons, one greater black krait, 253 banded kraits, seven lesser black kraits, five pit vipers and 1,700 copper headed trinkets. Rescuing snakes is not easy and Tamang has learnt it the hard way. A monocled cobra bit me in 2015. I immediately took a photo of it and drove to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital. I recovered after treatment. But very few people have this knowledge that one should go to a hospital immediately after snakebite, he says. He says the first 45-60 minutes after snakebite is very important. If people can reach a hospital within this time, they will not die, he adds. But people may die even if bitten by a non-venomous snake. Our brain functions the way we want it to. So, we should not panic if bitten by a snake but go to a hospital, he says. S Raja Reddy By Express News Service ADILABAD: Telangana Social Welfare Residential Boys School in Bellampalli in Mancherial, is a Centre of Excellence (CoE) with its students competing with those of corporate schools and getting seats in national-level institutions like Delhi University, IITs, NITs and others. The State government established the school in 2014-15 for students from Class 5 to SSC. In 2018-19, the school was upgraded to junior college as well as a Centre of Excellence, making it the second CoE in the erstwhile Adilabad district after the one in Adilabad town. Bellampelli CoE has now achieved its own identity at the state level with its students getting seats in national-level institutions. Remarkable performance In fact, such is their performance that between the academic year 2019-20 and 2021-22, as many as 100 students have been selected for various national-level institutions for higher education. This is remarkable considering the fact that 202 students appeared for entrance examination conducted by institutions like Delhi University, IIT, NIT, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Punjab, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Gwalior, Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) in Kochi and others. Two students got seats in medical college and are now studying MBBS. In the academic year 2019-20, 63 students wrote the entrance examination for higher education of whom 30 got seats. In 2020-21, another 65 students appeared for the entrance of whom 31 got seats and in 2021-22, 37 of the 74 students who wrote entrance exams got seats. Praveen Chunarkar, a third-year student of the NIT-Trichy, says that initially, he did not expect to get a seat but with the encouragement of his teachers and hard work, he got into the prestigious institution. Durgam Ranjith is doing engineering in NIT-Warangal. He too says that most of the students never expected to achieve such goals but hard work and dedication helped them. CoE principal Inala Saidullu says that such performance by the students is a matter of pride. We identify the abilities and interests of our students and encourage them to work hard in their chosen field. Getting seats in such prestigious institutions is not easy. We also organise special classes and our faculty and students work hard to achieve their goals, Saidullu said. He reveals that in the academic year 2022-23, as many as 18 of the 32 students who wrote the entrance exam have got an opportunity to write the IIT advance eligibility test. ADILABAD: Telangana Social Welfare Residential Boys School in Bellampalli in Mancherial, is a Centre of Excellence (CoE) with its students competing with those of corporate schools and getting seats in national-level institutions like Delhi University, IITs, NITs and others. The State government established the school in 2014-15 for students from Class 5 to SSC. In 2018-19, the school was upgraded to junior college as well as a Centre of Excellence, making it the second CoE in the erstwhile Adilabad district after the one in Adilabad town. Bellampelli CoE has now achieved its own identity at the state level with its students getting seats in national-level institutions. Remarkable performance In fact, such is their performance that between the academic year 2019-20 and 2021-22, as many as 100 students have been selected for various national-level institutions for higher education.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is remarkable considering the fact that 202 students appeared for entrance examination conducted by institutions like Delhi University, IIT, NIT, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Punjab, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Gwalior, Central Institute of Fisheries Nautical and Engineering Training (CIFNET) in Kochi and others. Two students got seats in medical college and are now studying MBBS. In the academic year 2019-20, 63 students wrote the entrance examination for higher education of whom 30 got seats. In 2020-21, another 65 students appeared for the entrance of whom 31 got seats and in 2021-22, 37 of the 74 students who wrote entrance exams got seats. Praveen Chunarkar, a third-year student of the NIT-Trichy, says that initially, he did not expect to get a seat but with the encouragement of his teachers and hard work, he got into the prestigious institution. Durgam Ranjith is doing engineering in NIT-Warangal. He too says that most of the students never expected to achieve such goals but hard work and dedication helped them. CoE principal Inala Saidullu says that such performance by the students is a matter of pride. We identify the abilities and interests of our students and encourage them to work hard in their chosen field. Getting seats in such prestigious institutions is not easy. We also organise special classes and our faculty and students work hard to achieve their goals, Saidullu said. He reveals that in the academic year 2022-23, as many as 18 of the 32 students who wrote the entrance exam have got an opportunity to write the IIT advance eligibility test. Medha Dutta Yadav By Express News Service Bengaluru-based Uravu Labs uses technology that literally converts air into water. According to the foundersSwapnil Shrivastav, Venkatesh R, Pardeep Garg and Govinda Balaji, it is only one of the two companies of 200 existing ones in the world where the water thus produced is 100 per cent renewable. The other company is Source Global from the US. Founded in 2019, Uravu Labs raised $2.3 million in a seed round from JITO Angel Network, Anicut Capital and Speciale Invest this March. Its invention, after all, is the need of the hour. With over 1.4 billion population, India has only 4 per cent of the worlds freshwater resources. As the summers approach, water scarcity in most metros is an annual reality. Unsurprisingly, climate tech is the way forward. The process was started in 2015, when Swapnil and Venkatesh were studying B.Arch at NIT, Calicut, which faced chronic water scarcity. Driven by their passion for sustainable technology and social impact, the two classmates conceived the idea of developing a solution to address the issue. Recognising the need for additional technical and business expertise, I reached out to a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who introduced us to his former student, Pardeep, says 30-year-old Swapnil. The team later onboarded Govinda, who they met through mutual friends. We use liquid desiccant systems with substances like calcium chloride and lithium chloride solutions, which have the ability to absorb moisture from the air. After it draws in the moisture, the desiccant is pumped to a separate desorber unit where the solution is heated. This creates air so humid its almost like steam, which then passes to a low-power, air-cooled condenser that turns it into water, says 36-year-old Pardeep. The device uses thermal energy to power it. The water is potable after adding the required minerals, as air naturally doesnt contain any and the water produced is almost distilled in quality. The journey of setting up Uravu Labs began in 2018, when they were among the top five global finalists for the Water Abundance X Prize and won a $50,000 prize. In the early days of our hardware technology company in the climate-tech space, obtaining financial capital posed significant challenges, says 29-year-old Venkatesh. Today Uravu Labs is focused on the hospitality and beverage industries since they are the major consumers of groundwater. Hotels, restaurants and cafes are also on the radar, says 32-year-old Govinda. The company sells packaged renewable water bottles to the hospitality sector at a cost ranging from `4 to Rs 8 per litre. It has achieved a daily capacity of producing 1,000 liters of water per day and is looking to scale up further. Bengaluru-based Uravu Labs uses technology that literally converts air into water. According to the foundersSwapnil Shrivastav, Venkatesh R, Pardeep Garg and Govinda Balaji, it is only one of the two companies of 200 existing ones in the world where the water thus produced is 100 per cent renewable. The other company is Source Global from the US. Founded in 2019, Uravu Labs raised $2.3 million in a seed round from JITO Angel Network, Anicut Capital and Speciale Invest this March. Its invention, after all, is the need of the hour. With over 1.4 billion population, India has only 4 per cent of the worlds freshwater resources. As the summers approach, water scarcity in most metros is an annual reality. Unsurprisingly, climate tech is the way forward. The process was started in 2015, when Swapnil and Venkatesh were studying B.Arch at NIT, Calicut, which faced chronic water scarcity. Driven by their passion for sustainable technology and social impact, the two classmates conceived the idea of developing a solution to address the issue. Recognising the need for additional technical and business expertise, I reached out to a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, who introduced us to his former student, Pardeep, says 30-year-old Swapnil. The team later onboarded Govinda, who they met through mutual friends. We use liquid desiccant systems with substances like calcium chloride and lithium chloride solutions, which have the ability to absorb moisture from the air. After it draws in the moisture, the desiccant is pumped to a separate desorber unit where the solution is heated. This creates air so humid its almost like steam, which then passes to a low-power, air-cooled condenser that turns it into water, says 36-year-old Pardeep. The device uses thermal energy to power it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The water is potable after adding the required minerals, as air naturally doesnt contain any and the water produced is almost distilled in quality. The journey of setting up Uravu Labs began in 2018, when they were among the top five global finalists for the Water Abundance X Prize and won a $50,000 prize. In the early days of our hardware technology company in the climate-tech space, obtaining financial capital posed significant challenges, says 29-year-old Venkatesh. Today Uravu Labs is focused on the hospitality and beverage industries since they are the major consumers of groundwater. Hotels, restaurants and cafes are also on the radar, says 32-year-old Govinda. The company sells packaged renewable water bottles to the hospitality sector at a cost ranging from `4 to Rs 8 per litre. It has achieved a daily capacity of producing 1,000 liters of water per day and is looking to scale up further. Namita Bajpai and Anuraag Singh By Aapko akhiri baar samjha raha hoon bahut jaldi halaat badal rahe hain mere koi ladke na doctor banege, na vakeel, sirf hisaab hona hai aur inshaallah bahot jaldi shuru kar doonga (This is my last warning. Things are going to change soon. None of my sons will become doctors or advocates. Now only scores have to be settled, and Inshallah, it will happen soon). This was part of a long message purportedly sent in January 2023 by slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed to a Lucknow-based builder Mohammad Muslim, who was once Atiqs acolyte, but had a fall-out with him. It went viral a day after Atiq and his brother Ashraf were shot in police custody in Prayagraj on April 15. Around the same time, a telephonic conversation between Atiqs third son Asadkilled in a police encounter days before his father diedand Muslim was also widely shared. The 19-year-old sends out a chilling message to the builder for keeping him waiting at the gate of his house: Ye aapne theek nahin kiya Muslim sahab. The two exchanges show how mafiadom runs as the bloodline in the hinterlandby design or default. The old days of the 70s when criminals like Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar became celebrities, and films glorifying them became a Bollywood trope, Mumbai was the playground of gangsters. Criminal dynasties were not the norm until Dawood and Amar Naik arrived on the scene. It changed in the 80s and 90s when men like Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, Brijesh Singh et al expanded their empires, which had brothers, sons and wives controlling various sections. It was in those days when the Congress began to see a decline in popularity in Uttar Pradesh, and caste satraps were making headway. The best ways to counter the change were intimidation, violent booth capturing or downright murder of rivals. The grateful politicians, in turn, turned a blind eye to their criminal activities. The gangsters thought why not become politicians themselves? Thus began the criminalisation of politics, and along came a long string of baahubalis, who also brought their family members into electoral politics. Today the main dynasties are Brijesh, Mukhtar, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Abhay Singh and Dhanajay Singh, who operate their large enterprises, which include drugs, assassinations, weapons manufacture and smuggling and kidnappings. The Atiq dynasty was one such family fiefdom until the deaths of the gangster, his brother Ashraf and son Asad. It wont be fair to call them all dynasties, says Rahul Srivastav, Additional SP ATS/Social Media of the UP Police, who is at the forefront of the technological drive against crime. The biggest crackdown against Atiqs empire happened after Yogi Adityanath became CM in 2017. Even though the don was moved from Allahabad Jail to Deoria Jail, it didnt stop his gang from kidnapping and thrashing businessman Mohit Jaiswal and taking him to the jail, where he was forced to sign over his property in front of Atiq in 2018. In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered Atiqs shifting to Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat. Even after that, he continued to run his empire through a closed syndicate, comprising his wife Shaista, and three eldest sons, Umar, Ali and Asad. His two minor sons are presently lodged at a juvenile shelter home. In the four decades of his criminal careerand with over 100 cases registered against himAtiq was convicted for the first time just weeks ago in the kidnapping case of Umesh Pal (the eye witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder), ironically a month after Umesh was murdered in broad daylight by Atiqs men, including Asad. The February 24 killing was the first in which Asads involvement had come to the fore. The state police have recorded over 10,900 encounters since Adityanath came to power With two elder brothers in jail and fathers empire crumbling, Asad became desperate to act against Umesh, says a source. The son of a tonga driver, Atiq won the Allahabad West Assembly seat five times in a row from 1989 to 2002. He was said to be close to then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav. While he twice won the seat as SP and Apna Dal candidate, three other times, when he fought as an independent, neither SP nor BSP dared to field candidates against him, says a senior UP police officer who retired as IG. Atiq also won as SP candidate from Phulpur seat of Allahabad district, which was won thrice in the past by the countrys first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. On August 7, 2002, Atiq was produced at Prayagraj district court by the police. Suddenly, he was attacked with crude bombs. He fell and rubbed his face in the dust screaming that the police wanted to kill him. Former IPS officer Lalji Shukla, who had arrested Atiq twice during his stint as SP city in Prayagraj in 1996 and 2001, says, The bomb hurled at him was targeted as it missed the cops escorting the gangster. He was taking my name that I wanted to get him killed. He tried every trick to get me removed from Prayagraj, says the officer, who also led a team when Atiqs Chakia office was demolished for the first time in 2003. He grabbed several properties in the city overnight. Shops at main Johnstonganj, Civil Lines, 12 bigha of land of Soorajkali in Jhalwa, a huge piece of land on the main GT Road in Bamrauli, etc., he adds. Being in jail is no hurdle for crime lords with political clout. Political parties have never been coy about giving tickets to criminals. Mukhtar, 59, has been in jail for more than 15 years although he won Assembly elections five times in a row since 1996 from the family pocket borough, Mau Sadar. He won the last three from prison. Mukhtar did not contest in 2022; instead, his son Abbas won the seat for the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). The same year, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Abbas in a money-laundering case. He is currently lodged in Kasganj Jail. Rule by Proxy Shukla says Atiq was apprehensive of sentencing in the Raju Pal murder case, so he used the assault on Umesh as a live workshop for nayi fasal (new crop). Atiq had also launched Ashraf by killing then BSP MLA Raju Pal in 2005, says the retired cop, admitting that he had to face transfer and suspension for taking on the don. All that has changed, says Prashant Kumar, Spl DG Law and Order, who has the CMs mandate to bring down criminal empires. Even as Atiq was wreaking havoc in Prayagraj, in the eastern region of the state, another baahubali was causing mayhem: Mukhtar. Perhaps the first big-time Muslim gangster-turned-politician of East UP, Mukhtarwho represented Mau Assembly seat five times in succession between 1996 and 2017comes from a distinguished ancestral lineage. Accused in over 60 cases and lodged at a jail in Banda district, Mukhtarwho had once put his own lock on a police stationwas recently sentenced to seven years in a 2003 case of threatening to kill a jailer. The Ansari clan today includes Mukhtars elder brothers, Sibgatullah and Afzal, and his two sons, Abbas and Umer. While BSP MP Afzal is considered the political brain of the family, who represented their home seat Mohamdabad in Ghazipur district five times on CPI and SP tickets and Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat twice, Sibgatullah won from the same seat as SP candidate in 2007 and 2012. Like Abbas, his cousin Suhaib (Sibgatullahs son), too made a winning electoral debut from the familys home seat as an SP candidate in 2022. Former UP DGP AK Jain says, The crime network run by the likes of Atiq, Mukhtar, Brijbhushan, Abhay and Dhanajay traverses generations. Their children gradually slip into it. They take it as a matter of pride to be part of their fathers legacy. Dacoits and other criminals either surrender or are eliminated. But baahubalis consolidate their positions and their criminal network by entering the political arena. Mukhtars arch-rival Brijesh, who stayed behind bars in various jails of UP for 14 years, was released on bail by the Allahabad High Court in August 2022, four months after he helped his wife Annapurna Devi become an MLC for the second time from Varanasi. Brijesh had won the same seat in 2016, while behind the bars. Now he wants to establish his son Siddharth in politics, says a political watcher. Before Brijesh and wife, his elder brother Udainath Singh Chulbul was twice BJP MLC from Varanasi, while his son Sushil Singh, a known muscleman of eastern UP, is a BJP MLA from Chandauli. Sushils wife Kiran and brother Sujit, too, have been Varanasi Zila Panchayat chairpersons in the past. Brijesh had once reportedly managed to even get one of his cooks elected a block pramukh. He has been notorious for killings rivals while dressed in different attires, including the khaki. In 1992, he went to JJ Hospital in the guise of a doctor to kill the person who shot dead Dawoods brother-in-law. Brajesh shot him under the tight security of Mumbai police. He was arrested in 2008 by Delhi Police Special Cell (22 years after escaping from UP police custody) from Bhubaneswar, where he was living under the fictitious identity of Arun Kumar. Over the years, regardless of where they come from, the baahubalis have used a more or less similar modus operandi. Their criminal edifice rests on muscle, caste, religious and regional power. Through it all, their constant pillars of support are their wives. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen is on the most wanted list of UP Police. She had been procuring weapons, looking after financial transactions and even planning shootouts. A cop seeking anonymity claims she had gone to meet Atiq in Sabarmati Jail where the couple discussed Umeshs killing. Atiq asked Shaista to send a phone and SIM card to him. A few days later, the phone was sent, which he used for speaking with the shooters. Shaista, who joined BSP in 2023, has four casesa murder and three of cheatingregistered against her. Similarly Dhananjay, the former MLA and MP, who won in 2009 LS polls on a BSP ticket, managed to get his third wife elected in zila panchayat polls in 2021. Terrain of Terror From confessing on camera that he shot his friends killer to slapping a wrestler on the dais, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Brijbhushan, is once again in the headlines for alleged sexual misconduct. The kar sewak who was an accused in the Babri demolition case, and also booked under TADA for helping the Dawood gang, now lords over 50 educational institutions in Devi Patan range. People like him cut a Robinhood-like figure by facilitating weddings of girls of poor families and running hospitals, says Jain. Brijbhushans younger son Prateek too is second-term MLA from Gonda while his elder one Karan is an office-bearer of the WFI. In a recent interview, Brijbhushan said when BJP fielded him against long-time Gonda MP and scion of the local royal family, Raja Anand Singh, he was called by the district police chief, who asked him to withdraw his candidature. I refused, whipped up my pistol and pointed at him. He won by over one lakh votes. An ace with the gun according to police sources, Mukhtar lords over an empire spread across eight statesMaharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Delhi, besides UP. He moved his coal supply business to Gujarat after the going got tough in UP. Mukhtars first victim was head constable Rajendra Singh, who he shot in 1988. Rajendra was the elder brother of Tribhuwan Singh, Brijeshs friend. This murder was the genesis of the Brijesh-Mukhtar rivalry. In the turf war, BJP MLA Krishnanda Rai sided with Brijesh. DSP Shailendra Singh was in charge of the Varanasi unit of the UP STF, when the task force was activated after a firing incident in January 2004 in the Cantt area of Lucknow between Mukhtar and Rai. In an intercepted call, Mukhtar was speaking to a fugitive soldier Babu Lal of 35 Rifles, Jammu, to get an LMG for `1 crore, says Singh, who had to resign under political and administrative pressure after recovering LMG and invoking POTA on Mukhtar. I was under pressure to remove his name. I resigned in February 2004, says Singh. In November 2005, Rai was ambushed along with some of his men in broad daylight. As many as 400 bullets were fired at them. The chief of the killer squad was Munna Bajrangi, Mukhtars associate. The police chargesheet named Mukhtar for the killing and he was lodged in jail. Unlike others, Raghuraj Pratap Singh or Raja Bhaiyya as hes called, does not carry out shootings, but assigns his henchmen to do the dirty work. Jain says Raghurajs father, Udai Bhadri, was a bigger nuisance. Once the office of PM Indira Gandhi had to intervene on the request of then Union Minister Dinesh Singh, who was related to the Rajas of Kunda, to get his police encounter averted as he had fired on cops and the PAC had surrounded to neutralise him, he says. While Raja Bhaiyya remains the undisputed king of Kunda, he fielded his driver from adjoining Babaganj and won it too for his Jansatta Dal. When I was DIG Pratapgarh range, I was asked to camp in Pratapgarh to get the election done. I could sense how he influences the tender process of government contracts and liquor contracts taking his fixed commission in each, says Jain. CM Adityanath is relentless in wiping out the criminal gangs. The fact that their leaders can operate from jail is deterrent for informants and policemen to act. The reign of the criminal clans seems to be in peril. The government has deployed two methods to hit them: technology and an investigative commission. It is meant to target the ganglords where it hurts the mostfinancial clout. The UP Police have identified 61 mafias to be targeted and a list of 27 most wanted has been issued. Of these 20 are Hindus, which support Kumars claim that there is no communal angle. ALSO READ | Were determined to destroy the entire mafia and their economic empires: UP top cop Until a few years ago, gang wars over territory were common. At stake was control over the drug trade, human trafficking, land grab, kidnapping for ransom, illegal weapons manufacture, gambling, liquor and more. With the connivance of government officials, large amounts of land were seized by gangster politicians and buildings constructed on them. After the crackdown began, these properties were bulldozed. The SIT had discovered that Atiq, after forcibly occupying homes, was getting entire families to move out of their localities to be resettled by those from another community in his assembly segment for votes. Once we started razing their properties, people whose land had been grabbed are claiming their property. We return the land after verifying the documents, explains Kumar. Territories occupied by small-time gangsters were yielded to the big dons, who moved in for more pickings. Gangwars would erupt only when one big don eyed anothers fiefdom. The ruthless elimination of shooters by the Adityanath government has brought about an uneasy truce between the godfathers. Instead of violence, they are investing the proceeds from their criminal enterprises in real estate across the country. ALSO READ | Inside the mafia economy For the first time, the state police are closely coordinating with Central agencies and law agencies of other states to track these properties and seize them. Technology is the UP Polices second weapon. Every district HQ and police station have social media staffers, who post and respond real-time. Someone is bound to make a mistake, he says. Thats enough for us to identify the criminal and location. Uttar Pradesh is a test case where political will and police action have come together to bring down age of criminal empires. The state police has recorded over 10,900 encounters since Adityanath came to power in 2017, in which 13 cops died and 1,443 were injured. This time the law isnt allowing gangs to get away with murder. Even if it means entirely wiping out don dynasties that have held sway over business, politics and trade in Uttar Pradesh. Aapko akhiri baar samjha raha hoon bahut jaldi halaat badal rahe hain mere koi ladke na doctor banege, na vakeel, sirf hisaab hona hai aur inshaallah bahot jaldi shuru kar doonga (This is my last warning. Things are going to change soon. None of my sons will become doctors or advocates. Now only scores have to be settled, and Inshallah, it will happen soon). This was part of a long message purportedly sent in January 2023 by slain gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed to a Lucknow-based builder Mohammad Muslim, who was once Atiqs acolyte, but had a fall-out with him. It went viral a day after Atiq and his brother Ashraf were shot in police custody in Prayagraj on April 15. Around the same time, a telephonic conversation between Atiqs third son Asadkilled in a police encounter days before his father diedand Muslim was also widely shared. The 19-year-old sends out a chilling message to the builder for keeping him waiting at the gate of his house: Ye aapne theek nahin kiya Muslim sahab. The two exchanges show how mafiadom runs as the bloodline in the hinterlandby design or default. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The old days of the 70s when criminals like Haji Mastan and Varadarajan Mudaliar became celebrities, and films glorifying them became a Bollywood trope, Mumbai was the playground of gangsters. Criminal dynasties were not the norm until Dawood and Amar Naik arrived on the scene. It changed in the 80s and 90s when men like Atiq Ahmed, Mukhtar Ansari, Brijesh Singh et al expanded their empires, which had brothers, sons and wives controlling various sections. It was in those days when the Congress began to see a decline in popularity in Uttar Pradesh, and caste satraps were making headway. The best ways to counter the change were intimidation, violent booth capturing or downright murder of rivals. The grateful politicians, in turn, turned a blind eye to their criminal activities. The gangsters thought why not become politicians themselves? Thus began the criminalisation of politics, and along came a long string of baahubalis, who also brought their family members into electoral politics. Today the main dynasties are Brijesh, Mukhtar, Brijbhushan Sharan Singh, Abhay Singh and Dhanajay Singh, who operate their large enterprises, which include drugs, assassinations, weapons manufacture and smuggling and kidnappings. The Atiq dynasty was one such family fiefdom until the deaths of the gangster, his brother Ashraf and son Asad. It wont be fair to call them all dynasties, says Rahul Srivastav, Additional SP ATS/Social Media of the UP Police, who is at the forefront of the technological drive against crime. The biggest crackdown against Atiqs empire happened after Yogi Adityanath became CM in 2017. Even though the don was moved from Allahabad Jail to Deoria Jail, it didnt stop his gang from kidnapping and thrashing businessman Mohit Jaiswal and taking him to the jail, where he was forced to sign over his property in front of Atiq in 2018. In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered Atiqs shifting to Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat. Even after that, he continued to run his empire through a closed syndicate, comprising his wife Shaista, and three eldest sons, Umar, Ali and Asad. His two minor sons are presently lodged at a juvenile shelter home. In the four decades of his criminal careerand with over 100 cases registered against himAtiq was convicted for the first time just weeks ago in the kidnapping case of Umesh Pal (the eye witness in the 2005 Raju Pal murder), ironically a month after Umesh was murdered in broad daylight by Atiqs men, including Asad. The February 24 killing was the first in which Asads involvement had come to the fore. The state police have recorded over 10,900 encounters since Adityanath came to power With two elder brothers in jail and fathers empire crumbling, Asad became desperate to act against Umesh, says a source. The son of a tonga driver, Atiq won the Allahabad West Assembly seat five times in a row from 1989 to 2002. He was said to be close to then CM Mulayam Singh Yadav. While he twice won the seat as SP and Apna Dal candidate, three other times, when he fought as an independent, neither SP nor BSP dared to field candidates against him, says a senior UP police officer who retired as IG. Atiq also won as SP candidate from Phulpur seat of Allahabad district, which was won thrice in the past by the countrys first PM Jawaharlal Nehru. On August 7, 2002, Atiq was produced at Prayagraj district court by the police. Suddenly, he was attacked with crude bombs. He fell and rubbed his face in the dust screaming that the police wanted to kill him. Former IPS officer Lalji Shukla, who had arrested Atiq twice during his stint as SP city in Prayagraj in 1996 and 2001, says, The bomb hurled at him was targeted as it missed the cops escorting the gangster. He was taking my name that I wanted to get him killed. He tried every trick to get me removed from Prayagraj, says the officer, who also led a team when Atiqs Chakia office was demolished for the first time in 2003. He grabbed several properties in the city overnight. Shops at main Johnstonganj, Civil Lines, 12 bigha of land of Soorajkali in Jhalwa, a huge piece of land on the main GT Road in Bamrauli, etc., he adds. Being in jail is no hurdle for crime lords with political clout. Political parties have never been coy about giving tickets to criminals. Mukhtar, 59, has been in jail for more than 15 years although he won Assembly elections five times in a row since 1996 from the family pocket borough, Mau Sadar. He won the last three from prison. Mukhtar did not contest in 2022; instead, his son Abbas won the seat for the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP). The same year, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Abbas in a money-laundering case. He is currently lodged in Kasganj Jail. Rule by Proxy Shukla says Atiq was apprehensive of sentencing in the Raju Pal murder case, so he used the assault on Umesh as a live workshop for nayi fasal (new crop). Atiq had also launched Ashraf by killing then BSP MLA Raju Pal in 2005, says the retired cop, admitting that he had to face transfer and suspension for taking on the don. All that has changed, says Prashant Kumar, Spl DG Law and Order, who has the CMs mandate to bring down criminal empires. Even as Atiq was wreaking havoc in Prayagraj, in the eastern region of the state, another baahubali was causing mayhem: Mukhtar. Perhaps the first big-time Muslim gangster-turned-politician of East UP, Mukhtarwho represented Mau Assembly seat five times in succession between 1996 and 2017comes from a distinguished ancestral lineage. Accused in over 60 cases and lodged at a jail in Banda district, Mukhtarwho had once put his own lock on a police stationwas recently sentenced to seven years in a 2003 case of threatening to kill a jailer. The Ansari clan today includes Mukhtars elder brothers, Sibgatullah and Afzal, and his two sons, Abbas and Umer. While BSP MP Afzal is considered the political brain of the family, who represented their home seat Mohamdabad in Ghazipur district five times on CPI and SP tickets and Ghazipur Lok Sabha seat twice, Sibgatullah won from the same seat as SP candidate in 2007 and 2012. Like Abbas, his cousin Suhaib (Sibgatullahs son), too made a winning electoral debut from the familys home seat as an SP candidate in 2022. Former UP DGP AK Jain says, The crime network run by the likes of Atiq, Mukhtar, Brijbhushan, Abhay and Dhanajay traverses generations. Their children gradually slip into it. They take it as a matter of pride to be part of their fathers legacy. Dacoits and other criminals either surrender or are eliminated. But baahubalis consolidate their positions and their criminal network by entering the political arena. Mukhtars arch-rival Brijesh, who stayed behind bars in various jails of UP for 14 years, was released on bail by the Allahabad High Court in August 2022, four months after he helped his wife Annapurna Devi become an MLC for the second time from Varanasi. Brijesh had won the same seat in 2016, while behind the bars. Now he wants to establish his son Siddharth in politics, says a political watcher. Before Brijesh and wife, his elder brother Udainath Singh Chulbul was twice BJP MLC from Varanasi, while his son Sushil Singh, a known muscleman of eastern UP, is a BJP MLA from Chandauli. Sushils wife Kiran and brother Sujit, too, have been Varanasi Zila Panchayat chairpersons in the past. Brijesh had once reportedly managed to even get one of his cooks elected a block pramukh. He has been notorious for killings rivals while dressed in different attires, including the khaki. In 1992, he went to JJ Hospital in the guise of a doctor to kill the person who shot dead Dawoods brother-in-law. Brajesh shot him under the tight security of Mumbai police. He was arrested in 2008 by Delhi Police Special Cell (22 years after escaping from UP police custody) from Bhubaneswar, where he was living under the fictitious identity of Arun Kumar. Over the years, regardless of where they come from, the baahubalis have used a more or less similar modus operandi. Their criminal edifice rests on muscle, caste, religious and regional power. Through it all, their constant pillars of support are their wives. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen is on the most wanted list of UP Police. She had been procuring weapons, looking after financial transactions and even planning shootouts. A cop seeking anonymity claims she had gone to meet Atiq in Sabarmati Jail where the couple discussed Umeshs killing. Atiq asked Shaista to send a phone and SIM card to him. A few days later, the phone was sent, which he used for speaking with the shooters. Shaista, who joined BSP in 2023, has four casesa murder and three of cheatingregistered against her. Similarly Dhananjay, the former MLA and MP, who won in 2009 LS polls on a BSP ticket, managed to get his third wife elected in zila panchayat polls in 2021. Terrain of Terror From confessing on camera that he shot his friends killer to slapping a wrestler on the dais, the president of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) and BJP MP from Kaiserganj, Brijbhushan, is once again in the headlines for alleged sexual misconduct. The kar sewak who was an accused in the Babri demolition case, and also booked under TADA for helping the Dawood gang, now lords over 50 educational institutions in Devi Patan range. People like him cut a Robinhood-like figure by facilitating weddings of girls of poor families and running hospitals, says Jain. Brijbhushans younger son Prateek too is second-term MLA from Gonda while his elder one Karan is an office-bearer of the WFI. In a recent interview, Brijbhushan said when BJP fielded him against long-time Gonda MP and scion of the local royal family, Raja Anand Singh, he was called by the district police chief, who asked him to withdraw his candidature. I refused, whipped up my pistol and pointed at him. He won by over one lakh votes. An ace with the gun according to police sources, Mukhtar lords over an empire spread across eight statesMaharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Delhi, besides UP. He moved his coal supply business to Gujarat after the going got tough in UP. Mukhtars first victim was head constable Rajendra Singh, who he shot in 1988. Rajendra was the elder brother of Tribhuwan Singh, Brijeshs friend. This murder was the genesis of the Brijesh-Mukhtar rivalry. In the turf war, BJP MLA Krishnanda Rai sided with Brijesh. DSP Shailendra Singh was in charge of the Varanasi unit of the UP STF, when the task force was activated after a firing incident in January 2004 in the Cantt area of Lucknow between Mukhtar and Rai. In an intercepted call, Mukhtar was speaking to a fugitive soldier Babu Lal of 35 Rifles, Jammu, to get an LMG for `1 crore, says Singh, who had to resign under political and administrative pressure after recovering LMG and invoking POTA on Mukhtar. I was under pressure to remove his name. I resigned in February 2004, says Singh. In November 2005, Rai was ambushed along with some of his men in broad daylight. As many as 400 bullets were fired at them. The chief of the killer squad was Munna Bajrangi, Mukhtars associate. The police chargesheet named Mukhtar for the killing and he was lodged in jail. Unlike others, Raghuraj Pratap Singh or Raja Bhaiyya as hes called, does not carry out shootings, but assigns his henchmen to do the dirty work. Jain says Raghurajs father, Udai Bhadri, was a bigger nuisance. Once the office of PM Indira Gandhi had to intervene on the request of then Union Minister Dinesh Singh, who was related to the Rajas of Kunda, to get his police encounter averted as he had fired on cops and the PAC had surrounded to neutralise him, he says. While Raja Bhaiyya remains the undisputed king of Kunda, he fielded his driver from adjoining Babaganj and won it too for his Jansatta Dal. When I was DIG Pratapgarh range, I was asked to camp in Pratapgarh to get the election done. I could sense how he influences the tender process of government contracts and liquor contracts taking his fixed commission in each, says Jain. CM Adityanath is relentless in wiping out the criminal gangs. The fact that their leaders can operate from jail is deterrent for informants and policemen to act. The reign of the criminal clans seems to be in peril. The government has deployed two methods to hit them: technology and an investigative commission. It is meant to target the ganglords where it hurts the mostfinancial clout. The UP Police have identified 61 mafias to be targeted and a list of 27 most wanted has been issued. Of these 20 are Hindus, which support Kumars claim that there is no communal angle. ALSO READ | Were determined to destroy the entire mafia and their economic empires: UP top cop Until a few years ago, gang wars over territory were common. At stake was control over the drug trade, human trafficking, land grab, kidnapping for ransom, illegal weapons manufacture, gambling, liquor and more. With the connivance of government officials, large amounts of land were seized by gangster politicians and buildings constructed on them. After the crackdown began, these properties were bulldozed. The SIT had discovered that Atiq, after forcibly occupying homes, was getting entire families to move out of their localities to be resettled by those from another community in his assembly segment for votes. Once we started razing their properties, people whose land had been grabbed are claiming their property. We return the land after verifying the documents, explains Kumar. Territories occupied by small-time gangsters were yielded to the big dons, who moved in for more pickings. Gangwars would erupt only when one big don eyed anothers fiefdom. The ruthless elimination of shooters by the Adityanath government has brought about an uneasy truce between the godfathers. Instead of violence, they are investing the proceeds from their criminal enterprises in real estate across the country. ALSO READ | Inside the mafia economy For the first time, the state police are closely coordinating with Central agencies and law agencies of other states to track these properties and seize them. Technology is the UP Polices second weapon. Every district HQ and police station have social media staffers, who post and respond real-time. Someone is bound to make a mistake, he says. Thats enough for us to identify the criminal and location. Uttar Pradesh is a test case where political will and police action have come together to bring down age of criminal empires. The state police has recorded over 10,900 encounters since Adityanath came to power in 2017, in which 13 cops died and 1,443 were injured. This time the law isnt allowing gangs to get away with murder. Even if it means entirely wiping out don dynasties that have held sway over business, politics and trade in Uttar Pradesh. By PTI VADODARA: Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as an official of Gujarat chief minister's office (CMO) and president of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), and on the charge of raping a model on the promise of giving her a job, an official said here on Sunday. The accused conman, Viraj Patel, was arrested on Saturday, he said, adding that his real identity came to light after he was brought to a police station in Vadodara following his quarrel with someone. "The man was brought to the police station on Friday night along with the model accompanying him after he entered into a quarrel with someone at a multiplex. The accused initially told the police that he was a CMO official who had come to watch a movie with the woman. He also claimed that he was the president of the GIFT City," Assistant Commissioner of Police A V Katkad said. When then police checked his identity, it was found that he used a different surname on his PAN card, while there was no surname mentioned on his Aadhaar card. During his interrogation, Patel revealed that he was neither working in the CMO nor was he the president of GIFT City, he said. After his real identity came to light, the model from Mumbai accompanying him claimed that he raped her on the pretext of giving her a job as the brand ambassador of GIFT City and promised to marry her, Katkad said. In the preliminary investigation, it was found that he is a resident of Gandhinagar, the ACP said, adding that further probe into the case was handed over to the city crime branch. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 (pretending to hold any particular office as public servant), 417 (cheating), 467 (forgery), and 376 (rape), the police officer said. VADODARA: Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as an official of Gujarat chief minister's office (CMO) and president of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), and on the charge of raping a model on the promise of giving her a job, an official said here on Sunday. The accused conman, Viraj Patel, was arrested on Saturday, he said, adding that his real identity came to light after he was brought to a police station in Vadodara following his quarrel with someone. "The man was brought to the police station on Friday night along with the model accompanying him after he entered into a quarrel with someone at a multiplex. The accused initially told the police that he was a CMO official who had come to watch a movie with the woman. He also claimed that he was the president of the GIFT City," Assistant Commissioner of Police A V Katkad said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); When then police checked his identity, it was found that he used a different surname on his PAN card, while there was no surname mentioned on his Aadhaar card. During his interrogation, Patel revealed that he was neither working in the CMO nor was he the president of GIFT City, he said. After his real identity came to light, the model from Mumbai accompanying him claimed that he raped her on the pretext of giving her a job as the brand ambassador of GIFT City and promised to marry her, Katkad said. In the preliminary investigation, it was found that he is a resident of Gandhinagar, the ACP said, adding that further probe into the case was handed over to the city crime branch. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 (pretending to hold any particular office as public servant), 417 (cheating), 467 (forgery), and 376 (rape), the police officer said. By PTI NEW DELHI: In the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the "emptiness" he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people. The milestone broadcast was an occasion for Modi to walk down memory lane as he asserted that it was not merely a programme but a matter of faith and spiritual journey for him. "Mann ki Baat has become a festival that celebrates the positivity of India and its people," he said and added he was filled with emotions at the thousands of letters he received from listeners on the occasion of its 100th episode. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi's address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the prime minister's broadcast. BJP workers listen to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, in Bhopal, Sunday. (Photo | PTI) The prime minister said the programme is a reflection of the "mann ki baat" of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', issues raised in "Mann Ki Baat" became people's movements, he said. Modi said the monthly radio broadcast, which mostly steers clear from politics, has become an important medium of learning from others. "This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you," he said. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives. Noting that the programme started on October 3, 2014 on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, he said it has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity of the countrymen. Recalling that his mentor Laxmanrao Inamdar, one of the early RSS functionaries in Gujarat, always advised "worshipping" the good qualities of others, including rivals, Modi said 'Mann Ki Baat' has been an exercise for him to worship the qualities in others and learning from them. Modi said the programme has never let him to be away from people and added that as the Gujarat chief minister, it was natural for him to meet and interact with the common people. "But after coming to Delhi in 2014, I found that life here was very different. The nature of the work is different, the responsibility is different, and one is bound by circumstances, the rigours of security and time limits. In the initial days, something felt different, there was an emptiness," he said. Fifty years ago, Modi said, he did not leave home just to find one day that it would be difficult to connect with the people of his own country. "The very countrymen who are my everything. I could not live separated from them. 'Mann Ki Baat' gave me a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man," he said. "For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' is not a programme, it's a matter of faith, of worship or 'vrat' (Hindi for penance). Like when people go to worship God, they bring along prasad (devotional offering for deities). For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' is like prasad at the feet of God in the form of the masses," he added. Noting that he connected with people involved in inspiring journeys, like planting trees, cleanliness, educating the poor, for decades, he said these efforts of the countrymen have inspired him to keep striving. Modi said, "The people whom we mention in 'Mann Ki Baat' are all our heroes who have made this programme come alive," he said, speaking to some of them. They noted that their work received a big boost after being mentioned by the prime minister. The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme being broadcasted at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, Sunday. (Photo | PTI) During the broadcast, a special message from UNESCO DG Audrey Azoulay appreciating the programme was also played. She also enquired about India's efforts regarding education and cultural preservation, two issues which Modi has been frequently highlighted at the programme. While senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah in Mumbai, Rajnath Singh in Delhi and its national president J P Nadda in Karnataka, joined people, chief ministers of the party-ruled states and governors were joined by eminent citizens at their official residences during the programme. Modi through the broadcast crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation and builds bridges between the people and the government, Shah said. The programme has led a transformative change in our society by popularizing the stories of the people who have come up with inspiring solutions for nation's welfare, Nadda said. The Congress, however, took a swipe at Modi, saying the occasion of the broadcast's 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare but it was "maun ki baat (silence)" on critical issues such as China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities and the wrestlers' protest. NEW DELHI: In the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the "emptiness" he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people. The milestone broadcast was an occasion for Modi to walk down memory lane as he asserted that it was not merely a programme but a matter of faith and spiritual journey for him. "Mann ki Baat has become a festival that celebrates the positivity of India and its people," he said and added he was filled with emotions at the thousands of letters he received from listeners on the occasion of its 100th episode.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi's address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the prime minister's broadcast. BJP workers listen to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme, in Bhopal, Sunday. (Photo | PTI) The prime minister said the programme is a reflection of the "mann ki baat" of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', issues raised in "Mann Ki Baat" became people's movements, he said. Modi said the monthly radio broadcast, which mostly steers clear from politics, has become an important medium of learning from others. "This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you," he said. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives. Noting that the programme started on October 3, 2014 on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, he said it has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity of the countrymen. Recalling that his mentor Laxmanrao Inamdar, one of the early RSS functionaries in Gujarat, always advised "worshipping" the good qualities of others, including rivals, Modi said 'Mann Ki Baat' has been an exercise for him to worship the qualities in others and learning from them. Modi said the programme has never let him to be away from people and added that as the Gujarat chief minister, it was natural for him to meet and interact with the common people. "But after coming to Delhi in 2014, I found that life here was very different. The nature of the work is different, the responsibility is different, and one is bound by circumstances, the rigours of security and time limits. In the initial days, something felt different, there was an emptiness," he said. Fifty years ago, Modi said, he did not leave home just to find one day that it would be difficult to connect with the people of his own country. "The very countrymen who are my everything. I could not live separated from them. 'Mann Ki Baat' gave me a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man," he said. "For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' is not a programme, it's a matter of faith, of worship or 'vrat' (Hindi for penance). Like when people go to worship God, they bring along prasad (devotional offering for deities). For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' is like prasad at the feet of God in the form of the masses," he added. Noting that he connected with people involved in inspiring journeys, like planting trees, cleanliness, educating the poor, for decades, he said these efforts of the countrymen have inspired him to keep striving. Modi said, "The people whom we mention in 'Mann Ki Baat' are all our heroes who have made this programme come alive," he said, speaking to some of them. They noted that their work received a big boost after being mentioned by the prime minister. The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme being broadcasted at the UN Headquarters in New York, USA, Sunday. (Photo | PTI) During the broadcast, a special message from UNESCO DG Audrey Azoulay appreciating the programme was also played. She also enquired about India's efforts regarding education and cultural preservation, two issues which Modi has been frequently highlighted at the programme. While senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah in Mumbai, Rajnath Singh in Delhi and its national president J P Nadda in Karnataka, joined people, chief ministers of the party-ruled states and governors were joined by eminent citizens at their official residences during the programme. Modi through the broadcast crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation and builds bridges between the people and the government, Shah said. The programme has led a transformative change in our society by popularizing the stories of the people who have come up with inspiring solutions for nation's welfare, Nadda said. The Congress, however, took a swipe at Modi, saying the occasion of the broadcast's 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare but it was "maun ki baat (silence)" on critical issues such as China, Adani, increasing economic inequalities and the wrestlers' protest. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is likely to meet US President, Joe Biden at least five times this year, four of which will be between May and June. The meetings that the duo are likely to attend include the sidelines of the G7 Leaders Summit meeting in Hiroshima, a meeting in Papua New Guinea, Quad Leaders Summit, PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June and President Biden is likely to be in Delhi for the G20 Summit. Japanese PM Fumio Kishida during his visit to Delhi had extended an invite for PM Modi to attend the G7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima. The Summit takes place between May 19th and 21st. After the Summit and before the duo head for the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney on May 24th, they will meet again in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guineas Prime Minister, James Marape, had said that his country is ready to meet President Biden and PM Modi in May for the India-Pacific Islands Cooperation meeting that would be attended by 18 Pacific Island leaders. "Papua New Guinea is ready to receive both President Biden and PM Modi. It will be a historic first and also a forward futuristic meeting of global superpowers in the biggest country in the Pacific, said PM Marape. The two leaders will meet again on May 24th during the Quad Summit in Sydney. Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit the US in June for a state visit. Both countries have been involved in diplomatic negotiations and it is learnt that they are expected to meet around the third week of June -around World Yoga Day (June 21st) in New York first and then travel to Washington DC. President Biden is expected to travel to India in September for the G20 Leaders Summit, as was stated by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia -Donald Lu. "2023 is going to be a big year for India-US relationship, Lu had earlier said. The two nations are cooperating in the Indo-Pacific and have been jointly conducting military exercises in the area too. The in-person meetings will further fortify the equation between the two. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is likely to meet US President, Joe Biden at least five times this year, four of which will be between May and June. The meetings that the duo are likely to attend include the sidelines of the G7 Leaders Summit meeting in Hiroshima, a meeting in Papua New Guinea, Quad Leaders Summit, PM Modi is expected to travel to the US in June and President Biden is likely to be in Delhi for the G20 Summit. Japanese PM Fumio Kishida during his visit to Delhi had extended an invite for PM Modi to attend the G7 Leaders Summit in Hiroshima. The Summit takes place between May 19th and 21st. After the Summit and before the duo head for the Quad Leaders Summit in Sydney on May 24th, they will meet again in Papua New Guinea.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Papua New Guineas Prime Minister, James Marape, had said that his country is ready to meet President Biden and PM Modi in May for the India-Pacific Islands Cooperation meeting that would be attended by 18 Pacific Island leaders. "Papua New Guinea is ready to receive both President Biden and PM Modi. It will be a historic first and also a forward futuristic meeting of global superpowers in the biggest country in the Pacific, said PM Marape. The two leaders will meet again on May 24th during the Quad Summit in Sydney. Prime Minister Modi is expected to visit the US in June for a state visit. Both countries have been involved in diplomatic negotiations and it is learnt that they are expected to meet around the third week of June -around World Yoga Day (June 21st) in New York first and then travel to Washington DC. President Biden is expected to travel to India in September for the G20 Leaders Summit, as was stated by US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia -Donald Lu. "2023 is going to be a big year for India-US relationship, Lu had earlier said. The two nations are cooperating in the Indo-Pacific and have been jointly conducting military exercises in the area too. The in-person meetings will further fortify the equation between the two. Ramashankar By Express News Service PATNA: Police on Sunday arrested a 40-year-old man for marrying a minor girl and keeping her in his house as a second wife after the girl's mother allegedly failed to repay a loan to the tune of Rs 2 lakh. The accused Mahendra Pandey, a resident of Laxmipur village under Mairwa police station in Siwan district, has been booked under the relevant section of the Child Marriage Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The girl's parents had reportedly taken Rs 2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan. The family succumbed to Pandey's pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan, local residents said. Pandey was produced before the chief judicial magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. The victim has been sent for medical examination as she was staying with Pandey for the last three months. Station house officer (SHO) of Mairwa police station Ujjawal Kumar said the statement of the girl would be recorded under section 164 of CrPC. We have sent the girl to sadar hospital hospital in Siwan for medical examination, he told The New Indian Express over phone. Police acted after the girl's mother lodged a complaint. According to the complaint, accused Pandey had persuaded the family to keep the class VI student with him on the pretext of facilitating her studies but secretly married her. A video about child marriage had gone viral on social media. The victim's father is a daily wage earner. The couple have four childrentwo daughters and two sons. The accused is stated to be a distant relative of the victim's family. The girl's parents had reportedly taken Rs.2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan. The family succumbed to Pandey's pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan, local residents said. During interrogation, Pandey confessed to the crime and said that he was ready to face legal action for the offence. PATNA: Police on Sunday arrested a 40-year-old man for marrying a minor girl and keeping her in his house as a second wife after the girl's mother allegedly failed to repay a loan to the tune of Rs 2 lakh. The accused Mahendra Pandey, a resident of Laxmipur village under Mairwa police station in Siwan district, has been booked under the relevant section of the Child Marriage Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. The girl's parents had reportedly taken Rs 2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The family succumbed to Pandey's pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan, local residents said. Pandey was produced before the chief judicial magistrate, who remanded him in judicial custody for 14 days. The victim has been sent for medical examination as she was staying with Pandey for the last three months. Station house officer (SHO) of Mairwa police station Ujjawal Kumar said the statement of the girl would be recorded under section 164 of CrPC. We have sent the girl to sadar hospital hospital in Siwan for medical examination, he told The New Indian Express over phone. Police acted after the girl's mother lodged a complaint. According to the complaint, accused Pandey had persuaded the family to keep the class VI student with him on the pretext of facilitating her studies but secretly married her. A video about child marriage had gone viral on social media. The victim's father is a daily wage earner. The couple have four childrentwo daughters and two sons. The accused is stated to be a distant relative of the victim's family. The girl's parents had reportedly taken Rs.2 lakh as a loan from Pandey. The family was unable to repay the loan. The family succumbed to Pandey's pressure and sent the girl with him in lieu of loan, local residents said. During interrogation, Pandey confessed to the crime and said that he was ready to face legal action for the offence. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty By Chinas brokering of the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement and the recent summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signal Chinas ambition and rising influence. Xi said publicly in Moscow that both countries were driving geopolitical changes after 100 years. Putin concurred. Receptivity to Chinas mediatory role has increased. Chinas attempt to play peacemaker in Ukraine would require prising away Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the West and persuading him to enter into a dialogue with Russia. Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia severed their diplomatic ties in January 2016, after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was stormed by Iranian mobs protesting against the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Saudi Shia cleric who was a critic of the Saudi regime. Iran-Saudi rapprochement began after the 2019 attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, allegedly by Iran. Before China stepped in, Iranian and Saudi officials met in Iraq five times during 20202022. In late March this year, Muhammad bin Salman [MbS], the Saudi Crown Prince, invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, an offer the latter accepted. These developments clearly indicate that MbS, the de facto ruler on behalf of his father King Salman bin Abdulaziz, is re-crafting his countrys foreign policy, keeping in mind the shifting geopolitics and not being a dutiful and subservient American ally. The Iranian-Saudi rapprochement may soon be followed by another similar move between Saudi Arabia and Syria. This track is being mediated by Russia, giving Russia and China greater influence in West Asia. Saudi-Syria ties were severed in 2012 following Syrian President Bashar al-Assads heavy-handed response to the so-called Arab Spring that inspired political protests and Assads military actions during the Syrian civil war. Arab countries are beginning to set aside bilateral and regional rivalries. Other Arab countries like Jordan and Oman have also been supportive of this rapprochement. There is a growing consensus to bury past estrangements and move towards re-establishing diplomatic ties. Earlier, Saudis patched up a diplomatic spat with Qatar. The Gulf countries have begun setting aside long-standing differences with Turkey, and conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria have shown signs of cooling down. The USA, despite its overwhelming military presence and assets in the region, has been caught off guard. The CIA chief rushed to Saudi Arabia to engage the Saudis. With Chinas growing economic and energy ties with Arab countries, it was inevitable that Saudi Arabia would seek to diversify its foreign policy options, leveraging ties with China. A major share of the oil produced by the six Gulf monarchies flows to the East, in stark contrast to the past when the main flow was to the West. Chinas trade has also grown way beyond that of its trade with the West. China signed investment agreements across 34 sectors with Saudi Arabia during Xi Jinpings visit in December 2022. It has refused to take sides in the Ukraine war and spurned President Bidens suggestion to increase oil production to dampen the growing price of oil. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have opted to work with Russia in the OPEC plus framework and with the USA over oil production and prices. The American-led policy of sanctions has no takers outside the Western group. Despite its waning influence, the US still remains the dominant military power. In the near future and beyond, the USA will remain the primary security guarantor, with its naval presence and military bases in the region. According to Pentagon data, the USA has about 54,000 troops spread over Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. In seven of these countries, there are American military bases, with the largest one in Qatar. The American Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain. Moreover, the US still remains the only country to influence Israel-Palestine negotiations because it is the only country to exercise influence over Israel, though there is no possibility of change in the Israeli-American alliance. The Abraham Accords, signed in September 2020, normalised ties between Bahrain, Morocco and UAE. Sudan later joined the Accord. This was a major breakthrough in the regions geopolitics and certainly a moment of triumph for Israel and the USA. The latter was clearly the prime mover behind the Accords. It fulfilled one of Israels long-cherished objectives of acceptance among Arab countries, at least partially, and was a setback for Iran. A strong motive among Gulf counties is the fear of Iran which has covertly attempted to destabilise these countries. Saudi Arabia did not join. Oman and Qatar have maintained nearly de jure ties with Israel over several years but did not join. Normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia may not be good news for Israel, since it dilutes the opposition to Iran, complicates Israeli-Saudi formal normalisation and impedes Israels efforts to form an anti-Iran regional coalition. Chinas rising profile in the region will lead to lower American influence as countries in the region pivot towards China, their main energy and trading partner, investor and potential arms supplier, thereby giving China greater profile and clout in the region. Israel, too, is Chinas third-largest trading partner and the second-most important source of defence technologies. One can expect to see China playing a larger role in West Asia. China is not burdened with any colonial or imperial historical baggage and has avoided taking sides in regional disputes. It has navigated into a more neutral position on the Palestinian issue which is no longer central in the geopolitics of the region. Though China has gradually upped its role as security provider by sending naval ships for anti-piracy operations, it still remains wary of stepping into intra-regional conflicts and reluctant to put boots on the ground. It is, therefore, still marginal in terms of relative influence on security. Will the region become another laboratory for great power politics? Will Chinas growing geopolitical role begin a new Great Game in West Asia? Cold logic would dictate that Chinas role should not be hyped up. China may have facilitated the Iran-Saudi Arabia entente, but the initial impulse came from the two countries, and they will retain the agency to mould ties. As of now, the agreement seeks to restore the status quo in ties, which in itself is a forward step but far from resolving tensions that run deep. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Former Secretary in MEA, and a former Ambassador who has served in Indias Embassies in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Visiting Fellow at ORF, Delhi (pr.chakravarty@gmail.com) Chinas brokering of the Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement and the recent summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping signal Chinas ambition and rising influence. Xi said publicly in Moscow that both countries were driving geopolitical changes after 100 years. Putin concurred. Receptivity to Chinas mediatory role has increased. Chinas attempt to play peacemaker in Ukraine would require prising away Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the West and persuading him to enter into a dialogue with Russia. Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia severed their diplomatic ties in January 2016, after the Saudi Embassy in Tehran was stormed by Iranian mobs protesting against the execution of Nimr al-Nimr, a prominent Saudi Shia cleric who was a critic of the Saudi regime. Iran-Saudi rapprochement began after the 2019 attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure, allegedly by Iran. Before China stepped in, Iranian and Saudi officials met in Iraq five times during 20202022. In late March this year, Muhammad bin Salman [MbS], the Saudi Crown Prince, invited Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to visit Riyadh, an offer the latter accepted. These developments clearly indicate that MbS, the de facto ruler on behalf of his father King Salman bin Abdulaziz, is re-crafting his countrys foreign policy, keeping in mind the shifting geopolitics and not being a dutiful and subservient American ally. The Iranian-Saudi rapprochement may soon be followed by another similar move between Saudi Arabia and Syria. This track is being mediated by Russia, giving Russia and China greater influence in West Asia. Saudi-Syria ties were severed in 2012 following Syrian President Bashar al-Assads heavy-handed response to the so-called Arab Spring that inspired political protests and Assads military actions during the Syrian civil war. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Arab countries are beginning to set aside bilateral and regional rivalries. Other Arab countries like Jordan and Oman have also been supportive of this rapprochement. There is a growing consensus to bury past estrangements and move towards re-establishing diplomatic ties. Earlier, Saudis patched up a diplomatic spat with Qatar. The Gulf countries have begun setting aside long-standing differences with Turkey, and conflicts in Libya, Yemen and Syria have shown signs of cooling down. The USA, despite its overwhelming military presence and assets in the region, has been caught off guard. The CIA chief rushed to Saudi Arabia to engage the Saudis. With Chinas growing economic and energy ties with Arab countries, it was inevitable that Saudi Arabia would seek to diversify its foreign policy options, leveraging ties with China. A major share of the oil produced by the six Gulf monarchies flows to the East, in stark contrast to the past when the main flow was to the West. Chinas trade has also grown way beyond that of its trade with the West. China signed investment agreements across 34 sectors with Saudi Arabia during Xi Jinpings visit in December 2022. It has refused to take sides in the Ukraine war and spurned President Bidens suggestion to increase oil production to dampen the growing price of oil. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have opted to work with Russia in the OPEC plus framework and with the USA over oil production and prices. The American-led policy of sanctions has no takers outside the Western group. Despite its waning influence, the US still remains the dominant military power. In the near future and beyond, the USA will remain the primary security guarantor, with its naval presence and military bases in the region. According to Pentagon data, the USA has about 54,000 troops spread over Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain. In seven of these countries, there are American military bases, with the largest one in Qatar. The American Fifth Fleet is based in Bahrain. Moreover, the US still remains the only country to influence Israel-Palestine negotiations because it is the only country to exercise influence over Israel, though there is no possibility of change in the Israeli-American alliance. The Abraham Accords, signed in September 2020, normalised ties between Bahrain, Morocco and UAE. Sudan later joined the Accord. This was a major breakthrough in the regions geopolitics and certainly a moment of triumph for Israel and the USA. The latter was clearly the prime mover behind the Accords. It fulfilled one of Israels long-cherished objectives of acceptance among Arab countries, at least partially, and was a setback for Iran. A strong motive among Gulf counties is the fear of Iran which has covertly attempted to destabilise these countries. Saudi Arabia did not join. Oman and Qatar have maintained nearly de jure ties with Israel over several years but did not join. Normalisation of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia may not be good news for Israel, since it dilutes the opposition to Iran, complicates Israeli-Saudi formal normalisation and impedes Israels efforts to form an anti-Iran regional coalition. Chinas rising profile in the region will lead to lower American influence as countries in the region pivot towards China, their main energy and trading partner, investor and potential arms supplier, thereby giving China greater profile and clout in the region. Israel, too, is Chinas third-largest trading partner and the second-most important source of defence technologies. One can expect to see China playing a larger role in West Asia. China is not burdened with any colonial or imperial historical baggage and has avoided taking sides in regional disputes. It has navigated into a more neutral position on the Palestinian issue which is no longer central in the geopolitics of the region. Though China has gradually upped its role as security provider by sending naval ships for anti-piracy operations, it still remains wary of stepping into intra-regional conflicts and reluctant to put boots on the ground. It is, therefore, still marginal in terms of relative influence on security. Will the region become another laboratory for great power politics? Will Chinas growing geopolitical role begin a new Great Game in West Asia? Cold logic would dictate that Chinas role should not be hyped up. China may have facilitated the Iran-Saudi Arabia entente, but the initial impulse came from the two countries, and they will retain the agency to mould ties. As of now, the agreement seeks to restore the status quo in ties, which in itself is a forward step but far from resolving tensions that run deep. Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty Former Secretary in MEA, and a former Ambassador who has served in Indias Embassies in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel. Visiting Fellow at ORF, Delhi (pr.chakravarty@gmail.com) K Kalyan Krishna Kumar By Express News Service VIJAYAWADA: At least 10 students died by suicide in the State, while two others attempted to end their lives in less than 72 hours after the results of Class 11 and 12 exams were declared on Wednesday by the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Examination. Over 8 lakh students appeared for the exam held in March-April. The students ended their lives in separate incidents after failing the exams. A 17-year-old boy jumped in front of a running train in Srikakulam district after being unable to clear most of the papers. An 18-year-old second-year intermediate student hung himself at his residence in Visakhapatnam after he couldnt clear one of the papers. Another 16-year-old girl died by suicide for failing the first-year intermediate exam. The student suicides were reported in Anakapalle, Chittoor, Anantapur, and NTR Krishna districts. The two students, who attempted to end their lives in Vizianagaram, are undergoing treatment. The increasing cases of student suicide in the State after the announcement of the intermediate results every year has become a serious problem. While parents and student unions blame the lack of proper counselling on stress management and government policy failure in the colleges, the education department, on the other hand, claims that it had conducted sessions prior to the examinations. Parents Associations and Students Unions allege that the recommendations made 10 years back by the committee headed by the then Vice-Chairperson of AP State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) M Neerada Reddy to prevent student suicides and that of a single-member committee headed by former IAS Officer D Chakrapani in 2015 were never implemented by the successive governments. They allege that no action has been taken against the private colleges that pressurise students for marks without addressing academic distress. S Narahari, president of the Parents Association of Andhra Pradesh, said, Students are dying by suicide due to government apathy. If the government declared summer holidays, how did the student of a corporate college die by suicide in the hostel in Vijayawada? Severe action should be taken against erring colleges and students should be counselled mandatorily. Speaking to TNIE, Secretary of the Board of Intermediate Education MV Seshagiri Babu said that training was imparted to lecturers of junior colleges on how to tackle stress and build confidence among students six months back by psychiatrists. The lecturers, in turn, were asked to counsel the students. We will conduct a special drive as suicide cases are on the rise in the State. We appeal to students to desist from taking any extreme step and give a missed call to the toll-free number 8004257635 for any help, he added. Meanwhile, AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) chairman Kesali Appa Rao opined that parents should create confidence among their children and provide them the much-needed solace at times of distress. We will come up with a plan of action to prevent student suicides from the next academic year, he assured. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.) VIJAYAWADA: At least 10 students died by suicide in the State, while two others attempted to end their lives in less than 72 hours after the results of Class 11 and 12 exams were declared on Wednesday by the Andhra Pradesh Board of Intermediate Examination. Over 8 lakh students appeared for the exam held in March-April. The students ended their lives in separate incidents after failing the exams. A 17-year-old boy jumped in front of a running train in Srikakulam district after being unable to clear most of the papers. An 18-year-old second-year intermediate student hung himself at his residence in Visakhapatnam after he couldnt clear one of the papers. Another 16-year-old girl died by suicide for failing the first-year intermediate exam. The student suicides were reported in Anakapalle, Chittoor, Anantapur, and NTR Krishna districts. The two students, who attempted to end their lives in Vizianagaram, are undergoing treatment. The increasing cases of student suicide in the State after the announcement of the intermediate results every year has become a serious problem.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); While parents and student unions blame the lack of proper counselling on stress management and government policy failure in the colleges, the education department, on the other hand, claims that it had conducted sessions prior to the examinations. Parents Associations and Students Unions allege that the recommendations made 10 years back by the committee headed by the then Vice-Chairperson of AP State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) M Neerada Reddy to prevent student suicides and that of a single-member committee headed by former IAS Officer D Chakrapani in 2015 were never implemented by the successive governments. They allege that no action has been taken against the private colleges that pressurise students for marks without addressing academic distress. S Narahari, president of the Parents Association of Andhra Pradesh, said, Students are dying by suicide due to government apathy. If the government declared summer holidays, how did the student of a corporate college die by suicide in the hostel in Vijayawada? Severe action should be taken against erring colleges and students should be counselled mandatorily. Speaking to TNIE, Secretary of the Board of Intermediate Education MV Seshagiri Babu said that training was imparted to lecturers of junior colleges on how to tackle stress and build confidence among students six months back by psychiatrists. The lecturers, in turn, were asked to counsel the students. We will conduct a special drive as suicide cases are on the rise in the State. We appeal to students to desist from taking any extreme step and give a missed call to the toll-free number 8004257635 for any help, he added. Meanwhile, AP State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) chairman Kesali Appa Rao opined that parents should create confidence among their children and provide them the much-needed solace at times of distress. We will come up with a plan of action to prevent student suicides from the next academic year, he assured. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.) URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. Every citizen must come to the referendum and express his opinion, a resident of Urgench Nargiza Atabayeva told Trend. "Today we vote for the first time. I came to the referendum with my son. This event is very important for all Uzbeks. We appreciate everything that our state does for its people," she said. A referendum on the Constitution is underway in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. V Velayudham By Express News Service KOLAR: Speaking at a public meeting in Kolar, PM Narendra Modi said, "Congress party gave guarantees, but it was fulfilled by BJP government, even now the Congress party is giving guarantee which cannot be filled." He appealed to the gathering to support for BJP for gaining an absolute majority. He came down heavily on the Congress government for their manifesto, saying that it remained on paper whereas the promises made by BJP were fulfilled he said, while listing out the achievements of the union government. The Prime Minister said Congress had during its regime neglected the interests of SC/ST, OBC, and Women, on the other hand, the BJP has been able to protect the interests of these classes of people. PM Narendra Modi said that in 2004, the Congress in its manifesto had stated that it would implement Direct Income Support Scheme for farmers but had failed to implement the same, and the promise was again put forth in the 2009 election manifesto and again could not be implemented again. But the BJP came to power in 2014 and was able to implement the same as Prime Ministers Kissan Samman Nidhi Program under which lakhs of farmers are getting regular income through their bank account, he pointed out. "The Congress had promised to take up electrification work of villages in 2005 and even after ten years, it failed to take up the same. But the BJP Government took up the task of electrification of 18000 villages across the country and the program was completed in one thousand days." The prime minister also blamed the Congress government for 85% corruption, whereas the BJP is transferring the amount directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries, he said. Further said without naming any person he said those facing charges of corruption and are on bail and they have no morality to face the people of the country. Without mentioning AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge for likening him to Poisonous Snake, the Prime Minister said the Snake is the Garland jewel of Lord Shankara and the people of the country are Shankara and Eshwara to him and he feels proud of the jewel of the people of the country. The prime minister also appealed to the people to vote for BJP and said the double engine government will promote various development works and said Karnataka will be number one in the nation in the development works he said. Former union minister Sadananda Gowda, P.C. Mohan, health minister Sudhakar, MP Muniswamy, and others also addressed the gathering. Mulbagal Dosa famous: The connectivity between various cities has resulted in people commuting at a much faster pace as a result of which the famed Mulbagal Dosa of Mulbagal in Kolar has been able to attract people from various places in the city and the same is available in other parts of the country too the Prime Minister pointed out. KOLAR: Speaking at a public meeting in Kolar, PM Narendra Modi said, "Congress party gave guarantees, but it was fulfilled by BJP government, even now the Congress party is giving guarantee which cannot be filled." He appealed to the gathering to support for BJP for gaining an absolute majority. He came down heavily on the Congress government for their manifesto, saying that it remained on paper whereas the promises made by BJP were fulfilled he said, while listing out the achievements of the union government. The Prime Minister said Congress had during its regime neglected the interests of SC/ST, OBC, and Women, on the other hand, the BJP has been able to protect the interests of these classes of people.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); PM Narendra Modi said that in 2004, the Congress in its manifesto had stated that it would implement Direct Income Support Scheme for farmers but had failed to implement the same, and the promise was again put forth in the 2009 election manifesto and again could not be implemented again. But the BJP came to power in 2014 and was able to implement the same as Prime Ministers Kissan Samman Nidhi Program under which lakhs of farmers are getting regular income through their bank account, he pointed out. "The Congress had promised to take up electrification work of villages in 2005 and even after ten years, it failed to take up the same. But the BJP Government took up the task of electrification of 18000 villages across the country and the program was completed in one thousand days." The prime minister also blamed the Congress government for 85% corruption, whereas the BJP is transferring the amount directly to the accounts of the beneficiaries, he said. Further said without naming any person he said those facing charges of corruption and are on bail and they have no morality to face the people of the country. Without mentioning AICC President Mallikarjuna Kharge for likening him to Poisonous Snake, the Prime Minister said the Snake is the Garland jewel of Lord Shankara and the people of the country are Shankara and Eshwara to him and he feels proud of the jewel of the people of the country. The prime minister also appealed to the people to vote for BJP and said the double engine government will promote various development works and said Karnataka will be number one in the nation in the development works he said. Former union minister Sadananda Gowda, P.C. Mohan, health minister Sudhakar, MP Muniswamy, and others also addressed the gathering. Mulbagal Dosa famous: The connectivity between various cities has resulted in people commuting at a much faster pace as a result of which the famed Mulbagal Dosa of Mulbagal in Kolar has been able to attract people from various places in the city and the same is available in other parts of the country too the Prime Minister pointed out. Sunil Patil Ramakrishna Badseshi Maruti Bavidodddi By Express News Service BELAGAVI, HUMNABAD : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed Congress at BJP rallies in Vijayapura and Belagavi district (Raibag taluk), and dedicated ample time to humiliate the Grand Old Party for its alleged misconduct and failures. At Koligudda in Raibag taluk, he said Congress humiliated a leader like Dr BR Ambedkar in the past and continues to do so with other leaders. During his visit to Belagavi (in 1939), Ambedkar admitted that Congress called him an anti-national, a puppet and asura. Now, Congress is targeting me, hurling abuses like Modi Teri Khabra Khudegi, he said. But people of Karnataka will support BJP and not forgive Congress for its misconduct, he added. He said Congress neither wanted development nor the prosperity of the poor, SC/STs, backward classes and adivasis. When BJP and Modi began working sincerely for the countrys development, it is targeting Modi, he said. Ee bariya sarkara bahumatada sarkara (The government this time is the majority government), he said in Kannada. Congress initiatives had adversely affected farmers in the state as it had a culture of corruption. It used farmers by playing the loan-waiver card that benefited only rich farmers. But the BJP government opened accounts for all farmers and launched the Kisan Samman Scheme to extend direct benefit to farmers, he said. Earlier in Vijayapura, he said, The only contribution of Congress to the people of India is its legacy of corruption. Their own prime minister (late Rajiv Gandhi) had admitted that when the Centre grants Re 1, only 15 paise reaches the people. Claiming that the BJP government granted Rs 29 lakh crore for welfare schemes, he said, Just imagine what would have happened to such a large sum if Congress was ruling. Corruption existed from panchayats to Parliament during the Congress government. In Humnabad, Modi said Congress did not give prominence to Gorta from where hundreds of people sacrificed their lives fighting Razakars of the erstwhile Hyderabad state. BJP will now construct a martyrs memorial there, he said. BELAGAVI, HUMNABAD : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday slammed Congress at BJP rallies in Vijayapura and Belagavi district (Raibag taluk), and dedicated ample time to humiliate the Grand Old Party for its alleged misconduct and failures. At Koligudda in Raibag taluk, he said Congress humiliated a leader like Dr BR Ambedkar in the past and continues to do so with other leaders. During his visit to Belagavi (in 1939), Ambedkar admitted that Congress called him an anti-national, a puppet and asura. Now, Congress is targeting me, hurling abuses like Modi Teri Khabra Khudegi, he said. But people of Karnataka will support BJP and not forgive Congress for its misconduct, he added. He said Congress neither wanted development nor the prosperity of the poor, SC/STs, backward classes and adivasis. When BJP and Modi began working sincerely for the countrys development, it is targeting Modi, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ee bariya sarkara bahumatada sarkara (The government this time is the majority government), he said in Kannada. Congress initiatives had adversely affected farmers in the state as it had a culture of corruption. It used farmers by playing the loan-waiver card that benefited only rich farmers. But the BJP government opened accounts for all farmers and launched the Kisan Samman Scheme to extend direct benefit to farmers, he said. Earlier in Vijayapura, he said, The only contribution of Congress to the people of India is its legacy of corruption. Their own prime minister (late Rajiv Gandhi) had admitted that when the Centre grants Re 1, only 15 paise reaches the people. Claiming that the BJP government granted Rs 29 lakh crore for welfare schemes, he said, Just imagine what would have happened to such a large sum if Congress was ruling. Corruption existed from panchayats to Parliament during the Congress government. In Humnabad, Modi said Congress did not give prominence to Gorta from where hundreds of people sacrificed their lives fighting Razakars of the erstwhile Hyderabad state. BJP will now construct a martyrs memorial there, he said. By PTI NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that while the BJP was seeking votes in the Karnataka Assembly polls in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had adopted the PM's "vocal for local" slogan and was raising issues of the people of the state. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said Karnataka, after four years of the BJP rule, needs 'Vitamin-P' in which the P stands for "performance" of the Congress and not "polarisation" of the BJP. Using armed forces' terminology, Ramesh said the Congress is not worried about the "carpet bombing" campaign strategy of Prime Minister Modi and other senior BJP leaders as it has enough "anti-aircraft guns" to deal with it. The more the carpet bombing campaign the BJP indulges in, the more clearly it indicates its "despair and desperation", the Congress general secretary-in-charge of communications said. Ramesh, who is a star campaigner for the party, said the Karnataka polls were about the BJP's "threats" versus Congress' governance guarantees. He claimed that Congress would get a "clear majority" that would render "Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. Operation Lotus is the term used by opposition parties to describe what they call the "poaching" of MLAs by the BJP to topple state governments. ALSO READ | Aim for 150 seats or else BJP will 'steal' next govt, Rahul tells Congress Asked about reports of former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar looking to outdo each other for the post of CM, Ramesh said, "This time around, the dissidence in the Congress is at a minimum. There are only a few rebel independent candidates and many of them are withdrawing." "In any case, the dissidence in the Congress is nothing as compared with the dissidence in the BJP which has lost its former chief minister, deputy CM, members of the national executive and many other national, state and local level leaders," Ramesh said. He said five top Congress leaders - party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar - would probably cover the 224 constituencies among them during the campaign. "So, I think we are presenting a united front and this I think is the impact of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Some people criticize the Bharat Jodo Yatra that it would not pay electoral dividends but I think the yatra is giving electoral dividends as it gave a sense of solidarity and a sense of purpose to the Congress," he told PTI over the phone from Karnataka where he is on the campaign trail. Today the story of Karnataka politics is the "dissidence and disunity" in the BJP, not in the Congress, he stressed. "Right now everybody is focused on getting the Congress back to power. We are not focussing on individuals. This is not a beauty contest for individuals, this is a choice between political parties, a choice between competing ideologies, a choice between competing visions for Karnataka's future," Ramesh said. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls will open the door for Congress in 2024 LS polls: DKS Noting that the Karnataka electorate is very wise and knows whom to vote at which level, the Congress leader pointed out that it was not a vote to elect the prime minister but a vote to install a government in the state. "I think we have taken the PM's slogan more seriously than he has himself - 'vocal for local'," Ramesh said. He said this time the Congress campaign has been very strategic and focussed on "vocal for local". "This is not a national election, it is an assembly election, and I think the BJP has tried to make the prime minister the issue. They are asking for votes in the name of Narendra Modi. What we have been saying is that you are electing MLAs, you are electing the party which will appoint a CM. This is for an engine in Bengaluru not an engine in Delhi," Ramesh asserted. This whole double engine argument of the BJP is "bogus", particularly in Karnataka because 94 per cent of revenues generated for the state are its own or its share of central taxes which is constitutionally mandated, he said, adding that this is not a vote for a "double engine." "The BJP's double engine is a bogus one, it is an engine of 'garam hawa' of economic growth, creating the illusion of economic growth, on one hand and the other engine of social polarization and divisive politics. The Congress is the only party that internalizes the double engine - the double engine of economic growth that is sustainable and equitable on the one hand, and the other engine of social harmony," he said. So the Congress' is the real double engine, Ramesh stressed. ALSO READ | No Modi factor, expect Muslims to back Congress, says Siddaramaiah On the number of seats the Congress was likely to get, Ramesh said he did not wish to give a number but was confident of a clear majority that would render "Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. "In Chikkamagaluru district, where I am campaigning, we have only one assembly seat, but this time we are headed to get three or four out of a total of five seats," Ramesh said. He claimed that there is a "very strong current" in favour of the Congress and a widespread sentiment for change. "I don't agree with the assessment that it's going to be a hung verdict. I think it is going to be a clear majority for the Congress. I think the type of campaigning the BJP is doing is just about polarization and harking back to divisive issues with which the people are fed up. You can't do this over and over again," he added. On Kharge's "poisonous snake" remark, Ramesh said the party chief has clarified that remark, as well as the context in which it was made. "But what Mr. Basangouda Patil Yatnal said about former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was simply unacceptable. What do you make of the Union home minister (Amit Shah) coming and telling people that 'if you vote for the Congress you will have communal riots'. What do you make of the BJP chief coming and saying that 'if you vote for the Congress, the blessings of Mr. Modi are not going to be there'," he said. The people who have dragged the campaign down to this level are Home Minister Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the prime minister himself, he alleged. Voting will take place in the state on May 10 and the results will be out on May 13. READ MORE: Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka Exodus of Lingayat leaders may jeopardise BJP's prospects in Kittur Karnataka NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that while the BJP was seeking votes in the Karnataka Assembly polls in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had adopted the PM's "vocal for local" slogan and was raising issues of the people of the state. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said Karnataka, after four years of the BJP rule, needs 'Vitamin-P' in which the P stands for "performance" of the Congress and not "polarisation" of the BJP. Using armed forces' terminology, Ramesh said the Congress is not worried about the "carpet bombing" campaign strategy of Prime Minister Modi and other senior BJP leaders as it has enough "anti-aircraft guns" to deal with it.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The more the carpet bombing campaign the BJP indulges in, the more clearly it indicates its "despair and desperation", the Congress general secretary-in-charge of communications said. Ramesh, who is a star campaigner for the party, said the Karnataka polls were about the BJP's "threats" versus Congress' governance guarantees. He claimed that Congress would get a "clear majority" that would render "Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. Operation Lotus is the term used by opposition parties to describe what they call the "poaching" of MLAs by the BJP to topple state governments. ALSO READ | Aim for 150 seats or else BJP will 'steal' next govt, Rahul tells Congress Asked about reports of former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar looking to outdo each other for the post of CM, Ramesh said, "This time around, the dissidence in the Congress is at a minimum. There are only a few rebel independent candidates and many of them are withdrawing." "In any case, the dissidence in the Congress is nothing as compared with the dissidence in the BJP which has lost its former chief minister, deputy CM, members of the national executive and many other national, state and local level leaders," Ramesh said. He said five top Congress leaders - party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar - would probably cover the 224 constituencies among them during the campaign. "So, I think we are presenting a united front and this I think is the impact of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Some people criticize the Bharat Jodo Yatra that it would not pay electoral dividends but I think the yatra is giving electoral dividends as it gave a sense of solidarity and a sense of purpose to the Congress," he told PTI over the phone from Karnataka where he is on the campaign trail. Today the story of Karnataka politics is the "dissidence and disunity" in the BJP, not in the Congress, he stressed. "Right now everybody is focused on getting the Congress back to power. We are not focussing on individuals. This is not a beauty contest for individuals, this is a choice between political parties, a choice between competing ideologies, a choice between competing visions for Karnataka's future," Ramesh said. ALSO READ | Karnataka polls will open the door for Congress in 2024 LS polls: DKS Noting that the Karnataka electorate is very wise and knows whom to vote at which level, the Congress leader pointed out that it was not a vote to elect the prime minister but a vote to install a government in the state. "I think we have taken the PM's slogan more seriously than he has himself - 'vocal for local'," Ramesh said. He said this time the Congress campaign has been very strategic and focussed on "vocal for local". "This is not a national election, it is an assembly election, and I think the BJP has tried to make the prime minister the issue. They are asking for votes in the name of Narendra Modi. What we have been saying is that you are electing MLAs, you are electing the party which will appoint a CM. This is for an engine in Bengaluru not an engine in Delhi," Ramesh asserted. This whole double engine argument of the BJP is "bogus", particularly in Karnataka because 94 per cent of revenues generated for the state are its own or its share of central taxes which is constitutionally mandated, he said, adding that this is not a vote for a "double engine." "The BJP's double engine is a bogus one, it is an engine of 'garam hawa' of economic growth, creating the illusion of economic growth, on one hand and the other engine of social polarization and divisive politics. The Congress is the only party that internalizes the double engine - the double engine of economic growth that is sustainable and equitable on the one hand, and the other engine of social harmony," he said. So the Congress' is the real double engine, Ramesh stressed. ALSO READ | No Modi factor, expect Muslims to back Congress, says Siddaramaiah On the number of seats the Congress was likely to get, Ramesh said he did not wish to give a number but was confident of a clear majority that would render "Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. "In Chikkamagaluru district, where I am campaigning, we have only one assembly seat, but this time we are headed to get three or four out of a total of five seats," Ramesh said. He claimed that there is a "very strong current" in favour of the Congress and a widespread sentiment for change. "I don't agree with the assessment that it's going to be a hung verdict. I think it is going to be a clear majority for the Congress. I think the type of campaigning the BJP is doing is just about polarization and harking back to divisive issues with which the people are fed up. You can't do this over and over again," he added. On Kharge's "poisonous snake" remark, Ramesh said the party chief has clarified that remark, as well as the context in which it was made. "But what Mr. Basangouda Patil Yatnal said about former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was simply unacceptable. What do you make of the Union home minister (Amit Shah) coming and telling people that 'if you vote for the Congress you will have communal riots'. What do you make of the BJP chief coming and saying that 'if you vote for the Congress, the blessings of Mr. Modi are not going to be there'," he said. The people who have dragged the campaign down to this level are Home Minister Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the prime minister himself, he alleged. Voting will take place in the state on May 10 and the results will be out on May 13. READ MORE: Lingayats hold key to electoral outcome in poll-bound Karnataka Exodus of Lingayat leaders may jeopardise BJP's prospects in Kittur Karnataka Devaraj B Hirehalli By Express News Service CHANNAPATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday seems to have explored all possibilities to criticise the regional JD(S) as "a party that has been reduced to a family" and as "a B team of the Congress party" in the run-up to the May 10 assembly polls. Modi who campaigned for BJP candidate and MLC CP Yogishwara apparently targeted JD(S) and indirectly the former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy as a stiff fight is on between the duo. Addressing a huge crowd that was irresistible in hooting 'Modi Modi..." slogans, the prime minister made the most of it to criticise Congress and JD(S). It was during the 2018 assembly polls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called JD(S) as BJP's 'B team" and this time none other than PM Modi picked it up as the BJP planned to win more seats in the old Mysuru region where the JD(S) is a strong force to be reckoned. "For Congress and JD(S) Karnataka is an ATM but for BJP it is the growth engine of the country's development. The JD(S) openly declared that it can become a kingmaker by winning 15-20 seats. But all for a single family's selfishness at the cost of the interest of people. Every vote to JD(S) will straight away go to Congress. Karnataka has seen the drama of unstable governments for a long time wherein the fight will be only for looting ", he alleged. ALSO READ| 'Congress, you have lost your mind: Amit Shah on Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at PM Modi He also slammed the Congress's guarantee schemes as a bundle of lies as none of the promises made in other states during the polls were implemented including in Himachal Pradesh despite them coming to power. "The women folk there are still waiting to get the Rs 2,500 per month and this is the true color of that party", he pointed out. "Every guarantee is a bundle of lies as the Congress party's warranty has gone. But the true guarantees are PM Kissan Nidhi, Ayushaman Baharat health scheme as they helped the beneficiaries", he remarked. Modi also spoke on specific issues of the land of silk Ramanagara and the 'land of toys' Channapatna including the Rs 10,000 financial assistance for sericulture farmers and reducing the import of silk and export of the toys. "Congress had destroyed the Channapatna toys by allowing imports but now their exports have increased by 70 per cent and import of toys from abroad reduced", he pointed out. I am a snake... Taking opposition leaders' criticism in the right spirit, Modi claimed that he was able to make a century in his 'man ki baath' series of speeches but the opposition tried to make a century by scolding him with nicknames. " I am called a snake, but I am a snake that garlands the neck of lord Shiva. For me here the people are my lord shiva", he said. He was responding to AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge calling him a 'venomous snake' at a public rally held at Naregal in Gadag district recently. READ MORE: Congress humiliated Ambedkar, now targeting me: Modi retorts to Kharge's venomous snake jibe CHANNAPATNA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday seems to have explored all possibilities to criticise the regional JD(S) as "a party that has been reduced to a family" and as "a B team of the Congress party" in the run-up to the May 10 assembly polls. Modi who campaigned for BJP candidate and MLC CP Yogishwara apparently targeted JD(S) and indirectly the former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy as a stiff fight is on between the duo. Addressing a huge crowd that was irresistible in hooting 'Modi Modi..." slogans, the prime minister made the most of it to criticise Congress and JD(S). It was during the 2018 assembly polls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had called JD(S) as BJP's 'B team" and this time none other than PM Modi picked it up as the BJP planned to win more seats in the old Mysuru region where the JD(S) is a strong force to be reckoned.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "For Congress and JD(S) Karnataka is an ATM but for BJP it is the growth engine of the country's development. The JD(S) openly declared that it can become a kingmaker by winning 15-20 seats. But all for a single family's selfishness at the cost of the interest of people. Every vote to JD(S) will straight away go to Congress. Karnataka has seen the drama of unstable governments for a long time wherein the fight will be only for looting ", he alleged. ALSO READ| 'Congress, you have lost your mind: Amit Shah on Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at PM Modi He also slammed the Congress's guarantee schemes as a bundle of lies as none of the promises made in other states during the polls were implemented including in Himachal Pradesh despite them coming to power. "The women folk there are still waiting to get the Rs 2,500 per month and this is the true color of that party", he pointed out. "Every guarantee is a bundle of lies as the Congress party's warranty has gone. But the true guarantees are PM Kissan Nidhi, Ayushaman Baharat health scheme as they helped the beneficiaries", he remarked. Modi also spoke on specific issues of the land of silk Ramanagara and the 'land of toys' Channapatna including the Rs 10,000 financial assistance for sericulture farmers and reducing the import of silk and export of the toys. "Congress had destroyed the Channapatna toys by allowing imports but now their exports have increased by 70 per cent and import of toys from abroad reduced", he pointed out. I am a snake... Taking opposition leaders' criticism in the right spirit, Modi claimed that he was able to make a century in his 'man ki baath' series of speeches but the opposition tried to make a century by scolding him with nicknames. " I am called a snake, but I am a snake that garlands the neck of lord Shiva. For me here the people are my lord shiva", he said. He was responding to AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge calling him a 'venomous snake' at a public rally held at Naregal in Gadag district recently. READ MORE: Congress humiliated Ambedkar, now targeting me: Modi retorts to Kharge's venomous snake jibe Cynthia Chandran By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The expressions on the faces of S Madhan and A Moses, the restorers, and conservators of Raja Ravi Varmas paintings, conveyed their sense of pride and achievement. They had successfully restored the unfinished painting, The Parsi Lady, by Raja Ravi Varma, which had been idle for over a century. The painting was unveiled by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the Kilimanoor Palace, which is 380 years old, on Saturday, coinciding with the 175th birth anniversary of the renowned painter. Madhan, Moses, and their mentor, V N Selvarehai, had been working on The Parsi Lady for a year. The Kilimanoor Palace authorities had folded the canvas and left it idle for many years, causing extensive damage by the time it was retrieved. Madhan and Moses, who had arrived from Chennai for the unveiling of the painting, said that after the initial work, they had been working on the painting for just eight days. Ravi Varma had not completed the fingers and background. The canvas was very fragile. We had to work on the folding and also address the cracks developed over the years of lying idle. Our job was not to retouch it, but to reintegrate it. We had to give life to The Parsi Lady, said Madhan and Moses. This is the trios 21st Raja Ravi Varma painting that they have restored, but it is the only one that was unfinished. They have restored his paintings, which are displayed on the walls of the Salarjung Museum, Mysore Palace, Tripunithura Hill Palace, and in private collections at Kowdiar Palace of the former Travancore Royal family and private collectors in Tamil Nadu and London. The pigments used by Madhan and Moses are reversible, meaning that the owner of The Parsi Lady can revert it to its old-world charm. We did a minimal intervention and it took three days of work. We have done only 5% of the work when Ravi Varma did the rest of it, added Madhan. Ravi Varma had returned to his home and started working on his unfinished paintings after he wound up his press in Bombay upon hearing about the death of his brother, Raja Raja Varma. He worked on The Parsi Lady in the Chitrasala of the Kilimanoor Palace, but unfortunately, he died on October 2, 1906, before he could complete the painting. The Governor also unveiled another rare painting of Ravi Varma, a portrait of Thriketta Thirunal Uma Amma Thamburatti. He referred to Ravi Varma as a painter among princes and a prince among painters. THE PARSI LADY Raja Ravi Varma worked on the painting in the Chitrasala of the Kilimanoor Palace, but died before finishing it. Ravi Varma had not completed the fingers and background. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The expressions on the faces of S Madhan and A Moses, the restorers, and conservators of Raja Ravi Varmas paintings, conveyed their sense of pride and achievement. They had successfully restored the unfinished painting, The Parsi Lady, by Raja Ravi Varma, which had been idle for over a century. The painting was unveiled by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan at the Kilimanoor Palace, which is 380 years old, on Saturday, coinciding with the 175th birth anniversary of the renowned painter. Madhan, Moses, and their mentor, V N Selvarehai, had been working on The Parsi Lady for a year. The Kilimanoor Palace authorities had folded the canvas and left it idle for many years, causing extensive damage by the time it was retrieved. Madhan and Moses, who had arrived from Chennai for the unveiling of the painting, said that after the initial work, they had been working on the painting for just eight days. Ravi Varma had not completed the fingers and background. The canvas was very fragile. We had to work on the folding and also address the cracks developed over the years of lying idle. Our job was not to retouch it, but to reintegrate it. We had to give life to The Parsi Lady, said Madhan and Moses.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); This is the trios 21st Raja Ravi Varma painting that they have restored, but it is the only one that was unfinished. They have restored his paintings, which are displayed on the walls of the Salarjung Museum, Mysore Palace, Tripunithura Hill Palace, and in private collections at Kowdiar Palace of the former Travancore Royal family and private collectors in Tamil Nadu and London. The pigments used by Madhan and Moses are reversible, meaning that the owner of The Parsi Lady can revert it to its old-world charm. We did a minimal intervention and it took three days of work. We have done only 5% of the work when Ravi Varma did the rest of it, added Madhan. Ravi Varma had returned to his home and started working on his unfinished paintings after he wound up his press in Bombay upon hearing about the death of his brother, Raja Raja Varma. He worked on The Parsi Lady in the Chitrasala of the Kilimanoor Palace, but unfortunately, he died on October 2, 1906, before he could complete the painting. The Governor also unveiled another rare painting of Ravi Varma, a portrait of Thriketta Thirunal Uma Amma Thamburatti. He referred to Ravi Varma as a painter among princes and a prince among painters. THE PARSI LADY Raja Ravi Varma worked on the painting in the Chitrasala of the Kilimanoor Palace, but died before finishing it. Ravi Varma had not completed the fingers and background. Thinakaran Rajamani By Express News Service TENKASI: A glaring disparity in the allocation of funds by the Union Government for the promotion of classical Indian languages has come to light. An RTI application filed by The New Indian Express has revealed the disparity in fund allocation by the union government for the promotion of classical Indian languages. While the union government released a grant of Rs 1,074 crore for the promotion of Sanskrit from 2017-2022, as per an RTI reply sent by the Central Sanskrit University (CSU) in New Delhi, other classical languages such as Tamil, Telugu and Kannada have been getting significantly lower allocations. In response to unstarred questions by five MPs, the Ministry of Culture in 2020 stated that only Rs 22.94 crore was allocated for Tamil while Telugu and Kannada received Rs 3 crore each during 2017-20. The New Indian Express had filed 13 queries with the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) on the fund allocation for the promotion of all classical languages on March 16, out of which only two were answered. "One of the main objectives of the CSU is to promote and propagate Sanskrit learning, teaching, and research. The Ministry of Education releases 100% grants to CSU. The university was provided with Rs 1,074 crore for the five years, out of which Rs 407.41 crore was released during the Covid-hit years (2020-21 and 2021-22)," said CSU CPIO Dr RG Murali Krishnan. Table: Fund allocation for CSU Year Allocation (in crore) 2017-18 Rs 205.4 2018-19 Rs 214.37 2019-20 Rs 246.99 2020-21 Rs 192.85 2021-22 Rs 214.56 Total Rs 1,074 'No provision to declare national language in Constitution' In a reply to the second query, Ministry of Home Affairs CPIO P Venukuttan Nair said, "There is no provision in the Constitution of India regarding declaration of any language as the national language." Moreover, an RTI communication from the Department of Official Language was issued in Hindi language only. It may be noted that many activists from Tamil Nadu had on several occasions condemned the union ministries for using the Hindi language as the medium to respond to RTI applicants from non-Hindi speaking States, stating that it is in violation of provisions of the Official Languages Act. Two months ago, a retired Border Security Force personnel, S Vijay Kumar, received an RTI response in Hindi to questions he filed in English. After he lodged a grievance, the headquarters filed a response in English. TENKASI: A glaring disparity in the allocation of funds by the Union Government for the promotion of classical Indian languages has come to light. An RTI application filed by The New Indian Express has revealed the disparity in fund allocation by the union government for the promotion of classical Indian languages. While the union government released a grant of Rs 1,074 crore for the promotion of Sanskrit from 2017-2022, as per an RTI reply sent by the Central Sanskrit University (CSU) in New Delhi, other classical languages such as Tamil, Telugu and Kannada have been getting significantly lower allocations. In response to unstarred questions by five MPs, the Ministry of Culture in 2020 stated that only Rs 22.94 crore was allocated for Tamil while Telugu and Kannada received Rs 3 crore each during 2017-20.The New Indian Express had filed 13 queries with the Central Public Information Officers (CPIOs) on the fund allocation for the promotion of all classical languages on March 16, out of which only two were answered. "One of the main objectives of the CSU is to promote and propagate Sanskrit learning, teaching, and research. The Ministry of Education releases 100% grants to CSU. The university was provided with Rs 1,074 crore for the five years, out of which Rs 407.41 crore was released during the Covid-hit years (2020-21 and 2021-22)," said CSU CPIO Dr RG Murali Krishnan.Table: Fund allocation for CSU Year Allocation (in crore) 2017-18 Rs 205.4 2018-19 Rs 214.37 2019-20 Rs 246.99 2020-21 Rs 192.85 2021-22 Rs 214.56 Total Rs 1,074'No provision to declare national language in Constitution' In a reply to the second query, Ministry of Home Affairs CPIO P Venukuttan Nair said, "There is no provision in the Constitution of India regarding declaration of any language as the national language."googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Moreover, an RTI communication from the Department of Official Language was issued in Hindi language only. It may be noted that many activists from Tamil Nadu had on several occasions condemned the union ministries for using the Hindi language as the medium to respond to RTI applicants from non-Hindi speaking States, stating that it is in violation of provisions of the Official Languages Act. Two months ago, a retired Border Security Force personnel, S Vijay Kumar, received an RTI response in Hindi to questions he filed in English. After he lodged a grievance, the headquarters filed a response in English. By PTI HYDERABAD: The new Secretariat of Telangana has been named after Babasaheb B R Ambedkar with the intention that people's representatives and the entire government machinery should work to realise the ideals of the Architect of the Indian Constitution, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Sunday. Rao inaugurated the new Secretariat complex, which stands 265 feet tall and is spread over an area of 10, 51,676 square feet in a sprawling of 28 acres of land here. Speaking after the inauguration, the Chief Minister said he considered it the opportunity of a lifetime to have inaugurated this "magnificent secretariat complex". "In order to take forward his (BR Ambedkar) ideals, to make all the employees and ministers who regularly come to the Secretariat to remember his name and keep his message in mind while working, we named our Secretariat, the epicenter of the State administration after BR Ambedkar," Rao said. He further said that the Telangana agitation for a separate state had been peaceful following Gandhian ideology, and statehood was achieved due to Ambedkar's vision of enshrining Article 3 in the Constitution. Slamming his detractors, KCR said rebuilding of Telangana does not mean that old structures will be demolished and new edifices will be erected. "I want to tell some (political) dwarfs who do not know about the reconstruction of Telangana. Reconstruction of Telangana means reviving all the lakes in the State that remained dry due to lack of attention in the undivided Andhra Pradesh," he said. He alleged that some forces, which could not digest the urge for reconstruction of Telangana, failed to see the overall development that the State is achieving. Recalling the Telangana development, KCR said the State attracted investments worth lakhs of crores of rupees and was making rapid strides in the IT sector, even surpassing Bangalore as its hub. The Chief Minister said the total paddy cultivation in the State stood at 56 lakh acres against 94 lakh acres all over the country during the current Yasangi (Rabi season). He said that the earlier Planning Commission (since replaced by NITI Aayog) had kept nine districts of Telangana under the backward districts category, but now there were no villages as progressive as those of Telangana. According to the Chief Minister, the per capita income of Telangana is the highest among all States in India even as per capita power consumption is also high which are the growth indicators and good economic development. The Chief Minister thanked officials and stakeholders for striving hard for the development of the State. A 'Sudarsana Yagam' was performed from 6 AM and Rao occupied his chambers in the sixth floor after the rituals concluded at around 1.30 PM. The Ministers of the State government also occupied their respective chambers. Considering the inadequacies of the former Secretariat complex built during undivided Andhra Pradesh, a government-appointed expert committee favoured construction of a new building. The Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Secretariat on June 27, 2019 but the works started only in January 2021, delayed by the covid-19 pandemic, court cases and other issues. The building stands 265 feet tall, and a press release issued by the government said no state had such a tall Secretariat. It is also one of the largest Secretariats in the country, the release added. The domes of the new Secretariat have been built in the styles of the Neelakanteswara Swamy temple of the Kakatiya period in Nizamabad, designs of the palaces of the royals of Wanaparthy 'Samsthanam' in Telangana and the pattern of the Hanuman temple in Sarangpur, Gujarat, according to the release. The construction was done "flawlessly" with the instructions of Roads and Buildings (R&B) department, IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), Telangana State Technological Services and the State police department, the release added. HYDERABAD: The new Secretariat of Telangana has been named after Babasaheb B R Ambedkar with the intention that people's representatives and the entire government machinery should work to realise the ideals of the Architect of the Indian Constitution, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said on Sunday. Rao inaugurated the new Secretariat complex, which stands 265 feet tall and is spread over an area of 10, 51,676 square feet in a sprawling of 28 acres of land here. Speaking after the inauguration, the Chief Minister said he considered it the opportunity of a lifetime to have inaugurated this "magnificent secretariat complex".googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "In order to take forward his (BR Ambedkar) ideals, to make all the employees and ministers who regularly come to the Secretariat to remember his name and keep his message in mind while working, we named our Secretariat, the epicenter of the State administration after BR Ambedkar," Rao said. He further said that the Telangana agitation for a separate state had been peaceful following Gandhian ideology, and statehood was achieved due to Ambedkar's vision of enshrining Article 3 in the Constitution. CM #KCR inaugurates #TelanganaSecretariat , takes his seat in his chambers amid Vedic chants #Telangana @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/MNCwSGJmsU TNIE Telangana (@XpressHyderabad) April 30, 2023 Slamming his detractors, KCR said rebuilding of Telangana does not mean that old structures will be demolished and new edifices will be erected. "I want to tell some (political) dwarfs who do not know about the reconstruction of Telangana. Reconstruction of Telangana means reviving all the lakes in the State that remained dry due to lack of attention in the undivided Andhra Pradesh," he said. He alleged that some forces, which could not digest the urge for reconstruction of Telangana, failed to see the overall development that the State is achieving. Recalling the Telangana development, KCR said the State attracted investments worth lakhs of crores of rupees and was making rapid strides in the IT sector, even surpassing Bangalore as its hub. The Chief Minister said the total paddy cultivation in the State stood at 56 lakh acres against 94 lakh acres all over the country during the current Yasangi (Rabi season). He said that the earlier Planning Commission (since replaced by NITI Aayog) had kept nine districts of Telangana under the backward districts category, but now there were no villages as progressive as those of Telangana. According to the Chief Minister, the per capita income of Telangana is the highest among all States in India even as per capita power consumption is also high which are the growth indicators and good economic development. The Chief Minister thanked officials and stakeholders for striving hard for the development of the State. A 'Sudarsana Yagam' was performed from 6 AM and Rao occupied his chambers in the sixth floor after the rituals concluded at around 1.30 PM. The Ministers of the State government also occupied their respective chambers. Considering the inadequacies of the former Secretariat complex built during undivided Andhra Pradesh, a government-appointed expert committee favoured construction of a new building. The Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone for the construction of the Secretariat on June 27, 2019 but the works started only in January 2021, delayed by the covid-19 pandemic, court cases and other issues. The building stands 265 feet tall, and a press release issued by the government said no state had such a tall Secretariat. It is also one of the largest Secretariats in the country, the release added. The domes of the new Secretariat have been built in the styles of the Neelakanteswara Swamy temple of the Kakatiya period in Nizamabad, designs of the palaces of the royals of Wanaparthy 'Samsthanam' in Telangana and the pattern of the Hanuman temple in Sarangpur, Gujarat, according to the release. The construction was done "flawlessly" with the instructions of Roads and Buildings (R&B) department, IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), Telangana State Technological Services and the State police department, the release added. Ireddy Srinivas Reddy By Express News Service HYDERABAD: As days go by, the strategy of Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao for the upcoming local elections in Maharashtra is becoming increasingly clear. The party intends to field candidates in six districts sharing a border with Telangana, where the BRS has a good track record in local elections, having won a significant number of MPTC and ZPTC seats in 2001. KCR wants to take his party to the national level and has selected Maharashtra as a key target since it has 40 Assembly segments that share a border with Telangana. The BRS supremo wants to build a strong force with the local body election and thus signalling his partys intent to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. Political experts say that KCRs strategy is the right way to build the party from the grassroots, and the party symbol and name will register strongly if it contests the local body elections. Party leaders have also stated that the votes they get in local body elections will boost their chances when they contest the Assembly elections. The BRS supremo has already studied the last Assembly elections in detail going through the list of winners, runners-up as well as the votes bagged by Independent candidates. The six former MLAs and several former Zp Chairmans who have joined the party are a clear indication that KCR has picked strong leaders community-wise and face value-wise. These leaders are expected to play a major role in the coming local body elections in 40 Assembly constituencies. On the other hand, village and mandal level leaders who are well connected and in contact with BRS leaders from Medak, Nizamabad, and Adilabad districts are getting ready to join the pink party and contest the coming local body elections. A senior BRS leader said that in the Nanded district, the party is getting stronger and will definitely win several Assembly seats. The BRS has implemented various welfare schemes in Telangana such as Rythu Bandhu, free power, Rythu Bima, etc., which have been well-received by the farming community. This positive reputation could help the party in the border districts of Maharashtra where many of the people are also from the farming community. Thousands of farmers in the border-sharing villages bought lands in Telangana villages and are getting Rythu Bandhu and free power, which is an advantage for the BRS to expand in Maharashtra where farmers also play a key role in deciding the fate of political parties. The party chief has already addressed three public meetings in Nanded, Kandar Loha, and Aurangabad, and the sources say that the BRS would conduct another three meetings in three districts in the coming months. BRS MLA and MPs are contacting several leaders from districts to welcome them into the pink party fold at upcoming public meetings. HYDERABAD: As days go by, the strategy of Chief Minister and BRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao for the upcoming local elections in Maharashtra is becoming increasingly clear. The party intends to field candidates in six districts sharing a border with Telangana, where the BRS has a good track record in local elections, having won a significant number of MPTC and ZPTC seats in 2001. KCR wants to take his party to the national level and has selected Maharashtra as a key target since it has 40 Assembly segments that share a border with Telangana. The BRS supremo wants to build a strong force with the local body election and thus signalling his partys intent to contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra. Political experts say that KCRs strategy is the right way to build the party from the grassroots, and the party symbol and name will register strongly if it contests the local body elections. Party leaders have also stated that the votes they get in local body elections will boost their chances when they contest the Assembly elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The BRS supremo has already studied the last Assembly elections in detail going through the list of winners, runners-up as well as the votes bagged by Independent candidates. The six former MLAs and several former Zp Chairmans who have joined the party are a clear indication that KCR has picked strong leaders community-wise and face value-wise. These leaders are expected to play a major role in the coming local body elections in 40 Assembly constituencies. On the other hand, village and mandal level leaders who are well connected and in contact with BRS leaders from Medak, Nizamabad, and Adilabad districts are getting ready to join the pink party and contest the coming local body elections. A senior BRS leader said that in the Nanded district, the party is getting stronger and will definitely win several Assembly seats. The BRS has implemented various welfare schemes in Telangana such as Rythu Bandhu, free power, Rythu Bima, etc., which have been well-received by the farming community. This positive reputation could help the party in the border districts of Maharashtra where many of the people are also from the farming community. Thousands of farmers in the border-sharing villages bought lands in Telangana villages and are getting Rythu Bandhu and free power, which is an advantage for the BRS to expand in Maharashtra where farmers also play a key role in deciding the fate of political parties. The party chief has already addressed three public meetings in Nanded, Kandar Loha, and Aurangabad, and the sources say that the BRS would conduct another three meetings in three districts in the coming months. BRS MLA and MPs are contacting several leaders from districts to welcome them into the pink party fold at upcoming public meetings. Mayank Singh By NEW DELHI: The passing out parade at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Saturday witnessed a pioneering batch as the first five women officers in the Regiment of Artillery have been commissioned. The batch also included Lieutenant Rekha Singh, wife of the Late Naik Deepak Singh (Nursing Assistant), who made the supreme sacrifice during the Galwan clash in 2020. Lt Rekha Singh, after a rigorous training of 11 months, was commissioned into the Army Ordnance Corps and has been posted to Ladakh, the same area in which Late Naik (Nursing Assistant) Deepak Singh, Vir Chakra, was killed. Naik Deepak Singh was posted as a nursing assistant in the Armys Bihar regiment with which the Chinese soldiers clashed in June 2020 in Galwan Valley. Deepak got killed in the clashes and was posthumously conferred the Vir Chakra in 2021 in recognition of his bravery. The commissioning of women into the Regiment of Artillery, a major combat support arm of the Army, is seen as an expansion of the role of women. The passing out parade of the 186 officers (60 women and 126 men) was reviewed by General SM Shafiuddin, the Army Chief of Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Army Chief Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed is currently in India on a three-day official visit between April 27-29 on the invitation of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande. The passing out batch included 126 male officers, 36 Indian women officers and 24 women officers from foreign armies. Of the total, 29 officers from Bhutan were commissioned. Giving details the sources informed, Lieutenant (Lt) Mehak Saini is commissioned into a SATA Regiment, Lt Sakshi Dubey and Lt Aditi Yadav into Field Regiments, Lt Pious Mudgil commissioned into a Medium Regiment and Lt Akanksha commissioned into a Rocket Regiment. In addition, 19 male officers were also commissioned into the Artillery. They being commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery are being provided the same opportunities and challenges as their male counterparts. These young women officers are being posted to all types of artillery units, where they will get adequate training and exposure to handle Rocket, Medium, Field and Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) and equipment in challenging conditions. Out of the five women officers, three are posted to units deployed along Northern borders and the other two in challenging locations in the Western Theatre. The ceremony was attended by senior military officials including Lt Gen Adosh Kumar, Colonel Commandant and Director General of Artillery (Designate), other dignitaries and proud family members of the newly-commissioned officers. NEW DELHI: The passing out parade at Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai on Saturday witnessed a pioneering batch as the first five women officers in the Regiment of Artillery have been commissioned. The batch also included Lieutenant Rekha Singh, wife of the Late Naik Deepak Singh (Nursing Assistant), who made the supreme sacrifice during the Galwan clash in 2020. Lt Rekha Singh, after a rigorous training of 11 months, was commissioned into the Army Ordnance Corps and has been posted to Ladakh, the same area in which Late Naik (Nursing Assistant) Deepak Singh, Vir Chakra, was killed. Naik Deepak Singh was posted as a nursing assistant in the Armys Bihar regiment with which the Chinese soldiers clashed in June 2020 in Galwan Valley. Deepak got killed in the clashes and was posthumously conferred the Vir Chakra in 2021 in recognition of his bravery.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The commissioning of women into the Regiment of Artillery, a major combat support arm of the Army, is seen as an expansion of the role of women. The passing out parade of the 186 officers (60 women and 126 men) was reviewed by General SM Shafiuddin, the Army Chief of Bangladesh Army. Bangladesh Army Chief Gen SM Shafiuddin Ahmed is currently in India on a three-day official visit between April 27-29 on the invitation of Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande. The passing out batch included 126 male officers, 36 Indian women officers and 24 women officers from foreign armies. Of the total, 29 officers from Bhutan were commissioned. Giving details the sources informed, Lieutenant (Lt) Mehak Saini is commissioned into a SATA Regiment, Lt Sakshi Dubey and Lt Aditi Yadav into Field Regiments, Lt Pious Mudgil commissioned into a Medium Regiment and Lt Akanksha commissioned into a Rocket Regiment. In addition, 19 male officers were also commissioned into the Artillery. They being commissioned into the Regiment of Artillery are being provided the same opportunities and challenges as their male counterparts. These young women officers are being posted to all types of artillery units, where they will get adequate training and exposure to handle Rocket, Medium, Field and Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) and equipment in challenging conditions. Out of the five women officers, three are posted to units deployed along Northern borders and the other two in challenging locations in the Western Theatre. The ceremony was attended by senior military officials including Lt Gen Adosh Kumar, Colonel Commandant and Director General of Artillery (Designate), other dignitaries and proud family members of the newly-commissioned officers. Mayank Singh By NEW DELHI: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday highlighted a challenge due to Chinese research vessels, which otherwise are free to operate in international waters. These vessels have the ability to track and collect electronic signals. So, when they operate close to our areas of national interest, then it becomes a challenge. Indian Navy keeps an eye, and it has ships which monitor them very, very closely, he said while interacting at a seminar organised by the Chanakya Dialogues and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We are keeping a close watch in the Indian Ocean Region... and efforts are on to know of the presence of enemies and what are they up to, monitoring it 24x7, the Navy chief said on Saturday. It was in August 2022, when the Chinese spy ship Yuan Wang-5 had docked at Hambantota in Sri Lanka which had turned into a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. Another vessel Yuan Wang-6 had entered IOR due to which Indian long-range missile launch had to be deferred. The vessel had re-entered the region in December when the missile test was rescheduled. Enumerating the presence of the Chinese vessels he said, There is a large presence of Chinese vessels. At any point of time, there are 3-6 Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and added some are close to the Gulf of Oman, and some in the eastern part of the IOR, among other places. Chinese research vessels are ever present, numbering from 2-4 and Chinese fishing vessels as well. So, there is a large presence of Chinese vessels in the IOR, and the Indian Navy keeps track of it, he said. So, we refine our plans, actions that are required to be taken, and this also feeds into our capability development, the Navy chief said. About China, in the last 10 years, 148 ships and submarines have been commissioned by it in the last 10 years, the third aircraft carrier is under construction, and much larger destroyers they are working on, he said, adding, we feel this will plateau at some time. The Indian Navys role is to protect, promote and preserve national interests in the maritime domain. And, a Navy has to be a well-balanced force, so, its not about nuclear submarines vis-a-vis aircraft carriers, as each of the two bring their own capabilities and they are not either/or, the Navy chief said. NEW DELHI: Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday highlighted a challenge due to Chinese research vessels, which otherwise are free to operate in international waters. These vessels have the ability to track and collect electronic signals. So, when they operate close to our areas of national interest, then it becomes a challenge. Indian Navy keeps an eye, and it has ships which monitor them very, very closely, he said while interacting at a seminar organised by the Chanakya Dialogues and PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We are keeping a close watch in the Indian Ocean Region... and efforts are on to know of the presence of enemies and what are they up to, monitoring it 24x7, the Navy chief said on Saturday. It was in August 2022, when the Chinese spy ship Yuan Wang-5 had docked at Hambantota in Sri Lanka which had turned into a diplomatic row between India and Sri Lanka. Another vessel Yuan Wang-6 had entered IOR due to which Indian long-range missile launch had to be deferred. The vessel had re-entered the region in December when the missile test was rescheduled. Enumerating the presence of the Chinese vessels he said, There is a large presence of Chinese vessels. At any point of time, there are 3-6 Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), and added some are close to the Gulf of Oman, and some in the eastern part of the IOR, among other places. Chinese research vessels are ever present, numbering from 2-4 and Chinese fishing vessels as well. So, there is a large presence of Chinese vessels in the IOR, and the Indian Navy keeps track of it, he said. So, we refine our plans, actions that are required to be taken, and this also feeds into our capability development, the Navy chief said. About China, in the last 10 years, 148 ships and submarines have been commissioned by it in the last 10 years, the third aircraft carrier is under construction, and much larger destroyers they are working on, he said, adding, we feel this will plateau at some time. The Indian Navys role is to protect, promote and preserve national interests in the maritime domain. And, a Navy has to be a well-balanced force, so, its not about nuclear submarines vis-a-vis aircraft carriers, as each of the two bring their own capabilities and they are not either/or, the Navy chief said. URGENCH, Uzbekistan, April 30. The government of Uzbekistan is doing everything for the benefit of the people, a resident of Urgench Alisher Abirajabov told Azerbaijani journalists, Trend reports from the scene. "Today we are participating in a very important political process for our country. The government of Uzbekistan is increasing its attention to social reforms. All changes are taking place in the interests of people and for the sake of our bright future. My family and I also did not stand aside and came to cast our vote," he said. A referendum on the Constitution is underway in Uzbekistan on April 30. Amendments to the Constitution are aimed at strengthening the functions of Parliament to appoint the heads of supervisory and law enforcement agencies, while part of the powers of the president is transferred to the supreme legislative body. In addition, it is proposed to increase the term of the presidency from 5 to 7 years. Judges of the Constitutional Court are proposed to be elected for a ten-year term. The Constitutional Court elects for a five-year term from among its members the Chairman of the Constitutional Court and his deputy. A large package of amendments to the Basic Law is aimed at further liberalizing the country's economy. Ramashankar By Anand Mohan Singh (69), convicted for inciting a mob that lynched IAS officer G Krishnaiah in 1994 in Bihars Muzaffarpur district, walked out of Saharsa jail on Thursday morning. Anand Mohan was jailed in 2007 after a court awarded him capital punishment for the officers murder who was posted as DM, Gopalganj, during the funeral procession of don-turned-politician Kaushalendra Shukla alias Chhotan Shukla, killed a day earlier. However, the high court later converted Anands death sentence into life imprisonment. The Sher-e-Bihar, as Anand Mohan is popularly called by his supporters, is now silently watching developments in the state following his release, which would not have come about but for the tweaking of a clause in the Bihar Prison Manual 2012. On April 10, 2023 the clause which prohibited those serving sentences in connection with murder of public servant on duty from getting remission was removed, paving the way for his release. ALSO READ | Gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh released from Bihar jail days after prison rule change Rajputs constitute nearly 6-7% of the 20% upper castes vote share in Bihar. As such, they may play an important role in six Lok Sabha seats and about 25 assembly seats in the state. Singh enjoys immense clout among his caste men upper caste Rajput not only in Kosi from where he hails but also in Seemanchal and Mithilanchal. Born on January 28, 1954, Anand belongs to a Tomar Rajput family and his ancestral village Pachgacchia village is in the Saharsa district of Bihar`s Kosi region. His grandfather Ram Bahadur Singh Tomar was a freedom fighter. He actively participated in the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) at the age of 17. He was jailed twice during the movement. The JP Movement went on to dethrone then PM Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai succeeded her. In Bihar, Anand Mohan tried to woo upper castes, especially Rajputs, by raising their issues. In 1980, he formed Samajwadi Kranti Sena to fight for the causes of the upper caste, especially his fellow caste men. ALSO READ | Dalit outfit moves Patna HC against release of murder accused ex-MP Anand in Bihar It was during that period that he earned the Robinhood image. He indulged in committing crimes and was often seen riding a horse and displaying firearms. In 1983, he was sent to judicial custody for three months for being involved in criminal activities. Anand had once tried to whip up the sentiments of upper caste people to counter Lalu who was increasing his influence in the state politics by deftly wooing backward classes during the 1990s. This was a time when caste politics and related violence were at their peak in the state. He was first elected as MLA from Mahisi in Saharsa district on a Janata Dal ticket when Lalu Prasad became the CM of Bihar in 1990. He formed Bihar Peoples Party (BPP) in 1993 to protest implementation of Mandal Commission report on reservation to people belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) during Prime Minister VP Singhs tenure as PM. In December 1994, he was booked for his role in the murder of G Krishnaiah who was then posted as DM of Gopalganj. In the 1995 assembly polls, he had fielded his partys candidates in about 100 seats but failed to win a single seat. In 1996, he was elected as MP from Rajput dominated Sheohar Lok Sabha seat in Bihar while being in jail. His wife Lovely Anand had been elected as Lok Sabha member from Vaishali in a bypoll held in 1994. ALSO READ | Ex-MP Anand Mohan among 27 to be freed after spending more than 14 years in Bihar jails Anand later joined hands with Nitish when the latter formed Samata Party along with leaders like George Fernandes and others. In the 1998 Lok Sabha election, he retained the Sheohar seat but lost in the 1999 election. In 2003, when Nitish formed Janata Dal (United), Anand became a part of it. In November 2005, Nitish became CM of Bihar for the first time. When Anand was convicted in Krishnaiahs murder case in 2007 and awarded capital punishment, before the same was commuted to a life sentence, he became the first politician in independent India to be given the death penalty. Anand Mohan Singh (69), convicted for inciting a mob that lynched IAS officer G Krishnaiah in 1994 in Bihars Muzaffarpur district, walked out of Saharsa jail on Thursday morning. Anand Mohan was jailed in 2007 after a court awarded him capital punishment for the officers murder who was posted as DM, Gopalganj, during the funeral procession of don-turned-politician Kaushalendra Shukla alias Chhotan Shukla, killed a day earlier. However, the high court later converted Anands death sentence into life imprisonment. The Sher-e-Bihar, as Anand Mohan is popularly called by his supporters, is now silently watching developments in the state following his release, which would not have come about but for the tweaking of a clause in the Bihar Prison Manual 2012. On April 10, 2023 the clause which prohibited those serving sentences in connection with murder of public servant on duty from getting remission was removed, paving the way for his release.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan Singh released from Bihar jail days after prison rule change Rajputs constitute nearly 6-7% of the 20% upper castes vote share in Bihar. As such, they may play an important role in six Lok Sabha seats and about 25 assembly seats in the state. Singh enjoys immense clout among his caste men upper caste Rajput not only in Kosi from where he hails but also in Seemanchal and Mithilanchal. Born on January 28, 1954, Anand belongs to a Tomar Rajput family and his ancestral village Pachgacchia village is in the Saharsa district of Bihar`s Kosi region. His grandfather Ram Bahadur Singh Tomar was a freedom fighter. He actively participated in the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) at the age of 17. He was jailed twice during the movement. The JP Movement went on to dethrone then PM Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai succeeded her. In Bihar, Anand Mohan tried to woo upper castes, especially Rajputs, by raising their issues. In 1980, he formed Samajwadi Kranti Sena to fight for the causes of the upper caste, especially his fellow caste men. ALSO READ | Dalit outfit moves Patna HC against release of murder accused ex-MP Anand in Bihar It was during that period that he earned the Robinhood image. He indulged in committing crimes and was often seen riding a horse and displaying firearms. In 1983, he was sent to judicial custody for three months for being involved in criminal activities. Anand had once tried to whip up the sentiments of upper caste people to counter Lalu who was increasing his influence in the state politics by deftly wooing backward classes during the 1990s. This was a time when caste politics and related violence were at their peak in the state. He was first elected as MLA from Mahisi in Saharsa district on a Janata Dal ticket when Lalu Prasad became the CM of Bihar in 1990. He formed Bihar Peoples Party (BPP) in 1993 to protest implementation of Mandal Commission report on reservation to people belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) during Prime Minister VP Singhs tenure as PM. In December 1994, he was booked for his role in the murder of G Krishnaiah who was then posted as DM of Gopalganj. In the 1995 assembly polls, he had fielded his partys candidates in about 100 seats but failed to win a single seat. In 1996, he was elected as MP from Rajput dominated Sheohar Lok Sabha seat in Bihar while being in jail. His wife Lovely Anand had been elected as Lok Sabha member from Vaishali in a bypoll held in 1994. ALSO READ | Ex-MP Anand Mohan among 27 to be freed after spending more than 14 years in Bihar jails Anand later joined hands with Nitish when the latter formed Samata Party along with leaders like George Fernandes and others. In the 1998 Lok Sabha election, he retained the Sheohar seat but lost in the 1999 election. In 2003, when Nitish formed Janata Dal (United), Anand became a part of it. In November 2005, Nitish became CM of Bihar for the first time. When Anand was convicted in Krishnaiahs murder case in 2007 and awarded capital punishment, before the same was commuted to a life sentence, he became the first politician in independent India to be given the death penalty. Dilip Singh Kshatriya By AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Saturday said it will continue hearing on May 2 Congress leader Rahul Gandhis appeal against the Surat sessions courts decision to decline a stay of his conviction in a criminal defamation case stemming from his statement about the Modi surname. Gandhis counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that there are solid reasons for the Congress leader to request a stay of his conviction and if the stay is not granted it will entail irreversible and irreparable consequences. Singhvi, a senior advocate, argued before the court that the current case does not concern the average citizen, but rather a legislator, and if a stay of execution is not given at this time and the conviction is not reversed on appeal, it will never be possible to recoup the losses incurred by any law or judgment. Sanghvi said: There will be re-election, So, if someone else is elected and I am later acquitted, is there anyone on the planet who can order the other person to vacate the seat? I have to give up six to eight years. The error was likely caused by the fact that Rahul Gandhi received the maximum punishment within 10 minutes of his conviction, he said. Singhvi also questioned Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha membership suspension, saying, The disqualification notification was issued within 24 hours of the order. Senior advocate Nirupam Nanavati, who appeared for complainant Purnesh Modi, opposesed Rahul Gandhis filing of a criminal revision petition. The Senior advocate said, The petition is not maintainable. They should specify which provision they have approached. They should clarify this point, and then Ill respond. Justice Hemant Prachchhak stated. I can give you time until Tuesday to file your affidavit. AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Saturday said it will continue hearing on May 2 Congress leader Rahul Gandhis appeal against the Surat sessions courts decision to decline a stay of his conviction in a criminal defamation case stemming from his statement about the Modi surname. Gandhis counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that there are solid reasons for the Congress leader to request a stay of his conviction and if the stay is not granted it will entail irreversible and irreparable consequences. Singhvi, a senior advocate, argued before the court that the current case does not concern the average citizen, but rather a legislator, and if a stay of execution is not given at this time and the conviction is not reversed on appeal, it will never be possible to recoup the losses incurred by any law or judgment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Sanghvi said: There will be re-election, So, if someone else is elected and I am later acquitted, is there anyone on the planet who can order the other person to vacate the seat? I have to give up six to eight years. The error was likely caused by the fact that Rahul Gandhi received the maximum punishment within 10 minutes of his conviction, he said. Singhvi also questioned Rahul Gandhis Lok Sabha membership suspension, saying, The disqualification notification was issued within 24 hours of the order. Senior advocate Nirupam Nanavati, who appeared for complainant Purnesh Modi, opposesed Rahul Gandhis filing of a criminal revision petition. The Senior advocate said, The petition is not maintainable. They should specify which provision they have approached. They should clarify this point, and then Ill respond. Justice Hemant Prachchhak stated. I can give you time until Tuesday to file your affidavit. Mallikarjun Hiremath By NAVALGUND : AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said Narendra Modi is the only prime minister she has ever seen who narrates his agony before people, instead of listening to their problems. I have seen many PMs Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh but he (Modi) is the first PM who instead of listening to peoples woes, narrates his agony to them, she said during her 45-minute speech at Navalgund in Dharwad district. She alleged that the saffron party looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from Karnataka, putting brakes on several development works in the state. The government only looted public money rather than addressing the problems. Modi, instead of coming up with solutions to problems, has become the problem, she added. Rampant corruption in the BJP government has forced contractors, farmers, and job aspirants to commit suicide, she said. Several letters have been written to the PM... but he has remained silent, she added. He (Modi) makes a phone call to those who are corrupt and drives away those who are honest... Former CM Jagadish Shettar is also a victim... He was not respected and was forced to leave the party, she added.On the ongoing KMF-Amul controversy, she said Congress will never allow the merger of the two entities. Earlier in the day, Priyanka campaigned for the Congress candidate, Kusumavati Shivalli, at Kundgol. NAVALGUND : AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said Narendra Modi is the only prime minister she has ever seen who narrates his agony before people, instead of listening to their problems. I have seen many PMs Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, PV Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh but he (Modi) is the first PM who instead of listening to peoples woes, narrates his agony to them, she said during her 45-minute speech at Navalgund in Dharwad district. She alleged that the saffron party looted Rs 1.5 lakh crore from Karnataka, putting brakes on several development works in the state. The government only looted public money rather than addressing the problems. Modi, instead of coming up with solutions to problems, has become the problem, she added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Rampant corruption in the BJP government has forced contractors, farmers, and job aspirants to commit suicide, she said. Several letters have been written to the PM... but he has remained silent, she added. He (Modi) makes a phone call to those who are corrupt and drives away those who are honest... Former CM Jagadish Shettar is also a victim... He was not respected and was forced to leave the party, she added.On the ongoing KMF-Amul controversy, she said Congress will never allow the merger of the two entities. Earlier in the day, Priyanka campaigned for the Congress candidate, Kusumavati Shivalli, at Kundgol. Rajesh Asnani By JAIPUR: Troubles for Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are increasing in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative scam. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police has not only made him an accused but his mother Mohan Kanwar, father Shankar Singh Shekhawat, wife Naunand Kanwar, brother-in-law Ashok Rathod have also been named as accused in the Rs 1,000-crore scam. This information was disclosed in the factual report presented in the high court on April 13 which has now come to light. According to the SOG report, Shekhawat was the director of a company called Navaprabha Buildtech. Shares of this company were in the names of his relatives. But in 2013, all the shares of the company were sold to Vikram Singh Indroi, the founder of Sanjivani, and six office bearers, who are the main accused in the scam case, at 10 times the price. Gajendra Singh was also the director of Lucid Pharma from November 2011 to March 2014. Its shares were also sold in February 2016 to Vikram Singh and his family. Vikram Singh took a loan to buy these shares, which he allegedly did not repay. Not only this, Gajendra Singh himself became the guarantor for one of these loans. It may be noted that there is a direct conflict between Union Minister Shekhawat and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot regarding the scam. Recently, Shekhawat had compared Gehlot to Ravana in a public rally in the Chittorgarh district. In response, Gehlot taunted Shekhawat by suggesting that he should return the money to the 2.5 lakh victims of the case, similar to what Ram would have done. Links to the main accused in the scam In 2013, all shares of the Shekhawat-headed Navaprabha Buildtech were sold to Vikram Singh Indroi, the founder of Sanjivani, and six office bearers, who are the main accused in the scam, at 10 times the price It is alleged that the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society embezzled the earnings of lakhs of people in the state. JAIPUR: Troubles for Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat are increasing in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative scam. The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Rajasthan Police has not only made him an accused but his mother Mohan Kanwar, father Shankar Singh Shekhawat, wife Naunand Kanwar, brother-in-law Ashok Rathod have also been named as accused in the Rs 1,000-crore scam. This information was disclosed in the factual report presented in the high court on April 13 which has now come to light. According to the SOG report, Shekhawat was the director of a company called Navaprabha Buildtech. Shares of this company were in the names of his relatives.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); But in 2013, all the shares of the company were sold to Vikram Singh Indroi, the founder of Sanjivani, and six office bearers, who are the main accused in the scam case, at 10 times the price. Gajendra Singh was also the director of Lucid Pharma from November 2011 to March 2014. Its shares were also sold in February 2016 to Vikram Singh and his family. Vikram Singh took a loan to buy these shares, which he allegedly did not repay. Not only this, Gajendra Singh himself became the guarantor for one of these loans. It may be noted that there is a direct conflict between Union Minister Shekhawat and Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot regarding the scam. Recently, Shekhawat had compared Gehlot to Ravana in a public rally in the Chittorgarh district. In response, Gehlot taunted Shekhawat by suggesting that he should return the money to the 2.5 lakh victims of the case, similar to what Ram would have done. Links to the main accused in the scam In 2013, all shares of the Shekhawat-headed Navaprabha Buildtech were sold to Vikram Singh Indroi, the founder of Sanjivani, and six office bearers, who are the main accused in the scam, at 10 times the price It is alleged that the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society embezzled the earnings of lakhs of people in the state. Ramashankar By PATNA: A day after meeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday dropped ample hints that a meeting of the opposition leaders might be held in Patna after Karnataka assembly polls as many leaders would be busy electioneering there. We will definitely hold a meeting and discuss issues linked with the opposition unity to challenge BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish remarked. Once Assembly elections are over in Karnataka, a final decision on the venue would be taken. If the opposition leaders reach a consensus to hold a meeting in Patna, it will be held here. If we get a chance to organise the meeting in Patna, it will be a matter of happiness for us, he said. Earlier West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also requested Nitish to organise a meeting of all non-BJP parties in the state capital to formulate a strategy for the broader opposition unity when the latter along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met her in Kolkata on April 24. After their meeting, Mamata had told newspersons that she had made just one request to Nitish- To explore the possibility of holding an all-party meeting in Bihar as Jaya Prakash Narayan jis movement had started from the state. ALSO READ | Nitishs Opposition coalition bid gets a boost as Mamata, Akhilesh offer support If an all-party meeting is held in Bihar, we can then decide where we have to go next, Banerjee had asserted. Kumar later met Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow and had expressed confidence about a broader opposition unity. Earlier this month, Nitish had also met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D raja. In the meeting, it was decided that the Bihar CM will hold dialogues with parties like TMC, BRS, and SP which dont share a good equation with the Congress. JD(U) leader had exuded confidence that BRS will also be on board with other opposition parties and said BRS has been part of the opposition grouping in Parliament on the Adani row, the Centres misuse of agencies, and the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, among others. A senior JD (U) leader told this newspaper that Nitishs next stop will be Odisha and Telangana to meet his counterparts and bring together the opposition parties to stitch an anti-BJP alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the dates of the meetings are yet to be decided, he added. Nitish had repeatedly emphasised the unity of opposition. He, however, always contended that any such initiative would not be effective unless Congress was taken on board. ALSO READ | In touch with Nitish, but no tie-up with BRS main rival Congress: KTR Nitish had also been consistent in his approach that there was no scope for a third front but there would be only a main front against the BJP. It is expected that Nitishs anti-BJP drive will get a fillip with Lalu back in action after his arrival in the state capital as the latter has a remarkable clout among all opposition leaders. Lalu returned to the state capital on Friday evening after seven months during which he had undergone a kidney transplant in Singapore. PATNA: A day after meeting RJD chief Lalu Yadav, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday dropped ample hints that a meeting of the opposition leaders might be held in Patna after Karnataka assembly polls as many leaders would be busy electioneering there. We will definitely hold a meeting and discuss issues linked with the opposition unity to challenge BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nitish remarked. Once Assembly elections are over in Karnataka, a final decision on the venue would be taken. If the opposition leaders reach a consensus to hold a meeting in Patna, it will be held here. If we get a chance to organise the meeting in Patna, it will be a matter of happiness for us, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Earlier West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had also requested Nitish to organise a meeting of all non-BJP parties in the state capital to formulate a strategy for the broader opposition unity when the latter along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met her in Kolkata on April 24. After their meeting, Mamata had told newspersons that she had made just one request to Nitish- To explore the possibility of holding an all-party meeting in Bihar as Jaya Prakash Narayan jis movement had started from the state. ALSO READ | Nitishs Opposition coalition bid gets a boost as Mamata, Akhilesh offer support If an all-party meeting is held in Bihar, we can then decide where we have to go next, Banerjee had asserted. Kumar later met Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow and had expressed confidence about a broader opposition unity. Earlier this month, Nitish had also met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, and Left leaders Sitaram Yechury and D raja. In the meeting, it was decided that the Bihar CM will hold dialogues with parties like TMC, BRS, and SP which dont share a good equation with the Congress. JD(U) leader had exuded confidence that BRS will also be on board with other opposition parties and said BRS has been part of the opposition grouping in Parliament on the Adani row, the Centres misuse of agencies, and the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi, among others. A senior JD (U) leader told this newspaper that Nitishs next stop will be Odisha and Telangana to meet his counterparts and bring together the opposition parties to stitch an anti-BJP alliance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the dates of the meetings are yet to be decided, he added. Nitish had repeatedly emphasised the unity of opposition. He, however, always contended that any such initiative would not be effective unless Congress was taken on board. ALSO READ | In touch with Nitish, but no tie-up with BRS main rival Congress: KTR Nitish had also been consistent in his approach that there was no scope for a third front but there would be only a main front against the BJP. It is expected that Nitishs anti-BJP drive will get a fillip with Lalu back in action after his arrival in the state capital as the latter has a remarkable clout among all opposition leaders. Lalu returned to the state capital on Friday evening after seven months during which he had undergone a kidney transplant in Singapore. Sangita Iyer By A terrifying scene unfolded over the weekend for a herd of elephants in the Idukki district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. A majestic and famous bull elephant Arikomban was peacefully grazing with young bulls in his bachelor group, when humans terrorized them by setting off firecrackers, in their vicious efforts to disorient and scatter them, so they can capture Arikomban. After almost a month of preparations and two days packed with unexpected twists and turns, they finally tranquilized and captured the elusive elephant. As an intelligent animal, Arikomban must have sensed the trouble that humans were causing for him and his friends. Chakkakomban, perhaps the next elephant being targeted, did all he could to prevent people from taking away his buddy, Arikomban. But four kumki (tamed) elephants shoved him into a wooden enclosure surrounded by the terrifying aliens that captured him. So began Arikombans arduous journey into another forest, shrouded in secrecy, to an undisclosed location, although all directions pointed to the Periyar Tiger Reserve near Thekkady in Idukki. This majestic animal has been ripped from his bachelor group and female friends, pushed into a dense and unknown forest where he now has to find his way to survive and make new friends. One can only imagine the trauma of separation that Arikomban and the other inexperienced bulls left behind in Chinnakanal must be suffering. Now, for a moment, imagine something like this happening to a man! There would be mass protests on the streets, politicians would exploit the opportunity to score political points and cause agitation, and the media circus would be second to none. In contrast, not one politician spoke out for Arikomban, nor the media descriptions favoured him. In fact, one member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly near the Parambikulam Reserve, did everything he could, not only to prevent the translocation of Arikomban near his constituency, but also to capture him for permanent captivity. But that didnt work! Activists & Kerala High Court Thanks to the local activists who launched a writ petition after the Kerala High Court (KHC) had initially ordered Arikombans capture. It inspired the justice bench to thoroughly investigate the dark nexus of land transfers and sales that is exacerbating human-elephant conflict, and examine the appalling treatment of captive elephants in Kerala, resulting in a powerful declaration: Capturing Arikomban for permanent captivity is not an option. Despite political pressures, the two Hon. Justices vehemently upheld their constitutional obligations, granting Arikomban his right to be wild and free. Although it would have been ideal to leave Arikomban back in Chinnakanal where he belongs, the judges were unwilling to take that risk, fearing conflict escalation. Separation & detrimental effect on other bulls However, the decision to relocate Arikomban into another forest could have a detrimental effect on the other bulls. The absence of a leader to guide the remaining young bulls could drive them to become hyper-vigilant and aggressive toward people, potentially wreaking more havoc. People near Chinnakanal now have to deal with the wrath of Chakkakomban, whos probably traumatized after his friend had been taken away from him. And who knows what awaits one of the gentlest bulls, Padayappa? How many bull elephants will they capture? Where will they relocate/ house these elephants, as encroachment into the remaining forest patches continue unabated? Contrary to the belief that capturing bull elephants will solve all the problems, such indiscriminate actions will only exacerbate human-elephant conflict, according to a cutting-edge study entitled, All-Male Groups in Asian Elephants: A Novel, Adaptive Social Strategy in Increasingly Anthropogenic Landscapes of Southern India. It focuses on how the removal of one bull elephant from a bachelor group would have a detrimental impact on the other young bulls. Lead scientist and wildlife biologist, Dr Nishant Srinivasaiah, has studied around 300 free-ranging bull Asian elephants over a decade. He says, When an elephant, whos probably a key member in his own or her own society is lost, then there are consequences to the society of the elephant itself. So, they dont know how to avoid people necessarily, they tend to become more aggressive because theyre inexperienced. More importantly, bull elephants are critically endangered with only around 1200 left, at an alarming 4.4% of the total number of 27,000 elephants across India. Rampant poaching hasnt spared the bulls either, as only Asian bull elephants have tusks. And not to mention Keralas festivals that exploit mostly bull elephants. These and other human activities such as poisoning and rampant development are threatening the survival of an already endangered species. Reckless land grab... Arikombans story has exposed the insidious truth behind reckless land grab, encroachments and other illegal activities in Kerala, to which the authorities seem to be turning a blind eye. The fact is, the grasslands and forests where elephants and other animals used to graze freely have been decimated and are being categorically converted into cardamom, coffee, and tea plantations, even as resorts and other tourist attractions are sprawling. Left with nowhere else to go, famished and homeless elephants are entering villages built on what used to be their home once upon a time. What else can we expect? Here's the crux of the problem Land fragmentation caused by human settlements and plantations fenced off by live electrical wires are not only blocking ancient migratory pathways and elephant corridors, but also accelerating elephant deaths caused by electrocution Anayirangal, one of the landscapes that elephants prefer the most, lost a whopping 276 hectares of land to 559 families of landless tribes in 2003, as per a government order in August 2002 85% of the settlements near Anayirangal are prone to high conflict, worsened by people implementing unscientific and aggressive methods to drive away elephants, which is pushing them to retaliate Arikomban taken away from his friends...(Photo | Shiyami, EPS) Back in 2010, the central government of India constituted a committee to investigate if the Forest Protection Act 1980 was being violated in Kerala, based on a petition filed by a non-profit organisation. The inconsistencies and suspicious land transfers discovered during the investigation prompted the central government to force the forest department to notify 17,349 acres of land immediately. The report also highlights concerns regarding the assignment of pattas (land ownership document) by the Revenue Department without consulting the Forest Department. At the heart of the problem is reckless land management and land transfers. The Inspection Report of the Central Team Constituted to Examine Violations of The Forest Conservation Act 1980 in Munnar says, There is wide spread fear/apprehension that lands set apart for afforestation in Munnar Division may also be distributed for non-forestry purposes by the District Administration/State Government in future particularly in view of the District Administration distributing pattas in Kuttiyar valley without complying with the provisions/spirit of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and orders of the Supreme Court dated 12.121996 in WP 202/95. Furthermore, eight years before this investigation was launched, Kerala cadre IFS officer, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Munnar, now a senior PCCF, Prakriti Srivastava, had issued a dire warning against allowing human settlements in Chinnakanal. I as the DFO Munnar, had objected to the proposal of assigning this land considering that the habitat was a known Elephant corridor, and informed all the authorities regarding the perils of doing so. But her objections fell on deaf ears. The 301 Colony has only 50 tribal homes left, and people there are actually pleading to be relocated. Perhaps, the forest officials, and even the committee constituted by the KHC may have made a colossal mistake by recommending the capture and relocation of Arikomban. But theres something even more insidious that demands urgent attention. Its the proverbial elephant in the room the ballooning human population a topic that no one wants to touch. India is poised to become the most densely populated country this year four years earlier than it was estimated to surpass China (in 2027). In order to sustain the burgeoning human population, unsustainable development has become a common feature across India. Railways and roadways cutting through the forests are killing elephants at a calamitous rate. Uninsulated and low hanging wires traversing across the forests, and illegal electrical fencing around the agricultural land on forest fringes have become the single gravest threat to elephants. Meanwhile, even as elephants and other wild animals continue to face multiple threats, some scientists are recommending contraception for elephants. Wait a minute now! There are 1.41 billion people and only 27,000 elephants in India. Whose population needs to be controlled? Apparently, its much easier to project human problems on elephants or other wildlife than dealing with them honestly. This kind of distorted mentality doesnt serve people nor elephants. Human population is out of control, but they want to control the elephant population. Elephants are entering villages built in core forests, but they blame the elephants and capture them. And the medias sensational headlines dont really help the cause. Flashing across the TV screens are rogue elephant Arikomban, terrorizing the villagers etc., when its humans who are terrorizing Arikomban and other elephants. They are simply reacting to the aggressive humans. The media should know better, and scientists should acknowledge the root cause of all human wildlife conflict human population explosion. Changing the attitudes can be possible if the authorities can boldly enforce the existing laws of the land, by capturing rogue humans, and imposing harsh penalties for encroaching into the forest land. Instead of aiding and abating human settlements which puts people and animals in harms way, they can protect Keralas rich natural treasures, not only for the sake of future generations but also for other species, including elephants. After all, they arrived on the planet some 80 million years ago, long before humans arrived here. These dignified and regal giants of our planet have as much right to live on earth as humans do. Just because they dont know how to terrorize humans using fire crackers, or other mechanical objects, it doesnt mean they cant defend themselves in the wild. And although, they certainly cant defend themselves or their own kind in the courts, nor vote, it doesnt mean that they are unworthy of the safeguards they deserve. The fact is, Asian elephant species is Indias Schedule 1 and Heritage Animal that deserves nothing less than utter reverence and protection. At the end of the day, the public need to understand that the demise of these megaherbivores will have a cascading effect, not only across India, but also around the world. Humans have created borders, but nations are interconnected and interdependent. How quickly have we forgotten the house arrest imposed on us by COVID that seems to have originated in China, but global citizens paid a hefty price. Similarly, the war in Ukraine is impacting many countries. Similarly, every living being plays a critical role in sustaining this magnificent web of life that we are only a small part of. But the distorted reasoning of humans makes them believe that they can manipulate and re-create this web in a manner that can benefit only them. Unfortunately, it doesnt work that way, as weve experienced time and again. If we neglect to change our direction with seriousness and urgency, instead choosing to remain on the same course, behaving in the same irresponsible and impulsive ways, our actions will return to haunt us. The challenges facing humans and elephants across India do not require new innovations, but rather, they demand sheer political will and a bold commitment to implement the existing solutions. The best available options include immediate eviction of illegal encroachers, relocation and rehabilitation of tribal people volunteering to do so, and re-wilding the ancient forests, so elephants and other wild animals can flourish, and coexist peacefully. (By Sangita Iyer Author, award-winning wildlife filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, Founder, Voice for Asian Elephants Society) A terrifying scene unfolded over the weekend for a herd of elephants in the Idukki district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. A majestic and famous bull elephant Arikomban was peacefully grazing with young bulls in his bachelor group, when humans terrorized them by setting off firecrackers, in their vicious efforts to disorient and scatter them, so they can capture Arikomban.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); After almost a month of preparations and two days packed with unexpected twists and turns, they finally tranquilized and captured the elusive elephant. As an intelligent animal, Arikomban must have sensed the trouble that humans were causing for him and his friends. Chakkakomban, perhaps the next elephant being targeted, did all he could to prevent people from taking away his buddy, Arikomban. But four kumki (tamed) elephants shoved him into a wooden enclosure surrounded by the terrifying aliens that captured him. So began Arikombans arduous journey into another forest, shrouded in secrecy, to an undisclosed location, although all directions pointed to the Periyar Tiger Reserve near Thekkady in Idukki. This majestic animal has been ripped from his bachelor group and female friends, pushed into a dense and unknown forest where he now has to find his way to survive and make new friends. One can only imagine the trauma of separation that Arikomban and the other inexperienced bulls left behind in Chinnakanal must be suffering. Now, for a moment, imagine something like this happening to a man! There would be mass protests on the streets, politicians would exploit the opportunity to score political points and cause agitation, and the media circus would be second to none. In contrast, not one politician spoke out for Arikomban, nor the media descriptions favoured him. In fact, one member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly near the Parambikulam Reserve, did everything he could, not only to prevent the translocation of Arikomban near his constituency, but also to capture him for permanent captivity. But that didnt work! Activists & Kerala High Court Thanks to the local activists who launched a writ petition after the Kerala High Court (KHC) had initially ordered Arikombans capture. It inspired the justice bench to thoroughly investigate the dark nexus of land transfers and sales that is exacerbating human-elephant conflict, and examine the appalling treatment of captive elephants in Kerala, resulting in a powerful declaration: Capturing Arikomban for permanent captivity is not an option. Despite political pressures, the two Hon. Justices vehemently upheld their constitutional obligations, granting Arikomban his right to be wild and free. Although it would have been ideal to leave Arikomban back in Chinnakanal where he belongs, the judges were unwilling to take that risk, fearing conflict escalation. Separation & detrimental effect on other bulls However, the decision to relocate Arikomban into another forest could have a detrimental effect on the other bulls. The absence of a leader to guide the remaining young bulls could drive them to become hyper-vigilant and aggressive toward people, potentially wreaking more havoc. People near Chinnakanal now have to deal with the wrath of Chakkakomban, whos probably traumatized after his friend had been taken away from him. And who knows what awaits one of the gentlest bulls, Padayappa? How many bull elephants will they capture? Where will they relocate/ house these elephants, as encroachment into the remaining forest patches continue unabated? Contrary to the belief that capturing bull elephants will solve all the problems, such indiscriminate actions will only exacerbate human-elephant conflict, according to a cutting-edge study entitled, All-Male Groups in Asian Elephants: A Novel, Adaptive Social Strategy in Increasingly Anthropogenic Landscapes of Southern India. It focuses on how the removal of one bull elephant from a bachelor group would have a detrimental impact on the other young bulls. Lead scientist and wildlife biologist, Dr Nishant Srinivasaiah, has studied around 300 free-ranging bull Asian elephants over a decade. He says, When an elephant, whos probably a key member in his own or her own society is lost, then there are consequences to the society of the elephant itself. So, they dont know how to avoid people necessarily, they tend to become more aggressive because theyre inexperienced. More importantly, bull elephants are critically endangered with only around 1200 left, at an alarming 4.4% of the total number of 27,000 elephants across India. Rampant poaching hasnt spared the bulls either, as only Asian bull elephants have tusks. And not to mention Keralas festivals that exploit mostly bull elephants. These and other human activities such as poisoning and rampant development are threatening the survival of an already endangered species. Reckless land grab... Arikombans story has exposed the insidious truth behind reckless land grab, encroachments and other illegal activities in Kerala, to which the authorities seem to be turning a blind eye. The fact is, the grasslands and forests where elephants and other animals used to graze freely have been decimated and are being categorically converted into cardamom, coffee, and tea plantations, even as resorts and other tourist attractions are sprawling. Left with nowhere else to go, famished and homeless elephants are entering villages built on what used to be their home once upon a time. What else can we expect? Here's the crux of the problem Land fragmentation caused by human settlements and plantations fenced off by live electrical wires are not only blocking ancient migratory pathways and elephant corridors, but also accelerating elephant deaths caused by electrocution Anayirangal, one of the landscapes that elephants prefer the most, lost a whopping 276 hectares of land to 559 families of landless tribes in 2003, as per a government order in August 2002 85% of the settlements near Anayirangal are prone to high conflict, worsened by people implementing unscientific and aggressive methods to drive away elephants, which is pushing them to retaliate Arikomban taken away from his friends...(Photo | Shiyami, EPS) Back in 2010, the central government of India constituted a committee to investigate if the Forest Protection Act 1980 was being violated in Kerala, based on a petition filed by a non-profit organisation. The inconsistencies and suspicious land transfers discovered during the investigation prompted the central government to force the forest department to notify 17,349 acres of land immediately. The report also highlights concerns regarding the assignment of pattas (land ownership document) by the Revenue Department without consulting the Forest Department. At the heart of the problem is reckless land management and land transfers. The Inspection Report of the Central Team Constituted to Examine Violations of The Forest Conservation Act 1980 in Munnar says, There is wide spread fear/apprehension that lands set apart for afforestation in Munnar Division may also be distributed for non-forestry purposes by the District Administration/State Government in future particularly in view of the District Administration distributing pattas in Kuttiyar valley without complying with the provisions/spirit of the Forest Conservation Act 1980 and orders of the Supreme Court dated 12.121996 in WP 202/95. Furthermore, eight years before this investigation was launched, Kerala cadre IFS officer, former Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Munnar, now a senior PCCF, Prakriti Srivastava, had issued a dire warning against allowing human settlements in Chinnakanal. I as the DFO Munnar, had objected to the proposal of assigning this land considering that the habitat was a known Elephant corridor, and informed all the authorities regarding the perils of doing so. But her objections fell on deaf ears. The 301 Colony has only 50 tribal homes left, and people there are actually pleading to be relocated. Perhaps, the forest officials, and even the committee constituted by the KHC may have made a colossal mistake by recommending the capture and relocation of Arikomban. But theres something even more insidious that demands urgent attention. Its the proverbial elephant in the room the ballooning human population a topic that no one wants to touch. India is poised to become the most densely populated country this year four years earlier than it was estimated to surpass China (in 2027). In order to sustain the burgeoning human population, unsustainable development has become a common feature across India. Railways and roadways cutting through the forests are killing elephants at a calamitous rate. Uninsulated and low hanging wires traversing across the forests, and illegal electrical fencing around the agricultural land on forest fringes have become the single gravest threat to elephants. Meanwhile, even as elephants and other wild animals continue to face multiple threats, some scientists are recommending contraception for elephants. Wait a minute now! There are 1.41 billion people and only 27,000 elephants in India. Whose population needs to be controlled? Apparently, its much easier to project human problems on elephants or other wildlife than dealing with them honestly. This kind of distorted mentality doesnt serve people nor elephants. Human population is out of control, but they want to control the elephant population. Elephants are entering villages built in core forests, but they blame the elephants and capture them. And the medias sensational headlines dont really help the cause. Flashing across the TV screens are rogue elephant Arikomban, terrorizing the villagers etc., when its humans who are terrorizing Arikomban and other elephants. They are simply reacting to the aggressive humans. The media should know better, and scientists should acknowledge the root cause of all human wildlife conflict human population explosion. Changing the attitudes can be possible if the authorities can boldly enforce the existing laws of the land, by capturing rogue humans, and imposing harsh penalties for encroaching into the forest land. Instead of aiding and abating human settlements which puts people and animals in harms way, they can protect Keralas rich natural treasures, not only for the sake of future generations but also for other species, including elephants. After all, they arrived on the planet some 80 million years ago, long before humans arrived here. These dignified and regal giants of our planet have as much right to live on earth as humans do. Just because they dont know how to terrorize humans using fire crackers, or other mechanical objects, it doesnt mean they cant defend themselves in the wild. And although, they certainly cant defend themselves or their own kind in the courts, nor vote, it doesnt mean that they are unworthy of the safeguards they deserve. The fact is, Asian elephant species is Indias Schedule 1 and Heritage Animal that deserves nothing less than utter reverence and protection. At the end of the day, the public need to understand that the demise of these megaherbivores will have a cascading effect, not only across India, but also around the world. Humans have created borders, but nations are interconnected and interdependent. How quickly have we forgotten the house arrest imposed on us by COVID that seems to have originated in China, but global citizens paid a hefty price. Similarly, the war in Ukraine is impacting many countries. Similarly, every living being plays a critical role in sustaining this magnificent web of life that we are only a small part of. But the distorted reasoning of humans makes them believe that they can manipulate and re-create this web in a manner that can benefit only them. Unfortunately, it doesnt work that way, as weve experienced time and again. If we neglect to change our direction with seriousness and urgency, instead choosing to remain on the same course, behaving in the same irresponsible and impulsive ways, our actions will return to haunt us. The challenges facing humans and elephants across India do not require new innovations, but rather, they demand sheer political will and a bold commitment to implement the existing solutions. The best available options include immediate eviction of illegal encroachers, relocation and rehabilitation of tribal people volunteering to do so, and re-wilding the ancient forests, so elephants and other wild animals can flourish, and coexist peacefully. (By Sangita Iyer Author, award-winning wildlife filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, Founder, Voice for Asian Elephants Society) By AFP LONDON: As the son of a farmhand from the Australian outback, Simon Abney-Hastings might be an unlikely choice to receive an invitation to King Charles III's coronation. But when he takes his seat in Westminster Abbey next week, he will be the one person other than those in the line of succession who could actually have a claim on the throne. Unlikely though it might seem, the scenario is based on research by British medieval historian Michael Jones. Two decades ago he uncovered a document in Rouen cathedral in France which he says is proof King Edward IV was illegitimate. During the five weeks when Edward might have been conceived, according to Jones, his fahter Richard of York was in fact 160 kilometres (100 miles) from his wife Cecily Neville, the Duchess of York. As a result, Jones has argued, Edward was not the rightful heir to the throne and the line of succession should instead have gone through Edward's younger brother George, Duke of Clarence, who is a direct ancestor of Abney-Hastings. Golden spurs Although the family does not possess any lands or stately homes in the UK, by virtue of their lineage they inherited the ancient Scottish title of Earl of Loudoun. Abney-Hastings' father Michael emigrated from the UK to Australia in 1960. Michael inherited the title from his mother, the 13th Countess of Loudoun, in 2002 and it passed on his death in 2012 to Simon, who is the 15th earl. In recognition of the family's heritage, Simon Abney-Hastings, 48, is one of just 13 individuals carrying out ceremonial roles largely because they successfully proved that their forebears played a particular role at previous coronations. The current earl said on Twitter he was "delighted and sincerely honoured" to be asked to perform the same role as his ancestors on May 6. The earls of Loudon have traditionally been the bearers of the golden spurs as far back as the 12th century. ALSO READ | Charles coronation: Minority faiths, languages to play prominent role for first time in royal ceremony In earlier centuries the spurs -- signifying the monarch's role as head of the armed forces -- were attached to the new sovereign's feet. In more recent times they have just ceremonially touched the heels of the monarch before being placed on the altar. 'King Michael I' The surprising implications of the Rouen cathedral discovery came as a shock to the Abney-Hastings family nearly 20 years ago. A British documentary team visited an unsuspecting Michael Abney-Hastings at his home in Australia for the 2004 programme "Britain's Real Monarch". To the amusement of his family, they were told that new research pointed to Edward IV being illegitimate, which "means that you are the rightful king of England". Abney-Hastings responded that he had been aware of a "distant" link to the Plantagenet royal dynasty but confessed that the news that he might have been King Michael I was "a bit of a shock". An Australian, Simon lives in Wangaratta in the southeastern state of Victoria, and appears to have no plans to press any claim. His lawyer and private secretary Terence Guthridge told AFP that although historians might believe he has the right to inherit the throne, the 15th earl "has never held this view". In fact, he had always been a "loyal and staunch supporter" of both Queen Elizabeth II and her son, he said. "Indeed they exchange birthday or Christmas cards every year," he added. LONDON: As the son of a farmhand from the Australian outback, Simon Abney-Hastings might be an unlikely choice to receive an invitation to King Charles III's coronation. But when he takes his seat in Westminster Abbey next week, he will be the one person other than those in the line of succession who could actually have a claim on the throne. Unlikely though it might seem, the scenario is based on research by British medieval historian Michael Jones.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Two decades ago he uncovered a document in Rouen cathedral in France which he says is proof King Edward IV was illegitimate. During the five weeks when Edward might have been conceived, according to Jones, his fahter Richard of York was in fact 160 kilometres (100 miles) from his wife Cecily Neville, the Duchess of York. As a result, Jones has argued, Edward was not the rightful heir to the throne and the line of succession should instead have gone through Edward's younger brother George, Duke of Clarence, who is a direct ancestor of Abney-Hastings. Golden spurs Although the family does not possess any lands or stately homes in the UK, by virtue of their lineage they inherited the ancient Scottish title of Earl of Loudoun. Abney-Hastings' father Michael emigrated from the UK to Australia in 1960. Michael inherited the title from his mother, the 13th Countess of Loudoun, in 2002 and it passed on his death in 2012 to Simon, who is the 15th earl. In recognition of the family's heritage, Simon Abney-Hastings, 48, is one of just 13 individuals carrying out ceremonial roles largely because they successfully proved that their forebears played a particular role at previous coronations. The current earl said on Twitter he was "delighted and sincerely honoured" to be asked to perform the same role as his ancestors on May 6. The earls of Loudon have traditionally been the bearers of the golden spurs as far back as the 12th century. ALSO READ | Charles coronation: Minority faiths, languages to play prominent role for first time in royal ceremony In earlier centuries the spurs -- signifying the monarch's role as head of the armed forces -- were attached to the new sovereign's feet. In more recent times they have just ceremonially touched the heels of the monarch before being placed on the altar. 'King Michael I' The surprising implications of the Rouen cathedral discovery came as a shock to the Abney-Hastings family nearly 20 years ago. A British documentary team visited an unsuspecting Michael Abney-Hastings at his home in Australia for the 2004 programme "Britain's Real Monarch". To the amusement of his family, they were told that new research pointed to Edward IV being illegitimate, which "means that you are the rightful king of England". Abney-Hastings responded that he had been aware of a "distant" link to the Plantagenet royal dynasty but confessed that the news that he might have been King Michael I was "a bit of a shock". An Australian, Simon lives in Wangaratta in the southeastern state of Victoria, and appears to have no plans to press any claim. His lawyer and private secretary Terence Guthridge told AFP that although historians might believe he has the right to inherit the throne, the 15th earl "has never held this view". In fact, he had always been a "loyal and staunch supporter" of both Queen Elizabeth II and her son, he said. "Indeed they exchange birthday or Christmas cards every year," he added. By Associated Press PHOENIX: Paramedics summoned to an Arizona retirement community last summer found an 80-year-old woman slumped inside her mobile home, enveloped in the suffocating 99-degree (37 C) heat she suffered for days after her air conditioner broke down. Efforts to revive her failed, and her death was ruled environmental heat exposure aggravated by heart disease and diabetes. In Americas hottest big metro, older people like the Sun Lakes mobile home resident accounted for most of the 77 people who died last summer in broiling heat inside their homes, almost all without air conditioning. Now, the heat dangers long known in greater Phoenix are becoming familiar nationwide as global warming creates new challenges to protect the aged. From the Pacific Northwest to Chicago to North Carolina, health clinics, utilities and local governments are being tested to keep older people safe when temperatures soar. Theyre adopting rules for disconnecting electricity, mandating when to switch on communal air conditioning and improving communication with at-risk people living alone. Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and its suburbs are ground zero for heat-associated deaths in the U.S. Such fatalities are so common that Arizonas largest county keeps a weekly online tally during the six-month hot season from May through October. Temperatures this year were already hitting the high 90s the first week of April. A warming world Phoenix really is the model for what well be seeing in other places, said researcher Jennifer Ailshire, a native of the desert city now at the University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology where she studies how environmental factors affect health and aging. The world is changing rapidly and I fear we are not acting fast enough to teach people how harmful rising temperatures can be." A 2021 study estimated more than a third of U.S. heat deaths each year can be attributed to human-caused global warming. It found more than 1,100 deaths a year from climate change-caused heat in some 200 U.S. cities, many in the East and Midwest, where people often dont have air conditioning or are not acclimated to hot weather. Another study showed that in coming decades dangerous heat will hit much of the world at least three times as hard as climate change worsens. ALSO READ | Heatwaves may impede social development Isolated and vulnerable, the heat victims last year during Maricopa County's deadliest summer on record included a couple in their 80s without known relatives, an 83-year-old woman with dementia living alone after her husband entered hospice care and a 62-year-old Rwandan refugee whose air conditioner broke down. While most of the county's confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths were outdoors, those who died indoors were especially vulnerable because of isolation, mobility issues or medical problems as outside summertime highs hit 115 degrees (46.1 C). Older people of color, with a greater tendency for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are especially at risk. In Chicago, three African American women in their 60s and 70s died in spring 2022 when the centrally controlled heating in their housing complex remained on and the air conditioning was off despite unseasonable 90-degree weather in mid-May. An undetermined number of older people died during the summer of 2021 when an unexpected heat wave swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Canada reported that coroners confirmed more than 600 people died from the heat in neighboring British Columbia. ALSO READ | Worst April heatwave in Asian history Checking on older people Many U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have plans to protect people during heat waves, opening cooling centers and distributing bottled water. But many older people need personalized attention, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, who directs the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. If you are elderly and sick you are unlikely to get into an Uber or bus to get to a cooling center, said Bernstein, who vividly recalls a 1995 heat wave that killed 739 mostly older people in Chicago, his hometown. So many were socially isolated and at tremendous risk. Sociologist Eric M. Klinenberg, who wrote about the catastrophe in his book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, has noted social contacts can protect older people during disasters. Older people are more prone to live alone," he said, "and they are the most likely to die. That's true of all extreme weather. When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, around half of the 1,000 people killed were 75 or older, most of them drowned when their homes flooded. Chicago encourages residents to check on older relatives and neighbors on hot days and city workers visit people's home. But last year's deaths at a Chicago apartment house shows more is needed. Community health clinics can help Bernstein's center is working with relief organization Americares to help community health clinics prepare vulnerable patients for heat waves and other extreme weather. A "climate resilience tool kit" includes tips like making sure patients have wall thermometers and know how to check weather forecasts on a smart phone. Patients learn simple ways to beat the heat, like taking a shower or sponge bath to cool off and drinking plenty of water. Alexis Hodges, a family nurse practitioner at the Community Care Clinic of Dare in coastal North Carolina, said rising temperatures can cause renal failure in patients with kidney problems and exacerbate dehydration from medications like diuretics. Hodges contributed to the climate kit from a region that experiences all the weather events it covers: extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. At the nonprofit Mountain Park Health centers that annually serve 100,000 patients in greater Phoenix, nurse practitioner Anthony Carano has written numerous letters to utility companies for low-income patients with chronic conditions, asking them not to turn off power despite missed payments. This is such an at-risk population, Carano said of the overwhelmingly Latino patient population that suffer from diabetes and other ailments aggravated by warm weather. About one-tenth of the patients are 60 and older. Francisca Canes, a 77-year-old patient visiting for back pain, said she's fortunate to live with two daughters who take care of her during hot spells. In the summertime, she stays in shape by joining several women friends at 4 a.m. most mornings for a 4-mile (6.4 kilometers) walk. Air conditioner replacement and repair Maricopa County in April used federal funds to to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, brining total funding to $13.65 million. In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can apply for free repair or replacement of air conditioners through a separate non-profit program. The Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living last summer ensured about 30 people got new air conditioners or repairs and helped others with home improvements. Priority goes to older people, those with disabilities and families with very small children, who are also vulnerable to the heat. A person living alone must earn $27,180 or less, said Laura Simone, program coordinator for FSL Home Improvements. The program recently installed energy efficient windows in the 1930s home of 81-year-old widow Socorro Silvas. I am so grateful they are taking care of low-income people like me, said Silvas, who got her air conditioner in the middle of a sweltering summer several years ago through a program run by Tolleson, a suburb west of Phoenix. Utility companies can also help protect vulnerable people by halting power disconnections during hot periods. In Arizona, air conditioning is a matter of life and death, especially if you are older, said Dana Kennedy, the state director of AARP, which has fought for stricter regulations preventing summertime power cutoffs. Stricter regulations New rules for Arizona utilities were adopted after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in August 2018 at her Phoenix area home as outside temperatures reached 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius). The medical examiner's office said Pullman died from environmental heat exposure combined with cardiovascular disease after her power was shut off over a $176.84. debt. The Arizona agency that regulates utilities now bans electricity cutoffs for nonpayment during the hottest months. ALSO READ | Heat stress among cattle causes stroke, buffaloes more prone After the three Chicago women died last year, residential buildings for older people in the city now must provide air-conditioned common areas and administrators no longer have to keep centrally controlled heat on during unseasonably warm weather. The Illinois state Senate recently passed legislation requiring that all affordable housing have air-conditioning operating when the temperature is 80 degrees (26.6 C) or higher and must be operable by residents. Kennedy said mobile homes are especially dangerous as high temperatures transform them into hot metal containers. A lot are not insulated, said Kennedy, who has advised an Arizona State University group working to make mobile homes safer with more surrounding shade and on-site cooling centers. These heat deaths truly are heartbreaking. But in many cases, we can help prevent them. PHOENIX: Paramedics summoned to an Arizona retirement community last summer found an 80-year-old woman slumped inside her mobile home, enveloped in the suffocating 99-degree (37 C) heat she suffered for days after her air conditioner broke down. Efforts to revive her failed, and her death was ruled environmental heat exposure aggravated by heart disease and diabetes. In Americas hottest big metro, older people like the Sun Lakes mobile home resident accounted for most of the 77 people who died last summer in broiling heat inside their homes, almost all without air conditioning. Now, the heat dangers long known in greater Phoenix are becoming familiar nationwide as global warming creates new challenges to protect the aged. From the Pacific Northwest to Chicago to North Carolina, health clinics, utilities and local governments are being tested to keep older people safe when temperatures soar. Theyre adopting rules for disconnecting electricity, mandating when to switch on communal air conditioning and improving communication with at-risk people living alone.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and its suburbs are ground zero for heat-associated deaths in the U.S. Such fatalities are so common that Arizonas largest county keeps a weekly online tally during the six-month hot season from May through October. Temperatures this year were already hitting the high 90s the first week of April. A warming world Phoenix really is the model for what well be seeing in other places, said researcher Jennifer Ailshire, a native of the desert city now at the University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology where she studies how environmental factors affect health and aging. The world is changing rapidly and I fear we are not acting fast enough to teach people how harmful rising temperatures can be." A 2021 study estimated more than a third of U.S. heat deaths each year can be attributed to human-caused global warming. It found more than 1,100 deaths a year from climate change-caused heat in some 200 U.S. cities, many in the East and Midwest, where people often dont have air conditioning or are not acclimated to hot weather. Another study showed that in coming decades dangerous heat will hit much of the world at least three times as hard as climate change worsens. ALSO READ | Heatwaves may impede social development Isolated and vulnerable, the heat victims last year during Maricopa County's deadliest summer on record included a couple in their 80s without known relatives, an 83-year-old woman with dementia living alone after her husband entered hospice care and a 62-year-old Rwandan refugee whose air conditioner broke down. While most of the county's confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths were outdoors, those who died indoors were especially vulnerable because of isolation, mobility issues or medical problems as outside summertime highs hit 115 degrees (46.1 C). Older people of color, with a greater tendency for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are especially at risk. In Chicago, three African American women in their 60s and 70s died in spring 2022 when the centrally controlled heating in their housing complex remained on and the air conditioning was off despite unseasonable 90-degree weather in mid-May. An undetermined number of older people died during the summer of 2021 when an unexpected heat wave swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Canada reported that coroners confirmed more than 600 people died from the heat in neighboring British Columbia. ALSO READ | Worst April heatwave in Asian history Checking on older people Many U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have plans to protect people during heat waves, opening cooling centers and distributing bottled water. But many older people need personalized attention, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, who directs the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. If you are elderly and sick you are unlikely to get into an Uber or bus to get to a cooling center, said Bernstein, who vividly recalls a 1995 heat wave that killed 739 mostly older people in Chicago, his hometown. So many were socially isolated and at tremendous risk. Sociologist Eric M. Klinenberg, who wrote about the catastrophe in his book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, has noted social contacts can protect older people during disasters. Older people are more prone to live alone," he said, "and they are the most likely to die. That's true of all extreme weather. When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, around half of the 1,000 people killed were 75 or older, most of them drowned when their homes flooded. Chicago encourages residents to check on older relatives and neighbors on hot days and city workers visit people's home. But last year's deaths at a Chicago apartment house shows more is needed. Community health clinics can help Bernstein's center is working with relief organization Americares to help community health clinics prepare vulnerable patients for heat waves and other extreme weather. A "climate resilience tool kit" includes tips like making sure patients have wall thermometers and know how to check weather forecasts on a smart phone. Patients learn simple ways to beat the heat, like taking a shower or sponge bath to cool off and drinking plenty of water. Alexis Hodges, a family nurse practitioner at the Community Care Clinic of Dare in coastal North Carolina, said rising temperatures can cause renal failure in patients with kidney problems and exacerbate dehydration from medications like diuretics. Hodges contributed to the climate kit from a region that experiences all the weather events it covers: extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. At the nonprofit Mountain Park Health centers that annually serve 100,000 patients in greater Phoenix, nurse practitioner Anthony Carano has written numerous letters to utility companies for low-income patients with chronic conditions, asking them not to turn off power despite missed payments. This is such an at-risk population, Carano said of the overwhelmingly Latino patient population that suffer from diabetes and other ailments aggravated by warm weather. About one-tenth of the patients are 60 and older. Francisca Canes, a 77-year-old patient visiting for back pain, said she's fortunate to live with two daughters who take care of her during hot spells. In the summertime, she stays in shape by joining several women friends at 4 a.m. most mornings for a 4-mile (6.4 kilometers) walk. Air conditioner replacement and repair Maricopa County in April used federal funds to to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, brining total funding to $13.65 million. In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can apply for free repair or replacement of air conditioners through a separate non-profit program. The Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living last summer ensured about 30 people got new air conditioners or repairs and helped others with home improvements. Priority goes to older people, those with disabilities and families with very small children, who are also vulnerable to the heat. A person living alone must earn $27,180 or less, said Laura Simone, program coordinator for FSL Home Improvements. The program recently installed energy efficient windows in the 1930s home of 81-year-old widow Socorro Silvas. I am so grateful they are taking care of low-income people like me, said Silvas, who got her air conditioner in the middle of a sweltering summer several years ago through a program run by Tolleson, a suburb west of Phoenix. Utility companies can also help protect vulnerable people by halting power disconnections during hot periods. In Arizona, air conditioning is a matter of life and death, especially if you are older, said Dana Kennedy, the state director of AARP, which has fought for stricter regulations preventing summertime power cutoffs. Stricter regulations New rules for Arizona utilities were adopted after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in August 2018 at her Phoenix area home as outside temperatures reached 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius). The medical examiner's office said Pullman died from environmental heat exposure combined with cardiovascular disease after her power was shut off over a $176.84. debt. The Arizona agency that regulates utilities now bans electricity cutoffs for nonpayment during the hottest months. ALSO READ | Heat stress among cattle causes stroke, buffaloes more prone After the three Chicago women died last year, residential buildings for older people in the city now must provide air-conditioned common areas and administrators no longer have to keep centrally controlled heat on during unseasonably warm weather. The Illinois state Senate recently passed legislation requiring that all affordable housing have air-conditioning operating when the temperature is 80 degrees (26.6 C) or higher and must be operable by residents. Kennedy said mobile homes are especially dangerous as high temperatures transform them into hot metal containers. A lot are not insulated, said Kennedy, who has advised an Arizona State University group working to make mobile homes safer with more surrounding shade and on-site cooling centers. These heat deaths truly are heartbreaking. But in many cases, we can help prevent them. By PTI JOHANNESBURG: Two South African Indian-origin citizens, the late struggle icon Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim and scientist Dr Aboubaker Ebrahim Dangor, were among the many recipients of National Orders when President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the annual event in Pretoria on Friday. National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa country bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans. The National Orders also recognise the contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in our Constitution. Popularly known as 'Ebie', Ebrahim passed away after a long illness in December 2019, shortly before his autobiography 'Beyond Fear --- Reflections of a Freedom Fighter' was released by his wife Shannon. Ebrahim served time on Robben Island as a political prisoner alongside Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and others. After his father was arrested twice for defying laws that restricted the movement of Indians in South Africa, he joined the liberation struggle at the age of 13. The Grand Patron of National Orders, President Matamela @CyrilRamaphosa, with the 2023 recipients of National Orders at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane. #NationalOrders #LeaveNoOneBehind pic.twitter.com/115BN0uVHy Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 28, 2023 Ebrahim often shared how he had been inspired by the Satyagraha style of Mahatma Gandhi, which he used in his passionate representation of the ANC in global conflict situations in Sri Lanka, Palestine, Rwanda, Kosovo, Bolivia and Nepal. After his release, Ebrahim went into exile to continue his work with the ANC, but was abducted by apartheid-era security police from neighbouring Swaziland, tortured and sentenced to a second term on Robben Island. He obtained two university degrees while on Robben Island. After the release of all political prisoners and the election of Mandela as South Africa's first democratic president, Ebrahim served in various capacities, including as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Counsellor to Mandela. Ebrahim's citation said he was receiving the Order of Luthuli in Gold for his lifelong commitment to the liberation of all South Africans. "He lived by the courage of his conviction and became a formidable opponent to the repressive apartheid government," it read. Shannon Ebrahim described her late husband as a "gentle giant, even to his family." "He inspired us with his undiluted moral values, his absolute commitment to transform South Africa for the better (even beyond political liberation), and his willingness to engage warring factions in conflicts around the world as a peacemaker. He was the essence of humility and never expected recognition for any of the hardships he endured throughout his life in the cause for freedom," she said. His one hope was that South Africans would read his memoir "Beyond Fear" to better understand what revolutionaries of his generation went through to bring about a new South Africa, his wife added. "(Our children) Sarah, Kadin and I miss him dearly, but will always cherish his legacy," she said. "Dr Dangor was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver --- for his admirable and distinguished contribution to the field of science through his ground-breaking research in physics," his citation read. Dangor has been based in the UK since he went there to continue his studies after getting his first Honours degree at Wits University in 1961. He could not return home permanently because the white minority apartheid government denied entry to his wife from Bermuda, as she was of Black descent. Widely published in academic journals, Dangor has also overseen scores of doctorate candidates in his career. "It is particularly humbling for me that the first recipient of the Award was Nelson Mandela, our first post-apartheid president. I hope that being the recipient of this award will encourage the youth in the sciences in South Africa," Dangor said. Dangor's niece, Zubeda Dangor, founder and director of Nisaa Institute for Women in Johannesburg, said he was very shy and did not like the limelight. He could not attend the ceremony and his award was accepted by his grandnephew Mohammed Raees Dangor. JOHANNESBURG: Two South African Indian-origin citizens, the late struggle icon Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim and scientist Dr Aboubaker Ebrahim Dangor, were among the many recipients of National Orders when President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted the annual event in Pretoria on Friday. National Orders are the highest awards that South Africa country bestows on its citizens and eminent foreign nationals who have contributed towards the advancement of democracy and have made a significant impact on improving the lives of South Africans. The National Orders also recognise the contributions made by individuals towards building a non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa as envisaged in our Constitution.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Popularly known as 'Ebie', Ebrahim passed away after a long illness in December 2019, shortly before his autobiography 'Beyond Fear --- Reflections of a Freedom Fighter' was released by his wife Shannon. Ebrahim served time on Robben Island as a political prisoner alongside Nelson Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada and others. After his father was arrested twice for defying laws that restricted the movement of Indians in South Africa, he joined the liberation struggle at the age of 13. The Grand Patron of National Orders, President Matamela @CyrilRamaphosa, with the 2023 recipients of National Orders at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guest House in Tshwane. #NationalOrders #LeaveNoOneBehind pic.twitter.com/115BN0uVHy Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 28, 2023 Ebrahim often shared how he had been inspired by the Satyagraha style of Mahatma Gandhi, which he used in his passionate representation of the ANC in global conflict situations in Sri Lanka, Palestine, Rwanda, Kosovo, Bolivia and Nepal. After his release, Ebrahim went into exile to continue his work with the ANC, but was abducted by apartheid-era security police from neighbouring Swaziland, tortured and sentenced to a second term on Robben Island. He obtained two university degrees while on Robben Island. After the release of all political prisoners and the election of Mandela as South Africa's first democratic president, Ebrahim served in various capacities, including as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Counsellor to Mandela. Ebrahim's citation said he was receiving the Order of Luthuli in Gold for his lifelong commitment to the liberation of all South Africans. "He lived by the courage of his conviction and became a formidable opponent to the repressive apartheid government," it read. Shannon Ebrahim described her late husband as a "gentle giant, even to his family." "He inspired us with his undiluted moral values, his absolute commitment to transform South Africa for the better (even beyond political liberation), and his willingness to engage warring factions in conflicts around the world as a peacemaker. He was the essence of humility and never expected recognition for any of the hardships he endured throughout his life in the cause for freedom," she said. His one hope was that South Africans would read his memoir "Beyond Fear" to better understand what revolutionaries of his generation went through to bring about a new South Africa, his wife added. "(Our children) Sarah, Kadin and I miss him dearly, but will always cherish his legacy," she said. "Dr Dangor was awarded the Order of Luthuli in Silver --- for his admirable and distinguished contribution to the field of science through his ground-breaking research in physics," his citation read. Dangor has been based in the UK since he went there to continue his studies after getting his first Honours degree at Wits University in 1961. He could not return home permanently because the white minority apartheid government denied entry to his wife from Bermuda, as she was of Black descent. Widely published in academic journals, Dangor has also overseen scores of doctorate candidates in his career. "It is particularly humbling for me that the first recipient of the Award was Nelson Mandela, our first post-apartheid president. I hope that being the recipient of this award will encourage the youth in the sciences in South Africa," Dangor said. Dangor's niece, Zubeda Dangor, founder and director of Nisaa Institute for Women in Johannesburg, said he was very shy and did not like the limelight. He could not attend the ceremony and his award was accepted by his grandnephew Mohammed Raees Dangor. Saudi Arabia plans to open 315,000 new hotel rooms by 2030, according to a report from property consultancy Knight Frank, Trend reports citing Al Arabiya. This would mean that the number of hotel rooms in the Kingdom would be more than double those in the neighboring tourist hotspot of Dubai, which currently has 140,000 rooms. Development of the hospitality sector is a major facet of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 plan to diversify the economy away from oil. The volume of hotel room keys planned to be delivered in the Kingdom by 2030 is nothing short of incredible, with a total likely stock of close to 450,000 hotel rooms, said Faisal Durrani, head of Middle East research in a statement. Domestic tourism will be a major part of the Kingdoms plan, Durrani explained. According to Knight Frank, 65 percent of Saudis travel within the country between one and three times a month. With 56 percent of the Kingdoms population aged below 35, the demand for various accommodation types will likely continue to emerge as a significant consideration for the industry. We will need to think broader and incorporate the likes of luxury glamping sites and youth hostels to cater to this increasingly important segment of the market if it is to thrive and flourish, being mindful of the cultural sensitivities and the need for appropriate adaptations. Turab Saleem, head of hospitality for Saudi Arabia at Knight Frank, pointed out the need for new infrastructure to support the growth of the tourism sector. Supporting hospitality infrastructure, such as new airports and national airlines, both of which are coming, combined with a legislative framework that eases access to the sector for international investors will be critical, he said. Study finds how soft skin patch provide early signs for strokes, heart attacks San Diego (California) April 27: A flexible, stretchy ultrasonography patch that may be worn on the skin to track blood flow through significant arteries and veins located deep within a person's body has been developed by engineers at the University of California, San Diego. Study finds how soft skin patch provide early signs for strokes, heart attacks In order to diagnose various cardiovascular conditions, such as blood clots, heart valve issues, poor circulation in the limbs, or blockages in the arteries that could result in strokes or heart attacks, clinicians must be aware of how quickly and how much blood flows through a patient's blood vessels.The new ultrasound patch developed at UC San Diego can continuously monitor blood flow -- as well as blood pressure and heart function -- in real time. Wearing such a device could make it easier to identify cardiovascular problems early on.A team led by Sheng Xu, a professor of nanoengineering at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, reported the patch in a paper published July 16 in Nature Biomedical Engineering.The patch can be worn on the neck or chest. What's special about the patch is that it can sense and measure cardiovascular signals as deep as 14 centimeters inside the body in a non-invasive manner. And it can do so with high accuracy."This type of wearable device can give you a more comprehensive, more accurate picture of what's going on in deep tissues and critical organs like the heart and the brain, all from the surface of the skin," said Xu."Sensing signals at such depths is extremely challenging for wearable electronics. Yet, this is where the body's most critical signals and the central organs are buried," said Chonghe Wang, a former nanoengineering graduate student in Xu's lab and co-first author of the study. "We engineered a wearable device that can penetrate such deep tissue depths and sense those vital signals far beneath the skin. This technology can provide new insights for the field of healthcare."Another innovative feature of the patch is that the ultrasound beam can be tilted at different angles and steered to areas in the body that are not directly underneath the patch.This is a first in the field of wearables, explained Xu, because existing wearable sensors typically only monitor areas right below them. "If you want to sense signals at a different position, you have to move the sensor to that location. With this patch, we can probe areas that are wider than the device's footprint. This can open up a lot of opportunities."The patch is made up of a thin sheet of flexible, stretchable polymer that adheres to the skin. Embedded on the patch is an array of millimeter-sized ultrasound transducers. Each is individually controlled by a computer -- this type of array is known as an ultrasound phased array. It is a key part of the technology because it gives the patch the ability to go deeper and wider.The phased array offers two main modes of operation. In one mode, all the transducers can be synchronized to transmit ultrasound waves together, which produces a high-intensity ultrasound beam that focuses on one spot as deep as 14 centimeters in the body. In the other mode, the transducers can be programmed to transmit out of sync, which produces ultrasound beams that can be steered to different angles."With the phased array technology, we can manipulate the ultrasound beam in the way that we want," said Muyang Lin, a nanoengineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego who is also a co-first author of the study. "This gives our device multiple capabilities monitoring central organs as well as blood flow, with high resolution. This would not be possible using just one transducer."The phased array consists of a 12 by 12 grid of ultrasound transducers. When electricity flows through the transducers, they vibrate and emit ultrasound waves that travel through the skin and deep into the body. When the ultrasound waves penetrate through a major blood vessel, they encounter movement from red blood cells flowing inside. This movement changes or shifts how the ultrasound waves echo back to the patch -- an effect known as Doppler frequency shift. This shift in the reflected signals gets picked up by the patch and is used to create a visual recording of the blood flow. This same mechanism can also be used to create moving images of the heart's walls.For many people, blood flow is not something that is measured during a regular visit to the physician. It is usually assessed after a patient shows some signs of cardiovascular problems, or if a patient is at high risk.The standard blood flow exam itself can be time consuming and labor intensive. A trained technician presses a handheld ultrasound probe against a patient's skin and moves it from one area to another until it's directly above a major blood vessel. This may sound straightforward, but results can vary between tests and technicians.Since the patch is simple to use, it could solve these problems, said Sai Zhou, a materials science and engineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego and co-author of the study. "Just stick it on the skin, then read the signals. It's not operator dependent, and it poses no extra work or burden to the technicians, clinicians or patients," he said. "In the future, patients could wear something like this to do point of care or continuous at-home monitoring."In tests, the patch performed as well as a commercial ultrasound probe used in the clinic. It accurately recorded blood flow in major blood vessels such as the carotid artery, which is an artery in the neck that supplies blood to the brain. Having the ability to monitor changes in this flow could, for example, help identify if a person is at risk for stroke well before the onset of symptoms.The researchers point out that the patch still has a long way to go before it is ready for the clinic. Currently, it needs to be connected to a power source and benchtop machine in order to work. Xu's team is working on integrating all the electronics on the patch to make it wireless.ANI28 April 2023 Shared Recently! Indias trade with Latin America approaching a volume of USD 50 billion: Jaishankar Santo Domingo [Dominican Republic], April 29: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday asserted that deeper globalization and a roadening of India's interest is the reason that Latin America is no longer considered a region too far, adding that India's trade with it is approaching a volume of USD 50 billion. India's trade with Latin America approaching a volume of USD 50 billion: Jaishankar The EAM made the above remarks while apprising the diplomatic corps and students in the Dominican Republic about India's engagement with Latin America.During his speech, Jaishankar spoke on three themes How does India approach the world and secure its growing global interest; How is India engaging Latin America; What should India - today's and tomorrow's - mean to you (Dominican Republic).Following his speech, Jaishankar tweeted, "Happy to speak to diplomatic corps and young minds of the diplomatic school of @MIREXRD, Dominican Republic. Offered my thoughts on - How does India approach the world? How is India engaging Latin America? What should India - today's and tomorrow's - mean to them? Watch my speech to know the answers."The External Affairs Minister, during his first official visit to the Dominican Republic, while speaking further on India's engagement with Latin America said, "In the last decade there has been a conscious deepening of this process. Our trade with Latin America is today approaching a volume of USD 50 billion. Our export to Brazil at USD 6.48 billion is more than Japan at USD 6.18 billion. That to Mexico at USD 4.43 billion is more than to Canada at USD 3.7 billion. In fact, with the Dominican Republic, our exports at USD 329 million is more than some ASEAN partners. The deeper globalization and a broadening of India's interest, Latin America is no longer considered a region too far."Underlining India's growing investments, he said, "Surge in investments in the energy sector, India today imports crude from Brazil, Mexico, Colombia and Guyana. Our presence in sectors like IT, pharma and two-wheelers is increasing."Jaishankar also noted India's growing political coordination with regional blocs of Latin America, "The political engagements are growing in parallel. Since 2016, we have a structured engagement with CELAC. Similarly, there is an arrangement to regularly interact with CARICOM and SICA. India is an associate member of Pacific alliance."Explaining the students of diplomacy about what should India - today's and tomorrow's - mean to them, Jaishankar said that as the fifth largest economy, India's economic presence will be more strongly felt in this region."Not just as a most populous country but also one of growing skills and talent, we are becoming increasingly central to the global workplace. The big change of our era is digital revolution. In that sense, India's digital experience holds lessons for the world," he said.Noting other major steps taken by India, Jaishankar said, "A parallel story is taking place in the domain of health. Covid period recognised India's true potential in health sector. In a world that is more self-obsessed India has stepped in providing humanitarian assistance."Prior to this, the External Affairs Minister stated the different aspects of "How does India approach the world?""Like any other country, India's most pressing priorities are in its neighbourhood. Given its size and economic strength, it is very much for the collective benefit that India takes generous and non-reciprocal approach to cooperation with smaller neighbours."Jaishankar also explained them India's Neighbourhood First Policy, which focuses on peaceful relations with its South Asian neighbours.He said, "This what we have done in the last decade under the leadership of PM Modi and Neighbourhood First Policy. It has seen a dramatic expansion in connectivity, contact and cooperation across the region. The exception to this is, of course, Pakistan in view of the cross-border terrorism it supports," adding, "Whether it is the Covid challenge or more recent debt pressure India has always stepped up for its neighbours."Jaishankar, in his lecture, explained India's global ties in all directions. He said, "Beyond South Asia, India is developing a concept of extended neighbourhoods, in all directions. With ASEAN, this has taken the form of what we call the Act East Policy that has opened up a pathway to a deeper engagement with the Indo-Pacific that is being pursued amongst others through a mechanism, called the Quad.""Towards the West, there has been a perceptible intensification with India's relationship with the Gulf and with the Middle East. One reflection of that, is a new grouping called I-2U-2, comprising India, Israel, UAE, USA," he added.The External Affairs Minister also said, "To the South, the outlook that shapes India's thinking goes by the acronym of Sagar, an Indian word for oceans. First time in 2015, PM Modi articulated a comprehensive view that span the entirety of Indian oceans and its islands. These subsequently became the building block for the Indo-Pacific vision that merged thereafter."He added, "To the North, India has been pursuing a strategy of connecting to Central Asia more effectively and this has taken the form of structured engagements across multiple domains."On Friday, Jaishankar arrived in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for his first official visit to the country.ANI29 April 2023 Shared Recently! Book unfolds feverish fake narratives behind Kathua girl killing Chandigarh, April 29: 'The Girl From Kathua: A Sacrificial Victim of Ghazwa-E-Hind' written by Madhu Purnima Kishwar was launched here on Saturday. Book 'unfolds' feverish fake narratives behind Kathua girl killing Speaking on the occasion, Punjab and Haryana High Court senior advocate Chetan Mittal said how high pitched and feverish fake narratives being peddled by the anti-India lobbies end up influencing society and the judiciary.Sankrant Sanu, the founder and CEO of Garuda Prakashan, which has published the book, described the long and arduous journey taken by the author in presenting the hard to ignore evidence in it.The book is the product of a three-year long investigation into the fake narrative unleashed in 2018 by the Mehbooba Mufti government against the Hindus in general and Dogras of Jammu in particular in order to change the religious demography of Kathua district, bordering Pakistan, said the author.A little girl belonging to the Muslim community allegedly disappeared on January 10, 2018, in Kathua district. A week later her body was found behind Rasana village at the sacred shrine of Hindu Dogras, the Baba Kaliveer Devasthan.The book bares the perfidies and absurdities in the chargesheet filed in the case and exposes the key players who peddled the fake narrative, claimed the author.She also presents a detailed account of how the Lutyen's media celebrities became willing megaphones for a noxious global campaign of smearing Hindus.The book then goes on to analyze the miscarriage of justice by Tejwinder Singh who was put under investigation recently by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on charges of corruption.Appeals against that judgment have been filed in the High Court.The author claims that the purpose of the book is to help the innocent persons who are rotting in jail to get due justice and get the real killers of the girl punishment they deserve.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! New approach required to solve single-use plastics problem in India New Delhi, April 29: Plastic waste has been one of the most significant environmental problems challenging humankind. Experts have realised that conventional plastics, which takes several hundred years to degrade are a critical ecological hazard. As per the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) about 85 per cent of plastics turn into unregulated waste reaching oceans and landfills, and only 10 per cent of plastics ever produced globally have ever been recycled. While the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) is often claimed to be one of the most optimum mantras to solve the problem, it has yet to be effective. New approach required to solve single-use plastics problem in India Banning plastics isn't a solution. The real fix lies in not moving to extremes but adopting the new technological advancements in plastic manufacturing. The answer today comes in designing and producing a better version of biodegradable plastics using d2W additives by Symphony Environmental, India. d2w uses pro-degradant in the form of masterbatch which is added 1 per cent by weight while manufacturing plastic packaging materials. This does not require any change in machinery, equipment and production process. It makes plastic packaging material biodegradable. These new and modern plastics with d2W additives remains 100% recyclable however if the packaging material ends up becoming single use plastic then the packaging material biodegrades in less than two years. The d2w technology fundamentally changes how plastics are viewed, made and used in the future. At the end of the useful life of the packaging material, the d2W additive turns material into CO2, water and biomass. This degradation process is not as simple as fragmentation or disintegration but goes beyond. Post degradation, the changes from a long chain polymers of high molecular weight into low molecular weight monomers or oligomeric fragments and oxygen-containing molecules. It subsequently becomes bio-assimilation food for microorganisms like naturally present bacteria and fungi in soil or aquatic environment. At that stage, it is no longer plastic and has become an inherently biodegradable material and absorbs water. Post the biodegradation , the substance left behind is nothing more than biomass, water and carbon-di-oxide (in very small quantity).Sunil Panwar, CEO of Symphony Environmental India, said, "In India nearly 40 per cent of the consumer plastic waste end up becoming single use plastic and 3.47 million metric tons of plastic waste was generated as per the statistics available in year 2019-20. Plastic consumption in India has grown 23 times from year 1990 (0.9 MMT) to 2022 (20.89 MMT). There is an urgent need to adopt sustainable, environmentally safe and economically affordable technology to curb the SUP problem. Our d2w technology meets all these requirements. It has been tested as per ASTM D6954 standard at BIS accredited laboratory in India. Testing is undergoing as per IS 17899 T2022, which is a tentative provision issued by BIS in June 2022. A notification issued by MoEFCC on July 7th, 2022 requires biodegradable plastics to be tested as per IS 17899 T 2022. The testing of biodegradable plastics may take two years or longer. No producer has been able to receive the certificate from CPCB yet as the testing time is very long and regulatory requirements are very complex. Industry is willing to cooperate and comply to the rules but there is a need to simplify the implementation process."Radu Baciu, Symphony Group Technical Director-Symphony Environmental Technologies, PLC, London, UK, explains the current situation and says, "The d2W technology is a revolutionary solution for the single use plastics. It makes polyolefin plastic materials bio-degradable in the presence of oxygen. We are fortunate that in India we have ample sunlight and warm temperature conditions which further helps to accelerate the process of biodegradation. This technology is new in India but it has already been adopted in many other countries after thorough testing as per the established global test standards."What is the way to move forward"The Plastic Waste Management rules came into implementation from July 1st, 2022. The enforcement of PWM Rules requires a test standard. The time BIS requires to set up a new standard was not available therefore BIS could only issue a temporary provision called IS 17899 T;2022. The CPCB issued a SOP to issue the certificate for biodegradable plastics in the end of August 2022. The criterion of CPCB is unfair for the industry as in the interim period itself, it requires a biodegradability of about 90% to be achieved for ongoing testing and for the issuance of provisional certificate. While the products undergo long duration testing, for producer to offer provisional certificate to carry on manufacturing is well intended. It is essential to note that it will not serve the purpose as biodegradability of up to 90% may take up to two to be achieved. within a short interim timeframe. This defeats the purpose of offering a provisional certificate to the producer who has shown the intent to comply. What makes the testing process more uncertain is that IS 17899 T; 2022 is a tentative standard and probably defective therefore BIS has asked MoEFCC not to issue certificates for samples tested as per IS 17899 T2022. Therefore, a provisional certificate offering by regulators before two years seems practically highly unlikely. What should the plastic industry do in this situation?"India has more than 1,50,000 plastic manufacturing units out of this about 1,30,253 plastic manufacturing units come under the MSME sector. These MSME units employ nearly 16 Lakh workers. In several states production of plastic packaging products has stopped and people are losing their jobs. The cost for testing is anywhere between Rs. 4.5 lakhs to Rs. 5.5 lakhs per sample, leaving them in a 2-year-plus limbo of uncertainty without provisional manufacturing reliefs. To ameliorate the situation, we propose an alternate criterion for reducing biodegradability test duration or adopting an existing global test standard like ASTM D6954. With such supporting amendments, provisional certificates to manufacturers could be issued. Then, after two years of complete testing, the results will be available to issue permanent certificates.Due to this delay and confusion in offering provisional permissions to India's plastic manufacturers, many established industrial sectors of this domain are facing a tough time pan-India, including states like Punjab, Karnataka and Gujarat. Climate change targets are not an option, and COP 26 targets for 2030 are serious. To simplify the process for the uptake of d2w additive, in the interest of plastic packaging makers and the environment at large. There is a severe constraint in testing capacity. The number of producers of plastic packaging materials are very large and additive suppliers are few therefore the supplier of biodegradable additives can be certified by CPCB, reducing the cost burden, technical hassle and risk factor on the local plastic manufacturers. The producer, who uses this approved additive, can get certified. It is also pertinent to state that BIS IS 17899 T2022 is a tentative standard and was urgently brought out without complete reviews. BIS may adopt an established global test standard like ASTM D6954 until they finalise their own standard to offer manufacturers provisional certificates. Interestingly ASTM D6954 standard already considers factors like molecular weight reduction to 5,000 Da and a 95 per cent loss in mechanical properties in abiotic degradation and seeks only 60 per cent biodegradation. Intertek, Mumbai, a BIS-accredited lab in India, has successfully concluded three complete biodegradability tests on Symphony's d2w biodegradable plastic products according to the American Standard ASTM D6954.The government has shown serious intent by setting up a committee under the Chairmanship of Hon'ble Member NITI Aayog (S and T), Dr V.K. Saraswat, to develop alternative solutions and technologies to deal with the problem of single-use plastics. The committee composition involves all the stakeholders, including MoEFCC, CPCB, BIS, CIPET, Department of S and T, IITs and Industry Representatives. This committee has made significant progress in the previously held two meetings, and the third meeting is due in early May 2022. The committee is looking at the possibility of reducing the testing time so that provisional certificates could be issued without delay.Symphony Environmental Technologies plc specialises in developing and marketing a wide range of global plastic products and environmental technologies. Having an international presence, its innovative solutions are here for the world to benefit from. In particular, the company is a world leader in developing and marketing controlled-life plastic and sells both pro-degradant additives and protective technologies for plastics through a growing network of international distributors and agents.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Dr Hoshi Bhiwandiwalla and NIEM the Institute of event management wins accolades and makes waves in event industry New Delhi, April 29: Asia's best and first event institute NIEM the institute of event management has been creating a lot of records by sweeping most of the education awards. NIEM has won twenty top awards up till date and recently won two big awards. Additionally, Dr Hoshi Bhiwandiwalla was awarded the prestigious Event Guru Of The Year award by the World Signature Awards. Dr Hoshi Bhiwandiwalla and NIEM the Institute of event management wins accolades and makes waves in event industry All these keep happening at NIEM which is appreciated by students and teachers for delivering what it promises. The first preference of the event industry is always NIEM. The teaching curriculum is industry recognised. NIEM teaches its students in a very simple and practical way by a highly qualified event faculty, workshops by India's event greats, a detailed in-house plan with National Integration day, theme parties, dance shows, college idol, event manager of the year award and the ever popular National level pageant Mr. and Ms University, which are star-studded and meticulously planned. The students of NIEM get training in events from the grass-root levels as all events are planned and executed by the students of NIEM. NIEM students work on 90 per cent of India's top most live events and the hands-on training on live events by NIEM is unmatched. NIEM's placement record is the best in the industry and many NIEM students have formed famous event companies. NIEM has given a great fillip to the event industry.With such a great curriculum the National Skill Development Corporation under the skill development Ministry has approved of NIEM diplomas and NIEM is an approved training centre of NSDC. NIEM is also a skill provider for a reputed University.NIEM is a dream institute for event studies which many NIEM alumni have expressed opinions. NIEM is one of the primary reasons I have been able to achieve what I have today. This has helped me become an efficient Executive Producer says Aashin Shah. Meetali Majethia creative head at cineyug told we are a great team working under the able leadership of the Morani's at 'Cineyug'. We owe all these success to the great training and teaching received at NIEM. The years at NIEM are unforgettable.Awards won by NIEM- World Educational Congress Award- The Mid Day award- EMAX Global award - a recognition by the event industry- Economic Times Avya awards for best students satisfaction- The Make in India awardNIEM has also been mentioned in Limca Book of Records, the famous Forbes Magazine, Fortune magazine and India Today for being the top event management institute in Asia.TestimonialsMihir Sutaria ex Wizcraft and Google says I am from Asia's best college NIEM working in Asia's top most event company - Wizcraft. What a viz programme NIEM taught us.Lalit Kewalramani and Aziz Virani informed that we run operations at Showhouse. It was the training at NIEM which gave us the strength and reputation. Memorable times at NIEM. We now place NIEM students.NIEM gave us the best days of our lives, an excellent training, no wonder it is the best in Asia. V are happy working at the famous company Miditech said, Santosh Singh and Mahavir Malara.It's been a completely interesting atmosphere at NIEM. The best part of faculties is that they share all their experience with us and this is turn becomes easy for us to understand and handle the situations when we work on live events. AND TO BE HONEST NIEM is a big brand. On top of everything you get best companies offering Internship and Placements said Parth SalviSandhiya told that before joining NIEM I didn't know about events and after joining NIEM my experience has been great I've Learned a lot about events and would definitely like to make this as my profession. It was an amazing experience. The Faculties guide us for the interview sessions also and the best speakers from the industry guides us. I'm blessed to have a mentor like you.Contact NIEMMumbai 49714705/40129589/26282928/26716676Pune 9175153325Ahmedabad 09099819779This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Blake Lively confirms shes skipping Met Gala 2023 Washington, April 29: Blake Lively is the favourite of the Met Gala. Fans wait with bated breath to check her style quotient. But this year, the Gossip Girl actor won't be spotted at the event. Blake Lively confirms she's skipping Met Gala 2023 According to E News, the actor has confirmed that she won't be in attendance at the 2023 Met Gala on May 1. But the fashionista has also said that she will be keeping an eye on this year's red carpet looks, which is based on the theme of 'Karl Lagerfeld A Line of Beauty'."I will be watching," she told reporters at the reopening celebration of Tiffany and Co.'s flagship store in NYC on April 27, and joked that she'll wear her beloved 2022 Met Gala look "on my couch on Monday."At last year's event, Blake stepped out in an Atelier Versace gown, complete with intricate details and an oversized bow. Then, in a striking transformation, the bow was untied on the carpet to reveal green fabric.It was an iconic and methodical ensemble that paid homage to New York City (and the Met Gala theme "In America An Anthology of Fashion") in more ways than one.Ryan and Blake welcomed their fourth child in February. Blake did not say it in a straightforward way. Rather she posted a picture sans baby bump and wrote a cryptic note. The couple has three daughters, James (8), Inez (6) and Betty (3).Ryan earlier shared how the pair's three daughters feel about the new addition."They're in. They love it," he said of his girls. "They're ready.""I'm very excited," the star added of his own feelings. "We'd have to be. You know, you'd have to be a moron to do this four times if you didn't like it. It's gonna be nuts, but we're very excited," reported People.Lively first revealed her pregnancy with baby No 4 in September, debuting her baby bump on the red carpet for the 10th Annual Forbes Power Women's Summit.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Throwback Saturday: Ali Fazal drops pics with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker Mumbai, April 29: Ali Fazal made his Hollywood film debut with a special appearance in the 2015 action film Furious 7, the seventh instalment in the immensely successful The Fast and the Furious franchise. Throwback Saturday: Ali Fazal drops pics with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker The actor recently took a stroll down memory lane and shared pictures of himself posing with Vin Diesel and late actor Paul Walker."Its that time after a long time... this was the beginning of my journey in the west , thank you Vin @vindiesel . . sending my love to the fast fam. Going strong as always. .. @thefastsaga And to @paulwalker .. i remember it was his birthday the day we clicked this second photo. May he be watchin from up there..Fyi Thanks to @purvilavingia," he wrote.In the film, Ali essayed the role of Safar, an Emirati garage owner and friend of the computer hacktivist Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel).Ali is now gearing up for the release of his new Hollywood film titled 'Kandahar'.Helmed by Ric Roman Waugh, the film star popular Scottish actor Gerard Butler, Navid Negahban, Ali Fazal, Travis Fimmel and Elnaaz Norouzi in lead roles. The film is all set to hit the theatres on May 26, 2023.The film's description reads, "Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), an undercover CIA operative, is stuck deep in hostile territory in Afghanistan. After his mission is exposed, he must fight his way out, alongside his Afghan translator, to an extraction point in Kandahar, all whilst avoiding elite enemy forces and foreign spies tasked with hunting them down."He will also be seen in 'The Underbug', 'Girls will be Girls', 'Metro In Dino', and in another Hollywood film 'Afghan Dreamers'.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Instagram is testing songs in photo carousels Los Angeles, April 29: Instagram may come up with an update that will make your photo carousels more attractive. Instagram is testing songs in photo carousels As per The Verge, the company is testing a new feature that will let you add songs to the photo carousels you post to the platform.Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the news on his Instagram broadcast channel, noting that it's already available in a "few countries with more to come."Aside from that, Zuckerberg also mentioned that Instagram is testing a way to add music to Notes, the AIM-like feature that lets you share status with friends.This comes days after Instagram rolled out a redesigned video editor for Reels along with other creator features. Also, users can now add up to five links in their bio along with their titles."This makes it easier to align and time elements of your reel to the right moments in a more visual way," Meta wrote in a blog post.The company noted further that additional editing tools are on the way as it continues to try to chip away at TikTok's dominance.Also, Instagram has upgraded the Reels insights page to give creators a deeper sense of how their videos are performing.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! All you need to know about the final episode of James Cordens The Late Late Show Washington, April 29: James Corden was joined by a few familiar faces, including some notable surprise guests, as he bade goodbye to CBS' 'The Late Late Show' after eight years as host. All you need to know about the final episode of James Corden's 'The Late Late Show' According to the Hollywood Reporter, Corden's last night as host of the late-night series began Thursday with a primetime special that was followed by the final episode itself.In a special segment, Corden and Tom Cruise appeared as Timon and Pumbaa, respectively, in a live performance of The Lion King at Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre, and there's a final "Carpool Karaoke" segment with the host's close friend Adele.Corden began the special with a musical number as he sang his own lyrics to the tune of Donna Summer's "Last Dance." Corden, who has announced that he and his family will leave L.A. to move back to London, sang such lines as, "Let's blow CBS' dough one last time / Go big or go home on my last day in the sunshine."During the bit with Cruise, who has previously made a number of prominent and often high-adrenaline appearances on the show, the pair surprised an L.A. audience by gracing the Lion King stage, first sharing a rhino costume and then performing "Hakuna Matata" as the memorable meerkat and warthog duo.After the performance, Corden and Cruise appeared to suffer a falling-out as Corden suggested that the actor would soon forget about him and find a different late-night host to befriend."When Mission Impossible 12 comes out, you're not going to think of me," Corden claimed. "You're going to be off BASE jumping with Bowen Yang." Ultimately, the pair patched things up with a duet of "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," and as Corden thanked his guest for everything he's done for the show, Cruise cut him off with, "Shut up. You had me at hello."For the final "Carpool Karaoke," which has become one of the show's signature bits, Adele awakened a sleeping Corden in his bedroom with a cymbal crash before they hit the road. For Adele's second time participating in the segment, the stars performed her tunes "Rolling in the Deep," "Love Is a Game," "I Drink Wine" and "Hometown Glory," in addition to Funny Girl's "Don't Rain on My Parade."According to the Hollywood Reporter, one of the surprises in the final episode itself was a video message from President Joe Biden, who had previously appeared on-camera with Corden. Biden referenced the pair having shot a segment for last year's White House Correspondents' Dinner, in which the comedian attempted to land a White House gig."After a day spent working for me at the White House, I'm surprised you lasted eight years at any job," Biden quipped with a laugh. "Thank you for all the joy you've brought to homes across America, and a special thanks for never asking me to sing in a car. I can't sing worth a damn."Another pre-recorded segment featured a number of well-known late-night hosts -- Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman -- surprising Corden in his bedroom. The visitors wanted to make sure that Corden did not give away their secrets, including the fact that they don't always watch the projects that the guests are promoting, and tried to convince him to stick around.The show's previously announced guests were Harry Styles and Will Ferrell, who have both made numerous appearances over the years. Ferrell began his visit by smashing Corden's desk with a sledgehammer. Later, when Styles was asked to name his personal Late Late Show highlights, he referenced a dodgeball bit by saying, "I got hit in the nuts by Michelle Obama."All three of them played a shortened version of "Spill Your Guts, or Fill Your Guts," with Styles being asked if One Direction will ever reunite. The question led to a loud cheer from the audience, and although a surprise reunion didn't materialize, Styles left the door open for the future. "I feel that it's not a yes or no question," the Grammy winner responded. "I would never say never to that. If there was a time when we wanted to do that, I don't see why we wouldn't."After Styles and Ferrell praised Corden's run, the departing host delivered a final goodbye to viewers. "It's been life-changing," he said of his time as host. "All we've ever wanted is just be a little bit of light, of levity at the end of your day. Thank you for letting me do this."Corden's final moment on the stage featured him performing a farewell song at the piano. He needed to redo one line in the middle of the number because he was too emotional. The song included the reprise, "So good night / Thanks for watching / That's our show."ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited commemorates 19 years of fostering trust, innovation, and research New Delhi, April 29: On April 19th, 2023, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited, one of India's leading pharmaceutical companies, celebrated its 19th anniversary. The occasion marked a significant milestone for the company, its employees, and its customers. This landmark event celebrated the company's history of providing high-quality pharmaceutical products to the Indian and global markets. Incepted in 2004 by Sanjeev Jain and Sandeep Jain with the setting up of their first plant for Oral Solid, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited has since grown into a trusted name in the pharmaceutical industry, with a reputation for innovation, excellence, and a commitment to research and development. Since its inception, Akums has invested in cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art facilities, allowing it to produce world-class pharmaceutical products that meet the highest quality standards. Speaking on the occasion of the company's anniversary, Sanjeev Jain, Managing Director of Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited, said, I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved at Akums over the past 19 years. We have built a company that is synonymous with trust, innovation, and research, and I believe that we have only scratched the surface of what we can achieve in the future. Echoing the same exuberance, Sandeep Jain, the Joint Managing Director of Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited added, I would like to thank our employees, partners, and customers for their unwavering support and trust over the years. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality pharmaceutical products that make a difference in people's lives. Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Limited commemorates 19 years of fostering trust, innovation, and research "ICRA has certified our financial rating with a Long Term rating as AA- " he added.Their foray into the gummy's nutraceutical market is a step towards promoting a healthier lifestyle that is tasty and convenient, thus, aiming to make it easier for people to incorporate essential nutrients into their daily routine.The pharmaceutical giant has increased their production capacity by acquiring a plant in Baddi, with Plant 1 and Plant 3 being approved and certified by the European authority (EU-GMP). With an astonishing 919 + DCGI approvals, 690+ FSSAI approvals, 85+ Patents Applied (4 granted patents), Akums firmly establishes itself as one of the pioneers in the industry. 18,000+ brands under the aegis is a testament to an unwavering commitment to keep raising the bar in the field of pharmaceuticals. Akums' commitment to applying science, and celebrating innovations has been at the forefront of its success. The company has a dedicated team of scientists and researchers who work tirelessly to develop new and improved formulations, ensuring that its products remain at the forefront of the industry. With its state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and a strong focus on research and development, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited is poised for continued growth and success in the years to come. Adjudged as the India Pharma Leader Award by the Government of India, Department of Pharmaceuticals for two consecutive years 2018 and 2019, Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited is India's largest CDMO, manufacturing more than 13% of the country's total domestically consumed medicines. Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Limited is a trusted name in the industry, with a reputation for innovation, excellence, and a commitment to research and development.This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! The Chinese military has completed the mission of evacuating Chinese from Sudan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Spokesperson Tan Kefei said 940 Chinese citizens and 231 foreigners were carried by Chinese naval vessels out of Sudan to the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah in two evacuation operations from Wednesday to Saturday. Tan said the Chinese military is always the guardian of the people and a strong force to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to serve the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. Winter session of parliament prorogued in Nepal, budget session to start next month Kathmandu, April 28: Nepal's acting President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav prorogued the ongoing winter session of the Federal Parliament past midnight on Friday. Winter session of parliament prorogued in Nepal, budget session to start next month The acting President made the decision in accordance with Article 93 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.Yadav on Friday evening, sent a letter to House Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire stating that sessions of both the upper and lower house will be prorogued past midnight on Friday.As per the Constitution of Nepal, the President, on the recommendation of the government, summons and prorogues the sessions of the federal parliament. Acting President Yadav ended the session as President Ramchandra Paudel is currently undergoing treatment in India.The current session of the House of Representatives that began on January 25 was the first session after last year's polls.The ongoing session has been prorogued as the government is running short of time to begin the budget session. The government has to manage the presentation of the government's policies and programs, pre-budget discussions, and budget tabling by May 29. As per the constitution, the annual budget must be tabled in the Parliament on Jeth 15 [May 29 this year].An official at the Parliament Secretariat said the budget session must commence latest by May 8 to complete the preparatory works before the fiscal budget for 2023-24 is presented. Rule 145 of the House regulations says pre-budget discussions must be completed 15 days ahead of the budget presentation.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! CM Yogi compares UP civic polls with Devasur Sangram, calls mafia demons Sitapur, April 28: On the lines of Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Mathura-Vrindavan, Naimisharanya will soon undergo a facelift that will boost religious tourism here and lead to numerous employment opportunities in every sector, said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath on Friday. CM Yogi compares UP civic polls with 'Devasur Sangram', calls mafia 'demons' Addressing a public meeting in Naimisharanya, the Chief Minister compared the municipal elections in UP to 'Devasur Sangram' and said, "From this land of Naimisharanya, Maharishi Dadhichi once donated his bones to make the weapons for the victory of the divine forces. Now is the perfect opportunity to use this election to teach the demonic corrupt, miscreants, mafia, and criminals a lesson."Maintaining that Naimisharanya's history dates back thousands of years, the CM said that this place has always served as the centre of faith for all of us because it contains the complete wisdom of Indian sages."Basic facilities will start to reach every home as soon as the third engine joins forces with the double engine government. The benefits of the government's schemes will be available to everyone without discrimination, bypassing the corrupt, miscreants, mafia, and those with criminal tendencies," he said.Pointing out that the picture of the country has changed in the last nine years, the Chief Minister stated, "Nine years ago people looked at India with suspicion. India's citizens are now respected on a global level because of the way things have changed. When there is a crisis anywhere in the world, everyone looks up to India. India has been successful in evacuating its citizens stranded in Sudan following the crisis. Hundreds of people from UP have also been brought back safely."The Chief Minister continued by saying that the work that was not done after independence, has been done in the last nine years. The poor benefit from housing, toilets, Ayushman Yojana, free ration facilities, and a free Covid vaccine. On the one hand, government programs for the poor are being implemented without discrimination; on the other hand, highways, and expressways are being built; additionally, airports, IITs, and AIIMS are being built; cows and heritage are being respected.The CM noted that the government had started the work of rejuvenating Naimisharanya. "Very soon, electric buses will begin operating in this area. Not only this, helicopter service is going to start here in the next few months. Roads will be widened. If Naimisharanya is rejuvenated, lakhs of crores of tourists will come here, generating employment in every sector," he said.The Chief Minister said that under ODOP (One District-One Product), carpet from this area is exported to other nations. These rugs are in high demand in the US and Europe. There are nine municipal bodies in Sitapur district.He urged the people to support the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in order to provide the country a system free from crime and corruption, that will transform cities into smart cities instead of garbage dumps.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Fan builds temple for actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Andhra Pradesh Bapatla [Andhra Pradesh], April 29: Star worship gained new momentum with a die-hard fan of Samantha Ruth Prabhu building a temple in his house premises in Alapadu village of Bapatla district on the occasion of the actor's birthday. Fan builds temple for actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu in Andhra Pradesh Tenali Sandeep, who is a self-proclaimed fan of the 'Yashoda' actor, unveiled Samantha's statue and cut a cake on Friday as the actor turned 36 years old.The statue is covered in a red coloured saree, teamed with a green blouse.People from neighbouring villages thronged Sandeep's house to celebrate Samantha's birthday.Sandeep said that he wished to build a big temple, but could not do so due to financial constraints.Apart from acting, Sandeep admires Samantha for her charitable works.He also distributed food among the poor to mark the actor's birthday.Samantha, who comes from a humble background, has made a name in the Tamil and Telugu industry. The actor also entered the Hindi industry with the Amazon Prime Original show 'The Family Man Season 2'.She is also gearing up for the Hindi version of 'Citadel', where she will act with Varun Dhawan.Sandeep told ANI, "Samantha took the initiative to perform heart operations for needy children through a foundation. As she herself hails from a humble background, she always stands for the needy ones. This incident made my admiration double for her."Samantha suffers from an auto-immune disease called Myositis. She has talked about it on multiple occasions. Sandeep said the villagers prayed for Samantha's speedy recovery. They are very happy as the actor is now doing well.Sandeep has not met the 'Oo Antava' actor in person. But he surely harbours a wish to meet her one day.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Delhi: Employees working overtime to now receive additional payments New Delhi, April 28: In a decision aimed at improving the safety and health facilities of employees, the Delhi government on Friday approved additional payments for the employees working overtime. Delhi: Employees working overtime to now receive additional payments The decision was approved by the labour department of the Delhi Government during a meeting chaired by Minister Raaj Kumar Anand."The decision focuses on employees working overtime, who will now receive additional payments. Working more than 8 hours a day or more than 48 hours a week is considered overtime, and if an employee works overtime, they can receive up to double the hourly rate based on minimum wages," the Delhi government stated.It added, "Employees cannot work for more than 12 hours a day or 60 hours a week. Furthermore, no employee can work overtime for 7 consecutive days. Additionally, it is mandatory for employers to provide some holidays to their employees every year".Delhi Minister Raj Kumar Anand said, "These measures are proof that the Kejriwal Government is working day and night to improve the safety and health facilities of lakhs of employees working in Delhi."During the meeting, the Labour Minister directed that it will now be mandatory to give joining and experience letters to the employees working in any field.Employers have to ensure that the records of all the employees employed by them should be recorded, along with this all the employees must get salary slips.Furthermore, wherever migrant workers are employed, the employers will have to pay them a travelling allowance once in a year. For this, the employers have to fix some amount for the employee. The travelling allowance should be such that any expatriate employee can meet the cost of travelling to and from their home by bus or rail, the release stated.In order to ensure the safety of employees working in factories dealing with hazardous chemicals and materials in Delhi, it has been mandated that they undergo medical examinations every year. The factory operator will be responsible for ensuring that employees undergo blood, urine, X-rays and other tests proposed by the medical inspector.The Inspectors of the Labour Department will also conduct regular inspections of the factory to ensure compliance and instruct the employers to take necessary steps for employee safety. Non-compliance will result in concrete steps taken by the Labour Department against the employer.As per the release, employers are required to immediately inform the Labour Department in case of an accident at their workplace within 12 hours of the incident. They can use various modes of communication like telephone, message or e-mail to reach out to the Inspector or Chief Inspector of the Labour Department. "In case of the death of an employee, the employer has to inform the Labour Department, District Magistrate or the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, police station in charge, as well as the concerned department of the state if the worker is a migrant," the government added.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Arifs sarus not be released in sanctuary Kanpur, April 30: The sarus that befriended Arif, who had nursed the bird back to health after an injury, will not be released in any sanctuary. Arif's sarus not be released in sanctuary K.K. Singh, chief conservator of forests, Kanpur-where the sarus is presently kept -- has ruled out any plan to release the bird in a sanctuary.The bird has been found to be a female and the zoo sees it a lucky discovery because the female population of this bird is scant in this part of the country.The bird that is not eating properly since it was brought to the zoo on March 29 last, will be paired with a male bird, said Singh.He added, "Tests confirm that the bird is female and is now being shifted to an enclosure next to a male Sarus. It is being done so they can become used to each other. This is our first step. Their behaviour will be monitored for two weeks, then it will be decided whether to move the male into her enclosure."Dr Rajat Bhargava, an ornithologist with the Bombay Natural History Society, had taken a feather from the bird's chest on April 16 and had sent it to Secunderabad for DNA testing to determine its gender.The unique friendship of the Sarus and Arif, a resident of Mandkha village in Amethi district, who had last year rescued the bird, has been making waves on social media.The Sarus was found by Arif in February 2022, injured in his fields, lying unconscious with a bleeding leg. He initially thought the sarus was dead but took it home when he realised that it was still breathing. He cleaned the wound and applied a mix of turmeric and mustard on it. Then he devised a splint out of bamboo to keep the leg stable.But the crane refused to fly away even after it had recovered.Videos of Arif and the Sarus that went viral, showed the bird following him everywhere. Even when Arif rode his bike, the bird flew above following him.The forest department, meanwhile, took the Sarus to Samaspur Bird Sanctuary on March 21 from where it disappeared and was found again.The Sarus was finally sent to the Kanpur zoo on March 29 and a case was lodged against Arif for violating sections 2, 9, 29, 51, 52 of the Wildlife Act, 1972.Forest officials said Arif's house was not the right place for a Sarus to live in and he should have informed the local forest officials on finding the bird.Meanwhile, the bird not eating properly remains a worry for the zoo administration. Officials said the bird's eating habit has changed drastically living in close quarters with humans. "We are working on this; hopefully the bird will start taking the raw diet normally," they said.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Tech usage in judicial system can ensure transparency: Himachal CM tells judges Shimla, April 29: The use of technology in the judicial system can ensure transparency, productivity and efficiency, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu said on Saturday while addressing nearly 160 judges of various courts, comprising the Supreme Court. Tech usage in judicial system can ensure transparency: Himachal CM tells judges Inaugurating the North Zone-II Regional Conference on 'Contemporary Judicial Development and Strengthening Justice through Law and Technology' here, he highlighted the importance of technology in making the lives of the common people easier in every field, including the judiciary.The Chief Minister emphasised the need to view technology as an ally in bringing about change and strengthening the judicial system. "With the inclusion of modern technology, the functioning of the judiciary has accelerated, and during the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual hearings had proved a boon for all, which saved both money and time of the people," said the Chief Minister.He said a reliable and speedy judicial system is essential for a healthy and self-confident society, as well as for the development of the country, and when justice is seen being served, the faith of the common person in the constitutional institutions gets strengthened and continuous improvement of law and order becomes possible.The delay in justice is one of the biggest challenges being faced by the country and the judiciary is seriously working to solve this problem, said the Chief Minister.The alternative dispute redressal option is a means of resolving disputes and preparing legal education in line with technology should be an important goal for all those associated with this profession, he said.Sukhu hoped that the conference would go a long way in deriving new ideas and pave the way for legal reforms in the country, thereby providing justice to the people of the country at the earliest.The Constitution unites us all as "We the People", with its aims and objectives forming the fundamental features of the democracy. "It is the foundation of our democracy, and it is supported by three pillars. These pillars must operate within their own domains which would ultimately bring prosperity, transparency and harmony in the society," he added.Sukhu said he himself was a law student and has a keen interest in the subject. He stated "our state has contributed four judges to the Supreme Court. which is a matter of great pride for all of us".Earlier, acting Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, welcomed the guests and said the judiciary being an important pillar of the state plays a vital role in shaping and interpreting the Constitution.He said the conference is focused on deliberations on the development of technology, including artificial intelligence, crypto-currency, information and communication technology in courts.National Judicial Academy, Bhopal, Director Justice A.P. Sahi, judges of Supreme Court, Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Aniruddha Bose also spoke on the occasion, while Justice Vivek Singh Thakur presented the vote of thanks.The two-day conference is being attended by approximately 160 Judges of the Supreme Court, High Courts and subordinate courts of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.It was organised by the Himachal Pradesh High Court in collaboration with the National Judicial Academy of Bhopal.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Jockeying for CMs post begins in BJP, high command keeps up suspense Bengaluru, April 30: The BJP high command is maintaining the suspense over the chief minister candidate in Karnataka, if the party is voted to power. Though it is chanting the mantra of collective leadership, hectic lobbying has already started for the top post. Jockeying for CM's post begins in BJP, high command keeps up suspense Prominent leaders from the Lingayat community have already met and placed a demand before the high command to announce that a candidate from the community would become the CM.Vokkaliga leader and party national general secretary C.T. Ravi has also expressed his desire to become the CM. Former minister K.S. Eshwarappa has favoured his candidature. However, the high command is maintaining silence over the issue.BJP insiders said there was always an attempt within the party to extend its base across Karnataka. The decision makers have been trying to limit the dependency of the party on the Lingayat vote bank by extending the party base to the Vokkaliga and other communities.After ensuring the dethroning of Yediyurappa, the BJP is seriously looking for an alternative leadership, sources said. The BJP wants to get over the "Lingayat party" image. However, since the party is not able to find an alternative leader with mass appeal across the state in other communities and also among Lingayat leaders, the party is treading carefully, sources said.Defence minister Rajnath Singh had stated that the new government would take shape as per the wishes of Yediyurappa. At the time of the filing of nomination of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, BJP national president J.P. Nadda stated that the voters are not electing a MLA here. He maintained that CM Bommai would get another opportunity for five years.Former minister Eshwarappa stated that 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 CM. I have no authority to make such a statement. As Ravi hails from the influential Vokkaliga community, he has all the qualities to become the CM, he added.Eshwarappa had also said at a party meeting that he hoped C.T. Ravi would be elected MLA by a huge margin and become the CM. Ravi had expressed his wish to become CM in Mysuru.Senior journalist C. Rudrappa told IANS that there are good chances of a dark horse as the CM candidate if the BJP wins. Minister for Power, Kannada and Culture V. Sunil Kumar, a staunch follower of Hindutva ideology and hailing from a backward community and prominent Vokkaliga face C.T. Ravi could be the party's choice.Prime Minister Narendra Modi talking to former minister K.S. Eshwarappa to pacify him is an unprecedented development. Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Shobha Karandlaje has earned the confidence of the high command after fulfilling the tasks given to her in the Uttar Pradesh elections. Any of them could emerge as the CM candidate in the place of a Lingayat face, Rudrappa claimed.However, party sources maintained that the experiment is too risky as it might seriously damage the Lingayat vote bank, which served the saffron party as its core strength to expand its base. The Vokkaliga vote bank is firmly with the JD (S) and the Congress is projecting D.K. Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, as one of its CM candidates.The Lingayat vote bank once standing with the Congress moved on and is presently with the BJP and the party is taking a chance, the sources said. However, the policymakers are confident that they could reach out to all sections with the Hindutva ideology and the Modi wave and begin a new chapter in states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Nine killed in Ludhiana gas leak; NDRF reach site Chandigarh, April 30: At least nine people were reported dead and several taken ill after a gas leak from a factory run from a thickly populated Giaspura locality in Punjab's Ludhiana on Sunday, police said. Nine killed in Ludhiana gas leak; NDRF reach site "Nine people died and several complained of breathing problems following a leak," a police official told IANS.NDRF personnel have reached the spot and the entire area has been sealed and locals have been asked to move to safer places.Official sources said that the condition of nearly 10 people, who complained of breathing problems, is critical. Gas victims have been admitted to nearby hospitals.Expressing grief over the incident, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a tweet said, "The incident of gas leak of a factory in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being provided. Details soon."The incident caused panic among the locals, some of whom even left their homes to save lives.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Syrias air defences intercept fresh Israeli missile attack Damascus, April 30: Syrian air defences intercepted a fresh Israeli missile attack in the central province of Homs, state media reported. Syria's air defences intercept fresh Israeli missile attack The air defences were responding to hostile targets in the skies of Homs, said the report, spelling out no further details, state news agency SANA reported on Saturday.Three civilians were injured in the attack, according to the Syrian Defence Ministry, Xinhua news agency reported.Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a war monitor, said the missile destroyed a weapon depot for the Lebanese Hezbollah group in the Daba'a air base in Homs.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! KCR may sail with Nitish for Oppn unity, but not ready to accept Rahul Hyderabad, April 30: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who made his national ambitions amply clear by rechristening the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), is likely to back his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar's initiative for opposition unity but may not agree for a dominant role for the Congress. KCR may sail with Nitish for Oppn unity, but not ready to accept Rahul The BRS always took a stand of equi-distance from the BJP and Congress, but there are indications that the party may not be averse to join an opposition alliance with Congress as a constituent as it sees the BJP as "enemy number one".However, the BRS leadership is learnt to have conveyed its objection to Rahul Gandhi being projected as the face of opposition.Nitish Kumar, who already held meetings with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, is yet to hold talks with KCR.However, BRS working president K T. Rama Rao says that KCR is in regular touch with Nitish Kumar and leaders of other regional parties.Speculations have been rife in political circles for the last few months on whether Nitish Kumar will be acceptable to KCR in case the Bihar leader emerges as the opposition candidate for the Prime Minister's post.KCR had visited Bihar on August 31, 2022 and met Nitish Kumar and his deputy and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav.The BRS chief discussed with them his idea of a third opposition to challenge the BJP.KCR's visit was in the backdrop of Nitish Kumar's split with the NDA and amid renewed efforts for a united opposition.At a joint press conference which KCR addressed with Nitish Kumar and Tejashwi Yadav, the BRS leader was asked about Nitish Kumar being a potential challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2024."Nitish ji is one of the best and most senior leaders in the country. I am not the one to make a decision. It will be decided when all opposition parties sit together," KCR had said.The news conference also saw some embarrassing moments for KCR when Nitish Kumar got up to leave as he was miffed at questions being asked on the opposition candidate for the Prime Minister's post. Despite repeated requests by KCR to resume his seat, Nitish Kumar did not relent.This visit by KCR was before TRS became BRS.At the maiden public meeting of BRS held at Khammam in January, KCR shared the dais with his counterparts from Kerala (Pinarayi Vijayan), Delhi (Arvind Kejriwal), Punjab (Bhagwant Mann), as well as Akhilesh Yadav and Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary D. Raja.There were speculations that Nitish Kumar was not invited to the public meeting.When asked about this, the Bihar Chief Minister said that he was busy with some engagements in the state and did not know about KCR's rally.It remains to be seen if Nitish Kumar visits Telangana to meet KCR as part of his renewed attempts to forge the opposition unity ahead of 2024 general elections.After a recent visit to Delhi, where he met leaders of various parties, including the Congress, Nitish Kumar had said he would be talking to other regional parties, including the BRS, to forge an opposition alliance.With the Assembly elections in Telangana scheduled later this year, the BRS would not like to be seen rubbing shoulders with the party.The BRS stayed away from the meeting of 16 opposition leaders held in March in the chamber of Congress president Kharge, at Parliament House, citing the Congress' criticism of KCR.The party was unhappy over unwarranted comments against the BRS and KCR by Congress leaders during their frequent visits to Telangana.KCR's son KTR categorically stated that the BRS will not ally with either the Congress or the BJP in future under any circumstances, adding that both the parties have failed miserably in putting the state and the country on the growth trajectory.He also dismissed reports of any differences with leaders of regional parties. He claimed that KCR is in regular touch with Nitish Kumar and other regional leaders.Political analysts say that while BRS may publicly deny any plans for friendship with Congress, it may finally sail with Nitish Kumar and others who want to take Congress party along in putting up a united fight against BJP.KCR is reported to be for a more accomodating stance vis-a-vis Congress keeping in view the the fact that all regional parties and Congress are being targeted by the Modi government by misuse of central agencies.KCR's daughter and state legislator K. Kavitha is facing an Enforcement Directorate probe in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam case.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said there are positive signs that the Syrian regime can cooperate with Turkiye for the return of 3.6 million Syrian refugees to their homeland, as well as on security matters, amid an ongoing normalization process with the mediation of Russia and Iran, Trend reports citing Daily News. Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, in a televised interview over the weekend, provided information about his last encounter with the Syrian Defense Minister Ali Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow with the participation of their Russian and Iranian counterparts as well as the heads of four countries intelligence chiefs. We came together with the Syrian defense minister for the first time after 11 years. It was an important meeting. Dialogue is the key. Both sides acknowledge this. It is, of course, not possible to resolve everything at once, Akar said. Akar stated he told his counterparts that Turkiyes main objective is to fight against terror on its borders and protect the lives of millions of its citizens. Naturally, the parties may have maximalist demands but we are trying to turn them into reasonable ones. What will be the outcome of our withdrawal from the western Euphrates? Currently, one-third of Syria is under the control of terror organizations, he said, referring to Damascus calls for the complete withdrawal of the Turkish troops from Syria. We tell the regime that we have no oppositional stance against them. Our sole concern is to fight terrorists, the minister said. Clever Dhoni is managing CSK and himself brilliantly in IPL 2023: Sanjay Manjrekar New Delhi, April 30: Chennai Super Kings host Punjab Kings at Chepauk in the day game of IPL 2023 on Sunday. It will be the 999th game of the T20 league and the MS Dhoni-led side will be aiming to return to winning ways after facing a big defeat in Jaipur. Clever Dhoni is managing CSK and himself brilliantly in IPL 2023: Sanjay Manjrekar Punjab Kings also suffered a big defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in a high-scoring game at home in their previous encounter on captain Shikhar Dhawan's return.CSK's biggest strength this season is the way their batters are firing and the way skipper MS Dhoni is leading them by optimising his resources to perfection.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised Dhoni for the way he's managing his teammates, as well as himself because the knee injury seems to be pestering him constantly.Speaking on Star Sports' Cricket Live, Sanjay Manjrekar said, "MS Dhoni is a clever cricketer. He knows his limitations. We are seeing a new avatar of him this season. Earlier he used to manage the team, this year, he's also managing himself."Another big positive for CSK is the way all-rounder Shivam Dube is batting. The tall left-handed batter has been hitting sixes for fun in this IPL, and former India cricketer Ravi Shastri seems to be in awe of the Mumbaikar.Shastri said, "Shivam Dube has range and power. He's tall and he can easily hit sixes just by standing in his place, which makes him a dangerous batter. He's been given the license from the skipper to just go out there and explode."Ajinkya Rahane's revamped version is another big boost for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023. The senior India cricketer has got the freedom at CSK to express himself which has done wonders for him, as well as for the franchise.Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch thinks the faith coach Stephen Fleming and skipper Dhoni showed in Rahane is paying dividends.Aaron Finch said, "Ajinkya Rahane got the freedom at CSK. After a poor run last year, he might have thought his IPL career was done. But then he got another opportunity after CSK picked him up. He got that unexpected opportunity with MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming tapping on his shoulders and saying 'you are playing' go and have some fun, express yourself."IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! BJP expects surge in support from Christians in 2024 LS polls New Delhi, April 30: The BJP is making all out efforts and has launched an outreach campaign to woo the minority communities, especially Muslims and Christians, for the Lok Sabha polls in 2024. BJP expects surge in support from Christians in 2024 LS polls After recording wins in elections in the northeastern states, the BJP is elated about support from the Christian community.Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been advising leaders and workers of the party to interact with minority communities without thinking about votes, had met eight Bishops during his Kerala visit.In Kerala, the Prime Minister had announced that in the coming times an alliance led by the BJP will lead the government in the state. On the occasion of Easter, Modi visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Delhi, heard the prayers and met Bishops.In 2021, the Prime Minister had visited the Vatican, met Pope Francis and extended an invite to him to visit India.Under this campaign, the BJP had welcomed Congress leader Tom Vadakkan into the party fold and made him its national spokesperson.For the past many years, the RSS has also been trying to connect with the Christians and bring them into the party fold.On the lines of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch to woo Muslims, RSS senior leader Indresh Kumar made Vadakkan the national president of the Bharatiya Christian Manch.Talking to IANS, Vaddakan said it would be wrong to call it an outreach programme, as in Kerala people from the Christian community are themselves getting in touch with leaders and workers of the party to know the party's policies and vision. The Christian community is itself coming forward and we (BJP) are trying to make them understand what the BJP wants and what is its agenda of development.Talking about the Prime Minister's statements, he said that the party's aim is to take all communities with it and reach out to every section of the society without caring for votes.Terming the BJP's "anti-minority" image as the opposition's propaganda, Vadakkan said that for the past 70 years the Congress, Left and other parties have been using the minority communities for votes only while the BJP is working for the development of all.He claimed that the Christian community in Kerala is disappointed with the Left government and the Congress alliance and wants to be associated with the BJP for development.The results of the polls in the northeast and Goa have proved that all sections of society, including the Christian community, are with the BJP for the latter's agenda of development, he added.On the Christian community's support in the 2024 Assembly polls, Vadakkan said that the process has begun.The electorate has to decide what it will do in the polls and our effort is to work for the development of all irrespective of whether they support us or not, he stated.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! 5 ultra-light shoes that will make your summer runs fun New Delhi, April 30: Summer is the perfect time for fitness enthusiasts to be searching for breathable apparel that will help them combat the heat and stay in shape. Anyone may reach their full potential, break personal records, and even tackle new distances if they have the appropriate pair of running shoes. 5 ultra-light shoes that will make your summer runs fun Whether you're a casual jogger or a seasoned marathon runner, go no further than our outstanding selection of the most breathable, supportive, and cushioning shoes to help you meet your summer fitness objectives.Ultraboost LightWhether you're gearing up for race day or just a long-distance run, adidas' unique technologies can seriously elevate your experience. The Ultraboost Light is one such member recently added to the iconic shoe franchise of adidas. It offers, epic energy, ultimate cushioning, and breathability, ensuring that your feet feel light and receives enough support as you enjoy your runs. With 10 per cent lower carbon footprint, it also helps you to become an environment friendly runner, contributing towards the betterment of the planet.Best for Racing and trainingPrice Starting at Rs 18,999/-Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3The UA HOVR Phantom 3 is the latest evolution of the Phantom franchise. The soft, high-performance, and highly textured UA Intelliknit upper improves breathability through its unbelievable stretch and targeted flex. A new, secure heel counter combined with pillowy but firm panels delivers sturdy, foot hugging support. The moulded detailing in the midfoot and lower contour around the ankle not only improve fit but offer stability and ease of entry benefits.Best for Running and trainingPrice Point Rs 15,999/-ADIZERO ADIOS PRO 3As we are in the middle of the marathon season, here's a shoe that can help you breaking your own personal records. The Adizero Adios Pro 3 is an iconic shoe perfect for your everyday individual needs and versatile training, especially as you prepare for the big marathons. This shoe has been worn by legends like Amos Kipruto and took 2022 by storm, winning three major marathons within the first five months of launching. It features adidas' record-breaking ENERGYRODS 2.0 technology from heel to toe, and is a perfect companion for boosting your speed and performance.Best for Marathons and trainingPrice Point Rs 24,999/-Nike Metcon 7 Training ShoesBest suited for an overall workout, the Nike Metcon 7 Training Shoes offer a wide heel with slight cushioning. This design provides the needed stability for heavy weightlifting sessions. The slight heel upliftment gives proper physical alignment for heavy workouts. The versatile gym shoe is best suited for Running, weightlifting, squats, swings, and snatches. The shoe is also designed with maximum ventilation that keeps the user cool even after intense aerobic workouts.Best for Running and trainingPrice Point Rs 14,149/-ADIZERO SLOne needs the best feet support as they train for races and are on the road to break their own record. The ADIZERO SLhas been designed for exactly that, it helps runners take their training to the next level and democratisation winning. With superlight cushioning and energy torsion system it is an elite-level running shoe with record breaking technology, which is available at a lower price point.Best for Racing and trainingPrice Point Rs 11,999/-(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Tiger on 7 years of Baaghi: It gave me an identity & a life in industry Mumbai, April 30: As his debut film 'Baaghi' completed seven years of its release, actor Tiger Shroff penned down a heartfelt note for the film, saying that the film gave him an identity and a life in the industry. Tiger on 7 years of 'Baaghi': It gave me an identity & a life in industry Taking to Instagram stories, Tiger shared a picture of himself and also thanked his mentor Sajid Nadiadwala on the occasion.He wrote "7 years of a film that gave me an identity and a life in the industry. Thank you to all the audience and my fans who are like my family for accepting me. This franchise takes all my blood, sweat and tears but all worthwhile #baaghi.""And forever grateful to my godfather/mentor #sajidnadiadwala... For giving me a platform to showcase myself best I can. And my first director and one of my favs...this wouldn't have been poss without you paaji lv u," he added.Meanwhile, Tiger is currently shooting for his upcoming action thriller 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' in the UK along with the entire film team.He is also gearing up for an interesting line-up of films including 'Ganapath', amongst many others unannounced.IANS30 April 2023 Shared Recently! Raj Bhawan hosts celebration of 100th episode of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat Jammu and Kashmir, April 30: The Jammu Kashmir Raj Bhavan on Sunday, hosted the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat programme, the government informed in a press release. Raj Bhawan hosts celebration of 100th episode of PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat The eminent personalities, young achievers, sportspersons, recipients of Padma Shri and Panchayat Awards; national and UT Level awardees; Self Help Group members, and citizens from across J-K UT who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister, in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat were special invitees at the event, the release stated.Addressing the event, J-K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "Mann Ki Baat is the voice of 140 crore countrymen. It echoes their aspirations, dreams, challenges, success, failures, resolves and the new beginning. Mann Ki Baat is deeply rooted in our spiritual and cultural traditions and its ideas".The Lt Governor said the Prime Minister, through Mann Ki Baat, has established effective and two-way communication with the citizens and made the Radio an integral part of every family."Dialogue is the soul of democracy. The direct communication between a statesman and citizens ensures that the foundation of democracy is strong, participation of citizens in governance is ensured and their voice is at the centre of policies," he said.The LG added that Mann Ki Baat is the true reflection of e Prime Minister's vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas', and has empowered the common man to become a key contributor in nation-building.He further highlighted the significant role played by the Mann Ki Baat program in strengthening the spirit of Unity in diversity and 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'."Mann Ki Baat since the beginning of October 2014 has touched every section of society and influenced behavioural change to shape a new social revolution. Mann Ki Baat is not only a powerful radio programme but it is also a source of inspiration to realize dreams and resolve of the society," he added.The Lt Governor also inaugurated a photo exhibition to commemorate the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat.ANI30 April 2023 Shared Recently! This weeks Kappa Kappa Gamma flower sale is a chance for Sue Young and her sorority sisters not only to help our community but to rekindle friendships, too. ADS ADS At RALF TECH, theres something that applies to both diving and watches: its all about levels. The most extreme are The Beast and the historic WRCX models, two monsters of the deep, measuring over 47 mm in diameter. For the less adventurous the brand offers less intimidating levels, like the WRV series and, in particular, the WRB series with its modest 39 mm case size. Stealthy in operational terms, this versatile piece suits any occasion, and can even be considered unisex. A growing family The WRB range is currently expanding, and its not for the first time. Introduced in 2019, this highly adaptable piece debuted with a military-focused version, primarily targeting French army divers. RALF TECH has established numerous high-level partnerships, including with the French Navy, Special Forces, elite units of the Gendarmerie Nationale and the Police Nationale, and their equivalents in Switzerland, Great Britain and Italy. WRB Ocean Metal RALF TECH Two years later, in 2021, a new edition emerged, this time less military and more civilian in nature. Seven different versions were available, in Tundra Green, Volcano Red and Ocean Blue. The watch remains a genuine divers timepiece, water-resistant to 200m and surpassing the ISO 6425 standard for dive watches. Although you can still find them for sale, there are not too many left. Third wave Fast forward to 2023, and the third-generation WRB makes its debut. Its movement, a modified Seiko NH35 base, remains unchanged and provides an optimal 40-hour power reserve. The case retains its 39 mm size; its crafted from 316L steel and features a unidirectional rotating bezel with 120 clicks. It is in full compliance with the ISO 6425 standard and, with its 200-metre water resistance certification, stays true to its divers watch roots. However, for the first time, it comes with a steel bracelet a rarity at RALF TECH and the brands first-ever steel bracelet design across all collections and models. WRB First Edition Metal RALF TECH Why does that matter? Frank Huyghe, a former professional diver and founder of the brand, explains: A steel bracelet? Id always said: Never! I found them heavy and not always visually appealing. But over the years I received numerous requests. So, we took the time to develop one that truly suits my taste and, more importantly, aligns with the professional nature of all our watches. Tailor-made So RALF TECH created a custom bracelet for its dive watches. As with its cases, Frank Huyghe chose 316L steel, popular in watchmaking for its technical properties: stainless, durable, with a beautiful lustre. It is already used in all the brands steel cases, and now in their steel bracelets as well. For its dive watches, RALF TECH also designed an additional extension system. When needed, the bracelets useful length can be extended by up to nearly 3 cm, enabling the watch to fit over a diving suit. It can also be adjusted by a few millimetres for greater comfort in the summer. WRB Original Metal RALF TECH The deployant clasp features a two-blade design. For operational safety reasons, the bracelet cant be changed without a tool, but the traditional and straightforward pin pusher allows for swift disengagement. As a bonus, its adaptable to any other WRB watch, even those from previous generations. RALF TECH will also sell the bracelet as a separate accessory for existing collectors. As a final tribute to their predecessors, the three new WRBs have adopted the names of the original series, appended with the new bracelets suffix: the WRB First Edition Metal, the WRB Original Metal, and the WRB Ocean Metal. These three sea sisters share the same appealing price of 1800 euros. 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. Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Multimedia Specialist Anthony Zilis is a multimedia specialist at The News-Gazette. His email is azilis@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@adzilis). Bank Holidays May 2023: Banks will be shut for 12 days in May 2023 including second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, banks will be closed on all public holidays with some regional holidays depending on the particular state. In addition to national holidays, each state or region has its own list of holidays, which can vary from one state to another. For example, some states may observe holidays for regional festivals or important cultural events. The holidays come into effect under three categories, including Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act, Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday and Banks Closing of Accounts. One holiday is effective on account of Banks Closing of Accounts on April 1 when a majority of banks across the country remain closed, while Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act categorisation sees the highest number of holidays. Bank customers should be aware of the bank holidays in May 2023 in order to make arrangements for their bank visits. Banks are open on the first and third Saturdays of each month, whereas the second and fourth Saturdays are holidays for bankers. Banks are usually closed on these holidays, and customers are advised to plan their banking transactions accordingly. However, some banks may have certain branches open on specific holidays for urgent transactions, such as foreign exchange services. Full List Of Bank Holidays In May 2023 May 1 (Monday): May Day, Maharashtra Day May 5 (Friday): Buddha Purnima Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh May 7: Sunday May 9 (Tuesday): Rabindranath Tagores birthday May 13: Second Saturday May 14: Sunday May 16 (Tuesday): State Day Sikkim May 21: Sunday May 22 (Monday): Maharana Pratap Jayanti Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan May 24 (Wednesday): Kazi Nazrul Islam Jayanti Tripura May 27: Fourth Saturday May 28: Sunday Bank customers will not face any problems with bank-related work such as ATM services, cash deposit machines, online and mobile banking. Read all the Latest Business News, Tax News and Stock Market Updates here 'All participants in the National Dialogue agreed that the dialogue agenda will not include three issues: amending the constitution, Egypt's foreign policy, and national security," explained Diaa Rashwan, general coordinator of the National Dialogue. Netflix India has released a series of celebrity interviews done by comedian Aishwarya Mohanraj, called Not an Awkward Interview on YouTube. Mohanraj has interviewed celebrities like Janhvi Kapoor and Rana Daggubati as part of the wryly humourous series. It follows the format of several such talk shows that have been done in America, like Cunk on Earth or Between Two Ferns. They involve the interviewer putting on an intentionally awkward persona and the interviewee usually tackles it with humour or sarcasm of their own. Now, however, some Twitter users have claimed that Mohanrajs show set is eerily similar to that of Ziwes show. Ziwe Furmudon is an American comedian who hosted a satirical late-night talk show which ran for two seasons on Showtime. Both sets are all-pink and involve similar elements, causing for people to claim that Netflixs interview series interior design was copied from Ziwes set. Some users also claimed that the theme and concept also seemed heavily inspired. This is NUTS. Im enraged on Ziwes behalf. @netflix should be ashamed. pic.twitter.com/iyG430MHrS Brittani Nichols (@BisHilarious) April 28, 2023 this is so embarrassing but not surprising bc the ad culture in India is basically-client gives example of a successful intl. campaign/IP saying 'guys aisa kuch karte hai'-creative "strategists" who research for "ideas" & add "references" and then plagiarising the whole thing https://t.co/4ENK2eqNw8 ethanol cain (@commieqazi) April 29, 2023 Oh wow.. Please tell me Ziwe has given her approval for them to replicate her entire show from concept to set design. I refuse to believe a huge platform such as Netflix would make such a mistake. https://t.co/T0Q10nj6aA Mrs Paola A. (@PaolaAudrey) April 28, 2023 they will be surprised how biggest to biggest pieces of media here, Bollywood specially, just unabashedly plagiarises from American industry https://t.co/aJ5vQisj7b shereen (@yumyumkookie) April 28, 2023 on this weeks episode of globalization, bollywoods history of unabashed plagiarism meets american race politics. let the discourse rage! https://t.co/yHKUTF4PfG priyanka (@auntyfada) April 28, 2023 The colour, the stripes, even the squiggles. I thought both pics were from @ziwe for a moment.Like chelsea com'on now @NetflixIndia https://t.co/xF1OibgEWq Vanessa (@Vanessa_Nth) April 30, 2023 Like I said as well. You all will miss me (and my fire tweets that should've gone viral) when I leave this app https://t.co/7MGVU12hRA pic.twitter.com/76oDJ9tpaG Dan Mir (@DanMir_musings) April 29, 2023 Inspiration gone a bit too far? What do you think? Read all the Latest Buzz News here From UPSC Civil Services to SSC recruitment exams, from college admissions to group discussions, general knowledge questions mark a significant part of almost every exam. For candidates preparing to crack an exam or those who need to get their news in a compact form, News18 offers a weekly column - GK Capsule. While we provide you a weekly news wrap, to get more information on a specific topic or an exam, reach out at @news18dotcom. A lot has happened this week and the main highlights were the hearing in Supreme Court on same-sex marriage to Indians being evacuated from the strife-torn Sudan. Those who are preparing for the upcoming UPSC exam, or any recruitment test should definitely not miss out on the breaking news and happenings around the world. These days, general knowledge questions have become a mandatory section in public exams. So, here we have listed down this weeks news from all around the world, where all the national and international events are briefly explained. SC hearing on Same-sex Marriage The Supreme Court of India heard arguments from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta in the case looking for legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Mehta, who is appearing for the Centre told the Apex Court that arguments about freedom of sexual orientation and independence might be raised in the future. Kindly visualise a situation five-year down the line, based on this very thing a person is attracted to those who are mentioned in the degrees of prohibited relationship, he said. SC is currently hearing a batch of petitions which are seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages in the country. PM Modi Approves Establishment of 157 Government Nursing Colleges The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, passed a new move on Friday to establish 157 government nursing colleges. The aim is to have around 15,700 nursing candidates graduating every year. With this, there will be an increase in the job prospects of nurses in the country. It will also improve the rural-urban imbalances in the health sector. These new government colleges will be co-located with the existing medical institutions that have been recognised by the Modi government since 2014. Bail request by Manish Sisodia denied in Liquor Scam Case Former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias bail request has been denied by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi liquor scam case. The ex-deputy chief minister has now been sent to judicial custody till May 12. While denying bail to Sisodia, the special courts judge MK Nagpal stated that the investigation is currently at such a stage wherein it doesnt merit granting bail. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the former Delhi deputy chief ministers request for bail, asserting that the investigation is currently at a crucial" stage. SC orders Calcutta High Court to Reassign Bengal School Jobs Scam Case The Supreme Court on April 28 put aside an order passed by a single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court, directing the concerned Registrar General to show documents that have led to the transfer of the West Bengal school jobs scam case to a different judge. Days after voicing disapproval over Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyays interview with a TV news channel where he opened up about the raging controversy, the Apex Court has asked the Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to reassign the West Bengal school jobs scam case to another judge soon. PM Modi Inaugurates 91 FM Radio Transmitters Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated 91 frequency modulation (FM) transmitters across two union territories (UT) and 18 states. The objective behind it is to boost FM radio connectivity in the border regions as well as aspirational districts in India. These FM transmitters will play a key role by informing weather forecasts for agriculture and connecting the womens self-help groups with new markets among others, the Prime Minister said at the event. Indians Evacuated from Sudan via Operation Kaveri The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed that nearly 2400 Indians from strife-torn Sudan have been evacuated through its Operation Kaveri. Sharing details on its most recent evacuation, the ministry stated that about 300 passengers were evacuated by INS Sumedha from Port Sudan on board destined for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It was the 13th batch of Indians to be safely evacuated from Sudan. Read all the Latest Education News here A day after declaring the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2023 Session 2 result, the National Testing Agency (NTA) is all set to open the JEE Advanced 2023 application window today, April 30. Students can apply for the JEE Advanced 2023 exam at jeeadv.ac.in. As per the schedule, the last date to register for the JEE Advanced 2023 is May 7. The hall ticket will be available on the main site from May 29 to June 4. The Joint Entrance Examination Advanced 2023 Exam will be held on June 4. The engineering entrance test will be conducted for two papers - Paper I from 9 am to 12 noon and Paper II from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. Students who secured a position in the top 2.5 lakh JEE Main ranks are eligible to apply for the JEE Advanced 2023. Once the JEE Advanced exam is over, the provisional answer key will be released on June 11. Following that candidates will be able to raise objections, if any, till June 12. Meanwhile, the result and the final answer key of the JEE Advanced will be announced on June 18. JEE Advanced 2023: Eligibility Criteria Students applying for JEE Advanced 2023 exam should have been born on or after October 1, 1998. There is a five-year age relaxation for SC, ST, and PwD candidates. JEE Advanced 2023: How to Apply Step 1: Log on to jeeadv.ac.in. Step 2: Search and click on the JEE Advanced 2023 link when available on the home page. Step 3: Then register yourself and login with the correct credentials. Step 4: On the new page, fill up the JEE Advanced application form and pay the essential fee. Step 5: Click on submit. Step 6: Save and download the confirmation page Step 7: Keep a hard copy of the JEE Advanced 2023 form for further need. The JEE Advanced 2023 exam is jointly conducted by seven IITs which are - IIT Kharagpur, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Guwahati, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Roorkee. Based on the JEE Main results 2023, eligible candidates will get a seat in National Institutes of Technology (NITs), Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs), and government-funded technical institutions (GFTIs). Read all the Latest Education News here Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said that while the BJP was seeking votes in the Karnataka Assembly polls in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had adopted the PMs vocal for local" slogan and was raising issues of the people of the state. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh said Karnataka, after four years of the BJP rule, needs Vitamin-P in which the P stands for performance" of the Congress and not polarisation" of the BJP. Using armed forces terminology, Ramesh said the Congress is not worried about the carpet bombing" campaign strategy of Prime Minister Modi and other senior BJP leaders as it has enough anti-aircraft guns" to deal with it. The more the carpet bombing campaign the BJP indulges in, the more clearly it indicates its despair and desperation", the Congress general secretary-in-charge of communications said. Ramesh, who is a star campaigner for the party, said the Karnataka polls were about the BJPs threats" versus Congress governance guarantees. He claimed that Congress would get a clear majority" that would render Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. Operation Lotus is the term used by opposition parties to describe what they call the poaching" of MLAs by the BJP to topple state governments. Asked about reports of former chief minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar looking to outdo each other for the post of CM, Ramesh said, This time around, the dissidence in the Congress is at a minimum. There are only a few rebel independent candidates and many of them are withdrawing." In any case, the dissidence in the Congress is nothing as compared with the dissidence in the BJP which has lost its former chief minister, deputy CM, members of the national executive and many other national, state and local level leaders," Ramesh said. He said five top Congress leaders party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar would probably cover the 224 constituencies among them during the campaign. So, I think we are presenting a united front and this I think is the impact of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Some people criticize the Bharat Jodo Yatra that it would not pay electoral dividends but I think the yatra is giving electoral dividends as it gave a sense of solidarity and a sense of purpose to the Congress," he told PTI over the phone from Karnataka where he is on the campaign trail. Today the story of Karnataka politics is the dissidence and disunity" in the BJP, not in the Congress, he stressed. Right now everybody is focused on getting the Congress back to power. We are not focussing on individuals. This is not a beauty contest for individuals, this is a choice between political parties, a choice between competing ideologies, a choice between competing visions for Karnatakas future," Ramesh said. Noting that the Karnataka electorate is very wise and knows whom to vote at which level, the Congress leader pointed out that it was not a vote to elect the prime minister but a vote to install a government in the state. I think we have taken the PMs slogan more seriously than he has himself vocal for local," Ramesh said. He said this time the Congress campaign has been very strategic and focussed on vocal for local". This is not a national election, it is an assembly election, and I think the BJP has tried to make the prime minister the issue. They are asking for votes in the name of Narendra Modi. What we have been saying is that you are electing MLAs, you are electing the party which will appoint a CM. This is for an engine in Bengaluru not an engine in Delhi," Ramesh asserted. This whole double engine argument of the BJP is bogus", particularly in Karnataka because 94 per cent of revenues generated for the state are its own or its share of central taxes which is constitutionally mandated, he said, adding that this is not a vote for a double engine". The BJPs double engine is a bogus one, it is an engine of garam have of economic growth, creating the illusion of economic growth, on one hand, and the other engine of social polarization and divisive politics. The Congress is the only party that internalizes the double engine the double engine of economic growth that is sustainable and equitable on the one hand, and the other engine of social harmony," he said. So the Congress is the real double engine, Ramesh stressed. On the number of seats the Congress was likely to get, Ramesh said he did not wish to give a number but was confident of a clear majority that would render Operation Lotus" totally unnecessary. In Chikkamagaluru district, where I am campaigning, we have only one assembly seat, but this time we are headed to get three or four out of a total of five seats," Ramesh said. He claimed that there is a very strong current" in favour of the Congress and a widespread sentiment for change. I dont agree with the assessment that its going to be a hung verdict. I think it is going to be a clear majority for the Congress. I think the type of campaigning the BJP is doing is just about polarization and harking back to divisive issues with which the people are fed up. You cant do this over and over again," he added. On Kharges poisonous snake" remark, Ramesh said the party chief has clarified that remark, as well as the context in which it was made. But what Mr Basangouda Patil Yatnal said about former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was simply unacceptable. What do you make of the Union home minister (Amit Shah) coming and telling people that if you vote for the Congress you will have communal riots? What do you make of the BJP chief coming and saying that if you vote for the Congress, the blessings of Mr Modi are not going to be there," he said. The people who have dragged the campaign down to this level are Home Minister Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the prime minister himself, he alleged. Criticising the BJPs campaign, Ramesh said there are no local campaigners and the party is not raising any local issues. It is a 40 per cent commission government, there is no narrative to speak of, there are no outstanding programmes, no outstanding schemes. The BJP has lost a lot of tall Lingayat leadersIn this environment to talk of Modi, Modi, Modi (is not going to work)," he added. Voting will take place in the state on May 10 and the results will be out on May 13. Read all the Latest News here Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress over Mallikarjun Kharges poisonous snake remark and said the people of Karnataka will give a befitting reply on May 10, referring to the upcoming assembly polls in the state. PM Modi further said that Congress is threatening and abusing him because he is fighting corruption in the country. Congress hate me because I am fighting against corruption. They are threatening me and abusing me. For this election, Congress has the topic poisonous snake, they are comparing me to a snake. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10," PM Modi said while addressing a public gathering in Karnatakas Kolar. #WATCH | Congress hate me because I am fighting against corruption. They are threating me and abusing me. For this election, Congress has the topic poisonous snake, they are comparing me to a snake. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10: Prime pic.twitter.com/C6VeVyuLn7 ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 PM Modi further said, Congress has again started abusing me. They call me a snake but a snake is the necklace of Lord Shiv and for me, the public of Karnataka is Shiv. Let them abuse me but this time BJP will again win with a full majority." #WATCH | Congress has again started abusing me. They call me a snake but a snake is the necklace of Lord Shiv and for me, the public of Karnataka is Shiv. Let them abuse me but this time BJP will again win with full majority, " says PM Narendra Modi in Karnataka pic.twitter.com/Rr8lV9K5pc ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 Snake is the charm of Lord Shivas neck. For me, people of the country are like Lord Shiva and I am their snake who stays with them," he added. VIDEO | Snake is the charm of Lord Shivas neck. For me, people of the country are like Lord Shiva," says PM Modi slamming Congress president Mallikarjun Kharges snake remarks. #KarnatakaAssemblyElections2023 pic.twitter.com/Fr6mZ1AdFR Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 30, 2023 Speaking at Karnatakas Kalaburagi earlier this week, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge had compared PM Modi to a poisonous snake. PM Narendra Modi is like a poisonous snake. Now if you want to test a venom because I compared him with a poisonous snake, beware it will lead to your death," Kharge said. After a row erupted over his snake remark, Kharge took to Twitter to clarify his stance and said, My comments are not meant for PM Modi. I called the BJP ideology poisonous, not attacking PM Modi personally. All I meant was if anyone touches BJP ideology, they will be dead because of the poison." BJP , .. Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 27, 2023 I have always followed the norms and traditions of political correctness towards friends and opponents and will do so till the last breath of my life. I dont make fun of individuals and their problems like people in high positions because," Kharge added. Read all the Latest Politics News here Karnataka Election 2023: With just a few days left for the voting day of Karnataka Assembly election 2023, the poll-bound state is witnessing back-to-back campaigns by big names of top parties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed a rally in Karnatakas Belur, and launched a scathing attack on the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), saying the two dynastic parties were responsible for political instability in Karnataka, and that they encourage corruption. After a busy day of electioneering that saw the Prime Minister address multiple rallies and take out a mega Read More Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis should campaign for the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti in the Karnataka Assembly polls scheduled for May 10. MES has been spearheading a movement for several decades now to get 865 Marathi-speaking" villages of Belgaum-Karwar belt in Karnataka merged with Maharashtra and is contesting some seats in the district. Speaking to reporters, Raut said, I am going to Marathi speaking areas in Karnataka to canvas for votes for the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti. Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis should go to Belgaum and campaign for MES." However, the situation is different as they (BJP) have gone there (Belgaum) to defeat them (MES). They (BJP) should feel ashamed that they have gone to defeat Marathi people," Raut claimed. Raut said CM Shinde claims he has taken part in the Maharashtra-Karnataka border agitation, adding if the latter had indeed done so then he should be in Belgaum to campaign for the MES and against the BJP. The BJP and Shindes Shiv Sena are ruling allies in Maharashtra since June last year. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is committed to the Marathi-speaking people of Belgaum-Karwar and the (undivided) Shiv Sena had martyred" 69 workers and party founder Bal Thackeray was jailed for three months over the border row, Rajya Sabha MP Raut said. While the Congress is the principal opposition party in Karnataka seeking to dislodge the Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP government, the Nationalist Congress Party too has fielded candidates. Read all the Latest Politics News here The aasan or the special seat of the late Swami Shivakumara sits prominently at the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur district. And no one, not even the present seer of the mutt, is allowed to sit on it. Such is the influence Swami Shivakumara, who died aged 111 in 2019, continues to hold over the people in the area. And as Karnataka Assembly elections approach on May 10, the mutt, along with others in the state, is in the thick of political action with politicians making a bee line for them. Tumkur known as much for its education institutions, mostly run by the mutt, as for its coconut industry is just an hour-and-a-half away from state capital Bengaluru. And its issues are the same. Residents say they will vote for development and corruption-free governance. We want better roads and more infrastructure. Tumkur can become a satellite city to Bangalore. And we will keep this in mind when we vote, says Sriniwas, a young resident. His friend Subramaniam adds: Apart from this, I will vote against corruption. I know corruption cannot be weeded out 100%, but whoever shows less corruption Even these young professionals acknowledge that the Siddaganga Mutt plays a decisive role in who gets Tumkurs votes. No matter what people say, the fact is that when pictures of netas meeting the Swami are seen, it sends a subtle message about who they can vote for. Thats why politicians make a beeline for the mutt, Sriniwas tells News18. The Siddaganga Mutt is frequented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, among others. Sitting MLA from the JDS, Gowrishakar Swamy, headed for the mutt immediately after filing his nomination papers. The mutt is considered to be the hub of the Lingayat community, which is seen as the largest and politically most influential community in Karnataka. Its no secret that it was BJP leader and former chief minister BS Yediyurappa who started the practice of wooing the mutts and using the optics to cement the Lingayat vote. When Yediyurappa fell out of favour in the BJP, the mutts, specially the one in Tumkur, subtly hinted disapproval. With Yediyurappa not contesting and Jagdish Shettar jumping ship to the Congress, the BJP is facing tough competition for the Lingayat vote-bank. It came as no surprise then that the Basavaraj Bommai government recently gave a grant of Rs 1,000 crore to the Tumkur mutt as well as to temples and carry out development work. Office-bearers of the mutt deny any political interest or messaging. But in a constituency that deeply reveres the mutt and its swami, a hint is enough said. Its the same story in other influential mutts of the state like the Suttur Mutt in Mysore, the Kanak Guru Peeth in Haveri, or the one in Chitradurga. Most of these are popular with different communities like the Vokkalingas or the Dalits. The irony of the political system is such that the calls for development and faith co-exist. And in the caste-based battle for Karnataka, politicians know this too well. Read all the Latest Politics News here Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a mega roadshow in Mysuru, winding up his whirlwind two-day campaign tour of Karnataka during which he addressed six public rallies. In what appeared to be a rerun of sorts of the popular Jambu Savari witnessed on the last day of the annual Mysuru Dasara, the Prime Ministers roadshow passed through various parts of the city. Modi flew into the heritage city from Beluru in Hassan district this evening after addressing his third public meeting of the day in the state and mounted on a specially designed vehicle. Flanked by Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, former ministers K S Eshwarappa and S A Ramadas, the Prime Minister wore the traditional Mysuru Peta and a saffron shawl. He waved at the large number of people who had gathered on both sides of the road. Eshwarappa recently announced retirement from electoral politics, while sitting MLA Ramadas was denied ticket to contest in the May 10 Assembly elections. A cultural troupe of men and women in traditional attire walked all along the road. While men wore Peta and Kurta, women were in attire resembling that of Bharatanatyam dancers. BJP flags, festoons and the Prime Ministers posters and cutouts dotted the roads. Modi held public meetings at Humnabad in Bidar district, district headquarter town of Vijayapura, Kudachi in Belagavi district and a roadshow in Bengaluru on Saturday. On Sunday, he addressed election rallies in Kolar city, Channapatna in Ramanagara district and Belur in Hassan district culminating with the roadshow here. Karnataka votes on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13. Read all the Latest News here Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the Congress must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs, as it has been predicting victory for the grand old party in the Karnataka Assembly polls. The southern state will go to polls on May 10 and counting of votes will be undertaken on May 13, with the Congress seeking to oust the incumbent BJP government. Earlier, they (Congress) used to accuse us of problems with EVMs So, if they can predict the result in advance, then I have to say that the party in Karnataka must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs, Sarma told reporters here. The Congress has sounded confident of emerging victorious in Karnataka. Senior Congress leader and former minister M B Patil told PTI that it will come to power on its own with 130-odd seats out of 224 in the southern state. The BJP has announced candidates in 212 constituencies, the Congress 165, while the JD(S) has named 93 nominees. Read all the Latest News here Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian woman in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry said, in what the Israeli army called a "stabbing attack". On the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modis radio programme Mann ki Baat, he made a mention of Laxman Rao Inamdar, the advocate and RSS leader, considered his mentor. I had a mentor, Shri Laxman Rao Ji Inamdar. We used to call him Vakil Saheb (Advocate sir). He would always say that we must worship the good qualities in other people. Whoever it might be, an associate or an opponent, we must always try to understand their good qualities and try to imbibe them within ourselves. His words have always inspired me. Mann ki Baat has become an important medium of learning from others," Modi said in his programme. But who was Inamdar? News18 Explains: Vakil Saheb Laxman Rao Madhav Rao Inamdar, also known as Vakil Saheb, founded Sahkar Bharti on September 19, 1917 and was a founding member of the RSS in Gujarat. He is credited with inducting Modi into the RSS as a balswayamsevak (junior cadet) and serving as Modis political mentor, as per reports. How He Shaped Modis Mind As per a ThePrint report on how Inamdar shaped Modis political ideas, Modi would participate in RSS grassroots activities, such as flyer distribution, and he regularly attended the organizations daily sessions. This distraction from the everyday grind at school and at the tea stall soon became a catalyst for him to explore and grow. While Modi was shaped by the RSS, it also served as a launching pad for his foray into active politics. Through the RSS, Modi met Lakshmanrao Inamdar, who would later become his political mentor. Political biographer Kingshuk Nag is quoted as saying in the report that Modi is seen as Inamdars Manas Putra, or ideological offspring, among RSS circles. While different chroniclers place the young Modis first interaction with Inamdar at different times in his life, Modi claims it happened while he was a student cadet. Inamdar was an avid RSS member who travelled widely throughout Gujarat to construct RSS shakhas. Great Reverence for Inamdar Narendra Modis formative years were spent in RSS and Vakil Saheb has had the greatest impact on him," Seshadari Chari, BJP leader, told India Today in a report. According to Prabhat Kumar, who has published four of Modis book including a biography on Inamdar himself, Modi attributes his entire personality to Vakil Saheb. Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, author of the 2013 biography Narendra Modi: The Man. The Times is quoted in the report as saying that Modis regard for Inamdar is exceptional. I havent seen Modi have this kind of reverence for anyone, living or dead," he says. Inamdar was born in 1917 in Khatav, a village 130 kilometres south of Pune. He joined RSS in 1943, shortly after finishing his law degree at Poona University, as one of ten children of a government revenue official. He took part in the liberation struggle, led agitations against the Nizams government in Hyderabad, and subsequently chose the austere life of a pracharak-of bachelorhood and a rootless existence-in Gujarat, the report says. Tasks During Emergency and a Leap Afterwards When emergency was declared in India, Vakil Sahab set aside Modi for underground resistance. Initially, he transported proscribed pamphlets to a Commonwealth parliamentary conference in Delhi, as per Economic Times. Later, Vakil Sahab tasked Modi with escorting George Fernandes to safe houses, both leaders in disguise. Images of Modi disguised as a Sikh and a sanyasi are from this time period. After the Emergency was lifted, Inamdar gave Modis career a boost. He was dispatched to Delhi once more, this time to coordinate documentation of RSS opposition throughout the dark months, the report explains. Modis career took off after that, and he was promoted to Vadodara as Vibhag Pracharak first, and then Sambhag Pracharak. Interactions grew less regular, but whenever Modi visited Ahmedabad, he never missed an opportunity to spend time with his guru. By the time Modi was appointed to the BJP by the RSS in 1987, his mentor had died, but his influence could not be ignored in his absence. Read all the Latest Explainers here An Indian-origin man has been found guilty of killing three teenage boys who played a doorbell-ringing prank at his house in the US state of California, according to a media report. Anurag Chandra, a Riverside County resident, was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree murder on Friday, the New York Post reported. The incident took place on January 19, 2020, when a group of teenage boys rang Chandras bell on a dare, the report added. Chandra said that one of the teens flashed his buttocks before running away. The crash killed all three teenagers who were 16 years old, it said. Chandra, who drank 12 beers the day of the crash, said he was extremely, extremely mad at the prank and claimed he was worried about his familys safety. He followed the boys and rammed their Toyota Prius off the road, which slammed into a tree in Temescal Valley. The suspect testified that he did not plan to crash into the boys car, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper. Chandra also said he did not stop after rear-ending their vehicle because he did not think anyone had been injured. The driver, who was 18 years old, survived, along with two 13-year-old passengers. Chandra is already facing charges in connection with a domestic violence incident in 2020 before the fatal crash. Read all the Latest India News here Taking note of CNN-News18s expose across cities and follow-ups on fake pharmacies over months, the Bihar government has suspended the licences of 1,781 medical stores in 31 districts, cancelled one licence, banned the sale of medicines in 965 pharmacies in nine districts due to the absence of a pharmacist and submitted the record of 630 pharmacists from 16 districts to the Pharmacy Council of Bihar to check their veracity. A first information report (FIR), too, has been filed against one fraudster posing as a pharmacist. The state government revealed the details of the action taken in its report in the Patna High Court. Through its reportage on fake pharmacists, starting with a sting operation in December, CNN-News18 exposed how medical stores were run without pharmacists and many were selling lifesaving drugs without a degree. CNN-News18 had also reported on how a pharmacist with a degree from the Uttar Pradesh Pharmacy Council was working in a private hospital in Bihar. CNN-News18 also reported on students working in pharmacies on behalf of pharmacists. CNN-News18 highlighted how the names of pharmacists whose licences were cancelled by the Jharkhand High Court appeared on the list of voters of the Pharmacy Council of Bihar in 2022. None were found in apron or with badges at the chemist stores. The months-long investigations exposed the violation of Pharmacy Regulation Act, 2015 in Bihars cities. #BreakingNews: The Bihar government took an action after CM Nitish Kumar and health minister Tejashwi Yadav assured CNN-News18 a proper probe into this expose on fake pharmacists and pharmacies@JournoKSSR in conversation with the petitioners(@aayeshavarma) | #Bihar #Pharmacy pic.twitter.com/FMgkjipZwm News18 (@CNNnews18) April 29, 2023 THREE MONTHS AFTER ASSURANCES BY CM, DEPUTY CM CNN-News18 had posed a question to CM Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Tejashwi Yadav about this irregularity and both the top leaders had assured strict action after considering the sting operations. You can give us your report. I will ask the department concerned to look into it and definitely take action, the chief minister had said. ALSO READ | Give Me the Report, Will Look Into It: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar Assures Probe in Fake Pharmacist Case Talking to CNN-News18, Yadav had said: You did good work. We want a proper functioning of the state. Will take cognizance of your report. If someone is doing wrong, then he will be punished. I will ask my officers to investigate and take appropriate action." The action has come after three months. 90% PHARMACISTS FAKE According to the states report, in capital Patna alone, licences of 165 medical stores were suspended, 632 retail shops were reported working without pharmacists, and records of nine pharmacists were sent to pharmacy council to verify whether they had a degree. Gaya topped with maximum number of pharmacists (299) under the scanner. Kishanganj had the maximum number of medical shops whose licences were cancelled (186). Mukesh Kumar, the petitioner in Patna High court in this case, alleged that almost 90% medical stores and hospitals are working through fake pharmacists. I thank the efforts of CNN-News18 and appreciate the genuine sting operations on fake pharmacists. The pharmacists association and all genuine chemists are grateful to your channel for bringing out the case studies. We had no proof to present in the High court earlier. At present, fake pharmacists have outnumbered the real ones and our demand investigation of the whole nexus by an independent agency, as drug officials who themselves are involved in this scam cant probe fairly. This is just a tip of the iceberg, around 90% are fake." Request 5T Secretary Pandiyan, sir, faster Apply in Odisha also. Check the fake, pharmacy and close the medicine store. Rajat Alfaweb (@Rajat_Kumar_95) April 29, 2023 After the action of Bihar government, voices from other states such as Telangana and Odisha are being raised on social media. Read all the Latest India News here At least 11 people were killed, and four more have fallen ill, after a gas leak incident in the Giaspura area in this Punjab district on Sunday. The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained, police said. Meanwhile, the area where the leakage happened has been sealed while a fire brigade and an ambulance have been deployed there. A 50-member team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site. Police said the casualties comprise five females and six males. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the 11 who died in the incident, while the four people, who were taken ill, Read More Read more Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Mumbai, BJP President JP Nadda in poll-bound Karnataka and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at BJPs Headquarters in New Delhi, are listening to the Prime Ministers radio talk. BJP also organised facilities at 100 venues on average in every assembly constituency across the country for people to listen to Prime Ministers monthly radio programme. BJP MPs and MLAs were present in their respective constituencies to oversee the exercise. Arrangements were also made for eminent citizens to listen to the programme in all Raj Bhawans the official residences of governors, and the residences of chief ministers from the BJP or its allies. The partys overseas units and several non-political organisations were roped in to ensure that the radio broadcast has the maximum outreach. Mann Ki Baat to Be Broadcast Live in UN Headquarters In a historic moment, the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat was broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The 100th episode of Modis monthly radio address was aired at 11 am IST on April 30, which was 1:30 am Sunday in New York. The live broadcast of the programme in the early hours of Sunday in the UN headquarters was historic and unprecedented. It was aired in the UNs Trusteeship Council Chamber. The Consulate General of India in New York, along with community organisation Federation of Indian Associations NY-NJ-NE and others, also organised the broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat for members of the Indian-American and diaspora community in New Jersey during a special event at 1:30 am Sunday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar joined the diaspora and friends of India in New Jersey, USA for listening to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Mann Ki Baat@100 In the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast hosted by Prime Minister Modi, he addresses the people of the country on different issues. It was first aired on October 3, 2014, and is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am on the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. The 100th episode of the 30-minute programme will be aired on April 30. Read all the Latest India News here In the 100th episode of his flagship radio programme Mann ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked down memory lane and spoke to some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast. In the milestone episode, PM Modi said that the programme filled the emptiness" he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of feelings of crores of people who he was connected with through it. The prime minister said that this was not merely a programme but a matter of faith and spiritual journey for him. Here are four people who appeared again with their inspiring stories Manzoor Ahmed Ahmed runs a manufacturing unit of pencils in a village in Jammu and Kashmir. He provides jobs to over 200 people in Oukhoo village which falls under Pulwama district. The village is also called the pencil village of India." Vijayashanti Devi Devi hails from Manipur and makes clothes out of the fibres of lotus, which are sustainable to the environment. She provides employement to nearly 30 woman, and aims to expand more. Sunil Jaglan Jaglan came up with the Selfie With Daughter campaign in a village in 2015, which gave the message to save and cherish the girl child. Pradeep Sangwan Sangwan heads the Healing Himalayas campaign and every day he and his team collects five tons of garbage from the region. This includes clean-up campaigns, spreading awareness, waste management in the rural areas of Himalayas. Read all the Latest India News here Prime Minister Narendra Modis radio show Mann Ki Baat hit the milestone of 100th episode on Sunday, in which PM Modi recalled several key moments from his past episodes of the programme that started on October 3, 2014. One of the big moments of his radio programme that PM Modi recalled on Sunday was his special episode with the then US President Barack Obama that took place in January 2015. Mann Ki Baat @100 LIVE Updates PM Modi said on Sunday that his joint address of Mann Ki Baat with the then US President Barack Obama, it was discussed all over the world". Barack Obama joined PM Modi in a special programme of Mann Ki Baat in January 2015, the same year he became the first American President to attend Republic Day celebrations in India. It was also the first ever Radio address by an Indian Prime Minister and an American President together. We are two great democracies, two innovative economies, two diverse societies dedicated to empowering individuals. We are linked together by millions of proud Indian Americans who still have family and carry on traditions from India. And I want to say to the Prime Minister how much I appreciate your strong personal commitment to strengthening the relationship between these two countries," the then US President Barack Obama had said. Read all the Latest India News here The 100th edition of PM Narendra Modis radio show Mann Ki Baat aired on Sunday. On this historic occasion, News18 reached out to the director general of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), which released a study that said this programme has played a significant role in introducing the real Bharat to the countrymen. On asking Professor Sanjay Dwivedi, DG at IIMC, the meaning of connecting Bharat to the citizens, in an email response, he said that Bharatiya values of life are more preserved in rural and remote areas of the country than the urban areas, while a big section of the Indian population living in urban areas or metropolitan cities is not aware of the issues of the rural, tribal and remote areas. There are countless unsung heroes who are working for social transformation in rural and remote areas without expecting anything in exchange. Even the national media has not been able to locate them and introduce the whole nation to their extraordinary efforts of social transformation. This is what we mean with the real Bharat in the study, the professor said. The study involved media persons, media faculty, media researchers and media students. According to Prof Dwivedi, a total of 907 responses were received for the study and after deleting repetition and incomplete responses, a total of 890 responses were accepted for analysis. While the details related to the participants or organizations cannot be shared, Prof Dwivedi shared a long list of cities from where the institution received the response. This list not only includes New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, but also several other cities from all around India, such as Aizawl, Srinagar, Jammu, Umapur village under Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh, Bhilai Jajpur in Odisha and Para Hathigo village under Arsath (Ayodhya). According to the study, 40% of the participants noted that education is the most influential theme of the programme. However, Prof Dwivedi said that the respondents have discussed many topics also. He said that a question was asked to understand the issues of national importance which are discussed in Mann Ki Baat and have influenced individual life. Of the 890 respondents, 73 (8%) opined defence, 51 (6%) foreign policy, 352 (40%) opined education, 79 (9%) opined health, 235 (26%) grassroots innovators and 100 (11%) other issues. Additionally, Prof Dwivedi noted that later the respondents were asked another question in which they mentioned around 100 issues, which include health, technology, science and environment also. DIGITAL OVER RADIO It is believed that the many people who stopped listening to the radio have come back to this medium only because of the programme, but the majority still prefer to listen to Mann Ki Baat on digital mediums like YouTube. Prof Dwivedi told News18: What is important is listening to the programme and not the platform. If people feel comfortable in listening to it on YouTube or any other internet-based platform, it is their wish. However, he also highlighted that the survey participants of the 890, 109 (12%) said they prefer radio, 135 (15%) prefer television, 108 (12%) prefer both radio and television, 324 (37%) prefer internet-based platforms and 214 (24%) prefer all platforms. Then another question was asked as to what they do if they miss any episode of the programme and in response, 63% of respondents said they prefer YouTube. KEY FINDINGS Prof Dwivedi noted that key findings of the study also included that a majority of respondents in the age group of 18-25 years listen to Mann Ki Baat to know about the country and PMs vision about the country. He also pointed out that 76% of the respondents feel that Mann Ki Baat has initiated a trend where they are now more aware of the things in other parts of India and they have started appreciating them. Similarly, 75% of the respondents opine that Mann Ki Baat has emerged as a platform where people are introduced to the trendsetters who are working selflessly for ensuring a meaningful change in the lives of people. Among the respondents, 76% of the respondents feel that they are a participant in the democratic process by listening to PM Modi on different issues, while most of them share their thoughts with either their family members (32%) or their peers (29%) regarding the topics discussed in Mann Ki Baat. Read all the Latest India News here At least 11 people, including two children, were killed and many others are feared trapped inside a factory in the Giaspura area of Punjabs Ludhiana after a gas leak on Sunday. The leak was first noticed around 7.15 am. Four more persons, who were taken ill, are undergoing treatment at a hospital, and the area has been sealed. The area has been cordoned off and a rescue operation is underway. NDRF teams have been rushed to the site along with a team of doctors and a fire brigade A magisterial inquiry has also been ordered into the incident while the Ludhiana Police has registered an FIR against unknown persons. Police said five females and six males were among the dead. After the incident, the district administration announced Rs 2 lakh compensation each for the family of the deceased and Rs 50,000 each for those who were taken ill in the incident. Speaking to news agency ANI, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said gas contamination might be the reason behind the leak. 11 deaths confirmed till nowIn all likelihood, there is some gas contamination which has happenedIt is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholesAll of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples," Malik said. #UPDATE | 11 deaths confirmed till nowIn all likelihood, there is some gas contamination which has happenedIt is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholesAll of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples..," says Ludhiana Deputy pic.twitter.com/7LHXjhXeOV ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 Additional Deputy Commissioner Amarjit Singh Bains said, A broken manhole has been found in the area and there was a strong smell emanating from it. There is a possibility that the chemical has been poured into the sewerage from that point". The cause behind the leak has not been established yet. An investigation is underway. Locals in the Giaspura area complained of breathing difficulties and said the bodies of those who died in the incident turned blue, an ANI report mentioned. The area has been vacated by the administration. President Droupadi Murmu said she was deeply saddened by the loss of lives in the Ludhiana gas leak incident and expressed her condolences to the bereaved families. I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of many people, including children and women, in the accident in Ludhiana. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and wish a speedy recovery to all those affected," Murmu said in a tweet in Hindi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief at the loss of lives and said the NDRF team is engaged in relief work. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed grief over the incident of the gas leak in Ludhiana and assured that all possible help is being extended to the affected. Police, Administration and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being extended to the affected," Mann said. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also condoled the deaths in the Ludhiana factory gas leak. As the tragedy unfolds in Ludhiana where a gas leak has claimed 11 lives, including 2 children, I express my deep condolences with the bereaved families. May Gurusahab grant eternal peace to the departed souls. Also, pray for the speedy recovery of affected survivors," Badal tweeted. Read all the Latest India News here Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hand over a fast patrol vessel and a landing craft to the Maldives as Indias gift" during his visit to the island nation from May 1 to 3. The defence ministry said this on Sunday, noting that Singhs visit to the Maldives will be an important landmark" in building strong bonds" of friendship between the two countries. The Maldives is one of Indias key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, have been on an upward trajectory in the last few years. Indias decision to provide military platforms to the Maldives came amid Chinas persistent efforts to expand its overall influence in the region. During his visit, Singh is scheduled to call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and hold talks with Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid and Defence Minister Mariya Didi. In tune with Indias commitment to capacity building of friendly countries and partners in the region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will gift one fast patrol vessel ship and a landing craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces," the ministry said in a statement. Singh is also set to take stock of the implementation of various India-assisted projects in the Maldives and will interact with the Indian diaspora. India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters," the ministry said. Indias vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) along with its Neighbourhood First policy as well as Maldives India First policy seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean region," it added. On Singhs talks with the Maldivian defence and foreign ministers, it said the entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed. The Maldives is also one of the biggest beneficiaries of Indias Neighbourhood First policy. In August last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Solih kick-started the India-funded Greater Male Connectivity Project (GMCP), billed as the largest infrastructure initiative in the island nation. Under the project, a 6.74-km-long bridge and causeway link will be built to connect Maldivian capital Male with the adjoining islands of Villingli, Gulhifalhu and Thilafushi. Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane visited the Maldives last month and held talks with his Maldivian counterpart, Major General Abdulla Shamaal. Read all the Latest India News here American famed pop boy band Backstreet Boys, which achieved phenomenal success worldwide in the late 90s and early 2000s, visited the great Giza pyramids sight on Sunday ahead of their first concert in Egypt. Dogged by charges of corruption, the TMC has launched one of its biggest cleansing drives since its inception and a massive mass outreach campaign to rebuild its image ahead of the panchayat polls this year and Lok Sabha polls next year. The exercise comes when it has lost its national party status and its leaders are battling allegations of graft both in and outside courts. Senior leaders like former minister Partha Chatterjee, two other MLAs, and Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal were arrested in connection with cases of school jobs scams and cattle smuggling since last year. After conducting a few internal surveys, including one by political consultancy group I-PAC, to assess the functioning and conduct of its elected representatives and leaders at all levels of village council elections, the TMC recently launched a campaign where the party would choose candidates based on the feedback of people through a secret ballot system. Leading the mass outreach programme Trinamool-e Nabajowar" (new wave in Trinamool) from the front is the partys national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who will crisscross the entire state for several weeks, and seek feedback from the masses on their preferable candidates, whom the party will nominate. This is for the first time that the party has launched a rectification drive to weed out rotten elements on such a grand scale. This will help us reach out to the people and address their grievances. It will also help build a stronger connection with the masses by validating their choices and aspirations," senior TMC leader Sougata Roy told PTI. Roy said the choice of candidates for nearly 78,000 seats in the three-tier panchayat elections would be based on the feedback from the secret ballot system that is being undertaken during the campaign. There will be a massive change in the candidate list. It is quite likely that nearly 50 per cent might be new faces," he said. Under the secret ballot system, voters, party workers, and local influencers will vote to choose their TMC nominees from their respective areas. This system will revolutionise the Panchayati Raj system in West Bengal and be an example for the entire country. It will weed out corruption and build a peoples panchayat as Mahatma Gandhi had envisioned," Abhishek Banerjee said during a rally in Cooch Behar. TMC state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar also said even though organisational overhaul was on since August last year, the cleansing of the party" is the second stage of building a new Trinamool Congress" that Abhishek Banerjee has been talking about for the last one year. It is not that all the allegations of corruption are true, but certain instances have brought a bad reputation to the party. So, the party which entered its 25th year decided to axe those with not so clean image from various levels of public representation and bring in fresh faces with a good image among the masses," he said. According to Majumdar, apart from the rectification drive, the party has also identified the minority and women community for conducting a special outreach campaign. Minority party workers were scattered at various levels of the organisation. Some were with the youth wing, some with the main party, and some with the youth and women wing. The party is now working towards creating a combined data bank of its minority supporters and party workers across the state," he said. Majumdar said the idea behind creating a data bank of one lakh minority party workers first came up after the Sagardighi by-poll results, where Congress had snatched the minority-dominated seat from the TMC. The Sagardighi defeat was mainly due to a misinformation campaign by the opposition, which we failed to counter. The data bank will ensure that a proper mechanism of feedback and communication remains intact between the party leadership and the community," he said, adding that the data bank of one lakh minority supporters is almost complete. Opponents BJP, Congress and the Left mocked the ruling party over its cleansing drive. The TMC is neck deep in corruption. Just cutting down a few branches would not yield any results. The entire tree of corruption needs to be uprooted, and only the BJP can do it, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar told PTI. The TMC, after being in power for 11 years, is suddenly carrying out this rectification drive, though the party was charged with corruption from the very beginning, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty said adding These are attempts to fool the people." State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said, Corruption is a part of the TMCs culture " and such campaigns are a gimmick to divert peoples attention from graft cases. Political scientist Biswanath Chakraborty felt that the rectification exercise might not yield desired results as the party may have spoken about zero tolerance to corruption, but it is yet to implement it. This is unlikely to help the TMC as those at the forefront of the campaign themselves are having corruption charges against them," he said. Read all the Latest India News here Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Commerce & Industry Piyush Goyal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday attended the live broadcast of the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat radio address in Mumbai. In the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi said the radio broadcast is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians and it has ensured he is never cut-off from people. Modi said Mann ki Baat gave him a solution to connect with the people and was not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for him. The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Mumbai unit made arrangements for the live broadcast of the 100th episode of PM Modis monthly radio address on Sunday at 5,000 places across 36 Assembly constituencies in the city and suburbs. Through Mann Ki Baat, PM Narendra Modi crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation, building bridges between the people and the government," Amit Shah later tweeted. Through 'Mann Ki Baat', PM @narendramodi Ji crafts messages that venture into the nooks and corners of the nation, building bridges between the people and the government.Platforming dialogues on different regions, languages and dialects, he strengthens India's social democracy. pic.twitter.com/6DFaeCdsn2 Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 30, 2023 Today is a historic day. I had the privilege of witnessing the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat with the people of Kandivali, Maharashtra," Goyal tweeted. Goyal had on Saturday said that through Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to strike a dialogue with the masses and also sought participation by the people in the developmental process. Shah, who arrived in Mumbai on a private visit, attended the broadcast at an event organised in suburban Vile Parle and then proceeded to Kandivali. BJPs MP from North Central Mumbai Poonam Mahajan and local MLA Parag Alavani were also present at the event attended by Shah. Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been interacting with citizens through the Mann Ki Baat programme. As per a survey, the programme has reached nearly 100 crore listeners. It has nearly 23 crore regular listeners, he said. The survey showed that nearly 96 per cent of the people are aware about this programme and have heard it at least once. The works of people and organisations working in different fields across the country have also been honoured through this medium, Shelar said. In Mumbai, the BJP MPs, MLAs and party office-bearers attended the broadcast of the Mann ki Baat at events organised in their respective areas. Read all the Latest India News here A tweet by Ukraines defence ministry has sent shockwaves on social media in India. The tweet, which contained a morphed image of a female figure above blast smoke, sparked outrage from people in India for allegedly mimicking the Hindu deity Kali. Netizens have termed the tweet Hinduphobic" and sought an apology from Ukraine. The official Twitter account of Ukraines defence ministry posted a photo of a woman in an upskirt pose similar to Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe with the caption, Work of art. However, after the backlash, the tweet was removed. Taking to Twitter, Kanchan Gupta, Senior Adviser, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, said this is an assault on Hindu sentiments around the world. Recently #Ukraine Dy Foreign Minister was in Delhi soliciting support from #IndiaBehind that fakery lurks the real face of Ukraine Govt. Indian goddess Ma Kali has been caricatured on a propaganda poster.This is an assault on Hindu sentiments around the world.@UkrembInd https://t.co/r84YlsUtZc pic.twitter.com/q7jSG0vGXH Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) April 30, 2023 A user demanded that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar must take up the matter with the Ukrainian envoy to India. Shocked to see Ukraine defence handle mocking Maa Kali a supreme Hindu goddess. Dr S Jaishankar must take this up & summon Ukraine. I really hope Russia sends you more love Ukraine. #Ukraine #Russia #india," he tweeted. Shocked to see Ukraine defence handle mocking Maa Kali a supreme Hindu goddess. @DrSJaishankar must take this up & summon UkraineI really hope Russia sends you more love Ukraine #Ukraine #Russia #india pic.twitter.com/ulYqnF1ArN Desidudewithsign (@Nikhilsingh21_) April 30, 2023 Another user requested Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs to take note of this tweet. Shocked to see Ukraine defence handle mocking Maa Kali a supreme Hindu goddess. @DrSJaishankar must take this up & summon UkraineI really hope Russia sends you more love Ukraine #Ukraine #Russia #india pic.twitter.com/ulYqnF1ArN Desidudewithsign (@Nikhilsingh21_) April 30, 2023 Earlier this month, Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova, visited India and said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the eastern Europe country, and New Delhi to be more involved in its conflict with Russia. Dzhaparova, who visited India for the first time after Russia began its invasion of the east European country on February 24 last year, emphasized that Ukraine wants India to be more involved in helping resolving the conflict with Kremlin. We believe India should be engaged and involved in the Ukraine issue to a great extent," she added. Dzhaparova earlier said India is a global leader and can help in addressing key global challenges and promoting peace. She invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modis message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year that todays era is not of war. Read all the Latest India News here INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY 2023: International Jazz Day is not only a celebration of music, but its also an opportunity to promote education, cross-cultural understanding, and collaboration through the shared love of jazz. By bringing people together from different backgrounds and cultures, jazz can serve as a tool for promoting empathy, dialogue, and cooperation. The day is also an opportunity to recognize the contributions of jazz musicians and their role in shaping our cultural heritage. Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Ray Charles and Nina Simone are some of the legendary musicians who revolutionised American Jazz. International Jazz Day is celebrated on April 30, annually. Below, we look at the history and the significance of this day. International Jazz Day 2023: History Herbie Hancock, a celebrated jazz pianist and composer, proposed the idea of International Jazz Day as a way to promote intercultural dialogue, understanding, and cooperation through the shared love of jazz music. As a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, Hancock worked to gain the support of the organisation, which officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in 2011. The day is celebrated annually around the world, bringing together musicians, educators, and jazz enthusiasts to honour the cultural significance and rich history of jazz music. On International Jazz Day multiple nations take part in the event called All-Star Global Concert and the performances are live-streamed. For this year, Herbie Hancock will undertake a world tour through Beijing, Beirut, Casablanca, Johannesburg, Zimbabwes Marondera, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Vienna Fairbanks in Honolulu, and New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. The live webcast can be seen on jazzday.com, unesco.org and the YouTube and Facebook channels of International Jazz Day. International Jazz Day 2023: Significance International Jazz Day is a celebration of togetherness through the power of jazz music. It brings together not only jazz lovers and artists but also people from various walks of life like historians, academics, artists, children and communities. The day creates a great opportunity to learn about the jazz culture, traditions, and history, and helps propel jazz to the future. Music is a great unifier that cuts across cultural differences. It helps highlight the need for international and intercultural communication and cooperation and promotes peace, human rights and dignity, equality of opportunities, freedom of expression and gender equality among others. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here MAHARASHTRA DAY 2023: Maharashtra Day is that time of the year when pride and joy fill the hearts of Maharashtrians. It marks the day the state was formed in 1960. So, it goes without saying that May 1 brings the perfect opportunity for the natives for celebrate the rich cultural heritage, traditions, and achievements of their state. ALSO READ: Happy Maharashtra Day 2023: Wishes, Images, Quotes and Messages in English and Marathi to Share on May 1 Wearing a traditional outfit, especially Nauvari, is the finest option if you plan to participate in a procession or get-together in your neighbourhood on Maharashtra Day. Now, if you are curious to know what Nauvari is, keep on scrolling. What is a Nauvari? Nauvari is a traditional saree worn by women in the state of Maharashtra. The name means nine yards in Marathi, referring to the length of a saree. It is draped in a unique way, creating a trouser-like appearance, with one end tucked at the back and the other draped over the shoulder. The Nauvari saree is usually made of cotton or silk fabric and comes in a range of vibrant colors and intricate designs. Types Of Nauvari Sarees And Simple Steps To Drape Them: Traditional Nauvari Saree It is the original and the most authentic way of draping a Nauvari saree. It is believed that women were given the responsibility of helping their fellow male fighters during the Maratha regime. To facilitate free movement, Maharashtrian women invented the Nauvari saree, which gives the appearance of a mans trousers. A traditional Nauvari saree is draped like this: Steps to Wear Start by wearing a blouse and petticoat as you would for a regular saree. Take the saree and fold it in a way that a quarter portion of it is on your right side and the rest on your left. Now, tie a knot using both the ends. Tuck the knot at the back of your waist, making sure it is tight. Bring the saree from the back and drape it like a normal saree, but just the left portion. After draping one layer, the second loose one should be arranged into pleated and tucked into the knotted part. Similarly, take the smaller portion that is loose and make pleats of it. Take the remaining fabric and bring it between your legs, and tuck it into the waistband at the back. Take the end of the saree hanging over your left shoulder and bring it around your back, over your right shoulder, and let it hang loosely. Adjust the pleats at the front and make sure the saree is draped neatly. Peshwai / Brahmani Marathi Saree With the exception of the front drape, which has a front border drape, the basic drape style of the Brahmani Nauvari saree is similar to the traditional Nauvari saree draping. Typically, these sarees are made of cotton, silk, or cotton silk. Steps to Wear Pick the edge and tuck it into waists back portion after making the pleats, leaving a larger portion to the right and a smaller portion to the left. Returning to the lower front pleats, take the edge from the right knee and tuck it in a curving fashion to the left side. Contemporary Maharashtrian Saree This is a modern interpretation of the traditional Nauvari saree, featuring a fusion of western and traditional styles. The best thing is that you can wear pants instead of an underskirt with this saree draping style. Steps to Wear Start by wearing a blouse and petticoat/pants as you would for a regular saree. Take the saree and make a pleat at one end, tuck it in the center of your waist, and bring the other corner around your back. Take the saree fabric from the front and bring it to your left shoulder, making a pallu. Take the remaining saree fabric and drape it over your right shoulder, making sure it falls evenly on the front and back. Tuck the saree and you are done. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here Shes peaceful, funny, fun, graceful, shes pretty to look at and she has a great gait but her main quality is that she doesnt speak. It was love at first sight. - Karl Lagerfeld This is how the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld described his beloved cat, Choupette Lagerfeld, on Instagram. According to the New York Post, Choupette has received an invitation to attend the much awaited MET Gala 2023. Will she attend or not, is still the question? The 2023 Met Gala will honour the late designer with the theme Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty and will see guests from all across the globe attend the gala event on May 1, 2023. Given that Choupette has been an integral part of Lagerfelds life, it will be interesting to see if she will grace the iconic stairs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute in New York. Ahead of the iconic event, celebrities such as Alia Bhatt and Kim Kardashian have showered their love for Choupette in their own unique way. A few days ago, reality TV star Kim Kardashian took to Instagram and posted a series of images where she is seen sitting and posing beside Choupette. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kim Kardashian (@kimkardashian) Silencing the rumours on not being invited to the MET this year, Kim wrote: Had a date with @choupetteofficiel in Paris. We then spent some time at @karllagerfelds office to get a little inspiration for the Met. (sic) It will definitely be an iconic moment if Kim makes an entrance with Choupette. However, only time will tell. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Choupette Lagerfeld (@choupetteofficiel) While everyone has been playing the guessing game on who is invited and who is not? Choupette too joined the bandwagon and posted a playful video with a caption that read: Me, while everyone is wondering if Im going to the Met Gala. Have a lovely Sunday dear friends (sic). All set to make her MET Gala debut this year, Alia who will be seen donning a Prabal Gurung design on the red carpet, was seen letting in on her MET prep on instagram. Interestingly, Alia made a subtle Choupette reference in the post. Alia Bhatt posed with her beloved cat Edward. Taking to instagram Alia captioned both the pictures, as Prepping for the MET and the other picture said: with my very own Choup-Ed and completed it with a heart emoji. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here A special CBI court in Mumbai recently acquitted Sooraj Pancholi in the Jiah Khan suicide case. While acquitting Pancholi, Judge AS Sayyad said that the evidence against the Bollywood actor was vague and general. As reported by Hindustan Times, the court also argued that Jiah was, in fact, saved by Sooraj during one of her earlier suicide attempts. The judge further shared that Jiah was a victim of her own sentiments and blamed her mother, Rabia Khan for destroying the case The complainant (Rabia Khan) in her evidence directly blamed both the investigating agencies stating that they had not conducted a proper and correct investigation. By giving such open contradictory evidence, the complainant himself has destroyed the case of the prosecution," the court said. The complainant openly showed distrust on the prosecution. When the case of the prosecution was of suicide, the complainant stated it was a murder case. However, there is no charge of murder in this case. In fact, the complainant herself denied the prosecutions case and disowned her earlier statement. Inspite of the said fact, the prosecution requested to declare her hostile and continue the trial with such handicap evidence," the court added in its order. On April 28, 2033, Sooraj Pancholi was acquitted by a special CBI court in the Jiah Khan death case, citing a lack of evidence against him. Sooraj was present in the court along with his mother, veteran actress Zarina Wahab. Earlier today, Sooraj claimed in an interview that Jiah needed familial love and alleged that she had a lot of pressure to support her family since she was the only earning member. Jiah Khan was found hanging at her home by her mother, Rabia Khan in June 2013. Khan had also allegedly written a 6-page letter describing her relationship with Sooraj Pancholi. Following Jiahs death, her mother accused Sooraj and his family of mistreating Jiah. He was then booked for abetment of suicide. Sooraj was even arrested but was later released on bail. DISCLAIMER: This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). Read all the Latest Movies News and Entertainment News here It is now well established that the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted essential health services across the world. The World Health Organization has been tracking these disruptions through surveys in select countries. Its global pulse survey on continuity of essential health services during the pandemic reported that disruptions in routine outreach and facility-based immunisation services was nearly 50 percent each. Immunisation is a key child health programme, protecting children from serious diseases and even death. The Regions of the Americas became the first in the world to be certified polio-free by WHO in 1994; hence, a report of paralytic polio in an unvaccinated adult in Rockland County, New York state, in September 2022 was a significant setback. How well did Indias immunisation programme cope? Indias immunisation programme is among the largest in the world, vaccinating about 26.7 million infants and 30 million pregnant women annually. The logistics include 29,000 cold chain points, 240 walk-in coolers, 70 walk-in freezers, 45,000 ice-lined refrigerators, 41,000 deep freezers and 300 solar refrigerators. This infrastructure was a key pillar in mounting the Covid-19 vaccination programme. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, collected information of children aged under five between June 2019 and April 2021. An analysis interpreted that children experienced lower routine immunisation coverage and greater delays during the pandemic, and that those from rural areas experienced the highest reduction in vaccine coverage. An estimated three million children missed DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus) doses in 2020; this translated to a reduction of 6 percent against 2019 levels. India experienced several large outbreaks of measles, including deaths, but an accelerated response was able to contain it fairly rapidly. Containing the backslide: riding on sustained all-round strengthening Significantly, despite the backslide in immunisation in the first year of the pandemic, India was able to halt it in the second year despite the savage Delta wave. There were an estimated three million children with zero doses (unreached or missed out) between 2020 and 2021; it reduced to 2.7 million in the next year, a relatively smaller proportion given that this is the worlds largest birth cohort. This was quite in contrast to the global picture as is now emerging. The Indian strategic thinking is instructive. India declared immunisation as an essential service in April 2020 and followed it up with a set of detailed inputs and standard operating procedures. It was important to organise and ensure safe vaccination during pandemic restrictions, and guidelines were issued accordingly. Ongoing micro-plans were modified to identify vaccination sites, including in outreach settings, beyond Covid-19 restricted areas. Logistical arrangements were organised to prevent virus transmission at session sites. Regular reviews were conducted by national, state and district level managers. Based on the analyses of ground situations, modifications were made at frontline settings to respond to the evolving pandemic on a continuous basis. Periodic intensification of routine immunisation (PIRI) is a spectrum of time-limited, intermittent catch-up activities or campaigns to administer routine vaccinations to under-vaccinated populations. Indias Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI) is an adaptation of the PIRI; launched in 2014, it has contributed to significantly increasing fully immunised children. At least 250 high-risk districts and 152 medium-risk districts (with coverage improvement plans) benefited from the IMI 3.0 conducted during February-March 2021. Three rounds of IMI 4.0 were undertaken in 416 districts, identified based on vaccination coverage of NFHS-5, health management information system (HMIS) data and burden of vaccine preventable diseases. In view of the Delta wave, the states were given the option to conduct the operation either during February-April 2022 or March-May 2022. Several states organised additional catch-up campaigns too. The strengthening of electronic and digital arms of the programme also contributed in no small measure. The Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) has digitised vaccine stock management, logistics and temperature tracking at all levels of vaccine storage; it was operational in 32 states and union territories when the pandemic set in. The national cold chain management information system (NCCMIS) is a tool for planning and taking management decisions based on real-time information of cold chain equipment status. The global endorsement The State of the Worlds Children (SOWC) 2023 by UNICEF is a report that examined the impact of the pandemic on national immunisation programmes across the globe and concluded that the world is facing a red alert for childrens health. Between 2019 and 2021, 67 million children missed their scheduled vaccines, fully or partially. Consequently, resurgence of measles and polio outbreaks are on the rise as progress made over the last decade was set back to 2008 levels. Based on a recent report of the Vaccine Confidence Project (VCP), it is now known that perceptions towards the importance of vaccines for children have significantly declined since the pandemic in 46 of 55 countries studied. Agreement that vaccines are important for children increased in only three countries; India registered a 3.9 percent increase between pre- and post-pandemic cohorts, as did China and Mexico. India also registered a 6.7 percent increase in agreement that vaccines are important for children. India is consistently ranking among countries with high vaccine confidence, and this was found to be true for Covid-19 vaccination as well. Responding to the global crisis, the WHOs theme for the World Immunisation Week 2023 (April 24 to 30) was The Big Catch-up: to catch-up on children who missed their routine immunisation during the pandemic and restore essential immunisation coverage to at least 2019 levels. While India has done well to contain the backslide during 2021, there is still a lot to catch up on missed doses. India also needs to remain alert on maintaining the polio-free status and be able to meet the measles rubella elimination targets. (Rajib Dasgupta is professor at the Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and editor of the Indian Journal of Public Health) Read all the Latest Opinions here Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray has written a letter to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner and administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal, seeking answers from him over the Rs 263 crore worth possible scam" in buying street furniture. In his letter written on April 26, which Thackeray tweeted on Sunday, he sought access to the report of the three-member fact-finding committee formed after the allegations were made and also to the reports of quality tests of all the bidders conducted by the Veer Jijamata Technological University. He also alleged that the entire process seems to be rigged in favour of a particular contractor friend of the BMC". In the past few months, many irregularities in processes and financial transactions have come to light from the BMCI would like to seek further clarity on the street furniture mess that the BMC has created in my city, more so the hard-earned money of my city, to benefit one contractor friend of the BMC and those in government," the Worli MLA said targeting the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensation. One contractor has bagged the Rs 263 crore tender for street furniture. Many questions asked by me as a Mumbaikar have remained unanswered by the BMC," he said. Last month, Thackeray alleged a Rs 263 crore worth of scam" in the Mumbai civic bodys plan to buy street furniture, including benches. The civic body is set to buy thousands of street benches (almost 40,000) and planters (containers in which plants are grown) as part of the project, said Thackeray and asked where will the BMC install all these items. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said these products should be purchased on need basis by civic wards and not centrally through one tender. I have written about another possible scam in the making to the @mybmc administrator, seeking clarity on it. His conspicuous silence and inability to answer any of these questions posed by a Mumbaikar only increases the confirmation that this too, like roads, is a scam," Thackeray said in his tweet posted on Sunday. A similar letter was written by a ruling party MLA also, but I believe he hasnt got any response to it. Wonder why the state BJP supports the corrupt mindhe regime," he added. The Shiv Sena (UBT) refers the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena as Mindhe group" to mock it. Read all the Latest Politics News here With Nitish Kumar getting support from opposition leaders, a discussion is underway about who is the better Chanakya in the electoral battle Amit Shah, Nitish Kumar or Sharad Pawar. All of them are special in their own way but their ability to formulate poll strategy will be tested during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. For now, if we talk in the perspective of Bihar, Nitish Kumar is getting initial success as big leaders of the country are supporting him in his initiative for opposition unity. The role of the Congress party is extremely crucial for opposition unity. Its leaders have to show big hearts and allow regional parties to flourish in their own strongholds. For example, the Congress party had contested the previous West Bengal assembly election and not won a single seat. It has won one seat in a bypoll. Similarly, it contested 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh and won only two seats in the 2022 assembly election. It faces an identical situation in Telangana too," said Shivanand Tiwari, vice president of the RJD. The role of Nitish Kumar as a matchmaker is crucial here. He came up with the one seat one candidate formula which was accepted by the Congress party. This was the reason why Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had a conversation with Nitish Kumar followed by a meeting with Rahul Gandhi. The proposal of Nitish Kumar was also accepted by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Uttar Pradesh former CM Akhilesh Yadav. Still, the skills of Nitish Kumar will be tested when he manages to bring all these leaders on one platform. The political path of Nitish Kumar to bring all these leaders on one platform is not easy, followed by a unanimous decision on one seat, one candidate formula and most importantly a positive result in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll," Tiwari said. At this point of time, we cannot say who is the best Chanakya of the country Amit Shah, Nitish Kumar or Sharad Pawar. All of them are good. Everyone knows how Amit Shah works at the micro level to bring small parties or leaders who are influential in one or two districts, in favour of the BJP to divide the votes of the opposition parties. This is not a big thing, especially for the BJP," Tiwari said. For Nitish Kumar, uniting the opposition parties and converting the support of the people into votes and minimising the division of votes in the Mahagathbandhan will decide how good he will be as the Chanakya of the country," he said. Everyone is talking about how Rahul, Mamata and Akhilesh are supporting the initiatives of Nitish Kumar. I firmly believe that Nitish has his own working style to befriend the leaders of different political parties. When he was the Union railway minister, he never thought of developing one region of the country. He met the demands of every leader from north to south and from east to west. His personal relations with other leaders are very good which is his number one plus point. The other is his clean image. No one could drag him into any case of corruption, not even the BJP. Moreover, the recent moves of the BJP to selectively target leaders of the opposition parties like Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal also forced them and other such leaders to think about unity," Tiwari added. Read all the Latest Politics News here With the aim of improving agricultural productivity for food security in Egypt, Ambassador of Japan in Egypt Oka Hiroshi has recently signed a financing agreement with Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Egypt Nasredin Hag El-amin to provide a $3.8 million grant aid. The signing ceremony was held earlier this week in Cairo and was attended by Minister of International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Egypt Elena Panova, according to a statement by the FAO. The project will support the Egyptian governments efforts to ensure food security by increasing water productivity in agriculture and resilience to climate change. It will target small-scale farmers in rural areas of Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta with the introduction of modern irrigation facilities and solar-powered pumps, the installation of agri-voltaic greenhouses and the provision of highly efficient attachments for agricultural tractors and heat and saline-tolerant crop varieties, according to the FAO. Moreover, the project will collaborate with Tottori University in Japan, known for its expertise in dryland agriculture, and JICA's Improving Small-scale Farmers' Market-Oriented Agriculture Project (ISMAP) to increase farmers' incomes. Al-Mashat said that the project which is carried out in partnership with the Japanese government and FAO uses integrated and innovative solutions to achieve food security and support rural communities. It also contributes to Decent Life initiative (Haya Karima in Arabic) and falls within the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2023- 2027 that includes investing in human capital and environmental sustainability, she said. She added that the project also presents new solutions in transitioning towards a low carbon climate-resilient agriculture sector, while also complementing the country-platform for the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) Program. For his part, Sewilam said he was grateful to the Japanese government and to FAO for supporting this project which aims to improve the utilisation of water for agriculture, enhance water unit productivity and increase water efficiency. Egypt faces many challenges in the water sector, due to its limited water resources and the negative impacts of climate change. Climate change increases water requirements due to high temperatures. Therefore, the Egyptian government is carrying out major projects to increase water use efficiency and maximise water unit productivity, Sewilam stressed. On Sunday, Sewilam said that Egypts annual share of water is nearly 500 m3 per person. He added that the United Nations defines water scarcity as 1,000 m3 of water per person annually, which makes Egypt one of the driest countries in the world. Sewilam also noted that Egypt almost exclusively relies on the waters of the Nile River which comes from outside its borders. Ambassador Oka asserted that in addressing food security it is important to focus on "each and every human being." The Japanese government will work closely with the Egyptian government to provide food security, with the aim to deliver affordable, safe and nutritious food to each and every person, Oka said. Search Keywords: Short link: A mobile phone was thrown towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in Mysuru in poll-bound Karnataka on Sunday. However, the police said a woman BJP worker threw the phone out of excitement" and she had no ill-intention". The phone landing on the bonnet of the specially designed vehicle after it was flung at the vehicle did not go unnoticed by the Prime Minister who indicated about the object to the Special Protection Group (SPG) sleuths who were accompanying him. The Prime Minister was under the protection of the SPG. The lady (whose phone fell on PMs vehicle) was a BJP worker. The SPG people returned it to her later," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Alok Kumar told PTI. In the excitement (of the event), it was thrown and she had no (ill) intention but we are trying to trace the lady because the phone was handed over to her by the SPG sleuths," he added. #WATCH | Security breach seen during Prime Minister Narendra Modis roadshow, a mobile phone was thrown on PMs vehicle. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/rnoPXeQZgB ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 The incident happened when Modi, flanked by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and former ministers K S Eshwarappa and S A Ramadas, was waving at people who gathered in large numbers on both sides of the roads. With the mega roadshow, PM Modi concluded his whirlwind two-day campaign tour of Karnataka during which he addressed six public rallies. Modi flew into the heritage city from Beluru in Hassan district this evening after addressing his third public meeting of the day in the state and mounted on a specially designed vehicle. Addressing a rally in Belur, PM Modi attacked the Congress over infighting in the party, saying that it has become its characteristic feature wherever it is in power. The prime minister also targeted JD(S), dubbing it a B-team of the Congress. This time, Karnataka has decided to end the decades of jod-thod (coalition) politics. Congress and JD(S) both are signs of instability. In whichever states Congress governments are remaining, its identity there is because of rivalry between its leaders. You (people) are too seeing what is happening in Rajasthan and Chattisgarh, Modi said. Sharpening his attack on the grand old party, the prime minister said its leaders main objective is to serve a family sitting in Delhi, while JD(S) is completely a private limited party of a family. (With PTI inputs) Read all the Latest Politics News here Russian strikes battered cities across Ukraine on Friday, killing 26 people including five children, as Kyiv said preparations for a counter-offensive against Moscows forces were nearly complete. The deadly new attacks included a strike on a residential block in the historic city of Uman in central Ukraine, where AFP journalists saw rescue workers extracting victims remains from a destroyed residential building. The barrage of almost two dozen missiles ended a weeks-long pause following the repeated Russian strikes that had aimed to paralyse Ukraines energy grid during the winter months. On Friday evening, workers in Uman, the site of an annual Hasidic pilgrimage, pulled the body of another child from under the rubble. Authorities said Russian cruise missiles killed 23 people including four children in Uman. Earlier in the day, Dmitry, a 33-year-old resident from Lugansk, an eastern city under Russian control, was looking for his children. I want to see my children, they are under the rubble," he said. Rescuers were using cranes to search for survivors among the remains of the multi-storey housing block in the city of 80,000 inhabitants. Ive seen a lot, but I havent lost my children before. Now I want to see my children, alive or dead," Dmitry said. Russian missiles also hit the central city of Dnipro, already grief-stricken after a January strike on a tower block that killed more than 40 people. Authorities said the strikes in Dnipro killed a 31-year-old woman and her two-year-old daughter while they slept. The young womans parents were hospitalised. Neighbours say that it was a quiet and kind family," regional authorities said. Separately, authorities in the southern region of Kherson said on Friday evening that Russian forces shelled the village of Bilozerka, killing a 57-year-old woman and wounding another three people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the latest barrage and vowed a response. Only absolute evil can unleash such terror against Ukraine," he said in his evening address. His advisor Mykhaylo Podolyak tweeted: If you dont want THIS spread around the world, then give us weapons. Lots of weapons. And add sanctions." Moscow said it had targeted reserve units of the Ukrainian military and that all assigned objects were hit". Moscow-installed officials in eastern Ukraine said Ukrainian shelling had killed nine people, including an eight-year-old girl in the city of Donetsk. We are ready There were no reported casualties in Kyiv, which was among the cities targeted Friday. The capital had not been hit by missiles in more than 50 days, although last week it was attacked by 12 Iranian-made drones, eight of which were shot down without causing any casualties. Ukraine said overall it had downed 21 of 23 Russian missiles and two attack drones. The countrys air defence system has been bolstered in recent months by the delivery of Western equipment crucial to the countrys war effort. The new strikes came as Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said his countrys preparations to push back against entrenched Russian positions were almost complete. NATO allies and partners have provided Ukraine with 1,550 armoured vehicles and 230 tanks to form units and help it retake territory from Russian forces, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Thursday. Equipment has been promised, prepared and partially delivered. In a global sense, were ready," Reznikov said. Kyiv has said throughout the war launched by Russia in February 2022 that it is intent on repelling Moscows forces from territory they control in eastern and southern Ukraine. Preparations are coming to an end," Reznikov added of the planned offensive. Only way to survive As soon as there is Gods will, the weather and the decision of the commanders we will do it." But he added that Washingtons promised Abrams tanks will not have time to take part in this counteroffensive". Last month the Pentagon said the Abrams vehicles one of the most powerful and sophisticated weapons in the US army would arrive in Ukraine in late 2023. Most of the fighting has been focused on the eastern Donbas region, particularly the city of Bakhmut, which has been almost completely destroyed. Several Ukrainian soldiers told AFP that tough clashes in Bakhmut involved not only members of mercenary group Wagner but also Russian special forces. Not far from Bakhmut, Alex, 34, said the situation was difficult. We lack soldiers, we have many wounded, and also dead," he said. Sometimes in the trenches, you have to hide behind a corpse. Its the only way to survive." Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin said on Friday he had paid a rare visit to the embattled city and vowed Moscow would rebuild it. In need of allies to support its drawn-out war effort, Moscow has cultivated its relationship with China. The leaders of Ukraine and China spoke by telephone this week, with Chinese President Xi Jinping reportedly advocating peace talks. Xi and Zelenskys discussion on Wednesday was met by Russian accusations that Ukraine was undermining efforts to end the fighting. Zelensky said Friday he had asked Xi to help bring back Ukrainian children deported by Russia. Read all the Latest News here Armed robbers raided the Bulgari luxury jewellery boutique in the swanky Place Vendome in central Paris in broad daylight Saturday, making off with an estimated several million euros worth of items, police and prosecutors said. Three people who arrived on two motorbikes entered the store in the popular tourist district at around 1:45pm local time (1145 GMT), a police source said, citing preliminary information. Two were carrying long weapons, the source added, saying they had hit a security guard. Un braquage vient de se produire au sein de la Boutique Bulgari sur la Place Vendome a Paris. Les trois braqueurs ont reussis a prendre la fuite a bord de 2 motos. Ce nest pas la premiere fois que cette boutique est visee par un braquage. pic.twitter.com/FmL0x2kKci Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) April 29, 2023 The full extent of the haul and damage estimated at several million euros (dollars) was still being assessed, another source close to the inquiry told AFP. The same Bulgari boutique was also targeted in a daylight armed robbery in September 2021, when thieves made off with some 10 million euros ($10.6 million) in loot. Video footage posted on social media networks on Saturday appeared to show two large black motorbikes parked on the pavement in front of the jewellery shop. A man in a helmet with a gun and wearing black clothes is seen apparently standing guard. Later, three men can be seen fleeing the scene on two motorbikes. An investigation into armed robbery has been opened, the Paris prosecutors office said. Following the 2021 heist at the Bulgari store, one of the robbers was wounded in the leg by a police officer. He was arrested, charged and imprisoned. In June 2022, two other suspects, aged 26 and 37 at the time, were arrested. They were also charged and placed in pre-trial detention. The Italian jeweller Bulgari is owned by the French fashion conglomerate LVMH. Read all the Latest News here Pakistani police arrested two Muslim clerics for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in a religious school in eastern Punjab province, officials said Sunday. Chaudhry Imran, a spokesman for the Khanewal district police, said the attack happened Saturday when the boys uncle went to visit his nephew and arrived to find him being raped by a cleric in a side room of the school while another cleric waited. Imran said a complaint was filed by the boys uncle alleging the 10-year-old was abused by two clerics in the seminary where he has been studying for the last year. Imran said police did an initial investigation and then arrested two suspects. He said the boy was admitted to a local hospital suffering trauma and physical injuries. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually abused. Police would not allow an AP reporter to seek comment from the two clerics citing an ongoing investigation. The two men had not yet found legal representation, police said. Child sex abuse in Pakistans religious schools is prevalent and complaints from parents and relatives rarely lead to the arrest of accused religious clerics. An investigation by The Associated Press in May 2020 found dozens of police reports alleging sexual harassment, rape and physical abuse by Islamic clerics teaching in madrassas, or religious schools, throughout Pakistan. Many of the students who study in the madrassas are poor. Many families, overcome by shame and fear that the stigma of being sexually abused will follow a child into adulthood, choose instead to drop the charges or are often coerced into forgiving clerics. Read all the Latest News here The Texas shooting in the US, where five people including an eight-year-old child were killed by a neighbour, has brought the problems of gun culture and the resultant mass shooting to the foreground, once again. The drunken gunman, suspected to be behind the crime, stormed into the crowded house and opened fire with his semi-automatic weapon after the neighbours complained over the noise in his yard. The Texas killing is one of the latest in a series of shootings in the US, where there have been more than 170 mass shootings, defined as four or more people wounded or killed, so far this year. Though there have been several voices against mass shootings in general and gun laws in particular, the use of assault rifles goes mostly unchecked in the country with a vast gun culture. When it comes to the gun culture in America, the AR-15 has been the most ubiquitous and controversial weapon, with a major role in some of the countrys worst mass shootings. All about the AR-15 AR-15 has often been lauded as Americas Rifle" and vilified as the weapon of choice for mass shooters. The gun, which became available in the 1950s, is one of the most popular among gun owners in the US and there are over tens of millions currently in circulation. Guy gets stop and kills the cop with an AR 15 pic.twitter.com/yqOumF8U57 Dark leaks (@DarkleaksYt) April 24, 2023 These guns fire one bullet per trigger pull and automatically reload for a subsequent shot. It can also fire 30 rounds fast without reloading. A 2022 survey said that around 20 percent of the US gun owners owned AR-15s. Another study said that one in every 20 Americans owns one AR-15. Used in Worst Mass Shootings The infamous AR-15 is designed, like its military version, to kill people quickly and in large numbers, hence it is called assault-style rifle. The gun, popular among hunters and gun enthusiasts, has been used in frequent mass shootings resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians across the United States. It has been used in some of the worst massacres in recent US history, including the 2012 shooting at Sandyhook elementary school in Connecticut, where 26 people were killed, 20 of them small children. It was also used in the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida, which left 17 dead. In 2017, during Las Vegas slaughter, 58 people died of the shooting from the rifle. Similarly in the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016, 49 people died of the rifle. Bans in Progress Earlier this month, Washington state became the 10th in the nation to ban the sale of certain semi-automatic rifles. However, the legislation does not ban possession but rather the sale and transfer of assault weapons. The Washington law blocks the sale, distribution, manufacture and importation of more than 50 gun models, including AR-15s, AK-47s and similar style rifles. Nine states including California, New York and Massachusetts, along with the District of Columbia, have already passed similar bans. Colorado is also debating about similar gun measures. Bill Clinton Banned AR-15 In 1994, then US President Bill Clinton signed an assault weapons ban, which banned the AR-15 and other similar semiautomatic rifles for ten years. During the ban, mass shootings were down in the decade. However, when the law expired in 2004, gun manufacturers quickly began production and sales rose. Read all the Latest Explainers here Russia pilots have tried to dogfight US jets over Syria, in one of the several recent attempts of aggressive behaviours from Moscow pilots, a report has said. The Russian pilots didnt appear to be trying to shoot down American jets, but they may be trying to provoke the US and draw us into an international incident, a report in CNN quoted a US official. Armed Russian warplanes have been acting in hostile ways since March 1 which has led US military officials concerned about the possibilities for miscalculation and escalation. Dogfighting, in military aviation, is engaging in aerial combat, often at very close ranges. However, this is not a first instance where the Russian pilots have shown aggressive behaviour while patrolling in the air. A video from April 2 shows a Russian SU-35 fighter jet conducting an unsafe and unprofessional intercept of a US F-16 fighter jet. Another video from April 18 shows a Russian jet violating the coalition airspace and coming within 2,000 feet of a US aircraft. The American pilots have been cautioned by officers not to engage with the Russians. The US and Russia have, for several years, used a deconfliction line between the two militaries in Syria to avoid an encounter that could lead to escalation. The report said that the US officials reached out to their Russian counterparts over the incidents and the Russians have responded, but never in a way that acknowledges the incident. According to officials, Russian jets have violated deconfliction protocols 85 times since March, including flying too close to coalition bases and failing to reach out on the deconfliction line. The US has around 900 service members in Syria as part of the ongoing campaign to defeat ISIS. Earlier in March, a Russian SU-27 fighter jet collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in international airspace over the Black Sea, resulting in damage to the drones propellor, forcing it down in the water. Its concerning because it increases the risk of miscalculation, and given incidents like the MQ-9 intercept and subsequent downing over the Black Sea, its not the kind of behavior Id expect out of a professional Air Force, Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the commander of US Air Force Central Command, said in a statement earlier this month. Read all the Latest News here Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted Saturday in parts of Sudans capital Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a cease-fire between the countrys two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives. With ordinary Sudanese caught in the crossfire, the civilian death toll jumped Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties. In some areas in and around the capital, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning as the scale of fighting dwindled after the shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Now in its third week, the fighting has wounded 2,023 civilians, the syndicate added, although the true toll is expected to be much higher. The Sudanese Health Ministry put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people, the Doctors Syndicate said. Khartoum, a city of some 5 million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The outbreak of violence has dashed once-euphoric hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan after a popular uprising helped oust former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Foreign countries continued to evacuate their citizens while hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fled across borders. The first convoy organized by the United States to evacuate hundreds of American citizens from the conflict reached the coastal city of Port Sudan Saturday after a dangerous overland journey escorted by armed drones. Britain meanwhile was ending its evacuation flights Saturday, after demand for spots on the planes declined. The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday it had started evacuating its own citizens along with nationals of 16 other countries. Over 50,000 Sudanese refugees mostly women and children have crossed over to Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, raising fears of regional instability. Ethnic fighting and turmoil has scarred South Sudan and the Central African Republic for years while a 2021 coup has derailed Chads own democratic transition. Those who escape the fighting in Khartoum face more dangers on their way to safety. The route to Port Sudan, where ships evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long, exhausting and risky. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said that paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks outside Khartoum, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. Theres an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF, he said, referring to Dagalos Rapid Support Forces. They dont have a supply line in place. That could get worse in the coming days. Airlifts from the country amid the chaotic fighting also posed challenges, with a Turkish evacuation plane even hit by gunfire outside Khartoum on Friday. On Saturday despite a cease-fire extended under heavy international pressure early Friday clashes continued around the presidential palace, headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum, residents said. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. But in other areas, residents reported signs that the cease-fire had taken hold. We are not hearing the bombs as we did before, so were hoping that this means they will go back to a political process, said Osman Mirgany, a columnist and editor of the daily al-Tayar, who assessed it was safe enough on Friday to return home to Khartoum after seeking refuge in a far-flung village. But Khartoum residents are forced to live side by side with armed fighters. Many RSF militants have moved into civilian homes and taken over stores and hospitals in the capital. The paramilitary group even transformed Mirganys newsroom into a makeshift base, he said. Residents also must cope without sufficient electricity and running water, among other basic supplies. For the past 14 days weve suffered from a lack of everything, Mirgany said. Residents in the city of Omdurman, west of Khartoum, have been waiting at least three days to get fuel complicating their escape plans. The U.N. relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that U.N. offices in Khartoum, as well as the cities of Genena and Nyala in Darfur had been attacked and looted. Genenas main hospital was also leveled in the fighting, Sudans health ministry said. This is unacceptable and prohibited under international law, Griffiths said. Over the past 15 days, the generals have failed to deal a decisive blow to the other in their struggle for control of Africas third largest nation. The military has appeared to have the upper hand in the fighting, with its monopoly on air power, but it has been impossible to confirm its claims of advances. Soon, the Sudanese state with its well-grounded institutions will rise as victorious, and attempts to hijack our country will be aborted forever, the Sudanese military said Saturday. Both sides in the conflict have a long history of human rights abuses. The RSF was born out of the Janjaweed militias, which were accused of widespread atrocities when the government deployed them to put down a rebellion in Sudans western Darfur region in the early 2000s. A unit of Sudans armed forces, known as the Central Reserve Police, have been sanctioned by the United Staets for grave human rights violations against Sudans pro-democracy protesters. Accusations of rape, torture and other abuses against demonstrators carried out by the unit first surfaced in 2021, after Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a military coup that ousted a civilian government. The Sudanese Interior Ministry confirmed the deployment of the Central Reserve Police in Khartoum on Saturday, posting photos of the fighters riding with heavy machine guns mounted on pickup trucks. Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in the 2021 coup, appealed to the international community from a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, to push for an immediate halt to the conflict. He warned that a full-blown civil war in the strategically located country would have consequences not just for Sudan but for the world. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a proper civil war it is a huge country and very diverse it would be a nightmare for the world, he said. But the generals have so far publicly dismissed attempts to reach a compromise. Regional mediators have been unable to travel to Khartoum because of the fighting. African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki said he would nonetheless try to send peacekeepers to the country. Im ready to go there myself, even by road," Faki said. We ask the two generals to create the conditions for us to go to Khartoum. Read all the Latest News here Rival Sudanese forces on Sunday announced the extension of a truce they have largely violated, as warplanes roared overhead and fighting continued on the ground in Sudans capital. Deadly hostilities between the army and heavily-armed paramilitaries in Khartoum and other parts of the country have entered a third week. The latest widely-breached ceasefire was scheduled to formally expire at midnight (2200 GMT) before the rival forces announced an extension for 72 hours that the Sudanese army said came due to US and Saudi mediation". More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes for safer locations within the country or abroad since battles erupted on April 15. The fighting pits the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan against his ex-deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Witnesses on Sunday evening reported continued armed clashes as well as fighter jets soaring above various parts of the capital and its twin city Omdurman, across the Nile River. The civil aviation authority on Sunday announced Sudans airspace would remain closed until May 13, with the exception of aid and evacuation flights. There has been very heavy fighting and loud gunfire," a southern Khartoum resident told AFP earlier in the day. Further complicating the battlefield, Central Reserve Police, a paramilitary unit, were being deployed across Khartoum to protect citizens properties" from looting, the Sudanese police said, confirming an army statement. Police said Central Reserve had arrested 316 rebels", a reference to the RSF, which did not confirm the information and had previously warned police against joining the fight. The US Treasury Department last year sanctioned the Central Reserve for serious human rights abuses" related to its use of excessive force" against pro-democracy protests after the October 2021 coup that brought Burhan and Daglo to power. Daglos RSF is descended from the Janjaweed unleashed by former strongman Omar al-Bashir in Sudans Darfur region, leading to war crimes charges against Bashir and others. - God forbid - With projectiles crashing into residential buildings, supplies running short and daily life increasingly untenable for civilians, foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate their nationals by air, road and sea since the war began on April 15. But millions of Sudanese are still trapped in the country, where aid workers are among the dead, the UN said humanitarian facilities have been looted, and it has been forced to essentially halt all aid operations. A first Red Cross plane brought eight tonnes of humanitarian aid from Jordan to Port Sudan, which is so far untouched by the fighting. The aid included surgical material and medical kits to stabilise 1,500 patients. On Saturday the health ministry said the violence has wounded around 4,600 people and killed at least 528. Those figures are likely to be incomplete. Sudans former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warned Saturday against the conflicts deteriorating into one of the worlds worst civil wars. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play," Hamdok told an event in Nairobi. I think it would be a nightmare for the world." Khartoum authorities on Sunday put civil servants on open-ended leave due to the security situation". The UN World Food Programme has warned the unrest could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people already needed aid to stave off famine. Only 16 percent of health facilities are functioning in Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization, with many facilities shelled. The situation cannot be sustained" as medical supplies run short, warned Majzoub Saad Ibrahim, a doctor in Ad Damar, north of Khartoum. The warring sides have agreed to multiple truces but none has taken hold. An envoy of Burhans met on Sunday in Riyadh with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who called for the restoration of calm in Sudan, his ministry said. Egypt has called an Arab League meeting of its permanent delegates Monday to discuss the situation in Sudan". - Dangerous conditions - More than 75,000 people have been internally displaced in Sudan, the UN said, and almost 40,000 have crossed borders, mostly into Chad but also South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African Republic, aid workers said. More than 5,000 people have escaped to safety on Saudi Arabian ships across the Red Sea from Port Sudan, the kingdom said. Among them was Badriah al-Sayed, her Omani husband and their son, who joined about 50 other evacuees who reached Jeddah on a Saudi warship Sunday. Sayed told AFP she was grateful for their safety but could not shake the feeling she was losing a country". Britain said it would operate an additional evacuation flight, from Port Sudan on Monday, after already airlifting more than 2,000 people out of the country from an airport near Khartoum. Canada ended its air evacuations due to the dangerous conditions", having flown out more than 540 people, including Canadians, after large airlifts by France, Germany and other nations. Along with battles in the capital, fighting, looting and lawlessness in the long-troubled Darfur region has raised particular international concern. At least 96 people were reported killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, the UN said. The Carnegie Middle East Center said the deteriorating humanitarian situation is to the advantage of Daglo, also known as Hemeti, because the longer he can hold his ground in Khartoum, the more likely he will have a leverage at the negotiating table." But if the army pushes him out of the capital, Hemeti can potentially mobilise Arab tribes in Darfur and beyond, which could threaten Sudans unity." Read all the Latest News here A Texas man is at large after he fatally shot five people, including an 8-year-old boy, in a Friday night rampage that started with a noise complaint about gunfire. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The incident happened on Friday midnight in Cleveland, north of Houston, when neighbours asked the suspect to stop shooting the rife in his yard because a baby was trying to sleep. The suspect then walked into the neighbours house and started shooting. Here is all you need to know about the shooting: A total of 10 people were at the property at the time of shooting. The adults were declared dead at the scene while an eight-year-old died at a hospital. Multiple people were shot around the residence, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. Two women victims, who died in the shooting, used their bodies to shield two young children who survived. Later, the two victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children, who were unharmed. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, police said. The victims were shot above the neck at close range almost execution style, according to the police. The gunman is believed to have been using an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Police are using dogs and a drone in the hunt for the suspect, who is believed to be hiding in a nearby forest. Thought the authorities tracked the suspect Francisco Oropezas cell phone, but found it abandoned, along with his clothes. A local court has issued an arrest warrant for the suspect and assigned a $5 million dollar bond. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. These have been at least 18 shootings across the US since January 1 that left four or more people dead, according to The Associated Press database. Moreover, there have been at least 174 mass shootings in the US this year, where four or more people were injured or killed, according to CNN. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last years attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Read all the Latest News here Egypt signed an agreement last week with the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under which it will receive $336 million to support the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS). The money is being granted in the form of an Official Development Assistance (ODA) agreement which comprises providing concessional grants and soft loans, promoting the economic development and welfare of developing countries as the main objective. The agreement, according to Finance Minister Mohamed Maait, would help in expanding the UHIS to cover all Egyptian governorates. The system has so far been applied in the governorates of Port Said, Ismailia, Luxor, Aswan, and North Sinai. The amount will help in the achievement of Egypts Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], said Maait, adding that the agreement will help in completing the UHIS objectives by 2030 as was planned. Hossam Abdel-Ghaffar, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health and Population noted that implementing the UHIS requires huge amounts of money. It is essential to improve health services in existing hospitals, as well as build 135 new healthcare facilities and improve 5,314 health units, Abdel-Ghaffar said. Due to the amount of money required, Abdel-Ghaffar stated that JICA, the World Bank (WB), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the French Development Agency (AFD) vowed to provide Egypt with $1 billion to finance the countrys UHIS. The General Health Insurance Authority would be responsible for the administration and financing of the system, while the Health Ministry would provide health and treatment services in and out of hospitals. Under the new system, the government will provide its medical services to limited income brackets. This new system will give citizens the chance to enjoy health care at the hospital of their choice, thus creating competition among the private, governmental and military hospitals which will all be included in the new system, Abdel-Ghaffar said. The UHIS covers over 3,000 health services including surgical interventions, medical analyses, radiology scans, tumour treatments, organ transplantations, and prosthetic devices. This is in addition to visual and audio aids, dental treatment, therapeutic food, and other supplements, according to the latest treatments and internationally approved medicines. Abdel-Ghaffar pointed out that the system is being incrementally implemented in six phases which started in 2018 and will end in 2032. It initially began in Port Said and has been gradually rolling across the nations governorates. Priority has been given to governorates with the lowest income citizens. * A version of this article appears in print in the 6 April, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: US intelligence documents have been leaked on the Discord messaging platform revealing conversations between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his junior Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on foreign policy matters, according to a media report on Sunday. In one internal memo titled Pakistans Difficult Choices, parts of which were published by the Washington Post on Sunday, Khar cautions that Pakistan should avoid giving the impression of appeasing" the West, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. She warns that the country can no longer attempt to maintain a middle ground between regional neighbour China and the US. In the memo, Khar argues that preserving Pakistans partnership with the US would ultimately sacrifice the full benefits of its real strategic" partnership with China. The undated document does not specify how the US obtained access to Khars memo, a report published by the Washington Post revealed. The leak of US intelligence documents, posted largely on social media websites, was believed to be the most serious security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. The episode embarrassed the US by revealing its spying on allies, including Pakistan, and the purported military vulnerabilities of Ukraine. The leaked documents provide a rare glimpse into the private calculations made by influential regional powers such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and Egypt. The documents also offer new insights into the obstacles that the Biden administration faces in securing global support for its efforts. Another leaked document related to Pakistan dated February 17 describes Prime Minister Sharifs deliberations with an unnamed subordinate about an upcoming UN vote on the Ukraine conflict. The document says that an aide advised Sharif that support for the measure would signal a shift in Pakistans position, jeopardising its ability to negotiate trade and energy deals with Russia. Pakistan was among the 32 countries that abstained when the UN General Assembly vote took place on February 23. The Post report further said that Pakistani officials as well as those from other countries named in the leaked documents declined to comment. The story emerges at a time when Washington has already confirmed that it has no objections to Pakistans decision to import oil from Moscow. Each country will make its own sovereign decisions regarding its energy supply," US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a weekly briefing. According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Matias Spektor, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said developing nations are recalibrating their positions as America faces potent new competition from China and Russia. Its unclear who will end up in a pole position in 10 years time, so they need to diversify their risk and hedge their bets, Spektor told the Post. Read all the Latest News here A US federal agency has announced plans to modernise the H-1B registration process after detecting abuse and fraud by some companies to artificially boost their chances of winning the coveted visa for their skilled foreign workers in the computerised drawing of lots. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. Technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. In an unusual statement, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday said, based on evidence from the Financial Year 2023 and Financial Year 2024 H-1B cap seasons, it has already undertaken extensive fraud investigations and denied and revoked petitions. The USCIS, the federal agency that awards H-1B visas, said it is in the process of initiating law enforcement referrals for criminal prosecution. It said that it has found that a small number of companies are responsible for entering the same applicants into the lottery multiple times, with the alleged goal of artificially boosting their chances of winning a visa. The H-1B programme is an essential part of our nations immigration system and our economy, and the USCIS is committed to implementing the law and helping meet the ever-changing needs of the US labour market, it said. We are working on an upcoming H-1B modernisation rule that will propose, among other improvements, bolstering the H-1B registration process to reduce the possibility of misuse and fraud in the H-1B registration system, it added. The USCIS said during the registration period for the FY 2024 H-1B cap, it saw a significant increase in the number of registrations submitted compared to prior years. It said there were 7,80,884 applications for H-1B visas in this years computer-generated lottery, against 4,83,927 in 2023 and 3,01,447 in 2022 and 2,74,237 in 2021. Generally, it saw an increase in the number of registrations submitted, the number of registrations submitted on behalf of beneficiaries with multiple registrations, and the number of registrations submitted on behalf of unique beneficiaries with only one registration. The number of registrations tied to people who applied more than once rose to 408,891 this year from 165,180 last year and 90,143 the year before, it said. H-1B visas are issued for three years and can be extended another three years. The federal agency warned that if the information provided by an applicant or a company was not correct, it will find the registration to not be properly submitted and the prospective petitioner would not be eligible to file a petition based on that registration. The USCIS may deny a petition, or revoke a petition approval, based on a registration that contained a false attestation and was therefore not properly submitted. Furthermore, USCIS may also refer the individual or entity who submitted a false attestation to appropriate federal law enforcement agencies for investigation and further action, as appropriate, it said. A group of US tech workers, who are campaigning against the H-1B visas, said it has spoken about such a fraud for the past several years. The Trump administration had proposed a fix to the H-1B lottery by prioritising selection based on highest wages. You sued the administration so now you have to deal with the fraud that you are complaining about, it said in a statement. Read all the Latest News here Soon after the Russian invasion, the hoaxes began. Ukrainian refugees were supposedly taking jobs, committing crimes, and abusing handouts. The misinformation spread rapidly online throughout Eastern Europe, sometimes pushed by Moscow in an effort to destabilize its neighbors. It's the kind of swift spread of falsehood that has been blamed in many countries for increased polarization and an erosion of trust in democratic institutions, journalism, and science. But countering or stopping misinformation has proven elusive, reports the AP. New findings from university researchers and Google, however, reveal that one of the most promising responses to misinformation may also be one of the simplest. In a paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances, researchers detail how short online videos that teach basic critical thinking skills can make people better able to resist misinformation. It's an approach called pre-bunking and it builds on years of research into an idea known as inoculation theory that suggests exposing people to how misinformation works, using harmless, fictional examples, can boost their defenses to false claims. Google plans to roll out a series of pre-bunking videos soon in Eastern Europe focused on scapegoating, which can be seen in much of the misinformation about Ukrainian refugees. That focus was chosen by Jigsaw, a division of Google that works to find new ways to address misinformation and extremism. Pre-bunking videos, however, don't target specific claims, and they make no assertions about what is true or not. Instead, they teach the viewer how false claims work in generalwhether it's a claim about elections or NASA's moon landings, or the latest outbreak of the avian flu. That transferability makes pre-bunking a particularly effective way of confronting misinformation, according to John Cook, a research professor at Australia's Monash University who has created online games that teach ways to spot misinformation. We've done enough research to know this can be effective," Cook said. What we need now is the resources to deploy this at scale. (Read more misinformation stories.) Warplanes on bombing raids drew heavy anti-aircraft fire over Khartoum on Saturday as fierce fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitaries entered a third week, despite a renewed truce. Sudan has plunged into chaos and lawlessness since the fighting erupted on April 15 between forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Burhan and Daglo have agreed to multiple truces since the start of the conflict, but none has effectively taken hold, with each side blaming the other for breaching them. The latest three-day ceasefire was agreed Thursday after mediation led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the United Nations aimed at securing a more lasting truce. "We woke up once again to the sound of fighter jets and anti-aircraft weapons blasting all over our neighbourhood," a witness in southern Khartoum told AFP. Another witness said fighting had been ongoing since the early morning, especially around the state broadcaster's headquarters in the capital's twin city of Omdurman. Residents across Khartoum -- home to five million people -- have largely sheltered at home despite supplies of food and water dwindling to dangerously low levels, and a lack of electricity. Some managed to sneak out only during brief lulls in fighting to buy desperately needed supplies. Trading blame As battles raged on the ground, the two rival generals took aim at each other in the media, with Burhan branding the RSF a militia that aims "to destroy Sudan", in an interview with US-based TV channel Alhurra. He also claimed "mercenaries" were pouring over the border from Chad, Central African Republic and Niger to exploit the chaos. Daglo denounced the army chief in an interview with the BBC, saying he was "not trustworthy" and a "traitor". The clashes have so far killed at least 512 people and wounded 4,193, according to the health ministry, with the death toll feared to be much higher. Some 75,000 have been internally displaced by the fighting in Khartoum and the states of Blue Nile, North Kordofan, as well as the restive western region of Darfur, the UN said. Tens of thousands of Sudanese have fled into neighbouring countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad and South Sudan, while foreign countries have carried out mass evacuations of their nationals. The United Nations said on Friday that its last international staff had been evacuated from Darfur. The World Food Programme has said the violence could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people -- one-third of the population -- already need aid to stave off famine. "Alarming" conditions in Darfur In West Darfur state, at least 96 people were reported to have been killed in the city of Geneina since Monday, according to UN human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani. The UN described the situation in Darfur as "alarming" while Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said there were reports of widespread looting, destruction, and burning of property, including at camps for displaced people. "The current fighting has forced us to stop almost all of our activities in West Darfur," said Sylvain Perron, MSF's deputy operations manager for Sudan. "We are incredibly worried about the impact this violence is having on people who have already lived through waves of violence in the previous years." Darfur is still reeling from its devastating 2003 war, when then hardline president Omar al-Bashir unleashed the Janjaweed militia, mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes, to crush ethnic minority rebels. The notorious Janjaweed -- accused by rights groups of committing atrocities in Darfur -- later evolved into the RSF, which was formally created in 2013. The scorched-earth campaign left at least 300,000 people dead and close to 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures, and saw Bashir charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court. Burhan and Daglo -- commonly known as Hemeti -- seized power in a 2021 coup that derailed Sudan's transition to democracy, established after Bashir was ousted following mass protests in 2019. But the two generals later fell out, most recently over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army. Search Keywords: Short link: Next month, a parole board in Florida will decide whether 57-year-old Leo Schofield should be released from prison after more than three decades. Schofield was convicted of the 1987 murder of his 18-year-old wife, Michelle Saum Schofield, and as Richard Bockman writes in the Tampa Bay Times, he would surely have a better chance at parole if he were to admit to the crime for the first time and express remorse. In a jailhouse interview, Schofield says he will not do so because it would dishonor his wife's memory. He insists he is innocent, and Bockman's story raises all kinds of red flags about the evidence, or lack thereof, used in his conviction. "So much of the prosecutions case makes you wonder," he writes. For one thing, no physical evidence ties Schofield to the fatal stabbing. What's more, investigators found fingerprints in the couple's Mazda they could not identify at the time of the murder. Nearly 20 years later, the prints were revealed to belong to a convicted murderer named Jeremy Scott, a man with a "monstrous criminal history," writes Bockman. And what does Scott, currently imprisoned, have to say about that? In a 2022 podcast called Bone Valley, he confessed to murdering Michelle Saum Schofield after encountering her at a pay phone. "She was just at the wrong time, wrong place," he said. And as for husband Leo Schofield, "he's innocent." Case closed? Nope, prosecutors say that Scott is lying and that Leo Schofield is the guilty party. Read the full story for much more on the case. (Or read other longform stories.) When Hope Carrasquilla and her family arrived in Florence on Friday, they went straight to the Accademia Gallery. The Floridians had traveled to Italy to see the museum's main attraction: Michelangelo's David, who was sculpted without clothesan artistic decision that, more than 500 years later, cost Carrasquilla her school principal job in Tallahassee when parents complained about students being shown images of the statue in class. "I am happy to be able to welcome her and introduce her to the beauties of our museum, besides showing her the David, a sculpture that, I repeat as I have said, has nothing to do with pornography,'' said Cecilie Hollberg, director of the museum, per USA Today. "The thing that impresses me the most is that this whole gallery was built for him," Carrasquilla told the BBC in a statement. Having seen the statue in person now, she added: "Michelangelo would have done him wrong to sculpt him in any other way. I think it's wonderful." Hollberg, who had invited Carrasquilla to the gallery, said in a statement that David is "a masterpiece, it represents a religious symbol of purity and innocence, the victory of good over evil." (Read more Michelangelo stories.) President Biden addressed the annual jokey White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday and slipped in to the expected president-as-comedian role. He included himself, specifically his age, among the targets. Some of the bigger lines, via NPR, the Washington Post, and CNN: "Call me old, I call it being seasoned," said the 80-year-old president. "You say I am ancient, I say I'm wise. You say I'm over the hill, Don Lemon would say, 'That's a man in his prime.'" That's a dig at the recently fired Lemon's comments about Nikki Haley. "You might think I dont like Rupert Murdoch. Thats simply not true. How could I dislike a guy that makes me look like Harry Styles?" I had a lot of Ron DeSantis jokes ready, but Mickey Mouse beat the hell out of me, he got there first." It's a reference to this. Biden said he was offered $10 to keep his speech under 10 minutes. Thats a switch, a president being offered hush money, he said in a dig at former President Trump. "Last year, your favorite Fox reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. This year, with that $787 million settlement, theyre here because they cant say no to a free meal. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. followed Biden. "Real quick, Mr. President, I think you left some of your classified documents up here," he said. Wood drew some boos with this joke, notes NPR: "Drag queens are not at a school to groom your kids. Stop it," he said. "And even if they were, most of them kids are going to get shot at school." He then added, "Don't groan, pass legislation." (Read more President Biden stories.) Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others on Sunday, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor and for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapest's Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and Budapest's famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. Francis' three-day visit has been dominated by the Vatican's concern for the plight of migrants and the war in neighboring Ukraine, the AP reports. Among the more than 30,000 people attending Mass in the square were President Katalin Novak and the right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation for Hungary's recent welcome of Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Orban's hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-16 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to keep people out. Upon arrival, Francis urged Hungary and Europe as a whole to welcome those fleeing war, poverty, and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. "How sad and painful it is to see closed doors," Francis said in his homily on the Danube. "The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor." "Please, let us open those doors!" he said. In a final prayer at the end of the Mass, Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and "a future of hope, not war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of brothers and sisters, not walls." Francis' visit to Hungary brought him as close as hes been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Orban's avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularizing Western world. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapest's bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. "Be open and inclusive," the pope added in his homily, per Politico, "then, and in this way, help Hungary to grow in fraternity, which is the path of peace." (Read more Pope Francis stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. The Daily News-Miner is locally owned by the Helen E. Snedden Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Subscribe or donate Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High around 50F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. Egypt halted the evacuation of Egyptian citizens from the Wadi Seida Airbase outside Khartoum over security concerns, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday. The Ministry urged those at the base to leave when possible and proceed to one of the designated gathering and evacuation points. According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, the current gathering and evacuation points for Egyptian citizens in Khartoum include the Egyptian Consulate in Port Sudan, along with the Qustul and Argeen border crossings. Earlier, the US Department of State issued a warning for Americans to avoid the Wadi Seidna Airbase starting on 29 April due to the threat of increased violence. The old airbase 22 km north of Khartoum, dating back to World War II, is vital in evacuating foreign nationals from Sudan as the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces enters its third week. Khartoum International Airport has been out of service since the first days of the conflict. On Friday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that 6,399 citizens evacuated via air or land ports. They added that the Egyptian Armed Forces conducted 27 aerial missions to evacuate the citizens. The Egyptian diplomatic mission relocated to Khartoum to facilitate the implementation of the national plan to evacuate Egyptians in Sudan and ensure their safety. On Monday, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced that Mohamad El-Gharawi, an assistant administrative attache at the Egyptian embassy in Khartoum, was killed on his way to the embassy headquarters to follow up on the evacuation of Egyptians in Sudan. According to estimation, there are 10,000 Egyptians currently living and working in Sudan, including 5,000 students. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry has also launched a 24/7 hotline service concerning Sudan on the following numbers: 01281943533,01283176900,01281943599,01283176913,01283176857,01283176881,01283176903,01283176894, 01281943990,01283176866 Search Keywords: Short link: Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High around 50F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy late. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The Shura Council will discuss an agreement today to link the payment system of Bahrain with the cross-border payment systems of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as per Decree No. (20) of 2022 to promote economic integration among GCC countries. The discussion will focus on a report by the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, which aims to improve the safety and efficiency of joint payment systems and reduce potential risks to maintain financial stability within the participating GCC countries. The agreement also seeks to establish central and supervisory banks, oversight systems, clearing operations, and regional infrastructure to support the unified payment systems in the GCC countries. The Financial and Economic Affairs Committee believes this agreement aligns with the global trend of expanding utilisation of financial technologies and future foresight. In addition, the session will address questions by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Ali Al Khalifa to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture on projects, agricultural lands, and palm statistics and by Hamad bin Mubarak Al Nuaimi to the Minister of Works on the Ministrys plan to utilise the available spaces under the bridges. Indian Minister to visit Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from tomorrow Indian Minister to visit Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from tomorrow Agencies | New Delhi The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com India's Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, V Muraleedharan, will be paying official visits to Saudi Arabia and Bahrain starting tomorrow. During the visit, he will meet his counterpart ministers in both countries and interact with the Indian community. His visit to Saudi Arabia from May 1 to 3 comes very close to his visit from April 25 to 28 to Jeddah to oversee Operation Kaveri for evacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan. Mr Muraleedharan will meet Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Eng. Waleed Elkhereiji and other dignitaries in Riyadh on May 1 and 2. He will have an interactive session with the Indian community in Riyadh and also have separate engagements with various Indian diaspora organizations. On May 3 he will visit the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and meet the top leadership of the province. He will also interact with the Indian community in Dammam and Jubail and meet different business groups, including Indian companies. His visit is expected to further deepen India-Saudi strategic partnership. Mr Muraleedharans visit to Bahrain will be his second visit to the country. He had last visited Bahrain in August 2021. He will hold discussions with various Bahraini dignitaries and meet Indian community organisations as well as Indians working in different sectors. He will also inaugurate the Indo-Bahrain Dance and Music Festival being organised by Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam and Embassy of India, with support of Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM). Just 0.8 percent, or 15, of the 1,836 companies listed on the top-tier Prime Market on the Tokyo bourse were headed by women as of the end of January, according to credit research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd, reflecting the struggle among major businesses to embrace diversity in management. The small number of women in positions with representative rights at top-tier firms compares unfavorably with a record high 8.2 percent of approximately 1.19 million businesses in Japan reporting they had a female president in 2022, the research found. Japan is "extremely slow compared with other countries," in promoting women to prominent positions, Shintaro Yamaguchi, a professor specializing in labor economics at the University of Tokyo, told Kyodo News. The findings match those released by British magazine The Economist in March, which ranked Japan second-from-last among developed nations regarding the role and influence of women in the workforce. ...continue reading This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DANBURY Stephanie Lyons-Keeley and her husband Wayne Keeley found comfort in their Minskin kitten Luke after the death of Keeley's 23-year-old son in 2020. Now, the couple strives to help local students relax, de-stress, and understand people and animals with disabilities by bringing Luke and other cats with disabilities to college campuses. They visit Western Connecticut State University and Naugatuck Valley Community College's Danbury and Waterbury campuses during midterms and finals to provide pet therapy. Its a responsibility that we have as human beings to take care of animals that cant take care of themselves, Lyons-Keeley, a psychology professor at NVCC, said, and we inspire people Weve taken the stigma out of disability, which we try to do with humans as well. Luke has spina bifida, a congenital condition that can cause loss of coordination, abnormal walking, and urinary and fecal incontinence. Luke is joined by Billie Eyelash, a tabby with a rear leg deformity; Ruby, who has moderate cerebellar hypoplasia; and Sammy, who was disabled as a result of abuse. During a "Cats on Campus" event on Wednesday at NVCC's Danbury campus, a few students said their interactions with the cats changed the way they think about animals with disabilities. I was taught by my parents to get cats from the shelter that are the healthiest, said Cole Rondon, a NVCC freshman from Danbury, but now that I met them, I would consider them as companions as well. Bringing Luke home Lyons-Keely and Keeley of Danbury adopted Luke following the death of Keeleys son, Wyatt, who died in December 2020 from complications from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a genetic disorder that affects the muscles. Keeley, a communications professor at Western, said he was overwhelmed with grief from his sons death when he found a video on Instagram of a kitten trying to climb the stairs after his brother. Keeley said the kitten reminded him of his son, and he was inspired to bring the kitten home. Wyatt was an animal lover, Keeley said, and he had this smile and this intensity and this innocence that we see in Luke and the other animals. The couple named the kitten who was then called Able Luke after Luke Skywalker to honor Wyatt Keeleys love of Star Wars. Lyons-Keeley said opening their minds and hearts to Luke inspired them to look into adopting another disabled cat. Today, she said they have multiple cats with disabilities, four of which have a neurological disorder called cerebellar hypoplasia that causes uncoordinated movement and loss of balance. 'The cats are here' Lyons-Keeley said she remembered the hallway was lined with students when she and Keeley had their first "Cats on Campus" at Western last year. I thought that cant be for us, she said. "And I heard students saying, The cats are here, the cats are here, and I was so overwhelmed. It was a small room, so students had to wait to come in and it was packed the entire time. Lyons-Keeley said they visited NVCC's Danbury campus twice last semester. They visited the Danbury campus on April 26 and will return again on May 3 and May 10. Among the students at the most recent visit was Harmony Reynoso, a freshman from Danbury. Honestly, I feel all animals are like humans, she said. They deserve the same kind of love and respect. Keeley said each college visit has had a constant influx of students coming in and out. We actually had to have some people leave the room to make sure they had enough room for the students, said Tammy MacBrien Downs, a counselor at NVCC. Its at the point now that we have the students asking, When are the cats going to be back? She said having the cats on campus is an opportunity to see we all have differences and people drop their guard once they see the cats. Broadening their scope Lyons-Keely said theyd like to bring their cats to nursing homes and other facilities for pet therapy and talking about responsible pet ownership. In addition to working on a childrens book and a graphic novel about Luke, the couple have been working on a documentary about their experiences and growing their social media presence. Luke has more than 34,400 followers on TikTok and about 5,560 followers on Instagram. Lyons-Keeley said they have also talked to Danbury Public Schools about bringing their cats in for anti-bullying programs to increase awareness around animal disabilities and anti-bullying. I can see myself sitting down and saying, You wouldnt bully this cat, would you? she said. If they cant conceive of harming an animal and making fun of an animal, it may register to them in a different way. Since this discussion so often turns to emotional appeals, lets get this out of the way at the top. If it was my family, Id feel differently. When prison commutations recently increased in Connecticut, it was the voice of families that led to outrage and, ultimately, change. And its easy to see where theyre coming from. If I had lost a family member to violent crime, I wouldnt want the person who committed that crime getting out of prison one minute before the sentence was up. Likely not even then. And yet most people understand that while the voice of victims and their families must be heard, they are not the final word. Thats not supposed to be how we make laws. There was nothing unlawful about the increase in prison commutations recently recorded in Connecticut. The numbers increased, but that followed a shutdown of the system during COVID that created a backlog. When the system restarted, there were many candidates for release, which is part of the reason why numbers went up. The bigger picture is the story of mass incarceration in America. If were going to get away from the era of locking people up and forgetting about them, that means a range of changes, including revisiting long-ago decisions. It means we need to pay attention to what happens when people are imprisoned for decades on end. There is plenty of evidence showing that people who commit violent acts in their younger days are not necessarily dangerous in middle age. We are, at the same time, contributing to the dissolution of families and neighborhoods as people lose half their lives or more behind bars. All this can sound like so much liberal coddling, but there are hardheaded reasons for taking on mass incarceration, too, and it starts with the cost savings from closing prisons. If you want to cut public spending, there are few better places to start. The current situation in Connecticut is that commutations, which are a shortening of a sentence for someone currently serving time, are on pause. They became much more common in recent years under Carleton Giles, a former Norwalk police officer who was until recently head of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles, from an average of about three per year to 71 in 2022. That led to the uproar that brought Giles replacement as head of that board. What no one has done is show why the increase in commutations was wrong, or even against any rules. There have been arguments on an emotional level, which is understandable. There have not been arguments made on a practical level, or from a public safety standpoint. Instead, at the urging of legislative Republicans, Gov. Ned Lamont, ostensibly a Democrat though lately its harder to tell, bowed to pressure, replaced Giles and stopped everything. This is how mass incarceration continues. If anyone would know how this kind of story typically plays out, its Lamont. He just a few months ago won a second term as governor against an opponent who desperately wanted people to believe that dangerous criminals lurked around every corner. No one downplays the reality of street crime, but people also realize that living their lives in constant fear doesnt work, either. Connecticut voters rejected that message in November, which is why Lamont is still governor. Today, by giving into demands of Republicans, hes playing into the same dynamic. Among the ironies of the current controversy is that commutations are not at the top of the list of preferred policies for reducing inmate populations. As described by Wanda Bertram, communications strategist for the nonprofit Prison Policy Initiative, commutations are individually based with a long application process and often have little chance of success. One survey found an average of one commutation for every 10,000 imprisoned people each year. People who are having their sentences shortened after decades in prison are likely older than their years. Some 10 percent of the prison population in Connecticut is over 55, and physically the wear of incarceration puts them in worse shape than a typical 55-year-old. These are not people at high risk of recidivism. Theres no question the difference it makes in the lives of those affected, but even there were talking about dozens of people in a system where thousands are behind bars. Nothing has changed about the fundamental questions of incarceration. And yet even this was too much, in a relatively safe state like Connecticut. In a recent interview that was mostly focused on budgets and tax cuts, Lamont said he thought a pause in commutations was the right move. He also said there was legislation in the works to clarify procedures moving forward. That shouldnt be necessary. No one has indicated the boards previous leadership violated any rules in granting commutations; the only reason people raised alarms is that the numbers surprised them. Thats not a reason to rewrite the book. We need to get past the notion that prison populations can be cut significantly by focusing solely on low-level drug offenders. Thats part of the equation, but to truly roll back harmful policies, we need to revisit sentences for people who have committed violent crimes. Studies have shown we can do that without endangering the public. If anything, officials should be looking to match or exceed the numbers the Parole Board had been reaching. Theres no way to take on the legacy of mass incarceration other than to undo it, one step at a time. This is one of those ways. Japanese investments in Egypt surged in FY2021/2022, even as trade between the two countries declined by 26.3 percent to $1.1 billion from $1.6 billion in FY2020/2021, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) on Sunday. According to CAPMAS, Egyptian exports to Japan dropped 53 percent to $260.8 million in FY2021/2022, compared to $554.4 million in FY2020/2021. Meanwhile, Egypt's imports from Japan decreased by 11.6 percent to $888.5 million. Top Egyptian exports to Japan during this time included fuel, mineral oils and distilled products, while its top imports were boilers, machines and apparatuses. However, Japanese investments in Egypt surged by 98.7 percent to $73.7 million in FY2021/2022 from $37.1 million in FY2020/2021. The CAPMAS announcement came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida started a three-day visit to Egypt on Saturday as a part of a trip to Africa. During the visit, Egyptian and Japanese leaders will discuss ways to promote relations between the two countries, in addition to international and regional peace and security, Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Ahmed Fahmy revealed. Egypt's trade balance deficit reached $2.48 billion in January 2023, a 47 percent drop from the $4.68 billion figure recorded in the same month in 2022. The drop was mainly driven by the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which led to fewer imports. Short link: There is another relatively thorough attempt to analyze SpaceX revenue. Payload Space underestimated Starlink revenue in October 2022 for 2022 at less than $1B and then had to revise up $1.87B. They are still underestimating for 2023 but it is relatively up to date if SpaceX is unable to really scale Starlink monthly dish production from 150k per month. My, Nextbigufuture, analysis is higher revenue for Starlink in 2023. Payload Space is missing various government contracts and underestimating Starlink but I think they are reasonably close for 2022 and a conservative 2023 projection. Reaching about $11 billion in revenue in 2023 should make SpaceX profitable. SpaceX COO Gwynn Shotwell said SpaceX had one cashflow-positive quarter in 2022. If SpaceX is able to increase Starlink satellite dish production to 500,000 dishes per month by mid-2023 then they could make 1 million in first half of 2023 and 3 million in the second half. This would nearly double the 2023 revenue projection for Starlink over Payload Space. SpaceX was adding 150k Starlink users per month at the end of 2022. Just carrying that rate forward and SpaceX would have 1.6-1.7M subscribers now. This is about a $3.5-4B per year revenue runrate. Two major communication lines of business starting this year. Starshield and Direct to Cellphone via Gen 2 satellites. Monthly dish production is the limiting factor on Starlink revenue. 4% of the orbiting satellites provide service to 80% of the Starlink customers who are in North America. The current orbital satellites can support 20 million global customers. Doubing the orbital bandwidth in 2023. 40 million serviceable capacity by the end of 2023. Ramping dish production to 1-2 million per month to rapidly capture those customers is the only factor preventing SpaceX Starlink from getting to $30-60 billion per year in revenue early in 2024. Payload Space makes a good attempt to breakout launch revenue. They ignore the Starshield and the Gen 2 Direct to cell businesses. Payload Space does not consider the new Starshield revenue and business. Starshield is the center of an end-to-end offering for national security: SpaceX would build everything from the ground antennas to the satellites, launch the latter with its rockets, and operate the network in space. Starshield uses additional high-assurance cryptographic capability to host classified payloads and process data securely, building upon the data encryption it uses with its Starlink system. SpaceX is providing 20,000 secure Starlink terminals in the Ukraine. Provided in months and require constant software updates to stay ahead of Russian hacking. Proven ability to stay secure in a wartime environment against primary geopolitical adversaries. SpaceX proved to the US military and government that they can provide secure communications. If the US government adopts Starlink for secure communications in a large way like is already being provided at scale in Ukraine, then how many businesses (particularly military contractors) will adopts Starlink for secure communications? In April, 2022, an official with the US Office of the Secretary of Defense says he was impressed with how quickly SpaceX foiled a Russian jamming attempt on Starlink dishes in Ukraine March of 2022. In kind of the way Starlink was able to upgrade when a threat showed up, we need to be able to have that agility, Dave Tremper, director of electronic warfare at the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said during the 2022 C4ISRNET military conference. Starshield will upgrade for the US (and likely NATO allies soon enough) the secure communications prototypes in Ukraine. Starshield will give them custom modular satellites and upgraded dishes. This should also scale as line of business equal to residential Starlink. Companies and businesses will adopts this as a secure communications standard. This business adoption will start with primary government defense contractors. Starshield will leverage SpaceX inter-satellite laser communications links and other secure communications. SpaceX currently uses lasers for direct satellite-to-satellite communication. Terminals can be added to partner satellites, so as to connect other companies government systems into the Starshield network. There are 30000 employees of the NSA, 20000 employees of CIA, 16000 Defense Intelligence Agency. The US will eventually need to secure communications for 200k-500k for intelligence, top and key military, and some politicians. Starshield would be the most secure method of communications. If the monthly charge for secure Starlink dishes was $500 per month or $1000 per month then it would only take 50k to 100k users to reach $600 million-$1.2B per year in Starshield revenue. The US government would need to double that for secure servers, ground stations and secure software. There are 20,000 Starlink terminals in Ukraine. I would expect the US government to at least 10X the Ukraine terminals in 2023 or 2024. I would expect the US government to at least 10X the Ukraine terminals in 2023 or 2024. 200k US customers for about $1.2B to $4.8B per year in revenue. SpaceX gets at least $30 million per year from Air Force and Space Agency grants. There are two point-to-point on Earth development projects. In January, 2022, the U.S. Air Force awarded SpaceX a $102 million five-year contract to demonstrate technologies and capabilities to transport military cargo and humanitarian aid around the world on a heavy rocket. This went along with a $48 million rocket cargo award in 2020-2021. The contract is for the rocket cargo program, a new project led by the Air Force Research Laboratory to investigate the utility of using large commercial rockets for Department of Defense global logistics. Starlink had over 1 million active subscribers as of Dec 2022. They are probably at 2 million customers now or by June, 2023. This would be more customers than Iridium (satellite phone provider). Iridium ended 2022 with 1,999,000 total billable subscribers, which compares to 1,723,000 for the year-ago period and is up from 1,973,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2022. This is before SpaceX/Starlink get the Gen 2 satellites working (which are launching this year..perhaps 1000 about 40 times more than Iridium). Direct satellite to unmodified cellphone. First batch of gen2 were bad. Deals with T-mobiles, Rogers of Canada, One New Zealand (aka Vodafone NZ). No revenue in the Payload space for this new direct to Cell service. Text and voice and 1G internet most anywhere. $5-10 per month add on. How many join? How much revenue? Cell providers can retire half of their remote cell towers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SALAMANCA, N.Y. (AP) The profile of a Native American man, a braid trailing down and feather jutting up, is tiled into a high school hallway, dyed into the weight room carpet and laid into the turf of the football field at Salamanca city schools. School leaders say the omnipresent logo and Warrior name for the school athletic teams are sources of pride here, in the only U.S. city built on land leased from a Native American reservation. But as New York joins states moving to ban schools use of Indigenous nicknames and mascots because they diminish Native cultures, the tribe may have the last say over whether the logo stays. When the state Board of Regents this month voted to prohibit public schools use of Indigenous names, it included an exception for districts that receive written approval from a federally recognized tribal nation in New York. It has put the tribe in an awkward spot. While the Seneca Indian Nations leader has endorsed the ban, some citizens of the nation want to keep the logo, which was designed by a Seneca artist in the 1970s. About 38% of students in the public school system south of Buffalo, near the Pennsylvania line, are Native American, mostly citizens of the Seneca tribe. The logo really represents us as a community, said Marijah Skye, a 17-year-old student and Seneca citizen. Superintendent Mark Beehler said he thinks its unfair of the Regents to put any tribal nation in the middle, where its decision could upset students and the community. Im really not comfortable going to the Seneca Nation and having them potentially be the bad guy here, Beehler said in an interview. On Tuesday, the school board authorized seeking approval from the Seneca Nation to keep the logo and Warrior nickname. The Seneca Nation did not immediately issue a decision. New York is one of at least 20 states that have taken or are considering action to address Native-themed mascots used by public schools, according to the National Congress of American Indians, which tracks the issue. In 2001, former New York Education Commissioner Richard Mills said using Native American symbols or depictions as mascots can become a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community and improving academic achievement for all students. Today, there are more than 100 schools representing over 50 New York districts that still have such mascots. Nationwide, 966 districts have Native themed mascots, according to NCAIs database, with Braves, Chiefs, Warriors and Indians the most widely used. A push to do away with such mascots gained momentum with a campaign targeting the name of the NFLs Washington team, which in 2022 renamed itself as the Commanders. Seneca President Rickey Armstrong Sr. endorsed New Yorks ban when it was proposed in November, while acknowledging the Salamanca school systems unique relationship with the 8,000-member nation. We believe the states provision for agreements between school districts and Native nations should be rare and limited, rather than an open invitation for districts to go approval shopping among Native nations, Armstrong said. He said the nation, which operates a resort casino in Salamanca and others in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, said it would carefully consider how the standard may apply within the community. Oregon, Washington state and Connecticut are among those with similar laws, forbidding schools to use Native American nicknames unless they have permission from a tribe. Last year, the school board for Montville, Connecticut, voted to drop its Indians nickname after the neighboring Mohegan Tribe, owner of the Mohegan Sun casino, said it would prefer a different name. In Salamanca, school officials have been preparing for the possibility of change, soliciting community input at forums and surveying students. Beehler said the majority, but not all, of those who weighed in supported the continued use of the logo and Warriors nickname. Salamanca resident Michala Redeye, a Seneca citizen, said Native and non-Native residents have largely united around keeping the logo. That's notable in a city that has seen divisions over issues including the property tax-exempt status of Native residents and the citys required lease payments to the Seneca Nation. I feel like a lot of the comments and stuff that has been put out there about the logo reminds people of why theyre in the community, what they love about the community. Theyre tied to being a Salamanca Warrior, said Redeye, who coordinates Native American programming in the schools. Several students who belong to the Seneca Nation said the image stirs a sense of pride. Its widely known, 14-year-old Jaxon Crouse said, especially around territory as a school, and its kind of just the community. ___ The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) Voters in Uzebekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the country's president to stay in office until 2040. Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive. With four hours until the polls closed, the central elections commission reported turnout at more than 62%, well above the 50% threshold for the referendum to be valid. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. Although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mirziyoyev's predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the region's most repressive countries. Mirziyoyev, who took over after Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum originally was planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of deadly unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding Karakalpakstan's right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, that proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistan's territory but has only about 5% of the country's 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital, Nukus; at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. Maybe its the tomatoes. I like a good tomato soup its one of my favourite dishes, said Fort Eries Burd Sisler, who turned 108 years old April 14. My dad used to plant them in his backyard and I planted them when I moved out and got my backyard. Sisler was born during the First World War, lived through the 1918 Spanish flu and endured the Great Depression. He was a veteran of the Second World War and managed to stay safe during yet another deadly pandemic. Incredible. Amazing, said Sislers 73-year-old son, Norm, one of five children. His cognitive thinking is such that hes so well aware of whats going on around him and he just keeps going hes like the Energizer Bunny. Sisler lives at Garrison Place, a retirement residence in Fort Erie. He said he enjoys spending his days reading, particularly books and newspapers. My wife and I were in Florida for two weeks and when we came back, I walked into his room at Garrison Place and not a hello, or how was your trip, or Im glad youre back safe, said Norm with a laugh. Instead, Did you hear about the chocolate factory that blew up in Philadelphia? Im thinking, really, are you kidding me? Norm said in addition to reading and watching TV, his father does Sudoku puzzles and crosswords. Along with a military career, Sisler spent 29 years as a customs officer. A drive-by celebration was held for Sislers 105th birthday in 2020 outside of his Fort Erie home due to pandemic restrictions. He moved into Garrison Place in early 2022. Ive never been an old man before, so I dont know exactly how Im supposed to feel, said Sisler with a laugh. Ive seen a lot of changes, Ill tell you that. SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) A massive fire erupted at an oil depot in Crimea after it was hit by two of Ukraines drones, a Russia-appointed official there reported Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks on the annexed peninsula as Russia braces for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel. Razvozhayev said the fire at the citys harbor was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained. Razvozhayev said the oil depot was attacked by two enemy drones, and four oil tanks burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimeas Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview this week that his country will seeking to reclaim the peninsula in the upcoming counteroffensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Crimea last month to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsulas annexation from Ukraine. Putins visit took place the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes. The attack reported in Sevastopol comes a day after Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Ukraine, killing at least 23 people. Almost all of the victims died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city of Uman, located in central Ukraine. Six children were among the dead, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Saturday, adding that 22 of the 23 bodies recovered have been identified. Two women remained missing, Klymenko said. Russian forces launched more drones at Ukraine overnight. Ukraines Air Force Command said two Iranian-made self-exploding Shahed drones were intercepted, and a reconnaissance drone was shot down on Saturday morning. Razvozhayev said the oil depot fire did not cause any casualties and would not hinder fuel supplies in Sevastopol. The city has been subject to regular attack attempts with drones, especially in recent weeks. Earlier this week, Razvozhayev reported that the Russian military destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that attempted to attack the harbor and another one blew up, shattering windows in several apartment buildings, but not inflicting any other damage. Ukraines military intelligence spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, told the RBC Ukraine news site on Saturday that the oil depot fire was Gods punishment for the murdered civilians in Uman, including five children. He said that more than 10 tanks containing oil products for Russias Black Sea Fleet were destroyed in Sevastopol, but stopped short of acknowledging Ukraines responsibility for a drone attack. The difference between the number of tanks Yusov and Razvozhayev gave could not be immediately reconciled. After previous attacks on Crimea, Kyiv also wouldnt openly claim responsibility, but emphasized that the country had the right to strike any target in response to Russian aggression. Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled the city of Nova Kakhovka, according to Moscow-installed authorities in the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraines Kherson province. Severe artillery fire cut off power in the city, the officials said. The Ukrainian-controlled part of the province also came under fire on Saturday. Russian shelling in the area of the village of Bilozerka killed one person and wounded another, according to the Kherson prosecutors office. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: WASHINGTON (AP) More than a half million of the poorest Americans could be left without health insurance under legislation passed by House Republicans that would require people to work in exchange for health care coverage through Medicaid. Its one of dozens of provisions tucked into a GOP bill that would allow for an increase in the debt limit but curb government spending over the next decade. The bill is unlikely to become law, though. It is being used by House Republicans to draw Democrats to the negotiating table and avoid a debt default. Democrats have strongly opposed the Medicaid work requirement provision, saying it wont incentivize people to get a job and will drive up the number of uninsured in the country. Heres a look at how the proposal might save taxpayers money but cost some Americans access to health care coverage. WHO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO WORK? The work requirements say able-bodied adults ages 19 to 55 who dont have children or other dependents would be required to work, train for a job or perform community service to stay on Medicaid. They would have to put in at least 80 hours a month to stay on the government-sponsored health care coverage. About 84 million people are enrolled in Medicaid, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates 15 million would be subject to the requirement. The Health and Human Services Department, however, predicts millions more about a third of enrollees altogether would be required to work. WHY ARE WORK REQUIREMENTS CONTROVERSIAL? Republicans say the move would help push Americans into jobs that eventually might put them in a position to move off of government aid. The requirements would also be more equitable for those who are working to support their families, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. That single mom thats working two or three jobs right now to make ends meet under this tough economy, she doesnt want to have to pay for somebody whos sitting at home, Scalise said. Democrats argue that work requirements could unfairly push people out of Medicaid, too. Some people were wrongly kicked off Medicaid in Arkansas when the state briefly introduced work requirements, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told lawmakers. In some cases, people were not required to work but didnt fill out the required paperwork. Its not just people who are subject to the requirements that often get caught up in red tape, she said. It can often be people who are exempted. About 1 in 4 people who were required to work lost coverage during Arkansas experience with work requirements in 2018. Work requirements can put Medicaid enrollees in a bind. While no one has been kicked off Medicaid over the last three years because of the pandemic, that changed in April when the federal government required states to review income eligibility for all enrollees to see who now makes too much money to qualify for the health care benefits. People who picked up work, earned a small raise or switched jobs are finding that those new incomes could soon cost them coverage. Amy Shaw, 39, of Rochester, New Hampshire, lost her familys Medicaid coverage in April because of her husbands 50-cent raise to $17 per hour at an auto parts store. Shaw wouldnt be subject to the GOPs work requirement because she has two daughters, but the familys case illustrates how modest incomes can push people out of Medicaid coverage and cost them big time. Suddenly, instead of a $3 copay, she was billed $120 for a cancer screening ordered by her doctor. Meanwhile, their rent increased by 40% since the pandemic started, and the cost of food, utilities and other essential have gone up. It just seems like the system is set up so that you dont want to go back (to work) because you lose more than you gain, Shaw said. It makes me not want to go and get my mammogram and my colonoscopy. I dont even want to go to these appointments because its going to cost so much money. HOW MUCH WOULD THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL SAVE? That largely depends on how many people who would be required to work opt not to or dont fill out the proper paperwork to remain covered. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the requirements would save $109 billion over the next decade. Those savings would come in two ways: from about 600,000 people who would be dropped from Medicaid, then 900,000 who would lose federal funding for their Medicaid, but remain enrolled in the program through their state. That analysis also says the bill would do little to improve employment among Medicaid enrollees. WHATS NEXT? The House GOP bill wont pass a Democratic-controlled Senate or be signed into law by President Joe Biden in its current state. But dont expect the issue of work requirements and trimming Medicaid benefits to go away anytime soon. The number of people enrolled in Medicaid has ballooned in recent years, growing by more than 20 million since 2020. If you ask Democrats, thats a great thing theyve pointed to the record low uninsured rate thats given more people access to medical care. Democratic-led states have also pitched new ways to expand Medicaid under the Biden administration, granting more access to recently released convicts and new mothers, for example. Republicans, however, want to scale back safety net programs to pre-pandemic levels. And, Republicans in some states are already trying to implement work requirements of their own. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders asked the federal government to OK a proposal that would move anyone who doesnt comply with work requirements off Medicaids private insurance to traditional fee-for-service Medicaid. ___ Associated Press writers Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed. SHARE: Ahram Online discusses challenges that face volunteering in Egypt with the National Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers Programme (UNV) in Egypt Heba Nosseir. AO: Tell us about volunteering at the UN in Egypt? Heba Nosseir: My name is Heba Nosseir. I am the national coordinator for the United Nations Volunteering (UNV) Programme in Egypt. The programme works to integrate volunteers with the UN and its projects. The goal of their work in the UN is to help achieve the sustainable development goals and local development plans such as the 2030 plan for Egypt. Last year we had 169 volunteers in 15 UN bodies, including the WHO, the UNDP, UNICEF, and others. Volunteers radiate great energy and passion, and they have a very noble motive which is to help develop their societies. This motivation pushes them to innovate and shine in their tasks, and therefore the presence of volunteers in the UN makes a very big difference. AO: What are the most prominent examples of their recent work? HN: Well, for example, when Egypt hosted the COP 27 conference in December 2022, there were many volunteers from the UN, and everyone attested that they made a big difference in the several roles assigned to them. Among them were those who carried out tasks for the Ministry of Social Solidarity, as the ministry mobilised more than 600 volunteers to organise various activities of the ministry in the conference. These volunteers were headed by 9 UN leading volunteers who skillfully helped the others organise the operations. Another formidable model at COP 27 was the volunteers who worked for the WHO and prepared workshops and sessions in the conference related to different health issues as well as those who participated in the UNDP and helped deliver content on societal issues. Volunteers in the UN programme also helped to achieve the inclusion of people with special needs in the activities of the conference, and also helped in the implementation and development of anti-harassment policies. Another example is a beautiful story of an Egyptian girl who had volunteered to teach children in a school in Vietnam the English language, and provided wonderful content on the internet and her story is indeed inspiring and beautiful AO: How is volunteering at the UN different from other organisations in Egypt? HN: The system and model of volunteering in the UN is a different and distinct model, as it depends on the description of the assignment. The task description is announced online, and those who want to volunteer apply, and interviews are held to determine who is suitable for each task. Noteworthy, this volunteering has a financial stipend, not a salary, but a form of living expense , because the volunteer sometimes devotes himself or herself to the task for periods ranging from three months up to four years, so he/she gets a stipend for living expenses , such as food, drink, transportation, etc. AO: What are the categories and types of volunteering, and is it determined by certain ages? HN: There is a category of youth from 16-to 28-years-old, then a category of specialised volunteers from 27 years and above, then a category of expert volunteers starting from 35 years. We have volunteers who are 80-years-old who offer their experience and contributions, and they have a very important imprint in UN projects. There is also an important type of volunteering, especially in our new era, which is online volunteering. This type was present even before the Corona pandemic, but the pandemic confirmed and established its importance. One of the advantages of volunteer work via the internet or remotely is that it is convenient to specific tasks like data collection, translation and specific research tasks. AO: Is volunteering well-established in the Egyptian culture? And what are the challenges in this field? HN: Doing well is rooted in our culture and our personalities, and we do not find it difficult to convince people of its importance and usefulness. On the contrary, we always find interest and dedication from people. Perhaps the problem in Egypt is that volunteering proceeds spontaneously, so we just need to organise and find different policies and platforms that allow organisations to reach volunteers and vice versa. The existence of organisational policies will allow for finding a solution to big problems such as the lack of databases or data for volunteering in Egypt, and this thereby causes difficulty of conducting related research and studies. We find that Western countries, for example, count volunteering and its efforts within the GDP. We do not do that. The second problem is that volunteers and organisations requesting volunteering cannot reach one another. We at UNV have a space to communicate, but the rest of the platforms undoubtedly suffer from this problem. The third problem is related to skill-based volunteering, and finding platforms that maximises the efficiency of utilising these skills. AO: What was the focus of UNV work in the previous period? HN: Through my work as a programme coordinator, we have been connecting suitable volunteers with specific bodies or organisations within the UN. Another axis is forming a network of civil work institutions, government agencies and international organisations to meet and discuss how to develop volunteer work in Egypt. We have launched several campaigns, the most recent of which coincided with COP 27 to raise awareness of environmental issues on social media, and we reached about 300,000 beneficiaries. Every year we commemorate International Volunteer Day, on the 5th of December, in which the efforts of volunteers are celebrated and honoured. We also cooperated with the Ministry of Youth in training volunteers for Cairos book fair. Finally, we also work to integrate people with special needs into volunteer work, so we cooperate with affiliated entities in society to integrate this segment into volunteer work within UN projects and help achieve the goals of sustainable development. Search Keywords: Short link: WAYNE, W.Va. (AP) The partial collapse of a press box floor at a school softball tournament in West Virginia sent nine people to hospitals over the weekend, but none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, authorities said. Superintendent of Wayne County Schools Todd Alexander told broadcast outlet WCHS-TV that six students and three adults were taken for medical attention after Saturdays collapse though none appear to be in danger. Looks like everyones going to be fine, Alexander said without elaborating on the extent of the injuries. Were extremely grateful for that. Five people were inside the press box at Wayne County High School when the floor gave way while several others were beneath it on Saturday, the county school district said in a statement. A middle school softball tournament was being held at the time, according to reports. Alexander told the news outlet that the collapse is under investigation, and inspectors are expected to examine the site on Monday. Wayne is in southwestern West Virginia, about 165 miles (260 kilometers) southeast of Cincinnati. SHARE: OTTAWA - Canada is relocating its efforts to get stranded Canadians out of Sudan from the capital to a distant port city as violence continues to escalate between the countrys army and a powerful paramilitary group. Defence Minister Anita Anand says about 550 people left Sudan on six military-run flights from the countrys main airport in Khartoum between Thursday and Saturday. Between its own flights and help from international partners, about 400 Canadians and permanent residents have now been evacuated. But deteriorating safety conditions in the Sudanese capital made it necessary to suspend future flights as of Saturday night, and Anand says evacuation efforts will now be based out of the city of Port Sudan about 800 kilometres away. Despite the fact that a ceasefire agreement is in place between the two warring factions, fighting continues in Sudan, and in close proximity to the airfield, the situation remains volatile, dangerous and unpredictable, said Anand. We remain committed to supporting the mission to aid Canadian citizens in their time of need and continue to plan with our partners for both air transport as well as ground and seaport extraction options. Canadas Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, says pilots saw violence on the ground in Khartoum on Saturday as they conducted two flights carrying 205 passengers, including 60 Canadians. There was fighting around the airport as our aircraft were approaching, he said. In fact, our pilots on night vision goggles were able to see small arms exchanges as they approached. Anand said Canadian officials are joining an American-led relocation to Port Sudan, where she says there are commercial and other options for leaving the country. Canada has two ships on the Red Sea capable of supporting operations in Port Sudan, she added. Canada and our allies are continually assessing how we can assist our citizens in leaving Sudan from various locations, she said. Eyre said Port Sudan is still a permissive environment for continuing evacuations out of the country, including by air. Sudans capital of Khartoum, a city of some five million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Fighting between the two forces began on April 15. The two weeks of bloodshed between the two sides has dashed once-euphoric hopes of Sudans transition to a democracy. Global Affairs Canada is offering available seats on the U.S. convoy from Khartoum to Port Sudan to those who can make the trip. Those who stay have been advised to shelter in place. Evacuation by road from Khartoum is a 30-hour journey with many risks along the way and not everyone is able to do that, said Sebastien Beaulieu, an official at Global Affairs Canada. He said people must make the decision to leave or shelter in place based on their own circumstances, their ability to travel, their mobility, and their assessment of the risks. Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is in Kenya helping inform Canadas response to the crisis in Sudan. She is set to meet with people evacuated from the East African country, including diplomatic staff. Joly will also meet with humanitarian groups to get a sense of the needs of people in Sudan, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries. On Sunday, Joly met with Djiboutis Minister of Foreign Affairs Mahmoud Ali Youssouf and thanked him for that countrys support during Canadas evacuation efforts. Anand said that work will be one of the most important aspects of the trip because Joly will meet with people who are more familiar with the intense fighting and history that has been occurring. Canada suspended its consular services in the country on April 23, saying a rapidly deteriorating situation had made it impossible to safeguard the safety and security of its staff in Khartoum. This report from The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Nollywood actor, Kunle Remi has finally opened up on his relationship status. The thespian revealed that he is in a serious relationship. He disclosed this recently when he appeared as a guest on the TVC programme, Your View. He said, I mean, it is nothing to hide. I have someone. Im serious. Recall that Kunle Remi sparked dating rumours with actress, Bimbo Ademoye after they played love interests in the epic Yoruba movie Anikulapo. Since then, Remi has been asked by fans severally to reveal his relationship status but he kept mute until recently. Suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa-Ari has said that he declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress(APC) winner of the governorship election in the State to save the democratic process. Ari said he acted in accordance with the powers conferred on him by the Electoral Act as the Chief Collation Officer in Adamawa State. This was contained in a four-page letter he wrote to the Inspector General of Police from his hiding. The embattled REC accused the two National Commissioners deployed to the State to supervise the April 15 supplementary election of collecting bribe from Governor Ahmadu Fintiri to declare him winner of the governorship election in Adamawa State. In the letter, which was hand-dated April 20, the embattled REC also accused the two National Commissioners of usurping his responsibility as Resident Electoral Commissioner. He denied any wrong doing in declaring the candidate of the APC, Aishatu Dahiru (Binani) winner of the governorship election saying he acted within the responsibility vested on him by the Electoral Act as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state. He said that as the Chief Collation Officer in the State, he observed that results uploaded on the IREV portal were not signed by him and therefore null and void. The letter titled: Report of the conduct of supplementary elections held on the 15th April, 2023 in Adamawa state, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation was stamped received in the IGP office on the same day. Although the letter, which was copied to the the INEC Chairman, Director General, DSS and the National Security Advisor was addressed to the Inspector General of Police, the content is suggestive of the fact that it may have been meant for the Commission. The letter is the first communication of the suspended REC since he declared Binani winner of the election. INEC had said that it was not aware of the where about of the Hudu Yunusa-Ari as he did not respond to summon to come to Abuja to explain his actions and did not return any of the calls placed to him. The letter reads You may wish to know that there is no better time than now to update the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and all concerned Nigerians on the conduct of the 15th April, 2023 supplementary elections in Adamawa State. It is against this background that you sent two National Commissioners, Dr. Baba Bila and Prof. Abdullahi Zuru to assist me in the conduct of the re-run elections in Adamawa State. | hope this was a confirmation that you wanted the Commission to conduct the elections to reflect the collective aspirations of the people of the State. At the end of the day, the actions of the two National Commissioners left much to be desired. The Commissioners held a meeting with my management staff in my absence and I did not know the outcome of the meeting and there was a sudden move to tamper with the list of Collation Officers (COs) earlier released for the rerun election. On the day of election, before the sensitive and non-sensitive materials were to be distributed across the affected Local Governments and polling units, I received a security report from the Commissioner of Police that Boko Haram insurgents from neighbouring states were recruited by some politicians to cart away sensitive materials and disrupt the elections. According to the report, the sensitive materials were not expected to leave the INEC office on the 14th April, 2023 until the day of election, which was on the 15th April, 2023 as shown in the attached photocopy of the letter from the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa State as Annex Al and A2. After the first letter from the Police Commissioner, another letter came from Police updating me that the security threat is still high as some Local Government Collation centers will be attacked and as such the Police advise that all collations from Registration Areas (RAs) and Local Government centers should be done at the State level, which was the INEC headquarters Annex, Adamawa State. Attached is the photocopy of the second letter from the Commissioner of Police as Annex B. In line with the security advice, I directed the Electoral Officers (EOs) and Local Government Collation officers to ensure that Results Collations should be done at a centralized INEC ANNEX OFFICE IN DOUGIREI, Yola However, at this point, the National Commissioners quickly and secretly gave out conflicting counter directives to the EOs that collation should be done in the Local Government Areas with an instruction that NEW LGA COLLATION OFFICERS which | am not aware of will be sent to them. This is without my knowledge or authorization as the Resident Electoral Commissioner as recognized by laws establishing INEC and the Electoral act. In the evening, when I was preparing for state collation, all seats for ICCES (Interagency Consultative Committee on election Security) members were set, I got to the place and discovered that my name was replaced with that of the Administrative Secretary to take charge of collation. I then asked the National Commissioners to explain why they would exclude me from the process of collating results. But there was no explanation. After some time, the National Commissioners declared that | was nowhere to be found. Immediately after the announcement, someone called me and informed me about the development. So around 1:00 am on Sunday 16th April, 2023, I came back to the collation center and saw some people sleeping including the two National Commissioners. I addressed them that I was still the Resident Electoral Commissioner and that all stakeholders for the re-run election should return to the collation center by 11:00 am on Sunday, 16th April, 2023. It is important to note that while the National Commissioners defiled the security concerns released by the Commissioner of Police, they purportedly did result collation at various locations by their self-appointed, unapproved and illegal collation officers. Meanwhile, I received reports that the collations at the various centers left much to be desired. So due to the pressure and the numerous calls I received from party agents and candidates of political parties threatening to cause mayhem for not having confidence in the collation of results at the various collation centers as directed by the National Commissioners, I looked inward and decided to call for all the results from the sixty-nine (69) polling units. To avert the impending danger of the delay in announcing the results of the supplementary elections, I received the authentic results submitted by the Presiding Officers (POs) from all the sixty-nine polling units and compared them with results that were uploaded on the IREV (INEC portal) and I realized that the results on the portal were different because the results on the INEC portal were not signed by me. Speaking further, he said On 15/04/2023 at about 10:00pm, armed Policemen from the Government House came to my house and placed me under House Arrest to prevent me from conducting my legitimate duties. It took the intervention of the Commissioner of Police who sent Mobile Policemen to my house to save the day and when they heard that a call was made to the CP, the Policemen trom Government House fled in a White Toyota Hilux van. In view of the time constraint and obvious risk to my life and to conclude the supplementary elections and forestall the breakdown of law and order, I organized a meeting comprising my co-chair, who is the Commissioner of Police, Director of Security Services, Commandant of Civil Defense Corps and others on the way forward. As the action of the National Commissioners and threats by political parties over the process of collating results created an atmosphere of violence that almost marred the election, most of the stakeholders were scared and refused to continue with the election process including the Returning Officer (RO). I also organized a meeting with the chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council, in the person of Mr. Bello Babajo who assured me that he would reach out to all the political parties to calm down the tension and to allow the process to be concluded swiftly. 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. The breakdown was 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). Prior to the declaration, there was an intelligence report made available to me that the two National Commissioners were at the Government House, Yola, at 8:31pm on 15/04/2023 and held a meeting with the State Governor, Mr. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. So, immediately after the declaration, some PDP supporters attacked one of the National Commissioners, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru as well as the Returning Officer, Prof. Muhammed Mele for failing to deliver Mr. Anmadu Umaru Fintiri winner in the election after collecting money from him. It was also alleged that the people beaten in the purported video wanted to subvert the re-run election in Adamawa State and undermine the will of the Adamawa people as expressed through the ballot. A staff of Department of State Services (DSS) on intelligence gathering on the money allegedly given to the National Commissioners was also disarmed, abducted, taken to Government House Yola and assaulted by Police from Government House, Yola and thugs loyal to the PDP. In view of the preceding paragraphs, whatever may be collated by the two National Commissioners is shrouded in doubt which is unacceptable and therefore illegal. On my own side, I want to categorically say that my action is within the responsibility vested on me and within the ambit of the law particularly the Electoral Act 2022 as amended. Mathew Kukah, famous Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, lamented the overwhelming effects of insecurity on the education sector in Nigeria. Kukah disclosed this while giving his keynote address at the Parents Summit of the 2023 Education Week in Edo State. He described havoc caused by Bandits, terrorists and other tormentors of Nigerias security as forces of darkness. Accordingly, all Nigerians must be resilient to crush the forces perpetuating insecurity across the Country. As we can see, our country is now being ravaged and threatened by the forces of darkness, those who have said no to humanity and those who have said no to education, whether they manifest themselves in the murderous and destructive excesses of Boko Haram or banditry, he said. The United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF had in April last year disclosed that 11,536 schools in Nigeria had been closed due to insecurity. Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara and other nationwide cases of abductions have remained a reference to the state of insecurity in Nigeria. Rabiu Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), says the incoming government in Kano will revisit the dethronement of Muhammadu Sanusi. Abdullahi Ganduje, outgoing governor of the state, dethroned Sanusi, 14th emir of Kano, in 2020, over allegations of insubordination. Aminu Bayero, son of the late Ado Bayero and emir of Bichi, was installed as Sanusis replacement. In a viral video posted on social media on Saturday, Kwankwaso said he is confident that Abba Yusuf, governor-elect of the state, would have the wisdom to resolve challenges in the state. We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by Gods grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off, Kwankwaso said. He said the opportunity to revisit Sanusis dethronement has presented itself and that he would advise the incoming government on what to do as an elder. We as elders in the movement will continue to advice them to do things that are proper, Kwankwaso said. We tried not to talk about whether the Emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there. Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine what is the right thing to be done. Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging. We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will leave peacefully in Kano state. The Federal Government on Saturday said President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is leaving behind a legacy of quality healthcare delivery through Universal Health Coverage. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, stated this at the inauguration of an 80-bed Mother and Child Hospital in his hometown, Oro, near Ilorin in Kwara. Mohammed explained that the Buhari administration was executing universal health suffrage by expanding the net for those to be captured under the Health Insurance Programme. He said, The Basic Health Care Provision Fund is being operationalised to provide health care to poor and indigent Nigerians. This will ensure that at least 100,000,000 Nigerians will have health insurance coverage through public and private sources. Mohammed added, The administrations response to health emergencies has remained unprecedented, particularly how we were able to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Worthy of note is that under this administration, Nigeria has been certified Wild Polio Free. The network of roads constructed in Oro is also a testament of Mr President footprints in this community. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized 126 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis. The consignment found at the Tincan port in Lagos, weighing 63kg were concealed in a Toyota Corolla car imported from Toronto, Canada. A statement on Sunday by NDLEA Media Director, Femi Babafemi also announced the arrest of a freight agent, Mordi Chukwuemeka Samuel. Samuel was attempting to export 900 grams of the Loud hidden inside a travelling bag containing food items to Kenya. The suspect was thwarted by operatives at the SAHCO export shed of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on April 29. On April 27, Directorate of Operations and Investigation (DOGI) officers attached to courier firms found 1.53kg skunk kept in old hard drives meant for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In Benue, operatives recovered 859 bottles of Codeine-based syrup weighing 117.3kg abandoned by a suspected dealer near NDLEA checkpoint along Enugu Otukpo road. However, Kabiru Muhammed, 35, and Isah Muhammed, 28, were caught with 20 blocks of cannabis weighing 11.2kg concealed in a bag of garri along Zaria Kano road on April 28. In Ondo, seven bags of cannabis with a gross weight of 74.5kg were recovered when operatives raided an uncompleted building located in a bush in Ala town, Akure. Similarly, 60kg of the same substance, hidden among footwears in two sacks, was recovered along Ibadan Oyo road from one Aminu Mohammed waiting to board a vehicle to Kebbi. In Adamawa, NDLEA agents raided a clandestine factory in Mubi, where Akuskura was being produced in large quantity. The new psychoactive substance was to be exported to neighbouring countries, Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic. The Lagos state police command says it has arrested a couple over alleged self-kidnap for N5 million ransom. Benjamin Hundeyin, the police spokesperson, who spoke to NAN on Saturday, said the husband, 53, and wife, 48, were arrested after a family member of the man reported the purported kidnap. He said the couple, who admitted to the crime, said they planned the self-kidnap with the hope of raising N3 million to buy back their house in the Badagry area of Lagos. The man brought the idea and sold it to his wife. He did not deny it before the police, Hundeyin said. He said he did it through text message for a purpose. He said he did it because he wanted to re-buy his house back with N3 million. The man claimed he decided to organise self-kidnap because none of his brothers and sisters doing well and some living abroad are willing to assist him financially. He claimed that if they hear of his kidnap with his wife, they would negotiate with the kidnappers and pay the money. Hundeyin said the police had visited the couples home and found out they were still living in their house in Badagry, while they sent out text messages of their kidnap to their relations. The wife, who was met at home with three children, was asked by the police to follow them to the headquarters, Ikeja, but the woman pleaded to come at a later date. The wife was eventually arrested on Wednesday, while the husband was arrested on Thursday. She admitted that she supported her husband in the crime. She also admitted that her husband discussed the matter with her and she gave her approval because they never thought it will turn out negative, Hundeyin said. The woman claimed if the plan worked out, it would have been the easiest way to raise the money to buy back their house since her husbands brothers in UK are not willing to help him. He said the couple will be charged to court soon. Ahead of the inauguration of a new President on May 29, 2023, Nigerias Boeing 737 Presidential jet has been flown out of the country for comprehensive maintenance. Villa sources told our correspondent that NAF 001, which has served the President, Muhammadu Buhari, in the past eight years was taken out of the country over the weekend. Although the location is not known, past maintenance on the aircraft had been carried out by its manufacturer, Boeing, in the United States of America. Boeings military aircraft division builds modified 737 planes at its manufacturing facilities in Everett and Renton, Washington (outside of Seattle), and South Carolina. The 20-year-old aircraft last flew the President to Accra, the Ghanaian Capital, where he attended a Summit of the Gulf of Guinea Commission. In his next four weeks in office, Buhari will be flown on another aircraft on the Presidential Air Fleet, the source said. On Tuesday, April 3, 2001, the Senate approved a sum of N5.5bn for the purchase of a new presidential aircraft for then-President Olusegun Obasanjo. In February of that year, Obasanjo sought the Senates approval for $19m as part of monies to purchase eight new aircraft for the Presidential air fleet. It is necessary to start the process of renewing the presidential fleet of aircraft, some of which are 20 years old and beyond, he had told the upper legislative chamber. The senate had refused an earlier request by Obasanjo in 2000, but he renewed his request after a technical fault left him stranded in Switzerland where he had been attending the World Economic Forum in Davos. The Boeing aircraft will be returned in May and handed over to the new administration after major upgrades to its avionics and other mechanical systems. Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi will go to Damascus on Wednesday at the official invitation of the Syrian president for a "very important" two-day visit, state media reported. "Dr Raisi's trip to Damascus next Wednesday is a very important trip due to the changes and developments that are taking place in the region," IRNA state news agency on Sunday quoted Iran's ambassador to Syria, Hossein Akbari, as saying. The visit comes against the backdrop of a rapprochement between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, and increased Arab engagement with Damascus. Iran is a major ally of President Bashar al-Assad and has given financial and military support to his administration during Syria's 12-year-old conflict. "This trip will not only be beneficial for Tehran and Damascus, but it is also a very good event that other countries in the region can also take advantage of," Akbari was reported as saying. Raisi's visit will be the first by an Iranian president to Damascus since the start of the civil war in Syria in 2011. The last Iranian president to visit the Syrian capital was Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in September 2010. The Islamic republic finances, arms and commands a number of Syrian and foreign militia groups fighting alongside the Syrian regular armed forces, chief among them Lebanon's powerful Hezbollah group. *This was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged the President-elect, Bola Tinubu and incoming state governors of the Southeast to transform the region into the Dubai of West Africa. Ohanaezes Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, made the call in response to a proposed move by Southwest states to launch a regional railway line and electricity projects. Isiguzoro said Tinubus administration and those of the incoming governors should establish rail lines across Owerri, Onitsha, Awka and Abakaliki. Speaking with Dailypost, Isiguzoro said: Ohanaeze is calling on the new governors from the Southeast and that of Imo and Anambra to take drastic measures to ensure that rail line passes through Owerri, Onitsha, Awka, and Abakaliki. Ohanaeze is taking a lead role in ensuring that there is a rail connection from the commercial nerve centre of the Southeast, Aba, to Owerri to Onitsha where there is a dry seaport. But there is no connection between Enugu to Abakaliki. We are challenging the new governors to ensure that by January 2024 we must have achieved 80 per cent of these regional railway lines and electricity. He also said further: We want to congratulate the Abia State Governor for building a geometric power plant in Aba through Professor Nnagi which has been providing electricity for the SMEs and lighting up Aba and its environs. We also commend the Ebonyi State governor for the International Airport that would create employment and business opportunities for the people of the state. We are looking at these industrial revolutions that, if properly managed by the incoming administration of Southeast governors, like the regional railway and electricity designed by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, will transform the Southeast into Dubai and the centre of attraction of West Africa. According to him, this agenda cannot be achieved without the support of the incoming Tinubu administration. Isiguzoro added: Ohanaeze is urging our people to stop the spirit of antagonism which has turned our region into a horrible place. Most of the marginalisation cry is done by external factors. We must end the marginalisation mentality and have a productive mentality. We should form alliances with the moving train. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it is not contemplating the withdrawal of the recently redesigned naira notes. A report had emerged that the apex bank may phase out the new notes over scarcity. Isa Abdulmumim, CBN spokesperson, in a statement on Sunday, clarified that such speculations were unfounded. The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to a fake news item circulating in the media, particularly in the social media space, suggesting that the bank is contemplating the withdrawal of the recently redesigned N1000, N500 and N200 currency banknotes from circulation, he said. We wish to state emphatically that such speculation is unfounded and a ploy by some interests to cause panic among members of the public. Abdulmumin said the new and old currency notes have been circulating side by side just as the bank has been taking delivery of a good quantity of the redesigned bank notes from the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC) Limited. Furthermore, we are committed to supplying the approved indent for the smooth running of the economy, he said. We, therefore, urge members of the public to disregard any report suggesting a phase-out of the redesigned currency. For the avoidance of doubt, the redesigned and old notes will continue to be accepted as legal tender. They will circulate side-by-side for transactions ahead of the December 31, 2023 deadline, when the old N1000, N500 and N200 banknotes will eventually be phased out. In October 2022, Godwin Emefiele, CBN governor, announced the plan to redesign the naira to control money supply and aid security agencies in tackling illicit financial flows. The redesigned naira notes were unveiled on November 23, 2022. The deadline for the implementation of the policy was fixed for January 31, 2023, but it was further extended to February 10. However, on March 3, a Supreme Court judgment invalidated the naira redesign policy introduced by the apex bank. Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by three states of the federation, seven-member panel of the apex court held that the old N200, N500 and N1000 notes remain legal tender until December 31, 2023. About two weeks after the court ruling, the CBN complied with the directive, ending the back-and-forth with the sole usage of the redesigned bank notes. Mohamed Dagalo, leader of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group in Sudan, says his troops will not stop fighting until the countrys army adheres to ceasefire agreements. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudans military head, and Dagalo have been involved in a violent power struggle that has lasted weeks. At least 512 people have been killed and 4,193 wounded in the fighting so far. Experts say the real death toll is likely much higher given the lack of hospitals, food, and shelter. Several ceasefire agreements negotiated by the United States, United Kingdom, United Nations (UN), and other concerned bodies have all been ignored. RSF had described the armys non-compliance to the halt as a thirst for war and bloodshed. Speaking to the BBC on Saturday, Dagalo said his fighters were being relentlessly bombed despite the three-day extension of the truce. He blamed al-Burhan for the violence, saying the RSF had no intentions of destroying Sudan. According to the BBC, Dagalo said he was open to talks but the condition was that the ceasefire should hold. Cease hostilities. After that we can have negotiations, he was quoted as saying. Dagalo said he had no personal problem with al-Burhan but regarded him as a traitor for bringing into government those loyal to ousted former President Omar al-Bashir. In 2021, tensions began to brew when al-Burhan overturned an agreement to share power with civilians. He subsequently took full control in a coup. Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has asked opposition parties to desist from bleating about the outcome of the presidential election. While speaking on Thursday at a meeting with APC governors in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari said while the All Progressives Congress (APC) was working hard to retain the presidency, opposition parties were basking in the euphoria of false hope. He said a combination of overconfidence, complacency, and bad tactical moves made Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) lose to President-elect Bola Tinubu. The opposition parties reacted by criticising the presidents comment, claiming that the election was rigged in favour of the APC. In a statement issued on Sunday, Segun Adeyemi, special assistant to the minister, quoted him as saying that the opposition parties should stop their endless griping over the election. The minister said the opposition parties lost the presidential poll woefully and that Buharis analysis of the election is accurate. President Muhammadu Buhari lived up to his billing by delivering a free, fair and credible election, and his legacy is assured, Mohammed said. The President would rather lose his state and many of his partys strongholds than tamper with the fidelity of the election and that is why he provided a level playing field for all parties. The minister said the oppositions overconfidence ahead of the elections was inspired by social media propaganda and opinion polls procured to hoodwink their foreign backers and a section of the international media into uncritically reporting that they were coasting home to victory when they were indeed heading into the ravine of defeat. Going by the results, none of the opposition parties met any of the conditions stipulated for winning the presidential election. They didnt even come close, in spite of their pre-election grandstanding, he said. They (the opposition) keep leaning on some international observers to justify their fraudulent claim that the election was rigged. They conveniently forgot what Ambassador Johnnie Carson, the revered US diplomat who co-led the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said: that the APC candidate undoubtedly won the polls. They also forgot that the African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful in 95% of the polling units visited. The minister said it is on the strength of the reports that many nations, including the US and the UK, wasted no time in congratulating Tinubu. The oppositions insinuation that the failure to immediately upload the result of the presidential election onto IReV affected the credibility of the election is a fraud. It is an act of blackmail and deceit by desperate individuals, he said. The opposition Labour Party, in particular, will go down in the history books as the first-ever distant third-place finisher in a presidential election anywhere to have bold-facedly claimed victory. DEAR MISS MANNERS: I had an incident at a deli counter and I am wondering what would have been the appropriate way to handle it. I parked my car in the delis lot and walked towards the building. As I was entering, a large pickup truck pulled up to the building -- literally! He parked right on the sidewalk in front of the entrance! I shook my head and silently entered the deli, then stood at the counter waiting to place my order. A minute later, the sidewalk parker came in and stood next to me. When the deli worker asked, Can I help whos next?, the man -- with no hesitation -- began reciting his order! He knew that I was there waiting first, but chose to ignore me and cut me in line. I was shocked! I didnt know how to handle it, but by the time I sorted through my options in my head, I felt that the moment had passed. And can you believe it happened to me AGAIN the next day at the grocery store?! Is it me? Should I start wearing neon green vests and flashing lights when I am out and about so people know Im there? Sheesh! In the event this happens again, how should I handle it? I dont want to make a mountain out of a molehill, and my father always taught me to pick my battles. I have been told that I can come off a bit snarky and passive-aggressive at times, and I think that was my concern in speaking up. Is there a polite, nonconfrontational way to say, Geez, guy. Wait your turn! GENTLE READER: Yes. It is: Pardon me, but I believe I was waiting here first. Miss Manners recommends that, given your apparent proclivity toward prickliness, you rehearse this before getting into fights with truck drivers. Although, without your neon green vest, it sounds like you already have multiple occasions to practice. *** DEAR MISS MANNERS: My workplace restroom does not offer paper towels, so the only option to dry ones hands are the very loud hand-dryers. When co-workers are chatting in the bathroom and I turn on the hand-dryer, they often turn and glare at me for interrupting. I dont think I am doing anything wrong, but I am not always sure of workplace norms. I personally dont chat with others in the bathroom, as I think there is a time and a place, and a shared work restroom is not it. Should I leave with wet hands to avoid preventing co-workers (usually non-work-related) conversations? Or go without washing? GENTLE READER: Priority certainly goes to the person who is using the room for its intended purpose and function. And to keeping conditions sanitary in general. Miss Manners is not saying that your co-workers should be banned from having a chat in the ladies room. But what you came to do takes precedence -- and proper hygiene should not be suspended for toilet talk. Or rather, talk around the toilet. (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) *** COPYRIGHT 2023 JUDITH MARTIN DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500 A man and a woman from Brooklyn, New York have been charged with stealing more than $1,100 dollars from three Bayonne residents by hacking into their bank accounts. Bayonne police say Neculai Candet, 31, and Madalina Balmus, 40, transferred residents bank account information onto Vanilla Visa gift cards and then used the cards to withdraw money from various ATM locations in Bayonne. Candet and Balmus were taken into custody at 12:29 p.m. Friday in area of Goldsborough Drive after an investigation, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said. Amato said that on April 21, a 30-year-old man told police that an unknown individual withdrew $560 over four withdrawals a CVS, either at the 560 Avenue C or Goldsborough Drive store. Also that day, a 51-year-old victim reported that an unknown individual utilized the ATM at the CVS at 560 Avenue C and withdrew $200 from his bank account. A third victim reported that day that an unknown individual utilized the ATM at the CVS at 560 Avenue C and withdrew $343 from her bank account. Candet and Balmus were arrested at the CVS on Goldsborough Drive while they were utilizing the ATM. As officers approached them, Candet tossed 23 Vanilla Visa gift cards into a nearby bush. After the arrests, police found Candet was in possession of six receipts of withdrawal transactions from numerous banks located in numerous jurisdictions outside of Bayonne. Police found that the Vanilla Visa gift cards had been reprogrammed with actual debit card account numbers and new personal identification numbers (PIN) linked to the victims personal bank accounts, essentially being converted into actual debit cards capable of making withdrawals at any ATM. Candet and Balmus were charged with numerous counts of identity theft, fraudulent use of a credit card and receiving stolen property. It will be Groundhog Day all over again in North Bergen in two weeks when voters head to the polls to vote for mayor and find the same two candidates on the ballot that have been there in the last two elections. Incumbent eight-term Mayor Nick Sacco faces challenger Larry Wainstein once again May 9, but this time Sacco is seeking to hold on to his one remaining political seat after redistricting and party negotiations cost him his state senate seat. West New York will have a new mayor next year, and regardless of who emerges victorious on election day, the towns next leader will be no newcomer to West New York politics. On one side of the ballot sits Commissioner Cosmo Cirillo, 36, who has been a commissioner for eight years, directs public affairs for the town and is eyeing a promotion. On the other is Albio Sires, 72, whose legacy as former mayor and congressman is so pronounced theres already a school in West New York named after him that his resume could label him overqualified if this were a typical job market. Theyre the heads of respective five-member slates, Sires backed by the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) to fill the void left by current Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez also supported by the HCDO who has instead decided to run for Assembly in the 33rd District. Sires running mates are Marcos Arroyo, Victor Barrera, Board of Education member Marielka Diaz and Board of Education President Adam Parkinson. Diaz and Parkinson did not run for re-election to the school board. Cirillos slate consists of Hiram Gonzalez, town Commissioner Margarita Guzman, Assemblywoman Angelica Jimenez and Walter Lopez. Cirillo and Sires each have a vision for a West New York, be it through enhanced street lighting, a park on a waterfront pier or a new recreation center. But neither candidates ideologies sway radically apart from the other, and both could emerge as winners on May 9. West New Yorks commissioner-style legislative body means that every candidate on the ballot is technically running for one of five commissioner seats, and the top five vote-getters will select one of its members to appoint as mayor. Cirillo paints his slate as a way for voters to move on from Sires leadership, even though Sires hasnt been mayor since 2006. Cirillo himself has been involved in West New York more than half his life, since he was appointed to the Board of Education at the age of 20. Hes really had his hands on the politics of West New York for the last three decades, Cirillo said. I feel its time for new leadership for the town. Its a generational shift in West New York. Sires, meanwhile, said his experience and connections will be invaluable for West New York. I want to stay busy, said Sires, who declined to participate in a public debate with Cirillo. I want to use my experience to do some good. And my connections. ... My whole goal is to do the best job for the people of West New York. Cirillo argued his campaign offers an important contrast to Sires. This campaign is about letting people have the choice about who they want in office, not just somebody coming in and saying this is my town Im going to run again, the commissioner said. Though Sires and Cirillo are each running as the heads of their tickets, voters of course have the option to pick and choose from each slate. But if comes down to Sires or Cirillo, and not both, voters will likely be guided by a decision between continuing with a representative of the current administration who has become a familiar face (Cirillo ran on Rodriguezs HCDO-backed ticket in 2019), or that of a man whose experience and sway over North Hudson politics for the past several decades precedes him. The keystone of Cirillos platform is a new recreation center and parking deck at 64th Street and Broadway, which he said the city needs instead of renting out recreation space from the local schools. If we had our own space we could offer year-round programming, not just seasonal programming, Cirillo said. While the state has labeled the 64th Street and Broadway property as the site for a future school, which it is designating $65 million for, Cirillo wants those funds to be invested in rehabbing former Schools 3 and 4. Its a plan Sires describes as foolish because the school buildings are so old and because he is sure the state would not allow the funds to be moved anywhere else. He is excited to transform 64th and Broadway into a new middle school with the state funding, but another keystone infrastructure project on his platform is moving the library from 60th Street to Bergenline Avenue and 58th Street, where he wants to exercise eminent domain to acquire the property and build a new state-of-the-art space. That plan would allow the town to move the police department, currently located in Town Hall on 60th Street, across the street to the location of the current library, he said. Besides a recreation center, Cirillos other priorities are a new Division of Constituent Services, enhanced street lighting and security cameras and adding angled parking on several streets throughout the town. For Sires, priorities include building the towns first park on a pier and constructing a pedestrian overpass over Port Imperial Boulevard. He also plans to bring back longtime Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner as his town administrator. By Matthew J. Platkin The U.S. Supreme Court decided this month to preserve access to the abortion pill mifepristone while a lawsuit challenging the Food & Drug Administrations 23-year-old approval of the pill continues. That lawsuit launched by a shadowy organization that incorporated in Texas shortly after the Court overturned Roe v. Wade has unleashed significant confusion and misinformation about the medical safety and legal status of both mifepristone and abortion itself. But the facts are these: abortion and mifepristone remain as safe and legal in New Jersey as they have ever been, and my office intends to keep it that way. Even before the Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs undid nearly 50 years of precedent recognizing abortion as a constitutional right, New Jersey was taking steps to protect reproductive rights. In late 2021, the board of Medical Examiners unanimously voted to eliminate outdated barriers to abortion and expand the pool of eligible providers to physician assistants, nurses, and midwives. Then, in January 2022, Gov. Phil Murphy signed the Freedom of Reproductive Choice Act, which codified the right for anyone in New Jersey to make their own reproductive choices including the choice to terminate a pregnancy. That law has not changed. Nor was that law impacted by the Dobbs decision in June 2022. In that decision, the Supreme Court did not ban abortion. Instead, it left the question of abortion for the people and their elected representatives to resolve through the democratic process in the States exactly what New Jersey had already done. Within a week of Dobbs, the governor also signed two new state laws to protect those who provide or seek abortions in New Jersey from repercussions from other states or professional boards. At the same time, my office took a series of steps to educate providers and the public on state law and to protect abortion access. In June 2022, we released an explainer so anyone living or visiting New Jersey could understand their rights. The next month, I announced a state-federal partnership with the U.S. Attorneys Office to protect providers and patients and created a Reproductive Rights Strike Force. Staffed by officials across the Department of Law & Public Safety, the strike force has since helped coordinate guidance from me to state licensing boards, guidelines to help providers secure patient data, and a consumer alert on organizations that may appear to be reproductive health care clinics, but do not provide abortions or abortion care, known as crisis pregnancy centers. In November 2022, I also led a coalition of attorneys general calling on Apple to refine its App Store policies to safeguard data related to reproductive health an effort that is ongoing with the company. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." As questions on mifepristone arose in recent months, my office followed the science. It quickly became clear that over the past 20 years, hundreds of clinical trials and peer-reviewed studies have supported a clear and consistent medical consensus. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the National Academy of Sciences, and the World Health Organization all agree that mifepristone is safe and effective, with no serious complications arising in over 99% of cases. Indeed, leading medical organizations including the AMA concur that mifepristone has a safety profile comparable to ibuprofen and an almost non-existent risk of death making it less dangerous than taking Viagra or getting your wisdom teeth removed. Even the risk of death in childbirth has been shown to be 14 times higher than the risk of death from abortion generally, whether using mifepristone or not. And that number is even higher for Black, poor, and rural populations, a disparity that only widened during the pandemic. Given the pills demonstrated safety and efficacy, my office joined over 20 other states in supporting mifepristones legality against the emergency challenge in a Texas trial court and through subsequent appeals. Even while the litigation was under review at the Supreme Court, I directed the director of our Division of Consumer Affairs to convene the relevant professional licensing boards to provide clarity to thousands of medical professionals across the state. Thank you to our Boards of Medical Examiners, Nursing & Pharmacy for adopting policies that allow licensees to dispense mifepristone without fear of discipline. Today's unanimous votes show the Boards' staunch commitment to protecting access to safe & effective reproductive care. https://t.co/hGIKG4M2Rc Attorney General Matt Platkin (@NewJerseyOAG) April 19, 2023 The boards of medical examiners, nursing and pharmacy all unanimously voted that any health care practitioner in New Jersey who continued to prescribe, dispense or administer mifepristone would not be subject to professional discipline while the legal status of the pill was in flux. That brings us to April 21. That Friday evening, in a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court ruled against limiting access to mifepristone while litigation about it continues a decision that indicates, but does not guarantee, that access is unlikely to be imperiled again until at least October 2023, when the Court reconvenes for its new term. If and when the threat to mifepristone access arises again, my office will be there fighting for science-based decision-making and reproductive choice every step of the way. In the meantime, we will not take our foot off the gas. We have and will continue to do everything we can to protect and expand your codified legal right to abortion in New Jersey. That is, and always will be, my commitment to you. Matthew J. Platkin is New Jerseys attorney general. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. By Nancy Munoz He was a Yankees fan. We were chatting about their chances of making it to the World Series as I checked his vitals and IV drip. All good. Years removed, I dont remember why he was in my New York City emergency room, but I remember our easy conversation. But then as quick as a Whitey Ford fastball, things changed. The banter ended, the machines started screaming that he was slipping away. Seconds felt like hours. CPR failed. I lost him. In those moments, he was my focus. I had all I needed to care for him. So while the pivot from good to bad, stable to critical, is not unique to medicine, the consequences are often life-altering, or ending. Medical staff do not exist in the neat black and white pages in textbooks. With our years of training and inadequate amounts of caffeine and sleep, we navigate the sickness and red tape all while promising first to do no harm, to devote ourselves to those in our care. Each shift. Each day. So, it is unconscionable to me that Trenton demands the doctors and nurses at the states only public hospital University Hospital in Newark work in environments that cause harm to the community and staff who already serve under stressful conditions. We are all one car crash away from needing this level-one trauma center. The current administration knows the diagnosis but refuses to administer the cure; the hospital needs radical intervention but is being told to take an aspirin and walk it off. Things will get better, or at least not worse. That is what we tell ourselves. But waiting worsens outcomes. Dont miss an issue of our Opinion newsletter! Get it delivered each Wednesday right into your inbox by adding your email below and hitting "subscribe." What are we waiting for? Out of chaos came healing. The hospital was born from an agreement among the City of Newark and the federal, state, and local governments to combat systemic racism, health care discrimination, and prejudice after the 1967 race riots. The hospital would be a state-of-the-art primary and critical care center for Newarks underserved community as well as residents across the state. Its mission from its inception was to not only treat patients and provide public health services but also train our physicians and nurses. These groups deserve a facility that ensures that noble mission is met. The promise is crumbling. The hospitals emergency room and trauma ER were built to treat 50,000 patients annually. Today, more than 100,000 persons seek treatment there. The trauma bay cant accommodate modern equipment that can save the lives of the seriously injured, preventing our physicians, nurses and staff from doing their jobs. Where there should be walls, there are curtains still; where there should be rooms, there are filled stretchers lining the halls, violating patients federal rights to privacy. Only two CT scanners serve the 519 beds. One of them is often out of commission, forcing patients to wait for days for critical scans. Practically, this lengthens stays and inflates the costs of hospitalizations. What harm is inflicted when seconds, minutes, hours and days count when waiting worsens outcomes? Most shockingly, the HVAC system does not work when the outside temperature is below 17 degrees or above 88 degrees. Our medical staff, trained professionals that they are, run around the hospital, mercifully delivering blankets to patients when the heat stops working. Our first-year residents must play meteorologist and concierge while making less than housekeepers in Atlantic City. An ignored toothache can turn into endocarditis. An ignored bellyache can turn into colon cancer. We often create our own emergencies when we ignore the warning signs, and then its too complicated, too expensive, too late to fix. If we committed to that radical intervention University Hospital needs today a complete overhaul it would cost $1.8 billion and 10 years time. Instead, during the April 3 budget hearing, it was announced that $79.7 million, a mere 4.5% of what it needs, is pledged, while Trenton sits on $1.3 billion in federal Covid relief funds. This administration will no doubt earmark that money at a more politically advantageous time, throwing a few million at it and calling it care and compassion, rather than committing now to ensure everyone who lives, travels through or visits North Jersey can have a local level-one trauma center. If, as stated repeatedly during the hearings, the budget reflects our values, and we convert our values into investment, then it is time to invest significantly to meet the immediate and future needs of the hospital. If we value the delivery of excellent health care, then we must infuse the resources into the hospital now. Waiting worsens outcomes. There is too much to lose. Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz was a nurse for 35 years. She represents the 21st Legislative District, which includes Morris, Somerset and Union counties. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the US and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the US access to four more bases on the islands as the US looks to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Marcos official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The US president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbors. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close US-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A US appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about $2 billion against the elder Marcos estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the UN General Assembly, where the U.S. president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. Search Keywords: Short link: ARLINGTON, Texas Aaron Judge looked like he was in a good mood chatting it up with Anthony Rizzo during his Sunday morning walk from the Yankees team bus to the visiting clubhouse at Globe Life Field. His right hip has a mild strain from a slide in Minnesota on Wednesday, but hes feeling better by the day. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER, TICKETMASTER The Yankees still plan to wait until Monday to decide whether Judge will go on the 10-day injured list. Best case, Judge will play Tuesday or Wednesday against Cleveland, manager Aaron Boone said. I know he came in feeling a little bit better (Sunday), so Im sure hell go through everything well evaluate where we are, Boone said. Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites The Yankees also were waiting Sunday morning to decide whether to put outfielder Jake Bauers on the IL or not. In his Yankees debut on Saturday night, Bauers injured his right knee crashing into the left-field wall making a brilliant first-inning catch that saved a run. Bauers had an MRI on his knee Sunday morning and was waiting for results as the 1:35 p.m., first pitch for the Yankees-Rangers series finale approached. Theres still swelling and its stiff, but the pain is down, Bauers said. I feel like Im walking pretty good. Im walking pain free. The only thing thats keeping my range of motion down is the swelling. Im sure today well try to get all of that out of there. Depending on what the MRI shows, the Yankees would decide to put Bauers on the IL or activate outfielder Franchy Cordero, who returned to Texas on Sunday morning after being optioned to Triple-A after Fridays game. Cordero flew from Dallas to Boston on Saturday morning to join Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in Worchester, Mass, then went from Boston to Dallas on Sunday morning to join the Yankees either as an active player or be on the taxi squad. Here are other updates on injured Yankees players: -- Right-hander Luis Severino (lat strain) will make a first rehab start Wednesday or Thursday in Tampa. -- Reliever Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) threw a pain-free 20-pitch bullpen Sunday at Globe Life Field. Hes basically going through a spring training and isnt eligible to come off the 60-day injured list until May 26. -- Third baseman Josh Donaldson (hamstring strain) and outfielder Giancarlo Stanton (hamstring stain) are hitting, throwing and running after a shutdown period. -- Center fielder Harrison Bader (oblique) will DH on Sunday for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after playing center two days in a row. Hes scheduled to play center for nine innings on consecutive days at some point this week and has a good shot to come off the IL early next week. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience perform during a reception before the start of the 2016 Louisiana Culture Awards ceremony at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. For volunteer opportunities with the museum, visit For volunteer opportunities, visit capitolparkfriends.org. One of the two students killed in a mass shooting at an after-prom party in Bay St. Louis was looking forward to graduating from Hancock High Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi expressed Cairo's deep appreciation for Japan's contribution and sincere engagement in supporting the countrys development and national projects during a press conference on Sunday after meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio arrived in Egypt on Saturday for a three-day visit as part of his four-nation Africa tour, his first visit to the region since taking office in October 2021, according to Presidential Spokesman Ahmed Fahmy. In addition to his visit to Egypt, Kishida's African tour includes Ghana, Kenya, and Mozambique. It lasts until 5 May to demonstrate Japan's commitment to the international order based on the rule of law in preparation for the G7 Hiroshima Summit scheduled to be held on 19-25 May and strengthen cooperation on global issues, according to the embassy of Japan in Cairo. In his speech, El-Sisi expressed Egypts deep appreciation for Japan's support for national projects such as the Grand Egyptian Museum and Egyptian-Japanese schools. During their meeting, the two heads of state reviewed the economic, legislative, and structural reforms implemented in Egypt over the past years to stimulate the business and investment climate, El-Sisi said. El-Sisi also laid out the incentives and guarantees provided by Egypt for investors, as well as promising investment opportunities in various fields, and invited the Japanese government to encourage Japanese companies to invest more in Egypt. Cooperation, projects and investments According to a recent Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) report, Japanese investments in Egypt reached $73.7 million during FY2021/2022, up from $37.1 million the previous year, an increase of 98.7 percent. Over the past few years, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has increased its support for development projects in Egypt. This includes a $301 million loan approved in December 2022 for developing Egypt's fourth metro line and a $336 million agreement signed in February of this year to support the Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) over seven years. In March, a $3.8 million grant aid was signed by Japan and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to boost food security in Egypt. Diplomatic relations between Egypt and Japan Japan and Egypt maintain friendly relations, with Japan recognising Egypt's importance for Middle East stability. The relations between the two countries have been strengthened through increased political, economic and cultural exchanges, including visits from Prime Minister Abe Shinzo to Egypt in 2015 and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to Japan in 2016. There have been frequent exchanges at the ministerial and leadership level, such as the visit by Egypts former Speaker of Parliament Ali Abdel-Aal and his parliamentary delegation to Japan in 2017 and the visit by Japans Minister of Foreign Affairs Motegi Toshimitsu to Egypt in August 2021 for bilateral meetings with President El-Sisi and Foreign Minister Shoukry. More to follow... Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry heads to the Jordanian capital Amman on Sunday evening to attend the consultative meeting on Syria that brings together the foreign ministers of member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and those of Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu-Zeid on Sunday The Egyptian foreign minister attends the meeting that comes on the heels of another meeting held earlier this month in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, noted Abu-Zeid. The meeting aims to strengthen joint Arab action in response to regional crises, added Abu-Zeid. It will discuss ways to deal with the Syrian crisis, particularly the status of Syria's membership after 12 years of suspension, explained Abu-Zeid. The meeting will hence discuss fostering Arab solidarity with the brotherly Syrian people to help them face their ordeal, concluded Abu-Zeid. For his part, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Sinan Majali confirmed that the meeting aims to build on the contacts made by the nine countries with the Syrian government following Jeddah's meeting, as well as the Jordanian initiative to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Syria and Saudi Arabia had released a joint statement prior to Jeddahs meeting announcing that the two countries were moving towards reopening embassies and reoperating flights between them. Majali also highlighted that the Syrian foreign minister would attend the meeting as the first high-ranking Syrian official to attend a meeting of that level in more than a decade, reported Jordanian News Agency (PETRA). Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi highlighted that Egypt's vision for the crisis in Sudan revolves around achieving an immediate, permanent, and comprehensive ceasefire and rejecting any external intervention in Sudan's affairs. El-Sisi's remarks came during a press conference on Sunday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Cairo. The Egyptian president said that external parties must refrain from intervening in the Sudanese conflict, the crisis in Sudan being a purely Sudanese matter. Such abstention, El-Sisi added, helps defuse the crisis and prevents its exacerbation. "The Egyptian vision is based on achieving an immediate, permanent, and comprehensive ceasefire in Sudan, he explained. For his part, Kishida voiced concerns over the possible impact on Japan and the global economy of the Sudanese crisis. The turbulent situation in Sudan may affect Japan and the global economy as Sudan overlooks the Red Sea, one of the most prominent logistical lifelines between Asia and Europe, he warned. As the current chair of the Group of Seven (G7) and a member of the UN Security Council, Japan plans to address the crisis in Sudan, the premier said. Therefore, Japan will soon send its envoy for the Horn of Africa to relevant countries, including Egypt, Kishida added. Russia-Ukraine crisis El-Sisi stressed that the crisis in Ukraine had a severe impact on the economies of developing countries, causing a rise in inflation and energy and food prices, along with expectations of a slowdown in growth rates. Egypt looks forward to working with its development partners, especially Japan, to ensure that the economic challenges resulting from the Ukraine crisis are given the same attention as its political and security aspects, he said. The president also called for discussing means of alleviating the impact of such exceptional challenges on developing countries. For his part, Japans PM said his country has been keen to support agricultural production in Egypt by providing financial aid to enhance food security amid the Russia-Ukraine war. North Korea, intl issues Kishida said he agreed with El-Sisi to continue coordination between the two countries on North Korea's nuclear arsenal and its abduction of Japanese civilians. He also expressed concerns about tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians, hailing at the same time Egypts efforts to reduce these tensions. The Japanese PM praised Egypts important role in achieving stability in the Middle East and Africa. Both leaders said they also discussed the situation in East Asia. Boosting cooperation Kishida said he agreed with El-Sisi on the need to boost the relations between the two countries to the level of strategic partnership. Egypt and Japan are no longer partners on the bilateral level only but also on the regional and international levels, he stated, adding that Japan will work with El-Sisi to help achieve peace, stability, and prosperity for the international community. The two leaders also discussed holding the 3rd Japan-Arab Political Dialogue in September and promoting trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Japan and Jordan. Japan also plans to increase its contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) mission in Sinai, according to the Japanese PM. During their meeting, El-Sisi and Kishida discussed the promising investment opportunities in Egypt. El-Sisi said he called on the Japanese government to encourage companies in Japan to increase their investments in Egypt. Japan will provide long-term assistance in various fields to Egypt, Kishida said. He cited its contributions to various projects in Egypt, such as Cairo Metro Line 4 and the wind power project, as well as its assistance to Egypt in the field of education, Kishida arrived in Egypt on Saturday for a three-day visit as part of his four-nation Africa tour. This is his first visit to the region since assuming office in October 2021. El-Sisi and Kishida witnessed the signing of several MoUs and agreements between Egypt and Japan in communication and information technology, law and the judiciary. The two sides also signed an agreement on the first phase of the fourth metro line in Egypt. The two countries also agreed on establishing a partnership between the Egyptian Ministry of International Cooperation and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Search Keywords: Short link: The steps of frank, transparent national dialogue in Egypt start with definitively resolving the prisoners of conscience file, said participants of the Egyptian 'National Dialogue' during their meeting with General Coordinator of the dialogue Diaa Rashwan on Saturday, according to a statement. We are all hopeful of starting a new phase in the life of this country, the participants said in the statement, emphasising that they will partake in fostering an open political climate which establishes economic reform to support both the citizen and the states economy. The statement was issued by Rashwan following the meeting that involved a set of prominent figures in the political and media fields in Egypt, where they discussed the course of the 'National Dialogue' set to commence on Wednesday, 3 May. It is important to cease procedures that chase and imprison prisoners of conscience, the meeting attendees further stressed. They also shared their vision for the 'National Dialogue' and the current situation in Egypt in general, Rashwan said. We seek a free dialogue between parties on an equal footing to unlock the path to an open public sphere, they continued, adding that this will allow Egypt to benefit from the minds and cadres of its citizens. We believe that the state should listen carefully to the people's requests, they further asserted. The meeting participants also asserted the necessity of adopting a political path which includes all legitimate political parties and movements, adding that such activities must be protected by laws that allow practitioners to do so without restriction or circumvention. The law on political parties must be reformed to serve the nations interests, they affirmed, adding that freedom of the press, as well as opinion, go hand in hand with such reformations. We wish to turn our attention to the current economic situation of the country with the rising cost of living and we are confident that political reform, strengthening state institutions, mutual surveillance, and balance of powers is the only way to re-establish the country, the statement continued. Hence, the state should strive to achieve its aspirations through the participation of all its people and provide the necessary mechanisms for that to fulfil the ownership of the country to its citizens, they added. There is no alternative to dialogue to handle any political dispute, the statement asserted, adding that the 'National Dialogue' can pave the way to a political climate that holds presidential, parliamentary, and administrative elections up to international standards. We hope that we will reach the day when we hand over the flag of the homeland to our children, reassured that it is a strong, precious, and stable country, they concluded. The 'National Dialogue' was originally proposed by President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi in April 2022 to develop the country's future political, economic, and social priorities. Rashwan also announced on Wednesday that the current crisis in Sudan propelled by the attacks of the paramilitary Rapid Sudanese Forces groups further raised the urgency of Egypt's 'National Dialogue' emphasising that the initiative must begin on 3 May as planned. Search Keywords: Short link: For more than a half-century, generations of Miller residents and beachgoers stopped by Ono's & Jo's Pizza for pizza, Italian beef or its locally famous Sicilian sandwich. The seaside pizza shack, a short stroll from Lake Street Beach in Gary's Miller neighborhood, shuttered for good in 2016 when longtime owner Salvatore "Sam" Rizzo died. Its menus boasted "in Miller, it's Ono's" and "the best pizza in town." Many people thought so. The old-school pizzeria has lived on in memory. The landmark eatery is depicted in paintings, photos and prints at the nearby Miller School Shops in downtown Miller. An electrician from the neighborhood has been working for the past six years to renovate the property. Paulette Cialdella, who hails from a family of pizza makers, restored the restaurant building, which she is putting up for sale through Ayres Realtors. "It was a labor of love for me," she said. "I just wanted to see this iconic place come back to life." Josephine Rizzo and her sister Ann Massa originally opened the Beach Box at 720 N. Lake St., just steps from Lake Michigan, in 1953. They bought a hamburger stand with a counter and stools and turned it into a beach-side restaurant that sold ham sandwiches, hot dogs and pops that originally cost 10 cents. They changed the name to Onos & Jos after their brother from Italy, Ono Penzato, joined the restaurant and it added pizza to the menu in 1962. Ono's & Jo's made the dough and sauce from scratch, specializing in homemade thin-crust pies with cheese, sausage and mushrooms. The menu included Italian beef, Italian sausage, stromboli and the signature Sicilian that featured Italian sausage, peppers, garlic and four kinds of cheese. "It's an iconic institution of Miller Beach in Gary," she said. "It should be a historic landmark in my opinion." Cash-only until the end, the small restaurant catered mainly to take-out customers. But people also often dined at the tables out back or the bench in the front. "I remember sitting with Sam in the big window and watching the Cubs game from the bench," said Cialdella, a Chicago native who moved to Miller in 1987. "They had really good pizza and beef. They had good food and fun. People had tons of memories there." Cialdella bought the property and renovated it with carpenter Carlos Mateo until he drowned in Lake Michigan on the Fourth of July. "Me and him were doing the project and had a lot of fun until he passed away," she said. "We designed everything together, but I had to finish it on my own. He called it the compound because it has five buildings. He asked me if I was going to the compound and that was the last time I ever saw him. He was such a talented guy. I think he was a shop teacher and he was a licensed Gary contractor. He would be happy to see it finished." Cialdella came up with a new design for the restaurant: a California-style beachfront walk-up. It has a large pickup window, 25 seats inside and 12 more in a party room in a separate building out back, a repurposed beach cottage. The 1,144-square-foot main dining room features a bar and a three-way liquor license. "It was in bad shape when I bought it," she said. "Now it's just beautiful." Her family has owned such pizzerias as Danny's Pizza in Calumet Park and Labriola Bakery Cafe & Neapolitan Pizzeria in Oak Brook. But she has no interest in running one herself. She's an electrician by trade who's close to retirement and "busy as hell." She put in long hours renovating the property in her spare time over the past few years. "It was a lot of hard work. I was often painting or demoing until midnight. It was rewarding. It was fun. It was a creative outlet for me. Everything was gutted and is brand-new, down to the studs. It needed some tender loving care." Many people stopped by to share their memories while she sat outside on the beach during the project. "Generations of people went there," she said. "It's a landmark. It's on T-shirts and mugs." The restaurant had deteriorated over the years. "It was overgrown. It probably wouldn't still be standing if we hadn't taken ahold of it," she said. "It would be lost forever. We had the courage to take on the project. Now we need someone to pick it up and run with it." The Ono's & Jo's space has a lot of potential because of the South Shore Line double tracking, the Lake Street improvements and the national park designation. Ono's and Jo's is just down the street from Miller Woods in the Indiana Dunes National Park and a short drive from West Beach, its biggest and most popular beach. She hopes a buyer will revive it as a pizzeria to take advantage of the well-known brand and said the business could double as an ice cream shop or small neighborhood grocery. "We built it as a beach concession at the north end of Lake Street," she said. "The whole area's going to pop. It's preserving the history for the new age of Miller as it revitalizes." For more information, call 219-938-1188 or visit millerbeach.com. CROWN POINT Runners and walkers had different reasons for participating in the 42nd annual Crossroads YMCA Hub Run, but the result was the same: feet on the street. For many runners, preparing for a race takes months of preparation. Not so for Amy Schaafsma of Crown Point and her daughter Bailey. We woke up and decided to do the 2K, Amy said. Bailey plays softball, so shes used to running sprints on the ball field. Jennifer Bobruk of Crown Point ran with her daughter Taylor in the 5K race. Taylor is training for the Girls on the Run race. She wants to be first, Jennifer said. Taylor has been running laps in the hallways of Lake Street Elementary School, 41 times a day, to build endurance. Stretching is important, the Bobruks know. So does Kevin Bailey, talking while stretching his hamstring muscle before the race. He spent 24 years in the Navy and had to keep in good physical condition. This knee has just gotten sorer from the training, he said. The elliptical is my friend. His wife, Louise Bailey, said she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017 and began running in 2019. Among her bragging rights is placing first in the Run Like a Mother race. My fast-walk speed is two-thirds her trot, Kevin said. Im in the run/walk/survive category, he quipped. Louise Conway of Lake Dalecarlia ran with co-worker Erica Sardella of St. John. Its more to support Louise to make sure she has a good experience, Sardella said. This has been on my bucket list for a long time, Conway said. Sardella said this was her first race since back surgery in January. Crystal Lynn Promnitz of Crown Point waited on the sidelines for her husband and three of their children. I get so excited, she said. I always take several pictures. Its a nice family event. The race is a fundraiser for the Crossroads YMCA income-based assistance program, said Amy Lucka, wellness director for the Dean & Barbara White Southlake YMCA. Beth Seifert, who works at the YMCA, was standing by to greet runners after the race. Its just awesome when the first runner, especially, crosses the finish line, she said. That was just over 15 minutes after the race began. Runners rarely sit or lie down immediately after the race. They know they need to keep moving to let their muscles cool down properly. Seifert gives them a water bottle, then they often return for a banana or a granola bar. The Schaafsmas had bigger plans. We are probably going to get ourselves a breakfast and then were going to have the rest of the day to enjoy, Amy said. Senate Bill 424 was submerged when the Indiana House Natural Resources Committee refused to hear it at the beginning of the month. SB 424 would have required safety stations to be placed on piers and at all public access points on Lake Michigan. The bill would have gone into effect July 1 and required a minimum of 100 stations to be installed each including a life ring, weather-proof case and durable rope about 100 feet in length. People need to understand, drowning is a public health issue, said Dave Benjamin, co-founder and executive director of Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project. Stuff like this should be mandated and required. There shouldnt be resistance. Members from the newly founded Lake Michigan Water Front Safety InitiativeIndiana, traveled to the Statehouse on Feb. 20 to testify on behalf of the bill. Each persons testimony led the Senate Committee on Natural Resources to unanimously pass SB 424. In early April, members from GLSRP and the safety initiative met with House Natural Resources Chairman Shane Lindauer, R-Jasper, on Zoom. However, Lindauer refused to hear the bill, Benjamin said. Its not if someone will drown in Lake Michigan this summer, but when someone will drown," he said. "And then we will have to question if life rings would have made a difference in saving a life for each drowning incident. Without proper safety equipment, there will be a continued ripple effect for every drowning victim in Lake Michigan, Benjamin said. Last year, 45 of the 108 Great Lakes drownings occurred in Lake Michigan, according to GLSRP. Statistics at the groups website dating to 2013 show that Lake Michigan has had the most drownings annually compared with Erie, Superior, Huron and Ontario. If you look at those drowning victims, a lot of them are young, said Beth Froese of Carol Stream, Illinois. Froeses daughter Chase and her friends were driving back to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on the evening of July 31, 2015, when they decided to make a pit stop at Porter Beach. The three girls wanted to take a quick dip in the lake before continuing their journey. Upon arrival to the beach, the three girls noticed other people swimming in the lake despite the choppy waves. The girls entered the water around 6:30 p.m. Chase quickly realized that the 2- to 4-foot waves were causing the girls to float farther from the shore. The 20-year-old continued to drift away from her friends. Two bystanders who saw that the girls needed help had access to flotation devices, a kickboard and kayak. However, they lost sight of Chase. Nearly two days passed before the Lake County Sheriffs Department recovered Chases body. I dont know if a life ring would have changed the outcome for Chase since they lost sight of her, but the flotation devices for the other two girls was paramount, said her father, Greg Froese. Every second and minute matters. When a call goes to 911 because someone is in distress, its already too late. Chase Froese was the oldest of four children and known for her passion for music. She was a junior at Calvin, studying psychology and philosophy. She also worked at the universitys Starbucks. She was very relational and a lover of people, her mother recalls. We had a great relationship with her. She was a good kid. To say the Froese family is disappointed with the rejection of SB 424 is an understatement. Its a starting bill. A basic, bare-bones bill, Beth said. Its a very little ask for a very big outcome. Bob Pratt, co-founder and executive director of GLSRP, said drowning "will kill more school-aged people than fires, tornadoes, school shooters and earthquakes combined, but theres still no water-safety education in schools. Its frustrating work when every year weve averaged more than 100 fatal drownings on the five Great Lakes. GLSRP is a nonprofit that has been advocating for water safety for the past 12 years. It teaches water safety across the Great Lakes, in addition to tracking every drowning. It gives us no satisfaction to remind people after the fact that they missed the opportunity with Senate Bill 424, Pratt said. Were at these beaches doing something we love, like surfing, knowing if its a warm, windy, wavy weekend theres probably someone drowning on the Great Lakes. GLSRP and the Lake Michigan Water Front Safety Initiative plan to continue expressing the importance of installing safety stations. But if theres a drowning, Benjamin said, it will have to be noted how a life ring could have changed the outcome. He emphasizes that more than $100 million has been invested over the past 12 years into beach restoration projects in Hammond, Whiting, Gary, Portage and Michigan City. In comparison, 100 safety stations would cost about $100,000 and be a starting point for water safety on Lake Michigan. Were representing a group of family members whove lost their family members to these beaches, he said. Were very dissatisfied, and its inexcusable. For more information on water safety visit glsrp.org. Steel is one of the most vital global industries. Its fundamental to both industrial growth and national security. But now, Americas steel supply chain workers are facing wage cuts and layoffs. Much of that is due to one problem the Mexican governments refusal to follow a 2019 promise to halt surging steel exports to the United States. Its a clear breach of recent negotiations between the two countries. Since Mexico refuses to honor its commitments, Washington should reimpose tariffs on Mexican steel products. For decades, my company has manufactured steel pipe and tubing throughout the United States including electrical conduits, water pipes and structural tubing. This steel is used in data centers, electric vehicle production and commercial buildings, and is the primary component of solar energy installations. In the last decade, one of the most significant threats our workforce faced was a surge in steel imports. The Trump administration imposed Section 232 emergency tariffs on steel imports in 2018. That proved to be game-changing since it helped us to rebuild our business and pay our workers fairly. Canada and Mexico vigorously protested these tariffs and responded with counter-tariffs. However, in May 2019, the United States reached a deal with both countries to hold the volume of their steel exports to preexisting levels. In return, the United States dropped the tariffs. Unfortunately, Mexico has flagrantly increased its exports instead of honoring its promise to limit steel shipments. Mexicos steel exports are soaring to record levels. The problem has grown so severe that a bipartisan group of senators recently sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging action. The letter explains that the volume of annual iron and steel imports from Mexico has increased 73% since the surge days of 2015-2017. Even more worrying is that imports of semi-finished steel and steel products from Mexico are up 120%. And steel conduit imports have risen by an even more astounding 577%. Mexicos blatant disregard for its commitments to the United States is reminiscent of Chinas brazen violations of the Phase One agreement negotiated in 2020. In that instance, China pledged to buy more U.S. goods in exchange for reducing U.S. tariffs. But Beijing reneged and simply disregarded its obligations. Mexico is now doing the same thing breaching its commitments in believing that the United States will do nothing. After the 2018 steel tariffs were imposed, my company was able to get back on solid footing. As soon as business was back on line, we started paying bonuses and doing whatever we could to reward our employees for their hard work. Now, were struggling against the very surges of steel imports that Mexico specifically pledged not to send. And our workers have been hit hard. Weve already closed one plant in California and let go of 145 workers. These were high-paying manufacturing jobs with full benefits. For our remaining workers, the bonuses we once paid are now gone. When the United States imposed tariffs on steel in 2018, it was for national security reasons. The idea was to protect the core of Americas national defense and industrial supply chains. Since then, the COVID pandemic has demonstrated that we must also protect crucial supply chains from computer chips and essential medicines to medical equipment and military hardware. When we consider the threats posed by Russia, China and other adversaries, its clear that the United States will always need the ability to produce various commercial products. However, the Biden administration is failing to enforce Mexicos breach of a negotiated trade agreement. That harms Americas wider efforts to Build Back Better. To get American industry back on its feet, the administration must reimpose Section 232 tariffs on Mexican steel. Otherwise, Americas clean energy revolution could be made in Mexico and China. This kind of tragedy seems all the more appalling because it might have been prevented. Yet victims and family members often have few places to turn to for help. The police frequently dont take the complaints seriously. He hadnt gotten into police work to break up some dispute over butter between husbands and wives, Synder writes of one officer. Meanwhile, our society and our legal system tends to regard household abuse differently than other crimes. Imagine a man, a stranger, strangling another man with a phone cord, pushing another man down the stairs, punching another man so hard he breaks an orbital eye socket, Snyder writes. Such assaults happen daily with domestic violence but I have yet to speak with a prosecutor who sees these crimes treated as seriously when they occur in that setting. She wants to see prosecutors handle domestic violence with the same rigor they accord to stranger violence. This shouldnt surprise us. For most of our history, domestic violence has been considered a private matter. The first law to protect victims of domestic abuse passed Congress only in 1984. And it would take a dozen more years before the first national hotline for victims was established. (One outcome of the #MeToo movement may be a greater willingness to report domestic violence: In 2018, calls to the national domestic violence hotline reportedly went up 30 percent.) As recently as the 1990s, there were three times as many shelters for abused pets as there were for abused partners. Even today, Snyder writes, we still tend to hold the victims responsible: Why didnt she just leave? Women, Snyder tells us, stay in abusive relationships out of fear for their lives, or to protect their children. Many feel they have few alternatives. When a situation becomes life-threatening, she observes, it is generally the victim, rather than the aggressor, who is expected to go into a shelter, leaving home, job, school, friends and family behind. Much could be done if law enforcement were more responsive to the problem. According to Snyder, the communities that have made the biggest gains in dealing with the issue have been able to meld the functions of law enforcement and domestic violence crisis centers. Still the current culture of law enforcement is deeply entrenched and I wonder whether Snyders hope for change is overly optimistic. Ive often heard police officers complain about the growing social work aspects of their job, whether its responding to mental health crises or homelessness. (As Snyder points out, the reluctance to intervene in cases of domestic violence isnt helped by the high incidence of such violence within the law enforcement community itself.) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila on Sunday for a visit to the United States as he seeks to bolster ties with Washington amid growing tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea. Marcos's visit comes as the United States had called on Beijing to stop "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed waterway after a recent near-collision with a Philippine coast guard vessel. Marcos begins his four-day trip with a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House, which the Philippine leader described as "essential to advancing our national interest and strengthening that very important alliance". "We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region," Marcos said in a pre-departure statement. His plane took off at around 1:43 pm in Manila (0543 GMT), according to the Presidential Communications Office. Ahead of Marcos's visit, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed China over the near collision of one of its coast guard ships with a Philippine patrol boat a week ago, saying it was a reminder of Beijing's "harassment and intimidation" in the contested waterway. "We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," he said in a statement, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. Biden has been working to bolster relations with Asian allies as the US-Chinese relationship remains in a historically deep chill, and the Philippines' proximity to key sea lanes and Taiwan gives it particular strategic importance. The near-miss on April 23 off the Spratly Islands was the latest in a long string of maritime incidents between China and the Philippines. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. A near-miss AFP was one of several media outlets that witnessed the incident after journalists were invited to join two Philippine Coast Guard boats on a six-day patrol of the waters, visiting a dozen islands and reefs. The Philippine vessels approached Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Ren'ai Jiao, in the Spratly archipelago. As one boat, the BRP Malapascua, which was carrying Filipino journalists, neared the shoal, a Chinese Coast Guard vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path. AFP journalists watched the incident from the other Philippine Coast Guard boat, which was less than a kilometre (0.6 miles) away. The Malapascua's commanding officer said the Chinese ship came within 45 metres (50 yards) of his boat and only his quick actions avoided the steel-hulled vessels crashing into each other. The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday that the Philippine boats had "intruded" without China's permission and called it a "premeditated and provocative action". Manila pushes back But Manila hit back, saying that "routine patrols in our own waters can be neither premeditated or provocative" and insisting they will continue to conduct the patrols. The near-miss came just a day after Marcos hosted Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang for talks in Manila aimed at defusing tensions in the waterway. Marcos has insisted he will not let China trample on the Philippines' rights in the sea, and has gravitated towards the United States as he seeks to strengthen defence ties. Early this month, the Philippines identified four additional military bases -- in addition to five existing sites -- to which US forces will have access, including one near the Spratly Islands. The two countries also carried out their biggest ever military manoeuvres in recent weeks. This shift has alarmed China, which has accused Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila. "Ironclad commitment" US-Philippine ties were badly frayed under Marcos's predecessor, the authoritarian Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos has sought to allay public fears that the reviving alliance with the United States could bring the Philippines into the conflict if China were to invade Taiwan. He has said that with Biden he will discuss the "need to tone down the rhetoric" over the South China Sea, Taiwan and North Korea. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said this month that Biden intended, in the meeting with Marcos, to "reaffirm the United States' ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines". Search Keywords: Short link: Echo Chamber We are an echo chamber of the best variety, repeating niche platitudes back and forth until we tire of affirmation. There is so much solace to be found in the female spirit, in listening to Fiona Apple and smoking out the window of my Paris apartment. My friend doesnt need to excuse her mistakes, nor I mine; we accept each others missteps and celebrate our imperfections. We visit the Louvre and have the same conversations we had in the pallid light of our Philadelphia apartment. I think if our lives were novels, wed pick the same epigraph. Aakruti Ganeshan Emily Meggett, a Southern home cook who never measured her ingredients or used recipes but became one of Americas most important Gullah Geechee cooks and last year published a best-selling cookbook on Gullah Geechee cuisine, died on Friday at her home in Edisto Island, S.C. She was 90. Her daughter Lavern Meggett said she died after a short illness. Mrs. Meggett had been cooking for nearly 80 years before Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriarch of Edisto Island, was published in April of last year the first high-profile cookbook centered on the food of the descendants of the enslaved people of the coastal South. She had collaborated with a mostly Black team to create it. She left us with a lifetime of work that was overlooked and undervalued for years, said Kayla Stewart, the books co-author. (Ms. Stewart has written for The New York Times.) She really moved the needle in terms of how were talking about Gullah Geechee cuisine and culture. Gullah Geechee Home Cooking became a New York Times best seller last July, and on Wednesday it was nominated for a 2023 James Beard book award in the category of U.S. Foodways. During its brief first flight more than a week ago, the gigantic Starship rocket made by SpaceX generated an unanticipated rock tornado at launch, and multiple engines failed as it headed upward before it somersaulted out of control. Then, said Elon Musk, the companys founder, in an update delivered during a Twitter audio chat on Saturday night, the end of the flight was tenser than it should have been. An automated self-destruct command did not immediately destroy Starship. Instead, 40 seconds passed before the rocket finally exploded. Despite all that went wrong, Mr. Musk deemed the launch of Starship a success. Obviously not a complete success, he said, but still nonetheless successful. He said that the goal of the test flight was to learn a lot, and we learned a lot, and that more test flights were planned for this year. A top political adviser to Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York abruptly informed colleagues that he would resign on Sunday, citing a New York Times report that called into question his political counsel and described a toxic work environment under him. The adviser, Adam C. Sullivan, was not a state government employee but had been the de facto head of Ms. Hochuls political operation, as well as a trusted and well-compensated confidant for more than a decade. He oversaw her 2022 campaign from his home in Colorado, and she had deputized him to help steer the beleaguered state Democratic Party. In an email Sunday to colleagues, including the state party chairman, Mr. Sullivan apologized for behavior that included belittling and marginalizing his subordinates and said he and the governor agreed he should relinquish his responsibilities for the foreseeable future. In retrospect, I can see the toll that the campaign took on me, he wrote in the email, sent just after 5 p.m. And after some serious thinking, I think it best if I take some time away from politics and the campaign environment and get healthy. Last April, Jack Reid, a 17-year-old junior at one of the nations elite boarding schools, tucked a Bible into his gym shorts and a note into his pocket directing his parents to a Google document explaining his feelings of despair. Then, inside his dorm room, he took his own life. On Sunday, the anniversary of Jacks death, the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey offered an extraordinary admission of failure, publicly acknowledging that it had been aware that Jack was being bullied by other students, but that it had fallen tragically short of its obligation to protect him. The school acknowledges that bullying and unkind behavior, and actions taken or not taken by the school, likely contributed to Jacks death, Lawrenceville officials wrote in a statement posted Sunday morning on the schools website. The school committed to taking a series of corrective actions including endowing a new deans position that will be focused on mental health issues, with a goal of becoming a model for anti-bullying and student mental health. When his friend and colleague Dr. George Tiller, known for performing late-term abortions, was shot to death in 2009, Dr. Carhart began offering them in his own clinic, having previously performed the procedures only during regular visits to Dr. Tillers facility in Wichita, Kan. Dr. Carhart was publicly associated with late-term abortions starting in the late 1990s, when the anti-abortion movement found a potent rallying cry in the phrase partial-birth abortion. It was used to denounce a procedure doctors call intact dilation and extraction, which involves removing an intact fetus and, typically, piercing or crushing its skull. Around 30 states, including Nebraska, outlawed the procedure. It was one that Dr. Carhart said he never used and that he described as distasteful. Nevertheless, he believed that the wording of the law was so broad that it could render illegal other types of abortions, and he sued Nebraskas attorney general, Don Stenberg. Dr. Carhart became the lead plaintiff in two Supreme Court cases. He won the first, Stenberg v. Carhart in 2000, with the court ruling that the Nebraska law and others like it unconstitutionally prohibited what in some cases might be the most medically appropriate way to terminate a pregnancy. When President George W. Bush signed the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003, Dr. Carhart sued again. The Supreme Court reversed course, however, with the author of the decision, Justice Anthony Kennedy, arguing that the federal law expresses respect for the dignity of human life. To understand why Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida should lose in his quest to punish Disney for the high crime of publicly disagreeing with Ron DeSantis, it is first necessary to talk about tow trucks. Specifically, its necessary to discuss a case about tow trucks and the First Amendment and how it answers a key question: If the government offers some person or entity a benefit, can it also take it away? The tow truck story begins in the early 1990s in Northlake, Ill. For decades the city had maintained a list of tow truck companies available for use by the Police Department. The list worked simply enough when the police needed towing services, they simply went down the list before each tow, with the next towing company receiving the next call. While towing companies didnt have a right to be on the list, once placed on it, the citys policy was to remove companies only for cause. In 1993, John Gratzianna, the owner of OHare Truck Service, declined to support the campaign of the incumbent mayor of Northlake, backing his opponent instead. The mayor then removed Gratziannas company from the towing list, and Gratzianna sued. The case was one of many to raise the constitutional question of when the government is allowed to take away benefits it was never obligated to provide. Lets take, for example, public employment. Being hired for a government job isnt a right. Its a privilege. As with most things about the Covid pandemic, the answer is most likely somewhere in between. There is good evidence that masks can protect people who use them correctly and consistently. Laboratory studies clearly show that wearing a mask properly, when in the presence of the virus, will reduce a persons exposure to it. Other studies show that higher-quality masks, such as N95 respirators, are better able to keep the virus out than less well-fitting surgical masks or cloth masks. The confusion occurs when we shift from showing that masks work in a laboratory or for individual people to finding evidence that masking works at the population level and what interventions work to encourage it. At the population level, compliance and mask quality may vary, making it difficult to find evidence to review on the effectiveness of masking in reducing the number of respiratory infections. The Cochrane review tried to untangle the evidence in one analysis. And according to that limited evidence, masking at the population level did not have a clear impact on reducing infections. How can this be? Part of the reason has to do with the quality of studies on masking. Though there have been studies observing differences in disease rates between places with masking policies and those without, evidence from these observational studies isnt of the highest quality because it doesnt fully account for other differences between masking and nonmasking populations. To address the quality issue of these studies, the Cochrane review looked only at randomized trials evaluating the effectiveness of masking. Randomized trials are particularly helpful for studying the impact of health interventions within populations because they help to minimize bias and confusion caused by other factors besides the one you are trying to evaluate. For example, if you looked at infections among people who choose to mask versus those who dont, you may be observing not just the effect of masking but also the effects of other protective decisions that people who are inclined to mask may also take, such as avoiding crowded indoor spaces. There have been only a few randomized trials specific to masking, and most of the ones included in the Cochrane review were not conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic or in the United States. Many of the studies that the Cochrane review included looked at the spread of influenza. This is part of a series on preparing for future outbreaks. Sign up for The Next Pandemic newsletter. The four of us spent the last three years immersed in collecting and reporting data on Covid-19 from every corner of the world, building one of the most trusted sources of information on cases and deaths available anywhere. But we stopped in March, not because the pandemic is over (it isnt), but because much of the vital public health information we need is no longer available. This is a dangerous turn for public health. The data on cases and deaths is critical for tracking and fighting the coronavirus, which has killed more than 1.1 million people in the United States and nearly 6.9 million worldwide. For the week of April 13 to April 19, 1,160 people were reported to have died from the virus in the United States. This is, in all likelihood, an underestimate. Unfortunately, nearly all states have stopped frequent public reporting of new cases and deaths, making it difficult to enable us to see how the virus is trending. And the widespread use of at-home tests has meant that most positive results almost never get recorded in public health databases, making it virtually impossible to detect and monitor outbreaks in a timely way. Three years ago the countrys public health establishment was caught flat-footed by the pandemic, and many lives were lost. There was no national system to monitor the spread of the coronavirus, which is essential to coordinate an effective response. Amazingly, many localities were faxing notifications to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; many still are. And the lack of uniform standards for reporting data prevented accurate and timely tracking of the virus. We were blind. Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher In January 2022, Randi Schofield was a 34-year-old single mother who, not long before, left her full-time job of eight years as a personal bailiff to a local judge. She pulled $30,000 from her retirement savings and was planning to give herself all of 2022 to expand the small catering business she had always dreamed about. This would be the year she bet on herself. Then, that month, she received the news that medics were pulling her father out of his car. The collision splintered the bone in his left thigh down to his knee; three days later, a metal rod held the broken pieces together. Until his leg recovered from the surgery, he would not be able to walk without assistance. In hindsight, there were warning signs that her fathers health could upend Schofields life. But he was also youthful and spirited, and it was easy to believe that everything was fine, that he was fine and that if she were to take care of him some day, it would be occasional and in a distant future. She didnt see this day coming the way it did, so abruptly and so soon. Increasing numbers of adult children are taking care of their parents, often shouldering the burden with no pay and little outside help making their meals, helping them shower, bandaging their wounds and holding them up before they can fall. The social-work scholar Dorothy A. Miller once described this as the peculiar position in the modern American nuclear family, between the care people give to their aging parents and to their children. Todays sandwich generation is younger than the version Miller described four decades ago, but it faces the same unique set of unshared stresses that she warned of then: acute financial strain, a lack of reciprocated support and fatigue from fulfilling the demands of too many roles. An aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical aid landed Sunday in Sudan to resupply hospitals devastated by more than two weeks of fighting between the Sudanese army and its rival the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The supplies are enough to treat hundreds of wounded, as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors' association has said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. On Sunday, the aircraft carrying medical aid took off from Jordan and landed in the city of Port Sudan, said the International Committee of the Red Cross. The supplies, including anesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict, the ICRC said. The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital of Khartoum and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said Sunday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum.Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. On Sunday, fighting continued in different parts of the capital where residents hiding in their homes reported hearing artillery fire. There have been lulls in fighting, but never a fully observed cease-fire, despite repeated attempts by international mediators. Over the weekend, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning in some areas of Khartoum as the scale of fighting dwindled after yet another shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Youssef, the ICRC official, said the agency has been in contact with the top command of both sides to ensure that medical assistance could reach hospitals safely. With this news today, we are really hoping that this becomes part of a steady coordination mechanism to allow other flights to come in, he said. Youssef said more medical aid was ready to be flown into Khartoum pending necessary clearances and security guarantees. Sudans healthcare system is near collapse with dozens of hospitals out of service. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and evacuate employees. On Sunday, a U.S. warship also arrived to Port Sudan to evacuate more American citizens, according to footage from the Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV channel. Most of the estimated 16,000 Americans believed to be in Sudan right now are dual U.S.-Sudanese nationals. The Defense Department said in a statement on Saturday it was moving naval assets toward Sudan's coast to support further evacuations. Search Keywords: Short link: This article is also a weekly newsletter. Sign up for Race/Related here. As the editors for Special Sections plan our large and popular Museums and Fine Arts & Exhibits sections in the spring and fall each year, we think about themes that will help us assign the most meaningful articles. Art institutions are reacting creatively to the challenges they face in attracting new audiences and remaining relevant to existing ones. Among the subjects we covered in this 48-page print and extensive digital section were several strong examples of how race and ethnicity play a role in new exhibitions now on view or coming soon. The Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth and the Chazen Museum of Art at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are conveying new approaches in response to the controversies across the United States over statues related to the Civil War era. The exhibitions coincide with the 160th anniversary of Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation. At the Carter, the exhibition Emancipation: The Unfinished Project of Liberation has its genesis in an intriguing premise: What if a famous artwork in this case, the sculptor John Quincy Adams Wards The Freedman from 1863 is so historically fraught that it requires an entirely new cultural and aesthetic interpretation for the current era? Whatever news gods decided that the cable television stars Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon should be fired the same week that President Biden was scheduled to give a funny speech ribbing the news media certainly were generous in providing fresh material. And Mr. Biden took advantage on Saturday night as he gleefully mocked some of his favorite foils. In his annual appearance at the black-tie White House Correspondents Association dinner, the one night a year that a president is expected to play a stand-up comic, Mr. Biden made the most of the opportunity with some timely skewering of those who usually skewer him most notably Fox News, which fired Mr. Carlson on Monday just days after settling a defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million. Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend the dinner because they were fully vaccinated and boosted, Mr. Biden said, in a nod to his coronavirus response strategy. This year, with that $787 million settlement, theyre here because they couldnt say no to a free meal. And hell, Id call Fox honest, fair and truthful, he told the crowd gathered in a cavernous ballroom in Washington as well as a national television audience watching at home. But then I could be sued for defamation. When some groaned, he quipped, It aint nothing compared to what they do to me. WASHINGTON On an Air National Guard base in Cape Cod, Mass., more than 1,200 military service members and civilians maintain one of the largest support systems for Pentagon drone missions around the world. One of the workers was Airman First Class Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old accused of posting top-secret military reports online. Why such a young junior-ranking service member on Cape Cod had access to sensitive intelligence, including battlefield updates on the war in Ukraine, has to do with the vast expansion in military drone operations in the post-9/11 wars that was made possible by better satellite communication networks. It is also the result of a drastic reorganization in the Air National Guard that left small, far-flung air bases in need of new responsibilities. The one on Cape Cod and many others became intelligence outfits. His arrest and subsequent Justice Department disclosures shined a light on a little-known Air Force mission that began in the 1990s and grew rapidly, eventually spreading to the base on Cape Cod. Called the Distributed Common Ground System, it is a vast computer network that handles the immense amounts of data generated by surveillance drones, spy satellites and other sensors information that intelligence analysts pore through and pass along to troops on the ground. Not long ago, urinating in a cup for a drug test was a widely accepted, if annoying, requirement to start a new job. The legalization of marijuana in more and more states in recent years upended that, prompting many employers to shelve hiring rules from the Just Say No era. There was a major holdout: the federal government, by far the nations largest employer. But now, it too is significantly relaxing drug screening rules as agencies struggle to replenish the ranks of a rapidly aging work force in a tight job market. During the past five years, the United States military gave more than 3,400 new recruits who failed a drug test on their first day a grace period to try again, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Agencies like the C.I.A. and the F.B.I. have adopted more lenient rules regarding past use of marijuana among job candidates, officials acknowledge. And later this year, the Biden administration is expected to take another major step, scaling back how deeply the government delves into the drug histories of people applying for a security clearance. The maximum sentence was doubled to 10 years for what is euphemistically called Leaving for Sochi. (SOCH is the Russian acronym for AWOL, but the expression is a play on the name of Sochi, a Black Sea getaway for the countrys elite and site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.) Refusing an order to participate in combat carries a sentence of three to 10 years. That has not stopped Russian men from going to unusual lengths to avoid fighting. One officer said he took a bullet in the leg as part of a pact among several soldiers to shoot one another and then claim that they were wounded in a firefight. Hailed as a hero for various battlefield events, he needed six months to recover, at which point he decided to flee. The Kremlin has shrouded in secrecy an increasing amount of information about the military, including new statistics about crimes involving military service, so the numbers are undoubtedly higher than what is available. But the number of AWOL cases accelerated after the general mobilization, according to Mediazona. Many criminal cases involve soldiers who refused orders to enter battle, leading to confrontations with their commanders, according to several lawyers who defend soldiers. One lawyer, Dmitri Kovalenko, was retained by the families of more than 10 soldiers who said they were thrown into pits, called zindans, near the front line after refusing to fight. People realize that they are not ready that their commanders are not ready, that they have to go in blind, not knowing where or why, he said. Police described theft as rampant at Whole Foods, with thieves walking out with armfuls of alcohol, at least at the start. After 250 shopping hand baskets were stolen, the company restocked with 50 more. Those went missing, too. During the stores 13 months in operation, at least 14 people were arrested, including on charges of grand theft and battery, according to official reports. Chief Scott said that plainclothes officers were sent there and security improved over time, but seemingly not enough for the company. On a recent chilly night across from the shuttered store, Joseph Peterson, a former construction worker who lost both of his legs to diabetes and is homeless, rolled down the sidewalk in his wheelchair. Mr. Peterson could see the 2,000-unit Trinity apartments, the high-end complex that Whole Foods had hoped would be its customer base. Across the intersection, security guards stood sentry in front of the Orpheum Theater, where Pretty Woman: The Musical was playing. A few dozen steps away, dealers peddled fentanyl and crystal meth. Mr. Peterson said he understood why Whole Foods had closed the store. People kept stealing from it, he said. He, too, had taken macaroni and cheese and chicken from the hot food bar a number of times, he said. But he made a distinction. Other people stole from the store because they wanted to resell what they took. I just stole to eat, he said. Alain Delaqueriere , Susan C. Beachy and Kitty Bennett contributed research. Audio produced by Kate Winslett . Follow updates on the Texas shooting here. CLEVELAND, Texas The search for a man accused of killing five people continued for a third day on Monday as authorities from several Texas law enforcement agencies as well as the F.B.I. fanned out and chased down leads. The suspect, Francisco Oropesa had been shooting his gun in his yard in Cleveland, Texas, on Friday evening when his neighbor Wilson Garcia approached him and asked him to stop so that his baby could sleep. Instead, the authorities said, Mr. Oropesa, 38, retrieved an AR-15 rifle from his house and walked over to Mr. Garcias home, where he killed his 8-year-old son, wife and three other people. I have no words to describe what happened, Mr. Garcia said in Spanish at a vigil on Sunday evening, where dozens of people surrounded him and the other survivors of the shooting, joining them in prayer. We are alive but there is no life, he said. I was able to escape by a miracle. With the battle for control of Sudan entering its third week, health care services are rapidly unraveling in the nations capital, Khartoum, a grim consequence of the brutal fighting that has raised fears the conflict could devolve into a wider humanitarian crisis. The total collapse of the health care system could be days away, the Sudan Doctors Trade Union warned. Hospitals have been shelled, and two-thirds of those in Khartoum have closed, according to the World Health Organization. More than a dozen health care workers have been killed, officials say. Beyond that, hidden victims are dying of illness and disease as basic medical services have become scarce, said Dr. Abdullah Atia, secretary general of the doctors union. We receive a lot of calls every day: Where shall I go? he said. These are the questions we are not able to answer. The News Severe fuel shortages have forced the Cuban authorities to cancel the widely celebrated International Workers Day parade, which had been set for Monday. The event typically draws hundreds of thousands of people dressed in red, waving flags and banners in support of socialism and the Cuban Revolution. But Havanas Revolution Square, which features a giant statue of the islands national hero, Jose Marti, will look nothing like that this May Day. In recent weeks, Cuba has struggled with fuel shortages across the island caused by supplier nations not delivering, according to its president. The countrys weakened economy has also made it difficult for the government to import its own diluents to refine the low-quality crude oil it receives or to purchase higher-quality crude that requires less refining. Cuba usually consumes between 500 and 600 tons of fuel daily, President Miguel Diaz-Canel, said earlier this month. Now, he said, the island has less than 400 tons a day. Egypt will spare no effort in finding a solution to the armed conflict in Sudan, said parliament speaker Hanafy El-Gebaly who also asserted Egypt's unwavering support of the Sudanese people and keenness to see peace and stability return to Sudan. "Egypt fully supports the people and the government of Sudan, and it is extremely keen on seeing them live in peace and keep their country safe from dangers and crises," said El-Gebaly before the parliament's session on Sunday. "Our hearts have been struck by the tragic events which hit the brotherly state of Sudan," he said, noting that "history states that internal armed conflicts only spread violence and usually lead to the collapse of the state's political institutions." "Such conflicts also destroy the economy by disrupting the country's basic infrastructure and human capital, both of which are necessary for the development process, and they create refugee and displacement crises that affect millions of people who spill into neighbouring countries," noted El-Gebaly. He also warned that "the longer the armed conflict continues in Sudan, the more expensive the reconstruction process will be." "It could take Sudan very long years to stand on its feet again and return to the pre-conflict point," said El-Gebaly, stating that "besides wreaking havoc, armed conflicts often destabilize neighbouring countries through forced displacements, an influx of refugees, and even a spread of violence." El-Gebaly praised the Egyptian state's efforts in helping Egyptians and Sudanese fleeing the conflict. "Since the very beginning of the crisis, the Egyptian state has been mobilized to evacuate its citizens from Sudan and make sure that they return home safely," he stated. He noted that "a crisis cell including ministries of defence, interior, foreign affairs, immigration, and the general intelligence agency was formed at the behest of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to evacuate Egyptians living in Sudan, and also help friendly countries evacuate their nationals." El-Gebaly highlighted that Egypt has allowed hundreds of Sudanese to enter Egypt without visa requirements through the two crossings of Qastal and Arqin". "I want to affirm that Egypt and Sudan have one history and future and that the people and the government of Egypt will do everything possible to help the Sudanese people overcome their crisis and find a quick settlement for the conflict," he noted. Search Keywords: Short link: When King Charles III is crowned on Saturday, he will undergo a ritual so rare in modern British history that it last occurred 70 years ago, roughly the wait between sightings of Halleys comet. And yet the coronation has yet to capture the imagination of a Britain preoccupied by other concerns. Images of the new king in chocolate, in Legos and in wax are popping up in bakeries, toy stores and at Madame Tussauds wax museum. Ancient relics of coronation, like the Scottish stone of destiny, are being delivered to Westminster Abbey for the ceremony. Charles and his queen consort, Camilla, are rehearsing every step of the service in a specially staged room at Buckingham Palace. But in a recent poll of 3,070 adults in Britain by the market research firm YouGov, 64 percent of respondents said they had little or no interest in the coronation. Only a third said they were strongly or fairly interested in it. Among those aged 18 to 24, the number voicing little or no interest rose to 75 percent. Love for the royal family has sort of declined, said Jason Abdalla, 24, an information technology worker outside a pub last Friday in the exclusive Mayfair neighborhood of London. It feels like appreciating the monarchy is an older, more mature thing. I mean, my parents are into it. They love the royal family. Its take it or leave it, for me. When a 1,300-pound walrus showed up in Oslo last summer, lounging on piers and eating mussels, she became a beloved local delight and an overnight international media sensation. The walrus, a rare guest for Norways capital, was named Freya, after the Norse goddess of love, beauty and war all of which she inspired to varying degrees. Freya spent time in highly populated areas, where some people ignored warnings from officials to keep their distance, and would help herself onto boats, some of which she threatened to sink because of her weight. Norwegian authorities declared Freya a threat to human safety last August and killed her in a move that critics argued was too hasty. Her death divided a country that is associated with diplomacy and a love of nature. BUDAPEST Pope Francis said on Sunday that the Vatican was involved in a secret mission to stop the war between Russia and Ukraine and that it would do all that is humanly possible to return children taken from Ukraine to Russia and reunite families. The popes remarks to reporters aboard the papal plane returning from a three-day trip to Budapest did not specify what the not yet public mission entailed. But Francis said he had privately discussed the situation with both Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary and with the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest, Metropolitan Hilarion. In these meetings we did not just talk about Little Red Riding Hood, Francis said. We spoke of all these things. Everyone is interested in the road to peace. Though Mr. Orban leads a country that is a member of both NATO and the European Union, his position on the war has often been at odds with the rest of Europe. He has opposed sending military aid to Ukraine and imposing international sanctions against Russia. PASSANGERS hoping to board the early morning train in Tullamore last Saturday April 22 found themselves locked out of the station. One passenger has contacted us to say she was among around 15 people queuing outside the station for the first 7.00am train that morning. ''I was the first to arrive about 6.45, and the shutters were down, and gate locked. This was still the case when everyone else arrived with minutes to go to the train arriving,'' said the passenger who wishes to remain anonymous. ''The lights were on in the station, and I tried calling the phone line inside - which we could hear ringing out from outside. I believe some other people from the group were trying to contact Irish rail directly, but I cannot confirm this.'' ''The train (from Dublin) did arrive around 7.10 - and us passengers were all forced to climb the barred steel gate in a scramble, in order to get on in time. This was stressful for many people, not just because we were under quick time pressure, but also because of its height, as well,'' the passenger said. This was particularly difficult for older people in the group who needed assistance. Many lost valuables from their handbags in the rush to make the train on time. The passenger alerted the train driver, who in turn put in a call to Irish rail informing them of the issue. The driver waited for all the passengers to board once he saw what was happening. ''I think he was in a bit of shock to see it,'' said the passenger who wishes to remain anonymous. ''We all boarded - many without tickets as they were waiting to validate or print them inside the station before the train arrived.'' Those same passengers were then under pressure in Portarlington trying to explain what happened and why they had no tickets. One older lady found it especially difficult. The passengers said they hope that if anyone was in the station that they are okay and it was simply a timing error as the train driver seemed a little concerned. Irish Rail has apologised to passengers. A spokesperson said: ''I would like to apologise to those customers impacted by this. "Our security contractor was due to open this station in time for this service, but unfortunately they had a fall down in their service. We are investigating this fall down with our security contractor to ensure that it does not happen again. The station was opened at 07:27hrs.'' Paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced on Sunday that they agreed to extend the ceasefire with the Sudan's Armed Forces (SAF) for three more days, according to a statement posted on twitter. The announcement came a few hours before a US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF ended on Sunday night. "In response to international, regional and local calls, we announce the extension of the humanitarian truce for another 72 hours, starting from tonight, to open humanitarian corridors and facilitate the movement of citizens and residents to reach safe areas," the statement read. "Despite the continuous violations from the Sudanese armed forces, by keeping attacking our sites and camps, we are committed to all conditions of the humanitarian truce for the sake of our people." Hours before, the Sudanese army accused the RSF of continuing to violate the three-days truce, confirming in a statement that " indiscriminate shelling and continued looting of public and private property, including banks, shops, and citizens' homes, continue". Heavy fighting again rocked Sudan's capital early Sunday as tens of thousands fled the bloody turmoil, and a former prime minister warned of the "nightmare" risk of a full-scale civil war. Gun battles were also reported around the army headquarters in central Khartoum, and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) carried out airstrikes in the capital's twin city of Omdurman across the Nile River, according to witnesses. Sudan's former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warned Saturday against the conflict's deteriorating into one of the world's worst civil wars. "God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play," Hamdok told an event in Nairobi. "I think it would be a nightmare for the world." Search Keywords: Short link: 11 dead, many injured after gas leak in Ludhiana factory; Punjab CM assures 'all possible help' India oi-Deepika S At least 11 people, including two children, died and several were taken ill after a gas leak incident at a factory in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana in Punjab. The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained. Photo Credit: A team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also reached the site. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu confirmed that eleven people have so far died in the incident. "At least 11 casualties reported. Several people fell unconscious and they have been admitted to a hospital. A rescue team has been called to the spot. A team of doctors and ambulances have also been called," news agency ANI quoted a superintendent of police as saying. "11 deaths confirmed till now...In all likelihood, there is some gas contamination which has happened...It is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholes...All of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples..," said Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the 11 who died in the incident, according to the police. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann termed the incident as sad and said all possible help is being provided. "The incident of gas leak in the factory in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, administration and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being provided," Mann tweeted. .., NDRF .. .. .. Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) April 30, 2023 Senior Punjab Congress leader Aruna Chaudhary expressed condolences to the family of the deceased in the Ludhiana gas leak and prayed for a speedy recovery of those affected. "Shocked and saddened to learn about a gas leak in a Ludhiana factory which has claimed 11 lives. My deep condolences to the bereaved families and I wish a speedy recovery to all those affected by this tragedy," tweeted Aruna. Shocked & saddened to learn about a gas leak in a Ludhiana factory which has claimed 11 lives. My deep condolences with the bereaved families and I wish a speedy recovery to all those affected by this tragedy. #LudhianaGasLeak pic.twitter.com/HU3o9RvkQM Aruna Chaudhary (@ArunaC_Official) April 30, 2023 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal condoled the deaths in the Ludhiana factory gas leak. "As the tragedy unfolds in Ludhiana where a gas leak has claimed 11 lives, including 2 children, I express my deep condolences with the bereaved families. May Gurusahab grant eternal peace to the departed souls. Also, pray for the speedy recovery of affected survivors," Badal tweeted. As tragedy unfolds in Ludhiana where a gas leak has claimed 11 lives, including 2 children, I express my deep condolences with the bereaved families. May Gurusahab grant eternal peace to the departed souls. Also pray for the speedy recovery of affected survivors. pic.twitter.com/TjWbYfWvSs Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) April 30, 2023 Meanwhile, the Punjab government has announced Rs 2 lakh compensation to the kin of the deceased in the gas leak incident and Rs 50,000 for those undergoing treatment. Full emergency at Delhi airport as AI flight lands with crack in windshield Woman friend let into cockpit by Air India pilot says crew in complaint Air India to hire more than 1,000 pilots in mega drive AI Dubai-Delhi flight incident: DGCA issues show cause notices to airline CEO, head of flight safety India oi-PTI Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson for the airline's lapses in reporting about the incident of a pilot allowing a female friend inside the cockpit during a Dubai-Delhi flight on February 27, according to a senior official. A show cause notice has also been issued to the airline's Head of Safety, Security and Quality Functions Henry Donohoe. 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 February 27. The show cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and head of flight safety on April 21 for not doing timely reporting of the incident to DGCA, which is in violation of the regulator's safety instructions, the senior official at the DGCA told PTI on Sunday. Besides, there was a delay in investigating the incident. Both the executives have been given 15 days to respond to the show cause notices, the official said. There was no immediate comment from Air India. Earlier this month, DGCA directed Air India to deroster the entire crew of the Dubai-Delhi flight till investigations are complete. On April 21, the airline 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 violation of norms. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, April 30, 2023, 13:56 [IST] Yes we are a team. JD(S) boss Kumaraswamy lashes out at BJP, Congress BJP to release its manifesto for Karnataka polls on May 1 India oi-Prakash KL The BJP is likely to release its manifesto for the upcoming Karnataka polls on Monday, ANI reported citing sources. BJP National President JP Nadda, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and BS Yediyurappa will be unveiling the manifesto, the report said. Sources have told the news agency that the BJP's manifesto may focus on welfare measures for the youth, infrastructure development and women empowerment. In addition to it, the saffron party, to woo the first-time voters, might make special announcements for the youth and girl students who have passed class 12. It may be recalled that the BJP had tried to woo all sections of society in its 2018 manifesto while also including cow protection measures. Karnataka will vote on May 10 for 224 assembly seats. This time, a total of 2,613 candidates are in the poll fray out of which 2,427 are male, 184 females and 2 others. The BJP has fielded candidates in all 224 constituencies and Congress in 223 seats as it is supporting Sarvodaya Karnataka Party in Melukote, followed by AAP (209), JDS (207), BSP (113), CPI (M) (4), NPP (2). While 685 are from Registered Unrecognised Political Parties (RUPP), 918 are independents. The result will be announced on May 13. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), saying the two "dynastic" parties were responsible for political instability in Karnataka, and that they "encourage corruption". "The Congress and the JD(S) are responsible for the instability. They pretend to be two separate parties but are one in their hearts. They are together in Delhi. They assist each other in Parliament," he said at a public meeting in Channapatna in Ramanagara district. The Prime Minister accused the parties that both Congress and JDS are dynastic parties and encourage corruption. "For a very long time, Karnataka has seen the drama of unstable government. Unstable governments provide a chance to loot," he added. "There is always a fight to loot and (the focus is) not development in the unstable government," he further said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, April 30, 2023, 17:58 [IST] Man, who tortured wife for 21 years to convert to Christianity, finally booked Thanks to MTHL, you can travel from Mumbai to Pune in 90 minutes 14 booked for forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity in Pune Why AR Rahman's concert in Pune was stopped by cops? Caught on cam: Machete-wielding gang vandalises medical shop, attacks staff in Pune India oi-Prakash KL A shocking video of a machete-wielding gang vandalising a medical shop and attacking its staff has gone viral. The incident occurred in Maharashtra's Pimpri-Chinchwad on Saturday. In the clip doing rounds on social media sites, a group of six men barges into the shop, and vandalise it before attacking the staff with machetes. The incident was captured on CCTV which has now gone viral. One person was injured in the incident and he is currently undergoing treatment at YCM Hospital of the Municipal Corporation. Reports claim that they had damaged some vehicles in Kamngar Nagar too before entering the medical shop. Caught on camera : Miscreants attack a medical shop owner and vandalize the shop in Pimpri. They were also spotted vandalizing several vehicles in the area on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.@PCcityPolice #pharmacy #attacked #miscreants #koita #gang @CP_PCCity pic.twitter.com/iUZxaTznsH Pune Mirror (@ThePuneMirror) April 29, 2023 The notorious group is called 'koyta gang' as they carry weapons and attack people with machetes. In the last four months, over 100 such incidents have been reported, according to NDTV. The rise of such incidents has worried the localities while leaving netizens in a state of shock. Similarly, another video had gone viral in December where the gang brandished machetes and indiscriminately assaulted people near Sinhagad Law College in Pune. It has to be noted that there was uproar in the Maharashtra assembly earlier over such incidents. Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had issued instructions to the Maharashtra Police to take strict action against the gangs. "Pune Pimpri Chinchwad needs 5000 more Police personnel to be on the streets patrolling the city and making it safe for public," a netizen responded over the incident. Another user suggested, "Every shop owner should keep weapons to save themselves." Third user commented, "Is the guy in yellow T-shirt alright? It looks like a personal matter coz they didn't hit the guy in red." A netizen said,"It's time government allows arms to protect ourselves from them. It will be a bloodshed in the beginning but things would settle eventually." One user slammed the government and said, "Wow... it's a free land now in Maharashtra... anybody can carry Guns Swords Knifes openly and terrorise... great achievement by double engine." Activist calls 'Selfie with Daughter' campaign a success, thanks PM Modi for push on 'Mann ki Baat' Mann Ki Baat one of the most celebrated: UNESCO DGs special message for PM's radio show From Madhuri to Shahid, here's what celebs say about 'Mann Ki Baat' From India to New York: PM Modi goes global with 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' India oi-Deepika S In a historic moment, the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popular monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' was broadcast live at the United Nations headquarters at 1.30 am. "Just started. 'Mann Ki Baat' at the Trusteeship Council, UN Headquarters New York," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj tweeted. Just started. Mann Ki Baat at Trusteeship Council, UN Headquarters New York 1:30am EST#MannKiBaat100 pic.twitter.com/zZ7ylf33KA Ruchira Kamboj (@ruchirakamboj) April 30, 2023 "Mann Ki Baat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in India's developmental journey," the Permanent Mission said. "As Mann Ki Baat goes global with a live broadcast at UN Headquarters, let's take a moment to appreciate the impact it has had in promoting inclusivity and public participation," the Mission said in another tweet, accompanied by a special video on the radio programme. The 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' was also live-streamed at the Indian missions in the UK, China, South Africa, Chile, Morocco, Mexico, Congo, Iraq and Indonesia among others. After listening to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat at India House, author Amish Tripathi said, "...There was enthusiasm and participation. I think that truly shows the connect the PM has with people not just in India but also the diaspora across the world." "I think it is fantastic. Waking up at 4 in the morning, getting ready and coming here - absolutely fruitful...I think it brings not just the country together but it also motivates the youngsters...", said singer Raageshwari. ""I think it's a great initiative...You can't grow your nation without connecting with the people. Therefore, Mann Ki Baat is the way forward..," said Ambassador of Denmark to India, Freddy Svane on PM Modi's monthly radio show. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the nation through Mann Ki Baat on the last Sunday of every month. His radio address is broadcast in 22 Indian languages, 29 dialects, and 11 international languages through multiple platforms. Mann Ki Baat, a brain child of the Prime Minister started on 3rd of October, 2014 on All India Radio, has reached new heights of creating an inclusive platform for all and further facilitated public participation in the matters of national and international interest. The programme also recognises the achievements and successes of common people, NGOs, SHGs etc. in national development. 'Learn from Rahul': Priyanka Gandhi to PM on his Cong abused '91 times' claim India oi-Prakash KL Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Sunday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to learn from her brother Rahul Gandhi, saying the former party president was willing to give his life for the country. Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims that he was abused 91 times by Congress, Priyanka Gandhi said, "I have seen the first such Prime Minister who says in front of the public that he is being abused. The PM does not have a list of problems faced by the public but a list of abuses. Modi ji, learn from my brother, who (Rahul Gandhi) says 'Gali kya mein desh ke liye goli kha lunga'." She claimed that her family too has been abused by the BJP countless times. "If I start counting the number of abuses hurled at my family and the personal name-calling that the BJP has indulged in, I may have to get multiple books published," she stated at a rally in Jamkhandi. The Congress General Secretary accused the Prime Minister of not worrying about the struggles of people, but "comes crying to you to gain sympathy". Addressing a public rally at Humnabad in Bidar district on Saturday, the PM said that the Congress has hurled abuses at him 91 times as he has cut its "sources" of corruption. "Someone has made a list of such abuses against me and it has been sent to me. Till now, Congress people have abused me 91 times with different types. Had Congress people put efforts in good governance and boosting the morale of its workers, instead of wasting time on this dictionary of abuses, it would not have been in such a pathetic plight," he said. However, Priyanka also attacked Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai over corruption. "The Karnataka Chief Minister is only interested in how he can make a 40 per cent commission. The state of Karnataka has been plundered by empty promises of a double-engine government. It is time to teach these "jumlebaaz" leaders a lesson and vote them out of power in Karnataka," the Congress leader said. Priyanka said Prime Minister does not care about the struggles of people, but "comes crying to you to gain sympathy". "The Karnataka Chief Minister is only interested in how he can make a 40 per cent commission. The state of Karnataka has been plundered by empty promises of a double-engine government. It is time to teach these "jumlebaaz" leaders a lesson and vote them out of power in Karnataka," the Congress leader said. Mann Ki Baat a spiritual journey for me, says PM Modi in 100th episode India oi-Deepika S Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that 'Mann Ki Baat' which started on the day of Vijaya Dashami in October 2014 has become a unique festival of goodness and positivity for the people. Photo Credit: During his address in the 100th episode of Maan Ki Baat, PM Modi said, "the 3rd of October, 2014 was the festival of Vijaya Dashami and all of us together started the journey of 'Mann Ki Baat' on the day of Vijaya Dashami. Vijaya Dashami is the festival of victory of good over evil." "Mann Ki Baat has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity of the countrymen. A festival that comes every month, keenly awaited by all of us. We celebrate positivity in this. We also celebrate people's participation in this. Sometimes it is hard to believe that so many months, so many years have passed since 'Mann Ki Baat' commenced. Every episode was special in itself. Every time, the novelty of new examples, every time the extension of new successes of the countrymen," he said. "In 'Mann Ki Baat', people from every corner of the country, people of all age groups joined. Whether it is about Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, or the Swachh Bharat movement, love for Khadi or nature, whether it is the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or Amrit Sarovar, any subject with which 'Mann Ki Baat' got associated, turned into a mass movement, and you people have made it so. When I jointly shared 'Mann Ki Baat' with the then US President Barack Obama, it was discussed all over the world," he said. "'Mann Ki Baat' gave me a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man. The post and protocol remained limited to the system and public sentiment, along with crores of people, became an inseparable part of my inner world. Every month I read thousands of messages from the people of the country, every month I get to view one or the other wonderful manifestation of the countrymen. I see and feel the extremities of the penance and sacrifice of the countrymen. I just don't feel that I am even a little far from you," the prime minister said. "For me 'Mann Ki Baat' is not a program, for me it is a matter of faith, of worship, or Vrat. Like when people go to worship God, they bring along a Thaal of Prasad. For me, 'Mann Ki Baat' is like a Thaal of Prasad at the feet of God in the form of Janata-Janardan, the people. 'Mann Ki Baat' has become a spiritual journey of my being," he added. PM Modi's popular radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' completed its 100th episode today which was aired at 11 am live across the country. Mann Ki Baat one of the most celebrated: UNESCO DGs special message for PM's radio show India oi-Deepika S United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Director-General Audrey Azoulay on Sunday wrote a message for the special book to mark the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio show Mann Ki Baat. "The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat programme is certainly one of the most celebrated, with its hundreds of millions of listeners in more than 50 languages and dialects. However, this book is not just about this extraordinary broadcast - it is also a testament to the tremendous power of radio to bring people together," she wrote. Highlighting on the importance of radio, she said: "With radio, it has never been so true that the medium is the message. Radio has been a part of every one of our lives since its invention a century ago. From traditional AM and FM frequencies to the far-reaching long wave, and now expanding into the ever-growing realm of digital radio, web radio, and podcasts, its accessibility continues to grow. It is truly a universal medium." "Radio also carries a message of proximity, affinity and diversity. There may be no other medium with the same variety of content and programmes produced, the plurality of opinions and cultural expressions, or even the number of languages available. This is what makes it such a valuable ally in crisis situations. UNESCO harnessed this potential in sub-Saharan Africa, forging a pedagogy through the airwaves for children isolated and deprived of school by the Covid pandemic. And we continue to use radio to educate, for example in Afghanistan where we work with local stations to broadcast content relating to health and security to millions of young Afghans," she added. "Radio also carries a message of freedom, because it is a window to the world. One century after its invention, radio is still one of the most reactive, engaging media there is, offering new ways to interact and participate in the conversations that matter - especially for the most disadvantaged. UNESCO is dedicated to ensuring that it remains so, in defending the freedom of the press and the plurality of media. It is for all these reasons that UNESCO celebrates radio every year on World Radio Day on 13 February - but also through publications such as this one, she further added. "The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat programme is certainly one of the most celebrated, with its hundreds of millions of listeners in more than 50 languages and dialects. However, this book is not just about this extraordinary broadcast - it is also a testament to the tremendous power of radio to bring people together. This book is therefore an opportunity to pay tribute to a monument of the world's radio heritage and to call on everyone to celebrate radio and its values," she wrote. Participating in the 100th 'Mann Ki Baat' episode, she also asked various questions to PM Modi on education and cultural preservation amid India's ongoing G20 Presidency. "UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by2030, with the largest population in the world. Could you please explain the Indian way to achieve this objective? UNESCO also works to support culture and protect heritage," she said. "I have received another special message from Audrey Azoulay, DG, UNESCO regarding 'Mann Ki Baat'. She wished all the countrymen for this wonderful journey of the 100th episode," PM Modi said during his 100th Mann Ki Baat address. Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi PM Modi slams Congress, says its history is about 'appeasing terror and terrorists' Security breach at PMs roadshow in Mysuru as cellphone pelted at him India oi-Prakash KL In a security breach incident, a cell phone was thrown towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his roadshow in Mysuru on Sunday evening. A woman reportedly threw her mobile phone at the PM when he was on a specially designed vehicle, as part of campaigning for the May 10 Assembly elections, the cops told PTI. The cops told the news agency that she threw her cell phone out of "excitement" and had no "ill intention." The phone fell on the bonnet of the vehicle and the Prime Minister noticed it and informed about the object to the Special Protection Group (SPG) sleuths. "The Prime Minister was under the protection of the SPG. The lady (whose phone fell on PM's vehicle) was a BJP worker. The SPG people returned it to her later," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), Alok Kumar told PTI. "In the excitement (of the event), it was thrown and she had no (ill) intention but we are trying to trace the lady because the phone was handed over to her by the SPG sleuths," he added. #WATCH | Security breach seen during Prime Minister Narendra Modis roadshow, a mobile phone was thrown on PMs vehicle. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/rnoPXeQZgB ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 However, the person who threw the phone in the roadshow has been called to record a statement on Monday morning, the ADGP told ANI. Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha and former ministers K S Eshwarappa and SA Ramadas were also in the same vehicle. According to a report, the mobile was thrown by the woman when the vehicle reached the small clock tower on Sayyaji Rao Road. The incident was captured on camera and the clip has now gone viral. In the last two months, several incidents of attempted security breaches during the PM's events in the poll-bound Karnataka have been reported. A few weeks ago, a youth skipped barricades and ran towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy. The incident occurred during PM Modi's road show in Davangere. In the video doing rounds on social media, the youth tried to reach closer to the Prime Minister's convoy. Netizens slam Ukraine defence ministrys tweet depicting Hindu goddess Kali in awkward pose India oi-Prakash KL An alleged post shared by the official Twitter handle of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense has triggered a controversy as it depicted Hindu goddess Kali in an awkward pose that resembled Hollywood's Marilyn Monroe's upskirt pose. In the now-deleted tweet, there were two photos with a caption - 'work of art'. While one photo had a massive cloud, the other showed the Hindu Goddess Kali in a plume of smoke with Marilyn Monroe's signature pose. The tweet was posted on Sunday and netizens slammed Ukraine for its 'insensitive' post. Kanchan Gupta, senior advisor to the Ministry of Broadcast and Information wrote, slammed the post and wrote, "Recently Ukraine Deputy Foreign Minister was in Delhi soliciting support from India. Behind that fakery lurks the real face of the Ukraine government. Indian goddess Ma Kali has been caricatured on a propaganda poster. This is an assault on Hindu sentiments around the world." "This is what I had tweeted on 25 Feb 2022. Ukraine's anti-#India stance at UN remains unchanged. Ukraine continues with military deals with Pakistan. #Ukraine has now mocked Goddess Kali in a manner no foreign Govt/country has ever done. This is brazen hate speech. @UkrembInd," he added. "I am absolutely appalled to see the Ukrainian defence handle mocking Maa Kali, a revered Hindu goddess. This is a gross display of insensitivity and ignorance. I urge them to take down the offensive content and issue an apology. Respect for all religions and beliefs is paramount," another user vented out his anguish. Photo Credit: "This is why you guys are not getting any support from India. And getting your ass kicked," a third netizen said. A user commented, "Shocking! Official handle of Ukraine Defense Ministry is portraying Maa Kali in a demeaning pose. This is not a work of art. Our faith is not a matter of joke. Take it down and apologise @DefenceU." Expressing anguish against Ukraine, one more netizen stated, "Sad to see the government of Ukraine harbour such hate and mock more than a billion Hindus worldwide. It's unbecoming of a country that claims to be a victim of war. Instead of deriding Kali Ma, try seeking her blessing to fight off evil of all kinds. Ukraine could really use it right now." This incident comes days after a racist cartoon published by German magazine Der Spiegel, depicting India's population overtaking China met with a similar response from netizens. The two warring Sudanese forces on Sunday announced the extension of an existing ceasefire for a further 72 hours, the latest of multiple truces that have largely been violated. The Sudanese Armed Forces and the rival Rapid Support Forces both confirmed prolongation of a ceasefire that was due to end at midnight (2200 GMT), with the army saying the extension came due to "US and Saudi mediation". A statement issued by the General Command of the Sudanese Armed Forces stated: "Based on the endeavours of the US-Saudi mediation request, the armed forces agreed to extend the ceasefire for a period of 72 hours, to start as of the end of the current truce period, although we monitored the rebels' intentions to try to attack some sites, we hope that the rebels abide by the requirements of implementing the ceasefire, with our full readiness to deal with any breaches." Earlier, the Rapid Support Forces said in a statement that this approval came "in response to international, regional and local calls" to "open humanitarian corridors, facilitate the movement of citizens and residents, and enable them to fulfil their needs and reach safe areas." Deadly hostilities between the army and paramilitaries in Khartoum and other parts of the country have entered a third week. More than 500 people have been killed and tens of thousands of people forced to leave their homes for safer locations within the country or abroad since battles erupted on April 15. Witnesses on Sunday evening reported continued armed clashes as well as fighter jets soaring above various parts of the capital and its twin city Omdurman, across the Nile River. The civil aviation authority on Sunday announced Sudan's airspace would remain closed until May 13, with the exception of aid and evacuation flights. "There has been very heavy fighting and loud gunfire," a southern Khartoum resident told AFP earlier in the day. Further complicating the battlefield, Central Reserve Police, a paramilitary unit, were being deployed across Khartoum to "protect citizens' properties" from looting, the Sudanese police said, confirming an army statement. Police said Central Reserve had arrested 316 "rebels", a reference to the RSF, which did not confirm the information and had previously warned police against joining the fight. The US Treasury Department last year sanctioned the Central Reserve for "serious human rights abuses" related to its use of "excessive force" against pro-democracy protests in October 2021. With projectiles crashing into residential buildings, supplies running short and daily life increasingly untenable for civilians, foreign nations have scrambled to evacuate their nationals by air, road and sea since the war began on April 15. But millions of Sudanese are still trapped in the country, where aid workers are among the dead, the UN said humanitarian facilities have been looted, and it has been forced to essentially halt all aid operations. A first Red Cross plane brought eight tonnes of humanitarian aid from Jordan to Port Sudan, which is so far untouched by the fighting. The aid included surgical material and medical kits to stabilise 1,500 patients. On Saturday the health ministry said the violence has wounded around 4,600 people and killed at least 528. Those figures are likely to be incomplete. Sudan's former prime minister Abdalla Hamdok warned Saturday against the conflict's deteriorating into one of the world's worst civil wars. "God forbid if Sudan is to reach a point of civil war proper... Syria, Yemen, Libya will be a small play," Hamdok told an event in Nairobi. "I think it would be a nightmare for the world." Khartoum authorities on Sunday put civil servants on open-ended leave "due to the security situation". The UN World Food Programme has warned the unrest could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people already needed aid to stave off famine. Only 16 percent of health facilities are functioning in Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization, with many facilities shelled. "The situation cannot be sustained" as medical supplies run short, warned Majzoub Saad Ibrahim, a doctor in Ad Damar, north of Khartoum. The warring sides have agreed to multiple truces but none has taken hold. An envoy of Burhan's met on Sunday in Riyadh with the Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who called for the restoration of calm in Sudan, his ministry said. Dangerous conditions More than 75,000 people have been internally displaced in Sudan, the UN said, and almost 40,000 have crossed borders, mostly into Chad but also South Sudan, Ethiopia and Central African Republic, aid workers said. More than 5,000 people have escaped to safety on Saudi Arabian ships across the Red Sea from Port Sudan, the kingdom said. Britain said it would operate an additional evacuation flight, from Port Sudan on Monday, after already airlifting more than 2,000 people out of the country from an airport near Khartoum. Canada ended its air evacuations "due to the dangerous conditions", having flown out more than 540 people, including Canadians, after large airlifts by France, Germany and other nations. Along with battles in the capital, fighting, looting and lawlessness in the long-troubled Darfur region has raised particular international concern. At least 96 people were reported killed in El Geneina, West Darfur, the UN said. Search Keywords: Short link: Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi 'Snake is the necklace of Lord Shiva': PM Modi hits out at Congress India oi-Prakash KL Days after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called him a 'poisonous snake', Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday slammed the grand old party saying that "snake is the necklace of Lord Shiva." Photo Credit: "Today when I am fighting against corruption, Congress is disturbed the most. Congress is now threatening. They say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi'. Congress' topic in Karnataka elections is snake's poison. They are comparing me with a snake and seeking votes from people. For me, the people of the country are a form of Lord Shiva. I accept being the snake on the neck of the god-like public. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10," the PM said at a rally in Kolar in Karnataka. Addressing an election campaign recently, Kharge had targeted the Prime Minister and said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it's poison or not. If you lick it, you're dead." However, Kharge later clarified he did not target personally and called the ideology of the BJP as dangerous as a snake. "No no, I didn't mean it to Modi, what I meant was BJP ideology is like a snake. I never said personally to Modi, what I said was their ideology is like a snake and if you try to touch it, your death will certain," he clarified. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress saying that the party is the "second name of betrayal." "They have betrayed the farmers of the state and the country. JDS calls itself the 'kingmaker' in Karnataka and every vote to JDS adds to the vote of Congress. Congress neglected the poor. But BJP is working for the people, farmers and poor of the state. The farmers are getting double benefits from the double-engine government," he said. The PM further said that for Congress and JDS, Karnataka is just an ATM, while for BJP, Karnataka is the most important growth engine of the country's development. "This election of Karnataka is not just to make MLA, Minister or Chief Minister for the coming 5 years, this election is to strengthen the foundation of the roadmap of a developed India in the coming 25 years," he added. With inputs from agencies. They must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs: Himanta on Cong claims of victory in Karnataka polls India pti-PTI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the Congress must have "gathered some knowledge" about EVMs, as it has been predicting victory for the grand old party in the Karnataka Assembly polls. The southern state will go to polls on May 10 and counting of votes will be undertaken on May 13, with the Congress seeking to oust the incumbent BJP government. "Earlier, they (Congress) used to accuse us of problems with EVMs... So, if they can predict the result in advance, then I have to say that the party in Karnataka must have gathered some knowledge about EVMs," Sarma told reporters here. The Congress has sounded confident of emerging victorious in Karnataka. Senior Congress leader and former minister M B Patil told PTI that it will come to power on its own with 130-odd seats out of 224 in the southern state. The BJP has announced candidates in 212 constituencies, the Congress 165, while the JD(S) has named 93 nominees. 'Mann Ki Baat' is like 'Prasad Ki Thaal' at feet of God: Top quotes from PM Modis 100th radio address Activist calls 'Selfie with Daughter' campaign a success, thanks PM Modi for push on 'Mann ki Baat' Mann Ki Baat one of the most celebrated: UNESCO DGs special message for PM's radio show Who are 4 changemakers PM spoke to during Mann Ki [email protected] From Madhuri to Shahid, here's what celebs say about 'Mann Ki Baat' There's no politics in 'Mann Ki Baat', abusing PM part of Congress DNA: Sitharaman 'Mann ki Baat' 100th episode broadcast live in 300 UP madrassas, claims BJP office-bearer India pti-PTI The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann ki Baat" radio programme was broadcast live in more than 300 madrassas of Uttar Pradesh, a BJP office-bearer in the state said on Sunday. Kunwar Basit Ali, president of the BJP Minority Morcha's Uttar Pradesh unit, said, "We planned to broadcast the programme in 100 madrassas. The event was broadcast live in over 300 madrassas all over the state." In Lucknow, the programme was broadcast in madrassas such as Maksad E Hussaini and Irfania. The BJP's minority wing had earlier got "Mann ki Baat" transcripts from 12 episodes of the programme for 2022 translated into Urdu and distributed those in madrassas and to Islamic scholars. Vijay Bahadur Pathak, vice-president of the BJP's state unit, on Saturday said the party had made elaborate plans to broadcast the programme at the booth level to make the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat" historic. He claimed that the party made arrangements to broadcast the programme at 55,000 locations. In the 100th episode of "Mann ki Baat", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the radio broadcast is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians and it has ensured he is never cut-off from people. Modi said "Mann ki Baat" gave him a solution to connect with the people and was not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for him. "Mann ki Baat has become a festival that celebrates India's positivity and people," he said. The prime minister said the programme is a reflection of the "mann ki baat" of crores of Indians and an expression of their feelings. Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', issues raised in "Mann Ki Baat" became people's movements, he said. Modi said the monthly radio broadcast has become an important medium of learning from others. "This programme has ensured that I am never cut-off from you," he said. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi's address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. The BJP had earlier said nearly four lakh venues would be set up for people to listen to the prime minister's broadcast. Enhanced thunderstorms likely to continue over several parts of India: IMD India will get its own index to quantify heat impact next year, says IMD chief Weather Update: Summer cyclone Mocha likely to develop over Bay of Bengal around May 9 Weather update: IMD predicts rainfall in these states in next 5 days India oi-Prakash KL The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted rainfall activity and thunderstorms over the next five days across the country. Photo Credit: The weather-monitoring agency has predicted light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds and hailstorm over northwest India till May 2. Light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorm with lightning, gusty winds and hailstorm over central and east India on April 30 and May 1, it said. On the other hand, isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is predicted over Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and south interior Karnataka till May 2, a statement from the IMD said. It further said that an active western disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from the night of May 1. "Light/moderate scattered/widespread rainfall/snowfall with thunderstorm/lightning/gusty winds very likely over Western Himalayan Region and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning/ gusty winds over the plains of Northwest India during next 5 days," the IMD said. "Hailstorm activity very likely at isolated places over Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during 30th April-02nd May; Uttarakhand during next 5 days; over Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, during 01st-02nd May; over Rajasthan on 30th April and 03rd May. Thundersquall very likely over Uttarakhand on 02nd & 03rd May," the IMD added. Scattered, fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) is predicted during the next 5 days in central India and South India. "Very Heavy rainfall at isolated places over Kerala 30th April; over Rayalaseema & Tamil Nadu 01st May. Heavy rainfall likely at isolated places Rayalaseema and North Interior Karnataka on 30th April; over South Interior Karnataka and Coastal Andhra Pradesh during 30th April-2nd May; over Kerala & Tamil Nadu during next 4 days," the statement claimed. Light, moderate scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds is predicted over east, northeast and west India during the next 5 days. Maximum temperatures are very likely to be below normal to near normal during the next 5 days, the IMD said. WFI chief thanks Akhilesh Yadav for not siding with protesting wrestlers India oi-Prakash KL WFI chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday appreciated Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav for not extending support to top wrestlers of the country who are protesting at Jantar Mantar seeking his resignation over sexual harassment allegations. "I want to thank the leader of Samajwadi party, Akhilesh Yadav, (for not siding with the protesting wrestlers). I know him since his childhood. I am elder to him. Though there are political differences between us, Akhilesh knows the truth. If there are 10,000 wrestlers in UP, out of them, 8,000 are from the Yadav community and they belong to the Samajwadi family, and hence know the truth," PTI quoted the WFI president as saying. So far, many leaders including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Congress Secretary Priyanka Gandhi have met the protestors and extended their support to them. On April 23, the country's top wrestlers started the second round of protest against the WFI chief demanding action against Singh, also a BJP MP, on sexual harassment allegations levelled by seven women players. The Delhi Police on Friday filed two FIRs against him. The first FIR relates to allegations by a minor wrestler and was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, while the second was related to outraging modesty. The protesters now want him to be sacked from all positions. However, Singh has said that he is ready to quit the position if the protestors end the sit-in. "If they (protesters) will go back (to their home) and sleep peacefully after my resignation, I am ready to resign," he said. He also accused them of becoming mere "toys" in the hands of the opposition. "All these players have become toys of the Congress and other opposition parties. Their motive is political, not my resignation," he said. The BJP leader also questioned how players associated with railways were sitting at the protest site. "It is their right to protest, but can a player associated with the railways sit on protest like this where objectionable slogans are being raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath," he asked. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, April 30, 2023, 18:39 [IST] Congress locked up Lord Rama, now it wants to lock up those who worship Hanuman: PM Modi Who are 4 changemakers PM spoke to during Mann Ki Baat@100 India oi-Deepika S Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday praised change-makers at the grassroots level for powering the rise of New India during the historic 100th episode of his popular radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat'. Addressing the nation, PM Modi said, "The people who we mention in 'Mann Ki Baat' are all our heroes who have made this program come alive. Today, when we have reached the milestone of the 100th episode, I also wish that we once again go to all these heroes to know about their journey." Vijayashanti Devi: Vijayashanti Devi, who hails from Manipur makes clothes from lotus fibre. Her unique and eco-friendly idea was earlier discussed in 'Mann Ki Baat'. As of now, nearly 30 women work for Devi and she aims to expand her business and employ another 70 women this year. Interacting with PM Modi, Devi said that she has got a market from the USA and also they want to buy in bulk in lots quantities, and she is soon going to be an exporter. Sunil Jaglan: Sunil Jaglan is the brain behind the 'Selfie With Daughter' campaign. He launched the campaign from the village in June 2015. His initiative had drawn praise from even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who mentioned it in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address. Under the campaign, Jaglan urged people to take photographs with their daughters and upload them on social media. He later created a dedicated website for the initiative where people could share selfies with their daughters. Pradeep Sangwan: Pradeep Sangwan started the Healing Himalayas campaign. His team collects five tons of garbage on a daily basis from different locations to keep the region clean. Pradeep said that the prime minister mentioning his campaign during his past radio broadcast boosted his campaign. "I'm really thankful how you find out people like us. Whoever works in such a remote area, we are sitting in the Himalayan region. We are working at this altitude. You found us there. You brought our work to the front of the world. So it was a very emotional moment for me even then and even today that I am able to talk to the Principal Servant of our country. Nothing can be more fortunate for me than this," he told the prime minister. Manzoor Ahmed: PM Modi also spoke to Manzoor Ahmed, who runs a manufacturing unit of pencils in Jammu and Kashmir's village. She has employed over 200 women in Oukhoo village in Pulwama district, known as the "pencil village of India". The Prime Minister emphasised on how the village has been instrumental in helping "educate the people of India by making pencils". The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the president of the United States. The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor that a United States congressional committee would select which journalists could attend press conferences of President Woodrow Wilson. BBC Sport 30 Apr 2023 Tony Finau wins the Mexico Open by three shots from John Rahm, having finished second to the Spaniard last year. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Follow the action in our live coverage of some of Sundays action when the reigning premiers meet the Bombers at the MCG and Collingwood and Adelaide do battle at Adelaide Oval. Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced on Saturday that over 10 military-affiliated companies would soon be listed for investors as part of its ongoing initial public offering (IPO) programme. "The state will not back down from implementing this programme; on the contrary, we will announce larger numbers of companies for offering through this programme," said Madbouly during a press conference after touring several industrial projects in the 10 Ramadan and New Obour cities. Madbouly referred to the two military-affiliated companies, "Wataniya" and "Safi," which were announced for offering during the past period. Currently, more than 10 other military-affiliated companies are being prepared for offering through the programme, Madbouly said without disclosing the names of the companies. The act of disclosing the names of companies being negotiated for inclusion in the offering programme is deemed inappropriate, the premier said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidentiality during the negotiation process and conducting it with the highest level of professionalism. This approach, Madbouly says, aims to optimise the returns gained from offering these companies, which are considered assets of the Egyptian state. Earlier this month, investors submitted proposals to acquire stakes in the National Company for Producing and Bottling Water (Safi) and Wataniya Petroleum Company, according to the CEO of The Sovereign Fund of Egypt, Ayman Soliman. Madbouly stated that the offering programme is being carried out through an integrated plan which includes specific measures and details, and it is expected to be completed by the end of June. The size of the offering plan is up to $2 billion (EGP 61,197,620,000.00). Madbouly further explained that some companies have finalised negotiations, while others are still negotiating. The Prime Minister confirmed the vigorous implementation of the offering programme, emphasizing Egypt's commitment to closing a $17 billion (EGP 520,179,770,000.00) financing gap under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility loan deal. This commitment involves securing loans from international financial institutions and selling stakes in state-owned assets or offering them to strategic investors. Search Keywords: Short link: The US president sent a serious message before launching into some self-deprecating jokes. The Writers Guild of America is in the midst of negotiating a new three-year contract with Hollywood's biggest production companies, but as the May 1 deadline looms, talks could break down. Heres what you need to know about a potential strike. Newsy 30 Apr 2023 ViewWhile the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner is normally known for its laughs, it was a little more serious this.. Republican Nikki Haley thinks the prospect of a "President Harris" is something Americans should weigh when they go to the polls in 2024, given Joe Biden's age. If so, it would represent a rare occasion when a vice-presidential nominee played a significant factor. A British scientist known for his contributions to artificial intelligence has told Sky News that powerful AI systems "can't be controlled" and "are already causing harm". Manchester City recover from conceding a first-minute goal to thrash bottom side Reading and rise to second in the Women's Super League. Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces have agreed to extend their cease-fire by 72 hours. DW has the latest. Japan will provide funding worth 100 billion Japanese yen (around $733 million) to Egypt in the third tranche to finance Cairos fourth metro line, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Sunday. Madbouly made the remarks as he and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida chaired the Egypt-Japan Business Forum. The agreement to fund the first phase of Cairo Metro's fourth line was signed earlier today and was attended by both Kishida and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. The Japanese funding of Cairo Metro's fourth line is one of the largest packages to support the plan to develop transportation in Egypt, Madbouly noted. The fourth phase of the metro will help link Sixth of October City and the archaeological area around the Great Pyramids with the underground train network, the Egyptian PM explained. Egypt has been cooperating with Japan to implement the first phase of the fourth metro line over the past decade via four concessional loans provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the Egyptian state. Egypt obtained the first tranche of the funding, worth 32.7 billion yen, in 2012; and signed the agreement on the second tranche, worth 41 billion yen, in December last year. The new line will start operating in February 2028, according to a previous statement by JICA. Late last year, Egyptian Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir said a group of Egyptian and Japanese companies are working to implement the first phase of the fourth metro line. During the forum today, Madbouly said that Japanese direct investments increased by 52 per cent in 2021, with around 87 Japanese companies operating in Egypt currently. Meanwhile, trade exchange between the two countries reached an average of $1.3 billion over the past five years. For his part, Kishida affirmed that Egypt has the potential to receive further Japanese investments. Kishida arrived in Egypt on Saturday for a three-day visit as part of his four-nation Africa tour. This is his first visit to the region since assuming office in October 2021. During his visit, Kishida witnessed the signing of several MoUs and agreements between Egypt and Japan in communication and information technology, law and the judiciary. Madbouly and Kishida also visited the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), carried out through a partnership between Egypt and Japan. Kishida hailed the museum as a symbol of Egyptian-Japanese friendship. Search Keywords: Short link: By Robert Bociaga The government of South Sudan has expressed deep concern over the fighting in neighboring Sudan, which.. Eurasia Review 29 Apr 2023 As Operation Kaveri is underway, the Kochi-bound ninth flight departed from Jeddah with 186 passengers. "9th outbound flight departs from Jeddah. 186 passengers onboard this flight are flying to Kochi," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Earlier, EAM Jaishankar, on Sunday, said that nearly 2300 evacuees Indians have reached India. Striking rail staff should want to stand in solidarity with fellow Ukrainian workers rather than "cynically target" the Eurovision Song Contest, which the UK is hosting on behalf of the war-torn nation, the transport secretary has said. President Biden is getting slammed for joking during the White House Correspondents Association dinner that he takes "zero questions" from the media. Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) April 28, 2023 President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he had asked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to help bring back Ukrainian children deported by Russia. "We need to involve everyone... to put pressure on the Russian aggressor and the terrorists who kidnapped so many of our children," Zelensky said. "The UN, many others want to do something, but so far the results have been poor. So I have appe New research involving Cambridge University has found evidence locked into an ancient stalagmite from a cave in the Himalayas of a series of severe and lengthy droughts which may have upturned the Bronze Age Indus Civilization. The beginning of this arid period starting at around 4,200 years ago and lasting for... Rescue operations have been completed in the city of Uman after a massive Russian missile strike early Friday hit a residential building, killing 23 people, including six children. According to Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, rescue teams recovered 22 bodies from under the rubble, while one victim died later in... Washington called on Beijing on Saturday to stop harassment and intimidation of Philippine ships, after the Philippine Coast Guard reported a near-collision with Chinese vessels carrying out dangerous maneuvers in the South China Sea. U.S. reaction to the April 23 incident which China blamed on Philippine... The first international shipment of humanitarian aid has arrived in Port Sudan following the outbreak of conflict in the country, the International Committee of the Red Cross has said. American famed pop boy band Backstreet Boys, which achieved phenomenal success worldwide in the late 90s and early 2000s, visited the great Giza pyramids sight on Sunday ahead of their first concert in Egypt. The concert will occur in Cairo on Monday at ZED East, Fifth Settlement, New Cairo. Backstreet Boys has been viral in Egypt on social media recently since the concert was announced in February, with thousands of hardcore fans recalling memories and making jokes about how young they were during the band's golden era. Songs such as I Want It That Way, Everybody, Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely, As Long as You Love Me, Shape of My Heart and other hits have returned powerfully to Egyptian listens on many streaming platforms. On Sunday, Spotify stated to Ahram Online that Backstreet Boys' streams on the Swedish platform have surged by almost 85%, while searches for their music have risen by nearly 90%. In addition, This Is Backstreet Boys -- the playlist that features the band's most essential tracks -- has seen a staggering 266% increase in plays, especially from Cairo and Alexandria. Arriving from the Iceland leg of their tour, the Backstreet Boys will make a stop in Cairo before continuing to India, UAE, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The tour promoting their ninth studio album, DNA (2019), includes 150 shows in the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Tickets for the anticipated concert -sponsored by many private and public entities- are still available via the Ticketsmarche website, with prices ranging between EGP 2,000 ($65) and EGP 10,000 ($325). Search Keywords: Short link: A plane carrying eight tons of medical aid landed Sunday in Sudan, after more than two weeks of fighting between forces loyal to rival generals. The supplies are enough to treat hundreds of wounded. NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg visited Ukraine on 20 April for the first time during the hostilities since Russia invaded more than a year ago*. *NATO has no official presence in Ukraine, but Stoltenberg has been the strong voice of the alliance throughout the war. He has been instrumental in garnering and coordinating... Notorious criminal and drug trafficker Sinhara Amal Saminda Silva alias Kudu Anju has been arrested in France, Sri Lanka Police confirmed today (April 29). The INTERPOL informed the arrest of Kudu Anju to the Sri Lankan authorities, police spokesperson SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. In 2020, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) obtained a Red Notice for the arrest of 14 members of organized crimes and drug trafficking, including Kudu Anju who were hiding in foreign countries. It is reported, he was taken into custody by the French law enforcement authorities following a complaint filed by his wife over a personal dispute between the duo. The leaders of France, Spain, Barbados and Sierra Leone were among those to back a new coalition on Thursday aiming to accelerate the flow of climate-related finance to the world's poorest countries. The "Power Our Planet: Act Today. Save Tomorrow" campaign led by the non-profit group Global Citizen, said it was seeking to mobilize ordinary citizens to pressure leaders for a "seismic shift" in the way the world's financial system works, to help developing countries fight climate change and poverty. Co-chaired by Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, who has long championed reform of the global financial system that she has dubbed the Bridgetown Initiative, the coalition of developed and developing countries seeks 'bold' action. "We must call on all institutions, including the World Bank to release the funds necessary to help the world's poorest countries to adapt, to transition, and to withstand the climate crisis, not tomorrow but now," Mottley said in recorded remarks. She called on leaders of wealthy countries to make good on delivering $16 billion of climate finance they promised as part of a past pledge to mobilize $100 billion a year, a key stumbling block at global climate talks. That reform will be central to a conference Mottley and French President Emmanuel Macron will host in France on June 22-23 on a new global financial pact, which will tackle reform of multilateral development banks (MDB), the debt crisis, the creation of new international taxes and financing instruments, and special drawing rights. While an initial round of reforms of MDBs were agreed at the spring meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she wanted to see more action in the coming months. "We're demanding that it's time for accountability on past promises and bold, new commitments from world leaders. And we have a clear message for the heads of the World Bank and the IMF it's time for major institutional reform, Global Citizen Chief Executive Hugh Evans said. By encouraging millions of ordinary people around the world to join in, the group said it hopes more money will be made available to help countries shift to clean energy, bolster defenses against natural disasters, and invest in health, food, and education. Tell me one good thing about Switzerland. Well, its flag is a plus. No, the best thing about Switzerland is neutrality, or at least the idea of it. The Washington Post (of course it's the Washington Post) recently published an argument against the neutrality of Switzerland. That neutrality has been rather blatantly phony since the mid-1990s. Switzerland is already on the map of NATO partners and U.S. weapons customers. Here's how NATO explains it: "Swiss cooperation with NATO is based on its long-standing policy of military neutrality and areas of practical cooperation that match joint objectives. NATO fully respects Switzerland's neutrality." Yeah, and my ice-cream-club membership is based on my veganism. So what are the Washington-Post-approved arguments for fully abandoning all pretense of neutrality? Well, first of all, there's no more hostility in Europe. So "" OF COURSE "" every country should join up with a military alliance that requires joining in any wars its other members are in, and just as a war is actually waging in Europe in a nation being marked for NATO membership. Oh wait, I get it. The author is auditioning for a job at NATO and showing off with feats of illogic. Second, nobody wants to attack Switzerland. So the only way to get Switzerland attacked is to join up with a whole bunch of nations that collectively should be better able to get themselves all attacked. In fact, Switzerland is in danger because of its neutrality. Why? Well, because we're capable of forgetting the idea from way back two-sentences ago that nobody wants to attack Switzerland, and because we can fantasize that the deterrent effect of the U.S. military and its NATO sidekicks would be noticeably more deterring if Switzerland joined in with a battalion of yodelers armed with fondu catapults. Third, Switzerland used to have so many internal conflicts that it didn't have any need for external mass-murder sprees. But now that all is peace and harmony within Switzerland, really the only place it can turn for major orgies of gory slaughter is the outside world. I think this argument is only appealing to a certain worldview that I suspect many people in Switzerland don't actually share. Fourth, while neutrality does give Switzerland credibility in helping work for peace in the world, the author doesn't really care and figures it can still try being a peacemaker after losing all credibility. After all, the United States pretends to try unsuccessfully to arbitrate peace all over the place all the time. Fifth, nobody actually thinks Switzerland is neutral anyway. Yes, well, that hardly tells us which direction Switzerland should move "" toward real neutrality, or toward absolute subservience to Washington "" does it? Sixth, Swiss officials don't feel like real men at international conferences because Switzerland doesn't export any weapons for the rest of the world to kill huge numbers of people with. I mean, it's embarrassing. And somebody in Switzerland could be getting rich of the blood of humanity and isn't. That's it. That's the whole case against Swiss neutrality. But there's also a case in favor of it. That's well argued at this link. The best thing about Swiss neutrality, if it could be made real, would be the example it sets. In an era of "with-us-or-with-the-enemy" someone ought to have the basic decency to stand up and say "to hell with that childish and barbaric horseshit; we're with you and with your enemy; we're against organized mass murder and planetary destruction; snap out of it, would you?" Biden CENSORS Marianne on TikTok | Breaking Points Krystal breaks down the ongoing Biden supporter led blackout of Marianne Williamson including getting fan accounts banned on ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: Breaking Points) Details DMCA Readings for 4th Sunday of Easter: ACTS 2:14A, 36-41; PSALM 23: 1-6; 1 PETER 2: 20B-25; JOHN 10: 1-10 This 4th Sunday after Easter is sometimes called "Good Shepherd Sunday." That's because in today's final reading (Jn. 10:1-10), Yeshua identifies himself in those terms, and the responsorial from the Book of Psalms (23:1-6) is the very familiar selection that begins with the words, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want." What often goes unrecognized in such readings are their highly politicized meanings. In Jewish tradition, they describe the qualities scripturally idealized in Israel's leadership. All of them, "The Book" says should be "good shepherds" at the service of their flocks. The readings are particularly relevant this week when our incumbent president has declared his intention to run for a second term. His declaration has raised questions about the nature of American democracy. In addition, he is described by many as running "unopposed," despite strong challenges from two fellow party members, Marianne Williamson, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK). In fact, Williamson's domestic agenda offers a clear alternative to Biden's. The same is true of Kennedy's foreign policy directions. Taken together Williamson and Kennedy suggest an interesting president-vice president duo. With that in mind, let's break convention by evaluating Biden and his opposition in the light of today's liturgical readings. Biden's Candidacy & Democracy Yes, just last week, octogenarian Joe Biden declared that he wants to be U.S. president for another four years. Given concerns about his declining mental capacities (and even his biological continence), that's quite breathtaking. Nevertheless, it's okay with the New York Times (NYT). Their morning-after editorial reminded readers that "Strange as it may sound, the American government can function without a healthy president. The U.S. marched toward victory in World War II while Franklin Roosevelt was ailing in 1944 and 1945. Four decades later, the government managed its relationship with a teetering Soviet Union while Ronald Reagan's mental capacities slipped. In each case, White House aides, Cabinet secretaries and military leaders performed well despite the lack of a fully engaged leader." In other words, it's all happened before. So, don't worry. It's somehow the American way. There are historical precedents for governance under incompetent figurehead presidents who willy-nilly have surrendered power to unelected bureaucrats. And there should be no debate about it. 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). Three teenagers ages 16 and 17 suspected of stealing a car at gunpoint in Vancouver were arrested early Saturday morning in downtown Portland. Portland police responded to reports of a stolen car near Southwest 5th Avenue and Hall Street at 1:12 a.m. Officers spotted three people running from the stolen car and told them to stop. They didnt. The 16-year-old tripped while running and a gun fell out of his pocket, police said. He was taken into custody, and the other two were caught a few blocks away. All three were booked into Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility on allegations of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possessing a stolen vehicle, unlawful entry into a motor vehicle, interfering with police and attempting to elude police. The 16-year-old suspect also faces charges for possessing a firearm. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Oregon built a five-run lead that proved insurmountable and extended its win streak to 12 games. KK Humphreys and Paige Sinicki each homered for the No. 13 Ducks in a 5-3 win over Cal Saturday afternoon at Levine-Fricke Field. The win, combined with Utahs loss to UCLA, moves Oregon (34-11, 13-7 Pac-12) into third in the Pac-12 and one game back of second since Washington has the tiebreaker. Tehya Bird hit an RBI double to put Oregon on the board in the second. Humphreys added a two-run homer in the third. Sinicki opened the fourth with a solo shot and Allee Bunker (2 for 4) added an RBI single. Cal (31-16-1, 7-12-1) scored three in the fifth as Stevie Hansen issued a one-out walk and back-to-back doubles before being relieved by Raegan Breedlove. Hansen (18-4) allowed two runs on three hits, two walks and three hit batters over 4.2 innings. Morgan Scott picked up her sixth save with 1.1 innings of perfect relief. The teams conclude the series at noon Sunday. Tens of thousands of people gathered in New Mexico on Friday for what organizers bill as the largest powwow in North America. The annual Gathering of Nations kicked off in Albuquerque with a colorful procession of Native American and Indigenous dancers from around the world moving to the beat of traditional drums as they filled an arena at the New Mexico state fairgrounds. Were ready to rock the house here, the announcer proclaimed, after introducing drum groups, including from Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. A dancer participates in the first day of competition at the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, April 28, 2023. Dancers and drum groups from Native American tribes and Indigenous communities throughout North America filled an arena at the New Mexico State fairgrounds for the 40th annual event. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)AP During the event, dancers slowly spiral their way, one by one, toward the center of the venue, making for a spectacular display. This marks the 40th year for the gathering, which has grown from humble beginnings in 1983 into a massive celebration with Indigenous people showcasing their cultures through dancing and singing competitions. Dale Metallic has been dancing for about 30 years, since he was a teenager, but this marked the first year he was able to persuade his father, Sibugug, to join him in competition. They made the trip from the Migmaq Nation in eastern Canada. Its a celebration, the younger Metallic said. Its in our blood, his father added. Its about language, culture, family. And style. Fourteen year-old Mylan Archuleta of Ohkay Owingeh village in northern New Mexico prepares to ride his horse in the horse parade at the 40th anniversary of the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, April 28, 2023. Tens of thousands of people gathered in New Mexico on Friday for what organizers bill as the largest powwow in North America. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales)AP Competitors wear feathered bustles, buckskin dresses, fancy shawls, and beaded head and hair pieces. Many of the dancers elaborate outfits are detailed with hand-stitched designs. Twelve-year-old Violet Sutherland showed off elaborate beadwork and a fancy shawl as she spun around beneath the welcoming sign while her mother took photos. They traveled from Ontario, Canada, so Violet could fulfill a wish made the previous year. I always wanted to go and see everyone dance, said Violet, nodding at the colorful Aztec dancers performing nearby. Violet, who is Ojibwe and Cree and the youngest of three siblings, practices every day, keeping alive a tradition like her parents and grandparents before her. Shantal Sandoval,left, and her eight year-old daughter Chanel Yazzie, of To'hajiilee, New Mexico prepare to participate in a horse parade at the 40th anniversary of the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, N.M., Friday, April 28, 2023. Tens of thousands of people gathered in New Mexico on Friday for what organizers bill as the largest powwow in North America. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales)AP As spectators and competitors took breaks to get roasted corn, fry bread and lattes, the echoing thunder of drum beats could be heard outside the arena. In addition to the dancing and singing competitions, more than two dozen contestants from the U.S. and Canada also are vying for the title of Miss Indian World. The winner will be crowned on the final night of the powwow and will spend the next year serving as a cultural ambassador as she travels to events and other powwows. Several hundred Native American tribes in the United States and First Nations in Canada are represented at the gathering, which has become Albuquerques second-largest annual festival and brings in more than $20 million for the local economy each year. Organizers held virtual gatherings in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID-19 restrictions. This is the second in-person gathering since public health regulations were relaxed. A retired ex-model enters the private detective agency that she owns, ready to fire her staff. She has just declared bankruptcy after her accountant fled with her money. She is left only with the agency, which the accountant had advised her to buy in order to launder money through it. Thus begins Moonlighting (1985-1989), the ABC series that brought 60 million Americans together in front of their television sets. Arriving at the agency, protagonist Maddie Hayes, played by Cybill Shepherd, runs into David Addison (Bruce Willis), a private investigator as irreverent as he is impertinent. He thinks he remembers her from a Playboy from 10 years ago and tries to flirt with her. Maddie stops him: Im not Miss March, Miss May, nor Miss anything else. For your information, Im Miss Madeleine Hayes and I own this dump. The conversation becomes tense, and he again puts his foot in his mouth: From the TV commercials and posters and billboards and all that stuff, youd never guess what a cold bitch you are. Maddies response? A slap. Maddie and David go on to become a detective couple, trying to revitalize the agency in order to survive. Theres no mistaking whats going on between them: they really like each other. Their sexual tension is the backbone of a series that integrated elements that were extremely innovative for television at the time, such as breaking the fourth wall and other examples of meta-television language. At the same time, it made constant nods to popular culture: one episode is presented by Orson Welles in the manner of The War of the Worlds; in another, a musical fragment is directed by Stanley Donen. Cybill Shepherd as Maddie Hayes in Moonlighting. Eight months before American viewers first enjoyed Maddie and Davids meeting, the pair met off-screen. In the middle of writing the first episode of Moonlighting, series creator Glenn Gordon Caron realized that he was writing Maddie Hayes with Cybill Shepherd in mind. He told his agent, and they sent her half of the pilot of just over 40 pages the scripts were twice as long as normal because the characters spoke so fast and she agreed to a meeting. At a lunch that took place in July 1984 the series premiered in March 1985 Shepherd said: If the second half of the script is as good as the first, Im interested in doing it. Its a Hawksian comedy. What the hell does she mean by a Hawksian comedy? Gordon Caron wondered, until he realized she meant Howard Hawks. Shepherd, Peter Bogdanovichs ex-girlfriend and close friend, had spent years cultivating a broad knowledge of film. She had visited Howard Hawks at his Palm Springs home. She knew what she was talking about. Whats more, as Gordon Caron explained in journalist Scott Ryans oral history of Moonlighting: A lot of what I was doing was out of instinct, not out of any sense of, Oh, theres an old movie style here. She seemed to understand what it was in ways that even I didnt. Shepherd went from muse to consultant in a single meal. Shepherds involvement in the series was much greater than her role as a lead actress, however. As she recounts in her memoir, Cybill Disobedience, she was given a say in the choice of her co-star. Gordon Caron had hoped to cast Bill Murray from Ghostbusters, but the actor couldnt commit to the series. Over 1,000 actors appeared for auditions. Among the six in the final selection, only one caught Shepherds eye: a charismatic waiter with no acting experience, wearing earrings and a military jacket. A certain Bruce Willis. As soon as he left, I leaned over to Glenn and said, Its him. A week before filming the pilot, Shepherd recounts, she, Willis and Gordon Caron watched Bringing Up Baby and His Girl Friday just as she had suggested. The Hawksian comedy that the actress imagined from the beginning was about to take shape. It was important to review her references. In the series, though, she was not Katharine Hepburn, but Cary Grant. Willis had long speeches, and she specialized in learning to react. Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd as David Addison and Maddie Hayes in Moonlighting. In addition to her presence on screen, Shepherd commanded off-set as well. The sexual tension between Maddie and David was reflected in reality. As she tells it, after a particularly sexy scene between them, she left the set and Willis followed her. Are we going to do something about this between us or what?, she asked him. Why dont I come over to your house tonight?, he answered. That night, as they were kissing passionately in her house, she told him, Maybe we shouldnt do this. He complied and left. Not all of her suggestions were accepted. The exhausting 14-hour days of filming left the actors and crew on the brink of exhaustion. The situation worsened for Shepherd when two years later, at the height of the shows success, she became pregnant with twins. Her bosses did not take the news well. The solution they found was to marry Maddie off to a guy she had just met, which the actress objected to. Her bosss response? Shut up and do your job. Youre not producing the series. Tensions grew, both between her and the producers and between the two actors, whose unconsummated affair, Shepherd maintains, was only the beginning of her problems. When the series received a collection of Emmy nominations for its season-three episode Atomic Shakespeare, an adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew written in blank verse, the actress confesses to praying that Willis wouldnt win she wasnt even nominated. Her prayers went unanswered. The toxic atmosphere on set was so apparent that the writers decided to incorporate it into the series. In one of Moonlightings characteristic meta-television eruptions, a journalist went to the agencys offices to investigate the rumors about constant fights between its leads. The situation reached such an extreme that Gordon Caron walked off set in the fall of 1988, declaring that either he would go or Shepherd would. Brandon Stoddard, the president of ABC, interceded to save the series. He spoke to Gordon Caron: Maybe you cant run the series, maybe you cant tell her what to do, but you could keep writing, hinting to the creator that the dispute had already been settled in favor of the actress. Shepherds perspective is different, of course. In her memoirs, she recalls, What had begun as an alliance between Glenn and me, as well as a newcomer named Bruce Willis, had turned into Glenn and Bruce against Cybill. Another factor was that in 1988, thanks to the success of Die Hard, Willis had made the leap to Hollywood stardom. Its creators departure was the beginning of the end for Moonlighting, which ended in 1989. In the last minutes of the final episode, while they flee in terror from the destruction of the set in another meta-turn, David and Maddie look for the reasons why the series is over. They end up in a movie theater where a television producer comes to tell them that the viewers fell in love when they saw them fall in love. Now that they are no longer in love, they have lost the audiences favor. Love is a very fragile thing, he says. After Moonlighting, Willis embarked on a successful film career until his recent retirement. Shepherd went on to star in Cybill, the hugely successful CBS series that ended almost overnight for no apparent reason. Years later, she would say that the series was cancelled after she turned down the sexual advances of Les Moonves, then-president of CBS. In 2018, Moonves resigned after 12 sexual abuse cases were revealed. In 2005, Gordon Caron created the show Medium. In 2021, he left another series, Bull, after several writers walked out, citing it as fostering a disrespectful work environment. In 2018, one of the actresses in the series, Eliza Dushku, alleged that she had suffered sexual harassment from the protagonist of the series, Michael Weatherly. In a letter, Dushku stated that Gordon Caron fired her in silence 48 hours after her complaints about Weatherly. Gordon Caron, through his representative, denied the claim. It later came to light that Dushku was paid $9.5 million to settle. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hundreds gathered under high flying rainbow flags in a sunny Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland Saturday for Expressions: A Celebration of Drag and Transgender Rights. The free community drag show was held in response to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across the United States. The event featured more than 15 performers and speakers, including Mx. Dahlia Belle, Flawless Shade and Bolivia Carmichaels. The event raised funds for OutMemphis, a Memphis-based nonprofit that supports LGBTQ+ people in that area. Last March, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a bill that blocked drag performances on public property and where minors could be present. Several weeks later a judge temporarily blocked that law. The show was organized by The Trans and Drag Freedom Initiative in partnership with Mx. Dahlia Belle, Portland Queer Caucus, Demand Drag and Klip Klop Productions. Lizzy Acker and Mark Graves A small-town Oregon political group run by the operator of a local liquor store hosted exclusive fundraisers the past two years featuring premium bourbons as the main attraction. Attendees nibbled on charcuterie, sipped flights of bourbon and got the rare chance to bid on bottles of coveted whiskies, including a prized Pappy Van Winkle all but impossible for most Oregonians to find in liquor stores. Hillsboros hottest new neighborhood borders the rolling fields and farms on the metro areas scenic western edge. Construction workers are busily putting the final touches on sprawling, gated developments. These arent houses. Theyre enormous data centers, hulking buildings stuffed with billions of dollars worth of computers that feed our insatiable thirst for digital ephemera. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TRAVERSE CITY A longtime Mancinos Pizza and Grinders employee was arraigned on an embezzlement charge after the owner of two restaurants called Michigan State Police to investigate. James Warren Lake, 54, of Traverse City, was arraigned in Grand Traverse Countys 86th District Court on one count of embezzlement over $100,000 and a habitual offender third offense notice. According to a Michigan State Police news release issued on Monday morning, Traverse City post troopers were contacted by the owner of two Mancinos restaurants in Grand Traverse County in January to investigate an alleged embezzlement. Lake was listed as the general manager of the Chums Corners and West Bay Mancinos locations in Traverse City; he has been with Mancinos for 30 years. He was listed as the suspect for the embezzlement allegations. A catastrophic difference was noticed between the two stores in the amount of rewards program utilized, the release states in part. The investigation showed that "a single computer was responsible for over 99% of all the reward program transactions and this computer was located in Lakes office." "The rewards were being back entered into transactions and cash was being removed from the tills to correlate the rewards being entered, the release said. Police reported that over $130,000 had been embezzled since 2019. Lake was interviewed and arrested on Wednesday. He was then lodged at the Grand Traverse County Jail. Lake was given a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. His next scheduled court appearance is at 11 a.m. on March 24. There are several contenders for the uncomfortable title of father of the atomic bomb. It can be ascribed to Albert Einstein, who wrote the most famous equation in history, E=mc2, in 1905, showing the world that a small amount of matter (m) could be transformed into an enormous amount of energy (E) when multiplied by the square of the speed of light (c2), a gigantic number. Or it might be attributed to Leo Szilard, the eccentric Hungarian physicist who visited Einstein on Long Island in 1939 and convinced him that the Nazis could get their hands on the Belgian Congos abundant uranium reserves. Or perhaps credit should go to Alexander Sachs, the Lehman Brothers economist who immediately understood that, if it was possible to design a weapon with the destructive power predicted by those physicists, the United States should build it. And, of course, theres president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who took all of the above seriously and financed the Manhattan Project to create the deadly device. But they all pale in comparison to Robert Oppenheimer, the Manhattan Projects chief scientist, its demiurge and inspiration. He attracted the best physicists of the time and put that talent to use for the most frightening military purposes, the ultimate weapon, which would change 20th century history. Director Christopher Nolan is bringing the renowned scientists story to the silver screen in June of this year. The film, called Oppenheimer, is based on Kai Bird and Martin Sherwins landmark biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. American Prometheus is a monumental work. Both columnist Bird and historian Sherwin are specialists in the development of nuclear weaponry and spent 30years researching every source on paper and in the flesh related to Oppenheimer. The biography was published in 2005 and won the Pulitzer Prize the following year. Sherwin died in 2021. The tome not only tells the story of the lead scientist in a remote, top-secret laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, but also that of the young son of Jewish immigrants in early-20th-century New York, his rise as an American hero and his descent into the hell of McCarthyism. Robert Oppenheimer, photographed in 1958. Philippe Halsman (Magnum Photos / ContactoPhoto) The nickname Prometheus suits Oppenheimer well, not only because that titan of Greek mythology stole fire from the gods and gave it to men (the most obvious part of the nuclear analogy), but also because Zeus threw such a tantrum over that act of betrayal that he had Prometheus nailed to Mount Caucasus to have his liver cruelly and repeatedly eaten by an eagle. Despite the fact that the bomb created under Oppenheimers stewardship at Los Alamos resolved World War II in his countrys favor and satisfied most of Washingtons hawks, the Republican Party began to distrust the physicist in the 1950s and ended up destroying his life and reputation during the Cold War. As a young man, Oppenheimer had lived through the Great Depression of 1929 and the rise of fascism in Europe (he studied quantum physics in Germany in the 1920s). In New York, he was involved in social movements in which communists and other left-wing sympathizers fought against racial discrimination and economic inequality. Later, after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Oppenheimer like many other scientists with whom he worked at Los Alamos became an activist against nuclear proliferation. When Republicans came to power in 1953, the military figures and strategists who had advocated the mass use of atomic bombs gained power in the White House. Soon, they set their sights on Oppenheimer, the wars scientific hero and the voice who stubbornly spoke out against their strategy. That was the end of his public reputation and intellectual influence. Zeus is unforgiving. The authors of American Prometheus quote New York novelist E. L. Doctorow, who wrote in 1986: We have had the bomb on our minds since 1945. It was first our weaponry and then our diplomacy, and now its our economy. How can we suppose that something so monstrously powerful would not, after 40 years, compose our identity? The great golem we have made against our enemies is our culture, our bomb culture its logic, its faith, its vision. That vision has not gone away in our own day, and perhaps it never will. In order to write this book, the authors compiled thousands of documents from archives halfway around the world, studied all of Oppenheimers writings and talked to his relatives, colleagues, friends, military chiefs and political contacts. They also reviewed the thousands of pages the FBI collected on him for over a quarter-century of persistent but not always justifiable surveillance. Bird and Sherwins biography offers a powerful glimpse into that inconceivable abyss; in June, it will also provide the basis for Nolan to bring Oppenheimers story to life on the big screen. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Midland Daily News published its first edition on May 1, 1937. Owned by Philip T. Rich, it became the city's first daily newspaper. Rich ran it until his retirement in 1968, when it was sold to Lindsay-Schaub Newspapers of Decatur, Ill. Lindsay-Schaub sold the Daily News to Lee Enterprises of Davenport, Iowa, in 1979 and Lee sold the paper to the Hearst Corporation later in the same year. Hearst has been a part of Midland for almost 45 years. Just four owners in 86 years, operating out of Downtown Midland the whole time. The Daily News is now the only existing newspaper out of a 165-year tradition of cigar-chomping editors, fast-talking reporters and ink-stained wretches who have helped chronicle this community since 1858. Taking a step back, to consider our place in that legacy, is humbling. I know I speak for all of us who work at the Daily News today when I say its an honor to continue the work of all those journalists who created that news foundation we inherited. Just thinking about 165 years of Midland journalism the totality of the work that has been published boggles the mind. How many stories have been published during that time? How many words have appeared in ink on paper? How many words have been published online read by millions of eyes in countries all over the world? How many journalists have worked in this town capturing the news of the day and, ultimately, the history of our community? Its staggering to think about. It's also worth commemorating. Continuing that tradition in 2023, and recognizing the work of those journalists who were here before us, is an awesome responsibility. Managing Editor Dan Chalk and I are both interested in Midland history, so this year seems like the perfect opportunity to take a look back on Midland newspaper history and major news events that were covered, and to learn more about the people who delivered some of the biggest news stories of the 20th century. I realize its more than a little self-serving for the Daily News to write stories or columns about our business and the newspapers that preceded us but if we dont, who will? The fact is, our history is your history. That grand 165-year perspective was created one story at a time. And those stories were about you the people who live in Midland County and the surrounding areas. Our business was built on writing about your achievements, your struggles, your births, your deaths, your businesses, your victories on the playing field, your losses in close games. Our business is telling your stories. So, over the next few months as we take a look back at 165 years of newspapers in Midland, I think you will see a lot of familiar faces who were newsmakers and the people who reported that news. I hope you will learn about the history of our profession and the impact journalism has had on our community. I think you will gain a better understanding of how important is has been to have a trusted news source in Midland that has grown and changed to reflect the community it serves. The media business is a complex, ever-changing industry that seems to present new challenges every year. The Daily News continues to confidently march forward, continuing the legacy of Philip Rich. I think he would be absolutely amazed by todays industry. His Daily News reporting staff was about the same size as ours is today. He would be pleased to know that between 2020 and the end of 2022, the number of Daily News subscribers increased 22%. Our 2023 total for online subscribers is growing every week. Thats a good sign that the Daily News is healthy enough to make it to its 100th birthday in 2037. That will take us to almost 180 years of newspapers in Midland. In 2022, we quietly reached an important industry milestone: Today, more people purchase our journalism through online-only subscriptions than through print subscriptions. I think Rich would also be pleased to see we are constantly adapting and learning to use new technology to extend our reach and grow our audience once we explained what the internet is to him. After we explained what computers and cell phones are, of course. Mi Element Grains & Grounds honcho Tony Sutorik was telling me how much it meant to him to have the Daily News in Midland, especially because so many cities our size have lost their newspapers. We talked a little bit about the 165-year anniversary of local journalism and we agreed it was worth a celebration. Mi Element Grains & Grounds is throwing us a birthday party, "165 Years of Newspapers in Midland," at 7 p.m. May 18 at 3124 Jefferson. Members of the Daily News staff, past and present, will be in attendance. There will be birthday cake, and Sutorik, a talented mad scientist brewmaster, will be serving up a special beer for the occasion - "What's Black and White and RED All Over?" red ale. I hope you can join us for cake and fun and story time. Journalism is often referred to as the first draft of history. Now, years after its published, I think its fair to just call it history. Thank you for being a part of our history. Thank you, readers, for being an important part of our future, too. Dave Clark is editor of the Midland Daily News. Email him at david.clark@hearst.com. It has been an intense week for Ukraine. Both in the diplomatic arena, where the presidents of China and Brazil have had their say; and on the battlefield, where Vladimir Putins missiles are raining down on Ukrainian cities. Amid talk about brokering peace, war continues to be waged, and behind it all there is a vast web of intentions that may not be expressed out loud but are clearly there. What follows is an attempt to untangle them. The president of China, Xi Jinping, has finally called his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The Chinese regime is out to portray itself to the world, and particularly to the global south, as a driving force for peace. Chinas official stance is laid out in a 12-point document published to coincide with the anniversary of the invasion. It amounts to no more than a statement of principles that does absolutely nothing to bring about peace talks. Chinas actual stance says a lot more than that document. It tells us that this is a power that doesnt supply weapons to Russia as things stand but doesnt use its influence over the country to put the brakes on its aggression, either. On the contrary: it is offering Russia economic breathing space, and in several ways is deepening military ties with the Russians including a visit by its defense minister to Moscow and boosting diplomatic links between the two nations. In short, China isnt a neutral party; it is clearly aligned with Russia. What is its strategic calculation? Probably that it doesnt want any outcome that is damaging to Putin; or that is positive for the Western world, enabling Ukraines integration into its democratic and geopolitical sphere. That would represent a major success for the West. Its in Chinas interests for the United States to be busy with Europe; it would love to drive a wedge between the European Union and the U.S., amid Belgian weariness; and it has no problem receiving cheap oil and gas from Russia. The Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has also taken center stage this week with his attempts to promote peace. His actions, of course, should be treated completely differently to the movements of the Chinese regime. Peace is light years away, but seeking it out is, in the abstract, worthy of praise. And if a democrat is behind such an attempt, so much the better. Naturally, the problem is how he goes about it. Lulas rhetoric is hard for many in democratic countries to swallow. Alongside his talk of peace, he has also made comments to the effect that, in his view, sending weapons to Ukraine is merely prolonging the fighting; and that Zelenskiy is just as responsible for the war as Putin. That it takes two to tango. What Lula hasnt said is also significant. In an interview with this newspaper, he offered an impassioned defense of democracy against the threat of the far right, but shied away from even the slightest, most veiled criticism of the oppressive Chinese regime. When asked about this subject, he was evasive. What is his strategic calculation? Its reasonable to conclude that this silence and everything that has come out of his visit to Beijing is more indicative of a major interest in consolidating Brazils relationship with China, than of an attitude of caution motivated by issues relating to the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Lulas desire to be at the forefront of an initiative for peace probably comes down to his ambitions for advancing Brazils position on the world stage, by consolidating its role as a middle power, by banking credit that can lead to growth in the countrys influence in international institutions, and by establishing the nation as a leader in the global south. Those are all legitimate aims; none of that discredits his actions. Its simply something thats worth bearing in mind. The U.S., clearly, has also run calculations that its keeping to itself. One imagines that it is in the States interests for an adversary such as Russia to be in a grueling conflict in which Washington isnt sustaining casualties. A crisis atmosphere that unites the U.S. with its global allies also works in its favor, and it isnt unhappy about the injection of revenue from gas exports to Europe. These are all very credible assumptions to make. That, however, isnt the same as saying flat out that this war is in its interests. At the very least, the U.S. would rather it didnt have to focus on European tragedies when its primary concern is really China. The global south, of course, also has its own undeclared aims in this scenario. An assorted collection of countries who undeniably deserve greater status within the world order, theyre only too familiar with the excesses of the powers of the global north. That, though, hasnt stopped many of them from developing strategies, perhaps with a touch of hypocrisy, in the face of an invasion that is nothing other than a colonial war, and in the face of the heavyweight rivalry between the U.S. and China. In both dynamics, the superpowers are looking for allies and in the global south, countries are busy calculating how best to gain an advantage by getting close to one power, getting close to another, making themselves desirable. Within the loose concept of the global south, special mention should go to India, which is boosting its profile, cozying up to the West against China, and buying cheap oil from Russia. A country with a significant size advantage over Brazil, and with democratic values that are in clear decline, India is attempting to establish itself at the head of this diverse group. That leaves the E.U. What is its hidden agenda? Its difficult to say. Not because we in the bloc are morally a cut above the rest, but because we have 27 different points of view that must negotiate the arduous process of being brought into harmony. The E.U. has offered a unified and effective reaction to Russias aggression. Were still working on how to interact with China and, overall, how to position ourselves on the global chess board. Weve taken steps forward, but were still some way from having a genuine, shared strategic vision. So, its hard to truly pin down what our covert interests are. People are right when they say that its unwise to seek a world split cleanly between a bloc of democracies and another of autocracies. Cooperation on a host of issues is possible and is necessary, and a short-sighted ideological confrontation would serve to scupper a valuable arena of pragmatic collaboration that has no reason to disappear. Even on matters such as the Ukraine war, there can and must be solution-seeking dialogue with those, including authoritarian regimes, who recognize basic tenets of international law such as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. But its precisely that structure, international law, that pushes us to be extremely prudent and skeptical when faced with Russia, which has flagrantly violated it, and China, which is not only a repressive regime at home, but also asserts itself to worrying degrees in disputed waters. Both advocate a change to the international order that entails a frightening reduction of human rights. That cannot be overlooked. Of course, the U.S. and other Western countries have amassed serious abuses of international law in the past. The errors of the past deserve absolute opprobrium, but do not justify a kind of compensatory tolerance for new abuses. Thats why, without even getting into the domestic darkness of Putins autocratic regime, it seems very difficult to sit down and negotiate a peace settlement while the Kremlin militarily occupies a still very large section of Ukraine, and while those who have been invaded remain determined to fight to eject their aggressors. Scooping a prize of such significance through brute force would be a hugely dangerous precedent to set for the entire world. For that reason, its perhaps too soon. That, maybe, is at the heart of the disconnect between Lulas highly overt initiative and the more discreet approach taken by others. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese Army has for the first time accused foreign quarters of being part of a plot to stage a coup detat in Sudan with full foreign and local political support Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese government and the militia Rapid Support Forces have consented to renewal of the ceasefire, which expires midnight Sunday (22:00 GMT) NORMAL Normal police are investigating after shots were fired early Saturday morning outside a party near Heartland Community College. Sgt. Jeff Longfellow with the Normal Police Department said dispatchers received several calls reporting gunfire at 3:11 a.m. Saturday in the 1500 block of Trumbull Avenue. He said there was a large party. Before it ended, the sergeant said, witnesses heard people yelling outside and nearly a dozen shots fired. Longfellow said early Sunday afternoon that no injuries were reported and no suspect information was available. He added that shell casings were found at the scene, but no property damage was reported. He also said investigators are looking to review any security camera footage available from nearby residences. He encouraged anyone with additional information to contact NPDs front desk at 309-454-9535. Watch now: 10 Decatur police body cam videos from the March 30, 2023, officer-involved shooting Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheims body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheims body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Jack Kosinki's body camera (slow motion 2) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera (slow motion 1) Footage from Decatur Police Officer Dawson Roberts' body camera Footage from Decatur Police Officer Joe Oberheim's body camera Footage from Decatur Police Sgt. Joseph Sawyer's body camera BLOOMINGTON The gossamer strands drifted in the late afternoon sun, lit from above by skylights like snow in July, floating above and settling on workers and the factory floor. That's an apt description for Bloomingtons deadly Union Asbestos and Rubber Co. (UNARCO) asbestos plant a topic that will be explored in an upcoming McLean County Museum of History exhibit. In 1951, as the diesel-electric locomotive replaced the steam locomotive, almost 1,000 workers were laid off at Bloomingtons Chicago & Alton Railroad Shops. Skilled boilermakers and machinists, who refurbished steam locomotive boilers in the cavernous locomotive back shop, were now unemployed, and an over two-block-long industrial building sat empty. Residents were thrilled when the UNARCO announced they were moving from Cicero, Illinois, to Bloomington. Inside the giant railroad building the company installed huge looms and other equipment used to weave asbestos fibers into fireproof insulation. Asbestos is a mineral that when crushed, breaks into thin, glass like threads that are both fireproof and insulating. Common industrial uses included insulated wrapping on locomotives boilers and steam pipes, and automotive brakes and engine firewalls. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its uses began to evolve. By the mid-20th century, asbestos could be found in homes as well house siding and roofing, floor tiles, home pipe insulation, kitchen oven gloves, and even as artificial snow to decorate the Christmas tree. On Jan. 14, 1928, the Journal of the American Medical Association published its first article warning about the hazards of asbestos. The article said, Nevertheless, asbestosis, because of its dangers and its unique pathologic features, deserves more attention than it has had. In 1936 the asbestos industry funded a study at the Saranac Labs in New York, which revealed that asbestos caused cancer. However, because the industry funded the study, they claimed its data was proprietary and suppressed the information. When the UNARCO plant moved from Cicero, the company may have moved because workers were becoming sick from asbestos exposure. Few, if any, of Bloomingtons residents knew about the dangers of asbestos the community was facing a deadly deception. But UNARCO knew the hazards. Workers were subjected to regular medical exams and x-ray screenings but were not told about the findings. It was industry practice to either lay off workers or offer a settlement if asbestosis was present. Why was the work hazardous? In the Bloomington plant, the asbestos fibers were dumped into huge bins and then fed into weaving machines, similar to a textile plant. Workers were given a thin paper mask to wear, but those were frequently discarded as individuals felt their air flow was restricted. Photos taken inside the plant show the airborne dust (much like snow) everywhere, including coating workers clothing. Work clothes taken home went in with the rest of the family laundry, potentially exposing others to the deadly fibers. By the 1960s, Bloomington workers were succumbing to cancer. Because local doctors were unfamiliar with asbestos disease, they were slow to diagnosis asbestos as a cause. Asbestosis is death by asphyxiation and can include cancer. The asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs, eventually preventing oxygen from flowing to the bloodstream. When company leadership became aware that a worker had an asbestos-related medical condition, UNARCO sent a company representative to the home and offered sympathy and a settlement. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, the dangers of asbestos had become public knowledge. The industry collapsed into bankruptcy, with 56 victim trust funds established; the largest fund settled 2.4 million claims, totaling $10.9 billion in settlements through 2008. Numerous lawsuits worked their way through the McLean County courts as individuals first sued UNARCO and then their suppliers and others industry participants. Local attorney James Walker led many of these cases. In 1970 Owens-Corning bought the plant and shifted its production to metal sinks. When they bought the factory, their industrial hygienist reported that the atmospheric conditions in the work environment of this plant are unbelievably bad. The plant closed within the decade. Next spring the McLean County Museum of History will open a major exhibit, "A Deadly Deception," which will explore the local asbestos tragedy. The exhibit will feature a memorial wall to commemorate UNARCO plant employees, family members, and those who lived in the neighborhood who were exposed, plus construction and industrial workers who died from asbestos exposure. Do you know a local resident who died from asbestos exposure who should be included on this memorial wall? If so, please contact the museums curator of exhibits, Susan Hartzold, at shartzold@mchistory.org. This exhibit will portray a dark industrial episode in our local history, but also raises questions about what exposures are current with us today that might contain hidden consequences. Gallery: Historic front pages from The Pantagraph's archives September 12, 2001 - 9/11 January 29, 1986 - Challenger disaster May 23, 1927 - Lindbergh flight November 03, 2016 - Cubs win the World Series November 22, 1963 - Assassination of President Kennedy October 23, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis September 02, 1945 - World War II August 09, 1974 - Nixon resigns December 08, 1941 - Attack on Pearl Harbor July 21,1969 - Moon landing June 06, 1944 - D-Day March 20, 2003 - Iraq war May 07, 1937 - Hindenburg disaster April 16, 1912 - Sinking of the Titanic July 29, 1914 - World War I Ways to become involved in charitable work: Volunteer your time. Donate your cash. Drive six hours each way once a month 815 miles back and forth away from the comforts of your Central Illinois homes and your own work-a-day worlds, to help in perhaps Americas most impoverished area the Appalachia of eastern Kentucky to provide food, personal belongings and help there. You wouldnt believe, says Steve Whaley, how good it makes you feel that you can do something for somebody else. Yes, welcome to perhaps this areas quietest but kindest do-good effort. They call themselves the Servants of Our Lord Ministry. In unison with Normal-based Midwest Food Bank, which it supplies 95% of the food, this Lexington group of kind hearts and charitable minds each month loads up trucks we're talking 30 tons of good eats and stuffs here to drive south and east to the mountains of eastern Kentucky. There, they are met by a welcoming group of those who live there, to unload and organize the 37 food pantries that serve that area. Among the welcoming group? Inmates from prisons all over Kentucky where, as part of their servitude and criminal sentence, they become part of this and a wonderful asset to our ministry, says Sally Whaley, wife of Steve. They enjoy helping, and they like getting outside of the walls of the correctional facility. It is there, three days each month, in the warehouse from which all of this occurs, that a literal buzz of activity occurs, as the volunteers from Central Illinois and eastern Kentucky, together with the inmates, sort, organize, parse, load, truck and unload again for disbursement for all parts poverty in that section of America. This all started about 10 years ago. Thats when and where Roger Whaley, Steve Whaleys dad, visited eastern Kentucky. As the Whaleys will testify, he was amazed, if not appalled, by what he saw people living out of another time, mountainfolk, living in primitive environs, with few services or modern conveniences. Moonshine defined the primary area of financial profit. Outhouses, as a primary means of everyday life, could be seen all over. And so also 10 years ago, Roger Whaley launched Servants of Our Lord Ministry. With the aid of Midwest Food Bank, he did research on how to organize such an endeavor. Once accomplished, he started trips to that area, with food and belongings and food bank trucks and also kindness 170 cases of food per month. He purchased upright freezers to store food and went to Central Illinois garage sales to look for bargains that he could pack up and take to Kentucky. Sadly, tragically, in 2017, amid all of this, Roger Whaley died of an aortic aneurism. Thats when his son Steve, and Steve's wife Sally both now in their 50s, Steve from Lexington, Sally originally from rival Chenoa, whod met through a mutual friend took up the torch. In the years since, along with many others in the area, we watch in amazement as God finds the need and allows us to meet that need, says Sally. That area, says Jan Proeber, pastor of Lexingtons Church of Christ United, is a truly different part of America. When we were there, we werent there to do something for them but with them. Their dignity is very important. They have value, and worth, and beauty. They have all the outer elements, too. I was just the guy who kept the rattlesnakes amused as (we) worked under the rotting trailer homes, adds Jan Proebers grand-hearted husband, Dave, the retired award-winning photojournalist at this very newspaper. In 2022, when floods ravaged the Hazard, Kentucky, area (is that not an irony?), more than 30 tons (tons!) of food was distributed from Central Illinois to families in need. It is not without acknowledgment. Twice, a Lexington, Kentucky, TV station has come to report on the Lexington, Illinois, groups endeavor. Financed by individual donations to cover warehouse rental, utilities, lodging, transportation and warehouse supplies, they continue on. We want to keep his (Rogers) vision going for as long as we are able, God willing, says Sally. And obviously, God willing, it looks as if they fully are. Photos: ISU Civic Engagement volunteers repackage food at Midwest Food Bank 021921-blm-loc-6isuservice 021921-blm-loc-1isuservice 021921-blm-loc-3isuservice 021921-blm-loc-2isuservice 021921-blm-loc-4isuservice 021921-blm-loc-5isuservice 021921-blm-loc-7isuservice 021921-blm-loc-8isuservice 021921-blm-loc-9isuservice A recent letter to the editor claimed America has become a kleptocracy dominated by plutocrats, autocrats, religious zealots and oligarchs. Such a lamentable statement to be made about America. The author continued her rant about GOP and not to be fooled again. To me it seems obvious that the author only propagates hate and fear mongering with a continuous political stance. I want to think of America as a free country still, admittedly, is failing the true virtues from the Declaration of Independence and constitution. From its birth in 1776, America was the light of the world and city on a hill as President Reagan proclaimed. If he were resurrected and to see how this country has fallen into darkness, no doubt he would be crying in shame. There are a few mighty brave leaders fighting for freedom for all, namely Donald Trump, Ron Desantis, Mike Pence, Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Samuel Alito, Kevin McCarthy, Darin LaHood and many others. Regardless how the far-left rails, and we should pray for them. The Biden family is part of a family that deals just like a kleptocracy. Of course, the left media hides these facts. The top bureaucrats in the FBI are politicized for that party. Donald Trump would derail their agenda and expose their treachery. While the author was very emphatic and used egregious words, there are many in the community and around that know better. We know that upper education systems have really warped young adults' minds for far-left ideology. A marriage of the upper academia and media and far left politicians is a threefold card that is tough to break, all being funded by corrupt multi-billionaires. Maybe America is doomed, but as a loyal Republican, hopefully Donald Trump will be vindicated and win 2024 POTUS. Leon Kaeb, Bloomington Photo: (Photo : STEFANI REYNOLDS / Getty Images) General Mills recalls a popular flour called "Gold Medal." It has issued a voluntary recall of certain bags of its popular flour brand, "Gold Medal," due to the possible presence of Salmonella. The recall, announced on the US Food and Drug Administration's website, pertains to two types of flour, Gold Medal Unbleached and Bleached All Purpose Flour, with a "better if used by" date of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024. The presence of Salmonella infantis was discovered during the sampling of the five-pound bag product, prompting the recall. Customers who have purchased these products are urged to dispose of them and contact General Mills for a full refund. General Mills' Nationwide Flour Recall General Mills announced a voluntary recall of its Gold Medal flour products due to the possible presence of Salmonella, a bacteria that causes a common foodborne illness called salmonellosis. According to the FDA, the recall affects specific batches of Gold Medal flour products that were distributed nationwide in the United States. The affected products include Gold Medal Bleached All Purpose Flour, 2 LB with UPC 000-16000-10710, and 5 LB with UPC 000-16000-10610. Furthermore, Gold Medal Unbleached All Purpose Flour, 5 LB with UPC 000-16000-19610, and 10 LB with UPC 000-16000-19580 are also affected. All of these General Mills products have expiration dates of March 27, 2024, and March 28, 2024. The recall was initiated after the company found the presence of Salmonella during a sampling of the five-pound bag of Gold Medal flour product. General Mills has taken immediate action to remove the affected products from store shelves. Customers who have purchased these products are urged to dispose of them and contact General Mills for a full refund. Furthermore, according to CNN, the company reminds consumers that flour is not a "ready-to-eat" ingredient and must be cooked or baked before consumption to eliminate the risk of foodborne illness. General Mills has been educating consumers on this matter, and its spokesperson, Mollie Wulff, emphasized the importance of this message. Read Also: DOJ Joins Lawsuit Against Tennessee for Targeting Transgender Minors with Discriminatory Law Salmonella Contamination from Food The Mayo Clinic has revealed that salmonella infection, also known as salmonellosis, is a common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. The bacteria, which can be found in both human and animal intestines, are usually transmitted through contaminated water or food. While some people infected with Salmonella may show no symptoms, most develop diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps within 8 to 72 hours of exposure. The CDC has noted that people can contract Salmonella from a wide range of foods, including beef, chicken, pork, turkey, eggs, fruits, and vegetables. Processed foods such as chicken nuggets and butter can also contain Salmonella. Symptoms of salmonella infection may include diarrhea lasting more than three days, a fever above 102F, chills, vomiting, nausea, and blood in the stool. If these symptoms occur, individuals are strongly encouraged to seek medical attention from a doctor or hospital. The Associated Press stated that the U.S. FDA and the CDC advise against consuming raw products made with flour because heat can kill Salmonella through baking, frying, or boiling. In light of the recall, General Mills urges customers to check their pantries for affected products and dispose of them immediately. In case the customers have disposed of the products impacted by the recall, they can still reach out to General Mills Consumer Relations at 1-800-230-8103 for support. Related Article: Rare Brain Abscesses in Kids Raise Alarm for Doctors Across the US Photo: (Photo : LUCAS BARIOULET / Getty Images) Penicillin shortages, specifically Penicillin G-Benzathine shortages, will continue to become health-threatening if supply remains low. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a shortage of an injectable version of penicillin on Wednesday, April 26. Penicillin G-benzathine, the specific form of penicillin in short supply, is a crucial antibiotic used for treating a variety of bacterial infections such as strep throat and syphilis. It is the recommended treatment for syphilis, as it can be safely administered to adults, children, and pregnant women. Penicillin Shortage in the U.S. According to the FDA, there is a current shortage of penicillin G-benzathine, an antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections, including syphilis and strep throat. The FDA attributes the shortage to an increase in demand, with Pfizer being the sole supplier of the drug in the U.S. One reason for the increased demand for penicillin is the shortage of another antibiotic, liquid amoxicillin, which has been in short supply since October of last year. According to NBC, Dr. Jeremy Cauwels, Chief Physician at Sanford Health, a medical system in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota, explained that pharmacists in his network have been dealing with a limited supply of penicillin since the winter. He added that the preferred drug for syphilis treatment is penicillin G-benzathine because it is safe to administer to adults, children, and pregnant women and can also treat the baby if the mother has syphilis. Pfizer said the rise in syphilis cases may have also contributed to the increased demand for penicillin. A decrease in the availability of amoxicillin, which is also used to treat strep infections, occurred during a surge of respiratory virus infections in the fall and winter. During this period, the antibiotic was commonly prescribed for secondary bacterial infections resulting from COVID-19, flu, or respiratory syncytial virus. In addition, amoxicillin has been utilized to manage an increase in severe strep cases that date back to the fall season. This shortage of amoxicillin has compounded the problem of the limited supply of penicillin G-benzathine, leading to a further strain on the availability of essential antibiotics in the US. Read Also: Sperm Donor Who Fathered Over 550 Children Stopped By Dutch Court Penicillin G-Benzathine and Other Shortages As reported by Bloomberg, the US is experiencing the highest rate of syphilis since 1990. According to data released in 2021, there was a 32% rise in syphilis cases from the previous year, with a total of 176,713 cases reported. Additionally, there has been an increase in the occurrence of other sexually transmitted infections. The University of Utah's drug information service, which monitors drug shortages, has been tracking supply constraints for penicillin G-benzathine injection since January. Pfizer is the only company that sells the drug in the US, and there have been previous supply shortages from 2005 to 2007, and 2016 to 2017. Drug shortages are a growing concern in the US, with several common and essential medicines, including antibiotics, cancer drugs, and ADHD medications, experiencing supply constraints. Last month, a congressional committee held a hearing to address the issue, citing a broken market for medicines and a lack of transparency in the supply chain. Other countries are also facing shortages of different types of penicillin. According to the Mayo Clinic, penicillin G benzathine injection is an antibiotic medication that can effectively treat a range of bacterial infections, including mild to moderate infections of the upper respiratory tract, pinta, yaws, syphilis, and bejel. It is also used to prevent certain health conditions such as chorea, rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, or acute glomerulonephritis. Its mechanism of action involves killing bacteria or stopping their growth. However, this drug should only be administered by a physician or under their direct supervision to ensure its safe and effective use. Related Article: Rare Brain Abscesses in Kids Raises Alarm for Doctors Across the US This week a federal judge in Santa Ana, California, dismissed business and marketing claims against Apple that amounted to $1.85 Billion at the end of a three-week trial, according to Bloomberg. This now leaves the jury to decide only if Apple improperly used trade secrets related to a blood-oxygen monitoring sensor used in its Apple Watch since the introduction of the Apple Watch series 6 in 2020. Masimo was seeking $3.1 Billion. A verdict is likely to be reached this week. Apple and Masimo have been in litigation relating to health related technologies for smartwatches for years. Original meetings between the two companies regarding Masimo's technology dates back a decade. We posted an in-depth report back in January 2020 covering Masimo's original lawsuit against Apple. In October 2022 Patently Apple covered Apple suing Masimo for infringing 4 Apple Watch design patents. One of the exhibits from that lawsuit is presented below. The good news is that pneumonia the disease with the highest child mortality rate in the world can be prevented and cured with existing vaccines and treatments. The bad news is that those affected live in poor countries that lack both the funds and the political will needed to reverse this situation. Authorities, international organizations, companies, donors and experts gathered to discuss the issue at the Second Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia last week in Madrid. We are finally going to introduce a pneumonia vaccine in the country in 2024, but we do not have enough resources to buy the necessary doses or to guarantee their application, said Mohamed Lamine Yansane, Secretary General of the Guinea-Conakry Ministry of Health, summarizing the feelings of many of the authorities present. Pneumonia kills 2.4 million people annually. It causes more casualties than the officially registered deaths from Covid-19 in 2020, which reached two million. The lung infection claims the lives of 2,000 children under the age of five every day and one every 42 seconds. The profile of the victims is the same everywhere: children born in conditions of poverty or conflict are exposed to infections, malnutrition and polluted air, factors that increase the risk of pneumonia. They live in areas with limited or no access to basic health services. The international meetings objective was for countries, funders and multilateral institutions to set commitments to prevent and treat pneumonia and reduce the number of child deaths. The first Global Forum on Childhood Pneumonia, held in Barcelona three years ago, set specific objectives to curb the disease, but the coronavirus pandemic cut short most of the plans. In the last three years, the coronavirus pandemic has killed many elderly people in rich countries, but there is another pandemic taking place now, which kills thousands of children and is entirely linked to poverty, Keith Krugman, an expert in pneumonia and pandemics at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, told EL PAIS. The reality is that children who are victims of pneumonia die in poor countries. There are almost no deaths in rich countries. According to Quique Bassat, a researcher at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) in Spain, pneumonia has a role in 43% of pediatric deaths. Ending those deaths would mean solving the vast majority of deaths of children under five in the world, he says. Right now, only a third of children with pneumonia receive the antibiotics they need, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Half of childhood pneumonia deaths are concentrated in five countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ethiopia. The figures are serious, but the general public is unaware of them. Childhood deaths from pneumonia have fallen by half in the last 20 years, but cases are still concentrated in 54 countries, 80% of which are in Africa. We still have time, but we must sustain the financial effort dedicated to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Gustavo Suarez Pertierra, president of UNICEF Spain. A joint plan between donors and governments The coronavirus caused the biggest decline in childhood vaccination in 30 years. According to the latest data from UNICEF, the pandemic has undermined confidence in vaccines and has meant that 67 million children have not been fully or partially immunized against preventable diseases. Of that population, 48 million did not receive any type of vaccine. They are called zero dose children. In absolute terms, the countries that have the most zero-dose children are India and Nigeria, two of the nations with the highest number of child deaths from pneumonia. One of the forums objectives was to find concrete solutions to reach children who have been left out of the immunization systems. The coronavirus has taught us several things that can be used to fight pneumonia: the importance of producing oxygen locally to treat the sick, and the need for minimum health services, including vaccines, to work even in a catastrophe, said Bassat. Currently, according to the organizers of the forum, 51% of the worlds children receive three doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), which helps prevent pneumonia. According to Klugman, in the medium term, two new vaccines will increase the prevention of pneumonia. One works against the respiratory syncytial virus, the main cause of death in babies under six months. It is applied to the mother and is transmitted through the placenta. Another is against a type of strep that kills newborn children, developed by Pfizer. We are asking Gavi, the vaccine alliance, and its partners to help us, said Guinean official Lamine Yansane. We have almost 200,000 zero-dose children and an infant mortality rate of 90 per 1,000 live births. Pneumonia causes a large part of these deaths, he stressed. In addition to vaccines, he added, the country also needs greater awareness and the ability to store and transport doses to reach remote parts of the country. According to experts at the forum, low-income countries such as Guinea-Conakry can access Gavi financing for the vaccine, although they agree that the requirements to demonstrate their needs are an obstacle for some eligible states. It is unacceptable that children suffer from countries inability to pay for vaccines. There has to be a joint plan of donors and countries, said Klugman, a pneumonia expert at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But he also stressed governments should create their own economic strategy and not rely solely on donors. The best vaccine: Invest in girls Leith Greenslade, coordinator of Every Breath Counts, a public-private coalition of entities that seeks to end pneumonia deaths, believes that, regardless of the funds granted, the problem also lies in the moneys distribution. Donors do not trust local organizations, so the money is channeled through large multilateral or academic institutions in the north that have become big monsters that are difficult to maintain. For her, the solution is to financially support local groups. We are at a point where you have to ask yourself very tough questions about how the system works, she said. Her concern is in line with other forum participants, who underlined local health workers critical role in pneumonia prevention and treatment. Reducing infant mortality caused by pneumonia also includes alleviating child malnutrition, promoting education and strengthening the rights of women, who in most affected countries are responsible for the health of their children. The best vaccine is to invest in girls, who will become informed women and mothers, aware of their rights, with the ability to decide when and with whom they want to have a child, and the courage to demand that governments change things, said Rebeca Gyumi, director of Msichana, an organization that works for gender equality in Tanzania. When funds are dedicated to female education in countries like mine, Tanzania, the children of those mothers are less likely to die from diseases like pneumonia. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The executive director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu has appealed to the National Chief Imam to lead the crusade for a clean and responsible environmental activities in the country. Dr. Kwabena Kokofu noted that the country faces several environmental challenges as a result of both internal and external factors which threaten the lives of its people. He was therefore of the view that the involvement of civil society groups, more especially the venerable Office of the National Chief Imam will go a long way to assist in shaping the minds and attitudes of Ghanaians in becoming environmentally conscious. The EPA Executive Director made the appeal when he led a delegation made up of directors of the agency to pay a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam last Friday. He noted that environmental degradation as a result of human activities is a source of worry to the country, adding that though the government is doing it's best to address these challenges, it would require the expressed support and commitment from all stakeholders, including the religious community. The National Chief Imam has meanwhile affirmed his support towards the crusade for environmental safety in the country. The National Chief Imam made references to the Holy Book, The Qur'an where Allah The Almighty stresses the diverse reasons for creating man and enjoining man to be each other's keepers. He noted that every Ghanaian has a collective responsibility to ensure that out environments are safe since our very existence depends on it. Speaking through his Spokesperson Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, The National Chief Imam noted "I am appealing to every Ghanaian to understand the importance of the environment; that is where we all survive. Collectively owe it to ourselves as a duty to make our environments clean of all poisonous substances that affect our health" Meanwhile, the EPA Executive Director and his team made handsome donations of items including 100 bags of rice, 100 cartons of canned fish and 100 cartons of cooking oil. 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 Both the government and workers have acknowledged the need to update the regulation that comprehensively and holistically addresses occupational safety and health to better safeguard the safety and health of workers. This is because though the safety and health of workers is crucial to efficiency, effectiveness and optimises production, oftentimes, employers and employees choose convenience over doing the right thing, which is prioritising health and safety, a less costly price to pay for prevention, and only end up paying a costly price to provide compensation when the unexpected happens. From uncomfortable furniture at offices, poor ventilation and lack of appropriate personal protective equipment for field staff, the safety and wellbeing of workers are often taken for granted and the staff invariably pay a price with their health either on the job or after retirement when they do not have enough resources to manage their situation. While the Trades Union Congress (TUC) is calling on the government to speed up the promulgation of the law, the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, has said the government acknowledged the fact that the national policy and legal framework on occupational safety and health required drastic improvement. "Calls for the promulgation of a comprehensive national Occupational Safety and Health Law are not exaggerated. These are genuine concerns that government is acting upon to establish a strong policy and legislative regime, Mr Baffour Awuah said at an event to mark World Health and Safety Day which fell yesterday. 20th anniversary This year's event is the 20th anniversary celebration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work. A day set aside by the trades union movement in 1996 to highlight the vital work carried out by people and dedicated to reducing preventable injuries and harm to workers, the day is commemorated to remind all that every individual has the right to a safe and healthy working environment. It highlights the fact that it is the responsibility of employers, governments and the society as a whole to ensure that this right is upheld. It is also marked to remember the workers who lost their lives in the line of duty and who have sustained various forms of disability at the workplace. The day is further used to advocate better safe working conditions for workers. This year's theme was: A safe and healthy working environment is a fundamental principle and right at work. Situation Although workers have a responsibility towards themselves to ensure that they work safely to protect themselves and their fellow workers from harm, they often overlook this and do very little to push for their right or protect their interest, for fear of losing their jobs. This, according to research, is a source of concern among factory workers and workers within the waste collection industry. Data available from the TUC shows that last year, 1,043 workers were reported to have been involved in work-related accidents at workplaces and out of the number, 37 died, while many other sustained varying degrees of injury, resulting in some forms of disability. Bill The TUC, yesterday, at an event to mark the day, said the enactment of the law would ensure that no one was denied that right. The National Occupational Safety and Health Bill, a comprehensive bill that seeks to promote a safe work environment for all stakeholders, was first introduced to Cabinet in 1989, but it was yet to receive the needed attention to be passed into an Act. It was rejected by the cabinet in its current stage, calling for a review. A Principal Labour Officer, Francis N. Bibuksi, said the bill, when passed into law, would, among other objectives promote the highest standard, the physical, mental and social wellbeing of workers; ensure the adaptation of work to the physiological and psychological needs of persons at work and protect workers against risks and hazards to safety or health arising out of activities of persons at work. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 This years National Prayer Rally will take place daily at the Christian Village Miracle Centre in Accra from Monday, May 1 to 31. As a non-denominational prayer rally, it will be held annually to seek the face of God in curbing the rising levels of corruption and other social vices ailing the nation. The month-long event, scheduled from 6a.m. to 8a.m., which runs on the theme: This nonsense must stop, will bring together religious leaders and worshippers to pray against things that seek to undermine the economic, social and political development of the country. Launching this years event, the convenor of the rally and renowned evangelist, Reverend Dr Lawrence Tetteh, said it was important for political leaders to be humble enough to seek God's face and direction if the country was to overcome its current economic challenges. He, thus, encouraged as many people as possible to participate in the month-long event. Ignoring the God factor That, Rev. Tetteh said, had become paramount because the nation had been divided on partisan lines, with almost everything, including issues of national interests, being politicized. He said these had led to leaders and the rest of the nation unconsciously ignoring the God factor in its discourse, a factor which was adversely affecting the nations prosperity and national agenda. We need to call on our God as a people to seek His face in a massive united front. A call to prosperity, peace, love, progress and national repentance. As a nation, we need the hand of God today like never before - not eloquence and politics, he said at a press conference last Wednesday. Change of mindsets Rev. Tetteh said the nation had to change its mindset on political, traditional, media, and socio-economic and religious leaderships because the peoples attitude towards building the socio-economic landscape and development had been eroded due to selfish desires and wrong motives. Shamefully, our two main political parties have not helped to promote our national agenda and succession plan for Ghana. It is quite worrying that while the NDC did not continue with NPP-led projects while it was in government, the NPP is also doing the same by abandoning the NDC-led projects, he lamented. Rev. Tetteh appealed to political actors and the nation as a whole to be very circumspect in their verbal attacks on religious leadership which were based on the misdeeds of some errant members of the religious community. I will strongly entreat us all to refrain from engaging in such acts and rather approach religious, political and cultural discussions with decorum and maturity, remember that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom," he added. Continuous prayer Rev. Tetteh also urged the media to dedicate a lot more airtime to discuss issues pertaining to the moral and ethical development of the youth, to empower them with godly values and civic responsibilities for a better country. The convenor said the continuous peace, religious tolerance and brotherly love that the nation enjoyed must not be taken for granted, adding that it was simply by the infinite grace of God that the country had been spared the chaos, famine, war and diseases that was wiping out large numbers of people in other countries. We must continue to pray without ceasing and seek the face of God in all our deliberations. Let us continue to pray for our nation and our leaders to be humble and prayerful as the word of God admonishes, he added. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has given the firm assurance that the government remains committed to protecting the nation from illicit drugs. To achieve that, he said the government would continue to retool all the security agencies, including the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to protect communities, borders and, in particular, the youth who were the most vulnerable, from the use and impact of the trade in the illicit narcotics trafficking. He noted that despite challenges faced by the Commission, the government was committed to ensuring that NACOC's operations and activities became a significant model for achieving its mandate. In view of that, the government is in the process of procuring more K 9 dogs for the Commission to enhance their operations at the Kotoka International Airport and other relevant operational areas to facilitate their surveillance, Dr Bawumia added. NACOC passing-out parade The Vice-President said this yesterday at the graduation and passing-out parade of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) Cadet Course 7, held at the Immigration Service Academy and Training School at Assin Fosu. The graduation class was made of 78 officers who were taken through 14 weeks of mandatory basic narcotics cadet training programme to help boost the institution's manpower capacity in combating the country's illicit drug menace. Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were the Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery; the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul; the Director-General of NACOC, Kenneth Adu-Amanfoh, and the Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold. Additionally, some notable individuals from sister security agencies in attendance were the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Kwame Asuah Takyi; the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, and the Director-General of Ghana Prisons Service, Isaac Kofi Egyir. Also present were some traditional and religious heads of Assin Fosu. A special parade, mounted by the graduates with support from the continuing officers, was inspected by the Vice-President. It was a colourful and impressive parade as the graduating officers showed their well-rehearsed marching skills. Honours Four cadet officers were honoured for outstanding performances during the training. They were Roland Neequaye as Best in Drills; Mintah Yaw Nyarko as Best Male in Physical Training; Chelsea Bawumia as Best Female in Physical Training and Ivon Walier N. Kuutiero as Best in Academics, and the Overall Best Cadet. International collaboration Dr Bawumia said the world drug problem required international cooperation and collaboration in dealing with the trans-national nature of the problem and the international organised criminal gangs who were involved in the illicit trade. He said the country stood ready to collaborate with all relevant international bodies and organisations in dealing with the world drug problem. In that regard, the Vice-President mentioned that the government was working and collaborating with other countries such as the United States of America, United Kingdom, Germany and other organisations such as United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) and ECOWAS in the area of drug law enforcement, and also supporting the Commission in a variety of ways, such as capacity-building and equipment to improve its operations. Loyalty, integrity Vice-President Dr Bawumia charged the officers to view their duty as a very sensitive institution which required commitment, integrity and loyalty to the country because the people were depending on them to secure the countrys borders. He said their service to the country must be their top priority, adding that it is critical for you to uphold your oaths of allegiance, office and secrecy to help complement the commission's mission and vision, because your graduation from the training school signifies your readiness to serve. I urge you to be resolute and maintain discipline, resilience, and focus on your job description, as well as avoid engaging in activities that will not benefit your professional working life and have the potential to tarnish the image of our dear country, Dr Bawumia emphasised. The Vice-President also urged them to remain professional in their responsibilities and avoid being influenced by unpatriotic individuals acting primarily in their own self-interest to combat illicit drug trafficking and related organised crime. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 ANCHORAGE, Alaska Research on a flat spot for air evacuations. Talk of old-style civil defense sirens to warn of fast-moving wildfires. Hundreds of urban firefighters training in wildland firefighting techniques while snow still blankets the ground. This is the new reality in Alaskas largest city, where a recent series of wildfires near Anchorage and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious, untenable blazes in urban areas just like in the rest of the drought-plagued American West. The risk is particularly high in the citys burgeoning Anchorage Hillside neighborhood, where multi-million dollar homes have pushed further and further up steep slopes and to the forests edge. Making the challenge even greater is that many of these areas on the Hillside home to about 35,000 people have but one road in and out, meaning that fleeing residents could clog a roadway or be cut off from reaching Anchorage at all. The prospect of a major wildfire there keeps Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage awake at night when conditions are hot and dry. Ive characterized this as probably the single largest threat to the municipality of Anchorage, he said. Schrages city fire department is adept at fighting blazes in buildings. But as Anchorage has grown, the available land is higher up, where wild and urban areas intersect, and those fires are very different from what his firefighters are trained to combat. The city also has limited wildfire equipment, and its nearly impossible to get a fire engine up some switchback roads to homes nestled high up mountains. Our strategy is basically to put as many resources as we have on duty on a small fire so that we can keep it contained while waiting for assistance from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, Schrage said. This spring, 360 city firefighters are training on wildland firefighting tactics like using water hoses to create a line around the perimeter of a fire and the city is encouraging homeowners to participate in a program to identify hazards like brush and old trees that would feed a fire before its too late. In one hilly neighborhood, a community council is researching locations for a makeshift helipad that could be used for air evacuations. That same small neighborhood with but one road in and out has also discussed installing sirens to warn residents on the citys wooded fringes of fire danger and hopes to build a database of all residents for emergency communications. As much as you wouldnt want to do it ... its like rolling the dice on being alive or dead, said Matt Moore, who fled his home in 2019 lest he be trapped on the wrong side of the flames on the single road. Such precautions common in parched and fire-prone states like California and Colorado are relatively new in Anchorage in the face of increased fire risk fueled by global warming. The city reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) four years ago, the citys hottest temperature on record, and its had five significant wildfires over the past seven years that were all extinguished before causing much damage. Still, the U.S. is headed into an El Nino year this season, which traditionally means a bigger fire year and further raises concerns, said Brian Brettschneider, a climate scientist with National Weather Service, Alaska Region. More than 4,844 square miles (12,546 square kilometers) burned statewide last year an area just under the size of Connecticut. Since 1950, there have been 14 years in which more than 4,687 square miles (12,139 square kilometers) the equivalent of 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned during Alaskas short but intense fire season. Half of those fire seasons have occurred since 2002, including the worst year on record 2004 when over 10,156 square miles (26,304 square kilometers) burned. Flames are visible from the Beluga Point parking area near Anchorage, Alaska, on July 19, 2016, as a wildfire near McHugh Creek burns. (Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP)AP From his home high above Anchorage in 2019, Moore saw the black smoke billowing from a fire miles away in a heavily wooded area of the city. He gathered his pets and important papers in his vehicle his wife was already safe in Anchorage and drove 5 miles (8 kilometers) down the only road serving the roughly 600 neighborhood residents to safety. Thankfully, they started getting it under control, he said. For now, both the city and Schrages fire department are focused on keeping things under control implementing as many preventative measures as possible. The city department has removed evergreen trees and reduced brush in strips of 100 feet (30 meters) next to neighborhoods to help contain any future fires and Anchorage has cleared trees and other hazards in parks and along greenbelts. Firefighters have also conducted inspections at peoples homes to identify fire hazards such as firewood kept too close to their homes or too much vegetation on their property all in hopes of preserving homes, livelihoods and the community in a time of growing climate uncertainty. Mark Thiessen of The Associated Press wrote this story. More: Shapiro, Smokey Bear warn unseasonably dry conditions make Pa. ripe for wildfires Rainy Sunday kicks off week of wet weather for Harrisburg area: forecasters CLEVELAND, Texas Law enforcement officers were going door-to-door Sunday searching for clues about a gunman who fled after killing five people in a rural Texas town after his neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard. The alleged shooter, Francisco Oropesa, 38, was considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the area Friday, likely on foot, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said late Saturday. He said authorities had widened the search to 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the scene of the shooting. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Authorities were able to identify Oropesa by an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who reside outside the country, as well as doorbell camera footage. He said police have also interviewed the suspects wife. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropesa allegedly used in the shootings but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. There were other weapons in the suspects home, he said. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. It was a much quieter scene Sunday. Police crime scene tape had been removed from around the victims home. Some people stopped by to leave flowers. An FBI agent, several Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers could be seen walking around the neighborhood, going door-to-door and trying to speak with neighbors. The agent and officers declined to comment about what they were doing. As the troopers were speaking to residents at one house, a red truck pulling a travel trailer drove through the neighborhood. One trooper stopped the truck and asked the driver, Mind if I take a look inside the truck? The driver agreed and allowed the trooper to go inside the vehicle. After inspecting the trailer, the trooper let the driver continue on his way. Veronica Pineda, 34, who lives across the street from the suspects home, said authorities asked if they could search her property to see if he might be hiding there. Thats good for them to do that, said the mother of five, adding that she remained fearful because the gunman hasnt yet been captured. It is kind of scary. You never know where he can be. I dont think he will be here anymore, she said. She said she didnt know Oropesa well but occasionally saw him, his wife and son ride their horses on the street and believes the family have lived there five or six years. Pineda said neighbors have called authorities in the past to complain about the firing of weapons. The victims of Fridays shooting were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and all were believed to be from Honduras, Capers said. All were shot from the neck up, he said. A GoFundMe page was set up to repatriate the bodies of two victims, a mother and son, to their native country. Enrique Reina, Honduras secretary of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was contacting the families in connection with the repatriation of remains as well as U.S. authorities to keep apprised of the investigation. The suspects last name was originally given as Oropeza by authorities, but the FBI in Houston said in a Tweet on Sunday that it was now referring to him as Oropesa to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. The FBI said the case remains a fluid investigation. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe those at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. The confrontation came after the neighbors walked up to a fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. He said the suspect responded by telling them that it was his property. Doorbell video captured him walking up to the front door with a rifle. Law enforcement authorities removing bodies from a scene where five people were shot the night before Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Cleveland, TX. Authorities say an 8-year-old child was among five people killed in a shooting at the home in southeast Texas late Friday night. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP)AP The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victims home, while in the front yard of Oropesas house a dog and chickens wandered about. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didnt think anything of it. Its a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. Juan A. Lozano of The Associated Press wrote this story. Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report. More: Police incident closes part of Harvey Taylor Bridge 1984 killing finally solved, but mystery destroyed my family, victims sister says PHILADELPHIA Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with a quadruple shooting that left three teens dead and one hospitalized Friday afternoon in Philadelphias Crescentville section, police said. Police identified the dead Saturday as Malik Ballard, 17, of the citys Frankford section; Khalif Frezghi, 18, of East Mount Airy; and Salah Fleming, 14, of North Philadelphia. The shooting occurred about 3:30 p.m. Friday on the 5900 block of Palmetto Street, where, police said, Ballard was found shot on the sidewalk, Frezghi on a front porch, and Fleming just inside the front doorway of a home. All were pronounced dead at the scene by medics. A fourth victim, a 16-year-old male who has not been identified, arrived at Jefferson Frankford Hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach, police said. Fleming was an eighth grader at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School of Philadelphia Inc., said Veronica J. Joyner, the schools founder and chief administrative officer for nearly 25 years. She said the hospitalized teen, whose name she would not disclose, is an 11th grader at the school, located on Broad Street across from the School District of Philadelphias headquarters. Both of the young men are very respectable and theyre good students, Joyner said in an interview Saturday afternoon. The school and the school family is very saddened that this continues to happen to young people. Before Fridays shooting, 57 children under 18 had been shot in Philadelphia so far this year, eight fatally. Fleming had just started at the grade 1-12 school in September and was praised by his teachers as being very mannerable, very quiet and hardworking, Joyner said, calling his death just a travesty. The injured 11th grader, Joyner said, has a smile that would light up the room. She said she was not aware of any conflicts within the school that might have carried over to Palmetto Street and the shooting there Friday afternoon. She said Fleming had not been in school Friday. Ballistic evidence was recovered from Palmetto Street and a gun was found inside the residence, police said. A short time after the shootings, police said Friday night, they found a black Ford Edge believed to have been involved in the shootings. It had crashed on the 500 block of East Wyoming Street. Police took two juveniles into custody and said they believed they had dropped off the injured 16-year-old at the hospital. Police identified them only as 15- and 16-year-old males and said they have been charged with violation of the Uniform Firearms Act and related offenses. At Mathematics, Civics and Sciences, a school of 1,000 students, Flemings classmates and those of the 11th grader reported in critical condition are devastated. Im getting calls from parents, Joyner said. Grief counselors will be available to any students on Monday and eighth graders will be given a break from taking the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams that are ongoing to give them some time to grieve, Joyner said. She said the school this year has had to hire four additional grief counselors in addition to the two it had on staff because of the preponderance of gun violence and the impact it is having on students. We have about two typed pages of students that have lost either mother, father, brothers, sisters or other relatives in shootings, said Joyner, who has a social work background and has been working with children for 53 years. The schools now, they have to deal with a lot of things they didnt deal with when I went to school. WILLIAMSPORT The Constitution permits police officers to seize an individuals personal property with a warrant but it does not allow them to retain it indefinitely after the warrant expires. That was the reason given Friday by U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann for denying a motion to dismiss the civil rights suit brought by Farrah Kelly of Williamsport whose seized vehicle was kept by city police for two months. A governments unjustified refusal to return personal property after a lawful initial seizure indisputably implicates the property owners constitutional rights; the only question is which rights, he wrote. Kelly filed claims under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments and Brann found the latter was the correct one. He dismissed her Fourth Amendment claims. After Kellys SUV was seized April 5, 2022, Officer Christopher Salisbury obtained a warrant to search it for weapons and clothing suspecting they might be linked to a shooting. Nothing was found in the search that took two days; Kelly was not charged but the car was not returned. According to her complaint: She persistently sought to get her car back by leaving messages daily for Chief Justin Snyder and Capt. Joshua Bell, both of whom are defendants along with the city. After getting no response, she called the mayors office and was promised someone would call her back. Bell did but refused to give her any information about her car and falsely stated additional search warrants were being obtained. Last May 9, her attorney hand-delivered to Snyder a letter stating that if the car was not returned in two days she would file a motion for return of property in Lycoming County court. The deadline passed and the car was not returned so on May 13 a motion for return of property was filed. Four days before a scheduled hearing on the motion, the car was returned without explanation. Besides concluding Kelly has a valid claim, Brann found Snyder and Bell had personal involvement in the alleged constitutional violations and would remain defendants. He cited the phone call from Bell in which Kelly claims he refused to give her any information about the car and Snyder receiving notice of an impending court filing if the vehicle was not returned. A search warrant expires in 48 hours and unless the seized items are evidence, law enforcement has no right to hold them longer, said Michael Zicolello who represents Kelly. Her complaint alleges city police do not have a policy about the return of seized vehicles nor does it provide direction to officers on how to handle those situations. More: Conviction, lengthy prison sentence affirmed for Pa. man police called a serial rapist Charges withdrawn against Pa. woman accused of luring victim to site of fatal shooting The Pennsylvania Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) first-ever Awards Dinner on April 25 named Attorney General Michelle A. Henry as Champion of the Year. Henry has advocated for children throughout her career, prosecuted major child abuse cases and launched Bucks Countys childrens advocacy center, according to a press release. Named Heroes of the Year were Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation, and Lauren Orazi, of One + Strategies, who volunteered countless hours helping PA CASA secure its first-ever allocation from the commonwealth. Recognized at the CASA Awards Dinner on April 25 were, clockwise from top left, Lauren Orazi, Yvonne Cook and Deborah Ridenour. Deborah Ridenour of Berks County was named Volunteer of the Year. More: New owners take over central Pa. candy company Chalet home with spiral staircase, vaulted ceilings in Cumberland County for $400K: Cool Spaces Two people were struck and killed by an Amtrak train in Chester on Saturday afternoon, a spokesman for the Delaware County Medical Examiners Office said. No further information about the victims was immediately available. A spokesman for Amtrak said the two people had been trespassing on the tracks when they were struck by southbound Train 161, which had originated in New York and was headed to Washington, at 4:29 p.m. No injuries to the trains 368 passengers or crew were reported, Amtrak said in a statement late Saturday night. Travel along Amtraks Northeast Corridor between New York and Washington largely resumed about 6 p.m. with heavy delays. In all, the crash delayed eight other Amtrak trains, the agency said. But Train 161 still remained stalled at the site of the crash after 8:30 p.m. Tonia Lee, a wealth management professional from Baltimore, had boarded 161 in Philadelphia, where she had been attending a conference. There were a few bumps and the train continued and then stopped, Lee said of the crash in an email sent from the train. She said she had learned that the train had struck people by doing a Google search. Information from the train crew was sparse, Lee said. Passengers were sitting in the dark with no updates since power was turned off, she said. Im very saddened to hear of the loss of life, Lee said. Train 161 passengers were transferred to another train beginning at 7:45 p.m., Lee said, and the new train departed at 8:30 p.m. Amtrak referred questions about the victims to the Delaware County Medical Examiners Office and local police. Neither had released any additional information by late Saturday night. The Amtrak statement said incidents such as Saturdays serve as critical reminders about the importance of obeying the law and of exercising extreme caution around railroad tracks and crossings, and cited efforts such as working with Operation Lifesaver to emphasize the dangers of being on railroad property or disregarding warnings at rail crossing. Diane Mastrull of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this story. (c)2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A few years ago, on an episode of Carpool Karaoke with a lie detector strapped to her chest model and influencer Kendall Jenner laughingly answered Yes! when asked if she had ever created a fake Instagram account to see what her ex-boyfriend was up to. Creating a fake account without providing identifying data allows you to snoop around an ex-partners social media anonymously, without fear of appearing among the viewers of a story, or of mistakenly liking a suspiciously old photo at an ungodly hour. Sometimes, its not even necessary to make a fake account: in many breakups, partners dont take each other off of social media. This makes it even easier to give in to the temptation to see what an ex is doing. According to data from Pew Research, in 2019, 53% of social media users in the United States had used a platform to stalk their exs profile at least once. While its not a healthy activity to indulge in scrolling through an exs social media account an activity that 70% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 engage in its certainly widespread. After looking up an ex on social media, nobody tends to feel any better. So, why do we keep doing it? There may be several reasons behind this behavior, explains Gabriela Paoli, a psychologist specializing in technological addictions. The most obvious one is curiosity. By no longer having a person in our lives, a kind of substitute is sought in that virtual presence. Were curious to know what [our ex] is doing, or who theyre with by obtaining that information, a pseudo-connection is produced, the psychologist notes. She indicates that, in these situations, a certain degree of emotional dependence likely existed in the relationship. Paoli also mentions the fear of loneliness as one of the reasons that lead many people to their exs social media profiles. Separation can cause a void this is like an attempt to keep the other person in your life. Carmen Gonzalez Hermo from the College of Psychologists of Galicia, Spain agrees that this is a method of trying to fill the void that remains over time. Theres a void in the things we do [after a breakup] your habits change. What you knew about the other person previously occupied time in your life. Talking to that person, being with that person the mind tends to go to whats familiar, to maintain old habits. Its as if [the mind wants to] continue occupying that time [with that person], he emphasizes. For psychologist Yolanda Medina Mesa, this phenomenon also has a lot to do with how a relationship was and how a breakup played out. If, during the relationship as a couple, what was built and normalized was a relationship of control and if the reason for the breakup was due to infidelity or lies we can say that its normal for someone to scroll through [their ex-partners] social media to somehow control that persons life, [mimicking] what occurred during the relationship. On the other hand, Paoli adds, sometimes its simply boredom that leads to this behavior [Maybe] youre lying on the sofa or in bed and you start thinking about that person with whom youve just broken up with or separated from. You go see what theyre doing, what theyve uploaded. Boredom is usually bad company at times like these, she warns. When a breakup is in the recent past, this behavior is more common but sometimes, its done when ex-partners are long gone. In these cases, again, curiosity usually has a lot to do with it, Paoli says although it can also be a sign that things arent over. This activity isnt always something to worry about. Checking an Instagram profile once or twice especially when it belongs to someone you were in a romantic relationship with doesnt necessarily mean that theres a problem. But how can you tell if this behavior has become pathological? Paoli who often sees this behavior in her consultations indicates that it depends mainly on the frequency with which we find ourselves checking up on an ex, as well as the intensity we feel after doing so. I think that a person knows perfectly well how to distinguish what is something specific and fleeting, from what is becoming an obsession, she reflects. To make a clear distinction, Gonzalez Hermo suggests examining how we feel afterwards. If our hearts arent calm if we feel sadness or anger or envy its better not to do it, she advises. She does admit that this is kind of a vicious cycle, because by not going on an exs social media, we return to feeling anxiety [that] fills the void. Social media, she adds, has made it much easier to stay informed about an ex. In the past, you had to do a deep search, or ask someone who knew them. When we somehow feel like were filling that void even if it doesnt make us feel better its much harder to stop. If the behavior begins to interfere with our personal, social, family, or work life, adds Medina Mesa, this is worrisome. The ideal is to stop long before reaching that point. In a song from the second season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, another aspect of this behavior is mentioned: not looking at your exs social media, but looking at their new partners social media. This is another version of the bottomless online pit. Looking at an exs social media profiles also makes it difficult to properly mourn the relationship. You have to do the same as in real life. Just as you try not to run into that person or interact with their friends or family, on a virtual level, you should remove them from social media, or even block them if you cant control yourself from looking them up. Constant contact even if its just seeing that theyre online on WhatsApp, with no interaction makes it difficult to grieve faster, more effectively and in a healthier way, explains Gabriela Paoli. The psychologist has even come up with a formula to keep us away from our ex-partners Instagram. The formula [consists of] acceptance, support and pleasant activities. In other words, the first step is to accept the situation and keep in mind that, the sooner virtual communication is cut off, the faster and easier it will be to overcome the breakup. Were seeing real anxiety crises in consultations a lot of discomfort as a result of being connected through devices, she explains. Gonzalez Hermo adds that, by constantly being aware of what an ex is doing, were giving space and time in our lives to someone who is no longer there. You have to grieve like when someone dies but in this case, you have to take into account that this person isnt there because they dont want to be there, or because [you both] decided that it should be that way. Its not like remembering someone who has passed away, she clarifies. The second part of Paolis formula support consists of relying unconditionally on friends and family. The third pleasurable activities is all about finding pleasurable activities that keep us active, healthy and distracted. Paoli also mentions a fourth thing that can be added to this formula: Seeking help from a mental health professional can help you carry out this process in a healthier, faster way and, above all, offer you resources and strategies to support yourself. We must also be aware of how we feel and act accordingly, recommends Gonzalez Hermo. [You have to] treat yourself with affection, seek rest and comfort, and the support of the people who love [you]. If [youre experiencing] envy, you must attend to what you have. When someone leaves us, it doesnt take anything away from us thats truly important. Everything that I believe that person gave me is really what I already had, she says. The ultimate goal is to simply not have any interest in seeing an exs profile on social media. The reasons why the relationship is broken are [the] reality checks following this reasoning, we wont have any interest in seeing the profile of our ex, since well be aware of what we want and what we dont want, Medina Mesa concludes. Perhaps the most difficult task is making ourselves forget that all the updated information about someone from our past is only a couple of clicks away. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition When a powerful storm flooded neighborhoods in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April with what preliminary reports show was 25 inches of rain in 24 hours, few people were prepared. Even hurricanes rarely drop that much rain in one area that fast. Residents could do little to stop the floodwater as it spread over their yards and into their homes. Studies show that as global temperatures rise, more people will be at risk from such destructive flooding including in areas far from the coasts that rarely faced extreme flooding in the past. In many of these communities, the people at greatest risk of harm from flash flooding are low-wage workers, older adults and other vulnerable residents who live in low-lying areas and who have few resources to protect their properties and themselves. I study the impact of extreme weather on vulnerable communities as an assistant professor of social work. To limit the damage, communities need to know who is at risk and how they can be better prepared. More extreme downpours in a warming world The Fort Lauderdale storm on April 12-13, 2023, offered a view into the risks ahead as temperatures rise. A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to stronger downpours. The resulting deluges can be devastating. These events are expected to increase in frequency and intensity in many regions as greenhouse gas emissions from human activities continue to heat up the planet. Recent disasters, including several in 2022 and in 2023 already, show how the risk of flash flooding is expanding beyond areas traditionally considered at risk. Knowing who is most at risk To plan for extreme weather, its crucial for community leaders and residents to know where the risks are highest and who might not be prepared. Low-lying areas with poorly planned development, lack of investment in protective infrastructure and the lingering effects of historic disinvestment and discrimination are often at higher risk. So are low-income communities with tight budgets that cant afford protective measures like upgraded levees or stormwater systems and cant recover from damage quickly. When older adults live in these flood-prone areas, they are at even higher risk. Older adults have a higher likelihood of having health needs or some form of disability that could affect their ability to leave quickly during a disaster. They are also more likely to be socially isolated, which may mean they dont hear timely information or have help to evacuate or quick access to resources for recovering. Renters and the impact of housing insecurity In a recent study, my colleagues and I looked at how prepared people were for disasters of any kind across the U.S. flooding, tornadoes, hurricanes and others and how housing security played a role. The numbers were sobering. Overall, we found 57% of the population, among 29,070 housing units surveyed nationwide, reported they were not prepared with food, water, emergency funds and transportation in case disaster struck. We found that households facing housing insecurity those behind on their payments for rent, mortgage or utilities were less prepared for disasters than others, even when the occupants had similar incomes and educations. People who are struggling to meet day-to-day needs often dont have the ability and resources to plan for everyday events, let alone for disasters. Our research has shown that households with children, households led by women, and low-income households were less prepared than others for disasters. Renting adds additional challenges. In the U.S., lower-income families often depend on the rental market. They tend to move more frequently, and since they dont own the property, they often cant make upgrades for safety. And landlords might not prioritize those risks that seem rare but carry costs. How to help communities stay safe The most effective way to address these challenges is through solutions that are tailored to the community. That can involve investing in infrastructure, including state-funded priorities like drainage systems and large-scale flood prevention measures, as well as ensuring that people have access to safe and affordable housing. Some communities and federal agencies have bought out properties that frequently flood and changed zoning rules to prevent more people from moving into harms way. Raising community awareness about climate change and extreme weather risks is also crucial, especially among those most at risk, such as older adults. If people understand the risks, know how to prepare their homes, know how to plan for emergencies and know where to find assistance, theyre more likely to be prepared when disasters strikes. I believe the most successful efforts are those that bring at-risk communities into planning discussions. For example, in Columbus, Ohio, the city is working with the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Age Friendly Innovation Center and my team to improve disaster preparedness among older residents. We hope to learn from older adults in affordable housing communities who have experienced extreme weather in recent years to help design action plans for communities with special needs. The goal is to ensure residents are better prepared for climate- and weather-related emergencies in the future. Smitha Rao, Assistant Professor of Social Work, The Ohio State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Feelings of isolation can affect academic outcomes. SDI Productions via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Latino youth in middle and high school have a lower sense of belonging at school and in the community overall when compared with white peers. That is a key finding from my analysis, which is currently under review and based on surveys with students in midsize districts one urban and one suburban on the East Coast. I also found that being a language learner is associated with lower school belonging. To measure belonging, I analyzed a 40-question survey that included questions about belonging at school, in after-school programs and in the community. Students reported that the reasons for feeling a lack of belonging stem from negative experiences at school, few trusting adult-student relationships and little affirmation from school of students Latino identity. Latino youths, especially those from immigrant households and nonnative English speakers, report lower sense of belonging. One Latina middle schooler explained: I am from two places, El Salvador and Honduras, but I mostly use Hispanic, or I say I am from Honduras. This teen is proud of her identity but feels it is rare to see someone like her and worries about being accepted in school because of her multicultural identity. Some young people worry about racial discrimination and immigration policies that affect their families. One Latina youth stated: I get worried sometimes we might get deported, demonstrating her isolation. Belonging generally relates to feeling accepted, included, respected and supported. My research found that Latino youths with lower sense of belonging report feeling unimportant in school, have negative or unsupportive interactions with adults, and have just one or no adults to ask for help. In my research, I dont feel like I belong was a common phrase from youths. Even before the pandemic, adolescents broadly were reporting feelings of isolation and negative mental health effects. Latino youths in this project also reported higher belonging if they are connected to peers with similar ethnic or immigrant family identities. Additionally, Latino youths tend to have stronger relationships with adults outside of school such as in their community or at after-school programs than in school. This is often because of the diversity in those out-of-school settings. In fact, community spaces, such as public libraries or after-school programs, foster belonging and affirm identities and cultures. Frequently, these community spaces also connect Latino immigrant youths and their families to important resources, such as access to immigration attorneys, social workers and counselors, or scholarship information. Why it matters Latino students make up nearly 30% of U.S. public schools students. If school leaders are to improve academic outcomes and lessen negative mental health effects for Latino youths, belonging has to be part of the process. Prior research has already demonstrated how academic outcomes are connected to belonging. Young people need to feel safe, respected and supported in order to succeed in school. Relationships are critical for belonging. They must be focused on helping students succeed and include mutual respect with adults to affirm who they are. Otherwise, the resulting lower belonging can lead to less engagement with academics and lower graduation rates. These effects of low belonging limit youths future opportunities, such as by lowering their chances of going to college. With a steadily rising Latino population across the U.S., many Latino students are from immigrant backgrounds and face language and economic barriers. Its critical for educators to cultivate supportive relationships and affirm these students ethnic and immigrant identities. What other research is being done and whats next? New research explores how to improve school environments and make them more responsive to Latino youths needs. As such, schools should honor identities and cultures. This can happen through improving educator awareness and training about how immigration affects students lives and families, reducing segregation in schools and bias toward nonwhite students, and valuing students cultures. Schools can also partner with community-based organizations, since research shows these organizations are where young people have a higher sense of belonging and more positive adult-student relationships. Sophia Rodriguez, Assistant Professor of Urban Education and Policy, University of Maryland This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Students of Camp Hill High School celebrated their senior prom Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Best Western Premier. NEW SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This prom season, PennLive is offering a special perk exclusively for subscribers: Login, click on the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and choose Get Photo to download free print-quality images. Plus, get 50% off the purchase of prom-related keepsakes. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks about her visit to Ukraine a year ago and her time as the Democratic leader in the House. We thought we could die. The Russian invasion had just begun when Nancy Pelosi made a surprise visit to Ukraine, the House speaker then the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to lead a congressional delegation to Kyiv. Pelosi and the lawmakers were ushered under the cloak of secrecy into the capital city, an undisclosed passage that even to this day she will not divulge. It was very, it was dangerous, Pelosi told The Associated Press before Sundays one-year anniversary of that trip. We never feared about it, but we thought we could die because were visiting a serious, serious war zone, Pelosi said. We had great protection, but nonetheless, a war theater of war. Pelosis visit was as unusual as it was historic, opening a fresh diplomatic channel between the U.S. and Ukraine that has only deepened with the prolonged war. In the year since, a long list of congressional leaders, senators and chairs of powerful committees, both Democrats and Republicans, followed her lead, punctuated by President Joe Bidens own visit this year. The steady stream of arrivals in Kyiv has served to amplify a political and military partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine for the world to see, one that will be tested anew when Congress is again expected this year to help fund the war to defeat Russia. We must win. We must bring this to a positive conclusion for the people of Ukraine and for our country, Pelosi said. There is a fight in the world now between democracy and autocracy, its manifestation at the time is in Ukraine. With a new Republican majority in the House whose Trump-aligned members have balked at overseas investments, Pelosi, a Democrat, remains confident the Congress will continue backing Ukraine as part of a broader U.S. commitment to democracy abroad in the face of authoritarian aggression. Support for Ukraine has been bipartisan and bicameral, in both houses of Congress by both parties, and the American people support democracy in Ukraine, Pelosi told AP. I believe that we will continue to support as long as we need to support democracy... as long as it takes to win. Now the speaker emerita, an honorary title bestowed by Democrats, Pelosi is circumspect about her role as a U.S. emissary abroad. Having visited 87 countries during her time in office, many as the trailblazing first woman to be the House speaker, she set a new standard for pointing the gavel outward as she focused attention on the world beyond U.S. shores. In her office tucked away at the Capitol, Pelosi shared many of the honors and mementos she has received from abroad, including the honorary passport she was given on her trip to Ukraine, among her final stops as speaker. Its a signature political style, building on Pelosis decades of work on the House Intelligence committee, but one that a new generation of House leaders may or may not chose to emulate. The new Speaker Kevin McCarthy hosted Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library this month, the Republican leaders first foray as leader into foreign affairs. Democrat Hakeem Jeffries took his own first trip abroad to as House minority leader, leading congressional delegations last week to Ghana and Israel. Pelosi said its up to the new leaders what they will do on the global stage. Other speakers have understood our national security we take an oath to protect and defend and so we have to reach out with our values and our strength to make sure that happens, she said. I just want to say that this, for me, was the most logical thing to do, Pelosi said. When Pelosi arrived in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stood outside to meet the U.S. officials, a photo that ricocheted around the world a show of support for the young democracy fighting Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion. The courage of the president in greeting us on the street rather than us just meeting him in his office was yet again another symbol of the courage of the people of Ukraine, she said. Pelosi told Zelenskyy in a video released at the time your fight is a fight for everyone. A year on, with no end to the war in sight, Pelosi said: I would have hoped that it would have been over by now. Pelosis travel abroad has not been without political challenges, and controversy. During the Trump era she acted as an alternative emissary overseas, reassuring allies that the U.S. remained a partner despite the Republican presidents America First neo-isolationist approach to foreign policy. Last year, in one of her final trips as speaker, Pelosi touched down with a delegation in Taipei, crowds lining the streets to cheer her arrival, a visit with the Taiwanese president that drew a sharp rebuke from Beijing, which counts the island as its own. Cowardly, she said about the military exercises China launched in the aftermath of her trip. Pelosi offered rare praise for McCarthys own meeting with Tsai, particularly its bipartisan nature and the choice of venue the historic Reagan library. That was really quite a message and quite an optic to be there. And so I salute what he did, she said. In one of her closing acts as House speaker in December, Pelosi hosted Zelenskyy for a joint address to Congress. The visit evoked the one made by Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Britain, at Christmastime in 1941 to speak to Congress in the Senate chamber of a long and hard war at the start of World War II. Zelenskyy presented to Congress a Ukrainian flag signed by frontline troops that Pelosi said will eventually be displayed at the U.S. Capitol. The world has changed much since Pelosi joined Congress one of her first trips abroad was in 1991, when she dared to unfurl a pro-democracy banner in Beijings Tiananmen Square shortly after the student demonstrations that ended in massacre. After the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, its again Russia and China that remain front of her mind. The role of Putin in terms of Russia that is a bigger threat than it was when I came to Congress, she said. A decade after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, she said, Putin went up. Thats where the fight for democracy is taking place, she said. And, she said, despite the work she and others in Congress have done to point out the concerns over Chinas military and economic rise, and its human rights record, that has only gotten worse. Often mentioned as someone who could become an actual ambassador there have been musings that Biden could nominate her to Rome or beyond Pelosi said she is focused on her two-year term in office, no longer the House speaker, but the representative from San Francisco. Right now my plan is to serve my constituents, Pelosi said. I like having 750,000 bosses, rather than one. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown to Award $1,128,250 to Winner April 30, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. On Saturday, Day 1b of the World Poker Tour (WPT) $3,500 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown drew 1,155 entries, which along with Day 1as 1,135 brought the total field up to 2,290 entrants (beating 2022s field of 2,010 runners). It also became the second-largest WPT event at the $3,500 buy-in level, second only to the same event back in 2021 (2,482 entries). For their part, the Seminole Hard Rock hosted 17 satellites for the tournament, which ended up sending 192 players into the WPT Main Event. The $3 million guarantee was obliterated as a $7,328,000 prize pool was created. That will be distributed to the top 287 finishers with the eventual winner taking home a $1,128,250 top prize. Final Table Payouts Place Prize POY Points 1 $1,128,250 1,400 2 $745,000 1,150 3 $550,000 900 4 $413,000 700 5 $312,000 550 6 $238,000 450 7 $183,000 375 8 $142,000 300 9 $111,500 250 Check out the WPT Hub on PokerNews here! Seth Bags Big Stacks Akash Seth After 10 levels of play, 387 players remained with Akash Seth and his stack of 730,500 leading the way, which was well ahead of Day 1a chip leader Anthony Spinellas 473,000. Seth got a nice boost in the last level of the night. With the blinds at 1,000/2,000/2,000, a preflop raising way saw two players all in for 80,000 and 160,000 respectively. One held ace-king, the other ace-jack, and both were at risk against Seths pocket kings. The board ran out clean and Seth vaulted over the 700K mark. Others to punch their ticket to Day 2 were Nick Palma (456,000), AJ Kelsall (361,000), Conrad Simpson (346,500), Landon Tice (261,000), Nick Schulman (125,000), Cherish Andrews (83,000), Kathy Liebert (43,500), and Michael The Grinder Mizrachi (36,000). Natasha Mercier Likewise, Natasha Mercier advanced with 244,000. In Level 8 (600/1,200/1,200), Mercier raised to 2,500 under the gun and then called after a middle-position player three-bet to 7,500. When the flop fell J64, Mercier check-called a bet of 12,000 and then checked again on the 7 turn. Her opponent jammed for roughly 70,000 and Mercier tanked for a bit before calling with the 1010. It was best as her opponent was drawing with the 98. The 6 river was safe for Mercier and she took down a nice pot. Day 2 will begin on Sunday, April 30th at 12 p.m. EST and Day 3 will take place on Monday, May 1st at 12 p.m. EST with a plan to play down to 16 players. Day 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, May 2nd at 12 p.m. EST and will reach the final table, which will then be played at the Hyper X ESports Arena at the Luxor in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 25th. *Images courtesy of WPT and Seminole Hard Rock. Sharelines The @WPT $3,500 @SHRHollyPoker Showdown attracted 2,290 entries and will award the winner $1,128,250! Senate Democrats are looking to pressure Republicans into resolving the impasse on the debt ceiling. The Democrats are holding a hearing Thursday to examine a debt limit bill recently passed by the Republican majority in the House. They say that bill would force painful cuts in government services if it becomes law. Its just the latest jousting in Congress over the debt limit, a legal limit on government borrowing that has been raised repeatedly in recent years. Urgency around the issue intensified this week as the Treasury Department announced that the extraordinary measures being used to avoid a devastating government default could run out on June 1. Read moreDemocrats pressure GOP on debt limit, spending cuts Iranian oil tanker Fortune is anchored at the dock of the El Palito refinery near Puerto Cabello, Venezuela, May 25, 2020. A dozen senators are making a bipartisan appeal to President Joe Biden to reinvigorate the power of U.S. authorities to seize Iranian oil assets under an enforcement program they say has been allowed to languish. Despite existing sanctions, Iranian oil exports jumped 35% last year and proceeds are being used to sponsor attacks on U.S. citizens and service members as well as allies, the senators said in a letter to the president. Brinkmanship at sea was on display Thursday when masked Iranian navy commandos seized a U.S.-bound oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, one of several vessels it has taken as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. Without providing evidence, Tehran said the tanker had run into an Iranian vessel. Specifically, the senators, led by Republican Joni Ernst of Iowa and Democrat Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut both from the Armed Services Committee complain that the Homeland Security Departments security investigations office has been constrained in seizure operations by lack of money. Since the enforcement program started in 2019, the office has seized nearly $228 million in Iranian crude and fuel oil linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S., the senators said in the letter sent this past week. But they said the office has not recently been given money that is available under the Treasury Forfeiture Fund to conduct seizures of Iranian oil. It is unacceptable that a U.S. government program, which makes the United States and its allies safer, provides funds to remediate the victims of terrorism, and generates income for the United States in a cost-effective manner, has been allowed to languish, the letter says. The push is coming from a diverse group of senators, among them Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, and Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Ron Wyden of Oregon. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tiger Woods wont be at the Wells Fargo Championship, but his former caddie will. Joe LaCava has been on the bag for Woods since 2011 and helped him win his fifth Masters in 2019. LaCava has accepted a full-time caddying role with Patrick Cantlay, the worlds fourth-ranked golfer. It's not clear whether it's an indication that Woods is done for the season after undergoing foot surgery last month. Justin Thomas says he doesn't know whether Woods will play again this year, but adds LaCava would not have returned had he not been given the OK by Woods. Read moreWoods' caddie moves on to Cantlay beginning at Wells Fargo A group of Aiken County residents gathered Friday evening at the Big Red Barn to raise funds for the Salvation Army of Aiken's homeless shelter. Vicki Wheeler, Bernice Miller, Carmen Armstrong, Sarah Malaby, Karen Olsen Edwards, Muriel Gouffray and Angie Richards organized the event, called the Table of Hope fundraiser. Malaby said she works downtown and was approached by homeless people when she left her office for lunch. She said she became involved with the Salvation Army after she researched ways to help the homeless. Edwards, who said she has worked with the Salvation Army for 12 years, said a lot of Aiken County residents are not aware that the county has a homeless problem or a homeless shelter. "We're trying to raise awareness of the possibility to do more to help the homeless," Edwards said. "Really, $25 per day will give (someone) a clean shower, three meals and a clean place to sleep." She added the shelter serves over 40 people. Edwards said the shelter has a men's area, a women's area and a family area. Malaby added the Salvation Army also provides job services to help those struggling. Capt. April Tiller, head of the Salvation Army of Aiken, said the women and those attending the fundraiser were showing the love of Jesus Christ. She said the women's work and those attending help people struggling to get a hand up to a better place. In addition to a paid meal, the fundraiser featured a silent auction and a live auction conducted by Aiken County Council Vice Chairman Andrew Siders. The Salvation Army of Aiken serves Aiken, Edgefield, Barnwell and Allendale counties. For more information about the organization, visit southernusa.salvationarmy.org/aiken or call 803-641-4141. Donations can be made on the website or the same phone number. A $13.4 billion deal that would have brought together two banks with dozens of branches in South Carolina has been called off. Read more2 banks with about 70 SC branches planned to merge. Here's why they won't. COLUMBIA A charter school could be coming to Fort Jackson, the large Army post in Columbia where 45,000 soldiers receive their basic combat training each year. The school would be the third on the installation, but would differ from the fort's existing two elementary schools because it would not be operated by the Department of Defense. Instead, it would be authorized and overseen by the S.C. Public Charter School District, which sponsors 38 charter schools across the state. But the district has not received a letter of intent about an on-post school, according to spokesman Drew Johnson, and the process of forming a school is still in the "very early stages." Those letters are the first formal step toward getting a new charter school approved in South Carolina and are due Nov. 1, signaling a charter school founding committees intent to file an application by the Feb. 1 deadline the next year. No word has been released about what grades would be covered at the charter school. The district presented options to Fort Jackson while on post the week of April 20, Johnson said. And while Johnson said district staff cannot discuss a Fort Jackson school unless they get a letter of intent, the districts Superintendent Chris Neeley shared some information about the groundbreaking initiative on social media after their presentation on the post, which was the district's "third engagement" with the fort. Our goal is to educate and enlist the support of military families and the broader Department of Defense civilian community as we work together to make this charter school a reality, he wrote in an April 21 LinkedIn post. The District is committed to providing military families at Fort Jackson and other South Carolina military bases with high-quality charter schools that expand school choice options. Fort Jackson spokeswoman Leslie Ann Sully said it was too early to discuss the possibility of an on-post charter school, saying "there is a process we must take." We are always looking at ways to educate our children and so we are exploring all options, she said. A charter school on Fort Jackson would not be the first on a South Carolina military installation. In North Charleston, Palmetto Scholars Academy opened its current building in Hunley Park on Joint Base Charleston in 2016. The middle and high school, which is authorized by the state Public Charter School District, was originally housed in the Naval Weapons Station. Fort Jackson already has two elementary schools on post, serving students who live inside the fort until sixth grade. They're organized under the Department of Defense Education Activity, the branch of the DoD that operates schools on U.S. military installations. After sixth grade, residents children are zoned for Richland Two middle and high schools, the 28,500-student district which serves northeast Richland county. The fort employs 3,900 permanent military and 5,400 civilian workers, in addition to the roughly 10,000 people who are training on the base any given day, according to data from Fort Jackson. The Department of Defense laid out recommended standards for charter schools on military installations in a 2015 planning guide, advising that planners should ensure that a proposed school has "sufficient demand" and that the school would "benefit military-connected students as well as the civilian student population." It also recommends that DoD and military personnel should be as involved in the process as is legally allowed. While they cannot be involved in management or control of a charter school "in their official capacity," the guide reads, they can function as a liaison or "voluntarily participate" in the school. Security procedures for the schools should "allow access to the installation for all eligible students to the greatest extent possible" while still ensuring public safety, it says. For the school building itself, school planners can ask military installations about either leasing a building from the military installation or constructing a new one on the installation's land. That process of getting permission and financing for land and buildings is the responsibility of a school's founding committee, Johnson said in an email. The District supports this process by navigating various agencies, coordinating connections, and educating the public on charters, he added. Click here for more news from Columbia, S.C. COLUMBIA College campuses continue to attract debates over divisive political conflicts. In South Carolina, state Republican legislators, concerned with what they call an "atmosphere of intimidation" shutting down conservative views at colleges across the country, want to pass a law that would ensure outside space on campuses would be open to any protest or demonstration. But that is not much of an issue across South Carolina, where state colleges are not known as hotbeds for protests. Recent progressive fights are not drawing large crowds. A recent march on issues surrounding race relations at the University of South Carolina drew 11 people and a recent speech by conservative activist Laura Loomer generated a protest of 50 students. Despite the lack of mass interest in fighting against conservative speakers or protesting, backers of the bill to limit how universities can control demonstrations say they want to prevent censorship in the future. "You don't have to suspend the First Amendment when you go onto a college campus," said the bill's sponsor, S.C. Rep. Bill Taylor, R-Aiken. The bill meant to preserve conservative thought also will allow progressives the freedom to speak out, too. But campus activists say students remain hesitant to join in-person protests of fear of retaliation. "We definitely have a more socially engaged community," progressive activist Courtney McClain said about USC students. "But just getting them to physically be there has been the hardest thing." Designed to combat 'cancel culture' Taylor reintroduced the open-campus "free speech" bill for its sixth straight year since 2018 to combat "political correctness" shutting down differing viewpoints on campus, he said during an April 18 S.C. House subcommittee hearing. The proposal would designate the entire outside grounds at state college campuses as areas where students and others protest, and ban security fees for student events. The bill is designed to eliminate so-called "free speech zones," specific areas a university designates for public demonstration and protest. The bill also stops universities from removing student organizations' benefits even if the groups' leaders don't comply with the university's codes of conduct. South Carolina college students spoke at the hearing about times when fellow students have protested and harassed them when they had tables offering information on pro-life issues. But no one cited an example of a protest or demonstration being stopped by a college administration in South Carolina. Taylor cited when Riley Gaines, a former college swimmer, said she was slapped by a student April 6 while visiting San Francisco State University to speak against transgender women competing in sports. "We're certainly not California," Taylor said. Gaines spoke at Clemson University April 19 with no protest, according to reporting from the Clemson student newspaper, The Tiger. Most of South Carolina's universities already follow the policies in place to protect speech, Taylor said, but a state law would make sure that every campus has the same standards that would not change with new leadership. Representatives from USC and Clemson University said at the hearing that their colleges already eliminated free speech zones and security fees from their policies. Miles Colman, a lawyer representing Clemson University, told lawmakers that he was concerned the bill doesn't make a distinction between the rights of student free speech and the rights of the general public. He fears the bill would open up campuses to "outsiders coming in, in a way that the university has very minimal ability to control," he said in the hearing. Taylor plans to fix the bill's problematic language and continue advocating for it next year. SC's student protest culture Student activism culture at USC is "barely there," McClain said. She has seen the same few groups of people organizing around the same issues in her two years as a student activist at the state's largest university. Her march to provide race-trauma specific mental health care to students, increase student wages and rename buildings on campus April 5 drew 10 other students. The issues she's organizing around are similar to demands students made in the 2015 protest for racial equity. Despite feeling successful in lobbying at the S.C. Statehouse and being elected to a position in Student Government, McClain feels her voice is ignored because Black students, like herself, represent less than 10 percent of the campus population. McClain said some students of color fear being outspoken. "They don't want to be labeled as the angry Black person or labeled as someone that is combative," she said. Many students fear losing professional connections with administrators or not getting letters of recommendation for graduate school or jobs. McClain has seen students fall away from protesting as they get closer to submitting applications. When students do protest controversial speakers at USC, university policy keeps them from shutting down the event. Those policies were in action April 18 when a student organization brought Laura Loomer, a failed Republican congressional candidate and self-proclaimed "#ProudIslamophobe," to speak at USC. She spoke to a Russell House room of about 40 of her supporters about how free speech was being threatened by "big tech" and "trans radicals." She also claimed male Muslim Uber drivers were dangerous and that Islam was "not a religion, its a political ideology." Loomer's speech was delayed by 20 minutes of chants including "fascist free USC" and "Laura go home" from 15 student protesters waving transgender and gay pride flags inside the room. About 40 protesters in the hallway banged on the walls, played music, strummed guitars and chanted. When a USC police officer threatened to arrest the loudest of the protesters, they relented, limiting their chants and allowing Loomer to begin. This is what free speech looks like on a college campus, USC Dean of Students Marc Shook said. "It involves two groups standing close to each other, yelling at each other," he said during the bill hearing. "It involves administrators having to come in to make sure that both groups can share those opinions." The winter of dazing disorientation has been upon us, some of us personally, all of us socially, as we have endured a complex of catastrophes: the life-arresting COVID-19 pandemic, disastrous weather extremes, violent political rage, the pall of mass shootings. Could Beltanes zest empower us to cross the threshold into a revitalized, summer mindset? Read moreAging for Amateurs: Ancient festival Beltane refires elders with life GEORGETOWN When Tom Hall opened Between the Antlers in downtown Georgetown last year, he discovered the waterfront restaurant was the site of a speech by George Washington. So 232 years to the day, Hall held a reenactment of the first president's 1791 visit to South Carolina's third-oldest city. He held a reading of Washington's speech and the response from city leaders on April 30. "How do you not?" Hall said. "It's a historic piece of property. And it's something that Georgetown should be extremely proud of." The restaurant on Wood Street sits at the site of the former federal wharf where Washington delivered his speech while on a swing in the South during his first term as president. Unification, as well as familiarization with the Deep South's economy, are cited by the South Carolina Historical Society as two goals of his Southern tour in 1791. Dressed in colonial era garb, Hall and restaurant manager Joseph Schuman carried the U.S. and South Carolina state flags as they flanked Georgetown resident Richard Price, who in character recited the text of Washington's speech. They performed in front of dozens of onlookers and diners. In his speech at Georgetown, the text of which is available through the National Archives, Washington expressed his "severe and fervent wish" that the city's prosperity be "amply proportioned to your past services and sufferings." "While the calamities to which you were exposed during the war excited all my sympathy, the gallantry and firmness with which they were encountered obtained my entire esteem," Price said as he recited Washington's speech. "(To) your fortitude in those trying scenes our country is much indebted for the happy and honorable issue of the contest. From the milder virtues that characterize your conduct in peace, our equal government will derive those aids which may render its operations extensively beneficial." Georgetown saw its fair share of calamity in America's battles against the British. When Washington arrived in 1791, the city was only a decade separated from a period of occupation by British forces. At the end of British occupation, it was bombarded and lit aflame by British and Loyalist forces. Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe delivered the response to Washington's arrival. According to the National Archives, signees to the response address included South Carolina militia officer Hugh Horry and early Georgetown medical practitioner Matthew Irvine. "We, the inhabitants of Georgetown and of its vicinity, beg leave to congratulate you on your safe arrival in Georgetown and South Carolina and to assure you that, having ever entertained a high sense of the obligations which you have conferred upon your fellow citizens in general, we are happy to embrace this opportunity of testifying to you our particular sentiments of gratitude and of affection," Jayroe said as she recited the address. Washington, according to the Charleston County Public Library, soon arrived in Charleston after his stay in Georgetown. His 1791 visit is said to have made a "lasting impression" on the people of the Lowcountry. The reenactment comes as Georgetown County formed a committee to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. HILTON HEAD ISLAND Neighbors said the same thing when they saw the hundreds of scrub oaks sawed to knee height: It looked like a graveyard. Row after row of white stumps, most no thicker than a wrist, stood solemnly on the undulating ground of a rare maritime forest. Only a few skinny pines remained at full height. Their dark, narrow trunks framed the stunning image of the Atlantic advertised on the Vrbo listing of the house opposite. While Hilton Head property owners are allowed to prune for a view, the aggressive tree takedown on the Forest Beach dunes under a federal conservation easement and held in trust by the neighborhood owners association went too far, town officials determined. It is just one example of alterations to the island's environment that are distressing residents. At town hall meetings and on social media, they lament the loss of "Charles Fraser's vision." The phrase refers to the developer who created the island's first planned community, Sea Pines, on a theory that the built environment should defer to the natural environment. Fraser's 1950s-era vision was so compelling, not to mention lucrative, that other developers followed suit. Today, the preserved natural beauty of Hilton Head dripping oaks and soaring pines, rippling ocean and rolling dunes, white egrets and purple marshes is an essential part of its brand. Nature not only attracts roughly 3 million yearly tourists, according to a 2022 Chamber of Commerce survey, but inspires some visitors to make the island their home. Once they own a piece of residential property, they are faced with an unusual number of restrictions. "Most places in the country, if you want to go down and trim the vegetation in your backyard, you can just go do it. Here, you may not be able to," said Assistant Town Manager Josh Gruber. Whether out of ignorance of or disregard for the restrictions, some individuals take matters into their own hands. When that happens, one of the town's code enforcement officers can issue a stop-work order and a fine for up to $500 plus court fees, an amount capped at the jurisdiction of the magistrate court. While a total penalty of about $1,000 may not be much of a deterrent for most people, those who violate an environmental regulation do have to pay to mitigate the situation. And that is the bottom line for both local and state officials: restoring what was lost. But a vocal group of residents insist some damage isn't repairable. When the natural environment is changed dramatically, part of what they love about Hilton Head may never come back. Dredging the marsh Ernie Housner fears for the Salt Marsh Conservancy. He bought his place on Hilton Head Plantation, another community inspired by Fraser's vision, partly for the panoramic view of brackish water sluicing in and out of the Port Royal Sound. He likes to go on his back deck, perch above the vast expanse of black needle brush, and pray. So Housner felt extremely put out when one of his neighbors put in a dock. A long dock. With lights. "I believe God made this piece of property for us to enjoy, and for our kids and grandkids to enjoy. And now they're changing it," Housner said. Yet the dock is authorized, having met the criteria of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. Because marshes are part of the waterways they are under the aegis of the state, not the town or the property owners association. However, what was not authorized was dredging around the dock to make a deeper channel for a boat. When neighbors saw a backhoe scooping up sludge, their moods went from frustration to alarm. The marsh functions not only as a beautiful landscape but also as a nursery for sea creatures, a tool to remove toxins from the water, a buffer for wind and waves, a critical stopover for migrating birds, and a sink that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Not for nothing, it's also good for nearby residents' property values. So, at the neighbors' request, officials stopped the work, and a DHEC representative investigated. The staff is still evaluating any impact the dredging had on the marsh grass or substrate, DHEC Media Relations Director Ron Aiken told The Post and Courier. Meanwhile, more than 80 residents submitted a petition asking the community's board of directors to prohibit any more docks, piers or walkways around the Salt Marsh Conservancy and even to prohibit owners from seeking a permit from DHEC. But Hilton Head Plantation General Manager Peter Kristian said the property owners association does not have dominion over the marsh. What's more, he said, property owners have a right to access the water. But even though Kristian believes he doesn't have legal standing, he's sympathetic to those who want to protect the marsh. "It's a sanctuary to birds, alligators, all sorts of other critters," he said. "It is a unique and beautiful ecosystem. And to have it intruded on by docks is really deleterious to the whole system." Chipping away In a perfect world, homeowners would be apprised of the regulations by their real estate agents, and they would work only with landscapers who follow the rules. In addition, DHEC issues a South Carolina Guide to Beachfront Property, and it provides page after page about managing marshes and estuaries. But accessing information, acquiescing to red tape, accepting inconvenience, tolerating costs, and policing violations requires a fair amount of effort. At the end of the day, preserving "Charles Fraser's vision" can require energy that a lot of people may not be willing to invest, observed Kay Grinnell, a past board chair for The Nature Conservancy's South Carolina chapter and the current president of Hilton Head Audubon. "We have to focus on it, and we only have so much focus," Grinnell said. Grinnell lives on an enviable spot for a nature lover, a house that looks out on both the marsh and the Port Royal Sound. From her porch she can see red-winged blackbirds, painted buntings and marsh wrens dart among the Spartina grass; hear the chatter of clapper rails; and watch, occasionally, bald eagles pull marine worms out of the mud flats. "It feels like we take this wonderful nature that we have a bit for granted," Grinnell said. To her, the issue is not so much a dock or a dredging, or even several hundred trees coming down on the dunes. It's the cumulative effect of all the small changes to nature. "There's so many things that are causing us as a community to chip away at the environment. And because those things seem little and aren't on fire, we're just passive about it and let them happen," she said. Kristian said a version of the same thing: One problem with building docks is that it invites other people to build them, too. The president of the Forest Beach Owners Association, Jack Daly, also repeated the refrain. Daly is working on a plan to replant the clear-cut sections of the dunes with native live oaks, although regrowing a forest can take generations. "When short-term rental owners over-prune dune vegetation and trees to create expansive beach views, they set a dangerous precedent that other short-term rental owners may feel obliged to follow," he said. As Daly walked home from the beach, he noticed a pickup truck and wood chipper on a different oceanfront property, leaving behind another cemetery of stumps. NORTH CHARLESTON The city of North Charleston is planning to make a $6 million purchase of about 400 acres of land around Ingleside Boulevard, property that will be used to develop what the city is calling an urban park. But this recreational amenity that some say will enhance quality of life is raising concerns about livability. City Council voted unanimously April 27 to move forward with buying the property, currently owned by Weber USA Corp. The tracts of land make up what is known as the Ingleside Weber Park System, located west of Interstate 26. Most of the property consists of wetlands, though just over 100 acres are highlands, or areas that can be walked or built upon. The idea is to use the 400-acre space to create a passive park that will include boardwalks, walking paths and nature trails. Instead of having to travel elsewhere to hike or enjoy the outdoors, people in North Charleston will be able to practice that kind of recreational activity essentially in their own backyard, Mayor Keith Summey said. To pay for the land purchase, $3 million is being provided in Charleston County Greenbelt funds, $1 million in city tax-increment finance district funds, $1 million from the South Carolina Conservation Bank, and $1 million from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. City spokesman Ryan Johnson said North Charleston is doing the project because the plan is a good use of greenbelt funds, which are designed to help conserve outdoor space. It was also convenient that North Charleston was able to secure additional grant opportunities, Johnson added. There is no timetable yet for the park's construction. "Having a big park in an urban core is a very good amenity," he said. The idea of a park that could potentially bring more noise to the area alarmed Councilwoman Virginia Jamison, who has been fighting for a decade for a sound barrier to be built along I-26 to protect members of Deerpark, Northwood Estates and other adjacent communities from the blaring sounds of traffic commuting along the highway. Acquiring necessary funding from the city, county or state to build the wall has not been successful. During a recent Finance Committee meeting, Jamison said her constituents are concerned about the increased levels of sounds emitting from the interstate and they are also worried that more noise will come from the new park. Traffic could also increase soon, as the county's new Palmetto Commerce Interchange will soon be constructed nearby at Weber Boulevard. Other development is also on the way to Ingleside Boulevard, which is already home to a few neighborhoods, several churches and a handful of businesses. Developers are planning on the southern end of the boulevard to build a town center that will include retail and restaurant space, a parking deck, hundreds of apartment units, and hundreds of hotel rooms. Jamison called on City Council to take noise reduction seriously. "If this body is not concerned about the livability and quality of life in our city, then I have a problem," said Jamison, who did not attend the April 27 full council meeting. Councilwoman Dorothy Williams echoed her concerns. Summey implied that the park will center on passive nature, pointing to its focus on walking trails. The only physical building that will be constructed at the park is a facility to house restrooms and first aid. A former U.S. national security adviser called for deeper interaction between his country and Taiwan during a visit Saturday to the self-ruled island, which has seen increasing military threats from China. John Bolton, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024, said at a pro-Taiwan independence event in Taipei that national security teams from both sides must develop contingency plans on how to respond to actions Beijing might take, warning it would be too late once an attack occurs. And we have to tell China and Russia what the consequences are if they take actions against Taiwan. Not just in the immediate response, but over the longer term, to basically excommunicate China from the international economic system if it did take military actions against Taiwan or attempt to throw a blockade around it, Bolton said. Bolton, former President Donald Trumps hawkish national security adviser, started his week-long trip to Taiwan on Wednesday. The visit reflects the importance of the islands democracy as an issue in the U.S. presidential election next year amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the Communist Party in control of the mainland. The island has never been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with the mainland, by force if necessary. The U.S. remains Taiwans closest military and political ally, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between them. U.S. law requires Washington to treat all threats to the island as matters of grave concern, though it remains ambiguous over whether American forces would be dispatched to help defend the island. Bolton said the backlog of U.S. military sales to Taiwan is estimated to be $19 billion and it needs to be resolved. Part of that is a U.S. problem. Our defense industrial base is not as strong as it used to be. We need to improve that for global reasons, but particularly for Taiwan, he said. On Friday, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said Chinas military flew 38 fighter jets and other warplanes near Taiwan. That was the biggest such flight display since the large military exercise in which it simulated sealing off the island after the sensitive April 5 meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China opposes any exchanges at the official level between Taiwan and other governments. Later Friday, Chinas Peoples Liberation Army also issued a protest over the flight of a United States Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft through the Taiwan Strait, calling it a provocation that the U.S. openly hyped up. But the U.S. 7th Fleet said Thursdays flight was in accordance with international law and demonstrates the United States commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Bolton is scheduled to join a banquet on Monday organized by the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, a pro-independence organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Tsai will also attend the event. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals has vacated a district courts opinion in the 2019 case of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam, remanding the issue of fish passage near Augusta and North Augusta back to the lower court and lifting the injunction against the Army Corps of Engineers proposed solution to fish passage. Fourth Circuit Judge Albert Diaz, joined by Robert B. King, delivered the opinion April 19 with Judge Paul Niemeyer dissenting. The Court found the Army Corps of Engineers reading of a piece of 2016 legislation to be more persuasive than that by the plaintiffs, the state of South Carolina and the city of Augusta, Ga. We leave it to the district court to decide whether the Corps chosen design can maintain the pools then-extant water-supply and recreational purposes, Diaz wrote. U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, representing South Carolinas second Congressional District, said he was shocked and disappointed by the Fourth Circuits decision. My colleagues and I in Congress have continued to fight against the Army Corps of Engineers actions, he said, adding that he and others in Congress maintain the Corps has acted against the clear intent of legislation authorizing the Corps to find a solution to fish passage and that Wilson said requires the upstream pool be maintained at 114.76 feet, the elevation on the date of its enactment. Should the Corps selected plan be completed, the aftermath would be devastating to the North Augusta community and our Georgia neighbors, irreversibly lowering the water levels in a manner that would negatively impact recreation, economic development and industries along the river, Wilson said. It all goes back to the expansion of the Savannah Harbor, 125 miles south. The Corps of Engineers was tasked with finding a solution to fish passage at New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam after an environmental impact analysis for the expansion project showed that endangered Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon would be adversely affected due to more saltwater making its way farther upstream. The Corps proposed solution was to build a 500-foot-wide, in-channel rock weir. Though the Corps concluded its weir would not impact the water supply or recreational uses of the water pool just upstream of the lock and dam, a February 2019 draw-down test meant to simulate the Corps proposed solution resulted in the opposite and left numerous docks in the mud. The Corps halted the draw-down early because of this but still pushed on with its proposal. In November 2019, the state of South Carolina began litigation against the Corps of Engineers and used the 2016 Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act the very legislation that gave the Corps two options for fish passage at New Savannah Bluff as its legal basis for suing. The WIIN Act, adopted by Congress on Dec. 16, 2016, provided for either the repair and modification of the lock and dam such that is would allow fish passage there or, alternatively, its removal and the building of a structure that would serve the same purpose. The legislation reads that either solution must be able to maintain the pool for water supply and recreational activities, as in existence on the date of enactment of this Act. District Judge Richard Gergel in November 2020 enjoined the Corps from implementing not only the specific weir it had proposed but any proposal that did not maintain the pool that was in existence on the date of the (Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation) Acts enactment, which was 114.76 feet above sea level. The Corps appealed the case. Eighteen months of failed mediation ended in May of 2022. Fourth Circuit judges Diaz, King and Niemeyer heard oral arguments this January. Now, the Fourth Circuit has sided with the Corps of Engineers. The Corps makes a persuasive case that the district courts water level-based interpretation is unlikely and unworkable, Diaz wrote. Diaz, joined by King, concluded that it was more appropriate to interpret the WIIN Act the way the Corps of Engineers does, which is to emphasize the purpose of the upstream pool and the WIIN Acts requirement that the pool be maintained for its historic purposes rather than at a specific elevation. That was the primary argument made by Michael Gray, attorney for the Corps of Engineers, during oral arguments. The statute itself doesnt include anything about water levels. It doesn't say an elevation; it doesnt say a water level. It does include language about purposes: water supply and recreation, hed said. Diaz noted in his opinion that Congress has typically specified water elevations in other Corps of Engineers projects, including others it authorized in the WIIN Act, but that it did not do so in the case of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam. Diaz cited a brief filed by the Corps during its appeal and wrote in his opinion that the Fourth Circuit agreed with the Corps that pinning the required pool height to the arbitrary and unknowable-to-Congress date that the President signed the (WIIN) legislation leads to absurd results. Had the elevation of the pool been exceptionally low or high on December 16, 2016, the district courts interpretation would have held the Corps to that level regardless, he wrote. In response, Plaintiffs suggest that the statute only obligates the Corps to maintain the pool at its normal operating range. But neither the statute nor the district courts order makes clear this permissible range. Diaz also noted that the Corps doesnt contend that the water level is irrelevant only that the WIIN Act doesnt pin them to a specific water level (or range of levels). Judge Niemeyer did not agree with the majority opinion, and in his dissent wrote that virtually all of the Corps documents relating to the Savannah River Dam, the Corps maintenance of it, and the Corps adoption of the weir proposal describe the pool in terms of its elevation in feet (above sea level). The weir proposed by the Army Corps would not be able to maintain the pool at the level as it existed under the Army Corps own maintenance of the Savannah River Dam on the date that the WIIN Act was enacted, and the Corps concedes this. Therefore, the weir would not comply with the Acts clear requirement, he continued. The Corps defense is a rationalization that the weir would nonetheless serve the statutory purposes of the pool. This argument, however, does not absolve the Corps noncompliance. After reading an 1897 New York Journal piece about his apparent demise, Mark Twain famously wrote a response, printed the next day in the same paper, stating that The report of my death was an exaggeration. As a college president, especially one who leads a university steeped in the libera Read moreHsu: The greatly exaggerated reports of our universities passing Theres nothing new about property owners renting their vacation home for a little or a lot of the year. Whats new is the ease with which people who purchased second homes for their personal use can now make some money in rental income, thanks to Airbnb and the whole new short-term rental i Read moreEditorial: Strip SC House's short-term rental protections from budget PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-30 16:47:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 522 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2023 / Hagens Berman urges Credit Suisse Group AG (NYSE: CS, CSGKF) investors who suffered over $500k in losses to submit your losses now.Expanded Class Period: Mar. 10, 2022 - Mar. 20, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: May 8, 2023Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/CS Contact An Attorney Now: CS@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Credit Suisse Group AG (CS, CSGKF) Securities Fraud Class Action:The litigation focuses on Credit Suisse's statements about its liquidity and overall financial condition.On Dec. 1, 2022, the company's Chairman (Axel P. Lehmann) assured investors during an interview with the Financial Times that customer outflows not only "completely flattened out" but also that outflows had "partially reversed." The next day, Lehmann stated in an interview with Bloomberg Television that, as of Nov. 11, 2022, customer outflows had "basically stopped." The complaint alleges that: (1) contrary to statements by Lehmann, the sharp increase in customer outflows Credit Suisse began experiencing in Oct. 2022 remained ongoing; and (2) consequently, the company downplayed the impact of its recent series of quarterly losses and risk and compliance failures on its liquidity and client retention ability.Investors began to learn the truth on Feb. 9, 2023, when Credit Suisse announced its 2022 financial results that revealed large customer outflows continued through year-end 2022.On Feb. 21, 2023, Reuters reported that Swiss regulators are investigating whether remarks by Lehmann about customer outflows having stabilized were potentially misleading.On Mar. 14, 2023 Credit Suisse revealed it failed to maintain an effective assessment process to identify material misstatement risks in its financial statements.On Mar. 15, 2023 Bloomberg reported that Saudi National Bank, Credit Suisse's largest shareholder, would not provide additional liquidity to the company.Most recently, on Mar. 20, 2023, Credit Suisse announced it agreed to merge with UBS and shareholders would receive 1 UBS share for 22.48 Credit Suisse shares.These events have driven the price of Credit Suisse American Depositary Receipts sharply lower."We're focused on investors' losses and proving Credit Suisse lied about the magnitude of customer outflows in an effort to slow an apparent run-on-the-bank," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation.If you invested in Credit Suisse and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firm's investigation, click here to discuss your legal rights with Hagens Berman.Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Credit Suisse should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email CS@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens BermanHagens Berman is a global plaintiffs' rights complex litigation law firm focusing on corporate accountability through class-action law. The firm is home to a robust securities litigation practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and fraud. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com . Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw.Contact:Reed Kathrein, 844-916-0895SOURCE: Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-30 18:45:51 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1026 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PFCF Raises $2 Million and Honors Maluma at Annual Impact Awards GalaMIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2023 / Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) held its 2023 Impact Awards Gala, honoring global superstar Maluma for his philanthropic impact with his foundation, El Arte de los Suenos. More than 350 guests attended the evening gala which featured musical performances by funk legend George Clinton with a live DJ set backed by Charlie Soul Clap, Amine, and other inspiring artists. Through a live and silent auction, Playing For Change Foundation raised $2 million.During the event, it was announced that PFCF, Florida International University's Wertheim School of Music, El Arte de los Suenos, and Young Musicians Unite will form a coalition to create a pipeline to give kids, in formative years, an opportunity for higher education that will ignite a positive change in the course of their lives. Together, they will offer music education to 3,500 students per week, from 35 Miami-Dade County public middle schools in underserved communities. Students will have access to a Wynwood recording studio where they will be able perform, record, sell, and distribute their music on platforms such as Spotify, and CEEK, all at no cost to the students. Young artists will have a pathway to The Wertheim School of Music with master classes, educational seminars, and mentorship.The event was co-chaired by PFCF Founder & Board Chairwoman Whitney Kroenke Silverstein, and board member Archie Drury. The 2023 Impact Awards Gala was presented and streamed by CEEK Metaverse."I'm very happy that my foundation is partnering with Playing For Change Foundation, Young Musicians Unite and the FIU Wertheim School of Music to bring our program to Miami," said Maluma. "Together, I know that we will change these kids' lives through music just as music changed my life." El Arte de los Suenos is a non-profit organization that works with adolescents in vulnerable situations through the urban genre and its different expressions such as composition, instrumentation, singing, production, dance, and painting. The announcement marks a milestone in El Arte de los Suenos' global expansion, with this being its first partnership outside of Colombia."Combining the resources and expertise of the Playing for Change Foundation and the FIU Wertheim School of Music, we are creating a pipeline and an opportunity for students to continue with their interest in music education through this partnership. Miami has become a major music hub and we couldn't be more thrilled to incubate the talents of these musicians who may one day play on the world stage," said Erica Wertheim Zohar.Celebrating music as the one language we all speak, guests were swept on a global journey as inspired performances carried on through the night with themed cultural renditions and live performances."While the world has always faced social challenges, particularly children in vulnerable areas, communities are facing these challenges at a heightened level today. The importance of like-minded foundations collaborating to make bigger and bolder impacts is paramount to future generations making important contributions to society," said Kroenke Silverstein, PFCF Founder & Board Chairwoman."If there's one thing that this event shows over and over again, it's that we all have a universal language. We all speak music. And when we come together through culture we are able address the most pressing issues our next generation faces - no matter how difficult their circumstances might be," said Jake Groshong, PFCF CEO.Founded in 2007, PFCF grew out of a common belief that music has the power to connect people regardless of their differences while creating positive and wide-reaching social impact through music and arts education. Its efforts engage marginalized youth in diverse communities around the world. Although its programs are generally located in low income communities, these areas are home to great cultural wealth which is utilized to create educational and social opportunities. PFCF currently operates 50 music programs in 17 countries, and has positively impacted more than 40,000 lives, including more than 3,000 youth each week through regular programming."CEEK Metaverse enables creators to earn from their artistry no matter where they come from. We are delighted to be part of this phenomenal program honoring global superstar Maluma and his foundation, particularly for creating a pathway for talent to have the best opportunity to reach their potential. We look forward to helping future artists from El Arte de los Suenos and beyond to connect with fans in the virtual world," states Mary Spio, Founder and CEO of CEEK Metaverse.The 2023 Impact Awards prestigious host committee included Karen Korponai; Denise and Sandy Kory; Ann Kroenke; Archie Drury and Karolina Kurkova; Ronnie Madra; Mark Mutchnik; Arturo Nunez; James Provencher; Alex, Cristina, Johnny and Mayra Ruiz; John G. Shedd IV and Mike Lundberg; Pamela Silva; Whitney Kroenke Silverstein and Nick Silverstein; Josh Taekman; Louis Upkins; Ana and Sean Wolfington; and Erica and Lior Zohar.This year's partners included Florida International University's Wertheim School of Music, CEEK VR, El Arte de los Suenos, Braman Miami, and Una Vodka.# # #About Playing For Change FoundationFor 15 years, Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) has helped youth rise up through their own culture using music education to create social and economic change in areas that are economically poor, but culturally extremely wealthy. With 50+ locations across 15 countries and growing, the positive impact of PFCF on youth, families, and communities in need is truly extraordinary. For more information, visit PlayingForChange.org , email info@ playingforchange.org , or follow @PlayingForChangeFoundation on Instagram and Facebook.About FIUFlorida International University is a top public university that drives real talent and innovation in Miami and globally. Very high research (R1) activity and high social mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate learner success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, innovation, and justice. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers. FIU serves a diverse student body of more than 58,000 and 270,000 Panther alumni. U.S. News and World Report places dozens of FIU programs among the best in the nation, including international business at No. 2. Washington Monthly Magazine ranks FIU among the top 20 public universities contributing to the public good.About FIU Wertheim 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. Africa is on its familiar route again. She has become the proverbial serial widow whose mourning and weeping the Yoruba express as Iwo leni, iwo lana bi ekun apokoje. In serial widowhood, the widow is seen as involved in matricide, until she proves otherwise. Each death of the husband courses tears down her cheeks and cries seem the only alibi of her innocence. Sudan is Africas most recent ground for exhibiting serial widowhood cry. Africa, like that widow, appears to have a prowess that killing of her prime children and husband requires. At the last count, 512 people have been martyred to please the god of ego in Sudan. Apart from that number that has been dispossessed of their lives, about 4,200 more have either been maimed, injured or totally immobilized, with claims that these figures may be a far cry from the actual reality on ground. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also painted an apocryphal picture of the bloody uprising. It said the figure may be far more and that many more deaths are on the offing as a result of outbreaks of diseases and total breakdown of essential services. Sudan is reminding us of the broken cistern-like bloodshed that Africa of the twentieth century was. Of the lot, the Somali conflict of 1991 is remarkable. Sparked off by the ouster of dictator, Mohammed Siad Barre, this resulted in a shift in the balance of power, eventually culminating in a twenty-plus-year civil war with as many as one million Somalis killed. Then, the Rwandan regicide came. In a span of four months, between April and July of 1994, just like the Holocaust, a state-sanctioned hatred and dehumanization of an ethnic group brought to the fore by the murder of President Juvenal Habyarimana, jumpstarted a systematic and brutal genocide. This cost this great country in Africa approximately 800,000 human lives. So also was the earlier two-year war between Eritrea and Ethiopia. From May 6, 1998, when war was provoked by military and police of the two countries who exchanged fire at their disputed border, war raged for two years and came with economic tension, decrease in growth and political upheaval. Liberia of Samuel Kanyon Doe, Yormie Johnson and Charles Taylor; as well as Sierra Leone, Libya, Somalia, DRC and others were to face theirs as well. Sudan is back inside its blood-spilling puddle. This pre-historic site which parades ancient remnants of archaeology like the Kingdom of Kush, an ancient Nubian state, is on fire. But indeed, the Sudanese crisis isnt strictly the subject of this piece. It is just ancillary to the discourse of Nigerias education system. As the Ukrainian-Russia war revealed the underbelly of Nigerian students relations with the outside world, the orgy of war in Sudan is revealing yet another ugly one. As the Sudan crisis broke out, it sparked off a revelation that Nigeria has at least 10,000 students and more than five million Sudanese of Nigerian origin who are gilded in Sudan. This was brought to fore as a result of the current conflict between the Sudanese armed forces of Abdelfattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary force under the leadership of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. At its usual peremptory best, Nigeria is again in a swashbuckling with death, at the expense of her citizens. With the Sudanese air closed due to the crisis, the trapped students have only the road to travel out of the war zone and board a flight to Nigeria. After what looked like an eternitys delay, the Nigerian government, according to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, said it had voted the sum of $1.2 million for the evacuation of the stranded Nigerians from the conflict-prone country. Then, the usual Nigerian malady began. Buses primed to evacuate the stranded students got stuck in the middle of the Sahara desert. Why? The bus drivers embarked on one-man riots because Nigerian officials were penny-pinching the payment for their services. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM chair, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had earlier claimed that the sum of N150 million had been released for hiring of 40 buses for the sole purpose of evacuating these stranded students to Cairo in Egypt. An almost not-dissimilar occurrence reared its head when stranded Nigerian students were to be rescued from war-torn Ukraine. So, the question, aside the Nigerian governmental maladies at grievous moments is, why do Nigerian students keep gravitating towards Sudans and other mushroom universities when they could have studied in Nigeria? Same question was asked when it was discovered that Nigerian students were trapped in Ukraine, a Third World country like Nigeria, at the beginning of its internecine war with Russia. That question is currently being asked severally on the social media on confrontation with the share immense number of Nigerian students studying in Sudan. We may need to ask similar question as a collective, if only as a way of bringing ourselves back to the path of sanity. It bears repeating that Sudan is one of the most consequential countries in Africa, with a pedigree in antiquity. Located in North Africa, apart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which shares similar size and large swathes of land, Sudan shares borders with the DRC to its southwest, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the northeast, Ethiopia to the southeast, Libya to the northwest, South Sudan to the south and the Red Sea. Until twelve years ago when it was bifurcated into two, with South Sudan going its own way, it was about the largest country in Africa. Even at that, it is still Africas third largest country. Economy-wise, Sudan used to parade one of the fastest-growing economies in the world as at 2010. With top exports that range from gold, groundnuts, other oily seeds, crude petroleum, sheep and goats which she exports mostly to the United Arab Emirates, China, Saudi Arabia and Italy, the most phenomenal of its economic strides is that, in 2021, Sudan was voted as the worlds biggest exporter of groundnut meal with $18.8M exports. However, the secession of South Sudan, which harbours about 75 percent of Sudans oilfields, drove the ancient country into stagflation. This resulted in a slow-down of its GDP which fell from US$123.053 billion in 2017 to US$40.852 billion in 2018. Like Nigeria however, Sudan is ridden with corruption. It is perceived as one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It has a very huge hungry population and out-of-school children in the world. According to the statistics of the Global Hunger Index in 2013, the countrys indicator placed it with a value of 27.0 which favourably makes Sudan a country with an Alarming Hunger Situation and thus rated as the fifth hungriest nation in the world. The bulk of what Sudan flaunts today is old glory, education inclusive. Though it currently boasts of around 25 and 30 universities, the state of those universities leaves a lot to be desired. Its basic instruction method of Arabic is off-putting to anyone desirous of western-type education while its requirement of male young men to pass through a system of military service is a major setback in its consideration for schooling. During the reign of Al-Bashir, academic researchers got alienated from Sudan, with the withering of internal science funding. At this time, not less than 3,000 Sudanese researchers were said to have eloped Sudan between 2002 and 2014, so much that, by 2013, Sudans student-researcher ratio stood at a mere 19 -100,000 citizens, or 1/30. Those who canvass Sudan as the place to go for foreign education argue on the basis of its affordability. Their argument is that, upon summing up costs of tuition, housing and living in Sudan, its education is usually cheaper than those of other countries. The universities, they argue, also offer wide range of degree programmes ranging from sciences, humanities to professional courses like engineering and medicine. A place to go for many aspiring undergraduate and postgraduate students in the northern parts of Nigeria, the similarity of culture, shared faith practices, norms and the Arabic it offers as language of learning seem to be major pull for such students. The epidemic of riots and strikes in Nigerian universities also makes the need to seek any university but Nigeria pleasant and attractive. However, as I said earlier, the Sudanese and Ukrainian crises have offered a veritable opportunity to interrogate some of the schooling Nigerians undertake abroad. In the Sudanese case, though some of those who defend Nigerians schooling in this centuries-old country argue that historical interactions between Nigeria and Sudan should be a pull to consider the country for study, the fact remains that University of Khartoum, which is Sudans best university, is ranked 2310th in universities of the world. The University of Ibadan occupies the fifth in Africa ranking and between 401-500th in the world; same with the University of Lagos. Sudan used to have one of the best educational institutions in the world, just like Nigeria of the immediate post-colony which was a Mecca for anyone seeking quality education. We however know that all these have vapoured out and Sudan, as well as Nigeria, have lost their educational primacy due to persistent bad governance, strife and wars. Nigeria also used to occupy this vantage position but lack of acumen for futuristic planning has killed this goose that laid the golden egg. Sudans health education and medical education in general have become a ghost of themselves, thus making disdain for why Nigerians will gravitate towards it anything but stereotype. Beyond claim of Islamophobia, the truth is that Sudan is a fecund ground for tutoring radical thoughts and where potential extremists are incubated. Yes, the west is also a fertile ground for extremism due to the perceived hypocrisy of its leaders. However, the flourishing of Sudan for such kind of beliefs and ideological persuasions has much more gravitas than those of the west. Granted that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, Nigerian-born Underwear-Bomber and his radicalism reached its metastasis in the west, the ground for its flowering was burrowed on the soil of Africa. Farouk had earlier attended The British School of Lome in Togo and in the 200405 academic year, studied at the Sana Institute for the Arabic Language in Sanaa, Yemen where he attended lectures at Iman University. As we seek a new Nigeria moving forward, one of the issues we must begin to shred into their basics is the rush out of Nigeria to study in mushroom universities, just for the sake of acquiring the golden-fleece. Nigeria has descended into the abyss in education and very many other spheres but in that descent, it is still far more of worth than many of the universities of the world that our children run to. It is so absurd that many Nigerians rush to Benin Republic and Ghana to study in universities which have less global ranking as many of Nigerias universities. Michael Koleoso at 85 Today, one of the surviving apostles of the Bole Ige political philosophy, a core Awoist and a major statesman in Oyo State, Chief Michael Koleoso, turns 85. Born into the family of Emi-Abata of Saki on April 30, 1938, Koleoso had his primary education at Baptist Primary School, Ajegunle, Saki and later proceeded to the famous Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo, where he was from 1957 to 1961. He was later to attend the School of Hygiene, Eleyele, Ibadan for his Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and in 1965, proceeded to do his Advanced Certificate (RSII), todays equivalent of an HND, in 1965 and 1966. In todays Oyo State, in spite of his age, Koleoso remains one of the most respected statesmen and is deferred to by all and sundry, especially the political class, for his past contributions to the socio-political climate of the state. Koleoso joined the civil service of the Western Region with the position of Head of the Health Department of the old Saki District Council. He spend years in the service before dabbling into business. His first establishment was Esmak Nigeria Limited which exists till today and it focuses on commodity distribution, transportation, real estate and hospitality. His entrepreneurial ability soon became legendary, just as his lifestyle of order, balance, discipline and self-restraint. Today at 85, Koleoso is one of the surviving triumvirates of the Bola Ige cabinet of 1979 1983, Ige himself having been assassinated in 2001. Koleoso, widely known as Babalaje, began his political career when he was elected unopposed as Councilor in Ifedapo Local Government Area of the Old Oyo state in 1976. In 1979, he got elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly as the representative of Ifedapo Constituency on the platform of the Chief Obafemi Awolowo-led Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). He was later appointed by Chief Ige, first executive governor of Oyo State, as Commissioner. Koleoso teamed up with the late Lam Adesina, who became Oyo State governor in 1999 and was made Secretary to the State Government in that administration, a position in which he served from 1999 to 2003. He later became the National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, AD and was made chieftain of the Yoruba political and social group, Afenifere and member of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE). As he turns 85 today, Oyo State stands in awe of a politician with a political finesse that is fast ebbing in the Nigeria of today. He is alert, in-depth in his political analysis and is still looking forward of a Nigeria of the dream of he and his Nigerian leaders of the post-colonial era. Here is wishing Baba Koleoso a happy 85th birthday. Festus Adedayo, a journalist, writes from 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. A police officer, Saka Afolabi, who allegedly shot one Ismail Akapo in 2019, has failed to show up in court for trial. The accused was attached to the Lagos State police command at the time of the alleged offence. He was subsequently transferred to the Zamfara police command after the incident, a lawyer, Bisi Adepoju, stated in a letter he sent to the Inspector-General of Police on 4 April. Murder According to the letter, a copy of which was sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Akapo was shot and killed by a drunk police officer in Badagry in 2019. I was informed that on the 12th day of July 2019, a drunk police officer, with the name Afolabi Saka, shot and killed a young man named Ismail Akapo in Badagry, Lagos State, the letter reads. Many eyewitnesses confirmed seeing the rogue officer exiting the Charly-Menz Hotel in Aradagun, reeking of alcohol, shortly before the shooting incident. I was informed that while the deceased was on his way to the towns main market, he saw a crowd of people with some police officers having a heated discussion over a piece of land. The late Ismail Akapo stood at a safe distance with some friends to watch what was going on. All of a sudden, shots were fired and one of the bullets hit him in his thigh. He fell to the ground. The shooter was one of a group of police officers who had been in their town for months, before this particular shooting incident. They were deployed from the Nigeria Police, Zone 2 Command, Obalende, Lagos. The lawyer said that the officer involved in the shooting was arrested and taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba but was later released before the legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution came out and he was thereafter transferred to the Zamfara police command. Mr Adepoju said all efforts to arraign Mr Afolabi in court have so far been unsuccessful as several letters written to the police authorities were all ignored. He said that it is shocking that the officer was transferred without facing any consequences. He also said that there was no evidence that any form of orderly trial took place. The Ismail Akapos case exposes a corrupt police organization whose job of protecting and enforcing the law of the land, broke every known law in the statute book in protecting one of their own. They probably think they are more human than the rest of us. Section 17(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice (Repeal and Re-enactment) Law of Lagos State, 2015, provides that: Where a person is taken into custody and it appears to the police officer in charge of the station that the offence is of a capital nature, the person arrested shall be retained in custody. The police officer shall bring the person arrested before a court having jurisdiction with respect to the offence within a reasonable time. Trial The lawyer said the state government on 20 August, 2020 issued its legal advice on the matter directing that the officer be prosecuted. However, it was difficult to arraign the suspect before the court accordingly, because he was not in detention. On April 15th, 2021, the case finally came before Justice Adesanya of Court 11, Lagos State High Court, Tafa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos for the first time, but the defendant was not in custody, the letter reads. Since then, the case has come up five times in the whole of 2022, and on each occasion, the complainant, the Lagos State Government, could not produce the killer police officer. On November 8th 2022, the judge became fed up with the complainant and threatened to strike out the matter for lack of diligent prosecution, if not for the severity of the offence. The lawyer said that he spoke to the spokesperson of the police in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, but he was unable to render any assistance. The petition was written to the IGP, so, it is at the domain of the Force Headquarters, so I wont be able to talk about the case that my superiors are handling, Mr Hundeyin responded when this newspaper contacted him on the matter on Saturday. READ ALSO: Seven arrested as man beats police officer to death He said that I cant talk about it yet until the IG takes a decision on the matter. Contacted, the Nigeria police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, Im not aware of the letter, when we resume we are going to find out. He asked this reporter to forward the letter to him on WhatsApp which has been done. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Photo: Parkland County UPDATE: 10:32 p.m. Residents of two hamlets approximately 100 kilometres west of Edmonton have been ordered to evacuate their homes due to an encroaching grass fire. RCMP say due to high winds, a fire in Parkland County is quickly heading west towards the hamlets of Entwistle and Evansburg. Alberta Emergency Alert says Parkland County has ordered that everyone west of Range Road 65, north of Township Road 530 to Township Road 534, including all residents of Entwistle, must evacuate immediately. A second emergency alert has ordered all residents of the hamlet of Evansburg and those in the area directly south of the hamlet in Yellowhead County to evacuate their properties immediately. The critical alerts, issued just after 6 p.m. and at about 8:15 p.m. local time Saturday, respectively, advised people to collect important documents, medications, and enough food and water to be away for at least three days. Evacuees from Entwistle are advised to head west on Highway 16, while those from Evansburg should also head west. RCMP say people in Entwistle can go to Tomahawk Community Centre, while those in Evansburg should go to the Wildwood Recreation Complex or the Peers Multiplex. They say further information will be provided at those locations. ORIGINAL STORY: 9:18 p.m. Residents of a hamlet approximately 80 kilometres west of Edmonton have been ordered to evacuate due to an encroaching grass fire. RCMP say due to high winds, the fire that's just south of Highway 16 between Range Road 70 and 71 is quickly heading west towards Entwistle. Alberta Emergency Alert says Parkland County has ordered that everyone west of Range Road 65, north of Township Road 530 to Township Road 534, including all residents of Entwistle, must evacuate immediately. The critical alert, issued just after 6 p.m. local time Saturday, advised people to collect important documents, medication, and enough food and water to be away from home for at least three days. It told evacuees to head west on Highway 16. RCMP say people can go to Tomahawk Community Center, and further information will be provided to them there. The banishment of transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr from Montanas House floor has showcased the rising power of hard-line conservatives organized under the banner of the State Freedom Caucus Network who are currently leveraging divisive social issues to gain influence in 11 statehouses. In Montana, they led the charge to enshrine a ban on gender-affirming care for minors that the governor signed Friday. In South Carolina, they slowed the budget process this year with failed amendments to punish universities with diversity programs. And in Wyoming, they tried to make certain library books crimes of obscenity. Across the country with varying levels of success, the groups have followed the playbook of the House Freedom Caucus, an eight-year old alliance of GOP conservatives determined to pull Republicans in the U.S. Congress to the right. After debuting on the second anniversary of the January 6 siege on the U.S. Capitol, the Montana Freedom Caucus 21 members over the past two weeks successfully pushed GOP leaders to punish Zephyr, a Democrat, following her statements and actions in support of the transgender community. The dispute brought Zephyr a national stage from which to advocate for transgender issues. Though shes seized the moment and drawn support from the left, her elevated profile could work to the GOPs advantage as Republicans try to paint Democrats as extremists heading into 2024, said University of Montana political analyst Robert Saldin. U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a moderate Democrat and farmer, will be up for reelection in a race considered pivotal for control of the Senate. This is what the Freedom Caucus folks wanted, said Saldin. Now Zephyr is the second most well-known Democrat in Montana. To the extent that shes the face of the party in Montana, thats great for the Freedom Caucus. Zephyrs punishment appears unprecedented in Montana. It comes after the states political landscape careened sharply Republican over the past 15 years, giving the GOP a two-thirds supermajority in the statehouse. That shift sidelined the thinning ranks of Republican moderates and brought to the fore social issues once on the legislative fringe. They like to call us extremists, but were seeing the extremists on the left take front and center stage here, said Montana Freedom Caucus chairwoman and state Sen. Theresa Manzella. Were getting behind the right issues, the issues that are dear to our hearts and those of our constituency. The caucus and its members also have repeatedly misgendered Zephyr by using the wrong pronouns to describe her. Manzella indicated that will continue. Montanas Republican House Speaker stopped recognizing Zephyrs requests to speak on April 18 after she told colleagues theyd have blood on their hands if they restricted gender-affirming medical care. Days later, Zephyr was ousted from the floor on a party-line vote for the remainder of the session, accused of egging on boisterous demonstrators in the House gallery who had demanded she be allowed to speak. State Rep. Bob Phalen, a Freedom Caucus member and eastern Montana farmer, said the moves against Zephyr capped a session in which the caucus played a key role passing laws banning gender-affirming care for minors and restricting the dissemination of pornography. The group now includes one-fifth of statehouse Republicans and Phalen said he expects it to grow with the addition of freshman lawmakers whose votes aligned with Freedom Caucus priorities and will thereby earn entry. Phalen, like others in the caucus, described this weeks disruption on the House floor as a riot or insurrection employing the same language thats been used for the Jan. 6 siege by supporters of Donald Trump. The State Freedom Caucus Network is the brainchild of Republican strategist Andy Roth and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who in the lead-up to the 2020 election devised expanding the House Freedom Caucus model to the states. The network uses House Freedom Caucus members to establish state-level affiliates, with congressmen including Biggs, U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana and U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina informally advising lawmakers in their states hoping to create a pipeline of conservative lawmakers to higher office. Each backed Trumps false statements about fraud in the 2020 election. Since its founding, the national network has supported Republican primary candidates with modest funds for attack ads in at least one state, but its primary function has been to advise lawmakers on policy and strategy, Roth, the networks president, said. The state-level strategy mirrors that of the House Freedom Caucus, which led the GOP rebellion against U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy s bid for Speaker in January, extracting major concessions from leadership and coveted committee assignments. Were trying to expose the hypocrisy that is going on in every state, especially in red states, Roth said. Liberal Republicans are going to the voters and saying, Im conservative. Elect me to the Statehouse, and then getting there and voting exactly opposite. Biggs, the former Freedom Caucus chair who challenged McCarthy, said freedom caucuses create leverage points to try to advance a conservative cause. Leverage is the key, Biggs said. When I have something you want, and you feel like you need to have it, then you cant get it anywhere else. The majority of the 11 states with caucuses are controlled by Republican governors and Legislatures. Roth said thats by design. The national network advises its state members to be loud against Republicans who have compromised on fiscal and cultural conservative principles, Roth said. Freedom caucuses from Idaho to Pennsylvania have focused on abortion, crime and how race, gender and sexuality are navigated in schools and state offices. Theyve also frequently targeted what Roth called corporate welfare including tax incentives designed to lure Hollywood film productions to Wyoming. The groups rise in Montana follows the departure of lawmakers like former state Sen. Duane Ankney, who was among of a group of moderate Republicans that routinely negotiated with Democrats to break budget impasses. With Montana Republicans now in firm grip of power, Ankney said they no longer need Democratic agreement or even to engage public debate. Theres people up there that have an agenda, and it doesnt have to do with jobs and the economic health and well being of Montana, said Ankney, who served four terms in the state House and Senate before leaving the Legislature in January. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition 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 government has advised farmers to partner with experts in the area of agricultural research and development to curtail perennial post-harvest losses of produce. The Director General of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Hussaini Ibrahim, gave the advice in Sokoto at the inauguration of the first indigenous onion and garlic processing plant on Saturday. Represented by Emmanuel Kwaya, a director in the council, Mr Ibrahim said having an effective processing plant of agricultural products and initiating research-based storage would improve food security for the country. This development will aid our commitment toward zero hunger, promote productivity and profitability among farmers, improve national economy and address the challenges of unemployment, he said. The director general added that over the past three decades, the RMRDC has remained the national institutional framework for promoting local raw materials development and utilisation by industries. The gesture has achieved tremendous milestones in the development and growth of Nigerias industrial sector. Today marks an important milestone for the manufacturing industry in Nigeria as we commission the first wholly indigenous onion and garlic flakes processing plant. I am particularly delighted that this plant was designed and fabricated by Nigerian engineers following the call by the Council to reduce the perennial post-harvest wastages associated with onion and garlic, he said. Mr Ibrahim commended the partners and investors who have made the project a reality. They have shown confidence in the Nigeria-can-do spirit and have taken concrete steps to help see our Research and Development (R&D) results in Onion and Garlic processing reach their full potential, he said. The National President of the Onion Farmers Association of Nigeria, Aliyu Maitasamu, said over 2 million metric tonnes of onion is produced annually in Nigeria with Sokoto State producing 40 per cent of the product. Based on the annual estimate, the onion produced in Nigeria amounted to more than N700 billion but about 40 to 50 per cent of the product worth over N300 billion is wasted to post-harvest losses. This is due to lack of adequate and effective storage and processing facilities at the farmers disposal. We thank Onion and Garlic Processing Partnership Limited (O&G company) for coming to our rescue by establishing this timely processing plant, he said. The Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, represented by the District Head of Sokoto-North, Malami Maccido, appreciated the investors, assuring that the Sultanate Council will continue to support farmers in the state. The Chairman of the company, Saleh Ibrahim, said the idea was conceived by some elites in the state to rescue onion and garlic farmers from their perennial post-harvest losses. He said that the plant would continue to consider more research and development in order to ease the current hardships experienced by farmers across the state. (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. Concerned All Progressives Congress (APC) Members Forum, which described itself as a group of party members, has backed the call for the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as the President of the 10th Senate. The convener of the group, Okpokwu Ogenyi, while briefing journalists in Abuja on Saturday also supported the call for Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano) to be the Deputy Senate President. He said: We are aware that zoning is not done in a vacuum, so we highly recommend Senator Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President and Senator Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President respectively. Mr Ogenyi said that their support was based on consideration of federal character in the zoning of the 10th senate leadership bearing in mind, competence and credibility with an understanding that the country is a secular state. According to him, the development will go a long way in building the confidence of party members across the country in preparation for the future of the party. It is pertinent to note that, in the South, South-south contributed the second highest votes after South-West which houses the President-elect. The North-west gave the party the highest votes in the North with Kano State consistently giving APC the highest vote per state in every election since the formation of the party. More so, our submission is based on their legislative experience, prudent financial management, fair disposition towards national peace and unity, care for the less privileged, competence, reward for hard work, electoral value and diplomatic relations. In the National Assembly, Senator Akpabio is the most ranking senator from the South-south under the platform of the APC while Senator Barau Jibrin is the most ranking senator from the North-west. We call on the President-elect, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and the state chairmen of our party to implement a government of national competence by supporting the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South-south and Deputy to the North-west, Mr Ogenyi said. He noted that the constitution of the party and its manifesto which does not preach religion, ethnicity, and tribal dichotomy, emphasised competence while providing qualitative leadership for Nigerians. It is a fact that for the executive arm of government to perform maximally, it must work with the legislature professionally to ensure dividends of democracy to the teaming population of Nigerians. We understand that the business of legislature is highly professional because it deals with law-making and financial appropriation, its leadership must be able, ready, and willing to support Mr President in the governance of the country. We believe that the partys role in the National Assembly Leadership is to ensure the emergence of a competent senator who has distinguished himself over the years, devoid of religious and tribal sentiment. We need a pan-Nigerian who has been tested and trusted, proven worthy of integrity, character and prudent management. The President-elect is from the South-west and the Vice President-elect is from the Nort-east, as such, the Senate President should be zoned to the South-south and the Deputy Senate President to the North-west. READ ALSO: EFCC asks Akpabio to turn himself in over corruption investigation The Speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy should be accommodated by the other zones in view of competence and credibility of Honourable members, Mr Ogenyi said. He further said that the president-elect needed highly competent National Assembly members with vast knowledge of legislative business to complement him in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians. (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 Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the failure to investigate allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences including bribery against some state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections. According to reports, the recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections and governorship elections in some states witnessed widespread reports of voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction or theft of election materials by political party agents and thugs across the six geopolitical zones. In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/583/2023 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is asking the court for an order of mandamus compelling INEC to seek the appointment of independent counsel to investigate allegations of electoral offences against state governors and their deputies during the 2023 elections. SERAP is seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to promptly, thoroughly and effectively investigate reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences committed during the elections, identify suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, and ensure their effective prosecution. SERAP is also seeking an order of mandamus directing and compelling INEC to prosecute all arrested electoral offenders in the 2023 general election in the custody of law enforcement and anticorruption agencies. In the suit, SERAP is arguing that: By allegedly engaging in electoral violence and other electoral offences in so blatant a fashion, suspected perpetrators and their sponsors have clearly acted in violation of constitutional provisions, international standards and the Electoral Act. SERAP is arguing that identifying, arresting, investigating and prosecuting any politicians and their sponsors suspected to be responsible for electoral offences during the elections would end the impunity of perpetrators. It would also advance Nigerians right to freely participate in their own government. SERAP is also arguing that Addressing the brazen impunity and reports of electoral violence and other electoral offences during the 2023 general elections would also send a strong message to politicians that they would be held to account for any infringement of the electoral process. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Andrew Nwankwo and Blessing Ogwuche, read in part: Election violence is a threat to fair and representative elections. Election violence is inconsistent and incompatible with the principles of democracy, the rule of law, transparency and accountability for politicians to allegedly use violence to disrupt the electoral process. Section 52 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act allows INEC to seek the appointment of an independent counsel to probe allegations of electoral violence and other electoral offences that may have been committed by any state governors and/or their deputies. When politicians and their sponsors decide to engage in electoral violence and other electoral offences rather than contest fairly for peoples votes, there are possibilities that such politicians will show a disregard for democratic rules and a disposition to adopt illegal means becomes inevitable. Ending impunity for electoral violence and other electoral offences would promote accountability of suspected perpetrators and their sponsors, ensure justice for victims, and ultimately advance the peoples right to vote as well as bolster voter confidence in the electoral process. Electoral violence and other electoral offences reportedly committed during the 2023 general elections are contrary to the express provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the Electoral Act and international standards. The Nigerian Constitution provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Sections 121 and 127 of the Electoral Act prohibit electoral bribery and undue influence before, during and after any election. Section 145(2) provides that, a prosecution under this Act shall be undertaken by legal officers of INEC or any legal practitioner appointed by it. Under section 2(b), the commission shall have power to promote knowledge of sound democratic election processes. According to a report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), several polling units recorded violence and/or fighting across the country. These violent incidents were often focused in political strongholds of opposition or perceived opponents which suggest that the use of BVAS which limits overvoting when properly used has resulted in a more concerted effort to stymie citizens casting their votes in opponents strongholds. Similar incidents of intimidation were reported in the six geo-political zones. In several states, political thugs, apparently with the support of law enforcement officials, disrupted and sent back voters intending to vote for opposition parties. Party agents were reported to be directing people who to vote for while those unwilling to do as directed were denied ballot papers and forced to leave the polling units. There were reports of destruction of used ballot papers and vandalization of entire polling units in some states. Violence was also used to target BVAS machines in order to disrupt the process and ensure the cancellation of results. According to the CDD, there are reports of vote trading in zones across the country, with both cash and goods used by all political parties in an effort to entice voters to cast their ballots at their direction. The CDD noted vote buying at polling units during the elections across the country. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. 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 Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kogi Command, says a road accident has claimed the lives of two persons while 12 others were injured on Sunday in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lone crash involved a Toyota Hiace bus conveying 18 persons, including the driver. The Sector Commander in the state, Stephen Dawulung, said the incident occurred at about 3:30 a.m. at Irepeni village along Zariagi-Okene road. Mr Dawulung explained that the crash was caused by speed and a tyre burst that made the vehicle to summersault. The injured have already been conveyed to Kekere Hospital, Kabba Junction, Zariagi by our personnel who carried out the rescue operation. Already, the corpses of the dead passengers have been claimed by relations for burial, he said. The sector commander sympathised with the families of the victims and urged drivers to avoid night journeys, speed and use of worn-out or expired tyres. He also charged motorists to always observe 40 minutes rest after every four hours drive, to ward off fatigue and drowsiness. Mr Dawulung thanked the military for the security cover provided to FRSC personnel that conducted the rescue operation. He solicited more synergy with all security agencies to save lives and property on highways. (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. As the reconstruction work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway enters its final phase, the federal government has appealed for patience and understanding of motorists on account of the heavy traffic being experienced on the stretch from Toll Gate to Kara Bridge in Lagos. The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in a press release signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, Hakeem Bello, said he empathizes with members of the public who have had to endure longer than usual traffic as the reconstruction work in the heavily built-up stretch progresses towards the finish line. According to the minister, the intensity of work and the high volume of traffic which had to be accommodated at the same time have been complicated by impatience on the part of some motorists who drive against the planned traffic flow and breakdown of vehicles. He, however, noted that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is working with the Lagos State Government, all traffic management and security agencies to minimize the discomfort of motorists. The minister also explained that the contractors are also being encouraged to ensure that the final challenging phase of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway reconstruction work are concluded as soon as possible. While noting that the earlier envisaged 30 April date for conclusion of the final stretch could not be achieved due to a combination of factors, work within the OPIC area between Kara Bridge and the Long Bridge has been completed and would be opened to traffic tomorrow, Sunday (April 30). This means that the main carriageway, both bounds, from Berger (New Garage) and Sagamu Inter-change on Section 1 of the Project has been completed. READ ALSO: Residents lament as traders take over Ibadan roads All attention, according to the minister, would now be focused on the outstanding work between Otedola Bridge and Berger (both bounds). Signed: HAKEEM BELLO Special Adviser, Communications to the Hon.Minister 29th 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. On Saturday, the former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, launched a 196-page book to detail some important events that defined her five-year leadership in office. The book further exposes the elite capture of the Nigerian states and their struggle to retain strongholds matter what it takes. Speaking at the event, she noted that the reason for writing this book was to preserve history and speak the truth because she is not one to be cowered by the authority or people in the public sector or easily intimidated or bullied by an office. Intels monopoly: Why I sidelined Amaechi and met Abba Kyari for approval She cited an instance where President Muhammadu Buhari approved the reversal of the monopoly of the Integrated Logistics Services, known as Intels, is one of the major players in the Nigerian maritime sector, because restrictions on oil and gas cargo to certain terminals were contrary to the agreements of the concessionaries, a move the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi opposed and did not convey this message to NPA. It was curious why the Minister was holding it so for me to call the (Late) Chief of Staff (Abba Kyari), he conveyed the letter to us and cced me and the Nigerian Ports Authority so we drew his attention to the fact that we had not received a conveying directive. It was okay for him to say Okay Hadiza, I will speak to the Minister and ensure he communicates but he choose to tell me that I should go ahead and if there is anything, he will revert, she said. She explained that although her seeking approval from the late Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari meant that she was going above Mr Amaechi but for her, it was getting things done. People should not stand in the way of what the President has approved because, at the end of the day, all of us are there by his pleasure. You just dont sit on approval because you can or because you occupy an office, there are other people that are also senior to you, she added. Why I rejected NIMASA DG position given by Amaechi She felt it was in his interest at that time to appoint someone from Rivers State because the Rivers political space was very disadvantaged. He (Amaechi) had lost the gubernatorial seat, and they (Rivers State) felt he did not have anything for them and I advised him that it was better for him to appoint the candidate. So although they lost a governor they got a federal appointment, she clarified. Breach of oath of secrecy as a government official Responding to a question about breaching the oath of secrecy as a public officer, she noted that she relied on the Freedom of information act and other legal instruments to ensure that this book is out to the public and to unveil the secrecy shrouded in governance. I am a believer of demystification of governance meaning let government ad governance be out in the open. It reduces confusion. Insulating or protecting what we do as government officers allow us to continue or imbibe the culture of impunity. That mystery that government is shrouded in is what is allow the government to keep misbehaving. You are serving at the instance of people so why cant those people know what you are doing? she asked. Elder statesman Funtua kicked against my appointment Mrs Bala Usman mentioned three reasons why her appointment received a lot of criticism- her gender, her age and politicians who preferred the appointment of other politicians from Katsina State . One of the politicians she named was late elder statesman, Ismaila Isa Funtua who she claimed accused Amaechi of not consulting him before she was appointed. READ ALSO: I found it awkward and I told the Minister so. Although Alhaji Isa Funtua was a good friend of my late father and someone for whom I had a lot of respectI did not understand his rejection. I later got to know that the late politicians had recommended to the President that another Katsina State indigene, late Engineer Usman Abubakar be appointed as Chairman of the Governing Board of the NPA, she said. I pray and hope that this is not your last outing in public service- Adoke A former Minister for Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke at the event congratulated the former NPA boss for having the courage to write about her experience. When I read my book The burden of service, a lot of people thought I was audacious but I think you are more audacious than I was. It is not easy to call out names and say things as they are without let or hindrance showing you are a witness of truth. Your book will definitely help in fighting impunity. It will help in guiding public officials in knowing that there is room for posterity and posterity will come calling. I pray and hope that this is not your last outing in public service, he said. I dont think I have such courage to write such a book Shettima Also, present at the event was the Vice President-elect, Kashima Shettima who described Mrs Bala Usman as an iron lady and a lady of courage and added I dont think I have such courage to write a such book He however used the opportunity to indicate the support his administration for women assuring Nigerians that his tenure will be gender friendly. 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 government has approved the use of Eagle Square for the annual May Day parade for workers in the FCT. The Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Olajide Oshundun, said this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had said that the federal government refused their request to use the venue for the Workers Day celebration. Mr Oshundun said that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, had intervened in the issue. The attention of the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has been drawn to press releases and statements in the media that the Federal Government disapproved of the NLC using the Eagle Square for the annual May Day parade. That is for the reasons bordering on the preparation of the venue for the May 29 inauguration of President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. On receiving the report, the minister contacted his colleague, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, who blamed the development on some overzealous officials, acting without his authority. This is, as well as minor communication gap between the FCDA, the Federal Government Transition Committee and the NLC, he said. He said it was actually the contractor handling the renovation of Eagle Square, Messrs Julius Berger that informed the Transition Committee for the handover ceremony. Mr Oshundun added that they erected their equipment even before last Thursday when the Nigerian Army used the venue for an event attended by the president. READ ALSO: Consequently, the FCT minister assured the minister of labour and employment that the place is available for NLC to use on May 1, which is the workers day. This May Day is the last in the life of this administration. The NLC parade belongs to everybody, including government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, organised labour and affiliate unions and members of the public. The president, ministers and others cannot shut themselves out. The Eagle Square is still available for all these individuals. All invited people should make themselves available for the parade at Eagle Square, most especially the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the diplomatic missions and the international partners, he said. He said the minister of labour and employment has been in touch with the leadership of organised labour, led by Joe Ajaero and had briefed them on the developments. Mr Oshundun also said that Mr Ngige had equally extended the apologies of the minister of FCT for the unintended embarrassment occasioned by the action of their officials who misinterpreted the general intention and work plan of one month of Messrs Julius Berger. The FCT Administration had promised to give all necessary material support to make the event hitch-free and successful, while the Minister of Labour and Employment wishes all Nigerian workers a blissful Workers Day in May, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji on Sunday neutralised three bandits in an ambush at the Anka-Dan Kapani crossing in the Anka Local Government Area of Zamfara. The Director, Defence Media Operations, Musa Danmadami, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Danmadami, a major general, said the troops also recovered one PKT gun with 48 rounds of 7.62mm x 54 ammunition, three AK 47 rifles, three magazines with 63 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition and three motorcycles. The military high command commends troops and encourages the public to avail troops with credible and timely information on terrorist and all criminal activities within their area, he said. Zamafara, like most states in the North-west of the country, has been a hotbed of bandits and insurgents who maim, rustle cattle, kill and kidnap people for ransom despite the efforts of the military to curtail their activities. 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 New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has withdrawn its petition against the reelection of Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. The party had filed the petition against Mr Abiidun, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the 18 March election. The chairman of the party in the state, Sunday Oginni, announced the development on Sunday at a press conference held at the partys secretariat in Abeokuta. The petition had alleged the omission of the partys name on the ballot paper for the governorship election by INEC. This, according to the party, was a violation of the Electoral Act. But, on Sunday, Mr Oginni said the party noticed that the same ballot papers used in Ogun State were also used in Kano State where the NNPP defeated the ruling APC. He added that going ahead with the petition could be counterproductive against the interest of the party. The party chairman also alleged plans to hijack the petition by some powers that be within the party at the national level. The petition is now dead and buried. As a party, we will go back to the drawing board ahead of 2027 and we hope to get it right, he said. We believed in the potency of that petition and if the petition survives, it will alter the political calendar of Ogun State and bring disruption to the political system in the state. We know that despite the absence of name of our party on the ballot papers we still managed to win election in some states. As we are celebrating with our dear brothers in other states for their victory, we dont want to create another problem for their victory by bringing issues that may create Constitutional problems and counter-productive to the development of the party. Nevertheless, we believe that INEC must always be up and doing, and they must put attention to details to ensure that things are properly done for all political parties. 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. Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have seized 126 parcels of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis at the Tincan port in Lagos. This was contained in a statement by the Agencys Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Babafemi said the drugs weighing 63 kilogrammes were concealed in a used Toyota Corolla car imported from Canada. He said the car was among five vehicles in a container marked TLLU 4840762. He added that NDLEA operatives have thwarted an attempt by a freight agent, Mordi Chukwuemeka, to export 900 grams of Loud, on Saturday. He explained that the drugs were hidden on the sides of a travelling bag containing food items, being sent to Kenya. Mr Babafemi said the drugs were intercepted at the Skyway Aviation Handling Company Plc export shed of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos. When Mordi presented the bag, which he claimed contained food items for export, operatives noticed that in the course of searching the consignment, the side walls of the bag were unevenly bloated. This happened after which they dismantled the false packings and recovered the illicit substance. The NDLEA spokesperson also said men of the agencys Directorate of Operations and Investigation attached to courier firms, on Thursday intercepted 1.53 kilogrammes of skunk. Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in old hard drives meant for export to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 12:16 | All, Japan, World Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrived in Egypt late Saturday, the first leg of a weeklong tour to four African countries and Singapore, around three weeks before he hosts a Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. Kishida's first visit to Africa since taking office in October 2021 comes amid a push to strengthen ties with the "Global South," a term that collectively refers to developing nations in areas including Asia, Africa and Latin America. At the G-7 summit in his home constituency of Hiroshima in May, Kishida will seek to obtain international solidarity in support of Ukraine, under invasion by Russia. But many countries in the Global South have avoided taking a position on the war. Kishida believes cooperation with Global South countries is important for upholding the rules-based international order, which he is keen to reaffirm with other G-7 leaders in the face of Russia's aggression and China's growing military and economic clout. "I would like to hold talks on the Ukraine situation and international issues and affirm our collaboration," the Japanese prime minister told reporters prior to his departure. Some African nations depend on Russia for energy supplies and rely on China for economic assistance and investment. After his stop in Egypt, Kishida is scheduled to visit Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique, according to the government. On Sunday, Kishida is set to hold talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, during which they may discuss issues such as the ongoing conflict in Sudan and rising energy and food prices impacted by the war in Ukraine, Japanese government officials said. In the remainder of his visit to Africa, Kishida is expected to meet with Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kenyan President William Ruto and Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi. On his way home next Friday, the government airplane carrying Kishida plans to stop by Singapore in Southeast Asia to refuel, where he is also likely to hold talks with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. 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. Nigerian politician and entrepreneur, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has been confirmed as the president-general of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo. In his inaugural speech, Mr Iwuanyanwu pledged to secure the release of separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu who is being prosecuted for treason by the federal government. Mr Iwuanyanwu was unanimously endorsed as the groups president-general during a meeting of Ohanaeze Imeobi at Enugus Banquet Hall on Sunday. Imeobi is the highest decision-making organ of the Ohanaeze, considered by many to be the top Igbo socio-cultural organisation in Nigeria. The 80-year-old politician was earlier this month presented to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State by a delegation of the Imo Elders Council as the consensus candidate to replace the immediate past president-general of the Igbo group, George Obiozor, whose death was announced in December. But given that his emergence was not through an election, Ohanaeze Imeobi needed to ratify the position. Reporters were not allowed inside the venue during the Ohanaeze Imeobi meeting. But a member of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chinedu Ugwa, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Iwuanyanwu was confirmed Ohanaeze Ndigbo president-general because there was no dissenting voice against his emergence at the meeting. Mr Ugwa, who participated in the meeting, said Mr Iwuanyanwu was confirmed as the president-general through voice voting. A new president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been elected through the procedure of engaging the governors of the seven states that make up Ohanaeze. The endorsement was done after a recommendation by Elders of Imo State because nobody was coming to ask or query his emergence. So, it is in the form of an election, he said. Iwuanyanwu speaks In his inaugural speech, Mr Iwuanyanwu expressed delight over his endorsement as the president-general of the Igbo group, saying that providence and the love of Igbos propelled him to the position. I thank you all for giving me the opportunity to lead Ndigbo at this time. With our collective efforts and support, Ndigbo will rise again. I, therefore have a duty to valiantly defend the Igbo course and I promise Imeobi and all Igbo people that by the grace of God, I will not fail them, Mr Iwuanyanwu said. The new president-general said he had done his best to serve Igbos both in time of war and time peace and that, as a young boy, he learnt determination to serve Igbos from his father. He said he never nurtured the idea of becoming president-general of Ohanaeze and that he had unsuccessfully sought to become Nigerian president three times. Agenda for South-east, Ohanaeze Mr Iwuanyanwu, while reeling out the priorities of his administration, said he would make a special appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to release Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), before he (Buhari) exits office on 29 May. Nnamdi Kanu is very crucial for any discussion (on security) and it is not possible to negotiate any peace while Nnamdi Kanu is in prison, he said, noting that the Court of Appeal, Abuja had struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu. There is also a report that his health is deteriorating. I feel it is important that he is released to have access to his medical doctors so that he does not die in prison. The new Ohanaeze leader also vowed to ensure that the South-east gets an additional state, explaining that the South-east is the only region with five states in Nigeria. Several political conferences have recommended the creation of additional state in the South-east to bring the number of states to six. So far, this has not been actualised. I will make sure that during my tenure (as Ohanaeze president-general), an additional state is created for the South-east, Mr Iwuanyanwu assured. The Ohanaeze president-general listed other priorities of his administration including reviving agriculture, and industries and revitalisation of the educational system in the South-east with a focus on information and communication technology. Others are: Repositioning the regions health sector, evaluating the possibility of generating electricity with coal deposits in Enugu and creating the Ohanaeze investment company as well as a cultural centre. In attendance during the meeting were the five governors from the South-east: Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) Charles Soludo (Anambra), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State, represented by his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia, represented by his Deputy, Ude Chukwu) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo, represented by his Deputy, Placid Njoku). Others are The Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, Enugu State Governor-elect, Peter Mbah, former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim and a former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Adolphus Wabara, among others. 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. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has denied a report that gunmen attacked his convoy and killed seven police officers along Ngor Okpala-Aba Road in the state on Saturday. In a statement on Saturday evening by his spokesperson, Oguwike Nwachuku, Mr Uzodinma said there was no such attack on his convoy. The governor described the report as satanic fabrication and fake news. Rather, what is at play is nothing but orchestrated falsehood arising from extreme hallucination due to alliance and communication with the devil by the author. Governor Uzodinmas convoy did not move an inch on Saturday because there was no need since his excellency was busy in the office, from morning till late in the evening, attending to numerous state matters that are dear to his heart and in the interest of the people, the statement said. Mr Uzodinma, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, accused members of opposition political parties of being behind the report to destabilise him. The governor also repeated his earlier accusation that some unnamed members of opposition political parties, whom he described as enemies of his government, were behind the rising insecurity in the state. They have continued to do so because they cannot come to terms with the superlative performance of the governor and his government despite all they have done to frustrate his administration, including orchestrating insecurity, he said of the opposition political party members. The good news is that Governor Uzodinma has remained undaunted in his determination to turn the fortunes of Imo State around and will continue to remain focused for as long as he will be in office as the governor. Background Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State with frequent attacks by armed persons. PREMIUM TIMES, in April, reported that gunmen killed five police officers and a couple in Ulakwo, a community in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of the state. Apart from killings, kidnap for ransom and attacks by suspected arsonists have also been on the increase in the state. Several government facilities such as offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been targets of attacks by gunmen who set them ablaze. Many police facilities in the state have been attacked and razed by gunmen. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the South-east, while Governor Uzodinma of Imo State has repeatedly accused members of the opposition political parties, mainly the Peoples Democratic Party, of carrying out the attacks in Imo to frustrate his administration. Mr Uzodinma had, in December, threatened to name the alleged sponsors of the attacks in the state, but would later make a U-turn, two weeks after, saying he would rather leave security agencies to do their work and prosecute those found culpable. 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 Baba has commenced efforts toward renovation, demolition and rebuilding of dilapidated structures in police barracks across Nigeria. Muyiwa Adejobi, the force public relations officer, made this known to journalists on the sidelines of the fourth-anniversary Dinner/Award Night of Kemsan Acres Global Ltd. in Ibadan. Mr Adejobi was reacting to the recent collapse of a building at the Police Barracks in Sango, Ibadan and some derelict structures scattered across police barracks in the country. He said the IGP has mapped out strategies to ensure that policemen and their families live comfortably in a very decent environment. The Force Public Relations Officer described the incident at the police barracks in Sango, Ibadan, as very unfortunate, saying efforts were on to map some of them for adequate renovation. In fact, there are some of them that we are thinking of demolishing outrightly. The IGP is discussing with the Police Trust Fund and relevant MDAs Ministry of Police Affairs. At times, there is no how we want to have an adequate and proper renovation of police barracks without having interventions. So, the IGP has taken the bull by the horn to make sure that we access most of these things and discuss with relevant MDAs to see what we can do, he said. Mr Adejobi also said thrIGP had in the last 18 months renovated some and built no fewer than 125 new police stations with adjoining standard barracks. As I speak with you, we have built nothing less than 125 new police stations, with adjoining standard barracks, that when you live in such a place, you will feel honoured. You will have that self-esteem that you are living in a very decent place. So, it is a gradual thing. We cannot finish all at a time. Do not forget that we have thousands of barracks across the country. It is not a day thing. It is a process we have commenced, he said. He Adejobi said the IGP was thinking outside the box to see how the problems at the barracks could be adequately addressed. He expressed displeasure at the state of some of the barracks, saying that it was the reason for consistent talks with policemen to keep the barracks neat. The force spokesperson said they were looking at many things to ensure that the barracks were rejuvenated, protected and maintained. There are so many internal things that police are considering to make sure that barracks are adequately managed because there are rules. When you reside in barracks, there are rules you must follow. Are we still following the rules? So, we need to actually follow the rules and enforce these rules. Apart from that, we are also reaching out to MDAs and National Assembly to seek intervention on how we are going to holistically address these problems of accommodation in the Nigeria Police Force, he said. Mr Adejobi said addressing the accommodation problem in the police force was key to the IGP. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event featured the distribution of awards to no fewer than 70 outstanding staff members by the Managing Director of the company, Oluwaseun Owoseni. NAN also reports that the event was attended by the State Commissioner of Police, Williams Adebowale, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ademola Babalola and a host of others. (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 man of great largesse, who stuns many with his largeness of heart, a perfectionist, a humorist, a wordsmith, a man of great energy, a shrewd dealmaker, a visionary, a relationships person, a man of great charm and stunning physical appearance, a man of style, but also someone who stings worse than a scorpion, a man with a great can-do spirit who inspires millions around the world, a man that you may love or hate but can never ignore. I last saw him physically sometime around 2002 when he came to Abuja for the launch of the Globacom Building on Aminu Kano Street, Wuse 2. A mountain of a man, he was decked in one of his bespoke crisp white shirts. I greeted him but I reckoned his mind was far away, as he and his entourage went past me. Before then I had had two direct meetings with the great man of course with some audience in tow. The first was very fiery, indeed one of the scariest meetings Ive ever had. I had been employed in his Equitorial Trust Bank to be a Business Manager/Head of Marketing in the Ikeja Branch, oddly weeks before he had time to meet me. He makes it a point to see everybody in the employment of the bank and so mine was some kind of exception. I had resigned from Standard Trust Bank (Tony Elumelus bank) about a month earlier, and I took that time to get married in Benin. Another incident happened in that interregnum a Peugeot 504 that was allocated to me as official car was stolen at Opebi, when I went with my new wife to greet her auntie. In meeting Adenuga, perhaps I had followed bad advice from some of my colleagues who were lucky with him. I also made the mistake of informing him and apologising about the stolen car, which I had made great efforts to track with the Police. The way his mood changed on that day was more than shocking, even though understandable. He flipped. And that is when you will see that this man has one of the best commands of the English language ever and he is a professor in the demystification of people. The man washed me totally. I found myself prostrating and begging him. He thus instructed that I should not take any of the available cars in the office home anymore until further notice. I found myself hopping on buses to my flat at Ogba on a daily basis and to Allen Avenue in the morning, until I could afford a small personal car a Toyota. I had given away my previous car while I worked in STB (to my brother), because I didnt see the point in having an official car and a personal car as a bachelor then. With the incidence at ETB, perhaps I knew better, but it was too late. Perhaps more surprising to me that day was how the late Deepak Metha, a fine Indian-Canadian gentleman, who was then the Managing Director of ETB, and other people there, simply shook off the incidence like it was nothing. Theyd seen the chairman at his most colourful. Lessons: Never take any value for granted. Nothing should be regarded as too small to lose casually, even if you were a billionaire. Be ready to get humbled totally. But once you have your life, theres hope. I would later learn and I think it was in one of those meetings in which I was present how Dr Mike was always ready to humble himself as he made his way up and even when he was already a global behemoth. He once told of how he was ready to get on a bike and go to the remotest places, sit with mai guards and strike up conversations, if he had a goal to achieve. He is a never-say-never kind of man. He also told of the kind of humiliation he got from President Olusegun Obasanjo, while he sought to regain his mobile telephony licence including when the latter lost his cool and hauled a slipper at Mike. When you hear some of those stories, youll ask yourself: who the hell am I? Today, apart from my humble upbringing, I think I learnt more from my experiences and very limited interactions with The Bull as he is called and I have thus remained very humble, unassuming and indeed self-deprecating where necessary. This does not take away from ones self-pride. Adenuga could be self-effacing this minute, almost shy, but the next minute hes roaring like a lion. And he has the carriage and mien to come through as a devouring lion, I assure you. The second time we met, I was about a year in his employment. I was already restless and seeking an alternative, as a young man of 29 years old. I wanted to leave branch banking, having done three years of that. I was also still under sanction. The Chairman is not someone you gain access to just because you want to. It was the way he ran his organisation. The fear of the Chairman was the beginning of staff wisdom. So, there was nothing like calling for a review of my case. Just a day before I got my offer letter from Guardian Express Bank, I got a call from the then Managing Director of Equitorial Trust Bank (Ike Oraekwuotu, whom we endearingly, including the Chairman himself, call Oga Ikeee) that the Chair wanted to see me at his Oko Awo Street home/office. This process is known as standby, as you cannot tell when exactly he will see you but you had to be punctual. The air around the Chairman was quite intimidating, such that when you arrived for such meetings you dare not ask the receptionist where the conveniences were, no matter how pressed you are. God help you if you were called and you had disappeared to God-knows-where. So, on this second occasion, I probably concluded that indeed the man has spies everywhere. For how could he have predicted my imminent exit? But the conversation didnt take that trajectory. He wanted to transfer me to Abuja. He spoke about how I should operate in Abuja and such, and then asked me what kind of official car I wanted a Toyota Prado or a Honda Accord? By now, I was wise, and I looked to Oga Ike and said the Accord will be just fine sir, when the Chairman persisted. Only the MD was present in that meeting in a smaller room that appeared to be the Bulls own lair. I didnt say anything apart from monosyllablic answers and that talk about an Honda Accord throughout the meeting. By now I had learnt to listen more than speak in the presence of powerful people like this. Who was I to ask for a Prado, for crying out loud? As he dismissed the meeting and I made to leave the office, he dug into a shelf and gave me N150,000 (which was quite substantial back in the day, but nowhere near the kind of largesse he showers on sundry people on daily basis staff inclusive). I went back to the office the next day, told a few friends what had happened, shared some of the largesse, resigned and resumed at Guardian Express Bank, Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island. He must have felt I was crazy. But the initial unpalatable meeting may have defined our relationship. But after one month at GEB, and I was not feeling the place, I reached back to Oga Ike and said I could be still interested in going to Abuja. My offer was still on, and indeed this time, I got a new offer letter from ETB, with a promotion to Principal Manager and an order to resume in Abuja. Lessons: Always keep your doors open to relationships, talents and ideas. Adenugas companies, for many, is like a revolving door. Many have gone in and out. I think having been in business for long, he appreciates relationships and human resources/human capital more than most other people. I later resumed at the Abuja office, and spent another four years in that branch, till I exited finally in 2005. My exit was also sudden. Such has been my fate with this institution of a man. He got the Prado, which I used for four years, and fulfilled his promise to house me in Abuja, after a few months delay. Nobody harangues Mike Adenuga. He does things at his own pace, but he does a whole lot of things. He never forgets. He also has this uncanny ability to recognise people and their names, no matter how long ago he has seen you. As at that time, his portfolio extended between two banks, his oil company, Globacom, and several other ventures many of which most people dont know about. He is also heavily into properties, such that his close aides tell us that he sometimes forgets which ones he has bought in Victoria Island, Ikoyi or Abuja. Lesson: From being an official car-less Business Manager, I went to having a brand-new Toyota Prado at my disposal for four years. In that era, perhaps Adenuga was one of the few who would go that far for a status car for his staff. The lesson is that your being down today does not mean you cannot be up tomorrow. But also prepare your mind in case you take a plunge the next moment. Eternal vigilance. Never take anything for granted. When I left the bank and banking finally I moved out of the flat allocated to me and my young family, returned the official car to the banks premises, and resumed for my long-postponed masters degree in London. Another crazy move. I must confess that I felt a bit choked working for him like being under surveillance. But overall, he was a great influence and passing through his tutelage, no matter how remotely, will prepare most attentive people for navigating the complex business environment in Nigeria or anywhere else. The iron grip Adenuga has on his businesses is the reason why he still thrives. His sheer intelligence, confidence, elocution, knowledge, and a readiness to be humbled, is the reason why his organisations still stand. I also appreciated making acquaintance with one of his sons Paddy Adenuga who was sent to Ikeja branch around 2000/2001 for some internship. Great, gentle guy. And Dr Mike encouraged my writing! We had an internal magazine in the bank, and staff were encouraged to contribute articles. Even in the middle of my work schedule, I made sure to contribute to this. The MD once gave me feedback from the Chairman, that I was one of the few who wrote on topical issues. He knew my articles did not dwell on personalities not even his but on how to improve our functions as staff and move the bank forward. That feedback has served as impetus for me to keep writing till date. To get a compliment of any sort from the great Alaga (if you know, you know), there must be something youre doing right. A man of great largesse, who stuns many with his largeness of heart, a perfectionist, a humorist, a wordsmith, a man of great energy, a shrewd dealmaker, a visionary, a relationships person, a man of great charm and stunning physical appearance, a man of style, but also someone who stings worse than a scorpion, a man with a great can-do spirit who inspires millions around the world, a man that you may love or hate but can never ignore. I say happy Platinum Anniversary sir though belatedly. May you celebrate several more decades of increasing impact on the world and everyone around you. Tope Fasua, an economist, author, blogger, entrepreneur, and recent presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), can be reached through topsyfash@yahoo.com. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Meerut : , April 30 (IANS) The Meerut police have arrested the 'tantrik' who allegedly killed a head constable of the Delhi Police, police said. Meerut Superintendent of Police (rural), Kamlesh Thakur, confirmed that the alleged accused, identified as Ganeshanand, cheated people by claiming to be a practitioner of black magic. The SP said head constable Gopichand went missing on March 26. His wife lodged a police complaint on March 27 at the Sardhana police station, following which an FIR was registered. Later, police recovered the cop's motorcycle from the Ganga near Surjepur village in the Hastinapur area on April 12. Thakur said that Gopichand was in touch with Ganeshanand for more than a year. "Gopichand wanted Ganeshanand to eliminate his wife using black magic. He had even taken a big loan in his wife's name. We are investigating the case to ascertain his motive to eliminate his wife," SP Thakur added. Gopichand left Delhi for his native village on March 26 and was on leave till April 8. The police suspected Ganeshanand's role in the constable's disappearance from the latter's call details, and waited for his return from Chitrakoot. The 'practitioner' had even taken money from Gopichand on the day of his murder. On March 26, Ganeshanand called Gopichand to his ashram so that he could kill Rekha and also asked the victim to bring Rs 1.5 lakh, the police said. Later, Ganeshanand took Gopichand to Sirjepur village near the Ganga and performed a ritual while the victim lay nearby, the police said. During the ritual, Ganeshanand attacked Gopichand with a sharp weapon and threw his body, mobile phone and motorcycle into the river. Search for Gopichand's body is still going on. Jaipur, April 30 : The silence of the Congress on Rajasthan ex-deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot is now being seen with raised eyebrows in political circles. Not long ago, the party in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, termed Pilot's one-day fast against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's inaction against former CM Vasundhara Raje as an act of indiscipline. Now, Congress veterans are calling him an asset for the party. Recently Pilot was kept out of the star campaigners list for the Karnataka assembly polls. Since then, speculation was rife if Pilot was still an asset for the party. However, the recent stand of veteran leaders made it clear that Pilot is still being seen as an asset by the high command. As per the national secretary of the Congress and co-incharge of Rajasthan, Virendra Singh Rathore, "The Pilot issue is not just a challenge but a home matter. It is a matter of organization. Where Ashok Gehlot ji has huge exposure and has experience of both government and organization, at the same time Pilot has an image of a young and energetic leader all over the country." Rathore said it is our good fortune that experienced leaders as well as energetic leaders are with us. We will all move forward in harmony. Rathore was talking to the media after reaching Jaipur for the first time on Thursday after becoming co-incharge. Amrita Dhawan, the new co-incharge secretary of the Congress in Rajasthan, also indicated that the party is not in a hurry regarding action in the Sachin Pilot case. Dhawan said "We (Congress) never behead anyone for expressing their views unlike other parties. We listen to everyone." Amrita too reached Jaipur on Thursday. She was talking to the media at her hotel. On the issue of Sachin Pilot, Amrita Dhawan said "We have been sent by the party with folded hands to strengthen the Congress. You can say as much as you want on the party platform. Everyone is given a chance. Everyone will be heard. Our party is not like the BJP and other parties that if they speak, their neck will be cut. We will not do this. We will listen to everyone." Dhawan added "There are differences and differences of opinion in the party. Differences happen even at home. Even in the family, the views of the children may sometimes be different from those of the parents. Parties are also like family. Opinions may differ, but we will fight the elections together. The Congress party is a family." In fact at a programme recently, Ashok Gehlot told the media that 'they should not try to make us (Pilot and Gehlot) fight. We have done a survey which says that we are coming back to power." With the veterans toning down their voices on the Pilot issue, it is clear that the party, as of now, continues to see him as an asset which Rahul Gandhi also said during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 22:06 | All, Japan, World Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed Sunday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that their countries will cooperate in resuming a transition to civilian rule in Sudan where its military and a paramilitary group continue battle for power. Kishida, who began a tour in Africa before hosting a Group of Seven summit in May in Hiroshima, also agreed with el-Sisi to uphold the rule-based international order, in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine. The Russian invasion is "an outrageous act that shakes the very foundations of the international order," Kishida said in a joint press announcement. "As a country that has suffered atomic bombings in war, (Japan) never accepts the threat of nuclear weapons by Russia, and they should never be used." The two leaders confirmed cooperation toward resuming the transition process to civilian rule in Sudan that followed an uprising in 2021. Kishida told el-Sisi that Japan, as the G-7 chair for this year, will seek to contribute to bringing the situation under control and is ready to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees and displaced people. El-Sisi called for an immediate and permanent cease-fire. The president also noted it is important that outside forces do not interfere in the crisis in Sudan. They also discussed ways to stabilize food supply. Egypt, which relied on Russia and Ukraine for most of its wheat imports, was hit economically by the war. Kishida expressed Japan's intention to extend yen loans to Egypt in order to provide support for efficiently using agricultural water and improving farm productivity. The weeklong trip will also take Kishida to three other African nations -- Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique -- and Singapore. He visited Africa for the first time since taking office in 2021. Related coverage: Japan PM Kishida starts African tour ahead of G-7 summit Jaipur, April 30 : The BJP, which was voted out of power in Rajasthan in the last election by a mere 0.5 percent vote margin by the Congress, has prepared a 'foolproof' plan to win the elections this time. The party, sources said, is working on the policy of voter connect. Till the elections, different campaigns will be run by the BJP in Rajasthan for voter connect. Professionals like doctors, engineers and CAs will be connected with the party, then for the first time 1000 women will be sent to other areas to connect with women voters. The Bharatiya Janata Party has set up its teams at 1126 Mandals, 8392 Shakti Kendras, 51187 booth level. Now the workers will reach every house to connect the voters with the BJP. In the election-related programs that are being made at the organization level, the main focus is on reaching out to the voters and connecting them with the BJP. Party leaders said that the BJP will run different campaigns till the elections. 1. Social campaign: Efforts to Help Societies Under this campaign, BJP teams will contact such organizations which exist at the social level. In this, all small to big organizations will be focused on. BJP leaders say that there are many social organizations which do not have much connectivity politically. Their presence is not in the entire state, but they have their own influence in some special areas. By being in constant contact with such societies and castes, they will be linked to the BJP. 2. Mahila Pravasi Abhiyan: Focus on Women Voters The purpose of this campaign is to completely focus on women voters. Information will be given about the schemes of the central government related to women. Women beneficiaries will be continuously contacted. Women will be linked to the party by door-to-door contact. After 2019, the BJP is completely focused on voters who have completed 18 years of age. For this, a new voter contact campaign is being run. The BJP is trying to bring newly added voters in its side. They will be kept connected continuously and contacted repeatedly before the assembly elections. The BJP also plans to strengthen its grip on youth voters by holding new voter conferences at the booth and mandal levels. 3. Vistarak Abhiyan: Responsibility of every seat till Lok Sabha elections In all the assembly constituencies, such leaders are being deployed as Vistaraks who can work full time for the party. As Vistaraks, these leaders will remain in the respective assembly constituencies first till the assembly elections and then till the Lok Sabha elections. Vistaraks have been given the responsibility of implementing the programs received from the party headquarters in the assembly area along with the verification of the teams from the booth committee to the mandal level. Along with this, the organization has been given the task of preparing reports giving constant updates about the political and social equations of the region. 4. Beneficiary Contact Campaign: Separate teams formed for men and women In this campaign, a list of beneficiaries availing benefits from the schemes of the Modi government is being made. By contacting the beneficiaries door-to-door, they will be told that the Modi government at the Centre is giving you this benefit. The BJP has formed separate teams to contact male and female beneficiaries. Contact with such influential people who can influence 50 to 100 voters. This includes influential people associated with big institutions, people associated with the social, business sectors and operators of organizations like NGOs. The BJP is trying to contact influential people and convert such voters, who have not yet joined the party, towards them. 5. Enlightened mass conference A strategy has been chalked out for different conferences of people associated with professions like lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers, chartered accountants to connect them with the party. The BJP is already active to connect the enlightened class. In order to focus on this class, an enlightened public cell has also been constituted in the party at the state level, through which continuous efforts are being made to make inroads in these classes. 6. Special Contact Campaign: Contact Support The BJP is working on a strategy to get support by contacting those who are not voters of the party. Through a special contact campaign among such people, the BJP will make inroads. With a special focus on women, this time the BJP has started work on a Mahila Pravasi Yojana for the first time. 1000 women in the age group of 18 to 50 years will be fielded for this. Such women are being selected who can leave their area and give time to the party in another area. These women will go to different assembly constituencies and work to connect women voters with the BJP. BJP Mahila Morcha state president Alka Mundra says that in the first phase 400 women have been selected as 'Pravasi'. They are being trained by the party. These women will leave their assembly constituency and go to another constituency. Staying in the area for 10 to 15 days, such women will work to connect women voters with the BJP. According to Mundra, this is the first time that like male workers in the party, this campaign has been started to encourage women workers to leave their homes and work for the party in other areas. State vice president of the Mahila Morcha, Jayashree Garg says that the women workers included in the Mahila Pravasi Yojana will inform the women about the schemes of the Central government. They will meet the women beneficiaries and tell them what the central government is doing for women. The BJP is analyzing each and every booth this time. A strategy is being worked out to get more votes from the booths where the BJP got less votes last time. To do this work systematically, the booths have been divided into A, B, C, D categories. A means where the BJP got more votes than all the other parties in the last three elections. The B category includes those booths where the BJP got more votes twice in the last three elections. The third category C includes those booths where the BJP got more votes only once in the last three elections and the D category includes those booths where the BJP got less votes than other parties in the last three elections. This time the BJP's strategy is to convert D booths into C category and C category booths into B category. That is, this time more votes should be obtained than the category in which the votes were received last time. Till now the BJP has prepared its team at 51,187 booths and all the booth presidents have been given I-cards. That means the BJP's army is ready for the elections. Recently, on its foundation day on April 6, the BJP distributed I-cards to its 51187 booth presidents by celebrating Kamal Sankalp Utsav simultaneously in 1126 mandals across Rajasthan. Panaji, April 30 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has come under attack from the Opposition for his statement that his government will not need to take loans after two years, as there will be enough revenue collection by then. According to the opposition parties the state's total debt is pegged at Rs 24,175.93 crore and the mining business, which is the main source of revenue generation, is still not running due to several hurdles. Ministers in the Pramod Sawant government are on record saying that as mining is yet to resume, there is a need to focus on tourism, which can generate revenue. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant while presenting the budget with the gross expenditure at Rs 26,844.40 crore for 2023-24, has focused on tourism for revenue collection along with mining. "We have done such planning and financial management that after two years, we will not require to take loans. We will have mining revenues, GST collections, excise revenues, and 36 per cent share from the Manohar International Airport at Mopa," Sawant said during a programme in North Goa. "Goa will be on track to generate enough revenues in the coming years, after which it won't require to take loans," Sawant made this announcement recently. "I didn't hesitate to give sanction to taking a loan from NABARD for projects, because I have done financial planning for the next four years," he said. Hitting out at the BJP government over the issue of 'debt' the opposition parties have alleged that the former is trying to hoodwink the people of the state. Goa Forward president and MLA Vijai Sardesai, speaking on the issue, said that Goa's debt is a staggering Rs 24,000 crores, around 24% of the Gross State Domestic Product. "The chief minister's statement is highly misleading, and perhaps made to justify even more borrowing in the next two years. Till today, apart from the tall claims from this government, we've seen no concrete plans to relieve Goans of this enormous burden imposed on them by inadequate fiscal planning, extravagant government expenditure, and sub optimal revenue generation," Sardesai said. "With no thrust to industry and local businesses, and unemployment at an alarming rate, the chief minister is presiding over a precarious economic situation that can escalate and get out of hand in the next 2 years. The CM's attempts to mask his own failures with false hope will not fool Goa," he stated. Sardesai said that Sawant has repeatedly promised commencement of mining operations for the last three years but recent High Court decisions indicate that mining with new environmental clearances will not start for the next two years, the time when the Chief Minister intends to spend lavishly on events by creating an illusion of a future notional windfall for the state on account of mining. Congress media cell chairman Amarnath Panjikar said that Pramod Sawant should come out with a 'White Paper' on the current critical financial situation of the state. "The BJP government is functioning with 'Mission Total Commission'. Corrupt event management government under Pramod Sawant is enjoying commission from these events and other projects. The government is taking loans for everything that is happening in Goa and the current debt is around Rs 24,000 crores," he said. "Is there any concrete financial plan to come out of this huge debt trap," he questioned. He said that the beneficiaries of various schemes have not been getting money for the last many months. "Even staff salaries of various departments are pending, contractors don't get their bills passed without total commission. We request the Chief Minister not to fool the people of Goa with another Jumla," he said. Panajikar said that with restriction of environment clearance to start mining activities, this business cannot resume. "We doubt that it will start in the next two years," he said. Trinamool Congress convener Samil Volvoikar said that the Chief Minister should first focus on repaying the loan. "He is trying to fool the people of the state on every issue. Mining process is framed by the court, there is a big question whether it will resume soon. Even if mining activities are resumed we don't know to what extent it will be. He should first clear the loan and then speak that he will not take more loans. He should first clear the current debt," Volvoikar said. Kolkata, April 30 : There was confusion on Friday after the Supreme Court's order transferring the cases against Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court. The cases relate to the alleged multi-crore scam in the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in state-run schools in West Bengal. The initial confusion that continued for some time since the news was flashed was over whether the Supreme Court's order pertained to all the cases related to the alleged recruitment scams or to just those connected with Abhishek Banerjee. It was Calcutta High Court advocate and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya who pointed out that there is a wrong perception that all the cases related to the recruitment scam have been transferred from the bench of Justice Gangopadhyay. Finally, the confusion ended on Friday evening after the Supreme Court order was uploaded and it was clear that only two cases have been transferred from the bench of Justice Gangopadhyay. There was speculation about how long Justice Gangopadhyay will continue with the hearing of the remaining cases. This arose from a statement by Justice Gangopadhyay who had himself expressed apprehension on this count. "Right now, two cases have been transferred from my bench. I doubt that the remaining cases might also be transferred from my bench on similar grounds," he said late on Friday evening. A Calcutta High Court officer said on condition of anonymity that period reassignments of the subjects of cases for the judges are done as part of the practice by the Chief Justice or acting Chief Justice. "Such a reassignment of subjects is due and, in that process, it is possible that Justice Gangopadhyay is assigned any subject other than education," he said. On this possibility, several people, especially those deprived candidates agitating in Kolkata, have raised the question on whether the trend of "expeditious actions and orders" set by Justice Gangopadhyay will be maintained by the judge who might be given the assignment of hearing the recruitment scam cases. According to former advocate general of West Bengal Jayanta Mitra, although the transfer of cases was unfortunate there is no reason to be upset over the development. "If the cases are argued firmly on the basis of solid legal points, there is no reason to apprehend that justice will be delayed in any bench headed by any judge," he said. Calcutta High Court counsel Kaushik Gupta feels that it is a dangerous trend for democracy when the "faith for justice" is entrusted to "one judge" rather than the "entire judicial system." "In fact, Justice Gangopadhyay himself observed that it is not possible that he will continue for ever and that does not mean that his exit will stall the entire judicial process. So, those who are nurturing or propagating the idea that transfer of a particular case or some cases from one bench to another will mean the end of justice, they do not have even a basic idea of the legal and judicial system and the concept of justice," Gupta said. Retired Supreme Court judge, Justice Asok Kunar Ganguly has raised the question of how far the apex court was within its rights to direct the transfer of these two cases from the bench of Justice Gangopadhyay. "Probably the apex court has its own reasons to give such an order. With due respect to the Supreme Court, I am saying that the transfer of any case from one bench to the other in any high court is the prerogative of the chief justice of that high court. Under the provisions of the Indian Constitution, any order by any high court can be turned down by the Supreme Court. But there is no provision for the apex court to decide which bench of a high court will hear which matter or case," he said. However, he accepted the Supreme Court's observation that judges have no business to give interviews to news channels on matters pending before them. Meanwhile, infighting has started in the Congress especially over the fact that in the transferred cases the counsel representing Abhishek Banerjee was Congress leader and senior counsel of the apex court, Abhishek Manu Singhvi. State Congress leader, Kaustav Bagchi, who is himself a counsel of the Calcutta High Court, questioned Singhvi on his moral justification to represent the Trinamool Congress leader in this case. "Singhvi might put forward the same old argument of professional compulsion of a practicing counsel. But he must not forget that besides being a practicing counsel he is also a senior Congress leader. The ordinary Congress workers in West Bengal have immense difficulty in accepting such people as leaders. The party leader is at liberty to take any action against me for making such a comment," he said. New Delhi, April 30 : As the summer season begins, the possibility of fire-related incidents remains a concern, emphasising the importance of being ready for emergency situations. As the first responders in such emergencies, the fire department plays a critical role in ensuring the safety of our communities. Atul Garg, Director of the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), in an exclusive interview with IANS talks about their preparations, plans for prevention and response, equipment and the challenges they face in dealing with summer fires in the peak summer months of April, May, and June when fire incidents across the city see a drastic increase. Excerpts: IANS: As the summer season approaches, what measures is the Delhi Fire Service taking to handle fire incidents during this time? Garg: The Delhi Fire Service is the first responder in almost every type of emergency, including fire incidents during the summer. We are fully prepared to tackle any emergency that may arise. Typically, we receive around 150-160 calls every day during this season, but we anticipate this number to rise in June and July. To ensure we are ready, we take several steps such as repairing all fire tenders and equipment in February and discouraging staff from taking leave during the summer months. These measures help us ensure that we are well prepared to handle any fire incidents that may occur during the summer season. IANS: What are some factors that contribute to an increase in fire incidents, particularly during the summer season? Garg: There are several factors that can contribute to an increase in fire incidents during the summer season. One common factor is an increased load on electrical wires and devices, which can make it easier for short circuits to occur and potentially cause fires. To prevent this, it's important to regularly check electrical devices and avoid overloading them. Additionally, other factors like dry weather conditions and the increased use of outdoor equipment such as barbecues and campfires can also contribute to a higher risk of fire incidents during the summer. Being mindful of these factors and taking appropriate precautions can help reduce the likelihood of a fire emergency. IANS: Is the fire department adequately staffed? Garg: The Delhi Fire Service has been allocated a budget of Rs 600 crore for 2022, which is the highest budget ever granted to any state in India for fire services. We are utilising this budget to invest in modern technology and equipment for firefighting. As of now, we do not have any shortage of staff. In fact, we are in the process of filling up 500 vacant posts to further strengthen our team. Currently, we have a total of 2,800 firefighters who are trained and equipped to handle fire emergencies in the city. IANS: How does the fire department deal with crises in congested areas? Garg: We have already inducted two Remote-Controlled Firefighting Machines, popularly known as ROBOTS into our unit last year which have been utilised in most major fires. Currently, we are planning to add six mini robots to our fleet. These smaller robots can be wireless remote-controlled and are capable of entering buildings to assist firefighters in covering narrow spots, unlike the larger robots that can be placed outside the burning premises at a distance of 300 meters. We have also introduced fully-automatic articulated turntable ladders imported from Germany. These ladders are designed to tackle fires and conduct rescue operations in high-rise buildings. These measures ensure that we can respond quickly and effectively to crises, even in areas with heavy traffic or limited space. IANS: What steps is the Delhi Fire Service taking to effectively tackle fires in tall buildings and congested areas? Garg: The Delhi Fire Service has floated tenders to procure six skylifts, including a 90-metre skylift, and seven multi-articulated water towers. These hydraulic ladders will help firefighters reach high-rises and congested areas quickly to effectively douse the blaze. Additionally, two hazmat vans will also be procured to deal with hazardous materials. IANS: Can you explain the role of your department in the grant of NOCs (No Objection Certificates) to commercial buildings? Garg: As a fire department, we do not directly deal with the public for the grant of NOCs to commercial buildings. It is the responsibility of the police or the relevant civic agency to send the case to us for a recommendation. Once we receive the case, we conduct an inspection of the building to ensure that it meets fire safety standards. If we are not satisfied with the building's compliance, we do not issue an NOC. London, April 30 : An Indian-origin crime boss, who conspired to buy and supply Class A drugs and guns on an encrypted communications platform, has been jailed for more than eight years, UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said. Officers found that Raj Singh, 45, of Surrey in south east England worked with Waqas Iqbal, 41, to buy and sell Class A drugs and firearms. They also planned to launder money and send ketamine to Canada. Singh admitted before the Guildford Crown Court conspiracy to supply class A (cocaine), conspiracy to supply class B (ketamine) and money laundering. He also admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon police on a separate matter. The court sentenced Singh, also known as Rajinder Singh Bassi, to eight years and 10 months in prison, and Iqbal to 12 years The sentence also included 16 months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm upon a female police officer. Singh was involved in a pub fight in which he kicked the police officer's leg as she tried to restrain him. The men had not only been involved in many multiple kilo deals to buy and supply Class A drugs, the decrypted messages revealed that in April 2020 Iqbal was in the process of repaying A385,000 for drugs he had taken on credit, according to NCA investigations. Between March and May 2020, the duo plotted multi-kilo consignments of cocaine and heroin. Singh also plotted to send ketamine to Canada. The two were not known by their real names on EncroChat but by 'handles'. Singh was called Salmonagent and Iqbal was Ghostshooter. At the end of March 2020 Iqbal supplied a contact with ammunition for a 7.65 Browning at a meeting on Acacia Road, in London E17. A week later Singh and Iqbal discussed a firearm that Iqbal had hidden in a wall. Over the next few days between April 8 and 10, the men discussed buying another firearm from a contact on EncroChat for 8,000 pounds. Decrypted messages between April and May 2020 also showed the organised crime group in conversations about laundering 151,500 Euros from the UK to the Netherlands. "Though Iqbal and Singh operated within the London area they had criminal connections in multiple countries within mainland Europe and further afield. "Like other high end dealers, Iqbal and Singh are toxic and responsible for causing very serious levels of harm to society," Dean Wallbank, NCA operations manager, said. "They didn't care what bloodshed the guns and drugs led to, just as long as they made money," Wallbank said. Manila, April 30 : Four people are missing after a dive yacht with 32 people sank in the waters off Tubattaha in Palawan province on Sunday morning, the Philippine Coast Guard said. Commodore Armando Balilo said the yacht, M/Y Dream Keeper, sank before 7 a.m. local time Sunday (2300 GMT on Saturday). He said the boat left Cebu Thursday afternoon and arrived in Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park on Saturday night, Xinhua News Agency reported. Balilo said the yacht was carrying 32 people, including 15 crew, 12 passengers, and five divemasters, adding that 28 people have been saved while four are missing. Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is a marine protected area and world-renowned scuba diving site. It is home to more than 1,200 marine species, including sea grasses, algae, corals, sharks, rays, fishes, sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. Seoul, April 30 : US President Joe Biden tweeted that the alliance between the US and South Korea is based on shared beliefs on "democracy, liberty, security, and above all -- freedom," as President Yoon Suk Yeol headed home after a state visit to the US. "The US and Republic of Korea alliance wasn't born out of shared borders, but shared beliefs: Democracy, liberty, security, and above all -- freedom," Biden wrote on Twitter, referring to South Korea's official name, Yonhap news agency reported. Biden posted the comment as Yoon was on his way home from a six-day state visit to the US where the two held summit talks at the White House and agreed on measures to strengthen Washington's extended deterrence commitment to South Korea. "Today, we celebrate the ironclad alliance, shared vision of our future, and the deep friendship that unites the Republic of Korea and the United States. Over the past seven decades, our alliance has grown stronger and more capable," Biden said in a video clip attached to the post. Yoon is set to return home in the afternoon. Rawalpindi, April 30 : Fakhar Zaman smashed his third consecutive ODI century to lead hosts Pakistan to a remarkable record-breaking seven-wicket victory over New Zealand here. The Pakistan opener hit 17 boundaries and six massive sixes during his unbeaten knock of 180* as the Asian side successfully chased down New Zealand's healthy total of 336/5 with 10 deliveries to spare. A host of records fell during the match, as Fakhar became just the fourth Pakistan batter to hit three straight ODI centuries and also claimed the honour of being the fastest player from the country to bring up 3000 ODI runs, reports ICC. Pakistan's total of 337/3 was also the fourth highest ODI score by Pakistan's men's team in an ODI and their second best run chase. Skipper Babar Azam (68) and fellow experienced batter Mohammad Rizwan (54*) played their part in the exciting victory, but it was Fakhar that stole the show as the dynamic left-hander continued his rich vein of form in devastating style. Pakistan needed something special from Fakhar's in reply as New Zealand posted what looked to be a very decent score on the back of a brilliant century from Daryl Mitchell (129) and an equally important knock from captain Tom Latham (98). Mitchell's innings included eight boundaries and three sixes and his score was the highest by an New Zealand batter in an ODI in Pakistan and took him past Ricky Ponting's 124* in 1998 for the highest by any No.3 from a visiting country. Pakistan looked to be cruising to victory in reply with Fakhar and Babar at the crease and the score at 200/1, but the hosts' skipper fell and Abdullah Shafique (7) was dismissed shortly after to provide New Zealand with a glimmer of hope. But Rizwan joined Fakhar at the crease and the experienced duo successfully guided the home side to victory to ensure Pakistan opened up a 2-0 lead in the five-game ODI series. New Delhi, April 30 : A juvenile was held for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor in the Kalyanpuri area, officials said. A senior police official said that on Saturday night, an information was received at police station Kalyanpuri that a girl child was sexually assaulted by a boy. Seeing the gravity of the incident a police team was sent to the spot. During inquiry, the victim alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the boy. The police team took the girl to a nearby government hospital where she was made to undergo a medical test which established sexual assault. "The girl was medically examined at the LBS Hospital and was counselled by child care counsellor," the police said. The official said that the victim was playing in the street in the evening when the accused took her to a vacant house in front of a park near his residence and sexually assaulted her. The victim somehow ran away from the spot raising an alarm. The accused too fled from there. "The victim narrated the incident to her mother after which the police were informed. On medical examination, doctors confirmed the assault. A case under section 376 IPC and 6 POCSO Act has been registered and the accused has been apprehended. He was found to be a juvenile," said the police. New Delhi, April 30 : A 22-year-old youth was stabbed by two persons after he denied them cigarettes in North East Delhi's Nand Nagri area. The police said the incident took place on April 28, at around 11:15 p.m. near E-3 Block Nand Nagri Park. "Victim Fahim was roaming in the park when two persons approached him. They asked Fahim to give them a cigarette to smoke. When Fahim denied, they stabbed him," the police said. The police said that a case of attempt to murder was lodged and investigation was taken up. Later, following a tip off the police apprehended the two accused, who have been identified as Ravinder and Chetan alias Lucky. "Both groups had fought with each other over a petty issue about five months ago," the police said. Further investigation in the matter is on. By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 22:04 | All, Japan, G7, World The Group of Seven advanced nations on Sunday called for international standards to ensure the "responsible" use of artificial intelligence, as they seek to harness rapidly developing technologies like AI bot ChatGPT while mitigating privacy concerns and other risks. With data a critical component in trade and AI development, the G-7 digital and technology ministers also agreed following their two-day meeting in eastern Japan to establish an international arrangement to enhance the free flow of trusted data across national borders. The gathering took place as countries seek to keep up with the fast-moving pace of AI development, with ChatGPT, made by U.S. venture OpenAI, grabbing worldwide attention over the past few months with its ability to generate more natural and human-like text responses than previous AI tools. While recognizing that approaches to achieve "the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI" may vary across G-7 members, the representatives from Japan, the United States and European nations said in their joint declaration released after their talks that they are resolved to "promote international technical standards" toward that end. They expressed opposition to "the misuse and abuse of AI to undermine democratic values, suppress freedom of expression, and threaten the enjoyment of human rights," apparently reflecting concerns over countries such as China where high-tech mass surveillance are believed to be used against certain ethnic groups. The joint statement also cited five principles for policymakers to govern the use of AI and other emerging technologies -- rule of law, due process, democracy, respect for human rights and harnessing opportunities for innovation. "The G-7 should accelerate discussions on the potential of generative AI in a responsible manner," Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takeaki Matsumoto told a joint press conference that was also attended by Digital Minister Taro Kono and others. In an action plan on AI issues, which was adopted along with the declaration, the G-7 called for broader stakeholder participation in developing international standards over AI governance frameworks, and promoting dialogue on topics such as risk assessment. While AI tools like ChatGPT, which has garnered 100 million users around the world in less than three months since its launch in November, could be highly beneficial, concerns have also been raised over their unauthorized collection of large amounts of personal data and potential misuse. Chatbots have been known to produce outputs that are factually incorrect as well as perpetuate biases, while AI art generators like DALL-E 2, also by OpenAI, have been used to create deepfakes -- realistic depictions of fake scenarios that are another form of disinformation. Countries have so far differed in their approaches on how to balance the use of the innovative technology and regulations, with Japan taking a more cautious approach in regulations than the United States and European nations. To promote so-called Data Free Flow with Trust, a concept proposed by Japan, the G-7 ministers noted the need to "accelerate and operationalize" the idea, calling that data "an enabler of economic growth, development and social well-being." The idea aims to enable the full potential of global economic growth without compromising the privacy and security of individuals and businesses. Under the new institutional framework, the Japanese government aims to lay out a road map for future projects such as creating a base registry that businesses can use to reference other countries' data regulations. The officials from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union also adopted separate action plans for internet governance and enhancing resilient digital infrastructure in light of geopolitical risks. The former seeks to collaborate in addressing internet shutdowns, network restrictions and violations of human rights using digital tools, as well as fake news and other forms of disinformation seen, for example, during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We resolve to cooperate in making visible and tackling the tactics of digital authoritarianism" and "remain committed to protecting our democratic institutions and values from foreign threats," the statement said. The G-7 also voiced commitment to constructing secure network infrastructure to support emerging and developing countries and promoting collaboration to improve the connectivity of undersea cables. The weekend gathering in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, jointly chaired by Matsumoto, Kono, and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, was one in a series of ministerial meetings taking place in the run-up to the G-7 summit next month. India and Indonesia, this year's respective hosts of meetings of the Group of 20 major economies and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as Ukraine, also participated in the meeting in Takasaki. Related coverage: G-7 ministers agree on 5 principles to govern AI, emerging tech Digital experts discuss responsible governance ahead of G-7 meeting Cyberattacks increasing in Japan ahead of G-7 summit Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, after the last day for the withdrawal of nominations, three serious candidates were left in the fray in the stronghold of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam. They were Union Minister of State for Law P.C. Thomas contesting for the first time since 1989, when he was first elected from the constituency as a NDA candidate; the CPI-M's P.M. Ismail and Jose K. Mani from the Kerala Congress (Mani). Political pundits and observers, including the BJP, were sure of the result, for the seat had traditionally returned UDF candidates and that too with huge margins. (The Muvattupuzha seat, incidentally, is not there anymore. Following delimitation, it has been merged into the Idukki, Kottayam and Ernakulam seats.) P.C. Thomas had won with the highest margin in Kerala from the constituency but now the situation had changed. He was contesting as a NDA candidate from the Indian Federal Democratic Party (IFDP), which he had just floated. The fight was between the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress led UDF candidate with PM Ismail and Jose K Mani entering the fray, with the latter the hot favourite for the seat. An array of senior leaders reached the constituency which has a high ratio of Christians with Hindus and Muslims also not in negligible volumes. P.C. Thomas, son of late P.T. Chacko - former home minister of Kerala, was a popular leader in the constituency. Due a fight with then leader of the Kerala Congress, K.M. Mani who was then a revenue minister in the A.K. Antony government of Kerala, he had to quit the Kerala Congress. Being a sitting Lok Sabha MP, the BJP leadership found an opportunity and through the late Scaria Thomas, who was a two-term MP from Kottayam for the Kerala Congress (Mani), the then BJP leader and Union Minister Pramod Mahajan lured Thomas into the NDA. P.C. Thomas and Scaria Thomas had then floated the IFDP with the support of late Mohan Dilkar (MP of Daman and Diu) and don- turned-politician, Pappu Yadav. The IFDP was made an ally of the National Democratic Alliance and in 2003, P.C. Thomas was sworn in as Union Minister of State for Law and Justice in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government. Arun Jaitley was then the Union Minister for Law and Justice in the Vajpayee cabinet. The 2004 Lok Sabha elections saw a high powered campaign and the UDF neglected P.C. Thomas as the seat was a sure bet for the Congress led front given the high volume of the Christian community in Muvattupuzha. P.C. Thomas was undeterred given his excellent rapport with the constituency, the grassroot connect of being a six term MP and the rapport with all the Church heads. With the 'India Shining' campaign of Pramod Mahajan striking a chord with the voters, after the first round, there was a feeling that Thomas was also in the race. However the senior campaigners and backroom boys of the BJP were not enthused and expected that Thomas would finish a distant third but the RSS leadership was determined and J. Nandakumar, then RSS Kerala Saha Prantha Pracharak was the man behind the show. He is currently the head of the RSS think tank Prajna Pravah and based out of New Delhi. When the election campaign reached the third and fourth rounds, P.C. Thomas was inching his way up and Jose K. Mani's camp of the UDF which had neglected him suddenly understood that things were not that easy and the senior leader was striking a chord with the voters. In fact what helped Thomas and the BJP was the basic study of the constituency and proper homework as to how they could reach out to different strata of the society to get the votes. The team working diligently for Thomas could understand that the Christian community at large did not have any major issue with the BJP and they highlighted the Vajpayee government at the Centre and the possibility of Thomas returning to the Union cabinet. The strategy paid off and P.C. Thomas won the seat by a slender margin of 529 votes. The votes polled by the three major candidates were: Jose K. Mani (Kerala Congress-M) 2,09,880 votes, P.M. Ismail (CPI-M) 2,55,882 votes and P.C. Thomas (IFDP) 2,56,411 votes. Jose K. Mani, who was banking on the Christian vote bank, was a distant third, and the CPI-M candidate, P.M. Ismail gave a tough fight to Thomas, thanks to the organisational machinery of the CPI-M. The victory of Thomas is a classic example of how the Christian community would vote for a leader who has acceptability, credibility and mass appeal. If the present Kerala leadership of the BJP tries to pull in such leaders, victory may not be a distant dream for the saffron party in Kerala. Aizawl, April 30 : Like other northeastern states, the Congress ruled for many years in the Christian and tribal dominated state of Mizoram, where the BJP is gradually becoming a strong political force as the grand old party is steadily losing its base. Underground outfit turned political party Mizo National Front (MNF), now a constituent of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), has won assembly polls in the mountainous state in 1986, 1998, 2003 and 2018 while the Congress was victorious in the remaining assembly elections. The BJP by putting up candidates in 8 to 15 seats started unsuccessfully contesting the elections to the 40-member Mizoram assembly since 1993 but could not open its account until 2013. The saffron party secured 3.11 per cent votes in the 1993 polls, 2.50 per cent in 1998, 1.87 per cent in 2003, only 0.44 per cent in 2008 and in the 2013 assembly polls it secured 0.37 per cent votes. In the last assembly polls in 2018, the saffron party fielded candidates on 39 seats and won only one seat while the deposits of 33 candidates were forfeited. The BJP managed 8.09 per cent votes in the 2018 election. BJP MLA Buddha Dhan Chakma is the only saffron party legislator in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly, for which elections would be held in November-December this year. Chakma won the Tuichawng assembly seat in the 2018 elections and the BJP for the first time entered the state assembly. Ahead of the next assembly elections this year end and before the next year's Lok Sabha polls, the BJP's success in the recent elections to the tribal autonomous district councils, got the Congress and the local parties including the ruling MNF, worried while boosting the saffron party. The BJP earlier this month for the first time swept the election to the Village Councils (VCs) under the Mara Autonomous District Council. The BJP won the majority of the seats in 41 of the 99 VCs while the ruling MNF secured a majority in 25 VCs. The Congress and the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) got a majority in eight and two VCs respectively. Independent candidates won one VC while there is no clear majority in 22 VCs. Of the total 492 Village Council seats, the BJP won 232 seats, the MNF managed 127 seats, the Congress bagged seats in the April 18 elections to the Village Councils under MADC. In May last year, the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 25-member Mara Autonomous District Council polls in south Mizoram's Siaha district. It won 12 seats, one seat short of getting an absolute majority. Like Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya, for the overall socio-economic development of different tribal communities, Mizoram has three tribal autonomous bodies -- Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC), Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) and the Mara Autonomous District Council (MADC). Since the last Assembly elections in 2018, the BJP has been playing the minority card which has seen positive electoral outcomes in elections to the Autonomous District Councils during the past year. Political pundits predict that the BJP is likely to do better in the next Mizoram assembly elections, due in November-December this year. Media reports in Mizoram said that the BJP's electoral prospects brightened after the resignation of Mizoram Social Welfare and Tribal Affairs Minister K. Beichhua in December last year. State Chief Minister and ruling MNF president Zoramthanga asked Beichhua to step down from the council of ministers. Beichhua, who was elected from the Siaha constituency as the MNF nominee for two consecutive terms since 2013, along with a few MLAs from other parties is likely to join the BJP and contest from Siaha assembly seat on a BJP ticket, local media reports said. In another significant development, Mizoram assembly speaker Lalrinliana Sailo said that he is in favour of the ruling MNF joining the BJP. Adviser to the MNF party, Sailo saying that he would discuss the issue with chief minister Zoramthanga, asserted that the BJP has done a good job in the country and the northeastern region and there must be a large number of people willing to join the party for the sake of development. Considering its recent local body poll success, the BJP is highly optimistic about its growth in the future elections in the border state. Mizoram BJP president Vanlalhmuaka said: "The assembly elections in the state are more than six months away. Our state leaders and workers are working hard to further strengthen our party and we are confident of doing much better in the next assembly polls." He said that the BJP would field candidates for all the 40 assembly seats. "Considering the party's performance in other northeastern states, people of Mizoram have trust in the BJP as they predict that no other party including the MNF would be able to form the next government in the state after the elections," Vanlalhmuaka said. The BJP leaders are busy in mobilising support in the non-Mizo and minority dominated areas in Mamit, Siaha, Lunglei and Lawngtlai districts, where a considerable number of Reang, Chakma and Hmar tribals are residing. However, political commentators said that the majority of the Mizo people would not support the BJP as they consider that the party is anti-Christian due to its strong Hindutva ideology and agenda. They said that the BJP is most unlikely to raise its tally much unless it ties up with NDA ally MNF. The BJP had contested 39 seats and secured 8.09 per cent votes against the ruling MNF's 37.70 per cent in the 2018 Assembly polls. With a population of 1.1 million (2011 census), India's second least populous state Mizoram is home to various Mizo tribes. Christianity has emerged as the major religion in three northeastern states -- Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya, where tribals constitute 86 per cent to 95 per cent of the total population. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : The unexpected loss of the BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2004 general elections to a United Progressive Alliance (UPA) dispensation was a major reason for the Christian community of Kerala moving away from the saffron party in Kerala. Even though P.C. Thomas, the then Union Minister of State for Law and Justice who had the support of a section of the Catholic church while contesting as an NDA candidate in Muvattupzha Lok Sabha seat leading to his wafer thin victory, the BJP in Kerala could not maintain the momentum. The major reason for the BJP losing out from the close association it had enjoyed was lost as the NDA at the Centre lost the 2004 polls to the Congress-led UPA. It may be recalled that it was the then Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani who had accommodatedThomas in the Union Cabinet of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a bid to break the Kerala conundrum and win the hearts of the Christian community, especially the Syrian Catholic Community which has its own lineage and influence in Kerala. The powerful Kerala Congress (Mani) leader, K.M. Mani, who was one of the longest serving Finance Ministers of the state and who completed five decades of representing the Pala constituency, had a meeting with L.K. Advani in New Delhi mediated by some senior journalists of the state. While Mani was open to an alliance with the BJP, he was a bit sceptical leading to his former disciples-turned-political enemies, P.C. Thomas and Skariah Thomas (a two-term Lok Sabha MP) jumping the bandwagon and entering into a political alliance with the BJP. This has led to P.C. Thomas becoming a Union Minister in the Vajpayee cabinet. Even though P.C. Thomas won the seat inflicting a shocking defeat to both the LDF and UDF in Muvattupuzha, the loss suffered by the NDA at the Centre and the ascendency of a Congress led dispensation resulted in the Syrian Catholic Community and other Christian groups shying away from the move for a political alliance in Kerala with the BJP. It was crystal clear that if the BJP had come to power in 2004 at the Centre, there would have been a plethora of leaders quitting the Congress, Kerala Congress, and joining the saffron camp or becoming part of an alliance in NDA. The loss of 2004 kept the Christian groups to take two steps backward. The back-to-back victories of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the belief and expectations for a third continuous term has made the Church again speak to the RSS and BJP leadership. The positive inputs from powerful clergy like the Pala and Thalassery Bishops are clear indicators that the Catholic church want to share power and for that it was ready for a covert or overt alliance with the BJP. The BJP is also playing ball to the Catholic church overtures and Union Minister of State John Barla has been a regular in Kerala and meeting the Catholic church heads, both openly and discreetly. BJP Kerala state vice president and a former RSS pracharak, A.N. Radhakrishnan was one of the few leaders who climbed the Catholic hill shrine of Malayatoor during the Easter. This is the first time a leader of the stature of Radhakrishnan had gone on a pilgrimage to Malayatoor. With the BJP in an all-out effort to reach out to the 18.35 per cent strong Christian community in Kerala, and if the church extends support in some constituencies, the party is certain to win a few seats in state and this could open up a plethora of possibilities for the saffron brigade. Panaji, April 30 : In the 40-member Legislative Assembly of Goa, there are 16 Christian MLAs and most of them are BJP members. However, political leaders and people opine that all Christian voters are not with the saffron party. According to them, people vote for individuals and not for the party. However, the BJP is trying hard to reach out to the Christian voters, who can change the political equations in the coastal state. The BJP currently has 11 Christian MLAs. Leaving aside Joshua De Souza, the rest of the MLAs are all imported by the saffron party and have roots in the Congress. Joshua De Souza's father, the late Francis De Souza, was first elected as an MLA in 1999 as a candidate of the Goa Rajiv Congress Party. Later in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017, he contested on BJP tickets. After his death in 2019, Joshua De Souza got elected in a 2019 by-election on a BJP ticket. He is currently the Deputy Speaker of Goa Assembly, who won a second time in 2022. After the February 2022 Assembly polls, the BJP elected Joshua De Souza, Atanasio Monserrate and his wife Jennifer Monserrate, Mauvin Godinho and Nilesh Cabral, who had camaraderie of people as individual. The saffron party also got support of Independent MLAs Antonio Vas and Aleixo Lourenco. Lourenco was a former Congressman, who quit the party and had joined Trinamool Congress. But ahead of the Assembly elections, he also left the Trinamool and contested as an Independent. In September 2022, former Chief Minister Digambar Kamat, Michael Lobo, Delilah Lobo, Kedar Naik, Sankalp Amonkar, Rajesh Faldesai, Aleixo Sequeira and Rudolf Fernandes joined the BJP, reducing the Congress to three MLA's in the 40-member state Assembly. Congress MLAs, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao, Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Altone D'Costa, and AAP MLAs Venzy Viegas and Cruz Silva, are left in opposition side out of the 16 MLAs of Christian community. Salcete Taluka, having eight constituencies, was once a stronghold of Congress. The BJP eyeing this taluka had tried to elect its candidates, but could win only one seat from the Navelim constituency in 2022. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, after the election, had said that as they won one seat from Salcete, now they will start making inroads in seven other constituencies. Even the late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had started 'Mission Salcete' to strengthen the foothold, but nothing much happened then. Salcete has always benefited the Congressto form a government as the majority of their candidates used to win from here. This taluka is believed to be a game changer in the politics of Goa. Speaking to IANS, Independent MLA Aleixo Lourenco (from Salcete) said that Goans don't vote for a party, they vote for an individual. "The results of the last Assembly elections have proved it. Notion of Congress means Christian is faded. It is not there now. At the end of the day in politics nothing is permanent. If BJP does well then people will vote for BJP, if it doesn't then people will not vote. You will come to know trends in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It will depend on who is the candidate," he said. Former Fatorda MLA and General Secretary of BJP, Damodar Naik said that the Christian community is slowly coming towards the saffron party, but people will vote for individual candidates. "In my constituency, the Christian ST members supported me as an individual and not for the party. When one person gets elected, we can't consider that the whole crunch of voters have shifted to the party. That never happens. People give more importance to individuals than to the party," Naik said. He said that currently, Christians are getting attracted to the BJP, "but there are some hurdles..." Naik said that there are some Hindu-dominated constituencies in Goa from where Christian candidates have won. "What this trend tells us is that people vote for individuals, in such cases BJP's vote percentage has increased." "There is no such trend that Christians in large numbers are walking together with the BJP, but slowly it will happen. I would not say that Christians are only with the BJP, as people are also looking for new parties as an option. People also have the fear that if voted to Congress then they will switch sides," Naik said. Former AICC Secretary Girish Chodankar said that the BJP is trying to set a narrative that Christian voters are with them. "But it is not correct. Though they robbed our MLAs and leaders that doesn't mean that people have shifted to BJP along with defectors." "Across the nation, the BJPs 'Pick and Choose' politics has been exposed. The BJP changes their strategies as per region. Their many organisations also play a role to help them politically to achieve their agenda. They are using Christian leaders in the northeast and Goa and damage the community in more organised way in other states. "If they had love for the Christian community, then they would have not brought notification of Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) introducing new restrictions," Chodankar added. According to new restrictions, Goa OCIs cannot donate to temples, churches, mosques and gurdwaras and remitting funds to loved ones back in India has made difficult. "The BJP's love for Christians is not reflected in policy decisions and also in National Education Policy or OCI notifications," Chodankar said, adding that the community has always trusted the Congress and they still are with the 'Grand Old Party'. Savio Cutinho, former chairperson of Margao Municipal Council from Salcete, said that the BJP may have got Christian MLAs from Congress, but there is a big question whether a big chunk of Christian voters have shifted along with their MLAs. "Few close supporters of these MLAs may have shifted to the BJP to get their works done. I don't think that all those who voted for them will be with the BJP. People have realised that BJP is showing a carrot of jobs, which is not possible to create in this financial situation of the state," Cutinho said. Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : The Roman Catholic Pala diocese is a major centre for the church in Kerala as this area comprises rich and effluent Christians with high academic background. The Kerala BJP and the Sangh Parivar forces have been clamouring about 'Love Jihad' or Muslim youths luring Hindu girls under the pretext of love, converting them and marrying them and later ditching them and in extreme cases taking them to Afghanisthan and Syria as suicide bombers. The two have also been in the forefront of this subject and the movement suddenly got a shot in the arm when the Archbishop of Pala, Mar Joseph Kallarangat had stated that young men and women belonging to the Christian community and other non-Muslim faiths were being lured and targeted via 'love jihad' and 'narcotic jihad'. The Bishop went on to say that those who said that 'love jihad' does not exist in the society, were turning a blind eye to the reality. He also charged heavily against politicians and social, cultural organisations and media and said that those who does not accept the truth have their own vested interests. He said that the Church was losing their women and that this was not love but a war strategy to destroy their lives. The Bishop also alluded with the statement of the former Kerala Director General of Police (DGP), Loknath Behra that the state was becoming a recruitment centre for terrorists and a home for sleeper cells. He went on to citethe examples of Nimisha, a Hindu girl from Thiruvananthapuram who was a dental student and got converted to Islam. She changed her name to Fatima and went to Afghanistan. He also narrated the ordeal of the Christian Catholic girl, Sonia Sebastian who became Ayesha and went to Afghanistan. Mar Joseph Kallarangat said that how such women are ending up in terror camps have to be studied in detail. The statement of the Bishop while addressing the laity at a public programme in September 2021 created ripples in Kerala with several Muslim organisations coming out against his remarks. The Muslim organisations led by the extremist organisation, Popular Front of India (PFI) and other organisations conducted a march towards the Pala Bishop House and even threatened physical assault against the Bishop. However this was an opportune moment for the Kerala BJP and other arms of the Sangh Parivar who found a partner in Bishop Kallarangat. The Kerala state president of the BJP, K. Surendran immediately said that 'love jihad' and 'narcotic jihad' were real and the perpetrators were linked to extremist elements. The Christian Association and Alliance for Social Action (CASA), a Kerala based Christian movement, has been in the forefront of exposing 'love jihad'. It has time and again warned that 'love jihad' is a global phenomenon and Muslim youths have been trying to lure women to convert to marry them or to take them to conflict-hit nations like Afghanistan and Syria. The BJP has been using the statement of the Bishop and the covert and overt stands taken by the Catholic church especially the Syro Malabar church regarding 'love jihad'. On the condition of anonymity, a senior BJP leader told IANS: "The situation is entirely different. The Syro Malabar Church has now waken up to the reality that women are being lost and that they were being taken to international terror camps and that both the left front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front would never support them. They know that it is only the BJP and Sangh Parivar who extend a hand to them and naturally we know that they have become more friendlier towards us." The BJP and the RSS has been conducting several outreach programmes with the Church in Kerala and 'love jihad' has been a prominent subject in all these meetings. The Church also feels that they need not keep a distance from the BJP as the issues are real and that the Christian community is suffering the most. The BJP knows for sure that it needs the support of the Catholic church to win at least a few seats in Kerala in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections and with the Church also waking up to the reality that it can unite with the saffron camp. The left-front and the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front came out against Pala Arch Bishop on his statements and this is also another reason why the Christian community is reaching out to the BJP. With the ground realities in its favour, the saffron groups are mounting extensive campaign among the Christian groups including CASA and the Churches to support them. It has however to be seen whether the laity would support the saffron groups as expected by the Church and the BJP, RSS groupings and this could be clear only in the run up to the 2024 general elections. Kohima, April 30 : Christian and tribal dominated Nagaland is the first state in the northeastern region where the BJP entered the 60-member assembly by winning seven seats in 2003, 19 years after the saffron party first won two Lok Sabha seats in 1984 in the country. When the Congress' organisational strength started diminishing in the northeastern states including Nagaland, the BJP started expanding its base in the region, which has 498 MLAs and 25 Lok Sabha members in eight states including Sikkim. The grand old party, which ruled Nagaland till 2003, could not win a single seat in the 2018 and 2023 assembly polls. The Congress won only 8 seats in 2013 and 23 seats in the 2008 assembly polls. The BJP first unsuccessfully contested the Nagaland assembly polls in 1987, when the party fielded two candidates but both nominees' deposits were forfeited. The saffron party fielded six candidates in 1993, who too forfeited their deposits. In the 2003 assembly polls, the BJP nominated 38 candidates and won seven seats marking its presence in the state assembly for the first time. However, 28 of the BJP candidates forfeited their deposits. In this election, the party secured 10.88 per cent votes. In the 2008 polls, the BJP's seat and vote shares reduced drastically. The party contested on 23 seats but bagged only two seats and 5.35 per cent votes. In the 2013 assembly polls, the BJP's electoral performance further decreased when the party won only one seat after contesting from 11 constituencies. The vote share also reduced to 1.75 per cent. In the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP allied with the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) and contested on 20 seats increasing its winning tally to 12 and got 15.31 per cent votes. In the February 27 (2023) assembly polls, the BJP-NDPP alliance following its 2018 formula contested on 20 and 40 assembly seats respectively. The BJP secured an equal number of 12 seats while the NDPP won 25 seats. The saffron party however increased its vote share to 18.81 per cent. The BJP's first state victory in the northeast region in Assam in 2016, came two years after the Modi government first came to power at the Centre in 2014. The BJP government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had created a dedicated central ministry -- Development of North Eastern Region -- in 2004 for the development of India's northeast. The creation of the DoNER ministry and the BJP's "development mantra" helped the party to convince the people of the region that it always gives priority to the development of all sections. According to Union Minister of DoNER, Culture and Tourism G. Kishan Reddy, in the last nine years over Rs five lakh crore have been spent to ensure the development of the northeastern region, comprising eight states. He said that several mega connectivity projects such as 17 new airports, ongoing road projects worth Rs 1.05 lakh cr, and rail projects worth Rs 77,930 crore are being executed. Unlike the Congress regime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to the region more than 50 times and almost all central ministers, MPs' and senior leaders' frequent visits boosted the party to reach newer areas of the mountainous region. Besides the "development mantra", many prominent Congress leaders and workers quit the party and either joined the BJP or the other parties helped the saffron party to grow in Nagaland and other neighbouring states. Political pundits said that the BJP leaders considered that the northeast was a virgin territory for the party and it needed to tap into it if it had to grow beyond the Hindi heartland and stay in power at the Centre for long. When Amit Shah took over as BJP chief, he had emphasised the importance of the northeast, political commentator Sukumar Ghosh said, adding that the 2019 Lok Sabha polls showed the plans were working beyond the dynamics of state politics. The party and its allies swept the region in the 2019 parliamentary elections. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the eight northeastern states, 14 were secured by the Bharatiya Janata Party while its allies won four and the Congress secured four. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland, Mizo National Front (MNF) in Mizoram, National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya, Naga People's Front in Manipur, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) in Sikkim and an Independent (Naba Kumar Sarania) in Assam got one seat each. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, Assam has 14 constituencies, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura have two seats each, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim have one seat each. After the latest round of state assembly polls in February in three states -- Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland -- the region is again going to play a crucial role in 2024 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks his third straight term. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : The recent two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kerala was marked by a slew of programmes including the 'YUVAM' outreach programme for youths, flagging of the first 'Vande Bharath' train service in Kerala, flagging of the first water metro in the country and announcing several projects of Indian railways in Kerala. However, one meeting stood out as it was a political meeting the Prime Minister had with the head of several churches in the state in a Kochi hotel. The meeting saw the participation of Cardinal George Alanchery, one of the most powerful and influential Church head of the Syrian Catholic Church, Cardinal Cyril Mar Baselios Clemis of the Syro-Malankara Catholic church and heads of other denominations of the Church. It may be noted that the Cardinals have voting power for the election of the Pope and both Cardinal George Alenchery and Mar Baselios Cleemis are very powerful and influential in their own rights. While what transpired between the Prime Minister and the Church heads inside a closed room was not revealed, BJP state President, K. Surendran who was a participant of the meeting with the Church heads, told media persons that the meeting was highly fruitful. Days ahead for the BJP in the electoral arena of Kerala will be decided as to how the Christian community's excellent rapport with the BJP is converted into votes. While BJP has a senior leader like George Kurien, who was the national Vice President of the Yuva Morcha (the youth body of the BJP) and currently party state general secretary in its ranks, the party is keen that Christians from all walks of life are joining the BJP. The BJP of late has been trying to ensure that the party votes are not being polled to any other party (In earlier times, the BJP was accused of transferring its votes to the Congress in a bid to prevent the CPI-M from winning the seats). This strategy of the BJP was opposed by several of the local level party leaders and even many hardcore RSS cadres, as they wanted to see the return of the CPI-M and Left politics in Kerala and if the BJP-RSS combine had transferred a few votes to the Congress-led UDF in some constituencies of Kerala, it would have been an easy win for the UDF. However, after back-to-back defeats in 2016 and 2021 assembly elections, the Congress-led UDF is in a weak spot and this has helped the BJP to gain ground in the state. A weak Congress will definitely lead to disgruntled cadres shifting their support to the BJP as CPI-M is a no-no party for many of those who supports Congress in Kerala and this would definitely be of advantage to the BJP. In Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency which has a strong Christian influence, BJP candidate was its state president, K. Surendran. While Surendran finished third in the polls, he garnered 2,97,396 votes. The winner was Anto Antony of Congress with 3,80,927 votes while the second place was secured by the present minister and CPI-M leader, Veena George who got 3,36,884 votes. It will be easy for the BJP to win at Pathanamthitta if the Church gives a hand and the meeting at Kochi between the Prime Minister and the Church heads seems to have reached into such an agreement. The Archbishop of Thalassery, Mar Joseph Pamplani has openly said that the Church would try to ensure that BJP gets MPs from Kerala if the rubber price is hiked to Rs 300 per kilogram as most of the farmers are depending on rubber prices. Pathanamthitta is a constituency with a huge Christian population who are dependent on rubber and with hardly 50,000 votes more for the BJP candidate means, he can win the seat. With BJP likely to field K. Surendran again from Pathanamthitta, the party is expecting a full hearted support from the Christian denominations and if the support transfers into votes, it will be BJP's time of triumph in Kerala. A new Christian political party is formed in Kerala, National People's Party (NPP) with former member of the National Minority Commission, V.V. Augustine as its Chairman. Former Kerala Congress MLA, Johny Nellore is the working Chairman of the new party while another former MLA, Mathew Stephen is the party's Vice Chairman. There are reports that the new party is formed with the support and blessings of various Church denominations and this is considered as a move by the BJP to bring those Christians who cannot directly align with the BJP through this route into the NDA camp. With BJP in an all-out move to get a foothold in Kerala, it has to be seen how the outreach with the Christians would benefit the party and the first testing time would be the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP's rocky relations with the Christian community was thrusted to the forefront on several occasions in the recent past. Not long ago, in 2021, India saw frequent attacks on Christians and churches-up to 300 attacks were recorded in the first nine months of 2021. In late October that year, Pope Francis, the global head of the Catholic Church, was visiting India -- the country with Asia's second-largest Christian population. However, shortly prior to that on the occasion of Dussehra, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had sent out a word of warning to Hindus against religious conversion and alleged "demographic changes" in the northeastern states which have Christian population in majority. Soon after Bhagwat's speech, a BJP legislator in Madhya Pradesh, Rameshwar Sharma, called for a "Chadar Mukt, Father Mukt Bharat" India (indicating an India free of Muslims and Christian priests) in a speech. Matters had escalated to the extent that violent attacks on churches and Christians began breaking out across India; mobs even openly announced to "behead" them to stop them from converting Hindus. In July in the same year, Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy, popularly known as Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest who had worked closely with tribals of Jharkhand for over five decades, breathed his last two days after he was put on a ventilator following a cardiac arrest. He was arrested the previous October in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence. Additionally, was held on the charges of wanting to create a Muslim-Dalit alliance and conspiring against the Indian state in close collaboration with Maoists. He was detained under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and was facing a trial that never happened. He died ailing in judicial custody at the age of 84. Further back, a landmark incident in the act of violence against the Christian community was the killing of Staines. Graham Stuart Staines, an Australian Christian missionary, was working in Odisha since 1965 as part of an evangelical missionary organisation called Mayurbhanj Leprosy Home and cared for people with leprosy. He also cared for tribals in the area who lived in abject poverty. However, some Hindu groups alleged that he lured many Hindus into in the Christian faith. The Wadhwa Commission revealed that although some tribals had been baptised, there was no evidence of forced conversions. But in January 1999, Staines, along with his two sons (aged 10 and 6), was charred to death by Bajrang Dal fundamentalist. In 2003, Bajrang Dal activist Dara Singh was convicted of leading the murderers and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Fast forward to 2023, in the well-informed state of Kerala, BJP has been trying to make inroads, but via its Christian community. However, the Christian leadership in the southern state is divided in their approach to the ruling party, and there is a significant difference along caste and ecumenical lines within the church in Kerala. When the Prime Minister visited the southern state on April 25, he met eight spiritual leaders of churches who belong to the Episcopal Churches. However, there was a conspicuous absence of the representatives of prominent sects among Keralite Christians. The Protestant churches, including the Church of South India and Pentecostal Churches and other evangelical churches were not present on the ocassion. Marthoma Church, a Protestant denomination, was invited but it did not attend. This points to the ecumenical sects that see BJP as a possible political alternative. Also, the churches that attended the meet represented the dominant group -- the Syrian Christians of various sects across the state. Kerala is home to nearly 61.41 lakh Christians that add up to 18.38 per cent of the state's population. Kerala has had a trend whereby the Christian vote, just as the Muslim vote, goes to the Congress-led United Democratic Front's (UDF). But, in 2021 Assembly elections, a visible shift was observed in the voting trend and the churches in Kerala appeared to warm up to BJP. However, a priest from Idukki district had said: "The UDF largely represents Muslim leaders who support both Muslim League and Congress. Now even LDF has become a viable option for Christian political leaders because of this." 'Love jihad' and 'narcotics jihad' became matters of concern when a Bishop in central Kerala's Pala in 2021, accused Muslims in the state of "corrupting Christian youth with narcotics and luring them into Islam." Further, in north Kerala's Kozhikode district, Syro-Malabar church went on to publish a booklet on love jihad and accused Muslim men of luring Christian women into their faith. Meanwhile, semi-political Christian outfits like Christian Alliance for Social Action (CASA) have swayed the community towards BJP. CASA has a decisive say within the community and it has been vehemently opposing the alleged "allurement" of Christians into Islam. However, it is not yet known to what extent the Christian vote has successfully turned in favour of BJP. Fears also abound regarding demographic alteration in the state with respect to conversion to Islam. In the backdrop of these dynamics, and in the run up to 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP has held out its hand to a community that its ideological mentor was suppressing just two years back. (Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in) Lucknow, April 30 : With the Uttar Pradesh Urban Local Body (ULB) election around the corner, the BJP is reaching out to the Muslim community, primarily the Pasmandas. For the first time, all parties have given tickets to Muslims in abundance.The BJP has also reposed faith in Muslim candidates this time. According to political experts, the BJP keeps on experimenting continuously, so that it can get electoral success. This is the reason why the BJP, which has so far refrained from giving tickets to Muslims, has fielded a large number of minority candidates for the first time in the municipal elections. But, only the results will tell how successful this bet will be. The party has fielded 391 Muslim candidates for elections. The BJP has given tickets to Muslim candidates for several posts, ranging from the president of Nagar Palikas to counsellors of the Municipal Corporations (Nagar Nigam). Experts said that the BJP has set a target of winning the maximum number of local bodies in this election. That is why the party has expressed faith in Muslim candidates in minority dominated areas. The BSP has also played a big bet on Muslims in the election. For the first time, they have fielded 65 per cent candidates only from this community. According to political experts, the BJP has either never won or contested in the bodies and wards in which Muslim candidates have been fielded. By reposing faith in Muslim candidates, these people have created a strategy to make a dent in the large vote bank of the minority community. UP's minority welfare minister Danish Azad Ansari said: "Muslims are joining our party by trusting the development politics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Our party has never done vote bank politics." "Only BJP wants the empowerment of Muslims. Our party wants the upliftment of this society. In the upcoming local body polls, the BJP has given a large number of tickets to Muslims." On the appointment of Muslim candidate, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma, said: "BJP has always been accused of being anti-minority. Since the BJP has now come to know that its ground is going to slip in the civic elections, it is doing such things. But the Muslim society has not forgotten its insult. They know that SP fights for them." Senior political analyst Ratanmani Lal said that since 2012 till now, the BJP has kept the Muslim community away from its campaign. But in the last two-three years, slowly a soft corner is being seen from the side of RSS and BJP towards them. Senior political analyst and expert on Muslim politics, Hussain Afsar said that in a democracy, all parties want to get votes from every section. That is why the BJP has taken this step. The BJP has distributed tickets keeping in mind the Pasmanda Muslims. Actually, through the local body elections, they want to do a test before the Lok Sabha election. Los Angeles, April 30 : Actress Denise Richards has admitted she was left "heartbroken" after being criticised for her sexualised James Bond role. The 52-year-old actress played Dr Christmas Jones in 'The World Is Not Enough', but was "panned" for her performance after wearing a crop top and a tiny pair of shorts, reports mirror.co.uk. Denise Richards starred as Dr Christmas Jones in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, but faced backlash for wearing a racy outfit while playing the scientist. Denise, who starred alongside Pierce Brosnan in the film, said she received insults from people who would question why she wore shorts if her character was a nuclear scientist. Speaking about the backlash in a new interview, she recalled: "It broke my heart that people were making fun of me." Responding to the criticism, Denise added: "I'm playing a Bond girl. If I wore a lab coat and pants and a suit, then (fans) would have been upset." A new star is needed to take on the iconic role of James Bond after Daniel Craig announced he would be retiring from the role of the sophisticated spy four years ago. Speaking to Variety, Denise shared her thoughts on who should take over the role. "Definitely a male Bond, I'm sorry. And I might get a lot of flack for this. But the fact of the matter is the Bond franchise was based off of a book franchise and Bond was male in the books," she explained. She added: "I do, and people may s**t on me for it, but I believe it."The Hollywood star suggested there could be a spin-off film with a female version of 007. KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 10:04 | All, Japan Japanese brokerage Daiwa Securities Co. has taken the lead among major financial institutions in the country in adopting artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to help its employees work more efficiently. Daiwa Securities began using ChatGPT, which it has described as having "immense potential," from Wednesday, with an eye to streamlining day-to-day tasks including information gathering in English. The firm also said it hopes to see a reduction in costs and time for preparing outsourcing tasks such as creating documents, leaving employees more time for assignments such as crafting business plans. "We prioritized using advanced technology to streamline work efficiency and increase the time to interact with customers," said Susumu Yamamura, a spokesman for Daiwa Securities. Among the major Japanese banks, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. plans to install ChatGPT this summer. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. has said it has started trial use of the technology, while Mizuho Financial Group Inc. has begun considering the use of such services. In contrast, financial institutions in the United States and Europe are cautious about using ChatGPT due to privacy concerns. Major U.S. banks, such as JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc., have reportedly allowed limited usage of ChatGPT by their employees. In late March, the Italian government banned ChatGPT in the country. To address such fears, Daiwa Securities said it uses Microsoft Corp.'s technology to prevent information leaks to outsiders by creating a closed and secure environment. New Delhi: People stand in queue, waiting for the opening of Indias second Apple Store at Select City Walk Mall,Saket, in New Delhi, on Thursday, April 20, 2023. (Photo:IANS/Anupam Gautam) Image Source: IANS News Mumbai: Apple CEO Tim Cook during the opening of India's first retail store at BKC, in Mumbai, on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.(Photo:IANS/Twitter) Image Source: IANS News Hong Kong, April 30 : When Tim Cook arrived in India earlier this month to open Apple's first physical store in the country, he was welcomed like a hero, media reports said. Cook's visit, the latest by a top global executive, exemplifies the rising tide of interest that corporations and governments are showing in doing business with India, CNN reported. Just days after his landmark trip, Pret A Manger, a trendy British sandwich chain, set up its first outlet in the commercial capital of Mumbai, as it bet on the country's growing middle class, CNN reported. The case for investing in India - a nation of 1.4 billion - is clear, and only bolstered by recent geopolitical shifts. As Western leaders look to boost economic cooperation with countries that share similar values, India, the world's largest democracy, stands to gain. Until recently, many countries and companies "had put all their eggs in the China basket", said Partha Sen, professor emeritus at the Delhi School of Economics. As tensions continue to flare between the West and Beijing, there is "a move to diversify away, and India fits right into it," he added, CNN reported. India's so-called "demographic dividend," the potential economic growth arising from a large working-age population, represents a major opportunity. Its vast consumer market and pool of affordable labor is also drawing more attention from global brands and trading partners. In a bid to boost the industrial sector and lift exports, the Indian government has sought to sign free trade deals, a move that's been warmly received around the world. Since 2021, India has struck agreements with Australia, the United Arab Emirates and Mauritius. It is also negotiating deals with the European Union, the United Kingdom and Canada, CNN reported. Beyond geopolitics, India's economic and demographic fundamentals are driving business interest, CNN reported. The International Monetary Fund expects the South Asian nation to outperform all major emerging and advanced economies this year, logging GDP growth of 5.9 per cent. By comparison, the German and UK economies will stagnate, while the United States will grow only 1.6 per cent. If it can maintain its momentum, India will overtake Germany as the world's fourth largest economy in 2026 and knock Japan from the number three spot in 2032, according to analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, CNN reported. India's working-age population stands at more than 900 million, according to 2021 data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In the next few years, its workforce could be bigger than China's, according to Capital Economics, CNN reported. Mumbai, April 30 : With the countdown for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on, national Opposition parties are busy working on unity efforts on several fronts and at various levels in the states. This time, Janata Dal (U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is attempting to cobble together a 'united Opposition' against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance which completes nine years in power this April. The challenge before Nitish is awesome though not insurmountable, despite a multi-rainbow scenario among the Opposition parties with their own pluses-and-minuses. Barring the Congress, no other major Opposition party has much presence or influence or a pan-India credibility beyond their respective region or domains, including Nitish' own party, or the other states like Delhi, West Bengal, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. However, Maharashtra will be a crucial factor in any Opposition front -- with 48 LS seats, the second highest in India after Uttar Pradesh -- and a string of important parties like the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) plus other smaller outfits. The main Opposition parties here have their independent strongholds and dedicated voters, the VBA commands around 6-7 per cent, the socialist groups another 7-8 per cent, the Communists also powerful though in pockets, all of which could add up to a decently formidable challenge to the BJP here. "The route to the Himalayas will be paved through the Sahyadris... Maharashtra is a critical state and the BJP is on a downslide everywhere... The MVA will bag a minimum of 40 LS seats... The beginning will be made from Karnataka," claimed an optimistic state Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe. According to the NCP's chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase, the state Opposition is already firmly united under the MVA and only the nitty-gritties for the LS elections have to be worked out after the Karnataka election results are out. "As always in the past, the winds of change will start blowing from this state. The MVA will be a part of the united Opposition forum to challenge the BJP for the much-needed change," said Tapase. Shiv Sena (UBT)'s national spokesperson Kishore Tiwari said that not only Maharashtra, but the BJP is discredited all over the country with its communally divisive policies, anti-poor, anti-farmer approach and a blatantly pro-industrialist bias. "The country has suffered quietly for 9 years and now it's time for the BJP to pack up... The public sentiments are strongly in favour of a change at the state and national level through a combined Opposition challenge," said Tiwari. JD(U) national general secretary Kapil Patil said that Nitish will arrive in Maharashtra around mid-May and "meet the top leaders of all the Opposition parties" including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Prakash Ambedkar, et al seeking their views and soliciting cooperation. "He has already put forth certain positive suggestions - like 1:1 challenge to the BJP in at least 500 (total 543) LS seats, no personal ambition and expectations from all parties to make adjustments/sacrifices for the larger national interest," Patil said. He reiterated Nitish's philosophy that the idea is not just to defeat the BJP or Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but to safeguard the Constitution, ensure the 'victory' of democratic values, secularism, the regional forces and aspirations, strengthen the federal structure as envisioned by the great leaders of the freedom struggle, and a strong future for Indian democracy with justice to the last man standing. "If all parties join hands in Maharashtra, it will definitely make a big impact and contribute to the national efforts... We have to plunge into this like a 'second independence movement' with only the national interest at heart," Patil said. On the possibility of a 'khichdi' being dished out after the elections on the lines of 1977, with the possibility of some leaders/groups hopping over to the other side, Patil smiled and said that 'unity in diversity' is the hallmark of Indian democracy. Nevertheless, the JD(U) leader feels that 'khichdi' will be good for the country's democratic health and though these are "hypothetical questions", he was confident that all will work together for the national good. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in) Lahore, April 30 : Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan blamed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM)-led government's "ill-intentions" behind its proposal to hold elections simultaneously after this year's budget, local media reported. The budget is traditionally presented within the first two weeks of June and the federal government has maintained that it would be too early to hold general elections the next month, stressing for holding polls later this year, Geo News reported. The federal government and the opposition party PTI are in negotiations over a date for holding elections across the country on directions of the Supreme Court - and a final meeting is expected next week. "(The government) is saying that first, it would pass the budget, and then hold the election. This shows its 'ill-intention'," Khan - who was ousted as the prime minister in April last year - said during a session with PTI workers in Lahore, Geo News reported. The deposed prime minister said his party would be ready to move forward with the negotiations if the government dissolves the national and provincial assemblies before May 14. The Sindh and Balochistan assemblies and the National Assembly have not yet been dissolved, while the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa legislatures were dissolved in January on Khan's directions. Civil society has urged political forces to reach a consensus over the elections and end the persistent impasse, which has severely hurt Pakistan's fragile economy. And Khan is insistent that his party does not want to delay the elections, stressing that "we will not accept polls after the budget" - as suggested by the ruling coalition, Geo News reported. "If the hope of elections ends, then Pakistan could face a worse situation than Sri Lanka. I am not frightening you; I am just expressing my opinion," the PTI chief told his workers. Chennai, April 30 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is aiming for an imminent cabinet reshuffle in the state, sources said on Sunday. The cabinet meeting of May 2 will be crucial and sources in the DMK told IANS that the Chief Minister was not happy with some ministers whose performance was below par. The shuffle is likely to take place after the cabinet meeting. Sources told IANS that there would be a major revamp in the bureaucracy also as the Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu and the Director General of Police, C. Sylendrababu are to retire soon. The secretaries to the government will also be reshuffled during the cabinet reshuffle, according to DMK insiders. The Chief Minister has recently in a meeting told the party ministers, that there won't be any leniency on anyone who does not perform and that the motto of the government was to work hard and do good work for the people. Stalin, according to DMK sources, was reportedly unhappy at the performance of some of the senior ministers and in the ensuing cabinet reshuffle several heads will roll. The party leader is also worried at the recent controversies against the government and the allegations raised by the BJP state president, K. Annamalai. Stalin, according to DMK sources, was worried that if the party minister's don't put in their best performance, there would be resentment in the public. The reshuffle, according to party insiders, was planned after a recent meeting the Chief Minister had with the district secretaries of the DMK who had reported the feelings of the public from the grassroots level. New Delhi, April 30 : Leading wearable brand Garmin on Sunday launched Forerunner 965 and Forerunner 265 smartwatch series, with high-resolution AMOLED displays in India. Priced at Rs 50,490, the Forerunner 265 comes in Black and Aqua colours, while the Forerunner 965 comes in Black and Amp Yellow options priced at Rs 67,490, which are available to buy across online and offline stores. "Over the years, the Forerunner has evolved into a trusty companion for all runners around the world and has been providing them with precise data analysis. We are excited to have one of the most credible runners from India -- Hima Das for the launch of the most powerful Forerunner smartwatches; Forerunner 965 & 265 yet," Missy Yang, Marketing Head, Garmin ASIA & SEA said in a statement. Designed for triathletes, passionate and elite runners, the new GPS running smartwatches comes fully equipped with an array of training features like stress, sleep, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 Max), training status/load, training effectiveness, and respiration rate, according to the company. The Forerunner 965 features a titanium bezel, a 1.4-inch AMOLED display and battery life of up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and up to 31 hours in GPS mode, while the Forerunner 265 comes with a Ground Gorilla Glass 4 lens, with an option of 1.3-inch AMOLED display, featuring a battery life of up to 13 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hrs in GPS mode. Moreover, both the smartwatches come equipped with the "Stamina and Acute Chronic Workload Ration" features to track and help users manage their physical exertion throughout a run, to prevent "bonking" by overexerting too early in a run for smarter and less strenuous training, the company said. Washington, April 30 : A person was killed and another injured following a shooting at a popular restaurant near the annual jazz festival in New Orleans, the largest city of southern U.S. state Lousiana, authorities said. The New Orleans Police Department said the fatally shot waiter outside the Mandina's Restaurant was the intended target of the shooting on the opening day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. A female tourist from Chicago for the festival, who was dining inside at the time, was hospitalized and in stable condition, said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Michelle Woodfork at a news conference. "A celebratory day was later marred by another senseless act of violence," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a statement on Saturday. "We need stronger gun laws and penalties as well as accountability across all public safety agencies if we're ever going to end this crisis," the statement reads. The shooting appeared to be an indiscriminate sidewalk ambush, in which two people with guns unleashed a fusillade on the waiter, local media outlet NOLA reported. Police have not said whether they have identified the suspects or determined their motive. Guwahati, April 30 : In Assam, the Congress is gearing up for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled to happen in April or May next year. The state unit of the grand old party has begun its efforts to unite the opposition parties. Recently, at a hotel in Guwahati, Congress leaders organised a meeting which was attended by 11 opposition parties. Keeping aside the differences, the parties shared their thoughts on overthrowing the BJP in the 2024 polls. The parties that attended the meeting included JD(U), NCP, Raijor Dal, RJD, Trinamool Congress, Assam Jatiya Parishad, CPI, CPI(M), CPI (ML), and Jatiya Dal Assam. The meeting, which lasted several hours, thoroughly discussed how to stop the saffron camp's fierce election machinery led by a popular leader like Himanta Biswa Sarma in Assam and the northeast. Following the meeting, an 11-party coordination committee was formed, with the president of the Assam Congress, Bhupen Bora,to be its chairman. Upon the conclusion of the Karnataka Assembly elections, they intend to band together for a sizable public rally in Guwahati to initiate the campaign for the next general elections. Meanwhile, it was significant that Badruddin Ajmal's All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) was not invited to the meeting. The AIUDF is a strong factor in Assam politics. They have 17 MLAs in the Assam Assembly and one MP in the Lok Sabha. There is no doubt that the majority of the over 30 per cent Muslim population in the state is still behind Ajmal's party in electoral politics. On the other hand, left-wing parties have already lost their hold in Assam. The other parties, like JD(U), NCP, etc., have very little impact among the voters. Akhil Gogoi's party, Raijor Dol, is still a non-entity. Though the Trinamool Congress has poached a few prominent leaders from the Congress, like Sushmita Dev and Ripun Bora, but they are yet to prove their strength. At this juncture, building a united opposition while keeping aside the AIUDF has raised many questions. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wants to convert a binary electoral politics in the state. He has openly said a number of times that he does not need Muslim votes. A section of society has already accused him of cornering Muslims in the state using multiple strategies. The incessant eviction drives, closing down madrassas, etc., are a few examples of the Assam Chief Minister's clever tactics in that direction. The Congress forged a grand alliance with the AIUDF and fought the last Assam Assembly election together. But after the alliance failed to overthrow the BJP from power in the state, the relationship soured. The state Congress president, Bhupen Bora, has repeatedly declared that they will not ally with the AIUDF in the near future. He alleged that Ajmal's party helped the BJP by issuing provocative statements that actually consolidated Hindu votes towards the Bharatiya Janata Party. AIUDF says that a few Congress MLAs voted in favour of the NDA's presidential candidate, Droupadi Murmu, and even cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha election to help the BJP. These allegations and counter-allegations created a wedge between the Congress and the AIUDF. But, if the Congress and AIUDF fight separately, it is definitely an advantage for the BJP, say observers. Himanta Biswa Sarma will accelerate his efforts to consolidate Hindu votes in favour of the BJP in the coming months, and if Muslim votes get divided between the AIUDF and other parties, then there will be an easy win for the BJP in many seats in Assam. Therefore, Badruddin Ajmal's party has questioned Bhupen Bora's striving for opposition unity. AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam criticised Bora and stated that the Congress has fallen into the trap of the BJP. The division of opposition votes will pave the way for the BJP's big win in next year's Lok Sabha election in Assam. New York, April 30 : Environmental, social, and governance-focused funds, which were once deemed the darlings of Wall Street, may be on the way out, media reports said. They're currently weathering a "perfect storm of negative sentiment," said Robert Jenkins, head of global research at Lipper, a financial data provider, CNN reported. Despite the gloomy forecast, Jenkins remains optimistic. He sees this as a natural phase of the market's evolution. A new, more efficient system is taking shape that incorporates ESG standards into the bedrock of stock valuations, he said. ESG investing as a separate entity could be on its way out, but the approach was wrong to begin with, said Jenkins. Instead, it should be integrated into the fundamental analysis of every investor. Total assets under management in ESG funds fell by about $163.2 billion globally during the first quarter of 2023 from the year before, CNN reported. In March alone, total assets under management in the responsible investments fund market fell by $6.8 billion. It's not that the funds are underperforming, either. The average overall return for these funds was 2.2 per cent in March - outperforming the 12-month moving average return for the wider market by 2.8 percentage points. Instead, a confluence of political, geopolitical and market events has severely damaged interest in ESG investing, CNN reported. Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine forced traders to reconsider investing in energy and weapons stocks. Responsible investing funds also came up against mighty economic headwinds last year. These funds' outsized investments in tech stocks and lack of energy stocks (which was the only positive sector in 2022), led to noticeable losses last year, CNN reported. "I think ESG was overly trendy and it got caught up in itself," said Jenkins. "I was going to conferences two to three years ago, and I remember walking out and thinking 'these guys aren't saying anything new or different. They're all saying the same thing," CNN reported. Companies jumped on to the bandwagon and greenwashing, a marketing tactic to appear environmentally conscious in investments, became prevalent. That, in turn, hurt the movement's reputation. ESG won't be as glamorous as it was before, but it won't be a politically explosive term either, CNN reported. "It's actually going to fade a little bit from its marquee nature, it's just going to be a part of sound business strategy and management," said Jenkins. "They're just going to be put alongside all the other fundamental analytics that we're so used to hearing about, your earnings-per-share and your GAAP accounting. ESG ratings will just become part of that toolkit for investment managers." New York, April 30 : The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray has revealed that Chinese hackers outnumber FBI cyber staff 50 to one. The disclosure came as the US and other countries are facing immense cyber threats, particularly from China. "To give you a sense of what we're up against, if each one of the FBI's cyber agents and intel analysts focused exclusively on the China threat, Chinese hackers would still outnumber FBI Cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1," Wray said during a House Appropriations subcommittee meeting, reports CNBC. China has "a bigger hacking programme than every other major nation combined and has stolen more of our personal and corporate data than all other nations -- big or small -- combined," he told the Congress panel. Other countries like Russia, Iran and North Korea also pose significant cybersecurity concerns. The FBI is currently probing more than 100 "ransomware variants" with "scores of victims" for each. At least 30,000 organisations across the US, including government and commercial firms, were hacked by China-based threat actors in 2021 who used Microsoft's Exchange Server software to enter their networks. According to KrebsOnSecurity, the China-based espionage group exploited four vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Server email software. The vulnerabilities allowed hackers to gain access to email accounts, and also gave them the ability to install malware, according to Microsoft which reported about the China-based threat actors but did not reveal the scale at which tens of thousands of organisations have been hit. Nine federal agencies and about 100 private sector companies were compromised as a result of an earlier SolarWinds hack, the White House had said. In a widespread cyber-attack on US federal agencies and enterprises via SolarWinds software, hackers also broke into the networks of NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). San Francisco, April 30 : Nearly 80 per cent of smartwatch users who own an iPhone own an Apple Watch, the highest share of any brand, a report has revealed. Google Pixel users come in second with 71 per cent of Pixel smartphone users who own a smartwatch saying that they own the Google Pixel Watch, according to Counterpoint Research. Apple managed to achieve 56 per cent share of the US smartwatch market in 2022. Meanwhile, among Samsung smartphone users who own a smartwatch, only 40 per cent use Samsung Galaxy Watches, the report mentioned. While Apple sold about one Apple Watch for every three iPhones in Q4 2022, Samsung sold only one Galaxy Watch for every 10 Galaxy smartphones in the US. "Apple and iOS dominate the US smartphone market and iPhone users are more likely to adopt other Apple products due to their superior interoperability," said research analyst Matthew Orf. With Apple's smartphone installed base share surpassing 50 per cent, it has a huge potential market to target with Apple Watches, while other smartwatch brands are stuck fighting for the rest of the pie. "According to Apple Watch users, the most significant reason for selecting their current smartwatch was that they like the brand," Orf added. The top three smartwatch features according to respondents are health and activity tracking, notification access, and messaging and calling, with health and activity tracking being most popular among older users and notification checking being more popular among younger users. Popular health and activity tracking features include step counter, sleep tracker, heart rate monitor and blood oxygen monitor. Meanwhile, users are also using their smartwatches for connectivity - interacting with notifications from social media as well as messaging and calling friends, family and coworkers. "Smartwatch users are overwhelmingly satisfied with their devices, citing health and fitness tracking, as well as notification access, as central uses. This suggests that there is room to educate consumers on the benefits of smartwatches in everyday life and further drive the adoption of the form factor," said senior analyst Arushi Chawla. Additionally, 77 per cent of the respondents stated that Apple was the most preferred brand for their next smartwatch. "The share of respondents willing to pay $500 or more for their next smartwatch was double the share of those who stated they spent $500 or more on their current smartwatch, suggesting rising ASPs for the segment," the report mentioned. KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 19:49 | All, Japan Japan's public harbors concerns about the rapidly spreading use of AI chatbots, with 69.4 percent calling for stricter regulation on the development of artificial intelligence, a Kyodo News poll showed Sunday. The result comes as countries have been discussing the need for international standards to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies such as ChatGPT, which have sparked fear of unauthorized collection of personal data. The telephone survey, conducted from Saturday, also marked the approval rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at 46.6 percent, up 8.5 points from the previous survey in mid-March. Its disapproval rating stood at 35.5 percent. As Japan is set to downgrade the legal status of the coronavirus on May 8 to the same level as common infectious diseases such as seasonal influenza, 63.7 percent said they are worried about the possible resurgence of COVID-19 infections, against 36.3 percent dismissing such concerns. Japan on Saturday also lifted its pandemic-induced border controls for all arrivals, drawing a line under its coronavirus border policy, which began in 2020. The move came in anticipation of an increase in travelers during the annual Golden Week holiday that began the same day. But despite the lifting of coronavirus restrictions, it appears many people have remained cautious about making a trip during long holidays, with 61.7 percent saying they have not traveled and do not have any plan. Experts on such diseases have warned that the country could face a "ninth wave" of the pandemic even more severe than the previous one. As for Kishida's government, 56.3 percent opposed the plan to raise social security premiums in order to help finance policy measures to fight the country's declining birthrates, with 38.8 percent approving the plan. The survey called 510 randomly selected households with eligible voters on landline phones and 2,461 mobile phone numbers. It yielded responses from 426 households and 620 mobile phone users. Related coverage: 57% of Japanese back S. Korea's solution to wartime labor row: poll G-7 agree to pursue "responsible AI" amid rapid spread of ChatGPT use Daiwa Securities takes lead in finance sector over ChatGPT use Siddhartha Nagar : April 30 (IANS) A village school in Hasudi Ausanpur, which has shot to limelight for setting up the country's first rural space lab, will soon be upgraded to secondary level. Students in this school have been provided the facility of a telescope through which they can see the moon and the stars. The unique lab has been designed and set up by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Union ministry of Panchayati Raj has not only given its nod in this regard but has asked Vandana Sehgal, dean, faculty of architecture and planning, APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), to provide expert guidance in preparing the building plan along with the site, service and structure plans, based on green and sustainable building principles. In a letter written to the dean, the ministry has stated that Hasudi Ausanpur is one of the well performing gram panchayats of Uttar Pradesh. The village is covered with 23 CCTVs and its village school has digital classrooms, rain harvesting system, etc. Therefore, a building plan is required to adequately cater to the needs of children. The ministry will schedule a meeting to discuss the progress for preparation of the building plan of the secondary school of Hausdi Ausanpur gram panchayat. Dileep Tripathi, village's sarpanch, said, "We have 302 children studying in our school from Class 1 to 8. Of this, 53 per cent are girls. So far, the nearest secondary school is 12 kms away. Due to the distance, most kids discontinue their studies. The upcoming secondary school will take care of all students, particularly girls who are responsible for taking care of two households." The Hausdi Ausanpur gram panchayat was recently awarded the third best child-friendly panchayat in the country. The two others were from Kerala and Jammu and Kashmir. The award titled, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Panchayat Satat Vikas Puruskar, was given to the village sarpanch Dileep Tripathi by the Union Panchayati Raj minister Giriraj Singh in Delhi on April 17. Seoul, April 30 : The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the US have met in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate on countering North Korea's "evolving nuclear and military threats", the foreign ministry said on Sunday. US Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim held a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Gunn, on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asan Plenum 2023 conference, a security forum hosted by a local think tank, Yonhap news agency reported. "The two sides shared their assessments of the current security situation on the Korean Peninsula and discussed joint responses to North Korea's nuclear threats," the ministry said in a statement. The envoys agreed to strengthen close coordination on Pyongyang to make it cease provocations and return to denuclearisation talks, based on the agreements from the South Korea-US summit held in Washington last week. It is their third consultation this month, following a bilateral session in Seoul on April 6 and phone talks on April 13. Kolar, April 30 : Hitting out at the Congress on the second day of his visit to poll-bound Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday described the grand-old party as a "scrap engine". Addressing a huge gathering at Kolar, the Prime Minister said: "Congress' scrap engine party can't ensure development. The speedy development can only be ensured with double engine government of the BJP." "I am waging a war against corruption. Due to this, the most affected and aggravated are Congress party leaders. They can't tolerate this and are threatening me," Prime Minister Modi said. He said they should have discussed about development, instead, they are discussing about snake and its poison. "I am not sad about it. The snake rests with all the grace on the neck of Lord Shiva. (Hindu god). For me, I have found Lord Shiva in the people of this country," he said. "I am happy to remain as snake on your (people) neck. You are like Shiva to me. To keep the leaders who talk about it at bay, please bless me on May 10," he appealed to people, indirectly referring to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's jibe of poisonous snake at him. He charged that the Congress party had not introduced anti-corruption programmes during its tenure as every scheme of the party was mired in corruption. "The royal family have misappropriated thousands of crores. Those who need to be in jail are out on bail," he said indirectly referring to Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "After coming to power, we had seized more than Rs 1 lakh crore from the corrupt. We have taken decisive action against the corruption," he said. The BJP government has provided toilets to more than 10 crore houses in the country. This was made possible with your vote, he said. Kanpur : , April 30 (IANS) Going beyond the confines of the academic campus, students of IIT Kanpur are actively participating in social works in nearby villages under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan. Over 100 students from IIT Kanpur and MBA students of STEP HBTI stepped out of the campus on their cycles to create health awareness in the nearby Maksoodabad village. They reached the village early in the morning and were welcomed by eager villagers. This initiative was carried out under the Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA), a Government of India scheme with IIT Kanpur as a Regional Coordinator to motivate students of higher educational institutions to work for the upliftment and development of villages. STEP HBTI, and Rama University were partner institutes for this outreach initiative. According to an official IIT-K release, the students went house to house in the village, enquiring about the health ailments of the villagers and filling out a health survey form. Along with the IITians, ASHA and ANM workers of CHC Kalyanpur helped in making Ayushman cards, and the CSC team was around to help with the registration of other cards. The health camp was inaugurated by Sarpanch Narendra Kumar and Prof Sandeep Sangal and Sudhanshu Shekhar Singh, along with Prof CK Tiwari and Yogesh Puri of STEP HBTI. Prof Sandeep Sangal, Coordinator of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) IIT-K, said that through them, the awareness about health and government schemes would increase among the villagers, and health services would be made available to the needy and more people, in turn, filling the service delivery gaps. The villagers showed great enthusiasm as they gathered in large numbers to get their Ayushman cards and collect related information. Nearly 20 people were registered for Ayushman during the outreach. It was observed that most villagers were not using the Government App that provides access to information on the same. A team of doctors from RK Devi Eye Hospital led by senior eye specialist Dr Avadh Dubey, screened 75 patients out of which 12 had cataract, three had Pterygium and 48 were advised to wear spectacles. Rama University's team was also there for health screening, and they screened 80 people and found high sugar levels amongst four and high blood pressure in 24 people. Howrah : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee interacts with officials during an administrative review meeting at Nabanna, in Howrah, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News Howrah : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee interacts with officials during an administrative review meeting at Nabanna, in Howrah, Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo:IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, April 30 : The joint forum of state government employees, spearheading the movement in demand for enhanced dearness allowance at par with central government employees and the arrears on this count by West Bengal government, has accused the state government of resorting to vindictive transfers of the employees participating in the agitation on the issue. An office-bearer of the joint forum said on Sunday that in the last one-month period transfer orders for 580 state government employees, including teachers in state- run schools and colleges were issued. "Almost 90 per cent of the staff for whom such transfer orders were issued participated in the general strike convened by the forum on March 10. Employees currently posted in Kolkata have been transferred to remote areas in the Sundarbans region in South 24 Parganas district," he added. However, the state government has denied such allegations and has described the transfers as routine one as per service rules. The joint forum has already outlined a series of agitation programmes in the coming days on this issue. A protest meeting is scheduled for May 6, the day the sit-in agitation by the joint forum at the base of Shahid Minar in Central Kolkata will complete its 100th day. The protesters will take out a rally on that day which will culminate near the Hazra crossing, which is less than a kilometre from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence in Kalighat. After that they will hold a protest meeting at that spot only. On May 4, the West Bengal State Coordination Committee, the CPI(M) trade union body of the state government employees, will hold a 'March to State Secretariat' agitation. The leadership of the joint forum of state government employees has also been invited to take part in the agitation on May 4. Before the May 4 agitation, the committee will take out bike rallies in different districts to register its protest. On April 21, a bipartite meeting was held between the state government and the joint forum representatives, but it failed to break the deadlock. New Delhi, April 30 : Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody reckoned that Delhi Capitals (DC) made a tactical mistake by sending Axar Patel down at number seven during their run chase against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC failed to chase down the 198-run target as they were restricted to 188/6 in 20 overs. Mayank Markande led from the front with the ball with an excellent spell of 4-0-20-2 as SRH bowlers bounced back hard and survived Phil Salt (59 off 35) and Mitchell Marsh's blitzes (63 off 39) to break the three-match losing streak on Saturday night. Axar was sent in to bat after the likes of Priyam Garg and Sarfaraz Khan, both of whom were dismissed cheaply and remained unbeaten on 29 off 14 balls. With 49 needed off 18, Axar smacked a six off Bhuvneshwar and took 14 off the 18th over. With 35 needed off 12, Natarajan bowled another excellent over as he nailed his yorkers and gave away just 9. With 26 required off the last over, Bhuvneshwar held his nerve and helped SRH cross the finish line with the home team falling short by 10 runs. Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Moody said that Axar should have been sent in after the fall of Manish Pandey's wicket adding that being a left-hander, he could have dominated SRH's spinners in the run chase. "The momentum is lost, and then Sarfaraz comes in, and then the whole puzzle around that, where is Axar Patel? Was he in the dressing room or collecting his kit out of the car? What was he doing? "I don't understand why he didn't come in at the fall of the wicket of Manish Pandey. He is the most experienced player and an international player. He is in form and is a left-hander, and spin was operating. To me, it was a no-brainer," Moody said. Chasing the formidable total, DC didn't get off to the best of starts as they lost skipper David Warner in the second ball of the innings. Then, Marsh and Salt joined hands in the middle and put the pressure right back on the SRH bowlers with breezy half-centuries and stitched together a brilliant 112-run stand for the second wicket, which Markande broke by dismissing Salt in the 12th over. Moody further noted that the turning point in DC's run chase was Salt's dismissal as they kept on losing wickets at regular intervals to end up on the losing side. "The key point to that was the caught and bowled from Markande. That was a very good catch. Philip Salt was running hot and we know he has got that capability. We haven't seen it in the IPL yet, but we have seen it on the international stage. "He is a dangerous player, and he showed why he is a threat. That was really the turning point for me because, after that, we saw a series of wickets which put unnecessary pressure on Mitchell Marsh," he said. Latest updates on IPL 2023 New Delhi, April 30 : A few spectators clashed at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here even as an IPL match was being played between Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The incident happened on Saturday. A senior police official said that the incident of scuffle between a few spectators sitting in the public enclosure at the Mohinder Amarnath Stand, occurred during the IPL match. The official said that during a match policemen always remain present in the public enclosure in uniform as well as plain clothes. An officer present in that enclosure immediately intervened and separated them. "All the spectators were pacified and no complaint was made by either party. They were warned and bound to sit peacefully. On inquiry, it was found that it was started with arguments between a few people on a petty issue of blocking the view," the official said. The police said that no complaint was given by anyone with regard to the incident and that the matter was settled amicably. New Delhi, April 30 : Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued a show cause notice to Air India CEO Campbell Wilson regarding the Dubai-Delhi flight where pilots invited a female friend in the cockpit. A show cause notice has also been issued to the chief of flight safety for delaying the investigation and not reporting to the concerned authority, official sources said. Both CEO and chief of flight safety are to file a reply to the show cause notice, said DGCA sources. Earlier, a cabin crew member of the flight had filed a complaint with the DGCA about the pilot allowing a female friend into the cockpit. The incident had occurred on February 27. The show cause notices were issued to the Air India CEO and head of flight safety on April 21 for not doing timely reporting of the incident to the DGCA, which is in violation of the regulator's safety instructions. Apart from this, there was a delay in investigating the incident. Both the executives have been given 15 days to respond to the show cause notices, the official said. There was no immediate comment from Air India. Earlier this month, DGCA directed Air India to deroster the entire crew of the Dubai-Delhi flight till investigations are complete. On April 21, the airline said it had taken serious note of the reported incident and that investigations were underway. Patna, April 30 : A security guard of a prominent doctor in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district was gunned down and another has been reported missing, an official said on Sunday. Both the guards were deployed for the security of properties of Dr Ramji Singh. The incident occurred at Sangampur Ghat under the Ahiyapur police station. Raghav Dayal, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Muzaffarpur (City) said: "The two guards hired by Dr Ramji Singh were living in one room and looking after the security of the property. On Sunday, when they did not come out of the room, worried neighbours reached there and found the dead body of one of the guards on the floor in a pool of blood." "We immediately went there and recovered the dead body. The victim was shot in the head. The other guard is missing from the room. We are making efforts to trace him," Dayal said. Police sources said that there is a possibility that the missing guard may have committed the murder and fled from the spot. The police are investigating from all angles. Dr Ramji Singh is a prominent heart specialist of Muzaffarpur. He was asked for an extortion of Rs 10 lakh in 2015. Mumbai, April 30 : As his debut film 'Baaghi' completed seven years of its release, actor Tiger Shroff penned down a heartfelt note for the film, saying that the film gave him an identity and a life in the industry. Taking to Instagram stories, Tiger shared a picture of himself and also thanked his mentor Sajid Nadiadwala on the occasion. He wrote: "7 years of a film that gave me an identity and a life in the industry. Thank you to all the audience and my fans who are like my family for accepting me. This franchise takes all my blood, sweat and tears but all worthwhile #baaghi." "And forever grateful to my godfather/mentor #sajidnadiadwala... For giving me a platform to showcase myself best I can. And my first director and one of my favs...this wouldn't have been poss without you paaji lv u," he added. Meanwhile, Tiger is currently shooting for his upcoming action thriller 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' in the UK along with the entire film team. He is also gearing up for an interesting line-up of films including 'Ganapath', amongst many others unannounced. By Donican Lam, KYODO NEWS - Apr 30, 2023 - 21:10 | All, Japan, G7 Like nuclear weapons and biotechnology before them, artificial intelligence has brought the world to an existential crisis in which, according to some experts, humanity's future could be at risk if proper checks are not put in place on a global scale. Against this backdrop, AI models like ChatGPT were high on the agenda during a two-day Group of Seven Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Japan that concluded Sunday, with policymakers agreeing on the urgent need for continued discussion on how to govern the rapidly advancing technology. In its joint declaration, the G-7 agreed to promote "responsible" use of AI while calling for broader stakeholder participation in developing international standards for governance. ChatGPT, launched in November 2022 as a prototype, stands for Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer and is trained on massive amounts of data, enabling it to process and simulate human-like conversations with users. Running on the GPT-3.5 model upon its initial release, the chatbot took the world by storm for the enormous number -- said to be 355 billion -- of adjustable variables it could use to generate text, a huge leap from previous language models that typically only had a few million parameters. On March 14, U.S.-based developer OpenAI released the next iteration of the model, known as GPT-4, which is more powerful than its predecessors and has multimodal capabilities -- meaning it can take both text and images as prompts. While the seemingly limitless potential for generative AI has caused concerns that technological development may be getting out of hand, expert opinions are varied on whether it may signal doom for humankind. In March, the Future of Life Institute, a think tank focusing on the responsible development and use of technology, published an open letter calling for a minimum six-month pause in the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. Citing dangers such as perpetuating biases, misinformation, destabilizing labor markets and the concentration of power in a small number of corporations in an attached paper on policy recommendations, the letter collected over 27,000 signatures as of April 30, including from Tesla's Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI, and Apple Inc. co-founder Steve Wozniak. Advanced AI systems "could themselves pursue goals, either human- or self-assigned, in ways that place negligible value on human rights, human safety, or, in the most harrowing scenarios, human existence," the think tank wrote. Musk, who is one of the institute's backers, also sounded the alarm on hyper-intelligent AI in an interview with Fox News earlier this month, saying it "has the potential of civilization destruction." "(If) we only put a regulation after something terrible has happened, it may be too late to actually put the regulations in place. The AI may be in control at that point," he said. Katja Grace, co-founder and lead researcher of AI Impacts, a project that focuses on the long-term consequences of sophisticated AI, said she estimates there is a 19 percent chance humanity's failure to control AI will result in humankind's extinction. "I think the biggest risk is that current progress leads soon to AI systems that are as good at making decisions about everything as current AI systems are at making decisions about Go or chess, and are strategizing to bring about objectives that are contrary to human welfare, leading to the destruction of humanity," she said. The systems are still far from perfect, however. Inaccurate information presented as fact, dubbed hallucinations, remains a challenge in large language model technology, making them impossible to rely on for critical applications. Satoshi Kurihara, chairman of the Ethics Committee of the Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence, said AI currently only exists as a tool for humans, and "it is humans who will destroy humankind." "I believe we can avoid extinction if we can learn to coexist with the highly autonomous and versatile AI that will likely become a reality in the future," he said during a recent written interview. Kurihara stressed the need to adhere to guidelines like peace, cultural diversity and integrity, as well as controlling the scope and transparency of AI use, during the development of such advanced systems. In the joint declaration issued this weekend, the G-7 said it recognized "the need to take stock in the near term of the opportunities and challenges" of generative AI and "continue promoting safety and trust" given its global prominence and fast-paced development. Less apocalyptic but more immediate concerns surrounding generative AI models revolve around their unauthorized collection of user data, ability to manipulate public opinion and potential use for nefarious purposes like deepfakes and revenge pornography. A repository managed by AI, Algorithmic, and Automation Incidents and Controversies, an initiative that tracks unethical misuse of AI, also logged several incidents of fake news and disinformation during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But Charlie Pownall, founder of AIAAIC, said that while it is important to curb such abuses, doing so "may prove difficult to regulate proportionately without unduly abusing user privacy, confidentiality, and other rights." International regulation of AI is further complicated by differing attitudes toward technology around the globe. Japan's emphasis on generative AI's potential utility, for example, means the government has so far taken a more cautious stance toward regulation than the European Union, which has proposed what it describes as the first-ever legal framework on AI. "It seems unlikely that China, the U.S., EU, the United Kingdom and other major markets will be on the same page on many important aspects of AI legislation given political, economic and legal differences and the wide divergence in public perception and expectations of AI across different countries and cultures," Pownall said. Hyderabad, April 30 : Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat (MKB) created a revolution. She said that the Prime Minister mentioned common man's voices and unsung heroes for betterment of society. The governor noted that the Prime Minister during his speeches have covered all the subjects from village to space. At a programme organised at Raj Bhavan, the governor listened to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat along with personalities who were mentioned by Narendra Modi during the programme in the past. Tamilisai Soundararajan stated that after the Prime Minister started Mann Ki Baat, radio came to limelight. "He reached ordinary citizens through this medium. He is a great communicator and motivator," she said. She noted that the common men mentioned by the PM during the monthly programme came into the limelight. She claimed that when people were hesitating to take Covid vaccine, Modi motivated them to take vaccination. Similarly the PM propagated Swachh Bharat. About 70 lakh youngsters took part in the drive. "He took Har Gharr Tiranga to every house. He also talked about transplantation in MKB due to which people were motivated to come forward to donate. The PM also mentioned the youngest donor." The governor spoke about the past, present and also future in this programme and his strong words inspired people. "Due to Atma Nirbhar Bharat, local production got a boost. The PM also talked about ancient things and also advancements. We are gifted to have a Prime Minister like Modiji," she added. Sanjay Nekkanti, CEO of Dhruva Space, Srinivas, Secretary of Bowenpally Market Yard, Raj Kumar Naik of Perini dance form, Yeldi Hariprasad, weaver of G20 logo, Dr. Kurella Vitalachaya, who established library, Chinthala Venkat Reddy, a farmer who developed rice rich in Vitamin D, Meera Shenoy, who trains youth with special needs, Poorna Malavath, mountaineer, Santosh Kumar of Mangtya Walya Thanda and Kodipaka Ramesh, a government school teacher who were all mentioned by the Prime Minister in MKB were present at the event attended by the governor. Patna, April 30 : Mob 'justice' has become frequent in Bihar and one such incident was reported from Muzaffarpur district on Sunday when a thief was tied to an electric pole and brutally beaten by local villagers before police rescued him. The incident occurred at Madhopur Susta village under Sadar police station in the district. A minor, who entered a shop by breaking through its asbestos roof, was spotted stealing by locals, who surrounded the shop and brought him outside. They then tied the alleged thief to an electric pole and brutally assaulted him. The thief kept on pleading for mercy but no one paid any heed to him. Some of them even made a video of the incident and uploaded it on social media. When local police learnt about the incident, they immediately went to Madhopur Susta village and rescued the minor. "We have rescued the minor from the mob. The villagers have levelled allegations of stealing goods from a shop. We are investigating it," Sadar SHO Satyendra Mishra said. Mumbai, April 30 : Indian cinema today is the most prolific film industry in the world with a broad range of content from mainstream masala entertainers to meaningful cinema, to experimental films in diverse genres and different languages. In its 110 years, it has seen several changes on various fronts. including the creative and the technological. And everything that Indian cinema entails traces back to one man -- Dadasaheb Phalke. Phalke, who was born on this day 153 years ago, laid the foundation of Indian cinema with his first feature 'Raja Harishchandra' in 1913 after getting inspired by the French silent short film 'The Life of Christ', which presented the life of Jesus in 25 tableaux based on the canonical gospels. Filmmaking, however, was not his career goal from the start. Phalke, who was born Dhundiraj Govind Phalke on April 30, 1870, to a Sanskrit scholar father and a homemaker mother, had two brothers and four sisters. At the age of 15, he enrolled at Mumbai's oldest art college -- Sir J.J. School of Art. He completed a year of the drawing course and at the beginning of 1886, he accompanied his elder brother, Shivrampant, to Baroda where he married a girl from a Maratha family. He lost his first wife and child to plague. He later joined Kala Bhavan, the Faculty of Fine Arts, at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, and completed a course in oil and watercolour painting in 1890. He also achieved proficiency in architecture and modelling. The year 1890 was a defining year for him as he bought a camera and started experimenting with photography, processing, and printing. He relocated from Godhra to Baroda after his photography business failed to take flight. In Baroda, he is said to have met a German illusionist named Carl Hertz, from whom he learnt some 'magic', which also involved a few techniques of trick photography, all skills which Phalke ultimately ended up using in his films. Phalke did several jobs such as that of a draftsman for the Archaeological Survey of India and even had his own printing press -- Laxmi Art Printing Works, where he collaborated with the great painter Raja Ravi Verma, whose work continues to inspire the likes of filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In early 1890, he married his second wife Saraswati and had a successful long marriage with her. Saraswati doubled as his collaborator. For 'Raja Harishchandra', she not only worked on the costume design and catering, but also sold off her valuables to ensure her husband's dream became a reality. She learnt the ropes of filmmaking from Dadasaheb and took the load off him in several departments. She developed the film's reels, thereby becoming India's first film editor, technician and financer, and also taught the mannerisms of women to male actors in the film because Indian society back then looked down upon women in the performing arts. No woman, as a result, came forward to act in Phalke's debut film resulting in male actors taking up female roles. The struggles of making 'Raja Harishchandra' have been narrated in the 2009 Marathi film 'Harishchandrachi Factory', which was the second Marathi movie to be selected to represent India in the competition for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. 'Raja Harishchandra' was released to widespread applause, thus laying the foundation of Indian cinema and bringing money to Phalke's company. The recently released streaming series 'Jubilee' tells the story of the Golden Age of Hindi cinema, delving into the evolution of Himanshu Rai and Devika Rani's Bombay Talkies. By the time of Bombay Talkies, Indian cinema had struck deep roots in the imagination of the people. But Dadasaheb Phalke made India's first film in difficult times with limited resources and went on to roll out five more even as World War I was raging -- three decades before Bombay Talkies was founded. Today, Indian cinema is a global force to reckon with. The credit for it goes to the ground-breaking work of Dadasaheb Phalke, who along with his wife refused to be cowed by challenges and paved the way for the collaborative art form of filmmaking in India. Thiruvananthapuram, April 30 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday slammed upcoming Hindi film "The Kerala Story", which is based on "Love Jihad", terming it part of "Sangh Parivar propaganda" aimed at political gains. Vijayan, in a Facebook post on Sunday, said that the movie was created to demonise Kerala and to communally divide the state. "From the trailer of the movie, it can be gathered that the movie has taken up the Sangh Parivar propaganda that positions an uncompromisingly secular land like Kerala as a hot bed of terrorists," he wrote. He said that propaganda films and the "othering" of Muslims in such movies should be seen in the context of the various attempts being made by Sangh Parivar to squeeze out some political gains in Kerala. The film, according to its trailer, depicts hundreds of girls - mainly Hindu girls who were allegedly brainwashed, converted and recruited to Islamic State and taken to places like Afghanistan and Syria. As per the trailer, as many as 32,000 Hindu girls were converted and taken to the IS dens. Vijayan said: "The central theme of the movie, Love Jihad is a conspiracy which has been rejected by the investigating agencies, the court and even the Union Home Ministry." "The then Union Minister of State for Home G. Kishan Reddy had informed Parliament that there was no 'love jihad'. Kishan Reddy is still a Union Minister. Even then if they have made 'love jihad' the central theme of the movie, it betrays the Sangh Parivar's desperation to show Kerala in a poor light in front of the world." He said that there was a reason for using propaganda films as "The Parivar's political designs have not worked in Kerala as it has in other parts of the country. That is why they are trying to get their agenda of divisive policies into Kerala through fake narratives". Vijayan said that freedom of expression was not a license to propagate lies, communalise a land, and divide its people. Chennai, April 30 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday extended greetings of International Labour Day to the people, saying his government will always protect the interests of labourers. International Labour Day falls on May 1. In a statement on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that whenever the DMK came to power, it implemented various welfare programmes for the benefit of the labourers and working class. He pointed out that it was during the regime of the previous DMK governments that holidays with pay on May 1, apart from 20 per cent bonus for labourers, land for landless labourers and several other welfare programmes were implemented. AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, in his May Day greetings, said that labourers were to be remembered and respected not only for May 1 but for the entire year. He also said that AIADMK leaders and former Chief Ministers, M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa had implemented several welfare programmes for the labourers. Patna, April 30 : In a bid to encourage children in villages to promote the habit of reading, the Bihar government has started 'Didi ki library', established under Jeevika. The first Didi ki library or community library in Singheshwar was inaugurated by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on February 10. At least 100 libraries have been opened in 32 districts. Community Library and Career Development Centres (CLCDCs) have also been set up in many blocks of the state. Jeevika's CEO Rahul Kumar said that the 100 Community Library-cum-Career Development Centres (CLCDCs) established by Jeevika as study centres of various courses recognised by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) will help promote education in rural children. Kumar said that there are a total of 12,318 members registered in all the 100 community libraries, of which about 80 per cent are girls. Till now, 63 government buildings have been taken over for the purpose, while the remaining 37 are being developed in private houses hired by Jeevika. The building marked for the operation of CLCDC has a hall, which can accommodate about 30-40 people and two rooms, in which one room is used as a physical and digital library-cum-office and the other room is used as a study room. The hall is used for other teaching-training activities including conducting digital and physical classes as per the requirement. Books for preparation of various higher education entrance exams including class 9th to 12th textbook, e-books and notes are available in the library. Rohan Rai, a resident of Singheshwar, who works as a labourer said that girls were not able to study properly at home. The library is helping in promoting education among rural children who, for various reasons, did not get time and facilities for studying at their homes. He said that such a facility in the village would be effective in the field of education of girls. Bengaluru, April 30 : Criticising the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) over "family politics", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday termed JD-S a "private limited party" and a "B-team" of the Congress. PM Modi addressed two massive rallies at Channapatna in Ramnagar district and Belur in Hassan district -- both considered strongholds of the JD-S. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda hails from Hassan district. His son and former Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is contesting the May 10 Assembly elections from Channapatna. Addressing the people, PM Modi dubbed the JD-S a "private limited party". "The JD-S of Karnataka exists only for a family. It is a party of family politics," he said. Also slamming the Congress, PM Modi said "one family based in Delhi decides on the allotment of tickets, and everything else". "One who is loyal to the family will be made the CM. Congress party leaders are indulged in worshipping one family. But the BJP considers each party worker as its family. During Covid, it has given free vaccination for everyone. It is giving free rice for the poor. The party has built crores of houses for the people," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further said that in the Congress-ruled states, "the bitter war for power is on". "In 2018, both Congress and JD-S were up against each other. But after the results, they joined hands. Every vote cast for the JD-S will go to Congress. The development is never possible through the JD-S and Congress "This time, the voters of Karnataka have taken a decision. The Congress and JD-S would be taught a lesson. JD-S is Congress' B-team," he said, adding: "JD-S agrees with everything that Congress says. Hence, the double-engine government should come to power in Karnataka." PM Modi also said that the Congress has ruined the traditional puppet industry. "I spoke about the famous Channapatna puppets and gave a call to purchase them in Mann Ki Baat. Today, they are exported and there is a huge revenue," he said. Hyderabad, April 30 : The massive all-round development achieved by Telangana during the last nine years symbolises the state's reconstruction and is a slap on the face of those who opposed formation of new state, said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday. He said the political adversaries who criticise the state government should also open their eyes and see the progress Telangana has achieved in these nine years. Speaking at the inauguration of new building of Telangana Secretariat, he recalled that during the Telangana movement, many people had raised apprehensions about the future of the state and even predicted that there would be backwardness and darkness if Telangana becomes a separate state. KCR pointed out that even the Planning Commission had declared all Telangana districts except Hyderabad as backward districts and people were asking how Telangana would develop without water and power. "After the formation of Telangana state, many debates took place. Political rivals raised many doubts and criticised the government's vision and plan to reconstruct Telangana "They used to ask us, what does Telangana reconstruction mean? Are you going to destroy the entire Telangana and reconstruct it? Today they have got the answer," he said. KCR said that soon after came to power in 2014, his government re-dedicated and started reconstructing Telangana in every sector. "Today, Telangana state has become a role model and guiding force for the country in the welfare and development sectors," he said. KCR said that from the rejuvenation of all Kakatiya-era water bodies, ponds and lakes in the state to a stage where lakes and ponds were full even during summer, construction of Kaleshwaram project as the world's largest lift irrigation scheme, all were reconstruction of Telangana. He listed out the strides made by the state during the last nine years, including the success in overcoming electricity shortage and ensuring supply of drinking water to every household. KCR said the government permanently solved the problem of fluorosis. The government also created 33 districts for administrative convenience. "We demolished the old structures and built people-friendly government offices," he said. KCR also mentioned about the rapid progress made in agriculture. "The total paddy cultivation area during Yasangi in the country stood at 94 lakh acres, out of which 56 lakh acres were in Telangana alone," he said. "Today, there is no power crisis in Telangana. Round-the-clock power supply is provided to all sectors. Farmers are living with pride and it is the result of the reconstruction of Telangana. The growth of villages and towns is phenomenal. Telangana bagged all-time record Panchayat awards presented by the union government recently," he said. Stating that forest cover depleted fast in united Andhra Pradesh, he said after the bifurcation, growth of forests in Telangana has been incredible. Migrated workers from Palamuru district returned to their native places and reached the level of providing employment to migrated workers from other states of the country. KCR said the new Industrial policy was attracting huge investments in the Telangana state and Hyderabad is surpassing Bengaluru in the IT sector. "With the efficient police machinery, there is no law and order problem and no communal disturbances in the state since the formation of Telangana in 2014. Telangana police stand as a role model in the country," he said. The chief minister pointed out that the per capita income of Telangana is the highest among all states in India. "The per capita power consumption of Telangana is also the highest. The per capita power consumption has increased above 2,000 units from 1,100 units nine years ago," KCR said. The chief minister said construction of the beautiful building for Secretariat also symbolises reconstruction of Telangana. "Some political adversaries tried to create hurdles in the construction of the new Secretariat. The government did not take serious note and moved forward and built the state Secretariat which is one of the few wonderful government structures in the country," he said. He termed inauguration of new Secretariat a red letter day in the history of Telangana. "The marvel structure of the new Secretariat is the epicentre of the state administration. Today, I am blessed and fortunate that I inaugurated the wonderful new Secretariat." Explaining why the government named the new Secretariat after B.R. Ambedkar, he said that "Ambedkar as message for the development of all sections is a big inspiration to the state government". "We fought peacefully by following Gandhian ideology and achieved separate Telangana state. The architect of Indian Constitution, B.R. Ambedkar's vision of enshrining Article 3 in the Constitution helped the creation of Telangana state," he said, adding that the giant statue of Ambedkar adjacent to the state Secretariat will always inspire the state government officials who discharge their duties to fulfil the aspirations of the people. Los Angeles, April 30 : Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg has admitted leaving Hollywood behind has been a breath of fresh air for his family. The 'Spenser Confidential' star, 51, uprooted his family from the celebrity hotspot and moved to Las Vegas, reports 'Mirror.co.uk'. But he has said it has left his family "thriving" as he praised his new surroundings and refuses to look back. He first revealed his clan -- he has four children with his wife Rhea Durham -- were leaving Hollywood for Sin City in October last year as they moved on from this luxurious $90 million pad in search of a better life. And now, in the space of six months, the actor has gushed over how much of a positive impact it has had on his kids. Speaking to E! News, he said, quoted by 'Mirror.co.uk', "They love Vegas. I spent lots of time in Los Angeles pursuing my interests and my career, and now it's time for them to pursue theirs." He went on to reveal: "Everybody is thriving there. It's been great". Speaking about what he has been able to do since moving states, Mark said he had been able to bag tickets for Adele and Bruno Mars concerts at their residences in the gambling capital of the world. New York, April 30 : US regulators are racing to find a rescuer to buy First Republic Bank in a deal that could be announced as soon as Sunday, media reports said. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, a federal regulator, has reportedly asked six banks to bid for the embattled lender. Shares in First Republic plunged last week after it admitted customers had withdrawn $100 bn in deposits in March, the BBC reported. At that time, its competitor Silicon Valley Bank had collapsed, prompting fears of a wider banking crisis. The SVB's failure was swiftly followed by the demise of another US lender, Signature Bank. According to reports, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation sought bids for First Republic by the end of last week and has been assessing them over the weekend. Concerns about the global banking industry gathered pace last month as problems at Silicon Valley Bank emerged. Like Silicon Valley Bank, First Republic is a mid-sized US lender. In March, a group of 11 US banks stepped forward to pump $30bn into First Republic in an attempt to stabilise the business. They included JP Morgan. However, investors in the bank were rattled last week when First Republic disclosed the amount that depositors had pulled from the lender in March, BBC reported. First Republic counts wealthy individuals among its clients whose money is potentially at risk if a buyer is not found. In the US, the FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000. When Silicon Valley Bank and Signature collapsed, the FDIC stepped in to say it would guarantee all deposits to prevent a rush of people trying to get their money out, which is known as a run on a bank, BBC reported. New Delhi, April 30 : Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may visit India by end of this year, the country's envoy Naor Gilon said on Sunday. "We can expect the Prime Minister of Israel to visit India by the end of this year... India and Israel have wonderful ties in all fields, it is based on people to people element," the Ambassador said. Both the countries are also observing 30 years of diplomatic relations this year. Gilon further said that both Israel and India have "good commercial relations, which have grown 40-fold in 30 years". Amaravati, April 30 : The Andhra Pradesh Police's CID on Sunday arrested former Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLC Adireddy Appa Rao and his son and TDP state Executive Secretary Adireddy Srinivasa Rao in a case relating to financial irregularities in a chit fund company. The CID sleuths arrested the father-son duo from their residence in Rajamahendravaram and shifted them to the CID office. Appa Rao, who is the husband of TDP Rajahmundry MLA Adireddy Bhavani and their son Srinivasa Rao are said to be directors in Jagajjanani Chit Funds Private Ltd. The main opposition party condemned the arrests. Several party leaders and workers reached the party office in Rajamahendravaram and voiced their protest over the arrests. Meanwhile, TDP national President and former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu spoke to Bhavani over phone and expressed solidarity with her. Naidu said that the political harassment and vendetta by the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) government is increasing by the day. He lamented that there is no change in the ruling party's behavior. The TDP President said the YSRCP government believed only in illegal cases and illegal arrests. He said the arrest of Appa Rao and Srinivasa Rao is another example of the YSRCP government's politics of vendetta. Naidu alleged that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy does not want anybody to do business in the state. "Is CID a government investigation agency or YSRCP threatening agency," he asked The TDP chief said despite courts reprimanding the government on many occasions, the Jagan government has not mend its ways. TDP's Andhra Pradesh unit chief Atchanaidu said the party was not afraid of illegal cases and arrests. He alleged that there is no difference between YSRCP 'goondas' and CID officials. The former minister said while on one hand, YSRCP leaders were resorting to physical attacks on TDP workers, the CID, on the other, is raiding the houses of TDP leaders in the name of searches. Jammu, April 30 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday released "Shri Amarnathji Yatra Guidebook", published by the Tourism Federation of Jammu. "The Lt Governor appreciated the Tourism Federation of Jammu for selfless service to pilgrims. "The Lt Governor also shared the key initiatives taken by the UT Government and Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board to facilitate the hassle-free and smooth pilgrimage of the devotees," an official statement said. Sinha further highlighted the efforts to promote spiritual tourism in Jammu & Kashmir. The representatives of Tourism Federation of Jammu expressed gratitude to the Lt Governor-led UT administration and the Shrine Board for augmenting the facilities for pilgrims and service providers. The 62-day-long Amarnath Yatra will commence on July 1 this year and it will culminate on August 31. Gurugram, April 30 : A 34-year-old businessman has committed suicide here by shooting himself with a pistol at his home in the Dayanand Colony area, the police said on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Sandeep Shekhar. Police said that he took the extreme step on late Saturday night. His family said that Sandeep was in the business of supplying supplements to gyms. "Before Covid, his business was doing well but due to the pandemic, he suffered huge losses," a family member said. "His behaviour was also not quite proper for about a week. He was in constant depression. Sandeep went to his room and shot himself in the head with his revolver late at night on Saturday. The family members took him to the hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead," a relative told the police. The police handed over the body to the family following an autopsy on Sunday. The pistol used in the incident has been seized. According to police sources, the victim did not have a license for the pistol. Jammu, April 30 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over the appointment letter to Sunita Sharma, whose husband Sanjay Sharma was killed by terrorists in J&K's Pulwama district on February 26. "The Lt. Governor assured all possible assistance and support from the J&K Administration to the family of the martyred civilian," an official statement said. The family members of Sanjay Sharma were also present at the Raj Bhawan during the appointment letter hand over programme. Islamabad, April 30 : The record of an important discussion between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar was leaked wherein the two, along with an assistant, were talking about Pakistan's ties with the US, reports said on Sunday. The record of the discussion on crucial foreign policy, which has been named 'Discord Leaks', also reveals the Premier's conversation on the United Nations' voting on the Ukraine and Russia conflict, Geo News reported, citing the Washington Post. As per the leaked documents, Khar said that Pakistan should avoid appeasing the West and that the country's desire to maintain a strategic partnership with the US would sacrifice the full benefits of its original strategic partnership with the long-term friendly nation China, Geo News reported. "According to one of the leaked documents, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, argued in March that her country can 'no longer try to maintain a middle ground between China and the United States," it cited the US paper as reporting. During the discussion, an aide advised the Prime Minister that supporting the resolution could jeopardise Pakistan's trade and energy deals with Russia and would give the impression of a change in Pakistan's position. The story by Washington Post, in which the record has been leaked, revolved around the declining support for the US on the war between Russia and Ukraine. "When the UN General Assembly voted February 23, Pakistan was among 32 countries that abstained," it noted. Hyderabad, April 30 : The Telangana government on Sunday issued orders for regularisation of over 5,000 contract employees in various departments. The orders were issued after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao approved the file concerned after taking his chair in his chambers in the new state Secretariat. A Government Order (GO) regularising the services of 5,544 contract employees in 16 departments was issued by Special Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao. Finance Minister Harish Rao tweeted the GO and thanked the Chief Minister for fulfilling his promise. The contract employees whose services will be regularised include 2,909 junior lecturers, 180 junior lecturers (vocational), 390 polytechnic lecturers, 270 degree lecturers, 873 multipurpose health assistants in the Health Department, 179 lab technicians and 158 pharmacists. The file for regularisation of contract employees was one of the six files signed by the chief minister after occupying his chair in the new Secretariat. The first file he signed was on the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu Scheme in 2023-24. He signed the file pertaining to extending Dalit Bandu benefit to 1,100 beneficiaries each in 118 Assembly constituencies (except Huzurabad where the scheme has already been implemented). KCR also signed a file relating to the distribution of Podu land titles. From May, the district wise distribution programme will be undertaken. As many as 1,35,000 beneficiaries will be provided the land titles for about 3.9 lakh acres. The Chief Minister signed the third file regarding the beneficiaries of Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). The fourth file he signed was related to the KCR Nutrition Kit for pregnant women. These kits will be distributed in all the districts. As the government targeted to distribute 13.08 lakh kits across the state, 6.84 lakh pregnant women will benefit. The cost of each KCR nutrition kit is Rs 2,000 and for this project, the government allocated Rs 277 crore. KCR also signed the file relating to the Palamuru Lift Irrigation scheme. --IANS ms/vd A New Delhi, April 30 : Two arms smugglers of an inter-state gang have been arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police, an official said on Sunday, adding that pistols and live cartridges were also recovered from their possession. The arrested individuals have been identified as Manish Pandey a.k.a. Shivam, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, and Inderjit Singh -- a resident of Tarn Taran, Punjab DCP, Special Cell, Alok Kumar said 10 pistols (seven pistols of .32 bore and three single-shot pistols) with 10 live cartridges were recovered from them. "The recovered pistols were procured by the accused Manish Pandey from a Sendhwa (MP)-based firearms manufacturer and supplier. These pistols were to be supplied to the criminals in Delhi and gangsters of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang in Punjab," said Kumar. The police officer said that on April 26, information was received that Manish Pandey had procured a consignment of pistols from Sendhwa, Madhya Pradesh. He was on his way to Delhi to meet one of his contacts on the Outer Ring Road. Accordingly, a trap was laid. "Manish Pandey was spotted carrying a bag. He was surrounded and overpowered. On questioning, it was revealed that these recovered pistols were to be supplied in Delhi and to one Inderjit Singh of Punjab on the directions of gangster Pradeep Singh a.k.a. Pinder, an active member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang," said the police. Later, his aide, Inderjit Singh, was also arrested. Patna, April 30 : Of the 11 killed in the Ludhiana gas tragedy, five - all of a family - belonged to Bihar's Gaya district and sorrow and grief has spread across their native village there. The deceased were identified as Dr Kavilash Sharma, his wife Versha Sharma, daughter Kalpana Sharma, and sons Abhay Narayan Sharma and Aryan Sharma. Hailing from Koch block in Gaya district, they had been living in Ludhiana for years. Their house is adjoining the milk booth facility where the poisonous gas released and they died. The poisonous gas leaked from a milk booth facility in Gyaspur industrial area of Ludhiana claimed 11 lives while many others battling for their lives in hospital. The family members of Kavilash Sharma are going to Ludhiana to claim the dead bodies and hold their their last rites. New York, April 30 : An Indian-origin man has been convicted of murder for ramming his car into a vehicle resulting in the deaths of three teens who were fleeing after one of them allegedly exposed himself at his house as a prank, according to media reports. Anurag Chandra, 45, was found guilty in a Riverside court in California on Friday on three charges of murder in the deaths of three teens and attempted murder for the three teens who survived after their car was hit by his, the Press-Enterprise reported. On a Sunday evening in January 2020, the group of teens were playing a prank and picked Chandra's home as they thought teens lived there, the newspaper said. One of them rang the doorbell of the house and pulled down his pants to expose his backside, the newspaper reported. Chandra testified in court that he thought that the teen was sex offender and feared for his 16-year-old daughter and his wife, it reported. He said that he followed the teen, who got into a car with the five others, and chased them to "express my anger" but not hurt them, the newspaper said. According to authorities and the teen driver Sergio Campusano interviewed by NBC, Chandra's car hit their car from the back and it hurtled off the road and hit a tree in Temescal Valley, about 100 km from Los Angeles. Chandra drove at a speed of almost 160 kmph in a 64-kmph zone, according to police. NBC Los Angeles reported that Campusano said that one of the boys rang Chandra's doorbell and ran back to their vehicle as part of a prank known as "doorbell ditch" or "ding-dong ditch". The prank is to harass strangers by ringing their doorbell and running away. Chandra, who admitted to drinking 12 beers before the incident, could face a sentence of life without parole when he is sentenced in July, according to Press-Enterprise. The newspaper said that Chandra was the vice president of a company that distributes "essential oils" -- plant extracts used as a scent or in aromatherapy. The verdict was given by a jury -- a panel of citizens under California's legal system that decides on cases. By Toma Mochizuki, KYODO NEWS - May 1, 2023 - 07:32 | All, Japan, G7 As Japan beefs up security for the Group of Seven summit in May, separate attacks on its present and former prime ministers within a year have highlighted shortcomings in the nation's ability to protect high-profile figures like those set to gather in Hiroshima. Following the latest attack by a man who targeted Prime Minister Fumio Kishida by throwing an explosive device at him as he campaigned in April, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno vowed to take all possible measures to ensure the safety of those attending the international event. The incident took place despite increased security after a man shot and killed former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July last year when he was giving a stump speech in Nara, western Japan, ahead of a national election. In the wake of the assassination of the nation's longest-serving prime minister, the National Police Agency set up last year a section dedicated to guarding imperial family members and dignitaries, while increasing the number of security police officers and enhancing their training. Under its new security guidelines established last August, the agency strengthened its involvement with prefectural police, with agency officials tasked with examining and revising security plans drawn up by local police to protect dignitaries. "It's difficult to believe that reforms implemented by the police (after Abe's shooting) were actually being put into practice" since there was another serious incident, said Mitsuru Fukuda, professor at the College of Risk Management at Nihon University. The attack on Kishida came just a month ahead of the May 19-21 G-7 summit in Hiroshima, which will bring together leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, as well as the European Union. Despite having a reputation for being among the safest countries in the world, "Japan is the only developed country where high-ranking political figures have been targeted (in attacks) recently," Fukuda said. In the lead up to the G-7 summit, the government said it is considering introducing technologies such as drones equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence to quickly detect suspicious behavior. But it has increasingly become difficult for police, which have long tracked organized crime and extremist groups, to identify and prevent a so-called "lone wolf" attack perpetrated by an individual without allegiance to a specific organization. In addition to those who targeted Abe and Kishida, such perpetrators include the suspect in the 2019 arson attack of Japanese anime studio Kyoto Animation Co., as well as the man found guilty of going on a stabbing spree at a care home for the mentally disabled in 2016. Japan has some of the world's strictest gun laws, but the attacks on the Japanese lawmakers involved weapons constructed from everyday items, posing a problem for authorities. The suspect who shot Abe used a homemade weapon gun, while the suspect in an explosives attack on Kishida used what appeared to be a handmade pipe bomb, with necessary components readily available to purchase online or in hardware stores. Fukuda believes "public safety (in Japan) has been gradually getting worse" in the years since the post-war boom, pointing to assailants who commit attacks of "desperation" caused by various societal factors. Reflecting a similar perception among the public, an online survey conducted last October by the NPA found nearly 70 percent of respondents felt safety had declined over the past 10 years, following a number of attacks on trains and other public spaces in recent years. After the incident involving Kishida on April 15, police intensified security further, with police officers using metal detectors and inspecting people's baggage at stump speeches delivered by senior ruling and opposition lawmakers for elections held later in the month. But a police agency official stationed at a stump speech in front of a busy station in Tokyo admitted, "It is difficult to inspect all passersby." In another incident that demonstrated the heightened sense of caution, shoppers were evacuated and a counterterrorism squad and a bomb unit were dispatched in central Hiroshima in late April when a suspicious bag with no apparent owner was found at a shopping complex. "There is a need to swiftly uncover the security issues in time for the summit," said Masahiro Tamura, professor at Kyoto Sangyo University and an alumnus of the NPA. "It will be difficult to guarantee the safety of dignitaries without the people's cooperation in questioning," he added. The G-7 summit will be held at a hotel on Ujina Island, about six kilometers from central Hiroshima, with the island only accessible via one bridge from the mainland. Traffic will be stopped for inspection, while police will work with the Japan Coast Guard to prepare for a possible approach by suspicious ships and drones. The world leaders, who will travel under the protection of their own security services, may also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in the western Japanese city known as a tourist hotspot. Security will be tight when dignitaries are transported in vehicles, according to experts. "While security will be well prepared at the hotel venue, locations that are further away with a large number of unknown people, including tourists, are vulnerable to attacks," Nihon University's Fukuda said. Police are also increasing vigilance in the capital as they are aware a terrorist attack took place in London during a 2005 Group of Eight summit held in Gleneagles, Scotland. "Although the summit will be held in Hiroshima, we must exercise utmost caution in Tokyo, where many embassies and government facilities are located," said Hiroshi Kojima, head of the Metropolitan Police Department, at a security meeting in late April. While Japan's crime-free reputation may have been dented by the recent high-profile incidents, the country has a strong track record of hosting planned international events without any security issues, Fukuda said. "What Japan needs to do now is emphasize how safe the summits held in Japan have been in the past," he said. Related coverage: G-7 pushes for int'l standards for AI amid spread of ChatGPT use Cyberattacks increasing in Japan ahead of G-7 summit Colombo, April 30 : Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday urged IT experts in the island nation to promote Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, taking India and Sri Lanka as models. He directed formation of a presidential task force comprising AI experts and prepare a concept paper to promote AI usage as done in the two Asian nations. "When it comes to artificial intelligence, we should consider Singapore and India as role models. It is true that east Asia.... South Korea, Japan, and China are making progress in artificial intelligence, but no country in West Asia has reached that stage yet," Wickremesinghe said. The Sri Lankan President said the country is aiming to create a digital economy and to meet the demands of the digital age, aiming to produce 10,000 engineers annually instead of present number 2, 500. He also highlighted the potential of AI in various fields, including agriculture, education, health, fisheries, and industry. "We have identified the modernisation of agriculture and fisheries, tourism, and improvement of supply centres as urgent areas for development in our economic reforms. Additionally, we have placed a greater focus on the technology industry." The President noted that the current annual contribution to Sri Lanka's gross national income through computer and information technology is around $1.9 billion, with no known amount from AI technology. He instructed officials to develop a system to track AI contributions and stressed the importance of taking prompt action to increase AI's contribution to the gross domestic product in the coming years. He invited the private sector to join in the effort and said that the government plans to allocate Rs one billion for AI technology next year. New Delhi, April 30 : Around 2,300 Indian citizens have safely reached India from war-torn Sudan, as another batch of 40 people arrived in the national capital on Sunday. Giving an update on Operation Kaveri, foreign minister S Jaishankar said in a tweet that a C-130J Indian Airforce aircraft landed in Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2,300 people have reached India, he informed further. More than 500 people have been killed in Sudan, ever since fights broke out between the country's army and paramilitary forces from April 14 onwards. One Indian citizen, too, had been killed in the civil war. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken a review of the situation prevailing in Khartoum around 10 days back, where he had emphasised an evacuation plan for Indian citizens living there, it was decided to launch a large scale rescue operation titled Operation Kaveri, to bring Indian citizens back from the troubled nation. With the help of Indian Navy warships and Indian Air Force carriers, 2,300 Indian citizens have been successfully brought back from Khartoum to India via Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against Carvana Logistics, LLC call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Carvana Logistics, LLC violated the California Labor Code. The Carvana Logistics, LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. S-CV-0050279, is currently pending in the Placer County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. According to the Complaint, the company's non-exempt employees were allegedly unable to take off-duty meal breaks due to their rigorous work schedules. California labor laws require an employer to provide an employee required to perform work for more than five (5) hours during a shift with, a thirty (30) minute uninterrupted meal break prior to the end of the employee's fifth (5th) hour of work and a second uninterrupted meal break when employees are required to work ten (10) hours. The Complaint claims that the company did not provide their employees who forfeited meal breaks additional compensation. The Complaint further claims Carvana Logistics, LLC failed to pay employees their accurate sick pay wages, which violates California Labor Code Section 246. Employees routinely earned non-discretionary incentive wages which increased their regular rate of pay. However, when paid sick pay wages, it was allegedly paid at the base rate of pay rather than the higher regular rate of pay. For more information about the class action lawsuit against Carvana Logistics, LLC call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua) -- "I see the potential from both sides to develop and to build not only stronger relations, but do business together." European business insiders are looking to China to seek cooperation, hoping that China's economic recovery will bring broad prospects for growth. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Property details: View Store FeedbackContact Us MENU USEFUL LINKS Home About us New Arrivals Feedback Contact Us Home About us New Arrivals Feedback Contact Us Free Delivery Rated Excellent Secure Payment Excellent Support LAND Property in Arkansas for SALE 0.08 Acres NO RESERVE Beautiful BIG SALE The Best Prices on Beautiful Ozark Land in ArkansasWE NOW ALSO ACCEPT APPLE PAY AND GOOGLE PAY! PAY IN 4 OPTIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH KLARNA!EXTRA $25 Off If Paid on Apr 30! Price = Winning Bid That's It - No Extra Fees As... 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Price: $ 500 Seller State of Residence: Colorado Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 924 E 6th Ave, Pine Bluff, AR Zip/Postal Code: 71601 Zoning: Mixed City: Pine Bluff State/Province: Arkansas Location: 801**, Englewood, Colorado You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Arkansas Property details: Please Read Everything Before Bidding.You Are Bidding on CASH PRICE FOR DEED + LOW BUYER's Premium SERIOUS BIDDERS ONLY Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE Subdivision Lot in Village of Brooklyn and not far from Napoleon Michigan. Great future investment or buy and HOLD. Jackson County is known for its prized bucks! Brooklyn hosts the NASCAR Track with Races twice a year and a huge Annual Country Music Festival called "Faster Horses"! An opportunity to own a buildable Residential Inve... Price: $ 105 Seller State of Residence: Florida Type: Homesite, Lot Property Address: 118 St Clair Circle Zip/Postal Code: 49230 Zoning: Residential City: Brooklyn State/Province: Michigan Location: 492**, Brooklyn, Michigan You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Michigan Yanni Georgoulakis / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/30/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT 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 Ashley Hebert has celebrated two years of dating her boyfriend Yanni Georgoulakis.Ashley, who starred on 's seventh season, took to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, April 25 and posted a selfie of the couple arm-in-arm and smiling big."2 years with you," Ashley captioned the photo, which featured her noticeably wearing braces. "(And about 7473293875 years with these braces)."Ashley proceeded to post a photo of herself posing outside of a bistro called Mandolin followed by a video of her clinking wine glasses with her Yanni, the founder of "Foody Fetish," a social-media brand which boasts several million followers on Instagram.Back in July 2022, Ashley conducted a Q&A session with her followers on Instagram and said she couldn't pinpoint her favorite quality in her man."He's so calm and kinda quiet and mysterious... and very understanding and kind. We also both love having fun and being silly," Ashley told her followers, according to Us Weekly."On our last trip we legitimately laughed 75 percent of the time... belly laughs. And he always brings me food unannounced and it's very cute. And he is just drop dead gorgeous. Green eyes... tall... xlarge... he's perfect."The pediatric dentist added, "He's also one of those guys that if you vocalize that something is bothering you he is very attentive and will do anything he can to help make it better."Ashley also celebrated her one-year dating anniversary with Yanni in April 2022."One year ago, I went on my first date with this cutie," Ashley wrote on social media at the time.She went on to joke, "He took photos of food almost the entire time."Ashley then posted a photo of Yanni checking a skillet's heat on her stove."Then he would come over and cook for me," Ashley revealed.Ashley proceeded to share a photo of the couple lounging on a beautiful deck in their pajamas, writing, "Since then, we've traveled."Ashley and Yanni have traveled to romantic destinations such as Mexico and Curacao.After posting a video of Yanni pointing out the sunset from a balcony, Ashley continued, "[We've also] enjoyed sunsets, danced, laughed, dined, spent time on our phones, traveled, and ate some more."Ashley also thanked Yanni for "taking the best pictures" and "for bringing calm, peace and unconditional love" to her heart.Ashley concluded on her Instagram Stories last year, "Can't wait for Year 2 with you."Yanni is reportedly 38 years old, just like Ashley, and they both currently resides in Miami, FL, according to Us.Ashley revealed in March 2022 that her relationship was getting serious and her boyfriend -- whom she hadn't identified yet -- had already met her two children : son Fordham, 8, and daughter Essex, 6."I introduced him after about nine months...as one of my friends. Not sure how this happened, but they thought he was their babysitter," Ashley told her followers during an Instagram Q&A session.She added with crying-laughing emoticons, "They said he was the best babysitter ever. Lol."Ashley first announced she has a new boyfriend in late October 2021, which was right around the time she finalized her divorce from ex-husband and 7 winner, J.P. Rosenbaum , who is also the father of her kids."I spent the first 4-5 months in denial about the relationship," Ashley told a fan during her Q&A last year. "That's prob why it went by so fast. LOL."J.P., 45, filed for divorce in Miami-Dade County in Florida on July 28, 2021, according to court records obtained by E! News.J.P. previously told the website there was "no fighting" with Ashley as they proceeded with a divorce and they intended to remain "friendly" in order to co-parent their two children."It's 100% Perfectly ok to NOT have all the answers, to NOT know what the future holds, to be afraid, to have anxiety, to feel uneasy about anything and everything," J.P. wrote on Instagram in August 2021 shortly after filing for divorce.But J.P. told his followers to "embrace the unknown" and "live your life."Ashley previously assured fans that she'd be careful whom she introduces to her children and J.P. would meet a significant man in her life before she'd allow the kids to have a meet and greet."I'm pretty sure my kids don't understand what dating is," Ashley noted in 2021. "If I am serious enough with someone, they will meet JP first, then the kids. But wow, I don't feel ready for that yet!"While Ashley appears happy and moved on from her marriage, she apparently isn't sure she'd like to walk down the aisle again.Ashley said 2021 that "marriage complicates things" and she would "rather just love someone and choose to be with them."At the time, Ashley and J.P. weren't exactly friends, although Ashley said they communicated when "necessary" for the well-being of their children.Ashley, however, insisted in Summer 2021 that she was "all for" J.P. meeting someone new and would like for him to find a partner who makes him happy."If JP introduces someone to me, that means it's serious. I would be very happy for him. Honestly," Ashley insisted. "If JP is happy that means my kids are around someone that is bright, uplifting, loving, etc etc."Ashley admitted she and J.P. broke up in part because they "see the cup differently.""I lost a huge part of what I loved about myself towards the end of my marriage," Ashley said after announcing the breakup. "I feel like myself again. Don't have an explanation for it tho."Ashley and J.P. announced in October 2020 they had decided to split up and "separate ways" after nearly eight years of marriage."It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that, after months of separation, JP and I have amicably decided to go our separate ways," Ashley captioned a photo of the couple in happier times on Instagram."We created the most beautiful children and shared memories that will never be forgotten. Our differences have taken a toll on our relationship and after years of attempting to repair the damage, we've decided that it is in our family's best interest to create new and separate lives for our children."According to J.P.'s Instagram posting, couple had already been separated for months prior to their big announcements."I have written and rewritten this post dozens of times and each time I feel the same level of disbelief and extreme sadness," J.P. wrote on Instagram in Spring 2021."While I realize that this will come as a complete shock to everyone, I can assure you that this is something that has been developing in our relationship for quite a while. It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that after months of separation, Ashley and I have amicably decided to live our lives apart from one another."In his posting, J.P. also insisted the couple had done "absolutely everything" they could to save their marriage and they've had irreconcilable differences for years."Please please please know that there is no one to blame, that there's no event that triggered this decision, that no one is the victim, and that we've done absolutely everything we possibly can to try to salvage this marriage," he wrote."I think we've both come to realize that we are just two very different people, with very different personalities and perspectives, who just don't see eye to eye on a lot life fundamentals, those which are the building blocks for a happy and healthy marriage."couple's split announcement came two years after Ashley and J.P. had renewed their wedding vows in a beachfront ceremony in Aruba in August 2018.Ashley originally appeared on Season 15 of The Bachelor starring Brad Womack and then became 's seventh-season star.Ashley ended up selecting J.P. over her runner-up, Ben Flajnik , at season's Final Rose Ceremony for Season 7 in Fiji.J.P. proposed marriage to Ashley in the finale that aired on ABC in Summer 2011, and the couple got married in December 2012 in a ceremony that was also televised.couple welcomed Fordham in September 2014 and Essex Reese in November 2016.In 2017, Ashley and J.P. also appeared on Season 7 of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars.During their Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars appearance, Ashley voiced her frustration with J.P.'s "tunnel vision with work" while J.P. found Ashley's inability to put him first "reprehensible."In addition, Ashley and J.P. were shown disagreeing on parenting approaches.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group South Africa: Public warned of ex-miners compensation fund scam Government has warned the public against fake compensation fund agents inviting former mine workers to be assisted with compensation fund applications. In a statement on Saturday, Government noted with concern a misleading digital poster circulating on social media platforms bearing the face of Prophet Moporo, inviting all former mine workers and their families to be assisted with compensation fund applications, and also inform those who have applied of their application status. The government distances itself from this event planned scheduled for 01 May 2023 at Maluti TVET College. We consider this as a scam by conmen who want to take advantage of, and enrich themselves out the plight of former mineworkers (and their dependants) who might have contracted TB, Silicosis and other occupational lung diseases while working in the mines between March 1965 and December 2019, and those who were not paid their pension or provident funds, said the Departments of Health, Employment and Labour as well as Mineral Resources and Energy in a joint statement. National government has delegated the responsibility of coordinating the countrywide ex-Mineworkers Compensation Programme to the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo; the Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi; and the Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Dr Nobuhle Nkabane. This is in partnership with various stakeholders including the Southern African Miners Association (SAMA), Minerals Council South Africa, Tshiamiso Trust and the mining companies. The programme is part of governments efforts to track, trace and pay the former mine workers or their dependants who qualify for compensation funds, class action settlement funds and pension / provident funds. The Deputy Ministers have been leading this programme to several communities around the country, starting with KwaZulu-Natal, followed by the Eastern Cape. Government said that the public will be informed well on time of the dates, times and venues for the next provincial visits, together with required documents to bring along. In Saturdays statement, government emphasised that no individual or organisation has been outsourced to carry out this mandate on behalf of the government. Thus, people are warned to ignore anyone claiming to be representing the government, or never pay any fee to be assisted to lodge a claim, because the lodgement process is free of charge. For information about the Ex-miners Compensation Fund Programme, members of the public can call the Call Centre on 080 1000 240/ 010 500 6186/ Send a Please Call Me to 072 557 8077. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Photo: Times Colonist The Victoria School Board office on Boleskine Road. A Greater Victoria school trustee has been charged with assault and placed on a condition prohibiting her from volunteering or doing work that would bring her in contact with anyone under 16. Angela Carmichael, 42, is charged with committing common assault on Feb. 7 in Victoria. The identity of the alleged victim is protected by a publication ban. The charge was sworn on April 3. Carmichael, who was elected in November 2022, was placed on a police undertaking in February that requires her to report to a bail supervisor. She was also ordered not to communicate or have any contact with her alleged victim. Carmichael must not volunteer or do work that would bring her in contact with people under the age of 16 without the written permission of her bail supervisor. She must carry the permission with her at all times when engaged in these activities. Carmichael is expected to appear in provincial court on May 3. On Friday, Carmichael said she believes the charge is unfounded. According to her school board biography, Carmichael is the mother of two sons, and opened a home daycare and began volunteering when her oldest son was enrolled in elementary school. She eventually became president of the Parent Advisory Council. Carmichael was also chair of the Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. Neither Deb Whitten, superintendent of the Greater Victoria School District, nor Nicole Duncan, chair of the Greater Victoria School Board, responded to a request for comment SHANGHAI, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A Sino-French exhibition named "Painting the Essential -- Surrealism and the East" was opened to the public on Saturday at the West Bund Museum in Shanghai. The exhibition is the latest outcome of the five-year exhibition cooperation project between the West Bund Museum and the Centre Pompidou. It will last until September 24. In terms of exhibits from the French side, works of surrealist and abstract masters like Joan Miro, Andre Masson and Zao Wou-Ki were brought together at the show, including Joan Miro's "Constellations," the treasure of the Centre Pompidou. Meanwhile, the exhibition showcased a group of selected calligraphy and painting works from the Shanghai Museum, such as masterpieces created by Bada Shanren and Dong Qichang, allowing visitors to appreciate more closely the oriental elements contained in modern Western paintings. In 2023, the West Bund Museum and Centre Pompidou will continue to update the permanent exhibition according to the Sino-French cooperation project, and simultaneously launch art education activities. On May 2, the University of Georgia will host its annual candlelight memorial for students, faculty and staff who have died in the last year at 7 p.m. on the steps of the UGA Chapel, according to a UGA Media Relations press release. On Feb. 28, the Coleman-Baker Act, a bill focusing on re-opening unsolved homicides in Georgia, passed in the Georgia State House. The bill, known also as HB 88, passed with a vote of 168-1. It will now advance to the state Senate. head of the historic 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' which will be aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed people to join him live at 11:00 am and said that the journey of his radio monthly programme in which he addresses the common people has been "truly special". IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi records 100th episode of his monthly radio program 'Mann Ki Baat', in New Delhi on Saturday, April 29, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo The PM said that during the journey, the "collective spirit" of the people of the country was celebrated. "Do tune in at 11 AM for #MannKiBaat100. This has been a truly special journey, in which we have celebrated the collective spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspiring life journeys," Modi said in a tweet. Modi's radio monthly programme will complete its 100th episode on Sunday which will be aired at 11 am and will be broadcast live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcasts in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. 'Mann Ki Baat' is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of 'Mann Ki Baat' on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to 'Mann Ki Baat' at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' made brought about a "behavioural change" among people with the kind of exchanges with the listeners during the show, Dr Amit Kapoor, Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness, said on Saturday. Kapoor said that the Prime Minister made conversations with the people on the issues which mattered to the citizens. "It made a very huge sense for us to understand the impact it creates, we found unique things as we went along. We saw behavioural change in people with the kind of conversations that PM Modi made with the people. About 100 crore people heard these conversations. These conversations discussed topics that mattered to citizens," he said while speaking to ANI. The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organise facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the programme. 'Mann Ki Baat' is broadcast on last Sunday of every month. Buchung Tsering and his students learn about the policies related to developing Tibetan medicine in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2023. Buchung Tsering has been engaged in the field of Tibetan medicine for about 20 years. He is the manager of the production department of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. Tibetan medicine, known as "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, dates back 2,500 years. It has absorbed the influences of traditional Chinese, Indian and Arab medicine and is mainly practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan region. Since 2008, Buchung Tsering has been committed to making use of modern science and technology to boost the production of Tibetan medicine. He launched a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in the company, and invited well-known experts to identify and fix the weak links in medicine production. Buchung Tsering has also compiled some instruction manuals of Tibetan medicine. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "Tibetan Craftsman." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Buchung Tsering gives a lesson to his students in a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2023. Buchung Tsering has been engaged in the field of Tibetan medicine for about 20 years. He is the manager of the production department of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. Tibetan medicine, known as "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, dates back 2,500 years. It has absorbed the influences of traditional Chinese, Indian and Arab medicine and is mainly practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan region. Since 2008, Buchung Tsering has been committed to making use of modern science and technology to boost the production of Tibetan medicine. He launched a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in the company, and invited well-known experts to identify and fix the weak links in medicine production. Buchung Tsering has also compiled some instruction manuals of Tibetan medicine. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "Tibetan Craftsman." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Buchung Tsering gives a lesson to his students in a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2023. Buchung Tsering has been engaged in the field of Tibetan medicine for about 20 years. He is the manager of the production department of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. Tibetan medicine, known as "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, dates back 2,500 years. It has absorbed the influences of traditional Chinese, Indian and Arab medicine and is mainly practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan region. Since 2008, Buchung Tsering has been committed to making use of modern science and technology to boost the production of Tibetan medicine. He launched a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in the company, and invited well-known experts to identify and fix the weak links in medicine production. Buchung Tsering has also compiled some instruction manuals of Tibetan medicine. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "Tibetan Craftsman." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Buchung Tsering inspects the production of Tibetan medicine in Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2023. Buchung Tsering has been engaged in the field of Tibetan medicine for about 20 years. He is the manager of the production department of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. Tibetan medicine, known as "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, dates back 2,500 years. It has absorbed the influences of traditional Chinese, Indian and Arab medicine and is mainly practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan region. Since 2008, Buchung Tsering has been committed to making use of modern science and technology to boost the production of Tibetan medicine. He launched a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in the company, and invited well-known experts to identify and fix the weak links in medicine production. Buchung Tsering has also compiled some instruction manuals of Tibetan medicine. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "Tibetan Craftsman." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) Buchung Tsering inspects the production of Tibetan medicine in Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2023. Buchung Tsering has been engaged in the field of Tibetan medicine for about 20 years. He is the manager of the production department of Tibet Ganlu Tibetan Medicine Co., Ltd. Tibetan medicine, known as "Sowa Rigpa" in Tibetan, dates back 2,500 years. It has absorbed the influences of traditional Chinese, Indian and Arab medicine and is mainly practiced in Tibet and the Himalayan region. Since 2008, Buchung Tsering has been committed to making use of modern science and technology to boost the production of Tibetan medicine. He launched a specimen gallery for Tibetan medicine in the company, and invited well-known experts to identify and fix the weak links in medicine production. Buchung Tsering has also compiled some instruction manuals of Tibetan medicine. In 2021, he was awarded the title of "Tibetan Craftsman." (Xinhua/Jigme Dorje) India brought home another batch of 229 people on Sunday under its mission to evacuate stranded Indians from violence-hit Sudan. IMAGE: Indian nationals, evacuated from war-torn Sudan under Operation Kaveri, board the IAF C-130J flight as they leave for Delhi, in Jeddah, April 30, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The fresh batch of evacuees arrived in Bengaluru, a day after 365 people returned from the African country to Delhi. "#OperationKaveri One more flight brings back 229 passengers to Bengaluru," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on Twitter. As many as 125 people among the 229 evacuees hail from Karnataka, according to a statement issued by Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner Manoj Rajan. From the latest group of evacuees, 29 were quarantined, he said. Rajan said 255 people from Karnataka, including 134 from Shivamogga district and 53 from Mysuru, have so far returned to the state in four batches since April 27. As per official data, the total number of Indians who have been brought back home from Sudan now stands at 1,954 Under the evacuation mission, 754 people arrived in India in two batches on Friday. The total number of Indians who have been brought back home from Sudan now stands at 1,954, according to official data. The Indians were brought back from the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah where India has set up a transit camp for the evacuees. The first batch of 360 evacuees returned to New Delhi in a commercial plane on Wednesday. The second batch of 246 Indian evacuees arrived in Mumbai in a C17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Thursday. Under "Operation Kaveri", India has been taking its citizens in buses from the conflict zones of Khartoum and other troubled areas to Port Sudan from where they are being taken to Jeddah in the IAF's heavy-lift transport aircraft and the Indian Navy's ships. From Jeddah, the Indians are being brought back home in either commercial flight or IAF's aircraft. India has set up separate control rooms in Jeddah and Port Sudan, and the Indian embassy in Khartoum has been coordinating with them, besides being in touch with the headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in Delhi. Sudan has been witnessing deadly fighting between the country's army and a paramilitary group that has reportedly left around 400 people dead. Jaishankar announced the launch of "Operation Kaveri" on Monday to bring back stranded Indians from the African country. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday remarked about Prime Minister Narendra's statement about verbal abuse, saying one has to take such attacks in their stride in public life, and counselled him to learn from her brother Rahul Gandhi, who "is ready to take a bullet for the sake of the country". IMAGE: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra waves to the party supporters during a public meeting ahead of Karnataka assembly elections, at Khanapur in Belagavi, April 30, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Targeting the Congress over its party president M Mallikarjun Kharge's 'venomous snake' barb at him, Modi on Saturday said till now the party and its leaders had hurled different types of abuses at him 91 times. At a public meeting at Jamkhandi in Bagalkote district, Vadra, commenting on the PM's statement, said: "At least they (91 abuses) are fitting on one page; if you look at the abuses by them to my family and if we start making a list, we will publish books after books about it." "It is strange what I'm seeing from the past two-three days. I have seen many Prime Ministers, Indira ji (Indira Gandhi), she took bullets for this country. I have seen Rajiv Gandhi, he sacrificed his life for this country. I have seen PV Narsimha Rao and Manmohan Singh working hard for this country," she said. "But he (Modi) is the first Prime Minister I have seen, who comes before you and cries that he is being abused. Instead of listening to your grief, he is coming here and telling you his (probems)." Mocking at Modi, she said someone in his office had made a list not about the problems of the people, but about who had abused the Prime Minister many times. "Have courage, Modi ji. Learn from my brother Rahul Gandhi. My brother says he is ready to take a bullet for the sake of this country, not just abuse. My brother says he will stand for truth, whether you abuse, shoot a bullet or stab with a knife," Vadra said. "Don't fear Modi ji, this is public life and one has to bear such things. One needs to have courage and move forward," she said, adding, "Now that I'm talking to you, let me tell you, if you learn one more thing it will be good: listen to the voice of the people." Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party president K Annamalai on Sunday said he had lodged a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation on a project implemented during the previous Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime (2006-11), over which he had recently levelled corruption allegations. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai. Photograph: ANI Photo Speaking to reporters, the BJP leader said his party was committed to fighting against corruption and it would reflect in its proposed statewide yatra titled En Mann En Makkal (my soil, my people), ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "You have started seeing it in Tamil Nadu also," he said, apparently referring to the recent release of the 'DMK Files' by him, in which he had listed the assets (and their valuation) allegedly belonging to leaders of the ruling party in the state. Responding to a question, Annamalai said he had lodged a complaint with the CBI about the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I project vis-a-vis kickbacks, and submitted proof as well. "I was told that six others have filed complaints too. A firm which had taken part in the biding process has filed a complaint." On April 14, Annamalai -- referring to the DMK rule between 2006 and 2011 -- had alleged that payments were received by the party as kickbacks from a company that won a bid related to the execution of the Chennai Metro Rail Phase I project. He had alleged that "kickbacks of Rs 200 crore" had been channelled by a multinational company through two shell firms to "Chief Minister MK Stalin for DMK's 2011 election fund". The BJP leader had said at the time that he would lodge a complaint with the CBI, seeking a probe. Referring to the recent discussions that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam's top leadership had with BJP chief JP Nadda and top leader Amit Shah in Delhi, Annamalai said he was asked by the party brass to take part in that meeting and he participated. A few days ago, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and other senior leaders including S P Velumani visited Amit Shah and Nadda in Delhi, along with Annamalai. "We had discussions. Our goal is 2024 LS polls. People are angry with the DMK government. We are seeing how this regime has become anti-people." The goal is to win all 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu as well as the lone seat in neighbouring Puducherry. The talks were on those lines, he said. "The challenge before us is to transform into votes (favouring NDA) the mood that prevails in Tamil Nadu against the ruling DMK," he said. To a question related to seat sharing between the AIADMK and BJP, he said there was still a lot of time left for the LS polls and hence it was premature to talk about that. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday slammed the makers of The Kerala Story film, saying they were taking up the Sangh Parivar propaganda of projecting the state as a centre of religious extremism by raising the issue of 'love jihad' -- a concept rejected by the courts, probe agencies and even the Union Home Ministry. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra being felicitated by Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan (right) during laying foundation stone for the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram, April 25, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Vijayan said that the trailer of the Hindi film, at first glance, appears to be "deliberately produced" with the alleged aim of creating communal polarisation and spreading hate propaganda against the state. He said that despite the issue of 'love jihad' being rejected by probe agencies, courts and the MHA, it was being raised in connection with Kerala as the main premise of the film only to humiliate the state in front of the world. The CM, in a statement, said that such propaganda films and the alienation of Muslims depicted in them should be viewed in the context of Sangh Parivar's efforts to gain political advantage in Kerala. He also accused the Sangh Parivar of trying to destroy the religious harmony in the state by "sowing the poisonous seeds of communalism". Vijayan alleged that since the Sangh Parivar's politics of division was not working in Kerala, as it did in other places, it was trying to spread it through a film based on "fake stories", unsupported by any fact or evidence. "In the trailer of the movie, we see a hoax that 32,000 women in Kerala were converted and became members of the Islamic State. This bogus story is a product of the Sangh Parivar's lie factory," the CM contended in his statement. He said that freedom of expression cannot be a justification for using cinema to spread sectarianism in the state and create divisions. "It is not a licence to spread lies and communalism and divide the people in the state," he added. Viayan urged Malayalis to reject such moves and be vigilant against the attempts to spread communal unrest in the society through false propaganda. He also warned of legal action against anti-social activities. A couple of days ago, both the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in Kerala and the opposition Congress hit out at the controversial upcoming movie The Kerala Story, saying freedom of expression was not a licence to spew venom in society, and the film was an attempt to destroy the communal harmony of the state. The Congress urged the government not to give permission to screen the controversial movie as it aimed to create "communal divisions in society through false claims". The Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of the ruling CPI-M, had also lashed out against the film and said its trailer itself hurt religious sentiments and sought stern action against it. The Kerala Story, starring Adah Sharma, is set to be released in cinemas on May 5. The Kerala Story, written and directed by Sudipto Sen, is portrayed as "unearthing" the events behind "approximately 32,000 women" allegedly going missing in the southern state. The film falsely claims they converted, got radicalised and were deployed in terror missions in India and the world. The film's writer-director Sudipto Sen's earlier movies are Aasma, Lucknow Times and The Last Monk. The Kerala Story is backed by Sunshine Pictures Private Limited, founded by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who serves as the producer, creative director and co-writer on the film. A delegation of people opposing a proposed oil refinery project at Barsu in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district called on Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai on Sunday. IMAGE: A delegation of villagers opposing oil refinery project at Barsu in Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district call on NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in Mumbai, April 30, 2023. Photograph: Courtesy Sharad Pawar/Twitter A section of residents in and around Barsu have been opposing the proposed refinery as they fear the mega project will adversely affect the fragile biodiversity of the coastal Konkan region and also hit their livelihood. On Friday, as tempers ran high among protesters, the police used tear gas to disperse them. Pawar tweeted that a delegation led by Satyajit Chavan called on him at the YB Chavan Centre in Mumbai. NCP leader and former state minister Jitendra Awhad was also present during the meeting. On Friday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said the proposed refinery project will not be implemented without the local people's consent. Senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Saturday said one should ensure development projects do not cause any damage to the environment. He urged the Maharashtra government to hold discussions with all the stakeholders and find the best possible way out. Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasahe Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut, whose party is supporting the protesters, on Saturday claimed there was no coordination between Chief Minister Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis on the proposed refinery project. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 53F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low around 40F. Winds light and variable. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Overcast. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 54F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mainly cloudy. Low near 40F. Winds light and variable. Guven Sak, managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV), receives an interview with Xinhua in Ankara, Turkiye, on April 28, 2023. China's long-term plan towards modernization has proven successful and the result is very impressive, said Guven Sak, managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV).(Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) by Burak Akinci ANKARA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- China's long-term plan towards modernization has proven successful and the result is very impressive, said Guven Sak, managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV). The Turkish economist from TEPAV, an Ankara-based think tank, told Xinhua in a recent interview that China's modernization has changed the global political and economic landscape, and provides inspiration for other nations, especially developing ones, including Turkiye. "China had an impressive performance in terms of growth, job creation, and structural transformation in the last 40 years," he stressed. Sak pointed out that China has utilized the global environment for driving growth by opening up and getting more and more foreign direct investments in the context of a long-term plan by using all those means that globalization is providing. "I think that China has achieved an impressive transformation process," Sak said. Over the past several decades, China has been modernizing a country home to 1.4 billion people or one-fifth of the global population, to become the world's second-largest economy, said Sak, who also hailed the high-quality development of the Chinese economy through the deepening of opening-up. "The planned modernization of China is a great success...as a result of this transformation process China has become a higher middle-income country," Sak stressed. By going on this path, Sak noted, China has created an environment that is harmonious and sustainable between the state and its citizens. "The Chinese modernization is an experiment that has produced results perfectly, continuously over the years," he said, praising the country for pushing forward for the well-being of its citizens. "When I went to China about 10 years ago, I saw a developing country that has solved all of its infrastructure problems in such a short span of time. It was very impressive," he said. "Now what we are seeing in this whole region are Chinese investments, and now China is a country that is investing more outside of China," Sak said. China has learned how to produce many things, and now it is producing these things in other countries by making direct foreign investments in other countries, including Turkiye, he said. The expert said that Chinese modernization provides a source of inspiration for the world, noting that it is important for different countries to pursue their own development paths with their own features. Guven Sak, managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV), receives an interview with Xinhua in Ankara, Turkiye, on April 28, 2023. China's long-term plan towards modernization has proven successful and the result is very impressive, said Guven Sak, managing director of the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkiye (TEPAV).(Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua) GROTON A 9-year-old girl is in critical condition following a crash that injured her mother and killed another on the Gold Star Highway Friday, according to Groton police. The girl's mother, Carolina Rose, 37, of Ledyard, is recovering from her injuries, police said. Rose and her daughter were in a Chevrolet Silverado traveling westbound on Route 184, the Gold Star Highway at around 6:25 p.m. Friday, when their vehicle was struck by a Ford Explorer driven by Krystal L. Linski, 30, of Mystic, Capt. Gregory McCarthy said Saturday morning. Linski was pronounced dead at the scene, McCarthy said. McCarthy said Rose's nine-year-old daughter is still in critical condition in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Yale New Haven's Children's Hospital. The crash is currently under investigation, according to Groton police. A preliminary investigation found the Ford Explorer was traveling eastbound on Route 184 when the SUV veered off the road, striking a metal guardrail to the right, McCarthy said. Linski's SUV then traveled back onto the highway, and migrated across the eastbound lane and into the westbound lane, where it collided with the Chevrolet Silverado, McCarthy said. Both cars sustained heavy front-end damage, he said. Members of the Southeastern Connecticut Regional Traffic Unit are assisting with the investigation, McCarthy said. The team of crash reconstructionists consists of Groton, Stonington and Ledyard police officers. Witnesses or anyone with information that could assist investigating officers can call the Groton Police Department at 860-441-6712. Staff writers Caroline Tien and Austin Mirmina contributed to this story. Applause is pouring in from across the world for Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he completed the 100th episode of his radio show 'Mann Ki Baat' on April 30. Among millions of viewers worldwide was Freddy Svane, Denmark's Ambassador to India who praised the concept for its ability to connect PM Modi with the people of India. 'Mann Ki Baat' is an excellent platform for spreading positivity and recognising the grassroot changemakers. Do hear #MannKiBaat100! https://t.co/aFXPM1RyKF April 30, 2023 "I think it's a great initiative. Whatever the honourable Prime Minister is doing is connecting with the people. I've seen all these pitches like Swachh Bharat, and Green Hydrogen Viksit Bharat. And I was at the Independence Day back in 2014 so I see this development towards including the people and what India stands for and what honourable Prime Minister stands for to connect with the people," Svane told ANI. The diplomat also mentioned the stories which he liked that were mentioned by the PM at the show. "Mann Ki Baat is the way forward really and I'm so happy to see all the good stories about the fibres, the cleaning of the Himalayas, the jobs being created in Kashmir and so forth that's the people's movement and we need that," he said. Nice opportunity to bond: India's envoy to the UK Apart from the Denmark ambassador, India's High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami said that the Mann Ki Baat program was a nice opportunity for everyone from the Indian community in London to bond together. "It has been a great pleasure to host people from our community here at our High Commission in London on this Sunday morning at the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The idea of taking an event that is focussed on community and having it done as a community event is quite special. As you can see around, there has been a lot of enthusiasm from diverse people across the large 1.8 million community here in London... in the UK to be part of it," Doraiswami told ANI. He further revealed that the 100th episode was aired live on community radio, community web channels and at Indian consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh. "It's also been sort of done live on community radio, community web channels and also in our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh... So that has made it a nice opportunity for everybody to bond together about a community-based program that the Prime Minister runs," the High Commissioner said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in the early hours of Sunday joined the Indian community members at a special community event here to listen to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Jaishankar, who is here after concluding his official visit to Guyana, Panama, Colombia and the Dominican Republic, attended and addressed the community event, attended by hundreds of members of the diaspora community. Joining diaspora and friends of India in New Jersey, USA for #MannKiBaat100 https://t.co/dZNBiCrmHf Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 30, 2023 Speaking on the occasion, the minister said that the community members are attending the event as they share collective bonding with the Prime Minister who has connected the world to India and in many ways India to the world. He said Indias G-20 presidency is different because nobody else has done G-20 in 60 cities as a national celebration, and it has happened because Prime Minister Modi has prepared the entire country for it. The State of New York and New Jersey have issued special resolutions honouring the 100th episode of Prime Minister Modis monthly radio programme, underscoring that the vital" broadcast has become an effective means of communication to promote good governance and deepen democracy. The resolutions were presented to the External Affairs Minister at the community event here. On the occasion, young students also displayed agility through the exceptional performance of the Mallakhamba. Modi mentioned Mallakhamba during the 70th episode of Mann Ki Baat. In the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast hosted by Prime Minister Modi, he addresses the people of the country on different issues. The monthly programme was first aired on October 3, 2014, and is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am on the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. The programme has garnered a massive following across the world. A worker operates a computer numerical control (CNC) machine at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) This photo taken on April 19, 2023 shows a view of a workshop of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) A worker works at a workshop of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 19, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Workers prepare to assemble an equipment at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 28, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Workers work at a workshop of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 19, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Workers assemble an equipment at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 28, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A worker measures the size of an equipment at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 28, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A welding robot works at a workshop of China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) Qiqihar Rolling Stock Co., Ltd. in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 19, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) A worker works at a workshop of China First Heavy Industries in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 18, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Workers operate a computer numerical control (CNC) machine at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 10, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) A worker operates a computer numerical control (CNC) machine at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 7, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) A worker checks a computer numerical control (CNC) machine at a workshop of Jiamusi Electric Machine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Jiamusi, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 16, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) Workers work at a workshop of China First Heavy Industries in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 18, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) This photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows a view of a workshop of China First Heavy Industries in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) Workers work at Harbin Turbine Company Limited of Harbin Electric Corporation in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 28, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) A worker works at a workshop of Northeast Light Alloy Co., Ltd. of Aluminum Corporation of China (Chinalco) in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, April 13, 2023. As an important industrial base in northeast China, Heilongjiang Province is home to many leading equipment manufacturing enterprises, such as Harbin Electric Corporation and China First Heavy Industries. In recent years, these nationally renowned enterprises have made progress in digital technology and intelligent equipment, promoting enterprise transformation and high-quality development. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) China has opened a hotpot restaurant on Woody Island, a disputed island in the South China Sea, as part of its ongoing effort to assert its claims in the region. The Paracels archipelago, which includes Woody Island, is the subject of competing territorial claims by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Beijing has claimed the majority of the waterway, including the Paracels, using a historical "nine-dash line" as justification for its actions. Woody Island, also known as Yongxing in China, is the largest of the approximately 30 islands that make up the Paracels, as per a report from South China Morning Post. The restaurant, called Kuanzhai Xiangzi, has a seating capacity of 120 and opened for business last week, according to the Sansha city government, which administers the Paracel island chain. The restaurant's opening has been welcomed by some on the island, with one logistics company manager saying it would "enrich the material and cultural life of the military, police and people on the island." In 2012, the city of Sansha was home to just 1,000 civilians In 2012, when China established the city of Sansha on Woody Island to assert its claims to the resource-rich waters of the Paracels archipelago, the island was home to about 1,000 civilians. Since then, China upgraded facilities for the city's growing population, which has expanded to about 2,300 by 2020, not including military personnel. A civil-military airport was launched on the island in 2014, and the Yongxing School opened in 2015 to provide education to the children of local fishermen and soldiers. In addition, a court, a cinema, banks, hospitals, post offices, a stadium, and a coffee shop have been set up in Sansha. These developments are part of China's strategy to consolidate its claims in the South China Sea, where it has territorial disputes with most Southeast Asian neighbors, using both hard and soft approaches. A look at the dispute The Paracel Islands, also known as Xisha in Chinese, are a group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, with an area of about 15,000 square kilometers. The islands are located between Vietnam and China, and both countries claim sovereignty over them. The Paracel Islands have been a source of dispute between China and Vietnam for several decades. In the 20th century, China occupied the islands by force, resulting in the deaths of dozens of Vietnamese soldiers. Since then, Vietnam has protested against China's presence in the islands and has repeatedly asserted its claims to the islands, while China maintains that it has historical sovereignty over the area. In addition to Vietnam and China, Taiwan also claims sovereignty over the Paracel Islands. The dispute over the Paracel Islands has been a source of tension between China and its neighboring countries. The Paracel Islands are strategically significant due to their location in the South China Sea, a major shipping lane for global commerce. The area is also believed to contain significant oil and gas reserves, adding an economic dimension to the territorial dispute. A new report revealed that China is the second most costly country to raise a child behind South Korea, raising concerns about the countrys flagging birth rate. According to the South China Morning Post, the report that came in the midst of the countrys looming demographic crisis called for more support for the families in the country. The country is facing a demographic crisis, due to the long legacy of the now-abandoned one-child policy. As per the report by the Chinese news outlet, the study that made these revelations was conducted by YuWa Population Research Institute. The study stated that the cost of raising a child in China was 6.9 times its gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Chinas figures were the second highest in the world behind another Asian country, South Korea. In South Korea, the cost of raising a child till 18 is 7.79 times higher than its GDP per capita. The figures are double the cost in countries like Germany, Australia and France. In Germany, it is 3.64 times the GDP per capita. In Australia and France where it is 2.08 and 2.24 times respectively. Alarming birthrates The figures are alarming in South Korea since the country has one of the worlds lowest birth rates. Last year, the average number of babies per South Korean woman fell to less than 1 and recorded a figure of 7.8. The average number of babies among Chinese women also fell to 1.1 last year, SCMP reported. The high cost of childbearing is one of the most important factors affecting the willingness of families of childbearing age to bear children, the report stated. To this end, policies to reduce childbearing costs for families of childbearing age need to be introduced at the national level, the report further stated. Heavy economic burdens on the Chinese population are part of the reason for the declining birthrate. In 2017, a nationwide survey 2017 found that 77.4 percent of women of Childbearing age said heavy economic burdens" were among the top reasons for not wanting more children. Specific measures include cash and tax subsidies, house purchase subsidies, building more nurseries, providing gender-equal maternity leave, introducing foreign nannies, promoting flexible working styles, guaranteeing the reproductive rights of single women, allowing assisted reproductive technology and reforming the college entrance examination and school system, the report concluded. At least two Chinese crew members died while 18 more were rescued after two vessels MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur collided in the waters close to Corregidor Island, Philippine Coast Guard said in a tweet on Saturday. One crew went missing from the MV Hong Hai 189. The dredger-type vessel MV Hong Hai 189 was flagged for Sierra Leone, while MT Petite Soeur was carrying the chemical and oil products and bore the flag of Marshall Island at the time of the incident. A search and rescue operation was launched to find the missing crew members. MV Hong Hai 189 sailed from the port in Botolan, Zambales while MT Petite Soeur had sailed out from Mariveles, Bataan. "The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responds to a collision between MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur at the vicinity waters off Corregidor Island yesterday, 28 April 2023," Philippine Coast Guard said. "The Coast Guard Sub-Station Corregidor was informed that MV Hong Hai 189 already capsized. The PCG vessel, BRP Capones, was directed to proceed to the incident area," the statement further read. INCIDENT REPORT: The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) responds to a collision between MV Hong Hai 189 and MT Petite Soeur at the vicinity waters off Corregidor Island yesterday, 28 April 2023. https://t.co/qKo5FSc0eo#DOTrPH #CoastGuardPH #MaritimeSectorWorks pic.twitter.com/iuTkpB9xIN Philippine Coast Guard (@coastguardph) April 29, 2023 Vessel Heng Da 19 dispatched for rescue operation As the two vessels collided, vessel Heng Da 19 from the vicinity was assigned to rescue 16 out of 20 crew members of MV Hong Hai 189. Philippines Coast Guard dispatched another vessel, as well as rubber boats to the scene. "As of 7:30 AM, the SAR team recovered one cadaver (Chinese crew)," the Coast Guard's statement on the incident read. "They also rescued two more crew who were immediately brought to the nearest hospital for identification and medical assistance," it added. The Coast Guard Aviation Force also launched an aerial survey to assist in the search and rescue operations of the Naval teams. All 21 crew members of the MT Petite Soeur were rescued. "The authorities will conduct a port state control inspection to MT Petite Soeur to hold and detain the vessel," the Philippine Coast Guard said. The incident came just days after the Chinese coast guard vessel cut off a Philippine patrol vessel carrying journalists in the vicinity of Ayungin Shoal that resulted in an almost near-collision. The contentious area lies in the Philippine exclusive economic zone [EEZ] of Manila. Beijing, which claims sovereignty in the entire South China Sea, lambasted the Philippines for what it labelled "premeditated and provocative action." India wants to ensure that its relations with all countries advance without seeking exclusivity, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said as he underlined that China falls into a somewhat different category because of the currently "abnormal" nature of ties which is an outcome of a violation of border management agreements by Beijing. Jaishankar, who arrived in Santo Domingo on his first official visit to the Dominican Republic, also said that India has seen a dramatic expansion in connectivity, contacts, and cooperation across the region. Pakistan, however, remains an exception to this in view of cross-border terrorism, he said on Friday while addressing the diplomatic corps and young minds of the diplomatic school of the Dominican Republic. "Whether it is the US, Europe, Russia, or Japan, we are trying to ensure that all these ties advance without seeking exclusivity. China falls in a somewhat different category because of the boundary dispute and the currently abnormal nature of our ties. That is an outcome of a violation of agreements regarding border management by them, Jaishankar said. He said the rise of China and India in a parallel timeframe is also not without its competitive aspects. "When in other regions bid for Africa, the Pacific or Latin America, much of what is happening can be explained as the emergence of India's potential global footprint. In many cases, it is the result of autonomous forces such as business or mobility, he said. India has been slamming China's deployment of a massive number of troops and its aggressive behaviour along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh in violation of pacts on border management. Earlier this week, India firmly told China that its violation of the border pacts has "eroded" the entire basis of bilateral ties and that all issues relating to the frontier must be resolved in accordance with the existing agreements. 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 the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. In his address, Jaishankar went on to explain how India approaches the world and engages Latin America and what should today's India and tomorrow's India mean. "India's most pressing priorities are obviously in its neighbourhood. Given its size and economic strength, it is very much for the collective benefit that India takes a generous and non-reciprocal approach to cooperation with smaller neighbours. And that's exactly what we have done in the last decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said. "It has seen a dramatic expansion in connectivity, contacts, and cooperation across the region. The exception to this of course, is Pakistan in view of cross-border terrorism. But whether it is the COVID challenge or more recent debt pressures, India has always stepped up for its neighbours," he said, citing the case of Sri Lanka where India extended more than USD 4 billion of economic support during the island nations worst economic crisis in decades. Jaishankar said that India is developing the concept of extended neighbourhoods in all directions. With ASEAN, this has taken the form of what New Delhi calls the Act East Policy that has opened up a pathway to a deeper engagement with the Indo-Pacific that is being pursued, amongst others through a mechanism called the Quad comprising India, Japan, the US and Australia. He pointed out that towards the West, I2U2 (India, Israel, UAE, and USA) grouping. To the South, the outlook that shapes India's thinking goes by the acronym of Sagar - an Indian word for Oceans and to the North, India has been pursuing a strategy of connecting to Central Asia more effectively. "For the first time in 2015, Prime Minister Modi articulated a comprehensive view that spanned the entirety of the Indian Ocean and its islands. This subsequently became the building block for the Indo-Pacific vision that emerged thereafter, he said. "We are also practising the approach of engaging all major centres of power. Such multi-alignment reflects the reality of multipolarity. Obviously, each engagement has its own particular weight and focus, he added. The external affairs minister said that India has always been a staunch motori of multilateralism. We believe that this is fundamental to the maintenance of global order. Our contributions have been significant over the years, especially in peacekeeping. The challenge, however, is the resistance to reforming multilateralism, particularly the working of the United Nations and its bodies, he said. He said that more countries are going to find arrangements among themselves on pressing issues when they find that the United Nations cannot rise to a challenge. "Overall, India is a nation that is deeply committed to promoting collective solutions for global good. Our presidency of the G-20 this year is devoted to focusing on the real challenges to global development and global growth, he added. On India's engagement with Latin America, he said in the last decade, there had been a conscious deepening of this process. "Our trade with Latin America is today approaching a volume of USD 50 billion." Separately, addressing the India-Dominican Republic Business Event here on Friday, Jaishankar said the trade turnover between India and the Dominican Republic has reached almost USD one billion. He said that the two countries concluded talks on a joint economic and trade cooperation (JETCO) mechanism and hoped that it would become a platform for regular meetings, addressing economic and business cooperation opportunities between the two sides. Voters in Uzebekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the country's president to stay in office until 2040. Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. But although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mirziyoyev's predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the region's most repressive countries. Mirziyoyev, who took over after Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum originally was planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of deadly unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding Karakalpakstan's right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, that proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistan's territory but holds only about 5% of the country's 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital Nukus; at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for accusing Budapest of not adhering to its NATO obligations. Responding on Facebook, Szijjarto stated that Hungary has already paid a high price for the conflict in Ukraine and Zelenskyy does not have the right to determine whether Hungary's actions align with its NATO membership. According to a report from Pravda, Szijjarto's comments came after Zelenskyy criticised Hungary's relationship with Russia and claimed that the country was not living up to its status as a NATO ally state. In response, Szijjarto said: "If this statement means I respectfully thank Hungarians for welcoming and taking care of over a million refugees from Ukraine, and I respectfully thank them for continuing to send aid, then You are welcome, and you can count on us in the future." He also reminded Zelenskyy that many Hungarians have been killed in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Hungarian PM isn't on board with other European nations It is worth mentioning that the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has also expressed outrage at NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's recent comments calling for Ukraine to become a member of the alliance in the future. Orban had previously criticized Ukraine as "financially non-existent," stating that Europe was helping to pay for the country's basic needs. He also claimed that the conflict in Ukraine would end immediately if not for the support of its partners. The Hungarian government, led by Orban's Fidesz party, has faced criticism for its relationship with Russia and its stance on the conflict in Ukraine. A recent attempt by the party to pass a draft resolution calling for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court was unsuccessful. A look at Hungary's relationship dynamic with other European nations Hungary joined the European Union along with nine other countries from the former Soviet bloc in 2004. This was seen as a significant step forward for Hungary, which had long been an isolated and impoverished country under Soviet domination. Since joining the EU, Hungary has had a mixed relationship with other European nations. On the one hand, Hungary has benefited greatly from EU membership. The country has received significant investment and development aid from the EU, which has helped to modernise its economy and infrastructure. The EU has also helped to promote democracy and the rule of law in Hungary, which has been seen as a positive development by many. However, Hungary's relationship with other European nations has been strained in recent years due to the country's controversial domestic policies. The government of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been criticised for its crackdown on civil liberties, its restrictions on the press, and its controversial immigration policies. These policies have led to tensions between Hungary and other EU member states, particularly in Western Europe. It isn't surprising that Orban's views on the Russia-Ukraine war are different from the views of other European nations. Czech President Petr Pavel wrote a message on the military vehicles for the invading Russian troops during his visit to Ukraine on Saturday, April 29. Pavel asked the Russians "to get out of Ukraine" as he scribbled on the fleet of Ukrainian armoured vehicles that will be used in the upcoming counter-offensive around May 15. The Czech leader shared the visuals on his official Twitter handle, wherein he wrote: "I know this feeling. Your unit is moving to the contact line, and you want to go with it; you want to lead and set an example. As a commander, I was always there for my soldiers. And now, this is no longer my role. I came here to encourage them." Further, he said, "We are with you. You will avenge the fallen, you will uphold freedom. Russia, go home." Znam ten pocit. Vase jednotka miri na frontu, chcete jit s nimi, chcete jit prikladem. Jako velitel jsem svym vojakum vzdy stal po boku. Dnes uz to neni moje role. Prijel jsem, abych jim dodal odvahu. Jsme s vami. Pomstite sve padle, ziskate zpet svou svobodu. Russia, Go Home! pic.twitter.com/SOTur62YC5 Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) April 29, 2023 NATO's retired general Petr Pavel, a decorated war hero known for his pro-Western drive, was sworn in as the Czech Republic's new president in March. He won the January 2023 Presidential runoff after defeating ex-Czech PM Andrej Babis. Owing to his military record, the 61-year-old had vowed to "restore order" in the EU and in the NATO bloc as war raged on in Ukraine's eastern flank. Credit: Twitter/@prezidentpavel Pavel also attended the NATO security conference in Munich in February where he warned the West to be cautious, pressing for Russias defeat in order to avoid undesirable scenarios. During a Ukrainian Lunch hosted by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation as part of the Munich Security Conference, Pavel met with Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and acknowledged that there was "no alternative" to regaining control over the 2014 Russian annexed Crimea. Ex-NATO General visits Borodyanka and Bucha; witnesses tragedy of Yahidne As the Russia-Ukraine conflict's longest ground battle rages to capture the ruined city of Bakhmut in eastern Donbass, Czech President Pavel together with his Slovak counterpart Zuzana Caputova, made a two-day visit to the war-ravaged country. He arrived in Poland on Sunday morning, concluding his in-person meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Pavel visited Borodyanka and Bucha, the two razed Ukrainian towns that depict stories of atrocities committed by the Russian troops. Zelenskyy had previously claimed that the suspected Russian killings of civilians were "more dreadful" in Borodyanka than the town of Bucha 35 kilometres northwest of the capital Kyiv near Irpin where nearly 300 people were found in mass graves. Credit: Twitter/@prezidentpavel Moving from support to cooperation is now the main goal in UA. It does not end in Kyiv. Today I headed further east to show that CZ is serious about patronage over the Dnipropetrovsk Region. I assured Governor Serhiy Lysak that they are not alone regarding the reconstruction. pic.twitter.com/fu83iA1iBi Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) April 29, 2023 The Republic's team that reported LIVE from the war zone in the northwestern town had verified the images of the battered bodies strewn across the streets that Russia deflected by calling it Ukrainian propaganda back in April last year. Republics Shawan Sen confirmed from the ground that there were numerous hastily dug graves that told the story of horror and carnage committed by the Russian troops as dozens of bodies in black plastic bags were found dumped in a trench. Pavel, during his Ukrainian visit, along with the Slovak President travelled to the north of Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, as well as Chernihiv. They witnessed first-hand the infamous basement in the village of Yahidne, where Russian forces allegedly held several hundred people captive for almost 28 days. Hosting a pre-war population of some 300 inhabitants, Yahidne was a stopover for Russia's invading soldiers on their way to the capital Kyiv. During the occupation, they made entrenched camps and held civilians as 'human shields', according to statements recorded by Ukraine's military. Yahidne is the smallest village in the Chernihiv region and Ukraine's armed forces had speculated that it would be spared when Russians launched the large-scale offensive on February 24, 2022. Head of Kremlin-backed Wagner private military group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, recently announced his plans to recruit about 30,000 new soldiers by mid-May ahead of the planned Ukrainian counteroffensive before May 15. A Kazakh family is now claiming that their 23-year-old son, a university student, was "kidnapped" by Russian mercenaries and forced into combat in Ukraine. De-facto detachment of the Russian Ministry of Defense Wagner which boasts a vast presence in Syria, the Middle East and Africa, has recruits that do not hold Russian national passports. Family members of the fourth-year student Margulan Bekenov, who was enrolled in Tomsk State University in western Siberia, received a discreet message from the boy's phone that read: I am alive and well. Cant call," according to RFE/RL. The mother, identified as Almira Bekenova, is now alleging that her son was abducted by the representatives of Russia's notorious Wagner mercenary group in Tomsk and has been conscripted as a war soldier. She claims that her son neither signed a contract to enroll in Wagner whose fighters are waging battles in eastern Ukraine, nor had he changed his citizenship. "He [Margulan Bekenov] was forcibly taken to a training camp in southwestern Russia, even though he never signed a contract with the ostensibly private firm, which works in close coordination with Russian security agencies," the outlet reported the embattled mother as saying. Credit: AP Bekenov's mother is now appealing to Russian law enforcement, and the Kazakh Embassy in Russia to intervene and help her get her son back, who, she claims, was sent to the war "against his will." The mother was able to put pieces together about her son's whereabouts via "a friend who is a fellow student and through a girl who knew Margulan," Magzhan Kakharmanov, Margulans uncle and a Kazakh military retiree was quoted as saying. She investigated some facts, gathered more detail, and "was able to put together the pieces of the puzzle, Kakharmanov, who was authorized to speak to RFE/RL on behalf of the missing boy's mother, further added. The uncle revealed that in search of her son, the woman travelled to Krasnodar, a city in southern Russia. She [the mother] knew what kind of organization [PMC Wagner] is, boy's uncle was quoted saying. She went to there every day, wandering around, asking at every entrance. She was told categorically: No one like that here. Sorry. Uncle of the draftee boy claimed that his mother was able to "briefly" meet with her son at a military checkpoint in a settlement outside of Krasnodar but refuses to divulge how she managed to arrange such a meeting. Then, as I understand it, she found out from someone walking around nearby she bribed him with some gift or money that her son was inside. She showed them his photograph. The man looked and said, yes, that is him and gave the number of his unit. You have to admire her resourcefulness and determination. She was able to locate her son when official complaints revealed nothing," Margulans uncle told the Siberian arm of the media outlet. The boy was brought by military superiors in their car, and he was given only five minutes to speak with his mother in the presence of an officer who was also a Kazakh from Karaganda. They had a broken, disjointed conversation in which the other man inserted his five kopecks worth every other word, the uncle was reported as telling. Kazakh Foreign Ministry 'incompetent': Boy's uncle The woman, who was refused by the military to take her son back to Kazakhstan described that he was in a "bad condition" and exhausted." On April 12, she learnt from camp officers that he was sent to Ukraine to fight in the war. The family reportedly logged hundreds of complaints and escalated the matter with the military commission in Krasnodar and the prosecutors office in St. Petersburg, where Wagner is registered, officially. A few weeks ago, she received a response from Kazakh Foreign Ministry that notified her that the matter has been escalated with the authorities in Russia. The Foreign Ministry and the embassy have been completely incompetent," meanwhile the uncle described. Bekenov was seen in a viral footage that got circulated last week, wherein he was heard saying that he had gone into the war in Ukraine voluntarily" to fight on the side of Russia. The mother, however, believes that the boy was coerced into filming the statement. We need to warn people whose children are studying in Russia, the boy's uncle asserted, adding that the Kazakhs are in danger. At any moment they could be impressed and sent to their deaths," referring to the war. Kazakhstan's defence ministry later clarified that Bekenov was declared unfit to serve in the Kazakh military. Kazakh authorities warned that Bekenov would be arrested and face criminal charges leading up to 5-6 years of imprisonment when he returns. Kazakhstan's National Security Committee, in a statement, reiterated that any form of participation of the citizens of Kazakhstan in foreign armed conflicts is fulfilled only in cases, envisaged in appropriate legislation, international treaties ratified by the Republic." Warn your relatives whose children are studying in Russia, boy's uncle said, as per his statement carried by Kazakh media. Since PRIGOZHIN is no longer given convicts to make up for his losses, hes started to snatch up Asians and recruit them into the group against their will. Wagner conscripting military-aged men 'by force' Wagners owner, a Kremlin-backed oligarch dubbed as 'Putin's chef', has been accused of conscripting military-aged men "by force to fight for a mercenary group in the Bakhmut battle that he, in recorded visuals, termed as a meat grinder. He stated that the mercenaries group recruits about 500 to 800 people on average per day, which shoots up to an estimated 1,200 sometimes. It is possible that this number of recruits may decrease after some time; however, by the middle of May, we plan that the number of fighters of the unit will increase by approximately 30,000, Prigozhin informed in an audio message, as the group started a recruitment drive ahead of Ukraine's counteroffensive. Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin. Credit: Wagner/Telegram Earlier this month, at least six mobilised Russian soldiers who hailed from Sakha Republic [or Yakutia] claimed in a video that they were transferred "involuntarily" to a Wagner group to fight Russia's war. One of the mobilised soldiers identified as Stepan Nazarov reportedly said that they were forced by threats by Wagner mercenaries to sign a contract. The Telegram messaging app was up and running in Brazil on Saturday after a federal judge revised an earlier ruling suspending it over the company's failure to hand over data on neo-Nazi activity. But in lifting the suspension, the judge kept in place a daily fine of $1 million reais (about $200,000) for Telegrams refusal to provide the data, according to a press statement provided by the federal court that issued the ruling. Complete suspension is not reasonable, considering the wide affectation throughout the national territory of the freedom of communication of thousands of people who are absolutely strangers to the facts under investigation, judge Flavio Lucas was quoted as saying in the statement. Telegram had been temporarily suspended in the context of a police inquiry into school shootings in November, when a former student armed with a semiautomatic pistol and wearing a bulletproof vest fatally shot three people and wounded 13 after barging into two schools in the small town of Aracruz in Espirito Santo state. The 16-year-old is believed to have been a member of extremist groups on Telegram, where tutorials on murder and the manufacture of bombs were disseminated, the court's statement said. The Federal Police ordered Telegram to provide details on names, tax identity numbers, profile photos, bank information and registered credit cards, among other things. The messaging app has not delivered the registration data of the channel members, saying the extremist group had been suspended and therefore it was unable to provide the information. Police maintain the group was active on Telegram when the request was formalized, the court statement said. Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said Thursday that the company would appeal the decision blocking access to its platform in Brazil, claiming in a statement posted to his Telegram account that compliance was technologically impossible. The company says it has never shared data on users with any government. People need only a phone number to sign up for a Telegram account and they can use a pseudonym. Further, beginning in December, Telegram offered the option of creating accounts with anonymous numbers The court statement noted Telegrams past clashes with the judiciary in Brazil. Last year, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a nationwide shutdown of Telegram , arguing it hadnt cooperated with authorities. Technology companies need to understand that cyberspace cannot be a free territory, a different world () with its own rules created and managed by the agents who commercially exploit it, Lucas, the judge in the current case, said in Saturday's statement. Brazil has been grappling with a wave of school attacks. There have been almost two dozen attacks or violent episodes in schools since 2000, half of them in the last 12 months, including the killing of four children at a day care center April 5. Brazils federal government has strived to stamp out school violence with a particular focus on the influence of social media. The goal is to prevent further incidents, particularly holding platforms responsible for failing to remove content that allegedly incites violence. Regulation of social media platforms was a recurring theme earlier this month when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with his Cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices, governors and mayors. Telegram has been blocked in the past by other governments, including Iran, China and Russia, while in the latter country Kremlin partisans have also employed it as a digital force to support President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. Inspired by the white paper protests back home, they are learning how to organize. But Beijing may be watching. Alex Chan, center, and Nima Lama, left, a Tibetan activist, stand in silence to mark the third anniversary of Dr. Lis death. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Activists of Chinese origin try to hide their identity by covering their faces during a gathering in honor of Li Wenliang, a Chinese doctor who sounded the alarm in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic before dying of the disease, in Central Park, New York, Feb. 5, 2023. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Alex Chan, a freelance union organizer and recent NYU grad, said she was heartened while at school to see A-4 papers, the standard size in Asia, spread across a large bulletin board in the university library in solidarity with protestors back in China. Every day youd come down and there would be a new one, said Chan, seen here in New Yorks Chinatown neighborhood on April 1. Chan was born in the United States but raised in Hong Kong. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Viola, seen here on a New York street corner on April 1, helped to organize demonstrations against the CCP as a graduate student at New York University. She said some Chinese students have a political coming out while attending college overseas, outside of Beijings Great Firewall of censorship. Our movement helps people in China know they are not alone, she says. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Lee shows off a tattoo on her forearm marking the year of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Sveta Lee poses for a photo in a Columbia classroom on March 31. Lee and her mother have both been granted asylum in the United States, so she feels comfortable showing her face. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) One of Shawns friends was struck unconscious by an unknown assailant at a Nov. 28 demonstration. Shawn said she didnt think the attacker, apparently a Chinese man, was a student. Families of Chinese students who have criticized the government have also been questioned by security officials. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Openly criticizing Chinas government can be a very dangerous situation, says Shawn, seen here reading a book at a campus library. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) A few blocks from campus, Evan spoke more forcefully and in greater depth about the motivation behind the White Paper Society. But still worried about potential ramifications of speaking out against the CCP, he asked that his identity be obscured. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Shawn overlooks the Columbia campus and the Butler Library. China sends more students to the U.S. for college than any other country. More than 290,000 Chinese students studied in the United States in the 2021-22 school year. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Evan, a Chinese grad student at Columbia University in New York, looks around a campus coffee shop anxiously as he explains why hes helping form a group to challenge the orthodoxy of his government back home. We can do something we cant do in China, he says, a black Yankees cap pulled low. But as Evans demeanor suggests, doing something carries risks even here, 7,000 miles from Beijing. He speaks more forcefully about the motivation behind the Columbia White Paper Society when there arent as many Asian students potential Beijing sympathizers close by. We can form a community and feel a sense of solidarity, Evan, a budding sociologist, says. And then we can see, maybe there are more things we can do. (Evan is a pseudonym he chose to protect himself against reprisals when he returns to China.) A political coming out The group takes its name from protests in China that sprang up last fall out of frustration of zero-COVID restrictions and anger at a fire in Xinjiang that killed 10 people. Many of the people who held up blank white papers to signify their governments censorship are now in jail including, Evan says, two of his friends. He and his classmates dont face that threat in the U.S. But they must consider consequences that American students dont as they embark on what some activists call a political coming out a period when Chinese students hone their worldviews beyond their countrys Great Firewall of censorship and the more universal self-centeredness of adolescence. Openly criticizing Chinas government can be a very dangerous situation, says Shawn, a self-possessed sophomore who is also in the group. Overseas Chinese students who have spoken against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have been harassed by more nationalistic peers, and security officials have visited family members back home. Evan reads a paper at a park close to Columbia University, on March 31, 2023. We can do something we cant do in China, he says of his effort to start a White Paper Society at the school to challenge Chinese Communist Party policies. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amerasinghe) Such cases of transnational repression of CCP critics are widespread, the U.S. government and human rights groups like Freedom House have said. Recently, the Justice Department charged 44 people, including 34 Chinese national police officers, with harassing dissidents in the United States. Two men were also arrested for allegedly running an unauthorized police station in Manhattan from which they harassed dissidents. Given the stakes, the Columbia students are proceeding cautiously as they try to keep alive a movement they joined in the fall in support of Chinas protests under the CCPs watchful and expansive eye. Struck unconscious More than 290,000 Chinese students studied in the United States in the 2021-22 school year, according to a survey by the Institute for International Education. China sends more of its kids to the U.S. for college than any other country. Many of those who come join the Chinese Students Scholars Association, or CSSA, to help them adjust to life in an unfamiliar place. But some chapters reportedly receive funding from Beijing, so students who want to take advantage of their new political freedoms feel like they have to find other venues to express them. China denies it targets overseas critics of its government. A number of recent examples show the risks of speaking out. A student at Indianas Purdue University who posted a letter praising Tiananmen Square protesters last year was harassed on campus and his parents were visited by security officials in China. In Boston, police arrested one Chinese student for threatening another who had posted fliers in support of democracy in China. At Columbia, one of Shawns friends was struck unconscious by an unknown assailant at a Nov. 28 demonstration. Shawn (also a pseudonym) said she didnt think the attacker, apparently a Chinese man, was a student. Other, less serious forms of harassment seem more common but still serve as a reminder to students that they cant act with impunity. Attendees at a screening of a Tibet documentary shown in the fall noticed a man who appeared Chinese taking photographs through the window, Evan said. Sveta Lee, a White Paper Society member who is helping to form a Students for a Free Tibet chapter at Columbia, said posters she placed around campus were ripped off of bulletin boards or vandalized with words Tibet is an indispensable part of China scrawled over them. Lee was familiar with Chinas transnational reach long before college. Shortly after moving from her home in northeastern China to Belarus in 2011 for high school, she was detained overnight for taking part in a protest against that countrys long-time strongman, Alexander Lukashenko. Two Chinese students picked her up the next day and told me to refrain myself from participating in events like this in the future if I didnt want to get in trouble, Lee says. A careful recruitment Now a permanent U.S. resident along with her mom, Lee is freer to express herself, which she does with a flash of blue hair on her head and a tattoo of the year of a Tibetan uprising on her arm. Sveta Lee poses for a photo in a building in the heart of Columbias campus. Lee, a White Paper Society member, is also helping to form a Students for a Free Tibet chapter at the school. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) But the students who are staying in the U.S. on temporary visas are understandably nervous about aggressively promoting their activities. They talk on Signal, the message encryption app, take care not to associate their names with the group, and before entering political discussions search for clues to indicate friend or foe. (Evan says hes particularly wary of engineering students because they believe in technologys power to fix any issue.) Their biggest fear is doing something that gets their families in trouble. Most said their parents either dont know about their activities or dont support them. Political discussions were rare back home, they said. Evan learned the risks of being too outspokenly political from his father, who faced tanks on Tiananmen Square in 1989 and had a hard time getting a job for a decade after as punishment. To a younger Evan, the stories sounded cool enough to recount to his elementary school classmates. I was so stupid, he says. My dad scolded me for it. Shawn, who wears long black bangs that frame her face and round John Lennon sunglasses favored by college activists everywhere, shared her fathers political views growing up. An executive at a developmental bank, he is a proud participant in Chinas incredible economic growth, which the World Bank has called the fastest sustained expansion by a major economy in history. Its revival had brought nearly 800 million of its citizens out of poverty by 2022. I thought China was a great place and had a lot of natural enemies because of our ideology and jealousy over our development within such a short time, Shawn says. Political discussions with friends were limited to foreign affairs or World War II, when China was invaded by Japan, she said. But at Columbia, she learned more about other sides to the story of Chinas ascent as she met people like Uyghurs and Hong Kongers who spoke of suffering under the CCPs heavy hand. When a friend passed on a video of the bridge man stringing a banner across an overpass in Beijing demanding an end to zero-COVID policies and Xi Jinpings tenure, Shawn said she felt a new urge to act. I realized that people who were in much more dangerous and risky situations compared to me could do such a brave act, she said. I was so much more privileged compared to someone like him. Movie screenings and karaoke For now, the White Paper Society isnt much bigger than the Dead Poets Society, the fictionalized group of prep school kids who challenged strict administrators and distant parents by breaking curfew to read poetry in the 1989 Robin Williams film. But the students hope to build support over time through their Instagram account and in events they are able to plan in between their hours of study and social activities like board game nights. Shawn reads a book on the Columbia campus. She said the bridge man, who held an anti-government banner from an overpass in Beijing before his arrest, inspired her to join campus activities protesting her government back home. (RFA Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) The first event, on Feb. 16, was a screening of the HBO film, In the Same Breath, about Chinas response to the COVID outbreak in Wuhan. A discussion paper handed out at the event asked attendees to talk about their own COVID experiences and what they viewed as the future of the social movement in China. The next event may be karaoke, with participants invited to sing protest songs, Shawn said. Her intention is to bring different groups together Han Chinese, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans to learn from one anothers experiences in a way that doesnt engender conflict. None of the students have any expectation that their efforts will trigger a mass social movement that topples Xi Jinping, although opposition to his third term and restrictive policies is a motivating force. But they say they are surprised by the encouragement theyve received in quiet discussions with fellow students, even if that support is yet to be reflected in official numbers or Instagram followers, which for the White Paper Society number only around 60 so far. I talk to my colleagues and to my classmates, and I thought that so many of them were pro-government and theyre unaware of whats happening in China, but thats not the case, says Evan, who would like to study the treatment of rural migrant workers as an academic in his home country. They are from a higher social class in China, so their perspectives are quite limited, Evan says. But most of them are unsatisfied with everything happening in China. The sentiment reflects a view shared by his peers back home, he said, but one even less easily expressed. Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event.(Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) ST. PETERSBURG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event. Jointly organized by St. Petersburg's radio station RADIO METRO, the China Cultural Center in St. Petersburg, and the Makarov Academy of Circus Art, the festival, which kicked off on Thursday, aimed to strengthen the cultural ties between Russia and China and promote circus art. The event attracted a total of more than 600 children and teenagers from more than 40 circus groups in Russia and China to participate, including many former laureates of international circus awards. These groups performed various unique skills such as acrobatics, martial arts, aerial gymnastics, etc. Fyodor Boltin, chairman of the St. Petersburg Committee for Culture, said at the event that this festival created a unique opportunity to let more people understand the richness and diversity of modern circus art. It made an important contribution to deepening the cooperation between Russia and China, in the meantime opening up more possibilities for cultural exchanges between the two countries, he said. Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event.(Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event.(Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event.(Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event.(Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) Circus performers perform during the closing ceremony of the "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival, in St. Petersburg, Russia, April 29, 2023. The "Friendship" Russia-China Circus Festival ended on Saturday in St. Petersburg, the second largest city in Russia. This is the second consecutive year that St. Petersburg hosts this event. (Photo by Irina Motina/Xinhua) 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. 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." A recent Oxus Society report on Kyrgyzstans resource nationalism raises questions concerning officials messaging about the economic value of extracted mineral wealth and environmental conservation. The report finds that Kyrgyzstans vast gold reserves have enriched only a select few, and mining has caused irreparable ecological damage. Authorities often target those who object to mining projects. How is resource nationalism creating slow violence in Kyrgyzstan? Joining host Bruce Pannier to discuss this are the authors of the Oxus Society report Beril Ocakli, who leads the research project China, The EU And Economic Development In Eastern Europe And Eurasia at the Berlin-based Center for East European and International Studies; and Vincent Artman, professor of geography and peace and conflict studies at Wayne State University and the University of Delaware. Sometime around March 18, Almira Bekenovas 23-year-old son disappeared. After not hearing from Margulan Bekenov, a fourth-year student from Kazakhstan at Tomsk State University in western Siberia, for about a week, Bekenova received a cryptic SMS from his telephone: I am alive and well. Cant call. After weeks of dogged searching in Russia, Bekenova said she learned her son had been abducted in Tomsk by representatives of the notorious Wagner mercenary group. He was forcibly taken to a training camp in southwestern Russia, even though he never signed a contract with the ostensibly private firm, which works in close coordination with Russian security agencies. He was, she said, later sent into the combat zone in Ukraine against his will. Bekenova has appealed repeatedly to Russian law enforcement and the Kazakh Embassy in Russia to help get her son back home. A Clandestine Meeting Through a friend who is a fellow student and through a girl who knew Margulan, she began somehow to piece together some facts, some details, and was able to put together the pieces of the puzzle, said Magzhan Kakharmanov, Margulans uncle and a Kazakh military retiree. Bekenova herself declined to be interviewed by RFE/RL and authorized Kakharmanov to speak for the family. In Tomsk, she was told that her son had been taken by Wagner representatives and sent to a camp near the city of Krasnodar, 3,400 kilometers to the southwest. Bekenovs family suspects Wagners representatives found him at a Tomsk defense-industry plant where he was working as a computer programmer. Intent on finding her son, she set off for Krasnodar, Kakharmanov told RFE/RLs Siberia.Realities. She knew what kind of organization it is, he said. She went to there every day, wandering around, asking at every entrance. She was told categorically: No one like that here. Sorry. Then, as I understand it, she found out from someone walking around nearby she bribed him with some gift or money that her son was inside. She showed his photograph. The man looked and said, yes, that is him and gave the number of his unit. You have to admire her resourcefulness and determination. She was able to locate her son when official complaints revealed nothing. On April 9, Bekenova was able to meet briefly with her son at a checkpoint in a settlement outside of Krasnodar. She refuses to say how she managed to arrange the encounter. He was brought there in a car in the company of his direct superior, Kakharmanov said. They were given five minutes to speak. The officer was present the whole time. Almira managed to learn that he had not signed a contract. He had not changed his citizenship. They had a broken, disjointed conversation in which the other man inserted his five kopecks worth every other word, he continued, adding that surprisingly the Wagner officer turned out to also be a Kazakh from Karaganda. Although the Wagner officer had no legal standing to hold Bekenov, his mother was physically prevented from taking her son back to Kazakhstan. She described her son as exhausted and in bad condition. 'We Need To Warn People' On April 12, Bekenova learned from her sources at the camp that her son had been sent into Ukraine, Kakharmanov said. The family has filed dozens of complaints with Russian law enforcement in Moscow, Tomsk, and Krasnodar without results. They complained to the military commission in Krasnodar and to the prosecutors office in St. Petersburg, where Wagner is officially registered. On April 5, they received a letter from the Kazakh Foreign Ministry saying that a diplomatic note on the case had been sent to their Russian colleagues. This matter is under the constant attention of the embassy, the letter stated. It is the first time in my life that I have been powerless to help my family, Kakharmanov said. The Foreign Ministry and the embassy have been completely impotent. On April 20, a video was posted on Russian social media in which a young man identified himself as Bekenov and said he was serving in Ukraine voluntarily. Bekenovs family acknowledges that the man in the video is their relative, but they say they are certain he was coerced into making the video. Almira Bekenova said he made no such statements when she spoke with him on April 9. Nonetheless, she continued to cling to assurances that Wagner representatives had made privately that her son would be allowed to go home. Despite Bekenovas reservations, the family decided to go public with their story. My sister believes them and thinks that they will give back her son more quickly without publicity, said Dulat Bekenov, Almiras brother and another of Margulans uncles. But I think that since nothing else has worked so far, our boy must be regarded as missing. Dulat Bekenov added that he has little hope he will see his nephew alive again. We need to warn people whose children are studying in Russia, he added. They are in danger. At any moment they could be impressed and sent to their deaths. 'Forced By Threats' Wagner has attracted criticism from rights activists for its suspected involvement in war crimes, its recruitment of convicts and other vulnerable groups, and its treatment of its own troops. The company is believed to have lost tens of thousands of fighters in recent months on the front line that runs through the Donetsk region city of Bakhmut in what Wagners owner, Kremlin-connected businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, himself has called a meat grinder. The Bekenov case is not the first time Wagner has been accused of sending people into combat without their consent. Earlier this month, six mobilized Russian soldiers from the Sakha Republic, also called Yakutia, claimed they had been transferred involuntarily to a Wagner unit and sent to fight near Bakhmut. Prigozhin personally dismissed the claims and said Wagner has never forced anyone to join. One of the mobilized men, Stepan Nazarov, said the men had been forced by threats to sign new contracts with Wagner, according to a relative. At first he wasnt too bothered, the relative, Grigory Nazarov, told RFE/RL. But then they were told directly they would be sent to the most dangerous fighting. They were sent to Bakhmut. Fyodor Tumusov, a lawmaker from Yakutia in the State Duma, the lower house of Russias parliament, confirmed on Telegram on April 18 that he had received a complaint from the families of the soldiers and had sent an official inquiry on the matter to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. I am keeping this matter under my control, Tumusov wrote. Written by RFE/RLs Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RLs Siberia.Realities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the "main battles" of the war against invading Russian forces lie ahead as Russia replaced its highest-ranking general in charge of logistics before a widely expected counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces. Zelenskiy took part on April 30 in events marking the Day of the Border Guard of Ukraine, presenting awards and thanking border guards for firmly defending the state. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. "It is an honor for me to congratulate you today on...the Day of the Border Guard of Ukraine -- the steel and indomitable border guard of Ukraine," Zelenskiy said. The president noted that border guard units are helping to defend Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, Maryinka, and other cities and villages of Donbas region and said more battles lie ahead. "We must free our land and our people from Russian slavery. We have to restore the full line of our state border both on land and at sea," he said, according to a statement issued by his office. Bakhmut has been the focus of a prolonged Russian assault, and each side on April 30 made claims about its status. "Fierce fighting continues in the city of Bakhmut. The enemy is unable to take control over the city, despite throwing all its forces into the battle and having some success," Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said. But she added that the defense of Bakhmut "is coping with its military tasks." The Russian Defense Ministry said earlier its forces had taken four blocks of Bakhmut on April 30. Neither claim could be independently verified. Malyar and other Ukrainian leaders have hinted that preparations for a counteroffensive are under way. Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of the Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, said earlier on April 30 that the preparation for the counteroffensive "is going according to plan" but would not elaborate. A Ukrainian official commenting on April 29 about an explosion and fire at a fuel storage depot in Sevastopol tied the incident to the expected counteroffensive. "This work is preparatory to the large-scale full-scale offensive that everyone expects," Natalia Humenyuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraines southern military command, said in comments published by the UNIAN news agency. There was no independent confirmation of Humenyuks comments, and Kyiv has not formally claimed responsibility for the attack. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Russian-appointed head of the region, blamed Ukraine, saying drones carried out the strike. The Russian Defense Ministry announced on April 30 that Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev had been replaced as head of logistics by Aleksei Kuzmenkov, a former official of the National Guard. The statement did not say why Mizintsev, who was appointed to the logistics post in September days after President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization, was replaced. The announcement came as Zelenskiy had a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron in which he informed Macron about the situation on the front line and the outlook for developments in May and June. "We discussed cooperation in working with other international partners to consolidate their support for the Ukrainian peace formula," Zelenskiy said on Telegram. "We coordinated our positions on the eve of important international events and agreed on the next concrete steps within the bilateral dialogue." Zelenskiy said he thanked Macron for "comprehensive and effective support of Ukraine," and again emphasized the priority needs of Ukrainian forces, saying the "speed and specificity of the response is very important." Later on April 30, Pope Francis told reporters that the Vatican is involved in a peace mission to try to end the conflict. The pope said he spoke about the situation in Ukraine with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and with Metropolitan Hilarion, the Russian Orthodox Church's representative in Budapest, during his weekend visit to Hungary. "In these meetings we did not just talk about Little Red Riding Hood. We spoke of all these things. Everyone is interested in the road to peace," he said during an impromptu news conference on his flight back to Rome. Francis also told reporters that the Vatican was willing to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war. Representatives of the Vatican have already helped mediate some prisoner exchanges and would do all that is humanly possible to reunite families, he said. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and AP Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a speech at the International War Crimes Tribunal (ICC) in The Hague, has called for the creation of a special court to try Russian war crimes in Ukraine and for the prosecution of President Vladimir Putin for his "criminal actions." "We all want to see a different Vladimir here in The Hague, the one who deserves to be sanctioned for his criminal actions here, in the capital of international law. I am sure this will happen when we win," Zelenskiy said on May 4 during a rare trip outside of Ukraine as it fights to repel invading Russian forces. The ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin on March 17, accusing the Russian leader of being responsible for the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine, which constitutes a war crime, since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Zelenskiy said the special court should be modelled on the Nuremberg tribunal implemented by the Allies at the end of World War II to try Nazi war crimes. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Zelenskiy's surprise visit to the Netherlands came amid an escalation of Russia's deadly strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets. He said that last month alone, Russia committed 6,000 war crimes in Ukraine, killing at least 207 civilians including 11 children. The Dutch Foreign Minister said earlier in the day that over 85,000 Russian war crimes have been registered since the start of the war, according to Reuters. Zelenskiy later met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. He told a news conference after the meeting that Ukraine wants assurances that it will be admitted into NATO once the war is over. "We are realistic, we know we will not be in NATO during the war," Zelenskiy said. "But we want a very clear message that we will be in NATO after the war." Russia overnight launched another drone attack overnight across Ukraine. Most of the incoming drones were shot down by the Ukrainian air defenses, the military said on May 4, a day after more than 20 civilians were killed by Iranian-made Shaheds. Ukrainian defenders downed 18 out of 24 drones across Ukraine, the Air Force Command said, adding that the attack was again launched from two directions -- from the western Russian region of Bryansk to the north and from the Sea of Azov to the southeast. The capital, Kyiv, was targeted by drones for the third time in four days, the city administration said, but all were destroyed. However, debris from the falling drones damaged vehicles and roads in parts of the capital, but no casualties were reported, the city's administration said. An air-raid alert that lasted for several hours was declared in Kyiv and other regions, and reports on social media said explosions could be also heard in the Odesa and Zaporizhzhya regions. The overnight attack came hot on the heels of deadly drone strikes the previous day that killed at least 25 people -- 23 of them in the southern city of Kherson. Kherson Governor Oleksandr Prokudin announced a 58-hour curfew to begin in Kherson city at 8 p.m. on May 5. The regional capital in recent weeks has been regularly shelled from Russian forces positioned across the Dnieper River. The Kremlin, meanwhile, accused the United States on May 4 of being the mastermind of an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin intended to kill Putin. The Kremlin on May 3 claimed Ukraine attempted to hit Putin's residence with two drones that it said were destroyed "as a result of timely action by the military and special services." "Decisions on such attacks are not made in Kyiv, but in Washington," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on May 4, without providing any evidence to support the claim of U.S. involvement in the alleged attack. Ukraine denied any involvement in the alleged attack, suggesting Moscow staged it ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Russian forces continued to launch wave of unsuccessful assaults on the city of Bakhmut, in the eastern region of Donetsk, the Ukrainian military said in its daily update on May 4. Russia's main efforts remain focused on attacks on the Bakhmut-Maryinka-Avdiyivka front line, where the fiercest combat and incessant Russian shelling is under way, Ukraine's General Staff said, adding that its forces repelled 40 attacks over the past 24 hours. Separately, Russian state news agency TASS reported that a drone attack set ablaze product-storage facilities at one of the largest oil refineries in southern Russia, but emergency services extinguished the fire just over two hours later, and the plant was working normally. On May 3, there also were reports of fires at various locations in Russia, including at a fuel depot in the Russian village of Volna near the bridge to Crimea. With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and dpa Tourists take photos of giant panda Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) by Xinhua writer Chu Mengmeng HONG KONG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals. The caretakers were relieved: their cared ones behaved as usual, and nothing went wrong. Visitors came in and clustered in front of the pandas, praising the pandas' adorable "table manners." Lele and Yingying, together with the two deceased giant pandas, Jiajia and Anan, had been given as gifts to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region by the Chinese central government and were loved by a huge "human family" here. YOUNG COUPLE VS THEIR "VETERAN YOUNG MOTHER" Wu Jikei, a 39-year-old caretaker, recently paid special attention to Yingying, the female. Since Yingying had mated with Lele, the male, around a month ago, she might be out of sorts as her level of hormones fluctuated. "It doesn't matter whether she has a baby or not. What matters to me is that she and Lele can be healthy and happy," Wu said, sounding like Yingying was her married daughter. After bringing up the two cubs into a "married couple" for the past 16 years, Wu felt that Lele and Yingying were her children. Wu joined Ocean Park as a caretaker in 2007 when Lele and Yingying came as a celebration gift for the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland. She fell in love with the two little cuties at first sight. "They were so small, so round, and so lovely," she recalled, unable to withhold her excitement even after over a decade. Back then, one-and-a-half-year-old Lele and Yingying hadn't received any training before, and Wu naturally became their first teacher. She taught them almost everything, even trifles such as opening their mouth to have their teeth inspected. "It was their first time to learn, and also my first time to teach," said Wu, who was now the assistant curator for the animal department at Ocean Park. Wu believed that she and the pandas had been growing and progressing side by side. Wu later gave birth to two children but always felt like she had "already experienced the whole process of child-raising before," she said, calling Lele and Yingying her "firstborns." "GRANDPA" ANAN VS HIS YOUNG BUDDY While attending the pandas was like raising kids for Wu, 35-year-old Leung Galeun, Wu's colleague, felt he had been looking after the elderly. In 2010, just after graduating from college and receiving the job, Leung was assigned to take charge of Anan, who was equivalent to more than 70 years old in human age and had to take medicine and undergo physical examinations every day. The outgoing young man with curly afro hair felt the pressure of attending a senior of such a precious species. He remembered that, albeit his age, Anan was more like a capricious child who sometimes might not cooperate with the caretakers at his will. Majored in psychology in college, Leung adopted his professional knowledge to coax Anan into completing all sorts of medical treatment and gave him positive feedback as encouragement. As Anan grew older and his health declined, Leung had to keep a more watchful eye on him to observe even the slightest changes. Once, Anan did not go to a lower corner of the exhibition space as usual. Leung noticed and, just in case, called the veterinarian to give Anan an examination. It turned out that Anan's arthritis worsened, thanks to Leung's early warning. Anan passed away last July, with Leung accompanying him around the clock for his last few days. "I knew the final day would inevitably come, but when it did come, it still made me sad," Leung said. Leung found himself more mature and stable while caring for Anan during the past decade or so. "I stayed with Anan longer than with my family or friend." he said, "He was my family." GIANT PANDAS VS THEIR "LARGE FAMILY" At Ocean Park Hong Kong, the caretaking team for giant pandas comprised more than a dozen members, with Wu as the leader. Petite and slender, Wu could carry up a bundle of bamboo of at least 15 kilograms at a draught. Physically demanding notwithstanding, the job of caretaker requires an abundance of love and patience for animals, Wu emphasized. Due to the devotion of the caretakers, Jiajia and Anan passed away at 38 and 35, respectively, which were old ages for the giant panda. In Hong Kong, giant pandas are cared for by more people who call themselves "giant panda fans." Leung said many of them came to see the pandas every weekend, and some even became good friends with the caretakers. Leung also started a social media account to share photos and videos of pandas, attracting more fans online for Lele and Yingying. Immersed in love, pandas reciprocated the love received in their own ways. For example, Jiajia would always come to Wu and offer the girl to stroke her back, "which made me feel that my efforts were rewarded," Wu said. Leung recalled that Anan would be more active in his final days if more visitors came to see him as if replying to people's concerns. Anan and Jiajia were buried under two ginko trees at Ocean Park. As the spring came, a few tender green shoots appeared on the tips of the trees. Every weekend, panda fans would come to the trees to see their deceased friends and then turn to visit Lele, Yingying, and their "human family," those devoted caretakers. Giant panda Lele eats bamboos at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Leung Galeun calls giant panda Lele at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Giant panda Lele eats bamboos at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Tourists take photos of giant panda Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Wu Jikei prepares for the opening of Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Leung Galeun prepares food for giant panda Lele and Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Tourists pose for photos with giant panda Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Leung Galeun (L) takes photos at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Leung Galeun observes the health condition of giant panda Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Giant panda Lele eats bamboos at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) Caretaker Leung Galeun(L) and Wu Jikei observe the health condition of giant panda Yingying at Ocean Park Hong Kong, south China's Hong Kong, April 19, 2023. On a spring morning, Hong Kong Observatory issued a rainstorm alert. At Ocean Park Hong Kong, as soon as they arrived at work at 8:00 a.m., the caretakers rushed to check out the situation of Lele and Yingying, two 17-year-old giant pandas, as they might be disturbed by the adverse weather. The two plump and fluffy creatures just woke up and lay cozily in the dormitory, where the temperature was kept between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. The exhibition space outside was designed like a mini mountain forest decorated with waterfalls, brooks, rocks, slopes, etc. After the caretakers cleaned the space and put in the bamboo breakfast, Lele and Yingying came out from the dormitory at around 10:00 a.m. and began enjoying the first of their four daily meals. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) KHARTOUM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The conflict in Sudan entered a third week on Saturday despite a 72-hour ceasefire extension reached a day earlier. On early Saturday, the capital of Khartoum and its adjacent cities, Bahri and Omdurman, were hit by air strikes, anti-aircraft weaponry, and artillery. The weeks-long conflict between Sudan's military factions has caused a humanitarian crisis in the country, sent a geopolitical shockwave that reverberates through the region, and prompted many countries to rush to evacuate their citizens. FIGHTING CONTINUES DESPITE TRUCE PLEDGES Fierce clashes and explosions rocked Khartoum's upscale Kafouri neighborhood on Friday and Saturday, according to media reports. The government's Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) warplanes were said to have bombed their rivals, the paramilitary unit Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Clashes were also reported around the Republican Palace, the SAF's headquarters, and the area close to the Khartoum international airport on Friday. These areas have been flashpoints since the war erupted on April 15, with explosions also heard across the river in Omdurman. On Friday, Turkiye reported that one of its evacuation planes was hit by gunfire outside Khartoum with no casualties, only hours after the two sides agreed to the latest ceasefire, which was brokered by foreign powers and is supposed to last until midnight on Sunday. The RSF accused the government forces of violating the ceasefire with air strikes on its bases in Omdurman and Mount Awliya, while the army blamed the RSF for violations. The two rival generals leading the SAF and RSF have targeted each other in the media. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) and leader of the government forces, branded the RSF a militia that aims "to destroy Sudan" in an interview with U.S.-based TV channel Alhurra. He also claimed that "mercenaries" were crossing the border from Chad, Central African Republic, and Niger to exploit the chaos. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, deputy chairman of the TSC and leader of the RSF, denounced his rival in an interview with the BBC, calling him "not trustworthy" and a "traitor." The friction between the SAF and RSF had been building for months. Both sides were required to cede power to civilian parties under a transition plan meant to be finalized earlier this month, but the process foundered over timing issues, including when the RSF would be absorbed into army ranks. HUMANITARIAN CRISIS As violence continues to grip Sudan, residents in Khartoum are enduring dire conditions, with dwindling access to basic necessities and restricted movement due to the volatile security situation. Food, water, and other essential services are scarce. Electricity is cut off across much of Khartoum and other cities. The cities are also plagued by fighters who loot and destroy homes, shops, businesses, and open-air markets. According to the United Nations, the death toll has reached at least 512, with close to 4,200 wounded, though it believes the real figures are much higher. More than 75,000 people were internally displaced within Sudan in the first week of the fighting, while only 16 percent of hospitals were operating normally in the capital. The ongoing violence has driven tens of thousands of refugees across Sudan's borders, posing a risk to the volatile region between the Sahel and the Red Sea. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday the violence could spread to other countries in the region, saying that it is "lighting a fuse that could detonate across borders, causing immense suffering for years, and setting development back for decades." Despite intensifying pressure from international mediators, the rival generals have only managed to achieve temporary ceasefires that have failed to stop the clashes. Moreover, the UN has expressed concern over the "alarming" situation in Darfur, where at least 96 individuals have been reportedly killed in Geneina, a city located in West Darfur State, since Monday. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has reported extensive looting, destruction, and burning of property, including at camps designated for displaced people. As a result of the ongoing conflict, Sylvain Perron, MSF's deputy operations manager for Sudan, said that they have been compelled to suspend nearly all operations in West Darfur. COUNTRIES RUSH TO EVACUATE CITIZENS The conflict has triggered a rush of countries to evacuate diplomats and citizens. Several countries have evacuated nationals by air, while some have gone via Port Sudan on the Red Sea, more than 800 km away from Khartoum. On Thursday, China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that over 1,300 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated from Sudan. China has actively helped bring foreign nationals out of Sudan, and has so far helped nationals of five countries to evacuate from Sudan on Chinese ships. Despite these efforts, there are still a small number of Chinese citizens outside the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, she said, adding China will continue to do its utmost to assist them and other countries who have requested assistance in evacuation. Other countries have also been conducting evacuation operations. Egypt has evacuated a total of 6,399 Egyptians, 1,072 of whom were evacuated on Friday. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday some 16,000 people had crossed the border from Sudan into Egypt, including 14,000 Sudanese citizens. France said on Thursday that it had evacuated 936 people, including U.S. and British nationals. Saudi Arabia, Britain, the United States, and Japan also have conducted evacuation missions to get their nationals out of Sudan. Iran's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that 65 Iranian citizens had left from Port Sudan, through Jeddah, to Iran, praising the "influential cooperation" from Saudi Arabia in the country's evacuation mission. SEOUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- As South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol wrapped up his week-long visit to the United States on Sunday, there is growing criticism here that Seoul is taking the lead in strengthening a new Cold War in Northeast Asia and beyond. Yoon has decided to make South Korea a loyal partner of the U.S. "Indo-Pacific Strategy" aimed at containing China, Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper said in an editorial, questioning whether the government's "value-centered diplomacy" will bring tangible benefits to the country. Shin Jin-wook, professor of sociology at Chung-Ang University, said in a Hankyoreh newspaper column that South Korea became a "new Cold War facilitator" for politics on the peninsula, in East Asia and even the world. Shin said the Yoon government was taking the lead in strengthening and completing a new Cold War, rather than seeking to de-escalate tensions on the peninsula. The Yoon administration gave everything the U.S. and Japanese hardliners wanted, turning South Korea into a weak country without any control, participation, or autonomy, according to the column. The Hankyoreh warned in another article that if the United States deploys more "strategic assets," including nuclear-capable submarines, to the Korean Peninsula, tensions on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia are feared to rise. Tai Chi enthusiasts perform a set of Tai Chi moves in front of Piazza della Repubblica in Florence, Italy, on April 29, 2023. (Xinhua/He Fei) FLORENCE, Italy, April 29 (Xinhua) -- In front of Florence's iconic cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, more than 30 Tai Chi enthusiasts in the Italian city performed a set of Tai Chi moves to the music, attracting passersby and tourists to gather round and watch. Dressed in white loose uniforms, the performers brought a sense of tranquility and calmness to the tourist spot, and won a round of applause from the crowd at the end of their little show. These Chinese martial arts lovers in Italy staged the flash mob event to celebrate the World Tai Chi Day this year. The World Tai Chi Day falls on the last Saturday of April, and is celebrated in many countries across the world. Marco Calvelli, an Italian who owns an engineering company in Florence, participated in the event. He has been learning and practicing Tai Chi and other Chinese martial arts for some 15 years in Italy. "I was attracted first of all by Tai Chi itself, and I started to practice with my master. And then I go inside all the other style because they're very different and very interesting to practice together," Calvelli said, adding he learned a lot about himself through practicing Chinese martial arts, or Wushu. After the Tai Chi show in front of the cathedral, the performers continued the flash mob at three other iconic sites in Florence, including Piazza della Repubblica and Piazza della Signoria. Organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Florence, the event marked a new way for Tai Chi lovers in Italy to promote Chinese martial arts with fun. In Florence, Tai Chi has been gaining popularity over the years. Giuseppe Gualdani is a Wushu master and founding member of a Wushu institute in the city. With 30 years of learning and practicing Tai Chi, he now teaches around 350 students in Florence, ranging from 4-year-olds to adults. Giulio Vanni is a student of Gualdani and now a skillful practitioner of different types of Chinese martial arts, including Tai Chi sword. The 20-year-old started to learn about Chinese martial arts when he was nine. "Since the first day, I really enjoyed the practice of Chinese martial arts because I think the movements are unique," said Vanni, a Kung Fu movie enthusiast. After years of practice, the better he was able to perform the martial arts, the more training he would like to get, and the more he loved about martial arts. Reflecting on his experience with Tai Chi, he said: "When I started, I didn't really understand this concept. But with years, I understood that if you want to learn very good Chinese martial arts, you have to learn Chinese culture." "Since I fell in love with Chinese culture, I thought keep practicing Chinese martial arts was the best way to learn the Chinese culture," Vanni said. "I feel like when I practice Wushu, I really feel life." Tai Chi enthusiasts perform a set of Tai Chi moves in front of Piazza della Repubblica in Florence, Italy, on April 29, 2023. (Xinhua/He Fei) Tai Chi enthusiasts perform a set of Tai Chi moves in front of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence's iconic cathedral, in Florence, Italy, on April 29, 2023. (Xinhua/He Fei) Tai Chi enthusiasts perform a set of Tai Chi moves in front of Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence's iconic cathedral, in Florence, Italy, on April 29, 2023. (Xinhua/He Fei) by Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua, Zhang Jianhua, Lin Hao VIENTIANE, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The cross-border passenger service on the China-Laos Railway marks a great leap forward in the provision of transport links and the promotion of tourism. The first cross-border passenger service between the Lao capital Vientiane and Kunming, the capital city of southwest China's Yunnan Province, started on April 13, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. The first group of Chinese tourists traveling on the train was warmly welcomed by Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket. Speaking at the launch of the cross-border train service, Suanesavanh said the direct train service is another symbol of Laos-China friendship in the modern era and serves the Lao government's ambition to transform the landlocked country into a regional land link. Lao government hopes that the China-Laos Railway will create an economic corridor that generates income for the nation, as well as bring more tourists to Laos from within the region and beyond. "We now have a high-speed train connecting Laos and China. This offers important potential for international travel and represents the opening of a Laos-China high-speed rail route, connecting Lao capital Vientiane with Kunming and giving more tourists the chance to visit the two countries," Suanesavanh said. The launch of the cross-border passenger train is an important historical event in the cooperation between the governments of Laos and China, which always encourage and help each other to bring strength and prosperity to their countries. The train helped fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the Lao people for greater regional integration. The railway will now become a "golden key" for Laos to connect with China and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which will greatly benefit the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area and the Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Cooperation. Saiy vilayvong, a 32-year-old woman living in northern Laos' Luang Prabang province, told Xinhua on Saturday that the cross-border passenger train serves to raise the profile of Laos in the international arena, by integrating passenger transport services with neighboring countries. "The cross-border passenger train is of great significance to promoting the development of tourism and economy in Laos. The railway will help the economy, transportation, and tourism in Laos." "In my opinion, the cross-border passenger train has greatly facilitated travel and sightseeing for the people of Laos and China. There will be more people coming and going using the railway," she said. The launch of the cross-border passenger service has also made the headlines on social media in Laos, with some netizens have shown their appreciation and expressing their excitement about the news. "Traveling to China will be more convenient now. China will be my next destination," said a Lao netizen. "I'm so excited that I can take a train to China! It's so convenient and cheaper!" The journey between Lao capital Vientiane and Kunming covers a distance of 1,035 km, with stops at eight stations and a total travel time of 10 hours and 30 minutes. The China-Laos Railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. The aim of the Lao government is to turn the China-Laos Railway into an economic corridor that generates substantial income for Laos, helping to ease the current woeful economic situation and bring more foreign tourists to the country. The vital transport link provided by the railway has the potential to place Laos at the center of efforts to link ASEAN countries to China. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Union workers, families, politicians and passersby gathered in San Francisco on Saturday to mark the citys annual Cesar Chavez Day with an ebullient parade. The parade filled with dancers, floats, lowrider cars and a live band playing on a stage hitched to the back of a truck emblazoned with the labor leaders trademark slogan, Si se puede (Yes, you can) imbued the Mission District with energy and celebration as it made its way from Dolores Park to 24th Street. Aztec dancers wearing colorful feather headdresses and wooden ankle rattles led the parade, dancing to the beat of a drum. Many labor unions were represented in the parade, including the Latin American Teachers Association San Francisco, the American Postal Workers Union and the Amalgamated Transit Union. Local elected officials, including state Sen. Scott Wiener and state Treasurer Fiona Ma, rode behind them in retro cars. Ruben Hernandez, a member of Ironworkers Local 377, drove from Watsonville with his family to march with his unions float. It was his first time attending San Franciscos celebration of the labor leader, who died in 1993. Its a good sense of community, he said. Now Playing: Dancers perform on 19th Street before the start of the Cesar Chavez Day parade in San Francisco.m Video: Benjamin Fanjoy Special to The Chronicle Local youth also participated. Students from the San Francisco International School each held a poster with a letter to spell out Si se puede, while high schoolers in uniform from the Oakland Military Institute marched and chanted. Throngs of people walked and danced alongside the parade for more than 2 miles, as participants wound their way from 19th Street down the center of Mission Street and then to 24th Street, where the festival continued throughout the afternoon. Along the parade route, people came out from Mission District businesses to capture the performances on their phones. Laurane De Mot, visiting from Belgium, ran alongside the parade with her husband and two young children. She said she had looked up events in San Francisco for their trip and wanted to bring her children to the parade to expose them to Mexican culture, because there is little of it in their home country. Both of her sons, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old in a stroller, were enthralled by the dancers and their music. San Franciscos beleaguered First Republic Bank will be acquired by JPMorgan Chase, federal regulators announced Monday, in their latest effort to quell uncertainty in the financial industry. The failure of the troubled lender was the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, and it was the third midsize bank to fail in less than two months, following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and New Yorks Signature Bank in early March after panicked depositors took their money out. The only larger U.S. bank failure was Washington Mutual, which was also taken over by JPMorgan Chase in a similar 2008 deal. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., in a statement just hours before U.S. markets opened, said California regulators had closed First Republic and appointed the FDIC as receiver. JPMorgan Chase will assume all of the deposits and substantially all of the assets of First Republic Bank, the statement said. It added that First Republics 84 branches in eight states would be open for business Monday as usual, but now would be JPMorgan Chase branches. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, and customers do not need to change their banking relationship in order to retain their deposit insurance coverage up to applicable limits, the FDIC said. JPMorgan Chase, in announcing the move, said Monday morning that it acquired the substantial majority of assets and assumed the deposits and certain other liabilities of the failed lender. In carrying out this transaction, JPMorgan Chase is supporting the U.S. financial system through its significant strength and execution capabilities. The purchase includes all deposits, insured and uninsured, but, JPMorgan Chase is not assuming First Republics corporate debt or preferred stock, the company added. President Biden welcomed the move, saying at an event in the Rose Garden, These actions are going to make sure that the banking system is safe and sound. While depositors are being protected, shareholders are losing their investments. And critically, taxpayers are not the ones that are on the hook, Biden added. Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan Chases chief executive, told reporters and investors on a conference call Monday that this part of the crisis is over. For now we should all just take a deep breath, Dimon added. Our government invited us and others to step up, and we did, Dimon said in the companys earlier written statement, which emphasized JPMorgan Chases financial strength, capabilities and business model. The deal capped efforts by regulators who worked over the weekend to find a way forward. They had set Sunday afternoon as the deadline for bids in an auction they held to select an institution to acquire First Republic. PNC Financial Services Group and Citizens Financial Group Inc. were also among banks that submitted final bids in the auction, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters and Bloomberg. The auction came days after First Republics stock plunged when the bank said its customers withdrew $102 billion in the first quarter of the year, more than half of the $176 billion it held in deposits at the end of 2022. It has been scrambling to shore itself up with $92 billion in loans from the government, as well as a $30 billion temporary infusion from a consortium of big banks, including JPMorgan Chase, PNC and Bank of America. Like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature, First Republic which was founded in 1985 and was the 14th-largest U.S. bank as of earlier this year, according to the New York Times suffered from loans and investments that lost billions of dollars in value as the Federal Reserve rapidly raised interest rates to fight inflation. As with the two banks that failed in March, its customers then began pulling their money out. The earlier implosion of Silicon Valley Bank sparked fear and uncertainty throughout the financial and tech industries. The Federal Reserve later blamed the collapse on poor management, watered-down regulations and lax oversight by its own staffers. The FDIC announced last month that First Citizens Bank & Trust of North Carolina would acquire Silicon Valley Bank. Chronicle news services contributed to this report. Trouble brewing since the November election has erupted into open conflict on the San Mateo City Council: Its mayor faces a recall campaign, the District Attorneys Office has investigated allegations of vote-trading and lying, and the council will discuss creating a code of conduct at its next meeting. While those involved say politics and personal histories play a role in the turmoil, the chaos that has consumed the elected leadership of the Peninsula city comes down, in large part, to one thing: housing. Its the same conflict playing out in many cities in the Bay Area, where the states mandate to build nearly half a million housing units by 2030 has met fierce resistance from residents opposed to growth in their communities. But in San Mateo, an affluent city of 102,000, the dispute is central to a power struggle among factions in the city that threatens to bring down pro-housing Mayor Amourence Lee. Michael Weinhauer, a longtime San Matean and community activist who is spearheading Lees attempted ouster, said that the drive to recall her was the result of her being disdainful and unwilling to compromise but how the city will meet its state-mandated goal of 7,000 new units over the next eight years ties directly to this conversation. Many of us are concerned about the level of development and how thats going to affect San Mateo as a suburban city, he said, adding that he believes state goals can be met while preserving existing height and density limits, despite letters from the state saying otherwise. Amourence does not represent all San Mateans. Lifelong San Matean and pro-housing activist Jordan Grimes agreed that more than just recent politics was at play. Housing is the linchpin, but its really a power struggle between an older generation and new generation and competing visions for the future of San Mateo, he told The Chronicle. It really does come back to what the city looks like who is allowed to live here. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2020 Council election and the balance of power The drama around Lee started in December, when the balance of power on the City Council over housing decisions was at stake in the wake of the recent election. Three of San Mateos five City Council seats were up for grabs in November, when newcomers Adam Loraine, Lisa Diaz Nash and Rob Newsom won. They joined incumbents Lee and Diane Papan, whose seats were not on the ballot but Papan was departing after her election to the state Assembly. That meant the new council would need to appoint her replacement. In San Mateo, City Council members also appoint the mayor from their own ranks. City Charter guidance says the new council should appoint a mayor at its first meeting, and seniority should be a factor indicating Lee as the choice. But thats where the housing issue loomed large. Had the members voted Lee in as mayor before the fifth member was appointed, she would have had a tiebreaker vote to select the fifth member in a council split between those who favor growth Lee and Loraine and those who oppose it Diaz Nash and Newsom. That meant the council would likely end up with a pro-housing majority. At its first meeting Dec. 5, Diaz Nash and Newsom blocked Lees appointment, saying they needed to fill Papans vacancy first. The meeting was eight hours long, with council members and public commenters debating the best course of action between multiple failed attempts to vote Lee in as mayor. Importantly, the mayor has tiebreaker authority when appointing the all-important fifth council member, keeping in mind that hundreds of millions of dollars in land use decisions are going to be made in the next year, Weinhauer said at the meeting, speaking in favor of blocking the mayoral appointment. Newsom did not respond to The Chronicles request for comment, and Diaz Nash said she was reserving any comments on the matter for the upcoming council meeting Monday. Samantha Laurey/Special to The Chronicle Tensions explode The discussion continued at a Dec. 7 special meeting, which went on for five hours with Diaz Nash and Newsom again blocking Lees appointment to mayor. The decision was pushed off to the next council meeting, where the panel would also select its fifth member. Thats when tensions erupted into open conflict. At the Dec. 12 meeting, the council was first tasked with voting in its fifth member. After hearing from the candidates and nearly 100 public commenters, the members cast their votes. Diaz Nash and Newsom voted for longtime community leader Cliff Robbins, while Lee and Loraine abstained. Then Lee made the explosive allegations that have become the focal point of the recall effort against her: She said two messengers had approached her to vote for a certain candidate in exchange for a vote supporting her for mayor. Then, in a dramatic flourish, she pulled the name of the alleged candidate from a manila envelope: Cliff Robbins. Robbins denied vehemently at the meeting that he had been involved in any vote-trading. I have never engaged in any sort of vote, exchange, or bartering, nor have I authorized anybody to do so and I find an unsupported accusation subjecting this entire city to the possibility of a suit for defamation, he told the council members. I am appalled. In the end, the council members voted in community leader Rich Hedges for the fifth seat. Hedges is slightly more in line with pro-housing groups, and Lee had identified him as her first choice earlier in the meeting. During this chaotic and fateful week our appointment process to fill a council seat was tainted, Lee wrote in a blog post. She said she does not believe Robbins, whom she called a great contributor to our community, was involved in the alleged vote-trading, but was instead caught in the cross-hairs. Samantha Laurey/Special to The Chronicle Investigation by D.A.s office The city attorney asked the San Mateo County District Attorneys Office to investigate the allegations, to uncover whether state open meeting laws had been violated. It concluded last month that nothing criminal had occurred though it found inconsistent statements from the involved parties regarding what had happened in the lead-up to the council and mayoral appointments that all involved discussion of political outcomes should one course or another be taken. Opposing sides interpreted the investigation findings differently. On April 17, Lees supporters said the investigation showed political games being played, while her critics said it proved she lied and needlessly sullied the reputation of an innocent community member. Lee, who calls Robbins a dear friend, said her actions showed that her integrity and that of the council remain her top priority as she was willing to risk relationships to expose the alleged improper behavior. This has cost me dearly, she told The Chronicle, referring to the friends lost over the matter. The people can see theres no price too high; I will always speak hard truths and demand transparency to protect our democracy. Weinhauer acknowledged that the recall campaign was in the works before Decembers events, but that its also a result of a larger pattern of troubling behavior, including Lees unwillingness to compromise on issues of growth and to treat opponents respectfully. Divisions in the community Lee seems to champion the idea that shes part of a new group of voters who are ascendent. On her campaign website, she wrote: In San Mateo, a new generation of voters is changing the landscape of our representative government. The Old Guard is losing their grip on power. Grimes, the housing advocate, agreed. We have this old political establishment that has run the city for a really long time, and they are seeing their power wane, he said. We are at a really critical time, and (Lee) has really championed policies to move San Mateo forward in a really progressive way; its in direct conflict with what (the old political establishment) wants for the city. But Weinhauer said that view is overly simplistic. Times do change, and the younger generation is always going to have a different view, he said. But scorched-earth tactics in favor of growth are not the way forward, he added. On Monday, the City Council will again review the district attorneys report. While the council cannot remove anyone from their seat, they are likely to discuss creating a code of conduct. In the meantime, it is unclear whether the campaign against Lee will gain enough signatures to prompt a recall election. Asked how many signatures have been gathered, Weinhauer said they were still being collected and a tally was not yet available. For her part, Lee said she is hoping to move forward. For the sake of our beautiful city, I hope we can close this chapter and start anew. I call for unity lets choose to build a foundation for our future, so we can focus on doing the peoples work, she wrote online. Cheerios once featured an interracial family in an ad: A white mother, a Black father and their adorable curly-haired mixed-race daughter named Gracie. The reaction against the TV family was so negative that Cheerios parent company, General Mills, briefly pulled the commercial. This wasnt in the 1960s. This was in TWO THOUSAND AND THIRTEEN. I was thinking about that ad recently during a conversation with Bay Area-based comedian and documentary filmmaker W. Kamau Bell, who said his mixed-race daughter looks similar to Gracie. Its hard to say much has changed in this country a decade after Cheerios found itself waging war with racist trolls on the internet. More Americans today identify as multiracial than ever before. Yet, MAGA Republican politicians, nostalgic for a white-centric America that no longer exists, are doing everything in their power to stifle discussions about race, racism and diversity in schools. What these misguided electeds and their acolytes fail to realize is that difficult discussions on these topics are regularly taking place in mixed-racial households, which are rapidly growing in number, no matter how hard politicians fight to keep the discussions out of classrooms. Some of these discussions are captured in a forthcoming documentary from Bell, which he produced with his wife Melissa Hudson Bell, called 1000% Me: Growing Up Mixed. The documentary will premiere May 2 on HBO Max. The film features more than a dozen mixed-race people from the Bay Area, most of whom are young kids, including people who identify as Black and Filipino; Latino and Native American; and Black and Japanese, among other combinations. They all talk about how America struggles to embrace their beautifully complex identities, and theres a compelling nuance to the unflappability the young people show toward racism. Some of these kids have way more knowledge about Florida and Ron DeSantis than some of these adults walking around, adults who are actually in public office, Bell said with a laugh. The Florida governor, who has been a prominent voice in the nations efforts to ban academic studies of race-related issues on school campuses, is planning to jump into the 2024 presidential race, according to reports. Hell battle Donald Trump to lead a Republican Party that has decided to center its election strategy on culture wars and abortion bans. DeSantis and his kind feel frightened by young people who are growing more woke about a country that is far from perfect. This fear inspires legislation like House Republicans Parents Rights bill, which was passed in the House in March and gives parents, regardless of their education experience, authority over what is taught in schools and which books are appropriate for their kids. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, called the bill an important step towards protecting children in March. Protecting children clearly means shielding them from diversity in America, and masking the countrys past and present culture of racism. It took America until 1967 to legalize interracial marriage with the Loving v. Virginia ruling, which declared a Virginia law prohibiting mixed-race marriage unconstitutional and legalized interracial marriage in every state. That was just 56 years ago. America has only become more diverse since then. The number of Americans who identify as multiracial rose from 9 million in 2010 to almost 34 million in 2020, according to U.S. census data. A similar growth has happened in the Bay Area, including in cities like San Francisco where residents who identify as two or more races outpaced the growth of every other demographic from 2010 to 2020. America still struggles under a racial hierarchy that prioritizes whiteness, according to Wei Ming Dariotis, a former San Francisco State University professor who once taught a course on critical mixed race studies, and the current assistant vice president of equity, diversity and inclusion at the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Dariotis is mixed race, with Swedish, Chinese and Greek heritage. Mixed race people have to struggle to figure out our place in that racial hierarchy, she said. And it isnt lost on mixed race people like Dariotis just how that hierarchy impacts their daily lives. A poll done by The Chronicle in 2022 for its SFNext project found that mixed race people in San Francisco were more critical of the citys government, education and policing institutions than any other group. A decade ago, people were scandalized by a Cheerios commercial showing an interracial marriage and a biracial child. Conservatives today have a similar hysteria when it comes to critical race theory. But as Bells documentary shows, mixed race people are learning the tough lessons about race at home that Republicans are trying to downplay and hide. Or as Erica, who identifies as Black and Japanese and like the others in the documentary was identified only by her first name, said: Im really proud of the current and future generation of mixed kids that are really affirming their identity and being loud and proud. But we live in a deeply racist society and theres a lot of danger in not talking about race and not talking about racism. Do we care if climate projects make allowances for the communities they impact? Thats the question posed by the first auction for leases to create giant wind farms in the ocean off the U.S. West Coast. The auction, completed late last year, awarded rights to build vast flotillas of wind turbines 20 miles off the coasts of San Luis Obispo and Humboldt Counties. This was supposed to be a clarifying moment in Californias commitment to wind energy. The Golden State, for all its boasting about climate change policy, has lagged behind the East Coast in developing offshore wind power. This is partly because our deeper waters require deploying giant, floating turbines. Its also because of all the potential opposition in the state from fishing industries, Indigenous communities and local stakeholders. We Californians distrust changes anywhere near our beloved shoreline. In response, the federal government established auction rules that would consider not just the amount companies bid for rights to harness the wind, but whether bidders engaged with local communities. Under the formula, companies who created partnerships with benefits for communities could earn credits to boost their bids, giving them an edge in the auction. One bidding company did exactly that. But was it worth the effort? The center of this head-scratching story is Morro Bay. When offshore wind development became a public issue there nearly a decade ago, citizens reacted with skepticism and anger. They expressed concerns about how construction would impact the shore and fears about the impact of turbines on birds, fisheries and, even at a distance of 20 miles from land, the views and natural beauty of the San Luis Obispo County coast. Other companies kept their distance from residents. But in 2015, Castle Wind LLC a joint venture between Washington state-based Trident Winds and a North American subsidiary of the Germany utility Energie Baden-Wurttemberg AG jumped in and started a dialogue with residents and stakeholders. Local leaders advised Castle Wind to talk with fishermen first, given the struggles of that industry and the questions about how wind farms might impact fisheries. After more than two years of talking, Castle Wind, the Morro Bay Commercial Fishermens Organization and the Port San Luis Commercial Fishermens Association forged a novel mutual benefits agreement. Completed in October 2018, the agreement offered three main benefits for fishermen: a new fund for infrastructure improvements for the commercial fishing industry, new training and employment for fishermen and a process for the local fishing industry to help shape wind project design. With the fishermen on board, the Morro Bay City Council approved its own community benefits agreement with Castle Wind. The company agreed to hire local residents, create internships and training programs around the wind farm at local schools and universities, establish a project maintenance and monitoring facility in the Morro Bay harbor and promote local businesses. Both agreements were popular and productive. Indeed, last year, Castle Wind and the fishermen deepened their partnership by creating a mutual benefits corporation as a legal vehicle for carrying out future joint projects. The body was modeled after a corporation formed more than two decades ago to protect fishing activities in California from the impacts of transoceanic fiber-optic cables. Alla Weinstein, the Castle Wind CEO who conducted the conversations, said last fall in a statement announcing the corporation: Our approach has been to acknowledge, as early as possible, that impacts may occur Castle Wind has created a platform for the developers to mitigate anticipated impacts of offshore wind to the commercial fishing industry without causing stakeholder fatigue. But when the auction was held in December, the benefits agreements and the corporation didnt make any difference. Castle Wind, even with credits, did not win a single lease. Instead, the leases in areas off of San Luis Obispo County went to three higher bidders each of whom bid over $100 million, among them Equinor, a Norwegian state-owned oil company. None had reached agreements with Morro Bay locals, as Castle Wind had. The auction has raised many questions about the future of climate and community. Federal officials, Castle Wind and other bidders have been tight-lipped about the result. Locally, city officials and fishermens groups have expressed disappointment and noted pointedly that the winning bidders had not forged agreements and did not have their support. In Morro Bay, there is still considerable hope that winning bidders will approach the fishermen, the city and other communities to execute agreements and make partnerships based on those forged with Castle Wind. That hope is based on the widespread view that Castle Winds agreements were thoughtful and well-drafted, and stood to benefit everyone from the company, which wanted the lease, to the city and its fishermen, who sought to create new job and development opportunities for the city. That hope also reflects political reality. California needs clean energy, but constructing wind farms will take years and is unlikely to succeed if local communities and their state and federal representatives stand in the way. Yes, talking takes time, and climate change is an emergency. But in California, if you want to build new projects to save the climate or anything else, you need the wind, and local communities, at your back. Photo: The Canadian Press A vehicle crosses an empty street in Khartoum, Sudan, Saturday, April 29, 2023, as gunfire and heavy artillery fire continued despite the extension of a cease-fire between the country's two top generals. Canada is stopping flights out of the capital Khartoum and relocating its Sudan evacuation efforts to the Red Sea, joining other nations in a move to continue removing people from Port Sudan as violence in the country continues. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Marwan Ali Canada is relocating its efforts to get stranded Canadians out of Sudan from the capital to a distant port city as violence continues to escalate between the country's army and a powerful paramilitary group. Defense Minister Anita Anand says about 550 people, including more than 400 Canadians, left the country on six military-run flights from the country's main airport in Khartoum between Thursday and Saturday. But deteriorating safety conditions in the Sudanese capital made it necessary to suspend future flights as of Saturday night, and Anand says evacuation efforts will now be based out of the city of Port Sudan about 800 kilometres away. "Despite the fact that a ceasefire agreement is in place between the two warring factions, fighting continues in Sudan, and in close proximity to the airfield, the situation remains volatile, dangerous and unpredictable," said Anand. "We remain committed to supporting the mission to aid Canadian citizens in their time of need and continue to plan with our partners for both air transport as well as ground and seaport extraction options." Canada's Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. Wayne Eyre, says pilots saw violence on the ground in Khartoum on Saturday as they conducted two flights carrying 205 passengers, including 60 Canadians. "There was fighting around the airport as our aircraft were approaching," he said. "In fact, our pilots on night vision goggles were able to see small arms exchanges as they approached." Anand said Canadian officials are joining an American-led relocation to Port Sudan, where she says there are commercial and other options for leaving the country. Canada has two ships on the Red Sea capable of supporting operations in Port Sudan, she added. "Canada and our allies are continually assessing how we can assist our citizens in leaving Sudan from various locations," she said. Eyre said Port Sudan is still a "permissive environment" for continuing evacuations out of the country, including by air. Sudan's capital of Khartoum, a city of some five million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Fighting between the two forces began on April 15. The two weeks of bloodshed between the two sides has dashed once-euphoric hopes of Sudan's transition to a democracy. Global Affairs Canada is offering available seats on the U.S. convoy from Khartoum to Port Sudan to those who can make the trip. Those who stay have been advised to shelter in place. "Evacuation by road from Khartoum is a 30-hour journey with many risks along the way and not everyone is able to do that," said Sebastien Beaulieu, an official at Global Affairs Canada. He said people must make the decision to leave or shelter in place "based on their own circumstances, their ability to travel, their mobility, and their assessment of the risks." Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is in Kenya helping inform Canada's response to the crisis in Sudan. She is set to meet with people evacuated from the East African country, including diplomatic staff. Joly will also meet with humanitarian groups to get a sense of the needs of people in Sudan, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries. Anand said that work will be one of the most important aspects of the trip because Joly will meet with people "who are more familiar with the intense fighting and history that has been occurring." Canada suspended its consular services in the country on April 23, saying a rapidly deteriorating situation had made it impossible to safeguard the safety and security of its staff in Khartoum. SEOUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol's latest U.S. trip was "the most hostile, aggressive and provocative, dangerous trip for a nuclear war," the state news agency of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said Sunday. In a commentary, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) voiced harsh criticism and a stern warning, lashing all out at the documents and rhetoric coming out of the recent U.S.-South Korea summit talks in Washington. The commentary began by putting the Washington Declaration, a signature document on upgrading "extended deterrence" against the DPRK, in its crosshairs, reprimanding it as "a typical product of the heinous hostile policy towards the DPRK," designed to make "a nuclear war against the DPRK a fait accompli." "There is no precedent that they (U.S. and South Korea) designated the DPRK as a target for a nuclear attack publicly to the world and nakedly stated regular and sustained deployment of strategic nuclear assets to the Korean Peninsula," it added. The commentary then blasted the South Korean leader, saying his "treacherous and submissive acts to the U.S. are turning South Korea into a U.S. arsenal and advanced base for a nuclear war and hurting the security and interests of not only the Korean Peninsula but also the region." South Korea and the United States issued the Washington Declaration on Wednesday, which announced the establishment of a new Nuclear Consultative Group and the upcoming visit of a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine to South Korea for the purpose of strengthening the so-called "extended deterrence." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Francisco Mayor London Breed stumped for U.S. Senate candidate Barbara Lee on Saturday, saying the Oakland congresswomans experience and empathy make her the best choice to represent California. Lee is facing off against Democratic Reps. Katie Porter of Irvine and Adam Schiff of Burbank in the highly competitive and expensive race to succeed retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Though the three leading candidates share similar progressive ideologies, Lees supporters cast her Senate bid as crucial to giving Black women representation in the U.S. Senate. Dozens of supporters waved campaign signs at a Saturday morning news conference at the African American Art & Culture Complex in the Fillmore district, where they touted Lees life experiences and legislative career. Lee, 76, has represented the East Bay since 1990 in the California Legislature and U.S. House. She grew up in the segregated South and moved to California as a girl. She traveled to Mexico to have an abortion at 15 before the procedure was legalized in the U.S. with the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, which was overturned last year. A survivor of domestic violence, Lee raised two children as a single mother in San Francisco public housing. Barbara Lee understands how it feels to not only talk about the struggle and have empathy for the challenges that exist in communities like this, but to actually live in it and breathe in it, Breed told Lee supporters Saturday. Backers expressed high hopes for Lees Senate bid and said she represents an urgent opportunity to elect a woman of color to represent the nations most diverse state. Several members of the Black, Latino and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities participated in the United for Barbara Lee launch. We know that a multiracial base of women voters, voters of color and progressive voters will turn out and vote for Barbara Lee, said Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton. This is a really important moment in our history, and as a woman of color, I understand the importance of representation in government. Lee has been linked as a potential appointee to Feinsteins seat if she resigns before finishing her sixth Senate term. Feinstein, 89, has faced questions about her mental acuity and has been away from the Senate for two months after contracting shingles. Some lawmakers have urged Feinstein to retire her seat early as Senate Democrats, who hold a razor-thin majority, struggle to advance President Bidens judicial picks in her absence. While Feinsteins office has said the senator does not plan to step aside early, Gov. Gavin Newsom said in 2021 that he will appoint a Black woman to succeed Feinstein if she does not finish her term. Lee, who was not present at Saturdays campaign event, entered the race at a fundraising disadvantage. Porter and Schiff are prolific fundraisers. Both declared their candidacies almost two years ahead of the 2024 election and before Feinstein announced she wont run for re-election in part to get a fundraising head start for a race some political observers say will cost hopefuls more than $50 million to win. Lee has scoffed at those concerns, and her supporters said she has the best credentials of any Senate candidate. She truly builds bridges with people because she understands that its not just about a Black agenda, its about making sure that all communities are a part of the conversation and no ones voice gets left out, Breed said. Technology spotlight 30 years after the Web became public domain, the revolution is still gaining steam On April 30, 1993, British computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee made a decision that would change the world: He gave free access to a new software protocol he had recently invented. That was the day the World Wide Web, which Berners-Lee had created four years earlier, became public domain. It set the stage for the tech upheaval that has dramatically altered the way the world operates. In many ways, the revolution is still raging. The short answer about the 30th anniversary of the Web is its too soon to tell what this means, Paul Saffo, a Stanford professor and well-known Silicon Valley forecaster, told The Examiner. Because this revolution is still gaining steam. The web gave the public wider access to a network that until the 90s was the domain of academic researchers and computer enthusiasts: the internet. Berners-Lee introduced the World Wide Web in 1989, calling it an idea of linked information systems. The web made it easier for academics and researchers to share information which appeared to be its initial objective. I have my documents and I want to have them be accessible and shareable. How do I do that? I need some protocol for doing that. Thats what that is, said Bill Mark, who was then a director at Lockheed Martin and is now president of the research institute SRI International. Jwslubbock/Wikimedia Commons Scientist Tim Berners-Lee set the World Wide Web in motion 30 years ago today. Berners-Lees decision to make the web public domain was pretty much a non-event, Mark recalled. I dont remember people going, Wow. Youre gonna remember where you were on that day. I dont think it was anything like that. I had no idea how big it would become, Mark told The Examiner. And I bet you that either very few or no one knew how big it would become. The web became big, fast mainly because Berners-Lee had a profound insight about how the technology should be used and shared with the world, said Joe White, the U.K.s technology envoy to the U.S. said. Robert Cailliau WWW's "historical" logo, created by Robert Cailliau in 1990. Made of three W using the Optima Bold font, according to Cailliau himself. The fact that we had common standards in some ways would allow this thing to flourish in a way that it did, White told The Examiner. It wasnt a closed environment. It wasnt proprietary. It wasnt owned to profit from. It became this extraordinary platform that everybody benefited from. Why give away such a valuable technology? I think it was just that sense of thats the right thing to do, White, who knows Berners-Lee, said. He comes from that early internet generation of exploring and just just putting things out there ... The web would have taken quite a different turn had it not been the case. We would have had competing platforms and protocols and standards. It allowed us to accelerate more quickly because that first paradigm was open. And it led to a great evolution in these things. Wikimedia Commons This NeXT Computer used by British scientist Sir Tim Berners-Lee at CERN became the first Web server The evolution sparked by the web fundamentally remade the global economy, society and politics, said Robert Siegel, a management lecturer at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. It unleashed a new wave of entrepreneurship that gave birth to companies that remain dominant today, led by Amazon, Google, Salesforce and Facebook. Mattias Soderhielm was a visiting graduate student from Sweden when he consulted Saffo, the renowned Silicon Valley forecaster, about his masters thesis. His plan had been to do a paper on the evolution of telecom networks. Saffo had another idea. Paul said, This boring thing that youre doing, forget about it. You should write about this new cool thing, Soderhielm said. Saffo actually recalled telling Soderhielm, Just throw that shit out. Theres this thing called the worldwide web. And it is taking off like a rocket. Soderhielm ended up doing more than writing an academic paper on the web. He became one of the web entrepreneurs in what became known as the dot-com boom. A year after the web became public domain, Soderhielm co-founded his first company, Passagen which became Swedens second biggest web portal. But while the web ushered in a new era of progress, it also unleashed a new age of bitter divisiveness. Siegel said that while there have been major cataclysms every decade for the last a hundred and twenty plus years wars, economic wobbling, etc., what makes the era since the introduction of the web unique is it has been driven by computers and connectivity. What began as a tool that brought the world closer together also played a critical role in ripping it apart. The web has become a powerful tool for spreading hate and disinformation. It fueled the rise of white supremacy in the United States and paved the way for repressive regimes in countries like Myanmar, the Philippines and Russia. This is largely because the web made it possible to create online enclaves where groups and individuals can spread messages that may not have any basis in reality. Intel Free Press/Wikimedia Commons Futurist Paul Saffo Saffo cited the popular dictum, Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but not their own facts. What weve seen is that everybody expects to be entitled to their own facts, he said. It is fueling this new tribalism. Soderhielm compares what happened with the web to the invention of the telegraph, which people expected will stop all wars because we can have instant communication and there need be no misunderstandings anymore between countries and peace will reign supreme. Of course, that didnt happen, he said. You pin your hopes on a new technology and of course the new technology surprises you in often disappointing ways. The disappointment recently morphed into crisis and distress in his native Sweden which is looking to join NATO in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Swedens move is a function of the fact that the world has become a much less safe place, he said. I would say the web and especially social media is largely to blame, because it makes it possible for dictators around the world to be much bolder than they could before, Putin being a prime example of that. Recent events underscore Saffos view that the story of the web is still unfolding and its full impact is still unknown. The eye of a hurricane is generally a lousy spot to guess its direction, he said. And were very much in the middle of the eye of the hurricane. The web is a little bit like the opening sentence in A Tale of Two Cities: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. This is the best of all possible inventions. Its given everyone a voice and the things that it does are absolutely marvelous. But the downside is this is social and political nitroglycerin and idiot children have the matches. Google Street View Two people, one of them a Bay Area preschool teacher, have been arrested on suspicion of killing a man found dead along a highway in Santa Cruz. On April 11, a mans body was found rolled down a hill off State Route 9, a highway that runs through Santa Cruz County near Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. The Santa Cruz County coroner identified the man as Oliver Waterfall, 24, of San Jose, who had been killed by a gunshot. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Nearly nine years after Johnny Winters death, a battle for control of the legendary blues guitarists music is being fought in court with allegations of theft and greed flying back and forth. The legal fight pits Winters former personal manager and bandmate, Paul Nelson, against the family of the bluesmans late wife, Susan, who died in 2019. Winters in-laws say Nelson and his wife improperly took more than $1.5 million from Winters music business, including auctioning off some of the late musicians guitars. Nelson and his wife have countersued, saying Susan Winters siblings swooped in when she was medicated and dying of cancer and tricked her into giving them control of Winters music, stripping away Nelson's rights as the beneficiary of Susan Winter's estate. The case was scheduled to go to trial in a Connecticut court in April, but was rescheduled for September. At stake is ownership of Winter's music catalogue, proceeds from record and merchandise sales and authority to approve any commercial use of his songs, the value of which is uncertain. The case is about preserving Johnny Winters legacy and vindicating and making sure the Nelsons havent improperly taken the moneys rightfully owed to the plaintiffs, said Timothy Diemand, a lawyer for the Susan Winters siblings, Bonnie and Christopher Warford. Nelson wants to be reinstalled as the beneficiary of Susan Winters estate. The Plaintiffs orchestrated the wrongful termination of Paul Nelson during a difficult time in Susan Winters last year of life, the Nelsons said in a statement released by their lawyer, Matthew Mason. They said it was clear that both Johnny and Susan Winter wanted Nelson to be responsible for Johnny Winter's music and legacy. John Dawson Winter III was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He burst onto the world blues scene in the 1960s, dazzling crowds with his fast licks while his trademark long, white hair flew about from under his cowboy hat. He and his brother Edgar both born with albinism were both reknowned musicians. Winter played at Woodstock in 1969 and went on to produce albums for Blues icon Muddy Waters in addition to his own music. In 1988 he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the No. 63 best guitar player of all time in 2015. He released more than two dozen albums and was nominated for several Grammy awards, winning his first one posthumously in 2015 for Best Blues Album for Step Back. Nelson produced the album and also took home a Grammy for it. Winter, who spent two decades living in Easton, Connecticut, before his death, battled heroin addiction for years and credited Nelson, whom he met in 1999, with helping him get off methadone, according to the 2014 documentary Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty. Before he got clean, bandmates and friends said they were concerned because of his frail appearance and trouble talking. Nelson also credits himself with reviving Winter's music career. The Winters and Nelsons became good friends. Paul Nelson played guitar in Johnny Winter's band and started running his music company beginning in 2005. Nelson's wife, Marion Nelson, did bookkeeping for the Winters and the music business, according to legal filings in the lawsuit. Winter died at the age of 70 on July 16, 2014, in a hotel room just outside Zurich, Switzerland, while on tour. Susan Winter and Paul Nelson have said the cause of death was likely emphysema. Susan Winter was the sole beneficiary of her husband's estate, which she put in a trust in late 2016. She named herself as the trust's sole trustee and Nelson as the successor trustee, meaning he would inherit the rights to Johnny Winter's music after she died. But in June 2019, four months before her death from lung cancer, Susan Winter removed Nelson as the successor and replaced him with her sister and brother. The Nelsons allege in their lawsuit that Bonnie and Christopher Warford got control by lying to their sister, wrongly telling her the Nelsons were mismanaging the music business and her affairs. The Warfords' lawsuit accuses the Nelsons of improperly taking more than $1.5 million out of Winter's business under the guise of royalty income, commissions, reimbursements, fees, social media expenses and other mechanisms, while obfuscating and misrepresenting these dealings to Susan Winter. They have also accused the Nelsons of taking three of Winter's guitars, worth about $300,000 total, and selling them at auction without permission. The Nelsons deny the allegation. In short, this is the classic case of a manager taking advantage of an artist-client, and worse here, an artists surviving family," Diemand wrote in a legal filing. It's not clear why Edgar Winter, a noted musician in his own right, was not involved in his brother's estate after his death. Edgar Winter and his representatives did not return phone and email messages seeking comment. The Warfords' lawsuit is similar to one the Winters filed against Johnny Winter's former manager Teddy Slatus for alleged financial wrongdoing around 2005. Slatus died in late 2005. It's not clear what happened with the lawsuit. Johnny and Susan have been battling lawsuits all their lives, and still cant rest in peace, said Mary Lou Sullivan, who wrote a biography titled Raisin' Cane: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter published in 2010. Both the Warfords, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nelsons, of Weston, Connecticut, declined interview requests by The Associated Press. Tucked under the canopy of Cook pines, the wood-framed Hotel Lanai is considered the Hawaii islands budget hotel. But although it may be overshadowed by fancier options like Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Sensei Lanai, it has something that neither of its posher cousins has, a direct connection to the islands past and its days as the worlds largest pineapple plantation. Built in 1924, Hotel Lanai was once the Dole Club House, meant to privately house management employees of Hawaiian Pineapple Company (HAPCO) and James Doles associates during visits to the island, the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center told SFGATE in an email. At that time, life on the island was very different than it is today. James Dole, the president of Hawaiian Pineapple Company, bought Lanai for $1.1 million in 1922, and the island became the largest pineapple plantation in the world, responsible for growing 75% of its pineapples. Lanai City, a small town of approximately 3,000 people, was surrounded by pineapples and the majority of those who lived there worked on the plantation. Its a time that is looked back on fondly by Lanai residents, though issues sometimes arose between the managers and the laborers. Many of Lanai Citys buildings still in use today once served a function during that era. One was the housing quarters for single men; another was once a plantation managers home. Hotel Lanai The Dole Club House continued to serve as employee housing until the 1950s, when Hawaiian Pineapple Company determined it should be developed as a hotel for the general public, the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center noted in the email. Hotel Lanai then became the first hotel on the island. It was the only place for visitors to stay until 1991. Wallace and Ethel Au were the first to operate the hotel under its original name, Lanai Inn. Newspaper articles at the time sometimes described it as more of a boarding house than a hotel. When Dole asked us to take over a dozen years ago, we were young and hadnt too much to lose if we went broke, Wallace Au told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in a 1964 article. Newspapers.com Back then, the rates were $22 for a double room, including three meals. The Aus did all the cooking, and it wasnt uncommon for guests to join the couple in the kitchen to socialize. Our plantation ways tickle the tourists who come to Lanai, Ethel Au said in a 1966 Honolulu Star-Bulletin article. But they get used to them after a while, because most of them are repeaters. They even get used to the 4:30 whistle. Thats 4:30 A.M. The whistle told the plantation workers of the town that they needed to work that day. I tell the tourists, When you hear the whistle, roll over and go back to sleep, she added. The Aus ran the hotel for 15 years. Since then, the hotel has changed its name a couple of times, from Lanai Inn to Lanai Lodge, and finally to Hotel Lanai with a number of different operators along the way, the Lanai Culture & Heritage Center said in the email. The restaurant has had different names as well and has been helmed by different chefs. Hotel Lanai Hotel Lanai has modernized quite a bit since its early days. Larry Ellison bought the hotel in 2014 after acquiring the majority of the island and its two resorts, Four Seasons Lanai and Sensei Lanai. Prices for Hotel Lanai now run in the mid-$300s per night, compared to the $1,000 to $2,000 per night rates at Four Seasons and Sensei. The lower rate brings together visitors with residents of Lanai and its neighboring islands. There are only 10 guest rooms and one large restaurant. That gives the hotel less of a resort feel and more of a casual and friendly atmosphere. Located at the heart of the island, Hotel Lanai, and its dining options throughout the years, have been a mainstay and a gathering place in the community, said Erin Atacador, manager of Hotel Lanai, in an email. Families come to celebrate special occasions and residents come to unwind throughout the week. Hotel Lanai Today, Hotel Lanais restaurant is called Lanai City Bar & Grill. The menu, created by chef Christian Page, is new American with salads, burgers, pasta, chicken and steak, along with specialties like Lanai axis deer and Parker Ranch beef. The restaurant aims to stay local, using only Hawaii-caught fish, while some of its greens are sourced from Ellisons Sensei Farms. Dessert includes a number of delicious options, but the pineapple upside-down cake with vanilla ice cream is a delicious nod to the islands history and the hotels link to that past. Currently Reading Alert: Texas sheriff says search area widened for suspected gunman who killed 5 neighbors, may still have a weapon MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minneapolis police arrested a man suspected of setting two fires that damaged mosques in the city last week as part of what the chief called an attempt to inflict terror onto our Muslim community. Police Chief Brian OHara announced the arrest of 36-year-old Jackie Rahm Little early Sunday but didnt provide details of how he was apprehended. He was charged with second-degree arson after the fires were set on April 23 and 24 and an arrest warrant was issued. 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, OHara said in a statement Sunday. Leaders with the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations praised the arrest after the fires that had unnerved the Muslim community in the area. This arrest brings some relief to our community, which has been on edge for the past week, said Jaylani Hussein, the group's executive director. We hope to learn more about the suspects motivations and any potential accomplices who may have incited these attacks on our houses of worship. One fire was set last Monday on the third floor of the Mercy Islamic Center. The center houses the Masjid Al Rahma mosque. The criminal complaint against Little states that surveillance footage showed him entering the center carrying a bag with a gasoline can inside. A short time later, a staff member spotted a fire near offices. It was extinguished before it could spread very far. The other fire was Sunday night in the bathroom of the mosque in the 24 Somali Mall. Worshippers extinguished the fire. The two mosques are less than a mile apart. OHara had said earlier that the department suspected the same person was responsible for that blaze. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) Paramedics summoned to an Arizona retirement community last summer found an 80-year-old woman slumped inside her mobile home, enveloped in the suffocating 99-degree (37 C) heat she suffered for days after her air conditioner broke down. Efforts to revive her failed, and her death was ruled environmental heat exposure aggravated by heart disease and diabetes. In Americas hottest big metro, older people like the Sun Lakes mobile home resident accounted for most of the 77 people who died last summer in broiling heat inside their homes, almost all without air conditioning. Now, the heat dangers long known in greater Phoenix are becoming familiar nationwide as global warming creates new challenges to protect the aged. From the Pacific Northwest to Chicago to North Carolina, health clinics, utilities and local governments are being tested to keep older people safe when temperatures soar. Theyre adopting rules for disconnecting electricity, mandating when to switch on communal air conditioning and improving communication with at-risk people living alone. Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and its suburbs are ground zero for heat-associated deaths in the U.S. Such fatalities are so common that Arizonas largest county keeps a weekly online tally during the six-month hot season from May through October. Temperatures this year were already hitting the high 90s the first week of April. A WARMING WORLD Phoenix really is the model for what well be seeing in other places, said researcher Jennifer Ailshire, a native of the desert city now at the University of Southern California's Leonard Davis School of Gerontology where she studies how environmental factors affect health and aging. The world is changing rapidly and I fear we are not acting fast enough to teach people how harmful rising temperatures can be." A 2021 study estimated more than a third of U.S. heat deaths each year can be attributed to human-caused global warming. It found more than 1,100 deaths a year from climate change-caused heat in some 200 U.S. cities, many in the East and Midwest, where people often dont have air conditioning or are not acclimated to hot weather. Another study showed that in coming decades dangerous heat will hit much of the world at least three times as hard as climate change worsens. Isolated and vulnerable, the heat victims last year during Maricopa County's deadliest summer on record included a couple in their 80s without known relatives, an 83-year-old woman with dementia living alone after her husband entered hospice care and a 62-year-old Rwandan refugee whose air conditioner broke down. While most of the county's confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths were outdoors, those who died indoors were especially vulnerable because of isolation, mobility issues or medical problems as outside summertime highs hit 115 degrees (46.1 C). Older people of color, with a greater tendency for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are especially at risk. In Chicago, three African American women in their 60s and 70s died in spring 2022 when the centrally controlled heating in their housing complex remained on and the air conditioning was off despite unseasonable 90-degree weather in mid-May. An undetermined number of older people died during the summer of 2021 when an unexpected heat wave swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Canada reported that coroners confirmed more than 600 people died from the heat in neighboring British Columbia. CHECKING ON OLDER PEOPLE Many U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have plans to protect people during heat waves, opening cooling centers and distributing bottled water. But many older people need personalized attention, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, who directs the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. If you are elderly and sick you are unlikely to get into an Uber or bus to get to a cooling center, said Bernstein, who vividly recalls a 1995 heat wave that killed 739 mostly older people in Chicago, his hometown. So many were socially isolated and at tremendous risk. Sociologist Eric M. Klinenberg, who wrote about the catastrophe in his book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, has noted social contacts can protect older people during disasters. Older people are more prone to live alone," he said, "and they are the most likely to die. That's true of all extreme weather. When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, around half of the 1,000 people killed were 75 or older, most of them drowned when their homes flooded. Chicago encourages residents to check on older relatives and neighbors on hot days and city workers visit people's home. But last year's deaths at a Chicago apartment house shows more is needed. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS CAN HELP Bernstein's center is working with relief organization Americares to help community health clinics prepare vulnerable patients for heat waves and other extreme weather. A "climate resilience tool kit" includes tips like making sure patients have wall thermometers and know how to check weather forecasts on a smart phone. Patients learn simple ways to beat the heat, like taking a shower or sponge bath to cool off and drinking plenty of water. Alexis Hodges, a family nurse practitioner at the Community Care Clinic of Dare in coastal North Carolina, said rising temperatures can cause renal failure in patients with kidney problems and exacerbate dehydration from medications like diuretics. Hodges contributed to the climate kit from a region that experiences all the weather events it covers: extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. At the nonprofit Mountain Park Health centers that annually serve 100,000 patients in greater Phoenix, nurse practitioner Anthony Carano has written numerous letters to utility companies for low-income patients with chronic conditions, asking them not to turn off power despite missed payments. This is such an at-risk population, Carano said of the overwhelmingly Latino patient population that suffer from diabetes and other ailments aggravated by warm weather. About one-tenth of the patients are 60 and older. Francisca Canes, a 77-year-old patient visiting for back pain, said she's fortunate to live with two daughters who take care of her during hot spells. In the summertime, she stays in shape by joining several women friends at 4 a.m. most mornings for a 4-mile (6.4 kilometers) walk. AIR CONDITIONER REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR Maricopa County in April used federal funds to to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, brining total funding to $13.65 million. In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can apply for free repair or replacement of air conditioners through a separate non-profit program. The Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living last summer ensured about 30 people got new air conditioners or repairs and helped others with home improvements. Priority goes to older people, those with disabilities and families with very small children, who are also vulnerable to the heat. A person living alone must earn $27,180 or less, said Laura Simone, program coordinator for FSL Home Improvements. The program recently installed energy efficient windows in the 1930s home of 81-year-old widow Socorro Silvas. I am so grateful they are taking care of low-income people like me, said Silvas, who got her air conditioner in the middle of a sweltering summer several years ago through a program run by Tolleson, a suburb west of Phoenix. Utility companies can also help protect vulnerable people by halting power disconnections during hot periods. In Arizona, air conditioning is a matter of life and death, especially if you are older, said Dana Kennedy, the state director of AARP, which has fought for stricter regulations preventing summertime power cutoffs. STRICTER REGULATIONS New rules for Arizona utilities were adopted after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in August 2018 at her Phoenix area home as outside temperatures reached 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius). The medical examiner's office said Pullman died from environmental heat exposure combined with cardiovascular disease after her power was shut off over a $176.84. debt. The Arizona agency that regulates utilities now bans electricity cutoffs for nonpayment during the hottest months. After the three Chicago women died last year, residential buildings for older people in the city now must provide air-conditioned common areas and administrators no longer have to keep centrally controlled heat on during unseasonably warm weather. The Illinois state Senate recently passed legislation requiring that all affordable housing have air-conditioning operating when the temperature is 80 degrees (26.6 C) or higher and must be operable by residents. Kennedy said mobile homes are especially dangerous as high temperatures transform them into a hot metal containers. A lot are not insulated, said Kennedy, who has advised an Arizona State University group working to make mobile homes safer with more surrounding shade and on-site cooling centers. These heat deaths truly are heartbreaking. But in many cases we can help prevent them. ____ This report was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations and The John A. Hartford Foundation. SOMEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA - About six months ago, Will Wilkerson was the executive vice president of operations for former president Donald Trump's media business, a co-founder of Trump's Truth Social website and a holder of stock options that might have one day made him a millionaire. Today, he is a certified barista trainer at a Starbucks inside a Harris Teeter grocery store, where he works 5:30 a.m. shifts in a green apron and slip-resistant shoes, making Frappuccinos for $16 an hour. "It's an honest day's work," he says, sitting near the flower kiosk of the supermarket in a North Carolina suburb, which he asked not be named due to fears of harassment. "I love what I do." Wilkerson, 38, has become one of the biggest threats to the Trump company's future: a federally protected whistleblower whose attorneys say has provided 150,000 emails, contracts and other internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and investigators in Florida and New York. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 1 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Matt Ramey Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Matt Ramey Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Photo for The Washington Post by Matt Ramey Show More Show Less 5 of 5 Wilkerson last year publicly accused Trump Media and Technology Group of violating securities laws, telling The Washington Post he could not stay silent while the company's executives gave what he viewed as misleading information to investors, many of whom are small-time shareholders loyal to the Trump brand. The company fired him shortly after, saying he had "concocted psychodramas" but not responding to the specifics of his claims. This month, the company's chief executive, the former Republican congressman Devin Nunes, sued Wilkerson for defamation in a Florida circuit court, claiming he had been subjected to "anxiety," "insecurity," "mental anguish" and "emotional distress" as a result of Wilkerson's comments. Wilkerson's whistleblowing case has gained little of the attention the other legal challenges facing the Republicans' presumptive presidential nominee have gotten, including the criminal charges Trump faces related to hush money payments to the adult-film actress Stormy Daniels. But his testimony and trove of records have challenged the main engine of Trump's post-presidential business ambitions, a venture that once commanded multibillion-dollar valuations with lofty promises to overtake the titans of American tech. The company's attempt to merge with a financial outfit known as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, has been frozen for months due to a pending SEC investigation that predates Wilkerson's public comments and has blocked the company's ability to unlock a critical source of cash. The SPAC, Digital World Acquisition, said in an SEC filing last month that it had replaced its chairman and chief executive, Patrick Orlando, and was facing "unprecedented headwinds." Orlando's termination came one week after The Guardian cited Wilkerson's testimony in a report alleging that federal investigators were examining whether $8 million in investments had violated money-laundering rules. Orlando did not respond to requests for comment. The Post provided a detailed summary of this story to Trump Media and Digital World, seeking comment. Trump Media spokeswoman Shannon Devine said in a statement, "This report lazily regurgitates already discredited hit pieces, defamatory allegations, and false statistics about Truth Social's record levels of traffic," without addressing any specific claims. Digital World's interim chief Eric Swider said The Post's reporting contained "several material inaccuracies" but declined to say what they were. On Truth Social, the social network where Wilkerson posted Trump's first "truth" last year, he is regarded as a Judas-like traitor and pasted into memes showing his head on the body of a snake. But at Starbucks, he said in an interview, almost no one seemed to know anything about the whole ordeal. He explained his situation to one person, his direct supervisor, who he said is a "very sweet lady, but she doesn't really understand the legal system in the United States, you know, and what that means." One recent morning, the woman told a Post reporter that Wilkerson is "nice" and "calm" and pointed to a printout that suggested the cafe's customer-service ratings had gone up since he'd begun. "Obviously, I don't shout from the rooftops here about my past history and my whistleblower status," Wilkerson said. Many of his co-workers are still in high school. Sometimes, though, he can't prevent the two parts of his lives from intersecting. When he recently had to ask for a week off, Wilkerson told his store manager he needed the time because he was a witness in a federal investigation. ("Sounds serious," the man replied, as Wilkerson recalled, before penciling him in.) If the SEC takes action against Trump's company and eventually collects sanctions, Wilkerson could be eligible to make millions of dollars through the agency's whistleblower reward program, depending on the amount of assessed penalties. But such payouts are far from guaranteed, and it's unclear whether it'll make up for the money he lost by speaking out. Wilkerson's lawyers, Phil Brewster, Patrick Mincey and Stephen Bell, argue that his firing was corporate retaliation, which is prohibited by U.S. law. The early hype of Trump Media had made it into a financial blockbuster. An initial public offering raised $300 million for Digital World, while a group of private investors pledged another $1 billion. Investors had sent the stock price of the SPAC soaring to a high of $175 on the strength of its proposed merger with Trump Media. In September, shortly before Wilkerson's firing, Forbes magazine had estimated that Trump's stake in Trump Media was his "single most valuable asset," worth roughly $730 million. In the months since, the venture's value has nosedived. Each Digital World share is now worth about $13. In a financial disclosure filing this month, as required by his new presidential candidacy, Trump said Trump Media was worth between $5 million and $25 million and that his income from it had been less than $200. Still, the former president and his allies have declared Truth Social a resounding success. Nunes, the former Republican congressman who now is Truth Social's CEO, said in an interview this month that the site is "blowing up the status quo," and Trump said in a "truth" this month that it has allowed him to "get the word out like never before. As soon as I 'speak' on Truth, the WORD immediately spreads everywhere. MAGA!" But the company, which had told investors it would reach 50 million users by 2024, appears to be only a fraction of the way there, according to the site's own publicly visible follower data. Truth Social's global traffic last month fell to roughly 7 million visits, 40 percent below its August peak, according to estimates from the online analytics firm Similarweb. For comparison, the video site Rumble had 169 million visits in March, and Twitter had more than 6.6 billion. Though Trump posts to the site at all hours, his Truth Social audience has grown only slightly in the past six months, from 4 million to 5 million - a tiny fraction of the 87 million who followed him on Twitter before he was banned after the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump's Twitter account was reinstated in November after Elon Musk's takeover, raising anxieties among Truth Social investors that he would race back to tweeting as the 2024 presidential campaign heats up. So far, however, Trump has remained true to Truth Social, despite it being only the 2,479th most popular website in the United States, according to Similarweb - viewed less often than the animal-news blog The Dodo, an AARP games webpage and, as Jimmy Kimmel noted on his late-night show, a website for photos of celebrities' feet. Wilkerson grew up in Los Angeles, where his grandfather, Billy Wilkerson, had been a controversial legend: The founder of the Hollywood Reporter, and owner of some of the Sunset Strip's most famous nightclubs, he had been a chief instigator of the anti-Communist Hollywood blacklist of the 1950s that came to define America's red scare. Will Wilkerson got into the L.A. music scene and, after high school, promoted nu-metal bands like System of a Down, helping send around stickers and swag. The work led him to odd jobs at radio stations along the Pacific Coast and, ultimately, to a producer role at the syndication company Premiere Networks, where he met Andy Litinsky and Wes Moss, two former contestants on "The Apprentice," the competition-reality show where Trump was host. The three men, Wilkerson said, had kept in touch over the years, trading business ideas. When they met one weekend in Atlanta to hammer out a proposal for a portable milk-frothing device they'd called the Super Shaker Latte Maker, Litinsky said he had a better idea: using the then-novel financial maneuver of a SPAC to fund a media company that could capitalize on Trump's post-presidential fandom and fame. Wilkerson helped draft the company's first plan for "Trump's New Media Empire," and he was part of the team that pitched Trump over cheeseburgers at Mar-a-Lago, his opulent Palm Beach estate, three weeks after the insurrection. They promised Trump an online platform where he would never be silenced, canceled or fact-checked. What's more, Wilkerson said, they offered him 90 percent of the company without him having to invest a single cent. (Trump's recent disclosure filing confirmed he still owns 90 percent.) Inside the company, Wilkerson said he became a "Swiss Army knife," tackling the start-up's many financial and technical demands as it sealed a partnership with Digital World, patched together a social network and navigated Trump's unpredictable temper. "One day, you know, he would be in a very, very happy mood," Wilkerson said. "The next day he would read something in the paper and just yell, just be livid. That's who we were dealing with." By last summer, Wilkerson's own feelings on the company had soured, and he'd begun to worry that the same small-time investors the founders had counted on were now at serious risk. He alerted the SEC to his concerns via a whistleblower tip form in August, then spoke with The Post and the Miami Herald for stories published in October. Trump Media fired Wilkerson shortly after learning he'd spoken with a Post journalist, saying he'd made "unauthorized disclosures" to The Post. Over the next few months, Wilkerson said he sent out hundreds of job applications, hoping to find something in tech or radio but never getting past the first few calls. He suspects the drama around his whistleblowing - and the company's attacks on his integrity - might have persuaded employers to stay away. In December, running out of money and options, he applied at Starbucks and got a call back the next day. Though he'd listed his Trump Media executive role on his resume, he suspects it was his past barista experience, at a Whole Foods coffee-juice bar in L.A. in his 20s, that got him the job. Trump Media, meanwhile, has faced its own struggles. Digital World said in an SEC filing Wednesday that it is cooperating with investigations by the SEC and the Department of Justice as well as an inquiry from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority related to events from before the SPAC declared its intention to merge with Trump Media in 2021. Finra declined to comment. With its Trump Media deal frozen by the pending investigation, Digital World blew through its initial one-year merger deadline, leading the SPAC to try and fail several times to schedule shareholder votes to extend the deadline. Without those votes, the SPAC has forced to borrow millions of dollars from its sponsor, ARC Global Investments II, to keep the deal afloat, SEC filings show. Trump Media has also begun pushing for help from Washington. In February, the company's general counsel, Scott Glabe, a former Homeland Security official in the Trump administration, wrote a letter urging top Republicans in Congress to investigate the SEC for its "egregious conduct and blatant politicization" in delaying the company's merger, saying the "endless investigation . . . clearly constitutes an unprecedented attempt to kill the deal without any finding of wrongdoing." After the Guardian's report that federal prosecutors in New York were examining $8 million in Trump Media investments, CEO Nunes sued Wilkerson, the Guardian and a Florida journalist who had covered the story, saying Wilkerson's goal had been "defaming Nunes" and that the report made Nunes "appear odious, ridiculous and contemptible." Nunes' lawsuit argues that the journalists had published "statements that were a product of their imagination" and that "the entire story is fabricated." Wilkerson contends that he has documents supporting key claims in the report, including the allegation that the $8 million had come from a family trust with no public profile and a bank in the Caribbean island of Dominica. Wilkerson said his fellow executives inside the company had been uneasy about the loans because Orlando, who had helped facilitate the transfer, had declined to offer any detailed information about its origins. In one March 2022 email, which Wilkerson has shared with investigators and The Post, Trump Media's chief financial officer, Phillip Juhan, said that the company had no contact information for anyone at the family trust more than a month after the money had been transferred. The Trump Media spokeswoman was asked about this email but did not address it in her statement, and Juhan did not respond to a request for comment. A few days after the report, Digital World announced in an SEC filing that its board of directors had "terminated" Orlando as its chairman and CEO and installed a new management team to help "restore confidence" to its roughly 400,000 shareholders across 30 countries. Digital World, which lists the address of its executive offices as a UPS store in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood, said in a filing this month that it is now paying for office space in Humacao, Puerto Rico, owned by the consulting firm managed by Swider, the SPAC's interim chief. An address listed in the letter corresponds to a gated community inside the sprawling coastal resort of Palmas del Mar. The cost, $15,000 a month, also covers "secretarial and administrative support," Digital World told the SEC. In its filing this week, Digital World said it had accrued more than $17 million in debts by the end of last year, up from $480,000 at the end of 2021, and that its cash on hand had dropped from more than $327,000 to about $989. The SPAC also said it needed to complete the merger or seek further extensions by June 8 or its "existence will terminate," in which case it would be required to return the money to shareholders. In a filing, the company said it "cannot assure shareholders that there will be sufficient funds" for the purpose of paying for its own liquidation costs or outstanding bills, and that the money in its trust account could "become subject to the claims of our creditors which would have higher priority than the claims of our public stockholders." Digital World's unpaid debts could end up rolling onto the small-time, Trump-loving investors if the deal falls apart, said Michael Ohlrogge, a law professor at New York University who researches SPACs. "The vast majority of SPACs just don't rack up these kinds of expenses . . . and the shareholders could be in some danger of getting pursued by the unpaid vendors," he said. "It could be an interesting and somewhat fitting end for Trump's SPAC: that it ends in failure and liquidation and sticks its shareholders - presumably many or most of whom are his political supporters - with the bill." Wilkerson said he still looks at Truth Social sometimes, where he has a special "verified" account with 38,000 followers, and feels a pang of sadness about the way things turned out. He said he has sent messages to Litinsky and Moss, whom he still regards as friends, but has yet to get a response. The men did not respond to separate requests for comment from The Post. Wilkerson says he enjoys Starbucks: He gets to talk to nice people, likes his co-workers and doesn't have to worry about Trump screaming at him through the phone. "I'm proud of what I do, no matter what it is," he said. "Nothing's beneath me." After a Post journalist took photos of Wilkerson at work last week, though, some of his co-workers began Googling his name and coming up to congratulate him and cheer him on. "Now most of the store knows my story," he said. Wilkerson expects detractors will say that he's gotten what he deserved. On Truth Social, the user "Gi_Bill1962," who says he is a Trump supporter and Digital World shareholder, posted a recent "truth" saying, "The backstabbing @Will Wilkerson thought he was gonna have his 15 minutes of fame!" alongside three crying-laughing emoji. But Wilkerson said he doesn't regret trying to protect shareholders by sharing information that, had he said nothing, "would have probably never seen the light of day." "I made the conscious decision. I knew the risks . . . especially in regards to retaliation. But I don't think I could have sat back and stayed quiet, even if I was compensated handsomely for doing so," he said. "I'm here and I'm not going away. . . . Ultimately, you know, I just want to do what's right." HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) An Alabama judge has rejected a former police officers claim that he should be immune under self-defense laws from a new trial on murder charges. William Ben Darby, whose 2021 murder conviction was overturned in March by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, had asked for a hearing to determine whether Alabama's stand your ground law should shield the former Huntsville officer from a second trial. Madison County Circuit Judge Alan Mann ruled against the motion Tuesday without elaborating. Darby was on duty in 2018 when he shot and killed Jeffrey Parker, who was holding a gun to his own head. Parker had phoned 911 saying he was armed and planned to kill himself. Darby was sentenced to 25 years in prison after a jury convicted him. A different judge ruled Darby was not immune under self-defense rules before the original trial. But his lawyers said that ruling needs to be reconsidered after the appeals court ruled the trial judge should have given jurors different instructions on evaluating the reasonableness of Darbys use of deadly force in that situation. If the trial court applied the wrong self-defense standard at trial, then the trial court presumably applied the wrong standard at the immunity hearing, too, lawyers Robert Tuten and Nick Lough argued in their April 13 motion. Darbys defense attorneys have maintained the shooting was justified because he feared Parker would harm officers. Alabama's self-defense law says officers are justified in using deadly physical force when they believe it necessary to defend themselves or others from what they reasonably believe to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. Trial testimony indicated Darby shot Parker, who was sitting on a sofa holding a gun to his head, within seconds of entering the home. Another officer had been speaking with Parker trying to convince him not to kill himself, according to trial testimony. She and a third officer on the scene testified at trial that they did not perceive Parker to be an imminent threat, although he was holding a gun. It would later be determined that Parker was actually holding a flare gun that had been painted black but there is no evidence indicating that any of the officers knew that, the appellate court wrote. Video from Darbys body camera showed the officer entered the home and told Parker to put the gun down before shooting. Darby was released from prison April 13 and is scheduled to be retried Dec. 11. KHARTOUM, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Sunday announced their commitments to a new 72-hour humanitarian truce, effective as of midnight Sunday. "Based on the endeavors and request of the Saudi-American mediation, the Armed Forces agreed to extend the truce for extra 72 hours, to begin at the end of the current one," the army said in a statement. The army expressed hope that the other party would abide by the truce. For its part, the RSF said in a statement on Sunday that "in response to international, regional and local calls, we declare an extension of the humanitarian truce for an additional 72 hours, starting today midnight." The RSF said that it agreed to the truce extension to open humanitarian passages, facilitate the movement of the citizens and enable them to get their needs and reach safe areas. The statement stressed the RSF's commitment to the terms of the humanitarian truce and complete ceasefire. Also on Sunday, Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority said the closure of the country's airspace will be extended to May 13. Flights for humanitarian aid and evacuation are excluded after obtaining a permit from related authorities and the approval of the Sudanese Armed Forces. Sudan has been witnessing a large-scale evacuation of foreign nationals and diplomats by air, land and sea since the eruption of the deadly clashes between the army and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas on April 15. So far, the clashes have left more than 500 people dead and over 4,000 others wounded, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. NEW BRITAIN State officials say they have suspended the liquor license of a popular bar near the campus of Central Connecticut State University for serving alcohol to minors and breaking other rules. Elmers Place, an East Street fixture, has been barred from selling liquor between June 30 and July 4 as part of the punishment, according to the state Department of Consumer Protection's Liquor Control Commission. EAST HAVEN After spending nearly five decades trying to identify her, police want to speak to anyone who knew Patricia Newsom, who was found strangled and wrapped in a tarp in a ditch in 1975. But the detectives will have to cast a wide net, spanning from the Sullivan County area of New York to Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut, Philadelphia and Idaho, where her family once lived, to find people who may have information about what led to her killing, East Haven Police Capt. Joseph Murgo said. "It's just starting," Murgo said of the investigation into who killed Newsom. "It's a 48-year-old case and we are going to have some challenges." In 2020, Murgo and Capt. David Emerman reopened the case of a Jane Doe found bound and gagged in a ditch near the old Bradlees on Aug. 16, 1975. Their work, including two exhumations at a Hamden cemetery in 2022, paid off on April 10 when they were notified a DNA match had been found for the woman who was left naked with a rope around her neck and a bag over her head. She had been dead about five to seven days based on the rate of decomposition, Murgo said. "This case highlights the importance of never giving up," East Haven Police Chief Edward Lennon said during a news conference announcing the 1975 Jane Doe was Newsom. Murgo's detectives are now looking for leads to help solve how Newsom ended up dead in East Haven two years after running away from a boarding school in the Monticello area of New York in 1973. The man who East Haven police long considered a suspect in the case, Glenn Askeborn, also known as Samantha Glenner, died in October 2022, Murgo said. He served prison time for a similar murder of a woman in Maine and was living in East Haven when Newsom's body was found, police said. Newsom's sister, Maryann Collette, who was instrumental in helping East Haven police identify her, was only 9 years old when she disappeared, Murgo said. Her parents and two older brothers have died, Murgo said. "We want to talk to anyone who knew her at all," Murgo said. "Although it may be the smallest detail that seems insignificant, it may help us in the investigation." After Newsom was identified through the DNA her sister uploaded to GEDmatch, Murgo and his detectives learned the family had moved to Philadelphia from Idaho in the 1960s. They went on to live in New Jersey. Newsom's mother died in 1968 and her father re-married, Murgo said. By 1972, Newsom was sent to a New York boarding school in Sullivan County, her sister told police based on accounts from other family members, Murgo said. In 1973, Newsom ran away way from the school, supposedly with a friend to Maine, and her family never heard from her again, Murgo said. Murgo said police do not know the name of the school or the friend she may have run away with in 1973. He said police also don't know what happened to the friend or if she turned out to be a Jane Doe herself. Murgo said it's also unknown whether Newsom ever reached Maine or where she was in the two years leading up to her death. "We just want to find out what the circumstances were leading to her death, that's paramount to bring closure to her family," Murgo said. "But we are being realistic in what we can do." 'Hero of the story' Some people connected with the case have died, he said. "People are getting older and one of the challenges is finding people with relevant information who are still alive," Murgo said. There wasn't even a photo of Newsom as a 16- or 17-year-old because she had no contact with family since 1973, Murgo said. She would have been about 15 when she ran from the boarding school and is about 14 in the photo her sister provided to police. It doesn't appear that family members gave DNA to national databases until 2021 when Collette also created a NamUs profile for her sister on the website that allows people to search for missing persons and human remains that have been found. "She's the real hero of the story," Murgo said of Collette. At the same time, Murgo and detectives were trying to figure out how to get DNA from their 1975 Jane Doe who had been buried in the State Street cemetery in Hamden about a year after her body was found. The cemetery had fallen into disrepair with no association to provide upkeep and records were incomplete about who was buried there, Murgo said. Former New Haven Police Sgt. Tony Griego who had been interested in the case for years was able to connect Murgo with the family who had been the caretakers for the cemetery. "I got a call one day from Capt. Murgo asking if I knew where she was buried," said Griego, who lives minutes from the graveyard. Through a Hamden Facebook group, Griego located a man who married into the family that had cared for the cemetery. He agreed to come to Connecticut to aid in the search for her grave. They thought they had found the right grave in early June 2022, but their first attempt at exhumation uncovered the wrong person. "We were devastated to find out it wasn't her," he recalled. A chaplain was around and a new casket was available to hold a somber vigil for the man before he was buried again. The map of the cemetery didn't reflect that so many people were buried close together or even on top of one another, Murgo said. "We knew we had come this far, we weren't giving up," Murgo said. The next time they went to the cemetery, a member of the U.S. Agriculture Department used ground penetrating radar to find the 1975 Jane Doe who was finally exhumed on July 1, 2022. The department submitted her DNA samples to Identifiers International, which found a match with what Collete submitted to GEDmatch in 2021. Collette and the East Haven Police Department were notified in early April that her sister had been located after 48 years. "I always knew in my heart that she was gone," Collette said during the April 17 news conference. "I always knew." Anyone with information on the life or death of Patricia Newsom can contact Capt. Joseph Murgo at jmurgo@easthavenpolice.com Staff writers Peter Yankowski and Meghan Friedmann contributed to this story. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Voters in Louisiana mostly approved extending dozens of taxes to pay for school and local government operations on Saturday, but voters in low-turnout elections in New Orleans, Alexandria and some other jurisdictions rejected levies. Voters in all or parts of 21 parishes ratified taxes. But Orleans Parish voters overwhelmingly shot down a property tax increase to underwrite jail operations, with 91% of voters rejecting the plan, according to unofficial results. It was a stinging defeat for Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who took office a year ago promising to improve jail operations. "Tonight did not go as we had hoped, but it in no way diminishes the financial needs of the Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office," Hutson said in a statement, noting that the department still needs to raise pay for deputies and make the jail safer to end court oversight. Elsewhere in the state, Alexandria voters refused to renew a property tax for another 20 years. It was projected to collect $5 million a year for road, infrastructure and downtown projects. The city had warned such a vote would lead to poorer service. St. Tammany Parish voters refused to renew a property tax to fund the coroners office. Parish Coroner Charles Preston said that the $7.8 million yearly tax was needed to provide death investigations, sexual assault examinations and DNA tests. Some parish officials argued the tax was unneeded because the coroners building is almost paid off and the agency has $10 million in the bank, The Times-Picayune of New Orleans reported. Voters in Concordia Parish also rejected a property tax for the coroners office, as well as a property tax to build and improve fire stations. They agreed to renew a smaller tax for parish government. Natchitoches Parish voters spurned a 10-year-long property tax extension to fund parish libraries, roads and bridges, but approved a $3 million-a-year property tax for public school construction and a $2 million-a-year tax for hospitals and ambulances. A $65 million bond for Ruston schools was rejected in Lincoln Parish, while voters living in the parish's Simsboro school zone narrowly approved a bond issue. Voters in Morehouse Parish vetoed a $6 million bond issue for local schools to be paid for by a property tax increase, while those in St. Helena Parish refused both a sales tax and a property tax for schools. Voters in Winn Parish rejected a property tax increase for schools, a levy that was projected to raise more than $750,000 a year. Voters narrowly approved continuing an existing, smaller property tax for schools. Voters in Sabine Parish unhappy about the condition of local roads recalled Police Juror Jeff Gilligan Davidson by an overwhelming margin. SAN FRANCISCO - Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey issued his sharpest criticism yet of Elon Musk's leadership of Twitter on Friday, saying Musk has not proved to be the platform's ideal steward - and should have walked away from buying the site. The criticisms and explanations came in a series of reply posts Friday night on the fledgling social network Bluesky, a potential Twitter rival that Dorsey helped to start. The remarks illustrate how Musk's erratic leadership has disillusioned a onetime friend and powerful ally, reflecting a growing backlash against a tumultuous tenure that has sent advertisers fleeing and users searching for alternatives. Dorsey said he thought Musk, the Tesla CEO who serves in the same role at Twitter today, should have paid $1 billion to back out of the deal to acquire the social media platform. The comments are a stark reversal from Dorsey's strong endorsement of Musk's takeover, when he wrote a year ago that if Twitter had to be a company at all, "Elon is the singular solution I trust." "I trust his mission to extend the light of consciousness," Dorsey tweeted at the time. In his remarks on Bluesky on Friday, Dorsey struck a far different tone. Dorsey said he didn't think Musk "acted right" after pursuing the site and realizing his potential mistake, adding that he did not believe the company's board should have forced the sale. "It all went south," Dorsey added. Musk did not respond to a request for comment on Dorsey's remarks. Musk appeared on Friday night's "Real Time With Bill Maher" on HBO, and spoke on topics including his time in charge of the company, a recent meeting with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), and his concerns about rhetoric coming from the political left. "It was on a fast track to bankruptcy," Musk said of Twitter. "So I had to take drastic action. There wasn't any choice." Musk took over Twitter in October after amassing a sizable stake in the company in early 2022, accepting - then reneging on - a board seat, and ultimately mounting a hostile takeover attempt in April. He offered $54.20 per share, valuing the company at $44 billion. The Twitter board accepted Musk's buyout by late April, commencing a deal that would take the company private. The terms of the deal included a $1 billion penalty, known as a "breakup fee," should Musk decide to back out. (Experts have noted Musk could have owed an amount well beyond the $1 billion fee if he broke the agreement.) Soon after the agreement, Twitter's valuation fell significantly as economic pressures weighed heavily on the company and Tesla's stock, the latter sharply reducing Musk's net worth. Musk announced his intention to back out of the deal, and Twitter sued Musk to force him to complete the acquisition. After a months-long court battle, which included a countersuit by Musk, Musk and Twitter agreed to proceed with the deal in October, which was finalized later that month for $44 billion. Musk's tenure as Twitter boss has been marked by steep job cuts, an intense work environment and a wholesale overhaul of the site's user experience. Twitter has leaned heavily into a subscription model and curated feeds that aim to show users content with which they are more likely to engage. Since Musk's takeover, Twitter's staff has been reduced by around 80 percent. Dorsey previously apologized for growing the company "too quickly" after Musk embarked on layoffs that reduced the company by around 50 percent. Since then, he has criticized Musk's decision-making at times, taking to Twitter to express his disagreement with Musk's renaming of the site's "Birdwatch" feature to "Community Notes," for example. Dorsey rolled over his $1 billion stake in Twitter into Musk's privatized Twitter, The Post previously reported. In his posts on Friday, Dorsey did not take responsibility for Musk's acquisition of the company, arguing that "every company is for sale to the highest bidder" and the board had no choice but to accept his offer. "Was I optimistic? Yes," Dorsey said. "Did I have the final say? No." Once Musk tried to back out, Dorsey added, "I wish the board would not have forced the sale. Maybe there was a chance, but now we'll never know." As for Musk's decision to ultimately complete the purchase rather than pay a $1 billion penalty to terminate it, Dorsey said, "I think he should have walked away and paid the $1b." Bluesky is part of a project, initiated by Dorsey when he was still Twitter's CEO, to build a "decentralized" social media system, in which no single person or company controls the experience. While Twitter has invested in Bluesky, it is now a separate company with its own CEO. In recent days, it has been rapidly attracting high-profile Twitter users, some of whom have become disenchanted with the platform under Musk. Responding to a post in which a user said "It's pretty sad how it all went down," Dorsey replied simply: "Yes." FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) Two U.S. Army helicopters that crashed last week in Alaska, killing three soldiers, collided over a rugged, mountainous area, and there were no weather issues or visibility problems at the time, an Army spokesperson said Sunday. The two AH-64 Apache helicopters were returning to Fort Wainwright from an aerial gunnery range southeast of Fairbanks when they collided. WINNIPEG - Connor McClennon scored three goals and added an assist as the Winnipeg ICE defeated the visiting Saskatoon Blades 6-2 on Saturday to grab a 2-0 lead in their Western Hockey League Eastern Conference final series. Zach Benson, Owen Pederson and Matthew Savoie (empty-netter) also scored for the ICE, who won Friday's opener 3-0. Savoie also chipped in with two assists. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Research on a flat spot for air evacuations. Talk of old-style civil defense sirens to warn of fast-moving wildfires. Hundreds of urban firefighters training in wildland firefighting techniques while snow still blankets the ground. This is the new reality in Alaska's largest city, where a recent series of wildfires near Anchorage and the hottest day on record have sparked fears that a warming climate could soon mean serious, untenable blazes in urban areas just like in the rest of the drought-plagued American West. The risk is particularly high in the city's burgeoning Anchorage Hillside neighborhood, where multi-million dollar homes have pushed further and further up steep slopes and to the forest's edge. Making the challenge even greater is that many of these areas on the Hillside home to about 35,000 people have but one road in and out, meaning that fleeing residents could clog a roadway or be cut off from reaching Anchorage at all. The prospect of a major wildfire there keeps Anchorage Fire Chief Doug Schrage awake at night when conditions are hot and dry. Ive characterized this as probably the single largest threat to the municipality of Anchorage, he said. Schrages city fire department is adept at fighting blazes in buildings. But as Anchorage has grown, the available land is higher up, where wild and urban areas intersect, and those fires are very different from what his firefighters are trained to combat. The city also has limited wildfire equipment, and its nearly impossible to get a fire engine up some switchback roads to homes nestled high up mountains. Our strategy is basically to put as many resources as we have on duty on a small fire so that we can keep it contained while waiting for assistance from the Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection, Schrage said. This spring, 360 city firefighters are training on wildland firefighting tactics like using water hoses to create a line around the perimeter of a fire and the city is encouraging homeowners to participate in a program to identify hazards like brush and old trees that would feed a fire before it's too late. In one hilly neighborhood, a community council is researching locations for a makeshift helipad that could be used for air evacuations. That same small neighborhood with but one road in and out has also discussed installing sirens to warn residents on the city's wooded fringes of fire danger and hopes to build a database of all residents for emergency communications. As much as you wouldnt want to do it ... its like rolling the dice on being alive or dead, said Matt Moore, who fled his home in 2019 lest he be trapped on the wrong side of the flames on the single road. Such precautions common in parched and fire-prone states like California and Colorado are relatively new in Anchorage in the face of increased fire risk fueled by global warming. The city reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) four years ago, the citys hottest temperature on record, and it's had five significant wildfires over the past seven years that were all extinguished before causing much damage. Still, the U.S. is headed into an El Nino year this season, which traditionally means a bigger fire year and further raises concerns, said Brian Brettschneider, a climate scientist with National Weather Service, Alaska Region. More than 4,844 square miles (12,546 square kilometers) burned statewide last year an area just under the size of Connecticut. Since 1950, there have been 14 years in which more than 4,687 square miles (12,139 square kilometers) the equivalent of 3 million acres (1.2 million hectares) have burned during Alaska's short but intense fire season. Half of those fire seasons have occurred since 2002, including the worst year on record 2004 when over 10,156 square miles (26,304 square kilometers) burned. From his home high above Anchorage in 2019, Moore saw the black smoke billowing from a fire miles away in a heavily wooded area of the city. He gathered his pets and important papers in his vehicle his wife was already safe in Anchorage and drove 5 miles (8 kilometers) down the only road serving the roughly 600 neighborhood residents to safety. "Thankfully, they started getting it under control, he said. For now, both the city and Schrage's fire department are focused on keeping things under control implementing as many preventative measures as possible. The city department has removed evergreen trees and reduced brush in strips of 100 feet (30 meters) next to neighborhoods to help contain any future fires and Anchorage has cleared trees and other hazards in parks and along greenbelts. Firefighters have also conducted inspections at people's homes to identify fire hazards such as firewood kept too close to their homes or too much vegetation on their property all in hopes of preserving homes, livelihoods and the community in a time of growing climate uncertainty. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) More than a half million of the poorest Americans could be left without health insurance under legislation passed by House Republicans that would require people to work in exchange for health care coverage through Medicaid. It's one of dozens of provisions tucked into a GOP bill that would allow for an increase in the debt limit but curb government spending over the next decade. The bill is unlikely to become law, though. It is being used by House Republicans to draw Democrats to the negotiating table and avoid a debt default. Democrats have strongly opposed the Medicaid work requirement provision, saying it won't incentivize people to get a job and will drive up the number of uninsured in the country. Here's a look at how the proposal might save taxpayers money but cost some Americans access to health care coverage. WHO WOULD BE REQUIRED TO WORK? The work requirements say able-bodied adults ages 19 to 55 who don't have children or other dependents would be required to work, train for a job or perform community service to stay on Medicaid. They would have to put in at least 80 hours a month to stay on the government-sponsored health care coverage. About 84 million people are enrolled in Medicaid, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates 15 million would be subject to the requirement. The Health and Human Services Department, however, predicts millions more about a third of enrollees altogether would be required to work. WHY ARE WORK REQUIREMENTS CONTROVERSIAL? Republicans say the move would help push Americans into jobs that eventually might put them in a position to move off of government aid. The requirements would also be more equitable for those who are working to support their families, said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. That single mom thats working two or three jobs right now to make ends meet under this tough economy, she doesnt want to have to pay for somebody whos sitting at home, Scalise said. Democrats argue that work requirements could unfairly push people out of Medicaid, too. Some people were wrongly kicked off Medicaid in Arkansas when the state briefly introduced work requirements, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told lawmakers. In some cases, people were not required to work but didn't fill out the required paperwork. It's not just people who are subject to the requirements that often get caught up in red tape," she said. It can often be people who are exempted. About 1 in 4 people who were required to work lost coverage during Arkansas' experience with work requirements in 2018. Work requirements can put Medicaid enrollees in a bind. While no one has been kicked off Medicaid over the last three years because of the pandemic, that changed in April when the federal government required states to review income eligibility for all enrollees to see who now makes too much money to qualify for the health care benefits. People who picked up work, earned a small raise or switched jobs are finding that those new incomes could soon cost them coverage. Amy Shaw, 39, of Rochester, New Hampshire, lost her family's Medicaid coverage in April because of her husband's 50-cent raise to $17 per hour at an auto parts store. Shaw wouldn't be subject to the GOP's work requirement because she has two daughters, but the family's case illustrates how modest incomes can push people out of Medicaid coverage and cost them big time. Suddenly, instead of a $3 copay, she was billed $120 for a cancer screening ordered by her doctor. Meanwhile, their rent increased by 40% since the pandemic started, and the cost of food, utilities and other essential have gone up. It just seems like the system is set up so that you dont want to go back (to work) because you lose more than you gain, Shaw said. It makes me not want to go and get my mammogram and my colonoscopy. I dont even want to go to these appointments because its going to cost so much money." HOW MUCH WOULD THE REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL SAVE? That largely depends on how many people who would be required to work opt not to or don't fill out the proper paperwork to remain covered. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the requirements would save $109 billion over the next decade. Those savings would come in two ways: from about 600,000 people who would be dropped from Medicaid, then 900,000 who would lose federal funding for their Medicaid, but remain enrolled in the program through their state. That analysis also says the bill would do little to improve employment among Medicaid enrollees. WHAT'S NEXT? The House GOP bill won't pass a Democratic-controlled Senate or be signed into law by President Joe Biden in its current state. But don't expect the issue of work requirements and trimming Medicaid benefits to go away anytime soon. The number of people enrolled in Medicaid has ballooned in recent years, growing by more than 20 million since 2020. If you ask Democrats, that's a great thing they've pointed to the record low uninsured rate that's given more people access to medical care. Democratic-led states have also pitched new ways to expand Medicaid under the Biden administration, granting more access to recently released convicts and new mothers, for example. Republicans, however, want to scale back safety net programs to pre-pandemic levels. And, Republicans in some states are already trying to implement work requirements of their own. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders asked the federal government to OK a proposal that would move anyone who doesn't comply with work requirements off Medicaid's private insurance to traditional fee-for-service Medicaid. ___ Associated Press writers Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Kevin Freking and Lisa Mascaro in Washington contributed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) The long-governing Colorado Party remained the dominant force of Paraguayan politics as the vote count from Sunday's election gave an overwhelming lead to its presidential candidate, Santiago Pena, with nearly all votes counted. With almost 99% of voting places reporting, Pena had 43% of the vote, compared to 27% for the closest challenger, Efrain Alegre, the candidate of the Pact for a New Paraguay, a broad-based opposition coalition that had hoped to end Colorado's reign. Voters also gave support to Colorado in congressional elections, with the conservative party winning majorities of 45 seats in the Senate and 80n seats in the lower house. The opposition had sought to capitalize on widespread discontent over high levels of corruption and deficiencies in the health and education systems that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paraguay has a relatively stable economy, but with high levels of poverty. Outgoing President Mario Abdo Benitez called Pena president-elect in a congratulatory message on social media before a winner was officially declared. He also congratulated the Paraguayan people for their large participation in this election day. Pena celebrated a showing that would make him Paraguay's president on Aug. 15 while waiting for an official declaration of final results. Today we're not celebrating a personal triumph, we're celebrating the victory of a people who with their vote chose the path of social peace, dialogue, fraternity, and national reconciliation, Pena told a crowd of supporters Sunday night. Long live Paraguay! Long live the Colorado Party!" Alegre acknowledged defeat shortly thereafter. Today, the results indicate that perhaps the effort we have made was not enough, Alegre told reporters, adding that divisions among the opposition "prevented us from reaching the goal of being able to bring about the change that the majority of Paraguayans are asking of us. Before the vote, analysts had said the race looked to be tight and predicted Alegre could have a chance of unseating South Americas longest-governing party, which has essentially ruled Paraguay uninterrupted since 1947. An unexpected result, very unexpected. I think even the Colorado Party members are shocked by such a wide margin, political consultant Sebastian Acha said. It gives him enormous legitimacy due to the size of the difference and that makes Penas victory indisputable. Yet the preliminary returns seemed to indicate voters in preferred to stay with the familiar, a break for a region in which the incumbents have not done well in recent elections. Paraguay doesnt have a runoff, so whoever of the 13 candidates received the most votes would be the next president. The results also appeared to mark a victory for former President Horacio Cartes, who governed in 2013-2018, who the U.S. State Department recently accused of being involved in significant corruption as well as having ties to terrorism. He has denied the allegations. Cartes, a local magnate who is also the president of the Colorado Party, is a powerful figure in Paraguayan politics and members of the opposition had characterized Pena as a frontman for Cartes to hold power. Cartes stood next to Pena as he gave his celebratory speech Sunday night. I want to be a tool for you, Cartes told Pena during the celebrations. I want you to be sure that the Colorado Party is going to be your best tool. Pena was finance minister in the Cartes government and, until recently, a member of the board of Banco Basa, a local bank owned by the former president. The election in this country of almost 7 million people also had geopolitical implications as Paraguay is the only remaining country in South America to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and those ties became an issue in the campaign. Alegre had called for the landlocked country's relationship with Taiwan to be reviewed, saying they are too costly. Pena defended Paraguays relationship with Taipei, but said he would seek more trade with China, without explaining how that would come about. We have a diplomatic and historic relationship with Taiwan of more than 60 years, based on principles and democratic values that we believe are fundamental for a society like Paraguay, Pena said. The Taiwanese Embassy posted a message on social media congratulating president-elect Pena. Congratulations to the Paraguayan people, who showed the world the democratic power of citizens through their votes, the embassy said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also didn't wait for the winner to be officially declared to congratulate Pena. Good luck in your mandate, the Brazilian wrote on social media. "We will work together for even better and stronger relations between our countries, and for a South America with more unity, development and prosperity. Alegre, a lawyer who heads the Liberal party, the second-largest political force in Congress, was making his third bid for the presidency, though this time he represented a mix of political parties. Penas presidential campaign was hampered by U.S. sanctions on Cartes for alleged bribery and ties to Hezbollah, which Washington designates as a terrorist group. The sanctions blocked Cartes from the U.S. financial system and cut off funding and loans for the partys campaign. Cartes was the financing chief of the Colorado Party. The cash box was left empty, said Diego Abete Brun, a political science professor who heads the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies program at George Washington University. He had expected a close contest. Pena called the accusations against Cartes groundless, while Alegre sought to turn the claims against the Colorado Party. Our adversary is not the Colorado Party but the dirty money of organized crime," Alegre told reporters. There appeared to be a big turnout Sunday with long lines at polling stations. Some people complained of delays and difficulties with the electronic voting system. DAR ES SALAAM, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian health authorities said on Saturday that an 18-month-old child has died of Marburg virus disease (MVD) in the northwestern region of Kagera. The death of the child brought to six the number of patients killed by the disease since its outbreak in the region on March 21, 2023. It was announced in a statement by Minister of Health Ummy Mwalimu when she released an update on the disease. The minister said the child belonged to a woman who had been diagnosed with the disease and was undergoing treatment in an isolation center. Mwalimu said since the disease outbreak on March 21, nine cases have been reported, of which three patients recovered and six, including the child and a health worker, died. She said 211 of the 212 people who were put under isolation were released after being monitored for 21 days and found not to be affected by the disease. Mwalimu said the government was observing guidelines by the World Health Organization (WHO) on monitoring epidemics, including the MVD. She said the government will announce total control of the disease after 42 days since the last suspected patient tested negative as per WHO guidelines, adding that the date will be May 31, 2023. Mwalimu thanked people who were involved in controlling the MVD outbreak, including health workers, case management teams, contact tracing teams, and dignified burial teams. She urged health workers across the East African nation to observe infection prevention and control guidelines. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Chinese authorities were preparing Sunday to release a man who disappeared three years ago after publicizing videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies during the COVID-19 outbreak, a relative and another person familiar with his case said. Fang Bin and other members of the public who were dubbed citizen journalists posted details of the pandemic in early 2020 on the internet and social media, embarrassing Chinese officials who faced criticism for failing to control the outbreak. The last video Fang, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, posted on Twitter was of a piece of paper reading, All citizens resist, hand power back to the people. Fang's case is part of Beijings crackdown on criticism of Chinas early handling of the pandemic, as the ruling Communist Party seeks to control the narrative of the country. He was scheduled to be released Sunday, according to two people who did not want to be identified for fear of government retribution. One of them said Fang was sentenced to three years in prison for picking quarrels and provoking trouble," a vague charge traditionally used against political dissidents. The Associated Press could not independently confirm his release and could not confirm the details with the authorities. Two offices of Wuhans public security bureau did not provide a phone number of their information office or answer any questions. Phone calls to a court that reportedly sentenced Fang rang unanswered on Sunday afternoon. A woman from another court that had reportedly handled Fangs appeal said she was not authorized to answer questions. In early 2020, the initial COVID outbreak devastated the city of Wuhan, home to 11 million residents, in central Chinas Hubei province. Under a 76-day lockdown, its streets were deserted for months, apart from ambulances and security personnel. At that time, a small number of citizen journalists tried to tell their stories and those of others with smart phones and social media accounts, defying the Communist Partys tightly policed monopoly on information. Although their movement was small, the scale was unprecedented in any previous major disease outbreak or disaster in China. But the information they posed soon got them into trouble. Fang and another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, disappeared in February. Chen in September 2021 resurfaced on his friend's live video feed on YouTube, saying he had suffered from depression. But he did not provide details about his disappearance. Another citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who also had reported on the early stage of the outbreak, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of picking fights and provoking trouble in December 2020. About eight months later, her lawyer said she was in ill health after staging a long-running hunger strike. _____ Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) Pakistani police arrested two Muslim clerics for allegedly raping a 10-year-old boy in a religious school in eastern Punjab province, officials said Sunday. Chaudhry Imran, a spokesman for the Khanewal district police, said the attack happened Saturday when the boy's uncle went to visit his nephew and arrived to find him being raped by a cleric in a side room of the school while another cleric waited. Imran said a complaint was filed by the boy's uncle alleging the 10-year-old was abused by two clerics in the seminary where he has been studying for the last year. Imran said police did an initial investigation and then arrested two suspects. He said the boy was admitted to a local hospital suffering trauma and physical injuries. The Associated Press does not identify people who say they have been sexually abused. Police would not allow an AP reporter to seek comment from the two clerics citing an ongoing investigation. The two men had not yet found legal representation, police said. Child sex abuse in Pakistans religious schools is prevalent and complaints from parents and relatives rarely lead to the arrest of accused religious clerics. An investigation by The Associated Press in May 2020 found dozens of police reports alleging sexual harassment, rape and physical abuse by Islamic clerics teaching in madrassas, or religious schools, throughout Pakistan. Many of the students who study in the madrassas are poor. Many families, overcome by shame and fear that the stigma of being sexually abused will follow a child into adulthood, choose instead to drop the charges or are often coerced into forgiving clerics. The heads of HSBC are facing a major public standoff with those of its shareholders who are keen to break up the lender. Those include its largest shareholder, Chinese insurer Ping An, which has been pushing for a spin off of its lucrative Asian business and which has redoubled its efforts in recent weeks. Ping An is expected to vote for two proposals from a group of angry Hong Kong retail investors calling for a regular strategy review and a higher dividend. - The Financial Mail on Sunday Government's windfall tax on UK oil and gas companies is exceedingly counterproductive. Just over a year ago, North Sea producers were being charged 30% tax plus a supplementary 10% levy. Since then, the tax on North Sea profits has jumped to 65% and now 75%. Yet the sector employs 25,000 while oil and gas meets about three quarters of the UK's total energy needs. Furthermore, North Sea energy involves less carbon emissions than relying on gas drilled in the US and Qatar. The country is also facing triple-digit deficits for years to come. So what is needed is not sky-high taxes but pro-growth policies that would in turn make the debt more manageable. - The Sunday Telegraph Hundreds of pension funds have been asked by the Pensions Regulator to look into whether the details of millions of people fell into the hands cybercriminals from abroad as a result of the hack at Capita. The outsourcer's IT systems process the pensions of roughly 4.5m people and could potentially leave them exposed to scams or phone calls from unscrupulous investment companies. The company was also a provider of consulting services to 150 pension schemes in the UK. - The Sunday Times Workers in Britain were increasingly more likely to continue working into their 70s, a study published on International Workers' Day found. Faced with the cost of living crisis, older people were being left with scant choice but to do so. The number of people 70 or older who were still working last year jumped by 61% in comparison to 2012 to reach 446,601. The majority are males but women haven seen the largest increase. That however is likely the result of the gradual equalisation of pension ages between 2010 and 2020. - Guardian John Lewis will reduce the size of its headquarters in central London by over half in response to the thousands of its staff working from home. The plan to change offices next year however is not driven by a desire to cut costs, according to insiders, but simply a reflection that half of its office space at that location was now not being used with entire floors having been closed off completely. - The Sunday Telegraph A 41-year-old man was sentenced Friday in Brooklyn federal court to 21 years in prison for sex trafficking multiple victims by force, fraud, and coercion, prosecutors said. United States District Judge LaShann DeArcy Hall handed down the sentence to Joseph Harris, of Brooklyn, also known as Luis Santana, and Joey Moscato. From July 2017 until his arrest in May 2018, Harris used violence and threats of violence, along with abusive and coercive tactics, to compel multiple victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial benefit, prosecutors detailed. The defendants crimes were exposed when NYPD officers responded to several 911 calls about girls being held at his apartment in Brooklyn. Officers found two of the defendants adult victims along with a 16-year-old minor female, and recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, hand-written instructions written by Harris for posting advertisements for commercial sex, among other things. A subsequent investigation revealed that Harris used force and threats to compel his victims to work in prostitution and give him the money that they were paid, according to a press release. He also punished women who withheld money from him and, in at least on one dispute over money, dragged a victim through a pool of bleach he had poured on the floor. On another occasion, he threatend a victim at gunpoint and posted a photograph of it on his Instagram account. Harris had sexual intercourse with his victims, including underage girls as young as 14, and provided them with drugs, said officials. The defendant allegedly used Backpage.com and social media websites to facilitate his business. Chinese authorities allegedly are preparing to release a man who publicized photos and videos of overcrowded hospitals and dead bodies during the COVID-19 outbreak three years after his disappearance, sources told the Associated Press. In early 2020, Fang Bin and other citizen journalists embarrassed the Chinese government by posting details of the pandemic on the internet and social media. Chinese officials faced backlash for failing to control the outbreak, according to AP. In Bins last post three years ago on Twitter was a video of a paper reading, All citizens resist, hand power back to the people. The report says Bin was scheduled to be released Sunday from his prison stint stemming from charges of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, according to two people who did not want to be identified for fear of government retribution. The Associated Press could not independently confirm his release and could not confirm the details with the authorities. RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news >> NYPD: Missing Staten Island man, 26, was last seen on Amboy Road in Great Kills >> Still a Superhero, Rossville resident turns a whopping 104! Her secret? Be positive. Dont worry about the small stuff! >> From Kmart to go-kart: Former retail site now home to indoor racing track, says New Jersey report >> A restaurant finally comes full circle | Pamelas Food Service Diary >> These safeguards could prevent Staten Island election cheating | Our Opinion STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool has been found to accurately identify cancer, potentially speeding up diagnoses of the disease and improving patient outcomes. The algorithm, designed by experts at the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust, the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Imperial College London, was first reported by The Guardian. It was found to outperform current methods, said a study published in the Lancets eBioMedicine journal, adding to a growing body of research highlighting the positive potential impacts of AI on the medical field. The latest study took CT scans of around 500 patients with large lung nodules and used those images to extract data that helped inform the model to make difficult observations. Using a metric called area under the curve, the researchers put the model to the test against other common methods. A score of 1 is considered perfect, while a tally of 0.5 is equivalent to randomly guessing. The new AI algorithm scored 0.87 higher than other established tests, the report said. According to these initial results, our model appears to identify cancerous large lung nodules accurately, Dr. Benjamin Hunter, a clinical oncology registrar at the Royal Marsden and a clinical research fellow at Imperial College London, told the Guardian. Next, we plan to test the technology on patients with large lung nodules in clinic to see if it can accurately predict their risk of lung cancer. Researchers said the method still had to undergo additional testing before it could be used in healthcare settings. However, its promising findings signal hope for the eventual routine use of AI in speeding up cancer diagnoses. The World Health Organization said cancer causes 10 million annual deaths, though many instances of the disease can be cured if they are detected early and treated quickly. Previous research found AI could be effective at helping doctors detect breast cancer, sharpening the ability of health care professionals to detect potentially dangerous spots on mammograms. Through this work, we hope to push boundaries to speed up the detection of the disease using innovative technologies such as AI, the studys chief investigator, Dr Richard Lee, said in the report. COLOMBO, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed officials from the Ministry of Technology to form a presidential task force of experts and prepare a concept paper to promote usage of artificial intelligence in the country, the President's Media Division (PMD) said on Sunday. During a recent discussion, the president highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence in various fields, including agriculture, education, health, fisheries, and industry, according to the PMD. Noting that the current annual contribution to Sri Lanka's gross national income through computer and information technology is around 1.9 billion U.S. dollars, Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of taking prompt actions to increase artificial intelligence's contribution to the economy in the coming years. The president said that only 2,500 engineers are produced in Sri Lanka every year, suggesting that the country should aim to produce at least 10,000 engineers to meet the demands of the digital age. The world is progressing with artificial intelligence, and it is crucial for Sri Lanka to focus on this technology and invest in it, the president said, adding that the private sector needs to be involved in this initiative. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A large population of deer have typically been the culprit for the survival and transportation of ticks on Staten Island but what about other animals that call the borough home, like turkeys? Staten Island is well-known for having swarms of two animals deer and turkeys. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), deer are one of the most important sources of blood for ticks. Ticks can also live on turkeys, but they may not be a concern for residents, an expert recently told the Advance/SILive.com. They can carry ticks, though studies have found the number of ticks are limited, and they typically dont include adults, which are essential to propagate tick populations, said Maria Diuk-Wasser, professor of ecology at Columbia University. Also, turkeys can consume ticks on them through grooming. According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, turkeys can and sometimes carry ticks, but not to the level often perceived by the public. In a number of studies, researchers found that turkeys produce a net zero impact as a common host for ticks. Turkeys ate almost all ticks in their larval and nymph stages during its self-cleaning. Diuk-Wasser noted that one study even found that turkey blood kills the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. In contrast, deer are not infected with Lyme, but can still spread ticks that carry the disease. So its very unlikely turkeys have an effect on tick populations, Diuk-Wasser explained. The bird carries few ticks, can groom the insects off their bodies, and arent good at transmitting the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. When asked if people should watch for turkeys just as much as deer, Diuk-Wasser said no. Residents should continue to protect themselves against tick bites and tick-borne illnesses. The disease-spreading parasites cause thousands of illnesses in New York each year, and the state Health Department recently warned of greater tick activity as the weather gets warmer. Ticks thrive as temperatures and humidity increase, but bites can occur any time their environment is above freezing. TIPS TO PROTECT AGAINST TICKS Here are some tips to protect you and your family against ticks: Wear long sleeves and pants when spending time in and around long grass. Tuck pant legs into socks. Wear white or light-colored clothing so its easier to spot ticks. Shower shortly after returning from the outdoors. Ticks can enter the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later. The CDC suggests examining pets, coats, and day packs. Tumble dry clothes in a dryer on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on dry clothing after you come indoors. Damp clothing may need additional time. The CDC recommends using an insect repellent that contains 20 percent or more DEET or picaridin on exposed skin. Use products that contain permethrin on clothing. Insect repellents with one of three active ingredients DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus and picaridin were found to be effective by Consumer Reports Best Insect Repellent Buying Guide. There are also ways to keep your yard tick-free, like keeping a neat woodpile and mowing your lawn. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. In todays world, young victims of bullying have very few places to escape. The destructive behavior can take place anywhere, from physical spaces to cyber spaces. So what can be done to educate young people and parents about the potentially devastating results of intentionally cruel behavior? The Advance/SILive.com spoke to Staten Island experts, educators and families of victims about this critical topic. This story is the third in a series that explores bullying and its impact, guides both parents and students, and highlights the need for change. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. As she continues to mourn her young son, former Staten Islander Maureen Fitzpatrick dreams of a world in which students are taught to think with their heart. West Brighton resident Danny Fitzpatrick was only 13 when he took his own life in 2016 after reportedly being bullied. And Fitzpatrick, who became an anti-bullying activist after her son died, said she feels it is critical that what students need to learn in school right along with reading and writing on a daily basis is emotional intelligence. Were not taught how to handle emotions in an appropriate way, she said, expressing a surprising sympathy for Dannys alleged abusive taunters and others like them. Do the kids know?, she asked. I dont think theyre in full awareness. I do think they have an understanding that its cruel, but do they understand the depths of what they are doing? AN URGENT PLEA Now, she said she is begging Staten Islanders to help change that by putting their own experiences in writing and sending them off to Congress in support of federal anti-bullying legislation that will address not just a reaction to bullying, but a plan to stop it before it happens. They need to experience in words the truth about whats going on in the education system, she said. Its being ignored. I need it sent to federal senators, so it gets brought to the Senate floor. Outside of school, on social media platforms, people are just ripped apart, she said. People have to stand up and have the courage to do the right thing. Dannys Law, named after Danny, would create an anti-bullying roundtable comprised of education stakeholders, including teachers, guidance counselors, psychologists, parents and bullied children. The legislation was introduced by former Rep. Max Rose in 2020 and was passed by the House in September of that year, but it is currently stalled in the Senate. An earlier version of the legislation, which garnered bipartisan support in the lower chamber of Congress, was introduced by former Rep. Dan Donovan during his time in office. The members of the roundtable would be required to send Congress a report with recommendations on how schools and parents can most effectively educate students so that bullying is prevented. Fitzpatrick explained shes asking anyone whos ever experienced or witnessed bullying in school to write a heartfelt letter. Its the only way legislators will take the situation seriously, she said. I NEED THOUSANDS OF LETTERS I need thousands of letters to be sent, because thats whats going to get [the legislators] attention, she said, noting that form letters and marches havent been effective in the past. About one in five high school kids has reported being bullied, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Letter writers have the future in their hands, Fitzpatrick said. They need to realize they have the power to make change early in a childs life, she added. The recent deaths of Vera Marie Appedu, who took her own life on Dec. 1, 2020, at age 14 amid reports of being bullied, and her mother, Stephanie Stile, a friend of Fitzpatricks who was vocal about the need to educate Staten Islanders about bullying before ending her own life on March 6, highlight the desperate need for that change, Fitzpatrick said. Even more recently, Carol Doodian-Russos son, Nicholas, 20, a student at the College of Staten Island (CSI), took his own life just last month in his familys West Brighton home. Doodian-Russo said hed been blocked on social media by friends in the hours before his death. She said that legislators need to become involved in spreading awareness, and she added she plans to join Fitzpatrick in her crusade in the coming months. JUST THE BEGINNING Dannys Law is just the beginning, Fitzpatrick conceded, as much more needs to be done to educate children about the damage that bullying, whether physical or emotional, can do. But she said she hopes it will get the ball rolling, drawing national attention to an issue long ignored. This bill is not the end-all and be-all, she said. Its going to take time, but its a start. She hopes to see emotional intelligence curriculum mandated, so students understand the power of their words, she said. They do it once a year, only in assemblies, she said. This is something that needs to be taught on a consistent basis. Maureen Fitzpatrick, left, is shown with the late Stephanie Stile in this family photo shared with the Advance. Stile took her own life after her daughter's suicide, which was linked to bullying. (Family Photo) Fitzpatrick is asking Staten Islanders to write to Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, whom she said she believes offers the best chance of giving the issue consideration. Though state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-South Shore) told the Advance/SILive.com that he supports Dannys Law, Fitzpatrick said her pleas to his office and the office of state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) have not garnered a response. Ive done all I could in New York, and nobody is opening the door, Fitzpatrick told the Advance/SILive.com, noting that because its a federal law, it doesnt matter which senator the writers address. Lanza said he remains committed to providing resources that will combat bullying in all forms, both in and outside the classroom. Ive long advocated for a comprehensive approach to providing teachers, students and parents with the resources and support needed to foster a safe learning environment, he said in a statement provided to the Advance/SILive.com. There is a direct link between the school environment and student success. Additionally, good parenting is critically important for so many reasons, and parents have a responsibility to make sure they raise their children not to be bullies,' Lanza said, pointing to past state legislation hes supported aimed at combatting bullying, the most recent bill being passed by the Senate in 2018. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said there should be a zero-tolerance policy and consequences for bullying in New York City schools. The Adams Administration must reinstate stricter disciplinary actions for bullying and other bad behavior, which was diminished during de Blasios tenure as mayor, she said. Messages seeking comment from Rubio and Scarcella-Spanton were not returned at the time of publication. The law takes on even more significance in light of recent suicides on Staten Island that were allegedly linked to bullying, Fitzpatrick said. AN INSPIRATION FOR CHANGE It is my hope and prayer that if this law gets passed into federal law that it inspires other parents to rise and make change, she said. Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said bullying is a nationwide epidemic requiring nationwide action. Simply put, bullying is serious issue and tragically, in some cases, its life and death, he said. The district attorneys office holds an annual Stand Up. Stop Bullying contest and routinely meets with the boroughs principals, teachers and students to promote tolerance and kindness. But McMahon said more is needed to turn the tide, and he encourages his federal colleagues to support the passage of Dannys Law. Heartfelt letters from residents highlighting specific experiences with bullying will hold the most weight with legislators, said Fitzpatrick, who has moved from New York state and declined to name where she currently lives. She added shes been told by staffers of elected officials that the letters will have an impact. Speaking out is the only way to foster change, she said on the Dannys Law Facebook page she established to spread the word about the need for legislation to educate students about and prevent bullying. I believe it can help other families who have lost their children to bullying find the strength to stand up and speak out, she said. I believe it can encourage others to advocate to create change in other environments than the educational system. Though the law doesnt address high schools, Fitzpatrick said its written in a way that allows for modification down the line. MY HEART IS BREAKING Its something Janet Rosa, of Mariners Harbor, said she would like to see happen. Rosa was a good friend of Stile who has vowed to continue the fight against bullying in her friends memory. Were trying to be the voice of those whove committed suicide, Rosa said. Its not fair to these kids. My heart is breaking. My best friend is gone. She felt like she was silenced. She felt like she couldnt voice her opinion. Rosa said she agrees that letter writing is the best way to attract the attention of legislators. People doing peaceful marches and walks is not going to make the situation any better, she said. If youre writing letters, itll be more efficient, especially coming from children and parents. WHERE TO SEND LETTERS Letters to Rubio should be sent to: Sen. Marco Rubio, 501 E. Polk Street, Suite 601, Tampa, Fla., 33602. Letters to Lanza should be sent to Sen. Andrew J. Lanza, Room 413, Capitol Building, 172 State Street, Albany, N.Y. 12247. Letters to Scarcella-Spanton should be sent to: Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, Legislative Office Building, Room 617, Albany, N.Y. 12247. Editors note: The Staten Island Advance/SILive.com typically limits reporting on suicides to those that occur in public places, involve public figures or, in some circumstances, where there is a larger impact. If you are in need of help, please call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across the United States. Simply call or text 988. OTHER STORIES IN THE SERIES Its happening to 1 in 5 kids: What Staten Island experts want you to know about bullying They broke my kid: Grieving Staten Island mom takes her own life after daughters suicide linked to bullying Pretty soon, DoorDash could be raising its delivery prices if the city adopts a new pay rate for its workers, according to the New York Post. The city Department of Consumer and Worker Protection proposed a hefty hike pay for delivery workers on delivery services such as GrubHub, UberEats and DoorDash far beyond the $15 minimum wage, the report states. Under one of the plans, delivery drivers would be paid $33.27 per hour for time spent on an active delivery, while another plan would pay them $19.96 hourly for the total time spent online and delivering. In 2021, the City Council handed down a decision that delivery apps must pay their workers a minimum hourly wage, the report states. According to the article, the proposed rate would increase consumers cost of delivery by $5.18 per order, on average, as the apps pass the increased costs onto consumers. Sascha Owen, a DoorDash executive, explained that the extreme pay rate, $33.27 per hour for platforms selecting the trip time pay option, will result in unsustainable new costs for New York City consumers and hundreds of millions in lost revenue for local restaurants and businesses. City representatives told the Post that they were finalizing the rule and look forward to announcing soon. The payment changes would not go into effect until 2025, after an agreement is made, the report state. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The New York Police Department is asking for the publics assistance in locating a man who was last seen Thursday in Great Kills. Eljo Tasho, 26, of the Bay Street section of Clifton, was last seen leaving a Metro PCS retail location at the intersection of Amboy Road and Giffords Lane at 5 p.m., according to a written statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. Tasho is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and approximately 180 pounds, medium build, light complexion, with brown hair and eyes. He was last seen wearing a light blue hooded sweatshirt and glasses. Police reported him missing Saturday. Anyone with information in regard to this missing person is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/, or on Twitter @NYPDTips. It was reported to police that the Eljo Tasho was last seen on Thursday, April 27, 2023. RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news >> From a Viking helmet to a slushy machine: The strangest things Uber riders left behind this year >> In anti-bullying battle, mom of Staten Island teen who killed himself pushes for passage of Dannys Law >> Who will pay for all the handouts? (letter to the editor) >> A restaurant finally comes full circle | Pamelas Food Service Diary >> These safeguards could prevent Staten Island election cheating | Our Opinion Sebastian Maniscalco is performing at Atlantic Citys Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa for 10 performances from Nov. 9 to 18. Tickets are on sale now. Dubbed by The New York Times as the hottest comic in America, the stand-up, actor, podcast host and best-selling author will perform at the Event Center with his new show, Sebastian Maniscalco: Live in Atlantic City. Maniscalco has been taking time to focus on film and television projects, so the Atlantic City shows are the perfect opportunity for fans to see him perform live on the East Coast in 2023, according to Broadway World. The funnyman just wrapped up his Nobody Does This Tour, including a 10-show run at Borgata last November. Theres nothing like the crowds at our shows in New Jersey at the Borgata, shares Maniscalco. Even though Im from Chicago, I feel like theyve adopted me as one of their own. Sebastian Maniscalco arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "The Irishman" on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2019, at the TCL Chinese Theatre. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP To order tickets, click on desired date below: Thu, Nov 9, 2023 8:00 p.m. Fri, Nov 10, 2023 8:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 11, 2023 7:00 p.m. Sat, Nov 11, 2023 10:00 p.m. Sun, Nov 12, 2023 7:00 p.m. The non-believers can take a back seat. Meta Platforms year of efficiency is on track thanks to the dependability of its core businesses. The company said last week that its digital ad sales rebounded during the first quarter, buying Mark Zuckerberg more time as he continues to spend billions on the metaverse and on improving Metas use of artificial intelligence. Meta Platforms headquarters in Menlo Park, California. Credit: Bloomberg Now if hes serious about Metas growth for the long term, he should consider even more uncomfortable strategies besides job cuts and bigger investments in AI, which so far appear to be paying off. We are no longer behind in building out our AI, Zuckerberg told investors on a call on Wednesday. He spoke about introducing AI agents to billions of people, using them to improve customer service chats with businesses or to create ads. Supercharging ads will be his most important focus as he seeks to enhance Metas bread-and-butter business, which hasnt suffered the same fate as Twitters. Chevron discovered the Gorgon field in 1981, but gas was not produced for another 35 years. The PRRT deductions for millions of dollars spent on offshore drilling would have increased more than three-fold by the time the first revenue arrived in 2016. Deductions for exploration and the $US54 billion ($81 billion) construction cost jumped by about 7 per cent in 2022. No, that cost is not a typo; more on that soon. But why should deductions grow with time? The idea was to compensate the successful explorers for the risks of oil and gas exploration, where $100 million can be spent to find nothing, by allowing them to make some profit before paying for the resources extracted. Shells Prelude gas field off the Kimberley coast is just 20 kilometres from the Ichthys field run by Japans Inpex. Credit: Shell Under the mechanism, Australia gets less revenue for each project, but it incentivises greater exploration, which then translates to more projects and higher overall revenue. Unfortunately, the PRRT was designed with high-rate-of-return small oil projects in mind that often went from discovery to production in a few years, not decades. Complex gas export projects take much longer and the return on investment is lower. With these inputs, the PRRT calculation just does not produce a reasonable result. And it gets even worse when the projects cost more and run much longer than they should. Woodsides North West Shelf liquefied natural gas plant near Karratha has shipped the fuel to Asia since 1989 and has delivered ample government revenue for that gas because a royalty on all production was applied. The company then discovered the Pluto field in 2005 and exports the first to be subject to PRRT began just seven years later, an extraordinary achievement given the scale and complexity of what was built. Asia wanted more gas from Australia and the global gas giants rushed in. In just three years from 2009, four projects with an estimated cost of $US112 billion started construction. Competition instead of co-operation wasted ten of billions of dollars before construction began. Shells Prelude gas field off the Kimberley coast is just 20 kilometres from the Ichthys field run by Japans Inpex. Instead of a joint development, Inpex laid a 900-kilometre pipeline to Darwin and Shell built the worlds largest and most complex vessel to process the gas offshore. Further south, Chevrons Wheatstone field was similarly close to Woodsides Pluto, but the two companies could not agree to work together. The already stratospheric planned costs skyrocketed when construction on the separate projects began. The projects stretched resources not just in the WA construction market but in the Asian shipyards where much of the money was spent building vessels, platforms and giant modules of process equipment to be towed south and dragged ashore. High costs produced more PRRT deductions, delays allowed those deductions to grow, so the projects started with a gigantic, and still growing, pile of PRRT deductions. However, in 2017 then-boss of Chevron in Australia Nigel Hearne boasted of the supercharged return Australian taxpayers would reap from his company. Dont judge the PRRT on what has been generated in the first years of this LNG boom, judge it by the tax we will pay over the lifecycle of the projects, he said. Loading Chevron Australias 2022 accounts tell a somewhat different story. Accountants call the pile of PRRT deductions, which has to be exhausted before gas is paid for, a deferred tax asset (DTA). It is an asset because it reduces tax payments and deferred as it is used later. However, deductions that are not expected to be used cannot be recognised, and Chevron has $US14.6 billion of them. So with the assumptions signed off by the auditor at least one of Chevrons two projects subject to PRRT Gorgon and Wheatstone there is no tax to be paid. Shell, with interests in Gorgon and Prelude, is no different with its accounts showing unrecognised losses for PRRT of $US43.8 billion. Inpex has a relatively small unrecognised DTA of $US389 million for its Ichthys project and holds out some hope that if the investment performs better than expected some of the gas it extracts may be paid for in the final years of the project. Pluto, which was developed quickly, stands out as being likely to start paying PRRT in the upcoming years. Understandably, the industry defends the current mechanism. They claim any change would be a sovereign risk and scare off foreign investors. The reality is that revenue to Australia has suffered from corporate risk from the inept and costly development of the projects. In particular, future investment in oil and gas would be affected. However only one big project Woodsides Browse is on the horizon and any concession to that single possible project would slash revenue from the five current projects and two under way. It would also forego revenue to promote a huge and particularly emissions-heavy project that would operate well beyond the 2050 target for net-zero emissions. I am not an agent of foreign influence and any such suggestion is forcefully rejected, was Kevin 707s pro forma entry. SHOW US THE MONEY Claims of financial hardship among general practitioners are often met with scepticism by those forking out for gap payments, so just imagine if Australias family doctors opened up their books and let us all see for ourselves. Its a revolutionary idea, but Paul Wappett, chief executive of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, wants to means test the members to determine how much they should pay to belong to the club. The college is facing hard times, cutting 50 jobs, hiking membership fees by 4.2 per cent and casting around for other sources of revenue, all in an effort to nurse its ailing finances back to health. But its the proposal to examine its members incomes even non-medical earnings announced by email to members from Wappett last month, that has doctors talking. Wappett says the means test is a fairer way of determining what GPs many of whom work part-time should pay for their college membership than the hours spent at their clinics. But prominent GP Umair Masood who quit the college several years ago predicted the attempt to get doctors to bare their financial affairs to the college will prompt more walkouts. Wappett conceded on Sunday that the initial email hadnt been well-received and said another missive had gone out to members explaining that all the college was trying to do was to ensure anybody claiming a concessional membership was in the correct financial position to do so. ROLL MODEL Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and Vietnamese banh mi are two things not normally associated with the East African nation of Uganda. Malcolm Turnbull and the banh mi, taking over the world one sandwich at a time. Credit: Joe Benke And yet in distant Kampala, Turnbulls image is being used to sell the sandwich to Ugandans. A photo of Turnbull tucking into a banh mi during a trip to Vietnam for the 2017 APEC summit is displayed prominently in the Kampala sandwich shop, alongside pictures of a Miss Universe Vietnam winner and former US president Barack Obama. The humble banh mis takeover of Australian cities is well and truly complete, so it makes sense that the sandwich is now taking on the world. Still, were not really sure how Turnbull became the face of Vietnamese street food in East Africa, but the shop caught the eye of Amy Fallon, a former AAP journalist based in Uganda. According to her report, the owners of Banh Mi Vietnam liked that Turnbull had apparently enjoyed the food so much. And for a picture of a politician eating, Turnbull looks surprisingly normal adorning the restaurants walls. CASH NAB Newbie NSW Premier Chris Minns might just have cracked the secret to getting one of Australias big four banks to part with some of their carefully accumulated buckets of cash. At the launch of the Salvos Red Shield Appeal in Pyrmont on Friday, attended by NAB heavyweights CEO Ross McEwan and chairman Phil Chronican, and MCd by eternally irritating media personality Joe Hildebrand Minns beamed in to mention that the state would be tipping in $225,000 to the annual fundraising drive. Loading McEwan told the gathering that the banks philanthropic branch the NAB foundation had been slated to chuck in $100,000, to be matched dollar-for-dollar by donations from staff and customers. But when McEwan heard what the state was donating, he was a bit embarrassed and upped the ante to $150,000, which should result in $300,000 being raised. All very nice. But when you consider NAB is tipped to report a six-month profit of $4.16 billion on Thursday, while the Minns-led NSW government is expected to be $12 billion in the red this financial year, maybe it was the least the bankers could do. 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 Its a good month for detectives hard-boiled, soft-centred, or gum-shoed. Most curious is a new film about Philip Marlowe, but based on a book by Irish writer John Banville, rather than Raymond Chandler. With Neil Jordan directing Liam Neeson (they did Michael Collins), its more of an Irish Marlowe, although still set in LA in the 50s. Ben Affleck and Simon Baker are also playing shamuses, although on different continents. Limbo, with Baker in the Australian desert, looks astonishing in black and white. The rise of evergreen golden girl movies continues: Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda reunite with Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen for the Book Club sequel, set in Italy. The kids are back in school, so theres little for littlies, but lovers of horror comedy will welcome Nicolas Cage as Dracula and Nicholas Hoult as Renfield his ever-so-humble servant and lord of the tasty flies. There will be blood. And cheese. Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday. Masquerade Advertisement Nicolas Bedos wrote this French Riviera comedy as a novel, so the story is complicated. It riffs on the plot of Sunset Blvd and To Catch a Thief, as two young grifters (Marine Vacth and Pierre Niney) fall in love while plotting to swindle two rich seniors. One is an ageing actress played by Isabelle Adjani, channelling Gloria Swanson; the other an estate agent played by Francois Cluzet. Underneath all the capers, its a film about mad and ruthless love, of course quite a good one. Opens May 4. The Survival of Kindness Dutch-born Australian auteur Rolf de Heer (Charlies Country, Ten Canoes) calls this his COVID-nimble film an attempt to keep working during the pandemic using only a small crew, shooting outside and staying flexible enough to go where the spirit leads. The result is a fable set partly in the desert, with Congolese refugee Mwajemi Hussein playing a woman who breaks out of a cage. There is no intelligible dialogue, but the images look spectacular. When de Heer dreams, best to shut up and watch. Opens May 4. Book Club: The Next Chapter Continuing the golden girls revival, we have Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen and Jane Fonda taking the success of the first movie ($US104 million) to Italy, for a long overdue road trip. There are some good lines in the trailer, so lets hope theyre not the only ones. Andy Garcia, Don Johnson and Craig T Nelson are back, with the addition of perennial ladies man Giancarlo Giannini. Expect naughty but nice. Opens May 11. Advertisement November Jean Dujardin leads a good French cast (Sandrine Kiberlain, Jeremie Renier) in a dense procedural that follows the cops in the five days after the terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, 2015. These were the attacks on the Bataclan concert venue, a street of cafes in central Paris, and the outside of the Stade de France. In all, 130 people died and more than 400 were injured. This is a fictionalised take, but it appears to have been well researched (suggesting that it might be close to reality). Dont expect much subtle analysis of the why; this is more about the how and the who, done at frenetic pace. Opens May 11. Hypnotic Detective Ben Affleck is on the trail of the bad guys who kidnapped his daughter, except that his sense of reality is seriously skewed. Robert Rodriguez wrote this script 20 years ago, then Max Borenstein rewrote it. Rodriguez still directs, so no one would expect a straight treatment of what appears to be a basic sci-fi thriller. The twist is in the title. Alice Braga tells Affleck to look into her eyes. It might be a routine actioner, but you never can tell with Rodriguez. Opens May 11. The Blue Caftan Advertisement Moroccan actress and director Maryam Touzani (Adam) tackles a daring story here: the love between two Moroccan men. A young man comes to work as an apprentice in a kaftan shop run by a husband and wife. The two men feel an immediate attraction. This film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes last year and came away with the jury prize. It was also Moroccos nominee for best international film at the Oscars. Opens May 18. Limbo Indigenous writer/director Ivan Sen (Mystery Road, Goldstone) continues his journey into the heart of Australian darkness with this detective story shot in Coober Pedy. Its in widescreen and appears to be stunningly photographed in black and white by Sen. An almost unrecognisable Simon Baker plays a detective inquiring into a 20-year-old cold case, the murder of an Indigenous woman. The cast also includes Rob Collins and Natasha Wanganeen. Opens May 18. Marlowe Advertisement Did you hear the one about the Irish Philip Marlowe? No, Im serious this has Liam Neeson as Raymond Chandlers famous detective, but its based on a book by Irish literary giant John Banville. Neil Jordan returns to direct after spending more than a decade in television. Bog noir, then? Diane Kruger and Jessica Lange star, Neeson brings the biff and Jordan gives it the full moody Los Angeles 1950s look. Smoke gets in your eyes. Can you ever look back? Hell yes. Opens May 18. Quant This looks groovy. Mary Quant having only recently left us, this is a timely documentary about her enormous influence on fashion not just in Britain in the 1960s, but worldwide. She was cheeky, daring and original; the right person at the right time. The director is Sadie Frost, herself well-known as an actress and fashion designer. Shes also the wife of Jude Law. This is her first feature documentary. Opens May 18. Renfield Lovers of Bram Stoker and the original Dracula will recall that Renfield was Draculas fly-eating minion, a snivelling servant who howled at the moon from his padded cell, awaiting his masters instructions. Of course that creature should have his own movie! At least the catering budget would have been lean. Nicholas Hoult plays the pale servant, with Nicolas Cage as the Carpathian neck-biter, in what looks to be a fairly cheesy but funny romp through Gothic movie nostalgia. Directed by Chris McKay (The Tomorrow War). Opens May 25. Advertisement by Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua, Zhang Jianhua, Lin Hao VIENTIANE, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Tourism facilities are expected to be upgraded in northern Laos' Luang Prabang in order to cater to the influx of visitors as the launch of China-Laos Railway cross-border passenger train service has brought more travelers to the famed tourist destination. Vice Governor of Luang Prabang province, Bounleuan Manivong, told reporters that the eponymous provincial capital is a magnet to visitors in the Southeast Asian country as well as those from abroad. To attract more visitors, provincial authorities are building more tourism-related facilities, and tourism operators have refurbished or upgraded popular tourist attractions and improved the hospitality services. Luang Prabang province recorded more than 273,000 visitors in the first three months of 2023, generating more than 157 million U.S. dollars in revenue. "Luang Prabang is a small charming town surrounded by rivers and mountains. I wish more people would travel to Luang Prabang, so that they can see its beauty," Bounmany Phomsy, a local vendor in the province, told Xinhua on Saturday. "The China-Laos Railway has made traveling to the province much easier. And I believe more Chinese tourists will come to Laos because they could travel by cross-border passenger trains." She added that taking the train is a fast, safe and comfortable way to travel. Since the inauguration of the China-Laos Railway in December 2021, many more people have flocked to Luang Prabang province. In the first 10 months of 2022, 335,794 tourists, accounting for 85.27 percent of the total, arrived in Luang Prabang by the train. "The China-Laos Railway has significantly bolstered passenger transportation, greatly facilitated travel and helped promote tourism in Laos since its launch. Because the train has shortened the travel time, visitors can spend much more time in touring," Tou Bounseng, a food vendor in Luang Prabang, told Xinhua. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international tourists has dropped sharply due to travel restrictions. Fortunately, the launch of China-Laos Railway has helped revive the domestic tourism of Laos. Many people taking train to the town because it's fast and the ticket price is cheaper." The first group of more than 200 Chinese tourists arrived in Laos on April 13 after traveling on the first cross-border train operated by the China-Laos Railway. The cross-border passenger train service has been advertised internationally as part of integrated passenger transport services to promote tourism in Laos, which also highlights ASEAN countries' cooperation with China. Daophet Bouphaphanh, vice president of the Hotel and Guesthouse Association in Luang Prabang province, told reporters that the number of Chinese visitors has surged in the province, with room bookings expected to rise throughout 2023. The Chinese tourist arrivals have grown in Laos since China's resumption of outbound travels in February. As the China-Laos Railway serves as crucial tourism infrastructure, Lao authorities estimate that around 368,000 Chinese travelers will visit Laos this year, up 21 percent from last year. Luang Prabang province, some 220 km north of the Lao capital Vientiane, is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and a top tourist destination because of its ancient temples and scenic rural landscapes. The Town of Luang Prabang was inscribed on the World Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 1994. The mountainous Luang Prabang province has 228 officially-designated tourist sites, of which 111 are nature-based, 78 are of cultural heritage, and 39 have historical buildings. 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 Things were dire at the Coledale RSL Club. The paint was falling off the walls, revenue from the clubs 12 pokies had almost entirely dried up, and there was no money left in the pot. The demographics changed and the club hadnt, said Jeremy Pope, a new board member of the club located just north of Wollongong. Some members of the club had died. Many had moved further south to enjoy retirement at Sussex Inlet. And the board had only three people on it, not enough to reach a quorum to make decisions. After months of internal bickering between the sub-branch board and the club over the future of the once-adored community venue that had hosted decades of Anzac Day memorials and community get-togethers, the letter arrived. It is with great regret that your Club Board of Directors are announcing the closure of the Coledale RSL Club, secretary director Warrick Try wrote to club members early in December 2022. Despite many attempts to turn around the adverse trading results, it has proven impossible to do so. Advertisement The club hosted a final Christmas raffle in early December, drained the kegs in a big party, and shut the doors. But that wasnt good enough for a small group of locals, who saw the club as a focal point of the 1000-person-strong suburb, and feared the consequences of losing Coledales only watering hole. So, they took action, and in doing so found they were part of a much bigger trend: a revival of the states RSL clubs. For the first time in more than four decades, RSL NSWs membership numbers are on the up, and the average age of its members is turning downward. In Coledale, Pope was desperate to keep the club open so his soon-to-be-18-year-old son could have his first drink at a local venue. A group of us thought it was worth having a go at saving [the club], he recounted. We asked how many people would be interested in volunteering to help out, and we had 40 or 50 responses at the time. Advertisement They held an extraordinary general meeting, where members of the club (which is a separate entity to the Coledale RSL Sub-Branch) decided to sell off half of their 12 poker machines. The overwhelming vote to ditch the six pokies was the biggest sign things were about to change: over the years Coledale RSL had carved out increasing sections of its venue for the machines, and covered every blank wall with Keno, horse racing and fake dog races. There were six screens above the bar alone. Selling half of the machines gave the club an injection of cash. Credit:Steven Siewert They focused on the pokies, and people around here dont play the pokies as much as they used to, Pope said. Selling half of the machines gave the club an injection of cash they could use to invest in a fresh coat of paint, among other things. And then they got to work. It was hundreds and hundreds of hours, said Donna Brown, a Coledale local and newly recruited volunteer. Painting, cleaning, restocking, organising, co-ordinating rosters, an enormous amount of paperwork. Advertisement The volunteers shifted the layout of the venue, shoving the six remaining pokies into a sheltered corner (most club members want to eventually get rid of them all), created a childrens area and, on the walls once adorned with betting screens, proudly started a rotating roster of local art. The only staff member employed by the club manager Dave Lynch, who had previously saved from closure the bowling club up the road created a list of spirits and drinks to be stored at the bar, and soon more than 40 volunteers were being trained in their Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate. When we first started, they were all giggling like school kids, so nervous, Lynch said of the volunteers. But within the hour they were telling me what to do! They just opened up. I love it. Volunteer Donna Brown has volunteered hundreds of hours to ensure the club reopens. Credit:Rhett Wyman Then came the Easter long weekend: opening. The opening days were absolutely fantastic, Brown said. The atmosphere here was incredible. Everyone was happy. We had no issues whatsoever. The food was fantastic. We sold out of all the food every day. Each night, a different food truck set up outside and catered for the whole venue. Advertisement We had 25 people lined up at the bar at the time, certainly giving our volunteers a run for our money, Brown said. We had a fantastic meat raffle on Sunday night as well, which is always popular here. We had live music. It certainly beat most of our expectations. And it went off. In their quest to revitalise the Coledale RSL, the local volunteers (more than 80 have now signed up) have hopped on a wave of movement in clubs around the state. There are 320 Returned and Services League sub-branches around NSW, and about 135 of them have clubs attached (RSLs are registered charities, meaning they are not allowed to serve alcohol. RSL clubs are not-for-profits that lease the venue). Loading As a growing number of older veterans have died, RSLs have struggled to maintain a strong membership base. Dozens of RSLs and clubs have shut down across Australia over the last several years. But something has changed in the past 12 months. Membership numbers increased by 11 per cent from 24,716 to 27,431 to March this year, halting an incredible 40-year downward slope. At the same time, the average age of members has fallen from 78 to 72. A spokesperson for RSL NSW said the change in fortunes can be attributed directly to its 2021-2026 strategic plan, which focuses on recruiting and funding new members and sub-branches through the creation of free memberships and a new funding model that better supports smaller branches. Advertisement Parramattas leaders are divided over whether residents or councillors should decide who gets the councils top job after asking the community for feedback about changing the way the mayor is elected. The City of Parramatta Council sent letters to residents asking if the council should move to popularly elect its lord mayor where residents vote on their local government leader for a four-year term or whether councillors should retain the power to decide once every two years who gets the job. Donna Davis, the lord mayor and state MP for Parramatta. She will have to resign as mayor at the next council elections. Credit: Oscar Colman The debate comes as Donna Davis, the recently elected state MP for Parramatta and also the councils mayor fights accusations she is unable to hold both roles. NSW law will require her to resign as mayor at the next council elections in September 2024, but planning for the survey began before she was elected to state parliament. Supporters of the popular election model which is in place in every other major city of NSW, including the City of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, as well as Burwood, Canada Bay and Fairfield councils argue a popularly elected mayor would provide longer-term stability and vision to the city. An Uber Eats driver has accused the food delivery giant of failing to support her after she refused to deliver a suspicious package in Sydneys eastern suburbs which police later discovered contained crystal meth. The driver Jess, who asked for her surname to be withheld for personal safety reasons, said the company had failed to remove the drug dealer from the app or take down the one-star review he gave her, and said at one point she was even scolded by a customer support officer for not delivering the package. Police inspect the package Uber delivery driver Jess thought was suspicious. Im not going to be doing this anymore because Im so disgusted how theyve treated me, she said of her decision to abandon the platform. But on principle Im pushing it because they could do this to other drivers. 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 Her Majesty has been part of the furniture for most of us, it seems, for all time. Pictures and paintings of Queen Elizabeth II adorned the walls of government and civic buildings, private clubs, societies for decades. So what happens when King Charles III is crowned in five days time? How and when should we be putting the new monarch in the picture? There arent too many hard and fast rules, but there is one glitch. The official portrait of the new King is yet to be released by Buckingham Palace. At the official residence of NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, who has an invite to the coronation at Westminster Abbey, there are plenty of pictures of monarchs. Even George III, who reigned from 1760 to 1820, gets a look-in. The moment that Her Majesty passed was the moment that Charles acceded to the throne so for us the coronation is not a trigger to change images, we did that almost instantly, a spokesman for the governor said. The main hall of Government House, where a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hangs. Credit:Louise Kennerley Advertisement Its a combination of protocols to some extent and practicalities, considering that the last time we had to do this was 70 years ago. We immediately applied pall ribbons to portraits of Her Majesty at 45 degrees across the top left-hand corner of the portrait to demonstrate the death of the sovereign for the period of mourning. Since she was the longest-serving monarch it was unlikely all the painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II would be removed from Government House, the spokesman said. I suspect there would always be a place for her somewhere. Dean of St Andrews The Very Reverend Sandy Grant inside the cathedral where a painting of Queen Elizabeth II hangs commissioned following her visit in 1954. Credit:Louise Kennerley Photos of the queen were replaced with ones of the King, which were sourced by Government House officials; they will be replaced with official images when the palace releases them. We like to have images of the sovereign wearing their Australian honours or insignia, the spokesman said. All [Commonwealth countries] are looking for the same guidance from the palace but the palace is a bit busy so there is no requirement to do this immediately. A youthful Queen Elizabeth hangs above long distance rifle shooter Barbara Schwebel at the ANZAC Rifle Range chairmans room at Malabar. Credit:Louise Kennedy Hanging at St Andrews Cathedral in Sydneys CBD is a painting of the late queen commissioned following her visit as part of the coronation tour of the Commonwealth in 1954. She wears a primrose dress, and a youthful Prince Philip stands as ever behind with his hands behind his back. Advertisement Loading The monarch is the governor of the Church of England, says the Dean of St Andrews Sandy Grant. The Anglican Church of Australia is constitutionally independent of the Church of England but with strong historical ties, we share the Book of Common Prayer and many traditions. He says the cathedral will ask their federal parliamentary member for a portrait of King Charles when the official image is available. Queen Elizabeth wasnt averse to picking up a gun at Balmoral and blasting a brace or two of pheasants, so its appropriate that she is celebrated at the Anzac Rifle Range in Malabar, the headquarters of the NSW Rifle Association. Executive officer Melissa Harrison said: We were formed in 1860 so we have had various kings or queens as our patrons. We are waiting for the coronation and we already have a picture in our office of King Charles its all down to our members, they are very dedicated. CWA members Lorna Dreghorn, Irene Stimson, Fay Harvey and Christine Pedemont on a tea break in the kitchen at the Stanwell Park CWA Hall where a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II hangs. Credit:Louise Kennerley The queen also looks down on the officers mess at Randwick Barracks, but she will be replaced once the coronation of Charles takes place, said Major Jesse Robilliard from Headquarters 2nd Division. Advertisement A Queensland maths and physics teacher, who previously taught in the UK and China, allegedly told a student he loved her, that she should distance herself from her boyfriend, and that he would stay in the country if the right girl reciprocated his feelings. The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal has heard the high school teacher, whose identity cannot be revealed for legal reasons, made comments to the effect that he would smell like the student if he wore her jacket, but other teachers might think there was something up between them. The tribunal heard the student became uncomfortable during after-school tutorials with the teacher, asking a friend to accompany her. Credit: Louie Douvis/File photo Over a six-month period in 2019, he repeatedly messaged the student until she showed her mother and it was reported to police. He allegedly told the student he was moving overseas but would stay if the right girl told him she felt the same. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will be walking a fiscal tightrope when he hands down his second budget in a little over a week. In that highwire act, he has to balance helping low-income households in particular with major cost of living pressures on one side, while also keeping government spending from blowing out and worsening the long-term structural position on the other. Treasurer Jim Chalmers has a tricky line to walk with his budget on May 9. Credit: AAP Two groups set up by the government the Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee, and the Womens Economic Equality Taskforce have urged it to do more to help struggling households, including through raising the rate of JobSeeker payments, increasing the Commonwealth Rent Assistance subsidy, and reinstating the single parenting payment for women with children over the age of eight. There has been furious negotiation about the latter. Cabinet decided to raise the cut-off age for the youngest child to 12, but advocates have continued to push for a higher age to keep those single parents, mostly mums, on the higher payment for longer. On Saturday, when the Archbishop of Canterbury conducts the coronation of Charles III at Westminster Abbey, he will not just be crowning the King of England, but the King of Australia as well. For Australians, the notion that we now have a King sits oddly. We were accustomed to the idea of Elizabeth II as Queen of Australia; the idea of Charles III as King of Australia takes a bit of getting used to. Australians should never underestimate Charles IIIs deep emotional connection to this country. Credit: The national broadcaster has certainly not caught up with the new reality, promoting its coverage of the event as the coronation of Britains monarch, ignoring King Charles new constitutional status in Australia entirely. When the late Queen was crowned in 1953, she promised to govern the peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, and of [Her] Possessions and the other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs. These were the nations which at the time were British dominions, and constituted what is still called the Realm, i.e. the countries which recognised the sovereign as their head of state. A budget is coming. Much of the talk in the idioms that typically surround the event is of spending pressures and lack of revenue. But there is a blunter way of describing the current situation which we rarely hear: life in Australia is getting worse. It has become harder to see a doctor and our kids are doing worse at school. I have written before of the way our workforce issues now span the entire life cycle: in childcare centres, schools, GP surgeries and aged care homes we are short of staff. As a nation, we work more than we used to, productivity has fallen, and wages are stuck. Houses are too hard to buy. When commentators talk of revenue shortfalls what they are really saying is this: life in Australia is going to get worse still. Illustration by Jim Pavlidis. Credit: This should prompt at least one large question: at what point does a nation accept that what its accustomed to thinking of as its identity is no longer an accurate description of its reality? Or to put this in simpler, more confronting terms: is life here still easy? Do we really have a good lifestyle? Are we any longer laidback? And perhaps most important: is Australia still, in any meaningful sense, fair? The same question about whether ones longstanding self-conception still matches reality might be asked of a political party. And so it was interesting, this past fortnight, to hear Labor ministers respond to questions about what their government might be planning to do for our poorest Australians, not, as one might hope, by answering the question, but by referring to Labors identity. Were a Labor government and we look for every opportunity to help the most disadvantaged people, said Tanya Plibersek. A Labor government will always look for ways in which we can provide assistance to those in need, said the prime minister. The former head of the states bus network will lead a high-powered taskforce to examine the privatisation of the citys bus services amid chronic delays and driver shortages. Former chief executive of State Transit John Lee, who has also headed up private bus companies, has been appointed to lead the taskforce which was a key public transport election commitment. Plans for a major shake-up of bus services across Sydney have been cast into doubt after it emerged that the former Coalition government signed several deals with private bus companies worth $4.8 billion just before the NSW election, locking the state into long-term contracts. School students and commuters are often hit with delays as a result of cancelled bus services. Credit: Louise Kennerley The taskforce will look at the equity of bus operations across the community and review routes region by region, as well as service delivery, including transparency and accountability of contracts. Australian universities and the New South Wales government are among the largest known data sources from Australia used to train artificial intelligence chatbots such as ChatGPT but receive no compensation for their material. Most of the enormous volumes of data that train the powerful generative AI chatbots, which are poised to transform white-collar industries from media to education, remain secret. But at least two major AI companies Google and Stability AI draw some information from the Common Crawl, a non-profit project that scans the internet gathering text from billions of pages. Australian governments and universities are only just starting to grapple with the issue, even as AI chatbots become ever more capable. Credit: Marija Ercegovac New South Wales government web pages, which include the thousands of sites from schools, hospitals and local councils around the state, contribute more pages than any other Australian entity for the Common Crawl, according to its database of the top 500 registered domains. It is followed by the Australian National University, University of Adelaide and University of Melbourne. Individually, these sites contribute only a fractional amount to the overall Common Crawl database which is measured in the thousands of terabytes and rank far below major sources, such as Wikipedia and Amazon-hosted pages. But their presence shows how websites created by millions of people, including in Australia, and intended for completely different purposes are being fed into artificial intelligence systems that have already generated billions for their small handful of owners. JAKARTA, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Wuling Motors Indonesia has handed over Air EV vehicles symbolically to Indonesia's Ministry of State Secretariat in Jakarta on Saturday, marking its support for the upcoming ASEAN Summit as an official car partner. A total of 50 Air EV units in pristine white will be on duty for the mobility of delegates during the 42nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to be held on May 9-11 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province. Secretary of State Secretariat Setya Utama said the upcoming 2023 ASEAN Summit in May will show Indonesia's commitment to transitioning to clean energy, and Wuling is an important part of the EV ecosystem in Indonesia. "We are very proud to be able to support Indonesia again after last year's Group of 20 (G20) summit in its important role in the international arena. Our cars will bring emissions-free and environment-friendly mobility services to all delegates," said Shi Guoyong, president director of Wuling Motors Indonesia. "Our slogan of Shaping Clean Tomorrow is written on each Air EV unit provided for the ASEAN summit," Shi added. The 50 units of Wuling Air EV Long Range are made in Indonesia, and have been painted in special livery with the ASEAN Indonesia 2023 logo and a distinctive Labuan Bajo pattern. They can travel up to 300 km on full battery charge. Wuling Motors Indonesia is a subsidiary of the major Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW), which is a joint venture between SAIC Motor, General Motors and Liuzhou Wuling Motors based in Liuzhou, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Bali, Indonesia: An Australian man faces more than a year in prison for allegedly spitting in the face of an imam at a mosque in the Indonesian city of Bandung. Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur, 47, was arrested at Jakartas Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Friday night, hours after the incident in the West Java capital. Brenton Craig Abbas Abdullah McArthur, from his Facebook page in 2015. Credit: Facebook He has been accused of spitting at Imam M Basri Anwar at the al-Muhajir Mosque at about 6am on Friday. He had been staying nearby in a guesthouse and had reportedly been annoyed by the sound of the early morning call to prayer from the mosque. McArthur has been held since his arrest at Bandung police station and has now been named as a suspect over the incident at the mosque, Indonesian news outlet Kumparan reported on Sunday. A prosecution of Risby-Jones could be mitigated or dropped altogether if a financial settlement can be reached with his victim. If the victim decides not to process the case, we will drop the case, said an investigator on the case, who asked not to be named in order to speak freely. The road outside the Moon Beach Resort in Simeulue where Risby-Jones ran and allegedly attacked fisherman Edi Ron. Credit: Karuni Rompies While Risby-Jones awaits his fate, Lantik village chief Suhardi Fleno said the resort also had to make amends. In accordance with traditional practices in Aceh, they have to do so by slaughtering a goat, he said. Besides restorative justice Id like to explain that we have a tradition here which we will do, he said. It is called peusijuek, meaning we must have peace with the party that we have a problem with to prevent the same problem from recurring. Its between the village and the resort. We dont care if Bodhi gives the money to the resort [for the goat]. But we do care about the resort and our village. Bodhi is just a guest at the resort and the guests can come and go. We must slaughter a goat. It should be provided by the resort. The gate to the Moon Beach Resort, where Risby-Jones was staying on a surfing trip, has been closed since Thursdays incident. Credit: Karuni Rompies Risby-Jones has apologised for his behaviour, pleading for forgiveness, and said in the video interview with police that he had felt almost possessed during the onslaught and did not remember much because he had been hit and kicked on the ground when held down. I think there are two reasons [for his conduct], the village chief said. Either he was drunk or possessed ... because there is a village cemetery behind the resort. He said he had asked Edi Ron about whether he would accept a settlement but the fisherman told him he wanted to first focus on his health. He has been transferred to provincial capital Banda Aceh for more treatment and his wife has said he will not be able to walk for three months. The wound is very bad. The motorbike was thown onto him and his right ankle bone, Fleno said. But the village chief said the condition of the injury was also made worse by inadequate initial first aid treatment, as the gash was not properly cleaned. The police investigator, meanwhile, said Risby-Jones had given a urine sample and tested negative to any drugs. I think he was depressed and dehydrated, he said. He should have [flown] out of Simeulue [earlier in the day] but then he missed the flight. He told us he surfed all day that day. Perhaps when coming back to his inn, he had a drink just to relax a bit after surfing all the day. Loading It was very hot that day. Perhaps he was drunk and depressed due to missing the flight and dehydrated, it all led him to acting like that. Police in Aceh have consulted colleagues in Bali about how to proceed with their investigation but much may depend on any negotiations with the injured fisherman. Under the legal article which has been applied to the case, he could face up to two years and eight months in prison for maltreatment, or up to five years if it was judged that he had caused serious physical injuries. Delphi, Greece: Austrias leader has revealed the chilling response Vladimir Putin gave when informed of mass Russian casualties during the first year of the war in Ukraine. Austrias Chancellor Karl Nehammer was the first European leader to travel to Moscow in April 2022 to confront Putin about his illegal invasion a couple of months earlier. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer speaking to the Delphi Economic Forum. Credit: Delphi Economic Forum Nehammer had first travelled to Ukraine and witnessed the atrocities in Bucha, the scene of alleged war crimes carried out by the invaders. Speaking to the Delphi Economic Forum in the ancient Greek city, north-west of Athens, Nehammer said he relayed to Putin the mass Russian casualties that he saw in the woods he had to travel through because the local roads and bridges had been bombed. 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 London: If you read the letters pages of the British newspapers youd be hard-pressed to find one in 10 correspondents with a kind word to say about Prince Harry. However, move to the social media platforms the domain of a younger generation and youll find that ledger squares up a bit. The public spat between the Duke of Sussex and his family particularly his brother, Prince William, and his father, the King has bitterly divided public opinion not just within Britain but all over the world. But in the UK it remains an almost daily topic of conversation somewhere. And perhaps beyond the palaces, the pomp and the circumstance, the ongoing family tensions have, in some way, made them more relatable than ever. But the royal psychodrama being fought out in the pages of the press has increased the number of Brits who say theyre embarrassed by the monarchy from 15 per cent to 21 per cent since September last year. At the same time, a YouGov survey found, the proportion of British people who say theyre proud of the monarchy has fallen from 55 per cent in September to 43 per cent. Those aged between 18 and 24 who are more likely to be sympathetic to Harry and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, are significantly more likely to be embarrassed than their elders 35 per cent say theyre a little or very embarrassed, compared to just 11 per cent of 65 and overs. Mary Clarke didnt offer her age when she wrote in to Londons Telegraph earlier this month, but it was not difficult to work out which camp she belonged to. Advertisement I dont think the British people will forget how he upset the late Queen in the final months of her life, how he lied about the royal family, how he falsely accused people of racism and generally caused damage to the institution, she wrote. I hope for the Kings sake that he finds some comfort in his relationship with his younger son, but I definitely think hell get his comeuppance when William takes the throne. William, Charles and Harry. Credit:Illustration: Aresna Villanueva Among younger Brits, the views are not as clear-cut. And the new King, as the royals face perhaps their biggest challenges in decades to remain relevant, simply wants to do what he can to unify his family. Harrys presence at Saturdays historic coronation service has created its own separate sideshow. His wife is staying behind in California with their two children, including their eldest son Archie, who turns four the day his grandfather is crowned. It may well be the last major royal event Harry attends in years. He and his wife have made it clear they no longer want to live in Britain or be a working part of the family. And Harry who is said to have not spoken to his brother since the funeral of their grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, last year is expected to only be in the UK for 24 hours. Its unlikely the pair will fraternise. I think Charles wish to reconcile with his youngest son makes a lot of sense, but you cant blame William for being absolutely furious, British historian Robert Lacey, a veteran royal watcher, said last week. Advertisement Harry has basically exploited family disputes which happen in any family for money. Its something that William understandably finds hard to forgive. The horror show came back to haunt Charles last week, when his estranged son dropped a new round of allegations about the royal family into the middle of the coronation build-up. In written evidence for his invasion of privacy claim against Rupert Murdochs British newspaper group, Harry claimed his father prevented him from filing the lawsuit a decade ago. He said Charles didnt want to dredge up graphic testimony about his extramarital affair with the former Camilla Parker-Bowles when he was married to the late Princess Diana. Loading Harry had claimed in his memoir, Spare, that the senior royals leaked unflattering stories about him to the news media in return for more favourable coverage, particularly to improve Camillas image. If the past is any indication, attention will now shift to body language, seating plans and even wardrobe choices during the coronation, as royal watchers look for any signs of a thaw in the family tensions. Paul Burrell, the butler to Harrys late mother, suggested this week hed be sitting 10 rows back from the rest of the royals at the coronation and would likely make a sharp exit. Advertisement He suggested there was no chance of a reconciliation and that Harry may not even have time to speak to his father or brother during his visit. There is no chance of a reconciliation anytime soon, Im afraid. I think he will get a very icy reception from the Windsors, he said. The royal soap opera didnt begin with the current generation of royals. It was Edward VIII who sparked a constitutional crisis in 1936 when he abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. Bunting for the coronation of King Charles III adorns Regent Street in central London. Credit:Getty Charles grandfather, George VI, is credited with saving the monarchy with a life of low-key public service after he replaced his elder brother. The late Queen Elizabeth II burnished the familys reputation during a 70-year reign in which she became a symbol of stability who cheered the nation during its victories and comforted it during darker times. But Charles becomes king under the glare of media attention as deference to the monarchy has faded. Harry and Meghan walked away from frontline royal duties three years ago and moved to California, from where they have lobbed repeated critiques at the House of Windsor. In a Netflix series broadcast last year, they accused their family of unconscious bias when it comes to issues of race and suggested the royal family needed to learn and grow so it could be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. Advertisement An Ipsos poll last week put the Kings popularity ratings at their lowest level since Elizabeth II died, with more people thinking his son, the Prince of Wales, was doing a good job. Nearly half, 49 per cent, of those questioned thought Charles was doing a good job as king, down from the peak of 61 per cent in polls conducted in September and December. Loading But only 9 per cent thought the King was doing a bad job down from about 20 per cent last year. Lacey, the historical consultant to Netflix series The Crown, thinks Charles will overcome this run of bad publicity, and his youngest son will retreat to the US and become increasingly irrelevant. Harry is destined to spend the rest of his life fighting against this institution he says he has no respect for and bringing a great deal of grief to his father at a very important moment in his life, he said. Charles, he says, will overcome his problems and hurdles like he has done in the past. Hes loved for his mistakes as well as for his virtues. Were getting a rounded figure, and thats what a personal represented monarchy is all about, he said. Kyiv: A massive fire erupted at an oil depot in Crimea after it was hit by two of Ukraines drones, a Russia-appointed official there reported, the latest in a series of attacks on the annexed peninsula as Russia braces for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel. A firefighter speaks on a walkie talkie as smoke and flame rise from a burning fuel tank in Sevastopol, Crimea on Saturday. Credit: AP Razvozhayev said the fire at the citys harbour was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained. Razvozhayev said the oil depot was attacked by two enemy drones, and four oil tanks burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimeas Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov. Auburn, Maine: Employees of a Maine restaurant got a surprise when they opened a large wooden crate that they thought was a shipment of mugs they had recently ordered. Instead, workers at Macs Grill found a plastic tote that contained what police suspect is 14 kilograms of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl with an estimated street value of $US3 million ($4.5 million), Auburn police Deputy Chief Timothy Cougle said in a statement on Saturday. The intercepted fentanyl, worth an estimated $US3 million, and cash seized by Maine police. Credit: Auburn Police Department, Maine The tote had a shipping label with the restaurants address but the name of someone who did not work there. Employees who opened it saw what they thought looked like drugs, so they contacted police, Cougle said. The crate from Arizona that arrived in the Maine town about 50 kilometres north of Portland was taken to the police department, where a chemical field examination confirmed it contained fentanyl. And over the longer term, the National Criminal Victimisation Survey showed the number of people reporting sexual assault, robbery and other physical attacks is overall much lower now than in the 1990s and has not increased in recent years. Homicides and thefts, however, rose during the pandemic according to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention data though not to the levels of the 1990s. A Post analysis, meanwhile, found that states with stand-your-ground laws had a 55 per cent higher homicide-by-firearm rate in the past two years than the states that didnt have these laws, which remove the duty to retreat from an attacker before responding with potentially deadly force. The perception that life is getting more dangerous has spread on the right as GOP leaders and pundits repeatedly argued, without evidence, that immigrants and protesters are jeopardising American peace. Conservative news channels have devoted more airtime to violence than their center- and left-leaning competitors: Over the past three years, for instance, Fox News anchors and guests spotlighted crime 79 per cent more often than those on MSNBC and twice as much as voices on CNN, according to a Washington Post analysis of closed captioning provided by the GDELT AI Television Explorer and the Internet Archive. Loading Fear, paranoia and misunderstandings of the laws governing self-defence and use of force is a recipe for tragedy, said Geoffrey Corn, chair of criminal law at Texas Tech University Law School. We dont demand any education for people who own firearms, he said. I was a soldier, and we couldnt touch a live round without completing weeks of basic training. A police officer stands guard at the scene of a fatal shooting in Philadelphia, on April 28. Credit: AP In Bastrop County, Bridges, the chair of the local Democratic Party, said the tension has been climbing for years. Crime in the Central Texas county has ticked up in recent years, though less so than the national average. In 2021, according to the most recent data available, the small city of Elgin reported a total of 13 violent offences, up from 10 in 2020. Bridges kept his pistol at home and his door unlocked. Did crime seem worse to him? No. Did it seem worse to the head of the local Republican Party? Crime has gotten worse, said Curtis Courtney, a retired publisher. It probably has. We have more illegals up here. We have a lot of people coming from Austin. Courtney, 70, didnt know why that man had shot the cheerleaders. It was either a grave human error or a criminal act, or both, he figured, but it did not shake his belief that Americans should arm themselves wherever they saw fit. You have demonstrations in Portland and Chicago getting out of control, he said. Democrats who say crime isnt getting worse, he said, live on a river in Egypt. The de-Nile. That, he said, is why people carry a gun. We dont have a problem, he said. The ones who try to bring it against us would have a problem. Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, told officers he was scared to death earlier this month when he shot Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old black boy who had been looking for his siblings and knocked on his door in Kansas City. Loading Its the paranoia and fear, said Lesters 28-year-old grandson, Klint Ludwig. It was the 24-hour news cycle Fox News, OAN, all that stuff pushing the civil division. Everybody is just so scared all the time. Over the years, he said, his grandfather had become hooked on those channels, echoing talking points that Ludwig, who describes himself as left-leaning, found disturbing. He recalled Lester describing migrant children detained at the border as a threat to national security. Minority groups get scapegoated, Ludwig said. The propaganda we see all day, every day was a detrimental force in his life. Lesters neighbourhood is full of houses with security systems, which isnt unusual in Kansas City, said Jerry Nolte, 67, the presiding commissioner of Clay County, a Republican whod recently door-knocked on the elderly mans street. The sheriffs office reported that, according to the latest data, both violent and property offences in the area actually dipped from 2017 to 2021. Nolte, a lifelong Kansas City resident, said he couldnt tell if crime was up or down only that people seemed more sensitive to it. Anybody who watches the news and sees nationwide the kind of crime stories reported are naturally going to be affected by that, he said. Loading In rural Hebron, NY, where Kevin Monahan gunned down Kaylin Gillis earlier this month after she and her friends accidentally pulled into his driveway, residents of the dairy town had gathered in shock. Monahan, a contractor, had kept to himself, said George Flint, 70, a Republican councilman. When Flint asked Monahan for a quote on a home renovation project years ago, the contractor seemed intelligent. A bit stiff. Nothing like a killer. I blame all this crap on TV, Flint said. The fact that you think you can chase somebody off your property like that in this day and age when you dont even know who they are is absurd. Especially in Washington County, where, from 2019 to 2021, authorities reported just one homicide and four robberies. My client was involved in a series of tragic mistakes, made by more than one person, that resulted in the death of a young lady, Monahans lawyer told reporters last week. He feels terrible that a life was lost. He believed that he was defending himself, the lawyer added. The Washington Post ST. PETERSBURG, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The traditional Icebreakers Festival opened the summer tourism season, which officially started on Saturday, in St. Petersburg, Russia, official city tourist portal Visit Petersburg announced. Three icebreakers, dubbed Vladivostok, Captain Zarubin and Captain Sorokin, took part in the three-day festival. Visitors can board the icebreakers and visit inside, enjoy a spectacular performance of tugboats in the waters of the Neva River, or visit themed exhibitions. The Russian city received 8 million tourists in 2022, according to the government of St. Petersburg. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BIG BEAR CITY, Calif. (AP) A single-engine plane crashed near a California mountain airport on Monday, killing all three people aboard, authorities said. The Beechcraft A36 went down about 2 p.m. near Big Bear City Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The plane struck a vacant lot, and there was no fire, fire officials said. The victims weren't immediately identified. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Weather reports said it was partly cloudy at the time of the crash. Big Bear Airport is in the San Bernardino Mountains near Big Bear Lake, a popular resort area about a two-hour's drive east of Los Angeles. It was the second deadly small plane crash in three days in Southern California. On Saturday, one person was killed when a single-engine plane slammed into a grassy hillside above homes in a Los Angeles neighborhood amid dense fog, authorities said. The Cessna C172 crashed around 8:45 p.m. Saturday on the city's west side, about 8 miles (13 km) southeast of Van Nuys Airport, the Los Angeles Fire Department and Federal Aviation Administration said. Joubin Solemani was at home with his family in the upscale Beverly Crest area when they all heard a loud crash. We thought it might be a car crash. But we looked outside and didn't see anything. We didn't know what the heck it was, Solemani said Sunday. Then search-and-rescue showed up and were all over the hillside. After searching for several hours in darkness and "thick ground-level fog, crews found the crash site and one person dead in the wreckage, the fire department said in a statement. The pilot was the plane's lone occupant, the FAA said. When the sun came up Sunday, Solemani said he could see the plane a few hundred feet (meters) above his property in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's totally mangled, he told The Associated Press. The pilot was not immediately identified. Fire department personnel recovered the body Sunday afternoon. The plane avoided hitting power lines and a large water tank and, officials said, there was minimal fire. An air traffic controller initially reported the plane as missing after losing radar contact with the aircraft while it was en route to Van Nuys Airport, the fire department said in an alert shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. Why the hell do you want to do this? Gov. Ned Lamont recalls asking that blunt question when Terrence Cheng was appointed president of the Connecticut System of Colleges and Universities two years ago, during the heart of consolidation turmoil. At the time, Cheng was director of University of Connecticuts Stamford campus. You got the wind at your back. Everybody loves Stamford. Corporations are throwing you money, Lamont remembers telling Cheng. (Cheng) said, Im an immigrant kid. I love a fight. Bring it on. Lamont probably didnt expect Cheng to bring the fight to him. We were holding a Hearst Connecticut Media Editorial Board meeting with the governor early Monday morning. A few hours later, Cheng led other education officials at an event in Hartfords Legislative Office Building where they said the current budget plan would result in layoffs for 654 educators and staff and the elimination of nearly 3,000 part-time positions. (Cheng) called me last night and said Im going to have this protest. I gotta do it. The unions are killing me. The students are killing me And I said, well, youre killing me. You come in and talk to me, you dont do a protest. " As fights go, Lamont vs. Cheng isnt exactly a WWE SmackDown. Its not even much of a squabble. Maybe a tiff. Just as he seems ready to take some jabs, Lamont instead crosses the ring to stand in the opposing corner. Look, if anyone can reform that system, I think hes the best guy to do it I think hes really good, Lamont says of Cheng. Hes making work force a bigger piece of our community college system. Thats probably the biggest investment Ive made in the past few years and I think thats what is really going to rescue the community colleges. Then the governor slips in a right hook. The future of community colleges wont be the pursuit of two-year degrees, he predicts, but 20-week certificates. Im having trouble getting past the notion that this is the real source of the chasm between Lamont and Cheng on funding Connecticuts 17 programs, a mix of 2-year community colleges, 4-year regional public universities and online courses. Its a matter of vision. Ned Lamont is not an academic, but shares a stranglehold on the purse strings along with the legislature. That irritating global pandemic continues to spin the budget numbers. In short, Lamont says Connecticut pumped a lot more money into state colleges four years ago (50-60 percent), but there is a misguided expectation that the extra $145 million in COVID funding of two years ago would be baked into future budgets. In a followup editorial board session, Cheng and his budget director, Ben Barnes, counter that the state has an obligation to fund raises and bonuses in the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition (SEBAC) union contract. After all, the contract was negotiated by the state. Without more funding, Cheng and Barnes project that community college students will be hit with 10% tuition increases over two years, while their university counterparts would face a 5% hike in 2024-25. All while programming is severely cut back. Much of this is driven by declining enrollment, which was hardly a surprise given that students in community colleges were yanked away by work and family obligations during COVID. Cheng counters that enrollment is starting to stabilize. Most of the community college students in Connecticut are non-white. Almost all of them are from the state. In a DEI world, it seems counterintuitive to knock rungs off the ladder many count on to climb into higher income brackets. Theres even less logic in the state striving to create jobs while laying off a chunk of its own workforce. As a bonus, these are the people who educate and mentor future workers. A lot of this is a result of the states need to keep shoveling into the pension black hole. Of course, it could just create another black hole. One that would be invisible and bottomless. Such nuanced math seems better suited for a graduate class. I point out to Barnes at one point that hes played chess from both sides of this table, having served as former Gov. Dannel Malloys budget director. Two decades ago, I was in similar meetings listening to how Barnes juggled the numbers when he worked for Malloy while the latter was Stamfords mayor. His latest argument rests on the foundation that in signing off on labor deals, the state created certainly a moral and probably a legal obligation to fund those binding agreements. But Barnes isnt looking to pick a fight either. He self-edits at one point, deleting the word aggressive in describing the nature of how CCSU advocates are speaking out (It is necessary for us to be really aggre assertive about educating the legislature about our circumstances). But I also suspect Cheng and Barnes maintain a doomsday scenario about which campuses theyll have to close if they cant get more state funding. And thats a fight Lamonts corner can lose. I mention that protesting is baked into Chengs character. His first book, Sons of Heaven, gave voice to the anonymous student rebel who stood up to a tank in the Tiananmen Square Massacre (thanks for reminding me that I wrote a book, Cheng jokes). Connecticut students and faculty are already joining Cheng in raising their hands. This wont become a bloodbath. Hearing Lamont and Cheng disagree is as spirited as a debate between Ned Flanders and Mister Rogers. Lamont offers a grounded take on how such negotiations work when we asked about the mirror budget showdown with UConn, which resulted in university President Radenka Maric threatening to pull the Huskies out of the XL Center. Do you think theyre going to come to see things your way? my colleague Hugh Bailey asks. Lamont shows comic chops with a hangdog response in a tone that was flatter than his fantasy budget: "Hmm. No, thats not usually the way it works. The governors favorite phrase is Ill be blunt, regardless of whether the words to come fall under the category of boldness. But when he offers a more serious prediction, the candor sounds about right. Look, Ill say were up 40 percent. Theyll say were down 15 percent from last year. The legislature will say I cant take the heat, were going to do a little bit more and well find some middle ground. Theres no reason to wait until the semester is over and the clock is running down on the budget deadline. Consider the collateral damage to Connecticuts academic standing. Remember that this is where future nurses and teachers come from. Dont ignore that there would be fewer mental health services at a time this generation needs it most. It's time to have that uncomfortable talk about doomsday scenarios. Be blunt. Unfortunately, thats not usually the way it works. HOUSTON, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A person was killed and another injured following a shooting on Friday night at a popular restaurant near the annual jazz festival in New Orleans, the largest city of southern U.S. state Lousiana, authorities said Saturday. The New Orleans Police Department said the fatally shot waiter outside the Mandina's Restaurant was the intended target of the shooting on the opening day of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. A female tourist from Chicago for the festival, who was dining inside at the time, was hospitalized and in stable condition, said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Michelle Woodfork at a news conference. "A celebratory day was later marred by another senseless act of violence," New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a statement on Saturday. "We need stronger gun laws and penalties as well as accountability across all public safety agencies if we're ever going to end this crisis," the statement reads. The shooting appeared to be an indiscriminate sidewalk ambush, in which two people with guns unleashed a fusillade on the waiter, local media outlet NOLA reported. Police have not said whether they have identified the suspects or determined their motive. B ack To The Future film series star Michael J Fox has said that optimism is sustainable in the face of Parkinsons despite the disease becoming harder and tougher to live with. The 61-year-old activist and former Hollywood actor who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinsons disease a year after Back To The Future Part III was released in 1990 is also known for the films Teen Wolf and Doc Hollywood along with the series Spin City. Fox told CBS Sunday Morning: It sucks, having Parkinsons for some families, some people, its a nightmare, its a living hell. They have to deal with realities that are beyond most peoples understanding. Im alive its getting tougher, its getting harder, every day you suffer but thats the way it is. You know, who do I see about that? The condition causes parts of the brain to become progressively damaged over many years, according to the NHS website. The three main symptoms are involuntary shaking of parts of the body, known as tremors, slow movement, and stiff and inflexible muscles. Fox who starred in all the Back To The Future movies in the science fiction trilogy which began in 1985 has had a string of injuries from falling, including breaking bones in his face and other parts of his body, along with a benign tumour on his spine. He added: All these subtle ways that get you, you dont die from Parkinsons, you die with (the condition). Im not going to be 80. I wont be 80. Fox also said: I recognise how hard this is for people and recognise how hard it is for me but I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff and I realise, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. If you can find something to be grateful for then you find something to look forward to and you carry on. Fox founded The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research in 2000 which has raised more than 1.75 billion dollars (1.39 billion) for research funding, according to the charitys website. The foundation also sponsored a study, which came out this month, that says researchers have discovered a biomarker for Parkinsons. Fox said: This changes everything. I know where we are right now. In five years, they will be able tell if you have it, they will be able to tell if youre ever going to get it and well know how to treat it. The actor, who has four children with his wife, actress Tracy Pollan, retired in 2020. He was honoured at the Governors Awards with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, an honorary Oscar recognising outstanding philanthropic efforts in November and is to release an Apple+ documentary. Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, out in May, tells his story in his own words, including his personal and professional triumphs, and he talks more about his Parkinsons. A woman is fighting for life in hospital after being found seriously assaulted at a home in south-west London. Police rushed to Nelson Grove Road in Wimbledon after reports that a woman was attacked at around 7.15pm on Friday. Detectives charged Joshua Nahum, 32, of the same address with attempted murder He will appear in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates Court on Monday. A Met spokesman said: Police were called to reports that a woman had been assaulted at a residential property in Nelson Grove Road. The woman, aged in her 30s, was taken to hospital where she remains in a critical condition. Her next of kin have been informed. Detectives from the public protection team in south-west London are leading the investigation and their enquiries are ongoing. T he mother of a teenager who was stabbed to death by his girlfriend has said he was too ashamed to report the abuse he endured during the relationship to police. Kamila Ahmad, 24, broke in and repeatedly knifed music student Tai ODonnell, 19, a day after his mum told him to end it with her. Police and the London Ambulance Service rushed to the scene following the brutal stabbing at the flat on Alpha Road in Croydon on March 3, 2021. They found Tai laying on the sofa with several stab injuries. He was pronounced dead at the scene having been injured some hours before the alarm was raised. His cause of death was later confirmed as severe blood loss due to a wound to the left thigh. In 2015 Ahmad knifed her ex, Karim Hussain, now 25, three times in a rage. He did not report the stabbing until he heard of Tais murder. Kamila Ahmad was jailed for stabbing her partner to death in a savage attack / Metropolitan Police Ahmad denied all the charges but was found guilty at Croydon crown court of murder and of wounding Mr Hussain. She will serve at least 23 years in prison. Speaking out about her tragic loss, Tais mother Stacey ODonnell said she made the wrong assumption that it was just an average toxic relationship. Ms ODonnell told The Sunday Times: Id seen his stress. But I made the wrong assumption that it was just an average toxic relationship. There was nothing average about it. It was serious abuse. My son did not want to die. She said Tai felt too embarrassed to tell police that he was being attacked by his girlfriend. Tai wasnt a timid boy, she said. He had a strong spirit. Never in a million years would I have thought that he would end up in a situation like this. He was a young, popular boy, he didnt want to be seen as someone who was being terrorised by a girl. He was embarrassed. Detectives from the Mets Specialist Crime Command immediately launched a murder investigation and arrested Ahmad two days after Tais passing. She claimed she knew nothing about the death. However they found items discarded by Ahmad including a bloodstained rucksack and jacket. When forensically tested, they were found to be a DNA match to her victim. The court heard that Ahmad had also carried out a knife attack on another man almost six years before the murder, in July 2015, following an argument over a remote control. The victim, Ahmads then partner, was stabbed three times before being moved into the street in an attempt to mislead police into believing that he had been attacked by an unknown third party. He did not initially wish to proceed with a prosecution against Ahmad but upon hearing of the murder of Tai felt compelled to support the investigation. T he UK will run a flight from Port Sudan as it continues its evacuation mission after officially ceasing the operation from an airfield near Khartoum, the Government has said. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said rescue efforts, which were previously focused on the Wadi Saeedna site near the Sudanese capital, would be moved to the east of the nation. Some 2,122 people on 23 flights have been flown out of the war-torn country from the airfield since fighting began but more than a thousand UK nationals may remain. A further journey will take off on Monday from Port Sudan, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said on Sunday. It comes as Sudans army and its rival paramilitary said on Sunday they will extend a humanitarian ceasefire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, although it has not stopped clashes continuing to break out. Mr Cleverly said: The UK has now airlifted over 2,100 people to safety from Sudan in what has been the largest and longest evacuation of any Western country. I want to thank all of those working to deliver this evacuation and ensure as many people as possible are brought to safety. Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: I am grateful to our armed forces who have ensured there was an alternative to Wadi Saeedna and who are currently supporting FCDO and Border Force staff to facilitate the rescue effort. HMS Lancaster and the RAF are also there in support of HMG. The UK will continue to advocate for a long-term end to the conflict along with its international allies, Mr Cleverly said amid a faltering ceasefire. Fighting has broken out again in Khartoum despite the extension of an armistice between the countrys two warring generals having been brokered in the early hours of Friday. The British Government previously announced it would end evacuation efforts from the capital on Sunday, with the last flight having taken off from Wadi Saeedna at 10pm local time. The Government later agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on its final journeys amid criticism over the scope of its eligibility criteria for evacuation. Ministers answered calls to widen the remit, which had been limited to British nationals and their immediate family, after a significant decline in the number of UK citizens coming forward. A further 89 Irish citizens and their dependents have been evacuated from Sudan, bringing the total Irish evacuees to 209, the Department of Foreign Affairs has said. The majority of Irish citizens evacuated by air in recent days have been carried on UK flights into Cyprus, the department said. The UK Government said a flight departed from Wadi Saeedna airfield late on Saturday night. Rescue effort were carried out amid a faltering ceasefire in the conflict-stricken north African country, with residents reporting heavy explosions and gunfire breaking out again in the capital Khartoum. Hundreds of people have died in the bloody conflict between two warring generals, one heading up the Sudanese army and the other in charge of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. Micheal Martin, the Irish deputy premier and Foreign Affairs Minister, said Irelands Emergency Civil Assistance Team (Ecat) operation in Cyprus and Djibouti is now to be withdrawn. The mission, named Operation Piccolo, has involved Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) officials being stationed in the countries with the aim of assisting in the evacuation. Ireland has also received help from France and Spain to airlift Irish citizens, residents and visa holders to safety. Members of the Defence Forces Special Operations Forces unit and the Army Ranger Wing supported the operation. On deployment, the team secured the DFA personnel on the ground, liaised with key actors in the airport and assisted DFA in the processing and evacuation of identified Irish citizens/dependents, the Defence Forces said in a statement. The team were also on standby to provide medical assistance if required. Ireland will now maintain an enhanced multi-location consular presence for citizens who remain in Sudan operating from Dublin, Nairobi, Cairo, Amman, Riyadh and Addis Ababa. The department said embassies remain in close contact with any citizens in Sudan who have requested assistance. I wish to thank the ECAT team and all those involved in our consular response, Mr Martin said. Our primary aim has been to offer our citizens every assistance through what has been an extremely difficult and challenging time. Our experienced consular teams in Dublin and in the region will continue to actively respond to the needs of our citizens as the situation evolves. I would like to thank our EU partners, the UK, Jordan, Norway and Djibouti for their strong cooperation in this challenging mission, the Tanaiste added. On Sunday afternoon, a 72-hour extension of the armistice between the two sides was announced, prompting the UK Government to run an additional evacuation flight from Port Sudan on Monday. Citizens have been urged to follow the Embassy of Ireland in Kenya on Twitter (@IrlEmbKenya) for updated advice. F lorida governor and US presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis has hailed Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch for her efforts to make sure woke ideology is not corrupting British society. The Florida governor met with Ms Badenoch, as well as Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, during a trip to Britain as he seeks to burnish his credentials ahead of a possible run against Donald Trump to be the Republican choice in the race for the White House. In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr DeSantis commended Ms Badenoch, who is also the minister for women and equalities, for being outspoken on issues such as gender-neutral lavatories and the decolonisation of school curricula. He describes woke ideology as a war on the truth, telling the paper: When institutions get infected by woke ideology, it really corrupts the institutions. We look at woke infiltrating schools as a problem, woke infiltrating bureaucracies as a problem and woke infiltrating corporate America as a problem. We say that Florida is where woke goes to die. During his meeting with Ms Badenoch, Mr DeSantis said she complimented what we are doing in Florida. She committed that it is what they are trying to do in Britain., he said. I commend her and her efforts to make sure that this is not corrupting British society. In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Mr DeSantiss press secretary Bryan Griffin wrote: Today @GovRonDeSantis met with @KemiBadenoch, who has been branded by British media as the Anti-woke darling of the right (a badge of honor!) Two great conservative fighters on mission. Earlier, the conservative firebrand and Mr Cleverly discussed ties between Britain and the US state he represents while visiting the Foreign Office. Mr DeSantis has not announced his intention to run for the Republican nomination but is widely expected to do so. In his interview with The Sunday Telegraph, he also addressed speculation over his potential run at the White House, telling the paper: Im going to go through our legislative session, get the peoples business done. Im still in the midst of that. Ive got about another week or so of that, and then I have the Budget and everything. Im not going to make any decision before then. But the end of that time is coming, its closer now than it was six months ago. So just stay tuned. T he financier Ben Goldsmith has revealed he took a hallucinogenic drug in a bid to see his late daughter following her death. Iris Goldsmith, 15, was killed in a quad bike accident on the family farm in Somerset in July 2019. Mr Goldsmith, 42, who shared Iris with banking heiress Kate Rothschild, has told how he saw her after taking the psychedelic tea Ayahuasca during a retreat with eleven other people in Ecuador. He told The Sunday Times: I saw Iris. I saw with startling clarity the nature of the girl I had known so well and the relationship that had existed between us while she was alive. Since the accident, all thoughts of her had been clouded with shock, anger, sadness, fear, grief. Now, for the first time since losing her, I saw once again my Iris as she had been. He added: I saw our little unspoken jokes, a momentary look exchanged across the table, a particular expression I knew so well, that infectious giggle; I saw a brave little ginger-haired girl buttoned up in her school uniform, casting us a little sideways smile as we waved her of for her first day at big school; her ability to wind me up and my often unreasonable reaction; our shared awe in the presence of Natures magic. He said his body heaved and shook as tears sheeted down my face. I yearned to reach out and grab her, to hold her tightly to me now, but there was no way of doing so, he said. Iris had been zig-zagging across a rough field when the six-seater Polaris Ranger overturned. She landed on her neck on the familys Cannwood Farm in North Brewham, Somerset. The Polaris was lifted from her but she was unconscious and had stopped breathing. She was pronounced dead after efforts to revive her for 45 minutes. Mr Goldsmith is the son of late billionaire tycoon Sir James Goldsmith and younger brother of Environment Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith and television producer Jemima Goldsmith. He has two sons, Frankie and Isaac, with the banking heiress Kate Rothschild. The couple split in 2012 after he found texts on her phone from the American rapper Jay Electronica and she admitted an affair. He is now married to Jemima Jones, a caterer. They have three children, Eliza, Arlo and Vita. Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink made from tropical plants found in the Amazon. It is illegal in many countries because it contains the powerful hallucinogenic drug dimethyltryptamine, or DMT, a Class A drug. Psychological effects include intense visual hallucinations, depersonalisation, auditory distortions and an altered sense of time and body image. P olice have warned rogue metal detectorists to stop digging holes at a Roman temple site. Several holes were discovered at Gosbecks Archaeological Park in Colchester, Essex, earlier this month. The 160-acre site, which includes Roman and Iron Age remains, has been legally protected from all excavation since it became an ancient scheduled monument in 1939. The council has warned metal detectorists, known as night hawks, that it is illegal to dig holes on the grounds. City councillor Pam Cox said theyre working closely with Essex Police. Ms Cox, the councils portfolio holder for culture and heritage, told the BBC the site was both important for the history of our city and as a refuge for wildlife. We will take appropriate action to deal with illicit metal detecting and are working closely with Essex Police and appeal to the public to report any concerns, she said. Essex Police has been patrolling the area more often in wake of the illegal digging. The park includes the remains of the largest of the five known Roman theatres in Britain, with seating for up to 5,000 people, and a Romano-Celtic Temple located within a large four-sided precinct. S triking nurses will clearly put patients safety at risk due to the lack of exemptions for emergency care, the Transport Secretary has said. Hospitals are bracing themselves for low staff numbers in some regions when nurses walk out on Sunday evening. The strike by Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members will take place from 8pm on Sunday until 11.59pm on Monday and they have said that this time they will not provide emergency cover. It was to have lasted into Tuesday but that plan was curtailed when a High Court judge ruled it unlawful. Asked on Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme about the risk posed to patients, Conservative MP Mark Harper said: It clearly does put patients at risk, which is why we urge the unions not to go ahead and do the strike. He had earlier urged the RCN to accept the pay offer for its members. Mr Harper said: I would urge them to think again and to do what the other trade unions in the health service have done, which is to accept what I think is fair and reasonable pay offer, reflecting the value that we do place on hardworking NHS staff. It came as the general secretary of the RCN said that nurses have worked tirelessly with the NHS to ensure patient safety. Speaking to Sky Newss Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, Pat Cullen said: There are national exemptions in place for a range of services, for emergency departments, for intensive care units, for neonatal units, paediatric intensive care units, those really acute urgent services. We have put national exemptions in place, weve worked tirelessly with NHS England. In fact, it was the Royal College of Nursing who contacted NHS England to ask for a process to be put in place so that we make sure that the strike was safe for our patients. As the NHS prepares to cope with the impact of the strike, NHS England is urging the public to use the health service wisely. It said emergency and urgent care would remain the priority, with people asked to use other services such as pharmacies and 111 where possible. The RCN said it will only agree to derogations - areas of care where unions agree to provide staffing during industrial action - on request, meaning most nurses in intensive care, A&E and cancer care will be on strike for the first time. The union said it expects NHS employers to review services and focus on delivering life-preserving care but said it would work with the NHS to deal with extreme circumstances on strike days. NHS England warned staffing levels for some areas of the country will be exceptionally low. T he streets of Glasgow were awash with tartan as thousands of people stepped out on the Kiltwalk to raise money for more than 800 charities. A record number of 14,000 Kiltwalkers braved the rain to take part in the event on Sunday. Walkers lined up to take part in three routes: the 23-mile Mighty Stride, which left from Glasgow Green, the 14-mile Big Stroll from Clydebank, and the three-mile Wee Wander from Lomond Shores to Moss O Balloch Park. Kiltwalk has raised and distributed 37 million to more than 3,000 charities in the last seven years. The event is being fully underwritten by The Hunter Foundation and is once again supported by headline sponsors Royal Bank of Scotland and Arnold Clark. Sir Tom Hunter, who led the walk, said: Todays Glasgow Kiltwalk will help 856 different Scottish charities, the biggest in one day. The efforts of every one of our 14,000 walkers will make a massive difference to people who need it so much. Its phenomenal. The Kiltwalk community have done us proud. At a time when the cost-of-living crisis is taking a terrible toll, its important that so many people have come out and walked and donated for the most vulnerable. Id like to thank each and every one for their Kiltwalk kindness. This year the entry fee for the Mighty Stride and Big Stroll was reduced by 37% from 32 to 20 to make Kiltwalk as accessible as possible amid the cost-of-living crisis. Every penny raised goes directly to the charities chosen by the walkers plus they can claim Gift Aid which can raise the totals to 125% of everything raised. The amount raised by the event is still being calculated. Charities were out in force to cheer on walkers and boost their morale at the six pit stops along the way, where walkers were refreshed with snacks, fruit and soft drinks. Shona Langlands, senior fundraising manager at the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH), one of the pit stop partners, said: The team from SAMH loved every second of our day at Glasgow Kiltwalk. We had over 200 SAMH supporters taking part in the event and it was so touching to engage with them at our pit stop and hear their stories of why they chose to raise much-needed funds for Scotlands mental health. Its also a great reminder that being physically active is a key way to support our mental wellbeing. From everyone at SAMH, a huge thank you to our supporters the need for our life-changing services continues to grow and your support is helping us transform lives. The next Kiltwalk event will take place in Aberdeen on June 4, then in Dundee on August 20 and Edinburgh on September 17. Anyone wishing to sign up for the events can do so at www.thekiltwalk.co.uk. New Delhi: It is in the habit of politicians to look at each other's work through a political lens and find flaws in them or raise questions on them. On the other hand, if we talk about Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and BJP, then the leaders of both the parties are often seen verbally attacking each other. Many examples of this will be seen in the day-to-day protests in the national capital Delhi. Meanwhile, an AAP Rajya Sabha MP has become a fan of a work of the central government led by PM Narendra Modi and has praised the central government for it. AAP's Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora has praised the Modi government's Operation Kaveri and the Indian Air Force's (IAF) courageous actions to evacuate Indians stranded in the trouble-torn Sudan conflict. 'AAP' MP Arora said, 'We should praise Operation Kaveri being run by the Government of India to evacuate Indians from crisis-hit Sudan. I also congratulate the officers of the Airforce for the special operation in Sudan. Despite the airstrip at Wadi Sidna in Sudan having no navigational approach, support, fuel and landing lights (which are essential for landing an aircraft at night), the Indian Air Force and Garud commandos airlifted the stranded Indians through the night. Successfully executed a daring operation. 'This is Sangh Parivar's agenda..', CM Vijayan accuses RSS of The Kerala Story 'Didn't expect such a crowd...', crowds gather in UK to listen to PM Modi's mann ki baat 'The BJP government of MP has commercialized the administration': Digvijay Singh N urses will be allowed to provide cover for intensive care units after Union bosses agreed to derogations just before thousands walked out for the biggest-ever strikes to hit the NHS. The 28-hour strike over pay began at 8pm on Sunday night triggering warnings of exceptionally low staffing levels until the walkout ends on Monday at midnight. Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary Pat Cullen said on Sunday that measures were in place to keep patients safe after concerns were raised on the impact of the strike action on emergency services. The union initially said it would not agree to derogations broad areas of care where staffing is guaranteed despite industrial action but granted some exemptions on Friday in an apparent U-turn. Royal College of Nursing general secretary Pat Cullen joins members on the picket line (Ben Birchall/PA) / PA Wire Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is among organisations where nurses have agreed to derogations after it voiced serious concerns about patient safety during the walkout. Bosses at the world famous childrens hospital said they were incredibly grateful to RCN members for offering assurances but took the decision not to stand down a business continuity incident until it was confident it could staff services during the strike. Health Secretary Steve Barclay blasted the strikes as premature and disrespectful to other unions as they come before a crunch meeting on Tuesday to discuss a 5 per cent pay offer. It came as NHS England warned that staffing levels in some areas of the country will be exceptionally low, lower than on previous strike days. It added the number of rescheduled appointments due to strike action is set to hit half a million next week. General secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Pat Cullen speaks to media outside BBC Broadcasting House in London (Lucy North/PA) / PA Wire RCNs Pat Cullen said: After a three-month pause, strike action by nursing staff regrettably recommences tonight. The government wants to bring NHS strike action to a close this coming week but with several big unions - and nursing as the largest part of the NHS workforce - still in dispute, it has to do better. Only negotiations can resolve this and I urge ministers to reopen formal discussions with the College over pay specifically. Nursing staff are looking for a fair settlement that shows the government values and understands their profession. We appear a long way from that currently but I remind ministers it is entirely in their gift. Health Secretary Steve Barclay (PA) / PA Wire Health Secretary Steve Barclay will attend a meeting of the NHS Staff Council on Tuesday, where associations will discuss the Governments 5 per cent pay offer. He told broadcasters: I think this strike is premature and is disrespectful to those trade unions that will be meeting on Tuesday. People gather in London ahead of a Support the Strikes march in solidarity with nurses, junior doctors and other NHS staff (PA) / PA Wire Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether he would support nurses going on strike without exemptions for emergency care. He told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News: I dont want to see strikes go ahead. The way to avoid strikes is to get in the room with the nurses and resolve these issues. Nurses make up a quarter of NHS staff and are the biggest proportion of the health service workforce. Dame Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: We are grateful to the RCN for agreeing a process of safety critical mitigations and we continue to support all nurses, those who work and those who take industrial action. These mitigations do not represent a return to standard staffing. The industrial action will still have a very significant impact on services during the strike period and patients can expect to see longer waits for care. The public should use the NHS wisely, with those needing non-urgent care using pharmacies and 111 online as their first port of call. And if you have a life-threatening emergency, please seek help in the usual way by dialling 999. Mr Barclay, writing in Mail Plus, said he echoed NHS leaders fears about the impact on patient safety. There will be disruption. The NHS will be doing everything possible to mitigate this and will prioritise resources to protect emergency treatment, critical care, neonatal care, and trauma, he wrote. The strike was called after RCN members rejected a government offer to nurses in England of a 5 per cent pay rise for 2023-24 and a one-off payment of at least 1,655 to top up last years salary, depending on staff grade. NHS workers will also take part in a protest march in central London on Monday. E leven people died and four more left hospitalised after a gas leak in northern India. Women and children were among the victims following the shocking incident in the port city of Ludhiana in the Punjab state on Sunday. The source of the leak is still unclear but officials believe gas may have spread from manholes. Indias National Disaster Response Force sealed off the densely populated area and evacuated residents. Authorities were trying to ascertain the type of gas in the leak, PTI news agency quoted disaster response officials as saying. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik told the news agency it was possible that the gas may have spread from manholes. We are going to collect samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes, she said. The states chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, said the leak came from a factory but didnt provide more details in a tweet. All possible help is being provided, he wrote. Rajinder Pal Kaur Chhina, a local legislator, told Reuters news agency that the incident had happened near a milk shop. "People who came to buy milk in the morning, fell unconscious outside," she said. T he Board of Deputies of British Jews has called for an urgent meeting with the editor-in-chief of The Guardian over the use of antisemitic tropes in a cartoon about Richard Sharp. The newspaper removed the drawing by cartoonist Martin Rowson from the Guardian website on Saturday and apologised to the Jewish community and Mr Sharp who announced his resignation as BBC chair earlier in the week. A review found the former Tory donor broke the rules by failing to disclose that he played a role in getting then-PM Boris Johnson an 800,000 loan guarantee. On Sunday, the Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote in a Twitter statement: We have written to The Guardian requesting an urgent meeting with the editor Katharine Viner in regard to yesterdays shocking cartoon in the paper, which contained antisemitic tropes. This is far from the first time that the paper has crossed the line in terms of highly questionable content connected to the Jewish community. The cartoon was also criticised by the Campaign Against Antisemitisms chief executive, Gideon Falter, who said it came when people who practise Judaism observed the Sabbath and called it a resignation offence for Ms Viner. Cartoonist Rowson also apologised on his website, saying: The cartoon was a failure and on many levels: I offended the wrong people, Sharp wasnt the main target of the satire. I rushed at something without allowing enough time to consider things with the depth and care they require, and thereby letting slip in stupid ambiguities that have ended up appearing to be something I never intended. Mr Sharp was depicted in the drawing with a box marked Goldman Sachs, where he used to work, that contained what appears to be a puppet of the current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an animal that looks like a squid and a CV while a Mr Johnson figure sits on money. Posting on Twitter on Saturday, author David Rich, who has written books about antisemitism, explained animals with tentacles among other tropes are used in negative drawings about Jewish people. He wrote: You might argue that outsized facial features and tentacles are common to other topics too, so its just a cartoon thing. Except where something has a long and familiar antisemitic history, it takes on a different meaning when you apply it to Jews. Former chancellor and ex-health secretary Sajid Javid also wrote on Twitter: Disappointed to see these tropes in todays Guardian. Disturbing theme or at best, lessons not learned? In a statement, The Guardian said: As we said yesterday this cartoon does not meet our editorial standards, and we have decided to remove it from our website. The Guardian apologises to Mr Sharp, to the Jewish community and to anyone offended. We have received a small number of complaints about the cartoon. The Guardians independent readers editor is considering these and will respond in due course. Dhaka: Bangladeshis' health and food security are in jeopardy due to record high temperatures as their already climate-vulnerable nation is engulfed in a severe heatwave that is sweeping parts of Asia. Residents have been suffering from the heat since the beginning of the month in the majority of the region. Although April is usually one of the warmest months, this year's heat in South and Southeast Asia is unusual. The highest temperature in sixty years was recorded on April 16 in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. With global warming, it is likely that the record-breaking trend will continue. Also Read: Nepal's PM's visit to India deferred till June, Here's how "We can't guarantee that this heatwave won't happen again... The frequency of heatwaves will rise as a result of climate change, according to Azizur Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, who spoke to Arab News over the weekend when Dhaka's temperature was about 37 degrees Celsius, or about 4 degrees higher than it was during the same time last year. Also Read: Surprising! Mother got her own daughter raped, soul will tremble after knowing the matter "The highest temperature recorded in Dhaka was 40.2 degrees Celsius in 1965; in 2014, it was 40.3. The highest temperature this year was 40.6 degrees. Rahman explained that the recent heat wave lasted longer than usual. It lasted roughly 16 days, from April 4 to April 20, and it was. It was highly peculiar. According to Rahman, heatwaves typically occur at regular intervals and another one was probably on the horizon. Due to the "heat island" effect, in which iron and concrete infrastructure amplifies the heat, Dhaka, a sprawling city of more than 20 million people, has been particularly hard hit. Bangladeshis are already feeling the effects of the extreme weather, with cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke rising and outbreaks of other diseases on the horizon. "We have heard of more cases of heat stroke this year compared to last year," Rahman said. "During heatwaves, cholera and diarrhoea also spread." Concerns about this year's crops and food security are already growing in the midst of the extended heat wave and lack of rain. According to Prof. M. A. Rahim of Daffodil University in Dhaka, "Different seasonal fruits can't grow to maturity," as the heat breaks the attachment of unripe fruits to the plant and prevents pollination of the flowers of other fruit plants by bees and other insects. Also Read: Indias ties with China ABNORMAL as Beijing violates Border Pacts: EAM Jaishankar The heat makes it impossible for paddy to grow and for farmers to work, endangering the nation's rice harvest. Rahim stated that the production of rice, which is a staple food, is being impacted by the heatwave and that this could result in a 40 percent decrease in rice production. The germination process, which has a significant impact on food production, is also being negatively impacted by this warm temperature. This heat wave is having a variety of effects on our food security. The last survivor of the historical horror widely known as the lynching of Emmett Till has died, leaving behind an infuriating amount of unanswered questions. Advertisement Carolyn Bryant Donham died in hospice care Tuesday night in Louisiana at age 88. She is remembered by history mostly as the 21-year-old woman who accused Till, then a 15-year-old Chicagoan visiting his Mississippi relatives, of behavior that violated the old Jim Crow Souths irrational but strictly enforced racial etiquette and it cost him his life. Advertisement In short, she accused the teen of sexually suggestive whistling, grabbing her by the waist and asking her for a date. Evidence indicates Donham later identified Till to her then-husband, Roy Bryant, and his half brother, J.W. Milam. The two men then kidnapped the teen, tortured him and shot him once in the head. J.W. Milam, from left, his wife, Carolyn and Roy Bryant, in a courtroom in Sumner, Mississippi. on Sept. 23, 1955. Carolyn Bryant Donham is the white woman who accused Black teenager Emmett Till of making improper advances. (AP) Not surprisingly for that time and place, an all-white jury acquitted the two white men in the killing, but the men later confessed in an interview with Look magazine the following year. But the saga did not end there. After the lynching in Money, Mississippi, Tills mother Mamie Till-Mobley, made his murder a rallying cry for the Civil Rights Movement, beginning with her brave decision to display her son, his face beaten beyond recognition, in an open casket to let the world see what they did to my boy. A hundred days after Tills murder, Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus. She later told fellow protesters that she was inspired to keep her seat by memories of Emmett Till. In 2004, the FBI reopened the case, pressured by new evidence of conflicts in earlier testimony by Bryant and Milam, and reopened it in 2018 after Tim Tyson published a book called The Blood of Emmett Till, which raised new controversies and questions about Carolyn Dunhams account. And more books will come. Chris Benson, a lawyer and Northwestern University journalism teacher, co-authored A Few Days Full of Trouble: Revelations on the Journey to Justice for My Cousin and Best Friend, Emmett Till with Tills cousin, the Rev. Wheeler Parker Jr., of Summit. Released in January, the book chronicles Tills life and the investigations into Donhams part in his slaying. Advertisement Rev. Wheeler Parker, Emmitt Till's best friend, published a book, "A Few Days Full of Trouble," about his decade's long struggle to bring Till's killers and conspirators to justice Feb. 6, 2023. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) They eventually gained access to documents that helped us connect the dots to link Carolyn Bryant to that horrible crime. As Benson said in a telephone interview, Its too bad that Carolyn Bryant Donham died without ever taking responsibility for her role in the brutal lynching. Yet, his case is more remembered than most. Emmett Till was one of more than 4,400 African American men, women, and children who were hanged, burned alive, shot, drowned or beaten to death by white mobs between 1877 and 1950, according to the Equal Justice Initiative. Considering how most of those cases are barely remembered, it raises ones curiosity as to why the case of Emmett Till is so widely recalledand honored. Even his coffin is on display in a place of reverence in the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington. Taking the broad view, Benson observed that we Americans tend to see the story of Emmett Till as representative of the history of racial injustice and todays anxiety about racial change. What we are seeing now (in the racial and political news headlines) is a parallel between what was going on in the 1950s and whats going on in this contemporary moment. In the 1950s, people were up in arms over what had just happened school desegregation and other changes, he recalled. Now we see them reacting to what is about to happen a dramatic change in what is about to become our demographic reality in this country. Advertisement By that, he explained, he meant the decline of white Americans as a percentage of the population unsettles some members of the shrinking white majority in much the same way that Southern segregationists had a tough time adjusting to the new reality of the civil rights era. And just as in 1955, he said, some are reacting with violence. He may be right. It has been said that todays political landscape increasingly is defined not by political parties or ideologies as much as by how we relate to change. Weve been through countless changes since Emmett Tills day. We need to understand our troubled past, if only to build a better future. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime Ukraine signs three new agreements with Turkish drone-making company Baykar 30 April, 05:41 PM Ukraine signed three contracts with the Bayraktar manufacturer (Photo:@zalizni_zminy/Telegram) Two Ukrainian defense industry companies signed three agreements with Turkish drone-maker Baykar during a visit to Turkey led by Ukrainian Industry Minister Oleksandr Kamishin, the press service of the Ministry of Strategic Industries reported on April 30. The signing took place at the Teknofest 2023 international aviation and aerospace technology exhibition in Istanbul. Kamishin said that the new contracts provide Ukraine with export revenues and next-generation weapons. He also expressed readiness to facilitate the resolution of any difficulties and bureaucratic obstacles to further expanding cooperation with Baykar Avia Ventures, which he believes is critical for Ukrainian companies to increase production capacity for vital military equipment. Video of day 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 A private Islamic elementary school in Niagara Falls celebrated this weekend its award-winning performances at the Niagara Regional Science and Engineering Fair. Al-Mahdi Learning Institute on Willoughby Drive in Chippawa took home seven awards from the fair. The fair allows any school across the region to compete and present projects, which are awarded if they receive high marks in various judged categories, including juvenile (grades 5 and 6), junior (grades 7 and 8), intermediate (grades 9 and 10) and senior (grades 11 and 12). An awards ceremony was held in early April, when results were announced. On Saturday, Al-Mahdi Learning Institute held its own science fair and open house to recognize the schools achievements. The school, which opened in the former King George V School building four years ago, won the junior school award, given to the school with the most projects receiving the highest marks in that category. Zahrae Noureddine, a science teacher and co-ordinator at Al-Mahdi, received an outstanding teacher award, given to the teacher whose students received the highest marks as a junior category group compared to all other schools that entered the fair. Mahdyar Ramezani received the Ontario Tender Fruit Marketing Board Award for studying different types of plant behaviours. Malak Farhat received the Brock University Psychology Award for studying the varying impacts different colours have on the memories of students in different age and gender groups. Zeinab Faour received the Brock University Chemistry Award for comparing natural versus manufactured antacids to test their impacts on neutralizing acid in the stomach. Alaa Noureddine received the Water Environmental Association of Ontario Award for testing which types of water bottles plastic, glass or steel grow the least bacteria. Hussein Farhat received the honourable mention award for testing which types of reusable straws are safest to use. He said its the first time he has done such a project, which took him about a month to complete. The 11-year-old, Grade 7 student had some advice for similar students who participate in science fairs: Dont be nervous about anything, just be confident and dont worry, you got it. Zahrae Noureddine said she initially didnt pay attention to the fact there was a teacher award because she was so focused on helping her students be as successful as possible. It was really surprising that I won it and I was happy, she said. Obviously, I feel really honoured to be in this position. Al-Mahdi Learning Institute provides an academic and spiritual environment for students in junior kindergarten to grade 8, offering a full curriculum. The school has 60 students and 10 staff. Ziad Hajifazul, a member of the institute, said students live in Niagara Falls, but a few come from Hamilton. He said the school is for parents who prefer private schooling. We thought it would be an opportunity for those parents to have their kids have good education and maintain the tradition, the culture and sustain their principles. Hajifazul said Saturdays event was not only an opportunity to recognize award winners and other students, but also to showcase the projects, as students had their project billboards on display for visitors to see. Mayor Jim Diodati attended the event and presented certificates from city hall. The mayor said hes impressed by the high level of education being offered at the school and its early successes. SHARE: The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year began hearing arguments on two critical cases concerning the spread of illegal content on social media platforms. The first case pits Google against the family of an American student killed by the Islamic State who claim YouTubes recommended videos aided ISIS recruitment, while the second alleges Twitter made insufficient efforts to take down pro-terrorist posts. At the heart of both is the U.S. Communications Decency Act of 1996, which protects online platforms from liability for being treated as the publisher or speaker of users posts. Early indications from court watchers are that the court seems unlikely to side with those looking to narrow this broad latitude afforded to platforms. The regulation of online content moderation has become a pressing policy challenge for countries around the world, as the spread of illegal and harmful content, like terrorist and violent content, sexual exploitation, hate speech and harassment, continues to be exacerbated and amplified by online platforms. In the absence of meaningful regulation in both the U.S. and Canada, the crucial task of balancing the right to free expression and the mitigation of real and growing harms from ill-intended actors has fallen to a small number of companies who have largely consolidated and privatized online discourse. These companies are almost all based in the U.S. (with the exception of TikTok in China) and have ad-based business models that can discourage taking meaningful action to reduce certain harms. The latest Survey of Online Harms in Canada the fourth conducted by my team at Toronto Metropolitan Universitys Leadership Lab since 2019 provides insights on Canadians experiences with harmful online content. To start, 72 per cent believe Canadians have been exposed to more harmful content over the past few years. One in three Canadians reported seeing promotion of violence, identity fraud and false information online at least a few times a month. Four in ten Canadians are exposed to online hate speech on at least a monthly basis. One in ten Canadians reported being targets of online hate speech, and eight per cent said they were targets of online harassment that caused them to fear for their safety; these proportions were approximately twice as high among Canadians who are racialized, have a disability or identify as LGBTQ2S+. Amid this backdrop, it is not surprising there have been growing calls from public safety actors, victims groups and politicians for regulation to mitigate these harms. At the same time, legitimate concerns have been raised regarding censorship and that any changes may unreasonably limit our rights and freedoms, particularly the right to free expression. So, we dug into what Canadians think about this balance and the role of government and platforms in addressing illegal and harmful content. While Canadians first instinct is that addressing these harms is the platforms responsibility, their trust in social media platforms to act in the best interest of the public continues to fall. Only one in ten have a high degree of trust in Facebook, TikTok or Twitter. Two-thirds of Canadians believe the government should require online platforms to act responsibly and reduce the amount of harmful content on their platforms. About the same proportion said reducing the amount of hate speech, harassment and false information online is more important than protecting free expression. Strong support for requiring platforms to remove various categories of illegal or harmful content has increased significantly since 2021. More than 80 per cent of Canadians support requirements for platforms to quickly remove reported illegal content, block automated or bot accounts, label information verified as false, and provide tools for users to fact check or search for the authenticity of online content. The Trudeau government has been consulting for two years now on a potential bill to protect online safety and add domestic oversight to the decisions of these American platforms. This long process has given us the chance to learn from similar efforts in the EU, U.K. and Australia which is important as crafting the design and scope of a new regulator that will advance and protect Canadians safety and human rights online is a critical task to get right. The latest survey evidence suggests Canadians are ready for them to act. Sam Andrey is the Director of Policy and Research at the Dais (formerly known as the Leadership Lab) at Toronto Metropolitan University. Read more about: SHARE: WINNIPEG - Manitobas Premier has announced her government will contribute $30 million to expand an intensive care unit at a Winnipeg hospital. Heather Stefanson announced the funding at a Sunday afternoon news conference, saying the money will go towards the Grace Hospital Foundations campaign to create up to 20 new beds in the facilitys ICU, and is part of her Progressive Conservative governments plan to heal health care in Manitoba. The province says the Graces current 10-bed ICU provides around-the-clock care for critically ill patients, but Winnipeg Regional Health Care Authority president and CEO Mike Nader told the news conference its dated and inflexible. Grace Hospital Foundation board chair Jeff Coleman called the funding monumental as the hospital transitions into Winnipegs third major acute-care site, along with the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital. Coleman noted the Grace has a new MRI building, a new emergency department and a recently completed diagnostic imaging center. Stefanson says the ICU expansion will continue to ensure the Grace and its staff can continue to provide the highest standard of care to more Manitobans. This project will make a difference for patients, for their families and the incredible health-care staff who care for those in need in our ICUs, Stefanson said. Design work on the hospital expansion is to begin soon, with construction expected to start in the summer of 2024. Earlier this month, Stefanson was on the defensive as other political leaders attacked her governments health-care record during a debate organized by the Association of Manitoba Municipalities leading up to the Oct. 3 provincial election. That record included a bed shortage that forced dozens of intensive care patients to be flown to other provinces at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. All three main party leaders promised more money for health care during the forum. The government noted in a news release about the funding for Grace Hospital that Budget 2023 includes $1.2 billion in multi-year capital investments in hospitals and other health infrastructure across Manitoba. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) With her insurance about to run out and Republicans in her home state of Missouri ramping up rhetoric against gender-affirming health care, Erin Stille nervously visited a foreign pharmaceutical site as a last resort to ensure she could continue getting the hormones she needs. Stille, 26, sent a $300 bank transfer to a Taiwan-based supplier for a 6-month supply of estrogen patches and androgen-blocking pills. For three weeks she feared shed been scammed but breathed a sigh of relief when a large package arrived at her home in St. Peters. Its definitely a little scary, Stille said. Taking a chance like this, I could have my money stolen and theres not much I can do about it. But I figured, at this point, that the benefits outweigh the risks. Stille, and others nationwide, are scrambling to form contingency plans as Republican politicians rapidly erode access to the gender-affirming treatments many credit as life-saving. Fears became even more pronounced in Missouri this month after Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a first-of-its-kind emergency rule that places strict restrictions on that care for minors and adults. While some doctors say self-medicating trans health care is dangerous, Stille is among a growing population who say they see no other option. If enacted, the Missouri 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 18 months or more 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 will have to be treated and resolved. Some people will be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing the required assessments, which arent affordable for many. Some transgender Missourians and health care providers sued to overthrow the rule, and a St. Louis judge pushed back its effective date from last Thursday to Monday at 5 p.m. as she weighs whether to block its enforcement as the lawsuit proceeds in court. A ruling is expected Monday. Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield residents, especially minors, from what he describes as experimental treatments, but puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades and are widely considered medically necessary for many trans people. Some gender-affirming treatment providers in Missouri are already planning to cut back on care. Vivent Health Interim President and CEO Brandon Hill said doctors are worried about meeting documentation requirements for new patients, so clinics in St. Louis and Kansas City will only provide gender-affirming health care to current patients. Vivent Health provides HIV-focused and LGBTQ+ friendly health care in St. Louis, Kansas City and other states. Do-it-yourself hormone replacement therapy has become an increasingly common way for trans residents of restrictive states to avoid involuntarily stopping hormone treatment. Trans people like Stille have been discreetly circulating a comprehensive guide and a digital master list of hormone suppliers, some more reliable than others, through social media. This online marketplace, known as the gray market, is comprised of unregulated suppliers who sell legitimate medications, sometimes name-brand, outside the distribution channels authorized by the manufacturers. Some trans people in GOP-controlled states that have not yet enacted bans are buying from these suppliers to build an emergency stockpile. But self-administering hormones without adequate supervision can be extraordinarily dangerous, especially for those taking testosterone, said Dr. Robert Lash, chief medical officer at the Endocrine Society, which represents specialists who treat hormone conditions. Although taking testosterone can help trans men develop some desired physical features, it also increases their risk of a blood clot or stroke. Lash said doctors need to closely monitor a patients red blood cell count, lipids and liver function and adjust their dosage accordingly. Estrogen use can also increase risk of blood clots, he said. These are powerful medications with a lot of effects on a lot of body systems, not all of which are good, Lash said. Taking these hormones on your own is just an invitation to running into problems. People need to be extraordinarily careful when using them and really shouldnt without medical supervision. He cautioned against taking hormones from any unregulated pharmacy, veterinary source or overseas provider. Even for those willing to assume the risks, not all trans people have the same level of access. Trans men like Levi Sobel, a 30-year-old from Springfield, are finding it much more difficult to source testosterone than other hormones. Testosterone is classified in the U.S. as a Schedule III controlled substance, along with ketamine and some opioids, and is subjected to more regulations that the typical prescription drug. Sobel said unregulated testosterone providers are pretty much nonexistent in the U.S., and its unwise to buy from international sellers because of the higher likelihood of the hormone being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This makes it essentially impossible for me to stockpile in the same ways my transfeminine friends can, Sobel said. The best I can do to stretch it is to make sure Im using every last drop from every vial. Stacy Cay, an autistic trans woman and comedian in Kansas City, has already saved up enough injectable estrogen to last about a year. The more she can stockpile, the more time she has to prepare her plan to relocate if the emergency rule isnt blocked in court, she said. This feels like the end of Kansas City being my home, Cay said. It feels like its being taken away. Others, like Ellie Bridgman, a gas station attendant in Union, are employing a unique strategy to stockpile hormones. The 23-year-old, who said the attorney generals rule would cut off her treatment access because shes autistic and has depression, started injecting only a half dose of estrogen before her routine blood tests so her hormone levels would read low. This led her doctor to increase her prescription. Bridgman said she may consider decreasing her dosage to conserve medication or supplement her supply with an unregulated purchase. Stockpiling is her No. 1 priority. Without hormone replacement therapy, she said, the suicidal thoughts and ideation comes back stronger than ever. This is my lifeline. ___ Schoenbaum reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. SHARE: CLEVELAND, Texas (AP) A widening manhunt for a Texas gunman who fatally shot five neighbors continued coming up empty Sunday as officers knocked on doors, the governor put up $50,000 in reward money and the FBI appeared no closer to catching the killer after nearly two days of searching with a team that has grown to hundreds of people. I can tell you right now, we have zero leads, James Smith, the FBI special agent in charge, told reporters while again asking the public for tips in the rural town of Cleveland, where the shooting took place just before midnight Friday. The search for the gunman near Houston has grown in scale: Authorities said that by Sunday evening more than 200 police from multiple jurisdictions were searching for Francisco Oropeza, many of them going door to door in hopes of any clues that would lead to the 38-year-old suspect. Local officials and the FBI also chipped in reward money, bringing the total to $80,000 for any information about Oropezas whereabouts. Oropeza is considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the area Friday night, likely on foot. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said authorities had widened the search area beyond the scene of the shooting, which occurred after the suspects neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard late at night because a baby was trying to sleep. At a Sunday vigil in Cleveland, Wilson Garcia, the father of the 1-month-old, described the terrifying efforts inside his home by friends and family that night to escape, hide and shield themselves and children after Oropeza walked up to the home and began firing, killing his wife first at the front door. Another of Garcias children, 9-year-old Daniel Enrique Laso, was also killed. Garcia said he and two other people had gone to respectfully ask Oropeza to shoot his gun farther away from the house, which is on a street where residents say it is not uncommon for neighbors to unwind by firing off guns. Garcia said he walked away and called the police when Oropeza refused. It was 10 to 20 minutes later when he said he saw Oropeza loading his AR-style rifle while running toward the house. I told my wife, Get inside. This man has loaded his weapon, Garcia said. My wife told me to go inside because, He wont fire at me. Im a woman. Authorities have said at least five other people who were in the house at the time were uninjured. During the early hours of the search, investigators found clothes and a phone while combing an area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Authorities were able to identify Oropeza by an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who reside outside the country, as well as the doorbell camera footage. He said police have also interviewed the suspects wife multiple times. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that they said Oropeza used in the shootings. Authorities were not sure if Oropeza was carrying another weapon after others were found in his home. Capers said he hoped the reward money would motivate people to provide information and that there were plans to put up billboards in Spanish to spread the word. Were looking for closure for this family, Capers said. By Sunday, police crime scene tape was removed from around the victims home, where some people stopped by to leave flowers. In the neighborhood, an FBI agent, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers were seen going door to door.One trooper stopped a red truck and asked to look inside before letting the driver continue on his way. Veronica Pineda, 34, who lives across the street from the suspects home, said authorities asked if they could search her property to see if he might be hiding there. She said she was fearful that the gunman had not yet been captured. It is kind of scary, she said. You never know where he can be. Pineda said she didnt know Oropeza well but occasionally saw him, his wife and son ride their horses on the street. She said the family had lived there about five or six years and that neighbors have called authorities in the past to complain about people firing guns. The victims were between the ages of 9 and 31 years old and all were believed to have been shot from the neck up, according to authorities. All were believed to be from Hondurus. Enrique Reina, Honduras secretary of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was contacting the families in connection with the repatriation of remains as well as U.S. authorities to keep apprised of the investigation. The FBI in Houston said in a tweet on Sunday that it was referring to the suspect as Oropesa, not Oropeza, to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. His family lists their name as Oropeza on a sign outside their yard, as well as in public records. Authorities had also previously stated that Garcias son was 8 years old, but the father and school officials said Sunday that the third grader was 9. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. He said they were staying with family members. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe those at the home were members of a single family. In addition to the young boy, the other victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; and Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18. Garcia said they had called police five times between the time they asked Oropeza to shoot farther away and when the gunman entered their home. Capers said police got there as fast as they could and that he had three officers covering 700 square miles (1,800 square kilometers). ___ A previous version of this story, based on information from the FBI, incorrectly stated the age of Daniel Enrique Laso as 8 years old. His father said the boy was 9 years old. ___ Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report. SHARE: JEFFERSON CITY With her insurance about to run out and Republicans in her home state of Missouri ramping up rhetoric against gender-affirming health care, Erin Stille nervously visited a foreign pharmaceutical site as a last resort to ensure she could continue getting the hormones she needs. Stille, 26, sent a $300 bank transfer to a Taiwan-based supplier for a 6-month supply of estrogen patches and androgen-blocking pills. For three weeks she feared she'd been scammed but breathed a sigh of relief when a large package arrived at her home in St. Peters. It's definitely a little scary, Stille said. Taking a chance like this, I could have my money stolen and there's not much I can do about it. But I figured, at this point, that the benefits outweigh the risks. Stille, and others nationwide, are scrambling to form contingency plans as Republican politicians rapidly erode access to the gender-affirming treatments many credit as life-saving. Fears became even more pronounced in Missouri this month after Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a first-of-its-kind emergency rule that places strict restrictions on that care for minors and adults. While some doctors say self-medicating trans health care is dangerous, Stille is among a growing population who say they see no other option. If enacted, the Missouri 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 18 months or more 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 will have to be treated and resolved. Some people will be able to maintain their prescriptions while undergoing the required assessments, which aren't affordable for many. Some transgender Missourians and health care providers sued to overthrow the rule, and a St. Louis judge pushed back its effective date from last Thursday to Monday at 5 p.m. as she weighs whether to block its enforcement as the lawsuit proceeds in court. A ruling is expected Monday. Bailey has touted the rule as a way to shield residents, especially minors, from what he describes as experimental treatments, but puberty blockers and sex hormones have been prescribed for decades and are widely considered medically necessary for many trans people. Some gender-affirming treatment providers in Missouri are already planning to cut back on care. Vivent Health Interim President and CEO Brandon Hill said doctors are worried about meeting documentation requirements for new patients, so clinics in St. Louis and Kansas City will only provide gender-affirming health care to current patients. Vivent Health provides HIV-focused and LGBTQ+ friendly health care in St. Louis, Kansas City and other states. Do-it-yourself hormone replacement therapy has become an increasingly common way for trans residents of restrictive states to avoid involuntarily stopping hormone treatment. Trans people like Stille have been discreetly circulating a comprehensive guide and a digital master list of hormone suppliers, some more reliable than others, through social media. This online marketplace, known as the gray market, is comprised of unregulated suppliers who sell legitimate medications, sometimes name-brand, outside the distribution channels authorized by the manufacturers. Some trans people in GOP-controlled states that have not yet enacted bans are buying from these suppliers to build an emergency stockpile. But self-administering hormones without adequate supervision can be extraordinarily dangerous, especially for those taking testosterone, said Dr. Robert Lash, chief medical officer at the Endocrine Society, which represents specialists who treat hormone conditions. Although taking testosterone can help trans men develop some desired physical features, it also increases their risk of a blood clot or stroke. Lash said doctors need to closely monitor a patient's red blood cell count, lipids and liver function and adjust their dosage accordingly. Estrogen use can also increase risk of blood clots, he said. These are powerful medications with a lot of effects on a lot of body systems, not all of which are good, Lash said. Taking these hormones on your own is just an invitation to running into problems. People need to be extraordinarily careful when using them and really shouldn't without medical supervision. He cautioned against taking hormones from any unregulated pharmacy, veterinary source or overseas provider. Even for those willing to assume the risks, not all trans people have the same level of access. Trans men like Levi Sobel, a 30-year-old from Springfield, are finding it much more difficult to source testosterone than other hormones. Testosterone is classified in the U.S. as a Schedule III controlled substance, along with ketamine and some opioids, and is subjected to more regulations that the typical prescription drug. Sobel said unregulated testosterone providers are pretty much nonexistent in the U.S., and it's unwise to buy from international sellers because of the higher likelihood of the hormone being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This makes it essentially impossible for me to stockpile in the same ways my transfeminine friends can, Sobel said. The best I can do to stretch it is to make sure I'm using every last drop from every vial. Stacy Cay, an autistic trans woman and comedian in Kansas City, has already saved up enough injectable estrogen to last about a year. The more she can stockpile, the more time she has to prepare her plan to relocate if the emergency rule isnt blocked in court, she said. This feels like the end of Kansas City being my home," Cay said. It feels like its being taken away. Others, like Ellie Bridgman, a gas station attendant in Union, are employing a unique strategy to stockpile hormones. The 23-year-old, who said the attorney general's rule would cut off her treatment access because she's autistic and has depression, started injecting only a half dose of estrogen before her routine blood tests so her hormone levels would read low. This led her doctor to increase her prescription. Bridgman said she may consider decreasing her dosage to conserve medication or supplement her supply with an unregulated purchase. Stockpiling is her No. 1 priority. Without hormone replacement therapy, she said, "the suicidal thoughts and ideation comes back stronger than ever. This is my lifeline." Schoenbaum reported from Raleigh, North Carolina. Zelenskyy and Macron discuss Ukraines need for weapons 30 April, 09:36 PM Zelensky spoke by phone with Macron (Photo:Office of the President of Ukraine) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held telephone talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on April 30, according to Ukraines Office of the President. Zelenskyy briefed Macron on the situation on the front line and its prospects for May and June, and highlighted the urgent needs of the Ukrainian defense forces. The presidents agreed on additional measures to strengthen Ukraines potential on the battlefield. The speed and specificity of response is very important, it is something that significantly enhances our capabilities. We appreciate Frances confirmation of providing our Armed Forces with a powerful armored package, said the Ukrainian head of state. Video of day During the conversation, particular attention was paid to preparations for the NATO summit in Vilnius, where Kyiv expects specific decisions on security guarantees and the initiation of the procedure for inviting Ukraine to NATO, the Ukrainian readout of the call says. The two leaders also discussed cooperation with other international partners to consolidate their support for the Ukrainian formula for peace and coordinated their positions on the eve of important international events. 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 Starting a business can be an enticing dream. Its also notoriously difficult to come up with an original idea, find the right team and fund its growth. If you want to work for yourself, there may be an easier way buying an existing business. Think of it like renovating a house instead of building one from the ground up, says Mark Zweig, professor and entrepreneur-in-residence at the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business. I like the constraints of an existing business versus a clean sheet of paper, Zweig says. Here are four reasons to consider this path to entrepreneurship. You dont have to start from scratch Founders need to find customers, develop relationships with vendors and hire employees. They may need to rent space and buy equipment. They also need to create processes, set up software tools, hire lawyers and accountants, and complete other relevant tasks. Building that structure takes time and money. When you buy a business, at least some of those things are already in place. Theres a lot of intellectual capital when you buy a business, says Randy Katz, founder of Synesis Advisors and past president of the California Association of Business Brokers. The employees have seen pretty much any kind of problem that you might run into, which means that they probably are better at foreseeing problems and better (at) planning for problems. And perhaps most valuable of all: There may already be money coming in. I could invest $200,000 and have to grind it out and build the business from scratch with absolutely no infrastructure and no guarantees of success, Katz says. With the same amount of money, he says, you could purchase a business that generates cash flow right out of the gate. Buying a business doesnt guarantee success either, Katz cautions. Still, the financial economics just make a lot of sense if you buy the right business, do the right diligence and are successful in the continuity of the operation. Financing may be available It can be very difficult to find startup funding for a new venture. Many business owners rely on their own savings or friends and family to get their business up and running. The main advantage of buying a business over starting a business is that theres capital and loans available from banks for buying businesses, says Tim Stolz, a certified financial planner and certified public accountant at Bestgate Wealth Advisors in Maryland. You may be able to use an SBA loan or business bank loan to buy a business. Startups are typically excluded from these types of financing because they lack revenue history but when youre buying an existing business, lenders can evaluate its financials and make predictions about the businesss future performance. Business sellers may also be willing to finance the business purchase, Zweig says, especially if theyre eager to retire and dont have a successor. You can do due diligence You can look through an existing businesss books to make sure everything is above board, from classifying workers correctly to complying with sales tax laws. Zweig cautions against businesses that face pending litigation, businesses with reputations that feel impossible to improve and family businesses that employ several relatives. He also watches out for single-person management situations in which if the owner leaves, all of the institutional knowledge leaves with them. And any unethical or illegal activity is a no-go. Working with an attorney and CPA with experience in business acquisitions can help you stay on top of the complicated legal and tax considerations involved in a business purchase. Talk to a personal financial planner, too business ownership is still a risk, and its essential to prepare your personal finances as well. You may already know the business well You could be working in or around the business youll someday buy. Long-term key employees of small businesses are often the ones best positioned to successfully succeed the founder, Stolz says. He adds that small businesses are often well positioned to buy their competitors, especially if they serve similar groups of customers. If youre casting a wider net, a business broker may be able to help. These advisors can help you find a deal outside your industry or neighborhood. All of a sudden, an opportunity can come to (a buyer) and they say, you know what, I never would have thought of this, but this is a really great business, Katz says. The crowds had been filing through the ticket lanes since 8 a.m. Five hours later, an ensemble led by bandleader John Philip Sousa burst with patriotic fanfare. Far away in the White House, President Theodore Roosevelt threw an electric switch. In Forest Park, water rushed from the cascades and fountains. Nearly 200,000 people were there to cheer. It was a dramatic opening for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition on April 30, 1904, easily the most anticipated day ever in St. Louis. The seven-month run was a smashing success. At least 12 million visitors paid to get in, and 20 million is the often-cited total attendance. It even made money. The fairground was spread across 1,272 acres, or nearly two square miles. It covered the western part of Forest Park and extended west into the new campus of Washington University and the future site of Concordia Seminary. Its center was the sweeping, fan-shaped vista now known as Art Hill. Cascades splashed down the hill into the Grand Basin. Twelve palaces, massive and elaborately decorated exhibition halls, were crammed with contraptions from Americas industrial growth typewriters, sewing machines, turbines, street lights, naval artillery, locomotives. Others featured works of art and an elephant made of almonds. Forty-one states and territories had buildings on the grounds, with Missouri's on top of today's Government Hill. Pennsylvania brought the Liberty Bell. Forty-three countries built pavilions. Irelands resembled Blarney Castle, Indias was a replica of the Taj Mahal. The biggest spread, west of todays Skinker Boulevard, was that of the Philippines, Americas new colony. Some of the popular exhibits speak to racial mores of the times fairgoers were fascinated by the huts and habits of the primitive Igorrote tribe of the Philippines, the dancing Batwa Pygmies of Africa and living portrayals of model schools for Native Americans. Geronimo, the great Apache warrior and captive of the American government, charged a dime for his autograph. Washington University hosted the 1904 Olympics in July and August. It was the third such competition in modern times and the last in which athletes didnt officially represent countries. At night, the fair was ablaze in lights. The midway running along Lindell Boulevard, known as the Ten Million Dollar Pike, was packed with games, rides, concessions and shows of military might. The 264-foot-high Ferris wheel, brought down from Chicago, stood near todays Skinker and Forsyth boulevards. Each of its 36 cars could hold 60 people. The fair attracted millions of visitors from around the world. It was a favorite diversion for delegates to the 1904 Democratic National Convention, held July 6-9 in the Exposition and Music Hall downtown (now site of the Central Library). The Tammany men from New York said the midway compared well to Coney Island. On Nov. 19, a fire gutted the Missouri pavilion. As flames spread, a detachment of Marines dashed into the building and rescued a bell destined for the Navys battleship Missouri. Six days later, President Roosevelt visited with his wife, Edith, and their daughter, Alice. Their carriage was mobbed by well-wishers. Fine, fine, Teddy said of the fair. On closing night Dec. 1, about 100,000 people witnessed a dramatic dousing of all the lights. Vendors had run out of beer an hour before. The fair's legacy in stone, metal and winter sport For all the massive buildup for the World's Fair, not much is left but photographs and mementos. Almost all of the buildings, made of wood and plaster, were demolished as intended. The Palace of Fine Arts, designed to be permanent, became the Art Museum. The zoo bird cage was preserved from the fair. The open-air World's Fair Pavilion atop Government Hill, often confused as a structure from the fair, wasn't built for another five years. It stands upon the site of the Missouri state pavilion, which burned shortly before the fair ended. The Jefferson Memorial, now part of the Missouri History Museum, was finished in 1913 on the site of the fair's main entrance at Lindell Boulevard and DeBaliviere Avenue. The most enduring symbol is the bronze statue of King Louis IX on Art Hill. It was inspired by a popular plaster statue of the same design that stood at the main entrance. It was dedicated with a parade on Oct. 6, 1906. One other thing remains. To make way for the fair, workers cleared a long slope of trees. Sledders began using the hill on the first snow after the fair. They still do, on what we now call Art Hill. The ice cream cone and other beloved myths The ice cream cone was invented at the St. Louis World's Fair, right? Nope. It is a warmly held local legend, but a New Yorker had taken a patent on the confection in 1903. Many vendors at the fair offered versions of the ice cream cone, and their popularity helped make it famous. Perhaps that's legend enough. Other myths have it that the fair introduced the hot dog and iced tea. They, too, were popular treats. Just not original ones. Grandeur and tragedy at the Great Ferris Wheel at the 1904 World's Fair Ferris Wheel at World's Fair May 1904: Death on the big wheel Fair flair World's Fair opening day Opening of the World's Fair Palace of Electricity at World's Fair John Philip Sousa at World's Fair The Tyrolean Alps pavilion at World's Fair Canals at World's Fair Camels at the World's Fair Re-enacting battles at the World's Fair Igorrote tribe at World's Fair Water-chute ride at World's Fair Cookware display at World's Fair Belgian pavilion World's Fair The pike at the World's Fair Art Hill at World's Fair Ice cream at the World's Fair Reproduction of Jerusalem World's Fair Burned state pavilion at World's Fair Farewell World's Fair Ferris Wheel remains Wheel of fortune? ~~ VERTICAL GALLERY: HIDE TITLES, ENLARGE TYPE ~~ OLD MONROE Four people died here late Saturday night, including three teenagers, after a car drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle while attempting to overtake another vehicle. A 2016 Chevrolet Impala, driven by a 16-year-old girl from Wright City, was southbound on Highway 79, just past the intersection of Route C, around 11:45 p.m., when it overtook another vehicle and struck the front end of an approaching 2022 Hyundai Elantra, according to a preliminary report by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The driver of the Impala and her two passengers, 15- and 16-year-old girls from OFallon, Missouri, were pronounced dead at the scene by Lincoln County emergency responders, officials said. Their names weren't released because they were juveniles. The driver of the Hyundai, Racheal G. Neldon, 23, of Elsberry, also died at the scene. An 18-year old passenger from Wright City was flown to a St. Louis hospital for treatment. Reached by telephone, Neldon's family said she was headed home at the time of the accident. They described her as "big-hearted" and "optimistic." "Shell be dearly missed, said her father, Tom. "She touched a lot of lives, and she was a good person." St. Louis County Executive Sam Page and his appointed county counselor are demanding permanent, unchecked authority to hire outside legal representation to do the counselors job. This is a supremely bad, undemocratic and ridiculously expensive idea. The authority was approved on an emergency basis during the pandemic, when the county faced multiple lawsuits related to mask mandates and social distancing. That was somewhat understandable. But those days are over. The council must return to its previous oversight role, impose checks on the executive branchs spending authority and insist that the counselors office justify its expenditures before hiring outside counsel. This is how democracy is supposed to work. Page vetoed a council bill to restore its approval authority, arguing last Friday that the bill does not allow the counselor to act with maximum efficiency and does not serve the best interest of the county. His veto ignored the pre-pandemic authority of the council to perform its required checks and balances on spending by the executive branch. But since handing back that authority would mean ceding the power he gained during the pandemic, Page is fighting it. The county counselor is appointed by the county executive and typically prioritizes the executives political objectives when his agenda conflicts with the councils. That dynamic often irked Page when he was chairman of the council and was working to thwart then-County Executive Steve Stengers corrupt and illegal usurpation of power. Now that Page is in control, he seems to have forgotten why the councils authority is necessary to check the power of the executive branch and impose spending discipline, including on the county counselors office. The pandemic created all kinds of extraordinary circumstances that called for extraordinary measures. The state attorney generals office was bearing down hard on the county for its efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus and save lives. Private businesses were suing over their ability to keep their doors open as the county imposed social-distancing requirements. So it was understandable when then-County Counselor Beth Orwick asked the County Council to approve temporary spending authority so she could hire outside legal help at a cost not to exceed $400 an hour. Orwick is now Pages chief of staff. Her replacement, Dana Redwing, wants that spending authority to be made permanent. Pages veto helps at least extend it, but the council is trying to wrestle it back to the way it used to be. That means sustaining the votes necessary to override Pages veto. The council was expected to take up the measure on Tuesday, but that didnt happen. It must. No county department deserves to have the kind of open-ended spending authority that Page and Redwing are demanding. Its up to the council to exercise its own powers and hold the executive in check. A new poll indicates the U.S. Supreme Court, once at the top of the nations most respected national institutions, is plummeting in public approval, with neither Republicans nor Democrats satisfied with the nine justices or their legal opinions. Only slightly more than a third of Americans trust the court. Americans also strongly disagree with justices lifetime tenure. Although the court shouldnt rule by public opinion, nor will public disapproval determine its future, the judiciary branchs behavior has justified the scrutiny it is receiving. The abortion issue is one of the big factors affecting the courts current decline in public approval. Controversies surrounding Justice Clarence Thomas repeated ethical breaches certainly dont help the courts image. The precedent of earlier court rulings is supposed to provide the underpinnings to explain whatever new steps the Supreme Court takes in expanding or restricting constitutional rights. A major part of winning public acceptance of certain controversial rulings is the soundness of the legal argument surrounding it. In too many recent decisions, however, the court majoritys logic has appeared to be based more on ideological and even religious conviction rather than the law. The more the court appears to veer in that direction, the less acceptance its decisions will have among the general public and the higher the chances that individuals or governments will look for ways to skirt those rulings. So legitimacy matters, and the courts legitimacy is seriously in question. Earlier this month, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York suggested the Biden administration should ignore a Texas federal judges ruling halting approval of the abortion-inducing drug mifepristone. She was followed by Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who also said the ruling should be ignored. Last week, the Supreme Court overruled the Texas judge and temporarily restored mifepristones legal distribution. But Justice Samuel Alito, who wrote last years ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, took issue with the 7-2 decision to maintain mifepristones availability, justifying his opposition by saying the Government has not dispelled legitimate doubts that it would even obey an unfavorable order in these cases. So Alito seems keenly aware that the court is in danger of having its decisions be disobeyed. In an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Monday, 64% of respondents including 55% of Republicans opposed banning medication abortion. Only 37% overall expressed confidence in the court, with 61% of Republican men supporting it compared with only 44% of Republican women. Two-thirds of respondents favored limiting justices tenure and not appointing them for life. When any branch of government veers to the ideological extremes, thats a warning sign. If justices truly value the publics acceptance, they must work harder to enforce a rigorous ethics policy and find a balance in legal interpretation that better resonates with the population that must cope with the consequences of their rulings. Proud of St. Louis background, but about Missouri, not so much I grew up in St. Louis and worked as a stand boy in Busch Stadium mopping up beer. I am proud to tell people Im from St. Louis. I have been following the states and Buschs transgender news lately. (Bud Light owner places two execs on leave after transgender influencer backlash, April 24.) New Jersey prides itself on its blueness, but it has lots of problems unbelievable taxes, expensive car insurance, truly odious driving conditions though transgender issues, guns and right-to-choose are not among them. Among the reasons I left Missouri were for the kinds of things I see Missouris most visible senator doing and whats going on in Jefferson City regarding transgender laws. David Calandro Flemington, N.J. Gun-control opponent gaslights with claim that it cant work Regarding Ramesh Ponnurus op-ed Why gun-control advocates keep failing (April 25): This is political gaslighting. The writer wants those who advocate gun control to give up on meaningful measures. He provides a series of carefully selected facts, unrelated statements, false equivalencies and misinterpretations while asserting that he has a unique understanding of what is happening. He tells gun-control advocates that they are a reason for the failure to pass meaningful gun regulations. He advises us that gun-control efforts are doomed. He disingenuously offers a few tepid ideas that could help reduce gun violence. They are the usual: Better enforcement of existing gun laws and catching more criminals, but no new legislation. We should not accept a society awash with guns and lax gun laws as something we must learn to live with. The real situation is illustrated by gun mortality statistics from the Center for Disease Control. The five states with the highest gun ownership per capita, and the weakest gun laws, have more than five times as many gun deaths per capita as the five states with the lowest gun ownership per capita, and the strongest gun laws. In 2021, Missouri had the ninth-highest gun-death rate. William Albinson University City The media is hiding the naked truth about Joe Bidens failures Hans Christian Andersen published his fairy tale The Emperors New Clothes in 1837. I suggest we are living in a time of a new story: The Presidents New Suit but this is not a fairy tale. We know there are plenty of conniving weavers (a.k.a., the news media) attempting to convince us the United States is on the right track. When will we discover the damage done to our country by massive overspending, illegal immigration, COVID restrictions, Chinese expansionism, President Joe Bidens age, wokeism, gender-bender issues, and so much more? This is the naked truth. Christopher Gumper St. Louis Read letters online at STLToday.com The resolutions of the Extraordinary General Shareholders Meeting of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL held on 30 April 2023: 1. Presentation of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL consolidated annual report for 2022. Shareholders of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the Consolidated Annual Report of the Company for 2022 (attached). There is no voting on this issue of agenda. 2. Presentation of the independent auditors report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. Shareholders of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL are presented with the independent auditors report on the financial statements and consolidated annual report of the Company (attached). There is no voting on this issue of agenda. 3. Approval of the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. To approve the consolidated and stand-alone financial statements for 2022 (attached) of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. 4. Resolution regarding profit distribution of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. To approve the profit distribution of the joint-stock company Invalda INVL in accordance with the draft profit distribution proposed by the Board (attached). 5. Decision on approval of the Remuneration Report of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. To approve the Remuneration Report of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL for 2022 (included into the Consolidated Annual Report as Annex 4). 6. Resolution regarding purchase of own shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. Until the day of the General Shareholders meeting the reserve for the purchase of own shares which is equal to EUR 9,888 thousand is not used. To use the reserve (a part of it) for the purchase of own shares and to purchase shares in Invalda INVL under these conditions: 1) The goal for the purchase of own shares is to ensure shareholders a possibility to sell companys shares. 2) The maximum number of shares to be acquired the nominal value of own shares may not exceed 1/10 of the share capital. 3) The period during which the company may purchase its own shares 18 months from the day of this resolution. 4) The maximum and minimal one share acquisition price: the maximum one share acquisition price value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the last publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board is taken; minimum one share acquisition price EUR 1. 5) The conditions of the selling of the purchased shares and minimal purchase price: Purchased own shares (including the shares acquired before the adoption of this decision) may be cancelled by the decision of the General Shareholders Meeting or by the decision of the Board granted the right to acquire the shares for the employees upon conditions of the Rules for Granting Equity Incentives, or sold by the decision of the Board upon the condition that minimum sale price for one share isnt lower than value of consolidated equity per one share calculated according to the publicly announced data of the consolidated equity of Invalda INVL before the decision of the Board is taken, and the sale procedure will ensure equal possibilities for all shareholders to purchase these shares. The Board of Invalda INVL is delegated, on the basis of this resolution and the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, to adopt decisions regarding purchase and sale of own shares, to organise purchase and selling procedure of own shares and to determine an order and timing for purchase and sale of own shares as well as the amount of shares and shares price, and to complete all other actions related with purchase and sale procedure of own shares. From the date of this resolution the resolution of the General Shareholders Meeting on 30 April 2022 on the acquisition of own shares expires. 7. Resolution regarding the exercise of stock options granted to Invalda INVL Group employees in 2020. Pursuant to the decisions of the General Meetings of Shareholders of 30 April 2020 and 1 July 2020, on the basis of which stock option agreements on the acquisition of shares of Invalda INVL in 2023 were concluded with the employees of Invalda INVL AB and companies in which more than 50% of the shares are owned by Invalda INVL, to establish that the right of the employees to acquire the said shares is exercised by submitting to the employees for subscription no more than 314,819 newly issued shares of the company. 8. Resolution regarding increase of authorised capital of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL. Increase the authorised capital of the joint stock company Invalda INVL by additional monetary contributions from EUR 3,493,935.08 to EUR 3,585,232.59. 9. Class, number, nominal value and minimum issue price and payment for the issued shares. The authorised capital of Invalda INVL is increased by issuing 314,819 ordinary registered shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.29. If not all shares are subscribed for during the subscription period, the authorised capital will be increased by the sum of the nominal values of the subscribed shares. On the basis of this decision, the Board of the Company must amend the Articles of Association and the number of shares accordingly in the Articles of Association and submit the amended Articles of Association to the Registrar of Legal Entities. To determine that when exercising the stock options granted in 2020, the minimum issue price of one share is EUR 0.35 (the minimum total issue value of these shares is EUR 110,186.65). To instruct the Board of the Company to make all decisions necessary to exercise stock options granted in 2020, including, but not limited to, determining the exact share issue price. In accordance with the provisions of Article 45 of the Law on Companies, shares may be issued at different share issue prices during one share issue. The issue price of the newly issued shares is paid in cash by the persons subscribing to the shares. The subscription agreements for the issued shares are concluded until 20 July 2023. 10. Cancellation of the pre-emptive right of shareholders of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL to acquire shares issued by the Company. Pursuant to the provisions of Article 57 of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, to cancel the pre-emptive right of the shareholders of Invalda INVL to acquire 314,819 ordinary registered shares with a nominal value of EUR 0.29 each. Priority will be revoked upon implementation of the decisions of the company's general meetings of shareholders on 30 April 2020 and 1 July 2020, on the basis of which employees of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL and employees of the companies where more than 50 per cent of the shares are owned by the Company, signed stock option contracts to acquire ordinary registered shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL. Accordingly, the pre-emptive right to acquire the newly issued 314,819 ordinary registered shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL is granted to the employees of the joint stock company Invalda INVL and employees of the companies with more than 50 per cent of the shares owned by Invalda INVL, who have concluded the aforementioned option contracts and for whom the right to acquire the newly issued shares has not been revoked on the grounds established in the Rules for Granting Equity Incentives (the list of persons who are entitled to acquire the newly issued 314,819 ordinary registered shares of the public joint-stock company Invalda INVL is stored in the premises of Invalda INVL, in order to ensure the protection of the personal data the list is not published). 11. Amendment of the Articles of Association of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL and approval of the new wording of the Articles of Association. To approve the new wording of the Articles of Association of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL (attached), changing the entire text of the Articles of Association (without separately approving the amendment of each clause of the Articles of Association). To authorise Darius Sulnis, the President of the public joint stock company Invalda INVL, to sign the new wording of the Companys Articles of Association. 12. Resolution regarding the number of ordinary registered shares of Invalda INVL for which employees shall be offered stock options contracts during the year 2023 and regarding the price of the shares. 12.1. It is offered for the employees of Invalda INVL and of the companies, in which Invalda INVL owns 50%or more of shares, during the year 2023 to sign stock options contracts, on the basis of which, according to the procedures and terms established in stock options contracts, in year 2026 employees will be able to exercise the right to acquire up to 150,000 ordinary registered shares of Invalda INVL of EUR 0.29 nominal value, by paying for every acquired share EUR 1 (one). If a decision was made prior to the signing of the share purchase agreement, which stipulates payments to shareholders, the transfer price of EUR 1 (one) per share would be recalculated, reducing it by the amount paid per share. The acquisition price of the shares is fixed and does not change depending on the performance of the company and / or other group companies or the price of ordinary registered shares of Invalda INVL on the regulated market. These stock options would be granted as a variable part of the remuneration for the year. 12.2. It is offered for the employees of Invalda INVL and of the companies, in which Invalda INVL owns 50% or more of shares, during the year 2023 to sign stock options contracts, on the basis of which, according to the procedures and terms established in stock options contracts, in year 2026 employees will be able to exercise the right to acquire up to 350,000 ordinary registered shares of Invalda INVL of EUR 0.29 nominal value, by paying for every acquired share EUR 1 (one). This number of shares will be recalculated by reducing it by an amount such that the value of the options granted will be equal to the amount indicated below. The beneficiaries of these options would be granted about 7% of the increase in the value of the net assets between 31.12.2022 (EUR 11.07 per share) and 31.12.2025 above a minimum return barrier of 12% (i.e. the right to acquire shares would be granted if the value of the net assets on 31.12.2025 exceeds EUR 15.0552 per share). If payments per share are made prior to the subscription of the share purchase agreement, the minimum return barrier (EUR 15.0552 per share) would be reduced by the amount of the payment plus 12% interest calculated from the determined date by the companys Board until 31.12.2025. These stock options would be granted as a variable part of long-term incentive programme. The company's board is authorized to establish detailed conditions for the implementation of this programme. 13. Update of the Regulations of the Audit Committee Approve the updated Regulations of the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL (attached). 14. Revocation of members of the Audit Committee and election of members of the Audit Committee for a new term of office. To recall Dangute Pranckeniene and Tomas Bubinas from the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL in corpore. For a new term of 4 (four) years to elect to the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL 3 members, two of whom are independent: Dangute Pranckeniene (independent member), Andrius Lenickas (independent member) and Tomas Bubinas. The information about the Audit Committee members is attached. 15. Regarding the determination of remuneration for members of the Audit Committee. To set a remuneration of no more than 200 euros per hour for work in the Audit Committee of Invalda INVL. The remuneration is paid for the hours actually spent performing the activities of a member of the Audit Committee. The person authorized to provide additional information is: Darius Sulnis, President of Invalda INVL E-mail [email protected] Attachments Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(Newsfile Corp. - April 30, 2023) - Higgs Technology has recently announced the launch of its highly-anticipated Web3.0 computer. Developed after years of research and development, this innovative product is set to solve long-standing pain points and difficulties of Web2.0, and is designed to greatly enhance efficiency and user experience while creating new value and models. The Higgs Web3.0 computer will be available for global sale on May 1st through Higgs' official website. With significant technological breakthroughs, this product will promote the blockchain technology in various application scenarios, and will empower diverse business ecosystems. As a technology-driven company, Higgs Technology is dedicated to providing secure, reliable, efficient, and sustainable solutions that create greater value for its customers and partners. With the launch of the Higgs Web3.0 computer, the company may subvert the industry with its innovative approach to Web3.0 technology. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8247/164272_d23ee12284454934_001full.jpg Providing a Comprehensive Solution for Web3 Ecosystem Development Higgs Technology specializes in blockchain infrastructure, Web3 DApp development, smart contract programming, NFTs, and more, actively promoting the deep integration of blockchain technology with the real economy to create greater value for its customers and partners. Higgs Technology believes that the decentralization of Web3.0 is a long-standing issue. The real-time nature, transparency, efficiency, decentralization, and disintermediation of blockchain technology break the original situation where data and information are controlled by specific internet platforms, and data is jointly owned by builders and users, making the internet "decentralized." However, Higgs Technology believes that Web3.0 is still in its infancy, with commonly seen applications including cryptocurrencies, decentralized exchanges, digital identity verification, decentralized financial services (DeFi), blockchain games, and NFTs, among others. Yet, the Web3 domain has been lacking a product that combines the above fields, and each has been working on its own. In this context, the Higgs Web3.0 computer was born. As a supercomputer born for blockchain and decentralized applications (DApps), the Higgs Web3.0 computer supports the metaverse, NFTs, artificial intelligence, smart contracts, and DApps, enabling users to enter the world of Web3.0 with just one click. Higgs Web3.0 computer provides fast, secure, and convenient access to the entire web3 network, allowing applications and data to run on a public, secure blockchain-based virtual machine, supporting metaverse, NFTs, AIGC, smart contracts, DApps, and more. The Higgs Web3.0 computer saves users a lot of time and improves efficiency. Integrating blockchain capabilities, entering Web3.0 with one click To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8247/164272_d23ee12284454934_002full.jpg Introducing the Higgs Web3.0 computer, a supercomputer designed for blockchain and decentralized applications (DApps). It operates on HUNIU OS, an independent operating system based on the native system, which integrates blockchain infrastructure and sandbox isolation technology to provide a secure, user-friendly, scalable, cost-effective, and developer-friendly operating environment for Web3 DApps. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8247/164272_d23ee12284454934_003full.jpg HUNIU OS not only provides end-users with common decentralized applications but also offers essential tools for market participants and developers, including development tools, blockchain browsers, DApp stores, SocialFi and News. This reduces the difficulty of DApp development and integration, allowing developers to focus on implementing business logic and combining features into the Web3 ecosystem. Users can use Web3 DApps in the same way as traditional apps, with the network effects of other internet applications. The sandbox technology used by Higgs Web3.0 computer ensures the absolute security of user assets and data. The computer also provides rich development tools and frameworks, such as Remix, Hardhat, and Truffle, to help developers build and test Web3 applications better. It also provides APIs for third-party developers, allowing their DApps to fully utilize the OS's features and seamlessly integrate with the OS. The Higgs Web3.0 computer, backed by blockchain technology and extensive Web3 expertise, is set to provide utilities for people and applications alike. Its open platform for application development has the potential to make blockchain technology mainstream across the industry. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8247/164272_d23ee12284454934_004full.jpg Contact information: Higgs Website: http://www.higgs.technology Higgs Twitter: https://twitter.com/HiggsWeb3 Email: [email protected] Media Contact Companay Name: Nanjing Baishitong Digital Technology Co., Ltd. Contact: Eve XU Address: DDP China Dubai Digital Park Office A7, Dubai Silicon Oasis Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.higgs.technology To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/164272 (Reuters) -Four civilians died as a result of Ukrainian shelling on a village just over the border in Russia's Bryansk region on Saturday evening, a local governor said. "Four civilians have been killed," Governor Alexander Bogomaz said on the Telegram messaging app. Two other citizens were being treated in hospital, Bogomaz said. Bogomaz earlier said that one residential building had been completely destroyed and two other houses partially destroyed. Bogomaz blamed the incident on "Ukrainian nationalists". Ukraine almost never publicly claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia and on Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the 14-month-old Russian invasion on Ukraine. "Work is continuing at the site of the incident to remove rubble and clear the area," Bogomaz said. "A state of emergency has been introduced in the village." Russia's Bryansk region borders Ukraine. The village of Suzemka, where the incident occurred, is around 10 kms (6.2 miles) from the border. (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Sandra Maler and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) FILE PHOTO: French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech after visiting the 'Chateau de Joux' during a ceremony marking the 175th anniversary of the abolition of slavery in France, in La Cluse-et-Mijoux, near Besancon, eastern France, 27 April 2023. PARIS (Reuters - French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke by phone on Sunday and discussed Ukraine's military needs, both sides said. Zelenskiy said he had a long and meaningful talk with Macron during which the two men co-ordinated their positions on the war and on how to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. "I am grateful to France and Emmanuel personally for their support of our country and our people," he said in an evening video address, in which he also thanked France for promising to send weapons to Ukraine. The French presidency said Macron had reaffirmed France's support for Ukraine to Zelenskiy, and that Macron had given an update on European co-ordination to give Ukraine military help. The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell expressed confidence earlier this week that the bloc would finalise a plan within days to buy ammunition for Ukraine after Kyiv expressed frustration at wrangling among EU member states. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Michel Rose and David Ljunggren; Editing by Hugh Lawson) Description Stephen C. Widom Cultural Arts at Emanuel invites everyone to a BOOK SIGNING WITH MEHDI HASAN on Sunday, April 30, 2023 at 1:00PM. Come and meet British-American broadcast journalist Mehdi Hasan, and learn how to WIN EVERY ARGUMENT, the title of his bestselling book. ADMISSION IS FREE, and each guest/family will receive one FREE BOOK, signed by Mehdi. Additional books can be purchased at the discounted price of $10. Mehdi Hasan is an award-winning journalist known for riveting one-on-one conversations, as well as his coverage of national politics, current affairs, and global news. Host of "The Mehdi Hasan Show" on Sundays at 8pm ET on MSNBC and daily on Peacock, he also currently serves as a political analyst for MSNBC. Mr. Hasan attended The University of Oxford, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. Please join us in a celebration of our spring opening, beginning with a light lunch of bagels/muffins, salads, coffee, tea and bottled water. Following lunch, we will join Mehdi in the sanctuary where he will discuss his book and take questions. In conclusion, he will autograph books in the lobby, where you will have another opportunity to greet him. This event will conclude at approximately 4:00PM. We ask that you call 516.482.5701 if you plan to attend so that we can prepare accordingly. We look forward to seeing all of our old SCW Cultural Arts friends as well as making some new ones. All are welcome. Temple Emanuel of Great Neck is located at 150 Hicks Lane, Great Neck, NY 11024. Category: Arts | Books and Literature | Book Signings ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkish intelligence forces killed Islamic State leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi in Syria. "This individual was neutralized as part of an operation by the Turkish national intelligence organization in Syria yesterday," Erdogan said in an interview with TRT Turk broadcaster. Erdogan said the intelligence organization had pursued Qurashi for a long time. Syrian local and security sources said the raid took place in the northern Syrian town of Jandaris, which is controlled by Turkey-backed rebel groups and was one of the worst-affected in the Feb. 6 earthquake that hit both Turkey and Syria. The Syrian National Army, an opposition faction with a security presence in the area, did not immediately issue any comment. One resident said clashes started on the edge of Jandaris overnight from Saturday into Sunday, lasting for about an hour before residents heard a large explosion. The area was later encircled by security forces to prevent anyone from approaching the area. IS selected al-Qurashi as its leader in November 2022 after the previous IS leader was killed in an operation in southern Syria. Islamic State took over vast swathes of Iraq and Syria in 2014, and its head at the time, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, declared an Islamic caliphate across territory that housed millions. But IS lost its grip on the territory after campaigns by U.S.-backed forces in Syria and Iraq, as well as Syrian forces backed by Iran, Russia and various paramilitaries. Its remaining thousands of militants have in recent years mostly hid out in remote hinterlands of both countries, though they are still capable of carrying out major hit-and-run attacks. The U.S.-led coalition alongside a Kurdish-led alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is still carrying out raids against IS officials in Syria. In some cases, senior IS figures have been targeted while hiding out in areas where Turkey has major influence. (Reporting by Khalil Ashawi in Istanbul, Suleiman Khalidi in Amman and Ezgi Erkoyun; Writing by Maya Gebeily; Editing by Lisa Shumaker and Richard Chang) FILE PHOTO: A Tesla Model X car (front) and Model S (2nd L) are photographed at a Tesla electric car dealership in Sydney, Australia, May 31, 2017. REUTERS/Jason Reed (Reuters) - Tesla's Model S and Model X were not available for order in some Asia-Pacific countries, including Australia, Thailand, Singapore and New Zealand, the automaker's website showed on Sunday. Other Tesla Inc models, such as Model 3 and Model Y were available in these countries, according to the website. It was not immediately clear why these models were not available. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker posted record deliveries in the January-March quarter, but deliveries of higher-priced Model X and Model S vehicles slumped by 38%. Tesla has been aggressively cutting prices for some of its models this year across markets to juice demand as competition among electric-vehicle makers heats up around the world. Investors have been watching Musk's gamble that cutting prices would stimulate sales, although they worry about eroding margins. (Reporting by Akanksha Khushi in Bengaluru; Editing by William Mallard) FILE PHOTO: A Ukrainian serviceman rides inside a BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle on a road to the front line town of Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine April 21, 2023. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova/File Photo By Lidia Kelly (Reuters) -Ukraine remains in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, a military spokesperson said on Saturday, as the head of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group threatened to withdraw some of his troops from the eastern city if Moscow did not send more ammunition. Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000. Kyiv has pledged to defend Bakhmut, which Russia sees as a stepping stone to attacking other cities. "For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it," Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. "Yes, it is really difficult there ... (but) the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics." The "road of life" is a vital road between the ruined Bakhmut and the nearby town Chasiv Yar to the west - a distance of just over 17 km (10.56 miles). Ukraine's top military command said in its daily update on Sunday that its forces had repelled 58 Russian attacks over the past day along the part of frontline stretching from Bakhmut through Avdiivka and on to Maryinka further south in the Donetsk region. If Bakhmut fell, Chasiv Yar would probably be next to come under Russian attack according to military analysts, though it is on higher ground and Ukrainian forces are believed to have built defensive fortifications nearby. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner Group, who has often claimed unverifiable successes, said that his forces have advanced some 100 to 150 metres (109 to 164 yards) in Bakhmut, leaving just under 3 square km of the city in Ukrainian hands. But he said he lost 94 troops. "It would have had been five times fewer if we had more ammunition," Prigozhin said in an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app of his press service on Saturday evening. Separately, in a nearly 90-minute video interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov published on Saturday, Prigozhin threatened to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, saying they had enough ammunition left only for days. "If the shortage of ammunition is not replenished, then ... most likely, we will be forced to withdraw part of the units," Prigozhin said, quoting a letter he said was sent to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, giving an April 28 deadline. It was not immediately known when the interview was recorded. Prigozhin has often said the regular armed forces are not giving his men the ammunition they need and has sometimes accused top brass of betrayal. "We need to stop deceiving the population and telling them that everything is fine," Prigozhin said in the interview. "I must honestly say: Russia is on the brink of a disaster." (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed) FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. After more than a century as Fort Lee, the Army officially renamed the post Fort Gregg-Adams on Thursday, honoring two Black officers who helped pave the way for an integrated military. The inspirational quality of the two leaders that we now honor is something that should echo in the mind and heart of every soldier and every American, Maj. Gen. Mark Simerly, commander of the Combined Arms Support Command, said at a ceremony honoring Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Fort Gregg-Adams, which is outside Richmond, Va., is the third of nine Army posts scheduled to be renamed as the military works to redesignate bases that honor Confederate leaders from the Civil War. Fort Pickett, Va., and Fort Rucker, Ala., have already been renamed Fort Barfoot and Fort Novosel, respectively. The next three scheduled to be renamed are Fort Hood, Texas, on May 9, Fort Benning, Ga., on May 11 and Fort Bragg, N.C., on June 2. Fort Gordon, Ga., Fort A.P. Hill, Va., and Fort Polk, La., are also to be renamed but dates have not been scheduled. I was very honored that they felt I was worthy but, you know, you dont take it too seriously, Gregg said Thursday at the renaming ceremony. I was aware that there were a number of really outstanding people up for consideration. When the decision was made that the post would be redesignated Gregg-Adams, I was just overwhelmed. Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg served in the Army from 1946 to 1981, rising from private to a three-star general in logistics. At 94, he is the only living person in modern Army history to have an installation named after him, according to the Army. Gregg was born into segregation and entered the Army when segregation still existed. Former President Harry Truman signed an executive order in 1948 to integrate the military, but it took until 1954 before it was completed. Gregg said he hoped to land a spot as a laboratory technician position when he received orders for West Germany. When he arrived, he learned this job was not available to him because the Army did not have medical facilities there staffed with Black soldiers. His new assignment was joining the 3511th Quartermaster Transportation Truck Company. After completing officer training school in 1949, his first assignment in 1950 was at Fort Lee where he became an instructor at the Quartermaster School. In 1966, he commanded one of the largest battalions in Vietnam and earned a Meritorious Unit Citation as a result. Gregg was promoted to general in 1972 and received his second star in 1976. The following year, he earned his third star and was named director of logistics for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. When Gregg finished his military career, he retired as the Armys highest ranked minority at the time. I hope that this community will look with pride on the name Fort Gregg-Adams, and that the name will instill pride in every soldier, Gregg said. In 1942, Lt. Col. Charity Adams served in the newly created Womens Army Auxiliary Corps and eventually led the first African-American womens unit to serve overseas, the 6888th Postal Battalion. Stationed in Birmingham, England, they sorted and organized mail for soldiers in the European Theater during World War II. Her unit was given six months to clear out the backlog of 3 million letters and packages. Anyone who has ever served knows mail equals morale, said Charles Bowery, executive director of the U.S. Army Center of Military History. The 6888th completed the job in half the time. The unit moved to facilities in France to organize more undelivered mail for troops serving in Europe. This postal battalion was crucial to disseminating 17 million pieces of mail and correspondence for soldiers during the height of the war. Adams children, Stanley and Judith Earley, attended the ceremony in honor of their mother who died in 2002. Stanley Earley said she did a lot of things in her life, but having her name on the installation would be beyond icing on the cake. The Army is sending a powerful message when it names a post that trains thousands of soldiers a year for a logistician and a postal clerk, Bowery said. Leadership comes in many forms and service comes in many forms. When the U.S. military had to ramp up for World War I and later World War II, it had to build a lot of bases, Bowery said. Large tracts of land were purchased in the South because it offered warmer weather and the opportunity to train year-round. To appease communities in the region, the federal government allowed local input on naming bases. Fort Lee named for Robert E. Lee, the most famous Confederate general of the Civil War and a Virginia resident was established in 1917. It was part of a campaign to honor men who contributed during their lives to the development of the United States, according to the U.S. War Department. At the renaming ceremony, other places on the Army post were renamed for Gregg and Adams, including streets and an officers club now known as the Gregg-Adams Club. But when Gregg served at the base, it was known as the Lee Club, and he wasnt permitted inside. On Thursday, Gregg sat in the club talking with reporters, and his message was simple. He is proud of how far the Army has come since the integration of the military. We are a better Army and we are a better country as a result, Gregg said. Two chief warrant officers were among the three soldiers who died Thursday when a pair of helicopters collided and crashed in Alaska, the Army said in a news release Saturday that identified those who perished. A fourth injured soldier who was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital was listed in stable condition on Saturday, the news release said. The victims of the crash were Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, N.Y.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah. The soldiers were assigned to 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment at Fort Wainwright. The AH-64 Apaches were returning to Fort Wainwright from a training mission in the Donnelly Training Area, the release said. They collided in flight around 1:30 p.m. about 50 miles east of the town of Healy, which lies 110 miles south of Fairbanks and close to the entrance of Denali National Park and Preserve. On Friday, the Army ordered a service-wide aviation stand down following this crash and one a month earlier that took the lives of nine soldiers in Kentucky when two Black Hawk helicopters collided. Active-duty units are required to complete the 24-hour stand down between Monday and Friday. The battalion is devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best, Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, commander of the Alaska battalion, said in the release. Our mission now is to focus on the families, the survivors and to honor and cherish their memories, he said. Chris, Kyle, and Stew will forever be Little Bears, Vikings, and ToughOnes of the Arctic Attack. A team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center, headquartered at Fort Novosel, Ala., will lead the safety investigation into the Alaska crash. The center, however, does not release any information to the public regarding the cause of crashes due to limitations set forth by Department of Defense instructions and Army regulations, the news release said. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the U.S. and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands as the U.S. looks to deter China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was "determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests." Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The U.S. president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbors. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos' four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop "habits of alliance building" with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have "atrophied" over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guard's BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a "stark reminder" of Chinese "harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct." Close U.S.-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that "historical considerations" could present "challenges" to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A U.S. appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about $2 billion against the elder Marcos' estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the U.N. General Assembly, where the U.S. president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes "rocky" past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could "fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. Gomez reported from Manila. HONG KONG Chinese authorities were preparing Sunday to release a man who disappeared three years ago after publicizing videos of overcrowded hospitals and bodies during the COVID-19 outbreak, a relative and another person familiar with his case said. Fang Bin and other members of the public who were dubbed citizen journalists posted details of the pandemic in early 2020 on the internet and social media, embarrassing Chinese officials who faced criticism for failing to control the outbreak. The last video Fang, a seller of traditional Chinese clothing, posted on Twitter was of a piece of paper reading, "All citizens resist, hand power back to the people." Fang's case is part of Beijing's crackdown on criticism of China's early handling of the pandemic, as the ruling Communist Party seeks to control the narrative of the country. He was scheduled to be released Sunday, according to two people who did not want to be identified for fear of government retribution. One of them said Fang was sentenced to three years in prison for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," a vague charge traditionally used against political dissidents. The Associated Press could not independently confirm his release and could not confirm the details with the authorities. Two offices of Wuhan's public security bureau did not provide a phone number of their information office or answer any questions. Phone calls to a court that reportedly sentenced Fang rang unanswered on Sunday afternoon. A woman from another court that had reportedly handled Fang's appeal said she was not authorized to answer questions. In early 2020, the initial COVID outbreak devastated the city of Wuhan, home to 11 million residents, in central China's Hubei province. Under a 76-day lockdown, its streets were deserted for months, apart from ambulances and security personnel. At that time, a small number of citizen journalists tried to tell their stories and those of others with smart phones and social media accounts, defying the Communist Party's tightly policed monopoly on information. Although their movement was small, the scale was unprecedented in any previous major disease outbreak or disaster in China. But the information they posed soon got them into trouble. Fang and another citizen journalist, Chen Qiushi, disappeared in February. Chen in September 2021 resurfaced on his friend's live video feed on YouTube, saying he had suffered from depression. But he did not provide details about his disappearance. Another citizen journalist, Zhang Zhan, who also had reported on the early stage of the outbreak, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of picking fights and provoking trouble in December 2020. About eight months later, her lawyer said she was in ill health after staging a long-running hunger strike. Wu reported from Taipei, Taiwan. UMAN, Ukraine Relatives and friends cried next to coffins on Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting in the 14-month-long war claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sunday's funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. I live nearby," said Father Fyodor Botsu. "I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. Im worried with everyone since I have children and Im a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years." He said he prayed "that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, 9 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldn't wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised," Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. "But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces wouldn't delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to "reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Macron's office said he reiterated Frances commitment to provide Ukraine all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russia's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE Pope Francis on Sunday revealed that a secret peace mission in Russia's war in Ukraine was under way, though he gave no details, and said the Vatican is willing to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war. Im available to do anything, Francis said during an airborne press conference en route home from Hungary. Theres a mission thats not public thats underway; when its public Ill talk about it. Francis gave no details when asked whether he spoke about peace initiatives during his talks in Budapest this weekend with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary. Deportations of Ukrainian children have been a concern since Russia invaded Ukraine last year. Francis said the Holy See had already helped mediate some prisoner exchanges and would do all that is humanly possible to reunite families. All human gestures help. Gestures of cruelty dont help, Francis said. The International Criminal Court in March issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russias childrens commissioner, accusing them of war crimes for abducting children from Ukraine. Russia has denied any wrongdoing, contending the children were moved for their safety. Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Francis at the Vatican and asked him to help return Ukrainian children taken following the Russian invasion. I asked His Holiness to help us return home Ukrainians, Ukrainian children who are detained, arrested, and criminally deported to Russia, Shmyhal told the Foreign Press Association after the audience. Francis recalled that the Holy See had facilitated some prisoner exchanges, working through embassies, and was open to Ukraines request to reunite Ukrainian children with their families. The prisoner exchanges went well. I think it could go well also for this. Its important, he said of the family reunifications. The Holy See is available to do it because its the right thing, he added. We have to do all that is humanly possible. ___ 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. RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany The University of Maryland Global Campus prides itself on going wherever the military is to provide higher education to American troops and others in the defense community. The schools reach was on display Saturday, when more than 200 of its students from across Europe, Africa and the Middle East about a fifth of those who earned associate, bachelors or masters degrees this year walked across the stage. Most of the graduates were based in Europe, and some studied while simultaneously working on NATOs eastern flank, where the Pentagon has been working to bolster unity among allies since Russias invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. University officials recently opened new locations in Poland and Romania to accommodate the influx. Whats happening in Ukraine clearly has impacts, UMGC President Gregory W. Fowler said in a pre-ceremony interview. Whatever circumstances the military is trying to deal with are things were trying to work our way through. Fowler, who delivered the commencement speech, referred to graduates as pioneers, for dealing with various challenges in the current environment. A lot of the work were doing is specifically because we are seeing challenges in traditional educational models, Fowler said. Those are things were responding too, but thats always been what UMGC does. While new technology is allowing students to learn in more disparate environments, the learning experience itself remains as taxing as ever and requires determination and discipline to succeed, according to Army Maj. Jacob Lynn, who received a masters degree in software engineering. There are times when were actually in the field and I sneak away for an hour to try to work on studies, said Lynn, who works in civil and public affairs at the Armys training area at Grafenwoehr, Germany. Army Sgt. Christian Awuku of the 39th Transportation Battalion, which has carried cargo across Europe in support of Ukraine, earned a bachelors degree in cyber security, and expressed similar sentiments. He eventually closed all his social media accounts to better focus on course work. Im still getting messages that say: Hey, youre not liking my posts. But Im learning, said Awuku, who plans to start studying for his masters degree this summer and doesnt foresee returning to social media. The more I ghost, the better I do, he said. Service members such as Lynn and Awuku made up nearly 60% of UMGC Europes graduating class. Some said they chose to study to help them advance in their military careers, while others were looking for accreditation to eventually help them get civilian employment. The average age of an associate degree graduate was 29. Bachelors and masters degree graduates were, on average, 34 and 37, respectively. About 60% of the class was married, including specialists Kristina and Matthew Ybara, military police officers based in Germanys Kaiserslautern military community, who both received associate degrees in general studies. Its not easy, but it can be done, Matthew Ybara said of studying while working. The Ybaras said online classes allowed them to do their coursework while traveling, so they also didnt have to miss out on seeing parts Europe while stationed overseas. We encourage other people we talk to, to start studying too, especially because its free, Kristina Ybara said, referring to having classes paid by the G.I. Bill. The FIA says it will take "immediate steps" to ensure that the dangerous pit-lane incident and near miss with Esteban Ocon that occurred at the end of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix does not happen again. A crowed of officials and FIA photographers had assembled in the fast lane of pit road on the final lap of Sunday's race in Baku, oblivious of the fact that Ocon had yet to undertake a mandatory pit stop after running his entire first stint in the race on the hard tyre. The Alpine driver thus entered the live pitlane as expected only to find a crowd gathered at its entry. Fortunately, no drama ensued but the group had been carelessly allowed to enter Parc Ferme in advance in order to prepare for the post-race celebrations. After the race, the FIA subsequently summoned to Race Control its Parc Ferme representatives for a thorough review of the dangerous situation. An FIA bulletin read: "The stewards heard from the FIA representatives and determined that the relevant representatives took steps to set up the parc ferme area and also permitted media and other personnel to gather in the start of the pitlane and the pitwall during the last lap of the race, while the pitlane was open and before the final pitstop of Ocon. "We noted that it was not unusual for the representatives to allow such persons into the pitlane just before the end of the race, in the usual course of preparation for parc ferme and the podium ceremony. "However, in this case, there was one driver that had to pit in the last lap and this created a very dangerous situation for those that were in the pitlane at the time. "We considered that it was fortunate that there were no serious consequences on account of what happened today. We stressed that the requirements of ensuring a safe and orderly event are paramount. This was acknowledged by the FIA team. "We walked through the relevant procedures and protocol with the FIA representatives in detail and required them to take immediate steps to reconsider these procedures and protocols with the relevant stakeholders (including FOM, the teams and the FIA) to ensure that this situation does not occur again. "The FIA representatives expressed their regret at what happened and assured us that they would do so in time for the next event." Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter (Tribune News Service) Wagner forces may withdraw from Ukraines eastern city of Bakhmut because of growing casualties and an acute shortage of ammunition, said the mercenary groups founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin. I am writing this letter to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with a request to immediately issue ammunition, Prigozhin said in an 86-minute video interview conducted Friday with Russian military correspondent Semyon Pegov and posted Saturday on the WarGonzo Telegram channel. If sufficient ammunition isnt provided right away, Prigozhin said he would consider it necessary to complain to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comments, which were largely ignored by Russian state media, are the latest sign of tension between the mercenary operation and Russias defense ministry, which Wagner relies on for the provision of ammunition and other materiel. In an uneasy alliance, Wagner forces and defense ministry troops have attempted since August to overrun the city in eastern Ukraine, and in the process have laid most of the area to waste while incurring heavy casualties. Tensions between Wagner troops and Russias regular defense forces have flared repeatedly, and Prigozhins fighters have struggled to advance more than a few dozen kilometers in and around Bakhmut. Russias defense ministry said Sunday its appointed Col. Gen. Alexei Kuzmenkov, recently deputy chief of the National Guard, to be responsible for supply and logistics. He replaces Mikhail Mizintsev, who served in the post since September. No reason was given for the switch. As recently as Saturday, a Ukrainian armed forces spokesman said Kyivs troops remain in control of the road of life, a crucial supply artery for food, medicine and weapons running to Bakhmut from Chasiv Yar, about 10 miles to the west. Top Russian commanders, meanwhile, have sown doubts with Putin about the mercenaries supposed military prowess, people close to the Kremlin told Bloomberg News in March. Now, Prigozhin is preparing to scale back the private armys operations in Ukraine and shift its focus back to Africa, the people said. Wagner troops are believed to be active in several African countries, including Sudan. Wagner units will stay in Bakhmut until the last bullet, but these bullets are left not for weeks, but for days, Prigozhin said in the interview. We are approaching the point that private military company Wagner is running out, and private military company Wagner, in some short time, will cease to exist, Prigozhin said. Well go into history but its all right, such things happen. The Wagner leaders entreaty was likely to have been an attempt to gain leverage as Putin is once again reshuffling the Russian military leadership in a way that may favor Prigozhin, analysts at the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said in a daily assessment. In the same video, Prigozhin said Ukraines army was ready for a widely expected counteroffensive against Russia that could start within weeks as the terrain is drying and the number of troops increasing. Bakhmut remains an epicenter of fighting in Ukraine, the Ukrainian General Staff said Sunday in a statement on Facebook. Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to capture small towns south-west of Bakhmut, according to the statement. With assistance from Aliaksandr Kudrytski. 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. House Republicans challenged the U.S. Senate to pass a debt-limit bill of its own and sought to maintain pressure on President Biden to hold talks on spending cuts theyve linked to an increase in the nations borrowing limit. A Republican-only debt proposal passed by the House last week would cut $4.8 trillion in domestic spending as the price for agreeing to raise the debt ceiling. Biden has insisted the two topics shouldnt be linked and his administration has warned that a U.S. default would be disastrous for Americans and the economy. For all that we hear from our Senate friends, theyve yet to pass anything, Rep. Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, said on ABCs This Week on Sunday. If theyve got a better idea, I want to see that bill and tell them to pass it through the Senate. The stalemate in Washington risks pushing the Treasury toward a U.S. payments default by an X date that may arrive as soon as June. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys success in passing the Republican bill created an opening for the GOP to put the ball in Bidens court. The president has been in hiding for two months, Scalise said, referring to the last meeting between Biden and McCarthy. At the same time, Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said in Sunday television interviews that Republicans wont allow the U.S. to default on its debts. Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware whos a co-chair of Bidens 2024 reelection campaign, cited the presidents previous offers to discuss annual spending, the appropriations process with Republicans. Negotiations on the mix of revenue increases and spending cuts that make sense going forward are on the table, he said on This Week. Republicans are demanding hostage negotiations where they will crash the full faith and credit of the U.S., Coons said. The risky impasse has prompted calls by Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin III for Biden to meet McCarthy for talks and is leading some Democrats to look to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for possible Republican help in the Senate to raise the borrowing limit. McConnell could suspend the impasse by getting the Senate to a point where the U.S. continues paying its bills while Congress negotiates, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said on Fox News Sunday. What youve got to do is not threaten the detonation of the economy, the Maryland Democrat said. This story has been corrected CLEVELAND, Texas A Texas man went next door with a rifle and fatally shot five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy, after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The attack happened just before midnight Friday near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say it is not uncommon to hear neighbors unwind by firing off guns. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as "10 to 20 miles" from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting. Capers said they found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest but that tracking dogs had lost the scent. "He could be anywhere now," Capers said. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot "from the neck up," he said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim's home, while in the front yard of Oropeza's house a dog and chickens wandered. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn't think anything of it. "It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work," Arevalo said. "They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there." Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about "shooting his gun in the yard." It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. "I tell my wife all the time, 'Stay away from the neighbors. Don't argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,'" Arevalo said. "I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way." _____ Weber reported from Austin, Texas. Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. A White Sands Missile Range employee has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a transgender woman at her Albuquerque home in 2021, according to authorities. Albuquerque police said 39-year-old Sadou Maiga turned himself in to authorities Thursday after an arrest warrant was issued for him on April 12. They said Maiga remains jailed on suspicion of an open count of murder and tampering with evidence in the death of Nicholas Turrietta, who went by the name Nikki and identified as a woman. It wasn't immediately clear if Maiga had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. According to court records, Maiga is employed as an IT specialist at the missile range and was previously a security guard there. The Albuquerque Journal reported that police were called to Turrieta's home and found she had been shot once in the back of the head. Police said a .40 caliber bullet casing was discovered near Turrieta's body and her phone was missing. Detectives later learned the phone had been taken to Socorro and eventually left in a rural area near Los Lunas, according to authorities. According to the Journal, police learned Maiga allegedly called Turrietta three times the morning of Dec. 29, 2021, and it's believed she was killed sometime in the next several hours. FRESNO, Calif. (Tribune News Service) A Fresno cemetery for veterans of conflicts dating to the Civil War is in a state of perpetual neglect, according to a report by the Fresno County Civil Grand Jury. The grounds of (Veterans Liberty Cemetery) are overgrown with grass and weeds, the report notes. There are several dead trees and many of the headstones are covered with dirt. In response, county officials say they will make changes to rectify conditions. The grand jury launched an investigation of the cemetery in response to a written complaint received from an unnamed source, who said it was an insult to everyone who has served under the American flag, particularly those buried there. The report noted that staff at surrounding cemeteries have also received complaints about the cemetery. Burials at the cemetery began in 1896, when a Civil War veterans organization spent $8.80 to buy a 150- by 100-foot plot from Fresno County in what is now the 1800 block of West Belmont Avenue. More property was donated and added after that, and in 1920, the grounds were turned over to Fresno County. The cemetery has 4,300 burial plots, all of which were purchased by 1978. A record of those buried there is recorded by the Fresno County Public Library. The grand jury report notes that maintenance of the cemetery is the responsibility of the Fresno County Parks Department and funded by the countys general fund. No state or federal funds are available as a money source, because the property is owned by the county. A staffing shortage contributes to neglect The investigation found: One full-time groundskeeper was assigned to maintain the cemetery, but only one day a week, which was not deemed adequate for the work involved. There was a lack of maintenance equipment due to a 2021 arson fire that destroyed a shed holding maintenance equipment. Restrooms were a continual vandalism target, forcing the closure of the facilities. An irrigation system was inadequate to provide water to cemetery grass, but reclaimed water will be provided by 2024. How county plans to make improvements Michelle Avalos, spokeswoman for the countys Public Works and Planning Department, said the county plans to staff a maintenance worker at the cemetery on a daily basis. Court-sentenced offenders from the Adult Offender Work Program also are helping with maintenance. Officials also plan to replace the tool shed there, so workers do not have to bring them from county-run Kearney Park nearly 6 miles away. 2023 The Fresno Bee. Visit fresnobee.com . People who get influenza could be six times more susceptible to having a heart attack in the days following a flu diagnosis, a new study from the Netherlands has found. The studys conclusions were scheduled to be presented on April 18 at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark, as reported by Medscape. The lead researcher, Dr. Annemarijn de Boer with the Julius Center for Life Sciences and Primary Care at the University Medical Center Utrecht, analyzed test results from 16 labs in the Netherlands, as well as medical and death records. Of 26,221 cases of influenza between the years 2008 and 2019, 401 people experienced at least one heart attack within a year of the diagnosis, the report said. Additionally, people had a 6.16 times higher likelihood of having a heart attack in the week after getting the flu compared to the year before or after, the researchers found. However, when excluding the deaths that occurred outside the hospital, the increased risk was 2.42 times instead of 6.16. Woman with flu People who get influenza could be six times more susceptible to having a heart attack in the days following a flu diagnosis, a new study from the Netherlands has found. This is likely because most flu testing in the Netherlands is performed in the hospital, which means patients are more likely to have severe illness, according to de Boer. Similar findings came from a 2018 Canadian study led by Dr. Jeffrey C. Kwong from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health in Toronto, Ontario. Researchers found that participants were 6.05 times more likely to have a heart attack in the week after diagnosis. Inflammation heightens risk, doctors say Board-certified cardiologist Dr. Mary Greene with Manhattan Cardiology in New York City was not involved in the study, but reviewed the findings. "While the methodology of this particular Dutch study did not yield as much robust data, the study certainly echoes previous studies that have come to similar conclusions," Greene told Fox News Digital. "Seemingly common colds can turn into serious medical issues." "I do agree that a flu diagnosis can increase the odds of heart attack in a select group of patients, especially those with underlying heart disease," she added. The increase in heart attacks among patients diagnosed with influenza, said Greene, largely stems from the inflammatory process and the environment that is created within the body when someone is fighting off the flu or other viral illnesses. To help minimize the risk of heart attacks, all people should have a cardiovascular screening starting at age 40, or earlier if there is a history of early heart disease in the family, says one cardiologist. "Such inflammation in the body can make cholesterol plaques more vulnerable to rupture and blood more likely to clot, which is the underlying mechanism of both myocardial infarction (heart attack) and ischemic stroke," she said. Study had limitations Dr. Craig Bober, a family medicine physician at Inspira Medical Group Primary Care Mantua in Sewell, New Jersey, who was also not involved in the Dutch research, noted a key limitation of the study. "It is important to note that the study was not designed to reflect the generalized population, as it looked at only those tested in hospital settings these patients tend to be the sickest and usually elderly," he told Fox News Digital in an email. FDA APPROVES FIRST AT-HOME TEST TO DETECT BOTH FLU AND COVID "However, the study certainly emphasizes the dangers of seemingly benign virus-mediated infections." Fox News Digital reached out to the study author for comment. Prevention, early awareness are key To help minimize the risk of heart attacks, all people should have a cardiovascular screening starting at age 40, or earlier if there is a history of early heart disease in the family, said Greene of New York City. The increase in heart attacks among patients diagnosed with influenza, said one cardiologist, stems from the inflammation that occurs when someone is fighting off the flu or other viral illnesses. "I also recommend that all patients with underlying coronary artery disease, history of stents, history of heart attack and history of heart failure have their annual flu shot," she said. "Cardiovascular patients see a larger benefit from influenza vaccination in terms of protection against a heart attack should they become infected with the influenza virus." These findings should serve as a reminder that seemingly common colds can turn into serious medical issues, Bober of New Jersey said. "Anyone with concerning chest pain or shortness of breath especially those with high-risk medical conditions such as underlying heart disease, lung conditions, diabetes or kidney disease should seek medical attention sooner rather than later," he added. The repatriation of Pakistanis stranded in the war-torn Sudan continues, with another batch of 139 citizens have returned today. Another special plane landed at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi with 139 passengers. The flight also included 11 crew members. All of the passengers and crew members underwent tests for coronavirus at the airport. During the test, none of the passengers and team members tested positive for Covid-19. The health department team completed full screening of all the passengers arriving from Sudan. The first batch of Pakistanis who were rescued from Sudan have reached Karachi on Thursday. The Pakistan Air Force said the PAF Airbus carrying 149 passengers has safely landed at Karachi through Jeddah, while PAF C-130 carrying 110 Pakistani passengers landed in the latter half of the day. The Air Force is making all-out efforts to repatriate stranded Pakistanis in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassies in Sudan and Saudi Arabia, it added. Yesterday, a third batch of 97 Pakistani nationals from Port Sudan arrived at Karachi airport via Jeddah aboard a PAF aircraft C-130. The government of Pakistan will continue to facilitate the safe return of stranded Pakistanis, said the Foreign Office. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said all institutions of the country should work in their domain. He said that the Judiciary has no mandate to pressure political parties to hold talks. Addressing a press conference at his residence in Sialkot, the PML-N firebrand said there is no greater honor than the chief justice for the Supreme Court. When it comes to the judiciary, it is a matter of public trust, he remarked. He further said that during the last few months, matter took a turn for the worse, and former chief justice of Pakistan Saqib Nisar went too far in his enmity with PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif. Saqib Nisar admitted on TV about his sons recent audio leak, the minister said. He also held PTI Chairman Imran Khan responsible for the crises that the country is faced with today, adding the former premier has fixed a rate list for party tickets. Not only Saqib Nisar, but the PTI leadership has also been exposed, Asif exclaimed, adding that staying away from power is eating up Imran from within. He alleged that Imran Khan and his facilitators oppressed Nawaz Sharif and family beyond limits. The minister severely criticized the PTI chairman, saying now the former ruling party has got new facilitators. He claimed the masses will be provided relief in the upcoming budget in June. The government has fulfilled all the conditions of the IMF, he further said. Now, we have to see whether the IMF fulfills its commitments or not, he added. A major document cache leak has revealed Pakistan governments internal conundrum on managing relations with the United States while trying to keep healthy ties with China. Record of an important discussion between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar was leaked wherein the two, along with an assistant, were talking about Pakistans ties with the United States. The record of the discussion on crucial foreign policy, which has been named Discord Leaks, also reveals the premiers conversation on the United Nations voting on the Ukraine and Russia conflict, according to the Washington Post. During the discussion, an assistant advised the prime minister that supporting the resolution could jeopardise Pakistans trade and energy deals with Russia and would give the impression of a change in Pakistans position. As per the leaked documents, Khar said that Pakistan should avoid appeasing the West and that the countrys desire to maintain a strategic partnership with the US would sacrifice the full benefits of its original strategic partnership with the long-term friendly nation China. "According to one of the leaked documents, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistans minister of state for foreign affairs, argued in March that her country can 'no longer try to maintain a middle ground between China and the United States'," the Washington Post wrote in its story. Pakistani officials, according to the US news outlet, have refused to comment on the matter. The story by Washington Post, in which the record has been leaked, revolved around the declining support for the US on the war between Russia and Ukraine. "When the UN General Assembly voted Feb. 23, Pakistan was among 32 countries that abstained," the media outlet's story mentioned. The American publication's story comes at a time when the US has already confirmed that it has no objection to Pakistans decision to import oil from Moscow. "Each country is going to make its own sovereign decisions as it relates to its energy supply," US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during its weekly briefing. The statement was issued in response to a question regarding Pakistan's deal with Russia after it placed its first order for crude oil after which one cargo will dock at the Karachi port in May. Ollie Gibson has said he and his father before him ran boat tours and canoe trips on lakes on the Bellamont Forest Estate in Cootehill, Co Cavan for 30 years, but things became complicated after the land was bought by American businessman John Morehart in 2015. A boat tour operator convicted of criminal damage as part of a dispute with a wealthy American businessman has compared the row to the hit movie The Field but said he wont go down the road of Bull McCabe. Ollie Gibson has said he and his father before him ran boat tours and canoe trips on lakes on the Bellamont Forest Estate in Cootehill, Co Cavan for 30 years, but things became complicated after the land was bought by American businessman John Morehart in 2015. The estate includes a historic 1730s Palladian villa designed by renowned architect Edward Lovett Pearce set on 1,000 acres of parkland, woods, and lakes. While Mr Morehart insisted the lakes are part of the property and there is no legal case claiming otherwise, Mr Gibson does not accept that the US citizen owns the lakes. Mr Gibson, from Drumlood, Co Monaghan, was convicted of criminal damage in relation to a padlock he cut off a property on the estate and gave to Bellamont Estate manager Noel Carney on June 10 last year. The court also heard unsubstantiated claims from Mr Morehart that Mr Gibson battered him in a previous incident, claims which were strenuously denied by Mr Gibson. Ollie Gibson (pictured) says that John Morehart doesnt own the lakes Speaking to the Sunday Worldafter his conviction, Mr Gibson compared the dispute to the John B Keane play The Field in which farmer Bull McCabe kills an outsider who wants to buy a plot of land he has rented for years. That has been quoted at me a few times. You know what happened to the Yank in that dont you? Im not going to be doing that, dont worry, he said. Judge Deirdre Geraghty ordered Mr Gibson to pay 75 compensation and fined him 750 after convicting him of criminal damage in relation to the lock. The court heard that when asked by Mr Morehart if he was the person who cut a lock off the property, Mr Gibson said: So what if I am, before telling the American businessman that he wasnt afraid of gardai. Judge Geraghty acquitted Mr Gibson in relation to two other locks which had been cut off the property after the first incident, as it could not be proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was behind those attacks. As part of his bail conditions, Mr Gibson was initially barred from visiting the lakes. However, now that the case has concluded he can return after Judge Geraghty said she wasnt going to make an order preventing him from accessing the area, despite a request from Mr Morehart. Mr Gibson told the Sunday World that he planned to appeal the case and he would be back on the lakes this weekend. This whole case isnt about a padlock; its about getting me off the lakes. Thats what hes been trying to do for the last eight years. Youd never put me off the lakes, not when I have a breath in me. Ill be back out there this weekend, he said. Richard Harris as Bull McCabe in The Field He said he had no intention to have any more run-ins with Mr Morehart. All I want to do is stay away from him and have a quiet life. Im trying to promote tourism in the area. We have a beautiful river and lakes around here. All Im trying to do is get people to come to the area and show it off. Its where I grew up. Mr Morehart told the court in his victim impact statement that he was very distressed over what had happened. Ive lost a lot of sleep since Mr Gibson has taken the initiative to be an active intrusion on the estate, he said. He said he and his wife had invested their savings in the project and wanted to achieve a community-based park which he felt Mr Gibson was hindering. Mr Morehart told the court that in the weeks after the padlock was cut from the property, he was approached by Mr Gibson as he sat in a car talking to environmental consultant Peter Sweetman. He said Mr Gibson approached him aggressively and said: Are you Morehart? before he said he wouldnt be able to stop him from working on the lake. He told me he had a right to occupy the land and something about how I thought I could keep him off the land. Oliver Gibson (left) of Dromore Guided River Tours speaks with our man Alan Sherry He was visibly shaking, upset and physically threatening. He was holding the door and I couldnt get out. He said he told Mr Gibson it was a matter for gardai but that Mr Gibson replied that he wasnt afraid of the gardai. I notified gardai, but it didnt stop. The incidents kept occurring, he claimed. He said on another occasion he saw Mr Gibson with a group on the lake shore where there had been previous problems with people cutting trees and building fires. He said Mr Gibson was bringing people in to have lunches on the shore. I asked him to stop coming onto the property but every time he was very outspoken and difficult. Mr Morehart said in court that while he was talking to Mr Gibson it brought back an incident in 2015 or 2016 when I had been battered by him. John Morehart bought the land in Cootehill, Co Cavan in 2015 Mr Gibson was never charged with any assault and said in court and to the Sunday Worldafterwards that he never attacked Mr Morehart. He told the guards that I assaulted him, Mr Gibson said. I know all about that incident. It was a Belgian fella who was fishing on the lakes. I know the guy who did it. Mr Morehart followed him around to the car park and challenged him for being out on his lake. The Belgian guy was ignoring him, and he put his hand out and the Belgian pushed him back. That was the so-called assault. He wouldnt have seen that guy in a few years and wouldnt have seen me up close. He also denied that he had any involvement in cutting down trees and lighting camp fires on the estate. He said he was involved in environmental projects and helped clean up a 30km stretch of the Dromore River. For him to stand up in the witness box under oath and suggest that I am doing damage to the environment and cutting down trees and throwing litter on his property and lighting camp fires really gets to my heart to be quite honest. It painted an inaccurate picture of me, he said. Ollie Gibson built a yellow submarine for glamping Mr Gibson, who last year starred in Channel 4s Amazing Spaces which featured a yellow submarine he built for glamping holidays in Monaghan, told the Sunday Worldthat he was in dispute with Mr Morehart about access to the Dromore and Drumlona Lakes where he runs boat tours and canoe trips with his company Dromore River Tours. My father started in 1993 and I would have started about 2013, shortly before my father passed away. We have different access points on the lakes. In Drumlona we have an access point. "In 2017, Bellamont Estate put a row of big boulders up in the lane and tried to block our access. It was a right of way that had been there for generations. It had no business being there. They claimed they owned the lakes, he said. Mr Gibson ran a guesthouse but was forced to shut it down during the Covid pandemic in 2020. I was concentrating on the boat hire business and the canoeing trips and trying to make that my primary source of income. I was starting to grow it nicely. It was becoming viable. Just when things were starting to get going, this guy started his nonsense. Mr Gibson said he is appealing his conviction to the Circuit Court. I dont want a criminal conviction. Im well known around this community and I help out with different voluntary groups. I dont want a conviction going against me. I value my good name and I want to hang on to it, he said. Tinxi / Shutterstock.com Whats the most youd spend on one particular thing? Were not talking houses or cars, but rather luxury items that can cost a fortune. Chances are theres something you feel is worth an extravagant amount of money. But what specific products genuinely justify the splurge? See: 6 Richest People in the World Youve Never Heard of Learn: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero We might answer that question by determining which luxury items are not worth it or which, more precisely, youll likely regret buying. Lets have a look. Also see 10 ways you waste money every day without realizing it. Designer Handbags Some people will throw tens of thousands of dollars on designer handbags for the name alone and not care one bit. But if youre looking for long-term value and the ability to make a profit on the item later by reselling, a luxury designer handbag probably is a reckless buy. In the best-case scenario, youll break even on the bag if you want to try to resell it, but the odds of that happening are very slim, said Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com. There are definitely brands that will always be trending like Hermes, but it isnt just about the name it comes down to styles, too. And while some styles may be classics, the fact is that these items just dont retain their value over the years. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Unethically Mined Fine Jewelry Based on the fact that real gems such as diamonds are mined in unethical ways, many people are moving away from buying them and are less likely to buy them down the road if you seek to resell them or pass them down to future generations. More and more people are not OK with the idea of wearing an engagement ring that has a blood diamond as the centerpiece, Ramhold said. But whats the alternative? There are some businesses that are using lab-grown diamonds now, but the problem with those is that they arent rare, so they dont really carry the same kind of value compared to a gem mined from the earth. Story continues The best solution in this case seems to be to find a company with ethical practices and purchase a piece for sentimental or heirloom reasons, and not because you want to be able to try to sell it in a couple of decades. Luxury Home Decor As we all know from places like Williams Sonoma, which sells a table lamp for $1,095 and a doormat for $320, home decor items can be very expensive. Unless youre a passionate collector or have a sizable budget, its not worth spending so much money on home decor, said Brian Meiggs, the founder of My Millennial Guide. Instead, consider purchasing affordable and stylish home decor items from stores like IKEA or H&M Home. High-End Vacuum Cleaners Companies such as Dyson sell vacuums for as much as $1,000. These are typically very well-reviewed products, but Gretchen Boyd, president at NYC House Cleaners, suggests they arent worth the hefty price tag and can be headaches to maintain. While these may have more features and modern designs, they are not necessarily better at cleaning, Boyd said. A basic vacuum cleaner can do the job just fine, and you can save a lot of money in the process. Additionally, most luxury vacuums require more maintenance than the basic models, meaning youll have to spend more time and money on repairs and upkeep. Pool Tables Pool tables typically cost thousands of dollars. While theyre cool looking and great if youre a pool shark they can be regrettable buys. I have one, although I technically inherited it from the previous owners of my home who, by the way, inherited it from the previous owners before them, said Bruce Mohr, financial advisor at Fair Credit. In my mind, Im running a pool hall and hustling people out of thousands of dollars like in the movies. [But] in reality, 99.9% of the time Im trying to keep my kids from throwing the pool balls at each others head. Simply put, no one takes them when they move for a reason. Ultra High-End Luggage Elite brands such as Tumi which sells carry-on pieces for upwards of $1,000 reign supreme in the luggage space. But do you really want to dish out a mortgage payment equivalent on something that will get scuffed up and banged around while traveling? Maybe not. While some luxury brands may offer top-notch materials and construction, others may simply be charging a premium for their brand name, said Jeanel Alvarado, founder and CEO of RETAILBOSS. In many cases, you can find suitcases with similar or even better quality at a fraction of the cost of a designer suitcase. When looking for an alternative to a luxury designer suitcase, its essential to focus on functionality, durability and ease of use. A good benchmark for a durable suitcase is one that costs between $150 and $300. Samsonite is one brand that comes to mind. [Their products] have been praised for their overall quality, offering both hardside and softside styles that excel in various tests, Alvarado said. Their suitcases come in different sizes, including carry-ons, checked bags and underseat luggage, providing options for all types of travelers. Another popular and more affordable alternative to consider is the brand Away. With prices around $250 for a carry-on, Alvarado said, Away suitcases have been praised for their durability and functionality, lasting for years without showing signs of wear and tear. A Purebred Dog Some purebred dogs like the Portuguese Water Dog and the Afghan Hound cost thousands of dollars. Should you really spend so much money on a pet when there are so many perfect candidates in shelters for practically spare change in comparison? Dont buy a purebred dog, said William Seavey, a retirement consultant who bought one for $1,000. The local humane society has many animals that need a loving home for just the cost of vaccinations. I wouldnt give Bella up, but I would have been just as happy with a secondhand dog. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Luxury Items Youll Regret Buying Craig McDonnell had a number of previous convictions and was already serving another sentence when he appeared in court This is the convicted heroin dealer who is suing Parnell GAA club for a maximum 38,000 pay-out after his arm was scalded with hot gravy nine years ago. Craig McDonnell, from Longdale Terrace, Ballymun, was taken from Wheatfield Prison to appear before Judge Terence OSullivan in the Circuit Civil Court on Tuesday where details of his claim were opened. But the case had to be adjourned after defence solicitor Kevin DArcy asked for an adjournment to locate a key witness, a commis chef, who McDonnell alleged had been the one to pour the gravy over his arm. Early last month, McDonnell was jailed for six months at Dublin District Court after the court heard he had been caught selling heroin on a city street. The court heard that McDonnell had never taken the drug himself and was trying to reduce his own cocaine debt, a court heard. He pleaded guilty to possession of heroin for sale or supply. The court heard gardai were on patrol at Bachelors Walk on September 17, 2020. Gravy spill claim They saw McDonnell acting in a suspicious manner and believed he was involved in a drugs transaction with another man. Gardai stopped McDonnell and he was found in possession of 250 worth of heroin. He had a number of previous convictions and was already serving another sentence when he appeared in court. McDonnell was 23-years-old at the time of this offence, his barrister John Griffin said. At the time, he had a chronic cocaine addiction and had accrued a debt. The accused was simply selling heroin to reduce his own debt when he was observed by the gardai, Mr Griffin said. He had never actually used heroin himself. Judge Bryan Smyth made the six-month sentence concurrent. Appearing before the Circuit Civil Court in connection with his claim this week, the court heard that McDonnell was also suing two youth training agencies as well as Parnell GAA club over the incident in which he was scaled with the gravy. The two include the City of Dublin Education and Training Board and Ballark Community Training Centre, Ballymun. Counsel for McDonnell, Mr John Nolan BL, said McDonnell was 17 years old and manning a gravy station at the clubs lunch carvery counter when the incident occurred. Mr Nolan, who described his client as a guest of the nation, said: He was a Youthreach worker and a student and he was placed for one day with the GAA club earlier in 2014. He returned for some days on April 7th. Mr Nolan said his client was advised that he would be employed as a kitchen porter. But, he said, on the particular day: It was a busy lunchtime and he was requested to attend the carvery. He was put in charge of the gravy. There was a lady customer who wanted more gravy on her plate so he took the plate in his left hand and took the ladle in his right hand. He poured the gravy and then he asked whether the woman would like a gravy boat. She said no and then a commis chef reached across him with his own ladle and poured gravy on the plate and onto my client. Kevin DArcy, counsel for the club, objected at this juncture saying there had been no mention of chef pouring the gravy that caused the injury in the pleadings in the case. Judge OSullivan agreed it was his reading of the pleadings in the case that it was Mr McDonnell who was holding the ladle with the gravy when it was caused to spill. Judge OSullivan grants an adjournment of four weeks to allow Mr Nolan opportunity to locate the named commis chef in order that he could be questioned on the series of events leading to Mr McDonnells injury. All I can say is he wont be coming back anytime soon The property the man was staying in is located a short distance from the family home of notorious crime figure Gerry The Monk Hutch A former GSOC investigator being probed on suspicion of leaking information to the Hutch Organised Crime Gang had yesterday fled his rented Dublin accommodation. A neighbour, who spoke with the Sunday World outside the property, said: Youre wasting your time, hes gone. Asked if she knew where he had gone, she replied: All I can say is he wont be coming back anytime soon. Its understood the investigator, who has now resigned from his post, was spooked by the presence of media outside the property on Friday. Sources said he had been renting a room in the property from an elderly lady who had lived in the estate for a long number of years. It was in the company of this pensioner that he attended the home-coming party for Hutch in Clontarf on the evening of the 60-year-olds acquittal. He is renting a room from a very elderly lady out there who has no connections to anything, the source said. She just happens to be a long-term resident in the estate and he had been renting a room off her. So, he may have had concerns for her as an innocent householder. The property the man was staying in is located a short distance from the family home of notorious crime figure Gerry The Monk Hutch. It is no longer The Monks primary residence and is occupied by younger members of the family who have no involvement in crime. This newspaper called to the house yesterday in a bid to speak with Hutch about the controversy that erupted over the GSOC officials attendance at the party. A young man, who bore a striking resemblance to Hutch, answered the door. After our reporter identified himself as a journalist and gave his reason for calling, the occupant enquired as to what newspaper he was with. When told our reporter was with the Sunday World, the occupant shrugged before replying: Nah and closing the door. The search of the former GSOC officials rented room and his subsequent arrest occurred on day four of the Garda investigation that began after GSOC referred his claim he had been present at Hutchs acquittal party to Gardai. Earlier, the former police officer was interviewed under caution and admitted attending the event. The mans arrest on Thursday is understood to have come as a shock to him. He was detained under Section 81 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005 relating to confidentiality of information. The investigator, who worked for four decades as a police officer in another jurisdiction, resigned from GSOC after being told he was facing suspension. 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 Hutch has plenty to choose from when it comes to his place in the sun... Gerry The Monk Hutch has never set foot in a 350,000 Spanish apartment that he purchased in Spain in 2020 locals this week claimed to the Sunday World . Instead, the luxury apartment has been allowed to remain empty while the 60-year-old spent 18 months in custody awaiting trial for the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne. I have never seen him in this building, a business owner on the ground floor this week told the Sunday Worldafter we showed him a picture of Hutch. I do remember an Irish person coming here at one stage but I have never seen the man in the photograph. It is a private building. There are only seven units above us, so I would have seen him if he was here. The building in which Hutch purchased the penthouse apartment is located just 100 metres from a local police station. The penthouse apartment in Fuengirola owned by Gerry Hutch MCN pics A couple of months after Hutch purchased the apartment, he is also reported to have purchased an underground car-parking space in a communal garage. Details of Hutchs ownership of the top-floor apartment in Fuengirola have emerged two weeks after we revealed how he had separately set up a business headquarters in Lanzarote from where he could manage his reputed 12 million property interests. While on remand in Wheatfield Prison, Hutch registered a lock up at 11 Calle Timple in Las Tias Palmas, Lanzarote as the headquarters for his Spanish real estate company. He declared the new address with the Registro Mercantil Central, Spains company office. Gerry Hutch Although Hutch has registered the property as the companys headquarters, a source spoken to by this newspaper said she is sceptical that Hutch ever intends on being physically present there. Spanish company records are readily accessible, so this would be the equivalent of putting your name and address in the telephone book, she said. Hutchs property empire is believed to include his Clontarf house, estimated to be worth almost 1m; an extensive Turkish property portfolio in Izmir and Kusadasi valued at 2 million; a number of residential developments in Bulgaria and Hungary and property in London valued at 2.5 million. The nearby Fuengirola police station Gardai allege Hutch built this empire on the profits of the Marino Mart robbery and the Brinks Allied raids a charge Hutch has always denied. He maintains that he made his fortune from compensation claims and then invested funds in the housing market. I done (sic) a lot of business in property, he told RTEs Crime Correspondent Paul Reynolds in his only televised interview. It was a good time and thats where I made me money (sic). It was to property that Hutch turned again when he fled to Lanzarote following the murder of David Byrne in February of 2016. He listed the primary function of the business, which effectively saw him register to operate as a sole trader, as management of real estate on a fee or contract basis. The business allowed Hutch to obtain a tax ID which also serves as a Spanish VAT number granting him the status of legitimate businessman in the region. Hutch used this status when fighting extradition to Ireland to face the murder charge. Limoncello restaurant in Fuengiriola, where Hutch was originally arrested MCN Pics He told the extradition hearing that he was not hiding from the authorities while living in Spain and was even paying taxes in his own name. Although it was expected that Hutch would leave Ireland in the immediate aftermath of his acquittal on the charge of carrying out the murder of David Byrne, Hutch has been regularly spotted in north Dublin since his release. Sources say while Hutch is still expected to leave Ireland, he is in no hurry to do so and will likely leave at a time of his own choosing when the fuss over his acquittal has died down. Man is arrested after latest incident in deadly gangland feud Damage to the glass porch doors of the house CCTV of the man who is charged with manslaughter for punch attack These images show the aftermath of an attack on the home of an innocent female relative of the Finglas gang boss known as Mr Flashy. The porch doors of the house were smashed in the attack on the innocent womans home in the north Dublin suburb on Wednesday. Mr Flashy Gardai from Finglas arrested a man in connection with the attack and he has since appeared in court charged with criminal damage. The panes of glass in the doors have since been replaced. CCTV of the man who is charged with manslaughter for punch attack Mr Flashy is involved in a bitter feud in the area which claimed the life of his rival James Whelan, who was shot dead in Finglas in April last year. There have been numerous other incidents linked to the feud, including unsuccessful gun attacks on Mr Flashy and his associates as well as petrol bomb attacks and violent assaults. Mr Flashy escaped injury, but a close associate received minor injuries when a gunman opened fire at them in Finglas in December after they had signed on at a local Garda station. The pair also cheated death when gunmen opened fire on them in another gun attack last summer. Mr Flashy is currently before the court in relation to a violent incident linked to ongoing feuding in the area. Six British criminals, suspected of being contract killers, were arrested in Spain in February following a gun attack on three associates of Mr Flashy at a lake near the holiday resort of Marbella last September. One of Mr Flashys associates received gunshot injuries in the attack. A submachine gun, four pistols and a Smith and Wesson revolver were among evidence seized during the operation, as well as balaclavas, a bullet-proof vest and a GPS tracker that the Brits allegedly used to follow their victims. Police say one of the suspects pointed a weapon at officers who had to fire warning shots to get him to lay his gun down. Gardai raiding a house linked to Mr Flashy Sources close to the investigation believe the gang planned to kill the 24-year-old man shot in the side as well as the two other Irishmen he was with. While the gang members have appeared in court in relation to that incident while they remain under investigation, some have since been released from custody. One member of the gang has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after a punch attack which killed a bouncer in a restaurant in the Costa Del Sol town of Mijas earlier this month. The 32-year-old appeared in court in Spain in relation to the attack but has since been released on bail. His passport was seized and he has to sign on regularly in court while he remains under investigation for manslaughter. Jose Rafael Pisani Pardo died after he was punched when he tried to break up a fight at Olivias restaurant in the town on April 16. Damage to the glass porch doors of the house Police believe he intervened in a dispute in the restaurant and tried to restrain the suspect who got free and allegedly punched him on the chin. The bouncer fell and hit his head as he was knocked unconscious. He was rushed to hospital where he was admitted to intensive care with severe heard injuries but fell into a coma and died hours later. His son, discredited State witness Jonathan Dowdall, still remains in the prison Gunmen about to launch their deadly attack at the Regency Hotel FILE PHOTO Former Sinn Fin councillor Jonathan Dowdall has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to facilitating the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016 END 05/02/2016 Regency Hotel shooting scene. Gardai outside the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Dublin 9 where a shooting incident occurred at 2.30 pm today. Gardai report that three men, all in their 20s or 30s, were found injured at the scene, and one of the men David Byrne was subsequently pronounced dead. The two others were removed to The Mater and Beaumont hospitals with possible gunshot wounds. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie 15/07/22 Jonathan Dowdall, 44, and from the Navan Road in Dublin is charged with murdering 33-year-old David Byrne at the hotel on 5 February 2016.leaving the special criminal court in Dublin, with father Patrick Dowdall who is served with charges in facilitating the murder.. Pic Collins Courts Patrick Dowdall being released on bail from Wheatfield Prison in April 2022 Patrick Dowdall being released on bail from Wheatfield Prison in April 2022 Patrick Dowdall has been freed from custody and taken from Limerick Prison by gardai after finishing his sentence for his role in the 2016 murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel. His son, discredited state witness Jonathan Dowdall, still remains in the prison, where he is serving four years for the same offence, according to Sunday World sources. It emerged last week both men had been accepted into the Witness Security Programme after Jonathan gave evidence in the trial of Gerry The Monk Hutch, who was acquitted of the killing. There had been speculation both men would leave prison together when Dowdall seniors sentence came to end. Patrick Dowdall got two years last October at the Special Criminal Court but time already served was taken into account and the sentence back-dated. It means Patrick has now completed his term and cannot be legally detained any longer by the Irish Prison Service. Dowdall Jr, who got a stiffer sentence, was not given any credit for time served and has currently lodged an appeal against the severity of the ruling. His appeal is listed for hearing at the Court of Appeal on June 20 this year. They both had pleaded guilty to the charge of facilitating a criminal organisation by booking a room in the hotel used by one of the gang which carried out the shooting. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald with former councillor Jonathan Dowdall Last week, The Monk was acquitted of David Byrnes murder in which the Prosecution case relied heavily on Jonathan Dowdalls testimony. The killing at the Regency Hotel set off a spate of revenge attacks by the Kinahan Cartel, including the murder of Gerry Hutchs brother Neddie and his nephew Gareth. Both Dowdalls had been held in an isolation unit in Limerick Prison and only mixed with each other when allowed out of their cells. Gunmen about to launch their deadly attack at the Regency Hotel Patrick Dowdalls release means that Jonathan will now be completely isolated from any other inmate in the prison. During The Monks trial, Dowdall Jr was taken to court under heavy armed escort while his father was not called by the Prosecution to testify. He told the court The Monk had confessed to him to carrying out The Regency Hotel shooting during a meeting in a Dublin park. Dowdall Jr, a married father-of-four and a former Sinn Fein councillor, is likely not to have seen his family since being incarcerated to keep them safe. In such cases, prisoners are allowed video calls to maintain contact with family members while serving their time. Patrick Dowdall will now join a small group of people in the Witness Security Programme which is shrouded in secrecy. There are probably just a few dozen people on the programme, which would also include the likes of Charles Bowden and Russell Warren who gave evidence against John Gilligan. There are other people on the programme who co-operate with gardai but were not called on to give evidence for instance in cases where a defendant pleaded guilty. The programme is run by the gardai ,who would have agreements with forces in other jurisdictions and is likely to see foreign protected witnesses setting up a new life in Ireland. David Byrne Ms Justice Tara Burns delivered the judges verdict on Dowdalls account of The Monks alleged involvement in David Byrnes murder. She said the court had to take his truthfulness about Gerard Hutch with scepticism and extreme care. The judge said Dowdall had acted out of his own self- interest and that it could not have been said he had found God or decided to the right thing. While originally facing a murder charge Dowdall Jr had something to gain by becoming a state witness and the court took the view if somebody in this precarious position could make a life for themselves its him. Carter (13) is at risk of being forgotten in the education system as State fails to honour its commitment, his mother claims Natalee O'Reilly with her son Carter at their home in Rathcoole, Co Dublin Natalee OReilly has spent the last six months trying to find a school for her son. She is worried that Carter (13) is at risk of being forgotten in the education system and will have nowhere to go come September. Carter has a diagnosis of autism and a mild intellectual disability. His time in primary school will end this summer, so his mother has been trying to find a special school for him to begin a new phase of his life. She feels she has been knocking on a door, but theres nobody on the other side. The schools all tell her they are oversubscribed and do not have a place for Carter. Every child in sixth class knows where theyre going next September, but my son doesnt, says Natalee. Im angry, Im sad, Im worried. He needs school. Every morning hes excited waiting for the bus, so how do I turn around and tell him, Theres no school for you? The family live in Rathcoole, Co Dublin, and Carter currently attends primary school in nearby Saggart, where he has thrived. He is happiest when he is outside and loves swimming. He can find it difficult to communicate at times, and as he sometimes displays challenging behaviour, it was recommended he attend a special school next year. Natalee has applied to 10 schools since applications opened earlier in the current school year. Its all been happening since October, but between January and Easter we started getting word there were no school places, she says. Out of desperation, the family expanded the search to areas they consider unsuitable as they are too far from home. Natalee said five schools have been in touch informally to indicate they do not have a place for Carter. Another five formally wrote to her, but every letter was negative. One school said its admissions policy does not cater for children with a dual diagnosis of autism and a moderate general learning disability, so it was unable to process Carters application. Three indicated they are oversubscribed, but can put Carter on their waiting lists. He is currently placed at 11, 14 and 49 on these lists. Another school, contacted after the rejections arrived, said it had closed its admissions and Carters application was being held on file until June next year with its late applications. Natalee worries Carter will have nowhere to go in September and will regress. She is also concerned because routine is very important to him, and ideally she would already have started preparing him for the transition to a new school. A waiting list is an open-ended piece of paper. It means nothing. Its a joke. I dont know what Ill do, she says. Carters case is not unique. Social Democrats TD Cian OCallaghan recently told Special Education Minister Josepha Madigan of a case where a child with Down syndrome and autism received eight rejection letters from special education schools and units in mainstream schools for next September. Josepha Madigan, Minister of State for Special Education and Inclusion Ms Madigan previously used legal powers to compel schools to open special classes, and Sinn Fein TDs Donnchadh O Laoghaire and Pauline Tully recently asked if she intends to use them again this year, given the demand for places. Another parent, Lynn Byrne, is helping Natalee with the application process after navigating the same challenges 13 years ago to get a school for her son, Glenn. She said the system has not improved since then. It was a similar scenario for us. It was recommended Glenn needed a special school. We had to fight to get him into a school, Lynn says. I was shocked that this is still happening 13 years later. Natalee fears the minister will need to intervene if Carter is to get a school place. She is beginning to lose hope, despite being in contact with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Im very disappointed. It feels like he has been forgotten, Natalee says. I am falling down with the worry of this. The Department of Education did not respond to questions this weekend, but Ms Madigan recently told the Dail it is working with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places for the next school year. She said this involves a detailed review and sharing of data to forecast demand for special class and special school places. It is expected the department and the NCSE will need to double the number of new special classes in secondary schools over the next three years, compared with the last three years. The NCSE will work closely with the families of the children and young people concerned, to assist them in accessing the new places which will become available during the 2023/24 school year, Ms Madigan said. Father of woman who died in hospital shocked by stories from maternity unit The father of a young mother who died shortly after giving birth at St Lukes General Hospital in Kilkenny has called for a public inquiry following a series of adverse findings against senior consultants who worked in the hospitals maternity unit in recent years. James Campbell said there was a need for a detailed examination of the operation of the hospital because of a number of avoidable deaths of women and babies. His daughter, Tracey Campbell-Fitzpatrick (36) from Nurney, Co Carlow, bled to death from a massive haemorrhage within three hours of giving birth to her second child, Max, on March 28, 2016 in St Lukes. A fitness-to-practise inquiry held by the Irish Medical Council in February heard evidence that the on-call consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist on the night had delayed returning to the hospital after being alerted about Ms Campbell-Fitzpatricks deteriorating health following the birth of her baby. The consultant, David McMurray, was found guilty of professional misconduct over the delay when he knew her clinical condition required his attendance in the maternity unit. The inquiry heard Dr McMurray took over 40 minutes to get to the hospital after first being called by a midwife who phoned him three times within half an hour, despite living within a short drive of St Lukes. In 2018 another consultant, Trevor Hayes, admitted to several counts of poor professional performance over his treatment of a patient with bladder cancer between 2009 and 2014. In the same year, a high level of non-compliance with standard on maternity care was identified in St Lukes by the health services watchdog Hiqa. In 2019, another consultant gynaecologist at St Lukes, Ray OSullivan, was suspended by the HSE after he was the subject of complaints that he had allegedly carried out unauthorised and unapproved procedures on five female patients in September 2018. The suspension triggered a legal battle which is now before the Supreme Court after the HSE appealed a ruling by the Court of Appeal last year that Prof OSullivan, who denies all allegations of any wrongdoing, was entitled to return to his job. Although none of the women were physically harmed, the court heard they were psychologically injured when informed of the procedure that had been performed on them. In September 2021, Dr Hayes admitted at an inquest that there had been failures in the care of a baby boy, Laurence Somers, who died five days after suffering an acute event at his birth in St Lukes in January 2018. The inquest, which returned a verdict of medical misadventure, also heard admissions by the consultant over failings in the treatment of the babys mother, Grainne, including the failure to carry out an ultrasound on her when she was overdue in breach of the hospitals own protocol. According to Mr Campbell, the mounting list of incidents where patients have suffered adverse outcomes warrants further investigation. Pauline and James Campbell, parents of the late Tracey Campbell-Fitzpatrick. Photo: Collins Courts CollinsPhotoAgency In my opinion, all these different incidents point to a problem with the culture at the hospital, particularly in the maternity unit, he said. Mr Campbell said he had received feedback from staff and patients of St Lukes about problems at the hospital. Im genuinely shocked at some of the stories Ive heard about how people have been treated. If true, such conduct is entirely unacceptable, he added. We need something that will restore confidence for the people who rely on the hospital. A spokesperson for the Ireland East Hospital Group, which runs St Lukes, said it could not comment on individual cases. Significant steps have been taken to improve all aspects of maternity/obstetric care with the addition of further specialist clinical staff to the service, the spokesperson said. Irish bride-to-be shares shocking snaps of her botched gnashers in warning to others Majellas crowns fell out 15 months after she had the work done in Kusadasi A woman has urged others to think twice about going abroad for cosmetic procedures after a dodgy dentist left her with shark teeth that broke off a year later. Majella Hehir, from Birr, Co Offaly, travelled to Kusadasi in Turkey in August 2020 to have crowns fitted on her teeth and was over the moon with the results. She forked out more than 2,750 for her new gnashers after finding a dental practice on Instagram, but things went south when four of the crowns fell out 15 months later. The 41-year-old claims the clinic offered to fix the broken teeth for free as they were still under warranty but when she returned to Turkey earlier this month, she was asked to cough up thousands in cash. Majellas initial result Read more Woman who flew to Turkey for cosmetic surgery while claiming free legal aid targeted by CAB I went down to the clinic and they said to me that it would cost 5,000 to fix my teeth. They wanted to take them all out and put in implants, she said. They gave me dentures instead and I cant for the life of me get them out. I wouldnt have went back to them if I knew they were going to give me dentures. You can get dentures here in Ireland. It was a complete waste of time. I went back to the hotel room and I cried for two days straight. I didnt know anyone over there and just felt so alone. Ms Hehir said while the dentures didnt cost her a cent, she still had to pay hundreds of euro in travel expenses. Majellas teeth after the Turkish dentistry work It cost me 280 for the hotel, 100 for my transfers to and from the hotel, and 150 for my flights there and back. I asked them to send me back the money for the teeth that fell out but they said they werent going to give me any money. Itll take me a year to save that money up again. Ms Hehir admitted she has lost her confidence since she returned to Turkey and is worried that her teeth wont be fixed by the time she ties the knot next summer. But getting her pearly whites examined in Ireland is proving to be difficult as dentists wont touch patients that have been treated abroad. Majellas crowns fell out 15 months after she had the work done in Kusadasi Irish dentists wont go near my teeth because theyre Turkey teeth. I couldnt afford to get it done in Ireland. I went down the cheaper road and I wish I never did, she said. Ms Hehir said shes looking into dentistry clinics somewhere in Croatia, but in the meantime, she wants to spread the word about having procedures abroad. My biggest regret is even going over in the first place. I put a lot of trust in them, she said. I just want to make people aware so it doesnt happen to anyone else. I dont want them to be conned like I was. Think twice about who youre choosing before you go to a different country to get your teeth done. Met Eireann has forecast sunny spells for the bank holiday, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 17 degrees. But the mercury could even tip as high as 18 degrees in Co Cork. Aine Elliott (1) from Glasnevin samples the fragrance of some of the flowers at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin today. Photo: Frank McGrath Five year old Clara Cohen from Malahide inspects some tulips in the sunshine at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin.Picture Credit:Frank McGrath 30/4/23 Temperatures could reach up to 18 degrees with sunshine on the cards for Bank Holiday Monday. Met Eireann has forecast sunny spells for the bank holiday, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 17 degrees. But the mercury could even tip as high as 18 degrees in Co Cork. There might be a slight chance of showers lingering early in the day but aside from this slight hitch, it looks like the bank holiday could be a picnic perfect day. By tomorrow night, the forecaster said temperatures will dip to between seven and nine degrees but it is expected to remain dry. The week ahead is set to be changeable overall, with the best of the weather expected early in the week. Met Eireann forecaster Siobhan Ryan said: Monday and Tuesday will probably be the two mildest days of week. On Monday, we could see the highest temperature in Cork. Even on Wednesday we could get 17 to 18 degrees in the west. Aine Elliott (1) from Glasnevin samples the fragrance of some of the flowers at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin today. Photo: Frank McGrath The sunny south is expected to get warm temperatures also across Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Ms Ryan said this week has finally seen the weather move into the last of meteorological spring. Its been a funny spring, she said. It started off very wet in March and now its cool. Its been very dull and we are hoping things improve for May. The first week is on average, looking at near or slightly below average to be slightly drier. Temperatures are normal but the mildest days are earlier in the week and it might slip back later in week to being probably a little less mild. It might turn a bit cooler for Thursday and Friday, mildest early in the week. But from here on out, were out of the woods of frost. But there are different environmental warnings that will come into effect. And a lot of people are concerned about blight for agricultural interests. Tuesday morning will see hazy sunshine but it will be dry throughout the day, apart from a chance of stray patches of drizzle near western coasts later. Temperatures could peak at 18 degrees with light winds. But by night time patchy outbreaks of light rain may fall in Munster and Connaught. Tuesday night could see temperatures remaining mild at around 10 degrees. It will be dull on Wednesday with some patchy light rain, mostly to be found in Connacht and Ulster. Temperatures could fall back to between 11 and 15 degrees. Thursday will be cloudy with patches of rain and temperatures of up to 15 degrees. Meanwhile Friday looks to be unsettled with heavy, thundery showers. The 159th anniversary of the battle of Pukehinahina - Gate Pa is being commemorated this weekend. On Saturday about a hundred people gathered to mark the 159th anniversary at Gate Pa . The commemorations, held at St George's Church, which is built on top of the pa site, began at on Saturday 4pm, the time when British forces launched their attack on the pa. The church bell was rung 60 times to remember the approximately 60 men who lost their lives during the battle. A reconstruction of what the battle ground might have looked like Photo: Buddy Mikaere. Vicar John Hebenton says when the service began in 2015 the parish wanted to provide a space for people to remember the battle every year. "A lot of [the people of Tauranga] don't know that this event happens, a lot of them don't know about the battle of Gate Pa. "They probably drive up Cameron Road past the pou and think I wonder what happened there but never stop to find out." He says the service is a place where people from Tauranga can learn more and have informed conversations about their history. The service taking place at St Georges Anglican Church in Tauranga, commemorating the 159th anniversary of the battle of Gate Pa. Photo: RNZ/ Pokere Paewai Ngai Tamarawaho historian Buddy Mikaere says the service had a nice atmosphere about it, with a mixture of Maori and Pakeha spoken. Buddy Mikaere at Saint George's Anglican Church, Gate Pa. Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray. "Apart from that it's an opportunity to get young people to participate in this event, because at the end of the day they're going to inherit it and we need them to carry that torch forward," says Buddy. On April 29 1864 the Battle of Gate Pa was fought on a ridge known as Pukehinahina, between British troops and Ngai Te Rangi led by Rawiri Puhirake. For most of that day British artillery bombarded the pa, but its bunkers and trenches kept the majority of Maori in the pa safe. When British forces stormed the pa they were surprised to find most of its defenders alive, the assault turned into a rout and a major embarrassment for the British. The 150th Battle of Gate Pa Commemorations took place in 2014. Photo: Supplied/Buddy Mikaere At the end of last year the Tauranga City Council voted to reclassify part of the Gate Pa Recreation Reserve, which would allow for a National Institute of the New Zealand Land Wars to be established. Buddy says the institute will tell the story of the New Zealand Wars, with a focus on what happened at Pukehinahina Gate Pa and at the later battle of Te Ranga. "We want to tell that story in some innovative ways, so while we do have lots of items in our heritage collection we don't want it to be a museum of things in glass cases, we want it to be an interactive type space." It's expected to provide a workshop space, exhibition areas, performing arts space, plus room for a visitor experience of contemporary and traditional Maori life. Buddy says the next step for the institute is to lodge resource consents then raising the money. Pokere Paewai, RNZ (Bloomberg) -- Bitcoin is set to climb for the fourth month in a row after eking out an April gain, the longest such stretch since a six-month advance through March 2021. Most Read from Bloomberg The token added as much as 2.5% on Sunday and was trading at about $29,700 as of 1:55 p.m. in New York. Smaller digital assets such as Ether, Binance Coin and Cardano also advanced. In the past decade, four-month winning runs in Bitcoin foreshadowed an average surge of 260% over the subsequent year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. A jump of that magnitude would take the largest digital asset to a record $105,000 from the $30,000-zone where its 80% rebound in 2023 from last years punishing crypto rout has stalled somewhat. Bitcoin has changed narrative garb like a chameleon during the revival, drawing succor from bets on a Federal Reserve pivot to looser monetary policy, the perceived blow to fiat currency from the US banking crisis and a planned reduction in the supply of new tokens a so-called halving due next year. Read more: What Is Bitcoin Halving? Does It Push Up the Price?: QuickTake The biggest thing for crypto is that its a lightning rod for liquidity, Christopher Forbes, head of CMC Invest Singapore, said on Bloomberg Television. And as liquidity returns to the market, and it is and were seeing that, I think crypto will continue to trade well. In recent days, Standard Chartered Bank, BCA Research and Bloomberg Intelligence have all flagged possible paths to at least $100,000 for Bitcoin. Scarce Asset The recent banking-sector crisis has helped to re-establish Bitcoins core use case as a decentralized, trustless and scarce digital asset, Geoff Kendrick, head of crypto and EM FX West research at Standard Chartered, wrote in a note. Story continues BCAs Associate Vice President Juan Correa-Ossa said its possible for Bitcoin in the long-term to partially usurp gold as a store of value in a digitalizing world. If the token approached 25% of the market capitalization of the yellow metal, that would put Bitcoins price at $160,000, Correa-Ossa wrote in a note. Bloomberg Intelligences Jamie Douglas Coutts said if 1% of global bond-market value moved toward Bitcoin, that would take the price to $185,000. US Crackdown None of the analysts are saying such trajectories are inevitable but the fact they are being evaluated shows the changed mood compared with 2022, when digital assets crashed and the FTX exchange headlined a spate of blowups. Bitcoin and the wider crypto world remain exposed to a variety of risks, not least the crackdown on the sector in the US. A shorter term threat is if traders pare back expectations of friendlier Fed policy, according to BCAs Correa-Ossa. The various crosscurrents, amid a period of pronounced economic uncertainty, make the outlooks for real and virtual assets hard to parse. Bitcoin remains about $40,000 below its 2021 all-time high of almost $69,000. Crypto markets have cycles, too, only these in the past have been driven mainly by crypto-specific factors, wrote Noelle Acheson, author of the Crypto Is Macro Now newsletter. Not any more now the crypto market has multiple drivers, making the narratives more complex while opening up the market to new investing cohorts. --With assistance from Sidhartha Shukla. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Fish & Game New Zealand is urging regional councils to step up and protect New Zealands rivers and lakes by enforcing Water Conservation Orders - WCOs. WCOs are the highest level of protection that can be afforded to any water body and are designed to protect New Zealands most outstanding wild rivers, wetlands and lakes. "Fish & Game has been responsible for securing 12 of the 15 WCOs currently in place for 13 rivers and two lakes across the country," says a Fish & Game spokesperson. "However, Fish & Game is concerned that regional councils are not doing enough to enforce the protection mechanisms that are afforded to WCOs." Fish & Game manage trout, salmon and game birds to provide healthy recreation for Kiwis,and work to protect the environment that anglers and hunters have enjoyed as a tradition for over 150 years. The organisation has joined North Canterbury Fish & Game in proceedings involving Environment Canterbury, which is seeking a declaratory judgement from the Environment Court about whether it is legally obliged to monitor and enforce the WCO on the Rakaia River. Fish & Game chief executive Corina Jordan says regional councils are statutorily responsible for implementing WCOs. "Water Conservation Orders are like a National Park on a waterway," says Corina. "They recognise the outstanding value of certain water bodies, including their environmental, ecological and scientific values, recreational, historic, spiritual or cultural purposes, water flows and the character of the water body. These values are intended to be protected in perpetuity for present and future generations of Kiwis. "Fish & Game believes that the regional councils should be responsible for making sure the WCOs are put into action. They should be required to enshrine that in regional planning and any consents must recognise the values of these outstanding water bodies and ensure they are protected. "We are finding that regional councils are not meeting these requirements and it is adversely impacting some of our most precious water bodies. "Without proper enforcement, WCOs are not worth the paper they are written on - in some cases, our rivers and lakes are the equivalent of the Emperors new clothes. "We look forward to the declaratory process in Canterbury confirming who is responsible for implementing WCOs and we want to see legislation to make that responsibility very clear." The Rakaia River, one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand, has been identified as having outstanding in-stream values and characteristics through its WCO, including recreational fisheries, wildlife habitats, natural character and amenity. However, Corina says there are indications of impact on the river, including changes in flow. Fish & Game is concerned that adequate monitoring has not been undertaken on changes to the rivers health, despite very significant alterations to land and water use in the catchment. The WCO for the Rakaia River has been in place since 1988 but a 2013 amendment allows Manawa Energy - formerly Trustpower - to take water from the Rakaia. This is stored in Lake Coleridge, where Manawa has a hydroelectric power scheme. Water not required for that purpose is sold for irrigation. Corina says the Rakaia is a clear example of lack of enforcement of WCOs but there are also others around the country. "It depends on the water body and the location. There are a lot of different impacts. Many of the WCOs are for water bodies in pristine indigenous surroundings and are holding their values. But anywhere, for instance, where there are flood mitigation schemes, intensification of land use and industrial takes, where they are not being managed sustainably in accordance with the intent of the law, then we are seeing an impact on those waterways." Until 1981, when WCOs were established, there was no mechanism in New Zealand for preserving or protecting any of New Zealands outstanding waterways. "Fish & Game has been the main advocate for WCOs being put in place," says Corina. "We have fought long and hard to protect our outstanding water bodies from pollution and exploitation, so they are safe for swimming, gathering food and for fishing, including for salmon and trout. "This has included advocating for them to be enshrined in the Resource Management Act and in the new Natural and Built Environment Bill. "WCOs we have successfully advocated for include Otagos Nevis River, the only habitat of the nationally vulnerable Nevis galaxias native freshwater fish species, which share the same threat status as Hectors dolphins. "Fish & Game has a statutory duty to help protect the countrys freshwater bodies and we take that very seriously. We look forward to clarification from the Environment Court, and to those responsible for enforcing WCOs stepping up to fulfil their part in ensuring the future health of these precious resources." Archaeology in the Bay of Plenty is the hot topic at today's meeting of the Tauranga Historic Society. In celebration of Archaeology Week, the society is inviting the public to head along this afternoon Sunday April 30 at 2pm to a talk at the hall behind the Brain Watkins House Museum. "Come and join us for a talk by John Coster on the spectacular archaeological landscape in the Bay of Plenty," says a Tauranga Historic Society spokesperson. Every month the society hosts public talks in the hall behind the Brain Watkins House Museum on Cameron Road. A koha is appreciated and weekend parking is available at Kale Print and the ANZ Centre Carpark on First Avenue west. Archaeology Week is the nationwide celebration of New Zealands archaeological heritage and runs from April 22 - 30. The aim of Archaeology Week is to increase public awareness of archaeology in New Zealand by highlighting the many and varied activities carried out by archaeologists working here and abroad. The New Zealand Archaeological Association is working to increase public awareness and highlight the importance of protecting our archaeological heritage by promoting the work of New Zealand archaeologists both at home and abroad. This is the seventh New Zealand Archaeology Week with many successful events held across New Zealand over the years due to the wonderful effort and input from the archaeological community, museums, heritage organisations, volunteer groups and tangata whenua. The types of events that have been held during New Zealand Archaeology Week 2023 have included public talks, historic walks, community events, special exhibitions, museum trails and online content. The New Zealand Archaeological Association is a volunteer organisation that works to promote research and teaching in archaeology, strengthen links between professional archaeologists and non-professionals, as well as encourage conservation of archaeological sites within New Zealand. We lobby on behalf of our members, and work alongside local government, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and the Department of Conservation. Archaeology in New Zealand New Zealand has a short but dynamic history of settlement, characterised by rapid environmental and cultural change. Archaeological sites in New Zealand relate the story of the first settlers from Eastern Polynesia around 1300 AD, the development of a unique New Zealand Maori culture within a few generations, and the 19th century settlement by European, Chinese and other immigrants. These sites inform us of New Zealand's domestic, maritime, military, industrial and farming history. For more information, interviews and questions please contact the President of the NZAA, Lynda Walters at president@nzarchaeology.org To contact Tauranga Historical Society click here Archaeology of the Bay of Plenty talk is from 2pm - 4pm, Sunday April 30 at the hall behind the Brain Watkins House Museum, Cameron Road. A koha is appreciated and parking is available at Kale Print and the ANZ Centre Carpark on First Avenue west. A bush reserve in Te Puna is now benefiting from the addition of another 100 trees. This month marks two significant birthdays, both of which have been recognised by a group of young Bay of Plenty environmentalists and their families who have planted 100 trees at IAnson Bush Reserve in Te Puna. "The planting on April 23 celebrated Forest & Birds centenary and the 30th anniversary of the organisations junior arm, the Kiwi Conservation Club," says a Friends of IAnson Bush Reserve spokesperson. About 45 children and adults planted a range of native species at the reserve during the planting day. Forest & Bird adult members played a significant role in the creation of the reserve in 1987 on land gifted by Te Puna farmer Keith IAnson. Three years later the Tauranga branch of the Kiwi Conservation Clubs work at the reserve began, with members planting 600 trees. One of the branch coordinators, Liesel Carnie, says photos of the plantings in areas of bare farmland in 1990 are unrecognisable compared to what is there today and it was a fantastic opportunity to show the kids what value there is in planting trees now. Yearly planting continued in a designated Kiwi Conservation Club - KCC - area until 1996 and the club now plans to return to yearly work. We are now going to continue our legacy and come back each year to plant our trees. Each time we come back to plant more we will also weed around our older plantings to teach the kids about that and help out the volunteers who have monthly weeding sessions, says Liesel. About 45 children and adults planted a range of native species at the reserve during the planting day. Photo: Supplied. The volunteer group Friends of IAnson Reserve, led by Kate Loman Smith, will look after the trees as they grow. The group is made up of Forest & Bird members and other supporters. Kate says the volunteers have made huge progress on weed control and bulking up planting where appropriate. The transformation of bare farmland to well-established, regenerating bush is astounding. The reserve is a treasure and a wonderful community asset to be enjoyed," says Kate. Forest & Birds Tauranga branch president Richard James says early members were heavily involved in the creation of IAnson Bush Reserve. It was one of those projects that started with tree planting and now involves more weeding than planting," says Richard. Founded in Wellington by Captain Val Sanderson on March 28, 1923, the then Native Bird Protection Society later became The Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society. The Tauranga section started in 1955 and became a branch in 1974. Richard says the society has been the voice for nature for 100 years. While many of their campaigns have been well documented, others often involve a lot of work to get any reward for nature. The Tauranga Branch is run by volunteers who make submissions on local issues and get involved in local conservation projects. Examples include: opposing the discharge of treated sewage into the head of Welcome Bay Estuary; lobbying against a proposed canal and housing development in the Matua saltmarsh; lobbying against replacing native forest with plantation forestry in the Kamai forest and involvement with the Kaimai Forum (that is now Manaaki Kaimai Mamaku Trust); dotterell protection in BOP including on Matakana; protection of Hochstetter frogs at Otawa Quarry; helping start Aongatete Forest Restoration; and advocating for mangroves in Tauranga Harbour. For more information contact tauranga.branch@forestandbird.org.nz 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. Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although Amazon.com made losses for many years after listing, if you had bought and held the shares since 1999, you would have made a fortune. But the harsh reality is that very many loss making companies burn through all their cash and go bankrupt. Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Canadian North Resources (CVE:CNRI) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. For the purpose of this article, we'll define cash burn as the amount of cash the company is spending each year to fund its growth (also called its negative free cash flow). The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'. See our latest analysis for Canadian North Resources Does Canadian North Resources Have A Long Cash Runway? A cash runway is defined as the length of time it would take a company to run out of money if it kept spending at its current rate of cash burn. When Canadian North Resources last reported its balance sheet in December 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth CA$11m. Importantly, its cash burn was CA$17m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from December 2022 it had roughly 8 months of cash runway. That's quite a short cash runway, indicating the company must either reduce its annual cash burn or replenish its cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Is Canadian North Resources' Cash Burn Changing Over Time? Although Canadian North Resources reported revenue of CA$92k last year, it didn't actually have any revenue from operations. To us, that makes it a pre-revenue company, so we'll look to its cash burn trajectory as an assessment of its cash burn situation. Remarkably, it actually increased its cash burn by 222% in the last year. With that kind of spending growth its cash runway will shorten quickly, as it simultaneously uses its cash while increasing the burn rate. Canadian North Resources makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow. Story continues How Easily Can Canadian North Resources Raise Cash? Since its cash burn is moving in the wrong direction, Canadian North Resources shareholders may wish to think ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. We can compare a company's cash burn to its market capitalisation to get a sense for how many new shares a company would have to issue to fund one year's operations. Canadian North Resources' cash burn of CA$17m is about 6.4% of its CA$268m market capitalisation. Given that is a rather small percentage, it would probably be really easy for the company to fund another year's growth by issuing some new shares to investors, or even by taking out a loan. How Risky Is Canadian North Resources' Cash Burn Situation? On this analysis of Canadian North Resources' cash burn, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap was reassuring, while its increasing cash burn has us a bit worried. Summing up, we think the Canadian North Resources' cash burn is a risk, based on the factors we mentioned in this article. On another note, Canadian North Resources has 3 warning signs (and 2 which don't sit too well with us) we think you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies insiders are buying, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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 Dave Pasinski, of Fayetteville, has graduate degrees in moral theology and divinity. Some may wonder about the fuss over 500-year-old documents comprising the so-called Doctrine of Discovery and why the Vaticans repudiation warrants such attention. I believe it does because of the contemporary relevance similar to the ongoing effects that slavery and Jim Crow discrimination has had. Your excellent editorial sets the right tone: praising Bishop Douglas Lucia and the Vatican for the repudiation of the insidious doctrine but also challenging repentance for other actions (Popes rejection of Doctrine of Discovery opens path to reconciliation, April 23, 2023). To put this in context, this Doctrine of (Christian) Discovery was a product of the papal bulls issued from a late medieval mindset grappling with populations new to them, rooted in a rapidly changing Christendom on the cusp of Renaissance and its dissolution. This so-called doctrine was exploited by emerging nation-states. While a complex topic, there are three points: the role of papal bulls in historical context, aspects of what is doctrine, and the misappropriation of this history in our jurisprudence. Fundamentally, it was an insidious union of a political presupposition with a myopic and immoral religious premise of Christian superiority promoted by the Catholic Church. First, there are many types of ecclesiastical teachings decrees, conciliar statements, apostolic constitutions, encyclicals, proclamations from various dicasteries (departments), bulls and others. Bulls called that because they bore a papal bulla (seal) were a common form of proclamation from the 11th century through the 19th century. Some 300 were issued, although only about eight in the last 100 years. They range from mundane and obscure to destructive and grandiose. Some were contradicted and repudiated, and many were conflated to have greater influence than they deserved. During the so-called Age of Discovery, western Christendom most feared violent Islamic expansion toward Constantinople and in coping with the Portuguese exploitation of the African coast. Pope Nicholas V issued the infamous Dum Diversas in 1452 giving Portugal the supposed right to territories not ruled by Christians and the ability to enslave inhabitants. This perversion was his trade-off for King Afonso V agreeing to mount a crusade one that never happened against Sultan Mehmet IIs designs on Constantinople and Muslim domination of African slave trade. (Constantinople fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1453, a pivotal event in world history.) Subsequent bulls expanded that notion and a later Spanish Pope, Alexander VI, issued Inter Cetera (1493) after the voyage of Columbus which now included Spain on the deal. Such were the political machinations of the papacy. Although Pope Paul III in the bull Sublimis Deus (1537) repudiated this exploitation, the damage was done and conquistadors and others largely disregarded it. Luthers reformation (c. 1517) and later reform by Henry VIII (c. 1535) and John Calvin (c. 1536) rejected papal teachings and a new theological atmosphere emerged for how Europeans would treat the Americas. Ironically, these infamous documents were later cited by all of the exploiting nations especially England, whose jurisprudence eventually prevailed as part of a Doctrine of Discovery even though it issued from a papal source the Church of England no longer recognized. Secondly, the bulls were not doctrinal in the traditional creedal sense of the word, but rather political statements based on the now well-recognized, unjust and dehumanizing Eurocentric views about Indigenous peoples. That is, they were not beliefs that had to be affirmed, but rather arrogant presumptions of power by the largest international institution of the era, the pre-Reformation Church, reflecting the common worldview of most European Christians. Two examples may help explain this. Many Catholics believe in the claimed apparitions of the Blessed Mother. Although common beliefs that some may call doctrine, they are not an essential element within the Creed and one may be a faithful Catholic without accepting their credibility. Perhaps a better contextualization is in the spirit of the Monroe doctrine or the Truman doctrine or Reagan doctrine. American presidents and citizens need not adhere to any of these although they have not been formally repudiated. In short, doctrine is being used in this broad sense to describe those papal bulls that tragically formed the marriage of theological bias and political policy. This does not justify them but only attempts to put them in context. Finally, in United States law, people like Onondaga Nation lawyer Joe Heath have provided a tremendous context and history of how this influenced our jurisprudence. The consequential Supreme Court decision written by Chief Justice John Marshall in the case of Johnson v. MIntosh (1823) essentially denied the rights of aboriginal land claims and became the national basis for exploitation. The liberal justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg cited it in the 2005 case denying the Oneida Nations land claims based on this prior precedent. It is impossible to overstate the suffering that resulted from the dehumanization of Indigenous peoples through the principles of the Doctrine of Discovery. It formed the basis for European then American persecution, the cultural degradation through religious schools and continued exploitation. Although there were some notable personal exceptions, these papal documents were foundational in church history and are rightfully repudiated. Now it seems necessary for our legal system to redress the power of exploiters and to demand justice for Indigenous peoples that is long overdue. Students of C.W. Baker High School in Baldwinsville celebrated at their junior prom Saturday, April 29, 2023. The event was held in the school cafeteria and had a Hollywood theme. SUBSCRIBER BENEFIT: This prom season, Syracuse.com is offering a perk exclusively for subscribers: Log in, click on the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and choose Get Photo to download free print-quality images. Plus, get 50% off the purchase of prom-related keepsakes. Update at 2:30 p.m.: Rainfall amounts today have ranged from 0.25 to 1 inch in central New York. Steady rain will intensify between 4 and 7 p.m., and as the front moves through, an additional 1 to 2 inches is possible. Original Post: Syracuse, N.Y. - A flood watch has been issued for parts of Central New York and other Upstate New York counties due to excessive rainfall. Central New York is expected to receive one to three inches through this afternoon and into the evening, according to the National Weather Service. The flood watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Sunday. Excessive runoff could possibly result in the flooding of rivers, creeks and streams, according to the weather service. Minor flooding is also possible in low-lying or poor-drainage areas. Counites under the flood watch are Broome, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Madison, Onondaga, Schuyler, Southern Cayuga, Sullivan, Tioga and Tompkins. In Oswego County, the forecast calls for heavy rain today and tonight with .75 to 1.5 inches of rain possible. The weather service cautions those living in areas prone to flooding to be prepared to take action if flooding happens. For updates, check the forecast for alerts to possible flood warnings. 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 China's donation of a navy patrol vessel is aimed at helping Sierra Leone and other West African countries in the Atlantic Ocean fight illegal fishing and piracy, says Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio. Bio commissioned the 26.7-metre (87-foot) long navy patrol boat that is equipped with a 14.5-mm calibre weapon. He said the Offshore Naval Patrol Boat PB 106 - named the Madam Yoko - was a gift from China to the government of Sierra Leone "as a result of the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries". Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. Bio said the gift from the Chinese government was significant because it strengthened the country's offshore capacity and would help the country monitor its territorial waters. Sierra Leone is home to China's multimillion-dollar mining (mostly iron ore) and timber interests. "Sierra Leone has been struggling to control illegal, unreported and unregistered fishing on our territorial waters," Bio said in a speech during the commissioning of the naval patrol vessel on Monday. Beijing's contribution to Sierra Leone's efforts was recognised even though fishing communities along the Atlantic coastline of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Guinea have raised concerns that China's distant-water fishing fleet has depleted fish stocks. "This offshore capacity will obviously reduce the risk and deter those crimes in our maritime domain," Bio said. Further, he said China had provided engineering equipment and overseas training and sent medical teams that had significantly enhanced the capacity of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF). Francois Vrey, a research coordinator at the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University, said Sierra Leone was subject to a dire illegal fishing threat in its waters and Chinese trawlers were among illegal fleets entering the country's waters. Story continues He said Chinese vessels - whether flagged or licenced - dominated foreign fishing licences in Sierra Leone. "China's distant fishing fleet is vast and the Gulf of Guinea is fertile ground," Vrey said. "China is making a play in the Gulf of Guinea given that it is also seeking a naval facility in the Gulf of Guinea, and these waters are also in the picture in the Belt and Road Initiative. China has donated a patrol boat to Sierra Leone to help the West African nation tackle illegal fishing and piracy to protect its own fishers and seafood stocks. Photo: Visit Sierra Leonean alt=China has donated a patrol boat to Sierra Leone to help the West African nation tackle illegal fishing and piracy to protect its own fishers and seafood stocks. Photo: Visit Sierra Leonean> He said Sierra Leone was a signatory to the Yaounde Code of Conduct (YCC) that sought to respond to maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea. "This vessel helps in its zone of responsibility as its other vessels also have limited reach, and this one can probably operate further out to sea," Vrey said of the Madam Yoko. China's ambassador to Sierra Leone Wang Qing said the patrol boat gifted to Sierra Leone showed the shared views of both countries towards their long-standing friendship and military-to-military cooperation. "I want to appreciate our Chinese military team who, since the arrival of the vessel, has been in the country to share expertise with the Sierra Leone Navy on how to operate the vessel and the machine," Wang said. Observers said Chinese military donations - typically military equipment and training - were a diplomatic means employed by Beijing to strengthen relations with the continent and protect its economic interests. China is the continent's largest trading partner and has pumped billions of dollars in loans that have gone towards building mega projects such as ports, dams and highways under President Xi Jinping's multibillion-dollar pet project, the Belt and Road Initiative. Dr Ilaria Carrozza, a senior researcher at Peace Research Institute Oslo, said China's donation of a navy patrol vessel to Sierra Leone was one of Beijing's foreign policy tools to cultivate long-term relationships with African countries. "Donating arms and military equipment is seen by the Chinese leadership as a cost-efficient way of building trust and promoting strategic cooperation between the People's Liberation Army and the recipient's armed forces," Carrozza said. She said military donations from China were typically associated with economic ties between Beijing and the recipient country and included the aim of protecting Chinese interests and citizens. "In my research, I have found that China provides donations of arms and military equipment to nearly all African countries, which is coherent with its broader emphasis on South-South cooperation," Carrozza said. A study co-authored by Carrozza last year said China had provided military help to 47 African countries in the past two decades, with Zimbabwe and Angola the top recipients of military arms and training. China's total spending on security force assistance to African countries between 2015 and 2020 was around the US$25 million a year it pledged to the African Union in 2015, the study said. Koffi M. Kouakou, a senior research fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Centre for Africa-China Studies, said Sierra Leone, a nation in the throes of electoral campaigns, needed security support. He said that for decades pirates and drug traffickers used Sierra Leone to transit to Europe with devastating effects on its people, especially its youth. "China is only responding to President Julius Maada Bio's request to deal with challenges and protect the country's battered coast, democracy and sovereignty," Kouakou said. "Chinese diplomacy delivers a smart bundle of development and security, or vice versa. This package is almost unbeatable and Western nations are struggling to compete with China on that front." Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio commissioned the Madam Yoko, a 26.7-metre (87-foot) long navy patrol boat equipped with a 14.5-mm calibre weapon. Photo: Handout alt=Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio commissioned the Madam Yoko, a 26.7-metre (87-foot) long navy patrol boat equipped with a 14.5-mm calibre weapon. Photo: Handout> At the Madam Yoko commissioning, Bio said Sierra Leone was taking part in a regional initiative to keep the Gulf of Guinea secure. The gulf, which stretches from Angola to Senegal and is a key shipping route, is said to be one of the world's most dangerous places for attacks on ships, with piracy still frequent in the region. For instance, early this month, pirates took control of a Chinese-operated oil tanker in the Gulf of Guinea. China has in the past decade taken part in dozens of military exchanges with countries from the gulf and deployed naval vessels for counter-piracy operations. David Shinn, a specialist in China-Africa relations at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs, said China's donation of patrol vessels - including some previously well used boats - to African countries was a common practice. For example, Shinn said Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Mauritania had been given patrol craft by China. "In 2006, China even donated a gunship to Sierra Leone, which is an interesting choice of countries because of complaints by local fishermen about Chinese fishing in its offshore waters," Shinn said. He said licensed and unlicensed Chinese fishing vessels had been depleting fish stocks off Sierra Leone. In 2021, China and Sierra Leone announced a controversial US$55 million Chinese-financed industrial fishing harbour, Shinn said. "Sierra Leone may well use the vessel to discourage illegal fishing," he said. 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. Share People who installed the NHS Covid-19 app in England and Wales have been receiving alerts informing them the platform has now shut down. It was launched in 2020 as a tool to help fight the spread of Covid-19 by warning citizens if they had been near to someone who was infected. It was downloaded around 30 million times during the pandemic. Scotland and Northern Ireland had their own versions, which have also now closed. The England and Wales app stopped working on Thursday and will disappear from Apple and Googles app stores in May. BBC A British scientist known for his contributions to artificial intelligence has told Sky News that powerful AI systems cant be controlled and are already causing harm. Professor Stuart Russell was one of more than 1,000 experts who last month signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in the development of systems even more capable than OpenAIs newly-launched GPT-4 the successor to its online chatbot ChatGPT which is powered by GPT-3.5. Sky News Sweden is building the worlds first electric motorway which will allow cars and lorries to recharge will driving. The e-motorway will be built along 13 miles of European route E20 which connects Hallsberg and Orebro, located between Swedens three major cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. It comes after the European Union passed a law last month requiring all new cars sold to have zero CO2 emissions from 2035. Daily Mail Doctors, scientists and researchers have built an artificial intelligence model that can accurately identify cancer, in a development they say could speed up diagnosis of the disease and fast-track patients to treatment. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. In many cases, however, the disease can be cured if detected early and treated swiftly. The AI tool designed by experts at the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust, the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and Imperial College London can identify whether abnormal growths found on CT scans are cancerous. Guardian Its Apples big developer event WWDC 2023 in a few weeks, and that means well get to see more of the operating system thatll ship with the iPhone 15 and give existing iPhones an update too. While were not expecting a massive change to the look of iOS 17, there have been rumours of fairly significant changes to some key apps and according to Analyst941 on Twitter, who seems to have the inside track on Apple apps, those apps include Wallet and Health. The image above is a render based on apparently solid information, and it shows the revamped Wallet app we can expect to see at WWDC and in the final iOS 17 release. T3.com Microsoft has said that it will no longer manufacture mice, keyboards, and webcams under the Microsoft brand, instead, it will develop Surface-branded PC accessories, which include mice, keyboards, pens, and more, the media reported. According to The Verge, the move ends the legacy of Microsoft-branded PC hardware launched in 1983 with Word and Notepad bundled together. Economic Times For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket TechSpot is about to celebrate its 25th anniversary. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust Sometimes, the most important insight seem obvious once said. CPUs, the core chip for PCs and servers, were once the king of compute. This was just a given, a fundamental assumption of the semiconductor industry. In the distant past of 2013 only two companies made CPUs Intel and AMD, with Intel by far the leader. No one else could afford to make these big iron, ubiquitous chips. But in less than ten years, that entire mindset has been invalidated. By our count, there are over a dozen companies designing CPUs today, Intel's position in that space is no longer dominant and CPUs have fallen victim to the guillotine. The semiconductor world no longer has a king. Vive la Republique! Obviously Intel and AMD still make CPUs, and to be fair, they remain the market share leaders. And even after Intel's very troubling past five years, they retain the #1 position in the market. Editor's Note: Guest author Jonathan Goldberg is the founder of D2D Advisory, a multi-functional consulting firm. Jonathan has developed growth strategies and alliances for companies in the mobile, networking, gaming, and software industries. But here come the Arm companies. Qualcomm was arguably the first Arm CPU of any commercial scale, but it has taken them a long time to really productize that part. Along the way, several other companies made a run for the market, and failed. Until Ampere came along, outlasting a handful of other startups to emerge as the largest merchant Arm CPU maker. They still face many challenges, but there is no arguing that they have real commercial traction and a strong roadmap. And of course, there's Nvidia's Grace CPU coming soon. Less than a decade ago, CPUs were the dominant form of compute and everyone 'knew' the market could only support two vendors. Today, there are over a dozen companies making CPUs. Then we have all the CPUs from the non-chip companies rolling their own CPUs. The best known of these is Apple's M Series, which by many metrics is the best PC CPU on the market right now. And then there are the hyperscalers, most notably Amazon's Graviton now in its third generation. Alibaba has its Yi Tian CPU, which apparently is in production for its data centers. Beyond Arm, there are also at least two companies making RISC V-based CPUs, both in stealth (sort of), so we will not name them here. And then there is China. We know three newish companies designing CPUs: Loongson, Zhaoxin and HJ Micro. Rockchip is still out there plugging away with CPUs for low-end devices. AMD theoretically still has a joint venture in China making CPUs, but their status is not great given the geopolitical tensions. We would also add Huawei to this list. Their HiSilicon Kunpeng once looked very promising for the data center until they were crippled by US sanctions, but there are now rumors that Huawei is working with SMIC to build this again on a 14nm process. And we are almost certainly missing a handful of other startups working on CPUs in China. Netting this all out we get the following list: Alibaba Amazon AMD Ampere Apple HJ Micro Huawei Intel Loongson Nvidia Qualcomm RISC V start-ups Rockchip Zhaoxin This is a fairly dramatic shift to a massive market over a very short time frame. It is hard to overstate how alien this idea would have sounded only few years ago. For over a decade it was a foregone conclusion that CPUs would be dominant and Intel the dominator. All of that is now turned on its head. According to a recent study by The University of Queensland's Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, seven new psychoactive substances have been detected in Australian wastewater, including narcotics that mimic MDMA and cocaine. News.com.au reports that the chemicals were detected during the New Year periods of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22, when researchers believe drug use rose owing to partying. Researchers Find Similar Chemicals Overseas The study analyzed wastewater from 47 cities in Europe, the United States, Canada, New Zealand, China, Brazil, and the Republic of Korea. The new psychoactive substances (NPS) compounds discovered were created to replace banned substances, which means they have a slightly different molecular structure to stay ahead of the law. They are typically produced in lower amounts than traditional illegal narcotics, making it harder for law authorities to control their distribution. According to Dr. Richard Bade of the University of Queensland, wastewater analysis of these new drugs could assist in detecting, monitoring, and controlling the hazards associated with the substances. Read Also: Elon Musk Treads on Hot-Button Issues' Sustainable Energy,' 'Twitter Free Speech' on Real Time with Bill Maher He also mentioned that wastewater analysis was a low-cost and ethical tool for organizations and governments to track drug use patterns and the global movement of drugs. The study also discovered an upsurge in similar drugs in Europe, particularly in Spain and Slovenia, where 3-methylmethcathinone levels were high. Dr. Bade expressed concern about music events, where NPS-laced drugs could be consumed inadvertently. This can raise the risk of overdosing, leading to increased emergency room visits. Drug Overdose Cases in Australia Government data reveals 1,842 registered drug-induced deaths among Australians in 2020, an average of 5 deaths per day. While the initial estimated rate of drug-induced deaths in 2020 was 7.2 per 100,000 Australians, it is expected to increase. Adjusting for age and changes in population size, the rate of drug-induced deaths has fluctuated over the years, peaking in 1999 at 9.1 deaths per 100,000 people before declining sharply in the early 2000s. However, the rate rose to 8.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2017. It also stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had had an impact on drug supply and demand, raising serious concerns regarding potential changes in drug-related harms since the outbreak of the pandemic. According to the wastewater study, however, Covid restrictions had little impact on drug usage. Despite surveying throughout the pre-pandemic period, as well as periods when countries faced severe restrictions (2020-21) and reduced restrictions (2021-22), the study revealed "little difference in the total number of NPS detections." However, during the 2020-21 period, levels were lower. After a successful six-month pilot that extended until August 2023, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has started government-run pill testing at music events and fixed sites in Queensland. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath stated that the tool was about "harm minimization" and did not promote drug use. "It is important to note that pill testing services do not promote that drugs are safe," D'Ath said. "However, they are among a suite of options that can positively affect outcomes regarding illicit drug use. Pill testing services will inform people what chemical substances are in their drugs," she added. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Wastewater Surveillance Programs for Disease Outbreaks in Danger Due to Funding Uncertainty 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The European Union (EU) is on course to be the first area in the world to pass a substantial artificial intelligence (AI) law. Reuters tells us in a report that Margrethe Vestager, the EU's tech regulation head, stated on Sunday, April 30, that the draft Artificial Intelligence Act could be finalized this year. Vestager's announcement follows a preliminary agreement reached on Thursday by EU Parliament members to put the proposal to a vote on May 11. Establishing Guardrails for AI Regulators worldwide have been debating how to build guardrails for AI technology. The EU's proposed AI Act will limit the use of AI technology while simultaneously reducing the potential harm from the misuse of AI. It would also create legislation to guarantee the safety and privacy of AI technology users. Italy was one of the earliest countries to impose restrictions on the use of new technology. The Italian Data Protection Authority, known as Garante, has issued an order to OpenAI to cease processing personal data with its ChatGPT model, citing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of the European Union. The regulator is also concerned about the absence of any mechanism to restrict minors from accessing the technology. If case you missed it, an AI-generated song imitating the voices and styles of famous artists like Drake and The Weeknd gained popularity recently. However, it was later taken down from various streaming platforms due to concerns over copyright infringement. This incident has sparked discussions about regulating AI technology in relation to existing copyright laws. Read Also: Elon Musk Treads on Hot-Button Issues 'Sustainable Energy,' 'Twitter Free Speech' on Real Time with Bill Maher According to EU tech regulation chief Vestager, it could take a few years for the legislation to be enforced, but businesses should begin considering the implications of the new regulations. The proposed EU law aims to balance AI innovation and safety by focusing on high-risk use cases. Governments, Groups Advancing AI Regulation Efforts The growing popularity of generative AI applications like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Midjourney has increased the demand for AI regulation. The rising accessibility of AI technology has heightened lawmakers' concerns about its unchecked growth. Reuters also tells us about an organization backed by Elon Musk and European lawmakers involved in drafting the EU AI Act have urged global leaders to collaborate to stop advanced AI from disrupting society. Digital ministers from the G7 advanced nations recently agreed to adopt "risk-based" regulation on AI. This development could be the first step towards global agreements on AI regulation. Indonesia, India, and Ukraine representatives also attended this year's G7 meeting. German Transport Minister Volker Wissing stressed the importance of establishing AI regulations to protect democracy from manipulative AI. Recently, an open letter was published online by the Future of Life Institute, calling on all artificial intelligence developers worldwide to halt the development of deep learning technology temporarily. This letter, signed by Musk and other tech leaders, suggests that firms should take a six-month break from development, notably from training AIs beyond GPT-4. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: ChatGPT Outperforms Human Doctors in Empathy, Quality of Medical Advice: Study 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By Ellen Zhang and Ryan Woo BEIJING (Reuters) -China's manufacturing activity unexpectedly shrank in April, official data showed on Sunday, raising pressure on policymakers seeking to boost an economy struggling for a post-COVID lift-off amid subdued global demand and persistent property weakness. The official manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) declined to 49.2 from 51.9 in March, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, below the 50-point mark that separates expansion and contraction in activity on a monthly basis. That missed expectations of 51.4 tipped by economists in a Reuters poll and marked the first contraction since December, when the official manufacturing PMI was at 47.0. The world's second-biggest economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter thanks to robust services consumption, but factory output has lagged amid weak global growth. Slowing prices and surging bank savings are raising doubts about demand. The Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, on Friday stressed that restoring and expanding demand is the key to a durable recovery and cautioned the current improvement is mainly restorative "with weak momentum and insufficient demand". "A lack of market demand and the high-base effect from the quick manufacturing recovery in the first quarter" were among factors that led to the contraction in April, said senior NBS statistician Zhao Qinghe. New export orders edged down to 47.6 from 50.4 in March, the PMI showed. The manufacturing sector, which employs about 18% of China's workforce, remains under pressure due to slack global demand. Some exporters told Reuters at the country's biggest trade fair they have frozen investments and some have cut labour costs in response. To boost trade and employment, the cabinet last week unveiled plans, including supporting auto exports, facilitating visas for overseas businesspeople and providing subsidies to firms that hire college graduates. Story continues Confidence in the property sector, for years a pillar of China's growth, remains fragile. Multiple crises since mid-2020 have included developers' debt defaults and stalled construction of pre-sold housing projects. While policy support measures have helped improve conditions in the industry, pockets of weakness remain and a full recovery appears some way off. Despite the recent strength in consumption, the non-manufacturing PMI edged down to 56.4 versus 58.2 in March. Data this month showed retail sales growth quickening in March to near two-year highs, but that was off a low base and economists are cautious on the sustainability of such strength. The composite PMI, which includes manufacturing and non-manufacturing activity, dropped to 54.4 from 57.0. The PMI readings, along with other mixed economic signals, including robust holiday travel and muted property market activities, "will likely keep the pressure on the government to continue its supportive fiscal and monetary policies in Q2", said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management. (Reporting by Ellen Zhang, Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, William Mallard and Lincoln Feast) FILE PHOTO: A general view of skyscrapers in The City of London financial district seen from City Hall in London, Britain, May 8, 2021. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo City investment bank FinnCap has axed its controversial unlimited holiday policy and ordered staff back to the office four days a week ahead of its merger with rival Cenkos. In a sign of companies returning to pre-pandemic norms, the financial advisory firm has scrapped the unlimited leave scheme it introduced at the beginning of 2022 in an effort to help reduce staff burnout, City sources said. The policy was brought in by Sam Smith, the then-boss of FinnCap, who told employees to take at least four weeks off a year and two or three days every three months. At the time, she said the policy had no upper limit but guided that staff take around six weeks off each year, with its internal HR portal allowing for 35 days holiday without any need for extra sign-off. However, James Farrugia, who replaced Ms Smith as chief executive last September, is understood to have binned the policy, with staff now told to take around five weeks off each year in line with most employers in the Square Mile. There will still be flexibility regarding the number of days staff can take off on compassionate grounds, one insider said. So-called unlimited holiday policies have proven to be controversial, with critics arguing that they result in staff taking fewer days off compared to when workers are given a fixed number of leave days. Commission Mcc0103150 Assigned Daily Telegraph Section: DT Business Details: Sam Smith, the chief executive of FinnCap for a profile - Paul Grover Last year, The Telegraph revealed that Goldman Sachs introduced a similar scheme for its senior bankers. Mr Farruguia has also told FinnCaps staff to work from the office four days a week, up from a previous requirement of three days a week, as companies increasingly demand that rank-and-file employees spend more time in the workplace. Earlier this month, Lloyds Banking Group and JP Morgan both increased the number of days they require staff to be at their desks. The change in FinnCaps working policies come as the company is preparing to merge with rival broker Cenkos in a 43m tie-up. The companies announced the deal last month, which will create a combined group with 230 employees in the UK. The proposed merger is expected to be completed by September. Story continues The Telegraph understands that Cenkos employees will move into FinnCaps building near St Pauls Cathedral in the heart of the City once the deal goes through. Small and mid-sized investment banks have struggled in recent months amid a dealmaking drought in the Square Mile. In December, FinnCap warned of a challenging operating environment owing to a darkening economic outlook. FinnCap was contacted for comment. A hamburger restaurant, a Peruvian bar, a cocktail bar and a little piece of Latin America... 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We have to rebel." Guide: Diamond League 2023: Here are all the competitions and how much the winners earn In the fourth season of Liuyang, Zhu Ting is still that MVP Judo: Luka Mkheidze, from Tbilisi to Paris, or the success of an exile Cooler than McDavid: Barbashev scored a double and put Vegas ahead in the series with Edmonton in the Stanley Cup In the "Gallic village" of Tajonar, heart of Osasuna: "Here there are no boys from outside, we play with Navarrese talent" "I sawed for a long time, all hands were in calluses": Akhatova - about working with lodges, mistakes during shooting and "little death" During the May Day holiday, the total passenger flow of the entire Beijing subway network exceeded 3900 million In the first four months, the sales of 4 real estate enterprises in China exceeded 6 billion yuan, and 59 exceeded <> billion yuan China's three departments regulate the selection and employment of accounting firms by state-owned enterprises and listed companies Fines, surveillance brigade and blacklist of offenders: This is how France fights against "bad influencers" The ECB moderates the rate of increase with a further increase of 0.25 points in interest rates Economist Belyaev: the fall in the dollar was influenced by the decision of the US Federal Reserve to raise the rate Yelmo sued for not allowing food purchased outside the establishment to enter the cinema The Commissioner for Energy takes advantage of a meeting with Imaz to inquire about the possible entry of Russian diesel to Spain Why does fuel prices remain high in France while falling in our European neighbours? Irrigation, targeted by lack of water: "We are not to blame for drought" "Cooperate with Western groups of influence": how human rights activist Osechkin earns money on the publication of torture and criticism of the Russian Armed Forces The France reaches 100,000 electric terminals but will have to accelerate for fast charging Employees of an entire ward in Harads will be expelled before the summer Brigetta and Osama deported despite being needed at the nursing home in Harads The military chronicle showed a video of the destruction of the reconnaissance group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporozhye region What is the truth about the "mutant" of Tully, the mysterious organism that has puzzled scientists for half a century and lived about 300 million years ago? Marleen at the language group in Eskilstuna: "I'm learning Swedish and looking for a job" The new rejection of the RIP illustrates the "French delay in terms of citizen participation" Security and spending priorities in Egypt. What is behind Amr Moussa's speech in the National Dialogue? Three defendants in the case of the murder of animators on the highway in the Kuban were arrested until June 30 "The realities of a complex society": the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation for Afghanistan - on the consequences of the April Revolution 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 "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 Tricks so that they do not bother you on WhatsApp without having to block or give explanations Tom Hanks gives it his all at Springsteen's second concert in Barcelona Colonel MacGregor: The Russian Armed Forces conducted an excellent operation to eliminate the commanders of the Armed Forces of Ukraine You no longer need a password to sign in to your Google Account Two people killed after being shot by three hooded men on the run in Salou US National Intelligence: Ukraine will not be able to resist Russia without arms supplies from the West All units of two batches of an angina drug recalled for a defect that does not pose "serious or life-threatening risk" 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. The new site for the Sears Tower as seen from 16 floors up looking east across Wacker Drive in Chicago on Dec. 22, 1969. (Dave Nystrom / Chicago Tribune) Sears, Roebuck and Co.s announcement that it would build the worlds tallest building in downtown Chicago was a psychological shot in the arm for a city suffering from urban disorder and suburban flight. Construction on the 110-story building on South Wacker Drive began in 1970 and at first went in the opposite direction: the digging of a 50-foot hole for its foundation. Advertisement The next year, the nuts were tightened on the first steel beam, and with each additional piece, the Sears Tower slowly became a visible reality. On March 6, 1973, fellow workers cheered when Victor Mugica set a beam that made Sears Tower a few feet taller than New Yorks World Trade Center. Workers guide the final steel girder into position to top out the Sears Tower on May 3, 1973, in Chicago. (Charles Osgood / Chicago Tribune) Over just four days the following month, however, the structure seemed cursed. Four workers were killed in an elevator shaft fire. A fifth was knocked off a platform on the 109th floor and fell 35 feet to his death. Advertisement The work continued, and on May 2, the day before the scheduled topping-out party, the Tribune put New York on notice: After tomorrow, when schoolchildren dream of big buildings, theyll no longer think of you and the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center, the paper wrote. Fifty years (and one name change, to the Willis Tower in 2009) later, former Tribune photographer Charles Osgood recalled the ceremony. It was the coldest Ive ever been, Osgood said. He had been on the Tribune payroll for just three years, and the assignment proved to be his journalistic bar mitzvah. A longtime Tribune employee was scheduled to be the pool photographer. It was his images of the setting of the final beam that would be shared with other news outlets. But the veteran photographer, William Yates, begged off. No, you do it, Yates said to Osgood. Ive shot a thousand of these. Vintage Chicago Tribune Weekly The Vintage Tribune newsletter is a deep dive into the Chicago Tribune's archives featuring photos and stories about the people, places and events that shape the city's past, present and future. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > So thats how Osgood ended up 1,454 feet above Chicago as the final beam was set in place. The wind chill factor had metamorphosed a relatively balmy day below into a freezing one atop the worlds tallest building. My fingers were so cold, I couldnt press the cameras shutter button, he said. I thought Im going to blow this! Advertisement Then the adrenaline kicked in. He punched and punched the button until the shutter clicked. Osgoods perseverance paid off. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said reports on his potential presidential campaign launch date are inaccurate, and no plans have been made for an announcement event. DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday during a trip to Israel that he is focused on the international trip he is taking to Japan, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. If theres any announcements, those will come at the appropriate time. But if anyones telling you that somehow they know this or they know that, thats just inaccurate because theres not been any decisions made, he said. DeSantis made his comment in response to a question about an NBC News report from Wednesday that stated four Republican operatives familiar with conversations said DeSantis could join the presidential contest as soon as mid-May. One operative said he would launch an exploratory committee before officially declaring his candidacy. Bloomberg also reported on Friday that DeSantis plans to join the race during the first two weeks of June, citing people familiar with the deliberations. DeSantis has not publicly confirmed he is considering a presidential bid in 2024, but he has been the subject of intense rumors about his possible ambitions. Despite not officially being a candidate, DeSantis has consistently placed second in most hypothetical GOP primary polls that include current and potential Republican candidates. But the polls have also shown former President Trump with large double-digit leads over DeSantis. DeSantis allies have increasingly been pressing him to get in the race as time goes on and Trump continues to attack him and maintain sizable leads in the polls. DeSantiss trips to the four countries have also raised speculation he is planning to run for president and looking to raise his international profile. Trump criticized DeSantis in a post on Truth Social on Monday for the trips, saying they are part of an emergency Round the World tour. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Map of population changes in Baton Rouge area: While recent census estimates show Louisianas population shrinking by 1.3%, three parishes in the region continued to grow at among the highest rates in the state over the past two years. 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, Feb. 7, 2023, in Washington. Roberts has declined a request from the Senate Judiciary Committee to testify at a hearing on ethical standards at the court, instead providing the panel with a statement of ethics reaffirmed by the court's justices. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool) Driving on a Road Two Miles in the Sky The Sani Pass is a stunning mountain pass that spans approximately 1.8 miles in elevation, connecting South Africa and Lesotho. The pass is characterized by a treacherous 5.6-mile-long rugged terrain, consisting of loose gravel and rocky surfaces that pose a significant challenge to drivers and adventurers alike. Sani Pass is a steep 5.6 miles long mountain pass located in the southern Drakensberg Mountains, on the border between South Africa and Lesotho. The pass is named after the nearby Sani Mountain, which is the second-highest mountain in Lesotho. The Sani Pass is a gap in the Drakensberg mountain range formed by erosion caused by glaciers, rivers, wind, rain and other natural forces. Sani Pass in summer Elevated roadway through the clouds, traveling the treacherous Sani Pass. The Sani Pass is a mountain pass located in the Drakensberg Mountains of southern Africa, between South Africa and Lesotho. The road leading up to the pass is a gravel road with a steep gradient and sharp turns, and it can be challenging to navigate, especially in adverse weather conditions. The pass itself is made of a combination of rocky terrain, loose gravel, and dirt. Sani Pass is the highest pass in South Africa, reaching an altitude of 2,876 meters or 9,429 feet above sea level.The pass was originally used as a trade route between South Africa and Lesotho, and was only accessible by pack animals until the road was built in the 1950s. It connects the town of Himeville in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal with the town of Mokhotlong in the Lesotho highlands. The pass is known for its challenging and steep ascent, with sharp bends and hairpin turns that require careful navigation. It is a popular destination for adventurous travelers and off-road enthusiasts, as well as hikers and bikers who come to explore the beautiful mountain scenery and wildlife. At the top of the pass, there is a small trading post where visitors can purchase refreshments and souvenirs, as well as a pub that claims to be the highest pub in Africa. The pass is also home to the Sani Mountain Lodge, which offers accommodation and tours of the surrounding area. In addition to its scenic beauty and adventurous appeal, Sani Pass also has historical significance, as it was used as a trade route between the coast and the interior of southern Africa during the colonial era. Today, it remains an important transportation link between South Africa and Lesotho, with many locals using it to transport goods and livestock. At the top of the pass, there is a small trading post that serves as a border control checkpoint between South Africa and Lesotho. Also, the Sani Mountain Lodge, located at the top of the pass, is the highest hotel in southern Africa and offers panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. One of the most popular activities for visitors to the Sani Mountain Lodge is a guided tour of the nearby traditional Basotho village. The village is home to a community of Basotho people who still live in traditional huts and practice their traditional way of life. The steep and winding road requires careful driving and can be particularly treacherous in bad weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or fog. Sani Pass is also said to be a treacherous mountain pass located in Lesotho, and is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who have lost their lives on the pass over the years. Also, many people who visit the Sani Pass report feeling a sense of awe and mystery due to the area's rugged natural beauty, as well as its historical significance as a trade route and the home of the Basotho people. Sani Pass in winter The Sani Pass, Driving on a Dangerous Road Two Miles in the Sky. Sani Pass can be dangerous due to its steep and narrow road, which can be challenging to navigate, especially during bad weather conditions. The road is unpaved and has many sharp bends and hairpin turns, making it difficult to drive, especially for inexperienced drivers. The road also lacks guardrails in some areas, which can be dangerous for vehicles and passengers. The time it takes to go up Sani Pass in Lesotho can vary depending on several factors, such as the weather, road conditions, and the type of vehicle you are using. Generally, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to drive up the pass. The Sani Pass is a steep and winding mountain road that requires a 4x4 vehicle to navigate safely, especially in wet or snowy conditions. The road is approximately 9 kilometers or 5.6 miles long and has an average gradient of 1:10, with some sections having gradients as steep as 1:3. The road also includes several hairpin bends and narrow sections, which can slow down traffic and increase travel time. Additionally, border control and customs procedures at the South African and Lesotho border posts can add extra time to your journey. The weather conditions in the area can also be unpredictable, and sudden storms can bring heavy rain, fog, and strong winds, which can make driving on the pass even more hazardous. During winter, snow and ice can make the road slippery, and there is a risk of avalanches and rockfalls in some areas. During the winter months, which typically last from June to August the average annual precipitation rain and snow combined in the Sani Pass area is around 950 millimeters or 37.4 inches. Sani Pass in the Southern Drakensberg Mountains is also home to a number of traditional communities, including the Basotho people, who have lived in the area for centuries. Sani Pass is surrounded by a number of stunning hiking trails, including the Thaba Bosiu. Thaba Bosiu, which means Mountain at Night in Sesotho, is believed to have been the site of the first permanent settlement of the Basotho people. It was here that the founder of the Basotho nation, King Moshoeshoe I, established his capital in the early 19th century. The sandstone plateau is surrounded by a steep escarpment, which provided a natural fortress and protection against invaders. It was from Thaba Bosiu that King Moshoeshoe I and his followers were able to resist attacks from both the Zulu and Boer armies. The Basotho people have a long history of cattle herding up the Sani Pass, and many traditional Basotho communities still practice this way of life today. The Basotho people are also known for their distinctive traditional hats, the famous Basotho hat, which is a symbol of Lesotho's national identity. More links to articles you will find thought provoking. 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 The Met Gala, which takes place on Tuesday morning Australian time, is the fashion industrys equivalent of Christmas. But will it also be Kris-mas for reality TVs most famous family, the Kardashians? Heres what we know about the first Monday in May, from the theme, to the guest list, to why the lead-up to this year has been cloaked in controversy. Daniela Morera (left), Andy Warhol and Raquel Welch at the 1980 Met ball. Credit:Getty So, what is the Met Gala? Its the nickname given to the annual charity ball for New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute but thats too long for an Instagram post. Over time, it has become as much a fashion show as a fundraiser. An aerial view of the dining hall at the 2022 Met Gala. Guests are officially banned from taking photos inside. Credit:Getty When did it start? The event, which supports the fashion department at the Met, began as a late-night supper in the 1940s. But it was in the late 1990s that it cemented its place as the biggest social event of the year. Advertisement Beyonce, at the 2015 gala, which became the focus of the documentary film The First Monday in May. Credit:Getty When is it? Since 2005, the gala has taken place on the first Monday in May, except in 2020, when it was cancelled due to COVID-19, and in 2021, when it took place in September. Anna Wintour at the Met Gala through the years ... (from left) 1989, 2008 and 2019. Credit:Getty What does it have to do with Anna Wintour, and Vogue? Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue and the fashion industrys chief tastemaker, has headed the Met Gala organising committee since 1999. Since then, it has gone from a humdrum fundraiser to a celebrity-studded event that last year raised more than $US17 million ($25.73 million). Nicole Kidman (left) with Karl Lagerfeld and Anna Wintour at the 2005 gala. Credit:Getty Advertisement Where does the money come from? Two places: tickets, and donations. According to The New York Times, tickets this year cost $US50,000, with tables costing from $US300,000. Australian royalty ... Miranda Kerr with husband Evan Spiegel at the 2022 Met Gala. Credit:Getty Can anyone go? Absolutely not. The event is invitation only, and Wintour vets each of the 400 guests, based on her personal whos who of the past year. Usually, every invited designer brings a celebrity muse, but even they must be Wintour-approved. The co-chairs, who this year are (from left) Penelope Cruz, Roger Federer and Michaela Coel, encompass fashion, the arts and sport. Credit:Getty Who are this years hosts? Advertisement Each year, Wintour anoints several co-chairs. This year, Penelope Cruz, Michaela Coel, Roger Federer and Dua Lipa have the honour. The hosts, like the guest list, reflect a cross-section of fashion, the arts and sport, sometimes, but not always, in line with the years theme. Some of Lagerfelds most iconic 1990s supermodel moments might inspire some red carpet looks. Credit:AP What is this years theme? The Gala theme, which corresponds to that of the exhibition, is Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. The gala and show, which opens to the public the day after the gala, honours the late designer and creative director of Chanel (as well as Fendi and his own line), who died in February 2019. From left: Anna Wintour, Karl Lagerfeld, Venus Williams and fashion editor Andre Leon Talley at the 2008 Met gala afterparty. Credit:Getty And how are people reacting to that? Not since the 2018 Heavenly Bodies exhibition on the role of religion in fashion has a show generated more raised eyebrows. Few deny Lagerfelds influence in the fashion industry over more than five decades, but his comments on issues from body image to same-sex marriage have caused many to question whether he should be celebrated. It will be interesting to see whether the show will touch on Lagerfelds controversies, or just stick to the clothes. Advertisement Lady Gagas costume change on the 2019 red carpet was one of the most memorable arrivals in recent times. Credit:AP Loading Who is going? The guest list is kept pretty tight until the day, but its safe to assume we will see the biggest stars of the past 12 months, as well as celebrities who have had an affiliation with Chanel. Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny are all rumoured to be attending. Any Australians? Again, its not confirmed, but Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie could make the list for their past links to Chanel. Musicians Troye Sivan and Keith Urban, models Miranda Kerr and Adut Akech, and actor Hugh Jackman have all attended previous galas. What a difference a year makes ... Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson in 2022. Credit:Getty Advertisement Back in 2012, they recommended: The referendum should only proceed when it is likely to be supported by all major political parties. The panel included Aboriginal leaders Patrick Dodson, Noel Pearson, Marcia Langton and Megan Davis. In 2012, they agreed on four principles to guide their assessment of proposals for constitutional recognition, namely that each proposal must: contribute to a more unified and reconciled nation; be of benefit to and accord with the wishes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; be capable of being supported by an overwhelming majority of Australians from across the political and social spectrums; and be technically and legally sound. When Labor was last in power with the Coalition in opposition, prime minister Julia Gillard set up an expert panel to make recommendations for recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution. This time with the election of the Albanese government in 2022, things changed. The Aboriginal leaders and government decided to go it alone, leaving the Coalition outside the tent. Why? In part, no doubt because three consecutive Liberal prime ministers Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison rejected out of hand the idea of an Indigenous Voice to parliament, the idea first proposed by Noel Pearson in 2014. Peter Dutton was a cabinet minister to all three. Soon after his election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the Garma Festival and announced a formula of words as a possible amendment to the Constitution. He said he was open to considering any changes to the proposed wording. The government set up a series of panels including the referendum working group of 21 Indigenous leaders and an eight-member panel of constitutional experts. The Coalition did not have a seat at the table until this past month when the Joint Select Committee on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice Referendum was established. But by then, both the Liberal and National Parties had announced their opposition to the governments proposed amendment. The prime minister still says he is open to any revised wording. But the referendum working group is not much interested. The government is unlikely to move unless given the go-ahead by the group. The leadership and majority of the Coalition parties are not for changing their No stance. By promoting Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and escalating his own media profile on the troubled streets of Alice Springs, Dutton has placed himself and his party at the front of the No campaign. Whichever way it goes, this referendum is unlikely in the short term to contribute to a more unified and reconciled nation any time soon. It may just look like a fancy bench, but this piece of street furniture may change the way we sit and locals are unknowingly giving it their stamp of approval with their bottoms. The smart bench has been installed on the median strip at 313 Drummond Street in Carlton with tiny sensors that measure how often its used, at what times and in what ways. A nearby existing metal bench also has a sensor. Obelia Tait uses the Carlton smart bench she helped conceptualise. Credit: Joe Armao Since February 1, the sculptural lairy green bench near Lygon Street has been used nearly 4000 times an average of 43 times a day and almost six times more than the older bench. Designed to be sat on, leant on or lounged on, the sensors have found the stand-up leaning feature has been the most popular, accounting for more than half the benchs usage. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When Sean Mallard was looking to open a laundromat in Brunswick, he did his research. He wrote a computer program that combed the census for streets with high numbers of renters, students and young professionals and a low number of laundromats. It spat out the perfect address. But as he and mother Enrica Mallard waited for the tick of approval from the building manager on Lygon Street, East Brunswick, three laundromats suddenly popped up in the area. It was crazy, he says. His business, Laundry Plus, is now one of almost 15 in the area serving people he describes as space poor and time poor. Fortunately for him, so many nearby residents fit this description that he is thinking of opening another outlet. There was a time when Australians did their washing in the home machine and dried it on the Hills Hoist in the backyard. But Brunswicks laundromat index is one measure of the explosion in medium to high-density living in Melbournes inner suburbs in the past decade. Another measure is the 2021 census. It showed there were nearly 12,000 apartments in Brunswick, almost twice the amount in 2011. Thirty-six per cent of the suburbs population now live in apartments, compared with the Victorian average of 12 per cent, and another 25 per cent live in townhouses and terrace houses. Advertisement Brunswick is not the only inner-Melbourne electorate that has gone through such rapid growth. The City of Yarra has also almost doubled its number of apartments since 2011. Its what the state government document Plan Melbourne suggests must happen throughout the inner suburbs to accommodate the citys expanding population. But now, in the midst of a housing crisis, there is a sense of unease at the pace and style of some growth, and this has led to an emerging rift on one council. Last month, Merri-bek council rejected the proposed height of a building on Florence Street by Nightingale, a not-for-profit group that many believe is at the forefront of good apartment design. Nightingale residents Christa Orcullo and Kai Brach. Credit:Eddie Jim Nightingale wanted to breach the councils recommended height limit of five storeys and build a seven-storey, 28-apartment development, including three apartments to be transferred to an agency providing affordable rental housing to people on low incomes. There are a number of other developments in the area of seven or eight storeys, but the council reduced the proposal to six levels, which means, according to Nightingale, that the affordable housing component is no longer viable. The loss of the social housing component in particular is a really bad outcome for those in the most need of secure housing, says Nightingale chief executive Dan McKenna. Advertisement The alliance of votes on the council that knocked it back is a microcosm of the growing tensions in this high-development area. One former Greens councillor, James Conlon, who quit the party after Lidia Thorpes exit in February, joined two Socialists and three other independents to form a majority on the 11-member council to vote it down. Socialist councillor Sue Bolton said she wanted to crack down on developers setting their own height limits. State government rules do not permit councils to impose mandatory height limits, but Bolton said they had consulted the community and agreed five storeys was right in activity areas. Socialist councillor Sue Bolton Conlon, now an independent, accused developers of using the concept of affordable housing to blackmail councils into approving developments that breach planning controls. Loading Three other independents, including deputy mayor Helen Davidson, are worried about increasing density. Davidson dislikes the fact Nightingales multistorey buildings have no car parks because they are close to public transport and bike paths. Im of the view there does need to be parking contained in dwellings, or on-street parking, because peoples life circumstances change what if they get a job a lot further away from public transport? Davidson said. Advertisement Greens councillor Adam Pulford called the no voters a kind of unholy alliance of councillors who can all agree on what they dont want, but will never agree on what they want to create. Its frustrating. In a housing crisis, he said, the council had a responsibility not to reject new dwellings, particularly affordable ones. The backlash against some developments in Brunswick has prompted a counter-backlash from the YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard, as opposed to Not In My Backyard) movement of people who want to see more housing built. Loading Part of the problem in this debate is the poor quality of much of the apartment stock built over the past decade. McKenna said what had been built between 2005 and 2015 in the area was not ageing well. According to urban designer Andy Fergus, this was the result of a planning system that was overhauled in the 1990s to kickstart economic growth with little focus on the investment required to ensure livability. In Brunswick, it led to a large number of apartments with little open space or greenery, with growing congestion on the suburbs narrow streets. The council is trying to address those concerns with its park close to home strategy, which says everyone should live within a 500-metre walk of a park or open space (300 metres in the densest areas). Mayor Angelica Panopoulos, a Greens member, said Merri-bek had bought up numerous properties across the municipality to turn into parks, which has been funded by developers who pay a levy when their buildings are approved. Advertisement But Fergus, who lives in Brunswick, said Melbourne councils had this approach the wrong way round. Instead of buying land after the levy had been raised, councils should determine exactly where the new open space will go and then buy the land well in advance of rezoning, which increases its value. This requires more active state government support, he said, as the levies from developers often grow to a sufficient level only a decade or more after the rezoning occurs. In the interim, land values rocket and councils get less bang for their buck. He said Merri-bek had recently spent $19 million in a rezoned area to buy private land to build a series of new parks. While necessary, the significant time delay and land value increase meant less open space at a higher cost for dense communities. At best estimates, my small neighbourhood has a population of 1800 residents, Fergus said. Its the second or third-densest area in Melbourne, with 250 people to a hectare, and the streets have not seen any investment since the 1970s. There has been an immense amount of private investment, and we have not kept pace with the investment in the public environment to make these places livable. Many of the customers of Enrica and Sean Mallards Brunswick East laundromat are apartment dwellers. Credit:Darrian Traynor If the laundromat index is any guide, growing urban density will change many of the things we take for granted about life in Australia. That suits laundromat owner Sean Mallard. Advertisement Unfolding American Automotive Landscape - The United States of China By Martha Hindes Senior Editor Michigan Bureau The Auto Channel Detroit February 2, 2017; "The Chinese never give up." That statement, reiterated by Michael J. Dunne has a ton of implications for Americans. Dunne, speaking before the Automotive Press Association in Detroit Thursday was predicting how the Chinese will impact the future of the auto industry in the United States, once the pinnacle of the automotive world. Dunne, a native Detroiter, founded his Hong Kong-based firm, Dunne Automotive, a quarter century ago to identify promising areas of investment in the world's most populous nation and subsequently largest auto market. That's a move that has helped take American and other international auto companies to China and brought increasing Chinese corporate ownership to the U.S. "It isn't a matter of whether or when," Dunne added. "The Chinese are here now." What had started as a small venture into the Chinese car market in the early '80s, led heavily by then General Motors Corp., has become a Chinese landscape populated by international automotive names that actually, by Chinese law, are all 50-50 partnerships. "It was a trade-off for any company going in there for market access. What do we have to pay to get in there and sell our cars?" And it's fueled by the nature of competition. "You guys went in, so we've got to go in. I can't be the one to not go in.The Chinese played that very cleverly," he said. For anyone buying cheap Chinese goods at Walmart or other discounters at the beginning of the run some 35 years ago, those savings for goods made by then cheap Chinese laborers helped fuel an unimaginable explosion of growth in China and helped it accumulate vast wealth. Those dollars from discounted goods now are part of the money coming back to buy up sometimes ailing or near-death American companies. Struggling American auto suppliers became an opportunity the Chinese couldn't ignore and they continue to invest in or own once-familiar corporate names both here and abroad. Among familiar names now Chinese owned or controlled are Henniges Automotive, Volvo Auto in Sweden, owned briefly by Ford and now owned by China's Geely, with MIchigan's A123 Systems' low voltage battery supplier to soon join the club. That, according to Dunne, is a trend that will continue rather than abate and more of the American landscape will be populated by Chinese interests, especially suppliers and high tech interests relating to electrified vehicles. Those are critical to the Chinese said Dunne. Because of their dependence on coal for much of their power production that causes massive amounts of air pollution throughout the country, going world class electric and autonomous is seen as a way of controlling it. And, said Dunne, the Chinese, already a top global user of petroleum, do not want to become any more dependent on foreign oil that has hampered the United States. Don't expect a flood of cheap Chinese autos to flood the American market, at least not yet. In their quest for electrification, they are going high scale. An example is the just revealed Faraday Future's 1,050 horsepower FF91 electric supercar, backed by China's LeEco, that can learn its owner's driving preferences. And, already in their move to grow into the dominant player in the global auto industry, Chinese-built autos with American names are being imported into the U.S., including the new, distinctly American-looking Buick Envision, manufactured in China and imported to the U.S. The Chinese people love American and foreign named vehicles, a reason the Chinese American partnerships manufacturing in China don't bear Chinese names. Ford Motor's Lincoln luxury brand is an example, according to Dunne. The Chinese know the Lincoln name "from President Lincoln." And Lincoln dealerships in China -- unparalleled in luxury and service -- have built momentum in only a couple of years, now selling about 30,000 Lincoln badged vehicles there a year. But strict Chinese trade restrictions have kept any foreign vehicles shipped to China in single digit territory, currently around 4 percent. Hefty export duties on American vehicles, now at 25 percent, have ensured that few American-built cars will get into China. "Hey, from their perspective," said Dunne, " ' you guys got access and you made a lot of money and your cars are on our roads.' " A comment overheard: Will our new President Trump be satisfied only with having more American jobs at home? Or, as some hope, will he mandate that ownership remain American. Copyright, Martha Hindes, Automotive Bureau, all rights reserved. TOKYO, JAPAN / ACCESSWIRE / April 30, 2023 / Doge Blue is excited to announce the launch of a decentralized community-driven project that aims to propose a new logo for its presence across social media. With a growing demand for a more universal and meme-inspired symbols throughout the social media, Doge Blue invites designers worldwide to join their community and participate in logo design contests. DOGEBLUE.IO, Saturday, April 29, 2023, Press release picture Doge Blue is building a decentralized community of designers rewarded for their Creativity. The project believes in the potential of all designers and wants to encourage them to showcase their best work through its contests. The designer with the most votes will be advantaged with many DOGEBLUE tokens. All token holders will have the opportunity to vote in the contest and receive DOGEBLUE tokens. The community-driven project has created a Logo Artists DAO, where designers can submit their designs, and the community can vote for the best ones. All logo designs will be listed on the Opensea NFT marketplace, where 100% of NFT profits will be used to buy back burn DOGEBLUE tokens for holders. It creates a new way of investing and getting passive income, where the contract is well-designed for generating passive income by auto-reflection for each buy/sell transaction in real time. Additionally, Doge Blue launched a mining dApp to reward loyal diamond hands. The burning mechanism is another crucial feature that the project has incorporated. The contract is well-designed for auto buyback and automatically burns DOGEBLUE LP tokens for each transaction, promising a steady increase in the token price in the long run. Consequently, Doge Blue is thrilled to be the first project to propose the best logo for its presence at social media marketplace. By building a decentralized community of designers and rewarding them for their Creativity, the project hopes to create a more inclusive and engaging community where everyone can showcase their skills. Story continues About Doge Blue: Doge Blue is a decentralized community-driven project that aims to propose the best logo for its presence in social media. The project rewards designers for their Creativity and is building a more inclusive and engaging community. The project has incorporated features such as Logo Artists DAO, Opensea NFT ecosystem, passive income, and burn mechanism to create a unique investment opportunity for its token holders. For further information, potential clients can buy DOGEBLUE token on DEX PancakeSwap and research the project via the link below: Website: https://dogeblue.io Telegram: https://t.me/dogeblue_io Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dogeblue Twitter: https://twitter.com/DogeBlue Coinmarketcap: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/doge-blue/ Media Details: Organization: DOGEBLUE.IO Contact Person: Takagi Iwao Website: https://dogeblue.io Email: info@dogeblue.io City: Tokyo Country: Japan SOURCE: DOGEBLUE.IO View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/752050/Doge-Blues-Decentralized-Community-invites-artists-to-Help-Propose-the-new-Logo-for-its-social-media-project Batteries or Bicycles, There Is Not Enough Gasoline In The World To Power A Mature Chinese Motorist Class. China Has No Choice But To Push EV's Or Be Pushed By Its Masses. Chinas Ambition to Power World's Electric Vehicles Took A Giant Leap Forward This Week Originally published June 2018 Editor's Note: Look at the chart above, it shows that there will not be enough oil in the world to supply gasoline for all of the private vehicles projected to fill roads in a "westernized" China, so without the availability of electric vehicles, powered vehicles would not be available in China...therefore, it's EV's or Bikes! No wonder China is pushing Electric...but why is the rest of the world following like lemmings off a cliff? Editor's Note 2: Changan breaks ground on 20 billion yuan EV plant in Nanjing State-owned Changan Automobile Co. began construction on a major assembly plant for electric vehicles in the east China city of Nanjing to boost EV output. The 20 billion yuan ($3.1 billion) factory is set to start production in June 2020. CATLs stock has shot up since it raised nearly $1 billion in an IPO to build more lithium-ion battery plants. SEE ALSO: By James Temple MIT Technology Review Special To The Auto Channel BOSTON - June 13, 2018: Chinas grand designs to dominate the future of clean energy paid off spectacularly this week. In a public offering on June 11 in Shenzhen, battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd. (CATL) raised nearly $1 billion to fund ambitious expansion plans, and its stock has been shooting up every day since. Thanks largely to the companys new plants, China will be making 70 percent of the worlds electric-vehicle batteries by 2021, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). The rapid rise of CATL is arguably the clearest, though certainly not the only, payoff from Chinas calculated efforts to bolster its domestic battery and electric-vehicle industriestwo of the most promising sectors in clean energy. These efforts have largely followed the same playbook China used to get ahead in solar panels, including highly automated manufacturing; aggressive efforts to lock in global supply chains; foreign acquisitions and licensing; and hefty doses of government support and protectionism. China is already the worlds largest car market, but its domestic businesses sell only a small fraction of vehicles and components globally. China sees EVs as the way to assert their global dominance in automotive, says Venkat Viswanathan, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon, whose work focuses on batteries. To make it work you need scale, and they do scale better than anyone else. Chinas efforts are also part of a broader plan to reduce air pollution, meet soaring domestic energy demands, establish the nation as a leader in fighting climate change, and exert the soft power that comes with global business dominance. CATL shares rose by the maximum allowed in each of the first three days of trading, giving the Ningde-based company a value of more than $13 billion by the end of trading on June 13. That minted at least three new billionaires, including founder Zeng Yuqun. He effectively spun the business out of Amperex Technology, which makes batteries for consumer gadgets, in 2011. (The company didnt respond to questions from MIT Technology Review before press time.) Just seven years later, CATL has built up the biggest lithium-ion manufacturing facilities in the world, according to BNEF. The company can crank out around 17 gigawatt-hours of lithium-ion cells annually, placing it just ahead of Koreas LG Chem, the Tesla and Panasonic partnership, and Chinas electric-vehicle giant BYD. Flush with capital from its offering, CATL plans to build two new plants and expand existing facilities, pushing its capacity to nearly 90 gigawatt-hours by 2020. National champions So what fueled CATL's rapid rise? The key factor is Chinas generous subsidies for domestically produced electric vehicles, which in practice apply only when they use Chinese-built batteries. More recently, the country started to condition that subsidy on higher energy density, prompting battery makers to push their technical limits. Thats also accelerated the shift to a new generation of batteries containing more nickel and less cobalt, a metal that is in increasingly short supply. You saw a huge push around the performance of these batteries and the technologies they chose that you wouldnt have seen otherwise, says Logan Goldie-Scot, head of energy storage analysis at BNEF. The scientist still fighting for the clean fuel the world forgot A decade of investment in advanced biofuels led nowhere, but Jay Keasling remains undaunted. That move, along with other efforts by Chinas government to encourage consolidation, has also helped weed out lesser players and build the lead of national champions like CATL and BYD. CATL has also earned a reputation for putting more effort and funding into research and development than its domestic rivals. Notably, its the only Chinese battery company so far to line up deals to supply foreign automakers, including BMW, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Chinese EV batteries generally havent earned glowing reviews for their technical performance, but these deals suggest that gap has narrowed significantly, Goldie-Scot says. CATL does face some real risks, however, notes a BNEF research report issued last week. It might overshoot, building too much capacity. It still has stiff competition. And China plans to phase out subsidies for battery makers by 2020, which could level the field for CATLs foreign rivals. Tesla is also aggressively cutting costs and expanding production for its lithium-ion cells, with a new facility planned in China. Meanwhile, a number of other regions and nations are considering or establishing strict limits on gas-fueled vehicles, which will draw more players, investment, and customers into the nascent field. China is developing its own plan to eventually ban sales of new combustion-engine vehicles; its already established ambitious quotas for the production of electric vehicles and hybrids. BNEF forecasts that these and other policies will push electric-vehicle sales in China to 2.5 million in 2020, up from nearly 800,000 last year, quadrupling battery demand. At this point, CATL appears perfectly positioned to benefit from these trendsand drive them. What theyre bringing online in production is going to fundamentally change the landscape in cost and scale, Viswanathan says. It is, by far, the most interesting things in batteries today. Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today A mix of clouds and sun this morning followed by increasing clouds with showers developing this afternoon. High 69F. Winds SE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Rain showers this evening with clearing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Wyomings federal delegation discussed much needed policy and regulatory changes with Cheyenne Business Leaders in a successful trip to Washington D.C. last week. Your Cheyenne Chamber represented you, and your businesses, by addressing the challenges businesses face, including water rights, Sentinel Missile upgrades, housing, immigration, education, and workforce. WY We Care: This annual trip facilitates our business community to discuss the important issues our community faces as we continue to build Wyomings future and helps maintain the integral relationship between community leaders, elected officials, and your Cheyenne Chamber. For Rich or For Poor Military Funding took a front seat in discussions with U.S. Senator Barrasso (WY). As budget discussions meander their way through the winding halls of Congress, business leaders vocalized the need to ensure we maintain the dedicated funds needed to complete the ongoing Sentinel Missile upgrades and procure new Cheyenne based Air National Guard planes. Your Cheyenne Chamber spends $200k annually to support and advocate for Cheyenne and Wyomings Military. This work remains a core part of the Chamber Mission every year when the annual plan is announced. Non-Compete is Non-Negotiable The Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) attempted meddling with Non-Compete Agreements has the potential to affect numerous state laws, regulations and alter your businesss legal obligations. This issue was a key topic of discussion with the U.S. Chamber of Commerces top national economists and business advocates. The FTCs short-sighted regulations are just another example of the extreme polarization of government in recent years. "When it comes to Washington, the state of American business is fed up. The polarization, the gridlock, the overreach, and the inability to act smartly and strategically for our future is making it harder for all of us to do our jobs, fulfill our roles, and move this country forward, said Suzanne Cork, CEO at the US Chamber. Get Off My Lawn! Halting Adversarial Property Purchase was also a primary topic during discussions with Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (WY). Your Cheyenne Chamber collaborates with nation-wide partners to protect our nations military bases from outside surveillance. National defense projects at F.E. Warren Air Force Base must maintain the highest levels of security as we pursue the Sentinel Missile program, Wyomings largest economic development project to date. The DC Fly-In is vital to our community and allows us to represent local business face-to-face with elected officials. While other organizations may have similar DC Fly-In programs, the Cheyenne Chambers program allows us to keep Cheyenne and Laramie County in the forefront of their mind, said Paula Poythress, current Chairman of the Cheyenne Chamber Board of Directors. Raise the Roof Only one potential employee is available for every two job openings in our nation, according to reports presented by Jack Howard, Senior VP of Strategic Advocacy at the US Chamber. Among the most heavily affected industries in Cheyenne are construction companies that desperately need skilled workers. Without improved immigration that enables our businesses to enhance workforce, Cheyenne and the surrounding region will be unable to meet rising housing demands. Polar Politics VS Moderate Voters Dramatic increases in political polarity has voters fed-up and disillusioned. The U.S. Chamber estimates only 24 true moderates remain in the House of Representatives, while all others rapidly polarize and demonstrate an inability to compromise. In contrast, research shows 48 percent of voters identify as independent. This large-scale migration from party politics shows how the average American has been disenfranchised by the government representing us. Partnership with our congressional delegation keep our legislators accountable when representing the interests and needs of Cheyenne and Wyoming. Your Cheyenne Chamber prioritizes this mission every day as we build our regions future. The Colorado River Belongs to Wyoming Your drinking water is a carefully legislated right and was last negotiated in 1922. U.S. Senator Lummis (WY) represents our great state on the Colorado River Caucus in the Senate, and tensions are increasing between upper basin states, like Colorado and Wyoming, and lower basin states such as California. Ballooning populations in lower basin states have drastically increased the demand for water from the Colorado River. However, the solution is not to steal water from upper basin states that are responsibly consuming this integral resource. Alternative solutions must be sought to meet the needs of swelling populations in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and other southwestern cities. The Big Picture The experiences and action items that our community leaders brought home from D.C. will better inform decision-making processes as Cheyenne maps out its future. While talking with our elected officials, we take for granted they know every detail of what we need in Laramie County and southeast Wyoming, but sometimes there are details they dont know or arent aware of. If we dont advocate for our businesses, who will? said Tanya Keller, community non-profit leader and Vice- Chairman of Cheyenne Chamber Advocacy. Day-in and day-out our Chamber serves you, the business community, by advocating for what our community needs and wants. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Overcast with rain showers at times. High 44F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Cloudy with occasional rain showers. High near 50F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 38F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Batavia, NY (14020) Today A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%.. Tonight A steady rain this evening. Showers continuing overnight. Low 41F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Key Insights The projected fair value for McPherson's is AU$0.69 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With AU$0.59 share price, McPherson's appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Our fair value estimate is 5.8% lower than McPherson's' analyst price target of AU$0.73 How far off is McPherson's Limited (ASX:MCP) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. One way to achieve this is by employing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. See our latest analysis for McPherson's Crunching The Numbers We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) AU$4.67m AU$8.30m AU$8.10m AU$8.02m AU$8.01m AU$8.05m AU$8.12m AU$8.22m AU$8.34m AU$8.48m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Est @ -0.99% Est @ -0.12% Est @ 0.50% Est @ 0.93% Est @ 1.23% Est @ 1.44% Est @ 1.59% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 9.1% AU$4.3 AU$7.0 AU$6.2 AU$5.7 AU$5.2 AU$4.8 AU$4.4 AU$4.1 AU$3.8 AU$3.5 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$49m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (1.9%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 9.1%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$8.5m (1 + 1.9%) (9.1% 1.9%) = AU$120m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$120m ( 1 + 9.1%)10= AU$50m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is AU$99m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.6, the company appears about fair value at a 14% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. 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 McPherson's as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 9.1%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.212. 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 McPherson's Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Personal Products market. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow faster than the Australian market. Current share price is below our estimate of fair value. Threat Dividends are not covered by earnings and cashflows. Annual revenue is forecast to grow slower than the Australian market. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldn't be the only metric you look at when researching a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For McPherson's, there are three relevant items you should further examine: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for McPherson's (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about. Future Earnings: How does MCP'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 Australian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Whittakers commitment to best goes beyond simply creating world-class chocolate, the entry on the Readers Digest page says. The team strives to do everything in a good and honest way, from supporting the community and suppliers, to developing sustainable packaging and seeking out ingredients that are ethically and fairly produced. 15-Minute Cities Are Complete Impoverishment and Enslavement of All the People: EU Lawmaker EU parliamentarian Christine Anderson on new residential model being pushed in Europe Christine Anderson, a member of the European Parliament, believes that COVID-19 passports and QR codes that became widespread during the pandemic were test runs toward implementing 15-minute cities aimed at tightening government control over people. A 15-minute city is a neighborhood where a resident can reach everything they need, such as a grocery store, doctor, and so forth, within a 15-minute walk. Anderson says such cities are the beginning of tighter government control of people. The government can exert control by deciding you are no longer allowed to leave your 15-minute immediate area. They dont have to fence it in or anything. It will be done via digital ID, she said in an interview on the American Thought Leaders program published on April 25. If you now fancy another store and it does not happen to be in your neighborhood, guess what? You wont be going to that store anymore, she told host Jan Jekielek. Like I said, total control is what were talking about. In Europe, legislation is being advanced to set up 15-minute cities. According to Anderson, the Digital Green Certificate, the COVID pass introduced during the pandemic, was only a test run designed to get people used to producing a QR code and related requirements. Now, theyre slamming us with these 15-minute cities, she said. Make no mistake, its not about your convenience. Its not that they want you to be able to have all of these places that you need to get to close by. Its not about saving the planet either. With the 15-minute cities, they will have to have those before they can lock you down, and thats what we were talking about here. In Great Britain, some counties have already passed legislation. They will be able to impose a climate lockdown. Thats the next step. Thats what we are talking about. In order to do that, they will have to have these 15-minute cities. The next step, Anderson says, will involve restricting people within their localities, only allowing them to leave the place two or three times a year. However, the rich will be able to get away with these rules as they can purchase exit passes from the poorer segments, she stated. The poor people will be left in these 15-minute neighborhoods, while the ones that are better off get to go wherever they want to go. This is what we are talking about. An article featured on the World Economic Forums (WEF) website in March 2022 called the concept of 15-minute cities a lot more than a fad and a consequence of the current times, specifically the pandemic. With COVID-19 and its variants keeping everyone home (or closer to home than usual), the 15-minute city went from a nice-to-have to a rallying cry, it claimed. As climate change and global conflict cause shocks and stresses at faster intervals and increasing severity, the 15-minute city will become even more critical. Digital Tyranny Anderson pointed out that Chinese communist-style social credit systems are already being tested out in Europe. There are pilot projects already going on in Bologna [Italy]. There, its called the Bologna Wallet. In Vienna, its called the Vienna Token.' Its voluntary for now, and its only pretty much enticing people. If you do this, you get some tickets for a little less, to go to the theater. Voluntary. Once again, [its the] first step, she said. But soon, there will be a time when you dont have a choice anymore. You have to have this Digital Green Certificate with this QR code. Then, they will tell you where you can go, what you can do, and what you cannot do. Anderson criticized The Line project thats under construction in Saudi Arabia. A 200-kilometer-long, 200-meter-wide, 500-meter-high structure, The Line is projected to house up to 9 million people. If I wanted to get total control of the people, thats exactly where and how I would house them, and then, have them on a three-meal-a-day prescription. Guess what will happen if you do not do as you are toldthey will probably cancel those meals. Its so easy, she said. Thats what were talking about. When you really take all of this together, there is no other way for me to actually say thisit will be a complete impoverishment and enslavement of all the people. Im stating it so clearly because thats what it seems like, and thats what it looks like to me. The concept of 15-minute cities is drawing heated debate on social media. When documentary maker Carla Francome posted a thread in February about the benefits of such cities, it soon attracted criticism. One person suggested that while 15-minute cities sound great in theory, they would become a problem once the government tries to enforce them. Another pointed out that if 15-minute cities were to become a reality, Francome would have to gain a special permit to visit her father if he was living 30 minutes away. One day, youll be trapped in your 15-minute city, waiting for a drone to deliver your sweet and sour bugs and trying to remember what it was like to be on holiday, author Lisa Keeble wrote in an April 22 tweet. Youll ask yourself when did it all go wrong. When you applauded lockdowns and masks. Government Fearmongering Anderson also highlighted the fearmongering employed by governments to control people during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Germany, there was a manual, an outline on how to get the people to do what the government wanted them to do to adhere to these restrictions, she said. They outlined it there specifically, Even though kids are at no risk of this COVID, we have to make them afraid. If they catch it and then they infect their grandparents, theyre responsible for having killed their grandparents. Thats the kind of thinking that went on in the governments. A completely blown-out-of-proportion kind of pandemic. For what? It was so the pharmaceutical companies could make billions and billions of dollars. Jekielek noted that theres unequivocal evidence that the UK government was involved in sowing fear among its populace with regard to COVID-19 and had a specific strategy for doing so. Similar things were done in other countries, including the United States, he pointed out. When asked whether this was the result of some kind of global coordination, Anderson replied, Absolutely. That is actually the scariest part of all of this. Had it only been two or three countries going rogue, we would have had the hopes another country would step in and put a stop to it, she said. They were in lockstep with all of this. They literally read from the same script, repeating the same lines, Build back better, safe and effective. Every single Western democracy was pretty much doing the same thing. 1,888 People Airlifted to Safety as UK Wraps Up Sudan Evacuation British nationals board an RAF aircraft in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 26, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defence via Getty Images) Britains Royal Air Force (RAF) airlifted 1,888 people on 21 flights from war-torn Sudan in the UK governments evacuation operation, which ended on Saturday evening. The final UK evacuation flight departed from the Wadi Saeedna airfield near the Sudanese capital Khartoum at 10 p.m. local time on Saturday, the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said. Medics from the Duke of Lancasters Regiment of the British Army carry medical equipment as they arrive at Wadi Seidna airport in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 27, 2023. (UK Ministry of Defence via Getty Images) In a statement on the governments foreign travel advice website, the FCDO said: The UK government is no longer running evacuation flights from Wadi Saeedna airfield. The last evacuation flight departed the airfield at 2200 Sudan time on 29 April. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: The UK has brought more than 1,888 people to safety from Sudan thanks to the efforts of staff and military working around the clock to deliver this evacuationthe largest of any Western country. We continue to press all diplomatic levers to secure a long-term ceasefire and end the bloodshed in Sudan. Ultimately a stable transition to civilian rule is the best way to protect the security and prosperity of the Sudanese people. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) and Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, meet with teams coordinating the evacuation of British nationals from Sudan, during a visit to the Foreign Office Crisis Centre in central London, on April 25, 2023. (Hannah McKay/PA Media) Dangerous Circumstances Hundreds of 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 April 23 that the British military had evacuated UK diplomats and their families from Sudan. Evacuation of British Nationals onto an awaiting RAF aircraft at Wadi Seidna Air Base in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 27, 2023. (Ministry of Defence via PA Media) The RAF took over the Wadi Saeedna airfield from the Germans on April 25 to begin airlifting other British nationals and their immediate families who wished to leave and were able to get to the airfield. The evacuees were first flown to Cyprus and then to the UK. The operation was carried out amid a fragile 72-hour ceasefire between the warring factions. An extension of the armistice was brokered on Friday, but fighting has broken out again in Khartoum. Speaking to the BBC, Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said the operation has been extremely successful, but stressed: We cant stay there forever in such dangerous circumstances. Continued Support The government has advised any British nationals still remaining in Sudan to make their way to Port Sudan. A statement on the FCDO travel advice site says: We have established an office at the Coral Hotel in Port Sudan. If you are a British national in Port Sudan who needs help to leave Sudan, visit our team who will be able to signpost you to options for departure. The FCDO said on Thursday that British ambassador to Sudan Giles Lever has been relocated to neighbouring Ethiopia to lead the UKs diplomatic efforts in the region to bring fighting to an end in Sudan. Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Sky News on Sunday: The evacuation that we have conducted is the longest and largest evacuation of any Western nation. He added: We have now got some staff based at Port Sudan, which is where we are going to continue providing consular support for British nationals that have chosen to remain in the country. NHS Doctors The government said initially that only British passport holders and immediate family members with existing UK entry clearance were eligible for evacuation. But, hours before the final flight took off, the government said it had broadened the eligibility criteria for evacuation to include Sudanese doctors working for Britains National Health Service (NHS). Abdulrahman Babiker, a Sudanese doctor who works at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, told the BBC that he had initially been turned away by offices on Thursday despite having a UK work permit. He was later allowed to board a flight to Cyprus and would be travelling to the UK on Saturday. Following criticism from opposition politicians, the government agreed to include NHS doctors without UK passports on the last flights out of Sudan. A spokesman said: We have made the decision to extend the evacuation criteria to include eligible non-British nationals in Sudan who are working as clinicians within the NHS and their dependents who have leave to enter the UK. We are able to offer this increased eligibility thanks to the efforts of the staff and military who have delivered this evacuation, the largest of any Western country. 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. PA Media contributed to this report. 3 Soldiers Killed in Alaska Apache Helicopter Crash Identified AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters from the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, fly over a mountain range near Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on June 3, 2019. (Cameron Roxberry/U.S. Army via AP) The Army has released the identities of the three soldiers who were killed in a crash involving two Apache helicopters on April 27. Those killed in the crash are Chief Warrant Officer 3 Christopher Robert Eramo, 39, of Oneonta, New York; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle D. McKenna, 28, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Duane Wayment, 32, of North Logan, Utah, officials said. The collision near Healy, Alaska, occurred as the soldiers of the 1st Attack Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, at Fort Wainwright were returning to base in Fairbanks from a training mission. The unit is part of the 11th Airborne Division, which is nicknamed the Arctic Angels. Two of the soldiers died at the scene, and the third while on the way to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. A fourth soldier was injured in the crash. The fourth soldier is hospitalized in stable condition, the Army stated on April 29. He hasnt been identified. The battalion is devastated and mourning the loss of three of our best, said Lt. Col. Matthew C. Carlsen, the 1-25th AB commander. Our loss, however, cannot be compared to the suffering and loss which the family members of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chris Eramo, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle McKenna, and Warrant Officer 1 Stewart Stew Wayment are experiencing. The entire team has come together to focus our thoughts, prayers, and actions to provide and sustain them with whatever comfort and support they need at this time, and I promise that this will continue long into the future. Our mission now is to focus on the families, the survivors and to honor and cherish their memories. Chris, Kyle, and Stew will forever be Little Bears, Vikings, and ToughOnes of the Arctic Attack. The main entry point to U.S. Army Garrison Alaska Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, on April 5, 2023. (Eve Baker/Fort Wainwright Public Affairs Office) The cause of the crash is being investigated by a team from the U.S. Army Combat Readiness Center at Fort Novosel, Alabama. Pentagon instructions and Army regulations prohibit investigators from releasing any information to the public concerning the causes, analysis, or internal recommendations, the Army stated. It added that although this crash and one in Kentucky remain under investigation, there is no indication of any pattern between the two mishaps. The loss of these soldiers is devastating and is being felt by family, friends, and military communities across Alaska, said Maj. Gen. Brian Eifler, commanding general of the 11th Airborne Division. The families of Fort Wainwright and 1-25 are as strong a team as Ive ever seen. Our hearts are heavy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends, and loved ones of the fallen. It was the third military helicopter incident in the past three months. The U.S. Army announced on April 28 that it has grounded aviation units for training as a result of the crashes. Just within the past month, 12 soldiers have been killed in such crashes in Alaska and Kentucky. For active-duty units, the training is to take place May 15. Army National Guard and Reserve units will have until May 31 to complete the training. The move grounds all Army aviators, except those participating in critical missions, until they complete the required training, the Army stated. Caden Pearson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Key Insights The projected fair value for Frontier Digital Ventures is AU$0.40 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Frontier Digital Ventures' AU$0.50 share price signals that it might be 27% overvalued The AU$0.83 analyst price target for FDV is 111% more than our estimate of fair value In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Frontier Digital Ventures Limited (ASX:FDV) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Frontier Digital Ventures Is Frontier Digital Ventures Fairly Valued? We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (A$, Millions) -AU$600.0k AU$1.30m AU$4.00m AU$6.65m AU$9.77m AU$13.0m AU$16.2m AU$19.0m AU$21.4m AU$23.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 66.23% Est @ 46.94% Est @ 33.44% Est @ 23.99% Est @ 17.37% Est @ 12.74% Est @ 9.50% Present Value (A$, Millions) Discounted @ 10% -AU$0.5 AU$1.1 AU$3.0 AU$4.5 AU$5.9 AU$7.2 AU$8.1 AU$8.6 AU$8.8 AU$8.7 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = AU$55m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = AU$23m (1 + 1.9%) (10% 1.9%) = AU$281m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= AU$281m ( 1 + 10%)10= AU$104m 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 AU$159m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of AU$0.5, the company appears slightly overvalued at the time of writing. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the 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 Frontier Digital Ventures 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 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.062. 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 Frontier Digital Ventures Strength Debt is well covered by earnings. Weakness Expensive based on P/S ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Forecast to reduce losses next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. What is the reason for the share price exceeding the intrinsic value? For Frontier Digital Ventures, we've compiled three essential factors you should look at: Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Frontier Digital Ventures that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does FDV'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. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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 A popular childrens pastime of hunting for buried treasure begins with dreams of unearthing pots of gold or a cache of jewels, but usually ends with potholes in a backyard revealing nothing more than sticks and stones. Those who continue to try their luck as adults use a better tool than a spade and shovel: a metal detector, with which some do actually find bits and bobs. It is exceedingly rare for anyone to discover a holy trinity item with gold, jewel, and royal provenance. A once-in-a-lifetime find of just such an object was recently revealed by the British Museum. It is a Tudor-era heart-shaped pendant decorated with royal symbols suspended from a gold chain made of 75 links, authenticated by careful analysis of its materials and construction. This spectacular object was discovered by a cafe owner, who had bought his metal detector a mere six months previously, while exploring a friends farmland in Warwickshire, UK. This find has delighted and flabbergasted experts throughout the country, as nothing on its scale has been found before. Tudor Emblematic Pendant Tudor pendant, associated with Henry VIII and his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, found by a metal detectorist in Warwickshire, England. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) On the other side of the pendant are ornately engraved letters: H for Henry and K for Katherine tied together by a sinuous ribbon.(Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) One side of this early 16th-century pendant is decorated with a pomegranate bush, the emblem of Katherine of Aragon, who was the first wife of the Tudor King Henry VIII. Her name, Catalina, was anglicized to Katherine in accordance with the contemporary usage in England. After the introduction of the Napoleonic Code (the French civil code enacted in 1804), the spelling of the name was changed to Catherine and standardized. Also depicted is a double-headed red and white rose, a symbol of the House of Tudor, entwined with the bush. On the other side of the pendant are ornately engraved letters: H for Henry and K for Katherine tied together by a sinuous ribbon. It is speculated that this pendant was gifted to a member of their court. Alas, the real-life couple did not stay entwined. Theirs was a messy divorce that led to a change in official religion for the country, from Catholicism to Protestantism. It was unwise for King Henrys courtiers to show allegiance to the tossed-aside former queen, so few objects connected with Katherine are known today. As chief executive of Historic England, Duncan Wilson articulates fittingly, This beautiful pendant is a thrilling discovery giving us a tangible connection to Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon and enriches our understanding of the Royal Court at the time. Katherine of Aragon pleading her cause before King Henry VIII, 1802, by W. Ward after R. Westall. (Wellcome Collection gallery/CC BY 4.0) While the historical value of this pendant is priceless, a monetary value has yet to be placed on the piece. Whether it will be sold to a private collection or go on public display at a museum remains to be seen. Under the Treasure Act of 1996, any precious metal item more than 300 years old must be reported to the government. Once the object is valued, and if no public museum wants to purchase it, the item can be sold at auction or privately. This pendant recalls another spectacular British detectorist find from 2002, an intricate 14th-century gold ring with a point-cut black diamond, beautifully engraved initials, and poetic inscription. Royal Ring Gold ring, attributed to the 14th-century King Edward III, was discovered in Delamere Forest in Cheshire, U.K. (Portable Antiquities Scheme/CC BY 2.0) The ring, discovered in Delamere Forest in Cheshire, U.K., is important as there are only a handful of rings from this period that still exist. As no museum decided to purchase the piece, the detectorist brought it to the auction house Christies. He had spent years researching it and was convinced the ring had a royal connection. The forest had been a favorite royal hunting ground of the 14th-century King Edward III, and there were three Es engraved on the ring along with a mysterious V and A. The rings inscription, loyaute sans fin, translates from the French as loyalty without end. When the ring was brought to the attention of Helen Molesworth, then a jewelry specialist at Christies and now a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum, she thought the inscription marked it not as a love ring, but a sign of political loyalty. As she recounted in a video interview with Beekman New York Fine Jewelry, while researching the ring, she came across a Flemish textiles tycoon from the period named Jacob Van Artevelde. She wondered if he might be the V and A on the ring. She later learned that Van Artevelde and King Edward had been dear friends and godparents to each others children, and concluded that the King had gifted this ring to his friend and political supporter. In the interview, Molesworth describes how the ring was consigned to Christies, and that on the day of the 2006 sale the British Museum showed up with lawyers. She was concerned that they were going to demand the lot be pulled from auction. However, they did not, and the ring sold for 84,000. Molesworths theory about the ring is now universally accepted and has been published in subsequent books. Detectorists Charlie Clarke and John Wood both struck gold. By doing so, they uncovered a window into the past that further enriches our present day understanding of history. Portrait of Henry VIII of England, circa 1537, by Hans Holbein the Younger. Oil on panel. Thyssen-Bornemisza National Museum, Madrid, Spain. (Public Domain) ANALYSIS: Chinese Propaganda Mouthpiece Struggling Amid Shrinking Global Market Share A newspaper consumer reads a copy of China's Africa edition of its daily newspaper infront of a news stand in the Kenyan capital in this Dec. 14, 2012, file photo. (Tony Karumba/AFP via Getty Images) News analysis For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has employed its official media to bring China and the Partys voice into the American market. One of its overseas propaganda arms, China Daily, may appear to be a legitimate and successful news organization, but financial records indicate that it is mostly funded by the CCP and lacks genuine subscribers and revenue. Moreover, the newspapers circulation in the United States and other countries is shrinking due to increasing skepticism toward China and its manipulated news content. Founded in 1981, China Daily is an English-language daily newspaper headquartered in Beijing and owned by the Central Propaganda Department of the CCP and supervised by the State Council Information Office. The paper operates branch offices in most major cities around the world, but unlike other global news outlets, the largest portion of its operating income is not from subscriptions or advertising. The papers operating costs are largely funded by the CCP as an investment and the expected return is not profit but the spread of communist propaganda. China Daily boasts on its official website that it collaborates with major media organizations in more than 20 countries around the world to publish its China Watch insert. The insert is identified as a paid advertisement and embedded into publications reaching more than five million opinion leaders and high-end readers, including politicians, businessmen, and scholars. China Daily describes these foreign media outlets as strong partners. China Watch inserts are created to appear neutral and interesting. But after the readers attention has been captured, the insert subtly switches to unload the CCPs propaganda. For example, in November of 2021, A China Watch insert in Time Magazine included four pages of flattering reports about Chinas image and CCP policies. It said, Fanjing Mountain attracts tourists with its charming scenery. Then later, Foreign Firms Put Trust in Resilience and expect to gain greater development dividends in China. An insert in USA Today in June last year claimed when Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited a U.S. school in 2015, he left an indelible mark on its students. Real News or Expensive PR? Considering how China Watch is slanted in support of the Chinese regime, the question arises as to whether China Daily is a true news organization or simply the CCPs public relations department. This seems to be the case since the papers weak financial position has not deterred the CCP from continuing to pay its bills. China Dailys 2022 financial reports to the U.S. Justice Department confirmed the media outlet was not profitable. Nevertheless, it continues to operate despite high costs and low revenue. The two half-year reports (from Nov. 1, 2021, to Apr. 30, 2022, and from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2022) show the papers earnings last year totaled $10.69 million, of which 97 percent came from its owners in Beijing. Advertising accounted for only $248,000 in revenue while subscriptions brought in a mere $41,000. Based on the papers annual subscription rate of $120, this suggests there were only 341 subscribers in 2022. In reviewing the report for just the U.S. edition of China Daily, only 0.4 percent of its revenue came from subscriptions and only 2.3 percent came from advertising. By comparison, The New York Times 2022 annual report shows 67 percent of its revenue came from subscriptions and 23 percent came from advertising. Without the CCPs continued funding, China Daily could not possibly exist or cover its expenses. From May through October last year, China Daily spent $1.24 million on advertising, $1.16 million for printing, $1.11 million for shipping and distribution, and $287,000 for marketing. Less than $72,000 was spent on management expenses, and less than $605,000 was used to pay its U.S. employees. Partners Spreading Propaganda According to documents from the Foreign Agents Registration Act office (FARA), China Daily prints and distributes its China Watch using multiple media and printing companies around the world. Included among the companies involved in spreading the papers propaganda are The Los Angeles Times, SF Bay Area Printing Services, Miamis Sun Sentinel, Torontos Metroland Media, Hawaii Hochi, The Boston Globe, Houston Chronicle, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times, Brazils Sao Paulo Jornal da Tarde, and Atlantas Walton Press. FARAs records also indicate that China Dailys spending in the United States has skyrocketed, going from half a million dollars in the first half of 2009 to over $5 million every six months since the second half of 2019. But despite this spending, it may no longer be producing the results the CCP is hoping for. Shrinking Distribution China Daily is apparently struggling with distribution problems and has lost high-profile partners like The New York Times and The Washington Post. The papers official website no longer claims to have diverse partnerships with over 40 global media organizations. In a publication titled Notice on Further Improving the Distribution of China Daily, Chinas State Council Information Office clearly states, China Daily is one of our important tools for conducting overseas propaganda. But the papers shrinking distribution is just one of the many concerns the CCP is now facing. Over the past few years, the CCP wreaked havoc on the world with the COVID-19 pandemic, supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, and now is suspected of launching spy balloons around the world. A Gallup poll released on March 7 found the CCP has surpassed Russia in becoming the number one enemy in the eyes of Americans, making it increasingly difficult for the CCP to influence the West through its expensive overseas propaganda efforts. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Anti-War Post Goes Viral on Chinese Social Media Amid CCPs Increased Aggression Toward Taiwan The Chinese communist regimes threats to annex Taiwan by force has escalated this year, accompanied by its more frequent military incursions into Taiwans water and air territories. Meanwhile, an anti-war post denouncing the regimes war efforts has gone viral on Chinese social media platforms, resonating with countless Chinese citizens. The post reads: If the war breaks out, I will not go, and I will not let my children go. I am a person who lives at the bottom of society. No one remembers us in times of peace. Only in times of difficulty do they just begin to think of us. They say that when the country is in trouble, everyone needs to fulfill their duty. But they are not giving us the same treatment when they receive benefits or enjoy national privileges. Whoever wants to go to the war, go ahead. Anyway, I will not go, and I will not let my children go. Chinese Peoples Liberation Army cadets conduct bayonet drills at the PLAs Armoured Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing on July 22, 2014. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) The anti-war post has been reposted on various online platforms in mainland China, and many netizens shared similar views in their online comments. One asked in a post: The children and wives of high rank officials have all moved to the United States. Why should we, the common people, have to risk our lives [to go to war for them]? Another said in a post, Give me a weapon and see who I will fire at. I will definitely target those who force me to go to the battlefield. I have no grudges against anyone else. A netizen named Le Si posted on the Quora-like platform Zhihu, Those who have received more benefits from the country should be more active to join in the war. Customers dine near a giant screen broadcasting news footage of aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) taking part in a combat readiness patrol and Joint Sword exercises around Taiwan, at a restaurant in Beijing, China, on April 10, 2023. (Tingshu Wang/Reuters) Some netizens also suggested that corrupt officials should be sent to the war, Let urban management and agricultural management personnels go first! In another post on Zhihu, a netizen named Thinking Slowly about the World shared his views on the reasons why unwilling to fight for the country has resonated with so many Chinese people. First, the abuse of power and mistreatment of people by agricultural management, urban management, and even traffic police have caused significant negative impact, especially the agricultural management personnels who offended at least 60 percent of the public. The second reason is the huge disparity between the rich and poor in Chinese society, the netizen wrote, such as the COVID-19 PCR testing product companies using the pandemic to make tens of billions of dollars. The third reason is the communist officials mass corruption, the post said. They use their power to benefit their cronies, which is disgusting. Thats why some netizens asked, Who are we going to defend? To defend young master Zhou or to defend the arctic catfish with nine-figure savings? Zhou refers to Zhou Jie, the son of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official in Jiangxi Province who once flaunted his wealth on social media, saying that the tea he drank cost 200,000 yuan a catty (about $22,000/lb). The arctic catfish is the name used by Chinese on social media for the granddaughter of a retired Shenzhen city official who is now studying in Australia. She bragged on social media that her family have nine-figure savings, all of which are provided by the common Chinese people, which triggered public anger. Continuous Sentiment This is not the first time that the Chinese public has expressed anti-war sentiment towards the CCPs war mobilization efforts and war propaganda. In February, mainland Chinese media published an article online, which read: If the motherland has the need, will you go to the front line? The report claimed that 94 percent interviewees were willing to come forward. However, posts in the comment section of the article showed overwhelmingly the opposite response. Chinese netizens posted one after another: Let the officials go first. If I get conscripted, then I will rebel since Ill have a gun in my hand. Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers assembling during military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region, on Jan. 4, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) The CCP has taken a series of actions to prepare for war, most likely to invade Taiwan and repel the United States and Japan who would come to Taiwans aid. The CCP has implemented new military Reserve Personnel Law on March 1, which raised the upper age limit for various ranks in Chinas reserve forces, from soldiers to officers, up to 60 year-old. The Chinese regime also passed a resolution on Feb. 24 to adjust the application of some provisions of Criminal Procedure Law for the military during wartime, which took effect on Feb. 25. The new adjustments took aim at crimes of a military nature that might pose a threat to the CCP, such as defection and desertion in the military during wartime. The resolution also outlined a legal basis for the CCP to declare martial law if needed for domestic control. China affairs commentator Li Dayu said of the anti-war post during his NTD News talk show on April 29: If what the regime does really represents the will of the people, and its rule is really recognized by the people, people will not talk about it like this, he said of the CCP. Starting an unrighteous war, what they will get is peoples indifference, and people will even help the other side. Li Yun contributed to this report. Appeals Court Upholds Election Integrity Law in Florida A ballot drop box at the Orange County Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana, Calif., on March 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a law that, among other modifications of election rules, added security measures on the use of drop boxes and put restrictions on voting by mail in the Sunshine State. On Thursday, the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit reversed a lower courts ruling that struck down a law passed by Floridas Republican-majority legislature in 2021, siding mostly with Floridas GOP lawmakers in a legal battle that lasted for two years. That law (pdf) amended Floridas election administration rules when it added identification requirements for voting by mail (including name, address, and date of birth); added monitoring requirements for drop boxes by election administrators; limited the locations on the use of ballot drop boxes; added identification requirements for voter registration updates; added requirements for third-party voter registration organizations; prohibited use of private funds for election-related expenses. It also made it illegal for anyone to solicit any elector in an effort to provide assistance to vote within 150 feet of the polling place, drop box location, or early voting site. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law on May 6, 2021, touting it as an action that would increase transparency and strengthen the security of Floridas elections. League of Woman Voters of Florida, a political advocacy organization, sued Florida state officials on the same day, seeking a court injunction on the laws enforcement. In 2022, District Judge Mark Walker, an Obama appointee, ruled in favor of the League of Women Voters. In his ruling (pdf), Walker wrote that the lawmakers showed intent to discriminate against Black voters and struck down most of the provisions in the law. Walker is also presiding over the Disney v. DeSantis lawsuit. In his ruling, Walker said that Florida has a history of maintaining its voter rolls in a discriminatory manner and that the law is evidently the stark results of a political system that, for well over a century, has overrepresented White Floridians and underrepresented Black residents. Walker then ordered that Florida officials, in a ten-year period upon his ruling, must seek court approval for enacting any laws regarding ballot drop boxes, voter solicitation at the polls, and regulation of third-party voter registration organizations. The appeals court disagreed. We hold that the findings of intentional racial discrimination rest on both legal errors and clearly erroneous findings of fact, reads the appeal courts 2-1 ruling (pdf) filed on Thursday. The appeals court reasoned that Walker made a mistake in reasoning that a racist past is evidence of current intent and that past case precedents do not provide an unlimited look-back to past discrimination. Under our precedent, this history cannot support a finding of discriminatory intent in this case. Floridas more recent history does not support a finding of discriminatory intent, wrote Pryor. Chief Judge William Pryor, a Bush appointee, voted in favor and delivered the majority opinion. Judge Britt Grant, a Trump appointee, voted in favor. Judge Jill Pryor, an Obama appointee, dissented. The appeals court reversed the lower courts judgment that provisions of the bill regarding drop-box, solicitation, and registration-delivery provisions are unconstitutional. It also reversed the lower courts ruling that required the state to seek preclearance for amending election laws. The court affirmed, in part, the lower courts ruling that the solicitation requirement imposed by the law is unconstitutionally vague. It then returned the case to the lower court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. In a Thursday statement posted on Twitter, the League of Women Voters of Florida wrote that it is disappointed by the appeal courts ruling. Jeffrey Clark, former acting assistant attorney general for the Civil Division under the Trump administration, hailed the appeal courts ruling as a big victory for election integrity in Florida in a Thursday statement published on Twitter. California Man Found Guilty of Killing 3 After Doorbell Prank This booking photo released by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department shows Anurag Chandra, 42 of Corona, Calif., on Jan. 20, 2020. (Riverside County Sheriff's Department via AP) RIVERSIDE, Calif.A Southern California man accused of killing three teenage boys by intentionally ramming their car after they played a doorbell-ringing prank on him was found guilty Friday of murder. Anurag Chandra was convicted in a Riverside County courtroom of three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted murder. The murder of these young men was a horrendous and senseless tragedy for our community. I thank the jury for their verdict. This is an important step toward justice, county District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a statement. Chandras attorney, David Wohl, did not immediately return a request for comment Friday. The victims, who were all 16 years old, were among six teens inside a Toyota Prius on Jan. 19, 2020, when Chandra intentionally rammed their vehicle off the road and fled, prosecutors said. The Priuss driver lost control and the sedan slammed into a tree in Temescal Valley, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The friends had dared one boy to either jump into a pool at night or play ding dong ditch. Chandra, who didnt know the teens, testified at trial that one of the boys rang his doorbell and exposed his buttocks before running away, according to The Riverside Press-Enterprise. Chandra testified that he followed because he feared for his familys safety and wanted to express his anger. He said he was extremely, extremely mad from the prank. Chandra also testified that he drank 12 beers in the hours before the crash, the newspaper reported. He said he did not plan to crash into the Prius and testified that he did not stop after rear-ending the sedan because he did not realize anyone had been injuredeven though he admitted under cross-examination that he had been driving 99 mph (159 kph) before the collision. The crash killed Daniel Hawkins of Corona; Drake Ruiz of Corona; and Jacob Ivascu of Riverside, according to the Riverside County coroners office. Sergio Campusano was the Priuss 18-year-old driver at the time. He and then-13-year-olds Joshua Hawkins and Joshua Ivascu survived the crash. They testified at the trial and were in the courtroom when the verdict was read. Chandra already was facing criminal charges in connection with alleged domestic violence in 2020 when the killings occurred. Campaign Group Disappointed After UK Council Refuses to Decouple With Chinese City A Hong Kong diaspora group calling for the de-twinning of Nottingham and Ningbo said its deeply disappointed after the English City Council declined to cut ties with the Chinese city. After a months-long review process, the council said its hoping the ties would allow Chinese students to keep travelling to Nottingham through an established university link so that they can be exposed to democratic ideas. Nottingham Stands with Hong Kong (NSWHK), which started a petition last year calling for the de-twinning, criticised the decision, saying universities over-reliance on Chinese money poses a threat to academic freedom in the UK. It comes after two other British cities, Newcastle and Bath, decided to de-twin with their Chinese sister cities over the Chinese regimes human rights record. There are at least 26 UK cities, counties, and towns still twinned or that have friendship agreements with their Chinese counterparts. Chung Ching Kwong, Hong Kong campaigns coordinator at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance (IPAC) on China, told The Epoch Times that ongoing research suggests many of the relationships are facilitated by local Chinese associations, which are also linked to the Chinese unofficial overseas police stations. Nottingham Council: Twin City Relationship Important NSWHK is one of the 19 Hong Kong diaspora groups that launched a Global De-Twin With China campaign, calling on more than 100 cities in seven countries to cut ties with China. It launched the local campaign last year after Nottingham, in March, severed ties with its Russian and Belarusian twin cities in light of Russias invasion of Ukraine. The council said it would review the arrangement after receiving the petition in June last year, according to Katy, a spokesperson for Global De-Twin With China, adding that the council replied to a further inquiry in January this year, saying the reviewing process was still ongoing and would include engagement with all stakeholders to fully assess the impact. In March, the council decided to retain the relationship, which it said is important for both of our cities, especially with the link established with our two universities. A general view of the Global Shipping Plaza in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China, on Dec. 31, 2012 (STR/AFP via Getty Images) In 2004, the University of Nottingham and Chinas Zhejiang Wanli University established the University of Nottingham Ningbo, the first of ten universities in China set up in collaboration with a foreign institution. Students of the joint university are awarded qualifications from both the University of Nottingham Ningbo and the University of Nottingham. According to a local news report in China, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, then Chinese Communist Party (CCP) secretary of the Zhejiang province, personally endorsed the idea and was present at the opening ceremony. Another joint university has since been established in partnership with a British university named the Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University. In its decision to keep ties with Ningbo, Nottingham City Council said it hopes that by encouraging young people to travel to Nottingham we will continue to expose international students to transparent values of openness and freedom of expression. The letter also said councillors share NSWHKs concerns about human rights and have used the ties as a platform to write to formally write to the Chinese regime about them. As an active partner we would be doing a disservice to our relationship and failing in our democratic duty if we did not make it clear that we are concerned by Chinas record in this Area, the council said. NSWHK said in a statement that its deeply disappointed about the decision, saying it prioritised the economic link between the two cities over serious human rights violations taking place in China. Heavy economic dependency on China has been a wide concern in many UK cities. In particular, universities over-reliance on incomes from Chinese international students and funding also poses a threat to academic freedom in the UK, the group said, adding that its unclear if and how the agreement would benefit the residents of Nottingham. The group also said the decision is a questionable gesture since the council had presented a clear stance to cut ties with its sister cities of Russia and Belarus. Agreement Terms Opaque NSWHK also criticised the councils decision-making process, saying it lacks transparency. The council leader responded that the council has been engaged with stakeholders of our city. Yet, the absence of debates in council meetings or public inquiry during the review process reflects a contradiction to this claim, the group said. The twinning agreement with China is renewed every five years and the public has never been consulted since its establishment in 2004, it added. Apart from Nottingham, Global De-Twin With China is campaigning for 11 other UK cities to sever ties with their Chinese sister cities, including Birmingham, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Medway, Perth, and Sheffield. Kwong said the UK Parliaments IPAC members are concerned because nobody actually knows what is within those agreements and how are they being implemented. According to Kwong, who has been assisting some IPAC members with freedom of information requests about twinning agreements, Lord Alton of Liverpool has sought information from the Liverpool City Council, but didnt get anything really useful in response. They seem to be saying that they dont keep various arrangements. And according to some research thats been ongoing, a lot of the organization that foster these agreements between cities are the local associations of Chinese people from different cities, and a lot of these facilities associations actually have ties to the overseas police station, she said. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) speaks at a press conference and rally in front of the America ChangLe Association highlighting Beijings transnational repression, in New York City, on Feb. 25, 2023. A now-closed overseas Chinese police station is located inside the association building. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders last year exposed unofficial Chinese police stations dotted around the world, consisting of phone numbers and innocuous local addresses. One of the stations in London shares an address with a food delivery business, with the owner Lin Ruiyou also being the director of the UK Fujianese association. Such associations have often been connected to the CCPs United Front Work Department (UFWD). According to The Times of London, the owner, Lin has also been the vice chairman of a London Conservative Party group and has dined with two former British prime ministers. The report also said Lin previously attended conferences and political events in China that are connected to the UFWD. Lin has denied working for the Chinese regime, police, or the CCP. He has also denied working for UFWD, arguing that dining and taking photos with friends who work for the Chinese regime doesnt mean he works for the UFWD. Kwong said that with the large population of Hongkongers in the UK its very hard to reassure them and the general public without concrete information on what the twinning agreements entail. Katy also told The Epoch Times that Hong Kong expats in the UK feel uneasy that local councils have ties with the CCP because they have been victims of the Chinese regime, but also because they are worried about the possible infiltration that these ties can bring. Sheffield The Epoch Times also spoke to Clara Cheung. Formerly a district councillor in Hong Kong, Cheung now lives in the English city of Sheffield, which is tied to two Chinese cities, Anshan and Chengdu. The link between Sheffield and Anshan, both cities of steel, has been established in the 1980s, while ties with Chengdu came in 2010. Speaking to councillors in January, Cheung listed the CCPs human rights violations and stressed that the gesture of de-twinning with Chinese cities would be to de-twin with the CCP rather than the Chinese people. Cheung told The Epoch Times that she believes it would make an impact on the CCP if a lot of UK cities cut ties with their Chinese twin cities. Commenting on Sheffields relationship with Chengdu, Cheung said the previous Labour-led Sheffield council was hoping to use the tie to develop a lot of business with China, although the plan never materialised. Britains Prime Minister Theresa May shakes hands with Chinas leader Xi Jinping (R) before the G20 leaders family photo in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 4, 2016. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) In July 2016, during the so-called Golden Era of Sino-British relationship, Sheffield City Council touted the biggest Chinese investment deal outside London, after returning from a trip to the Chinese city. According to the BBC, Chengdus Sichuan Guodong group, a Chinese construction group, was to invest 220 million over the first three years and 1 billion over 60 years. The council in 2019 confirmed that no project was to go ahead. According to Yorkshire Post, Councillor Mazher Iqbal, cabinet member for business and investment at Sheffield City Council said, It looks like he is not interested in Sheffield anymore, referring to Wang Chunming, the owner of the construction group. But according to a report by China Daily, the relationship between the two cities did result in a twinning agreement signed in 2017 between the Chengdu Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone (CDHT) and its counterpart in Sheffield, with the view of collaboration in education, sports, and aerospace technology. It came a day after the CDHT and Chinese energy company signed a separate agreement in London to establish a joint research group on quality engineering and smart technology. Canada Ends Air Evacuations From Sudan Amid Deteriorating Security Situation In this image from video provided by the Italian Defense Ministry, military personnel prepare to evacuate people from the airport in Khartoum, Sudan, on April 23, 2023. (The Canadian Press/Italian Defense Ministry via AP) Evacuation flights to bring Canadians home from Sudan have ended, the federal government said Saturday evening, amid escalating violence and deteriorating safety conditions. Ottawa said Canadians that are wishing to leave Sudan by road should consider leaving via Port Sudan, where commercial options may be available. It is advising people to avoid travelling to the Wadi Seidna Airfield due to the deteriorating security situation. Earlier Saturday, federal Defence Minister Anita Anand had said that efforts to bring Canadians home from Sudan would continue as long as possible. She had said at least one evacuation flight was planned by the Canadian military on Saturday. It would be the fifth to leave the Sudanese capital of Khartoum since Thursday. About 221 people were on board two aircraft that departed on Friday, including 68 Canadians and six permanent residents, Anand said. Approximately 375 Canadians known to be in the country have left on Canadian-led flights or on those operated by allies, she added. We are going to continue flights as long as possible, but I will say that the situation is dynamic, Anand had told reporters at a Saturday morning news conference. We are examining all options. Those options, she had said, involve exploring evacuation efforts by land or sea. Two navy vessels bound for the Indo-Pacific region have instead been redirected to remain near the city of Port Sudan in case they can be of future use in getting Canadians home, Anand had said. She had declined to comment on other options, but said steps taken by other allied countries may guide Canadas efforts. The United States did execute a convoy yesterday, and that is the kind of initiative that we are tracking, she had said, stressing for the second day in a row that the window for air evacuations was closing. Sudans capital of Khartoum, a city of some five million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The two weeks of bloodshed and strife between the two sides has dashed once-euphoric hopes of Sudans transition to a democracy. Canadas evacuation efforts ramped up later than some allied countries. Britain said it was ending its evacuation flights Saturday after demand for spots on the planes had declined. Officials there say more than 1,500 people have been flown out of the country so far. Azza Ahmed was among those Sudanese-Canadians who made it home, though she gives Ottawa little credit for her safe escape. A family visit to Khartoum expected to last until May 8 was cut short when violence erupted, prompting Ahmed and her family members to register their presence in the country with Global Affairs Canada. She said she received a call from Canadian officials at 1 a.m. last Monday informing her a German-run flight could accommodate her and her Canadian relatives in nine hours if they could make it in time to Khartoums airport 25 kilometres away. After siphoning all her familys gas into a single car, Ahmed said what should have been a half-hour drive to the airport took two hours. Despite driving her family through Khartoums back roads, her cousins car was nonetheless stopped by members of the Rapid Support Forces. Ahmeds cousins were let go after getting out of their car, emptying their pockets and explaining all their passengers were women trying to get to safety. Once at the airport, she and 40 other Sudanese-Canadians departed Sudan for Jordan before being flown to Germany. There, Ahmed and her family booked a commercial flight home to Toronto where they arrived on Wednesday. Ahmeds cousins had no choice but to stay behind. The Kuwaitis, the Indians, the French and South Korea they were able to get their citizens out safely so many days before the Canadian Embassy even contacted us. I was surprised that we were one of the last countries to be evacuated, said Ahmed. (Canada) was able to get their diplomats out within days. But no one seemed to care about us. Anand had said earlier Saturday that she has confidence military members can work effectively with Canadas allies to get other expatriates to safety. About 1,800 Canadians notified Global Affairs that they were in Sudan. The department has previously said about 400 Canadian citizens, permanent residents and their families have asked for consular assistance, but only a fraction of them want help leaving the country. About 300 Canadians have already been flown to safe third countries amid a significant uptick in violence in Sudan over the past two weeks, officials said on Friday. Others have left on their own, making the journey to neighbouring countries by car or bus. On Saturdaydespite a ceasefire extended under heavy international pressureresidents said clashes continued around the presidential palace, the headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. Anand said Canada welcomed the ceasefire and redoubled her calls for a peaceful end to the ongoing violence. The Sudanese Doctors Syndicate estimates the fighting has killed more than 400 civilians and injured over 2,000 since it erupted on April 15. China Expands Anti-Espionage Law Targeting Foreign Companies and Dissidents Police officers and security perform crowd control after an official flag raising ceremony next to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing, China, on Oct. 1, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) passed its newly revised anti-espionage law, which will come into effect on July 1 this year. The revision has expanded the definition of espionage, making it broader and vaguer. Human rights observers believe that it is an escalation in the repression of the Chinese people and will be used to further target foreign individuals and companies in China. The regimes rubber-stamp legislature published the revised law on its website on April 26. It was the first modification from its November 2014 release. Police officers stand guard during a protest in Beijing, China, on Nov. 28, 2022. (Bloomberg) The expansion of the laws definition of espionage has attracted much attention from the outside world. For example, the scope of subjects of stealing secrets is expanded to other documents, data, materials, and items related to national security and interests. The newly revised anti-espionage law also classifies selling out to espionage organizations and their agents as espionage, as well as conducting cyberattacks against state organs, secret-related units, or key information infrastructure as espionage. The new revision also includes establishing a management system for key anti-espionage and security units. Sparking Fear in Foreign Companies Nikkei, a Japanese media company, reported that Chinas restriction of the transmission of any information related to national security under the updated anti-espionage law had sparked concerns that the CCP is stepping up its targeting of foreign individuals and companies. The expanded law would lead to arbitrary law enforcement, such as detaining individuals without concrete evidence. An executive at Japans Astellas Pharmaceuticals Beijing office was arrested last month over alleged espionage. The incident has shaken the Japanese business community, with some companies already reassessing risks and halting business travel to China. The closed office of the Mintz Group is seen in an office building in Beijing, on March 24. (Photo by Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese authorities raided the Beijing office of Mintz Group, an American investigation firm, in March and detained five Chinese employees. Chinese police had gone to the Shanghai office of Bain & Co., a U.S. consulting firm, and questioned the employees there and took away computers and mobile phones, as confirmed by a spokesman of the company on April 26. Mr. Huang, an executive of a foreign company in Hong Kong, told The Epoch Times on April 27 that the revision of the CCPs anti-espionage law may have a greater impact on companies and employees in the three types of businesses. The first type is those whose business in China involves investigation or those who have accounting capital review business, such as Deloitte and four other major accounting firms. They may have some sensitive information. The second is the investment analysis report companies, he said. The third type is enterprises that have cooperation or economic and trade exchanges in medical biotechnology and software in China. Huang said that most Western countries have national security laws and anti-terrorism laws, but China is not an international legal system. Rather, it is a socialist legal system incompatible with most international laws commonly used in the world because the CCPs legal operations often violate human rights, foreign companies, and their employees will be very worried. Overseas representatives of China Development Forum, including Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook CEO (L), attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People, on March 21, 2016. (Kenzaburo Fukuhara/Getty Images) On April 27, Chinese lawyer Yang Ming (pseudonym) told The Epoch Times that he believes many foreign-funded enterprises and foreign investors will make an assessment based on the potential problems in current Chinese society, and they dare not easily come to China to invest. Suppress Chinese Citizens Dong Yuyu, a former senior editor at Chinas official newspaper, Guangming Daily, was arrested by Beijing authorities last year while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat and has been charged with espionage. Dong had criticized the Chinese regime on several occasions. On April 24, his family commented publicly on the case for the first time, saying the allegations by Chinese authorities were fabricated to suppress dissent. Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu in front of the Newman Foundation for Journalism in Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, in May 2017. (Dong family via AP) Yang said that Chinas definition of espionage is very broad. What is espionage? Strictly speaking, espionage is an act proven by evidence that someone was trained by or benefited from an enemy or a hostile country to gather or provide intel for them, Yang explained. But in reality, CCP defines espionage arbitrarily. If you do an economic survey or have a photo of a military base on your mobile phone, if you post it on the internet, the regime can define it as espionage. Yang pointed out that the introduction of the expanded anti-espionage law, as well as the anti-terrorism law and cybersecurity law that the regime put out previously, are all means by the CCP to strengthen its dictatorship and illegal rule, mainly to intimidate the common people. Because the credibility of the CCP has collapsed and the opposition from the Chinese people is increasing. So, it uses all-round legislation to prohibit the people from discussing the regimes propaganda based on fabricated history, prevent people from telling the truth, and suppress the resistance of the common people. Ning Haizhong and Luo Ya contributed to this report. Dust to Dust? New Mexicans Fight to Save Old Adobe Churches An exterior view of the San Jose de Gracia Catholic Church, built in 1760, in Las Trampas, N.M., on April 14, 2023. (Roberto E. Rosales/AP Photo) CORDOVA, New MexicoEver since missionaries started building churches out of mud 400 years ago in what was the isolated frontier of the Spanish empire, tiny mountain communities like Cordova relied on their own resources to keep the faith going. Thousands of miles from religious and lay seats of power, everything from priests to sculptors to paint pigments was hard to come by. Villagers instituted lay church caretakers called mayordomos, and filled chapels with elaborate altarpieces made of local wood and varnished with pine sap. Today, threatened by depopulation, dwindling congregations, and fading traditions, some of their descendants are fighting to save these historic adobe structures from literally crumbling back to the earth they were built with. Our ancestors put blood and sweat in this place for us to have Jesus present. This is the root of my faith, said Angelo Sandoval on a chilly spring day inside the 1830s church of St. Anthony, where he serves as mayordomo in his native Cordova. Were not just a church, were not just a religionwe have roots. From the local dirt theyre made of to the generations of family memories they hold, these churches anchor a uniquely New Mexican way of life for their communities, many of which no longer have schools or stores, and struggle with chronic poverty and addiction. An estimated 500 Catholic mission churches remain in northern New Mexico, where the Rocky Mountains taper off into desert mesas to the west and endless plains to the east. Master santero Felix Lopezan artist trained in New Mexicos centuries-old tradition of religious sculpture and paintingstands in front of the 1810s reredo or altarpiece he cleaned and preserved in the Holy Rosary Mission Church in Truchas, N.M., on April 16, 2023. (Giovanna DellOrto/AP Photo) Its becoming increasingly difficult to find the necessary investmenthundreds of thousands of dollars, plus specialized conservation skills and families willing to serve as mayordomosto preserve them, especially since most are used for only a few services each year. Its truly a labor of love, said the Rev. Rob Yaksich, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Las Vegas, New Mexico, which oversees 23 rural churches, most in adobe, spread over a large territory. When the faithful generation is gone, are they going to be a museum or serve their purpose? This old, deep-rooted Spanish Catholicism is experiencing serious disruption. Fidel Trujillo is mayordomo of the pink-stuccoed San Jose church in the hamlet of Ledoux where he grew up. With his wife and other family members, he keeps it spotless even though only two Masses per year are celebrated here regularly. Our antepasados [ancestors] did a tremendous job in handing over the faith, and its our job now, Trujillo said in the characteristic mix of Spanish and English that many speak in this region. While hes also active in the main parish in the nearby town of Mora, he brings his children, 6 and 4, as often as he can to San Jose. This serves as a retreat and grounding for us, he added. I much prefer coming to these capillas [chapels]. Its a compass that guides where your heart really belongs. Each mission church is devoted to a particular saint, for whom the community develops special veneration. When New Mexicos largest wildfire last spring charred forests close to the San Jose church, and Trujillo was displaced for a month, he took the statue of St. Joseph with him. In the small town of Bernalillo, Catholic faithful have kept a vow to St. Lawrence for more than 300 years that includes one family each year setting up an altar with his image in their homeand making it available 24/7 to anyone who wants to pray. They have knocked at my door at 2 a.m. and Ive let them in, said mayordoma Barbara Finley. Her home is near the historic adobe Santuario de San Lorenzo, which the community fought to keep even though a larger church was built next door. Four hundred years ago, life was very difficult in this part of the world, the remote inland frontier of the Spanish empire, explained Felix Lopez, a master santerothe artists who sculpt, paint, and conserve saint figures in New Mexicos unique devotional style, born of historical isolation. People needed these santos. They were a source of comfort and refuge. In intervening centuries, most were stolen, sold, or damaged, according to Bernadette Lucero, director, curator, and archivist for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, which has inventories of its hundreds of churches since the 1600s. But how much these expressive sculptures and paintings still matter to local communities is evident where they survive in original form, as they do at the mission churches in Cordova, Truchas, and Las Trampas on the mountain road from Santa Fe to Taos. Saints are the spiritual go-to; they can be highly powerful, said Victor Goler, a master santero who just completed conserving the altarpieces, or reredos, in Las Trampass mid-18th century church. Its important for the community to have a connection. Their feeling is a lot deeper and thats what keeps it going. On a recent Sunday at Truchass 1760s Holy Rosary church, Lopez pointed out the rich decorative details that centuries of smoke and grime had hidden until he meticulously removed them with the absorbent inside of sourdough bread. Im a devout Catholic, and I do this as meditation, as a form of prayer, said Lopez, whos been a santero for five decades and whose family hails from this village perched on a ridge at 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). A few miles down the valley in Cordova, Jerry Sandovalanother santero and the mayordomos unclesays a prayer to each saint before starting to sculpt their image out of pine, cottonwood, or aspen. He then paints them with natural pigmentspurple is made of crushed bugs, for exampleand varnishes them with the sap of pinon, the stocky pine tree that dots the countryside. He also helped conserve the colorful, centuries-old reredos at the local church, where many children come back for traditional Christmas and Easter prayersgiving both Sandovals hope that the younger generations will learn to be attached to their church. They see all this, Jerry Sandoval said in front of the richly decorated altarpieces from St. Anthony church. Lots of people call it tradition, but we call it faith. For the Rev. Sebastian Lee, who as administrator of the popular Santuario de Chimayo complex a few miles away also oversees these mission churches, fostering local attachment is a daunting challenge as congregations shrink even faster since the COVID-19 pandemic. I want missions to be where people can taste culture and religiosity. Theyre very healing, youre soaked with peoples faith, Lee said as pilgrims filed past his tiny adobe-walled office into the main sanctuary at Chimayo. I wonder how to help them, because sooner or later one mission is not going to have enough people. The archdioceses Catholic Foundation provides small grants, and several organizations have been founded to help conservation efforts. Frank Graziano hopes his nonprofit Nuevo Mexico Profundo, which supported the Cordova conservation, can obtain the necessary permit from the archdiocese to restore the 1840s church of San Geronimo. Deep cracks break apart its adobe walls and bug nests buzz in a gaping hole by one of the windows. The surrounding village, in a wide valley in the shadow of Hermit Peak, is almost entirely depopulated, making it unlikely that the community will step in for the necessary upkeep. Exposed to rain and snow, adobe needs a fresh replastering of dirt, sand, and straw every couple of years lest it dissolves. That makes local buy-in and some kind of ongoing activity, even just funerals, fundamental to long-term preservation, said Jake Barrow, program director at Cornerstones, which has worked on more than 300 churches and other structures. When volunteers started fundraising for the mission in Truchas, the community suspected it would be turned into an art gallery, said mayordoma Aggie Vigil. They came around when she shared the dream to make the old adobe church, then unstable and infested with gophers, viable for Mass again. But with fewer priests and fewer faithful, taking some rural missions off the churchs roster might be inevitable, said the Rev. Andy Pavlak, who serves on the archdioceses commission for preservation of historic churches. We have two choices: Either return to the community, or back to the earth they came from. We cant save them all, said Pavlak, who for nearly a decade ministered to 10 churches in Socorro County, the oldest from 1615. The adobe is made from the earth. Adam and Eve were made from the earth. Were all going to the earth. How do we do it with dignity? Running his hand over the smooth adobe walls he restored at the 1880s Santo Nino de Atocha chapel in Monte Aplanado, a hamlet nestled in a high mountain valley, Leo Paul Pacheco argued that the answer might hinge on the faith of lay people like him. He and his son belong to one of the many brotherhoods, known as penitentes for their devotion to penance and prayer for souls in purgatory, that historians credit with fulfilling the churchs role of religious and social work when frontier dangers kept priests away. The brothers still help set a model as their county struggles with unemployment and the drug crisis, Pacheco said. We lift our community in prayer. What we do is to highlight and share aspects of community that bring bonds. Longer term, it will be up to future generations to leverage their faith to save these historic churches. They still have access to the same dirt, Pacheco said as the adobe walls sand particles and straw sparkled in the sun. They will provide. By Giovanna Dellorto Ex-San Diego Resident Sentenced for Tax Crimes, Fleeing Country Over 20 Years Ago SAN DIEGOA former San Diego resident who fled the United States more than 20 years ago to avoid being sentenced for tax crimes was sentenced April 28 to over five years in federal prison. Robin McPherson was slated to appear for a March 2001 sentencing hearing following his convictions for tax evasion and conspiracy, but instead fled the country, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). McPherson, who was the president and co-owner of La Jolla-based telemarketing company Continental Wireless Cable Inc., was convicted along with two co-defendants of evading taxes on profits the company earned, leading to a tax loss to the IRS of more than $1 million, according to a DOJ statement. He was apprehended in Costa Rica last year. According to a sentencing memorandum from McPhersons defense attorney, Stephen White, his clients wife and children had relocated to Costa Rica around the time he was to be sentenced and were expecting to remain there until he got out of prison. While overseas, they were struggling financially and living in a dangerous neighborhood. Out of concern for his family, Mr. McPherson went to Costa Rica and failed to appear at sentencing, the memorandum states. White wrote that McPherson turned himself in to Costa Rican police in early 2022. Mr. McPherson stated it was time to do the right thing and get all these cases behind him as he was tired of being a fugitive and living illegally in Costa Rica. He had spent the last 20 years looking over his shoulder and he was tired of it, the attorney wrote. In addition to the bail jumping charge, McPherson, 68, pleaded guilty earlier this year to attempted tax evasion and wire fraud charges in two unrelated cases. According to court documents, the attempted tax evasion stems from taxes McPherson and a co-defendant tried to evade in 1999 and 2000. The wire fraud charge stems from a case in which prosecutors say that between 2016 and 2022, McPherson solicited investor funds for a fake Costa Rican real estate development project, then used the funds to pay for personal expenses. Prosecutors allege in court documents that victims believed they were investing in partial ownership of a villa that would be part of a larger Costa Rican development. No villas were ever completed and investors did not receive their money back. Prosecutors say dozens of investors were defrauded, resulting in about $1.5 million in losses. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino sentenced McPherson to 63 months in prison, which accounts for all four criminal cases filed against him. He was also ordered to pay restitution of around $4.7 million. Prior to being sentenced, McPherson told the judge, I truly feel bad for a lot of the people that put their faith in me and their money and the pain Ive caused my family. Digital and technology ministers attend a photo session during the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki By Kantaro Komiya TAKASAKI (Reuters) -Group of Seven advanced nations should adopt "risk-based" regulation on artificial intelligence, their digital ministers agreed on Sunday, as European lawmakers hurry to introduce an AI Act to enforce rules on emerging tools such as ChatGPT. But such regulation should also "preserve an open and enabling environment" for the development of AI technologies and be based on democratic values, G7 ministers said in a joint statement issued at the end of a two-day meeting in Japan. While the ministers recognised that "policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G7 members", the agreement sets a landmark for how major countries govern AI amid privacy concerns and security risks. "The conclusions of this G7 meeting show that we are definitely not alone in this," European Commission Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager told Reuters ahead of the agreement. Governments have especially paid attention to the popularity of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, a chatbot developed by Microsoft Corp-backed OpenAI that has become the fastest-growing app in history since its November launch. "We plan to convene future G7 discussions on generative AI which could include topics such as governance, how to safeguard intellectual property rights including copyright, promote transparency, address disinformation" including information manipulation by foreign forces, the ministerial statement said. Italy, a G7 member, took ChatGPT offline last month to investigate its potential breach of personal data rules. While Italy lifted the ban on Friday, the move has inspired fellow European privacy regulators to launch probes. EU lawmakers on Thursday reached a preliminary agreement on a new draft of its upcoming AI Act, including copyright protection measures for generative AI, following a call for world leaders to convene a summit to control such technology. Story continues Vestager, EU's tech regulation chief, said the bloc "will have the political agreement this year" on the AI legislation, such as labelling obligations for AI-generated images or music, to address copyright and educational risks. Japan, this year's chair of G7, meanwhile, has taken an accommodative approach on AI developers, pledging support for public and industrial adoption of AI. Japan hoped to get the G7 "to agree on agile or flexible governance, rather than preemptive, catch-all regulation" over AI technology, industry minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Friday ahead of the ministerial talks. "Pausing (AI development) is not the right response - innovation should keep developing but within certain guardrails that democracies have to set," Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister for Digital Transition, told Reuters, adding France will provide some exceptions to small AI developers under the upcoming EU regulation. Besides intellectual property concerns, G7 countries recognised security risks. "Generative AI...produces fake news and disruptive solutions to the society if the data it's based is fake," Japanese digital minister Taro Kono told a press conference after the agreement. The top tech officials from G7 - Britain, Canada, the EU, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States - met in Takasaki, a city about 100 km (60 miles) northwest of Tokyo, following energy and foreign ministers' meetings this month. Japan will host the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in late May, where Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss AI rules with world leaders. (Reporting by Kantaro Komiya in Takasaki, Japan; Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Expelled Tennessee State Lawmakers Take Part in Climate Change Protest in DC State Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) delivers remarks on the floor of the House chamber in Nashville, Tenn., on April 6, 2023. (George Walker IV/AP Photo) Two Tennessee House Democrats took part in a protest outside the White House Correspondents Association dinner on April 29, as the protests organizer is accusing President Joe Biden of committing ecocide. Reps. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), who were expelled from the Tennesse General Assembly in early April before they were reinstated, took part in a protest organized by Climate Defiance, a youth-led climate protest group. Biden: End Fossil Fuel, read the words displayed on banners and placards that protesters held on Saturday. The group alleged Biden is committing ecocide because of oil projects he has approved, including the 30-year Willow oil field development project in Alaska, which will produce as much as 180,000 barrels of oil a day. According to the Vienna-based independent organization the European Law Institute, ecocide is devastation and destruction of the environment to the detriment of life. Show me what democracy looks like, Jones said through a megaphone while amongst a group of protesters, according to a Twitter video shared by the group. Jones added, We are in a state of emergency in this nation. We are fighting fascism. Were fighting a system that is trying to put the profits of the gun industry, the profits of the fossil fuel industry, the profits of for-profit health care over the lives of our people. In another Twitter video shared by the group, Pearson told the crowd that he was glad to be in this movement. We can never lose in this fight for justice, Pearson said through a megaphone. We must remain steadfast, unmovable, and unchangeable in our belief that we can have a clean planet. The group claimed on Twitter that their protest was a success, for it had successfully blocked a government SUV from entering the Washington Hilton, the hotel where the annual dinner was held. Biden gave a speech at the dinner, during which he spoke about how a free press is a pillar of any free society. On March 30, Jones, Pearson, and fellow Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), now collectively known as the Tennessee Three, broke decorum rules by leading hundreds of protesters to the well of the House floor, calling for tighter gun control law. The protest brought the chamber deliberations to a halt. The protest at the Tennessee state Capitol came just days after a school shooting at Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville, which left three nine-year-old children and three school staff members dead. The Republican-controlled House subsequently voted to expel Jones and Pearson. Johnson was spared after some Republican legislators broke ranks to vote against her expulsion. Jones and Pearson have since between reinstated on an interim basis by local officials. The two plan to run in special elections in August. At the Oval Office meeting on April 24, Biden applauded the three visiting state lawmakers. Youre standing up for our kids. Youre standing up for our communitiessafer communitiesand democratic values. Thats what its all about, Biden said. Biden criticized the GOP-controlled Tennessee legislature, saying its decision to expel was shocking, undemocratic, and without any precedent. We passed the most significant gun laws that have passed in 30 years, but theres more to do, Biden added. What happened was that we didwe made background checks and legislation with so-called red flag laws. Vice President Kamala Harris also met with the three state lawmakers when traveling to Nashville earlier this month. However, her trip has drawn criticism for not meeting with the victims of the school shooting. Government Media Bailout Didnt Work: Department of Canadian Heritage Copies of Postmedia-owned newspapers at a store in Burnaby, B.C., in a file photo. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Despite the federal government providing a $595 million bailout to the media industry four years ago, news corporations have seen a continuous decline, according to the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications heard testimony from associate assistant deputy heritage minister Thomas Ripley on April 25 as part of the discussion on Bill 18, the Online News Act. A small number of digital platforms are now dominant, said Ripley. Bill C-18 creates a new legislative framework and a regulatory framework to deal with the bargaining imbalances between the digital platforms and the media outlets and enables them to negotiate the true value of online news content in place. Ripley said that the goal is to drive platforms to reach voluntary and fair commercial agreements with news media, or parties do not reach commercial agreements voluntarily. He said that under Bill C-18, platforms will be subject to mandatory negotiation and mediation backstopped by final offer arbitration. Platforms that have a significant bargaining power imbalance with news businesses would be subject to the mandatory bargaining process. He also testified that we have seen a significant decline in journalism, noting that media corporations in Canada are in a huge period of disruption and transition. Under the Liberals in 2019, the Income Tax Act was amended to pay federal government-approved media publishers a 25 percent payroll rebate of $13,750 per employee along with 15 percent subscription tax credits, according to Blacklocks Reporter. The subsidies are in place until March 31, 2024. Ripley said the program was not effective. The labour tax credit thats in place, notwithstanding those interventions, we continue to see a decline in news, he said. Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez had said earlier that subsidies were essential for an industry that he described as being in crisis, noting that the loss of even just one job is a tragedy. No New Jobs Data from the Department of Canadian Heritage indicate that the bailout did not generate any net job creation in newsrooms. In fact, an Inquiry of Ministry tabled in the House of Commons on Jan. 24 showed that so many journalism jobs have been cut that payroll rebates were running 43 percent under budget. Former Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) chair Konrad von Finckenstein told the committee on April 25, I think we all know what the government is trying to do. He said it is to keep certain newspapers and newsmakers alive that are suffering very much these days. At the time of the media bailout, publishers who had lobbied for government help said it was temporary. Bob Cox, then-publisher of the Winnipeg Free Press and chair of the lobby group News Media Canada, said at the time, We will have to save ourselves. The program itself is envisioned to be for five years, and I felt that was an appropriate period of time for the transition because, of course, there will be news outlets, newspapers, that fail the transition, and you cant give them forever, Cox testified at 2019 hearings of the Commons finance committee. There does need to be a deadline, he said. Deadlines can also focus you and get you moving to where maybe you arent moving now, Cox added. I think its important. I see this as a transitional program and temporary help. I dont like the idea of a long-term subsidy for newspapers that becomes permanent. Guardian Apologises to BBC Chairman and Jewish Community Over Anti-Semitic Cartoon The Guardian has apologised to the Jewish community and outgoing BBC Chairman Richard Sharp for a cartoon it published that has been described as anti-Semitic. The drawing, by cartoonist Martin Rowson, was published on Saturday after Sharp resigned following a review that found he had broken the rules by failing to disclose his role in securing an 800,000 loan guarantee for former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The cartoon featured a depiction of Sharp with a box marked Goldman Sachs, where he used to work, which contained what appears to be a puppet of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, an animal that looks like a squid, and a CVwhile a Johnson-like figure sits on money. The newspaper has since removed it from its website, replacing it with a statement reading: The cartoon that was posted here today did not meet our editorial standards, and we have decided to remove it from our website. The Guardian issued an apology saying: We understand the concerns that have been raised. This cartoon does not meet our editorial standards, and we have decided to remove it from our website. The Guardian apologises to Mr. Sharp, to the Jewish community, and to anyone offended. Disturbing Author David Rich, who has previously criticised antisemitism in left-wing British politics, called the cartoon appalling. He wrote on Twitter: The depiction of Richard Sharp in todays Guardian cartoon falls squarely into an anti-Semitic tradition of depicting Jews with outsized, grotesque features, often in conjunction with money and power. Lord Austin of Dudley, who was a Labour MP before he quit the party over what he called a culture of extremism, antisemitism and intolerance in 2019, described the cartoon as having anti-Semitic imagery and said the newspaper should be ashamed. Former chancellor and health secretary Sajid Javid also wrote on Twitter: Disappointed to see these tropes in todays Guardian. Disturbing themeor at best, lessons not learned? A Failure Cartoonist Rowson also issued an apology, but insisted Sharps Jewish identity played no role in his drawing. He said: I know Richard Sharp is Jewish; actually, while were collecting networks of cronyism, I was at school with him, though I doubt he remembers me. His Jewishness never crossed my mind as I drew him as its wholly irrelevant to the story or his actions, and it played no conscious role in how I twisted his features according to the standard cartooning playbook. Rowson added: The cartoon was a failure and on many levels: I offended the wrong people, Sharp wasnt the main target of the satire, I rushed at something without allowing enough time to consider things with the depth and care they require, and thereby letting slip in stupid ambiguities that have ended up appearing to be something I never intended. Editorial Oversight The criticisms were not just directed at the artist, but also at the newspapers senior editors. Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, pointed out that the cartoon came when people who practise Judaism observed the Sabbath and called it a resignation offence for editor Katharine Viner. He added: Though the cartoon has now been deleted, and the cartoonist has apologetically declared that the catalogue of anti-Jewish imagery were all a mistake, it was waved through by editors. Stephen Pollard, editor-at-large of The Jewish Chronicle, said: It takes a lot to shock me. And I am well aware of The Guardians and especially Rowsons form. But I still find it genuinely shocking that not a single person looked at this and said, no, we cant run this. To me thats the real issue. Anti-Semitism Rows This is the second time in a week The Guardian has been involved in a row over alleged Anti-Semitism. On April 23, Labour MP Diane Abbott was suspended by her party after she published a letter in The Observerthe Guardians sister papersuggesting Jewish people are not subject to racism all their lives. Diane Abbott attends a Stand Up to Racism rally outside Downing Street, London, on July 17, 2021. (Hollie Adams/Getty Images) Abbott, who served as shadow home secretary under the hard-left former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, made the comment in response to a comment which suggested that Irish, Jewish, and Traveller people all suffer from racism in the UK. She wrote: It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice. But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people, and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus. In apartheid South Africa, these groups were allowed to vote. And at the height of slavery, there were no white-seeming people manacled on the slave ships. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer condemned Abbotts comments as Anti-Semitic and said they will never be accepted in the party. PA Media contributed to this report. Tobacco smoking has been linked to many harmful effects, including cancer. With the growing popularity of marijuana, a question arises: Does smoking marijuana have the same negative impact on lung health as tobacco? Two recent studies provide very different conclusions. A longitudinal study conducted in Australia suggests that cannabis use does not increase the risk of lung damage any more than tobacco does, even after years of use. The study tracked 2,601 young adults aged 21 to 30, testing their lung function with a spirometry test, a common type of breathing test that measures how much air a person can breathe in and out. The results demonstrated that cigarette smoking, with or without cannabis use, is associated with reduced airflow. However, no consistent association was shown between cannabis use and impaired lung function. The co-use of tobacco and cannabis appeared to have no additional risk to lung function. A retrospective case-control study conducted in Canada found that marijuana smokers were more likely to develop airway inflammation and emphysema compared to tobacco-only smokers or non-smokers. Airway inflammation is a critical component of many chronic airway diseases. One of them is emphysema, a lung condition that causes shortness of breath and damage to lung tissue. The study analyzed chest CT scans of 56 marijuana smokers, 57 non-smokers, and 33 tobacco-only smokers. The researchers found that the paraseptal subtype of emphysema, a type of pulmonary emphysema that damages the tiny ducts that connect to the lungs fragile air sacs, was predominant in marijuana smokers. Does Marijuana Really Have No Effect on Lung Function? The Australian study observed no significant lung function impairment in young adults who used marijuana. However, in an interview with The Epoch Times, Dr. Kelly Johnson-Arbor, co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center, cautioned that the data from the study may not apply to current marijuana smokers. This one study pretty much shows that tobacco and cannabis have different effects on the lungs, Johnson-Arbor said. And so because of that, maybe after short periods of use of cannabis, you dont really see the same changes in the lungs that you do with smoking [tobacco]. The study is limited because the last follow-up was conducted in 2011, added Johnson-Arbor, a triple board-certified physician in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and undersea and hyperbaric medicine. The studys participants underwent a spirometry test at ages 21 and 30, with the first evaluation taking place between 2001 to 2004. The final evaluation was conducted between 2008 to 2011. Johnson-Arbor explained that the availability, frequency, and methods of cannabis use were markedly different a decade ago, so the results may not apply to current patterns of cannabis use. The potency of marijuana today is significantly higher than it was in the past. The concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive component of cannabis, rose from 8.9 percent in 2008 to 17.1 percent in 2017. Today, it is common to find marijuana with a THC content exceeding 20 percent. Jake Najman, the lead author of the study and a professor emeritus at the School of Public Health at the University of Queensland, Australia, told The Epoch Times via email that patterns of cannabis use have constantly been changing, a fact the study had acknowledged. In an uncertain world with change occurring in a range of behaviors, my best guess, on the available evidence, from our study and others, is that short-term cannabis use does not impair (may improve) lung function. Long-term use may impair lung function, Najman wrote. The study also noted that cannabis had been used to treat asthma because, unlike tobacco, cannabis could expand airways. Could Smoking Marijuana Be More Harmful Than Previously Thought? According to the authors, the second study, conducted by Canadian researchers, used CT images to demonstrate a clear link between marijuana smoking and emphysema. Researchers found 75 percent of the marijuana smokers had emphysema, while 67 percent of the tobacco-only smokers did. Emphysema was present in only 5 percent of the non-smokers. Additionally, airway inflammation and gynecomastia, an increase in male breast tissues due to hormonal imbalances, were more common in marijuana smokers than non-smokers or tobacco-only smokers. Giselle Revah, a co-author of the study and an assistant professor at the Department of Radiology, Radiation Oncology, and Medical Physics at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada, said the results were surprising, particularly since the tobacco-only group had a long history of smoking. Pulmonary emphysema in (A, B) marijuana and (C, D) tobacco smokers. (A) Axial and (B) coronal CT images in a 44-year-old male marijuana smoker show paraseptal emphysema (arrowheads) in bilateral upper lobes. (C) Axial and (D) coronal CT images in a 66-year-old female tobacco smoker with centrilobular emphysema represented by areas of centrilobular lucency (arrowheads). (Courtesy of the Radiological Society of North America) The fact that our marijuana smokerssome of whom also smoked tobaccohad additional findings of airway inflammation/chronic bronchitis suggests that marijuana has additional synergistic effects on the lungs above tobacco, Revah said, according to a press release. In addition, our results were still significant when we compared the non-age-matched groups, including younger patients who smoked marijuana and who presumably had less lifetime exposure to cigarette smoke. The authors acknowledged the studys several limitations, including a relatively small sample size, the fact that most marijuana smokers also smoke tobacco, and the difficulties in accurately quantifying marijuana use due to different inhalation methods. In an editorial in Radiology, Dr. Jeffrey Galvin, a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, said the study demonstrated a strong association between exposure to inhaled marijuana smoke and imaging evidence of small and large airway injury. He added that the authors had confirmed the presence of marijuana-related injury to large and small airways, which is certain to have a deleterious effort on lung function and exercise tolerance. Marijuana and Tobacco: Is One Safer Than the Other? Tobacco smoking has been extensively studied and linked to numerous health problems. Smoking tobacco leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, it is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States. Relatively few studies have been conducted on marijuana smoking. This is mainly due to the difficulties in researching an illegal drug. (The use and possession are illegal under federal law. California legalized the medical use of marijuana in 1996; today, 40 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis. Recreational use has been approved in 22 states and the District of Columbia.) Marijuana and tobacco differ in their chemical composition. Tobacco smoke contains nicotine, while marijuana smoke contains THC. Like all novel exposures, there is initially unwarranted optimism regarding their benefits and positive effects while under-appreciating the negative consequences, Galvin wrote in the Radiology editorial. This was true regarding the effect of cigarette smoke on the lung. Galvin also noted that, prior to 1950, many popular magazines featured full-page ads of physicians extolling the benefits of various cigarette brands. Jack Dorsey Responds to Elon Musks Twitter Leadership (L): Elon Musk speaks at the E3 gaming convention in Los Angeles, On June 13, 2019. (R): Jack Dorsey speaks at the Consensus 2018 blockchain technology conference in New York City, on May 16, 2018. (Mike Blake, Mike Segar/Reuters) Twitters former CEO, Jack Dorsey, criticized Elon Musks leadership and taking over of Twitter of the company in a series of social media posts last week. Users of the social media platform Bluesky asked Dorsey a question about whether Musk was the right owner. His response was, No. No. Nor do I think he acted right after realizing his timing was bad. Nor do I think the board should have forced the sale. It all went south, Dorsey wrote last week. In April 2022, Dorsey previously described Musk as the singular solution to take over Twitter. Further, he said he trusted Musk to to extend the light of consciousness amid reports Musk wanted to purchase the social media platform. He added that he is glad new social media platforms such as Blueskya new social media platform that is being called a possible alternative to Twitter that has been recently touted by mainstream media figures and celebritiesare being created and built. Dorsey, who is reportedly still a Twitter shareholder, has backed Bluesky since 2019. I think he should have walked away and paid the [$1 billion] breakup fee, he also said. After making a bid to purchase Twitter for $44 billion, or around $54.20 per share, Musk later signaled that he wanted to back out of the deal. It wasnt clear that either Musk or Twitter had that option, as Musk would have had to provide proof to a Delaware court that he had a good reason for walking away from the deal. When Dorsey headed Twitter before departing under the companys previous management, he received widespread criticism for the alleged silencing of right-wing accounts or individuals with viewpoints that strayed too far from the mainstream narrative. While he was in charge, prominent people such as former President Donald Trump, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), and anti-COVID-19 vaccine writer Alex Berenson were permanently suspended. Meanwhile, a number of journalists have revealed internal Twitter messages over the past several years suggesting there was outsized external influence on Twitters content moderators to censor, deplatform, or reduce the reach of posts from a range of prominent accounts. The files also revealed alleged secret blacklists targeting several prominent accounts. Dorsey, in December 2022, suggested that Musk release everything to the public. If the goal is transparency to build trust, why not just release everything without filter and let people judge for themselves? Including all discussions around current and future actions? Dorsey said on Twitter. Make everything public now. Musk, who laid off a significant portion of Twitters staff after he took over the company, has not publicly responded to Dorseys criticism. Reports have indicated that Musk laid off about 7,500 employees, while the Tesla CEO has explained it was done for cost-cutting purposes. Other tech companies, including Meta and Amazon, have laid off significant numbers of employees in recent months amid tightening macroeconomic conditions. As for Dorsey, he unveiled the Bluesky project four years ago, which was initially funded by Twitter to create an open and decentralized standard for social media. He wrote at the time that the goal is for Twitter to ultimately be a client of this standard. While there have been claims Bluesky would distinguish itself from Twitter by allowing users to control their own data and be free from corporate influence, some researchers have said otherwise. According to The Wrap, Ashley Gjovik, an American program manager, posted screenshots warning that Blueskys terms of service give Dorsey and BlueSky a perpetual and irrevocable license to all your content (posts, names, likeness, pics). She added that Bluesky can delete your account for any reason, but may refuse to delete it if you ask. All disputes are resolved through individual arbitration. Over the past week or so, some figures like model Chrissy Teigen and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have stated theyve joined Bluesky. Over the weekend, a large number of legacy news outlets like The New York Times, The Verge, Vox, and Fortune published articles on the platform. Key Radar Antenna Stuck on Europes Jupiter-Bound Spacecraft A 1:18 scale model of the Juice mission's RIME antennaRadar for Icy Moons Exploration, mounted on top of a simplified spacecraft model during tests in the Hertz facility at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in Noordwijk, The Netherlands, in an undated photo. (European Space Agency via AP) CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.A critical antenna is jammed on a Jupiter-bound spacecraft launched two weeks ago, the European Space Agency reported Friday. The 52-foot (16-meter) radar antenna on Juice unfolded only one-third of the way following liftoff, according to the space agency. Engineers suspect a tiny pin may be protruding. Flight controllers in Germany plan to fire the spacecrafts engine in hopes of shaking the pin loose. If that doesnt work, they said they have plenty of time to solve the problem. Juice, short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, wont reach the giant planet until 2031. Its taking a roundabout path to get there, including gravity-assist flybys of Earth and our moon, and Venus. An Ariane 5 rocket carrying the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, spacecraft on a launch pad at Europes Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, on April 12, 2023. (Stephane Corvaja/ESA via AP) The radar antenna is needed to peer beneath the icy crust of three Jupiter moons suspected of harboring underground oceans and possibly life, a major goal of the nearly $1.8 billion mission. Its targets include Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system. The space agency said everything else is going well with the spacecraft, about the size of a small bus. A radio antenna, solar panels and a 35-foot (10.6-meter) boom for measuring Jupiters magnetic field have all been successfully deployed. By Marcia Dunn Landslide in San Clemente Continues to Interrupt Train Service Damage is shown after a landslide hit Casa Romantica in San Clemente, Calif., on April 28, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Train service surrounding San Clemente, California, is still out of service, and the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and nearby residents have been evacuated due to a landslide that occurred on April 27. Metrolinks railway transportation has been suspended from Laguna Niguel to San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Oceanside, without any alternate transportation in place for those needing to travel further south. A spokesman said service will be reopened once it is safe. Amtraks Pacific Surfliner has also temporarily shut down train services between Irvine and San Diego, with limited available train service as far as San Juan Capistrano, according to officials. The slope below the western side of the Casa Romantica structurea center for cultural programs and a historic landmarkdropped 20 feet around 1 p.m. on Thursday, following several days of small land movement. Damage is shown after a landslide hit Casa Romantica in San Clemente, Calif., on April 28, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The building was red-tagged, or deemed unsuitable for occupation, along with some condominium units farther down the hillside. Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley said it could take a long time to repair the damage. I was on the balcony before the terrace that fell, Foley said of a visit to the center Friday. Thats going to take a lot of construction work to get that back [to its former state]. A closed sign is shown after a landslide hit Casa Romantica in San Clemente, Calif., on April 28, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) She anticipated the repairs may require Coastal Commission approval as well as city permits. On Tuesday, the San Clemente City Council had approved a contract with a geologic contractor for $75,000 to analyze ground movement and develop a plan to provide more support on the hillside. According to a press release from the city on Thursday, the contractor was working around the site of Casa Romantic when the slide occurred and is continuing to monitor movement. The city is also partnering with the Orange County Fire Authority Urban Search and Rescue team to monitor the land at the cultural center, since the site is still considered active. A beach trail is closed after a landslide occurred in San Clemente, Calif., on April 28, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The beach trail below has also been closed until further notice. Photographs of the area show a broken section of the terrace at Casa Romantica hanging over the edge of the hill, as well as other damage. Passenger train travel through San Clemente for Metrolink and Amtrack had only recently resumed April 17 after months of closure due to unstable land along the tracks. City News Service contributed to this report. Larson: Aftermath of Violent Talladega Wreck Unsettling Kyle Larson (C) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va., on April 2, 2023. (Eva Russo/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP) DOVER, Del.Kyle Larson has survived near-death experiences on the track in all kinds of racing series. Even by those harrowing standards, the 2021 NASCAR champion still found the aftermath of the full-contact hit from Ryan Preece last week at Talladega unsettling. It twisted and busted the support bars in Larsons Chevrolets roll cage. Kyle Busch compared the wreckage to a brick getting rammed into a stick of butter. Larson walked away. So did Preece. Both drivers are in good health and ready to race again Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway. Larson, who drives for Hendrick Motorsports, was thankful the wreck wasnt worse. The Next Gen car is entering its second NASCAR season, and the organization is still making needed changes to improve safety in an inherently dangerous sport. You see things that could have easily gotten me in the car, whether it be the bars that had completely broke off and could have shanked me, Larson said Saturday. Or what if I had a second impact? Im not knocking NASCAR at all on that. Theyve worked really hard with this car to make it safer. Ive been very thankful they took both my car and Preeces car afterward to dive in deeper into it and see how they can make it safer yet. NASCARs ongoing investigation includes a re-creation of the crash through computer-aided designs and reviewing film from the in-car camera. Its pretty clear that changes have to be made, reigning NASCAR champion Joey Logano said. I dont know how you fix it. Logano and Busch were among several drivers who wondered whether accident could have potentially been fatal had Larson been hit on the drivers side door. NASCAR said Saturday the drivers side construction is multiple times stronger than the right. Theres no other form of racing, in my opinion, that takes safety more seriously than them, Larson said of NASCAR. But that doesnt mean the sport is safe. At Talladega, Ross Chastain shoved his car into the middle for a third lane and his car bounced off Noah Gragson, who hit the wall to trigger the crash. Larson was knocked into the grass and his car shot back into the middle of traffic and was smacked by Preece. Preeces helmet visor was knocked open with the hit. It was probably one of the toughest hits Ive ever taken in a race car, and Ive hit walls with hung throttles on concrete, concrete walls with dirt behind them, Preece said. Racing safety was again a hot topic at Dover after the Talladega wreck and with Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman suffering a fractured vertebra in a sprint car crash this week. Last year, Kurt Busch was forced to retire following a July crash in qualifying due to a concussion and Alex Bowman also missed five races with a concussion after a September hit at Texas. I think people assume the odds are much higher getting hurt in a sprint car, Larson said. I would love to see the data that would prove that because I dont view it that way. Weve got drivers out with concussions, we got drivers breaking bones, Ive broken bones in a Cup car. Rainy Days A year after the Cup race at Dover was postponed to a Monday, the weather again caused another schedule change: Saturdays qualifying session getting rained out. Kyle Busch starts on the pole and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell joins him on the first row. Ford drivers benefited from the rain, with Ryan Blaney starting third, followed by Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher and Chase Briscoe. Heavy rain is forecast for Sunday and NASCAR bumped green flag up an hour to 1:11 p.m. ET Odds and Ends Larson is a 51 favorite to win Sunday, per FanDuel Sportsbook. Keselowski hit 158.660 mph on the concrete-mile track to top the mornings lone practice. Larson and Byron followed on the chart. By Dan Gelston McCarthy Arrives in Israel on 1st International Visit as Speaker U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (L) at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, on April 30, 2023. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset Spokesmanship Office) HAIFA, IsraelU.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) arrived in Israel on April 30 with a 16-member bipartisan congressional delegation. He arrived in Israel at about noon local time following an invitation from Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. The Knesset is the Israeli parliament. Ohana welcomed McCarthy and the delegation, saying that he looks forward to strengthening the connection between the two legislatures. He also thanked him for choosing the Knesset to be the first parliament in the world to visit. U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) with members of Congress and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel, on April 30, 2023. (Noam Moskowitz/Knesset Spokesmanship Office) McCarthy said, It is an honor for us to join you in Jerusalem to celebrate the independence of Israel and to reaffirm the special bond between our nations, according to a press statement from the Knesset spokesperson. Israel celebrated its independence on April 25 and 26. In the next 75 years, our important partnership promises to be even stronger than the first 75 years, McCarthy added. In a tweet earlier in the month, McCarthy announced that his first trip abroad as speaker would be timed to coincide with the 75th anniversary of Israels statehood. The U.S.Israel relationship is as important as ever, and Im proud to accept [Ohana]s invitation as the 2nd Speaker of the House in history to address the Knesset, he wrote on April 18. House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) spoke before the Knesset 25 years ago, in May 1998. McCarthy will visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust museum, on May 1 and will address the Knesset in the afternoon. My first trip abroad as Speaker will be a return to Israel to commemorate their 75th year of statehood. The US-Israel relationship is as important as ever, and Im proud to accept @AmirOhanas invitation as the 2nd Speaker of the House in history to address the Knesset. Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) April 18, 2023 The Republican speaker has been a strong supporter of Israel and has publicly voiced support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Prime Minister Netanyahu is an Israeli patriot, statesman, and most importantly a great friend of the USA, he wrote on Twitter on March 30. Free societies have vigorous and open debate. Israel is no exception. I support [Netanyahu], and Americas support for Israels strong, vibrant democracy is unwavering. He was referring to the ongoing efforts by Netanyahus government to reform the judicial system in Israel, which has faced criticism both inside and outside the country. Judicial Reform In March, Netanyahu rejected pressure from President Joe Biden to halt the judicial reform that has sparked large protests across the country, both in support of the reform and against it. At the time, when asked whether Biden would be inviting the Israeli prime minister to the White House, he replied, No, not in the near term. Judicial reform began in Israel on Jan. 4, when Israel Minister of Justice Yariv Levin announced plans to drastically reshape Israels judicial system. We go to the ballot box, vote, choose, yet time and again, people we didnt vote for decide for us, he stated in his opening remarks. Many people turn their eyes to the legal system and their voice is not heard. This is not a democracy. I have been dealing with this issue for over 20 years, during which I warned about the dangers of judicialization, and formulated proposals and reforms. Unfortunately, the risks I warned of have materialized. Therefore, the time has come to act. Today, I am launching the first stage of the reform of the courts, the purpose of which is to strengthen democracy, restore the courts, restore trust in the legal system, and restore the balance between the three branches of government. Levins announcement sparked a wave of reactions. The opposition and various media outlets began calling the legal overhaul a coup or a judicial revolution, and a mass call began for citizens to take to the streets to protest. Oren Shalom contributed to this report. RED WING, Minn.A Minnesota woman who admitted to leaving her newborn son to die near the Mississippi River two decades ago has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. Jennifer Matter, of Belvidere Township outside Red Wing, was sentenced Friday for second-degree murder, KARE-TV reported. She pleaded guilty in January to leaving the baby on the banks of the river in 2003. She was not arrested until May 10, 2022, after DNA evidence tied her to the boy, authorities said. Prosecutors have said the DNA evidence also links Matter to a baby girl found dead by the Mississippi in 1999 but she has not been charged in that case. According to the criminal complaint, Matter said she hoped someone would find the baby boy alive after she left him. Teenagers found the childs body on Dec. 7, 2003, in Frontenac on the shore of Lake Pepin, a body of water on the Mississippi River. The Group of Seven (G7) advanced nations on Sunday agreed to promote "responsible" use of artificial intelligence as they seek to harness rapidly developing technologies such as AI bot ChatGPT that could be highly beneficial but also face privacy concerns and risks of being misused. As exchanges of data become a key part of global trade, digital and technology ministers from Japan, the United States and European nations also affirmed during their two-day meeting in eastern Japan the need to establish an international arrangement to enhance the free flow of trusted data across national borders. The gathering took place as the fast-moving pace of AI development has highlighted the need for international standards to govern the technology, with ChatGPT, developed by US venture OpenAI, grabbing global attention since the launch of its prototype in November. Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team. ChatGPT, whose users reached 100 million around the world in less than three months, was trained on massive amounts of data, enabling it to process and simulate humanlike conversations with users. "Given that generative AI technologies are increasingly prominent across countries and sectors, we recognise the need to take stock in the near term of the opportunities and challenges of these technologies and to continue promoting safety and trust," the G7 ministers said in a joint declaration adopted after they wrapped up their talks in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. They also endorsed an action plan toward "creating open and enabling environments for responsible AI innovation," calling for broader stakeholder participation in developing international standards over AI governance frameworks, and promoting dialogue on topics such as risk assessment. Story continues To promote so-called Data Free Flow with Trust, a concept proposed by Japan, the G7 ministers noted the need to "accelerate and operationalise" the idea, saying that data is "an enabler of economic growth, development and social well-being." The idea aims to enable the full potential of global economic growth without compromising the privacy and security of individuals and businesses. Under the new institutional framework, the Japanese government is aiming to lay out a road map for future projects such as the creation of a base registry that businesses can use to reference other countries' data regulations. The ministers from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union also adopted separate action plans for internet governance and enhancing resilient digital infrastructure in light of geopolitical risks. Digital and technology ministers attend a photo session during the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters alt=Digital and technology ministers attend a photo session during the G7 Digital and Tech Ministers' Meeting in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Photo: Kyodo via Reuters> The former seeks to collaborate in addressing internet shutdowns, network restrictions and violations of human rights using digital tools, as well as fake news and other forms of disinformation seen, for example, during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. "We resolve to cooperate in making visible and tackling the tactics of digital authoritarianism" and "remain committed to protecting our democratic institutions and values from foreign threats," the statement said. Concerns linger over digital authoritarianism seen in countries such as China, where surveillance and other hi-tech tools are believed to be used to repress freedom of expression and violate other human rights and fundamental freedoms. The G7 also voiced commitment to constructing secure network infrastructure to support emerging and developing countries and promoting collaboration to improve the connectivity of undersea cables. The joint statement cited five principles for policymakers to govern use of AI and other emerging technologies - rule of law, due process, democracy, and respect for human rights and harnessing opportunities for innovation. One of these emerging technologies is cyber-physical systems, which send information from the real world through sensors and other devices to the digital world, where the data can be analysed to generate insights and control physical processes in the future. This year's meeting was jointly chaired by Digital Minister Taro Kono, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Takeaki Matsumoto. Ministers from India and Indonesia, this year's respective hosts of meetings of the Group of 20 major economies and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as well as Ukraine also attended the meeting. 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. Newborn With Umbilical Cord Attached Found Dead in South El Monte Park Police tape are seen in a park in a file photo. (Sam Upshaw/Courier Journal via AP) SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif.Authorities April 29 were still searching for a woman who abandoned a newborn child found dead with his umbilical cord attached in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area. Homicide detectives were sent to the 1200 block of Lerma Road at about 8 a.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Sheriffs Lt. Hugo Reynaga told reporters at the scene that a man who was doing community service in the park was emptying trash cans when he spotted the small body on the ground. Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the infant deceased at the scene. This is a 6- to 7-month gestational period baby found with an umbilical court attached to the placenta, Reynaga said. Were trying at this point to see if we can locate the mother of the child for medical reasons. She may be in distress or losing a lot of blood, and thats all we have at this time. Authorities said the child appeared fully developed, and investigators believe the infant had been abandoned for approximately three hours before he was discovered. No traumatic injury was observed on the infant. We are saddened by the discovery of an infant at one of our Los Angeles County Parks. While the investigation is ongoing, we want to express our deepest condolences to the impacted family, friends, and community, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and county parks Director Norma Garcia- Gonzalez said in a joint statement. Please know that our Department of Mental Healths Help Line is available 24/7 to provide mental health support at 800-854-7771. In addition, we want to remind parents of newborns, that find themselves in difficult circumstances, that there are resources available to help. The Baby Safe Surrender Program provides parents with the choice to legally and safely surrender their baby at any hospital or fire station across the county of Los Angeles, no questions asked, they continued. More information about the safe surrender program can be found on the countys website. Sheriffs officials said no witnesses have come forward and there were no cameras in the park. Anyone with information related to the boys death was urged to call the Sheriffs Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. In the mid-1970s, my friend and I were riding along Route 71, south of Asbury Park, New Jersey, ready to explore the Jersey Shore. I was riding in her green Camaro on Sunday afternoon, when we drove past a community entrance road that was chained shut with a safety barricade out front. Thats Ocean Grove, my friend said. You cant drive in there on Sunday; they have a law against it. I was quite familiar with the Old Order Mennonites and Amish who dont drive cars at all, but it seemed quite unusual for an American town to forbid driving for one day out of the weekespecially in what we all knew was the age of the automobile. Ocean Groves unusual blue laws, which prohibited driving on Sundays, dated back to the communitys beginnings in 1869 as the site of a Methodist Episcopal camp meeting. The camp ended up folding 110 years later when the town was incorporated into the larger Neptune Township. Ocean Grove was originally founded by Reverend William Osborn. Along with some of his congregation, he began purchasing the land after camping for a week attending a holiness camp meeting in Vineland, New Jersey. Convinced of the spiritual and physical benefits to be had on an extended campout at the beach, they found a secluded site of their own on the North Jersey coast and formed the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Views of Asbury Park and Ocean Groves tents and bath houses, 1875. Robert Dennis Collection of Stereoscopic Views, New York Public Library. (Public Domain) In 1870, the New Jersey Legislature granted a charter to the OGCMA that allowed them to govern in Ocean Grove. They were able to organize local services, such as fire and police departments. They were able to administer their own court of law and had oversight over all public services and infrastructure. The town was laid out like a camp meeting ground with a central place for a tabernacle and tent sites surrounding it. The association retained ownership and leased the tent sites to families who summered there. Initially, being rustic, a lot of the tents would have been the same as what soldiers used during the Civil War. They were set up every summer and stored every winter. Meetings were held in an open amphitheater under a grove of oak trees. Family Friendly Popularity Plan of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Associations campground, 1870. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) A planned community from the beginning, it was laid out to have 1,971 lots and an open Ocean Pathway (a greenway) that opened from the tabernacle site to the ocean. It was bordered on the north by Wesley Lake and to the south by Fletcher Lake. It was a perfectly secluded location for contemplation and recreationan oasis of restful restraint in bustling post-war America. It was immensely popular. Indeed, the orderliness of the place, which had no saloons or rowdy businesses, created a wholesome family resort. Bathing attire was required to be modest. Sales of alcohol were strictly forbidden. Since people came for extended stays, Sunday travel by carriage was forbidden, as was Sunday beach bathing. The town offered a quiet and restful place to spend the Lords Day. New York businessman James A. Bradley came to Ocean Grove seeking spiritual and physical renewal. He purchased the first lot in the initial offering (actually a lease, as the community retained ownership). By the end of 1870, 372 lots had been acquired in the initial offering. (L) Reverend William Osborn, founder of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and James A. Bradley, developer of the town of Asbury Park. (Public Domain) At first, most of the people coming to Ocean Grove stayed in tents. The tents were gradually upgraded to permanent wooden platforms, which held larger wall tents for families. They were made with a separate tent fly suspended above the wall tentmuch like a modern camping tent. This kept the occupants dry with a single layer of canvas. Families could even rent an entire portable kitchen from the association. Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and vicinity in New Jersey, 1897. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) The resort continued to grow in popularity. The Victorian houses that came next were laid out in a stepped setback plan, allowing each home to have a view of the ocean. Not Even for a President On the beach at Rosss pavilion in Ocean Grove, 1905. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) The blue laws created a very desirable resort environment in their day. The rules were strictly enforced. They were not benteven for a president. In 1875, President Ulysses S. Grant arrived on a Sunday to the chained gates of Ocean Grove in his carriage. He had come to visit his sister who had a house on Wesley Lake. He stepped down from his carriage and walked into town. There in the open-air amphitheater, a crowd of 5,000 people welcomed him. In the years that followed, other presidents visited as well. The tents and the Victorian houses became a comfortable and established community. At one point, all the tents were stored in a community tent house, but when bugs infested it, individual sheds were provided. These soon came to contain not only the stored tents, but a fair amount of comfortable home furnishings. Residents even planted flowers and shrubbery in front of their tent sites. A Model Community Inspiring development in its surrounding area, Ocean Grove became a model community. James A. Bradley, who had purchased the first lot, developed the town of Asbury Park. He named it for Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury: the first bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. A town providing a haven for temperance advocates, Asbury Park was initially a dry town. But New Jerseys temperance-based communities were hardly isolated from the wider world. March King John Phillip Sousa played in the Great Auditorium at Ocean Grove from 1921 to 1924. However, Sousa was a bit of an iconoclast, and he had written a piece called A Mingling of the Wets and the Drys. He announced that he planned to include this humorous spoof of prohibition in the 1926 concert series and created his publicity poster in the shape of a whiskey bottle. Insisting Sousa not play the piece, Reverend Charles M. Boswell, then president of the association, got the great composer to remove it from the schedule. Although Sousa was not invited back, other bands played his compositions regularly at Ocean Grove. The March King John Philip Sousa standing with a baton, circa 1890s. Library of Congress. (Public Domain) In 1979, the town of Ocean Grove was folded into the Neptune Township. Blue laws were falling out of favor, and the chain at the entrance came down for good. The Camp Meeting still hosted performances in the Great Auditorium with music ranging from concerts on the Hope-Jones Organ to the Beach Boys. The town boasts the countrys largest collection of Victorian houses and the homes are recognized on the state and national historic registers. Although the town declined in the 1980s, it is now experiencing a rebound. Many of the Victorian houses have been renovated for todays owners and where the original homes have disappeared, Neo-Victorian infill houses have been built. Ocean Pathway still stretches from the Auditorium to the sea, growing wider as it approaches the beach. The towns design lives on in the form of a beautiful and walkable village. People stand to profit handsomely from this experimental medicalizationpuberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, body-altering surgeries all in pursuit of a lie, says Brandon Showalter. Showalter and Jeff Myers are co-authors of Exposing the Gender Lie: How to Protect Children and Teens From the Transgender Industrys False Ideology. Its an ideology that came out of the postmodern movement from the 1980s that is attempting to gain power by confusing people about the nature of reality. And then theres an industry, medically, that comes along and they stand to make tens of billions of dollars, says Myers. The NIH is funding a study on cross-sex hormones for children as young as 8 years old, according to a document released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request by Dr. Michael Laidlaw. The document shows the lower age limit was lowered from 13 years old to 8 years old. The U.S. government has no business funding this kind of experimental research, especially on children, says Showalter, a senior investigative reporter at The Christian Post. FULL TRANSCRIPT Jan Jekielek: Jeff Myers, Brandon Showalter, such a pleasure to have you on American Thought Leaders. Jeff Myers: Thank you, Jan. Great to be with you. Brandon Showalter: Thank you Jan. Mr. Jekielek: Ive really been enjoying reading your new field guide and Im going to call it a field guide, Exposing the Gender Lie. Its a very short book, incredibly pithy, and very helpful. I want to encourage people to learn about this issue. You guys have done a very, very good job at condensing a whole bunch of information into the book to try to understand how we got to the place we are today, and what might be done to deal with it. Jeff, lets start with you. Mr. Myers: A lot of people think that transgender is about drag queen fetishes, who can play on what sports team, or who can use what bathrooms. All of those are symptoms of both an industry and an ideology. Its an ideology that came out of the postmodern movement in the 1980s that is attempting to gain power by confusing people about the nature of reality. Theres a medical industry that comes along and says that if children are confused theyll use our products, and then, they stand to make tens of billions of dollars. The ideology and the industry fuels a problem and actually makes children double victims. Mr. Jekielek: You talk about the social contagion of people believing theyre transgender, or that their gender doesnt align with their sex. At the same time there is a social contagion around how you think about these things in the medical community itself. Would you say that? Mr. Showalter: That is correct. Indisputably, there is a social contagion fueled largely by social media, online platforms, Tumblr, YouTube, and influencers to convince young people, many of whom are on the autism spectrum, and many of whom have a variety of mental health struggles, comorbidities, and psychiatric issues, to believe that they were born in the wrong body. It is physiologically impossible to become the opposite sex. Weve seen this happen with previous social contagions, like anorexia, cutting, and other modes of self-harm that spread by social contagion. The same thing is happening with this situation. The watershed book that really articulated this a few years ago was Abigail Shriers, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing our Daughters. Because now, for the first time in approximately 100 years of clinical diagnostic history, the primary demographic is teenage girls. We never saw that before with gender dysphoria, as it was overwhelmingly something that afflicted preteen boys. But now things have changed, in large part due to the industry that comes along with all of the ideologues who are pushing this message. People stand to profit handsomely from this experimental medicalization, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and body-altering surgeries, again, all in pursuit of a lie. Mr. Jekielek: Before we continue, I want to understand where youre coming from. Why this book, and why now? What got you interested in this whole issue, Jeff? Mr. Myers: Transgenderism is a product of academic thinking in postmodernism starting in the 1980s. When I was a doctoral student studying for a doctor of philosophy, working in human communication studies, we were reading articles about how gender is a performance, and gender and sexuality are different. It was a theory at the time that your gender and your sex could actually be different things. Now, its taken for granted, even though theres no medical way to understand this. Theres nothing more than just the theory that gender and sex are different things. Its now become so popularly accepted that people just assume that your sex is what your body says, what is assigned to you at birth. Your gender is how you feel about yourself inside. Healthline.com says theres 68 different genders, and there could be thousands of potential genders. Gender essentially becomes an irrelevant category now, but at the same time becomes the only thing that is important. The fact that there are 6,500 cataloged biological differences between males and females is set aside, and whatever you feel about yourself is what everybody else in society has to respond to. Mr. Jekielek: Is this what made you start asking questions? Where does your motivation to write this book come from? Mr. Myers: Voltaire said, If you can make people believe absurdities, you can make them commit atrocities. For me, this book came about because I have a focus on truth. Through Summit Ministries, Im preparing a rising generation to embrace the truth. I want them to champion the truth. I want them to be leaders for the truth, and they cant do that in a culture that lives by lies. Mr. Jekielek: What about you, Brandon? How did you come to work together? Mr. Showalter: Confronting this issue was definitely not something I signed up for at a career fair. It was soon after I got my start in journalism at The Christian Post, that I began to see how there were various laws being passed to prohibit conversion therapy. It was being applied to this amorphous gender identity where if someone was confused about their body, male or female, they couldnt receive any sort of counseling that would help them accept their bodies as they really are, as the sex that they really are. That was alarming to me. I also began to see how language was being manipulated in the corporate press, phrases like sex assigned at birth, and referring to males as she and her. I began to understand about the medicalization of vulnerable people, especially children. Specifically, when I learned that hormone blockers were to arrest natural puberty, something inside me just snapped. I said, Absolutely not. I remember the experience that I had as a 14-year-old-child when I read the Readers Digest cover story about the Somalian born supermodel, Waris Dirie, who had a campaign to end FGM [female general mutilation]. I was so viscerally horrified as a teenager reading that story. Thats exactly what I felt, that same visceral horror as a 31-year-old in journalism here in DC, and I just knew I had to do something about it. Hearing about the medical abuse and the child abuse, something inside me snapped. Mr. Jekielek: I want to touch on this. Earlier, you mentioned vulnerable people. Many of the people that this industry is interested in are on the autism spectrum. Please tell me about that reality. These are very vulnerable people. Mr. Showalter: They are very vulnerable people. We are seeing many more people than I ever knew were even on the autism spectrum. It seems like its every third or fourth person sometimes. But what happens with autistic people, however severe or moderate or mild their autism is, what often happens is they become enmeshed in a culture where their issues can be explained away by way of gender identity ideology. What autistic people often do is just rigidly fixate on this issue and it becomes the solution to all their problems. Its that fixation that is the deadly combo of this false ideology that the industry perpetuates, coupled with mental health comorbidities, not least of which in some cases is autism. I would want to be very careful that Im not necessarily linking the two. But it seems that of all the phone calls that I field from parents who are desperate, and who read my coverage at the Christian Post, they say, My daughters on the spectrum. My sons on the spectrum, he got obsessed with this and now he wont let it go. Somehow, with the transgender identification and the autism thing, there needs to be an entire book written about whats going on with this connection, but there is one. I dont want to make a correlation/causation error. These people who are dealing with these struggles, not just autism, but social anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric ailments and disorders, theyre all very vulnerable to this. Thats probably one of the worst aspects of what this ideology does to people. Not only is it false that you can become the opposite sex, it preys upon those who are already having a really hard time in life with their mental health and psychological struggles, including and especially autistic people. Mr. Jekielek: Jeff, its such a strange thing for a child to say, Oh, Im the opposite sex. The way that youre supposed to deal with this is to unquestionably affirm it. Ive been told by parents of children who have been in this situation that if they dont do that, if they dont wholly affirm, their child will commit suicide. In many cases, its more likely people say they will. Of course, now parents become very vulnerable, and they say, My goodness, I wouldnt want my child to do that. That would be the worst thing in the world. Mr. Myers: In our book, Exposing the Gender Lie, we look at the supposed studies that were done to say that children who dont get transgender procedures, and medical procedures will commit suicide. Im not giving this as counseling advice, but as a social scientist, those studies are dead wrong. In fact, the interpretation of these studies in the media is a lie. I will go that far to say that. When you look back at them, you realize, at very best, those studies show that people who go through these medical procedures see no improvement. In my experience, young people who experience gender dysphoria, and I work with several thousand young people every year, always have comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, unresolved childhood trauma, and unresolved childhood trauma. Its all of these things all mixed together. When the industry says treat gender ideology first, its sort of like saying, Youre about to have a stroke, lets give you an aspirin. Its treating one of the symptoms, rather than really getting back to what is at the root, what are the causes that are causing a person to question their gender identity. Mr. Jekielek: How did it come to be treated this way medically? Im not aware of other scenarios where a doctor would do this. Mr. Showalter: One of the things that I say a lot is institutional capture. When I say that sometimes people will say, Thats a tinfoil hat conspiracy. No. You have professional societies such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Endocrine Society, the Pediatric Endocrine Society, and all of the major counseling and therapy organizations completely buying in with brutal speed that this is how you treat this disorder. This is the approach you take; only affirm whatever the child or the young person says that they are. You are to immediately and unquestionably say that is correct, and never, ever challenge it. The remarkable thing, and its horrifying, is how quickly this has all happened. But understand that a lot of the ideologues active in this space, the academic medicine types, theyve been making very sneaky and stealthy moves very gradually, to the point where once you capture enough institutions and entities, a lot can happen very quickly. Back in 2009, the Endocrine Society revised its professional guidelines about how to treat gender dysphoria, and that was a big overhaul. A lot of the academic medicine types really re-engineered a lot of those guidelines, and it was quite a departure from previous standards. In 2017, those guidelines were revisited and revised again. Dr. Quentin Van Meter is an Atlanta-based pediatric endocrinologist, who is a leader in the American College of Pediatricians, the alternative to the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has told me that he was at a conference, a joint combined session of the American and European endocrine societies in the early two thousands where he heard Dr. Norman Spack, who founded the first ever pediatric gender clinic in Boston. He heard Spack talk about all this wild nonsense of children deciding the gender that they are. Little did he know then that Spack would help re-engineer these guidelines in 2009, and then again in subsequent years. Since then, theres been a massive campaign throughout all of culture; throughout popular media, and through the news programming where they have pushed this ideology as though it is scientific. This is emblazoned on corporate outlets, and its everywhere. Theres nowhere to escape from it. Concurrent with the industrys marketing of these medical products to vulnerable youth, you see these ad campaigns throughout the press promoting this as a way of being cool. Its the next frontier of civil rights, hooked on to the wagon of LGBT, whatever you think of that. Its a very strategic, very savvy, and very slick marketing campaign. Thats how this has taken off so quickly. In addition to the capture of these professional organizations and doctors, it should be noted, they have great social trust in our society. They wear the white coats, they have their degrees on the wall, and you tend to believe what they say. They know the science, and so they carry a lot of gravitas. People just accept what they say without much of a question. When you are pushing medical practices that are at such odds with reality and with basic biology, you can do a lot of harm very quickly. Its only a matter of time before theres a reckoning. The question becomes how many people have to be irreversibly harmed, sterilized, disfigured in the meantime? Mr. Jekielek: Its unfathomable to many people. You mentioned the people are wearing the white lab coat and the stethoscope. Theres an air of gravitas and belief that this person is acting on the best available medical knowledge. The question is how did the information and approaches that Spack was promoting at the time, which didnt have a medical basis, become an orthodoxy? Mr. Myers: Even the smartest medical doctor cant know everything about everything. They will go back to the computer for their medical association and look for the standards of care, saying this is the best way to treat this, or this is the best way to treat that. When it comes to the treatment of transgender medicine, the standards of care were developed by an organization called the World Association for Transgender Health. This WPATH set of standards of care were developed in 2009 and revised several times since. Were now in the eighth version of it. They specifically state that there is a highly choreographed way to handle transgender medicine. This is the only way, and it is recommended by the WPATH. It is that you start with social transition and refer to someone by their new chosen name and change pronouns, then alert their teachers and their parents that they must use these new pronouns. Then, to the level of comfort of the patient, you move toward puberty blockers, you move toward cross-sex hormones, and you move toward surgery. This is not a radical step. Its the natural choreographed path outlined by the standards of care that doctors are given. The question is, where did those standards come from? There was a study published in January of 2023 by the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, which is a highly respected publication in the field of psychology. It said that the shocking lack of evidence is almost unbelievable for transgender health. They were actually led to ask, How did we ever get to this place, when theres no evidence for this approach? They called it runaway diffusion, where some kind of a medical innovation in one clinic is taken for a standard of practice and then it spreads very, very rapidly. The American Academy of Pediatrics is one we focus on in the book, because there are 60,000 members of that association. Fewer than 30 people had anything to do with developing the transgender standards of care. Mr. Showalter: The vast majority of doctors dont support it, but many are just keeping their heads down if they work for institutions that are very large and corporatized. This is the dogma that rules the day. I actually believe that most doctors object to it, but there just arent very many who are willing to speak up and say, I oppose it. Mr. Myers: One of the reasons doctors dont speak up is because there is actually a legal groundwork being laid right now that if you dont follow the standards of care, which are ordinarily taken by doctors as recommendations, not demands, if you dont follow the standards of care, then you might open yourself up to a lawsuit by someone who didnt want to go through puberty as a male or a female. Now, your refusal to treat them is medical neglect. A lot of doctors, just for malpractice reasons, are following the standards of care, or recommending the standards of care, even though they dont personally buy into them. Mr. Showalter: Theres another dynamic as well. The gender industry has been very successful at making everybody else think that they are the experts and you must defer to them. Im aware of general practitioners who are busy doctors seeing patients all the time. Theyre not able to be up to speed on what the latest literature says. Given the institutional capture, and given how journals are pumping out this stuff that is just complete nonsense, they just assume, Its in this trusted journal that I respect. If I dont know anything about it, Im just going to make a referral to the gender clinic, thinking that theyre doing the right thing. But theyre not abreast of whats really going on. That is becoming inexcusable. I know doctors are busy, that I can understand. They cant be up to speed about everything. Ive been searching for answers from many different angles as Ive covered this issue for the Christian Post. With the institutional trust in respected publications, within certain hospital systems, and with people who are respected in the field, theres been a real lag where people are just not up to speed. They think, Ive trusted this person before, its probably fine. They just dont realize all that has happened. Mr. Jekielek: A few years ago, what youre describing to me would have been unfathomable. But now that weve seen how most doctors and many medical practitioners responded to the pandemic, Im ready to accept what youre saying. We had a situation, and many doctors have reprised this for me, where a disease was treatable by many existing medications. Im not even talking about the unspeakables, like ivermectin and hydroxy, but some of these other drugs were being tested early on, trying to find a way. The standards of care said, Do not treat early. Just simply wait until someone gets into a very serious situation and then come to the hospital. The outcomes were already very poor. How is it even possible that such a thing could have happened? It had to do with business, and it had to do with ideology. As Ive learned, it had to do with doctors trusting that the system knew better. But its still kind of unfathomable that this would be so easy. The focus lately has been on the children. Have you encountered in your work with youth, any children that are having this confusion? Mr. Myers: In my work with young adults, I regularly encounter young people who are what I would call gender insecure. They have lots of mental health issues. Maybe they were isolated during COVID, and there are all those kinds of things that happen. Theres a lot of anxiety, and theres a lot of depression. 75 percent of the young adults I work with say they dont have a sense of purpose that gives meaning to their lives. Theres the existential aspect to this as well. If whats afflicting you is going on inside your mind, if the part of you that is supposed to think about the problem is the part that is sick, what do you do? Its very easy for them to start believing, I was born in the wrong body, not just that theres something wrong with their body, but that, My body itself is actually wrong. When they watch TikTok videos of people whove gone through gender transition and say, I feel at peace with myself, they begin to think, Maybe thats me. But there are a lot of young people who dont have anything wrong with them, that are being convinced that they do. Actually one student said, Is there something wrong with me, if theres nothing wrong with me? Because it seems like you dont really have an identity unless youve been to a psychiatrist and have gotten two or three different diagnoses of whats wrong with you. There once was an idea that adolescence can be very confusing and there was an adult who you could trust, who would guide you into becoming a strong young man who stands for truth and fights against evil injustice, or who would guide you into becoming a strong young woman who stands for truth and breathes life into others. That missing thing between the generations, added to the idea that everything is psychological, has made this a social contagion. It is to the point now where in some cases almost half of the young people in a given school will say they identify as transgender. Mr. Showalter: Or some other gender identity. Mr. Myers: Or some other gender identity. Mr. Showalter: Right. And who knows what they even mean. Mr. Jekielek: What does the existing literature say about why this might be? Because this is clearly a very new phenomenon. Mr. Showalter: I mentioned Abigail Shriers book, Irreversible Damage. There was a landmark study, Lisa Littmans study in 2018, which was excoriated by transgender activists. It was in the journal PLOS One, which documented this phenomenon. The phrase that was coined was rapid-onset gender dysphoria, coming from young people spending inordinate amounts of time online. Then, in their friend groups and clusters, they are all somehow coming out as trans, or non-binary, or some other gender identity that is different from their biological sex. Its an indisputably true phenomenon, and it bears out. I get phone calls all the time saying, Yes, that sounds exactly like what happened to my daughter. They become invested in these friend groups, spending inordinate amounts of time online. They become convinced that this is going to be the pathway to their authentic self, that this is the pathway to liberation, and that this will give them a fresh start on life. The problem is that the psychological conditioning that they need to be something other than the sex is then priming the pump. That belief, that indoctrination, and the brainwashing that happens is the prelude to one of the worst medical scandals that the world has ever seen. Concurrent with this breakdown of the mental health of a generation, theres been a breakdown in social trust. For years, the corporate press has been inculcating the public with this notion that you have an amorphous gender identity apart from sex. If theyre going to flat out lie to you about biology, of course they can twist and deceive about epidemiology or immunology or respiratory viruses. If you cant get the basics of biology right, why on earth would you expect the public to trust you on much loftier themes, about diseases that you havent heard of, or how to treat them appropriately? Theyre undercutting the foundational units of our knowledge here. Its an epistemological crisis. Until we puncture the epistemological blockade, I dont think were going to get very far. Because they have assaulted the very idea that the words that we use can refer to anything real. Mr. Jekielek: You actually dedicated an entire chapter to this whole issue of how language has been altered and weaponized to facilitate this epistemologically different way of thinking. Mr. Myers: Epistemology is the word we use for how we know what we know, but it is a philosophical problem at root. The biology will tell us, and the theology also tells us that there is male and female. In the spectrum of male, you might have very masculine males and you might have not so masculine males, and the same thing inside of femininity. The gender ideology approach says there arent two spectrums. Theres one spectrum with extreme masculinity on one end, and extreme femininity on the other. Our students are regularly told, Youre a girl who doesnt really enjoy girly things. Maybe youre actually a boy. Maybe youre born in the wrong body. People slide back and forth along that spectrum and its very confusing. What ideology do they take? What box are they in today? Thats at the core of whats really going on. Its actually an attack on language then, because at what point do you stop calling someone a he, and start calling them a she. Who decides that, if everything is on one spectrum? The whole idea of the spectrum is philosophical and theoretical and wrong from an actual philosophical standpoint. But now, thats where were operating, so its all confusing. Language confusion is at the heart of every revolutionary movement. You know from your history and your familys history growing up, that if you want to change how people see the world, if you want to revolutionize them, you first of all have to change how they see language. Just go back to the difference between the American revolution and the French Revolution. The American revolutions goal was to restore the proper meaning of justice and freedom and liberty. The French revolutions idea was to overthrow the standard conceptions of justice, freedom, liberty, and fraternity. Every revolutionary movement since that time has first gone to war against the language. Were not saying that transgenderism is going to create a similar kind of revolution. But if you want to destroy a person, if you want to dehumanize them, the first thing thats always done is to attack language. You capture the language first, then you can capture everything else. Mr. Showalter: Theres a British feminist, lesbian academic by the name of Julia Long whos said it better than anyone Ive ever heard. Last fall at a free speech event in Bristol, she said the word trans has one function, and that is to falsify reality. As soon as you have that word, they can institute the lie that a man is a woman. Everything is reversed. If its possible for some penises to be female, that a female can have a penis, then it becomes easier to say you can just harvest tissue from your forearm to make a penis for a female. If some penises can be female, the death of the meaning of words paves the way for atrocities that we never before could have possibly have imagined. When we fail to be able to convey what we mean by what we say, it opens the door for so many things to happen that wouldve been inconceivable even five minutes ago. At this point, the medical carnage and the scandal of what transgender medicalization is doing is increasingly unignorable. Detransitioners, those who have undergone this experimental medicalization with hormone blockers and surgeries, are starting to put their heads above the parapet and say, I was irreversibly harmed. When you see social media timelines like mine full of young girls whove had their breasts amputated, weeping gashes slashed across their chest, you just cant ignore the pictures. A picture is really worth a thousand words. When you see medical atrocities, it behooves us to ask, What led to this? Why is it that 13-year-old girls, and this has been documented in several medical journals like JAMA Pediatrics and others, have had their breasts surgically removed, physically healthy breasts. What ethical standards broke down such that that happened? We believe it starts with the corrosion and the corruption of language. If you cant convey what you mean by what you say, you are going to pave the way for these atrocities. Until people see them, its not going to change. If your thinking is governed by all of these euphemisms that are politically correct and spouted endlessly by the media, youre going to think in those categories. It takes those jarring pictures and those testimonies of young girls with froggy voices due to synthetic testosterone for people to really be able to see the harm and hear the harm. Because of the messaging, because of the hijacking and the overhaul of language, the harm isnt made visible because its covered. We write about this in the book. We believe it was a very cunning and manipulative shift from what were once called transsexuals to transgender. Because with gender being malleable, with gender being this social performance, people can accept the word transsexual, but they would get visibly uncomfortable if you say, I have a transsexual four year old. They would think, Why are you sexualizing a child? A transsexual four-year-old? You dont sexualize children like that. No. But with the introduction of transgender, possibly with the identity add-ons and gender expressions, it softens it up. Its not as abrasive, but its basically the same thing. Youre trying to convince a child that their body is wrong, that their sex is wrong, and that they can change their sex. No, you cannot. The corruption of language is everything, and thats why I wont be gaslit by it. At the Christian Post, we have a policy against using any of the euphemisms, because it eclipses the reality of biological sex. It eclipses biology. And biology, in the words of evolutionary biologist, Colin Wright, is our last collective tether to reality. If we lose that, we lose everything. Mr. Jekielek: When you mentioned euphemisms, what came to mind immediately is top surgery and bottom surgery, which is an incredibly serious and invasive type of surgery. Mr. Myers: That is genital mutilation and breast mutilation, and there are children being subjected to this. With the medical industrial complex, and I know that term sounds political, but this healthcare industry spends $750 million-a-year lobbying at the federal level. Thats a million-and-a-half dollars per member of Congress that they spend on lobbying. The puberty blocking drugs that are given to children to stop puberty, which have irreversible effects, damaging their ability to develop as their bodies naturally would, with bone density loss, brain swelling, vision loss, and all kinds of things might cost a parent between $5,000 and $30,000 a year. If the parents dont pay, then of course, Medicare or Medicaid or the insurance company might have to pay. The standards say these procedures are medically necessary. That is not my term, that is in the standards of care, that these procedures are medically necessary. You look back and ask, How many kids are we talking about? The number of children diagnosed as gender dysphoric has tripled in the last three years, and its continuing to grow. Tens of thousands of children are now being treated at one of 60 pediatric gender clinics, or one of 300 other gender clinics that also treat children. Most nations have one to three clinics. We have 360 gender clinics in this country. Mr. Showalter: Or maybe more. Mr. Myers: Possibly more by this point in time. Also, some of the drugs are cheaper. Giving testosterone to a girl doesnt cost very much money, and theyll just give it away at Planned Parenthood without the parents knowledge, and it irreversibly harms these kids. If there ever was a time for people in leadership to stand up and say, Enough with the attack on children, this would be it. We do not want to have another medical scandal like the eugenics scandal in the 1920s. Francis Galton, a highly respected scientist, thought the way to rid ourselves of the poor and of minorities would be to sterilize them so they cant have children, a medical horror that actually led to Nazi Germany in the 1930s. The guy who invented the lobotomy actually won a Nobel Prize for that. 50,000 people were subjected to that procedure. Many of them died. Those who didnt die had their lives ruined forever. We look back at that as a medical horror now, and we think that transgender medicine is doing something similar. Mr. Showalter: Absolutely, and perhaps worst of all, the U.S. government is actually funding it. To its great shame, the National Institutes of Health [NIH] have been funding experiments of this sort. Ive seen FOIA documents that have made my eyes pop and my jaw drop. For example, in 2015, there was a $5.7 million grant given to a number of pediatric gender clinics to study the outcomes of various kinds of trans-identified young people. My friend Dr. Michael Laidlaw, whos an endocrinologist based in California, along with his colleagues, made a freedom of information request about what was going on with this study. They unearthed the progress report and found that one of the leading pediatricians in the gender clinic world, Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, whos based at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, altered the protocol for these experiments that were being done, again, funded by our government. They lowered the cross-sex hormone cohort inclusion criteria age from 13-years-old to eight-years-old. The NIH has signed off on that for not just blockers, but also cross-sex hormones for children as young as eight. Studies of that kind have continued to be funded to the tune of $10.6 million through January of 2026. There was a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine where the whole cast of characters, the whos who of gender doctors, analyzed psychosocial outcomes of 315 non-binary or trans-identified young people, ages 12 to 20. Two of those young people involved in the study took their own lies by suicide, but the gender doctors breezily dismissed that as adverse events. Thats how they do it. They paper over the disastrous outcomes and they spin the narrative that this is actually a positive development. Even as a whole rash of young people are being experimented on, its hailed as this universally wonderful, positive, groundbreaking, great thing for young people who claim to be born in the wrong body or the opposite sex. Meanwhile, what theyre really doing is committing atrocities that should make us all hang our heads in shame. The U.S. government has no business funding this kind of experimental research, especially on children. Mr. Jekielek: Many European countries have tried this, and most of them have put the brakes on this. Theyve been studying longitudinally the outcomes for people, and it turns out that this affirm at any cost approach isnt actually beneficial. Can you speak to what the literature says on that? Mr. Myers: The United States is not the first nation to experiment with gender mutilation of children. It is the most horrific example of it, but its not the first. Some of these processes started in the Netherlands, and then, Finland and the UK were also leaders in this. In Finland and in the UK, where their medicine isnt as motivated by the profits that drug companies could potentially make, and because of the way their system is set up, theyve backed away from medicalization as the first line treatment of gender dysphoria. Now, theyre saying therapy is the first line treatment. You take someone through psychotherapy, because there are underlying traumas, adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, all of these things that are the core problem. If you address those, these nations have found in 75 percent, and in some cases, up to 95 percent of the time, the gender dysphoria symptoms are resolved by the time the child completes puberty. They are backing away from the medicalization in the countries that pioneered it. Because not only does it not work, it hurts kids and there is a better approach that really does help. Mr. Showalter: Europe is indeed backing away from this experimental protocol. A lot of this is called the Dutch protocol, because the first well-established case report emerged out of the Netherlands. An endocrinologist working together with a psychologist decided to use that intervention on a troubled young person. The therapeutic idea was that puberty would be too traumatic to endure. Dutch doctors, Dr. Thomas Steensma and Dr. Annelou de Vries, have criticized the American approach. They say that the kinds of young people that were being studied in the Netherlands were vastly different. Im personally not a fan of the Dutch protocol at all, but the analogy that Ive used is that the American approach has largely been to just stomp on the gas. Theyre pouring gasoline on the fire. Theyre taking the Dutch protocol and amplifying it throughout all of society, and that is horrible to consider. When I go home to the countryside of Virginia and I speak to friends and family, they look at me as though I have four heads, and they think its so terrible. Its as though an analysis paralysis sets in on them and they think that can be happening. First, doctors take an oath to do no harm with the Hippocratic Oath. They have no idea about how much biomedical ethics has collapsed. It has collapsed, and children are being irreversibly harmed, disfigured, and sterilized. We wont be silent until it stops. Mr. Jekielek: Ive seen over the last few years how powerful a motivator profit can be, even when peoples lives are at stake or negatively effective. This is a reality that we have to face. Knowing this, and even seeing it in other disciplines, I still find it very difficult to accept that there could be a whole medical industrial complex, as you call it. Its true, once you get people medicalized with some of these different puberty blockers, hormones, and especially surgeries, that person becomes a patient for life. I still find it difficult to accept that people would be pursuing this for money. Mr. Myers: Yes. In our research, Brandon and I found a market analysis, not from the medical field, but just from the standpoint of investors saying, this is the new market. This is a new thing to invest in. There are billions of dollars to be made through these surgeries and through pharmaceuticals. But youve pointed out something thats very appropriate. A child who gets a $30,000 puberty blocking implant is not just going to be a medical patient for one year. Theyre essentially going to be a medical patient at $30,000 a year or more for the rest of their lives, as long as they dont want the onset of puberty. Then, there are cross-sex hormones, and then surgery. A lot of people are looking at the bottom line dollars. Weve seen this before in the opioid crisis. The companies making the opioids specifically lobbied the medical industry to get pain itself viewed as a disease, to be not only a symptom of a disease, but to be the disease itself. Then, doctors were given the opioids to prescribe. This especially adversely affected poor people. If you were wealthier, your doctor, through your insurance, might take you through physical therapy, which could actually help resolve your pain. If you were poor, they would just give you pills, because your insurance didnt really cover much. The pills dont cost much. The pharmaceutical companies now are being sued for tens of billions of dollars. Many of these lawsuits have been successful, and were now looking at another medical scandal on that scale. Mr. Showalter: For those who have trouble believing that doctors are just out to make money with this gender medicalization, there have been doctors on tape saying it. Very famously, the Daily Wire exposed Vanderbilt Hospital, where they actually had a doctor on videotape saying, This is a great money maker for our hospital. Its come right out of the horses mouth, as it were. Speaker 4: Starting on January 1st, 2017, according to the Affordable Care Act insurance cover carriers are mandated to cover medical expenses for trans folks. Some of our BMC financial folks in August of 20, Im sorry, October of 2016, this was already a couple years ago, cut down some costs of how much money we think each patient would bring in, and this is only including top surgery. This doesnt include any bottom surgery, and its a lot of money. These surgeries make a lot of money, so female and male chest reconstruction can bring in $40,000. A patient just on routine hormone treatment, who Im only seeing a few times a year, can bring in several thousand dollars because that requires a lot of visits and labs. It actually makes money for the hospital. Now, these I got from the internet, but its from the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery, which does a lot of surgery for patients, and I just wanted to give you an idea of how much these bottom surgeries are making, and I think this has to be an underestimate. This is for a vaginoplasty. Theyre saying theyre quoting roughly around $20,000 for a vaginoplasty, but that doesnt include your hospital stay. That doesnt include your post-op visits. That doesnt include your anesthesia, your OR, so I would think that this has to be a gross underestimate. I think thats just like the surgeons piece of it, which anybody whos ever been in the hospital knows thats like 10 percent of it. And then, the female to male bottom surgeries, these are huge money makers. Again, I think this has to be an underestimate if theyre quoting around $20,000 for a phalloplasty. Theres been different things that Ive read that said it could be up to a hundred thousand dollars. Dr. Winaker, whos our surgeon, says that theres entire clinics where the entire clinic is supported just by their phalloplasties, and that is like a fraction of the surgeries that theyre doing. These surgeries are labor intensive. They require a lot of follow ups. They require a lot of cohort time, and they make money. They make money for the hospital. Mr. Showalter: Even for those who are not motivated by money, what needs to be emphasized is that the ideological power is very strong in this space. In a culture where we see the breakdown of faith, we see the breakdown of family. Theres a generation thats crying out to know who they are. This has been marketed to young people who dont have any sense of their own identity. If the battle is about who you are, the stakes are pretty high. This has tremendous power; you dont dare tell someone that they cant be who they are. But when were speaking about a medical scandal, biology has to matter. The basics have to matter. We have to insist upon a common frame of reference from which we can all have good faith conversations, discuss ideas, and operate from shared premises. If we lose that, weve lost everything. Jeff mentioned lobotomies, and I sometimes speak about thalidomide. These medical scandals of yesteryear were not presented to young people in an identity nomenclature, but this one is. When this psychosis, this ideological power, this spell finally breaks off of our society, we will be among the few that are not shocked by the vast scope of how many children, young people, and young adults were harmed by it. The medical scandal is bad enough, but when we see the social scandal along with that, how many families have been fractured, and how many young people have been brainwashed into believing the nonsense, the fallout of this is going to be absolutely staggering. Theres got to be a point where we see just how deep and pervasive this has become, to where it shocks the conscience. Our senses have been so dulled by all of this talk about being who you are and identity, its made people afraid to criticize it. You dont dare do that, lest you offend and hurt somebodys feelings, and then, maybe drive them towards suicide, which the trans activists like to use to intimidate people. Mr. Jekielek: Which by the way, the evidence doesnt support. Mr. Showalter: Correct. Right. Absolutely not. Mr. Jekielek: As I understand it. Mr. Showalter: Thats right. But when you see the social cost in addition to the medical harm, that probably holds the key to turning the tide. As a case in point, I was recently a part of an indie film called, Dead Name, which profiles three families that have been torn apart by this. In that movie, which you can see at deadnamedocumentary.com, theres a little boy, captured on home video, who was the son of a lesbian couple. One of his mothers tried to socially transition him, and his other mom was trying to keep him intact. Captured on home video, he says, If you want girl parts and you dont have them, you can do special surgery where they turn your penis inside out and theres a vagina thats inside. He was four-years-old. Its moments like that when you say, Okay, we really need to take a step back. What are we doing to children? What are we doing to the human body? How has this taken off to the point where you hear something like that coming out of the mouth of a little kid. Im sorry. No, this is wrong. People of goodwill, whatever their politics, whatever their faith, need to say, We insist upon sane, ethical standards to guide us once again, especially in the medical arena. Mr. Jekielek: Aside from this profit motive in the medical industry, there has also been a centralization of medicine as well, which Ive discussed with guests talking about the COVID realities. These guidelines and standards of care have gone from being suggestions, back when doctors had individual practices, to now when the entire medical system essentially says, This is how were doing things, and doctors have to follow that. Mr. Myers: The centralization of medicine, making the federal government the dispenser of medical information, means that the lobbying efforts of the pharmaceutical industry become critically important. If they want to make a lot of money off of transgender medicine, then they go lobby the federal government, and they go lobby the state governments. Mr. Jekielek: As we finish up, you mentioned theology influencing your thinking. You work for the Christian Post, so theres no surprise there. I want to bring that in, because sometimes people will say, You guys are just Christians. You just want to enforce your Christian worldview here. How does your Christianity fit into the picture? Mr. Showalter: As someone who does journalistic work for the Christian Post, it certainly informs and inspires everything that I do. It motivates me to do truthful work, and Im animated by my faith. It does drive me. Its the most important thing to me. But what I found is that if you just value the truth, a lot of people will listen. The Lord Jesus Christ said, You should know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Jeff likes to point out that the word truth in that passage in the book of John is actually the word for reality. He will know reality. Reality will set you free. Yes, I love the Lord. I want to serve him all my days, and I want that to influence everything I do, including my reporting. But a lot of people who dont have a religious faith at all appreciate good, decent, honest people who tell the truth. I always try to link back to original source materials, so even if people dont want to read the Christian Post, they can see the receipts for themselves. They can see that were not making this up. I work with radical feminists. I work with Left-wing lesbians. The truth is true, no matter who says it. Truth is not contingent on whether you believe it or not. It will always be true. To the extent that you can report truthfully, its a win for everyone all around, but it just so happens that my faith inspires me to adhere to that standard no matter what. Even if you dont believe as I do, that Genesis 1:27 is true, and that were made male and female in Gods image, the knowledge that human beings are sexually dimorphic mammals is knowledge that is accessible to everyone by human reason. Everybody can know that. Its a manifestly true scientific fact. Psalm 1:39 declares that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I believe that with great vigorous enthusiasm. Youll hear me talk about it in that kind of spiritual language, but I want good science too. I want those sound, ethical, and sane standards. My faith bolsters that and reinforces that, but you dont have to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to know that what were saying is true. Mr. Myers: The way I would phrase it is, If you dont go along with us on theology, at least go along with us on biology. Virtually every cell in the body is stamped XX if youre a female, and XY if youre a male. The lie that you can change from being male to female or vice versa is just a lie. A lot of young people have been led to believe it through social media and through medical misinformation, sometimes even given by their healthcare providers, but the theology and the biology intersect. The Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks said, Science takes things apart to see how they work. Religion puts things together to see what they mean. Science and religion need to work together on this issue, because its not just a cold clinical issue. It is literally an attack on an entire generation of young people. Mr. Showalter: And an attack on truth and reality as we know it. Mr. Jekielek: I understand that youre offering your book to anybody that wants it. Where can they find it? Mr. Myers: You can download it for free. Go to summit.org, Summit Ministries, summit.org/protect. You can also go to Christian Post and find the book there. We are making it available for free. Its the first time weve ever done something like that, because we really want people to download it and then get it out to as many friends and influencers as possible. Mr. Showalter: Christianpost.com/ebook/gender-lie. Mr. Jekielek: Jeff Meyers and Brandon Showalter, its such a pleasure to have you on the show. Mr. Showalter: Thank you, Jan. Mr. Myers: Thanks, Jan. Mr. Jekielek: Thank you all for joining Jeff Myers, Brandon Showalter, and me on this episode of American Thought Leaders. Im your host, Jan Jekielek. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. 1973 | R | 2h 10m | Biography, Crime, Drama Before the world wide web helped whistleblowers spread their revelations, films captured their stories. Serpico (1973) is one such movie, focusing on corruption in law enforcement. It was adapted for the big screen by author and journalist Peter Masss book of the same title about the famed former New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and the subject of the film, Frank Serpico (Al Pacino). The movie was directed by Sidney Lumet. The film opens with Serpico being driven in the back of a New York City patrol car on a dark and rainy night. Hes bleeding from a gaping wound on the side of his face. As he fades in and out of consciousness, Serpico is transported to a local hospital. Because of Serpicos whistleblowing campaign, Chief Sidney Green (John Randolph) suspects fellow cops may have been involved with the shooting and immediately orders a 24-hour police guard on Serpicos hospital room. Who can be trusted? Frank Serpico (Al Pacino, L) and his friend Bill Blair (Tony Roberts), in Serpico. (Paramount Pictures) After this dramatic scene, we then travel back years in time and find a younger Serpico graduating from the NYPD Academy, much to the delight of his close-knit Italian family. He is not only a man who is in touch with the streets, but he also has a strong sense of morality and justice. After being assigned to a precinct, Serpico begins to rub some of his colleagues the wrong way. For instance, when he and another officer see three men committing a crime one night, Serpico manages to catch one of them after a foot chase. Back at the precinct, the suspect is beaten harshly but refuses to give up information on his cohorts. Serpico tries a more subtle approach with the suspect that works and ends up catching the two other suspects. But since Serpico didnt join in on the beating and used methods not approved by the other cops, he is threatened with punishment for breaking protocols. Later, Serpico applies for a special division within the department called the Bureau of Criminal Identification, which allows him to wear civilian clothes. His plainclothes disguises are so convincing that he gets shot at by uniformed officers while apprehending a burglary suspect. Officer Frank Serpico (Al Pacino) disguised, in Serpico (Paramount Pictures) The more time Serpico spends with the department, the more crime and misconduct he witnesses being committed by his brethren cops. Although Serpico reports the corruption to superiors, no repercussions follow for the offending officers. As a result, Serpico transfers to different precincts to escape the corruption, only to find more of it instead. When Serpico tells confidant Captain McClain (Biff McGuire) that he refused a bribe, the latter pulls some strings and gets the idealistic cop assigned to a precinct in the Bronx that is supposedly clean as a hounds tooth. When Serpico shows up there for duty, he immediately runs into fellow plainclothes officer Tom Keough (Jack Kehoeyes, a similar last name as the character), who insists on Serpico going with him on a ride to get a feel for things. Shortly thereafter, Serpico witnesses Keough accepting a bribe from a suspect to receive lighter charges. Seeing that Serpico is resistant to going along with the corruption, Keough pairs him up with Rubello (Norman Ornellas), another corrupt cop, who tries to convince Serpico to join a money collection racket they have going on. Serpico continues to report the corruption to his superiors and begins facing ostracization and outright hostility from other officers. Will his complaints go on unheeded? A Man Stands Tall This is one of those movies that use its lengthy running time to great effectgradually ratcheting up the tension. Pacino plays the role of Serpico with great subtlety and you can see the inner turmoil and disillusionment that the character feels as time goes on. At first, he turns a blind eye to some of the misconduct but as it becomes more pervasive, he decides to take action. The rest of the cast was likewise excellent, including Barbara Eda-Young as Laurie, Serpicos girlfriend whom he confides in. Laurie (Barbara Eda-Young) as the girlfriend of Frank Serpico (Al Pacino), in Serpico (Paramount Pictures) Serpico is a well-directed and superbly acted film that, interestingly, features minimal music, which only seems to heighten its more impactful scenes. It is a gripping depiction of a man who put his life at risk while refusing to compromise his sense of justice and integrity. I can see why it is regarded as one of the greatest performances of Al Pacinos illustrious acting career. Its also nice to note that due to the real Frank Serpicos struggles, the NYPD has been changed for the better over time. Serpico is available on Vudu, Apple TV, and Amazon. Serpico Director: Sidney Lumet Starring: Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe MPAA Rating: R Running Time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Release Date: Dec. 5, 1973 Rated: 4 stars out of 5 Pastor Steven Moody attends Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Robinson Performance Hall in Little Rock, Ark., on April 29, 2023. (NTD) LITTLE ROCK, ArkansasSteven Moody, a pastor, watched Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Robinson Performance Hall in Central Arkansas on April 29. I love it, Mr. Moody said. [There] is so much work but its all just so seamless. Its beautiful and I love the message. Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 and is the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Now with eight equally-sized companies touring the world simultaneously, Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture and to give its audiences a glimpse of China before communism. Mr. Moody expressed his support for Shen Yuns mission. I think its quite bold that theyre speaking so openly about Communist China, he said. I think it speaks of innocence, peace, an inner strength, and a lot of courage. It was impressive for me, gave me goosebumps. According to Shen Yuns website, China was once known as the Land of the Divine, and the Chinese people once believed that their culture was a gift from the heavens. Shen Yuns opening piece reflects this belief in its depiction of divine beings following the Creator down to earth to establish civilization. I love the concept of everything coming down from the heavens, [that] we were heavenly, beautiful creatures before original sin, said Mr. Moody, who felt that he could relate to the belief and found it to be beautiful, despite not being familiar with it prior to seeing the performance. Its probably a new concept for me, but I think that I could certainly embrace that because I think all of us are children of light. We are beautiful beings before the world messes us all up. Mr. Moody praised Shen Yuns live orchestra, and said that he liked the combination of traditional Chinese and western instruments that makes Shen Yuns orchestra unique. He also said he loved Shen Yuns costumes, and that his favorite was the long water sleeves that could be thrown out and pulled back in. Everything about it for me has been very sweet, lovely, Mr. Moody said. Its a must see. I wont miss it when it comes back next year. Its just beautiful. I think the music, the color, the dance, everything is [done] to such perfection. Its just a great show with a great message. Reporting by NTD and Wandi Zhu. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Robert Kennick, a retired musician from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts with his family at The Hippodrome Theatre on April 29, 2023. (Sherry Dong/The Epoch Times) BALTIMORERobert Kennick, a retired musician from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Hippodrome Theatre on April 29. Mr. Kennick played percussion instruments in orchestras, including drums, xylophone, marimba, and cymbals, for 40 years. Of the performance, Mr. Kennick said, Oh, marvelous, marvelous. I love it, and noted the erhu musician. That lady with a two string instrument, that was really something else. I really enjoyed that, he said. With his music background, Mr. Kennick commented on the erhu: I have heard about that instrument, but I never heard it played. And so now I know what it sounds like. And the different sounds that she can get out of it. Its very interesting. The whole show is absolutely marvelous, so good. To see graceful moves on the stage [is nice], he said. The modern stage has this jumping around, and hopping around all over the place. Its so nice to see a graceful move from the past. You know that it is tied to God. This is even more graceful than American ballet. When I think of ballet, and I think of this, I prefer this Shen Yun. Of the performers dancing abilities, he said: The skills in there were fabulous. [They] have got one leg up here, one leg straight up there. Oh my goodness, it is marvelous, marvelous. I hope [Shen Yun] keeps going, he said. I mean, I dont know how much longer I have to live, but I hope I can see another show again sometime. People say the show is deep, and they can feel something behind the movements on stage and the performance, the dancing, and the music speak to ones heart, and Mr. Kennick agreed: Oh, yes. Just sitting there in awe of what was going on. Taking it all in, trying to understand the moves and everything to get [the feeling] into my being, so to speak. Mr. Kennick spoke about what he thinks is the essence of Shen Yun: It speaks of hope, in a way, because everything [the performers] do leads to something higher up in the mental world. I hope Im a better person after this. Its almost like a church service that lifts you up and puts you on a different plane in life. Reporting by Sherry Dong. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. STAMFORD, Conn.Jim Cavanaugh, president of Yonkers Industrial Development, and his wife Wilson Kimball attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at The Palace Theatre on April 29. Of the performance, Mr. Cavanaugh said: The dancers are amazingly talented. This is the first time we have been to a performance. It was a gift to us, so we werent entirely sure what to expect. But really quite outstanding. I think I like it all, he said. The dancing is very graceful. It is good to see what traditional Chinese dance is. We dont see a lot of it in this country, so Im really pleased to be introduced to it. And its very inventive. Very inventive. So were enjoying it a lot. Based in New York, Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists and quickly became the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music company. Shen Yuns mission is to revive traditional Chinese culture. He said how much he appreciated the culture of China. I think China is a country with a very, very long history. Perhaps one of the longest in the world, and one of the oldest developed cultures in the world. So the thought that we are able to appreciate that culture and see it expressed is a great thing. Mr. Cavanaugh took note of the present situation in China. There was one piece that particularly spoke to what is going on in China today. I think its a good thing that is part of the program. I think people need to appreciate what is happening. It was introduced to the program, but not in an overwhelming way. So I think it was the right balance. Mrs. Kimball said she enjoyed the Water Sleeves piece. It was so beautiful and so lyrical. And the women were amazingly graceful and their ability to perform that dance is something special, she said. Another dance also moved her: I just want to say that the emotion conveyed at the sacrifice of the mother or the loss of a child is so palatable. You can actually feel it when its being danced on stage. Mr. Cavanaugh was also impressed with how the dance was synchronized with the animated background. Its really quite amazing how they integrate the live dancing with the background and the screen. Its almost seamless. I havent really seen that before, so it was fun to watch. Shen Yun A beautiful art form Saral Mehra, director at the Yale School of Medicine, was impressed with the professional level of the performance. I think its wonderful, very professional, and high-quality dancing. I think the acrobatics are amazing, and I really enjoy the dancing, the spinning, and ballet. And I really enjoy when they jumped into the screen. Those transitions are really cool, he said. He spoke of how traditional Chinese culture is coming back. I think its very important and beautiful to watch. Traditional Chinese dance continues to thrive, and its a beautiful art form. When asked about the educational value that Shen Yun brings, Mr. Mehra said, I think there a lot of great artistry to learn. His daughter said she learned history. Mr. Mehra enjoyed the high quality of the orchestra. I think the orchestra is amazing, and really high quality music. He noted the high energy of the performers and said the energy came from the heart. He was sure of that because my daughter said so. He said his daughter was very happy to see Shen Yun. Reporting by Erin Xia and Sunny Chen. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Tennessee AG Skrmetti Fights for All of US on Federal Overreach on Transgenderism Commentary We live in one of the strangest eras in world history. Only in the past few years has gender dysphoria, largely among youth, reached epidemic proportions that no one has seen before, increasing numbers seeking salvation from lifes normal tribulations by changing their birth sexes through hormone treatments and so-called reassignment surgery. Who benefits from this? Mostly those who would prefer a society whose children think of themselves as victims. The results have been horrific. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the mass murders at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, and its troubling aftermath. The motivations for the tragedythe manifesto and, even more importantly, the toxicology report on the attacker, the transgendered Aubrey Haleare still, despite promises, hidden from the public. As reported by the Tennessee Star, for reasons unknown, FBI coercion a possibility, the Nashville Police Department refuses to release Hales crucial medical treatment details that could, more than anything, prevent future rage killings of this nature. On the positive side, the Tennessee State Assembly has enacted a bill that was signed into law by Gov. Bill Lee, to henceforth prevent minors in the state from receiving puberty blockers, cross-gender hormones, and undergoing transgender surgeries. Not surprisingly, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) jumped in to file a suit to block the new law, followed by the federal government, which is moving against the state of Tennessee to invalidate the legislation. Fortunately, Tennessee has, in its defense, Attorney General (AG) Jonathan Skrmetti, who many regard among the most stellar public officials in our country, and is devoted to the U.S. Constitution. I contacted General Skrmetti, as he is called, to get his views on the situation. Roger Simon: We laymen have been overwhelmed by the concept of standing recently. People want to change something only to find they have no standing. Does the federal government have standing to override Tennessee law in this instance? Jonathan Skrmetti: Thats one of the many issues that were going to look at. Roger Simon: And what are some of the other ones? Mr. Skrmetti: This is a law that our General Assembly passed. Its a medical regulation focused on protecting kids. The state has the authority to protect kids. Were talking about irreversible procedures, whether youre discussing medication or surgery, that are going to have lifelong impacts on these kids. And its my offices job; its my job to independently assess every piece of legislation that gets challenged and to determine whether there is a good faith legal basis to defend it. You know, one of the things I think is really important contextually is that while you have the panoply of the American medical establishment saying there is an ironclad consensus that this is the right approach, you see countries in Europemore and more countriesthat adopted the same policies that we currently have, that have stepped back, looked at the evidence, and decided that that evidence was not sufficient for these radical interventions into kids and that kids should have to wait until they turn 18 and can consent to very serious treatment courses. This is not something that should be done lightly. This is something that causes irreversible changes and kids need to really understand the scope of it. Roger Simon: Apropos, Im talking to you from about a three-minute drive from the Covenant School, where we had the awful murders of six people, three of them children, just a few weeks ago. I wonder if you know to the extent the shooter, Audrey Hale, was under medical intervention: testosterone and so forth? Mr. Skrmetti: At this time, all I know is that its been publicly reported that there was treatment for gender dysphoria. I understand some of those writings are going to be made public soon and that may shed more light on the motive. People are very interested in what caused the horrific attack, so I think over time were going to get a much better understanding of everything involved in the situation. I mean, it was just horrible for those families and that school community. I cannot imagine the scope of how awful it is, but its cast a pall over the entire community, and it continues to affect everybody. Roger Simon: From our previous interview, and from what weve seen, you have been frequently teaming up with other red state AGs. In this case, will you essentially be going it alone since they are intervening just in Tennessee? Mr. Skrmetti: Yeah, so you know when we team up, usually were on the offense and were working together toward shared goals to prevent federal overreach. Here, the [Tennessee] ACLU filed suit. They were supported by a big New York law firm bringing all their litigation resources to bear and then piling on. You had the federal government jumping in and we are the scrappy underdog in the situation. Theyre bringing significant resources from the federal government, from maybe the biggest public litigation group in the country, a giant law firm on top of it. We have the Tennessee Attorney Generals Office. And I suspect if it gets to a place where theres a significant legal question or an appeal, based on prior practice, it wouldnt surprise me if our fellow Republican AG states jumped in with an amicus brief. But in terms of litigating this, its just Tennessee. Roger Simon: Now on another thing weve been watching at The Epoch Times, you talked about establishing a team to do a lot of the litigation you guys are planning. How is that going, and can you give us a report on that? Mr. Skrmetti: Yeah, so the budget hasnt been signed yet as far as Im aware, but we got the funding for the strategic litigation unit in the budget. So that money comes in in July. We have been looking at how to start it up. Weve got a plan and that is being more and more fleshed out. Were looking at recruiting and the core of the team thats working on defending this case is likely to be a significant part of the new unit. This is kind of a trial by fire for some of the folks who are interested in that kind of strategic litigation. Roger Simon: I know you mentioned before with us that you were anticipating difficulty finding people who want to participate in the team for financial reasons. In our society, skillful lawyers of that nature make a lot of money. Are you still worried about that? Is it still an issue? Mr. Skrmetti: Always, always. Were going to be in a position to pay very well, relative to a lot of state jobs. We got money generally to raise the pay of everybody in the Attorney Generals office because we were having a hard time keeping people and a hard time recruiting people. And at the end of the day, if youve got a law office you live or die by the quality of the attorneys you have. If you cant get good attorneys, nothing else matters. Now there a lot of people out there that are very interested in constitutional issues, very interested in fighting against federal overreach, but getting them to make a significant professional commitment thats going to cost them hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars, is tricky. We have some great people lined up that I think were going to be able to bring in. That will get us part way there, but were to have to keep banging that drum. Nashville is a great place to live. Our office is doing a lot of really interesting work, and I anticipate that as the unit ramps up were going to see a lot more that happening too. Everything from transgender litigation involving regulatory overreach, involving defending the lot in question here, to the gas stove stuff. I mean, you know, the big sweeping cultural issues, but also your bread-and-butter federal overreach. There are a lot of places where the states need to push back and it is my intention, and I think we have the resources to do it, to make Tennessee one of the incontrovertibly led states in that effort. Roger Simon: Thanks so much for your time, General Skrmetti. Roger Simons Note: As one who is pretty much of a hawk on term limits, in the case of Jonathan Skrmetti, who, by a quirk of Tennessee law, will be the states attorney general for eight years, I am more than happy to suspend my view. Roger L. Simons 14th bookAmerican Refugees / Tales of the Mass Migration from Blue States to Redwill be published by Encounter in September. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Texas Border City Struggles With Large Arrival of Illegal Immigrants A group of people leave a welcome center for migrants in Brownsville, Texas, on April 28, 2023. (Valerie Gonzalez/AP Photo) BROWNSVILLE, TexasShelters in a Texas city struggled to find space Saturday for illegal immigrants who authorities say have abruptly begun crossing the U.S. border by the thousands from Mexico. The pace of arrivals in Brownsville appeared to catch the city on the southernmost tip of Texas off guard, stretching social services and putting an overnight shelter in an uncommon position of turning people away. Officials say more than 15,000 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, have illegally crossed the river near Brownsville since last week. That is a sharp rise from the 1,700 migrants that Border Patrol agents encountered in the first two weeks of April, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials. Its a quite concerning because the logistical challenge that we encounter is massive for us, said Gloria Chavez, chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande Valley Sector. The reason for the increase was not immediately clear. Chavez said the illegal immigrants have been frustrated by relying on a glitch-plagued government app that can allow them to seek asylum at a port of entry. Some migrants who crossed this week cited other motivators, including cartel threats that immediately preceded the sudden increment. The uptick comes as the Biden administration plans for the end of pandemic-era asylum restrictions. U.S. authorities have said daily illegal crossings from Mexico could climb as high as 13,000 from about 5,200 in March. Other citiessome far away from the southern U.S. borderare also grappling with suddenly large influxes of illegal immigrants. In Chicago, authorities reported this week a tenfold increase in the arrival of illegal immigrants in the city, where as many as 100 illegal immigrants have begun arriving daily and begun sheltering in police stations. Brownsville is across the Rio Grande from Matamoros, Mexico, where a sprawling encampment of makeshift tents has housed about 2,000 people waiting to enter the United States. Last week, some tents were set ablaze and destroyed. Some illegal immigrants have said cartel-backed gangs were responsible, but a government official suggested the fires could have been set by a group of migrants frustrated over their long wait. A Border Patrol vehicle and bus are parked near a staging area near the U.S.Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, on April 29, 2023. (Valerie Gonzalez/AP Photo) It was desperation, the cartel, said Roxana Aguirre, 24, a Venezuelan migrant who sat outside a Brownsville bus station Friday afternoon. You couldnt be on the street without looking over your shoulder. In downtown Brownsville, families from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and China walked aimlessly, carrying their belongings and talking on their cellphones. Some waited for their buses while others were in limbo, waiting for relatives before making plans to leave but finding no shelter in the meantime. One Venezuelan couple said they slept in a parking lot after being turned away at an overnight shelter. Officials in Brownsville issued a disaster declaration this week, following other Texas border cities that have done the same in the face of suddenly large influxes of illegal immigrants, including last year in El Paso. Weve never seen these numbers before, said Martin Sandoval, spokesperson for the Brownsville Police Department. The reshuffling of resources at the borderin one of the busiest sectors with robust Border Patrol staffing levelscomes as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security prepares to end the use of a public health authority known as Title 42, which allowed them to reject asylum claims. The administration has expelled migrants 2.7 million times under a rule in effect since March 2020 that denies rights to seek asylum under U.S. and international law on grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Title 42, as the public health rule is known, is scheduled to end May 11 when the United States lifts its last COVID-related restrictions. By Valerie Gonzalez Texas Shooting Suspect Who Gunned Down 5 Neighbors Is Still on the Run A male gunman is still at large after allegedly shooting and killing five people, including a child, in Texas late last week in an incident that started with a noise complaint, according to officials. The suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropesa, was allegedly asked to stop firing a rifle in his yard because a baby was trying to sleep, according to the San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office. The suspect then allegedly opened fire, killing five people, including an 8-year-old, during the early morning hours of April 29 in Cleveland, Texas. In an update posted on social media that night, the sheriffs office stated, An extensive manhunt for Oropesa has not yielded his location. No updates had been provided by the office as of the morning of April 30. If you have any tips or information, please call our office immediately at 936-653-4367. You can remain anonymous. Oropesa is considered armed and dangerous, do not approach or attempt to apprehend. Contact local authorities immediately, the San Jacinto Sheriffs Office wrote. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said in a statement that deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Trails End area of Cleveland in response to the complaint. While en route, the communications center received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatch location, Capers said. Multiple deputies arrived at the residence and located multiple victims deceased in a residence and several others in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds. He described Oropesa as a Mexican male, and he said the victims were from Honduras. Its not clear whether the suspect was in the country illegally. We know him by name, date of birth. Weve got his Mexican consulate card. Plus, there was a Ring doorbell on the victims house that we actually captured him coming up to the front door with the weapon, Capers said of the suspect. In describing what occurred, he said the victims came over to the fence and said, Hey could [you not do your] shooting out in the yard? We have a young baby thats trying to go to sleep.' The suspect, according to Capers, had been drinking and told them, Ill do what I want to in my front yard. He noted that all the victims were shot above the neck at close range almost execution style, according to local reports. The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child, Capers said, reported The Associated Press. He also said Oropesa had an AR-15-style rifle along with two other weapons inside his home. Police have interviewed his wife. Authorities said the suspect has been known to shoot his .223 [rifle] out in his front yard, which is evident by the shell casings that are laying in the front yard. FBI Agent James Smith, with the Houston Field Office, told ABC News on the night of April 29 that Oropesa is considered armed and dangerous and a threat to the community. Were not going to stop until we arrest him and put him into custody, Smith said. Oropesa was described as Hispanic, about 5-foot-8, and was last seen wearing jeans, work boots, and a black shirt. He has short black hair and a goatee, officials said. Tom Ozimek and The Associated Press contributed to this report. LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 24: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gestures as he delivers a speech on stage as he hosts a Business Connect event on April 24, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Daniel Leal - WPA Pool/Getty Images) - WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe We are told that the Government wants to improve relations with business. And for its part, business wants to improve relations with the Government. Just as well, because being able to achieve a decent rate of economic growth depends upon business being confident and optimistic about the economic future, not least in order to ensure an enhanced rate of investment. But the climate for business in this country is currently not very favourable. This is the result of both specific measures taken by the Government and much more elusive, but still very important, cultural factors. The most notable recent specific anti-business measure is the decision to raise corporation tax from 19pc to 25pc. This comes on top of a succession of personal tax increases that will hit many businesspeople, among others. Moreover, for a prolonged period firms have been subject to a barrage of intrusive regulations which impede business and raise costs. Expectations about the future have a key bearing on the effects of any given current tax rate. After all, businesses have to think about what the tax rate will be when the profits from their putative investments start to flow in. This Government has succeeded in implanting the idea that even when the fiscal position improves, corporation tax will not come down. Meanwhile, the Labour party nurses ambitions to make further fiscal imposts on business while also increasing regulation and strengthening the position of trade unions. Similarly with personal taxation. Human beings are not desiccated calculating machines. The greatest effects of changes in tax policy come when they affect the culture. A major aspect of the Thatcher-Lawson revolution of the 1980s is that it changed the culture with regard to attitudes to hard work, success and wealth. The result of reducing the top rate of tax from 83pc to 40pc was that it was possible to accumulate wealth through earning income. And the loadsamoney culture celebrated people who did. Story continues There was a clue to the current relative status of high-earning people in the Governments recent decision to abandon the cap on private pension pots before they suffer staggeringly high tax rates. The Government justified the measure saying that it would help to retain doctors and other senior professionals in the NHS while Labour argued that, although this was of course a good thing, a separate arrangement could be delivered for doctors and other NHS professionals, while not dishing out a tax break to millions of other supposedly undeserving high-earners including small businesspeople. Not everything in the business climate that afflicts businesses comes from the Government. There is a deeper anti-business culture across society. Within large companies, jiggery-wokery appears to have taken over. In many cases this has affected senior management and board members. It has certainly taken over many, if not most, HR departments, which seem to be exercising more and more influence over key corporate decisions. On the whole, jiggery-wokery does not infect small businesses. But they are very much affected by the wider anti-business culture. There has always been a strong strain of opposition to self-made businesspeople, even in the supposedly gung-ho 1980s. In the much-loved television series Inspector Morse, first shown in 1987, whenever a self-made businessperson appears in a major role, usually inhabiting some extravagantly appointed pile just outside Oxford, they are almost always a villain of some sort, either engaged in a corporate crime which is responsible for their economic success, or involved in non-economic crime outside the business. The subliminal message appears to be that if you have got on in life you have been up to no good somehow or other. (And this negative portrayal of businesspeople continued in the sequel Lewis and in the prequel Endeavour.) Perhaps too much exposure to the (otherwise excellent) Inspector Morse series explains why so many public officials, including VAT inspectors and people working for HMRC, seem to be hostile to small businesspeople. Similarly with employment tribunals. The default position is to believe that employers are unscrupulous, whereas employees come from the sainted ranks of the oppressed. I have experienced the anti-business culture in an amusing but enlightening way. When I am asked to speak at a conference, I usually supply a potted CV to help with my introduction. Yet I have noticed that when I am introduced, the chairman, doubtless taking their cue from the HR department or conference organiser, often ignores the thing of which I am most proud. This is the fact that I founded from scratch and built up into a major international player a once micro, and now medium-sized, company, Capital Economics. In their remarks about me, pride of place usually goes to my academic involvement, or the things I have had to do with government, followed by honours and awards, and then involvement with large companies. If I am lucky, last of all comes the establishment of a successful business, but often this isnt mentioned at all, as though it were embarrassing. Of course, we are by no means the only country that has an anti-business culture. In many ways France is worse, as are Spain and Italy. Within Europe, the country with the most pro-business culture is probably Switzerland. And the anti-business culture has engulfed the United States and much of the rest of the world. So what is the outlook? I have long admired the Austrian-American economist Joseph Schumpeter. It was he who coined the term creative destruction to describe the process of firms failing and being replaced by new ones. He argued that this played an essential role in capitalisms success. He is also notable for his view that capitalism would eventually fail because its very success would support and underwrite the establishment of groups in society devoted to its downfall and their views would come to dominate the political culture. This is exactly what seems to be happening now. It will require a persistent struggle by governments, companies and individuals to prove Schumpeter wrong. In the wake of the Bud Light transgender partnership, consumers have reacted unfavorably, hurting the companys bottom line and reputation. Budweiser stock tanked, losing around $6 billion in market cap. The company also garnered high-profile criticism and lost brand partnerships. Anheuser Busch responded by releasing a statement that failed to impress their alienated consumers. Then Bud Light put Vice President of marketing Alissa Heinerscheid and Vice President of Mainstream Brands Daniel Blake on a leave of absence. Heinerscheid and Blake were hired because of their pedigree and experience. They have credentials, but they clearly lack common sense. This is the result of minds infected with woke ideology. Regardless of someones education, if their mind is influenced by warped culture, they will forgo logic and embrace damaging progressive ideology. PhiladelphiaTake an onion, Jonathan Deutsch explained. Spend some time with it, thinking carefully what you could do with it. Or with fish bones. Or broccoli stems. Think about the potentiality of every item, Deutsch said. This is not a culinary Zen exercise. Its a start to handling your household food waste in a more environmentally sustainable manner. For Deutsch, a chef, professor, and founding director of the Drexel Food Lab, this is how the home cook should start dealing with our countrys burgeoning plate to trash can problemone food item at a time. The Drexel Food Lab has been awarded an EPA grant for almost $740,000 to develop educational videos for home cooks focused on preventing and minimizing food waste, and measure their impact. Over the next three years Deutsch and his staff will work with 100 households hosting community-based education sessions featuring a series of eight videos on how to reduce household food waste throughout the food prep cycle including meal planning, shopping, consuming, storing, and disposing. Assistant administrator Chris Frey, of the EPAs Office of Research and Development, said that the grants will help us identify successful strategies to empower communities to reduce food waste while improving food security. Back to the Future Until the 1970s, using every bit of an animal, fruit or vegetable was the norm. Every culture had a way of dealing with food [scraps]. Thats the idea behind scrapple, soups, sorbets, and agua frescas, for example, Deutsch said. But attitudes drastically changed as agriculture industrialized, bringing with it low food prices and high food abundance. The result, a General Accounting Office 1977 report noted, was that food waste prevention was an activity that did not justify the economic expenditure necessary to reduce loss. We now waste 50% more food than we did 50 years ago. Once food starts to smell, look unattractive or taste bad, over half of Americans throw it away instead of repurposing it. An estimated $162 billion worth of food a year is thrown away. For the average family of four, thats at least $1,500 a year tossed in the garbage. Reducing Environmental Harm Making matters worse, this food waste starts an unfriendly environmental domino effect. Dana Gunders, formerly of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), wrote in an influential white paper a decade ago, Getting food from the farm to our fork eats up 10% of the total U.S. energy budget, uses 50% of U.S. land, and swallows 80% of all fresh water consumed in the United States. Yet, 40% of food in the United States today goes uneaten. As landfills fill with organic waste, it leads to increased emissions of methane gas. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys food waste hierarchy, landfills should be the choice of last resort. The best move is to reduce whatever surplus you have, and to donate whats left to feed the hungry. Food waste and hunger insecurity are related problems. A 2010 study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that wasted food contains enough calories to feed more than 150 million people each year, far in excess of the 35 million estimated food insecure Americans. Reversing the fork to trash cycle requires first understanding consumers obstacles. Research has shown they include heavy demands on their attention and time, as well as bureaucratic government policies and regulations. In 2021 NRDC worked with two community groups, Strawberry Mansions CDC and Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition, to host focus groups to better understand how to craft food waste prevention messages that will resonant with the community. Residents discussed barriers to food waste prevention that included the inability to shop often, which resulted in larger purchases, the lack of access to a freezer, and pre-packed charity food boxes that contained unwanted items. Rethinking Your Garbage Despite a lack of large scale efforts to reduce food waste, Deutsch said you can start today in your own kitchen. He encouraged cooks to be creative, think about the ingredients they are using, and then play with their food. Here are some waste reduction tips to consider: 1. Use your leftovers and dont let them get buried in the refrigerator. 2. Buy what you need and use what you buy. 3. Always carry containers or plastic baggies to restaurants to reuse the food you couldnt finish. 4. Put your vegetable scraps in plastic freezer bags to eventually use in broths. 5. Use fruit scraps in jams and sorbets. 6. Invest in a good vegetable scrub brush and eat the peels. 7. Compost your waste. Upgrading once-ignored food into tasty, healthy treats is the brass ring of food waste prevention efforts. Take potato peels. They are becoming a star product of the potato industry, according to Potato News Today. But the home cook can benefit too with help from a growing number of food waste prevention recipes such as this one from the Drexel Food Lab for Potato Skin Crisps. Potato Skin Crisps Ingredients 4 large Idaho potatoes 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/8 teaspoon dried parsley. Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Thoroughly wash the potatoes and make sure all dirt is scrubbed off. Peel the potatoes trying to keep the skin in larger pieces. Toss the peels with olive oil and salt and place in a single layer on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the top with paprika and parsley. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until crisp. Serve as potato chips with dip, on a salad to add some crunch, add to the top of green bean casserole, or just eat as snack. The work produced by the Communities & Engagement desk at The Inquirer is supported by The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the projects donors. Copyright 2023 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Toyota-Affiliate Daihatsu Rigged Safety Test for 88,000 Cars The logos of Daihatsu Motors and Toyota Motor at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show in Tokyo on Oct. 25, 2017. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters) TOKYOToyota Motor Corp. affiliate Daihatsu rigged part of the door in side-collision safety tests carried out for some 88,000 small cars, most of which were sold under the Toyota brand, the companies said on Friday. They said the door trim on the affected vehicles had been modified with a notch to minimize the risk in testing that the door interior could break with a sharp edge and cause injury to an occupant when the side airbag deployed in an accident. The modification for testing was not part of the production vehicle, the companies said. Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda said the companies were investigating how the side-panel of Yaris and other models had been changed for safety testing and apologized for what he called an unacceptable violation of consumer trust. Toyota said it had not received any report of an accident or injury related to the rigged side-crash test. It was not immediately clear who had rigged the doors for crash testing, how widespread the knowledge of the action had been within Daihatsu and whether senior managers had approved the step. Well proceed with a detailed investigation from here on, but promise to decisively understand what happened at the site, investigate the true intentions and sincerely work to prevent a recurrence, Toyoda told reporters. Were going to need some time to do that, he said. Daihatsu said it had discovered the rigged safety test after a whistleblower report. It said it had reported the issue to regulatory agencies and stopped shipment of affected models. The affected models include Toyota Yaris Ativs made in Thailand from last August, and Perodua Axias manufactured in Malaysia starting from February. Of the 88,000-plus vehicles, some 76,000 were Yaris models mainly bound for Thailand, Mexico and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Daihatsu said. About 11,800 affected vehicles were Axias manufactured by Daihatsu at a joint venture plant it runs with Malaysian automaker Perodua. Those cars were sold in Malaysia. The Gulf Cooperation Council comprises Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. Daihatsu said it would run new safety tests in the presence of regulators and confirm the safety of the models before resuming shipments. The discovery of the rigged safety test is the first crisis for Toyota President Koji Sato, who took over the top job from Toyoda on April 1. We have to find the cause of what happened, including examining the environment in which it happened, and once weve confirmed that to take appropriate action to address the underlying cause, Sato said. Toyoda, who was Toyota president in 2010 when a string of recalls prompted U.S. investigations, said he wanted all Toyota employees and those at affiliates to understand that making better cars required a commitment to speak out about problems. We cant run away from this or hide, he said. Daihatsu, which specializes in the production of small cars, became a wholly owned Toyota subsidiary in 2016 when Toyoda was president. The incident comes at a time when Toyota has been ramping production back up from restrictions imposed by a shortage of semiconductors, facing pressure to move faster to roll out new and cost-competitive electric vehicles and dealing with a sales slump in China, a key market. ED raids BYJUs CEO for FEMA violations in Bluru NEW DELHI : THE Enforcement Directorate on Saturday said it has searched the Bengaluru-located office and residential premises of Edtech major BYJUs and its CEO and co-founder Raveendran Byju and seized incriminating documents and digital data as part of a foreign exchange violation probe. A total of three premises, two business and one residential, including that of the registered company Think & Learn Pvt Ltd were raided under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), it said. The federal financial investigation agency said in a statement it has seized various incriminating documents and digital data. A spokesperson for BJYUs legal team said the ED action was a routine inquiry and the company has been completely transparent with the authorities and have provided them with all the information they have requested. The ED alleged the company (Think & Learn Pvt Ltd) has not prepared its financial statements since 2020-21 fiscal and has not got the accounts audited, which is mandatory. Hence, the genuineness of the figures provided by the company are being cross-examined from the banks, it said. It said the action was taken on the basis of various complaints received by private people and alleged Raveendran Byju was issued several summons but he remained evasive and never appeared before the ED. The searches found that the company received foreign direct investment (FDI) to the tune of Rs 28,000 crore during 2011-2023. The company also remitted about Rs 9,754 crore to various foreign jurisdictions during the same period in the name of overseas direct investment, the agency said. The company has booked around Rs 944 crore in the name of advertisement and marketing expenses including the amount remitted to foreign jurisdiction. The spokesperson for BJYUs added: We have nothing but the utmost confidence in the integrity of our operations, and we are committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance and ethics. We will continue to work closely with the authorities to ensure that they have all the information they need, and we are confident that this matter will be resolved in a timely and satisfactory manner. The company said it wants to emphasise that it is business as usual at BYJUS. We are committed to delivering high-quality educational products and services to our customers across India and the world. We remain focused on our mission to transform the way students learn and prepare for their future, it added. The Bengaluru-based company, co-founded by Raveendran Byju and his wife Divya Gokulnath, provides early learning, middle school education and test preparation. It was valued at USD 22 billion in a funding round in March 2022. In October, it announced it will retrench 2,500 employees and hire 10,000 teachers over six months to rationalise cost. Byjus showed a loss of Rs 4,588 crore for 2020-21 19 times more than that of Rs 231.69 crore in 2019-20. Revenues during the financial year 2020-21 dropped to Rs 2,428 crore from Rs 2,511 crore in FY20. The company is yet to release a financial performance report for FY22. Jaishankar inaugurates Embassy of India in Dominican Republic SANTO DOMINGO : EXTERNAL Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has formally inaugurated the Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic and said it will mark a new phase of bilateral cooperation as New Delhi expands its footprint in Latin America and the Caribbean. Jaishankar arrived here on Thursday on his first official visit to the country. Privileged to join Vice President of Dominican Republic @RaquelPenaVice in inaugurating the Embassy of India in the Dominican Republic, tweeted Jaishankar. Speaking at the event, he said, Today is a very proud day for India and for the relationship between India and the Dominican Republic. I have the privilege to formally inaugurate the embassy that we have established here. Your presence (Raquel Pena, Vice President of the Dominican Republic) exemplifies the importance that the Government of the Dominican Republic attaches to this. India officially established its embassy in Santo Domingo in 2022. The establishment of this embassy will mark a new phase of our cooperation. We will take this relationship to still greater levels. We certainly look forward to continuing high-level exchanges between our two countries, he said. Addressing a business event here, Jaishankar said that The Dominican Republic set up its embassy in India in 2006. It has taken a little while for us to do so. But we will make up for the loss and I can assure you we have a very good very active embassy here. And once we established the embassy, I had made a commitment that I would come personally to formally inaugurate and that is one of the reasons that Im here, he said. The visit to the Dominican Republic is the first high-level visit from India since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1999. I would also like to stress that at a time when India is increasing its presence in the Latin American region, we certainly see the Dominican Republic as one of our key partners and our relationship will not only have bilateral significance but would have a larger regional contribution as well, said Jaishankar. While addressing a business event here, Jaishankar highlighted Indias increased interest in Latin America. Highlighted Indias increased interest in Latin America, reflected in our enhanced political contacts and growing trade and increased investments in energy, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, and IT here, he tweeted. Greater mobility, market access and faster regulatory approval will take it to a higher level. More trade will translate into greater investment. In the Dominican Republic, the presence of Indian companies needs to be scaled up. Todays agreement between our premier Chambers will help. Appreciate the expression of such shared sentiments by my friend Foreign Minister @RobalsdqAlvarez, he tweeted. Jaishankar also said that the trade deal between the two countries has almost reached USD 1 billion from USD 12 million before diplomatic relations were established. A lot of trade between the countries is in pharmaceuticals, marine products, two and three-wheelers, iron and steel, gold and in paper and paper products, he said. He also said that the government is engaged in stepping up our economic cooperation efforts also. He said that the two countries concluded talks on a joint economic and trade cooperation (JETCO) mechanism and hoped that it would become a platform for regular meetings, addressing economic and business cooperation opportunities between the two sides. We have seen over the years a number of officials and business delegations visiting India and engaging with our business... I think the challenge for us today is how to expand, how to accelerate, how to expand the area of cooperation...That is the main objective of our meeting, he said. On Indias G20 presidency in 2023, Jaishankar said that Overall, India is a nation that is deeply committed to promoting collective solutions for global good. Our presidency of the G-20. This year is devoted to focusing on the real challenges to global development and global growth. National Medical Commission to monitor adjustment transfers during inspection By Vikas Vaidya : No medico to be transferred twice in an academic year To curb irregularities during inspection in Government Medical Colleges, National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked the Departments of Medical Education of all the States and Union Territories (UT) not to change posting of teachers in one academic year. In 2010, the then Medical Council of India had notified that no faculty would be accepted as faculty of other medical college within 2 years. In a letter sent to all the Departments of Medical Education of the States and UT, NMC has pointed out, It has been brought to the attention of Medical Assessment and Ratings Board, NMC that transfers of faculties are being made in Government Medical College in the State Medical Colleges for the purpose of fulfilling teaching/faculty requirement before the inspection by the Board. This practice of compromise or adjustment transfers is not new to medical colleges while the inspection is on, because they dont have staff as per the rule of apex body. The Board has also noticed that various Writ Petitions are being filed in various High Courts by faculties who have been transferred by the State Government from one medical college to another alleging that their transfer will result in deficiency in the first medical college. The Commission has put onus on medical colleges and State Medical Education Departments regarding following the rule. According to Commission, it is the responsibility of the medical colleges to ensure the faculty requirements as laid down in the Minimum Standard Requirements Regulations for the sanctioned capacity of Under Graduate as well as Post Graduate courses. Secondly, once a faculty for one academic year has been counted in a medical college, the same faculty cannot be accepted as a faculty of another medical college in the same academic year. A faculty is required to make a declaration to this effect in the declaration form to the commission. NMC has further pointed out, The issue of transfer from one Government Medical College to another concerned it is within the administrative domain of respective State Government. It is upon the State Government to ensure fulfillment of faculty requirement and transfer from one Government Medical College to another if made for the purpose of rectifying deficiency in one medical college should not cause deficiency in another medical college. Taneira store opens on Kingsway Business Bureau : Taneira, the Indian ethnic-wear brand from the house of TATA, has expanded its footprint in Maharashtra with the launch of its first store in the city and fifth in the State. The store located on Kingsway, Station Road, was inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways; Anirban Banerjee, Retail Head, Taneira, and Niraj Bhakare, Regional Business Head, West, Titan. With an ambience that exudes refinement and elegance, the store offers a seamless fusion of classic and contemporary ensembles. In essence, Taneira Nagpur presents a unique blend of tradition and modernity, harmoniously entwined in its carefully designed and curated collections, promising a shopping experience that is both captivating and unforgettable. The store delivers on the promise of India under one roof through an assortment of regional signatures such as Paithanis and Maheshwaris and iconic weaves such as Kanjeevarams, Banarasis, South silks, Chanderis, Ikkats, Patola, Jamdanis and Tussars including revival designs. Speaking at the launch, Gadkari said, I am delighted to launch Taneiras first store in Nagpur and congratulate them on their work with weavers across the country. It is heartening to see Taneira, a Tata brand take the lead in promoting our rich textile heritage and empower local artisans. Anirban Banerjee said, We bring to Nagpur, a hand-picked selection of the finest handmade weaves and the splendour of India's bountiful textile tradition in all its glory. To celebrate the launch, Taneira is offering an inaugural Gold Coin Offer from April 29 to May 3, wherein customers can avail a 0.2-gram Tanishq gold coin on shopping worth Rs 20,000. BRIDGEPORT An initiative that aims to ensure the leadership of local nonprofits is made up of a diverse group of residents who reflect the communities that they serve has been given a financial boost. M&T Bank announced this week that it has provided philanthropic support to the SEAT (Skill, Educate, Act, Transform) Program, a project designed to equip residents from minority communities with the skills and confidence to serve on nonprofit boards. The support, which includes $10,000 in funding and meeting space at the Bridgeport Center, the banks regional headquarters, allowed the program to enroll a new class in its 10-week course, according to Kim Bianca Williams, a training consultant who oversees the program. We are extremely grateful for M&Ts generous support, Williams said. Their contributions to this program will help us to build capacity and continue to train residents to serve and expand BIPOC representation on boards for nonprofit organizations that are doing crucial work in our community. Since launching in 2021, the program has trained a total of 16 residents in Bridgeport and Waterbury during three separate sessions. Seven of those graduates have since been named to the boards of local nonprofits such as KEYS, which offers music lessons to children who cannot afford lessons, and the Center for Family Justice. We found an excellent candidate whose Board SEAT training has enabled her to add value to our board from Day One, Kathy Maiolo, the chairperson of the centers board, said in a statement on the programs website. She has brought enthusiasm, professionalism and perspective to our board of directors. Williams said the program aims to provide participants with a wide range of helpful skills and crucial information about serving on a board, including the ins and outs of nonprofit structures, board governance and how to work alongside an organization's executive staff. I would say approximately 75 percent of our program participants have had no board experience at all, Williams said. So this is a critical opportunity, not only for them to gain a new skill, but be able to better impact the community that they live in. Around 78 percent of nonprofit board members are white, according to a 2021 report from BoardSource, an organization that tracks and analyzes trends in nonprofit board leadership. The study found that just 10 percent of members are Black and five percent are Hispanic. The disparities are even greater among the leadership of nonprofit boards. About 83 percent of board chairs are white, while just 6 percent are Black and 5 percent are Hispanic, according to the BoardSource report. The donation from M&T is the latest in a flurry of racial equity-focused philanthropy from the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company. Last year, after acquiring the Bridgeport-based Peoples United Bank for $8.3 billion, the bank announced the creation of a new fund to support lower-income communities and underrepresented groups. The bank has pledged to use the fund, dubbed the Amplify Fund, to provide $25 million to organizations in Connecticut and across the northeast. A spokesperson for the company, however, said the funding offered to SEAT came from a separate but similar philanthropic initiative. M&T Bank is committed to partnering with communities to understand the challenges they face and their opportunities for growth so we can help every town and city we serve reach its fullest potential, Frank Micalizzi, M&Ts head of Connecticut commercial banking and Bridgeport regional president, said in a statement. DEI is foundational to that work, and we are proud to support the SEAT Program here in Bridgeport. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the U.S. and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the U.S. access to four more bases on the islands as the U.S. looks to deter Chinas increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Marcos official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The U.S. president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbors. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guards BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close U.S.-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A U.S. appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about $2 billion against the elder Marcos estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the U.N. General Assembly, where the U.S. president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit. ___ Gomez reported from Manila. Key Insights Brown-Forman's significant individual investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public 49% of the business is held by the top 25 shareholders 36% of Brown-Forman is held by Institutions If you want to know who really controls Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF.B), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are individual investors with 38% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Institutions, on the other hand, account for 36% of the company's stockholders. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Brown-Forman. View our latest analysis for Brown-Forman What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Brown-Forman? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. We can see that Brown-Forman 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. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Brown-Forman's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Brown-Forman. Wolf Pen Branch, LP is currently the company's largest shareholder with 20% of shares outstanding. With 5.1% and 3.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, The Vanguard Group, Inc. and Avish Agincourt, LLC are the second and third largest shareholders. A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority. 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. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Brown-Forman The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can report that insiders do own shares in Brown-Forman Corporation. Insiders own US$738m worth of shares (at current prices). we sometimes take an interest in whether they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 38% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership We can see that Private Companies own 24%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Brown-Forman that you should be aware of. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Much like the food, the origin story has a fairly layered history. Both Mayan and Aztec civilizations were said to have eaten a food similar to what we know as a taco, but the modern iteration traces back to the 1800s in Mexico. Born of a need to ensure that miners had a means to easily consume hearty food while on the job, piles of meat would be rolled into corn tortillas and packed for the road. During hours upon hours of hard labor in horrible conditions, the ability to pull out a few taquitos (named for the gunpowder role the miners carried with them) was practically life-saving. Considering LA Taco once called the dish a "multifaced god" it's clear that the reverence for this dish has traveled across time and spacewhich resulted in a plethora of places to choose from. So where do you go to get the best taco? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated restaurants for tacos in San Antonio using data from Yelp. See if some of your favorites are on the list, or go find some new favorites to enjoy! Note, some restaurants may have recently closed, so be sure to double-check. Yelp #20. Jack in the Box - Rating: 2.0/5 (15 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 903 Probandt St San Antonio, TX 78204 - Categories: Fast Food, Burgers, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #19. Tia's Taco Hut - Rating: 3.5/5 (34 reviews) - Adress: 1203 N St Mary's St San Antonio, TX 78215 - Categories: Tacos, Tex-Mex - Read more on Yelp Yelp #18. Holy Smoke Barbecue & Taquitos - Rating: 4.0/5 (69 reviews) - Adress: 1009 Avenue B San Antonio, TX 78215 - Categories: Food Trucks, Barbeque, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #17. Eddie's Taco House - Rating: 4.0/5 (125 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 402 W Cevallos San Antonio, TX 78204 - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #16. Fat Boy Street Tacos - Rating: 4.0/5 (36 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 200 Navarro St San Antonio, TX 78205 - Categories: Food Stands, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #15. Big Poppas Tacos Food Truck - Rating: 4.0/5 (19 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 2407 N St Marys San Antonio, TX 78212 - Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos, Tex-Mex - Read more on Yelp Yelp #14. Taqueria Los Cuates - Rating: 4.0/5 (37 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 732 S Alamo St San Antonio, TX 78205 - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #13. Vegan Avenue - Rating: 4.0/5 (214 reviews) - Price: $$ - Adress: 2512 N Main Ave San Antonio, TX 78212 - Categories: Vegan, Tacos, Tapas/Small Plates - Read more on Yelp Yelp #12. Mi Corazon Street Tacos - Rating: 4.0/5 (19 reviews) - Price: $$ - Adress: 308 N Presa St San Antonio, TX 78205 - Categories: Street Vendors, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #11. Velvet Taco - Rating: 4.0/5 (154 reviews) - Price: $$ - Adress: 103 W Grayson St San Antonio, TX 78212 - Categories: American (New), Vegetarian, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #10. Pete's Tako House - Rating: 4.5/5 (1284 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 502 Brooklyn Ave San Antonio, TX 78215 - Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos, Tex-Mex - Read more on Yelp Yelp #9. Garcia's Mexican Food - Rating: 4.5/5 (266 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 842 Fredericksburg Rd San Antonio, TX 78201 - Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Tacos, Tex-Mex - Read more on Yelp Yelp #8. Mister Diablo Food Truck - Rating: 4.5/5 (46 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 2202 Broadway San Antonio, TX 78233 - Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #7. THE DAKOTA - Rating: 4.5/5 (90 reviews) - Price: $$ - Adress: 433 S Hackberry San Antonio, TX 78203 - Categories: Sandwiches, Beer Bar, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #6. Tacos El Guero - Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 1722 N Main Ave San Antonio, TX 78212 - Categories: Food Trucks, Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #5. Mr. P's - Rating: 4.5/5 (19 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 1601 Guadalupe St San Antonio, TX 78207 - Categories: American (Traditional), Tacos, Hot Dogs - Read more on Yelp Yelp #4. Con Huevos Tacos - Rating: 4.5/5 (106 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 1629 E Houston St San Antonio, TX 78202 - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #3. Texan Sizzle - Rating: 4.5/5 (31 reviews) - Adress: 124 Jefferson St San Antonio, TX 78205 - Categories: Burgers, Tacos, Sandwiches - Read more on Yelp Yelp #2. Mengerita Tacos - Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews) - Adress: 216 Alamo Plz San Antonio, TX 78205 - Categories: Tacos - Read more on Yelp Yelp #1. File's Burgers - Rating: 5.0/5 (94 reviews) - Price: $ - Adress: 543 Ceralvo San Antonio, TX 78207 - Categories: Burgers, Fast Food, Tacos - Read more on Yelp This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DIXON, Ill. (AP) Gertie Wadsworth was in the arms of her grandmother that bright day when sunshine dissolved distasteful memories of a long, brutal winter. Christan Goble held the 3 1/2-year-old girl in a crowd of more than 200 on the bridge over the Rock River. After a procession down Galena Avenue from the Baptist Church on May 4, 1873, the Rev. J.H. Pratt began baptizing parishioners in the brisk, rapid current. Then, with a sharp crack and a crescendo of shrieking spectators loaded on the pedestrian walkway in front of towering trusses, the 4-year-old bridge twisted, splintered and rolled over. Forty-six people perished, many immured by the unrelenting gridiron just below the water's surface. Along with 56 injuries, the Truesdell bridge tragedy, 150 years ago Thursday, remains the worst vehicular-bridge disaster in American history. It's not as though the bridge just collapsed and went straight down, says Tom Wadsworth, 70, a retired magazine editor and expert on the calamity. "It turns over on top of these people. ... As the (Chicago) Tribune said, the truss fell over with the weight and imprisoned the doomed in an iron cage with which they sunk and from which there was no escape. Wadsworth wouldn't be telling the story had Gertie Wadsworth, his great-grandmother, not survived. Family lore holds that as Goble, 51, plunged to her death, she tossed the toddler into the river beyond the reach of the failing superstructure. The tot was rescued downstream. Post-Civil War Dixon, 103 miles (166 kilometers) west of Chicago, was a growing city split by the formidable Rock River, a tributary of the Mississippi on which, a few miles north and a half-century later, a young Ronald Reagan would work as a lifeguard after the future president's family moved to Dixon in 1920. For decades, wooden bridges had succumbed to raging floods. Fed-up voters in 1868 demanded an iron bridge. The city council chose Lucius Truesdell's design from 14 proposals despite the city engineer's warnings about its lack of uniformity and strength. The $75,000 toll bridge opened in January 1869 to great fanfare, even though just weeks earlier a Truesdell bridge in Elgin had collapsed. It was repaired and failed again six months later. The Truesdell design carried traffic in other Illinois cities, including Chicago. Newspapers post-disaster dubbed Dixon's span The Truesdell Trap and The Patent Wholesale Drowning Machine." It was shocking how the ironwork had slammed atop victims like a gate. You could look down and see their faces. They couldnt get to the surface because all that iron was on top of them," Wadsworth said. "Its frightening to look down, but to look up and to see daylight, to be only 12 inches (30 centimeters) from air? The location of the May 4 crowd, clumped on the west walkway, helps explain why four of five fatalities were women, along with many children and teenagers. Chivalrous men surrendered prime bridge viewing spots to women and girls and stepped to the bank, Wadsworth said. Boys climbed atop the trusses. But contemporary womens fashion might also be to blame, Wadsworth theorizes. The 1870s ushered in a heavy, layered bustle at the rear of floor-length dresses supported underneath by a crinolette, a series of fabric-covered metal half-hoops. Youre not going to win any Olympic swimming races wearing one of these things, Wadsworth said. Drowning, referred to in news reports as strangulation, took many. Others met an even more gruesome demise. The crisscrossed iron in the latticework pivoted like shears, slicing into victims such as 16-year-old Katie Sterling, who was so entangled it took two days to cut her free. Several bodies were recovered miles away. Lizzie Mackey, 17, was recovered at Sterling, 14 miles (23 kilometers) downstream. The youngest victims were sisters Alphea and Lucia Hendrix, ages 6 and 4, according to Patrick Gorman, another student of the tragedy who helped raise money in 2011 for a marker listing the names of the fatalities. A new memorial will be dedicated at the site on Sunday, May 7. Pratt was wracked by guilt, admitting he had detained the crowd longer than necessary to extol the benefits of coming to Jesus. But he was a hero that day. He started grabbing them by the hair and by the shoulder and by the pants, Wadsworth said. He knew what the riverbed was like. Hed walked out there many times for baptism ceremonies, so he knew how far he could get and grab people and he got 10 or 15 himself. A century-and-a-half later, Truesdell's casualties keep it atop the worst failures of vehicular bridges in American history. The foundering of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River from Ohio to West Virginia in 1967 also claimed 46 lives but there were nine injuries compared with 56 in Dixon. The horrific 1981 collapse of a Kansas City hotel's pedestrian walkways resulted in 114 deaths, the most of any crumbled span in U.S. history. Separating it from the Truesdell affair are four railroad bridge incidents, including another in Illinois. In 1887, a trestle dropped from under a train at Chatsworth, 103 miles (166 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, killing 82 passengers as cars were flung into one another like a telescope as they slammed the opposite embankment. Like he had done in the Elgin collapse, Truesdell blamed sabotage for the Dixon failure. In a letter to a newspaper in Massachusetts, where he lived, he defended himself feebly: It is nearly 18 years since I began building iron bridges, and the Elgin and Dixon bridges are the only ones that have fallen, and no loss of life except at Dixon. Can as much be said of any other plan? ___ Follow John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EAST ST. LOUIS Illinois gun and magazine ban is on hold after a federal judge in the Southern District of Illinois on Friday ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction. The case could be appealed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, where a similar challenge is pending. Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office issued a brief statement late Friday saying, "We plan to file an appeal and remain committed to defending the constitutionality of the Protect Illinois Communities Act." On Jan. 10 Gov. J.B. Pritzker enacted a ban on more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and magazines over certain capacities. A week later, lawsuits challenging the law were filed in state and federal courts, the first by Wood River attorney Thomas Maag. In the Southern District federal courts, that suit and three others were consolidated and heard by Judge Stephen McGlynn in East St. Louis. On Friday, McGlynn granted a motion for a preliminary injunction, blocking enforcement of the law statewide. In a 29-page opinion, McGlynn acknowledged the law was passed in the wake of a mass shooting at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park last year. But he said the senseless crimes of a relative few cannot be used to justify abridging the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Plaintiffs have satisfied their burden for a preliminary injunction, McGlynn wrote. They have shown irreparable harm with no adequate remedy at law, a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits, that the public interest is in favor of the relief, and the balance of harm weighs in their favor. Therefore, the Plaintiffs motions for preliminary injunction are GRANTED. Defendants are ENJOINED from enforcing Illinois statutes 720 ILCS 5/24-1.9(b) and (c), and 720 ILCS 5/24-1.10, along with the PICA amended provisions set forth in 735 ILCS 5/24-1(a), including subparagraphs (11), (14), (15), and (16), statewide during the pendency of this litigation until the Court can address the merits. Messages to Pritzkers office were not immediately returned. Its expected the state will appeal to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals where the appeals court has the case brought by Law Weapons owner Robert Bevis. Bevis sued Naperville last fall and amended his complaint to include a challenge to the states ban. In February, Northern District federal Judge Virginia Kendall ruled in favor of the state and Naperville and against the plaintiffs, saying the state met the burden that the banned firearms are dangerous and can be banned under the history and tradition of how the U.S. regulated firearms. McGlynn saw things different from Kendall. Although Defendants challenged the veracity of Plaintiffs evidence, they were unable to produce evidence showing that modern sporting rifles are both dangerous and unusual. Consequently, Defendants failed to meet their burden to demonstrate that the 'arms' banned by [Protect Illinois Communities Act] are dangerous and unusual and thus not protected by the Second Amendment, McGlynn wrote. Last week, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals denied to grant Bevis a preliminary injunction against the law and Napervilles ordinance while the case was on appeal. Earlier this week, a separate case in Cook County was decided by a Northern District judge who sided with the state, the city of Chicago and Cook County. Several cases are pending in Illinois state court, one from Macon County challenging the law is scheduled for oral arguments in the Illinois Supreme Court on May 16. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE Saturday was not just any reunion in Leclaire Park it was a meeting from the heart, a heart two people still share. Judy Ryder and Sandy Schaller met each other again Saturday for the first time in more than 10 years. They share a unique connection. Within a span of six months 23 years ago, a group of teenagers were involved in two separate car accidents and the boys involved had previously agreed to be organ donors. One of them was Ryder's son, Connor McKinsey, 18, whose birthday is April 29. As an organ donor recipient, Schaller received McKinsey's heart on Valentine's Day 2000. This meeting is also fitting as April is Organ Donation Month. "I am so happy to see Sandy again," Ryder said Friday. "It has been many years because I moved to Oregon." She said she moved back to the region about nine months ago, this time landing in St. Charles, Missouri. On Saturday, the pair walked to Leclaire Park from Hale House as a way to raise awareness for organ donation. The main point to get across, Schaller said, is that nobodys going to steal their organs, nobodys going to kill them before theyre ready. They have very strict guidelines. And theyre going to save lives. There are skin, bones, organs that can be used to help somebody else. 'As close as close can be' To understand how it came to be that Schaller, now a retired juvenile probation officer, wound up with a heart from an 18-year college student, it's important to know of Connors deep friendship with his lifelong buddy Ben Blain. At Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's Early Learning Center, then-director LaVernn Wilson noticed a special connection between Ben and Connor when they were all of 3 1/2 years old. You know, you really ought to get to know Connors parents because these boys are going to be friends forever, Wilson told Mary Blain, Bens mother. Over the next decade, Mary Blain estimates that she took a dozen pictures, all with a common theme: Ben and Connor trying to squeeze into the same chair. They were just as close as close can be, Mary Blain said in a 2014 interview at the home on Hale Avenue where she lived with her husband Bob, a retired sociology professor from SIUE. Across the street is Leclaire Lake, where the boys spent summer days in each others company, fishing. Because Connors mother, Judy Ryder, lived over on Hillsboro Avenue at the time, Connor attended Columbus Elementary School while Ben went to school down the block at Leclaire. They were inseparable, Mary said. As they got older, when Ben got a date, Connor had to go. It was like Wait a minute ... were taking Connor too? Ryder adds, They were best friends forever. Tragic accidents Ryder's best friend, Mary, died in 2017. Mary's husband, Bob, 85, still lives in Hale House. For years, Mary assumed that Erica Holliday, Ben's then-girlfriend, must have been fiddling with the radio when she crashed her Ford Taurus early in the evening on Oct. 16, 1999. Or perhaps she had turned around to chat with Ben, who was in the back seat. Erica's twin, Melissa, was in the passenger seat up front. The three were headed north on Illinois Route 130 on their way to an outdoor music festival at the Five Mile House, about three miles south of Charleston. But the Taurus passed the turnoff for the festival and continued north on Illinois 130. According to a crash report from Illinois State Police, the Taurus was about three miles north of Charleston when Erica swerved into the southbound lane and struck a van driven by Brian Zumbahlen of Oblong. According to the report, the vehicles met head-on. The sisters were pronounced dead at the scene by Coles County Coroner Mike Nichols. Ben was taken to nearby Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital, where the Blains eventually allowed doctors to donate his bone marrow and corneas. News of Bens death devastated Connor. When Connor learned that his bone marrow and corneas had been harvested for someone else, though, there was solace. He said, Im glad that happened. I would love to see the world through Bens eyes, she says. So after Connor died in a car crash on Feb. 14, 2000, Judy knew that her son would have wanted to donate his organs as well. The accident happened somewhere around Old Ripley Road. Connor was in the back seat. He spent several days at Barnes-Jewish-Children's Hospital in St. Louis. Because his were mostly head injuries, Connor was able to donate more organs than Ben: liver, kidneys and heart. Schaller's path to this intersection was much different. 'The perfect heart' Now retired and living in Normal with three dogs and three cats, Schaller was a juvenile probation officer for McLean County Court Services for 29 years. Thirty years ago, pregnant with Jeff, the younger of her two sons, she developed breast cancer. We both came through it, grace of God, knock on wood and throw in a little pixie dust, she said during a 2014 phone interview. Her luck turned in January 2000 when she was stricken with a massive heart attack that left her with the use of only 15 percent of her heart. She was in urgent need of a transplant, but a hospital in Peoria declined to consider one, citing what it said was their protocol requiring breast cancer survivors to wait for 10 years; it had been eight. Shortly afterward, Schaller was removed from life support. Much of what followed is a blur for Schaller. She knew that as her health declined, her brother flew across country to be with her. Before long, she was getting regular visits to her hospital room from her sister-in-law. Were praying for the perfect heart, the woman kept repeating to her. A pump was inserted ("awful), and then a few weeks later she learned that a heart had become available. A date for the surgery was set: Valentines Day 2000. Before the surgery, an anesthesiologist told her, Ive seen your heart and its perfect. Sandy Schaller laughs when she thinks about her response: Youve been talking to my sister. Connections Once, after she drove down to visit relatives in Belleville, Schaller decided to swing by Edwardsville and see for herself the Leclaire Park memorials to the young people who died. She copied down the names: Erica and Melissa Holliday, Ben Blain and Connor McKinsey. Then she used her probation officer detective skills to track down Mary, Bob and Judy. And she began connecting the dots. In her family, naturally, feelings run deep when it comes to organ donation. Sandy Schaller's son Jeff wrote a 12-minute string orchestral chamber ensemble piece for his mother, born of necessity and guilt and a desire to work through the swirl of emotions that were left unresolved 12 years after his mothers transplant. By then, he had enrolled at Illinois State University and pursued a degree in music composition and education. Its title? DO-nation, is a play on the words organ donation. Click here to become an organ donor in Illinois. EAST ST. LOUIS A U.S. District Court judge has sentenced an East St. Louis man to more than 16 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to drug charges in Madison and St. Clair counties as part of a national trafficking ring. Jeffrey Taylor, 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of cocaine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, attempted possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering. In addition to 198 months in prison, Taylor will serve five years of supervised release. The defendant was responsible for bringing significant quantities of illicit, destructive narcotics across state lines and into southern Illinois, said U.S. Attorney Rachelle Aud Crowe. This sentence demonstrates the severity of drug trafficking, and I applaud DEAs efforts for bringing these offenders to justice. According to Crowe, the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated Taylor's drug trafficking ring from February 2017 to August 2018 in Madison and St. Clair counties, primarily in East St. Louis. The conspiracy involved at least 240 pounds of ice methamphetamine and 48 kilograms of cocaine. Drug traffickers are in business to make money. IRS CI special agents have an important role in following the money and disrupting a drug trafficking organizations ability to operate, said Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Murdock, St. Louis Field Office. This sentence is a victory for communities in southern Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis. We are proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners on this important mission. According to court documents, Taylor ran operations in the drug organization, recruited members for illegal activities and provided direction. Sixteen co-defendants were also indicted in the conspiracy on various drug charges and have been sentenced from time served and supervised release up to 21 years in federal prison. During the investigation, the defendants resided in Wood River, East St. Louis and Washington Park as well as California, Kansas, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with contributions from the IRS, the Illinois State Police and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Fischer prosecuted the case. "This sentence concludes an investigation that perfectly represents DEA's mission," said Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Rehg, head of Drug Enforcement Administration enforcement operations in southern Illinois. "We want the entire criminal drug organization, from the dealers to the highest level of distribution leadership, off our streets. Jeffrey Taylor and his entire network will not be putting his illegal products in our communities any longer." The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE Two men have been indicted for possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Kenneth J. File, 50, of Dow, and Joshua K. Morris, 38, of Alton, were each indicted Thursday for unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony. The case was originally presented by the Bethalto Police Department. According to court documents, on April 6 the two allegedly had 15-100 grams of methamphetamine. The arrest was the result of a traffic stop for a registration-related offense on Illinois Route 140 and Texas Boulevard, according to information provided by the Bethalto Police Department. File and Morris, along with a third person, were taken into custody. The third person was released without charges. In an unrelated case, a Bethalto man was indicted for possession of methamphetamine and charges relating to a domestic battery in two separate indictments. Dustin E. Link, 40, of Bethalto, was indicted for unlawful possession of methamphetamine and domestic battery (four or more prior convictions), both Class 2 felonies, and aggravated fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and driving while license revoked, both Class 4 felonies. Both cases were originally presented by the Bethalto Police Department. According to court documents, on April 11 Link allegedly had 5-15 grams of methamphetamine. According to information from the Bethalto Police Department, the charge stems from a traffic stop on Roosevelt Street in Bethalto where Link allegedly was a passenger. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for domestic battery, fleeing and eluding a police officer and driving while license revoked. During the arrest the methamphetamine allegedly was found. Also, on Feb. 4 Link allegedly pushed and grabbed a household or family member and drove a 2001 Toyota Corolla with a revoked license on Illinois 140 while attempting to flee from a Bethalto police officer, reaching speeds in excess of 21 miles above the posted speed limit. He has domestic battery convictions out of Illinois in 2013, 2014 and 2022 and a summary suspension conviction for DUI, and a prior conviction for driving while license revoked in 2013. Courtesy of the City of Edwardsville EDWARDSVILLE The city is gearing up for a revved-up Route 66 Festival as the annual event prepares to mark its 25th anniversary in June. With thousands of people expected to take part in the festivities, the Edwardsville Parks and Recreation Department is seeking sponsors and vendors to participate. This community tradition is set to take place June 10 at City Park in downtown Edwardsville. It will feature live music, a classic car cruise and show, food and market vendors, exhibits, a 10K run/walk, a petting zoo, trolley tours, family zone with inflatables, a caricature artist and face painting, and much more. Whether you are a fan of classic cars, live music or summer festivals in general, the Route 66 event has something for people of all ages, said Grace Pellock, the parks and rec departments special events and marketing coordinator. Were especially grateful for the support of our community partners who help us put on these fabulous events. The city is seeking local businesses to get involved as sponsors. The sponsor deadline is May 12. There are five sponsorship levels, which offer various opportunities for company promotion or participation: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDWARDSVILLE This community is full of rich history, especially since the historic Route 66 passed through certain parts of town from 1926 to 1954. One building that sits on Route 66 in Edwardsville once was the old West End Service Station, located on the southeast corner of the intersection of St. Louis and West streets. The service station was on the original section of Route 66 before it was rerouted. The building is in the final stages of being transformed into a Route 66 Interpretive Center. The grand opening for the museum is set for June 9. Once it opens in June, the site will be open for visitors Fridays through Sundays. The building also has been Dr. Beau Moody's dental office and another dentists office before that. The project to turn it into an interpretive center started almost a year ago in June when Great Rivers and Routes received a grant for $460,000 on Edwardsvilles behalf to restore the building and transform it. During the grant agreement process, another pact was made: for Edwardsville to allow a Route 66 monument sign at the southeast corner of Schwarz Street and Illinois Route 157, near the existing Route 66 Kiosk and across from Lincoln Middle School. That location is not far south of the site of the new Route 66 Interpretive Center. The efforts are being made as part of a statewide push to mark Route 66s centennial celebration in 2026. With the grand opening of the Route 66 Interpretive Center approaching, the City of Edwardsville and other local groups have come together to plan four days of events to celebrate historic Route 66. Special activities are planned for June 8-11. The events will include a one-night-only production of the musical Get Your Kicks! on June 8 at the Wildey Theatre, a free Movies in the Park showing of the Route 66-inspired animated film Cars at Leclaire Park on June 9, the all-day 25th Route 66 Festival in City Park on June 10, and a Route 66 road-trip story competition held at the Edwardsville Public Library on June 11. For more information or updates on the events, visit the City of Edwardsvilles website. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kirsty Needham (Reuters) Sydney Sun, April 30, 2023 10:56 4 003a0fdfeebb1025ab3702947bc941e1 2 Asia and Pacific Diplomacy-Foreign-Policy,Government-Politics,US-president,Pacific-islands,Pacific-countries,India,Joe-Biden,Narendra-Modi,Indo-Pacific,China Free US President Joe Biden and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will join Pacific Islands leaders next month for a "historic" future-oriented meeting, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said on Sunday. "This is a historic first and at the same time a 'going forward' futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific," Marape said in a statement. Biden's May 22 stopover in the capital Port Moresby would be the first visit by a sitting US president to the resource-rich but largely undeveloped country of 9.4 million people just north of Australia. Papua New Guinea is being courted by China and by the US and its allies, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018. Washington has stepped up efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region after China struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year. China failed to reach a wider security and trade deal with 10 Pacific island countries. China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors. Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. "In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said. The 18 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands Forum cover 30 million square km (10 million square miles) of ocean. The region's leaders say climate change is their greatest security threat, amid worsening cyclones and rising sea levels. Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia. Marape said he had invited Biden when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country". Ignoring the stock price of a company, what are the underlying trends that tell us a business is past the growth phase? A business that's potentially in decline often shows two trends, a return on capital employed (ROCE) that's declining, and a base of capital employed that's also declining. This indicates the company is producing less profit from its investments and its total assets are decreasing. Having said that, after a brief look, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:PANAMY) we aren't filled with optimism, but let's investigate further. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 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. To calculate this metric for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.092 = RM73m (RM916m - RM118m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Therefore, Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad has an ROCE of 9.2%. In absolute terms, that's a low return but it's around the Consumer Durables industry average of 11%. View our latest analysis for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad roce Above you can see how the current ROCE for Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad compares to its prior returns on capital, but there's only so much you can tell from the past. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. What Can We Tell From Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad's ROCE Trend? We are a bit worried about the trend of returns on capital at Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad. Unfortunately the returns on capital have diminished from the 13% that they were earning five years ago. Meanwhile, capital employed in the business has stayed roughly the flat over the period. Companies that exhibit these attributes tend to not be shrinking, but they can be mature and facing pressure on their margins from competition. So because these trends aren't typically conducive to creating a multi-bagger, we wouldn't hold our breath on Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad becoming one if things continue as they have. Story continues The Bottom Line In summary, it's unfortunate that Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad is generating lower returns from the same amount of capital. Long term shareholders who've owned the stock over the last five years have experienced a 15% depreciation in their investment, so it appears the market might not like these trends either. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere. If you'd like to know about the risks facing Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should be aware of. While Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Berhad may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSE:AAU Get Rating) in a report published on Wednesday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock. Almaden Minerals Stock Down 5.4 % NYSE:AAU opened at $0.12 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 26.92, a current ratio of 18.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.06. Almaden Minerals has a 1-year low of $0.12 and a 1-year high of $0.35. The company has a market cap of $16.47 million, a PE ratio of -1.71 and a beta of 0.94. Get Almaden Minerals alerts: About Almaden Minerals (Get Rating) Read More Almaden Minerals Ltd. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It focuses on the operation of Ixtaca gold-silver deposit. The company was founded by James Duane Poliquin on February 1, 2002 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Almaden Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Almaden Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Surge Energy Inc. (TSE:SGY Get Rating) have been assigned an average recommendation of Buy from the seven research firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$13.71. A number of brokerages have weighed in on SGY. National Bankshares reduced their price objective on Surge Energy from C$13.00 to C$12.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Raymond James decreased their price target on shares of Surge Energy from C$15.00 to C$14.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 16th. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on shares of Surge Energy from C$14.75 to C$13.75 in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Surge Energy from C$10.25 to C$12.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, Stifel Firstegy reissued a buy rating on shares of Surge Energy in a report on Thursday, January 12th. Get Surge Energy alerts: Surge Energy Stock Up 1.3 % SGY opened at C$8.77 on Friday. Surge Energy has a one year low of C$7.15 and a one year high of C$13.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.50, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market capitalization of C$862.35 million, a P/E ratio of 3.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 2.78. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is C$8.87 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$9.11. Surge Energy Announces Dividend About Surge Energy The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Sunday, April 30th will be paid a $0.04 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This represents a $0.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.47%. Surge Energys dividend payout ratio is currently 18.05%. (Get Rating) Surge Energy Inc explores for, develops, and produces oil and gas in western Canada. The company holds interest in the Greater Sawn Lake assets located in Northern Alberta; Valhalla/Wembley property located in northwestern Alberta; Sparky assets located between Provost and Wainwright in eastern Alberta and western Saskatchewan; and Shaunavon properties located to the southwest of Swift Current, Saskatchewan. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Surge Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Surge Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Bradesco S.A. (NYSE:BBD Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 80,080,000 shares, a growth of 22.7% from the March 31st total of 65,280,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 30,660,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.6 days. Banco Bradesco Stock Up 1.1 % Shares of BBD traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $2.80. 18,396,809 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 22,369,076. Banco Bradesco has a 1 year low of $2.34 and a 1 year high of $4.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.78, a PEG ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 0.71. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $2.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $2.87. Get Banco Bradesco alerts: Banco Bradesco (NYSE:BBD Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The bank reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.08 by ($0.06). The business had revenue of $8.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.21 billion. Banco Bradesco had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 13.43%. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Banco Bradesco will post 0.37 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Banco Bradesco Announces Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Banco Bradesco The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.0036 per share. This represents a $0.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.56%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 3rd. Banco Bradescos payout ratio is 8.33%. A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of BBD. Thomas White International Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $4,864,000. Barclays PLC lifted its stake in shares of Banco Bradesco by 17.0% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,010,254 shares of the banks stock valued at $7,397,000 after purchasing an additional 292,094 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Banco Bradesco by 33.5% in the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 234,602 shares of the banks stock worth $676,000 after acquiring an additional 58,867 shares in the last quarter. JGP Global Gestao de Recursos Ltda. bought a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the 3rd quarter worth about $65,000. Finally, BW Gestao de Investimentos Ltda. bought a new position in shares of Banco Bradesco in the 3rd quarter worth about $15,055,000. Institutional investors own 2.36% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Banco Bradesco from a buy rating to a neutral rating and decreased their price target for the stock from $3.70 to $2.70 in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Banco Bradesco from $3.50 to $3.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 7th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $11.93. About Banco Bradesco (Get Rating) Banco Bradesco SA engages in the provision of financial and insurance services. It operates through Banking, and Insurance segments. The Banking segment includes banking activities. The Insurance segment covers auto, health, life, accident and property insurance, and pension plans aw well as capitalization bonds. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Banco Bradesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Bradesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Boliden AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:BOLIF Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 802,800 shares, an increase of 21.5% from the March 31st total of 660,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1,338.0 days. Boliden AB (publ) Price Performance Shares of BOLIF remained flat at $37.75 on Friday. Boliden AB has a 52 week low of $22.10 and a 52 week high of $43.80. The companys 50-day moving average is $39.65 and its 200-day moving average is $37.61. Get Boliden AB (publ) alerts: Boliden AB (publ) Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Boliden AB (publ) engages in the exploring, extracting, and processing of base metals and precious metals in Sweden, other Nordic region, Germany, the United Kingdom, the rest of Europe, North America, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Business Area Mines and Business Area Smelters. Receive News & Ratings for Boliden AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boliden AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $7.95-$8.25 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $8.06. The company issued revenue guidance of $47.08 billion-$47.08 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $46.84 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb also updated its FY23 guidance to $7.95-8.25 EPS. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target 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. 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. Bank of America increased their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $78.00 to $72.00 in a research report on Friday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued 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 assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.63. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Down 1.2 % Shares of NYSE BMY traded down $0.84 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $66.77. The companys stock had a trading volume of 10,695,008 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,632,355. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $68.92 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.25 and a quick ratio of 1.14. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $65.28 and a 1 year high of $81.43. The firm has a market capitalization of $140.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.63%. The firms revenue was down 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.96 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.41%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 77.29%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms 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 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 can be accessed through the SEC website. 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 transaction of $835,258.27. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares in the company, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bristol-Myers Squibb A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BMY. Dakota Wealth Management purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at $332,000. Covestor Ltd grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 111.5% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,052 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $150,000 after buying an additional 1,082 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 53.2% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 165,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,075,000 after buying an additional 57,444 shares during the last quarter. Ergoteles LLC purchased a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 1st quarter valued at $1,997,000. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp grew its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 25.1% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 338,563 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $24,725,000 after buying an additional 68,018 shares during the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CGI (TSE:GIB.A Get Rating) (NYSE:GIB) had its target price lifted by investment analysts at CIBC from C$146.00 to C$150.00 in a note issued to investors on Thursday, Marketbeat reports. CIBCs price objective suggests a potential upside of 8.35% from the companys previous close. Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of CGI from C$134.00 to C$138.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of CGI from C$135.00 to C$140.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on shares of CGI from C$133.00 to C$150.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. National Bankshares increased their target price on shares of CGI from C$140.00 to C$160.00 in a report on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of CGI from C$125.00 to C$140.00 in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus price target of C$153.89. Get CGI alerts: CGI Stock Down 0.1 % CGI stock traded down C$0.09 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting C$138.44. 40,044 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 362,093. The stock has a market capitalization of C$28.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 49.21. CGI has a 52-week low of C$95.45 and a 52-week high of C$139.22. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$128.65 and its 200-day moving average price is C$119.95. About CGI CGI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides information technology (IT) and business process services in Canada, Northern Europe, France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. Its services include the management of IT and business outsourcing, systems integration and consulting, and software solutions selling activities. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CGI Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CGI and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CGI Group (TSE:GIB Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by Raymond James to C$150.00 in a report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. Raymond James also issued estimates for CGI Groups Q3 2023 earnings at $1.74 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $1.75 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $6.97 EPS and FY2024 earnings at $7.46 EPS. Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of CGI Group to C$150.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. National Bank Financial lifted their price objective on shares of CGI Group from C$140.00 to C$160.00 in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of CGI Group from C$140.00 to C$155.00 in a research note on Thursday. TD Securities lifted their price objective on shares of CGI Group from C$145.00 to C$160.00 in a research note on Thursday. Finally, CIBC lifted their price objective on shares of CGI Group from C$146.00 to C$150.00 in a research note on Thursday. Get CGI Group alerts: CGI Group Stock Performance CGI Group (TSE:GIB Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported C$1.66 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.60 by C$0.06. The firm had revenue of C$3.45 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$3.31 billion. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for CGI Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CGI Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Rating) had its price target upped by Barclays from $1,550.00 to $1,885.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the restaurant operators stock. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,986.00 to $2,084.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. UBS Group lifted their price objective on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,800.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Argus lifted their price objective 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. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,900.00 to $2,000.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Six equities 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, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,021.37. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Chipotle Mexican Grill Trading Up 1.5 % NYSE CMG opened at $2,067.62 on Wednesday. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a 12 month low of $1,196.28 and a 12 month high of $2,071.00. The stock has a market cap of $57.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.93, a PEG ratio of 1.48 and a beta of 1.32. The companys 50 day moving average is $1,660.54 and its two-hundred day moving average is $1,567.73. Insider Activity Chipotle Mexican Grill ( NYSE:CMG Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The company had revenue of $2.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.34 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $5.70 EPS. The firms revenue was up 18.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 43.26 EPS for the current 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 transaction of $1,818,335.00. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at $14,584,375. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 5,636 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at $38,448,306.54. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CMO Christopher W. Brandt sold 1,013 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 18th. The stock was 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 directly owns 8,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,584,375. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 12,724 shares of company stock worth $21,674,555 over the last 90 days. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in CMG. Panagora Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 79.5% during the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 948 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $1,500,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 15.5% in the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 171 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $271,000 after acquiring an additional 23 shares during the period. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 7.3% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,032 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $4,796,000 after acquiring an additional 205 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 6.1% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 777 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $1,229,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Finally, Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 38.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 218 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $345,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the period. 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. Further Reading 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. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Robert W. Baird from $176.00 to $170.00 in a report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on DOV. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on shares of Dover from $147.00 to $145.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Dover from $144.00 to $152.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Mizuho boosted their price objective on Dover from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Barclays lowered their target price on Dover from $141.00 to $138.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Dover from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Dover has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $162.31. Get Dover alerts: Dover Price Performance NYSE DOV opened at $146.16 on Wednesday. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $146.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $141.60. The stock has a market cap of $20.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.32, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66. Dover has a 52 week low of $114.49 and a 52 week high of $160.66. Dover Dividend Announcement Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The industrial products company reported $1.94 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.94. The business had revenue of $2.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.08 billion. Dover had a return on equity of 28.27% and a net margin of 12.51%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.90 EPS. Analysts forecast that Dover will post 8.98 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.505 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.38%. Dovers dividend payout ratio is currently 26.93%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Dover news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 34,972 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $143.25, for a total transaction of $5,009,739.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 73,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,583,023.50. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Trust Co. of Vermont grew its stake in Dover by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 5,029 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $681,000 after acquiring an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. grew its position in Dover by 3.1% during the first quarter. Bill Few Associates Inc. now owns 2,345 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $356,000 after purchasing an additional 70 shares in the last quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co increased its stake in Dover by 6.0% in the 1st quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,229 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $187,000 after buying an additional 70 shares during the period. Insight Folios Inc lifted its position in Dover by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Insight Folios Inc now owns 2,432 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $329,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Dover by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Tokio Marine Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,961 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $266,000 after buying an additional 77 shares during the period. 85.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Dover (Get Rating) Dover Corp. operates as a manufacturer and solutions provider delivering innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy and Fueling, Imaging and Identification, Pumps and Process Solutions, and Climate and Sustainability Technologies. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Elevance Health (NYSE:ELV Get Rating) from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research report report published on Thursday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has $571.00 target price on the stock, up from their prior target price of $500.00. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. TD Cowen cut their price objective on shares of Elevance Health from $577.00 to $564.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on shares of Elevance Health from $571.00 to $575.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Cantor Fitzgerald started coverage on shares of Elevance Health in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $547.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Elevance Health in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Elevance Health from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $523.00 to $572.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $572.19. Get Elevance Health alerts: Elevance Health Price Performance Shares of ELV opened at $468.65 on Thursday. Elevance Health has a fifty-two week low of $440.02 and a fifty-two week high of $549.52. The firms 50 day moving average price is $469.95 and its 200 day moving average price is $490.82. The company has a market cap of $111.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.24, a PEG ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a quick ratio of 1.43, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Elevance Health Dividend Announcement Elevance Health ( NYSE:ELV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The company reported $9.46 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.26 by $0.20. Elevance Health had a net margin of 3.86% and a return on equity of 20.05%. The company had revenue of $41.90 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $40.93 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $8.25 EPS. The firms revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Elevance Health will post 32.78 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a $1.48 dividend. This represents a $5.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.26%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 8th. Elevance Healths dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 23.04%. Insider Transactions at Elevance Health In related news, EVP Gloria M. Mccarthy sold 15,098 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.76, for a total value of $6,714,986.48. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 51,435 shares in the company, valued at $22,876,230.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.35% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Elevance Health A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of ELV. Wealth Architects LLC raised its position in Elevance Health by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Wealth Architects LLC now owns 3,104 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,427,000 after buying an additional 23 shares during the last quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC raised its position in Elevance Health by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Thrive Wealth Management LLC now owns 761 shares of the companys stock valued at $350,000 after buying an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. HM Payson & Co. raised its position in Elevance Health by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. HM Payson & Co. now owns 879 shares of the companys stock valued at $404,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the last quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC raised its position in Elevance Health by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 822 shares of the companys stock valued at $378,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the last quarter. Finally, OLD National Bancorp IN raised its position in Elevance Health by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. OLD National Bancorp IN now owns 7,142 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,284,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.66% of the companys stock. About Elevance Health (Get Rating) Elevance Health, Inc operates as a health company, which engages in improving lives and communities, and making healthcare simpler. It operates through the following segments: Commercial and Specialty Business, Government Business, CarelonRx, and Other. The Commercial and Specialty Business segment provides insurance products and services such as stop loss, dental, vision, life, disability and supplemental health insurance. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Elevance Health Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Elevance Health and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Less than a month after banning ChatGPT over privacy concerns, the Italian government reversed its stance on OpenAIs chatbot on Friday. The decision comes after the startup responded to concerns raised about the privacy and security of user data on the artificial intelligence platform. ChatGPT is available again to our users in Italy, an OpenAI spokesperson told Decrypt in an emailed statement. We are excited to welcome them back, and we remain dedicated to protecting their privacy." In late March, Italy joined a handful of countriesincluding Russia, China, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, and Syriathat implemented bans on using ChatGPT within their borders. Italy initially imposed the ban in response to reports that ChatGPT was collecting and storing users data without their consent. Such concerns led other countriesincluding Canada, Germany, Sweden, and Franceto open their own respective investigations into the massively popular tool. Earlier this month, Italian data protection watchdog agency Garante offered an olive branch to OpenAI that could have reopened the door for the chatbots return to the country. The agency demanded that OpenAI implement age restrictions, clarify how data is processed, provide data management options, and allow users to opt out of their data being used. While it did not expressly cite the situation in Italy, OpenAI rolled out a series of new features on Tuesday, including the ability for users to turn off their chat history as well as opt out of allowing the company to use their data in its training models. We have addressed or clarified the issues raised by the Garante, the spokesperson told Decrypt, citing the publication of an article about its collection and use of training data, and making its opt-out form and privacy policy more visible to users across the platform. The spokesperson added that the company will continue to address privacy requests through email, introduce a new form for EU users to object to the use of their data in model training, and implement an age verification tool for users in Italy during signup. The machine learning giant has also pledged to continue improving its security measures to protect user data and deal with so-called AI hallucinations, when an AI produces unexpected, false, and unsubstantiated content, news, or information about people, events, or facts. We appreciate the Garante for being collaborative, and we look forward to ongoing constructive discussions, OpenAI said. FourThought Financial Partners LLC bought a new stake in Vanguard Information Technology ETF (NYSEARCA:VGT 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 bought 3,519 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $1,124,000. Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Prudential Financial Inc. increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 581.5% during the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 1,219,807 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $381,861,000 after acquiring an additional 1,040,828 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 848.5% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 1,039,711 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $332,094,000 after acquiring an additional 930,095 shares during the last quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 29,048.8% during the 3rd quarter. CFS Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 462,592 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $269,000 after acquiring an additional 461,005 shares during the last quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $62,872,000. Finally, Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Vanguard Information Technology ETF by 9,682.1% during the 4th quarter. Steel Peak Wealth Management LLC now owns 180,382 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $57,616,000 after acquiring an additional 178,538 shares during the last quarter. Get Vanguard Information Technology ETF alerts: Vanguard Information Technology ETF Price Performance NYSEARCA VGT opened at $384.36 on Friday. Vanguard Information Technology ETF has a 12 month low of $291.61 and a 12 month high of $391.60. The company has a market cap of $47.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.70 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a 50-day moving average of $368.69 and a 200-day moving average of $346.38. About Vanguard Information Technology ETF Vanguard Information Technology ETF seeks to track the investment performance of the MSCI US Investable Market Information Technology 25/50 Index, a benchmark of large-, mid-, and small-cap United States stocks in the information technology sector, as classified under the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Vanguard Information Technology ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vanguard Information Technology ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Motors (NYSE:GM Get Rating) (TSE:GMM.U) had its price target lowered by Mizuho from $39.00 to $37.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other analysts also recently commented on the stock. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of General Motors from $45.00 to $42.00 in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of General Motors in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of General Motors from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of General Motors from $32.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of General Motors from $80.00 to $70.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, General Motors presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $48.88. Get General Motors alerts: General Motors Stock Performance Shares of GM stock opened at $33.04 on Wednesday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $36.09 and a 200-day moving average of $37.15. The company has a market cap of $45.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.48 and a beta of 1.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.93. General Motors has a one year low of $30.33 and a one year high of $43.63. General Motors Dividend Announcement General Motors ( NYSE:GM Get Rating ) (TSE:GMM.U) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The auto manufacturer reported $2.21 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.53 by $0.68. The company had revenue of $39.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.38 billion. General Motors had a net margin of 5.84% and a return on equity of 15.74%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $2.09 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that General Motors will post 6.89 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd will be given a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.09%. General Motorss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 5.56%. Insider Activity In related news, EVP Gerald Johnson sold 15,743 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.65, for a total value of $671,438.95. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 71,209 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,037,063.85. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other General Motors news, EVP Stephen K. Carlisle sold 18,000 shares of General Motors stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.97, for a total transaction of $755,460.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 46,170 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,937,754.90. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Gerald Johnson sold 15,743 shares of General Motors stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.65, for a total transaction of $671,438.95. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 71,209 shares in the company, valued at $3,037,063.85. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Penserra Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of General Motors by 85.8% during the first quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 613 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 283 shares in the last quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of General Motors by 379.2% in the first quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 714 shares of the auto manufacturers stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 565 shares during the period. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of General Motors in the first quarter worth $29,000. Carmel Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of General Motors in the first quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Clear Investment Research LLC purchased a new position in shares of General Motors in the third quarter worth $31,000. 78.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. General Motors Company Profile (Get Rating) General Motors Co engages in the designing, manufacturing, and selling of trucks, crossovers, cars, and automobile parts and in providing software-enabled services and subscriptions. It operates through the following segments: GMNA, GMI, Cruise, and GM Financial. The company was founded by William C. See Also Receive News & Ratings for General Motors Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Motors and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peel Hunt downgraded shares of Gulf Keystone Petroleum (OTCMKTS:GUKYF Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. Gulf Keystone Petroleum Stock Up 3.9 % Shares of OTCMKTS GUKYF opened at $1.75 on Thursday. Gulf Keystone Petroleum has a 1-year low of $1.68 and a 1-year high of $3.90. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $2.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $2.36. Get Gulf Keystone Petroleum alerts: Gulf Keystone Petroleum Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd. is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the Republic of Algeria. It operates through the following segments: Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Corporate, and Algeria. The Kurdistan Region of Iraq segment comprises of the Shaikan and the Erbil office which provides support to the operations in Kurdistan, as well as segmental information relating to the previously held Akri-Bijeel, Sheikh Adi and Ber Bahr blocks. Receive News & Ratings for Gulf Keystone Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gulf Keystone Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB boosted its position in Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Get Rating) by 2,641.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 279,600 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 269,400 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder ABs holdings in Reinsurance Group of America were worth $39,728,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of RGA. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 1.3% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,115,698 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $895,227,000 after acquiring an additional 88,957 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 4.7% during the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,411,086 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $263,917,000 after acquiring an additional 108,922 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 7.5% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,670,053 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $210,109,000 after acquiring an additional 116,382 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 2.2% during the third quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,518,615 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $191,056,000 after acquiring an additional 32,087 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Reinsurance Group of America by 16.0% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 743,199 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $81,351,000 after acquiring an additional 102,277 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.46% of the companys stock. Get Reinsurance Group of America alerts: Reinsurance Group of America Stock Up 0.5 % RGA opened at $142.32 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.13, a current ratio of 0.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.94. Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated has a 52 week low of $104.46 and a 52 week high of $153.35. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $137.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $140.73. The stock has a market cap of $9.47 billion, a PE ratio of 15.47 and a beta of 0.91. Reinsurance Group of America Dividend Announcement Reinsurance Group of America ( NYSE:RGA Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 3rd. The insurance provider reported $2.99 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.51 by ($0.52). Reinsurance Group of America had a return on equity of 16.86% and a net margin of 3.83%. The company had revenue of $4.38 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.33 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.56) earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated will post 15.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 14th were given a $0.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 13th. This represents a $3.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Reinsurance Group of Americas dividend payout ratio is currently 34.78%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have issued reports on RGA shares. StockNews.com upgraded Reinsurance Group of America from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Reinsurance Group of America from $136.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company assumed coverage on Reinsurance Group of America in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. They issued an overweight rating and a $163.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays increased their price objective on Reinsurance Group of America from $141.00 to $146.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded Reinsurance Group of America from a sell rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $133.00 to $158.00 in a research report on Wednesday, March 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Reinsurance Group of America presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $155.50. Reinsurance Group of America Profile (Get Rating) Reinsurance Group of America, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of traditional and non-traditional life and health reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. and Latin America, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Asia Pacific, and Corporate and Other. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding RGA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated (NYSE:RGA Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Reinsurance Group of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Reinsurance Group of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Condor Capital Management lessened its position in iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF Get Rating) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 9,497 shares of the companys stock after selling 73 shares during the period. Condor Capital Managements holdings in iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF were worth $2,542,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in IHF. Phoenix Holdings Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 1,560.3% in the 3rd quarter. Phoenix Holdings Ltd. now owns 290,644 shares of the companys stock worth $75,280,000 after acquiring an additional 273,139 shares during the period. Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 107.5% in the 3rd quarter. Meitav Dash Investments Ltd. now owns 322,340 shares of the companys stock worth $83,471,000 after acquiring an additional 167,000 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 2,235.1% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 23,211 shares of the companys stock worth $5,930,000 after acquiring an additional 22,217 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF by 52.0% in the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 46,261 shares of the companys stock worth $11,818,000 after acquiring an additional 15,830 shares during the period. Finally, CX Institutional acquired a new stake in shares of iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF in the 4th quarter worth $4,102,000. Get iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF alerts: iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF Stock Performance IHF stock opened at $256.97 on Friday. iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF has a one year low of $237.26 and a one year high of $287.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.21 billion, a PE ratio of 17.43 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a fifty day moving average of $253.36 and a 200-day moving average of $262.20. About iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF The iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in health care equity. The fund tracks a cap-weighted index of US companies that provide healthcare services. IHF was launched on May 1, 2006 and is managed by BlackRock. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IHF? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (NYSEARCA:IHF Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund (NYSE:HPI Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 62,000 shares, a decline of 57.6% from the March 31st total of 146,100 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 60,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.0 days. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund Stock Performance Shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund stock traded up $0.05 during trading on Friday, reaching $15.77. The companys stock had a trading volume of 83,006 shares, compared to its average volume of 58,230. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $15.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.18. John Hancock Preferred Income Fund has a fifty-two week low of $14.69 and a fifty-two week high of $19.23. Get John Hancock Preferred Income Fund alerts: John Hancock Preferred Income Fund Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th were issued a $0.1235 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.40%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On John Hancock Preferred Income Fund About John Hancock Preferred Income Fund Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HPI. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in John Hancock Preferred Income Fund in the 4th quarter valued at $1,804,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth $1,143,000. Shaker Financial Services LLC acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth $1,021,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund during the 1st quarter worth $983,000. Finally, Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of John Hancock Preferred Income Fund by 77.6% during the 1st quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 106,682 shares of the companys stock worth $2,064,000 after purchasing an additional 46,615 shares during the period. (Get Rating) John Hancock Preferred Income Fund operates as a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. It seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent with preservation of capital by investing its assets in preferred stocks or other preferred securities, including convertible preferred securities. See Also Receive News & Ratings for John Hancock Preferred Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Hancock Preferred Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Berenberg Bank lowered shares of Kemira Oyj (OTCMKTS:KOYJF Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Separately, Stifel Nicolaus initiated coverage on shares of Kemira Oyj in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Get Kemira Oyj alerts: Kemira Oyj Stock Performance KOYJF stock opened at $17.52 on Wednesday. Kemira Oyj has a 52-week low of $16.26 and a 52-week high of $17.52. The company has a 50-day moving average of $16.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $14.28. About Kemira Oyj Kemira Oyj operates as a chemicals company in Finland, rest of Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Pulp & Paper and Industry & Water. The Pulp & Paper segment develops and commercializes pulp, paper, and packaging chemicals, as well as a range of products for paper wet-end, including packaging and board, and tissue products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kemira Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kemira Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM Get Rating) had its price target lowered by Barclays from $26.00 to $24.00 in a report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on KIM. Credit Suisse Group downgraded Kimco Realty from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $22.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, January 9th. Mizuho decreased their price target on Kimco Realty from $22.00 to $21.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Kimco Realty in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Kimco Realty in a research report on Tuesday, March 21st. They issued a buy rating and a $25.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial cut Kimco Realty from a buy rating to a hold rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $25.00 to $24.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $23.08. Get Kimco Realty alerts: Kimco Realty Trading Up 1.1 % Shares of Kimco Realty stock opened at $19.19 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $19.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.67. Kimco Realty has a 1 year low of $17.34 and a 1 year high of $26.30. The company has a market capitalization of $11.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 127.93, a P/E/G ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 3.11 and a quick ratio of 2.18. Kimco Realty Dividend Announcement Insider Buying and Selling at Kimco Realty The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 22nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, June 8th will be paid a $0.23 dividend. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.79%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, June 7th. Kimco Realtys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 613.33%. In other Kimco Realty news, Director Frank Lourenso sold 9,630 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.70, for a total value of $199,341.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 212,424 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,397,176.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Kimco Realty Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund grew its stake in Kimco Realty by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 47,712 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,011,000 after purchasing an additional 479 shares during the period. Advisor Partners II LLC lifted its position in shares of Kimco Realty by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 26,152 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $554,000 after buying an additional 495 shares during the last quarter. Comerica Bank lifted its position in shares of Kimco Realty by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Comerica Bank now owns 95,448 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,095,000 after buying an additional 498 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Kimco Realty by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 113,358 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,401,000 after buying an additional 499 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Profund Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Kimco Realty by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Profund Advisors LLC now owns 12,461 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $264,000 after buying an additional 503 shares during the last quarter. 92.33% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Kimco Realty Company Profile (Get Rating) Kimco Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in New Hyde Park, N.Y., that is one of North Americas largest publicly traded owners and operators of open-air shopping centers. As of December 31, 2018, the company owned interests in 437 U.S. shopping centers comprising 76 million square feet of leasable space primarily concentrated in the top major metropolitan markets. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Kimco Realty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kimco Realty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Local Bounti (NYSE:LOCL Get Rating) is one of 34 public companies in the Agricultural production crops industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its rivals? We will compare Local Bounti to similar companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, profitability, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, dividends and earnings. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings for Local Bounti and its rivals, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Get Local Bounti alerts: Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Local Bounti 0 1 4 0 2.80 Local Bounti Competitors 103 172 491 23 2.55 Local Bounti currently has a consensus price target of $2.85, suggesting a potential upside of 432.71%. As a group, Agricultural production crops companies have a potential upside of 56.97%. Given Local Bountis stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Local Bounti is more favorable than its rivals. Volatility and Risk Insider & Institutional Ownership Local Bounti has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its stock price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Local Bountis rivals have a beta of -23.30, suggesting that their average stock price is 2,430% less volatile than the S&P 500. 65.3% of Local Bounti shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 27.4% of shares of all Agricultural production crops companies are held by institutional investors. 36.3% of Local Bounti shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 17.2% of shares of all Agricultural production crops companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Local Bounti and its rivals net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Local Bounti -570.35% -95.94% -47.68% Local Bounti Competitors -339.13% -25.58% -15.99% Earnings & Valuation This table compares Local Bounti and its rivals top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Local Bounti $19.47 million -$111.07 million -0.42 Local Bounti Competitors $1.66 billion $21.77 million 0.26 Local Bountis rivals have higher revenue and earnings than Local Bounti. Local Bounti 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 Local Bounti rivals beat Local Bounti on 7 of the 13 factors compared. About Local Bounti (Get Rating) Local Bounti Corporation grows fresh greens and herbs in the United States. It produces lettuce, herbs, and loose-leaf lettuce. The company sells its products to food retailers and food service distributors. Local Bounti Corporation was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Montana. Receive News & Ratings for Local Bounti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Local Bounti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada began coverage on shares of Model N (NYSE:MODN Get Rating) in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. The firm issued a sector perform rating and a $35.00 target price on the software makers stock. Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Morgan Stanley began coverage on Model N in a report on Monday, March 27th. They set an overweight rating and a $43.00 price target for the company. StockNews.com downgraded Model N from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Truist Financial upped their price target on Model N from $45.00 to $52.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Needham & Company LLC upped their price target on Model N from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, BTIG Research upped their price target on Model N from $42.00 to $48.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Model N has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $44.63. Get Model N alerts: Model N Trading Down 0.3 % NYSE MODN opened at $30.80 on Thursday. Model N has a 52 week low of $20.95 and a 52 week high of $43.18. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $33.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $36.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 2.85 and a current ratio of 2.85. Insider Buying and Selling at Model N Model N ( NYSE:MODN Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 7th. The software maker reported ($0.05) EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $59.15 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $57.51 million. Model N had a negative net margin of 11.65% and a negative return on equity of 7.52%. On average, analysts predict that Model N will post -0.02 earnings per share for the current year. In other Model N news, CEO Jason Blessing sold 20,304 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.04, for a total value of $711,452.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 695,506 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,370,530.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CFO John Ederer sold 10,823 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.09, for a total transaction of $347,310.07. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 166,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,355,115.02. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Jason Blessing sold 20,304 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.04, for a total value of $711,452.16. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 695,506 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,370,530.24. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 53,238 shares of company stock worth $1,832,671 in the last quarter. 2.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in shares of Model N during the 1st quarter valued at $201,000. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. lifted its position in shares of Model N by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. now owns 52,984 shares of the software makers stock valued at $1,773,000 after buying an additional 1,104 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in shares of Model N by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,742 shares of the software makers stock valued at $326,000 after buying an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Legal Advantage Investments Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Model N during the 1st quarter valued at $335,000. Finally, Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Model N by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Conestoga Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,792,154 shares of the software makers stock worth $126,923,000 after purchasing an additional 19,242 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.63% of the companys stock. About Model N (Get Rating) Model N, Inc engages in developing and monetizing revenue management solutions. It offers cloud revenue optimization and compliance to pharmaceutical, medical technology, semiconductor, and high-tech companies. Its products provide business processes such as pricing, quoting, contracting, regulatory compliance, rebates and incentives. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Model N Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Model N and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers talks to investigators at the scene where five people were shot and killed the night before, Saturday, April 29, 2023, in unincorporated San Jacinto County, Texas. The suspect, Francisco Oropeza, who lives next door, is still at large. (Yi-Chin Lee/AP) CLEVELAND, Texas A widening manhunt for a Texas gunman who killed five neighbors continued turning up nothing Sunday as officers knocked on doors, the governor put up $50,000 in reward money and the FBI acknowledged they had zero leads after nearly two days of searching. What we need from the public is any type of information, because right now were just were running into dead ends, James Smith, the FBIs special agent in charge, said during an afternoon news conference. I can tell you right now, we have zero leads. Advertisement The search for the suspect has grown in scale since the Friday shooting, with more than 200 police from multiple jurisdictions searching for Francisco Oropeza, many going door to door, looking for the 38-year-old suspect and asking for tips. Local officials and the FBI also chipped in reward money, bringing the total to $80,000 for any information about Oropezas whereabouts. Oropeza is considered armed and dangerous after fleeing the area Friday night, likely on foot, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said late Saturday. He said authorities had widened the search beyond the scene of the shooting, which occurred after the suspects neighbors asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard. Advertisement Capers said the suspect responded by telling them that it was his property. Doorbell camera video captured him walking up to the front door with a rifle. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Authorities were able to identify Oropeza by an identity card issued by Mexican authorities to citizens who reside outside the country, as well as the doorbell camera footage. He said police have also interviewed the suspects wife multiple times. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that they said Oropeza used in the shootings, but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. There were other weapons in the suspects home, he said. Were looking for closure for this family, said Capers, who said he hopes the reward money will be a good motivator to encourage someone turn the suspect in. Capers said there are plans to alert the public to the reward money in Spanish billboard ads. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a rural street where single-story homes sit on 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. Some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight Friday but didnt think anything of it. Its a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. It was a much quieter scene Sunday. Police crime scene tape had been removed from around the victims home. Some people stopped by to leave flowers. Advertisement An FBI agent, several Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and other officers could be seen walking around the neighborhood, going door to door and trying to speak with neighbors. The agent and officers declined to comment about what they were doing. One trooper stopped a red truck and asked to look inside before letting the driver continue on his way. Veronica Pineda, 34, who lives across the street from the suspects home, said authorities asked if they could search her property to see if he might be hiding there. Thats good for them to do that, said the mother of five, adding that she remained fearful because the gunman hasnt yet been captured. It is kind of scary. You never know where he can be. I dont think he will be here anymore, she said. She said she didnt know Oropeza well but occasionally saw him, his wife and son ride their horses on the street and believes the family have lived there five or six years. Pineda said neighbors have called authorities in the past to complain about the firing of guns. The victims of Fridays shooting were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and all were believed to be from Honduras, Capers said. All were shot from the neck up, he said. A GoFundMe page was set up to repatriate the bodies of two victims, a mother and son, to their native country. Advertisement Enrique Reina, Honduras secretary of foreign affairs and international cooperation, said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was contacting the families in connection with the repatriation of remains as well as U.S. authorities to keep apprised of the investigation. The FBI in Houston said in a tweet on Sunday that it was referring to the suspect as Oropesa, not Oropeza, to better reflect his identity in law enforcement systems. His family lists their name as Oropeza on a sign outside their yard, as well as in public records. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. He said they were staying with family members. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe those at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. Advertisement Associated Press Writer Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report. From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.'s (TSE:IVN ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. View our latest analysis for Ivanhoe Mines The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Ivanhoe Mines The Executive Vice President of Technical Services Pierre Joubert made the biggest insider purchase in the last 12 months. That single transaction was for CA$277k worth of shares at a price of CA$9.78 each. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of CA$11.75. While it does suggest insiders consider the stock undervalued at lower prices, this transaction doesn't tell us much about what they think of current prices. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Ivanhoe Mines is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Does Ivanhoe Mines Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. Ivanhoe Mines insiders own 14% of the company, currently worth about CA$2.0b based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. So What Does This Data Suggest About Ivanhoe Mines Insiders? The fact that there have been no Ivanhoe Mines insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. With high insider ownership and encouraging transactions, it seems like Ivanhoe Mines insiders think the business has merit. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with Ivanhoe Mines and understanding these should be part of your investment process. Story continues If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here O-I Glass (NYSE:OI Get Rating) had its price target hoisted by Royal Bank of Canada from $34.00 to $37.00 in a report issued on Thursday, The Fly reports. Several other analysts have also recently commented on OI. StockNews.com began coverage on O-I Glass in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on O-I Glass from $26.00 to $30.00 in a report on Thursday. Barclays boosted their target price on O-I Glass from $13.00 to $18.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 6th. Citigroup boosted their target price on O-I Glass from $22.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on O-I Glass from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, O-I Glass has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $24.60. Get O-I Glass alerts: O-I Glass Stock Down 0.8 % OI opened at $22.47 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34, a current ratio of 1.22 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.36. The business has a 50-day moving average of $22.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.23. O-I Glass has a 12 month low of $11.60 and a 12 month high of $23.52. Insider Buying and Selling O-I Glass ( NYSE:OI Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The industrial products company reported $1.29 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.83 by $0.46. The company had revenue of $1.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. O-I Glass had a return on equity of 31.48% and a net margin of 10.04%. The firms revenue was up 8.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.56 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that O-I Glass will post 3.18 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, insider Vitaliano Torno sold 17,299 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.22, for a total transaction of $384,383.78. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 158,010 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,510,982.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other O-I Glass news, SVP Arnaud Aujouannet sold 2,510 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.33, for a total value of $56,048.30. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 55,368 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,236,367.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Vitaliano Torno sold 17,299 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.22, for a total value of $384,383.78. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 158,010 shares in the company, valued at $3,510,982.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.34% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On O-I Glass Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its position in shares of O-I Glass by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 613,152 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $7,940,000 after purchasing an additional 1,950 shares in the last quarter. Martingale Asset Management L P bought a new stake in shares of O-I Glass in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $416,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. increased its holdings in shares of O-I Glass by 7,574.7% in the 3rd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 1,074,462 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $13,914,000 after acquiring an additional 1,060,462 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of O-I Glass in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $736,000. Finally, Oberweis Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of O-I Glass by 165.4% in the 3rd quarter. Oberweis Asset Management Inc. now owns 69,000 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $894,000 after acquiring an additional 43,000 shares during the last quarter. 93.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. See Also 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. Shell Asset Management Co. reduced its holdings in shares of American Express (NYSE:AXP) by 20.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,707 shares of the payment services companys stock after selling 8,654 shares during the quarter. Shell Asset Management Co.s holdings in American Express were worth $5,128,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of AXP. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in American Express by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 141,366 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $20,887,000 after purchasing an additional 4,649 shares during the last quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of American Express by 18.3% in the 4th quarter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC now owns 5,140 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $759,000 after acquiring an additional 795 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of American Express by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 397,883 shares of the payment services companys stock valued at $58,787,000 after acquiring an additional 12,682 shares in the last quarter. TD Asset Management Inc grew its position in American Express by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 1,160,025 shares of the payment services companys stock worth $171,394,000 after acquiring an additional 132,173 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in American Express in the 4th quarter worth about $371,000. 83.30% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get American Express alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently weighed in on AXP shares. Stephens reduced their price target on American Express from $149.00 to $146.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued an outperform rating on shares of American Express in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of American Express from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. StockNews.com began coverage on American Express in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Piper Sandler decreased their price objective on American Express from $179.00 to $172.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 21st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, American Express has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $175.67. American Express Stock Up 1.8 % AXP stock opened at $161.34 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $165.30 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $158.33. The company has a current ratio of 1.55, a quick ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. American Express has a 1-year low of $130.65 and a 1-year high of $182.30. The stock has a market cap of $119.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 1.18. American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The payment services company reported $2.40 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.66 by ($0.26). American Express had a return on equity of 29.44% and a net margin of 13.00%. The business had revenue of $14.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.73 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 21.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that American Express will post 11.2 EPS for the current year. American Express Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.49%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. This is a boost from American Expresss previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. American Expresss dividend payout ratio is currently 25.24%. American Express announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Wednesday, March 8th that authorizes the company to buyback 120,000,000 outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the payment services company to buy shares of its stock through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are often a sign that the companys board believes its stock is undervalued. Insider Activity In other news, insider Denise Pickett sold 28,688 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.78, for a total transaction of $5,186,216.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,557 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,270,054.46. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Denise Pickett sold 28,688 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.78, for a total transaction of $5,186,216.64. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 12,557 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,270,054.46. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 7,045 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,229,493.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 49,361 shares of company stock valued at $8,773,678 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.12% 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. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AXP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for American Express (NYSE:AXP Get Rating). 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. Tenaris S.A. (NYSE:TS Get Rating) was the target of a large growth in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,800,000 shares, a growth of 29.6% from the March 31st total of 6,020,000 shares. Approximately 1.3% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 2,190,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 3.6 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades TS has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com cut Tenaris from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. Cowen raised their price objective on Tenaris from $45.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Tenaris from $44.00 to $40.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $44.29. Get Tenaris alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tenaris Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in Tenaris by 18.4% during the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 20,773 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $625,000 after buying an additional 3,230 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. purchased a new position in Tenaris during the first quarter worth approximately $236,000. Citigroup Inc. lifted its position in Tenaris by 65.9% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 5,236 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $157,000 after buying an additional 2,080 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Tenaris during the first quarter worth approximately $275,000. Finally, Cibc World Market Inc. purchased a new position in Tenaris during the first quarter worth approximately $1,542,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.15% of the companys stock. Tenaris Price Performance TS stock traded up $0.88 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $28.71. 3,659,973 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,005,608. The company has a market cap of $16.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.27 and a beta of 1.44. The stocks 50 day moving average is $30.37 and its 200 day moving average is $32.24. Tenaris has a 12-month low of $22.24 and a 12-month high of $38.00. Tenaris (NYSE:TS Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $1.37 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.38 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.62 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.60 billion. Tenaris had a return on equity of 23.75% and a net margin of 23.49%. On average, research analysts forecast that Tenaris will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Tenaris Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 24th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 23rd will be given a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 22nd. This is an increase from Tenariss previous semi-annual dividend of $0.56. Tenariss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 12.62%. About Tenaris (Get Rating) Tenaris SA manufactures and supplies steel pipe products. It operates through the Tubes and Other segments. The Tubes segment consists of the production and sale of both seamless and welded steel tubular products and related services mainly for the oil and gas industry, particularly oil country tubular goods used in drilling operations, and for other industrial applications with production processes that consist in the transformation of steel into tubular products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Tenaris Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenaris and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Societe Generale Societe anonyme (OTCMKTS:SCGLY Get Rating) has been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $33.92. Separately, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of Societe Generale Societe anonyme from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 14th. Get Societe Generale Societe anonyme alerts: Societe Generale Societe anonyme Stock Up 1.0 % Societe Generale Societe anonyme stock opened at $4.96 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $20.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 4.09 and a beta of 1.40. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $5.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $5.04. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.77. Societe Generale Societe anonyme has a 1-year low of $3.77 and a 1-year high of $6.09. Societe Generale Societe anonyme Company Profile Societe Generale Societe anonyme ( OTCMKTS:SCGLY Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.18 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $7.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.66 billion. Societe Generale Societe anonyme had a net margin of 6.96% and a return on equity of 6.99%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Societe Generale Societe anonyme will post 0.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. (Get Rating) Societe Generale SA provides banking and financial services. It operates through the following business segments: French Retail Banking, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, and Global Banking and Investor Solutions. The French Retail Banking segment includes the domestic networks Societe Generale, Credit du Nord and Boursorama. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Societe Generale Societe anonyme Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Societe Generale Societe anonyme and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Centene (NYSE:CNC Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Stephens from $95.00 to $87.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $92.00 to $80.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $97.00 to $74.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on shares of Centene in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They set an overweight rating and a $80.00 price objective on the stock. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $103.00 to $94.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Centene from $79.00 to $71.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $92.00. Get Centene alerts: Centene Stock Performance Shares of Centene stock opened at $68.93 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $37.83 billion, a PE ratio of 26.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.07. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $66.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $75.12. Centene has a one year low of $61.71 and a one year high of $98.53. Insiders Place Their Bets Centene ( NYSE:CNC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $2.11 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $38.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $36.09 billion. Centene had a return on equity of 13.61% and a net margin of 1.01%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.83 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Centene will post 6.44 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other Centene news, CEO Sarah London bought 30,000 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $62.60 per share, with a total value of $1,878,000.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 313,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $19,653,457.80. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 1,400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, April 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.59, for a total transaction of $93,226.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 8,508 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $566,547.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Sarah London bought 30,000 shares of Centene stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $62.60 per share, with a total value of $1,878,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 313,953 shares in the company, valued at $19,653,457.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have purchased 46,750 shares of company stock worth $3,091,605. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. raised its stake in Centene by 5,700.0% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 348 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 342 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new position in Centene in the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter valued at $41,000. Finally, James Investment Research Inc. acquired a new position in Centene in the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. 93.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Centene Company Profile (Get Rating) Centene Corp. operates as a healthcare enterprise, which engages in the provision of programs and services to government sponsored healthcare programs. It operates through the following segments: Medicaid, Medicare, Commercial, and Other. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Centene Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centene and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tupperware Brands Co. (NYSE:TUP Get Rating) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,310,000 shares, an increase of 30.3% from the March 31st total of 5,610,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,970,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.7 days. Approximately 20.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on TUP shares. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Tupperware Brands in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. DA Davidson decreased their price target on shares of Tupperware Brands from $4.50 to $3.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Get Tupperware Brands alerts: Tupperware Brands Trading Down 0.8 % Shares of Tupperware Brands stock traded down $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $1.25. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,540,263 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,831,109. Tupperware Brands has a one year low of $1.12 and a one year high of $18.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $55.60 million, a P/E ratio of -3.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 2.18. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2.46 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.01. Institutional Trading of Tupperware Brands Tupperware Brands ( NYSE:TUP Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The company reported ($0.24) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.29 by ($0.53). Tupperware Brands had a negative net margin of 1.36% and a negative return on equity of 11.11%. The business had revenue of $313.70 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $294.30 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.38 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 20.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Tupperware Brands will post 0.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of TUP. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank raised its position in shares of Tupperware Brands by 45.3% in the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 8,597 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,682 shares during the period. DGS Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Tupperware Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. LPL Financial LLC bought a new stake in Tupperware Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $49,000. Delphia USA Inc. bought a new stake in Tupperware Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $63,000. Finally, D.A. Davidson & CO. bought a new stake in Tupperware Brands during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $68,000. 71.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Tupperware Brands (Get Rating) Tupperware Brands Corp. operates as a direct-to-consumer marketer of products across multiple brands and categories. It operates through the following geographical segments: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand, and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics and Nuvo brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Tupperware Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tupperware Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. lessened its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE 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 18,727 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 734 shares during the quarter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s holdings in Pfizer were worth $960,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. increased its stake in Pfizer by 528.9% during the 3rd quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 12,401,164 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $542,675,000 after purchasing an additional 10,429,412 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 13.2% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 59,828,849 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,097,341,000 after acquiring an additional 6,972,650 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the first quarter worth $311,238,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 1.1% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 493,584,761 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $21,599,270,000 after buying an additional 5,139,634 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 108.3% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 7,909,665 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $409,483,000 after buying an additional 4,112,528 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.62% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Pfizer Stock Up 0.4 % Shares of PFE traded up $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $38.89. 21,015,333 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 19,501,214. The firm has a market cap of $219.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 0.64. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $40.64 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.11. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $38.31 and a 12-month high of $54.93. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.22 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Pfizer Dividend Announcement Pfizer ( NYSE:PFE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.03 by $0.11. Pfizer had a net margin of 31.27% and a return on equity of 42.03%. The business had revenue of $24.30 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.08 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.33 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Pfizers payout ratio is 29.93%. Insider Buying and Selling at Pfizer In related news, major shareholder Pfizer Inc acquired 1,811,594 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $2.76 per share, for a total transaction of $4,999,999.44. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 5,952,263 shares in the company, valued at $16,428,245.88. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have issued reports on PFE. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Daiwa Capital Markets upgraded shares of Pfizer from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $51.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $45.00 to $44.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $43.00 target price for the company. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $48.80. About Pfizer (Get Rating) Pfizer Inc is a research-based global biopharmaceutical company. It engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, marketing, sales and distribution of biopharmaceutical products worldwide. The firm works across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST Get Rating) updated its FY23 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $7.50-7.65 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $7.50. The company issued revenue guidance of $2.965-2.990 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $2.96 billion. West Pharmaceutical Services also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $7.50-$7.65 EPS. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts have recently commented on the company. Stephens raised West Pharmaceutical Services from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $330.00 to $400.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. StockNews.com began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $250.00 to $290.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $315.00 to $375.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, West Pharmaceutical Services currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $313.00. Get West Pharmaceutical Services alerts: West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Up 1.7 % Shares of NYSE WST opened at $361.24 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.90, a current ratio of 3.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. West Pharmaceutical Services has a 52 week low of $206.19 and a 52 week high of $372.06. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $337.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $277.53. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.83 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 7.42 and a beta of 1.09. West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement West Pharmaceutical Services ( NYSE:WST Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.67 by $0.31. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 19.15% and a return on equity of 24.73%. The firm had revenue of $716.60 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $697.28 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $2.30 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services will post 7.69 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 2nd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 25th. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.21%. West Pharmaceutical Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.44%. Insider Buying and Selling at West Pharmaceutical Services In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, SVP Silji Abraham sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.57, for a total transaction of $483,855.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,357,697.13. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, SVP Silji Abraham sold 1,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.57, for a total transaction of $483,855.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,209 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,357,697.13. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Eric Mark Green sold 44,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.35, for a total transaction of $14,183,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 85,705 shares of the companys stock, valued at $27,627,006.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.13% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On West Pharmaceutical Services Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Lumature Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $240,000. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $333,000. Cibc World Markets Corp purchased a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $6,261,000. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 10.3% during the first quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 24,566 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $10,097,000 after buying an additional 2,292 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP boosted its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 30.2% in the first quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 10,890 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock worth $4,473,000 after acquiring an additional 2,525 shares during the last quarter. 91.51% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About West Pharmaceutical Services (Get Rating) West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following business segments: Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products. The Proprietary Products segment offers proprietary packaging, containment and drug delivery products, along with analytical lab services, to biologic, generic and pharmaceutical drug customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for West Pharmaceutical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights The projected fair value for Ansell is AU$27.33 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity With AU$26.76 share price, Ansell appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value Analyst price target for ANN is US$27.26 which is similar to our fair value estimate Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Ansell Limited (ASX:ANN) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! Companies can be valued in a lot of ways, so we would point out that a DCF is not perfect for every situation. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Ansell Step By Step Through The Calculation We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: Story continues 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$112.9m US$125.0m US$143.7m US$136.3m US$141.2m US$145.0m US$148.6m US$152.0m US$155.3m US$158.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x3 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.69% Est @ 2.46% Est @ 2.30% Est @ 2.19% Est @ 2.11% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 7.7% US$105 US$108 US$115 US$101 US$97.5 US$92.9 US$88.4 US$84.0 US$79.7 US$75.6 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$947m After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.9%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.7%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = US$159m (1 + 1.9%) (7.7% 1.9%) = US$2.8b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$2.8b ( 1 + 7.7%)10= US$1.3b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$2.3b. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of AU$26.8, the company appears about fair value at a 2.1% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Ansell 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 0.970. 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 Ansell Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Medical Equipment market. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Australian market. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. DCF models are not the be-all and end-all of investment valuation. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. For Ansell, we've compiled three relevant items you should look at: Risks: We feel that you should assess the 1 warning sign for Ansell we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for ANN's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the ASX every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks 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 The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Nigeria general election, Mr. Peter Obi has charged Nigerians to celebrate people for their knowledge and not for their wealth and riches. Mr. Obi made the call on Friday while addressing the school children at a one-day event organized to celebrate and mark the posthumous birthday of a Nigerian pioneer writer and academic, Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike, who was also the Traditional Ruler of Ndikelionwu in Orumba South Local Government Area. The event, which held at the Anambra State Central E-Library, Awka, was organized by the Nigerian Book Foundation, a foundation which Prof. Ike headed as the president in the state before his death in January 2020. Obi, while addressing the gathering, described late Prof. Ike as an intellectual and totems of excellence, while also noting that he was one of the greatest assets Anambra State ever had. He recalled how he started hearing of Prof. Ike and admiring him for his wisdom and intellect while he was still school, but ended up being the Governor who presented certificate to him as the traditional ruler of Ndikelionwu. While commending the organizers of the event for their thoughtfulness, Obi stressed on the need for Nigerians to learn to admire and celebrate person for his knowledge, rather than for his money, which, he said, is the most common among Nigerians today. In her address of welcome, the Co-president of the Nigerian Book Foundation (NBF) and first female professor of Mass Communication in West Africa, Prof. Stella Okunna, said the event, which the NBF organized in collaboration with the State Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (Anambra State Chapter), was primarily aimed at commemorate the late monarch three years after his death, as well as keep his memory alive. In their separate remarks at the event, the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, H.R.M. Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (Anambra State Chapter), Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, hailed late Prof. Ike as an outstanding intellectual, who left indelible marks and contributed immensely to national development. They also called on the Anambra State Government to immortalize the great writer, while the say, will not only keep his memory alive, but also serve as motivation to others to add value to society. On his own part, the Traditional Ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, who presented his authored-book August Inmates to Peter Obi, noted that Anambra State has given the world arrays of writers, which Ike was one of, even as he urged the youths to emulate people of integrity and aspire to be like them. Contributing, the State Commissioner for Education representative, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh said the governor had already projected to immortalise him by naming institution after him, which, she said, would be done anytime soon. In his Keynote lecture, Prof. Sule Emma Egya Emmanuelle of IBB University, Niger State, dissected the various books authored by the Prof. Ike and extolled his literary prowess, while also marinating that the late literary icon would so dearly missed by Nigeria and the world at large. Prof. Ike, born on April 28, 1931, was a prolific writer, scholar, lecturer, and administrator. Until his death, he was also the Traditional Ruler of Ndikelionwu. His works include The Potters Wheel, Toads for Supper, The Naked Gods, Sunset at Dawn, The Bottled Leopard, Expo 77, and many others. The publisher of Ejes Gist News, Omajemite Don, has called on Nigerian media platforms to work together to combat the spread of fake news in Nigeria. Omajemite made this call while speaking to journalists in a one-day lecture organised by the Humanitarian Movement for Development (HMD) titled "the media and fake news". He stated that "collaboration between media organisations can help to promote accurate and reliable reporting. By sharing resources, expertise, and information, media organisations can create fact-checking networks, promote media literacy initiatives, and support responsible journalism practises. According to Omajemite, fake news has become a serious problem in Nigeria and is a threat to the integrity of the media and the well-being of the country. The spread of fake news is promoted by the proliferation of social media platforms and the ease with which information can be shared online. This is particularly problematic in Nigeria, where social media is a primary source of news for many people. False information can be shared widely, and it can be difficult to discern what is true and what is not. In Nigeria, this has led to instances of false reports about health issues, security incidents, and political activities. To combat this issue, all Nigerian media platforms must work together to promote accurate, reliable, and trustworthy reporting. The following are some of the reasons why collaboration is necessary: By working together, the media can promote responsible journalism practises such as fact-checking, source verification, and balanced reporting. Omajemite emphasised that "fact-checking is a critical tool in the fight against fake news." The media has a responsibility to report accurate and truthful information to the public. Nigerian media platforms can create fact-checking networks that can quickly identify false information and provide source verification. This approach can help prevent the spread of fake news and promote balanced and accurate reporting. Media organizations can establish themselves as credible sources of information if they work together. This can help counter the negative effects of fake news, which can undermine public trust in the media. Nigerian media must work together to fight against fake news in order to combat the negative effects of social media, address the spread of misinformation during crises, protect vulnerable populations, and promote responsible journalism. Axxela Limited has reassured of its commitment to continue to prioritize the use of clean and affordable energy source for the citizenry. The Chief Financial Officer, Axxela Limited, Timothy Ononiwu, pointed this out while receiving an industry award as the Nigerian Domestic Gas ambassador, in recognition of the companys strong commitment and support for the advancement of the natural gas sector from the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA). Ononiwu, who received the award on behalf of the company, said that the award is an affirmation of the Axxelas decades of pioneering innovative energy solutions and powering Nigerian and African businesses. We are honoured to receive this recognition from NGA for our vast infrastructure investments that have enabled access to natural gas in the country. With 60 per cent of Nigerians said to be in energy poverty, we understand the potentials of natural gas as the pivotal fuel that can take Nigeria into a revolutionary gas-powered economy, Ononiwu added. He also noted: Taking into cognisance Nigerias enormous energy gap, we have elected to provide efficient and cost-effective fuel that aligns with todays environmental concerns and assuages the astronomical energy costs that remained a pain-point for industries in the country. We remain poised to continue these efforts to promote the use of this clean and affordable energy source on the continent. With over 300km of gas pipeline infrastructure built, Axxela provides unique energy solutions through its subsidiaries: Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Gas Network Services Limited, Transit Gas Nigeria Limited, and Central Horizon Gas Company Limited. CMA CGM has officially announced an Overweight Surcharge (OWS) from Asia and India East Coast to Nigeria that takes effect from April 28, 2023.The French ocean carrier further disclosed that Nigerian importers will pay an overweight surcharge of $250 (about N115,000) per TEU (Twenty foot Equivalent Unit) on dry containers with a container gross weight equal to or more than 18 tons from China, South East Asia, North East Asia, and the East Coast of India to Apapa, Tin-Can and Onne ports. CMA CGM has said that the surcharge would be applicable to short-term contracts of three months and below. Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Chamber of Shipping Aminu Umar, has recently said that the freight rate increased to 70 per cent as 50 per cent of foreign trading vessels exited Nigeria waters in the past 16 months. According to him, there is a more robust market for vessels in Europe than Africa due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. About 40 to 50 per cent of vessels plying the Nigerian waters have returned to Europe between 2022 and date. So 40 per cent of the capacity has moved back to Europe. The truth is that these are foreign-owned vessels trading within the West African sub-region, which includes Nigeria. So what it means is that it has created scarcity which will increase the freight rate. So the freight rate has gone up by almost 70 per cent due to this. There is a 70 per cent increase in freight rate, which went up to 100 per cent before but has reduced to 70 per cent. The Federal Government has blasted opposition parties for attacking President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent comment on the 2023 presidential election. The government described the opposition as shameless sore losers of the general election. The Minister of Information and Culture, Mr Lai Mohammed, said this in a statement issued on Sunday. He said the position of the President that the opposition in the 2023 presidential election lost in the poll due to their overconfidence, complacency and bad tactical moves is incontrovertible. Oppositions overconfidence going into the election stemmed in part from the blitzkrieg of social media propaganda as well as faulty and procured opinion polls. These were apparently meant to hoodwink their foreign backers and a section of the international media into uncritically reporting that they were coasting home to victory, when they were indeed heading into the ravine of defeat, he said in the statement. Mohammed advised the opposition to stop their endless griping over the polls which they lost, adding the president deserves accolades for delivering the best election in Nigerias history. President Muhammadu Buhari lived up to his billing by delivering a free, fair and credible election, and his legacy is assured. The President would rather lose his state and many of his partys strongholds than tamper with the fidelity of the election, and that is why he provided a level-playing field for all parties, he said. Mohammed further stated that the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, won the presidential election fair and square, having clinched the majority of the votes cast. He added that Tinubu surpassed the constitutionally-stipulated 25 per cent of votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Going by the results, none of the opposition parties met any of the conditions stipulated for winning the presidential election. They did not even come close, in spite of their pre-election grandstanding. They (opposition) keep leaning on some international observers to justify their fraudulent claim that the election was rigged, he said. They also forgot that the African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful in 95 per cent of the polling units visited. It is on the strength of these reports that many nations, including the US and the UK, wasted no time in congratulating the victorious APC Presidential Candidate, he said. The minister slammed the opposition for continuously seeking to mislead the world by clutching at the weak straw that results were not immediately uploaded onto the IReV Portal. He stressed that the portal had no role to play in the collation of election results. The oppositions insinuation that the failure to immediately upload the result of the presidential election onto IReV affected the credibility of the election is a fraud. It is an act of blackmail and deceit by desperate individuals. The opposition Labour Party, in particular, will go down in the history books as the first-ever distant third-place finisher in a presidential election anywhere to have bold-facedly claimed victory, he said. A gubernatorial candidate of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Ogun State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi, has asked for the sum of N50m from Dana Air over what he described as breach of contract. Ajadi, who narrated his ordeal with the airline, claimed that he secured a ticket to board a flight from Abuja to Lagos Friday night, but the airline failed to fly him as scheduled. He alleged that he, alongside other stranded passengers, expected to be airlifted by Dana flight 356 but the aircraft failed to arrive, adding that there was neither a genuine concern nor explanation by the airline management. Ajadi also stated that he missed an important business meeting in Abeokuta as a result of the development. According to him, This act of negligence and breach of contract has made me unable to meet an important business meeting scheduled for Abeokuta. The Dana Air management not only failed to board us, making us lose valuable meetings and keeping us out in the dark, stranded, no food, causing someone to lose millions in contract. This is not acceptable. With this, it has breached its duties under the civil aviation Act of 2006, Warsaw convention of 1929 and Montreal convention of 1999 which are all domesticated and applicable in Nigeria, I am demanding fifty million naira (N50,000,000. 00) damages for making me miss the scheduled business meeting in Abeokuta. Meanwhile, when contacted, the Head of Corporate Communication of the airline, Mr Kinsley Ezenwa, noted that what happened was caused by bad weather. He told newsmen that the aircraft that was supposed to airlift the passengers from Abuja to Lagos on Friday could not land. He said the passengers have been airlifted from Abuja to Lagos this morning (Saturday). Ezenwa said, We will not cancel the flight deliberately. If you pay for a flight, we have to keep to the agreement, but this one is in the interest of the safety of the passengers. We will not cancel flights deliberately when we know that passengers have appointments and businesses to attend to. Dana Air will always ensure the safety of the passengers. What happened yesterday was because the aircraft could not land in Abuja yesterday night. It got to Abuja yesterday and cannot land; it had to turn back. That was the reason we could not carry them to Lagos yesterday. We promised them that we will take them to Lagos this morning, we have done that this morning. These are some of the issues we have been experiencing for some days now. This particular incident is in the interest of the passengers of the flight. On behalf of Dana Air, I apologise to him and all other passengers. We will reach out to all of them. The factional leadership of Labour Party led by Lamidi Apapa has invited the candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded presidential election, Peter Obi, for a National Executive Council Meeting. The faction also invited other party candidates and stakeholders for its NEC meeting slated for May 3, 2023, in Bauchi, Northeast Nigeria. Abia State Governor-elect, Alex Otti, was also invited to the meeting, as well as elected LP National Assembly members: Senators & Members of the House of Representatives; elected LP State Assembly members; 2023 LP governorship, National and State Assembly candidates and all National Working Committee and National Executive Committee members of the party. The letter dated April 28, 2023, and titled, Invitation To The Labour Party (LP) National Executive Council, NEC Meeting, was signed by Apapa, Acting National Chairman and Alhaji Saleh Lawan, Acting National Secretary, Naija News understands. The invitation letter reads, You are hereby invited to the main National Executive Council, NEC Meeting of the Labour Party, LP coming up on the 3rd May 2023 at Bauchi, in Bauchi state. This is as a result of the 5th April, 2023 FCT High Court Order restraining Julius Abure and four (4) others from parading themselves as officers of the labour party, LP. In compliance with the constitution of the party and the court order, we shall be having the validly convened NEC as stipulated above. Your presence is highly important, the letter added. The letter identified the contact person as Barr. Akingbade Oyelekan, National Legal Adviser and Comrade Eragbe Anslem, National Youth Leader. Who is afraid of Abubakar Bagudu's towering image? Re-Abu Najakkus wild allegations By Wale Ojo- Lanre With the 2023 campaign officially over, and the APC Presidential Campaign Council has been officially dissolved, media mercenaries who fell out in the jostling to get attached to one group or another have started showing their frustration openly. They have realized that their duplicity and vindictiveness have landed them deep into the very holes they dug for others. One of them is Abu Najakku, a serial Pay as You Want mercenary - a writer who wrote a mendacious and malicious opinion in one of the dailies with the headline "Letter to Tinubu: The Atiku Bagudu Matter After a painstaking peruse of the article and being conversant with the personality and person of Bagudu, I decided to unveil the character and motive of Abu Najakku's destructive angst against Bagudu. My intention in this write-up is not to join issues with him rather, I intend to set the records straight and expose the persecution and destructive agenda of this so-called pen activist whose trademark is pulled him down at all costs Proper profiling of Abu Najakku as he comically calls himself, is necessary here to give a panoramic view of his frustrated chequered life which conditioned his profanity and media absurdity He is a poorly brought up fellow, who sees anyone through his blotted life experience thus not accustomed to applauding accomplishments and success. A woefully failed politician, who contested and failed to clinch a House of Representatives ticket on APC's platform in Kebbi state. He also schemed albeit abysmally very hard to be appointed as S.A. Media and Publicity to Governor Atiku Bagudu but he failed again due to his ignoble record of treachery and unbridled personal, blind, and rude ambition. I mention these two facts so that the reader will understand the motive behind Najjakkus toxic writings. Over the years, Mr. Najakku has turned into a digital mad dog, rabidly going on the rampage insulting highly placed personalities and trying to impugn their hard-earned integrity and credibility. This act of stupidity he embraced after his humiliating expunge from the Daily Trust newspaper upon several allegations of unprofessional and ethical bankruptcy He has consistently in his stupidity and foolishness attacked Atiku Bagudu on the Kebbi WhatsApp group, Kebbi Development forum, dragging the forums name into the mud and detracting from its purpose of promoting development issues concerning the Kebbi state. The victory of President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the 2023 election, was a very deserving one and a testimony to the Herculean efforts put in by APC leaders and supporters from all over the country. Millions of party stakeholders contributed to Asiwajus smashing victory. One stakeholder whose contribution cannot be ignored is the Kebbi state Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu who doubles as Chairman of the APC Governors Forum. Governor Bagudu was a prominent feature on the 2023 APC Presidential Campaign Council with whom the campaign train traversed all parts of the country. Apart from the diligent behind-the-scenes hard work to deliver millions of votes from remote areas. It must be in recognition of this that President-elect Tinubu recently nominated him as one of his two representatives on the Federal Governments Transition Council. Now to the facts that the writer attempted to twist. Governor Bagudu was elected twice by the people of Kebbi State as Governor and before that was twice elected as Senator. Mr. Najakku made wild, fabricated embellished, and legally dubious Abacha era allegations, during which the Governor was not a public servant. Despite such allegations circulating on the social media grapevine, these stories are farcical garbage. More to the point, Mr. Najakku in his acrimonious ignorance labelled the governor's nationally famous Lake Rice project as fake. This amounts to being malicious or economical with the truth. The initiative is part of a wider one to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production. It is a joint project of both Kebbi and Lagos states in which both states cooperated to successfully promote Nigerian rice as equivalent to or even better than imported brands. The Pilot project took off successfully with Lake Rice flooding the Lagos market, at moderate prices, and ever since then Nigeria has progressively grown self-sufficient in rice. Imota Rice Mill, owned by the Lagos State Government, a product of the partnership was commissioned by President Buhari a few months ago. It was not surprising therefore that President Buhari described Governor Bagudu as an "ambassador for rural economic transformation". The ethanol project is a futuristic project that is progressing very well under the leadership of Professor Mohammed Abubakar Kaoje, former Minister of Science and Technology. A tripartite agreement for the project has been signed by the NNPC and Kebbi State Government. Ethanol Biofuel production from cassava will be a reality. Mr. Najakku can save his readers valuable time to make a proper investigation before going to pathless As for the Dangote 100,000 tonnes per annum Rice Mill in Yauri mentioned by Mr. Najakku-, senselessly accused the Governor of Dangotes inability to complete the project as scheduled. This is stupidity bordering on insanity for the land required has since been provided by the state and construction has been ongoing, though not at Yauri as erroneously mentioned but at Saminaka in Shanga Local Government. The business of government in this was to provide an enabling environment that was promptly attended to This project is purely private as in other Dangote projects across the country. Najakku should have checked on Dangote on the progress of the initiative instead of writing balderdash and libellous thrash. Road network projects executed by Governor Bagudu are spread around the state as stated by the writer himself. Motorists in the state have been plying the Roads and are satisfied with their quality. Birnin Kebbi now boasts dual carriageways as never before. This is progress. Someday, another government will build flyovers- if it deems it a priority. In yet another gross blunder, Najakku cites Erisco Foods in Yauri as building a tomato factory. A simple Google search would have told him the tomato factory in Ngaski Local Government is owned by GB Foods (not Erisco), and despite an unfortunate target by bandits 2 years ago, it is currently in operation. It is imperative to add that it is the largest tomato production facility in Nigeria. Instead of hiding behind a pseudo name in the CBN glass House and churning out poisonously fake writings, Najakku should come back home and retest his popularity at the polls and stop using fake binoculars to try and wield influence. Finally, hack writers and attack dogs of politicians should know that the erudite and highly experienced President-elect Tinubu does not need ethically bankrupt hack writers to tell him who to entrust with responsibility. Governor Bagudu is a seasoned banker, former University Lecturer, twice elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and a serving second-term Governor. In his tenure, he has been the recipient of many awards including Commander of the Order of the Niger as well as the second highest award of the Niger Republic. Ambassadors from numerous countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union have visited Kebbi and appreciated him in different ways. With the experience and respect earned, Mr. Bagudu is humbly leading his colleagues as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, vice chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum as well as Vice Chairman to President Buhari at the Nigerian Food Security Council. In all these roles, in addition to numerous ad-hoc assignments, he has demonstrated competence and leadership, thus, justifying the confidence imposed on him. Wale Ojo - Lanre is a former Chairman, Oyo State NUJ Member Special Media Projects- New Media ,APC, PCC , Tourism Advocate, Child Rights Activist. Ex- SSA to Gov Kayode Fayemi Viewing insider transactions for African Rainbow Minerals Limited's (JSE:ARI ) over the last year, we see that insiders were net buyers. This means that a larger number of shares were purchased by insiders in relation to shares sold. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. View our latest analysis for African Rainbow Minerals The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At African Rainbow Minerals Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Executive Director & CEO of ARM Platinum H. Mkatshana for R21m worth of shares, at about R260 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than R230 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock when an insider has bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. The only individual insider to buy over the last year was H. Mkatshana. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! African Rainbow Minerals is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. African Rainbow Minerals insiders own about R275m worth of shares. That equates to 0.6% of the company. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At African Rainbow Minerals Tell Us? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like African Rainbow Minerals insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. To that end, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with African Rainbow Minerals (including 1 which is potentially serious). Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 The Native Womens Association of Canada (NWAC) is leading a campaign calling for an Indigenous woman to be featured on the $20 bill to replace Queen Elizabeth II. The Change the Bill campaign seeks to foster reconciliation through art by commissioning Indigenous artists to reimagine the banknote with notable Indigenous women. Featuring an Indigenous hero on a redesigned bill a move that is long overdue would be a significant step toward recognizing the important, yet often overlooked, contributions of Indigenous women, according to the group. As part of the campaign, Canadians are encouraged to sign a petition to support the movement. On the associations website, a dozen important Indigenous women figures are displayed as potential replacements, along with a reimagined artistic rendering of a new bill created by various Indigenous artists. Among the 12 women is Elsie Knott the first woman in Canada to serve as a First Nations chief who led Curve Lake First Nation for several years. Knott, born in 1922, was first elected in 1954 three years after Indigenous women were given the right to vote in band elections and serve on band councils under the Indian Act. She acted as chief until 1960 before being re-elected a decade later. Knott served as chief until 1976. Knott is known for her commitment to bettering the quality of life and living conditions for her communitys members. Notably, Knott worked to improve water quality, housing, social services, infrastructure, and other aspects of the community. She was also a dedicated proponent for protecting, preserving and passing along Ojibway culture and traditions, and helped form an Ojibway language program at the Curve Lake First Nation School. Knott died in 1995. Four years later, her life, community advocacy and political career was honoured with a posthumous Lifetime Achievement Award from the Union of Ontario Indians. The artistic interpretation of Knott on a new bank note was created by Curve Lake First Nation artist Anna Heffernan. Heffernan decided to feature Knott out of respect for her service to their community, and because she is proud of their community for their early embrace of women in leadership, according to the associations website. Current Curve Lake First Nation Chief Keith Knott says he thinks Elsie Knott is a perfect fit to be featured on a new banknote. Its an excellent idea, he said. It would be a great piece of memorabilia for one the leaders of our community many years ago. Years ago, he served on Curve Lake First Nations council when Elsie Knott was chief. Future leadership could identify within themselves that theres always that role to play within a community, and I think she would be a great role model for members in the community for women and men to be recognized in such a national way; to have your community recognized in that fashion, he said. So far, the petition has garnered over 34,680 signatures quickly approaching its goal of 35,000 names. The next step is to keep up the pressure and keep the campaign alive by engaging organizations and individuals Canada-wide, stated a spokesperson for the association. Schools, organizations, influencers and leaders will be contacted to join the campaigns next phase. While the association has met with the Bank of Canadas governor and the Royal Canadian Mint, its ultimately up to the finance minister and the federal government to make a final decision related to bank note changes. The next phase of our campaign will ensure that a wide range of voices across the country are engaged and are heard in the ministers office, each supporting our campaign, added the spokesperson. The petition can be found at bit.ly/429TR7U BB Brendan Burke is a staff reporter at the Examiner, based in Peterborough. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. SHARE: ENTWISTLE, Alta. - As some Albertans were being told to evacuate, or to be ready to flee to safety at a moments notice due to multiple grass and brush fires in areas west and northwest of Edmonton, others were being allowed to return home. RCMP on Sunday afternoon had asked people living in a rural area southeast of Barrhead, Alta., to evacuate immediately as police assisted local fire departments with an out-of-control fire. Others residing within about three kilometres north of the area needed to be on a 15-minute ready to leave warning, police said. Hours later, police said those people could return to their homes, but several mandatory evacuation orders remained in effect about 90 kilometres to the southwest due to fires that began Saturday and continued to spread on Sunday. The hamlets of Entwistle and Evansburg as well as the Lobstick Resort remained evacuated as separate fires in the vicinity of the communities continue to burn out of control. Our fire crews are working hard to get this wildfire under control. Our top priority is the safety of our residents and first responders, Parkland Fire Chief Brian Cornforth said in a statement about a 330-hectare blaze burning about nine kilometres southeast of Evansburg. Thank you to all those who have followed the mandatory evacuation order, we appreciate your patience and assistance so we can get everyone back home safe as soon as possible. Parkland County Mayor Allan Gamble, meanwhile, thanked people for offering supports. Parkland County is a connected community and its wonderful to see neighbours helping each other in this time of need, Gamble said in a statement. Parkland County says RCMP and Peace Officers are patrolling the evacuation area and maintaining site security. The province said in a wildfire information update that additional firefighters and air tankers had been requested for the fire thats south of the hamlets. Another two fires west of the communities that began Saturday north of Highway 16 on both sides of Highway 22 had combined and were about 3,000 hectares total. The update said that fire is burning in a mixture of grass, shrub, trees and marsh. Last night, dozers were on the fire line building containment lines. Early this morning, firefighters used hand ignition techniques to burn off and remove some of the available fuel to re-enforce existing containment lines, the update said about the fire burning north of Highway 16. Today, we will have additional heavy equipment and three helicopters assisting firefighters on the line. Both Yellowhead County and AB Wildfire will work together to contain the spread. The update noted strong winds and very dry fuel were the main reasons this wildfire spread so quickly. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: UMAN, Ukraine (AP) Relatives and friends cried next to coffins on Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting in the 14-month-long war claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack on Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sundays funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Quick to Hear waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. I live nearby, said Father Fyodor Botsu. I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. Im worried with everyone since I have children and Im a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years. He said he prayed that the war should end and peace should come to our homes, city and country. At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russias war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, 9 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldnt wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised, Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather. Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces wouldnt delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start. Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply, and was pleased with its speed and specificity. Macrons office said he reiterated Frances commitment to provide Ukraine all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russias battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraines northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times during the night on Sunday. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly is in Kenya for the next few days to help inform Canadas response to the crisis in Sudan. She is set to meet with people evacuated from the East African country, including diplomatic staff who worked there until a shocking outbreak of violence earlier this month. Joly will also meet with humanitarian groups to get a sense of the needs of people in Sudan, as well as those who have fled to neighbouring countries. She also plans to meet with former Sudanese prime minister Abdalla Hamdok, the countrys only civilian leader in recent decades, who was deposed in a 2021 coup. Kenya has been a leading voice in trying to find a mediated solution to the conflict, and it hosts the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, a group focused on peace and prosperity in East African countries. Jolys office says she also hopes to learn more from Kenya as a major player on the continent. Kenya has played a key leadership role throughout this crisis in responding to humanitarian needs generated by the conflict in Sudan and in helping lead the efforts towards a peaceful solution, Joly said in an emailed statement Saturday. Canada is here to support Kenya and regional actors tackle this crisis. We will take concrete steps to help regional actors in their mediation efforts and respond to humanitarian needs. Sudans armed forces and its paramilitary were set to merge, but negotiations broke down last month and created widespread conflict that has killed hundreds of civilians. Analysts say neither faction has broad support of the population. Canadas embassy in Sudans capital, Khartoum, was relocated to Nairobi, Kenya, when the violence erupted. Jolys office said the ministers trip is similar to her visit to Poland shortly after Russias invasion of Ukraine, to signify that Ottawa sees a role in resolving crises beyond Europe. During her visit to Kenya, Minister Joly will meet with her counterpart, Dr. Alfred N. Mutua. She will also meet with the Kenyan cabinet secretary for defence. Canada is set to release an Africa strategy this year, after Ottawa delayed the proposal. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: China pushes largest-ever expansion of nuclear arsenal HONG KONG: 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. ChineseRussianmilitarypolitics By AFP Sunday 30 April 2023, 12:30PM This file photo taken on Oct 1, 2019 shows Chinas DF-41 nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missiles during a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. China is pushing ahead with its largest-ever expansion of nuclear weaponry, aiming to deter the United States in any future military confrontation. Photo: AFP 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 countrys 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 worlds third major nuclear power, Eric Heginbotham, Principal Research Scientist at MITs 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. 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 US$11.7 billion (B400bn) 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 Chinas 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 programmes 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 Beijings nuclear forces, the Naval War Colleges Logan said. The nuclear build-up is likely in part to ensure that the US cannot eliminate Chinas nuclear deterrent. Chinas 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 Statess 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. Phuket Opinion: A semblance of reassurance PHUKET: Its amazing what officials can forget even when they are doing an outstanding job trying to explain an incident when they genuinely have no idea what caused it. opiniondisasterstourismSafety By The Phuket News Sunday 30 April 2023, 09:00AM Local DDPM officers pose for a photo with tourists beside the tsunami warning tower at Kamala at 7pm Thursday (Apr 27), more than 15 hours after the siren sounded. Photo: PR Phuket The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM) got nearly everything right in their response to the false alarm issued by three tsunami warning towers in Phuket earlier this week. Local officials were explaining to the public what had happened in the early morning news, and a full explanation of what was being done had been posted by the national DDPM branch by 3:21pm that day. The full explanation omitted nothing. Initial inspections of the towers had already indicated that the problem was not local, and the towers were fully inspected and checked by technicians the next day. The fact that 25 disaster warning towers in 14 provinces, including five in Chon Buri as well as one each in widely separated provinces such as Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Nong Bua Lam Phu and even Chiang Rai was testament to the fact the the problem was somewhere in the national system. The DDPM explained that the system for issuing disaster warnings from the National Disaster Warning Center is a double encrypted system, and it takes an officer to actually press a button to get any towers to sound any sirens. No officer had not sent any signals to any towers to sound their sirens. The problem so far is considered an anomaly, and is being treated seriously. The DDPM was honest in its message to the public; they had no idea what had caused the malfunction. Literally calling the cause as an unknown reason, they even explained their next steps in their continuing investigations in the hope of determining the cause. Compared with how some Thai government agencies respond publicly to critical issues, the response by the DDPM so far has been first class. What was not handled so well was the repeated message of the importance of informing tourists of what had happened to inspire confidence in their safety. For that to happen tourists must be informed by the relevant authority in clear English, or other native tongue. Tourists do not speak Thai. In the heat of the moment, at 3:43am Thursday (Apr 27), the most reassuring factor any tourists would have been presented with was the fact that the hotel staff were still standing in front of them, and not running for the nearest hill. Local officials going on Thai radio to explain what had happened only means that the tourists will get the message second or third hand. By the time the news cycle finally got the news out to non-Thai speakers, the issue was of image damage control, not safety. The only other factor overlooked by all officials in responding to the false alarm was that while they were calling on people to not panic, they did not say exactly what people should do if the warning towers sound their alarm again. The obvious answer is to treat all warnings as such, and take immediate appropriate action, namely evacuate risk areas as quickly as safely possible. But those words were never mentioned, in spoken or written reports. As simple as it is, this is a must if anyone is to try to instill confidence in our tsunami warning system. In the meantime, the best warning any non-Thai-speaking person will have is to pay attention to what local people are doing, and do the same. KITCHENER Two youths and a 19-year-old Kitchener man face various weapons-related charges after police were called to Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener Friday afternoon for reports of a disturbance involving knives. Waterloo Regional Police were called to the mall just after 3 p.m. They found the people involved and arrested two youths, one from Cambridge, the other from Waterloo. A 19-year-old Kitchener man was also arrested. A victim received non-life threatening injuries. Charges include assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and carrying a concealed weapon. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information can call police at 519-570-9777 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. SHARE: KITCHENER A 19-year-old Cambridge woman faces charges of impaired by alcohol and drugs after a single car crash sent a passenger to hospital and left a busy area of Kitchener closed for hours. The crash occurred in the area of Morgan Avenue and King Street East just after 5 a.m. Saturday. Waterloo Regional Police said a driver struck a hydro pole, causing extensive damage, resulting in roads being closed for most of the day. Police said the driver had left a previous collision before hitting the second crash, hitting the hydro pole. A passenger in the car was taken to hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries. The woman is charged with operation while impaired alcohol and drugs, operation while impaired blood alcohol concentration and dangerous operations cause bodily harm. She will appear in court in May. SHARE: Key Insights Tribal Group's estimated fair value is UK0.73 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of UK0.39 suggests Tribal Group is potentially 47% undervalued Does the April share price for Tribal Group plc (LON:TRB) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value 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. View our latest analysis for Tribal Group The Calculation 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. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. 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 discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK5.70m UK9.70m UK9.80m UK9.90m UK10.0m UK10.1m UK10.2m UK10.3m UK10.5m UK10.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 1.01% Est @ 1.05% Est @ 1.08% Est @ 1.10% Est @ 1.12% Est @ 1.13% Est @ 1.13% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 7.2% UK5.3 UK8.4 UK8.0 UK7.5 UK7.1 UK6.7 UK6.3 UK5.9 UK5.6 UK5.3 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK66m Story continues After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 7.2%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2032 (1 + g) (r g) = UK11m (1 + 1.2%) (7.2% 1.2%) = UK177m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK177m ( 1 + 7.2%)10= UK89m 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 UK155m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of UK0.4, the company appears quite undervalued at a 47% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Tribal Group 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 7.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.866. 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 Tribal Group Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Weakness Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Services market. Opportunity Expected to breakeven next year. Has sufficient cash runway for more than 3 years based on current free cash flows. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Paying a dividend but company is unprofitable. 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. Preferably you'd apply different cases and assumptions and see how they would impact the company's valuation. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For Tribal Group, we've put together three essential aspects you should further examine: Risks: For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Tribal Group that you should be aware of. Future Earnings: How does TRB'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 British stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 Plan your trip before youre in your car: The Ministry of Transportation has scheduled four closures in Waterloo on April 30, 2023 for roadwork on Highway 401, Highway 6 and Highway 8. Collision on Highway 401 westbound at Cambridge North null Highway 6 northbound between Wellington Road 34 / County Road 34 and Maltby Road / Concession 4: one right lane closed from May 1 at 7 a.m. until May 5 at 3 p.m. Highway 6 southbound between Currie Drive / Telfer Glen and Highway 5 / Clappisons Corners: one alternating lane closed from April 30 at 8:30 p.m. until May 5 at 5 a.m. Highway 8 eastbound at Highway 401: one left lane closed from May 1 at 10 a.m. until May 1 at 2 p.m. Have further to travel? Highway closures for planned roadwork outside Waterloo About this story This story was automatically generated using open data from Ontario 511. These closures are scheduled for short-term or emergency repairs and maintenance of provincial highways around Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The disruptions may be intermittent or ongoing and can change due to weather, emergencies and other factors. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION Grand River Transit buses wont be running Monday because operators and other unionized staff are on strike. Late Sunday evening, the Region of Waterloo announced that members of UNIFOR, Local 4304, representing Grand River Transit, busPLUS, MobilityPLUS operators, reservationists, fleet mechanics and service attendants, did not ratify the tentiative agreement reached between the region and union leadership. The strike began as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday night, and bus service including Mobility PLUS and BusPLUS was to stop at 3 a.m. Monday morning. ION train service will continue as it is maintained and operated by Keolis. Despite an offer that was competitive for GRT staff and affordable for residents, unfortunately we were not able to reach an agreement, the news release from the Region of Waterloo said. The Region is committed to reaching an agreement and we remain open to discussions with the union. We appreciate that customers rely on transit on a daily basis and we will continue to update customers and residents with information as soon as it becomes available. For the latest updates on the status of transit services, visit www.grt.ca/updates, call the GRT Information Line at: 519-585-7555, or connect via Twitter @RegionWaterloo SHARE: WATERLOO Waterloo Regional Police are asking for the publics help in finding a missing 91-year-old man. Police identified the man as James who is was missing from the Lexington Road and Davenport Road area of Waterloo, in a release Sunday morning. The man is five feet seven inches tall with white hair, wearing a navy blue pyjama top with a red pocket and navy blue pants with bears. He was last seen at 4 a.m. Sunday. In a tweet, police said there was a significant police presence in the area looking for the man. There is concern for his well-being. Anyone who has seen the man can call police at 519-570-9777. SHARE: Mid-Day Meal workers demand wage hike | IMPHAL, Apr 30: On May Day eve, the All Manipur Mid-Day Meal Workers' Union has urged the Government to increase the monthly honorarium/minimum wage of all labourers including mid-day meal workers to Rs 700. The decision to demand an increase in the minimum wage was taken during a meeting of the union held at its office at Paona Bazar today, it said in a statement. Demanding increment of the minimum wage, mid-day meal workers in all districts would be staging demonstrations at their respective places holding placards and banners, said the union. PM Modi applauds Vijayshanti for lotus fibre initiative | NEW DELHI, Apr 30 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Nation on the historic 100th episode of the Mann Ki Baat while applauding the changemakers of the country who through their various initiatives brought a change in the society. Speaking to Vijayshanti, an female entrepreneur in Manipur, PM Modi applauded her efforts in bringing a major change in the society through her unique lotus fibre initiative. Vijayshanti while sharing her journey in her endeavors also enumerated the engagement of 30 women in her initiative and how she is targeting to engage 100 women in the endeavour. PM Modi praised Vijayshantis perseverance and determination to bring a change in the society while also attempting to engage women in her work so as to empower women in her community. Vijayshanti further stated that beginning this year, she will be exporting lotus fibre to the United States, thus upholding the Governments movement of Vocal for local. Adding on to her achievement, PM Modi stated that Vijayshanti has made a major change in the society, specially with respect to women empowerment through local for global initiative. India Today NE LUTSEL KE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES - Iris Catholique says over the past two decades, shes noticed the waters of Great Slave Lake surrounding Lutsel Ke, N.W.T., taking longer to freeze in the winter. In the past, the lake used to freeze by November, December and by early December, were able to travel through traditional trails and different small lakes between here and our traditional hunting grounds, she said. Now we cant do that. We have to wait until after the lakes start to freeze in January. The ice is not as thick in some areas at it used to be, Catholique added, and people from the community also have to travel farther to find caribou and muskox. Catholique is manager of Thaidene Nene, meaning the land of the ancestors in Denesuline Yati, an Indigenous protected area larger than 26,000 square kilometres on the East Arm of Great Slave Lake near Lutsel Ke. The community, home to more than 300 people, is only accessible by plane or travelling on the lake by boat in the summer and over the ice in the winter. Its our highway, Catholique said of the ice. Its pretty much our lifeline to our traditional harvesting areas. Climate change is making ice conditions on the lake, which is roughly the same size as Belgium and the deepest lake in North America, less predictable. In May 2019, three people travelling by snowmobile from Dettah to Lustel Ke were believed to have gone through the ice. This winter, the Ni HatNi Dene, members of the Lustel Ke Dene First Nation who are guardians of Thaidene Nene, partnered with researchers from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ont., to monitor the ice using traditional knowledge and modern technology. They installed snow and ice mass balance apparatuses, or SIMBAs, at two locations identified by the community where the ice is thinner and there is more overflow. The sensors measure ice thickness, snow depth, and air and water temperatures every 15 minutes, providing community members real-time data to help inform decisions on ice travel. We dont want to lose any more of our folks, Catholique said, noting elders in the community have called for ice monitoring. Homa Kheyrollah Pour, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at Wilfrid Laurier, said the research aims to understand how lakes in the North are responding to climate change to inform decision-making. The research is part of the N.W.T. governments Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program. Kheyrollah Pour noted the North is warming three times faster than the global average. Last winter, she and her team installed SIMBAs on Ryan Lake and Landing Lake north of Yellowknife. This winter she said they installed some on those lakes, as well as the ice road on Vee Lake outside Yellowknife, the ice roads to Dettah and Deline and two locations outside Lutsel Ke. We are trying to understand the community needs, said Kheyrollah Pour, who is also Canada Research Chair in Remote Sensing of Environment Change. Our team is really dedicated basically to move from a traditional science format to more co-creation knowledge with the community type of research. She said that means training and capacity building within communities so guardians can take the lead in using smart technology as part of their future monitoring efforts. Being in the community, meeting elders, they are very concerned that youth are not going as much as previous generations on the land, they dont capture as much traditional knowledge as they used to, she said. Maybe bringing in this smart monitoring system and technologies can inspire them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. By Emily Blake in Yellowknife This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. SHARE: OROMOCTO, N.B. - New Brunswicks Crown energy corporation has cut ties with a private instructor after a video surfaced showing a heavy NB Power truck driving into a group of federal public service picketers and pushing one down the street. The driver was contracted from an unnamed private company to train truck drivers and NB Power will no longer be using him as an instructor, said an email Sunday from NB Power spokesperson Clayton Beaton. Two students in a lineman training program were in the truck with the instructor, NB Power said in a news release earlier on Sunday. This behaviour is truly unacceptable and will not be tolerated by NB Power, the release said. No NB Power employees were involved in this incident, but an NB Power vehicle was involved and therefore our reputation is at risk. The RCMP said Friday they were investigating after a video surfaced on social media showing a large NB Power truck honking at a group of people crossing a street in Oromocto, N.B. The truck then drives slowly forward, grazing one person and causing them to stumble out of the way. The heavy truck then bumps into another person whod stopped in the street. The looming vehicle nudges the man down the road until he drops his Public Service Alliance of Canada flag and finally jumps out of the way. Onlookers can be heard in the video yelling, Oh my God! and Move! More than 100,000 federal public service workers walked off the job on April 19 after the union and government failed to reach new contract deals for agreements that expired in 2021. The public service union says negotiations with the federal government have been ongoing throughout the weekend. RCMP spokesman Cpl. Hans Ouellette said Sunday the police investigation into the incident in Oromocto was also ongoing. Officers were already in the area Friday and were able to get to the scene quickly, pull the truck over and identify the driver, he said in an interview Sunday. The picketer wasnt hurt, Ouellette added. NB Power could not say Sunday if the driver was still employed by the private company through which he was contracted. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: EDMONTON - Three people are in hospital, including the suspect, following a stabbing in downtown Edmonton Saturday night. Police were called to the 101 Street and 103A Avenue area shortly before 9:30 p.m. for a weapons complaint. When officers arrived, they found a man and woman with stab wounds, and another man brandishing a knife. Police say the suspect was shot by an officer when the man did not follow police instructions. The suspect was taken to hospital in serious condition. Police say the woman suffered critical injuries in the attack, and the male victim is listed in serious but stable condition in hospital. It is not known if the suspect and victims knew each other. The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT) has invoked their mandate and is investigating. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 30, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: The winner of Torontos mayoral byelection will wield extraordinary control over city hall, thanks to controversial powers granted by Premier Doug Ford that include the ability to override majority votes in council. Critics call those strong-mayor powers undemocratic, while proponents say theyre necessary to put a stop to drawn-out council debates and solve pressing city problems. Ahead of the June 26 vote, leading candidates in the mayors race are using the issue to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Progressive-leaning challengers are vowing not to use the new authorities if theyre elected, while more conservative candidates say they wont hesitate to deploy them to advance their agendas. That means how the government of Canadas largest city operates could be dramatically different depending on whos elected two months from now. Whether the powers are not used, used with restraint or used a lot will make a big difference to how the city is governed and its politics, said Zachary Taylor, an associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. John Tory was mayor when Ford gave the powers to Toronto and Ottawa last year, and he pledged to use the new authorities only when necessary. Of course, someone else is going to be mayor now. And we dont have a clear idea of how the ones who say they are going to use them might use them, Taylor said. The new rules enable the mayor to pass bylaws with the support of just one-third of council and to veto council decisions not supported by two-thirds of members if doing so would advance provincial priorities. The legislation, which the province says will help cities meet Ontarios housing targets by skirting local opposition to development, also grants the mayor the ability to table the annual budget, and appoint some city staff. Strong-mayor system seductive but unfair, say critics A trio of left-leaning and centrist candidates have vowed not to exercise any of the mayors new authorities. Mitzie Hunter, the Ontario Liberal MPP for Scarborough-Guildwood, said the next mayor might find the prospect of overruling council seductive because it might make their job easier, but it is wrong to undermine democracy under the guise of getting things done. Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12, Toronto-St. Pauls) promised to use the power of his ideas to persuade council colleagues to back his agenda, rather than resorting to the new laws. That would include consulting councillors on the budget and hiring decisions. Im going to be strong not just because the legislation says that Im a strong mayor, but because the ideas are strong, that theyre grounded in evidence, he told reporters April 3. Olivia Chow, the former NDP MP for Trinity-Spadina, made a similar pledge at her campaign launch on April 17. I will not override the power of council, she told reporters. Thats not fair, thats not democratic. She would delegate hiring and firing of staff to the city manager. Ana Bailao, a housing advocate and former councillor for Davenport, has also promised not to use the parts of the legislation that would allow her to overrule council. But she said its reasonable for the mayor to set the budget and appoint senior civil servants. Most Torontonians actually believe that the mayor already has the powers to do that, she told reporters April 24. Council plagued by endless delays, claims candidate Two high-profile candidates have embraced the new rules. Coun. Brad Bradford (Ward 19, Beaches-East York), whose campaign has at times tilted to the right by focusing in hot button conservative issues like bail reform, has branded himself a strong mayor of action who would use any measure at his disposal to get things done. We are going to use all the tools available to us to drive an agenda through here at city hall, said Bradford earlier this month. The councillor said city hall is notorious for its endless delays and deferrals, and Toronto needs a mayor whos not afraid to make unpopular decisions. While he hasnt specified which policies he might use the strong-mayor powers to push through council, his campaign says his priorities include building transit and housing. Mark Saunders, the former police chief and onetime provincial Conservative candidate, would also make use of the new powers. His spokesperson Laryssa Waler said Saunders is a strong collaborator who would work with council, but if necessary the new powers would allow him to shake up a municipal government that has been paralyzed by procedural delay tactics. She rejected the idea the legislation is undemocratic. Like it or not, its the law of the land; and Mark is running in an election where the citizens of Toronto can vote for a mayor they support knowing this will be one of the tools in his or her toolkit, she said. Saunders has made issues like cancelling bike lane expansion and stopping drug decriminalization a focus of his campaign, but Waler didnt specify which measures he might use the strong-mayor powers to advance. Strong mayor, weak mandate Myer Siemiatycki, professor emeritus of politics at Toronto Metropolitan University said centrist and progressive candidates need to pull support from Liberal and NDP voters, and their opposition to the strong-mayor legislation is intended to show they will stand up for the citys interests and against the Conservative premier interfering with local government. Conversely, Siemiatycki said, the mayoral hopefuls who would use the powers are courting Conservative voters, and their support for the strong-mayor legislation is designed to show theyre aligned with Ford while also signalling they are strong, decisive leaders. Siemiatycki hopes the public will pay close attention to candidates stance on the issue, particularly because Torontos next mayor could be elected with far less than 50 per cent of the vote. We could be heading to three and a half years of a mayor with the strongest hand and powers over the rest of municipal council but being elected with the weakest minimalist mandate of any previously elected mayor in Toronto, he said, warning that situation would pose a big problem for the citys democracy. Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering city hall and municipal politics for the Star. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr Read more about: SHARE: A man was rushed to hospital Saturday evening after a shooting in the Upper Beach neighbourhood. Around 7:50 p.m., Toronto police responded to calls of a man suffering from a gunshot wound in the area of Gerrard Street East and Coxwell Avenue. Officers said they found the man inside of a building as well as shell casings at the scene. The man sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. Police have not yet released any details on suspects. MH Mahdis Habibinia is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mhabibinia@thestar.ca SHARE: (Bloomberg) -- Paraguayan voters head to the polls on Sunday in general elections that will serve as fresh litmus tests for Chinas growing influence in Latin America and an anti-incumbent wave sweeping the region. Most Read from Bloomberg Opposition leader and presidential candidate Efrain Alegre has said Paraguay is missing opportunities by maintaining its relationship with Taiwan. His main rival, Santiago Pena, a former finance minister from the ruling Colorado Party, vows to preserve Taipeis last South American alliance, which dates from 1957. The backdrop to this is that Paraguay a landlocked nation about the size of California in the heart of South America is a major food and renewable energy exporter. Still, its economic growth has averaged about 1.2% in the last five years, and about a quarter of its 7.5 million people live in poverty. Read more: Why Paraguay Vote Matters to US-China Rivalry: Balance of Power Public opinion surveys show a tight race between Alegre and Pena, both of whom enjoy hefty leads over a field of about 10 other contenders. Diana Alvarez hopes an opposition victory would lead to more spending on public health care and policing. I want people to remember when they vote what happened under Mario, she said in reference to incumbent President Mario Abdo Benitez, whose administration saw widespread protests over its management of the Covid-19 pandemic and a shortage of drugs and vaccines.People died because they didnt have access to health care, she said. Corruption and health care are hot button issues for Lorena Lesme, a 36-year-old dentist, who thinks Pena is the best qualified to run the country. His background and experience convince me more, she said after casting her ballot in the bedroom city of Lambare south of the capital. Story continues Here are more details on the main issues: Taiwan Paraguay cant directly sell its soy and beef exports to China, as its one of Taiwans few remaining diplomatic allies. That relationship is now in play as a coalition of conservatives and leftists tries to unseat the scandal-plagued Colorado Party that has lost presidential elections only once since the end of the Alfredo Stroessner dictatorship in 1989. The loss of Paraguay would be symbolic and could also set off a chain reaction where Taiwans remaining partners in the region cut ties, said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Wilson Centers Latin America program. The eventual election winner will probably face pressure from business groups to, at the very least, negotiate better terms of trade and investment with Taiwan, said Paraguay foreign policy analyst Julieta Heduvan. There is discontent across the entire political spectrum with what Taiwan offers Paraguay, she said. Corruption Corruption is a key election issue after the US government sanctioned two Colorado Party leaders, Vice President Hugo Velazquez and ex-President Horacio Cartes, for alleged graft and ties to terrorism. Alegre describes his coalition as an agent of change in a country he says is losing $2 billion a year to graft. The 60-year-old career politician has pledged to clean up a judiciary widely viewed as corrupt and win Paraguay investment-grade status, thus unleashing billions of dollars in new projects, he says. The US sanctions and a spat with outgoing President Mario Abdo Benitez have blunted efforts by Pena, 44, to convince voters to back a third consecutive Colorado government. However, the partys broad voter base and entrenched presence make it a force to be reckoned with. Economy and Taxes Alegre and Pena pledge to protect economic stability and spend more on social services like education and health care without touching low tax rates. Alegre vows to slash wasteful spending and claw back money lost to graft to fund his programs. Pena wants to collect more taxes by boosting growth. Despite still high uncertainty on the election outcomes, we see no major economic policy discontinuity risks in a scenario in which either Pena or Alegre take office, and maintain a constructive outlook on the country, JPMorgan Chase & Co analysts wrote in a report. Low taxes and expensive campaign promises could pressure the next president to win concessions from Brazil early on when both countries renegotiate power distribution and tariffs at the massive Itaipu hydroelectric dam. An agreement is massively important for Paraguays budget and its capacity to invest in critical infrastructure and fight poverty, Gedan said. (Updates with comments from voters in paragraphs 5 to 7) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The Maple Leafs winning their first playoff series since 2004 Saturday saw fans take their tears and screams to social media and then to Torontos streets, causing major traffic delays. The TTC said in a tweet around 10:35 p.m. that all downtown bus and streetcar routes are experiencing major delays due to traffic and pedestrian congestion. After informing commuters of the delays, the TTC couldnt help but add a Go Leafs Go to the tweet. The transit agency also said there was no service between King and St. Clair subway stations briefly while they deal with a trespasser on the tracks. It is unclear whether this is due to the Leafs game, but service has resumed as of 11:30 p.m. Toronto police are also cautioning people to drive carefully in the Yonge and Dundas area and consider alternate routes due to numerous people on the streets. Commuters can check the TTCs Twitter for service updates or visit its website. MH Mahdis Habibinia is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: mhabibinia@thestar.ca Read more about: SHARE: York Regional Police is warning the public after an uptick in fentanyl overdose incidents that left at least three people dead over the last two days in Markham. Authorities from the Criminal Investigations Bureau said that between April 28 and April 29, officers responded to three separate calls for drug overdosing near Robinson Street and Highway 48, believed to be connected to fentanyl. One other person was also treated for an overdose. Fentanyl, said York Regional Police, could be mistaken for other less-potent opioids like morphine or heroin, and depending on how its administered, the user may not notice the difference until its too late, easing the overdose. The potent pain reliever can sometimes contain contaminants that are hard or impossible to detect, the release added. The federal government has labelled the drug as dangerous, adding that a few grains of the odourless and tasteless drug can be enough to kill you. It is 20 to 40 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. This makes the risk of accidental overdose very high, the federal government added. According to latest available Health Canada data, there were 5,360 apparent opioid toxicity deaths in Canada last year between January and September or about 20 deaths per day. Of those, 81 per cent involved fentanyl. Signs for fentanyl overdose are shared among all opioids, including slow, irregular and shallow respirations, pinpoint pupils and muscular rigidity that escalate to seizures, unconsciousness and ultimately, coma. Never use drugs alone, said York Regional Police. Avoid mixing drugs and be very careful about dosage. In case of an overdose, the federal government advises administering naloxone and calling 911 for emergency medical assistance. Take-home naloxone kits are available at most pharmacies. A prescription is not needed, said the federal government. Naloxone temporarily reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, yet it wears off between 20 to 90 minutes after being injected or sprayed. Some pharmacies and community organizations in Ontario offer free dosage and training, yet not all carry the drug. Staying at the scene of an overdose is important to help save the life of the person experiencing an overdose, adds the federal government. The Good Samaritan, Drug Overdose Act, provides some legal protection for individuals who witness an overdose and call 911 or their local emergency number for help. SHARE: Hes been organic farming since before it was cool, runs his vintage Aston Martin on English wine, and consumes meat, fish and dairy products sparingly. For much of his long life as heir to the British throne, the former Prince of Wales has been pilloried for his activism and eco-interventions by future subjects who, he said, considered him completely dotty. Over the decades, King Charles III has given the British public many other reasons to compare him unfavourably with his long-reigning late mother. The collapse of his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales, revelations of his long-running extramarital affair with now-Queen Consort Camilla, and the unflattering details offered up in Spare, the memoir of his alienated second son. Amid all of the turmoil, though, his unwavering passion for environmental protection has been thoroughly vindicated. On the eve of his May 6 coronation, Charles finds himself at the leading edge of the global movement to tackle climate change, and carrying the expectation that he will continue driving for change from his throne. But what exactly will his long-held sentiments on environmental issues add up to? His ability to act as king and constitutional monarch is limited, after all, by the elected politicians beneath him (theres the rub, to paraphrase another famous prince), raising the prospect of Charles achieving his birthright and destiny only to be kept at arms length from the causes he has made his lifes work. The 74-year-old Green King, if we can so crown him, traces his passion back more than half a century. In February 1970, at the tender age of 21, he accompanied his father, prince Phillip, to Strasbourg, France, for a European environmental conference. Camilla, Charles and Chief R. Don Maracle of the Mohawks of Tyendinaga in Trenton, Ont., in 2017. GETTY IMAGES The New York Times reported that he wore a necktie printed with small whales perhaps a double nod to biodiversity threats and to the title bestowed upon him eight months earlier, Prince of Wales. He complimented America for efforts to clean up exhaust fumes from cars pollutants he said were also an affliction for him whilst commuting from the University of Cambridge to his royal headquarters in London. Ten days later, Charles delivered his maiden environmental speech in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, and spoke of being personally fascinated by the problems of conservation at a time when the whole idea has become immensely fashionable. In retrospect, that address makes him seem almost like a visionary, invoking now-common terms such as ecology and biosphere, and warning of the increased costs of cutting down on rampant pollution the nub of a debate that rages still. To install a filter plant at a factory is going to increase the production overhead costs, which in turn are going to be added to the price of the product, he warned. In the end it will be the general public, as consumers, who will have to pay. If the public proved unwilling to bear the burden of increased prices, the 21-year-old prince said, then all the effort spent bringing attention to the threats to the environment will have been a gigantic, costly and splendid waste of time. Fifty years on, he is still at it. His passions seem just as high, his message just as pressing. In 2020, he stood before attendees of the World Economic Forum in Davos and laid out a 10-point plan to shift the world toward a more sustainable economy, part of what he called his Sustainable Markets Initiative. If all the true costs are taken into account, the then-prince said, being socially and environmentally responsible should be the least expensive option. To hear such a perspective voiced by Canadas king is a delight for Perry Bellegarde, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. But its not a surprise. Bellegarde said there has long been respect for Charles among Indigenous people stretching back more than two decades to April 2001, when the prince travelled to Saskatchewan for a Cree ceremony that bestowed upon him the name Kisikawipisimwa miyo ohcikanawapamik, or, The Sun Watches Over Him in a Good Way. Our new monarch has made efforts to visit with Canadian Indigenous leaders in subsequent trips. In 2019, he invited Bellegarde to London and ask him to be a part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, which attempts to push the private sector to make the transition to low-carbon operations. Charles even consulted with First Nations elders over Zoom during the pandemic to talk about elders traditional knowledge. Hes got it in terms of sustainable development that were all connected to the land and to the water, and that what affects the animals affects us, and what affects the plants affects us, and what affects the water affects us as human beings, Bellegarde said. I teased him one time in a meeting: I swear to goodness, your Majesty, that you were First Nations in another life. The monarchs admiration is mutual. In a 2022 interview with Canadian author Margaret Atwood for BBC radio, Charles said he has long believed that First Nations people are the ones who best understand the issue of the environment. Their wisdom and understanding of what is sacred, the fact that in Canada, First Nations people have always believed that you have to think about the seventh unborn generation and its high time we paid more attention to their wisdom, he said. We are part of nature. We are nature. We are a microcosm of the macrocosm. He ended telling Atwood that my great ambition is how to rewrite the balance between humans and nature. All too often, though Charles has been crucified for the causes that raise his regal passions. When he purchased Highgrove House as a country home and converted it over the next decade into a fully organic farm, he first faced the psychological barrier or convincing workers that they could run a working farm without herbicides and pesticides. Charles feeds an orangutan during a visit to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, in 2017. GETTY IMAGES When he opened the doors and allowed outsiders an intimate glimpse of the farms inner workings, he was thought to be something of a nutter for indulging his herd of dairy cows in music therapy to keep them calm at milking time, or to talking to his plants. There were similar jokes when Charles revealed that the Aston Martin his mother bought him for his 21st birthday had received a Back to the Future-style conversion to run on surplus English wine and whey from the cheesemaking process. One day, it was running a little rough so he took it into the shop, one commenter smirked, and found that it was a quart low on caviar. But in the wake of the organic food craze, alternative fuels, free-range farming, renewable energies and the impacts of the ongoing climate crisis, King Charles no longer sounds so outlandish when he calls, as he did in a speech to the 2021 UN climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, for action at revolutionary levels and pace. I think, actually, that his views are right in line with where Canada is right now, said Nathan Tidridge, a history teacher and author from Waterdown, Ont., who is on the advisory board of Princes Charities Canada, a foundation established by the former Prince of Wales. The extent to which Charles, as king, is able to continue championing the causes and ideals he cares to much about is in doubt, though. Under the rules of the constitutional monarchy, the sovereign acts not on his own will or whim but on the advice of the government elected by the people. And last October, less than a month after the death of queen Elizabeth, Charles got his first taste of the new limits placed upon him. He had reportedly been planning to attend and deliver a speech at the annual UN climate change conference in Egypt but was advised not to attend by Liz Truss, who had just been sworn in Britain prime minister as successor to Boris Johnson. Conversations between monarchs and prime ministers are kept confidential, but with Truss winning the U.K. Conservative leadership race on the promise to promote things like oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, its not hard to imagine their relationship starting off with a strain. Hes expressed a great deal of interest in the environment in the past, said Mark Spencer, Truss minister of state for food, farming and fisheries. But I think in his new role, as the monarch, he is going to have a lot of other priorities. King Charles, to his credit, held his tongue. Truss soon resigned in disgrace over the rejection of her economic policies by financial markets and its impact on the British pound. Her successor, Rishi Sunak, arrived in office saying he would have advised Charles to go Egypt, but by then it was too late. Close observers dont expect Charles to be a docile king, happy to wave, shake hands and cut ribbons. Nor do they expect he will operate in the image of his mother, Elizabeth, who was famous as a repository from which no personal viewpoints or opinions emerged. Hes been in training for a long time and I think well see that hes definitely going to push things more than his mother ever did, said Tidridge. Bellegarde agrees that Charles will be an outspoken king all while respecting the need to avoid the political fray and avoid strong political statements. But, on the environment, at least, he can work around his royal restraints by highlighting novel ideas and promising practices, by raising up First Nations wisdom and bringing high-flying (and high-emitting) corporations down closer to the earth, by bringing the great light of his office and shining it in those places in need of illumination, Bellegarde said. As leader of the Commonwealth hes in a key position to bring the private sector together, to convene CEOs, which hes done, and heads of state, to focus on putting the planet first. Read more about: SHARE: The recent demonstrations in France against President Emmanuel Macrons proposed pension reforms are nothing new for the country. According to the interior ministry, a record 119,000 protesters marched in Paris alone on March 23 and 1.08 million marched in France thats one in every 65 people in the country. A new set of protests rocked the country after the constitutional court confirmed the legality of the reforms on April 14. And Monday May Day looks to be another flashpoint. Street protests are a legitimate forum for democracy for the French, says Daniel Beland, a professor of political science at McGill University who did his PhD in Paris. They view democracy as a continuous process, not something that happens just once every five years when they vote in local and national elections. All social classes, from blue-collar workers to the bourgeoisie, will join in. For example, the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) began in 2018 as a movement of the working class against rising fuel prices. Before that, 2013s Manif pour tous (Protest for All) assembled mainly right-wing and religious protesters against the introduction of same-sex marriage. Todays protests arent even the first ones against pension reform. In 1995, President Jacques Chirac had to abandon his reforms because protesters brought the country to a standstill (especially because teleworking was not commonplace at the time). They did this by shutting down railway lines, which run through most of the country and are essential for transportation, even in small towns, says Beland. The railway network is heavily centralized around Paris, which means that protesters who shut down Paris can shut down most of the country. Canada is far less centralized, so it would be more difficult to inflict the same pain here. One of the main reasons Macron is so unpopular today is that French society puts a high premium on self-expression, says Jean-Benoit Nadeau, the Montreal-based author (with his wife, Julie Barlow) of Sixty Million Frenchmen Cant Be Wrong, a book about the French world view based on their experiences during their years living in Paris. Workers in a company will expect to be consulted about major decisions, even if such a consultation would change nothing because the owners and senior executives have already made a decision. Macrons invocation of article 49.3 passing the pension reform by force instead of through a vote in Parliament was considered the ultimate shutdown of expression. It also means that the street protests today are not just about pension reforms, but about the perceived denial of democracy and the general feeling that Macron is out of touch. He is viewed as a puppet of big business, says Beland; Macrons background as an investment banker is viewed with suspicion. Instead of asking workers to give more, opposition parties across the political spectrum would prefer to increase corporate taxes, especially for giants like Amazon and Google. Beland says that Macron sees this as part of his political legacy: something thats not popular now, but that, 20 years from now, people will see was the right thing to do to preserve the French pension system He had the courage to reform the French pension system, something that several presidents before him failed at. This is Macrons second term as president and thus his legacy mandate, as French law bars him for standing for re-election again. Beland believes he will try to hold on for a few more months and wait for the protests to lose steam in the summer, when the French go on vacation and arent around to mobilize on the streets. When the trash bins arent removed for weeks and weeks, it smells bad. At some point, people get fed up with it, just like how people in Ottawa got fed up with the convoy. If Macron can brace for the next two or three months, he might get away with it. The trash in Paris has been removed, and strikes in early April were much smaller than at their height in March. A strike on the Paris metro system two weeks ago did not seriously impede transportation in the city. In the hipster Butte-aux-Cailles neighbourhood in Paris that day, the protests had already died down by the evening and turned into something more akin to an outdoor drinking party. Students sitting on pavement with a glass in their hand greatly outnumbered labour organizers in vests angrily demanding concessions from the government. But anger has mounted again now that Macron has pushed through the law. Protesters have brought pots and pans to drown out the voices of Macron and his ministers, and unions have called for fresh protests on May 1, International Workers Day (and a bank holiday in France). Macron still has four more years left in power for his opponents to make their voices heard. What are the French pension reforms about, anyway? The first pillar of the reforms is to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The French retired at 60 until president Nicolas Sarkozys reforms in 2010, and 64 would still be younger than most Europeans. Retiring at 62, or even 64, might sound like a luxury to Canadians; many international commentators deride the French as simply being lazy. But its a very different vision of society, counters Yan Chantrel, a French opposition politician who lives in Montreal and represents the interests of other French citizens who live overseas. Some Canadians think theres nothing in life but work but retirement doesnt mean disengagement, he adds. There are an enormous number of retirees in France who volunteer or who are part of clubs. They give a lot to society. They create art or they make music They also look after their grandchildren. We want to preserve this time for old people. The French actually dont dislike work, says Denis Latulippe, a professor at the Universite Laval and a director at Desjardins, a financial services company. They simply think that after (they) have worked or have delivered an adequate performance at work, they have the right to a vacation worthy of the name I have given, so now, I have the right to retire. The reforms also remove the special advantages that many workers had, allowing them to retire even earlier while still receiving a full pension. These regimes speciaux (special regimes) exist in many countries for, for instance, police officers, members of the military and prison guards in order to recognize the penibilite (the burden or hardship) of their job. In France, they also apply to workers on the national railways, the Paris metro system, thecentral bank and the Paris National Opera whose jobs might not be as hard as that of a police officer. The many unions representing these workers are proactive in organizing strikes. Unions cover less of the workforce in France (11 per cent in 2016, the most recent year with available data) than they do in Canada (26 per cent in 2016), says Beland, but they have a formal role in managing the state pension system, and are able to mobilize more than just their own members onto the streets. They frame the regimes speciaux as part of an attack to peoples entitlements and say that this is an attack against workers in general, says Beland, even if it affects only people covered by these regimes speciaux. How France compares to Canada Another important form of solidarity binds French workers together: intergenerational solidarity. France has a pay-as-you-go pension system, where todays workers pay for todays retirees; instead of saving for their own retirement, todays workers will rely on tomorrows workers to pay for their retirement. In contrast, Canadas pension system has three main components. Two are public: Old Age Security (OAS) and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), which pay a basic amount independent of workers lifetime contributions, and the Canada Pension Plan and Quebec Pension Plan, which pay more to those who earned (and thus contributed) more during their career. The third component are private pension plans, managed by individuals themselves. If I participate in a private pension scheme today, its as if Im putting money in a bank account with my name on it that I will use when I retire, says Latulippe. Theres no solidarity with others there. Pensions are as fundamental to French identity as health insurance is to Canadian identity, says Latulippe. The French associate private pensions with an unwanted Anglo-Saxon cultural invasion. (Public) pensions are the incarnation of French solidarity, he says. Talking about private pension funds is like trying to break the French apart. The Canadian social contract involves ensuring that the public pension system (CPP/QPP) survives and that those on low incomes have a basic pension (OAS and GIS). We cover the basics of peoples retirements. Indeed, there was anger when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper raised the age of eligibility for OAS and GIS to 67 from 65; other parts of the pension system werent touched, and Trudeau had an easy time reversing the cavalierly introduced policy, says Latulippe. For those who earned higher incomes when they were working, its their own responsibility and not the governments to ensure they have sufficient income in retirement. On continental Europe, theres less room for personal responsibility. Shaky financial footing But although the French government has much more responsibility for its citizens retirement, its pension system is nowhere near as financially sound. Its reserve funds (the investment assets it holds to manage funding shortfalls and generate more assets for future shortfalls) are only seven per cent of its GDP, compared to roughly 26 per cent in Canada. In addition, almost 180 per cent of Canadas yearly GDP was invested in private pension schemes in Canada in 2021, compared to only 12 per cent in France. The French systems shakier financial foundations, says Latulippe, have convinced Macron of the need for reform. The pension system is currently balanced, according to projections by the Conseil dorientation de retraites, a non-partisan public body cited by politicians from all political parties in France. But the problem is that the system is predicted to spend more than it brings in for at least the next 20 years, in the best-case scenario. Despite this, opposition parties contest the need for reform, although they do not contest the projections by the Conseil. Without reforms, there are projected deficits on the order of (at least) 0.5 per cent (of GDP) per year, every year, says Herve Boulhol, a pensions economist at the OECD. The most reasonable assumptions show a deficit for the next 50 years and 0.5 per cent is with very optimistic assumptions. Deficits accumulate and become debt, so after 50 years, this would be on the order of an additional debt of 25 per cent of GDP. Winners and losers So under the assumption that pension reform is necessary, three approaches can bring the system back into balance: reducing benefits, increasing contributions or increasing the retirement age. France already spends 14 per cent of its GDP on public pensions, which is the third highest among OECD countries; Canada spends only five per cent of its GDP on public pensions. But pensions (relative to average wages) are already anticipated to go down over the next 40 years one component by 10 per cent and another component by what Boulhol calls a drastic 50 per cent on average for those in the private sector and 35 per cent for civil servants. (The estimates of future pension deficits already take these reduced pensions into account.) Frances employees and employers must also contribute, in total, 28 per cent of employees salaries to fund pensions, which is the second highest in the OECD, where the average is just 18 per cent. So the most obvious way, from an international perspective, to improve the pension systems finances is through raising the retirement age, says Boulhol. But choosing how to carry out pension reform is a political decision, Boulhol adds, because some people will lose out. According to Macrons opponents across the political spectrum, it is those who work in more menial and physical jobs who will lose. They have lower life expectancy and fewer years of life expectancy in good health. Macrons opponents claim that the proposed reforms raise the retirement age to 64 for everyone, so those with lower life expectancy by and large the lower classes will have fewer years of good health in retirement. This is debatable: Those who have lower life expectancy often start work before the age of 20 and are still entitled to retire before the age of 64 (as long as they have put in a certain number of years of work). However, it is true that a uniform increase of two years for everyone is a larger hit for those with lower life expectancy. The government has also admitted that women will be slightly more penalized than men, because they have generally spent more time out of the workforce and thus will need to work longer to meet the number of years for a full pension. The reform is also harsh to those in their 50s who were on the cusp of retirement, says Nadeau. Whats more, these workers also have the toughest time looking for work because, with the exception of an underclass of poorly regarded and poorly paid service jobs, the French receive a lot of on-the-job training. Tax collectors will get six months of training, says Nadeau. Even blue-collar workers will be trained extensively for what they do. If you hire someone whos 50, youre hiring someone for (maybe) eight years. You have to train him for six months out of those eight years. Itd be better to train a young person. The French have a strong streak of ageism, says Nadeau. And an employment contract is often a prerequisite to signing a rental contract, as insurers wont insure landlords without this guarantee. It can also be hard to open a bank account without a job. Some opposition politicians believe that before increasing the retirement age, the government needs to improve the employment prospects of older workers.So this months ruling by the constitutional court angered the opposition beyond just paving the way for Macron to pass his reforms: It also struck down several articles in the proposed reform that made companies more accountable for how many older workers they hired, saying that they were tangential to the main reforms. Jeffrey Mo is a Canadian journalist based in London. Read more about: SHARE: TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) Voters in Uzebekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the countrys president to stay in office until 2040. Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive. With four hours until the polls closed, the central elections commission reported turnout at more than 62%, well above the 50% threshold for the referendum to be valid. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. Although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mirziyoyevs predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the regions most repressive countries. Mirziyoyev, who took over after Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum originally was planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of deadly unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding Karakalpakstans right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, that proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistans territory but has only about 5% of the countrys 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital, Nukus; at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. SHARE: PHOENIX (AP) Paramedics summoned to an Arizona retirement community last summer found an 80-year-old woman slumped inside her mobile home, enveloped in the suffocating 99-degree (37 C) heat she suffered for days after her air conditioner broke down. Efforts to revive her failed, and her death was ruled environmental heat exposure aggravated by heart disease and diabetes. In Americas hottest big metro, older people like the Sun Lakes mobile home resident accounted for most of the 77 people who died last summer in broiling heat inside their homes, almost all without air conditioning. Now, the heat dangers long known in greater Phoenix are becoming familiar nationwide as global warming creates new challenges to protect the aged. From the Pacific Northwest to Chicago to North Carolina, health clinics, utilities and local governments are being tested to keep older people safe when temperatures soar. Theyre adopting rules for disconnecting electricity, mandating when to switch on communal air conditioning and improving communication with at-risk people living alone. Situated in the Sonoran Desert, Phoenix and its suburbs are ground zero for heat-associated deaths in the U.S. Such fatalities are so common that Arizonas largest county keeps a weekly online tally during the six-month hot season from May through October. Temperatures this year were already hitting the high 90s the first week of April. A WARMING WORLD Phoenix really is the model for what well be seeing in other places, said researcher Jennifer Ailshire, a native of the desert city now at the University of Southern Californias Leonard Davis School of Gerontology where she studies how environmental factors affect health and aging. The world is changing rapidly and I fear we are not acting fast enough to teach people how harmful rising temperatures can be. A 2021 study estimated more than a third of U.S. heat deaths each year can be attributed to human-caused global warming. It found more than 1,100 deaths a year from climate change-caused heat in some 200 U.S. cities, many in the East and Midwest, where people often dont have air conditioning or are not acclimated to hot weather. Another study showed that in coming decades dangerous heat will hit much of the world at least three times as hard as climate change worsens. Isolated and vulnerable, the heat victims last year during Maricopa Countys deadliest summer on record included a couple in their 80s without known relatives, an 83-year-old woman with dementia living alone after her husband entered hospice care and a 62-year-old Rwandan refugee whose air conditioner broke down. While most of the countys confirmed 378 heat-associated deaths were outdoors, those who died indoors were especially vulnerable because of isolation, mobility issues or medical problems as outside summertime highs hit 115 degrees (46.1 C). Older people of color, with a greater tendency for chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure are especially at risk. In Chicago, three African American women in their 60s and 70s died in spring 2022 when the centrally controlled heating in their housing complex remained on and the air conditioning was off despite unseasonable 90-degree weather in mid-May. An undetermined number of older people died during the summer of 2021 when an unexpected heat wave swept across the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Canada reported that coroners confirmed more than 600 people died from the heat in neighboring British Columbia. CHECKING ON OLDER PEOPLE Many U.S. cities, including Phoenix, have plans to protect people during heat waves, opening cooling centers and distributing bottled water. But many older people need personalized attention, said Dr. Aaron Bernstein, who directs the Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. If you are elderly and sick you are unlikely to get into an Uber or bus to get to a cooling center, said Bernstein, who vividly recalls a 1995 heat wave that killed 739 mostly older people in Chicago, his hometown. So many were socially isolated and at tremendous risk. Sociologist Eric M. Klinenberg, who wrote about the catastrophe in his book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, has noted social contacts can protect older people during disasters. Older people are more prone to live alone, he said, and they are the most likely to die. Thats true of all extreme weather. When Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, around half of the 1,000 people killed were 75 or older, most of them drowned when their homes flooded. Chicago encourages residents to check on older relatives and neighbors on hot days and city workers visit peoples home. But last years deaths at a Chicago apartment house shows more is needed. COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS CAN HELP Bernsteins center is working with relief organization Americares to help community health clinics prepare vulnerable patients for heat waves and other extreme weather. A "climate resilience tool kit" includes tips like making sure patients have wall thermometers and know how to check weather forecasts on a smart phone. Patients learn simple ways to beat the heat, like taking a shower or sponge bath to cool off and drinking plenty of water. Alexis Hodges, a family nurse practitioner at the Community Care Clinic of Dare in coastal North Carolina, said rising temperatures can cause renal failure in patients with kidney problems and exacerbate dehydration from medications like diuretics. Hodges contributed to the climate kit from a region that experiences all the weather events it covers: extreme heat, hurricanes, flooding and wildfires. At the nonprofit Mountain Park Health centers that annually serve 100,000 patients in greater Phoenix, nurse practitioner Anthony Carano has written numerous letters to utility companies for low-income patients with chronic conditions, asking them not to turn off power despite missed payments. This is such an at-risk population, Carano said of the overwhelmingly Latino patient population that suffer from diabetes and other ailments aggravated by warm weather. About one-tenth of the patients are 60 and older. Francisca Canes, a 77-year-old patient visiting for back pain, said shes fortunate to live with two daughters who take care of her during hot spells. In the summertime, she stays in shape by joining several women friends at 4 a.m. most mornings for a 4-mile (6.4 kilometers) walk. AIR CONDITIONER REPLACEMENT AND REPAIR Maricopa County in April used federal funds to to allocate another $10 million to its air conditioner replacement and repair program for people who qualify, brining total funding to $13.65 million. In greater Phoenix and several rural Arizona counties, older low-income people can apply for free repair or replacement of air conditioners through a separate non-profit program. The Healthy Homes Air Conditioning Program run by the nonprofit Foundation for Senior Living last summer ensured about 30 people got new air conditioners or repairs and helped others with home improvements. Priority goes to older people, those with disabilities and families with very small children, who are also vulnerable to the heat. A person living alone must earn $27,180 or less, said Laura Simone, program coordinator for FSL Home Improvements. The program recently installed energy efficient windows in the 1930s home of 81-year-old widow Socorro Silvas. I am so grateful they are taking care of low-income people like me, said Silvas, who got her air conditioner in the middle of a sweltering summer several years ago through a program run by Tolleson, a suburb west of Phoenix. Utility companies can also help protect vulnerable people by halting power disconnections during hot periods. In Arizona, air conditioning is a matter of life and death, especially if you are older, said Dana Kennedy, the state director of AARP, which has fought for stricter regulations preventing summertime power cutoffs. STRICTER REGULATIONS New rules for Arizona utilities were adopted after 72-year-old Stephanie Pullman died in August 2018 at her Phoenix area home as outside temperatures reached 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius). The medical examiner's office said Pullman died from environmental heat exposure combined with cardiovascular disease after her power was shut off over a $176.84. debt. The Arizona agency that regulates utilities now bans electricity cutoffs for nonpayment during the hottest months. After the three Chicago women died last year, residential buildings for older people in the city now must provide air-conditioned common areas and administrators no longer have to keep centrally controlled heat on during unseasonably warm weather. The Illinois state Senate recently passed legislation requiring that all affordable housing have air-conditioning operating when the temperature is 80 degrees (26.6 C) or higher and must be operable by residents. Kennedy said mobile homes are especially dangerous as high temperatures transform them into a hot metal containers. A lot are not insulated, said Kennedy, who has advised an Arizona State University group working to make mobile homes safer with more surrounding shade and on-site cooling centers. These heat deaths truly are heartbreaking. But in many cases we can help prevent them. ____ This report was written with the support of a journalism fellowship from The Gerontological Society of America, The Journalists Network on Generations and The John A. Hartford Foundation. Read more about: SHARE: HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) An Alabama judge has rejected a former police officers claim that he should be immune under self-defense laws from a new trial on murder charges. William Ben Darby, whose 2021 murder conviction was overturned in March by the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals, had asked for a hearing to determine whether Alabamas stand your ground law should shield the former Huntsville officer from a second trial. Madison County Circuit Judge Alan Mann ruled against the motion Tuesday without elaborating. Darby was on duty in 2018 when he shot and killed Jeffrey Parker, who was holding a gun to his own head. Parker had phoned 911 saying he was armed and planned to kill himself. Darby was sentenced to 25 years in prison after a jury convicted him. A different judge ruled Darby was not immune under self-defense rules before the original trial. But his lawyers said that ruling needs to be reconsidered after the appeals court ruled the trial judge should have given jurors different instructions on evaluating the reasonableness of Darbys use of deadly force in that situation. If the trial court applied the wrong self-defense standard at trial, then the trial court presumably applied the wrong standard at the immunity hearing, too, lawyers Robert Tuten and Nick Lough argued in their April 13 motion. Darbys defense attorneys have maintained the shooting was justified because he feared Parker would harm officers. Alabamas self-defense law says officers are justified in using deadly physical force when they believe it necessary to defend themselves or others from what they reasonably believe to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force. Trial testimony indicated Darby shot Parker, who was sitting on a sofa holding a gun to his head, within seconds of entering the home. Another officer had been speaking with Parker trying to convince him not to kill himself, according to trial testimony. She and a third officer on the scene testified at trial that they did not perceive Parker to be an imminent threat, although he was holding a gun. It would later be determined that Parker was actually holding a flare gun that had been painted black but there is no evidence indicating that any of the officers knew that, the appellate court wrote. Video from Darbys body camera showed the officer entered the home and told Parker to put the gun down before shooting. Darby was released from prison April 13 and is scheduled to be retried Dec. 11. SHARE: We are already in week two of the deadly fighting between Sudans military and the paramilitary organization known as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the chaotic evacuation of Western citizens proves an end to the conflict is nowhere in sight. The possibility of the battle escalating into a full-blown humanitarian crisis is growing by the hour. Sudan already accommodates some of the biggest refugee populations in Africa and the current instability could be a catalyst for a refugee crisis of unparalleled magnitude. Already the current strife is expected to inflame tensions in the Horn of Africa. Countries like Chad, Ethiopia, and Libya, which are already grappling with internal conflicts, will be among the first to feel the impact before it reaches Europe and beyond. But the West is not prepared. In fact, its decisions have led to this problem. Back in 2014, the European Union (EU) entered into a contentious agreement with Horn of African nations to finance local initiatives aimed at regulating the influx of migrants from the sub-Saharan Desert into Europe. However, the Khartoum Process also funds groups notorious for human rights atrocities, including Sudans RSF. In 2019, after the RSF killed more than 120 demonstrators at an anti-government protest, the EU halted its financial aid to Sudan. But it still provides support to countries like Libya, where migrants are subjected to brutal mistreatment. With the Wests migrant strategies in the African region and at home failing, its clear it must rethink how it can prepare Africa and itself. After all, its only going to get worse. In the next 30 years, the climate crisis, of which Africa and the wider Global South have little responsibility for, will lead to 1.2 billion climate refugees. While the conflict in Sudan is a showdown over Sudans long-anticipated transition to civilian governance, the reality is there is also a global surge in civil wars. However, these conflicts cannot be attributed solely to political volatility. Rather, the escalation of violence is also a consequence of climate-induced economic uncertainty, which the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) discovered has led to almost half of internal clashes globally over the last six decades, including Sudan. During the early 2000s, the RSF, known at the time as Janjaweed militias, were accused of perpetrating a genocide campaign in Darfur, Western Sudan which resulted in the deaths of approximately 500,000 civilians. The United Nations later declared this conflict was the first-ever to be directly influenced by climate change and resource shortages, cautioning climate wars would become the new norm. Rather than ignoring what is happening in Africa as shown by the absence of EU leaders at a recent African climate summit the West must redirect its attention to the development and protection of African nations. Besides revisiting outdated and harmful migration policies, it is imperative we forge stronger connections with non-governmental organizations and civil society figures who can provide viable alternatives to volatile and fragile political systems. For instance, climate interfaith NGO Faith For Our Planet (FFOP), which was established by Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, the Secretary General of the Islamic NGO Muslim World League (MWL), brings together civil society leaders to find solutions to climate change in the Global South. Earlier this year, FFOP organized the Faith and Climate Forum in The Gambia, where they educated African civil society leaders on climate action and trained them to engage with their communities on the issue, effectively surpassing political influence. It is urgent that we implement climate and refugee mitigation strategies in Africa and other parts of the Global South, not only through grassroots initiatives but also through larger international efforts. We must follow through on promises regarding the Loss and Damage Fund, while also prioritizing climate security, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding at upcoming COP and UN conferences. Because without immediate action, Africa will be the epicentre of a multitude of intersecting crises, all of which will inevitably impact the wider world. AbduRahman Sayed is a frequent commentator on Eritrean and international media as a political analyst. SHARE: The mayoral election is shaping up to be a referendum on what kind of a city Toronto is and what it wants to be. All elections are referendums of sorts, but this one seems profound: no incumbent, multiple issues like housing and transit in various stages of crisis, a city in decline and most candidates declaring theyre the one to fix it. Lurking behind many of these interrelated issues are some other questions for voters. Is Toronto a mean city? Is it cruel? Is it trustworthy? The recent Toronto ombudsmans report on encampment evictions brings these questions into stark focus and should be part of this election. While then-mayor John Tory dismissed calls for a full inquiry, something that would have investigated police activity, the ombudsmans report looks specifically at how city hall handled the evictions and paints a damning picture of unacceptable city operations that prioritized speed in clearing the encampments over the well-being of homeless people. Thats mean and cruel, all to project an image of having done something, of having cleaned up the problem, when it really was an out of sight, out of mind operation to appease those who didnt like the look of encampments. Barely any councillors raised real objections beyond some perfunctory statements and the cruelty went largely unchecked by elected officials across the political spectrum. Nobody, in fact, likes encampments: not housing or homeless advocates, nor those who provided aid to them. The encampments were a refuge of last resort in a city that was not providing adequate support for people. Ombudsman Kwame Addo also noted there was no provision for the mental health of homeless people during evictions, but rather a focus on wartime speed despite no evidence of a need for such urgency. Yet we were told it was urgently important to clear them. The report is also critical of unclear and confusing communications from the city and a lack of transparency. Mean and cruel, but the city was also rendered untrustworthy due to poor communication. Again, few councillors are willing to find ways to speak out on this issue, but others in civil society are calling for this all to be a bigger part of the election. The chair and president of the anti-poverty and human rights charity Maytree Foundation, Alan Broadbent and Elizabeth McIsaac, put out a call this week that making encampments obsolete should be a priority for Torontos next mayor. Torontos mayoral candidates need to address the many questions that encampments raise, and they should begin with the most obvious: clear people to where? they write, pointing out shelters did not meet the needs of Torontos homeless population. Out of sight, out of mind does not work. Its cruel and dishonest. A new documentary is premiering this week at Torontos Hot Docs festival, telling the story of one hero in all this. Somebody Lives Here is an intimate and frustrating portrait of Khaleel Seivwrights incredible act of kindness: he quit his full-time job as a carpenter and started building tiny shelters. An innovative design for a stopgap measure, the city ultimately sent him a cease and desist letter, putting an end to his project. Director Zack Russell said he was inspired to make the documentary while feeling helpless and depressed during the pandemic and coming across a news item about Seivwright. Here was this person on a mission to help people survive, said Russell. Both the simplicity and radical nature of that really hooked me. Russell said he was naive about the issue until he started following Seivwright with a camera and was then startled at how hard governments make it to survive when unhoused, beyond the underfunding of shelters and public housing. Im talking about the little things that make life almost impossible, he said. Like locking public bathrooms so people cant use them, or requiring someone to call a phone number every 30 minutes, when they have no phone and its minus 5 outside, in the hopes that they might at some point be able to secure a bed. As frustrating and revealing as the documentary is to watch, Russell said Seivwrights tiny shelter saga is ultimately hopeful. I actually think a lot of people in Toronto want our city to be a more humane, less cruel place, he said. We dont want people to die outside in the cold. Most people probably dont want to fund a shelter system that is broken, unsafe, sometimes deadly. Thats why thousands of people donated money to Khaleels project. Thats why so many volunteers showed up and built tiny shelters. Thats why businesses donated building materials. Thats something any mayoral campaign can build on. It will take a long time to repair the damage to Torontos trust and make this a less cruel place, but an election is a time of renewal and a great time to start. "Someone Lives Here" will screen during HotDocs on May 4 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and stream from May 5-9 at hotdocs.ca Shawn Micallef is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Follow him on Twitter: @shawnmicallef Read more about: SHARE: To find a multi-bagger stock, what are the underlying trends we should look for in a business? In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Pelikan International Corporation Berhad's (KLSE:PELIKAN) returns on capital, so let's have a look. 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. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Pelikan International Corporation Berhad: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.12 = RM91m (RM1.2b - RM421m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). Therefore, Pelikan International Corporation Berhad has an ROCE of 12%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 8.1% generated by the Commercial Services industry. Check out our latest analysis for Pelikan International Corporation Berhad roce While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Pelikan International Corporation Berhad, check out these free graphs here. What Does the ROCE Trend For Pelikan International Corporation Berhad Tell Us? Pelikan International Corporation Berhad's ROCE growth is quite impressive. The figures show that over the last five years, ROCE has grown 35% whilst employing roughly the same amount of capital. So it's likely that the business is now reaping the full benefits of its past investments, since the capital employed hasn't changed considerably. It's worth looking deeper into this though because while it's great that the business is more efficient, it might also mean that going forward the areas to invest internally for the organic growth are lacking. Story continues Our Take On Pelikan International Corporation Berhad's ROCE As discussed above, Pelikan International Corporation Berhad appears to be getting more proficient at generating returns since capital employed has remained flat but earnings (before interest and tax) are up. And a remarkable 105% total return over the last five years tells us that investors are expecting more good things to come in the future. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist. On a final note, we've found 2 warning signs for Pelikan International Corporation Berhad that we think you should be aware of. If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. 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 The May 6 coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be historic. Britains reigning monarch since September last year, the King and his Queen Consort Camilla will be formally crowned at Westminister Abbey that day. From the investiture ceremony to the big coronation day, it will be a long weekend of many events, lunches and community events. The ceremony will include the Recognition, the Coronation Oath, the Anointing, the Investiture and the Enthronement and Homage. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the coronation was a unique moment for the country. As the first coronation ceremony in 70 years, its a critical moment in modern British history. While most other world monarchies have discontinued this pompous event, Britain still continues. King Charles now also heads the Commonwealth, a group of 54 independent countries comprising 2.4 billion people. He needs to show the Commonwealth and the world his reign would be modern, and the Commonwealth would be inclusive. There is a growing demand for reparation payments and an apology for slavery. The guest list includes other monarchs like Monacos Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, Japans Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, Polands President Duda, and President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other dignitaries. They will be guests at a British coronation for the first time in 900 years. Most British royal family members will attend, including William, Prince of Wales, his wife Katherine, and their children. Notable absentees include Meghan Merkel, but her husband, Prince Harry, will be present; US President Joe Biden will be absent, but his wife, Jill Biden, will lead the US delegation. The guest list for Charles ceremony has been slashed from 8,000 to just 2,000. The service has been planned to represent different faiths and community groups. Charles has long expressed interest in all religions, regardless of race or religious beliefs. That brings us to the larger question of whether the British want the monarchy to continue, as there has been debate in the country on this issue. While some would like the continuation of the monarchy, others consider it a burden on the countrys economy, particularly the younger generation. Some anti-monarchy groups feel it might seem out of place in 2023. Does such an event hold the significance it once did, and does the monarch need one? A new YouGov opinion poll to assess the public mood before the coronation revealed that Charles is not unpopular but is certainly less popular than his mother and son, Prince William. The survey suggests broad support for the monarchy, with 58 per cent preferring it to an elected head of state which was supported by 26 per cent. Only 32 per cent backed the monarchy. Moreover, while those over 65 support the monarchy at 78 per cent, the young are far less enthusiastic. The King reshuffled royal residences, staged his first overseas state visit and held a sleepover at Windsor Castle. The new postage stamps bearing the image of King Charles III without the crown released by Royal Mail is in line with his wishes. Also, Charles rejected Heathrows offer to name Terminal 5 after him, an honour it also extended to his mother. Terminal 2 became the Queens Terminal in 2014. There were doubts about how effective Charles would be as King. In the past, his broken marriage with Diana left him unpopular. After many years, now this is changing. People are willing to accept Charles and Queen Camilla. He impressed royalists and non-royalists during his first six months on the job. His issues of interest include climate change, employment prospects for young people, and interfaith relations. Green activists are thrilled that the world has, at last, a king who is passionate about the environment. There is an Indian connection with the coronation. Previous queens have worn the famous 105-karat Koh-i-Noor diamond, mined in Golconda to coronations. Many expected Camilla would do so, but the diamond was removed from the crown and sent to the Tower of London for public display to avoid controversy. India has demanded the return of the diamond, and Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan have also claimed the jewel in the crown. After the coronation, King plans to downsize the royal household and slim down the numbers of the working royals. His plans include cutting down on the inefficiencies of the royal household. The Sunday Times reported Charles wanted Buckingham Palace, Clarence House, Windsor Castle, and Balmoral to be transformed into public places. Politically, too the King would like to be more flexible than his mother. He has developed a good rapport with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He has already said he will abide by the constitutional principle to avoid controversy as King In recent years, the phrase the Idea of India, as a concept, a theory or a slogan, has been popularized amongst political ideologues, intellectuals and left-leaning historians. Books and articles have also been written advancing individual ideas about the core values of our motherland. Attempts have been made to define and re-define Hinduism and Hindutva and how Mother India looked in the past, how she manifests herself at present and how she should shape in future. Political parties are vying with each other to adopt an ideology which would give them the maximum gains in electoral politics. Swords are out for a battle to fight out the clash of ideas. None of the leftist, centrist and rightist versions of the idea of India will pass the test of credibility and authenticity simply because all of them are born out of political compulsions of electoral gains, which only exacerbate the caste and communal divide ignoring the core values, ethos, heritage, history and culture of the great Indian civilization. The world has seen the rise and fall of many magnificent civilizations. The most notable cradles of civilizations have been: 1. Mesopotamian (8000- 2000 BCE: 6000 years), 2. Ancient Egypt (3100-30 BCE: 3000 years), 3. Ancient India (3000-1700 BCE: 1300 years), 4. Ancient China (6000-1750 BCE: 4250 years), 5. Caral-Supe civilization of the Andes-Coastal Peru: 5000 years old, 6. Olmec Civilization of Mexico (1600-350 BCE:1250 years), 7. Greek Civilization (1299- 323 BCE till the death of Alexander: about1000 years), and 8. Roman Civilization (625 BCE476 CE: about 1000 years). It has been the greatest tragedy in human history that all the great civilizations excepting the Chinese and the Indian, were obliterated from the face of the Earth either by apocalyptic natural disasters or by marauding invaders. In the latter case, especially for ancient Asia Minor, the Middle East and the North African civilizations, waves of invasions, initially for looting and plundering but converted later into religious crusades, destroyed their art, architecture, heritage, culture, seats of learning and places of worship forcing them into total submission and conversion to the new religion. It is a cruel irony of history that invariably, a highly developed and civilized culture was supplanted by an inferior civilizational culture of the barbarians who destroyed everything including their gods and goddesses. The beautiful statues of Greek and Roman gods and goddesses were razed to the ground. In China, the Communists, and not the invaders, banned and banished them from their land. It is only in India that the mythical gods and goddesses are still living in full glory and are still being worshipped with the chanting of the original Vedic mantras. Of the two surviving and continuing civilizations, the Chinese has been the least affected by invasions and they had an uninterrupted monarchy protecting their vast territories for nearly 4000 years (2070 BCE-1912 CE). While they didnt have an organized religion of their own, they followed folklore, and a mixture of the teachings of Lao Tse, Confucious and Buddha. China excelled in military art, warfare, crafts and technological inventions (like paper, printing etc.), which gave them prosperity. But China had never seen the kind of flowering of art, culture, architecture, literature, science and religious reforms as witnessed in ancient India. China, through their scholars, took all knowledge from India but gave back nothing of their secrets to India. Owing to the lack of proper documentation and recorded history, the glorious achievements of ancient India in various fields were shrouded in mystery and almost went into oblivion till Sir William Jones (1746-1794), a British philologist and a radical political thinker came to Calcutta and established the Asiatic Society in January 1784 and told the world how great the Indian civilization was. Entranced by Indian culture, this puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William studied the Vedas and Sanskrit and became a scholar of ancient India and a top Orientalist (expert in Indo-Aryan languages) in his short life. Later, the discovery of the Indus Valley civilization by the archeologists of the Archeological Survey of India ~ Harappa (by Dayaram Sahni), Mohenjo-Daro (by Rakhal Das Banerjee) and 62 ancient sites in Sind (by Nani Gopal Majumdar, who was shot dead near his camp by bandits) ~ dispelled all doubts about the antiquity of Indian civilization. William Jones was the first person to showcase to the world the ancient civilization and rich heritage of India. Till then, the Europeans and the New World had no idea about ancient India which was for them a land of mystics, snakes and rope tricks and an area of darkness. Western historians like the French doyen, Fernand Braudel, and British historians including Arnold Toynbee had lots of negativities about India. Indian historians like Romila Thapar and Sumit Sarker who saw Indian history through British and Marxist eyes had written history in a manner which had the effect of distorting the truth about India. It is A L Basham (1914-1986), a British-Australian Sanskritist historian of India (who married an Indian and died in India), who dispelled the negativities spread by Western historians and proved with concrete evidence how great Indian civilization was ~ the most wonderful civilization on Earth. Bashams classic work The Wonder That Was India (Sidgwick & Jackson, London 1954) still remains the most vivid and authentic account of ancient India highlighting the political, social, economic, cultural and literary achievements during the reigns of the enlightened kings. Bashams subsequent treatises on Indian culture and religions have offered authoritative explanation of various aspects of the Indic civilization. After the Vedic period (1700- 900 BCE), ancient India had witnessed at least three renaissances, very similar to the renaissance of ancient Greece and later modern day Italy. These were: a. The Epic Period (900- 520 BCE); b. The Glorious Maurya period (320 -200 BCE); and c. The Golden Gupta period (300-BCE-500 CE). The Epic Period and the preceding period saw the development of the two oldest languages of the world ~ Tamil and Sanskrit. Many scholars claim that Tamil is older than Sanskrit. The controversy is meaningless because as pointed out by Sri Aurobindo in his The Secret of the Veda, the two languages were contemporary as evidenced by the fact that a large number of Sanskrit words have found their way in Tamil. Sanskrit, which is considered to be the most perfect language in the world, is the mother of all Indian languages (except Tamil) and other Indo-Aryan languages like German. The people who constructed the Sanskrit language and its grammar, and composed the four Vedas, the Upanishads (108), the Puranas (18), the Panchatantra, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata including the Bhagavat Gita must have been super-humans having astonishing skills, some believe divine skills. The Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the greatest epics of all time, remain the greatest treasure of the ancient world and the Gita the greatest philosophical text. German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was highly impressed with the spiritual knowledge of the Upanishads and said that it is the most profitable and elevating reading which is possible in the world. In addition, ancient India had ten Schools (Astika and Nastika) of philosophical thought. During this period, Gautama Buddha (563-483 BCE), with his philosophy of non-violence, peace and compassion (Ashtamarg or Noble Eight-fold Path) changed the world forever. The Mauryan period is marked by the advent of Buddhism, great personalities like Chandragupta Maurya and Chanakya or Kautilya (who wrote Arthashstra) and the glorious reign of Ashoka the Great, who spread the message of non-violence and peace throughout the world. Emperor Ashoka (304-232 BCE), who embraced Buddhism after the deadly Kalinga war, had been one of the greatest kings of the world who ruled with the principles of non-violence, peace and social welfare. His empire covered large parts of the sub-continent stretching from Afghanistan in the West to the eastern boundaries of Bengal. His emissaries including his own daughter Sanghamitra carried the message of peace and love and spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia. The famous Ashoka edicts at various places tell the moral principles of his administration. The Ashoka Iron Pillars which have not collected rust even after 2,000 years demonstrate the excellence of metallurgical industry of the era. One of the worlds oldest universities, Takshashila or Taxila (5th century BCE to 5th century CE) reached great heights, especially in Buddhist studies during the Mauryan Empire. During the Gupta period, known as the Golden Age of Indian history, the Indian civilization reached its pinnacle. It witnessed a renaissance similar to what happened in Greece during the same time and whether there was any connection between the two is not known. The reign of Vikramaditya, famous for his Nava Ratna council at his capital Ujjain, produced a galaxy of geniuses in art, culture, literature, astronomy, mathematics and science. Poet and dramatist Kalidasa, known as the Indian Shakespeare, produced Sanskrit plays of incomparable beauty which amazed the West. Johann Wolfgang Goethe, the German poet and dramatist was so enamoured with Kalidasas Abhijnanasakuntalam that he used it for his famous play The Faust. In a poem, he said (1791): If you wish to see the young flowers spring and ready to pick fruits of summer at once or if you wish to see that object which pleases, hypnotizes, delights and quenches you at once or if you wish to see the earth and heaven in one look, I invoke the name of Shakuntala and all quests are answered at once. Goethe felt that nothing like Shakuntala existed in world literature. (The writer is a former Dy. Comptroller &Auditor General of India and a former Ombudsman of Reserve Bank of India. He is also a writer of several books and can be reached at [email protected]) The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camila on 6 May at Westminster Abbey is reason to rejoice for a local girl from Hooghly. Reason! She holds a special place in the ceremony as she has designed the queens dress and a broach for the king, to be worn for the evening. Priyanka Mallick will be participating at the royal ceremony, virtually, even though she has an invite to be present personally. Making India proud, Priyanka was initially asked to design for the queen but later also asked to suggest for the king something unique. The designs were confirmed after correspondence with officials from Buckingham Palace for the last six months. Priyanka had also done Queen Elizabeths crown design earlier (tiara), which Queen Elizabeth II of London wore during platinum jubilee celebration to mark the 70th year of accession of the queen Elizabeth II. They have supported me in reaching my designs to the royal couple. My designs, descriptions and thought process were much appreciated, said the Hooghly girl. The designer, who works from her workshop in Hooghlys Badinan village has got online degrees from Milan, Italy and Harward and Stanford University, USA. A member of Royal Commonwealth Society of UK, she has got an appreciation letter too from the royal office. Talking about her designs and the dress Queen Camila will wear, Priyanka Said, Red rose is the symbol of England. It is also a symbol of purity and feminism, themes on which the queen has been working on. The Queens dress is like petals of red rose with my butterfly signature in it. The rose petals and butterflies are designed all over the dress and fascinator hat and heels symbolize the beauty of Her Majesty. For the butterfly brooch for King Charles III, I have taken inspiration from the colours of the cosmos. The idea is to show that the powers of the cosmos are with the King. Let the coronation bring in positive transformation from the dark times. Though the designs are by Priyanka, the production will be done locally with her inputs. I have been in constant touch with the stylists and workers in London on how to recreate the designs, said the designer, who has also sent in her message to Londons church of England for the King after being asked for it. Trinamul Congress MLA Jiban Krishna Saha, arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the multi-crore recruitment scam on Saturday said that he is confident of continued support from his party leadership in this moment of crisis. This morning, while the CBI sleuths were taking Saha for a medical check-up, he stopped for a while and interacted with the media persons. I have committed no crime and hence I am confident that party leadership will stand by me, Saha said. Trinamul Congress legislator Saha, who was recently arrested by the CBI in connection with the alleged multi-crore recruitment scam, has now been reported to be drawing double salary both as an MLA and as a teacher in a state-run school. The authorities of Debagram High School in Birbhum district, where Saha was a teacher, has reported to the state school education department that despite not attending his teaching duty for a single day since he became an MLA in 2021, Saha had been drawing his salary on a regular basis. The school authorities have also recommended that the credit of his salary to his bank account should be stopped immediately. When reminded by the media persons that it is the official stand of Trinamul Congress not to back anyone within the party who are involved in corruption, Saha said that since any guilt is yet to be proved against him, he is continuing to enjoy the support of his party leadership. Saha is the second Trinamul Congress MLA after former West Bengal education minister and party secretary general Partha Chatterjee, who had claimed continued party support, even after his arrest in connection with the multi-crore recruitment scam. Reacting to his statement, Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha member Dr Santanu Sen claimed that it is true that the official stand of the party is not to back anyone involved in corruption irrespective of his or her position in the party. But again, it is a matter of investigation on whether the central agencies are deliberately isolating and harassing legislators of a particular political party, he said. Currently, three Trinamul Congress legislators are in custody over their alleged involvement in the recruitment scam. Actress Zoe Saldana is done playing Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While speaking with The Hollywood Reporter for a cover story on filmmaker James Gunn and the development of the Guardians of the Galaxy movie series, Saldana, reaffirmed that she will no longer play the character after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases on May 5, reports People. I dont think this is the end for the Guardians, the actress said, noting that she originally only expected to portray Gamora for the propertys original 2014 movie. It is the end for me, for Gamora. The article covers how Saldana and co-stars Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan and Dave Bautista and more actors supported director Gunn, 56, during his months-long estrangement from Marvel after he was fired from future Guardians movies in 2018. He was later reinstated in 2019. In the piece, Saldana, who reportedly visited Gunn at his home in the wake of his firing, said she gave a speech thanking the Guardians crew on her last day of filming for the new movie. I thanked James for just his time and his patience and his guidance and his friendship, she told the outlet. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 releases May 5. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Odisha Police arrested three fraudsters from Uttar Pradesh on the charge of deceiving investors. The arrested persons Sachin Pal, Ankush Singh and Kuldeep from Vijaynagar police station area in Ghaziabad were arrested under Sections 419/420/467/468/471/120-B IPC, r/w Sec.66 (C) & (D) of Information Technology Act, 2000 and are being brought under transit remand to Odisha, EOW officials said on Sunday. The EOW acted on the allegation of one Parthasarathi Pattnaik against a digital marketing channel registered as www.r46.in that was cheating the general public in the name of giving extra income through digital marketing. After receiving a WhatsApp message, Pattnaik came in contact with a person who induced him to create an account in the above website and also to purchase items virtually on the website for which he would be getting some lucrative commission of 15 per cent to 20 per cent on the product price. The complainant invested Rs 6.5 lakh through this website, and his total commission along with invested amount was being reflected as Rs 7.31 lakh in the wallet of the website. But, when he wanted to withdraw the amount, the same was not allowed. The website had a telegram channel eBay Official work channel No.7 with a rolling subscriber base of more than 65 thousand members. It was found that the fraudsters developed the fake website i.e. www.r46.in for digital marketing and used to contact the general public through whatsapp inducing them to log in the website for extra income in way of commission of 15-20 per cent for buying digitally any kind of products from the leading websites like e-bay.com, Amazon, Shopee, Zomato, Paypal, Google, Phonepe, Flipkart, etc., for which they have to create a wallet with the website and then link the wallet with the bank account in order to recharge or withdraw the money. The Orissa High Court has directed the State Government to extend family pension benefits to an 86-year-old widow whose school teacher husband died almost 50 years back. Subashini Patnaik had moved the High Court in 2003 seeking direction from the court regarding family pension to her. Her husband Sarat Chandra Patnaik joined as an Assistant Teacher in Loknath Middle English School, Mahagab on 1 August 1948, which is an Aided Educational Institution. Patnaik, while posted in the school, died on 8 January, 1974. However, the government authorities had rejected her plea for family pension as the benefit of pension was made available to Aided Primary School Teachers from 1 April 1982. Further, the benefit of family pension to the family of the teachers was introduced from 1 September 1988. The authorities are directed to pass necessary orders extending the benefit of family pension to the petitioner in accordance with the Rules, if there is no other legal impediment. Having regard to the fact the petitioner is an old lady, necessary orders shall be passed as directed within a period of four weeks, the single bench judge Justice Sashikanta Mishra ruled in an order. The stand of the opposite parties is that the husband of the petitioner died much prior to coming into force of the 1981 Rules, whereas the said Rules are applicable only to the employees of Aided Educational Institutions under the Direct Payment Scheme receiving full grant-in-aid and retiring on or after 1 April 1982. Had the husband of the petitioner not died, he would have superannuated in April, 1986, which is after 1 April 1982. As such, he would have been eligible to receive pension as per 1981 Rules. In such view of the matter, the petitioner being his widow cannot be deprived of family pension. In the instant case there is no dispute that the husband of the petitioner was not a pensioner as on the date of his death and he died much before, i.e. on 01.09.1988. However, the question is, would he have been eligible to receive pension had he lived, the court ordered. National Conference president and MP from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah has cautioned people against the forces working to weaken J&K from within. Cautioning the party functionaries in Srinagar against the forces working against the interests of the people of J&K, Dr Farooq said, Its for us to understand what the division of our voices would entail or what its results would be. Any misstep at this juncture would have far reaching consequences. They dont want the real representative voices of J & K to take center stage and be heard. Having real and representative voices in place makes their pursuit of reckless experimentation in the region more difficult. Calling for stepping up the partys outreach to people, he said: Our workers should knock every door and inform people about the challenges ahead of the region. Partys vision and mission has to reach every home. Today, we see mushrooming of political parties and leaders in every nook and corner of Kashmir. The risky political vacuum created by the decisions of August 2019 cannot be filled by such airdropped leaders. It is only a representative government that will meet the challenge of instilling faith in the hearts of people, he added. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Sunday lashed out at Bharatiya Janata Party in poll-bound Karnataka and said that the party (BJP) has betrayed the public while alleging that the party is attempting to divert people from main issues. BJP has betrayed the public at all levels. The party is trying to divert the public from the main issues which are unemployment, no development work done etc, she said. Highlighting the issues undertaken by the Congress party for the upcoming Karnataka polls, Priyanka Gandhi said that the party will not divert the public from the real issues. This election is for the public to choose their leader. They are well aware that they have been looted and they want a change now, the Congress leader added. Priyanka Gandhi further mentioned that Congress has fulfilled all its promises and has worked for the people. BJP makes fake promises and never fulfils them. But Congress has fulfilled all its promises. Congress always has the motive of working for people and not betraying them, she said. You have watched the work of Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi and you all have the trust that we will do something for the public, Priyanka added. Earlier on Wednesday, while addressing a gathering during a roadshow in Chitradurga, Priyanka Gandhi launched a series of attacks on the BJP and said that the government is involved in Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) recruitment scam and demands commission for posts should be uprooted from Karnataka. Whose government is the 40 per cent government? Who did all the scams? Who did the PSI scam? Who harassed the contractors? Who demands commission for posts? Who has to be uprooted from here? she asked. Raising slogans at the roadshow, Priyanka Gandhi asked the states people to vote for their self-respect and future in this upcoming election. Vote for your future, your children, your state, and your pride in this election, she said. The Karnataka assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13. Capita updated logo and branding 2022- do not use older versions Hundreds of pension schemes have been ordered to check whether their data was stolen by cyber criminals during a major hack of Britains biggest outsourcer. In the latest twist following a serious cyber attack on Capita, The Pensions Regulator said it had told schemes that use the company as an administrator to determine whether pensioners personal data is at risk. Capita, which is also a major UK government contractor, provides administration services to about 450 organisations representing 4.5 million savers, including Royal Mail, Axa and PwC. The company initially stated that there was no evidence of data being stolen when the cyber gang Black Basta hacked its systems in late March. But just weeks later, Capita was forced to admit that an unknown amount of data was in fact taken after information held on behalf of some customers began to circulate online, including passport images, home addresses and even building floor plans. On Sunday, The Pensions Regulator confirmed it had written to schemes that use Capita to establish whether they were in touch with the company and had been seeking assurances. The letter, which was first reported by The Sunday Times, also reminded trustees of their responsibilities to safeguard the data of their members. A spokesman for The Pensions Regulator said: We take IT security and the risk of cyber attacks extremely seriously. Thats why we have issued guidance for trustees. In light of the cyber incident directed at Capita, we have asked trustees of schemes which employ Capita as their administrator to speak with the company to understand more about the situation and to help determine whether there is a risk to their schemes data. If a trustee establishes that their scheme has suffered a data loss, they have a duty to notify The Pension Regulator, other authorities and impacted individuals. In a statement, Capita said it had been in touch with schemes and would keep them updated as an investigation into the hack already a month old progressed. Story continues The companys response to the cyber attack has previously been criticised as slow by experts, who questioned why it took so long for bosses to admit the business had been hacked given that it appeared to have been a victim of overt ransomware. A statement by Capita last month revealed that hackers had been operating inside its systems, undetected, for a full nine days before they were discovered and stopped. The company has not provided any detail about the kind of information that may have been taken but insists that only a small proportion of its computer servers were compromised. Alongside pension schemes, other clients include the NHS, the Ministry of Defence and the BBC, for which Capita collects the licence fee. The Government remains in regular contact with the company, with the National Cyber Security Centre, part of GCHQ, previously revealing it was still seeking reassurances from Capita that key national infrastructure had not been compromised. There was no evidence that any government systems had been compromised so far, a senior figure from NCSC told the Telegraph in April. Himachal Pradesh government has decided to regularize the services of the contractual employees, who have completed two years of service as of 31 March, 2023. A government spokesperson said that a notification has been issued by the state government here on Sunday. Additionally, those who are due to complete two years of service by 30 September, 2023 will also be regularized after the said date, says the notification. Furthermore, the state government has also decided to regularize services of the daily waged workers, who have completed four years of service as of 31 March, 2023, said the spokesperson, adding that those who are due to complete four years of services by 30 September 2023 will also be regularized accordingly. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the present state government is committed to the welfare of the employees and had taken various measures to benefit the State Government employees. He said that despite the precarious financial conditions of the state, three percent Dearness Allowance had already been released to the employees and pensioners of the State government. Sukhu said that the state government has also fulfilled the longstanding demand of the employees by reinstating the Old Pension Scheme for NPS employees. This decision has benefitted 1.36 lakh employees, he said, adding that it would provide social security and the right to live a dignified life to all the employees, who have contributed immensely to the development of the state. The Chief Minister said that the present state government has adopted a humanitarian approach to take decisions for the welfare of every section of society. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to release its election manifesto for Karnataka Assembly polls on Monday, said sources. The manifesto will be released by party president JP Nadda in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and party veteran BS Yediyurappa. Sources said the party manifesto may focus on welfare measures for the youth, infrastructure development and women empowerment. Further, to take the first-time voters on board, a special announcement can be made for the youth and girl students who have passed class 12. In the 2018 election manifesto, BJP touched every section of society. The party had also included cow protection measures in its manifesto. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing an election rally in Kolar on Sunday, came down heavily on Congress for drawing parallels between him and a snake. PM Modi said that the people of Karnataka will give the party a befitting answer in the upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in an election rally in Karnatakas Kalaburagi on Thursday, said, PM Modi is like a poisonous snake, you might think its poison or not. If you lick it, you are dead. Lashing out at Congress over the remark, PM Modi said, Today when I am fighting against corruption, Congress is disturbed the most. Congress is now threatening. They say Modi teri kabra khudegi. Congress topic in Karnataka elections is snakes poison. They are comparing me with a snake and seeking votes from people. For me, the people of the country are a form of Lord Shiva. I accept being the snake on the neck of the god-like public. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10. PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress terming the party as an outdated engine. Congress is an outdated engine. Development halted due to them. Congress has a bundle of fake guarantees. They dont fulfil any promise made to the public. Unfulfilled guarantees are their record. They betrayed the public, but BJP fulfilled all the guarantees by doing several development works, PM Modi said. Notably, Congress has promised a number of guarantees to the people of Karnataka ahead of the state Assembly polls slated on May 10, including 200 units of free electricity. The Prime Minister further said that corruption has always prospered under Congress and said that only the BJP can act against corruption. Congress has a reputation of 85 per cent commission. People have no faith in their government. One of their Prime Ministers said that he sends Rupee 1 but 15 paise reach the ground. Congress has always done appeasement politics. BJP is not for appeasement but for satisfaction. Congress has always grown under corruption. Only BJP can take immediate action on corruption, he said. Congress has done nothing for the farmers. They made promises to them but gave nothing to them. It was BJP who gave Rs 2.5 lakh crore to them (farmers) in their accounts. They always neglected the poor. We are constantly working for the development of the farmers, he added. Hitting out at Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) which are contesting the elections separately, PM Modi said that both the parties are the biggest hindrance in the development work and added that the unstable government cannot have a vision. Unstable governments cannot have a vision. During the Congress regime, the world was hopeless of India, but as soon as BJP came to power, the world now looked up to India as a bright spot. Karnataka has decided to elect BJP. The double-engine government is very important in the state for continuous development. During Congress and JDS rule the development pace slowed down, he said. PM Modi said that Karnataka has to be saved from the corrupt government of Congress and JDS. Todays gathering will make Congress and JDS lose sleep. Both parties are the biggest hindrance in the process of development. The public has clean-bowled them. We have to save the people of Karnataka from the corrupt government of Congress and JDS, he said. The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows to turn the tide in favour of the party, in what is expected to be a tripartite contest among BJP, Congress and JDS. Assembly elections will be held in Karnataka on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday came out against the movie The Kerala Story, saying it is the product of the Sangh Parivars lie factory and that it was made with the aim of spreading hatred against Kerala. In a Facebook post on Sunday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the movie The Kerala Story furthers the propaganda of the Sangh Parivar by portraying Kerala, which is the land of secularism, as the epicentre of religious terrorism. The trailer of the Hindi movie Kerala Story, which at first glance seems to have been deliberately produced with the aim of communal polarization and spreading hate propaganda against Kerala, was released the other day. The indication from the trailer is that this movie is taking up the Sangh Parivar propaganda by placing Kerala, the land of secularism, as the centre of religious extremism, he said. It is a film that takes the still unconfirmed phenomenon of love jihad to a whole new level, he said. Propaganda films and their alienation of Muslims should be viewed in the context of various efforts made by the Sangh Parivar to gain some advantage in electoral politics in Kerala, the CM further said. It is only deliberate that the movie is based on Love Jihad, a claim that was rejected by investigative agencies, courts, and the Union Home Ministry. This is done by the Sangh Parivar to demean Kerala before the world, destroy its secular atmosphere and sow the seeds of communalism, Chief Minister Vijayan said in the Facebook post. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the Sangh Parivar has come up with a movie based on falsehood as its politics was not fruitful in Kerala. The movies teaser puts out a huge lie that 32,000 women from Kerala were converted and enrolled in Islamic State. This is nothing but a false story produced in the Sangh Parivar factory of lies, he said. Stating that people who use cinema to create divide and factionalism in society cannot be justified in the name of creative freedom, CM Vijayan said Creative freedom does not mean the license to communalise society and spread lies. Cautioning people of the state to be vigilant on communal attempts to spread unrest in society through propaganda, the Chief Minister said legal action would be taken against such anti-social acts. Two months ago, the films trailer was released which triggered protests in the state. The film is directed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Shah . It is claimed that the film is taken in the backdrop of the 2016 missing case of 21 people from north Kerala, who reportedly joined the Islamic State-held areas of Syria and Afghanistan. A teaser for the film, released in November, was criticised for carrying inaccurate facts about the number of women, who might have been involved in these kinds of situations. The ruling CPI-M and opposition Congress in the state had earlier lashed out against the movie to be released on 5 May , calling it an attempt to destroy the communal harmony of the state. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly V D Satheesan the other day urged the state government not to give screening permission for the film. Meanwhile,Muslim League state secretary PMA Salam has the other day criticised the CPI-M, based on a statement made by party veteran VS Achuthanandan some years back. Stating that the film makers are making the statement made by former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan 13 years back , as a supportive reference in the trailer of the film, Salam asked as to whether the CPI-Ms attitude is the same now. VS Achuthanandan had some years back said that efforts are being made to turn the state into a Muslim nation in twenty years. In the historic 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the monthly radio programme has become a unique festival of goodness and positivity of the countrymen and a medium for him to connect with the masses. This (Mann Ki Baat) is a festival that comes every month, keenly awaited by all of us. We celebrate positivity in this. We also celebrate peoples participation in this. Sometimes it is hard to believe that so many months, so many years have passed since Mann Ki Baat commenced. Every episode was special in itself, the PM said in his nearly 40-minute address heard by millions across the country and abroad. In view of the significance of the occasion, Union ministers and BJP chief ministers also shared platforms with common people to listen to the PMs address. Modi recalled that when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, it was natural for him to meet and interact with the common people there. But after he became the Prime Minister and came to Delhi in 2014, he found that life in the national capital was very different. The nature of the work was different, the responsibility was different. In the initial days, something felt different, there was an emptiness. Fifty years ago, I did not leave my home just to find one day it would be difficult to contact the people of my own country. The very countrymen who are everything for me I could not live separated from them. Mann Ki Baat gave me a solution to this challenge, a way to connect with the common man. The post and protocol remained limited to the system and public sentiment, along with crores of people, became an inseparable part of my inner world, he said. The PM said Mann Ki Baat has provided him a platform through which he never felt away from the people. For me, Mann Ki Baat is not a programme, for me it is a matter of faith, of worship, or Vrat. Like when people go to worship God, they bring along a Thaal of Prasad. For me, Mann Ki Baat is like a Thaal of Prasad at the feet of God in the form of Janata-Janardan, the people. Mann Ki Baat has become a spiritual journey of my being, he added. The PM said the weekly programme has been a forum for him like worshipping the qualities in others. He said he had a guide, Laxmanrao ji Inamdar who always used to say that people should worship the qualities of others. No matter who is face to face with you, be it your compatriot, be it your opponent, we should try to know about their good qualities and learn from them. This trait of his has always inspired me. Mann Ki Baat has become a great medium to learn from the qualities of others, Modi added. He noted that many mass movements have come into being and gained momentum through Mann Ki Baat. The PM pointed out that tourism today was growing very fast in the country. Be it our natural resources, be it rivers, mountains, ponds or our pilgrimage sites, it is very important to keep them clean. This will help the tourism industry a lot, he said. Along with cleanliness in tourism, he said the Incredible India movement was discussed often. Through this movement, for the first time, people came to know about such places, which were just in their neighbourhood. He said that before going abroad for tourism, Indians must visit at least 15 tourist destinations of their own country and these destinations should not be from the state where they resided but from any other state outside their own state. Similarly, we have continuously talked about serious topics like clean Siachen, single use plastic and e-waste. Today, this effort of Mann Ki Baat is very important in solving environmental issues about which the whole world is concerned, he added. Mann Ki Baat program has shown that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a communicator par excellence, and he is today closer to the people, hearing them, inspiring them, across the country. Modis Mann Ki Baat brought unlimited tales of courage and innovation to him and he presented these before the nation, sharing his appreciation, and enabling everyone to pursue their passions with greater vigour. His words awoke people to their inner strengths, he assured them their labour would bring fruit one day. The Prime Minister told them about the nations priorities, and the people told him how they were working to realize them. In course of time, over 100 episodes till today, Mann Ki Baat, since its inauguration on 3rd October, 2014, helped the Prime Minister achieve a direct dialogue with people and their distant locations, often returning to them to continue the conversation, with a hand in support. Mann Ki Baat brought up issues of sanitation and hygiene, wellness and health, water conservation and sustainable development, turning the PMs interface with people into a unique experiment in democratic governance. During the 99 episodes earlier, PM Modi mentioned the work of over 700 Indians and around 300 organizations for their exceptional service to society. While he brought to limelight the unknown heroes, he was able to educate everybody about environmental, cultural, health, and fitness issues. The regularity of the programme on the last Sunday of every month made Mann Ki Baat a favourite radio feature with the young and the old, and at places where Doordarshan and All India Radio remain the main media of electronic communication. People followed the mood of the nation and were inspired to think what action they could take for positive change. A notable feature of the programme has been the growing confidence of its listeners to share their stories and successes, which they admitted they achieved after the Prime Ministers encouragement. A listener who returned to the programme said the Prime Ministers suggestion for Selfie with Daughter on mobile phones improved gender ratio in Haryana. The movement that set off after the PMs suggestion was no less than the fourth war of Panipat, the listener said. Sharing how the App E-Sanjeevani had enabled more than 10 crore consultations with doctors, the Prime Minister talked to Dr Madan Mani from Sikkim who disclosed that he had talked to hundreds of patients in rural areas and given them advice. Another resident from Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, gave the other side of the story, and he said before the App came, he had to travel five to six kilometers for consultations for his diabetes as hospitals are far away. The App meant that consultations could be done without queues. Such feedback for the Prime Minister proved informative for the Government apparatus too, and they could think of more initiatives. A simple, yet an incredibly effective medium, Mann Ki Baat helped the PM create a personal bond with nearly a billion people from rural to urban areas. Not just administrative activities, the Prime Minister talked of revival of festivals, like cultural events to keep the young generation aware of traditions of Kirtan, Baul, Godiyo Nritto, Sree-Khol, Poter Gaan, Chou-Nach in Bengal. A favourite of the PM has been to bring up work of womens Self-Help Groups which help women earn and serve society in many ways. In the 98th episode of Mann Ki Baat, Mr Modi focused on waste to wealth and highlighted the work of Kamala Moharana from Kendrapara district of Odisha, who ran a womens group which made things like baskets and mobile stands from milk pouches. Flagship programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan received generous support from listeners after Mann Ki Baat. The Delhi government schools and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) schools hosted their first-ever joint mega parent-teacher meeting (PTM) on Sunday. The mega PTM was conducted today in more than 1,000 Delhi government schools and over 1,500 MCD schools. The event aimed at encouraging parents from both kinds of schools to participate in their childrens education and provide valuable suggestions for improvement to the schools. Parents queued up in large numbers at schools from early morning to attend the mega PTM. They were joined by Delhi Education Minister Atishi and Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammed Iqbal who engaged with the parents at SKV Phase-1 pocket 4 Mayur Vihar and MCD School Block 22 Trilokpuri to know their experiences. During the mega PTM, major focus was laid on Mission Buniyaad and discussion on the importance of the development of foundation skills. Tweeting about the first joint mega PTM, CM Arvind Kejriwal said: Today, a mega PTM is being held in both MCD and Delhi government schools in Delhi. Just as Delhi government schools have been transformed with the help of all students, teachers, and parents, we will now work together to transform MCD schools as well. During the interaction with parents, Atishi expressed her delight at the number of parents who had turned up early in the morning and said, This shows that parents eagerly want to participate in their childrens education, and after Delhi government schools, now this opportunity will be provided to parents in MCD schools too. The education revolution that was brought in Delhi government schools will now be brought to MCD schools too. She also said that in 2015 when the Kejriwal government was formed, the condition of Delhi government schools was the same as MCD schools now. There was no cleanliness in schools, there were broken benches and desks, and no drinking water facility for students. But after years of hard work and dedication, the old education system in Delhi was fixed, she said. She said, The BJP has been in MCD for the past 15 years and left the schools reeling under several problems. MCD schools currently have no proper facilities for students. But I am sure that now under the guidance of CM Arvind Kejriwal, MCD schools will also see a revolution along the lines of Delhi government schools. The Delhi Education Minister further said the joint PTM is a symbol of the shared responsibility of parents and schools for the education and development of children. Both parents are equally responsible for the development of their child, she said. Our children will progress only when schools and parents will together participate in the process of their education, the Delhi Education Minister said. She also stressed the importance of parents engaging with their children for at least half an hour every day, even if they are not educated. This would boost the confidence of the children and help them open up about their school experiences. The Kejriwal government has made education a priority, and the Delhi Education Minister reiterated this, saying, Building school infrastructure has always been given priority over building new bridges and roads. She called on parents to support the governments efforts to transform MCD schools. During a conversation with parents at MCD School in Trilokpuri, Atishi said, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals only dream is to provide better education to children and it should always be the top priority of the country. Because until our countrys children are educated, our country cannot progress. He said that an educated society can contribute significantly to making India a developed country and the number one country in the world. Therefore, just as Arvind Kejriwal has improved Delhi government schools, we will also make MCD schools spectacular and equip them with world-class facilities and provide quality education to every child. This sentiment was echoed by Deputy Mayor Aaley Mohammed Iqbal, who said, Parents of children studying in MCD schools also want to experience the education revolution along the lines of Delhi government schools. They are enthusiastic about seeing the beginning of this new change. No one in Delhi would have ever thought of such world-class Delhi government schools, as built by the Kejriwal Government. Today these schools are considered model schools in the country. Parents and children in MCD schools are also waiting for such a revolution. Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat made brought about a behavioural change among people with the kind of exchanges with the listeners during the show, Dr Amit Kapoor, Chairman, Institute for Competitiveness, said on Saturday. Kapoor said that the Prime Minister made conversations with the people on the issues which mattered to the citizens. Kapoor was speaking on the report on the impact of Mann Ki Baat by Institute for Competitiveness (IFC), Axis My India and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It made a very huge sense for us to understand the impact it creates, we found unique things as we went along. We saw behavioural change in people with the kind of conversations that PM Modi made with the people. About 100 crore people heard these conversations. These conversations discussed topics that mattered to citizens, he said while speaking to ANI. Axis My India was the knowledge partner, the Institute for Competitiveness (IFC) the research partner of the report and the research was supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Pradeep Gupta, founder and CMD of Axis My India which was the knowledge partner in the research, said that the issues impacting the people due to PM Modis interaction varied from place to place. It was a different kind of study in itself as we had to know what kind of changes Mann Ki Baat made in the lives of the people. Different issues had impact on different places. For example, in Madhya Pradeshs village of Betul, people were initially not ready to get themselves vaccinated. But when PM Modi interacted with them directly about it. The villagers had their own concept of why they were not taking the vaccines. But within a few days of the Prime Ministers interaction, every villager got vaccinated and benefitted, Gupta told ANI. He said that the upcoming 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat which will be aired at 11 am today will create more awareness among people. The 100th episode will create more awareness among people. Listening is one thing, being impacted is another, and the third thing is change. I think more people would start making the change when they listen to the episodes of Mann Ki Baat, he said. Speaking to ANI, Archana Vyas, Deputy Director, Policy, Communications & Behavioural Insights, at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said with Axis My India and IFC as partners, they looked back at all the episodes of Mann Ki Baat. A thorough analysis was done about the themes that have been highlighted by the Prime Minister and there was tracing back of people to see if it did really generate any impact, she said. Vyas said Mann ki Baat has reached to both urban and rural populations. There are two or three things which have stood out in the research. One, it is a unique platform which has reached out to both rural and urban populations effectively. The use of traditional as well as digital platforms has been unique and transformational. Nearly 100 crore people have actually watched at least one of the episodes of Mann Ki Baat. It is a case study, she said. Second it has spurred community action. We have seen through the case studies that communities have taken action on the clarion call of the Prime Minister. This community action can be sustainable because of community adoption, she added. The programme started on October 3, 2014, months after Narendra Modi took over the Prime Ministers Office in May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay in the 100th episode of his monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat. The Director-General of UNESCO not only wished the countrymen for the wonderful journey of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat but also asked questions on education and cultural preservation in India. I have received another special message from Audrey Azoulay, DG, UNESCO regarding Mann Ki Baat. She has wished all the countrymen for this wonderful journey of 100th episode, PM Modi said during his 100th Mann Ki Baat address. Audrey Azoulay is a French civil servant and politician who has been serving as the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017, becoming the second female leader of the organization. Speaking to PM Modi in his radio broadcast today, the UNESCO Chief said, Dear Prime Minister, on behalf of UNESCO, I thank you for this opportunity to be part of the hundredth episode of the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast. UNESCO and India have a long common history. We have very strong partnerships together in all areas of our mandate education, science, culture and information. She also asked various questions to PM Modi on education and cultural preservation amid Indias ongoing G20 Presidency. UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by2030, with the largest population in the world. Could you please explain the Indian way to achieve this objective? UNESCO also works to support culture and protect heritage, she said. PM Modi thanked the UNESCO Chief for taking part in the 100th episode of the Radio broadcast and said that he is happy that she raised important issues. He further said that Mann Ki Baat has been a catalyst in igniting numerous mass movements. Be it NEP or the option of studying in regional languages, many initiatives such as Gunotsav and Shala Praveshotsav were highlighted in MannKiBaat, the Prime Minister said. Maan Ki Baat is a programme that allows every citizen to inspire others; this positivity will propel our nation in Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Be it Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, love towards Khadi, nature-related concerns, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav or that of Amrit Sarovar, whatever issue Mann Ki Baat got associated with, it has ignited a peoples movement, PM Modi added. Ahead of the historic 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat which aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to people to join him live at 11:00 am and said that the journey of his radio monthly programme in which he addresses the common people has been truly special. The Prime Minister said that during the journey, the collective spirit of the people of the country was celebrated. Earlier today, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday joined the Indian diaspora in New Jersey to listen to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. Union Minister Jitendra Singh too interacted with the Indian diaspora in London before the broadcast of PM Modis Mann Ki Baat. He said that PM Modi has raised the esteem of the Indian Diaspora abroad, according to the statement released by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Minister said, the world is looking up to the Indian Diaspora with great hope and expectation and it is high time that they also rise to the occasion and contribute to the well-being of the entire humankind in the true spirit of the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam as given by PM Modi during Indias G20 presidency. PM Modis monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode today which aired at 11 am and broadcast live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month. The programme, which began on October 3, 2014, has inspired community action and grown to be an essential tenet of the governments citizen outreach programme, which targets a variety of social groups including women, youth, and farmers. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on peoples lives. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 All India Radio broadcast centres. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat, saying UNESCO and India have very strong partnerships in all areas of education, science, culture and information. The Prime Minister on Sunday interacted with the UNESCO Director-General in the 100th episode of his monthly Mann Ki Baat broadcast over All India Radio. The Director-General of UNESCO not only wished the countrymen for the wonderful journey of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat but also asked questions on education and cultural preservation in India. I have received another special message from Audrey Azoulay, DG, UNESCO regarding Mann Ki Baat. She has wished all the countrymen for this wonderful journey of the 100th episode, Modi said during his 100th Mann Ki Baat address. Audrey Azoulay is a French civil servant and politician who has been serving as the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2017, becoming the second female leader of the organisation. Speaking to PM Modi in his radio broadcast today, the UNESCO Chief said, Dear Prime Minister, on behalf of UNESCO, I thank you for this opportunity to be part of the hundredth episode of the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast. UNESCO and India have a long common history. She also asked various questions to PM Modi on education and cultural preservation amid Indias ongoing G20 Presidency. UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by 2030, with the largest population in the world. Could you please explain the Indian way to achieve this objective? UNESCO also works to support culture and protect heritage, she said. PM Modi thanked the UNESCO Chief for taking part in the 100th episode of the radio broadcast and said that he is happy that she raised important issues of education and culture. Modi said the DG of UNESCO has wanted to know about Indias efforts regarding Education and Cultural Preservation. Both these topics have been favorite topics of Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said. Whether it is about education or culture, whether it is about its preservation or promotion, this has been an ancient tradition of India. The work that the country is doing in this direction today is really commendable. Be it the National Education Policy or the option of studying in a regional language, or technology integration in education, you will notice many such efforts. Years ago, programs like Gunotsav and Shala Praveshotsav had become a wonderful example of public participation in Gujarat to provide better education and reduce dropout rates, he said. In Mann Ki Baat, we have highlighted the efforts of many such people, who are selflessly working for education. You may remember, once we discussed Late D. Prakash Rao, a tea vendor in Odisha who was engaged in the mission of teaching poor children. Be it Sanjay Kashyap, who runs Digital Libraries in the villages of Jharkhand, Hemlata N.K., who helped many children through e-learning during Covid. Yes, we have referred to examples of many such teachers in Mann Ki Baat. We have also accorded a regular place to the efforts of Cultural Preservation in Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister said. Be it Lakshdweeps Kummel Brothers Challengers Club, or platforms such as Karnatakas Kwemshree jis Kala Chetna, people from every corner of the country have sent me such examples through letters. We had also talked about the three competitions which were related to songs, lullabies and Rangoli on patriotism. You must remember, once we had discussed Indian forms of education through Storytelling with Story Tellers from across the country, he said. I have an unwavering belief that the biggest change can be brought about by collective effort. This year, where we are moving forward in the Azadi Ka Amritkaal, we are also presiding over the G-20. This is also one of the reasons why our resolve to enrich Diverse Global Cultures along with education has become stronger, he said. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday listened to the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat program ahead of his election rallies in Karnataka. CM Yogi listened to the broadcast of the program before the public meeting at Gangavati assembly constituency in Koppal district. On the other hand, in the Raj Bhavan of UP, Governor Anandi Ben Patel also listened to the hundredth episode of Mann Ki Baat program. During this, Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated a picture exhibition based on Mann Ki Baat and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav at Annapurna Hall. CM Yogi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat is always motivating and promoting positivity. This Mann Ki Baat program has united the country and the society and has become a peoples movement, he added. In the 100th edition of Mann Ki Baat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked about Santosh from Garhmukteshwar in UP, who makes mats. The Prime Minister described Santoshs efforts as a praiseworthy example of Vocal for Local. Referring to the letters and messages he received from across the country during the 100th episode, the Prime Minister called it the mind of crores of Indians. The Prime Minister described every episode of the Mann Ki Baat program that started on Vijay Dashami festival on October 3, 2014, as a celebration of positivity and peoples participation. He said that campaigns like Khadi, Prakriti, Amrit Mahotsav, cleanliness campaign, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao could become mass campaigns only because of Mann Ki Baat. PM Modi also mentioned the Mann Ki Baat he shared with former US President Barack Obama, after which this program became famous all over the world. The Prime Minister also mentioned Sunil Jaglan from Haryana who started the Selfie with Daughter campaign, which went viral after airing on Mann Ki Baat. Apart from this, he talked about the creative work being done by women across the country. The PM mentioned the Healing Himalaya campaign of Pradeep Sangwan from Haryana, who collects garbage from the Himalayan region. He once again recalled the issues of Clean Siachen, E-Waste, Single Use Plastic and Environment which were raised in different editions of Mann Ki Baat programme. Investors can approximate the average market return by buying an index fund. But if you buy individual stocks, you can do both better or worse than that. Unfortunately the Videndum Plc (LON:VID) share price slid 37% over twelve months. That falls noticeably short of the market decline of around 2.8%. On the other hand, the stock is actually up 16% over three years. Shareholders have had an even rougher run lately, with the share price down 25% in the last 90 days. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. Check out our latest analysis for Videndum While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. During the unfortunate twelve months during which the Videndum share price fell, it actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 27%. It's quite possible that growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. The divergence between the EPS and the share price is quite notable, during the year. So it's easy to justify a look at some other metrics. Videndum's dividend seems healthy to us, so we doubt that the yield is a concern for the market. From what we can see, revenue is pretty flat, so that doesn't really explain the share price drop. Unless, of course, the market was expecting a revenue uptick. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). We know that Videndum has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? So it makes a lot of sense to check out what analysts think Videndum will earn in the future (free profit forecasts). Story continues 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. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Videndum the TSR over the last 1 year was -34%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 2.8% in the last year, Videndum shareholders lost 34% (even including dividends). 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 5% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Videndum better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Videndum you should be aware of. 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 Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers. High 53F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 42F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Editor's note: This story has been updated. EDWARDSVILLE Madison County Republicans celebrated local accomplishments and talked about hopes for statewide success Friday at its annual Lincoln Day Dinner, held in the Leclair Room at Lewis and Clark Community Colleges N.O. Nelson Campus in Edwardsville. About 200 people attended the event, according to Republican Party Chairman Ray Wesley. The event is one of two major fundraisers each year by the county GOP, along with a fall golf tournament in the fall. He said it helps to get together with others in the party. We not only raise funds here but we get like-minded conservatives together so they can interact with each other, he added. Sometimes we get a lot of good ideas that come out of big meetings like this. In recent years the Republican Party has had a number of successes in Madison County. In 2016 Republicans took control of the Madison County Board and chairmans seat. Weve had a measure of success in the last three or four elections, Wesley said. Since then they have strengthened the partys hold at the county level, including taking several seats in Granite City, something that would have been unheard of even just a few years ago. We werent surprised because we always put up great candidates, he said. It just took us convincing the public that we could manage better than the other side. Republicans have also swept most of the countywide offices, leaving only the coroners office in Democratic hands. Coroner is one wed love to have, Wesley said. Well see what happens. (Democrat) Steve Nonn is retiring, and weve had two people announce theyre running. On Monday Nonn said Wesley's remarks were premature and he has not decided yet if he will seek reelection next year. Madison County Republicans have also been able to elect a number of Republican circuit judges, which has also allowed the appointment of more Republican associate judges. The re-election of state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, and the election of state Sen. Erica Harriss, R-Glen Carbon, were also noted. Were always looking at getting legislation passed, Wesley said. Weve got a few things that are on the hot stove burner, such as gun control. He noted they were tickled to death that U.S. District Judge Stephen P. McGlynn issued an order Friday blocking enforcement of Illinois ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines until a lawsuit challenging the law is resolved. He also said tax reform is high on their list. Thats not something were going to give up on, Wesley said. We think the people of Illinois are overtaxed, and there are better ways to spend the states money. He acknowledged that there has been, and continues to be, some public infighting in the party. Any time you have an opportunity to make decisions, youre going to have people with different opinions, he said. Thats what weve got. Were going to continue to try to do whats right, and we hope to bring them eventually into the fold so we can work together. Friday night's keynote speaker was Missouri Secretary of State and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jay Ashcroft, who talked about the connection between the two states, as well as what he said were the failed policies of Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Democratic-dominated Illinois General Assembly. Also speaking were state Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, and John Ackerman, representing the state Republican Party and its Election Integrity Committee. The event was emceed by talk show host Annie Frey. Ashcroft began his speech talking about a number of hot-button issues and covered a wide range of topics. Im not happy with the state of our country, and the radical transformation that has happened to our economy, our culture, and our values, he said. He said Chicago is infected with crime and decay, and St. Louis has some of the same issues. Its amazing that Democrats chose Chicago for its 2024 convention, he said. But lets be honest; does anything else serve as a better backdrop for the impact of their disastrous policies? Ashcroft also talked about a number of other issues such as the controversy over transgender issues, noting he recently received attention from comments he made on the issue. You cant change a man into a woman by chopping something off, and you cant change a woman into a man by bolting something one, he said. Ashcroft noted it took years to get change in Madison County. We got it done, and it worked, he said. He told the group it seems Illinois' biggest export now was its people through outmigration, leaving fewer residents. Nothing will change as long as J.B. Pritzker and a corrupt Democratic machine control Springfield, he said, calling Pritzker a failed governor. And your state is worse off today than when he got in, Ashcroft said. You dont have a strong state, or a strong economy, when your number one export is your people. He also talked about his proposals for Missouri. We dont need any more Democrat plans for how to ruin states and ruin countries," he said. "But we need Republicans to stand up with a policy and a plan to turn back whats been done, to unleash the shackles. He's signed a Taxpayer Protection Pledge, which said he would not fight efforts to increase taxes. He said Illinois needs something similar to help the state release its potential; having it in Missouri puts pressure on Illinois. He noted he is an engineer and, while politicians fix the blame, engineers fix problems. Im here because you are all good people, he said, adding thaat when the region does well it benefits everybody. Two awards were given out to a man and woman in the party who have had a major impact over the past year. Bethany Behrorst received the Eleanor Schulte Award, which was presented by Harriss. Mark Achenback received the Chuck Hanfelder Award, presented by Elik. The Madison County Democratic Party traditionally holds its countywide JFK Dinner in the fall. HARTFORD President Thomas Jefferson or least the closest approximation possible in 2023 is coming to the Riverbend. 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 in Edwwardsville. The free event is sponsored by the Wildey Theatre, the Lewis and Clark Society of America and the Madison County Historical Society. Smith also will appear as President Jefferson for a childrens dialogue on Friday, May 12, at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford and 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. This will be the first visit to the Lewis and Clark Historic Site by Smith who replaced Bill Barker as the Thomas Jefferson portrayer at Colonial 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 who, for nine years, has portrayed Jefferson, the third president of the U.S. from 1801 to 1809. 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 left the University of Arkansas and pursued 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. 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 said he 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, he 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. Smith has portrayed Jefferson for U.S. and state Supreme Court justices, 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," he said. 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. On May 12, 500 fourth graders are expected to attend the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site in Hartford as part of an annual Education Day event. 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 online at http://www.wildeytheatre.com/ or by contacting WildeyFriends@gmail.com. Kaufman 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; its history dates to 1957 and the group was instrumental in getting the site established. 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," Kaufman said. "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, 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," Smith said. "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," he said. "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 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. Pra-chid / Getty Images/iStockphoto Understanding what the average income is in your state can help you get a sense of where your own salary falls. Averages are typically measured in two ways: mean and median. Mean or "average" income takes the total amount of earnings across a sample and divides it by the number of participants. Median income, on the other hand, is the midway point of a sample, with half the people sampled earning above the median and half earning less. Do You Have a Money Question? Ask an Expert Read More: With a Recession Looming, Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On Track The difference can be significant. High earners can skew the average income much higher than the median income. To use a simple example, if two earners make $20,000, one makes $40,000 and two make $120,000, the median income is $40,000. However, the average is $64,000. Thus, depending on how you measure "average" income, the figures can be highly variable. This differential can be seen in terms of the U.S. as a whole, where the average family household income is $97,962 but the median is just $69,717. Regional differences can also play a huge role in average income. States with higher costs typically also have higher average wages. However, some states have higher wages overall regardless of typical expenses. For example, California is regarded as a high-cost state, and average salaries top $111,000. However, Minnesota is not generally considered an expensive place to live, yet average salaries top $96,000 in the state, above the national average income of $91,547. Take Our Poll: Do You Think You Will Be Able To Retire at Age 65? To help get the black-and-white figures for worker income in every U.S. state, GOBankingRates conducted a study using five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau's 2021 American Community Survey. Both mean and median state income figures were tallied. Results are presented in alphabetical order, from Alabama to Wyoming. Story continues SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images Alabama Average household income: $76,150 Median household income: $54,94 gabrielasauciuc / Getty Images Alaska Average household income: $103,258 Median household income: $80,287 dszc / Getty Images/iStockphoto Arizona Average household income: $89,693 Median household income: $65,913 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Arkansas Average household income: $73,346 Median household income: $52,123 Take Our Poll: How Much Salary Would Buy You Happiness? Art Wager / Getty Images California Average household income: 119,149 Median household income: $84,097 milehightraveler / Getty Images/iStockphoto Colorado Average household income: $107,446 Median household income: $80,184 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Connecticut Average household income: $120,670 Median household income: $83,572 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Delaware Average household income: $97,081 Median household income: $72,724 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Florida Average household income: $88,267 Median household income: $61,777 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Georgia Average household income: $91,082 Median household income: $65,030 sorincolac / Getty Images/iStockphoto Hawaii Average household income: $113,310 Median household income: $88,005 vkbhat / Getty Images Idaho Average household income: $83,777 Median household income: $63,377 lhongfoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Illinois Average household income: $100,719 Median household income: $72,563 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto Indiana Average household income: $81,703 Median household income: $61,944 JoeChristensen / Getty Images/iStockphoto Iowa Average household income: $84,948 Median household income: $65,429 Kansas Average household income: $87,033 Median household income: $64,521 NatChittamai / Getty Images/iStockphoto Kentucky Average household income: $76,511 Median household income: $$55,454 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Louisiana Average household income: $77,025 Median household income: $53,571 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Maine Average household income: $83,914 Median household income: $63,182 HaizhanZheng / Getty Images/iStockphoto Maryland Average household income: $120,234 Median household income: $91,431 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Massachusetts Average household income: $123,174 Median household income: $89,026 Pawel Gaul / Getty Images/iStockphoto Michigan Average household income: $85,727 Median household income: $63,202 AndreyKrav / Getty Images/iStockphoto Minnesota Average household income: $102,691 Median household income: $77,706 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Mississippi Average household income: $68,636 Median household income: $49,111 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Missouri Average household income: $83,152 Median household income: $61,043 miroslav_1 / Getty Images Montana Average household income: $82,237 Median household income: $60,560 Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Nebraska Average household income: $87,815 Median household income: $66,644 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto Nevada Average household income: $89,562 Median household income: $65,686 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto New Hampshire Average household income: $108,061 Median household income: $83,449 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto New Jersey Average household income: $124,626 Median household income: $89,703 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto New Mexico Average household income: $74,363 Median household income: $54,020 Frederic Prochasson / Getty Images/iStockphoto New York Average household income: $111,583 Median household income: $75,157 digidreamgrafix / Getty Images/iStockphoto North Carolina Average household income: $84,888 Median household income: $60,516 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto North Dakota Average household income: $89,443 Median household income: $68,131 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Ohio Average household income: $83,820 Median household income: $61,938 Davel5957 / Getty Images Oklahoma Average household income: $78,040 Median household income: $56,956 Long_Strange_Trip_01 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Oregon Average household income: $94,034 Median household income: $70,084 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto Pennsylvania Average household income: $92,849 Median household income: $67,587 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto Rhode Island Average household income: $97,908 Median household income: $74,489 SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto South Carolina Average household income: $81,142 Median household income: $58,234 EunikaSopotnicka / Getty Images/iStockphoto South Dakota Average household income: $83,175 Median household income: $63,920 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Tennessee Average household income: $82,012 Median household income: $58,516 Pgiam / Getty Images Texas Average household income: $94,115 Median household income: $67,321 johnnya123 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Utah Average household income: $101,412 Median household income: $79,133 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images Vermont Average household income: $89,820 Median household income: $67,674 traveler1116 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Virginia Average household income: $111,013 Median household income: $80,615 july7th / Getty Images/iStockphoto Washington Average household income: $111,431 Median household income: $82,400 benedek / Getty Images West Virginia Average household income: $69,436 Median household income: $50,884 FierceAbin / Getty Images/iStockphoto Wisconsin Average household income: $87,733 Median household income: $67,080 WitGorski / Getty Images Wyoming Average household income: $87,786 Median household income: $68,002 More From GOBankingRates Jake Arky, Jordan Rosenfeld and John Csiszar contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: In order to determine each state's average income (i.e., mean income), GOBankingRates used the five-year estimates from the 2021 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The same information was used to find each state's median household income. All data were collected and are up to date as of Mar. 7, 2023. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Do You Stack Up To the Average Income in Your State? It has become increasingly clear that we are facing a formidable adversary on our northern borders. Chinas huge economy, brutally effective and well-equipped armed forces and recent advantages in technology make it a colossus in any case, but its aggression on the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) between our countries, its killing of 20 jawans in 2020 and its refusal since then to vacate areas occupied by its army that previously used to be patrolled by both sides, constitute a challenge we simply cannot afford to ignore. An added complication for us is that Chinas diplomacy is making impressive headway around the world. If China were merely a belligerent power, throwing its weight around, pushing its maritime neighbours to the limits of their territorial waters, embarking on a trade war with Australia, cracking down ruthlessly on Hong Kong and Sinkiang and threatening Taiwan, it would be easier to confront. But, instead, it has begun exercising a more subtle influence around the world, recently mediating the Saudi-Iranian agreement for normalisation of relations (which was widely seen as a diplomatic triumph for Beijing). Together with the billions of dollars spent on worldwide infrastructure projects under its Belt and Road Initiative, this is promoting talk of a newly influential global China. Col Zhou Bo, now a strategist at the influential Tsinghua University, was recently quoted as saying: Global China is definitely real. China is ubiquitous. Chinas influence is everywhere. That everywhere notably includes Indias close friend, defence equipment supplier and indispensable source of discounted fuel and fertiliser, Russia. Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Russia made headline news around the world, but the media focused on the extremely unlikely outcome of Moscow agreeing to a peace deal to end the Ukraine war. That was always a red herring: its clear to everyone, including Beijing, that neither Russia nor Ukraine is ready for peace or even for negotiations at this time, as both believe they can win on the battlefield. China was always unlikely to attempt to pull off peace during Xis Moscow visit. The trip was instead intended to burnish Chinas international image and to shore up the two countries increasingly close relationship. China has long spoken of a no-limits friendship with Russia, and it is clear that the relationship continues to expand, with the two leaders agreeing to an important set of economic proposals, including a significant expansion of their natural gas trade. A new planned pipeline, named Power of Siberia 2, is to supply China with some 50 billion cubic meters of Russian gas annually, reaching at least 98 billion cubic meters of natural gas, in addition to 100 million tons of liquefied natural gas, by 2030. For a Russia unable to exploit its natural market in western Europe because of the sanctions imposed on it after the Ukraine invasion, the opportunity to supply China with its vast supplies of gas is of inestimable value. In addition, as Putin himself announced in Moscow, Russian business is in a position to meet the growing demand from the Chinese economy both within the framework of current projects and those that are now in the process of negotiation. Put less obliquely, Russias dependence on China for its own prosperity is increasing by the day. Its a classic colonial relationship: Russia will supply resources to the new metropolitan power to the east, while importing more sophisticated Chinese technology than Russia possesses, such as computer super-servers from Huawei, in addition to all the daily consumer items no longer available from the west. There is increasing talk that the yuan [Chinas renminbi] will be Russias main trade currency. Where does this leave India? China is unremittingly hostile, refusing to budge an inch from its territorial gains in 2020 and continually thrusting itself into new areas along the LAC, most recently near Tawang. We have looked to Russia as a balancing power, but how useful can a Russia reduced to being a junior partner of China be to us? If our principal friend is helplessly dependent on our principal adversary, whats the friendship worth? These are major questions to ponder as New Delhi recalibrates its geopolitical options while casting a wary eye on the irresistible rise of global China. editor@theweek.in The controversy over 'The Kerala Story', a movie written and directed by Sudipto Sen, continued to rage on with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan calling it 'a product of the Sangh Parivar lie factory.' The movie trailer has triggered an uproar in the CPM-ruled state, with both the ruling party and opposition Congress calling it an effort to tarnish the state's image at international level and a bid to disturb its secular fabric. However, the Chief Minister himself lashed out against the makers on Sunday, stating that the movie was trying to spread the propaganda of Sangh Parivar. "The trailer of the Hindi film The Kerala Story, which appears to have been deliberately made with the aim of communal polarisation and to spread hate propaganda against Kerala, was released last day. This film is trying to spread the propaganda of Sangh Parivar, which has established itself as the centre of religious extremism in the land of secularism, Kerala," Vijayan said. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan | PTI The Chief Minister added that it was "necessary to see propaganda films in the background of various efforts made by Sangh Parivar to gain an advantage in electoral politics in Kerala." "It is part of a systematic move to frame the "love jihad" allegations which were rejected by the investigating agencies, the courts and even the Union Home Ministry. G Kishan Reddy, the then MoS Home who is a minister in the cabinet even today, had replied in the Parliament that there is no such thing as "Love Jihad," he said. Vijayan said the Sangh Parivar was trying to spread division politics through fake stories and movies. "The Sangh Parivar is spreading such myths without any facts and evidence. The big lie that 32,000 women in Kerala converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State was what we saw in the trailer. This fake story is the product of Sangh Parivar's lie factory," he added. Just after the trailer and the poster, which showed a burqa-clad woman with the tagline 'Uncovering the truth that was kept hidden' was released, Congress urged the government to ban the screening of the film. The makers had announced that they were waiting for approval from the Censor Board, after which the movie would hit the marquee. 'The Kerala Story' is backed by Sunshine Pictures Private Limited, founded by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, who serves as the producer, creative director and co-writer on the film. Meanwhile, Adah Sharma, who plays a lead role in the movie, said the story was "really scary" and the "fact that people are calling it propaganda or are thinking about numbers before that girls went missing is scarier." The story follows the story of a woman who converted her faith and join the extremist ISIS of Iraq and Syria. Adah said she met a few of these girls and "can't explain it in words, as I can't be doing justice to their pain in one or two lines." She added that all the controversy around the number of women would disappear after one watches the movie. While addressing the nation on the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that 'Mann Ki Baat' is a reflection of Mann Ki Baat of crores of Indians, it is an expression of their feelings. He said that 'Mann Ki Baat' gave him the platform to connect with the people of India. "Be it Swachh Bharat, Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, issues raised in Mann Ki Baat became public movements," said PM Modi. Earlier, the Prime Minister took to Twitter to honour the event, stating how "this has been a truly special journey, in which we have celebrated the collective spirit of the people of India and highlighted inspiring life journeys." To mark the historic event, the broadcast will be aired live at the United Nations headquarters. According to the Permanent Mission of India to the UN, the show will be aired in Trusteeship Council Chamber at the UN headquarters. "#MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in India's developmental journey," the Permanent Mission of India to the UN tweeted. A state-of-the-art projection mapping show at the Gateway of India on the completion of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat in Mumbai | PTI The show will also be broadcast at the Consulate General of India in New York, and at community organisations in New Jersey for the members of the Indian-American and diaspora community. BJP's overseas units and other non-political organisations have been roped in to ensure that the radio broadcast gets the maximum outreach abroad. The party has made extensive preparations to ensure that people across the country listen to it. BJP sources said a mass outreach programme is being planned to ensure that the 100th episode is aired at 100 venues on average in every assembly constituency. "In order to make the broadcast of the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' historic and to give it a comprehensive format, the Bharatiya Janata Party has released a detailed programme under which unprecedented arrangements are being made for its telecast at about 4 lakh booth level centres across the country," BJP national general secretary Dushyant Gautam said. The whole exercise is being monitored by party president J P Nadda who will participate in these events at different locations in the country. Arrangements have also been made for eminent citizens to listen to the programme at all Raj Bhavans and the homes of chief ministers of the BJP or its allies across the country. Padma awardees from all states have been invited to attend the events at Raj Bhavans. BJP MPs and MLAs will be in their respective constituencies to oversee the exercise, with Nadda and other senior party leaders holding several video conferences in this regard. "It will be organised on a large scale in more than 100 places in every Vidhan Sabha, in which local MPs, MLAs, other elected public representatives, senior party functionaries and party workers are involved in the coordination of the programme," Gautam said. Along with this, civil society, various social and other organisations from across the country are also coming forward to participate, he said. In the Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast hosted by Prime Minister Modi, he addresses the people of the country on different issues. It was first aired on October 3, 2014, and is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am on the entire All India Radio and Doordarshan network. (With inputs from PTI) Three people were killed and seven are feared still trapped after a ground-plus-two storey building collapsed in Maharastra's Bhiwandi on Saturday. Rescue operations are underway since the last 19 hours to save those trapped. After 18 hours of building collapse, a 38-year-old man was rescued on Sunday morning. With this, those injured in the incident has gone up to 12. Teams of Fire Brigade, Police, Target Disaster Response Force (TDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are present on spot to rescue people trapped in debris. Reportedly, 14 people, including two children, have been rescued so far. #WATCH | Bhiwandi building collapse update | A man rescued by NDRF and TDRF after more than 20 hours. (Source: Thane Municipal Corporation) pic.twitter.com/QWEwZMMUYY ANI (@ANI) April 30, 2023 The incident occurred at 2 pm on Saturday at Wardhaman compound in Valpada area. The deceased have been identified as Navnath Sawant, 29, Lalita Ravi Mahto, 26, and five-year-old Sona Mukesh Kori. Those injured have been shifted to Indira Gandhi Hospital on Saturday. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde met those injured in the building collapse at the hospital. He had announced Rs 5 lakh assistance each to the kin of the deceased. Shinde had termed the incident as "most unfortunate". Bhiwandi Deputy Commissioner of Police Navnath Dhavle told PTI that offences under various sections of the Indian Penal Code have been registered against the structure owner, Indrapal Patil. However, no arrest has been made so far. The building had godowns on the ground and first floors. While four families occupied the upper floor. According to Thane Municipal Corporation's Regional Disaster Management Cell chief Avinash Sawant, some workers were present on the ground floor when the structure collapsed. On Saturday, CM Shinde told reporters that he has instructed Thane Collector Ashok Shingare and other authorities to immediately carry out a survey of the structures declared 'most dangerous' in the district. Also, directions have been given to the officials to shift those people occupying in unsafe buildings to safer places as monsoon season is approaching. Shinde said that cluster development was the only solution to the problems arising on account of the dangerous buildings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day whirlwind campaign tour of Karnataka, will crisscross the state on Sunday meeting voters and addressing rallies. As per schedule, the Prime Minister will hold a roadshow in Mysuru on Sunday evening after speaking at public events in Kolar, Channapatna and Belur. This is his ninth visit to the state this year and his presence is expected to boost the prospects of BJP amid disastrous pre-poll survey forecasts. Modi will leave the state on Sunday evening. Over the coming week, the Prime Minister is expected to return to the state to address more rallies, reported ANI. On Saturday, the Prime Minister held a massive road show in Bengaluru. Modi, who sported a saffron cap, waved to a cheering crowd on his way from Clock Tower to Govinda Pai Circle in the city. He was flanked by Bangalore North MP D V Sadananda Gowda and BJP MLC C Narayanaswamy in his specially-designed vehicle. Congress confident Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a roadshow ahead of the Karnataka Assembly elections in Hiriyur on Wednesday | PTI Senior Congress leader and Karnataka ex-minister M B Patil has expressed confidence that the Congress will come to power on its own with 130-odd seats out of 224 in the Karnataka assembly elections. He said that the BJP's alleged 'Operation Kamala' of poaching MLAs post polls will not be successful this time. Patil, also the campaign committee chairman, told PTI that there was no "internal fight" in the Congress. He added that he has neither been sidelined nor is losing his importance in the party after Jagadish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, the tall Lingayat leaders from BJP, joined the Congress. Patil is contesting from Babaleshwar, one of the eight assembly constituencies in Vijayapura district. "If they carry out 'Operation Kamala' this time, it will not be successful. The BJP and JD(S) together will not have enough numbers to form the government. Taking the support of JD(S) will not arise for Congress as it will get 130-odd seats," he said. This comes as the Congress shared on its Twitter feed poll predictions which forecast a victory for the party. Another pre-poll survey conducted by a Kannada local media showed an edge for Congress. According to the predictions, the Congress will win 134-140 seats while BJP will be limited to 57-65 seats. The saffron party is fighting an anti-incumbency wave in the state, coupled with corruption charges. (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg The conflict between rival generals in Sudan threatens neighboring African countries that are already struggling with refugee flows and armed rebels at their borders. If the two-week-old war between Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamad Hamdan Dagalos Rapid Support Forces becomes protracted, as many fear, the implications for the region would be dire. Ethnic militias, anti-government insurgencies, paramilitary groups and Russian mercenaries operating in porous, mineral-rich borderlands could use the crisis to launch attacks or foment rebellions. Its a region where we have a lot of gold and diamonds, said Anicet-Georges Dologuele, former prime minister of the Central African Republic. The armed groups finance their operations through these resources. I fear this could be a pull factor. CAR to the southwest is one of seven countries that border Sudan, along with Egypt, Libya, Chad, South Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Many of the nations have dealt in recent years with some combination of sustained conflict, food insecurity, armed rebellions and civil unrest. Analysts say Chad and South Sudan are at the most immediate risk from the conflict in Sudan. The United Nations estimates that the two countries, which rank among the worlds poorest, could receive as many as 270,000 refugees in the coming weeks. The spillover effects are already visible. Thousands of people have arrived in the neighboring countries, South Sudan included, Deng Dau Deng, acting foreign minister of South Sudan, said at a briefing in Juba on Friday. Chad, a key Western ally in the fight against terrorism and a bulwark against growing Russian influence in the region, has in recent years beaten back two serious coup attempts that emerged from just over the border in Sudans Darfur region, where intense ethnic fighting has already killed scores during the current war. Story continues Many of the rival groups in Darfur may also have connections over the borders in Chad and CAR, said Sarra Majdoub, a Sudan-based independent conflict analyst. Dagalo was leader in the Janjaweed militias that brutalized the area, and his cousin is a senior adviser to interim President Mahamat Deby, whos tried to mediate in the current crisis. Soon after fighting broke out in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum on April 15, Chad closed its border and deployed troops at checkpoints. The rebels might try to enter Chad, Chads Prime Minister Saleh Kebzabo said by phone from the capital NDjamena. They could join forces with groups already at Chads borders. Sudans relationship with its neighbors is at the moment very asymmetric, said John Lechner, a Central African researcher based in Washington. What happens in Khartoum will have an impact in CAR and Chad, while these countries have little control over the situation in Khartoum. Wagner Influence Among the armed groups operating in the region is the Russian paramilitary company Wagner Group. The Kremlin-linked mercenary operation has forces in Sudan, Libya and CAR, where its involved in the diamond and gold trade. The group also has ties to a gold processing facility outside Atbara in Sudan, according to recent EU sanctions. The foreign fighters have helped the CAR government secure its gold-rich northern region thats rife with armed groups, some with links to rebels in western Darfur. CARs government maintains that the only Russian forces in the country are unarmed trainers. The worsening security situation with rebels operating on both sides of our borders, which arent very well-protected, could see Wagner strengthen its position in CAR and Sudan, Martin Ziguele, another former CAR prime minister, said by phone from Bangui. Humanitarian Crisis Those borders are now seeing an influx of refugees fleeing Sudans violence, with at least 30,000 people having arrived in Chad and South Sudan so far, along with 16,000 whove fled north to Egypt, according to authorities. Most hope to enter fragile countries hit hard by their own protracted conflicts as well as the impacts of climate change and food insecurity. More than two million people in South Sudan have been displaced by war, and some two-thirds of the nations 11 million population is in need of humanitarian assistance. In neighboring CAR, prices of staple foods such as millet have doubled since the fighting in Sudan began. More than 12,000 refugees from Sudan arrived in CAR in recent days and more people are massing at the border, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The situation is very worrying, said Dologuele, the former CAR prime minister. Our government has no leverage in what happens in Khartoum. We will just have to face the crisis if, or rather when, it hits here. --With assistance from Simon Marks and Okech Francis. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A rogue elephant, notorious for breaking into ration shops to steal rice and causing damage to human settlements in Chinnakanal and Santhanpara areas of this hill district, was tranquilised on Saturday after months of uncertainty and confusion. Mission Arikomban, named after the tusker, started at 4 am on Saturday and went on till 6 pm. The elephant was being to the Periyar tiger reserve and will be let loose 20 km deep inside the forest. State Forest Minister A K Saseendran said the radio collar attached to the elephant will alert officials of its movement and allow them to take necessary precautions in case it ventures into human habitat again. He, however, did not disclose the exact location where the elephant would be released. The High Court had earlier directed the Kerala Forest Department not to reveal the location. "Forest officials have made all necessary arrangements (for translocation of the elephant)," the minister told PTI. Saseendran said the government had proposed various locations before the high court and this particular reserve was selected as its climatic conditions are similar to those of Chinnakkanal. Saddled in the southern region of the Western Ghats, the Periyar Tiger Reserve is spread across 777 sq km of area and is home to a luxuriant collection of different species of flora and fauna. Earlier, the task force had a tough day, braving heavy rain and fog, as they tried to tranquilise the elephant and shift it to a truck with the help of four Kumki elephants. The Kumki elephants, trained for trapping and capturing wild tuskers, successfully managed to push the rouge tusker into the truck despite facing great resistance. The task force spotted the elephant Arikomban near Suryanelli in the morning and a tranquilising team led by Dr Arun Zacharia surrounded the area. Fortunately for the task force team, the elephant did not go deeper inside the forest, and the first tranquiliser shot was fired at 11.55 am and followed by the first booster at 12.40 pm. Five more boosters were subsequently given. However, the task force members could not cover the eyes of the wild elephant with a black cloth to keep it calm. They used the arm of an earthmover to reach the top of the animal in the truck to fix a GPS-enabled radio collar, which was insisted on by the Kerala High Court. Mission Arikomban had gone through several controversies, with animal rights activists opposing the move of the forest department to capture and tame it to become a Kumki elephant at Kodanad Elephant Centre in Ernakulam district. They petitioned the High Court, which, after hearing the plea, stopped the department's move. The court appointed an expert committee to study the issue. The panel suggested that the elephant be translocated to a wild area where there would be no chance of conflict with humans. The committee had suggested shifting the elephant to the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. Soon, protests erupted in the Parambikulam area, with residents fiercely opposing the move. The High Court then asked the Kerala government to release it in a place of its choice and asked them to keep the location a secret. The locals of Chinnakanal and Santhanpara had been up in arms against the rogue elephant and had been demanding its translocation from their area. The place, situated between the Anayirangal Dam on one side and several tribal settlements on the other, has many more elephants that were denied their corridors of passage. Though one elephant is now being removed from the locality, the experts said that the issue is far from over. While addressing the 100th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' radio broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it has become a "unique festival of goodness and positivity for the people". He also said that 'Mann Ki Baat' is an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians. He said that 'Mann Ki Baat' gave him the platform to connect with people of India. "For me 'Mann Ki Baat' has been about worshiping the qualities in others," said PM. "Every episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' has been special. It has celebrated positivity, people's participation, he added. "On October 3, 2014, day of the Vijaya Dashami festival, all of us together started the journey of 'Mann Ki Baat'...'Mann Ki Baat' has also become a unique festival of goodness and positivity for the country's people. A festival that comes every month, keenly awaited by all of us. We celebrate positivity," said PM. He also said that he had received thousands of letters and messages from people. "Mann Ki Baat is not merely a programme but a spiritual journey for me," said Modi. The radio broadcast has paved way for public movements as well. Be it 'Swachh Bharat', Khadi or 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav'...issues raised in 'Mann Ki Baat' became people's movements, he said. Modi said the monthly radio broadcast has become an important medium of learning from others. UNESCO chief joins 'Mann Ki Baat' PM Narendra Modi on Sunday interacted with UNESCO Director-General Audray Azoulay in the 100th episode. UNESCO chief while speaking to the PM during the broadcast said that "Dear Prime Minister, on behalf of UNESCO, I thank you for this opportunity to be part of the 100th episode of the Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast. UNESCO and India have a long common history. We have very strong partnerships together in all areas of our mandate education, science, culture and information." She also asked various questions to PM Modi on education and cultural preservation amid India's ongoing G20 Presidency. "UNESCO is working with its member states to ensure that everyone in the world has access to quality education by 2030, with the largest population in the world. Could you please explain the Indian way to achieve this objective? UNESCO also works to support culture and protect heritage," she said. During the 100th episode, Modi also had a telephonic conversation with some people who were featured earlier on the broadcast for their unique initiatives. Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Union ministers, listened to Modi's address at different places as the ruling party went all out to make the 100th episode a mega exercise in public connect. To mark the historic event, the broadcast was aired live at the United Nations headquarters. The show was also broadcasted at the Consulate General of India in New York, and at community organisations in New Jersey for the members of the Indian-American and diaspora community. BJP's overseas units and other non-political organisations have been roped in to ensure that the radio broadcast gets the maximum outreach abroad. Arrangements have also been made for eminent citizens to listen to the programme at all Raj Bhavans and the homes of chief ministers of the BJP or its allies across the country. Padma awardees from all states have been invited to attend the events at Raj Bhavans. Hundreds of people gathered on both sides of the road to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he held a mega road show in Mysuru on Sunday as part of BJP's election campaign for the Karnataka Assembly elections. Modi also concluded his whirlwind two-day tour of the poll-bound state during which he addressed six public rallies. Clad in traditional Mysuru 'Peta' and a saffron shawl, Modi was flanked by Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, former ministers K.S. Eshwarappa and sitting MLA S.A. Ramadas. Notably, Eshwarappa had recently announced retirement from electoral politics, while Ramadas was denied ticket to contest in the May 10 elections. A cultural troupe of men and women in traditional attire walked all along the road. While men wore 'Peta' and 'Kurta', women were in attire resembling that of Bharatanatyam dancers. Earlier in the day, Modi addressed three rallies in 'Old Mysuru' region (South Karnataka) where he launched a scathing attack on both the JD(S) and the Congress, calling them a "sign of instability". In Kolar, Modi targeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for his 'venomous snake' remark, and said that the snake was the charm of lord Shiva's neck, and for him the people of the country were a "form of god", and he was fine with being compared to the snake on their necks. "I know that the people of Karnataka, the land of saints and sanskar, will give a befitting reply to Congress's abuses through votes. The anger of the people against the Congress will reflect through votes on May 10," he said. Addressing a rally in Belur, Modi called the JD(S) a 'B-team' of the Congress. "Every vote you cast in favour of JD(S) will go into the Congress's account, while voting for Congress means putting a break to Karnataka's development," he said. "This time Karnataka has decided to end the decades of jod-tod (coalition) politics. Congress and JD(S) both are signs of instability. In whichever states Congress governments are remaining, there its identity is of rivalry between its leaders. You are too seeing what is happening in Rajasthan and Chattisgarh," Modi said. The prime minister addressed another rally in Channapatna where he accused the Congress and the JD(S) of encouraging corruption. He alleged that both parties saw Karnataka as an ATM, and that they found opportunity in instability. Queer weather conditions marked with bursts of heavy rain, thunderstorm, hailstorm, gusty winds and lightning continued to batter most areas of Madhya Pradesh on Sundaythe third day in a rowgiving residents a feeling of monsoon in peak summer. Eight deaths due to lightning and another due to strong winds were reported from different parts of the state during the past 24 hours, ending Sunday morning. Electric poles, huts, houses and other infrastructure got damaged while trees were uprooted due to strong winds in Raisen, Sehore, Shajapur, Barwani, Burhanpur Ratlam, Mandsaur, Khargone, Dhar, Harda, Betul, Dewas, Narsinghpur, Katni, Seoni and Chhindwara districts, the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), Bhopal said. Wind speeds between 35 and 60 kms per hour were reported from many places in the state. Normal average annual wind speed in the region was about 5-10 kms per hour. Rainfall, hailstorm and gusty winds have been repeatedly experienced over Madhya Pradesh during the past two months, so much so that the state received more than three times the expected rain in March and April, data from RMC, Bhopal, shows. Normally, an average of only 11 mms of rain is expected between March 1 and April 30 in Madhya Pradesh, but this year, 45.1 mm average rainfall was recorded, which is 310 per cent more than normal. Temperatures have plunged drastically across the state due to the queer weather conditions. Earthquake chance being monitored Due to the heavy unseasonal rain, the weather office is also monitoring the likelihood of low to moderate earthquakes in different parts of the country. In Madhya Pradesh, the Son-Narmada fault zone comprising Jabalpur and Narmadapuram (Hoshangabad) divisions is being monitored for rainfall. The RMC, Bhopal, has asked the district collectors and state disaster management authorities of Jabalpur division, Indore division, Narmadapuram division, Bhopal division and Shahdol division and Dewas district to report any localized /small earthquake like events as inputs are required by the National Centre of Seismology. Scientist with RMC, Bhopal, Ved Prakash Singh told THE WEEK that due to heavy unseasonal rainfall, chemical reaction is expected between water and calcium carbonate rocks (found in above mentioned areas) causing likelihood of rifts and consequent low and moderate earthquakes. Weather conditions to continue for a week Similar weather conditions are expected over the entire state along with other parts of the country for another week, with several weather systems simultaneously active. A fresh disturbance is brewing and likely to start impacting northwest India from the night of May 1, giving further impetus to the rainy, squally weather all over the country including Madhya Pradesh, scientist with RMC, Bhopal, Ved Prakash Singh told THE WEEK. Singh said that the conditions will be vigorous till May 6 and start subsiding then, though some activity will continue till May 8. He said that extra moisture is coming in from the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal. Also, the Mediterranean Sea is active due to the presence of different weather systems. The weather systems include a western disturbance as a cyclonic circulation that persists over Central Pakistan, an induced cyclonic circulation is present over south Pakistan and adjoining west Rajasthan, another over southwest Uttar Pradesh and adjoining areas, a cyclonic circulation over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining areas, another over Maldives and a trough/wind discontinuity is persisting from east Vidarbha to interior Tamil Nadu across Telangana and interior Karnataka, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast bulletin on Sunday afternoon said. Further, another western disturbance will start affecting northwest India from May 1 night, it added. Warning for thunderstorms, rain, gusty winds, hail and lightning has been issued for many districts across the state. Thankfully, the weather is not likely to be detrimental for farmers as at this time no major crops are grown. As for Madhya Pradesh, the third crop of mung (green gram) is in the middle stages of growing in about 15-16 districts of the state and might not be harmed too much, sources said. However, damage to vegetable, horticulture crops due to rain and hail was reported from Narmadapuram, Shajapur, Vidisha, Raisen, Sehore, Burhanpur, Dhar, Mandsaur, Katni and Damoh districts. Temperatures plunge drastically The most talked about aspect of the present weather conditions is the fact that at a time when summer heat should have been at its peak, people in many parts of the country and almost entire Madhya Pradesh experiencing a monsoon like feel, with temperatures plunging drastically. Day temperatures plunged as much as 6 to 18 degrees below normal mark in most parts of the state on Sunday. Night temperatures also plunged by about 1 to 8 degrees below normal. This has caused people to firmly switch off air conditioners and coolers and bring out the packed woolens. Umbrellas and raincoats are also being used in most areas. Rainfall (in mms) (Sunday 8.30 am to 5.30 pm) Khajuraho 44.4 Damoh 37.0 Bhopal City 35.1 Bhopal 31.0 Sagar 30.0 Raisen 16.0 Khandwa 16.0 Indore 14.2 Seoni 14.0 Pachmarhi 14.0 Chhindwara 8.0 Satna 4.0 Malanjkhand 4.0 (Past 24 hours ending 8.30 am Sunday) Seoni 57.2 Chhindwara 35.2 Jabalpur 31.7 Narsinghpur 24.0 Mandla 16.4 Indore 15.5 Betul 13.6 Umaria 11.2 Ujjain 9.4 Khandwa 6.8 Malanjkhand 6.6 Pachmari 4.0 The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday a batch of pleas, including one filed by the Editors Guild, challenging the validity of the colonial era sedition law. The Centre is expected to apprise the court of the steps taken so far with regard to reviewing the contentious penal provision. On October 31 last year, the top court had extended its May 11 direction putting on hold the sedition law and the consequential registration of FIRs while granting additional time to the government to take "appropriate steps" for reviewing of the provision. According to the apex court's website, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala has listed as many as 16 petitions challenging the validity of the law for hearing. The central government, which has to review the provision, on October 31 last year, had told the bench that it be granted some more time as "something may happen in the winter session of Parliament". Attorney General R Venkataramani had said the issue has been under consideration of authorities concerned and moreover, there is "no reason to worry" in view of the May 11 interim order, which put the use of the provision on hold. "Mr R Venkataramani, the attorney general, submits that in terms of the directions issued by this court in order dated May 11, 2022, the matter is still engaging the attention of the relevant authorities. He submits that some additional time be granted so that appropriate steps can be taken by the government," the bench had said. "In view of the interim directions issued by this court...dated May 11, 2022, every interest and concern stand protected and as such there would be no prejudice to anyone. At his request, we adjourn the matter to the second week of January 2023," it had said. In response to a query on whether the government had issued any communication to states on the penal provision, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had said the directions in consonance with the apex court's order have been sent to the chief secretaries of states In the landmark order passed on May 11, the court had put the contentious law on hold till the Centre completed its promised review of the colonial relic and also asked the Union and state governments not to register any fresh case invoking the offence. It had also directed that the ongoing probes, pending trials and all proceedings under the sedition law will be kept in abeyance across the country and those in jail on sedition charges could approach the court for bail. "This court is cognisant of the security interests and the integrity of the State on one hand, and the civil liberties of citizens on the other. There is a requirement to balance both sets of considerations, which is a difficult exercise," the court had said. The offence of sedition, which was included in section 124A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in 1890, has been under intense public scrutiny for its use as a tool against expressions of dissent, including on social media. During the colonial era the sedition law was primarily used to suppress dissent and imprison freedom fighters. "We expect that till the re-examination of the provision is complete, it will be appropriate not to continue the usage of the aforesaid provision of law by the governments," the top court had said. Any affected party is at liberty to approach the courts concerned, which are requested to examine the reliefs sought, taking into consideration the present order, it had said. The Editors Guild of India, Major General (Retd) S G Vombatkere, former Union minister Arun Shourie and the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) have filed the petitions on the issue. The petitions have contended that the law causes a "chilling effect" on free speech and is an unreasonable restriction on free expression, a fundamental right. Between 2015 and 2020, 356 cases of sedition -- as defined under section 124A of the IPC -- were registered and 548 people arrested, according to data compiled by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). However, only 12 people arrested in seven sedition cases were convicted in the six-year period. The Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, on Sunday launched its Delhi unit and vowed to implement the 'Maharashtra model' of development in the national capital. Shiv Sena senior leaders Anandrao Adsul and Anshumman Joshi inducted several leaders into the party fold, asserting that the outfit would bat for the rights of the "sons of the soil" and root out corruption in the national capital. Adsul said Shinde would soon visit the national capital to announce the office-bearers of the party's Delhi unit. "We are reaching out to people and local leaders with our humanity, inclusiveness and good governance agenda," Adsul said, and launched the party's 'Good Governance, Maharashtra Model' and 'Apna Abhimaan, Dhanush-Baan' campaigns. Adsul, a former Union minister, said the Shiv Sena would take forward the legacy and vision of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray with regard to inclusiveness, humanity, good governance and alliance with its old ally the BJP. With the launch of the Delhi unit, the national capital becomes the 20th state/Union Territory to have a Shiv Sena unit, he said. "The party will leverage experienced leadership to expand its reach nationally. Our Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has given a governance model to Maharashtra and the party's young leaders bank on that to expand the base in Delhi and other states too," Adsul said. Adsul recalled that Balasaheb Thackeray had saved Sikhs in Mumbai and Maharashtra in the aftermath of the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Joshi said the Shiv Sena would fight against rampant corruption in Delhi. "Only the son of the soil can understand the problems of Delhi. People are getting inflated electricity and water bills, so the promise of free water and electricity was not fulfilled," Joshi said. Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others on Sunday, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor and for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapest's Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and Budapest's famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of Francis' three-day visit, that has been dominated by the Vatican's concern for the plight of migrants and the war in neighbouring Ukraine. Citing local organisers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square, on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungary's right-wing populist Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation for Hungary's recent welcome of Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Orban's hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-2016 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. Upon arrival, Francis urged Hungary and Europe as a whole to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, Francis said in his Sunday homily on the Danube. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor. Please, let us open those doors! he said. In a final prayer at the end of the Mass, Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and a future of hope, not war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of brothers and sisters, not walls. The 86-year-old Francis has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end Russia's war, expressing solidarity with Ukrainians while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscow's invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Holy See's embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as the Russian church's longtime foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchate's representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Francis' Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungary's other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Francis' visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as he's been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Orban's avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularising Western world. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapest's bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass couldn't have been more appropriate for Francis' message: The sprawling square is named for one of Hungary's most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube River only by Hungary's iconic neo-Gothic parliament, the country's largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Later Sunday in his final event in Hungary, Francis warned against the dangers of technology dominating human life, during a speech at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. Speaking broadly about Europe's future, Francis said culture and scholarship forged by universities were the antidote to a future dictated by technology. The university, he said, Is a temple where knowledge is set free from the constraints of accumulating and possessing and can thus become a culture, he said. Such a culture he said, Cultivates our humanity and its foundational relationships: with the transcendent, with society, with history and with creation. Almost a week after the launch of Operation Kaveri, the 14th batch of Indians stranded in strife-torn Sudan was evacuated late on Saturday. "14th batch of Indians leaves Port Sudan under OperationKaveri. 288 passengers onboard INS Teg are enroute to Jeddah," said a tweet by Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi. Over 2,500 Indians have so far been evacuated from Sudan as the situation in the African country continues to worsen. There were over 3,000 Indians in Sudan, reports quoting MEA said earlier. Meanwhile, the seventh outbound flight carrying 229 passengers left Jeddah, where India set up a transit camp, on Sunday morning for Bengaluru. This comes as a batch of 365 people landed in New Delhi from Jeddah on Saturday evening. Till Saturday afternoon, over 754 people have arrived back home in two batches under the evacuation mission. The total number of Indians who were brought back home now stands at 1,725, according to official data. While the first batch of 360 evacuees returned to New Delhi in a commercial plane on Wednesday, the second batch of 246 Indian evacuees arrived in Mumbai in a C17 Globemaster aircraft of the IAF on Thursday. Open to talks? Fighting between Sudan's army and the paramilitary group continued on Saturday too as air strikes and artillery rocked Khartoum despite a ceasefire. Heavy clashes could be heard near downtown Khartoum, close to the army headquarters and the presidential palace, on Saturday, reported Reuters. Meanwhile, a U.N. envoy said negotiations could be in the pipeline. U.N. special representative in Sudan Volker Perthes told Reuters though the military and RSF have so far shown no sign of compromise were now more open to negotiations - though no date had been set. Though Army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan ruled out any negotiations with RSF's "rebel" leader General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo or Hemedti, there is a change in attitude. "The word 'negotiations' or 'talks' was not there in their discourse in the first week or so," he said. Both factions have now nominated representatives for talks, likely to be held in Jeddah or Juba in South Sudan. However, there was a practical question over whether they could get there to actually sit together, Perthes added. The immediate task was to develop a monitoring mechanism for ceasefires. "They have both accepted that this war cannot continue," Perthes added. Authorities are still searching for a Texas man, who went next door with a rifle and fatally shot five of his neighbours, including an eight-year-old boy, after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep. The police were searching for the gunman. He was firing an AR-15-style gun in his yard. San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office Investigators are currently investigating a mass shooter incident in the 100 block of Walters Road in the Trails End area of Cleveland. Night shift patrol deputies were dispatched to a residence in reference to a harassment complaint. While enroute, the communications center received multiple 911 calls of an active shooter incident at the dispatched location. Multiple deputies arrived at the residence and located multiple victims deceased in a residence and several others in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds, San Jacinto County Sheriffs Office wrote on Facebook. Bodies of the victims reportedly lay strewn across the home, including in the bedroom, where two women lay on top of two children, who survived the massacre. "He could be anywhere now," San Jacinto Sheriff Greg Capers said. All the victims had been shot "from the neck up almost execution style, basically in the head," San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told AFP. "He had been drinking and he says, 'I'll do what I want to in my front yard,'" Capers added. According to the authorities, the gunman is said to be from Mexico. He's been identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza. Two civilians died after Ukrainian shells hit the village of Suzemka in Russia's Byransk region, the regional governor told Russian media. Alexander Bogomaz, governor of the Bryansk region told TASS, the state-owned news agency. As a result of the strike inflicted by Ukrainian nationalists, unfortunately, two civilians were killed, Bogomaz said in a message posted on Telegram, adding that emergency service continue to work a the scene. The attack comes at the heels of Ukraine warning that it is gearing up to launch an offensive against Russia. Bryansk shares a border with Ukraine to its south and with Belarus to its west. According to Governor Bogomaz, one residential building was completely destroyed and two houses were partially damaged. In the meantime, five Russian villages were without power as a result of shelling by Ukraine. The Belgorod region has been hit by attacks throughout Russia's offensive for more than a year. "The village of Novaya Tavolzhanka came under Ukrainian shelling today," Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram. "The power lines are damaged," he said. He also said that residents of four nearby villages were without electricity. Gladkov said authorities are working towards restoring power in the villages. Since Russia invaded in February 2022, Ukrainian forces have liberated nearly 30,000 square miles of their territory from Russian forces. Johnny Winter performs at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival at Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, May 3, 2014. Nearly nine years after Johnny Winter's death, a battle for control of the legendary blues guitarist's music is being fought in a Connecticut court with nasty allegations of theft and greed flying. (John Davisson/AP) Nearly nine years after Johnny Winters death, a battle for control of the legendary blues guitarists music is being fought in court with allegations of theft and greed flying back and forth. The legal fight pits Winters former personal manager and bandmate, Paul Nelson, against the family of the bluesmans late wife, Susan, who died in 2019. Advertisement Winters in-laws say Nelson and his wife improperly took more than $1.5 million from Winters music business, including auctioning off some of the late musicians guitars. Nelson and his wife have countersued, saying Susan Winters siblings swooped in when she was medicated and dying of cancer and tricked her into giving them control of Winters music, stripping away Nelsons rights as the beneficiary of Susan Winters estate. Advertisement The case was scheduled to go to trial in a Connecticut court in April, but was rescheduled for September. At stake is ownership of Winters music catalogue, proceeds from record and merchandise sales and authority to approve any commercial use of his songs, the value of which is uncertain. The case is about preserving Johnny Winters legacy and vindicating and making sure the Nelsons havent improperly taken the moneys rightfully owed to the plaintiffs, said Timothy Diemand, a lawyer for the Susan Winters siblings, Bonnie and Christopher Warford. Nelson wants to be reinstalled as the beneficiary of Susan Winters estate. The Plaintiffs orchestrated the wrongful termination of Paul Nelson during a difficult time in Susan Winters last year of life, the Nelsons said in a statement released by their lawyer, Matthew Mason. They said it was clear that both Johnny and Susan Winter wanted Nelson to be responsible for Johnny Winters music and legacy. John Dawson Winter III was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. He burst onto the world blues scene in the 1960s, dazzling crowds with his fast licks while his trademark long, white hair flew about from under his cowboy hat. He and his brother Edgar both born with albinism were both reknowned musicians. Winter played at Woodstock in 1969 and went on to produce albums for Blues icon Muddy Waters in addition to his own music. In 1988 he was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame. Rolling Stone magazine listed him as the No. 63 best guitar player of all time in 2015. He released more than two dozen albums and was nominated for several Grammy awards, winning his first one posthumously in 2015 for Best Blues Album for Step Back. Nelson produced the album and also took home a Grammy for it. Advertisement Winter, who spent two decades living in Easton, Connecticut, before his death, battled heroin addiction for years and credited Nelson, whom he met in 1999, with helping him get off methadone, according to the 2014 documentary Johnny Winter: Down & Dirty. Before he got clean, bandmates and friends said they were concerned because of his frail appearance and trouble talking. Nelson also credits himself with reviving Winters music career. The Winters and Nelsons became good friends. Paul Nelson played guitar in Johnny Winters band and started running his music company beginning in 2005. Nelsons wife, Marion Nelson, did bookkeeping for the Winters and the music business, according to legal filings in the lawsuit. Winter died at the age of 70 on July 16, 2014, in a hotel room just outside Zurich, Switzerland, while on tour. Susan Winter and Paul Nelson have said the cause of death was likely emphysema. Susan Winter was the sole beneficiary of her husbands estate, which she put in a trust in late 2016. She named herself as the trusts sole trustee and Nelson as the successor trustee, meaning he would inherit the rights to Johnny Winters music after she died. But in June 2019, four months before her death from lung cancer, Susan Winter removed Nelson as the successor and replaced him with her sister and brother. Advertisement The Nelsons allege in their lawsuit that Bonnie and Christopher Warford got control by lying to their sister, wrongly telling her the Nelsons were mismanaging the music business and her affairs. The Warfords lawsuit accuses the Nelsons of improperly taking more than $1.5 million out of Winters business under the guise of royalty income, commissions, reimbursements, fees, social media expenses and other mechanisms, while obfuscating and misrepresenting these dealings to Susan Winter. They have also accused the Nelsons of taking three of Winters guitars, worth about $300,000 total, and selling them at auction without permission. The Nelsons deny the allegation. In short, this is the classic case of a manager taking advantage of an artist-client, and worse here, an artists surviving family, Diemand wrote in a legal filing. Its not clear why Edgar Winter, a noted musician in his own right, was not involved in his brothers estate after his death. Edgar Winter and his representatives did not return phone and email messages seeking comment. The Warfords lawsuit is similar to one the Winters filed against Johnny Winters former manager Teddy Slatus for alleged financial wrongdoing around 2005. Slatus died in late 2005. Its not clear what happened with the lawsuit. Advertisement Johnny and Susan have been battling lawsuits all their lives, and still cant rest in peace, said Mary Lou Sullivan, who wrote a biography titled Raisin Cane: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter published in 2010. Both the Warfords, of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Nelsons, of Weston, Connecticut, declined interview requests by The Associated Press. We can readily understand why investors are attracted to unprofitable companies. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. Having said that, unprofitable companies are risky because they could potentially burn through all their cash and become distressed. So should IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. Let's start with an examination of the business' cash, relative to its cash burn. Check out our latest analysis for IonQ When Might IonQ Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. When IonQ last reported its balance sheet in December 2022, it had zero debt and cash worth US$356m. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through US$57m. That means it had a cash runway of about 6.2 years as of December 2022. Importantly, though, analysts think that IonQ will reach cashflow breakeven before then. In that case, it may never reach the end of its cash runway. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Well Is IonQ Growing? IonQ actually ramped up its cash burn by a whopping 57% in the last year, which shows it is boosting investment in the business. Given that operating revenue was up a stupendous 430% over the last year, there's a good chance the investment will pay off. Considering the factors above, the company doesnt fare badly when it comes to assessing how it is changing over time. Clearly, however, the crucial factor is whether the company will grow its business going forward. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. Story continues Can IonQ Raise More Cash Easily? There's no doubt IonQ seems to be in a fairly good position, when it comes to managing its cash burn, but even if it's only hypothetical, it's always worth asking how easily it could raise more money to fund growth. Generally speaking, a listed business can raise new cash through issuing shares or taking on debt. Commonly, a business will sell new shares in itself to raise cash and drive growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. IonQ's cash burn of US$57m is about 5.2% of its US$1.1b market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. Is IonQ's Cash Burn A Worry? As you can probably tell by now, we're not too worried about IonQ's cash burn. For example, we think its revenue growth suggests that the company is on a good path. While its increasing cash burn wasn't great, the other factors mentioned in this article more than make up for weakness on that measure. One real positive is that analysts are forecasting that the company will reach breakeven. Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. Separately, we looked at different risks affecting the company and spotted 3 warning signs for IonQ (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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 Hundreds of Americans fleeing two weeks of deadly fighting in Sudan reached the east African nation's port Saturday in the first US-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 800 km to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, US officials said. The US, which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticised by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any US-run evacuation for Americans who wanted out, calling it too dangerous. US special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, on April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. Several thousand US citizens were left behind, many of them dual-nationals. More than a dozen other nations had already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on-the-ground personnel. A wide-ranging group of international mediators including African and Arab nations, the United Nations and the United States has only managed to achieve a series of fragile temporary ceasefires that failed to stop clashes but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate thousands of their citizens by land, air and sea. Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out on April 15, the US has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though US officials have tried to link up Americans with other nations' evacuation efforts. But, that changed as US officials exploited a relative lull in the fighting and, from afar, organized their own convoy for Americans, officials said. Without evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, many US citizens have been left to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the country's main Red Sea port, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried US citizens, local people employed by the US and citizens of allied countries. We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan, he said. From Port Sudan, away from the fighting, the Americans in the convoy can seek spots on vessels crossing the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. US officials also are working with Saudi Arabia to see if one of the kingdom's naval vessels can carry a larger number of Americans to Jeddah. US consular officials will be waiting for the Americans once they reach the dock in Jeddah, but there are no US personnel in Port Sudan, officials said. Two Americans are confirmed killed in the fighting that erupted on April 15. One was a US civilian whom officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was a doctor from Iowa City, who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum, in the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting. In all, the fighting in the East African country has killed more than 500 people. Exclusive Interview/ Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president The crucial Karnataka assembly elections, on May 10, will set the tone for a hectic electoral season culminating in the Lok Sabha polls of 2024. That Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress president, is from the state makes it all the more significant for him that his party defeats the ruling BJP. I saw on television that [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah was talking about bringing a metro [rail system] here. But the metro is already running in Karnataka. Nobody is above the party. Individuals may be aspirants. Ultimately, the legislature party and the high command will decide who the chief minister should be. If a man, when he desired something (chief ministers post), did not get it at the time, there is no point in coming back to it. I have gone to the Himalayas. Now, I do not want to come to Kanni-yakumari. In an exclusive interview at his Bengaluru homewhere he made a pit stop before embarking on another election tourKharge spoke to THE WEEK in great detail about not just the Karnataka campaign, but also the national issues that confront him and his party. Excerpts: Q/ The Congress has set a target of 150 [of 224] seats in Karnataka. What makes you confident of achieving this target? A/ We want nearly 150 because, nowadays, governments with a thin margin are unstable, particularly after the BJP has come to power at the Centre. They are misusing various agencies to topple state governments. They ask MLAs to merge with their party, resign and get re-elected on their ticket. Therefore, we have set a target of 150 seats. Q/ Is there a fear that the BJP could launch Operation Lotus in Karnataka yet again? A/ Their track record is like that. Not only Karnataka, they have done it in Maharashtra, they tried it in Rajasthan, they have done it in Manipur, in Goa. That is why, to have a stable government, it is necessary that we have these many MLAs. Q/ This election must be especially significant for you not just because you are Congress president, but also because this is your home state. A/ I worked here for nearly 40 years as a legislator, as an opposition leader, as a minister, as state Congress president, and then I went to Delhi as an MP. And now, fortunately, with the blessings of Madam Sonia Gandhi and other delegates, they supported me and I got elected as AICC (All India Congress Committee) president. But I alone cannot bring 150 or a majority. I believe in collective leadership unlike some others who declare Main akela hi bhari padta hoon sab pe (I alone am enough for everyone; in reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modis speech in Parliament). That shows ego. We should also recognise the work done by our grassroots-level workers. On the day of polling, our workers have the main role. They are our main pillars. Q/ The BJPs election management is often talked about. How do you plan to counter that? A/ For five years, all our leaders in the stateour Congress Legislature Party leader, state president and othershave toured entire Karnataka. But yes, I agree that we do not have muscle power or money power or the ED or the CBI. That is with the BJP, and they are misusing the institutions and threatening our people. You must have seen how Rahul Gandhis disqualification was carried out with lightning speed, like a surgical strike. On a lighter note: Kharge with Rahul Gandhi during the Bharat Jodo Yatra | Arvind Jain Q/ Would the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi as a Lok Sabha member be a factor for the voter in Karnataka? A/ We do not want to talk about it much here. We will fight in the house and outside through party programmes. Here, we will fight on the issues of Karnataka, like corruption or how the government did not care about law and order or improving infrastructure or bringing in investment. Whatever we have here is because of the previous Congress governments. I saw on television that [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah was talking about bringing a metro [rail system] here. But the metro is already running in Karnataka. They talk about double-engine sarkar, but they do not release money for MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) and other programmes. Q/ Would Prime Minister Modis campaign make any impact? A/ He has visited Karnataka six or seven times in the past three months. Parliament was in session, but he was inaugurating something or the other here. Every government function that the prime minister attended was paid for by the taxpayers and was converted into a campaign rally. But he will be exposed. People will see through his hollow talk. Unfortunately, he does not take questions. Q/ The Basavaraj Bommai government changed the reservation policy, doing away with reservation for Muslims and rejigging the quota for SC/ST communities and others. A/ As for SC/STs, you have to give reservation proportionate to population. That was pending. About quota for the minority community, their status is the same as dalits or backward class people. That is why 4 per cent quota was given by the Congress government. They snatched it. They did this to polarise [voters]. They are insulting the minorities and we are fighting for them. Definitely, when we come to power, we will give reasonable reservation to everybody who needs it, according to the rules. Q/ What is the alternative model of governance the Congress is offering? A/ The Congress model of governance has always emphasised on inclusive and equitable growth, industrialisation, and health and education for all. We have given four guarantees: Gruha Jyothi200 units of free electricity every month to every household, Gruha LakshmiRs2,000 each month to the female head of every household, Anna Bhagya10kg rice to every member of the family, every month, and Yuva NidhiRs3,000 for every unemployed graduate and Rs1,500 for every unemployed diploma holder every month for a period of two years. We will implement these guarantees in our first cabinet meeting. Clash of ambitions: D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah at a news conference in Bengaluru | Bhanu Prakash Chandra Q/ There are many chief minister aspirants in the Congress. The focus is especially on the rivalry between Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar. A/ Nobody is above the party. Individuals may be aspirants. Ultimately, the legislature party and the high command will decide who the chief minister should be. I congratulate both of them (Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar). They are working for the party. There are others also whose names may not be coming to the forefront. We have good teamwork. Q/ Is there a possibility that you could become the next chief minister of Karnataka? A/ No. I have worked for the party for 52 years. If a man, when he wanted or desired something, did not get it at the time, there is no point in coming back to it. I have gone to the Himalayas. Now, I do not want to come to Kanniyakumari. As Congress president, I am responsible for bringing the Congress to power in the state elections and eventually at the Centre in 2024. Q/ Will this remain an unfulfilled dream then? A/ Part unfulfilled. When I joined the party in 1969, it was because Indira Gandhis 10-point programme and Nehruvian ideology attracted me. I became block Congress president, DCC (District Congress Committee) president, PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) president and now AICC president. If the ideology I believe in is implemented by X or Y, that is enough for me. Q/ So you are saying that you are above the fray? A/ It is like [the life of] Babasaheb Ambedkar. He did not become prime minister. He was not aspiring to be cabinet minister. His sole objective was to get into the constituent assembly and fight for dalits rights. That is my motto, too. Article 371J (granting special status to backward districts in Karnataka), which I brought, no chief minister could have done. Narendra Modi | J. Suresh Q/ Do you feel the Karnataka elections are going to be important in terms of national politics? A/ If the Congress wins here, its effect will definitely be all-India. The mood of the people will be known. And apart from that, also whether people want change or the same corrupt government and the politics of exploiting caste and religious sentiments. Modi will not reply to even one question the opposition asks. It is because he knows that if he places wrong information on the floor of the house, he will be challenged unlike in his public rallies. Q/ The Bharat Jodo Yatra passed through Karnataka. In this election, are you seeing any impact of the yatra? A/ Yes. There is tremendous impact. Rahul Gandhis yatra united people and created awareness in the country, not only for the Congress. It awakened citizens to their rights. The yatra had one of the longest spells in Karnataka. From the first week of last October, our leaders and cadres have been active on ground. Q/ Has it had an impact on Rahul Gandhis own image as a leader? A/ Some people are determined to destroy his image. While we in the party always knew about his commitment to peoples causes, and his fearlessness, what has been a revelation to the world is his resolve and endurance. He walked 4,000km at a stretch, meeting and interacting with millions of people. He brought the cadre and civil society from across the country together. He is our force unifier. The impact of the yatra has been huge. That is why the response from the BJP government also has been so huge. Every day, the BJP deploys a dozen Union ministers and chief ministers only to comment on Rahul Gandhi. These people who cannot walk even 50km criticise him and say he was born with a silver spoon. Why does the BJP criticise only him? Because in their mind, if the image of Sonia ji or Rahul ji is damaged, the entire Congress will be finished. Q/ Will there be part two of the Bharat Jodo Yatra soon? A/ Yes, the second phase will be there. Q/ The Congress says Rahul Gandhis disqualification as MP is political vendetta. But the BJP says it is the result of a legal process. A/ I will give you one instance from Gujarat in 2013. A case was filed against Naranbhai Kachhadiya (MP from Amreli). He slapped a dalit doctor. He was convicted by the magistrate court. His appeal was not upheld in the sessions court. He appealed in the High Court, which also rejected it, and he got punishment of three years and 10 months. Modi was kind enough to continue him as an MP. Not only that, in 2019, he was again given a ticket. So, you have one law for your man, another law for the opposition. Rahul Gandhi is speaking the truth. You do not tolerate it. You want to finish him. He should not attend Parliament, that is your motive. Okay, that is in the hands of law. But why did you ask him to vacate his house within 30 days? You did not ask the others, your pet people. You gave them an extension. [Even] his phone was disconnected that very day. Q/ Any concerns that he might not be able to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections? A/ The fact that he is the only person in Indias history to have been sentenced to two years for defamation makes it a case of disproportionate punishment. We are confident that the honourable judges will notice this. He specifically mentioned three names. None of them filed a case. Q/ The disqualification has brought opposition parties together. You hosted a dinner meeting for them. A/ We want to unite all of them to save democracy, protect the Constitution and protect citizens rights. Whoever wants to support this idea can join in. I am thankful to all the political parties. They responded well and put forth their views. We are trying to call everybody and have unity based on a common minimum programme. Q/ Leaders like Nitish Kumar and Sharad Pawar have talked about reaching out to parties like the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress. Can some electoral understanding be possible with these parties? A/ I had requested Nitish Kumar (Bihar chief minister and Janata Dal (United) chairperson) to talk to some parties with whom he is comfortable. I also requested Pawar ji (Nationalist Congress Party president) to talk to some people who are comfortable with him. Suppose Mamata (West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson) is comfortable with Nitish or Pawar, let them speak to her. I have also spoken to many people. We are trying our best to unite everybody. Q/ There is a proposal about having one opposition candidate per seat against the BJP. A/ Let us see what programmes come up in the meeting [of opposition parties] after the Karnataka elections. Then I will speak on this. However, all likeminded parties have to agree to do so. It is largely possible. Everyone will need to pay a small price, but that price is nothing before the larger cause. Q/ At the national level, there is this perception that Modi is still unchallenged. A/ What percentage of the vote has he secured and what percentage has the opposition secured? He did not cross 50 per cent. He is at hardly 36 per cent. Also, look at his conduct in Parliament. He is taking Parliament for granted and in turn taking the public for granted. He will not reply to even one question the opposition asks. It is because he knows that if he places wrong information on the floor of the house, he will be challenged unlike in his public rallies. Rahul Gandhi asked him questions, I asked him questions, what was his response? Both our questions got expunged. Finally, Rahul Gandhi is disqualified as MP. Modi is just a PR bubble that will burst one day. Q/ In Karnataka, you have spoken about a caste census. Will that be the main plank of the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections, too? A/ We will talk about it everywhere because a caste census will give you a better idea about forming new schemes. We will know how particular castes have fared after independence, their per capita income, how many are landless, how many are graduates, how many are employed. And then, you will have better planning for those sections. Q/ Is the Adani issue resonating with the public? A/ We are not raising the issue much here (Karnataka). We are concentrating on local problems. Also read How Mallikarjun Kharge is the unifier Congress and opposition require Q/ Beyond Karnataka, would it be a major issue for you? A/ It will, because it is about peoples money being at risk. How they (the Modi government) have behaved so far (with regard to the demand for a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the Adani issue), you people have seen it. They did not even spare journalists. Q/ How do you see the revelations made by former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik on the 2019 Pulwama attack? A/ If we would have said something, they would say Desh drohi jaise baat kar rahe hain (they are talking like traitors). Their own man is speaking. After all, Prime Minister Modi personally appointed him governor. Now that same person has raised questions related to national security. What Malik has said is very serious. We stand with the government on all issues of national security, but when a person who was the constitutional authority raises some questions, the government has a duty to be accountable to the nation. Q/ In another election-going state, Rajasthan, there is a tussle for power between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy, Sachin Pilot. A/ The Congress government in Rajasthan is doing good work. Their landmark decision to announce 19 new districts and the Right to Health Scheme are extremely popular. People have welcomed the old pension scheme. There are some issues regarding the demand for investigation into allegations of corruption in the previous Vasundhara [Raje-led BJP] government. I am told that the allegations are being inquired into. Q/ Are efforts being made to resolve the differences? A/ The party is much bigger than an individual. Whatever differences there are will be settled internally. We are confident that all leaders will come together and the Congress will be re-elected. Q/ The Congress Working Committee elections did not take place at the Raipur plenary. Political observers call it a lost opportunity. A/ We had a proper organisational election that proves there is internal democracy in the party. In view of the current circumstances, all AICC members decided to authorise the Congress president to nominate CWC members. It is not a lost opportunity. It is an opportunity to ensure that a CWC that represents all sections of society is in place to guide the party to fight the 2024 elections. Q/ It is proving to be a long wait for the new CWC to be formed. A/ We will do that soon. There were important events, the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the disqualification issue and the JPC, which we were fighting for. Therefore, it got delayed. I realise that. I also feel sorry about that. But we will do it quickly after these elections. After the abrogation of Article 370, security forces and agencies like the National Investigation Agency and the State Investigation Agency probed scores of Kashmiris for alleged links with separatists and militants. Many were booked under the Public Safety Act, which entails a jail term of six months to two years, without bail, and the more stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In many cases, the properties of those arrested were attached. The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation have also acted against many for militancy-related crimes. Since the USs withdrawal from Afghanistan, more US-made weapons have reached foreign militants in Kashmir. Such measures dealt a blow to the separatist movement and adversely affected the recruitment of militants. According to Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, militant recruitment has reduced to two digitsa record low. Moreover, militants have been restricted to targeting low-level police officers, minority community members and migrant workers. However, across the Pir Panjal mountain range that separates Kashmir from Jammu divisions Rajouri and Poonch districts, outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Ghaznavi Force and Peoples Anti-Fascist Front have stepped up their activities. In the last three years, Rajouri and Poonch have witnessed a surge in infiltration by militants and weapons drops by drones, including improvised explosive devices and sticky bombs from Pakistan. The weapons were used to carry out strikes in Rajouri, Poonch and Jammu, and target security forces and political leaders. On April 20, five soldiers of the Rashtriya Rifles, the Armys counterinsurgency wing, were killed by militants at Bhata Dhurian in Poonch. The soldiers were travelling in a truck carrying fruits and other items for an iftar gathering at Sangiote that evening. As per locals, invitations had been sent to several people in the village for the 7pm event, and the Rashtriya Rifles unit was making the arrangements. The attack took place at around 3pm. Two or three foreign militants sprayed the truck with bullets and lobbed grenades, giving no time for the soldiers to retaliate. On learning of the attack, Army personnel as well as locals rushed to the spot. They found the charred bodies of five soldiers, and a sixth in critical condition. A fire had gutted the truck, and damaged fruits and edibles were scattered nearby. The Udhampur-based Northern Command said that the unidentified terrorists took advantage of heavy rain and low visibility in the area. The vehicle caught fire due to the likely use of grenades by the terrorists, it stated. The martyrs were identified as Havaldar Mandeep Singh, Lance Naik Kulwant Singh, Sepoy Harkrishan Singh and Sepoy Sewak Singh from Punjab, and Lance Naik Debashish Baswal from Odisha. The Army, police and paramilitary forces, backed by intelligence agencies, have launched a massive hunt for the militants. Sources said that the attack was being treated as a major strike and assets ranging from sniffer dogs to drones had been deployed for the hunt. The NIA and the National Security Guard conducted forensic analysis at the site. The Northern Command tweeted the visit of its general officer commanding-in-chief, Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, to the Command Hospital in Udhampur and his interaction with the survivor. The tweet said that the lieutenant general had reassured the survivor that necessary action was underway. Solitary sentry: Usha Raina, a resident of Rajouri, stands guard atop her house. Militants have targeted civilians in the region | AP Preliminary investigations revealed that steel-core bullets were used in the attack. The Army has not commented on reports that the militants decamped with weapons of the deceased soldiers. It is also believed a sniper was involved in the attack. So far, the police have detained 11 people, including two couples suspected of having helped the ultras. Investigations are on to determine whether the steel-core bullets were of Chinese or American origin. Steel-core bullets, which have armour-piercing capability, and US-made weapons have been recovered from militants in Kashmir earlier; the first time was during an attack on a Central Reserve Police Force camp on December 31, 2017. But, the USs hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan seems to have made things worse. Since the withdrawal, more such weapons, including M4 carbines, M249 light machine guns, FN 509 tactical pistols and M1911 pistols, have reached foreign militants in Kashmir. Last year, Major General Ajay Chandpuria, general officer commanding, 19 Infantry Division, based in Baramulla, north Kashmir, had highlighted the dangers of US-made weapons reaching militants in Kashmir. Weapons/devices recovered from terrorists killed at the LoC were not commonly seen [variants], he said. These were [left behind] in Afghanistan by US troops. Our analysis: not only terrorists, weapons can also come to Kashmir. To provide protection against steel-core bullets, the Army has ordered Level 4 body armour, which is the highest rating of personal armour available. Challenges in Rajouri and Poonch The militants are able to operate unscathed in Rajouri and Poonch because of the topographyravines, dense forests and mountains. The mountain passes offer relatively easy ingress. Rajouri and Poonch districts, located to the northwest of Jammu, share over 200km of the LoC with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The elevations range from 2,500 feet to 15,000 feet. The western boundaries are hilly, with dense forests and elevation varies from 4,000 feet to 12,000 feet. The prominent passes in the Pir Panjal range include Haji Pir, Pir Panjal Pass and Banihal. These passes are inaccessible during the winter, but provide convenient access to the valley from PoK during the summer. Moreover, ethnic and religious similarities with the locals, especially the Muslims, allow foreign militants to operate without raising suspicion. This is in stark contrast with Kashmir, where foreign militants encounter a language barrier as locals mostly speak Kashmiri. Residents of the valley do not share cultural or ethnic identity with residents of PoK. But, in Rajouri and Poonch, militants do not face such handicaps. Poonch is 90 per cent Muslim and Rajouri is 60 per cent Muslim and the community in the region comprises Rajputs, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Kashmiris. They have ethnic, linguistic and cultural similarities with the residents of PoK. Their food habits and clothing styles, too, match. However, the Muslim population in Rajouri and Poonch is not hostile to security forces, as evidenced by the 1965 war when Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar to capture the Kashmir valley and Muslim-majority areas in Jammu. The operation that involved large-scale infiltration into targeted areas failed after nomads informed the police about the presence of infiltrators at Uri in Baramulla and Mendher in Poonch. The Army mobilised quickly to neutralise the threat. It also captured the strategic Haji Pir that links Poonch with Uri. Pakistans possession of the pass was restored under the Tashkent Agreement. The Centre is now considering tunnelling through the Pir Panjal region to connect Poonch with Uri. The ministry of road transport and highways has initiated the process of preparing a detailed project report for a 5.5km tunnel and has invited proposals from technical consultants with expertise in similar hill road projects. It is believed that militants have created hideouts in the dense forest and caves in Bhata Dhurian to escape the security dragnet. Before the recent attack, there was an attack last October in the same area in which nine soldiers were killed. Security forces had responded with an operation that lasted several weeks, but without much success. The militants have also targeted civilians in the Pir Panjal region. Seven civilians, including two children, were killed by two militants at Upper Dhangri in Rajouri on January 1. The incident prompted the Union home ministry to deploy 18 Central Armed Force Personnel companies to strengthen security in minority areas in Rajouri. Top security officials are tight-lipped about the ongoing operation and investigation. However, a senior security officer said there will be a response to the killing of five soldiers. Guwahati, Apr 29 (PTI) The Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) and Oil India Limited (OIL) on Saturday signed an agreement for the establishment of a joint venture company to lay, build and operate city natural gas distribution networks in parts of Assam and Tripura. The agreement was signed between the two sides at a ceremony here in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, an official statement said. The Assam government-owned AGCL will have 51 per cent stake, while the OIL will hold the remaining 49 per cent share in the joint venture company. It will build local natural gas grids and provide piped natural gas to domestic and commercial establishments in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Darrang, Udalguri, Sonitpur and Biswanath Chariali in Assam, and a few districts of Tripura. The company will also set up numerous compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, the statement said. Speaking at the event, Sarma said the signing of the agreement between AGCL and OIL would provide a major thrust to the ongoing process of industrial development in the state. The JV company, with an authorised share capital of Rs 500 crore and initial paid-up capital of Rs 100 crore, would prove to be a milestone in the strengthening of the state's economy, he added. The chief minister also expressed hope the JV company would help in the state's endeavour to make the transition towards a greener fuel-based economy, in sync with the Northeast Hydrocarbon Vision 2030. He lauded the OIL management for reinvesting a part of its earnings in Assam and other parts of the Northeast through initiatives such as the agreement signed today. New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Realty firm Chintels group has offered to buyback about 180 flats from homebuyers of three towers of its project in Gurugram as they have been declared unsafe after a partial collapse last year. In February last year, a partial collapse of a residential tower in Chintels Paradiso project led to death of two women. The CBI has taken over the investigation into the partial collapse of the Chintels Paradiso project, located in Sector 109, Gurugram. The Supreme Court is also hearing the plea of residents seeking compensation and action against developer. In a letter to Gurugram Deputy Commissioner (DC) and the Director General of Town and Country Planning, Haryana, Chintels India has given two options to affected homebuyers. The first option is that the company will buyback flats in Tower D, E and F at Rs 6,500 per square feet (super area). It will also refund the actual stamp duty paid by the flat owners. The other option offered by Chintels India is that the company will repair and/or rebuild these three towers. However, it has sought Rs 1,000 per square feet (super area) from allottes if there is any need to redevelop any tower. In the letter dated April 21, Chintels has said that it will not pay rentals to residents of tower D from April 30 for alternative accommodation. "Since a large number of flat owners expressed their desire to continue to stay in the project, so in option two, we are willing to get the property repaired and/or re-built by some reputed contractor, as per the technical requirements recommended by CSIR-CBRI, and hand over possession within 36 months from the date of receipt of all necessary approvals and removal of any other hurdles in going ahead with the construction," Chintels said in the letter. To honour these two options, Chintels however said in the letter that these three towers should be handed over to the company soon and all restrictions on registrations of sale deeds of all its projects be removed. J N Yadav, Senior VP, Chintels, said in a statement, "As the well-being of our customers is of utmost importance to us, we have given these two options and we are confident that many of the residents will be satisfied." The rate offered by the company is higher than the prevailing market rate of several similar projects in the vicinity, Yadav said. "We understand the difficulties and uncertainty that was faced by residents following the incident and hope that this will satisfy them and restore their faith in our commitment to give them a safe and secure home," Yadav said. Jammu, Apr 29 (PTI) A short film, being produced by the son of a policeman who along with his wife was killed by terrorists in 2005, would be a tribute to people who sacrificed their lives in restoring peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh said on Saturday. He was speaking at the title launch of the film, Ababil, being produced by founder of Zingara Bash Films Waseem Ashraf, at police headquarters here. The idea of the initiative is to highlight the sacrifices of civilians and policemen in the fight against terrorism over the past three decades. This film would be a tribute to the people who understood their duty and sacrificed their lives in restoring peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said. The film would also be a message to misguided people that patriotism and protecting society is the ultimate duty of every individual. Waseem, the producer of the film, is the eldest son of a head constable, Mohd Ashraf, who along with his wife Naseer Bano, was shot dead by terrorists at their home in Rajouri district in 2005. At the title launch ceremony, the DGP appreciated the makers of the film for the idea and said it would highlight the conspiracy of dragging the youth towards destruction, besides showcasing the sacrifice of the people who stood for the country. The film would also underline the sacrifices of policemen in protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country and would definitely touch the hearts of people. The concept is different, appreciable, Singh said. The DGP appreciated Additional Director General of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh and his team for their support to the makers of the film. The ADGP, Jammu, said he felt sharing the concept with the people immediately after Waseem Ashraf met him and narrated the idea. Waseem has witnessed the ill effects of terrorism more closely as his father and mother both were martyred by terrorists when he was only 14, he said. Waseem expressed his gratitude to the police organisation for its support and cooperation. The concept of the film is to spread awareness among the youth lured by anti-national elements with wrong perspectives to indulge in subversive or anti-national activities, he said, adding the films story is written and will be directed by Karamat Gorsi. Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI) Veteran actor Neetu Kapoor on Sunday paid tributes to her late husband Rishi Kapoor on his third death anniversary and said she missed him every day. Rishi Kapoor, who acted in films ranging from 1973's "Bobby" to the political drama "Mulk" in 2018, died at the age of 67 on April 30, 2020 after a two-year battle with cancer. In an Instagram post, Neetu Kapoor shared a picture of her with Rishi Kapoor, who was also her frequent co-star in films such as "Rafoo Chakkar", "Amar Akbar Anthony", and "Do Dooni Chaar", among others. "You are missed every day with all the wonderful happy memories," the "Jugjugg Jeeyo" star wrote in the caption. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, the daughter of Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor, shared a couple of throwback photos of her father on her Instagram Stories. The first picture has the fashion and jewellery designer posing along with her parents, actor-brother Ranbir Kapoor and daughter Samara Sahni. "Love this picture #family," she posted the caption of the picture with a heart emoji. "I miss you every day," Sahni wrote alongside a childhood photo of hers with Rishi Kapoor. Rishi Kapoor's last big-screen appearance was "Sharmaji Namkeen", which was released in 2022. The film began production in January 2020 but the shooting was halted due to his death. Paresh Rawal was cast to finish Rishi Kapoor's remaining scenes. Mumbai, Apr 30 (PTI) Actor Tanya Maniktala says A Suitable Boy director Mira Nair had advised her to not get swayed by the offers that might come her way after the success of Netflix's critically-acclaimed series. The Delhi-born actor said working with Nair on the 2020 BBC show, based on Vikram Seth's 1993 novel of the same name, was an "enriching" experience. One thing that Mira di told me was 'Post A Suitable Boy, things are going to come your way, be selective of whatever you do, choose good roles. "Things were offered but there was always that choice as an actor whether you want to be part of it or not. I am happy with the choices that I have made. Also, post A Suitable Boy, that acting keeda (bug) got bigger, Maniktala told PTI. Her latest release is also a Netflix series Tooth Pari: When Love Bites. Billed as a romantic fantasy thriller, the show follows the love story of a vampire called Rumi (Maniktala), and a dentist named Roy (Shantanu Maheshwari). As a fan of vampire love stories such as Stephenie Meyers' "Twilight" book series, the actor said she wanted to be a part of Tooth Pari. ... I had never seen something like a vampire falling in love with a dentist. Besides, the story is layered with other emotions. There is fantasy and romance. I wanted to be a part of a love story and this was one. It is a twisted story, she added. In the Kolkata-set series, created and directed by Pratim Dasgupta, Maniktala plays Rumi, a character she describes as "cool and aggressive". I wanted to tap into all these emotions. I loved reading the story but I was not sure if it was going to be everybodys cup of tea, so it was a big risk, she said. The actor will next make her Hindi film debut with Santosh Sivan's Mumbaikar, alongside Vijay Sethupathi and Vikrant Massey. The team has completed the shoot and Maniktala said the makers will soon announce the release date. Cleveland (Texas), Apr 30 (AP) A man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbours, killing an eight-year-old and four others inside a house near Houston, after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said on Saturday. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said authorities were still searching for 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza following the shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 72 km north of Houston. He said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle in the attack, which happened shortly before midnight Friday. All of his rounds were from the neck up, so basically in the head, Capers said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the US so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighbourhood inside a single-story home. By Saturday morning, Capers said authorities were using scent-tracking dogs and an overhead drone in the search for Oropeza, who they believe was intoxicated at the time of the shooting and then fled toward a heavily wooded forest a few miles from the scene. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom has just moved there earlier in the week but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found lying over two children in a bedroom. Two other victims, a male and female, were found by the front door and the slain child was in the front room. Capers said three other blood-covered children were found in the home and taken to a hospital, where they were determined to be uninjured. The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child, Capers said. The confrontation followed family members walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, according to Capers, and that one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the victims were between the ages of eight and about 40 years old. Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about shooting his gun in the yard. It was not immediately clear whether any action was taken at the time. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the US since January 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. (AP) RHL Kathmandu, Apr 30 (PTI) Nepals President Ramchandra Paudel has been discharged from a hospital in New Delhi after undergoing treatment for a chest-related ailment and he will return to Kathmandu on Sunday night, the President's Office said. Paudel, 78, was airlifted to India on April 19 for treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS), New Delhi, after he complained of shortness of breath. "President Paudel is flying back to Kathmandu on Sunday through the regular flight of Nepal Airlines after he was discharged from the hospital following his successful treatment," the Presidents Office said in a statement here. He has gone through various health check-ups and treatment at the AIIMS, the statement said. Doctors involved in Paudel's treatment have advised him to rest for a few more weeks. "His health conditions have now improved significantly, said the statement issued by the Presidents Office Spokesperson Sagar Acharya. President Paudel has thanked Nepalese and Indian health personnel involved in his treatment, government officials, security personnel, all brothers and sisters from within and outside the country who have expressed concern about his health and the government of India, the statement added. Paudel's family sources confirmed that the president would be flying back to Kathmandu at 8:30 pm on Sunday via a regular flight of the national flag carrier Nepal Airlines. He was admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu on April 18 after he complained of health problems and was referred to AIIMS, New Delhi, for further treatment after he was found to have developed a lung infection. Paudel of the Nepali Congress was elected as the president of Nepal last month, in a relief to the fragile coalition government. The 122,000 square-foot facility plans include a state-of-the-art learning center dedicated to rehabilitative sciences ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., April 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) announces its strategic plans to build a new leading-edge campus in St. Augustine, FL to increase immersive learning opportunities for its students, continue building innovative programs, and help practitioners meet the needs of the community and the healthcare profession at large. The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences' new St. Augustine campus image is credited to Glenser. "At USAHS, we pride ourselves on innovating and responding to the ever-changing needs of today's healthcare practitioners," said Vivian A. Sanchez, USAHS Chancellor and Chief Executive Officer. "We were founded over 40 years ago in St. Augustine to transform health sciences and the lives of everyone we serve. Today our more than 15,000 exceptional alumni are among the top clinicians in the country. With this expansion, we can continue to fill practioner gaps and address the diverse needs of hospitals and healthcare facilities in St. Augustine and in the other communities we serve in all 50 states. The University's new campus is a demonstration of our commitment to the broader community. " Built specifically for health sciences education, facilities will include simulation labs to help equip USAHS students with diverse skillsets needed to provide quality and exceptional care. Included is the university's signature Center for Innovative Clinical Practice featuring 14 beds in a hospital setting, two complex hospital rooms, six assessment rooms to practice doctor office scenarios, an activities of daily living lab that simulates a home environment, and cadaver and Anatomage anatomy labs to facilitate dynamic learning of anatomy. In addition, observation rooms will allow for real-time observation and review of student scenarios. "USAHS is proud to be among the first universities to have simulation education centers dedicated to the rehabilitative sciences," said Dr. Maria Puzziferro, USAHS Dean of Teaching, Learning and Innovation. "Students can improve their professionalism, patient safety and patient care skills ahead of their first clinical role, whether in an ICU, an in-patient rehab facility, a mental health clinic, or another setting. The immersive experiences will help prepare every graduate for long-term success as effective, interdisciplinary problem-solvers and leaders in their professions." Story continues Located less than two miles west of USAHS' current location at 1 University Blvd, the planned 122,000 square foot campus will include an expansive student lounge, study spaces with student learning support technology, faculty and staff offices, workspaces, conference rooms and enhanced student amenities. To develop the new campus location facilities, USAHS executed a planned transfer of the property it previously acquired at 1 News Place in St. Augustine, FL to ESJ Capital Partners. The transfer enables ESJ Capital Partners to initiate the construction phase of the new USAHS campus, which includes the preservation of this historic building. Founded in 1979 in St. Augustine, FL, USAHS is a private, accredited, graduate-level university committed to health and rehabilitative sciences through innovative classroom and clinical education. Campuses are in San Marcos, CA., St. Augustine and Miami, FL., and Austin and Irving-Las Colinas, Texas. USAHS has been a Certified B Corp since 2015. This prestigious designation shows the University's social responsibility and commitment to the environment. Each campus uses recycled materials, including carpet, high-efficiency HVAC systems, LED lights, water bottle refill stations, daylight harvesting, motion light sensors, low-flow toilets, and xeriscape landscaping. For more information on USAHS and its programs, visit usa.edu. About the University of St. Augustine Health Sciences The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) is a graduate institution that offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, education, and healthcare administration, as well as continuing education programs. Founded in 1979, USAHS educates students through its network of campuses in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine and Miami in Florida; and Austin and Dallas in Texas. USAHS is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 985 Atlantic Avenue, #100, Alameda, CA 94501, (510) 748-9001, www.wascsenior.org, and depicts its commitment to social responsibility through its B Corp certification. For more information: www.usa.edu . Media Contact: Abby Wood awood@wearecsg.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-st-augustine-for-health-sciences-announces-future-home-of-st-augustine-campus-to-continue-providing-cutting-edge-immersive-learning-experiences-for-students-301811544.html SOURCE University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Islamabad, Apr 30 (PTI) Pakistan President Dr Arif Alvi on Sunday returned a bill to the parliament about changes in the anti-corruption laws with observation that a similar previous amendment was challenged in the Supreme Court and was still sub-judice. The bill called the National Accountability (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was passed earlier this month by the parliament and it was sent to President Alvi for his endorsement to become an act. The bill not only empowers the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chief to transfer corruption cases involving allegations of less than Rs500 million to the relevant agency, authority or department but also to close down pending inquiries and investigations. "The president sent back the bill to Parliament under Article 75 (presidents assent to bills) of the Constitution, the Presidents Office said in a tweet. It added that the President stated that previous amendments to the NAB law were already under hearing in the Supreme Court and any more changes in the accountability laws without reviewing the effects of a pending matter should be reviewed once again. The government last year passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 to restrict the NABs role in corruption cases of over Rs500 million and taking away the presidents authority to appoint accountability court judges. The law also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureaus prosecutor general to three years. Alvi had refused to sign the bill and it became a law after the joint session of the Parliament on June 10 last year approved it. However, former premier Imran Khan challenged it in the Supreme Court where it is still pending adjudication. Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party allege that the ruling alliance is tweaking the anti-corruption laws to wriggle out of several graft cases but the government rejects the argument by saying that it is reducing the unnecessary intrusion of NAB powers that hamper business and investment. Washington, Apr 30 (AP) President Joe Biden is set to host President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines for White House talks on Monday as concerns grow about the Chinese navy's harassment of Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. Marcos' visit to Washington comes after the US and Philippines last week completed their largest war drills ever and as the two countries' air forces on Monday will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The Philippines this year agreed to give the US access to four more bases on the islands as the US looks to deter China's increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Meanwhile, 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. Before departing for Washington on Sunday, Macros said he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests. Monday's Oval Office meeting is the latest high-level diplomacy with Pacific leaders by Biden as his administration contends with increased military and economic assertiveness by China and worries about North Korea's nuclear program. Marcos' official visit to Washington is the first by a Philippine president in more than 10 years. The US president hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for a state visit last week in which the two leaders introduced new steps aimed at deterring North Korea from launching an attack on neighbours. Biden is scheduled to travel to Japan and Australia in May. The two sides are expected to discuss the security situation and come out with new economic, education, climate and other initiatives as part of Marcos' four-day visit to Washington, a senior administration official told The Associated Press. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview the visit, said Biden administration officials are looking to redevelop habits of alliance building with the Philippines as aspects of the historically complicated relationship have atrophied over the years. Increased Chinese harassment of vessels in the South China Sea have added another dimension to the visit. On April 23, journalists from AP and other outlets were aboard the Philippine coast guard's BRP Malapascua near Second Thomas Shoal when a Chinese coast guard ship blocked the Philippine patrol vessel steaming into the disputed shoal. The Philippines has filed more than 200 diplomatic protests against China since last year, at least 77 since Marcos took office in June. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller on Saturday called media reporting on the encounters a stark reminder of Chinese harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct. Close US-Philippines relations were not a given when Marcos took office. The son and namesake of the late Philippines strongman had seemed intent on following the path of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who pursued closer ties with China. Before Marcos took office last year, Kurt Campbell, coordinator for Indo-Pacific affairs on the White House National Security Council, acknowledged that historical considerations could present challenges to the relationship with Marcos Jr. It was an oblique reference to long-standing litigation in the United States against the estate of his father, Ferdinand Marcos. A US appeals court in 1996 upheld damages of about USD 2 billion against the elder Marcos' estate for the torture and killings of thousands of Filipinos. The court upheld a 1994 verdict of a jury in Hawaii, where he fled after being forced from power in 1986. He died there in 1989. Biden and Macros met in September during the UN General Assembly, where the US president acknowledged the two countries' sometimes rocky past. During their private meeting, Biden stressed to Marcos his desire to improve relations and asked Marcos how the administration could fulfill your dreams and hopes" for that, according to the senior administration official. Marcos is also slated to visit the Pentagon, meet Cabinet members and business leaders and make remarks at a Washington think-tank during the visit.(AP) RUP RUP Islamabad, Apr 30 (PTI) US intelligence documents have been leaked on the Discord messaging platform revealing conversations between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his junior Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar on the foreign policy matters, according to a media report on Sunday. In one internal memo titled 'Pakistans Difficult Choices', parts of which were published by the Washington Post on Sunday, Khar cautions that Pakistan should avoid giving the impression of "appeasing" the West, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. She warns that the country can no longer attempt to maintain a middle ground between regional neighbour China and the US. In the memo, Khar argues that preserving Pakistan's partnership with the US would ultimately sacrifice the full benefits of its "real strategic" partnership with China. The undated document does not specify how the US obtained access to Khar's memo, a report published by the Washington Post revealed. The leak of US intelligence documents, posted largely on social media websites, was believed to be the most serious security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos, and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. The episode embarrassed the US by revealing its spying on allies, including Pakistan, and the purported military vulnerabilities of Ukraine. The leaked documents provide a rare glimpse into the private calculations made by influential regional powers such as India, Brazil, Pakistan, and Egypt. The documents also offer new insights into the obstacles that the Biden administration faces in securing global support for its efforts. Another leaked document related to Pakistan dated February 17 describes Prime Minister Sharif's deliberations with an unnamed subordinate about an upcoming UN vote on the Ukraine conflict. The document says that an aide advised Sharif that support for the measure would signal a shift in Pakistan's position, jeopardising its ability to negotiate trade and energy deals with Russia. Pakistan was among the 32 countries that abstained when the UN General Assembly vote took place on February 23. The Post report further said that Pakistani officials as well as those from other countries named in the leaked documents declined to comment. The story emerges at a time when Washington has already confirmed that it has no objections to Pakistan's decision to import oil from Moscow. "Each country will make its own sovereign decisions regarding its energy supply," US State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a weekly briefing. According to the Express Tribune newspaper, Matias Spektor, a scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said developing nations are recalibrating their positions as America faces potent new competition from China and Russia. "It's unclear who will end up in a pole position in 10 years' time, so they need to diversify their risk and hedge their bets," Spektor told the Post. Cleveland (Texas), Apr 30 (AP) A Texas man went next door with a rifle and fatally shot five of his neighbours, including an eight-year-old boy, after they asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said. The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting and authorities warned that he might still be armed. The attack happened just before midnight Friday near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say it is not uncommon to hear neighbours unwind by firing off guns. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle, and as the search for him dragged into Saturday evening, authorities had widened their efforts to as far as 10 to 20 miles" from the murder scene. He said Oropeza may still have a weapon but that he believes authorities have the rifle used in the shooting. Capers said they found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest but that tracking dogs had lost the scent. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot from the neck up," he said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the US so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighbourhood inside a single-story home. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home was a member of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman (25); Diana Velazquez Alvarado (21); Julisa Molina Rivera (31); Jose Jonathan Casarez (18); and Daniel Enrique Laso (8). The confrontation followed the neighbours walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim's home, while in the front yard of Oropeza's house a dog and chickens wandered. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn't think anything of it. It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about shooting his gun in the yard. It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference on Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the US since January 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighbourhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. I tell my wife all the time, Stay away from the neighbours. Don't argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,' Arevalo said. I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way. (AP) RHL Pune, Apr 29 (PTI) Police have seized mephedrone (MD) worth Rs 1.21 crore from two persons in Kharadi area of Pune in Maharashtra, an officer said on Saturday. The process to register a case at Chandan Nagar police station is on. DCP (Crime) Amol Zende said 108 gm MD worth Rs 1.21 crore was found in the possession of the duo who came from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh and alighted at the Kharadi bus stop with the contraband. Further probe is underway, he added. Pune, Apr 30 (PTI) Three people were arrested allegedly with one kilogram of mephedrone worth Rs 2 crore in Pune in Maharashtra, a police official said on Sunday. They were held on Saturday in Kharadi under Chandannagar police station limits by a team of the Anti Narcotics Cell, he said. "The accused are from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh. A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and probe into the supplier, peddler and consumer network is underway," he added. Panaji, Apr 30 (PTI) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' radio address has been showing a new direction to the country. Sawant was addressing a gathering in his Sankhalim Assembly constituency on the occasion of the 100th episode of the PM's radio programme. Goa Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai attended the broadcast at a programme held in the Raj Bhavan near here. Sawant said the country has seen a sea change due to the 'Maan ki Baat' programme. People cutting across the political and religious spectrum have been following this series which is showing a new direction to our country, he added. Goa Bharatiya Janata Party president Sadanand Shet Tanavade attended the broadcast of the radio address at a programme organised by the BJP in state capital Panaji. Talking to reporters, Tanavade said, Right from 'Swachh Bharat' (clean India) to 'Beti Bachao' (save the daughter), the initiatives promoted through 'Maan ki Baat' were well taken by citizens. The 100th episode received a tremendously good response in Goa, he said, adding that the PM has put across how the issues raised in the last 99 episodes have helped to create the change. The PM has kept the country's interest as of paramount importance in his radio address, Tanavade said. Chandigarh, Apr 30 (PTI) The man behind the 'Selfie with Daughter' initiative, Sunil Jaglan, says the campaign which was launched from a small village in Haryana about eight years ago to raise awareness about ills like female foeticide has gradually snowballed into a success. Jaglan, a former Sarpanch of Bibipur village in Jind, had launched the campaign from the village in June 2015. His initiative had drawn praise from even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who even mentioned it in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address. Under the campaign, Jaglan urged people to take photographs with their daughters and upload them on social media. He later created a dedicated website for the initiative where people could share selfies with their daughters. "I am happy to state that eight years after the 'Selfie with Daughter' campaign was launched, it has been a success. The campaign has also received great support from different parts of the world," Jaglan said. On Jind, his native district, he said it used to be among those Haryana districts where sex ratio was terribly skewed, but now things have reversed. "I feel the campaign has had some positive impact in my own district and some other places as well and has helped bring a change in the people's mindset towards the girl child," he said. Father of two minor daughters, Jaglan has been working for women empowerment and village development for the past several years with a focus on female foeticide. Jaglan said that after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign from Panipat in January 2015, he felt inspired by the initiative and wanted to do something which could supplement the government's efforts. "I would say the 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' campaign has had tremendous impact in Haryana and helped improve the skewed sex ratio," he said. Last month, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said that Haryana, which was once infamous for female foeticide, is now celebrating the birth of every girl child and at present, there are 923 girls for every 1,000 boys in the state. Jaglan, who found mention in various episodes of 'Mann ki Baat', said this week alone he participated in several events in Delhi organised by Prasar Bharti to celebrate the 100th edition of the PM's monthly radio address. The 100th 'Mann ki Baat' will be broadcast on Sunday. Jaglan said he also attended a national conclave, which was addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, on Wednesday. The activist said he has created an online museum too where people can post selfies with their daughters. "During the last eight years, we have received selfies from 80 countries. Many of these selfies were posted by prominent personalities from the world of cinema, sports, and politics," he said. About his other initiatives, he said Bibipur Panchayat had earlier launched Digital India with Laado, a campaign to replace names of family-heads on nameplates with their daughters' name. Jaglan said he has put a nameplate outside his house bearing the name of his elder daughter Nandini. He also recalled how everyone in his village thought a son had been born to him when he had celebrated and distributed sweets on the birth of his first daughter. In 2012, Jaglan had organised a "Lado Panchayat", a women-oriented Khap Panchayat in Bibipur village, where a number of women participated and raised their voice against female foeticide. Lucknow, Apr 30 (PTI) Inspired by Rajasthan, the Uttar Pradesh government is all set to promote its forts and palaces as destination wedding sites and give a fillip to the state's economy. The initiative has been taken under the tourism policy-2022, which seeks to make Uttar Pradesh a trillion dollar economy by 2027. A proposal on the matter is expected to come up in the cabinet meeting very soon, an official said. "Uttar Pradesh is a very attractive place to make marriage memorable with royal pomp and cultural heritage," UP Principal Secretary for Tourism and Culture Mukesh Kumar Meshram told PTI. Meshram said that beside Taj Mahal the state is replete with forts and palaces, all with a serious potential to offer themselves as a destination wedding site. "There are many places such as Mathura-Vrindavan, which is the city of spiritual love, there is Chunar fort, and then there is Mahoba's 'Mastani Mahal' associated with Bajirao-Mastani's deep love. There are several palaces in Bundelkhand, each with a story behind it. We are going to highlight them all," he said. According to a state official, about 40,000 marriages took place in Rajasthan between November 2022 and March 2023. The state had a turnover of about Rs 2,500 crore in the marriage business alone, which took a beating because of the COVID pandemic, he said. According to Meshram, the number of tourists, domestic or foreigners, who thronged the Taj or places in Varanasi for destination weddings, thinned out during the pandemic. But, he said, things are looking up again. The tourism department has identified 100 places in the state, with 10 historical-mythological places, such as Chunar Fort of Mirzapur, Chattar Manzil of Lucknow, Jal Mahal of Barsana of Mathura, and Barua Sagar of Jhansi, prominent among them. These places can go in business from next year, Meshram said, adding the proposal is ready to go before the state cabinet. "The programme will be developed on a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) basis and all the facilities will be provided in the same premises without making any change in the original architecture of our heritage forts and palaces," he said. Meshram said the idea is in line with the view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who want to strengthen the economy of the state, while also preserving its heritage, especially the Bundelkhand region's. A deputy director of the tourism department said Rajasthan is not the sole player in the destination wedding market, and that there is opening for UP to step up and fulfil the surplus demand. "There are many such marriage venues in Orchha of Madhya Pradesh. In a situation where one can find no booking there, the nearby Barua Sagar fort can be an option," he said. He said the Barua Sagar fort, spread over seven and a half acres on the Jhansi-Khajuraho road, is famous as the place where the queen of Jhansi used to hold her court in summer days. Vijay Kumar, president of All India Tent Dealers Welfare Organisation in the state said that the move stands to give a major boost to several businesses, such as transport, photography, jewellers, textile, confectionery, band, and catering, and several others associated with the marriage market. "Ever since this discussion started, big hotel chains from India and abroad have shown interest in getting into the PPP model," said Meshram. New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant on Sunday said the scope of arbitration in India is evolving, making it a preferred place for arbitration and dispute resolution. He also said that establishing a sustainable environment for arbitration will invite further businesses and build a trustworthy relationship with foreign businesses. Speaking at a joint summit on arbitration and dispute resolution organised by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak at the Delhi High court, Justice Kant said arbitration incentivizes foreign businesses to enter the Indian market and holds the promise of smooth resolution of disputes. "The conditions in India are improving and the scope of arbitration is evolving, making the country a preferred place for arbitration and dispute resolution," a press release quoted Justice Kant as saying. "The MoU entered by the India International Arbitration Centre (IIAC) and IIM Rohtak will help create a good pathway towards arbitration and spread awareness about arbitration to business, particularly in cross border and international disputes. "IIM Rohtak has a world-class expertise in management practices, consumer decision-making, supply-chain, public policy, technology, and economics, and it can assist IIAC in leveraging its expertise," Justice Kant said. He added that together, this has a unique potential and opportunity to truly make India the arbitration hub for the world. As the youth come together, this talent is an amalgamation of a multitude of businesses, he said. Justice Kant suggested that institutional arbitration must be encouraged in India and it will be more dynamic and specific with able expertise. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between IIAC and IIM Rohtak on the occasion. The event also witnessed panel discussions on the topics Discussing best practices in commercial arbitration and Efficient and effective dispute resolution to create a positive business environment with participation from experts and industry leaders. Delhi High Court Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said arbitration creates a beneficial environment for businesses for its disputes and that it will keep growing. He added that the most important thing right now in arbitration is to have a time frame. Professor Dheeraj Sharma, director, IIM Rohtak, said, "Arbitration is key to save the humongous money wastage and lack of positive labour force that comes with not going for arbitration. He further added that it is important that good arbitration and dispute resolution be the fountainhead for creating a conducive business environment as one moves towards being a 5 billion dollar industry. On a balmy day in mid-April, thousands of people queued in line to enter the Hong Kong Convention Center where the city's inaugural web3 festival was underway. Most had flown in from mainland China, but many others had trekked from Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand and even the U.S. to see what the city had to offer to crypto ventures at a time regulation over digital assets is intensifying in the U.S. In February, Hong Kong proposed a set of welcoming rules to regulate crypto-related activities. Under the new legal regime, retail investors will be allowed to trade certain digital assets on licensed exchanges, replacing a 2018 framework that restricted trading to only accredited investors. The city is also paving the way to legalize stablecoins. One startup, which is backed by popular exchange KuCoin and USDC issuer Circle, recently launched an offshore Chinese yuan (CNH)-pegged stablecoin, the first of its kind in Greater China. To create a favorable environment for web3 businesses, the city is facilitating communication between banks and crypto startups, many of which are scrambling to find alternatives following Silvergate Bank's meltdown. These moves are contrasting with Beijing's heavy-handed crackdown on the crypto industry; they also highlight the degree to which the former British colony enjoys policy exceptions in certain areas, such as finance. In 2021, China outlawed all forms of crypto transactions, sending the country's web3 entrepreneurs fleeing to more web3-friendly jurisdictions like Singapore. With Hong Kong extending a welcoming hand to digital assets, many Chinese founders in self-exile are weighing the option of setting up in the city. Companies from the West are also evaluating Hong Kong as a potential outpost for their Asia expansion. At the weeklong Hong Kong web3 festival, TechCrunch talked to a dozen participants from the web3 realm, including investors, nascent startups and established players, as well as "traditional" web2 tech giants, to gauge Hong Kong's attractiveness as the next crypto hub. Story continues Some believe the new regulatory regime will spawn a new wave of crypto innovation. They feel reassured that they can now operate as a legitimate business on Chinese soil and are quick to tap the government's policy support, such as subsidized office space for crypto ventures. Others are more hesitant to accept the olive branch. As Asia's financial center, Hong Kong doesn't historically have a vibrant tech ecosystem and is too expensive for most scrappy startups, so the types of crypto businesses it attracts will likely be those serving and interfacing with traditional finance, they reckon. The East rises The timing is favorable for Hong Kong's friendly move on crypto, said Shixing Mao, co-founder and CEO at Cobo, a Singapore-headquartered digital asset custody solution backed by DST Global. "The tightening of regulation in the U.S. after the FTX implosion has a few consequences. In the past, several American banks played the key role of linking the traditional and crypto worlds, but that link is now broken, which presents a great opportunity for Hong Kong to step up," said Mao, who is amicably known as "Discus Fish" in the crypto community. "Hong Kong has always been at the intersection of the East and West and played the important role as the bridge to enter China," observed Lily King, chief operating officer at Cobo. That advantage was already proven before. Hong Kong played an important role in the early development of the crypto industry by drawing once-influential exchanges like FTX and Bitmex to set up shops there. Following China's crypto clampdown, FTX moved to the Bahamas for its friendlier and clearer regulatory stance toward the new asset class. Hong Kong is regaining some attention from the West. Stephen Cheung, president at decentralized social network Bi.social, flew all the way from the U.S. east coast to Hong Kong to feel the pulse on the ground. "As an American-born Chinese whose parents grew up in Hong Kong, I am extremely optimistic about the open door policy for crypto in Hong Kong," he said. Nonetheless, Cheung believed that if American crypto firms are going to leave the country, "they will stay within the western hemisphere." "Hong Kong has the possibility [of attracting Western firms] only because the U.S. is currently openly hostile towards web3 companies," he said, adding that the city will be more appealing to other Asia-based companies before it will have any significant influence on the West. Indeed, Hong Kong is increasingly on the radar of crypto businesses in Singapore, many of which had come from China after the country's crackdown on crypto. Now the tide is turning. "After FTX's implosion, the Singapore government has grown more cautious towards crypto. Hong Kong, on the other hand, is trying to attract talent and companies to build the basic infrastructure of the crypto industry," said Luke Huang, director of business development at Safeheron, a digital asset self-custody solution provider that is based in Singapore but recently set up an office in Hong Kong. Confidence booster For the most part, people are praising the Hong Kong government for providing more regulatory clarity on the crypto industry. But they are interpreting Hong Kong's open arms differently. Some view the move as a sudden shift in the government's attitude, while others see it as a reflection of the city's policy consistency. HashKey Capital, one of the world's largest web3 venture capital firms that recently closed a $500 million Fund III, belongs to the latter camp. The fund, which is Ethereum's first institutional investor, set up in Hong Kong back in 2017 and has kept its office there since. "What we have seen [in Hong Kong] over the years is a relatively consistent government direction and sustainable policy," said Chao Deng, the firm's CEO. "The latest move is more of an update of the licensing regime." Conflux, a Layer 1 blockchain that claims to be the only crypto company allowed to operate in China since the industry crackdown, was also put at ease after meeting various Hong Kong government delegates during the web3 festival. "Hong Kong is showing a tremendous amount of support for web3 development," said Zhang Yuanjie, co-founder at Conflux. "From legislators and InvestHK [the city's department of foreign direct investment] to its financial secretary and monetary authority, everyone is serious about supporting the crypto industry." Even though Hong Kong's new web3 regulation seems more favorable towards transaction-focused crypto services, there's room for infrastructure builders, reckoned Huang from Safeheron. "Anyone entering the crypto industry needs cybersecurity infrastructure, whether it's a traditional or web3 native company. Now that Hong Kong's financial institutions might start integrating crypto-related products, we can play the role of helping to onboard them," he said. China's Big Tech is riding Hong Kong's crypto wave, too. Alibaba and Tencent were both present at the web3 festival with representatives from their cloud computing units. Like AWS, they want to get a headstart and be the decentralized world's go-to cloud provider. Even if the nascent industry won't likely generate any meaningful revenue anytime soon, the tech giants evidently don't want to miss out on an industry that keeps luring capital and talent from traditional industries. Wait and see The web3 festival, with its teeming conference room and lavish boat parties, appears to be a euphoric celebration of the city's new crypto regime. But not all attendees are hot-headed. One investor from a prominent China-focused venture capital firm, who declined to be named, said he wasn't looking to source deals at the event because "it's not where the real technical developers hang out." Three Chinese web3 founders who have moved to Singapore and declined to be named said they were in Hong Kong simply to catch up with partners and investors and would "wait and see" before drawing any conclusion on the city's level of crypto-friendliness. Those who tend to be the most passionate about Hong Kong's new crypto regulation are fund managers, stock traders and others in traditional finance, observed Rachel Lin, CEO and co-founder of SynFutures. "It's not that they feel so much for crypto, but it's more about looking for the next investable assets. Right now, the financial markets are slowing and they can't find any other alternative assets," said Lin. Prior to running the DeFi protocol, she worked in the global markets division at Deutsche Bank, managed overseas payments solutions at Ant Group and was a founding partner of major crypto lender Matrixport. "Crypto is very much close to what they've been doing in finance, unlike AI or biotech, which is something remote for them. I think the positive signal from the government also boosts their confidence," she said. It comes as no surprise that Hong Kong is vouching for a fledgling industry that plays to its strength. In recent years, the city has seen an exodus of multinational corporations and local talent as it undergoes a string of political events. "Hong Kong has hit a big bottleneck in traditional industries like finance and real estate, so it's in dire need of young talent and new blood to revitalize its economy," said King. "Given the foundation it laid for the finance sector, focusing on digital assets is its best and only option going forward." Mangaluru, Apr 30 (PTI) The Congress is not much worried about the active presence of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) in the communally polarised Dakshina Kannada region ahead of the May 10 assembly elections in Karnataka, former minister and Mangaluru MLA U T Khader said. In an interview to PTI, he said, "I dont see SDPI as a threat to our vote bank. People are not going to support their communal agenda." Khader said people in the region are more concerned about issues like poverty, unemployment and protection of their basic rights. Only the Congress addresses these issues in the election campaign. Congress is there for everyone and strives to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens and fights to protect them. Voters will ultimately realise that. On the hijab issue which rocked the region last year, Khader, who was then blamed for his ambivalent stand, said he always believed that the laws of the land should be followed. Some parties made it a communal issue for their own gains. The matter is now before the court and a decision in favour of students is expected, he said, adding education to the girls in the community is most important. When we try to protect the Constitution, the rights of minorities will also be protected. The electorate will vote for a secular government in the state, he said. Asked whether SDPI, the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI), will eat into the Congress vote bank, he said they have only limited influence in Dakshina Kannada. On the threat of division in minority votes which can help the BJP in the elections, he said, obviously, one communal party will only help another communal party in the elections. The BJP is on its deathbed in the state. It is now the duty of SDPI to save them, he said. We are opposing the communal policies of both the parties. The Congress leader further said the SDPIs two-three percent votes in the region cannot make an impact in the elections. The Congress had won when they contested against us and we know the people are with us. Congress is focusing on the failures of the BJP government which is steeped in corruption, he said expressing hope that the party will considerably improve performance in the twin districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. In the last elections, Khader was the only Congress candidate to win from the region. BJP had won 12 out of the 13 seats in the two districts. He said the Congress is working unitedly for victory. On former MLA Mohiuddin Bava deserting the party and contesting on a Janata Dal (S) ticket from Mangaluru North, he said the decision will only damage his political career. Political leaders need to learn patience. The party cannot always favour a leader and they have to take it in their stride. Khader said the description of the coastal region as the laboratory of Hindutva politics is not always correct. People have chosen different parties in successive elections. He recalled that in 2008, out of the eight seats in Dakshina Kannada, the BJP and Congress won in four seats each. In 2013, Congress won seven seats and BJP won only in Sullia. In 2018, Congress lost due to certain undercurrents. A strong anti-incumbency wave is now visible in the state due to their divisive politics and people have learnt that Congress should come to power to maintain peace and harmony, he said. On the CM Basavaraj Bommai-headed government taking away four percent quota for Muslims and placing them in the economically weaker sections category, Khader said it is not right to withdraw the existing quota of a community. The decision reflects the BJPs continuing attempts to polarise the society and gain political advantage, he said. Khader is contesting for the fifth consecutive time from the Mangaluru (erstwhile Ullal) constituency and had won all the four elections he faced. New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI) A two-year-old boy was mowed down allegedly by a tractor while he was playing outside his house in northeast Delhi's Bhajanpura area on Sunday, police said. The tractor driver, identified as Idris Khan, was arrested from the spot, they said. Around 1:40 pm, the boy was playing outside his house near Delhi Darbar Road in Bhajanpura when he was run over by the tractor. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said. Khan, a resident of Loni in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, was nabbed from the spot. He had been hired for carrying out some work at a house, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey. The body has been shifted to the GTB Hospital's mortuary for post-mortem examination, the police said, adding a case has been registered in connection with the incident. MATT TIERNAN, Chariho, Boys Volleyball, Senior; Tiernan had 36 kills in a five-set win against Mount St. Charles. Tiernan also had 28 kills in a loss to La Salle Academy. SEAN BERGEL, Wheeler, Baseball, Junior; Bergel allowed just three hits and one run as Wheeler defeated St. Bernard. It was the first loss of the season for the Saints. BRANDON TAVARES, Stonington, Golf, Junior; Tavares shot a 4-under 32 in a win against Woodstock Academy. The round was the best by a Stonington golfer in a number of years. Tavares also had a round of 1-under and another at even par during the week. TYLER BRAYMAN, Westerly, Boys Volleyball, Sophomore; Brayman finished with 23 kills, 10 assists and three blocks in a win against Cranston West. It was the first loss of the season for Cranston West. Vote View Results Some engineers for the Federal Aviation Administration wanted to ground the Boeing 737 Max soon after a second deadly crash, but top officials in the agency overruled them, according to a government watchdog. The inspector general of the Transportation Department said in a new report that FAA officials wanted to sort out raw data about the two crashes, and held off grounding the plane despite growing international pressure. The inspector generals office said that it reviewed emails and interviewed FAA officials. The investigation revealed that individual engineers at the Seattle (office) recommended grounding the airplane while the accident was being investigated based on what they perceived as similarities between the accidents. One engineer made a preliminary estimate that the chance of another Max crash was more than 13 times greater than FAA risk guidelines allow. An FAA official said the analysis suggested that there was a 25% chance of an accident in 60 days if no changes were made to the planes. However, this document was not completed and did not go through managerial review due to lack of detailed flight data, the report said. FAA officials at headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the agencys Seattle office opted not to ground the plane. Instead, they waited for more detailed data to arrive, the watchdog said in the report, which was made public Friday. The first Max crash occurred in October 2018 in Indonesia and was followed by the second in March 2019 in Ethiopia. In all, 346 people died. The FAA was the last major aviation regulator to ground the Max three days after the second crash. The FAA did not let the planes fly again until late 2020, after Boeing altered a flight-control system that autonomously pointed the planes nose down before both crashes. The inspector generals office said the FAAs caution on grounding the Max fit with its tendency of waiting for detailed data an explanation that agency officials offered at the time. Still, the watchdog recommended that FAA document how key and urgent safety decisions are made and make several other changes in how it analyzes crashes. The FAA said in a response attached to the inspector generals report that it is committed to measures that will improve safety and has started to update procedures based on the Max tragedies. In a statement to The Associated Press, the FAA said it concurs with the inspector generals recommendations and had already identified the issues outlined in the report. Safety advocates and lawmakers have harshly criticized the FAA for its decision to certify the Max FAA officials did not fully understand the flight-control system implicated in both crashes. Congress passed legislation to reform the process of reviewing new aircraft. (AP) Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted Saturday in parts of Sudans capital Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a cease-fire between the countrys two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives. The civilian death toll jumped Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties. The fighting has wounded another 2,023 civilians so far, the group added, although the true toll is expected to be much higher. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people. Fighters have moved into homes and taken over stores and hospitals as they battle in the densely populated streets, the syndicate said. Khartoum, a city of some 5 million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudans military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The outbreak of violence has dashed once-euphoric hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan after a popular uprising helped oust former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Foreign countries continued to evacuate their citizens while thousands of Sudanese fled across borders. Britain said it was ending its evacuation flights Saturday, after demand for spots on the planes had declined. The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday it had started evacuating its citizens along with nationals of 16 other countries. Over 50,000 refugees mostly women and children have crossed over to Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, raising fears of wider instability in the region. Ethnic fighting and turmoil has scarred South Sudan and the Central African Republic for years while a 2021 coup has derailed Chads own democratic transition. Those who escape Khartoum face more obstacles on their route to safety. The overland journey to Port Sudan, where ships then evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long and risky. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said that paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks outside Khartoum, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. Theres an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF, he said, referring to Dagalos Rapid Support Forces. They dont have a supply line in place. That could get worse in the coming days. Airlifts from the country have also posed challenges, with a Turkish evacuation plane even hit by gunfire outside Khartoum on Friday. On Saturday despite a cease-fire extended under heavy international pressure early Friday clashes continued around the presidential palace, headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum, residents said. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. In a few areas near the capital, including in Omdurman, some reported that shops were reopening as the scale of fighting dwindled. But in other areas, terrified residents hunkered down reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Now in its third week, the fighting has left swaths of Khartoum without electricity and running water. The Sudanese Health Ministry put the latest overall death toll at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Those sheltering at home are running out of food and basic supplies. Residents in the city of Omdurman, west of Khartoum, have been waiting at least three days to get fuel complicating their escape plans. The U.N. relief coordinator, Martin Griffiths, said that U.N. offices in Khartoum, as well as the cities of Genena and Nyala in Darfur had been attacked and looted. Genenas main hospital was also leveled in the fighting, Sudans health ministry said. This is unacceptable and prohibited under international law, Griffiths said. Over the past 15 days, the generals have failed to deal a decisive blow to the other in their struggle for control of Africas third largest nation. The military has appeared to have the upper hand in the fighting, with its monopoly on air power, but it has been impossible to confirm its claims of advances. Soon, the Sudanese state with its well-grounded institutions will rise as victorious, and attempts to hijack our country will be aborted forever, the Sudanese military said Saturday. Both sides in the conflict have a long history of human rights abuses. The RSF was born out of the Janjaweed militias, which were accused of widespread atrocities when the government deployed them to put down a rebellion in Sudans western Darfur region in the early 2000s. A unit of Sudans armed forces, known as the Central Reserve Police, have been sanctioned by the United Staets for grave human rights violations against Sudans pro-democracy protesters. Accusations of rape, torture and other abuses against demonstrators carried out by the unit first surfaced in 2021, after Burhan and Dagalo joined forces in a military coup that ousted a civilian government. The Sudanese Interior Ministry confirmed the deployment of the Central Reserve Police in Khartoum on Saturday, posting photos of the fighters riding with heavy machine guns mounted on pickup trucks. Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was ousted in the 2021 coup, appealed to the international community from a conference in Nairobi, Kenya, to push for an immediate halt to the conflict. He warned that a full-blown civil war in the strategically located country would have consequences not just for Sudan but for the world. God forbid if Sudan is to reach a proper civil war it is a huge country and very diverse it would be a nightmare for the world, he said. But the generals have so far rejected attempts at a compromise. Regional mediators have been unable to travel to Khartoum because of the chaotic fighting. African Union Chairperson Moussa Faki said he would nonetheless try to send peacekeepers to the country. Im ready to go there myself, even by road, Faki said. We ask the two generals to create the conditions for us to go to Khartoum. (AP) Tunisias coast guard says it has recovered around 210 bodies of migrants under two weeks that have washed up on the North African countrys central coastline amid an ongoing increase in migration. Preliminary examinations of the bodies indicated that the migrants were from sub-Saharan Africa, according to the National Guards Houssemeddine Jebabli. The number of bodies recovered was announced Friday. Of the 210 dead migrants found over 10 days starting on April 18, about 70 of those were recovered from the beaches of eastern Sfax, the neighboring Kerkennah islands and Mahdia, according to prosecutor Faouzi Masmoudi, who oversees migration issues. These three areas are starting points for most attempts to migrate to the Italian coast, including onward to the remote island of Lampedusa, he added. The increasing number of dead migrants has overwhelmed the Habib Bourguiba hospital morgue in Sfax, the capacity of which is 30 to 40 bodies. To ease the pressure on hospitals, local authorities are working to speed up the burial of the victims after carrying out DNA tests and possible identification by relatives, Masmoudi said. Romdhane Ben Amor, spokesperson for the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), an nongovernmental organization specializing in migration issues, said that local authorities had last year committed themselves to setting up a special cemetery for migrants, on the grounds that they are not Muslims. But Amor said that this is still not ready, leading to the difficulties in finding burial places. Following a visit earlier this week by European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Tunisia and the European Union agreed to promote the voluntary return of sub-Saharan migrants to their countries of origin. During her stay, the EU official met with Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar, Interior Minister Kamel Feki and Social Affairs Minister Malek Ezzahi. Migration to Europe has been on an upward climb, peaking in 2022 to 189,620, according to the International Organization for Migration. Thats the most since 2016, when close to 400,000 left their homelands, and one year after more than 1 million people, mostly Syrians fleeing war, sought refuge in 2015. For many sub-Saharan Africans, who dont need a visa to travel to Tunisia, the North African country serves as a stepping stone to Europe, while others come from Libya, which shares a border with Tunisia. (AP) Hundreds of Americans fleeing two weeks of deadly fighting in Sudan reached the east African nations port Saturday in the first U.S.-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles or 800 kilometers to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said. The U.S., which had none of its officials on the ground for the evacuation, has been criticized by families of trapped Americans in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for those among an estimated 16,000 Americans in Sudan who wish to leave. U.S. special operations troops briefly flew to the capital, Khartoum, April 22 to airlift out American staffers at the embassy and other American government personnel. More than a dozen other nations have already been carrying out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on the ground personnel. A wide-ranging group of international mediators including African and Arab nations, the United Nations and the United States has only managed to achieve a series of fragile temporary cease-fires that failed to stop clashes but created enough of a lull for tens of thousands of Sudanese to flee to safer areas and for foreign nations to evacuate thousands of their citizens by land, air and sea. Since the conflict between two rival generals broke out April 15, the U.S. has warned its citizens that they needed to find their own way out of the country, though U.S. officials have tried to link up Americans with other nations evacuation efforts. But that changed as U.S. officials exploited a relative lull in the fighting and, from afar, organized their own convoy for Americans, officials said. Without the evacuation flights near the capital that other countries have been offering their citizens, many U.S. citizens have been left to make the dangerous overland journey from Khartoum to the countrys main Red Sea port, Port Sudan. One Sudanese-American family that made the trip earlier described passing through numerous checkpoints manned by armed men and passing bodies lying in the street and vehicles of other fleeing families who had been killed along the way. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the convoy carried U.S. citizens, local people employed by the U.S. and citizens of allied countries. We reiterate our warning to Americans not to travel to Sudan, he said. From Port Sudan, away from the fighting, the Americans in the convoy can seek spots on vessels crossing the Red Sea to the Saudi port city of Jeddah. U.S. officials also are working with Saudi Arabia to see if one of the kingdoms naval vessels can carry a larger number of Americans to Jeddah. U.S. consular officials will be waiting for the Americans once they reach the dock in Jeddah, but there are no U.S. personnel in Port Sudan, officials said. Two Americans are confirmed killed in the fighting that erupted April 15. One was a U.S. civilian whom officials said was caught in crossfire. The other was an Iowa City, Iowa, doctor, who was stabbed to death in front of his house and family in Khartoum, in the lawless violence that has accompanied the fighting. In all, the fighting in the east African country has killed more than 500 people,. The U.S. airlifted out all its diplomats and military personnel and closed its embassy April 22. It left behind several thousand U.S. citizens still in Sudan, many of them dual-nationals. The Biden administration had warned it had no plans to join other countries in organizing evacuation for ordinary U.S. citizens who wanted out, calling it too dangerous. There were no known U.S. government personnel on the ground in Sudan assisting the convoy. (AP) President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 31 people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes who were serving time in home confinement, the White House announced Friday. Many would have gotten a lower sentence if they were charged today with the same offense because of changes in the laws. A commuted sentence means theyll spend less time in home confinement. The commutations came as the White House announced a set of policy actions across 20 different agencies meant to improve the criminal justice system, which disproportionately affects Black and other non-white communities. The president announced his reelection campaign this week, and must keep Black voters in his coalition if he wants to win in 2024. The plan is an effort to expand health care access, affordable housing and education, and make it easier for those who have been mixed up in the system to get jobs, higher education and vote. The effort includes a plan to make more grants available for people who need funding for education, and small business loans. Those whose sentences were commuted included men and women convicted of drug possession in Iowa, Indiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Hawaii and Texas, and they will all finish serving time June 30. If any are in prison, they will finish out their terms in home confinement, and wont have to pay the rest of their fines which range from $5,000 to $20,000. Roughly 600,000 U.S. residents leave prison each year, and another 9 million cycle in and out of jail. As many as one in three Americans has a criminal record. That stigma can make it hard to get a job, go back to school or start a business. Far too many of them face steep barriers to getting a job or a home, obtaining health care, or finding the capital to start a business, said outgoing domestic policy adviser Susan Rice, the first person to hold both national security and domestic policy adviser positions in the White House. She is leaving her post after two years and her last day is May 26. By investing in crime prevention and a fairer criminal justice system, we can tackle the root causes of crime, improve individual and community outcomes, and ease the burden on police, she said. The Democratic president has commuted the sentences of 75 other people so far. He also pardoned thousands who were convicted of simple possession of marijuana under federal law, and others who have long since served out their sentences. (AP) Republican Ron DeSantis would not have to resign as Florida governor in order to run for president if he chooses under a bill given final approval Friday in by the GOP-dominated state Legislature. The measure, attached to a much broader elections bill, would carve out an exemption to Florida law requiring anyone seeking office to resign from one they already hold after qualifying as a candidate. Only an officeholder running for U.S. president or vice president would not have to resign. Supporters portrayed the bill as purely a clarification and not intended specifically for DeSantis, who has not yet announced a presidential bid but is widely expected to declare his candidacy for the Republican nomination in the coming weeks. The bill passed the state House 76-34 along party lines and now goes to DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. It is an individual office that is unique. It is the chief executive of our country, GOP Rep. Ralph Massullo said during House debate Friday. This isnt just for our governor, its for anyone in politics. Democrats called the effort a cynical attempt to clear the way for DeSantis to run while remaining as governor. His current term in Tallahassee would end in January 2027. We in this body are doing the governors bidding, said Rep. Angela Nixon, a Democrat. He needs to resign to run if he wants to run for president, period. Last time I checked, being governor is a full-time job. Running for president takes a lot of work. The bill, which makes a number of other changes to Florida election law, passed one day after a federal appeals court upheld a GOP-led election law that was enacted last year. That law was challenged as racially discriminatory by seeking to suppress Black votes, but a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed. Among other things, it would tighten limits and increase fines for third-party voter registration organizations, impose more restrictions on mail ballots and shift responsibility for determining if a voter is eligible from the state to the individual. Democrats contended the bill is another step to suppress votes of minorities and economically disadvantaged people to benefit Republicans who already dominate state government and Floridas federal offices. Were back at it again, making it more difficult for people to register to vote. What we are doing with this bill is unnecessary, said Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamni. Its really frustrating. Republicans, however, portrayed the measure as guaranteeing a legitimate vote, streamlining election operations and eliminating ambiguity in the law. There is no more sacred thing than our vote, said GOP Rep. John Snyder. It should be easy to vote and hard to cheat. The House also passed a proposal that would require a constitutional amendment to pass with at least 66.67% of the vote, up from 60% currently. That measure has to clear the Senate and then would go on the November 2024 ballot where it would require a 60% vote to be enacted. We know in this crazy world today we are at greater risk of bad constitutional amendments, said the main sponsor, Republican Rep. Rick Roth. We have to stand for our constitution. Democrats contended the amendment threshold change would make it harder for voters to take their own initiative to change policies if the Legislature refuses to do so. Sixty percent is high enough, said Democratic Rep. Bruce Antone. Voters need to have an option when the Legislature does not listen to them. Weve seen that time and time again. (AP) Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The US is teetering on the edge of a fiscal cliff. Over three months ago the treasury warned that the US government had hit its borrowing limit, also known as the debt ceiling. Since then the US treasury has been taking extraordinary measures to ensure the government can continue to pay its bills. But time is quickly running out. Congress and the White House have until late summer to raise the debt limit, or else the US government will default on its bills, a historic first, with likely catastrophic consequences. Here is more on the debt ceiling and what it means for the US government: What is the debt ceiling? The debt ceiling is the limit on the amount of money the US government can borrow to pay for services, such as social security, Medicare and the military. Each year, the government takes in revenue from taxes and other streams, such as customs duties, but ultimately spends more than it takes in. This leaves the government with a deficit, which has ranged from $400bn to $3tn each year over the last decade. The deficit left at the end of the year ultimately gets tacked on to the countrys total debt. Related: Danger and deja vu: what 2011 can tell us about the US debt ceiling crisis To borrow money, the US treasury issues securities, like US government bonds, that it will eventually pay back with interest. Once the US government hits its debt limit, the treasury cannot issue more securities, essentially stopping a key flow of money into the federal government. Congress is in charge of setting the debt limit, which currently stands at $31.4tn. The debt ceiling has been raised 78 times since 1960, under both Democrat and Republican presidents. At times, the ceiling was briefly suspended and then reinstated at a higher limit, essentially a retroactive raising of the debt ceiling. What happens if the US defaults? The US has never defaulted on its payments before, so exactly what will happen is unclear. Its not likely to be good. Story continues Failure to meet the governments obligation would cause irreparable harm to the US economy, the livelihoods of all Americans and global financial stability, the US treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, said in a letter to Congress earlier this year. Investors would lose faith in the US dollar, causing the economy to weaken quickly. Job cuts would be imminent, and the US federal government would not have the means to continue all its services. Why is the US debt so high? The US debt grows when the government is spending more money or when its revenue is lower. Throughout its history, the US has had at least some amount of debt. But the debt really started to grow in the 80s, after Ronald Reagans huge tax cuts. Without as much tax revenue, the government needed to borrow more money to spend. During the 90s, the end of the cold war allowed the government to cut back on defense spending, and a booming economy led to higher tax revenues. But then, in the early 2000s, the dotcom bubble burst, leading to a recession. George W Bush cut taxes twice, in 2001 and 2003, and then the US military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan increased spending by as much as nearly $6tn over the course of the war. When the 2008 Great Recession started, the government had to bulk up spending to bail out banks and increase social services as the unemployment rate hit 10%. When the unemployment rate returned to its pre-recession levels, in 2017, a major tax cut was passed under Donald Trump. The debt rose by $7.8tn while he was in office. And then the Covid-19 pandemic hit. The US government passed a series of stimulus bills to offset the worst of the pandemics impacts that ultimately totaled $5tn. What are the main contributors to federal government spending? The biggest chunk of US government spending goes to mandatory programs, such as social security, Medicaid and Medicare, which comprise nearly half of the overall annual budget. Military spending takes up the biggest chunk of discretionary spending, taking up 12% of the budget. Other big-ticket items include spending on education, employment training and services and benefits for US veterans. Why isnt Congress raising the debt ceiling? On 26 April Republicans passed a bill in the House that would raise the debt ceiling by $1.5tn but mandated $4.8tn in spending cuts over a decade. Given the stakes, Democrats have refused to negotiate spending cuts over the debt ceiling. Lawmakers including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have argued that Republicans should bring forth spending cuts during budget negotiations, not over the debt ceiling. Still, Republicans seem adamant on using the high-stakes timeline toward default to pressure Democrats into agreeing to spending cuts. They did this successfully in 2011, when Democrats agreed to spending cuts 72 hours before the government defaulted. This time around, with neither side budging, a continued stalemate could bring the US economy closer to disaster. Like every Motzei Shabbos in recent months, another left-wing protest against the Netanyahu government took place on Motzei Shabbos in Tel Aviv. At the protest, the organizers announced another protest on Thursday this time, against Chareidim and their plans for a new Chareidi draft law. The protest will be called National Equality Day because there is no democracy without equality. The organizers stated: The days when one side serves the state and also finances the yeshivos while trying to establish a halachic dictatorship here are over. On National Equality Day we will embark on dozens of protest actions throughout the country, with protests from the Goma intersection [in northern Israel] to Eilat. On this day, we will officially inform the Chareidi leadership its over. Kikar HShabbat reporter Yishai Cohen responded to the report by stating: From the first moment, it was clear that the leaders of the protest again the judicial reform would turn it into a war against ChareidimIt didnt work for them with the protest in Bnei Brak. Now theyre switching to [a protest] against the draft law. Dont worry. Even if the judicial reform doesnt pass and the draft law gets shelved, theyll find another reason to protest. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Leftists noticed Economy Minister Nir Barkat (Likud) eating at a restaurant in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening and launched a protest against him. About ten people were involved in the protest and some of them tried to physically attack Barkat as he left the restaurant and walked to his car. Police officers who were called to the scene protected him from the assailants and one of the officers was shoved to the ground, causing his ankle to break. The police spokesperson stated: Israel Police received a report of about ten protesters who came to a restaurant on Rosenblum Street in Tel Aviv where the Economy Minister was. During the removal of the protesters from the scene, the police were attacked and two were detained for questioning. One of the officers was lightly injured and taken for the hospital for treatment. According to media reports, the two people who were arrested were twin brothers. They were released shortly later without any restrictive conditions. Minister Barkats office stated: Minister Nir Barkat and his staff were violently attacked a short time ago as he was on his way to his car in Tel Aviv. A number of rioters physically confronted the ministers security guards and police officers while trying to reach him and hurt him. The ministers security guards and police officers protected him with their bodies. The rioters attacked the police officers violently and one officer was taken by ambulance to receive medical treatment at a hospital. Several attackers were arrested by the police officers on the spot. Barkat responded to the incident: There is no excuse for violence. Violence erodes the foundation of democracy and may lead to the destruction of the country and our transformation into a country without law and order. I send my wishes for a speedy recovery to the police officer who was injured and was taken to the hospital. Everyone has the right to demonstrate but no one has the right to act violently. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Irans top diplomat visited Lebanons border with Israel on Friday where he expressed support for the Lebanese Hezbollah terror group in its struggle against their common enemy: Israel. Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian began his visit to Lebanon since Wednesday, meeting top officials and expressing Tehrans readiness to help build power stations in an effort to try to end the Mediterranean countrys prevailing electricity crisis. Lebanon is in the throes of the worst economic crisis in its modern history, rooted in decades of corruption and mismanagement by the small nations ruling class. The crisis erupted in October 2019 and has plunged three-quarters of Lebanons 6 million people, including 1 million Syrian refugees, into poverty. Earlier this month, Israel launched rare strikes into southern Lebanon, hours after militants fired nearly three dozen rockets from there at Israel, wounding two people and causing some property damage. The Israeli military said at the time that it targeted installations of the Hamas terror group in southern Lebanon. Iran is a main Hezbollah backer and has supplied the terror group over the past decades with weapons and funds. We are here today to declare again with a loud voice that we support the resistance in Lebanon against the Zionist entity, Amirabdollahian told a gathering that included several Hezbollah legislators in the border village of Maroun al-Ras. Amirabdollahians visit to Lebanon is the first since Iran and Saudi Arabia reached an agreement in China last month to re-establish diplomatic relations and reopen embassies after seven years of tensions. Later Friday, the Iranian diplomat held a news conference at the Iranian Embassy. He said the Riyadh-Tehran agreement will have positive effects in the region in general. The two countries will reopen embassies in Tehran and Riyadh within a few days, he said, adding that he invited his Saudi counterpart to visit Iran and that the invitation was welcomed. In neighboring Syria, a pro-government newspaper reported that Irans President Ebrahim Raisi will begin a two-day visit to Damascus next Wednesday, the first by an Iranian president to the Syrian capital since 2010. Iran has also been a main backer of Syrian President Bashar Assad since the uprising that turned into war began in Syria in March 2011, killing nearly half a million people. Tehran has sent Iran-backed fighters from around the Middle East to fight alongside Assads forces, helping tip the balance of power in his favor. The pro-government Al-Watan said Raisi would meet with Assad to boost strategic cooperation between the two allies. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding would also be signed during the visit. Asked about Raisis upcoming visit to Damascus, Amirabdollahian only said that a program and a plan for the visit in the near future had been prepared, without offering a specific date. Some oil-rich Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, have been slowly reconciling with Assad after supporting opposition fighters for years. (AP) Agudath Israel applauds Governor Ron DeSantis for taking a significant step in the fight against antisemitism by signing HB 269. The bill expands the definition of hate crimes and increases the penalties for such actions. The new definitions include the distribution of flyers, stalking, defacing graves and certain buildings, or projecting images on someone elses property if the act shows ethnic or religious animus. Governor DeSantis once again has shown that he is committed to fighting antisemitism, not just with words and condemnations, but with concrete action, said Rabbi Moshe Matz, director of Agudath Israels Florida office. The state of Florida was facing a very specific and targeted campaign from antisemites, and came together, in a bipartisan manner, to pass a bill introduced by Representative Mike Caruso and State Senator Alexis Calatayud that will hopefully put a stop to these displays of hate. The bill was introduced to directly target the recent wave of antisemitic incidents in Florida. Such incidents included the distribution of antisemitic materials on private property, displaying antisemitic messages on private buildings, and the harassment of Jews outside of a Chabad synagogue in Orlando. Agudath Israel thanks Florida Representative Mike Caruso and State Senator Alexis Calatayud for introducing companion bills in the Florida House and Senate that passed unanimously. Agudath Israel supported these bills from their introduction. In his testimony to the Florida Senate Criminal Justice Committee, Rabbi Avrohom Luban, associate director of Agudath Israels Florida office, explained the impact this hate has on the community and stressed its negative effect on children. These are all real stories that are happening, and real concerns that we are faced with, he said. These and similar antisemitic incidents are increasing at unprecedented rate. We need to do something about it we need something to change. Attorney Ofir Steiner of the Honenu legal aid organization wrote a letter to the police requesting that they open an investigation into the incident a week and a half ago in which a passenger bus accidentally crashed into four yeshivah bochurim at a kayak rental at the Jordan River in the north. The driver of the bus was a Bedouin Arab and the police appeal came after a number of witnesses to the scene claimed that the ramming was intentional. In his letter, Attorney Steiner cites the witnesses testimonies about the incident, explaining that his client, a victim of the ramming, was on a vacation together with his son along with dozens of yeshivah bochurim, most of them minors. After kayaking, the members of the groups were waiting in the parking lot of the rental site for a bus to the next location on the planned itinerary. A bus arrived and when the members of the group began to walk toward it, the bus suddenly began to accelerate at great speed, racing directly toward the bochurim. The victim warned the bochurim, who fled in all directions but some of them didnt succeed in time and were hit by the bus. The victim was hit directly by the bus, which knocked him to the ground and ran over his lower body. The bus stopped only after hitting the victim and he remained standing on the victims right leg until the victims son, along with others, shouted at him to move. The driver then moved a few meters forward and stopped again. The driver then got up from the drivers seat and didnt get off the bus until the police arrived at the scene. Steiner added that witnesses described the incident as a terror attack to the police officers who arrived at the scene but were not heeded. When the police officers arrived at the scene, the driver claimed that he lost control of the bus, which went backward. This is what the police officers told the witnesses who asked to testify that it was a terror attack. To the astonishment of the witnesses, the police officers refused to record the testimonies of the witnesses or register official complaints. Some of them were even told that it was an unfortunate accident and ordered them to step aside and let them handle the scene, without letting them convey their testimonies. The victim, along with others who turned to the police, said clearly that the driver drove forward, speeding directly at the bochurim. Eyewitnesses say that they saw him turn the wheel directly towards the group of young people, with a look on his face of a deliberate desire to hurt them. The brakes of the bus were in good condition as the driver stopped immediately after hitting the victim who was standing last in the group, and afterward continued a few meters forward and stopped again. In his letter, Attorney Steiner demanded that the police immediately investigate the incident and collect testimony from all the witnesses who were there. We received inquiries from a large number of witnesses, all of whom reported that the driver accelerated suddenly and deliberately drove toward a group of bochurim. We were amazed to hear from them that the police officers on the ground refused to hear the claimss of those around them, and instead tried to close the incident as quickly as possible, labeling it as an accident. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Legal headaches are nothing new for the litigious and often litigated against former President Donald Trump, but hes now facing stuff that hes never dealt with before. Hes already been indicted in Manhattan over DA Alvin Braggs spurious allegations against him, and hes facing far more serious allegations in probes surrounding his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, as well as for his hoarding of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. But it gets worse. Trump is reportedly also being investigated for wire fraud, which can land a person in prison for up to 20 years. According to journalist Maggie Haberman who perhaps has more Trumpworld connections than anyone the ex-president is under scrutiny for raising money to fight widespread voter fraud despite having been told repeatedly that there was no major fraud in the 2020 election. Led by the special counsel Jack Smith, prosecutors are trying to determine whether Mr. Trump and his aides violated federal wire fraud statutes as they raised as much as $250 million through a political action committee by saying they needed the money to fight to reverse election fraud even though they had been told repeatedly that there was no evidence to back up those fraud claims, Haberman wrote in the New York Times. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Police officers on Sunday raided the Mea Shearim neighborhood of Jerusalem after Palestinian flags were hung in the neighborhood as well as sprayed on the walls of the neighborhood. The police officers led Jerusalem municipality employees to the places where the flags were hung and protected them as they removed them using ladders and painted over flags sprayed on neighborhood walls. The operation was carried out relatively undisturbed by the residents of the area, with no major riots taking place. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) A Southern California man who assaulted police with pepper spray during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison, federal authorities announced. Jeffrey Scott Brown, 56, of Santa Ana received a sentence of 54 months in federal prison for felony and misdemeanor charges related to the mob attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a Friday press statement. More than 1,000 individuals have been arrested, including more than 320 people who have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, the DOJ said. Trump supporters that day tried to stop Congress from certifying presidential election results for Joe Biden, a Democrat, over Trump, a Republican. Brown and two co-defendants were found guilty at trial in December. Peter J. Schwartz of Uniontown, Pennsylvania, is scheduled to be sentenced in May. It was not clear why Markus Maly of Fincastle, Virginia, was not sentenced Friday as scheduled. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of 70 months for Brown, who they say dove toward the front of a makeshift police line and used on officers a stolen can of pepper spray handed to him by Schwartz. Browns attorney, Samuel C. Moore, sought 40 months in prison, according to court documents. Moore said that the conduct involved less than 10 minutes of Mr. Browns life and the alleged pepper spray did not make contact with any specific victim. Still, Moore wrote, Brown admits he should never have been in the Capitol tunnel that day and that he takes responsibility for doing so. (AP) A federal judge on Friday rejected a motion from Google to toss out the governments antitrust case against it. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled the lawsuit alleging Google wields monopolistic power in the world of online advertising can proceed in its entirety. Her ruling is the second setback for Google at the federal court in Alexandria. Google had earlier tried to get the case consolidated with a similar lawsuit thats been ongoing for several years in New York. But Brinkema ruled last month that the case can proceed in the Alexandria courthouse, which is known as the Rocket Docket for its reputation of adjudicating disputes swiftly. The lawsuit alleges that Google holds a virtual monopoly in online advertising that works to the detriment of consumers. The complaint alleged that Google corrupted legitimate competition in the ad tech industry by engaging in a systematic campaign to seize control of the wide swath of high-tech tools used by publishers, advertisers, and brokers, to facilitate digital advertising. Google argued that the case should be tossed out, in part because the government defines Googles alleged monopoly too narrowly. Googles lawyers contend the lawsuit does not account for advertisers ability, for example, to advertise on huge social media platforms like Facebook and TikTok that run their own advertising platforms independent of Google. In court papers, Google made an analogy to an unsuccessful antitrust lawsuit against Live Nation, a concert promoter that owns and operates a large number of outdoor amphitheaters. The lawsuit alleged Live Nation held a monopoly on amphitheaters, but a judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove a monopoly in part because they did not take into account reasonable alternatives to amphitheater venues, like indoor concert halls and arenas. Brinkema said the question of how to define the market in which Google allegedly holds a monopoly will be a key issue in the case, But she said at this preliminary stage, the governments allegations are plausible enough for the case to move forward. The governments burden of proof, though, will increase at trial. After the hearing, Google issued a statement from Dan Taylor, its vice president of global ads, saying the lawsuit ignores the reality of todays dynamic digital advertising space, where we compete against hundreds of companies like Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok. The statement said the lawsuit would slow innovation, raise advertising fees, and make it harder for thousands of small businesses and publishers to grow. A number of states, including Virginia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Tennessee, have joined in the case as plaintiffs against Google. (AP) Sponsored Content To honor the memory and legacy of the venerated and beloved Gadol Hador, HaGaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl, a new booklet was published during the days of Shiva, entitled (in English translation): The Beard and Shaving in the Teachings of Maran HaGaon Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl. This publication represents a compilation of halachic pronouncements by Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl regarding the beard in Jewish law. It is (primarily) excerpted from sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon and prepared by the sefers author, Rabbi Moshe Nisan Wiener. Included are numerous (and some never-before published) fascimiles of handwritten responses from Rav Kanievsky ztl. Some of the issues discussed in the quotations from Rav Kanievsky ztl in this publication include: Why did the Chofetz Chaim, the Chazon Ish, the Steipler Gaon and (according to Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl: all Gedolei HaDor) rule that shaving machines (even non-electric) are the halachic equivalent of razors? Is it appropriate to offer electric shavers to those who otherwise would shave with a razor? Is there a halachic basis to prohibit cutting the beard with scissors? What was the position of the Chofetz Chaim regarding trimming the beard? What was the response of the Chofetz Chaim and Chazon Ish when Yeshiva students started removing their beards? To what did the Chazon Ish (and Rav Kook) attribute the 1929 brutal massacre in Chevron? How to manage conflict between beard growth and Shalom Bayis? Will a Kohen who removes his beard (with any method) be eligible to serve in the Beis Hamikdosh when Moshiach comes? Is it acceptable to cut the beard when it appears to be an obstruction to a Shidduch? Is the Chasam Sofer a valid source of leniency regarding beard removal? Should someone who shaves be honored with leading Birkas Hamazon? Can maintaining a full beard help resolve health, fertility and parnasa issues? Should beard hairs be placed in sefarim? And much more. Also included is Rav Chaim Kanievskys hand-written endorsement of the authors response to those who are critical of the sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon (in which Rav Chaim Kanievsky wrote: Yafa Kasavta You have written well) along with a photo of the sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon near Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztl in his personal study as appeared on the front page of the New York Times. To view this new publication at no cost, please click here. For those who would prefer a hardcopy, it is available (at cost price) on Amazon. Sponsors are being sought to enable an English language edition of this eye-opening work. Visit www.KosherShaver.info for further resources. Featured Sefer: Hadras Ponim Zokon Sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon (by Rabbi Moshe Nisan Wiener) is a landmark work of halachic scholarship regarding the growth and cutting of the beard in halachic perspective. An encyclopedic study, comprising 1,227 pages and crowned with the approbations of the leading halachic authorities of our time, it presents extensive documentation of the relevant Torah sources and analysis regarding this mitzvah throughout the ages. The sefer is available at Jewish bookstores in a new, deluxe, expanded fourth edition or in softcover online through Amazon (to purchase volume 1, click here; to purchase volume 2, click here). The sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon (now available in an expanded fourth edition in a two volume slip case) is available at a special sale price during Sefirah. To purchase the sefer at this Sefirah discount price, click here and enter the following discount code at checkout: hadras5783 To view excerpts from the letters of support and approbation of Gedolei Yisroel regarding sefer Hadras Ponim Zokon, click here. In the World Geography Bowl competition held recently in Denver, Colorado, UMW geography students Kaleb Dunlap and Ricky Munoz displayed a solid strategy: Dont buzz in on a question till youre sure whats being asked. Long, roundabout questions threw some contestants for a loop, but Dunlap and Munoz dodged those pitfalls en route to an excellent performance at the bowl, held during the American Association of Geographers annual meeting March 2327. The UMW students teamed up with other undergraduates and graduate students from the AAGs Southeast Division to place second overall in the geography trivia bowl competition. They also performed notably in the individual rankings of the 40-plus participants. Munoz, a senior double major in geography and history from Centreville, placed sixth, and Dunlap, a junior geography major from Virginia Beach, tied for eighth. This is extremely respectable for two undergraduate students in the national competition, noted Professor of Geography Dawn Bowen. In fact, among undergraduates, Munoz placed second and Dunlap third. Munoz and Dunlap were invited to the AAG meeting and bowl competition based on their performances in the SEDAAG bowl in November. At the national meeting, they teamed with others from the Southeast Division to beat every regional competitor at least once in the round-robin tournament. But the home team, Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Division, pulled ahead in the final roundand it was just luck that at least one question pertained to specific neighborhoods in Denver. We came close to winning but suffered a sad defeat, Dunlap said with a laugh. But we had a good time. And fun, as much as anything, was the point of the friendly competitiona way for undergraduate and grad students from around the country to be front and center at AAG meeting and display their geography chops before their peers, professors and professional counterparts. By attending the AAG annual meeting, they also got to take in presentations about topics in geography, explore the exhibit hall, walk around the state Capitol area, and do some networking. While neither Munoz nor Dunlap is immediately in the job market, both said they valued the chance to meet professional geographers and make connections for their futures. Munoz plans to spend one additional semester at UMW to complete his double major, with graduate study a possibility sometime in the future. Dunlap has a summer internship lined up with the economic development agency in his hometown of Virginia Beach and has applied for an accelerated UMW program through which he would earn a Master of Science in Geospatial Analysis. Both hope to attend the next SEDAAG conference and regional bowl next fall. The SEDAAG bowl has long been a place for UMW students to shine; theyve won it six times, in 1991, 2009, 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2022. Whoever prevails at the SEDAAG bowl to move on to the national competition, the reward will be a nice onethe next AAG national meeting, in April 2024, will be held in Honolulu, Hawaii. Shares of UWM Holdings Co. (NYSE:UWMC Get Rating) have been given an average rating of Hold by the ten analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $4.03. UWMC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. SpectralCast reiterated a maintains rating on shares of UWM in a research report on Friday. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an underperform rating and set a $3.50 target price on shares of UWM in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded UWM from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and increased their target price for the company from $3.50 to $4.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on UWM from $3.30 to $3.75 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price objective on UWM from $5.50 to $6.50 in a report on Friday. Get UWM alerts: UWM Trading Up 2.9 % Shares of NYSE:UWMC opened at $6.00 on Thursday. UWM has a 1 year low of $2.84 and a 1 year high of $6.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $558.60 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.63 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.77 and a quick ratio of 1.77. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $4.90 and its 200-day moving average price is $4.28. UWM Announces Dividend Institutional Trading of UWM The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. UWMs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 97.56%. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Simplicity Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of UWM during the 1st quarter worth about $74,000. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of UWM during the 1st quarter worth about $972,000. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of UWM by 807.1% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,613 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 5,884 shares during the last quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC increased its position in shares of UWM by 14.2% during the 1st quarter. Patriot Financial Group Insurance Agency LLC now owns 23,158 shares of the companys stock worth $114,000 after purchasing an additional 2,873 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of UWM by 29.0% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 41,173 shares of the companys stock worth $202,000 after purchasing an additional 9,265 shares during the last quarter. 37.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. UWM Company Profile (Get Rating) UWM Holdings Corporation engages in the residential mortgage lending business in the United States. The company originates mortgage loans through wholesale channel. It originates primarily conforming and government loans. UWM Holdings Corporation was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in Pontiac, Michigan. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for UWM Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UWM and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shore Capital reiterated their buy rating on shares of Barclays (LON:BARC Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Several other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the stock. Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of Barclays in a research note on Friday, March 10th. UBS Group set a GBX 238 ($2.97) price objective on Barclays in a research report on Monday, March 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Barclays from GBX 240 ($3.00) to GBX 200 ($2.50) and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 270 ($3.37) target price on shares of Barclays in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of Barclays from GBX 240 ($3.00) to GBX 250 ($3.12) and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 238.56 ($2.98). Get Barclays alerts: Barclays Stock Performance BARC stock opened at GBX 159.88 ($2.00) on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 154.98 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 160.64. The company has a market capitalization of 24.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 532.93, a PEG ratio of -1.09 and a beta of 1.35. Barclays has a 52-week low of GBX 128.12 ($1.60) and a 52-week high of GBX 198.86 ($2.48). Barclays Increases Dividend Insider Activity at Barclays The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 23rd were paid a GBX 5 ($0.06) dividend. This is an increase from Barclayss previous dividend of $2.25. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a yield of 2.67%. Barclayss dividend payout ratio is presently 2,333.33%. In other Barclays news, insider Dawn Fitzpatrick acquired 5,613 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 174 ($2.17) per share, with a total value of 9,766.62 ($12,197.60). 0.34% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Barclays Company Profile (Get Rating) Barclays PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in the United Kingdom, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates through Barclays UK and Barclays International divisions. It offers financial services, such as retail banking, credit cards, wholesale banking, investment banking, wealth management, and investment management services. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Barclays Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Barclays and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tritax Big Box REIT (LON:BBOX Get Rating) was upgraded by investment analysts at Shore Capital to a buy rating in a research report issued on Friday, Marketbeat.com reports. Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Barclays upgraded shares of Tritax Big Box REIT to an overweight rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a GBX 195 ($2.44) price target on shares of Tritax Big Box REIT in a report on Tuesday, March 7th. Finally, Berenberg Bank upgraded shares of Tritax Big Box REIT to a buy rating and set a GBX 170 ($2.12) price target on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of GBX 172.50 ($2.15). Get Tritax Big Box REIT alerts: Tritax Big Box REIT Trading Up 3.0 % BBOX opened at GBX 155.10 ($1.94) on Friday. The stock has a market cap of 2.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -456.18, a P/E/G ratio of 2.25 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 143.71 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 145.37. Tritax Big Box REIT has a one year low of GBX 1.80 ($0.02) and a one year high of GBX 244 ($3.05). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.18, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 0.66. Insiders Place Their Bets Tritax Big Box REIT Company Profile In other Tritax Big Box REIT news, insider Elizabeth Brown bought 11,042 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 135 ($1.69) per share, for a total transaction of 14,906.70 ($18,617.09). 0.96% of the stock is owned by company insiders. (Get Rating) Tritax Big Box REIT plc is the only listed vehicle dedicated to investing in very large logistics warehouse assets (Big Boxes) in the UK and is committed to delivering attractive and sustainable returns for shareholders. Investing in and actively managing existing built investments, land suitable for Big Box development and developments predominantly delivered through pre-let forward funded basis, the Company focuses on large, well-located, modern Big Box logistics assets, let to institutional-grade tenants on long-term leases (typically at least 12 years in length) with upward-only rent reviews and geographic and tenant diversification throughout the UK. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tritax Big Box REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-two brokerages that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $257.83. A number of research firms recently weighed in on SHW. Loop Capital raised their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $260.00 to $285.00 in a research report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Sherwin-Williams from $231.00 to $253.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Zelman & Associates lowered Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $300.00 to $275.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Sherwin-Williams in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Insider Activity at Sherwin-Williams In related news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of Sherwin-Williams stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total transaction of $607,090.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 7,955 shares in the company, valued at $1,756,145.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.55% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Sherwin-Williams Sherwin-Williams Trading Up 2.1 % Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Roundview Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 8.1% in the first quarter. Roundview Capital LLC now owns 8,065 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,013,000 after acquiring an additional 607 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its position in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 189.1% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 10,409 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,598,000 after acquiring an additional 6,808 shares in the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in shares of Sherwin-Williams by 26.5% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 118,763 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $29,956,000 after acquiring an additional 24,884 shares in the last quarter. Prudential PLC purchased a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams in the first quarter valued at about $1,231,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position 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 valued at $2,842,000 after acquiring an additional 287 shares in the last quarter. 76.03% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. SHW opened at $237.54 on Tuesday. Sherwin-Williams has a 52 week low of $195.24 and a 52 week high of $285.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.03. The stock has a market cap of $61.26 billion, a PE ratio of 29.15, a PEG ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a 50 day moving average of $223.02 and a 200-day moving average of $231.17. Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 86.29% and a net margin of 9.41%. The company had revenue of $5.44 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.14 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.61 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 8.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Sherwin-Williams will post 8.57 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Sherwin-Williams Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a $0.605 dividend. This represents a $2.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. Sherwin-Williamss payout ratio is currently 29.69%. About Sherwin-Williams (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. Featured Articles 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. Thunder Mountain Gold (OTCMKTS:THMG Get Rating) is one of 102 publicly-traded companies in the Metal mining industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare Thunder Mountain Gold to related companies based on the strength of its profitability, valuation, institutional ownership, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk and dividends. Institutional & Insider Ownership 0.0% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 21.9% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by institutional investors. 29.5% of Thunder Mountain Gold shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 11.9% of shares of all Metal mining companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Thunder Mountain Gold alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Thunder Mountain Gold $300,000.00 -$1.25 million -4.50 Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors $8.11 billion $2.21 billion -3.60 Analyst Ratings Thunder Mountain Golds peers have higher revenue and earnings than Thunder Mountain Gold. Thunder Mountain Gold is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers, 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 920 2152 2768 94 2.34 As a group, Metal mining companies have a potential upside of 31.92%. Given Thunder Mountain Golds peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Thunder Mountain Gold has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Profitability This table compares Thunder Mountain Gold and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Thunder Mountain Gold -415.33% -185.48% -59.67% Thunder Mountain Gold Competitors -412.99% -3.42% -3.55% Risk & Volatility Thunder Mountain Gold has a beta of 0.89, indicating that its stock price is 11% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Thunder Mountain Golds peers have a beta of 1.33, indicating that their average stock price is 33% more volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Thunder Mountain Gold peers 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. Zalando SE (ETR:ZAL Get Rating)s stock price shot up 1.7% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as 37.08 ($41.20) and last traded at 36.88 ($40.98). 533,633 shares were traded during mid-day trading, The stock had previously closed at 36.26 ($40.29). Zalando Trading Up 0.8 % The firms 50 day simple moving average is 36.83 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is 34.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 619.50, a P/E/G ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a quick ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 78.06. About Zalando (Get Rating) Zalando SE operates an online platform for fashion and lifestyle products. It provides clothing, footwear, accessories, and beauty products with free delivery and returns. The company also sells its products through its Zalando Lounge; and brick-and-mortar outlet stores in Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne, Leipzig, Hamburg, Hanover, Munster, Stuttgart, Mannheim, and Ulm. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Zalando Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Zalando and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MaxLinear (NYSE:MXL Get Rating) had its price objective lowered by Susquehanna from $45.00 to $40.00 in a research note published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Several other research analysts have also commented on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on shares of MaxLinear from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on shares of MaxLinear from $50.00 to $48.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. BNP Paribas initiated coverage on shares of MaxLinear in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. They issued an underperform rating and a $30.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of MaxLinear in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Benchmark dropped their price objective on shares of MaxLinear from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, MaxLinear presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $40.00. Get MaxLinear alerts: MaxLinear Trading Down 0.3 % Shares of MXL stock opened at $24.13 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $1.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.96 and a beta of 1.93. MaxLinear has a 1-year low of $23.85 and a 1-year high of $53.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a current ratio of 1.98 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $33.30 and its 200-day simple moving average is $34.57. Insider Buying and Selling at MaxLinear MaxLinear ( NYSE:MXL Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The semiconductor company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $290.59 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $290.09 million. MaxLinear had a net margin of 9.14% and a return on equity of 37.97%. As a group, equities analysts forecast that MaxLinear will post 1.31 EPS for the current year. In other MaxLinear news, insider James Lougheed sold 115,944 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.74, for a total value of $4,723,558.56. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,921 shares in the company, valued at $159,741.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 8.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On MaxLinear A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of MaxLinear by 63.5% during the first quarter. Van Hulzen Asset Management LLC now owns 28,677 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $1,010,000 after purchasing an additional 11,141 shares in the last quarter. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. increased its stake in MaxLinear by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. EFG Asset Management North America Corp. now owns 42,387 shares of the semiconductor companys stock worth $1,492,000 after purchasing an additional 4,136 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its stake in MaxLinear by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 85,393 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $3,007,000 after acquiring an additional 6,274 shares in the last quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC purchased a new position in MaxLinear during the 1st quarter valued at about $206,000. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in MaxLinear by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 21,626 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $761,000 after acquiring an additional 628 shares in the last quarter. 90.26% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. MaxLinear Company Profile (Get Rating) MaxLinear, Inc engages in the provision of communications systems-on-chip, or SoC, solutions used in broadband, mobile and wireline infrastructure, data center, and industrial and multi-market applications. Its products include cable broadband modems and gateways, wireline connectivity devices, radio frequency transceivers, fiber-optic modules, video set-top boxes and gateways, hybrid analog and digital televisions, direct broadcast satellite outdoor and indoor units, and power management and interface products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for MaxLinear Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MaxLinear and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne (NYSE:AJRD Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the aerospace companys stock. Separately, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne from $45.00 to $58.00 in a report on Monday, January 9th. Get Aerojet Rocketdyne alerts: Aerojet Rocketdyne Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne stock opened at $56.41 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $56.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $53.86. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Aerojet Rocketdyne has a twelve month low of $36.44 and a twelve month high of $56.80. The stock has a market cap of $4.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.68 and a beta of 0.57. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Aerojet Rocketdyne Aerojet Rocketdyne ( NYSE:AJRD Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The aerospace company reported $0.31 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by ($0.25). Aerojet Rocketdyne had a return on equity of 21.00% and a net margin of 3.31%. The business had revenue of $648.20 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $615.73 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.43 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 9.9% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Aerojet Rocketdyne will post 1.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its holdings in Aerojet Rocketdyne by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 21,001 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $1,180,000 after buying an additional 574 shares in the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne in the 1st quarter valued at about $228,000. Destiny Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne in the 1st quarter valued at about $262,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne by 7.1% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,384 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $246,000 after purchasing an additional 291 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Inspire Investing LLC raised its stake in shares of Aerojet Rocketdyne by 15.1% in the 1st quarter. Inspire Investing LLC now owns 4,824 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $271,000 after purchasing an additional 633 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.78% of the companys stock. About Aerojet Rocketdyne (Get Rating) Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc engages in provision of solutions in the field of aerospace and defense, as well as in the field of real estate. It operates through the following business segments: Aerospace and Defense, and Real Estate. The Aerospace and Defense segment operates through Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc in developing and manufacturing aerospace and defense products and systems for the United States government, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, major aerospace and defense prime contractors as well as portions of the commercial sector. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Aerojet Rocketdyne Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aerojet Rocketdyne and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Retirement Systems of Alabama lessened its stake in shares of The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR Get Rating) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 189,949 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 11,880 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabamas holdings in Timken were worth $13,424,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of TKR. CWM LLC boosted its position in Timken by 39.8% during the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 481 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Timken by 28.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares in the last quarter. Quent Capital LLC boosted its position in Timken by 66.1% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 741 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new stake in Timken during the 4th quarter valued at $60,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in Timken during the 1st quarter valued at $76,000. Institutional investors own 82.00% of the companys stock. Get Timken alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TKR has been the topic of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on Timken from $70.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Timken from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Bank of America upgraded Timken from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $71.00 to $87.00 in a report on Friday, January 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on Timken in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Timken from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Timken has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $91.75. Insider Buying and Selling at Timken Timken Stock Performance In other Timken news, CEO Richard G. Kyle sold 24,841 shares of Timken stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.97, for a total transaction of $2,135,580.77. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 383,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,933,559.54. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . Company insiders own 9.89% of the companys stock. Shares of TKR stock opened at $76.85 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a current ratio of 2.47 and a quick ratio of 1.30. The business has a fifty day moving average of $80.32 and a 200 day moving average of $76.18. The Timken Company has a 1 year low of $50.85 and a 1 year high of $89.40. Timken (NYSE:TKR Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.09 by $0.13. The company had revenue of $1.08 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.09 billion. Timken had a return on equity of 19.52% and a net margin of 9.06%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 7.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.78 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that The Timken Company will post 6.93 earnings per share for the current year. Timken Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 6th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 21st were paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 17th. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.61%. Timkens payout ratio is currently 22.63%. About Timken (Get Rating) The Timken Co engages in the engineering, manufacturing, and marketing of bearings and industrial motion products. In addition to bearings, it offers drives, belts, chains, lubrication systems, couplings, industrial clutches, and brakes. It operates through the Mobile and Process Industries segments. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TKR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Timken Company (NYSE:TKR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Timken Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Timken and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC lessened its position in Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC Get Rating) by 3.7% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 66,064 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 2,546 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLCs holdings in Franklin Covey were worth $3,090,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of FC. Kent Lake Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Franklin Covey by 123.0% in the 3rd quarter. Kent Lake Capital LLC now owns 141,683 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $6,431,000 after buying an additional 78,151 shares during the period. Blue Grotto Capital LLC raised its holdings in shares of Franklin Covey by 52.2% in the 1st quarter. Blue Grotto Capital LLC now owns 200,202 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $9,053,000 after buying an additional 68,685 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its holdings in shares of Franklin Covey by 40.9% in the 3rd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 226,903 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $10,299,000 after buying an additional 65,900 shares during the period. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new stake in Franklin Covey during the 3rd quarter worth about $2,533,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC increased its holdings in Franklin Covey by 101.7% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 93,104 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,300,000 after purchasing an additional 46,955 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.12% of the companys stock. Get Franklin Covey alerts: Franklin Covey Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of NYSE FC opened at $36.72 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $508.57 million, a PE ratio of 27.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.23. The company has a quick ratio of 1.02, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.12. Franklin Covey Co. has a 52-week low of $34.00 and a 52-week high of $54.70. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $42.69 and a 200 day moving average price of $46.20. Analyst Ratings Changes Franklin Covey ( NYSE:FC Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 29th. The business services provider reported $0.12 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.13 by ($0.01). The firm had revenue of $61.76 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $62.35 million. Franklin Covey had a net margin of 6.93% and a return on equity of 18.48%. Equities research analysts forecast that Franklin Covey Co. will post 1.15 earnings per share for the current year. Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Franklin Covey from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. TheStreet downgraded Franklin Covey from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Barrington Research dropped their price objective on Franklin Covey from $60.00 to $55.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Roth Mkm dropped their price objective on Franklin Covey from $71.00 to $65.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Northland Securities dropped their price objective on Franklin Covey from $100.00 to $96.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 30th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $72.00. Franklin Covey Company Profile (Get Rating) Franklin Covey Co engages in organizational performance improvement. It operates through the following segments: Direct Offices, International Licensees, Education Practice, and Corporate and Other. The Direct Offices segment includes sales personnel that serve the United States and Canada. The International Licensees segment focuses on international licensees royalty revenues. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding FC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Franklin Covey Co. (NYSE:FC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Franklin Covey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Franklin Covey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. As another election season gears up, more than 100 people turned out Thursday night for a 90-minute candidates forum hosted by the Culpeper Republican Committee at the American Legion. Candidates for state and local offices seeking the local partys endorsement or nomination were invited to attend the timed question-and-answer exchange, hosted by Culpeper Times editor Maria Basileo, with GOP Committee Chairwoman Lorraine Carter. The main event was saved for last an onstage matchup between three-term incumbent State Sen. Bryce Reeves, of Spotsylvania, and retired educator and MAGA Republican Mike Allers, of Ruckersville. Allers is challenging Reeves as an anti-establishment candidate to represent the new 28th District. Republican voters in the district will decide between them in a party-held primary May 6. Russ Rabb for Culpeper County Commonwealths Attorney took the stage first at Thursdays forum followed by Joe Watson for Culpeper County Sheriff, Missy White for Culpeper County Treasurer, Paul Bates for Board of Supervisors Catalpa District and Jon Russell for Culpeper Town Council. Friday morning, both Reeves and Allers were quick to declare victory at the forum in Culpeper. Reeves made a strong showing tonight, with clear and distinct answers both focused on what he has accomplished during his time in the legislature and what the future holds for the 28th district, according to a campaign release. Im glad so many people were able to take the time to come out tonight, said Reeves. I believe that this was one of the strongest showings of support I have ever seen at an event like this. Theres a reason my opponent refuses to discuss policy and differentiate himself from my stances, and instead resorts to baseless attacks to gain support. Tonight was a prime example of this, and I am proud that the voters of the 28th district have refused to fall for my opponents divisive rhetoric, and instead are focusing on the results I continue to produce in Richmond. Team Allers swiftly responded, saying they were very pleased and thankful for the turnout at the candidates forum. The Folks of the 28th District are tired of the establishment, crony politics, and the uni-partys approach to governing the Commonwealth. The GRASSROOTS do not want a pay for play corporately funded representative under thumb of Dominion, Pace-O-Matic, and Chinese owned Smithfield, Allers said in a message to the Star-Exponent. They want a Senator who represents WE THE PEOPLE not the Elite Club Member Set. I will ONLY be beholden to the voter. I cannot wait to REPRESENT YOU! I will never forget that I WORK FOR YOU. I WILL be your VOICE in Richmond. Voting will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at three sites in the 28th District. There will be no absentee, provisional or write-in voting. Voters who reside in Fauquier and Rappahannock will cast ballots in person at Grace Miller Elementary School, 6248 Catlett Road in Bealeton. Voters residing in Culpeper, Madison and Greene will cast ballots at Reformation Lutheran Church, 601 Madison Road in Culpeper. Voters residing in Orange and Spotsylvania will cast ballots at Unionville Elementary School, 10285 Zachary Taylor Highway in Unionville. Glass Jacobson Investment Advisors llc bought a new position in Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 239 shares of the information technology services providers stock, valued at approximately $64,000. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Affiance Financial LLC bought a new position in Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. EWG Elevate Inc. bought a new position in Accenture during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Accenture by 61.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 123 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $32,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Financial Management Professionals Inc. increased its position in Accenture by 43.3% during the 4th quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 139 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 42 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.97% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Accenture In other Accenture news, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total transaction of $827,267.70. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 24,459 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,849,742.95. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider Jean-Marc Ollagnier sold 6,250 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.06, for a total value of $1,750,375.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 174,084 shares of the companys stock, valued at $48,753,965.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Julie Spellman Sweet sold 2,954 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction dated Friday, April 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.05, for a total value of $827,267.70. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly 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 a total of 15,010 shares of company stock valued at $4,180,030 over the last ninety days. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Accenture Stock Performance NYSE ACN opened at $280.29 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $177.11 billion, a PE ratio of 25.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.25. The businesss fifty day moving average is $271.01 and its 200 day moving average is $275.95. Accenture plc has a fifty-two week low of $242.80 and a fifty-two week high of $322.88. Accenture (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share 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 return on equity of 30.73% and a net margin of 11.00%. Accentures quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.54 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current year. Accenture Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be issued a dividend of $1.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 12th. This represents a $4.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.60%. Accentures dividend payout ratio is presently 41.25%. Analyst Ratings Changes ACN has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Citigroup raised their price objective on Accenture from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Accenture in a research note on Monday, March 20th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Accenture from $289.00 to $294.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on Accenture from $335.00 to $340.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Accenture from $340.00 to $325.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $314.00. About Accenture (Get Rating) Accenture Plc engages in the provision of management consulting, technology, and outsourcing services. It operates through the following geographical segments: North America, Europe and Growth Markets. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Further Reading 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. Country Club Bank GFN bought a new position in Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE:JHG 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 bought 8,863 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $208,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Bessemer Group Inc. purchased a new position in Janus Henderson Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Neo Ivy Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Janus Henderson Group in the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Ellevest Inc. increased its position in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 1,655.7% during the 3rd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 1,545 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 1,457 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 815.0% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,583 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 1,410 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of Janus Henderson Group by 214.9% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,798 shares of the companys stock worth $43,000 after purchasing an additional 1,227 shares in the last quarter. 85.01% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Janus Henderson Group alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets JHG has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Janus Henderson Group from $24.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Janus Henderson Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Credit Suisse Group raised their target price on shares of Janus Henderson Group from $20.00 to $20.50 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Evercore ISI lowered their price objective on shares of Janus Henderson Group from $25.00 to $24.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 13th. Finally, Citigroup upgraded shares of Janus Henderson Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $24.60 to $25.30 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and five have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $22.60. Janus Henderson Group Trading Up 0.7 % Shares of JHG opened at $25.95 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $26.30 and a 200 day moving average of $25.37. Janus Henderson Group plc has a fifty-two week low of $19.09 and a fifty-two week high of $32.14. The firm has a market cap of $4.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.86 and a beta of 1.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 2.65 and a current ratio of 3.63. Janus Henderson Group (NYSE:JHG Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported $0.61 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.43 by $0.18. The business had revenue of $515.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $470.84 million. Janus Henderson Group had a return on equity of 9.79% and a net margin of 15.52%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 26.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.05 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Janus Henderson Group plc will post 2.22 EPS for the current year. Janus Henderson Group Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 28th. Investors of record on Monday, February 13th were issued a dividend of $0.39 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 10th. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.01%. Janus Henderson Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 75.36%. Janus Henderson Group Profile (Get Rating) Janus Henderson Group Plc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of asset management services. It offers investment solutions including equities, quantitative equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternative asset class strategies. The company was founded on Jan 23, 1998, is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding JHG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE:JHG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Janus Henderson Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Janus Henderson Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aviance Capital Partners LLC purchased a new position in Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 14,113 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock, valued at approximately $294,000. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its position in Vornado Realty Trust by 1.1% in the second quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 30,379 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $869,000 after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its position in Vornado Realty Trust by 1.0% in the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 58,025 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,344,000 after purchasing an additional 569 shares in the last quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 2.8% during the third quarter. Mutual of America Capital Management LLC now owns 22,301 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $516,000 after buying an additional 603 shares in the last quarter. Ellevest Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Vornado Realty Trust by 46.4% in the third quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 2,128 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Retirement Systems of Alabama boosted its stake in Vornado Realty Trust by 1.4% in the third quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 53,505 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,239,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.97% of the companys stock. Get Vornado Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. TheStreet cut shares of Vornado Realty Trust from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Truist Financial reduced their price target on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $27.00 to $22.00 in a research report on Monday, March 20th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price objective on shares of Vornado Realty Trust from $25.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Mizuho raised shares of Vornado Realty Trust from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $25.00 to $23.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. Finally, Scotiabank reaffirmed a sector perform rating on shares of Vornado Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $18.00. Vornado Realty Trust Stock Up 1.4 % Shares of VNO stock opened at $15.01 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average is $16.45 and its 200 day moving average is $20.67. Vornado Realty Trust has a one year low of $12.53 and a one year high of $40.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 5.03 and a quick ratio of 5.03. Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 13th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.10 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.67 by ($0.57). Vornado Realty Trust had a positive return on equity of 3.01% and a negative net margin of 19.25%. The business had revenue of $446.94 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $452.88 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.81 EPS. Vornado Realty Trusts revenue for the quarter was up 6.1% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts forecast that Vornado Realty Trust will post 2.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Vornado Realty Trust announced that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, April 26th that authorizes the company to buyback $200.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the real estate investment trust to buy up to 7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Vornado Realty Trust Profile (Get Rating) Vornado Realty Trust is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the ownership of office, retail, merchandise mart properties, and other real estate and related investments. It operates through the New York and Other segments. The company was founded by Steven Roth on March 29, 1993 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VNO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Vornado Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vornado Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW Get Rating) by 143.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 54,634 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 32,204 shares during the quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLCs holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $4,154,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Quent Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 153.6% during the 4th quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 350 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 212 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 223.5% during the 3rd quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 537 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 371 shares during the last quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital during the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Riverview Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 47.7% during the 4th quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 622 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 284.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 672 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 497 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.21% of the companys stock. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Pinnacle West Capital Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of Pinnacle West Capital stock opened at $78.46 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.89 billion, a PE ratio of 18.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a current ratio of 0.99, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.26. The firms 50 day moving average is $77.58 and its 200 day moving average is $74.90. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a 1 year low of $59.03 and a 1 year high of $81.63. Pinnacle West Capital Dividend Announcement Pinnacle West Capital ( NYSE:PNW Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported ($0.21) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.18) by ($0.03). The company had revenue of $1.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $638.28 million. Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 11.18% and a return on equity of 7.87%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 26.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.24 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Pinnacle West Capital Co. will post 4.04 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a $0.865 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $3.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.41%. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 81.03%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have recently issued reports on PNW shares. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $76.00 to $74.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $71.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $77.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America raised their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $69.00 to $76.00 in a report on Thursday, April 6th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.00. Pinnacle West Capital Company Profile (Get Rating) Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is a holding company, which engages in providing energy and energy-related products. It offers regulated retail and wholesale electricity businesses and related activities, such as electricity generation, transmission and distribution through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Co The company was founded on February 20, 1985, and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) by 4.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 42,178 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,837 shares during the period. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.s holdings in General Mills were worth $3,537,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in GIS. Capital Wealth Planning LLC lifted its holdings in shares of General Mills by 42.2% in 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 during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board lifted its holdings 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 valued at $65,703,000 after purchasing an additional 856,126 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can raised its stake in General Mills by 112.4% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 1,464,414 shares of the companys stock valued at $122,791,000 after acquiring an additional 774,961 shares during the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its stake in General Mills by 209.9% during the 3rd quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 790,928 shares of the companys stock valued at $60,592,000 after acquiring an additional 535,715 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC purchased a new stake in General Mills during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,708,000. 74.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Stock Performance GIS opened at $88.63 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $52.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 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 stocks 50 day simple moving average is $83.40 and its 200 day simple moving average is $81.82. General Mills, Inc. has a 1-year low of $64.94 and a 1-year high of $89.39. General Mills Dividend Announcement 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 analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a return on equity of 24.51% and a net margin of 14.04%. The companys revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.84 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.23 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be paid a dividend of $0.54 per share. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. General Millss dividend payout ratio is presently 46.65%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have commented on GIS. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on General Mills in a research note on Thursday, April 13th. They set a buy rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised General Mills from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Barclays upped their price objective on General Mills from $81.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on General Mills from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on General Mills from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 11th. Two investment 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. According to MarketBeat.com, General Mills currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $84.76. Insiders Place Their Bets In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total value of $685,199.90. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,086,571.17. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 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 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate 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. Further Reading 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. Bridgeworth LLC grew its position in shares of Chevron Co. (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) by 6.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,503 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after purchasing an additional 267 shares during the quarter. Bridgeworth LLCs holdings in Chevron were worth $808,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Chevron by 1.6% during the 4th quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC now owns 92,113 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $16,533,000 after acquiring an additional 1,453 shares during the last quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Chevron by 9.8% in the 4th quarter. M&R Capital Management Inc. now owns 7,580 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,361,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the period. CapWealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Chevron by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. CapWealth Advisors LLC now owns 173,721 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $24,959,000 after buying an additional 1,097 shares during the period. Cypress Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Chevron by 0.6% during the third quarter. Cypress Capital Management LLC now owns 46,934 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $6,743,000 after buying an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ACG Wealth boosted its holdings in shares of Chevron by 0.9% in the third quarter. ACG Wealth now owns 12,339 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,773,000 after buying an additional 110 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 69.37% of the companys stock. Get Chevron alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several brokerages recently commented on CVX. Bank of America downgraded shares of Chevron from a buy rating to a neutral rating and upped their price target for the company from $190.00 to $191.00 in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Mizuho reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $206.00 target price on shares of Chevron in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Cowen lowered their price objective on shares of Chevron from $185.00 to $170.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 24th. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Chevron in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. They set a buy rating and a $212.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Chevron from $179.00 to $193.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 11th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Chevron presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.50. Insider Activity Chevron Trading Up 1.0 % In other news, VP Rhonda J. Morris sold 19,666 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owns 3,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $674,390. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . 0.32% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Shares of CVX stock opened at $168.58 on Friday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $163.76 and its 200 day simple moving average is $171.72. Chevron Co. has a 1 year low of $132.54 and a 1 year high of $189.68. The company has a current ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $319.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.81 and a beta of 1.16. Chevron (NYSE:CVX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $3.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.41 by $0.14. Chevron had a return on equity of 23.52% and a net margin of 14.40%. The business had revenue of $50.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $49.49 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $3.36 earnings per share. Chevrons quarterly revenue was down 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Chevron Co. will post 14.39 EPS for the current year. Chevron Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.58%. Chevrons payout ratio is presently 33.04%. Chevron announced that its board has approved a stock buyback plan on Wednesday, January 25th that authorizes the company to buyback $75.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the oil and gas company to repurchase up to 21.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its shares are undervalued. Chevron Profile (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. Parents, educators, school leaders and members of the public flood the steps of the Nebraska State Capitol in support of public schools and against an "opportunity scholarships" measure on Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN Public school advocates flooded the steps of the State Capitol on Saturday morning in anticipation of a final vote on whether Nebraska should finally adopt some form of public funding for private schools. The Legislature is preparing for a final vote in the coming weeks on Legislative Bill 753, proposed by State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn. However, protesters Saturday had a message for lawmakers: Not in Nebraska. Linehan has fought during her seven years in office to allow students to attend private schools through some form of school choice legislation. North Dakota is the only other state without some sort of school choice legislation (the states governor rejected a school choice proposal earlier this month). Linehans proposal would permit state tax credits for those who donate to organizations providing scholarships to students attending private schools. A legislative fiscal note estimates 5,000 students could use the scholarships to switch to private schools. Critics say the approach would siphon public dollars away from public schools. Leading up to Saturdays rally, teachers who had been meeting in downtown Lincoln marched to the Capitol, shouting in support of public schools and public funding. Jenni Benson, president of the Nebraska State Education Association, said the rally was a tremendous show of strength and support for public schools. Nebraskans have rejected school choice efforts three times already, she added, and were going to do it again. LB 753 has maintained support through two rounds of votes, including from State Sens. Terrell McKinney and Justin Wayne, both of Omaha. If the measure succeeds in the final round and is signed into law, advocates on Saturday committed to bringing a final decision to the people. If we have to go to the ballot, we will show them that our Nebraskans support public schools, Benson said. They support public educators, and most of all, they support all kids. Promise to Nebraska children State Sen. George Dungan, a freshman senator from Lincoln, told the crowd he has advanced to where he is because of public schools. After graduating from Lincoln Southwest High School, Dungan attended college in Kansas, where he saw the Brownback experiment fail. In 2012, then-Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law a bill to dramatically cut taxes, which caused revenues to plummet. Dungan said teachers couldnt get paid and schools couldnt open, with the state failing to fulfill its promise to each and every child. That promise is to our children that no matter who you are, no matter where you come from and no matter what you believe, you will always have a seat in our classrooms, Dungan said. Duff Martin, a Wisconsin educator and executive committee member for the National Education Association, encouraged Nebraskans to keep fighting and to not become Wisconsin. Instead of saving taxpayers money, Martin said similar proposals have drained public school funds while benefiting those who are wealthy. Benson and others on Saturday said shifting support to unaccountable private, religious or charter schools would allow them to intentionally discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Dunixi Guereca, executive director of Stand For Schools, which advocates for public schools and public school funding, said LB 753 invests in school choice schemes, not students. This bill is not about giving students choice, its about giving schools choice, Guereca said. Choice to pick and choose the students that they serve, unlike public schools that serve all students. Increasing general support for education Rather than opportunity scholarships, advocates such as Dungan said Nebraska must first provide improvements for teachers. He said the state must do everything it can to provide financial and emotional support, telling the crowd he has friends who wanted to be teachers their whole lives and then quit the work just a year or two after starting. I dont blame them, Dungan said. Theyre in a world where theyre not supported by our state and by other institutions, and theyre in a world where theyre being told that the things theyre saying have to be moderated and monitored by people who dont know what theyre talking about. After the rally, Dungan told the Nebraska Examiner that Nebraska succeeds in part because of its strong support for public schools across the state. Though the odds seem to be in favor of LB 753 of passing, based on previous vote counts, Dungan encouraged people to maintain hope and fight for the centerpiece of the community. I know the road to get here has been somewhat arduous and I know that sometimes this session its been hard to have hope but look at this last week, folks, Dungan told the crowd, a nod to a failed vote Thursday to further restrict abortion. Im asking you to stand and fight and join with me as we continue to fight for our schools. Sudans rival military forces accused each other of fresh violations of a ceasefire that is set to expire on Sunday as their deadly conflict continued for a third week despite warnings of a slide towards catastrophic civil war. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded since a long-simmering power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into conflict on April 15. Locked in a battle for Khartoum, Sudans capital on the Nile, the parties have fought on despite a series of ceasefires secured by mediators including the United States, the latest of which expires at midnight (2200 GMT). The situation in Khartoum, where the army has been battling RSF forces entrenched in residential areas, was relatively calm on Sunday morning, a Reuters journalist said, after heavy clashes were heard on Saturday evening near the city centre. The Sudanese army said on Sunday it had destroyed RSF convoys moving towards Khartoum from the west. The RSF said the army had used artillery and warplanes to attack its positions in a number of areas in Khartoum province. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. In an apparent bid to boost its forces in the capital, the army said on Saturday that the Central Reserve Police had begun to deploy in southern Khartoum and would be deployed gradually in other areas of the capital. The Central Reserve Police is a large and heavily-armed division of Sudans police force that has fighting experience from conflicts in the western region of Darfur and in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan. In March 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on the Central Reserve Police, accusing it of using excessive force against protesters who were demonstrating in Khartoum and other places against a 2021 military coup. DRONES, FIGHTER JETS The fighting in Khartoum has so far seen RSF forces fan out across the city as the army tries to target them largely by using air strikes from drones and fighter jets. This months conflict has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing into neighbouring states and prompted warnings that Sudan could disintegrate, destabilising a volatile region. It has also derailed an internationally-backed political transition aimed at establishing democratic government in Sudan, where former autocratic President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was toppled in 2019 after three decades in power. The prospects for negotiations have so far seemed bleak. Army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has said he would never sit down with General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti. The RSF chief in turn said he would talk only after the army ceased hostilities. Nonetheless, U.N. special representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told Reuters on Saturday he had recently sensed a change in the sides attitudes and they were more open to negotiations, and were saying they would accept some form of talks. At least 528 people have been killed and 4,599 wounded, the health ministry said. The United Nations has reported a similar number of dead, but believes the real toll is much higher. Foreign nationals have fled in one of the largest such evacuations since U.S.-led forces withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021. A U.S.-government organised convoy arrived at the Red Sea city of Port Sudan on Saturday, evacuating U.S. citizens, local staff and others. The U.S. government will help evacuees travel on to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. He did not say how many Americans remained in the country. Britains foreign ministry said on Saturday it had evacuated 1,888 people on 21 flights from since its evacuation operation started on Tuesday. SOURCE: REUTERS TROY In a year when 45 states have proposed anti-trans legislation ranging from youth sports bans to blocking gender-affirming healthcare and storytimes hosted by drag queens evoke outrage, authentic transgender, nonbinary and queer representation has gained heightened attention. Cafe Euphoria is curating its 2023-24 gallery season with this in mind. This will be Cafe Euphorias second gallery season since opening in 2022. Last year, the transgender and nonbinary worker-owned cafe was able to spotlight 27 artists, said owner Atsushi Akera. This year, over 20 artists submitted. From their work, the gallery panel will curate shows lasting two months, starting with a panelists show next month, opening to be announced, that supports queer, transgender and nonbinary artists and increases representation. Allies were welcome to submit work that fit this mission of visibility. Among the artists who submitted is photographer Melissa Ann Argay, who shot portraits of transgender individuals as Greek gods and goddesses. She recently reconnected with photography after a period of illness and trauma, and met Akera a few years ago. The two became friends, and Argay, who is cis-gender, began to spend more time around and connecting with the LGBTQ+ community. While the trauma Argay experienced differs from that of some of the queer, transgender and nonbinary individuals who come to Cafe Euphoria, which has become a safe space for her, she was able to empathize. I cant imagine what theyre thinking, or what it would be like, Argay said. But I think that sometimes being in front of the camera with anyone can help a person feel better about themselves. Its a small piece, but it can help. While Argay has a masters in theology and studied interfaith and ancient sacred religious texts, she hadnt explored Greek mythology until recently, in part because of her Catholic upbringing. Reading the queer- and gender-expansive themes present in the myths inspired Argay to style the portraits after these gods. She thrifted scarves, which she felt were a genderless garment, to drape around the models. The setting is minimal, as is the costuming, to put emphasis on the individual. People looking at the photographs can see the person in their sort of natural state, Argay said. In one series, Akera is draped in a chiffon-like black scarf as Inara, goddess of wild animals, with a delicate string of pearls glistening on her neck. In another, Argays friend Peggy is styled as Hermaphroditus, the intersex god of androgyny, in white scarves that cast an ethereal glow around her. She has a really good eye, and shes a really good photographer, Akera said. Its artistic. Its powerful. Its inspiring. And so for members of the transgender community, the opportunity to be represented that way is just so incredible. Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023 We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories. Because the themed shows are still being organized from the artist submissions, dates for Argay and the other artists' shows have not been set. The shows will rotate every two months and will be visible to anyone who comes by for a cup of coffee, drag brunch, open mic or space to work during the day. The doors are open to everyone, Akera said, and getting more individuals to visit Cafe Euphoria, particularly those who dont consider themselves part of the LGBTQ+ community, will only help increase visibility of those who are. Its why the cafe is located in downtown Troy and has large windows, which Akera feels comes with a risk, though she leans into a teaching a friend taught her. You build safety not by creating rules or anything that is antagonistic but by building community, she said. Once you build a strong community, then the safety comes in the presence and the numbers. ALBANY If you live in the Capital Region and have an excellent credit score, youll likely pay an average of $568 a year for auto liability insurance. If your credit is fair youll pay $866 and if it is poor youll pay $1,486, regardless of your driving record. Thats because insurance companies use secret, proprietary algorithms or formulas to set rates that are based on more than an individuals driving record. Also included in these formulas is the customers ZIP code. And those in lower-income area codes where many Black and Hispanic drivers live, also pay more based on their location. Those were the findings of a recent study from Consumer Reports and the Consumer Federation of America, whose researchers looked at rates across the state. The findings, based on August 2020 prices, have ignited calls for a crackdown on what advocates say are unfair insurance premiums. Your auto insurance premium ought to be based on your driving record not your credit score, said Michael Delong, a researcher with the Consumer Federation of America. The link between insurance rates and credit scores as well as ZIP codes is not new. But the results of this study have underscored the level of disparity and given the issue a new depth, especially in some of the states poorest and most densely populated areas. Statewide, annual liability rates for all New Yorkers with excellent credit are $730, compared to $2,097 for those with poor credit. Broken down along racial lines, the differences grow even more stark. In ZIP codes that are majority white, the average rates vary between $1,152 and $1,803 depending on whether one has excellent or poor credit. But in ZIP codes where there is a majority population of color, that is Black or Hispanic drivers, the rates vary between $2,529 and $4,141. Its really unfair, said Chuck Bell, Consumer Reports program director. Rather than using well-known systems such as the FICO or Fair Isaac Corp. scores that are used in credit card or mortgage applications, insurance companies have their own secret systems of credit scoring. That, combined with factors such as a person's ZIP code and driving record, goes into what advocates say is an opaque black box that remains secret because insurance companies say their formulas are proprietary and there is no requirement for them to disclose this information to customers. Its not a score the consumer can obtain, Bell said. Insurance carriers say that their scoring systems have proven to be good predictors of what their claims will be with a given customer. Cassandra Anderson, vice president of the New York Insurance Association, Inc. said the Consumer Reports/ CFA study is flawed and that it cherry-picked data to support its conclusion. It fails to take into consideration the intricacies involved in pricing insurance. Insurance prices are based on the actuarial probabilities of future loss, Anderson said. Insurance companies base prices on the risk of having a loss the lower the risk of loss, the lower an insurance premium will be for an insurance policyholder. Two strong indicators of loss are ZIP code and a credit-based insurance score, which is different than a credit score. Insurers take a comprehensive view of risk and only use factors that are indicative of risk, she said. Ones driving record alone is a poor indicator because that data can often be inaccurate, Anderson said. And driving incidents often go unrecorded. As to the correlation between ZIP codes, or geographic location, she said thats based in fact. Urban areas typically have more traffic congestion, which increases the odds of accidents and theft. Only three states disallow these types of ratings. When Washington state tried to ban the practice, rates went up for a lot of drivers. Low risk drivers of every ethnicity and every income level saw premium increases, Anderson said. Dropping the credit component hit senior citizens particularly hard since they typically have better credit, which should benefit their rates. Washingtons ban on using credit scores was eventually halted in the courts. Still, the use of credit scores can lead to some problems, especially if there is a glitch or error in ones credit rating. The agent couldnt explain what that meant, Michael Avery said of when his insurance premium jumped due to an F3 credit tier. Avery, 66, a Queens school bus driver, had been the victim of identity theft in which someone opened up numerous accounts in his name. That, in turn, impacted his auto insurance bill. Some lawmakers in New York have introduced bills to ban the use of ZIP codes or credit algorithms in setting premiums but those efforts havent moved forward. Brooklyn Democratic Sen. Kevin Parker and Buffalo Democratic Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes last year offered legislation to halt the algorithms but the bills didnt get out of the insurance committees. Theres an implicit bias there, Parker said of the scoring system. This is inherently unfair, Stokes added. For now, the best advice for motorists may be for people to shop around for the best rate since they can vary by carrier, those in the industry say. Insurance is highly competitive, said Scott Holeman, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute. If you dont like what you are getting, shop around. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518-454-5758 @RickKarlinTU In order to understand the life of Oscar Levant, you have to get past the legacy of George Gershwin. Levant was a composer, pianist and author, also a talk show host and legendary quipster. He was also an actor and appeared in more than a dozen Hollywood films though usually playing himself, an attentive sidekick with a wisecrack at the ready. Above all else, Levant is remembered for his connections to Gershwin. They were friends and allies and sometimes competitors, though there was never any doubt who was the greater genius. After Gershwins sudden death in 1937, Levant became the definitive pianist for his music, a wave that he rode for a couple decades. Yet as Gershwins reputation grew and grew, it became a long shadow over the depressive and insecure Levant, who died in 1972 at age 65. In the new Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, Levant is played by Sean Hayes (Jack from Will and Grace) as a middle aged, drug-addled time bomb confronted and overwhelmed by the spirit of Gershwin, to whom he continues to serve oblations. The comic drama opened Monday at the Belasco Theatre in New York, where I attended an April 18 preview. It was written by Doug Wright, who won a Pulitzer for I Am My Own Wife, and directed by Lisa Peterson. The show debuted at Chicagos Goodman Theatre two years ago. The setting is spring 1958 and the Jack Parr Show is preparing for a rare live broadcast from Burbank with Levant as the first guest if he would only make it to the studio. When Levant finally arrives hes already in a state, by turns rebellious and unsteady, jonesing for pills and brimming with self pity. At his side is the loyal second wife June (Emily Bergl), beautiful, sympathetic and burdened, while Parr (Ben Rappaport) is hoping Levant is just steady enough to deliver some zingers. Also on hand is a nurse and a studio page. In strides a curt and worried NBC producer who tells Levant and Parr that once theyre in front of the cameras they should have an intelligent and respectful conversation but please dont go near politics, religion or sex. Of course, those become their talking points. Hayes gives a pent-up energy and convoluted brilliance to the persona of Levant. It doesnt take long to forget youre watching Sean Hayes though theres a passage or two of breathless comic timing that recall the masterful high points of Jack McFarland. Levants troubled self also comes through in the knotted and lumpy physicality of Hayes depiction. All that falls away once he sits at the piano, throws his shoulders back and performs with virtuoso skill and elegance. I dont recall any profanities in the entire evening, but the audience still gasps a few times at Levants audacious remarks, which are often at his own expense. Rachel Haucks set grows from a cramped office, to the spacious dressing room with kitchenette, to an expansive broadcast studio where the high white walls are padded like a vast sanitarium. During a quiet interlude, we witness Levants obsessive compulsive disorder as he fidgets with the clattering flatware. Levant straddled the realms of East Coast serious music and left coast film star glamour and his matter of fact acknowledgment of mental illness and sundry addictions put him ahead of his time. Other themes from the show that strike a contemporary resonance include the cult of celebrity and the ever expanding reach for the outrageous to gain audiences. We also get a taste of whats been left behind during the last 60 years the capacity for thoughtful discourse over the air and the regular honoring of classical music by the mainstream. After Levant debases himself on live television, that NBC producer berates him for his misogyny and insensitivity plus a short list of other transgressions. This dressing down feels like contemporary times speaking to the past rather than the other way around and comes off as a CYA gesture by Wright and company. In crafting his script, Wright had plenty of source material to work with, since Levant wrote three books. The first, A Smattering of Ignorance from 1942, is a collection of essays that includes a fascinating and gossip-filled take on the concert scene of the day. His largest piece in the book, My Life: Or The Story of George Gershwin, is a thorough log of his recollections and observations. In the mid-1960s came two more volumes, The Memoirs of an Amnesiac and The Unimportance of Being Oscar, each an endless conversational stream of anecdotes and candid assessments of friends and colleagues with self-revealing tidbits sprinkled along the way. Of the litter of names in his books, some are mostly forgotten figures but others endure. He recalls that during Judy Garlands marriage to Sid Luft, she dropped by regularly on one pretext or another, but mostly because she wanted to raid his medicine cabinet, where he had smokestacks of pills. He talks extensively about his composition studies with Arnold Schoenberg and remembers Virgil Thompson as an extraordinary good sleeper. He can doze through the most cacophonous modern composition or even through a screening of a dirty Jean Genet picture. He called Gore Vidal the most exhilarating bastard around and after the authors failed run for Congress consoled him by saying, Well, could Oscar Wilde have carried Dutchess County? Here are your picks for the Best of the Capital Region 2023 We tallied the votes from this years Best of the Capital Region contest in 100 categories. I was surprised at how hard it was to find copies of Levants books. Theyre out there but at surprisingly high prices. The same goes for the 1994 biography A Talent for Genius. The only local library to carry the three by Levant is the New York State Library. Perhaps the tight Levant market is a sign of a resurgence of interest under way. That seems pretty unlikely, though Id like to see the Broadway show be a success. By the way, its a limited run through Aug. 27. During a week or so of periodic plunges into Levants writings I came across some of the laugh lines used in the play but grew fatigued with his ramblings and name dropping. Theyre the kind of books you want to read from back to front, yet alas only one of them is indexed. For further Levant-iana there are some recordings in mono sound of him playing Chopin and others, including some of his own music, and these have been reissued on little labels dedicated to historical fare. Only one Levant recording can be found in my own library. Its the CBS recording of his Gershwin. Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy. Steve Prezant/Getty Images WATERVLIET The state attorney general's office said it took in 357 firearms during its community gun buyback event on Saturday in Watervliet, Cohoes, Colonie, Green Island and Menands police departments. Attorney General Letitia James, on a statement, said the event, the largest gun buyback hosted by her office in the Capital Region, was part of an effort to hold nine gun buyback events on the same day in communities throughout the state. CAIRO Sudan's army and its rival paramilitary said Sunday they will extend a humanitarian cease-fire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes. In statements, both sides accused the other of violations. The agreement deescalated the fighting in some areas but violence continues to push civilians to flee. Aid groups have also struggled to get badly needed supplies into the country. The conflict erupted on April 15 between the nation's army and its paramilitary force, and threatens to thrust Sudan into a raging civil war. The U.N. warned on Sunday that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan was at "a breaking point." "The scale and speed of what is unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented," the UN's humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in as statement. He said water and food are becoming increasingly hard to find in the country's cities, especially the capital, Khartoum, and the lack of basic medical care means many could die of preventable causes. Griffiths said that "massive looting" of aid supplies has hindered efforts to help civilians. Earlier Sunday, an aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical aid landed in Sudan to resupply hospitals devastated by the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organized the shipment. It arrived as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400 and aid groups warned that the humanitarian situation was becoming increasingly dire. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors' association said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. The air-lifted supplies, including anesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict, the ICRC said. The aircraft took off earlier in the day from Jordan and safely landed in the city of Port Sudan, it said. "The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital" of Khartoum and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRC's regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said Sunday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. The fighting pits the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudan's fitful transition to democracy, but since turned on each other. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands fled to neighboring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum. Bound to the country by ailing parents and his devotion to treating Sudans poor, U.S.-born doctor Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman kept working as long as he could after fighting engulfed Sudans capital. For days after the battles erupted, the 49-year-old gastroenterologist who divided his time and work between Iowa City, Iowa, and Khartoum, treated the citys wounded. He and other doctors ventured out as explosions and gunfire resounded in the streets. Say, Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us, Sulieman said in one of his last messages to worried friends on Facebook last week, as fighting persisted. And in God let the believers put their trust. The morning that Sulieman decided he had to risk the dangerous escape from Sudans capital with his parents, American wife and his two American children was the morning that the war found Sulieman, friends say. In the wholesale looting that has accompanied fighting in the capital, Khartoum, a city of 5 million, a roving band of strangers surrounded him in his yard Tuesday, stabbing him to death in front of his family. Friends suspect robbery was the motive. He became one of two Americans confirmed killed in Sudan in the fighting, both dual nationals. Authorities say the other, with ties to Denver, was caught in a crossfire. They have not released that Americans name. You killed thousands of patients, a Sudanese colleague, Hisham Omar, posted among Facebook tributes from the countrys medical workers, in a message aimed at the attackers who killed Sulieman. You killed thousands of needy people. You killed thousands of his students. On Sunday, a second U.S.-government organized convoy arrived in Port Sudan, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. He said the U.S. is assisting American citizens and others who are eligible to leave for Saudi Arabia where U.S. personnel are located. There were no details on how many people were in the convoy or specific assistance the U.S. provided. Photos: Sudan battles intensify ALBANY A current New York State United Teachers executive with experience in the state Assembly and governor's office who once taaught Boston sixth-graders, was chosen to lead the nearly 700,000-member union. NYSUT said Saturday that delegates to the the union's Representative Assembly elected Melinda Person to a three-year term as president. Person has been NYSUTs executive director and political director since 2019, overseeing the unions staff and coordinating its political action and organizing operations. She initiated and developed statewide programs aimed at amplifying members voices on critical policy issues while growing the unions internal strength through member-to-member organizing, the union said in a statement. Person, the union said, is committed to creating learning environments where students and educators can thrive, ensuring members professions are enticing, sustainable career choices and growing NYSUTs power. Before joining NYSUT in 2006, Person worked in the governors budget office and the Assembly, and student-taught in a sixth-grade classroom in the Boston public schools. Her New York state teaching certification is in childhood education (grades 1-6). She is a dual-graduate of Cornell University. She and her wife, Kelly, have four children. There is no greater honor than to represent hard-working professionals in education and health care from across this state. I firmly believe they are the backbone of our classrooms, communities, and society. They deserve a strong voice in Albany and Washington advocating for better pay, working conditions and respect, Person said in the statement. Im proud to be that voice. Delegates also elected Jaime Ciffone of New York Citys United Federation of Teachers as executive vice president; re-elected Ron Gross as second vice president and J. Philippe Abraham as secretary-treasurer; and voted in members of the NYSUTs board of directors. COLONIE The 16th Annual Neighborhood Food Drive to benefit the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York was held Sunday. Ahead of time, more than 77 volunteers delivered nearly 14,000 bags to their neighbors homes with a flyer requesting donations of the most needed non-perishable food and personal care items. They then collected the donations from people's homes on Sunday and delivered them to the Regional Food Bank on Albany Shaker Road. The Food Bank expected to collect more than 36,000 pounds of items, enough for nearly 30,000 meals. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SARATOGA SPRINGS Claiming their chief has repeatedly failed to act in the interest of safety, the Saratoga Springs Professional Fire Fighters Association unanimously approved a "no-confidence" vote against suspended Fire Chief Joseph Dolan. The vote, in which 90 percent of members participated, came after a special membership meeting of International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 343 on April 24. As part of the no-confidence vote, the members are asking Public Safety Commissioner James Montagnino to remove and replace Dolan. Our members concerns are not focused on a single incident and its determination to take this significant step (is) based on the totality of decisions and actions that we believe are compromising the safety of our community, those who serve it and our collective confidence in Chief Dolan, union President Joseph Brimhall said in a statement Friday. In February, Montagnino suspended Dolan after receiving a complaint against the chief that said he is being paid in two different places at the same time." On Saturday, Montagnino said that city attorneys are working on their case regarding Dolan to be completed early next week. Union leaders, however, said they have concerns about safety. For example, the early morning shootout on Broadway on Nov. 20, the union said, left responding firefighters vulnerable to harm and experienced significant trauma. The chiefs casual actions and concern for the well-being of those under his command eroded a growing lack of confidence in his leadership, the union statement noted. The Times Union was unable to reach Dolan for comment on Saturday. In addition, union officials said in 2021, Dolan reduced the fire apparatus crew-member size from four to three. This, the union said, defies U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards. Prior to the change, union officials said, the city maintained a four-member crew for 32 years, a result of the citys 1989 Jamesway department store fire. Montagnino said he has restored the four-member crew. Union officials also disagreed with Dolans proposal to also have Saratoga Springs EMS provide services to the town of Greenfield. That, they said, would expose Saratoga Springs residents to unacceptable risk. The plan was ultimately rejected. Finally, union officials said that there is disagreement with how Dolan was handling EMS deployment, particularly regarding inter-facility transports, when local residents are transferred from Saratoga Hospital to other regional health care facilities, and preparation for the Saratoga Race Course meet. In both cases, these policies were in conflict with the essential need for concurrent city-wide response during periods of peak demand for emergency services, a statement read. Dolan has been with the department since 1988, becoming chief in January 2019. Dolan's W2 forms, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, shows he was paid $140,007 in 2022. Another Freedom of Information request shows Dolan drove a city-owned 2022 Chevy Tahoe that cost $62,816 that the chief used as his personal vehicle. When asked if the car was to be used as such, Montagnino said "hell no." He said it is a fly-car that is meant to be parked at the station for others to drive in emergencies. Though suspended for potential conflicts of interest, Dolan's 2023 ethics disclosure statement, also obtained by a Freedom of Information request, shows none. However, Montagnino pointed out that Dolan failed to disclose that he owns property in the city, which is one of the questions on the form. He said he owns a home in Geyser Crest. Since Dolans suspension, Assistant Chief Aaron Dyer has been serving as acting chief, a move the union supports. On Saturday, Dyer said he didn't want to comment on the vote. During the period that Assistant Chief Dyer has been in interim command there has been a change in culture and morale throughout the Saratoga Springs Fire Department, Brimhall said. In an episode of the marvelous The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, about a controversial, fictional female comedian in the early 1960s, Midge Maisels brilliant but extraordinarily neurotic father, Abe, goes to work as a film critic for The Village Voice. One day, he spells actress Carol Channings name wrong (with one n instead of two). The paper writes a correction. Abe (played by Tony Shalhoub of also-neurotic Monk fame) is consumed with remorse. He submits a 1,500-word apology to his editor for publication (his editor rejects it). He tries to personally call the Voices subscribers to apologize to each and every one. Its absurdly over the top, yet I suspect it would resonate with just about any serious journalist, from the tiniest weekly paper to the national heavyweights to the top-rated network or cable news shows. Put a pin in just about any serious journalist for the moment. Abes anguish certainly resonated with me as I alternated between laughing and cringing. A painful search of the Times Unions archives reveals that in my 35-plus years here, there are 57 stories with my byline and the words Correction Published on such-and-such a date attached to them. Taking out duplicate entries and mistakes that were the result of someone elses errors mistakes inserted by an editor or written in a caption by a photographer, and inaccurate information from normally reliable sources gets it down to 44 of the 4,227 stories, give or take, that I wrote over the years. I also found four more corrections attached to the roughly 4,500 unbylined editorials (again, give or take) that I wrote or edited after moving over to the opinion side of the paper in 2008. Its a rather small percentage (about one-half of 1 percent), and most of them were what I think people would consider about as consequential as spelling Carol Channing with only one n. But some mistakes, even the ones that I couldnt readily locate in the archives but remember all too well, make me wince to this day. The time I had to correct a correction. The time I mixed up the Immaculate Conception with the Virgin Birth. The times yes, plural that I mixed up the first name of Albany Police Chief Kevin Tuffey with that of his brother, Albany Police Officers Union President Jim Tuffey. So I feel for Abe. I do not, though, feel for Tucker Carlson, whom no one should mistake for a serious journalist. Or for his former employer, Fox News, which recently settled a $1.6 billion defamation suit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787.5 million, and then sent Carlson packing a few days later. For a journalist to say he was not rooting for the news organization in a libel suit may seem heinous. But evidence that had already come out in the case showed that Fox was even more of an embarrassment to the profession than it had been for so many years. After carrying water for Donald Trump, it hyped allegations of election fraud on air that it knew to be false allegations that have been tearing the country apart since Trump began spewing them. Fox executives and personalities disparaged and ignored the networks own political analysts and fact checkers. Carlson who said behind the scenes that he hated Trump at one point called for a fact checker to be fired for putting accurate information on social media that contradicted Trumps narrative. Another host, Maria Bartiromo, was aware that Trump lawyer Sidney Powells proof of her outlandish election fraud allegations was an email she received from a woman who claimed that the wind spoke to her and told her shes a ghost. A Fox producer warned that host Jeanine Pirro should not even be on the air, so reckless were her claims. I mention my own record of errors in this context not to express some sort of there but for the grace of God go I. Its to underscore that there is a vast difference between the journalism that the mainstream media practices and what Fox does. Sign up for the Observation Deck newsletter Read the latest Times Union opinion, perspective and letters to the editor on Mondays by signing up for our Observation Deck newsletter. We dont knowingly promote false information. If a lie itself turns out to be news if a public figure like, say, a president makes a clearly false statement or an outright lie, we may report on it, but we also point out that its misinformation. (The Washington Post valiantly tried to catalog all the false and misleading statements Trump made in his years in office, a tally that reached 30,573 over four years as president. Thats journalism, not propaganda.) We dont hide what we know as some at Fox sought to do when it was apparent that Joe Biden won the 2020 election out of fear that some readers might be angry at us for reporting facts they refuse to believe. This is, in most newsrooms, not some mere ideal but the very culture of the place, passed on from seasoned editors to newbies generation after generation. Its a hard but simple thing, on which our readers trust depends were human, we make mistakes; when we do, we admit them and learn from them. So if you spotted a news reporter walking under a cloud on North Pearl Street on Oct. 10, 1987, that was me after my very first correction, for getting the name of the Albany Police Officers Union wrong for the first and last time. Ill get over it someday. [April 29, 2023] ROSEN, A GLOBAL AND LEADING LAW FIRM, Encourages Norfolk Southern Corporation Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important Deadline in Securities Class Action - NSC WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC) between October 28, 2020 and March 3, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 15, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Norfolk Southern securities 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 Norfolk Southern class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12322 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] 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 15, 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 lw360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: During the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) the Company'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; (2) the Company'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; (3) the Company'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; (4) the Company's capital spending and replacement programs were designed to prioritize profits over the Company's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (5) the Company's lobbying efforts had undermined the Company's ability to provide safe, efficient, and reliable rail transportation services; (6) the Company's commitment to reducing operating expenses as part of its PSR goals undermined worker safety and the Company's purported "commitment to an injury free workplace" because the Company's PSR plan prioritized reducing expenses through fewer personnel, longer trains, and less spending on safety training, technology, and equipment such as hot bearing wayside detectors (a/k/a "hotboxes") and acoustic sensors; (7) the Company's rail services were, as a result of its adoption of PSR principles, more susceptible to accidents that could cause serious economic and bodily harm to the Company, the Company's workers, the Company's customers, third parties, and the environment; (8) the Company had failed to put in place responsive practices and procedures to minimize the threat to communities in the event that these communities suffered the derailment of a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous and toxic materials; and (9) as a result, defendants' Class Period statements detailed above regarding the safety of Norfolk Southern's operations were materially false and/or misleading. To join the Norfolk Southern class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=12322 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230429005002/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This column is GENIUS if only because so many dudes have made this same complaint and American auto manufacturers have REFUSED to listen . . . Manys the time Ive turned on the nightly news and seen Taliban or ISIS militants tooling around in mini-trucks, mostly Toyotas, with machine guns bolted to the bed Rat Patrol style. Every time I see that, I say to myself (or anyone unlucky enough to be in earshot) There, thats the truck I want minus the machine gun, which Id only need if I were driving Kris Kobach in a parade. But we cant get those trucks here because of two reasons: profits and politics. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . In the land of the free, why can't we have mini-pickup trucks like the Taliban and ISIS? | Opinion Editorials and other Opinion content offer perspectives on issues important to our community and are independent from the work of our newsroom reporters. Traffic deaths of pedestrians are up by 70% in the last 10 years and pickup trucks are largely to blame, according to a story from The Hill that we ran this week. Related reading . . . US Officials Ask How ISIS Got So Many Toyota Trucks 151; -- U.S. counter-terror officials have asked Toyota, the world's second largest auto maker, to help them determine how ISIS has managed to acquire the large number of Toyota pick-up trucks and SUVs seen prominently in the terror group's propaganda videos in Iraq, Syria and Libya, ABC News has learned. Texas plumber: I didn't sell my truck to ISIS CBS News When Houston-area plumbing company owner Mark Oberholtzer sold his truck to a local dealer in October of 2013, he had no idea it would wind up on Syria's front lines being used by ISIS fighters -- with his plumbing company name and phone number still on the side. Developing . . . Before the latest Kansas City primary we were asked to HOLD the results of recent Kansas City polling which reflected an OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE view of Mayor Q regarding his "work" on the nice side of the bridge. The logic for holding might have been that Northland campaigners didn't want to seem too aggressive in their criticism and "put off" some of their allies in Midtown. Now . . . The primary is over and we're about a month out until more serious campaigning. And so . . . A glimpse at early in the year local sentiment deserves a closer peek. The basics . . . RECENT KANSAS CITY POLLING REVEALS OVERWHELMING OPPOSITION TO MAYOR Q IN THE NORTHLAND!!! Insiders told us the polling represents a diverse cross-section of the voters that doesn't just include Northland residents but also frequent voters throughout Kansas City. Let's parse the most important polling results . . . 41% feel that Kansas City is headed in the wrong direction. 40% have an UNFAVORABLE view of Mayor Q. 64% don't believe the Northland is getting their fair share from Kansas City government. Crime ranked as the single-most important issue for voters. Now . . . What can we learn from this polling??? These numbers offer EXCELLENT insight into the psyche of local residents just a few weeks before a racially charged shooting and subsequent accusations of racism & hatred directed against an entire community. More importantly . . . ALREADY WE NOTICE THAT MAYOR Q IS LESS THAN BELOVED DESPITE AN IMPRESSIVE PRIMARY ELECTION VICTORY!!! In fact, in recent history . . . Only Mayor Funkhouser has endured such widespread negative sentiment. Now . . . It's important to realize that this polling didn't exactly help the fortunes of pro-police campaigners. Voting blocs in Kansas City remain intact. As our blog community predicted, union infrastructure and political groups still deliver reliable votes despite local sentiment. Still . . . The polling offers a glimpse at the future and a realization that many locals doubt Kansas City's current direction enacted by 12th & Oak leadership. Check the numbers by clicking on this link or the image below . . . Developing . . . Janel Simpson-Campbell opened a food bank at 2743 Victoria Park Ave. in 2018, telling property managers this would help struggling tenants of the northwest Scarborough highrise pay rent on time. T-shirtgate: Its revealed the best of many, the worst of a few, and how things behind the scenes at a family-run microbrewery things like selling logo apparel online, and returning to work after a deadly mass shooting dont always go the way you planned, or how everyone else expects. Rich Fierro, the co-owner of Atrevida Beer Co. in Colorado Springs, didnt set out to be a "merch" guy or the hero Army vet of Club Q. He became both after he took down and helped disarm the gunman, stopping a shooting spree that killed five people and injured more than a dozen, including his wife and brewery co-founder, Jess Fierro, and the couples daughter, Kassy, on November 19, 2022. Both women, the heart of Atrevidas award-winning brewing operation, suffered broken bones as they fled gunfire that claimed the life of Kassys boyfriend, Raymond Green Vance, and sent two close Fierro family friends to the hospital with bullet wounds. Atrevida closed for five days after the shooting that sidelined half of its 6-person staff. When it reopened, lines were out the door and what little merchandise it still had in stock a handful of $10 T-shirts bearing the logo of the states first Latina-owned brewery was snapped up as fast as it could be handed over. We sold out five minutes after we opened that day, so we didn't have anything even left at that point, said Rich Fierro, a retired Army major who served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan and now works as a defense contractor at Fort Carson. The internet hive mind, operating in one of its more altruistic modes, had already gotten to work, though. Friends and strangers worldwide whod heard or read about Americas most recent mass shooting, whod heard or read about Fierros selfless and life-saving actions that night at the Springs LGBTQ+ club, logged on to show their support by buying branded items from the brewerys website. We never asked anybody to buy anything, honest to God. But thats what they did, Fierro said. He wouldnt go into details about how many orders Atrevida received after the shooting, other than to say it was a ton just overwhelming and far beyond what we were able to handle, especially at that time. The rogue wave of support was humbling and left him feeling blessed. Fierro just hoped everyone would be as kind and understanding after he delivered the bad news about when the items they purchased would likely arrive. 'Get everybody a shirt' What is the half-life of compassion, before it starts decaying into doubt and suspicion? In a world where the goodwill of others is routinely exploited, where it seems a new mass shooting claims the national zeitgeist before the last ones victims are laid to rest, that answer might depend on how long a T-shirt remains on back-order. Your 20 bucks was spent, or whatever it was. I understand thats your hard-earned money, and you bought a T-shirt and you expect to get that T-shirt. And you will, Fierro said in a mid-April interview with The Gazette, soon after the brewery announced it was poised to begin shipping out orders. But I also understand that my family comes first. Fierros not being cavalier, just a man whose priorities are unwavering. When Atrevida Beer Co. opened in 2018, you could certainly score branded apparel at the brewery off North Nevada Avenue. During the pandemic shut down, Fierro decided to take that aspect online, to stay connected and sell off lingering inventory. I wanted my mom to be able to order shirts to support us because we cant ship beer, said Fierro, who priced the items at little more than what hed paid for them, buying in bulk lots from a local screen-printing company, packaging them and shipping out "maybe five shirts" a month. After the Club Q-inspired online buying blitz, the Fierros posted a raw-eyed and emotional Facebook video message thanking the public for its support, and letting everyone know Atrevida couldnt yet predict when orders would be fulfilled. But fulfilled, they would be. Our intent is to field everybodys request and get everybody a shirt. It might take us a year, it might take 10 days, who knows? Rich said in the video. Please be patient with us. Were still trying to work through this process, and our injuries. Grief and healing from physical and emotional trauma aside, lack of inventory aside, the Fierro's operation wasnt prepared to handle the volume of orders it received from around the globe, for items offered at insider prices because, before Nov. 19, insiders were the only ones buying. "All of a sudden, Im (orders for) 10 dollar shirts out the yin yang and I dont have them," Rich said. "I dont know how to put it, except to say its bad. BBB complaints, a nasty threat The first of the unhappy messages started trickling in, via social media and other avenues, when buyers realized their purchases wouldnt arrive in time for Christmas, and that the brewerys no refunds/returns rule also applied to items that hadnt yet shipped. 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. As the timeline dragged deeper into the new year, as the Fierro family continued to deal with the retail snarls of contracting with an outside company to handle sales as well as physical and psychological health issues stemming from the attack, some frustrated buyers turned to the Better Business Bureau. A half-dozen filed complaints citing the shipping delay and a lack of response after they said theyd reached out to the brewery to ask their orders be canceled and their money refunded. Fierro continues to encourage those who are tired of waiting and no longer want their Atrevida gear to file a dispute, or chargeback, with their credit card companies. We have not disputed any of those chargebacks and we won't, Rich Fierro said. The uncontested chargeback option hasnt satisfied every unhappy customer, however. For one erstwhile altruist, the rancor about an unreceived parcel turned into insults, and threats. I want my refund I will be filing federal charges against you your wife and your daughter RICO, the punctuation-averse buyer messaged Fierro, invoking the federal law aimed at combating racketeering. The buyer went on to ask how things were going in the Fierros neighborhood, ominously name-dropping the street where the family lives in Colorado Springs. The tirade continued from a different account apparently linked to the same person: You are a thief. You are a piece of garbage. You have stole millions." For the record, most of the people whove so far contacted the brewery about delayed orders a subset Fierro said represents only a fraction of those who made purchases have been seeking answers, not a fight. It cant be that hard to print a bunch of T-shirts, especially since they got the money in advance but maybe Im wrong about that, said Bob Pokorney, who said he was less miffed than baffled about why a one-color, very simple logo T-shirt could take so long for delivery. From his perspective, updates and responses from the brewery have tapped empathy but failed to offer an explanation that, five months on, doesn't feel more like an excuse. The reasons I ordered, I of course followed the news and thought that (Rich Fierro) was pretty heroic in trying to stop the shooter, said Pokorney, of Taos. I just wanted to show a little support and gratitude by ordering this T-shirt. Five months later, he still feels the same, but those red flags are hard to ignore. I want to emphasize that I continue to feel grateful to this guy for his actions, and Im willing to be super understanding, but I think its time to wrap this up, said Pokorney. Its a valid point, Rich Fierro concedes. The quest to find an outside company to handle production and distribution has been an epic one. The Fierros recently began working with a large merchandiser able to both produce the branded apparel and fulfill the contracts with customers, but that proved to be only one major step in a still-lengthy process. I had drawn all this stuff (Atrevidas logos) myself, on PowerPoint, and just sent it to the guy whod print them up here in the Springs, Fierro said. It was easy. Dealing with big-time companies able to handle such a large order required the brewery to recreate its original artwork and logos, as well as time to make sure all things were legally copacetic. More love than hate The good news? Though he wouldnt talk specific dates yet, Fierro said designs have been approved, and Atrevida will be fulfilling orders soon. "As a company, this has been the most overwhelming and intimidating situation we have found ourselves in while being in the midst of chaos," read an April 10 update from the brewery posted on Facebook. "We know that we have a business to tend to but we also have bad days. We hurt. We have triggers. We have trauma. Trial dates. Questioning. Its a lot. "For those of you that have been patient and remained loving, we thank you and love you ... You do not go unseen!" To put things in perspective, a vast majority of the people whove gotten in touch about Atrevida's online sales have only done so to push back against those voicing complaints. For every angry call or message, dozens more offered support, Rich said. Most people just wanted to say, the T-shirt or hat or whatever they bought isn't important. Take whatever time you need. And try to ignore the haters. I understand buying something and expecting it to be delivered in a timely manner," said Club Q shooting survivor Michael Anderson, "but if you actually truly support the Fierro family and youve chosen to do that by purchasing an item, you should also realize theres some context here you could never fully understand unless you've survived a mass shooting too." President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel has called on Russian forces to withdraw from Ukraine. He left the relevant message on a military vehicle of the Armed Forces of Ukraine while visiting the country and posted the photo on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "Russia, Go Home," Pavel wrote. He also expressed support for Ukrainian defenders. "We are with you. You will avenge your fallen, you will regain your freedom," the Czech president emphasized. The former NATO general also noted that he is familiar with that feeling when a unit is heading to the front and you want to go with them, want to be an example. "As a commander, I always supported my soldiers. This is no longer my role. I have come to give them courage," the Czech president noted. Read also: Czech president visits dormitory for IDPs in Dnipro As reported, President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel and his Slovak counterpart Zuzana Caputova arrived in Ukraine on April 28. They visited Kyiv, Bucha and Borodianka in Kyiv region. Then, Pavel visited Dnipro, where the Czech Republic plans to open a consulate general, and Caputova visited Yahidne in Chernihiv region. General Pavel served as chairman of NATOs Military Committee, which is the second position in the Alliance after the Secretary General. Photo: Ondrej Deml/Imago In the United Kingdom, under the guidance of Danish instructors, the Ukrainian military are receiving training on conducting positional combat operations, namely the actions of preparing, seizing and holding a position. The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The servicemen and servicewomen of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Denmark Forsvaret, as part of the basic military training of the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Great Britain, conduct classes on conducting positional combat operations. In particular, the actions of preparing, seizing and holding a position, moving in battle in various ways, the order of actions during a maneuver and moving from a temporary to the main firing position are practiced, the report states. According to the General Staff, such training allows for mastering combat skills, increasing the security and operational strength of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, so that Ukrainian soldiers can acquire the necessary tactical knowledge for the defense of Ukraine. Under the guidance of the instructors of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Denmark, the recruits of the Armed Forces of Ukraine became more prepared for the combat conditions, the General Staff added. The Kingdom of Denmark continues to support the Ukrainian people and is providing continuous aid in response to Russias ongoing violations of international law. Having arrived in the United Kingdom, the representatives of the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Denmark joined partner countries in the UK-led training program for Ukrainian recruits. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine The Czech Republic, in cooperation with its partners, will look for ways to increase the supply of ammunition to Ukraine, which is necessary for the Ukrainian Armed Forces for a successful counter-offensive. Czech President Petr Pavel said this at a briefing in Prague on Sunday upon his return from Ukraine, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "It became quite clear that for a successful defense Ukraine currently needs ammunition the most. Of course, there is also a lack of equipment, but a critical shortage of ammunition not only limits Ukraine's ability to defend itself effectively, but also to some extent limits its ability to launch a successful counter-offensive. And if they want to regain control over the occupied territory, which Russia has aggressively held for more than a year, then there really is no other way but a counter-offensive," Pavel said. According to him, the Czech Republic will look for opportunities to increase the supply of ammunition to Ukraine from its own stocks, as well as "creative ways" of their supply together with other allies in the near future. According to Pavel, there are such opportunities. He noted that now the Russians use four or five times more shells every day than the Ukrainians. The Czech president visited Ukraine on April 28-29 together with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. Photo: Ludvik Hradilek, Denik N I was disappointed when the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit against Fox News ended in a settlement. As a lawyer, I was looking forward to several weeks of good theater watching experienced and highly prepared lawyers ply their craft. However, a settlement was undoubtedly the right thing for these parties. And I would add that a settlement is almost always the right thing to do for parties in a complex commercial lawsuit involving a claim for breach of a legal duty and substantial money damages. Taking such a case to trial is a form of gambling wherein big bets are made against unknown, and unknowable, odds. Even though the parties, through pre-trial activities, have done their best to control the playing field theyre on, there is still enormous risk taking a case to trial. This is especially true for a jury trial where people are brought into court against their will, given hard-to-understand instructions about multiple rules of law and asked to resolve a highly technical case. But, whether its a judge or a jury deciding a case, the background noise of human existence will inevitably affect how the facts and the law play out, and add uncertainty to the proceeding. What a settlement does, of course, is to create certainty and eliminate risk. To reach a settlement, the parties must give up their chance for a home run in exchange for avoiding a strikeout. In a sense, settling a case is like buying insurance, and there is a price to be paid for this insurance. Because of the costs notably attorney fees incurred in not settling a case, this insurance is least costly when the parties reach a settlement early on. In most cases, 80% of what will be known about a case will be known soon after it is filed. To refine that knowledge up to, say, 90% with discovery, motions, expert witness opinions and the like will be very expensive. It therefore makes sense to settle a case based on 80% knowledge, using the money being saved to resolve the dispute rather than expanding the fight. And, parties to a complex commercial dispute need to remember they have a common enemy the legal system. If the parties dont work together to defeat the common enemy, the common enemy will take a big chunk of their money and throw them under the bus. 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. Colorado has an interesting but rarely used statute intended to encourage settlements. Under the terms of this statute, both plaintiffs and defendants can make a formal offer of settlement up until 14 days before the start of a trial. If that offer is accepted, the case is over and there will be no trial. If the offer is rejected, and the rejecting party ends up with a verdict less favorable than what the offer would have provided, the rejecting party must pay the offering partys costs incurred after the offer was made. The term costs doesnt include attorney fees, but it does include some big-ticket items such as expert witness fees, subpoena fees and court reporter fees. But back to Dominion v. Fox. Taking this case to trial would have put both parties at risk of a catastrophic outcome, and years of continuing uncertainty and expense while the case bounced between trial and appellate courts. So, a settlement was the right thing to do. (Although coming to that conclusion sooner than the day the trial was scheduled to begin also might have been the right thing to do.) Jim Flynn is a business columnist. He is with the Colorado Springs firm Flynn & Wright LLC. He can be contacted at moneylaw@jtflynn.com. Since the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Estonia has expressed support for Ukraine and provided assistance worth more than 500 million euros. The Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said this during a briefing in Odesa, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Minister said that Estonia had supported Ukraine from the beginning of the war and invested more than 500 million euros. He also added country will join the reconstruction of Ukraine and supports its way to joining the EU and NATO. In addition, Margus Tsakhkna emphasized that Estonia supports the establishment of a special international tribunal for Russia. As reported, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to Estonia for the initiative to provide Ukraine with ammunition at the EU level, and for its involvement in the reconstruction and support for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukrainians. North Macedonia has become the 36th country to join the core group of countries working to establish a Special Tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote this on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. "North Macedonia has become the 36th country to join the collation on the establishment of a Special tribunal for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. I appreciate our Macedonian friends joining our fight for justice. Support for the Special Tribunal keeps gaining steam," Kuleba said. Read also: Moldova joins group pushing for creation of special tribunal for Russian crimes As reported, in September 2022, President Volodymyr Zelensky formed a working group headed by the Head of the Presidential Administration Andriy Yermak, which is working on the issue of establishing a special tribunal to prosecute the leadership of the Russian Federation for committing the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The establishment of such a tribunal has been supported by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and individual states. The former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Democrat Nancy Pelosi, is confident that both the Democrats and the Republicans of both houses of the United States Congress will continue backing Ukraine as long as it takes to win. According to Ukrinform, she stated this in an interview with AP. "Support for Ukraine has been bipartisan and bicameral, in both houses of Congress by both parties, and the American people support democracy in Ukraine. I believe that we will continue to support [Ukraine] as long as we need to support democracy ... as long as it takes to win," Pelosi said. According to her, there is a fight in the world now between democracy and autocracy, its manifestation at the time is in Ukraine. "We must win. We must bring this to a positive conclusion for the people of Ukraine and for our country," Pelosi said. Pelosi visited Ukraine on May 1, 2022 just over a month since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. At that time, she was the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to lead a congressional delegation to Kyiv. In January this year, Republican Kevin McCarthy replaced Pelosi as speaker of the House of Representatives. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has advised those who call for peace talks to address their demands to Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He reported this on Twitter, according to Ukrinform. "You don't ask 'both sides' to 'discuss peace' after an invasion. You tell the invader to leave. Those who want peace should be addressing their demands to Putin, not Zelensky," Landsbergis wrote. Zelensky said earlier that the beginning of the diplomatic format and the documentation of the end of the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine at a big table in the presence of "decent" countries would be possible only if Russia withdraws its troops from Ukraine without a fight. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, Czech President Petr Pavel is discussing with the local authorities the issue of reconstruction of the region. Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk regional military administration, said this in a post on Telegram, according to Ukrinform. "The Dnipropetrovsk region is receiving a Czech delegation headed by President Petr Pavel. We are talking about the rebuilding of the region," Lysak said. He recalled that the Czech Republic had pledged to support the rebuilding of the Dnipropetrovsk region. During its visit, the Czech delegation signed a memorandum on the production of a modern medical bus for the Dnipropetrovsk region. "This is a wheeled intensive care unit. Assistance can be provided there to 12 wounded people at the same time. The Czechs will make it for us," Lysak said. He added that the meeting participants had also discussed the restoration of educational institutions. "Almost 100 schools and more than 50 kindergartens have been damaged in the region. Education, humanitarian and energy spheres are the priorities of Czech partners," he said. Presidents Petr Pavel of the Czech Republic and Zuzana Caputova of Slovakia arrived in Ukraine on a joint visit. On April 28, they visited Bucha and Borodianka in the Kyiv region and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Photo: president_pavel/Instagram, Serhii Lysak/Telegram Czech President Petr Pavel has said he intends to discuss with MPs the issue of recognizing the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944 as an act of genocide. He said this at a briefing in Prague after his visit to Ukraine, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. According to Pavel, the Crimean Tatars have been oppressed by Russia for a very long time, since Stalin's rule in the USSR. Representatives of this nation appealed to the president of the Czech Republic during his visit to Ukraine so that the Czech Republic could join a number of countries that condemned the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944 as an act of genocide. "In the past, something happened that can be called genocide with a clear conscience, although in the Soviet Union it was called resettlement. [...] This resettlement had all the signs of genocide," Pavel said, adding that he would discuss this issue with MPs. He also recalled that the Crimean Tatars supported Czechoslovakia in 1968, after its occupation by the Soviet Union, and the Czechs should not forget that. The Czech president visited Ukraine on April 28-29 together with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. Photo: Shutterstock/Fotodom Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others on Sunday, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor and for an end to Russias war in Ukraine. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and Budapests famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of Francis three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of neighboring Ukraine. Advertisement Citing local organizers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation for Hungarys recent welcome of Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Orbans hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-2016 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. Upon arrival, Francis urged Hungary and Europe as a whole to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. Advertisement How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, Francis said in his Sunday homily on the Danube. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor, Francis said. In a final prayer at the end of the Mass, Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and a future of hope, not war, a future full of cradles, not tombs, a world of brothers and sisters, not walls. The 86-year-old Francis has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end Russias war, expressing solidarity with Ukrainians while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Vaticans embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as the Russian churchs longtime foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Francis Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungarys other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Francis visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as hes been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularizing Western world. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The visit comes as the European Unions legislature continues to put pressure on Hungary to counter what EU lawmakers consider a deterioration in the rule of law and democratic principles, including media freedom and LGBTQ+ rights. The site for his final Mass couldnt have been more appropriate for Francis message: The sprawling square is named for one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys iconic neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Advertisement Sister Marta, a nun of Hungarian origin from Brazil who attended the Mass, said she hoped Francis message of welcome would be heard in Hungary. We (Brazilians) have gotten accustomed to openness towards others, and we hope that Hungary as well will open in this direction, she said after the liturgy. But Budapest resident Erno Sara said the country is fine as it is. I dont know if we (Hungarians) need to change. There is nothing at all in this country that is out of the ordinary, any kind of behavior that we would have to change, Sara said. Francis ends his visit Sunday with a speech on European culture at Budapests Pazmany Peter Catholic University. ___ Bela Szandelszky contributed to this report. Some of the highest concentrations of radium-contaminated drinking water in the nation are clustered in rural Southeast Colorado, according to a recent compilation of data. The problem is hardly new. The presence of radium in the areas groundwater, which is linked to an increased cancer risk, particularly for children, has been known for decades. The newly compiled data shows that out of the 50,000 water systems included in the research, six of the 10 worst radium levels in the nation are in Colorado. State water providers are required to inform their customers of the contamination and say theyd like to fix the problem, but providing clean, radium-free tap water in the most remote areas comes with an untenable price tag. A massive infrastructure project that promises to largely resolve the problem, the Arkansas Valley Conduit, broke ground this year. Its completion, however, is years away, and the bulk of its funding hasnt materialized yet. For now, most are hopeful that the conduit will be fully funded and fully built. Until then, faucets in the area will still provide water with as much as four times the legal radium limit. Exposure to radium, a naturally-occurring radioactive element that exists in the Earths crust as a byproduct of the radioactive decay of naturally occurring uranium and thorium, can cause cancer, kidney damage and birth defects. Radium poses a unique risk to children because it is treated by the human body like calcium and deposited into developing bones, where it remains radioactive and can kill and mutate cells. Although southeast Colorados groundwater was known to have contaminants, high radium levels in Colorados groundwater became a regulatory problem around 20 years ago when the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated new radionuclide standards. Federal law allows up to 5 picocuries of radium-226 or radium-228, the most common versions of the element, per liter of water. But Ron Falco, safe drinking water program manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said its well established that there will be about one excess cancer death per 10,000, at the maximum federal limit, and that the risks go up with concentration and accumulate over time. So if you have double the MCL (maximum contaminant limit), then its two per 10,000, Falco said. And thats assuming that you drink two liters a day, a fair amount, every day, for 70 years. According to the Environmental Working Groups new drinking water contamination data compilation, the worst radium content in the nation is found in Rocky Ford, where there was an average of 23 picocuries of radium per liter of water. Eighteen other water systems in Colorado contain more than the legal limit. Most are clustered around the small rural towns of Rocky Ford, Swink and La Junta, about one hours drive east from Pueblo. The new data shows one in every six Otero County residents has tap water above the federal limit. After years of testing, studies and planning, the solution thats emerged is one proposed 60 years ago: The Arkansas Valley Conduit, the massive clean water delivery system proposal that stalled for decades over the projects equally massive price tag. Elsewhere in the state, the Peak View Park mobile home park, situated on a wooded hillside along U.S. Route 24 in Woodland Park, registered more than twice the legal limit of radium for years as the owners struggled to get the problem fixed. Pete LaBarre, the owner, said he found out about the high radium levels close to four years ago when he also learned they were required to test their well water for contaminants. LaBarre described a challenging process to get the issue fully documented, have a remediation plan developed and approved and, finally, purchasing and installing the required equipment. It was a long, long drawn out process, he said, that began with finding a licensed engineer to work with. That took a year. The engineer oversaw more testing, then drafted plans for a radium extraction system, which required state review and approval. After their plans were approved, LaBarre said they had to purchase the equipment and schedule the installation, which requires additional oversight, and all of which was all delayed because of the global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. All told, LaBarre estimated the system cost around $100,000. The cost, he said, will be absorbed into lot rental rates and should add a small amount of money for each resident. The process with the state is very cumbersome, LaBarre said. If they had just said to us, Go and fix this and we dont care how you get the radium out of the water, it probably would have taken us six months. Falco stressed the importance of having the systems installed with proper oversight to ensure its installed and working correctly so there wont be problems in the future. 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. The new extraction system is now up and running, LaBarre said, and the initial tests show the water is now well under the maximum 5 picocuries. But a key feature of the system Peak View Park installed is the access to Woodland Parks sewer system. LaBarre said he had to make arrangements with the citys wastewater treatment officials about the timing of their extraction systems wastewater disposal so they can send the radium-saturated byproduct of the extraction process into the sewer when the system can adequately handle it. The lack of a sewer system is what cripples any similar efforts in the more rural areas around La Junta. There, where many of the residents use septic tanks, storing an extraction byproduct would be prohibitively expensive. Exorbitant. Astronomical, said Norman Noe, the registered agent and sole employee of the South Swink Water Company. For a rural company, such as us, to treat the water and then hold the high-concentration wastewater it isnt feasible. Noe said the radium levels have tested high since the 1980s, but when the EPA put the 5 picocuries per liter limit into effect in 2000, his water system was considered out of compliance. After unsuccessfully arguing in court that the limit was too stringent and should be raised to 15 picocuries per liter, Noe said he and others in the area began having engineers drafting plans to fix the issue. At first, he said, they considered a reverse osmosis system that removes 90% or more radium, but the state health department rejected that plan because there wasnt an adequate plan for the wastewater produced by the process. So in 2003, we started pushing for the conduit, Noe said of the long-planned Arkansas Valley Conduit. The idea to provide clean drinking water to the Arkansas Valley dates back to the 1960s, and an often-referenced visit by then President John F. Kennedy, who signed the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Act in Pueblo in August of 1962. The act laid out a plan for the Arkansas Valley Conduit that never materialized, because local funding was never enough to cover the costs. In recent years, as attention came back to the conduit plans, the new construction costs have been estimated to exceed $500 million. May Valley Water Association is the largest water utility in the region with radium above the federal limit, with an average measurement about 2 times the maximum EPA level over the past several years. New customers receive a packet all about the system and the water quality, Rick Jones, the utilitys superintendent, said. So they know that its in the water. Jones said the utility surveyed their customers a few years ago about the water and the contaminants. Many of our customers have some kind of water treatment, either a water softener or reverse osmosis at their faucets and sinks, he said. We dont make any claims for those products, but they do reduce the radionuclides by a significant amount. But Jones, like others, said his long-term hope is with the Arkansas Valley Conduit. Its been engineered and re-engineered 50 years in the making, he said. It all comes down to dollars. The project has seen some promising milestones, notably an infusion of money that promises to get ground broken on the first phase of the conduit, starting next year. Bill Long, the president of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District, said the towns along the first 12 miles of the conduit, Boone and Avondale, should be getting clean water from the conduit by 2024. More funding will be needed to finish the project, and Long said he believes there will be money allocated from the recently passed federal infrastructure bill. Those funds could help get the conduit finished, but that the details arent yet clear. We think we can reach the La Junta area in five to six years, he said. But the new infrastructure (bill) could accelerate that. The mental health crisis in Colorado is not a concern anymore; it is a crisis. Coloradans perception of marijuana as Just a Plant that could improve ones mental health is now a factor in the deteriorating and even destruction of ones mental health. When Coloradans voted on medical marijuana in 2000, the content of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the plant was about 5%, and concentrates were not available. THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana that induces a utopian feeling. Colorado has genetically modified marijuana plants to produce an average content of about 20% THC and has chemically created concentrates that average about 69% THC, some up above 90% THC. These more potent products make that utopian feeling more enticing. The more potent a drug is, the more addictive drug is. Addictive drugs used regularly often develop tolerance, where the amount that used to work to achieve that emotional change or utopia feeling no longer works. The person consumes more and more of the drug to achieve the same effect. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports 30% of marijuana users are becoming addicted to THC, or what is called cannabis use disorder. And its no walk in the park to detox from THC, especially in high concentrations. Users can experience withdrawal symptoms, like mood swings, anxiety, disturbed sleep, and depression, for weeks, which often keeps the person using to avoid this discomfort. Colorados potent punch of marijuana is a path toward developing severe psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia in adulthood. According to The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment report handed to Colorados General Assembly on Jan. 31, 2023. These symptoms (hallucinations, paranoia, and delusional beliefs) are worse with higher doses. The Centers for Disease Control backs these claims up too. They report marijuana use, especially frequently (daily or nearly daily) and in high doses, can cause disorientation and sometimes unpleasant thoughts or feelings of anxiety and paranoia. People who use marijuana are more likely to develop temporary psychosis (not knowing what is real) and long-lasting mental disorders, including schizophrenia (a mental illness where people might see or hear things that are not there). The association between marijuana and schizophrenia is stronger in people who start using marijuana at an earlier age and use marijuana more frequently. Marijuana use has also been linked to depression; social anxiety; and suicidal thoughts and attempts, and death by suicide. Its no secret that Colorado families have been negatively affected by marijuana and are no match for a profit-driven industry that influential politicians back. Its not uncommon for families to go from living a normal everyday life, focusing on high school academics, to forgetting about academics, and find themselves now focusing on a long-term treatment plan, and desperately seeking support and resources in hopes their child can stay alive and mentally stable. Parents are unprepared to handle an addicted child experiencing hallucinations or delusions from marijuana use. In response, a community called Every Brain Matters (EBM) emerged, formed by families severely damaged or killed by marijuana effects. They educate about the dangers of marijuana, provide support for families, and advocate for more policies that support public health and safety. Every Brain Matters has science-based educational articles, pamphlets, infographics, and charts on their websites front page. They provide simple explanations for educators, teens, and parents. This knowledge empowers families to make good decisions so they dont second guess themselves or allow others to manipulate them. The Every Brain Matters Support Advisory Committee features valuable leaders with lived experiences that pave a path for families to find clarity, truth, and hope. They connect with families affected by marijuana and provide essential resources. They want families to know theyre not alone in a world that is, unfortunately, embracing marijuana and promoting false information about its effects. Advocating to raise awareness is an essential part of the EBM community. They call for stricter regulations and accountability to reduce harm and raise voices of truth. Courageous families shared their experiences with legislators and community organizations to decrease the negative impacts of THC and show the connection between marijuana and fentanyl. Some of their members are featured in national media outlets. The public is being deceived regarding marijuana products and their effects, like cannabis use disorder, cannabis-induced psychosis, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which has led to a public health crisis. No matter how much the drug culture expands, the EBM community will Keep On Keepin On because we wholeheartedly know that Every Brain Matters. Aubree Adams is director of Every Brain Matters. She is a former Colorado mom and host mom for youth in recovery. Libby Stuyt, MD, Karen Randall, MD, Ken Finn, MD, contributed to the writing of this editorial. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2023 ) :Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Sunday called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar warmly welcomed the Ambassador and extended compliments on the successful completion of his tenure in Pakistan, said a press release issued here. Dar highlighted deep-rooted cordial relations between Pakistan and Iran based on age-old common religious and cultural similarities. He expressed that Pakistan holds its brotherly relations with Iran in very high regard. He also highlighted the country's economic outlook and said that despite economic challenges, the country is destined to progress and develop. Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar lauded the Ambassador's contributions in enhancing and cementing the decades-old brotherly ties and fostering economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Appreciating the tenure of the Iranian Ambassador in Pakistan, the Finance Minister bid farewell to him and extended best wishes and good luck on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan for his future assignments. Ambassador Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini also stressed the potential held by both countries for mutual cooperation and appreciated the cooperation and support of the present government in enhancing bilateral relations in various fields. He also thanked the Finance Minister for his support and cooperation in strengthening economic and trade relations between the two countries during his stay in Pakistan. He expressed good memories of his stay in Pakistan and the support of the people and government of Pakistan in shaping his tenure successful. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 30th Apr, 2023) A second evacuation plane from Sudan, carrying 136 UAE citizens, along with diplomats and nationals from nine other countries, including vulnerable groups of the sick, children, the elderly and women, has arrived in the UAE. The evacuation operation aligns with the UAE's commitment to humanitarian assistance and to its efforts to promote international solidarity and cooperation. The UAE will host the evacuees and provide them with all necessary support and assistance prior to transfer to their home countries. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed the UAE's commitment to providing aid and assistance to countries in times of need, highlighting its work with international partners and the global community to serve the interests of the Sudanese people. Budapest, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2023 ) :Pope Francis on Sunday called on Hungarians to be "open" toward migrants, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the central European country whose nationalist premier has taken a staunch anti-immigration stance. Tens of thousands thronged a central Budapest square to hear the pope lead an open-air mass during which he urged all, including "those with political and social responsibilities", to be more open. "Let us encourage one another to be increasingly open doors," the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff said, adding it was "sad and painful... to see closed doors". "The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others... the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor," he said. Throughout his visit to Budapest -- his second since a brief 2021 stopover -- Francis has emphasised a welcoming stance towards those fleeing poverty or conflict zones. The comments have stood in stark contrast to those of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has regularly espoused anti-migration rhetoric to defend a "Christian Europe" since coming to power in 2010. On Sunday, some 50,000 people thronged to hear the pope say mass under tight security at Kossuth Lajos Square, behind the parliament on the banks of the Danube, according to local authorities. "I feel emotional. He is very important in my life," onlooker Ferenc Toth, 43, told AFP after the pope passed by in his popemobile. University student Levente Kiss said it was "unique" to see the pope up close. "It was good to see that the pope has taken a stance that really calls us to our Christian mission to support the people in migration crises, especially the war in Ukraine," the 21-year-old added. On Saturday, Francis gave a speech to refugees -- mostly from neighbouring Ukraine -- and poor people at a Budapest church. Orban's government has welcomed those fleeing the war in Ukraine, which borders Hungary. But activists say there is barely a support system in place and Orban's insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow has also alienated Ukrainians. Francis' 41st international trip since becoming pope in 2013 is taking place entirely in Budapest, the capital of the EU member where 39 percent of the 9.7-million population are Catholic. It comes a month after he was hospitalised for three months for bronchitis, so all eyes have been on the pontiff's health. But despite persistent knee pain forcing him to move around in a wheelchair, the pope has appeared to be in good shape. On Saturday, Francis met Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony, a staunch Orban opponent. He also met with bishop Hilarion, who was ousted as head of the Russian church's department for external relations by Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch Kremlin backer. Francis will deliver his trip's last speech at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) at a private Catholic university in Budapest. He will return to Rome in the early evening, giving his traditional press conference on the plane to journalists accompanying him on board. John Paul II was the first pope to visit Hungary, making trips in 1991 and 1996. cmk-pmu-jza/yad Colorado Springs mayoral candidates Wayne Williams and Yemi Mobolade faced off in a debate Monday on the same day voters were sent ballots lis (@FahadShabbir) London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2023 ) :The crowning of Camilla alongside King Charles III on May 6 will be both a royal milestone and a personal victory for the monarch, who has long been quietly determined to make her his queen. In the turbulent 1990s, Camilla was vilified as "the other woman" in Charles's marriage to his first wife, Princess Diana. But she has slowly won acceptance for offering steadfast support to her husband, and an unshowy dedication to good causes. Before the couple married, Charles let it be known that his relationship with the then Camilla Parker Bowles was "non-negotiable" and she would always be "central to his life". At the time his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was reportedly worried that the marriage would cause irreparable damage to the monarchy. Royal experts have described a long campaign behind the scenes by Charles's office to improve Camilla's image and ultimately ensure she would be queen. The royal seal of approval for Camilla finally came before Elizabeth's death last year when she said it was her "sincere wish" that Camilla be known as Queen Consort after her death. That finally put to rest a 2005 royal household plan for Camilla to become Princess Consort when Charles acceded to the throne. In recent weeks, the "consort" part of her title has been quietly dropped and she is to be known simply as Queen Camilla. - Sense of duty - Although her popularity ratings remain lower than most other senior royals, Camilla is increasingly seen by the public as a warm and down-to-earth figure. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said the public now took a "benign view of Camilla", nearly three decades after Charles and Diana's very public divorce. "She's someone who has a strong sense of duty," he told AFP. "There's no question that she regards her role as to support Charles, and that they are soulmates -- similar age, a similar sense of humour, similar friends... everything that he and Diana did not have in common." "The rehabilitation of Camilla was very successful, and it led to their marriage and it's been very happy," he said. Camilla has also shown her "tough" side by silently enduring much criticism over the years. Since Elizabeth's death last year, the causes Camilla has supported for years have been given a much bigger platform. They include the arts, promoting literacy and supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault. "She's been very low-profile in the UK in recent decades," said the former UK ambassador to France, Peter Ricketts, speaking in March before the couple's state visit to Germany. "Now she has a moment to come more into the spotlight." Camilla is a "strong woman" and "a very warm person" who "believes passionately in her charitable convictions", said Ricketts. One cause close to her heart is the Royal Osteoporosis Society, of which she has been president for more than 20 years. Both her mother and grandmother died from the crippling, bone-weakening condition. - Traditional upbringing - Camilla Rosemary Shand was born in London on July 17, 1947 and had a traditional upbringing among the monied upper classes. She first met Prince Charles as a young woman at a polo match in the early 1970s, and they later became close. But believing Charles would never propose, she married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973. The couple had two children -- food writer Tom Parker Bowles and art curator Laura Lopes. She now has five grandchildren. As the royal marriage crumbled, Charles and Camilla rekindled their relationship. Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles divorced in 1995, a year before Charles and Diana. After Diana's death in a Paris car crash in 1997, the couple made their first public appearance together in 1999. - Windsor wedding - They married on April 9, 2005, in a civil ceremony in Windsor, drawing a cheering crowd of 20,000 on the streets before a religious blessing. Camilla has since been widely accepted by the royal family, including Charles and Diana's eldest son Prince William. His younger son Prince Harry accused Camilla in his recent autobiography of playing "the long game", with a campaign aimed at "marriage, and eventually the crown with Pa's blessing we presumed". But Tom Parker Bowles rejected the claim: "This wasn't any sort of end game," he said last week. "She married the person she loved." Khartoum, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2023 ) :Warplanes on bombing raids drew heavy anti-aircraft fire over Khartoum on Saturday as fierce fighting between Sudan's army and paramilitaries entered a third week, violating a renewed truce. More than 500 people have been killed since battles erupted on April 15 between the forces of army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his number two Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They have agreed to multiple truces but none has effectively taken hold as the number of dead civilians continues to rise and chaos and lawlessness grip Khartoum, a city of five million people where many have been cloistered in their homes lacking food, water, and electricity. Tens of thousands of people have been uprooted within Sudan or embarked on arduous trips to neighbouring Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and Ethiopia to flee the battles. "There is no right to go on fighting for power when the country is falling apart," UN chief Antonio Guterres told Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television. The latest three-day ceasefire -- due to expire at midnight (2200 GMT) Sunday -- was agreed Thursday after mediation led by the United States, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and the United Nations. "We woke up once again to the sound of fighter jets and anti-aircraft weapons blasting all over our neighbourhood," a witness in south Khartoum told AFP. Another said fighting had continued since the early morning, especially around the state broadcaster's headquarters in the capital's twin city of Omdurman. Other witnesses reported exchanges of machine gun fire across the Blue Nile in Khartoum North, while the sound of gunfire rang out in Burri in the east of the city. Smoke drifted over the area around Khartoum airport. - Trading blame - As battles raged, the rival generals -- who seized power in a 2021 coup -- took aim at each other in the media, with Burhan branding the RSF a militia that aims "to destroy Sudan" and Daglo calling the army chief "a traitor". Guterres threw his support behind African-led mediation efforts. "My appeal is for everything to be done to support an African-led initiative for peace in Sudan," he told Al Arabiya. The violence has killed at least 528 people and wounded 4,599, the health ministry said Saturday, but those figures are likely to be incomplete. About 75,000 have been displaced by the fighting in Khartoum and the states of Blue Nile, North Kordofan, as well as the western region of Darfur, the UN said. The fighting has also triggered a mass exodus of foreigners and international staff. On Saturday, a ferry with around 1,900 evacuees arrived at a Saudi naval base in Jeddah, after crossing the Red Sea from Port Sudan in the latest evacuation to the kingdom by sea. They were among almost 4,880 people who have been brought to safety in the kingdom, the Saudi foreign ministry said. A US-organized convoy carrying American citizens, local staff, and nationals from allied countries arrived in Port Sudan Saturday to join the exodus across the Red Sea, the State Department said. The Pentagon said it had "deployed US intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets to support air and land evacuation routes which Americans are using." Britain said it was ending its evacuation flights, after airlifting more than 1,500 people this week. The World Food Programme has said the violence could plunge millions more into hunger in a country where 15 million people -- one-third of the population -- already need aid to stave off famine. About 70 percent of hospitals in areas near the fighting have been put out of service and many have been shelled, the doctors' union said. - 'Incredibly worried' - In West Darfur state, at least 96 people were reported to have been killed in the city of El Geneina this week, the UN said. "What's happening in Darfur is terrible, the society is falling apart, we see tribes that now try to arm themselves," Guterres said. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said there were reports of widespread looting, destruction, and burning of property, including at camps for displaced people. MSF deputy operations manager for Sudan, Sylvain Perron, said the fighting had forced the agency to stop almost all its activities in West Darfur. "We are incredibly worried about the impact this violence is having on people who have already lived through waves of violence in the previous years." Darfur is still reeling from a war that erupted in 2003 when then-hardline president Omar al-Bashir unleashed the Janjaweed militia, mainly recruited from Arab pastoralist tribes, against ethnic minority rebels. The scorched-earth campaign left at least 300,000 people dead and close to 2.5 million displaced, according to UN figures, and saw Bashir charged with war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Court. The Janjaweed later evolved into the RSF, which was formally created in 2013. The 2021 coup that brought Burhan and Daglo to power derailed the transition to elective civilian rule launched after Bashir was ousted following mass protests in 2019. The two generals later fell out, most recently over the planned integration of the RSF into the regular army. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Apr, 2023 ) :President Dr Arif Alvi has sent back National Accountability (Amendment) Bill 2023 to parliament for reconsideration after observing that the amendments brought earlier in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 were sub-judice before the Supreme Court. The president sent back the piece of legislation, in terms of clause (1) (b) of the Article 75 of the Constitution, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on Sunday. The president said that this aspect of the legislation was neither referred to in the bill nor in the prime minister's advice. He observed that without considering the implications of a pending matter, further amendments in the National Accountability Ordinance 1999 should be reconsidered. Earlier, the prime minister had sent advice seeking assent of the president over the said bill. WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 01st May, 2023) The United States has evacuated nearly 1,000 US citizens from conflict-ridden Sudan, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. "In a multinational effort, the USG (US government), in concert with allies and partners, has facilitated the departure of nearly 1000 U.S. citizens from Sudan since the start of the violence," Miller said on Twitter on Sunday. He said that a second US-organized convoy arrived in Port Sudan on Sunday. "We are assisting U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, where additional personnel are ready to assist with consular & emergency services," Miller said. On Saturday, Miller said that a US convoy carrying US citizens and other foreigners had arrived in Port Sudan, with the State Department assisting people to depart the African country, with possible routes including onward travel to Saudi Arabia. Hundreds of US citizens have already left Sudan through these options provided by the US government, according to Miller. Last weekend, US special forces evacuated under 100 US diplomatic personnel and their families from the US Embassy in Khartoum in an operation that lasted under an hour, according to Pentagon officials. On April 15, violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese regular armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, with the epicenter located in Khartoum. The parties have introduced a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires since then, but the conflict has not been settled yet. Last week on Thursday, the sides agreed to extend the current ceasefire for another 72 hours. According to Sudan's Health Ministry, around 600 people have died in the clashes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 450 dead and more than 4,000 injured. COMRAT (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2023) EU Ambassador to Moldova Janis Mazeiks said on Sunday that he had visited several polling stations amid the governor election in Moldova's autonomous region of Gagauzia to observe the situation. "Big day in #Gagauzia - elections of #Bashkan, the Governor... After visiting several polling stations, met US Ambassador (Kent) Logsdon at the Central Electoral Commission in Comrat to find out together about the voting process and how media is informed," Mazeiks wrote on social media on Sunday. Mazeiks said that four teams of the EU delegates were working at polling stations in Gagauzia. On Sunday, eight candidates are running for the position of Bashkan of Gagauzia. The election will be declared as valid if at least 50% of voters cast their ballots. A total amount of 65 voting places are open at 26 towns and localities across the pro-Russian region of Moldova. If no candidate achieves more than half of the votes, a second ballot will take place in two weeks. Then, a 33% threshold will be set for voter turnout. Gagauzia, where most people speak Russian as well as the Turkish-linked Gagauz language, declared independence from the Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1990 but was integrated into Moldova in 1994. The Gagauz people are Orthodox Christians of Turkic origin. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2023) The board of the International Canoe Federation (ICF) has announced on Sunday that it will permit Russian and Belarusian athletes participate in its competitions under a neutral flag. "The International Canoe Federation board has made the decision to allow eligible Russian and Belarusian athletes who are not in support of their State's actions in Ukraine to compete as individual neutral athletes. .. The ICF Board will maintain the ban on all Russian and Belarusian canoe officials," the federation's statement read. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2023) Moscow has the right to sever diplomatic relations with Poland following the seizure of the building of the school at the Russian embassy in Warsaw, but it will primarily hurt Russian citizens living and working in this country, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday. The Polish authorities have been involved in provocations against Russia for years and Moscow has every right to cut ties with Warsaw in response, according to the diplomat. "(But) who is the first to suffer from such decisions? People, citizens, and I am now not talking about Poland's citizens, many of whom understand well what is happening now. I am talking about our citizens who live, work there and who have families," Zakharova told the Rossiya 1 broadcaster. Russia's diplomatic presence in Poland is also important as regards the memorial activity there since Russian diplomats have to look after the Soviet memorials especially amid increasing number of cases of vandalism in the country, the spokeswoman added. On Saturday, Warsaw mayor's office officials, accompanied by Polish police, arrived at the Russian embassy's school building and stormed the premises after breaking the door, with the Polish authorities telling the school's employees to vacate the building. The Russian Foreign Ministry pledged a "harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Polish interests in Russia" in response to "such an insolent move." (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th April, 2023) The US Department of Defense has approved the request of the State Department to support efforts to evacuate US citizens from Sudan by supporting air and land evacuation routes, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said. "The Secretary of Defense (Lloyd Austin) approved a request for assistance from the Department of State to support the safe departure of U.S. citizens and their immediate family members via overland. The Department of Defense deployed U.S. intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to support air and land evacuation routes, which Americans are using, and we are moving naval assets within the region to provide any necessary support along the coast," Singh said in a statement on Saturday. The US priority "has been and remains" to help as many US citizens leave Sudan as safely as possible, according to Singh. Earlier in the day, US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that a US convoy carrying US citizens and other foreigners had arrived at Port Sudan, with the State Department assisting people to depart the African country. "A U.S. government-organized convoy carrying U.S citizens, locally employed staff, and nationals from allied and partner countries arrived at Port Sudan on April 29. From there, we are assisting U.S. citizens and others who are eligible with onward travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia where additional U.S. personnel are positioned to assist with consular and emergency services," Miller stated. Hundreds of US citizens have already left Sudan through these options provided by the US government, according to Miller. The Washington Post reported on Saturday, citing US officials, that in the past days, a bus convoy carrying between 200 and 300 Americans traveled over 500 miles to Port Sudan, under the watch of US drones, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes. On April 15, violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese regular armed forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, with the epicenter located in Khartoum. The parties have introduced a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires since then, but the conflict has not been settled yet. On Thursday, the sides agreed to extend the current ceasefire for another 72 hours. According to Sudan's Health Ministry, around 600 people have died in the clashes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported over 450 dead and more than 4,000 injured. In the midst of a nationwide push by parents for more say over whats going on in their schools, Colorado school districts are going the opposite direction, doubling down on secret meetings and backdoor deals and stonewalling urgent requests for information from the very people they are supposed to serve. If it werent for the efforts of media outlets to force these districts to reveal some of the important discussions and decisions happening behind closed doors, students and parents would be even more in the dark than they are. The appetite for the truth is so strong right now that Denver Gazette education reporter Nico Brambila has tallied 105 Open Records requests that 22 Denver media outlets have filed for information from Denver Public Schools since March 22. These requests cover everything from public safety plans, weapons seized, incidents of violence and decision-making by board members. Despite the declared public policy of the state "that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, we're still waiting to hear back on most of our requests. Our requests include things Id sure want to know if my son or daughter were in a DPS school: The text of DPSs current school safety plan for teachers and administrators The districts policies for Student interrogations, Searches and Arrests The number of students under a safety plan and being patted down for possible gun possession each day at Denver schools The number of weapons detected on DPS campuses in the last five years broken down by type of weapon. 9News asked for photos of those weapons. The number of students expelled for weapons violations in the past five years. The number of students on probation and the reasons for that probation. Reasonable requests, right? Yet not only are school districts resisting the release of information that could make students and parents feel safer, they may be breaking the law in the way they are hiding information. After more than five hours in executive session meaning closed to the public to discuss security in the wake of the recent shooting at East High School, the Denver Public Schools Board of Education emerged with a memo reversing its policy on no cops in schools. Steve Zansberg, a First Amendment attorney in Denver and president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, said the decisions made during the session broke the law. It is a clear-cut violation of the open meetings law, Zansberg said. No big decisions like returning cops to schools can be made unless the meeting is public. Several media organizations, including the Denver Gazette, are in the process of suing the DPS board for the full recording of the DPS Boards executive session and for failing to notify the public of what would be discussed in that session. More than a thousand parents of children at East High School have formed an ad hoc committee to demand more transparency and responsiveness from DPS and its board as well. The DPS fight is just one a number of flashpoints around the state in which school districts are resisting urgent pleas for better transparency. In Douglas County, fired superintendent Cory Wise just won a settlement of $832,722 for wrongful termination after four elected officials met secretly to decide to fire Wise, rather than making the decision in an open public meeting as required by law. In deliberations during another lawsuit over secret meetings, Douglas County District Court Judge Jeffrey K. Holmes noted that the hiring and firing of a school districts superintendent is clearly a matter of public business. The STEM School in Highlands Ranch where Kendrick Castillo was killed while trying to disarm a student who opened fire in his classroom in 2019 is fighting to keep Kendricks parents from releasing confidential documents and depositions from the shooting. Kendricks parents have asked a judge to make those depositions public because they believe what they will reveal will shock the conscience of the public, and will force urgently needed school safety changes. In Woodland Park, a Teller County District Court judge recently ordered the Woodland Park school board to comply with the Colorado Open Meetings Law by clearly, honestly and forthrightly listing future agenda items regarding a charter schools application to the district. The injunction was the result of a lawsuit brought by a Woodland Park parent claiming the board hid consideration of the charter school under a Board Housekeeping item on its agenda. The board also recently issued a gag order for all teachers, forbidding them from talking to the press. Sometimes we journalists feel like our school boards think this is Russia and they can do whatever the hell they want. Why are these school districts so damn secretive? I suspect there is some intellectual vanity at work: We school administrators know better than you do about school business and how it should be conducted. But in the end public schools are just that public. Students and parents have a right to know what these public officials are doing, and that what they are doing is best for students, not for administrators and teachers. A public school, since it is paid for by taxpayers, must by law conduct its business in the open. The state Supreme Court succinctly stated the need for open-government laws in a ruling back in 1983: A free self-governing people needs full information concerning the activities of its government not only to shape its views of policy and to vote intelligently in elections, but also to compel the state, the agent of the people, to act responsibly and account for its actions. That is why it is so disheartening that Colorado school officials, with the backing of the courts, are rejecting demands for transparency and sunshine from parents who no longer feel their schools are safe for their children. Whats worse, what are our schools teaching our kids about telling the truth? Ever since missionaries started building churches out of mud 400 years ago in what was the isolated frontier of the Spanish empire, tiny mountain communities like Cordova relied on their own resources to keep the faith going. Thousands of miles from religious and lay seats of power, everything from priests to sculptors to paint pigments was hard to come by. Villagers instituted lay church caretakers called "mayordomos," and filled chapels with elaborate altarpieces made of local wood. Today, threatened by depopulation, dwindling congregations and fading traditions, some of their descendants are fighting to save these historic adobe structures from literally crumbling back to the earth they were built with. "Our ancestors put blood and sweat in this place for us to have Jesus present," said Angelo Sandoval on a spring day inside the 1830s church of St. Anthony, where he serves as mayordomo. "We're not just a church, we're not just a religion we have roots." These churches anchor a uniquely New Mexican way of life for their communities, many of which no longer have schools or stores, and struggle with chronic poverty and addiction. But it's becoming increasingly difficult to find the necessary resources to preserve the estimated 500 Catholic mission churches, especially since most are used for only a few services each year. "When the faithful generation is gone, are they going to be a museum or serve their purpose?" said the Rev. Rob Yaksich, pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Las Vegas, New Mexico, which oversees 23 rural churches. "This old, deep-rooted Spanish Catholicism is experiencing serious disruption." 'It's our job now' In the hamlet of Ledoux, Fidel Trujillo is mayordomo of the pink-stucco San Jose church, which he keeps spotless even though few Masses are celebrated here regularly. "Our 'antepasados' (ancestors) did a tremendous job in handing over the faith, and it's our job now," Trujillo said in the characteristic mix of Spanish and English that most speak in this region. "I much prefer coming to these 'capillas' (chapels). It's a compass that guides where your heart really belongs." Each mission church is devoted to a particular saint. When New Mexico's largest wildfire last spring charred forests less than 100 yards from San Jose church, and Trujillo was displaced for a month, he took the statue of St. Joseph with him. "Four hundred years ago, life was very difficult in this part of the world," explained Felix Lopez, a master "santero" an artist who sculpts, paints and conserves saint figures in New Mexico's unique devotional style. "People needed these 'santos.' They were a source of comfort and refuge." In intervening centuries, most were stolen, sold or damaged, according to Bernadette Lucero, director, curator and archivist for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. "Saints are the spiritual go-to, they can be highly powerful," said Victor Goler, a master santero who just completed conserving the altarpieces, or "reredos," in Las Trampas' mid-18th century church. On a recent Sunday at Truchas' 1760s Holy Rosary church, Lopez pointed out the rich decorative details that centuries of smoke and grime had hidden until he meticulously removed them with the absorbent inside of sourdough bread. "I'm a devout Catholic, and I do this as meditation, as a form of prayer," said Lopez, who's been a santero for five decades and whose family hails from this village perched on a ridge at 7,000 feet (2,100 meters). Faith that support will come For the Rev. Sebastian Lee, who as administrator of the popular Santuario de Chimayo complex a few miles away also oversees these mission churches, fostering local attachment is a daunting challenge as congregations shrink even faster since the COVID-19 pandemic. "I want missions to be where people can taste culture and religiosity. They're very healing, you're soaked with people's faith," Lee said. "I wonder how to help them, because sooner or later one mission is not going to have enough people." The archdiocese's Catholic Foundation provides small grants, and several organizations have been founded to help conservation efforts. Exposed to rain and snow, adobe needs a fresh replastering of dirt, sand and straw every couple of years lest it dissolve. That makes local buy-in and some kind of ongoing activity, even just funerals, fundamental to long-term preservation, said Jake Barrow, program director at Cornerstones, which has worked on more than 300 churches and other structures. But with fewer priests and fewer faithful, taking some rural missions off the church's roster might be inevitable, said the Rev. Andy Pavlak, who serves on the archdiocese's commission for the preservation of historic churches. Not everyone agrees. Running his hand over the smooth adobe walls he restored at the 1880s Santo Nino de Atocha chapel in Monte Aplanado, a hamlet nestled in a high mountain valley, Leo Paul Pacheco argued that the answer might hinge on the faith of future generations of lay people like him. "They still have access to the same dirt," Pacheco said as the adobe walls' sand particles and straw sparkled in the sun. "They will provide." Turkey's first astronaut will travel to the International Space Station by the end of the year, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday. Air force pilot Alper Gezeravci, 43, was selected to be the first Turkish citizen in space. His backup is Tuva Cihangir Atasever, 30, an aviation systems engineer at Turkish defense contractor Roketsan. Erdogan made the announcement at the Teknofest aviation and space fair in Istanbul, the president's first public appearance since falling ill during a TV interview on Tuesday. He appeared alongside Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, and Libya's interim prime minister, Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh. "Our friend, who will go on Turkey's first manned space mission, will stay on the International Space Station for 14 days," Erdogan said. "Our astronaut will perform 13 different experiments prepared by our country's esteemed universities and research institutions during this mission." Erdogan described Gezeravci as a "heroic Turkish pilot who has achieved significant success in our Air Force Command." The Turkish Space Agency website describes Gezeravci as a 21-year air force veteran and F-16 pilot who attended the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology. Wearing a red flight jacket, Erdogan appeared in robust health as he addressed crowds at the festival. Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 14, and opinion polls show Erdogan in potentially his toughest race since he came to power two decades ago. Turkey is dealing with a prolonged economic downturn, and the government received criticism after a February earthquake killed more than 50,000 in the country. Experts blamed the high death toll in part on shoddy construction and law enforcement of building codes. While campaigning for reelection, Erdogan has unveiled a number of prestigious projects, such as Turkey's first nuclear power plant and the delivery of natural gas from Black Sea reserves. The European Union is likely to reach a political agreement this year that will pave the way for the world's first major artificial intelligence (AI) law, the bloc's tech regulation chief, Margrethe Vestager, said on Sunday. This follows a preliminary deal reached on Thursday by members of the European Parliament to push through the draft of the EU's Artificial Intelligence Act to a vote on May 11. Parliament will then thrash out the bill's final details with EU member states and the European Commission before it becomes law. At a press conference after a Group of Seven digital ministers' meeting in Takasaki, Japan, Vestager said the EU AI Act was "pro-innovation" since it seeks to mitigate the risks of societal damage from emerging technologies. Regulators around the world have been trying to find a balance where governments could develop "guardrails" on emerging artificial intelligence technology without stifling innovation. "The reason why we have these guardrails for high-risk use cases is that cleaning up after a misuse by AI would be so much more expensive and damaging than the use case of AI in itself," Vestager said. While the EU AI Act is expected to be passed by this year, lawyers have said it will take a few years for it to be enforced. But Vestager said businesses could start considering the implication of the new legislation. "There was no reason to hesitate and to wait for the legislation to be passed to accelerate the necessary discussions to provide the changes in all the systems where AI will have an enormous influence," she told Reuters in an interview. While research on AI has been going on for years, the sudden popularity of generative AI applications such as OpenAI'S ChatGPT and Midjourney have led to a scramble by lawmakers to find ways to regulate any uncontrolled growth. An organization backed by Elon Musk and European lawmakers involved in drafting the EU AI Act are among those to have called for world leaders to collaborate to find ways to stop advanced AI from creating disruptions. Digital ministers of the G-7 advanced nations on Sunday also agreed to adopt "risk-based" regulation on AI, among the first steps that could lead to global agreements on how to regulate AI. "It is important that our democracy paved the way and put in place the rules to protect us from its abusive manipulation AI should be useful but it shouldnt be manipulating us," said German Transport Minister Volker Wissing. This year's G-7 meeting was also attended by representatives from Indonesia, India and Ukraine. The American Library Association says there were a record number of demands to censor U.S. library books last year, nearly double the challenges from the previous year. For VOA, Deana Mitchell takes us to a Texas town that is considering closing its library to block a court ruling ordering the return of banned books. The latest protest of the Israeli government's controversial judicial reform plans packed central Tel Aviv Saturday, as divisions persist before lawmakers return to parliament. Opponents of the legislation have kept up demonstrations in the commercial hub and across the country since January, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu putting the controversial reform program on ice a month ago. "History has its eyes on you," read a placard held aloft at the rally in Tel Aviv, where demonstrators lit flares and waved national flags in the latest show of political discontent. Israeli society has been deeply split over the ambitious legislation, which seeks to weaken the Supreme Court and hand politicians greater influence over the selection of judges. Netanyahu's right-wing administration argues the proposals are necessary to rebalance power between the judiciary and elected officials, while opponents say they represent a threat to democracy. The weekly rallies have repeatedly drawn tens of thousands onto the streets of Tel Aviv. Israel's Channel 12 estimated around 150,000 attended Saturday, while Channel 13 put the figure at around 200,000. Holding an Israeli flag, protester Iris Oren said the rally was a "fight for democracy." "This struggle gives us strength and it is clear to me that it also reaches the Knesset (parliament), and it is clear to them that they will not be able to pass unilateral decisions," she told AFP. Rival rallies Israelis gathered against the backdrop of cross-party talks hosted by President Isaac Herzog this month, which have sought to reach a compromise on the reform package. The negotiations were launched after Netanyahu announced a halt to the legislative process March 27 "out of a desire to prevent a rift in the nation," in the face of mass protests and a general strike. However, the opposition has remained skeptical of the premier's intentions and no compromise has been reached. With parliament due to hold an opening session Monday after a recess, both backers of the reform and its detractors have sought to keep up the pressure on politicians. The architect of the reform, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, addressed thousands of supporters who rallied in Jerusalem Thursday. The pro-reform protest was also attended by far-right Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who vowed the government would not "give up" on the package. The cabinet ministers are part of a coalition of right-wing, extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties which took office in late December. Eleven people died and four more were hospitalized after a gas leak Sunday in northern India's Punjab state, local media reported. The incident occurred at an industrial area in Ludhiana city, but the source of the gas leak is still unclear, police told the Press Trust of India news agency. India's National Disaster Response Force sealed off the densely populated area and evacuated residents. Authorities were trying to ascertain the type of gas in the leak, PTI quoted disaster response officials as saying. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik told the news agency it was possible that the gas may have spread from manholes. We are going to collect samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes, she said. The state's chief minister, Bhagwant Mann, said the leak came from a factory but didn't provide more details in a tweet. All possible help is being provided, he wrote. New Developments: Russia has initiated draconian initiatives to improve the discipline of its troops in Ukraine, according to the British defense ministry. A free press is a pillar, maybe the pillar of a free society, said U.S. President Joe Biden, as he called for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, from Russian captivity. A French artist dedicates a mural to an executed Ukrainian POW. Pope Francis says he will do anything to bring peace in Ukraine. Russian attacks across Ukraine have killed at least 477 children wounded nearly 1,000 since Russia invaded more than a year ago, Ukraines Prosecutor Generals Office said Sunday in a report posted on the messaging app Telegram. Most casualties were documented in the Donetsk and Kharkiv oblasts, where 452 and 275 children were either killed or wounded, respectively. The casualty rate among children is expected to be higher, the reports said, as the current count does not include data from Russian-occupied territories or where hostilities are ongoing. Last month, the National Police of Ukraine said nearly 400 children are missing. Additionally, more than 19,000 children from Russian-occupied territories have been subjected to forced deportations to Russia. So far, Ukraine has been able to retrieve only 364 of them, according to Children of War, a Ukrainian national database. On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the Russian official overseeing the forced deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia. Earlier this month at a Moscow news conference, Lvova-Belova rejected the ICCs war crime charges as false, saying her commission acted on humanitarian grounds to protect the interests of children in an area where military action was taking place, according to the Reuters news agency. The Kremlin has previously called the ICCs actions as outrageous and unacceptable." But many Ukrainian children who were returned to families and guardians tell a different story. Earlier this month, Vitaly, a child from the Kherson region, told Reuters: We were treated like animals. We were closed in a separate building. He said he and other children were told their parents no longer wanted them. Russian soldiers Russia is taking Draconian initiatives to improve discipline among its troops, the British defense ministry said Sunday in its daily intelligence update on Russias invasion of Ukraine. Russian commanders in recent months have likely started punishing breaches in discipline by placing troop members in Zindans, which are makeshift holes in the ground covered by metal grills, the ministry tweeted. The ministry said there have been multiple reports recently from Russians who said they were placed in Zindans for misdemeanors, including attempting to terminate their contracts and drunkenness. The harsh measures began in the fall but became even harsher when Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov was placed in control of the operation in January, the ministry added. Bakhmut claims Ukraine and Russia are trading claims on who controls most of the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut. Ukraine said Sunday its troops were holding onto vitally strategic parts of the city, while the head of a major pro-Moscow force said his men were making progress. "Fierce fighting continues in the city of Bakhmut. The enemy is unable to take control over the city, despite throwing all its forces into the battle and having some success," Ukraine Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said in a Telegram post. Separately, Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, told the ICTV channel it was still possible to supply the Bakhmut defenders with food, ammunition and medicine, and evacuate the wounded. Russia's defense ministry earlier said its forces had taken four blocks in western Bakhmut on Sunday. Reuters could not independently confirm the claim. The leader of the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said on Telegram that his men had advanced up to 230 meters (750 feet) in some directions in Bakhmut on Sunday. Pro-Kyiv units control less than 3 square kilometers (1.2 square miles), he said, a claim that could not be verified. Prigozhin, who has repeatedly launched complaints against the Russian military leadership, said that Moscow was not supplying his forces with enough ammunition. As a result, he revealed, Wagner had suffered unnecessarily high losses. Crimea attack Meanwhile, Russia blamed Ukraine for a drone strike early Saturday that set fire to a fuel storage facility in the Russian-occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol, Moscow-installed Governor Mikhail Razvozhaev said Saturday in a Telegram post, without providing evidence. The fire was extinguished hours later. Razvozhaev said the fire would not affect fuel supplies in Sevastopol and that no one had been injured. He said another drone was downed and its wreckage found on the shore near the fuel terminal. However, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov said more than 10 tanks with a capacity of about 40,000 metric tons were destroyed. The tanks, he said, contained oil products intended for use by Russia's Black Sea Fleet, RBC Ukraine reported. Yusov did not say Ukraine was responsible for the attack. Instead, he said it was "God's punishment" for the Russian strikes on Uman on Friday. "This punishment will be long-lasting. In the near future, it is better for all residents of temporarily occupied Crimea not to be near military facilities and facilities that provide for the aggressor's army," RBC quoted Yusov as saying. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. A man being contacted by Colorado Springs police about allegations of an home invasion, "made a handgun ready and threatened to shoot at officers," according to the department. The man, identified as 36-year-old Cordero Caples, is reported to have thrown the handgun on the ground, but did not comply with police orders and was hit with a stun gun. He was taken into custody. Caples is accused of forcing his way into an apartment in the 300 block of Garhart Drive shortly before 10:32 a.m. on Saturday and pointing a handgun at the occupants, demanding money. The person who called 911 met officers outside the apartment building, gave officers a description of the suspect. Officers say they observed Caples leaving the property and approached him. That was when Capless is reported to have ducked behind a vehicle and pulled out the handgun. Media partner KKTV reports that police also said a child and an adult were inside the building during the alleged home invasion. Both individuals were reported safe with no injuries. A second ethnic Uyghur man has died this year from among the 50 or so Thailand has been holding in detention center limbo since 2014, amplifying calls from rights groups for their release and resettlement. The World Uyghur Congress announced the death of Mattohti Mattursun, also known as Muhammad Tursun, on April 24. It says the 40-year-old was transferred from the Suan Phlu Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok to a local hospital on April 21 but died the same day. Another Uyghur man being held at the same center, 49-year-old Aziz Abdulla, died February 11. Both were among the roughly 50 Uyghurs left in Thailand from the hundreds caught entering the country in 2014 after fleeing China, which the United States and others have accused of genocide over its treatment of the mostly Muslim minority, a claim Beijing denies. Most have since been forced back to China or deported to Turkey, where Uyghurs claim kinship with the ethnic Turkic majority. Thai authorities have not confirmed Mattohtis death, and a spokesman for the national police, which runs the countrys immigration centers, ignored VOAs requests for comment. However, Chalida Tajaroensuk, who runs a local charity in contact with the detainees through the food donations it makes to the detention center, told VOA that other Uyghurs in the group verified Mattohtis death. She said a source of hers inside the police also verified his death. The Central Islam Council of Thailand also told VOA that it had received Mattohtis body from the authorities last week and buried it next to a Bangkok mosque. Rights groups say the deaths of two men in their 40s fewer than three months apart highlights the poor conditions the Uyghurs are being held in and the need for better care. Its very clear that they are bad conditions inside bad condition of food, bad condition of living, very crowded, and no health check, said Chalida. There are very simple and basic health rooms, clinic rooms downstairs ... no doctors, only nurse. In a statement, Human Rights Watch Asia Director Elain Persons said Thailands treatment of the detained Uyghurs was putting them at grave risk, adding that Mattohtis death should sound the alarm to end this abusive policy of incarcerating asylum seekers and refugees for prolonged periods. The death certificate the hospital issued for Aziz in February listed the cause of death as a lung infection. Polat Sayim, who runs the World Uyghur Congresss refugee program from Australia, said they have yet to see a death certificate for Mattohti but suspect liver failure as the cause based on his symptoms, which included stomach pain, a swollen tongue and yellowed eyes. Like Aziz, Polat said, Mattohti had been sick for weeks before authorities finally took him to the hospital and that he was losing his appetite and vomiting repeatedly. Polat said the cramped, smoke-filled holding cells, dirty tap water and meager meals were bound to make the detainees sick, and that many were suffering mentally as well. They [have been] staying in one small room a long time, he said. Just imagine if they lock you in one cell, you cannot contact with the outside, you dont know nothing, just staying in one room, just sitting and walking around a small place. What do you think? People sometimes - they are getting crazy, mentally ... getting sick. Polat said the World Uyghur Congress has been urging Thailand to let other willing countries take in the Uyghurs. Thailand deported 173 of the Uyghurs in 2015, following their arrival a year earlier. Most were women and children. A week later, though, it deported another 109, mostly men, to China, setting off a wave of condemnation at home and abroad. So many times we have asked the Thai government to release them, but Thai government answers us they dont have place to go because no third country wants to take them, said Polat. But we [are] talking with the third countries, some European countries, and they have some countries that want to take them. ... But still Thai government I dont know why they dont release them; maybe too much pressure from the Chinese Communist Party. Chalida said she has been told as much by Thai lawmakers whom she, too, has asked for help in getting the Uyghurs released. We also [have] negotiation many times in the Foreign Affairs Committee in the parliament; they are meeting with many authorities who are involved with the Uyghur issue and they say that because of China they cannot allow them to go to the third country but they guarantee that they will not send back to China. Thai authorities will not explain why they have held the Uyghurs in limbo for the past nine years, neither sending them back to China nor letting them resettle. In an interview with VOA last year, though, a national security adviser to the prime minister conceded that a solution had been stalled by the competing wishes of the Uyghurs to move on and of China to have them back. At the time, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thailand would continue to hold the Uyghurs until a practical and viable solution for the group can be found. Until then, Chalida said the authorities should at least make their stay more tolerable, first by providing them with better health care, and then letting them out of the Suan Phlu facility to move to host communities elsewhere in Thailand, which has a sizeable Muslim community in the far south. It should be step by step, she said. I want them to release [the Uyghurs], but if we ask right now its impossible, we ask something beyond the reality. The powerful sister of North Koreas leader says her country would stage more provocative displays of its military might in response to a new U.S.-South Korean agreement to intensify nuclear deterrence to counter the Norths nuclear threat, which she insists shows their extreme hostility toward Pyongyang. Kim Yo Jong also lobbed personal insults toward U.S. President Joe Biden, who after a summit Wednesday with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stated that any North Korean nuclear attack on the U.S. or its allies would result in the end of whatever regime took such action. Bidens meeting with Yoon in Washington came amid heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula as the pace of both the North Korean weapons demonstrations and the combined U.S.-South Korean military exercises have increased in a cycle of tit-for-tat. Since the start of 2022, North Korea has test-fired around 100 missiles, including multiple demonstrations of intercontinental ballistic missiles designed to reach the U.S. mainland and a slew of short-range launches the North described as simulated nuclear strikes on South Korea. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is widely expected to up the ante in the coming weeks or months as he continues to accelerate a campaign aimed at cementing the Norths status as a nuclear power and eventually negotiating U.S. economic and security concessions from a position of strength. During their summit, Biden and Yoon announced new nuclear deterrence efforts that call for periodically docking U.S. nuclear-armed submarines in South Korea for the first time in decades and bolstering training between the two countries. They also committed to 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. In her comments published on state media, Kim Yo Jong said the U.S.-South Korean agreement reflected the allies most hostile and aggressive will of action against the North and will push regional peace and security into more serious danger. Kim Yo Jong, who is one of her brothers top foreign policy officials, said the summit further strengthened the Norths conviction to enhance its nuclear arms capabilities. She said it would be especially important for the North to perfect the second mission of the nuclear war deterrent, in an apparent reference to the countrys escalatory nuclear doctrine that calls for preemptive nuclear strikes over a broad range of scenarios where it may perceive its leadership as under threat. She lashed out at Biden over his blunt warning that North Korean nuclear aggression would result in the end of its regime, calling him senile and too miscalculating and irresponsibly brave. However, she said the North wouldnt simply dismiss his words as a nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage. When we consider that this expression was personally used by the president of the U.S., our most hostile adversary, it is threatening rhetoric for which he should be prepared for far too great an after-storm, she said. She called Yoon a fool over his efforts to strengthen South Koreas defense in conjunction with its alliance with the United States and bolster the Souths own conventional missile capabilities, saying he was putting his absolute trust in the U.S. despite getting only nominal promises in return. South Koreas Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, described her comments as absurd and insisted that they convey the Norths nervousness and frustration over the allies efforts to strengthen nuclear deterrence. Kim Yo Jong did not specify the actions the North is planning to take in response to the outcome of the U.S.-South Korea summit. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the North will likely dial up military exercises involving its purported nuclear-capable missiles to demonstrate preemptive strike capabilities. The North may also stage tests of submarine-launched ballistic missile systems in response to the U.S. plans to send nuclear-armed submarines to the South, he said. Kim Jong Un said this month that the country has built its first military spy satellite, which will be launched at an unspecified date. The launch would almost certainly be seen by its rivals as a banned test of long-range missile technology. Facing growing North Korean threats, Yoon has been seeking stronger reassurances from the United States that it would swiftly and decisively use its nuclear weapons if the South comes under a North Korean nuclear attack. His government has also been expanding military training with the U.S., which included the allies biggest field exercises in years last month and separate drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier battle group and advanced warplanes, including nuclear-capable B-52 bombers and F-35 fighter jets. On his third and final day of his Hungary trip, Pope Francis celebrated Mass on Sunday in Budapest before tens of thousands of people in the historic Kossuth Lajos Square. Hungarian President Kataline Novak and Prime Minister Viktor Orban were among the attendees. Throughout his trip in Hungary, Francis has urged Hungarians to remember and take in refugees from Ukraine and also refugees from the Middle East and Africa who are arriving on Europes shores in record numbers. While Europeans have not always been charitable or receptive to the migrants from Africa and the Middle East, they have been more accepting of the Ukrainians who fled their homes after the Russian invasion. Orban has said that migration threatens to replace Europes Christian culture. At Mass on Sunday, Francis called on the clergy and lay people to become increasingly open doors ... be open and inclusive help Hungary to grow in fraternity, which is the path of peace. Pope Francis said Sunday the Vatican was willing to help facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war. He said, the Holy See had already helped mediate some prisoner exchanges and would do "all that is humanly possible" to reunite families. "All human gestures help. Gestures of cruelty don't help," Francis said during an airborne news conference en route home from Hungary. Francis also revealed a secret peace "mission" was underway. However, he gave no details when asked whether he spoke about peace initiatives during his talks in Budapest this weekend with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban or the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Hungary. "I'm available to do anything," Francis said. "There's a mission that's not public that's underway; when it's public I'll talk about it." The International Criminal Court last month issued an arrest warrant for Russia President Vladimir Putin and Russia's children's commissioner, accusing them of war crimes for abducting children from Ukraine. Russia has denied any wrongdoing, contending the children were moved for their safety. Last week Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with Francis at the Vatican and asked him to help return Ukrainian children taken following the Russian invasion. "I asked His Holiness to help us return home Ukrainians, Ukrainian children who are detained, arrested, and criminally deported to Russia," Shmyhal told the Foreign Press Association after the audience. Francis recalled that the Holy See had facilitated some prisoner exchanges, working through embassies, and was open to Ukraine's request to reunite Ukrainian children with their families. The prisoner exchanges "went well. I think it could go well also for this. It's important," he said of the family reunifications. "The Holy See is available to do it because it's the right thing," he added. "We have to do all that is humanly possible." Russia on Saturday promised it would respond harshly to what it said was Poland's illegal seizure of its embassy school in Warsaw, an act it called a flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. Polish state-run news channel TVP Info earlier reported that police showed up outside the Russian embassy school in Warsaw on Saturday morning. When asked about the incident, a Polish foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters the building housing the embassy school belonged to the Polish state. Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that the Polish authorities had entered the embassy school's grounds with the aim of seizing it. "We regard this latest hostile act by the Polish authorities as a blatant violation of the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and as an encroachment on Russian diplomatic property in Poland," the ministry said. "Such an insolent step by Warsaw, which goes beyond the framework of civilized inter-state relations, will not remain without a harsh reaction and consequences for the Polish authorities and Polish interests in Russia," it said. Russia's Investigative Committee said late on Saturday on the Telegram messaging app that it will give "a legal assessment" of the "seizure," but it did not provide any further details. Lukasz Jasina, a Polish foreign ministry spokesperson, told Reuters that it was Russia's right to protest but that Poland was acting within the law. "Our opinion, which has been confirmed by the courts, is that this property belongs to the Polish state and was taken by Russia illegally," he said. Sergei Andreyev, Moscow's ambassador to Poland, had earlier told Russian state news agencies that the building housing the embassy school was a diplomatic one which Polish authorities had no right to seize. The two countries' fraught relations have soured further over the war in Ukraine with Warsaw positioning itself as one of Kyiv's staunchest allies, playing a leading role in persuading allies to provide it with heavy weaponry. In March 2022, shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland said it was expelling 45 Russian diplomats suspected of working for Moscow's intelligence services. A court in Russia convicted a woman from a Siberian city over social media posts condemning the war in Ukraine and punished her Friday with a steep fine even though both she and the prosecution asked for a prison sentence. Marina Novikova, a 65-year-old lawyer, was found guilty of "spreading false information" about the Russian army, which was made a criminal offense after President Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine more than 14 months ago. Novikova's posts on the messaging app Telegram decried the invasion and criticized the Russian government. The court in Seversk, Novikova's hometown, imposed a fine of 1 million rubles (more than $12,400), the Russian human rights and legal aid group OVD-Info quoted her husband, Alexandr Gavrik, as saying. Prosecutors had requested a three-year prison sentence. Novikova herself pleaded with the court to send her to prison rather than the alternative: a fine of at least 700,000 rubles ($8,700) that the law allowed. She said she didn't have the money to pay a fine of that size. "I am prepared to pay the price for the right to remain a human ... because I understand that there will be no acquittal," Novikova was quoted by Russian media as saying in court. An average salary in Siberia's Tomsk province, where Seversk is located, is 56,000 rubles, or just under $700, according to official government statistics. OVD-Info, which monitors protests and tracks arrests, said the case against Novikova was among the first ones launched under the new law that prohibited spreading false information about the Russian military. But the number of such prosecutions has mushroomed as part of the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. The sweeping campaign of repression has been unparalleled since the Soviet era. It has effectively criminalized independent reporting on the conflict and any criticism of the war, with the authorities targeting not only prominent opposition figures who eventually received draconian prison terms, but people not known for anti-government activity. A court in Moscow convicted a former police officer Monday of publicly spreading false information about the country's military for criticizing the war in Ukraine to his friends over the phone. Semiel Vedel was sentenced to seven years in prison. Authorities argued his phone conversations qualified as "public" because his phone was wiretapped in connection to another criminal case, and there was a third person listening in. Last month, a Russian court convicted a single 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. A recent report by the Russian Supreme Court said that in 2022, courts ordered citizens to pay fines for discrediting the military 4,439 times, the equivalent of about $1.8 million, according to independent Russian news site Mediazona. Former Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok is calling on the international community to keep pressure on the warring sides in the Sudan conflict. Hamdok says the kind of engagement that enabled evacuations of foreigners could help bring a lasting truce. He spoke during the 2023 Mo Ibrahim Governance weekend in Kenya. Answering questions from Mo Ibrahim, the founder of the Ibrahim Foundation, Hamdok said a strong, unified approach by the international community would help end the military fighting in Sudan, which he terms senseless. According to the former prime minister, it is crucial to put clearly defined roles upon the military, which he said must stay away from politics. Hamdok was ousted in an October 2021 coup and he contends the current configuration is not to be trusted. This week, U.N. Sudan envoy Volker Perthes called on the rival military factions to fully adhere to the agreed upon cease-fire. He said Sudan military commander Gen. Abdel Fattah al Burhan and Rapid Support Forces leader Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo appear to be closer to negotiations" than they have been, though Burhan informed the media he "would not sit down at the same table as the leader of the 'rebellion. Both military factions have defended their stance. Sudan's military maintains the deployment of RSF troops in parts of the country are unlawful. In a statement Saturday, Dagalo said the RSF remains committed to a cease-fire and is working to open corridors for Sudanese residents and non-residents. Citizens complained on social media, though, that Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces had raided their homes and stolen money, gold and other possessions. VOA could not independently confirm the claims. More than 500 people have been killed and upwards of 4,000 have been wounded, according to the United Nations, in the conflict between Sudan's military and the country's paramilitary force that is entering its third week. Attempts to ban books in libraries and schools in the United States nearly doubled last year to 1,269 from the prior year, the highest number of attempts in 20 years, according to a recent report from the American Library Association. Books that have LGBTQ themes are the most likely targets, according to the report. The issue of which books are in a library and school has become a flashpoint in communities across the U.S. with conservative lawmakers and groups saying they are turning to banning books to protect children from pornography. Civil liberty organizations, writers and librarians say book banning attempts are censorship. In the midwestern state of Missouri, a new law that bans sexually explicit materials from schools has resulted in pulling books off the shelves. In the state of Florida, lawmakers recently passed three new laws related to controlling reading material. In the northwestern state of Idaho, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that would remove the exemption public libraries currently have to existing laws that ban disseminating material harmful to minors. One town in the state of Texas is considering going a step further closing the public library. 'A book's never hurt anybody' Llano is a rural town 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Austin, the state capital. There, officials are considering closing the library system after a federal judge overturned the local lawmakers' decision to remove books. "A book's never hurt anybody," according to J.R. Decker, who said his family has lived in Llano County for generations. "My government's telling me the only thing they can protect my child from is books. They should be worried about gun violence and school safety." Decker was among the people who protested at a recent meeting regarding the library closure issue. Among those who spoke was Suzette Baker, a former Llano County librarian who says she was fired for insubordination after she refused to remove books. "I would like to know how the 'History of the KKK' is pornographic? 'How to be an Anti-Racist,' how is that pornographic? It's not," she said at the hearing. "This is about taking away rights. This is not a communist nation. This is not a Nazi nation. You do not get to pick our reading material, it is ours." Book-ban supporter Rhonda Schneider spoke in support of banning certain books. "The library is a vital part of our community, but they said, 'It's a safe space for kids,'" said Schneider. "It is not a safe space for kids. These are all books that are currently on the shelf in the Llano Library." Schneider read off a paper printout a list of books, in which two people spoke graphically about sexuality. Llano resident Emmett McPherson did not get called upon to speak but said he also thinks the library is unsafe for children. "The only reason I am for closing the library is because we haven't gotten these books that are definitely pornographic moved to an adult section," said McPherson. "I am willing to close the whole library to keep them out of my children's hands." While some of the books cited at the meeting may be objectionable to some, they are not pornographic, said Texas Library Association Executive Director Shirley Robinson. "So first of all, there is a legal definition of pornography," said Robinson. "And there are never any materials in any library school, public or academic that would meet that legal definition of pornography." Texas book ban efforts There are nearly 40 bills in this Texas legislative session relating to libraries, some of which include criminal charges against librarians, Robinson said. Many book ban challenges in Texas began in 2021 after a lawmaker contacted libraries asking if they had any books among a list of nearly 850 titles, Robinson said. Many of the titles were LGBTQ-related or were written by or about people of color, she added. "Librarians are leaving the profession because there is this threat of potential criminal prosecution or just harassment within their communities," Robinson said. One librarian who quit is Lee Glover, who was an elementary school librarian in the Houston, Texas, area. Her school started shifting book approval decisions to parents, instead of librarians, after an increase in book challenges. "I already have a whole list of protocols I have to follow before I can put a book into the library," she said. "But now they want me to have parents come and review them before I order them?" It's the students who are the losers in the book banning battle, she said. "We are the lifeline for so many kids," said Glover. 'We are the ones who put books in kids' hands that can't see themselves reflected anywhere else." For now, the Llano County library system remains open. At its recent meeting, county commissioners voted to take the library closure "off the agenda," while they appeal the federal order to return the books back to circulation. That decision is expected in the fall. Relatives and friends cried next to coffins Sunday as they buried children and others killed in a Russian missile attack on this central Ukrainian city, while fighting claimed more lives elsewhere. Almost all of the 23 victims of the attack Friday died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in Uman. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said six children were among the dead. Mykhayl Shulha, 6, cried and hugged relatives next to the coffin of his 11-year-old sister Sofia Shulha during Sunday's funeral, while others paid respects to a 17-year-old boy. As mourners held candles, crossed themselves and sang, the priest at the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God "Quick to Hear" waved a vessel containing incense over the coffins. He said the deaths had hit the entire community hard. "I live nearby," said Father Fyodor Botsu. "I personally knew the children, the littlest, from when they were very young, and I personally baptized them in this church. I'm worried with everyone since I have children and I'm a citizen of this country and have been living in this city for 15 years." He said he prayed "that the war should end, and peace should come to our homes, city and country." At the damaged building in Uman, people brought flowers and photos of the victims. Russia's 14-month-long war brought more deaths elsewhere Sunday. The governor of a Russian region bordering Ukraine said four people were killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack. The rockets hit homes in the village of Suzemka, nine kilometers from the Ukrainian border, said Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. He said two other residents were injured and that defense systems had knocked down some of the incoming shells. Bryansk and the neighboring Belgorod region have experienced sporadic cross-border shelling throughout the war. In March, two people were reported killed in what officials said was an incursion by Ukrainian saboteurs in the Bryansk region. Also Sunday, Gov. Oleksandr Prokudin said his Kherson region in Ukraine came under Russian artillery fire 27 times in the past 24 hours, killing one civilian. An expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine could be concentrated in the Kherson region, a gateway to Crimea and other Russian-occupied territory in the southern Ukrainian mainland. Ukrainian forces drove Russian forces out of the regional capital Kherson last year, a significant defeat for Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy said the counteroffensive wouldn't wait for the delivery of all promised military equipment. "I would have really wanted to wait for everything that was promised," Zelenskyy told Finnish, Swedish, Danish, and Norwegian journalists. "But it happens that the terms (of weapons deliveries and counteroffensive), unfortunately, do not coincide a little bit. And, I will say frankly, we pay attention to the weather." Ukraine is particularly hopeful that it will receive Western fighter jets, but Zelenskyy said his forces wouldn't delay the counteroffensive for that, so as not to "reassure Russia that we still have a few months to train on the planes, and only then will we start." Zelenskyy said he spoke Sunday with French President Emmanuel Macron about the weapons supply and was pleased with its "speed and specificity." Macron's office said he reiterated France's commitment to provide Ukraine "all the aid necessary to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity," and discussed long-term European military aid. The head of the Wagner mercenary group that is leading Russia's battle in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut gave an even more precise timetable for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The Ukrainian military will launch the counteroffensive by May 15 because by then strong rains will have stopped and the soil will be dry enough for tanks and artillery to move, Wagner founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video interview with a Russian journalist posted Saturday. In other battlefield developments, Ukraine's northern command said the Sumy and Chernihiv regions, which border Bryansk and Belgorod, came under fire 11 times Sunday night. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, a 48-year-old resident of Nikopol was killed, and two were injured, in Russian shelling, according to Gov. Serhii Lysak. He said six multi-story buildings and six private houses were damaged, as well as several other buildings, gas pipelines, and a power line. A large high-powered Russian delegation of 36 legal and human rights experts has failed to persuade a United Nations watchdog committee that the government has complied with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Russia was one of six state parties to the convention whose record came under review by the 18-member Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, CERD, during its latest three-week session, which ended Friday. The committee, which monitors member states implementation of the convention, expressed deep concern about the grave human rights violations committed during the ongoing armed conflict by the Russian Federations military forces and private military companies against those protected under the convention, particularly ethnic Ukrainians. Committee member Mehrdad Payandeh said that since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the committee has received reports of severe human rights violations and abuses including instances and practices of excessive use of force, killings, extrajudicial and summary executions, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence attributable to the state party. The committee also has received information about the forcible transfer and deportation to the Russian Federation of inhabitants, particularly children from territories in Ukraine occupied under the effective control of the Russian Federation. We have addressed these concerns, said Payandeh. Again, the Russian Federation did not comment on those concerns or provide any more information. We raised our concerns in our concluding observations and recommended to the state party to investigate and to end these practices, so far as they are in violation of the convention, he said. The Ukrainian government in mid-April reported that more than 19,384 children have been deported to Russia and the fate of many thousands more remains unclear. The U.N. and human rights organizations say many children allegedly have been given for adoption to Russian families. On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian governments childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, for the war crimes of unlawful transfer and the deportation of children. Earlier in April, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe opened an investigation into the forcible transfer and deportation of children to the Russian Federation from parts of Ukraine under Russian control. The U.N. committee said it also has received disturbing reports of incitement to racial hatred and propagation of racist stereotypes against ethnic Ukrainians and of alleged forced mobilization and conscription into the army both within the Federation and on other territories under its effective control. Payandeh noted that these practices disproportionately affect members of ethnic minorities, including Indigenous peoples. CERDs review of Russias record, which began April 12, got off to a shaky start. The Russian delegation refused to discuss and respond to questions posed by the committee on issues related to the armed conflict and the convention rights of residents of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation. Russias Black Sea Fleet is based in Sevastopol. The Russians argued that it was inappropriate to discuss the issue of Crimea due to a case pending at the International Court of Justice. We laid our position that we did not find anything in the ongoing procedures in front of the International Court of Justice [that] would hinder us from assessing the situation, said Payandeh. The refusal of the Russian Federation to address these issues did not hinder us from addressing them in our concluding observations. But, he added, It made our work more difficult, and we would have liked to engage in a constructive dialogue. The purpose of this exercise with the Russian Federation is to raise our concerns, to hear their observations and then to come to our conclusions, he said. The committee accused the Russians of destroying and damaging Crimean Tatar cultural heritage, of imposing restrictions on Crimean Tatars political and civic rights, as well as harassing, threatening and instigating the assassinations of human rights defenders, activists, lawyers, and journalists. Committee members are calling on the Russian Federation to carry out impartial investigations into all reported cases of human rights abuse cited in its final observations. They are also seeking an end to the practice of forced mobilization and conscription of members of Crimean Tatars and Indigenous peoples in Crimea and in the ongoing armed conflict with Ukraine. Russia has not yet commented on CERDs report. The committee says it expects the Russian Federation to present a follow-up report within one year on questions raised regarding the armed conflict in Ukraine, on the rights of residents in Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as the situation of stateless persons, and undocumented and irregular migrants. A small group of protesters with the Colorado Springs Peoples Coalition (CSPC) gathered at the steps of City Hall in downtown Colorado Springs Saturday with a list of demands for the Colorado Springs Police Department regarding the death of Brandon Harris. On April 3, Harris died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an encounter with CSPD detectives at the Burlington store in the Citadel Mall. CSPC is asking the department to release an unedited version of the bodycam footage collected during the incident, along with numerous other demands, according to the groups interim chair, Brandon Rancon. Were calling for some police reform, mainly through community control. Were also calling for an independent investigation and for all involved officers to be fired. Another one of our demands is for police to release all body cam footage since what they released was chopped up with commentary, Rancon said. Were calling for some change today, and were going to keep it peaceful. Harris was identified by police as driving a stolen vehicle, with an active felony warrant out for his arrest. Detectives with CSPDs violent fugitive task force conducted surveillance of Harris along with four other suspects at the Citadel mall and attempted to make contact. All five suspects attempted to escape on foot, four of whom were apprehended without further incident. Officers pursued Harris as he fled on foot into the Burlington Coat Factory and identified themselves as law enforcement, asking Harris to drop his weapon. Harris fired one round in the officers direction before Detective Brandon Felice fired back, the footage shows. All fired rounds were located, and neither party struck the other, police said. Officers provided Harris with emergency medical services before paramedics arrived. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. 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. CSPD released an edited version of bodycam footage. The video, released to the public on April 20, included footage from multiple officers' body cameras, and also commentary from the incident. Rancon, along with other members of the group, say they have been collecting witness testimonies from the April 3 incident. He said the group is concerned that eye-witness claims do not match the narrative CSPD has released to the public. The witnesses are saying vastly different things than what police are portraying as reality, Rancon said. Recently passed state legislation might help address the group's concerns regarding the April 3 incident. House Bill 21-1250 works to address law enforcement accountability by requiring law enforcement agencies to provide officers who interact with the public body-worn cameras, and requires departments to release unedited body cam footage, per request. "For all incidents in which there is a complaint of peace officer misconduct by another peace officer, a civilian, or nonprofit organization, through notice to the law enforcement agency involved in the alleged misconduct, the local law enforcement agency or the Colorado state patrol shall release, UPON REQUEST, all unedited video and audio recordings of the incident, including those from body-worn cameras, dash cameras, or otherwise collected through investigation, to the public within twenty-one days," the bill reads. The new law is scheduled to go into effect July 1. However, the Colorado Springs police have proactively adopted department policies about body-camera procedures and transparency ahead of the July 1 state deadline. It was unclear at press time whether Colorado Springs police would honor the group's request for the unedited footage. Regardless, Rancon said the group's efforts will persist, and they plan to keep showing up. "It has to be done. Things are in constant motions of change, this isn't the end-state and there's always something better to be coming out of this," Rancon said. "I believe that change is possible, and I have to do my part to help facilitate that." United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has renewed a call for Afghanistans Taliban to remove curbs on women's rights to work and education as he prepares to convene a meeting of envoys from several countries Monday to discuss the situation in the strife-torn nation. The two-day closed-door gathering in Qatar's capital, Doha, will discuss a "common way forward" on how to engage with the Taliban in the aftermath of their latest edicts banning Afghan women from working with the U.N. and other aid organizations. "Reversing all measures that restrict women's rights to work is key to reaching the millions of people in Afghanistan that require humanitarian assistance," Guterres tweeted late Saturday. "Afghans urgently need emergency aid. Women are essential to ensure it's delivered," he said. He reiterated female humanitarians bring life-saving services to Afghan women and girls. U.N. officials say the restriction on female aid workers has dealt a blow to humanitarian operations in the country where millions of Afghans are just a step away from famine-like conditions. Special representatives from various countries and international organizations will attend the Doha meeting, but Guterres "has not extended an invitation to the de facto [Taliban] authorities," his spokesperson told reporters Friday. "The purpose of the meeting is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan and to reach a sort of unity or commonality of the message, such as human rights, particularly on the issue of women and girls, inclusive governance, countering terrorism, drug trafficking," Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the secretary-general, said. Dujarric declined to share the list of participants. He did not disclose the venue of the huddle in the Qatari capital. The Taliban regained power in August 2021 as the United States and NATO troops departed Afghanistan after almost two decades of involvement in the war. Hibatullah Akhundzada, the reclusive chief of the fundamentalist Taliban, has since barred girls from attending schools beyond the sixth grade and most women from working across the impoverished nation. Akhundzada has rejected international calls for ending curbs on women and girls, saying he will not allow any foreign interference in his Islamic governance. On Thursday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously condemned the restrictions on women and called for their urgent reversal. The Taliban foreign ministry rejected the call and described the ban on women working with the U.N. as an "internal social matter of Afghanistan." Controversy The Doha meeting has been marred by controversy over whether it will also discuss the recognition of the Taliban government. The controversy stemmed from U.N. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed's remarks at a seminar in April at Princeton University, where she suggested recognition would also be on the agenda. "We hope that we will find those baby steps to put us back on the pathway to recognition of the Taliban," Mohammed said. Her comments have since forced the U.N. to repeatedly clarify that "recognition is not an issue on the table." Washington has dismissed as "unacceptable" any talks on the subject at Monday's meeting. "What I would say is that any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," said U.S. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel. On Saturday, about two dozen Afghan women staged a protest in Kabul, demanding the U.N. not formally recognize the Taliban government at Monday's meeting. They said doing so would amount to violating women's rights. Protesters chanted they would fight and die for taking back their rights, accusing Guterres of "lobbying for Taliban recognition." Dujarric dismissed suggestions Friday that the U.N. intends to leave Afghanistan due to restrictions on its female staff. "There is a review going on, on how we do our work. But we're trying to walk a fine line, which will need to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid," he said. The U.S. Homeland Security chief Sunday pledged to use existing U.S. immigration laws to process thousands of migrants expected to try to cross its southwestern border with Mexico starting May 12. That is when President Joe Bidens administration ends its use of a law linked to the coronavirus pandemic to quickly expel undocumented arrivals for health reasons. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told NBCs Meet the Press show that when families arrive at the border, they will be placed in immigration enforcement proceedings, removal proceedings. If they make a claim for relief, we will adjudicate that claim for relief swiftly. He said the outcome of the cases of the migrants seeking to remain in the United States could be resolved in days or weeks. It is not going to [require] months and months, and would be heard by immigration officials ahead of the backlog of 2 million existing immigration cases waiting to be settled in the U.S. Mayorkas said if an unaccompanied child arrives at the border, We follow the law and the law provides that we take custody of that child and we have 72 hours within which to transfer that child, that unaccompanied child, to the Department of Health and Human Services. Then it is for the Department of Health and Human Services to identify a relative or a sponsor in the United States, to whom they can transfer care of that child. Mayorkas said. We have, the law provides, for humanitarian relief for these children and we enforce that law. More than 2.4 million migrants have arrived at the U.S. border in the last year, many from Central American countries, but also from Caribbean nations, Africa, Ukraine and elsewhere. Many have been turned away, while others have escaped into the U.S. interior or assigned immigration court dates months and years into the future and released into the U.S. Mayorkas laid out the scope of the problem facing the U.S. as migrants, many escaping poverty and political persecution in their homelands, attempt to flee to the worlds wealthiest country and a better life. This is a really tough challenge and has been, as we all recognize, for years and years, Mayorkas said. We are seeing a level of migration not just at our southern border, but throughout the hemisphere, that is unprecedented. It is, I think, the greatest migration in our hemisphere since World War II, he added. When the coronavirus pandemic was deemed a widespread threat, U.S. law gave U.S. border officials the authority to quickly expel those crossing the Mexican-U.S. border to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. But those denied entry at the border often tried again and again to get into the United States, with no legal consequence. Biden officials tried to end use of the coronavirus provision to keep out migrants to utilize the countrys normal migration laws, which calls for violators to be barred for five years from readmission to the U.S. But attorneys general in Republican-controlled states won court rulings that continued the health care-related migration decision until May 11. As a result, a new influx of migrants is expected starting May 12, even as existing migrant shelters in border towns and elsewhere in such large U.S. cities as New York and Chicago are overcrowded. Our approach is to build lawful pathways, cut out the ruthless smugglers, deliver lawful pathways so people can access humanitarian relief without having to take the dangerous journey from their home countries, Mayorkas said. And at the same time, if they arrive at our southern border in between ports of entry, we will deliver consequences. But he readily acknowledged a broken immigration system in the U.S., with Congress failing for decades to reform its migration laws. I just want to be clear that we are working within significant constraints, he said. We need people, we need technology, we need facilities, we need transportation resources, all of the elements of addressing the needs of a large population of people arriving irregularly at our southern border. Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. US Immigration Officials Announce Border Plans as End of Title 42 Nears The Biden administration on Thursday announced efforts to manage the flow of migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border as the end of a pandemic-era policy known as Title 42 nears. In a briefing with reporters, administration officials said they are opening immigration processing centers in Latin America to provide migrants easier access to legal pathways to the U.S., including the refugee admissions resettlement program, and prescreening for other programs such as parole, family reunification, or existing labor pathways. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. US Braces for More Migrant Crossings as Border Restrictions Set to End The Biden 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 potential holding centers, speed up deportations and increase processing of refugees abroad. Reuters has the story. Encounters, Apprehensions, Expedited Removal: Border Enforcement Explained U.S. immigration officials reported more than 2 million migrant encounters along U.S. borders nationwide in fiscal 2022. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection often referred to as the CBP releases border enforcement data monthly to explain what is happening. It includes apprehensions, encounters, and removals, among other actions. But what do those terms mean? Immigration reporter Aline Barros explains. US Sends First Deportation Flight to Cuba Since 2020 The United States on Monday sent its first deportation flight to Cuba since 2020, months after Cuba agreed for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic to accept flights carrying Cubans caught in the U.S.-Mexico border. Story reported by Reuters. Mexico Migrant Camp Tents Torched Across Border From Texas About two dozen makeshift tents were set ablaze and destroyed at a migrant camp across the border from Texas last week, witnesses said, a sign of the extreme risk that comes with being stuck in Mexico as the Biden administration increasingly relies on that country to host people fleeing poverty and violence. The Associated Press reports. VOA's New Documentary Series, 52 Documentary: Here to Help Ian Netupsky is an American volunteer in Ukraine. He went there as soon as the war started and left only once since then for a short time to set up a nonprofit back in the U.S. He has been helping refugees, transporting supplies, food, medicine, etc. to the eastern Ukrainian territories under siege. His main reasons for volunteering are his kids he wants to make sure they can continue living in a world with freedom and democracy. Ian is accompanied by his dog, Bear, who makes people around him smile and feel better. The film follows Ian on his missions to Kyiv and Kharkiv. Immigration around the world Dozens of Bodies Float Ashore in Libya After Migrant Boats Sink At least 57 bodies have washed ashore after two migrant boats sank in the Mediterranean off towns in western Libya, a coast guard officer and an aid worker said on Tuesday. Reuters reports. UN Refugee Agency: Mass Exodus From Sudan Could Trigger Regional Instability The United Nations refugee agency is appealing to states next to conflict-ridden Sudan to keep their borders open to people seeking safety and protection. Since fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces erupted April 15, tens of thousands of Sudanese have abandoned their homes in fear for their lives. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva. Report Recommends Major Immigration Reform in Australia A government-commissioned report Thursday called for a thorough overhaul of Australias immigration system. According to the Migration Review, the system is outdated and does not meet the countrys current or future skills needs, and therefore requires a long term and holistic approach to find a solution. The report makes sweeping recommendations that will be considered by Australia's left-leaning Labor government. Story by Phil Mercer. Lithuania Legalizes Migrant Pushbacks Lithuania's parliament passed legislation Tuesday to make it legal to deny entry to asylum-seekers, the EU member's latest move to fight illegal immigration from Belarus, to the dismay of rights activists. Story by AFP. Migrants Walking Through Mexico Threaten Road Blockades Around 3,000 migrants walking through southern Mexico in a mass protest procession threatened Monday to block roads or harm themselves unless the government agrees to talks or provides them with buses. The Associated Press reports. News Brief The U.S. Department of Homeland Security so far in fiscal year 2023 increased removals and returns to 225,483, up from 170,896 over the same period in fiscal year 2022. The numbers are in addition to Title 42 expulsions on the U.S.-Mexico border, which reached 1,079,507 in that same timeframe. Voters in Uzbekistan, the most populous former Soviet Central Asian republic, cast ballots Sunday in a referendum on a revised constitution that promises human rights reforms but that also would allow the country's president to stay in office until 2040. Approval appears certain. Backers have conducted an array of promotional events featuring local celebrities, and elections in Uzbekistan are widely regarded as noncompetitive. The proposed changes include lengthening the presidential term from five to seven years, while retaining the existing two-term limit. But although President Shavkat Mirziyoyev is in his second term, the change in term length would allow him to run twice more after his current tenure ends in 2026. Other changes include abolishing capital punishment and boosting legal protections for citizens, including those accused of crimes. Under Mirziyoyev's predecessor, Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan was one of the region's most repressive countries. Mirziyoyev, who took over after Karimov died in 2016, touts the constitutional changes as showing that Uzbekistan will make freedoms and human rights paramount. The referendum originally was planned for last year, but was put off in the wake of deadly unrest in the Karakalpakstan region when it was announced that the changes would include rescinding Karakalpakstan's right to vote on whether to secede. Although the likelihood of secession is very small, that proposal angered residents of the poor and environmentally beleaguered republic that makes up a third of Uzbekistan's territory but holds only about 5% of the country's 36 million people. Mass unrest broke out in the Karakalpak capital Nukus; at least 18 people died in clashes with police. The new package being voted on Sunday retains the Karakalpakstan secession right. A widely anticipated spring counteroffensive in Ukraine will push on even without Western fighter jets in the skies. This, from Ukraines president, who said waiting to train on advanced aircraft could signal a timeline to Russian forces on the ground. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke as more deadly attacks hit Ukraine. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more. The Daily Show correspondent takes the stage at the 2023 WHCD. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images If Comedy Central wasnt convinced comedian Roy Wood Jr. was ready to be named permanent host of The Daily Show after his excellent turn as guest host in early April, theres no denying it now. On April 29, the current Daily Show correspondent headlined the annual White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington D.C., and in signature fashion, he showed off the comedic gravitas and nuanced perspective hed bring to the show if called up from the bullpen. Wood kicked off his address by thanking President Biden (Dark Brandon, as hed rebranded himself moments earlier) before joking that hed left some of his classified documents on the podium. It was a fitting way to kick off an address centered around a theme Wood claimed unites us all: scandal. Wood returned to that theme again and again, delivering jokes about Tucker Carlson and Don Lemons recent firing from Fox News and CNN, respectively; Justice Clarence Thomass bribery; Donald Trumps early April arrest, and more. The comedian then trained his sights on the primary attendees of the event journalists and discussed the part they play in perpetuating this cycle. The industry that covers all of these scandals isnt immune to them itself, he said. The issue with good media is that most people cant afford that. All the essential fair and nuanced reporting is all stuck behind a paywall. People cant afford rent, people cant afford food not healthy food they cant afford an education. They damn sure cant afford to pay for the truth. Say what you want about a conspiracy theory, but at least its affordable. Near the end of the address, Wood highlighted the importance of protecting journalism by examining the effect it had on his own parents lives. His father was a civil-rights journalist and his mother participated in civil-rights protests in the 1960s, and their work taught Wood about the impact and cost of good journalism. It was a compelling ending to a speech that, until that point, had been dense with laughs. Here is a list of some of the best lines from Woods address: Im not finna have Dominion on my ass! I love Dominion. As a matter of fact, let me just say it right now: My favorite voting machine is Dominion voting machines. When I go to the polls, I make sure it is a Dominion machine that I use. If your election needs the truth, put Dominion in your booth! I aint finna get sued! Theres three people you dont want to see in a courtroom. Thats Dominion, Cardi B, or Gwyneth Paltrow. An overlooked purpose of tonights dinner is to award scholarships to students who have shown great achievements in journalism. These brave young souls are the future of the industry, and Id like to stop right now and congratulate tonights top scholarship recipient, Arizona State senior George Santos. George couldnt be here tonight hes auditioning for RuPauls Drag Race. Speaking of drag queens, can we stop with the grooming stuff? Can we stop talking about that? Drag queens are not at a school to groom your kids. Stop it. And even if they were, most of them kids are going to get shot at school. It aint no problem. [Audience groans.] Dont groan, pass legislation! Dont think boos are going to bother me. Im like Mitch McConnell: I aint got no soul. Paramount Global is considering offers from Byron Allen and Tyler Perry to purchase BET. Thats how bad it is out there. These companies are so broke, theyre giving BET back to Black people which, by the way, is not what we meant when we said Black people wanted reparations. We meant cash. You can give it to us in those Harriet Tubman twenties. The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job To Tuckers staff, I know what youre feeling. I work at The Daily Show. I, too, have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. Speaking of assholes, Don Lemon is out of a job. Don Lemon released a statement saying he got fired from CNN, then CNN released a statement saying that they offered Don a meeting. They had to part ways, cause Don Lemon cant even accurately report a story about Don Lemon. I still think that Don Lemon deserved more, CNN. That aint how you fire somebody. Its messed up. How funny is it that you work in the news then watch on the news that you got fired from the news? Don Lemon is now the most obnoxious guy in the history of CNN. Thats not fair! Even Jeffrey Toobin is looking at Don Lemon like, Oooh, he rub me the wrong way. I ultimately understand why CNN did what they did. I get it. Its about morals. There should be no place on air for someone who speaks with wild disregard and doesnt consider the blowback to their coworkers or their company. Thankfully, CNN has taken steps in the right direction. They got rid of Don Lemon, and they have now given a show to Charles Barkley. Can we just all be honest and just say that the Trump arrest didnt hit like we thought it was going to hit? Were so desensitized to scandals now The Trump arrest was like a pot brownie you ate four hours ago and youre like, Hmm, do I feel justice? This doesnt feel like justice. Let me try one of them Georgia arraignment brownies. Maybe thatll hit. The Trump arrest made everybody question what they believe. You thought you leaned one way politically, then Trump got locked up and everybody started waffling. It put Republicans between a rock and a hard place For years, all yall have been saying: We gotta get tough on crime! Trump got arrested: We meant Black crime! Same thing with the liberals, too. Liberals were all confused after Trump got arrested: We gotta abolish prison! Trump got arrested: Bring back Rikers! As soon as the Trump document story broke, everybody was down at Mar-a-Lago: Reporting live from the documents! Were gonna find them! Then we found out Joe Biden had documents too: Uh, its not a big deal! Its not a big deal. Its not a big deal. Everybody got documents. Everybody got documents. Mike Pence has some documents. Ooh look, a Chinese spy balloon! Would you look at that? The only thing Ron DeSantis has done that I got to give him credit for: This boy has people riled up about things they cant understand. They dont know what critical race theory is! Got these people riled up about something they cant even define, like crypto or NFTs. Ask any Republican thats anti-CRT any Republican to try to explain CRT. They sound like a Democrat trying to explain the charges against Trump: Its bad! Theyre everywhere! Weve gotta stop it. Weve gotta stop it! We got the files! We got files! Well be right back. Im Rachel Maddow, I have files! A billionaire named Harlan Crow was flying Clarence Thomas all over the world on unreported trips like an Instagram model, taking Clarence to the Maldives, and the beaches, and all that. He paid for Clarence Thomass mommas house! Do you understand how rich you have to be to buy a Supreme Court justice? A Black one, on top of that! Theres only two in stock, and Harlan Crow owns half the inventory. We can all see Clarence Thomas, but he belongs to billionaire Harlan Crow and thats what an NFT is. We should be inspired by the events in France. They rioted when the retirement age went up two years to 64. They rioted because they didnt want to work until 64! Meanwhile in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work. Begging! Begging! Let me finish the job! Thats not a campaign slogan, thats a plea! I think the most insulting scandal to fall to the feet of the Biden administration was placed at the feet of our Madam Vice President the scandal of What does Kamala do? Thats a disrespectful question, because nobody ever asked that question of a vice president until a woman got the job. Nobody asked. I dont what Mike Pence did! The only thing I know about Mike Pence is that hes really good at playing hide and seek at the Capitol. President Joe Biden and Roy Wood Jr. at the 2023 WHCD. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Five years ago, after comedian Michelle Wolf accused Sarah Huckabee Sanders of burning facts and using the ash to create a perfect smoky eye while hosting the White House Correspondents Dinner, a lot of hand-wringing ensued about whether the event, put on by the White House Correspondents Association starting in 1921, should continue. Did Michelle Wolf Kill the White House Correspondents Dinner? the New York Times asked two days later in what sounded like an accusation of fancy-gala homicide. The answer, of course, was and remains no. Nothing can kill the White House Correspondents Dinner. Not Wolfs insistence on calling lying officials liars in front of an esteemed audience at the Washington Hilton. Not Donald Trumps refusal to attend the event during his entire presidency. Not the cancellation of the WHCD for two years in a row because of COVID. Not even the fact that last years dinner, the first one in-person since the pandemic, really did turn into the nations most distinguished superspreader event as host Trevor Noah promised. The White House Correspondents Dinner cant die. Its a cockroach in a gown from Rent the Runway elbowing people out of the way to get a selfie with Billy Eichner even though its never even seen Difficult People. It is Tithonus, the Greek god of immortality, wearing a bowtie and trying to finagle his way into a post-WHCD party at the home of the French ambassador. It is Michael Myers in most of the Halloween movies if Michael Myers were a psychopath sitting at the Fox News table, or to put it another way, anyone willing to sit at the Fox News table. You cant destroy this meeting of the media and political elite that primarily only certain people from D.C, L.A., and New York care about. As the performances by President Joe Biden and this years Correspondents Dinner host Roy Wood, Jr. argued last night, we shouldnt want to destroy it either. In keeping with tradition, both the president and invited comedian made speeches that concluded an evening reserved, in theory, for honoring the work of journalists and young people who aspire to join the field. While both men certainly threw some comedic darts dipped in cyanide at several expected targets Tucker Carlson, Trump, Chinese spy balloons they also devoted good chunks of their remarks to the significance of being able to hold a public event where jokes can be made about powerful people while powerful people sit there and take it. Were here to send a message to the country, and quite frankly to the world, that the free press is a pillar, maybe the pillar, to a free society, not the enemy, Biden said at the beginning of his speech, referring to himself, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff, all of whom were in attendance. Biden being Biden, he hit all the hallmarks of a classic Biden speech: He referred to empty chairs at kitchen tables, used the word folks at least once, and closed by emphasizing how we can all restore the soul of this nation. But he also connected the dots between maintaining a functioning democracy and hosting events like this one, where people (theoretically) feel empowered to throw some punches at the ruling class. You make it possible for ordinary citizens to question authority and, yes, even to laugh at authority without fear of intimidation, he told the roomful of newsmakers and creators. Thats what makes this nation strong. Biden got in a few blows at the expense of others as well as himself. I believe in the First Amendment, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it, he quipped in a self-own about his age. They say Im over the hill. Don Lemon would say Im a man in his prime, he said in another age-related comment directed at the CNN anchor who was fired earlier this week, in part because of sexist comments in which he suggested that women are in their prime in their 20s, 30s and maybe I feel compelled to emphasize this maybe in their 40s. (Wood was more blunt about Lemon. Speaking of assholes, he casually noted, Don Lemon is out of a job.) We want everyone to have fun tonight, but please be safe, Biden cautioned the WHCD attendees. If you find yourself disoriented or confused, either youre drunk or Marjorie Taylor Greene. Bidens comedic timing may not have been quite as sharp as that guy he used to work with, President Barack Obama, but thats historically true of most people who speak at the dinner, including some of the comedians. (Wow, Jay Leno just popped into my head for reasons that are surely a coincidence.) But Biden did well, especially once he let the jokes fly. From my perch in front of C-Span, he seemingly was received in the room with a decent amount of warmth and laughs. As is often the case when it comes to the comedian, Woods barbs were greeted with more sobriety, perhaps because the guests political figures and heads that often talk on CNN and MSNBC didnt want to be perceived as over-schadenfreude-ing. But the discomfort only made Woods jokes seem more necessary. Don Lemon cant even accurately report a story about Don Lemon, The Daily Show correspondent joked, referring to the discrepancies between Lemons account of his axing and CNNs. Cut to the crowd, where MSNBC Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake could be seen visibly holding back a laugh. This is America, we dont pass laws, Wood told a ballroom full of people who are in charge of passing laws. You make a promise to voters, and then you dont do it. The highlight of Woods set were the jokes he made about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who recently made headlines for accepting extravagant gifts from Harlan Crow the real name, we swear to God, of a prominent Republican donor. Do you understand how rich you have to be to buy a Supreme Court justice? A Black one, on top of that. Theres only two in stock, and Harlan Crow owns half the inventory, Wood said. We can all see Clarence Thomas, but he belongs to billionaire Harlan Crow and thats what an NFT is, he added in a perfectly structured callback to earlier in his address. People in the room laughed at punch line, as they should have. That joke is so well-crafted it belongs in both the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. If Wood made some members of the media squirm, he won them over at the end of his speech by returning to the same theme Biden emphasized: the importance of maintaining a free press in a landscape where journalists are getting laid off right, left, and center. You never hear about the multimillionaire executives reducing their salaries, he noted in a comment about all the reporters who have recently lost their jobs. That probably would have gotten a standing ovation if everyone in the room hadnt been so concerned about offending any potential multimillionaire executives who had just finished their desserts. Wood, who once worked in radio news himself, also made a point of honoring his late father, Roy Wood Sr., a pioneering journalist, and his mother, Joyce Dugan Wood, a civil-rights activist and college administrator who attended the dinner. And he made sure to emphasize the importance of supporting local journalism: Most national stories in this country were, at some point, local stories. Overall, this was a less flippant White House Correspondents Dinner than the ones we got during the Obama years, perhaps because theres an understanding that the stakes of censorship are too high, and although maybe Im being too optimistic, so are the stakes of becoming overly apologetic toward those whose thin skins may be slightly irritated by the comedy. Everyone who considered it outrageous that Huckabee Sanders could be insulted in such a high-profile setting needs to be reminded that shes now the governor of Arkansas, where so far shes banned the use of the word Latinx, rolled back child labor laws, and recently endorsed koozies lauding the election of real women, a blatant attempt to debase the trans community while trolling Bud Light. Everyone concerned that this woman or democracy itself might have been imperiled by assertions that her eye shadow is composed of deceit particles which it might be, has there been an investigation? needs to be reminded that its okay to lob some honest, revelatory jokes at our leaders, especially when those people engage in behavior that screams to be ridiculed. The White House Correspondents Dinner may be a flawed attempt to do that. (One example of its flaws: The terrible sketch featuring the Property Brothers renovating the White House press room.) But its a regularly scheduled attempt, and both President Biden and Wood were convincing and funny enough to make it seem like something more meaningful than a prom for D.C.s nerds. A media coalition that includes The Denver Gazette and Colorado Politics filed a lawsuit against Denver Public Schools, alleging the school district violated Colorados open meetings laws when the board held a March executive session to discuss the return of school resource officers. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Denver District Court, includes the Denver Post, Chalkbeat Colorado, KDVR Fox31, KUSA 9News, Colorado Newsline and the Nexstar Media Group Inc. The lawsuit names as defendant Stacy Wheeler in her official official capacity as the districts records custodian. The media coalition is seeking access to the recording and meeting minutes from a five-hour long closed-door meeting the DPS board held on March 23. The media outlets sought the records from DPS, which denied them. DPSs action, the lawsuit alleged, violated Colorados open meeting laws. DPS failed to announce to the public, as required by law, the particular topic it would be discussing, the lawsuit said. At the meeting, the board discussed security in the wake of the March 22 shooting at East High School that left two deans wounded. Board members emerged from that executive session with a memo reversing its policy that kicked out school resource officers from DPS schools. 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. Under settled and binding law, the meeting was not an executive session, but rather an unlawfully closed public meeting, the lawsuit said. The audio recording and/or minutes of that meeting are a public record and should be immediately released to Plaintiffs. The lawsuit added: No public discussion, whatsoever, preceded the Boards historic about-face concerning its policy of preventing armed School Resource Officers inside the Districts high schools. None. It is clear and irrefutable that the Board had already decided, behind closed doors, to adopt the position or resolution in the Memorandum that they then unanimously voted to approve in public without discussion a mere rubber stamping of their earlier decision. In denying the records request from the Denver Gazette, Wheeler said DPS has the records but they are not subject to disclosure under the Colorado Open Meetings or the Colorado Open Records Act. A DPS spokesperson told FOX31, which is part of the coalition, that the district doesnt comment on ongoing litigation. Attorneys Steven Zansberg and Rachael Johnson of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press are representing the media outlets. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the April 30 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories . Thinking about creating an Instagram account for your pet cat, dog, gerbil or other? Since the likes of online sensations Grumpy Cat and Doug the Pug showed pet owners it was entirely possible to earn a five- or in some cases six-figure income from taking photos of your four-legged friends daily antics, the pet influencer space has been growing steadily. Sarah Ezzat of Power Pets, an agency which manages up to 40 of Australias most in-demand animals, says pet brands in particular are leaning towards furred and feathered influencers to market their products on social media, rather than human influencers who happen to have pets. Content is key; an engaged audience is what makes a pet influencer successful, Ezzat explains. It is important for accounts to connect with their followers through interactive stories and captions, as well as creating a community within the pet-owner space. Brands like to know their campaigns are reaching the right target market for their products, so audience demographics, engagement rate and past campaign analytics are key factors. For many owners of petfluencers today, however, landing a book deal or a high-profile collaboration isnt about making money. Instead, its about having fun or using their platform to highlight causes close to their heart. Here, three owners of pet influencers share their stories. The greatest highlights have been the friends and connections weve made Melissa Pietrobuono (and partner Rian Crandon) started an Instagram account for their cat, Nathan, in 2017. The account, @nathan_thebeachcat, has 593,000 followers, with the couple donating a portion of proceeds to animal welfare charities. Nathan drying off in the sun after having a swim. Advertisement I didnt know anything about petfluencers when we adopted Nathan from the RSPCA in 2017; we certainly didnt have plans to put her in the public eye. It was only after a colleague watched a video of Nathan swimming at the beach that she suggested I create an Instagram account for her. I thought it sounded like a bit of fun, but soon after I began posting videos of Nathan swimming, [animal-focused website] The Dodo did a story on us and Nathans followers jumped from 3000 to 100,000 within a fortnight. Thats when everything changed. Brands soon began contacting us for partnerships and sponsored posts an overwhelming situation when youre new to the industry. Representation through Power Pets followed and it managed all the collaborations and deals. Over the years weve worked with the Purina and Your Majesty cat food brands, among others. For those who can devote time to their pets online adventures, theres money to be made and I know some who have been able to leave their jobs to concentrate solely on this. Figures vary, but its not unusual for brands to pay petfluencers between $700 and $2500 for a reel and a couple of stories. Theres a misconception this can be easy money. But to do it well you need to spend a lot of time getting the right content, editing content and engaging with followers. You also need to put the health and happiness of your pet first. Loading At the start, Rian and I were posting every day and spending an hour or two getting everything just right, but we never filmed Nathan or Winnie [a second cat who joined the family in 2018] for longer than five minutes or pushed them into anything they didnt want to do. And its never been about the money for us; were RSPCA ambassadors and use the platform to raise money for animal welfare charities, particularly smaller ones. Advertisement Rian and I lead hectic lives [Melissa is a student and part-time nurse, Rian is a doctor], so it can be challenging to find enough time to give the feed and website [nathanthebeachcat.com.au] the time we would like. I dont think we could walk away, though; the cats have the loveliest followers who care deeply about them and weve made great friends through the experience. Theres good money to be made but for me its about sharing my love for my pet Setting up an Instagram account for her miniature pony, Apollo, was a bit of fun for wildlife educator Adele Bender. The account, @apollominihorse, has 1400 followers and Apollo is one of the countrys first equine influencers. Apollo is captured being his authentic self chewing grass, eating fruit and walking around. Credit:@apollominihorse/Instagram Apollo came into my life in 2018 after I decided I wanted a miniature pony and found Apollo on Gumtree. It wasnt completely random: Id grown up riding horses and at the time I was a zookeeper at Australia Zoo. Our property was too small for the horse Id been dreaming about but I knew a miniature pony would be perfect. I started an Instagram account for Apollo right away. There was no great motivation behind it. I knew he was cute and had a fun personality hell often open up the sliding door and walk straight into our house plus theres something unusual about taking your miniature pony for a walk. I posted fun videos of Apollo chewing my husbands beard, walking down the street and wearing scrunchies in his hair. People loved the videos as much as I did, and before long Power Pets contacted me about representation. Advertisement I posted fun videos of Apollo chewing my husbands beard, walking down the street and wearing scrunchies in his hair. Brands then started reaching out for collaborations and soon Apollo began creating content for Shark vacuum cleaners and Aussie Grazers. Once, for a Toyota promotion, Apollo walked up a ramp onto the back of a ute and I posted a photo, mentioning that the ute has a lot of horsepower! I noticed, too, that when I purchased products and posted about them, the companies would then send me their products. If you devote yourself to this industry, theres good money to be made. But with my wildlife education business being the core of my focus, its never been about that for me. We tend to get sent a lot of products, though toys, hay bales, enrichment items, discount codes and combined they do make a difference to your bottom line. Loading Obviously there are many advantages to having a pet become an influencer, but the biggest challenge for owners is the constant pressure to keep creating content and posting. I dont post anywhere near as much as I should. But I also make sure that when I do, Im capturing Apollo being his authentic self chewing grass, eating fruit and walking around. Followers dont really like to see animals being staged or being forced to do tricks. Thats my advice: keep your content natural and dont take this too seriously. It is all just a bit of fun and an opportunity to show off your much-adored pet. Advertisement Pikelets social media presence is the reason my animal rescue organisation exists Calley Gibson, founder and director of Life of Pikelet, created an Instagram account for her dog as a way to advocate for rescue animals. The account, @lifeofpikelet, has 152,000 followers. Pikelets owner says, There is some negativity about pets on Instagram but provided you use the platform... for the right reasons, it can enable you to do a world of good. Credit:@lifeofpikelet/Instagram I was knee-deep in animal welfare volunteer work and fostering puppies when Pikelet scampered into my world in 2013. I received a call to take on a dog with rickets who was due to be euthanised. I was only meant to foster him until we found his forever home, but I fell in love with his personality and decided to keep him. People had only just started creating social media accounts for pets when Pikelet joined my family and I noticed none of them featured rescue dogs. With my commercial photography and advertising background, I was taking all these amazing shots, so I thought, Why not start an account advocating for rescue dogs to show people they can be just as great as pedigrees? Loading The feed grew quickly as followers delighted in Pikelets adventures, as well as the journeys of rescue animals we took in for short periods until they could be adopted; I had so many animal welfare groups approaching me that I ended up fostering 34. Advertisement With King Charles coronation about to dominate the air waves, what do Australians make of the Artist Formerly Known as Prince? My friends, still fuming from Jenny Hockings revelations in the so-called Palace letters, which detail the extent of royal involvement in Gough Whitlams sacking, definitely feel its time Australia came in from the reign. But what of young Australians? Our nation is one of the most multicultural on Earth a human minestrone so its hard to imagine that a castle-encrusted monarch 17,000 kilometres away will have any resonance. Talk to most Aussie kids about the King and they think youre referring to Baz Luhrmanns Elvis. Kathy Lette and King Charles have crossed paths many times over the years. Here they are catching up at the British Museum in 2015 in London. Credit: GETTY IMAGES But there is one aspect of Charles philosophy that will chime with both Boomers and Zoomers his passion for the environment. Now, normally you have to perform open-heart surgery to know whats going on inside an upper-class Englishman. But Charles has always been forthright about his environmental concerns. His campaigning took courage, too, in the face of much mockery and criticism. I hope his new role as King allows him to keep advocating for our planet. After the Queens death, the outpouring of sympathy from the public clearly touched and, at times, overwhelmed him. There has been much speculation about the new King reconfiguring his image, finally showing the real Charles. But to his many friends hes always been kind and compassionate, and its the public who have misread him for all these years. On a drizzling afternoon in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Premier Chris Minns, King Cross identity John Ibrahim and a convicted drug smuggler Simon Main were among the guests at the hotly anticipated wedding of radio broadcaster Kyle Sandilands. The nuptials between Sandilands, 51, and his former assistant Tegan Kynaston, 35, were held at Swifts mansion in Darling Point and livestreamed on Instagram by the radio hosts Kiis FM. It was thus that the fans learned the ceremony would be delayed by 10 minutes because Sandilands radio co-host, Jackie O Henderson had been held up in traffic. (She arrived with her daughter Kitty in complementary floral gowns.) Anthony Albanese with Kyle Sandilands at the Sandilands wedding in Darling Point. Credit: Twitter Albanese, who was snapped by Sandilands manager with the bridegroom in a picture shared on Twitter, was forced to deny in the morning that he would be DJing at the wedding, and both politicians arrived covertly, though the army of waiting photographers snapped Minns leaving soon after the vows. Two protesters were held in police custody on Friday night after being arrested at Perth Convention Centre earlier in the day attempting to disrupt a Woodside AGM. Media producer and former school teacher Gerard Mazza and graphic designer Tahlia Stolarski were charged with aggravated burglary with intent after they entered the meeting with a bottle of stench gas and smoke flares, intending to set them off in the crowd. Gerard Mazza was arrested and charged with armed burglary after taking gas bombs to a Woodside AGM. Credit: Facebook The pair are part of the Disrupt Burrup Hub campaign, which has been demanding that Woodside ceases gas exploits on the Burrup Peninsula. Yesterday, we aimed to shut down business as usual for Woodside using non-toxic, non-flammable stench gas and harmless smoke flares to sound the alarm about the climate and cultural emergency Woodside are enabling at the Burrup Hub, a Disrupt Burrup spokesperson said. Thousands of people in the Lower Arkansas Valley whove struggled to deal with contaminated water for more than 20 years will have access to clean water by 2024 under a new agreement signed by the federal government and two Colorado water agencies last week. The Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC), as the clean water delivery project is known, will bring water from Pueblo Reservoir through the city of Pueblo and out to communities on the Eastern Plains, such as Avondale and Boone, by 2024, and other communities, such as La Junta, as soon as 2027. Water officials said the entire pipeline should be completed by 2035 if not sooner. The project will ultimately serve 50,000 people, officials said. Under the agreements, signed by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Pueblo Water Board, and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District March 18, some $40 million in federal and local funding will be available to launch construction, with subsequent funding for the $600 million project anticipated to come from Congress and local water agencies. In addition, the agreement allows Reclamation and Southeastern to pipe the water through the city of Pueblos water system, rather than building a separate system to move the water out to the Eastern Plains. Officials said this new agreement will shave costs and several years off the project. This contract signing marks one of the most significant milestones to date towards making the AVC a reality and bringing clean water to communities that desperately need it. It advances the project over 14 miles east from Pueblo Reservoir which puts us much closer to our first participants in Avondale and Boone, said Brent Esplin, regional director of the Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf regions for Reclamation, in a statement. Naturally occurring selenium and lead, as well as radionuclides, have dogged the regions water systems since the 1960s. Many of the communities face enforcement actions from the state health department because they dont have the financial resources to treat the water for drinking and then to treat it again for discharge into the wastewater systems that discharge to the Lower Arkansas River and its tributaries, according to Chris Woodka, senior policy manager with the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. Southeastern operates the federal Fryingpan-Arkansas Projects Pueblo Reservoir. This project will relieve some of the pressures that they face. They will get better quality drinking water and they will see improvements to their discharged water, Woodka said. The idea is to deliver clean water from Pueblo Reservoir directly to the communities via the 34-mile pipeline, reducing and sometimes eliminating the contaminants that the water now picks up when it travels through streams and irrigation ditches. 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 conduit has been on planning boards for more than 50 years, but it wasnt until a new federal law was approved in 2009 stipulating that the federal government would pick up 65% of the costs that the plan began to advance, Woodka said. Since then the region has wrestled with getting federal cash to start work and persuading local water agencies and the communities who need the water to cooperate on design issues and costs, Woodka said. People are convinced it will get built, Woodka said. Now the questions are about affordability. And for small towns, those are big questions. Tom Seaba is La Juntas director of utilities. His city has comparatively clean water, with no radionuclides and a selenium issue that it is treating via reverse osmosis. It could be the silver bullet that everyone would like to take care of the contaminants that are in the water. The flip side is the cost, Seaba said. La Junta charges customer $2.50 per 1,000 gallons for water now, which includes treatment costs. The new water will cost $2.19 per 1,000 gallons, untreated, and La Junta will still have to find a way to recoup the cost to disinfect and treat the water. Now that were getting down to brass tacks, we need to see if the underlying reality will do for us what everyone hopes it will. If we can connect and that takes care of the problems we have, sign us up. But if it doesnt, we will have to do something else, Seaba said. The Yes campaign to enshrine an Indigenous Voice within Australias constitution is ahead in every state and territory, the most comprehensive poll conducted on the proposal has revealed, placing it on course to deliver the first referendum to pass in four decades. The first dedicated state-by-state poll on the Voice to parliament has recorded the Yes vote on 51 per cent across the nation, while 34 per cent said they would vote No and 15 per cent were undecided. It would also reach the critical benchmark of support in a majority of states, while the Yes side was ahead in Queensland and Western Australia but fell short of 50 per cent support. Leading campaigner for the referendum Megan Davis says the results show Australians are ready to accept the Voice. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen The YouGov poll of 15,060 Australians was commissioned by the group behind the Uluru Statement from the Heart and is the largest poll conducted on the upcoming referendum. London: Australians watching the coronation and millions of other Commonwealth citizens will be asked to cry out and swear allegiance to the King next week, with the public given an active role in the ancient ceremony for the first time in history. King Charles IIIs coronation service the first for a British monarch in 70 years has been modernised to include the first-ever Homage of the People and will also include faith leaders from Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist communities to better represent the make-up of modern Commonwealth countries. In a significant break with tradition, the two-hour ceremony on May 6 will feature a series of new additions that reflect the Kings deep belief in promoting unity between different faiths and communities. For the first time, it will include all four languages spoken in the four home nations. A prayer will be delivered in Welsh and a hymn, Veni Creator, will be sung in English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish Gaelic. DUBAI (Reuters) - The United States is an unreliable friend, and Iraq should not allow any U.S. troops on its territory, Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told visiting Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid on Saturday. Iran, which has strong ties with Iraq, opposes the U.S. military presence on its borders in Iraq and the Gulf, saying Western military intervention is the root of insecurity in the region. "Americans are not friends of Iraq. Americans are not friends with anyone and are not even loyal to their European friends," state media quoted Khamenei as saying. U.S. national security agencies are investigating after a leak of classified documents has suggested the United States spied on allies including Ukraine. "Even the presence of one American in Iraq is too much," Khamenei told Rashid, who was in Tehran with a delegation to boost ties between the two neighbours. The United States has some 2,500 troops in Iraq to help advise and assist local troops in combating Islamic State, which in 2014 seized territory in the country. "Iraq's main effort is to deepen relations with Iran and resolve certain remaining issues between the two countries," Rashid was quoted as saying, without referring to Iraq's ties with the United States. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; editing by Barbara Lewis) A cancer diagnosis can be devastating for not only those receiving the news, but their loved ones. The Canadian Cancer Societys Daffodil Campaign is helping to change those lives. The Canadian Cancer Society has been helping people post-diagnosis through funding and donations from the daffodil campaign to spread hope through improving the quality of life for people dealing with the fallout from the disease. MaryAnn Bradley, 67, a St. Catharines resident was diagnosed in 2014 with lung cancer and was one of the lucky ones to survive the devastating disease. She has since become an ambassador for the Canadian Cancer Societys Daffodil Campaign and the good that it does in communities across Canada. I got the dreaded diagnosis that I had lung cancer, I was taken aback, of course, knowing it wasnt a great survival rate, she said. I was one of the lucky ones, I was able to have my right upper lobe (of her lung) removed where the cancer was, and I am now what they call no evidence of disease to this day. Bradley feels if it was not for the Canadian Cancer Society and all their help, she would not be here today telling her story. The daffodil campaign is fundamental in changing my life because I see whats happening with the money being used for the research that they provide to the different cancers, she said. I see how that money is working to help Canadians and giving Canadians a better opportunity with high-risk cancers. Bradley credits the quick work of doctors who listened to her concerns and diagnosed her in a timely manner allowing her to survive early-stage lung cancer. Im very thankful to our medical community here in Niagara, because I was diagnosed here and for the doctors in Hamilton that did the surgery and provided me with the knowledge that I needed from them, she said. The Canadian Cancer Societys Daffodil Campaign has been around for 65 years and uses the daffodil as a symbol of strength, resilience, and hope, as the flower is the first to bloom in the spring. Just like the flower, the campaign is a symbol of hope, strength, and resilience for those diagnosed with cancer across the country, said Ashley Thorpe, program manager for the daffodil campaign with the Canadian Cancer Society. Through the daffodil campaign the Canadian Cancer Society focuses its mission on three pillars: funding ground-breaking research, providing a support system and advocacy, she said. Thorpe added these pillars help keep patients connected to services throughout the treatment and recovery and help with policies that can change knowledge and treatment around the disease. Nearly half the population will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime, whether that is lung, prostate, breast or another of the many forms of cancer, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. Thorpe said last year the daffodil campaign raised $8.3 million Canada-wide this year they are hoping to surpass that number to help people with recovery, education, and treatment. Were looking pretty good right now, the daffodil campaign wraps up on the 30th, so were hoping to achieve a target of more than $8.3 million, she said. With the daffodil campaign coming to an end, Thorpe stressed there is still time for people to donate and double their donations through a matching campaign by an anonymous donor. Called Daffodil Giving Days, it is a match campaign through an anonymous donor, who agreed to match all donations this week (April 24-30), meaning every dollar goes even further in terms of supporting research, and advocacy and support programs for the Canadian Cancer Society, she said. SHARE: Welland is short 17 doctors, says Niagara Region Public Healths Jill Croteau. The physician recruitment and retention specialist said based on a doctor having 1,380 patients, the city should have at least 40 physicians. There are now 23 taking care of some 29,069 residents out of a population of 55,750, she said during an update for councillors on recruitment measures Tuesday night. With the physicians we have in Niagara, only 67 per cent of the population is enrolled. She said there are 255 family physicians in the region, with 232 enrolling patients under the Ministry of Health and Long Term Cares billing model, which outlines policy and procedures as they relate to health-care providers and various ministry-insured services. Those doctors cover 322,000 people in the region, which had a population of more than 477,000 as of 2021. For a population of 477,000, we should have 346 family doctors based on an average practice size of 1,380. Were short 91 doctors. Croteau said 19 physicians came to Niagara in 2022, but 19 left family practices and there are few accepting new patients. Over half of the physicians who left their practice in 2022 closed their doors without a successor. We lose between six and seven per cent of our physician workforce each year due to retirement or relocation. Council heard 16 per cent of the 255 physicians working in Niagara are 65 or older, as well. Looking into 2023, Croteau said outreach will be expanded to U.S., U.K., Ireland and across Canada as the supply of doctors in the province isnt enough. She recently spent time in Ireland talking with medical students there about Niagara. Croteau said municipalities are encouraged to work with the physician recruitment program to develop recruitment and retention policies and clinic capacity in their respective communities through economic development. Ward 6 Coun. Jamie Lee asked what the city needed to do to attract more physicians to Welland to fill the gap and how long that would take. The city would need to offer recruitment packages similar to other municipalities in the province, said Croteau. Other areas are offering $150,000 or more. As for how long it would take to attract 20 new physicians to the city, Croteau said that was difficult to answer because there are multiple components in the process. Ward 5 Coun. Claudette Richard said three generations of her family just lost their doctor to retirement. Its a scary feeling not having a family doctor. When a new doctor opens up, there are lineups out the door, she said. Croteau said Welland has success in retaining physicians that train with the McMaster Family Health Team on Prince Charles Drive North. The team with which she works is affiliated with McMaster Universitys Michael DeGroote School of Medicine, a designated teaching facility that welcomes medical students, nursing students and resident physicians, among others. The city helps finance the program. Ward 5 Graham Speck said while there is no guarantee physicians will stay in Welland, the hope is they will. After Croteaus presentation, economic development manager Lina DeChellis said city staff will come back with recommendations on how the city can move forward in attracting doctors. SHARE: Viking Expeditions 202-metre-long Viking Octantis polar class cruise ship quietly slipped into Port Colborne Saturday morning as it kicked off the 2023 passenger ship season on the Great Lakes. Unlike Fridays passage of the 116-year-old passenger vessel, SS Keewatin, there were no crowds along the Welland Canal in the lakeside city to greet the cruise ship bound for Milwaukee, Wisc. The 378-passenger ship Viking Octantis, built last year, stopped at Wharf 16 on the east wall of the canal at the Snider Dock, from which passengers disembarked to board buses for tours to Niagara Falls. The Octantiss arrival marked the first of 80 stops by six cruise lines in Port Colborne from May to October. Thats 14 more stops than last years 66. Cruise lines making the way between ports across the Great Lakes this year include American Queen Voyages, with its vessels Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager; Pearl Seas Cruises Pearl Mist; PLANTOURS Cruises Hamburg (the former C. Columbus); Vantage Travels Ocean Explorer; PONANT Cruises Le Dumont-DUrville and Le Bellot; and Viking Expeditions Viking Octantis and its sister ship, also built last year, Viking Polaris. A cruise ship schedule, with date, arrival or departure time changes possible, is listed on the City of Port Colbornes website at www.portcolborne.ca/en/shared-content/cruise-ship-schedule.aspx. Theres a full schedule on Niagaras South Coast website at niagarasouthcoast.com/cruiseships. Read more about: SHARE: ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) The long-governing Colorado Party remained the dominant force of Paraguayan politics as the vote count from Sundays election gave an overwhelming lead to its presidential candidate, Santiago Pena, with nearly all votes counted. With almost 99% of voting places reporting, Pena had 43% of the vote, compared to 27% for the closest challenger, Efrain Alegre, the candidate of the Pact for a New Paraguay, a broad-based opposition coalition that had hoped to end Colorados reign. Voters also gave support to Colorado in congressional elections, with the conservative party winning majorities of 45 seats in the Senate and 80n seats in the lower house. The opposition had sought to capitalize on widespread discontent over high levels of corruption and deficiencies in the health and education systems that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Paraguay has a relatively stable economy, but with high levels of poverty. Outgoing President Mario Abdo Benitez called Pena president-elect in a congratulatory message on social media before a winner was officially declared. He also congratulated the Paraguayan people for their large participation in this election day. Pena celebrated a showing that would make him Paraguays president on Aug. 15 while waiting for an official declaration of final results. Today were not celebrating a personal triumph, were celebrating the victory of a people who with their vote chose the path of social peace, dialogue, fraternity, and national reconciliation, Pena told a crowd of supporters Sunday night. Long live Paraguay! Long live the Colorado Party! Alegre acknowledged defeat shortly thereafter. Today, the results indicate that perhaps the effort we have made was not enough, Alegre told reporters, adding that divisions among the opposition prevented us from reaching the goal of being able to bring about the change that the majority of Paraguayans are asking of us. Before the vote, analysts had said the race looked to be tight and predicted Alegre could have a chance of unseating South Americas longest-governing party, which has essentially ruled Paraguay uninterrupted since 1947. An unexpected result, very unexpected. I think even the Colorado Party members are shocked by such a wide margin, political consultant Sebastian Acha said. It gives him enormous legitimacy due to the size of the difference and that makes Penas victory indisputable. Yet the preliminary returns seemed to indicate voters in preferred to stay with the familiar, a break for a region in which the incumbents have not done well in recent elections. Paraguay doesnt have a runoff, so whoever of the 13 candidates received the most votes would be the next president. The results also appeared to mark a victory for former President Horacio Cartes, who governed in 2013-2018, who the U.S. State Department recently accused of being involved in significant corruption as well as having ties to terrorism. He has denied the allegations. Cartes, a local magnate who is also the president of the Colorado Party, is a powerful figure in Paraguayan politics and members of the opposition had characterized Pena as a frontman for Cartes to hold power. Cartes stood next to Pena as he gave his celebratory speech Sunday night. I want to be a tool for you, Cartes told Pena during the celebrations. I want you to be sure that the Colorado Party is going to be your best tool. Pena was finance minister in the Cartes government and, until recently, a member of the board of Banco Basa, a local bank owned by the former president. The election in this country of almost 7 million people also had geopolitical implications as Paraguay is the only remaining country in South America to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and those ties became an issue in the campaign. Alegre had called for the landlocked countrys relationship with Taiwan to be reviewed, saying they are too costly. Pena defended Paraguays relationship with Taipei, but said he would seek more trade with China, without explaining how that would come about. We have a diplomatic and historic relationship with Taiwan of more than 60 years, based on principles and democratic values that we believe are fundamental for a society like Paraguay, Pena said. The Taiwanese Embassy posted a message on social media congratulating president-elect Pena. Congratulations to the Paraguayan people, who showed the world the democratic power of citizens through their votes, the embassy said. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also didnt wait for the winner to be officially declared to congratulate Pena. Good luck in your mandate, the Brazilian wrote on social media. We will work together for even better and stronger relations between our countries, and for a South America with more unity, development and prosperity. Alegre, a lawyer who heads the Liberal party, the second-largest political force in Congress, was making his third bid for the presidency, though this time he represented a mix of political parties. Penas presidential campaign was hampered by U.S. sanctions on Cartes for alleged bribery and ties to Hezbollah, which Washington designates as a terrorist group. The sanctions blocked Cartes from the U.S. financial system and cut off funding and loans for the partys campaign. Cartes was the financing chief of the Colorado Party. The cash box was left empty, said Diego Abete Brun, a political science professor who heads the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies program at George Washington University. He had expected a close contest. Pena called the accusations against Cartes groundless, while Alegre sought to turn the claims against the Colorado Party. Our adversary is not the Colorado Party but the dirty money of organized crime, Alegre told reporters. There appeared to be a big turnout Sunday with long lines at polling stations. Some people complained of delays and difficulties with the electronic voting system. SHARE: DIXON, Ill. (AP) Gertie Wadsworth was in the arms of her grandmother that bright day when sunshine dissolved distasteful memories of a long, brutal winter. Christan Goble held the 3 1/2-year-old girl in a crowd of more than 200 on the bridge over the Rock River. After a procession down Galena Avenue from the Baptist Church on May 4, 1873, the Rev. J.H. Pratt began baptizing parishioners in the brisk, rapid current. Then, with a sharp crack and a crescendo of shrieking spectators loaded on the pedestrian walkway in front of towering trusses, the 4-year-old bridge twisted, splintered and rolled over. Forty-six people perished, many immured by the unrelenting gridiron just below the waters surface. Along with 56 injuries, the Truesdell bridge tragedy, 150 years ago Thursday, remains the worst vehicular-bridge disaster in American history. Its not as though the bridge just collapsed and went straight down, says Tom Wadsworth, 70, a retired magazine editor and expert on the calamity. It turns over on top of these people. ... As the (Chicago) Tribune said, the truss fell over with the weight and imprisoned the doomed in an iron cage with which they sunk and from which there was no escape. Wadsworth wouldnt be telling the story had Gertie Wadsworth, his great-grandmother, not survived. Family lore holds that as Goble, 51, plunged to her death, she tossed the toddler into the river beyond the reach of the failing superstructure. The tot was rescued downstream. Post-Civil War Dixon, 103 miles (166 kilometers) west of Chicago, was a growing city split by the formidable Rock River, a tributary of the Mississippi on which, a few miles north and a half-century later, a young Ronald Reagan would work as a lifeguard after the future presidents family moved to Dixon in 1920. For decades, wooden bridges had succumbed to raging floods. Fed-up voters in 1868 demanded an iron bridge. The city council chose Lucius Truesdells design from 14 proposals despite the city engineers warnings about its lack of uniformity and strength. The $75,000 toll bridge opened in January 1869 to great fanfare, even though just weeks earlier a Truesdell bridge in Elgin had collapsed. It was repaired and failed again six months later. The Truesdell design carried traffic in other Illinois cities, including Chicago. Newspapers post-disaster dubbed Dixons span The Truesdell Trap and The Patent Wholesale Drowning Machine. It was shocking how the ironwork had slammed atop victims like a gate. You could look down and see their faces. They couldnt get to the surface because all that iron was on top of them, Wadsworth said. Its frightening to look down, but to look up and to see daylight, to be only 12 inches (30 centimeters) from air? The location of the May 4 crowd, clumped on the west walkway, helps explain why four of five fatalities were women, along with many children and teenagers. Chivalrous men surrendered prime bridge viewing spots to women and girls and stepped to the bank, Wadsworth said. Boys climbed atop the trusses. But contemporary womens fashion might also be to blame, Wadsworth theorizes. The 1870s ushered in a heavy, layered bustle at the rear of floor-length dresses supported underneath by a crinolette, a series of fabric-covered metal half-hoops. Youre not going to win any Olympic swimming races wearing one of these things, Wadsworth said. Drowning, referred to in news reports as strangulation, took many. Others met an even more gruesome demise. The crisscrossed iron in the latticework pivoted like shears, slicing into victims such as 16-year-old Katie Sterling, who was so entangled it took two days to cut her free. Several bodies were recovered miles away. Lizzie Mackey, 17, was recovered at Sterling, 14 miles (23 kilometers) downstream. The youngest victims were sisters Alphea and Lucia Hendrix, ages 6 and 4, according to Patrick Gorman, another student of the tragedy who helped raise money in 2011 for a marker listing the names of the fatalities. A new memorial will be dedicated at the site on Sunday, May 7. Pratt was wracked by guilt, admitting he had detained the crowd longer than necessary to extol the benefits of coming to Jesus. But he was a hero that day. He started grabbing them by the hair and by the shoulder and by the pants, Wadsworth said. He knew what the riverbed was like. Hed walked out there many times for baptism ceremonies, so he knew how far he could get and grab people and he got 10 or 15 himself. A century-and-a-half later, Truesdells casualties keep it atop the worst failures of vehicular bridges in American history. The foundering of the Silver Bridge over the Ohio River from Ohio to West Virginia in 1967 also claimed 46 lives but there were nine injuries compared with 56 in Dixon. The horrific 1981 collapse of a Kansas City hotels pedestrian walkways resulted in 114 deaths, the most of any crumbled span in U.S. history. Separating it from the Truesdell affair are four railroad bridge incidents, including another in Illinois. In 1887, a trestle dropped from under a train at Chatsworth, 103 miles (166 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, killing 82 passengers as cars were flung into one another like a telescope as they slammed the opposite embankment. Like he had done in the Elgin collapse, Truesdell blamed sabotage for the Dixon failure. In a letter to a newspaper in Massachusetts, where he lived, he defended himself feebly: It is nearly 18 years since I began building iron bridges, and the Elgin and Dixon bridges are the only ones that have fallen, and no loss of life except at Dixon. Can as much be said of any other plan? ___ Follow John OConnor at https://twitter.com/apoconnor SHARE: OTTAWA Former Ontario PC MPP and federal Conservative leadership contender Roman Baber is attempting a political comeback. Baber will seek the federal Tories nomination in the riding of York Centre to be the candidate who tries to unseat current Liberal MP Yaara Saks in the next federal election. The Conservative party has not yet declared a nomination race underway, but Baber told the Star in an interview he has decided to make his intentions clear. I have a lot more left in me to help Canadians, represent York Centre and steer our country back on the right path, he said. Baber finished second last in the 2022 federal Conservative leadership race, a contest handily won by Pierre Poilievre on the first ballot. But Baber has had electoral success in York Centre before he won the provincial riding for the Ontario PC Party in 2018. Im optimistic about my prospects of winning the York Centre nomination, he said. Im very bullish on Pierre and I cannot wait for the next general election to form a Conservative government that will address the cost of living and restore Canadas democracy. Baber entered the federal leadership contest a newcomer to federal politics, though he had a national reputation after he was kicked out of Ontario Premier Doug Fords caucus in 2021 over his objection to COVID-19 lockdowns. Baber sat as an Independent after that and didnt run again in the 2022 provincial election. The PC party held the seat. It is coveted turf for the federal Conservatives too: it was among the seats they snatched from the Liberals in their march to a majority in 2011. The Liberals won it back in 2015, but when that MP, Michael Levitt, resigned in 2020, the subsequent byelection saw the Tories come within a whisper of winning it back. In the 2021 general election though, Saks comfortably held onto the seat over Conservative Joel Etienne, who himself later tried to run for the federal party leadership but failed to qualify. Figuring out a way to replicate the Conservatives success in Ontario in 2011 is among Poilievres priorities. Hes spent numerous weekends in the Greater Toronto Area in particular, holding high-priced private fundraisers and meeting with dozens of smaller community groups. Read more about: SHARE: 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. By Chris Prentice, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen and Paritosh Bansal (Reuters) - U.S. regulators are trying to clinch a sale of First Republic Bank over the weekend, with roughly half a dozen banks bidding, sources said on Saturday, in what is likely to be the third major U.S. bank to fail in two months. Citizens Financial Group Inc, PNC Financial Services Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co are among bidders vying for First Republic in an auction process being run by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, according to sources familiar with the matter. US Bancorp was also among banks the FDIC had asked to submit a bid, according to Bloomberg. Guggenheim Securities is advising the FDIC, two sources familiar with the matter said. The FDIC process kicked off this week, three of the sources said. The bidders were asked to give non-binding offers by Friday and were studying First Republic's books over the weekend, one of the sources said. A deal is expected to be announced on Sunday night before Asian markets open, with the regulator likely to say at the same time that it had seized the lender, three of the sources said. Bids are due by Sunday noon, one of the sources said. Currently, the interested banks are evaluating options to see what they would like to bid for, one of the sources said, adding that it is likely that lenders will bid for all of FRC's deposits, a sizable chunk of its assets and some of its liabilities. US Bancorp did not immediately respond to a request for comment. First Republic, the FDIC, Guggenheim and the other banks declined to comment. Graphic: First Republic stock performance month-to-date - https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-BANKS/dwpkdqrzwvm/chart_eikon.jpg DIFFICULT DEAL A deal for First Republic would come less then two months after Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failed amid a deposit flight from U.S. lenders, forcing the Federal Reserve to step in with emergency measures to stabilize markets. While markets have since calmed, a deal for First Republic would be closely watched for the amount of support the government has to provide. The FDIC officially insures deposits up to $250,000. But fearing further bank runs, regulators took the exceptional step of insuring all deposits at both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature. It remains to be seen whether regulators would have to do so at First Republic as well. They would need approval by the Treasury secretary, the president and super-majorities of the boards of the Federal Reserve and the FDIC. In trying to find a buyer before closing the bank, the FDIC is turning to some of the largest U.S. lenders. Large banks had been encouraged to bid for FRC's assets, one of the sources said. JPMorgan already holds more than 10% of the nations total bank deposits and would need a special government waiver to add more. "For a large bank to buy all or most of the bank could be healthier for First Republic customers because it could put them on a broader and more stable platform," said Eugene Flood, president of A Cappella Partners, who serves as an independent director at First Citizens BancShares and Janus Henderson and was speaking in a personal capacity. First Citizens agreed to buy failed Silicon Valley Bank last month. STUNNING FALL First Republic was founded in 1985 by James "Jim" Herbert, son of a community banker in Ohio. Merrill Lynch acquired the bank in 2007, but it was listed in the stock market again in 2010 after being sold by Merrill's new owner, Bank of America Corp, following the 2008 financial crisis. For years, First Republic lured high-net-worth customers with preferential rates on mortgages and loans. This strategy made it more vulnerable than regional lenders with less-affluent customers. The bank had a high level of uninsured deposits, amounting to 68% of deposits. The San Francisco-based lender saw more than $100 billion in deposits fleeing in the first quarter, leaving it scrambling to raise money. Despite an initial $30 billion lifeline from 11 Wall Street banks in March, the efforts proved futile, in part because buyers balked at the prospect of having to realize large losses on its loan book. A source familiar with the situation told Reuters on Friday that the FDIC decided the lender's position had deteriorated and there was no more time to pursue a rescue through the private sector. By Friday, First Republic's market value had hit a low of $557 million, down from its peak of $40 billion in November 2021. Shares of some other regional banks also fell on Friday, as it became clear that First Republic was headed for an FDIC receivership, with PacWest Bancorp down 2% after the bell and Western Alliance down 0.7%. (Reporting by Chris Prentice, Saeed Azhar, Lananh Nguyen, Paritosh Bansal; Additional reporting by David French, Greg Roumeliotis, Andrea Shalal, Anirban Sen, David Lawder Tatiana Bautzer and Nupur Anand; Editing by Megan Davies and Leslie Adler) ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Car after car dropped off bag after bag filled with food at Dorney Park, feeding our community at the seventh annual WFMZ and Dorney Park Food Drive. "It's just some really great partnership with different businesses and area leaders," said Ryan Eldredge, Dorney Park director of communications/public relations. It benefits the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast Pennsylvania. All at a time when the East Allen Township-based food bank said food insecurity is intensifying. Eldredge tells us the amusement park donated $1,500 worth of food. "Just to play a small role in knowing that some families will get the meals that they need and critical support is super important to us," said Eldredge. That is on top of Giant, who also partnered by donating more than $3,800 worth of food. Giant Regional Operations Coordinator, Alicia Carriotte was among the volunteers there from the company. "Giant works every day to connect families for a better future and I believe that's what's exactly what we're doing here," said Carriotte. People were also able to try out several food trucks. All of the food trucks are donating a portion of the proceeds to Second Harvest. "It's great because you can support a good cause and you can also come and have some fun and eat some delicious food at the same time," said Melanie Falcon, 69 News anchor. In a place we all call home. "I think it's so important because we're not only a news station. We are part of the community; we're out and about every single day and we live here, we work here," said Falcon. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Clouds, a little sun, and continued cool with a few scattered showers popping up during the day. . Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy and chilly. CAIRO (AP) Sudan's army and its rival paramilitary said Sunday they will extend a humanitarian cease-fire a further 72 hours. The decision follows international pressure to allow the safe passage of civilians and aid, but the shaky truce has not so far stopped the clashes. In statements, both sides accused the other of violations. The agreement has deescalated the fighting in some areas but violence continues to push civilians to flee. Aid groups have also struggled to get badly needed supplies into the country. The conflict erupted on April 15 between the nations army and its paramilitary force, and threatens to thrust Sudan into a raging civil war. The U.N. warned on Sunday that the humanitarian crisis in Sudan was at a breaking point. The scale and speed of what is unfolding in Sudan is unprecedented, the UNs humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in as statement. He said water and food are becoming increasingly hard to find in the countrys cities, especially the capital, Khartoum, and that the lack of basic medical care means many could die of preventable causes. Griffiths said that massive looting of aid supplies has hindered efforts to help civilians. Earlier Sunday, an aircraft carrying eight tons of emergency medical aid landed in Sudan to resupply hospitals devastated by the fighting, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which organized the shipment. It arrived as the civilian death toll from the countrywide violence topped 400 and aid groups warned that the humanitarian situation was becoming increasingly dire. More than two-thirds of hospitals in areas with active fighting are out of service, a national doctors' association has said, citing a shortage of medical supplies, health workers, water and electricity. The air-lifted supplies, including anesthetics, dressings, sutures and other surgical material, are enough to treat more than 1,000 people wounded in the conflict, the ICRC said. The aircraft took off earlier in the day from Jordan and safely landed in the city of Port Sudan, it said. The hope is to get this material to some of the most critically busy hospitals in the capital of Khartoum and other hot spots, said Patrick Youssef, ICRCs regional director for Africa. The Sudan Doctors Syndicate, which monitors casualties, said Sunday that over the past two weeks, 425 civilians were killed and 2,091 wounded. The Sudanese Health Ministry on Saturday put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. Some of the deadliest battles have raged across Khartoum. The fighting pits the army chief, Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, against Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the head of a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The generals, both with powerful foreign backers, were allies in an October 2021 military coup that halted Sudan's fitful transition to democracy, but they have since turned on each other. Ordinary Sudanese have been caught in the crossfire. Tens of thousands have fled to neighboring countries, including Chad and Egypt, while others remain pinned down with dwindling supplies. Thousands of foreigners have been evacuated in airlifts and land convoys. On Sunday, fighting continued in different parts of the capital where residents hiding in their homes reported hearing artillery fire. There have been lulls in fighting, but never a fully observed cease-fire, despite repeated attempts by international mediators. Over the weekend, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning in some areas of Khartoum as the scale of fighting dwindled after yet another shaky truce. But in other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Youssef, the ICRC official, said the agency has been in contact with the top command of both sides to ensure that medical assistance could reach hospitals safely. With this news today, we are really hoping that this becomes part of a steady coordination mechanism to allow other flights to come in, he said. Youssef said more medical aid was ready to be flown into Khartoum pending necessary clearances and security guarantees. Sudans healthcare system is near collapse with dozens of hospitals out of service. Multiple aid agencies have had to suspend operations and evacuated employees. On Sunday, a second U.S.-government organized convoy arrived in Port Sudan, said State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. He said the U.S. is assisting American citizens and others who are eligible to leave for Saudi Arabia where U.S. personnel are located. There were no details on how many people were in the convoy or specific assistance the U.S. provided. Most of the estimated 16,000 Americans believed to be in Sudan right now are dual U.S.-Sudanese nationals. The Defense Department said in a statement on Saturday it was moving naval assets toward Sudan's coast to support further evacuations. Meanwhile, Britain has announced that an extra evacuation flight will depart from Port Sudan on Monday, extending what it called the largest evacuation effort of any Western country from Sudan. The government asked British nationals who wish to leave Sudan to travel to the British Evacuation Handling Centre at Port Sudan International Airport before 12:00 Sudan time. The flight comes after an evacuation operation from Wadi Saeedna near Khartoum, involving 2,122 people on 23 flights. Oshkosh (NYSE:OSK Get Rating) updated its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $6.00-$6.00 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $5.62. The company issued revenue guidance of $8.65 billion-$8.65 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $8.46 billion. Oshkosh also updated its FY23 guidance to $6.00 EPS. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price target on shares of Oshkosh from $109.00 to $101.00 in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $110.00 to $95.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 29th. DA Davidson lifted their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Oshkosh from $113.00 to $96.00 in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Oshkosh presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $98.57. Get Oshkosh alerts: Oshkosh Trading Up 0.0 % Shares of OSK traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, reaching $76.52. 823,929 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 573,937. Oshkosh has a twelve month low of $69.30 and a twelve month high of $106.66. The stock has a market cap of $5.01 billion, a PE ratio of 31.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.38. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $82.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $87.52. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. Oshkosh Announces Dividend Oshkosh ( NYSE:OSK Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.59. The firm had revenue of $2.27 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.09 billion. Oshkosh had a net margin of 2.90% and a return on equity of 9.92%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.24 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Oshkosh will post 6 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be issued a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 12th. Oshkoshs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 67.77%. Insider Activity at Oshkosh In related news, SVP Jason P. Baab sold 1,000 shares of Oshkosh stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.00, for a total value of $89,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 1,352 shares in the company, valued at $120,328. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its stake in Oshkosh by 14.2% in the first quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 1,211 shares of the companys stock worth $122,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. lifted its position in shares of Oshkosh by 4.8% during the 4th quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 5,262 shares of the companys stock worth $464,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio lifted its position in shares of Oshkosh by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 35,841 shares of the companys stock worth $2,519,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp lifted its position in shares of Oshkosh by 1,359.1% during the 4th quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 321 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 299 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Oshkosh by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Private Wealth Group LLC now owns 118,227 shares of the companys stock worth $8,311,000 after buying an additional 317 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.43% of the companys stock. Oshkosh Company Profile (Get Rating) Oshkosh Corp. engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies. It operates through the following segments: Access Equipment, Defense, Fire & Emergency, and Commercial. The Access Equipment segment consists of JerrDan and JLG, which manufactures aerial work platforms and telehandlers that are used in construction, industrial, institutional, and general maintenance applications to position workers and materials at elevated heights. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Oshkosh Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oshkosh and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:BHLL Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 118,500 shares, a growth of 63.7% from the March 31st total of 72,400 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 650,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days. Bunker Hill Mining Stock Performance OTCMKTS BHLL remained flat at $0.09 during trading hours on Friday. 15,200 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 237,027. The company has a 50 day moving average of $0.09 and a 200-day moving average of $0.11. Bunker Hill Mining has a 1 year low of $0.07 and a 1 year high of $0.24. The company has a market cap of $23.16 million, a PE ratio of -9.41 and a beta of 2.02. Get Bunker Hill Mining alerts: About Bunker Hill Mining (Get Rating) Further Reading Bunker Hill Mining Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, development, and mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. It holds an option agreement to acquire interest in the Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho. Receive News & Ratings for Bunker Hill Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bunker Hill Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FourThought Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 3,335 shares of the aircraft producers stock, valued at approximately $635,000. Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of BA. Barclays PLC grew its stake in Boeing by 189.7% during the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,894,753 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $229,414,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240,669 shares in the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Boeing in the 1st quarter worth approximately $135,429,000. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Boeing by 1.5% during the 3rd 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 last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its holdings in shares of Boeing by 125.0% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 1,139,143 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $218,147,000 after purchasing an additional 632,913 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC increased its holdings in shares of Boeing by 1,588.5% in the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 558,140 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $67,580,000 after purchasing an additional 525,085 shares during the last quarter. 57.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Boeing alerts: Boeing Stock Performance Shares of Boeing stock opened at $206.78 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $206.29 and a 200 day moving average of $191.75. The Boeing Company has a 12 month low of $113.02 and a 12 month high of $221.33. Analysts Set New Price Targets Boeing ( NYSE:BA Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($1.27) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.98) by ($0.29). The company had revenue of $17.92 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.56 billion. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 28.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($2.75) EPS. Research analysts predict that The Boeing Company will post -0.4 EPS for the current year. A number of brokerages have issued reports on BA. StockNews.com downgraded Boeing from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Thursday. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of Boeing from $200.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Monday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. set a $225.00 price target on shares of Boeing in a research note on Friday, February 24th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on shares of Boeing from $240.00 to $250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Boeing from $210.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Boeing currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $221.60. Boeing Company Profile (Get Rating) The Boeing Co is an aerospace company, which engages in the manufacture of commercial jetliners and defense, space, and security systems. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Airplanes (BCA), Defense, Space and Security (BDS), Global Services (BGS), and Boeing Capital (BCC). The Commercial Airplanes segment includes the development, production, and market of commercial jet aircraft and provides fleet support services, principally to the commercial airline industry worldwide. Featured Stories 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. American Green, Inc. (OTCMKTS:ERBB Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 301,000 shares, a decline of 36.3% from the March 31st total of 472,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 19,301,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.0 days. American Green Stock Performance ERBB remained flat at $0.00 during trading on Friday. 14,257,745 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 11,775,666. American Green has a 1-year low of $0.00 and a 1-year high of $0.00. Get American Green alerts: American Green Company Profile (Get Rating) Featured Articles American Green, Inc engages in the medical marijuana business. The firm specializes in cultivation, manufacturing, extraction, wholesale, and retail of medical marijuana. It also offers tracking inventory services for growers. The company was founded on December 10, 1998 and is headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. Receive News & Ratings for American Green Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Green and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Security guards watch over The Bean sculpture in Millennium Park on April 23 in downtown Chicago. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune) By Chicagos standards, the winter was relatively mild. Still, with temperatures near 80 degrees the warmest weekend in months hundreds of city youths headed to 31st Street Beach in the twilight hours of Friday, April 14, where a young teen was shot in the leg. Advertisement It might have served as a warning to some, as another teen takeover unfolded in the heart of downtown the following night, and two teen boys were shot and wounded near Millennium Park. More than a dozen police reports obtained by the Tribune show how the chaos unfolded as Chicago police for hours struggled to control hundreds of teens and young adults as they darted through traffic, smashed windows and carried out acts of violence. Advertisement Large outdoor gatherings of young people arent new in Chicago, and the teen takeover events organized on social media, usually a few days in advance have sometimes turned violent. The gatherings have largely vexed the last two mayors and three Chicago Police Department superintendents. Strategies to handle the youth meet-ups are among the criteria being used to grade candidates for the CPD superintendent job. Viral cellphone video and news footage of the chaos from April 15 once again renewed criticism of the citys efforts to tamp down violent crime. Large groups of youths gather in downtown Chicago on April 15, 2023. Two teens were shot in the area during the evening. (Network Video Productions) Meanwhile, the police department has opened an internal investigation to probe allegations that officers failed to intervene after they saw a couple being attacked by a mob of teens. Sources have said the unruly gathering was exacerbated by a slow response from CPD leadership, which itself is in a transition period before Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson chooses a new police superintendent to replace outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoots hand-picked leader, David Brown. The disturbances came less than a year after the fatal shooting of another teen boy near The Bean' prompted a curfew order and promises from officials that such disorder wouldnt happen again. CPD officers arrested more than a dozen people in the downtown area two weekends ago. A review of those reports showed police were often faced with unruly suspects sometimes juveniles armed with guns. Multiple physical altercations Police reports show at 8:45 p.m., a 19-year-old and another unidentified person were among a large crowd in the first block of North Michigan Avenue that was slowly making its way south from Millennium Park when multiple physical altercations erupted. The teen and another person began fighting, the reports show, and both were taken into custody. Advertisement Police officers try to disperse several large groups of young adults and juveniles in downtown Chicago the night of April 15, 2023. (Network Video Productions / HANDOUT) Less than 45 minutes later, officers monitoring the crowd at 50 E. Madison St. suddenly heard a call of shots fired in the area. A 10-1 emergency was called over police dispatch radios, prompting a large response from nearby cops, and a description of the shooter was also provided, a police report said. Police tried to stop an 18-year-old who ran into the street, entering into oncoming traffic, and caused several cars to swerve in and out of the way in a reckless manner that endangered the safety of multiple citizens, the report said. He was brought into custody at 9:43 p.m., taken to a police station and charged with reckless conduct. Not a new challenge Large-scale youth gatherings downtown have been a regular occurrence during warm-weather months for the last decade. CPD has responded to and monitored countless organized protests and marches through the Loop, especially in the years since the release of the Laquan McDonald shooting video was release, sparking outrage across the city. Fred Waller retired from CPD as chief of patrol nearly three years ago. The disorganized, random nature of the teen takeover events, Waller said, makes them especially challenging for police. The difference, really, is that most of the time these guys dont have any real leaders that you can talk to, Waller said. When you have a planned protest, youve got people that you can talk to whos the organizer or whatever and theyll tell you, We want to go here, we want to go there, and you block the streets off or you have enough bike officers to go that route and walk the route with them. Advertisement Police monitor a group of teens and young adults in Millennium Park after several fights occurred on April 17, 2019, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) Police detain a person while attempting to remove a group of teens and young adults from Chicago's Millennium Park after several fights occurred on April 17, 2019. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) The ones that are pop-up kind of protests or just kids running wild, so to speak, theres no real person that you can talk to, he added. Theyre just all over the place. youre just taking them back and forth. Another shooting near The Bean Just before 9:30 p.m., shots were fired in the 200 block of East Randolph. CPD officers were stationed nearby to monitor for large crowds of teens who were obstructing traffic, according to a department arrest report. Soon after, the situation escalated when a 16-year-old boy from Austin climbed onto an awning above a staircase at the Washington/Wabash CTA train station, refusing to come down, according to police records. Meanwhile, another round of gunfire erupted at 205 E. Randolph St. as CPD officers worked to disperse the crowd. The teen then allegedly jumped down from the awning and was swarmed by CPD officers. While being taken into custody, police allegedly found a loaded gun on him, according to an arrest report. The teen told detectives he doesnt talk to his parents, who live in Alabama, and his uncle agreed to pick him up from the police station, where he was charged with reckless conduct and unlawful possession of a handgun, the report said. The 16-year-olds arrest was apparently unrelated to the shooting that occurred nearby just minutes earlier. Advertisement There, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy from the citys West Side were standing between two crowds near the Chicago Cultural Center when an assailant wearing all black with a mask fired multiple times and hit them in the legs and arms, police said. No one has been arrested in that attack. Scroll the map to see where each incident occurred. Click on the markers for more information. Around the corner from the Chicago Cultural Center, a 15-year-old girl was charged with mob action after she attempted to break a police line twice, according to a police report. It happened about 9:25 p.m. at 25 E. Washington St., where officers formed a line with other officers and began to give verbal commands to disperse the large crowd. At 10 p.m., 28-year-old Marvin Benites, of Plano, was seen jumping up and down on CTA property at 100 N. Wabash Ave., where police were handling disorderly crowds. When officers told him to leave he allegedly refused and was booked and taken into custody. Advertisement At 11:20 p.m., police arrested three people a 16-year-old, along with an 18-year-old and a 19-year-old who were in the first block of South State Street as officers monitored a mass gathering and unruly crowds, according to a police report. The teens were allegedly seen kicking the head of a person who was on the ground, the report said. As officers tried to arrest them, they each allegedly resisted and were later charged with reckless conduct and interference with officers. Shortly after midnight on April 16, officers were in the 100 block of North Garland Court monitoring a large, unruly mob that had been running amok throughout the downtown area for several hours, attacking police officers, terrorizing pedestrians, damaging property and firing shots from a gun, according to a report. Four teens, including a 19-year old, two 18-year-olds and a 17-year-old were seen around a marked police car. After they appeared to look inside it, officers worried the car might be burglarized, approached the four, who ran south on Garland to Washington and Madison causing motorists to take evasive action to avoid hitting them, a report said. All four were charged with reckless conduct. A group of young adults and juveniles dance on the roofs of vehicles in the streets of downtown Chicago the night of April 15, 2023. (Network Video Productions) Around 1 a.m. a 14-year-old boy from the Jefferson Park neighborhood was among hundreds of teens causing a disturbance in the 300 block of West Monroe Street. Advertisement Once officers dropped the boy off at the Wentworth District station to be booked, he was still angry and continually threatened officers, the report said. He was taken to Comer Childrens Hospital when he complained his wrists were injured because the handcuffs were too tight. Officers tried three times to reach his guardian but were unsuccessful, according to the report, which said the boy was charged with aggravated assault of a police officer and interference with a public officer and resisting an officer. A slow police response A curfew imposed after the shooting at The Bean last year appeared to slow the momentum of the gatherings, but the unusually warm weekend weather brought more young people to the center of Chicago apparently looking to challenge police. The officers who responded focused on containing the crowd of hundreds instead of moving into the fray, Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, previously said. The strategy allowed the gathering to continue, he said. A Walgreens was looted, a break-in was attempted at the Art Institute, two Chicago Transit Authority buses were attacked, the windows and windshields of a number of vehicles were broken, a couple was beaten and robbed, a police officer suffered a broken bone, another officer was mobbed and had his radio stolen and two teens were shot, Hopkins said. Advertisement In response to the violence, the CPD assigned extra officers to monitor the downtown area last weekend. No disturbances or arrests were reported. Several hundred people marched throughout the downtown area to demonstrate to wayward youth that community elders are there to support them. Faith leaders and others march through downtown Chicago on April 22, 2023, in response to youth violence that occurred the previous weekend. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Several high-ranking CPD officials who are typically responsible for the downtown area were unavailable to respond, according to police sources. Two leaders, including Area 3 Deputy Chief Jill Stevens, were on furlough, and the captain of the Central District was on vacation, according to one CPD supervisor. Deputy Chief Matt Cline was assigned as the departments street deputy on Saturday, and he was eventually summoned downtown to lead the departments response, the supervisor said. Before Clines arrival, no officers downtown held a rank above lieutenant, which prohibited them from requesting more officers to assist, the supervisor said. Lightfoot, Johnson react The following Monday, Lightfoot said the citys youth have every right to spend time in the downtown area, so long as they dont engage in violence or property destruction. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > Its not the first time that weve addressed these issues, but our young people have an opportunity and a right to enjoy the entirety of our city, but they have to do it in a way that is respectful for people and property, Lightfoot told reporters. Johnson called the criminal activity unacceptable, but added that it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities. Advertisement Lightfoot had her weekly meeting with CPD leaders the following Tuesday, and she pressed department brass about why officers struggled to contain the crowds, sources previously told the Tribune. Chicago police officers stand at the corner of Washington Street and Michigan Avenue on April 23, 2023. (Eileen T. Meslar / Chicago Tribune) The events of April 15 were still top of mind for many who attended a South Side public forum to discuss the ongoing search for the next CPD superintendent. Parents need to be charged and penalized for their childrens behavior, one speaker at the forum, Flora Williams, said to applause. Until we do that nothing is going to change. Anthony Driver Jr., president of the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, later said that strategies to address the gatherings are among the criteria used to evaluate applicants for the job. Theres a number of issues that we face in our city and, (with) each of them, we plan on asking superintendent candidates how they would handle the situation, Driver said. Edwardian Britain, and Europe before World War I more broadly, produced a disproportionate number of memorable figures. Perhaps this is because their outstanding features are thrown into stark relief by our foreknowledge of the looming catastrophe. In the first decade of the 20th century, a rising generation of talented newcomers encountered the last vestiges of an aristocratic ruling class that had previously managed the British Empire from above. This was the era of a young Winston Churchill, but also of Lloyd George, the son of a Welsh schoolteacher and future wartime prime minister. One such talented newcomer was John Jacky Fisher, who began his Royal Navy career as a midshipman and rose to the exalted rank of first lord of the Admiralty, transforming British naval doctrine in the process. If you were to pick one person who embodied the changes wrought by industry, science, and technology in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Fisher would be a reasonable choice. When he entered the Royal Navy, sailors still practiced reefing sails and cutlass drills and endured punishment by flogging. As first sea lord, Fisher would oversee the introduction of steel-clad, turbine-powered behemoths to a fleet that had ruled the Age of Sail. Fisher is best remembered for launching HMS Dreadnought, the first of the all-big-gun battleships and an instigating factor in the Anglo-German arms race. This new design was supposed to revolutionize naval warfare, but its dominance was short-lived, a victim of even more disruptive technologies such as torpedoes, mines, and aircraft. Fishers true legacy, and the reason he remains relevant today, is his strategic insight: He was the first British leader to grasp that an overstretched Royal Navy must ruthlessly consolidate to meet the rising threat of Wilhelmine Germany. Faced with a similar strategic dilemma in the South China Sea, American policymakers should consider Fishers example. In 1897, the year of Queen Victorias Diamond Jubilee, the Royal Navys reach was truly global. Eight first-class battleships guarded the English Channel, but a further 10 patrolled the Mediterranean, and three were reserved for the Far East station. Single battleships and their accompanying escorts would deploy regularly to other strategic points across the globe. This was the posture of a self-assured naval power, confident that it could overmatch rivals in several different theaters of war. Even into the 20th century, British admirals spoke of maintaining a two-power standard, meaning the Royal Navy would always match or exceed the strength of its two closest rivals. This assumption was challenged by several unwelcome developments: the rise of regional powers such as Japan and the United States, which could not threaten British dominance singly but taxed the Royal Navys resources, and the naval ambitions of a newly unified Germany, which possessed the industrial wherewithal to challenge British supremacy at sea. In matters of gunnery, personnel, and strategy, Fisher was intent on modernizing the Royal Navy, and his response to imperial overstretch was at least as radical as the changes he oversaw in ship design. Fisher described his career as a constant struggle against the way it has always been. By the end of his tenure as first sea lord, he had decisively won the battle: From 1904 to 1907, the Royal Navy was transformed from colonial policeman to North Sea watchdog. Battleships tell the story. In 1904, eight were stationed with the Home Fleet, eight in the English Channel, 12 in the Mediterranean, and five in the Far East. By 1905, no battleships were assigned to the China Station, while 17 battleships were deployed to the Channel Fleet, with a further eight in the Atlantic and eight in the Mediterranean. To help pay for this shift, and his concurrent shipbuilding program, Fisher ruthlessly culled the obsolescent colonial cruisers that had once been the sinews of Victorian gunboat diplomacy. The change in British strategic posture necessitated a diplomatic revolution. An Anglo-Japanese naval agreement was renewed and extended to free up more cruisers and escorts, most of which were transferred to the suddenly preeminent Channel Fleet. In the late 19th century, British naval planners were fixated on a possible Franco-Russian alliance in the Mediterranean that could threaten the empires colonial lifelines. The 1904 Anglo-French Entente Cordiale, though not a formal military alliance, relieved this pressure by resolving colonial disputes and inaugurating a new era of military cooperation between the two rivals. In 1906, over howls of protest from naval traditionalists, Fisher was able to reduce the Mediterranean squadron from eight to six battleships. Once set in motion, Great Britains pivot to the North Sea was irreversible. By 1912, Fisher was no longer running the Admiralty, but the accelerated German shipbuilding led to the further consolidation of British warships in home waters and a tacit understanding with the French, who promised to protect Great Britains Mediterranean interests in exchange for assurances that their vulnerable northern coasts would not be left exposed. When war came in 1914, the formidable German High Seas Fleet was bottled up in port and the English Channel lifeline was safe because Fisher and his acolytes had reshaped British grand strategy in the space of a decade. The parallels between the United Kingdom before World War I and the U.S. of today are obvious and ominous. As with the Royal Navy and Wilhelmine Germany, the U.S. faces the prospect of a naval clash against a great power rival with industrial and military capabilities that match or exceed our own. For Fisher and Great Britain, the North Sea was the vital theater of conflict. For the U.S., it might be Taiwan and the South China Sea. In an era of drones, stand-off munitions, and cyberwar, strategic focus no longer can be quantified by tallying up the number of capital ships in a given theater, but symptoms of imperial overstretch are increasingly obvious. 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. According to the New York Times, in the event of a war with China, the U.S. would run out of certain precision missiles in less than a week. Our defense industrial base produces 15,000 artillery shells per month, which sounds impressive until you consider that the Ukrainian military expends nearly 7,000 shells per day. Airborne Early Warning and Control, once an American specialty and a key ingredient in modern air superiority, has been enthusiastically adopted by the Chinese, who have double the number of airframes available to monitor the skies around Taiwan. Other warning signs would be recognizable to naval strategists from Fishers era. Although the U.S. Navys nuclear-powered supercarriers still dominate global sea lanes, the Department of Defense predicts that China will have 150 more warships than the U.S. within five years. Perhaps not coincidentally, President Xi Jinping has reportedly instructed the Chinese military to plan for an invasion of Taiwan by 2027. As for the Navys prized carriers, they might be fated to play the same role of Fishers beloved Dreadnought, a fabulously expensive legacy weapons system rendered obsolete by new technologies. Ironically, the U.S.s posture is roughly the opposite of Fishers strategic design. Where Fisher and his successors relentlessly focused on the threat in the North Sea, the U.S. maintains an array of global commitments unmatched by any great power since the late Victorian zenith of the British Empire. From arming Ukraine to guarding against a resurgence of the Islamic State in Syria to less publicized military commitments in places such as sub-Saharan Africa, the U.S. has unwittingly adopted the approach favored by Fishers rivals in the British Foreign Office, who refused to accept that the German threat took precedence over the empires far-flung outposts. Great Britains abandonment of splendid isolation provided real strategic dividends to the Royal Navy, which was able to offload responsibilities in the Pacific and the Mediterranean to Japanese and French squadrons. The U.S. has a global network of alliances, but burden-sharing is notably absent from many of these arrangements. Taiwan, the likeliest target for Chinese military aggression, spends less per capita on its own defense than the U.S. American military support for Ukraine dwarfs that of its NATO allies, which are unlikely to involve themselves in a conflict in the South China Sea, anyway. German rearmament has stalled, new NATO members Finland and Sweden arent going to fight for Taiwan, and French President Emmanuel Macrons recent visit to Beijing suggests that European governments will pursue their own line on China. Great Britains pre-World War I alliances relieved pressure on the Royal Navy. Ours only seem to add to our strategic burden. Its not that the U.S. doesnt spend on defense. We just dont spend wisely or well. Once again, Fishers example is instructive. By scrapping older warships fit only for colonial service a misers hoard of useless junk, in his words Fisher reduced British naval expenditures by 3.5 million pounds from 1904 to 1905, freeing up more resources to counter the German threat. The modern American equivalent of the Royal Navys obsolete colonial gunboats is the bloated defense contracts, legacy weapons systems, and billions spent on counterinsurgency and brush-fire conflicts from Syria to the Horn of Africa. Focusing on China would clean out the Augean stables of the military-industrial complex by prioritizing weapon systems that actually matter. Appeasement, Adolf Hitler, and World War II are the most common reference points in American foreign policy debates, but the years leading up to World War I offer more relevant lessons. The U.K., once unchallenged on the world stage, faced a rising power with the industrial, scientific, and technological means to challenge its preeminence. Just as Germany was the U.K.s largest trading partner before the war, the U.S. and China are economically and culturally intertwined. Before COVID-19, Chinese exchange students were common sights on U.S. campuses. Adm. Alfred von Tirpitz, the driving force behind Germanys naval building program, sent his daughters to Cheltenham Ladies College. Free traders and China doves argue that such links are a barrier to major conflict. History suggests otherwise. War between the U.S. and China is not inevitable, but grand strategy is supposed to prepare us for worst-case scenarios. At the moment, Americas global posture is uncomfortably close to the approach once advocated by the British Foreign Office, which was obsessed with peripheral commitments and oblivious to the rise of a peer competitor. Fisher understood the fundamental problem with this approach: If you try to be strong everywhere, you wont be strong where it really counts. Will Collins is a high school teacher in Budapest, Hungary. This article first appeared in The Washington Examiner, a sibling publication of The Gazette. Apartment Income REIT (NYSE:AIRC Get Rating) is scheduled to post its quarterly earnings results after the market closes on Monday, May 1st. Analysts expect Apartment Income REIT to post earnings of $0.58 per share for the quarter. Investors that wish to listen to the companys conference call can do so using this link. Apartment Income REIT Trading Up 2.3 % Shares of NYSE:AIRC opened at $36.98 on Friday. Apartment Income REIT has a one year low of $32.51 and a one year high of $51.73. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.51 billion, a PE ratio of 6.34 and a beta of 0.90. The companys 50-day moving average price is $35.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $36.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 0.33 and a quick ratio of 0.33. Get Apartment Income REIT alerts: Apartment Income REIT Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.87%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. Apartment Income REITs payout ratio is 30.87%. Insider Buying and Selling Hedge Funds Weigh In On Apartment Income REIT In related news, Director John D. Rayis acquired 1,000 shares of Apartment Income REIT stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $34.48 per share, for a total transaction of $34,480.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,412 shares of the companys stock, valued at $324,525.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In related news, Director John D. Rayis purchased 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $34.48 per share, with a total value of $34,480.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 9,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $324,525.76. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website . Also, insider Keith M. Kimmel sold 8,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.75, for a total value of $286,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 34,345 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,227,833.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 0.89% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. First Manhattan Co. bought a new position in Apartment Income REIT during the first quarter valued at about $121,000. Quantbot Technologies LP raised its position in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 148.0% during the 1st quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 2,750 shares of the companys stock valued at $147,000 after acquiring an additional 1,641 shares during the last quarter. EHP Funds Inc. acquired a new stake in Apartment Income REIT during the 1st quarter worth $246,000. Centiva Capital LP raised its stake in shares of Apartment Income REIT by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. Centiva Capital LP now owns 5,985 shares of the companys stock valued at $205,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares during the period. Finally, Centaurus Financial Inc. bought a new position in shares of Apartment Income REIT in the 1st quarter valued at about $344,000. 99.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have commented on AIRC shares. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on shares of Apartment Income REIT in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. They set an outperform rating and a $39.00 target price on the stock. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Apartment Income REIT from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $39.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Apartment Income REIT from $41.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $42.33. Apartment Income REIT Company Profile (Get Rating) AIR is a real estate investment trust focused on the ownership and management of quality apartment communities located in the largest markets in the United States. AIR is one of the country's largest owners and operators of apartments, with 99 communities in 12 states and the District of Columbia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Apartment Income REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apartment Income REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $8.47-$8.60 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $8.32. The company issued revenue guidance of $4.34 billion-$4.38 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $4.35 billion. Applied Industrial Technologies Stock Performance Shares of AIT traded down $0.25 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $135.66. 217,789 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 175,641. The stocks fifty day moving average is $137.25 and its 200 day moving average is $130.95. The stock has a market cap of $5.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.41 and a beta of 1.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 2.01 and a current ratio of 3.14. Applied Industrial Technologies has a 1-year low of $88.09 and a 1-year high of $149.42. Get Applied Industrial Technologies alerts: Applied Industrial Technologies (NYSE:AIT Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The industrial products company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.34. The business had revenue of $1.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $996.44 million. Applied Industrial Technologies had a net margin of 7.73% and a return on equity of 26.15%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 22.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Applied Industrial Technologies will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Applied Industrial Technologies Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 31st. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Applied Industrial Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.97%. AIT has been the subject of several recent research reports. Loop Capital increased their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $150.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Robert W. Baird increased their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $160.00 to $161.00 in a research report on Friday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of Applied Industrial Technologies from $138.00 to $162.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Insider Activity In other news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 21,526 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.06, for a total value of $3,122,561.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 318,218 shares in the company, valued at $46,160,703.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Applied Industrial Technologies news, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 21,526 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.06, for a total transaction of $3,122,561.56. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 318,218 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,160,703.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Neil A. Schrimsher sold 4,186 shares of Applied Industrial Technologies stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.00, for a total transaction of $606,970.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 339,744 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $49,262,880. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Applied Industrial Technologies Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its position in Applied Industrial Technologies by 7.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,001,286 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $718,751,000 after buying an additional 459,302 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,863,708 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $499,893,000 after purchasing an additional 136,174 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,383,105 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $142,156,000 after purchasing an additional 10,144 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies during the 4th quarter worth approximately $56,563,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Applied Industrial Technologies by 2.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 412,427 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,340,000 after acquiring an additional 10,627 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.02% of the companys stock. Applied Industrial Technologies Company Profile (Get Rating) Applied Industrial Technologies, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of industrial parts and products. It operates through the Service Center Based Distribution, and Fluid Power & Flow Control Business segments. The Service Center-Based Distribution segment provides customers with a wide range of industrial products through a network of service centers. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Applied Industrial Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Rating) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,110,000 shares, a growth of 22.7% from the March 31st total of 1,720,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 947,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.2 days. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Trading Down 0.5 % AJG traded down $0.99 during trading on Friday, reaching $208.06. The company had a trading volume of 1,675,588 shares, compared to its average volume of 859,023. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.04. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $192.06 and its 200 day simple moving average is $190.78. The company has a market cap of $44.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.01, a PEG ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.69. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has a 12-month low of $148.24 and a 12-month high of $209.13. Get Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. alerts: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (NYSE:AJG Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 26th. The financial services provider reported $1.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.50 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.96 billion. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. had a net margin of 13.22% and a return on equity of 19.38%. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s quarterly revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.98 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. will post 8.72 earnings per share for the current year. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Dividend Announcement Insiders Place Their Bets The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, June 2nd will be paid a $0.55 dividend. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 1st. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.s payout ratio is presently 42.31%. In other Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 2,850 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.98, for a total transaction of $515,793.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,417,600.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Douglas K. Howell sold 2,850 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $180.98, for a total value of $515,793.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 90,715 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,417,600.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Kay W. Mccurdy sold 182 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $196.59, for a total transaction of $35,779.38. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 31,091 shares in the company, valued at $6,112,179.69. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 27,783 shares of company stock valued at $5,262,891. Insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in AJG. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,287 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $225,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 49.0% in the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 5,300 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $925,000 after purchasing an additional 1,744 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in the 1st quarter valued at about $838,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 37.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,532 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $442,000 after acquiring an additional 693 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. increased its position in Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. by 25.0% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 11,184 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,953,000 after acquiring an additional 2,235 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 82.07% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AJG has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Piper Sandler raised their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $215.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $215.00 to $233.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets started coverage on Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $211.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $220.00 to $230.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. from $228.00 to $232.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Four 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, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $214.71. Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Company Profile (Get Rating) Arthur J. Gallagher & Co engages in the provision of insurance brokerage, consulting, and third-party claims settlement and administration services. It operates through the following business segments: Brokerage, Risk Management, and Corporate. The Brokerage segment consists of retail and wholesale insurance brokerage operations. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Get Rating) saw a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,200 shares, an increase of 39.0% from the March 31st total of 5,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 69,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MIY. Fiera Capital Corp grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 129.6% during the 4th quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 450,311 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,994,000 after purchasing an additional 254,177 shares during the period. Logan Stone Capital LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund during the 4th quarter worth $1,200,000. Secure Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 266.6% during the 4th quarter. Secure Asset Management LLC now owns 135,553 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,503,000 after purchasing an additional 98,581 shares during the period. Wolverine Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund during the 4th quarter worth $969,000. Finally, Morgan Stanley grew its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 21.7% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 413,947 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $4,591,000 after purchasing an additional 73,905 shares during the period. 15.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Stock Up 0.7 % NYSE:MIY traded up $0.08 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $11.19. The company had a trading volume of 46,875 shares, compared to its average volume of 80,392. The company has a 50-day moving average of $11.12 and a 200 day moving average of $11.33. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund has a 1 year low of $10.56 and a 1 year high of $13.90. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Announces Dividend BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Company Profile The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.0345 per share. This represents a $0.41 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. (Get Rating) BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade, long-term municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Michigan income taxes. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc. (NYSE:MIY Get Rating) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,200 shares, an increase of 39.0% from the March 31st total of 5,900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 69,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.1 days. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Price Performance Shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund stock traded up $0.08 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $11.19. 46,875 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 80,392. BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund has a 12 month low of $10.56 and a 12 month high of $13.90. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.12 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.33. Get BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund alerts: BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 14th will be given a dividend of $0.0345 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.70%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Company Profile Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MIY. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $180,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 61,551 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $788,000 after purchasing an additional 4,441 shares during the period. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 1.1% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 87,248 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,118,000 after purchasing an additional 991 shares during the period. West Michigan Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund in the 1st quarter worth approximately $161,000. Finally, UBS Group AG raised its holdings in shares of BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund by 7.6% in the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 42,201 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $541,000 after purchasing an additional 2,964 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 15.96% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund, Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc It is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It primarily invests in investment grade, long-term municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes and Michigan income taxes. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Quality Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BYD Company Limited (OTCMKTS:BYDDF Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 820,400 shares, a decline of 17.3% from the March 31st total of 992,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 106,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 7.7 days. BYD Price Performance Shares of BYDDF stock traded down $0.65 during trading on Friday, reaching $30.29. The companys stock had a trading volume of 58,953 shares, compared to its average volume of 59,964. The company has a market capitalization of $88.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 59.39 and a beta of 0.53. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $28.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.02. BYD has a 1-year low of $21.29 and a 1-year high of $43.61. Get BYD alerts: BYD Company Profile (Get Rating) Recommended Stories BYD Co, Ltd. engages in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of rechargeable batteries and photovoltaic business. It operates through the following segments: Rechargeable Batteries and Photovoltaic Products, Mobile Handset Components, Assembly Service and Other Products, and Automobiles and Related Products and Other Products. Receive News & Ratings for BYD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BYD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP Get Rating) issued an update on its FY23 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.48 to $1.50 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.49. CenterPoint Energy also updated its FY 2023 guidance to $1.48-$1.50 EPS. CenterPoint Energy Stock Performance NYSE CNP opened at $30.47 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $29.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $29.44. The company has a market capitalization of $19.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.18, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.88. CenterPoint Energy has a 1-year low of $25.03 and a 1-year high of $33.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.75. Get CenterPoint Energy alerts: CenterPoint Energy (NYSE:CNP Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.02. CenterPoint Energy had a return on equity of 9.97% and a net margin of 8.99%. The business had revenue of $2.78 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.79 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.47 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that CenterPoint Energy will post 1.49 EPS for the current fiscal year. CenterPoint Energy Dividend Announcement Analyst Ratings Changes The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.49%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 17th. CenterPoint Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 60.32%. A number of brokerages have recently commented on CNP. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $33.00 price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy in a report on Monday, March 6th. StockNews.com upgraded CenterPoint Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Guggenheim cut shares of CenterPoint Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the stock from $31.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price objective on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Two investment 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, CenterPoint Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.75. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNP. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy in the first quarter valued at about $440,000. Raymond James Trust N.A. increased its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 59.0% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 14,757 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $452,000 after buying an additional 5,475 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its holdings in CenterPoint Energy by 28.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,585,045 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $79,208,000 after buying an additional 572,884 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 9.0% during the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 32,098 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $988,000 after acquiring an additional 2,642 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 59.3% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 738,270 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $22,615,000 after acquiring an additional 274,696 shares during the last quarter. 90.28% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About CenterPoint Energy (Get Rating) CenterPoint Energy, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the business of power generation and distribution. It operates through the following segments: CenterPoint Energy, Houston Electric, and CERC. The CenterPoint Energy segment consists of electric transmission and distribution services in the Texas gulf coast area in the ERCOT region and electric transmission and distribution services primarily to southwestern Indiana and includes power generation and wholesale power operations in the MISO region. Read More Receive News & Ratings for CenterPoint Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CenterPoint Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSEAMERICAN:CQP Get Rating) declared a dividend on Saturday, April 29th, investing.com reports. Investors of record on Monday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of 0.775 per share by the energy company on Monday, May 15th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 5th. This is a boost from Cheniere Energy Partnerss previous dividend of $0.62. Cheniere Energy Partners has raised its dividend payment by an average of 17.0% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 6 years. Cheniere Energy Partners has a payout ratio of 108.6% indicating that the company cannot currently cover its dividend with earnings alone and is relying on its balance sheet to cover its dividend payments. Equities research analysts expect Cheniere Energy Partners to earn $3.34 per share next year, which means the company may not be able to cover its $4.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 128.1%. Get Cheniere Energy Partners alerts: Cheniere Energy Partners Stock Up 2.3 % Shares of CQP stock opened at $45.61 on Friday. Cheniere Energy Partners has a 12 month low of $40.20 and a 12 month high of $62.08. The company has a market cap of $22.08 billion, a PE ratio of 11.17 and a beta of 0.84. The businesss 50 day moving average is $50.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $52.82. Insiders Place Their Bets Cheniere Energy Partners ( NYSEAMERICAN:CQP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The energy company reported $1.87 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.72 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $4.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.37 billion. Cheniere Energy Partners had a net margin of 14.52% and a negative return on equity of 104.57%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Cheniere Energy Partners will post 2.7 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related news, major shareholder Cqp Rockies Platform Llc purchased 53,413 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $45.73 per share, with a total value of $2,442,576.49. Following the purchase, the insider now directly owns 36,557 shares in the company, valued at $1,671,751.61. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III bought 27,082 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was bought at an average price of $47.11 per share, for a total transaction of $1,275,833.02. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 18,535 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $873,183.85. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Cqp Rockies Platform Llc purchased 53,413 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 27th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $45.73 per share, for a total transaction of $2,442,576.49. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 36,557 shares in the company, valued at $1,671,751.61. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy Partners Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Clearbridge Investments LLC boosted its position in Cheniere Energy Partners by 24.1% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 949,727 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $53,527,000 after buying an additional 184,500 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG boosted its holdings in Cheniere Energy Partners by 5.1% in the first quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 443,849 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $25,015,000 after acquiring an additional 21,647 shares during the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its position in Cheniere Energy Partners by 81.7% in the second quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 102,208 shares of the energy companys stock worth $4,587,000 after purchasing an additional 45,953 shares during the period. ING Groep NV bought a new stake in Cheniere Energy Partners during the 1st quarter worth about $5,625,000. Finally, Neuberger Berman Group LLC lifted its position in Cheniere Energy Partners by 0.4% during the 1st quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 99,300 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $5,597,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 46.45% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades CQP has been the subject of several research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Cheniere Energy Partners in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Citigroup dropped their price objective on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from $47.00 to $44.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 9th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on Cheniere Energy Partners from $56.00 to $48.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Cheniere Energy Partners has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $51.50. Cheniere Energy Partners Company Profile (Get Rating) Cheniere Energy Partners LP engages in the operations of liquefied natural gas. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Cheniere Energy Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cheniere Energy Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cloudflare (NYSE:NET Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.34-$0.35 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.16. The company issued revenue guidance of $1.28 billion-$1.28 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $1.33 billion. Cloudflare also updated its FY23 guidance to $0.34-0.35 EPS. Cloudflare Trading Down 21.0 % Cloudflare stock traded down $12.53 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $47.05. The stock had a trading volume of 33,129,534 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,791,084. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $59.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $52.94. Cloudflare has a twelve month low of $37.37 and a twelve month high of $97.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.30, a current ratio of 4.74 and a quick ratio of 4.74. The firm has a market cap of $15.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -79.75 and a beta of 1.02. Get Cloudflare alerts: Cloudflare (NYSE:NET Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported ($0.09) EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of ($0.09). Cloudflare had a negative net margin of 18.05% and a negative return on equity of 25.65%. The firm had revenue of $274.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $274.29 million. Equities analysts anticipate that Cloudflare will post -0.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insider Activity at Cloudflare A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $60.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Friday. Cantor Fitzgerald cut their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $65.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $70.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Friday. William Blair reiterated an outperform rating on shares of Cloudflare in a research report on Wednesday, April 19th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their target price on shares of Cloudflare from $65.00 to $55.00 in a research report on Friday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $61.88. In related news, CEO Matthew Prince sold 52,384 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.55, for a total value of $3,695,691.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CFO Thomas J. Seifert sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total value of $967,350.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 61,355 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,956,783.95. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Matthew Prince sold 52,384 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $70.55, for a total transaction of $3,695,691.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 416,007 shares of company stock worth $25,494,548. 15.99% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Cloudflare Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bridgewater Associates LP acquired a new stake in Cloudflare in the 1st quarter worth $13,866,000. Bridgefront Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Cloudflare in the 1st quarter worth $221,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. acquired a new stake in Cloudflare in the 1st quarter worth $317,000. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Cloudflare by 2.4% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 23,358,000 shares of the companys stock worth $2,795,953,000 after purchasing an additional 548,149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, National Pension Service grew its position in Cloudflare by 30.3% in the 1st quarter. National Pension Service now owns 387,777 shares of the companys stock worth $46,417,000 after purchasing an additional 90,123 shares during the last quarter. 69.97% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Cloudflare Company Profile (Get Rating) CloudFlare, Inc operates as a cloud services provider that delivers a range of services to businesses worldwide. The company offers an integrated cloud-based security solution to secure a range of combination of platforms, including public cloud, private cloud, on-premise, software-as-a-service applications, and IoT devices. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Cloudflare Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cloudflare and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Condor Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Get Rating) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 42,719 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,004 shares during the quarter. Condor Capital Managements holdings in iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF were worth $3,571,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in IWP. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 38.3% during the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 415 shares of the companys stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 1.7% during the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 7,112 shares of the companys stock worth $715,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 2,600 shares of the companys stock worth $204,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 10,755 shares of the companys stock worth $899,000 after acquiring an additional 136 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Walled Lake Planning & Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,892 shares of the companys stock worth $227,000 after acquiring an additional 141 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF alerts: iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Stock Performance Shares of IWP stock opened at $89.74 on Friday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $89.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $87.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.03 and a beta of 1.10. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF has a 52-week low of $74.75 and a 52-week high of $95.11. iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Profile iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF, formerly iShares Russell Midcap Growth Index Fund (the Growth Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the Russell Midcap Growth Index (the Growth Index). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IWP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IWP Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Read it at length. It's the four words that more than a few people at the state Capitol are probably a little tired of hearing. It's been invoked countless times in the past, but no more than in the 2023 legislation session, and most often, in the House. It's also the last of the tools House Republicans have to slow down the agenda of majority Democrats. An agreement forged in mid-April between the two caucuses put that tool on ice, in part to allow members to attend Good Friday and Easter services, and with a further agreement that Republicans would not invoke that law in exchange for having Sundays off throughout most of the rest of the session. On Saturday, the GOP caucus invoked the potential of having every bill left in the 2023 session likely more than 200 read at length, as a way to force Democrats to bring back the 2023-24 state budget measure, Senate Bill 214, because of an error. SB 214 was sent to the governor on April 21, and under state law he had 10 days to sign it. That 10 days expires Monday. In a statement Saturday, the governor's office said, Governor Polis is confident that the JBC and the non-partisan staff will resolve this issue, and appreciates the work of the committee and staff. He looks forward to signing the Long Bill next week. The error, first reported by Colorado Politics Saturday morning, has to do with the conference committee report tied to the Long Appropriations Bill. The report had a $10,000 error, described as a "typo," in the budget for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which means HCPF would get $10,000 more than was initially approved for its children's basic health plan (CHiP+) program. Initially, JBC members raised concerns that typo would mean bringing Senate Bill 214 back to the General Assembly with an elaborate unwinding of several actions in order fix the error, including reversing the final votes. That also initially raised concerns that House Republicans might seek to have the bill about 350 pages in its final version read at length. State law does not allow for reading a bill at length except for second reading and prior to the third reading final vote, according to Sharon Eubanks, director of the Office of Legislative Legal Services and as recounted by House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, on Saturday. In an April 19 meeting, Carolyn Kampman, the JBC director, told the committee members they had two options to fix it. The option they chose, called a correction schedule and related to clear typographical errors, would allow the Revisor of Statutes, a representative from legal services and the Secretary of the Senate to verify a clerical error had taken place, although without actually changing the typo, and send the bill on to the governor. The error will have to be addressed, but that doesnt have to take place now and can be done through a budget supplemental in 2024, Kampman said during the April 19 meeting. The error was also discussed with the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council, the six leaders of the General Assembly, on April 18. 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. On April 24, the House GOP caucus learned about the error from JBC member Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, R-Watkins, and discussions began about strategies to force the majority to correct it. It all came to a head on Saturday, when the 19 members of the GOP caucus submitted a formal letter to the majority, "reserving the right" to have every bill read at length until the budget bill came back to the General Assembly, although they also pledged not to have the budget bill read at length. The letter invoked House Rule 24, an official protest "regarding a matter of urgency," along with a request that the letter be printed in the House journal, which required approval from the body. House Speaker Julie McCluskie asked members to vote in favor of the motion "as a demonstration of good faith" and to recognize "that all voices in this chamber matter and are valued." The motion was approved on a 61-1 vote, with Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, the lone "no" vote. The GOP letter stated the state budget is now "knowingly unbalanced." The state constitution requires the General Assembly to pass a balanced budget, the letter continued. "Failure to do so would be a breach of our duties and oath of office. Yet we have an additional concern; namely, that by failing to pass a budget that is balanced and therefore constitutional, we will set the precedent of an unbalanced budget that might be exploited in the future by other leaders, standing then upon what we are doing here. We refuse to be complicit in establishing such an unconstitutional precedent," the letter said. The letter also stated the minority reserved the right to have "any and all other bills read at length in protest of this issue until such as it is rightly resolved." In response, the JBC's two Democratic members, Reps. Shannon Bird of Westminster and Emily Sirota of Denver, explained that they believed the problem was resolved. Bird told the House the JBC found a typographical error in what's known as "a letter note," one line contained in the conference committee report, and not in a budget appropriation. After learning of the error, the JBC was presented with the two options listed above, including a rule that is routinely used to correct "obvious typographical non-substantive errors" in bills and reports, Bird said. "We all had an open and robust discussion" about the problem, and after an initial committee member, all six "informed Eubanks they agreed to use the correction schedule" to address the problem, Bird said. But the committee did not vote on the matter; none was required, Bird said. The Democrats' reaction to the letter was to call for Rule 14, which has been invoked numerous times in the past month to limit debate, on several pending bills. The motion requires only a simple majority vote, and it passed on a 36 to 26 vote, with seven Democrats siding with the Republicans. The Republicans called for the first bill that followed the motion, a 39-page measure on pollution control, to be read at length. At this hour, several other measures, including the School Finance Act, have moved through debate in the House without Republicans calling for those measures to be read at length. McCluskie has been unavailable for comment. Desert Mountain Energy Corp. (OTCMKTS:DMEHF Get Rating) was the target of a large decline in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 280,400 shares, a decline of 33.4% from the March 31st total of 421,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 165,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Desert Mountain Energy Stock Down 1.8 % Shares of DMEHF traded down 0.02 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching 1.11. 38,600 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 47,440. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of 1.41 and a 200 day moving average price of 1.79. Desert Mountain Energy has a 1 year low of 1.09 and a 1 year high of 2.79. Get Desert Mountain Energy alerts: About Desert Mountain Energy (Get Rating) Further Reading Desert Mountain Energy Corp. operates as a resource company, which focuses on then exploration, development, and production of helium, hydrogen, and noble gases. The company was founded on April 30, 2008 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Desert Mountain Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Desert Mountain Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Empire State Realty Trust (NYSE:ESRT Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $0.80-$0.84 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $0.84. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Empire State Realty Trust Price Performance Shares of ESRT traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $6.11. 1,897,928 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,062,611. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $6.68 and a 200-day moving average of $7.08. Empire State Realty Trust has a one year low of $5.39 and a one year high of $9.10. The firm has a market cap of $988.05 million, a P/E ratio of 18.52, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 1.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33, a current ratio of 7.17 and a quick ratio of 7.17. Get Empire State Realty Trust alerts: Empire State Realty Trust Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.035 per share. This represents a $0.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. Empire State Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is presently 42.42%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Institutional Inflows and Outflows ESRT has been the topic of several research analyst reports. TheStreet cut shares of Empire State Realty Trust from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Monday, April 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Empire State Realty Trust from $5.00 to $6.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, March 16th. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Empire State Realty Trust from $7.25 to $7.50 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Empire State Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Empire State Realty Trust from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $9.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $7.75. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Raymond James & Associates grew its stake in shares of Empire State Realty Trust by 25.0% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 276,068 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $2,711,000 after buying an additional 55,271 shares during the last quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. bought a new position in shares of Empire State Realty Trust in the first quarter worth approximately $141,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in shares of Empire State Realty Trust by 7.6% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 27,846 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 1,955 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Empire State Realty Trust by 36.4% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 67,238 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $660,000 after purchasing an additional 17,932 shares during the last quarter. Finally, APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new position in shares of Empire State Realty Trust in the first quarter worth approximately $1,515,000. 76.81% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Empire State Realty Trust (Get Rating) Empire State Realty Trust, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in owning, managing, acquiring, and repositioning office and retail properties. It operates through the Real Estate and Observatory segments. The Real Estate segment includes ownership, management, operation, acquisition, repositioning, and disposition of real estate assets. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Empire State Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Empire State Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Great Wall Motor Company Limited (OTCMKTS:GWLLF Get Rating) was the target of a large increase in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,725,400 shares, an increase of 39.6% from the March 31st total of 3,385,300 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 23,627.0 days. Great Wall Motor Stock Performance Great Wall Motor stock traded up $0.04 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $1.21. 1,098 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,277. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $1.24 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $1.26. Great Wall Motor has a 12-month low of $0.87 and a 12-month high of $2.29. Get Great Wall Motor alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, HSBC cut Great Wall Motor from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 17th. About Great Wall Motor Great Wall Motor Company Limited researches and develops, manufactures, and sells automobiles, and automotive parts and components in China, Russia, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Chile, and internationally. The company offers pick-up trucks, SUVs, sedans, and energy vehicles primarily under the Haval, WEY, ORA, Tank, and Great Wall Pickup brand names; and unmanned vehicles. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Great Wall Motor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Great Wall Motor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GSK (NYSE:GSK Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.90-$1.96 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.68. The company issued revenue guidance of $37.75 billion-$38.47 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $35.72 billion. GSK Stock Performance NYSE GSK traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $36.03. The company had a trading volume of 2,559,895 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,963,051. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.47, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 0.95. GSK has a 1-year low of $28.47 and a 1-year high of $45.66. The company has a market cap of $73.77 billion, a PE ratio of 4.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 0.67. The business has a 50 day moving average of $35.58 and a 200-day moving average of $34.77. Get GSK alerts: GSK (NYSE:GSK Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The pharmaceutical company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. GSK had a net margin of 47.85% and a return on equity of 43.27%. The business had revenue of $8.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.30 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that GSK will post 3.63 EPS for the current year. GSK Increases Dividend Analyst Ratings Changes The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 13th. Investors of record on Friday, May 19th will be issued a dividend of $0.3475 per share. This is a boost from GSKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. This represents a $1.39 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. GSKs dividend payout ratio is currently 16.43%. GSK has been the subject of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on shares of GSK from GBX 1,350 ($16.86) to GBX 1,400 ($17.48) in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of GSK from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, March 17th. StockNews.com raised shares of GSK from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Berenberg Bank increased their price target on shares of GSK from GBX 1,580 ($19.73) to GBX 1,730 ($21.61) in a report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of GSK in a report on Sunday, February 26th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $1,576.88. Institutional Trading of GSK A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of GSK by 61.3% in the 1st quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 968 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of GSK in the 1st quarter valued at $80,000. ICA Group Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of GSK in the 4th quarter valued at $76,000. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of GSK by 31.1% in the 4th quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 2,527 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $89,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Penserra Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of GSK by 199.8% in the 4th quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC now owns 3,025 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 2,016 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.15% of the companys stock. About GSK (Get Rating) GSK Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Operations, Research and Development, and Consumer Healthcare. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More Receive News & Ratings for GSK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GSK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD Get Rating) and Cazoo Group (NYSE:CZOO Get Rating) are both retail/wholesale companies, but which is the superior investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, valuation, analyst recommendations and earnings. Institutional & Insider Ownership 98.2% of Lithia Motors shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 70.8% of Cazoo Group shares are held by institutional investors. 1.9% of Lithia Motors shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 29.9% of Cazoo Group shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Get Lithia Motors alerts: Volatility and Risk Lithia Motors has a beta of 1.39, suggesting that its stock price is 39% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Cazoo Group has a beta of 1.71, suggesting that its stock price is 71% more volatile than the S&P 500. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Lithia Motors $28.23 billion 0.21 $1.25 billion $40.82 5.41 Cazoo Group $1.54 billion 0.04 -$870.63 million N/A N/A This table compares Lithia Motors and Cazoo Groups revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Lithia Motors has higher revenue and earnings than Cazoo Group. Profitability This table compares Lithia Motors and Cazoo Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Lithia Motors 3.99% 22.30% 7.77% Cazoo Group N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Lithia Motors and Cazoo Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Lithia Motors 1 3 4 0 2.38 Cazoo Group 0 4 1 0 2.20 Lithia Motors presently has a consensus price target of $300.56, suggesting a potential upside of 36.07%. Cazoo Group has a consensus price target of $22.85, suggesting a potential upside of 1,183.71%. Given Cazoo Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Cazoo Group is more favorable than Lithia Motors. Summary Lithia Motors beats Cazoo Group on 9 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks. About Lithia Motors (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. The Import segment consists of automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Volkswagen. The Luxury segment includes retail automotive franchises that sell new vehicles manufactured by BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Lexus. The company was founded by Walt DeBoer and Sidney B. DeBoer in 1946 and is headquartered in Medford, OR. About Cazoo Group (Get Rating) Cazoo Group Ltd operates as an online car retailer in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. It allows consumers to purchase, finance, and subscribe to a car through online for delivery or collection. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Cazoo Group Ltd is a subsidiary of Cazoo Holdings Limited. 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. Hollencrest Capital Management boosted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF (NYSEARCA:EWI Get Rating) by 63.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,310 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after purchasing an additional 6,310 shares during the period. Hollencrest Capital Management owned approximately 0.22% of iShares MSCI Italy ETF worth $439,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Simplex Trading LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $105,000. Credit Suisse AG lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF by 10.6% in the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 7,027 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $151,000 after purchasing an additional 674 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF by 783.3% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 6,969 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $206,000 after purchasing an additional 6,180 shares during the period. Eaton Vance Management lifted its stake in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 12,220 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $361,000 after purchasing an additional 392 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI Italy ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $447,000. Get iShares MSCI Italy ETF alerts: iShares MSCI Italy ETF Price Performance EWI opened at $31.66 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $30.40 and a 200 day moving average price of $28.40. The stock has a market cap of $237.45 million, a P/E ratio of 10.24 and a beta of 1.03. iShares MSCI Italy ETF has a 1 year low of $20.99 and a 1 year high of $31.98. About iShares MSCI Italy ETF iShares MSCI Italy Capped ETF, formerly iShares MSCI Italy Capped Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI Italy 25/50 Index (Index). The Index consists of stocks traded primarily on the Milan Stock Exchange. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI Italy ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI Italy ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hollencrest Capital Management lessened its holdings in Apartment Investment and Management (NYSE:AIV Get Rating) by 5.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 27,032 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 1,500 shares during the period. Hollencrest Capital Managements holdings in Apartment Investment and Management were worth $192,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Investment and Management in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Investment and Management in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Investment and Management in the second quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Investment and Management in the third quarter valued at approximately $75,000. Finally, Bayesian Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Apartment Investment and Management in the third quarter valued at approximately $76,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 95.27% of the companys stock. Get Apartment Investment and Management alerts: Apartment Investment and Management Stock Performance Shares of AIV stock opened at $7.83 on Friday. Apartment Investment and Management has a one year low of $5.22 and a one year high of $9.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68, a quick ratio of 2.52 and a current ratio of 2.52. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $7.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.66 and a beta of 1.19. Analysts Set New Price Targets Apartment Investment and Management Company Profile Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Apartment Investment and Management in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating for the company. (Get Rating) Apartment Investment & Management Co operates as a real estate investment trust that engages in the acquisition, ownership, management and redevelopment of apartment properties. The company was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Denver, CO. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AIV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Apartment Investment and Management (NYSE:AIV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Apartment Investment and Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Apartment Investment and Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ICICI Bank Limited (NYSE:IBN Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 17,250,000 shares, a decline of 19.8% from the March 31st total of 21,520,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 6,450,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.7 days. ICICI Bank Stock Up 0.8 % IBN stock traded up $0.19 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $22.75. The company had a trading volume of 3,273,429 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,377,257. The company has a market capitalization of $79.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.13, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.01, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.85. ICICI Bank has a 1 year low of $17.07 and a 1 year high of $23.75. The company has a 50 day moving average of $21.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $21.65. Get ICICI Bank alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On ICICI Bank Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in ICICI Bank during the third quarter valued at approximately $271,000. Baillie Gifford & Co. grew its holdings in ICICI Bank by 1.0% during the third quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 8,427,715 shares of the banks stock valued at $176,729,000 after purchasing an additional 87,352 shares during the last quarter. Veriti Management LLC grew its holdings in ICICI Bank by 9.4% during the third quarter. Veriti Management LLC now owns 88,653 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,859,000 after purchasing an additional 7,651 shares during the last quarter. Aubrey Capital Management Ltd increased its stake in shares of ICICI Bank by 2,562.0% in the third quarter. Aubrey Capital Management Ltd now owns 777,300 shares of the banks stock worth $16,301,000 after purchasing an additional 748,100 shares during the period. Finally, Calamos Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of ICICI Bank by 618.9% in the third quarter. Calamos Advisors LLC now owns 112,430 shares of the banks stock worth $2,358,000 after purchasing an additional 96,790 shares during the period. 15.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ICICI Bank Company Profile Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on ICICI Bank in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of ICICI Bank from a conviction-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 7th. (Get Rating) ICICI Bank Ltd. engages in the provision of banking and financial services, which includes retail banking, corporate banking, and treasury operations. It operates through the following segments: Retail Banking, Wholesale Banking, Treasury, Other Banking, Life Insurance, General Insurance, and Others. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for ICICI Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ICICI Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. IFP Advisors Inc trimmed its holdings in shares of Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Get Rating) by 10.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 54,083 shares of the credit-card processors stock after selling 6,068 shares during the quarter. IFP Advisors Incs holdings in Visa were worth $4,957,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Visa by 290.9% during the third quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 4,428,383 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $786,702,000 after buying an additional 3,295,642 shares during the last quarter. Cottage Street Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Visa by 15,603.1% during the 4th quarter. Cottage Street Advisors LLC now owns 3,156,323 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $998,000 after acquiring an additional 3,136,223 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in Visa by 7.0% during the third quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 27,141,800 shares of the credit-card processors stock valued at $4,821,741,000 after acquiring an additional 1,785,695 shares during the last quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can acquired a new stake in Visa in the third quarter valued at approximately $291,294,000. Finally, Barclays PLC grew its holdings in Visa by 30.2% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 5,922,846 shares of the credit-card processors stock worth $1,052,192,000 after purchasing an additional 1,372,336 shares during the last quarter. 81.87% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Visa alerts: Visa Stock Up 1.6 % V stock opened at $232.73 on Friday. Visa Inc. has a one year low of $174.60 and a one year high of $235.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.44 and a current ratio of 1.50. The firms fifty day moving average is $224.45 and its 200 day moving average is $216.07. The firm has a market cap of $437.77 billion, a PE ratio of 31.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.76 and a beta of 0.96. Visa Announces Dividend Visa ( NYSE:V Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The credit-card processor reported $2.09 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.97 by $0.12. Visa had a return on equity of 50.21% and a net margin of 50.95%. The firm had revenue of $7.99 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.79 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.79 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts forecast that Visa Inc. will post 8.57 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 12th will be given a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 11th. Visas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.06%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages have recently commented on V. 22nd Century Group reiterated a maintains rating on shares of Visa in a report on Wednesday. Wolfe Research raised their price target on Visa from $240.00 to $255.00 in a report on Thursday, January 5th. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of Visa from $272.00 to $284.00 in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Visa from $281.00 to $282.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Visa from $243.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $260.88. Insider Transactions at Visa In related news, General Counsel Julie B. Rottenberg sold 13,394 shares of Visa stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.00, for a total value of $2,933,286.00. Following the sale, the general counsel now owns 4,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,003,677. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, General Counsel Julie B. Rottenberg sold 13,394 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $219.00, for a total transaction of $2,933,286.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 4,583 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,003,677. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Alfred F. Kelly, Jr. sold 58,000 shares of Visa stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $223.99, for a total value of $12,991,420.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 162,354 shares in the company, valued at $36,365,672.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 133,115 shares of company stock valued at $30,115,598 in the last three months. 0.22% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Visa Profile (Get Rating) Visa, Inc engages in the provision of digital payment services. It also facilitates global commerce through the transfer of value and information among a global network of consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses, strategic partners, and government entities. It offers debit cards, credit cards, prepaid products, commercial payment solutions, and global automated teller machines (ATMs). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding V? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Visa Inc. (NYSE:V Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Visa Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Visa and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust (NYSE:VPV Get Rating) was the target of a significant decline in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,500 shares, a decline of 21.4% from the March 31st total of 7,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 33,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days. Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust Price Performance NYSE:VPV remained flat at $9.90 during mid-day trading on Friday. The company had a trading volume of 30,317 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,401. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $9.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.91. Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust has a 1 year low of $9.12 and a 1 year high of $11.34. Get Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust alerts: Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th were given a $0.0345 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 14th. This represents a $0.41 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.18%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust Company Profile Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Founders Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. Founders Capital Management now owns 3,000 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Almitas Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $85,000. XML Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust during the 3rd quarter worth about $98,000. Summit Trail Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $101,000. Finally, Cetera Advisor Networks LLC boosted its position in Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust by 16.4% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 13,102 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $128,000 after acquiring an additional 1,848 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.53% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Invesco Ltd. The fund is co-managed by Invesco Advisers, Inc, INVESCO Asset Management (Japan) Limited, INVESCO Asset Management Deutschland GmbH, INVESCO Asset Management Limited, Invesco Canada Ltd., Invesco Hong Kong Limited, and INVESCO Senior Secured Management, Inc It invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Pennsylvania Value Municipal Income Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. LIBERTYVILLE, Illinois Valent BioSciences LLC President and CEO Ted Melnik will retire effective in July. Salman Mir, currently executive vice president and chief operating officer, has been named president and CEO effective in July. Melnik joined Valent BioSciences in 2013 as chief operating officer and was promoted to his current position in 2022. Melnik oversaw significant company growth through business acquisitions. Business milestones he directed include the construction of Valent BioSciences biorational manufacturing facility in Osage, as well as the opening of the Biorational Research Center and Global Headquarters in Libertyville, Illinois. In his new role as president and CEO of the company, Mir will be responsible for overseeing the entire spectrum of global activities at Valent BioSciences. He has extensive experience in sales, marketing, operations, and business development roles with several major global crop protection companies. Mir joined Valent BioSciences in 2012 as vice president of global marketing and business management. He holds an undergraduate veterinary sciences degree from the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences and earned his masters degree in business administration from Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan. The best ways to be money smart this week Financial saving tips for locals who want extra spending money this summer. Shore Capital restated their house stock rating on shares of Jacobs Engineering Group (LON:J Get Rating) in a research note released on Thursday, LSE.Co.UK reports. A number of other brokerages have also recently weighed in on J. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on Jacobs Engineering Group from GBX 237 ($2.96) to GBX 217 ($2.71) and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 165 ($2.06) price target on shares of Jacobs Engineering Group in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Jacobs Engineering Group from GBX 230 ($2.87) to GBX 270 ($3.37) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Jacobs Engineering Group from GBX 285 ($3.56) to GBX 295 ($3.68) and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 237.40 ($2.96). Get Jacobs Engineering Group alerts: Jacobs Engineering Group Price Performance Jacobs Engineering Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Jacobs Engineering Group Inc is challenging today to reinvent tomorrow by solving the worlds most critical problems for thriving cities, resilient environments, mission-critical outcomes, operational advancement, scientific discovery and cutting-edge manufacturing, turning abstract ideas into realities that transform the world for good. Receive News & Ratings for Jacobs Engineering Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Jacobs Engineering Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lennox International (NYSE:LII Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided EPS guidance of $14.25-$15.25 for the period, compared to the consensus EPS estimate of $14.86. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Lennox International also updated its FY23 guidance to $14.25-15.25 EPS. Lennox International Stock Up 0.6 % NYSE LII traded up $1.71 during trading on Friday, hitting $281.91. 382,924 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 339,515. The company has a market capitalization of $10.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.10 and a beta of 0.92. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $251.32 and a 200-day simple moving average of $250.25. Lennox International has a 12-month low of $182.85 and a 12-month high of $284.95. Get Lennox International alerts: Lennox International (NYSE:LII Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The construction company reported $2.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.42 by $0.41. Lennox International had a net margin of 10.76% and a negative return on equity of 200.13%. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.03 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $2.36 earnings per share. Lennox Internationals revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Lennox International will post 14.96 EPS for the current fiscal year. Lennox International Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st were given a dividend of $1.06 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $4.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. Lennox Internationals payout ratio is 29.55%. Several analysts have weighed in on LII shares. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Lennox International from $300.00 to $283.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 13th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Lennox International in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Lennox International from $279.00 to $272.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of Lennox International in a research report on Monday, March 27th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Lennox International from $272.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $261.58. Insider Buying and Selling at Lennox International In related news, EVP Daniel M. Sessa sold 2,052 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $245.80, for a total value of $504,381.60. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 44,256 shares in the company, valued at $10,878,124.80. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 2.80% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its stake in shares of Lennox International by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 17,310 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $4,141,000 after acquiring an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in shares of Lennox International by 2.8% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 4,278 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,023,000 after buying an additional 115 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Lennox International by 40.8% during the 4th quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 659 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $157,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its stake in shares of Lennox International by 376.1% during the 4th quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 4,304 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,030,000 after buying an additional 3,400 shares during the period. Finally, Allstate Investment Management Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Lennox International during the 4th quarter valued at $710,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.99% of the companys stock. Lennox International Company Profile (Get Rating) Lennox International, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of products for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration. It operates through the following business segments: Residential Heating & Cooling, Commercial Heating & Cooling, and Refrigeration. The Residential Heating & Cooling segment manufactures and markets furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, packaged heating and cooling systems, equipment, and accessories. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Lennox International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennox International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag (OTCMKTS:MYTAY Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,100 shares, a growth of 30.8% from the March 31st total of 3,900 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.8 days. Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag Trading Up 0.5 % Shares of OTCMKTS MYTAY traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $6.10. The stock had a trading volume of 100 shares, compared to its average volume of 898. The firm has a market cap of $1.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.78 and a beta of 0.68. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $5.53 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.72. Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag has a 52-week low of $3.03 and a 52-week high of $6.25. Get Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag alerts: Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Magyar Telekom Telecommunications Plc engages in the provision of telecommunications services. It operates through the MT-Hungary, and North Macedonia segments. The MT-Hungary segment offers mobile and fixed line telecommunications, TV distribution, information communication and system integration services to millions of residential and business customers under the Telekom and T-Systems brands. Receive News & Ratings for Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Magyar Telekom Tavkozlesi Nyilvanosan Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC Get Rating) (NYSE:MFC) has received an average rating of Hold from the twelve analysts that are currently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$27.55. A number of analysts have weighed in on MFC shares. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$26.00 to C$28.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. National Bankshares lifted their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$31.00 in a research report on Monday, February 27th. CSFB lifted their price objective on Manulife Financial from C$27.00 to C$28.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, Cormark upped their target price on Manulife Financial from C$25.00 to C$27.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Get Manulife Financial alerts: Manulife Financial Price Performance MFC stock opened at C$26.75 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 43.99, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a current ratio of 4.70. Manulife Financial has a 52-week low of C$20.81 and a 52-week high of C$27.50. The company has a market capitalization of C$49.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.27, a PEG ratio of 12.96 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$25.73 and a 200-day moving average price of C$24.73. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend Manulife Financial ( TSE:MFC Get Rating ) (NYSE:MFC) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 15th. The financial services provider reported C$0.88 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.81 by C$0.07. The firm had revenue of C$15.40 billion for the quarter. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 12.46% and a net margin of 47.00%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Manulife Financial will post 3.4383033 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were paid a $0.365 dividend. This represents a $1.46 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This is a boost from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.33. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.67%. Insider Transactions at Manulife Financial In other Manulife Financial news, Director Donald Richard Lindsay purchased 50,000 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The stock was acquired at an average price of C$26.64 per share, with a total value of C$1,332,005.00. In other Manulife Financial news, Director Donald Richard Lindsay purchased 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$26.64 per share, with a total value of C$1,332,005.00. Also, Director Marianne Harrison sold 36,995 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$26.78, for a total value of C$990,607.72. 0.03% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Manulife Financial (Get Rating) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MarineMax (NYSE:HZO Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share guidance of $4.90-$5.50 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of $6.93. The company issued revenue guidance of -. MarineMax Stock Up 5.5 % NYSE HZO traded up $1.52 on Friday, reaching $29.12. The stock had a trading volume of 894,993 shares, compared to its average volume of 420,620. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $29.41 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. MarineMax has a 1 year low of $25.60 and a 1 year high of $45.84. The company has a market capitalization of $636.27 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 1.44. Get MarineMax alerts: MarineMax (NYSE:HZO Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The specialty retailer reported $1.23 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.75 by ($0.52). MarineMax had a net margin of 6.87% and a return on equity of 20.92%. The firm had revenue of $570.34 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $609.43 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.37 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts forecast that MarineMax will post 5.2 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Insider Activity A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Raymond James dropped their price target on MarineMax from $40.00 to $30.00 in a report on Friday. StockNews.com assumed coverage on MarineMax in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. B. Riley dropped their price target on MarineMax from $52.00 to $48.00 in a report on Friday. Citigroup dropped their price target on MarineMax from $39.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, DA Davidson dropped their price target on MarineMax from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MarineMax presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $40.00. In related news, CAO Anthony E. Jr. Cassella sold 5,000 shares of MarineMax stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.02, for a total value of $155,100.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,060 shares of the companys stock, valued at $250,021.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other MarineMax news, EVP Charles A. Cashman sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.92, for a total transaction of $349,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 35,499 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,239,625.08. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CAO Anthony E. Jr. Cassella sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.02, for a total value of $155,100.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 8,060 shares in the company, valued at approximately $250,021.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 3.30% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On MarineMax A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of MarineMax by 4.4% in the first quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC now owns 5,460 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $220,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in shares of MarineMax by 10.4% in the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 2,931 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $106,000 after purchasing an additional 275 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its position in shares of MarineMax by 0.5% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 66,536 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $2,679,000 after purchasing an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC grew its position in shares of MarineMax by 3.6% in the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 12,583 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $507,000 after purchasing an additional 437 shares during the last quarter. Finally, US Bancorp DE grew its position in shares of MarineMax by 149.0% in the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 757 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 453 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.93% of the companys stock. MarineMax Company Profile (Get Rating) MarineMax, Inc engages in the provision of boating-related activities. The firm sells used and new sport boats, sport cruisers, sport yachts and fishing boats through retail stores. It also provides maintenance, repair, slip and storage services. The company was founded in January 1998 and is headquartered in Clearwater, FL. Read More Receive News & Ratings for MarineMax Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MarineMax and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $20.25- for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.70. The company issued revenue guidance of -. Molina Healthcare Stock Performance Molina Healthcare stock traded up $0.97 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $297.89. 507,214 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 547,103. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $278.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $308.23. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.36 billion, a PE ratio of 20.29, a P/E/G ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.67. Molina Healthcare has a one year low of $249.78 and a one year high of $374.00. The company has a quick ratio of 1.47, a current ratio of 1.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. Get Molina Healthcare alerts: Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The company reported $5.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.13 by $0.68. The business had revenue of $8.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.31 billion. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 36.20% and a net margin of 2.64%. Molina Healthcares quarterly revenue was up 4.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $4.90 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Molina Healthcare will post 20.06 earnings per share for the current year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Insider Activity Several equities analysts recently commented on MOH shares. Stephens restated an equal weight rating and set a $375.00 target price on shares of Molina Healthcare in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Truist Financial cut their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $400.00 to $380.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 10th. StockNews.com upgraded Molina Healthcare from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Molina Healthcare from $307.00 to $282.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Molina Healthcare in a report on Thursday, April 20th. They issued an overweight rating and a $354.00 price objective for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Molina Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $356.42. In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Daniel Cooperman sold 5,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $276.77, for a total transaction of $1,383,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 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 A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of MOH. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in Molina Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 85.9% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 132 shares of the companys stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. bought a new position in shares of Molina Healthcare in the 1st quarter worth approximately $59,000. Finally, Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Molina Healthcare by 169.2% in the 1st quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 350 shares of the companys stock worth $117,000 after acquiring an additional 220 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.25% of the companys stock. Molina Healthcare Company Profile (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. See Also 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. Wolfspeed (NYSE:WOLF Get Rating) had its target price decreased by Morgan Stanley from $80.00 to $54.00 in a research report report published on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. WOLF has been the topic of several other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on shares of Wolfspeed from $105.00 to $90.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. Oppenheimer cut shares of Wolfspeed from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com raised Wolfspeed to a sell rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered their price objective on Wolfspeed from $90.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 11th. Finally, Citigroup lowered Wolfspeed from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $95.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $85.00. Get Wolfspeed alerts: Wolfspeed Stock Performance NYSE:WOLF opened at $46.55 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $5.79 billion, a P/E ratio of -31.45 and a beta of 1.54. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $59.19 and its 200 day simple moving average is $69.42. Wolfspeed has a twelve month low of $44.25 and a twelve month high of $125.48. The company has a quick ratio of 6.13, a current ratio of 4.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Wolfspeed Wolfspeed ( NYSE:WOLF Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The company reported ($0.28) earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.31) by $0.03. The business had revenue of $216.10 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $225.62 million. Wolfspeed had a negative net margin of 20.14% and a negative return on equity of 5.43%. As a group, research analysts predict that Wolfspeed will post -1.1 EPS for the current year. A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of WOLF. Forum Financial Management LP purchased a new position in Wolfspeed in the 1st quarter worth about $200,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC raised its position in Wolfspeed by 536.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC now owns 31,066 shares of the companys stock worth $1,971,000 after buying an additional 26,187 shares during the last quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its position in Wolfspeed by 12.5% in the 2nd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 55,966 shares of the companys stock worth $3,551,000 after buying an additional 6,201 shares during the last quarter. Centiva Capital LP purchased a new position in Wolfspeed in the 2nd quarter worth about $304,000. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors raised its position in Wolfspeed by 20.2% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 7,011 shares of the companys stock worth $445,000 after buying an additional 1,180 shares during the last quarter. About Wolfspeed (Get Rating) Wolfspeed, Inc is an innovator of Wolfspeed power and radio frequency (RF) semiconductors. Its Wolfspeed product families include silicon carbide materials, power-switching devices and RF devices targeted for applications such as electric vehicles, fast charging inverters, power supplies, telecom and military and aerospace. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Wolfspeed Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wolfspeed and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:MCBI Get Rating) announced a dividend on Saturday, April 29th, investing.com reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 8th will be paid a dividend of 0.16 per share by the bank on Thursday, June 1st. This represents a dividend yield of 2.81%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 5th. Mountain Commerce Bancorp Trading Down 1.1 % Shares of MCBI stock opened at $22.50 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $23.85 and a 200-day moving average of $26.44. Mountain Commerce Bancorp has a one year low of $22.00 and a one year high of $31.50. Get Mountain Commerce Bancorp alerts: About Mountain Commerce Bancorp (Get Rating) Featured Stories Mountain Commerce Bancorp, Inc operates as a bank holding company which engages in the ownership and management of its wholly-owned subsidiary Mountain Commerce Bank. Through its subsidiary, it provides a variety of financial services to individuals and corporate customers located primarily in East Tennessee and the surrounding areas. Receive News & Ratings for Mountain Commerce Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mountain Commerce Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. My Legacy Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of McDonalds Co. (NYSE:MCD Get Rating) by 6.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,671 shares of the fast-food giants stock after purchasing an additional 273 shares during the period. My Legacy Advisors LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $1,234,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Piershale Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in McDonalds in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. JDM Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in McDonalds in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in McDonalds in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Global Wealth Strategies & Associates purchased a new position in McDonalds in the 4th quarter worth approximately $35,000. Finally, WD Rutherford LLC purchased a new position in McDonalds in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. 66.86% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at McDonalds In other McDonalds news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,396 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $265.44, for a total value of $370,554.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 308 shares of the companys stock, valued at $81,755.52. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, EVP Marion K. Gross sold 1,396 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $265.44, for a total transaction of $370,554.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 308 shares of the companys stock, valued at $81,755.52. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher J. Kempczinski sold 3,850 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $267.69, for a total transaction of $1,030,606.50. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 34,637 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,271,978.53. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 8,122 shares of company stock worth $2,177,681 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. McDonalds Price Performance Shares of NYSE MCD traded up $1.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $295.75. 2,838,198 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,540,776. McDonalds Co. has a 1 year low of $228.34 and a 1 year high of $296.18. The company has a market capitalization of $215.91 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.73, a PEG ratio of 3.15 and a beta of 0.63. The companys 50-day moving average is $276.46 and its two-hundred day moving average is $270.32. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The fast-food giant reported $2.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.31 by $0.32. McDonalds had a net margin of 29.36% and a negative return on equity of 122.21%. The company had revenue of $5.90 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.58 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.28 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that McDonalds Co. will post 10.94 EPS for the current fiscal year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $1.52 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $6.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.06%. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is presently 65.24%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on MCD. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of McDonalds from $318.00 to $327.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of McDonalds from $288.00 to $312.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Loop Capital boosted their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $328.00 to $346.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $309.00 to $315.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Finally, Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on shares of McDonalds from $320.00 to $330.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-four 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 a consensus price target of $306.83. McDonalds Company 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 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. Nabors Industries (NYSE:NBR Get Rating) had its target price reduced by Susquehanna from $135.00 to $110.00 in a report released on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. NBR has been the topic of several other research reports. Benchmark started coverage on shares of Nabors Industries in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Nabors Industries from $193.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Nabors Industries from $200.00 to $250.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 10th. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Nabors Industries from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $175.00 to $165.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Nabors Industries in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $177.86. Get Nabors Industries alerts: Nabors Industries Stock Up 0.3 % NYSE:NBR opened at $99.74 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $943.54 million, a PE ratio of -6.66 and a beta of 2.76. Nabors Industries has a twelve month low of $92.66 and a twelve month high of $193.88. The company has a current ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40. The companys 50 day moving average is $126.79 and its two-hundred day moving average is $147.32. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Nabors Industries Nabors Industries ( NYSE:NBR Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 7th. The oil and gas company reported ($3.89) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.06) by ($2.83). The company had revenue of $769.34 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $734.46 million. Nabors Industries had a negative return on equity of 26.14% and a negative net margin of 4.03%. Analysts anticipate that Nabors Industries will post 11.56 EPS for the current year. Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 8.8% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,696,916 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $172,152,000 after purchasing an additional 136,874 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 750,842 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $76,173,000 after purchasing an additional 59,309 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 9.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 413,887 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $55,419,000 after purchasing an additional 36,097 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 8.8% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 289,542 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $44,222,000 after purchasing an additional 23,422 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Nabors Industries by 158.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 234,826 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $35,863,000 after purchasing an additional 143,840 shares during the period. 71.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Nabors Industries (Get Rating) Nabors Industries Ltd. engages in the provision of platform work over and drilling rigs. It also provides performance tools, directional drilling services, tubular running services, and innovative technologies. It operates through the following business segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nabors Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nabors Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Local residents are recalling John Pappajohn as a "dreamer and a doer" whose entrepreneurial spirit and endless generosity left its mark on Mason City, Iowa and the world. John Pappajohn, renowned venture capitalist and Mason City native, died April 22 at age 94. Immigrant roots Born in Greece in 1928, Pappajohn and his mother, Maria, immigrated to the United States when he was 9 months old, joining his father, George, who had established a year earlier in Mason City's old southwest "brick and tile" neighborhood. George Pappajohn earned enough to eventually co-own (with two other families) the Evia Meat & Grocery store, named for the island in Greece from which George and Maria emigrated. When Pappajohn 16, his father died suddenly, leaving his mother with the responsibility of running the store along with John and his younger brothers, Aristotle and Socrates. The boys attended Mason City Junior College (later renamed North Iowa Area Community College) and took turns with his brothers attending the University of Iowa, one year at a time so as to be available to help keep the store earning enough to get by. In 1952, John Pappajohn earned an undergraduate degree in business, after six years of on-and-off schooling. PMA Over the next decade, he sold insurance in Des Moines, and adopted a mantra which many remember him for throughout his life: PMA, or positive mental attitude. He founded Guardsman Life Insurance Company in Des Moines in 1962 and served as its chairman for seven years, when he left with $100,000 in savings and established Equity Dynamics, a financial consulting firm, and Pappajohn Capital Resources, a venture capital firm. When John started, people hadnt even hardly heard of the word entrepreneur, said Jamie Zanios of Clear Lake, formerly Mason City and a close friend and cousin of Pappajohn. Judicious and careful investments earned Pappajohn his first million a few years later, and his firms would eventually foster more than 100 startups, facilitate 50 initial public offerings, and serve as a director for more than 40 public companies. Giving back His accomplishments and contributions were recognized nationally and internationally, but he never lost his love and support for his hometown, Mason City Mayor Bill Schickel said. We always proudly claimed John Pappajohn as a native son. In 1997, with more than $30 million, he organized and financed the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Centers at five Iowa universities and colleges the University of Iowa, 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, with 80,529 individuals at NIACC in Pappajohn's hometown. "He was a visionary in that respect", said Zanios, in bringing the center to NIACC. Data from NIACC estimates that from 2019 to 2022, the capital infusion to the North Iowa area as a direct result of the work of the Pappajohn Center was $22.8 million. "Not only did it build the brick and mortar, but it supports the program to this day," said NIACC President Steve Shultz. "John recently renewed a 10-year, $150,000 annual endowment to support work that we do with businesses and starting entrepreneurs in North Iowa. " I want to make Iowa the most entrepreneurial state in America, Pappajohn once said. Shultz said he uses Pappajohn's story of tremendous success as a lesson in giving back. "When I speak to young people, I often use John as an example; that you can begin at NIACC and do great things, as John has done," Schulz said. In 2006, Pappajohn was named a Distinguished Alumni from the American Association of Community Colleges. "I would argue that he has done more for entrepreneurship in the community college sector of higher education than any other individual." Shultz said. Pappajohn also donated two dozen artworks and set up the Pappajohn Print Collection fund with the rest of the Pappajohn family at the MacNider Art Museum. Pappajohn owned a cottage on the shore of Clear Lake, and was an avid supporter of the annual Clear Lake July 4 fireworks display. Other philanthropic efforts throughout Iowa include John Pappajohn Business Building at the University of Iowa Business School, the Pappajohn Pavilion at The University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, the John and Mary Pappajohn Clinical Cancer Center and the Pappajohn Biomedical Institute Building at the University of Iowa. Pappajohn's wife, Mary, was "there by his side all the time, a true partner." Mary Pappajohn's passion was the visual arts, and they served together and separately on numerous boards and commissions of business, philanthropy and art. John Pappajohn received a long hist of honors over his lifetime, including: Horatio Alger recipient in 1995, board of directors Horatio Alger Association; past trustee Pine Manor College, Boston, MA; since 1988, a member of the Anatolia College board of trustees, Thessaloniki, Greece; University of Iowa Foundation board of trustees, Iowa City; University of Iowa board of visitors; University of Iowa Business School Finkbine Award 2004; University of Iowa Homecoming honored guest 2002 and 2010; University of Iowa 1996 recipient Distinguished Alumni Award for Service; 1993 Oscar D. Schmidt Iowa Business Leadership Award from the University of Iowa College of Business; Iowa Business Leader of the Year 1992; Brotherhood Award from the Iowa Region National Conference of Christians and Jews 1997; inducted into the Iowa Hall of Fame 1996; Beta Gamma Sigma Medallion for Entrepreneur of the Year 1997; a more than 20 year association with the JF Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C.; former member of the Advisory Board appointed by President Ronald Reagan; reappointed by President George Bush; member of the National Committee of the Performing Arts; Member trustees council and co-chair Collectors Committee for the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Director of the Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D. C.; member of the National Committee for the Whitney Museum, New York; honorary trustee Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines; named by Art News Magazine as one of the top 200 art collectors in the world from 1997-2012; first Iowan to be awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award; Meredith Willson Heritage Award, 1998; Central Iowa Business Hall of Achievement, 1999; Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient in 2000; 33rd Degree Mason Shriner 2003; Hellenic Heritage Achievement Award 1997; Leadership 100 board of directors; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America Council member; Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Executive Committee 2001-2004; Greek Orthodox Archon Award 2000. In an interview in 1996, Pappajohn said: "I do not plan to retire ever -- unless I have to. As long as I remain motivated by helping entrepreneurs to create new companies, I plan to keep working." Pappajohn kept his end of the bargain, working well into his 90s until health issues forced his retirement. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary; and brothers Soc in 2019 and Tel in 2020. He is survived by his daughter, Ann, and two grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexandra, and many family and friends. Mason City lost a great friend and much loved member of our community," Schickel said. "We are so blessed to have known and loved him. He was both a 'dreamer and a doer' of the first order. Mason City and Iowa are forever indebted to him." Close NIACC students take part in a nursing class using a mechanized, responsive human simulators. MercyOne is teaming up with NIACC with its JumpStart program. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using a mechanized, responsive human simulators. The highly sophisticated simulators, which cost around $150,000 apiece, are anatomically correct, and run students through true-to-life medical scenarios, and expel blood and saliva, and evacuate their bladders and bowels. Adjacent to NIACC's human simulator rooms is a control booth with which an instructor can manually enter an unexpected "medical event" for the students to attend to. The highly sophisticated simulators, which cost around $150,000 apiece, are anatomically correct, and run students through true-to-life medical scenarios, and expel blood and saliva, and evacuate their bladders and bowels. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using video and hands-on simulations to learn how to safely and effectively administer an injection to a patient. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using video and hands-on simulations to learn how to safely and effectively administer an injection to a patient. A student of NIACC's welding program works on a project in a protective booth. NIACC students work together at an Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics simulator. NIACC instructor Brian Mason talks about the Integrated Systems Technology wing. A NIACC student operates a tool and die workstation. NIACC instructor Kevin Losee calibrates a laser etching machine which marks the surface of metal by compromising the substance's carbon makeup. A high-speed laser engraver, operated by instructor Kevin Losee, carves out the NIACC logo onto a key chain. The marks the surface of metal by compromising the substance's carbon makeup. Photos: A tour of NIACC workforce programs A $15 million bond request by NIACC would be used in part to expand and enhance health care and advanced production and mechanics workforce programs in order to meet the growing demand for enrollment in those areas. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using a mechanized, responsive human simulators. MercyOne is teaming up with NIACC with its JumpStart program. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using a mechanized, responsive human simulators. The highly sophisticated simulators, which cost around $150,000 apiece, are anatomically correct, and run students through true-to-life medical scenarios, and expel blood and saliva, and evacuate their bladders and bowels. Adjacent to NIACC's human simulator rooms is a control booth with which an instructor can manually enter an unexpected "medical event" for the students to attend to. The highly sophisticated simulators, which cost around $150,000 apiece, are anatomically correct, and run students through true-to-life medical scenarios, and expel blood and saliva, and evacuate their bladders and bowels. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using video and hands-on simulations to learn how to safely and effectively administer an injection to a patient. NIACC students take part in a nursing class using video and hands-on simulations to learn how to safely and effectively administer an injection to a patient. A student of NIACC's welding program works on a project in a protective booth. NIACC students work together at an Industrial Maintenance and Mechanics simulator. NIACC instructor Brian Mason talks about the Integrated Systems Technology wing. A NIACC student operates a tool and die workstation. NIACC instructor Kevin Losee calibrates a laser etching machine which marks the surface of metal by compromising the substance's carbon makeup. A high-speed laser engraver, operated by instructor Kevin Losee, carves out the NIACC logo onto a key chain. The marks the surface of metal by compromising the substance's carbon makeup. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Rating) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,660,000 shares, a drop of 22.0% from the March 31st total of 13,670,000 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily volume of 18,500,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.6 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nokia Oyj Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of NOK. SG Americas Securities LLC raised its stake in shares of Nokia Oyj by 75.5% during the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 66,123 shares of the technology companys stock worth $325,000 after buying an additional 28,453 shares in the last quarter. Henry James International Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Nokia Oyj by 3.3% in the first quarter. Henry James International Management Inc. now owns 1,099,498 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $5,399,000 after purchasing an additional 35,225 shares during the last quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in shares of Nokia Oyj in the first quarter valued at approximately $1,958,000. Simplicity Solutions LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 17.6% during the 1st quarter. Simplicity Solutions LLC now owns 493,695 shares of the technology companys stock worth $2,424,000 after acquiring an additional 74,001 shares during the period. Finally, Pinnacle Wealth Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Nokia Oyj by 10.2% during the 1st quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Management Group Inc. now owns 118,537 shares of the technology companys stock worth $647,000 after acquiring an additional 11,000 shares during the period. 7.57% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Nokia Oyj alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TheStreet upgraded Nokia Oyj from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Raymond James decreased their target price on shares of Nokia Oyj from $7.00 to $6.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Saturday. UBS Group lowered Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, DNB Markets lowered Nokia Oyj from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Nokia Oyj has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $5.74. Nokia Oyj Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NOK traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $4.19. 14,428,915 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 19,452,524. The company has a market cap of $23.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.30, a P/E/G ratio of 5.42 and a beta of 0.97. Nokia Oyj has a fifty-two week low of $4.08 and a fifty-two week high of $5.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.17, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a current ratio of 1.55. The stocks 50-day moving average is $4.65 and its 200-day moving average is $4.67. Nokia Oyj (NYSE:NOK Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 19th. The technology company reported $0.06 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.09 by ($0.03). Nokia Oyj had a return on equity of 11.57% and a net margin of 16.78%. The firm had revenue of $5.86 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.74 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.08 EPS. The companys revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Nokia Oyj will post 0.44 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Nokia Oyj Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.0329 per share. This is a positive change from Nokia Oyjs previous quarterly dividend of $0.02. This represents a $0.13 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 24th. Nokia Oyjs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 11.39%. About Nokia Oyj (Get Rating) Nokia Oyj engages in the provision of network infrastructure, technology, and software services. It operates through the following segments: Mobile Networks, Network Infrastructure, Cloud and Network Services, and Nokia Technologies. The Mobile Networks segment offers technologies for Radio Access Networks (RAN) as well as Microwave Radio Links (MWR) for transport networks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Nokia Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nokia Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund (NYSE:BXMX Get Rating) was the target of a significant increase in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 384,000 shares, an increase of 38.0% from the March 31st total of 278,200 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 154,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 2.5 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. International Assets Investment Management LLC boosted its stake in Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund by 10.1% during the first quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 30,093 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $429,000 after buying an additional 2,766 shares in the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV bought a new position in shares of Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund during the first quarter valued at $239,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. bought a new position in shares of Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund during the first quarter valued at $823,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund by 3.7% during the first quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 711,803 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $10,143,000 after acquiring an additional 25,660 shares during the period. Finally, Eudaimonia Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund during the first quarter valued at $189,000. Get Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund alerts: Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $13.22. The company had a trading volume of 119,570 shares, compared to its average volume of 150,106. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $13.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $13.05. Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund has a 1-year low of $11.72 and a 1-year high of $14.06. Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Dividend Announcement About Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.236 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.14%. (Get Rating) Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund is a closed-end investment trust, which invests in an equity portfolio of securities. It aims to seek total return with less volatility than the S&P 500 Index. The company was founded on October 26, 2004 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Nuveen S&P 500 Buy-Write Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pure Storage, Inc. (NYSE:PSTG Get Rating) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 12,280,000 shares, a drop of 19.6% from the March 31st total of 15,270,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,560,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Raymond James lifted their price objective on shares of Pure Storage from $40.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Wedbush upgraded Pure Storage from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $34.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Lake Street Capital decreased their target price on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. KeyCorp decreased their target price on Pure Storage from $39.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Pure Storage from $40.00 to $37.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pure Storage currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $36.58. Get Pure Storage alerts: Insider Activity at Pure Storage In related news, Director Roxanne Taylor sold 19,155 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.08, for a total value of $499,562.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,653,889.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Pure Storage news, CRO Dan Fitzsimons sold 28,481 shares of Pure Storage stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.49, for a total transaction of $697,499.69. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive now directly owns 192,530 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,715,059.70. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Director Roxanne Taylor sold 19,155 shares of Pure Storage stock in a transaction on Thursday, April 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.08, for a total transaction of $499,562.40. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 63,416 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,653,889.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 6.80% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pure Storage Pure Storage Price Performance A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of PSTG. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pure Storage by 121.7% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 21,660 shares of the technology companys stock worth $765,000 after acquiring an additional 11,891 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pure Storage during the first quarter worth about $233,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pure Storage during the first quarter worth about $596,000. Synovus Financial Corp grew its stake in shares of Pure Storage by 1.7% during the first quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 43,894 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,547,000 after acquiring an additional 744 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Pure Storage by 0.7% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,035,914 shares of the technology companys stock worth $36,582,000 after acquiring an additional 6,756 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.96% of the companys stock. Pure Storage stock traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $22.83. The stock had a trading volume of 2,130,527 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,459,840. The company has a market cap of $7.03 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 108.71, a PEG ratio of 12.82 and a beta of 1.22. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $25.20 and its 200-day moving average price is $27.58. Pure Storage has a 52 week low of $21.90 and a 52 week high of $32.45. Pure Storage (NYSE:PSTG Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The technology company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.17. The business had revenue of $810.21 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $811.30 million. Pure Storage had a net margin of 2.65% and a return on equity of 16.59%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Pure Storage will post 0.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Pure Storage Company Profile (Get Rating) Pure Storage, Inc engages in the business of delivering innovative and disruptive data storage, products, and services that enable customers to maximize the value of data. The firm is also involved in the provision of data storage and management with a mission to redefine the storage experience by simplifying how people consume and interact with data. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pure Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pure Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 2,459 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock, valued at approximately $584,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. General Partner Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams during the 4th quarter worth $61,000. Alpha Paradigm Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Sherwin-Williams during the 3rd quarter worth $373,000. Czech National Bank raised its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 27,602 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $6,551,000 after purchasing an additional 192 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund raised its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 8,452 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,731,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. raised its stake in Sherwin-Williams by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 16,177 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $3,312,000 after purchasing an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.03% of the companys stock. Get Sherwin-Williams alerts: Sherwin-Williams Stock Performance NYSE:SHW traded up $4.85 on Friday, hitting $237.54. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,911,073 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,347,322. The Sherwin-Williams Company has a one year low of $195.24 and a one year high of $285.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $223.02 and a two-hundred day moving average of $231.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.03. The firm has a market capitalization of $61.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.47 and a beta of 1.07. Sherwin-Williams Dividend Announcement Sherwin-Williams ( NYSE:SHW Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The specialty chemicals company reported $2.04 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.84 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.14 billion. Sherwin-Williams had a return on equity of 86.29% and a net margin of 9.41%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.61 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that The Sherwin-Williams Company will post 8.67 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 19th will be paid a $0.605 dividend. This represents a $2.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 18th. Sherwin-Williamss payout ratio is 29.69%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In SHW has been the subject of several analyst reports. Zelman & Associates downgraded shares of Sherwin-Williams from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Citigroup cut their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $270.00 to $251.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Sherwin-Williams from $260.00 to $265.00 in a research report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target 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. Finally, StockNews.com started coverage on Sherwin-Williams in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Sherwin-Williams has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $257.83. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Sherwin-Williams news, SVP Bryan J. Young sold 2,750 shares of Sherwin-Williams stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $220.76, for a total transaction of $607,090.00. Following the transaction, 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 document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Sherwin-Williams Company 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW Get Rating). 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. Danaher (NYSE:DHR Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Royal Bank of Canada from $289.00 to $260.00 in a research report report published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America downgraded Danaher from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the company from $310.00 to $250.00 in a research report on Wednesday. StockNews.com began coverage on Danaher in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Citigroup dropped their price target on Danaher from $325.00 to $300.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Credit Suisse Group dropped their price target on Danaher from $300.00 to $270.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Danaher from $270.00 to $260.00 in a research report on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $293.71. Get Danaher alerts: Danaher Stock Up 2.4 % DHR stock opened at $236.91 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.52, a current ratio of 1.89 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The firm has a market capitalization of $174.82 billion, a PE ratio of 25.53, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.80. Danaher has a twelve month low of $227.00 and a twelve month high of $303.82. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $247.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $257.06. Danaher Increases Dividend Danaher ( NYSE:DHR Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $2.36 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.26 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $7.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.06 billion. Danaher had a return on equity of 16.70% and a net margin of 22.40%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.76 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Danaher will post 9.66 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st were given a $0.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.46%. This is an increase from Danahers previous quarterly dividend of $0.25. Danahers payout ratio is presently 11.64%. Institutional Trading of Danaher Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Fairfield Bush & CO. increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 10.9% during the first quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. now owns 4,840 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,420,000 after buying an additional 475 shares during the period. Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 19.3% during the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,468 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $724,000 after buying an additional 400 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 76.8% during the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 495 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $145,000 after buying an additional 215 shares during the period. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 14.1% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 31,530 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $9,248,000 after buying an additional 3,897 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP increased its stake in shares of Danaher by 135.9% during the first quarter. Bridgewater Associates LP now owns 35,270 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $10,346,000 after buying an additional 20,320 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.26% of the companys stock. About Danaher (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. Further Reading 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. Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) had its target price upped by Scotiabank from C$74.75 to C$75.75 in a report issued on Thursday morning, The Fly reports. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. National Bank Financial decreased their price target on shares of Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. TD Securities lifted their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$80.00 to C$83.00 in a research note on Thursday. Desjardins downgraded shares of Rogers Communications from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$74.00 to C$90.00 in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Price Performance Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported C$1.09 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$1.01 by C$0.08. The business had revenue of C$4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$4.16 billion. Rogers Communications Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of . The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 8th. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (OTCMKTS:BKGFF Get Rating) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 56,500 shares, a drop of 56.4% from the March 31st total of 129,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 0 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently days. The Berkeley Group Stock Performance OTCMKTS:BKGFF remained flat at $47.82 during midday trading on Friday. The Berkeley Group has a one year low of $37.00 and a one year high of $54.22. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $48.52 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $46.58. Get The Berkeley Group alerts: About The Berkeley Group (Get Rating) Read More The Berkeley Group Holdings plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the residential-led and mixed-use property development activities in the United Kingdom. The company is also involved in land selling activities. It operates under the Berkeley, St Edward, St George, St James, St Joseph, and St William brand names. Receive News & Ratings for The Berkeley Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Berkeley Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Financial LLC trimmed its position in shares of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,463 shares of the medical technology companys stock after selling 1,000 shares during the period. Summit Financial LLCs holdings in Medtronic were worth $1,590,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 0.9% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 123,861,994 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $10,001,857,000 after acquiring an additional 1,056,995 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 5.1% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 115,998,561 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $9,366,883,000 after acquiring an additional 5,620,477 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 1.6% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 58,989,713 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $4,802,998,000 after acquiring an additional 928,929 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 33.1% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 19,374,686 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,564,508,000 after acquiring an additional 4,816,172 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada raised its stake in shares of Medtronic by 4.6% during the third quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 13,702,223 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $1,106,453,000 after acquiring an additional 608,587 shares during the last quarter. 80.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Medtronic alerts: Medtronic Stock Performance Medtronic stock traded down $0.43 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $90.95. 7,281,739 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,081,961. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.39. Medtronic plc has a 12 month low of $75.76 and a 12 month high of $106.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.71. The business has a 50 day moving average of $81.86 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.47. Medtronic Announces Dividend Medtronic ( NYSE:MDT Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The medical technology company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.27 by $0.03. Medtronic had a net margin of 13.20% and a return on equity of 13.37%. The business had revenue of $7.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.53 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.37 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down .8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Medtronic plc will post 5.28 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 14th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 24th were given a $0.68 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a $2.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.99%. Medtronics payout ratio is presently 89.47%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several brokerages recently issued reports on MDT. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Medtronic from $100.00 to $95.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $89.00 price target on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Medtronic from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $77.00 to $100.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their price objective on shares of Medtronic from $88.00 to $93.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medtronic currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $91.79. About Medtronic (Get Rating) Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiovascular Porrtfolio, Neuroscience Portfolio, Medical Surgical Portfolio, and Diabetes Operating Unit. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MDT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Medtronic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Medtronic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Summit Trail Advisors LLC decreased its position in General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) by 3.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,166 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 211 shares during the period. Summit Trail Advisors LLCs holdings in General Electric were worth $433,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of GE. Macquarie Group Ltd. increased its position in shares of General Electric by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 48,555 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $3,006,000 after purchasing an additional 1,493 shares during the last quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of General Electric by 3.3% during the 4th quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 7,262 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $609,000 after purchasing an additional 230 shares during the last quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of General Electric by 25.8% during the 3rd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 1,159 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $72,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC increased its position in shares of General Electric by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC now owns 12,231 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $757,000 after purchasing an additional 1,730 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aspiriant LLC increased its holdings in shares of General Electric by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Aspiriant LLC now owns 4,596 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $284,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 70.12% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on General Electric from $104.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on General Electric from $96.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Friday, April 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their target price on General Electric from $97.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Citigroup raised their price objective on General Electric from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on General Electric from $100.00 to $102.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $103.20. General Electric Trading Up 0.9 % Shares of GE stock opened at $98.97 on Friday. General Electric has a 12-month low of $46.55 and a 12-month high of $102.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $91.81 and its 200-day moving average price is $84.45. The stock has a market capitalization of $107.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.90 and a beta of 1.27. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The conglomerate reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.14. The firm had revenue of $14.49 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.46 billion. General Electric had a return on equity of 9.45% and a net margin of 11.85%. The businesss revenue was up 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.24 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that General Electric will post 2.03 EPS for the current fiscal year. General Electric Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 7th were issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.32%. General Electrics payout ratio is 4.17%. About General Electric (Get Rating) General Electric Co engages in the provision of commercial and military aircraft engines and systems, wind, and other renewable energy generation equipment and grid solutions, and gas, steam, nuclear, and other power generation equipment. It operates through the following segments: Aviation, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and Power. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Ternium (NYSE:TX Get Rating) from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday. A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on TX. Itau BBA Securities downgraded shares of Ternium from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $40.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Ternium from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their price objective for the company from $34.00 to $52.00 in a report on Monday, March 6th. Bank of America raised Ternium from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $38.00 to $42.00 in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. HSBC upped their price target on Ternium from $43.00 to $45.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 16th. Finally, Citigroup initiated coverage on Ternium in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. They set a buy rating and a $50.00 price objective for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $46.43. Get Ternium alerts: Ternium Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of Ternium stock opened at $43.35 on Wednesday. Ternium has a 1-year low of $26.01 and a 1-year high of $47.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 2.42 and a current ratio of 4.00. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $41.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $35.78. Ternium Announces Dividend Ternium ( NYSE:TX Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, April 25th. The basic materials company reported $1.91 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.93. Ternium had a return on equity of 9.84% and a net margin of 8.68%. The company had revenue of $3.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.67 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $3.95 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was down 15.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Ternium will post 5.69 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, May 5th will be issued a $1.80 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.9%. Terniums dividend payout ratio is presently 25.86%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ternium Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of TX. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in Ternium by 793.8% during the 1st quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 715 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 635 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Ternium during the 3rd quarter worth about $35,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC acquired a new position in Ternium during the 1st quarter worth about $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Ternium during the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Ternium during the 4th quarter worth about $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 10.41% of the companys stock. About Ternium (Get Rating) Ternium SA engages in the production of flat steel. It operates through the Steel and Mining segments. The Steel segment includes the sales of steel products. The Mining segment involves in the sales of mining products, mainly iron ore and pellets. The company was founded in September 1961 and is headquartered in Luxembourg. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Ternium Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ternium and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. On Monday, Mason City residents gathered downtown to watch in horror as the Kirk Apartments building at 206 N. Federal Ave. burned to a husk. It was the second devastating fire at the historic location. In 1902, the Kirkland Flats, a previous three-story apartment building on the same ground, was destroyed by a calamitous fire. Horace P. Kirk was born in 1843 in Mahoning County, Ohio. He came to Mason City following three separate enlistments in the Union Army during the Civil War. When he arrived, the hamlet consisted of only three permanent homes. In 1867, he purchased a photography gallery from A.M. Thompson, establishing himself as a businessman in the growing town. He married Elizabeth R. Wordsworth of Lake Mills, and the union produced two sons, Clara L. and Verne P. By 1896, he had become director of the Mason City School System and constructed a four story apartment building known as the Kirkland Flats. The structure contained apartments, offices and storage rooms. Directly to the north sat a warehouse known as the Kirk Building. Tradesmen of all stripes were scurrying to put the finishing touches on the Kirkland Flats so that she could welcome the young families eager to grow their lives there. On Oct. 4, 1902, cries of "Fire! Fire! Fire!" rang out at about 7 p.m. Kirk ran into the wholesale house. Later, he was unable to say if the fire was burning above or below him, but George Williams, an attache with the E.P. Stacy and Sons fruit company, ran into the back rooms at the same time and believed the fire to have started on the third floor near the light shafts as that was where the early flames began to show. The Kirk Building, was a wholesale house where goods were stored for distribution to grocers, pharmacists, and artisans of all kinds. There were three inhabited apartments, as well. The Dennison Fire Company arrived within 10 minutes. There was some delay as those on site who discovered the fire attempted to evacuate the building and fight the flames themselves. The alarm was not sent until precious minutes had passed. Driver Conner of the company got the alarm from the Park Hotel alarm box number 24. He and the firefighters arrived within a minute. Hydrants were tapped to the north, east and west with a total of six hoses battling the blaze. Engineers at the pump station pushed their machinery to the edge, increasing the water pressure to 90-100 pounds per square inch. Water mains had been tested at 120 PSI, and the crew knew they couldn't go above that without a catastrophic failure of their equipment. The choice to keep the water pressure at that rate would eventually be a topic of derisive conversation. The Dennison Fire Company brought no fire engine and no aerial ladders to combat the roaring conflagration. The pressure from the hoses barely reached the third floor where the flames raged. It was noted the stream from the hoses was so weak it did not even break the glass when trained directly on the windows. Fire Chief J.W. Adams was away from Mason City at the time and his duties fell to his Assistant Chief J.C. Williams. The fire tore through the building, burning from 7 p.m. until past 1 a.m., when it seemed to simply run out of fuel. The timber roof and flooring were no match for the heat of the flames. As floors gave way, so, too did the eastern wall. The crumbling structure contributed to the injury of firefighter Max Gorman, who was attempting to knock down an unstable tower of bricks from a perch in a young tree. He was concerned citizens could be crushed. The unstable bricks did collapse and struck the tree he was balanced in. The action flung Gorman a significant distance into the basement of the burning structure, where he received serious bruising and burns. The only other reported injury was H.C. Clinton, who in the smoky confusion slipped from a stack of grape crates while trying to hose down the flames. He fell down the light shaft and was luckily discovered and rescued by J.H. Murphy. While some goods were saved from Kirkland Flats, the majority of the structure and its contents were completely destroyed. Kirk held insurance on the building. Losses were estimated to be over $100,000 for both the building and content. Kirk was insured for $44,500, and the payout for the destruction was $44,000. Asked about his plan for the future, Kirk was quoted as saying, "I must figure and find out just where I am. It will take two weeks before I can adjust myself. I cannot afford to let the property remain idle." By Oct. 9, just five days after the fire, Kirk was supervising the cleanup and making plans for reconstruction. He ensured that his previous tenants would return and had begun designing a grander iteration of the Kirkland Flats. He stated that under no circumstance would he build higher than three stories as he had no faith that the fire department would be able to protect a building any taller. The west and north walls of the Kirkland Flats stood strong, and H.P. Kirk kept them in place as he constructed anew. The Kirk Apartments were completed in 1903 and offered Mason City's first luxury rentals. With 25 single and 11 double rooms, the 36-apartment structure was appointed with the finest of accommodations. Outside, it was made up of pressed brick, sandstone and copper-clad window coping. The elegant entrance survived the 1902 blaze and was incorporated into the new design. Maple floors and oak trim proclaimed their opulence. Halls and entrances were decked out with mahogany finish, and each apartment had a private bath and kitchen with heat, light and hot and cold running water. By August 1903, the Kirk Apartments were nearly complete. Boilers provided steam heat to the building, a welcome change from drafty rooms with fireplaces, and those boilers were placed in a separate building in order to make the Kirk "absolutely fireproof in every particular." And for a century, it was. 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 Gorman-Rupp Company (NYSE:GRC Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, April 28th, Zacks reports. Investors of record on Monday, May 15th will be given a dividend of 0.175 per share by the industrial products company on Friday, June 9th. This represents a $0.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 12th. Gorman-Rupp has increased its dividend by an average of 7.6% annually over the last three years and has raised its dividend annually for the last 16 consecutive years. Gorman-Rupp has a payout ratio of 45.8% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Get Gorman-Rupp alerts: Gorman-Rupp Stock Performance GRC opened at $24.55 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $642.72 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 62.95 and a beta of 0.80. The company has a fifty day moving average of $25.09 and a 200 day moving average of $26.30. Gorman-Rupp has a fifty-two week low of $22.67 and a fifty-two week high of $33.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 1.34 and a current ratio of 2.65. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Gorman-Rupp ( NYSE:GRC Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 3rd. The industrial products company reported $0.11 EPS for the quarter. Gorman-Rupp had a net margin of 1.76% and a return on equity of 6.97%. The business had revenue of $146.00 million during the quarter. Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Gorman-Rupp in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Gorman-Rupp Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new position in shares of Gorman-Rupp in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its stake in shares of Gorman-Rupp by 61.0% during the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 1,327 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 503 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its stake in shares of Gorman-Rupp by 209.2% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 1,824 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 1,234 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gorman-Rupp during the 1st quarter worth about $77,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its stake in shares of Gorman-Rupp by 51.4% during the 2nd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 8,055 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $228,000 after purchasing an additional 2,734 shares during the period. 59.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Gorman-Rupp (Get Rating) The Gorman-Rupp Co engages in the design, manufacture, and global marketing of pumps and pump systems. Its pump models include self-priming centrifugal, standard centrifugal, submersible, rotary gear, diaphragm, engine-driven, and priming assist pumps as well as packaged pump stations. The firm offers its products to fire protection, municipal, industrial, agriculture, construction, petroleum, and original equipment manufacturer. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Gorman-Rupp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gorman-Rupp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) had its target price upped by Truist Financial from $146.00 to $159.00 in a report published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. WMT has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Barclays began coverage on Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, February 7th. They set an overweight rating and a $159.00 price objective for the company. KeyCorp upped their price objective on Walmart from $170.00 to $175.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Walmart from $157.00 to $161.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 price objective on Walmart in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Walmart in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. Six 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, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $165.09. Get Walmart alerts: Walmart Stock Down 0.3 % WMT stock opened at $150.97 on Wednesday. Walmart has a 1-year low of $117.27 and a 1-year high of $156.22. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $144.91 and a 200-day moving average price of $144.17. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $407.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.27, a P/E/G ratio of 4.54 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Announces Dividend Walmart ( NYSE:WMT Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.53 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that Walmart will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, December 7th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.51%. Walmarts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 53.27%. Insider Buying and Selling at Walmart In other Walmart news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.19, for a total transaction of $630,831.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 222,281 shares in the company, valued at $32,050,697.39. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the director now directly owns 245,711,516 shares in the company, valued at $35,753,482,693.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $144.19, for a total value of $630,831.25. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 222,281 shares in the company, valued at $32,050,697.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 21,039,627 shares of company stock worth $2,980,507,683 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fiduciary Alliance LLC purchased a new position in Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $443,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. purchased a new position in Walmart during the 3rd quarter worth $536,000. Meritage Portfolio Management boosted its position in Walmart by 35.2% during the 3rd quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 20,160 shares of the retailers stock valued at $2,615,000 after acquiring an additional 5,253 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC boosted its position in Walmart by 77.9% during the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 20,181 shares of the retailers stock valued at $2,862,000 after acquiring an additional 8,840 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PFS Investments Inc. bought a new stake in Walmart during the 3rd quarter valued at $355,000. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. 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. Further Reading 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. Vertiv (NYSE:VRT Get Rating) issued an update on its FY 2023 earnings guidance on Thursday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of $1.22-$1.32 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.19. The company issued revenue guidance of $6.45 billion-$6.60 billion, compared to the consensus revenue estimate of $6.49 billion. Vertiv also updated its Q2 2023 guidance to $0.25-$0.31 EPS. Vertiv Stock Performance VRT stock traded up $0.43 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $14.92. 5,048,553 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,032,390. Vertiv has a twelve month low of $7.76 and a twelve month high of $17.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.20. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $13.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 1.43. Get Vertiv alerts: Vertiv (NYSE:VRT Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported $0.28 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.30 by ($0.02). Vertiv had a net margin of 1.96% and a return on equity of 23.75%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.68 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.04 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 17.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Vertiv will post 1.22 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Institutional Investors Weigh In On Vertiv Several equities analysts have commented on VRT shares. Citigroup increased their price target on Vertiv from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $17.00 to $19.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $10.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 13th. Finally, Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Vertiv from $20.00 to $22.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $18.38. A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of VRT. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its stake in Vertiv by 11.5% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 26,749 shares of the companys stock worth $375,000 after buying an additional 2,756 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in Vertiv by 17.6% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 15,756 shares of the companys stock worth $221,000 after buying an additional 2,361 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE boosted its stake in Vertiv by 216.7% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 21,756 shares of the companys stock worth $304,000 after buying an additional 14,886 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. boosted its stake in Vertiv by 40.2% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 66,068 shares of the companys stock worth $925,000 after buying an additional 18,935 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in Vertiv by 450.1% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 461,842 shares of the companys stock worth $6,333,000 after buying an additional 377,884 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.59% of the companys stock. About Vertiv (Get Rating) Vertiv Holdings Co engages in the design, manufacture, and service of critical digital infrastructure technology that powers, cools, deploys, secures and maintains electronics that process, store and transmit data. It also offers power management products, thermal management products, integrated rack systems, modular solutions, and management systems for monitoring and controlling digital infrastructure. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Vertiv Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Vertiv and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Get Rating) by 59.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 31,358 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 46,500 shares during the quarter. Virginia Wealth Management Group Inc.s holdings in iShares Silver Trust were worth $691,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its position in iShares Silver Trust by 31.7% during the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 1,909 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares during the last quarter. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Silver Trust by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Altfest L J & Co. Inc. now owns 36,105 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $795,000 after buying an additional 538 shares during the period. Oarsman Capital Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Silver Trust by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. Oarsman Capital Inc. now owns 16,780 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $294,000 after buying an additional 575 shares during the period. Capital Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares Silver Trust by 5.4% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,603 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $256,000 after buying an additional 599 shares during the period. Finally, Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in iShares Silver Trust by 7.9% in the 4th quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 8,359 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $184,000 after buying an additional 610 shares during the period. Get iShares Silver Trust alerts: iShares Silver Trust Trading Up 0.5 % NYSEARCA SLV traded up $0.11 on Friday, hitting $23.00. The companys stock had a trading volume of 14,213,297 shares, compared to its average volume of 18,472,461. iShares Silver Trust has a 52-week low of $16.19 and a 52-week high of $23.89. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $21.24 and its 200 day simple moving average is $20.66. iShares Silver Trust Company Profile iShares Silver Trust (the Trust) owns silver transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust. The Trusts each share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in its net assets. The assets of the Trust consist of silver held by the Trusts custodian on behalf of the Trust. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SLV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Silver Trust (NYSEARCA:SLV Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Silver Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Silver Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A man works to restore the quake-hit Nine-Storeyed Basantapur Palace complex in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 15, 2022. [Photo by Hari Maharjan/Xinhua] Since Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with other countries to protect Asian cultural heritage in 2019, the past years have witnessed growing cooperation among concerned parties in such fields as academic research, archaeological work, and the restoration of historic sites. Over the years, China has stayed committed to and taken concrete actions for the harmonious co-existence of various civilizations in the world. Its contribution to cultural heritage cooperation and exchanges among Asian countries and civilizations, both academic and practical, has been widely recognized by Asian countries. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) A devastating earthquake jolted Kathmandu Valley in 2015, causing great damage to many of Nepal's historical building complexes, including the nine-story Basantapur temple complex. After a five-year restoration project in cooperation with Chinese professionals, the temple complex has now recovered its past splendor. "They (the Chinese) are very cautious about maintaining the authenticity, integrity and values of the world heritage site," said Damodar Gautam, director general of Nepal's Department of Archaeology, when recalling the project completed last year. That's one of the many examples of how China has been fostering international cooperation in cultural heritage preservation these years. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with other countries to protect Asian cultural heritage in 2019, the past years have witnessed growing cooperation among concerned parties in such fields as academic research, archaeological work, and the restoration of historic sites, with the latest progress being the establishment of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia joined by 13 Asian countries. An Active Role Apart from the alliance, the General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, held in China's historic city of Xi'an from Monday to Wednesday, yielded many meaningful results, including a joint declaration to facilitate archaeological collaboration and the launch of a fund for cultural heritage conservation. In his congratulatory letter to the Assembly, Xi pledged to work with all Asian countries to strengthen experience sharing on cultural heritage preservation, promote international cooperation in the cultural heritage sector, and establish a network for dialogue and cooperation among civilizations. Calling Xi's letter and the event "encouraging," Mohammed al-Jubouri, a professor of media at Iraq's al-Iraqia University, said, "I hope that Iraq and China can exchange experiences and promote cooperation including joint archaeology ... I also hope that China can help protect Iraq's cultural heritage." "Such cooperation can also promote cultural exchanges and the relationship between the two countries," he said. The General Assembly of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia kicks off in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 25, 2023. [Xinhua/Li He] In fact, China has played an indispensable part in multiple cultural heritage protection projects in Asia and beyond. For example, Southeast University in the east Chinese city of Nanjing has been working closely with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on this front for more than 20 years. In 2017, a team of scholars and students from the university's School of Architecture, including Professor Zhou Xiaodi, were invited by Myanmar's cultural authorities for preliminary work on the ancient city Mrauk-U's application for a UNESCO World Heritage Site status. The first glimpse of Mrauk-U is something Zhou still vividly remembers. "It was late at night when we reached Mrauk-U. The ancient city is nestled among the mountains, and on top of almost every hill, there is a pagoda," he recalled. "The lights from the pagodas were reflected in the water mist on the river, making the whole scene quiet and layered." Between 2017 and 2020, the team has mapped 112 ancient pagodas and monasteries in Mrauk-U and completed a high-precision map of the ancient city's core area and an area of 30 square km around it. They also built a visual geographic information database and worked out plans for Mrauk-U's protection and the management of its world heritage application. Stronger Cultural Bonds Central Afghanistan's Bamyan Valley is home to the famous Buddhas of Bamyan. Years of war and economic hardship have left the caves there not numbered and cleaned for a long time. However, the situation that badly hindered the heritage protection and further archaeological research has now been reversed. A group of young Chinese scholars have financed a protection project for the heritage site, as well as a program to teach local children how to preserve cultural heritage sites. "With our specific suggestions and financial support, most of the caves near the Buddha site have been officially numbered and installed with introduction nameplates," said Shao Xuecheng, one of the Chinese scholars. In addition, they funded a program to teach local children how to preserve cultural heritages. Kids from impoverished families were invited to attend training activities on relevant knowledge by distributing bread. "I'm thankful to Chinese friends for providing training and assisting the children to learn how to protect and preserve the cultural heritages in the future," said Ahmad Ali Hussianyar, a local archaeologist. For Mawlawi Saifurahman Mohammadi, Bamyan provincial director of the information and culture department, the "Chinese friends have provided us with real help, and we are very grateful." Photo taken on July 10, 2022 shows caves around the site of a giant Buddha statue in Bamyan province, Afghanistan. [Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua] In 2003, the cultural landscape and archaeological remains of the Bamyan Valley were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In recent years, China has cooperated with six Asian countries such as Cambodia on 11 historic sites' conservation projects, and with 14 Asian countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia, in more than 20 collaborative archaeological projects, official statistics showed. China has been actively involved in the restoration of Cambodia's Angkor Archeological Park and Preah Vihear Temple, two UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. Speaking of the newly-established Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia, Long Kosal, deputy director-general of the APSARA National Authority, a government agency responsible for managing and preserving the Angkor park, said, "I have a strong conviction that our Cambodia-China cooperation in the safeguarding and development of cultural heritage sites will be further strengthened and expanded." "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 China's National Cultural Heritage Administration. Celebrating Cultural Diversity "All civilizations are rooted in their unique cultural environment. Each embodies the wisdom and vision of a country or nation, and each is valuable for being uniquely its own," said Xi at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations held in Beijing in 2019. Over the years, China has stayed committed to and taken concrete actions for the harmonious co-existence of various civilizations in the world. 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 surveys and cultural relics repair projects in other parts of Asia. The Chinese contribution to cultural heritage cooperation and exchanges among Asian countries and civilizations, both academic and practical, has been widely recognized by Asian countries, said Xie Bing, deputy head of China's National Cultural Heritage Administration. At the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting last month, Xi proposed the Global Civilization Initiative, calling for respecting the diversity of civilizations, advocating the common values of humanity, valuing the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and strengthening international people-to-people exchanges and cooperation. "This initiative is commendable because it is based on respect for the diversity of civilizations, reflecting China's desire for exchanges and cooperation," said al-Jubouri, the Iraqi scholar, adding that the establishment of the Alliance for Cultural Heritage in Asia showed that China walks its talk. Photo taken on Feb. 24, 2022 shows the archaeological site of Hatra, an ancient city about 90 km southwest of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, in Iraq. [Photo by Yasser Al Hamdani/Xinhua] Noting that misunderstanding results in disputes, he said that China's plan will help promote mutual understanding and learning among people all over the world, and contribute to the security, stability and peace of the world. Nasir Khan, an official from Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums, has a similar opinion. Respecting the diversity of civilizations and cultures is core to peaceful co-existence in the world, he said, adding that the Global Civilization Initiative will promote the peace and harmony of mankind at a time of conflict, hegemony and selfishness. (Source: Xinhua) Dai Bing (C, front), charge d'affaires of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, addresses a high-level Security Council briefing on Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York, Feb. 24, 2023. [Xinhua/Xie E] On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace, and its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace, Xi stressed during Wednesday's phone conversation. BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) The latest phone talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky was widely welcomed in the international community, and many voiced expectations that China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a peaceful settlement of the Ukraine crisis. Xi stressed on Wednesday that dialogue and negotiations are the only viable way out for the Ukraine crisis, and no one wins a nuclear war, adding that bilateral ties between the two countries have reached the level of strategic partnership, which has boosted the respective development and revitalization of the two countries. Following the conversation, Zelensky said on Twitter that he had "a long and meaningful phone call" with Xi, adding that he believes the call and the appointment of Ukraine's ambassador to China "will give a powerful impetus to the development of our bilateral relations." The United Nations expects China to continue to play a helpful role in resolving the Ukraine crisis, Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, told a press conference on Wednesday. "We certainly encourage the involvement of all key nations around the world, including, of course, the members of the Security Council, in terms of the contributions they can make toward the resolution of the crisis involving Ukraine and Russia," said Haq. "And certainly, we hope that China will continue to play a helpful role." Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Wednesday that Moscow welcomed the "readiness of the Chinese side to strive to establish a negotiation process," adding that a broad range of provisions outlined within China's Position on the Political Settlement of the Ukraine Crisis, a document China published on Feb. 24, are in line with Moscow's principled approaches. On the Ukraine crisis, China always stands on the side of peace, and its core stance is to facilitate talks for peace, Xi stressed during Wednesday's phone conversation. Calling the conversation "positive," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that China can play an important role in bringing an end to the Ukraine crisis, adding that France encourages any dialogue that can contribute to the resolution of the crisis. "We welcome the news that there was a phone call between President Xi and President Zelensky. We think that's a good thing," John Kirby, the U.S. National Security Council's coordinator for strategic communication, told reporters on Wednesday. Brussels also welcomed the Xi-Zelensky conversation, as it's an important step by China in exercising its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council, according to European Commission Chief Spokesperson Eric Mamer on Wednesday. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell welcomed the development as well, saying it is very important that China talked with Ukraine, and all parties want peace. (Source: Xinhua) President Joe Biden, here at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, in 2022, is set to appear at this year's event on Saturday, April 29. DES MOINES The competition between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is intensifying as the former president is scheduling a return trip to Iowa on the same day that the Florida governor was already going to be in the state that will kick off the Republican contest for the White House. A Trump campaign official said Saturday that the former president plans to be in Iowa on May 13 to headline an organizing rally at a sprawling park in downtown Des Moines. That's when DeSantis was already slated to headline Iowa Rep. Randy Feenstra's annual summer fundraiser in northwest Iowa and speak at a party fundraiser later that evening in Cedar Rapids. The Trump campaign official, who requested anonymity to discuss the trip before it was announced, said the Des Moines organizing rally has been in the planning stage for weeks and is aimed at identifying caucus supporters and volunteers. The move is a sign of the escalating competition between the two men who, at least for now, are leading contenders for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump and his allies have become increasingly emboldened in their efforts to attack and marginalize DeSantis, who is expected to announce his White House bid sometime after the Florida Legislature wraps up its work in the coming week. But Trump's trip is also notable for its emphasis on the type of ground-level organizing that is vital in Iowa politics and was often missing during his 2016 campaign, when Texas Sen. Ted Cruz overtook him and won the state's GOP caucuses. Trump has been almost singularly focused on swinging at DeSantis, whom he has attacked for policy positions on entitlement reform, his loyalty to conservative causes, even his character. While DeSantis has largely ignored Trump's jabs, a pro-DeSantis super political action committee, Never Back Down, began to respond in paid ads this month. Meanwhile, the super PAC promoting DeSantis is hiring Iowa staff to begin organizing support for the governor before he enters the race. The stakes for both men are particularly high in Iowa, where the caucuses in February offer opportunities for them to cement their status atop the GOP. A poor performance, however, would give an opening for other Republicans to mount an upstart campaign. Trump's 2016 Iowa campaign was a seat-of-the-pants operation disparately managed by campaign newcomers who, including the candidate, had little idea what the caucuses are. The roughly 1,700 precinct-level Republican political meetings, vestiges of prairie civic life, include a presidential preference question but require in-person participation on a typically frigid winter evening. Eight years ago, Trump's Iowa team had left contact information for roughly 10,000 Iowans interested in supporting him unprocessed before the caucuses, where Trump had led in lead-up polls, but fell short against Cruz's more organized campaign. Armed with not just refined 2016 caucus data but information collected during two national campaigns, Trump's advisers says they are building a data and digital engagement strategy they say would put him in position to win the caucuses. It's an expectation Iowa GOP strategists say is an absolute must for the former president, who carried Iowa comfortably in the 2016 and 2020 general elections. Meantime Never Back Down, run by DeSantis' 2022 Florida re-election campaign senior strategist, Phil Cox, has named Iowa Republican operatives to its roster as it seeks to tap into interested GOP activists as the Iowa 2024 campaign gets underway. Among them are Ryan Koopmans, the former chief of staff to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. The group has been airing TV advertisements in Iowa and other early-voting states, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, for weeks, and plans to launch a new one Monday. Photos: Supporters of former President Trump gather ahead of Davenport visit 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-03.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-02.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-05.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-06.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-01.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-04.jpg 031323-qc-nws-adler001 031323-qc-nws-adler 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-07.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-09.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-12.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-10.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-08.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-19.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-11.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-16.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-15.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-13.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-18.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-17.jpg 031323-qc-nws-trump outside-14.jpg mohankumarbd wrote: Conclusion Because of these restrictions, many American scientists who specialize in the field of stem cell research have signed long-term contracts to work for foreign companies. Conclusion Relates to conclusion and states facts that we know are true Deceptive answer, but we do not know this to be true, some could break there contracts. Nothing to do with financing is stated, irrelevant! Does not say this, they could or could not. Does not say this, could or could not happen Government restrictions have severely limited the amount of stem cell research Americancompanies can conduct.Recently, Congress has proposed lifting all restrictions on stem cellresearch.Which of the following conclusions can most properly be inferred from theinformation above?A) At least some foreign companies that conduct stem cell research work under fewerrestrictions than some American companies do.b) Because American scientists are under long-term contracts to foreign companies, there willbe a significant influx of foreign professionals into the United States.c) In all parts of the world, stem cell research is dependent on the financial backing of localgovernment.d) In the near future, American companies will no longer be at the forefront of stem cellresearch.e) If restrictions on stem cell research are lifted, many of the American scientists will breaktheir contracts to return to American companies.Main CR Qs link - Main link - cr-qs-600-700-level-131508.html Virginia parents fears about gun violence in schools, already top of mind, have been intensified by two school shootings in the commonwealth this year one at Newport News in January and one on Thursday in the parking lot of George Wythe High School in Richmond. If Henrico mom Jamie Bass drives past her two kids schools during the day, she worries when she sees small details awry, like a police car parked out front, or a door being propped open. Something that I had always heard but didnt understand until I was a parent is that when we enroll our kids in school we are trusting schools with the physical safety of our children for a huge portion of the day, Bass said. Amid heightened concerns, local school divisions are taking varied approaches to school safety. In Henrico County, for example, the school division piloted metal detectors starting in February at some schools to study the effectiveness. Bass is part of an increasingly worried group of parents across the nation. A CBS News poll conducted this month shows that American parents concern about gun violence is higher than it was last summer. This month, 77% of parents are at least somewhat concerned about the possibility of gun violence at their childrens school, according to the poll, while 72% of parents had the same concern last year. About 61% of parents of school-age children reported this month that their children worry about gun violence at school, either a lot or sometimes. Days after a 6-year-old student fired a single round and intentionally shot his teacher Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary in Newport News, Colleen Renthrope, mother of a 7-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son in the school system, was among parents pouring out their anguish at a meeting of the Newport News School Board. Theres no single answer to this abhorrent situation that our kids, teachers and parents find ourselves in daily, Renthrope said. I send my kids to school and find myself praying to God that they will return home safely. Around the same time that the 6-year-old shot teacher Abigail Zwerner in Newport News, another teacher across the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel faced threats of gun violence from students. She said the school administration failed to act, the same way that school administration reportedly failed to protect the teacher in Newport News. Kelley Green, a third grade teacher in Virginia Beach, said she reported a verbal threat of gun violence from a student immediately after it happened, but said she didnt hear back from school administration until four hours after school had ended. I still had to sit in the office with that same student who had threatened me that day with an AK-47, Green said. (The student did not have a gun.) When the situation at Richneck Elementary occurred, it was weeks after numerous incidents of teachers, myself included, reporting unsafe scenarios, and nothing being done. Green has faced several threats and acts of violence during her teaching career. Within her first few weeks of her first teaching job, a student punched Green in the stomach. Earlier this school year, a parent came into school and punched Green, she said. Next year, Green will join a new school in Virginia Beach. I was allowed to be assaulted. After reporting it for 17 days and saying that I dont feel safe, nothing was done, she said. I was told that, Well, you were hit because that was your fault. Thats when I knew I kind of had to go. Green said that recent school shootings across the U.S. have prompted school division officials to hold faculty meetings and reassure teachers that they are safe. But the officials have not taken any actions to make teachers safe, she said. We are someones child as well, Green said. We deserve to be able to go home to our families and our parents and our kids and our pets in order to do what we love the next day. Green plans to push for better policies in her school division to protect teachers. She proposes that teachers should be given personal leave to go home and recover if theyve been physically or mentally assaulted by students or others. The proposal also says that parents who threaten teachers should be banned from the school, and threat assessments should be mandatory. She said she is pushing for things that should be the bare minimum, in order to make a better environment for teachers and students. I love those kids and I love being able to make an impact, Green said. As many headaches and heartaches as they give, theyve given more love. They deserve so much better. Alarming, but uncommon In Richmond on Thursday, police said, two George Wythe High School students were hospitalized, one in critical condition, after they were shot near the school. Police found one student in a wooded area outside the schools parking lot on Crutchfield Street, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. That student was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, police said. A second student, who was also shot but suffered less serious injuries, took himself to a hospital, police said. As of Thursday evening police had not made an arrest. Although school shootings and parents worries about them are on the rise, school gun violence remains uncommon. Despite the alarming scariness of school shootings, and despite the fact that they have increased in recent years and the terrible nature of them, theyre still an extremely rare event and extremely unlikely to happen in any individual school, said Jeff Temple, a professor and psychologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch who studies adolescent violence. For many people, a large number of our kids, school is the safest place that they can be. Gun violence overtook automobile accidents as the leading cause of youth deaths in the U.S. as of 2020. But less than 1% of youth gun deaths each year happen in schools, and even fewer are from mass shootings in schools. Although school shootings are statistically rare, they are on the rise. Last year, more school shootings took place in the U.S. (46) than in any year since at least 1999, when 15 were killed at Columbine High School in suburban Denver, according to a Washington Post database. School shootings are not only here to stay, but theyre probably going to get worse before they get better in terms of frequency and severity, Temple said. Were going to have a day in the not too distant future where were going to have two schools have mass shootings on the same day. That will happen, just statistically speaking. Moms Demand Action is a national nonprofit organization with localized groups of parents who are advocating for what they term common sense gun laws to make schools safer. Membership for the Richmond chapter has soared in the wake of the high-profile school shootings March 27 at The Covenant School in Nashville, in which a former student killed three 9-year-olds and three adults and Jan. 6 in Newport News. It was largely dormant during the depths of the pandemic when parents were hunkered down, focused on their kids online learning. Last year, the groups membership snowballed. It wasnt until after the Uvalde (Texas) shooting in May 2022, in which a former student killed 19 elementary school students and two teachers, that we have seen an enormous surge in interest in joining the movement, said Kristin DuMont, a local co-lead for Richmonds Moms Demand Action chapter. Now weve had over 100 people join us in the last few weeks, really since the Nashville shooting. Aside from what it terms common-sense gun laws like stricter background checks and mental health checks on gun purchases the group pushes for practices and laws that would keep kids from having guns in the first place. It also want parents to talk to children, educate and be mindful about guns. School safety measures Henrico County Public Schools Superintendent Amy Cashwell said the school system is constantly talking about safety and how to upgrade or improve it. Within the past five years or so, the countys schools have seen visible changes to safety features. Security vestibules where visitors can do school business without coming into the school were added, while a buzz-in system keeps people from entering schools without speaking to someone in a front office. Cashwell said the overall goal of the school districts security systems is to have a layered approach that catches all types of gun violence, from a potential mass shooting to a student who brings a gun into school. The school division has a host of physical security devices like visitor identification scanners, newly upgraded camera systems and KnoxBoxes wall-mounted safes that hold keys so first responders can access a building. The school system just concluded a study testing metal detectors and weapons scanners at three of its schools. Cashwell said that beyond the need for physical protections at schools is the importance that each school community plays in reporting problems that might involve students. Its been public that weve had some weapons on our campus, at our high schools specifically, Cashwell said. Without picking any one of them out, in almost every instance, a student reported that they believed another student had a weapon on their person either through anonymous alerts or to a trusted adult directly. HCPS also has an internal team that focuses solely on its school safety plans, which are vetted annually by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services school safety audit program. Cashwell said the system is consistently working to upgrade those plans based on expert feedback. Student mental health Despite the effort, coordination and resources, those best laid school security plans havent proved entirely perfect. Joshua M. Langberg, a parent of a student at Holman Middle School in Henrico, said the safety measures themselves can be dangerous for children. He said Holman had experienced two gun-related events over the past couple of months. In the second, which the school said appeared to be a prank, police burst into his daughters classroom during a lock-and-hide drill with their guns drawn, red laser dots leveled at all around the room. I understand that given all thats going on in the world, we have to focus on and prioritize school safety, but as a parent, I feel the pendulum has swung too far and that weve forgotten that our core mission at schools is child development and well-being, Langberg said. Thats why we send our children to school. If we focus on safety too much, we will not be able to meet our core mission. Langberg is a licensed child psychologist in Virginia and New Jersey, having worked for Virginia Commonwealth University for 11 years. He says his daughter has been showing signs of PTSD since the incident that drew law enforcement. This is not normal. This is stuff that we typically dont think about it unless people are in in war situations, Langberg said. Can we at least acknowledge that some of the safety procedures weve put into place are literally causing our children potential PTSD, which is a lifelong debilitating condition and I want to make sure that side of the discussion doesnt get left. Data compiled by Everytown, a national gun safety nonprofit, found that 52% of school campus shootings come from arguments that escalate, robberies or parking lot altercations. The compilation found that less than 1% of school gunfire incidents were done with the intent to commit a mass shooting. Anne Forrester, a middle school teacher in Richmond Public Schools, said the answer isnt hardening schools or more discipline its more mental health supports for students. I dont think our schools have become any more or less safe (over the past few years). I think that our students mental health has declined, Forrester said. Its not that Im not concerned about violence, but I think whats causing violence amongst our students is unmet mental health needs. The problem, she said, is that students come to school with unprocessed and unresolved trauma. It stems from violence in their households and their communities, she said. In the news, you see this child brought a weapon to school, or this child assaulted someone, or this child made a threat. At the end of the day, there were teachers and parents and other students who knew that child and probably cared about that child, and knew that child as someone who was suffering, as someone who needed a lot of help. Theres more to it than, this kid was bad, Forrester said. Kids arent bad. People make bad choices, people get desperate in bad circumstances, especially kids. As a teacher, I have to believe that they can change if they just get the help they need. Photo Credit: WWE Axel Tischer has been sidelined with an injury, In a tweet, wXw Germany announced that Axel Tischer, formerly known as Alexander Wolfe in WWE, will be out for two and a half months after he suffered a broken collarbone. Tischer hasnt wrestled since the PROGRESS Chapter 152 event on April 28. There, he, Big Damo, and Sunshine Machine came out on the losing side of an eight-man tag team match against Dominatus Regnum (Spike Trivet, Charlie Sterling, Bullit & Nick Riley. Tischer had been in a Best of Five series against Peter Tihanyi, but the rest of the matches will be rescheduled due to the injury. #GetWellSoon Axel! Wir wunschen @axeman3016 gute und vollstandige Genesung. Er hat sich an diesem Wochenende das Schlusselbein gebrochen und fallt fur ca. 2 1/2 Monate aus. Axel wird daher nicht Teil der wXw Events von Mai bis Juli sein konnen. Pic by @_janice_janice_ pic.twitter.com/HEXiUINEVd wXw Germany (@wXwGermany) April 30, 2023 WrestleZone wishes Tischer well in his recovery, and we will provide more information as it becomes available. The post Axel Tischer Suffers Broken Collarbone, Set To Miss Two And A Half Months appeared first on Wrestlezone. Image Credit: WWE WWE Superstar Braun Strowman was on hand in Dover, Delaware over the weekend and was set to drive the pace car for the Wurth 400 NASCAR race. The race was postponed to Monday at 12pm EST due to heavy rain in the area meaning Strowman will not be able to stick around due to WWE obligations. Strowman was interviewed by FOX reporter Bob Pockrass and apologized for not being able to stay Monday for the race. He said, Im feeling good, I wish I could have flown in with a little bit better weather. Im sorry Dover I mean unfortunately we are at the mercy of mother nature today and she decided to let it precipitate. Unfortunately I head back to Dallas so I will not be here but Id stay tuned to Monday Night RAW on the USA Network for the draft. He would continue by thanking everyone for supporting him through his concussion over the last month. It means the world to me and its not even just the last month. July will be a decade that Ive been with WWE minus a little vacation I took because I needed a break. The fans and everything its such an unbelievable response, and I know its going to be upsetting for fans that wanted to see me today because I saw the response on social media when they made the announcement that I had the honor of driving the pace car today. Strowman ended by giving fans a few words of encouragement. Life is such an amazing blessing. I constantly thank the lord for everything that he gives me and the ability to go around the world and inspire people to chase their dreams. The world is yours for the taking, do what makes you happy as long as you are not taking someones happiness away. You can watch the short interview below. Transcription credit should be given to John Clark of Wrestlezone. WWE star Braun Strowman was supposed to drive the pace car today. He wont get to stay for the race Monday at Dover, but gives an update on how he is feeling and the support of the fans. pic.twitter.com/n1dZ1ZLUTE Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) April 30, 2023 READ MORE: Updated Betting Lines For WWE Backlash Released The post Braun Strowman Thanks Fans For Their Support, Says Hes Feeling Good appeared first on Wrestlezone. Launch of RADAR MAGAZINE - Credit: Neil Rasmus/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images Jeffrey Epsteins calendar is revealing secrets years after the billionaires death in a New York prison. The now head of the Central Intelligence Agency, a college president, a former Obama White House counsel, and scholar Noam Chomsky are all listed in the financiers private date book, according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal. The private calendar is different from other Epstein documents, such as his flight logs or his black book, both of which have been made public. None of the names reported by the paper on Sunday appeared in either of those documents, though Epstein has been previously tied to high-powered figures including the U.K.s Prince Andrew and prominent Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz. The scheduled meetings, not all of which could be confirmed as having taken place, were planned for the years after 2008, when Epstein served time in jail for a sex crime involving a teenage girl and after he had registered as a sex offender. More from Rolling Stone The calendar showed that in 2014, while current CIA director William Burns was deputy secretary of state, Burns had three meetings scheduled with Epstein, first meeting in Washington and then at Epsteins Manhattan townhouse. Rumors and accusations have long swirled around Epstein that he was some kind of intelligence asset. CIA spokesperson Tammy Kupperman Thorp issued a statement to the paper denying that Burns knew anything about Epstein at the time beyond his expertise in finance. The director did not know anything about him, other than that he was introduced as an expert in the financial services sector and offered general advice on transition to the private sector, she said. They had no relationship. Chomsky, a political activist and public intellectual who was a longtime professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, had several meetings scheduled with Epstein between 2015 and 2016. When the Journal contacted Chomsky to ask about the meetings, he responded in an email, First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyones. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally. Story continues One of Chomskys meetings with Epstein involved former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. Chomsky said they discussed Israels policies with regard to Palestinian issues and the international arena. In another scheduled meeting with Chomsky, Epstein planned to fly the scholar in to dine with director Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn. If there was a flight, which I doubt, it would have been from Boston to New York, 30 minutes, Chomsky told the paper. Im unaware of the principle that requires that I inform you about an evening spent with a great artist. Chomsky went on to say that when he met with Epstein, what was known about Jeffrey Epstein was that he had been convicted of a crime and had served his sentence. According to U.S. laws and norms, that yields a clean slate. Epstein also had a close relationship with MIT, making several donations to the university while he was alive. Another figure listed in Epsteins calendar is Leon Botstein, the president of Bard College. According to the Journal, Epstein was invited to Bards campus, and he brought with him a group of young female guests. Botstein said that cultivated a relationship with Epstein in the hopes he would make a donation, and in 2012 the college president met up with Epstein to thank him for donating 66 laptops to Bards high schools. The calendar reveals approximately two dozen meetings between Botstein and Epstein over the course of four years, with most taking place at Epsteins townhouse. I was an unsuccessful fundraiser and actually the object of a little bit of sadism on his part in dangling philanthropic support, Botstein told the Journal. That was my relationship with him. Discussing Epsteins criminal record, Botstein said, We looked him up, and he was a convicted felon for a sex crime. We believe in rehabilitation. Kathryn Ruemmler, who served as a White House counsel to President Obama, had dozens of meetings with Epstein between leaving the federal government and joining Goldman Sachs Group Inc. as a top lawyer. She was also scheduled to join Epstein in Paris in 2015 and a 2017 trip to his private Caribbean island. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told the Journal that Ruemmler had a professional relationship with Epstein related to her job at law firm Latham & Watkins LLP. She did not travel with him, the spokesperson said. I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein, Ruemmler told the paper. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. "There is nothing wrong with the human body in and of itself," said former Tallahassee Classical School principal Hope Carrasquilla AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino A school principal in Florida visited Michelangelo's famed sculpture of the Biblical figure David after she was asked to resign because parents allegedly complained about their sixth-grade students seeing it in a lesson. "There is nothing wrong with the human body in and of itself," former Tallahassee Classical School principal Hope Carrasquilla said in a statement from the museum, according to the Washington Post. According to the publication, Carrasquilla said visiting the sculpture was like going to church and noted its "purity" and "humanness." "David," sculpted by Michelangelo around the year 1500, is considered a masterpiece by critics and is one of the most recognized pieces of art in the world. Related:Florida Principal Out of a Job After 6th-Graders Viewed Michelangelo's 'David' During Art Lesson Franco Origlia/Getty The publication reported that Galleria director Cecilie Hollberg said she was "delighted" to show Carrasquilla the artwork and that it symbolized "the religious principle of good triumphing over evil." She added that it has "nothing to do with pornography," which is in direct contrast to what one parent at the Tallahassee Classical School said, per HuffPost. In March, Carrasquilla was asked to resign after an emergency school board meeting, per Post. Though she said she was not told about the reason for the decision, she said it likely involved an art lesson taught to sixth-grade students about the marble statue, which features David in the nude. "It is with a sad heart that my time as the principal of Tallahassee Classical School has come to an end," she wrote in a letter to the school board, per the Post. RELATED VIDEO: Elementary School Principal Facing Child Endangerment Charges Dies by Suicide at Disneyland 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. While speaking to HuffPost, Carrasquilla said she did not expect the type of reaction she received from the school board and that a letter was meant to be sent to parents before the lesson took place. But due to "miscommunications," the message was not sent. Story continues School board chair Barney Bishop confirmed to the Post and CBS affiliate WCTV that Carrasquilla was given an ultimatum to resign or be fired after complaints regarding the sculpture, though he said the decision was primarily based on communication. "She wasn't let go because of the artistic nude pictures. We show it every year to our students," Bishop told Post. "The problem with this particular issue was the lack of follow-through on the process." He added to HuffPost: "Parental rights trump everything else." In a letter to the board, Carrasquilla ensured she had "always desired good for Tallahassee Classical School" and was not "promoting myself or a political agenda," the Post reported. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Anyone who knew Karl Lagerfeld is surely smiling while thinking about how the popular and revered late designer might react to the Costume Institute exhibition Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, which opens May 5 at New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art. After all, how does one produce a museum show around a man who believed that accolades and the notion of fashion as art always took a backseat to the work itself? Karl never regarded himself as an artist. He thought that was pretentious, he always saw himself as a designer for hire, Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of American Vogue and the organizer of the Met Gala since 1995, tells THR. His relentless drive to move forward also made him prolific; he just had such a fast-moving mind. The exhibition comprises Lagerfelds 64-year career, showcasing 150-plus Lagerfeld designs for Chanel, Fendi, Chloe and his own eponymous label, as well as his earlier work for Balmain and Patou. More from The Hollywood Reporter The Met Gala will likewise celebrate Lagerfeld, who died in 2019. The May 1 event is co-chaired by Wintour, Michaela Coel, Dua Lipa, Roger Federer and Penelope Cruz and both E! News and Vogue will have livestreams of the red carpet. Met Gala guests often have embraced outrageous custom looks inspired by exhibition themes, like 2019s Camp: Notes on Fashion. But affection for Lagerfeld the man and a love of his work may result in a carpet tilted more toward elegance than costume. With this years dress code reading simply, In honor of Karl, exhibition curator Andrew Bolton says he hopes gala guests will feel that its in the spirit of Karl, and hopefully everyone will come out in vintage Chanel, vintage Fendi, vintage Chloe. A Karl Lagerfeld sketch from the designers final Chanel haute couture collection, Spring/Summer 2019. That idea indeed has resulted in an uptick of inquiries to top vintage retailers. We always get calls in advance of the Met Gala, but there are definitely more this year, says Seth Weisser, CEO of What Goes Around Comes Around. Through the afternoon of Met Gala day, the luxury vintage retailer is hosting a styling suite in its West Broadway location to showcase its many Chanel items, including pieces from celebrated 1990s collections that also intersected with the height of the supermodel era. Story continues On Friday, April 28, What Goes Around Comes Around also debuted the WGACA Atelier, a 5,000-square-foot retail space located at 113 Wooster St., which Weisser says will feature an ongoing schedule of curated collections available for purchase. First up: a Karl Lagerfeld retrospective featuring vintage ready-to-wear and accessories that span Lagerfelds career. When we looked at our calendar and we knew the Met Gala theme, starting with Lagerfeld only made sense, given our business and how well we do with his legacy, especially in Chanel and Fendi, Weisser says. It was a perfect synergy to do our own shoppable vision. We knew we wanted to bring a lot of those collectible pieces, some available to purchase, but also featuring some pieces that wont be for sale, as well as using some 3D imaging technology, all to create a really immersive presentation. Weisser also enlisted Helena Christensen to both appear in the Ateliers ad campaign, wearing and carrying a variety of vintage Chanel pieces, and to host the April 28 launch party at the Wooster Street location. Meanwhile, for Lagerfeld fans who cant get to New York City, Weisser notes that several pieces have been included both on the retailers website and in an exclusive curation on Amazons Luxury Stores channel. An ensemble from the Karl Lagerfeld Fall/Winter 2004-2005 collection, which will be seen at the Costume Institute exhibition. Cameron Silver, founder of Los Angeles-based Decades, says the enduring popularity of almost anything designed by Lagerfeld means that some ensembles planned for Mondays Met Gala may already have been residing in attendees closets. The interest in Karl Lagerfeld-era Chanel, Fendi and Chloe had increased immediately after the designer passed, he says. Furthermore, Chanel has perennially been very desirable since our doors opened in 1997. I honestly dont think there is a seismic increase, since Lagerfeld designs are always coveted. So the desire is just enhanced, but people have been collecting his work intensely for many years. I hope someone shows up in a Chloe shower dress from 1983. Rita Watnick, owner of Beverly Hills vintage boutique Lily et Cie, also notes that shes received calls but to access any of the half-million vintage pieces in her collection, clients must make an in-person appointment. Recently I posted [on Instagram] two Chanel looks I thought were very Met Gala-friendly, but for the important pieces, we simply dont put them out into the social media world, Watnick explains. When a client is buying a really expensive, unbelievable piece, we dont think the whole world should see it before they wear it. A 2018 portrait of Lagerfeld sketching at his desk, photographed by Annie Leibovitz. Lagerfeld was known to visit Watnick, who first met the designer in 1989, at Lily et Cie anytime he was in L.A. He was very generous and sent everyone here, Watnick says. He sent Naomi Campbell, he sent Kate Moss, he sent everybody. A lot of Lily et Cies success has to do with Karl. So how does Watnick feel about the upcoming exhibition? I wish it had happened while he was still alive, she says. Karl was so prolific, it was crazy, and he was infinitely inquisitive, and that always went into his work, so I hope all of that is reflected in the exhibition. Weisser agrees. Karl was a designer, but he was also a master creator, he says. You saw it in his designs, but also in his sketches and his love of photography. Theres really no designer who covered as many artistic roles as he did, so this will be a proper moment to respect that. A version of this story first appeared in the April 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. The post Metallica Play Second Show of No Repeat M72 World Tour: Video and Setlist appeared first on Consequence. After kicking off their tour in Amsterdam on Thursday (April 27th), Metallica played a second show in the Netherlands capital on Saturday (April 29th). The metal legends made good on their promise of not repeating any songs as they perform two concerts in every city on their 2023-2024 M72 World Tour (tickets available here). The latest gig featured Metallica playing three songs from their new album 72 Seasons, including the title track, If Darkness Had a Son, and You Must Burn! The 16-song set opened with The Call of Ktulu from Ride the Lightning and closed with Enter Sandman from The Black Album. Among the highlights was the first performance of the Load track Until It Sleeps since 2008. Metallica will continue to play two completely unique sets over two nights in each city for the duration of the tour, which includes North American legs this year and next. See video footage and the setlist from the second night in Amsterdam below, and revisit the setlist from the first show here. Pick up tickets to Metallicas upcoming concerts at this location. Setlist: The Call of Ktulu Creeping Death Leper Messiah Until It Sleeps 72 Seasons If Darkness Had a Son Welcome Home (Sanitarium) You Must Burn! (live debut) The Unforgiven Wherever I May Roam Harvester of Sorrow Moth Into Flame Fight Fire With Fire Whiskey in the Jar One Enter Sandman Metallica Play Second Show of No Repeat M72 World Tour: Video and Setlist Spencer Kaufman Popular Posts Subscribe to Consequences email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox. A pair of happy dads pose with their newly adopted son. Begun as a single Jacksonville orphanage in 1902, Children's Home Society of Florida has been helping youngsters find loving homes for more than a century. The organization now hopes an $11 million legislative grant will help continue its Community Partnership Schools program. Chances are you know someone whose life has changed because of Childrens Home Society of Florida. Whether woven within the fabric of a family created through the loving act of adoption or the pomp and circumstance of a first-generation high school graduate, Childrens Home Society of Floridas 120-year legacy is deeply braided into Jacksonvilles history. Established in 1902, before the invention of the Model T. Ford, bubble gum or the Band-Aid, Childrens Home Society of Florida was founded in Jacksonville as a child welfare society to provide loving homes for children and to strengthen families going through tough times. From this single orphanage grew a movement devoted to meeting the greatest needs facing Floridas children, families and communities. Throughout its first two decades, the society became a foremost leader in childrens issues. It leveraged influence to secure rights and welfare laws for children nationwide, including the development of U.S. compulsory education and child labor laws. Julie Proctor: AMIkids Jacksonville marks 50 years of transforming lives of at-risk teens More: Despite low pay, turnover and burnout, passion for children keeps child welfare workers on the job Letters: City should be more transparent with return on investment for downtown projects By the time Walt Disney World opened in 1971, it was affectionately known as Floridas Greatest Charity and had expanded to provide mental health counseling, early childhood services for developmentally delayed and disabled children, parent education courses and more in all 67 Florida counties. All from humble beginnings here in Northeast Florida. Today, our work is more important than ever. Continuing its determination to address the most pressing issues affecting children, Children's Home Society has increased its focus on serving children and families in traditionally high-need, under-resourced communities, bringing proven initiatives that empower families to break generational chains of poverty. Story continues One such initiative we lead in pursuit of this goal is the Community Partnership Schools movement, along with the movements strategic and co-founding partner, the University of Central Florida. Circa 1920s, youngsters are shown around the maypole at the Children's Home Society, originally located at 2590 Riverside Ave., now the site of a parking garage for Ascension St. Vincent's Hospital. The Community Partnership Schools model is a collaboration with local nonprofits, businesses, the faith community and other stakeholders bringing counseling, medical and dental services, after-school enrichment, mentoring programs, and more, offered right on site at the school. Though launched only a decade ago, this movement has already seen significant results and we can see the impact in our own backyard. Since becoming a Community Partnership School in 2015, graduation rates at Edward H. White High School in Duval County have increased 29% from 65% in 2015 to 94% in 2021. Disciplinary referrals have plummeted and state testing proficiency has nearly doubled. Such successes led to the strategys adoption at The Webster School, South Woods Elementary, Wilkinson Junior/Senior High School, Orange Park High School and Keystone Heights Junior/Senior High School, as well as dozens more throughout Florida. While the society's deep-rooted history illustrates a powerful impact on children and families, the continued success of this mighty oak is possible only with continued community and legislative support. As state leaders gather in Tallahassee, Children's Home Society (along with collaborative partners throughout Florida) are asking the Legislature for an $11 million appropriation to sustain and expand Community Partnership Schools. The goal of this bipartisan legislation is to help more children realize their full potential and become successful adults in a flourishing society. Please join us take action at chsfl.org/advocate and make a transformative difference in creating a brighter, bolder and boundless Northeast Florida. Nelson Ted Nelson is the advocacy chairman for the Childrens Home Society of Florida board of directors serving Greater Northeast Florida. This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Children's Home Society 120-year legacy has deep roots in Jax history Chris Lambert lived in northern Indiana when he met his prom date on spring break in Florida. She drove down from Michigan a month later for the dance, and when she showed up at the door, his dad pulled him aside. "As serious as can be," Lambert says, "he asked me, 'What strip club did you find her in?'" That turned out to be their only date, but at least they made it to prom. Omari Taylor didn't even get to buy a corsage. Taylor, a Denby High grad, "grew up in a religious home," he explains. "We didn't really do prom." He'll make up for it May 13 and Lambert, 43, will finally get to a prom with someone his dad approves of. He's the CEO of a Detroit nonprofit called Life Remodeled. Taylor, 45, is the chief development officer. Its headquarters is a repurposed school, which makes the fundraiser there next month not only adroitly named, but ideal for the place and season: Prom Remodeled. Picture tuxedos, ball gowns and crepe paper streamers, but without the pressure and expectations. Food from places like Baobab Fare and SheWolf, and top-end beverages, instead of punch that your most obnoxious friend tries to spike with Mohawk vodka. Live music from the Gin Blossoms and Montell Jordan, rather than the first garage band willing to play four hours for $150. Life Remodeled CEO Chris Lambert stands in a hallway at the Durfee Innovation Society building in Detroit on Friday, April 28, 2023, where a prom for grown-ups called Prom Remodeled will be held in multiple areas of the building. The prom will have entertainment by the Montell Jordan and the Gin Blossoms along with DJs and more including food from SheWolf, Baobab Fare and more. Its one of the most fascinating conversation starters Ive ever used Tell me about your prom, Lambert says. You almost always see this visceral reaction. Eyes rolling up, a look of dread, a smirk, a deep sigh. Oh, what a night I've posed that question to large gatherings, and the show of hands for "best night of my life" remains at zero. For "borderline disaster," it always looks like a throng of people are trying to hail taxis in the rain. Momentarily, I'll be asking you to waltz through your memories and share a story. But allow me to prime the pump with my friend Charlie Beecher in Nevada, whose date informed him that she could only stay at the dance for an hour because her real boyfriend was home from the Army and he wanted to go out. Story continues Or my son Spencer, who wound up being driven home from the Roostertail by a vice-principal because one of his friends had been so thunderously drunk on the inbound party bus that the driver refused to come back. Or Devin Scillian of WDIV-TV (Channel 4), who was dating the girl next door in Junction City, Kan., but wound up committing to prom with someone else because his future wife Corey was off at college ... except then a family issue brought Corey home for a semester and in the middle of the chaos he kept his promise to take a lovely young lady named Susan to the dance. Anchors Carmen Harlan, since retired, and Devin Scillian pose by the Ford booth at the North American International Auto Show Charity Preview -- car prom -- before going on the air for WDIV-TV (Channel 4). (Photo: Detroit Free Press) "A hot mess," Scillian says and how was your night? Tell Neal all about it I hope it was splendid, but odds are there were, um, certain imperfections. If you'd be kind enough to pass along your prom stories, good or bad, in an email to NARubin@freepress.com or via Twitter at @nealrubin_fp, I'd love to read them, and then share your experiences with the class a week or two down the road. Prom, after all, is one of the few things we have in these divided times that's still a universal, or close to it. Even a decision to skip it is distinctive part of high school. At its worst, prom is a costly, artificial situation thats often a first date or last date, awash in camera-pointing parents and fraught with uncertainty, even in the recent fortunate decades where invitations can be extended with a text message instead of a quavery-voiced phone call. At its best, prom is still all of those things, but there's a good-night kiss. My prom weekend involved two tuxedo rentals the first specimen was too ghastly to wear, even for a teenager in the 1970s followed by a restaurant kitchen flood that made us late to the dance, and a sleep-deprived fender-bender on my way home from work the next day. Still wearing my snappy double-breasted Edwardian with a ruffled shirt, I'd been the best-dressed shoe salesman in the entire mall. It's unclear whether that's a good memory, or something to wipe away. Prom tales in proximity Betsy Crapps of South Lyon went to three proms in high school and has been to more than two dozen since, in multiple states. That's a good thing. Matt Friedman of West Bloomfield felt so guilty about his prom experience that he tracked down his date to apologize and wound up annoying renowned public radio host Ira Glass. That's a good thing, too, or at least a good story. Matt Friedman, now of West Bloomfield, spent the early part of his prom night carousing with friends, which meant his date missed most of an event sheOd spent the school year helping to plan. He felt badly enough about it that years later, he tracked down his fellow Bloomfield Hills Andover High School classmate in New York to apologize. Tami, whose last name he asked to be omitted, was gracious and word of the mea culpa ultimately spread to a well known public radio host, who reached out to Friedman for an interview. We'll get back to them. First, Life Remodeled's Lambert has some stories he didnt have to go further than a committee meeting to find. One associate, for instance, said the only thing he remembered about prom night was getting his chewing gum stuck in his dates hair during a dance. When the song ended, so did the date. Life Remodeled COO Diallo Smith asked a girl to prom in high school and was shut down. He wound up marrying her, and she'll finally go to a prom with him in two weeks. Lambert's wife, Andrea, grew up in a home where dancing was considered a sin. This will be her first prom, though realistically, he says, neither of them dances often or with great elan. There should be plenty of other things to occupy their time. Finding the Lord and founding the charity Lambert set out to be a real estate lawyer and make stacks of money. Then he spent a college semester in Australia and had what he calls "a radical encounter with God." Returning to Indiana University, he found that his three closest fraternity brothers had experienced the same epiphany, and so had his drug dealer. He became a pastor, worked for a bit in Africa, and decided that if Jesus spent most of his time with people who were marginalized and oppressed, so could he. Life Remodeled CEO Chris Lambert stands in the gymnasium at the Durfee Innovation Society building in Detroit on Friday, April 28, 2023, where a prom for grown-ups called Prom Remodeled will be held in multiple areas of the building. The prom will have entertainment by the Montell Jordan and the Gin Blossoms along with DJs and more including food from SheWolf, Baobab Fare and more. Life Remodeled was founded in 2010, very intentionally not as a religious organization. It focuses on math and reading programs, health and wellness services, development and job training. Its headquarters, the Durfee Innovation Society, is located in the former Durfee Elementary-Middle School, which turns out to be well configured for a $350-per-ticket grown-up formal. Festivities will be spread across the gym, auditorium and former pool, now topped with a floor. In lieu of an emcee, a principal will make announcements over the public address system. At other organizations' events, Lambert says, I dont want to sit at a table for an hour and hear speeches. I just dont. His plan is to start talking, and then shut up, in the five-minute gap between musical acts. Better to surround people with the mission, he says, then preach about it. If everything goes right, the charity will clear $250,000. Down the road, he's looking for $1 million a year. Thinking long term, Taylor, the development director, says he's going to buy a tux and shiny shoes rather than rent them. The Durfee Innovation Society building in Detroit on Friday, April 28, 2023, where a prom for grown-ups called Prom Remodeled will be held in multiple areas of the building. The prom will have entertainment by the Montell Jordan and the Gin Blossoms along with DJs and more including food from SheWolf, Baobab Fare and more. With every dance that goes by, the better a bargain they become and when you have to wait a quarter-century for your prom, you want to jump in with both feet. Old dresses and old regrets Crapps went to three proms during her high school years in Rochester, New York, and assumed she had left them behind her. Then her mom downsized to a condo and arrived up for a visit with all three of Crapps' dresses in the back seat. That spawned a riotous evening with 11 friends in tacky gowns at a Buca di Beppo, which in turn led to Mom Prom, a supposed one-shot event at her Canton church that has since become thousands of dances in the U.S. and beyond raising millions of dollars for charity. My girlfriend who was just here at my (Canton) prom is in her 70s, says Crapps, 53. She says this prom was way better than 1966, that prom she went to with whatshisname. Betsy Crapps of South Lyon, in her prom dress at age 53 with a cutout of a movie star. Crapps is the founder of Mom Prom, now a nationwide charity movement in which women get together in their old prom or bridesmaid dresses to dance and raise money for charity. Theres no worries. Its not pretentious. Its just a celebration. Nobodys judging. Back to those stories The only one judging Friedman turned out to be himself. He went to the 1990 Bloomfield Hills Andover prom with a classmate named Tami who had been one of the ringleaders on the planning committee. My friends and I were a bunch of 18-year-olds more interested in the hotel room, the limo and maybe some illicit beverages than the actual prom, Friedman says. We got there with basically enough time left to take a picture. My date essentially missed the event she spent the whole year planning. Fast-forward 15 years, and NBC came out with a program called My Name Is Earl whose title character was a lifelong scuzzball trying to make amends to a list of people he had wronged. Duly inspired, Friedman emailed a mea culpa to his prom date in New York City and offered to take her to dinner with his wife the next time she was in Michigan. Heavens, Tami wrote back, more or less. We were kids and it was a long time ago, and theres no apology needed. Then a month or two later, he got a call from a producer for This American Life, Glass long-running program on NPR. It turned out Tamis sister worked on the show, and Glass was intrigued. The problem was that Friedman was not Earl, wandering the land doing good deeds, and Glass grew increasingly peeved as he sat at his microphone in Chicago and Friedman sat in a rented studio in Farmington Hills. No, Friedman kept saying, he didn't have a list. He just felt bad about the prom. So, Glass grumbled, youve never done anything else wrong in your life? Then he walked out of his studio and abandoned the interview. Friedman's segment never made it on the air, but that's OK. Now he has two prom stories instead of one. Neal Rubin is eagerly awaiting prom stories at NARubin@freepress.com, and promises he won't stalk off halfway through reading them. He'll spend Sunday morning at Laurel Park Place on the final day of Bookstock, Michigan's largest charity used book and media sale, then head to the Michigan Science Center to moderate a discussion with director Keith Famie after a 2 p.m. screening of "Detroit: The City of Churches" in the Freep Film Festival. To subscribe to the Free Press for less than $1 per month, click here. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Neal Rubin: Here's where to share your prom story or relive the night The U.S. and Texas flags fly over the Capitol last week. Lawmakers are considering eliminating tenure for new hires at public universities in the state beginning in 2024. (Photo: Eric Gay/Associated Press) The American Historical Association lauds Texas for its substantial investment in higher education, including a meaningful commitment to history education. Our concern lies with the contradiction between the stated goal of making Texas public universities more competitive with counterparts in other states and the actual implications of Senate Bill which will have precisely the opposite effect: creating an environment in the university that undermines rather than nourishes inquiry and learning. Texas SB 18 would eliminate tenure for new hires at public institutions in the state beginning in 2024. This short-sighted policy would rank among the most efficient pathways to ripping apart most of what has been accomplished over decades by thousands of individuals responsible for building a university system that ranks among the best in the world. Why will eliminating tenure for new hires diminish Texas universities? Texas will find itself at a disadvantage in attracting top-level faculty. Scholars in all disciplines achieve credentials only after long years of intensive graduate training. They then enter a competitive national job market and apply for dozens of positions in as many states. Although academic job markets vary across disciplines, candidates are unlikely to opt for institutions where their research and teaching will not benefit from the academic freedom guaranteed by tenure. Were Texas to eliminate "tenure-track" positions a designation enabling eligibility for tenure based on a record of research and teaching excellence as well as service to the institutionany public university in Texas would immediately become an employer of last choice among scholars who desire an environment amenable to high quality teaching and research. Scholars who do accept offers from Texas institutions, and who cannot apply for tenure because of legislated restrictions, confront serious disadvantages. Without tenure protections, they will shy away from daring and innovative research questions. Their scholarship will tilt toward "safe" areas of exploration, less likely to generate the breakthroughs characteristic of top research institutions. Their teaching will be similarly cautious. Without tenure, a teacher avoids controversy, avoids the kinds of issues that students need and want to engage to become future leaders. Story continues Tenure was instituted nearly a century ago, not as a sinecure, but to guarantee the academic freedom necessary to assure integrity and innovation in research and teaching. A tenured scholar could ask controversial questions in the classroom and in developing new research projects. Scholarly pathways could draw from creativity, expertise and evidence without limitations from state mandates or pressure. Tenure helps to protect university classrooms and laboratories as spaces where learning is advanced and new knowledge is created. America's colleges and universities draw faculty and students from around the world because of the research and educational advantages that follow from these principles of academic freedom. Despite occasional media misrepresentations, tenure is not a license to slack off or engage in untoward behavior. Higher education institutions in general, including public institutions in Texas, evaluate faculty performance annually and articulate standards; violation is grounds for dismissal even for tenured faculty. SB 18 requires that all faculty contracts be limited to three years or less. Such short contracts would prevent expert faculty in Texas from initiating the kinds of projects that produce those advances in human knowledge and understanding that change the world. Saddled with artificially short timelines, Texas faculty would no longer be eligible for long-term federal grants that fund most science research in Texas. Those grants train Texas students in data science, lab science, human behavior, and the science of teaching. Texas could lose a generation of highly trained experts that now serve Texas employers and universities. This is not the way to build infrastructure, whether institutional or human. Grossman is executive director of the American Historical Association. Hostetler is a member of the AHA governing council and professor of history at the University of Illinois Chicago. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Opinion: How to destroy a great university Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) teased an announcement for May 22 during a town hall on Sunday, widely speculated to be the official launch of his presidential campaign. On May the 22nd in North Charleston, South Carolina, it is time to make the final step, Scott told supporters in Charleston, S.C. Please tell your friends, be in attendance. North Charleston more details coming your way. We will have a major announcement and youre going to want to be there, he added. The development comes less than a week since Scott told Fox News during an interview that he hoped to have a decision on whether to run by the end of May. May 22 is presumed to be the day he makes his official announcement that hes running for president in the GOP primary. Scott would become the latest contender to run for the Republican presidential nomination, joining former President Trump, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy among the other high-profile Republicans running. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu are among the Republicans who are widely speculated to be launching a White House bid but have not yet entered. DeSantis is expected to announce a presidential bid following the end of the Florida legislature session while Pence said during an interview on Fox News earlier this month that youll have a clear idea of what the Pences decide in weeks and not months. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Offering a singular perspective on Russias current pariah status in much of the world is Gaukur Ulfarssons Soviet Barbara, probably the most enjoyable as opposed to depressing documentary involving the invasion of Ukraine youre likely to see. It focuses on Icelandic multimedia artist Ragnar Kjartanssons preparation for exhibits that would open a major new museum in Moscow. That launch proves fatefully ill-timed in terms of larger events, however, even as his splashiest custom creation provides ironic commentary on recent Russian history by reprising an American TV soap opera that had been an unlikely imported smash in the nations immediate post-USSR years. The colorful intersection between art, ideology, patronage and politics should appeal to a wide range of nonfiction outlets and programmers. More from Variety The power of art to enflame emotions is illustrated straight off by Kjartanssons discussion of a famous 19th-century oil by Ilya Repin that depicts mad Ivan the Terrible cradling the body of the son hes just killed a controversial canvas over-excited spectators have twice physically attacked. The 21st-century artists own work is generally of a much more playful nature, its influences encompassing everything from his parents film/theater careers and his own ongoing rock band Trabant to video performance art. While sometimes working in the more traditional idioms of painting or sculpture, he frequently combines forms to offer layered input on subjects as diverse as colonialism, environmental crises and art history itself. Thus edgy yet accessible, with a still-rising international profile (and convenient fascination with all things Russian), hes a smart choice as key guest contributor in the long-aborning inauguration of a modern art museum. GES-2 House of Culture is a shuttered former power plant built in 1907, just a stones throw from the Kremlin. The expensive endeavors funder is billionaire oligarch Leonid Mikhelson of Russian petrochemical giant Novatek, who is notably little-seen here. Story continues Kjartansson admits mixed feelings toward accepting the largess of Putin allies in a repressive state. I thought to myself, am I just a pawn in whitewashing Russia? he asks. He rationalizes this gig (which consumed much of four years) as maybe not morally right but artistically right, particularly as hes including works which criticize the power. He also notes it would be hypocritical for him to refuse when hed already shown at New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is financially tied to the oft-deplored Koch and Sackler families. In any case, the artist seems too good-natured to be more upset than amused by the ethical quandaries. Hes even tolerant of some censorious tweaks to content levied by museums minders feeling still enough on the side of the angels that he invites Maria Alyokhina aka Masha of notorious politically dissenting art group Pussy Riot to tour the site pre-opening. (She cautions him, however, that any disseminated photographs of her presence might cause the whole place to be shut down.) As finishing touches are put on the transformed GES-2 as a whole, Kjartansson and collaborator/spouse Ingibjorg Sigurjonsdottir prepare their two-part contribution. One is a retrospective of his works, mingled with artists hes influenced by. The other is a huge, one-time-only gambit: live reenactments, in Russian, of entire episodes from the 1980s U.S. afternoon soap opera Santa Barbara, whose NBC run had nearly ended when it premiered in Russia, just a week after the demise of the Soviet Union. Amid post-Communist economic chaos and deprivation, its backstabbing conflicts within a corrupt Dynasty-style wealthy elite proved an incongruous whopping hit. This colossal enterprise, entailing extensive casts, crews, sets, costumes, hair and makeup over 100 days course (one per episode re-created), will no doubt be the new museums initial publicity magnet. Original series creators Bridget and Jerome Dobson, now elderly, are even flown out to be feted. But Ulfarsson, of 2019s tongue-in-cheek vampire feature Thirst, uses split screen imagery to chart far more ominous concurrent preparations: refugees piling up at various Eastern European borders as Russian troops are transported en masse to positions just outside Ukraines own easterly edge. When the dreaded invasion does occur, just weeks past GES-2s opening in December 2021, Kjartansson feels theres no choice but to pull stakes from what he says has become a full-blown fascist state. Hes great company, and Soviet Barbara is insightful as well as entertaining in detailing all the intricacies of launching such a major show, including input from the fledgling institutions multinational staff. But since all that becomes comparatively trivial, you might wish the film had left room for dealing with the resulting fallout. Instead, we simply get Kjartansson back in Reykjavik, philosophical about his curtailed sojourn. How problematic was his exit from the Russian commitment? What happened to the many Santa Barbara participants were told were Ukrainian? For that matter, how were the exhibits and the institution received? Side-stepping those questions leaves Ulfarssons film seeming a bit incomplete. One can imagine some reasons of political delicacy and danger that mightve led to their omission, but couldnt those at least be alluded to? Still, Soviet Barbara provides a stimulating glimpse at art attempting dialogue across cultural and political borders, only to find war is one thing that shuts down such conversations. English is the common language among most players here, so subtitling is relatively minimal. The museum setting, the artwork and personalities it contains as well as use of various archival materials make for a diverse, lively presentation that requires just minimal application of David Berndsens electronic score. Occasional impressive drone shots showcase Moscow as a glittering, prosperous capital though this films otherwise expansive thematic reach does not allow for acknowledgement of any ironies that image might cloak. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Medical licensing officials in multiple states are scrambling to stop nurses with fraudulent academic credentials from caring for patients, after three Florida schools were accused of selling thousands of bogus diplomas. New York regulators told 903 nurses in recent weeks to either surrender their licenses or prove they were properly educated. Delaware and Washington state officials have yanked dozens of nursing licenses. Texas filed administrative charges against 23 nurses. More actions in additional states are expected. In some cases, lawyers for the nurses contend states are questioning the credentials of caregivers who earned diplomas legitimately. But theres wide agreement in the industry that nurses with fraudulent degrees need to be rooted out. The public needs to know that when theyre the most fragile, when theyre sick, when theyre in a hospital bed, that the individual who is at their bedside has gone through the required training, said Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, president of the American Nurses Association union. States are acting in the wake of Operation Nightingale, a federal investigation into what officials say was a wire fraud scheme in which several now-closed Florida nursing schools sold phony nursing diplomas and transcripts from 2016 to 2022. Twenty-five defendants, including school owners and alleged recruiters, have been charged, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Markenzy Lapointe announced in late January. Those cases are pending. About 7,600 students paid an average of $15,000 for bogus diplomas, according to prosecutors. Around 2,400 of those people then passed a licensing exam to obtain jobs as registered nurses and licensed practical nurses or vocational nurses in multiple states, prosecutors say. How did so many test takers pass without the required classroom and clinical work? In some cases, they were experienced L.P.N.s seeking to become R.N.s. Some had been health care providers in other countries. Story continues The nurses got jobs across the country, including at a hospital in Georgia, Veterans Affairs medical centers in Maryland and New York, a skilled nursing facility in Ohio, and an assisted living facility in New Jersey, according to court filings. Students came not only from Florida, but also New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Delaware. Many of the students took their licensing exam in New York, where they can sit it multiple times, according to investigators. Investigators identified the Florida nursing schools as the Palm Beach School of Nursing; Siena College, a school in Broward County that wasnt related to the college of the same name in New York; and the Sacred Heart International Institute, which was also based in Broward County and had no relation to a university with a similar name in Connecticut. It was not entirely clear how many of the roughly 2,400 nurses with credentials from these schools are currently employed, or where. Federal officials shared information so states could pursue nurses with phony academic credentials. Some states have taken action. The Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission rescinded the R.N. licenses of 17 people and denied license applications for four. The Delaware Board of Nursing annulled 26 licenses. The Georgia Board of Nursing asked 22 nurses to voluntarily surrender their licenses. The 23 nurses facing possible license revocations in Texas can continue working while their disciplinary cases are pending. Texas Board of Nursing general counsel James Dusty Johnston said more charges could come as officials develop the necessary information for each individual. A spokesperson for Veterans Affairs said it removed 89 nurses from patient care nationwide last year immediately after being notified by federal officials. The agency has not found any instances of patients being harmed. Attorneys for some of the nurses in New York and Georgia say nurses who legitimately earned diplomas are getting caught up in the investigation. There are obviously people who bought transcripts who are fraudulent and should not be practicing nursing under any circumstances, said Atlanta attorney Hahnah Williams. But there are also people who went to those schools legitimately and did nothing wrong. And they are somehow being lumped together with the fraudulent nurses. Williams said her clients are hardworking immigrants who went to schools that were accredited at the time and have since worked for many years without incident. Similarly, attorney Jordan Fensterman in New York said he has clients who attended classes at one of the schools to finish up their R.N. degrees and then worked during the pandemic. He said those nurses deserve due process now. The state board actions are taking place as hospitals across the nation try to deal with chronic staffing challenges. Hopefully, the number is smaller once the authorities sort things out, said Kennedy, the American Nurses Association president. New Yorks Office of the Professions posted on the state education departments website that it expects some of the 903 licensees who attended the schools did, in fact, attend required hours and clinicals and are properly licensed. Those people are being asked to have a qualified nursing program submit verification. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." In the newest installation of Iconic Eats, Adriana Redding heads down to sunny San Diego, California to visit Sea World. Located on Mission Bay, this park is one of the largest marine rescue organizations in the world. Beyond offering thrilling rollercoasters and exciting animal shows, Sea World San Diego also rescues and rehabilitates fish and aquatic mammals before releasing many of them back to the bay. There are so many attractions at Sea World, but the thing we're most excited about is, of course, the food. With so many locally-inspired treats, its almost impossible to decide which to try. Thankfully, Adriana ate her way through the park to find the best of the best. Here are the six can't-miss food and drink items at Sea World San Diego: Best Drink: Pomegranate Mimosa, $15.99 Chelsea Lupkin How many theme parks can say that they have an entire station dedicated to mimosas? At Sea World's Mimosa Bar, you can order our favorite bubbly brunch beverage with an assortment of different juices. The $15.99 you spend on these mimosas are worth every pennythese servings are substantial. We loved the delightful tartness of the pomegranate mimosa and loved how it felt fancier than the standard orange juice. And to top it all off, you can take home a souvenir cup! Best Meatless Option: Southwestern Wrap, $13.99 Chelsea Lupkin Long gone are the days where vegetarian options at theme parks felt like an afterthought. This hearty wrap at the Explorer's Cafe is packed with black beans, corn, chickpeas, and a lightly spicy salsa. It's filling, savory, and easy to eat while wandering the park. You can definitely share this entreeor you can indulge in it all by yourself. Best Appetizer: Fried Mac & Cheese Bacon Bites, $8.99 Chelsea Lupkin As if bacon mac and cheese couldn't get any more delicious, Sea World went ahead and fried it. You can order this crispy, cheesy appetizer at The Waterfront and take in the stunning views of the bay. Each bite is packed with plenty of bacon and is fried to crunchy, golden perfection. Story continues Best Entree: Adult Tri-Tip Mac & Cheese, $20.99 Chelsea Lupkin Calypso Bay BBQ Smokehouse offers some classic barbecue favorites in the middle of Sea World San Diego. There's a real smoker in the back slow cooking ribs, chicken, and tri-tip. While we would gladly enjoy these meats on their own, they up the ante by topping a serving of creamy macaroni and cheese with smoky tri-tip pieces. It's so meaty and decadent that you won't want to share it with anybody. Best Dessert: Caramel Churros, $7.99 Chelsea Lupkin Churros are a classic theme park dessert, but have you ever had stuffed churros? At Hibisco Modern Mexican, churros come stuffed with caramel sauce, tossed in cinnamon sugar, and then drizzled with even more caramel on top. They're soft, sweet, and the perfect way to round out a meal. Best For Sharing: Sweet Chili Chicken Tenders Platter, $16.99 Chelsea Lupkin Chicken tenders are a perfect dish to share: they're easy to eat and a guaranteed crowd pleaser. The version at Sea World's Explorer's Cafe comes dipped in a sweet chili sauce and sprinkled with plenty of sesame seeds. The sauce is delicately spicy and elevates the classic theme park snack. Each platter comes with five tenders and a hearty serving of thick cut fries, so it's perfect to split with your family. Previously on Iconic Eats: The Best Food At Super Nintendo World You Might Also Like Drone attack crimea A brilliant explosion turned night to day in the strategic Russian-occupied Crimean port city of Sevastopol, then blacked out the sky as a Russian fuel depot burned throughout the day after a Ukrainian drone attack. The reported kamikaze drone attack set several fuel storage tanks ablaze at a large fuel terminal on Sevastopols west end. The complex on Kozacha Bay made a towering plume of black smoke before burning out, leaving charred tanks and pipelines in its wake. https://twitter.com/Flash_news_ua/status/1652150317583151105 https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1652155232896286720 https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1652146514691518464 The strike is the latest in a series of Ukrainian operations against Sevastopol using unmanned air and sea vehicles dating to last summers attack on the Black Sea Fleet Headquarters. Ukrainian kamikaze boats attacked the fleet itself in October, with numerous other attempted and successful attacks before and after. The blaze triggered a sizable response of numerous fire brigades and even a firefighting train. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1652251644606705665 https://twitter.com/TreasChest/status/1652232911137959942 The site may not be the primary fuel depot for the Russian Black Sea Fleet, as noted below in a thread from The Lookout (@The_Lookout_N). A separate hardened tank farm with piers closer to the fleet's main berthing areas in Sevastopol harbor possibly serves that role, or at least part of that role. The oil terminal in Kozacha Bay that was hit tonight is civilian, so it's highly unlikely this will have an impact on Black Sea Fleet operations. https://t.co/5NLcIPFDAu The Lookout (@The_Lookout_N) April 29, 2023 Video from a drone used to survey damage at the facility shows the total destruction of multiple fuel tanks and what looks like serious thermal damage to some of the tanks that didnt burn themselves. The damage looks significant, likely compromising facility operations for the foreseeable future. Story continues https://twitter.com/Tendar/status/1652261997860253697 A cropped screenshot showing damage to the fuel storage facility as seen on a Russian drone surveying the site. However, satellite imagery shows the facility is close to other Russian BSF infrastructure. Telltale revetments show an air defense and/or anti-ship missile site to the northeast immediately across Komyshova Bay from the tank farm. In satellite imagery from April 25 that The War Zone reviewed (posted below), the site's revetments appeared empty, aside from one possible vehicle. If this vehicle is air defense related, it would be a short-range point defense system. The targeted fuel depot (circled in red) with Sevastopol and the Black Sea Fleet's base to the east. Google Maps. Several Russian military facilities surround the targeted fuel depot, among them the 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade's garrisons to the south and west, and the missile site to the northeast across the bay. Google Maps. April 25, 2023 photo of the revetments to the NW of the fuel farm. PHOTO 2023 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION A sizable maneuver and vehicle training area sits to the south, and the military bases along the adjacent Kozacha Bay reportedly garrison the BSFs 810th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade. The brigade took part in the siege of Mariupol and its Azovstal Complex, and has reportedly suffered heavy casualties since the war began. Regardless of its potential impact on operations, no Russian supply officer wants to see that much fuel and infrastructure go up in smoke. The issue isn't so much the lost fuel itself, but the lost capability to retain large amounts of fuel in the future. Ukraine bought a massive fleet of fuel trucks to account for this issue knowing its established fuel farms would be destroyed. So they distributed their fuel into thousands of mobile fuel trucks. As concerns over the looming Ukrainian counteroffensive grow, any damage to critical supply stockpiles like fuel and ammunition could pose real threats to Russian defensive plans. The fuel depot attack would fit the tried and true Ukrainian strategy of preparing the battlespace ahead of such an offensive. Russian worries for Crimea could be just the beginning, according to a post from the Crimean Wind (@Crimeanwind) Telegram channel. The post claims Russia is trying to organize a larger ferry system to support evacuation operations from Crimea to Russia alongside the Kerch Strait Bridge. Russia used ferries during the bottleneck last fall after several spans of the bridge fell in a Ukrainian attack, but the post suggests the ferries would supplement any traffic on the bridge if Moscow orders an evacuation. Before we head into the latest updates from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest The British Ministry of Defense believes Fridays wave of Russian cruise missile attacks on Ukraine was a stark departure from this winters onslaught. In its latest intelligence update, the MoD noted the strikes involved fewer missiles, and its unlikely the Russians targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure as they did this winter. The more plausible assessment, however, is that the Russians tried to hit Ukrainian reserve units and supply shipments; its not clear whether these strikes accomplished their objective. The update noted Russias inefficient targeting process that does not account for collateral damage as evident in Fridays strikes with more than 25 civilians killed. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 29 April 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/BsVHWurn0W #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/lQLW4TyK8s Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 29, 2023 Reuters has a remarkable piece on Russias string of fortifications along both its border with Ukraine and the frontline in its occupied areas. The report shows satellite imagery and incredibly detailed illustrations of Russian fortifications and the challenges they pose to attacking Ukrainian forces. https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1651572272572801030 https://twitter.com/BenDoBrown/status/1652077594395783168 Ukrainian drone operators continue to terrorize Russian vehicles and fighting positions from above, with the latest montage of strikes from the Ukrainian SBU Alpha unit. The clips reportedly show the destruction of four tanks, a companys worth of vehicles, and three strong points. Video of UAVs from Ukrainian SBU Alpha dropping munitions on Russian vehicles and positions. They say they destroyed 4 T-72 and T-90 tanks, 9 BMPs, a BTR, MT-LB, Ural truck, and three strong points. https://t.co/gnFCRgwtE7 pic.twitter.com/H2CPpL8Kgg Rob Lee (@RALee85) April 29, 2023 Russian drones remain a threat, as evidenced by an improvised anti-drone net set up over this Ukrainian M777 howitzers position. US-supplied M777 in Ukrainian service, note the portable anti-drone netting setup. pic.twitter.com/yVlxWlkKI3 OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) April 28, 2023 In its latest assessment of controlled terrain, the Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) noted another week of limited Russian gains amid Bakhmuts ruins. The battle in the city itself remains a brutal street-by-street contest, with the vital highway carrying Ukrainian supply lines west to Chasiv Yar threatened further. #Bakhmut: Russian forces are increasing pressure against the T0504 Kostyantynivka-Chasiv Yar-Bakhmut highway. Geolocated footage posted on April 27 shows that Russian forces advanced to the Bakhmut Industrial College on the T0504 in southwestern Bakhmut. https://t.co/8UQTvXZmyg https://t.co/z3VLSzNBum pic.twitter.com/96TA9cnEij ISW (@TheStudyofWar) April 29, 2023 Wagner Group PMC mercenaries have fought much of the battle in and around Bakhmut, with founder Yevgeny Prigozhin repeatedly criticizing the Russian Ministry of Defense for supply bottlenecks and shortages for his troops. In a recent interview, Prigozhin warned that Wagner will cease to exist if the ammunition problems are not solved. Prigozhin takes into account that Wagner will cease to exist in the near future if the ammunition problems are not solved. pic.twitter.com/8wPrn88EUA NOEL (@NOELreports) April 28, 2023 Its unclear precisely what warning Prigozhin is trying to send here, but it bears mentioning that Wagner remains at the forefront of Russian-backed operations overseas in addition to Ukraine. Prigozhin could be warning Moscow that the supply situation jeopardizes not only its campaign in Bakhmut, but Wagners ability (or willingness) to conduct operations on Russias behalf elsewhere. Video from a drone with the Ukrainian 92nd Mechanized Brigade reportedly shows Wagner casualties in bodybags outside Bakhmut, further grim evidence of the battle's toll. CODE 9.2, part of the 92nd mechanized brigade, shows from the sky how Wagner PMC soldiers lay in the field, wrapped in bodybags. pic.twitter.com/fAMIN4zGzR NOEL (@NOELreports) April 29, 2023 The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense showed just how busy its air defense units have been. While kill marks are a common sight on planes nose art, it appears one Ukrainian air defense command post has a sizable kill score of its own. If the proof is in the paint, this command post has claimed kills of 22 cruise missiles, nine kamikaze drones, nine helicopters, seven Russian Air Force aircraft, and six drones. Lastly, a Ukrainian soldier's video shows that despite the chaos and carnage on the frontline, the wildlife remains. A marbled polecat decided to claim a Ukrainian foxhole for itself and defended it as such. The weasel-like creature hissed and tried to charge at the soldier until they dropped a vest pack into the hole to help it climb out. This little guy paired with the famous trench beaver should really start their own fighting unit. Ukrainian military uses their wits to regain the lost positions captured by the wild Marbled polecat. pic.twitter.com/6uysdXDMgQ Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) April 29, 2023 Thats all for now. Well update this story when theres more news about Ukraine to report. Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com The Daily Shows Roy Wood Jr. this Saturday evening was the lead entertainer at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner, a fundraiser for scholarships for aspiring journalists. The annual event is held in the Washington Hilton Ballroom, and this year aired on C-SPAN, CNN and MSNBC. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, were all in attendance. More from TVLine Former Daily Show host Trevor Noah emceed last years WHCD, which was the first to be held in person since a pre-pandemic 2019. That gala was also the first to actually be attended by the sitting POTUS since 2016. The typically jovial night opened with a pre-taped segment from movie star and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, who spoke of the importance of a free press as an ally of the people. Biden would echo that sentiment with his opening remarks, declaring, A free press is a pillar, maybe the pillar, of a free society. Not the enemy. There was also a pre-taped bit about how the White House briefing room is getting an overdue facelift, with the Property Brothers on hand to walk everyone through their overambitious vision. Below, find other highlights from the evening. Best of TVLine Get more from TVLine.com : Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Newsletter Click here to read the full article. The SI Swimsuit model made her debut in 2015 and was featured in the magazine a total of four separate years. Robyn Lawley was photographed by Ruven Afanador in Mexico. Ruven Afanador/Getty Images Robyn Lawley made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2015 after being photographed in Wyoming and returned to the magazine the following three years. She traveled to Malta in 16 and Mexico in 17, and in 2018, the Every Body With Robyn Lawley podcast host was photographed by Taylor Ballantyne for a powerful in-studio project called In Her Own Words. The 33-year-old began modeling at 16 and continues to be featured in brand campaigns such as INIKA Organic and in magazines like Cosmopolitan. When I found out about my third year, I was super excited. I love the team. I love the people. Its a lot of fun, Lawley said at the time of her 2017 photo shoot with Ruven Afanador. Im all for a powerful shot. These are the images that are going to last the test of time. In some of the photos, Lawley, who occasionally shares fun and delicious vegan recipes on Instagram, was captured dancing. The final products may look effortless, but the behind the scenes interview revealed it was a little awkward and humiliating at first to move with no music. Everyone was watching me. But of course, (editor in chief) MJ (Day) and (associate editor) Darcie (Baum) came out and danced with me so I didnt look so crazy on the beach by myself dancing, Lawley shared. That why I love the SI crewthey are willing to do it with you. Thats the best part. Its so much more fun. Below are 10 of our favorite photos of Lawley in Mexico. Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Ruven Afanador/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Hint: It's more glorious than you even imagined. Artur Debat/Getty Images In the United States, there is absolutely no national legal requirement that compels an employer to offer any paid vacation. At all. This fact often comes as a shock to Europeans, who are afforded much greater legal protection of their days off. According to EurDev, nations around Europe offer generous minimums when it comes to paid time off. For example, in Germany, workers are entitled to a minimum of 20 paid days off per year, as are their counterparts in The Netherlands, Greece, and Ireland. In Portugal, workers receive at least 22 days, while those in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden get, at minimum, 25. And those living in Estonia get a whopping 28. Related: These Are the Countries With the Most Paid Vacations Days in the World "Employees in full-time employment on a 40-hour week are entitled to 192 hours of vacation leave per year," the European Commission explains on its website. But that's not all. "In addition, where a national holiday or public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday or on a weekly rest day to which the employee is entitled, that employee shall be entitled to another day of leave for each of those holidays." Ever wonder how Europeans spend all that glorious time off? We asked seven people sprinkled across the continent to find out. Related: 20 Best Classic Summer Vacations Everyone Should Take at Least Once Discovering Local Hidden Gems Courtesy of AndrA Casado Name: Andre Casado Home country: Portugal Occupation: CEO and professor How you spend your vacation days: "I have a daughter who is two years old, and so I have preferred to make small family trips inside Portugal. We usually take between three to five days four times a year and choose destinations within a three-hour drive from Lisbon, where we live. I prefer staying in quiet, small places with charm and local cuisine, as with the last three: Quinta de Sao Bernardo in the north, Pateo dos Solares in the Alentejo, or Quinta do Freixo in the Algarve. We went to our family house in Ericeira in August to enjoy the beach, where we stay at least two weeks." Story continues Exploring for the Entire Month of August Name: Georgi Zhekov Home country: Germany/Bulgaria Occupation: Credit and funding in IT leasing How you spend your vacation days: "My family and I typically spent our summer vacation in August on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. We spend almost every day on the golden beaches, drinking a very typical refreshing cocktail, made from mint alcoholic liquor, tonic water, and ice (I love it), playing with my daughter on the fine sand, building castles, sleeping under the sun umbrella, and swimming. In the evening we go for a walk in the sea park, then to the port of the city eating fish and salads, drinking beer, and enjoying the warm nights. We love exploring new places and beaches all over the world, plus two to three days of kids programming [like] the zoo or snorkeling." Getting Off the Beaten Path in the Off Season Courtesy of Alexandra Schmidt Name: Alexandra Schmidt Home country: U.S.A., living in Croatia Occupation: Travel agency owner at Mindful Travel Croatia How you spend your vacation days: "My Croatian partner and I work in tourism running our Dubrovnik-based travel agency, which means we dont actually have that much time to take vacations during the peak summer season here. Thats why we typically go on vacation around Europe in either March/April or the end of October. We love beating the summer crowds and finding more affordable accommodation prices during the off season. For example, in March we visited Porto and the Douro Valley for five days. We also just got back from a long weekend in Salerno, which we used as a base to explore Capri and the Amalfi Coast. When we arent busy helping other travelers plan their own vacation to Croatia in the summer, we like to escape for the weekend to quieter places in Dalmatia like the island of Mljet or Lastovo." Lounging on Local Beaches Name: Patricia Palacios Home country: Spain Occupation: Web developer and co-founder of Espana Guide How you spend your vacation days: "I love to spend my vacations close to the beach. One of my favorite destinations is the Canary Islands, Spain. And I am not the only European with that opinion, since they receive over 15 million visitors per year. Even though they belong to Spain, they boast a wonderful semi-tropical climate due to their proximity to the Tropic of Cancer. Winters are very mild and summers are warm, but not uncomfortably hot. That means they are a great place to visit any time of the year. Another thing that I love about the Canary Islands is the many different vacation options that they offer. Yes, you will find a fair share of mass tourism and popular beach resorts with all the amenities and activities to keep both adults and children entertained. But the Canary Islands are also home to one of the best surf scenes in all of Europe. And it is also a hiker's paradise, with beautiful and unique geological formations, flora, and fauna." Cruising the Tuscan Coast Courtesy of Sara Maestrelli Name: Sara Maestrelli Home country: Italy Occupation: Owner of Violino D'Oro How you spend your vacation days: "I spend my spring weekends (and summers) on the Tuscan coast. If you are from Florence or Milan, as soon as the sun starts to shine and the days get warmer, you run to Forte (dei Marmi) for the weekend. Many Florentine or Milanese will have their family vacation homes here or will just drive for the day to have spaghetti alle arselle on the beach with a glass of cold wine. Some of our favorite spots in Forte are Bagno Piero and Bagno Silvio. Shop at the local open-air market, where vintage-like stands set among pine trees sell cashmere and leather bags. And make sure to drink a Negroni at sunset. It is said that it is right on the beaches of Forte dei Marmi that Count Negroni invented his famous drink. It's the essence of the Italian dolce vita summer. Oh, and of course, sleep at Villa Roma Imperiale." Surfing Unique Waves Name: Tim Gunstone Home country: U.K. Occupation: Managing director at Hotelplanner U.K. How you spend your vacation days: "I typically have three types of holidays. First is days off in my home, Devon. Devon is a beautiful county with wild ghostly moors and two incredible coastlines. On my days off I explore. I have surfed these coasts for decades but still find new bits, hidden bits. Normally, we find a country pub for food on the way home. Next is city breaks in Europe nothing beats going to Europes great cities normally out of season. The diversity of food and culture is astonishing. And finally, big trips. My wife is a Kiwi so every few years we take a long trip down there. The bad thing about New Zealand is it's so far away. The good thing is we have worked all over the place so can stop off and see friends on the way. India, Australia, West Coast U.S.A., and Africa. Once down there it's family, mountains, surfing, and brilliant seafood. I typically take off the month of August to spend with my family in southern Portugal. We adore spending our days at the beaches along the southern coast, specifically at spots like Zambujeira do Mar. We also spend plenty of time hiking the nearby Fisherman's Trail but especially love spending the evenings sipping on local wines." Taking Multiple Trips Throughout the Year Name: Jessica van Dop DeJesus Home country: U.S.A., living in Belgium Occupation: Freelance writer and consultant How you spend your vacation days: "Instead of taking one long holiday in the summer, we break them up between the Easter holidays (in Brussels, schools take two weeks off), summer, and Christmas. We like to switch between road trips to places like North Holland or the Black Forest and flying to further destinations like Norway or Sicily. Last year, we spent our Easter holidays on a road trip across Norway. We flew into Oslo, spent the weekend walking around, going on a fjord boat tour, and eating lots of salmon. Then, we rented an electric car, drove cross country to Bergen and then up to Alesund, where we have friends who live nearby. The west coast of Norway has many islands that you have to go to via ferry, which makes for a beautiful unofficial tour of the fjords. Every sight felt like a postcard. My 6-year-old declared she wanted to move to Norway when she grows up (I hope so!). Sometimes we like going north during the holidays because everybody in Belgium is flocking south to Italy and Spain. Going north, we are not only getting better airline deals, but we also love being in nature without the crowds." Interviews have been condensed for clarity and length. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. I just got a club Oscar the Italian club Oscar. Nightclub impressario Amy Sacco was back inside of her Aughts hotspot Bungalow 8 for one nostalgic pre-Met Gala Saturday night, thanks to none other than Gucci. More from WWD Only Gucci, Im telling you, said Sacco of fielding a call from the brand about collaborating several weeks ago. I thought they wanted me to host a little opening at the store, and two weeks in theyre like, no you do realize were building a club for you?' Bungalow 8s iconic No Vacancy neon sign was hung outside the entrance on Little West 12th Street, but the pop-up clubs presence was best marked by the VIPs streaming inside. The room was decorated to reflect Guccis newly opened Meatpacking boutique around the corner, with purple flooring, pink lounge furniture, and grid lighting design on the DJ booth. Im still so gobsmacked, added Sacco, surveying the room, which continued to fill out with guests including Tom Sturridge, Sienna Miller, Chris Rock, Cara Delevingne, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Alexa Chung, Teyana Taylor, Jeremy O. Harris, and Charlotte Tilbury. Phoebe Bridgers could been seen catching up with Beanie Feldstein and fiancee Bonnie Chance Roberts early in the evening, as waiters passed around artfully decorated Jello shot cubes and cocktails from the original clubs menu. Chris Rock It is so exciting to see all these amazing faces, and some new faces for me, but fun people, added Sacco. We all needed a good night out and a good night to dance; there couldnt be a more perfect trifecta of Gucci, Amy, and the Met Ball. And then you add the cherry on top: I know everyones really here to see Idris, but Ill pretend that its for me. Idris and I go way back. All right, tonight were going to have a lot of fun, Idris Elba instructed the crowd at the start of his DJ set. The actor had been a regular at Bungalow 8 in London before its 2011 closure. I want you to have some fun, taking you back to some memories. I want the lights down real low, all these guys in the front turn the lights down because Bungalow 8 was sexy. Story continues The Pinault family Salma, Francois-Henri, and daughter Valentina held court in a side lounge with Iman and Bethann Hardison as guests packed the dance floor. Heck yeah, that was a moment in New York, said Hardison, asked if she had stopped by the original Bungalow 8. It was wonderful to be able to be downtown when it was still changing; the Meatpacking District was changing, she added. In those days, you went to certain places just because it was the place to go to. Launch Gallery: Inside Guccis New York City Bungalow Party Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. In 1923, as the Seacoast was celebrating its 300th anniversary, my father was busy being born. One hundred years later, now living in Durham, New Hampshire, he's about to celebrate what I call his "first centennial." In the interim, John Brewster Robinson fought in World War II, was married for 70-plus years, raised three sons, built hundreds of model airplanes, and worked a full career for AT&T. Hes been retired, he proudly points out, longer than he held a job. These days my father resides at Brookdale/Sprucewood in Durham, where he is busy making paper sculptures, studying quantum physics, and sticking to a strict keto diet. On Thursdays, he likes to catch a ride to Market Basket in Lee, where the cashiers know him by name. U.S. Marine John B. Robinson and his "Sound Ranging" squad at Iwo Jima during World War II. I met my father in 1951. We were living back then with my mother, Phyllis, in a second-floor apartment in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Dad was a telephone installer. I was a baby. Neither of us guessed he was on his way to becoming a centenarian. But here we are, planning the details of an event he calls "no big deal." And yet, it is. Playing the long game You read about famous people who reach this milestone Bob Hope, George Burns, Kirk Douglas, Grandma Moses, Methuselah. But you never think youll have one on speed-dial or share his DNA. I was in grammar school watching a parade when the mathematics of life first hit me. A sign on one of the antique cars in the parade read Last Veteran of the Civil War. I caught the eye of the old man in the vintage car. That memory is seared into my brain, but, according to Wikipedia, it probably never happened. There are 97,000 centenarians in the United States today (Wikipedia again) and close to 600,000 worldwide. Eighty-five percent are women. Statistically my father had a 1% chance of hitting the mark. My odds are 8.2%. A child born today has a 28% chance of reaching 100, and a 1-in-10 chance of living to 106. Newlyweds John and the late Phyllis Robinson begin their adventure post World War II. We are currently celebrating New Hampshires 400th anniversary. Thats nuts, of course, since indigenous people have been here for at least 12,000 years. But we celebrate all the same. And that got me thinking. If someone born in 1623 lived 100 years, and someone born in 1723 did the same imagine that! New Hampshire is only as old as FOUR centenarians linked end-to-end. Story continues War stories Typical of his generation, Dad never said much about the war when we were kids. By the Sixties, when I was in a rock band and growing my hair, talk of politics and religion were also off the table. The war stories came much later when my late brother Brian, an archaeologist, began digging up the facts. John Robinson, we learned, had been working as a stock clerk at a hat factory in Upton, Massachusetts, when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941. Exactly one year later he entered boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. Following intense training in Washington D.C. and Norfolk, Virgnia, he joined a secret operation. The Beach Jumpers, originated by actor Lt. Douglas E. Fairbanks Jr., were highly trained electrical experts. They used special equipment to distract the enemy from spotting U.S. troops landing on foreign soil. Marine Sgt. John B. Robinson, born April 30, 1923, served at Iwo Jima and in the Pacific during World War II. We were told it was not exactly a suicide mission, dad recalls. After recording the live sounds of tanks, trucks and troops onto wire recorders, the Jumpers used hidden powerful speakers to simulate the sounds of a mock landing. The 1940s technology did not live up to the concept and the U.S. Marine version of the project was scrapped. Reassigned to the base at Quantico, Virginia, he joined a newly formed Sound Ranging Squad. While fighting in the Pacific, Marines were being harassed by hidden Japanese guns that could appear suddenly, fire and disappear undetected. The physics department at Duke University had developed a sound ranging device, nicknamed DODAR, that was portable enough to be used in the field to detect hidden artillery by sound. Japanese gunners, it was later discovered, could swing their guns out on tracks, fire and disappear into camouflaged sites before the shells landed. Sgt. John Robinsons experimental Sound Ranging Unit arrived at the volcanic island of Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945. We kept our heads down and heard shells landing close by in the water, dad recalls. Landing vehicles got stuck in the volcanic ash and getting the sensitive sound equipment ashore and into foxholes was hair-raising. How the team used microphones and sound to target enemy guns is a complex story, but the DODAR system worked and the enemy gun was neutralized. Filling in the gaps I call a couple of times a week and my brother Jeff checks in with dad from South Carolina on his Echo Show. Today we rarely reminisce. My father reads the MIT Quarterly and keeps up to the minute on news and weather. We talk mostly about whats for dinner, what Im writing, and what hes reading. But occasionally a chunk of the past slips in. Centenarian John Robinson and the author, his son J. Dennis Robinson, discuss the workings of a new radio-controlled drone. There was that time, I learned recently, when my fathers father, Jake Robinson, tried to teach his young son to catch mink. Grandpa, you see, was a fur trapper. My father didnt take to caging little animals, smacking them on the head and skinning them. During his only foray into the wild, he recalls, one of the supposedly dead mammals jumped out of Grampa Jakes overcoat and made a failed run for freedom. By the time I knew my grandfather, he was planting corn, sharpening saws, building fine furniture, and raising giant worms in huge tanks under the barn. Centennials make you think. Ive written over 3,000 articles about other peoples history, but rarely tap my family tree. Preparing my fathers April 30 birthday bash meant reaching out to people I havent seen in decades. We are, it appears, a hard-working bunch. The relatives include teachers, bookkeepers, EMTs, nurses and factory workers. My great-grandfather ran a dairy farm and his descendants still do. My relatives include a fire chief, a surveyor, a chauffeur, store owners and factory workers galore, a naval officer, hairdresser, chef, videographer, carpenter, economist, lawyer, photographer, and more. No millionaires. No movie stars or presidents. Just us folks. Doing the math While my father built ornate wooden model airplanes in the basement, I built plastic monsters. When I was in fifth grade, we collaborated on a portable computer. This was the early Sixties. Built in a cigar box, the device had two wooden dials that turned on ten brass fasteners labeled from zero to nine. Inside was a nest of colorful wires that we connected with a soldering iron. Marine Sgt. John B. Robinson, born April 30, 1923, served at Iwo Jima and in the Pacific during World War II and now resides in Durham, New Hampshire. The computer could only do one thing convert decimal numbers (Base 10) to binary (Base 2). If you set the dials on a two-digit number, a row of lights would indicate the translation. A light on indicated a 1 and a light off was a 0. Turn the dials to 25, for example and you got 11001. Its pretty much how everything works these days. I entered our computer into the science fair at the McKelvie School gym in Bedford and won first prize. It was a watershed moment. I learned that I hated math. Because our primitive laptop had only two dials, the biggest number we could convert was 99. I mentioned this to my father recently. Hes a numbers man. I'm a word guy. You know, I said. You are about to re-enter the digital age. The decimal number 100, in binary, equals four. Next year, at 101, he will be five. At 72, my digital age is 1001000. No wonder I feel old while my father is so spry. As a telephone installer and later a company leader, my father watched computers shrink from room-sized monsters into the palm of his hand. Hes seen battery-powered Model Ts become battery-powered modern trucks. But lets not get too nostalgic. Hes only 100. Who knows what miracles he has yet to see. More on John Robinson: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital honors cancer patient who is turning 100 J. Dennis Robinson, all rights reserved. Robinson will release three new books in 2023, including a hardcover history of New Castle, New Hampshire and a study of New Hampshires first English settlers in 1623. "Portsmouth Time Machine," a 400-year history of the city for kids, illustrated by Robert Squier, is due out soon. For information, visit jdennisrobinson.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: J. Dennis Robinson: When your dad turns 100 They acted quickly to save the little one. Firefighters in San Jose, California, got a very different kind of call when a 'concerned citizen' brought a very young fawn to the station. The baby deer was incredibly thin and in poor health, but the first responders had everything they needed to keep the little one stable until the officials from animal control could arrive. We're so glad to hear of the little deer's rescue, but we're even happier that someone snapped a few pictures before the baby was transferred to animal control. These pictures from the San Jose Fire Department's Twitter page are simply the sweetest things! OMG! This baby is so little! We knew we'd be seeing a young deer in these pictures, but this fawn takes tiny to the next level. That good samaritan did the right thing by bringing the animal to the fire station where they could help. And then, the firefighters did the same thing by deferring to animal control! We wish we had more information about this adorable story because we're curious about so many details. For example, where was this fawn found in such a large city? It's not always simple to tell whether a baby deer is abandoned or whether it needs help, either, but the person who rescued this animal clearly knew something was up. According to the Red Creek Wildlife Center, there are a few signs which can tell you when a fawn is dehydrated or malnourished. Most obviously, the fawn may be found with injuries, or alongside a deceased mother. In these cases, immediate rescue is ideal. If a fawn appears healthy but alone, the wildlife center recommends observing from a distance for about a day. "Dehydration will be visible within a day or so and is indicated by curling of the ears, ruffling of the fur, and dulling of the eyes." If you're ever unsure whether a fawn needs rescue, don't hesitate to call a wildlife expert for advice. Story continues 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 Heres what to know about visiting Beaufort, one of South Carolinas most beautiful towns. Lisa-Blue/Getty Images Charleston may get most of the attention when it comes to South Carolinas many cities, but the history, culture, and (of course) Southern charm that make it so special can also be found in smaller and less expensive places in the region. If youve ever watched Forrest Gump or read anything by the late author Pat Conroy, you may be familiar with Beaufort, a harbor town on Port Royal Island. Its narrow streets, oak trees, and historic district that pre-dates the Civil War are similar to those in Charleston, but Beaufort is remarkable and magical in its own right. Plus, it doesnt draw the same crowds that tend to flock to notable Holy City hangouts like King Street, Folly Beach, and the Battery. Before you read any further, though, you need to know how to properly pronounce the name. Not to be confused with Beaufort, North Carolina (said like bow-fert), the coastal town has a pronunciation more akin to bew-fert. Mistaking the two will immediately identify you as a tourist and it wont sit too well with the locals. Once you have that squared away, you can start planning your trip to Beaufort, the second-oldest city in South Carolina. Related:8 Charming Small Towns in South Carolina From the Mountains to the Beach Best Things to Do in Beaufort, South Carolina snikeltrut/Getty Images In 1969, Beaufort became one of the few U.S. cities with an entire downtown designated as a historic district by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so exploring the neighborhoods filled with Victorian, Greek Revival, Neoclassical, and Federal-style homes is at the top of most travelers lists. At Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, youll spot Woods Memorial Bridge, recognizable from the aforementioned Tom Hanks blockbuster. Stretching your legs is also encouraged along the Spanish Moss Trail, a 10-mile greenway that weaves by Beauforts marshes and through trees draped in Spanish moss. Given its waterfront location, Beaufort should also be experienced by boat; book a Dolphin & History Boat Cruise with Coastal Expeditions or an ecology tour with Beaufort Kayak Tours. Paddleboarding is another option, with rental equipment available at Higher Ground Outfitters. Story continues Beauforts ties to the literary world are strong; visiting the Pat Conroy Literary Center (Beaufort was Conroys adopted hometown) or one of the three independent bookstores in town NeverMore Books, McIntosh Book Shoppe, and Beaufort Books is a must for book lovers. For those interested in local art, theres the Gullah Art Gallery and Museum, Legacy Art Gallery, Rhett Gallery, Thibault Gallery, or Atelier Off Bay. Teresa Kopec/Getty Images Many of the best things to do in Beaufort are found further outside of downtown. About 17 miles east is Hunting Island State Park, with its pristine beaches, marshes, maritime forest, saltwater lagoon, and the Hunting Island Lighthouse, which was destroyed during the Civil War and rebuilt in 1875. St. Helena Island (a 13-minute drive away) is home to Penn Center one of the United States first schools for formerly enslaved individuals as well as the family-owned Dempsey Farms, where you can pick in-season fruits and vegetables. Local produce can also be acquired on Saturdays at the nearby Port Royal Farmers Market. Related:The Best Things to Do in South Carolina, According to a Local Beaufort Hotels Lisa-Blue/Getty Images An overnight trip to Beaufort is best accompanied by a stay in one of the towns upscale inns. Slow Southern mornings paired with a home-cooked breakfast can be enjoyed on the expansive wooden porch at The Rhett House Inn. Guests can also book the more modern Rhett House Inn Cottages, which sit across the street from the main building. Once a Union Army hospital, Anchorage 1770 overlooks the Beaufort River and offers a fine dining experience at the Ribaut Social Club. The Beaufort Inn first opened its doors in 1897, and the propertys modern-day chapter features several fully renovated buildings within the towns historic district. Where to Eat and Drink in Beaufort, South Carolina As with most Southern cities and towns, food is a major part of the local culture. If youre a traveler who plans their vacations around meals, youll want to start your day at Blackstones Cafe or Herban Market and Cafe. If youre exploring Beaufort during the day and want something quick, order a fried chicken sandwich or poboy from Lowcountry Produce Market & Cafe. Chapmans Grocer also has grab-and-go treats, wine, and craft beer. Old Bull Tavern is a lively gastropub open only for dinner, Saltus River Grill is great for indulging in seafood, and those craving Italian should dine at Griffin Market. Gullah Grub Restaurant on St. Helena Island is one of the areas most famous restaurants (it appeared on Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations); get the shrimp gumbo. Best Time to Visit Larry Keller, Lititz Pa./Getty Images A South Carolina summer is hot and humid theres no getting around that. To explore Beaufort in the most comfortable climate, your best bet is to go in either early spring or late fall. April and October are ideal for having plenty to do (winter is far from bustling) while simultaneously avoiding the sweltering weather synonymous with the South. Getting There If youre flying into Hilton Head Airport (HHH) or Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) both are under an hour away youll need to rent a car to fully experience Beaufort and its surrounding area. Charleston International Airport (CHS) is also an option, although itll take about 90 minutes to get to Beaufort. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. State regulators must consider environmental groups' arguments for retiring some of MidAmerican Energy's coal plants as a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday. The high court's decision reversed a lower court ruling and sent the case back to the Iowa Utilities Board for consideration. At issue is MidAmerican Energy's plan for cost-effectively meeting state and federal air quality standards while reliably providing power. Both MidAmerican and the Iowa Utilities Board declined to comment Friday. MidAmerican, the Des Moines utility owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, said it's still reviewing the ruling. The utilities board said it doesn't comment on pending litigation. Climate activists, Indigenous leaders, and community members march to the downtown offices of MidAmerican Energy to demand an end to coal fired power plants in Iowa, Friday, April 22, 2022. The Iowa Environmental Council, the Environmental Law & Policy Center and Sierra Club, which successfully challenged the utilities board's decision, lauded the ruling. "Whenever MidAmerican is proposing to spend money on its coal plants, customers deserve to know whether it would instead save money to retire them and replace them with clean, emissions free electricity resources like wind, solar, and battery storage that also help fuel Iowas economy," Laurie Williams, senior attorney for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, said in a statement. More: Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri join forces in quest for $1B grant to become 'clean hydrogen hub' The ruling centers on an emissions management plan MidAmerican submitted to the utilities board in 2020, outlining the continued operation and maintenance of four coal-fired power plants: Walter Scott Jr. Energy Center Unit 3, George Neal Energy Center Unit 3 and Unit 4, and the Louisa Generating Station. State law requires the regulators to evaluate utilities' plans to manage emissions, and once approved, the utilities can then recover the plans' costs from consumers. The Iowa Utilities Board approved MidAmerican's plan, allowing the company to recoup costs through 2022. Story continues The state's high court, however, said in its ruling the state utilities board failed to consider expert testimony, on behalf of environmental groups and the Iowa attorney general's consumer advocate, that it would be more cost-effective to retire two coal-fired power plants and replace them with renewable energy. The groups argued the change could be made without reducing MidAmerican's ability to provide electricity reliably and affordably. The state utilities board, however, argued it considered the options presented by the consumer advocate and the environmental groups to be outside the scope of the proceedings. And a Polk County district court, asked to review the decision, sided with the utility board. When the appeal moved to the high court, MidAmerican said state law neither allows the environmental groups or consumer advocate to "foist alternative budgets and plans on the utility, nor allows the board to consider or approve alternative budgets and plans," the ruling said. More: Iowa residents contend solar, wind projects get in the way of their communities' growth However, the high court said that MidAmerican has asked the utilities board to consider coal plant retirements when it submitted emissions plans in 2014, 2016 and 2018. "The board argues, and the district court agreed, that the boards past practice of considering plant retirement is not relevant here because in those prior cases, plant retirement was advanced by the utility rather than an intervening party," the court said. "We think the distinction is immaterial and misses the point. If facility retirement was a relevant means of 'managing regulated emissions from its facilities in a cost-effective manner' when MidAmerican proposed it, it must also be relevant when offered into evidence" by environmental groups and the consumer advocate, the court said. All but Justice David May participated in the decision, the court said. Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa must weigh environment in MidAmerican plan to close coal plants, court says Jeffersons Bourbon is known for its whiskey aging experimentsnamely, putting a bunch of barrels on a container ship to sail the Seven Seas as part of its Ocean Aged series. But the new Marian McLain release foregoes any maritime adventures, and instead just focuses on the art of blendingand the resulting whiskey is quite good. Jeffersons was founded in 1997 by Trey Zoeller, an interesting and enthusiastic presence in the American whiskey world. The brand is owned by French drinks giant Pernod Ricard, which got some bad press recently and faced boycotts for its decision to resume exports of Jameson Irish whiskey and Beefeater gin to Russia. Pernod, along with many other companies, suspended sales to Russia after it invaded Ukraine. But by the end of this past week, the company reversed course and suspended exports once again. Of course, all of this doesnt really have much to do with the bourbon in question, but it would remiss not to at least address this controversy. More from Robb Report Marian McLain is named after Zoellers eighth generation grandmother, a distant relative who the brand claims was one of the first female bootleggers who was arrested in 1799, making her one of the first women to be convicted of this crime. The Marian McLain expression is a tribute to our family history and a celebration of the pioneering persona that defines our brand, said Zoeller in a statement. What better way to show appreciation for my past than by creating this liquid that can be enjoyed for years to come. I brought my dad, Chet, out of retirement to help create this nod to our heritage. That story is interesting, especially if all the facts line up. But whats more interesting is what is actually in this bottlea blend of five different bourbons (that number comes from the fact that McLain had five children). Here is the precise formula: 21 percent 14-year-old Tennessee straight bourbon, 40 percent 11-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, 14 percent wheated double-barrel bourbon, 17 percent rum cask finished bourbon, and eight percent eight-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon. The fact that this is a blend of sourced bourbons isnt anything new, as the brand is not a distillery and relies on others to supply its whiskey. Currently, Kentucky Artisan Distillery is Jeffersons home base, which is where this blend came together (the older whiskey must have been distilled elsewhere, given the fact that KAD opened a decade ago). But the details of exactly what went into this whiskey are more specific than anything else in the Jeffersons lineup, which seems to be the selling point here. Story continues Marian McLain is bottled at higher 102 proof, but that doesnt leap out at you on the nose. Instead, there are notes of cinnamon and honey, along with a bit of oaky char. That tannic note continues into the palate along with some musty leather, but that is buttressed by a bouquet of dried fruits, orange zest, milk chocolate, espresso, and even some banana and a hint of mango. You could call this a back to basics bourbon, except that this interesting blend of different liquids is anything but. Each particular age statement, cask finish, and state of origin brings a specific flavor to the whiskey, and this precise construction has yielded great results. Jeffersons Marian McLain is just rolling out at specialty retailers around the country this month with an SRP of $300. That puts this well above other Jeffersons releases as far as price, but this is one bottle that is worth it. Score: 90 100: Worth trading your first born for 95 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet 90 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram 85 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market 80 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable Below 80 Its alright: Honestly, we probably wont waste your time and ours with this Every week Jonah Flicker tastes the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Friday for his latest review. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Princess Mary of Denmark Princess Mary of Denmark stepped out in a blue and white striped shirt dress as she set sail on a traditional Fijian vessel and met with the Prime Minister of Fiji during her visit to the country. Princess Mary of Denmark looked effortlessly stunning as she stepped out in a gorgeous striped shirt dress during her visit to Fiji. The royal added her own touch to the long dress with toned down accessories and gold jewelry. In other royal news, Carole Middleton's bright blue dress features the dreamiest frill detailing and flattering tie-waist. Princess Mary of Denmark has been spotted in a whole host of gorgeous looks throughout her current royal tour of Fiji. From her stunning khaki skirt with crisp white shirt combo that gave her a unique dressed-down look, to the colorful maxi skirt that proves boho chic is back, the royal has caught our attention for her stylish choices. Her latest look is no different. Princess Mary was spotted taking in the glorious views on board a traditional Fijian boat before she met with the Prime Minister of Fiji. For the nautical occasion, Mary opted for one of the best shirt dresses we've seen in a while - a chic blue and white striped version, which she cinched at the waist with a pale tan belt and paired the look with dainty ballet flats with scalloped edges. To combat the sea winds, she wore her brunette hair in a thick side braid and accessorized with oversized, square-framed sunglasses. After her sea excursion, Mary swapped her comfortable flats for a pair of open-toe, nude heels before meeting with Fiji's Prime Minister. Princess Mary of Denmark Adaptive Stripe Maxi Shirt Dress, 140 ($174) | Tommy Hilfiger This classic shirt dress features cool stripes and a flattering silhouette that cinches you in at the waist with a D-ring belt. The dress does all the work for you and very little styling is needed to give a timeless and elegant look. View Deal The nautical look was the perfect outfit for Princess Mary's engagement. The royal boarded a traditional Fijian boat with the sentimental name Uto ni Yalo, which translates to Heart of the Spirit. Mary spent her time on the boat learning about how it's being used to revive and sustain traditional Fijian canoe building, sailing, and navigational knowledge, skills, and customs. Story continues The shirt dress Mary opted for is the Disordinata Striped Cotton Shirt Dress by Italian brand Stella Jean. Unfortunately, Princess Mary's shirt dress is no longer available but the simplicity of the style and the demand for timeless casual pieces means there are plenty of similar styles available from both high street and luxury brands alike. Whether youre looking for a high-end piece to add to your closet or youre after something a little more thrifty for a summer holiday, theres a whole host of pieces to choose from. Cotton Shirt Dress, 90 ($112) | John Lewis With pleats around the waist to cinch in and highlight the smallest part of the body, the dainty silhouette of this dress is offset with batwing sleeves and a generously billowing skirt.View Deal Full Skirt Shirt Dress, 250 ($312) | Jaspar Conran This fit-and-flare midi dress is designed to give the wearer an air of timeless style. Constructed with a plain woven cotton blend fabric, the dress features a half-elasticated waist for comfort.View Deal Blue Striped Tie Waist Midi Shirt Dress, 49 ($61) |River Island Boasting a thick and graphic striped print, the feminine tie waist detail and understated collar of this dress make it perfect for any event. The glimmering buttons add a pop of shine to the simple design and its relaxed fit gives off an effortlessly chic feel. View Deal To finish off the elegant look, Mary accessorized with a variety of delicate jewelry pieces including a pair of teardrop earrings with precious gemstone detailing, a thick gold cuff on her left wrist, and two more delicate chain-linked gold bracelets on the other. As she has for the majority of her visit to Fiji, Mary kept her makeup minimal for the day. Her dewy skin base was paired with a subtle pink nude lip, a slight hint of smudged brown eyeliner, and a thin layer of mascara. Clarence Pages recent column about violent crime in Chicago and Mayor-elect Brandon Johnsons milquetoast response to out-of-control crime is hard to take. Pages knowledge and love of the city are the likely impetus for an assessment that is supportive but, in the end, exceedingly blunt. Whats clear is that the traditional mayoral honeymoon will be brief and that critiquing Johnson will occur regularly. Advertisement After being inaugurated as Chicagos 57th mayor and only the fourth Black person to occupy the office, Johnson will assume responsibility for a rapidly declining city. Gone are the days when prestige and deference to big city mayors, like Richard J. Daley and later his son, Richard M. Daley, father and son who held the office for an incredible 43 years, reigned over the most segregated city in America with an iron fist. Anthony Stanford. (Anthony Stanford / HANDOUT) Another distinction is that, unlike Chicagos former Black mayors, Johnson, wife Stacie-Rencher Johnson and their three children reside in the West Side community of Austin, the first mayor to do so in modern times. Advertisement Johnsons immediate challenge - public safety - and the problems associated with generational poverty and a lack of opportunities are complicated by years of neglect by previous administrations. The starving of assistance, resources and compassion may have reignited the 1990s controversial theory propagated by President George W. Bushs appointee, academic and criminologist John J. DiIulio Jr. The controversial theory claimed that young men, super predators, a precursor to right-wing medias clarion call, whod grown up in an environment of criminals without family structure, were likely to become ruthless criminals. Its believed that Dilulios theory played on the racist fears of white America, even embraced in the 1990s by then First Lady Hilary Rodham Clinton until years later during the 2016 presidential campaign when confronted by a Black Lives Matter activist to answer for her remarks in which shed used super predators to describe children with no conscience, no empathy who committed crimes. Clinton told the Washington Post that, looking back, I shouldnt have used those words, and I wouldnt use them today. For his part, Dilulio has said that he regrets inventing a theory that took on a life of its own. Duilios contention that young males would roam the urban landscape, looting and killing innocents, is years ahead of conservative medias continuous looping of stories regarding crime-ridden Black communities. Duilio was criticized for the racist theory hed admit was wrong, ultimately forcing Clintons public apology. From his window, Johnsons compassionate perspective and vision for the economically and socially downtrodden likely differs from that of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, who resided in Hyde Park, and outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who lives in the Logan Square community, both racially diversified and without the level of violence, social and economic challenges of Johnsons west Austin community. Society overall, and more specifically Black citizens, must reckon with a Republican Party armed with decades of crime data that openly flirts with authoritarianism. It prompts the uncomfortable dilemma that every big city mayor must consider as Dilulios theory again permeates the public consciousness. Anthony Stanford, named the 2014 Outstanding African American of the Year by the Aurora African American Heritage Advisory Board, is an opinion columnist, urban theorist and author of the book, Copping Out: The Consequence of Police Corruption and Misconduct. El Paso will declare a "state of emergency" starting Monday in anticipation of a potential influx of thousands of migrants with the end of Title 42 pandemic law next week, Mayor Oscar Leeser said at a Sunday news conference. There are already hundreds of migrants sleeping on sidewalks around Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown and overflowing at the Opportunity Center for the Homeless in the Magoffin area of the South Side. "We are getting prepared now for what we call the unknown," Leeser said, explaining that the emergency declaration allows the city to open up temporary shelters. Venezuelan migrants on Wednesday began arriving in greater numbers, staying on the sidewalks surrounding Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown El Paso after crossing the U.S. border. There had been unconfirmed estimates of up to 35,000 asylum seekers waiting in Juarez, Mexico, to cross the U.S. border once Title 42 expires on May 11. The latest estimates are that there are 10,000 to 12,000 migrants in Juarez, where shelters aren't full but tent camps line streets in front of Juarez city hall near the Paso Del Norte Bridge, said Leeser, who spent four hours in the Mexican city on Friday reviewing the situation. El Paso declares 'state of emergency' over migrant surge The El Paso "state of emergency" begins at 12:01 a.m. Monday and lasts seven days before it goes to the City Council to be ratified for 30 days, the mayor said. The declaration helps the city to open up emergency shelters and use federal funds. The city is prepping to open two temporary shelters at the vacant Bassett Middle School in Central El Paso and Morehead Middle School on the West Side. If needed, it may also use the Judson F. Williams Convention Center in Downtown, officials said. Immigration: 'We are on edge': Migrant fears grow in El Paso border neighborhoods as Title 42 end nears We need to put everything in place to meets those demands," El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D'Agostino said. The city is working with the American Red Cross, churches and charities to provide shelter and will be enforcing no-camping laws and will continue cleanups of blankets, waste and trash as safety and health measures at migrant camp sites. Story continues The mayor emphasized that El Paso police will not enforce immigration law, which is a federal purview. Nation: Biden plan aims to stem border migration as restrictions end There are concerns that migrant sidewalk camps could fester crime, health and safety hazards if left to grow. There were five calls tied to camps regarding the exploitation of young women and drugs over the weekend, the mayor mentioned. The city is asking the public to not to drop off donations at the encampments. It encourages those large congregations on the streets," D'Agostino said. Community members can help by making monetary donations and volunteering at local charities, shelters and non-governmental organizations assisting refugees in El Paso. A list is available at online at elpasotexas.gov/migrant-crisis/donate/ El Paso mayor: The border is not open Title 42, which quickly returned migrants to Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic, expires at the end of the day on May 11, Leeser said. It is "bothersome" that migrants are waiting for Title 42 to expire, falsely believing they will be allowed to enter the U.S. without any documentation, Leeser said. A similar migrant surge occurred last fall. We are not opening the borders. The borders are not open today and they will not be open on May 12," Leeser said. More: How will El Paso handle the end of Title 42? Border Patrol chief shares his plans Even when Title 42 ends, the U.S. Border Patrol is still enforcing Title 8 immigration law, which consequences include deportation and a five-year re-entry ban. Venezuelan migrants are staying in the area of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Downtown El Paso. The federal immigration system is "broken" and El Paso, other border cities and the United States cannot continue without changes being made, Leeser said. "There is no end game to this," he said. A week ago, the Border Patrol was seeing 1,300 migrants a day in its El Paso Sector, which covers the westernmost tip of Texas and all of New Mexico, agents said. Unprocessed, unsponsored migrants present challenges The challenges facing the city of El Paso are due to "unprocessed" and "unsponsored" migrants, officials said. "Unprocessed" migrants are basically migrants who illegally entered the U.S., circumvented the process at the border and don't have permission to travel onward. The "unprocessed" migrants are a "great concern" because the city can't house them in shelters receiving federal funding due to their immigration status, D'Agostino said last week. "Unsponsored" migrants are generally asylum seekers who are processed and then released from U.S. Customs and Border Protection custody but don't have money and sponsors who will pay for them to continue their journey to their destination. Immigration: Last bus out: How one family's trip on a migrant bus delivered a dream Last fall, about half of the Venezuelan migrants who arrived in El Paso had no financial means to get to where they were going, which caused the city to charter long-distance buses to other cities, D'Agostino said. El Paso is working on plans where migrants would be transported by overnight charter bus directly to Houston airports where they would catch flights to their destination, officials said. No other possible airport hubs have been mentioned. The city of El Paso helps with travel plans and migrants are not transported without their permission, officials noted. Migration surges in other parts of Texas border Similar migrant surges are occurring in other parts of the Texas border. In Brownsville, shelters are struggling to find space for migrants who authorities said have abruptly begun crossing by the thousands from Mexico, the Associated Press reported. Since last week, officials said that more than 15,000 people, mostly from Venezuela, had illegally crossed in the Brownsville area, a sharp rise from the 1,700 migrants that the Border Patrol encountered in the first two weeks of April, the Associated Press reported. Immigration system: US to open migration centers in Guatemala, Colombia in attempt to stop post-Title 42 surge This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: As Title 42 ends, El Paso declares border 'state of emergency' A New York man previously convicted of recruiting people for a terrorist organization has been federally charged with attempting to murder someone in the U.S. prison in McCreary County. Mufid Elfgeeh, of Rochester, New York, is charged with attempted murder of a victim identified only as A.J.W. in court documents. The incident occurred around Jan. 15, 2019, inside the penitentiary, according to court records. Elfgeeh, 39, was charged in U.S. District Court this month, according to court records. The prison in McCreary County is a high-security federal facility for men. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to its website. Since the incident in 2019, Elfgeeh has been transferred to prisons in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Florida, according to court documents. He was already serving a 22-year prison sentence for attempting to recruit fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, commonly referred to as ISIL, according to the Department of Justice. He was sentenced in March 2016 by U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Wolford in New York. The DOJ said Elfgeeh actively recruited and attempted to send two individuals both of whom were cooperating with the FBI at the time to Syria to join and fight on behalf of ISIL between December 2013 and May 2014. Elfgeeh sent anti-American ISIL propaganda videos to a potential recruit and arranged for an English-speaking ISIL contact located in Iraq to communicate over social media. Elfgeeh also paid more than $240 for that person to get copies of official travel documents, according to the DOJ The DOJ said Elfgeeh also bought a laptop and camera for the recruits to take to Syria, gave them guidance to avoid detection while traveling, and prepared them for the vetting process to join ISIL, the DOJ said. Elfgeeh also arranged for an overseas contact to get the recruits into ISIL territory in Syria, the DOJ said. Elfgeeh also communicated with the alleged leader of the Green Battalion of the United Rebels of Homs-Al-Murabitun, a group of fighters located in Syria, according to the DOJ. Story continues Elfgeeh facilitated communication between the battalion leader and ISIL so the battalion could join ISIL, the DOJ said. In addition to all of the other criminal conduct, Elfgeeh used social media to receive and disseminate information about foreign terrorist groups and their activities in Syria and other countries; to declare his support for violent jihad, ISIL and other foreign terrorist groups; to inspire and encourage others to engage in violent jihad and/or pledge allegiance to ISIL and other foreign terrorist groups; and to seek financial contributions to assist jihadist fighters, the DOJ said previously. Elfgeeh was arrested in May 2014, just weeks after ISIL had been officially designated as a terrorist organization, according to the FBI. He is described as one of the first ISIL recruiters ever apprehended. Elfgeeh is scheduled for his initial court appearance May 18 at 1:30 p.m. in London, records show. He faces 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release if convicted. A month after a Georgia man was found in a ditch along a South Carolina road and later died, another Georgia man is facing a murder charge from the fatal shooting, the Aiken County Sheriffs Office said. Jarvon Stapleton a 24-year-old Stonecrest, Georgia, man died March 14, according to Aiken County Coroner Darryl Ables. Stonecrest is in the Atlanta area. Earlier that day, a passerby had called the sheriffs office after seeing Stapleton lying in a ditch on the side of Kitchings Road, near Old Barnwell Road, according to a news release. Thats in the Williston area of Aiken County. Responding deputies saw Stapleton had been shot multiple times, Ables said. The Georgia man was taken to Aiken Regional Medical Centers and then transferred to Augusta University Medical Center, where he died, according to the coroners office. Stapleton had been shot in the hand and head. On Friday, Barry Junior Bellinger a 37-year-old Lithonia, Georgia, resident was identified by the sheriffs office as Stapletons killer. Bellinger was arrested Friday by the DeKalb County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service on unrelated drug and weapons charges, according to the sheriffs office. Bellinger will be held in the DeKalb County Jail pending the legal process for his current charges in Georgia, but is expected to be extradited to Aiken County after that process is complete, the sheriffs office said. In addition to murder, Bellinger, aka Alameen Mumin, will be charged in Aiken County with possession of a weapon during a violent crime, kidnapping and carjacking, the sheriffs office said. Information about how Bellinger was connected to Stapletons death was not available, but the sheriffs office said both men have ties to the Atlanta area. There was no word on a motive for the shooting, or why the Georgia men were in Aiken County. No other injuries were reported. In addition to the sheriffs office, coroners office, DeKalb County police, and U.S. Marshals, the Williston Police Department and Barnwell County Sheriffs Office assisted in the investigation. Stapletons family said We express our deepest gratitude and are truly thankful to all the law enforcement officers and community members that help bring this man to justice, according to the sheriffs office. WORCESTER Damage to the outside of Worcester's only Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location on Park Avenue remained visible Monday following reports that two customers became agitated and vandalized the inside of the restaurant Saturday because the restaurant was out of an item they ordered. The smashed drive-thru window was boarded up Sunday at the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location on Park Avenue after two customers became agitated and vandalized the inside of the restaurant Saturday evening. Employees at the Popeyes did not comment Sunday or Monday. Calls and emails to Popeyes' media contact was not immediately returned. Worcester police spokesperson Lt. Sean Murtha said officers were dispatched to Popeyes at about 4:30 p.m. for a report of two men damaging restaurant equipment. Witnesses told police that the men were in line at the drive-thru and were told a food item they asked for was not available. The men responded by threatening the clerk and entering the restaurant. WBZ-TV reports witnesses said the men became angry over missing jalapenos in their order. The men began throwing food at the employees and began damaging equipment including a computer, register, a TV and a printer. According to police, the employees felt threatened, as the suspects were verbally threatening them and throwing things at them. After they left the restaurant, the two men are reported to have thrown a rock at the drive-thru window shattering it. Popeyes temporarily closed Saturday. Monday afternoon, only the smashed and boarded up drive-thru window was open for take-out orders. The inside dining space, which still had the benches and chairs on top of the tables as of noontime, was not open for walk-in food orders and was only accepting Grubhub and online order pickups. The incident is still under investigation. No arrests were made as of Monday afternoon. Employees posted a sign on the drive-thru speaker that reads "We are Closed Goodnight," at the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen location on Park Avenue after two customers became agitated and vandalized the inside of the restaurant Saturday. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Enraged customers vandalize Park Ave. Popeyes over out-of-stock item Two people, including a preschool teacher, are accused of killing a man whose body was found rolled down a hill near Santa Cruz, California officials say. Someone reported finding the body of Oliver Waterfall, 24, of San Jose at 7 p.m. April 11 near Highway 9, the Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Department reported in a news release. The county coroners office discovered Waterfall had been killed by a gunshot wound, sheriffs officials said. On Wednesday, April 26, investigators arrested Dennis Novoa, 27, of San Jose and Diana Ornelas, 22, of Santa Clara on charges of murder, the release said. Ornelas was arrested at the Childrens Center of the Stanford Community, a preschool on the Stanford campus where she worked as a teacher, SFGate reported. An email to parents said authorities arrested Ornelas during nap time outside the presence of children, The Stanford Daily reported. University officials said Ornelas was no longer a campus employee. Investigators said Novoa and Ornelas knew Waterfall and described the crime as personal in nature, the sheriffs office said. They ask that anyone with information call 831-4547702. Santa Cruz is a city of 62,000 people about 75 miles south of San Francisco. Swarms of quakes shake Salton Sea region in Southern California, seismologists say Remains found at Lake Mead identified as boater missing 25 years, Nevada officials say Bartender found dead under tarp with pockets turned out, Colorado cops say. Huge heart Rocco Morales won first place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design Contest. A 12th grader from Northville won the grand prize in Stellantis annual Drive for Design contest with his vision for a Ram Stadion, representing a new segment of pickup trucks. It's not the first win for Rocco Morales. He also took first place in 2022 and second place in 2021, according to a news release. Morales sleek design featured a fully capable off-road machine (that) could easily transform into a relaxing place to hang out, the release said. An image of Morales design included a deployable canopy, stadium seating and yacht-like stairs for access. More: Super Bowl ads for Stellantis reveal electric Ram, Jeep's Electric Slide Morales' prize includes a summer design internship at the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio and a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet, the release said. This years contest asked students in grades 10-12 to sketch the next-generation Ram EV truck, a theme that aligned with the automaker's unveiling of its Ram 1500 REV electric pickup. Stellantis owns Ram, along with Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. Rocco is clearly a passionate designer with a bright future ahead of him, Mark Trostle, head of Ram Truck and Mopar Exterior Design for Stellantis, said in the release. It will be great having someone eager to learn and experience a professional design studio. Rohan Seiber, of Portola Valley, California, won second place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design contest. Second and third places went to 10th grader Rohan Seiber, of Portola Valley, California, and 11th grader Benjamin Miller, of Birmingham, respectively. Seibers Ram Rex design included a truck with a configurable bed platform and unique exterior lighting and rail system; Millers Ram Ultima is built around a modular design that would allow the owner to add more power and traction as needed, the release said. Seiber and Miller are in line for an Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, a virtual day of design portfolio review with Stellantis designers and a scholarship to the College of Creative Studies' four-week summer program. Story continues Benjamin Miller, of Birmingham, won third place in Stellantis' 2023 Drive for Design contest. Trostle, who won an early iteration of the contest in 1987 when he was in high school, described an impressive design showing from the students who participated. Every year, I am blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm of these students, Trostle said in the release. Its really difficult to choose a winner because each design is so unique and thoughtful. Our whole team is excited to work with these students, and Im already looking forward to next years contest. More: Stellantis wants to cut 3,500 hourly jobs, offer buyouts corporate wide Winners since 2014 have come from California, Florida, New Hampshire, Michigan and Ohio. Local winners this year can be a student judge at the EyesOn Design at Ford House car show in Grosse Pointe Shores on June 18.Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis Drive for Design winner offers Ram 'Stadion' EV The Russian missile strike that struck Ukraine on Friday was part of a possible attempt to intercept Ukrainian reserve units and military supplies that were recently given to the country, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Saturday. In its intelligence update, the MoD said Moscow launched the first major wave of cruise missile strikes against Ukraine since early March 2023. The bombardment killed at least 25 people and was a departure from Russias use of long-range strikes that targeted energy infrastructure over winter, the MoD said. The MoD added: There is a realistic possibility that Russia was attempting to intercept Ukrainian reserve units and military supplies recently provided to Ukraine. Russia operates an inefficient targeting process and prioritises perceived military necessity over preventing collateral damage, including civilian deaths. At least three children were among the among 25 people killed by Russian missile strikes on residential blocks in central Ukraine. Most of the 23 cruise missiles and two drones fired at the capital Kyiv and other cities early yesterday were intercepted, officials said. But one strike breached defences in the central city of Uman, hitting a nine-storey residential block and killing at least 20 people including two ten-year-olds. A two-year-old and her 31-year-old mother were also killed by a missile in the city of Dnipro, according to the local mayor. Rescuers were last night desperately searching through rubble for signs of survivors. The attacks included the first against Kyiv in nearly two months, but no targets were hit in the capital. Explosions were also reported in Kremenchuk in central Ukraine. The missiles are believed to have come from aircraft operating in the Caspian Sea region. The strike has achieved its goal. All the designated facilities have been hit, said defence ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov. But Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky called the attacks evil and said they showed further international action needed to be taken against Russia. He tweeted: Evil can be stopped by weapons - our defenders are doing it. And it can be stopped by sanctions - global sanctions must be enhanced. close-up view of virgin spacecraft underneath a carrier plane Virgin Galactic's spaceplane is back in flight after two years on the ground. The VSS Unity spacecraft from Virgin Galactic performed a nine-minute test glide over New Mexico's Spaceport America on Wednesday (April 26) to evaluate how well the spaceship and carrier plane VMS Eve are doing after a fleet upgrade. "What I love about Unity is she is a delight to fly, and she's a beautiful glider, and we are able to execute a beautiful runway landing," chief pilot Dave McKay said of the flight on a video released on Twitter. While Unity's highest altitude after its 9:47 a.m. EDT (1347 GMT) release was 47,000 feet (14,300 meters), Virgin Galactic pledged future flights would reach suborbital space. The company will "assess the customer experience and ground-based testing prior to the launch of commercial service" when this next flight happens, officials tweeted; the timing has not been released. Related: Virgin Galactic's carrier plane flies back to New Mexico spaceport VMS Unity is designed to fly high in the sky underneath its carrier vehicle, VMS Eve. When the two are aiming for space, Eve drops Unity just before the spaceplane ignites its rocket motor to soar up to the final frontier. The two vehicles then make their way back to the ground separately, landing on a runway. Together, the two vehicles have been to space four times: Twice from Mojave Air and Space Port and twice from Spaceport America. The most recent spaceflight in July 2021 sent Virgin Group founder Richard Branson and three other passengers to space. Shortly after, Virgin Galactic said it would suspend spaceflights to maintain and upgrade Unity and Eve. That work has included replacing Eve's pylon, which is referring to the point where Unity attaches to the carrier plane. Eve performed two solo excursions earlier this year after a couple of years on the ground. RELATED STORIES: Virgin Galactic carrier plane flies for 1st time since 2021 Story continues Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with Richard Branson How Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo passenger space plane works (infographic) Objectives of the glide flight included evaluating the spaceship as it flew, examining Unity's "handling qualities and flight controls," and gathering data on the mothership pylon. The glide flight crew on the Wednesday flight included Kelly Latimer and aboard VMS Eve, and Nicola Pecile and CJ Sturckow aboard VSS Unity. Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of "Why Am I Taller?" (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a book about space medicine. Follow her on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook. Crime and Courts Reporter Donald W. Meyers is a multimedia journalist at the Yakima Herald-Republic covering crime and courts. He is also the writer behind It Happened Here, a weekly history column. Before coming to Yakima, Meyers covered a wide variety of beats at The Salt Lake Tribune, Daily Herald, and daily and weekly newspapers across New Jersey. He is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, serving as a regional officer in the organization as well as on the national Freedom of Information Committee. SUNNYSIDE Daniela Barajas had advocated for better working conditions at Ostrom Mushroom Farms in Sunnyside before and after she was fired by the company in November 2021. This year, she started a new job as a machine operator at a grape field in Paterson. Her new employer, at Chateau Ste. Michelle, has had a union for almost three decades. She still rallies with workers at the mushroom farm, even after it was purchased by Windmill Farms. When asked about the differences between her old and new jobs at an April rally in Sunnyside, she covered her mouth to suppress a laugh. PHOTOS: Unionization efforts of farmworkers in the Yakima Valley Numerous challenges loom over farmworker efforts to unionize, making their campaigns for union recognition long, risky and dependent on public Oh, my God, she said. Todo la gente estaba enojada, Barajas said of the Ostrom workplace. Everyone was angry. When she worked at Ostrom, she said, stress from work followed her home. Now, she goes home happy. Unions representing farmworkers are few and far between not just in Washington, but across the country. Of the nation's more than 1.25 million agriculture workers in 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimated that just 48,000, or 3.9%, were members of a union. Numerous challenges loom over farmworker efforts to unionize, from national labor law exclusions to power imbalances in workplaces. When workers do undertake the difficult task of organizing, they often face long, risky unionization campaigns dependent on public support and economic pressure. Those underlying factors are visible in the Yakima Valley, with its abundant apple, cherry, grape and hops farms and its big packing and cold storage industry. Mushroom farm workers and community members have rallied from Sunnyside to Seattle to gain support and recognition. No federal law compels owners to recognize farmworker unions, and business owners rarely do so. Those who own and operate farms and agricultural companies say it is better to keep a direct line of communication with their employees, and they are committed to providing good working conditions. The tipping point In 2019, Ostrom built a $60 million, state-of-the-art mushroom plant in Sunnyside. It ships millions of pounds of mushrooms around the Northwest. Antonio De Loera, communications director for the United Farm Workers, said Ostrom workers began organizing in 2020 due to concerns related to COVID-19. The campaign began to pick up steam in April 2022, he said. Workers started rallying publicly in June 2022, according to De Loera, after Ostrom was allegedly firing female workers and seeking to replace them with H-2A workers foreign workers brought in using seasonal work visas. In August 2022, the state attorney general sued Ostrom, alleging discrimination against women and domestic workers and retaliation by the company. Workers decided to unionize with UFW in September 2022 and have since held rallies in Sunnyside and Seattle. Since then, the plant has come under new ownership. Windmill Farms, a Canadian mushroom producer owned by investment company Instar Asset Management, bought the Sunnyside mushroom farm in February. It took years for workers to organize, form a leadership committee and vote for a union. Ostrom did not recognize the union before selling the facility. Workers rallied outside the mushroom farm April 18 asking the new owners to engage with UFW. Windmill Farms CEO Clay Taylor said there was no need to have a "third party" involved the company's relationship with its workers. Jose Martinez was one of the first workers involved in organizing efforts and a leader on the workers' committee. Prior to working at Ostrom, he was a plaintiff in a 2015 lawsuit that established agricultural workers right to overtime pay in the state, which led to changes statewide. He began working for Ostrom as a cleaner in 2019 when the company began operations in Sunnyside. He said that when he noticed poor working conditions and mistreatment of workers, he called Victoria Ruddy, a UFW organizer. I mentioned to Victoria, Did you know that bad things are happening here? Why arent we doing anything? Martinez said. And she said, Organize people. When you are organized, lets talk. So I started bringing people together and we started. Martinez was told that his performance was unsatisfactory and was fired April 20, two days after he spoke at a rally outside Windmill Farms in Sunnyside. Windmill Farms did not comment on his termination. Management perspective For many ag-related owners and managers, the goal is to prevent conditions from reaching that stage, said Mike Gempler, the executive director of the private nonprofit Growers League. He quoted a consultant he worked with: Unions thrive in the absence of enlightened employers. The Growers League works with employers to improve working conditions and make sure they follow applicable employment laws. Agricultural employers in Washington state have been engaged in a long effort to improve their working conditions and professionalism as employers, Gempler said. He reached out to Ostrom at one point, but said he never heard back. Windmill Farms says it has taken steps to improve the workplace at the mushroom farm after acquiring it from Ostrom. "Windmill Farms is not affiliated with the seller of the Sunnyside farm or its prior management group," Taylor said in an email. "We have established an entirely new, highly experienced and professional local leadership team at Sunnyside to improve operations, ensure a discrimination-free workplace, and enhance opportunities for employees with better training, equipment and professional development." Taylor said the company follows state employment law, offers benefits and wants workers to be proud of their place of employment. Not the first time around Workers at Windmill Farms are not the first farmworkers in the Yakima Valley to call for union representation. In 1933, hops workers went on strike in the Yakima Valley with the International Workers of the World. UFW had a strong presence in Yakima County in the 1970s, when organizers and advocates supported worker efforts to organize, gain higher wages and get equal pay for female workers. Workers went on unplanned strikes -- also known as wildcat strikes -- and organized, said Lupe Gamboa, a former UFW organizer and lawyer. Gamboa and Mike Fox, a lawyer who counseled farmworkers at the time, recalled the hops strikes in 1970 being particularly effective. If you have an effective strike, a grower can lose an entire crop, Fox said. They have to pick them in a particular time. If theyre not picked, they have no value, theyre spoiled. Fox and Gamboa were part of several lawsuits that led to increased worker protections, including assurance of workers free speech and the right to organize free from employer retaliation. Since then, Fox said, farmworkers have been included in minimum wage law and unemployment and workers compensation. Those rights and protections, particularly farmworkers protection from retaliatory firings, are the bedrock upon which current unionization efforts like the one at Ostrom are built. Still, there are few farmworker unions in Washington. We have made tremendous progress in terms of getting workers protected under state law, but very little when it comes to organizing, Gamboa said. Results of those efforts in the Yakima Valley have been mixed. The most recent example came in May 2020 when workers at seven Yakima-area fruit production plants rallied for COVID protections and hazard pay. In summer and fall 2020, warehouse workers at one of those facilities, Allan Bros., near Naches, formed a union, Trabajadores Unidos por la Justicia, and an election was held in accordance with the National Labor Relations Act. The NLRA governs union organizing and elections. If a union election is successful, the NLRA requires that employers negotiate a contract with the union. Farmworkers are excluded from the act, but warehouse workers are covered under the NLRA because they process produce from multiple farms, said Andrea Schmitt, a lawyer with Columbia Legal Services who has represented farmworkers throughout the state. The effort was unsuccessful, even after the National Labor Relations Board, the body that governs union elections, determined that Allan Bros. had engaged in unfair labor practices. Edgar Franks is the political director of Familias Unidas por la Justicia, one of the few farmworker unions in the state. He and FUJ staff came to the Yakima Valley to support Allan Bros. workers. A lot of people were scared away from unionizing, Franks said. The vote died, it didnt pass. Being covered by the NLRA doesnt mean you have a union, it just means you have a right to have an election, Schmitt said. What are the benefits? For UFW employees at Chateau Ste. Michelle, the fruits of the unionization campaign have been worth it. Forstino Lopez, a shop steward for UFW at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Paterson, has worked there for 14 years. Before that, he had never worked at any farm for more than three years. I feel good working here because you can have this dialogue with our bosses without fear of being fired. You can speak with them or you can talk with them person to person. Forstino Lopez said in Spanish. The bosses here dont stress you out. There were numerous employee benefits, Forstino Lopez added, including medical, dental and vision insurance. His children will be covered under his insurance until they are 26, he said. There are vacation days based on the amount of time youve worked for the company. Forstino Lopez said he will get four weeks off this year. Jesus Lopez, a team operator at a Chateau Ste. Michelle vineyard, said he received similar benefits. He added that he appreciated the relationship with the company created by the contract. Jesus Lopez has worked with the company for 30 years. Agricultural employers do their best to follow state laws and keep workers satisfied, Gempler said. Its an important part of the Growers Leagues work, he added. Government support allows better monitoring of employers and implementation of safety programs to improve working conditions. Gempler said that training for supervisors, particularly in communication and management skills, helps prevent misunderstandings,. Good employers invest in their employees, he added. That includes specialized trainings for workers who specialize in irrigation and pesticide use. He also noted that the Growers League is trying to keep more workers employed year-round. Training, promoting and opening opportunities for talented workers is beneficial, he said, because keeping those workers around is good for the owners and managers. Windmill Farms has taken steps to create a positive working environment since it took over from Ostrom, Taylor said, and has tried to create a family-like employee culture where workers feel respected. We are committed to providing the tools and technical expertise that will allow the team to achieve the performance objectives required to make the farm successful, and at the same time create a better work-life balance for them, Taylor said. Since Windmill Farms acquired the mushroom farm in February, there have been some positive changes, Martinez said after he was terminated. He said managers had instituted a new bonus for a particular variety of mushroom and had lowered the picking quotas that had been in place when Ostrom owned the facility. Martinez said the picking quota, 50 pounds per hour, was still high and that workers were having issues with sick leave. Economic and political obstacles Labor advocates said it takes courage to organize. Gamboa, who grew up in the Yakima Valley and helped organize workers in the 1970s, said that then and now, migrant farmworkers can be particularly vulnerable if they are not citizens or have tenuous immigration status. It creates a power imbalance, he said. He also noted systemic issues that lead to that power imbalance. Local farmworker and Latino communities are not adequately represented politically, he said. Agricultural workers have some of the lowest wages in the country. Franks works with farmworkers outside of FUJ and said many may face choices between risking their job by speaking up or maintaining a steady income and keeping their head down. Struggles for affordable housing and transportation or adequate education often take away attention from working conditions. It creates that whole survival mode. You have to decide whats more important, paying for rent and food and supporting your family or unionizing? Franks said. Exclusion from federal protections One of the greatest obstacles to farmworker unions might be their exclusion from NLRA, one of several federal, labor-friendly policies that made up the New Deal. Its the playbook for unionizing in most U.S. workplaces and governs union organizing, elections and, if workers vote for a union, negotiations between employers and employees. If workers follow the rules and establish a union, employers are compelled to recognize and sign a contract with that union. The rules do not apply in agriculture. In 1935, when the NLRA was passed, it did not include any individual employed as an agricultural laborer, or in the domestic service. Agriculture is an exception, said De Loera, communications director for UFW. Agriculture basically exists in a pre-National Labor Relations Act world. The federal government will not force an employer to recognize a union. Gamboa is one of many farmworker advocates who say that the exclusion of agricultural workers was a way to get legislators in the South to vote for the New Deal. They made a grand bargain, a Faustian deal, that would let the law pass if they left out agricultural workers, he said of the NLRA. That has had really devastating consequences. In her work with Columbia Legal Services, Schmitt has supported farmworkers and unions in Washington and become familiar with the laws protecting their rights. She added that many of the large, agricultural employers operating in the 1930s primarily employed Black farmworkers who were also excluded from other New Deal policies, like workers compensation and minimum wage laws. The southern Democrats were not keen in the 1930s to include Black people in the south, Schmitt said. Black families were harmed by not having Social Security, not having a minimum wage and union protections. The demographics of farmworkers have shifted. After World War II, the agricultural workforce became increasingly Latino. The exclusion from the NLRA still disproportionately impacts people of color. De Loera called it a remnant of Jim Crow policies. Agriculture missed the 20th century in terms of labor law, De Loera said. Economic pressure Without a government mandate that employers negotiate with a union, gaining recognition often relies on pure public pressure and economic leverage. Neither Ostrom nor Windmill has acknowledged the UFW. So (at) Ostrom the workers have voted for the union, but there is no legal mechanism for the employers to accept the union, De Loera said. You have to pressure the employer to accept the union. Through public rallies, social media campaigns and more drastic strategies, like boycotts and strikes, workers and unions try to gather public support and convince employers that recognizing the union is whats best for business. With Ostrom and, now, Windmill Farms workers, labor organizers and community members have held rallies outside the mushroom farm and at several locations where the mushrooms are sold. UFW has asked people to look for the mushrooms in their local grocery stores and help track their distribution. We have also reached out directly to retailers that carry Ostrom products, asking them to also put pressure on Ostrom to recognize the union, De Loera said in an email in February. Consumers can help us do this work by helping to identify Ostrom products in their local stores. Workers from Sunnyside, community members and UFW staff rallied outside an upscale Seattle grocery store in December 2022 to raise awareness among consumers. Students at the University of Washington successfully lobbied that the school stop using mushrooms from Windmill Farms. The students organized into a group called Students for Farmworkers (SFFW) at UW. More than 150 students and community members braved the rain on Cesar Chavez Day, March 31, marching through campus to show their support for workers. A group of farmworkers made the journey from Sunnyside for the event. Kenia Diaz is a recent alumnus and has helped organize students. One of her uncles is a worker at Windmill Farms. Many other SFFW members are from Central Washington and have family members who work in agriculture. A number of our members have family that work in the fields or grandparents that were farmworkers, SSFW leaders said in an emailed statement. Our organizing comes from a deeply personal place. Boycotts Rallies like the one at UW are preferrable to striking or boycotting, say labor advocates. In a February email, De Loera said the UFW was not officially boycotting Ostrom. Such an action would require a lot of energy, he said, and it is a step the union would take very seriously. We are hoping that management will recognize the union before it comes to that, De Loera said in the email. Still, boycotting can be the most effective way to get union recognition. In the case of Familias Unidas por la Justicia (FUJ), it took four years of effort, including boycotts, until employers agreed to a private, independently administered union election. Workers at berry farms in the Skagit Valley voted to be represented by FUJ. You basically have to find ways for employers to sit down and recognize the union. It can take years, Franks said of his union's campaign. It was hard. Boycotts have historically been one of the most effective ways for workers to compel employers to the bargaining table. They were integral to the formation of the UFW in California in the 1960s and 1970s, when labor leader Cesar Chavez led marches and a national grape boycott to gain farmworker union recognition. Chavez visited Yakima several times to support local farmworkers. Strikes are an even more drastic step, Franks added, though one that can open peoples eyes to the importance of workers. People do not like going on strike. Only in cases of major emergency do workers go on strike, Franks said. It has the potential to change a lot of things. If they, if workers, stop production, everyone is affected. Other avenues The UFW and FUJ have a footprint beyond the farms where their members work. Both are active in Olympia, lobbying state government for increased protections for farmworkers. Both work with workers outside of unionized farms, sharing information and resources. Gempler has noticed the effects of their work on the agriculture industry, particularly the advocacy for more regulation. It has added complications for growers, he said, but it has also improved working conditions. If working conditions across the state improve, Gempler wonders if workers in the future will feel the same motivation to unionize. Barajas said she enjoys her new job at Chateau Ste. Michelle, which has a union, because of the increased communication and collaboration. The commute to her new job is half an hour longer, but its more than worth it, she said. If there are problems or questions, people step in to help one another. Her supervisors listen to her comments. People do the little things, like saying thank you. Bien, me gusta trabajo Todo la gente esta contenta. she said. Its good, I like work Everyone is content. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. By March 31, those 600 coronavirus cases in Chicago spiked to more than 2,600 cases and 26 fatalities. We weren't surprised when my doctor said we wouldn't be allowed visitors at the hospital. Andy had also seen the headlines about hospitals in New York City that weren't admitting partners in the delivery rooms. My doctors reassured me that was very unlikely to happen in Chicago. Even so, I cried tears of relief when Gov. Cuomo overturned the rules in New York. But according to the nonprofit science magazine Undark, many hospitals across the U.S. still are restricting mothers to just one support person in the delivery room, usually the father or partner. If the mother has already enlisted the help of a doula for support during labor, she has no recourse. She must adjust to delivering without her doula's assistance. Advertisement Other reports we read about the evolving birthing protocol included mothers who'd normally be scheduled for inductions. Some doctors were being discouraged from this normal procedure because it requires significant resources from the hospital, while doctors were encouraging it. My doctor did induce me because I went past the 40-week mark in early April, though it took nearly a week to get it scheduled. When we finally checked in April 8, the intake nurse told us Andy wouldn't be allowed to return if he left, so he never did for five straight days. She also said we might be tested for coronavirus, though we never were. Those guidelines were being rolled out that very day. Cases in Chicago had almost doubled during the week prior from 3,427 cases on April 2 to 6,099 on April 8, and there were already 462 deaths in the state. The actual birth of my son didn't wasn't affected much. Andy was by my side while I attempted to deliver vaginally. I ultimately needed an emergency cesarean section because my baby's huge head (96th percentile!) just wasn't going to fit. Thankfully, Andy was also allowed with me during surgery, too. The only real hiccup was the cesarean section meant we'd be in the hospital longer than we planned. But the surgery was successful, and our baby boy was born healthy April 9, so we didn't care about staying a few more days. But the extra time there wasn't quite what I imagined it would be. I'd always envisioned maternity wards as cheerful places, but the ward was so silent it was surreal. It was soothing at first, but it eventually turned unnerving. We didn't see other parents or new babies the entire time, even though certainly other babies were being born. There are about 300,000 births every month in the United States and even though hospitals have canceled elective surgeries to free up beds for COVID-19 patients that's not stopping babies from being born. I'd also imagined some sense of ceremony as we filled out my child's birth certificate. In reality, the county called to say we'd have to submit his birth certificate via email. Another consequence of the pandemic. So much for pomp and circumstance. As the days in the hospital wore on, it felt like we were stuck on a bad vacation only to be going home with a bizarre little souvenir. " " New parents Andy and Cherise haven't been able to share their son Lincoln with family or friends yet, and don't know when they'll be able to. Cherise Threewitt 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. Tesla Model S and Model X electric have not been available for order in some counties in the Asia-Pacific region. The websites of automobile manufacturer in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand indicate the unavailability of the model in the aforementioned nations. At the same time, other models of the EV giant, like Model 3 and Model Y, are available as per the information presented on the website. It is to be noted that the reason for the unavailability of the models is not known yet. The revelation comes as Elon Musk's electric vehicle manufacturer reported record deliveries in the months of January through March, but deliveries of the more expensive Model X and Model S vehicles fell by 38 percent. Also read: Elon Musk's Statements Could Be 'Deepfakes'; Tesla CEO Likely To Testify In Court In Autopilot Crash Case Currently, the electric vehicle manufacturer has been in the headlines for aggressively cutting the prices of its vehicles. Furthermore, Tesla has also been dealing with lawsuits against the autopilot system deployed in the cars. As per a recent update, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and Twitter, is anticipated to give testimony in a US court case that accuses Autopilot of being responsible for a deadly crash in 2018. In California Superior Court, County of Santa Clara, the family of Walter Huang, an Apple engineer who passed away after his Tesla Model X with Autopilot activated crashed after hitting a highway barrier, filed a lawsuit against Tesla. According to TechCrunch, a judge in California has now mandated that Musk "be interviewed under oath" in the case. The crucial meeting between West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her counterpart in Bihar, Nitish Kumar on April 24 to pave way for a grand anti-BJP alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha poll has prompted certain questions to float around in the political circles of the state. The first question is whether Nitish Kumar was deliberately deputed to crack an understanding with the Trinamool Congress supremo considering that Mamata Banerjee`s party leadership has already made it clear that for the time they will be maintaining an equal distance with the BJP and Congress and instead try to develop an understanding between all the regional parties in the country. The second question is how far even Nitish Kumar will be finally able to bring the Congress and Trinamool leadership on the same platform. The reply to this question remained unanswered at the joint press conference on April 24 which was attended by Banerjee, Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who is the deputy chief minister of Bihar. During the media interaction on that day while a couple of media persons questioned about the position of Congress in the opposition alliance model, Mamata Banerjee virtually stopped those scribes and said that the media does not need to get bothered by that. "You do not need to think about all these things. We will be together. The people of the country will fight against the BJP. All parties will walk together," Mamata Banerjee said on that day. During the press conference the chief ministers of both the states stressed that all the opposition parties will have to shed their egos to work unitedly in their joint move against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In fact, since the beginning the lines of thinking of Banerjee and Kumar on this grand opposition alliance have been different. While Nitish Kumar, on one hand, has been maintaining a close coordination with the top Congress leaders, including the national Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on this count, Trinamool Congress has been maintaining a distance from the oldest national party of the country. There the question becomes more pertinent on whether Kumar would be able to finally bring the two forces together, political observers say. They point that both the Congress and Trinamool Congress have some points of debate in the matter which does not really paint a rosy picture of the two forces coming on the same platform at least in the pre-poll scenario. According to veteran political observer and analyst Sabyasachi Bandopadhyay, since a pre-poll alliance always come with the rider of a seat-sharing agreement, in case of West Bengal it is virtually impossible for Trinamool Congress to sacrifice a single of 42 Lok Sabha seat for the Congress or for any other party. "Mamata Banerjee`s aim is to gain the maximum numerical presence in the Lower House of Parliament and she is quite aware that West Bengal is the only state that will provide food for her on this count. Precisely that is why since the time she started her dialogues with other regional parties, she had been insisting on the choice of opposition leader only after the polls. So, from the point of view of Trinamool Congress this is the principal barrier for an amicable understanding with Congress," Bandopadhyay explained. From the Congress`s point of view, especially from the party`s West Bengal unit, Bandopadhyay explained, the choice of an amicable understanding with Trinamool Congress will not be an easy task since in that case Congress`s existing understanding with CPI(M)- lead Left Front in West Bengal will receive a setback. "The recently concluded bypoll to the minority-dominated Sagardighi Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, where Left Front- supported Congress candidate won with a handsome majority, had made both the parties more enthusiastic of carrying forward the understanding till the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. At the same time, the Congress will be at a bargaining position on seat sharing agreement with the Left Front rather than with Trinamool Congress. So, from the Congress`s point of argument, accepting Trinamool Congress as a partner will not be that easy," Bandopadhyay explained. However, political analysts and columnist Amal does not agree that the Sagardighi bypoll results cannot be an ultimate indicator of the Congress-Left Front equations all the time. "CPI(M) or Left Front being a regimented force can always mobilize their traditional voters behind a Congress candidate as part of an alliance formula. But can the Congress leadership achieve the same mobilization of their dedicated voters in support of a Left Front candidate? So, it cannot be said for certain that the success of the Sagardighi model will be the sole factor that will ensure Congress- Left Front understanding till 2024," he said. According to him, the results for forthcoming polls for the three-tier panchayat system in West Bengal scheduled this year, which in all probability a three-corner contest between the Trinamool Congress, BJP and Left Front-Congress alliance, will be a crucial indicator on this count. Vadodara: Police have arrested a man for allegedly posing as an official of the Gujarat chief minister's office (CMO) and president of Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City), and on the charge of raping a model on the promise of giving her a job, an official said here on Sunday. The accused conman, Viraj Patel, was arrested on Saturday, he said, adding that his real identity came to light after he was brought to a police station in Vadodara following his quarrel with someone. "The man was brought to the police station on Friday night along with the model accompanying him after he entered into a quarrel with someone at a multiplex. The accused initially told the police that he was a CMO official who had come to watch a movie with the woman. He also claimed that he was the president of the GIFT City," Assistant Commissioner of Police A V Katkad said. When then police checked his identity, it was found that he used a different surname on his PAN card, while there was no surname mentioned on his Aadhaar card. During his interrogation, Patel revealed that he was neither working in the CMO nor was he the president of GIFT City, he said. After his real identity came to light, the model from Mumbai accompanying him claimed that he raped her on the pretext of giving her a job as the brand ambassador of GIFT City and promised to marry her, Katkad said. In the preliminary investigation, it was found that he is a resident of Gandhinagar, the ACP said, adding that further probe into the case was handed over to the city crime branch. The accused was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 170 (pretending to hold any particular office as a public servant), 417 (cheating), 467 (forgery), and 376 (rape), the police officer said. The record of an important discussion between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar was leaked wherein the two, along with an assistant, were talking about Pakistan`s ties with the US, reports said on Sunday. The record of the discussion on crucial foreign policy, which has been named `Discord Leaks`, also reveals the Premier`s conversation on the United Nations` voting on the Ukraine and Russia conflict, Geo News reported, citing the Washington Post. As per the leaked documents, Khar said that Pakistan should avoid appeasing the West and that the country`s desire to maintain a strategic partnership with the US would sacrifice the full benefits of its original strategic partnership with the long-term friendly nation China, Geo News reported. "According to one of the leaked documents, Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistan`s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, argued in March that her country can `no longer try to maintain a middle ground between China and the United States," it cited the US paper as reporting. During the discussion, an aide advised the Prime Minister that supporting the resolution could jeopardise Pakistan`s trade and energy deals with Russia and would give the impression of a change in Pakistan`s position. The story by Washington Post, in which the record has been leaked, revolved around the declining support for the US on the war between Russia and Ukraine. "When the UN General Assembly voted February 23, Pakistan was among 32 countries that abstained," it noted. The Kerala Story is all set to release on May 5 but the film has already been in the eye of the storm with many political leaders demanding a ban on it. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan accused it of being a propaganda film aimed at communal polarisation. He said that the trailer of the film is trying to spread the propaganda of Sangh Parivar. "The trailer of the Hindi film The Kerala Story, which appears to have been deliberately made with the aim of communal polarisation and to spread hate propaganda against Kerala was released last day. It is indicated from the trailer that this film is trying to spread the propaganda of Sangh Parivar, which has established itself as the centre of religious extremism in the land of secularism, Kerala," said CM Vijayan. He further said that people must see the propaganda of Sangh Parivar to gain an electoral advantage in Kerala. He said that even investigative agencies have rejected the concept of 'love jihad'. "It is necessary to see propaganda films and their Muslim alienation in the background of various efforts being made by Sangh Parivar to gain an advantage in electoral politics in Kerala. It is part of a systematic move to frame the 'love jihad' allegations which were rejected by the investigating agencies, the courts and even the Union Home Ministry. G Kishan Reddy, the then MoS Home who is a minister in the cabinet even today had replied in the Parliament that there is no such thing as 'love jihad'," said the Kerala CM in a statement. He accused the Sangh of spreading division politics through fake stories and movies. "Seeing that Parivar politics does not work in Kerala like in other places, they are trying to spread division politics through fake stories and movies. The Sangh Parivar is spreading such myths without any facts and evidence. The big lie that 32,000 women in Kerala converted to Islam and joined the Islamic State was what we saw in the trailer of the film. This fake story is the product of the Sangh Parivar's lie factory," alleged CM Vijayan. The film has attracted the ire of CPI(M) and Congress as well since its trailer was released on April 26. Both parties said that freedom of expression was not a licence to spew venom in society, and the film was an attempt to destroy the communal harmony of the state. 'The Kerala Story' is written and directed by Sudipto Sen. The film portrays 'unearthing' the events behind 'approximately 32,000 women' allegedly going missing in the southern state. NEW DELHI: The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' will be broadcast today with lakhs of people expected to listen to the popular programme in different parts of the world. It will be a historic moment with the 100th episode also to be broadcast live in the United Nations headquarters in New York. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government`s citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. Studies have shown that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. The research report identified five key themes associated with Mann Ki Baat, cleanliness and sanitation, health, wellness, water conservation, and sustainability. The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organise facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the programme. The programme will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended the valedictory session of the National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100 on Wednesday, said that Mann Ki Baat is a unique experiment that has strengthened the foundation of democracy in the country. The event, which was also attended by Union Minister for Railways Ashwani Vaishnav and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur marked the release of a stamp and coin commemorating 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat. Shah said that people had almost forgotten All India Radio due to changing times and different mediums of communication, but Prime Minister connected the young generation through Mann Ki Baat and gave a new lease of life to All India Radio. He said that PM Modi took All India Radio to every home and village of the country. He said the programme has provided a platform for the expression of the country`s positive energy and creative power. He said PM Modi has brought the mantra of democracy to the grassroots through 99 episodes of Mann Ki Baat.Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Wednesday released Coffee Table Book 'My Dear Fellow Citizens...'. #MannKiBaat100 The landmark 100th Episode of Honble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi's 'Mann Ki Baat' will be aired on April 30, 2023. My SandArt at Puri beach in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/dMNHXpyQ5j Sudarsan Pattnaik (@sudarsansand) April 29, 2023 The book, brought out by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, presents 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.Dhankhar, who was speaking at the national conclave `Mann Ki Baat @ 100` in New Delhi, said the programme 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. The Vice President said that as `Mann Ki Baat` completes its 100th episode, it will be the foundation to `India @ 100`. He said that India will be at the top of the world when it will celebrate the centenary of Independence in 2047.Dhankhar said Mann Ki Baat gave a huge impetus to flagship initiatives of the government such as Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and turned them into mass movements. He added that the PM`s addresses on the show were a `beacon of positivity` to the nation during the COVID pandemic. Noting that the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat will be a historic milestone, Dhankhar lauded the programme for serving as an effective platform to popularise and bring to the mainstream the culture and festivals of the northeast and other states. India`s Permanent Mission at the United Nations said the 300th episode of Man Ki Baat will go live in Trusteeship Council Chamber at the UN headquarters. "Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modi`s "Mann Ki Baat" is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ! #MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in `s developmental journey," India`s Permanent Mission at the United Nations said in a tweet. Tourism Ministry has decided to celebrate the 100th Episode of `Mann ki Baat` through its Yuva Tourism Clubs. Tourism has been mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from time to time in the programme. Tourism Ministry proposes to undertake a special initiative of "100 Episodes of Mann ki Baat - 100 days of Action" through the Yuva Tourism Clubs.Culture Ministry has taken up three unique initiatives to mark the completion of the 100th episode of Mann ki Baat. It is celebrating it through state-of-the-art projection mapping shows at 13 iconic locations including ASI monuments located across the country commencing on April 29. The projection on each of the monuments will showcase the history, architectural importance and distinctiveness of the region highlighting the diversity of India on the lines of diverse topics and themes addressed by the Prime Minister in his show Mann Ki Baat. Culture Ministry, in collaboration with NGMA, has curated an immersive experience though an art exhibition called the Jana Shakti, which will be inaugurated on April 30. It will showcase paintings by 12 renowned artists.The third key initiative of the Culture Ministry involves the publication of the Amrit Chitra comics which will highlight the heroic stories of the common people mentioned by the Prime Minister in his Mann Ki Baat. It will present the experiences and the exceptional and good work done by these heroes in a story format. A special study conducted by the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) found that 76 per cent of the Indian mediapersons believe that Mann Ki Baat has played a significant role in introducing the "real Bharat" to the countrymen. The programme has initiated a trend where people are now more aware of the things in other parts of the country and they have started appreciating them. Seventy-five per cent of the respondents felt that `Mann Ki Baat` has emerged as a platform, which introduces grassroots innovators working selflessly to ensure a significant difference in the lives of people living in remote areas of India. Another survey by IIM Rohtak said that Mann Ki Baat has reached 100 crore listeners. It said there were 23 crore regular listeners of Mann Ki Baat and 96 per cent of population was aware of the radio programme. The powerful and decisive leadership of PM Modi and emotional connect with audience were cited as reasons for popularity of the programme by the listeners, the survey said.Another research identified cleanliness and sanitation, health, wellness, water conservation, and sustainability as key themes of Mann Ki Baat. It said the programme highlights government and citizen action in these priority areas and in turn, encourages listeners to establish or participate in "changemaking" initiatives in their own communities with the aim to have a lasting and sustainable impact on lives of people and for the country. The report said that Mann Ki Baat speaks directly to people and celebrates their achievements within-- and beyond-- their communities. The programme celebrates grassroots-level changemakers.The 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat will be broadcast on Sunday. The programme started on October 3, 2014, months after Narendra Modi took over the Prime Minister`s Office in May. The research report cited instances of people being "moved to action" after listening to Mann Ki Baat programme. The research looked at what makes Mann ki Baat unique. "Real application of nudge theory; over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once; conversational, personal tone and practical subject matter make the programme feel more relevant, contextual and accessible to its audience; inclusion of all and encourages citizen action to bring about social and economic change; and it highlights key public-policy interventions related to the themes it covers in the episode," the report said. "The programme addressed multiple social groups-- "women," "youth," and "farmers"-- and emphasized on topics such as "cleanliness," "Yoga," "water," "conservation," "innovation," "technology," and "environment," the report said. According to the report, the ethos of Mann Ki Baat is 5Cs - Citizen Engagement, Catalysing Collective Actions, Cultural Commitment, Connecting with the Wider Masses and Celebrating Changemakers. Mann Ki Baat is broadcast on last Sunday of every month. "The present findings documenting the negative outcomes of the pandemic on front-line workers, coupled with high rates of staff turnover and shortages, has implications for a likely diminished capacity to address the complex needs of this highly vulnerable population," the study team writes. "In Massachusetts, as in the rest of the United States, workers in group homes come from very diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Many of these workers suffered their own health care challenges in the pandemic," says lead author Karen Donelan, ScD, EdM, a senior scientist at the Health Policy Research Center of the Mongan Institute at MGH and now also the Stuart H. Altman Professor of U.S. Health Policy at Brandeis University. "Protecting the health of workers and those they support should be a public health priority. A future study will test new strategies to improve the well-being of group home staff." The study team, led by Stephen Bartels, MD, MS and Brian Skotko,MD, MPP, designed and tested interventions to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in group homes. Results are pending publication. Source: Massachusetts General Hospital Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court will hear the plea filed by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 `Modi surname` defamation case on May 2. This comes after Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul Gandhi, made lengthy arguments today before Gujarat High Court. The complainant`s lawyer sought time to produce certain documents on record, after which the court allowed it and adjourned the hearing to May 2. Earlier on April 25, Rahul Gandhi moved the Gujarat High Court challenging the Surat Sessions court verdict that rejected his plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case over the `Modi surname` remark. A Surat court on April 20 rejected Rahul Gandhi`s plea seeking a stay on his conviction in the 2019 criminal defamation case. In his judgement, Additional sessions judge Robin P Mogera had cited Gandhi`s stature as an MP and former chief of the country`s second-largest political party and said he should have been more careful. He cited prima facie evidence and observations of the trial court and said it transpires that Gandhi made certain derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi apart from comparing people with the same surname with thieves. Mogera said the surname of the complainant in the case, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Purnesh Modi, is also Modi. "...the complainant is [also an] ex-minister and involved in public life and such defamatory remarks would have certainly harmed his reputation and caused him pain and agony in society," he said. Mogera cited the disqualification criteria under the Representation of the People Act and added that removal or disqualification as MP could not be termed irreversible or irreparable loss or damage to Gandhi. Earlier on April 3, the Sessions Court granted bail to the Congress leader. While granting bail to the former MP, the court had issued notices to Purnesh Modi and the state government.It heard both parties and then reserved the order for April 20. Rahul Gandhi was a Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad but was disqualified after a lower court in Surat sentenced him to two years in jail on March 23 under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in a case filed by Purnesh Modi. The case pertained to a remark Rahul Gandhi made using the surname `Modi` while addressing a campaign event ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At a rally in Karnataka`s Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA is automatically disqualified if convicted and sentenced to two years or more. New Delhi: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar will represent India at the next month's coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the United Kingdom. The event, scheduled for May 6, will mark almost seven decades since the last coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru represented India. Although the UK had initially invited President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President Dhankhar will be attending instead. The invitation for the coronation, designed by Andrew Jamieson, features the Green Man motif, an ancient figure from British folklore symbolizing spring and rebirth to mark the new reign. The invitation includes the UK coat of arms, emblematic flowers, and a British wildflower meadow and wildlife. This is also the first time Camilla will be referred to as a queen. British PM Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, of Indian origin, will lead a procession carrying the UK flag at the coronation ceremony of King Charles III. The flag will be carried by a high-ranking RAF cadet, according to Buckingham Palace. The ceremony will take place at the Abbey Church of Westminster, with 2,000 guests in attendance. However, Camilla will not wear a crown adorned with the Kohinoor Diamond during the proceedings due to its controversial history. The diamond was obtained by the British during India's colonial period and is viewed as a symbol of the country's exploitation and looting. Last year, in September, President Droupadi Murmu visited London to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sign the condolence book on behalf of the Indian government, following her death at the age of 96 in Scotland. Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday sidestepped a query about the possibility of contesting the next year's Lok Sabha poll from his pocket borough Nalanda. The JD (U) supreme leader was an MP from the seat until he resigned in 2005 to assume the highest seat of power in the state. His party, nonetheless, has been able to retain the seat. Sitting MP Kaushalendra Kumar, who is serving his third consecutive term, had on Saturday said he was willing to give up the seat if his mentor wished to enter the fray. When journalists approached the chief minister with a query on the MP's statement, his reply was characteristically cryptic. "Just leave it. Why do you worry (chhodiye na aap log kahe chinta karte hain)", said the longest-serving CM of the state, as he walked past the posse of reporters with a smirk on his face. Incidentally, shortly after Kumar dumped the BJP in August last year, there had been speculations that he could contest from Phulpur in adjoining Uttar Pradesh, a Lok Sabha seat formerly represented by Jawahar Lal Nehru, where a sizeable chunk of voters are Kurmis, the caste to which the JD(U) leader belongs. ALSO READ | Despite Nitish Kumar's Meeting With Mamata Banerjee, Opposition Unity Remains A Mirage The JD(U) boss, who has vowed to defeat former ally BJP by uniting the opposition in the 2024 general elections, also seemed reluctant to comment on the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Mann Ki Baat". The saffron party has been livid over Kumar's opposition unity outreach which recently saw him rubbing shoulders with leaders as diverse as Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and Akhilesh Yadav. The BJP, which lost power in Bihar as a result of Kumar's exit from the NDA last year, has been testily asserting that there was "no vacancy for the prime minister's post in 2024". Kumar, who had held important portfolios in the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Centre, has been categorically stating that he had "no ambitions" for himself. Union Minister For Culture, Tourism, And Development Of North Eastern Region, Kishan Reddy, flagged off the "Ganga Pushkarala Yatra: Puri - Kasi - Ayodhya" Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train from Secunderabad Railway Station on Saturday. The train was flagged off from Platform No.10. SCR General Manager Arun Kumar Jain, along with other IRCTC and railway officials, joined the minister at the flag-off. Also read: 'Excellent': PM Narendra Modi Hails India's First Cable-Stayed Rail Bridge Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Kishan Reddy said, "We recieved many requests to allot special trains for Ganga Pushkarala. However, we decided to introduce Bharat Gaurav trains." Reddy added, "The train will cover Puri, Lord Jagannath Temple, Konark Sun Temple, Varanasi, Ganga, Ayodhya Ram Temple, and many other places. The pilgrims are very thankful and give their blessings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this train. In the coming days, through the railway department, we will try to take this Gaurav yatra to many more places." LUDHIANA: Eleven people died after inhaling toxic gas in the city's thickly-populated Giaspura area on Sunday, police said. Four more people, who were taken ill, were undergoing treatment at a hospital, they said. The source of the leakage and the type of the gas are yet to be ascertained, they added. However, Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said it was likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes. The DC said the area has been evacuated and added that the cordon at the scene of the leak will be extended as the gas spreads. "We are going to collect samples from manholes. It is quite likely that some chemical reacted with methane in manholes," she said. She said those who died in the incident did not show any symptoms of respiratory problems. "It is likely that the deaths were caused by a neurotoxin," Malik added. A district administration official said a team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which has reached here, will ascertain the source and the type of gas. As it was a thickly-populated area, the immediate priority was to evacuate people from the place, the official further said. The Ludhiana DC said an NDRF team is engaged in extracting samples of various kinds of chemicals. She said once the nature of chemical reaction is ascertained, the details will be shared. Police have sealed the area while a fire brigade and an ambulance have been deployed there. Police said the casualties comprise five females and six males. Two boys aged 10 and 13 are among the 11 who died in the incident. The DC said the gas, which leaked, has diluted to a large extent. She said there was no need to panic and asked people not to fall prey to rumour mongering. She also appealed to people to stay away from the area. "But a check will be conducted to see how far this gas spread". "We are collecting samples from manholes to just check what it is exactly and which gas came out after which chemical reacted with what. We are checking this and to what extent it spread, we are also checking it,"Malik added. She further said that CCTV cameras were being scanned. The DC said different teams of district administration, police, municipal corporation and Punjab Pollution Control Board are stationed at the site. Earlier, an NDRF official said it was yet to be found out which gas led to the tragedy. "We will check it first then we will let you know," said the official in a response to the type of gas. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the incident was very painful and added that all possible help is being provided. "The incident of gas leak in Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very painful. Teams of police, district administration and NDRF are present on the spot. Every possible help is being provided..," Mann said in a tweet in Punjabi. LUCKNOW: When 15 per cent of the Yadavs (of the total OBC population) join hands with 9 per cent Kurmis and 22 per cent Muslims, mathematics says that the results will be magical. This is what Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav believes will happen and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hopes it will. The joining of the SP with the JD(U) and RJD may not alter the politics of Uttar Pradesh but it will be definitely be a step in the direction of opposition unity. The JD(U) and RJD have not had much of a presence in Uttar Pradesh in the past though both parties have struggled to find a foothold. They parties have not won even a single seat in the state till now. The SP has retained its monopoly on the Yadavs who constitute the biggest vote bank among OBCs, without allowing the RLD to make an entry here. The JD(U), which has a base among Kurmis, has not made much impact in the state either, even though it has influence in some districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The SP touted late Beni Prasad Varma as its tallest Kurmi leader and after his demise, the Apna Dal managed to wean away Kurmis to the BJP-led alliance. The Apna Dal, led by Union Minister Anupriya Patel, has been growing from strength to strength since the past one decade, leaving virtually no room for the JD(U). Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both SP and JD(U) apparently feel the need to expand their electoral base. After the demise of SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav last year, Akhilesh Yadav has realised that he needs more friends than foes to survive against the Modi-led BJP government in the Centre. The JD(U) also needs allies to take on the BJP and survive the next elections in Bihar. The coming together of the SP and JD(U) will have a more psychological impact then a real one because both parties have no arguable presence in each other`s states. Besides, the two leaders did not give out any details of the meetings except that "we will stand together". "In fact, this is why parties like SP, JD(U), TMC are joining hands because they know that these allies will not poach on their territories. Their unity will give them psychological strength and, perhaps, help in evolving a joint strategy to fight against the BJP in 2024," said political analyst R.K. Singh. "They will hold rallies in each other`s states, hold joint press conference and stand behind each other when ED, CBI come calling but nothing beyond that." He added that the trailer of the opposition unity seemed fantastic but the actual "film" did not have a script yet. The JD(U) has appointed Dhananjay Singh, former MP from the Jaunpur Lok Sabha seat, as the party`s national general secretary. Dhananjay Singh had contested the 2022 Assembly election unsuccessfully from the Malhani seat, located in Jaunpur. However, he an influential leader in the region and with some political support, he could manage a win in 2024. His wife Srikala Reddy is the zila panchayat chairman in Jaunpur. The analyst said: "We are a political party and we will contest the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh this time. Nitish Kumar is now the longest serving Chief Minister and his charisma has not waned over the years." He said that the party would start the process of identifying seats and prospective candidates soon and face elections with full preparedness. JD(U) had fielded candidates from 27 Assembly seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls after alliance talks with the BJP failed. However, they failed to open their account, polling only 0.11 per cent of the vote share. The recent meeting between Akhilesh and Nitish has created a buzz in political circles in Uttar Pradesh -- but not enough to disturb the BJP. BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi said: "Nitish and Akhilesh are both unreliable and the meetings are designed only for photo opportunities. There is nothing substantial in this opposition unity and everyone knows it." Taking to the microblogging site he shared the poster of the film and wrote, "It may be your Kerala story. It is not our Kerala story. `The Kerala Story` has become a topic for discussion around the numbers being exaggerated in the trailer of the film. Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film is all set to hit the theatres on May 5, 2023. `The Kerala Story` stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. The trailer of Sen`s film `The Kerala Story` came under fire as it claimed that 32,000 girls from the state went missing and later joined the terrorist group, ISIS. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly VD Satheesan recently said that the film `The Kerala Story` should not be granted permission for screening. "The film `The Kerala Story` which falsely claims that 32,000 women in Kerala converted and became members of the Islamic State, should not be granted permission for screening. The trailer clearly shows what the film intends to say", Satheesan said in a Facebook post. It may be *your* Kerala story. It is not *our* Kerala story. pic.twitter.com/Y9PTWrNZuL Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 30, 2023 He also alleged that the film is part of an attempt to implement Sangh Parivar`s agenda and create a social divide by casting a shadow of doubt over the minority groups."This is not an issue of freedom of expression but part of an attempt to implement the Sangh Parivar agenda to create a divide in the society by casting a shadow of doubt over the minority groups", he said. (ANI) New Delhi: Several Bollywood celebs like Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor and Rohit Shetty attended the screening of PM Modi`s 100th episode of `Mann Ki Baat` at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion to ANI, actor Madhuri Dixit said, "He (PM Modi) is taking out time to understand the problems of common people. This is amazing. He is reaching out to people in small towns and villages who are doing such good work and people are not aware of it. So he is bringing such people in front of all the citizens and they are getting global recognition which is amazing. I`m sure it`s going to inspire a lot of youngsters." Actor Shahid Kapoor said, "Modi ji wanted to stay connected with the people, I think that`s the sign of a great leader. All the greatest leaders in history, whether it be Kings or Prime Ministers have always stayed connected to the people. There cannot be a deeper connection than this, to be able to speak your mind and listen to people`s words, to be able to convey your words to them. I felt very fortunate that I was invited here. It`s a privilege to be here." Director and producer Rohit Shetty said, "I felt inspired, if one leader can show us the right path, then there is nothing impossible. When I was watching I felt how lucky we are that we have such an inspirational leader whom people listen to, from whom they are inspired, which is very rare." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation in the historic 100th episode of `Mann Ki Baat` and said that his radio programme is the "Mann Ki Baat" of millions of Indians and an expression of their emotions. The Prime Minister said he received thousands of letters and messages from the people and was "swept away by emotions" while reading them. He said that the people of the country have to be congratulated for the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme that began on October 3, 2014." Today is the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. I have got thousands of letters, lakhs of messages. I have tried to go through more and more of them. I got emotional while reading your letters on many occasions, was swept away by emotions, and then held myself. You have congratulated me on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, but all the listeners, our countrymen deserve to be congratulated. Mann Ki Baat is the `Mann Ki Baat of millions of Indians and the expression of their emotions," PM Modi said. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government`s citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Citizens aged above 65 years, 'divyang' (disabled) persons, and students up to Class 12 can avail of a 25 percent concession in the fares of Mumbai Metro Line 2A and 7 from May 1, celebrated as Maharashtra Day, said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday. A statement issued by the CM's office said that the benefit will be extended to thousands of holders of the National Common Mobility Card (Mumbai One). The discount will be given on Mumbai One passes for 45 or 60 trips, it said. Shinde called the move a gift to Mumbaikars from Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL), which operates and maintains Metro Lines 2A and 7, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). Also read: Kishan Reddy Flags Off Puri-Kasi-Ayodhya Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train From Secunderabad Metro 2A (yellow line) connects Dahisar E and DN Nagar in Andheri West, while line 7 runs between Andheri E and Dahisar E (red line). To avail of the concession, divyang persons will need to submit valid documents like medical or government certificates for disability, while senior citizens will have to provide age proof. Students will have to show their or their parent's PAN card along with school ID to be eligible for the concession, said the statement. It said these documents can be shown at any ticket window on the Line 2A and 7 route. Shinde said his government has made travel free for senior citizens on state transport buses, while women can avail of a 50 percent concession in bus fares. New Delhi: TV actress Arti Singh got injured when she recently went out for dinner with friends. She accidently broke a glass in her hand, initially she didn't feel pain but then she realized that it had torn her hand. Later, the pain increased a lot and she was rushed to Criticare Hospital. The doctor has removed 7 pieces of glass from her wound after a surgery. According to paparazzo Viral Bhayani, this incident took place on 23 April. She went out for dinner with her friends and jokingly broke a glass in her hand. Pieces of glass torn her skin and got in her hand. Arti Singh is the sister of star comedian Krushna Abhishek and has appeared in Bigg Boss 13. She is also the niece of Bollywood superstar Govinda. She became a household name after her powerful performance in the TV reality show 'Bigg Boss.' Arti is now back to work according to Viral Bhayani but her stiches are yet to heal. Wishing a speedy recovery to Arti! State unemployment rate reaches new low Montanas unemployment rate reached an all-time low in March, ticking down to 2.3% from 2.4% in February, the fourth-lowest rate in the nation, the governor's office reported recently. Montanas unemployment rate has fallen for four consecutive months, and the number of unemployed Montanans reached an all-time low in March, Gov. Greg Gianforte's office said. Total employment in Montana, which includes payroll, agricultural, and self-employed workers, added 1,847 jobs in March. In the first three months of 2023, Montana has created more than 4,600 jobs the fifth fastest rate of job creation for the first three months of the year since recordkeeping began in 1976. Montanas total employment and labor force continued to show strong growth in March, also setting new record highs. Montanas labor force has also continued its growth, hitting a record of more than 559,000 Montanans. The states labor force had added some 33,000 workers from its pandemic-era low. The number of unemployed Montanans also reached a new record low in March, with 13,231 workers unemployed statewide a decline of almost 550 unemployed workers from February. The March figure represents the fewest number of unemployed Montanans since recordkeeping began, the governor's office said. Well continue to work with job creators to bring new folks into the workforce and make sure they get the training and skills they need to succeed, thrive, and prosper, Gianforte said in a news release. March marks the 17th consecutive month of unemployment below 3.0% in Montana. In only three other months since 1976 has Montanas unemployment been below 3.0%. Cumulatively, more than 37,500 new jobs have been created across Montana since Gianforte took office. Montanas total employment has grown by more than 17% from its pandemic-era lows. The unemployment rate for the U.S changed little at 3.5%. Johnson joins RPA's Helena branch Trigve Johnson, has joined the Robert Peccia & Associates Helena office as a construction technician in the Water and Wastewater Group. In addition to studying mechanical engineering at Montana State University, he brings three years of experience with as-built data collection, machine control, heavy equipment operation, and CAD design. In his role as a construction technician, Trigve is primarily responsible for on-site quality control and observation of construction activities in conformance with project plans and specifications. Trigves strong work ethic and dedication make him an excellent addition to the RPA team. Okerstrom joins St. Peter's Health Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist Ariana Okerstrom joins the St. Peters Health anesthesiology team Ariana Okerstrom, MS, CRNA earned her master of science in nurse anesthesia from Wayne State University. She received her bachelor of science in nursing from Western Michigan University. Ariana is board certified through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Secretary of State thanks businesses Montana Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen recently thanked Montana businesses following annual report filing season. All limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations (profit and nonprofit) are required by law to file an annual report to keep registration information up to date, while the business remains in active-good standing. Nearly 195,000 LLCs and corporations filed an annual report, roughly 87% of the total businesses. In 2022, Jacobsen cut registration fees in half for Montana businesses, while waiving several other fees entirely. She also plans to waive annual report filings for all Montana businesses in 2024. Increased efficiencies in our office have allowed us to lower fees for our Montana businesses, and our office is proud to make it easier to do business in Montana, Jacobsen said in a news release. A record number of new businesses registered with the state in 2022, highlighting the states pro-business landscape. We continue to support and appreciate our Montana businesses and thank them for doing business in Montana, Jacobsen said. HAMILTON -- When Bitterroot area Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist Rebecca Mowry got a text alert at 9 a.m. on a recent Sunday morning that the GPS collar on a bighorn ram she was tracking had switched to mortality mode, she loaded up her dog and headed for the woods, unsure what she might find. She didnt have anything else planned for the day, and as Mowry put it in a now widely-circulated post on social media, this wasnt just any bighorn ram, this was her most interesting sheep. Mowry had originally encountered the ram in February of 2021 during a net-gunning operation near Painted Rocks Reservoir. The Painted Rocks herd is the only native herd of bighorn sheep in the Bitterroot Valley. The other herds, which boast larger numbers than the Painted Rocks herd, were reintroduced to the valley by biologists in the 1970s. To collar the animals, sheep are spotted by a helicopter crew who shoot a net down over them. The animals are then brought to a processing station where they are examined, fitted with collars and tested for pneumonia pathogens before being released on site. Its generally considered a pretty safe way to capture wildlife, Mowry said, but sometimes when an animal is hit by the net gun, they can trip in it and tumble around leading to injury, although it doesnt happen very often. So when the capture crew brought her a ram with a badly-broken leg, her first thought was Oh, crap, we did this to him. After further inspection of the ram it became clear though, his broken tibia wasnt caused by the capture, he had been living with the injury for quite some time at least a year, researchers estimated. It was all calloused over and you could tell that hed been walking on his knuckle, on the top side of his hoof with his hoof bent backward, Mowry said. His hooves were overgrown. They werent wearing down normally, because they werent being walked on. So, it was an old injury. Researchers estimated the bighorn was approximately 4 years old at the time of the injury. Mowry discussed with veterinarians whether they should euthanize the ram, but ultimately they decided that since he seemed to be getting by, they would collar him and see what happened. If the fact that the ram had been surviving in the rugged terrain surrounding Painted Rocks wasnt noteworthy enough for researchers, what happened next would surprise them all. Through the GPS data supplied by the bighorns collar, Mowry was able to track the ram as he routinely traveled over 15 miles back and forth between Painted Rocks Reservoir and Trapper Peak, the highest mountain in the Bitterroot Range at 10,157 feet. She said before collaring the broken-leg ram, they had no idea bighorns would move that far or go that high. I was really shocked to see him go all the way up to Trapper Peak and spend the entire summer up there, and then he actually made the trip a few extra times, Mowry said. Its risky for animals to move that far, just because youre exposing yourself to a lot more terrain, a lot more potential predators. But for whatever reason, he found it worth it to go up there every year. There were times the ram would spend all summer at Trapper Peak and then return to Painted Rocks within a day or two, only to turn around and head right back to Trapper Peak. Once he decided to go, he went and he didnt really stop, she said. If I remember correctly, he was moving it just in like two or three days. According to Mowry, the ram would spend all summer ranging across the high country, sometimes crossing the border into Idaho before returning to Trapper Peak. Then, like clockwork, hed travel back to Painted Rocks for the rut. I guess he didnt find what he was looking for there, Mowry said. He was probably looking for the ladies for the rut, and if they werent there yet, if they hadnt arrived yet, then he would go back to Trapper Peak, and then he would come back later. So he really liked that Trapper country. The bighorn was spotted a number of times in the years following his capture, and even gained a bit of celebrity after being sighted by former Montana Fish and Game commissioner Jana Waller while filming for her hunting and fishing adventure show Skullbound on the Sportsman Channel. The ram was most recently spotted during a ground count in January of this year. When the broken-leg ram was initially captured, Mowry had used a collar containing a cloth drop-off mechanism, meant to fall off the animal after being worn for a period of time, so she was hoping the rams collar had just dropped off prematurely. But as Mowry hiked the steep hill north of the reservoir to the GPS coordinates sent to her phone, she found mountain lion tracks. As she followed the big cats prints further, she found her ram, freshly killed at the base of the cliff. Its a little bit bittersweet, but at the same time, this is how it goes. This is nature, she said. Ive been on the other side, too. Ive studied mountain lions before where weve had collared mountain lions, and well go into their kill sites, and then youre kind of rooting for the lion... This lion, its doing what its supposed to do. I like to think that wildlife appreciate the grandeur of their habitat, she later wrote after finding the ram. Sheep country is truly glorious. After I removed the rams collar and prepared for the trek back down, I had to stop, sit down in the snow, and take a moment. As I looked out over the wild, rugged West Fork from these lofty cliffs, I couldnt help but admire Broken Leg Ram and all he had accomplished in his short life. He beat the odds (at least for a time). And his life added greatly to our understanding of his herd, and of the incredible tenacity of life in the hardest of places. Mowry estimates the ram was about 6 years old when he died, give or take a couple years. At least this guy lived a little longer than I thought he would, she said. So that was nice. One thing shes been surprised by since posting on social media about the ram, is the number of people whove chimed in with stories about encounters with three-legged animals in the wild. I think it depends on the severity of the injury, Mowry said. It probably depends on which leg it is, it depends what terrain theyre in, it depends how many predators are around, you know, but it seems like, more often than not, these animals are hardier than we give them credit for and they can recover from some pretty severe injuries. Its getting hard to read the news about Montanas legislative session these days. The serious business of crafting public policy for the good of all Montanans has been sidelined by measures intended to be punitive, divisive and completely out of line with Montanas long standing live and let live reputation. If theres any good news, its that the 90-day session will end this week although it's certainly not going out on a high note. The eyes of the nation were once again focused on the hateful antics of the Republican supermajority that banned Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a freshman Missoula legislator who also happens to be transgender, from taking her place on the House floor and representing the 11,000 Montanans who sent her to the Legislature. What did she do to deserve this harsh punishment to remove her from ongoing public policy debates? She actively opposed the punitive bills focused on the transgender community something she knows a lot more about than most legislators. And gosh, Montanas snowflake Republicans were horrified and insulted because she told them, backed up by medical and psychiatric proof and experience, that transgender people were going to commit suicide because of what the Legislature was passing into law and she said theyd have blood on your hands. Mind you, this is the same political party that still supports the Jan. 6 insurrection to overthrow Congress and stop a legitimate president from taking office. The same party whose ex-president promised death and destruction if he were arrested and charged with national security violations or business and electoral fraud. The same party that thought it was OK for him to tell the goons at his rallies to rough up protesters. In the meantime, the same supermajority that controls the Legislature couldnt even meet its own deadlines for introduction of bills, public notice of hearings, or even transmittal of bills between the House and Senate. Some might call it rank incompetence, and they wouldnt be wrong. Likewise, the numerous concerns that have been raised about unconstitutional bills are simply blown off because the Legislature has the power to pass those bills and the governor has the power to sign them into law and they will remain law until someone takes them to court and has them overturned when theyre found to be unconstitutional. Clearly, the provisions of Montanas Constitution are meaningless to these arrogant and headstrong Republican majorities. Theres no better example of violating all Montanans constitutional rights than the decision to close the galleries to the public last week and perhaps this week, too. Montanas Constitution is very clear under the Right to Know provisions in the Declaration of Rights that: No person shall be deprived of the right to examine documents or to observe the deliberations of all public bodies or agencies of state government and its subdivisions, except in cases in which the demand of individual privacy clearly exceeds the merits of public disclosure. Yet the Republican leadership decided if the public wanted to exercise its constitutional right to observe the proceedings of the Legislature, it could do so by watching television coverage through a single lens kind of like looking myopically through a toilet paper tube. Theres no camaraderie or honor whatsoever at the end of this legislative session just taillights heading out of Helena back to the places where most Montanans still follow the live and let live and respect for individual privacy traditions for which our state has long been known. Perhaps, when they leave their vicious pack mentality, theyll remember those traditions and reflect back on how they betrayed them, the Constitution and Montanans for 90 long days. DECATUR Police are warning Facebook Marketplace sellers and buyers to use caution on where their transactions are completed after a Decatur woman was punched in the head and robbed. Sgt. Steve Hagemeyer with the Decatur Police Department said the 29-year-old victim was assaulted Thursday evening as she sat in her car and was robbed of an iPhone she had planned to sell. The crime happened around 6:15 p.m. at the intersection of North Meadowlark and Whippoorwill drives. She was waiting for the guy that said he was going to come by and buy the phone and, when he got there, he punched her in the right side of the head, took the phone, and ran away from the scene, added Hagemeyer. The robber was described as a Black male aged about 17, 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds, with a dreadlocks hairstyle. Hagemeyer said the area in front of the Decatur Police Headquarters is a designated space for buyers and sellers to complete online sales transactions. And it would make a lot more sense to do that in front of the police department, he said. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods Wilson AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A Texas man went next door with a rifle and began shooting his neighbors, killing an 8-year-old and four others inside the house, after the family asked him to stop firing rounds in his yard because they were trying to sleep, authorities said Saturday. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters at the scene that authorities were still searching for 39-year-old Francisco Oropeza following the overnight shooting in the town of Cleveland, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) north of Houston. He said Oropeza used an AR-style rifle in the shooting. Everyone that was shot was shot from the neck up, almost execution-style, Capers said during an earlier news conference at the scene. Capers said there were 10 people in the house and that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims, all believed to be from Honduras, were found laying over two children inside. The Honduran ladies that were laying over these children were doing it in such an effort as to protect the child, according to Capers, who said a total of three blood-covered children were found in the home but were determined to be uninjured after being taken to a hospital. Capers said two other people were examined at the scene and released. The confrontation followed family members walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, according to Capers, and that one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. Three of the victims were women and one was a man. Their names were not released. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and about 40 years old. Authorities have previously been to the suspect's home, according to Capers. Deputies have come over and spoke with him about him shooting his gun in the yard, he said. Capers said some of those in the house had just moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. The U.S. is on a record pace for mass killings this year, with at least 18 shootings since Jan. 1 that left four or more people dead. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings and workplace vendettas. _____ Associated Press writer Ken Miller contributed to this report. The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped The US surpasses 100 mass shootings in 2023here's every event mapped Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Mass shootings have happened in gun-friendly statesand some stricter ones Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Our nations highest court the Supreme Court should live by the highest ethical standards. It should adopt a transparent code of conduct for its nine members similar to the code requiring all other federal judges to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all activities. ProPublica earlier this spring broke the news that Justice Clarence Thomas secretly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars (at a minimum) in travel and vacations from Harlan Crow, an ultra-wealthy supporter of conservative efforts to change the federal judiciary and the law. Thomas, who first met Crow after he joined the court, did not disclose a penny of what ProPublica uncovered, saying later he thought a personal hospitality exemption applied. Presumably, Thomas was referring to his disclosure obligations under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which requires public officials including Supreme Court justices to report certain gifts so the public can follow the money and evaluate conflicts of interest. After ProPublicas reporting, Thomas will amend some disclosure forms to account for a previously undisclosed real estate deal with Crow in 2014. That deal was part of the megadonors plans to build a museum to honor Thomas. This is not the first time that Thomas has had to take steps to comply with his transparency obligations after third-party revelations. In 2011, he amended 20 years worth of disclosure forms after Common Cause discovered he had failed to report the source of income for his wife, a political activist. Why does this matter? It is about much more than Thomas. With each stroke of their pens, Supreme Court justices change the lives of everyday Americans when they decide cases. Both the public and litigants must be able to assess any potential conflicts of interest for themselves. We need to ensure that the people making these decisions are fair and impartial. A new poll by NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist found that 6 in 10 respondents had little to no confidence in the court. This continues a dangerous downward trend in public trust. It comes as the court has issued a series of deeply unpopular opinions to roll back reproductive freedom, gut the Voting Rights Act and greenlight unlimited corporate spending in elections. Action is as urgent as it is overdue. Strengthening ethics at the Supreme Court is vital yet only one step to building trust. At a minimum, we need better compliance with and enforcement of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. The court also must adopt a transparent code of conduct. If it fails to do so voluntarily, Congress must act swiftly to make it happen. It has been more than a decade since Chief Justice Roberts used his 2011 year-end report on the federal judiciary to discuss Supreme Court ethics. In it, he said that while Supreme Court justices consult the Code of Conduct that applies standards of ethics to all other federal judges, the court has had no reason to adopt the Code of Conduct as its definitive source for ethical guidance. Instead, he called it a starting point because it does not adequately answer some of the ethical considerations unique to the Supreme Court. Roberts confirmed in 2012 that the court does not plan to adopt the Code of Conduct for United States judges. Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, recently invited the chief justice to testify at a hearing regarding the ethical rules that govern the justices of the Supreme Court and potential reforms to those rules. Roberts respectfully declined, offering instead a statement signed by all the justices in which they reaffirm and restate foundational ethics principles and practices to which they abide. Congress should quickly pass legislation requiring enforceable and transparent ethical standards at the court. Several pending bills would do just that, including the Supreme Court Ethics Act and the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act. These merit bipartisan examination, refinement and passage. The Supreme Court cannot be its own referee. Justices have tried and failed repeatedly at that. We should expect all public officials to abide by high ethical standards when conducting the peoples business -- with no exceptions. Heather McCarthy, media specialist at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, was nominated this year for a Women Changing the World Award, along with educators and other advocates from around the globe. (Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School) Heather McCarthy knew she was not going to win. In fact, when she was notified in February she had been nominated for a Women Changing the World Award, she initially thought it was a joke. She simply could not comprehend how her name ended up on a list of global educators being honored for their work. Advertisement I think theres a lot of really amazing people especially a lot of amazing women who go above and beyond and arent getting recognized, McCarthy said. To me, it seems very obscure, very unimaginable that I would be in this realm with these kinds of amazing people. In fact, her instinct was to ignore the email altogether. But after calling her sister and finding out her sibling had nothing to do with the nomination, McCarthy, a media specialist at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School, looked again and found the application for the Woman in Education category was pre-filled, though she still has no idea who did it. Advertisement Somebody said a lot of amazing, really nice things about me, she said. Its obviously somebody who knows me really well. So, she answered two questions about her educational vision, and at the beginning of March McCarthy learned she was a finalist. She spent some time researching the other finalists from all over the world to learn about the really amazing things the women are doing in the realms of STEM, coding, technology and advocating for girls education. She could not help but feel like simply a librarian from a suburb of Chicago by comparison. Ultimately she did not win when the awards were announced earlier in April, but the experience has still proved valuable. Im just using it as a teaching opportunity with my students, McCarthy said. McCarthy said she always preaches to her students that small acts of kindness add up. And she feels like the recognition was about a lot of little things she has done over the course of her career and beyond it. Its part of my life as a whole, not just what I do for a living, McCarthy said. Oak Lawns Heather McCarthy shows off the stacks of books she recently bought for her Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School students with money she got as part of a Chicago Bears Classroom Champion Award. (Heather McCarthy photo / HANDOUT) The Women Changing the World Awards celebrate women who have achieved outstanding success in areas such as sustainability, humanitarian work, leadership, advocacy, tech, product development, education, health and innovation, according to a news release from the organization. McCarthy was recognized as an educational leader who uses her passion for literature to spread the message of love, empathy, and equality through service learning projects with her students, per the release. It also notes McCarthy leads by example on both a local and global level to make the world a better place. McCarthy has been at OLHMS since it opened in 2005, previously working as a seventh grade language arts teacher. In her time at the school, she has created unique projects for her students, won contests and enabled her students in a shared desire to change the world. She was previously named Illinois recipient of the National University System-Sanford Teacher Award and was recognized by the Chicago Bears in 2021 for her work. Advertisement Maybe the universe is telling me: Just act like youre worthy and go with it and see what happens, McCarthy said with a laugh. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > McCarthy has always viewed literature education and changing the world a natural connection to make. Its always been part of my drive and passion to help others, she said. Its why I went into the field of education and working with kids. I think theres just a real natural connection between literature and community service, literature and service learning. With everything you read, you can make some kind of connection to empathy or helping others even just learning about others. While McCarthy said she likes big events such as a 6K she did with World Vision because they bring together so many people on a global level, she also enjoys the small projects with students. Recently, she has been working with a few students who are using sewing machines to turn pillowcases into dresses they can donate. Sometimes its really nice when youre just working with five or six kids and theyre fully invested in this project and the conversations, McCarthy said. I like it on both ends: These small, tiny intimate projects and then the projects on a grander scale. They bring me joy in different ways. Advertisement McCarthy is planning a trip to Thailand to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary. And it should come as little surprise at this point that she is already considering how this can benefit her students. Im hoping my trip to Thailand and the elephant sanctuary, I can bring some of that experience and knowledge back to the kids and we can do some cool projects, McCarthy said. Bill Jones is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High around 85F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 86F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. BRISTOL, Tenn. The number of Sullivan County households considered financially insecure rose 7% during 2019-2021, a new study shows. Conversely the state of Tennessee saw a 1% decline in households either surviving at the federal poverty level or those working poor defined as ALICE, an acronym standing for asset-limited, income-constrained and employed who earn above the federal poverty level but less than whats needed to survive in the modern economy. Tennessee ranked 37th nationally with 14% of its households living in poverty and 30% classified as employed but struggling economically. The study period included the first two years of the global pandemic. The study was compiled by United for ALICE in conjunction with the United Way of Bristol and other United Way agencies nationwide. Information for Tennessee and other states was released this week. The Virginia report is to be released next week. In Sullivan County, slightly less than 12,000 households, or 17%, were classified as living in poverty and over 19,300 households, 28%, were under the ALICE threshold. Conversely over 37,500 households, or 55%, were above that economic level, the study shows. For the city of Bristol, Tennessees 11,750 households, about 20% were living in poverty, almost 30% were income constrained or ALICE while the remaining 50% were above that standard. It is those folks who are working really hard who make above the federal poverty guidelines so they generally are not eligible for a lot of additional assistance, according to Lisa Cofer, executive director of the United Way of Bristol. And they are one emergency away from things spiraling out of control whether its a medical emergency or their car breaks down. It doesnt leave any extra and it doesnt include any savings. According to the report, for a family of four with an infant and a preschooler, the annual ALICE household survival budget, which is the basic cost needed to live and work in Tennessee, was $70,008 in 2021. The federal child tax credit and child dependent care tax credit reduced the family survival budget to $57,240. When you look at what that survival budget includes, it doesnt really give our families any leeway for anything extra and it doesnt allow for any savings, Cofer said. Among families with children in Sullivan, nearly 1,100 ALICE households included a married couple, nearly 550 had a female head of household, 221 were a single male head of household. Viewed by County Commission districts, Sullivans highest rates of households below the ALICE threshold were 59% in district 11 inside the city of Kingsport and 55% in district 3, which includes part of Bristol Tennessee north of Volunteer Parkway, along state Route 126, Steele Creek Park, near Bristol Regional Medical Center and The Pinnacle center. Sullivans lowest rate was reported at 29% in district 7, which includes Tri-Cities Airport and Colonial Heights along the I-81 corridor. Washington County Tennessee also saw an increase in income constrained households, a 2% rise during 2019-2021 up to 41%. Johnson County reported an 11% drop, to 54%, while Carter County fell 10% to 51%. Nearby Hawkins and Unicoi counties also experienced declines during the study period. Even with the variety of temporary pandemic supports available, in 2021, a family of four with two-full time workers earning salaries as a retail salesperson and a cashier two of the most common occupations in Tennessee fell short of affording the family budget. What we really hope is this [study] will help shine a spotlight on the folks we work with every day and help us, as United Way of Bristol, be able to focus even more work and resources on the gaps that are there when those needs arise, Cofer said. We hope it will help people have a better understanding of the numbers of people that get up every single day, go to work some work two or three jobs as a family and still struggle. HICKORY On Sunday, April 23, First Presbyterian Church celebrated its 150th year as a congregation in Hickory. The day included one special worship service that included elements of traditional and contemporary worship. Six former ministers of First Presbyterian Church returned to lead worship with the churchs two current ministers, the Rev. Richard Floyd and the Rev. Heather Davis. A large crowd of current and past members enjoyed the homecoming service and lunch that followed. In 1873, the initial church was formed as Gibbs Mission." In 1878, the first church building, known as the little white church, was built in the downtown parking lot that was later Fresh Air Galaxy. The churchs current sanctuary was completed in 1906 and has had numerous additions and renovations over the years. A highlight of the April 23 celebration was the unveiling of an installed timeline in the churchs welcome area outlining the past 150 years. The congregation of First Presbyterian Church celebrated its actual 150th anniversary on March 18 of this year with a day of service to the Hickory community. Service is important to the church as well as programs for children and youths, mission trips, spiritual formation for all ages, worship, and fellowship. For more information on First Presbyterian Church, visit hickoryfpc.org. SAS senior vice president fraud and security intelligence Stu Bradley has made it his personal mission to help organisations and businesses stop crime before it happens. He explained to iTWire how a responsible and flexible approach to data challenges is essential. SAS senior vice president fraud and security intelligence Stu Bradley spent time in Australia during April re-kindling relationships with Australian customers as the world returns to normal following COVID travel restrictions, and took time from his busy schedule to speak with iTWire. iTWire previously spoke with Bradley during international fraud awareness week in 2018. Bradley heads the fraud and security division, which was established in April of that year. Five years on, the division is making significant gains in helping organisations deal with the alarming rise in scams that have come about since the beginning of the pandemic. "The technology landscape has accelerated so greatly since my last visit to Australia in 2019, Bradley said, and so has the overall fraud landscape also changed so greatly since that time. "The global pandemic was a very trying time and still is from a personal, health, and medical perspective, Bradley said. And also a very trying time for the onslaught of fraud. The combination of technology advancements in general, along with the opportunities to commit fraud that came through the pandemic created many challenges for business, he explained. For example, Governments around the world rapidly devised schemes to distribute relief funds, and bad actors around the world duly sought to take advantage of these programs. It created a perfect storm through the pandemic, Bradley said. In fact, these Government programs were rife with fraud, identity theft, and fraudulent claims, he said. Governments are still trying to understand the impact fraud had on their programs, with some Governments avoiding the conversation entirely because fraud was so pervasive in their programs. Ultimately, "Government money was easy money so the fraudsters went to where the easy money was. However, Bradley notes now these programs have come to an end Governments and businesses are seeing a resurgence of fraud across other industries as the fraudsters go back to their original bread and butter. Of course, we could talk about the reality and pervasiveness of frauds endlessly. The big questions SAS aims to answer are what are we doing about it? And how do we prevent it? In short, it comes down to data. "We're taking an approach to ensure financial organisations, governments, and others are thinking about the ecosystem of information they have available so they can have a sustainable program that is agile and able to address not only the scams we have today but the ones they will experience tomorrow, Bradley said. That sounds like a simple statement on the first appearance, but Bradleys words are loaded with ramifications. For one, just as business leaders are encouraged to make data-driven decisions to help advance company strategy, so too its imperative data be employed in fraud prevention and fraud preparation. In fact, Bradley says, by bringing the data together not only can you do a better job of identifying where there is fraud risk, but you can identify the bulk majority of transactions with no fraud risk and make a better process. By making a fabric like this, you inherently give yourself the ability to automate this process. However, secondly, it's imperative to be future-focused. During our conversation, Bradley often refers to constructing flexible and agile data ecosystems. Sometimes, he explains, organisations make the mistake of trying to address too specific an issue, that solves a specific problem, but leaves holes in the fraud detection program that can be exploited by bad actors. "Too often organisations get confronted with an issue, whether compliance or fraud and solve that specific issue because its urgent and painful, he says. But its not solved in a way that helps them create a sustainable and agile platform to confront the next problem they will be hit with. In short, solve issues too tactically and you end up with a patchwork quilt of non-sustainable things. Thus, Bradley says, you must solve the tactical issues with a view that aligns them to long-term strategic intent. This isn't new; "it was the same problem in 2018, its the same problem today, he says. The problem hasnt necessarily changed, but what has changed is the wider adoption of cloud-based architectures and delivery models so organisations like SAS who are now cloud-native can deliver in a much more rapid sequence and with enhanced capabilities that they can serve to all. SAS is an analytical platform, of course; the company was founded in 1976 by Dr Jim Goodnight and other faculty members of North Carolina State University where Goodnight was originally an academic. Originally, SAS began as a research project to create a general-purpose statistical analytics system (hence the name SAS) for analysing agricultural data. The software gained 100 customers and the company SAS was born. Today, the company counts its revenue in billions and has customers in all industries and of all sizes, all around the world. At its most simple description, SAS manages and mines data from a variety of sources and performs statistical analysis on it. With todays cloud power, SAS can rapidly analyse vast volumes of data and can construct advanced machine learning models. Whether the problem is fraud, or whether the problem is better mental health outcomes for frontline workers, identifying deforestation risks, or automating farming equipment to spray only weeds it all comes down to data, and to the appropriate use of that data. One question this writer had for Stu Bradley was whether his fraud and security intelligence division has its own series of vertical industry-specific tools built on top of the core SAS product, or if it was all the same SAS out-of-the-box that worked for each of these data use cases. SAS offers an analytical platform with a series of analytic tools, Bradley explains. Every solution we build is built on that analytic platform, and the importance of that is when you take on a fraud or risk or marketing or compliance solution is a common architecture for the customer. On top of this common architecture, SAS has acquired a terrific amount of domain expertise, he says. Those domain experts deliver very specific out-of-the-box capabilities to ensure we are addressing business problems like fraud detection, and the others in a consistent way through the solution. Thus, the SAS secret sauce is no matter your industry, SAS brings its expertise to apply statistical analytics to your data via a consistent set of tools that acquire, manage, and analyse your data and bring solid solutions relevant to your domain. Ultimately, Bradley says, its all about how do organisations better leverage the information at their fingertips to make decisions, and to bring data in at the right point of time for the customer journey? And then, "leveraging information through the digital journey at all points to make ongoing decisions such that you make a better job of preventing fraud but ensuring legitimate actions dont have barriers. This puts you and your business in the best position to deal with whats coming next. How do I look over the horizon and see what new events I havent seen before, and better respond to them when they occur? Bradley asks. The answer comes down to data, and appropriately and responsibly using that data in a flexible and agile way that solves not only your concerns of today but puts you in the best position to face the problems of tomorrow. This is where SAS and its experts come in, and its the approach Stu Bradley is taking. And this approach comes not from cutting corners or seeking shortcuts, but based on experience and a personal mission to help organisations and businesses stop crime before it happens. The European Council has sanctioned Iranian mobile service provider Ariantel, which it claims contributed to the telecommunications surveillance architecture mapped out by the Iranian government to quash dissent and critical voices in Iran. It also has imposed sanctions on Iranian lawmakers, members of the Islamic Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRCG Cooperative Foundation, which is the body responsible for managing the IRGCs investments. The European Council alleged that the IRCG Cooperative Foundation funnelled money to carry out the regimes brutal repression. Restrictive measures now apply to a total of 211 individuals and 35 entities. They consist of an asset freeze, a travel ban to the EU, and a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to those listed. A ban on exports to Iran of equipment which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications is also in place, the EU said in a press statement. The EU and its member states urge Iranian authorities to stop any form of violent crackdown against peaceful protests, cease their resort to arbitrary detentions as a means of silencing critical voices, and release all those unjustly detained. The EU calls on Iran to end the practice of imposing and carrying out death sentences against protesters, reverse the death penalty sentences pronounced, as well as provide due process to all detainees. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 27 April 2023. Streaming company Netflixs crackdown on password sharing in Spain in Q1 2023 has resulted to a loss of over one million users, according to media company Kantar. Netflix hopes that the users who lost access on their accounts will return streaming under a paid subscription model. However, close to half whove lost access will not pay for the service. Interestingly, there is no strong demographic skew to those who cancelled, signalling a more outright rejection of the password sharing clampdown, according to Kantar. In a worrying sign for the next quarter, 10% of remaining Netflix subscribers say they plan to cancel their plan in Q2 2023, which is well above the average seen in previous quarters. There are of course inherent risks with clamping down on password sharing, particularly when back in 2017 Netflix was seen to be actively encouraging it. Some users were expected to be lost in the process but losing over one million users in a little over a month has major implications for Netflix and whether it decides to continue with its crackdown globally. Monitoring the next few quarters to see how many of these consumers decide to re-subscribe will be vital to Netflix strategy in this space, commented Kantar world panel global insight director Dominic Sunnebo. Sky Showtime captures one in three new subscribers Sky Showtime, a new entrant to the Spanish subscription-based video on demand (SVoD) market captured almost one in three new subscribers in the first quarter of 2023. It replicated the HBO Max launch offer and offered half-time pricing for life for those who signed up during the launch period, which resonated strongly with consumers, with 69% saying value for money was a key reason to sign up to the new service. The hit show Yellowstone was the #1 most enjoyed show across all services among new Sky Showtime subscribers. Despite the launch of Sky Showtime, Prime Video remain #1 spot in new subscriber adds with 34% share. The Lord of The Rings, the Rings of Power continued as the top title driving sign ups to Prime Video in Q1 2023, an uninterrupted run of nine months. Prime Video is seeing a greater proportion of subscribers happy with its ease of use than Netflix, with Q1 2023 the first time this trend has been observed. Well over half of lost Netflix users in the quarter held a Prime Video subscription, meaning Amazon remains well-positioned see a gain in engagement over the coming quarters, Kantar said. Spanish content challenges Hollywood Two out of the top five most enjoyed SVoD series in Q1 were Spanish titles, with La chica de nieve at #2 and Entrevias at #4. Both titles were on Netflix, indicating Netflix's investment in Spanish language content. Despite a difficult quarter for the US giant, the Spanish titles' success suggests that Spanish content could compete with Hollywood in the Spanish SVoD market. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 28 April 2023. The two leaders also discussed regional affairs, including the Middle East Peace and the situation in Sudan. The two leaders shared grave concerns about the current high tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, and Prime Minister Kishida expressed high appreciation to the five-party talks (Egypt, Jordan, the U.S., Israel and Palestine) for their efforts to ease the tensions. In response, President El-Sisi explained Egypt's efforts to prevent the situation in Palestine from worsening and to achieve a just and lasting peace, and showed his appreciation for Japans support so far. The two leaders spent plenty of time for discussing the current situation in Sudan. The two leaders shared grave concerns about the situation and agreed to work closely with Egypt, which has close relations with Sudan, to calm the situation and resume the democratic transition process as soon as possible. Prime Minister Kishida conveyed that Japan, as the chair of the G7 and a member of the Security Council, will soon dispatch H.E. Mr. SHIMIZU, the Ambassador for the Horn of Africa, to Egypt and other related countries in order to make a positive contribution to the region, as well as that Japan is ready to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees in neighboring countries and internally displaced persons. In response, President El-Sisi expressed his high appreciation for Japan's active engagement and his desire to cooperate with Japan to stabilize the situation. The two leaders also agreed to further promote Japan-Egypt-Jordan trilateral cooperation, and to coordinate to hold the third Japan-Arab Political Dialogue in September this year. President El-Sisi also stated his high appreciation for Japans support for Africa through TICAD, and conveyed his idea to continue to collaborate between Japan and Egypt on development in Africa. Furthermore, the two leaders exchanged views on the situation in East Asia, including China and North Korea, and [agreed to continue to work closely together in dealing with North Korea, including the abductions issue. (4) Cooperation in the international arena Starting next week, I will be visiting Ghana. It is a great pleasure to be able to visit this country, which plays a pivotal role in West Africa. This will be the first visit by a Japanese Prime Minister to Ghana in 17 years. I am very delighted to be able to finally return to Ghana as the Prime Minister of Japan, after overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. The international community is now at a historic turning point. Russia's aggression against Ukraine has had a major impact on Africa, including a food crisis and soaring fertilizer prices. In addition, cooperation among the international community is even more crucial to effectively address various challenges facing the international community, such as climate change, energy, and opaque and unfair development finance. As both Japan and Ghana currently serve as members of the United Nations Security Council, and as the two countries work together as important partners that share values and principles such as democracy and the rule of law, I look forward to having a frank discussion with President Akufo-Addo. Taking this opportunity, I would like to further deepen the strong economic relationship between Ghana and Japan. First, I would like to further promote business and investment with Ghana, one of the leading economic centers in West Africa. Based on the belief that quality infrastructure development is the foundation for revitalizing economic activities, Japan has been supporting infrastructure such as roads to improve Ghana's connectivity to this date. Japan has high hopes for Ghana, which hosts the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), to play a role as a standard-bearer in promoting regional integration and trade facilitation. We are determined to cooperate more closely with Ghana in the future. The development of Ghana-Japan relations cannot be discussed without acknowledging the achievements of Dr. Hideyo Noguchi. The healthcare sector is an important area for both countries, and we are pleased that Japan is contributing to the health and medical fields in Ghana and the West African region through the establishment of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and technical cooperation through the Institute, flagship projects in Ghana-Japan cooperation. In particular, the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize, which was established following the Prime Minister Koizumis visit to Ghana in 2006, have recognized individuals who have made outstanding achievements in medical research and medical activities in combating infectious diseases and other illnesses in Africa including Ghana. This prize has contributed to the improvement of health and welfare in Africa as a whole. With a view to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), we will continue to contribute to the improvement in health sector in Africa and the world. In the face of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, which shakes the very foundations of the international order, we must once again firmly uphold the international order based on the rule of law and recall that ensuring peace and stability is the cornerstone of growth. As former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan once mentioned, all States have a clear interest, as well as clear responsibility, to uphold international law and maintain international order. Japan has been supporting Africas own efforts to achieve peace and stability, the prerequisite for economic growth, investment and betterment of livelihoods, under the New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA), which approaches the root causes of impediments to human security as well as peace and stability. During this visit, I would like to reaffirm our close collaboration with Ghana, which is playing a leading role in maintaining peace and stability in the region through Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) and the Accra Initiative. Finally, I would like to touch upon the long-standing and friendly bilateral relationship between Ghana and Japan. Ghana stood by Japan when we were in a difficult situation. I will never forget that last year, when former Prime Minister Abe passed away after being shot, three Presidents to date, including President Akufo-Addo, visited our Embassy for signing the book of condolences, and the Ghanaian Parliament organized a memorial service. At the TICAD 8 held in August last year, Japan expressed its firm determination to be a "partner growing together with Africa and to cooperate with Africa to realize a resilient Africa that Africa itself aims to achieve. My visit to Africa will be a strong demonstration of Japans commitment to walk hand in hand with Africa. As the country holding the G7 Presidency, Japan is also committed to carefully listening to the voices of African countries. I am very much looking forward to seeing you all in Ghana! More CHARLESTON The Charleston Area Chamber of Commerce honored community members' heroism and community service Saturday evening with the help of former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar. "It's quite a distinction to get recognized by your community for outstanding service. They know you, and that means something," said Edgar, a Charleston native and Eastern Illinois University alumnus. "You can get an award from someone 100 miles away, and they don't know you. The people here know you, and you should feel proud of that." The Grand Ballroom at EIU's Martin Luther King Jr. University Union hosted the dinner, awards presentations, and keynote speech by Edgar, who discussed "civility, compromise and compassion." Hero of the Year The chamber honored ophthalmologist Dr. Ryan Pine for resuscitating a 9-month-old boy who was found not breathing at the Cancun, Mexico, resort hotel where he and his wife, Jerri, were vacationing over Thanksgiving break. "Ryan worked on that baby for four minutes and he brought that baby back to life," said award presenter Avery Drake-Adams, whose family also was on this vacation. She said the boy was alert and totally fine the next day as he flew home with his family. Pine said, "I thank God for putting me in that situation with the skill and the knowledge to be able to help." Citizen of the Year Presenter Doug Bock said honoree Chastity Parker is a leader and team player as CCAR Industries' director of development and in the community. For example, Bock said Parker revived the Charleston Kiwanis Club in 2014 as charter president and helped it become a viable service organization. She has worked for 23 years now at CCAR, which provides vocational programs and other services for those with developmental disabilities or other functional limitations. Parker said late Executive Director Lyla McGuire encouraged her to get involved in the community service. "When she gave her speech as Citizen of the Year ... she said you never know who you might encounter whose life you might touch and you don't realize you made a difference in their lives," Parker said. "Hopefully, she is looking down right now realizing she made a difference in someone's life." Business of the Year Presenter Joe Dively said giving back to the community has been a standard practice for Diepholz Auto Group since Ken Diepholz began his family's dealership in 1987. They support the EIU Panther Club, Excellence in Education Foundation, Charleston Booster Club and more. Dively said Ken's son, Ron, has continued this practice, particularly through "open tab" events to help promote small businesses. Community members are invited to try the products or services of participating businesses at the dealership's expense while the tab is open there. "Thank you very much. I accept this award on behalf of my team. They're amazing people. Without them, none of this happens," Ron Diepholz said. Diplomat of the Year Presenter Shae Plush said Get it Gone co-owner Chelsy Lorance is a regular volunteer at chamber events, "no matter the time." She said this includes helping set up the farmers market on the courthouse square at 6 a.m. and clean up after the Halloween Scare on the Square at 10 p.m. Get it Gone, co-owned with Spencer Ridley, is a relatively new addition to the Coles County business community, offering "driveway-friendly" trash bin rentals, junk removal, and home cleanout services. "I just want to say thank you to the Charleston Chamber for welcoming us in," Lorance said. New board chair Tina Held, an ultrasonographer with Carle, gave a year in review presentation after beginning her one-year term as board chair in January. The position was previously held by Kyle Barrow, president/CEO, Olmsted Brothers Insulation and Midwest C&A Inc. "Kyle was a great leader and we were very happy to have him," Held said. The new chair said the chamber's 2022 included drawing 160 bicyclists from five states to the annual Tour de Charleston, drawing 3,000 children and families to the Scare on the Square and 79 dogs for a new canine costume contest, and increasing business membership by 25%. Edgar's presentation As a young legislative intern, Edgar said he learned from powerful Senate Republican leader W. Russell Arrington that serving in government, at its core, should be about solving problems for the public. Edgar, who served as governor from 1991 to 1999, said he has reflected since then that leaders in local, state and federal government cannot solve problems and provide needed services effectively until they are able to work together with different groups and be empathetic to the needs of other people. "I believe that government and politics and people need to pay a little more attention to being civil, willing to compromise and being compassionate," Edgar said. South Africa: Magome Masike appointed as new HPCSA Registrar Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla, has appointed Dr Magome Masike as the new Registrar of the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Dr Masike will assume his new role with effect from 01 May 2023. In a statement on Friday, the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) hailed the appointment as a step in the right direction that will go a long way in bringing much needed stability to the organisation. Dr Masike takes over the reins from Dr Thabo Pinkoane who led the organisation in an acting capacity for the past eight months while the appointment process for the Registrar position was underway. Dr Masikes unifying character will undoubtedly bring stability within the Health Professions Council of South Africa. The new Registrar boasts a wealth of knowledge in the healthcare sector as well as extensive experience in leadership and governance. On behalf of Council, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Thabo Pinkoane for his contribution in the past few months, and also wish Dr Masike all of the best in his new role, said Professor Simon Nemutandani, President of the HPCSA. Dr Masike is well-known in the medical industry, as he was previously a Member of Executive Council (MEC) for Health in the North-West province from 2010 to 2018. His achievements as a leader in the healthcare industry includes his leading role in the amalgamation of Tshepong and Klerksdorp public hospitals. He holds an MBChB and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). He is currently a candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health. Dr Masike who is not new to leadership roles, was the Chairperson of the North-West Parks Board and the Executive Mayor of the Matlosana Local Municipality from 2000 to 2004. Dr Masikes other prominent roles include: Business Development Director of Healthcare at Oracle South Africa where he reported on Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Chairperson of the North-West Provincial Tender Board, Member of the Provincial Legislature, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee for Finance in the Office of the Premier, President of the South African Medical Association (SAMA) in the North-West, Member of the University Council of the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) and Chairperson of the Audit Committee. As an Executive Mayor, Dr Masike led the amalgamation of four Municipalities, Klerksdorp, Stilfontein, Orkney and Hartebeesfontein Dr Masike was the Chairperson of the North-West Parks Board from 2019 until 2022 and contributed to the merger of the North-West Parks Board and the North-West Tourism Board to form the North-West Parks and Tourism Board. The HPCSA said that Masike is also no stranger to the HPCSA having served as Chairperson of the Undesirable Business Practice Committee and as a member of the Audit Committee. During his tenure, he interacted with health regulatory bodies of India, Malaysia and United States of America (USA) to gain insights into international best practice. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Executive director of the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission Scott Pelath stands on an area of the Kankakee River on Tuesday, December 21, 2021. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) The dilapidated State Line Bridge, which spans the Kankakee River but serves no function other than to cause problems on the river, will be removed soon, the rivers government commission learned Thursday. Lake County Commissioner Jerry Tippy told the Kankakee River Basin and Yellow River Basin Development Commission on Thursday that the county is soliciting estimates to have the bridge dismantled, removed and stored somewhere. Advertisement Were close, Tippy told the commission, which met at the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District office in Crown Point. The Kankakee River commission has sought to remove the low-slung bridge, which has not carried vehicles for decades and now is unsafe for pedestrians, because it traps trees and other debris floating down the river, forming massive logjams that back up water. Advertisement The bridge presents a direct impediment to effect flood mitigation, Scott Pelath, executive director of the commission, told the Lake County Commissioner last year in a letter. Another unused bridge sits over the Kankakee River near Schneider but is owned by the Norfolk Southern railroad. The bridge is not functional, Pelath said, and its wooden understructure catches debris floating down the river. He said U.S. Sen. Mike Brauns office has helped by contacting railroad management and relaying the commissions concerns. Norfolk Southern hasnt said no, Pelath said. Were on to a definite maybe. Commission member Dick Welsh, of LaPorte County, noted that Norfolk Southern has had a public relations issue since its train derailment caused a hazardous chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, in February. This is a good time for them to be good to the communities that surround them, he said. Also Thursday, the commission approved spending $30,000 to help acquire a former church site on 7 acres of land, which will be added to Lake Countys Grand Kankakee Marsh County Park. Advertisement The park is a designated flood water storage area for the Kankakee River, Pelath said. Other funds for the $75,000 purchase are coming from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the Lake Heritage Parks Foundation, said Craig Zandstra, special projects coordinator for Lake County Parks. In other business, Pelath said the second phase of river bank reconstruction along the Yellow River, the Kankakee Rivers main tributary, will begin in June, and planning for the third phase will begin soon. The multiyear Yellow River project, a key element of the commissions 40-year work plan, is designed to reduce the amount of sand and earth going into the river and creating problems downstream in the Kankakee. Also, Pelath reported that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is working on a flood response plan for the Kankakee River basin that will consolidate flood plans drawn up by the counties along the river, and add some new features. A recent addition to the rivers flood plan was the creation of a water storage area in the former Thayer Farm in northern Newton County. The Kankakee River commissions predecessor bought the 203-acre site in 1992, and last year a water control structure was installed. Advertisement When the Kankakee River rose after this springs heavy rains, Pelath wanted to see if the planned flood relief worked as it was drawn up to do. He saw water trickle into the land, and eventually fill up the site. Taking that water from the river provided some relief for residents in a nearby subdivision and in downstream Illinois, he said. You never know how its going to work until you see it in action, he said. And it worked. Tim Zorn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Front Street Capital is setting its sights on expanding significantly beyond the Triad with the launch of its latest real-estate investment fund. The Winston-Salem private-equity group debuted Front Street Properties Fund III LP with plans to make between $75 million to $100 million in capital commitments toward projects. The group said it has secured financial commitments of more than $35 million for Fund III. The primary focus will be development and acquisition opportunities for Class A commercial real estate assets in the Southeast with a meaningful portion of Fund III equity allocated toward ground-up development of industrial assets. Another strategic purpose is leveraging its property management and construction management platforms to provide enhanced returns through value-add and stabilized acquisitions. We are very excited about the prospects of Fund III due to its ability to meet growing investor demand for institutional quality real-estate investments in our target markets, predominately in the Carolinas, but also across the southeastern United States, Coleman Team, a Front Street partner, said in a statement. We feel very strongly that Fund III is positioned to outperform alternative investment options for our limited partners. Fund III already features two Winston-Salem projects in Union Cross Business Park: a 522,500-square-foot, build-to-suit development that will serve as the North American headquarters for Ziehl-Abegg Inc.; and a 144,000-square-foot speculative industrial facility. Front Street said it expects to develop and acquire additional properties over the next 36 months with the remaining capital committed to Fund III. The Southeast, and specifically the Carolina Core, is experiencing a surge in industrial demand, Front Street partner Matt McInnis said. The Carolina Core is an economic region defined by U.S. 421 and runs from Surry to Cumberland counties. It contains four megasites that include major manufacturing projects Boom Supersonic at Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, Toyota North America in Liberty, VinFast near Sanford and Wolfspeed Inc. near Siler City. As a deeply entrenched regional developer, Front Street Capital is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this opportunity on behalf of our investors, McInnis said. We plan to capitalize on the areas explosive growth in Fund III, said Matt McInnis, partner with Front Street Capital. Front Streets current portfolio consists of more than 4.4 million square feet of real estate under management. Over the past year, the development division has delivered more than 1.2 million square feet of new product in the Carolina Core. In June, Front Street completed its Fund II initiative after about two years with the purchase of the 3100 Breckinridge Blvd. property in Duluth, Ga. Fund II involved commitments of $40 million toward eight assets and more than 730,000 square feet of Class-A real estate properties in the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. Selling activities Front Street also has been active in selling pieces of its portfolio. For example, in March Siemens Mobility Inc. paid $16.16 million for the 202-acre Lexington Industrial Park where it plans to operate a $220 million, 506-job East Coast production plant. The property was bought from Front Street-Lexington LLC of Winston-Salem. The park was a public-private joint venture between the city and Front Street Capital. The global manufacturer committed March 8 to begin production in 2024 of passenger rail cars, also known as rolling stock. Roland Busch, Siemens AGs chief executive and president, said at the economic-development announcement that the Lexington plant will play a pivotal role in transforming the U.S. rail and transportation sectors through clean energy. Front Street said the 144,000-square-foot speculative building would be marketed to companies outside the area seeking to relocate in Winston-Salem. Construction is required to be completed within 24 months. In return, Front Street projected the economic-development project would generate an initial $15.7 million capital investment with additional investment on future tenant improvements. Without such available product in our local inventory, our city and county will lose on many potential projects that bring net new tax base, jobs and overall economic diversification, company officials wrote to the city. Given current market activity and the intense competition for every project, we as a city cannot afford to miss out on these economic drivers due to a lack of available modern facilities or shovel-ready sites. Front Street has been redeveloping what was once referred to as Building 23-1 in downtown Winston-Salem into Bailey South, along with the Morris Building, for nearly 100,000 square feet of office and retail space. In August, Front Street sold two industrial properties for a combined $36.9 million to Westcore, a San Diego industrial real-estate group making its entrance into the Triad. We have been very fortunate to have had Front Street Capital carrying out a number of projects in our community, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said. Their vision and willingness to assist with economic development prospects has been critical to the success of these projects. We have other projects in the pipeline, and having Front Street and other companies willing to participate makes Winston Salem much more competitive, he said. The properties in Union Cross Industrial Center are: a 200,000-square-foot facility on 21.5 acres at 4991 Millennium Drive that sold for $21.6 million; and a 140,000-square-foot building on 11.17 acres at 4980 Millennium Drive that sold for $15.27 million. Bunzl Distribution USA Inc. opened a $13.4 million plant at the 4991 Millennium site in 2019. The plant site has the capacity for adding 110,000 square feet of space. Southern Carlson, a fastener and hooks manufacturer, is the tenant at 4980 Millennium. Front Streets continued investment in Forsyth County is crucial to bringing in new employers and generating jobs, said Mark Owens, president and chief executive of Greater Winston-Salem Inc. Their focus and leadership on ground-up development is a perfect fit. Their blend of industrial and commercial development is shaping the economy of our community in an incredibly positive way. We know this model has proven successful, as our organization recently assisted companies such as the German manufacturer Ziehl-Abegg and Ardagh Group from Luxembourg in locating here with help from the city, county and state, Owens said. Those projects and many others would not be possible without the investment, commitment and leadership of Front Street Capital. LEXINGTON Whether they were alarmed, pleased or somewhere in the middle, out of dozens of residents who waited patiently for a chance to weigh in on a proposed takeover of the Davidson County Board of Health, none had greater reason for concern than Brandon Hall. Ive lived in my neighbors crap for two years, said Hall when his turn at the lectern came near the end of a 5 hour meeting Monday of the county commissioners. Unfortunately for Hall, he meant that literally. Raw sewage, he said, had been flowing into his yard for months and repeated, increasingly urgent pleas to the health departments environmental services division had gone unheeded. Up until today, aint nothing been done . I cant say that this way or that way would be whats best, he said. Something needs to be done. One such something was a politically charged plan ultimately shot down by one vote that would have given commissioners final authority over public-health matters rather than, say, an appointed and independent board of health largely comprised by trained professionals. Political meddling Politicization of government functions once considered too important for partisanship public health and schools, to name two is a relatively new phenomenon traceable to ideological chasms created by instant know-it-alls fueled by minutes of online research. Each of North Carolinas 100 counties are required by state law to provide public-health services including operating a health department, hiring a health director and appointing a local Board of Health with a physician, an engineer, a veterinarian and an optometrist among its members. Most counties 96, noted Davidson County Manager Casey Smith during discussion Monday have independent boards with authority to make decisions in the event of a pandemic that would kill more than 1 million Americans. Four, however, regard local health boards as advisory-only with commissioners holding ultimate control over public-health policy following trends elsewhere in the country. The most egregious recent example, spotlighted by national media outlets, happened in Ottawa County, Michigan, a sleepy community next to the states namesake lake. Not long after being sworn into office, commissioners in Ottawa County voted in January to replace a career professional whod run the health department for 20 years with a service manager from a local HVAC company whod criticized mask mandates. A similar proposal to give Davidson commissioners final say over public health policy prompted dozens to turn out Monday night to try and convince officials to shoot it down. I have no background in public health but neither do any of you, said resident Kyle Bowers. Im appalled at the arrogance and condescension. Im absolutely in favor of keeping it (as is) but youre not going to listen anyway. Others, however developers, expansion-minded small business owners and would-be homebuyers spoke in favor of the plan due to frustration with a months-long backlog in required environmental inspections conducted through the health department. That is exactly the reason (for the proposal), said Commissioner Todd Yates. A few others, however, spoke up out of lingering anger over mask mandates in schools that interfered with their freedom to gamble with their childrens health. My constitutional rights as a parent no matter COVID, AIDs or any other pandemic they bring out (were violated), said one mother upset that her children had been suspended from school. Toxic county? Some of the backlog was caused by a shortage in staff, a common refrain in local government these days, and comparatively low pay in a tight labor market. But after listening to a conga line of residents addressing all sides of a contentious issue, it became apparent that much of the frustration resulted from a breakdown in efficient communication between health officials, members of the public and elected officials. Lack of communication is the number one thing, said Hall, who noted that a work crew came to his house that very morning to take a look. And in the end, commissioners who for the better part of a month seemed inclined toward a takeover reversed course in a 4-3 vote to leave well enough alone. Chairman Fred McClure spoke for the majority when he noted that finding qualified members and professionals for the health board required by statute would be problematic. Would any professional a doctor, a veterinarian, an engineer agree to be on a board with no real authority at all, whose recommendations can be overruled? McClure said. I doubt it. Were going to be looked at as a toxic county as far as the health department and health director situation. The likely swing vote was cast by Commissioner Chris Elliott, a pastor, who did something nearly unthinkable for a politician: He changed his mind after listening to what residents had to say. Not once did I reach out to Lillian (Koontz, the county health director) and the board of health for your expert opinions, and for that I apologize to all, Elliott said. We are supposed to be servants in leadership. I have failed at that greatly. Taking over the Davidson County Board of Health isnt the right thing to do. Theres one other takeaway, voiced by a man with the most to complain about, to come from this particular exercise in representative democracy and local governance. I need to follow this stuff more, Hall said near the end of his remarks. Ive learned that. NEW YORK On the 31st floor of what was once a towering office building in downtown Manhattan, construction workers lay down steel bracing for what will soon anchor a host of residential amenities: a catering station, lounge, fire pit and gas grills. The building, empty since 2021, is being converted to 588 market-rate rental apartments that will house about 1,000 people. "We're taking a vacant building and pouring life not only into this building, but this entire neighborhood," said Joey Chilelli, managing director of real estate firm Vanbarton Group, which is doing the conversion. Across the country, office-to-housing conversions are being pursued as a potential lifeline for struggling downtown business districts that emptied out during the pandemic and may never fully recover. The conversion push is marked by an emphasis on affordability. Cities are offering serious tax breaks for developers to incentivize office-to-housing conversions provided that a certain percentage of apartments are offered at affordable below-market prices. In January, Pittsburgh announced it was accepting proposals to produce more affordable housing through the "conversion of fallow and underutilized office space." Boston released a plan in October aimed at revitalizing downtown that included a push for more housing, some of which would come from office conversions. Seattle launched a competition in April for downtown building owners and design firms to come up with conversion ideas. In the nation's capital, Mayor Muriel Bowser made office-to-housing conversions a cornerstone of her plan to repopulate and revitalize downtown. Her "comeback plan," announced this year, seeks to add 15,000 new downtown residents in addition to the 25,000 who already live there. "Our job is to make sure that we are getting more people downtown," she said at the time. The conversion push has some skeptics. Housing advocates worry that the affordable housing requirements could get watered down. Even advocates of the model say giving tax breaks to wealthy developers isn't the best tool to achieve the goal. "Developers who feel it's going to benefit their bottom line will do it without an incentive," said Erica Williams, director of the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute. "This is a very costly proposal for an unproven program." As increasing numbers of employers turn to hybrid work models, there's the question of persuading people to live downtown if they're not required to be there every day. "You have to make downtown a neighborhood somewhere that's living and playful and active," Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey told an panel at the United States Conference of Mayors meeting last January. Jordan Woods, 33, a federal government contractor, moved to a downtown Washington apartment in 2019, attracted in part by the appeal of walking to work. Then came the pandemic. Downtown, he said, was "like a moonscape" for more than a year. "And even before the pandemic it was still missing basic stuff like playgrounds and dog parks and a normal non-Whole Foods grocery store that I could walk to," Woods said. "I wouldn't say I regret it, but if I was considering the same move right now, I'm not sure I would do it." When Catherine Hurlin made her first Lincoln appearance with American Ballet Theatre two years ago, she was a soloist, dancing the Swan Lake pas de deux in front of 6,000 people in Pioneers Park. When ABT returns to Lincoln next week, Hurlin will be a principal dancer, performing the lead role in Giselle at the Lied Center for Performing Arts. Ill be doing Giselle for the first time, which is exciting, said Hurlin, who was promoted to lead dancer last year. Ive done Giselle, the ballet before. In the second act, I was Myrta. Shes basically the bad guy of the ballet. Now Im going to be able to say Ive done both. A masterwork in the classical ballet canon, Giselle is a romantic ballet in two acts. In the first act, Giselle, a village girl, falls in love with Count Albrecht, but due to machinations by a rival, dies of a broken heart. After intermission, enter Myrta and her ghostly legion, The Wilis. The Wilis are women who died before they were married, Hurlin said. They have the intent to basically murder all the young men who come into the forest as revenge. They try to do it to Albrecht, who Giselle still loves. She saves him from them. Thats basically it. Giselle, which debuted in Paris in 1841, is considered one of the most challenging ballets to dance, especially for the lead. It is very technically challenging, Hurlin said. Theres an adagio section thats very slow and you have to be very controlled. Theres a jumping section where you have to be on the music and jumping, which is a task as well. With years of training and weeks of rehearsals under her belt, Hurlin is confident as she readies herself to dance Giselle in front of an audience in a theater, a different experience than in rehearsal. It definitely elevates the whole feeling of the ballet the lights, the costumes, the orchestra, all of them put together really put you in an area that you believe you are the character rather than when youre in a studio in rehearsal clothes and you can come out the character easier, she said from her New York home. You have to start doing it, running it through for stamina, so by the end of the rehearsal, you start to feel like youre in the ballet. But its never the same as when you are on the stage. The 27-year-old New York City native has been dancing since she was 3, starting in what she called baby ballet and moving into jazz competition before she received a scholarship at 11 to the American Ballet Theaters Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. She climbed the ladder through American Ballet Theatre, starting in the studio company, becoming an apprentice with the main company in 2013, a corps de ballet member in 2014 and a soloist in 2018. Last year, she learned she had been promoted to lead dancer. It was pretty much the same way I got promoted to soloist, Hurlin said. After the bus and truck tour, we came back to New York for a Met season. At the end of the run, there was a meeting where they announced all of the promotions to us, then it came out in the press the same day. Its the top of the top. Theres no promotions after this. Now Ill be doing the lead role for pretty much all of the ballets. Shell be making her debut as the lead in Giselle Wednesday, in the second of ABTs Lied Center performances, which is just fine with her. You have to embrace the chance to dance anywhere, she said. Lincoln is kind of a perfect place. American Ballet Theatre's mission is to bring ballet to the entire country, to inform people who dont have access to the Met, who dont know anything about ballet, to bring in young people, young dancers. Maybe theres another Mikhail Barishnikov somewhere in Nebraska. Monumental Controversies: Mount Rushmore, Four Presidents, and the Quest for National Unity by Harriet F. Senie, Potomac Books, 256 pages, $32.95. Harriet F. Senie, a professor emerita of art history at CCNY and CUNY Graduate Center, has written a provocative book using the Mount Rushmore National Memorial to examine the message behind our countrys monuments. By doing so, she reveals aspects of Mount Rushmores history and the lives of Presidents Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt that call into question whether the iconic attraction in the Black Hills of South Dakota is a worthy representation of our national ideals. A monument is a statue, building or structure erected for remembrance of a notable person or event. Like a work of art, its impact depends upon the emotional response elicited in the viewer. The same monument may cause patriotic tears, trigger disgust or serve only as a convenient place for pigeons to perch. The value of any memorial depends upon the ingenuity and skill of its creator and the suitability of the person or event remembered. Few Nebraskans have not visited or seen photos of the massive sculpture fashioned from a mountain on a site sacred to the Lakota Sioux. Originally conceived as a tourist attraction for South Dakota in 1923, depictions of both pioneer explorers and Native Americans, including both Custer and Chief Red Cloud, were planned. This changed when Gutzon Borglum was hired as sculptor for the project. Borglum, who was raised in Fremont, Nebraska, proposed the four, 60-foot-tall presidential heads to commemorate the foundation, preservation and continental expansion of the United States. A grandiose hall of records was also planned, but never completed, after the final head was finished in 1939. Since Borglum was associated with the KKK, Washington and Jefferson were slave holders, Lincoln ignored the Native Americans plight, and Roosevelt was branded an imperialist, various groups have protested the Mount Rushmore monument in recent times, and many less-massive memorials have been defaced or destroyed. Controversies regarding national monuments are not unusual. James Reston Jr.s book on the Vietnam War Memorial, A Rift in the Earth (reviewed in this space Jan. 8, 2018) is an excellent example. Author Senies descriptions of the multiple monuments honoring Rushmores four presidents provides additional background for each man including Eero Saarinens Gateway Arch in St. Louis, which was originally dedicated to Jefferson. Finally, the best approach regarding monuments may be to simply admire the artistic merit in each and to let the passage of time decide the political message, which will often change. Joe Paternos hidden statue may reappear in the new Plaza outside Penn States Beaver Stadium. The Taliban now charges tourists to visit the site where the 6th century Bamiyan Buddhist statues in Afghanistan were destroyed in 2001. Percy Bysshe Shelleys famous 1818 sonnet, Ozymandias, featured in televisions Breaking Bad, describes the statue of a cruel and arrogant tyrant ultimately left abandoned as ... the lone and level sands stretch far away. This time around, Suzanne Geist knew what she was getting into when she decided to run for public office, and she did so because she believes she can make a difference as Lincolns mayor. I believe this race allows me to be more effective over a longer period of time and really make some changes. She made her first bid for public office in 2016 after a conversation at a wedding, where a friend encouraged her. The time was right the Geists youngest daughter was graduating from high school and was leaving home so she decided to run. She was elected to represent District 25 in the Legislature. Before that, she said, shed primarily been interested in politics as an observer, except for her work on family friend Doug Peterson's bid for attorney general. I honestly had no idea what I was getting into, she said. I didnt know the demands of the job. I didn't know the depth of knowledge that it requires to be really effective. Now she does. She was reelected to the Legislature and would have been term-limited at the end of the session, but resigned earlier this month after advancing in the city elections with 34% of the vote and the possibility of getting at least some of the 17% of the votes garnered by fellow Republican challenger Stan Parker. In whats become a heated race between Geist and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, the former senator has promised to listen to all voices in the community and would make promoting economic growth, fostering a positive business climate, investing in streets and supporting police and first responders priorities of her administration. Geist has distanced herself from attack ads from the PAC funded by two of her largest donors that say crime has spiked and portrays the mayor as an insider making backroom deals, but hasnt asked them to stop. She declined to denounce one ad that claimed Gaylor Baird lived in Ashland, where her family owns a vacation home. She said she's tried to keep her message positive and emphasized her priority would be city business, not a social agenda. The negativity has not come from me, she said. Its just not a picture of who I am. I know that a lot of people jump in and get involved in races and want to have their say. I support people being able to voice their opinion on all sides. Geist, who has been endorsed by the Lincoln Police Union, said rising crime is a concern shes heard repeatedly from constituents. She says she would focus on recruiting and retaining officers, and would make sure Lincoln police officers feel supported. Shes stood with police officers when it wasnt popular, she said, referring to opposition she led last session to a prison reform bill. Police morale is low because there arent enough officers on the streets and those that are dont feel supported by the administration, she said. Both police union representatives and Geist have said the mayor didn't offer full support of police during Black Lives Matter protests. I believe all city employees should feel supported and that we're all a team. We're all in this together. And I just don't believe that that level of support has been conveyed to law enforcement. The police union has doubled down in the week before the general election, posting a letter on Facebook addressing the number of officers on the street and recent gun violence. A mailer that arrived in voters' mailboxes this week includes a letter of support from Carrie Herrera, the widow of Mario Herrera, who was shot in the line of duty in 2020. Geist has a concealed carry permit and filmed an ad with a retired sheriffs deputy on the importance of training, but said she had enough concerns with the constitutional carry bill considered by the Legislature as it stood when she resigned that she would not have voted for it. Im also thinking like the mayor of a city and understanding the responsibility to get it right, she said. I completely understand that Lincoln and Omaha are different than the western part of the state. And the needs of a large city and its citizens being armed in certain places are different. On abortion, Geist, 61, said shes staunchly pro-life but would not support limiting abortion locally were she elected mayor. I don't believe that's where those issues are best addressed, she said. As mayor, I have no intention of bringing divisive social issues to the office. I am going to be focused on city business. I believe those questions are best answered by the Legislature, not by each individual city. Geists father is a pediatrician and she was born in St. Louis, when he was in residency. They moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas, where she lived until she graduated high school and came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to study broadcast journalism and she hoped lose her accent. She met her husband, Mark, here but never did get into the field of journalism, because just before she graduated she was subpoenaed to be part of the grand jury investigating the failure of Commonwealth Savings and Loan. That continued for nearly two years, and she worked at her husbands family manufacturing business when the grand jury wasn't in session. When that ended, she landed in pharmaceutical sales and data communications. She spent some time as a stay-at-home mom to raise their three children, now grown and living in Lincoln, along with the Geists' nine grandchildren. Making a difference in the city where her family lives would include streamlining the inspection and permitting processes and talking with developers about ways the city could better partner with them to reduce their costs. Shes criticized the recently passed floodplain regulations and said shed look for ways to reduce regulations on builders that drive up home prices. On the budget, she said she'd try to lower the tax rate enough to make a difference to taxpayers, and suggested moving unfilled positions from other departments could be a way to pay for more police officers. When taxpayers are tightening their belts, the city needs to do the same thing, she said. In response to her opponents assertion that her positions are too extreme for Lincoln, Geist said there are many people who believe the way she does on the topics such as abortion and dont consider themselves extreme. Other people can put labels on me however they choose, she said. But I would contend that those that know me well or even a little bit, know that a label of hateful or extreme or intolerant has no place in the relationships I have in my life. 2023 Voter's Guide: Lincoln Mayor Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird, a Democrat, faces former state Sen. Suzanne Geist, a Republican, in her run for a second term. Elections Leirion Gaylor Baird Age: 51 Elections Suzanne Geist Age: 61 James Michael Bowers, elected to represent the northeast part of Lincoln where hes lived his whole life, got a crash course in leadership less than a year into his first term. I had to get very comfortable very quickly with sticking to my values and doing whats right, said Bowers of the challenges he and other city leaders faced when the pandemic hit in 2020. Making difficult and controversial decisions to help the city and its citizens navigate an unprecedented global event made him realize what the council could do to help people. I really believe that we need to make sure that our council continues to use their ability to deliver for the community, he said. Bowers, 34, a Democrat, faces Republican Taylor Wyatt for the District 1 seat. He beat Wyatt in a tight primary race, as he did when four years ago when both he and Wyatt ran against each other. Lincoln has a strong mayor form of government, but the council can and should still set its own priorities and agendas, Bowers believes. As Lincoln grows, as our city changes, people are expecting more out of their council members, he said. And so I want to have a council that continues to pass ordinances and initiatives, that sets the priorities, sets the agenda and really impacts the community." The council passed several ordinances during the pandemic to help people and businesses, such as an ordinance to encourage the city to do business with small, local businesses by removing the requirement that the city take the lowest bid on small contracts, he said. Bowers is proud of a number of ordinances he initiated. Among those was allowing pawn shops to be open on Sundays, and one that allowed employees to play keno at the businesses where they worked when they were off-duty, and one that allowed bars to have sidewalk cafes. All of those ordinances had something in common. Each of those came up because someone from the community reached out, he said, and they were relatively small changes that helped businesses succeed. Hes especially proud of money he convinced his fellow council members to add to the budget to help fund an all-inclusive playground in northeast Lincoln. A mom with a son with autism and the president of the Family Autism Network reached out to him, and putting money in the budget led to a process that will, ultimately, put all-inclusive playgrounds in the four quadrants of the city starting with one in Mahoney Park. Bowers, raised in Havelock by a single mom, was first inspired to pursue a career in which he helped people when he was volunteering at the Northeast Family Center in high school. He went on to earn both undergraduate and masters degrees in social work. He began thinking about public service when the state tried to privatize child welfare and he was working for one of the lead agencies that filed for bankruptcy. He was among a group that went to the Capitol to rally to let people know what was happening and thought that if he didnt like the system, why not become someone who helps create it. In 2014 he ran for the Legislature against Adam Morfeld. He lost that race, then decided to run for City Council in 2019 and won. He lost a bid for the Legislature in November, and decided to run for re-election to City Council. Hes worked for Child Guidance Center, Bryan Health and with the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation. He was a social worker for Lincoln Public Schools and now has a private practice. Its important to make Lincoln a place where people want to live and raise their families, he said. Public safety is important, as are good roads and making sure people have a voice in how the city runs. Where folks can see opportunities to not only grow their business but then to be involved in their city and to have access to how things are done, he said. PORTLAND, Ore. For most of her life in New Mexico, Christina Wood felt like she had to hide her identity as a transgender woman. 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, wasn't fully covered under the state's 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 doesn't make me feel feminine. I still look in the mirror and I see that masculine person," she said. "It's stressful. It causes anxiety and PTSD when you're having to live in this body that you don't 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, 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 doesn't 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 state's 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. 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 sparked fervent debate, with hundreds of people submitting written testimony both for and against it and an emotionally charged public hearing last month. 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. Shield protections similar to what is being proposed in Oregon were 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 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 said he plans to sign it. Lawmakers in Nevada's Democratic-held Legislature are pushing to expand gender-affirming health care and develop policies regarding the treatment of transgender prisoners, among other things. The bills face an uncertain fate under Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo. Lawmakers have just over a month to vote on them before the legislative session ends in June. 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. 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 a matter of life or death. Kevin Wang, medical director for the LGBTQI+ Program at Swedish Health Services in Seattle, said such care alleviates depression, anxiety and self-harm in patients with gender dysphoria. Studies show transgender people, particularly youth, consider and attempt suicide at higher rates than the general population. "These are not aesthetic procedures," he said. Here's how legislation in every state affects trans youth Ranking states from most restrictive to the most protective for trans youth #51. Tennessee #50. Arkansas #49. South Dakota #48. Alabama #47. Mississippi #46. Oklahoma #45. Louisiana #43. Georgia (tie) #43. South Carolina (tie) #42. Texas #41. Missouri #40. Wyoming #39. Arizona #38. Idaho #35. Montana (tie) #35. Nebraska (tie) #35. West Virginia (tie) #33. Florida (tie) #33. North Carolina (tie) #32. Indiana #31. Kansas #30. Ohio #29. Kentucky #28. North Dakota #27. Utah #26. Pennsylvania #25. Iowa #24. Alaska #23. Wisconsin #22. Michigan #21. Delaware #20. Virginia #19. New Hampshire #18. New Mexico #17. Maryland #16. Hawaii #15. Rhode Island #13. Massachusetts (tie) #13. Minnesota (tie) #12. Illinois #10. Washington D.C. (tie) #10. Vermont (tie) #9. Oregon #8. Washington #6. Maine (tie) #6. New Jersey (tie) #5. Connecticut #4. Nevada #3. New York #2. California #1. Colorado Here's how legislation in every state affects trans youth #51. Tennessee #50. Alabama #49. South Dakota #48. Arkansas #47. Oklahoma #46. Mississippi #45. Louisiana #44. South Carolina #43. Texas #42. Georgia #41. Missouri #40. Arizona #39. Wyoming #38. Florida #37. Nebraska #36. Montana #35. Idaho #34. Indiana #33. West Virginia #32. Kansas #31. Kentucky #30. Alaska #29. Ohio #28. North Carolina #27. Utah #26. North Dakota #25. Pennsylvania #24. Iowa #23. Wisconsin #22. Michigan #21. Virginia #20. New Mexico #19. Delaware #18. New Hampshire #17. Maryland #16. Rhode Island #15. Hawaii #14. Minnesota #13. Massachusetts #12. Illinois #11. Washington #10. Oregon #8. Vermont (tie) #8. Washington D.C. (tie) #7. Connecticut #6. New Jersey #5. New York #3. Maine (tie) #3. Nevada (tie) #2. Colorado #1. California An Omaha man was sentenced in federal court this week for sex trafficking of a 17-year-old girl. James Ferman Chatman, 43, was sentenced Thursday to 27 years in prison for sex trafficking of a minor by force, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for Nebraska. Officials began investigating the case in September 2021 after receiving information about a missing 17-year-old girl who was being advertised online for commercial sex in Omaha, according to the release. Investigators contacted the girl, who said she was being forced to engage in commercial sex by a person known as "James Cooper." The girl said that James kept all of the money from the sex buyers and that he had sexually assaulted her and provided her with cocaine, the release said. Officials found evidence that Chatman was the man the girl was referring to and that he had created online commercial sex ads depicting the girl and others, according to the release. In November 2021, investigators learned that Chatman was at a hotel in Omaha and went to the hotel to arrest him. A woman who was at the hotel with Chatman told officials that she was being sold for sex by Chatman and that he used threats and violence to keep her engaging in sex sales, according to the release. Chatman was convicted of unlawful sex acts with a 16- or 17-year-old in Florida in 2019, but had not registered as a sex offender in Nebraska after leaving Florida, the release said. In addition to his prison sentence, Chatman was also ordered to pay $1,300 in restitution and will serve 10 years of supervised release after leaving prison. The case was investigated by the FBI, the Omaha Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 A week after she was notified that she would be banned and barred from the Capitol after shouting at lawmakers in the chamber, Melody Vaccaro was back at the seat of state government on Thursday. Vaccaro, the executive director of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence, was escorted out of the building on April 19 with a notice informing her not to return unless she scheduled an appointment after she yelled shame at senators following passage of a bill loosening gun laws in the state. The priority bill (LB77) of Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon allows individuals to carry concealed weapons without a permit or first completing a safety course, and invalidated local ordinances that regulated firearms. The bill overcame a filibuster to pass on a 33-14 vote and was signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday. Vaccaro was sitting in the balcony of the chamber with about two dozen members of Nebraskans Against Gun Violence and Moms Demand Action, another organization that advocates for stronger gun laws, when she reacted to the vote. She was quickly taken to the security office, told she was banned and barred from the Capitol and surrounding grounds, and escorted out of the building, as state senators and others began to raise questions about whether the action by the Nebraska State Patrol was lawful. Earlier this week, however, Vaccaro was notified in a letter also dated April 19 that the ban she thought was for life was only going to last seven days, and that she wasnt actually barred from participating in the democratic process on Capitol grounds. As previously explained, this bar does not prohibit you from entering the Capitol Complex Area for official business, all matters that deal with the Legislature, and events in the Capitol Complex Area, the letter states. That language appears to conflict directly with the earlier notice: You have been banned and barred from the Nebraska State Capitol and the Nebraska State Capitol grounds. You are not to enter the Nebraska State Capitol or the Nebraska State Capitol grounds except for scheduled appointments to conduct business. Vaccaro, in a phone interview on Friday, said the second letter seemed to suggest that she could, in fact, continue to be present at the state Capitol. It is infuriating to me that they would send me the letter changing the definition of what banned and barred means and what the letter says, she said, and changed it in such a way I could have been participating in what was happening in the Legislature. Daniel Gutman, an attorney representing Vaccaro, said the mixed signals sent by the Nebraska State Patrol indicate the problems with the ban and bar policy that became immediately evident after it was issued. In addition to infringing upon her First Amendment rights, Gutman said Vaccaro was not afforded a hearing, which violated her right to due process, and not informed of how she could regain her rights through an appeal, even though the State Patrol indicated to reporters a process was available. The notice received by Vaccaro this week informs her that she can challenge the administrative decision within 30 days, but with the ban only lasting seven days and having expired, Gutman noted there was nothing for his client to appeal at this point. (The State Patrols) lifetime ban was an extreme and unprecedented response to a single incident of nonviolent protest, Gutman said. While were encouraged that NSP has retracted its lifetime ban, proper procedures need to be implemented to ensure this never happens again. Other public institutions have detailed procedures for individuals who have been banned and barred to follow in order to appeal those decisions. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Police Department, for example, can remove and bar individuals from all spaces owned and operated by the university, as well as issue citations and subject them to prosecution. Anyone who has been banned from UNLs property is required to file an appeal within five business days of being barred. They can also request a temporary waiver if they have a legitimate need to visit campus for attending to official UNL business, according to the policy. The ACLU of Nebraska, in a blog post on its website, said while all types of expression are constitutionally protected in public forums like the Rotunda, streets, sidewalks and green spaces at the Capitol, that speech was not necessarily protected in every circumstance or location. Law enforcement and government officials can put in place nondiscriminatory and content neutral time, place, and manner restrictions on First Amendment rights, according to the ACLU of Nebraska, which applies to spectators inside the legislative chamber. Vaccaro said the experience of being banned for life and later allowed back to the Capitol wont change her approach to her advocacy and activism, but said it might have raised questions or concerns for others about how they engage with the state lawmaking process. I think its going to, and maybe already has, moved people to question what our civil rights are in this state and where the line is for political speech, she said. I think those questions need to be answered. With the ban lifted, Vaccaro was present in the Rotunda for Thursdays debate over a bill (LB626) from Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston that would have banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. That bill fell one vote short of the threshold needed to shut off debate and fell off the agenda. Vaccaro's arrival was met by chants of our house from friends and supporters that could briefly be heard inside the chamber. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 Notre Dame professor of Anthropology Mark Schurr, on left, directs volunteers and students to dig locations during an archaelogical survey at the former Collier Lodge in Kouts on Thursday, June 9, 2022. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan / Post-Tribune) The public is invited to an authentic Midwestern archaeological dig at the old Collier Lodge on the banks of the Kankakee River in Kouts this June. The Kankakee Valley Historical Society will again partner with the University of Notre Dame to conduct the dig at what is considered to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in Northwest Indiana. From 2002 to 2012 Notre Dame Professor of Anthropology Mark Schurr led yearly digs. Last summer he and his students were back for the first time in almost a decade, and this June 5 through the 22 theyll be back in smaller numbers. Advertisement Schurr has two students planning to join him this year, while KVHS members will make up the bulk of the dig staff. Fifteen members are already committed and theres room for plenty more if anyone wishes to apply for membership. We try to pair up experienced people with inexperienced, Schurr said. Since the dig will span 12 business days volunteers are not expected to be able to make them all. Minors are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Advertisement Only KVHS members will be allowed to participate in digging, but the general public is welcome to observe from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Schurr will not be holding a formal UND field school as in years past but the group intends to answer questions raised by last years work. Specifically, more work will be done in an area previously believed to be a prehistoric roasting pit. Last year, however, some historic pottery was found in the 3-foot-diameter pit. Is it older than we think it is and just had newer stuff added to it, or is it newer than we think it is? asked Schurr. The oldest item found to date is an 11,000-year-old stone knife. While many in the region are familiar with the history of the Collier Lodge, a hunting lodge built on the site in 1898, some may not know the area has been a thoroughfare for humans for millenniums. Theres not many chances to see archaeological digs happening and its kind of a unique opportunity, Schurr said. Kankakee Valley Historical Society president and owner John Hudson outside Collier Lodge in Kouts, Indiana Monday Feb. 21, 2022. (Andy Lavalley for the Post-Tribune) (Post-Tribune) The discovery of some French flints was exciting last summer for KVHS Founder and President John Hodson who used to participate in re-enactments. For 400 years that was the means that guns operated, he said. Different areas have different colors of the flints. English are black. French are sort of a honey amber color. It was obviously a campfire, so my mind went to French soldier, French trader, Hodson added. They were sitting around their campfire going through their flints. If you go: The Collier Lodge Site dig will be open for observation through June 5 to 22nd, Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The address is 1099 Baums Bridge Road, Kouts, IN 46347. Bring water and a hat and wear sunscreen. The site is in full sun. For those wishing to apply to join the KVHS and participate in the dig visit https://kankakeevalleyhisoricalsociety.org. There are separate applications for society membership, which has a $30 fee, and the dig itself. Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Across the United States, thousands of cities and counties are named for U.S. presidents and vice presidents. Though not unique, Nebraska has a county with a vice presidents last name whose county seat uses his first name. In 1904 it was said the county occupies almost the exact geographical center of the United States, and today has 14 sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 11 of which are in the county seat. The origin of what today is Colfax County is complicated. First, Platte County, briefly named Loup County, was separated from Dodge County in 1855. On Jan. 26, 1856, the legislature formed Platte County, and in 1869 Colfax County, named for the then vice president, was created from a portion of Platte where it had been temporarily attached for judicial purposes. A subsequent legislative act in 1869 made Schuyler the county seat, which was incorporated that November. Thus, the original settlers in what became Colfax County, actually lived in Platte County. Isaac Albertson is usually credited as being the first settler in Colfax County in 1856 when he located near the mouth of Shell Creek, and was likewise, the first postmaster at Buchanan, named for the presidential candidate and chief magistrate of the nation. An often-related story says the mail for Buchanan was usually thrown from the Union Pacific train in the vicinity of the post office" leaving Albertson to seek it out. What was known as the Log House at the site was also said to be the extent of Buchanans growth. Another nearby site named Neenah, named for Neenah, Wisconsin, about five miles west of what would later become Schuyler, supposedly lived an even shorter life than Buchanan. Shell Creek post office was created by the Union Pacific Railroad on March 6, 1869, on the north side of the Platte River, being renamed as Schuyler post office July 1, also named for Schuyler Colfax. Although Schuyler was incorporated in November of 1869, the Nebraska legislature rewrote the definition of a city of second class, requiring a minimum population of 1,500 and effectively debarred Schuyler. A square block of land was subsequently donated for a courthouse which was completed in 1871-72 as a two-story, 40-by-50 foot, brick building costing $18,300. With the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad, Schuyler became the first point from which cattle were driven overland on the Blue River Trail from Texas to be shipped east. With 50,000 cattle shipped in 1870, the villages population grew from less than 100 to over 600 in one year. By 1880 Schuylers population reached 900 and reported having a number of stores, good hotels and two weekly newspapers. One of the major attractions in Schuyler came after the Great Depression when the Works Progress Administration, under the enthusiastic urging of the citys Dr. S. B. Koory, announced construction of an English Tudor Revival style ballroom after the 1902s-era Schuyler Dance Pavilion was sold for $100 to become the site of the Schuyler Memorial Hospital. A site on Lost Creek, at 175 Higgins Drive in the citys South Park, was secured and Columbus architect Emiel Christensen hired to design the structure. Federal guideline instructions urged the plan to use the least expensive and most available materials as well as unskilled W.P.A. labor. Thus 175 heads of family harvested native oak for the roof beams and utilized area stone, some salvaged from the disastrous 1933 fire at the Wells-Abbott-Neiman Mill, as well as the oak dance floor saved from the old Schuyler Dance Pavilion which they employed in the ballrooms construction. The 132-by-110 foot Oak Ballroom, named for the native oak used in the building, opened in May of 1937. It was said that the 5,000 square foot dance floor could accommodate around 2,000 dancers before booths were added. A mural, costing $1,000, depicting a Mormon Trail wagon train was painted above the fireplace by Jim Ridgeway in 1960. The Oak Ballroom was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, joining the Schuyler City Hall and nine other sites in the city. The original Mormon Trail [passed] through the entrance gate to the ballroom adding to Schuylers prominent location on many trails including cattle drives, Western Stage Lines, the 1859 Military Road and Pikes Peak mining frenzy traffic, which also saw the creation of a number of road ranches in the area as well as Highways 15 and 30. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 1873: Wind storms blew off a large portion of the tin roof on the south end of the Capitol and toppled the east side of the fence surrounding the Nebraska State Penitentiary. One convict made an easy escape but was captured a short time later. 1883: A group of county officials went to Omaha to inspect an electric light plant. They were considering one at the State Mental Hospital. 1893: Lincoln Normal University was sold to professors J.E. Saylor of Lincoln and M.P. Givens of Denver. A canal to connect Lincoln with the Platte River was being discussed. 1903: Gov. John H. Mickey and his staff returned from St. Louis, where they had attended the dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition buildings. 1913: President Woodrow Wilson was hopeful for the success of the mission of William Jennings Bryan to California to plead for gentle treatment of the Japanese by California. 1923: The Lincoln County treasurer and his deputy were charged with arson after fire gutted the courthouse at North Platte. Before the fire broke out, about $60,000 in cash and bonds reportedly was taken from the treasurer's office. 1933: The Nebraska Senate advanced a 3.2 percent alcoholic beverage bill by a slight majority. Nebraska was covered with a fine red dust that had drifted in from dust storms in Oklahoma and Kansas. 1943: President Franklin D. Roosevelt passed through Lincoln secretly on a special train. The event went unnoticed except for the stationing of guards at the O Street viaduct and other strategic points. The president was on a secret tour of war production centers. The state Railway Commission began hearings on a complaint that rates of 8 1/3 cents per bus ride were too high. 1953: Samuel C. Waugh, president of First Trust Co. in Lincoln, was said to be under consideration for secretary of state for economic affairs. 1963: Construction of a $1.2 million tower of luxury, the 12-story Sky Park Manor at 13th and J streets, was nearing completion and ads for apartments were running in Lincoln newspapers. 1973: Lincoln voters elected three new members to the City Council: Sue Bailey, homemaker; John Robinson, law student; and Max Denney, lawyer. Analysts forecast they would favor tightened zoning controls. Voters rejected proposals for district rather than at-large election of council members and for restrictive procedures on major street improvement planning. 1983: Sir Oliver Wright, Great Britain's ambassador to the United States, spoke at University of Nebraska-Lincoln commencement services, where 2,000 baccalaureate, professional and graduate degrees were awarded. 1993: A resolution devoting 65 percent of Lincoln's keno profits to parks and recreation, 30 percent to libraries and 5 percent to human services was proposed by City Council Chairwoman Colleen Seng and approved. 2003: City officials began studying the possibility of loosening Lincoln's rules regarding planting in the parkway, the city right of way generally located between the curb and the sidewalk. By law only grass and approved trees and shrubs are permitted in the parkway. RACINE Three teachers at the Racine Unified School District have filed a lawsuit against the district and RUSD Board over the handling of safety issues. The teachers allege that RUSD and the board are not providing a fair process for employees to file workplace safety grievances. A complaint filed with the lawsuit was provided in a news release from Racine Educators United, the union that represents RUSD educators. According to the complaint, the teachers allege that RUSD and the board broke state law in the selection of an impartial hearing officer to rule on their grievances. The complaint also alleges that the school district and board violated state law by requiring the teachers to cite an employee handbook violation in order to file a grievance. The civil case was filed Thursday in Racine County Circuit Court, according to online court records. Three RUSD educators are named as plaintiffs in the case: Theresa Jakala, a Jerstad-Agerholm K-8 School teacher; Angela Kennedy, a Mitchell K-8 School teacher; and Nancy Wolf, a Case High School teacher. The teachers are members of Racine Educators United. They are being represented by two attorneys with the Wisconsin Education Association Council. Stacy Tapp, RUSD chief of communication and community engagement, wrote in a statement that the school district had not been served the lawsuit yet but provided comments about the impartial hearing officer and school safety process. Once served with the lawsuit, RUSD has 20 days to respond. Background The lawsuit stems from four group grievances related to workplace safety filed between November 2021 and October 2022. In November 2021, Wolf and other educators filed a group grievance claiming the district failed to provide a safe workplace. According to the complaint, that grievance alleges students and staff were harmed physically and emotionally as a result of assaults and fights in the hallways in at least five RUSD schools. In December 2021, Kennedy and five other Mitchell educators filed a group grievance claiming RUSDs response to a situation involving a student who allegedly brought a gun and bullet to school was inadequate. In March 2022, Jakala and 10 coworkers filed a group grievance after a student brought a gun to Jerstad-Agerholm and the gun was fired in a school bathroom. That group grievance alleged that RUSD failed to provide a safe work environment and to adequately address the incident after its occurrence, according to the complaint. In October 2022, two RUSD employees filed a group grievance about RUSD administrations inadequate response to a Case High School student being shot across the street from the building during a school day. In the Thursday news release, Racine Educators United President Angelina Cruz criticized the school district for requiring employee grievances about gun safety and other serious safety issues to reference the employee handbook the district itself wrote. Instead of sitting down and working with staff and students on substantive safety issues, the district has decided to spend money and staff time on creative legal arguments on why they do not have to talk to us, Cruz wrote. Its stalling, and taking away time better spent focused on identifying and using proven methods to make both staff and students safer. In the news release, REU said it has floated a global settlement of a district-wide safety committee for each grievance. District-wide problems require district-wide solutions, and we have health and safety experts on national staff who wrote the committee language and can provide research and technical support. Cruz wrote. These problems require all hands on deck, and that includes giving educators, the professionals in the building, and also students, the community and parents, a real voice in solving this problem. Tapp wrote in the statement that a district-wide safety committee already exists. According to Tapp, school safety and other issues are discussed during monthly staff meetings at every building and during monthly meetings between teachers union representatives and RUSD administrators. While union voice is welcomed, the district believes that our school safety and law enforcement professionals should guide our work and these collaborative efforts should include all stakeholders, Tapp wrote. The district will not be bullied into allowing an interest group to dictate how and with whom we collaborate on important issues. Teachers seek injunctions According to the complaint, when asked on grievance forms to identify which sections of the RUSD employee handbook were violated, teachers cited a section on safety, all other relevant sections of the handbook and two state laws. According to the complaint, the RUSD grievance procedure consists of five steps: informal resolution, written grievance, appeal to Human Resources, appeal to an impartial hearing officer and appeal to the School Board. The four pending group grievances mentioned in the lawsuit are at the fourth step of the process involving an impartial hearing officer, according to the complaint. The impartial hearing officer, who must bring a neutral perspective to the matter, makes a decision about a grievance. That decision can be appealed to the School Board. Racine Educators United objected last fall when the RUSD Board chose attorney Doug Witte as the impartial hearing officer to make a ruling on the four group grievances. Witte works at Boardman and Clark, a Madison-based law firm. He could not be reached for comment. According to the complaint, Witte has represented RUSD and the School Board on more than a dozen matters before the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission and in court, and those matters often were against the teachers union. Because of that conflict, the teachers argue, Witte is not an impartial hearing officer. The boards selection of an IHO who it has retained as its own counsel for grievance appeals and who it continues to retain to represent it in termination hearings blurs the distinction between the IHO and board steps of the grievance process, creates an impermissibly high probability of bias, and, at a minimum, creates the appearance of bias, the complaint states. The teachers are requesting that the court issue an injunction prohibiting Witte from acting as an impartial hearing officer in their pending grievances and that the court order RUSD and the board to appoint an impartial hearing officer who meets the requisite standards of impartiality. In response to REUs objections last fall, Witte declined to recuse himself from being an impartial hearing officer in November 2022 and January 2023, according to the complaint. According to the complaint, RUSD and the School Board said it was important to respect the decision to select Witte because his impartiality had already been determined. In April 2021, the RUSD Board denied the teachers unions request to replace Witte with a new impartial hearing officer to deal with safety grievances related to COVID-19. In 2021, both the board and Witte determined that Witte was impartial, according to the complaint. Tapp wrote in the statement that Witte is vetted and impartial. Those grievances in 2021 were ultimately resolved before Witte had to make a decision. In recent months, RUSD also raised issues with the four pending group grievances, according to the complaint. The school district maintained that the grievances were not subject to the grievance process because they did not cite an employee handbook violation. RUSD also argued that parts of the remedy requested in the group grievances could not be granted by an impartial hearing officer. According to the complaint, in March 2023, Witte said the teachers who filed the grievances are required to prove how a specific section of the RUSD employee handbook was violated and how that is a workplace safety violation. The teachers are requesting that the court order the school district and board to process their grievances regardless of whether they state a violation of the employee handbook. The teachers are also requesting that the court issue an injunction prohibiting RUSD and the RUSD Board from requiring a grievance to cite an employee handbook violation. Despite having a plain statutory duty to process plaintiffs workplace safety grievances, defendants have implemented an impermissibly narrow definition of workplace safety by requiring that employees cite a violation of the employee handbook, the content of which is exclusively determined by the board, in order to grieve, the complaint states. Defendants limiting of the workplace safety issues that may be grieved is designed to shield as many of the workplace safety issues as possible from scrutiny. The teachers are also requesting that the court award them the litigation costs involved in this lawsuit and further relief as the court deems just and equitable. Killeen, TX (76540) Today Cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 83F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low near 70F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30%. 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 Hammond man faces charges for allegedly setting a Subaru, garage and fence on fire. Christopher Townsell, 39, was charged Wednesday with two counts of arson. Advertisement He posted a $3,500 bond Friday. His initial hearing is on May 15. A motive is not immediately clear. Advertisement Hammond police were called at 1 p.m. Dec. 14 to a house on the 7300 block of Marshall Avenue for an earlier fire at 3:05 a.m. A 2005 blue Subaru, the garages east side and some fencing were damaged. Later investigation concluded gasoline was used. Security cameras appeared to show a man approaching the vehicle who may have also set himself on fire in the process, the affidavit alleges. A check of local hospitals found nothing. The homeowner said a neighbor called him at 3 a.m. saying the garage was on fire. The witness said he didnt see what happened, but heard a loud explosion and saw smoke. Police ruled out two other suspects. Their attention turned to Townsell, the homeowners co-worker, court records allege. A license plate reader scanned Townsells girlfriends vehicle, a Dodge Caliber, around 3 a.m. Dec. 14 near Kennedy Avenue and I-80/94. The girlfriend said she gave the vehicle to Townsell the night before to fix a coolant problem. Advertisement The homeowner said Townsell helped him move a stove into his home the day before and didnt think he was a suspect. When police interviewed Townsend, they alleged a similar vehicle was in the alley on the 7300 block of Marshall Avenue at 3:08 a.m. before heading on Kennedy to I-80/94. Townsell said he went to work that morning in Crown Point as a truck driver, but wasnt sure about the exact time. He also may have headed to Southlake Stone in Hebron, he said. Others told him the homeowners vehicle was set on fire, Townsell said. When investigators asked if he was in the Dodge Caliber near I-80/94 and Kennedy at the time of the fire, Townsend ended the interview. Investigators alleged Townsells cell home was shut off between 2:30 a.m. and 3:16 a.m., according to the affidavit. Advertisement Records showed his cellphone was on Wi-Fi at his Hammond home two miles away at 2:31 a.m. It was next picked up at 3:16 a.m. on I-80/94 near Gary. Townsell arrived at work in Crown Point at 4:14 a.m. He started his shift at 4:49 a.m., and left for a job in Hebron at 6:15 a.m., according to court records. Insurance estimated the damage to the vehicle, garage and fence was nearly $20,000. mcolias@post-trib.com KEARNEY Oscar Erives describes himself as mellow and relaxed. Most of the time, the University of Nebraska at Kearney senior is pretty soft-spoken. When hes on stage, though, audiences see and hear a completely different person. Music is a way to express myself and let out my feelings. Its really helped me in that way, said Erives, a piano performance major from Grand Island. Im very expressive in my playing you can tell by my facial expressions and my movement and that also shows its something I really love and want to share with the world. Inspired by his father Oscar Sr., a musician who likes to play regional Mexican music on the saxophone, Erives started playing the piano at age 6 and later learned the saxophone and accordion. Hes a vocalist, too. I grew up with a lot of different backgrounds, so Im a pretty diverse musician, he said. I know how to play a lot of different things and a lot of different styles. Erives was part of the jazz, concert and marching bands at Grand Island Central Catholic, and he also performed with his father and experimented in music production with his brother Michael. Hes been equally eclectic at UNK, where he received music performance and Loper Achievement scholarships. Erives has participated in numerous vocal and instrumental groups on campus, including the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Mens Choir, Jazz/Rock Ensemble, Choraleers and Symphonic Band. He serves as a collaborative pianist, accompanist and piano technique tutor, as well. Off campus, hes been the music director at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island, co-music director at the Catholic Newman Center in Kearney and a pianist for the Flatwater Jazz Orchestra. UNK collaborative pianist Mirim Kim called him a great musician with a versatile skill set. Oscar easily absorbs and brings out the musical ideas that we discuss. He has refined ears, which is very important, and he works hard in the practice room. Even if something is difficult to achieve immediately, he keeps working until he gets it, she said. His skills in a variety of genres definitely helped to broaden his spectrum of musicianship. Erives likes to play movie and video game scores in his free time Zelda, Super Mario Bros. and other classic Nintendo titles are favorites but hes also developed a lot more appreciation for classical music. I didnt really see myself playing classical music, but its something Ive definitely enjoyed learning, he said. Thats helped me become a better musician. As a winner of the annual UNK Concerto/Aria Competition, he gets to perform as a featured soloist at the upcoming Kearney Symphony Orchestra concert. Hell play the first movement of Norwegian composer Edvard Griegs Piano Concerto in A minor. It has been thrilling to see him evolve into and emerge as a performing young musician over the past four years, said UNK music professor Nathan Buckner. I have been able to see and observe this both in his piano lessons and on the recital stage. Kearney Symphony Orchestra Concert Kearney Symphony Orchestra will present Revisiting Masterworks at 7:30 p.m. May 9 in the UNK Fine Arts Recital Hall. A pre-concert talk is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building Room 263. The program includes works from Jean Sibelius, Edvard Grieg and Modest Mussorgsky. Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for UNK faculty and staff, $5 for youths ages 11-18 and free for children 10 and younger and UNK students with a valid ID. They can be purchased 12:30 to 5 p.m. weekdays at the UNK Theatre Box Office and one hour prior to the performance. For reservations, contact the box office at 308-865-8417 or boxoffice@unk.edu. Erives called his time at UNK a really good period of self-discovery. I think its had a big impact on my life and who I am as a person, he said. Seeing how Ive impacted others with my music has impacted me as well, knowing I can inspire other people and touch their hearts with my music. Thats been one of the best experiences. Erives will perform for the final time as a UNK student on May 19, when he plays the national anthem during the spring commencement ceremony before graduating with honors. Hell pursue a masters degree in piano performance at the University of Kansas this fall, and he hopes to earn a doctorate down the road. College professor, performer and composer are potential careers. Id like to make an impact on the music industry and peoples lives, and Id like to do it on a big scale, Erives said. Carthage Theatre is making waves again, receiving national recognition for its work. MementoMori-Horizontal.jpg The Carthage College original play Memento Mori, directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of th The original play Memento Mori, directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for excellence and positive impact: the Citizen Artist Award and the committees newest honor, Distinguished Achievement in the Facilitation of a Brave Rehearsal Space. MementoMori-Vertical.jpg The Carthage College original play "Memento Mori," directed by Professor Neil Scharnick, received two awards from the national committee of th It is the third time a Carthage production has received the Citizen Artist Award, which recognizes programs in higher education using theatrical production to promote long-term societal impact through an artistic lens, to encourage empathetic exploration of the complex cultural and physical world, and to advocate for justice on campus and throughout the world. The Brave Rehearsal Space award celebrates teaching artists who create a rehearsal room community that prioritizes the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of their student artists; empowering them to safely engage with challenging theatrical stories. The awards are a tremendous honor, said Scharnick, a 1999 Carthage alumnus, and I think these particular awards show something more than the excellent work were doing. They show that were doing work that matters, and were doing it right. Corinne Ness, dean for the Division of Arts and Humanities, echoed Scharnicks praise for the theatre program. The long history of Carthage Theatre awards is evidence of its quality, she said. These two newest honors recognize the community that we work hard to maintain a space where student artists can fully realize their potential with the support of an exceptional faculty. Creating Memento Mori Each year, Carthage commissions and develops a new play, partnering with award-winning playwrights and theatre artists from across the globe. Throughout the New Play Initiatives 14-year history, students and faculty have collaborated with award-winning writers. The 2022 installment began as a collaboration between Scharnick and one of Irelands leading acting instructors, Donal Courtney. With the working title Memento Mori Latin for remember you must die the play would encourage performers and audience members alike to engage with lifes biggest questions. Before the project could move beyond the earliest workshop stage, however, cancer took Courtneys life. Dedicating the work to the Irishmans memory, Scharnick and his students wrote and developed Memento Mori over the next several months. The play tells the story of a young musician named Alice who recently passed away. Her friends mourn and try to make sense of her death while Alice tries to come to terms with life beyond the grave. After it premiered on campus in November, Carthage Theatre was invited to perform Memento Mori in Flint, Michigan, at the Kennedy Centers Region 3 college festival in January. Based on productions showcased at eight regional events across the country, the committee announced the national award winners earlier this spring. The Carthage cast and crew also traveled to Ireland to perform the play at the historic Smock Alley Theatre in Dublin and at West End House School of Arts in Killarney. The Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahone Funds Reaching for Rainbows Pursuit of Excellence gala will feature a new twist this year, organizers announced today: A pair of Mahone Scholar alumni emcees who will speak first hand about their educational pursuits. NaKia Hughes and Jada Mone Robinson will lead the May 9 event, in place of the local college administrators and Mahone Fund Board members who had emceed it in recent years. Along with Carthage President John Swallow and Katherine Marks, it has been an honor to emcee the annual Mahone Fund Reaching for Rainbows scholarship event, said Mahone Fund Board Chair and University of Wisconsin-Parkside Chancellor Deborah Ford. Turning the emcee duties over to Mahone Fund Scholars is so fulfilling because it is a testament to the value of Mahone Fund scholarships. Hughes is a 2019 Mahone Fund Scholar who is currently studying at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. In 2019, she was also named the Boys & Girls Club of Kenoshas Youth of the Year. I am currently a sociology major on the pre-med track on my journey to becoming an OB-GYN, Hughes said. I am excited to be able to give back to my community by returning as an emcee for our Reaching for Rainbows event. Robinson, also a 2019 Mahone Fund Scholar, studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, one of the top performing arts colleges in the nation. In 2021, she was crowned as Kenoshas Miss Juneteenth in recognition of her volunteer work for the Teen Task Force and the Mahone Fund. Education, today, is more of a privilege than a right, Robinson said. It is fantastic being part of an organization that allows individuals to exercise their right to higher education. And as someone who received a scholarship from the Mahone Fund, graduated from college and am now on my career path, returning to emcee the Reaching for Rainbows event is a beautiful full-circle moment. The Mary Lou & Arthur F. Mahone Funds mission is to provide educational opportunities for economically and academically deserving youth, while also supporting healthy lifestyle initiatives in communities of color. The fund is a component of the Kenosha Community Foundation. The annual Reaching for Rainbows Pursuit of Excellence dinner celebrates the academic achievements of current and past Mahone Fund scholars, and it includes the presentation of the Bryan Albrecht Living Legend Award. The award granted to individuals or organizations whose lifetime accomplishments represent the late Mary Lou and Arthur F. Mahones multicultural, humanitarian and educational philosophy will be granted to two people this year: longtime human services champion Byron Wright and Kenosha Alderman Anthony Kennedy. Proceeds from the event will support the Mahone Funds Career Exploration Organization (CEO) mentoring program, which aids low-to-moderate-income youth in their pursuit of higher education by supporting college preparation, career planning and community service engagement activities. This program serves as a pipeline for the Mahone Fund Scholarship program. The scholarships provide access to education and the education creates the opportunity for students to excel in positions of leadership, said Ford, who is the current Mahone Fund Board chair. The chance for Mahone Fund Scholars to give back to the program is so important because it validates their dedication and hard work. It also shows all Mahone Fund Scholars, including those being honored this year, what is truly within their reach. In addition to their expanded emcee role at the gala, Mahone Fund Scholars will also serve as speakers, presenters and in other roles throughout the program. Its wonderful to see previous Mahone Scholars stepping up in a leadership role and giving back to our organization, said Katherine Marks, secretary of the Mahone Funds Board of Directors. After serving alongside Ardis Mahone-Mosley, Debbie Ford and Bryan Albrecht as emcees for many years, it is an honor to pass the baton to our younger generation. Helping young people build their character and leadership skills is what the Mahone Fund does. The opportunity to emcee this year's program is allowing them to spread their wings to fly and soar to higher heights. The May 9 gala will be held at Carthage Colleges Todd Wehr Center, with an hors d'oeuvres reception to begin at 5 p.m., followed by the program at 6:30. Individual tickets are $60 per person and may be purchased through the Mahone Fund website, at https://mahonefund.org. A limited number of tickets remain available. Those interested in sponsoring or donating to the event may visit the website. For additional information about the event, please call the Mahone Fund office at 262-661-5130 or send an email to chairman@mahonefund.org. UW-La Crosse accounting students are gaining invaluable experience they could never obtain from a textbook. Through UW-Ls Community Engaged Learning program, assistant professor Mehtap Eklunds cost accounting class offers financial guidance to Mid-City Steel, a La Crosse-based steel fabricator. The partnership allows students to discover and address accounting challenges that often arise in the real world but are difficult to simulate in the classroom. Accounting education is one of the scholarly fields heavily connected with professional life, Eklund explains. Community Engaged Learning enhances the educational experience for students by challenging them to solve real community issues while applying the knowledge gained in the classroom. During the spring semester, students toured Mid-City Steel to gain a deeper understanding of the companys needs and manufacturing processes. Paul Bagniefski, president of Mid-City Steel and a UW-L alum, shared background about the business as well as his passion for working in the steel industry. Once familiar with the company, the students analyzed data and developed an action plan for Mid-City Steels decision-making on key issues. This whole experiential learning project provides learning the students would not get in a typical classroom environment, Eklund says, echoing Accountancy Department Chair Will Maas. During typical student assignments, they get straightforward data and assumptions from a textbook and are told to find the correct answer, he says. Taking a tour of a company to understand the manufacturing processes and then working on actual data to make decisions requires a much more detailed analysis with many variables. Students said they enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the classroom and see how skills theyre developing on campus can help support a local business. I liked applying concepts from class to a real-world company and situation, says Katie Woletz, whos majoring in accountancy and finance. Adds accountancy major Andrew Stehr: The field trip put our learning into perspective, making me feel like what I was learning meant something. Bagniefski, who earned his bachelors degree in accountancy in 2006, says he was eager to partner with his alma mater to create opportunities for students. Higher education plays a key role in the La Crosse community, he notes, and partnerships like this can be mutually beneficial. Probably the biggest reason was to simply be involved in the students education, no matter how big or small, he says. Knowing we have positively impacted students in some way is extremely satisfying. Through the class, students developed UW-L Eagle Advantage competencies that are highly sought by employers. They also learned the importance of assisting in the community. This aligns with the mission of the Accountancy Department and the College of Business Administration, and was supported by Eklund, Maas, Community Engagement Coordinator Lisa Klein and CBA Dean TJ Brooks. Beyond the practical accounting experience, Eklund says it was inspirational for students to learn from someone who was once in their shoes, and who has gone on to find success professionally. In addition to the project details, Paul Bagniefski shared his amazing personal experiences in his professional life, which started as an accountancy student at UW-L, Eklund says. He emphasized the importance of having an accountancy degree from UW-L and getting a CPA in his successful career path. WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. Along with the weeks roll call votes, the Senate also passed: the Justice for Jana Elementary Act (S. 418), to provide financial assistance to schools impacted by radioactive contaminants; and a resolution (S. Res. 175), recognizing the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea. HOUSE VOTES House Vote 1 Relations with China: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 90), sponsored by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, to demand that Chinas government immediately release from prison Mark Swidan, a U.S. citizen whom China sentenced to death in 2012 after being convicted of drug trafficking charges. Cloud said Swidan has been severely mistreated while in prison, and that no drugs were ever found on Swidan or in his hotel room, and the prosecution did not produce any evidence tying him to the drugs. The vote, on April 25, was unanimous with 418 yeas. Yeas: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) House Vote 2 Middle East diplomacy: The House has passed a resolution (H. Res. 311), sponsored by Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Mo., to encourage Middle East countries to join the Abraham Accords for improving relations between Israel and neighboring countries. Wagner said: Israel is a force for peace and a beacon of democracy in a challenging region. At a time of heightened anti-Semitism across the globe, it is more important than ever that we maintain our strong connection to this very key ally. The vote, on April 25, was 401 yeas to 19 nays. Nays: Pocan D-WI (2nd) Yeas: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) House Vote 3 Emergency telecommunications: The House has passed the Advanced, Local Emergency Response Telecommunications Parity Act (H.R. 1353), sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio. The bill would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take measures to improve emergency communications services, such as 9-1-1 calls, in areas of the country that lack adequate services. Johnson said the bill would help ensure everyone has access to critical lifesaving emergency services regardless of where they live or travel. The vote, on April 26, was 422 yeas to 1 nay. Yeas: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) House Vote 4 Budget changes: The House has passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act (H.R. 2811), sponsored by Rep. Jodey C. Arrington, R-Texas. The bill would suspend the federal debt limit until spring 2024 and make numerous spending and policy changes, including rescinding unobligated funding for Covid and Internal Revenue Service programs, establishing work requirements for Medicaid and food stamp programs, and reducing subsidies for electric vehicles and energy efficiency and renewable energy. Arrington called the bills $4.8-trillion spending cut an important first step to getting our fiscal house in order and a good faith effort to bring the president to the negotiating table for budget talks. An opponent, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle, D-Pa., said the bill made risky cuts to public safety, health, and food programs, and represented reckless brinkmanship by raising doubts about whether the U.S. will pay its debt obligations. The vote, on April 26, was 217 yeas to 215 nays. Nays: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th) Yeas: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) House Vote 5 FCC and precision agriculture: The House has passed the Precision Agriculture Satellite Connectivity Act (H.R. 1339), sponsored by Rep. Robert E. Latta, R-Ohio, to require the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate potential changes to its rules governing the use of satellites to enable precision agriculture practices. Latta said of the benefit of such changes: Farmers use information in real time to make smarter decisions on how to optimize inputs and whether and when to plant or harvest. When terrestrial or cellular networks are not available, satellite broadband steps in to make these technologies work. The vote, on April 26, was 409 yeas to 11 nays. Yeas: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Tiffany R-WI (7th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) House Vote 6 Withdrawal from Somalia: The House has rejected a resolution (H. Con. Res. 30), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have ordered the removal of U.S. soldiers stationed in Somalia within 1 year. Gaetz said I have yet to see the evidence that U.S. troops are the essential element to fusing relationships among warring African warlords, clans, and tribes and succeed in stabilizing Somalia. An opponent, Rep. Richard McCormick, R-Ga., voiced concerns that if the U.S. military leaves Somalia, we will have an increase in terrorist activities and therefore an increased threat to U.S. security. The vote, on April 27, was 102 yeas to 321 nays. Yeas: Pocan D-WI (2nd), Tiffany R-WI (7th) Nays: Gallagher R-WI (8th), Moore (WI) D-WI (4th), Grothman R-WI (6th), Steil R-WI (1st), Fitzgerald R-WI (5th), Van Orden R-WI (3rd) SENATE VOTES Senate Vote 1 Veterans benefits: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Joshua David Jacobs to be the Veterans Affairs Departments Under Secretary for Benefits. Jacobs is currently a senior benefits management advisory official at the VA, and was in a similar role at the VA during the Obama administration. A supporter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said Jacobs experience at the VA shows his deep commitment to serving those who served our nation and why he is such a strong fit and trusted choice for this role. The vote, on April 26, was 74 yeas to 25 nays. Nays: Johnson R-WI Yeas: Baldwin D-WI Senate Vote 2 Regulating vehicle emissions: The Senate has passed a resolution (S.J. Res. 11), sponsored by Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., to disapprove of and void an Environmental Protection Agency rule limiting nitrogen oxide air emissions from heavy-duty engines. Fischer said: The technology required to meet this new rules standards will cost between approximately $2,500 and $8,500 per vehicle. This means that many truckers will choose to keep their old heavy-duty vehicles, which do have higher rates of emissions, instead of buying vehicles that are both affordable and more climate-conscious. A resolution opponent, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said: For the sake of clean air, for the sake of our environment, and for the sake of the health of all communities across the country, I urge you to oppose this repeal. The vote, on April 26, was 50 yeas to 49 nays. Yeas: Johnson R-WI Nays: Baldwin D-WI The E-CNY Industry Alliance (ECIA) announced the addition of 26 new members on April 28 at a digital RMB industry forum during the 6th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, Fujian province. Representatives of new members of the E-CNY Industry Alliance (ECIA) pose with their membership credential certificates during a digital RMB industry development forum at the 6th Digital China Summit in Fuzhou, Fujian province, April 28, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Newland Group] The ECIA, led by Newland Digital Technology Co. Ltd. and Huawei, originally comprised 37 members, including banks, high-tech giants, and colleges. Its mission is to promote the adoption and development of the digital RMB industry. The new members, consisting of one vice-chair entity, 15 director entities, and 10 member entities, encompass research institutions and enterprises involved in the industry chain. The expansion diversifies the alliance's membership to include a broader range of financial institutions, research organizations, central enterprises, state-owned enterprises, and private firms. The ECIA also announced it would set up a secretariat office in Macao. Wang Jing, CEO of Newland Group and the director-general of the alliance, stated that the digital RMB is essential for the high-quality development of the digital economy and the realization of Digital China. Wang emphasized the need for coordination among government departments and cooperation from industry stakeholders. She also emphasized the importance of expediting the establishment of an alliance think tank, facilitating the swift implementation of research findings, and leveraging the collective strengths of all industry stakeholders to explore innovative avenues, models, and markets for "digital RMB+." These efforts will contribute to serving the nation, society, and the broader population. During the sub-forum, government, industry, academia, and research representatives in the digital RMB field exchanged ideas and shared experiences. Wang Qinmin, former vice chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, underscored the importance of digital RMB for national financial infrastructure. He called for a people-centered approach, accelerating pilot applications, improved financial service mechanisms, and continuous top-level design improvements. Wang emphasized the need to utilize smart contracts to create an open-source ecosystem that encourages all parties to promote independent market activities. He said the objective must be to construct a digital RMB pilot application ecosystem and establish a receptive environment. Academician Kong Zhiyin of the Chinese Academy of Engineering underscored the importance of data security in the era of big data, adding that it is crucial to reconstruct the methodology of data security protection. Kong suggested utilizing blockchain as the underlying architecture and building a data value security exchange system, while implementing data security governance using a process-oriented approach. Additionally, he emphasized the need to continuously innovate data security technologies. The term "smart contracts" emerged as a prominent topic at the sub-forum. Li Jie, a chair professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, provided an analysis of how smart contracts can empower the high-quality development of the digital RMB industry. Song Yuqian, a senior expert from the preparation team of the digital currency company under the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), presented the comprehensive digital RMB smart contract platform that ICBC is developing. The platform is intended to empower financial innovation in digital government, enterprise management, and smart livelihoods. Zhang Xiaojun, Huawei's chief blockchain strategist and Huawei Cloud Blockchain Service CTO, explained how Huawei's products contribute to developing smart contract full-chain construction and create the infrastructure foundation for "digital RMB + smart contract." The 6th Digital China Summit held in Fuzhou on April 27-28 showcased various initiatives to encourage digital RMB adoption, including the distribution of digital RMB consumption coupons at scenic spots and the allocation of 15 million yuan ($2.2 million) in digital RMB subsidies for car purchases during a car promotion event. Banks with pilot programs also set up digital RMB displays and experience areas, providing interactive experiences for summit guests and visitors to enhance their understanding of digital RMB. WASHINGTON Over the past year, the U.S. Treasury Department used its sanctions powers to impose wide-ranging financial penalties to turn Russia into the most sanctioned country in the world in response to its invasion of Ukraine. Now, the federal agency is facing increasing pressure, including from legislation introduced this week 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 overdoses and deaths. "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 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 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 imposed sanctions on fentanyl producers and traffickers in recent years and as recently as this month issued sanctions on a group of Mexican and Chinese fentanyl distributors. However, 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. In his February State of the Union address, President Joe Biden outlined how his administration would crack down on trafficking. Since then, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has conducted historically large seizure operations, and Treasury and the Justice Department sanctioned and charged Mexican Sinaloa cartel members that use Chinese precursor chemicals to produce fentanyl. But critics say that's not enough. "When it comes to drug-trafficking, we haven't 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," he said, "why can't 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. How overdose deaths changed in every state during COVID-19 How overdose deaths changed in every state during the coronavirus #51. South Dakota #50. New Hampshire #49. New Jersey #48. Delaware #47. Massachusetts #46. Connecticut #45. Idaho #44. Iowa #43. Wyoming #42. North Dakota #41. Montana #40. Pennsylvania #39. Illinois #38. Michigan #37. Utah #36. Maryland #35. Hawaii #34. Wisconsin #33. Missouri #32. Oklahoma #31. Maine #30. Rhode Island #29. District of Columbia #28. Ohio #27. New Mexico #26. Florida #25. Arizona #24. New York #23. Kansas #22. Alabama #21. Indiana #20. Texas #19. Alaska #18. Oregon #17. Virginia #16. Colorado #15. Arkansas #14. Georgia #13. Washington #12. Nevada #11. North Carolina #10. Minnesota #9. Nebraska #8. California #7. South Carolina #6. Tennessee #5. Mississippi #4. Louisiana #3. Kentucky #2. West Virginia #1. Vermont 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. MADISON, Wis. (AP) A Democratic member of the commission that oversees Wisconsin elections plans to resign. Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Julie Glancey announced on Friday that she plans to step down on Monday. The 72-year-old Glancey, a former Sheboygan County clerk, was first appointed to the six-member bipartisan commission by then-Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, in 2016 to fill one of three Democratic seats. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers reappointed her to serve a five-year term ending in 2026. Glancey said in a statement that its time for her to make way for someone with a fresh perspective. Evers will appoint a successor from a list of Democrats who were former local government clerks to serve the remainder of Glanceys term. Glancey was a founding member of the elections commission after Walker and his fellow Republicans formed the agency in 2015 to replace the Government Accountability Board, a panel of retired judges that oversaw elections. Republicans dismantled the board after it launched an investigation into coordination between Walker's 2012 recall campaign and outside groups. Republicans who support Donald Trump's baseless conspiracy theories that Joe Biden somehow stole Wisconsin during the 2020 presidential election have heaped criticism on the elections commission in recent months. A recount and multiple court decisions have affirmed Biden's victory in the state and found no evidence of widespread fraud. An accidental purchase of a ticket to a glass-blowing class in Minneapolis changed Rose Colored Class owner Annie Grossarth-Nicols life. While Grossarth-Nicol was studying art at Minneapolis Community & Technical College in 2011, she was browsing Groupon for things to do on her birthday. After seeing a glass-blowing class at Potekglass, she put her phone in her pocket, went to class, and didnt realize she purchased a ticket until later that day. Rose Colored Glass Address: 279 E. Second St., Winona Hours: Retail and torch rental 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday Class schedule: RoseColoredGlassWinona.com Contact: 507-205-3128 or rosecoloredglasswinona@gmail.com After attending the bead-making class, she eventually applied for an internship and started teaching classes of her own. Eventually, Grossarth-Nicol opened her own educational studio in Winona: Rose Colored Glass. Im so grateful that I got exposed to glass work and it was a very faithful feeling the way everything lined up, Grossarth-Nicol said. It was really important to me since I have this skill and capability, to be able to facilitate this really unique learning experience for people. After leaving Minneapolis in 2015 and moving back to her home state of Oregon, Grossarth-Nicol said the 2020 pandemic helped push her and her husband to follow their passions. We were feeling dead-ended career-wise and decided to uproot and move out here to Winona, Grossarth-Nicol said. I love what Im doing so much. Its so rad and gratifying to be able to share this thing Im so passionate about and to have a positive impact on other peoples lives. Grossarth-Nicol started a basement studio in Winona before moving into Rose Colored Glasss 279 E. Second St. location in May 2022, where she teaches classes, facilitates open-torch sessions and makes art of her own. Rose Colored Glass offers both introductory-level and intermediate-level classes which require the completion of an intro class to attend. Classes are set up to be as accessible as possible, and children aged 9 and up can take a class with a parent or guardian. Glasswork is interesting because you have to constantly focus. Youre working with essentially lava in your hands and that can become very meditative as well as captivating, Grossarth-Nicol said. How cool to be taken outside of normal life, be caught up in the moment, be able to learn a really cool thing, be able to gain confidence working with a torch with high heat and molten materials, and feel successful at making something you can be proud of. With safety as the top priority at her studio, Grossarth-Nicol said students also learn about tools, materials, and the science behind glass art. Classes typically start with a smaller project, like a marble or a bead, then move on to more intermediate glass art, before having time at the end of class for students to play around and use their own creativity in making something. I really value what people take from their experience here, Grossarth-Nicol said. I really do feel like its kind of magical. Doing glass work is so unique and outside of the day-to-day for most people and working with a flame thats 3000 degrees is pretty intense. But theres more control in it than you realize. Grossarth-Nicol said developing class has been fun and she is continually working on making new ones. In some classes you can make glass leaves or mushrooms, Grossarth-Nicol even had Easter-themed classes where students made glass that looked like Peeps candies and is working on a Fathers Day class where students can make beaded fishing lures. Were definitely trying to keep things fresh and exciting. I got my standard classes but its fun to do specific projects, Grossarth-Nicol said. I have to find a balance between things that are cool and things that people can make and feel proud of. Communication skills, knowledge of school finance and commitment to the district's strategic plan are among the characteristics the Winona Area Public Schools Board is looking for in superintendent candidates. The board released its leadership profile for superintendent candidates Friday alongside a stakeholder survey for community members to provide input on what areas of expertise, skills and personal characteristics a superintendent should have along with opportunities for written responses. Respondents can fill out the anonymous survey until the May 7 deadline. Surveys in English and Spanish are available online on the district website and on paper copies in all district buildings. Stakeholder survey What: Survey to provide superintendent search input When: Open until midnight Sunday, May 7 Online: www.winonaschools.org/district/school-board/superintendent-search Paper survey: Available in all Winona Area Public Schools buildings "We found it a really good way for all voices to be elevated to the same volume," said Barb Dorn, director of leadership development and executive search with the Minnesota School Board Association, the organization facilitating the superintendent search. The organization will host a virtual question and answer session at 4 p.m. May 3, when the search process will be outlined for community members. Attendees can submit anonymous questions in advance or during the meeting. If you go What: Virtual Q&A session about superintendent search process When: 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 3 Link: www.winonaschools.org/district/school-board/superintendent-search The board's profile, featured on a vacancy brochure on the district's website, lists priorities including "acts with honesty and in an ethical manner," "delegates authority while maintaining accountability," "develops and directs an effective leadership team" and "executes the school board's chosen strategic plan." "Trust is really important, collaboration is important, making decisions is hugely important, and follow through on decisions that are made, so that we keep going in the direction we want to in our strategic plan," said board chair Nancy Denzer during Thursday's special board meeting. The board approved two additional screening questions on the application regarding building relationships with "multiple stakeholder groups" and forming a leadership plan to implement the district's strategic plan. "I have a part interest in knowing what their work has been around building leadership teams in the district," said Denzer. "I am really interested in a decision maker and someone who can carry out a plan." Board directors included language on diversity and different perspectives in the leadership profile and signaled questions regarding diversity, equity and inclusion will be asked during finalist interviews. "The words we need are diversity, equity and inclusion, we know that in our discussions in the committee it includes everything from special education to race relations," said board treasurer Karl Sonneman. "It's maybe too specific for a superintendent search at this stage." The board approved additional funding to advertise the superintendent opening on the National Alliance of Black School Educators, Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and National Indian Education Association job boards. During Thursday's meeting, directors discussed the importance of adding language regarding communication and building relationships with diverse groups. "The reestablishment of trust with our faculty, our teachers particularly, communication between the board, the administration and the staff, that was lacking when the superintendent arrived," said Sonneman. "We want to make sure the communications in all departments are united and the communication process we have right now only gets stronger than where we're at," said Stephanie Smith, director. The leadership profile also includes the characteristic "has knowledge of school finance." District staff are currently conducting an operational audit as part of the district's strategic plan. Voters this month rejected a $94 million referendum to fund classroom, building and extracurricular improvements. Denzer and Directors Jim Schul and Pete Watkins spoke directly about including school finance knowledge in the profile. "I read through the most recent audit report. It was noteworthy in that one of the shortcomings we have is our finance knowledge is really condensed into one person," said Watkins. "The idea that this person is having a good understanding of finance helps spread it out." The board opted to not include a statement on experience as a superintendent in the brochure. "That issue is very contextually bound. It depends on the situation of the candidate," said Schul. "We see candidates who are superintendent of such a small school, that's very different from a principal at a large city." The district is looking to replace outgoing superintendent Annette Freiheit, who announced earlier this month she would retire at the end of this school year after 4 years in the role. The board approved a search timeline at Tuesday's board meeting, aiming to approve the new superintendent's contract June 8. The district must fill the superintendent position by July 1. A local organization is hoping to offer a little sunshine for children with disabilities this summer. Representatives from Lakes Area LifeWay plan to offer the Sunshine Project, an eight-week summer camp for children with disabilities, beginning in June. The camp is scheduled to be held during the weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., June 12 through Aug. 11 at the Calvary Community Church, N2620 Harris Road in Lake Geneva. Campers have the option to attend all eight weeks or in three separate sessions; June 12 through June 30; July 10 through July 21; or July 24 through Aug. 11. "If they can only attend one or two sessions they can select that or they can do all three," Kelly Gerlitz, founder and CEO of Lakes Area LifeWay, said. The camp, which is for children between the ages of 4 and 11, is set to feature art and sensory activities, outdoor programs, music and movement activities, swimming and weekly themed programs. Meagan Lawson, camp director, said the goal of the program is to provide a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for children with disabilities. "We want this to be a fun summer experience that's built just for children with disabilities," Lawson said. "It's going to allow them to make the memories and friendships that are in your mind when you think of summer camp." Gerlitz said representatives from local businesses and organizations will visit the camp regularly to participate in activities with the children. "It allows our campers to experience the community and it allows our community members to experience children with disabilities and how to support them and highlight them in our community, as well," Gerlitz said. Erika Enoch, parent of a 6-year-old son with autism, said she is excited about the summer camp being offered. She said it has been difficult to find activities for her son, Hudson, because there are not many camps in the area for children with disabilities. "The last two summers I couldn't find anything for him, so we noticed high regression just with his autism," Enoch said. "No camps in this area would take him. There weren't really any recreational activities either. The YMCA said I would have to have an aide with him, which as a working parent it's difficult to do." Enoch said, besides providing activities for her son, the camp also will give her an opportunity to interact with other parents who have children with disabilities. "This is like a dream for a parent like me who has a child with special needs, just to bring the community together with special needs parents so we don't feel judged," Enoch said. "We have a safe place for our children to go. This is going to be a high-quality camp. We really built it to have amazing support." Camp staff The camp will be staffed with a director, four teachers, four assistant teachers, 12 aides, an occupational therapist, a speech pathologist and a nurse. "We really have a dream team of licensed and experienced teachers who are going to be running each camp group," Lawson said. "Then there's going to be teacher assistants in each group and support staff within each group that have experience working with children with disabilities." Lawson said they are also in need of volunteers to assist the camp staff. "We're definitely looking for volunteers and anybody else who might be interested in joining our team," Lawson said. "We definitely encourage them to reach out because we will need all the help we can get." Gerlitz said the staff has experience working with children. She said the camp will help parents know that their child will have a safe place to visit during the summer. "This would be providing such respite for parents and family members and at the same time be providing such an amazing experience for their children and to know that they would have somewhere that is safe, somewhere that his high quality," Gerlitz said. "They can leave and not have to worry or have any doubt that they can fully trust us and know that they are with the best of the best." A year in the making Gerlitz, Lawson and Enoch have been planning the summer camp program for about a year. Lawson said they have worked with Young Athletes-- a division of Special Olympics-- to help develop curriculum and activities for the program and with Katy's Kloset in Waukesha, which provides equipment and supplies for people with disabilities. Enoch said Hudson was the inspiration for her to be involved with the project. She said Lawson was her son's teacher at Central-Denison Elementary School, and she felt Lawson would be an ideal director for the camp because she works well with children. "He's kind of what brought this all together," Enoch said. "I wouldn't of have met Meagan if it wasn't for my son, and she was just an amazing teacher. If it wasn't for Hudson bringing us together who knows if this would have come together." The group has hosted several fundraisers including a "Lunch with Santa" event in December at the Treasury, 303 E. Walworth Ave. in Delavan, and a Valentine's Day pajama party in February at Magpies Den & Pen, 642 W. Main St. in Lake Geneva, to help raise initial funding for the camp. Gerlitz said they also spent about a year finding a location for the camp and feel Calvary Community Church is an ideal site. "We spent almost a year working and developing the programming," Gerlitz said. "We have a premiere location in Calvary Community Church in Lake Geneva. They have a renovated children's center with an elevator. There's tons of classrooms. It's just so beautiful." How to register Parents can register their children for the camp by visiting www.lakesarealifeway.org. The camp is open to the first 40 children who are registered, and the deadline is May 15. Gerlitz said funding is available through the Walworth County Children's Long Term Support program, which provides funding to families that have children with disabilities. "The CLTS funding has been huge for families within in our community," Gerlitz said. "So we highly recommend if you're looking for financial assistance go through CLTS." Lawson said a scholarship has been established in honor of her mother to help provide funding for children who want to attend the camp. "She was a woman who loved children. She owned a daycare center and worked so hard to give every child an opportunity," Lawson said of her mother. "She was a woman who knew financial struggles so to honor her we want to put this scholarship out there as an opportunity to allow a child who might not have access to CLTS funding but also does not have access to the funds needed to attend our camp." Future goals Gerlitz said Lakes Area LifeWay plans to make the Sunshine Project an annual program, and she hopes the organization will be able to offer recreational programs for people with disabilities throughout the year. "We feel like this is something the community needs and we're willing and ready to provide for it," Gerlitz said. For more information about the Sunshine Project or Lakes Area LifeWay visit www.lakesarelifeway.org. A science popularization exhibition on China's crewed space program and applications has been opened to the public for free at the China Science and Technology Museum in Beijing. It is the country's first science popularization exhibition on the theme of space science and applications. The exhibition area is about 2,000 square meters, including five sections, more than 10 theme scenes and more than 30 exhibition items. On display to the public for the first time are the original scientific experiment cabinet and Arabidopsis plants grown from seeds that were brought back from the space station. Through immersive, digital and other technologies, the exhibition provides interactive and immersive experiences, such as "Shenzhou Spacecraft" and "Moon Homeland." The exhibition is sponsored by the Technology and Engineering Center for Space Utilization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the China Science and Technology Museum. It is open to the public free of charge from April 29 to June 15. Flash Tourism facilities are expected to be upgraded in northern Laos' Luang Prabang in order to cater to the influx of visitors as the launch of China-Laos Railway cross-border passenger train service has brought more travelers to the famed tourist destination. Vice Governor of Luang Prabang province, Bounleuan Manivong, told reporters that the eponymous provincial capital is a magnet to visitors in the Southeast Asian country as well as those from abroad. To attract more visitors, provincial authorities are building more tourism-related facilities, and tourism operators have refurbished or upgraded popular tourist attractions and improved the hospitality services. Luang Prabang province recorded more than 273,000 visitors in the first three months of 2023, generating more than 157 million U.S. dollars in revenue. "Luang Prabang is a small charming town surrounded by rivers and mountains. I wish more people would travel to Luang Prabang, so that they can see its beauty," Bounmany Phomsy, a local vendor in the province, told Xinhua on Saturday. "The China-Laos Railway has made traveling to the province much easier. And I believe more Chinese tourists will come to Laos because they could travel by cross-border passenger trains." She added that taking the train is a fast, safe and comfortable way to travel. Since the inauguration of the China-Laos Railway in December 2021, many more people have flocked to Luang Prabang province. In the first 10 months of 2022, 335,794 tourists, accounting for 85.27 percent of the total, arrived in Luang Prabang by the train. "The China-Laos Railway has significantly bolstered passenger transportation, greatly facilitated travel and helped promote tourism in Laos since its launch. Because the train has shortened the travel time, visitors can spend much more time in touring," Tou Bounseng, a food vendor in Luang Prabang, told Xinhua. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of international tourists has dropped sharply due to travel restrictions. Fortunately, the launch of China-Laos Railway has helped revive the domestic tourism of Laos. Many people taking train to the town because it's fast and the ticket price is cheaper." The first group of more than 200 Chinese tourists arrived in Laos on April 13 after traveling on the first cross-border train operated by the China-Laos Railway. The cross-border passenger train service has been advertised internationally as part of integrated passenger transport services to promote tourism in Laos, which also highlights ASEAN countries' cooperation with China. Daophet Bouphaphanh, vice president of the Hotel and Guesthouse Association in Luang Prabang province, told reporters that the number of Chinese visitors has surged in the province, with room bookings expected to rise throughout 2023. The Chinese tourist arrivals have grown in Laos since China's resumption of outbound travels in February. As the China-Laos Railway serves as crucial tourism infrastructure, Lao authorities estimate that around 368,000 Chinese travelers will visit Laos this year, up 21 percent from last year. Luang Prabang province, some 220 km north of the Lao capital Vientiane, is one of the most well-known provinces in Laos and a top tourist destination because of its ancient temples and scenic rural landscapes. The Town of Luang Prabang was inscribed on the World Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in December 1994. The mountainous Luang Prabang province has 228 officially-designated tourist sites, of which 111 are nature-based, 78 are of cultural heritage, and 39 have historical buildings. Iranian officials have been shutting down businesses that they say violate the law requiring women to wear head covers called hijabs. Ali Akbar Javidan is the police commander of Kermanshah Province. He said the Public Places Supervision Department, along with other agencies, has begun enforcing the chastity and hijab plan." Javidan said 45 businesses were closed after ignoring warnings to follow the hijab law. Iran recently launched a new surveillance program for enforcing that law. Many women in Iran have publicly opposed the law since the death last September of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman died while in police detention. She had been arrested for not wearing the head cover. Her death led to nationwide protests. Security forces violently suppressed the demonstrations. A report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency in early January found that 516 protesters have been killed, including 70 children. The U.S.-based group said about 19,200 people also were arrested, including almost 700 students. Homayoun Katouzian is an Iranian studies professor at Oxford University. He criticized Iran's law requiring the hijab in an interview with VOA. "When prayer and fasting are not compulsory, and there is no crime for not doing them, why should the hijab be compulsory?" Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi has threatened those who do not follow the law with "deprivation of public services." The minister formerly served as commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Im Caty Weaver. Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by the VOA Persian Service. _______________________________________ Words in This Story mandatory adj. required by a law or rule chastity n. the state of being morally pure or decent surveillance n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime compulsory adj. required by a law or rule deprivation n. the state of not having something that people need In 1961, President John F. Kennedy ordered businesses working for the U.S. government to treat workers and people applying for jobs without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. He said the businesses should take affirmative action to make this happen. It was really a recognition that African Americans were excluded from the American dream for many years, said Natasha Warikoo, a sociology professor at Tufts University in Massachusetts. She added that elite colleges in the United States also wanted to increase the percentage of African Americans and other minorities attending their schools. And then taking into account race in the admissions process grew, she said. Today, affirmative action refers to policies designed to increase representation of minorities and women in jobs and in higher education. Katharine Meyer is with the Brookings Institution, a policy group in Washington, DC. She said affirmative action in higher education has two goals: The first is to increase the diversity of student populations so that students may learn from more points of view. The second is to give chances to those students who grew up in areas with poor schools and fewer educational resources. Sixty years later, Americans disagree about affirmative action. Courts have issued rulings on affirmative action. They continue to do so. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering two cases arguing that affirmative action discriminates against Asian American students. The justices could ban colleges from admitting students based on their race. Mike Gonzalez is with the Heritage Foundation, another policy group in Washington. He supports ending affirmative action. It really violates all of our ideals, he said. We're a multiethnic country where it's very important that government, or even the private sector, do not use race to pick and choose who rises and who doesn't rise. And getting into a school is one of the most important rungs in the ladder of success. Nine states have banned affirmative action based on race. The states include California, Washington, Florida, Michigan and Nebraska. Arizona, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Idaho also ban the policy. A study from 2014 aimed to follow an affirmative action ban in a group of states from 1992 to 2004. The study found that its measures of affirmative action decreased by several percentage points in states that banned affirmative action. Some colleges in those states now use other methods like admitting students in the top 10 percent of their high school's graduating class. But Warikoo said there is no way to choose the very best students. She said this is because not everyone agrees on what qualities and qualifications best students should have. Do we want to have a higher education system that is accessible to people regardless of their class backgrounds or their racial background? she asked. Gonzales said there are qualities that do not include race or ethnicity that colleges should look for in students. These may include how much students give to charity, what activities they do, and how much leadership they show. Race or category or national background is an awful way to make any choice by government or by the private sector. It should be so obvious to everybody that I don't even understand why I have to explain this, he said. However, Warikoo worries about possible long-term effects of the Supreme Court ruling against admitting students to schools largely because of their race. I don't want to be dramatic, but I think it undermines our democracy, she said. She said that Americans believe education gives people a way to have success and a good life. But, she added, it is a problem if student populations in higher education do not have the same representation as high school students in the US. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the future of race-based admissions by June. Im Andrew Smith. And Im Caty Weaver. Dora Mekouar wrote this story for Voice of America. Andrew Smith adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - US High Court to Reconsider Affirmative Action Policies at Colleges Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story creed -n. a set of beliefs or principles that strongly affect the way people live origin -n. that from which a person or thing has its very beginnings; the root or primary beginning exclude -v. to not allow inclusion of someone or something into a group or category elite -adj. available to only a small set of people and/or showing unusually high levels of performance taking into account -v. (phrasal) to consider or include in one's thinking points of view -n. mental attitudes, opinions, or perspectives particular to each person or persons sector -n. an area or category rungs in the ladder -n. (idiomatic) the steps in a process which help progression towards achievement of some goal or task accessible -adj. easily reached or obtained regardless -adv. without taking into consideration charity -n. the act of giving money to people or organizations in need awful -adj. very bad obvious -adj. easily seen, noticed, or understood undermine -v. weaken ________________________________________________________________ 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. SUDAN CAIRO Gunfire and heavy artillery fire persisted Saturday in parts of Sudan's capital, Khartoum, residents said, despite the extension of a cease-fi re between the country's two top generals, whose battle for power has killed hundreds and sent thousands fleeing for their lives. With ordinary Sudanese caught in the crossfire, the civilian death toll jumped Saturday to 411 people, according to the Sudan Doctors' Syndicate, which monitors casualties. In some areas in and around the capital, residents reported that shops were reopening and normalcy gradually returning as the scale of fighting dwindled after the shaky truce. In other areas, terrified residents reported explosions thundering around them and fighters ransacking houses. Now in its third week, the fighting wounded 2,023 civilians, the syndicate added, although the true toll is expected to be much higher. The Sudanese Health Ministry put the overall death toll, including fighters, at 528, with 4,500 wounded. In the city of Genena, the provincial capital of war-ravaged West Darfur, intensified violence has killed 89 people, the Doctors' Syndicate said. Hundreds of Americans fleeing the fighting in Sudan reached the country's port Saturday in the first U.S.-run evacuation, completing a dangerous land journey under escort of armed drones. American unmanned aircraft, which have been keeping an eye on overland evacuation routes for days, provided armed overwatch for a bus convoy carrying 200 to 300 Americans over 500 miles to Port Sudan, a place of relative safety, U.S. officials said. The U.S., which had no officials on the ground for the evacuation, was criticized by families of Americans trapped in Sudan for initially ruling out any U.S.-run evacuation for those among the estimated 16,000 U.S. citizens who wish to leave the east African nation. U.S. special operations troops flew to Khartoumon April 22 to airlift staffers at the U.S. Embassy and other American government personnel. More than a dozen other nations carried out evacuations for their citizens, using a mix of military planes, navy vessels and on-the-ground personnel. Khartoum, a city of some 5 million people, has been transformed into a front line in the grinding conflict between Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan, the commander of Sudan's military, and Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo,who leads the powerful paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces. The outbreak of violence dashed once-euphoric hopes for a democratic transition in Sudan after a popular uprising helped oust former dictator Omar al-Bashir. Other countries continued to evacuate their citizens while hundreds of thousands of Sudanese fled across borders. Britain was ending its evacuation flights Saturday, after demand for spots on the planes declined. The United Arab Emirates announced Saturday it started evacuating its own citizens along with nationals of 16 other countries. Refugees flee Over 50,000 Sudanese refugees mostly women and children crossed over to Chad, Egypt, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, the United Nations said, raising fears of regional instability. Ethnic fighting and turmoil scarred South Sudan and the Central African Republic for years while a 2021 coup derailed Chad's own democratic transition. Those who escape the fighting in Khartoum face more dangers on their way to safety. The route to Port Sudan, where ships evacuate people via the Red Sea, has proven long, exhausting and risky. Hatim el-Madani, a former journalist, said paramilitary fighters were stopping refugees at roadblocks, demanding they hand over their phones and valuables. "There's an outlaw, bandit-like nature to the RSF," he said, referring to Dagalo's Rapid Support Forces. "They don't have a supply line in place. That could get worse in the coming days." Airlifts from the country amid the chaotic fighting also posed challenges,with a Turkish evacuation plane even hit by gunfire outside Khartoum on Friday. On Saturday despite a cease-fire extended under heavy international pressure early Friday clashes continued around the presidential palace, headquarters of the state broadcaster and a military base in Khartoum, residents said. The battles sent thick columns of black smoke billowing over the city skyline. In other areas, residents reported signs that the cease-fire had taken hold. "We are not hearing the bombs as we did before, so we're hoping that this means they will go back to a political process," said Osman Mirgany, a columnist and editor of the daily al-Tayar, who assessed it was safe enough Friday to return home to Khartoum after seeking refuge in a far-flung village. Close quarters Khartoum residents are forced to live side by side with armed fighters. Many RSF militants moved into civilian homes and took over stores and hospitals in the capital. The paramilitary group transformed Mirgany's newsroom into a makeshift base, he said. Residents also must cope without sufficient electricity and running water, among other basic supplies. "For the past 14 days we've suffered from a lack of everything," Mirgany said. Residents in the city of Omdurman,west of Khartoum, have been waiting at least three days to get fuel complicating their escape plans. The U.N. relief coordinator,Martin Griffiths, said that U.N. offices in Khartoum, as well as the cities of Genena and Nyala in Darfur, had been attacked and looted. Genena's main hospital was leveled in the fighting, Sudan's health ministry said. "This is unacceptable and prohibited under international law," Griffiths said. LA CROSSE High water in the La Crosse region is expected to recede slowly over the next couple weeks after historic flooding on the Mississippi River and its tributaries. The Mississippi in La Crosse reached a crest of 15.9 feet Thursday morning,making it the third-highest flood on record. Winona flooding crested Wednesday at 18.8 feet, the fourth-highest on record. Mike Welvaert, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service North Central River Forecast Center, said that the remaining snowpack and some water backed up in the tributaries will extend the time it takes for the high water to recede. "A slow recession is expected," Welvaert said. "High water will linger well into May, and future rainfall may keep water levels high." The forecast for early May shows minimal precipitation, which Welvaert said is a good sign for lowering water levels with the caveat that weather predictions are ever-changing. Welvaert also noted that a historic snowpack in the northern Mississippi River basin was the leading cause for this flood event. La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds said he thinks the city "has done very well in handling the highwater"and that this has been a"much better response"than the recent events of 2019 and 2001. "Significant" improvements to four storm water lift stations around La Crosse is one of the biggest factors that has led to the improved response, Reynolds said. A24-hour levee watch has been active in both La Crosse and Winona since flooding reached the major stage. Reynolds did note that damage has been done to some parks and infrastructure and that it will take a couple weeks for the water to recede before damage can be assessed and repairs can begin. Officials from Gundersen Health System and Mayo Clinic Health System have advised the community on how to take personal precautions when cleaning up from flood events. Because flood water can be contaminated, items in indoor environments that have been wet for 48 to 72 hours should be removed and discarded. Discard foods that have come in contact with floodwater that are prepackaged in paper, boxes, glass jars with screw tops or other non water proof packages. Commercially canned foods are safe if labels are removed. Tetanus boosters will be available at Gundersen for patients coming in for injury evaluation. As floodwaters recede, Dr. Michael Bassett, a family medicine physician at Mayo, recommends people keep a lookout for mold, which can lead to other health concerns. "People who are sensitive to mold may experience a stuffy nose, irritated eyes, wheezing or skin irritation," Bassett said. "To protect your lungs against mold, wear a mask while you're in an area that has mold growth. "When the waters recede,clean up and dry out the building quickly within 24 to48hours.Opendoors and windows. Use fans to dry out the building. To clean moldy surfaces,make sure to wear gloves to protect your hands and use a mixture of 1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water when cleaning." Madison Police have released a preliminary accounting of the Mifflin Street Block Party, an annual event of often-drunken revelry that college students hold to celebrate the end of the academic year. As of 6 p.m. Saturday, police said they had given out 44 citations, all alcohol-related and most related to underage drinking and having open containers where they're not allowed. Three people had been taken to the Dane County jail. Police also said they recovered a stolen gun in one of the party-goer's backpacks, but they did not say if the gun was loaded. City and UW-Madison officials have been trying to limit, or even eliminate, the annual party, which habitually involves a lot of drinking. Having failed thus far to eliminate the revelry, police this year urged college students and landlords to at least be safe. Last year, three revelers were hurt in a balcony collapse. This week, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said 200 officers were expected on West Mifflin Street Saturday, paying special attention to elevated structures and to people who may be jumping around on them. Photos: Mifflin Street Block Party Madison just selected a South Side alderman by drawing his name out of a bag. That might sound random. But it was necessary to break a tie vote, as state law requires. And it proves the old saying is true every vote counts. It also highlights how divided many Madisonians are on the future of their city, particularly over how it should grow. The two candidates in this race were from different generations and backgrounds, and they disagreed on housing, transit and more. The mayor and City Council will need to weigh those divergent views carefully and seek consensus as they lead the city forward. Noah Lieberman was the unofficial winner in District 14 on April 4 by only two votes: 1,384 to 1,382. Three days later, his winning margin shrank to a single vote when a previously uncounted provisional ballot (one cast by someone who didnt have the proper documentation on Election Day but subsequently provided it within a few days) favored his opponent, Isadore Knox. Knox then asked for a recount, which resulted in a tie, with each contender collecting 1,384. That means if any of Knoxs supporters had voted differently or skipped the election it would have changed the outcome. And if Lieberman had drawn just one more supporter to the polls, he would have won. Both candidates had a lot of opportunity to pick up more votes because District 14 had the lowest turnout in the city. Only around 25% of District 14s more than 11,000 eligible voters cast ballots, compared to other city districts with twice as much turnout. Congratulations to Knox, whom the State Journal editorial board had endorsed for his experience, collegiality and priorities. We also met with Lieberman and liked him, too. These two candidates contrasted in many ways. OUR VIEW: Goodbye, coal plants; hello, solar OUR VIEW: Wisconsin is making progress on clean energy, but we have to move faster Knox, 67, is Black and worked as a manager for the state and county, encouraging equal opportunities. He has lived on the South Side for three decades and previously served on the City Council. He is skeptical of denser, taller apartment buildings along South Park Street, though hes open to them Downtown. He wants to encourage home ownership and condos to build wealth, supports body cameras on patrol officers, and is excited about turning State Street into a pedestrian mall. He isnt a fan of gentrification. Lieberman, 28, is white and relatively new to the South Side. He works for Epic Systems, the giant health information company in Verona that has drawn technology workers from across the country many of whom enjoy living in or near Downtown. Lieberman is part of the rapid growth and change coming to all of Madison and the region. He has a point that this influx of creative people deserves some representation. He sounded more supportive of denser development and the mayors plans for bus rapid transit. Those residents who actually voted on April 4 had an impact on their community by picking one candidate or the other. And those who didnt vote, well, they shouldnt complain about City Hall in the coming year. If they didnt cast ballots, they missed a great chance to influence local decisions. A lot of people seem to think that state and national elections are most important. But its your local officials who have the most influence over your streets, parks, schools and community. So congratulations to the 2,768 good citizens who had their say on Madisons South Side on April 4. Even if your candidate didnt win after a name was drawn out of a bag to break the tie, it was your vote the very one you cast that made that random drawing necessary. Democracy requires some work and involvement. Remember that next spring when city, county, school and judicial candidates seek your support. Each and every vote counts. HEALTH CARE | ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES Each week, the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton sees 15 to 20 patients with little or no insurance, treating them for high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression and other medical concerns. Tina DeGroot, a clinical nurse specialist who heads up the clinic, is worried about what will happen when the medical director, Dr. Joyce Brehm, who is in her 70s, retires. Under Wisconsin law, advanced practice nurses like DeGroot must work under collaborative agreements with doctors. DeGroot said she has had a hard time finding other doctors willing to volunteer at the clinic. "If (Brehm) leaves, we cannot operate the free clinic," DeGroot said. "If this law was not in place, we could continue to do our work." A bill before the state Legislature would let advanced practice nurses work independently, adding Wisconsin to the list of 27 states including Minnesota and Iowa that have what is known as "full practice authority." With doctor shortages in some areas and patients facing long waits for some types of care, advanced practice nurses can expand access to "safe, high-quality care with equivalent outcomes to their physician counterparts," according to the Wisconsin Nurses Association. The Wisconsin Medical Society and other doctor groups oppose the measure. But the medical society supports a version in Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' proposed budget that includes a few restrictions. They include requiring advanced practice nurses to work with doctors two more years before becoming independent and making advanced practice nurses who operate pain clinics apart from hospitals collaborate with pain medicine doctors. "If we're going to go down this path, we want to make sure we do it with our eyes wide open and wisely," said Mark Grapentine, chief policy and advocacy officer for the medical society. "Patients are paying a lot of money for their health care, and they deserve to get high-quality care for that money." Evers last year vetoed a bill that didn't include the restrictions, saying he opposed allowing advanced nurse practices "functionally equivalent to those of physicians or potentially omitting physicians from a patient's care altogether." Peter Kallio, chair of the state Board of Nursing, resigned in protest, telling Evers that "you and your administration know very little about the day-to-day work of advanced practices (sic) nurses in Wisconsin." A public hearing on the new bill before the Senate Health Committee has been tentatively scheduled and canceled at least twice in recent weeks, and it's not clear when a hearing might occur. Authors include Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point; Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Appleton, an advanced practice nurse; and Rep. Gae Magnafici, R-Dresser, a nurse. Sen. Kelda Roys of Madison is the sole Democratic author. Among 38 bill co-sponsors, Roys and Sen. Lena Taylor of Milwaukee are the only Democrats. "This bill will increase access to under served communities throughout the state and help address Wisconsin's shameful racial disparities," Roys said in a statement. 8,000 in state About 8,000 of Wisconsin's 94,000 registered nurses have advanced degrees, working as nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists or certified nurse midwives, according to the nurses association. Currently, many of them can be certified as advanced practice nurse prescribers of medications. The bill would replace that designation with a new license for advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs. Once such nurses work 3,840 clinical hours under the supervision of a doctor, or roughly two years, they could practice independently. Gina Bryan, a psychiatric advanced practice nurse who treats patients with addiction and mental illness at Monona-based Tellurian, said the bill would improve addiction treatment by increasing the number of providers, especially in rural areas, able to prescribe addiction medications such as Suboxone. Currently, Bryan is reluctant to start some addiction patients on Suboxone because she knows they'll be returning to parts of the state with no Suboxone providers. "You wouldn't start somebody on an opioid product that they can't get once they leave " she said. As a clinical professor at the UW-Madison School of Nursing, Bryan said she also sees many parts of the state struggle to attract psychiatric advanced practice nurse graduates, who go instead to Minnesota or Iowa, where they can work independently. "Why would our students stay here and practice?" she said. Bunmi Kumapayi, a UW Health nurse practitioner who has treated urologic conditions for more than 20 years, said the doctor she collaborates with allows her to work largely independently. But for many newer advanced practice nurses around the state, that is not the case, she said. Kumapayi does physical assessments, diagnoses diseases, prescribes medications, orders and interprets diagnostic tests and educates patients before and after surgeries, to try to minimize complications. "Those are things that our surgeons don't have time to do," she said. "The things that I am able to do, I want other upcoming APRNs to be able to do." Cautionary notes During a hearing in 2021 on the previous bill, Dr. Barb Meinecke, an anesthesiologist at Children's Wisconsin hospital near Milwaukee, said a nurse practitioner failed to note that a 6 -month- old child scheduled for an elective circumcision had lung surgery seven weeks earlier. The lung had not healed enough to tolerate another surgery, Meinecke said. In another case, during surgery, a patient developed a rare, severe reaction to anesthesia, known as malignant hyperthermia. In response, a nurse anesthetist increased the amount of an anesthesia drug, when the drug should have been stopped, Meinecke said. "I cannot stress this enough: Without physician supervision and intervention, this otherwise healthy, 28-year-old patient would have died," she said. Evers' budget bill would require two years of nursing work in a clinical setting, in addition to two years of advanced practice nursing work with a doctor, to qualify for independent practice. The bill before the Legislature would still require advanced practice nurses who run pain clinics outside of hospitals to collaborate with a doctor. The version in Evers' budget says the doctor must specialize in pain management. More bumps Another clause in Evers' version, which Grapentine said is also necessary to gain medical society support, protects specialty titles for doctors, such as "anesthesiologist." In the Legislature, a separate bill would do the same. Two years ago, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists changed its name to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and encouraged members to refer to themselves as nurse anesthesiologists. Grapentine said that is misleading. Jenna Palzkill, president of the Wisconsin Association of Nurse Anesthetists, said many younger providers believe "nurse anesthesiologist" better reflects the extent of their training. "We're not trying to say that we're doctors," she said. "The goal is to say we're an expert and have received additional training in the field of anesthesia." Palzkill's group is opposed to requiring advanced practice nurses at pain clinics to collaborate with pain specialists instead of any doctor. In rural areas, it's hard to find pain specialist doctors, she said. DeGroot, who works as a cardiology nurse specialist at Stough-ton Hospital in addition to her role at the free clinic, said that with or without the current law she would consult doctors for help when needed. Requiring a collaborative agreement with a doctor is an unnecessary hurdle that prevents advance practice nurses from expanding access to care, she said. "If I'm in over my head, I'm going to call my colleagues at the ER, or I'm going to call the cardiologist," she said. "We are peers; we are partners." BOISE The sister of a woman killed in what prosecutors say was a doomsday-focused plot told jurors Friday that her sisters funeral was held so quickly that some family members couldnt attend and that she was devastated when she learned her former brother-in-law remarried just a few weeks later. You dont get married four weeks after you just buried your wife of almost 30 years you just dont do that, Samantha Gwilliam said, explaining that she later learned that Lori Vallow Daybell married Gwilliams former brother-in-law, Chad Daybell, just two weeks after Gwilliams sister Tammy Daybell died. The testimony came in the triple murder trial of Vallow Daybell, who is accused along with Chad Daybell in Tammy Daybells death and the deaths of her own two youngest children, Joshua JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Idaho prosecutors say the couple espoused strange doomsday-focused beliefs involving demonic possession and zombies to further their plan to kill the kids and Chad Daybells previous wife and to collect life insurance and survivor benefits. Both have pleaded not guilty to murder, conspiracy and grand theft charges, and they are being tried separately. Daybells trial is still months away. Vallow Daybell has also been charged in Arizona in connection with the the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. He was shot and killed by Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, outside of his Phoenix-area home in July 2019. Cox told police the shooting was in self-defense and was never charged in the case. He died of natural causes later that year. Vallow Daybell has not yet had the opportunity to enter a plea in the Arizona case. Tammy Daybell died Oct. 19, 2019, of what was originally reported as natural causes. Emergency dispatchers and first responders described how Chad Daybell appeared distraught when he reported Tammy Daybells death, telling authorities that hed woken to find his wifes body hanging halfway off of their bed after shed spent part of the night coughing and vomiting. Cammy Willmore, an EMT who was a deputy coroner for Fremont County at the time, responded to the scene. She said she was concerned because Tammy Daybell was just 49 and also had quite a bit of foamy pink sputum coming from her mouth. Willmore said that seemed odd but she didnt see any unusual bruises. Fremont County Coroner Brenda Dye also went to the home and discussed the possibility of doing an autopsy with Willmore, the deputy coroner said. Chad Daybell declined the procedure. He told the coroner that the 49-year-old school librarian had recently had fainting episodes and low blood pressure and that she sometimes had leg convulsions or seizures, Dye said. Based in part on that information, she determined Tammy Daybell had died of natural causes. Authorities later grew suspicious and had the body exhumed for an autopsy, which determined Tammy Daybell died of asphyxiation. Gwilliam told jurors that her sister was fit she took a clogging class and was training for a running race and that shed never heard her complain of any seizures or fainting episodes. Chad Daybell scheduled the funeral for just three days after her sisters death, so soon that some family members couldnt attend, Gwilliam said. She said she was devastated when she learned Chad Daybell remarried just a couple of weeks after Tammy died. She said he told her that he and his new wife connected because they were both grieving over deceased spouses. Chad Daybell said his new wifes name was Lori Ryan and that her previous husband had died of a heart attack. He also said they were both empty nesters with no young kids at home, Gwilliam told the jury. Gwilliam said she later found out the new wife was also associated with the last name Vallow and did an internet search. Thats when she realized Charles Vallow had been shot to death. An online comment under Vallows obituary also mentioned two kids and that was the first time Gwilliam heard anything about Vallow Daybells son and daughter, she told the jury. Eventually, the last conversation I had with Chad was in December, Gwilliam told the jury. It was just to ask him to stop lying about what was going on. The two children were last seen alive that September. At the time, JJ was just 7 and Tylee was a few days short of her 17th birthday. Their bodies were found the following June, buried in Chad Daybells yard. Earlier in the trial, former friends of Vallow Daybell told jurors about the couples purported spiritual beliefs, which included the idea that evil spirits could take over a persons body, forcing the persons soul out and turning them into a zombie. The only way to get rid of the evil spirit was to kill the body, former friend Melanie Gibb told jurors. Vallow Daybell called JJ and Tylee zombies several times before they died, Gibb told investigators. Buhl High School seeks artists for its automotive art show Buhl High School will be hosting an Auto Art Show on May 16 from 5 to 9 p.m. in its cafeteria. The theme of the show, dedicated to auto-tech teacher Brad Lancaster who died in February, is all things auto related. Original artwork can be entered by anyone, and artists have the option to sell their work with all monies going to the BHS Auto Tech Program. Guidelines and entry forms can be picked up, and art can be dropped off at each Buhl school building before 3:30 p.m. May 15. Any work that is not sold or donated will be returned to the artist. Guidelines and entry forms can be found at buhlschools.org Art must connect to the auto world: Cars, trucks, road and off-road vehicles, engine parts, vehicle parts, etc. Entries can be in any media drawing, painting, collage, printed digital art, printed photographs, pottery, sculpture, mixed media, etc. and must be family-friendlyi. Kimberly Pops Concert May 8 The Kimberly High School Music Department Spring Pops Concert is at 7 p.m. May 8. The concert will be held in the LA Thomas Building. Buhl High School Cinco de Mayo week events set Cinco de Mayo week starts Monday. Thirty members of the Future Hispanic Leaders of America club at Buhl High School have organized a Hispanic cultural spirit week culminating on Cinco de Mayo. A schedule of events have been planned, culminating in a school assembly on Friday featuring folk dancing and a concert featuring three Caldwell students. Librarian Danielle Chavez is the advisor to the Future Hispanic Leaders of America group at BHS. Chavez told the Times-News in an email that the goal of the event is to celebrate hispanic culture. The goal is to highlight the diverse cultural experience of our school since our demographic is between 35-36% hispanic/latino, Chavez told the Times-News in an email. Planned events include dress up days, daily snack sales at the school that reflect Hispanic cuisine, a taco truck will be at City Park during lunch time for Taco Tuesday. Students will also hold a school-wide Mexican bingo (loteria in Spanish) competition, and the weeks events will culminate with an assembly on Friday featuring games and a traditional Folklorico dance performance from club members, followed by music from the student group Nuevo Generacion from Caldwell. We dont make a habit of following along with meetings in Coeur dAlene. Its clear at the other end of the state, after all. In a different time zone. The drive from Twin Falls is longer than to Billings, Montana, or St. George, Utah. But, lately, weve been tracking multiple meetings there including two this week alone. Why? Because they scare us. We understand if you havent been paying attention to whats happening at North Idaho College, one of the original building blocks of higher education in this state that, 90 years after its founding, appears dangerously close to falling in on itself. The colleges accreditation is hanging by a thread and, without it, NIC would become little more than a collection of buildings on the shore of a picturesque lake at the headwaters of the Spokane River. A school by name only, stripped of its standing as an institution that meets the U.S. Department of Educations acceptable levels of quality and rendered unable to accommodate its students. Theyd be ineligible for even a penny of federal financial aid. Their credits wouldnt be accepted for transfer to another school. Theyd be unable to gain recognized professional licensure through any program. Which, it seems, is the goal of those who have commandeered the NIC trustees board. But more on that later. Quote What scares us is that if this can happen at North Idaho College, the most entrenched two-year college in the state, dating to 1933, it could happen at our College of Southern Idaho. What happened this week only further moved things sideways in Coeur d Alene. A Monday night meeting in the Kootenai County Administration Building was often interrupted by cheers and jeers from a crowd that the Coeur dAlene Press estimated at about 100 people or so, and Spokane Public Radio reported confusion over the meeting agenda and procedures by trustees. Theres a vulgar slang word that would be apt to describe it all, but we cant print it in the newspaper. It starts with an s and ends with show. A sampling: The board argued over a 173-page report from the colleges attorney , Art Macomber, in which he recommended nullifying the contract of NIC President Nick Swayne, citing an alleged violation of open meetings law. There was a failed attempt to censure one trustee who labeled Macombers report as an unhinged analysis prepared at college expense that sounds like a roadmap for a coup. Another board member repeatedly sought to pass a motion that would require his personal approval for the college president to fill certain campus positions, prompting more disorder before he finally relented. At one point, The Press reported that a woman, likely a college employee, stood in the audience and emotionally pleaded, These are our jobs! These are our jobs and our livelihoods! There were multiple other outbursts that necessitated recesses to attempt to restore order. Yet, still, the board voted 3-2 to follow Macombers advice and void Swaynes contract, though the board cant legally remove him while his lawsuit seeking permanent reinstatement is pending. A lawsuit? We told you it was messy. Swayne filed suit in December, shortly after trustees, again on Macombers recommendation, voted by the same margin to indefinitely suspend him, and a judge in March ordered the college to reinstate Swayne to his position. So, even after voting to nullify Swaynes contract, the trustees had no recourse but to allow him to continue as president. There was more drama two nights later. The board voted 3-2 to hire new legal counsel, replacing Macomber with a Boise-based attorney recommended by, get this, Swayne, the president who trustees want to kick out of office. Board member Greg McKenzie, who had sided with Todd Banducci and Mike Waggoner in previous votes to oust Swayne, instead voted with Brad Corkill and Tarie Zimmerman. Its hard to find a lawyer at the recommendation of an individual who is also suing you, McKenzie was quoted by the Press. But Im going to extend trust that Dr. Swayne is doing the best for the college. Banducci, who had secretly orchestrated Macombers hiring in December, arriving at a special meeting with a resolution to hire him on the spot, The Press reported, objected but for naught. OUR VIEW: What the Times-News Editorial Board has said in 2023 The voice of Twin Falls and the Magic Valley: Here's what the Times-News Editorial Board has said in 2023. In a Friday editorial, The Press commended McKenzie for pushing back against Banducci, whom they described as an unabashed bully, and concluded, If NIC has a chance in hell to ward off the loss of accreditation that appeared 100% certain just a couple days ago, it will take consistent, constructive leadership like Greg McKenzie displayed Wednesday night. And at this point, even a 1% chance of college survival is a monumental improvement. All this, and youre probably still wondering: How did we get here? The short answer, because wed otherwise be writing into next week: Extreme conservatives gained power on the board whether through voter apathy or bullying, or both and started swinging a steel chair. Their goal? What else could it be but complete and total control? For what end? Thats something probably only they know. What scares us is that if this can happen at North Idaho College, the most entrenched two-year school in the state, dating to 1933, it could happen at our College of Southern Idaho. And dont think theres not already a move afoot. The College of Western Idaho narrowly avoided a takeover attempt in the November election, staged by politically motivated candidates seeking to follow the lead of the hyper-partisan bunch at NIC. This week, as CSI wrapped up its slate of activities to celebrate Community College Month, the school hosted a lecture on its simple beginnings in Twin Falls and its ambitious hopes for the future. History Professor Emeritus Jim Gentry, who taught from 1969 to 2010, talked about CSIs role over the years in education, workforce development and community service from finding creative solutions for local challenges such as geothermal heating, to the creation of the CSI Foundation in 1984 to offset an anti-tax movement at the time, to sharpening cooperation between businesses and colleges. Whats ahead for CSI? Provost Todd Schwarz laid out about two dozen possibilities, ranging from the schools first female president to the construction of new buildings, the addition of new baccalaureate programs to the consolidation of the states community college system, the introduction of AI tools to blockchain technology. He ended with this dark scenario, some years into the future: In a surprising CSI trustee election with extremely low voter turnout, two incumbents will lose their seats to candidates promoted by a well-organized fringe group. In addition, a third vacated seat will be filled by a member of the same fringe group. As a consequence, the leadership of the board of trustees shifts to a majority represented by the new board members who quickly seize control. The president is summarily dismissed without cause and the assistant soccer coach, a close friend and confidant of the new board chair, is installed as the interim president. Taking direction from the local fringe group, the board chair begins a bizarre series of directives that include frequently breaking Idaho open meeting laws and acting as a de facto executive officer. A helpless leadership team begins to leave CSI out of desperation and soon there is no functioning administration. The situation captures the attention of the colleges accrediting body who issue warnings and eventually a show cause directive which demonstrates that the college may lose its accreditation. Student enrollment begins a dramatic decline. Revenues dry up as legal and other expenses escalate, challenging the financial stability of the college. As 2048 comes to a close, the very existence of the College of Southern Idaho is in jeopardy. Pay attention, friends. CSI is the communitys college, until it isnt. You are here: World Flash Chinese people evacuated from Sudan by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's comprehensive supply ship Weishanhu arrive at the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah on April 29, 2023.(Xinhua/Wang Haizhou) The Chinese military has completed the mission of evacuating Chinese from Sudan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said Saturday. Spokesperson Tan Kefei said 940 Chinese citizens and 231 foreigners were carried by Chinese naval vessels out of Sudan to the Saudi Arabian port of Jeddah in two evacuation operations from Wednesday to Saturday. Tan said the Chinese military is always the guardian of the people and a strong force to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to serve the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. San Miguel Brewery Inc., a joint venture of San Miguel Corp. and Japans Kirin Holdings Co., reported a double-digit net income growth in the first quarter. SMB said in a statement over the weekend first-quarter net income jumped 38.2 percent to P6.8 billion on the back of strong sales performance of both domestic and international operations amid the continued easing of COVID-19 restrictions. First-quarter revenues climbed 29.3 percent to P38.3 billion from P29.7 billion in the same period last year. Consolidated operating income grew 25 percent to P8.4 billion. SMBs domestic beer volumes grew by 26.1 percent, boosted by new brand campaigns and offtake-generating programs, complemented by relaxed restrictions. International operations posted a 28.5-percent increase in sales volume from its exports business and Hong Kong operations. Volumes were still 16.4 percent lower compared to 2019 pre-pandemic levels. ADVERTISEMENT SMB said that in the first quarter, it rolled out the San Mig flavored watera refreshing unsweetened non-carbonated drink and San Mig Hard Seltzerwhich is made from sparkling water with a 5-percent alcohol. It also recently launched San Miguel Cerveza Blancaa wheat beer positioned in the upscale market. SMB exports to Indonesia, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the United States and Bahrain. It recently expanded in new markets in Asia and Africa. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. ACEN Corp., the power generation arm of Ayala Corp., is building 8,000 megawatts of renewable energy projects in the Philippines until 2030 with investments of about $8 billion. ACEN president and chief executive Eric Francia said about 600 MW of RE capacity was already in operation, while 1,000 MW was under construction, of which 70 percent would soon be operational. Francia said the Philippines would remain as ACENs core market at 40 percent of the 20,000-MW target by 2030, followed by Australia with a footprint of 5,000 MW. In addition, we will continue to grow our presence in Vietnam, Indonesia and India. Onshore solar and wind will remain our core energy technologies, complemented by investments in new technologies such as battery energy storage, floating solar and offshore wind, Francia said. ACEN plans to build 3,000 MW in Indonesia and other markets, 2,000 MW in Vietnam and 2,000 MW in India by 2030. ADVERTISEMENT If you look at last couple of years, weve been starting close to one gigawatt of new projects every yearToday, we already have a little over 4 GW of capacity both operating and under construction, Francia said. At some point, we have to ramp up or step up or go beyond 1 GW-per-year mark because if we stay at 1 GW per year with eight years to go, were not gonna get to 20 GW, he said. Francia said ACEN would accelerate project development closer to 2 GW towards mid to end part of the decade. ACEN is also moving forward with its commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, which fully supports the companys ongoing growth and decarbonization strategy. ACEN completed in December its net zero roadmap, making the company the first in Southeast Asia to take the critical step towards achieving net zero, with a transparent framework for monitoring progress. ACEN recognizes that to reach the net zero outcome for the power sector, it will need to rely on both emissions reduction and neutralization of residual emissions. As part of its transition plan, ACEN aims to deliver reduction-led decarbonization by 2040, with an interim target for 2030, and a net zero status by 2050, he said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns powerful sister warned Saturday that a US-South Korean agreement aimed at strengthening deterrence against Pyongyang will lead to more serious danger, state media reported. The United States and South Korea vowed this week that North Korea would face a nuclear response and the end of the leadership there should it use its own nukes against the allies, as the two countries presidents met in Washington. In Pyongyangs first response to the Washington summit, Kim Yo Jong said the North remained convinced that its nuclear deterrent should be brought to further perfection. The more the enemies are dead set on staging nuclear war exercises, and the more nuclear assets they deploy in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, the stronger the exercise of our right to self-defense will become, she said, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday issued what was called the Washington Declaration, bolstering the US nuclear umbrella over South Korea, which is increasingly nervous about Pyongyangs aggression. ADVERTISEMENT It will involve the regular deployment of strategic assets including the first South Korean port visit by a nuclear ballistic submarine in decades, a US official told AFP. The agreement, however, would only result in making peace and security of Northeast Asia and the world be exposed to more serious danger, and it is an act that can thus never be welcome, Kim Yo Jong said. North Korea has defied years of punishing sanctions to continue work on its banned nuclear and missile programmes, and last year declared itself an irreversible nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. Pyongyang has conducted a record-breaking string of sanctions-defying launches in 2023, including test-firing the countrys first solid-fuel ballistic missile a key technical breakthrough for Kim Jong Uns military. Washington and Seoul have ramped up defence cooperation in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. Bidens criticism of the North is nonsensicalfrom the person in his dotage, Kim Yo Jong said, employing language similar to that used to attack former president Donald Trump. In a heated exchange on Twitter and in state media between Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2017, Kim called the former real estate mogul a dotard. Trump called Kim little rocket man in return. In a further swipe at the 80-year-old Bidens age, Kims sister said Saturday that he was not at all capable of taking the responsibility an old man with no future. She added it was too much for him to serve out the two-year remainder of his office term, before then calling South Korean President Yoon a fool. Seoul condemned Kim Yo Jongs far-fetched statement. It reflects its nervousness and frustration at the drastically strengthened nuclear deterrence of the Korea-US alliance, South Koreas Unification Ministry said. The ministry, which is in charge of inter-Korean relations, added that the statements rude language demonstrated the Norths lowly level. Kims statement indicates military tensions around the Korean peninsula could dramatically escalate to a level similar from 2017, Cheong Seong-chang of the Center for North Korea Studies at the Sejong Institute told AFP. The statement also represents Pyongyangs strong protest at Bidens remark that the North would face the end of the regime if it carried out a nuclear attack, he said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Tokyo announced the conferment of Japanese decorations on four Filipinos, including former Defense chief Delfin Lorenzana and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, for helping strengthen Philippine-Japan relations. In a statement, the Japanese Embassy in Manila said the four will receive the following decoration: Alberto G. Romulo, Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun; Delfin N. Lorenzana, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star; Gamaliel A. Cordoba, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with ADVERTISEMENT Neck Ribbon; and Dr. Cynthia Neri Zayas, The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette. The government of Japan warmly congratulates these four outstanding Filipinos and appreciates their significant contributions to forging stronger ties between Japan and the Philippines, the Embassy said. Romulo served as the Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 2004 to 2011. On the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Philippines, he contributed to the formulation of the Japan-Philippines Joint Statement, entitled Partnership between Close Neighbors for Comprehensive Cooperation, which forms the basis for todays Strategic Partnership between the two nations. By leading negotiations with Tokyo on the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement, the Embassy said Romulo helped elevate the two countries economic relationship to new heights. Lorenzana served as the Secretary of National Defense from 2016 to 2022 during which defense cooperation and exchanges between Japan and the Philippines were greatly enhanced, particularly with the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in joint exercises between the Philippine and United States armies. It was also under his tenure in 2020 that a contract was concluded between the Department of National Defense and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Inc. for the delivery of air surveillance radar systems. This marks the first overseas transfer of defense equipment between Japan and the Philippines, bolstering the two nations defense equipment and technology cooperation. Former Defense Secretary Lorenzanas strong leadership paved the way for the further deepening of Japan-Philippines defense relations, the Embassy said. Former commissioner Cordoba, meanwhile, served at the National Telecommunications Commission from 2009 to 2022 and made significant contributions to advancing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines in the field of telecommunications. He vigorously promoted the application of ISDB-T, a terrestrial digital television broadcasting standard devised by Japan. He greatly contributed to the Philippine governments decision to adopt ISDB-T in June 2010 and to the reaffirmation of its adoption in November 2013. Furthermore, he initiated efforts for the smooth launch and dissemination of ISDB-T in the Philippines, in cooperation with the Japanese public and private sectors, the Embassy said. Zayas, the Philippines leading maritime anthropologist, on the other hand, is a foremost Japanologist. Having completed her masters and doctoral degrees in Japan, she collaborated with Japanese anthropologists in pioneering maritime anthropological studies in the Philippines. Her internationally recognized works on the cultures of disasters and free women divers (ama) in Japan deepened understanding of Japanese society worldwide, the Embassy said. Dr. Zayas was also instrumental in introducing Japanese traditional performing arts to the Philippines. She continues to promote Japanese culture and society through her research and professorial stints at the University of the Philippines, it added. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. left Manila on Sunday for an official visit to the United States as he seeks to bolster ties with Washington amid growing tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea. The Presidents visit comes as the United States had called on Beijing to stop provocative and unsafe conduct in the disputed waterway after a recent near-collision with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. Ahead of Mr. Marcoss visit, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed China over the near collision of one of its coast guard ships with a Philippine patrol boat a week ago, saying it was a reminder of Beijings harassment and intimidation in the contested waterway. STATES-BOUND. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, along with the administrations economic team and business leaders, wave as they depart from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City on Sunday en route to the United States. We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct, Miller said in a statement, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. Mr. Marcos begins his four-day trip with a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House, which the Philippine leader described as essential to advancing our national interest and strengthening that very important alliance. ADVERTISEMENT We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our longstanding alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region, Mr. Marcos said in a departure statement. His plane took off at around 1:43 p.m. in Manila, according to the Presidential Communications Office. In his departure speech at the Villamor Airbase, the President said his visit to the US would reinforce Manila and Washingtons already strong bonds by bringing our alliance into the 21st century. President Marcos said his visit builds on the active exchanges between the two countries, which include the chief executives meeting with US President Joseph Biden in New York last September, the visit to Manila of US Vice President Kamala Harris in November, as well as the numerous visits by senior officials on both sides. Manila and Washington are also expected to bolster partnerships in the semiconductor industry, critical minerals, renewable and clean energy, including nuclear, and infrastructure projects that will improve ourdigital and telecommunication systems and facilitate sustainability efforts to address climate change, President said. The President is also expected to meet with American business leaders to further promote trade and investment opportunities in the Philippines. In these roundtable meetings, President Marcos will be joined by his economic team as well as key Filipino private sector leaders to explore business opportunities that seek to grow the economy even more. While in Washington, the President will also meet the Filipino community who continue to contribute towards the countrys economic prosperity. House of Representatives Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan on Sunday wished the President all the success on his five-day official visit to the United States. We are all counting on the Presidents trip to pave the way for additional American direct investment inflows that we need to support our economic recovery and generate new employment, Libanan said. If we look at the latest surveys, the creation of new jobs remains among the top concerns of Filipinos, Libanan said. At present, American multinational corporations in the Philippines are invested mostly in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and professional,scientific, and technical services, including highly labor-intensive business process outsourcing (BPO) activities. With Vince Lopez and Rio N. Araja Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Yllana Marie Aduana, a stunning native of Siniloan, Laguna was named Miss Philippines Earth 2023 during the finals held in Toledo City, Cebu on Saturday night. Yllana Marie Aduana is crowned on Saturday night at Miss Earth Philippines finals held in Cebu. Aduana, 24, is a model and a graduate of Clinical Laboratory Science at Centro Escolar University. She works as Medical Technologist and Drug Test Analyst. Yllana Marie Aduanas stunning form during the swimsuit parade. I would definitely say that our generation, although misconstrued as very ardent, I would like to say that we use our voices for a reason and that is to speak up for the things that we know are right and for the things that we know we deserve, Aduana answered when asked, What do you think people in the future would say about your generation? during the Top 5 Q&A round. Aduana is pursuing her advocacy called E.A.R.T.H. (Environmental Awareness and Action to Restore and Transcend Home) Education, in partnership with the NGO Edukasyon for Every Juan. Miss Earth Philippines 2023 Yllana Marie Aduana and her court. Kerri Reilly was named Miss Philippines Air 2023 while Jemimah Joy Zabala won Miss Philippines Water 2023. Shauri Livori finished as Miss Philippines Fire 2023 and Athena Auxillo took the Miss Philippines Eco Tourism 2023 title. ADVERTISEMENT Aduana was crowned by outgoing Miss Philippines Earth 2022 Jenny Ramp and will represent the country at the Miss Earth 2023 to be held in Vietnam. Yllana Marie Aduana is crowned by Miss Earth Philippines 2022 Jenny Ramp Named in the Top 10 were Queenie Salac, KC Falcasantos, Ma. Cristina Tallador, Cea de Jesus, and Princes Lazaga. Included in the Top 15 were Jamie Angelique Armada, Fermizulli Silal, Chrystel Mae Correos Carrascal, Jeica Czaverika Dimatatac, and Meri Lasil Relevo. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Sovah Health in Martinsville is increasingly becoming more of a burden on the Martinsville Police Department, Police Chief Rob Fincher said last week. On Monday, about 30 people including City Council members and City staff, attended a community meeting at Chatham Heights Baptist Church. Fincher customarily shares the neighborhood crime statistics at similar meetings, but this time most everyone appeared surprised to learn the number one location for crime in Northside is 320 Hospital Drive, the address of Martinsvilles only hospital. When you compare this years crime statistics with last year, the city has seen a 13% reduction in general calls for service, Fincher said at the meeting. The calls in Northside tend to be assault and battery. There are general traffic areas with problems, shoplifting at The Villages [shopping center on Commonwealth Boulevard,] but the hospital takes the most time. They may not fully fund their security. We get everything there from suspicious persons, mental health, accidents, disturbances in the ER [emergency room], larcenies on floors people going in rooms and stealing stuff, you name it. Sovah Director of Marketing and Communications Corey Santoriello said although Sovah Health holds the health and safety of its patients and staff in the highest regard, over the past year the hospital has seen an increase in behavioral health patients as well as an increase in the time it takes to get them placed appropriately. Often the hospital is left with the responsibility of supervising a mental patient for an extended period while waiting on the services of other organizations outside Sovahs control. In response to this identified need for additional support for behavioral health patients in our Martinsville community, we have partnered with a community support organization that provides treatment for developmental, emotional, mental health and substance abuse disorders for transition of care, as appropriate, Santoriello wrote by email. In addition to partnering with this agency, our security team has expanded over the past twelve months with the addition of three new security personnel, and we are actively determining the need for an additional position assigned to our Emergency Department. Martinsville Vice Mayor Aaron Rawls said concerns of the hospital are often made known to him by citizens in the community. Sovah Health has been one of the more frequent topics of conversation among concerned citizens, local healthcare professionals, and members of the city administration, said Rawls. Ive fielded a significant amount of information, but nonetheless, Chief Finchers data came as a surprise to me. We are due for another check-in with Sovah leadership. At the Bulletins request, Fincher provided more details regarding Sovahs increasing demands on his department. He noted that his figures include mental health calls and patients leaving against medical advice (AMA). At the hospital for 2022 we had 294 mental health calls, which accounted for 3,566 total manpower hours. We had 533 other calls which accounted for 803 manpower hours, Fincher said. Those other calls for service include a wide range of calls to include disorderly conducts, refusing to leave, assaults, trespassing, serving warrants, animal bites, well-being checks with patients leaving (AMA being the primary cause), drug violations and follow-up investigations. Fincher said the sheer number of hours demanded by his department by the local hospital was shocking. According to an August 2018 poll of 3,500 emergency department workers across the nation, almost seven out of 10 doctors in emergency departments said violence was increasing with assaults on health care staff growing by double-digits. Many of those assaults go unreported, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Between April and June of 2022, Press Ganney, a healthcare database company, reported 57 nurses were assaulted across 483 medical facilities in the country. Medical facilities across the Commonwealth and the nation have responded with increased training for its personnel including de-escalation techniques, and Santoriello said Sovah was responding as well. As a facility, we are also administering security needs and workplace violence risk assessments to develop mitigation strategies, wrote Santoriello in an email. Said Rawls: I would like to collaborate to ensure we are being good stewards of our precious and limited police resources. I think thats a majority view on Council and hope we can work together to do what is right for Martinsville. Newly hired New College Institute (NCI) Executive Director Joe Sumner says NCI aims to reconnect with university partners to get back to face-to-face learning. Sumner stepped into NCIs top post on Feb. 28. The South Georgia native grew up in a rural, low-income area, he said. When he graduated high school, he joined the Army and served five years before he was injured and wasnt able to reenlist. Next, he got into manufacturing and worked as a maintenance technician during the day while attending technical college at night to get certification in maintenance. He found that he enjoyed the teaching and training aspects of his job most, he said. When he was offered a position teaching full-time at the same college he took it and continued to take classes at night. He earned a bachelors degree in industrial engineering technology and a masters degree in engineering management from Kennesaw State University and is on track to earn his doctorate in leadership from Valdosta University this year. Sumner has been an industrial technician and CNC programmer at Kelley Manufacturing, an industrial systems technology instructor at Okefenokee Technical College, a mechatronics and industrial systems technology instructor at Southern Reach Technical College, a mechatronics instructor at Tift County High School, a professor of precision manufacturing and maintenance at West Georgia Technical College, owner and operator of a mechatronics company, department chair and professor of mechatronics and manufacturing at THINC College and Career Academy, associate vice president of academic affairs and program development at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and then associate vice president of economic development at the same college. I somehow became known as the manufacturing guy for economic development teams and was very fortunate to be involved in a lot of economic development initiatives throughout the state of Georgia, bringing in anything from small 20-people operations to 5,000-employee operations, Sumner said of his roles at the college. When he decided it was time for a change, he was looking for a community that was similar to what he had grown up in, he said. After multiple interviews and offers from different organizations he found that in Martinsville with NCI. The community played just as much of a role in this move and this decision as the career opportunity did, he said. Martinsville What prepared Sumner for the role at NCI was collaborating with community partners and organizations working towards economic and community revitalization in Georgia, his team leadership skills, his background as a blue collar worker and his non-traditional route of education, he said. I recognized that opportunity here in Martinsville and was excited to hopefully get in almost at the early stages of a coordinated effort by the community to help revitalize some things and move forward, Sumner said. With the multifaceted mission of NCI there are some areas where I could provide my experience and expertise to help move it along. One of his main goals is to bring NCI to collaborate and cooperate with multiple organizations within the community because that is how he saw economic revitalization happen back in Georgia. Learning how to bring together all of those stakeholders in a way that we understand were not competing, we are working together; were not duplicating, we all want the same goal. Lets figure out a way to get there together without upsetting each other, without robbing one to pay the other, Sumner said. Meetings with those different community partners and organizations since he arrived in Martinsville at the end of February have been positive, he said. There are different visions from different community members of what success looks like for NCI, but the common through all of it is that the community wants NCI to succeed. They want it to be a part of the community, Sumner said. Future From his time at NCI, Sumner said, he sees that the strength of the institution is in its flexibility. The colleges main areas of focus are degree-seeking adults, workforce development, partnerships and offerings for k-12 and community engagement and involvement, he said. NCI has ability to kind of bridge the gaps, Sumner said. Theres a lot of opportunity for NCI to be that quick, flexible and adaptive piece for workforce and economic development [and] to share resources with agencies such as P&HCC and bring 4-year degree opportunities. The college currently offers programs such as existing degree opportunities through Longwood University in teaching and early childhood education, the Impact Program with Radford University focused on cybersecurity education, professional development and resources-sharing opportunities, trainings in first aid and CPR and K-12 engagement such as the STAGS robotics team and housing NSBE. Some of it is along the 4-year degree path some of it is workforce development, some of it is the k-12 and community relations aspect, he said. Sumner added that NCI is currently in a refining process concerning offered programs to eliminate redundancy. Anything we currently might have on the books that is already being offered, it doesnt benefit anyone to duplicate that, Sumer said. For workforce development, he added, NCI has two different approaches to what it offers. One is what comes down from the state level such as the global wind certification program. This will bring people in from around the state to get certifications and, he said, boosting tourism and the local economy while they stay here. The second is to offer programs that lead to certifications and degrees that will be used locally. Many of these are still in development while NCI finishes the refining period, he said. One of those programs is in fiber broadband certification program that Sumner hopes will start in the near future. I need to hear I need to hear from business and industry, he said. I can come in and try to leverage my credentials and my skills but if its not to the benefit of the community then we need to reconsider. So, I would ask that business and industry tell me what they need us to do and what they need us to be. For K-12 programing, NCI aims to provide opportunities for students and teachers, he said. This will involve things such as trainings, field trips to use equipment, curriculum building opportunities and use of NCI resources as a pilot site for new programs within schools. Its not necessarily that we are focusing in one area more than the other. Were trying to, across those four, figure out whats worked, what hasnt worked and identify any gaps, he said. Before the pandemic, NCI played the intermediate role for students in that instead of going to classes in a faraway campus, they would go to a classroom at NCI, where the instructor from a university would come to teach classes. Now that the pandemic has shown students and universities that online schooling is feasible, partnerships such those with NCI have diminished in popularity. However, after the initial embrace of online learning, people are coming to realize that it is not as useful nor as efficient as the traditional classroom experience, he said. Part of what were hoping to do is to reconnect with those university partners and really show them that there is a need for some face-to-face offerings here in Martinsville, he said. Back in the 60s, my mother would have dinner on the table around 6 p.m. and usually my dad would have the black and white television with the rabbit ears antenna tuned to the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite at 6:30 p.m. I remember thinking that 30 minutes was a long time to watch news. Somebody could have blown my mind back then describing these modern-day 24-hour cable news networks. During the Walter Cronkite days, nobody had a clue what the newscasters political leanings were. There was a hard-and-fast rule in those days that if you let that cat out of the bag, you would find yourself in the unemployment line. Former Presidential Candidate Ben Carson, in an interview on CNN in 2016, called Cronkite a left-wing radical and then added that no one knew it from watching him on TV. Carson made sure it was understood he was paying Cronkite a compliment, lest the younger viewers think he was attempting to discredit the legendary newsman for not wearing his opinion on his sleeve like the rank and file of anchors and news show hosts do today. There are clearly people who have an agenda, Carson said in the interview. They will clearly take things that you have said and distort them or overblow them ... its absurd. That absurdity resulted in Fox Corporation settling a defamation lawsuit for $787.5 million and sending Fox News Medias star, Tucker Carlson, packing. Even with the extremism that is tolerated in news programs today, we find there is still a limit. It just takes an Elon Musk rocketship to reach it. Cronkite was known during his time on the air as the most trusted man in America. The modern-day political talk show host will typically begin a 3-hour show with a 20-minute monologue, while Cronkites entire newscast was 22 minutes after 8eight minutes of commercial time. Peter Herford, one of Cronkites writers, noted in an article that appeared in the Post Alley in August that the average news story told by Cronkite was 15 seconds long and in those 22 minutes of a 30-minute program, you saw Cronkites face an average of five to six minutes. I agree with Herford that we no longer have a national pillar of information like Cronkite and consumers of news are increasingly getting it from sources that often begin with hardline, polarizing perceptions and opinions, prejudgments, and manufactured facts that grant no space to, much less tolerate, differences of opinion. The sheer variety of options for news today is daunting and Fox News, CNN and MSNBC are no competition for Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I think about the 4 or 5 minutes it takes for you, as a reader, to consume this column and I juggle that image with the reality that the average attention span of a human with a smartphone today is less than the time it takes to read a headline. We all have history and life experiences that result in each of us having personal feelings about the issues of the day, but the sources of news increasingly choose to tell us how they feel about the news instead of what the news is. We, the public, have become complacent in this respect, choosing to believe what we find agreeable and anything opposed to how we feel is referred to as fake. Cronkite and I were both born on Nov. 4, 44 years apart. He left college in his junior year and went to work for a newspaper and ended up on television. I finished college and went to work at a radio station and ended up at a newspaper. Cronkite became a national icon in television news and I have spent my time covering the happenings right here in my hometown of Martinsville and Henry County. Likely his most well known trademark, Cronkite would conclude his evening broadcast by saying ...And thats the way it is, followed by the date. But on the nights when the newscast ended with opinion or commentary, Cronkite omitted this phrase, citing his responsibility of keeping to the standards of objective journalism. My, how far weve fallen. Since January several flows of emigrants expelled by Algerian authorities have been constantly arriving in the town of Assamaka. Niger Interior Minister Hamadou Amadou Souley fears the emergence of a humanitarian crisis in Assamaka, a town where 7,172 sub-Saharan migrants expelled by Algeria are stranded. Since the beginning of 2023, the expulsions of citizens from Central Africa have acquired a critical dimension due to the limited availability of social services in the area. This strong concentration of emigrants has as a corollary a sharp increase in border crime, he tweeted. The Interior Minister called on the countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to speed up the identification process of citizens who opt for the voluntary return program organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Amadou Souley also asked the IOM to review this program as it is one of the causes of the avalanches of emigrants who go to Agadez with the sole objective of benefiting from socio-economic reintegration. The tweet reads, In a few days, refugees and migrants were once again expelled from Algeria by official and unofficial convoys to Niger, near Assamaka. Among the people who arrived, there were 2 wounded who were evacuated by tricycle by our chambers to the local health center. Alkassoum Ibrahim, a member of the Canadian NGO International Emergency Aid Committee (CIUAD) which operates in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) explained that the presence of migrants in Assamaka is due to a lack of resources that IOM is currently facing. Since January several flows of emigrants expelled by Algeria have been constantly arriving in this town. The latest group to arrive included 710 migrants who have been in a situation of extreme vulnerability since they were expelled on April 23. The local Nigerien authorities consider the arrival of the emigrants a threat to the security of the population of Assamaka, estimated at less than 3,000 inhabitants. Migrants kill stray animals and attack residents at night to steal their goods, said Mahamadou Illa, a resident of Assamaka. Faced with this situation, the Assamaka authorities established a night military patrol starting at 9:00 p.m. to guarantee the safety of the town. 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 Transgender women keep their prostates even after gender-affirming surgery, but the extent to which they remain at risk of prostate cancer has been unclear. Now a first of its kind study led by UC San Francisco has estimated the risk at about 14 cases per 10,000 people. The study drew on 22 years of data from the Veterans Affairs Health System. Although the sample size was necessarily small, it is still the largest study of its kind. It publishes Saturday, April 29, 2023 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and is timed to the annual meeting of the American Urological Association. "What we know about prostate cancer to date is almost exclusively based on cisgender men," said the study's lead author, Farnoosh Nik-Ahd, MD, a urology resident at UCSF. "This is an important first step in reshaping how clinicians think about prostate cancer in transgender women." Transgender people often face discrimination and disparities, and there has been a growing acknowledgement of the complexities involved in their health care. The study found 155 confirmed transgender women with prostate cancer and stratified them according to whether they had used estrogen: 116 had never used estrogen, 17 had once used estrogen but stopped before they were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 22 were actively on estrogen. The median age of diagnosis was 61 years, and 88 percent of the patients were white. Just 8 percent were Black, suggesting possible disparities affecting this group. Black cisgender men are at heightened risk of being diagnosed with and dying from prostate cancer. The authors found that prostate cancer occurs in transgender women more frequently than published accounts might suggest, with about 14 prostate cancer cases per 10,000 transgender women. While the numbers were small, they suggest that transgender women taking estrogen may have had delayed diagnoses. The authors also said that lower rates of prostate cancer may have been due to less PSA screening, misinterpretation of PSA levels in patients on gender-affirming hormone therapies, stigma, lack of awareness of prostate cancer risk and the effects of estrogen. "We still have a lot of work to do to determine optimal prostate cancer screening for transgender women on estrogen and related treatments," said co-senior author Matthew R. Cooperberg, MD, MPH, of the UCSF Department of Urology. "This study should be a reminder to clinicians and patients alike that, regardless of gender, people with prostates are at risk for prostate cancer." Montana state legislators have a historic opportunity to enact a state child tax credit, first proposed by Governor Greg Gianforte earlier this year as part of his budget. This policy, which would provide low-income taxpayers with an annual credit of $1,200 per child under age 6, was nearly scuttled because some lawmakers believed it would preclude the state from making necessary investments in child care. But the fact remains that Montana children and families need both: a state child tax credit and more funding for child care. One program cant replace the other, and both are urgently needed to invest in the well-being of Montanas next generation of children. The bill that lawmakers originally introduced created a credit that would be fully refundable, meaning that it would be available to families with the lowest incomes. The proposal received bipartisan support from lawmakers and had support from voters. A poll commissioned by Zero to Five Montana found that 74% of Montana voters agree that tax credits help parents to offset the costs of raising a child. The child tax credit is a powerful anti-poverty tool. When Congress temporarily expanded the federal child tax credit under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the credit dramatically reduced child poverty. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress temporarily increased the credit, made more families with low incomes eligible for it, and allowed the payments to be distributed monthly to families. These changes to the child tax credit had positive benefits for families throughout the nation. Parents largely used the monthly child tax credit payments to pay for essentials, especially parents with low incomes. In Montana, 86% of parents with incomes below $35,000 used their child tax credit payments for basic needs, including food, clothes, rent, mortgage and utilities, and/or education costs. The child tax credit also strengthens families and increases self-sufficiency, helping to increase educational attainment, reduce child welfare involvement, and promote higher wages for parents. The temporary monthly credit also reduced financial stress among parents and helped some parents work more hours. Now that the federal expansion of the child tax credit has expired, it is urgent that state lawmakers consider opportunities to implement a credit in their states. Meanwhile, child care was challenging to access and afford for families before the COVID-19 pandemic, and unfortunately, the public health crisis only deepened the hardship for families. In 2022, the supply of licensed child care providers in Montana only met 43% of the estimated demand. Over half of Montana counties are child care deserts, meaning that the supply of child care providers is less than one-third of the estimated demand from families. The highest unmet need for child care is in the more rural areas of Montana. Montana families need access to affordable child care to maintain their employment and support their education and training. Families need both comprehensive access to child care and the child tax credit. A state child tax credit alone would not provide parents with enough revenue to afford child care. Even if a family has child care subsidies, they still will need money for transportation, diapers, and other day-to-day essential costs. For example, many child care providers require that parents provide a supply of disposable diapers when they bring their infant into child care. A state child tax credit is one way that lawmakers can provide financial support to parents, while also making needed investments in the state child care system. State lawmakers should not be prioritizing one investment over another. Montana families need both child care and financial support through the tax code to invest in their children and maintain employment. Its not an either/or proposition: Montana lawmakers should pass the state child tax credit and make essential investments in child care. France and the United States of America both claim cultural universalism and exceptionalism. The first, reeling under the nostalgia of past grandeur, is in moral, political, and economic decline. The second, although suffering from grave symptoms, is still on the economic, scientific, and technological upswing, still attracting the tiredpoorhuddled masses yearning to breathe free as Emma Lazarus poem, "The New Colossus," reads on the Statue of Liberty. Lets leave the French to their entitlement woes. If they think they can, in a ferociously competitive, capitalist world, still retire at 62 with full benefits and only work 35 hours a week, so be it! Lets concentrate on the USA. Perplexed by those claiming that the American Dream is biased, conservative nationalists curatively recommend stop whining, pick yourself up, and move on! Irritated by realist criticisms of American exploitative exceptionalism, reactionary politicos bark Make America Great Again! Infuriated by those they consider anti-American, ultra-nationalists ideologically scream Love it or leave it! These fierce patriots forget two things: 1) Americas pronoun is not it she is gendered feminine, as the Statue of Liberty Columbia, embodies; 2) Original sins cant be ignored because, like Greek destiny or family curses, repressed negatives bite back. Americas birth was not immaculate. Indian genocide and African enslavement, conveniently swept under Columbias white toga, can no longer be written off as collateral damages, although, looking for excuses, nationalists assert that, the ends justifying the means, foundational violence is historys normal. Indeed, from the Greek to the Roman, from the Mongol to the Moghul, from the Spanish, Portuguese, and British to the French, not forgetting the Dutch, the vast hegemonic sweeps of empire-building monarchies and republics left their bitter-sweet legacies of massacres and slavery throughout history. Late in the supremacy race, the Germans caught up with their infamous Thousand-Year-Reich. But non-European conquerors never tried to justify their wrong-doings by using Enlightenments superior reason and progress as Western nations did. It is true that to make societal life possible, past horrors must become history, but with a caveat: History is not whitewashing. Especially when one also claims universalism and exceptionalism. If one ignores or denies past atrocities, they come back to haunt you through the negative side of things, feeding into the self-perpetuating oppression/repression/poverty loop, trapping societys weakest links. The denied bad and ugly oozes back, via the unconscious (whose existence positivist scientists refute), which obeys a different logic. The conveniently unaddressed, symptomatically lingering under societys skin, periodically erupts via its pores in paranoid or psychotic acting-out. Americans experience these pathologies every day: homicides, mass-shootings, racial/sexual hatred, suicides, serial-murders. Repressed negatives arent the single cause of our national pathologies. It is true that while obscenely enriching elites, global, high-tech, neo-liberal capital lifted many out of poverty. It is also obvious that capitalist hegemonic domination exacerbated inequalities and resentment, letting entire segments of society rot (ghettos, reservations, the rust belt), ignoring rural areas, privatizing public domains, and destroying the environment. The perverse side-effects of mass-consumerism, competitive individualism, and the abandonment of the least profitable, sicken bodies and minds. Many are medicated for cancers, heart problems, countless allergies, or psycho-somatic ailments despair, insomnia, sexual dysfunctions, mental issues... Others self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Make America Great Again? Alright! Make Her Better for All! Cancel culture and political correctness are no answer. Socio-economic justice is. America must look at her past, not with eyes wide shut, but with courage and understanding (education), and draw the right conclusions. Politicians must take the necessary measures to make sure the American dream amplifies everybodys dreams. President Biden is seeking a second term. Halfway through the current term his record on federal land and wildlife management shows more clarity and less contradiction are necessary. Several policies and executive orders effectively cancel each other out and others are being undermined by federal agencies. The policies on Mature and Old Growth (MOG) forests and Habitat Connectivity are based on sound science. Both are critical in the face of a changing climate, serving as buffers to wide temperature swings, free carbon storage and habitat areas that allow animals and fish to maintain genetically viable populations and move in response to changing habitat conditions. These objectives are undermined by the unscientific Wildfire Crisis Strategy and emergency declaration from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Former governor of Iowa, Vilsack has shown little understanding of western forest ecosystems. The Fireshed maps associated with the strategy are nothing more than areas where the Forest Service would like to cut more trees. A new paper in the science journal Fire (Baker et al. 2023) shows the federal fire crisis narrative is partially based on withholding non-conforming data. The Forest Service has undermined the MOG Policy through the recently released national inventory, which appears to overestimate old growth so the Forest Service can log more of it. This harkens back to the Phantom Forests of the Kootenai National Forest where old growth existed only on paper until foresters in academia blew the whistle. Likewise, new roads authorized by the Wildfire Crisis Strategy would be built in primary connectivity areas for wildlife and impair streams vital to migratory fish. Connectivity is federal policy for grizzly bear, salmon and bull trout recovery and federal courts have ruled that genetic connectivity is required for grizzly bear recovery and delisting. Regardless, the already heavily logged Salish Demographic Connectivity Area is designated a Fireshed and targeted for intensive logging. The Wildfire Crisis Strategy is a direct threat to connectivity for grizzly bears and other fish and wildlife. The Administrations climate change policies are undermined by the fact it has taken no significant moves to reduce grazing on federal public lands, even when it is dewatering the Colorado River system and others. Despite its impacts on water quality, quantity, fish and riparian habitats, the federal government still charges less than 5% the market rate for grazing leases, losing $120 million each year while worsening the climate crisis. The Department of Interiors Bison Management Policy in Yellowstone National Park is a national disgrace devoid of science. Bison can easily be relocated to the Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge and the American Prairie Reserve which together comprise an area approximate in size to Yellowstone. There are other areas of public land in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem where bison could reside. The current policy directly undermines the Habitat Connectivity Policy. Whats more contrary to connectivity than opening up on herds and killing thousands when they cross an invisible line? A remaining wild card is what the administration will do with petitions from Montana and Wyoming requesting the delisting of the grizzly bear, the American symbol of wilderness. The fate of the presidents environmental legacy depends on the outcome. Sadly, the presidents worthy goal of conserving 30% of the nations land and waters by 2030 has been compromised. In the race to reach 30%, nearly everything counts as conservation, including logging for wildfire prevention. He ran on the premise of leaving it in the ground but has turned heel by approving oil drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic. The next two years present an opportunity to eliminate collision and canceling out of public lands policies so nationally supported ideals can become reality. We have practiced in Montana for over 50 combined years. Many factors influence our health, especially that of children: a stable family, a livable income, access to childcare, and school readiness, among others. Hence, doctors are concerned about many aspects of society when working with families. The 2021 Climate Change and Human Health in Montana (https://montanaclimate.org/) report provided overwhelming evidence that climate change is already negatively affecting the health of Montanans, with more studies in the interim two years strengthening those connections. Even minimally increased temperatures have been associated with increased risk of preterm birth, still birth, heart attacks, and asthma flares. Additionally, air pollution specifically particulate matter from burning fossil fuels and increased wildfires themselves in a large part due to climate change can lead to more heart attacks, strokes, worsening lung disease, preterm births, infertility, and even increase the risk for dementia. Air and water pollution are especially harmful to children. Evidence strongly suggests that asthma is not just worsened by, but can actually be caused by air pollution. Few people know that many cancers, thyroid problems, heart problems, and increased risk of diabetes have been associated with environmental pollution where they live and play. When pregnant women are exposed to air pollution, the fetuses are more likely to be born premature, to be born dead, or to die within the first year of life. Estimates are that about 16,000 babies a year in the U.S. are born premature because of air pollution. Preventing pollution truly is a right-to-life issue. This does not even account for the effects of climate change, which is considered by medical experts to be the greatest modern public health threat. Almost all major medical and scientific bodies across the world consider climate change to be primarily caused by burning fossil fuels. In speaking before Congress in August 2020, Dr. Drew Shindell from Duke University shared the following data on what it could mean for the U.S. to address climate change now. It could prevent 4.5 million premature deaths, 3.5 million hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and 300 million lost workdays. Avoided health care spending would be over $37 billion and increased labor productivity will be valued at $75 billion. Roughly 1.4 million lives in the U.S. could be saved from improved air quality during the next 20 years. Common sense dictates that Montana lawmakers should be providing climate solutions to their constituents and neighbors that benefit public health and the states economy. Yet, as a direct response to Yellowstone Countys Judge Moses canceling the air quality permit for NorthWestern Energys methane generating station in Laurel based on the failure to consider climate change impacts of its emissions, the House of Representatives suspended their own rules to introduce HB 971. HB 971 would make it illegal for the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to consider climate change in a Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) analysis even though the purpose of MEPA is to fully disclose the environmental impacts of a proposed project. HB 971 places corporate profits ahead of the health and lives of Montanans. Not only does it hurt the well-being of our children, it all but guarantees dramatically higher economic costs as the impacts of climate change continue to worsen. Agriculture, tourism, hunting and fishing are already suffering due to climate change. The Legislatures actions are stalling Montana in the 20th century. When they allow companies to freely poison our air, water and children with climate-changing pollutants, its time to stand up. Contact your legislators and ask them to protect our kids and our futures by voting sensibly (vote NO on HB 971). A man was charged after investigators said they found a catalytic converter in the backseat of his car. Joshua Randall Pearson, 39, of Morganton, was charged with felony possession of a catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle Monday, according to a release from the Burke County Sheriffs Office. A deputy had conducted a vehicle stop at the intersection of U.S. 64 and Propst Road when they believed they saw a catalytic converter in the back seat, the release said. A search of the vehicle confirmed that suspicion, and Pearson was charged, the release said. Pearson has previous convictions of manufacturing a controlled substance, manufacturing a Schedule VI controlled substance, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, child abuse and assault on a female. , according to records from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. His bond for the new charge was set at $5,000 secured, the release said. Hes due back in court May 15. Brayton Erickson was on a dual mission when he spoke before Butte-Silver Bow commissioners this week. The co-director of the Butte Rescue Mission first wanted to give the council and public an update on the services it provides, the growing need for them and the challenges of delivering. The Mission serves tens of thousands of free meals each year, gives clothes and other necessities to hundreds of people, and last year, provided shelter to 324 different individuals for a combined 14,247 nights. The number of unhoused people was up 29% in Butte last year, Erickson said. He attributes the increase to several factors, including an influx of people after the COVID pandemic and higher rents amid increased prices for everything. In an effort to strengthen the relationship the Rescue Mission has with other agencies and the county and other services in our area, we just want to make sure people understand what were doing and how were going about doing it, Erickson said. The second mission was to request county funding to help support operations of the Missions emergency, low-barrier shelter. Theyre hoping for $250,000 from the next annual budget. Unlike the other, larger shelter on the Missions campus on East Platinum Street, the low-barrier unit accepts even those who are drunk or high on drugs as long as they arent endangering themselves or others. Most people are not under the influence, Erickson said, but regardless, the emergency shelter provides services no other entity does in Butte. When people cant meet their basic needs and navigate other options, they often end up in jail or the emergency room. Many times, emergency shelters will close during the summer months and that does help cut costs, and it also makes it easier for the staff, Erickson told commissioners Wednesday night. But it doesnt make it easier for people. So we are looking for any sustainable funding that will help us carry that load into the summer months and ultimately reduce the impact (of homelessness) on the community, he said. Its a great investment in the community, keeping this open. It reduces a lot of costs that the county and other services provide. The $250,000 would cover a little more than half of annual operational costs of the emergency shelter, Erickson said, and would strengthen the Missions ties with local government and the community. J.P. Gallagher, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, has great say and sway over county budget decisions and is open to the request. I am in support of finding a (county) funding source to support the Rescue Mission, he told The Montana Standard after Wednesdays meeting. The work they do and the cost of not having a low-barrier shelter will be felt at the jail and the hospital. Final funding decisions rest with commissioners and the chief executive, but the Mission has another county official in its corner: Sheriff Ed Lester. The low-barrier shelter at the Rescue Mission is an extremely valuable part of our community, Lester said. We encounter people who literally have no food, no money, no place to go and no hope. Sometimes a night or two in the shelter lets them take a time out, make a plan and try to get on their feet. MORE ON THE MISSION The Mission is a Christian-based organization that has been in Butte since 1976. For years it operated out of a large house on East Second Street but had to find a new location when fire officials shut it down in April 2017 due to severe fire risks. The Mission itself was homeless for months but purchased land at Arizona and Platinum streets near Buttes warehouse district and moved portable housing units there. More than 200 people were on hand on June 11, 2019 when its Center of Hope shelter opened, and five months later, the low-barrier shelter was added. The Mission gets the vast majority of its support through individual donations, grants and foundations, in-kind food contributions and money from churches, companies and fundraising events. It works with numerous community partners too, including Action Inc., New Hope Clinic, Montana Food Bank Network, Butte Police and Butte-Silver Bow government. Among other things, the county helped the Mission secure a $700,000 state and federal grant in 2021 to convert an old warehouse on its campus into a place for providing safer food services and expanded programs for the hungry and homeless. Construction is to start this summer. In return for all its support, the Mission houses up to 56 people each night, including 16 beds at the low-barrier shelter. Last year, it received more than 107,000 pounds of donated food, served 77,483 meals and provided coats, blankets, gloves and other clothing to hundreds of people. The Mission says it helped 34 people find sustainable jobs, arranged health care visits for 114 guests, kept 26 kids off the streets, protected more than two dozen people from domestic violence and helped 20 guests obtain sustained sobriety. Not everyone who ends up at the shelters is addicted to drugs or alcohol or is suffering from several mental illness, Erickson said. Some are individuals or families who simply cant afford rent increases or other expenses. These are working families that visit our emergency shelter, he told commissioners. Many times they have jobs, they have transportation but there are issues around being able to find affordable housing. Not everyone who has addiction issues turns his or her life around, but many do, he said. He told commissioners about a couple, Ray and Lisa, who were struggling with addictions. They lost their apartment, lost custody of their children and would show up at the shelter for a night or two then disappear for a month. Eventually we developed a relationship with them, and seeing the services that we provide, they said, Hey, were sick and tired, what do we do? Erickson said. And we were able to help navigate their recovery. They stayed in the longer-term shelter, worked recovery programs, got restaurant managerial jobs and theyre in the process of regaining custody of their children, Erickson said. These two left the shelter about two months ago but they have wrap-around services and are set up for success. Thats what its all about, he said. EMERGENCY SHELTER BACKING For safety and other reasons, the larger shelter on the Missions campus does not accept anyone who is drunk or high. At the urging of Father Patrick Beretta, county officials, and other agencies and organizations in a Continuum of Care Coalition, the Mission established its low-barrier shelter in late 2019. Beretta, a Catholic priest in Butte, was especially vocal about the need, saying those under the influence need refuge, too. Action Inc., a social services agency that also provides services to the homeless and works to get them into permanent housing, was also behind the push. Beretta spoke to commissioners Wednesday night. He said he has been a longtime supporter of the Mission but before Erickson and his wife, Syd, took over as co-directors in March 2020, the organization was in bad shape. The old organization prior to bringing in this team was uncooperative, he said. It was sometimes confrontational and when you live in a community with limited resources, I felt that it was reckless. But the previous organization did agree to establish a low-barrier shelter and under new leadership, including the Ericksons, the Mission has been astonishing in transparency and leadership, Beretta said. He painted that backdrop before urging commissioners and county officials to help fund the emergency shelter. My philosophy is that the care of the most vulnerable is not the business of just a few in the community, Beretta said. I think its our responsibility. We are all responsible. PROBLEMS ELSEWHERE Erickson and other Mission supporters point to recent events in Flathead County and Missoula as things they dont want to see in Butte. In January, three Flathead County commissioners penned a letter calling on residents to stop enabling the homeless lifestyle. They blamed the rising homeless population on available area services, including a low-barrier shelter that opened in Kalispell in 2019. It was a pretty harsh letter, Erickson told the Standard in a recent interview. There is some tension between some of those that are providing basic services for people in a humanitarian effort to keep them safe and fed versus public perception and some of the (Flathead County) commissioners. It is not our intention to attract people from out of town. However, people get here from many different areas around the state, some of them very local, he said. And we help quite a number of people that other agencies in town and ourselves help serve and navigate and get them to a healthier spot. One of those agencies, Action Inc., has received county funding for years. It now gets $172,000 annually to help fund rapid rehousing, homeless prevention and diversion services and indigent burials. Missoula is grappling with an increasing number of urban campers that became more evident when an emergency winter shelter closed on April 10. The city gets dozens of complaints about urban campers daily, the Missoulian noted in a story this week, but the citys other shelters are full and a federal court ruling prohibits criminalization of homelessness where there is insufficient shelter. They have nowhere else to go, Mayor Jordan Hess said at a recent press conference on the issue. The reality is we do not have enough indoor shelter in our community for everybody. City officials encouraged citizens to use the citys website to report health and safety concerns for urban camping, the Missoulian reported, and Hess urged people to donate to supportive organizations like the Poverello Center, United Way and the Hope Rescue Mission. Bill McGladdery, president of the Butte Rescue Missions board, said the situation in Missoula emphasizes the importance of the emergency shelter here. I dont think we want Emma Park to become the Emma Park Campground, he told the Standard. Commissioners wont finalize and enact the next budget until August, but a few thanked the Mission for what it does and at least seemed open to the request. To request that we put it in the budget is something that will become (part of) the general fund, the taxpayer-supported general fund, said Commissioner Jim Fisher, a fiscal hawk on spending matters. That may not be a popular idea but its one that may work. Theres a few different things you can look at and Im willing to look at some of these ideas to see where you can get the funding source, he said. HAMILTON -- When Bitterroot-area Fish, Wildlife & Parks biologist Rebecca Mowry got a text alert at 9 a.m. on a recent Sunday morning that the GPS collar on a bighorn ram she was tracking had switched to mortality mode, she loaded up her dog and headed for the woods, unsure what she might find. She didnt have anything else planned for the day, and as Mowry put it in a now widely-circulated post on social media, this wasnt just any bighorn ram, this was her most interesting sheep. Mowry had originally encountered the ram in February of 2021 during a net-gunning operation near Painted Rocks Reservoir. The Painted Rocks herd is the only native herd of bighorn sheep in the Bitterroot Valley. The other herds, which boast larger numbers than the Painted Rocks herd, were reintroduced to the valley by biologists in the 1970s. To collar the animals, sheep are spotted by a helicopter crew who shoot a net down over them. The animals are then brought to a processing station where they are examined, fitted with collars and tested for pneumonia pathogens before being released on site. Its generally considered a pretty safe way to capture wildlife, Mowry said, but sometimes when an animal is hit by the net gun, they can trip in it and tumble around leading to injury, although it doesnt happen very often. So when the capture crew brought her a ram with a badly-broken leg, her first thought was Oh, crap, we did this to him. After further inspection of the ram it became clear though, his broken tibia wasnt caused by the capture, he had been living with the injury for quite some time at least a year, researchers estimated. It was all calloused over and you could tell that hed been walking on his knuckle, on the top side of his hoof with his hoof bent backward, Mowry said. His hooves were overgrown. They werent wearing down normally, because they werent being walked on. So, it was an old injury. Researchers estimated the bighorn was approximately 4 years old at the time of the injury. Mowry discussed with veterinarians whether they should euthanize the ram, but ultimately they decided that since he seemed to be getting by, they would collar him and see what happened. If the fact that the ram had been surviving in the rugged terrain surrounding Painted Rocks wasnt noteworthy enough for researchers, what happened next would surprise them all. Through the GPS data supplied by the bighorns collar, Mowry was able to track the ram as he routinely traveled over 15 miles back and forth between Painted Rocks Reservoir and Trapper Peak, the highest mountain in the Bitterroot Range at 10,157 feet. She said before collaring the broken-leg ram, they had no idea bighorns would move that far or go that high. I was really shocked to see him go all the way up to Trapper Peak and spend the entire summer up there, and then he actually made the trip a few extra times, Mowry said. Its risky for animals to move that far, just because youre exposing yourself to a lot more terrain, a lot more potential predators. But for whatever reason, he found it worth it to go up there every year. There were times the ram would spend all summer at Trapper Peak and then return to Painted Rocks within a day or two, only to turn around and head right back to Trapper Peak. Once he decided to go, he went and he didnt really stop, she said. If I remember correctly, he was moving it just in like two or three days. According to Mowry, the ram would spend all summer ranging across the high country, sometimes crossing the border into Idaho before returning to Trapper Peak. Then, like clockwork, hed travel back to Painted Rocks for the rut. I guess he didnt find what he was looking for there, Mowry said. He was probably looking for the ladies for the rut, and if they werent there yet, if they hadnt arrived yet, then he would go back to Trapper Peak, and then he would come back later. So he really liked that Trapper country. The bighorn was spotted a number of times in the years following his capture, and even gained a bit of celebrity after being sighted by former Montana Fish and Game commissioner Jana Waller while filming for her hunting and fishing adventure show Skullbound on the Sportsman Channel. The ram was most recently spotted during a ground count in January of this year. When the broken-leg ram was initially captured, Mowry had used a collar containing a cloth drop-off mechanism, meant to fall off the animal after being worn for a period of time, so she was hoping the rams collar had just dropped off prematurely. But as Mowry hiked the steep hill north of the reservoir to the GPS coordinates sent to her phone, she found mountain lion tracks. As she followed the big cats prints further, she found her ram, freshly killed at the base of the cliff. Its a little bit bittersweet, but at the same time, this is how it goes. This is nature, she said. Ive been on the other side, too. Ive studied mountain lions before where weve had collared mountain lions, and well go into their kill sites, and then youre kind of rooting for the lion... This lion, its doing what its supposed to do. I like to think that wildlife appreciate the grandeur of their habitat, she later wrote after finding the ram. Sheep country is truly glorious. After I removed the rams collar and prepared for the trek back down, I had to stop, sit down in the snow, and take a moment. As I looked out over the wild, rugged West Fork from these lofty cliffs, I couldnt help but admire Broken Leg Ram and all he had accomplished in his short life. He beat the odds (at least for a time). And his life added greatly to our understanding of his herd, and of the incredible tenacity of life in the hardest of places. Mowry estimates the ram was about 6 years old when he died, give or take a couple years. At least this guy lived a little longer than I thought he would, she said. So that was nice. One thing shes been surprised by since posting on social media about the ram, is the number of people whove chimed in with stories about encounters with three-legged animals in the wild. I think it depends on the severity of the injury, Mowry said. It probably depends on which leg it is, it depends what terrain theyre in, it depends how many predators are around, you know, but it seems like, more often than not, these animals are hardier than we give them credit for and they can recover from some pretty severe injuries. Sheathing the 29 posts that circle the community pond with their knitted and crocheted creations, a group of women in a village west of London has recreated the cast of characters set to attend the coronation of King Charles III. The Hurst Hookers are part of the yarn bombing phenomenon that has taken hold across Britain in recent years, with guerrilla knitters and crochet enthusiasts celebrating holidays and royal occasions by decorating the nations red post boxes and other public spaces with their handiwork. Theres no money in it, and the creations are sometimes stolen. But they do it anyway because they have fun brightening their communities, even if no one asked them to. After a busy session marked by education overhauls and a dramatically conservative policy agenda, this week will likely be the last for the 2023 legislative session. With the budgeting process already underway, lawmakers are hoping to finish that process and pass any lingering policy bills by the end of the week. A few budget bills will need to be passed this week, and as of Thursday House Speaker Pat Grassley of New Hartford said he was expecting the bills would be ready for consideration on Monday. Obviously were trying to put ourselves in a position that next week wed be able to wrap up session, Grassley said on Thursday. Last week, lawmakers advanced budgets dealing with agriculture and natural resources, government administration, and health and human services. The following budgets remain: Economic Development Education Department of Justice and Corrections Judicial system Standings (K-12 and other recurring expenses) In total, the agreed top-line budget for 2024 will be around $8.5 billion, a 3.7% increase from last year. Republicans said the total represents an increase in priority programs and services while keeping the budget sustainable. But the details of the remaining budget bills are nearly nonexistent, as Senate Republicans have moved shell budget bills with no dollar figures in them out of committee. Last week, lawmakers amended budget bills on the floor with agreed-upon values before taking a vote. Republicans are trying to shut the session down, but Iowans are still in the dark about how well actually be funding huge and critical areas of state government, said Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville. Relaxing child labor restrictions Another top bill that may see action this week is a bill to open more jobs to 14- to 17-year-olds in Iowa. The bill would also allow 14- and 15-year-olds to work later hours, and allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work the same hours as adults. The bill, Senate File 542, passed in the Senate this month, and would need to pass the House before being eligible to be signed into law. Backed by business groups like the Iowa Restaurant Association, Republicans say the bill would give more opportunities to Iowas young people and allow them to earn a paycheck and learn valuable lessons. But Democrats argue the bill would weaken child protection measures and put teenagers in potentially dangerous work environments. House Democrats have proposed more than 20 amendments targeting specific portions of the bill. The practice is common on controversial bills, and amendments offered by the minority party are almost always voted down on party lines. But Grassley said Republicans are talking with Democrats about potentially taking up some of those amendments. We know there's some in there that are just for votes, and we get that, but I think there's genuinely some amendments in there that we should at least have conversations with them on, he said. If it is amended, the bill would bounce back to the Senate for final approval. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, a Democrat from Windsor Heights, said she hopes the bill never comes up for a vote. Im hopeful that we can stop this because enough people will see that the bill is dangerous, its irresponsible and its written by special interests, she said. And its language from another state. Iowans didnt even write the bill. Limiting property taxes A goal that has eluded lawmakers may yet see a deal before adjournment, as leaders in both chambers seek to pass a bill to limit property taxes. Both the House and the Senate passed separate bills this month House File 718 and Senate File 569 with the goal of keeping Iowans property tax bills down amid soaring assessment increases. But the bills, which passed with near-unanimous support in both chambers, used different mechanisms to accomplish that, and no agreement has been announced between the two. Leaders in both parties said they want to come to a deal before the end of the year. There is a lot of uncertainty in the impacts that will happen from these assessments, Grassley said. So I think we feel pretty strongly about trying to find something that will try to ease some of those fears from Iowans. Democratic leaders agreed, saying they want to pass a bill that will temper Iowans property tax bills without limiting the growth and budgets of Iowa communities. Weve got to get something done; the clocks ticking, Wahls said. So thats got to be a priority. Allowing loaded guns in parking lots, highways A bill that would allow guns in more public parking lots including at schools in limited cases may not see final passage before the weeks end. The bill, House File 654, would allow permit-holding gun owners to have a gun in a parking lot of a school when picking up or dropping off someone, if it is out of sight and the car is locked while not attended. It would also allow guns in locked cars at Iowas public universities, and any unsecured public parking lot. Iowans would also be able to carry loaded guns in their cars on public highways, and it would remove some language that dictates who cannot own a gun from Iowa law. The bills Senate floor manager, Sen. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, said this week he did not know whether it would be ready for a vote before the end of session. He said there were issues with the insurance portion of the bill which would block insurers from denying coverage to schools solely because of the presence of guns and with portions of the bill that expand who can own and carry a gun, that had to be addressed before passing in the Senate. Caucuses changes Grassley said the House is also expecting to pass a bill, proposed by Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann of Wilton, that would require Iowa caucuses to be held in-person and require registration with a party 70 days in advance of the caucuses. House File 716 would upend Iowa Democrats plans to hold their 2024 caucuses mostly by mail, a plan devised in a bid to keep the caucus first-in-the-nation for Democrats as the national party announced plans to change the calendar last year. Iowa eventually lost that spot, but kept the mail-in plan. Republicans say that plan would effectively make the process a primary and prompt the New Hampshire Secretary of State to move the states primary before Iowa, knocking the Republican caucuses off the first spot in the process. Grassley indicated the bill may see changes before it passes out of the chamber. I think were in a pretty good position that well be able to come out with something that weve put together, kind of similar along the same idea that we've been working on to make sure there's some assurance to protect the caucuses here in the state of Iowa, he said. Ardshinbank warns about the facts of fraud Parliament chair: Armenia underlines importance of unobstructed access to sea by all means Alen Simonyan in Ankara: Certain achievements recorded in Armenia-Turkey relations normalization process Armenia parliament speaker in Ankara: We have no territorial claims from our neighbors, we expect same from them Legislature head in Ankara: Until now Azerbaijan holds at least 33 Armenian POWs Czech premier: We must try to achieve lasting peace, we need Azerbaijanis as well for that Armenia, Czech Republic PMs are asked whether sanctions should be imposed on Azerbaijan Petr Fiala: Together with Armenia PM we compiled list of products that may be interesting for export to Czech Republic Armenia PM in Prague: International community must give clear, addressed assessment of situation in Karabakh Armenia official: Satellite images can be useful to us in military sector as well Petr Fiala: Small-engine Czech aircraft may be made in Armenias Stepanavan city Czech Republic premier: We share same democratic values as Armenia Czech Rep. PM: We underscore signing of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement that will be acceptable to all parties Lentsov, Hasanov discuss situation in Karabakh Grigor Minasyan: Parliamentary model of government will be maintained in Armenia Kremlin accuses US, Ukraine of participating in UAV attack on Putin residence Justice minister on Armenia rating drop: Not right to expect great public satisfaction when there is crisis in country Turkey continues to keep its airspace closed for Armenia aircraft Cyprus MPs express readiness to continue to support Armenia on various interparliamentary platforms Azerbaijan puts illegal checkpoint at Lachin corridor on its list of exit points Aliyev, Pashinyan and his wifes photos on the ground, painted in red, outside Armenia government building Russia MFA: Karabakh conflict solution cannot be without problems on the ground Armenia PM arrives in Czech Republic on official visit Aliyev favors holding Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations without mediators Armenias Sotk gold mine employees sent to forced paid downtime BMW will launch new generation M2 CS sports car Final round of talks between Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs to be held today in Washington US State Dept.: We note with disappointment Turkey announcement that it would suspend Armenian airline overflight Patel: US remains committed to promoting peaceful future for South Caucasus Newspaper: Azerbaijan cannot be convinced in Washington talks with Armenia Jake Sullivan: We welcome progress Armenia, Azerbaijan have made in talks Babayan: We expect clear statement from Armenia, Russia, US that they do not see Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh received Co-Founder of the Lemkin Genocide Prevention Institute Karabakh MFA: Dadivank Monastery is under Russian peacekeepers control, we condemn Azerbaijan statements Armenian and Azerbaijani Foreign Ministers meet with the U.S. President's National Security Advisor Nikol Pashinyan, with his wife Anna Hakobyan will leave for the Czech Republic Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations in Washington expected to conclude Thursday LOBODA and ftNFT are about to change the game while turning NFTs to concert tickets in Dubai UAE Armenia PM: Azerbaijan is populating de-Armenianized villages of Karabakh with Azerbaijanis Armenia Prosecutor General: 2 Azerbaijani soldiers cannot, will not be extradited now Presidential spox: We will not leave unanswered the move accusing Turkey of genocide Turkey FM: We have allowed Armenia National Assembly presidents flight only as exception Karabakh FM, head of Frances Hauts-de-France regional council sign joint statement Prosecutor General: No data to support existence of political prisoners in Armenia EU ambassador in Baku does not see massive violations of human rights by Azerbaijan Kremlin: Putin not injured as result of terrorism Russian presidential press service: Kiev tried to attack Kremlin with UAVs European Commissioner for Energy: Azerbaijan is pan-European natural gas supplier Azerbaijan president refuses to even discuss Karabakh issue Azerbaijans Aliyev presents another set of demands to Armenia Armenia aviation committee: Turkey did not inform Civil Aviation Committee about closing its airspace Zakharova: Moscow remains committed to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia leaders tripartite statements implementation Senator Menendez criticizes USAID chief for late response to crisis facing people of Nagorno-Karabakh Russia MFA spox refrains from commenting on Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs talks in Washington Aliyev hopes for visible progress in Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs talks in Washington Aliyev goes to Azerbaijan-occupied Armenian Shushi city of Karabakh Khandanyan says which topics are on Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiating table Cavusoglu: Turkey has closed its airspace for flights from Armenia to third countries European Commission temporarily bans Ukraine wheat supply to 5 countries Armenia PM sends congratulatory message to Poland counterpart on Constitution Day Iran president on official visit to Syria for first time after conflict Reuters: Israel, armed groups in Gaza agree to ceasefire Yerevan-Paris-Yerevan flight cancelled due to Turkey ban Armenia parliament speaker to meet with Turkey counterpart Competition Protection Commission monitors Armenia liquefied gas market price changes Armenia State Revenue Committee collects 20% more tax in January-April Mher Margaryan at UN: Azerbaijan destruction of Armenian cultural heritage is extensively monitored, reported US asks Armenia, Azerbaijan to consider how to best protect rights, security of people of Karabakh World oil prices fluctuate Newspaper: What did Russian peacekeeping troops new commander say to Karabakh authorities? VOA: US remains committed to Armenia-Azerbaijan peace process, State Department says FlyOne Armenia airline Paris-Yerevan flight Tuesday cancelled Russia MOD: 1 ceasefire violation recorded in Karabakh In Artsakh, significantly lower revenues were entered into the state budget. State Revenue Committee Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan hold talks in Washington for the second day in a row Kristina Kvien underscores Armenia Constitutional Court-US Embassy collaboration (PHOTOS) Central Bank: Armenia food prices dropping, services prices increasing Armenia Central Bank head: Yerevan real estate prices are inflated by about 25% Central Bank chief: Half of those who came from abroad want to stay in Armenia for at least one year Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin: Armenian clergy continue their spiritual service in Dadivank thanks Russian peacekeepers Armenia to get more than $86M additional loan for North-South Highway construction PM, Rosatom head discuss construction of new nuclear power unit in Armenia Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan arrangements regarding Karabakh have no alternative, Peskov says Armenia, Iran businessmen discuss possibilities of cooperation (PHOTOS) Azerbaijan demands Armenian clergymens expulsion from Dadivank Monastery NO to the ethnic cleansing of Artsakh movement pitches tents on Stepanakert-Shushi motorway Armenia legislature speaker to head for Turkey Wednesday Yeghoyan: If there is sour word about Russia, should we vote with abstention if Russian peacekeepers are in Karabakh? Senators Menendez, Blackburn introduce bill to support Armenian Genocide education in US Armenia refinancing rate left unchanged at 10.75% Tatoyan Foundation: Azerbaijanis are laying mines, committing thefts in Armenia territory Ruling power lawmaker: Armenia does everything for Azerbaijan-Karabakh dialogue to take place Hurriyet: Turkey presidential election runoff probability is more than 50% 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 Sisak Gabrielyan: There is interest from India, US to shoot film in Armenia 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 Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the Operation "Ring." Today, April 30, marks the 32nd anniversary of the start of Operation Ring, the very name of which speaks of its repressive nature. The main goal of the operation, which was carried out in several stages from April to August 1991, was the forceful suppression of the will of the people of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and creating conditions for their exodus from their native land. In particular, in April-August 1991, OMON units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR, together with the internal troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs and units of the 4th Army (23rd division stationed in the city of Kirovabad), undertook a large-scale military operation aimed at the deportation of the Armenian population of Artsakh. From the beginning of 1991, the idea that if the Armenians do not agree to obey Baku, they must be expelled from Karabakh, began to be regularly voiced in Azerbaijan, almost openly at the highest level. On 25 March 1991, the Azerbaijani OMON began regular shelling of the villages of Getashen and Martunashen. From 16 April, the supply of electricity to the Shahumyan region was cut off, telephone communication was disconnected. On 19 April, the personnel of the internal troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs stationed in Getashen were withdrawn from the village. On 21 April, on Baku's demand, regular helicopter flights from Yerevan to Shahumyan were banned. On 30 April, Operation Ring began with a massive shelling of the villages of Getashen and Martunashen, during which, for the first time, tanks, combat helicopters and artillery were used against civilians. The Armenian villages were alternately encircled by internal troops of the Soviet Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Soviet Army. Then the Azerbaijani OMON and police forces entered these villages, formally for alleged "passport regime control", but in reality, with the aim of killing, robbing and terrorising the Armenian population with their subsequent deportation. As a result of this operation, more than two dozen villages of Northern Artsakh, as well as the Shahumyan, Hadrut and Shushi regions of Artsakh, were completely devastated and destroyed, almost ten thousand people were deported, more than a hundred were killed, and several hundred people were taken hostage. The fate of many of them remains unknown to this day. Operation Ring, characterised by extreme brutality and massive human rights violations, dramatically increased tensions in the region and turned the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict into a military dimension, becoming a prelude to the subsequent full-scale aggression of Azerbaijan against the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. Unfortunately, the massive crimes and violations of human rights committed during Operation Ring did not receive the proper political, legal and moral assessment of the international community, and the masterminds, organisers and perpetrators of these crimes remained unpunished. As a consequence, today we witness the recurrence with impunity of the crimes of 30 years ago, including military aggression, occupation of territories, murders, ethnic cleansing and terror against the people of Artsakh. The current leaders of Azerbaijan are voicing the same statements that if the Armenians of Artsakh do not agree to obey Baku, then they should be expelled from Karabakh. Just like 30 years ago, all this is happening with the tacit consent and flagrant indifference of the international community, in an environment of complete impunity and permissiveness. Today, the people of Artsakh found themselves in a ring again - for more than 4 months the blockade of Artsakh has been continuing by Azerbaijan, which, having already officially blocked the Lachin Corridor, is trying to establish an illegal checkpoint in the area of responsibility of the Russian peacekeeping forces, thereby grossly violating one of the fundamental provisions of the Trilateral Statement of 9 November 2020, signed by the President of Azerbaijan. The fact that 30 years later Artsakh is again facing the same existential threat as at the very beginning of the current stage of the Azerbaijan-Karabakh conflict proves that the intention to destroy the people of Artsakh is part of the state policy of Azerbaijan, the foundations of which were laid back in the Soviet period and which subsequently was systematically and consistently implemented by all authorities of this country. Today, we once again honour the memory of all the innocent victims of the brutal and criminal Operation Ring, and renew our call on the international community, and first of all the UN Security Council, which bears primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security, to finally abandon the protocol expressions of concern and appeals to both sides and take urgent and practical steps to prevent the recurrence of such atrocities and massive violations of human rights, as well as the genocidal and expansionist intentions of Azerbaijan towards Artsakh and Armenia. We believe that the first step in this direction could be persuading and, if necessary, forcing the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan to comply with their international obligations and norms of international law, including the legally binding decisions of the International Court of Justice, without which references to international rules based order are untenable. SANTO DOMINGO, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Establishing relations with China "has been the most important diplomatic decision" for the Dominican Republic in the past 25 years, Minister of Policies for Regional Integration Miguel Mejia has said. Mejia made the remarks in an interview with Xinhua prior to the fifth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Beijing and Santo Domingo which falls on May 1. "In China, the Dominican Republic has an infinite market to develop favorable trade for both countries. Everything we produce for export, both in goods and services, is in demand in China," he said. The official noted that in the past five years China has become the Dominican Republic's second-largest trading partner and a win-win relationship has been established. Mejia also recalled cooperation with China during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Beijing sent health supplies to Santo Domingo and made Chinese vaccines available to the Caribbean nation. "If today the Dominican Republic is an example of the good management of the pandemic, much is due to the generosity of China," he said. Highlighting the benefits that the Belt and Road Initiative has brought to his country's development, Mejia said that the Dominican Republic has "a privileged geographical location" which makes this initiative very beneficial. Having made a number of visits to China since the 1990s, the official commented that China's foreign policy is based on mutual respect and equality. China does not seek hegemony, nor is it selfish, Mejia noted, adding that this is contrary to how the West acts with its domineering vision. "China has different principles, based on mutual respect, equality of conditions and a win-win proposition," he said, while also commending China's contributions to multilateralism. India has become Europe's largest supplier of refined fuels this month while simultaneously buying record amounts of Russian crude, according to data from analytics firm Kpler. Europe's reliance on Indian crude oil products has grown since the ban on Russian oil. Europe's refined fuel imports from India are set to surge above 360,000 barrels a day, edging just ahead of those of Saudi Arabia, Kpler's data show. The development is a double-edged sword for the European Union. On the one hand, the EU needs alternative sources of diesel now that it has cut off direct flows from Russia, which was previously its top supplier. However, it ultimately boosts demand for Moscow's barrels, and means extra freight costs. It also means that more competition for Europe's oil refiners which can't access cheap Russian crude, and it comes amid wider market scrutiny about where the region's diesel imports are coming from. Russian crude oil arrivals to India are expected to surpass 2 million barrels a day in April, representing almost 44 per cent of the nation's overall oil imports, according to Kpler data. Russia emerged as a major supplier to India for the first time in 2022-23 (FY23) after it started giving oil at discounted rates amid the Ukraine war. Despite concerns raised by the West to India's imports from Russia during the war. India has taken a strong stand and said that it looks at all options to achieve energy security. Russia was the largest exporter of crude oil to India by value in February in spite of the western price cap of USD 60 per barrel, according to the data from the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Crude imports from Russia in February stood at USD 3.35 billion, followed by Saudi Arabia at USD 2.30 billion and Iraq at USD 2.03 billion. The price cap kept by the western countries was designed to limit Russian oil revenues while keeping the oil itself flowing to avoid a global price shock. (ANI) Rajneesh Karnatak has joined the Bank of India as its managing director and chief executive officer, the lender has said. Rajneesh Karnatak has an experience of over 29 years. Prior to this, he had been the chief general manager of Punjab National Bank until his appointment as executive director in Union Bank of India from October 21, 2021. He completed the Master of Commerce and is a certified associate from Indian Institute of Bankers (CAIIB). During his banking career, he has headed critical divisions like large corporate credit branches and strategic verticals such as credit monitoring, digital banking and mid corporate credit as general manager in Oriental Bank of Commerce. Post-amalgamation of Oriental Bank of Commerce into Punjab National Bank, he headed credit monitoring division and also the corporate credit division in PNB. He carries extensive exposure in project funding and working capital funding along with risk management with specific reference/special emphasis on credit risk. Karnatak has served as non-executive chairman of UBI Services, on behalf of Union Bank of India. He has also served as non-independent non-executive director on the Board of UBI (UK). He was a member of the governing board of the Indian Institute of Bank Management (IIBM) Guwahati. He has served as nominee director on behalf of Punjab National Bank on the board of PNB Housing Finance, and India SME Asset Reconstruction Company. He also served as the board trustee on IIFCL Asset Management Co (IAMCL). (ANI) Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services T Mano Thangaraj has said that Tamil Nadu is a pioneer in areas relating to education, technology, infrastructure and the state government is making all efforts to meet the challenges at the global level. Speaking at the FICCI National Executive Committee Meeting in Chennai, the IT minister said the IT department was focusing on research and development with the creation of well-equipped labs in the state. He added that the Government of Tamil Nadu would be happy to collaborate with FICCI in various programmes of the state, according to a statement released on Saturday evening. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin was present on the occasion and also released 'FICCI-Deloitte Knowledge Paper on Accelerating Tamil Nadu's Progress to Becoming One-Trillion Dollar Economy by 2030-31'. Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) T M Anbarasan was also present. Subhrakant Panda, President, FICCI, said that "It was remarkable that Tamil Nadu has 15 per cent of PhDs and 11 per cent of postgraduates in the country. The state can truly become an innovation and R&D hub. There is also a lot of scope in chemicals and speciality chemicals in addition to traditional strengths like auto and textiles, he added while assuring the Chief Minister Mr Stalin of all support to accelerate the State's journey to becoming a one trillion-dollar economy." Sangita Reddy, Past President, FICCI and Chair of G20 Empower stressed on ways to make women get their due recognition in all spheres of development. She added that the G20 Empower framework would make gender-based reporting on women for their best practices and their global showcasing in all possible ways. Anish Shah, senior vice-president, FICCI, said that Tamil Nadu with its talented pool could emerge as the best proposition towards making the state realise the vision of becoming a one-trillion-dollar economy with all types of developments across multiple industries. He added that FICCI would work with the State government in achieving the goals. (ANI) Alia Bhatt who is all set to make her Met Gala debut this year on Saturday shared a glimpse of preparation and revealed her companion for the fashion's biggest night out. Taking to Instagram story, Alia shared a couple of pictures with her cat. In the first picture, she can be seen facing her back towards the camera while dressed in a black strapless gown and holding her cat. She wrote, "Prepping for the Met..." And in the next actor can be seen showering love and kisses on Edward and captioning it, "with my own Coup-Ed." On Sunday, Alia also shared a photo from her room in New York and captioned it "New York- You were missed." Before Alia, a few Indian celebrities have walked the red carpet at Met Gala. It was 2017 when the global icon Priyanka Chopra walked the red carpet in a thigh-high slit gown with a popped collar, which came with a never-ending trail that became a highlight of her look. Her last appearance at the Met Gala was in 2019. Deepika Padukone attended the Met Gala event several times. Her last appearance was in 2019. And fans are excited to see Alia's Met Gala look. If reports are to be believed, she is expected to walk the red carpet in designer Prabal Gurung outfit. The 2023 Met Gala will take place on May 1st in New York City. It celebrates the opening of the Costume Institute exhibition, "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty." This appearance of Alia will precede her Hollywood debut in 'Heart of Stone'. Helmed by Tom Harper, 'Heart of Stone' is intended to be the first instalment in a series akin to Tom Cruise's 'Mission Impossible'. The movie stars Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighofer, Jing Lusi, and Paul Ready in addition to Gal, Jamie, and Alia. In Bollywood, she will be seen sharing screen space with Ranveer Singh, Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi and Jaya Bachchan in 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani', which will be out in theatres on July 28. (ANI) Rashmika took to Instagram and shared a couple of BTS pictures and videos from the film sets. https://www.instagram.com/p/CrngWX5Jkz6/ From selfie with Dev Mohan, scenery shoot location, time spent with her mother and sister to her first selfie from the sets of Rainbow. She thanked the team for their hard work. 'Pushpa' actor wrote, "Guys sorry I went missing for awhile..that's Cz we were mostly shooting in no network areas.. but guyzzzz our first schedule wrap of #rainbow. Thankyou #rainbow team for your hard workkkkk.. you guys are awesome! (Ok now ps: it's a bit confusing.. so it's it's for those who actually want to know )" She gave details about the shooting and its locations. Rashmika added, "3rd place we shot in was Munnar. 2nd was Kodaikanal and 1st was Chennai. All about my last few days. Ok worked too hard for this post.. bye." Tamil-telugu film 'Rainbow' is being helmed by Shantharuban. Dev Mohan who has worked with Samantha in 'Shaakuntalam' is going to play the male lead in the movie. The music score will be provided by Justin Prabhakaran. Written and directed by Shantharuban 'Rainbow' is an emotional journey that Rashmika wishes to bring alive on screen. Meanwhile, Rashmika was recently seen in the thriller film 'Mission Majnu' opposite actor Sidharth Malhotra which premiered on the OTT platform Netflix. She will be next seen in the upcoming pan India film 'Pushpa 2' opposite actor Allu Arjun. (ANI) Several Bollywood celebs like Madhuri Dixit, Shahid Kapoor and Rohit Shetty attended the screening of PM Modi's 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai on Sunday. Speaking on the occasion, actor Madhuri Dixit said, "He (PM Modi) is taking out time to understand the problems of common people. This is amazing. He is reaching out to people in small towns and villages who are doing such good work and people are not aware of it. So he is bringing such people in front of all the citizens and they are getting global recognition which is amazing. I'm sure it's going to inspire a lot of youngsters." Actor Shahid Kapoor said, "Modi ji wanted to stay connected with the people, I think that's the sign of a great leader. All the greatest leaders in history, whether it be Kings or Prime Ministers have always stayed connected to the people. There cannot be a deeper connection than this, to be able to speak your mind and listen to people's words, to be able to convey your words to them. I felt very fortunate that I was invited here. It's a privilege to be here." Director and producer Rohit Shetty said, "I felt inspired, if one leader can show us the right path, then there is nothing impossible. When I was watching I felt how lucky we are that we have such an inspirational leader whom people listen to, from whom they are inspired, which is very rare." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation in the historic 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' and said that his radio programme is the "Mann Ki Baat" of millions of Indians and an expression of their emotions. The Prime Minister said he received thousands of letters and messages from the people and was "swept away by emotions" while reading them. He said that the people of the country have to be congratulated for the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme that began on October 3, 2014. "Today is the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. I have got thousands of letters, lakhs of messages. I have tried to go through more and more of them. I got emotional while reading your letters on many occasions, was swept away by emotions, and then held myself. You have congratulated me on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, but all the listeners, our countrymen deserve to be congratulated. Mann Ki Baat is the 'Mann Ki Baat of millions of Indians and the expression of their emotions," PM Modi said. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. (ANI) An actor who started his career playing the role of a 65-year-old man (Saaransh) while he was 29 in reality, cannot have fear of failure. He was and still is sure of his craft. He is a well-read person, who has a personal collection of 14,000 books. Anupam Kher, a talented actor in the Hindi film industry, is going stronger on his work front with each passing day. From 'Saaransh' to 'The Kashmir Files', the actor has worked in 522 films over a span of 38 years. In an exclusive chat with ANI, the actor talked about his biggest fear, how he overcame the anxiety of failure and meeting with his wife Kirron Kher. "If you ask me about my biggest fear, it is the fear of losing memory. If you don't have memory, you have nothing. Dilip Saab (Kumar) lost his memory. He was an amazing person, an amazing storyteller, a person with vast knowledge of many things. Aap unse kisi bhi cheez ke bare mein baat kar sakte the. (You can talk to him on anything and everything)," Anupam was recollecting the bygone days. Then he shared an anecdote of working with Dilip Saab. "We were shooting for 'Saudagar' in Kulu-Manali." Director Subhash (Ghai) told me we would get a lunch break after 2.30 PM. I was starving by then. Then I asked Dilip Saab, what your father's profession was. He said, he was a fruit seller. Aise laal laal seeb late the, ke usko dekh kar hi khane ko man karta tha. Wo seeb hath me aise lekar, usme daat daalkar khaneke baad, jab wo ras gale me jata tha...(The red apples were so lucrative and titillating...Holding them in hands and having a bite on them and when the juice touches my taste buds...). Anupam was trying to reinforce the fact that Dilip Kumar could describe anything in vivid detail. But that person lived his last few years in oblivion. From his own experience, Anupam shared, "While shooting for "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara", I met many people who were suffering from Alzheimer's disease. They have vacant eyes, not blank eyes." The actor has worked with all the big names in the Hindi film industry. Chopra, Barjatya, Bhatts... he was and (is) a favourite of these houses. Asked about whether he ever felt the anxiety of failure, Kher said with confidence, "When I didn't have work, even then I knew I was a brilliant actor. This confidence comes from education. I am a well-read person. Mein acting school me itna ghis chukka tha. I always knew I am a brilliant actor. I have a collection of 14000 books. If you read books in any field, you would know your craft. You won't fear failure." He continued, "I celebrate failure. My father drove away the fear of failure early in childhood days. He said, failure is an event, never a person. I believe, you can do brilliant things, only if you have stepped out of your comfort zone. There's a famous line from Osho, "If you try, you risk failure, if you don't, you only ensure it." Anupam and Kirron Kher make a lovely pair in the industry. But they are best friends first, and partners later. Sharing the details of meeting Kirron for the first time, Anupam said, "She was a star already then. She was doing theatres, she was working in movies. She is an M.A. first class first. I met her in Chandigarh. I was a simple village boy. Apparently, there was no connection between us. She was married then and had Sikandar (Kher). We used to be best of friends and we did theatres together. Later when she had problems in marriage, I was ditched by the person I was going with, and then things started to change. But we always remain best friends first." Anupam believes Kirron would have worked in more films than she achieved so far. They know each other for more than four decades now. (ANI) Taking to the microblogging site he shared the poster of the film and wrote, "It may be *your* Kerala story. It is not *our* Kerala story." https://twitter.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1652675921717997569 'The Kerala Story' has become a topic for discussion around the numbers being exaggerated in the trailer of the film. Helmed by Sudipto Sen and produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah, the film is all set to hit the theatres on May 5, 2023. 'The Kerala Story' stars Adah Sharma, Yogita Bihani, Siddhi Idnani and Sonia Balani in the lead roles. The trailer of Sen's film 'The Kerala Story' came under fire as it claimed that 32,000 girls from the state went missing and later joined the terrorist group, ISIS. Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly VD Satheesan recently said that the film 'The Kerala Story' should not be granted permission for screening. "The film 'The Kerala Story' which falsely claims that 32,000 women in Kerala converted and became members of the Islamic State, should not be granted permission for screening. The trailer clearly shows what the film intends to say", Satheesan said in a Facebook post. He also alleged that the film is part of an attempt to implement Sangh Parivar's agenda and create a social divide by casting a shadow of doubt over the minority groups. "This is not an issue of freedom of expression but part of an attempt to implement the Sangh Parivar agenda to create a divide in the society by casting a shadow of doubt over the minority groups", he said. (ANI) Late actor Rishi Kapoor was known as one of the best actors the film industry ever witnessed and he will always be remembered as someone who was full of life. The second son of legendary actor Raj Kapoor was an absolute chocolate boy during his initial days and used to enjoy female attention a lot. He was diagnosed with leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, in 2018. He underwent his treatment for over 11 months in New York before returning to India in September 2019. Rishi Kapoor passed away at the age of 67 on April 30, 2020, after a two-year-long battle with leukaemia. He was diagnosed with leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, in 2018. He underwent his treatment for over 11 months in New York before returning to India in September 2019. His wife actor Neetu Kapoor was there for him as a rock-solid partner through thick and thin. Rishi and Neetu got married on January 22, 1980, and share two children, Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and superstar Ranbir Kapoor. The star couple featured together in films like 'Zinda Dil', 'Khel Khel Mein', 'Amar Akbar and Anthony', 'Do Dooni Chaar', among several others. Neetu keeps on sharing fond memories of the late actor on her social media post. On the occasion of the actor's 3rd death anniversary, Neetu took to her social media handle and dropped a picture which she captioned, "You are missed every day with all the wonderful happy memories." Neetu posted a picture with Rishi where both the lovebirds were twinning. Rishi wore a blue tee and pants teaming it up with a hat and shade. Neetu wore a top, which was based on a lighter shade of blue. The picture seems to be from one of their travel diaries. https://www.instagram.com/p/CrpV2cdIp06/ Rishi's daughter Riddhima Kapoor Sahani also posted a throwback picture on her Instagram story. The picture shows baby Riddhima alongside her father, looking dashing as usual. The caption says, "I miss you every day." Earlier, actor Ranbir Kapoor took a stroll down memory lane and shared valuable advice given to him by his late father that has stayed with him. "Don't take success to your head and failure to your heart. What I've really understood now after so many years in the industry is do films that appeal to a larger audience," Ranbir recalled his father's advice while taking a part in a rapid-fire game conducted by the film's production house Yash Raj Films. The 'Sanju' actor also stated that his father always wanted his son to play a hero who could connect to audiences across the country. He said, "I really wish my father was alive to see this film (Shamshera). He has always been blatantly honest about his criticism if he has liked something or not liked something, especially with my work. So, it's sad that he's not going to see it. But I am really excited that I got to do a film like this and I hope that somewhere up there he is looking out for me and he is proud of me." Often branded as Bollywood's first chocolate boy, Rishi touched heights of stardom in the film industry with iconic roles in blockbuster hits like 'Bobby', 'Chandni', 'Karz', and many others. The iconic chocolate boy of Indian Cinema started his career with 'Mera Naam Joker' in 1970 which gained him a plot of popularity and appreciation from critics. The movie also featured the former actor and his father Raj Kapoor. This movie tagged him as a lover boy and not another angry young man of Bollywood. The era he entered also witnessed the debut of legend Amitabh Bachchan. The vibe of Bollywood was dominated by late actors Vinod Khanna and Bachchan delivering action-packed and one-man army kind of movies but Rishi Kapoor decided not to join the bandwagon and create his type of cinema. Rishi Kapoor was the person who spread love all around with his movies and persona. Recently, Rishi's fan got to see his last-ever interview in Netflix's docu-series 'The Romantics'. In the project, Rishi Kapoor spoke about his deep relationship with Yash Chopra and what made their combination one of the most cherished director-actor duo in Hindi cinema, especially the romantic classics. Apart from his acting skills, Rishi's films were widely appreciated for their chartbuster tracks. Some of his best movie songs are 'Tu Tu Hai Wahi', 'Main Shayar to Nahin', 'Ek Main Aur Ek Tu', 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', 'Om Shanti Om' and many more. On the film front, Rishi last appeared in the film 'Sharmaji Namkeen'. The actor passed away while he was filming for the film and after his demise actor Paresh Rawal was approached to play the character and completed the film. Hence, this movie will mark the first time that Hindi cinema will witness two phenomenal actors playing one character on screen. The film premiered on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video and also starred actor Juhi Chawla in the pivotal role. (ANI) South Africa: South African citizens return home International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, has welcomed back home the remaining group of South Africans who were evacuated from conflict-stricken Sudan. Speaking at OR Tambo International Airport on Sunday, the Minister expressed delight at the return of the citizens. We thought that it is important that the people of South Africa see that all the nationals of South Africa that had indicated that they wish to return home are back home. We just want South Africa to be assured because all of us have been waiting for you to come back. Were absolutely happy that able to return home safely, said the Minister. This as South African citizens were stranded in Sudan after the unrest began two weeks ago. The South African government worked closely with neighbouring countries as well as South African NGO, Gift of the Givers to ensure the safe return of citizens. A total 53 individuals arrived on a flight back to South Africa earlier today. Yesterday, 10 South Africans returned home. She said a lot of organisation went into bringing home the countrys citizens. We had a joint committee that worked on evacuations, she said of the committee made up of various government departments A total 51 South Africans returned home from Sudan on Sunday. In addition to the 51 citizens, a Lesotho national and a Zimbabwean national were on board the flight bringing the number of those evacuated from Sudan to 53. We are really happy that youre back home, said the Minister who was flanked by fellow Cabinet Ministers. The Minister was accompanied by Home Affairs Minister, Dr, Aaron Motsoaledi and Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Thandi Modise. However, the Minister said that she is concerned about the people of Sudan amid the ongoing conflict. We as government hope that we can play some role in bringing peace back to Sudan, because I don't think we should dessert the people of Sudan. It is in South Africa's policy that we must try wherever we can on our continent to silence the guns. We are unhappy when we see people suffering and so we will try to make every effort to really engage with the current conflict party in Sudan to persuade them to lay down arms to persuade them to work for peace, she said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-30. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Faisal Rajab (C), a commander in the Yemeni government army, is pictured among people from his tribe after he was released by the Houthi rebels in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 30, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday released a government military commander who had been detained for eight years, a Houthi official announced in a statement. Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, was released after a request was made by a tribal delegation from his hometown in the southern province of Abyan. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) SANAA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday released a government military commander who had been detained for eight years, a Houthi official announced in a statement. Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, was released after a request was made by a tribal delegation from his hometown in the southern province of Abyan. Abdulkadir al-Murtada, head of the Houthi prisoner affairs' committee, confirmed Rajab's release in a statement during a press conference held in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. "With the release of the prisoner, Major General Faisal Rajab, we confirm our readiness for a (future) comprehensive prisoner swap," al-Murtada said, urging the United Nations (UN) to "expedite the implementation of the prisoner exchange deal that was agreed upon in Switzerland." Rajab was seen being handed over to the tribal delegation during the press conference. While welcoming Rajab's release, Majid Fadail, the spokesman for the government negotiating delegation, tweeted that Rajab was originally supposed to be released as part of the UN-brokered prisoner swap deal implemented in mid-April, but that the Houthis insisted on delaying his release without giving any reason. Rajab was captured in March 2015 after the Houthi rebels stormed the al-Anad Air Base in the southern province of Lahij. His name appeared on a list of around 900 prisoners who were freed in a three-day prisoner exchange in mid-April. Yemen's warring sides have expressed readiness for the next round of talks to end the war in the Arab state, which has been going on since late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi militia took control of several northern cities. Tens of thousands of people died in the war, which has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine. Recent peace efforts, particularly China-brokered talks that helped restore diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, have increased hope for a resolution to the Yemeni conflict. Tribal members of the delegation from the southern Yemeni province of Abyan wait for the release of Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 30, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday released a government military commander who had been detained for eight years, a Houthi official announced in a statement. Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, was released after a request was made by a tribal delegation from his hometown in the southern province of Abyan. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Faisal Rajab (C), a commander in the Yemeni government army, is pictured among people from his tribe after he was released by the Houthi rebels in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 30, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday released a government military commander who had been detained for eight years, a Houthi official announced in a statement. Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, was released after a request was made by a tribal delegation from his hometown in the southern province of Abyan. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Faisal Rajab (C), a commander in the Yemeni government army, is pictured among people from his tribe after he was released by the Houthi rebels in Sanaa, Yemen, on April 30, 2023. Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday released a government military commander who had been detained for eight years, a Houthi official announced in a statement. Faisal Rajab, a commander in the Yemeni government army, was released after a request was made by a tribal delegation from his hometown in the southern province of Abyan. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) Dogs with dementia have the same sleep disturbances as individuals with dementia. Researchers from North Carolina State University utilised electroencephalography, or EEGs, on elderly dogs to examine if brain-wave readings during sleep were associated with markers of cognitive deterioration. They observed that dogs with advanced dementia slept less and had more sleep disturbances than dogs with normal cognitive abilities. The study - part of an ongoing clinical trial on canine aging and cognition at NC State - looked at 28 elderly dogs: 17 females and 11 males. Prior to the sleep study, the dogs had received complete physicals, undergone cognitive testing, and their owners completed the Canine Dementia Scale (CADES) questionnaire, in order to determine the severity of their cognitive decline. The researchers used non-invasive techniques to gather their data - the dogs weren't sedated, and the electrodes were affixed to the skull with sticky gel. The dogs did two sleep sessions in the lab - the first one to acclimate them to the surroundings and electrode placement, and the second to record brain activity during a two hour sleep period. "Past sleep studies in dogs often involved surgically implanted electrodes," says Alejandra Mondino, postdoctoral researcher at NC State and lead author of the study. "Non-invasive studies are relatively new. We are one of a handful of groups doing this work." The EEG measured four stages of sleep: wakefulness, drowsiness, NREM and REM. NREM, or non-REM, is a deep sleep state prior to REM (which stands for rapid eye movement and is associated with dreaming). "In NREM, the brain clears toxins, including the beta-amyloid proteins that are involved in diseases like Alzheimer's," Mondino says. "REM sleep is when dreams happen, and this stage is very important for memory consolidation." The researchers correlated the percentage of time spent in each sleep state with the dogs' scores on cognitive testing and the CADES questionnaire. The higher the dog's dementia score, the less time they spent in NREM and REM sleep. "These dogs have dementia and sleep disruption is part of that," Mondino says. "In addition to the shorter time spent sleeping, when we look at the EEG, we saw their brain activity during sleep was more akin to wakefulness. "In other words, when they do manage to sleep, their brains aren't really sleeping."The work is an important part of establishing baselines for identifying cognitive decline in dogs. The researchers hope that the work can lead to early diagnosis and intervention for elderly dogs with signs of cognitive decline. "We now know that EEG signatures are useful indicators of canine cognitive dysfunction," says Natasha Olby, the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rahna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair in Gerontology at NC State and corresponding author of the study. "The work further establishes the dog as a model for Alzheimer's disease. Hopefully therapeutic trials in dogs will help to direct our choices of treatment development for people." (ANI) The wife of IAS officer G. Krishnaiah, who was lynched in 1994 by a mob led by former Bihar MP Anand Mohan Singh, has moved the Supreme Court against the latter's premature release from prison. The plea filed by Uma Krishnaiah, the wife of G. Krishnaiah, contended that life imprisonment awarded as a substitute for death penalty has to be carried out strictly as directed by the court, and it would be beyond application of remission. "The sentence of imprisonment for life given to a convict as a substitute for death sentence must be viewed differently and segregated from the ordinary life imprisonment given as the sentence of first choice. Life imprisonment, when awarded as a substitute for death penalty, has to be carried out strictly as directed by the court and would be beyond application of remission," the plea contended. The plea submitted that the life imprisonment handed down to gangster-turned-politician Anand Mohan meant incarceration for his entire natural course of life. "Imprisonment for life means full natural course of life and cannot be mechanically interpreted to be 14 years. It means that imprisonment for life lasts until the last breath," it said. Anand Mohan was released from the Saharsa jail on Thursday morning following an amendment in Bihar's prison rules. The plea said Mohan is a politically influential person and has committed the murder of G. Krishnaiah, a serving IAS Officer, while himself being an MLA. He enjoys political support and has several criminal cases pending against him. The plea argued that Rule 481(1)(c) of Bihar Prison Manual, 2012 provides that convicts whose death sentence has been commuted to life sentence will be eligible for consideration of remission only after completion of 20 years of sentence. "In the present case, Anand Mohan was awarded death sentence by the trial court on October 5, 2007, which was later commuted to 'rigorous imprisonment for life' by the Patna High Court and has been confirmed by the apex court. Anand Mohan has served only 14 years of incarceration and therefore, he is not eligible to be considered for remission as per Rule 481 (1)(c) of the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012," the plea contended. The plea added, "Grant of remission to the present convict is in contravention of the notification dated December 10, 2002 which was applicable on the date of conviction, i.e., October 5, 2007. Therefore, the order dated April 24, 2023 by the State of Bihar is in violation of the notification dated December 10, 2002 as well as in contravention of judgments of the apex court." The plea also said that the Bihar government has specially brought about an amendment to the Bihar Prison Manual, 2012 with retrospective effect vide amendment dated April 10, 2023, in order to ensure that the convict, Anand Mohan, be granted the benefit of remission. "The said amendment dated 10.04.2023 is against the notification dated 10.12.2002 as well as against the public policy and has resulted in demoralisation of the civil servants in the state. Therefore, it suffers from the vice of malafide and is manifestly arbitrary and is contrary to the idea of a welfare state," said the plea. In 1994, Krishnaiah, then District Magistrate of Gopalganj, who hailed from Telangana, was beaten to death by a mob when his vehicle tried to overtake the funeral procession of gangster Chhotan Shukla. The mob was reportedly instigated by Anand Mohan. --IANS ss/arm ( 593 Words) 2023-04-29-21:04:04 (IANS) The woman arrived at the Chennai airport on April 28 from Kuala Lumpur by Flight No. AK13. She was intercepted by the Customs officials on the basis of suspicion. "On examination of her checked-in baggage, 22 snakes of various species were found along with a chameleon. The reptiles were seized under the Customs Act, read with the Wildlife Protection Act," an official said. The woman was produced before a local court on Saturday, which sent her to 14-day judicial custody. --IANS atk/arm ( 111 Words) 2023-04-29-21:08:02 (IANS) Saha, who also holds the home portfolio, said in his social media posts that the STF headed by the Superintendent of Police (Economic Offences) will have statewide jurisdiction. "The STF has been formed with the objective of taking focused action against organised criminal groups, criminal syndicates, extortion gangs and similar such crimes," the Chief Minister said. On Wednesday, Saha had held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi wherein they discussed various affairs of Tripura. A source close to the Chief Minister said that Shah asked Saha to take strict action against drugs menace and organised crimes in the state. Earlier this week, the Tripura government had set up the first ever Crime Branch Police Station (CBPS) in the state to investigate cases on economic offences, serious crimes, and narcotics-related offences. The CBPS has jurisdiction all over the state. After getting approval from the competent authority, the CBPS will conduct inquiries into economic offences, serious crimes and offences under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. --IANS sc/arm ( 216 Words) 2023-04-29-22:30:03 (IANS) Patna Police have cracked the gruesome murder of a two-and-a-half-month-old girl, who was found dead inside a plastic container of ghee on April 26, by arresting her father on Saturday. The accused, Bharat Yadav, has confessed to his crime during interrogation by the police. The police said that Yadav ran a small tea stall in Kajipur under the Kadam Kuan police station. Her daughter had a hole in her heart. Yadav had sold all his valuables, including gold ornaments of his wife, for his daughter's treatment, but her health condition did not improve. "On April 26, he decided to kill his daughter. The accused's daughter and his monor son were sleeping on the bed when his wife went to the washroom for a bath. Yadav saw the opportunity and strangled his daughter to death. He then put the body of the infant in a plastic container and fled from the spot," said an official spokesperson of Patna Police. "When his wife Kajal Devi came out of the washroom, she found her daughter missing. She raised an alarm and contacted her neighbours. She also called her husband and told him to come home immediately. The accused behaved as if he did not know anything. He also started searching for his daughter. Kajal then forced her husband to contact the local police. When the police searched the house, they found the body of the infant inside a container," the spokesperson said. "The police suspected the hand of some family member behind the incuident. Yadav and his wife were called to the police station for questioning on Friday. After the day-long interrogation, the police sent Kajal home, but detained Yadav. The accused later broke down and revealed how he murdered his daughter. "Yadav had planned to dispose of the body without his wife knowing anything about it, but her insistence to call the police ruined his plans," he said. --IANS ajk/arm ( 329 Words) 2023-04-29-22:54:02 (IANS) The process to register a case at Chandan Nagar police station is underway. "1 kg 108 gm MD worth Rs 1.21 crore was found in the possession of the duo who came from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh and alighted at the Kharadi bus stop with the contraband," said DCP Crime Branch Pune City Police, Amol Zende. Further probe is underway and details are awaited. Earlier on April 22, the Anti-Narcotics cell (ANC) of Mumbai police arrested two drug peddlers from the Dharavi and Chembur area, recovering MDMA drugs worth Rs 37 lakh, said the Mumbai police. "Ghatkopar unit of the Anti-Narcotics Cell arrested two drug peddlers from Dharavi and Chembur area and recovered MDMA drugs worth approximately Rs 37 lakhs from them. A case has been registered under NDPS Act. The accused were produced in the court and the court sent them to police custody till April 25," said Mumbai Police in a statement. ANC of Mumbai Police made a major crackdown on a drug racket when it on March 21 arrested three drug peddlers and recovered drugs worth Rs 10 crore. The operation was carried out by the Worli unit of the Anti Narcotics Cell in the Bandra area of Mumbai. During the operation, the ANC officials found three people suspicious near BKC Fire Brigade, Bandra. When they were searched, the ANC officials recovered around 5 kg of MD drug the value of which in the international market is over Rs 10.03 crore. Arrested three were charged with NDPS Act. Earlier on March 18, Mumbai Crime Branch Unit arrested five drug peddlers from the Santacruz area and seized drugs worth Rs 49 lakh. (ANI) The victim has been identified as Farzana Irfan Sheikh (30), and the incident took place in the Indira Nagar Mandal area in Mankhurd suburb, confirmed DCP Hemraj Rajput. The matter came to light after a caller tipped off the PCR at around 7.15 p.m. about a gunfire in the area, following which a team from the Mankhurd police station reached the spot. However, the area was almost deserted as the scared locals had scurried to hide in their homes. The police found the victim's body lying there in a pool of blood with a bullet injury on her chest. Farzana's father, Mohammed Choudhary, who also reached the spot, later lodged a police complaint. An official said that a huge fight broke out between the women of two neighbouring families for some unknown reasons. The husband and son of one of them whipped out a pistol and allegedly fired at Farzana before fleeing from the spot. The police said that they have sent out teams to nab the absconding duo. --IANS qn/arm ( 210 Words) 2023-04-29-23:24:04 (IANS) Owing to the problems caused due to snowfall in Kedarnath and Badrinath and the rains in the low-lying areas, the late-night Char Dham Yatris are being stopped by Police in Srinagar itself. Along with this, an announcement is being made to appeal to the passengers to stay in nearby cities. According to officials, checking points have been made near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Char Dham Yatris are being stopped "In Srinagar Garhwal police have made checking points near NIT Uttarakhand and near Badrinath bus stand where Char Dham Yatris are being stopped and those who have online bookings for a night stay will be allowed to go towards Rudraprayag. But the passengers who have not booked the passes are being appealed to stay in Srinagar only," said SHO Srinagar, Ravi Saini. Ravi Saini said that there are adequate arrangements for staying in Srinagar, and the passengers will not face any kind of problem. "Passengers are being appealed to continue their journey when the weather clears up," he added. Earlier on Saturday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday advised the devotees to plan for the pilgrimage only after clearing all medical tests, including for Covid-19. The chief minister said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been laid by the state government in different languages, and those undertaking the pilgrimage this year need to abide by the same. With the ceremonial opening of the portals of Gangotri, Yamunotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath Dham, the four of the holiest sites in the country, the Char Dham Yatra has officially started.With the commencement of the yatra, the state police have also mobilised steps to extend all assistance to the pilgrims and help them reach the holy sites. As the doors of Badrinath Dham opened for pilgrims on Thursday morning, the first puja was performed in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The portals of Badrinath Dham opened amid chants of Vedic shlokas (hymns). Thousands of devotees were present to witness the ceremonial opening of the holy shrine. The process of opening the doors started at 4 am on Thursday. Kuber-ji, Shri Uddav-ji and Gadu Ghada were brought into the temple premises from the south gate, informed officials. (ANI) Making headway in the ongoing Dantewada blast investigation, Bastar Police released the photograph of the Aranpur blast's mastermind and also announced the cash reward on naxals indulged in the incident. On April 26, 10 DRG personnel and a civilian driver were killed after insurgents triggered an IED blast on Aranpur road. The mastermind has been identified as Jagdish. "As per the investigation findings, it came to light that the dreaded naxal cadre Jagdish has allegedly hatched the plan of triggering an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast leaving 10 DRG personnel and a civilian driver dead in Dantewada," said police officials. According to police, Jagdish's wife, who is Class 8th pass and native of Sukma district, identified as Hemla is the commander of the doctor's team in the Darbha division of the outlawed organisation. "Jagrish's father-in-law Vinod Hemla is active as the incharge of the Kanger Ghati Area Committee," said officials, elaborating that as per the intelligence inputs, the Darbha division committee of CPI (Maoist) would be involved in the blast. "Police have announced cash reward on the naxal cadres involved in the blast and according to the intelligence inputs coupled with technical evidence, Jagdish was allegedly spotted near the blast site and he had hatched the conspiracy of triggering the blast," informed officials. The Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which claimed the lives of 10 DFG personnel and a driver on Wednesday in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada was planted by Naxals at least two months ago through a 'foxhole mechanism', Bastar Police said. According to the police, the Naxals had planted the IED beneath the road by digging a tunnel through a 'foxhole mechanism' which is a style of digging tunnel because of which it became undetectable. "De-mining is done on the said road from time to time. Prima-facie it appears that the IED was planted far below the road through 'foxhole mechanism' (a style of digging tunnel) due to which it could not be detected during the de-mining exercise," the police said. Initial investigation revealed that the IED was planted around one-and-half or two months back by digging a tunnel roadside and the wire connected to it was hidden 2-3 inches beneath the ground, the police said. Based on the investigation findings, police have registered an offence against naxal cadres including Chaitu, Deva, Mangtu, Ransai, Jailal, Baman, Some, Rakesh, Bhima and others under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 302, under Arms Act, UAPA Act and other acts, said Bastar Police. A video purportedly showing the moments after the deadly Naxal attack on the District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada surfaced in which a Naxal was seen firing at the police. In the video, the jawan's bag was seen lying on the ground after the IED blast on DRG vehicle and a Naxal was seen crawling into the forest with a gun in his hand to take the position further for carrying out the attack. The sound of gunshots was also heard at the end of the video. As many as 10 personnel and one civilian were killed in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast by Naxalites in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh on Wednesday. The video surfaced pertaining to the attack has gone viral on social media but the source of which is unverified. (ANI) Pune City Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagdish Mulik said that the Prime Minister's monthly radio address 'Mann ki Baat' will be broadcast live at 1000 locations in the city on Sunday. "The program has received immense appreciation from across the country. This Sunday, on the 30th of the month, the program will be broadcast live at 11 am and will cover various events across the country. The pune city will also be participating in this time's 'Mann Ki Baat' and the city bjp decided to broadcast Mann Ki Baat at 1000 locations across the city", Mulik said. The City BJP chief further said, "Every BJP booth in Pune city will be broadcasting the program live, and various societies, Ganesh mandals and organizations will also be broadcasting the program. The citizens of Pune are invited to join the programme." The 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address will be broadcast today with lakhs of people expected to listen to the popular programme in different parts of the world. It will be a historic moment with the 100th episode to be broadcast live in the United Nations headquarters in New York. "Get ready for a historic moment as the 100th episode of PM Modi's "Mann Ki Baat"[?] is set to go live on April 30th in Trusteeship Council Chamber at @UN HQ! #MannKiBaat has become a monthly national tradition, inspiring millions to participate in 's developmental journey," a tweet said India's Permanent Mission at the United Nations. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. Studies have shown that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. The research report identified five key themes associated with Mann Ki Baat, cleanliness and sanitation, health, wellness, water conservation, and sustainability. The BJP has planned massive outreach to make the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat a memorable occasion. Sources said the party is planning to organise facilities in every assembly constituency of the country for people to listen to the programme. The programme will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who attended the valedictory session of the National Conclave on Mann Ki Baat @100 on Wednesday, said that Mann Ki Baat is a unique experiment that has strengthened the foundation of democracy in the country. The event, which was also attended by Union Minister for Railways Ashwani Vaishnav and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur marked the release of a stamp and coin commemorating 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat. Shah said that people had almost forgotten All India Radio due to changing times and different mediums of communication, but Prime Minister connected the young generation through Mann Ki Baat and gave a new lease of life to All India Radio. He said that PM Modi took All India Radio to every home and village of the country. He said the programme had provided a platform for the expression of the country's positive energy and creative power. He said PM Modi has brought the mantra of democracy to the grassroots through 99 episodes of Mann Ki Baat. (ANI) TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- An Iranian county police chief and his wife were killed in an armed attack while they were traveling in a car in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan on Sunday morning, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported. The attack was carried out by "hostile" individuals at 7:10 a.m. local time (0340 GMT), when Saravan County's police chief Alireza Shahraki was driving along a county street with his wife, Tasnim quoted provincial police commander Doostali Jalilian as saying. Shahraki's wife, who was also shot during the attack, was transferred to a medical center. She succumbed to her wounds later in the day, official news agency IRNA quoted Jalilian as saying. Investigations are being carried out by specialized teams to identify and arrest the "hostile" assailants, Jalilian said. According to Tasnim, Shahraki and his wife were killed by Kalashnikov rifle bullets. Ahead of the 100th episode of the Prime Minister's monthly radio address 'Mann Ki Baat', Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said it is called 'Mann Ki Baat' but actually it is 'Jan Jan Ki Baat'. Talking to ANI, Uttarakhand CM said, "It might be called 'Mann Ki Baat' but actually it is 'Jan Jan Ki Baat'. This is about several people in the country who used to work hard without recognition." PM Modi's monthly radio programme will complete its 100th episode today, which will be aired at 11 am and broadcast live across the country and in various parts of the world, including the United Nations Headquarters. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. The programme will be telecast live by Doordarshan in Raj Bhavans across the country. The Raj Bhavan in Mumbai will host citizens from Maharashtra who have been mentioned by the Prime Minister in previous editions of Mann Ki Baat along with other eminent personalities from the state. (ANI) The radio program 'Mann Ki Baat' has been a popular platform for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to connect with the people of India. The program, which is held on the last Sunday of every month, has been successful in reaching out to millions of Indians across the country, said a report. According to the report, the consistent message of the broadcasts is that the citizens of India are special people and need to have the confidence to act in a manner that assists in pushing forward the trajectory of the country. In several episodes of 'Mann Ki Baat', Prime Minister Modi has talked about Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of the region. He has spoken about the Community Mobilisation Programme 'Back to Village', which aimed to reach the doorsteps of villagers across 4500 panchayats. He has also mentioned the increase in demand for lotus stem, known as 'Nadru' in the Kashmir language, which led to the formation of a Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO) for farmers cultivating Nadru in Dal Lake. In addition, he has talked about the self-reliance of the country in the field of pencil making, thanks to the efforts of the people of Pulwama. He has also highlighted the success of beekeeping in Jammu, where a beekeeper has been earning Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh annually. The efforts of the government in Jammu and Kashmir have been commendable, and 'Mann Ki Baat' has been successful in bringing these efforts to the forefront. The program has provided a platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and encourage them to take part in the development of the region. It has also highlighted the success of various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of the region. Overall, 'Mann Ki Baat' has been a successful platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of India and to encourage them to take part in the development of the country, added the report. The program has been successful in highlighting various initiatives taken by the government to empower the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and it has provided a platform for the Prime Minister to connect with the people of the region. It is important that such initiatives continue to be taken to ensure the development of the region and the country as a whole. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has admitted a plea filed by advocate and activist Amit Sahni praying to make heinous crimes, including unnatural sex and kidnapping of minors for begging, which entails imprisonment up to life term be tried by a sessions judge and not a magistrate. Division Bench comprised of Chief Justice Satish Chand Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad on Friday observed that this issue requires arguments in detail and therefore the matter is admitted in a regular list and the same would be taken for detailed hearing in due course. Sunil Dalal, senior advocate appearing for Sahni submitted that the punishment prescribed in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for several heinous offences cannot be awarded by a magistrate as he or she is empowered to grant a sentence for a maximum period of up to three years only. In 2019, the bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Anu Malhotra sought responses from the ministries of Home Affairs and Law and Justice on a plea filed by Sahni. Justice Siddharth Mridul had orally observed that the court is surprised that this issue is not raised as yet. The plea said that Schedule-I of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which makes sections 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 327(voluntarily causing hurt to extort property or to constrain to an illegal act), 363A (kidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging), 377 (unnatural sex), 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death), 392 (robbery), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant), of the IPC 'triable by magistrate' is ultra-vires to Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. These offences entail punishment ranging from 10 years to a life term. It sought the court to ask the authorities concerned to ponder over it and rectify the "inherent lacunae" in the procedural law by making it triable by the 'court of sessions' instead of the 'court of judicial magistrate of first class'. It added that the magistrate could refer the matter to Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)/Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) under section 325 CrPC in case he or she feels that three years of punishment is not sufficient in any particular case. The CJM or CMM can award sentences up to seven years only and the object of awarding severe punishment which is provided for these offences does not meet, it said." The procedural law is incapable to meet the ends of justice as prescribed in substantive law, that is, IPC, particularly regarding the aforesaid sections in the present context, the plea said. The plea also stated that there is absolutely no provision enabling the Chief Judicial Magistrate or Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to refer any case to the court of sessions if it desires to inflict more than seven years as authorized by law. "Further not only injustice is caused to the victims but the deterrence effect of providing higher sentence is also defeated," the petition said. "The object of higher punishment in these sections cannot be achieved in the absence of provisions, which entitled the magistrate to award maximum sentence upon any accused convicted in any of the sections," it added. (ANI) Coming down heavily on Congress for drawing parallels between a snake and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister on Sunday said that the people of Karnataka will give the party a "befitting answer" in the upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in an election rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Thursday, said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it's poison or not. If you lick it, you're dead." Lashing out at Congress over the remark, PM Modi said, "Today when I am fighting against corruption, Congress is disturbed the most. Congress is now threatening. They say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi'. Congress' topic in Karnataka elections is snake's poison. They are comparing me with snake and seeking votes from people. For me, people of the country are a form of Lord Shiva. I accept being the snake on the neck of god-like public. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10." PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress terming the party as an "outdated engine" and said that it halts development and gives fakes guarantees. "Congress is an 'outdated engine'. Development halted due to them. Congress has a bundle of fake guarantees. They don't fulfil any promise made to the public. 'Unfulfilled guarantees' are their record. They betrayed the public, but BJP fulfilled all the guarantees by doing several development works," PM Modi said while addressing a public meeting here. Notably, Congress has promised a number of guarantees to the people of Karnataka ahead of the state Assembly polls slated on May 10, including 200 units of free electricity. The Prime Minister further said that corruption has always prospered under Congress and said that only the BJP can act against corruption. "Congress has a reputation of 85 per cent commission. People have no faith in their govt. One of their Prime Ministers said that he sends Rupee 1 but 15 paise reach the ground. Congress has always done appeasement politics. BJP is not for appeasement but for satisfaction. Congress has always grown under corruption. Only BJP can take immediate action on corruption," he said. "Congress has done nothing for the farmers. They made promises to them but gave nothing to them. It was BJP who gave Rs 2.5 lakh cr to them (farmers) in their accounts. They always neglected the poor. We are constantly working for the development of the farmers," he added. Hitting out at Congress and JDS which are contesting the elections separately, PM Modi said that both the parties are the "biggest hindrance" in the development work and added that the unstable government cannot have a "vision". "Unstable governments can't have a vision. During the Congress regime, the world was hopeless of India, but as soon as BJP came to power, the world now looked up to India as a bright spot. Karnataka has decided to elect BJP. The double-engine govt is very important in the state for continuous development. During Congress and JDS rule the development pace slowed down," he said. PM Modi said that Karnataka has to be saved from the "corrupt government of Congress and JDS". "Today's gathering will make Congress and JDS lose sleep. Both parties are the biggest hindrance in the process of development. The public has clean-bowled them. We have to save the people of Karnataka from the corrupt govt of Congress and JDS," he said. The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows to turn the tide in favour of the party, in what is expected to be a tripartite contest among BJP, Congress and JDS. Karnataka will go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI) Locals as well as the people who visited Mysore in Karnataka have expressed joy ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's roadshow in the city later today and said that they are more excited for him than to see the Maharaja Palace. Maharaja Palace, being a centre of attraction in the city, tourists as well as locals visit the place in large numbers on weekends, however, today they are happy to see the Prime Minister. PM Modi will hold a roadshow in Mysore as part of the campaign for the BJP ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls. Speaking to ANI, Nishar, a tanga driver said that he is leaving his work today and will visit the place where PM Modi will hold the roadshow. "I will come to see PM Modi's roadshow in the evening. I like his speeches and work as Prime Minister and thousands of people will participate in his roadshow this evening," he said. ANI met a group playing Dhol and Musical instruments. Keerthi Kumar who was playing dhol and Keerthi said that all the people in his group are very happy and they have come to contribute to Narendra Modi's roadshow. "We are very excited to see the Prime Minister. We are more excited to see him than the Maharaja Palace," he said. Another tanga driver Naushad who earns between Rs 1,500 and 2,000 on normal days, but is willing to witness the roadshow today, said that he is more than happy to attend the Prime Minister's grand event. The Prime Minister's Roadshow will be nearly 5 km long, starting from Vidyapeeth Circle and ending at Highway Circle. In the 5-kilometre-long roadshow, 5 special points have been made where chairs have been kept for the elders of the city to sit. At these five points, PM Modi will stop for a while and greet the people along with the elders and people of the city. Adequate security arrangements have been made including the police barricading, railings. CCTV cameras have also been installed at various places. The entire city is covered with Bharatiya Janata Party's flags within a radius of 5 km. The Prime Minister's roadshow will begin in Mysore city at around 6 pm. Chandrashekhar, convener of PM Modi's roadshow program said that lakhs of people would turn up during the roadshow just like they did in Bengaluru yesterday. PM Modi held a massive roadshow in Bengaluru on Saturday. Lakhs of people participated in the Prime Minister's roadshow. Karnataka will go to Assembly polls on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI) Union Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh will embark on an official 3-day visit to the Maldives between May 1 and 3, a government release said on Sunday. According to the government release, the Defence Minister will hold bilateral talks with his Maldivian counterpart Mariya Ahmed Didi and Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid during the visit. "The entire gamut of defence relations between the two countries will be reviewed during the deliberations. The Defence Minister will also call on Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih", the statement said. The release further stated, "In tune with India's commitment to capacity building of friendly countries & partners in the region, minister Rajnath Singh will gift one Fast Patrol Vessel ship and a Landing Craft to the Maldives National Defence Forces." "During his stay, he will also visit the ongoing project sites in the country and interact with the Indian diaspora. The Defence Minister's visit will be an important landmark in building the strong bonds of friendship between the two countries", the statement added. The government release further said, "India and the Maldives are working closely to effectively address shared challenges, including maritime security, terrorism, radicalisation, piracy, trafficking, organised crime and natural disasters." "India's vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) along with its 'Neighbourhood First' policy as well as Maldives' 'India First' policy seek to work together to jointly develop the capabilities within the Indian Ocean Region", the statement said. (ANI) The gas leak from a chemical plant in Ludhiana's Giaspura area in which at least 11 people were killed on Sunday has reminded people of many such incidents over the past one year. The following is a jog-back to the incidents resulting from poisonous gases seeping into the air. 1. Ammonia gas leak in Haryana's Jhajjar A gas leak was reported at a factory in the Jhajjar district of Haryana on April 28, 2022, in which no one was injured or affected. The leakage of ammonia was reported from a 'Kathha' making factory. 2. Vishakhapatnam's laboratory gas leak On June 3, 178 women workers fell ill following a gas leak at the laboratory in Atchutapuram of Andhra Pradesh's Vishakhapatnam. The workers fell sick after they inhaled the poisonous gas that leaked at Porus Laboratories Pvt Ltd. 3. Balaghat gas leak Five people died due to the leakage of poisonous gas in a well in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat on June 8, 2022. 4. Andhra gas leak As many as 121 women workers were affected after gas was leaked in a garment factory in Andhra's Anakapalle district on August 3, 2022. 5. Odisha's Balasore prawn plant On September 28, 2022, 28 workers fell ill after inhaling ammonia gas that leaked from a prawn processing plant in Odisha's Balasore district. The workers who came in contact with the gas complained of a burning sensation in the throat, nose and respiratory tract. No loss of life was reported in the incident. 6. Ammonia gas leak in Aligarh On September 29, an incident of ammonia gas leak at a meat factory in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh was reported in which 50 people were rushed to hospital. 7. Kasturba Government College chemical gas leak in Hyderabad On November 18, at Hyderabad's Kasturba Government College, 25 students suffered from giddiness after a gas leak in a college lab. 8. Ammonia gas leak at Kamalgazi Pepsi plant in West Bengal On November 21, an ammonia gas leak was reported from the Kamalgazi Pepsi plant in the South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal in which no one was injured or affected. 9. Ammonia gas leak in Kakdwip ice factory in West Bengal On November 25, two local residents in West Bengal's Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas fell sick after they came in contact with ammonia gas which was leaking from an ice plant. 10. Chlorine gas leakage in Swimming pool in Andhra Pradesh's Vijayawada Ten students aged between 8 to 14 years fell ill following chlorine gas leakage in a municipal swimming pool in Vijayawada district of Andhra Pradesh on December 7. The accident took place in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation Swimming Pool while the children were practising in the pool. (ANI) The Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East) made a recovery on April 30. The operation was carried out by a combined team of Assam Rifles, Excise and Narcotics Department and other sister agencies based on specific information. "Serchhip Battalion of 23 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of Inspector General Assam Rifles (East), recovered illegal Heroin No. 4 worth Rs. 1.5405 Crore in the general area East Lungdar, (East Lungdar - Mualcheng Rd), Serchhip in a joint MVCP carried out on specific information with utmost diligence and tactical planning and apprehended two individuals on 30 April 2023," the press release said. Assam Rifles further mentioned that in this operation two individuals have been apprehended and handed over to Excise and Narcotics Department, Serchhip for further legal proceedings. "Approximate cost of the recovered Heroin No. 4 Rs 1.5405 (One Crore Fifty-Four Lakh Five Thousand Six Hundred Rupees only). The seized consignment, Vehicle and two apprehended individuals were handed over to Excise and Narcotics Department, Serchhip on 30 April 2023 for further legal proceedings," it mentioned. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a poll rally as part of the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaigning for the Assembly elections in Karnataka's Old Mysore on Sunday. "Bharatiya Janata Party workers have gathered in Channapatana in thousands ahead of PM Modi's event to see him," MP Sumalatha Ambarish said. Ambarish, who is Independent and supported the BJP, will also participate in the program. Informing about the Prime Minister's event, Ambarish said, "The arrival of PM Narendra Modi has given more enthusiasm to the BJP which is targeting to win from the old Mysore area." Yogeshwar is a BJP candidate against former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, his wife appreciated Yogeshwar's work and said that people need a change. "Yogeshwar has done a very good job in this field. The people of this part need a change. Modi's arrival has given him a great booster," Yogeshwar's wife said. Earlier in the day, coming down heavily on Congress for drawing parallels between a snake and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister said that the people of Karnataka will give the party a "befitting answer" in the upcoming Assembly elections. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, in an election rally in Karnataka's Kalaburagi on Thursday, said, "PM Modi is like a 'poisonous snake', you might think it's poison or not. If you lick it, you're dead." Lashing out at Congress over the remark, PM Modi said, "Today when I am fighting against corruption, Congress is disturbed the most. Congress is now threatening. They say 'Modi teri kabra khudegi'. Congress' topic in Karnataka elections is snake's poison. They are comparing me with a snake and seeking votes from people. For me, the country's people are a form of Lord Shiva. I accept being the snake on the neck of the god-like public. The people of Karnataka will give them a befitting answer on May 10." PM Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress terming the party as an "outdated engine" and said that it halts development and gives fakes guarantees. "Congress is an 'outdated engine'. Development halted due to them. Congress has a bundle of fake guarantees. They don't fulfil any promise made to the public. 'Unfulfilled guarantees' are their record. They betrayed the public, but BJP fulfilled all the guarantees by doing several development works," PM Modi said while addressing a public meeting here. (ANI) "Light to Moderate spells of rain is very likely to occur at isolated places in the districts of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar during the next 3-4 hours, said the India Meteorological Department, Mumbai. The India Meteorological Department on Saturday also issued an orange alert in Shimla and some parts of Himachal Pradesh for increased rainfall activity after May 1 and 2. This comes as a result of rainfall in the state over the past twenty-four hours. The temperatures in the capital city and the adjoining areas of Himachal Pradesh have also dipped by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius. Earlier, While the country celebrated the Akshaya Tritiya festival on April 22, farmers in Maharashtra's Buldhana also staged a unique protest at Sangrampur tehsil office premises accusing the state government of inaction after unseasonal rains damaged their crops. Workers and farmers of the Farmers' Organization staged the protest in the Sangrampur tehsil office premises demanding the opening of a government gram procurement centre and onion subsidy for summer onions. The unseasonal rains across the state caused considerable damage to crops and caused huge losses to the farmers. (ANI) TEHRAN, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran has arrested a group of individuals who sought to "foment unrest" in the country by planning nationwide strikes and bringing up again the "fake" student poisonings, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. The arrestees were linked to "anti-Islamic groups, anti-Iran Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization as well as French spy agents," the report quoted informed sources as saying. The report noted the arrestees all have criminal records and had been detained for a while, but were released under pardons issued by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The arrestees coordinated to plan nationwide strikes of workers and teachers over pay and brought up again the "fake" student poisonings, said the report. Among the detainees are individuals who'd been arrested before for cooperating with French spies, the report added. The Delhi Police said the girl was immediately rushed to hospital and that she was discharged after getting medical treatment. "An 18-year-old girl attempted suicide after allegedly being harassed in the Malviya Nagar area on Saturday. The girl was immediately rushed to the hospital where she was discharged after getting medical treatment," said Delhi police in a statement. "She has lodged a complaint of harassment against one of her college mates. Further investigation is underway in the case," the statement added. (ANI). Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Sunday announced Rs 2 lakhs ex-gratia compensation to the family members of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for those injured and admitted to the hospital in the Ludhiana Gas leak incident. While talking to ANI, state health minister Dr Balbir Singh said," So far a total of 11 people have died in this incident. Four people are admitted to the hospital. The state government will provide Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia compensation to the family member of the deceased and Rs 50,000 will be provided to the people who are admitted to the hospital". He further stated that a proper investigation will be done in this matter. "Proper investigation will be carried out to know from where this gas came from or who was behind this negligence," he said. The death toll in the gas leakage incident that occured in Giaspura in Ludhiana district on Sunday has risen to 11. 'A total of 11 persons are dead. There are five females and six males including 2 male children of 10 years and 13 years," the official said. In the aftermath of the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed deep sorrow and anguish at the gas leakage incident and assured all possible help to those affected. "The incident of a gas leak in the factory in the Giaspura area of Ludhiana is very sad. Police, government and NDRF teams are present at the spot. All possible help is being extended to the affected. Rest details soon," Punjab CM Mann tweeted. Earlier today Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik appealed to the public to avoid panic and ignore any kind of rumours related to the incident. "11 deaths confirmed till now. In all likelihood, there is some gas contamination which has happened. It is quite likely that maybe some chemical reacted with methane in manholes. All of this is being verified. NDRF is retrieving samples," Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Surabhi Malik said. "We appeal that don't believe any kind of rumours and do not panic. The gas which was leaked has been diluted but just to check the spread of the gas the coorporation, and NDRF teams are checking. We are just going to for safety's sake check how much the gas has spread," she added. (ANI) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at Congress on Sunday and said that abusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in the party's DNA. The Finance Minister said that the more Congress abuses the Prime Minister, the more strongly the public will stand with him. "Abusing the PM is in Congress's DNA. On one hand, Rahul Gandhi talks about opening a love shop, while on the other hand, his party president calls PM Modi a poisonous snake. The more the Congress abuses PM Modi, the more strongly the public will stand with him. Whenever Congress feels that they cannot defeat anyone, they shower abuse over him in the same manner", Sitharaman said. Sitharaman further said, "Congress wanted to set an agenda and focus on the First Family. Jairam Ramesh's statement only shows the mindset of the Congress party as it only believes in abusing and abusing and is full of hatred." Union Finance Minister while interacting with the media on the occasion of the completion of the 100th episode of PM's Mann Ki Baat program said that 'Mann Ki Baat' is not politics, it has no politics or agenda. "In this program, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also listens to the people's 'Mann Ki Baat'. He has listened to the voices of such people or raised the issue of 'Mann ki Baat' whom no one knew. Such people have got Padma Shri and many other awards which are never mentioned anywhere. Prime Minister Modi really listens to people's 'Mann Ki Baat'. 'Mann Ki Baat' reaches the people. It is our good fortune that we have got the opportunity to work in the midst of such a Pradhan Sevak", she added. While asked about wrestlers protesting continuously for the last 8 days at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the Finance Minister said, "If you listen to all the episodes of PM's Mann Ki Baat, he has raised every issue. It is not a matter of any one class, but every important issue has been discussed." (ANI) Local representatives in the Joshimath area on Sunday sent a memorandum to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urging to commence the construction work of Tapovan-Vishnugad Hydroelectric Project which was closed after the landslides in the town in January this year. According to the memorandum, the local representatives stated that the administration had stopped the hydroelectric project under the construction of the National Thermal Power Corporation Private Limited (NTPC) after the land subsidence in Joshimath. It further stated that even after the investigation by expert committees, the hydroelectric project was not considered the reason for the Joshimath disaster and that all the residents of the area stand with those affected by the disaster. "The government is taking all the appropriate action for the disaster area and the affected which is commendable work," it read. Addressing the Chief Minister, the memorandum read that in this era of development, all the works are being carried forward by the government and since 80 per cent of the hydroelectric project work is done and it will be unfitting for the country or state to stop it. It claimed that the local Navyuk area residents have become unemployed due to the construction of the project, as a result of which the economic condition of the area has deteriorated. The memorandum also stated that Uttarakhand has been a witness to many floods and land erosions in the past. It also said that due to the deluge the rivers at present have been filled with silt and the water level has risen somewhere between 30 to 50 meters. The rivers are cutting their embankments due to which there are land erosions at places with steep slopes in the mountains. Dhasav (fall) is happening fast due to which there is a danger of fat accumulation on it, it said. "There were many floods and land erosions, which the deluge of 1971, the deluge of the year 2013 and 2021, the residents of the border areas saw with their own eyes, in which due to loss of life and deluge, the map of many places changed. Due to the deluge, at present the rivers have been filled with silt and the water level of the river has risen somewhere between 30 to 50 meters and the rivers/water are cutting their embankments, due to which land erosion is taking place in areas with steep slopes in the mountains," the memorandum said. The memorandum added that there were no other sources of employment in the area because the tenancy and measurement land had already been taken in the construction of the project. The representatives urged the Chief Minister to resume the project work by taking a proper initiative according to the requirement of the area and in view of the national interest. Earlier in April, Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti (JBSS) handed over a memorandum to the administration and announced that if their demand for the proper rehabilitation of the affected families is not fulfilled before April 27, they will hold a strike in Joshimath, said Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti president Atul Sati. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda on Sunday said that he can see a lot of enthusiasm among the people and is confident that people will vote for the 'double-engine government' and bring the party back to power. Speaking to ANI, Nadda said, "I am able to see a lot of enthusiasm among the people of Karnataka. The people are determined to bring the double-engine government back. They are happy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, and want the development done by Yediyurappa and Bommai governments to continue in the state with the PM's blessings". "I am able to see the indications and excitement, all in favour of BJP. Wherever I am going, people are turning up in large numbers. PM Modi started campaigning on Saturday, and people are enthralled with it. They will definitely give their blessings, and bring the BJP government back to power," he added. Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally in Davangere, Nadda had alleged that Congress "encourages riots" in society whenever the party gains power. "Our government is committed to working for the development of the poor, farmers, and women of the state. We have empowered the woman of the state. Whenever Congress comes to power, it encourages riots in society," he said. Further attacking the Congress, Nadda said, "I have been asking for the past 5 days - why do they not give an answer on the big scams during the Siddaramaiah government? DK Shivakumar is out on bail - why do they not answer it? How do they get the courage to speak on corruption? People of Karnataka know everything well." Meanwhile, the party is expected to release its election manifesto for Karnataka Assembly polls on Monday, informed sources. The manifesto will be released by party president JP Nadda in the presence of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and party veteran BS Yediyurappa. The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows. The Assembly elections will be held in Karnataka on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI) Terming both Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) parties as "symbols of instability", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, said that the people of Karnataka have decided to end the rule of unstable coalition governments in the state. Addressing a public meeting here in Belur, PM Modi said, "This time, the people of Karnataka have decided to end the unstable governments that have ruled the state for the past decades. Congress and JD(S), both are symbols of instability. In whichever state, Congress party is left, they make headlines only due to the tussle among the regional leaders". "Everyone is watching what is happening in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. People are in a dire state, development works are halted. While Congress is busy with its infighting. JD(S) is daydreaming. It is Congress party's B Team and wants a share in looting the people," he added. He further alleged that Congress and JD(S) are just "pretending" to compete against each other. "Congress and JD(S) just pretend to compete against each other. Even in the Parliament, both parties are together on every issue. The people have to remember that each vote given to JD(S) will go to the account of Congress and voting for Congress means putting brakes on the development of the state," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister further accused the Congress party of doing "appeasement" politics and said that due to this the facilities didn't reach the backward people. "Congress has done appeasement, while BJP is stressing people's satisfaction. Due to the appeasement of Congress, basic facilities could not reach a large population of SC/ST, OBC. While our government has provided facilities to the poor, which has increased their self-respect," he said. He further lashed out at both Congress and JD(S) parties accusing them of being indulged in "family-based politics". "There is another unique similarity in Karnataka units of Congress and JD(S). Karnataka's Congress unit has to work round the clock for one family sitting in Delhi. For every decision, from CM candidate to party ticket, they need to get the green signal from the family in Delhi. Likewise, the JDS party is a private limited party of a single family. They are spending all their energies on the welfare of their family," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister added, "JD(S) which is a party, this party is also the completely private limited party of one family. The big faces of this party are spending all their energy to settle their families. Most of the headlines related to the party are about which member of the family has the upper hand. There is no discussion about what agenda they have for the people". The Prime Minister has hit the ground to campaign for the BJP in the last leg of the campaigning, in which he is conducting a number of poll rallies and roadshows. The Assembly elections will be held in Karnataka on May 10 and the counting of votes will take place on May 13. (ANI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu hosted a dinner for the dignitaries, who are attending a two-day North Zone-II Regional Conference on Saturday evening in Shimla, said an official statement. Acting Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister, Anirudh Singh, CPS, Sunder Singh Thakur and Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Principal Advisor (IT) Gokul Butail and Chief Secretary, Prabodh Saxena were also present on the occasion amongst others, the statement added. CM Sukhu inaugurated North Zone-II Regional Conference on 'Contemporary Judicial Development and Strengthening Justice through Law and Technology', said a press release. The use of technology in the judicial system can ensure transparency, productivity and efficiency. This was stated by Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, while inaugurating the North Zone-II Regional Conference on 'Contemporary Judicial Development and Strengthening Justice through Law and Technology' here on Saturday, added the press release. He highlighted the importance of technology in making the lives of common people easier in every field, including the judiciary. The Chief Minister emphasized the need to view technology as an ally in bringing about change and strengthening the judicial system. With the inclusion of modern technology, the functioning of the judiciary has accelerated. During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual hearings had proved a boon for all, which saved both money and time of the people, added the Chief Minister. He said that a reliable and speedy judicial system is essential for a healthy and self-confident society, as well as for the development of the country and when justice is seen being served, the faith of the common man in the constitutional institutions gets strengthened and continuous improvement of law and order becomes possible. The delay in justice is one of the biggest challenges being faced by the country and the judiciary is seriously working to solve this problem, said the CM. The Alternative Dispute Redressal option is a means of resolving disputes and preparing the legal education in line with technology should be an important goal for all those associated with this profession, he added. The two-day conference is being attended by approximately 160 Judges of the Supreme Court of India, High Courts and Subordinate Courts of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and was organized by the High Court of Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with National Judicial Academy Bhopal. (ANI) The Himachal Government has decided to regularize the services of the contractual employees, who have completed two years of service as of March 31, 2023, said an official statement on Sunday. Additionally, those who are due to complete two years of service by September 30, 2023, will also be regularized after the said date. Furthermore, the State Government has also decided to regularize services of the daily wage workers, who have completed four years of service as of March 31, 2023. Those who are due to complete four years of services by September 30, 2023, will also be regularized accordingly. Notifications regarding these decisions have been issued by the State Government here today. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said, "The present State Government is committed to the welfare of the employees and had taken various measures to benefit the State Government employees." "Despite the precarious financial conditions of the State, a three per cent Dearness Allowance had already been released to the employees and pensioners of the State Government," the CM added. CM Sukhu further said, "The State Government has also fulfilled the longstanding demand of the employees by reinstating the Old Pension Scheme for NPS employees. This decision has benefitted 1.36 lakh employees." "It would provide social security and the right to live a dignified life to all the employees, who have contributed immensely to the development of the State. The present State Government has adopted a humanitarian approach to take decisions for the welfare of every section of society," he further stated. (ANI) Information was received on Saturday night at Kalyanpuri Police Station, wherein it was alleged that a girl child had been sexually assaulted by her neighbour. As per the allegations, the victim child was playing in the streets when the accused took her to a vacant house in front of a park near his residence and allegedly sexually assaulted her. The child started crying, after which both she and the accused boy fled from the spot. The victim narrated he whole incident to her mother, after which she was taken to the hospital, and the complaint was registered. She was medically examined at Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital and was counselled by a children's care counsellor. On medical examination, the doctors confirmed the assault. The police registered a case under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 6 of the POCSO Act. The accused boy, who happens to be a juvenile was also apprehended by the police. Further investigation is underway in the case. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national general secretary Tarun Chugh on Sunday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme 'Mann ki Baat' has set a new narrative in the country which celebrates achievements of the common man. Chugh said a new world record has been set as the Prime Minister addressed the 100th episode of the programme. The BJP leader said the programme has built an intense connection between the PM and the people and helped boost his international stature as it is telecast in 11 foreign languages simultaneously. "The entire nation is grateful to the Prime Minister for disseminating the achievements and aspirations of the common man on the national platform," said Chugh. He said examples of personal initiatives from Kashmir to Kanyakumari with a message from the Prime Minister have inspired the entire nation since 2014 when the first programme was aired. Be it fight against Covid or call for 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Chugh said PM Modi has made exemplary efforts through this programme to inspire the nation. PM Modi's monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode on Sunday. The programme was broadcasted live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio. A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people. The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. (ANI) A dancer performs during a ceremony marking the International Dance Day in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on April 29, 2023. The International Dance Day was celebrated Saturday in Bangladesh. (Xinhua) DHAKA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- International Dance Day was celebrated Saturday in Bangladesh to promote art and culture and raise awareness among the public regarding the art of dance. Dance troupes and artists celebrated the day by participating in different programs held across the South Asian country. The main program to mark the day, held at the National Theater Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka, the national fine and performing arts academy, featured a procession, a seminar, a discussion session, an awards ceremony and a dance show. International Dance Day was initiated by the Dance Committee of the International Theater Institute in 1982. Dancers perform during a ceremony marking the International Dance Day in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, on April 29, 2023. The International Dance Day was celebrated Saturday in Bangladesh. (Xinhua) While attending the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat episode screened at the Raj Bhavan, the Goa Governor said, "This programme brings positivity to the minds of people. It does not criticise anybody. People of our country come together for the betterment of India and betterment of the development and slowly we are achieving the goal based on the concept of Swami Vivekananda "Vishwaguru". Bharat is Vishwaguru". "Such programs were earlier conducted by Nelson Mandela, both these programmes are mass conduct of the people," the Governor added. On the occasion, Goa Governor further mentioned that programmes like Mann ki Baat are playing a vital role in uniting the people of India. "Unity of people in India, irrespective of caste, creed or politics is the hallmark of our country. To take it forward and for further boost, Mann ki Baat plays a vital role," he said. "Mann Ki Baat is the best mass movement through broadcasting. Addressing the people, contacting people, complimenting people and inspiring them through this process - the country is achieving development in various fields," he added. If we evaluate these 100 episodes of Mann Ki Baat impartially, this is one of the greatest achievements of our mother of democracy, he remarked. The screening was attended by Padma Awardees from the State of Goa. "Padmashree Awardees Vinayak Khedekar, Bramhanand Shankwalkar and Sadguru Brahmeshanand Acharya Swami were felicitated at the hands of the Governor by presenting mementoes," the press release said. (ANI) Delhi PWD Minister Atishi on Sunday expressed serious concern over a letter written by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to the Chief Secretary on April 27 seeking the seizure of records and directing executive action in connection with the renovation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence and termed it "unconstitutional" and "undemocratic". In his letter, the LG sought the seizure of records relating to PWD renovations in No. 6 Flag Staff House, Civil Lines, and their submission to the LG for review. In a letter to the LG, Atishi stated, "The LG's communication is unconstitutional and undemocratic. As the PWD Minister of Delhi, Atishi is primarily responsible for all Government business pertaining to the Public Works Department." She has asserted that the LG's letter seeking the seizure of records and directing executive action is wholly outside the jurisdiction and authority of the office of the Lieutenant-Governor and bypasses the concerned Minister and the Council of Ministers, who are democratically responsible for the business of the Delhi Government. "As per Rule 4(2) of the Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules, 1993 ('ToBR'), I find myself compelled by my constitutional duty to the people of Delhi in whose name I hold my mandate, to write to you regarding my concerns with the unconstitutional and undemocratic nature of your communication dated 27.04.2023," the letter reads. The PWD Minister has also highlighted how the letter written by the LG is politically motivated, saying, needless to say, that the insinuations and allegations made in the letter are baseless and devoid of merits and have been made for political reasons. Further, Atishi has cited the Constitution's scheme for Delhi's governance as incorporated in Article 239AA and explained by the Supreme Court in State (NCT of Delhi) v. Union of India & anr., (2018) 8 SCC 501. The Supreme Court had observed that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, and he has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. While interpreting Article 239AAof the Constitution, the Supreme Court had categorically held as follows: "284.27 The meaning of "aid and advice" employed in Article 239-AA(4) has to be construed to mean that the Lieutenant Governor of NCT of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and this position holds true so long as the Lieutenant Governor does not exercise his power under the proviso to clause (4) of Article 239-AA. The Lieutenant Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. He has to either act on the "aid and advice" of the Council of Ministers or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him." The PWD Minister has also noted that though the Lieutenant-Governor is empowered to seek information about decisions taken by the Council of Ministers under Rule 19(5) of the ToBR - information that the Ministers do not wish to deny - the Lieutenant-Governor has no power whatsoever to direct executive action of any kind. "Your letter dated 27.04.2023, by directing that certain records be seized and taken into protective custody and further directing the submission of a report on the same to your office, grossly oversteps the limited jurisdiction conferred on the Lieutenant-Governor's office by the constitutional scheme. The communication dated 27.04.2023 does not exercise the power to seek information at all. Rather, it issues executive orders, a power not conferred on the Lieutenant-Governor's office under the constitutional scheme at all, except when exercised on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers," she wrote. In conclusion, Atishi has requested the LG to withdraw his communication dated and restore the scheme of governance intended by the Constitution for Delhi and its people. She has warned that the continual displacement of the constitutional scheme under Article 239AA will denude the democratic mandate of the people of Delhi. She has also expressed the hope that the elected government will not be forced to approach the court once again in view of the LG's actions. (ANI) In his resignation letter, Sai said he resigned from the primary membership and all posts of BJP. He said his image was being tarnished and there were conspiracies against him in BJP. Sai, a prominent tribal face in BJP, held several key positions. He served as the former chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes. He was the Chhattisgarh BJP chief between 2003-2005. He was also the Madhya Pradesh (undivided) state party president from 1997-2000. Sai's resignation comes months ahead the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly polls. "Senior BJP leader Nand Kumar Sai has tendered his resignation. He is our prominent leader, we will have a word with him and if there is any misunderstanding, will try to clear it," said Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao. Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took the opportunity to mock BJP on the occasion. "Today Nand Kumar Sai ji has also said 'Mann ki Baat' of the tribals along with himself," Baghel tweeted. Baghel's jibe came against the backdrop of the completion of the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat'. (ANI) A total of 235 couples first listened to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address 'Maan ki Baat' and then tied the knot in a mass wedding in the Alot tehsil under Ratlam district in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday. While talking to ANI, Ujjain Lok Sabha MP Anil Firoziya said, "A unique program of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' was organized in the Mandap under the Chief Minister's Group Marriage program. This 100th episode of the 'Mann Ki Baat' program became historic in Madhya Pradesh's Alot under Ujjain Lok Sabha because 235 brides and grooms and about 20 thousand baraatis accompanied them to listen to the 100th episode of PM's radio address and then tie the knot in Mahadev Temple." Anil Firoziya had arranged a big LED to telecast PM Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' at the mass wedding. Before entering married life, all 235 brides and grooms watched PM 'Mann Ki Baat' with Local MP Anil Firozia. 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast addresses the people of the country on different issues. It was first aired on October 3, 2014, and is broadcast on the last Sunday of every month at 11 am on All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (DD) network. The program has been translated into 23 Indian languages and 29 dialects. Throughout the years, the program has covered various topics including weather, environment, cleanliness, various social issues, and even examinations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that 'Mann Ki Baat' in his journey of 100 episodes has showcased stories of talented individuals across diverse fields from promoting 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' to 'Make in India' and Space start-ups. Addressing the 100th episode of his monthly radio program, the Prime Minister said that many talented people in the country reached the pinnacle of success through hard work and Mann Ki Baat became a medium to bring those people and their products to the forefront. (ANI) During his incarceration, the accused Dharmender Kumar was released on interim bail by Delhi High Court. However, he did not surrender after completing the period of interim bail. A cash reward of Rs 30,000 was also declared on his arrest. A team of ARSC/Crime Branch was tasked to keep vigil over the parole jumpers and rewardee criminals. Team developed information that a fugitive Dharmender Kumar did not surrender after completing the period of interim bail, in case U/s 302/394/411/34 IPC, PS Vasant Kunj North, Delhi Police Crime Branch got the information that Dharmender was hiding in Kachhla are of Uttar Pradesh's Badayun to evade his arrest. Accordingly, a team was formed to nab the absconder. A raid was conducted at Kachhla, Badayun, and Dharmender was arrested. According to Delhi Police, accused Dharmender along with his associate had brutally killed a woman and robbed her jewellery. Accordingly, a case was registered at Vasant Kunj (North) police station. Both the accused were arrested by the local police and stolen jewellery articles were recovered. During the trial, the accused Dharmender Kumar was convicted for life imprisonment. Later on, he was released on interim bail by the High Court but he did not surrender on the due date. Dharmender owned a cycle mechanic shop. He changed his name and hid in the area of Kachhla in Uttar Pradesh's Badayun and was running a toy shop there. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi who addressed the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme 'Mann Ki Baat' on Sunday said it was the country's real 'heroes' who have made this programme come alive. Addressing the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme, the Prime Minister mentioned about Manzoor Ahmed, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir who makes pencil slats. PM Modi asked Ahmed about his work. He replied that ever since PM mentioned him in 'Mann ki Baat' programme, his work has increased a lot since and employment for others has also increased a lot in this work. He said over 200 people got were getting employment through the work. PM Modi said, "I remember very well and on that day you told me that this is such a work which has no identity, there is no self-recognition, and you underwent a lot of distress and because of this you had to face a lot of difficulties. But now there is recognition and you are giving employment to more than 200 people." Manzoor Ahmed said the local farmers also got a lot of benefits from this. "They used to sell a tree for Rs 2000, now the same tree's price has reached Rs 5,000 sir. Demand has increased a lot in this since then... and it has also gained its own identity. I have many orders for this, now I am going to expand further in one or two months and cover two to four villages, taking 200 to 250 boys and girls who can be adjusted in this and they can carry on with their livelihood," he added. Prime Minister said Manzoor Ahmed has manifested the tremendous power of 'Vocal for Local' on the ground. PM Modi further said there are so many talented people in the country who have reached the pinnacle of success through their hard work. He mentioned about Venkat Murali Prasad of Visakhapatnam who did an Atmanirbhar Bharat Chart Share. PM said Prasad had told how he would make maximum use of Indian products only. "When Pramod ji of Bettiah set up a small unit to make LED bulbs or Santosh ji of Garhmukteshwar started making mats, 'Mann Ki Baat' became the medium to bring their products in front of everyone. We have discussed many examples from Make in India to Space Start-ups in 'Mann Ki Baat'," Prime MInister said. PM Modi then spoke about Manipur's Vijayashanti Devi who makes clothes from lotus fibers. This unique eco-friendly idea of hers was discussed in 'Mann Ki Baat'. During the programme, Vijayashanti Devi told PM Modi that she was working along with 30 women. She further said that the number of women will expand to 100 this year. "I have got a market in the US also. They want to buy in bulk in large quantities, but I want to send to the US also," she said. "So, when I say Vocal for Local and now Local for Global," replied PM. Through 'Mann Ki Baat', PM Modi said many mass movements have come into being and gained momentum. For example, he said the very mission to re-establish our toys and our toy industry started with 'Mann Ki Baat'. PM Modi said, "The beginning of raising awareness about Indian breed dogs, our native dogs, was also started with 'Mann Ki Baat' only. We had started another campaign that we will not bargain with the poor small-scale shopkeepers,... we will not haggle with them. Even when the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign started, 'Mann Ki Baat' played a big role in connecting the countrymen with this resolve. Every such example has become an agent of change in the society. Pradeep Sangwan ji too has taken up such a task to inspire the society. In 'Mann Ki Baat', we discussed Pradeep Sangwan ji's 'Healing Himalayas' campaign." Pradeep Sangwan who was on the phone line said, "After being mentioned in 'Mann Ki Baat', I was at the stage of almost giving up at that point of time and after that, a lot of change came in my life and then speeded up so fast which was beyond our comprehension. So I'm really thankful that you find out about people like us, who work in such a remote area, we are working sitting in the Himalayan region. We are working at this altitude. You found us there. You brought our work in front of the world. So it was a very emotional moment for me even then and even today that I am able to talk to the Principal Servant of our country. Nothing can be more fortunate for me than this." Prime Minister said with efforts of people like Pradeep Sangwan, waste is also a wealth is now becoming realised by people, and the environment is also being protected now and the Himalayas which we are proud of, are being taken care of and conserved... the common man is also connecting. PM Modi then spoke about Sunil Jaglan of Haryana who runs 'Selfie with Daughter' campaign to promote girls' education. He said, "Today, when we have reached the milestone of the 100th episode, I also wish that we once again go to all these Heroes to know about their journey. Today, we will also try to talk to some colleagues. Sunil Jaglan of Haryana is joining me. Sunil Jaglan ji has had such an impact on my mind because there used to be a lot of discussion on the gender ratio in Haryana and I also started the campaign of 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' from Haryana itself. And meanwhile, when I came across Sunil ji's 'Selfie With Daughter' campaign, I felt very happy." "I also learned from him and included it in 'Mann Ki Baat'. In no time 'Selfie With Daughter' turned into a Global Campaign. And the issue in this was neither selfie nor technology... importance was accorded to the daughter. The importance of a daughter in life also comes to the fore through this campaign. The result of many such efforts is that today the gender ratio has improved in Haryana," PM Modi said. During the programme, Prime Minister had a telephone conversation with Sunil Jaglan. Jaglan said the fourth battle of Panipat ('Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao') that PM Modi started from Haryana to bring smiles to daughters, is really important for all fathers who love their daughters. Prime Minister enquired about the well-being of Jaglan's daughter. Replying to PM Modi, he said, "Yes, my daughters are Nandani and Yachika, one is studying in class 7, one is studying in class 4 and they are big fans of yours. Actually, they and their classmates have written letters to you saying 'Thank you Prime Minister'." PM Modi's monthly radio programme completed its 100th episode on Sunday.The programme was broadcasted live across the country and in various parts of the world including the United Nations Headquarters.The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action.Apart from 22 Indian languages and 29 dialects, Mann Ki Baat is broadcast in 11 foreign languages including French, Chinese, Indonesian, Tibetan, Burmese, Baluchi, Arabic, Pashtu, Persian, Dari and Swahili. Mann Ki Baat is being broadcast by more than 500 broadcast centres of All India Radio.A study was conducted regarding the impact of Mann Ki Baat on the lives of the people.The study showed that over 100 crore people have connected to Mann Ki Baat at least once, it speaks directly to people, celebrates grassroots-level changemakers and achievements of people and has influenced people towards positive actions. (ANI) The orders were issued after Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao approved the file concerned after taking his chair in his chambers in the new state Secretariat. A Government Order (GO) regularising the services of 5,544 contract employees in 16 departments was issued by Special Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao. Finance Minister Harish Rao tweeted the GO and thanked the Chief Minister for fulfilling his promise. The contract employees whose services will be regularised include 2,909 junior lecturers, 180 junior lecturers (vocational), 390 polytechnic lecturers, 270 degree lecturers, 873 multipurpose health assistants in the Health Department, 179 lab technicians and 158 pharmacists. The file for regularisation of contract employees was one of the six files signed by the chief minister after occupying his chair in the new Secretariat. The first file he signed was on the implementation of the Dalit Bandhu Scheme in 2023-24. He signed the file pertaining to extending Dalit Bandu benefit to 1,100 beneficiaries each in 118 Assembly constituencies (except Huzurabad where the scheme has already been implemented). KCR also signed a file relating to the distribution of Podu land titles. From May, the district wise distribution programme will be undertaken. As many as 1,35,000 beneficiaries will be provided the land titles for about 3.9 lakh acres. The Chief Minister signed the third file regarding the beneficiaries of Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). The fourth file he signed was related to the KCR Nutrition Kit for pregnant women. These kits will be distributed in all the districts. As the government targeted to distribute 13.08 lakh kits across the state, 6.84 lakh pregnant women will benefit. The cost of each KCR nutrition kit is Rs 2,000 and for this project, the government allocated Rs 277 crore. KCR also signed the file relating to the Palamuru Lift Irrigation scheme. --IANS ms/vd A ( 328 Words) 2023-04-30-20:38:02 (IANS) China's top antigraft's grip over corruption has intensified as the country is targeting bankers, making an example of a few prominent figures along the way, according to the New York Times. China's anti-corruption officials warned bankers in February that it would "investigate and deal with the people who neglect the party's leadership." China started its anti-corruption operation in 2017 when it targeted Xiao Jianhua, a Chinese-born billionaire known for managing assets for the country's ruling elite. In 2017, Chinese police snatched Xiao from his apartment at the Four Seasons Hotel in Hong Kong. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison last year. In 2020, China found another target, Alibaba founder Jack Ma. China stooped Jack from going forward with what would have been a blockbuster stock offering of Ant Financial in 2020. Ant, the financial sister company of Alibaba, scrapped its plans, and Jack agreed this year to give up control of Ant. In 2022, Chinese regulators said they punished banking and insurance institutions 4,620 times, a 19 per cent increase from a year earlier, while issuing 7,561 penalties to officials, up 26 per cent, reported the New York Times. The most popular one was the case of the Chinese dealmaker and founder of China Renaissance Holdings Bao Fan, who had gone missing, according to Al Jazeera. Chinese Renaissance Holdings Ltd, in a filing to Hong Kong Stock Exchange Market, said that the company was unable to reach Bao. Since the start of this month, Chinese executives and senior officials in the country's financial sector have been put under the radar, or sanctions or are being investigated. At the start of this month, Chinese anti-graft authorities have launched an investigation against Li Xiaopeng, former Party chief and chairman of China Everbright Group for suspected severe violations of Party discipline and laws, according to Xinhua News Agency citing the official statement. Another one was Huang Xianhui, a former party secretary and general manager of the Beijing Branch of China Huarong Asset Management, who is under investigation for suspicion of duty-related violations of law, according to the New York Times. According to the New York Times, Huarong Asset Management, a so-called bad debt firm established in 1999, is one of four major state-owned companies set up after the Asia financial crisis to take over loans and other assets that had plunged in value. On April 21, Liu Ti, former deputy general manager of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, has been placed under investigation on suspicion of serious violations of duties, according to China Daily. Earlier, this year, Chinese authorities also targeted Liu Liange, Bank of China; Tian Huiyu, China Merchants Bank and Zhou Gaoxiong, Guangdong Rural Credit Union, reported the New York Times. (ANI) Four members of the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) were detained with a huge amount of arms and ammo in the Ukhiya upazila of Cox's Bazar, according to United News of Bangladesh (UNB). Bangladesh-based News agency reported that the Armed Police Battalion (APBN) detained four persons, who were identified as Md Jobayer (20), Nur Mohammad (25), Jamila Begum (48) and Bibi (16). All the detainees are the residents of different blocks of the Rohingya camps in the upazila, according to UNB. According to the police media release signed by Syed Harunur Rashid, under the commander of 14-APBN, the battalion conducted a drive at block G in camp No.7 on information that 10 to 15 ARSA members including 'terrorist Chhamiuddin' were staying there. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the miscreants allegedly opened fire on the APBN members forcing them to retaliate with bullets, it said, adding that a 'terrorist' sustained bullet injury in the incident. As a consequence of the gunfight, the APBN members also conducted another drive at block C in camp No.5 when they came to know that the ARSA operatives including Chhamiuddin were staying there, reported UNB. Though 'terrorists' including Chhamiuddin managed to flee the scene, sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the four people including the bullet-hit one were detained with their arms. Four locally-made one-shooter guns, 30 rounds of bullets from a Chinese rifle, 27 rounds of pistol bullets, five cartridges of a shotgun, three blank magazines, four walkie-talkies, five mobile phone sets and one knife were recovered from the house, according to the APBN. A process was underway to file a case against them in this connection at the local police station, it added, according to UNB. (ANI) After the terror case, new charges have been filed against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) President and Punjab chief minister (CM) Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, ARY News reported. The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) Gujranwala filed a case against Elahi citing a source report, in which the former Punjab CM has been accused of taking a bribe worth Rs 2 billion for the contract of a development scheme. Haji Tariq, the owner of the contracting company, SDO Highway Gujarat and previously arrested Sohail Asghar Chaudhry have also been nominated in the case. Earlier, Punjab police booked PTI President on terror charges following a late-night raid at his residence. The case has been registered against 50 individuals including the former chief minister in Lahore's Ghalib Market police station, according to The Express Tribune. The FIR invokes Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 and has 13 other charges included pertaining to attempted murder, rioting and assault on government officials. According to the FIR, the raid tea was attacked with petrol bombs, stones and batons. Furthermore, the complaint claimed that Elahi assisted in escaping arrest during the raid. The registration of the terrorism case against Elahi comes just hours after a team of the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE), Punjab, and the Lahore police conducted a raid to arrest the PTI ally. Police had sealed off Zahoor Elahi Road at both ends before launching the operation. At the outset, the raiding team had approached the legal team Elahi, which informed them that Elahi had secured protective bail from the court, The Express Tribune reported. When the negotiations between the legal team and the ACE team failed, the ARF made an attempt to enter the premises. However, it was met with severe resistance from the workers inside the house. The police made further attempts to break the gate, as they climbed over the wall but because of the stone pelting, their attempts failed again. Reportedly water mixed with petrol and kerosene oil was also thrown at the police from inside the house, reported The Express Tribune. (ANI) KABUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's central bank Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) sold 14 million U.S. dollars by auction on Sunday to stabilize the exchange rate of the national currency afghani, the bank said in a statement released here Sunday. The local currency afghani has been tumbling against foreign currencies, especially the U.S. dollar, over the past couple of months. The exchange rate of 1 U.S. dollar increased from last week's 86 afghani to 87.15 afghani on Sunday. Afghanistan's central bank has injected millions of U.S. dollars into the country's money-exchange market over the past month to prevent the fall of the afghani against foreign currencies. Afghanistan has received more than 2 billion dollars in cash over the past 18 months as part of the international community's humanitarian aid to prevent the economic collapse of the cash-strapped country. An Indian-origin, former CEO of a Silicon Valley-based HeadSpin, has pleaded guilty in federal court in San Francisco to wire fraud and securities fraud charges for overstated revenue metrics to potential investors to lure investments into his company, according to the statement released by US State attorney office. Manish Lachwani, 47, founded the company, HeadSpin, in 2015 pleaded guilty in San Francisco federal court on Thursday for his scheme to dupe potential investors into supporting his company, according to a statement Between April 2017 and April 2020, HeadSpin raised more than USD 100 million from investors over multiple rounds of fundraising, leading to a valuation of approximately USD 1.1 billion. According to his plea agreement, Lachwani admitted that he disseminated false and overstated revenue metrics to potential investors to lure investments into his company. "The plea agreement provides several details of the fraud. Lachwani acknowledged that while HeadSpin was raising money, he provided prospective investors with information about the company's business, customers, revenue, and finances," the statement read. "Further, because HeadSpin was a software-as-a-service company, Lachwani knew that annual recurring revenue, known as "ARR," was significant to investors and their decisions about whether to invest in HeadSpin," the statement added. According to the plea agreement, Lachwani admitted that he provided prospective investors with inflated ARR numbers and overstated revenue numbers. With respect to these metrics, Lachwani included amounts from potential customers that had not agreed to pay subscription fees to HeadSpin, amounts that were more than real customers had agreed to pay, and amounts from customers that had stopped using and paying for HeadSpin's services. Lachwani maintained and controlled an ARR spreadsheet that contained this false information and which he shared with potential investors. In 2018, in connection with a round of fundraising, Lachwani sent a slide deck to investors that stated HeadSpin's ARR was more than USD 33 million as of the second quarter of 2018, though Lachwani knew the company's ARR was far less. Lachwani is currently released on bond, according to the official statement. The next hearing for Lachwani is scheduled for September 27, 2023, at 10:00 am. The maximum statutory penalty for each count of wire fraud is 20 years in prison and a fine of USD 250,000. The maximum statutory penalty for securities fraud is 20 years in prison and a fine of USD 5 million, plus restitution if appropriate. The case is being prosecuted by the Corporate and Securities Fraud Section of the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lloyd Farnham, Noah Stern, and Ross Weingarten are prosecuting the case with the assistance of Elizabeth Kim and Pat Mahoney, as per the statement. (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs, Official spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah." On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri, while a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers reached the national capital on Saturday morning. As a ceasefire has been called in Sudan, several countries, including India, are attempting to evacuate their citizens from a conflict-ridden nation. Earlier, Indian Navy ship, INS Teg, successfully evacuated 288 stranded Indians under Operation Kaveri from the crisis-hit Sudan on Saturday. This was the 14th batch of stranded citizens headed to Jeddah to return to India. Previously, INS Sumedha, stationed at Port Sudan, had also left the crisis-hit country with 300 passengers onboard for Jeddah. The Indian government under Operation Kaveri, is set to evacuate about 3,000 Indian-origin passengers from Sudan. Until Friday, more than 2,400 Indians have been evacuated from Sudan, where the country is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. The Indian evacuees shouted slogans like "Bharat Mata ki jai," and "Vande Mataram" and also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for rescuing them from Sudan under Operation Kaveri. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed due to 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. (ANI) A fresh wave has hit the Punjabi cinema as it experiences a totally new era of women-led films, showcasing the versatility of females in the industry. Citing an example of a Punjabi film called, 'Godday Godday Chaa', Khalsa Vox reported that the film's emphasis on women is a welcome shift in the Punjabi cinema industry, which has always been controlled by men. The film's three leading females are clearly displayed in the film's poster as they stand together in friendship and support of one another. The poster emphasizes the importance of female bonding and support in the Punjabi culture. Moreover, it speaks volumes about the movie's focus on female characters. According to Khalsa Vox, a typical Punjabi wedding is the focus of "Godday Godday Chaa," but what distinguishes it is the way in which women are portrayed in such celebrations. The movie discusses the significance of women in Punjabi weddings and how they manage the daily duties that ensure the success of such festivities. 'Godday Godday Chaa' honours the role of women at Punjabi weddings, which include everything from venue decoration to meal preparation. The comedy in the movie is particularly significant since it gives the plot a fun and levity element. The use of humour not only amuses viewers but also dissolves cultural barriers, opening up the film to a larger audience. With women at the forefront, 'Godday Godday Chaa' challenges gender stereotypes and showcases the talent and potential of female actors, reported Khalsa Vox. "Godday Godday Chaa" is an illustration of how Punjabi cinema is evolving as more films with female leads are produced and also demonstrates the influence of women in the field. (ANI) Denmark Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane on Sunday listened to the 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' in Delhi and lauded the connection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with common people of the country through the popular radio programme. "I think it's a great initiative. Really, it's connecting with people and whatever the honourable Prime Minister is doing is connecting with the people. I've seen all these pitches like Swachh Bharat, and green hydrogen Viksit Bharat. And I was at the Independence Day back in 2014 so I see this development towards including the people and what India stands for and what honourable Prime Minister stands for to connect with the people," Svane told ANI. Denmark's envoy also believes a nation cannot grow without connecting with common people and in that regard Mann Ki Baat is the way forward. "Mann Ki Baat is the way forward really and I'm so happy to see all the good stories about the fibres, the cleaning of the Himalayas, the jobs being created in Kashmir and so forth that's the people's movement and we need that," said Svane mentioning the stories he liked in the 100th episode of PM Modi's radio show. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday addressed the nation in the historic 100th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' and said that his radio programme is the "Mann Ki Baat" of millions of Indians and an expression of their emotions. The Prime Minister said he received thousands of letters and messages from the people and was "swept away by emotions" while reading them. He said that the people of the country have to be congratulated for the 100th episode of his monthly radio programme that began on October 3, 2014. "Today is the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. I have got thousands of letters, lakhs of messages. I have tried to go through more and more of them. I got emotional while reading your letters on many occasions, was swept away by emotions, and then held myself. You have congratulated me on the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, but all the listeners, our countrymen deserve to be congratulated. Mann Ki Baat is the 'Mann Ki Baat of millions of Indians and the expression of their emotions," PM Modi said. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. (ANI) After listening to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday at the India House here, High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said it was a nice opportunity for everybody to bond together about a community-based program that Prime Minister Narendra Modi runs. "It's been a great pleasure to host people from our community here at our High Commission in London on this Sunday morning at the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. The idea of taking an event that is focused on community and having it done as a community event is quite special. As you can see around, there has been a lot of enthusiasm from diverse people across the large 1.8 million community here in London... in the UK to be part of it," Doraiswami told ANI. The High Commissioner added that the 'MannKiBaat' address was also done live on community radio, community web channels and at Indian consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh. "It's also been sort of done live on community radio, community web channels and also in our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh... So that has made it a nice opportunity for everybody to bond together about a community-based program that the Prime Minister runs," Doraiswami said. In a separate statement, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that he did not expect the MannKiBaat at India House in London a huge turnout. "We didn't expect such a huge turnout. The entire diaspora, I think across England, is over here at the India House...It's also an indication of the kind of trust that people have in PM Modi," the Union Minister said. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar too described the broadcast of the 100th episode of MannKiBaat as an emotional event. Addressing the Indian diaspora that gathered in New Jersey to listen to the live broadcast of the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat, the EAM said, "It is an important day and for many of us an emotional day." Jaishankar said that he often faces the question of why PM Modi, who is the most tech-savvy Prime Minister, uses a medium which is almost 100 years old. He added, "You have to understand that PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat has an enormous impact not because the medium is 100 years old, somewhere there is an emotional connect between PM Modi and the people of India." Meanwhile, author Amish also listened to the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat at India House in London. He said, "I think you could've seen the enthusiasm of the audience for Mann Ki Baat by noticing that at 6:30 in the morning, the hall was packed." He also said, "In fact not just here, we had our consulates in Birmingham and Edinburgh as well to run this programme live. The participation was here, the enthusiasm was there and I think that it truly shows the connection that honourable PM has with people not just in India but Indian diaspora across the world." PM Modi's radio monthly programme completed its 100th episode today which was aired live at 11 am. The programme, which started on October 3, 2014, has become a key pillar of the government's citizen-outreach programme addressing multiple social groups such as women, youth, and farmers and has spurred community action. (ANI) Based on real-time Indian inputs the Seychelles Navy has made a major intercept of high-value drugs in a high seas operation, underscoring a crucial role that India is playing in the region. A dhow that was seized in the waters off the island nation of Seychelles contained over 50 huge bags that contained what seemed to be packets of illegal substances, the Indian intelligence sources said. Later, the dhow and its seven crew members were escorted by the Seychelles Coast Guard to its base at Ile Du Port, where they arrived on Saturday at about 1 p.m. "During the Coast Guard routine patrol, the dhow was spotted southeast of Mahe, and the Coast Guard vessel, Zoroaster, was sent to their location. They had to use force to stop the boat whose crew was not cooperating," Seychelles News Agency quoted Lieutenant Colonel Archil Mondon, the public relations officer of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) and the commanding officer of the Special Forces Unit, as saying. According to Indian intelligence sources, President of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, other senior SDF members, and Seychelles Police were all present during the course of the search operation of the yacht and seizure of suspected drugs from it. Ramkalawan expressed his gratitude to the Seychelles security forces, including the SDF, police, and intelligence agencies, as well as to all other important collaborators participating in the recent anti-drug operation that resulted in the biggest amount of drugs being seized. "This is a reflection of the enormity of the challenge our country is facing vis-a-vis the drug scourge, and the government with all its stakeholders and partners remains determined to pursue this fight for the protection of our people, especially the youth of Seychelles. We will not give up in this fight and I once again call on everyone to join in this fight. Congratulations for a job well done!" the President said as quoted by Seychelles News Agency. The police said that they could not ascertain the type of contraband seized in the operation. They suspect it to be illicit drugs. (ANI) Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay has given a special message for the Special Book for the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat on Sunday. She said that in a century since the invention of radio, it has never been so true that the medium is the message. "The Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat programme is certainly one of the most celebrated, with its hundreds of millions of listeners in more than 50 languages and dialects. However, this book is not just about this extraordinary broadcast, it is also a testament to the tremendous power of radio to bring people together," reads her message for the Special Book for the 100th episode of Mann Ki Baat. She said that this book is an opportunity to pay tribute to a monument of the world's radio heritage and to call on everyone to celebrate radio and its values. It is for all these reasons that UNESCO celebrates radio every year on World Radio Day on 13 February - but also through publications such as this one. "With radio, it has never been so true that the medium is the message," her message read. "Radio has been a part of each one of our lives since its invention a century ago. From traditional AM and FM frequencies to the far-reaching long wave, and now expanding into the ever-growing realm of digital radio, web radio, and podcasts, its accessibility continues to grow. It is truly a universal medium," she said through the message. "Radio also carries a message of proximity, affinity and diversity. There may be no other medium with the same variety of content and programmes produced, the plurality of opinions and cultural expressions, even the number of languages available," the message read further. And this is what makes Radio such a valuable ally in crisis situations, she said. UNESCO harnessed this potential in sub-Saharan Africa, forging a pedagogy through the airwaves for children isolated and deprived of school by the Covid pandemic. And we continue to use radio to educate, for example in Afghanistan where we work with local stations to broadcast content relating to health and security to millions of young Afghans. The message from UNESCO DG further read that radio carries a message of freedom because it is a window to the world. A century after its invention, the radio is still one of the most reactive, engaging media there is, offering new ways to interact and participate in the conversations that matter, especially for the most disadvantaged. And UNESCO is dedicated to ensuring that it remains so, in defending the freedom of the press and the plurality of media. (ANI) In a significant visit, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen will be here in New Delhi in the Month of May this year as both countries celebrate thirty years of diplomatic relations. The visit comes after Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who travelled to India this year in April with a large business delegation on a four-day official visit to strengthen bilateral ties in common areas of interest, automotive technologies, and fintech. The former mayor of Jerusalem also visited Delhi and Mumbai. In late March, Israeli Knesset speaker Amir Ohana too paid an official visit to India where an MoU on the first cooperation and exchange of information agreement between the parliaments of Israel and India was signed. The visit comes at a time when Israel is celebrating its 75th Anniversary of Independence. In an event marked here to celebrate it, Israeli Ambassador to India Naor Gilon hailed the ties that the two countries share and said that he is looking forward to hosting the Foreign Minister soon. "These days we are fortunate to have a series of high-level visits from Israel to India. In late March, we had the visit of the Israel speaker of the parliament Knesset, In mid -April, we had the first-ever visit of the Minister of Economy and we are expecting to host soon the Minister of Foreign Affairs and later in the year, hopefully also our Prime Minister", said the envoy. "What is common in these visits is that they return impressed by the strong sympathy and friendship between India and Israel, as well as the understanding of the growing importance of India to Israel and to the world", he added. Speaking about the India - Israel ties, the envoy said further that the cooperation between the two countries is built on deep trust which is evident by the cooperation in the most sensitive fields. "I've never experienced before such deep appreciation, affection and friendship towards Israel as I do wherever I go in India. A similar sentiment towards India exists in the hearts of many Israelis. The cooperation between India and Israel is based on deep trust. This is evident by the wide fields of cooperation including in the most sensitive ones", said the Israeli Envoy. While speaking to ANI, the envoy also said that the Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to visit India by the end of this year. "We can expect the Prime Minister of Israel to visit India by the end of this year... India and Israel have wonderful ties in all fields, it is based on the people-to-people element. Our relation now also has the government-to-government element," Israeli Ambassador Naor Gilon said while speaking to ANI. "If we take one example of wonderful cooperation that we have look at our commercial relations. We started full diplomatic relations for 30 years. This is a symbol of how we could have developed it so fast, so high," he added. "Technological cooperation, people-to-people cooperation," the Israeli Ambassador added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and the people of Israel on their 75th Anniversary of Independence. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar paid an official visit to Israel on October 17-21, 2021, at the invitation of the Alternate Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel Yair Lapid. Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook a historic first-ever visit to Israel by an Indian Prime Minister on July 4-6, 2017 during which the relationship was upgraded to a strategic partnership. The then Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu made a return visit to India on January 14-19, 2018. India and Israel have established bilateral consultation mechanisms in all sectors of collaboration, including water, agriculture, counter-terrorism, and defence. (ANI) The Indian Air Force C-130J flight with 122 stranded Indians, senior citizens including took off from the crisis-hit Sudan. "IAF C-130J flight carrying 16th batch of evacuees takes off from Port Sudan. 122 passengers onboard this flight are en route to Jeddah. Nearly 3000 persons have now left Sudan under #OperationKaveri," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. "Respect and regard to our senior citizens being evacuated from Sudan. #OperationKaveri," he added. Till now around 2300 Indians have been evacuated, External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said on Sunday. "A C-130 Indian Airforce flight has landed in New Delhi with 40 passengers. With this flight, around 2,300 people have reached India," EAM Jaishankar tweeted. An Indian Air Force C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers onboard New Delhi from Jeddah as 'Operation Kaveri' progresses further to evacuate stranded Indians from battle-torn Sudan. It was the 8th flight carrying Indian evacuees that took off from Saudi Arabia's Jeddah, since 'Operation Kaveri' began. Taking to Twitter, the official spokesperson of MEA, Arindam Bagchi wrote, "#OperationKaveri 8th flight carrying Indian evacuees takes off from Jeddah. IAF C-130J aircraft with 40 passengers is on its way to Delhi." The 7th flight destined for Bengaluru took off from Jeddah earlier today, with 229 passengers onboard. "#OperationKaveri bringing citizens back home. Destined for Bengaluru, 7th outbound flight carrying 229 passengers departs from Jeddah," MoS Muraleedharan tweeted. On Saturday evening, 365 Indians from Sudan arrived in New Delhi under Operation Kaveri, while a flight carrying 231 Indian passengers reached the national capital on Saturday morning. As a ceasefire has been called in Sudan, several countries, including India, are attempting to evacuate their citizens from a conflict-ridden nation. Sudan is experiencing bloodshed due to clashes between the army and paramilitary forces. Even though there is a 72-hour ceasefire, there have been allegations of violence. 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. (ANI) One person died and several people were injured after a car crashed into a pole in Dayton Sunday overnight. >> TRENDING: 1 dead, 1 injured after shooting in Harrison Twp. Dayton Police and Fire responded to a single vehicle crash at the intersection of Cambridge Avenue and Salem Avenue at 1:34 a.m., Montgomery County Regional Dispatch confirmed. When officers and firefighters arrived, they found several people injured and one person dead after a vehicle crashed into a pole, dispatch informed. Medics were dispatched to treat the injured. Following their care at the scene, they were transported to Miami Valley Hospital for further treatment. The severity of their conditions were not available at the time of questioning. Dayton Police led the investigation into the crash. We will update this story as it develops. MANILA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said troops killed seven suspected left-wing rebels during a Sunday raid in the central Philippines. Army Captain Jefferson Mariano said the troops assaulted a New People's Army (NPA) hideout in Northern Samar province after villagers reported the rebels' presence there. Mariano said the military used air and artillery to penetrate the lair heavily fortified with anti-personnel mines, resulting in 30-minute fighting. After the clash, Mariano said troops recovered seven bodies and several guns and ammunition. NPA rebels have been fighting the government since 1969. They concentrate their attacks on rural areas and have skirmishes with the military. Military data showed that the NPA is estimated to have 2,000 members, significantly lower than its peak strength in the 1980s. The stunning Skogafoss in Iceland has miles and miles of flowing river into waterfalls deep within the heart of the highlands. This picture was taken on Aug. 31, 2022. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News Iceland is a beautiful country with unique landscapes. Stunning waterfalls, volcanic landscapes and a black sand beach have lured many tourists to the island country. Tourism contributes to 67% of total service exports in Iceland and 35% of total export revenue, per the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. If youre planning on going or even if youre just interested in learning more about the Scandinavian island country, here are 10 facts about Iceland. 1. Iceland is one of the least populated European countries There are not a lot of people in Iceland. According to the World Population Review, its the sixth least populous country in Europe. There are only 331,000 people who live in Iceland. Much of the population is concentrated in its capital, Reykjavik, with around two-thirds of the population living there, according to Iceland Travel. Because there are so few residents, some Icelandic college students even created an app that helps determine whether you are related to someone or not before going on a date, called Islendingabok. . Nearly 11% of Icelands land is covered by glaciers. This is the Skaftafell Glacier on Aug. 28, 2022. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 2. There are around 200 volcanoes on the island According to National Geographic, Iceland has around 200 volcanoes and accounts for one-third of Earths total lava flow. The landscape has many other remarkable and notable features, including multiple geothermal pools and geysers. There are enough hot springs that nearly every county has at least one. Geysers are so commonplace that the term geyser even stems from Icelandic. Only 1% of the country is forested because glacial lakes and mountainous lava deserts cover nearly 80% of the land, according to PBS. Its also the only place in the world where you can swim between two tectonic plates the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, or the divide between the North American plate and Eurasian plate, per The World Pursuit. Related 3. Iceland loves to read. Like, a lot Literacy rates in the Scandinavian country are close to 100% Icelanders read more books per capita than any other citizenry in the world, per PBS. Story continues Its common to give books as a gift for Christmas, known as Jolabokaflo, meaning Christmas book flood, according to NPR. If you look at book sales distribution in the U.K. and the States, most book sales actually come from a minority of people. Very few people buy lots of books. Everybody else buys one book a year if youre lucky, Baldur Bjarnason, researcher on Icelandic book industry, told NPR. Its much more widespread in Iceland. Most people buy several books a year. Not only are Icelanders reading books, many enjoy writing them. Iceland publishes more books per capita than any other country in the world, NPR reported. 4. Iceland was one of the first in the world to have a parliament The country was one of the first in the world to establish a parliament Icelandic chieftains met in the year 930 CE to create the first parliament, according to Nordic Visitor. This also makes it the oldest parliament in the world that is still in existence, per Nordic Visitor. It was also the first country in the world to elect a woman as head of state by electing Vigdis Finnbogadottir in 1980 as president, according to The Guardian. If I may say so, because I hear it all the time, it changed everything, she told The Guardian. Women thought, if she can, I can. In my advanced age, women still thank me for being a role model. 5. Iceland has been named one of the happiest countries in the world The World Happiness Report named Iceland as one of the worlds safest and happiest nations, Iceland Travel reported. It was also ranked the most peaceful country in the world by the Global Peace Index. The World Economic Forums report on equality between sexes named it the best country in the world for women, per The Guardian. The country has no standing army, and local police dont carry guns yet Iceland marks extremely low crime rates, per Guide to Iceland. Related 6. There are no snakes or mosquitoes in Iceland It sounds a little too good to be true, but its true Iceland has no snakes or mosquitoes. It also has no bears or poisonous bugs, according to Arctic Adventures. You also wont see many dogs if you visit. Dogs were banned in 1924 because of a tapeworm that was spreading from dogs to humans, per Smithsonian Magazine. The ban was lifted in the 1980s, but the government still requires rigorous testing and vaccinations to own a dog in the country. Only one breed of horse exists on the island because Icelandic horses have not been mixed with other breeds, per Arctic Adventures. One animal you might get to see, though, is whales. There are more than 20 different species of whales in the oceans around the island, per Arctic Adventures. Miniature elf houses sit outside a shelf in Eastern Iceland on August 27, 2022. Many Icelanders believe in elves. | Sarah Gambles, Deseret News 7. Many Icelanders believe in elves A 2007 University of Iceland study revealed that 62% of people in Iceland believe in elves, per BBC. You can often see miniature houses with little goodies left in front of the house where elves can stay. Nancy Marie Brown, the author of Looking for the Hidden Folk: How Icelands Elves Can Save the Earth, believes Icelanders convictions around elves support how well they take care of the environment. Theres even an elf school for visitors to learn more about Icelandic elf culture, Deseret News reported. Related 8. Babies often sleep outside, even in the cold in Iceland This is a common practice in many Scandinavian countries, but might feel a little different to Americans. Babies will often be left on porches or other outdoor spots to provide fresh air and Icelanders believe it supports the development of their respiratory and immune system, per Guide to Iceland. According to a study published in the International Journal of Circumpolar Health, babies who were bundled up and slept outside in winter temperatures slept longer and better compared to babies who slept indoors. 9. Icelanders eat ice cream year-round Although the island country remains fairly cold all year, Icelanders love ice cream. According to BuzzFeed, they even have a word to describe an ice cream road trip Isbiltur. Not only do they eat ice cream year-round, they also will grill in any type of weather, per Guide to Iceland. 10. Icelanders call everyone by their first names Everyone goes by and is addressed by their first name, even the president. Icelanders believe it helps foster a dialogue with a less stuffy hierarchy, according to Guide to Iceland. And most names feel familiar to most Icelanders because an official register of names is the only place parents can pull from to name their child. If a parent wants to use one not on the list, a special committee must grant them permission first. And if the name is on the banned list, using that name is strictly forbidden, The World Pursuit writes. Related A jewelry collection once owned by a man who made a fortune buying up Jewish business in Nazi Germany will go to auction on May 3. The massive collection has more than 700 pieces and is valued at $150 million, according to The New York Times. The "Briolette of India" necklace, which will be on auction, has a 90-carat diamond with an estimated value of $7.8 million. More than 700 jewels valued at nearly $150 million and largely procured by the wife of Helmut Horten, a man who made a fortune buying businesses from Jews who were forced to sell in Nazi Germany are set to go on auction next week at Christie's. The massive collection from the estate of Austrian heiress Heidi Horten will be one of the largest jewelry auctions in history, according to The New York Times. Anthea Peers, president of Christie's Europe, Middle East, and Africa, said Christie's was aware of the "painful history" that the collection carries, and that the auction house had to grapple with it when deciding to host the items. "We weighed that up against various factors," Peers told the paper, adding that the Heidi Horten Foundation is now "a key driver of philanthropic causes." Peers said despite the ugly history, the collection is still one of the most beautifully curated that will ever come around in the jewelry world, The Times reported. "This is a sale that will do an enormous amount for philanthropy," Peers told the paper. "That's important for the estate and for us." Christie's did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Sunday. Stephanie Stephan, a Munich-based journalist whose father was on the board of a company that was forced to sell to Horten, published an affidavit that Horten threatened the men who owned her father's business with deportation to concentration camps if they resisted, according to The Times. "My father rebelled against Horten from the very beginning because he knew that he had already forced several Jewish owners of department stores in Germany to sell their department stores for ridiculous sums," Stephan told the outlet. "He immediately dismissed my father. Horten made sure that my father was imprisoned several times and finally was expelled from the Netherlands." Story continues A historian hired by Heidi Horten to investigate her husband's wealth said he has research that demonstrates Helmut Horten never finalized the purchase of Stephan's father's company. He said the affidavit was not "supported by records of that era," the outlet reported. The collection's estimated $150 million value surpasses that of Elizabeth Taylor's jewelry collection, which sold for $137 million in 2011. One piece in the collection called the "Briolette of India," has a 90-carat diamond and has an estimated value of $7.8 million, according to The Times. Read the original article on Insider A 2-year-old boy died after he was shot in the head at a home in Texas, and his family says it was an accident, according to San Antonio police. Officers were first dispatched to an area hospital at 3:14 a.m., April 27, after a boy arrived in critical condition with a gunshot wound, but family said the accidental shooting occurred at their home on the citys west side, a police release said. Officers then went to the home to investigate. The boy was reaching for something on a shelf and accidentally knocked down a gun, which then fired, striking the boy in the head, his father told police, WOAI reported. The toddlers father and grandmother took him to a hospital, police told KENS. The boy later died, according to a medical examiners report obtained by the TV station. Police have not said what charges, if any, will be brought, but an investigation is ongoing. While its rare for a firearm to go off by being dropped, it has been known to happen. For example, Sig Sauer began offering free upgrades to its P320 model pistol after it was proven to discharge when dropped under specific conditions. Man pauses date to kill parking lot scammer, then returns to restaurant, Texas cops say 22-year-old lures two men to their deaths after meeting on dating app, Texas cops say Man shoots three after food order is delivered to wrong house, Michigan officials say Man shot after kicking in door to estranged wifes home, Oklahoma police say Athens-Clarke County police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead and several injured. Police said officers received reports of a shooting Sunday at 12:55 a.m. on Mitchell Bridge Road. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When officers arrived, they found 21-year-old Marquise Jackson of Athens, who had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities added that three other individuals arrived at local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries related to this incident. TRENDING STORIES: The identities of the three other victims have not been released. Authorities have not asked if anyone was taken into custody or what led to the shooting. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Sergeant Black at 762-400-7058. The investigation remains ongoing. IN OTHER NEWS: Amid bustling Downtown streets, new statues crafted by nationally renowned artists honor three "legends" of Pueblo's frontier past. Statues of Charles Autobees, Marcelino Baca and Teresita Sandoval have been installed in the new Walk of Legends Park at 301 Central Main St. The Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority will host a dedication ceremony for the park at the Pueblo Convention Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. Walk of Legends Park is across the street from the former site of the three legends' stomping grounds: El Pueblo trading post. Autobees, Baca and Sandoval were among the Mexican citizens that traveled north in the mid-19th century to do business at the adobe trading post. While the trading post is long gone, the legacies of Autobees, Baca and Sandoval have withstood the test of time. A sculpture of Pueblo pioneer Charles Autobees was created by artist Dustin Payne for the Walk of Legends Park in Downtown Pueblo. Charles Autobees (1812-1882) Born in St. Louis to parents of French-Canadian and Native American descent, Charles Autobees' French surname has been spelled several ways, including Autobee, Ortivis and Urtebise. His father, Francis, died when Autobees was 3 years old. As a teenager, Autobees headed west to trap beaver along the Missouri River. In adulthood, he headed to what is now Taos, New Mexico and worked for Simeon Turley's distillery in Rio Hondo. The sculpture of Charles Autobees in Walk of Legends Park was created by Wyoming-based artist Dustin Payne. It features Autobees standing alongside a mule carrying barrels of whiskey in a wagon. Soon after El Pueblo was established in 1842, Autobees and his mules brought 10-gallon barrels of whiskey to the post. Liquor proved to be profitable at El Pueblo, according to a plaque near Autobees' statue. Autobees also carried fur pelts and could speak seven languages. In 1861, he became one of Huerfano County's first three commissioners. Huberto Maestas' statue of Marcelino Baca is pictured. Marcelino Baca (1808-1862) Those familiar with fur trapping and hunting along the Santa Fe Trail knew Taos-born Marcelino Baca to be the best trapper there was. Story continues When he wasn't fur trapping, he was trading fur pelts, and El Pueblo was the place to trade with him. In his creation, Huberto Maestas, a sculptor from San Luis, Colorado, depicts Baca as a mountain man cloaked in fur with a powder horn around his neck and a rife in his left hand. When the profitability of pelts declined, Baca became a rancher and raised livestock on property near El Pueblo. On Dec. 24, 1854, members of the Ute tribe led by Chief Tierra Blanco arrived at Baca's homestead. The Utes, distraught by sickness and starvation, reportedly stole horses from Baca and headed for El Pueblo, according to History Colorado. All but three inhabitants of El Pueblo were killed in a raid on the post. Baca would later return to New Mexico. He was killed in Valverde while fighting for the Northern cause during the American Civil War. Deon Duncan's statue of Teresita Sandoval is pictured. Teresita Sandoval (1811-1894) Teresita Sandoval helped build and manage El Pueblo. Many stories have been told about her, but sculptor Deon Duncan was able to find only one depiction of her likeness. The picture is a sketch by Alexander Barclay, a London immigrant who would later become Sandoval's third husband. Barclay's sketch features Sandoval wearing a red skirt and carrying a laundry basket on her head, sporting braids similar to those of Queen Victoria. This depiction serves as inspiration for Duncan's sculpture in the Walk of Legends. Before she met Barclay, Sandoval grew crops on a homestead with her second husband, Matthew Kinkead, in addition to taking part in the operation of El Pueblo. Sandoval and Kinkead also raised, traded and sold buffalo, according to History Colorado. In addition to a laundry basket, Duncan's statue of Sandoval features a Texas Patterson revolver. "I picture her as a woman with a lot of moxie and a lot of wherewithal," Duncan said. Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo's Walk of Legends Park depicts 3 pioneers in sculpture Delaware State Police have arrested three out of five suspects sought in connection with the Oct. 11, 2022, home invasion and shooting of two 19-year-olds in Seaford. Carl Pedone Jr. and his girlfriend Jaylyn Cephas were both shot in the incident. Pedone later died at a hospital. They lived on the 2800 block of W. Stein Highway with their 2-month-old son and Pedone's aunt. A 19-year-old friend was also present on the day of the home invasion. Police said just before midnight, five people wearing masks entered the home. According to Delaware State Police, the suspects had "demanded an unknown item." Pedone's aunt said at the time of the attack, she was in her bedroom and the 19-year-old friend was in the living room. The intruders pushed the friend into a closet. They found Pedone, Cephas and their baby in their bedroom. Cephas was shot in her leg, and Pedone was shot multiple times. Trent Ingalls, a 20-year-old man from Milford and two juveniles a 17-year-old male and a 15-year-old male, both from Seaford were identified by police as suspects. Ingalls and the 17-year-old were indicted on April 24. The three suspects have been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, home invasion, conspiracy and weapons charges. On April 27, Trent Ingalls was stopped by the Vermont State Police near Rutland, Vermont, a small town about a two-hour drive south of the Canadian border. Police said Ingalls was taken into custody by Vermont State Police and is being held at the Vermont Department of Corrections on a fugitive warrant pending extradition to Delaware. On April 26, the 17-year-old suspect was located at his residence and taken into custody. The 15-year-old juvenile turned himself in that same day. After their arraignment, both teens remained in custody. The 17-year-old was committed to the Stevenson House Detention Center on a $782,000 cash bond and the 15-year-old juvenile male was sent to the New Castle County Detention Center on a $527,000 cash bond. Story continues THE SURVIVORS TELL THEIR STORY: 'They just wanted to kill him': What witnesses say happened in fatal Sussex home invasion The investigation into this incident continues as the police homicide unit works to identify the other two suspects. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to call Detective A. Bluto at 302-741-2859. Contact reporter Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com with tips and story ideas. Become a subscriber to access more stories and the best in local reporting. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Three suspects in shooting of Carl Pedone and Jaylyn Cephas arrested Two teenagers are dead and four others are fighting for their lives after gunfire erupted just after midnight Sunday at a house party in Bay St. Louis, police officials say. Two victims, ages 16 and 18, died Sunday morning at a New Orleans hospital. One survivor was in critical condition and the three others were in serious condition at 9 a.m. Sunday morning, Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said in a press release. The victims reportedly attend Hancock High and Bay High. The six victims suffered gunshot wounds. Four of them went to Hancock High and two are Bay High students. None of the shooting victims attended Bay Highs prom that was held earlier Saturday night, a law enforcement official told the Sun Herald Sunday morning. Law enforcement surrounded the home on the 100 block of Blue Meadow Road for hours Sunday as they investigated the crime scene. The house is just off Blue Meadow Road, less than a mile from Hollywood Casino and Highway 90. Its unclear how many shots were fired, but videos circulating on Snapchat showed multiple gunshots had occurred. Police arrested 19-year-old Cameron Brand of Pass Christian on murder and aggravated assault charges. He is held without bond. Bay St. Louis police, Waveland police, Hancock County sheriffs deputies and fire officials all responded to the scene. Read more stories related to the mass shooting: Floridas six-week abortion ban is in limbo. Its future depends on the conservative Florida Supreme Court and how the justices rule in an ongoing challenge over the states current law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The six-week ban, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on April 13, would limit most abortions at that point in a pregnancy. In cases of rape, incest and human trafficking, abortions would be permitted up to 15 weeks, and exceptions for medical necessity exist beyond that. But the law only goes into effect if the state gets a favorable ruling on the court case over its 2022 abortion law. The Florida Supreme Court has not scheduled oral arguments yet. But the plaintiffs a group of abortion providers have a brief due Monday. Heres what to know about the ongoing legal battle. What are the possible paths the court could take? The Florida Supreme Court decided in January to hear the challenge to the states abortion law. The plaintiffs say the abortion restrictions are unconstitutional. The DeSantis administration says prior rulings from the states highest court wrongly gave too much protection to abortion. The court has a number of considerations: First, it will decide whether the plaintiffs even have legal standing to sue. If the lawsuit moves forward, the court could weigh whether a privacy-rights clause in the states Constitution protects the right to an abortion, and if so, whether the 15-week abortion ban causes an undue burden on that protection. If the lawsuit is thrown out or if justices say that the 15-week abortion ban can remain in place, the new six-week ban would go into effect 30 days later. Who is on the state Supreme Court? Floridas seven-member Supreme Court leans heavily conservative. DeSantis has appointed four of the justices, and has the opportunity to appoint a fifth after one of the justices stepped down earlier this year. Justice Charles Canady, appointed to the Supreme Court in 2008, was known for being against abortion when he was a U.S. representative. His wife, state Rep. Jennifer Canady, is a co-sponsor of the six-week ban. Story continues Justice Jamie R. Grosshans, whom DeSantis appointed in 2020, has done legal work for an organization that intervenes to stop young women from having abortions. Anti-abortion groups also applauded in 2019 when DeSantis appointed Chief Justice Carlos Muniz. But, when he was a private attorney, Muniz authored a 2004 article that said Floridas privacy clause was designed to protect abortion rights, according to The Washington Post. Mary Ziegler, a law professor at the University of California Davis, said she thinks its likely Floridas conservative Supreme Court decides to overrule prior precedent and say the right to privacy doesnt apply to abortion. What is the issue about privacy? Floridas Constitution says that every natural person has the right to be let alone and free from governmental intrusion into the persons private life except as otherwise provided herein. The clause was adopted in 1980. The states high court has previously held that it protects Floridians access to abortion. The abortion providers suing the state argue that the 15-week law violates that right. But DeSantis administration is arguing that the courts previous decision was wrongly decided and that the right to privacy was never meant to pertain to abortion. They say the amendment was about data privacy, not decisional privacy. In a filing, the state said that even if the clause could be stretched to apply to personal decisions, it certainly would not provide a right to cause harm, including to unborn life. But the plaintiffs argue that voters adopted the amendment at a time when abortion was a well-established privacy right notably, after justices in the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade determined that people were guaranteed access to an abortion because of their implied right to privacy. Danaya Wright, a professor of law at the University of Florida, said when the U.S. Supreme Court interpreted that a right to privacy existed, there was wide debate about its constitutional standing because there is no federal clause about privacy. The idea that the Florida privacy provision in our Constitution was not related to this huge national debate and this constitutional question that was going on at the federal level, I think its just willful blindness to suggest, Wright said. What does undue burden have to do with it? Even if the court says that the right to privacy does pertain to abortion, the question then becomes whether the 15-week ban presents a level of undue burden that violates that constitutional guarantee, Wright said. The state argues that if the right to privacy pertains to abortion, the 15-week ban is not onerous enough to violate it. It says that pregnancy tests are now inexpensive and accurate, and a woman ordinarily discovers she is pregnant by six weeks of gestation. But the other side argues that the 15-week restriction still causes severe harm, especially because it could force some women to give birth against their will, which poses substantially greater risks of mortality and morbidity than abortion and carries long-term adverse consequences for the patients health, family stability, and well-being. Wright said if the courts uphold the 15-week ban and the new law goes into effect, there will likely be another challenge related to undue burden. Do the plaintiffs have a right to sue? Another possible outcome could see the state Supreme Court not looking at the case based on the merits of the arguments, but rather deciding that the plaintiffs dont have standing to sue because they are not patients who are personally affected by the law. The U.S. Supreme Court has already decided that third parties, like abortion providers, can sue on behalf of their patients, Wright said, though some are seeking to overturn it. An appellate court recently rejected the plaintiffs request for an injunction in the case, citing this issue in part. Standing is a way for the court to avoid the hard issues, Wright said. The providers argue they have proper third-party standing to sue. They argue that if a pregnant woman herself were to sue, she would have to be at or beyond 15 weeks of pregnancy, giving that woman only weeks to file a lawsuit and move through complicated legal steps before she was too far along to get an abortion. If the court tossed out the lawsuit based on standing, the 15-week lawsuit would presumably stand, Wright said. What would this mean for the future? Abortion rights supporters in Florida have long wrestled with whether to send a challenge before the courts because it could possibly mean undoing the privacy clause, Ziegler said. If the court were to pave the path for a six-week abortion restriction, Ziegler said, its possible groups could pour outside money in and organize around the next judicial retention election to try to oust justices unfavorable to abortion rights. In Florida, judicial retention elections have generally been a ho-hum affair, Ziegler said, adding that judges likely wouldnt typically worry about being retained. Still, in Wisconsin, a contentious Supreme Court race this year hinged on the candidates stances on abortion, and the liberal judge won by 10 points over her conservative opponent. Karine Jean-Pierre Karine Jean-Pierre Keeps Speaking Out and Making History Karine Jean-Pierre When longtime political activist Karine Jean-Pierre became White House press secretary last year, she made history in three ways as the first out LGBTQ+ person, first Black person, and first immigrant to hold the job. But it's more than her identity that makes her significant. She's used her press briefings to call out homophobia, transphobia, and bigotry of all kinds. Read on for some of Jean-Pierre's greatest hits. Denouncing Gun Violence, Talking Representation Karine Jean-Pierre In her first briefing as White House press secretary (as principal deputy, she'd filled in before), on May 16, Jean-Pierre acknowledged the historic nature of her appointment, but before that she commented on a recent tragedy, the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, N.Y. "Before we start the briefing, I want to take a moment to recognize the lives lost and forever changed in Buffalo," she said. Ten people, most of them Black, were killed in the attack, and Jean-Pierre gave a description of each one. "We recognize their lives today and those affected by gun violence this weekend in Houston, in Southern California, Milwaukee, and communities across the country," Jean-Pierre added. "And we honor the bravery of those in law enforcement who responded quickly and with professionalism in Buffalo, and risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities." Then she noted that she was making history. "I am a Black gay immigrant woman, the first of all three of those to hold this position," she said. "I would not be here today if it were not for generations of barrier-breaking people before me. I stand on their shoulders. ... I benefit from their sacrifices, I have learned from their excellence, and I am forever grateful to them." "Representation does matter ... and no one understands that better than President Biden, which is why his administration is not only the most diverse in history, it is filled with barrier-breaking women and men, from the vice president to the Cabinet secretaries to his Supreme Court nominee to senior staff throughout this administration," she added. Story continues Shutting Down Fox News: 'I'm Done Here' Peter Doocy and Karine Jean-Pierre Jean-Pierre has demonstrated that she won't suffer fools gladly. One time she did so was in an exchange with Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy last July. The Supreme Court had just overturned Roe v. Wade, and abortion rights supporters protested outside a Washington, D.C., restaurant where Justice Brett Kavanaugh was dining; he was one of the six conservative justices who voted to overturn Roe. Doocy asked Jean-Pierre, "Does the president think it's appropriate for abortion rights protesters to intimidate Supreme Court justices when they're out eating?" and referenced the Kavanaugh incident. Jean-Pierre replied that protesters have a right to demonstrate peacefully outside of a restaurant, but the administration condemns violence and intimidation. Doocy pressed on, asking if justices have no right to privacy. "This is what a democracy is," the press secretary responded. "Of course, people have a right to privacy, but people also have the right to be able to protest peacefully. It's the intimidation and the violence that we condemn." She reiterated those points as Doocy continued to press her, pointing out that the administration has provided U.S. marshals through the Department of Justice to protect members of the court. Finally, she said, "I'm done here, Peter." Reflecting on the Respect for Marriage Act Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act With Roe overturned, right-wing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas indicated he'd like the court to go after marriage equality next. Congress responded by passing the Respect for Marriage Act, which would protect marriage equality in federal law no matter what the court does. At her press briefing as President Biden was preparing to sign the act into law in December, Jean-Pierre talked about what the legislation meant to her and others. "This is a big day for me, but not just me," Jean-Pierre said, responding to a question about the day's significance to her. "There are many colleagues that I work with here who are allies, who are also part of the community, who are incredibly proud. We're going to see about two to three thousand people out on the South Lawn -- activists who have worked on this issue for decades." Jean-Pierre said she had just come from being with Biden, who was going over his remarks for the ceremony. "The thing that I remember was 10 years ago...when he was on Meet the Press, and he said something that really no other national elected official was saying at the time," she continued. In 2012, during an appearance on the long-running NBC political show, then-Vice President Biden came out in favor of marriage equality, even before his boss, President Barack Obama, did. "[Biden] has always been an ally," Jean-Pierre said. Tennessee Anti-Drag Law: Unacceptable and Unfortunate Drag queen and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee As state legislatures went into session in 2023, there was another rash of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, including moves to restrict drag performances so as to assure no child will be exposed to a drag queen. Tennessee, led by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, was the first to pass such a law. In a March briefing, Jean-Pierre pointed out how ridiculous and offensive the law is. What sense does that make to go after drag shows?" she said. "How is that going to help peoples lives who are thinking about the economy, who are thinking about making sure their kids are going to be safe when they go to school, their communities are safe? But thats what [Lee] wants to focus on. Lee hasnt been able to cite any examples anything to show that drag shows in public spaces are a problem, she said, adding These ridiculous policies arent just unnecessary, they are dangerous, they vilify our fellow Americans at a time when LGBTQ+ Americans are facing higher risks [of] violence, mental health issues, and its unacceptable, its completely unacceptable for a governor to be moving in this way with such a bill, and its also unfortunate. The President Has Your Back Pride march It's not just drag shows right-wing politicians are going after. They're targeting transgender kids' health care, inclusive education, and more. Jean-Pierre spoke out against these efforts in a March briefing. I just want to take a step back a moment and really call out the shameful, hateful, and dangerous attacks that we have been seeing on the LGBTQI community as weve seen this week and also last week, Jean-Pierre said. She mentioned that a speaker at the Conservative Political Action Conference recently called for eradicating transgender people. Language that not a single national Republican leader has condemned, she said. Just think about a kid whos sitting at home in this community whos listening and hearing elected officials talking about how they want to take away their rights, or how they want to even threaten their parents with felony charges for seeking health care for their children, she continued. These kids are sitting at home having to listen to people who are supposed to protect them and their freedom saying these horrific, ugly, despicable things. She offered support too. There is no asterisk over the word freedom in this country. We will not hesitate to call out this behavior if I have to do this, or we have to do this, or the president has to do this every week, Jean-Pierre said. We will, and Ill just say what the president has said over and over again when it comes to LGBTQ+ community: When it comes to vulnerable communities across the country that are constantly being attacked, we have their back. The president has their back, and that will continue. Condemning Anti-LGBTQ+ Actions From Florida to Uganda Florida, Uganda, and Pride flaga Later in March, a reporter asked Jean-Pierre about a rule proposed at the Florida State Board of Education to expand the states infamous dont say gay or trans law to cover all grades (which the board eventually approved). Its wrong. Its completely, utterly wrong, Jean-Pierre said. And weve been very crystal clear about that when it comes to the dont say gay bill and other actions that this governor [Ron DeSantis] has taken in the state of Florida. But make no mistake, this is part of a disturbing and dangerous trend that were seeing across the country of legislations that are anti-LGBTQI+, anti-trans, anti the community in a way that we have not seen in some time, she continued. And its not just the LGBTQI+ community. Were talking about students, were talking about educators, were talking about just individuals. And so the president has been very clear, this administration has been very clear, we will continue to fight for the dignity of Americans, for the dignity and respect of the community, of opportunity that should be given to students and families in Florida and across the country. Jean-Pierre also spoke against the Anti-Homosexuality Act, passed by Ugandas Parliament and headed to President Yoweri Museveni for his assent, which appears likely. It would make same-sex relations punishable by death in some instances, an echo of legislation considered in the nation several years ago, and by up to 20 years in prison in other cases. The Biden administration has grave concerns about the act, Jean-Pierre said. This law would jeopardize progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, deter tourism and investment in Uganda, and damage Ugandas international reputation, she said. The bill is one of the most extreme anti-LGBTQI+ laws in the world. Human rights are universal. No one should be attacked, imprisoned, or killed simply because of who they are or whom they love. Denouncing 'Don't Say Gay' Expansion and Threats Over Bud Light Pride flags and Bud Light In April, Jean-Pierre denounced multiple anti-LGBTQ+ actions around the nation, including Floridas expansion of its dont say gay law and the violence threatened by those who object to transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaneys endorsement of Bud Light beer. Jean-Pierre called the Florida law dystopian and a form of cancel culture. Teachers in Florida have already faced the devastating consequences of the existing law, she said at the White House press briefing. Under threat of having their licenses revoked, gay teachers have been forced to take down pictures of their spouses from their desks and censor their classroom materials. Censoring our classes 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 the MAGA extremists dont agree with. On the Bud Light matter, the lesbian press secretary responded to threats against Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Bud Light. There have been bomb threats at the companys factories in Los Angeles and elsewhere due to its partnership with Mulvaney, who released an Instagram video promoting the beer. When a transgender American posts a video about a brand of beer they enjoy and it leads to bomb threats, its clear that that level of violence and vitriol against transgender Americans has to stop, Jean-Pierre said. The unusual lot was put up for auction with an estimated buying price of 55k, but fetched more than double. (SWNS) A former mortuary - complete with original embalming room - has sold for more than twice its guide price at auction. The spooky property was listed with an estimate of around 55,000. And by John Pye Auctions warned potential buyers that the dilapidated building in Leek, Staffordshire, was in need of full refurbishment or even demolition. However, despite its run down condition the building, previously used as a morgue, attracted lots of market interest, with some bidders wanting to turn it into "a spooky themed Airbnb". The former funeral home was used originally used to store dead bodies but brave buyers now have the chance to renovate the building into a family home. (SWNS) According to the auction house the building is currently unsuitable for occupation with rubbish piled high in its three rooms. (SWNS) The old mortuary which was last used to tend the dead 20 years ago went under the hammer on Thursday (27 April). It sparked a bidding war until it sold for 137,000 - 82,000 more than expected. The buyer, who has not been named, has not yet revealed what they plan to do with the building and its half-an-acre of surrounding land. Pictures of the building in Leek, Staffordshire, show the seemingly crumbling interior, with rotten wood and stained tile walls visible. (SWNS) Read more from Yahoo News UK: NHS leaders warn patients at risk as strike sees nurses walk out of intensive care for the first time Royal fans are already camping along the Mall to see the coronation of King Charles III Gardens flood with sewage after blockage is caused by pair of wigs Spooky house hunters have the chance to snap up an eerie former morgue, for just 55k. (SWNS) A floor plan of the former mortuary. (SWNS) Pictures show the building surrounded by overgrown shrubs and weeds while the rooms are piled high with rubbish. Further photographs reveal crumbling walls, stained tiles and holes in the ceiling panels. Auctioneer Helen Bingley said: "It's going to make a amazing project for someone and has huge potential. "There is quite a market for historical buildings of this nature that people are interested in staying in overnight. Other unusual buildings we have had for sale in the past include an observatory, water tower, a former army barracks and windmill, all have proved to be attention grabbers at auction." The mortuary is one mile from Cheddleton Village and 10 miles from Stoke-on-Trent making it attractive to commuters. KABUL, April 30 (Xinhua) -- Afghan police have rescued a child from kidnappers' clutch in Afghanistan's capital city Kabul and arrested three kidnappers, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on Sunday. Without providing more details, the officer said that the child was rescued in Police District 10 very recently and an investigation had been initiated into the case. In a crackdown on criminal elements, Afghan police have arrested 17 alleged criminals on charge of involvement in criminal activities such as kidnapping, robbery, mobile snatching and creating law and order problems in Kabul and the northern Mazar-i-Sharif city over the past three days. In economically-impoverished Afghanistan, criminal gangs including kidnappers often attempt to target wealthy families by kidnapping their members, demanding huge amounts of cash as ransom for the kidnapped individuals' release. The Afghan caretaker government has vowed to crack down on outlaws and criminal elements as part of efforts to ensure law and order in the country. Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Benjamin Vincent Kasapoglu/Wikimedia Commons and Public Domain How do you get an ADHD person to clean their house? Assign them some homework. What does ADHD stand for? Attention Deficit HEY DOUGHNUTS! Why didnt the ADHDer cross the road? He doesnt know. He was planning to cross the road, and suddenly the day was over. Nobody Sold Out Harder Than Tucker Carlson For millions of Americans who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), these jokes will receive a wry smile, but they also reflect a painful reality about struggling with ADHDone made far worse by a close to nine month-long Adderall shortage around the country that seems to have no end in sight. According to Matt Ford, a staff writer at The New Republic whose tweets last month about the challenge in tracking down Adderall medication went viral, its really hard explaining ADHD to people who dont have it. It just makes things harder, said Ford. It sounds simple. But, its harder for me to remember to do things to process things and to complete tasks. And things slip by. When faced with the prospect of not filling his Adderall prescription, a drug hes taken since he was a child, he worried, Could I remember to do chores? Could I remember to do simple tasks, like paying bills, answering emails, and text messages or even do my job? These are not hypothetical concerns. Like Ford, Ive taken Adderall and other stimulants after I was diagnosed as an adult. This past December and January, when I saw the number of pills dwindling, and it became a struggle to get a prescription filled for Adderall or its generic equivalent, the impact was profound and debilitating. (The fact that so many ADHD sufferers had to take on the mind-numbing task of calling pharmacies and figuring out who had Adderall in stock and then liaising with doctors to ensure that new scripts are written is perhaps the cruelest joke of the national shortage. We are, without a doubt, the people least equipped for such a job.) Ask anyone who suffers from ADHD, and they will tell you that even on a good day, completing and following through on checking off the boxes on a to-do list can be a serious challenge. Indeed, the more tasks there are to complete, the more overwhelming it feels and the more difficult it can be to even begin. And paradoxically, the attention required to do one thing can be so exhausting that it makes it more difficult to go on to the next chore. Adderall or other ADHD medications have a chemical reaction in the brain that allows users to focus and concentrate in ways that would be impossible without it. Story continues As Dr. Richard Friedman, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and the Director of the Psychopharmacology Clinic at Weill Cornell Medical Center, said to me, When you suddenly stop stimulants, you dont just lose the effect of the drug, you have withdrawal. You have a discontinuation syndrome, which is even more debilitating Your brain has been inundated with a drug that increases dopamine and now its not. In practical terms, the times I was without medication this past winter left me puttering around my apartment, searching for anything that would distract me from having to concentrate, which to the non-ADHD sufferer will seem easy, but for those of us afflicted, is a profound struggle. But I wasnt just feeling inattentive, I was literally exhausted all the time. ADHD is traditionally associated with children, and an estimated six million kids suffer from it. For children whose parents couldnt get Adderall prescriptions filled, it led to trouble sleeping, focusing in school, keeping up with schoolwork, and other behavioral issues that can lead to interventions and even suspensions. However, since the mid-2010s, adults are more likely to be diagnosed with and prescribed stimulantsthough its likely that millions are undiagnosed. According to a recent study, 4.1 percent of Americans in employer-based health-care plans take stimulants. That would represent more than six million Americans, though the actual number is likely more and, by some estimates, could reach as high as 16 million). The number of Americans taking stimulants has risen by 30 percent over the past five years and increased even more dramatically during the pandemic. Yet, even though patients have been reporting for months that they cannot get their prescriptions filled, the issue has received limited media focus and even less regulatory or political attention. Things have been so dire, said Friedman, that he began seriously exploring the idea of importing drugs from Canada to help his patients. Paradoxically, one of the problems in addressing the issue is pinpointing a single explanation for why this shortfall is happening. Part of the issue is certainly the aforementioned increase in prescriptions. During the pandemic, rules were changed to allow prescriptions filled after a telehealth session (previously, there were limited to in-person appointments). As a result, by one estimate, close to 40 percent of all stimulant prescriptions now come from online visits. Another roadblock is what the FDA last October called intermittent manufacturing delays, which have been exacerbated by the supply chain issues that have wracked the global economy for more than two years. Jury Has Likely Decided Trumps Fate in Rape Case Already Compounding the issue is that Adderall and other ADHD stimulants are Schedule II controlled substances, which means they have a high potential for abuse and thus are strictly regulated. As a result, the Drug Enforcement Administration, rather than the Food and Drug Administration, decides the amount of the drug that is produced annually and how much each pharmacy can purchase. The DEA refused to increase those quotas in January. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), who is one of the few members of Congress to raise concerns about the Adderall shortage, has buffeted the DEA and FDA with questions about the Adderall shortage. Yet, she still hasnt received a full explanation for why this is happening, she told me in an interview last month. According to Spanberger, we still don't know how [the shortage] ends or when it ends. But the bigger issue, from her perspective, is that no one was ringing the bell that we were on our way to having a shortage. With the lack of media and political attention to the issue, the problem kept getting worse, and ADHD sufferers have been left in the lurch, forced to fend for themselves or find a solution on their own. As Spanberger ruefully noted, Part of the problem is that people dont view these drugs as essential, and because there can be abuse of Adderall, it creates a stigma around the drug and means that people dont look at it the same way as they would another ailment. In our conversation, she hinted that one of the challenges in getting her House colleagues to join her in addressing the issue is the stigma around ADHD, and members dont want to be seen advocating on an issue that can so easily be stereotyped and dismissed. As Friedman noted to me, Theres been a suspicion for a long-time that ADHD was dramatically overdiagnosed. Certainly, the image of college students taking Adderall to cram for a test or finish a term paper has become a predominant one in popular culture. One telehealth company, Cerebral, which is now under federal investigation, pushed an advertising campaign that linked ADHD to obesity and linked vague symptoms to the condition. Perhaps not surprisingly, the company was writing prescriptions for 97 percent of usersand sometimes after online consultations as short as 30 minutes. These stories, says Friedman, have fed a public perception that [ADHD] is either a mild problem or an invented one, or even worse, the people diagnosed are just lazy. For ADHD sufferers, these attitudes are frustrating to hear but are perhaps understandable. Its difficult to explain to people who dont suffer from ADHD why this affliction makes seemingly ordinary and everyday tasks so difficult or how simply taking a pill can mean the difference between a productive day and one that is not. People who take stimulants arent lazy, but without them, thats what they become. Americas Tragedy Is Its Culture of FearArmed With Millions of Guns Another of the popular myths about ADHD and prescription stimulants is that those of us who take these drugs are addicted to them. But as Fridman pointed out, this is a common misunderstanding. Addiction means taking increasing amounts of a drug in order to get high. But when you take stimulants, you dont get tolerant to it. You dont need more of it. People arent taking Adderall to feel euphoric but, rather to function. This is one of the abiding frustrations of the coverage around the Adderall shortage. ADHD is not well understood or appreciated, but as Ford said to me, for those of us who use it, it is life-changing. My quality of life would be dramatically significantly worse, he added, and I would not have the career I have, if not for Adderall. Jokingly he said combating ignorance about ADHD is important, but all the people who would complain [it] about cant focus enough to raise hell. As long as there remain stigmas and misunderstandings about mental health, those who suffer from ADHD will struggle to help others understand why this affliction can be so debilitatingand how a simple pill can make such a difference. After all, how does one explain why tasks that seem so easy to others can be so challenging for us? And perhaps thats also the best explanation for why nine months into a national shortage that has affected the lives of millions of people, there is still seemingly no end in sightand such muted urgency in fixing it. 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. Kanye West Adidas is being sued by investors who claim the firm knew about Kanye West's problematic behaviour years before it ended their partnership. Investors allege Adidas failed to limit financial losses and take precautionary measures to minimise their exposure. The sportswear giant ended its collaboration with the designer and rapper, who is known as Ye, last year following antisemitic comments. In response, Adidas said: "We outright reject these unfounded claims." It added it "will take all necessary measures to vigorously defend ourselves against them". West is not party to the lawsuit. The rapper designed a line of hugely successful trainers under the Yeezy brand for Adidas. Since then, Adidas admitted that it could lose up to 700m (619m) after being left with hundreds of millions of euros worth of unsold Yeezy products. Last October, when the company ended the collaboration, it said: "Adidas does not tolerate antisemitism and any other sort of hate speech. "Ye's recent comments and actions have been unacceptable, hateful and dangerous, and they violate the company's values of diversity and inclusion, mutual respect and fairness." However, investors who filed the lawsuit in the US against the company on Friday claim that Adidas knew about other questionable behaviour by West, alleging that it was discussed by former chief executive Kasper Rorsted as well as other management. The Wall Street Journal published details of an alleged meeting in 2018 where Adidas discussed West. The report claimed that senior executives spoke about how to mitigate the risk of staff interacting with him as well the company possibly cutting ties with the rapper. Kanye West designed trainers for Adidas under the Yeezy brand Since Adidas parted ways with West in October last year, it has launched an investigation after reports he created a "toxic environment" at the company. Rolling Stone magazine published excerpts of an open letter by Adidas staff members who claimed bosses were aware of West's "problematic behaviour" but "turned their moral compass off". Story continues In response, Adidas said it was not clear whether the accusations made in the anonymous letter were true. "However, we take these allegations very seriously and have taken the decision to launch an independent investigation of the matter immediately to address the allegations," it said. Last October, West held a show at Paris Fashion Week where models wore clothing with the slogan "White Lives Matter". The Anti-Defamation League said it is "a white supremacist phrase that originated in early 2015 as a racist response to the Black Lives Matter movement". Later that month, West had both his Instagram and Twitter accounts suspended after making antisemitic remarks. The Covid Gotta get a pet boom is long over, and animal shelters know it. Right now, especially Massachusetts, is seeing an all-time high for dogs needing a home, said Emma Wailgum, an adoption counselor at Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton. Its not so much that shelters are stocked with Covid-wave pets given up by owners, its more the ancillary effects of the pandemic theyre dealing with. A lot of the problems that came from Covid also had to do with vets shutting down and having less appointments, said Wailgum. There were less spay and neuter appointments, which led to dogs overpopulating. One annual way to try and ease the burden on shelters is National Adopt-A-Shelter Pet Day, which has been held every April 30th for more than 40 years. Among the candidates for adoption at Baypath Humane Society is JJ, a big boy, Wailgum said. Then theres Miss Betty, our senior, she added. Winnie and Leo, who endured a long trip to the U.S. to escape a horrific destiny, also need a good home. These dogs are from the South Korea meat trade, said Maddy Berthold, who handles marketing for Baypath. Our biggest thing with the meat trade dogs is that a lot of them were in cages for years of their lives. So they dont know people. Winnie and Leo seem to be adjusting fine to people, and to American cuisine, with both sniffing out a stack of empty pizza boxes leftover from lunch. Baypath tries to make adoptions as easy as possible. Were not a rescue that says, You need a fenced-in yard, this and that, Wailgum said. We call it a matchmaking process. Were gonna kind of see what you can handle, what you are looking for, so that we can try to fit a good personality to your home. Because of that process, Baypath -- and several other shelters Boston 25 News contacted -- host prospective pet-owners on an appointment-only basis. This often helps adopters find the dog or cat that seems to be the best fit. But the relationship doesnt end there. Story continues We are a support system for them, Wailgum said. We just want them to give the dog a chance. Shelter workers and volunteers sometimes see the heartbreaking results of abuse and neglect. But they also witness those healing moments when a pet and person begin to bond. Sometimes youll just open the door to your car and the dog just shoots right in and youre like, Yup, theyre gonna be fine, said Wailgum. If youre interested in setting up an appointment to adopt a cat or dog, visit Baypath Humane Societys website at www.baypathhumane.org. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The Distributed Common Ground System, a vast computer network that handles immense amounts of surveillance data. (U.S. Air Force via The New York Times) WASHINGTON On an Air National Guard base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, more than 1,200 military service members and civilians maintain one of the largest support systems for Pentagon drone missions around the world. One of the workers was Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old accused of posting top-secret military reports online. Why such a young, junior-ranking service member on Cape Cod had access to sensitive intelligence, including battlefield updates on the war in Ukraine, has to do with the vast expansion in military drone operations in the post-9/11 wars that was made possible by better satellite communication networks. It is also the result of a drastic reorganization in the Air National Guard that left small, far-flung air bases in need of new responsibilities. The one on Cape Cod and many others became intelligence outfits. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times His arrest and subsequent Justice Department disclosures shined a light on a little-known Air Force mission that began in the 1990s and grew rapidly, eventually spreading to the base on Cape Cod. Called the Distributed Common Ground System, it is a vast computer network that handles the immense amounts of data generated by surveillance drones, spy satellites and other sensors information that intelligence analysts pore through and pass along to troops on the ground. Usually referred to as DCGS, it carries top-secret information, and working on it requires an equivalent security clearance. The system is now a worldwide network, but according to the Air Force, it started small at just three Air Force bases Langley in Virginia, Beale in California and Osan in South Korea and expanded in the early 2000s as the U.S. military placed more communication satellites in space and demand for airborne surveillance surged. In 2001, according to Pentagon leadership, the U.S. military had about 200 drones in service. In the years that followed, commanders in Afghanistan and later in Iraq wanted more of them. Many more. Story continues The network soon expanded to two more bases: Ramstein, in Germany, in early 2003 and Hickam, in Honolulu, in late 2004, Air Force documents say. According to two retired Air Force intelligence officers with direct experience in the system, a key decision by Congress at that time freed up a large labor pool to serve at new sites. In 2005, the Pentagons Base Realignment and Closure commission made recommendations that affected most of the Air National Guards aviation units, with 14 of them losing their flying mission, the Government Accountability Office reported. The move left thousands of air guardsmen without jobs, the officers said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of their continuing work for companies that do business with the federal government. One of those units was the 102nd Fighter Wing at a base called Otis on Cape Cod. Men and women from that Air National Guard wing and other former flying units began training to work on the DCGS, learning to run its computers and analyze intelligence from spy planes and the ever-increasing numbers of drones flying in combat missions overseas, the retired officers said. In a speech to the Air War College in 2008, Robert Gates, then the secretary of defense, said the number of unmanned aircraft in service with the U.S. military had increased to more than 5,000. Stations for the network were soon established at Air National Guard bases in Indiana and at Otis, where Teixeiras stepfather made the transition from the 102nd Fighter Wing to a post at the newly christened 102nd Intelligence Wing. Today, there are 27 DCGS stations in the United States and two foreign countries, according to Air Force documents. But the original five are the busiest, operating nonstop year-round, the retired officers said. Each of those sites is supported by a corresponding Air National Guard unit. The unit in Germany is currently in great demand because it serves the U.S. European Command, and, by extension, Americas support of Ukraine in its war with Russia. The Ramstein station is backed up by the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Joint Base Cape Cod, the officers said, which is supported by the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron, where Teixeira is stationed. By 2019, when Teixeira joined the Air National Guard, the U.S. military was operating more than 11,000 drones, according to the Pentagon. In 2021, his top-secret clearance was approved, Justice Department charging documents said, allowing him entry into the facility, which has an operations floor filled with computer terminals and flat-screen televisions showing live video feeds from classified drone missions. Some sites have operations facilities many thousands of square feet in size, the officers said. Cellphones are not allowed inside. Small teams of airmen at the units typically talk to pilots flying high-altitude U-2 spy planes and RQ-4 Global Hawks as well as MQ-9 Reapers and MQ-1 Predators over combat zones. Airmen like Teixeira typically fix hardware and software problems and conduct routine maintenance for hours at a time in what is essentially an IT support shop while others collect intelligence that they can transmit to ground forces around the world, the officers said. According to his messages on Discord, Teixeira alternated between working eight-hour shifts five days a week and 12-hour shifts for three or four days at a time followed by three or four days off. How the intelligence reports were allegedly removed from secure spaces remains unclear. President Joe Biden has instructed officials to get to the root of why Teixeira had access in the first place, and Pentagon leaders are reviewing how intelligence is shared and who will have access to certain reports in the future. The Air Force announced April 18 that it had temporarily shut down the 102nd Intelligence Wings missions, which have been transferred to other organizations in the service. In the most recent fallout, two of Teixeiras superiors at the wing have been suspended pending the completion of an internal investigation by the Air Force inspector general, the service said. Their access to classified information has been temporarily blocked, a spokesperson added. c.2023 The New York Times Company The Museum of the Albemarle will be opening a new exhibit that will highlight the military life of Perquimans County resident Dorothy Bellamy. Bellamy, who was born in Martin County, North Carolina, served as a medic in the United States Army Reserves from 1974 until her retirement in 1988. She later moved to Baltimore, Maryland and worked for Union Memorial Hospital as a nurses attendant. Bellamy then joined the Army Reserves in the 92nd Field Hospital as an E-4 because of that training, which she completed at Fort McClellan, Alabama. ALSO READ: Museum officials worry possible loss of funding is connected to controversial exhibit She had a basic background in medical knowledge which helped her with her Army duties, and she continued building her knowledge through Army training. As a medic, she also learned such tasks as setting up field hospitals. In 1985, Bellamy moved to Atlanta, Georgia and was stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base. Before her retirement as staff sergeant in 1988, Bellamy received many awards over the course of her career. Two of her sisters and her father also served in the military. The exhibit honoring Bellamy will open on May 11, 2023 and will run until January 10, 2024. It is free and open to the public. VIDEO: Museum officials worry possible loss of funding is connected to controversial exhibit Monica Schipper American Horror Story season 12 has signed up Michaela Jae Rodriguez in a move that reunites her with Pose co-creator Ryan Murphy. Confirming the news via Instagram , Rodriguez shared a screenshot of the Deadline article which broke the news along with the caption: "Guess the cat's out of the bag". Rodriguez is set to join an already impressive cast including Kim Kardashian, Emma Roberts and Cara Delevingne. Earlier this month, AHS creator Ryan Murphy took to his own Instagram to announce that reality TV star Kim Kardashian would be joining the anthology series alongside returnee Emma Roberts with a short promotional video which he captioned: "Emma and Kim are Delicate". Monica Schipper Related: American Horror Story season 12 gets first look at new characters on set Meanwhile, model and actress Cara Delevingne was recently spotted filming in New York City alongside Emma Roberts , confirming her casting in the show. Looking almost unrecognisable in the set photos, Delevingne can be seen sporting a long brown wig and oversized red sunglasses. While further details on who the individual stars will be playing have not yet been released, we do know that the latest series is titled Delicate. Based on the upcoming novel Delicate Condition, by Danielle Valentine, which is described as "the feminist update to Rosemary's Baby we all needed", filming for AHS ' 12th season is already underway. Rodriguez previously worked with Murphy starring as Blanca Evangelista in the FX ballroom drama Pose . Back in 2022, Rodriguez won a Best Actress Golden Globe for her role as Blanca, making history as the first-ever transgender person to be recognised by The Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Dia Dipasupil Related: Pose's Billy Porter hits back at criticism over new movie role After appearing via video link to accept her award in 2022, Murphy encouraged crowds to give Rodriguez a standing ovation during this year's awards. "This was not just my moment, it was our moment as the queer community. Thank you, Ryan, for not only acknowledging me but acknowledging Billy Porter, Niecy Nash-Betts, Jeremy Pope [and] Matt Bomer," Rodriguez recently said of the special moment. Story continues American Horror Story airs on FX in the US and Disney+ in the UK, where seasons 1-9 are also available to buy on Prime Video. You Might Also Like A cathedral has brought in a graffiti artist to be its latest artist-in-residence. How do you mix a modern genre with the work of a Norman church? St Albans Cathedral in Hertfordshire is the oldest site of continuous Christian worship in Britain. But for anyone who has concerns about bringing graffiti to a building which has stood for nearly 1,000 years, artist Ant Steel is quick to reassure us that he's "not actually painting on any of the walls". "This is funny in a way because there are between 2,000 and 3,000 pieces of [medieval] graffiti in the cathedral," he said. "There's always the question, what would happen if I was to do some graffiti now? Well, I'd be kicked out." Instead, he has been invited to bring his work, also known as street art, into the cathedral that is built on the site where Alban, Britain's first martyr, was buried. He's aiming to collaborate with local people to produce works. Norwich-born Ant has lived in St Albans for six years after about 20 years in South Africa, where he had an animation studio and produced TV commercials. "I had this passion to get back to tactile painting and creating and also I wanted to do something that engaged more with the public," he said. His spray-painted work in the city, including a wall for Ukraine and an image of Queen Elizabeth II for the Platinum Jubilee, have built a following. But he does not paint without permission. "I'm not your stereotypical graffiti-underneath-the-train-tracks type of artist," he said. "My path has been more commercial, so I'm really more about a message - about emotive pieces that connect with the community. "I don't want to break any rules and I think it's really important to put forward street art as a legitimate art format that people can engage with and appreciate." Last summer, he was approached by the St Albans Film Festival to lead a workshop for children in the Abbey orchard, and his image of cathedral peregrine chick Artemis did not go unnoticed by the church hierarchy. Story continues He said he was "dumbfounded" when they asked him to join their ranks. "I'm in awe of the building; it's phenomenal," he said. His first job was to learn about its history for inspiration, but he said most of the work would be community-driven. Workshops with groups including children, asylum seekers, refugees and adult learners, will culminate in a November exhibition that will also include his own paintings. "The idea for the workshops is to give information about street art and how I go about creating my art and then just get everybody to collaborate and have fun putting things together," he said. "I try to teach people to respect each other's work and learn how to use the medium to tell a story or to start a debate - something that's meaningful to them." As the city's focal point, the cathedral is an ideal base to connect with all ages, he said, and just as a church is for the community, so is graffiti/street art. "I see it as different from other forms of art because to me the artist who is painting a landscape is mainly doing that for themselves because that's what they want to paint," he said. "Street art is something I want to do, but it's so important that it engages with the community and has an emotional connection. "Also, to have the chance to get more children and teenagers to come in and appreciate what we have here will be tremendous. "The worship side is obviously there, but it's also about community, connection and how everyone is welcome - total inclusion." A workshop to mark the start of his tenancy saw him paint an image of a black and white cherub, with participants drawing whatever they wanted around it. "I wanted all the colour around it to come from the community," he said. He also wants his work to reflect the graffiti that has been carved there by parishioners and visitors over hundreds of years, so that there is a link between the past and present. Thousands of marks are etched into the columns and walls and he wants to use "some of the more recognisable" ones, to "echo back" what is already there. "I'll also pick up on designs and patterns in there and make them more street art-ish," he said. "But all the works that I do will be on boards." He also hopes to realise a dream to form a kind of "street crew" to take to other sites in the city and "liven-up areas". "Children could actually feel a sense of ownership of their environment... this [tenancy] is an enabler of that for me, so I'm super excited," he said. "If I can involve the community and get them together then that's my job done." He revealed he has a "loose structure" for the residency and the theme will be revealed later. "I am aware that the works I create will become part of the history of the building which is why I have taken the task very seriously," he said. "Each painting should tie into one another and, at the end of my residency, will reveal a master plan and one of my biggest recent inspirations. "I hope to leave a legacy that is emotive, engaging and relevant." Cathedral Dean, Jo Kelly-Moore, said: "In cathedrals throughout the ages artists of every genre have, through their creative gifts, invited pilgrims, visitors and worshippers to reflect on life in our world through the lens of the divine. "Graffiti is one of those genres and the ancient stones of St Albans Cathedral and Abbey Church tell that story. "We warmly invite everyone to come and join us in this exciting season to experience Ant's amazing work and, in his workshops, add your graffiti art to the story." Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., on Monday, August 24, 2020. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images/Pool Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has ruled out a 2024 Senate run, her spokesperson told Politico. AOC has been regarded as one of Senator Kristen Gillibrand's strongest possible challengers. "She is not planning to primary Gillibrand," her spokesperson said. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has closed the door to a 2024 Senate run, according to her spokesperson. "She is not planning to run for Senate in 2024. She is not planning to primary Gillibrand," Lauren Hitt, Ocasio-Cortez's spokesperson, told Politico. AOC's possible candidacy was one of the only roadblocks to Gillibrand sailing to reelection, The Hill reported. With the superstar New York Representative declining to challenge the Democratic senator, one of Gillibrand's strongest possible challengers is no longer a threat to her campaign. In 2021, Ocasio-Cortez told Insider she didn't want her legions of adoring, progressive fans dreaming of her toppling House or Senate leadership or even winning the White House. "That's a lot to put on one person," she said. Representatives for Ocasio-Cortez did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Police say burglars are now going to great lengths to break into homes and steal residents personal items. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It all happened on April 14, between the hours of 9:45 p.m. and 10 p.m. The Atlanta Police Department said the suspects broke into a home by shattering a window and then cutting off the homes power. Once the suspects got inside, they reportedly took the victims jewelry including watches and cuff links. Police said a shotgun was also stolen. TRENDING STORIES: Authorities are asking for the publics help in identifying the suspects. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Crime Stoppers Atlanta tip line at 404-577-TIPS or online. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 for the arrest and indictment of the suspects. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: An Arizona suspect was arrested on Thursday after allegedly robbing Victoria's Secret stores in Tempe at least 17 times. Ismael Flores, 23, was charged with nearly two dozen counts of shoplifting and theft. He was also charged with a drug offense after officers reportedly caught him carrying pills during his arrest. Court documents obtained by FOX 10 Phoenix say that Flores stole underwear, bras and pants at the Victoria's Secret locations between October 2022 and March 2023. Flores is also suspected of robbing Target stores in South Phoenix. The 23-year-old suspect would stuff the clothes in a trash bag or load the items into a shopping cart and flee, the court documents said. IN ARIZONA, FRESH SCRUTINY OF SAUDI-OWNED FARM'S WATER USE Ismael Flores, 23, was charged with several counts of shoplifting and theft along with a drug offense, Arizona police say. Police say that Flores targeted the Victoria's Secret locations at Arizona Mills and Tempe Marketplace. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fox News Digital reached out to Tempe Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department for more information, but has not heard back. ARIZONA ARMED SUSPECT STORMS INTO SMOKE SHOP AND TACKLES ARMED EMPLOYEE, ENDS UP SHOT AND CRITICALLY INJURED There are no additional details about the incidents at this time. (CNN) First Republic Bank is still an independent bank. The question Saturday was how much longer that will continue to be true. Shares of First Republic plunged from $122.50 on March 1 to around $3 a share as of Friday on expectations that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the independent government agency that insures deposits for bank customers, would step in by end of day and take control of the San Francisco-based bank, its deposits and assets. The FDIC had already done so with two other similar sized banks just last month Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank when runs on those banks by their customers left the lenders unable to cover customers' demands for withdrawals. Reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal indicated that JPMorgan Chase and Pittsburgh-based PNC Financial are in the process of submitting bids to the FDIC in which they would buy First Republic. None of those parties were commenting on the reports. "We are engaged in discussions with multiple parties about our strategic options while continuing to serve our clients," First Republic said in a statement Friday night. If there is a buyer for First Republic, the FDIC would likely be stuck with some money-losing assets, as was the case after it found buyers for the viable portions of SVB and Signature after it took control of those banks. A kind of shotgun marriage, arranged by regulators who didn't want a significant bank to actually fail before it was sold, occurred several times during the financial crisis of 2008 that sparked the Great Recession. Notably, JPMorgan bought Bear Stearns for a fraction of its earlier value in March of 2008, and then in September bought savings and loan Washington Mutual, soon after Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch. First Republic lifeline proved not to be enough Soon after collapses of SVB and Signature in March, First Republic received a $30 billion lifeline in the form of deposits from a collection of the nation's largest banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup and Truist, which came together after Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen intervened. The banks agreed to take the risk and work together to keep First Republic flush with the cash in the hopes it would provide confidence in the nation's suddenly battered banking system. The banks and federal regulators all wanted to reduce the chance that customers of other banks would suddenly start withdrawing their cash. But while the cash allowed First Republic to make it through the last six weeks, its quarterly financial report Monday evening, with the disclosure of massive withdrawals by the end of March, spurred new concerns about its long-term viability. Nervous major depositors The financial report showed depositors had withdrawn about 41% of their money from the bank during the first quarter. Most of the withdrawals were from accounts with more than $250,000 in them, meaning those excess funds were not insured by the FDIC. Uninsured deposits at the bank fell by $100 billion during the course of the first quarter, a period during which total net deposits fell by $102 billion, not including the infusion of deposits from other banks. The uninsured deposits stood at 68% of its total deposits as of December 31, but only 27% of its non-bank deposits as of March 31. In its earnings statement, the bank said insured deposits declined moderately during the quarter and have remained stable from the end of last month through April 21. Banks never have all the cash on hand to cover all deposits. They instead take in deposits and use the cash to make loans or investments, such as purchasing US Treasuries. So when customers lose confidence in a bank and rush to withdrawal their money, what is known as a "run on the bank," it can cause even an otherwise profitable bank to fail. First Republic's latest earnings report showed it was still profitable in the first quarter its net income was $269 million, down 33% from a year earlier. But it was the news on the loss of deposits that worried investors and, eventually, regulators. While some of those who had more than $250,000 in their First Republic accounts were likely wealthy individuals, most were likely businesses that often need that much cash just to cover daily operating costs. A company with 100 employees can easily need more than $250,000 just to cover a biweekly payroll. First Republic's annual report said that as of December 31, 63% of its total deposits were from business clients, with rest from consumers. First Republic started operations in 1985 with a single San Francisco branch. It is known for catering to wealthy clients in coastal states. It has 82 branches listed on its website, spread across eight states, in high-income communities such as Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica and Napa Valley, California; in addition to San Francisco, Los Angeles and Silicon Valley. Outside of California, branches are in other high-income communities such as Palm Beach, Florida; Greenwich, Connecticut; Bellevue, Washington; and Jackson, Wyoming. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Whats next for troubled First Republic Bank." An Arkansas woman pleaded not guilty to charges she sold stolen body parts from medical school corpses for $11,000 to a Pennsylvania man she met on social media. Candace Chapman Scott, 36, a former mortuary worker, is accused of selling 20 boxes of body parts to a man she met through a Facebook group about "oddities," according to the April 5 indictment unsealed Friday in federal court in Little Rock. Scott pleaded not guilty to 12 counts, including conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property and interstate transportation of stolen property. She remains in jail as she awaits a hearing scheduled for Tuesday on whether she will be released on bail. FORMER ARKANSAS STATE SENATOR, NEPHEW OF ASA HUTCHINSON, SENTENCED IN BRIBERY SCHEME The man who allegedly purchased the remains was not named in the federal indictment. But he was identified as Jeremy Lee Pauley in separate state charges. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Scott worked at Arkansas Central Mortuary Services, a funeral home, and part of her job included transporting, cremating and embalming remains. According to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock, the funeral home is where the medical school sent remains of cadavers that had been donated for medical students to examine. In October 2021, Scott allegedly approached Pauley and began offering to sell him remains from the medical school that the mortuary needed to cremate and return. "Just out of curiosity, would you know anyone in the market for a fully in tact, embalmed brain?" Scott wrote to Pauley in her first Facebook message, according to the indictment. In the next nine months, Scott sold Pauley fetuses, brains, hearts, lungs, genitalia, large pieces of skin and other body parts, the indictment alleges. The indictment claims that, in one incident, Scott sold the remains of a fetus at a discount because "he's not in great shape." Story continues In another message from Dec. 2, 2021, the indictment said Scott offered to sell Pauley "2 brains, one with skullcap, 3 hearts one cut, 2 fake boobies, one large belly button piece of skin, [one] arm, one huge piece of skin, and one lung" for $1,600. Scott received a payment from Pauley through PayPal that same day for $1,600. SMALL PLANE CRASHES IN ARKANSAS, KILLING SOLE OCCUPANT Candace Chapman Scott, 36, a former mortuary worker, is accused of selling 20 boxes of body parts to a man she met through a Facebook group. Scott collected $10,975 in 16 separate PayPal transfers, the indictment says. Prosecutors argue that Scott should remain behind bars until her trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Jegley told U.S. Magistrate Judge J. Thomas Ray on Friday that Scott may flee over the prospect of a long prison sentence. "I think that the facts ... underlying the indictment and in the indictment are uniquely egregious and objectionable and we believe there is going to be some significant public outcry as a result of this," Jegley said. Ray said the accusations against Scott are "shocking and depraved." But under federal rules, the judge is only supposed to order Scott to remain jailed if she is a flight risk since she is not considered dangerous. "The indictment alleges horribly egregious conduct, shocking conduct," Ray said. "But under the Bail Reform Act, those aren't factors that I consider for dangerousness that goes to danger to the community or risk of the community. As shocking and depraved as the alleged conduct is, none of that would go toward dangerousness so the only thing I see here that would support a request for detention is obviously flight risk." Prosecutors argue that Scott should remain behind bars until her trial. Pennsylvania officials learned of the transactions after they received complaints last year about Pauley. Pauley is charged in Pennsylvania with a misdemeanor count of abuse of a corpse, a felony count of receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property and a felony count of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities. He is free on bail and his preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 7. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences spokeswoman Leslie Taylor told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the FBI has not revealed to school officials whether any of the remains have been identified. She said embalming damages DNA, which makes identification extremely difficult. Taylor said the medical school still contracts with Arkansas Central Mortuary Services. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Bystanders watch as Ecuador police investigate the scene where 10 people were killed in the port city Guayaquil, the latest burst of violence in the South American nation At least 10 people were killed in an armed attack overnight in Guayaquil, Ecuador's main port city and economic hub that is under a state of emergency due to rising drug violence, police said Sunday. The gruesome attack, which one witness described as a shooting, occurred at a mechanic shop in the city's southwest. Bodies could be seen lying on the sidewalk in pools of blood, as people cried and hugged one another while police cordoned off the area, AFP saw. Ecuador's attorney general's office said on Twitter that it had opened a "preliminary investigation into the murder of 10 people, following an armed attack on Saturday night.... Two other people are wounded." Local police also confirmed the death toll in Guayaquil, which has become one of the country's increasingly bloody centers of a turf war between rival drug-trafficking gangs. The port city's position on the Pacific coast makes it a strategic launch point for shipments of drugs to the United States and Europe. The killing is the latest in a recent surge of violence, including gang- and cartel-related murders and multiple prison riots and massacres, as authorities crack down on gangs and seize drugs. One witness to the latest attack, who asked not to be identified, told AFP that "there was a shooting" at a location where several people had been drinking when a group of assailants "on motorcycles came and ended the lives of those who were here." Police had yet to report any arrests. Since April 1, Guayaquil has been under a state of emergency, which allows the military to mobilize on the streets and implement curfews. str-pld/ad/mlm/bbk Arnold Schwarzenegger is giving his son-in-law, Chris Pratt, a major shout out on social media, praising his performance in the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 movie. On April 27, Pratt, who leads the adventure flick as Star-Lord, attended the premiere for the Marvel Cinematic Universe film, along with the rest of the cast. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which hits theaters on May 5, will be the third and final installment in one of Marvels most beloved franchises. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Baby Groot and the rest of the guardians have fans all over the world, including fellow actor and former California governor, Schwarzenegger. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt (Mario Tama/Marvel-Disney / Getty Images/AP) The Terminator star, who enjoyed an advanced screening of the movie, tweeted the sweetest review for Pratt a day after the premiere. I saw #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 last night and WOW. @prattprattpratt, you crushed it. A non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action. I loved it and Im very, very proud of you. Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) April 28, 2023 I saw #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 last night and WOW, the 75-year-old gushed in a tweet on April 28. @prattprattpratt, you crushed it. Schwarzenegger continued to praise Pratt and the conclusion to the trilogy. He wrote, A non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action. I loved it and Im very, very proud of you. He wasnt the only Schwarzenegger who took time to celebrate Pratt on social media. Proud wifey Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt, who married the action star in 2019, also penned a supportive message. Katherine Schwarzenegger and Chris Pratt attend the World Premiere of Marvel Studios' She uploaded a slideshow to Instagram on April 28 of the couple attending the red carpet event together, including two pictures of the pair smiling together. In one short clip, the two shared a quick kiss and in another Pratt joined his co-stars on stage before the screening began. Story continues In the caption, Schwarzenegger Pratt wrote, Proudest wifey alert ! Laughed and cried last and watched my husband in awe of his journey with this amazing movie and group of people who all have such deep love and respect for one another. Such a beautiful thing to see. The author and mom of two added, This movie is exceptional. Cant wait for everyone to see it May 5! and included a black heart emoji. Pratt shared highlights from the unforgettable evening on his Instagram page, as well. In his video, the actor posed with fans and his wife as Journeys Dont Stop Believing played in the background. Next to the video, he thanked director and writer James Gunn for creating the film and all the fans for their support since the first movie debuted in 2014. I intentionally waited to watch the completed film until I was at the premiere surrounded by friends, family and fans. All I can say is WOW! he said in the caption. The 43-year-old actor always takes time to honor his family, both on and off the screen. In 2021, he gave a slight nod to his father-in-law in his Amazon Prime movie The Tomorrow War. The sci-fi film features Pratt, who plays a soldier trying to save the world from aliens, saying, I will be back. The line was similar to Schwarzeneggers famous Ill be back from The Terminator films. Pratt spoke about preparing Schwarzenegger to hear his take on the quote during a 2021 interview with New York Live. At the time, Pratt said Schwarzenegger had not seen the entire film, but he did watch the trailer. I showed it in front of the whole family and I said, I do have a line. I say, I will be back, he recalled. He then told the Austria native, And youll see it just pales in comparison to anytime youve ever delivered that iconic line. He humbly told the interviewer, Im just saying it like a guy whos going into the room. Theres nothing iconic about it. Pratt also revealed that his father-in-law frequently recites the well-known line and other dialogue from his films. He does it all the time, too, Pratt shared in the interview. Hell say lines from his movies and stuff. Hell walk out and be like, Ill be back. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Arnold Schwarzenegger Friday said he was "very, very proud" of son-in-law Chris Pratts performance in the new "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" movie. "I saw #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 last night and WOW. @prattprattpratt, you crushed it," the 75-year-old tweeted. "A non-stop, perfect mix of comedy and action. I loved it and Im very, very proud of you." Pratt married Schwarzeneggers 33-year-old daughter Katherine in 2019, and the couple share two children, Lyla, 2, and Eloise, who will turn 1 May 21. Pratt also has a 10-year-old son Jack from his marriage to Anna Faris. Pratt said last month Schwarzenegger goes by "Opa," the German world for grandpa with the kids. And he told Jimmy Fallon the "Terminator" star taught him how to smoke a cigar after one of the children was born despite Pratt having asthma. ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER SAYS HE'S OPEN TO FILLING MORE POTHOLES FOR LOS ANGELES: TOOK ME BACK TO THE 70S Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was "very, very proud" of Chris Pratt's performance in the new "Guardians" movie. "Theres nothing manlier than Arnold Schwarzenegger smoking a cigar, and when youre part of bringing his granddaughter into the world, he comes and he brings you a cigar, and hes like, Lets go out and smoke these," he told Fallon. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP He joked that he woke up the next day with a "massive lung infection." Chris Pratt married Katherine Schwarzenegger in 2019. "Theres peer pressure and then theres Arnold Schwarzenegger," he laughed. Three years ago, Schwarzenegger called Pratt "a great guy" and "kind to my daughter" on Jimmy Kimmel. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I get along with him really well," the former California governor said of the 43-year-old. "And, of course, the first thing when we met, he says, Can we ever work out together? I need to have the inside scoop to pumping iron.' So I took him to the gym, and we worked out." Arnold Schwarzenegger said Chris Pratt asked him for his permission to marry his daughter Katherine in a "very traditional way." He joked with Kimmel that "pumping iron" with the "Jurassic World" actor was the "decision-making" factor in giving his blessing to the marriage. Schwarzenegger added that he was "very proud" of Pratt, who asked his permission to marry his daughter "in a very traditional way." "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" premieres in theaters May 5. The two longtime friends appeared via a pre-tapped video, alongside Schwarzenegger's pony and donkey CSPAN Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered a surprise cold open to kick off the 2023 White House Correspondents' Dinner alongside an old friend former Twins costar Danny DeVito! The former Governor of California and his longtime friend appeared in a pre-recorded clip that began the annual festivities on Saturday, feeding Schwarzenegger's pony and donkey pets while thanking members of the press for their constant pursuit of delivering truth to power. "I'm very proud of all of you. And it's not just me and it's also Lulu and Whisky and my twin brother Danny DeVito, we're all proud of you!" said Schwarzenegger, 75, as DeVito fed the animals crackers. "I come over here and I'm going to get bit by a horse. That's the finger, ouch!" DeVito, 78, joked, as Schwarzenegger told Lulu, "Good girl, good girl." Related:Danny DeVito Says Arnold Schwarzenegger Has Animals That 'Just Roam Around All Over the Place' Schwarzenegger and DeVito have maintained a friendship since first starring together in Twins in 1988. The two also worked together on The Last Action Hero in 1993, and Junior in 1994. Most recently, they collaborated when Schwarzenegger made a cameo on DeVito's Disney+ animated series Little Demon. Story continues Elsewhere in his video, broadcast by CNN, Schwarzenegger told the press: "You're actually doing the people's work. You're the ally of the people. So never, ever stop shining a light on the truth and informing the public." The action star then tossed it to White House Correspondents' Association President Tamara Keith, who led the evening's festivities live from the Washington Hilton. Related:All the Celebrities Arriving at the 2023 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and Parties Moviestore/Shutterstock Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito in Twins Schwarzenegger's cold open came before host Roy Wood Jr.'s monologue. Related:White House Correspondents' Dinner Host Jokes He Has to 'Throw Out the Whole Damn Script' After Media Shakeups The annual correspondent's dinner traces back to 1921 and has historically been attended by members of the association as well as high-ranking government officials including the president and first lady. This is the second in-person White House Correspondents' Dinner in recent years. The 2020 and 2021 events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger has in recent months used his platform to denounce a rise in anti-semitism and other forms of hate across the United States. Following a recent visit to Auschwitz, the former governor of California pondered how "we stop this from ever happening again" in a 12-minute speech he shared on YouTube in March, noting he doesn't "want to preach to the choir here." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Today, I want to talk to the people out there who might have already stumbled into the wrong direction, into the wrong path," he explained. He also referenced his father, who reportedly belonged to the Nazi party, and "the broken men that I grew up surrounded by" in his home country of Austria after World War II, who "felt like losers" because they "fell for a horrible loser ideology." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. ChatGPT generated a recipe with 12 ingredients and nine steps within three minutes. Lauren Edmonds/Insider I asked the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to create a recipe for me to make. My only stipulations were that the recipe included garlic and shrimp. The recipe was well put together and tasted great, so I'd definitely ask ChatGPT for more food inspiration. Open AI released ChatGPT in November 2022 and it quickly captured the public's attention. A photo of the ChatGPT website. Lauren Edmonds/Insider ChatGPT burst onto the scene late last year, but the attention and craze surrounding the artificial intelligence chatbot carried firmly into 2023. ChatGPT quickly went viral across social media as people asked it to build Chrome extensions, take the US medical licensing exam, and write school essays. Over the last several months, I've watched people speculate how AI can innovate industries, and as a food reporter, I wanted to know what role ChatGPT could play in the kitchen. I asked ChatGPT to create an "upscale" pasta recipe with shrimp and garlic two of my favorite ingredients. A photo of the ChatGPT-generated recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider After creating an account, I asked ChatGPT: "Can you create an upscale pasta recipe with shrimp and garlic for me to make?" ChatGPT generated a recipe with 12 ingredients and nine steps within three minutes. Although I assumed my request would be relatively easy, it still surprised me how comprehensive the pasta recipe was. I also loved that ChatGPT labeled my recipe "easy-to-make" because I love quick and straightforward dinner options. To make it, you'll need: 8 oz linguine or spaghetti 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined 6 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional) 1/2 cup white wine 1/2 cup chicken or seafood broth 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Salt and black pepper, to taste Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving Lemon wedges, for serving Prep time for the garlic and other ingredients should be around 15 minutes. A photo showing which ingredients need to be prepped for the recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider Before cooking the pasta, prepare the parsley, garlic cloves, cherry tomatoes, and lemons. It should take about 15 minutes and will save you time later on. Story continues According to the recipe, cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain and set aside. Don't heat the pasta up too much because it'll be cooked in a pot later in the recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider I purchased linguine for the recipe, so I cooked the noodles for about five minutes before draining and setting them back in the pot. Then, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and saute for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. I personally requested the garlic, so I was happy the recipe asked for a large quantity. Lauren Edmonds/Insider Garlic tends to cook quickly, so keep an eye on it in the skillet. Also, if you're sensitive to spice, feel free to add more or less red pepper flakes. I accidentally spilled an extra shake in, so my pasta had a little kick to it. Add the shrimp to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until pink and cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the skillet and set aside. Watch the shrimp to make sure they don't overcook. Lauren Edmonds/Insider As the shrimp cooks, try to coat each piece in the olive oil-garlic-red pepper flake sauce to flavor each bite. In the same skillet, deglaze with white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let the wine reduce for 1-2 minutes. The shrimp cooled nearby as I deglazed the white wine in the pan. Lauren Edmonds/Insider As Insider's Cheyenne Lentz explained, deglazing with wine can help create a flavorful sauce. It was my first time deglazing with wine, but the process was fairly simple and it didn't take long for the wine to reduce. Add the chicken or seafood broth to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Cook for another 2-3 minutes to reduce the liquid slightly. A photo of the chicken broth, red pepper flakes, garlic, and deglazed wine in a pan. Lauren Edmonds/Insider I couldn't find seafood stock which I bet would have taken the recipe to a different level so I used chicken stock. I think either option works for this recipe, so feel free to use whichever you have in the pantry. Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 1-2 minutes until they start to soften. The cherry tomatoes added a refreshing taste to the recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider It shouldn't take longer than the suggested time, but make sure they don't get too mushy. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet along with the cooked pasta. Toss everything together to coat the pasta with the sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes to heat everything through. Make sure the noodles are thoroughly coated in the sauce. Lauren Edmonds/Insider The recipe also suggested seasoning the pasta with salt and black pepper to taste. Then, add in the chopped parsley. Serve the shrimp and garlic pasta hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and lemon wedges for squeezing over the top The lemon was a nice addition to the recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider Per the recipe, I added a few squeezes of lemon juice into the pasta and mixed it all together. At the end of the recipe, ChatGPT added: "Enjoy your delicious upscale shrimp and garlic pasta! It's sure to impress your guests or elevate your weeknight dinner. Buon appetito!" A photo of the finished pasta I made with the ChatGPT recipe. Lauren Edmonds/Insider I didn't know what to expect when I requested the recipe, but it was actually put together very well and tasted just as good. I typically like a creamy sauce, but the light sauce paired well with the cherry tomatoes and let the garlic shine. It's definitely a 35-minute dish that would impress at a cozy dinner party, so I'd make it again. I'd also use ChatGPT again whenever I feel uninspired in the kitchen. It crafted a tasty and fairly simple dish in a matter of minutes. Read the original article on Insider The Washington state Attorney Generals Office is withdrawing from representing the state Legislature in a lawsuit over the withholding of public records, and a private law firm has been appointed to tackle the case, court filings show. Jeffrey T. Even, Deputy Solicitor General, filed the notice of withdrawal April 27 in Thurston County Superior Court. Pacifica Law Group, the firm appointed to represent the Legislature, recently intervened in the Quinn vs. state of Washington case, where the state Supreme Court ruled that the states newly enacted capital gains tax is constitutional. The lawsuit against the Legislature was filed in early January by open government activist Arthur West, after McClatchy first reported that state lawmakers were quietly using legislative privilege a legally untested exemption to withhold their public records. Two attorneys from the firm will represent the state Legislature and lawmakers in Wests case. West previously faced Pacifica in a case where they represented the 2021 Washington State Redistricting Commission. That case was settled for $40,000, after West sued the commission for withholding and destroying public records. Pacifica has intervened too on other cases filed by West. The state AGs office contended that state lawmakers can refuse to provide certain records to the public under a legislative privilege exemption, according to court filings from February. Court filings show that West is asking for declaratory and injunctive relief regarding whether or not lawmakers can claim legislative privilege to withhold records and shield them from the states Public Records Act. Additionally, the lawsuit aims to find out whether the constitution itself gives lawmakers the authority to exempt themselves from releasing certain records, with West asserting that legislative privilege is an issue of major public importance, and an actual dispute between parties having genuinely opposing and substantial interests. Story continues Lawmakers have argued that a provision in the state constitutions speech and debate clause grants them the privilege to withhold certain documents. Second lawsuit filed West is not the only one suing lawmakers for withholding public records under the claim of legislative privilege. Another lawsuit was filed last week by the Washington Coalition for Open Government and plaintiff Jamie Nixon, who is familiar with work of the Redistricting Commission. That lawsuit is also seeking declaratory relief for lawmakers claims of withholding records under legislative privilege. Court documents show that Nixon and WashCOG requested specific records from the Legislature but were denied under the claim. The filing asserts that the state failed to adequately respond to requests for certain records because they claimed erroneously that their records were privileged and not subject to release under the request. Under the Public Records Act, lawmakers are identified as individual agencies, and as such, the suit also specifically names lawmakers whose records were withheld in public records requests. (The) Washington Public Records Act does not contain any legislative privilege exemption, the suit stated. Washington Courts have not held legislative privilege was an exemption from Washingtons Public Records Act. A review of thousands of public records obtained in a joint effort by McClatchy and Crosscut in February found that not only was the exemption first quietly rolled out in 2021, but that the legally untested idea of legislative privilege for state lawmakers already had been introduced to, and largely ignored by, the Washington State Supreme Court more than a decade before. It is unclear if Pacifica Law Group will also represent the state in the WashCOG case. McClatchys attempts to reach the law firm for comment were unsuccessful. McClatchy contacted the AGs office to ask if Pacifica will also be representing the state in that case, but the AGs office referred McClatchy to the Legislature. Legislative leaders have previously declined any questions regarding the lawsuits. Authorities are investigating an untimely death of a patient at a New Hampshire psychiatric unit According to the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, the patients death remains under investigation at this time. The Department has requested the assistance of the New Hampshire Department of Safetys Division of State Police. No further information is available until notifications to next of kin are made, and an autopsy is completed by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. 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 To a tourist these towns look as peaceful as a postcard picture," "Peyton Place" author Grace Metalious once said. But if you go beneath that picture, its like turning over a rock with your foot all kinds of strange things crawl out. Things are still crawling out. In 1956, Gilmanton New Hampshire's Metalious roiled conservative pretenses and petty minds with an ground-breaking novel of infidelity, hypocrisy, race, class privilege and social injustice woven into sordid tales of neighborly rape, incest, abortion, lust and murder. Robert Azzi It wasn't pretty, but it was real. Today, nearly 70 years later, a new generation of caste-conscious minds channeling delusional grievances and resentments continue to roil our communities, this time with threatening chatter about race, gender, antisemitism, critical race theory, vaccines, and child grooming all based in false narratives extolling an era that never existed. All describing cultural threats that don't exist. Not content to live in the most heavily armed nation in the world, not content killing off its children, not content denying women reproductive rights, not content with denying gender-affirming care or outing vulnerable children, not content with banning books and denying children unexpurgated American history, today we face the absurdity of having to deal with unreconstructed extremists who advocate teaching cursive with one hand while denying students knowledge and sustenance with the other. Local news: 8 books in Dover schools challenged. Here are the titles targeted for bans. Supporters of House Bill 170 want to require New Hampshire schools to teach instruction in cursive handwriting by fifth grade. Personally, I would prefer that my child learn to code than whether they could read their aunt's cursive handwriting. It's not just that such arguments are absurd but the fact that there are people who embrace them is frightening. What at best is a local school curriculum issue has been weaponized by people who want to inflict their righteous ignorance upon our children. Story continues When children plaintively ask, "Why dost thou abandon me?" perhaps they can do it in cursive, perhaps on notepaper scented with purple lilacs, our state flower. What has become of us? I have wonderful handwriting. My cursive is classical and clear and I revel, when called upon, in making old-fashioned upper-case Gs and Qs. I actually prefer Chancery Cursive, a Renaissance-era style distinguished by its thin and thick strokes, to the loopy pedestrian letter-forms legislators want to introduce in HB 170. I know how to make reed pens with a small ink reservoir. I have Osmiroid pens with various sized nibs and, when I want to write the Arabic alphabet which reads from right to left I find that the nibs I use for Chancery Cursive suit Arabic well. My favorite pencils for special occasions are Blackwing 602s. I sharpen them with my father's penknife. Leaving my best self-praise to the end, my printing is so architectural and impressive in both ink or pencil that people have been known to clip and save samples of my penmanship from envelopes and packages I send them. None of those skills matter when I want to read history. Robert Azzi, a photographer and writer who lives in Exeter, can be reached at theother.azzi@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Azzi: Today's Peyton Place: Guns. Culture. Cursive. Combat clashes between the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Russian occupiers sometimes occur at distances of less than 50 metres, said the spokesman of the National Guard, Ruslan Muzychuk. Source: Muzychuk on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: He said that the front line hardly moved during the week, and the main battles are taking place on the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Marinka fronts. Street battles continue at minimal distances on the Marinka and Bakhmut fronts. Muzychuk emphasised that combat clashes sometimes occur at distances of less than 50 metres. The National Guard spokesman said that the Armed Forces are forced to act as quickly as possible due to such close combat. Background: Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) point out that Yevgeny Prigozhin, financier of the Wagner Private Military Company, fears counterattacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, particularly in the city of Bakhmut. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kate Rothschild, Ben Goldsmith and their daughter Iris Goldsmith in 2009. (Getty) Grieving Ben Goldsmith has admitted he took hallucinogenic drugs and met with a medium in an attempt to connect with his daughter who was killed in an accident four years ago. Iris Annabel Goldsmith, 15, was riding a quad bike on the family's farm in Somerset in July 2019 when she lost control of the vehicle. The bike lost its balance and overturned, pinning the teenager to the ground. A friend called 999 but by the time her father arrived, she had died. Goldsmith and his ex-wife Kate Rothschild were devastated by the death of their daughter, and he has now written a book called God is an Octopus, sharing his stages of grief. Soon after the crash that took his daughter's life, Goldsmith said: "Dear God, please can I have my beautiful, brilliant, kind little girl back, please God. "And if not, please take extra special care of her. I love her so so much and Im so proud of her. It hurts me so much I cant describe." Iris Annabel Goldsmith and her father Ben in 2015. (Getty) Read more from Yahoo News UK: Mother speaks of ocean of grief over Iris Goldsmith death Police fear murder of pregnant teacher Marelle Sturrock 'was premeditated by partner' Zac Goldsmith confronted by 11-year-old climate activist at COP27 He told the Sunday Times that he took a South American brewed hallucinogenic drug which allowed him to see his daughter one last time. He said: "My body heaved and shook as tears sheeted down my face. I felt so lucky to have known this girl for the time that I did. "I yearned to reach out and grab her, to hold her tightly to me now, but there was no way of doing so." He also had a session with a medium which he says uncovered Iris' final moments. He said the medium told him: "The last thing she remembers is being very winded and then a rising panic." Iris Goldsmith was the heiress of two of the countrys most powerful dynasties, being the eldest child of Ben Goldsmith and his ex-wife Rothschild. She was the niece of Tory Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith and documentary film producer Jemima Khan. By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, will join Pacific Islands leaders next month for a "historic" future-oriented meeting, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said on Sunday. "This is a historic first and at the same time a 'going forward' futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific," Marape said in a statement. Biden's May 22 stopover in the capital Port Moresby would be the first visit by a sitting U.S. president to the resource-rich but largely undeveloped country of 9.4 million people just north of Australia. Papua New Guinea is being courted by China and by the U.S. and its allies, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018. Washington has stepped up efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region after China struck a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year. China failed to reach a wider security and trade deal with 10 Pacific island countries. China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors. Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. "In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said. The 18 countries and territories in the Pacific Islands Forum cover 30 million square km (10 million square miles) of ocean. The region's leaders say climate change is their greatest security threat, amid worsening cyclones and rising sea levels. Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for a May 24 summit of the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia. Marape said he had invited Biden when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country". (Reporting by Kirsty Needham in Sydney; Editing by William Mallard) President Joe Biden had a wide array of targets at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday night, skewering Don Lemon, Fox News, and critics of his advancing age. I get that age is a completely reasonable issue. Its on everybodys mind. And by everyone, I mean the New York Times. Headline: Bidens advanced age is a big issue. Trumps is not,' Biden said, making fun of a recent editorial from the newspaper that said the president should take voter concerns about his age seriously. Call me old? I call it being seasoned. You say Im ancient. I say Im wise. You say Im over the hill. Don Lemon would say thats a man in his prime, the president said, referencing the CNN anchor who was recently fired. Lemon was widely criticized for a remark that presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, isnt in her prime. I believe in the First Amendment, Biden, 80, added, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it. The president dinged several other media outlets, with Fox News drawing the brunt of it. You might think I dont like Rupert Murdoch. Thats simply not true. How can I dislike a guy that makes me look like Harry Styles?, Biden said. The president joked hes outlasted Tucker Carlson and mentioned Fox Newss recent settlement with Dominion Voting Systems, saying the voting company owned Fox. Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. This year, with that $787 million settlement, theyre here because they couldnt say No to a free meal. And hell, Id call Fox Honest, Fair and Truthful, but then I could be sued for defamation, said the president, adding that his goal is to make Fox journalists laugh as hard as CNN did when they read the settlement. But then again, CNN was like Wow, they actually have $787 million.' The president also made fun of recent criticism about his infrequent appearances. In a lot of ways, this dinner sums up my first two years in office. Ill talk for 10 minutes, take zero questions, and cheerfully walk away, Biden said. Story continues Dark Brandon made an appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner. pic.twitter.com/lNfWrNXj0i President Biden (@POTUS) April 30, 2023 Outside the Washington Hilton hotel, activists were protesting Bidens approach to climate change, which they think isnt aggressive enough. But that didnt deter the fun on Saturday. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. poked fun at Biden in return, beginning his set by saying: Real quick, Mr. President, I think you left some of your classified documents up here. Wood also joked that no scandal has been more damaging as the question of Is Joe Biden awake? The comedian couldnt resist poking fun at Fox himself. You all look good though. Ive been watching and looking around all night. . . . Looks like everybody got a little piece of that settlement money from Fox News, Wood said. During his speech, Biden did take the opportunity to be serious and advocate for journalists held hostage by tyrannical regimes throughout the world. A free press is a pillar of a free society, Biden said. Journalism is not a crime. Evan [Gershkovich] and Austin [Tice] should be released immediately along with every other American held hostage and wrongfully detained abroad, explained the president, referencing two journalists being held in Russia and Syria respectively. Biden demanded Russia free Marine Paul Whelan and asked Brittney Griner, attending the dinner after being released from Russia in a prisoner swap earlier this year, to stand up for a round of applause. More from National Review President Biden is set to meet with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Monday amid tensions with China in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden will host Marcos for a bilateral meeting, the White House said, and reaffirm the U.S.s ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. In addition to talking about clean energy, climate change and human rights, the pair of leaders will discuss regional matters and coordinate on efforts to uphold international law and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The meeting comes after the U.S. and the Philippines last week conducted their largest war drills yet, in Philippine waters near the South China Sea. On Monday, the two nations will hold their first joint fighter jet training in the Philippines since 1990. The U.S. has been moving to strengthen ties with the Philippines and increase its presence in the region amid heightened U.S.-China tensions and strain over Taiwan, the democratically governed island Beijing claims as its own. China has also upped its show of military force, conducting large-scale drills around Taiwan. The U.S. State Department also said in a Saturday statement that it stands with the Philippines in the face of Chinas continued infringement upon freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, accusing Beijing forces of harassment and intimidation of Philippine vessels as they undertake routine patrols within their exclusive economic zone. Marcos said ahead of the meeting with Biden that he was determined to forge an ever stronger relationship with the United States in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also those that are critical to advancing our core interests, according to The Associated Press. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden and Roy Wood Jr. SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images Journalists and celebrities alike descended Saturday on the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. President Biden and host Roy Wood Jr. brought laughs to what is undoubtedly one of comedy's toughest crowds. Despite its jokes, the dinner is actually billed as an event to celebrate freedom of the press. Biden started off his time at the podium on a somber note, pledging to stand alongside American journalists detained overseas. He highlighted Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested just weeks ago in Russia. "Everyone in this hall stands with you," Biden said of Gershkovich, adding that his administration was "working every day to secure his release." Once he transitioned to jokes, Biden poked fun at his advanced age, saying he believes "in the First Amendment, and not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it." He also got in some jabs on Fox's Rupert Murdoch, saying he "makes me look like Harry Styles." Biden also quipped about his potential opponents in the 2024 presidential election, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Of the latter, Biden said, "He was asked if he had a mandate. He said, 'Hell no, I'm straight!'" Wood, a correspondent on The Daily Show, then took to the dais asking the crowd to "give it up for Dark Brandon." He started off with some good-natured jabs against Biden, saying he "left some of your classified documents up here," adding that the president "thinks I'm the daddy on Family Matters." He then used his time to take swipes at numerous cable networks, particularly Fox News, Tucker Carlson, and Don Lemon. In a notable joke that elicited pauses, Wood said not to worry about drag queens in schools because "most of those kids are going to get shot at school, it ain't no problem." You may also like U.S. production of bullets, shells, and missiles sidelined by explosion at 1 Louisiana gunpowder mill FAA overruled engineers to let Boeing 737 Max keep flying, report alleges Bill finalized to allow DeSantis to run for president while remaining governor President Biden vowed to fight for all Americans wrongfully detained abroad at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday, as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovichs ongoing detainment in Russia loomed large. Jill, Kamala, Doug, and I, and members of our administration, are here to send a message to the country and quite frankly to the world a free press is a pillar, maybe the pillar, of a free society, not the enemy, Biden said. Evan went to report in Russia to shed light on the darkness that you all escaped from years ago, the president said to Gershkovichs family at the event. To the entire family, everyone in this hall stands with you. Were working every day to secure his release, looking at opportunities and tools to bring him home. We keep the faith. Gershkovich was arrested late last month by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on espionage charges, which both the Journal and the White House have rejected. Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially designated the reporter as wrongfully detained earlier this month. Biden also vowed to keep the faith for journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012. Journalism is not crime, Biden said. Evan and Austin should be released immediately, along with every American held hostage or wrongly detained abroad. The president also recognized WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was in the audience at this years correspondents dinner. Griner spent 10 months detained in Russia last year, before the Biden administration secured her release in a prisoner swap. My commitment is to bring them home, just as I know your commitment is to continue to be a free and fearless press, Biden said. And that is what we honor tonight. This is not hyperbole, he continued. You make it possible, you make it possible for ordinary citizens to question authority, and yes, even to laugh at authority without fear and intimidation. Thats what makes this nation strong. Story continues Biden also took a moment, in a night known for its jokes, to poke fun at himself. At 80 years old, his age has been a constant point of contention, particularly amid his recently announced reelection campaign. I believe in the First Amendment, not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it, Biden said. You call me old, I call it being seasoned. You say Im ancient, I say Im wise. You say Im over the hill, Don Lemon would say thats a man in his prime, he later added. The president also took several jabs at Fox News, in the wake of its massive $787 million-dollar settlement with Dominion Voting Systems and its recent split with host Tucker Carlson. Look, its great the cable news networks are here tonight, Biden said. NBC News owned by NBC Universal. Fox News owned by Dominion Voting Systems. Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted, he added. This year, with the $787 million dollar settlement, theyre here because they couldnt say no to a free meal. This was Bidens second time addressing the White House Correspondents Association during their annual dinner. Former President Trump chose not to attend while he was in office. The event was also placed on hold during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and was brought back only last year. Biden signed legislation earlier this month to end the national emergency. Guests were required to show proof of negative COVID-19 tests before attending. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Vouchers The bill to expand private school vouchers is a bad idea not just a bad idea, but a knife in the back of public education. The N.C. General Assembly, the very people charged by our states constitution to provide and enhance free public education, are either willfully or unwittingly trying to diminish it. Paying parents to abandon public schools for alternative education does not bode well for the future of public education in our state. Expanding these payouts is about as smart as defunding the police. Our legislators should be thinking of ways to improve our schools, not contribute to their demise. Though costly, this bill only benefits a rather small constituency. Yes, this bill is an all-around bad idea. Jerry Womack, Raleigh Education funding The proposed Choose Your School, Choose Your Future Act, which the N.C. legislature is poised to enact, will accelerate the Republican Partys agenda to destroy the states public school system. By 2034, the law will provide an annual sum of more than a half a billion dollars for school vouchers, regardless of a familys income. Taxpayers will thus subsidize the private education of the children of even wealthy families. This is wrong, especially in light of the fact that the legislature has refused to appropriate the $1.75 billion specified by the Leandro decision to help all N.C. children obtain a sound, basic education. Maurice York, Greenville Raleigh council The last Raleigh City Council election demonstrated that Raleigh voters want a greater say in city affairs. Adding district council seats would provide an improved opportunity for citizen input and involvement. Districts seats enable more constituent interaction than do at-large seats. When the current council size of eight was established, circa 1973, the city had a population of about 130,000. Now, the population is estimated to be more than 470,000. With the city having grown more than 3.5 times during these 50 years, it makes sense to increase the size of the city council. Story continues Alan Tharp, Raleigh Sit down and listen At Mark Robinsons April 24 gubernatorial campaign launch, N.C. Rep. Neal Jackson told the crowd that Republicans need someone that will stand up and fight when there needs to be a fight. Maybe its time to have someone who will sit down and listen with compassion and understanding to parents who have lost children to gun violence, to the voters when trying to limit voting rights, to women who already make difficult decisions about their health care, to educators about curriculum and yes, to we the people. Violet Rhinehart, Raleigh Tenure In the April 23 Opinion piece, NC Republicans launch most egregious attack in the country on UNC. Why?, Rep. David Willis launches a veiled attack on faculty tenure at UNC. I believe that we should end tenure for politicians, not professors. Jason Beverly, Chapel Hill Swing votes Regarding the April 25 article on key swing votes in the N.C. legislature, thank goodness there are members of both parties willing to vote independently. Blind party loyalty has not, until the last few years, been an expectation in American politics, and it is not a positive development. Lets start again rewarding our representatives for thinking independently and working for the good of their constituents. Arthur G. Powers, Raleigh Tax cuts One advantage of being a senior citizen is that I can remember the last time this country had not only a balanced budget but a surplus. It was the late 1990s and Bill Clinton was president. The surplus was being used to pay down the national debt. In 2000, George W. Bush was elected president and did the typical Republican thing. He said rather than pay down the debt, lets use the surplus to have a tax cut. We havent had a surplus since and with each successive tax cut the deficit has increased. Perhaps it is time to reconsider these tax cuts. John R. Shutt, Raleigh US Supreme Court Shock from learning about the recent disclosures regarding Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch has only been exceeded by the revelation that U.S. Supreme Court does not even have a code of ethics. Then, we learn that Chief Justice John Roberts refuses to testify at a congressional inquiry into this issue, citing separation of powers doctrine. He has yet to issue a public statement acknowledging the growing crisis in his court or announce a corrective plan of action. One doesnt need a law degree to conclude that our Supreme Court is essentially admitting it is above the law. How ironic. Legitimate democracy demands accountability at all levels of government. Keith Feather, Hillsborough Congress must act The Supreme Court has a serious ethics problem, and the latest revelations about Clarence Thomas should be alarming to every American. Supreme Court decisions impact every facet of American life. Because of this, justices must be held to the highest ethical standards. A court with no legitimacy only hurts the American people. Its time for Congress to pass a Supreme Court code of ethics to bring legitimacy back to the court. Ivy Williams, Durham Editor's Note: The following is part of a class project originally initiated in the classroom of Ball State University professor Adam Kuban in fall 2021. Kuban continued the project this spring semester, challenging his students to find sustainability efforts in the Muncie area and pitch their ideas to Deanna Watson, editor of The Star Press, Journal & Courier and Pal-Item. This spring, stories related to health care will be featured. MUNCIE, Ind. Its 1973. Matilda Barber is working as a nurse at St. Johns Hospital now Fresenius Medical Care at St. Johns Health System in Anderson, Indiana. Barber goes to the gynecologist every year for pap smears, and on a regular visit, her doctor notices spots on her cervix. The doctor then diagnoses Barber with cervical cancer at 37 years old. Matilda Barber with her daughter, Fay Dansby-Barber, in 2019. Barber said cancer runs in her family, which is why she got pap smears annually and has advised her daughters to do the same. I was upset because he referred me to a surgeon, and I knew what was going to happen then. I was diagnosed on a Friday and was scheduled to have surgery that following Monday, said Barber. As a Black woman in the United States, Barber is among the second-most-likely demographic to develop cervical cancer. According to MedicalNewsToday, Black women are 80% more likely to die from cervical cancer than white women. The overall five-year survival rate for Black women is around 56%, lower than the compared rate of 68% for white women. Barber said she had to have a partial hysterectomy and that it was a blessing for the doctors to detect the cancer in her body at an early stage, and she was able to keep her ovaries. After Matilda Barber retired from working at the Holy Cross School of Nursing, Barber said she wanted to make sure she worked at a health center. I taught smoking-cessation to those that were smoking, and I was able to get them to quit smoking. Because once you have cancer in one site, you can get cancer in another site. I really wanted six children. At that time, I had only had three, but thank God I had two girls and a boy, said Barber. I got very good care in the hospital, and some of the nurses that I taught at the Holy Cross School of Nursing took care of me. "The less 'glamorized' cancer" The lack of education about cancer is one of the main reasons why a lot of women dont get screened for cervical cancer. According to an analysis study conducted by BMC Womens Health in April 2020, Black women in Indiana have a 23% higher cervical cancer incidence rate and a 25% higher mortality rate compared to white women. Black women in Indiana also have one of the lowest cervical-cancer-screening rates in the U.S. Story continues The YWCA Greater Lafayettes Womens Wellness Program serves 36 counties, offering education and breast-and cervical-cancer screenings for the underinsured, uninsured or low-income minority women. The program provides financial assistance to women who have been diagnosed with cervical and/or breast cancer. Mayra Puentes-Castro, the director of the Womens Wellness Program in Lafayette, Indiana, said that the program serves 1,643 women but is always wanting to serve more. Being understaffed or staff turnover can affect the service that we provide to these women, and a lot of them need the respect and dignity to be able to have conversations about their struggle with cancer, said Puentes-Castro, the youngest director at the YWCA in Lafayette. The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program in the Womens Wellness Program teaches women about how the human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the biggest causes of cervical cancer. Puentes-Castro said that the program is trying to get out into the community to show women still need help with cancer screenings. The Womens Wellness Program accepts phone calls from women who need the program every Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cervical cancer is the less popular, less glamorized cancer that not a lot of people talk about, said Puentes-Castro. We want to really highlight that we dont get a lot of funding for cervical cancer like we get for breast cancer. Human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer in the Black community The human papillomavirus, or HPV, is one of the leading factors for developing cervical cancer. In a study published in June 2020 on the prevalence of high-risk HPV diagnoses according to race conducted by the American Cancer Society Journals, Black women in the United States have a higher rate of high-risk HPV positivity than white women. High-risk HPV, or hrHPV is identified in up to 99.7% of cervical cancers worldwide, according to BioMed Central. Gabrielle Darville-Sanders, the strategic director of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable for the American Cancer Society, spoke at a Vaccinate Indiana event in November 2022 to discuss raising HPV vaccine rates in Indiana. American Cancer Society is in the process of preventing cancers, said Darville-Sanders. We vaccinate early on to prevent cancers later on in life. As part of the movement to vaccinate early, the Age 9 Campaign was created by Dr. Debbie Saslow, the managing director of the HPV and GYN Cancer roundtable for the American Cancer Society and Darville-Sanders co-worker, to push for HPV vaccinations in children to start at age 9. Instead of starting the conversation when the child is between the ages of 11 and 12, lets start the conversation early at 9 so that if a parent is hesitant, at least you start to sweeten them up to the idea, said Darville-Sanders. Although the U.S. has medical devices and tests that can catch pre-cancer symptoms earlier and treat them successfully, thats not always the case demographically or internationally. Gabrielle Darville-Sanders at the Vaccinate Indiana event in November 2022. Darville-Sanders said one of the reasons why women may not want to be screened for cancer is because ignorance is bliss. Cervical cancer is basically a disease of health disparities, said Shelly Dusic, a 20-year cervical cancer survivor and the director of the National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer for the American Cancer Society. Dusic said it was estimated back in 2019 that there would be 1,906 new cases of cervical cancer in Black, non-Hispanic women. Of those 1,906 new cases, Dusic said, it was expected for there to be 788 deaths. There's no reason anyone should have to die of cervical cancer with the technology and the resources that we have today, Dusic said. The Black population is having issues getting screened on time to find the cancer at an early stage when it's easier to treat and having more trouble from diagnosis to successful treatment. The Human Rights Watch produced a report on cervical cancer deaths in Georgia, focusing specifically on underserved and low-income patients. Darville-Sanders, who helped conduct this report, said that results from this report concluded that low-income women do not have easy access to health care because they feel as though they cant trust their doctors, that their reproductive health rights are not as important and that there was bias against them from medical providers. If you're underserved or lower income, you may not feel empowered to fight the system that has not been set up to encourage you and allow you the option to fight, Darville-Sanders said. When we look at certain states and their rates of pre-screenings, HPV vaccinations and cervical cancer therapy, its not the greatest picture. People aren't doing what they're supposed to be doing or doctors are not recommending certain things. Theres still a lot of work to be done. This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Black women and cervical cancer, 'a disease of health disparities The removal of drywall during mold remediation is seen after a basement flood. Catherine McQueen/Getty Images Yolanda, 61, owns a home in the predominantly Black 7th Ward neighborhood in New Orleans. To fix her leaking roof in 2020, she had to borrow money. Its one of them credit card loans, she said. Like interest of 30% and all that, you know. I was kind of backed up against the wall, so I just went on and made the loan, a high-interest loan. As a sociologist who has spent the past 10 years studying housing conditions in the U.S., I led a research team that conducted interviews with homeowners who are struggling with basic maintenance such as rotting wood siding and floors, mold, crumbling brickwork, outdated plumbing and leaking ceilings. Our first paper from this project is currently under peer review. Like Yolanda, our interviewees whom we gave pseudonyms to protect their privacy were almost all Black women over the age of 60 who lived in old buildings in neighborhoods that have borne the brunt of discrimination such as redlining and inequitable land use decisions and disinvestment. Once a lively district of Black businesses and homes, the 7th Ward has become an area of high poverty since the I-10 expressway was built during the 1960s directly through its heart. Yolanda had already been living there for a decade before the highway was built. Though brightly painted, Yolandas home is separated from I-10 only by an empty lot, and the constant noise and higher rates of pollution make it hard to imagine Yolanda would be able to sell her home for a profit or use its declining value as equity. Did Yolanda take out a high-interest loan for nothing? Was she throwing good money after bad? These are not easy questions to answer. Like other Black female homeowners whom we interviewed, Yolanda had to choose between debt and disrepair. As she explained, she was backed up against a wall. The racist and sexist history of disrepair According to a 2022 analysis of federal census data by Harvards Joint Center for Housing Studies, nearly a third of homeowners who earn less than US,000 about 4.8 million people spent nothing on maintenance or improvements. Story continues I have noticed worrying trends in the circumstances of those who live in housing in disrepair. In my book, Stacked Decks, I explore the connections between urban housing, race, gender and income inequality. Since at least the 1970s, real estate agents and lenders have exploited the precarious financial positions of Black women and sold them mortgages on homes in poor condition. Today 50 years later these homes pose even greater health and safety risks to their owners than when they first bought them. The I-10 interstate highway cuts through residential neighborhoods in New Orleans shown here after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Jerry Grayson/Helifilms Australia PTY Ltd/Getty Images Studies show that after less than two years of ownership, disrepair makes maintaining a livable home difficult for low-income homeowners. Unaddressed repairs such as leaky roofs or broken pipes frequently result in code violations and court cases, which prompt liens, foreclosures and the possibility of homelessness. The situation is worse for Black women, who have much less wealth, on average, than their white or male counterparts. Without money to pay for repairs, female homeowners face incurring more debt if they make repairs. Climate change means that these problems are getting worse as a result of increased rainfall and extreme temperatures. Doris, a homeowner in Chicago, told us in 2021 about her old and leaking roof and the flooding in her basement. She explained that the flooding was partially due to the overflowing of nearby city-owned drainage pipes. Every time it rains, the water comes in, she said. By the sewer not being clean so much water came in my basement that my washer and dryer was floating up on the water. An insurance claim covered some of the costs of this repair for Doris, and the city is experimenting with new ways to tackle floodwater, but water still gets in when it rains hard. Racism and sexism in the housing industry The racism pervading the housing industry is now well known. The real estate industry has, at different points in history, excluded Black Americans from homeownership, included them through predatory loans and deals and reinforced racial segregation by denying loans to Black and other minority residents. Known as redlining, the practice became a self-fulfilling prophecy of disinvestment and declining values. But real estate agents and mortgage brokers were sexist as well. These real estate agents and mortgage brokers knew Black women had limited options and assumed they would be likely to default on their mortgages. Black women were consistently sold homes that needed repairs. A lot can happen to a house in 50 years. Buildings naturally deteriorate over time, because of the combination of aging construction materials and weather. At some point, all homes need repairs and preventive maintenance. A damaged building roof covered in plastic tarp. Douglas Sacha/Getty Images Chicagoan Kimberly cares for her grandson almost full time and told us about her concerns about the rotted wood that has made her back porch dangerous to stand on. We dont go out of the back door at all, Kimberly said. We have not used that in years. Four years now. Four years we have not used the back porch at all. Disrepair and environmental injustice Disrepair is an issue of environmental injustice. The government has a responsibility to help with repairs because of its role in the housing discrimination that has created such racial disparities in housing conditions. But, like disaster relief, assistance to homeowners is uneven and hard to obtain. U.S. cities often use lotteries to distribute funds for repairs, barely scratching the surface of the number of homes in need of repair. Although all homes need repair work over time, disrepair disproportionately affects people with the fewest resources, because maintenance is expensive. Disrepair also causes health and safety issues, as do other environmental injustices, such as the placement of highways and location of polluting factories. Disrepair can also force people to leave their homes because they cannot afford repairs. But making repairs can exacerbate debt. What all this means is that owning a home, or even paying off a mortgage, does not guarantee that homes remain affordable, an asset or a safe shelter. Recognizing disrepair as environmental racism could be one step in ensuring homes are all these things. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Robin Bartram, Tulane University. Read more: Robin Bartram 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. Bobby Davro with his partner Vicky Wright (Getty Images) Comedian Bobby Davro has revealed his fiancee Vicky Wright is suffering from pancreatic cancer, adding that the diagnois has been extremely painful. Davro, real name Robert Christopher Nankeville, proposed to Wright in December 2022, after 12 years together. Her cancer was reportedly detected last year. In a new interview with The Daily Star, the British entertainer said it has been horrific to watch Wright with this illness. He added that hes coping with the tragedy by keeping himself busy with work. Thank goodness Ive got my work, because it keeps my mind off this for a bit of time, the father-of-three said. However, he clarified that performing stand-up is just a distraction for a bit of time from trying to help his partner. I need to see people laughing, and I like that I can still make people laugh while dealing with this, Davro, 64, continued. He also expressed his support for others whose partners or family members have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Davro told the newspaper Wrights father died from the disease, which is hard to detect until an advanced stage. Davro said his best advice for someone whos going through the same thing is that laughter is the best medicine. There are millions of other people with partners and wives and husbands who are going through the same thing, he added. I just want to tell them you have to push forward and get back up and never, ever let life beat you. Davro made his TV debut in 1981, and earned a breakthrough spot in Live from Her Majestys two years later. He played the role of Vinnie Monks in the BBCs hit EastEnders between 2007 and 2008. He has also appeared on Celebrity Come Dine With Me and Your Face Sounds Familiar. (CNN) The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has hit back at a key agreement made between the US and South Korea, claiming it will only serve to worsen security. Washington and Seoul made a pact at the White House on Wednesday that aims to deter North Korean aggression, including a new US commitment to deploy a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea for the first time since the early 1980s. In comments on state-run KCNA, Kim Yo Jong slammed the deal as a "typical product of their extreme anti-North Korean hostile policy, reflecting the most hostile and aggressive will of action. "As such, it will only result in making peace and security of northeast Asia and the world be exposed to more serious danger, and it is an act that can thus never be welcomed." She criticized President Joe Biden for his statement that any nuclear attack against the US and its allies will result in the end of the North Korean regime, condemning it as a "nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage." She labeled South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol a "fool." Her comments mark the first response North Korea has made to the security pact. Biden and Yoon met this week, with the United States pledging to give South Korea more insight into its nuclear planning over any conflict with North Korea. The product of months-long discussions between officials from both countries, the new agreement says that the US intends to "take steps to make our deterrence more visible through the regular deployment of strategic assets, including a US nuclear ballistic submarine visit to South Korea," a US official said. Officials made clear that such assets will not be stationed permanently, and there is "no plan" to deploy any tactical nuclear weapons to the Korean peninsula. In a joint news conference at the White House, Biden hailed what he called the "ironclad" alliance between the two countries. The president also offered a stark warning to Kim. "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. Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of Kim Jong Un, is a powerful figure in North Korea after she was promoted to the nation's top decision-making body in September 2021. She is believed to be one of her brother's most trusted confidantes. South Korea's National Intelligence Service previously assessed her to be the country's "de facto second in command." This story was first published on CNN.com, "North Korean leaders sister attacks US-South Korea agreement" A federal appeals court in Brazil on Saturday lifted the country-wide ban that had been put in place against Telegram earlier this week . Per Reuters , judge Flavio Lucas ruled a complete suspension of the messaging app was not reasonable given that thousands of people in Brazil who rely on the platform for their communication needs. At the same time, he upheld the daily $200,000 fine on Telegram for failing to provide local authorities with the data they requested. The original ban came on Wednesday after a federal court instructed Apple and Google to temporarily remove the service from their domestic app stores. Brazilian authorities sought the suspension after Telegram failed to hand over a full set of data on a pair of neo-Nazi groups on the app accused of inciting violence against schools. According to The New York Times , a teenager accused of committing two school shootings in November, which left three dead and 13 people injured, was involved with the two groups. Authorities say they saw Nazi content, violent videos and bomb-making instructions shared in those group chats. When it didnt comply with the initial court order, Telegram reportedly said the two groups had been deleted and that it couldnt recover the requested information. Telegram did not immediately respond to Engadgets comment request. A protest against bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek, on April 8, 2021, after a young woman abducted for marriage was found dead. Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images There are many types of forced marriage in this world, but perhaps the most dramatic is marriage by abduction, or bride kidnapping. Bride kidnapping is common in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caucasus and Central Asia. In rural Kyrgyzstan, where over 60% of the countrys population lives, surveys suggests 1 in 3 marriages begins with a kidnapping. There, bride kidnapping is known as ala kachuu, which translates as to take and run away. It became illegal in 1994, but the practice continues today, especially in rural areas. And our research on labor migration in the country suggests bride kidnapping may push young women to leave their rural communities to avoid forced marriage. What is bride kidnapping? Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian country of 6.5 million, is one of the worlds epicenters of marriage by abduction. A typical bride kidnapping occurs in a public place. A group of young men locates the young woman that one has chosen for his wife whom he may know, but perhaps not well and carries her, screaming and struggling, into a waiting car. The kidnapping victim is taken to the grooms family home, where the women of the family attempt to talk her into consenting to the marriage. At this stage, some victims are rescued by their father or other male relatives. More often, though, having been kidnapped is so shameful that the victim or her family agrees to marriage rather than risk the stigma of being a used woman. Sometimes, grooms use rape or other physical violence to coerce women to consent to marriage though thats not the norm. Violent bride kidnappings have triggered several protests in Kyrgyzstan in recent years. Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP via Getty Images Many Kyrgyz people, especially those in older generations, still see bride kidnapping as a harmless tradition, according to our interviews. Its a very old custom, a 60-year-old woman told us. Even I was married that way, and Im happy with my family life. My husband never beat me, and everything turned out well. People younger than 50 are more likely to reject ala kachuu, our research shows, especially when the couple are complete strangers. But they also believe that bride kidnapping is a thing of the past, and that such events today are pretend staged kidnappings. Story continues Several Kyrgyz women confirmed for us that they had agreed to be kidnapped before marriage, to uphold a tradition they see as romantic. But some kidnappings in Kyrgyzstan are clearly nonconsensual. Since 2018 at least two women, Aizada Kanatbekova and Burulai Turdaaly Kyzy, were killed by their kidnappers when they attempted to resist the marriage. Both murders spawned protests nationally and in their hometowns, some of the largest rallies against bride kidnapping seen in Kyrgyzstan since visible public opposition began in the 1990s. Migrating to escape Kyrgyz womens rights groups say the line between pretend and real kidnappings is fuzzy, because a woman cant truly consent to a kidnapping if she knows her boyfriend can easily disregard her wishes. The United Nations considers any kind of forced marriage to be a human rights violation. About 15.4 million people worldwide are wed without giving their free, full and informed consent, according to a 2016 International Labour Organization estimate. A growing body of research supports the argument that ala kachuu is not a harmless national tradition in Kyrgyzstan. For example, survey data from Kyrgyzstan finds that the birth weights of the first children born to mothers who married by kidnapping are significantly lower than those of other first-borns, likely because of higher stress levels among kidnapped mothers. In Alay district, a rural region of southern Kyrgyzstan, we found that the young adult daughters of parents in a kidnapping-based marriage were 50% more likely to migrate for work, both within Kyrgyzstan and internationally. Our regression analysis controlled for other factors that could push young women to migrate, such as household size, education and wealth. Survey questions generally cannot distinguish between pretend and real bride kidnappings, so these findings may understate the negative effects of forced marriage on infant health and migration. A traditional Kyrgyz house in Sary Tasch village, Alay, Kyrgyzstan. Martin Zwick/REDA&CO/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Based on this research, we believe Kyrgyz women use migration to escape the possibility of being kidnapped themselves. Why women leave Kyrgyzstan In rural Kyrgyzstan, a young womans chances of avoiding a forced marriage depend largely on her parents willingness to intervene on her behalf after kidnapping. A girl from a family that began with a bride kidnapping can reasonably surmise that her parents are unlikely to help her. And since Kyrgyzstan has Central Asias highest rates of womens labor emigration women make up [40% of all Kyrgyz migrants in Russia], a much higher share than those from neighboring Tajikistan and Uzbekistan migration would be a socially acceptable way to move somewhere where kidnapping is rare. Other researchers have hypothesized that Kyrgyz women migrate at such high rates because of their Russian language proficiency and Kyrgyzstans less restrictive gender norms. But bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan seems to play at least as critical a role in this trend. Living in a household headed by a kidnapping-based couple is one of the strongest predictors of womens migration, our research found. Household size and whether the family owns land are other main factors. No one we interviewed in Kyrgyzstan mentioned that young women migrated to avoid a forced marriage, nor have we seen this argument made by other academics or the Kyrgyz media. However, we did find that people commonly described womens migration in terms of escape. Explaining why his daughter moved to Russia after separating from her abusive husband who married her through kidnapping, one father told us, A new place and a new life were what she needed. Mens migration, in contrast, is usually spoken of in economic terms. Womens migration plays an important economic role in Kyrgyzstan, and many other countries, too. But our research suggests it can be an escape route for women who dont want to follow their mothers into a forced marriage. [Youre smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversations authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter.] This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Erin Hofmann, Utah State University and Guangqing Chi, Penn State. Read more: Guangqing Chi receives funding from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture and Multistate Research Project. Erin Hofmann 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. Edward House was a Texan determined to move the world when the world refused to be moved. He was a powerful diplomat and presidential advisor and a voice for peace in a time when so much of the world was bent on destruction. House was born in Houston in 1858, the youngest of seven children. His father, Thomas W. House, an English immigrant, had made a fortune in banking, international trade, and real estate. As a youth, he traveled to Europe and across the nation often. He enrolled in Cornell University in New York in 1877. However, his fathers declining health forced him to return to care for him. After his fathers death, he married in 1881 and continued to travel extensively to tend to the familys many business interests. He moved to Austin in 1885, where he expanded his real estate holdings and cotton plantations. While in Austin, he became friends with many prominent Texas figures, including Gov. James S. Hogg. Bridges In 1892, Hogg turned to House for help with his re-election campaign. House traveled the state extensively, persuading prominent individuals and influential groups to back the governor. The hard work paid off, and Hogg won re-election. Though House had no military experience, a grateful Hogg rewarded him for his service with the honorary title of lieutenant colonel in the Texas National Guard. Before long, he simply became known as "Col. House" to reporters and politicians alike. Over the next several years, House continued to play an important role in Texas politics, helping the election of governors and acting as an advisor on all aspects of their administration. In 1911, he met New Jersey Gov. Woodrow Wilson, and the two formed an immediate friendship as Wilson prepared a run for the presidency. He advised Wilson on his campaign strategies and helped him secure the needed delegates and endorsements needed to secure the nomination. Wilson won easily in the 1912 election, defeating former President Theodore Roosevelt and the incumbent President William H. Taft. Story continues After Wilsons inauguration, House declined to take any official role, preferring to stay in the background as a close advisor. House convinced Wilson to include several prominent Texans in his cabinet, including US Rep. Albert Burleson as postmaster general, attorney James W. Gregory as attorney general, and scholar David Houston as Secretary of Agriculture and later as Secretary of the Treasury. World War I and its aftermath consumed much of Wilsons presidency. The intensity of the bloodshed shocked the world. Wilson sent House all over Europe in 1915 and 1916 to try to convince the warring powers to stop the fighting. In spite of numerous efforts, the peace overtures were rejected each time, including a 1916 offer by Wilson for the United States to mediate a peace conference. After the war ended, Wilson and House attempted to win approval for the Treaty of Versailles. House was desperate to save American support for the treaty and American entry into the League of Nations, the forerunner of the modern United Nations. He attempted to broker deals with European diplomats to make the treaty more palatable to Republican critics of Wilson who were determined to reject the treaty if only to humiliate the president. After Wilson left office, House continued to lobby Congress to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and for American membership in the League of Nations. He continued to be active in Democratic Party politics, supporting the nomination of Franklin D. Roosevelt, another early supporter of the League of Nations, as president in 1932. However, by the 1930s, House steadily scaled back his role in politics. He died in New York in 1938 at the age of 79. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Bridges history column: Edward House was diplomat for peace Abney-Hastings will be the one person other than those in the line of succession who could actually have a claim on the throne As the son of a farmhand from the Australian outback, Simon Abney-Hastings might be an unlikely choice to receive an invitation to King Charles III's coronation. But when he takes his seat in Westminster Abbey next week, he will be the one person other than those in the line of succession who could actually have a claim on the throne. Unlikely though it might seem, the scenario is based on research by British medieval historian Michael Jones. Two decades ago he uncovered a document in Rouen cathedral in France which he says is proof King Edward IV was illegitimate. During the five weeks when Edward might have been conceived, according to Jones, his fahter Richard of York was in fact 160 kilometres (100 miles) from his wife Cecily Neville, the Duchess of York. As a result, Jones has argued, Edward was not the rightful heir to the throne and the line of succession should instead have gone through Edward's younger brother George, Duke of Clarence, who is a direct ancestor of Abney-Hastings. - Golden spurs - Although the family does not possess any lands or stately homes in the UK, by virtue of their lineage they inherited the ancient Scottish title of Earl of Loudoun. Abney-Hastings' father Michael emigrated from the UK to Australia in 1960. Michael inherited the title from his mother, the 13th Countess of Loudoun, in 2002 and it passed on his death in 2012 to Simon, who is the 15th earl. In recognition of the family's heritage, Simon Abney-Hastings, 48, is one of just 13 individuals carrying out ceremonial roles largely because they successfully proved that their forebears played a particular role at previous coronations. The current earl said on Twitter he was "delighted and sincerely honoured" to be asked to perform the same role as his ancestors on May 6. The earls of Loudon have traditionally been the bearers of the golden spurs as far back as the 12th century. In earlier centuries the spurs -- signifying the monarch's role as head of the armed forces -- were attached to the new sovereign's feet. Story continues In more recent times they have just ceremonially touched the heels of the monarch before being placed on the altar. - 'King Michael I' - The surprising implications of the Rouen cathedral discovery came as a shock to the Abney-Hastings family nearly 20 years ago. A British documentary team visited an unsuspecting Michael Abney-Hastings at his home in Australia for the 2004 programme "Britain's Real Monarch". To the amusement of his family, they were told that new research pointed to Edward IV being illegitimate, which "means that you are the rightful king of England". Abney-Hastings responded that he had been aware of a "distant" link to the Plantagenet royal dynasty but confessed that the news that he might have been King Michael I was "a bit of a shock". An Australian, Simon lives in Wangaratta in the southeastern state of Victoria, and appears to have no plans to press any claim. His lawyer and private secretary Terence Guthridge told AFP that although historians might believe he has the right to inherit the throne, the 15th earl "has never held this view". In fact, he had always been a "loyal and staunch supporter" of both Queen Elizabeth II and her son, he said. "Indeed they exchange birthday or Christmas cards every year," he added. har/phz/gw/leg Peter Szijjarto, Hungarys Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that his country has paid "too high a price" for the war in Ukraine. Source: Szijjarto on Facebook, in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys statement Details: On Saturday, 29 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Hungarys behaviour, and its relations with Russia, contravened its status as a NATO ally state. In response, Szijjarto wrote: "If this statement means I respectfully thank Hungarians for welcoming and taking care of over a million refugees from Ukraine, and I respectfully thank them for continuing to send aid, then You are welcome, and you can count on us in the future." The Hungarian Foreign Minister also said that Zelenskyy has no right to decide whether Hungarys behaviour is in line with its NATO membership. "The Hungarian people have already paid too high a price for this war. Many Hungarians, members of the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia, have already been killed in this war," he added. Background: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed outrage at the statement NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made during his visit to Kyiv; Stoltenberg said that Ukraine should become a member of the Alliance in the future. Earlier, Orban said that Ukraine was "financially non-existent", that Europe is helping Ukraine pay for many of its basic needs, and that without the support of its partners, the war would "end immediately". Orbans governing Fidesz party failed to pass a draft resolution calling for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin under a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian troops attacked the old and central parts of Avdiivka several times on the morning of Sunday, 30 April 2023. Source: Vitalii Barabash, Head of Avdiivka City Military Administration, in a comment to the Suspilne news outlet Details: It is clarified that the occupiers attacked in the morning using Grad multiple-launch rocket systems, hit twice with tanks, and then launched an airstrike on the city centre. Quote from Barabash: "Two multi-storey residential buildings folded. All three storeys, right down to the foundation.. There is no information about people yet." More details: According to Avdiivka City Military Administration, as of 30 April, 1,782 people are staying in Avdiivka, including a 12-year-old boy who is being searched for. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A former Atlanta mayor is thanking God after a bullet appears to fire through a family members home, narrowly missing her nephew. On Saturday, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms took to Twitter to address her concerns after a bullet hit the home of one of her family members. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] What goes up must come down, Bottoms said in a tweet. Bottoms said an individual fired a gun in the air, more than likely miles away, that ended up coming through one of her family members home into her nephews room. What goes up must come down. Someone fired a gun in the air, likely miles away, and it came thru the house into my nephews room. He was in the bed inches away. We are grateful that God protected him. If you have a gun, please act responsibly. This could be you or your child. pic.twitter.com/F8dFLodvVo Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) April 29, 2023 According to Bottoms, his bed was just inches away. She said that she and her family are grateful God protected him. TRENDING STORIES: Bottoms did not specify where her nephews home is located. Shes reminding gun carriers to act responsibly. Last year, Gov. Brian Kemp, made it legal for individuals to carry a concealed gun without a permit in the state of Georgia. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The contracted federal prisons monitor who sexually abused a Miami woman on house arrest got a prison sentence one month shorter than his victims time on house arrest. Miami-Dade resident Benito Montes de Oca Cruz, 60, got a four-month prison sentence from U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola for one count of abusive sexual contact. After Montes de Oca does his hard time, hell start a year of supervised release. The first 120 days will be on house arrest. Montes de Ocas victim was on five months house arrest at the end of a four-year, three-month sentence. READ MORE: A federal monitor raped a Miami woman on house arrest. He didnt count on what she saved As a site supervisor for Riverside House, contracted to do monitoring for the federal Bureau of Prisons, Montes de Ocas job included dropping by the womans home to make sure she was complying with house arrest limitations. This put her, as Montes de Ocas guilty plea admitted, under the custodial, supervisory and disciplinary authority of [Montes de Oca]. Montes de Ocas guilty plea says he made the woman masturbate him, get naked and endure his touching of her buttocks, breasts and genitals. During the Dec. 28, 2020 supervision visit, Montes de Ocas admission says, he touched her breasts, genitals and buttocks, made her get naked, then got on top of her. He made her masturbate him. She saved the results of Montes de Ocas actions for DNA testing,the guilty plea says, and gave investigators two short videos. READ MORE: Cases of chicken stored in bloody water. Wastewater in a South Beach sports bar. Miami restaurant problems A California man was recently found guilty of killing three teenage boys who played ding-dong ditch at his house in 2020. Riverside County resident Anurag Chandra was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree murder on Friday. The charges stemmed from a January 19, 2020 incident where a group of teenage boys rang Chandra's bell on a dare. Chandra said that one of the teens flashed his buttocks before running away. Chandra, who drank 12 beers the day of the crash, said he was "extremely, extremely mad" at the prank and claimed he was worried about his family's safety. CALIFORNIA SHERIFF TORCHES NEWSOM FOR LEAVING PRISON SYSTEM IN 'DISARRAY,' PLANNING TO LET MURDERERS WALK FREE Anurag Chandra, a Temescal Valley resident looks back toward members of the public as his trial begins Tuesday, April 18, 2023, in Riverside. Prosecutors say on Jan. 23, 2020, he allegedly killed three Corona teenagers by running them off the road after they played a doorbell-ringing prank on the man. Chandra followed the boys and rammed their Toyota Prius off the road, which slammed into a tree in Temescal Valley. Chandra then fled the scene. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The suspect testified that he did not plan to crash into the boys' car, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Chandra also said he did not stop after rear-ending their vehicle because he did not think anyone had been injured. CALIFORNIA MEN ACCUSED OF COMMITTING RAPES, MURDER AFTER BEING RELEASED ON BAIL Chandra admitted that he drove up to 99 miles per hour before the fatal crash. Corona residents Daniel Hawkins and Drake Ruiz passed away due to their injuries, along with Riverside resident Jacob Ivascu. All three teenagers who died were 16 years old. The driver, who was 18 years old, survived, along with two 13-year-old passengers. Chandra was previously accused of a domestic violence incident in 2020 before the fatal crash. "The murder of these young men was a horrendous and senseless tragedy for our community," District Attorney Mike Hestrin said in a statement. "I thank the jury for their verdict. This is an important step toward justice." The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the past two years, Paul Edmonds has been part of an extremely exclusive club with a membership that has reached five people. After navigating HIV for more than 30 years, along with a leukemia diagnosis that came in 2018, a life-saving stem cell transplant became available thanks to a donor who had a rare genetic mutation that makes the body resistant to most strains of HIV. In 2021, Edmonds stopped taking his HIV medication, which he had been dependent on for almost half his life. Today, the 67-year-old who lives in Desert Hot Springs, California, is the fifth person in the world in remission of HIV. Edmonds joins four others who have received similar news, including the late Palm Springs resident Timothy Ray Brown (who was known as the "Berlin Patient"), the first person cured of the virus, who died from a reoccurrence of cancer in 2020. Others include "London Patient" Adam Castillejo, "Dusseldorf Patient" Marc Franke, and the "New York Patient," the first woman to be considered cured who has not come forth publicly. Edmonds is the eldest and had HIV the longest. "I can remember the day and hearing about Timothy Ray Brown, that was huge," Edmonds told The Desert Sun, a member of the USA TODAY Network, in a recent interview. "That was the first time that I ever thought there could be a cure." After two years of being anonymously known as the "City of Hope Patient," he decided to publicly come forward with his story. By sharing his journey, he wants to advocate for and offer hope to those living and aging with HIV that a cure could be possible one day. Paul Edmonds, 67, photographed at his Desert Hot Springs, California, home on April 6, 2023, is one of five patients cured of HIV. He underwent a stem cell transplant at City of Hope. 'My heart sank' Edmonds grew up in a small town in Georgia about 100 miles northeast of Atlanta. During his high school years, he struggled with his sexual identity and didn't have a support system because he kept it all to himself. His "lifesaver" at the time was his involvement in his school's band, a close-knit group of people, some of whom he's still in contact with today. Story continues By the end of his senior year, Edmonds felt he couldn't handle the pressure anymore. He decided to live with his cousins in Pensacola, Florida, where he would finish high school and begin college, until he moved back to Atlanta. He received therapy, found support, and was able to "accept who I was and come out" as a gay man. With a different outlook on life, Edmonds, 21 at the time, made the decision to move to San Francisco in 1976. "Gay men were kind of flocking there from all over at that time," he said. "It was just an unbelievable experience. I'd never seen anything like it, and I no longer felt alone. It was just exciting and thrilling." Everything was "just great" until the 1980s rolled around, and many of his peers started getting sick. "No one knew what was going on," Edmonds said about that time, although many would refer to it as a "gay cancer." Diagnosed with AIDS at 33 Human immunodeficiency virus, more commonly referred to as HIV, is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infections. If left untreated, it can lead to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. On June 5, 1981, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on the first five cases of what would be known as AIDS. Rare lung infections and an aggressive cancer called Kaposis sarcoma first began to show among men who have sex with men in 1981, and by the end of the year, there were 270 reported cases of severe immune deficiency. The following year, more cases appeared in Southern California, which suggested the illness was sexual, leading to the name "gay-related immune deficiency." Cases also surfaced among those who inject drugs, hemophiliacs and Haitians. Today, it is widely understood that the virus can be spread to all people, though some are still at higher risk of infection. Approximately 84.2 million people around the world have been infected by HIV since the start of the epidemic and 40.1 million people have died from AIDS-related illnesses. By the mid-1980s, the first HIV blood test was developed, but Edmonds was not ready to get results himself. "Anyone who I knew who was testing positive was dead within two years," he said. "I just wasn't ready to go there." In 1988, his father died, which served as the catalyst for Edmonds getting tested. The result came back positive, and because his helper T cell count was below 200 then, he was diagnosed with AIDS. He was 33. "It just felt like my heart sank," Edmonds recalled, though he noted he did not feel sick. "The intern who was my doctor in this clinic, I can see her emotions. I think it was a hard thing for her to do." 'Sick all the time' He began using AZT, the first drug to gain approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating AIDS. The drug helped decrease deaths and infections among those who were diagnosed with the virus, although it had serious side effects, such as intestinal problems, nausea, vomiting and headaches. Paul Edmonds attends the Millennium March on Washington in April 2000. Around the time Edmonds began taking the drug, doctors decided to cut the dosage in half, which lessened those effects. As new drugs became available, he would switch to them, and he "pretty much felt sick all the time." "But I did what I had to do," he added. "I am not a person who just easily gives up. I don't look to the worst-case scenario, I don't allow myself to." Though things looked dark in the HIV/AIDS fight back then, Edmonds focused on living in the moment and taking his diagnosis one step at a time. As medical advancement came, like protease inhibitors medications that help slow the progression of HIV he would allow himself to think about the future and felt hopeful that things would be brighter. Sure enough, the birthdays kept coming. He always dreamed of having a big party for his 50th birthday, and he got to enjoy that moment surrounded by 100 guests in a lodge on the Russian River. Edmonds also said he had an "incredible" support system in his life. The LGBTQ community "stepped forward" and helped when no one else would. Then in February 1992, during happy hour at the San Francisco bar Midnight Sun, he met Arnie House, who had served in the Air Force. "It really was kind of like love at first sight. I don't know that we knew that right then, but that's what it was," Edmonds said of his husband. "Once we met, we've had very few days apart." Edmonds encouraged House to get tested for HIV. The diagnosis: positive. But that didn't change anything between them, as they've "always been there for each other," Edmonds said. A photograph of Paul Edmonds and his husband, Arnie House, from their wedding day sits on a table inside their Desert Hot Springs, California, home on April 6, 2023. Edmonds is one of five people worldwide in full remission from HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant. Another lifechanging diagnosis In August 2018, Edmonds was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, which eventually developed into acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer that starts in the bone marrow but often moves into the blood. Those living and aging with HIV are at higher risk of developing leukemia and other blood cancers due to suppressed immune systems. Doctors recommended that Edmonds start chemotherapy as soon as possible, and later undergo a stem cell transplant. At the same time, Edmonds and House were planning on moving to the Palm Springs area, and he was referred to seek treatment at City of Hope in Duarte, California, one of the highest-volume bone marrow and blood stem cell transplant centers in the nation. Not only would doctors look for a donor to address his leukemia, but also one who carried a rare mutation, homozygous CCR5 delta 32 mutation, which makes people resistant to most strains of HIV infection. Only roughly 1% of people carry this mutation. The four other people who have been declared in remission of HIV have received transplants that have targeted their HIV and a type of cancer. It took almost a month before a donor was found via the Be The Match donor registry. Before he could undergo the transplant, his acute myeloid leukemia had to go into remission. He went through three rounds of chemotherapy, and he developed a fungal infection in his lungs during one. He also had to change the antiretroviral drugs he was taking in order to minimize drug interactions with the chemotherapy. Finally in mid-January 2019, his leukemia went into full remission thanks to a reduced intensity chemotherapy that was developed for older patients. Afterward, he received a week of chemotherapy to wipe out his immune system and prepare his body to receive his donor's healthy stem cells, which he said was the "hardest of all of them." But despite all the pain and side effects, "I didn't have to think at all (about) whether I wanted to move forward to get a bone marrow transplant," Edmonds said. "It was that or death." Paul Edmonds receives his stem cell transplant on Feb. 6, 2019, at City of Hope. On Feb. 6, 2019, the transplant lasted about 30 to 40 minutes. "New life came into me," he said, noting that his blood type changed to his donor's, which is common in transplants. Some recipients might also notice other changes regarding allergies or their hair texture. "I was kind of hoping I would start getting some new hair, but that didn't happen. That's OK," he joked. Among lingering side effects that Edmonds deals with are dry eyes and mouth sores. 'A miraculous story' Doctors carefully monitored Edmonds for both his cancer and HIV status. Dr. Jana Dickter, associate clinical professor with City of Hopes Division of Infectious Diseases, did a number of tests to see if there was any evidence of HIV found in his body. When she and her colleagues could not find any, she opened up a "second trial" and asked Edmonds to stop taking his HIV medications. "I monitored him for any occurrence of HIV virus and this entailed getting blood tests on him every week initially and then converted to every two weeks just because we wanted to catch if there was any recurrence in the system and start him back on his medications," Dickter said. "The longer the time went, there was no evidence of circulating HIV." Paul Edmonds, 67, photographed inside his Desert Hot Springs, California, home on April 6, 2023, is one of five patients cured of HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant. Additional testing was done, such as challenging his cells with HIV, but they could not be infected with the virus, and there was no evidence of an HIV reservoir found in his body. Edmonds officially stopped taking his HIV medication in March 2021. "I still have to remind myself that it's real," he said of his in-remission HIV status. "But I'm feeling it." There's still a little bit of worry in the back of his mind about whether his cancer or HIV will return, but he said he's gotten to the point where "it's OK for me to let myself believe it, and I absolutely believe it." For Dickter, witnessing the journey firsthand has been "incredibly exciting." When she entered medical school in the 1990s, she got to see the excitement when antiretroviral therapy became available and it provided patients who were so close to death with a "second life." Fast forward to today, she was one of those in the room to tell a patient they were in remission of HIV. "I've always wanted to be able to tell a patient that there was no evidence of remaining virus in their system," Dickter said. "The experiences that he encountered, especially early on and the stigma and the fear, he's a true survivor of the epidemic, and it's so wonderful to see this happy ending for him and his family." Paul Edmonds, 67, photographed inside his Desert Hot Springs, California, home on April 6, 2023, is one of five people cured of HIV after undergoing a stem cell transplant. The success of Edmonds' treatment and his unique circumstances also give Dickter hope that it could be reproduced in others. "This case gives me hope that there might be other opportunities in the future for older people who have HIV and blood cancers that we may be able to put them in remission for both," she said. There's also plenty of research taking place at City of Hope in hopes of potentially finding a cure for HIV. Not only are there discussions about providing transplants for other patients with HIV and blood malignancies, but Dickter said there's an upcoming clinical trial that will look at chimeric antigen receptor T cells, which have the potential to provide HIV patients with "lifelong viral suppression without antiretroviral therapy." Edmonds also hopes to be an advocate for HIV cure research and provide support wherever he can. He is in contact with his peers Castillejo, who has spoken at a number of conferences, and Franke, who is just beginning his public journey, and hopes to do work with them. For now, Edmonds gets to live his life on his own terms, although he still visits City of Hope for routine care and tests. He and House are avid painters and have their art showcased throughout their home Edmonds paints more abstract pieces while House does more figurative work. Edmonds wants to create collages that tell his story in some way, but they also have a bit of work to do around their Desert Hot Springs home, where they've lived for almost two years. As they emerge out of mostly sheltering-in-place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also plans to visit San Francisco this summer. There's a part of Edmonds that hopes the intern who informed him of his AIDS diagnosis in 1988 stumbles upon his story and sees where life has taken him. Where he stands today is a moment so many have hoped for, and one that seemed unthinkable decades ago. "It truly is a miraculous story," he said with a smile. Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: HIV in remission: California man Paul Edmonds 1 of 5 patients cured Foreign arrivals reach nearly 50% of annual target by April Vietnam welcomed approximately 3.7 million foreign tourists in the first four months of the year, a figure 19.2 times higher than that of the same period last year, and meeting 46% of the target set for 2023, the General Statistics Office (GSO) said on April 29. Foreign tourists in Vietnam About 88.7% of all foreign visitors came by air, 10.1% by road, and 1.2% by sea, said GSO. Throughout the reviewed period, Asia represented Vietnams largest tourist source market, with 1.1 million visitors coming from the Republic of Korea (RoK) alone. The RoK was followed by China with 252,136 arrivals and Thailand with 200,000 arrivals. Four-month revenue from accommodation and catering services also hit VND214.8 trillion, marking a year-on-year rise of 25.8%. Meanwhile, travel businesses earned about VND9.1 trillion, marking a 2.1-fold increase from last year, thanks to an array of exciting cultural and tourism activities held in localities in the first months of the year. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, the countrys international aviation market will continue to recover in the summer, and the market recovery will occur faster in the second quarter, especially following Chinas decision to pilot a scheme to send group tours to many countries worldwide, including Vietnam. It is predicted that between 2.5 million and three million foreign passengers will travel by air every month this summer, with the aviation recovery rate gradually increasing by 80% compared to the corresponding period in 2019. The international aviation market is anticipated to fully recover to the pre-pandemic period in the remaining months of this year. (CNN) Hundreds of evacuees arrived in Saudi Arabia from Sudan as fierce fighting in the country between the army and a rival paramilitary group entered its third week, despite another attempt at a ceasefire. Violent clashes broke out the capital Khartoum near the presidential palace in the city centre. Sudan's Armed Forces, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have agreed multiple truces but none have held. The situation in Sudan has deteriorated since fighting broke out on April 15, leaving hundreds dead and tens of thousands fleeing to neighboring countries. A commercial ship carrying more than 1800 evacuees arrived in the Saudi port city of Jeddah Saturday. The ship carried 20 Saudi citizens with the remainder people from various European, Asian and African countries evacuated from Sudan, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said. Two US nationals who arrived into Jeddah on Saturday described their experiences to CNN. Namour al-Tayeb described his journey from the Sudanese capital Khartoum to Port Sudan as a "very hard trip" passing through forces from both warring military factions . Before his evacuation, al-Tayeb was in Khartoum, where he said the situation is "horrible" with "gunfire all over the place." Al-Tayeb said he was happy to be evacuated and grateful to the Saudi government, but that he was "very scared" for friends and family left behind who did not have visas. Hadi Haytham, another US national, told CNN he felt "lucky" to have left a "terrible situation" in the capital and that he is praying for those left behind in Sudan. Those still there face dwindling food, water and power supplies. A German citizen of Sudanese origin who remains in Sudan, Hatem Awadallah, described how he was subjected to looting at dawn on Saturday by RSF members. Awadallah told CNN: "I woke up at 1:30 am to the sound of a Kalashnikov weapon that was placed on my head and a group of armed men from the Rapid Support Forces. They demanded that I give them any amount of money, or they will be killed." "They brought my 83-year-old mother from her room as well. They put the weapon on her head and gathered everyone in the house, and they gave us a choice between death or handing over the money." Markets and shops across the country have also been subjected to widespread looting during the past days. Police forces have been deployed for the first time since the outbreak of the violence. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Hundreds of evacuees land in Saudi Arabia as Sudan fighting enters third week" CLEVELAND, Texas The manhunt was expanding Sunday for the suspect in a shooting rampage at a rural Texas home that left five people dead, the homeowner in shock and the community in fear and mourning. Authorities late Saturday identified the victims as Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. Four of the victims died at the scene; Daniel died at a hospital a short time after the shooting Friday night. Authorities say Francisco Oropeza, 38, was firing a gun in his yard near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, when neighbors asked him to stop shooting because a young child was trying to sleep. Oropeza dismissed the complaint, saying he had a right to do whatever he wanted on his property. The confrontation quickly escalated, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. "The next thing they know, he's walking up the driveway with a rifle in hand," Capers said. Video from the house shows the suspect heading up to the front door. Capers said there were 10 people in the house at the time of the shooting. Two victims were found draped over children who survived, indicating a heroic effort to save them. SUSPECT 'COULD BE ANYWHERE': Search expands for man accused of killing 5 neighbors in Texas Details and developments: FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. All the victims are believed to be from Honduras, and some had moved to Cleveland from Houston a few days ago, Capers said. He said the suspect was from Mexico. Honduras Foreign Minister Enrique Reina said on Twitter that the Honduran Consulate in Houston was making contact with the families of the victims. Reina demanded the suspect face "the full weight of the law." Law enforcement authorities removing bodies from a scene where five people were shot the night before Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Cleveland, TX. Homeowner describes clash that led to shooting Wilson Garcia, who owns the home where the tragedy unfolded, told KTRK-TV that his wife and 8-year-old son were killed in the attack. Garcia said he moved in three years ago and had no problems with his neighbor before Friday. Garcia said his family was preparing a meal when the suspect began shooting on his own property. Garcia said he told the man he was going to call police. Story continues "We asked him not to shoot there because my baby was scared," Garcia said. Garcia said his wife was shot while standing on the porch. He said the gunman "went from room to room looking for people." Two more women killed were protecting his baby in a crib, Garcia said. He said he fled and the gunman fired at him multiple times but missed. "I can't believe what he did," Garcia said. "He came shooting inside the house, it's horrible, it's appalling." AR-15-style rifle seized by authorities Authorities were casting a wide net in the search, Capers acknowledging the suspect "could be anywhere now." Capers said a cellphone, clothes and the AR-15-style rifle used in the shooting were recovered. A search of the suspect's home turned up more weapons, Capers said. Officers, dogs and drones were aiding the search. Residents of Cleveland, a town of 7,500 people 45 miles north of Houston, were told to be alert and to lock their doors. "Stay in your house. Be vigilant. Keep your eyes open. If you see anything, say something," Capers said. "This man is very dangerous and he is armed, potentially." Capers said his deputies had been to Oropezas home at least once before and spoken with him about shooting in the yard, but it was not clear whether any legal action was taken. Capers said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Neighbor said suspect once threatened to kill his dog All the victims were shot in the head area, "execution style," Capers said. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives nearby, said he heard gunshots around midnight but shrugged it off as a common occurrence. Arevalo said Oropeza once threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. I tell my wife all the time, Stay away from the neighbors. Dont argue with them. You never know how theyre going to react, Arevalo said. I tell her that because Texas is a state where you dont know who has a gun and who is going to react that way. Mass killings happening more often in US this year With at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead since Jan. 1, mass killings in the U.S. could set a new record this year. according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA TODAY, in partnership with Northeastern University. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including the attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde last year that left 21 dead; a racist assault at an El Paso Walmart in 2019 that killed 23; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017 that left more than two dozen people dead. Contributing: Mike Snider and Christine Fernando, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manhunt intensifies for Cleveland, Texas, shooting suspect CANTON Two teens are in custody after three juveniles were shot during a large fight Saturday night. The victims were taken to local hospitals and are expected to recover. According to Canton police, officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Cleveland Avenue NW around 8:50 p.m. for a fight with shots fired. When officers arrived, they found three juveniles who had been shot. All three were transported to local hospitals by Canton Fire Department personnel. Their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening, officials said. The ages of the victims were not released. Detectives arrested two 15-year-old boys at the scene. The first teen was charged with two counts of felonious assault. The second teen was charged with felony tampering with evidence, obstructing justice and receiving stolen property. Body found: Stark authorities: Woman found dead was suspect in Akron homicide Both were taken to the Multi-County Juvenile Attention Center. The Canton Repository does not typically name juveniles charged with crimes. Police Lt. Dennis Garren did not have an exact number of people involved in the fight but said it was a "large amount." Further details about the incident were not available, Garren said, noting the investigation is continuing. He added that it is unclear what led to the fight and shooting. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the Canton Police Detective Bureau at 330-489-3144. Anonymous tips can be sent through Tip411 or the Stark County Crime Stoppers. Sign up for Tip411 at www.cantonohio.gov/police. Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com On Twitter: @aknappINDE This article originally appeared on The Independent: Teens in custody after 3 kids shot during large fight Saturday night This could be huge. Truly, literally, 350-plus-pounds huge. The Seahawks want to re-sign Al Woods, one month after they cut the massive defensive tackle and co-captain from 2022. I love Al Woods, coach Pete Carroll said Saturday. That was after the Seahawks selected only one true defensive tackle in the NFL draft: Cameron Young from Mississippi State, in the fourth round Saturday morning. Seattle released Woods March 20. That saved $3.76 million against a salary cap for 2023 the team is now snug against, with the imminent need of adding about $10 million in cap room for 10 draft choices. Woods had been scheduled to have a cap charge of $5.42 million on the contract the Seahawks cut. It was 10th-highest on the team for this year. The only players with higher cap numbers are Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Uchenna Nwosu, Smith, Jones, Will Dissly and Noah Fant. None of them are going anywhere. They are team bedrocks for this year. Is it feasible the Seahawks will re-sign Woods at a more team-friendly cap number which is to say, close to minimum? Does the 36-year-old rancher and father of a toddler daughter even want to leave home again to play football this year? He remains a free agent, unsigned since the Seahawks released him in the second week of free agency last month. Woods owns a large ranch outside Elton, Louisiana, between Lafayette and Lake Charles in the western part of his home state. Hes a third-generation rancher in his family. My house sits on, like, 40 acres, Woods told The News Tribune in his Southern drawl during Seahawks training camp last summer. So, I think the closest house to me is about a half a mile, each direction. Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Al Woods (99) celebrates after Seattle Seahawks safety Quandre Diggs (6) intercepted a pass in overtime of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. on Jan. 8, 2023. The Seahawks defeated the Rams in overtime 19-16. With earnings of $24.8 million over a 12-year career with Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Indianapolis and Seattle, does Woods even want to play again? Woods told the TNT in January he intended to finish his contract. Oh, yeah, Woods said on locker-room clean-out day after Seattle lost in the first round of the playoffs at San Francisco. I cant go out like that. Ive got to finish what I started. Story continues The Seahawks cut him two months later. Well see what happens, Carroll said. The Seahawks have four defensive tackles among 52 players on the roster after cutting Woods and Shelby Harris and letting Poona Fords contract expire from last seasons team that made the NFC playoffs despite often awful run defense. Two of those four tackles, March free-agent signings DreMont Jones and Jarran Reed, did not play for the team last season. And Jones best years, with Denver, have been outside at end. A third D-tackle, Bryan Mone, had surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee after his season-ending injury in December. Drafting Young isnt enough to have as many defensive tackles as Carroll wants and Seattle needs in its overhaul of the 3-4 defense. To that end, the Seahawks reportedly are signing defensive tackle Ifeanyi Maijeh from Rutgers to a contract as an undrafted rookie free agent. So, yeah, the Seahawks could use Woods, at their price, though, not his. Same with Ford. He became a popular mainstay for five seasons after signing with Seattle as an undrafted free agent nose tackle in 2018. Same thing, general manager John Schneider said Saturday, seated next to Carroll. Love Poo, too. Hes one are our guys, so wed love to see those guys come back, Carroll said. (Saturday) to hit the nose tackle with Cam is a really big deal. We really needed a spot right there, Carroll said. Were not done. We got work to do and well continue to work at it. We never stop. We got our eyes on some guys. Were talking to some people to continue to make it as competitive as possible. James Corden in the last episode of "The Late Late Show." Terence Patrick/CBS via Getty Images The final episode of "The Late Late Show With James Corden" aired Saturday. Corden, the show's fourth host, announced his exit last year. An executive told Los Angeles Magazine that the show was "simply not sustainable." CBS aired its final episode of "The Late Late Show" Saturday after a 28-year run, and its termination may have had to do with the show's declining profitability. Sources told Brian Stelter for Los Angeles Magazine that the late-night show, hosted by James Corden since 2015, cost $60 million to $65 million a year to produce but made less than $45 million. "It was simply not sustainable," an anonymous executive told Stelter. "CBS could not afford him anymore." Corden announced his exit as a host in April 2022, but it was unclear at the time whether the "Late Late Show" franchise would continue. With Corden at the helm, the show received 12 Emmy nominations and won the award for outstanding interactive program in 2019. Some of the show's most popular segments were "Carpool Karaoke" and "Spill Your Guts," in which celebrities had to answer a question truthfully or eat unfamiliar foods. Deadline reported the show averaged 971,000 viewers in the 2020-21 season. Seth Meyers' "Late Night," which shared the 12:30 a.m. ET time slot, averaged 1.01 million viewers, the report said. But keeping Corden on board was costly. Variety reported Corden's salary was about $4 million to $5 million when he first signed onto the show in 2015. His pay increased to an undisclosed amount with the show's success, the report added. A CBS spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. Read the original article on Insider During National Nurses Month, we recognize the millions of skilled, caring individuals committed to the nursing profession. The nurses pledge outlined by Florence Nightingale in 1893 ends with a promise to devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care. A great deal of trust continues to be placed in this nations nearly 4.2 million nurses, with nursing ranked the most trusted profession year after year. Todays U.S. nursing workforce includes 355,000 licensed nurse practitioners who care for patients in over 1 billion visits annually, according to the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The number of states giving nurse practitioners full practice authority continues to expand, and U.S. News & World Report, for the second year in a row, ranked the nurse practitioner (NP) role first on its 2023 Best Health Care Jobs list and second on its 100 Best Jobs of 2023 list. Lately, though, the conversation has also centered around the welfare of nurses, the reasons they seem to be in short supply, and how to make impactful changes benefiting both patients and providers while sustaining our complex health system. As editor of the American Journal of Critical Care, I have addressed and will continue to emphasize tough, honest topics about the well-being of nurses in this current climate, including moral distress and burnout exacerbated by COVID-19 and the rise in violence against nurses, which escalated to an all-time high last year. As editor of AJCC, I also have the chance to highlight bright spots I see in nursing and patient care. As the Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Miami, my optimism centers on our future nurses, the robust, well-rounded education we prepare them with, and the incomparable educators who make the advancement of knowledge possible for our profession. This time of year, and this writing space, give me a broader platform to bring to light the need for the kind of novel, optimistic, world-changing work we promote here at the School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS). The importance of evidence-based, accredited nursing education for this nation cannot be understated. Nursing education has been a part of the University of Miami curriculum for 75 years. Story continues In fact, in 1948, UM offered South Floridas first collegiate nursing program. We launched South Floridas first public health bachelors degree program and introduced Floridas first nurse anesthetist doctoral program, received the first P60 center grant ever awarded to a nursing school, and offered one of the nations first executive-style M.S.N. to D.N.P. degree programs, among other forward-thinking moves. Over these past 75 years, the school has grown immeasurably as an educational leader for nursing, here and across the hemisphere. That was evidenced most recently with our hosting of the Pan American Nursing Research Colloquium. Presented biennially by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the event drew over 200 participants from around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, El Salvador, Chile, Israel, Portugal, Cuba, Jamaica, Bolivia, and over a dozen other countries. Many more logged on globally for the virtual portions of the hybrid conference. For over seven decades, the didactic and clinical programs, community and global outreach, and research initiatives innovated by this schools faculty, students, and alumni have helped shape and improve the health care landscape in this community immeasurably, expanding access to care among our most vulnerable and neglected populations. Our programs have maintained top academic and health care accreditations. Our graduates first-time pass rates on licensure exams for registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse anesthetists are consistently high, well above state and national averages. Today, our school is taking nursing to new heights. Not only are we growing the profession by educating future nurses at all scopes of practice, but we are preparing future nurse scientists, nurse leaders, and nurse educators, all of whom are desperately needed in todays health system. We have an internationally known and utilized 41,000-square-foot simulation facility, Simulation Hospital Advancing Research and Education, or S.H.A.R.E. In this cutting-edge environment, our faculty are developing and delivering new simulation-based educational techniques targeting health care professionals and providing experiential learning opportunities for the global health care workforce. In this environment, we can safely replicate and debrief on virtually any scenario, from high-risk to routine, that our students may encounter. In addition to preparing outstanding RNs, preparing exceptional nurse practitioners is a significant part of our role here at SONHS. We offer nearly a dozen specialized tracks to follow toward this path, designed to meet the needs of todays nursing professionals. The most recent of these is the Master of Science in Leadership (MSL) / Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) joint degree program, offered in coordination with the University of Miami Herbert Business School. Another important area we are focused on is the need to address South Floridas human trafficking public health crisis. Florida ranks with California and Texas in the top three U.S. states impacted by human trafficking, with South Florida an epicenter of the crisis. Yet awareness and education about human trafficking remain remarkably low among health professionals. SONHS is targeting this public health crisis by educating nursing students and others via a hybrid didactic and simulation-based curriculum to raise awareness about how to recognize and address human trafficking in the clinical setting. Over 600 nursing students in a variety of specialties have experienced immersive education to prevent human trafficking since the Spring of 2021 when the program officially started. The award-winning curriculum weve implemented, Do You See What I See? Recognizing Human Trafficking, uses trauma-informed best practices established by HEAL Trafficking and other nationally known stakeholders to promote education for survivor-informed, person-centered care that is culturally and linguistically appropriate, multidisciplinary, and data-driven. Included in this curriculum is a simulation component in which students engage one-on-one with a trauma-informed Standardized Patient (SP) portraying a potential trafficking victim in an emergency setting. These lifelike encounters help prepare students for the complex array of indicators, challenges, and symptomatology this vulnerable population may present within a real-life clinical setting. The reception has been excellent, with students saying they feel more comfortable knowing they will be aware of what to do and how to recognize someone who is being trafficked or exploited. Generous funding from the Harcourt M. and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation is enabling SONHS to significantly expand its efforts over the next two years to educate frontline health care professionals, collaborate with major hospital systems such as UHealth and Jackson Health System, engage a consultant, form an advisory board, and establish reproduceable resources for the local, national, and international community. This Fall 2022, we debuted the Maria G. Lamas Featured Speaker Series for Human Trafficking Education and Prevention and continue partnering with community stakeholders to promote awareness and facilitate interconnectedness among cross-professional entities aligned against human trafficking. Other critical support to date has come from Heidi Schaeffer, M.D. 98, and the UM Citizens Board. Moving forward, we are actively working to establish the Academic Center for Human Trafficking Education and Prevention as one of our schools top three fundraising priorities for the University of Miamis Ever Brighter: The Campaign for Our Next Century. Our other complementary priorities include promoting health equity across diverse communities and strengthening the science of holistic health care. (For more information, visit https://everbrighter.miami.edu/school-units/school-of-nursing-and-health-studies/index.html). As we celebrate National Nurses Month and our 75th anniversary of educational excellence at SONHS, there is no question of the need for nurse educators to continue leading and lighting the way for the welfare of our community. Celebrity stylist Kat Gosik breaks down how to dress for Vegas pool parties this summer. @katgosik/Instagram Vegas pool parties are known for their big-name DJs and strict dress codes. Celebrity stylist Kat Gosik has dressed the likes of Mia Khalifa and "Selling Sunset" star Christine Quinn. Here are Gosik's six style tips and trends for dressing for a Vegas pool party this summer. Celebrity stylist Kat Gosik believes the glitz and glam of Vegas is the perfect playground for bold metallic swimwear. According to Gosik, shimmering metallics will be very in this summer. "I'm seeing a lot of metallic in swimwear lately, and if you're thinking about trying to trend, Vegas is the perfect place," Gosik told Insider. Gosik recommends brands like SKIMS and Australian-based brand It's Now Cool for metallic swimsuits. Gosik suggests paying attention to shape when choosing pool-party swimwear and cover-ups. Crochet, mesh, and cut-outs are all trends to watch out for by the pool this summer, but Gosik cautions party-goers against picking swimsuits based on trends. The celebrity stylist says to put comfort above all else. "Avoid anything you don't feel comfortable and confident in. Looking good starts with confidence, so when you're attending a pool party in Vegas, wear the most flattering silhouette for your body type," Gosik said. According to Gosik, a good cover-up from the female-founded brand Monday Swimwear can boost your confidence by the pool. When it comes to prints, Gosik is loving 3D florals in swimwear this year. Gosik has had her eye on fashion brands' take on floral-print swimwear this summer. "Also, I've seen so many roses in fashion like 3D roses on tops and swimsuits. From Magda Butrym to a bikini brand called SAME, flowers are very in," Gosik said. Story continues SAME is a Los Angeles-based swimsuit brand with an entire collection dedicated to rose-covered swimwear. Opt for transitional looks that can last all day long, according to Gosik. The celebrity stylist has seen swimwear elevate in recent years. For Gosik, investing in swimwear that can double as a going-out piece will save you time and money during your next Vegas trip. "The trends I think will pop up are swimwear that can double as a going-out outfit. Swim has really made leaps and bounds over the past few years and now girls are wearing one-piece swimsuits as a bodysuit that's how versatile the pieces are," Gosik said. She suggests investing in a SKIMS swimsuit or Frankie's Bikinis swimwear that can be worn in and out of the water. Gosik predicts layering swimwear with skirts and denim will be the perfect pool party look. Gosik believes that layering is the key to going out in Vegas, particularly at a day-time pool party. "Layering a bikini under a skirt and a t-shirt or a dress, or taking undergarments in your bag to change out of your bikini after the pool party is always optional," Gosik said. According to Gosik, bikini tops paired with normal bottoms will be huge, especially at parties where swimming is an option. "I think maxi skirts and oversized denim with little bikini tops are going to be everywhere this summer," Gosik said. Finally, Gosik advises choosing a closed-toed shoe for your next Vegas pool party. "Open-toed sandals could be tricky, especially if it's really crowded and you don't want people stepping on you. I think we'll see a lot of Adidas Sambas this summer and a lot of Converse," Gosik said. In addition to the sneaker look, Gosik has paired swimwear with cowboy boots for a festival-like feel. Read the original article on Insider Polk County Cemetery Savers volunteers Pete McDowell, front, Howard Lee and Brenda Ronco clean headstones Thursday at the Dallas Cemetery. Cemetery districts often have little money to pay for maintenance or clean-up efforts. Board meetings of elected officials where no one from the public has ever shown up. An individual paid with public funds by two districts who refused to acknowledge she works for them. And a district that has not filed required annual financial records to the state in decades, if ever. Cemetery districts are the smallest of local governments, and one of the most overlooked. Ask most people if they live in a cemetery district or what the district does, and chances are they dont know. Cemetery districts are intended to offer those living within its boundaries affordable burial options. Elected officials for the districts are required to do many of the same things any other government such as a city council or county commission in Oregon does, such as posting public notices of when theyre meeting and comply with public records requests for information about their finances. But state records and interviews with local public officials show these districts operate with little to no oversight, often running afoul of state regulations. In Polk County, there are five cemetery districts in and around Dallas, Independence and Monmouth. There are none in Marion County. Its not easy to figure out when those people who are elected are going to meet or what theyll do when they get together. Maybe that's why residents never attend the meetings. Cemetery districts are special districts There are more than 1,000 special districts in state, according to the Special Districts Association of Oregon. It's unknown many cemetery districts are in Oregon because no one keeps perfect records, even the Secretary of States Office. There are possibly 58, 59 or more, depending on who is trying to track it. Most are in rural areas. According to the SDAO, the purpose of a cemetery district is to manage and maintain public cemeteries and offer affordable interment services for Oregon residents. The average burial plot in Oregon is $2,222, and they cost as much as $11,900, according to the website PerfectGoodbyes.com. Story continues Residents of a cemetery district pay as little as $400 for a plot. The price goes up if someone doesnt live there. Cemetery districts in Oregon also are required to have one person buried there before Feb. 14, 1909. Howard Lee with Polk Cemetery Savers scrubs a rough granite headstone at the Dallas Cemetery. Special districts, including transit districts like Cherriots or education districts like Chemeketa Community College, get most of their operational budgets from taxpayers. Most of the cemetery districts tax people at lower rates than any other government. In Dallas, taxpayers pay five cents per $1,000 of assessed property tax. Thats about $13.67 per year for someone with a home assessed at $250,000. the tax brought in about $98,000 in taxes last year. The Pedee Cemetery District has the highest tax rate in the county at 15 cents per $1,000, and brought in $6,788.04 in taxes last year, according to a report by the Polk County Tax Assessors office. The Salt Creek Cemetery District in the southeast portion of the county doesn't tax its residents. It got the majority of its $10,858 income from the sale of plots. You quit when you die People on cemetery district boards joke that, You quit when you die. In the May 16 election, the cemetery districts in Polk County are the definition of down-ballot contests. Most cemetery district boards are made up of three people, though Dallas has five. Races often have one candidate, if any. The outlier in this election is in Dallas. There are more people running for cemetery district positions seven for three positions than for school board four for four spots. Its not normal, Polk County administrative officer Greg Hansen said. This time is an anomaly of weird stuff. The Dallas district oversees one cemetery, the Dallas Cemetery. Most oversee two or three. Most of the districts dont have the money to do anything more than mow the lawn. Dallas Mayor Ken Woods is running for one of the three special district positions. He said there was no controversy that spurred that many people to run. Not that Im aware of, Woods said. He was on the Dallas city council from 1983 to 2022. He said he is running because he wants city councilors to get involved in other positions in the community. Mark Jumisko is one of two people running against Woods. Jumisko said he and his wife, Teri Borchers, walk around the Dallas Cemetery every morning. In talking with people who work there, they learned about the openings on the board and both filed to run. We really enjoy the cemetery and we felt like we wanted to help guide it into the future, Jumisko said. Jumisko didnt know he was running against Dallas mayor until a reporter told him. Cole Cochrane is the third person running for the position. He said he has "many friends and family interred there and would like to make sure that their final resting place is looked after and cared for." Cochrane said he worked for Belcrest Memorial Park in Salem for 10 years and knows what it takes to run a cemetery. Borchers is running against Carol Trowbridge and Kimberly Cornthwaite in the other contested cemetery district race in the county. Board meetings no one from the public attends Scotty Girard was appointed to the board of the Hilltop Cemetery District which is located in and around Independence after someone on the board died a couple years ago. A retiree, Girard had worked with the cemetery districts maintenance person when they both worked for the Central School District. She is running for the position she currently holds. Ornately decorated gravesites at Hilltop Cemetery. For decades, the Hilltop Cemetery District held its board meetings at the Buena Vista Church. But after a board member died, they moved their meetings to the fire station in Buena Vista. They can last anywhere from an hour to a couple of hours, Girard said. We try to make sure we get all of our business taken care of, but then theres a little bit of catching up with everybody, you know, like all meetings. Girard said a member of the public has never shown up at a board meeting. Thats not to say that Hilltop is without controversy. The district has regulations about how stones are placed and what can be on graves. But relatives come to the cemetery which is unattended most of the time and do things like put white rock on top of graves and plant flowers on it. Those decorations often make it difficult for the maintenance people to mow the grass. They think that they have bought a cemetery plot and that is their land, she said. And it isnt. You buy the rights to have somebody buried there. Hilltop sells plots of land in its cemeteries through Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence. Girard wont be buried at the Hilltop Cemetery or the Buena Vista Cemetery in the district. I said I just want to be cremated and my ashes spread in Hawaii so I can be the next Moana, Girard said. The district has two part-time employees. Multiple people, including Girard, said accountant Marjorie Meador of Aldrich CPAs + Advisors, have worked for decades with the Hilltop and Fir Crest Cemetery District, which is in and around Monmouth. When contacted by the Statesman Journal, Meador said she had spoken with her firms legal counsel and was advised not to speak with a reporter. I cant confirm theyre even our clients, Meador said. Never filed a financial report Brenda Ronco grew up on a farm in Pedee, an unincorporated community of 100 or so people 15 miles southwest of Monmouth at the base of the Coast Range. She moved away to teach in Bandon, then moved to Dallas and taught the rest of her career in Willamina. A few years ago, Ronco retired and moved back to the family farm in Pedee. She lives about a half mile from Wormer Cemetery where her parents and grandparents are buried. She has other relatives buried in Montgomery Cemetery, another cemetery in the district a few miles away. People in Pedee know of these cemeteries, she said. Were a community. Were out in the country, but people know of the cemetery out here in Pedee. Pete McDowell and Howard Lee with Polk Cemetery Savers clean headstones at the Dallas Cemetery. Ronco said she and family members have returned to the cemeteries in Pedee every Memorial Day to place flowers on the family graves. I dont know that weve ever missed any, Ronco said. It is important to our family. Ronco is running for the only open seat on the board. Shes not entirely sure what the position does. She said she was asked to run for the position by Laverne Bennett. It turns out the Pedee Cemetery District has fallen through a lot of government cracks over the years. Bennett said she has been on the Pedee Cemetery District board since it was formed in the early 80s. She said no one has ever showed up for any of the two board meetings they have each year, which they hold at the Pedee Womens Club. We just say, OK, we need to have a meeting, and I contact the board members and the caretakers, Bennett said. Bennett said when someone wants to buy a plot in one of the cemeteries, the person contacts her. But she declined to say how much plots cost, despite them being publicly owned. The district hasnt filed a financial audit with the Secretary of States Office since at least 2004, according to the departments records, something all government entities are required to do yearly in accordance with Oregon law. Technically, it appears that is correct we dont have any record of Pedee Cemetery District in our files, Secretary of State spokesperson Laura Kerns said in an email. Mayor Woods said that in his 40 years of owning an insurance firm in Dallas, his firm often provided the bond for someone representing the Pedee cemetery board. But, he said, the person who needed to be bonded frequently changed, and he wasnt informed. They dont communicate with you and they dont seem to feel the need to, Woods said. Woods said that if the district isnt insured, if someone is injured at one of the cemeteries, the directors would be personally liable. As a public entity, a cemetery board's expenses and revenues are public record and must be provided, sometimes for a fee, to anyone who requests them. They have to notify anyone who requests it about board meeting discussions and any votes on things like finances. But unlike city or county governments, the Polk County cemetery districts have no online presence and provide few ways for the public to reach board members. I mean, when you see the city budget, its right there," said Polk County Commissioner Jeremy Gordon, formerly Falls Citys mayor. "When youre a district, if youre curious where the moneys going, how do you find out? Bill Poehler covers Marion County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Cemetery districts prove controversy can find the smallest governments A new K-9 officer has joined the ranks at the Cherokee County Sheriffs Office. K-9 ACE was welcomed by the sheriffs office on their Facebook page on Friday. ACE is a beautiful Belgian Malinois and will work with his partner, Deputy Joseph Sullivan. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] ACE specializes in narcotics detection, tracking, and apprehension. ACE joins the other six K-9 officers at the sheriffs department K-9 unit. Another K-9 will be retiring this summer and the department will get a new handler. They expect to add two additional K-9 officers after the one retires, bringing the total number of K-9 officers to 8 by the end of the summer. On average, a K-9 officer can serve six to seven years before retirement. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: The circle of global power players who continued to meet with Jeffrey Epstein after his first sex conviction was far wider than previously revealed, according to an extensive report fromThe Wall Street Journal published on Sunday. Using source documents including Epsteins schedules, the paper identified meetings between the disgraced financier and figures including the current director of the CIA, a former White House lawyer, a college president and a member of an international banking dynasty. None of their names appear in Epsteins now-public black book of contacts or in the public flight logs of passengers who traveled on his private jet, the WSJ reported. The documents show that Epstein arranged multiple meetings with each of them after he had served jail time in 2008 for a sex crime involving a teenage girl and was registered as a sex offender. The documents, which include thousands of pages of emails and schedules from 2013 to 2017, havent been previously reported. Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected New York financier, pleaded guilty in June 2008 to one count of solicitating prostitution and one count of soliciting prostitution from someone under the age of 18. He was released from jail the following year but, after a decade of public accusations of abuse by multiple women, was arrested in 2019 on federal sex trafficking charges. He died in jail weeks later and the death was ruled a suicide. Speculation has always swirled regarding the extent of Epsteins contacts and the nature of their interactions, and a redacted version published online in 2015 set off a flurry of explanations and denials amongst the worlds elite. The new WSJ report, however, reveals heretofore unknown contacts, some who say they regret their association with the sex offender or deny any knowledge of his criminal activities. The documents used as source material dont reveal the purpose of most of the meetings and the Journal couldnt verify whether every scheduled meeting took place, it reported. Story continues William Burns, who became CIA director in 2021, had scheduled meetings with Epstein in 2014 when he was deputy Secretary of State, according to the newspaper a lunch planned at a Washington DC law office and two scheduled appointments at Epsteins townhouse. After one of the scheduled meetings, Epstein planned for his driver to take Mr. Burns to the airport, WSJ reported. A CIA spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal that Mr Burns remembered being introduced in DC to Epstein by a mutual friend and meeting the financier once briefly in New York but does not recall any further contact, including receiving a ride to the airport, she said. Mr Burns stepped down from the State Department in October 2014 and served as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace until he was nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as CIA director. The agency did not immediately return a request for comment from The Independent. Jeffrey Epstein died in prison while awaiting trial in what was ruled a suicide (New York State Sex Offender Registry) Also reportedly meeting with Epstein in 2014 was Kathryn Ruemmler, White House counsel under President Barack Obama. According to the WSJ, Epstein called Ms Ruemmler in 2014 within weeks of her leaving the White House and planned a lunch in August 2014 at his townhouse, followed by a series of meetings to introduce her to a wider circle of his acquaintances. The disgraced financier and his staff also discussed whether Ms. Ruemmler, now 52, would be uncomfortable with the presence of young women who worked as assistants and staffers at the townhouse, the documents show, the paper reported. Women emailed Epstein on two occasions to ask if they should avoid the home while Ms. Ruemmler was there. Epstein told one of the women he didnt want her around, and another that it wasnt a problem, the documents show. A spokesperson for Goldman Sachs, where Ms Ruemmler currently serves as chief legal officer and general counsel, told the paper that the lawyer did not see anything concerning at the townhouse. Over the next few years, Ms. Ruemmler, then a partner specializing in white-collar defense at Latham & Watkins, had more than three dozen appointments with Epstein, including for lunches and dinners, the Journal reported. She told the paper: I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told The Independent that many of Ms Ruemmlers contacts involved potential representation of a major foundation, representation of a major bank and other business opportunities. Some who interacted with Epstein following his 2008-2009 conviction and jail stint said they felt hed served his time. Leon Botstein, president of Bard College since 1975, told the Journal he first visited Epsteins townhouse in 2012 to thank him for unsolicited donations to Bards high schools, then he returned over several years in an attempt to get more donations. In 2015, Epstein donated 66 laptops, the documents show. We looked him up, and he was a convicted felon for a sex crime, Mr Botstein said., adding that the college provides education to prisoners. We believe in rehabilitation. The Bard president also invited Epstein to an opera at the school in 2013 and a concert at the college in 2016, the paper reported. Mr Botstein had visited the financiers townhouse and told the paper: He presented himself as a billionaire, a really, really rich person. I found him odd and arrogant. And what I finally came to believe, which is why we stopped contact with him, is that he was simply stringing us along regarding donations to the school. The Bard president did not immediately return a request for comment from The Independent on Sunday. Another member of academia who associated with Epstein was MIT professor Noam Chomsky, with whom the financier arranged meetings in 2015 and 2016 to discuss geopolitical and academic topics, WSJ reported. Commenting on the story to The Independent, Mr Chomsky said: I notice that several people quoted said the obvious: all the reporting has to do with 2015-16, when what was known about Mr Epstein was that he had been sentenced, and therefore had a clean slate according to US law and norms. Britain too. The Journal report also included scheduled meetings with powerful international figures; Ariane de Rothschild, now chief executive of the Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild Group, had more than a dozen meetings with Epstein, discussing not only business matters but also staffing and furnishings, it reported. A Frenchwoman who married into the famous de Rothschild banking family, she bought nearly $1m worth of auction items on Epsteins behalf in 2014 and 2015, the documents show, according to the WSJ. It added: In 2019, after Epstein was arrested, the bank said that Mrs. de Rothschild never met with Epstein and it had no business links with him. The bank acknowledged to the Journal that its earlier statement wasnt accurate. It said Mrs. de Rothschild met with Epstein as part of her normal duties at the bank between 2013 and 2019, and Epstein introduced the bank to US finance leaders, recommended law firms and provided tax and risk consulting. In parallel to that, Epstein solicited her personally on a couple occasions for advice and services on estate management, the bank told the paper. Mrs. de Rothschild had no knowledge of any legal proceedings against Epstein and was similarly unaware of any questions regarding his personal conduct, the bank said. After later learning of his behavior, the bank said, she feels for and supports the victims, the Journal reported. A spokesperson for the Edmond de Rothschild Group told The Independent on Sunday that it had no further comment. Stone Island homeowners are suing the city of Deltona alleging the city diverted Tropical Storm Ian's floodwaters through their community causing "catastrophic damage." In the class-action lawsuit filed Thursday in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the complaint alleges that the city of Deltona created a "floodplain" out of the Stone Island community when it opened a flood structure which "ultimately led to hundreds of millions of gallons of floodwaters being redirected to, through and over Stone Island." At least 41 homeowners are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit. During post-Ian flooding at Stone Island in unincorporated Volusia County in October, 2022, the Volusia Sheriff's Office instituted a checkpoint to make sure only residents were coming in to avoid causing wakes into already flooded properties. Homeowners are asking a federal court for a jury trial to determine what the city of Deltona should pay them for their losses. According to the suit, homeowners are seeking full compensation of more than $50,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorneys fees. Still flooded: Stone Island in Volusia County still dealing with significant flooding issues after Ian Widespread flooding Live Hurricane Ian updates: 'Many roads are still under water,' Volusia officials say Tropical Storm Ian drownings Five people drowned in Volusia from Tropical Storm Ian. One was awaiting rescue from flood According to the lawsuit, the city of Deltona built the drainage system in 1991 to push floodwaters from Deltona to Lake Bethel, which is east of Stone Island, and then to the St. Johns River. In 2005, after a lawsuit by the Stone Island Community, Deltona closed off the drainage system by building a dam that stopped floodwaters from flowing through the community. Dam opened without permission? When Tropical Storm Ian made landfall in Florida in late September and early October 2022 bringing torrential rains and massive flooding, the city of Deltona, without permission from the St. Johns Water Management District, opened the dam which caused the flooding, the suit alleges. Deltona opened the dam even though the city's stormwater master plan made officials aware that the Stone Island community would flood, the suit claims. Story continues And Deltona's knowledge of the impact of flooding was also highlighted when the St. Johns Water Management District refused to give Deltona permission to open the dam in 2008 during Tropical Storm Fay and in 2017 for Hurricane Irma, the suit said. Prior to 2022, the Stone Island community had not experienced catastrophic flooding as it did during Tropical Storm Ian, the class action suit said. On Oct. 3, 2022, a city engineer reported in a city meeting that the flood-control structure had been opened without the permission of the St. Johns Water Management District. The city did not request a permit until Oct. 6, according to the lawsuit. It was issued on Oct. 13. Flood '100 houses or 1,000 houses?' At a city commission meeting a representative from Deltona asked whether Deltona "would rather flood 100 houses or flood 1,000 houses?" The rising waters and the lingering floods caused Volusia County to shut off sewer pumps in the Stone Island community creating an unsanitary situation with sewage backing up throughout the community causing further damage, the suit claims. Deltona left the dam open from late September when Tropical Storm Ian hit Florida through at least January, the lawsuit states. The News-Journal left a message with the office of Deltona Mayor Santiago Avila, Jr. on Sunday afternoon but did not immediately hear back. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tropical Storm Ian flood leads to suit against Deltona by Stone Island (CNN) A gunman is still at large after allegedly fatally shooting five people, including an 8-year-old, in a Cleveland, Texas home after a Friday night rampage that started with a noise complaint about gunfire, according to the San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office. The suspect, identified as 38-year old Francisco Oropeza, was apparently shooting a rifle in his yard when neighbors asked him to stop because a baby was trying to sleep, San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said. The suspect then opened fire on the neighbors, Capers said. Authorities found the victims Friday night after receiving a harassment report about 11:30 p.m. local time, the sheriff said. "The victims, they came over to the fence said, 'Hey, could you mind not shooting out in the yard. We have a young baby that is trying to go sleep,'" Capers said. The suspect, who had been drinking, responded, "I'll do what I want to in my front yard." A doorbell camera at the home of the victims at some point captured the suspect approaching with his rifle, Capers said. Multiple people were shot around the residence, Capers said. Two female victims in a bedroom used their bodies to shield two young children who survived, he added. "They were trying to take care of them babies and keep them babies alive," Capers said of the victims. The victims were shot above the neck at close range -- "almost execution style," according to Capers. The deceased were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso-Guzman, 8. 'He could be anywhere now' Investigators tracked Oropeza with his cell phone, but the trail went cold Saturday evening, according to local law enforcement. "He could be anywhere now," San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said during a press conference. Authorities tracked Oropeza's cell phone, but found it abandoned, along with articles of clothing, according to the sheriff. "The tracking dogs from Texas Department of Corrections picked up the scent, and then they lost that scent," Capers said. The FBI's Houston field office said on Twitter that it is assisting in the manhunt. "We consider him armed and dangerous," said FBI special agent in charge James Smith. "He's out there, and he's a threat to the community." Authorities said they had received previous reports about the suspect firing a rifle in his yard. The suspect was known to shoot a .223 rifle, according to Capers. Shell casings were discovered outside the home. At least three weapons were found in the home of the suspect. Investigators said they have spoken with the suspect's wife. Authorities said they believe Oropeza is no longer in the area. A local judge issued an arrest warrant for the suspect. More than 170 mass shootings in the US this year There have been at least 174 mass shootings in the US so far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Both CNN and the archive define a "mass shooting" as a shooting that injured or killed four or more people, not including the shooter. "It's not just at banks, schools, supermarkets, or churches where Americans fear becoming victims of a mass shooting," Kris Brown, president of Brady, a gun violence prevention organization, said in a statement. "People in this country are being gunned down with assault weapons in their own home, and that is the horrifying reality we will continue to live under until our norms and policies change." There were 10 people inside the home at the time of the shooting, according to the sheriff. The victims range in age from 8 to about 40, Capers told reporters earlier Saturday. The 8-year-old victim was pronounced dead at a hospital. Three people were taken to the hospital, and two were evaluated at the scene and released, according to authorities. Capers said the victims were from Honduras, and some had arrived at the home from Houston in recent days. CNN has reached out to authorities for more information. Cleveland is about an hour northeast of Houston. This story was first published on CNN.com. "Neighbors asked a man to stop firing a rifle outside. He then opened fire on them, killing 5 people, a Texas sheriff says" All Elite Wrestling (AEW) CM Punk has not been seen by AEW fans since the infamous post-All Out press conference in September 2022 but this week he's been busy visiting other wrestling promotions. On Monday (April 24) Punk was reported to have visited WWE Raw, which was being held at the Allstate Arena in Illinois. Video surfaced of Punk outside the arena talking to Tamina Snuka with PW Insider reporting he had spoken to The Miz and Triple while backstage. Well, on Saturday (April 30) Punk made a visit to another wrestling show being held in the Chicago area Impact Wrestling's latest TV taping. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) Related: Dark Side of the Ring announces full episode list for season 4 The taping featured in the in-ring debut of Trinity (former WWE Superstar Naomi) who Punk was there to support. Trinity had made her debut for Impact the night before and her former tag team partner Mercedes Mone was in attendance. After the show, Mone shared a photo of them together on Instagram, to which Punk responded with a a strong arm emoji. Mone then told Punk: "@cmpunk were in Chicago!! Bring your Glow sign." While it's not clear if Punk did bring his Glow sign, he did show up to support Trinity, taking photos backstage will talents including legend Ricky Morton and Jordynne Grace. So great to see my friend, @CMPunk What a great time this weekend. Genuinely love what I get to do and be apart of, which is my passion, Professional Wrestling. pic.twitter.com/5WtJ9UGkZN Ricky Morton (@RealRickyMorton) April 30, 2023 Related: Mercedes Mone suffers shock Stardom loss after confirming future Punk is reported to be making his return to AEW in June, to lead their as-yet-unannounced new Saturday show. Story continues He is said to have recently had a meeting with CEO Tony Khan as well as Chris Jericho to discuss coming back to the company. Catch AEW Dynamite live every Thursday at 1am in the UK and Rampage every Saturday at 3am on FITE with an AEW Plus subscription. US customers can also watch Dynamite on TBS and Rampage on TNT, and in the UK, Dynamite repeats air on ITV4. You Might Also Like Man photographing credit card using smartphone - Dan Brownsword/Getty Images Cold calls offering financial products will be banned under government plans aimed at stopping fraudsters from tricking people into buying fake investments. Rishi Sunak said the move was needed to prevent fraudsters from infiltrating their way into peoples lives. The aim is to extend a current ban on cold calls relating to pension products to cover calls selling any financial product. Mr Sunak said: Scammers devastate lives and livelihoods, preying on peoples fears to cheat them out of their money. To clamp down on these crimes, we have to prevent fraudsters from infiltrating their way into peoples lives in the first place. Thats why were stopping scams at source by taking away the routes used to target victims, keeping people safe and shielding them from the criminals responsible. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, said: Fraudsters are the lowest of the low. They seek to rob people of their hard-earned money through deception and exploitation, and relentlessly search for new ways to trick people. Banning cold calls and stopping fraudsters using technology is the start in our fightback against these cowards who hide in the shadows. Ministers hope that, once in force, people receiving a call offering them these products such as sham cryptocurrency schemes or types of insurance will know that it must be a scam, helping to prevent people from falling victim to fraudsters. The proposals will form part of a fraud strategy that will be outlined by Mr Sunak and Ms Braverman this week. It is estimated that fraud currently costs society 6.8 billion a year. It comes after developments in modern technology have created new opportunities for criminals, who often pretend to be a loved one or a legitimate business to scam people out of their money. Common scams include texts claiming to be from the Royal Mail, which seek to rearrange a delivery, or claiming to be a bank, instructing someone to transfer their money. The proposals will also ban SIM farms electronic boxes made up of bundles of SIM cards, which are used by scammers to rapidly send fraudulent messages to thousands of people simultaneously. Story continues While SIM farms are most frequently used for scam texts, organised crime gangs also harness them to market drugs. Ministers hope the ban will help to shut down this route. The ban on SIM farms will require primary legislation, so it will be included in the Economic Crime Bill currently passing through Parliament. The ban on cold calls will be introduced via secondary legislation following a public consultation. Up to 41 million adults in the UK were targeted by suspicious calls and texts last summer, according to Ofcom research. Local college students hosted an indie music festival to help raise money for people affected by the East Palestine train derailment. The Oakland Indie Festival was held at Flagstaff Hill in Oakland on Saturday. Nine local bands contributed to the show. The group of students who put the event together said they were moved by the stories of people living near the derailment and wanted to use their love of music to raise money for the school in East Palestine and their surrounding residents. I grew up in Beaver County so I am about 15 minutes from East Palestine. I have family and friends that live very close that are directly affected so any way that I can go and put something together with the people that I know and the community that I live amongst was no question. I was going to do this, said Adam Klenovich who organized the event. More than $6000 was raised by sponsors and even more was donated during the festival. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: NFL DRAFT LATEST: Steelers select Herbig with first pick Saturday; 2 Pitt Panthers go to Jets Family searching for bone marrow donor for McCandless baby battling rare genetic condition NFL DRAFT LATEST: Steelers pick Joey Porter Jr., Keeanu Benton, Darnell Washington in Friday rounds VIDEO: 2 hospitalized after 3-car crash on the South Shore DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Columbia Police have made a second arrest in a fatal 2020 shooting that left a 19-year-old Columbia man dead. CPD arrested a juvenile and charged that person with second-degree murder in connection to the Nov. 2, 2020 homicide, according to a release from CPD. This is the second arrest made in connection with the homicide. On May 26, 2022, members of the US Marshals Service arrested Maurice D. Banks, Jr. in Las Vegas. Banks, a Columbia native, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree assault and armed criminal action. The homicide in question occurred at Cosmopolitan Recreation Area Park on Nov. 2, 2020. According to CPD, officers responded to a report of shots fired at the park at approximately 6 p.m. on Nov. 2, 2020. After arriving on the scene, officers located a deceased male who was later identified as Jermaine Spain, 19, of Columbia. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Police make second arrest in deadly 2020 shooting Kiora Hansen and Della Currie, from left, protest during a rally at Antioch police headquarters in Antioch, Calif., on April 18. The city council of a small San Francisco Bay Area city voted to launch three audits of its troubled Antioch Police Department, the latest development in a yearlong federal investigation of the police force that blew up this month with the disclosure of racist text messages among officers. (Jane Tyska / Associated Press) A few weeks ago, the Contra Costa County district attorney released the results of an investigation that found up to 40% of police officers in Antioch, a Bay Area enclave with a majority of nonwhite residents, were linked to a racist text messaging chain. Calling Black people "monkeys" and "gorillas" wasn't the worst of it. The messages, spanning over a multiple-year period, used the N-word repeatedly and joked about targeting people based on skin color. They may end up documenting civil rights violations based on race. Under a new state law, the California Law Enforcement Accountability Reform Act, also known as Assembly Bill 655, such hate speech may be an offense that requires termination if substantiated. Many police don't know about the law, said Ed Obayashi, a lawyer and Plumas County sheriff's deputy who advises law enforcement departments statewide on social media misconduct. And most of them, he added, don't understand what its full implications might be. Obayashi told me he has been trying to get his colleagues to pay attention to the CLEAR Act but hasn't had much luck. The scandal in Antioch may finally get their attention. If the city of Antioch tries to discipline its officers using the CLEAR Act, it may set a precedent for future cases and curtail our tolerance of hate behind a badge. The CLEAR Act was written to combat extremism in law enforcement and root out officers who are members of known hate groups. But Obayashi and the bill's author, San Jose Democrat Ash Kalra, contend that six words in the new law that prohibit "advocacy of public expressions of hate" broaden it to include much more than joining up with the Proud Boys or hanging with neo-Nazis. Obayashi believes the intent of the law, which went into effect Jan. 1, is straightforward: "Any racist bias, you are looking at mandatory terminations." A spokesperson for the state Department of Justice said in an email that the department is working on the specifics of the regulations. Antioch chief of police, Steven A. Ford, didn't respond to an email about the CLEAR Act. Story continues Racist behavior involving law enforcement remains shocking but hardly surprising. Every few months, it seems as if a new disgrace bubbles up like sewage from a broken pipe. In August, my colleague James Queally reported on one such incident in Torrance when an officer used the N-word while texting another officer about family members who were protesting the shooting of a young Black man, Christopher Deandre Mitchell. Over the last few years, police and sheriff's departments, including some in San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, Eureka and Sacramento, have faced similar problems. And of course, there's Los Angeles County, where deputy gangs in the Sheriff's Department, with their not-so-secret tattoos (a very clear form of communication), have cost the city about $55 million in lawsuits, according to a 2020 report by the Brennan Center for Justice. Some of those officers were fired. Some were not. Until AB 655, the rules were not explicit and allowed departments to largely impose their chosen discipline. But the CLEAR Act is definitive; if an officer has been found to be in violation, the department has no choice but to fire them. Like, say, officers repeatedly using racial slurs while on duty patrolling a diverse neighborhood. Those Antioch text messages, even if shared on personal phones, have little expectation of privacy, Obayashi argues. And once public, they can trigger an investigation under the CLEAR Act that can examine everything that officer has said or done in public for seven years. Obayashi teaches officers that their 1st Amendment rights don't protect them from their obligations as peace officers. Making racist or hateful remarks in any forum Facebook, Twitter, texts is bad policing. "If you do this, I dont care if you are racist or not, you are too stupid to be a cop," he said. Kalra, the bill's author, told me "the intent was certainly to root out officers that hold the kind of attitudes that officers in Antioch hold." The racial slurs, the misogyny, the disdain are all signs of extremism, he said. Even if the officers in the text chain aren't explicitly in a hate group, their actions are dangerous because of the power they hold. "It's definitely extremist views when we consider what the role of a police officer is," Kalra said. And for some of the Antioch officers, it looks as though that hatred may have gone beyond words. Some of the texts refer to officers using excessive force or targeting individuals based on race. Along with a federal lawsuit by some Antioch residents targeted in the texts, another Latino couple has filed a lawsuit claiming they were attacked by officers based on their race. Of course, the officers involved in the Antioch scandal are entitled to due process. Mike Rains, who represents both the Antioch Police Officers Assn. and some of the individual officers implicated in the scandal, said he doesn't believe the CLEAR Act applies to something like a text messaging chain because it isn't connected to a hate group or a specific hate crime. "Even if it is abhorrent, even if it has things that sound hateful on its face about a person, about race, I don't think that qualifies in and of itself," he said. He also believes that the Antioch officers who received the messages but did not actively participate in the texting chain shouldn't be judged in the same manner as those pushing the conversation and that their silent presence shouldn't be interpreted as agreement. "Those officers are the ones that pay a pretty severe price simply for being on a text chain," Rains said. Right now, he said, most departments in California don't have rules requiring officers to report biased or racist statements from their colleagues which seems like something we should demand, just as we insist that officers intervene when they see excessive force. John Burris, a civil rights attorney representing some Antioch community members in the federal lawsuit, doesn't think passivity is exonerating. "You get no credit for silence," he said. How far the CLEAR Act stretches may depend on how far police chiefs and sheriffs want it to go. If they continue to try to sweep bias under the rug, maybe the law means little. But that old-school approach has become a losing tactic both for leaders who want to keep their jobs, and for those who truly care about bringing a new and different breed of officer into the fold which many responsible chiefs want to do. Despite being a decades-long defender of police in courtrooms and in the public sphere, Rains says law enforcement is in trouble when it comes to hiring because of its reputation for bias and misconduct, and can't recruit enough good people. Scandals like Antioch "drag the whole profession down." Case in point: The homepage for Antioch Police Department is basically a job ad, offering a $30,000 signing bonus. Departments, especially in California, are under tremendous pressure to reform and rebuild trust with communities that are fed up with biased policing. Alison Berry Wilkinson, a lawyer who often represents officers in disciplinary hearings, said that the CLEAR Act is simply a continuation of a trend she is already seeing of departments no longer being able to tolerate bias. Like Senate Bill 2, another reform measure that for the first time allows California to decertify officers for serious misconduct so that they can't hold a badge anywhere in the state, it is the codification of public will. "It's a clear statement of what's already going on," she told me. "Individuals who have these beliefs, who are expressing hate in the manner of those text messages, they do not belong in this industry." If law enforcement leaders can use the CLEAR Act to set expectations and maybe even clean house of an old and ugly way of thinking then it is a law that should be used to its fullest intent. Starting in Antioch. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Centrist Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) hasn't ruled out running for president in 2024. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Now that the presidential campaign is underway, that low moan you hear is the sound of voters contemplating their likely fate: a choice between two elderly retreads, President Biden and former President Trump. Last weeks NBC News poll confirmed a consensus: Hardly anyone is yearning for this rematch. A whopping 70% of Americans dont want Biden to run, including 51% of Democrats. Almost as many, 60%, dont want Trump to run, including about a third of Republicans. But Americans are inventive. Cant some political entrepreneur find a way out of this dilemma? Enter the Washington-based group No Labels, which has done admirable work promoting bipartisan cooperation in Congress. Its leaders say theyve been mortally disappointed by Biden and Trump, and theyre determined to offer a third-party alternative. In 2016, Trump pledged to be a break from the stale version of conservatism that had previously dominated the GOP, the groups founder, former Democratic fundraiser Nancy Jacobson, wrote last year. Likewise, in 2020, Biden vowed to steer Democrats away from their activist base toward unity." Yet "both presidents ended up caving largely to their supporters on the various extremes, she said. Jacobsons big idea is to put a new party on the ballot and nominate a bipartisan ticket chosen from the center, such as Sen. Joe Manchin III, a West Virginia Democrat, and former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Maryland Republican both of whom have talked with No Labels and havent ruled out running. Jacobson, who once worked for Bill Clinton and Al Gore, says she hopes to raise $70 million and get a ticket on the ballot in all 50 states. No Labels has already qualified as a party in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska. In a three-way race, she noted, a candidate doesnt need a majority to win a states electoral votes. All you need is 34%, she said. This is a unique American moment, she told me last week. Can you imagine a Democrat and a Republican walking arm-in-arm down Pennsylvania Avenue? Story continues Its an appealing picture, even if the strolling heroes are the not-quite-charismatic Manchin and Hogan. What could go wrong? Plenty, worried Democrats warn. For one thing, history strongly suggests that a third party cant win as in, its never happened. The closest anyone has ever come was Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, with 27%. The unintended result: He split the Republican vote and delivered the White House to Democrat Woodrow Wilson. More recently, Ross Perot managed to win 19% in 1992. Nobody else has come close. The lesson: 34% is harder than it looks. That means a third-party ticket would almost surely be a spoiler, taking just enough votes from one of the two major-party candidates to tip the outcome. Thats arguably what happened in 2000, when Gore lost the decisive state of Florida to George W. Bush by 537 votes. (Ralph Nader was a third-party candidate.) And in 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to Trump by less than 1%. (Green Party candidate Jill Stein was the wild card then.) The 2024 presidential election promises to be close; head-to-head polls show Biden and Trump evenly matched. Early polls arent predictive, of course, but five of the last six presidential elections have been won by margins of less than 5%. Theres no reason to expect this one will be different. Democrats worry that Biden voters will be less committed and more likely to drift toward a third party than Trumps supporters. Thats reflected in the NBC Poll: Almost 70% of Republican voters said they were determined to vote for Trump, no matter how many indictments hes facing. A third party would probably take more votes from Biden than Trump, said William A. Galston, a former Clinton aide who worked with No Labels for a decade but has split from the group over its presidential project. Many Republicans agree, although theyve been less vocal about it. A third-party candidate like Manchin would be most likely to help Trump, Rich Lowry, editor of the conservative National Review, wrote recently. The biggest problem with Jacobsons vision is more basic: The choice between Biden and Trump isnt just a coin flip between alternative policies. Trump has publicly proposed the termination of parts of the Constitution that get in his way. Biden, whatever his flaws, is committed to preserving our basic institutions. There is no equivalence between President Biden and a former president who threatens the survival of our constitutional order, Galston said. The risks of a second Trump presidency are simply too high to take chances. Jacobson says No Labels is alert to those dangers and wont nominate a candidate unless theres a clear path toward a win. We are committed that we will not have this experiment spoil" the election, she said. If it looks like its going to spoil there are offramps. Meaning No Labels could withdraw from the race. This is an insurance policy, she added. What happens if something happens to Biden? But offramps dont always stay open. Once a party is on the ballot, it may not be easy to take it off. A centrist third-party ticket may sound appealing in theory. In practice, it looks less like an insurance policy and more like a landmine. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect the correct position of Rashida Jones. The Comcast-NBC White House Correspondents Association Dinner after party brought out a bevy of revelers late Saturday evening as members of the media, government figures and even Hollywood stars gathered together. Taking place at the palatial headquarters of the Organization of American States, energy was high among the crowd despite one partygoer describing the preceding dinner as being overly long this year. The sponsors of this years event included Ford and Johnnie Walker. Guests were greeted with drinks, snacks and photo backdrops featuring the NBC peacock. Those with tired feet had the option of taking a pair of complementary flip-flops that were offered in various tubs located around the ballroom. One tub was empty by the end of the night. A slight drizzle did little to stop guests from exploring the outside patio of the venue, where drinks continued to be served and they could take a look at the Ford F-150 Lightning electric truck that fueled the DJ booth for the night. Journalists from NBC News were seen in attendance including Lester Holt, Kristen Welker, Kelly ODonnell, Courtney Kube and Yamiche Alcindor. Their colleagues at MSNBC and CNBC joined in on the fun including Jen Psaki, Symone Sanders-Townsend and Jim Cramer. Lawmakers also made their way over the event, with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) all spotted schmoozing with guests, with several having arrived fashionably late to the already late festivities. Castro entered the ballroom of the party along with second gentleman Doug Emhoff, who almost immediately drew a crowd of revelers towards him despite the Secret Service officers surrounding him. Emhoff, appearing to have anticipated such a reaction, stood in the center of the ballroom for an extended period of time as guests filtered around him, eager to speak with him or take a photo. Members of the Hollywood glitterati were also seen at the party taking photos with the assembled guests. Actors Rosario Dawson and John Leguizamo all made appearances at the bash. Network executives such as MSNBC President Rashida Jones attended along with NBCU News Group chair Cesar Conde, NBC News president Rebecca Blumenstein and CNBC president KC Sullivan. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A man who confessed to firing shots at the Crawford County Sheriff's Office a year ago will be reevaluated to determine whether he's ready to stand trial. A man who confessed to firing shots at the Crawford County Sheriff's Office a year ago will be reevaluated to determine whether he's ready to stand trial. On the evening of April 26, 2022, Crawford County Sheriff's deputies investigating residents' reports of shots fired in the Timken Subdivision, just west of the Sheriff's Office at 3613 Stetzer Road, discovered that the sheriff's office and some of the vehicles parked outside had been shot, according to previous reports. No one was injured. At around 9:42 p.m., David M. Vasquez, 35, New Washington, walked into the Bucyrus Police Department, 500 S. Sandusky Ave., and told the dispatcher on duty that he had fired the shots, Crawford County Sheriff Scott Kent said at the time. Police officers took Vasquez into custody without incident. Vasquez was indicted in May 2022 on charges of improperly discharging a firearm, a second-degree felony; improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, a fourth-degree felony; and four counts of vandalism, a fifth-degree felony, according to records from the Crawford County Clerk of Courts website. He initially was found incompetent to stand trial, Crawford County Prosecutor Matthew Crall said this week. "When that happens, they can either find them restorable or non-restorable," Crall said. "They believe they can restore him to competency, and they just ordered another evaluation to see if he's been restored to competency. That has not been completed yet." The new evaluation was ordered on April 10, according to court records. Such evaluations can take a while, depending on the caseload, Crall said. His office is still waiting on some evaluations ordered last fall. "It can vary," he said. If Vasquez has been restored to competency, then the case will continue through the courts, the prosecutor said. ggoble@gannett.com 419-559-7263 This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Competency evaluation ordered for man who fired at sheriff's office Record-breaking warmth will soon be a distant memory for residents along the West Coast as a new weather pattern will usher in showers and cooler air this week, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. Warm and dry weather just recently settled into the West, one of the first times that the region has had an extended stretch of rain-free weather in a while. The sunny skies allowed for soaring temperatures on Friday and Saturday, causing some locations to shatter daily high-temperature records. At the Portland, Oregon, airport, temperatures spiked to 88 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday, shattering the old record of 82 set in 1998. The Seattle Airport also reached a new daily high record on Friday, reaching 80 degrees for the first time since Oct. 15. On Saturday afternoon, the town of Reno, Nevada, hit 86 F, tying the daily high-temperature record for the day. In Lancaster, California, a new daily high record temperature was set as the city soared to 95 degrees. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Closer to the Pacific coast, however, a new weather pattern is expected to bring a noticeable change in conditions this week. "A multiday stretch of cool, and at times, wet weather is in store for California this week as a stalled out area of low pressure swirls along the coast," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham. Early in the week, the showers and clouds will bring temperatures down across Washington and Oregon, as well as the northern two-thirds of California. After reaching the 80s late last week, cities like Seattle and Portland, Oregon, will be dipping down into the lower 60s, slightly below the historical average this time of year. In Redding, California, where highs were in the 90s for four days in a row, the temperature peaked at 59 degrees Monday, and the city will struggle to reach 70 degrees through Thursday. "As the storm dives southward across the California coast, thunderstorms may accompany the showers in Central California. Storms may even produce small hail," added Buckingham. Story continues Showery conditions, as well as thunderstorms, are in the forecast for Tuesday in California cities like San Francisco and Fresno. Showers will expand through Central and Southern California throughout much of the week. Several days of low clouds and drizzle are forecast in cities like Los Angeles and San Diego. "Through the month of May, average rainfall amounts across the state of California begin to drop off drastically as conditions turn drier. Although this storm will not produce precipitation amounts comparable to the storms observed over this past winter, it still could potentially produce a month's worth of rainfall in some locales," Buckingham explained. This winter was one of the wettest seasons on record and obliterated most of the drought conditions in California and other parts of the West. The moisture-laden storms unloaded whopping amounts of snow in mountainous areas and filled reservoirs with epic amounts of rain. With this storm, communities from Sacramento to Los Angeles could have as much as half an inch of rain, nearing the normal amount of rain that said cities receive, on average, in the entire month of May. Snow levels are expected to fall across Central and Southern California during the middle to the latter half of the week, allowing for some slushy snow accumulations in some of the highest elevations of the Sierra Nevada. Meanwhile, across the Intermountain West, away from the influence of the storm along the West Coast, temperatures will soar well above their historical averages. High temperatures in Boise, Idaho, are expected to return to the middle 80s by Wednesday, while Spokane, Washington, can expect afternoon temperatures around 80, only a couple of degrees shy of the daily high-temperature records. Ahead of that, Spokane is expected to reach a new record high of 84 today, topping the record of 82 that was set in 1937. Temperatures in Salt Lake City are expected to reach at least the upper 70s through midweek, staying about 10 degrees above the historical average for early May. "As a result of the warmth, many area rivers may rise beyond their banks as a result of snowmelt from the mountains," warned Buckingham. A smattering of river gauges along rivers in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada and Utah were already reporting at minor flood stage on Sunday morning. With additional snowmelt this week, parts of the Portneuf River in southeastern Idaho are forecast to rise to near major flood stage by the end of the week. For those seeking relief from the heat, AccuWeather meteorologists warn that it may be unsafe to take a dip in the water this time of year. Despite how warm the air might be, the water may still be dangerously cold, putting swimmers and adventurers at risk of cold water shock. Cool and showery conditions are likely to continue across much of the West into the coming weekend, eventually erasing the interior warmth and bringing temperatures back to more seasonable levels. 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. Not everyone is happy with the invitation to swear allegiance to their new king. (Reuters) Millions of people in the UK and the Commonwealth have been invited to vocally swear their allegiance to King Charles III as they watch his coronation ceremony. Those watching the crowning on 6 May have been asked to say: "I swear that I will pay true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God." It has been described as an Homage of the People and his seen by some as a break from tradition that will make the ceremony more of a "people's coronation" as previously only peers would make such a pledge. Not everyone is happy with the idea, however, with some likening it to something from North Korea, or Game of Thrones. Anti-monarchy demonstrator Symon Hill, who was arrested in September after shouting "who elected him" at the proclamation of Charles as King in Oxford, said the proposal is like something out of George Orwell's book 1984. Read more: What's in the King's coronation: A moment-by-moment guide to everything in the ceremony This is absolutely insane.. they want us all to Swear Allegiance to the King.. just wow!! Soooo creepy and North Korean, like sheep, its medieval its controlling its abusive, people are suffering and they want you subjugated.. simply appalling, not doing it not ever pic.twitter.com/sqZPwXSCOE ARTIST TAXI DRIVER (@chunkymark) April 30, 2023 He tweeted: "If it were 1 April, you'd think this was a joke: public are asked to take part in a ludicrous 'Homage of the People', swearing allegiance to Charles Windsor in front of their TV during the coronation." Political economist and chartered accountant Professor Richard Murphy wrote: "I don't mind swearing. It's the allegiance to an outdated legacy of eugenic feudal power that I have a problem with." Story continues Even some who do support the British monarchy thought the invitation went a step too far, suggesting it may be a sign that enthusiasm for the Royal Family has faded following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Read more: King Charless coronation crown is worth a staggering amount - yet will never be worn by him again Speaking to GB News, journalist Martin Townsend said: "I think it's very odd. There is a little bit of insecurity about it, and equally I think it plays into that narrative of a slightly vain king. "I think this plays into that narrative that perhaps he's not as a popular as the Queen or since the Queen passed away six months ago, perhaps respect for the monarchy has slightly dwindled. "The coronation I want a big feast of pageantry I want to see some extraordinary ceremonies going on. "I still think being asked to pledge allegiance to the King feels very Game of Thrones to me and it doesn't feel like the British monarchy." Modern? A king asking people to pledge allegiance to him and his extended family is about as feudal as it gets. Its only a peoples coronation in that were all paying for it. https://t.co/bK4YfnpaTN Graham Smith (@GrahamSmith_) April 30, 2023 Green peer Jenny Jones tweeted: "Asking us to chant our allegiance does seem an odd request when so many of us think that the monarchy is an outdated institution that needs drastic reform. "And I really think that the king is rich enough to pay for his own coronation, not us taxpayers. The could go to #nurses." Street artist Mark McGowan, also known as the Artist Taxi Driver, added: "This is absolutely insane... they want us all to swear allegiance to the King... just wow!! "Soooo creepy and North Korean, like sheep, it's medieval it's controlling it's abusive, people are suffering and they want you subjugated... simply appalling, not doing it not ever." Read more: King Charles's core fan base 'are not going to be here forever', says royal expert This is what I find deeply offensive to we antipodeans, who are still part of the Commonwealth. We dont want to swear allegiance to this man. Why would we? pic.twitter.com/hJeVhYRiXe Dr Josie McSkimming (@JosieMcskimming) April 30, 2023 While millions of people across the world will be excited to watch the coronation, a poll conducted shortly before the ceremony suggests support for the British monarchy is at an all-time low. Pollsters found only three in 10 Britons think their monarchy is "very important" the lowest proportion on record. Meanwhile, a YouGov poll conducted in Scotland found less than half (46%) of people think Britain should continue to have a monarchy in the future, with almost three-quarters of Scots saying they do not care about the coronation. There's no doubt that King Charles III has a big pair of shoes to fill given the popularity of his mother Elizabeth II throughout her 70-year reign. Read more: Coronation poll: What do you think of Queen Camilla? While not everyone is feeling enthused about the coronation, others are very excited, including John Loughrey (left) and Sky London, who have already pitched up along the Mall. (AP) The last poll taken before the death of Britain's longest-reigning monarch showed 81% of people held her in a positive regard, a rate she'd managed to hold for more than a decade. In light of next weekend's coronation, Yahoo News has launched a series of polls to gauge the public mood as the Royal Family enters a new era of its history. Let us know what you think of the UK's new King, and how popular you think he will be compared to his mother. (CNN) Detention facilities along the US-Mexico border have surpassed capacity as a growing number of migrants cross into the United States leading up to the May 11 expiration of a Covid-era border restriction known as Title 42, according to a Department of Homeland Security official. As of Saturday morning, there were more than 20,500 migrants in US Customs and Border Protection custody along the US southern border, the official said, stressing the number of people in custody fluctuates throughout the day. The Rio Grande Valley sector, which encompasses south Texas, had nearly 7,000 migrants in custody as of Saturday morning, the Homeland Security official said. The majority are Venezuelans. Officials have seen an uptick in migrants crossing the US-Mexico border in anticipation of the expiration of Title 42, which was invoked at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and has allowed border authorities to quickly expel certain migrants. There have been around 7,000 daily encounters on the US southern border in recent days, a number expected to rise in the coming weeks. Brownsville, in the Rio Grande Valley sector, is dealing with a surge of migrants. "I want to say the first two weeks of April, we were averaging about maybe 1,700 Venezuelan nationals entering illegally into the country through that particular area in Brownsville," said Gloria Chavez, Border Patrol Chief for the Rio Grande Valley Sector. "And then two weeks later, towards the end, here the last eight days, we saw an uptick of over 15,000 Venezuelans." Chavez said the Border Patrol's holding capacity in the Rio Grande Valley is about 4,000, and Friday afternoon, about 7,500 migrants were in custody. Chavez added Title 42 is still in place and her agents will be applying the order. Title 42 expires May 11 On May 11, when the nation's coronavirus public health emergency ends, the Covid-era border restriction known as Title 42 is also expected to expire, meaning border authorities will no longer be able to quickly expel certain migrants south of the border. Instead, US immigration authorities will return to decades-old protocols at a time of unprecedented mass migration in the Western hemisphere, raising concerns within the Biden administration about a surge in the immediate aftermath of Title 42 lifting. Behind the scenes, administration officials have been racing to set up new policies to stem the flow of migration, but even with those put in place, officials recognize they could face an overwhelming number of people at the border who have been anticipating the end of Title 42, which has been the primary enforcement tool since 2020. A senior Customs and Border Protection official told CNN the agency estimates "several thousand" migrants are waiting in northern Mexico to cross the border. El Paso, Texas which Biden visited in January and the Rio Grande Valley are among the areas expected to see an influx of migrants, officials said. The return to traditional protocols includes restoring legal consequences for migrants who try to repeatedly cross the US-Mexico border, which officials expect may deter crossers. Under Title 42, the number of repeat crossers shot up amid little to no consequence. The administration is also setting other plans in motion to try to manage the flow of migration, including rolling out a new rule, which would largely bar migrants who traveled through other countries on their way to the US-Mexico border from applying for asylum in the US, restarting a policy to expedite asylum screenings, and assigning more US Citizenship and Immigration Service employees to help interview migrants who ask for asylum. Still, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said this week the department is preparing for what he described as a challenging few weeks ahead when the Title 42 authority lifts and as smugglers distribute misinformation to migrants. Brownsville declares state of emergency The City of Brownsville has declared a state of emergency due to the recent influx of migrants, according to city Commissioner for District 1, Nurith Galonsky Pizana. "On April 27, as mayor pro tem I signed a disaster declaration. These migrants who are making their way through Brownsville, they are not here to stay. They have a final destination outside of Brownsville and we will manage this with due process as these individuals seek asylum and eventually move on to their final destination," Galonsky Pizana said during a news conference. Many of the Venezuelans who have crossed into Brownsville illegally had been waiting across the border in Matamoros, Mexico, and have been trying to get appointments through the CBP One app, Chavez said. The application allows migrants to get appointments to enter the US legally through a port of entry under an exception to Title 42. But appointments are hard to come by and migrants are apparently losing patience. Chavez said the Border Patrol is using decompression measures to help manage the influx. Decompression is a term used by Border Patrol when migrants are transported from a sector at capacity to a sector with processing space. "We are in partnership with the Laredo Border Patrol and the Del Rio Border Patrol. They are absorbing buses that are going now to Laredo and buses that are going to Eagle Pass, which is part of the Del Rio Sector. Those are on a daily basis and we are continuing to decompress as quickly as possible," Chavez said. Chavez said so far this year, Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley have encountered migrants from 72 nationalities, including a recent uptick in Chinese nationals. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Border detention facilities reach capacity amid spike in migrants." If youre anything like me, youve done your best to blot out the COVID era from your memory. It doesnt seem productive to ruminate on the days spent in fear and uncertainty fear that public officials insisted should consume us; hunkering down in our homes; our childrens smiles hidden from us behind masks that even Dr. Anthony Fauci now appears to concede were (as applied) of nominal benefit. But the effects of our COVID response, which was in many cases destructive, still linger. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the realm of education. In parts of the country, including Fort Worth, some students lost a year (or more) of full-time in-person school. In certain cases, that was by choice; some parents worried that schools would be super-spreaders they werent and voluntarily kept them home. For other students, going to class in-person was simply not offered as an option. Frequent exposure quarantines that needlessly kept healthy kids at home for weeks at a time only made things worse. Learning loss abounded, in reading and math especially, and for Black and Latino children in particular. Those losses are still felt deeply in places like Fort Worth, where students in an already struggling district are still climbing out of an academic hole. Childrens mental health also suffered; isolation and depression ballooned, the effects of which have yet to be fully realized. None of this is fun to reflect on, but all of it was re-hashed last week during a congressional hearing which featured one of the key players behind prolonged school closures: Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. Testifying about her organizations role in a COVID-response oversight hearing, the union boss insisted that she and her minions were working to keep schools open from day one. We spent every day from February on trying to get schools open, she said. We know that remote education was not a substitute for opening schools. Story continues Indeed, there is little doubt that she and her cohorts knew the costs of prolonged virtual school, especially for vulnerable communities. That much seemed obvious. There is little doubt also, that she, as an influential union leader, did everything within her power to keep schools closed as long as possible. Indeed, her own words, tweets and interviews throughout the pandemic, as well as her behind-the-scenes lobbying of the CDC to keep schools closed in the name of protecting teachers, belie her claims. And recent revelations indicate that Weingarten and her team had a direct line to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky and White House officials who even adopted some union-proposed language in their guidance for school reopenings, which slowed full reopening of in-person instruction for students. I wont belabor the depths of deceit reached in her testimony. You can watch it yourself. But Weingartens falsehoods speak to another effect that school closures and other pandemic mitigation has had on the public: a loss of trust in our public schools. This reality has manifested in many ways, but most obviously in declining enrollment in public schools. Nationwide, enrollment has dropped 3 percent. Locally, those numbers are even starker. Currently, Fort Worth ISD has almost 73,000 students, well below 2019 levels. While the decline began before COVID, it increased significantly as a result of the pandemic, so much so that the district has had to make substantial staffing cuts. According to reports, Superintendent Angelica Ramsey expects that decline to continue until the district hits a plateau of about 55,000 students. Id argue that on some level, this is not a terrible thing for education. Distrust in public school leadership has increased public interest in charter and private options; its helped make the case for school choice a policy priority. It may even be why the appetite for education savings accounts in Texas has never been higher. This silver lining aside, distrust in public institutions is seldom good. So its important for us to understand how and why public trust in schools cratered. Even if it means recalling that less than pleasant time. Recipients of the Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas' 2023 awards were honored Friday at Lakeridge Methodist Church. The Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas honored area law enforcement officials, volunteers and professionals for their efforts to support crime victims and improve their lives Friday during a ceremony marking National Crime Victims' Rights Week last week. Avalanche-Journal courts and public safety reporter Gabriel Monte, as well as former A-J reporter and current Texas Tech College of Media and Communications faculty member Lucinda Holt, were among the award recipients at the event hosted at Lakeridge Methodist Church. Monte was recognized for his nearly 10 years of crime and courts reporting on the South Plains, with many of his reports sharing the stories of victims, the impacts of crime and helping to better explain the criminal justice system in a relatable way. "Gabriel goes above and beyond in ensuring the public is aware of what victims encounter in the Lubbock County criminal justice system," reads the coalition's recognition of Monte. "Ensuring victims are heard, directly or indirectly, gives everyone a voice and allows the public to hopefully learn from others experiences." Monte was nominated for the award by the Lubbock County Office of Dispute Resolution. Holt was nominated by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. She has been a longtime advocate for the victims of drunk driving and their families, having lost her sister, Lydia Mendez, in a crash with a drunk driver on Feb. 11, 2003. Lucinda Holt's blog: My personal story of loss "Lucinda has been a volunteer for MADD for many years," the coalition's recognition reads. "She completed training to become a peer support volunteer and has helped victims through their grief, helped plan walks, helped raise money to help more victims, and helped raise awareness in the community through events and the media about the harsh reality of what impaired driving does to families. She is a valuable leader and dedicated advocate." Story continues During the event, Lubbock Mayor Tray Payne read a proclamation from the City Council recognizing April 23-29 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week Kristi Thompson, president of the Crime Victim Coalition, said her organization has hosted the annual awards since 2008 as a way to recognize volunteers, law enforcement officials and other professionals who advocate for crime victims and to raise awareness about the organization. The Coalition is comprised of members from about 20 Lubbock-area law enforcement agencies, non-profits and other organizations. All 2023 award recipients Retired Lubbock Judge Drue Farmer Texas State Trooper Melissa Flanigan Dena Graves, Texas A&M University Agrilife Extension Lanae Gwin, Tahoka ISD Lucinda Hold, Texas Tech University Lubbock County Sheriff's Investigator Sophia Jaramillo Izzy Lawson, Voice of Hope Gabriel Monte, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal Kendra Sellers, volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Driving The Lubbock County District Attorney's Office This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Crime Victim Coalition of West Texas honors Lubbock advocates Mysterious postcards appeared on the streets of Moscow Read also: Four unidentified drones found near Moscow in 48 hours. What does it mean for the Kremlin? Photos of the leaflets, which were allegedly found in Moscow, surfaced online. One of them has a photo of Budanov, with the inscription "Our President", and another has a joint photo of Budanov and Maliuk and the caption in Russian "How are you?" Meanwhile, video started circulating on Russian and Ukrainian social media on April 30 of an unidentified object apparently flying over the center of Moscow. The object, which does not appear to be a conventional aircraft, is seen flying over the Russian capitals skyline below the cloud level. Read also: Ukraine did not plan to strike Moscow on invasion anniversary, official says There were no reports of activity by Russian air defenses, which were recently installed in several locations around Moscow, including the roof of the Russian Defense Ministry in central Moscow. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The Czech Republic will look for ways to increase the supply of ammunition to Ukraine in cooperation with other allies. Source: Czech President Petr Pavel after his visit to Ukraine, reported by European Pravda with a reference to Ceske Noviny Details: Pavel has said that Ukraine is experiencing a critical shortage of ammunition needed to launch a counter-offensive and regain control of its territory occupied by Russia. Quote: "From the talks I held in Ukraine and there were many of them, both at the central level and at the level of one region it became quite clear that what Ukraine needs most for the successful defence today is ammunition." "We will continue to look for ways to not only increase the supply of munitions from our sources, but we will also creatively look for ways to work with our allies, perhaps other countries, to get what they need to Ukraine on short notice." Details: According to Pavel, the Czech Republic has already followed some of these paths and knows where to go next. He has added that the ammunition needed is often no longer produced in the Czech Republic, but is available in some other countries. "The stocks are often in countries that traditionally bought Soviet-made equipment," he explained. Quote: "Technology, of course, is also lacking, but the critical shortage of ammunition not only limits Ukraine's ability to defend itself efficiently, but also to some extent limits its ability to launch a successful counter-offensive. And if they want to regain control of the occupied territory that Russia has been aggressively holding for more than a year, there really is no other way but to launch a counter-offensive." More details: According to him, the Russians have an advantage in artillery main guns and rocket launchers, but above all in the amount of ammunition they fire four to five times more than the Ukrainians every day. Pavel has recalled that he visited a training ground in Ukraine, where there was a Czech-made howitzer and an RM-70 multiple-launch rocket system. According to him, even after a year, they are working reliably and Ukrainians have good reviews about them. "What prevents them from being used even more effectively to protect Ukrainian territory is ammunition," he said. Story continues Pavel has said that the allies supply Ukraine with very effective equipment, such as modern tanks, but with an absolutely minimal amount of ammunition. Ukrainians can only deploy this equipment for a few days and then have to take it back. "It practically goes into storage. And it doesn't make much sense," said Pavel. Background: Pavel arrived in Ukraine on Friday together with Slovak President Zuzana Caputova. They held talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other government officials and discussed military support. The delegation was forced to go to a shelter in a hotel for an hour because of an air-raid warning, as Russia launched a new wave of air strikes. The Czech president also visited the town of Bucha, which has become one of the symbols of war crimes. On Saturday, he visited the city of Dnipro. Among other things, he visited facilities for refugees from other regions of Ukraine. He also inspected a residential building that was destroyed by a Russian missile in January, where 49 civilians, including children, were killed. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A Lawrence man has been charged with supplying drugs to his cellmate who later died on Saturday while in police custody at the Lawrence Police Department, the district attorney said. Javier Garcia, 49, of 57 Brook St., Apt. 2, Lawrence had been in custody himself at the Lawrence Police Department headquarters after being arrested over the weekend for disorderly conduct. Garcia will now face an additional charge of distribution of a Class A substance, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker said Sunday. He is expected to be arraigned in Lawrence District Court on Monday. Garcia was charged as authorities continue to investigate the death of Christian Marte-Martinez, 25, of 45 Fern St., Lawrence, who died early Saturday while in custody for disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property. Marte-Martinez was placed into a cell at police headquarters at 1:15 a.m. Saturday. Garcia was being held in the same cell, Tucker said. About 5 a.m. Saturday, police found Marte-Martinez unresponsive in the cell, Tucker said. They began CPR and other life-saving measures before he was taken to Lawrence General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The incident remains under investigation by the Essex County District Attorneys Office State Police Detective Unit and detectives from the Lawrence Police Department. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Dallas police are investigating two seperate homicides that happened in the city Saturday, one killing a 26-year-old and the other leading to the death of a man of 38, according to a news release from police. In the first of the two, officers responded to a call about a shooting in the 200 block of South Jim Miller Road to find Jonathan Andrews, 26, lying on the ground with a gunshot wound, according to the news release. Paramedics were called to the scene but Andrews died from his injuries. Police said the shooting happened around 8:35 a.m. Authorities did not announce any arrests and said the investigation is ongoing. Anybody with information is asked to call Detective Christopher Walton at 214-671-3632 or email christopher.walton@dallascityhall.com. In the second of the shootings, officers were called around 7:40 p.m. to the 1200 block of Red Bird Lane where where 38-year-old Clovis Dawayne Braxton shot in a business parking lot, according to a news release. Braxton was taken to the hospital where he died of his injuries, according to police. Investigators believe the suspect fled the scene running north on University Hills Boulevard toward Ledbetter Drive, police said in the news release. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and orange Nike shorts. The investigation is ongoing and authorities are asking anybody with information to contact Detective Thomas French at travis.french@dallaspolice.gov or 214-671-3650. Jack Antonoff and Bleachers perform during the third day of the Roots N Blues festival on Oct. 9, 2022, at Stephens Lake Park in Columbia, Mo. Soon the lineup will be released for the first-ever Treeline Music Fest, Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Stephens Lake Park. Only Treeline isn't a brand-new festival. Back in February, co-owners Tracy Lane and Shay Jasper announced their Roots N Blues festival a Columbia concert staple since 2007 would receive something of a refresh and restore, complete with a new name. Responses scattered like seeds along predictable ground. A number of concertgoers and area musicians, keeping track of Lane and Jasper's vision since assuming control of the fest, expressed excitement. Others lamented that a festival they once anticipated seemed to be getting further and further away from them. Exercising my very unscientific powers of observation, it seems Treeline will be more than fine. Even though University of Missouri alum Sheryl Crow stood on the Roots N Blues stage two years ago and (prophetically, it now seems) sang "I think a change ... would do you good," change always inspires backlash. But often, with time and continued success, dissonant chords fade away or resolve on their own. Aarik Danielsen Also, a few comments on social media posts don't add up to a revolt. The minority opinion is vocal, but also it seems just that a minority. Still, concerns expressed in the wake of this recent change resemble complaints lodged at the festival formerly known as Roots N Blues for well over a decade now. Similar messages cloaked in different details. So before Treeline fully grows into its new identity this fall, here are three reasons concertgoers should relax a little and tune to the music. More: 21 essential Missouri albums from the 21st century (so far) 1. The blues are in everything especially hip-hop Since Roots N Blues debuted in 2007, as a living, breathing, rocking celebration of Central Bank of Boone County's 150th anniversary, every step away from that first year has provoked hand-wringing. Moving from a free event to a ticketed festival. Moving from downtown to Stephens Lake Park. Losing its local stages, formerly nestled in Peace Park. Waving farewell to its barbecue competition. Story continues There were both legitimate concerns about each change and some that were less on-point. This, again, is natural. But perhaps the most common refrain sounds something like this: They don't play the blues anymore. This gripe found fresh expression this year when Treeline launched a series of genre reveals, forecasting what styles would be heard this fall and started with hip-hop. (The fest has since gestured toward indie pop, stomp and holler and, yes, the blues.) An unsurprising number and kind of pearls were clutched. Complaints about perceived scarcity, and the presence of hip-hop, ignore a key reality: Blue is a deep color. Continuing to request a single shade the same guitar-slingers you can see at any other American blues festival actually sells the blues short. The blues are in every American music, and the fest has excelled at programming artists who draw on the blues like they draw breath, yet stretch into other genres. And hip-hop absolutely qualifies as the spiritual and logical outgrowth of the blues tradition. The great, pioneering bluesmen of 100 years ago would be rappers were they born today. To miss this is to lose touch with the blues. No listener has to enjoy a certain style of music. If you don't dig hip-hop, you don't dig hip-hop. That's more than fine. But don't throw up your hands as if it arrives from an alternate universe. An aside: hip-hop dawned around 50 years ago. Reacting as though it's some new craze would be like concertgoers in 2000 expressing surprise at rock 'n' roll's inclusion on a festival bill. This is a vital art form. It earned the great Kendrick Lamar a Pulitzer Prize in 2018. Frankly, it's about time for hip-hop to be heard at Stephens Lake Park. 2. Festivals, like artists, need to evolve Ask any of the great Roots N Blues artists from the past 15 years Wilco, Tanya Tucker, Jason Isbell, John Prine, Los Lobos, and even more traditional blues acts such as Taj Mahal and Buddy Guy, and they'd all hold one idea in common. They can't stand still, and they don't want to. More: Missouri Symphony reimagines its summer series with Firefly Music Festival Stasis is the enemy of good art. These musicians keep finding new wrinkles in their sound and keep chasing last night's dreams. And so it is, or should be, with festivals. Check out the lineup for the iconic New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, which kicked off Friday. Sure, there's a wealth of jazz. But there's also Dead and Company, Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers. A number of Roots N Blues alums will stop by Jon Batiste, Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges. And, yes, there's hip-hop in play with the likes of Lizzo and Ludacris. The Newport Folk Festival doesn't stick to one strict definition of folk. These festivals grow with the music and, like with the blues, acknowledge there's jazz and folk in nearly everything. That all music is roots music to someone. 3. Treeline's owners are aiming for permanence Sheryl Crow performs on the EquipmentShare stage during the 2021 Roots N Blues festival at Stephens Lake Park Perhaps the greatest reason to relax is the simplest: Lane and Jasper have a strong vision, and they've shown their ability to execute it. With the name change, and their willingness to expand the lineup which probably won't feel all that different from the past couple years they are making a bid for something permanent and special. The Treeline name tethers the festival to its setting. A responsiveness to musical trends and the time-honored interweaving of styles allows the fest to keep going, and avoid carving its initials into the same niche over and over. Lane and Jasper have already taken chances programming female representation in every slot of the 2021 edition and they've paid off. Both in industry attention and meaningful live-music experiences. The pair clearly love music and love Columbia. This doesn't mean every change they make should be gospel. They have and will make mistakes. But they've also shown themselves well worth a measure of good faith. Maybe all this will be moot when the Treeline lineup comes into view. Probably not, if the last 15 years are evidence. But there's reason enough to take a deep breath and look forward to this fall. And maybe it's time to take Sheryl Crow at her word. Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Danielsen: Three reasons to relax as Roots N Blues fest becomes Treeline Davis, California, police are investigating the second fatal stabbing to occur in the city, after a man was found with multiple stab wounds in Davis Park on Saturday night. The Davis Police Department said a resident called 911 and reported hearing a disturbance in Sycamore Park near Sycamore Lane and Colby Drive at about 9:15 p.m. on Saturday. The resident told the dispatcher he went outside to find out what occurred and found a man with what looked to be multiple stab wounds, before calling 911. CALIFORNIA MAN FOUND GUILTY OF MURDERING TEENS WHO DING-DONG DITCHED HIS HOUSE When police and emergency crews arrived, they found the victim, who was identified by police as a man in his early 20s and pronounced him dead at the scene. Davis police and members of various Yolo County law enforcement agencies searched the area for a suspect, described by police as a light-skinned man between 19-23 years of age, possibly Hispanic, 57 to 58 tall, and with long curly loose hair. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Flashing lights on top of police patrol car Police said the suspect was last seen wearing a hat, a light-colored T-shirt and a button-up shirt over it, while riding a bicycle with straight handlebars. CALIFORNIA SHERIFF TORCHES NEWSOM FOR LEAVING PRISON SYSTEM IN 'DISARRAY,' PLANNING TO LET MURDERERS WALK FREE This is the second deadly stabbing to happen in Davis in the last four days, according to police, though it is still not clear whether the two incidents are related. On the morning of April 27, Davis police responded to Central Park to check on the welfare of a man who was unresponsive. The responding officers learned the man, later identified as 50-year-old David Henry Breaux, was the victim of a violent attack and suffered multiple stab wounds. CALIFORNIA MEN ACCUSED OF COMMITTING RAPES, MURDER AFTER BEING RELEASED ON BAIL The City of Davis issued a statement about the death of Breaux, saying he was a well-known community member and regular fixture in the downtown area and in Central Park for the last decade. Story continues Breaux was also instrumental in the creation of the Compassion Bench in 2013 10-years ago last Friday, a day after he was stabbed, FOX 40 in Sacramento, California reported. Breaux, the station added, died a block away from the bench. Police encourage anyone to contact them if they see anyone matching the description of the suspect, or if they were around Sycamore Park between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. Also, if anyone has surveillance cameras pointed toward the park, police ask that you contact them at 530-747-5400 or policeweb@cityofdavis.org. President George Washington was inaugurated as the first president of the United States on this day in history, April 30, 1789. In his address, which he delivered at New York City's Federal Hall, Washington expressed his anxiety over the prospect of leading a new nation. At the time, New York City's Federal Hall served as the U.S. Capitol, according to the National Archives. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, APRIL 29, 2004, WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL OPENS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.: STIRS MEMORIES Washington had been notified officially of his election as president on April 14, said the National Archives website. In his inaugural address, Washington noted that "no life event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received on the 14th day of the present month." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP An illustration of President George Washington delivering his inaugural address, held in New York City. Robert Livingston, who was the chancellor of the State of New York, administered the oath of office, says the National Archives website. "After repeating this oath, Washington kissed the Bible held for him by the Chancellor, who called out, Long live George Washington, President of the United States, and a salvo of 13 cannons was discharged," it added. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, JAN. 8, 1790, GEORGE WASHINGTON DELIVERS FIRST-EVER STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS The first-ever presidential inauguration bore little resemblance to modern-day affairs. In addition to being held in New York City, it was the only scheduled inauguration to occur in April. The other three presidents who were inaugurated in April John Tyler, Andrew Johnson and Harry S. Truman were inaugurated following the deaths of their predecessors, notes the website History In Pieces. There was only one inaugural ball for President Washington, said the Library of Congress website. It occurred on May 7, a week after the inauguration. An illustration of President George Washington (far left) and his cabinet. There were, however, fireworks to mark the occasion that day, which private citizens paid for, the website added. Story continues Further, Washington's wife Martha did not make the trip to New York City. ON PRESIDENTS DAY, ADVICE FROM WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN THAT'S STILL RELEVANT TODAY Prior to the inauguration, Washington embarked on a mini tour of the nation he was to lead. On April 16, he left his house in Virginia and began traveling to New York City. "Accompanied by Charles Thompson, his official escort, and Col. David Humphreys, his aide, he traveled through Alexandria, Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, Princeton, New Brunswick and Bridgetown (now Rahway, New Jersey)," said the National Archives. ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, FEB. 6, 1911, PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN IS BORN IN ILLINOIS Upon arrival in each location, "the artillery roared a salute of honor and the citizens and officials presented [Washington] with marks of affection and honor, so that his trip became a triumphal procession," said the National Archives. A painting of then-General George Washington's triumphant entry into New York after the British left the city on Nov. 25, 1783. Washington would once again make a grand entrance into the city six years later for his inauguration as president. Washington and his companions arrived in New York City on April 23, on a "magnificent barge built especially for the occasion," the site added. George Washington helped shape the office's future role and powers, as well as set "both formal and informal precedents for future presidents," notes Mountvernon.org. Washington believed that it was necessary to "strike a delicate balance" between making the presidency "powerful enough to function effectively in a national government" while also avoiding "any image of establishing a monarchy or dictatorship," that site notes. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER "In the process, President Washington significantly influenced the path for the presidency moving forward, setting standards in all aspects, including political power, military practice and economic policy," it adds. The man suspected in the March 14th shooting death of a DeKalb County man has been arrested. On March 14, deputies responded to reports of a man lying in a ditch near Kitchings Road and Old Barnwell Road in Aiken County, South Carolina. When deputies arrived, they found Jarvon Stapleton, 24, of Stonecrest, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his head and hand. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Stapelton was taken to Aiken Regional Medical Centers, then to Augusta University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators were able to identify Barry Junior Bellinger, 37, of Lithonia as the suspect in the murder. Bellinger (aka Alameen Mumin) was arrested Friday, April 28 at an apartment complex on Athena Lane in Lithonia by the DeKalb County Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service. He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on unrelated charges. TRENDING STORIES: He is wanted for murder, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, kidnapping, and carjacking. Bellinger will be held in DeKalb County pending the legal process for his current charges unrelated to the murder. He is expected to be extradited to Aiken County, South Carolina after that process is completed to face the other charges. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: During a White House Correspondents Dinner speech Saturday night, President Joe Biden focused on press freedoms and Americans detained abroad while also sprinkling in jokes about the political landscape. Biden quipped about former President Donald Trumps legal troubles and the firing of CNNs Don Lemon and Fox News Tucker Carlson. But another prominent Floridian also was a target Saturday night: Gov. Ron DeSantis. I had a lot of Ron DeSantis jokes ready, but Mickey Mouse beat the hell out of me and got there first, Biden said. After [DeSantis] re-election as governor, he was asked if he had a mandate. He said Hell no, Im straight... Bidens jokes come as DeSantis likely gears up to join the 2024 presidential race. The Florida governor has been in the national spotlight after a two-year battle with Disney over the companys criticism of the Parental Rights in Education bill, most commonly known as Dont Say Gay. DeSantis and the Republican supermajority in the state legislature have also made headlines over culture war issues. Sen. Bernie Sanders. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Bernie Sanders said that despite "strong differences," Biden was the "clear" choice to be the Democrats' nominee. It may be a 2020 election rematch against Trump, but Sanders said Biden has the opportunity to "win in a landslide." Biden announced his official bid for re-election last week. Sen. Bernie Sanders is once again asking you to support President Joe Biden. Despite a history of political differences and campaign challenges, the Vermont senator is backing Biden's 2024 re-election campaign. "If you believe in democracy, and you want to see more people vote, not fewer people vote, I think the choice is pretty clear, and that choice is Biden," Sanders said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. Sanders first endorsed Biden on Tuesday, almost immediately after the president officially announced his candidacy for 2024. The launch of Biden's campaign came after months of skepticism about the president's age he's 80 and fitness for office from within his own party. Sanders, who is 81, said that voters have to "consider a lot" when examining a candidate. "I think age is one thing. I think experience is another thing. I think your record that you have established is another thing," Sanders said on Sunday. "When you put it all together, what you have to look at is, what does the candidate stand for? Which side are they on?" Sanders, an independent who sides with Democrats, said some of his Republican counterparts appear to no longer believe in democracy. "Look, it is no great secret that I ran against Biden. It's no great secret that he and I have strong differences of opinion," Sanders said. "But when we live in a nation where you have a major political party, the Republican Party, where many, not all, but many of their leadership doesn't even believe in democracy, they maintain the myth that Trump won the last election, they're trying to keep people from voting, they're trying to deny women the right to control their own bodies, so that's a whole issue out there." Story continues Former President Donald Trump announced his own bid for re-election last year, and early polls indicate the possibility of a 2020 election rematch between him and Biden. Those polls which should be taken with a grain of salt at this point in a long election season show Biden ahead of Trump. "The Democrats and the president have got to be stronger on working-class issues," Sanders said on Sunday. "You do that, and I think Biden is going to win in a landslide." Read the original article on Business Insider Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas pushed back Sunday on the misperception that Mexico does not aid in the fight against fentanyl, noting that the country is an ally in the effort against the drug. When asked about the fentanyl crisis by NBCs Chuck Todd on Meet the Press, Mayorkas responded that theres a misperception that Mexico is not a good partner, when combatting the spread of fentanyl. They are an ally. And we have a very close partnership with them, Mayorkas added. When asked why Mexico does not help with the issue of fentanyl, the secretary reiterated that it is a misconception that Mexico does not help, adding that the department has personnel in Mexico to address any fentanyl issues with the U.S. border. He said that while he cant speak for Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the U.S. does work closely with partners in Mexico to address the crisis. I cant speak to his public statements, Mayorkas said. I can speak to what happens on the ground operationally. And we work very closely with our Mexican partners. You know, that fentanyl though, you know, the precursor chemicals, the equipment used to manufacture it, much of it originates in China. And weve got to stop that flow. Mayorkas has been under fire by Republicans for his handling of the Mexico-US border, especially regarding the issue of fentanyl trafficking. GOP senators introduced a bill earlier this month that would designate nine separate drug cartels in Mexico as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO), saying that those organizations are responsible for fentanyl in the United States. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Orlando Science Center received a significant donation from Disney to support STEM programs and young students in Central Florida. The donation is part of the Disney Future Storytellers initiative, and it will support hands-on workshops for the Science Centers Neighborhood Science initiative. The initiative aims to spark students interest and passion in STEM education. Read: Orlando Arnold Palmer Hospital For Children receives donations from local supermarket chains Students will also participate in workshops based on real-world situations to develop their teamwork and problem-solving skills. Since families are essential to the program, OSC will allow families to engage in their childs STEM learning journey. Neighborhood Science initiative hopes to provide STEM education in afterschool programs and community centers within underrepresented neighborhoods. The program comes in handy to address the rising demand for STEM careers in Florida and the underrepresentation of women and people of color in STEM fields across the country. Read: Heres what Walmart will give new moms on Mothers Day Students will engage in skill-building activities such as coding, 3D printing and robotics. Thanks to the support of partners like Disney, we are providing youth with an opportunity for inspiration and education, said Orlando Science Center President & CEO JoAnn Newman. Neighborhood Science helps fill a pipeline that runs from the Science Center to schools and community centers and onto exciting STEM careers. Read: ICON Park launches new interactive experience aboard The Wheel The first Neighborhood Science program kicked off last summer in the Grand Avenue Community Center in Orlandos Holden Heights neighborhood. Now it is offered weekly at the Bradley Otis Boys & Girls Club in the community of West Lakes. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. Local middle and high school students will compete in the Lockheed Martin Science Challenge at the Orlando Science Center. 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. Lauren Burgess came out to her ex-husband. Lauren Burgess Two years ago, I divorced the man I love after coming out as a lesbian. We still coparent our dog, so we stay in touch throughout the year when I'm traveling. I stay in my ex-husband's guest bedroom when I'm in town. Those trips are often filled with tears. On a Sunday morning in 2021, my husband and I were laying in bed with our dog in between us. The silence and the thought of how to break it was unbearable. We both knew something needed to change, but he didn't know I had changed. "Hey," I said as delicately as I could, "I want a divorce." I meant to say more, but the words got caught in my throat when I saw the look in his eyes. He assured me that we could work it out. I shook my head as tears rolled down my cheek. "I'm gay. I can't stay married to you," I said. He asked me whether I was sure and how I knew. I answered him with as much detail and depth as I could, but the reality was I didn't exactly know. I just knew the moment I said it all out loud. I could feel my heart shatter and my soul breathe for what felt like the first time in my entire life. We didn't say anything for a while; we just held each other and cried. Our decade-long relationship and five years of marriage were over. The next day, I packed up my camper van and left. Through the divorce, we remained amicable. But two years later, we're still figuring out how to navigate our new friendship. The divorce was surprisingly easy but painful We kept our separation to ourselves while we figured out how to get a divorce. Eventually, I came out to my parents, then to his. No one was surprised that I was gay, but everyone mourned the loss of our marriage. My parents told me to be cautious throughout the divorce proceedings, both having been previously married and divorced, they knew how ugly it could get. I held my breath, waiting for the divorce to get nasty. I waited for him to show me his "true colors," but he remained the kind and gentle man I fell in love with a decade ago. Story continues He kept the house we lived in together in Denver because I didn't want it. I kept the ring and his last name. We didn't want a penny from each other. It was all amicable. For the next year, I traveled often and lived in my camper van. One day, our mediator emailed, writing, "Your divorce has been finalized." I was at a surf and yoga retreat in Portugal, and he was at home in Denver. That was that. I simultaneously felt immense sadness and relief. I couldn't help but wonder whether I did the right thing. Should I have come out? Should I have stayed married to him? What we had was love real love, so why did I give it up? It took time to realize I never gave up loving him. Our love just looks different now. Coparenting our dog ensures we stay in each other's lives My ex-husband and I are in frequent communication because we coparent our dog, Ted. Ted spends the summers at home, which allows me to continue my travels. The rest of the year, he's here with me playing on the sandy beaches of California. While my ex-husband and I don't share a lot in common anymore, Ted allows us to remain connected, even on our loneliest days. It's comforting knowing we share a love beyond our own. Whenever I go home, I stay in my ex-husband's guest room I still travel a lot, but my home base is in California. I don't return to Denver that often typically one to two times a year. But when I do, I sleep in what was once our guest room. It's now his guest room. It's strange and sad and beautiful. It's also awkward and heartbreaking. Our wedding photos no longer hang on the wall, and my office has turned into his shoe closet, but my accolades still sit on top of the bookshelf. We both love going to the movies and always manage to catch a show or two when I'm home. More recently, we started going out to dinner with my parents again something we used to do weekly. There are moments when I want to hold his hand under the table like we used to, but those thoughts never linger for long. On the car ride home, one of us usually tears up, but the tears are always welcome. Mostly, he feels like family, a feeling I never want to leave. This is our post-marriage life, and it works for us. 2 years after our divorce, we're still figuring out our friendship, but I'm grateful for him People tell me I'm brave, but I think my ex-husband is the brave one. He chooses to continue to love and support me when it would have been so easy not to. Right now, our friendship is built on that decision, and I'm so grateful to him for that. There's still a lot to work out. I have no idea what the future holds or what will happen when he finds his person or when I find mine. Maybe we'll all travel together one day and look back without pain. Right now, that feels impossible, but I'm holding out hope. Read the original article on Insider This scene is from a home video that is included in the documentary "The Fire That Took Her" by MTV Documentary Films. The documentary details Judy Malinowski's efforts to create awareness and changes in Ohio laws regarding domestic violence in her final years following a brutal attack by her boyfriend during which he set her on fire. The documentary has been released in select theaters and will debut on Paramount+ in May 2023, according to filmmaker Patricia E. Gillespie. Marion County organizers hope the local screening of a powerful documentary about domestic violence will shed more light on the issue and result in significant change for better in the future. The Fire That Took Her, an MTV Documentary Films production directed by Patricia E. Gillespie, tells the story of Judy Malinowski, a Franklin County woman who was the victim of a horrific case of domestic violence in 2015 during which her boyfriend doused her with gasoline and set her on fire outside of a convenience store in Gahanna. Malinowski eventually died from her injuries in 2017, but not before she had the chance to advocate for legislation that would become known as Judys Law and later record a video testifying against her attacker, who was eventually convicted of murder and is spending life in prison. It's scheduled to be shown at the Palace Theatre in downtown Marion at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 18. Admission is free. The documentary is a powerful piece of filmmaking that features graphic video footage of Malinowski on her death bed telling her own story and the disturbing video evidence of her being set on fire, images which give the documentary an emotional depth and intensity that is at times unsettling. Judy Malinowski People featured in the film include Malinowskis mother Bonnie Bowes, Marion County Common Pleas Court Judge Warren T. Edwards, Det. Chad Cohagen from the Gahanna Division of Police, and several other people who had direct contact with Malinowski during the two-year period following the attack on her. At the time, Edwards was an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Franklin County Prosecutors Office and spearheaded the case against Malinowskis assailant. "When people saw her in the film after she had been burned, they gasped and cried in the theater," Edwards said. "Just the sight of Judy was so impactful, but her voice and her message was equally impactful. Her voice being heard meant more to her than even the outcome of the case. It meant so much to her to be able to tell her side of the event and what led up to it. Story continues "(Director Patricia E. Gillespie) has raised Judy's voice to a level that a court proceeding never would. It is there for all time now. This generation and future generations can hear Judy's voice and her story and that's something that I as a lawyer could never do. Knowing Judy, that would please her. We hope that the screening of this film will increase awareness locally about domestic violence and encourage people to take it seriously." The documentary "The Fire That Took Her" debuted Oct. 15 2022, at the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. The film tells the story of domestic violence victim Judy Malinowski's battle to see her attacker brought to justice and her desire to see changes in Ohio laws regarding domestic violence. Pictured from left to right are filmmaker Patricia E. Gillespie, Bonnie Bowes (Malinowski's mother) and Marion County Common Pleas Judge Warrent T. Edwards, who was part of the team from the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office that worked Malinowski's case. Gillespie has been busy promoting the documentary ahead of its release on Paramount+ on May 23. Over the past year, she has attended many film festivals and screenings along with Bowes to push the message out to the public and to state lawmakers. She said the documentary has gained significant traction. "It's one of those films that really gains ground by word of mouth. I think stories like Judy's and in general stories about women get lifted up and brought to the front as much as we promote them," explained Gillespie, a Brooklyn, New York-based documentary filmmaker. "And not just me as a filmmaker, but people talking about it online, people telling their friends, 'You gotta go see this thing.' We hope that continues and intensifies around our eventual release in May on Paramount+. Gillespie's previous work includes "The Devil You Know," a true crime series that includes one season devoted to the story of now-deceased Ohio cult leader Sherry Shriner. She was a recipient of the 2023 Gracie Award for her work on "The Fire That Took Her." The Gracie Award is presented by the Alliance for Women in Media and "acknowledge(s) outstanding team leadership and individual achievement. The Gracies focus on women who are making positive change and who further the discussion of what a fulfilling career in media looks like." As an advocate for justice issues, Gillespie said Malinowski's story resonated with her because of her courage and determination to see real, effective changes made in the legal system and society. Gillespie said her goal in making the documentary was to bring the issue of domestic violence to the forefront of people's minds and to pay tribute to Malinowski's heroic battle. The documentary screening and accompanying panel discussion is scheduled for Thursday, May 18 at the Palace Theatre in Marion. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the documentary will begin at 7 p.m. Organizers have invited Marion County organizations that serve victims of crime and domestic violence to set up information tables in the lobby of the theater. Representatives of some of the organizations will serve as members of the panel along with Gillespie, Bowes, and Edwards. The Edwards Family is sponsoring the screening at the Palace Theatre. Email: ecarter@gannett.com | Twitter: @AndrewACCarter This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Domestic violence victim tells her story in 'The Fire That Took Her' REUTERS/Toby Melville Welcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday. Harrys very fast Coronation Prince Harry is planning a whistle-stop trip to Britain to see dad King Charles and stepmother Queen Camilla be crowned, and then plans to be back in time the same day in California for son Archies 4th birthday party. The Sun on Sunday reports all the pre-Coronation rumors of Harrys rushed in-and-out trip are true. An insider told the paper: Harry will be in and out of the UK in 24 hours. He will only be doing the Coronation service then leaving. The 11am (British time) ceremony ends at 1pm so Harry could be in the air by 2-3pm, and back in California early evening local time, given the eight-hour time difference. Prince Harrys Short Coronation Trip Is Massive Diss, Friend of William Says Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror reports that security costs have increased the overall price tag of Charles and Queen Camillas coronation this coming Saturdaycodenamed Operation Golden Orbto 250 million (around $315 million). Insiders tell the paper that 150million will be going towards police officers and protection squads, with apparently a particular concern being protests by eco-activistsironic as Charles himself has been a vocal environmental advocate for many years. Extinction Rebellion activists wear costumes depicting Britain's King Charles and Prince Harry during a demonstration as a part of 'The Big One' event, in London, Britain, April 22, 2023. REUTERS/Toby Melville A well-placed Home Office insider told the Sunday Mirror: Security alone will be up to 150million, possibly more. Its a crazy sum, but this is one of the biggest public events in recent history. Thousands are involvedmany working overtime. Just getting dignitaries into the country and to their accommodation is a hell of an operation in itself. They will mostly be taken by police escort from the airfields. Thats one small cog in this gigantic security machinethere is so much more to the operation. The rest of the cash is going on staging the ceremony and three days of celebrations, the Sunday Mirror says. Story continues The public is not buying Queen Camilla Disastrous poll numbers for Camilla Parker Bowlessorry! Queen Camilla!were nobly given very little emphasis by the loyal British newspapers this week, but they show that Camilla has an approval rating of just 10 points among the British public, the same as Meghanabout whom the U.K. papers have no problem reminding us of their contempt. Ipsos polled more than 4,000 adults in three samples between March 31 and April 11. The profoundly sticky unpopularity of Camilla, and the cynical way Charles pretended she wasnt going to be queen untilwhoops!she was, thanks mummy, may yet cost the monarchy, predicts Princess Dianas former personal secretary, Patrick Jephson. Camilla, the Queen Consort, in the Blue Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace, March 2023. Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/Handout via REUTERS Jephson wrote in the Daily Mail this week: For many loyal monarchists, all this rejoicingwith its tinge of triumphalismmay still feel slightly unsettling. A romance that conquers everything in its path is bound to stir some misgivings. Others may regret, as I do, that our dutiful respect for the highest office in the land is now tainted by the lingering effects of so many half-truths, planted to obscure the kings real intentions towards Mrs Parker Bowles. He adds: It seems the new reignlike Dianas marriagewill still be a bit crowded. Ouch. Did Andrew do that interview for his kids? Former BBC presenter Emily Maitlis has written a reflection on her legendary Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew which took place, wait for it, four years ago. She writes eloquently in The Sunday Times about how the interview changed forever not just Andrew's life but also hers, and will forever define her. She has done the piece to support a new documentary about him and the original interview, entitled Andrew: The Problem Prince which will begin airing on Monday on British TV station Channel 4. Maitlis says that while making the new film, she asked herself how badly the film hurt his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, saying: There are questions for me too. What is the duty of care you owe to those who trust you with their storiesparticularly if they are in no position to answer back? And how could an interview that aimed to provide answers for vulnerable young women not end up hurting other vulnerable young womenhis daughtersalong the way? These were things I struggled with in the aftermath that still cost me a fair amount of thought today. Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York attends the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, 2022. REUTERS/Toby Melville As we were putting together a new documentary on Andrew, I started to wonder if I hadnt in fact missed the obvious answer to that most asked question [of why he did it]. What if the prince was actually hoping to clear his own name in time for his daughter Beatrices wedding? What if he put himself through a rigorous hour of accountability, so his own family could put it behind all of them? I dont know this, of coursemy speculation has no journalistic source, just raw gut instinct. Perhaps I am seeking to make sense of something I still dont properly understand. Maitlis keeps her best line for last however, writing: We went into that interview knowing it was the highest form of journalistic jeopardy. When the royals meet the BBCtraditionallysomeone always gets fired. None of us ever thought for one moment it would be the prince. Subscribe here to get all the latest royal news and gossip with Tom Sykes and Tim Teeman. Charles gifts queens dresser new home King Charles has gifted Angela Kelly, the queens dresser and close confidante, a new home in Yorkshire. The Mail on Sunday reports that it is thought that the king has bought the property, which will revert to the Crown on her death. A source told the paper: Angela wasn't everybody's cup of tea but nevertheless the King had no wish to see her homeless. I get the impression the King just didn't want to be living next door to her. A source close to the Palace added: The narrative that the King is heartless has all been very wide of the mark. His Majesty has never wanted to see anybody homeless, particularly someone who has been so loyal. Could some hasty face-saving and make-nice PR be at work here, as it was only recently reported that the palace had asked Kelly to vacate her grace-and-favor Windsor estate home? The formidable Kelly was nicknamed AK-47, thanks to her alleged temper, so the palace could be looking to soothe any tensions, as she may be planning to write another book about dressing the queen. Now no longer under royal employand with her much-loved mistress deadwho knows what she may feel moved to say, especially if she feels aggrieved in how shes been treated? Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sits next to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council, and royal dressmaker Angela Kelly as they view Richard Quinn's runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design as she visits London Fashion Week, in London, Britain February 20, 2018. REUTERS/Yui Mok/Pool Getting ready to say goodbye. I am moving at last to my new home which I will be able to call My Home at last, Kelly posted on social media in recent days, the paper reported, adding to a friend: Im moving to the Peak District just further on than Sheffield so not too far away from the family. My work phone has been disconnected but hopefully you have this oneLooking forward to my New Adventures [with smiling emoji]. On Instagram Stories, Kelly posted, I am too old to worry about who likes me and who dislikes me! I have more important things to do! If you love meI love you! If you support meI support you! If you hate meI don't care! She added a gif of a child chanting: I cant do negative today. Positive vibes, positive vibes! Well, it seems Kelly and the palace are at least in agreement about the need for that. Chorus of millions will pay homage to new (forever) king We all know that slightly awkward moment at a wedding when the inclusively-minded priest turns to the congregation after the I do bit and says something like, And do you all pledge to support them all their days of their marriage? and the crowd has to mumble back, We do. It looks like something similar is being planned for the coronation, with the presiding Archbishop of Canterbury urging TV viewers to pledge allegiance to the new kinging from their sitting rooms. A church spokesperson was quoted by the Telegraph as saying: For the first time in history, a chorus of millions in this country and around the world will be invited to participate in this solemn and joyful moment. Thats something that we can share in because of technological advances, so not just the people in the Abbey, but people who are online, on television, who are listening, and who are gathered in parks, at big screens and churches. Our hope is that...when the Archbishop invites people to join in, that people wherever they are, if theyre watching at home on their own, watching the telly, will say it out loudthis sense of a great cry around the nation and around the world of support for the king. The Sunday Times said that those watching at home will be invited to recite a passage, swearing to pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God. After the Archbishop says God save the King, they will then be invited to say: God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May The King live for ever. Forever?! The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attending the Easter Mattins Service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, Britain April 9, 2023. Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS This week in royal history Happy birthday Princess Charlotte! She turns 8 on Tuesday May 2. Unanswered questions All Coronation-related, naturellement. How snazzy and extravagant will this slimmed-down event be? Will anyone care? Will the boredom and shrugging that has been such a feature of the build-up be echoed on the day, or will folks get into the pomp and circumstance of it all? How long will Harry stay? How will the family treat him? And can Charles command a nation and worlds attention as much as his late mother? Love The Daily Beasts royal coverage? Sign up here to get Royalist newsletters sent straight to your inbox. 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. By Philip Pullella and Boldizsar Gyori BUDAPEST (Reuters) -Pope Francis on Sunday presided over a big outdoor Mass where he urged Hungarians not to close the door on migrants and those who are "foreign or unlike us," in contrast to the anti-immigrant policies of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. More than 50,000 people gathered in and around the square behind Budapest's iconic neo-gothic parliament building, a symbol of the capital on the Danube, to see the pope on the last day of his visit to the country. He continued a theme he began on the first day of his visit on Friday, when he warned against the dangers in Europe, but put it in gospel context, saying that closed doors were painful and contrary to the teachings of Jesus. Orban, a populist who was attending the Mass, sees himself as a protector of Christian values. He has said he would not allow Hungary to be transformed into an "immigrant country," as he claims others in Europe have become, unrecognizable to its native peoples. In his homily, 86-year-old Francis said that if Hungarians wanted to follow Jesus, they had to shun "the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor". Francis believes migrants fleeing poverty should be welcomed and integrated because they can culturally enrich host countries and boost Europe's dwindling populations. He believes that while countries have a right to protect their borders, migrants should be distributed throughout the European Union. Orban's government has built a steel fence on the border with Serbia to keep out migrants. In his homily, Francis also spoke against doors "closed to the world". Peter Szoke, leader of the Hungarian chapter of the Sant' Egidio peace community, who attended the Mass, agreed with the pope's prescription. Story continues "There is great temptation to be self-referential, to refer everything only to ourselves, only to our own reality, whereas there are other realities too - the realities of the poor, the realities of other nations, the realities of wars, of injustices," he said. Sunday's homily was the second time Francis has used a religious context to make his point. On Friday, he quoted what St Stephen, the 11th century founder of Christian Hungary, had written about welcoming strangers. In his customary Sunday address to the crowd after the Mass, Francis mentioned the war in Ukraine, on Hungary s eastern border. He prayed to the Madonna to watch over both the Ukrainian and Russian people. "Instil in the hearts of peoples and their leaders the desire to build peace and to give the younger generations a future of hope, not war, a future full of cradles not tombs, a world of brothers and sisters, not walls," he said. The three-day trip is the pope's first since he was admitted to hospital for bronchitis in March. (Reporting by Philip PullellaEditing by Bernadette Baum) Eva Hambach/Getty Images Over the last several years, Juul has gone from a darling of Silicon Valley to a company beset by legal challenges. The e-cigarette maker recently agreed to pay $462 million in a settlement that ends lawsuits against it. Here's a rundown of the company's history, from its $38 billion valuation to legal settlements. A majority of Juul's legal troubles are behind it. The e-cigarette maker agreed to pay $462 million in a settlement that ends lawsuits against it from states including New York and California, the New York Times reported this month. The settlement adds to the billions that Juul has spent defending itself from claims that it targeted young people with its marketing and did not provide information about addictive nicotine in its products. Juul did not immediately respond to a request from Insider for comment. Over the last several years, Juul has gone from a darling of Silicon Valley to a company beset by legal challenges. It also fell from a valuation of $38 billion in 2018 to just $1 billion last October, according to the Journal. Scroll down to see Juul's rise and decline: 2004: At Stanford, the product-design grad students James Monsees and Adam Bowen create the idea for Ploom, Juuls precursor. Juul.com / YouTube Monsees and Bowen have said they were smokers who met on smoke breaks while pursuing master's degrees in product design at Stanford University. Their thesis presentation, now posted on Juul's website, describes their product as "the rational future of smoking." 2007: Monsees and Bowen found the vaporizer startup Ploom in San Francisco. YouTube / Hyphy SF By February 2008, Ploom raised $900,000 in venture funding, putting its valuation at roughly $3 million, according to PitchBook. A 2011 description of the Ploom device, which sold for $75, described it as a heat-not-burn product that could be filled with single-serve refills called "Ploom Pods." The pods could include tobacco or non-tobacco ingredients, it said. Story continues Aug. 1, 2013: Ploom debuts the Pax with a launch party in San Francisco. Ploom at Robin Thicke's album-release party in 2013 in New York. Andrew Toth / Getty Images After raising close to $5 million, Ploom launched a device called the Pax, a vaporizer for loose-leaf tobacco that could also be used for cannabis. To debut the device, Ploom hosted a launch party in San Francisco's trendy Mission District. At this time, Ploom investors included Japan Tobacco, the maker of Winston and Salem cigarettes, along with the software company Originate and the angel investment group Sand Hill. Feb. 16, 2015: Monsees and Bowen sell the Ploom brand and a vaporizer line to the Japanese tobacco company JTI. They rebrand as Pax Labs. Japan Tobacco Inc.'s president and CEO, Mitsuomi Koizumi, using a Ploom during an interview with Reuters at the company's headquarters in Tokyo in 2017. Toru Hanai / Reuters As part of the deal, JTI said in a statement that Ploom would buy back JTI's minority stake in the startup. June 1, 2015: Pax Labs launches the Juul with a party in New York City. SRITA Pax introduced the Juul with a launch party in New York City. A trove of images collected by Stanford researchers suggested that the campaign focused on a young audience. Guests were invited to try Juul's products free and share selfies on social media, Business Insider reported. "Juul's launch campaign was patently youth-oriented," Robert Jackler, a practicing Stanford physician who was the principal investigator behind the tobacco-image collection, told Business Insider. 2016: Juul sales skyrocket 700%. An ad on Juul's website from 2016. Juul devices gained popularity. Sales rose 700% in 2016, ABC 7 News reported. July 1, 2017: Monsees and Bowen spin out Juul Labs as an independent company and name former Pax Labs CEO Tyler Goldman CEO. Pax Labs; Melia Robinson/Business Insider Goldman came to Pax from the music-streaming startup Deezer then took over Juul Labs. Nov. 2017: Juul is the best-selling e-cigarette on the market. Pax Labs Juul said it'd sold 1 million units. The company also captured a third of the e-cigarette market, according to Nielsen data. Dec. 11, 2017: CEO Tyler Goldman leaves Juul. The company replaces him with Kevin Burns. Juul's new CEO, Kevin Burns. Juul/YouTube Goldman left Juul to "pursue new entrepreneurial activities." The company hired Burns from the yogurt company Chobani. Dec. 2017: Juul raises $112 million in venture funds and adds Nicholas Pritzker to its board, according to PitchBook. The industrialist A.N. Pritzker in 1982. The wealthy Pritzker family owned the chewing-tobacco giant Conwood before selling it to the tobacco giant Reynolds. They also founded and expanded the Hyatt Hotels chain. AP Photo The fresh funds came from firms including Tao Capital, Fidelity, and Evolution, according to PitchBook. Nicholas Pritzker, Tao's cofounder, joined Juul's board, CNBC reported. Pritzker is a member of the wealthy Pritzker family, which owned the chewing-tobacco giant Conwood before selling it to the tobacco giant Reynolds. The Pritzkers also founded and expanded the Hyatt Hotels chain. On an undisclosed date, Tao Capital sold its stake in Juul to the hedge fund Tiger Global and Manhattan Venture Partners, PitchBook said. The venture fund M13, another early Juul investor, sold its shares in the spring of 2018. This slide has been updated with new information about M13's investment. March 2018: Dozens of outlets report that 'Juuling' is an epidemic at high schools. A Juul ad from 2016. Pax Labs National news outlets including National Public Radio, USA Today, and Business Insider reported that the Juul had a loyal and growing following among young people. All of the reports said teens were taking to social media to brag about being able to sneak puffs in class or in the bathroom thanks to Juul's discreet design. April 2018: Led by Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, the US Food and Drug Administration starts an 'undercover blitz' to crack down on sales of the Juul to minors. Scott Gottlieb, then the FDA commissioner. Reuters In what the FDA said was the largest coordinated enforcement effort in agency history, the FDA issued more than 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers who it said were illegally selling Juuls and other e-cigarettes to minors. The FDA found the retailers by conducting what it called "a nationwide, undercover blitz." "Let me be clear to retailers," Gottlieb, then the FDA's commissioner, said in the statement, "this blitz, and resulting actions, should serve as notice that we will not tolerate the sale of any tobacco products to youth." April 2018: Wall Street analysts warn that Juul is starting to encroach on Big Tobacco's financial terrain and could negatively affect Altria stock. A close-up view of cigarettes on June 10, 2015 in Bristol, England. Health campaigners have asked for a levy on the tobacco industry to help fund anti-smoking measures Matt Cardy/Getty Images In a research note, Citigroup analysts warned investors that the Juul was beginning to disrupt tobacco stocks. The note suggested that the rise of the Juul could bode poorly for tobacco companies including Altria, British American Tobacco, and Imperial Brands as sales were falling faster than expected. "The US tobacco market is beginning to be disrupted by Juul," the analysts wrote, adding, "We don't expect underlying cigarette trends to improve much in the rest of 2018." May 2018: Juul doubles its staff to 400 people. Pax Labs June 2018: San Francisco bans flavored e-cigs like the Juul, prompting an endorsement from Michael Bloomberg. An ad from the California Department of Public Health supporting San Francisco's ballot measure to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes like Juul. California Department of Public Health Bloomberg, the former New York City mayor who is CEO of Bloomberg Philanthropies, called the move "an important step forward for public health" and said it should embolden other cities and states to follow suit. July 8, 2018: Wall Street analysts say Juul is reviving the formerly comatose e-cig market, which had been slumping since 2014. AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer In a research note, Morgan Stanley analysts credited Juul with "driving a revival in the US e-cig market," adding that sales of Juul devices "accounted for almost the entire incremental increase in US e-cig sales as a percent of total cigarette and e-cigarette sales in the last year." July 10, 2018: Juul raises $1.2 billion in a round that values the company at more than $16 billion, according to PitchBook. Bowen and Monsees at the Hotel Tortue in December 2018 for Juul's launch in Germany. Getty Images / Picture Alliance The seven investors in the round included a maker of marijuana therapeutics, called Applied Biosciences, along with the the venture firm Bracket Capital, the hedge funds Darsana Capital and E Squared Capital, the investment giant Fidelity, the angel investor Sand Hill, and Tiger, according to PitchBook. Aug. 21, 2018: Israel bans Juul products, calling them a 'grave risk to public health' because of their high nicotine content. A package of the Juul device and flavored Juul nicotine Pods. JUUL Labs In a statement, Israel's Health Ministry said it's banning the sale and import of Juul devices because they contained more than 20 milligrams per milliliter of nicotine and presented "a grave risk to public health," Reuters reported. Sept. 11, 2018: The FDA deepens its crackdown on Juul and other e-cig makers. FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb Reuters In a statement, then-Commissioner Gottlieb said the FDA was working on creating a system to "properly regulate" e-cigarettes like the Juul. He said the aim was twofold: make e-cigarettes available as a less-dangerous alternative for adult smokers, but also keep them out of the hands of young people. Oct. 2, 2018: The FDA surprises Juul at its headquarters and seizes 'thousands of pages of documents' as part of an investigation into its marketing practices. Reuters/Ronen Zvulun The agency was running an investigation into whether Juul marketed its products to teens, CNBC said. The visit was an extension of the FDA's request in April for materials related to how Juul presented its products and whether they were designed to appeal to kids, according to CNBC. Oct. 2018: Juul surges in popularity, now accounting for over 70% of the US e-cigarette market, according to Nielsen data. Reuters / Brendan McDermid Nov. 13, 2018: Juul stops selling its sweet and fruity flavors at stores, making those varieties only available online. Hollis Johnson/Business Insider Juul says it will temporarily stop selling its flavored e-cigarettes in stores. The move comes on the heels of a similar ban on flavored e-cigs that the city of San Francisco enacted over the summer. Researchers nearly unanimously praised the move, which they say could help protect young people by making the products less appealing and harder to purchase. Juul's flavored varieties will still be sold online, the company says. Nov. 15, 2018: The FDA announces plans to curb flavored e-cig sales after reports that youth vaping has ballooned 78%. A high-school student vaping near a school campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Associated Press 2018: The Federal Trade Commission begins investigating whether Juul marketed its products to minors. Members of the Federal Trade Commission. REUTERS/ Leah Millis The Federal Trade Commission began looking into Juul's use of influencers and other marketing tools to appeal to young people, The Wall Street Journal reported in August 2019. According to The Journal, the FTC's investigation began before it started reviewing a deal between Juul and the Marlboro maker, Altria, in December 2018. Dec. 20, 2018: Altria buys 35% of Juul for $12.8 billion, bumping Juul's valuation to $38 billion. Gottlieb accuses both companies of backing away from pledges to curb youth vaping. Packs of Marlboro cigarettes on sale. REUTERS/Brian Snyder In what the Silicon Valley Business Journal called "the biggest investment ever in a US venture-backed company," Marlboro and the Parliament cigarette maker, Altria, paid $12.8 billion for a third of Juul. That gave Altria more combustible-cigarette market share than the next seven brands combined, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Juul, which had an annual revenue of about $2 billion at the time, also received a $2 billion bonus from Altria to distribute among its 1,500 employees, CNBC reported. That would have been about $1.3 million a person. On the heels of the deal, Gottlieb called out both companies, saying they were backing away from previous pledges to fight teen vaping. March 5, 2019: In a surprise announcement, Gottlieb announces he's leaving his post as FDA commissioner. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Gottlieb attends interview at Reuters HQ in New York Thomson Reuters Gottlieb, a well-liked figure who spent just two years steering the country's top food and drug regulator, said he was leaving in a month to spend more time with his family in Connecticut. The commissioner had made a name for himself as both a vocal critic of e-cigarette startups like Juul and a speedy approver of new pharmaceutical drugs. In a resignation letter, Gottlieb wrote that one of his accomplishments at the FDA was taking actions against "bad actors that put Americans at risk." March 13, 2019: Gottlieb announces a crackdown on flavored e-cig sales. Reuters / Mike Segar Roughly a week after announcing his departure from the FDA, Gottlieb released a plan to crack down on flavored e-cigarette sales at gas stations, pharmacies, and convenience stores. The plan would also crack down on websites without buffers against youth purchases, such as age-verification software or quantity limits. April 3, 2019: The FDA says it's looking into a 'potential safety issue' related to seizures tied to vaping. Shutterstock In a statement, Gottlieb said his agency had seen reports suggesting that a small number of e-cigarette users (35 cases from 2010 to early 2019) had experienced seizures after vaping. By August, the FDA said it had received 127 reports but noted that the new figure might simply mean more people were coming forward, not necessarily that cases were increasing. Gottlieb also noted that seizures were known as possible side effects of nicotine poisoning and said the agency would continue exploring whether there was a connection. April 8, 2019: Democrats in the US Senate launch an investigation into Juul's deal with Altria as well as its social media and advertising practices. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Sergio Flores/Getty Images Eleven Democratic senators, including the party whip Dick Durbin and the presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren, wrote a letter to Juul demanding that the company answer questions about its advertising practices and its deal with Altria, CNBC reported. June 13, 2019: The US House of Representatives announces an investigation of Juul's marketing and the Altria deal. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are sworn in on the House floor January 3, 2017. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters House Democrats launch their own investigation into Juul, Fortune reports. July 16, 2019: Juul's CEO apologizes to parents of teens addicted to its vaping products. CBS This Morning In a CNBC documentary, Juul Labs CEO Kevin Burns issued an apology to parents of teens who were addicted to the company's vaping products. "First of all, I'd tell them that I'm sorry that their child's using the product," Burns said. July 25, 2019: Officials in Wisconsin warn of eight cases of severe lung disease in teens who'd vaped. It's unclear what kinds of products or substances are involved. Simah Herman, 18, on September 19 with a photo of her former vaping devices in Los Angeles. Herman was in a medically induced coma and treated for pneumonia and lung-disease from vaping. Reuters / Lucy Nicholson In July, Wisconsin's chief medical officer wrote a memo to healthcare providers warning them about a cluster of sick adolescents who had used e-cigarettes. Chest X-rays of the teens revealed similarities in lung damage, he says. The following month, the CDC released an emergency notice about 30 cases of vaping-related lung illness in Wisconsin. In mid-August, officials reported the first death tied to vaping-related lung illness: an adult in Illinois. By September, the CDC and the FDA said there had been 530 confirmed and probable cases of the mystery illness since June. Seven people died. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have yet to find a substance or brand that's common among all the cases. Aug. 16, 2019: Juul raises $785 million in equity and debt financing from Proioxis Ventures, according to PitchBook. Melia Robinson/Business Insider The funds will be used to speed Juul's expansion overseas, according to PitchBook. The figure brings the company to $14.2 billion in funds raised. Aug. 29, 2019: Bloomberg says Juul devices were involved in three reports of seizures linked to vaping. Brendan McDermid / Reuters In three reports submitted to the FDA, people said they or their children had used a Juul before experiencing seizures, Bloomberg News reported. Bloomberg obtained the reports through a public records request. In two of the three reports, the FDA wasn't able to officially confirm that a Juul device was involved, according to Bloomberg. Aug. 29, 2019: Juul's CEO warns people against using Juuls and says vaping's long-term health effects are unknown. Juul's new CEO, Kevin Burns. Juul/YouTube In an interview with CBS, Burns said anyone who wasn't already using nicotine, the addictive drug in Juul, should not start. "Don't vape. Don't use Juul," Burns told CBS. Sept. 9, 2019: The FDA slams Juul for portraying its e-cigs as 'totally safe' and marketing them to kids at schools. An ad showing a plate of food suggesting that users "save room for Juul." Juul In a warning letter, the FDA said Juul wrongly painted its e-cigarettes, known in the industry as ENDS, as safer than cigarettes and marketed them intentionally to young people. "Referring to your ENDS products as '99% safer' than cigarettes, 'much safer' than cigarettes, 'totally safe,' and 'a safer alternative than smoking cigarettes' is particularly concerning because these statements were made directly to children in school," the FDA letter said. "Our concern is amplified by the epidemic rate of increase in youth use of ENDS products, including Juul's products," the letter added. Sept. 17, 2019: Juul sales are halted in China for unclear reasons. An employee at a Tmall logistics center in Suzhou, China. Thomson Reuters A selection of flavored Juul products that went up for sale on two online Chinese marketplaces, JD.com and Tmall, were removed within a week, The Wall Street Journal reported. Both retailers declined to say why. Juul had long been planning to launch in China, where more than 300 million people smoke, according to the World Health Organization. Its nicotine refills, or Juul Pods, are manufactured in Shenzhen, China. Sept. 18, 2019: India bans vaping, citing the "impact of e-cigarettes on the youth." Reuters / Neil Hall India outlawed the production, sale, import, and advertising of e-cigarettes, citing the need to stop the "impact of e-cigarettes on the youth," BuzzFeed News reported. Penalties include jail time and fines of up to $7,000. Juul had been planning to launch in India, home to more than 106 million smokers second only to China by the end of 2019. Sept. 23, 2019: The US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California has reportedly launched a criminal investigation into Juul. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun The Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California were conducting a criminal investigation of Juul. Further details, such as the focus of the investigation, were not available, and Juul didn't respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Several other investigations are ongoing, including an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission focusing on whether Juul marketed to teens and an FDA investigation focused on marketing, outreach, and Juul's uniquely high nicotine content. Sept. 24, 2019: Juul reportedly prepares to scale back its staff. A woman exhaling a puff of vapor from a Juul e-cigarette. Associated Press / Craig Mitchelldyer Juul began preparing to restructure its staff as it faced slower sales resulting from increasing reports about the mysterious vaping-related lung illness, the proposed US ban on flavored e-cigarettes, and a variety of other investigations, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company employs roughly 3,900 people, according to The Journal, up from the 200 it had in 2017. For now, Juul plans to hire less aggressively and start outlining plans to cut some jobs, according to The Journal, but will still continue to expand. Sept. 25, 2019: CEO Kevin Burns steps down and is replaced by longtime tobacco executive K.C. Crosthwaite. Former Juul CEO Kevin Burns. CBS This Morning Crosthwaite was most recently chief growth officer at Altria, and has worked in tobacco for more than 20 years. In announcing the change, Juul also said it would suspend US advertising and some lobbying efforts. Crosthwaite said he would "strive to work with regulators, policymakers and other stakeholders, and earn the trust of the societies in which we operate." Oct. 7, 2019: A crop of school districts across three states sues Juul. Shutterstock Four school districts sue Juul in what appears to be the beginning of a trend. The districts include Three Village Central in New York, La Conner in Washington, Olathe in Kansas, and Francis Howell in Missouri. In separate suits filed on Monday, the districts argue that Juul created a public nuisance by intentionally marketing to kids; misrepresenting its products' nicotine content; and endangering teens' health, according to public documents that Business Insider viewed. Cindy Ormsby, an attorney for the Missouri case, told the Riverfront Times that the Francis Howell lawsuit is "part of a coordinated package of litigation filed by school districts across the country, each dealing with a similar crisis of students addicted to nicotine." In September, Kansas City school district Goddard became one of the first to announce that it was preparing a lawsuit against Juul. The lawsuits seek unspecified damages and legal fees. Oct. 17, 2019: Juul extends its ban on sweet and fruity flavors to include online sales. SRITA Juul announces that it is stopping online sales of its mango, fruit, cucumber, and cream varieties. Last fall, the company temporarily banned sales of those varieties in stores. As of Oct. 17, those flavors can't be purchased in-person or online. In a statement, Juul says it "will continue to develop scientific evidence to support the use of these flavored products." Oct. 28, 2019: Juul reportedly plans to cut 500 jobs before year's end. Its chief marketing officer departs the following day. Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images Juul looks to eliminate roughly 500 jobs by the end of the year, the Wall Street Journal reports. The cuts are part of a company-wide reorganization effort, according to the journal, and will involve anywhere between 10-15% of Juul's total workforce. "As the vapor category undergoes a necessary reset, this reorganization will help Juul Labs focus on reducing underage use, investing in scientific research, and creating new technologies while earning a license to operate in the US and around the world," KC Crosthwaite, Juul's new CEO, said in an emailed statement provided to Business Insider. The following day, the Journal reports that Juul's chief marketing officer is departing. "Craig Brommers, an incredibly talented marketing executive, has asked to transition out of Juul Labs in the coming months so that he can pursue opportunities with other companies," a Juul spokesperson told the Journal. The spokesperson also said that as a result of Brommer's departure, the CMO position would be cut. Oct. 29, 2019: Juul names a new chief financial officer after its existing CFO asks to leave. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Juul appoints Guy Cartwright its new chief financial officer after CFO Tim Danaher asks to leave the company, the Wall Street Journal reports. Cartwright previously served as managing director of the investment firm TowerBrook Capital Partners LP, and joined Juul in July, according to the Journal. Danaher had served as Juul's CFO since 2014. Oct. 31, 2019: Marlboro maker Altria, which owns a third of Juul, slashes the value of its stake in the company. Juul is now valued at $24 billion instead of $38 billion. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images Marlboro maker Altria, which last December purchased a 35% stake in Juul for $12.8 billion, cuts the value of its investment in the company by $4.5 billion. The move reveals that Juul is now worth $24 billion, down from $38 billion. On a conference call, Altria cited unexpected market shifts like regulatory crackdowns abroad and a proposed US flavor ban. "We're not pleased to have to take an impairment charge on the Juul investment," Altria CEO Howard Willard said on the call. "We did not anticipate this dramatic a change in the e-vapor category," he added. November 7, 2019: Juul stops selling mint flavored options, leaving only menthol and tobacco flavored refillable cartridges. A screenshot shows 2015 advertising for Juul products displayed in a print magazine Reuters Juul announces it will stop selling mint-flavored refillable cartridges, or Juul pods. In a press release, the company said it would immediately stop accepting orders for the mint-flavored pods from retail partners and stop selling mint-flavored pods online. According to the release, Juul's decision was based partially on new research which suggested that mint and mango were the most popular flavors among high school students who Juul. "These results are unacceptable," Juul Labs CEO KC Crosthwaite said in the release, adding, "that is why we must reset the vapor category in the US and earn the trust of society by working cooperatively with regulators, Attorneys General, public health officials, and other stakeholders to combat underage use." 2020: Amid the pandemic, Juul lays off 40% of its workforce in April, 2020. It then lays off over half of its remaining staff, resulting in about a further 1,000 employees being cut. Shopkeepers stand inside a Juul shop at a shopping mall in Jakarta, Indonesia, December 30, 2019. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana 2021: By 2021, Altria slashes its valuation for Juul to $5 billion, while Juul itself asserts it was worth $10 billion. Two years prior, the company was valued at $38 billion. A hand with a cigarette is seen in front of displayed logos of Philip Morris and Altria in this picture illustration Reuters September 30, 2021: The CDC and FDA releases a study that finds that over 2 million middle-and-high-school students in the US were using e-cigarettes. Eva Hambach/Getty Images The study found that eight in 10 of those students used flavored e-cigarettes. "These data highlight the fact that flavored e-cigarettes are still extremely popular with kids," said Mitch Seller, the director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. "And we are equally disturbed by the quarter of high school students who use e-cigarettes and say they vape every single day." February, 2022: A judge rules that Altria can keep its investment in Juul. FILE - In this Dec. 20, 2018, file photo Juul products are displayed at a smoke shop in New York. The company that makes Marlboro cigarettes will take a $4.1 billion hit from its investment in Juul. Altria took a 35% stake in the e-cigarette company at the end of 2018 at a cost of almost $13 billion. The Richmond, Va., company on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 cited burgeoning legal cases that it expects to grow. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File) Associated Press An administrative judge ruled that Altria didn't break antitrust laws by taking a 35% stake in Juul. The Federal Trade Commission had sued in 2019, and can still appeal the ruling. June 23, 2022: The FDA bans Juul from selling and distributing its e-cigarette products in the US, and also orders that all products currently in the market be removed. Markets Insider Altria's stock plunged 10% on news of the ban. The FDA did briefly prohibit Juul products in the US, though an appeal of the decision forced the agency to put its decision on hold. December 6, 2022: Juul agrees to settle roughly 5,000 lawsuits that accused the company of marketing its products to teens and children. Julia Naftulin Juul got an equity investment to pay for the settlement costs, though the financial terms were not disclosed, the Wall Street Journal reported at the time. January 25, 2023: Juul executives were in discussions with major tobacco companies, including Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco, and Altria, the Wall Street Journal reported. Close-up of logo for e-cigarette or vape company Juul on glass window of convenience store in San Ramon, California, December 6, 2019. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images The talks included multiple possibilities, including an outright sale of Juul as well as strategic investments and licensing and distribution deals, the Journal reported. April 12, 2023: Juul reached a $462 million settlement with states including New York and California, ending allegations that Juul targeted young consumers with its marketing. JUUL Facebook The settlement marked an end to the biggest portions of Juul's legal troubles, the New York Times reported. With the news, Juul had reached settlements with 47 states and territories as well as 5,000 individuals and local governments, per the Times. Read the original article on Business Insider Susan Kimberly in her home in St. Paul, Minn., on April 6, 1990 Susan Kimberly in her home in St. Paul, Minn., on April 6, 1990 Credit - Regene RadnieckiStar Tribune via Getty Images The Montana state legislature on Wednesday barred its only transgender member, Zooey Zephyr, from the chamber after she said lawmakers would have blood on your hands if they passed a bill barring gender-affirming care for minors. She was allowed to vote remotely. Among those marveling at the spectacle is Susan Kimberly, 80, who cant help but take the long view. If not the first transgender figure on the U.S. political landscape, she was surely the most warmly received at the time. When she came out in 1983, Kimberlywho had previously presided over the St. Paul, Minn., city councilwas embraced not only by the public but by both political parties. She was soon hired by the Democratic mayor of St. Paul, and, ten years later, made deputy mayor by a Republican successor, who took her to Washington with him when he was elected to the Senate. They were all splendid, Kimberly says, adding: We have not come a long way. Read more: What to Know About the Gender-Affirming-Care Bans Spreading Across the Country Forty years old when she made her transition, Kimberly serves as a kind of human bridge from an era when the mysteries of gender, sex, and identity inspired more curiosity and, surprisingly, sometimes less argument. Now retired, she is revisiting her play, From Superman to Lois Lane, which tells her story and was produced by St. Pauls History Theater in 2020. Kimberly spoke to TIME from her St. Paul home on Friday, about the time Montanas Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed the bill Zephyr was protesting. (This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.) TIME: What do you make of whats going on in Montana? SUSAN KIMBERLY: The Star Tribune today had a big photo of our governor [Democrat Tim Walz] signing the bill making Minnesota a refuge for people seeking gender-affirming care. Standing tall both literally and figuratively behind the governor was Leigh Fink, the first transgender legislator in the Minnesota legislature and the sponsor of the law. And out in Montana, Zooey Zephyr isnt even allowed into the chamber. Story continues What accounts for the difference? Weve had almost 50 years of transgender people coming out in the state of Minnesota. People get used to us. The city council president in Minneapolis, Andrea Jenkins, shes transgender. There are transgender people in positions of responsibility all over the community. And so were not some commodity that is threatening to people. I never thought I would see the day that the majority of states were considering this kind of anti-trans bullying legislation. And its not based on science. Its based on conservative Christian beliefs; a lot of stuff is made up. You must have been one of the first, if not the very first, transgender woman in the country in the public policy and politics realm. I had been elected as a man to the St. Paul City Council in 1974. So I was a well-known political figure in the Twin Cities when I came out and I think that was the first situation of that kind. One of the first in the country. And I had this terrifying experience where the press corps from St. Paul and Minneapolis knew who I was, and wanted me to tell the story. And I concluded that the only way I was going to survive this was to tell the truth in depth. I think that won over the majority of people in the community and I told my whole story in great detail. And people realized that this is a hard thing to do. Was transgender the term you used then? When I came out I described myself as a transsexual. And I used to explain that transsexual was a subset of the set transgender. And now we refer to ourselves generally as transgender people. Read more: The Transgender Tipping Point You would see phrases like sex change, right? I used to describe what I went through as a sex change, which we now call gender-affirming care. You know, being a journalist I kind of liked Anglo-Saxon language. Everybody could relate to it. But gender-affirming care is truly what it is. And it isnt that people go from being a man to a woman. Its that a persons gender is discovered and uncovered and tested. And then the physical changes are made to conform with that discovery. And in that sense, transgender women were women. You spoke about the whole process, including surgery, in a detail. Thats now considered impolite or improper, isnt it? A lot of transgender people feel that way. When I was confronted with the choice of ducking the story or not, I decided the only way to will to win the day was to just tell the story. And at that time, I had not had gender-affirming surgery. Because at that time I was in my year of transition. But I said so. And now its sort of like youre not supposed to ask and I think those kinds of values may get in the way of understanding. You told a reporter in 2010 that you lost more friends when you became a Republican than when you became a woman. Are you a Republican now? Im not. I was a Republican until he [Donald Trump] came down the escalator and I was Republican then through the caucuses in Minnesota in 2016. I caucused for Marco Rubio. Minnesota is the only state that Rubio carried in that primary election. And the day after he carried Minnesota, he withdrew from the race. And at that point, I stopped being a Republican. I decided its over. Were doomed. Susan Kimberly speaks as a group of Minnesota Republicans hold a press conference at the State Office building in St. Paul to announce their intentions of defeating a proposed constitutional amendment changing the definition of marriage in 2011. Marlin LevisonStar Tribune via Getty Images What accounted for your move from the Democrats in the first place? Just to stay with Norm Coleman, the Republican mayor? After I joined Norms administration, he did not require that I or anyone else become a Republican, but I was comfortable with conservative values. And there was a wonderful Republican Party and great philosophies and values and theories. Thats all gone. And so now Im, Im sorry, like, whos the Arizona senator? Kyrsten Sinema? Yes. Im kind of like her. Im not a Democrat. Im certainly not a Republican. And Im just waiting to see where it goes. And Im concerned about where its headed right now. Both sides in this issue talk a lot about children. Well, kids are involved. I wasnt a child when I went through transition. I was 40 years old. But I can tell you that a childhood as a gender-dysphoric child is a miserable experience. To allow children to be who they know they are seems to be a reasonable proposition. The system is set up so that youre still have to go through hoop after hoop after hoop in order to get to the point where you have all of the approvals necessary to obtain gender-affirming care. You may get puberty blockers in the interim. But you dont get surgery. And I know how difficult it was to get the approvals back in the in the 80s and Ive spoken recently with people going through the process now. And they basically have the same complaints that I did 40 years ago. So its not easy. You cant do this on a lark. The fact that some children have the support and understanding of their parents, that should be celebrated, not condemned. And if it scares some conservative Christians, so be it. Read more: Pediatricians Who Serve Trans Youth Face Increasing Harassment. Lifesaving Care Could Be on the Line You did this play, From Superman to Lois Lane. Im very proud of that title. What I just have discovered is that Bob Sylvester still lives within me. I dont use the term dead-naming at all, because thats who I was. And hes still within me. And so theres a very, very important scene in the play near the end, where Bob and Susan sit on a beachin Montana of all placesand talk about what theyve dealt with, what theyve had to resolve. But the play is about dealing with my own relationship with my former wife, and my relationship with who I was and who I have become. Its a very human process. Its not really a political process. And yet it seems to be. When I was president of city council, it was my responsibility to maintain decorum in the chamber. And I did it with a firm grasp on the gavel. And I did it with a good sense of humor. And I did it by allowing people to disagree. The notion that we now just dont have any tolerance for a difference of opinion, its like, what is our democracy come to? I think you can easily make the case were in deep trouble. Early Voting season is about to officially begin for residents of Duval County who are registered to vote in the State of Florida Monday. From May 1, until May 14, eligible voters can participate in the electoral process by casting their ballots at any of the designated early voting sites throughout the county. The Supervisor of Elections Main Office and all other locations will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm on weekdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends. This extended timeframe is intended to allow voters greater flexibility in casting their ballots and to reduce the number of people voting on Election Day. Election day falls on Tuesday, May 16, with no early voting on the Monday before an election. Early voting is open to any registered voter living in Duval County, regardless of their political affiliation. The early voting sites are equipped with secure ballot intake stations (drop boxes) where voters can submit their ballots. In addition to the Supervisor of Elections Main Office and all other locations, voters can also cast their ballots at the following early voting sites: Argyle Branch Library: 7973 Old Middleburg Rd. S. Beaches Branch Library: 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach Bradham & Brooks Branch Library: 1755 Edgewood Ave. W. FSCJ - Deerwood Center: 9911 Old Baymeadows Rd. Highlands Regional Library: 1826 Dunn Ave. Joseph Lee Community Center: 5120 Perry St. Legends Community Center: 5130 Soutel Dr. Mandarin Branch Library: 3330 Kori Rd. Murray Hill United Methodist Church: 4101 College St. Oceanway Community Center: 12215 Sago Ave. W. Pablo Creek Regional Library: 13295 Beach Blvd. Regency Square Branch Library: 9900 Regency Square Blvd. San Marco Branch Library: 1513 LaSalle St. South Mandarin Branch Library: 12125 San Jose Blvd. Southeast Regional Library: 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. University Park Branch Library: 3435 University Blvd. N. Webb Wesconnett Regional Library: 6887 103rd St. West Branch Library: 1425 Chaffee Rd. S. Story continues The early voting period offers a convenient way for voters to exercise their right to vote without the potential long lines and wait times that often occur on Election Day. Duval County residents are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to participate in the democratic process and have their voices heard. For more information on early voting, including a list of early voting sites and hours of operation, visit the Duval County Supervisor of Elections website HERE. [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. Easterday Dairy is once again in hot water for intentionally over-fertilizing fields at risk of contaminating a protected aquifer. The investigation found that Cole Easterday was in violation for not following irrigation limitations set out by the Oregons previous plan, not properly operating and maintaining their irrigation system and not completing monitoring requirements. Like the disastrous Lost Valley Farm before it, Easterday Dairy is a demonstrated threat to public health and the environment even without a single animal on site, Tarah Heinzen, legal director for the environmental group, Food and Water Watch, said in a statement. She criticized Oregon agricultural officials for once again issuing a slap on the wrist when it should have denied the mega-dairy permit once and for all. Its unclear if the Easterdays will be farming the land this summer, as the company recently settled a multi-million dollar lawsuit out of court with the landowner. Details of that settlement have remained under wraps, and attorneys for both parties have not returned requests for comment. Ongoing nitrate contamination Cole Easterday, 26, is the eldest son of Cody Easterday, and took over the dairy operations after his father pleaded guilty to wire fraud in 2021. Eastern Washington rancher and farmer Cody Easterday is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for stealing more than $230 million in what prosecutors dubbed a ghost cattle scheme, in which he billed Tyson Foods for care of cattle that did not exist. He is currently suing Tyson from behind bars to reduce the amount he has been ordered to pay back. Since taking over the dairy portion, Easterdays sons have been in trouble with the Oregon Department of Agriculture for ground contamination on a property that is under a strict nitrate remediation plan, and is situated above an important aquifer. The new contamination issues come after the Easterdays were found to have intentionally over-fertilized the fields and were placed on a corrective plan. Story continues According to the National Institutes for Health, nitrate contamination in groundwater has been linked to increased risk of cancer, thyroid disease and birth defects. Boiling water does not make nitrate-contaminated water safer to drink, in fact it does the opposite by increasing the nitrate concentrations in the water. Last year the Easterdays were placed on the correction plan after the state ag officials found they intentionally over-applied more than 800,000 pounds of nitrogren fertilizer across 46 fields during the 2021 growing season. In some fields where nitrate levels should have been the most restricted, they were found to have applied thousands of times more fertilizer than they should have in 2021, according to data provided by property owner Fall Line Capital in a lawsuit attempting to oust Easterday Dairy from the property. For example, in one 112-acre field limited to 4 pounds of nitrogen fertilizer per acre, Fall Line says Easterday applied 331 pounds per acre. Thats nearly 40,000 pounds of fertilizer in a field that should have been limited to less than 500 pounds total, the documents show. In another with the same limit, they applied 255 pounds per acre. In total, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer used across those 34 fields should not have exceeded 506,000 pounds. According to information in the lawsuit, they applied 1.3 million pounds of nitrogen fertilizer in those fields. Only a dozen of the 46 fields were within acceptable limits at the time. By January 2022 they had brought the fields to acceptable limits, but were under a strict reporting plan until they could show the fields remained in acceptable range for nine consecutive months. Under their previous correction plan, they were required to report all discharges within 24 hours and immediately begin to take corrective steps. The new documents show they neglected to do so multiple times in summer 2022. New fertilizer violations Oregon state investigators found that in a span of less than three months, from July 7 through Sept. 20 last year the Easterdays failed to properly control nitrate application within the limits required by their nitrate correction plan 36 times across 21 fields. The investigation began when Easterday Dairy called the state to report irrigation water runoff on July 7. They were given five days to submit a full report, but asked for an extension, filing the report on July 19, which said the runoff started on July 4 and continued through at least July 12. On Aug. 11, an inspector arrived to follow up, finding two tanks had leaked. One had not been reported. Both leaks were in areas where they had no allowance for use of nutrient application, meaning the leaks were in fields that were barred from being fertilized. The majority of required self-reports during that time period did not include soil samples, even when reporting over application of fertilizer. Soil sample results taken by the state during the inspection later revealed that the leaks soaked into non-crop areas that had no allowable fertilizer application. During a followup inspection on Sept. 12 inspectors found that a leaking liquid nitrogen application system had leaked to the point it had created pooling in a field, resulting in crop death of corn in the area. The state believe this was the result of a liquid nitrogen metering system pump system that was sending 32% undiluted nitrate solution into a pivot that was not working, which caused a leak, spilling the liquid nitrogen with no irrigation water to dilute it. This ponding was not reported to the state. Oregon response and restrictions The department is now requiring Easterday Dairy to hire a qualified agronomist to fully test the soil and oversee all future application of nutrients. Theyre also being required to install runoff control in 21 of the fields that were impacted. These improvements will be required to be designed by a qualified engineer and approved by the state. If Easterday fails to meet these requirements, the state may enforce civil penalties and revoke their permits. Food and Water Watch, which has been tracking the nitrate contamination issues for several years, is pushing for an even stronger stance. The crystal clear track record of pollution at the Lost Valley and Easterday operations points to one thing: Oregon needs to press pause on factory farming. Lax regulation and business as usual are no answer to the pollution this industry brings to our state. Legislators must pass a bill this year that will address the threats posed by both new and existing factory farms in the state, the groups legal director said in a statement. History of dairys contamination A Confined Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFO, permit was suspended during Lost Valleys 2019 bankruptcy because the water source for the dairy is an aquifer that is at particularly high risk for contamination. The aquifer was classified as protected in 1976 due to dwindling water levels, according to a 2018 Statesman Journal story. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has refused to issue Easterday Dairy a permit for an animal feeding operation until the nitrate levels in the groundwater are brought back into compliance and a plan for maintaining safe levels is approved. That means the company cannot resume dairy operations until then. The most recent violations will have restarted the nine-month reporting period required before their cattle feeding permit would be reconsidered. In 2019, Cody Easterday launched Easterday Dairy Farms in a bid to resurrect the Lost Valley Farms megadairy in Boardman. Before they could get operations back up and running though, the Easterdays would need to complete the process of decontamination because of the excessive nitrate levels found on the property caused by manure spills by Lost Valley. Those restrictions from the Oregon Department of Agriculture meant that no cattle could be on the property until the process was complete and nitrates were shown to be kept at an acceptable level. The nearly 7,300-acre site was partitioned into two parcels 736 acres for the dairy and the remaining 6,542 for farm land. In January 2019, Easterday Dairy entered into a $16 million self-financed agreement to buy the dairy facility portion. Later that year they signed a commercial lease for the farm portion, but did not buy it. Cody Easterdays plan was to bring the dairy plant and farm back online with more than 28,000 head of beef and dairy cattle and 5,700 acres of irrigated farmland, according to the proposal submitted to the state of Oregon. That led to inspections showing they were in violation of nitrate levels monthly from November 2020 through November 2021. The Department of Agriculture documents show that they were finally able to bring the nitrate levels within acceptable range by December 2021. In the February 2022 letter, the department ordered Easterday to continue to submit water samples until they can show the nitrate levels are within acceptable range for nine consecutive months. During that time Easterday and Fall Line became embroiled in lawsuits. Walther Farms took over the larger portion of the property, leaving the Easterdays farming the smaller 736-acre portion. Easterday Dairy wanted $14 million to quit the property. Its unclear what their March settlement entailed. Property records show the land has not changed hands at this time. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 2 to 2 to grant clemency to Richard Glossip on April 26. Glossip needed three votes. His execution is scheduled for May 18. (Doug Hoke / Oklahoman via Associated Press) For the record: 4:36 p.m. May 2, 2023: An earlier version of this editorial incorrectly referred to Richard Branson as chief executive of Virgin Atlantic. His correct title is Founder, Virgin Group. Gentner Drummond isnt one of those supposedly soft-on-crime, George Soros-supported prosecutors about whom conservative commentators and politicians like to complain. Hes Oklahomas Republican attorney general and a supporter of the death penalty. So its a big deal that he called for clemency for Richard Glossip, who is scheduled to die by lethal injection on May 18. Several prominent Oklahoma Republican lawmakers have likewise argued for Glossip, horrified that their state is close to putting to death a man who may be innocent. The state parole board considered clemency last week, but one of its members is married to the person who prosecuted Glossip, so he recused himself. That left the board deadlocked at 2 to 2. Because the board was a vote short of recommending clemency, Gov. Kevin Stitt said he will do nothing to intervene. Glossip is set to die for the 1997 murder of Barry Van Treese, owner of the Best Budget Inn in Oklahoma City. Yet its universally acknowledged that Glossip, the motel manager, didnt do it. No one argues that Glossip was even in the room when Van Treese was bludgeoned to death by maintenance worker Justin Sneed. No one questions Sneeds confession. No one doubts that Sneed was rewarded with life in prison, instead of the death penalty, in exchange for blaming Glossip as the supposed mastermind. No one claims that Sneed is an honest man. And there is no meaningful evidence of Glossips guilt beyond Sneeds testimony. But the bureaucracy of death has a schedule to keep, and there are few places in the nation where that terrifyingly normal machinery moves more efficiently than Oklahoma. It began the year with 11 people on its execution docket, although the court granted Drummond's request to slow the pace to allow prison officials more time between each one and to give them more time for training. Glossip is up next. Only Texas puts people to death at a faster clip. Story continues Those impatient to keep the states killing on track correctly note that Glossips case has gummed up the works for decades, with ineffective counsel in violation of the 6th Amendment, and questions over the drugs that were to be used to kill him. The delays allowed time for more people to notice the serious questions about the facts of the case, not to mention the cruelty of Oklahomas lethal injection protocols. A host of famous people took up Glossips cause: Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group. Sister Helen Prejean, author of "Dead Man Walking." Pope Francis, Susan Sarandon, Kim Kardashian. Houston law firm Reed Smith produced a scathing independent report showing withheld evidence and previously unreported conflicts of interest. So far, none of it has been enough. And if its not enough in a case that has had sufficient time and profile to attract widespread attention, what about the many other death sentences that are carried out in a more expeditious manner? Credible investigations suggest that around 4% of people executed in the United States are innocent. Some of the wrongful killings are widely acknowledged after the fact. A maxim put forth by 18th century English jurist William Blackstone holds that its better for 10 guilty men to go free than for one innocent man to suffer. Make that 100 guilty men, Benjamin Franklin said. Or was all that just liberal nonsense? Is it better, in Oklahoma and around the nation, to put a man to death despite serious questions about his guilt, than to see him well, not go free. Just to continue to live in prison, perhaps long enough to be exonerated in old age, as numerous people, living under sentences of both life and death, have been. Yes, the execution bureaucracy says, along with death penalty supporters. Its better, in this cruel and bloodthirsty nation of equal justice under the law, to kill people now. We can always sort out the truth later. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The California Restaurant Assn. sued the city of Berkeley in 2019 over its first-in-the-nation ban on gas piping in new construction. A recent appeals court decision in the association's favor is a setback for climate action. (Thomas Kienzle / Associated Press) Buildings are one of the largest sources of climate pollution in California because most of the stoves, water heaters and furnaces in homes and businesses still run on natural gas that fouls the air and heats the planet. To slow the climate crisis and reduce smog, we need action at all levels of government to quickly replace fossil-fueled heating and cooking appliances with electric models powered by clean, renewable energy. A growing number of California cities and counties have wisely decided to stop expanding fossil fuel infrastructure by enacting policies to ban or discourage gas hookups in new construction or move to all-electric building codes. But a recent federal appeals court decision could throw a wrench in some of their plans. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the California Restaurant Assn., which filed suit in 2019 against the city of Berkeleys first-in-the-nation ban on natural gas piping in new buildings, reversing a district court that dismissed the case. The panel of two Trump-appointed judges and one Reagan appointee held that Berkeleys gas ban is preempted by the federal Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The 47-year-old law was enacted in the wake of the 1970s oil shocks and authorized the U.S. Department of Energy to establish energy efficiency standards for appliances such as air conditioners, furnaces, refrigerators and water heaters. The law prohibits state and local governments from setting their own appliance energy standards. It's a pretty radical view that an energy efficiency law should actually prevent local officials from taking action to phase out gas infrastructure and appliances in favor of more efficient technology such as heat pumps and induction stoves. The ruling is almost certain to have a chilling effect on other cities and counties considering similar bans on new gas hookups. Thats exactly what fossil fuel interests and their allies want. Story continues Berkeley Councilmember Kate Harrison, who wrote the 2019 ordinance, wants the city attorney's office to request a re-hearing of the case by the full appeals court. She said that the legal challenge was really about the dangerous idea that business profits trump local and state governments right to protect our communitys health and safety and a habitable climate. She said shes heard few complaints from residents and businesses since the ban took effect, and builders tell her its less expensive to build with all-electric infrastructure. More than 70 other cities and counties , including Los Angeles and San Francisco, have since adopted similar measures to ban or discourage gas hookups in new construction or move to all-electric building codes . And though its still early to say, the Building Decarbonization Coalition believes that, based on the way they were drafted, 26 local ordinances will probably be impacted by the decision. The ruling has also renewed questions about the behavior of Southern California Gas Co., the nations largest natural gas utility and a subsidiary of Sempra Energy that has a history of pushing against state and local electrification efforts. Environmentalists and consumer advocates suspect the utility is working behind the scenes to support the legal challenge to Berkeleys gas ban, though the utility has denied involvement in the case and the restaurant association says it has not coordinated with SoCalGas on the litigation. But advocacy groups point to the long-standing connections between the utility and the restaurant group, including more than $2 million in contributions SoCalGas has made to the California Restaurant Assn. and its foundation since 2019. The utility said those donations were for a resiliency fund launched during the pandemic to help restaurants with equipment and payroll costs. The gas company has also used Reichman Jorgensen, the same law firm representing the restaurant association in the lawsuit against Berkeley. The utility tried to include more than $1 million of its legal expenses for the firm in its application for a 20% rate increase on customers. (Only after being ordered by a judge to answer questions about the expenses did the company say they were unintentionally categorized as ratepayer costs.) In an interview Friday, SoCalGas President Maryam Brown said the utility retained the law firm to advise it on environmental matters, on liability matters and on different aspects of these local, state and federal restrictions on natural gas. She said the firms work was unrelated to the Berkeley litigation and insisted that no ratepayer funds have been used or will be used to support that law firms work for us. She said that though the utility is against bans on natural gas infrastructure, it has not been publicly opposing them. "We have never opposed any local ordinance related to limitation on the use of gas, she said. Californians have good reason to be skeptical of SoCalGas' motivations, given its record. In addition to being responsible for the largest methane leak in U.S. history, the utility has a shameful record of seeking to derail climate action. It has repeatedly been caught using customer money for pro-fossil fuel advocacy . It has set up fake community groups and secretly funded other efforts to oppose the replacement of polluting natural gas infrastructure with zero-emission electric alternatives, among other questionable tactics. It's obvious the gas company realizes that it's not a credible voice on climate and energy, so it tries to launder its message through surrogates and astroturfing. While the appeals court decision is a setback for now, it doesn't prevent officials across the state from using a variety of other tools, including emissions standards and more stringent energy codes, to achieve the same outcome: the end of new gas appliances and infrastructure that are incompatible with Californias goals for clean air and a livable planet. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Egypt is fully able to meet its international debt obligations, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said, looking to ease market concerns over the North African nations economic situation. Most Read from Bloomberg S&P Global Ratings in April lowered its outlook on Egypt to negative and forecast a further currency deprecation, while Moodys Investors Service warned last week of rising risks for the governments debt affordability and debt-sustainability profile. At the same time, the cost of insuring Egypts debt has climbed, reflecting worries over whether authorities are moving fast enough in implementing reforms pledged when they secured a $3 billion International Monetary Fund program. Those changes are key to unlocking billions of dollars in additional aid, largely from Gulf Arab states. Speaking at an event Saturday, Madbouly said he wanted to address concerns raised by international institutions. I reaffirm to you, the Egypt state has not and will not fail to pay back any of its international obligations, he said, adding that the government fully factors these commitments into its plans. He went on: We have not, so far, been late in covering any of our obligations and God willing that will continue. A key component in Egypts latest reform program is the sale of state-held stakes in local companies. Authorities in February revealed a list of 32 firms to be offered to investors, either through additional stakes or sales on the Egyptian stock market. Madbouly said Saturday that Egypt would offer 10 more military-affiliated companies, in addition to fuel distributor Wataniya and water-bottler Safi, both previously announced. Story continues Authorities expect to bring in at least $2 billion from the sale of state assets by the end of June, and the cabinet has set up a committee to help tackle any bureaucratic hurdles that may be impeding progress, he said. --With assistance from Abdel Latif Wahba. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Emily Maitlis feared her BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew ended up hurting the dukes daughters, the British journalist has revealed. Andrew stepped down from his role as a senior member of the royal family shortly after Maitlis grilled the duke about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during the infamous 2019 interview. Maitlis also questioned the Duke of York about his relationship with Virginia Giuffre, who accused Andrew of sexually abusing her when she was 17. Andrew has denied these accusations, reaching an out-of-court settlement with Giuffre last year. In an op-ed published by The Times on Saturday, Maitlis, 52, reflected on how the interview that aimed to provide answers for vulnerable young women may have ended up hurting other vulnerable women like the dukes daughters, princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. What is the duty of care you owe to those who trust you with their stories particularly if they are in no position to answer back? she wrote. These were things I struggled with in the aftermath that still cost me a fair amount of thought today. Channel 4 recently announced a two-part documentary about Andrews Newsnight appearance, titled Andrew: The Problem Prince, featuring interviews with Maitlis and Newsnight producer Sam McAlister. In the second episode, Maitlis said that it had crossed her mind that the disgraced prince may have agreed to the interview for his daughter Beatrices sake. In the documentary, it is revealed that Beatrice, who was preparing for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at the time, accompanied Andrew for early discussions about the interview. Writing for The Times, the former BBC host said she began wondering whether Andrew was hoping to clear his name in time for his daughter Beatrices wedding while working on the Channel 4 documentary. What if he put himself through a rigorous hour of accountability so his own family could put it behind all of them? I dont know this, of course my speculation has no journalistic source, just raw gut instinct, she continued. Perhaps I am seeking to make sense of something I still dont properly understand. Story continues Elsewhere in the documentary, Maitlis claimed the late Queen Elizabeth II realised that Andrews interview was a mistake before the duke did. She said: It was only on the Saturday when the Queen had reportedly read the whole transcript that he received a tap on the shoulder by his security detail. Andrew: The Problem Prince will be broadcast at 9pm on 1 May and 8 May on Channel4. Local Hero was released in 1983 and is recognised as a classic It is the story of a US petro-chemical giant seeking to build a refinery in a coastal village whose staff are won over by the gentler rhythms of local life. The 1983 Bill Forsyth movie Local Hero was set in Scotland, but had a universal story which won over film fans around the world. It also brought fame to a red phone box in the Aberdeenshire village of Pennan, which played a key role in the film. On the 40th anniversary of its UK release, its stars and local people have been speaking about the film's importance. One of the central characters is Mac MacIntyre, played by Peter Riegert. In the film he updates his boss in America each night from the traditional red phone kiosk on the seafront. Pennan features as the fictional village of Ferness. Peter Riegert played Mac MacIntyre Speaking from his home in New York, Mr Riegert, now, 76, said the best part of being involved in Local Hero was that it was still "so fondly appreciated" 40 years on. "Whenever I say yes to something I'm not saying yes because it's going to be a classic, because no-one knows," he told BBC Scotland. "But it was really clear to me when we were making it that this was as good as it gets. "It may just be the best-written screenplay I've ever read. Everything came off the page. The script was so magical. Local Hero was filled with whimsy metaphor - everything about it was right in my wheelhouse." He described the film's setting as "a magical place". "I realised that my job was to leave home thinking I was one person and I was going to be leaving Scotland knowing I was another person. "There were two events that were going to influence me. One was the physical location and the other was the people. "The light on the beach during the magic hour, I'd never seen anything like it. It was spectacular. "And that was every day we were shooting there. The sunset seemed to be changing colours - it wasn't the Northern Lights - but it was whatever that was, and to see it every night. Story continues "I didn't have to act. I was just there being in awe." He recalled a memorable telephone scene from the film. "We were shooting that scene at midnight," he said. "I was under the impression that if I had some brandy or whisky, I would stay warm. But it has the opposite effect. By the time we were finished shooting, I was so drunk. "I went to Bill (Forsyth, the director) the next day and said I'm so sorry. And he said: 'For what?' I said: 'Oh my God I was so drunk' and he said: 'Yeah, it was very believable'." Mr Riegert added: "I love that the movie still means so much to people. It's very thrilling to have it so well thought of." Bill Pitt and Eddie Hayes help maintain Pennan's famous Local Hero phone box Bill Pitt, 63, is originally from Charlestown, South Carolina, but now runs self catering cottages overlooking Pennan. He paints and maintains the phone box with the help of Eddie Hayes. "I think it's very important," Mr Pitt said. "It brings people in. It's a big economic driver for the area. The phone box means a lot to people and we take it seriously that we want to keep it looking nice. It's a reflection of the community, on Pennan and the wider area. "We just enjoy coming down here and painting it to make it look good. It's appreciated by locals, it's appreciated by visitors that come to the area." The phone box became a tourist attraction Asked if he felt like a Mac Macintyre character himself, he said: "My wife and I moved over in 2006 and a little bit of it really had to do with the phone box and the film Local Hero. "When we go back home to South Carolina, our heart is still here. Similar to what Mac did going back to Houston. And I think Pennan and the north east has that feeling for many people." Mr Hayes added: "People enjoy coming and making a call from the Local Hero phone box. It makes their holiday." Denis Lawson played Gordon Urquhart in the film. "You just try to do the best job you can and hope it will be well received," the 75-year-old said. "It's such a satisfying feeling that Local Hero has had such longevity. It's so popular in the States and has this extraordinary shelf life." Denis Lawson played Gordon Urquhart Lawson said the role was "right up there" alongside the highlights of his 50-year career. "I am very proud of the movie, he was a great character to play," he said. "It was a movie set in Scotland but it had a universal story. It could have been anywhere in the world." Asked if he had a message for the film's fans, he said: "It's very moving, it's very touching, that people still have this connection with the film after 40 years and want to celebrate that. "It's just fantastic. I feel dead proud." Over the next month local events and screenings are being held to celebrate the anniversary of the film, which also starred Burt Lancaster, Peter Capaldi and Fulton Mackay. Local Shona Stephen thinks the film's popularity will endure Shona Stephen runs the Coastal Cuppie at Pennan Harbour, keeping locals and tourists refreshed. She hopes the film's legacy lives on. "It takes in so many tourists who just love the film," she said. "There's a real cult following I would say for Local Hero. "For the amount of people who come and for the size of Pennan, for the iconic phone box, it's absolutely amazing. "I meet a lot of people who have come especially to Pennan to see the telephone box - from Australia, America, New Zealand, France, Germany. "I think we're very keen to keep it going because it's so iconic. And to celebrate the 40 years is amazing. "I think it's something that we'll keep going forever." Jeffrey Epsteins newly-revealed private calendar showed scheduled meetings with the current CIA director, a college president and attorney who served in the Obama administration, according to a report published Sunday. New documents, which belonged to the rich convicted pedophile and were obtained by The Wall Street Journal, showed planned meetings with a slew of prominent individuals, including now-CIA Director William Burns, Bard College president Leon Botstein, Obama White House counsel Kathryn Ruemmler and professor Noam Chomsky. All the scheduled meetings were slated to take place after Epstein was jailed in 2008 on charges of solicitation, including soliciting a minor. WSJ could not prove each scheduled meeting actually took place, and the documents did not reveal the purpose for the meetings. A spokesperson for Burns, who has taken the CIAs helm since 2021 under the Biden administration, said the nations spy chief met with Epstein a decade ago when he was trying to leave the government. JEFFREY EPSTEIN DEATH RAISES QUESTIONS THAT 'MUST BE ANSWERED' FOR VICTIMS, GLORIA ALLRED SAYS Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend de Grisogono Sponsors the Wall Street Concert Series Benefitting Wall Street Rising, at Cipriani Wall Street on March 15, 2005, in New York City. "Director Burns recalls being introduced by a mutual friend in Washington, DC, and then met with him once briefly in New York City, about a decade ago as the Director was preparing to leave government service," CIA spokeswoman Tammy Kupperman Thorp said in comment provided to Fox News Digital. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The Director did not know anything about him, other than he was introduced as an expert in the financial services sector and offered general advice on transition to the private sector. The Director does not recall any further contact, including receiving a ride to the airport. They had no relationship." GHISLAINE MAXWELL MOUNTS $10M APPEAL AGAINST 20-YEAR SEX TRAFFICKING SENTENCE: REPORT Ruemmler had dozens of meetings with Epstein following her work for the Obama administration and before taking the reins as Goldman Sachs' top lawyer in 2020, according to WSJ. The documents show Epstein was planning on Ruemmler joining him for a trip to Paris in 2015 and another visit to his private island in the Caribbean in 2017. Story continues CIA Director William Burns speaks on "Addressing the Global Threat Landscape," at Georgetown Hotel and Conference Center on Feb. 2, 2023, in Washington, D.C. A Goldman Sachs rep told the outlet that Ruemmler had a working relationship with Epstein when she was employed at law firm Latham & Watkins LLP, but did not travel with Epstein. The spokesperson said Epstein introduced Ruemmler to potential legal clients, such as Bill Gates. "Many of Ms. Ruemmler's contacts related to a potential representation involving the Gates Foundation, a representation of the Edmond de Rothschild bank, and other business opportunities," a Goldman Sachs spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Sunday. VIRGINIA GIUFFRE WON'T REMAIN SILENT ON PRINCE ANDREW SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS ONCE GAG ORDER LIFTS: LAWYER "I regret ever knowing Jeffrey Epstein," Ruemmler said, according to WSJ. The Journal reported that the majority of people they spoke to said they met with Epstein for donations or to make powerful connections. Botstein, who has served as Bard Colleges president since 1975, said he met with Epstein to try to get him to donate to the liberal arts school. "I was an unsuccessful fundraiser and actually the object of a little bit of sadism on his part in dangling philanthropic support," Botstein told the outlet. "That was my relationship with him." Botstein said he visited with Epstein in 2012 and thanked him for unsolicited donations and that he met him several times after in an effort to receive more donations. "We looked him up, and he was a convicted felon for a sex crime," Botstein said, noting that Bard has an educational program to assist prisoners. "We believe in rehabilitation." Chomsky told the outlet that he had met with Epstein, and the two discussed politics and academia. Epstein arranged for meetings with Chomsky between 2015 and 2016, and had donated at least $850,000 to MIT between 2002 and 2017, according to the Journal. MIT, where Chomsky serves as professor of linguistics emeritus, later said it donated the funds to organizations that support victims of sexual abuse. GHISLAINE MAXWELL SAYS SHE BELIEVES JEFFREY EPSTEIN WAS MURDERED IN POST CONVICTION PRISON INTERVIEW: REPORT Chomsky told Fox News Digital on Sunday that he noticed several of the people quoted in the WSJ story "said the obvious." "The reporting covered 2015-16, when what was known about Mr. Epstein was that he had been sentenced for a crime, served his sentence, which wiped the slate clean according to US law and norms," he said. "The gossip column chose not to publish the extensive information they have about far worse criminals who not only donate to MIT and other institutions but, far more serious of course, are greatly honored by them," Chomsky continued, also taking a dig at WSJ and Fox News. Other prominent figures on the documents included: Ariane de Rothschild, chief executive of the Swiss private bank Edmond de Rothschild Group; Joshua Cooper Ramo, who at the time served on the boards of Starbucks Corp. and FedEx Corp; former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak; Harvard University professor Martin Nowak; and anthropologist Helen Fisher. Epstein was found dead in a jail cell in New York City in 2019 while he was awaiting a trial on sex trafficking charges. Botstein, the CIA, Nowak, and Fisher did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals requests for comment. A spokesperson for the Edmond de Rothschild Group told Fox they have no additional comment on the matter. As 2022 Eurovision winner, Ukraine is guaranteed a place in the Eurovision final on 13 May. When TVORCHI takes the stage in host city Liverpool, it will be a moment to savour for the country's LGBT troops. "I didn't know if I would make it," says Antonina Romanova, a soldier who has been fighting on Ukraine's front line. "I had to walk two kilometres under strong fire in the mud, in the rain, at night - with the mortar and all the equipment, which was extremely heavy. It was beyond my physical capability. I doubt I could go through that again." This is the reality for Antonina, who identifies as non-binary and who, with her partner of nine years Oleksandr, took the decision to leave their lives as theatre directors in Kyiv and fight the Russian army. "Another world" is how Oleksandr describes it. It's a step they took soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Talking to them via webcam, it's impossible to imagine all that they have been through over the last 14 months. Their work has ranged from digging trenches and ducking gunfire, to feeding 150 soldiers in the frontline military canteen - the toughest gig of all, they only half joke. They have also had to learn from scratch how to use mortars - and have been firing them over the snow through the long, harsh winter. Now, some much-needed light relief is just around the corner. Kalush Orchestra won Eurovision on behalf of Ukraine last year "We are looking forward to seeing Ukraine perform in Eurovision this year," says Oleksandr. "We've had very difficult times. And Eurovision is like a breath of fresh air because when you see people doing what they like, and enjoying what they're doing and that life is still going on When you see people in Europe supporting Ukraine: that's very important. Especially when you're on the front line." But the razzamatazz, the strutting, the shimmying and the songs all seem a very long way from frontline warfare. Why is Eurovision something they care about? Story continues "It is a very important message that Europe supports us," explains Antonina. "And for people defending Ukraine with weapons in their hands, it's very important." Both soldiers have fond memories of Kalush Orchestra's triumph, winning Eurovision for Ukraine in 2022. By then, daily life involved taking cover in bomb shelters. "It felt like a miracle that Kalush had a chance to represent Ukraine with dignity," says Oleksandr. "I thought, 'Oh my god, we won Eurovision, we're going to win this war!'" he laughs. "It was very emotional," adds Antonina, who says she was left "speechless". Antonina and Oleksandr have had to learn how to use mortars and have been firing them over the long, harsh winter Turning his shoulder towards the camera, Oleksandr shows off a rainbow badge - which certainly pops against the green-greys of his military uniform. And they are both wearing another badge, which is more discreet, in army colours. A unicorn's head stares out. It's become an emblem of serving LGBT military in Ukraine. "Because lots of people said that there were no gay people in the army," smiles Oleksandr. The couple expected to encounter homophobic, verbal and even physical aggression from fellow soldiers, having been beaten and pepper-sprayed in a random homophobic street attack before the war last year. But overall, they've been pleasantly surprised. "It's more tolerant than we expected - and I think that is partly because of other LGBTQ military who came out," says Oleksandr, in a nod to soldier Viktor Pylypenko, who was considered a pioneer when he came out in 2018. Eurovision 2023 banner Another couple following in his footsteps is Pavlo Lagoida, 30 and Vladyslav Polishchuk, 20. Via webcam from the Odesa region, they explain they are on a holiday before being prepared to be sent to the front line. For all the pressures they face, Pavlo says they also contend with some name-calling. "A lot of people believed that we are not able to take a gun into our hands and fight. And they believe that we are so delicate. Not masculine." They sit with their arms interlocked throughout the interview - having become engaged only the day before. They hope same-sex civil partnerships will soon become possible in Ukraine. Antonina and Oleksandr feel Eurovision will be a breath of fresh air Why does Eurovision matter to them at all? "Ukraine's victory last year showed that Ukraine is invincible," says Vladyslav, a deadly serious expression on his broad face. "And that we can overcome any difficulties and adversities, whether it is a war or a contest. I believe it's a message to the whole world that despite the war we can show our creativity. "It's also the message to Russia: No matter how the war is going, we still have this fighting spirit. And it doesn't break us. And nor does it break our creative spirit. And we will never fall to our knees before Russia." For Antonina, the impact of Russian aggression is nothing new. She fled her birthplace, Crimea, when Russia invaded the peninsula in 2014 and moved to Kyiv. It's ironic that she might not otherwise have met Oleksandr and fallen in love. Partly because of her background, Antonina has vivid memories of Ukraine winning Eurovision in 2016 with Jamala's song, 1944, about the deportation of Crimean Tatars under Stalin. Although Antonina remains exiled from her homeland, she wants more for it than ending the horrors sent by Vladimir Putin. "I have a great hope that one day Eurovision will be held in Crimea," she says. "Because it's a sacred place for Ukraine. Since the war started in Crimea, it should be finished in Crimea." It may be a very long time before Eurovision can be held in Crimea. But for these soldiers, despite everything, they continue to hope. A former employee of the Division of Family and Children Services was arrested for allegedly hurting kids in his care. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On April 14, the Gordon County Sheriffs Office asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to look into child abuse allegations of a former DFACs employee. Officials said there were allegations that 40-year-old Roy Payne of Calhoun, had abused children in his custody. TRENDING STORIES: Payne was arrested and charged with three counts of child abuse, three counts of child molestation and one count of sodomy. He was transported to the Gordon County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: (Photo/Cherokee Nation) Guest Opinion. Nothing is more important to me as a husband, father and grandfather than protecting my family. Thats a value shared by most Cherokees everywhere. At the Cherokee Nation, we extend the value of family by working to protect all our citizens. Unfortunately, too many vulnerable family members still dont feel safe in their homes. We know domestic violence harms countless individuals and families across the country and across our 7,000-square-mile reservation. However, today we are doing more than ever to prevent domestic violence and help survivors. Cherokee Nation recently hosted the inaugural Families Are Sacred Summit. Over three days, the summit brought together law enforcement officers, health care providers, advocates and others. They attended workshops and shared best practices for making sure survivors of domestic violence receive safe and effective services. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. During the summit, we announced several Cherokee Nation initiatives to empower survivors to rebuild their lives. Escaping domestic violence can sometimes mean facing poverty and homelessness without clear prospects for earning new income. That scary situation can make victims feel trapped with an abuser. By offering financial literacy support and educational programs, the Cherokee Nation is breaking down barriers and giving survivors the resources they need to succeed. Our Education and Career Services departments already offer many useful programs, and we are adding additional funding specifically to remove obstacles that may prevent survivors from accessing them. Whether it is help with the financial burden of school or career training or even meeting application deadlines, there are a number of ways our tribal government can help. Additionally, survivors will go to the top of the list for grants and scholarships as they begin a new life chapter and receive a stipend for additional support. Story continues Expanded access to temporary housing programs for survivors is also a critical step. We dont want our people to leave the sanctuary of one of our domestic violence shelters only to have no place to turn. So, we will increase funding of temporary housing through the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation. Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. Cherokee Nation is also expanding partnerships with domestic violence advocacy groups and organizations across the reservation. We are blessed to have so many agents of change across northeast Oklahoma who, like Cherokee Nation, are working every day to protect their communities. Eight domestic violence non-profits in the region will receive $25,000 to help extend and improve their efforts. By working together and investing in our nonprofit partners, we create a stronger network of support for survivors. We also announced a new agreement with Oklahoma State University on efforts to better recognize, prevent and treat the effects of domestic violence. Together, we will boost training on identifying survivors of domestic violence within the Cherokee Nation Health System, as well as provide culturally competent survivor groups that focus on preventative factors rooted in Cherokee values. The partnership also includes expanded telemedicine for survivors of domestic violence, including behavioral health services and counseling. The Families Are Sacred Summit was born from the tribes task force assembled by First Lady January Hoskin, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and me to address domestic violence. Cherokee Nation's approach to addressing domestic violence is deeply rooted in our culture and core values. By sharing successes and lessons learned, the Cherokee Nation is guiding other communities and becoming a leader on domestic violence response. We want any Cherokees suffering from domestic violence to know that, no matter how difficult your situation feels, the Cherokee Nation has your back. We are strengthening the network of helpers, from health care and law enforcement to housing, job training and family support. Families are sacred, and Cherokee Nation is committed to living that value every day. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Thresholds are everywhere. We cross over or through them all the time. Marking where we step in or out of a room or building via a door, originally the threshold referred to the bottom part of that place of transition from inside to outside, from here to there. That door sill image has been expanded to all manner of ways that we begin or end something. For example, we enter or exit across city, county, state, or national lines or boundaries (think of the Peace Arch near Blaine, Wash., for a beautiful, dramatic threshold; other lines of demarcation are less so). Starting a new work position, grade in school, sports season or cutting the ribbon at a buildings grand opening all represent threshold moments in our lives. Thresholds are often located where otherwise-prohibited access or transit is permitted or guided. They are marked by doors, gates, arches, bridges, mountain passes, rivers (like crossing the River Jordan or the Missouri River or others celebrated in song and story), seashores, or even by simple gaps. Some thresholds are protected or guarded; others are wide open for interested parties. (Much journalistic and political ink has been spilled discussing the previous sentence.) Some threshold crossings are marked by ceremonies including blessings, graduations, weddings, promotions, retirements, or funerals. Births and deaths are more private thresholds while many ceremonies may be more public. What happens when you cross a threshold? I suppose it depends on the significance in the moment for you. Go back through the examples noted above. Which ones have you experienced? Which ones mattered and which did not? Which were difficult; which were relatively easy? Which were long-anticipated; which were surprises pleasant or painful? Thinking back to important thresholds in our lives can be enriching, instructive, even corrective. Timothy Ledbetter I remember driving by myself after (finally!) getting my license, with excitement and fear in equal measures. More than walking down the wedding aisle in Yakima, I remember driving away toward Mount Rainier and a new future with my beloved partner. Story continues I remember jogging alongside my daughter as she wobbled ahead on her new bike. I can show you the exact spot on the Wenatchee Park trail where I let go of the bike seat ... and off she went! I remember crossing alone over the creaky threshold into an old studio apartment when in grad school, and then much later doing the same (without the creak) into a brand-new home with my family. More recently, I remember going to work on my 65th birthday, which was also the day before my retirement I wore an Aloha shirt to celebrate both thresholds! Thresholds are ever before us. Some in our regular comings and goings, others on special occasions planned and unplanned. We can ignore them, or we can pause, pay attention, and allow their meaning to speak to us. Whether at Passover, Dia de los Muertos, an anniversary toast, a Habitat for Humanity house blessing, or stepping into the welcome and warmth of someones home, thresholds await! Timothy J. Ledbetter, DMin, BCC is a retired American Baptist-endorsed professional chaplain and member of Shalom United Church of Christ in Richland. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, shown in February at the U.S. Capitol, is California's longest-serving senator. She has announced that she will not run for reelection next year and has said she plans to remain in office through the end of her term. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The race to replace retiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein is well underway, but as Californias senior senator has missed nearly 60 votes over the past two months, some liberal Democrats are calling for her to resign. Feinstein, who is recovering from shingles, said she plans to serve out her term and has received the support of party leadership. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said this week that he hoped she would return soon. Feinstein released a statement saying she plans to return to Washington when her doctors say it is safe for her to travel. With a narrowly divided Senate, questions have arisen about the options for Democrats if Feinstein does not return to the U.S. Capitol but does not resign. Why do some Democrats want to oust Feinstein when she has already announced she wont seek reelection in 2024? The 89-year-old, the oldest member of the Senate, has been facing questions in recent years about her cognitive abilities and fitness for the post. Her supporters argue that these questions are ageist and sexist, pointing to male senators who served into their twilight without such criticism. But the dynamic changed once Feinstein announced March 2 that she was hospitalized with shingles, a viral infection related to chicken pox that is painful but not life-threatening. At the time, she said she hoped to return to the Senate by the end of March. Her continued absence is critical for two reasons: Democrats have narrow control of the Senate, 51-49, and Feinstein sits on the powerful Judiciary Committee. With her absence, the panel is divided 10-10 between Democrats and Republicans, stymieing the Biden administrations judicial appointments. The committee last voted on a nominee in mid-February, and its chairman told CNN that he cant put Biden appointees forward because of the tied membership. This conundrum prompted Feinstein to ask Schumer to temporarily replace her on the committee with another Democrat until she returns to the Capitol a move that was blocked by Senate Republicans. Story continues Can the Senate remove an incapacitated senator from office? There's nothing in law specifically for this situation. In the past, when senators have been absent for extended periods due to illness, the Senate has proceeded as normal with a vacant seat. Prior examples include the late Sen. Karl Mundt of South Dakota, who suffered a stroke in 1969 and was absent from the Senate for three years without resigning, and President Biden, who during his Senate tenure was absent for seven months in the 1980s after he underwent two surgeries for brain aneurysms. The Senate can, in theory, take action to remove a sitting senator for certain reasons. But the upper chamber has never done so because a senator was sick or incapacitated. Unless a senator chooses to resign, the only way to remove them from office is by a two-thirds expulsion vote, said Molly Reynolds, senior fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, a bipartisan Washington think tank, in response to emailed questions. Is removing a Senator for other reasons a realistic option? It has happened in rare occasions, and not for more than a century and a half. In its 234-year history, the Senate has expelled 15 members: one for treason and 14 because of their support for the Confederacy during the Civil War. Since the last expulsion, in 1862, there have been 13 failed attempts to remove senators on myriad grounds, from corruption to election fraud to being a Mormon (Utah's Reed Smoot in 1907). These senators either survived the expulsion vote or resigned. Under the U.S. Constitution, senators cannot be recalled from office by voters in their state, according to the California secretary of State. How is a Senate vacancy filled? Each state has its own rules on how to replace a senator before the regular election cycle. Under California law, a senate vacancy may be filled via an appointment by the governor that does not require confirmation by the California Legislature or the U.S. Senate. The governor also may call for a special election to fill the vacancy. If there is a vacancy, California voters at the next general election would select a senator to serve the remainder of the six-year term of the person who vacated the office. In January 2021, Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed California Secretary of State Alex Padilla to fill the Senate vacancy created when Kamala Harris was sworn in as vice president. In November 2022, the ballot had two senate elections: one about who should serve the remainder of Harris term in the Senate, which would have ended in January 2023, and one about who should serve the subsequent six-year term. Padilla easily won both. Given the thin partisan divide in the Senate, it's likely that Newsom would move quickly to appoint a fellow Democrat to fill any vacancy to ensure his party remains in control of the upper chamber. If a Senator resigns, dies or is expelled from office, does the replacement automatically fill the Senator's committee assignments? No. There is no guarantee the replacement will fill their predecessors committee seats. Once there is a new senator sworn into the vacant seat, he or she only gets committee assignments after the Senate adopts a simple resolution," Reynolds said. Opponents can in theory hold up that process with a filibuster continuous, often unnecessary debate on the floor to cause a prolonged delay to a vote. It would take 60 votes to end a filibuster. For Feinstein, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, that question is particularly important. Even if she left office, Republicans could prevent her successor or any Democratic replacement from filling her seat on the Judiciary Committee, under current Senate rules. That said, taking such a step would be unprecedented and highly provocative. Democrats could pass a rule change to ensure that Republicans cannot block new senators from committees by requiring a simple majority instead of 60 votes, said Jim Manley, who spent 21 years in the Senate working for Democrats including the late Harry Reid, the former Senate Majority Leader from Nevada. But Manley noted that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), the leading GOP senator on the Judiciary Committee, said in a recent CNN interview that Republicans would follow precedent if Feinstein resigns. What conundrum does Newsom face if Feinstein retires early? In 2021, Newsom pledged to appoint a Black woman to replace Feinstein if she retired early. This promise came after his decision to appoint Padilla to replace Harris when she was sworn in as vice president. Harris' departure meant there was not a single Black woman in the Senate. This pledge has created a dilemma for the two-term governor. There are three top candidates vying for Feinsteins seat: Democratic Reps. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank, Katie Porter of Irvine and Barbara Lee of Oakland. Newsom has declined to weigh in on the race; a senior aide told The Times, There are three extremely qualified candidates in the race that have displayed the courage it takes to fight for California values in Washington, D.C. Lee, who is Black, is beloved by liberal Democrats as the sole member of Congress to vote against giving President George W. Bush authorization to use military force after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. When Newsom pledged to name a Black woman to Feinsteins seat if she resigned before her term was over, Lee was one of the likely choices. However, with an active Senate race underway, such an appointment would be viewed as the governor putting a thumb on the scale in the 2024 election and could irk the others in the race who are popular with Democratic voters across the nation. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The FIA will reconsider its parc ferme procedures following a stewards investigation into people blocking Esteban Ocons entry into the pit lane on the final lap of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Ocon had started the race from pit lane and run the first 50 laps on a set of hard tires hoping that a late red flag or safety car would grant his a free or cheap route into the points. More Formula 1! Red Bull "in another league" - Leclerc Perez seizes safety car advantage to take Azerbaijan victory Verstappen unsold on sprints - 'Just scrap the whole thing' With no sign of an incident as Sergio Perez started the final lap, the Frenchman was called into he pits to concede defeat on the strategy and make his mandatory tire change. But when he entered pit lane, having navigated the entry chicane at more than 100 miles per hour, he was greeted by a crowd of people, most of whom appeared to be photographers, spilling into the fast lane and blocking his access. They managed to dive out of the way of the car once they realized Ocon was still racing, avoiding a potentially dire collision, and Ocon took his pit stop. The FIA is responsible for maintaining safety in pit lane and for securing the parc ferme area, and after the end of the race the stewards requested a representative of the governing body attend a hearing in relation to the incident. In a judgement issued shortly afterwards, the stewards said the FIA would be required to take immediate steps to reconsider these procedures and protocols with the relevant stakeholders (including FOM, the teams and the FIA) to ensure that this situation does not occur again. The stewards heard from the FIA representatives and determined that the relevant representatives took steps to set up the parc ferme area and also permitted media and other personnel to gather in the start of the pit lane and the pit wall during the last lap of the race while the pit lane was open and before the final pit stop of (Ocon), the stewards wrote in their ruling. Story continues We noted that it was not unusual for the representatives to allow such persons into the pit lane just before the end of the race, in the usual course of preparation for parc ferme and the podium ceremony. However, in this case there was one driver that had to pit in the last lap and this created a very dangerous situation for those that were in the pit lane at the time. We considered that it was fortunate that there were no serious consequences on account of what happened today. We stressed that the requirements of ensuring a safe and orderly event are paramount. This was acknowledged by the FIA team. Speaking before the ruling, Ocon said he wanted to see action at the next race to avoid the possibility of a repeat. We cant wait for anything, its clear, he said. You need to wait until all the cars are past the checkered flag and ensure there is no racing in the pit lane any more until you start prepping the podium. Its not a mystery, its very simple. I dont understand why were starting to prep the podium and prep the ceremony while were still racing. Theres one lap to go, theres still people that didnt pit. Im arriving at 300 kilometers per hour, Im braking very late, and I the people around. This is crazy. It could have been a big, big one today, and its definitely something that needs to be discussed. Its something that we dont want to see. The Frenchman, who finished 15th, said he needed to take evasive action to avoid hitting one of the bystanders. I had to lift off, I had to back off, he explained. I would not have liked to be the one in the middle there, at the speed we are arriving there, especially so close to the line. If I missed the braking point, its a big disaster. Its the second time breach of the circuit perimeter in as many races, with Australian Grand Prix organizers having been summoned to the stewards following a spectator track invasion on the last lap of the race in Melbourne earlier this month. Last years Australian Grand Prix also saw people enter the pit lane before the end of the race and shortly before Alex Albons last-lap pit stop. Story originally appeared on Racer A picture released by the International Committee of the Red Cross on April 30, 2023 shows ICRC members preparing boxes of humanitarian aid in Amman, before loading them onto a plane destined to Port Sudan A first Red Cross plane laden with humanitarian aid on Sunday landed in Sudan, where deadly clashes between rival generals' forces have entered their third week. "The eight tonnes of humanitarian cargo includes surgical material to support Sudanese hospitals and volunteers from the Sudan Red Crescent Society," the International Committee of the Red Cross said. Fighting erupted on April 15 between forces loyal to two rival generals, leaving over 500 people killed and thousands wounded while uprooting tens of thousands more from their homes. Bodies have remained in the streets in the capital since the conflict began, and the ICRC's Africa regional director, Patrick Youssef, told journalists the Sudanese Red Crescent is "trying to get to the bodies in the streets". Only 16 percent of hospitals are functioning in the capital Khartoum, according to the World Health Organization, with many facilities shelled in the fighting. The shipment took off from the Jordanian capital Amman and arrived in the eastern city of Port Sudan, which Youssef said was now the only entry point for aid to Sudan. He said the medical kits on the plane were "enough to stabilise 1,500 patients", adding that the ICRC was hoping for security guarantees to send further aid to Khartoum and Darfur. The regional director said they were able to deliver some aid to Darfur at the beginning, but "it was not enough, and we could not get anything to Khartoum". bur/fz NEW YORK (AP) Regulators continued their search for a solution to First Republic Banks woes over the weekend before stock markets were set to open Monday. San Francisco-based First Republic has struggled since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in early March, as investors and depositors have grown increasingly worried that the bank may not survive as an independent entity for much longer. The banks stock closed at $3.51 on Friday, a fraction of the roughly $170 a share it traded for a year ago. First Republic has been seen as the most likely next bank to collapse due to its high amount of uninsured deposits and exposure to low interest rates. Gary Cohn, a former Goldman Sachs president who served as President Donald Trumps top economic adviser, told CBS News Face the Nation on Sunday that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation "would prefer to sell the bank in its entirety than in pieces. What will most likely happen is the FDIC will seize control and then simultaneously resell the asset to the successful bidder, Cohn said. Cohn said he believed it will be a much faster process than what happened with Silicon Valley Bank. First Republic reported total assets of $233 billion as of March 31. At the end of last year, the Federal Reserve ranked First Republic 14th in size among U.S. commercial banks. Before Silicon Valley Bank failed, First Republic had a banking franchise that was the envy of most of the industry. Its clients mostly the rich and powerful rarely defaulted on their loans. The 72-branch bank has made much of its money making low-cost loans to the rich, which reportedly included Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Flush with deposits from the well-heeled, First Republic saw total assets more than double from $102 billion at the end of 2019s first quarter, when its full-time workforce was 4,600. But the vast majority of First Republics deposits, like those in Silicon Valley and Signature Bank, were uninsured that is, above the $250,000 limit set by the FDIC. And that began to fuel worries about the franchise among analysts and investors. If First Republic were to fail, its depositors would be at risk of not getting all their money back. Story continues Those fears were crystalized in the banks recent quarterly results. The bank said depositors pulled more than $100 billion out of the bank during Aprils crisis. San Francisco-based First Republic said that it was only able to stanch the bleeding after a group of large banks stepped in to save it with $30 billion in uninsured deposits. But now First Republic is in need of a bigger fix. Getting the bank in the hands of a larger one is the best possible economic outcome, said Steven Kelly, a researcher at the Yale School of Managements Program on Financial Stability. First Republic has lots of knowledge about its customers and has been a profitable bank for its entire history but its business model is not stable. It needs a big bank balance sheet behind it. Kelly said that other options, such as government control or continuing to try to survive on its own, would see its value continue to disappear, along with credit and economic growth. A successful absorption into a big bank would provide a proper, stable home for the firm to continue to provide its value proposition to the economy, Kelly said. Since the crisis, First Republic has been looking for a way to quickly turn itself around. The bank planned to sell off unprofitable assets, including the low interest mortgages that it provided to wealthy clients. It also announced plans to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce, which totaled about 7,200 employees at the end of 2022. But investors have remained skeptical. The banks executives have taken no questions from investors or analysts since the bank reported its results, causing the stock to sink further. And its hard to profitably restructure a balance sheet when a firm has to sell off assets quickly and has fewer bankers to find opportunities for the bank to invest in. It took years for banks like Citigroup and Bank of America to return to profitability after the global financial crisis 15 years ago, and those banks had the benefit of a government-aided backstop to keep them going. __ Associated Press Staff Writer Matt O'Brien in Providence, Rhode Island, contributed to this report. Lance Petermans home in the Fort Lauderdale neighborhood of River Oaks flooded earlier this month during record-setting rains. It wasnt the first time for him or many of his neighbors. But he heard a different story when he chatted with the owners of some newer homes built on elevated lots along his street. They were high and dry, said Peterman, 56. Nothing like the rest of us. Its become a common sight in development-crazed South Florida: Shiny new homes popping up in neighborhoods of low-slung older homes almost always constructed on land raised by trucked-in gravel. The added elevation has become standard thanks to decades of stricter building codes and a growing understanding that Florida buildings need to rise to withstand storms and floods of the future. But neighbors like Peterman wonder especially after the latest rain bomb to hit Fort Lauderdale if the standards to raise new construction make flooding worse for surrounding older homes. Peterman said his family has owned their home since 1972. Its flooded several times since, he said, getting more common and intense in the last decade. He believes all the new development in the neighborhood, including dozens more homes, a church, a McDonalds and a hotel, has something to do with that. Lance Peterman, 56, stands in front of his waterlogged belongings and ruined vehicles after his Fort Lauderdale home saw three feet of flooding. He found his elderly mother floating on a mattress in the living room Wednesday evening. Hes not alone. The Biscayne Shores neighborhood in Miami-Dade County is fighting a new residential development with the same logic, that a new, higher building will flood the older, lower homes. To me, its going to be a nightmare, said Dave Hart, who lives in a 1944 house near the proposed project site just off Biscayne Boulevard. Where is the water going to go? Theyre tearing up earth and putting cement on it. In one Miami-Dade neighborhood, fears of more flooding fuel fight over housing project According to the Florida Building Code, properly designed buildings and homes shouldnt cause flooding for neighbors. Construction standards typically call for them to include swales or other features to handle runoff from the property no matter how much higher theyre built. Story continues But thats the critical keyword: properly. A houses lawn is submerged under floodwaters off Southwest Third Street and Eighth Avenue in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Florida, on Saturday, June 4, 2022. Lower homes like these are more at risk from flooding from sea level rise and nearby development at higher elevations. Complaints of new development worsening flooding in surrounding areas are common across South Florida, and floodplain experts say it underlines a problem with perhaps the leading strategy for coping with flooding driven by climate change. There can be damaging ripple effects from an approach to new construction summed up as fill and build. It falls into that bucket of stuff we know is a problem but dont fix, said Del Schwalls, a Florida-based floodplain management consultant. We spend 20 years complaining about it instead of plugging the holes. An unintended ripple effect The difference between old and new homes in River Oaks is just the latest example of an unintended flaw in Floridas efforts to build communities more resilient to flooding, one long known but also left largely unaddressed. Back in 2019, for example, Florida International University produced a study for the Florida Building Commission on the potential impacts of climate change on the states building stock. Only in a footnote at the end did it note: New research may be needed when it comes to the use of fill in flood-prone areas. Unlike in the Keys or other barrier island communities, where homes are built on stilts, higher homes in South Floridas urban areas are usually elevated by gravel or dirt a mix known as fill. READ MORE: Threat from below: Sea rise is pushing up groundwater and flood risks for South Florida Its perhaps the oldest building technique in Florida. From day one, developers took the muck, rock and soil left from draining and developing the Everglades to elevate roadbeds and neighborhoods. Now, as sea level rise pushes tides inland and raises groundwater levels, many swathes of land are at an even higher risk of flooding when the skies open up. Science suggests that as the atmosphere warms, extreme rain events like the one in Fort Lauderdale last week could get more common and even more extreme. A newer home in the River Oaks neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale is visibly elevated compared to its older neighbors. Homes like this appear to have weathered the flood much better. Fill much of it lime rock mined on the western border of Miami-Dade County in what was once the Everglades is a key ingredient in Miami-Dades climate action strategy. The county lists building on fill as one of the five major paths forward for adapting to sea level rise. And last year, the county added a new policy that requires elevating county roads, canal banks and land parcels higher to avoid flooding all using fill. Thats not the case in some other flood-prone communities. Charleston, South Carolina, for example, actually banned the practice earlier this year for properties that are zero to six feet above sea level, despite pushback from the development industry there. That same rule would make waves in South Florida, where the average elevation is about six feet. But Miami-Dade, and most government regulators in South Florida, see positives in the use of fill. Obviously, it protects the new structures. And as sea rise shrinks the gap between groundwater and the surface, adding a few feet of fill makes more space for the ground to absorb water. Ive created room for that water to hide and go back to the water table and get it off the street, said Vince Seijas, director at large of the Florida Floodplain Managers Association. It also keeps underground pipes from sitting in water thats getting increasingly salty, which can shorten the life of sewage and drainage systems. But Seijas acknowledges it can be a double-edged sword. Now I have that extra storage capacity, but what happens to that extra runoff? he said. Elevation is good and it helps to an extent, but then you create that disparity with the existing inventory. That disparity can mean the difference between a dry house and water filling yards or seeping under doors. Dont flood your neighbors Floridas building code does include standards intended to deal with the problem of elevated land next to low spots at least in part. The newest code allows fill, even in flood-prone areas, as long as it doesnt send water or waves toward another building. And most places in Florida also have a no adverse impacts rule, which means new development is not supposed to worsen conditions for neighbors. Whatever youre going in to do, you have to demonstrate along with it that youre not impacting any of your neighbors, said Marina Blanco-Pape, director of Miami-Dade Countys water management division. New construction is supposed to be able to handle stormwater runoff at least from relatively routine rainfall within the confines of the property. And adding fill requires changes too. The formula works this way: For every cubic yard of dirt added to a property, regulations require developers to make plans to deal with that same amount of water. For big projects like a new housing development, developers have room to design for that. It can typically include a man-made lake or a series of deep swales to catch runoff from elevated homes. Two next-door homes along the Miami River show the impact of new building and elevation standards compared to older stock housing. Both homes are only one story, but the newer house appears nearly twice as tall as the older one. But when it comes to redeveloping a single property in an older neighborhood, things can get trickier. And thats because so many of South Floridas existing homes are old and low. Most of Miami-Dades old homes were built long before there were drainage standards, so theyre not up to snuff. Add the intensified rainfall, higher groundwater levels and higher tides brought by climate change, and its a recipe for more flooding. READ NEXT: Climate change could make freak events like Fort Lauderdales rain bomb more common And when one (or several) homes in a row of low houses get elevated, the lowest point where water used to collect is now concentrated on only a few properties, which may now experience more flooding. So is that the new, higher homes fault? Blanco-Pape said although it may seem like it to homeowners, in the eyes of flood regulators, it actually means the lower homes need to fix their drainage. That doesnt mean that the property is flooded by the next-door neighbor, that means that property needs to have some improvement in how they retain or manage their own stormwater, Blanco-Pape said. Whether or not a new development heightens flood risks for its neighbors is a touchy subject in South Florida, where lawsuits over the issue arent uncommon. Laura Inguanzo, 60, stands in front of her home in Palm Island on Tuesday, February 9, 2021. Her driveway slopes toward a road that the City of Miami Beach raised as part of the Palm and Hibiscus Islands resiliency project. Take Miami Beach, where raising roads has produced similar impacts, leading to lawsuits over increased yard flooding. Decades ago, building codes were designed to direct rain runoff from homes and yards to drain into the street, where the stormwater system sucked it away. But, as some West Avenue landlords argued in a lawsuit against Miami Beach, those raised roads effectively short-circuited the original drainage system. Other than general language about new development not flooding neighbors, floodplain manager Seijas said the building code is pretty ambiguous. It specifies that runoff can only flow to an approved location, and they leave it open, he said. There is also the question about the level of rainfall a property is designed to absorb. Old properties were built before any standards existed. And even new properties are only designed to handle so much maybe a couple of inches in a single day. Anything more is likely to flow to the lowest nearby location streets, or sometimes neighbors yards if the local municipal drainage system gets overwhelmed. People stand outside in flooded waters in the Edgewood neighborhood on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. A torrential downpour severely flooded streets partially submerging houses and cars across South Florida. With those systems designed to handle an average Florida rainstorms worth of water, that can happen multiple times during a rainy season. Fort Lauderdales floods, and the regular flooding in places like Sweetwater and Downtown Miami, are an example of the potential damage when the drainage cant keep up with nature. Some floodplain experts, like Schwalls, want to see updated rules about building on fill that address the concerns or at least do a better job of protecting low-lying neighbors. He said current regulations dont focus enough on hydrology, which is how runoff moves across land and where it might wind up. That issue isnt really addressed even though it sounds like it is in the regulations, Schwalls said. The regulations are behind the science. What about older homes? Eventually, as sea levels rise and the governments flood maps, which guide development, continue to update, homes and buildings in South Florida will have no choice but to elevate. Thats a foregone conclusion, Seijas said. But the reality is that step could take decades, even with South Floridas high rate of redevelopment. Most residents cant afford the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars it takes to elevate an old home or build a newer, higher house. And the short-term solutions, like flood barriers or landscaping that absorbs floodwater, are just that, short-term. This is really one of the remaining issues were going to have to look at as a matter of equity for the people who find themselves in these situations, said James Murley, Miami-Dade Countys chief resilience officer. A lone car is parked on a flooded street near the intersection of NE Bayshore Dr and NE 78 Rd Tuesday afternoon, November 9, 2021. The flooded streets were due to King Tides. One limited solution is to use government cash to buy the most flood-prone properties and possibly take them out of future development. But thats been tough to pull off in Miami-Dade. READ MORE: Buyouts take flood-prone Keys properties off the market. There are more sellers waiting The county took too long to buy out 10 homes flooded by Hurricane Irma and had to give back the federal funds earmarked for the project, but not before developers snapped some up. Afterward, Miami-Dade OKd even more dense development on one of the most flooded properties. Right now, Murley said, the countys big bet is on the federal project to protect Miami-Dades coastline from future storm surge, the back bay project. Its likely that the final version mostly paid for by the federal government will include cash to elevate thousands of homes in the county. However, thats a decade away, at best. In the Florida Keys, where elevation on stilts is already common, mainly because of the threat of hurricane storm surge, fill has long fallen out of favor for homes. In fact, the federal government recently approved a multi-million dollar project to protect the island chain from future storm surge. The biggest part of the project? Elevating thousands of homes on piles, not fill. Miami Herald Staff Writer Doug Hanks contributed to this story. As a student leader and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, I am deeply disappointed and disheartened by Florida's HB999. This dangerous bill not only seeks to restrain our academic freedom but also seeks to eradicate our culturally safe spaces on campus. This will inevitably make public campuses across the state targets for hate crimes. By prohibiting the teaching of certain concepts related to race and gender, HB999 seeks to silence important conversations that are necessary for addressing and dismantling inequality. Instead of promoting understanding and empathy among students, this bill promotes ignorance and division. Frankly, it is embarrassing and almost inconceivable that we are even having this conversation in 2023. Furthermore, the bill's proponents argue that it is necessary to prevent the so-called "indoctrination" of students. This argument is based on a false premise and is completely misleading. It insults not only instructors of the material to give an honest portrayal of our past and current society, but also removes any belief we have in students to think critically about our state and nations history. Teachers are not trying to indoctrinate students, but rather provide them with a nuanced understanding of the world in which they live. A world that has proven to be difficult for communities of color to find equitable opportunities for education, housing, and employment. By stifling these critical discussions and eliminating their ability to ask important, thought-provoking questions, we are doing a disservice to our students, who deserve to be prepared for the complexities of our ever evolving and diverse society. This dangerous trend of silencing marginalized communities can also stem from a broader societal issue of discrimination and systemic inequality. It is essential that we acknowledge that this bill is not just an isolated incident. It reflects the regressive mindsets of Republicans who fear losing their grip on power and influence as younger generations increasingly demand inclusivity for all. Moreover, the bill would prevent schools from starting and building affinity groups for students who share common experiences and identities, like the Black Student Union, the Hispanic/Latinx Student Union, PRIDE Student Union, the Asian American Student Union, and more at campuses like Florida State University and other public universities in Florida. These groups can be lifesaving and are essential for providing support and community to students who may otherwise feel isolated or marginalized. They are an important factor in the socialization of historically underrepresented students. By silencing these groups, we are denying students the opportunity to connect with others who share their struggles and triumphs. As student leaders, it is our responsibility to speak up and speak out against policies that threaten the safety and well-being of our peers. It is imperative that we stand together and demand that the administrations of our universities promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, rather than perpetuate division and exclusion. We cannot allow the backwards, cowardice views of a few to erase our history and we will not stand by while they try to silence and erase communities in our state. We urge the Florida legislature to reject HB999 and work towards creating a more inclusive and just society for all. Jonathan Oliva-Infante Jonathan Oliva-Infante is a third-year honors, first-generation Latinx college student studying political science. He currently serves as the President of the Florida State University Chapter of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity Incorporated. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Floridas intent on banning inclusion education stunts student preparation Prosecutors in Florida plan to seek the death penalty in a murder case against a plastic surgeon accused of the "heinous" killing of a lawyer, despite the fact the victim's body hasnt been found. Dr. Tomasz Roman Kosowski, 44, killed Steven Cozzi, an attorney who had been representing defendants in a case brought by Kosowski, on March 21 at his Largo, Florida, law office, prosecutors allege. Cozzi was seen entering the building and then disappeared, police say. Pinellas State Attorney Bruce Bartlett filed the notice of intent to seek the death penalty on Friday, according to FOX 13. Kosowki was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in late March. TEXAS WOMAN SARAH HARTSFIELD ACCUSED OF KILLING 5TH HUSBAND WITH INSULIN Surveillance footage shows a man police believed to be Kosowski pull up in a gray Toyota Tundra at about 8:32 a.m. that day and enter the building "wearing gloves, carrying a large box and wearing a large backpack," according to a probable cause affidavit. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Cozzi walked into his office minutes later, while Kosowski was allegedly lying in wait. At 10:22 a.m., the man believed to be Kosowski exited the building wearing a new outfit and "pulling behind him a large cart that appears to be heavy and have a red bag or blanket," the document alleges. Cozzi was never seen leaving the building, and his wallet, keys and cellphone remained on his desk. A co-worker, who went to look for Cozzi, "noted blood smeared on the bathroom door as well as blood on a stall wall and the bottom of the toilet," the affidavit says. Kosowski also passed a traffic camera while driving home from the office that caught a picture of "a red bag or blanket in a car that appeared to contain what resembles a human body located in the bed of the truck," according to police. A search of his truck allegedly uncovered a ballistic vest covered in blood and a bag containing "masks, a sun gun, brass knuckles, duct tape and intravenous sedatives," including a paralyzing agent and syringes, police said. Story continues WIFE OF FLORIDA MAN DISMEMBERED AFTER DELIVERING UBER EATS SENDS MESSAGE TO ACCUSED KILLER Prosecutors believe Kosowski murdered Cozzi in the law office bathroom with the help of the paralyzing agent. The Pinellas County State Attorney's office, citing the aggravating factors for seeking the death penalty, called the alleged murder "especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel"; saying it was committed in "a cold, calculated, and premeditated manner," court records said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Prosecutors alleged Kosowski also murdered Cozzi for financial gain because the lawsuit he brought was about billing practices. "It's my hope that maybe they will abandon that effort at some point," Kosowskis attorney Bjorn Brunvand told FOX 13 of prosecutors seeking the death penalty. "I think it's important to focus on the fact that I have filed a not guilty plea on behalf of my client, which affords him the presumption of innocence, and it's incredibly important that we all keep that in mind as we proceed forward." In Florida, only eight of 12 jurors are required to vote or the death penalty after it was revised from a previous unanimous requirement. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Pinellas County State Attorneys office and Brunvand for comment. Fox News' Rebecca Rosenberg contributed to this report. A robbery suspect leading Florida police on a high speed chase was shot 8 times by a convenience store clerk as he was attempting to carjack him. In a Facebook post , the Flagler County Sheriffs Office says that Qwinntavus Kwame Jordan walked into a Shell gas station in Flagler Beach and "alluded to having a firearm" which allowed him to walk out of the store with $90 in cash. Police located Jordans car on I-95 and began pursuing him until reaching the Florida-Georgia line where authorities in Georgia took over the chase and spike stripped Jordans car at which point he began fleeing on foot. According to the Facebook post, Jordan then "entered a nearby convenience store, brandished a firearm, and demanded the clerks car keys." FLORIDA TRIPLE TEEN HOMICIDE PROMPTS SHERIFF'S CALL FOR SOCIETAL CHANGE: 'OUR FAMILY UNIT HAS DEGRADED' Qwinntavus Kwame Jordan was arrested and taken to a hospital for his injuries after ha was shot 8 times by a Georgia store clerk Jordan got into the vehicle and started to flee but crashed the vehicle through the front of the store and then "exited the vehicle and chased the clerk and a customer through the store and a struggle ensued." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "The clerk, who was now armed, shot the suspect approximately 8 times according to Georgia authorities," police said. TEXAS SHOOTING: SUSPECT ACCUSED OF KILLING 5 NEIGHBORS AFTER REQUEST TO STOP FIRING RIFLE Jordan was arrested and taken to the hospital where he was said to be in critical condition. Police say the investigation is ongoing and that Jordan was a fugitive wanted for armed robbery in Georgia at the time of his arrest. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "I commend our Real Time Crime Center team for quickly developing suspect information and his vehicle and thank all the agencies that assisted in apprehending this armed and dangerous fugitive," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in the press release. "I also commend the Georgia store clerk that put a swift end to this dirtbag's crime spree. If he survives his injuries, he should spend a long time in prison." With Democrats saying the proposal could lead to racial profiling, the Florida Senate on Friday passed an immigration package that Republican supporters said is aimed at forcing the federal government to address an invasion of migrants into the country. The bill includes a number of provisions requested by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who drew national attention last year after his administration flew 49 migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard in Massachusetts. The measure includes $12 million for similar efforts, steering the money to the state Division of Emergency Management for the Unauthorized Alien Transport program. DeSantis and the Legislature in recent years have passed a series of changes to target illegal immigration, including a 2019 law that banned so-called sanctuary cities. A federal appeals court this month tossed out a constitutional challenge to that law. The governor has made immigration changes one of his top priorities for the legislative session scheduled to end May 5. The Senate bill (SB 1718) would require businesses with 25 or more workers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the immigration status of employees. Since 2021, such businesses have been required to use E-Verify, or what is known as I-9 forms. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< The bill also would beef up sanctions against businesses that hire undocumented immigrants, allow state law-enforcement officials to conduct random audits of businesses compliance with the law and increase penalties for human smuggling. We can no longer turn a blind eye to whats happening. It is time for us, the state of Florida, to step up and tell the federal government to fix this problem because we are no longer standing for it, bill sponsor Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, said. The measure would require hospitals to track how much money is spent treating undocumented immigrants in emergency rooms, a requirement that Democrats warned could have disastrous results for sick or injured people who might not seek treatment because they dont want to disclose their immigration status. Story continues We have 14- and 15-year-old Haitian American rape victims who will now not go to the hospital, Sen. Jason Pizzo, a Hollywood Democrat who is a former prosecutor, argued. You allow the worst of society to continue to do incredible harm and damage and injury because they know that their victims wont say a word and wont come forward. But Sen. Jonathan Martin, who also is a former prosecutor, said the state needs to find out how much it is spending on health care for people who are in the country illegally. Weve got to find out where a large chunk of the states budget is going. A third of our budget is healthcare costs. We have to know what percentage of that is being caused directly by the federal government, Martin, R-Fort Myers, said, referring to federal immigration policies. Read: 3 juveniles injured in shooting on International Drive, one in critical condition, deputies say The plan also would ban local governments from giving money to organizations to create identification cards for undocumented immigrants and would establish that Florida will not recognize drivers licenses issued to undocumented immigrants in other states. The bill also would change a human-smuggling law to make it a felony for someone to transport into the state an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know has entered the country illegally. Critics of the proposal said it would put people at risk of being arrested when they are accompanying family members or friends who are undocumented immigrants. Sen. Victor Torres, D-Orlando, indicated the measure could lead to racial profiling. Torres pointed to testimony from an Orlando-area pastor who opposed the bill, saying it could result in the arrest of people who attend church. Were not talking about criminals. Were talking about families that are getting away from those countries that rape their daughters, that human trafficking we talked about here. Thats what theyre escaping from. And for the life of me, I cant understand why we go after them, Torres said. Sen. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, argued that the bill was politically motivated to aid DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024. The Republican-controlled Senate voted 27-10 along party lines to pass the measure. This bill wouldnt have ever come forward if there was a Republican in the White House. Sen. Martin said its easy to fix the immigration system. Then why has no administration, even the build-the-wall one, managed to do it? Polsky said, referring to former Republican President Donald Trump. Its been decades, and its infuriating. The gaslighting, the dehumanization of human beings that is going on in this chamber because of this bill. You think it might help you politically, but its not the right thing to do. Read: Burn Ban lifted in Seminole County following storms Democrats also argued immigration laws are the purview of the federal government, not the state. But Ingoglia, a former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said the measure is intended to force federal officials to address what he called an immigration crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border. In the last two years alone, 5 million people have attempted to cross our country illegally at our southern border, said Ingoglia, adding that right now there are 660,000 migrants at the border waiting to be processed by federal officials. That is three times the amount the Russians put on the Ukrainian border right before they invaded. So you tell me, is that an invasion or not? he said. Speaking to reporters before the vote, Senate President Kathleen Passidomo defended the legislation. If you make it easy for undocumented immigrants to come to your state, without having proper documentation, then you are going to attract more and more. That doesnt make sense, Passidomo, R-Naples, said. The bottom line is that the federal government needs to fix it, and I dont know why they dont. We talk about it and talk about it and talk about it, but they dont do anything about it. If they would fix it, we wouldnt be doing this. Read: Storms move out of Central Florida; cool, windy conditions move in this afternoon But critics warned the measure would put immigrants and their allies in danger. It would make life hard in so many ways for undocumented immigrants but also neighbors, Benjamin Feliciano, pastor of the Rosa de Saron Church in Fort Myers, said in a statement earlier this week. This bill would restrict our ability to follow the tenets of our faith through the call to help others. This bill would literally tear at the fabric of our community, much of which has been rebuilt through neighbors, immigrants and U.S. citizens working side by side. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Florida Department of Education is investigating an elected superintendent who is a fierce critic of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Superintendent Rocky Hanna says he is being targeted for expressing his "political beliefs." Hanna has criticized the governor's education policies and has encouraged teachers to ignore political pressure. Florida is threatening to remove an elected school superintendent who has been critical of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna publicly criticized DeSantis for the governor's ban on mask mandates at schools during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. And at the beginning of the fall semester, Hanna sent an email to school staff telling them to ignore political pressure in the state and "continue to teach the standards just as you have always done." Now Hanna may be facing retribution. The state education department gave Hanna an ultimatum in early April to either attend a hearing or risk being fined, put on probation, or even having his teaching license revoked, the Tallahassee Democrat reported. In a letter to Hanna, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr. said the department had cause to "justify sanctions against your Florida educator certificate," according to the outlet. Hanna told The Daily Beast that he believes the state's investigation stems from a letter sent by a Moms for Liberty leader to DeSantis last year. Moms for Liberty is a conservative parent group that originated in Florida and advocates for the removal of books from classrooms it deems inappropriate and has worked to get members elected to school board positions. The letter the group sent to DeSantis complained about the email Hanna sent to school staff at the beginning of the school year. The letter was penned by Brandi Andrews, the vice chair of the Leon County chapter of Moms for Liberty, and was stamped with "Let's Go Brandon" at the bottom, a phrase used by conservatives as an insult to President Joe Biden. Story continues "How this is being handled and the tactics the Florida Department of Education is using to create this 'investigation,' are certainly a serious cause for concern not just for myself, but for any superintendent or school employee in the state of Florida," Hanna told The Daily Beast. Hanna and the Leon County School District did not immediately return Insider's request for comment on Sunday. According to The Daily Beast, Diaz said the education department's justification for sanctions against Hanna was that his email could cause teachers to express "their own individual political and religious views on students and teachers failing to teach with fidelity the Florida standards." Leon County is also where in March the school board forced a principal to resign after parents complained that sixth graders were shown photos of Michelangelo's David. The DeSantis administration has also retaliated against Disney for criticizing the governor's so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which he signed into law last March. It prevents teachers from holding classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity. Read the original article on Business Insider Food bank leaders sounded an alarm about worsening food insecurity at the Pierce County Council meeting Thursday, saying that more than one in 10 county residents struggle daily with having enough food to eat, as do one in six kids. Michelle Douglas, the CEO of Lakewood non-profit Emergency Food Network, told the council her organization and its partners have never seen so much wide-spread poverty and hunger in Pierce County, even during the height of the pandemic. What I would want you to know is that these are pretty rough times, Douglas said. Many of us thought wed seen the height of food insecurity during the COVID pandemic. And what I can tell you is weve actually never seen higher numbers than were experiencing at this point in time. Douglas and others at the meeting said economic insecurity has forced tens of thousands of residents to make daily heart-wrenching decisions about whether to spend money on things like food, housing or medical needs. Given the high cost of living and housing rates in Pierce County, many go hungry to make ends meet, Douglas said. Feeding America, a non-profit organization that serves as a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, estimates one in 10 people in Washington suffer from food insecurity and malnutrition (which equates to about 94,860 adults and children). I can tell you if we were on the ground today, it would be higher, Douglas said. It might be closer to one in eight. People of color, active military members, seniors, children and families with children are more likely to face food insecurity nationwide due to a variety of factors, including pay disparities, housing and rental prices, child care costs and access to affordable and healthy food, she said. Black, Indigenous, Hispanic and other people of color who live in Pierce County were 1.5 times more likely to be food insecure than white residents, according to the results of a survey of about 400 people conducted by the University of Washington and Washington State University. Story continues A state-wide survey also conducted by the University of Washington and Washington State University found that 55% of households surveyed used at least one type of food assistance within the past month and 31% of households with children reported very low food security. Groceries were reported as the leading expense of concern for all income levels. Aging adults in Pierce County ranked food as their top need/priority, according to a survey from Pierce Countys Aging and Disabilities Resources division. Adults with disabilities ranked food as their fourth highest need. It is staggering, that level of hardship Between February 2022 and February 2023, food prices rose 10.4% in the Seattle, Tacoma and Bellevue area, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Currently, food pantries and food banks are seeing more people using their services whove never had to before, Douglas said. The Emergency Food Network has seen 100% more visitors now than in 2019, she said. It is staggering, that level of hardship At one point we had a statistic that most visitors to the food pantry would [visit] at most about three times a year. What we know now is we see many of those same working families every single week, she said. So as their budgets have gotten incredibly, incredibly stretched, it has become impossible every week to be able to feed your family. And I dont think thats what we want for our community. In Pierce County, the fastest-growing group of people visiting the food pantry is parents who have one to three jobs in their household, Douglas said. More than half, 52%, of Pierce County students qualify for free and reduced lunch, Douglas said in her presentation. Many families didnt know they needed to sign up for free and reduced-cost lunches because they didnt have to during the height of the pandemic, she said. I want to really highlight what we saw in 2022. Its the biggest year emergency food services in Pierce County has ever seen. Were not a grocery store. We dont like it when we sell more, right? We find it devastating, Douglas said. In 2022 there were 2 million visits to the network, just in our community. And not every food pantry thats located in Pierce County is part of the Emergency Food Network. Douglas said her organization gets an average of five calls per week from food pantries telling them theyre out of food. And this is not about we need to stretch it further, or mismanagement. It is about a level of need that we have literally never experienced before, she said. Whats being done At Thursdays meeting the County Council unanimously approved a resolution proclaiming May 2023 as Hunger Awareness Month and council members thanked the Emergency Food Network and its partners for their work in the community. An average of 172,813 people visit local food pantries each month and the Emergency Food Network distributes more than 12 million pounds of food to its more than 75 partner food pantries, meal sites and shelters every year, according to the resolution. Council member Robyn Denson said she met with some community organizations who serve children on the Key Peninsula that morning. Denson said a major topic of conversation was summer approaching and concern about where and if children will be able to access food when they cannot get free or reduced meals at school. During COVID kids got free food in school and that has ended, at least for our school district, Denson said. Our school districts have seen a drop off in the families that are applying for free and reduced lunch. So getting those families back online is important, not only so their kids can eat but also so that the school district gets the funding it needs to feed the kids. Denson said healthy good quality food is essential for childrens growth, learning, happiness and development into successful and productive members of society. Council member Jani Hitchen said it is heartbreaking to see students try and learn on an empty stomach. Hitchen said in publicly acknowledging food insecurity she hopes it will motivate more people to donate food and other goods to help their neighbors in need. Douglas said the geographic size of Pierce County is huge, so we need food pantries where people are. The Emergency Food Network has been doing work to reduce barriers to food access in Pierce County in a way that preserves residents dignity and health, she said. The network also is working to offer food that residents want to eat and know how to prepare, including cultural foods and fresh produce grown locally at Mother Earth Farm. With no food pantry on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Douglas said, her organization has been trying to help the staggering quantity of active duty military members needing access to food pantries with home delivery services and events along the borders of the base. Douglas emphasized the importance of partnership and collaboration in addressing food insecurity. What Im really telling you is that hunger is not going to be solved in Pierce County by Emergency Food Network. Its not going to be solved by any of our partners. Its going to be solved by all of us working together, Douglas said. It is going to take every single one of us to make an impact. Douglas said recent loss of benefits and cuts to temporary social service programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly referred to as SNAP benefits, threatens to worsen the hunger crisis and contributes to long-term impacts of poverty, including poor health outcomes, low quality of life and homelessness. Many of the supports that we saw in 2020, theyre gone. Government food assistance is down by 60%. The amount of donated product is down significantly across the entire country, Douglas said. With fewer food donations recently, Douglas said, weve been buying food at record rates, over $1.6 million worth of food, which is over a million pounds of food. Anika Moran, a special advisor to the director of Pierce County Human Services, said the county addressed food insecurity in several ways during the pandemic, including the SNAP Market Match program, which increased SNAP benefit recipients purchasing power at farmers markets. Food-related programming is also embedded into other services offered by Pierce County, including Aging and Disability Resources, Community Action Programs, Veterans Assistance Programs, Washington State University Extension and Ukrainian Arrival Contracts, Moran said. Douglas thanked the Pierce County Council for funding food operations at the Emergency Food Network and other affordable housing projects, but said there is still dire need. Pierce County allocated $960,000 in the 2022-2023 budget to the Emergency Food Network. We have never been busier. Every month this year, so January, February, March, April I just keep thinking were going to hit a slowdown, right, that has to come? But instead, every month were up 40% over last years numbers. So in a way the level of need is even so much more significantly high right now than it was in the height of the pandemic, she said. We want a community that is not just barely surviving. We want a community that is thriving. For more information on ways to get involved or donate to the Emergency Food Network visit their website. An ex-Marietta teacher and music minister have been sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to his involvement in a child molestation case. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] It all started in Jan. 2021, when a boy told his middle school teacher, that he and his younger brother had been exposed to inappropriate behavior by a family friend between Oct. and Dec. 2020. After speaking to the two brothers separately, Cobb County detectives learned that the family friend, identified as Freddie Early, 50, had been grooming them. Officials said Early was a teacher aid at Dunleith Elementary School who also handled in-school suspensions. He was also the music minister at Reset Church in Morrow. Authorities said Early would attend the boys church from time to time. Early reportedly purchased gifts for the boys, took them to dinner, and allowed them to hang out at his home. According to Cobb officials, he began walking around his home with his private parts out and made sexually explicit comments to the brothers. One of the incidents was reportedly recorded by one of the brothers, without Early knowing. TRENDING STORIES: After Early was arrested, he voluntarily gave up his teaching license. During the plea hearing, the boys spoke about how the incidents affected them. Superior Court Judge Ann B. Harris said, Youre a groomer and molester. You preyed on the trust of two motherless teenage boys who needed someone. You victimized them then and again today. This is shameful conduct. I cant fix what happened, but I can make sure there are no more victims. On Friday, Early pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation. Harris sentenced Early to 10 years in prison followed by 10 years on probation. Story continues [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] If you or someone you know has been impacted by child abuse or child sexual assault, youre urged to contact SafePath Childrens Advocacy Center for assistance at 770-801-3465 or Cobb County Police Department Special Victims Unit at 770-801-3470. IN OTHER NEWS: Former PCSO William Redwood admitted 33 charges including making, taking and distributing indecent images of children and urging a child to engage in sexual activity. (SWNS) A former police community support officer (PCSO) has been jailed for six years for 'abhorrent' child sex offences. William Redwood, 24, admitted 33 charges including making, taking and distributing indecent images of children and urging a child to engage in sexual activity. A court heard the former officer from Surrey Police abused boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17. The offences took place from 2016 to 2020 when Redwood was between 17 and 22-years-old. He pleaded guilty at a hearing in July 2022 and was sentenced to six years in prison on Friday. The crimes were discovered in 2020 when Redwood's supervisor raised concerns that he had formed an inappropriate relationship and accessed confidential police information without a legitimate purpose. His mobile phone was seized and indecent images of children were found. The investigation was then passed to Surrey Polices paedophile online investigation team. Redwood resigned prior to an internal misconduct hearing that took place in December 2020. During the hearing he was placed on the barred list and told that he would have been dismissed if he had not resigned. William Redwood served as a PCSO with Surrey Police from 2019 until his crimes were unearthed by colleagues and reported. (Getty) Redwood joined Surrey Police as a PCSO based in Runnymede in October 2019. Speaking after the case, deputy chief constable Nev Kemp said: This case has had a devastating impact on the victims involved and I commend them for their bravery in providing us with statements which led to him pleading guilty at an earlier hearing. I hope all those affected by his abhorrent criminal actions can take some comfort in the fact that he is now behind bars and that it gives them some closure. Redwood was based in Runnymede, Surrey, before he resigned from his duties as a PCSO. (Getty) Read more from Yahoo News UK: Abandoned mortuary that sold for twice its guide price may be turned into a spooky Airbnb 'It feels very Game of Thrones': Call to swear allegiance to King branded 'feudal' Dog walker, 36, 'murdered in park by two boys and girl all aged 15' It is extremely regrettable that Redwood had the privilege of serving as a PCSO with Surrey Police. As soon as these concerns came to light, he was suspended from duty and a thorough and determined investigation was carried out. Story continues A subsequent misconduct hearing found that he would have been dismissed had he not resigned. He added: Surrey Police will always proactively seek to identify and remove individuals who fail to abide by the standards of professional behaviour or meet the rigorous expectations of the public. The severity of the custodial sentence given to him today is welcome and reflects the gravity of his offending and marks the conclusion of a traumatic and complex investigation. Author Ray Waddles interest in religious issues may have started when he was a kid growing up in the Broadmoor neighborhood in Shreveport. The neighborhood was surrounded by houses of worship. What made them different? Was Gods message the same in them all? Civil rights and Vietnam and pop music were surgingwhat did all these churches have to say? Waddle said. We attended church every weeka United Methodist congregation several miles away We passed a lot of churches along the way. Why so many denominations? I think I became a writer to ask questions and find out. Writing about religion as a journalist and book author became a way to write about America itself. It meant hearing personal stories of faith and struggle, how all kinds of people put together their own experiences of God or spiritual quests, he said. "This Grand Errand" by Ray Waddle That journey led Waddle to write This Grand Errand: A Bicentennial History Of Yale Divinity School, a comprehensive look at the school and its impact on theology, religious life and culture across two centuries. The book is an outgrowth of Waddles work since 2007 as editor of the schools Reflections, a journal that explores theological dimensions in national issues. It was a great project to undertakethe story of a historic divinity school, the way it has always approached Christian belief as a matter of both mind and heart, he said. The school continues to be a leading educator of ministers, scholars, chaplains, nonprofit innovators, denominational executives and deans of theological schools. Why religion matters in todays world The world is a battered place these days, anxious and grieving. Organized religion is suffering declines in many places. Can it recover? Its a worrisome question. But history is a fluid dynamo, unpredictable and so are the winds of the Spirit. Faith traditions have the capacity to teach their doctrines in new ways, revisit the strange power of scripture, rediscover the poetry of belief, respond to human pain, pay attention to the questions of new generations. Sociologists used to predict the disappearance of religion in the face of secularism. I dont hear those predictions anymore. Story continues Waddle thinks of congregations as firewalls of hope. They give people room to pray, connect, exchange the peace, sing, repair, heal, attend to the soul, retain trust in the universe or find it again. People will always seek these things. Hope in faith traditions People are understandably alarmed or exhausted by the eras bad news and runaway technology, but a basic human condition carries on. It is still attuned to spiritual answers, it feels awe, it imagines reconciliation. Faith traditions remind the world theres a bigger narrative going on, a cosmic story were invited to join: Gods dream for human dignity, community and creation. Its a counterweight to despair and egotism. To me this is what hope is: The mysterious divine presence will get the last word. Its not always easy, but I think of hope as something practical and realistic, not a form of wishful thinking against all odds. Hope makes room for a skeptical view of human conduct while trusting a Creator that still abides. Hope admits lifes terrible brokenness, but it can give people a sense of purpose in the sacred adventure. Ray Waddle More about the author Waddle has also written three other thoughtful books, which I recommendUndistorted God (Abingdon Press, 2014), drawing on his journalistic encounters over the years to flesh out new angles on Christian experience; Against The Grain: Unconventional Wisdom from Ecclesiastes(Upper Room, 2005), commentary on the strangest book in the Bible; and A Turbulent Peace: The Psalms for Our Time (Upper Room, 2003), which meditates on each of the 150 Psalms. He worked as a reporter at The Shreveport Times from 1981-84, then as religion editor at The Tennessean in Nashville from 1984-2001. (Fun fact: Waddle and I interned at The Times together when we were college students.) And his thank you to Caddo teachers My Caddo Parish teachers provided vocational discovery: Elizabeth Lawson (journalism class, senior year, Captain Shreve); Marie Rinaudo (English, senior year); Beverly Sibley (typing class, ninth grade, Youree Drive). Im grateful to all of them. Columnist Judy Christie is the author of 18 books, including the fictional Gone to Green series and the nonfiction Before and After: The Incredible Real-Life Stories of Orphans Who Survived the Tennessee Childrens Home Society. Co-authored with Lisa Wingate, it is the true sequel to Wingates bestselling novel Before We Were Yours. For more about Christie, see www.judychristie.com or follow her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JudyChristieAuthor. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Former Shreveporter chronicles divinity school history, reflects on religion Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Continental Holdings Inc. during an event in Chicago on Wednesday, April 24, 2019. Credit - Jim YoungBloomberg/Getty Images I first met Oscar Munoz when he spoke at our TIME100 Summit in 2019 about the turnaround he was leading at United Airlines. In the years since, weve had conversations about numerous topics ranging from leadership in crisis (a mandatory skill in the airline industry) and his pushback against shrink to growth as a business strategy to my own parochial pet peeves about Newark Airport. But it wasnt until reading his new book, which publishes this week, that I learned about his remarkable life storyor just how close to death he was in the hours after suffering a heart attack in his first weeks on the job as CEO. Called Turnaround Time, borrowed from the measure of how quickly a plane can land and then take off again, the book describes Munozs journey: moving between villages in Mexico with his grandmother; coming to the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant (a Dreamer long before DACA, as he puts it); touring Harvard College as a young surfer dudehe declined their admission offer; and ultimately becoming CEO of a major public company. Today, he sits on several corporate boards, including Univision, CBRE, and Salesforce, whose co-founder and CEO Marc Benioff is TIMEs owner. This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity. Walter Isaacson, our mutual friend, United board member, and former TIME editor, writes in the foreword that this is, both in a corporeal and metaphorical sense, a book about the heart. Lets start with the metaphorical. Theres a scene where your executive team, minutes before youre about to go get a heart transplant, makes a formal decision that youre going to start with listening to employees and improving employee relations as a first priority among the many problems the company was facing. Was that a decision unique to United in that moment, where you had such terrible morale post-Continental merger, and with a heavily unionized workforce? Or is that a general business philosophy? Its probably a slight hybrid. Airlines are a completely decentralized workforce. Your interaction with a gate agent, or with a flight attendant, thats mostly what youll remember from your flight. And so the leadership approach from my perspective was, how do you capture the hearts and minds of thousands of employees who are so distributed, for whom the level of discretionary effort theyll put forward is dependent in part on how theyre feeling. Story continues Theres a point also early on where a flight attendant says something that really stuck with you. That was the seminal moment. After a little bit of prompting, she broke down in tears and angrily said, Oscar, Im just tired of always having to say Im sorry. Im sorry were late. Im sorry we have sh-tty coffee. It was a point where people would almost rather say they were unemployed than work at United. Chief executive officer of United Airlines Oscar Munoz speaks during the Time 100 Summit event on April 23, 2019, in New York. Don EmmertAFP/Getty Images Switching gears to the corporeal. Youre 37 days into the job as United CEO. You have a massive heart attack, the kind that is almost always deadly, and then you need a transplant. And I kept thinking as I read it, does he really want to keep doing this job? You could easily have concluded that your body had a lot of work to do and you want to live first. The decision to stay at the end of the day for everyone, including my family, was an easy one. Even though I was only 37 days of going out into our network and traveling, and seeing people all hours of the night, and making these connections, the decision was evident by the letters and banners and flowers and food that kept coming to my apartment. There were bags of letters, an outpouring. And when my kids read them, it was just one of those things where its like, Dad, you have to go back, these people really want you. There was also a nurse who said, You know there are two kinds of people that come in here: One is why did this happen to me? The other is, why was I spared? I have a further purpose. You were vegan, an avid runner and biker, no prior signs of heart disease. And you have this horrific heart attack. What have you taken from that? You dont have to look like a walking heart attack to be vulnerable to one. Sometimes when it hits you, it is just genetics. I never knew my father. So I didnt have that history. Or theres just something weak in a particular part of your heart that is hard to diagnose without an invasive test. When it happened to me, I crawled to my phone, called 911 and gave them my address. Because you know, Im on the 50th floor of an apartment building in Chicago. And theyre not going to find you just through GPS. Your personal journey is truly remarkablebeing raised by your grandmother in Mexico and at first not even recognizing your mother when you joined her in the U.S., one of nine kids in your family, so many challenges and barriers in your childhood. How do you see your early life story shaping your later life story? It was accidents, but it was also caring humans reaching out along the way to someone in whom they saw promise in some way, and acting on it. And thats the through line, its my philosophy, my duty to care, I call it. Why sit and listen? Because throughout my entire life there has always been somebody around me that has watched out for me, and kind of pushed me in the right direction. You write that your grandmother, who was a maid at a Las Vegas hotel well into her 80s, was on your mind as you corrected that first response to the incident where a United passenger was violently dragged off the plane and injured. At first, the advice was around how to spin and because it was on a partner airline and not a United Aircraft, it was the Chicago police authority, etc. So we had lots of reasons why to say it wasnt us. Other than the reality is like, OK, bullsh-t, youre deep into this. Trying to sneak your way out is not going to make practical sense. At the end of the day, its your fault. So just own it. And thats what my grandmother would have done. My final words that came out on Good Morning America were me thinking about, in essence, what would she do in this situation. She would not blame others, she would not try to spin, she would just say, Listen, I let those policies and procedures get in the way of doing the right thing for another human being. In writing about the decisions that every CEO now faces, around when to speak out on topics of public policy, you say that silence sometimes becomes a vice. And you describe certain topics that you spoke out about while at United, including the Trump zero tolerance immigration policy that separated children from their families. How do you think about that dilemma of when to speak out on a topic that might or might not seem core to your stockholders? You have to think about your purpose and vision as a company. Ours was connecting people to the things that matter most, and uniting the world given that we traveled to the most countries of any airline. We have so many different cultures embedded in our workforce that the concept of diversity and inclusion and awareness is something that we did naturally do. Of course, I have my views, but theyre not the companys views. I have to keep them private. But this situation of separating children from their parents, what part of connecting people and uniting the world does that reflect? You write about what you call knowledge of contribution, a way for people to understand themselves and what theyre really a fit for and what they are not. It routes back to the concept of knowing yourself. I always use a simple example. If youre a plumber, and youre the best plumber in the world, if the job is a plumbing job, youre going to do great. If its not a plumbing job, but you take it anyway, the likelihood of success is not great. Get people around you who are really honest with you. I speak about leadership a lot. And Im always careful to allow people the one choice they have in how they lead: figure out who you are, and what you do best. Not what you want to be, not what others want you to be. That is the root DNA thats going to affect every decision. As an aviation outsider before you came to the airline industry, what was your biggest surprise? How personal it is, both to the people that work inside it and the people that fly. I mean, theres not a single person who flies and doesnt have an opinion about 1,000 little different things. Theyre not just a number, theyre not just a seat number, theyre not just a confirmation number. Theyre humans headed to someplace that matters to them. And you cant please everyone. But you can certainly try to put your best foot forward. And that comes from the heart, and from genuine discretionary effort. If you can get an organization to feel that way about what they do, youre going to have a better chance of making someone feel really good about their flight. By the way, the reward for having a really good flight is you dont hear a damn word about it. But any slight blip? Oh my God. Are there lessons you now have for the rest of us that would make us more effective, happier travelers? Yes. When youre flying, try to understand that you are not the only person who has something to get to, youre not the only one who has an event, youre not the only one who is in a rush, youre not the only one who hit traffic or who somebody looked at the wrong way. These are people who work their asses off for you. Theres no one in the airline going, Oh Edwards flying today, lets see how we can mess with him. Cancel that one flight. I was speaking at an event the day that Southwest had its meltdown. A lot of people in the audience had to fly, and this mans question was, What would you have us do as we try to figure out how to get home? And the answer was simple. Give them a handshake because they had zero to do with the situation that somebody in corporate caused. Theyre having a worst day, because every single human that theyve touched today is angry at them. So this concept of civility, and caring, is my best advice writ large. A U.S. Army post formerly named after the leader of the Confederate army during the Civil War is now named in honor of Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams, two Black U.S. Army trailblazers. The Virginia post, which has been known as Fort Lee, is now renamed Fort Gregg-Adams, ABC News reported. Gregg served in the Army for 35 years beginning in 1946. He was the first Black quartermaster officer to rise to the rank of brigadier general. The trailblazer also became the first Black officer in the Army to reach a three-star rank when he was promoted to lieutenant general. I hope that this community will look with pride on the name Fort Gregg-Adams and that the name will instill pride in every soldier entering our mighty gates, Gregg said during a redesignation ceremony on Thursday. Adams took a break from her pursuit of a masters degree in psychology to serve in the Womens Army Auxiliary Corps during World War I. At age 25, Adams lead the only predominantly Black women unit in the European Theater of Operations, delivering mail to and from soldiers fighting in Europe. Gregg raved about Adams legacy. Her performance in getting the mail delivered in a very chaotic environment has made the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion a legend that gets bigger every day, he said. Maj. Gen. Mark Simerly, commanding general of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and senior commander of Fort Lee, said the two trailblazers led with dignity. They looked the part, they maintained their composure and they led by example, Simerly said according to ABC News. In short, these two epitomize the professional qualities we seek in every leader who wears the uniform of the United States Army. Gregg, who enlisted when the military was still segregated, is the only living soldier in modern history to have an installation named in his honor, NPR reported. Adams worked as a high school math teacher while pursuing a masters degree in psychology at the Ohio State University. The South Carolina native stood up against racism and sexism when she served with the 6888th Central Postal Directory in England. Story continues In her memoir, Adams said a general came to inspect her battalion and threatened to send a white first lieutenant down here to show you how to run this unit. Over my dead body, sir, Adams said she told the general. According to Simerly, Adams repeatedly took a stand against the notion of separate but equal facilities for Black and white soldiers. Adams served in Europe until 1945, then briefly worked at the Pentagon until she was discharged the following year. The veteran returned to college to complete her masters in vocational psychology. Adams died in 2002. An FBI agent called suspect Francisco Oropeza, 38, "armed and dangerous". The FBI said they are hunting for a man accused of killing five of his neighbours in Texas after an argument about him practice-shooting nearby. Suspect Francisco Oropeza, 38, is "armed and dangerous", an FBI agent said. He allegedly opened fire on his neighbours after they asked him to stop shooting because they were trying to put a baby to sleep. The victims were all from Honduras, and included an eight-year-old child. They have now been identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. "He's out there, and he's a threat to the community," FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge James Smith told reporters. Local Sheriff Greg Capers said: "We are tracking him with dogs and men on horseback and drones in the air." "He could be anywhere now," he added. The shooting happened on Friday night in the small town of Cleveland, San Jacinto County, north of Houston. The local sheriff's office said it initially received a call about "harassment". Investigators believe that the victims had asked Mr Oropeza, who it is thought had been drinking, to stop shooting as a baby was trying to sleep. Police say the suspect replied: "I'll shoot out in my front yard, do what I want to in my own residence." After both parties returned to their houses, the gunman "topped off his magazine, and walked down his driveway... into the people's house and started shooting," Sheriff Capers earlier said. A total of 10 people were at the property at the time. The adults were declared dead at the scene, and the eight-year-old died at a hospital. The gunman is believed to have used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Those killed were shot "almost execution style", above the neck at close range, Sheriff Capers said. Honduras' foreign minister, Enrique Reina, tweeted: "We demand that the full weight of the law be applied against those who are responsible for this crime." Story continues The incident came days after nine people were injured at a shooting during a teenagers' party in western Texas. Two weeks ago four young people were shot dead during a 16th birthday party in Alabama. Firearm incidents are the top cause of death for US children and teenagers, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Bloomberg) -- Italian proxy adviser Frontis has backed calls for Enel SpA shareholders to turn down the governments candidate for chairman of the company, in a clash over nominations made by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Most Read from Bloomberg Ahead of a shareholders meeting to pick the new board of state-controlled utility Enel on May 10, Frontis rejected the governments slate for the board and described its pick for the chairmanship Paolo Scaroni, an industry veteran and ex-CEO at oil major Eni SpA, as not independent, according to a report seen by Bloomberg. Frontis instead supported banking executive Marco Mazzucchelli as the next chairman, and a slate proposed by London-based fund Covalis Capital which says it owns about 1% of Enels shares. Frontis said in an online statement later Sunday that its report was carried out for a single investor client. It added that it does not issue voting recommendations to investors in general, and that its analyses are based on guidelines from each client. Read more: Battle for Enel Heats Up as Glass Lewis, Mondrian Defy Italy (2) Mazzucchelli was initially proposed earlier this month by Covalis which came out against the governments list of board candidates, calling the nomination process opaque. Key proxy adviser Glass Lewis & Co. LLC, as well as Mondrian Investment Partners which says it owns about 1.7% of Enel, have backed Mazzucchelli. The dispute marks the first-ever shareholder battle over board nominations at Enel, Italys largest listed company, and is a stark challenge to Meloni whos sought to portray her right-wing government as pro-business. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. For the third time in six weeks, a gay adult book and novelty store in the U.K. was vandalized in a hammer attack. Last Monday, Clonezone in Manchester had its glass storefront windows smashed by two masked men on a distinctively colored motorcycle. The store had been similarly attacked twice before in recent weeks in what police now describe as a targeted attack on the LGBTQ+ business. Beyond heartbroken to be putting this statement out again, Clonezone Manchester posted to Instagram. According to a statement from the Greater Manchester Police, two masked people on a pink or distinctive-looking red motorcycle approached Clonezone on Sackville Street. Surveillance video obtained by Manchester Evening News shows one of the attackers jumping off the back of the motorcycle and using a hammer to repeatedly smash the windows of the shop. After the attack, the person jumps back on the motorcycle and the two people speed away from the scene. Chief Inspector Wignall of CoM said: GMP will not tolerate these kinds of mindless acts of vandalism in the city and as such, we are providing ongoing support to the owners of the shop, whilst we thoroughly investigate these incidents, Chief Inspector Wignall said in a statement. This appears to be targeted to this one particular shop and we have increased patrols in the area, providing reassurance to the local community and shop owners. Police released CCTV pictures of Mondays attack and asked for the publics help in identifying the two individuals. Clonezone appeared little comforted by the efforts of the investigation to date, though, saying in its post to social media that the police response has in no uncertain terms failed us and allowed these attacks to continue to happen. Clonezone posted to social media after its glass front door was deliberately damaged by vandals on the evening of Thursday, April 13. That attack followed a similar incident of vandalism targeting the store that took place last month on Wednesday, March 22. Story continues Police are hoping the motorcycle might help identify the suspects. If there is anyone who can ID these two people, particularly through the distinctive motorcycle they were on, we would urge them to get in touch with us, Wignall said. Similarly, any dashcam or doorbell footage that can be provided, we would welcome this. Anyone with information on the incident should contact the GMP online at www.gmp.police.uk or the outside charity online at Crimestoppers. All tips can be reported anonymously. A Carroll County man was sentenced this week after being found guilty of hiding the body of a man in his backyard. According to Carroll County Sheriff officials, on Jan. 20, 2020, around 4:44 p.m., deputies were called to investigate a death at a home on Rose Street in Carrollton. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] When deputies arrived, they found the body of 20-year-old Christopher Taylor Cook of Carrollton in the homes backyard covered with brush. Investigators determined Cook was shot and killed. Authorities did not say what led to the shooting. TRENDING STORIES: Witnesses identified 41-year-old Aaron Tarrie Ashley of Carrollton as the primary suspect in the investigation. As the investigation continued, authorities attempted to contact Ashley at a home off of Waddell Street in Bremen, but when they arrived, he had barricaded himself inside the residence. After several hours of attempting to negotiate with Ashley, authorities were able to take him into custody. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Deputies said the murder weapon was located, and Ashley received multiple charges, including malice murder and felony murder. On Feb. 6, 2023, the jury found Ashley guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole plus 25 years to be served consecutively. IN OTHER NEWS: Iris-T air defense system Read also: Germany to allocate EUR 3 million for green industry recovery in Ukraine Additionally, Germany has provided eight more Zetros trucks (making a total of 84) and two 8x6 trucks with eight rolling containers to the Ukrainian military. Patriot air defense systems from the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany arrived in Ukraine on April 19. Read also: Ukraine receives first Patriot air defense system from Germany what to know The Ukrainian Air Force announced on April 23 that the first of its Patriot air defense batteries had been placed on combat duty. On April 27, it was reported that a second Patriot air defense battery had also been placed on combat duty in Ukraine. A day later, on April 28, Russia launched its latest mass missile attack on Ukraine in the early hours of the morning. Read also: Air Force silent on whether Patriots were operational in latest Russian attack While Ukraines air defenses managed to shoot down 21 of the incoming Russian cruise missiles, including 11 shot down that were heading for the capital Kyiv, one missile struck an apartment building in Uman, and another hit a house in Dnipro. In Uman, a town in central Ukraine, south of Kyiv, 23 people were killed and 18 injured after a missile partially collapsed a nine-story apartment building. Five of the dead were children. In Dnipro, a city in southeastern Ukraine, a young mother and her three-year-old daughter were killed in a second missile strike. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The German government has handed over another military aid package to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, including a second IRIS-T air defence missile system. Source: German government website, as reported by European Pravda Details: The updated list of aid includes eight Zetros trucks, two 8x6 forklift trucks with eight slide-out containers and one IRIS-T air defence system. Germany delivered the first IRIS-T system to Ukraine in October 2022. On 19 April, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that Ukraine had received a second IRIS-T air defence system from Germany. The IRIS-T SLM air defence system consists of three vehicles: a launcher on a military truck with space for eight missiles, a radar vehicle and a command vehicle. The anti-aircraft missiles can hit targets at an altitude of up to 20 kilometres and at a distance of up to 40 kilometres. Background: Earlier, Germany reported sending a Patriot anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Climate activists began their latest protests from the St Thomas church, one of several that have supported them Copies of a climate change petition along with photos of the signatories lay at the foot of the altar. Metres away, a dozen activists were undergoing street protest training. Other members of the Letzte Generation (Last Generation) group were having a vegan brunch buffet in the pews, minutes before they were to march out through the imposing doors of Berlin's St. Thomas Church for their latest demonstration to press the government to do more for the climate. The Protestant church has become the unlikely staging point for the climate activists in their latest two-week campaign to bring Berlin's traffic to a standstill by glueing themselves onto the asphalt. In northeastern Berlin, Gethsemane Church -- a key site in the peaceful revolution that brought down the Berlin Wall -- is hosting an open discussion on climate change every evening this week, before handing the baton to another church next week. Although politicians including leading members of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government have blasted Letzte Generation's road blockade protests, the churches have thrown open their doors to the activists. "We want to contribute to allowing the participants to remain in peace," said the St. Thomas Church's council in a statement. "The radicalisation of the climate movement is the expression of the despair that too little is being done for the protection of the climate and thereby for the preservation of Creation. We're taking this despair seriously and confronting it," they added. The churches' action is not without controversy, as surveys suggest a majority of the public frown on Letzte Generation's protests. In a recent poll by national broadcaster ZDF, 82 percent of respondents felt the street blockades went too far. Scholz's government, including the Greens, have also spoken out against the protests. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck of the Greens has said the street blockades were "not a helpful contribution to climate protection" because they don't win consensus, rather they "irritate people". Story continues "The supposed saviours of the world in a church -- what hypocrisy," charged Focus magazine in a column. - 'Jesus would have approved' - Amid the accusations flying at the protesters, pastor Aljona Hofmann at Gethsemane Church said it was all the more important for both sides to have a platform to communicate directly and peacefully. "The strength of the church is to bring together people with different opinions, in order to sound out what we have in common and where do we diverge," said the pastor. At her church in 1989, dissidents including environmental activists held candlelight vigils against the East German regime, helping build the popular pressure that toppled the despised Wall. Hofmann warned against drawing parallels with the church's actions under communism. "We're not living now in a dictatorship," she stressed. "Each period has its own challenges." She acknowledged, too, that not everyone in the congregation supported Letzte Generation's modus operandi, but argued that it was vital to get people to "step out of their bubbles" and speak with each other. "Letzte Generation's method is to hold sit-ins. That is perhaps not the method of other people. "Each person must find his or her own format, but what's important is to begin to think about what can I or what can we, as a society, do" on the issue of climate protection, she said. Activist Axel Hake, 54, said the churches' contribution "show how strong the backing from society is". "It was in the last autumn that relevant groups in the society, including churches, began showing solidarity with us...," he said. "That is a real signal that we are anchored in society." To those in the congregation who question the churches' action, activist Cosima Santoro, 68, herself a Catholic, said: "I think Jesus Christ would have fitted well with Letzte Generation. "He also caused disruptions. He still disrupts today." hmn/dlc/jj Father helping son. Gettyimages Here are three of the week's top pieces of financial insight, gathered from around the web: Getting a better college aid offer More families are haggling over financial aid with colleges before the commitment deadline, said Douglas Belkin in The Wall Street Journal. "For decades, schools made an offer" on need or merit-based financial aid, "and families either accepted or rejected it." Colleges had the leverage in these negotiations because they "long held most of the information" on pricing. But new websites like TuitionFit let students check their grade-point average, ACT or SAT score, and family's financial status "to see merit based offers given to comparable students." A growing number of consultants have also begun offering "advice on how best to negotiate for more merit aid." And a growing number of families are listening: Last year, 40 percent of students appealed their aid package. The rise of high-yield savings It may be time to "break up with your bank," said Michael P. Regan in Bloomberg Businessweek. The introduction of a 4.15 percent savings account from Apple and Goldman Sachs knocks "another brick out of the wall of inertia protecting traditional banks" from having to raise their own rates. Bankrate.com is one of almost two dozen other online banks sporting yields on savings above 4 percent, and the highest rate being offered now is 5.02 percent. By comparison, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America "pay as little as 0.01 percent" yes, you read that right, one-hundredth of 1 percent on basic savings deposits. It may not make sense to ditch traditional banks entirely just for the sake of yield, but you can stick "with one bank for your regular bill-paying, checking, and cash needs," and push "the excess into a better-paying online account." Lobbying to keep noncompetes Business groups are ramping up their campaign against a federal plan to ban noncompete agreements, said J.J. McCorvey and Sara Ruberg at NBC News. "The lobbying crossfire comes in addition to more than 26,000 comments from the public" gathered last week by the Federal Trade Commission, which says barring noncompetes will boost workers' earnings. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week sent a letter signed by 280 organizations arguing that noncompetes encourage investment in employees. Small-business owners have also voiced concern. "There is absolutely no incentive for me to teach anyone anything I know," wrote one medical practitioner, "only to have them move into the neighborhood and compete against me." Story continues This article was first published in the latest issue of The Week magazine. If you want to read more like it, you can try six risk-free issues of the magazine here. You may also like U.S. production of bullets, shells, and missiles sidelined by explosion at 1 Louisiana gunpowder mill FAA overruled engineers to let Boeing 737 Max keep flying, report alleges Bill finalized to allow DeSantis to run for president while remaining governor COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) The Republican secretaries of state in Ohio, West Virginia and Missouri have promoted their states elections as fair and secure. Yet each also is navigating a fine line on how to address election fraud conspiracies as they gear up campaigns for U.S. Senate or governor in 2024. The split-screen messaging of Ohios Frank LaRose, West Virginias Mac Warner and Missouris Jay Ashcroft shows just how deeply election lies have burrowed into the Republican Party, where more than half of voters believe Democrat Joe Biden was not legitimately elected president. Even election officials who tout running clean elections at home are routinely pushing for more voting restrictions and additional scrutiny on the process as they prepare to face GOP primary voters next year. All three withdrew their states last month from the Electronic Registration Information Center, a bipartisan, multistate effort to ensure accurate voter lists. LaRose did so less than a month after calling the group one of the best fraud-fighting tools that we have and vowing to maintain Ohio's membership. He defied backlash against the organization stoked by former President Donald Trump before relenting. The three also have supported increased voter restrictions in their states part of a national trend for Republicans that they say is intend to boost public confidence. Those bills impose new voter ID requirements, shrink windows for processing ballots or ease the ability to consolidate voting precincts. For Republicans aspiring to higher office, "its kind of hard to skip some of these things if you want to succeed in GOP primaries, said Nancy Martorano Miller, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton. That includes appearing responsive to Republican voters' belief in Trump's false claims of a stolen 2020 presidential election at the same time they promote the job they're doing in their own states. Story continues Youre secretary of state, so its your job to run elections and make sure theyre fraud-fee, Martorano Miller said. Youre kind of stuck between, I need to show Im doing these things to battle fraud,' but at the same time, 'if I make it seem like theres too much fraud, it looks like Im not doing my job. Warner and Ashcroft have announced campaigns for governor while LaRose is considering a U.S. Senate run. When he unveiled legislation in February aimed at standardizing election data, LaRose said it was all about providing transparency so voters would "have confidence in knowing that when the election is over, that the true voice of the people was heard. A couple weeks later, he was sitting on an elections panel titled They Stole It From Us Legally at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. LaRose's spokesperson said the panel was renamed at the last minute, but the secretary used the opportunity to promote the integrity of Ohio elections. Voter fraud is exceedingly rare in Ohio because we take election security very seriously, aggressively pursue those who commit it and refer the potential crime to the attorney general and county prosecutors, Rob Nichols said. Similarly, Ashcroft has said Missouri has secure elections and praised Gov. Mike Parson for signing a package of election law changes last year that included a new photo ID requirement. Missouri voters are passionate about their right to vote," he said. "This bill makes Missouri elections safer and more transparent, which instills confidence and trust. Then in January, Ashcroft hosted a meeting at his office with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a conspiracy theorist who travels the country fueling distrust in elections. The meeting alarmed some voting rights advocates in the state. Warner has defended Trumps false claims of a fraudulent 2020 election and demonstrated alongside Stop the Steal protesters, while also promoting the integrity of West Virginia's elections. He said in a recent interview that he is working to strike a balance between those on the right who believe the 2020 election was stolen and those on the left who argue theres nothing to see here. The truth is obviously somewhere in the middle, he said, while adding: I will admit Biden won the election, but did he do it legitimately? Or did that happen outside the election laws that legislatures in certain states had put in place? Thats where I balk and say no. Warner said he would like to see an after-action review of the 2020 election, like those conducted in the military, to ease citizens minds and make elections better. Trump and others have criticized the expansion of mail voting in 2020 in the COVID-19 pandemic, although there is no evidence of any widespread fraud and multiple reviews in the battleground states where Trump contested his loss have upheld the results. The House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol found that Trump advisers and administration officials repeatedly debunked allegations of fraud in the weeks after the 2020 election, but Trump continued to push the lies, anyway. In a recently settled defamation case against Fox News, a Delaware Superior Court judge ruled it was CRYSTAL clear that none of the claims repeatedly aired on the network about Dominion Voting Systems machines rigging votes against Trump was true. Christopher McKnight Nichols, an Ohio State University professor of history, said its confusing for voters when secretaries of state claim elections they run are fair but then raise questions or hint at problems, without evidence, about elections elsewhere. An earlier era of Republicans absolutely would have been chagrined, embarrassed, and perhaps pushed out fellow Republicans who flip-flopped so radically, or promoted lies, he said. "Their brand was the principled and consistent politician. In Ohio, LaRose spent years assuring the public that voter fraud represents a tiny fraction of Ohio's cast ballots and that election tallies were nearly perfect. Then during his reelection campaign last year, he said Trump "is right to say that voter fraud is a serious problem and blamed the mainstream media for trying to minimize voter fraud to suit their narrative. In October, he joined a national Republican trend by opening a unit to investigate election law violations in Ohio, among other duties. He said that day that Ohio has a strong national reputation for secure, accurate and accessible elections but added that anything short of absolute confidence in election integrity weakens the very foundation of our democracy. (Bloomberg) -- House Republicans challenged the US Senate to pass a debt-limit bill of its own and sought to maintain pressure on President Joe Biden to hold talks on spending cuts theyve linked to an increase in the nations borrowing limit. Most Read from Bloomberg A Republican-only debt proposal passed by the House last week would cut $4.8 trillion in domestic spending as the price for agreeing to raise the debt ceiling. Biden has insisted the two topics shouldnt be linked and his administration has warned that a US default would be disastrous for Americans and the economy. For all that we hear from our Senate friends, theyve yet to pass anything, Representative Steve Scalise, the House majority leader, said on ABCs This Week on Sunday. If theyve got a better idea, I want to see that bill and tell them to pass it through the Senate. The stalemate in Washington risks pushing the Treasury toward a US payments default by an X date that may arrive as soon as June. House Speaker Kevin McCarthys success in passing the Republican bill created an opening for the GOP to put the ball in Bidens court. The president has been in hiding for two months, Scalise said, referring to the last meeting between Biden and McCarthy. At the same time, Scalise and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said in Sunday television interviews that Republicans wont allow the US to default on its debts. Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware whos a co-chair of Bidens 2024 reelection campaign, cited the presidents previous offers to discuss annual spending, the appropriations process with Republicans. Negotiations on the mix of revenue increases and spending cuts that make sense going forward are on the table, he said on This Week. Story continues Republicans are demanding hostage negotiations where they will crash the full faith and credit of the US, Coons said. The risky impasse has prompted calls by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin for Biden to meet McCarthy for talks and is leading some Democrats to look to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for possible Republican help in the Senate to raise the borrowing limit. McConnell could suspend the impasse by getting the Senate to a point where the US continues paying its bills while Congress negotiates, Senator Chris Van Hollen said on Fox News Sunday. What youve got to do is not threaten the detonation of the economy, the Maryland Democrat said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The resident doctors and nurses at George Washington University Hospital moved to unionize in March, joining a growing number of health workers across the country seeking more influence over workplace conditions as they warn that staffing shortages and burnout compromise patient care. The decision at the three-year mark of the coronavirus pandemic follows a grueling winter season that saw the flu, COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) combine into a crush of respiratory illnesses that doctors say further stressed front-line staff at GWU, one of several Level 1 trauma centers in Washington. GWU workers say they were emboldened to organize by labor wins in the private sector at companies such as Amazon and Starbucks as well as their colleagues at District hospitals, including residents from Childrens National Hospital who rallied in the rain late last year, some still in white lab coats, for better working conditions. Higher wages, mental health benefits, patient limits With physician suicide risk factors amplified by the pandemic, health-care providers say collective bargaining would give them leverage to seek higher wages, guaranteed mental health benefits outside the hospital and a limit on the number of patients they are asked to treat at a given time. Residents, physicians-in-training employed by the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, earlier this month petitioned the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to join the Committee of Interns and Residents, a branch of the Service Employees International Union representing about 25,000 residents and fellows. With 450 to 500 residents likely eligible for collective bargaining, the GWU chapter would become the largest residency program in the District to unionize, joining residents at Childrens National, Howard University and St. Elizabeths hospitals. (The union does not have members in Maryland or Virginia, a spokeswoman said.) Theres only so much we can change without a seat at the bargaining table where decisions are being made about our welfare and working conditions, said Katia DaSilva, a second-year OB/GYN resident physician at GWU. Story continues In response to questions about the unionizing effort, a university spokeswoman shared a letter that Barbara Bass, dean of the medical school, sent Thursday to residents praising the key role they play on patient-care teams and expressing gratitude for their contributions to the heath and wellness of the patients you serve. Bass said the university will follow NLRB processes, including a secret ballot election, and said union representation is a personal decision for each resident. In a separate effort, the D.C. Nurses Association filed a petition on Wednesday with the NLRB to represent about 750 registered nurses at George Washington University Hospital, which is owned by Universal Health Services, one of the nations largest for-profit health-care companies. Neither bargaining unit has set an election date yet. Both groups question how the medical school and GW Medical Faculty Associates, a group of outpatient doctors who also treat patients at the hospital, will find enough staff to run Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center, GW Health. The hospital under construction in Southeast Washington will serve a medically marginalized population in Ward 8 that has a 15-year life expectancy gap compared with Ward 3, according to District data. Staffing has become a real problem, said Edward Smith, executive director of the D.C. Nurses Association, which represents about 2,000 nurses and licensed health-care professionals in the District. A lot of nurses are leaving the employ and certainly nationwide nurses are leaving the profession because it has just been too hard to keep up with staffing and the demands of the profession, and thats certainly true at George Washington Hospital. As front-line workers who interact the most with patients, nurses and residents have absorbed the greatest friction of structural problems afflicting hospital systems across the country that both predated the pandemic and were exacerbated by it. Pandemic backlash Understaffing concerns drove major work stoppages, such as strikes, across the country in 2022, a year that saw health service sector workers account for the second-highest share of direct action with 36,800 employees involved, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Although union membership nationally declined last year, health workers have been increasingly vocal during the pandemic about the conditions driving them from the industry. Owen Lee-Park, a third-year emergency medicine resident at GWU, said that during surges in the coronavirus he had to cancel holiday travel to fill in for sick colleagues, a responsibility he was happy to bear but that takes a toll after three years. A benefit dedicated to combat this burden, such as a once-a-month day off, would help, said the 30-year-old from Ellicott City, Maryland. Whether to stay at George Washington or not is something that I am questioning and contemplating deeply over the past three years of the pandemic, he said. The hospitals response to nursing and [residents] unionization will speak a lot to how the hospital would like to move forward with its staff. A spokeswoman for George Washington University said the hospital is making gains in nurse retention and staffing, with less turnover and more new hires in the past year. In 2021, the Foggy Bottom hospital and academic medical center, which is licensed for 395 beds, admitted more than 18,000 patients, logged nearly 47,000 emergency department visits and delivered about 2,500 babies, hospital data show. DaSilva, the GWU OB/GYN resident physician, said that as part of the demands of an 80-hour workweek, residents also work at Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring, which hosts GWU physician residency programs. Holy Cross has one of the busiest labor and delivery units in the region and a largely Spanish-speaking population with many high-risk pregnancies. On Thursday night, the 29-year-old Rhode Island native said she juggled five patients undergoing Caesarean sections, multiple patients in labor and new patients coming through triage. I joined this profession to provide high-quality care for my patients, and I just want to ensure that all patients are getting that high-quality care, she said. One of the two students killed in a mass shooting at an after-prom party in Bay St. Louis was looking forward to graduating from Hancock High School in May. DeArreis DD Smith, 18, was the senior who died of gunshot wounds at University Medical Center in New Orleans, according to friends and others who knew and loved him. The second victim who died of gunshot wounds Sunday morning at the same hospital was identified as Hancock High student Haeleigh Stamper, 16. The two are among six shot during the mass shooting at the Bay St. Louis house party in the 1000 block of Old Blue Meadows Road in the early-morning hours Sunday. The six shooting victims are between 15 and 18. Kecia Sams considered DeArreis an adopted member of her family and is devastated by his loss. DeArreis Smith was an amazing soul, a loyal friend, brother and uncle, Sams said. He was loved by many and will be missed so very much by his family. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help with funeral expenses for Stamper and Smith. In the fundraising account for Smith, the organizer, Makayla Ward, said the family got a call at 1 a.m. Sunday about Smith being shot. She said he died a short time later of one gunshot wound to the head and two gunshot wounds to the chest. DeArreis was ... a loving happy go lucky boy, she wrote. He always wanted what was best for someone else even when it didnt benefit him. He loved to make people laugh. That is what he always did. There was never a moment when you were around DD (that) you werent laughing. Ward called the loss of him devastating to everyone. Haeleigh Stamper A junior at Hancock High School, Stamper lived in Diamondhead. She is the daughter of Angela and Michael Corbett and has a brother, Bryce Corbett, her number one favorite person, her obituary says. She will always live on in their hearts, her obituary says, where her parents expressed their heartfelt appreciation to Diamond Joseph, Chelsea Yarborough and Tysen Hawkins for their brave, unwavering actions caring for Haeleigh this past Saturday night. Story continues She was a painter, supported her friends and stood up against bullying, her family. Funeral services for Stamper are at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at Bayou Talla Fellowship, 18555 Mississippi 43 in Kiln. A viewing will be from 5-6 p.m., followed by a closed casket visitation from 6-7 p.m. In the GoFundMe account for Stamper, the organizer, Lillie Smith, described the teen as a sweet soul. Her beautiful smile would light the whole room up, Smith said. Someone so sweet and adorable like her didnt deserve this at all. If you could please donate, it would help her family tremendously. Other victims In addition to Smith and Stamper, four other students were hit by gunfire, authorities said, with two additional gunshot victims each from Hancock High School and Bay High School. Bay St. Louis police, Hancock County sheriffs deputies and Waveland police responded to a shooting where six high school students were shot at a house party on Old Blue Meadow Road in Bay St. Louis. After Bay St. Louis police responded to the home where the party was, they found the various gunshot victims and later arrested Cameron Everett Brand, 19, of Pass Christian. Police arrested Brand at his home and charged him with four counts of aggravated assault and two counts of murder. He is being held without bond on the murder charges. Prior to his arrest in the mass shooting, Brand had other run-ins with law enforcement, resulting in charges that include carrying a concealed weapon, possession of marijuana, and domestic violence by simple assault along with a charge for violating a protection order, according to records obtained by the Sun Herald. Hed also been cited in the past for violating his bond conditions on earlier charges, but was a free man when he showed up at the party and allegedly carried out the shooting.. In the aftermath of the mass shooting, The Sun Herald spoke to an 18-year-old and her mother who had hosted the party. The mother and daughter said they were outside keeping an eye on what was happening and didnt hear any arguing before the shooter opened fire. Both had no idea why Brand started shooting. In his Facebook profile, Brand has a picture of himself holding a gun while standing in front of a mirror in a bathroom. Cameron Everett Brand is pictured with a gun in his profile picture on Facebook. He is jailed in Hancock County without bond on charges of murder and aggravated assault after being identified as a mass shooter at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. A witness account Casey Woods, an 18-year-old junior at Pass Christian High School, attended the party with a girlfriend. Woods said he saw Brand talking to people and then walking away before he returned and started shooting. Cameron Brand Me and my girl looked up and saw sparks coming from the gun, Woods said. Many ran into the woods after the shooting, but Woods said he waited on police to get there. Counselors, teachers on duty for students Sandra Reed, superintendent at Bay St. Louis-Waveland School District, told the Sun Herald on Sunday that she had never heard of any incident like the one that happened at the party in the five years that she had been there. Reed said the school district is open Sunday for students with counselors and teachers on hand to provide any help they can. Our kids have an extraordinarily close relationship with our teachers and counselors, Reed said. Hancock High School addressed the shooting in a Facebook post: Our hearts are broken as we mourn the tragic loss of two Hancock High School students who were victims of the shooting in Bay St. Louis last night. Our hearts are with their families, friends, and the school staff during this incredibly difficult time. Please keep them, along with the others who were injured from Hancock and Bay High Schools, in your thoughts and prayers. To our students and staff, please know that there will be support services available at the high school tomorrow to help you through this. Let us come together as a community to show our support and love during this difficult time. DeArreis Smith, 18, is one of the two Hancock High School students who died as a result of injuries he suffered a massa shooting at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on April 30, 2023. Haeleigh Stamper, 16, is one of two Hancock County High school students who died of gunshots wounds after a mass shooting at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, on April 30, 2023. She died at a New Orleans hospital. Staff writer Anita Lee contributed to this report. Afshan Azad posed for pictures with patients at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital Harry Potter actress Afshan Azad has helped distribute more than 1,500 Eid gifts to young hospital patients across Greater Manchester. The social influencer, who played Padma Patil, described the experience as "simply joyous". It was the third time the actress joined volunteers at the Eid Unwrapped scheme, which started in 2017. The group said it was "blown away" by donors' "unwavering generosity". Gifts were distributed to four hospitals across Greater Manchester They distributed toys, books and games to patients at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital - the UK's largest children's hospital - for the first time since the pandemic. Presents were also shared at hospitals in Trafford, Wythenshawe and North Manchester. Ms Azad helped share gifts at Royal Manchester, adding it was a "blessed day seeing all the little faces light up". The Eid al Fitr festival, which occurred last weekend, marked the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan when Muslims undertake fasts and extra devotions. More than 1,500 gifts were distributed across the region Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to: northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk This article was originally published in Honolulu Civil Beat. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is at the forefront of an effort to ban kids under 13 from having social media accounts on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. On Wednesday, Schatz unveiled new legislation that seeks to regulate who can have access to social media and require tech companies to put strict age restrictions in place to ensure that minors are not creating their own accounts without parental approval. The bill also seeks to block social media companies from using its algorithms to recommend content to users under 18. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The driving force behind the legislation, Schatz said, is the well-being of Americas children. For too long, he said, social media companies have profited off making children feel agitated, anxious and depressed because eliciting those feelings increase engagement with their products and therefore bolsters their bottom lines. He cited a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found that 57% of teen girls and 29% of teen boys in the U.S. reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless, and that one in three seriously considered attempting suicide. Our bill is a common sense bipartisan approach to help to stop the suffering, Schatz said during a Capitol Hill press conference. Related Teen Mental Health Crisis Pushes More School Districts to Sue Social Media Giants The Hawaii senator was joined by his fellow legislative co-sponsors, including U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt of Alabama. Both Cotton and Britt are Republicans while Schatz and Murphy are Democrats. Throughout the press conference, the senators stressed that their concerns crossed party lines, and were those shared by millions of Americans, particularly those with young children, across the country. Story continues This is simply applying the age-old wisdom of mankind from the real world to the digital world, Cotton said. We dont let minors sign contracts. We dont let them open bank accounts. We dont let them enlist in the military. We dont let them drink alcohol or smoke tobacco without parental consent. The legislation already has its skeptics, including those concerned about it infringing on users First Amendment rights and even some fellow senators. U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, told Wired that the bill felt like something from the past when lawmakers tried to assign ratings to music that might be deemed inappropriate for young children. We kind of went through this when Tipper Gore was trying to ban music for some people, Smith said. Schatz acknowledged that the bill will likely be debated as it is considered in the Congress. He also said he expects significant pushback from the tech companies that will be forced to comply with the bills new requirements or else face stiff penalties, which he said could be as much as $10,000 a day per user for violations. 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 to poke holes in this, Schatz said. 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. The CERN particle physicist turned thatcher hopes to revive the ancient art Once upon a time many homes in the picturesque Burgenland wine-growing region of eastern Austria were thatched. But now Jacobus van Hoorne's house is the only one in the entire neighbourhood with a reed roof. And to get it approved he had to do battle for two years with the local authorities, culminating in having to set fire to a model thatched house to prove that his home wouldn't be a fire hazard. "You are practically not allowed to have reed roofs in Austria," said Van Hoorne. "You have to find a way around it, which took a long time." Buoyed up by his legal victory, the CERN particle physicist turned thatcher hopes to revive the ancient art as a part of more sustainable house building -- particularly as his reeds come from the region's UNESCO-listed salt-water lake. "It's not just a natural raw material, but it also has great insulating properties," he told AFP. "A roof like that... is only made of reed and (steel) wire. It's completely untreated. You can just compost it and recycle the wire. "The nature, the material, the craft. It's just beautiful," he added. A reed roof lasts about 40 years, said the Dutch-born scientist, and unlike conventional materials whose manufacture requires lots of carbon to be burned, reeds actually help store it. - Carbon captors - Like straw and earth they have an almost negligible carbon footprint, said Azra Korjenic, head of the Department of Ecological Building Technologies at the Vienna University of Technology. In fact, marshlands and moors where reeds grow are some of the planet's main carbon sinks, surpassing even forests and grasslands, according to the 2015 Soil Atlas. Yet one of the biggest stumbling blocks to sustainability is the construction industry, which favours prefab building modules over ecological materials, Korjenic added. Current regulations and norms are also hampering the inclusion of natural building materials. Story continues As Austria's only master thatchers, Van Hoorne and his father are in high demand, and they also farm their own reeds locally. But even that is not easy because of low prices and droughts which stunt the reeds' growth as the climate warms, he said. He and four other remaining reed farmers in Austria also face crushing competition from China, which has an 80 percent share of the European market. With his customers for now mostly in England and the Netherlands, "shipping a container from Shanghai to Rotterdam costs around $2,000 -- just as much as a truck from Austria," he said. kym/jza/fg Photograph: Richard Pierrin/AFP/Getty Images As Velina Elysee Charlier ventured on to the streets of her conflict-stricken city last week, she encountered scenes that will haunt her for many years to come. Armed civilians dragging bodies through the streets. Smouldering corpses. Young men with machetes chasing suspected gangsters they planned to kill. Ive seen enough dead people for many lifetimes, said the Haitian human rights activist. Since Monday, if you get killed, you get burned. Its kill, burn, kill, burn Its nothing I would want anyone else to witness. It stays with you Its hell, you know? The nightmarish events unfolding in Haitis coastal capital, Port-au-Prince, began before dawn on Monday when members of one of its notorious gangs reportedly tried to seize control of the citys Turgeau area. What they didnt count on was the population striking back, said Charlier, who works in the neighbourhood. Over the coming hours, civilians brandishing knives, rocks and handguns rose up against the heavily armed criminals who control more than 80% of Haitis capital and whose activities have led the United Nations to compare the situation there to a war. As the sun rose, the bloodshed spread. In the Canape-Vert neighbourhood, 13 suspected gangsters were beaten, stoned to death and burned after their minibus was stopped by police. In Turgeau another six men were reportedly set on fire. Related: Haiti: at least 12 suspected criminals beaten to death and burned in capital The violence continued on Tuesday as Canape-Verts residents formed self-defence brigades and took to their barricaded streets with rocks and knives. We are planning to fight and keep our neighbourhood clean of these savages, one vigilante, a 37-year-old called Jeff Ezequiel, told the Associated Press. On Wednesday, as groups sprang up in other communities, another lynching was reported: this time, eight suspected criminals in the community of Debussy. Were already dead, so we might as well die fighting, Charlier remembered one person in Turgeau telling her. Story continues The lynchings have sparked a strange and disturbing mix of horror, fear and optimism in Haitian communities fed up with being terrorised by the gangs. Seeing the population fighting back even though there are lots of human rights violations, even though justice by the people is never the way to go because it just spirals into a cycle of violence that never stops gives you ... the sense that people are as mad as you are, said Charlier. Whats happening is giving hope to the population that they can fight back. It is obscene, the author and activist Monique Clesca said of the lynchings. But thats what these bandits have pushed us to. Its more than frustration ... [Rage] is the only word, Clesca added, blaming the surge of mob justice on years of elite political corruption and connivance with organised crime. Its harrowing; its brutal; it is inhuman. But when you consider all these years that we have been put under that pressure by the gangs, the economic people [and] the political people [it is not surprising]. People flee their homes in Port-au-Prince. Photograph: Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters Daniel Foote, the outspoken former US special envoy to the Caribbean country, said he was also unsurprised at the violence, given the polices failure to bring the gangs to heel. At some point I thought they were going to start to take matters into their own hands because theyve got no choice. Theyve got nothing else, Foote said. The Haitians, like anybody, can only take so much. The gangs have stolen their lives from them, Foote added, as a spokesperson for Haitis embattled and enfeebled national police force implored citizens to stop. Do not take justice into your own hands, Garry Desrosiers told reporters on Wednesday. Related: They have no fear and no mercy: gang rule engulfs Haitian capital That plea looks likely to fall on deaf ears, given the scale of the security catastrophe facing one the Caribbeans largest cities, which was levelled by an earthquake in 2010 and has been struggling to find its feet ever since. As people in Port-au-Prince fought to reclaim their communities, the UN secretary generals special envoy to Haiti offered a chilling overview of the countrys rapidly deteriorating security situation and the parallel humanitarian crisis that have left almost half of Haitis 11 million citizens going hungry. Maria Isabel Salvador told the UN security council that March had seen Haitis highest number of reports of murders, rapes, kidnappings and lynchings since 2005. Children had been shot in classrooms and snatched at school gates. Snipers had indiscriminately targeted civilians. Women had been terrorised by multiple-perpetrator rape. Faced with these increasingly violent armed gangs vying for control of neighbourhoods of the capital, with limited or no police presence, some residents have begun to take matters into their own hands, the Ecuadorian diplomat reported. These dynamics lead unfailingly to the breakdown of social fabric with unpredictable consequences for the entire region. The human rights activist Rosy Auguste Ducena called the lynchings a worrisome development. Her group had been unable to calculate the exact death toll. But some suspect dozens, perhaps scores, have been killed in recent days. Ducena blamed the government of the prime minister, Ariel Henry who took power after the 2021 assassination of the then president, Jovenel Moise for the uprising as it had failed to dismantle and prosecute gang members and surrendered many areas to their rule. There is a certain complicity between [the gangs] and the state authorities, Ducena said, adding that permanent calm would only come if authorities stopped protecting criminal groups. Clesca said it was hard to know where the nascent anti-gang insurrection would lead. They are small [incidents], but they are significant. Will they multiply? What will happen? I think we have to watch and we have to be very sensitive to that, she said, predicting the coming weeks would see more people, cities and towns rising up and saying: We are not taking this. Enough is enough. Foote also wondered whether the rebellion might signal a new phase in Haitis political, humanitarian and security crises, because this is the first time that people have really taken matters into their own hands, which is how the Haitians won independence [in 1804] and have kept their independence a number of times since then. I cannot even think about the collective trauma we are going to have to deal with in a couple of years Velina Elysee Charlier The dire outlook has prompted calls for an international intervention a call repeated by Salvador at the UN. The Haitian people cannot wait. We need to act now, she said, calling for the urgent deployment of an international specialised force to fight gangs. Foote said he was 100% ideologically opposed to another foreign intervention, given the miserable track record of previous efforts including the 2004-2017 UN stabilisation mission, whose peacekeepers brought cholera to Haiti and were accused of sexual abuse and exploitation. But I believe that theyre going to need an intervention. Its just that bad, to be honest with you, Foote said. Its not Haiti any more; its a prison People stay in their houses and only leave if they absolutely have to It is dangerous as fuck. Charlier rejected calls for a foreign intervention. I recognise the police cannot deal with this alone, the activist said, but nor did she want thousands of heavily armed foreign troops to return to put a Band-Aid on a cancer. After navigating six vigilante roadblocks to reach work on Thursday morning, Charlier voiced despair at how the bloodshed would affect Haitian children. Kids are going to school witnessing dead burning bodies on the side of the road I cannot even think about the collective trauma we are going to have to deal with in a couple of years, she said, comparing parts of her city to a war zone. Honestly, I dont know [how I feel]. I just hope this is going to end very soon because Im mentally drained and Im exhausted, Charlier said before concluding with a grim prophecy. What we are seeing in Haiti will end in blood and in ashes, she warned. In people being killed and in houses being burned. Homes located in Section 14 in Palm Springs in 1960. The struggle for the property rights of the individual members of the Agua Caliente Band of the Cahuilla Indians has been long and difficult. In 1958, Tribal Council Chairman Vyola Olinger (later Ortner) presided over one of the biggest real estate deals in the country in championing the rights of her people. The heart of the reservation of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians is Section 14, a 640-acre parcel in the center of downtown Palm Springs. It was at the center of a possible multimillion-dollar development opportunity that was crucial for the Tribes survival. Two issues needed to be adjudicated before any development was possible. The first was to finalize the equalization of values of individual allotments, parcels of land given to each tribal member, and the second was to increase the time that tribal members could lease their land in order to attract developers. Allotment of the land on the Palm Springs reservation, originally established under 1891 law, to individual members of the Agua Caliente Band was begun in 1923. Because of various complications in legislation, administration and litigation, the first allotment schedule was not approved by the Secretary of the Interior until 1949. A decade-long battle began when an attempt to equalize allotments of land to individual members of the tribe was made by the federal government. Making the values of allotments equal and fair to all tribal members was a daunting task. Allotments varied considerably according to Native American expert Dr. Lowell Bean in his book From Time Immemorial. In 1954, Clemente Segundo et al vs. United States was settled with a ruling that each plaintiff in the case was to be allotted total lands of as nearly equal value to the lands allotted to each of the other members. This decision by the court ended the legal back-and-forth of individual tribal members and the federal government, setting up the framework for both individual members property rights and the Tribes future. Story continues The question of how to equalize the values of real estate was studied by the federal government through the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the all-female Tribal Council led by Vyola Ortner. According to an article published in the Desert Sun on Feb. 13, 1957, four solutions were proposed: 1) Dividing the tribal lands 2) Selling the tribal lands and distributing the money 3) Using tribal land income as a dividend to allottees 4) Combining two or more of the above-mentioned plans. On June 14, 1957, comments were made through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, by the United States Department of the Interior, Office of the Secretary, stating that to make the management of tribal and individual assets more manageable a corporation should be managed by appointed people familiar with corporate ways. The allotted lands would be turned over to the corporation and tribal members would receive stock in the corporation. The reservation would be sold off and the proceeds distributed to tribal members. At a hearing held on Oct. 2, 1957, Tribal Chairman Vyola Olinger (Ortner) said in her testimony, that the Indians felt that the bill established a liquidating corporation, one that would sell as rapidly as possible their tribal landsand was not acceptable to the members of the Tribe. She proposed that except for tribal reserves all other lands would be allotted and Congress should pass a bill to complete the equalization. Rex Lee of the BIA announced on June 25, 1958 that tribal lands (31,610 acres valued at approximately $12,000,00 by the Secretary of the Interior in 1957) would be divided up with the goal of bringing each members land value up to $350,000 and any member whose allotments were already valued between $87,000 and $629,000 would not benefit from the changes. On July 19, 1958, the BIA received a letter from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs telling him to proceed with the process of allotting the land including the reserves (land held by the tribe collectively.) The Tribal Council responded by declaring that they would wage an all-out war with the federal governments equalization program saying that it would liquidate and destroy the tribe itself. Ortner said that the governments plan, creates an economic and culture crisis for both the City of Palm Springs and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. Later in the summer, Associated Press reporter John Beckler reported that BIA Director, Leonard Hill, admitted that plans for developing Section 14 as a single package had fallen through. Beckler added, Real Estate people now are faced with the problem of dealing with the Indians on an individual basis and developing in a piecemeal fashion. In an article in the Desert Sun published on July 29, 1958, Ortner asked the City of Palm Springs for help. She stated that even though tribal members were allotted over half of the real estate within the city limits, they were land rich but cash poor. In a combined lobbying effort between Congressman D.S. Saund, The Agua Caliente Tribal Council, and the City of Palm Springs, Public Law 86-3327 and Public Law 105-308 were passed by the House of Representatives, and the Senate and signed into law by President Dwight Eisenhower on Sept. 21, 1959. The Equalization Bill (Public Law 105-308) authorized the allotments to be equalized with the target of the value set at $350,000 and the Land Lease Act (Public Law 86-327) authorized increasing the leasing period to a maximum of 99 years. Anyone not alive before Sept. 21, 1959, was excluded from the equalization process and would not be allotted land. In accordance with this law, most of the reservation land was allotted to 92 individual members (31 adults and 61 minors) except for the lands held by the tribe in common which included two cemeteries, the Catholic Church located on Section 14, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the hot mineral spring including the area around it, and the lands in Tahquitz, Palm, Murray, and Andreas canyons. The tribal members were able to stop the incorporation and complete land liquidation proposal, but the associated notion of appointment of guardians and conservators for all minors and adults judged as incapable to handle their own affairs was passed by Congress and created another struggle for the native people of Palm Springs. This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: History of equalization of land by members of Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Creating a space for whats important, as the owner of this music collection has done, is one of the secrets to creating a feeling of belonging at home, says Edward Leaman, the man behind the brand at California Closets. What I love about writing this home and lifestyle column is not having the chance to tell you what I know, which wouldnt take us very far, but rather the chance to learn and share what I didnt know I didnt know. While most of my interviews with experts start with my having a grasp of my columns direction and a relevant list of questions, my favorite interviews jettison off to lands unimagined, unexpected, and as yet unexplored. Such was my conversation with Edward Leaman, chief brand officer for California Closets, and a continuing studies instructor of brand building at Stanford University. More: At Home with Marni: Looking to simplify your life? Here are 7 ways to live with less Here I thought Leaman and I would talk generally about, oh, the ways the world of organizing have changed since California Closets came on the scene in the late 1970s, and a bit about the brands five-year-old annual magazine Ideas of Order, which just published The Belonging Issue. Instead, Leaman, opened the interview with a monologue about, what else? Love. Do you know what standing in love means? he asks dumbfounded me. We all know what falling in love means and what being in love means, but standing in love is when you stand with the person, for them, as they go through their life. I have no earthly notion what this has to do with home organizing, but Im interested, so I let Leaman take the reins. Somehow his commentary on love segues to a discussion of the feeling of belonging, how we are supposed to feel at home. And that morphs imperceptibly into our relationship with our belongings, what we surround ourselves with, which loosely, though not overtly, ties to systems to store and display these belongings. Ahh, I get it. That feeling of belonging starts with making sure you live with loved ones who make you feel seen and heard, Leaman says, getting back to love, and a realm well outside the scope of this column. If you dont feel seen and heard, you dont belong. Story continues Or they dont. Next, it involves making space for our stories, which we share through our belongings, he said. At this point, my eyes must have been making little pinwheels, because the publicist who had coordinated the zoom call for the three of us, said: He speaks in fortune cookie. The fundamental question, he continued, is how do you make space for what belongs? When you ask that societal question, you open up the deeper feeling of belonging and the important emotions you feel with your belongings. These are the treasures of your life. Here I thought I gave the concept of home a lot of contemplation. This guy makes me feel like Im in the kiddie pool, while hes on the Olympic swim team. We dont define ourselves as a brand about organization and storage, he says, referring to California Closets, where he's played a leading role since 1994, but rather as helping customer increase their feeling of belonging. Well, when you put it that way. So just how can we create that longed-for feeling of greater belonging at home? Heres how, according to Leaman: Honor the rituals of self-care. Everyone has small daily rituals, such as making the bed, brewing coffee or tea in the morning, walking the dog, getting the kids to school or to bed. You cant live an ideal life if youre not connected to your rhythms, Leaman says. Its these little habits that make a home home. Practice gratitude. Leaman and I have both gone through divorces and know the foundation-shaking loss that comes with that, as well as the subsequent appreciation for having another chance. The deep gratitude I know I feel for my life and home today, he correctly points out, comes from humility. Make sense. Beauty and order in a home lie in the way it makes sense to you, said Leaman, who finds beauty in the relationship of objects. Why did you place this here, next to this? he wonders. I put my dog-treat jar next to the tea kettle, he said, because, when Im making hot tea, a treat for me, as I stand there, I give the dogs a treat for them. Thats intentional. It makes sense to me. Create room for what you care about. Look around and ask what matters, what makes you feel at home in your home, what defines you? Maybe its your books, your tie collection, your vintage record albums, your artwork, your car, or your assorted sunhats. Note this distinction: When you look at an item or collection do you say, thats mine, or, more deeply, thats me? Those belongings you most closely identify with are often the ones that tell your story. Create a beautiful space for them. Note where you feel most at home in your home. For some its the bath, for others its the kitchen or their studio. Figure where and when you feel most connected with your home, where it fills you with the most meaning, figure out why and try make more places in your home conjure that feeling. Just show up. Home is where we celebrate love, and where we celebrate the journey of our lives, Leaman said, speaking more fortune cookie. The secret of parenting is to just show up every day. Isnt having a long-term relationship with another human being most important? What means more than saying I love you and I wont turn my back? That, I learned, is standing in love. Thats all. More: At Home with Marni: 10 tips to stage small spaces to sell This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Marni Jameson: Making room for what matters Czech President Petr Pavel has left a message on military vehicles while visiting Ukraine, urging Russians to get out of Ukraine. Source: Pavel on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda Details: Pavels post suggests that this is a fleet of Ukrainian vehicles that will take part in the upcoming counter-offensive. Quote: "I know this feeling. Your unit is moving to the contact line, and you want to go with it; you want to lead and set an example. As a commander, I was always there for my soldiers. And now, this is no longer my role. I came here to encourage them. We are with you. You will avenge the fallen, you will uphold freedom. Russia, go home," the Czech president wrote. Znam ten pocit. Vase jednotka miri na frontu, chcete jit s nimi, chcete jit prikladem. Jako velitel jsem svym vojakum vzdy stal po boku. Dnes uz to neni moje role. Prijel jsem, abych jim dodal odvahu. Jsme s vami. Pomstite sve padle, ziskate zpet svou svobodu. Russia, Go Home! pic.twitter.com/SOTur62YC5 Petr Pavel (@prezidentpavel) April 29, 2023 General Pavel is best known for his tenure as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, the second highest position in the Alliance after the Secretary General. No Czech national has ever been so high up in the Alliance's ranks before or since. Background: The Slovak president arrived in Ukraine on the morning of 28 April together with Czech President Petr Pavel, who is making his first visit to Ukraine as a head of state. On the evening of 28 April, they had to hold one of their meetings in a shelter because an air-raid warning had been issued. After the first day of travelling to the north of Kyiv Oblast and critical meetings in the capital, the presidents stayed overnight, a rare occurrence for top foreign officials during a full-scale war. On 29 April, Petr Pavel travelled to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, where the Czech Republic will focus its support. And Slovak President Zuzana Caputova visited Chernihiv Oblast and saw the infamous basement in the village of Yahidne, where the occupiers held several hundred people for almost a month. According to the Czech media, the president crossed Ukraines west border at around 09:00 on 30 April and will hold a press conference in the Czech Republic in the afternoon. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! House Majority Whip Tom Emmer on Sunday rejected the characterization of the Republican debt bill passed Wednesday as doomed to die in the Senate. "To say it's dead on arrival in the Senate, when you've got even Joe Manchin suggesting support for this type of approach, I think that's not exactly accurate," Emmer (R-Minn.) said on CNN's "State of the Union," referring to the West Virginia Democratic senator. The measure would limit federal discretionary spending and also avoid a default on the nation's debts. The legislation also contains a number of measures addressing favorite GOP concerns, including canceling President Joe Biden's effort to wipe out up to $10,000 of student debt for some borrowers. The measure, which passed the House by a vote of 217-215, is widely perceived as having no chance of passing the Senate, where Democrats have a slim majority. Emmer didn't explain why he thought Senate Democrats other than Manchin might come to embrace the legislation. If no agreement is reached, the nation would bump up against its debt ceiling, which is now projected to happen in July, and default on its debts. President Joe Biden has said he is willing to negotiate over the nation's budget, but wants the debt limit raised independently of those talks, without any conditions, as occurred during the Trump administration. Most Capitol Hill Democrats have said the same thing. Emmer said no negotiations are needed: The Senate could simply approve the House GOP bill and Biden could sign it. "Our recommendation is: We passed it through the House; take it up in the Senate and pass it," Emmer said. As he tried to redirect the narrative on the legislation, Emmer also rejected the idea that the bill was built on spending cuts, referring instead to "spending reforms." "I take a little issue, Dana, with the cuts language that the media likes to use all the time," the Minnesota Republican told host Dana Bash. "This is a transformational bill. It would limit spending." Speaking later on the same CNN program, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said he didn't see much hope that the debt crisis would be resolved quickly or easily. "Im really concerned about the debt limit when we approach it," Kinzinger said. A humanitarian crisis is worsening in the temporarily occupied territories of Luhansk Oblast because of a shortage of medicine for the civilian population. Source: Ukraines National Resistance Center Quote: "After switching the majority of the regions hospitals to a military hospital operational format, the civilian people cannot receive medical services." Details: In addition, the National Resistance Center has noted that people have faced a shortage of medicine because of a preference for treatment in favour of the Russian occupation authorities. "At the same time, the prices of essential products rose significantly [during the] religious holidays. Along with rising prices, unemployment is rising too," the National Resistance Center says. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! JAKARTA (Reuters) - A further 363 Indonesian citizens evacuated from Sudan arrived home on Sunday on a second flight by the country's flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, the country's foreign ministry said. 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 by several countries including Indonesia, United States, Japan, Germany and Britain. A first group of Indonesian evacuees arrived back in the country on Friday, and a total of 748 citizens have been evacuated from Sudan as of Sunday. "Not only Indonesian citizens, the government of Indonesia also helped evacuate a number of foreign citizens," the foreign ministry said in a statement, without providing details how many foreigners Indonesia has evacuated. (Reporting by Bernadette Christina; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) Peter Szijjarto Hungary has paid an extremely high price for the war in Ukraine, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a post on Facebook post on April 30, responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's earlier comment that Budapest should not qualify for NATO membership. Read also: Hungarys Orban claims Ukraine economically defunct country, Ukraines MFA reacts Szijjarto said that Zelenskyy had no right to assess Hungary's actions as a NATO member. "Fortunately, he is not the one to decide this," Szijjarto said. The Hungarian people have already paid an extremely high price for this war. Szijjarto added that many Hungarians members of the Hungarian community in Zakarpattya Oblast in western Ukraine had already died in the war. Read also: Ukrainian NATO membership possible only with Russias agreement, says Hungarys deputy speaker "If this statement (by Zelenskyy) means: I respectfully thank the Hungarians for letting in and taking care of more than a million refugees from Ukraine, and I respectfully thank you for continuously sending aid, then they are welcome, and can count on us in the future as well," the Hungarian foreign minister wrote. Szijjartos statement came a day after Zelenskyy, when asked how he assessed Budapest's position on not supporting Ukraine's accession to NATO, and whether it was possible to resolve this "dispute," said that Hungary's political elites were politically confused, as it is irrational that a NATO country calls the aggressor Russia its friend. Read also: Russia puts Hungary on unfriendly countries list, says envoy Zelenskyy then said that Hungary was an ally of the alliance solely on paper. Hungary continues to buy gas from Russia and has refused to allow deliveries of weapons to Ukraine to transit its territory. Szijjarto has also visited Moscow several times for talks since the start of Russias full-scale war on Ukraine, despite the other NATO allies maintaining a policy of diplomatically isolating Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. 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 dead victim's sister testified Friday that she had suspicions about Lori Vallow Daybell, the Idaho woman accused of killing her sibling three years ago. Samantha Gwilliam, the sister of Tammy Daybell, told a Boise courtroom that she wondered why her former brother-in-law Chad Daybell, remarried just weeks after Tammy supposedly died unexpectedly in her sleep in October 2019. "You dont get married four weeks after you just buried your wife of almost 30 years," Gwilliam testified she asked Chad Daybell upon learning he married the then-Lori Vallow, according to East Idaho News. "You just dont do that." An autopsy would later reveal Tammy Daybell's death was a homicide and she died from asphyxiation. Vallow Daybell and her husband, Chad Daybell, are accused of murdering Tammy Daybell and Vallow Daybell's two youngest kids, Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16, in 2019. The kids' discarded bodies were discovered by authorities in Chad Daybell's backyard near a "pet cemetery," in June 2020. Vallow Daybell could face life in prison if convicted, while Chad Daybell, who is being tried separately, could face the death penalty if he's convicted. A gripping and gruesome week of testimony against Lori Vallow Daybell Gwilliam taking the stand on behalf of her late sister Friday wrapped up a gory week of testimony. On Tuesday, Vallow Daybell's older sister tearfully testified that her sibling's dead kids were "thrown away like garbage," and a forensic pathologist gruesome's details on Wednesday said Vallow Daybell's kids were found in plastic bags and also "charred and burned." "This paints a graphic and horrible picture of what was done to these kids," said Rachel Juarez, a Los Angeles-based attorney and a judge on the TV court show, "Hot Bench." "This is really going to leave an impact on the jury. These children didn't die peacefully." Story continues Prosecutors allege that Vallow Daybell and her husband practiced apocalyptic and doomsday-driven religious beliefs as part of a plan to kill the kids and Tammy Daybell, a school teacher. Two weeks ago, an ex-best friend testified that Vallow Daybell thought her kids were 'zombies.' Vallow Daybell's trial has been the subject of national fascination and scrutiny. The former all-American mom and Mrs. Texas beauty pageant winner was the subject of a Netflix docuseries that depicted her downfall after better times, including winning $17,500 in 2004 on the popular TV game show, "Wheel of Fortune." Gory testimony in Idaho mom murder trial: Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell's youngest son had date-rape drugs in his body at time of death, doc testifies 'You threw kids away like garbage!': Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell's older sister testifies in murder trial: 'Kids were thrown away like garbage' Tammy Daybell looked 'very healthy' prior to death, sister testifies Gwilliam testified about Tammy Daybell's health and said her sister previously suffered from depression a few years before her death. But, two weeks before Daybell's death, Gwilliam said her sister looked "very healthy. She did not look sick at all," East Idaho News reported. Gwilliam said she spoke with her sister the last time she was ill. During a visit with Tammy Daybell two weeks before she died in October 2019, Gwilliam said her sister never mentioned she felt sick. Gwilliam testified that Chad Daybell told her that Tammy Daybell had died peacefully in her sleep on October 19, 2019, because she had been sick, according to KTVB-TV. A county coroner, Brenda Dye, who also testified on Friday said she found Tammy Daybell dead at her house. Dye told prosecutors that Chad Daybell said that Tammy Daybell "had been feeling really off lately like she wasnt in her body," East Idaho News reported. Dye testified that Chad Daybell said Tammy Daybell had been having some fainting episodes including one at a temple where she passed out on the floor. Chad Daybell said Tammy Daybell had very low blood pressure and wouldnt go to the doctors, Dye testified, adding that Chad Daybell told her that Tammy Daybell tried to treat everything naturally. Dye testified that the initial cause of Tammy Daybell's death was ruled as a pulmonary edema, which is a buildup of fluids in the lungs, even though no autopsy was conducted, KTVB-TV reported. Tammy Daybell's body would be exhumed in Utah, where Chad Daybell had her buried, for a formal autopsy in December 2019, Dye testified. 'You murdered my siblings': Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell's eldest son testifies, hears jail call: 'You murdered my siblings' 'Pieces of bone, charred flesh': Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell's missing kids were a gruesome discovery in makeshift cemetery, detective testifies Tammy Daybell's sister disputes Chad Daybell's account of wife's health However, Gwilliam disputed Chad Daybell's cause of her sister's death and testified that her sister seemed very healthy and even wanted to run in a race, East Idaho News reported. Gwilliam also testified that Chad Daybell had her sister's funeral three days after her death. Gwillam said she asked Chad Daybell why it was happening so quickly and he said that Tammy Daybell would want to avoid the fuss. Gwilliam also testified she asked Chad Daybell why he was burying her sister in Springville, Utah, rather than in Rexburg, Idaho, where Chad and Tammy Daybell and their kids lived. "(Chad Daybell) said that he thought it would be better if she was down there because its cold in Rexburg, and they wouldnt get to visit her as much," Gwilliam testified, according to East Idaho News. Gwilliam says some family members werent able to come to the funeral because it happened so quickly. Gwilliam also testified she noticed the summer before her sister died, Chad Daybell seemed "more distant" and was acting very different. "We didnt know what was going on," Gwilliam said. 'Money, power and sex': Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell used 'money, power and sex,' prosecutors say in her murder trial Did Idaho mom think kids were 'zombies': Idaho mom Lori Vallow Daybell believed her kids were 'zombies,' ex-best friend testifies Tammy Daybell's sister grew immediately suspicious after learning about Lori Vallow Daybell Gwilliam later testified that her family learned that Chad Daybell remarried two weeks after Tammy Daybell's death, "and we were devastated," East Idaho News reported. Chad Daybell told Gwilliam that his new wifes name was Lori Ryan, and her previous husband, Charles Vallow, died from a heart attack. "They were both grieving the passing of spouses," Gwilliam testified. "As any good sister did, I went to the internet to see who this woman was. I discovered (Loris) name was tied to Vallow, and it brought up newspaper articles about a man in Arizona who had been shot in his own home by his brother-in-law." After discovering Charles Vallow was fatally shot by Alex Cox, Vallow Daybell's brother, Gwilliam testified that she took that information to her husband, and told him, 'I think this is the same woman who he married. He did not die of a heart attack.'" Gwilliam said she saw an obituary for Charles Vallow and a comment Kay Woodcock, JJ Vallow's grandmother, left that said, "We will take care of JJ," East Idaho News reported. After learning Vallow Daybell had kids, Gwilliam testified that she asked Chad Daybell: "Please tell me about this woman you replaced my sister with?" Gwilliam said Chad Daybell said his new wife had "a hard life," and they were trying to stay away from "the stigma of what had happened to her," East Idaho News reported. Gwilliam testified she asked Chad Daybell if he and his new wife would be raising the kids together. "He told me no," Gwilliam testified. "Theres no children and they were going to be empty nesters." When Gwilliam testified she spoke to Chad Daybell in December 2019, she said he and Lori Vallow were likely living off insurance money. "He told us she had lots of money," said Gwilliam said, who added that Chad Daybell never came around to visit the family after his new marriage, KTVB-TV reported. Prosecutors claim that the couple's bizarre strategy was part of a plot to steal social security funds and insurance money. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lori Vallow Daybell trial update: victim's sister testifies Idaho Power plans to make major increases in its solar and wind capacity as part of a phase-out of fossil fuels in the coming decades. The changes come as renewables have become increasingly cost-competitive with other fuels and developers are eyeing Southern Idaho for more solar projects. Analysts have emphasized that massive increases in renewables on the electric grid are needed to wean the nation off of fossil fuels, and Democratic President Joe Bidens administration set a goal of getting the U.S. to 100% clean electricity by 2035. Researchers argue converting almost all of our energy needs to electricity is needed to prevent the worst effects of human-caused climate change, and likely requires more than doubling the nations electric grid capacity. Idaho Power has a goal of relying on 100% clean energy by 2045. Today, its energy mix consists of more than 30% hydropower, 10% wind and less than 4% solar. One-third of its energy comes from natural gas and coal. The company has recently pulled out of some of its coal-fired power plants, and has plans to leave coal behind by 2028. The company is also building large-scale battery storage systems in Owyhee and Elmore counties as part of an effort to increase the reliability of power distribution. Southern Idaho is ripe for more solar installations, companies and academics say, meaning the Snake River Plain could see more projects in the coming years. Idaho still ranks in the bottom half of solar-producing states, according to the Energy Information Administration, a federal agency that collects data on power production. Southern Idaho is one of the better places in the country to put in solar, said Brian Johnson, a professor of engineering at the University of Idaho, in part because of the amount of sunlight. Last year, the largest solar project in Idaho, Jackpot Solar, came online, with a capacity of 120 megawatts, which is enough energy to power about 24,000 homes. That single 950-acre solar farm in Twin Falls County expanded the states solar capacity by 20%, to close to 740 megawatts. Story continues The project was built by Duke Energy, a North Carolina-based public utility and developer. Duke has contracted to sell the power it generates at Jackpot to Idaho Power for 20 years. Nearby the Jackpot Solar farm, Duke is building another 100-megawatt solar project, along with 60 megawatts of four-hour duration battery storage, with expected completion in 2024. Researchers have pointed to better storage technology as a necessity, since renewables like wind and solar can be less predictable than sources like coal plants and may not be able to directly supply sufficient energy during peak demand times. Randy Wheeless, a spokesperson for Duke, told the Idaho Statesman that the company has plans to announce another Idaho solar project in the coming weeks. Other investor-owned utilities in the state Avista and Rocky Mountain Power, which is part of PacifiCorp are also working to transition to more renewable sources of energy. Idaho right now is very attractive to us, and Idaho Power is looking to move to be more renewable-focused, so that bodes well for more projects in the future, Wheeless said. Idaho Power plans for more solar, wind power Over the next 20 years, Idaho Power wants to integrate another 1,400 megawatts of solar power and 700 more megawatts of wind into its system, said Mitch Colburn, the companys vice president of planning, engineering and construction. Company documents also showed the utilitys plans for 1,685 megawatts of storage. But Colburn told the Statesman even those additions are unlikely to get the company to fully clean energy, and that further innovation is needed. I dont think there is a 100% clean energy future with only wind and solar and battery storage additions, Colburn said. We need additional capacity types of resources in addition to those resources. Some of those improvements could include better battery storage technology that lasts longer, as well as other sources like geothermal, nuclear or hydrogen. Further complicating implementation is that some of the projects themselves can be highly controversial. A proposal near Twin Falls to build a large-scale wind farm has gotten significant opposition locally over the potential farms proximity to the Minidoka National Historic Site, where thousands of Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. Advocates say the site is a memorial to the suffering at the camp. The project is under review at the Bureau of Land Management. In a statement, the company proposing the wind farm, LS Power, said it hopes to honor the sites history and noted that the BLM has proposed two alternatives that would set the turbines between five and 10 miles away from the site. Transmission lines play critical role in clean energy While proposals for new renewable development are cropping up, a major aspect of getting Idahos grid prepared for a future without fossil fuels is the expansion of transmission lines. Transmission lines, which are wires that connect a solar farm to customers, on a large scale allow power producers to buy and sell electricity from other regions. Because renewable energy often relies on weather patterns, connecting regions can help smooth out irregularities and provide backup when power sources are intermittent. Transmission is a fundamental, foundational element of a clean energy future, Colburn said. Those power lines can extend for hundreds of miles, crossing into many local and federal jurisdictions. Getting the required approvals from local agencies can take years and has delayed the buildout of renewables across the country. Idaho Power is in the process of building a 300-mile transmission line connecting Idaho to power sources in Oregon. The company first proposed the project in 2008 more than 15 years ago. Its expected to come online in 2026. In the 1990s, Idaho Power received approval to build a 500-mile transmission line into Nevada, later selling the rights to the project to LS Power, the same company trying to develop the Lava Ridge wind farm. Over 20 years later, about half the line has been built, with the rest expected to be completed in 2026, spokesperson Amy Schutte said. Theres still definitely a degree almost anywhere of not in my backyard thinking, Johnson said. Projects cause tension among environmentalists The push to rapidly expand renewable energy capacity has meant tough decisions and tensions for environmentalists, who have long pushed to prevent industrial-scale logging, mining and other development projects in an effort to protect endangered species and wildlife habitat. For the Idaho Conservation League, the largest environmental group in the state, that means trying to get to yes on more projects, Justin Hayes, the groups executive director, said at a panel discussion at the Society of Environmental Journalists conference in Boise earlier this month. We are trying very hard to work with communities and developers to identify projects that can be done well, in places that can sustain them, (that are) operationally done in sensitive ways to the community and ecology there, Hayes said. Part of the problem is that a lot of the regulations that govern where and how energy projects can be built are based on federal laws that are 50 years old, he said. Individual states also have many different policies. Without clearer direction on renewable power projects, its difficult for agencies to quickly assess ecological impacts while still allowing local communities space to engage. Its a square peg in a round hole to fit what we need to do into those existing laws, Brad Heusinkveld, an energy policy associate at the Idaho Conservation League, told the Statesman. The environmental community and I put myself in here they built their bread and butter off of spotted owls, box turtles and these (endangered species). How is this community shifting to like, holy (expletive), we need to develop megawatt-scale wind farms in under two to three years. Idaho policies create barriers for renewables Unlike some other states, Idaho has no carbon-neutral goals. Some state policies have prevented localities from trying to encourage higher efficiency or more renewable sourcing. But the interconnectedness of utilities that cross state lines means that the policies of nearby states still affect Idaho. Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado all have very ambitious goals to decarbonize their electricity system, and so thats changing the industry across the West, Dr. Stephanie Lenhart, of the Energy Policy Institute at Boise State University, told the Statesman. In recent years, changes at Idahos Public Utilities Commission which regulates the public utilities in the state have altered some of the incentives on renewable energy. While a majority of existing solar and wind developments in Idaho were built under a federal program that dates from the 1970s, requiring utilities to buy the energy they produce, the commission scaled back the contract lengths eight years ago. For larger projects, instead of negotiating a sale price every 20 years, those prices are now reset every two years. The change has discouraged developers from building that type of wind and solar energy, said Peter Richardson, who leads Idaho Energy Freedom, a group that promotes clean energy. Since the adoption of the two-year renegotiation period, no new wind or solar projects of that type have been built in the state, Richardson said. Idaho Power, which pushed for the changes along with the states other investor-owned utilities, argued that the lengthy price agreements led to higher costs for consumers that did not reflect the market. In an email, Utilities Commission spokesperson Adam Rush said that because the state has no renewable standards, the commission is tasked only with determining fair, just and reasonable rates, and ensuring the delivery of safe, reliable and efficient utility services. Utilities and other groups have also gotten into disagreements over rooftop solar. Idaho Power wants to cut in half the amount it must pay customers who sell their rooftop solar back to the grid, arguing that the current rate is too high. Meanwhile, rooftop solar advocates are pushing to keep the price where it is and argue that higher costs will disincentivize people from buying rooftop panels, which have the potential to reduce some of the need for large renewable energy farms. Rooftop solar in the state expanded by an estimated 60 megawatts between 2021 and 2022, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, a trade group. In Idaho, a new law limits the ability of cities like Boise to implement stricter energy code standards. In an email, Richard Stover, the administrator of the governors Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, said Gov. Brad Little aims to reduce administrative and regulatory burdens rather than creating obstacles for private investment. Stover pointed to new legislation that expanded the definition of renewable energy to include nuclear, battery storage and hydrogen, allowing power providers to issue bonds for development of these technologies. While developers work to boost renewable energy production, local and federal policymakers are also looking to shift how consumers use energy, like swapping out gas-powered cars with electric vehicles. In Boise, the city requires new residential construction to include capacity for electric vehicle charging, and city officials plan to encourage builders to construct homes that only use electricity for all heating and cooking needs. Its really going to be a fundamental rethinking of how we consume and produce energy, Lenhart said. Federal health authorities rated four Illinois counties Macoupin, Montgomery, Jefferson and Wayne at medium COVID-19 levels Thursday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rated zero counties in the state at a high level for the sixth consecutive week. The CDC community levels are updated Thursdays and are based on metrics from the past seven days, including new hospital admissions per 100,000 people, average percent of staffed, inpatient beds occupied by COVID patients and new cases per 100,000 people. People in high community level areas are advised to wear a mask indoors and on public transportation, and the federal agency says people at a higher risk of severe illness should consider precautions in medium-level areas. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 3,963 new confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases and 19 deaths, including one in St. Clair County, for the week ending April 23. The prior week saw 5,278 cases and nine deaths statewide. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported four Illinois counties were at medium COVID-19 levels as of April 27, 2023. Federal, state public health emergencies to end The U.S. COVID-19 public health emergency and Illinois statewide disaster declaration are set to end May 11. In an April 28 press release, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said coverage for COVID-19 testing may be affected by the emergencies expiration. Illinois continues to see low COVID-19 case rates across Illinois, Vohra said in the statement. As only two weeks remain until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and statewide disaster declaration, it is important for residents to understand how they will be affected. The good news is that access to COVID-19 vaccinations and certain treatments, like Paxlovid, will generally not be affected as coverage will transfer from the public health system to more traditional health care coverage, he continued. However, coverage for COVID-19 testing, especially at-home COVID-19 testing, may change depending on your health insurance provider. Please reach out to your health care provider for your most up-to-date information. Story continues The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced April 18 a program to provide people who are uninsured with access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The program will work through local health departments and pharmacy chains to provide resources. COVID-19 in St. Clair County, across Illinois St. Clair Countys weekly case rate declined slightly this week to 23.49 cases per 100,000 people, according to CDC data. The county saw three people hospitalized per 100,000 residents, and 1.3% of its staffed inpatient beds are in use by patients with confirmed COVID-19. Intensive care unit availability was at 24% in southwestern Illinois as of Thursday night, up from 11% last week, and 92% of the regions ventilators were available. Statewide, 646 ICU beds were available out of 2,871. Test positivity was at 1.13% in St. Clair County as of April 24, the CDC reported, and the rate of tests performed was up by 37.58% as of April 20. As of Thursday night, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 475 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state, including 49 ICU patients and 14 individuals on ventilators. Information about vaccination and testing is available online in St. Clair County. Note: Some CDC data, such as test positivity rates, the number of tests performed and weekly case rate, update on different days. IDPH data and CDC data may not update at the same time, so metrics may vary across agencies. Belfast has a complex history, but theres hope (Lorna Tracey) Its absolute chaos from the get-go. Katherine Devlin is talking about Blue Lights, the dizzying BBC One drama in which she plays a rookie police officer called Annie. And it really is. In episode one, her character gets lamped. Throws up. Is spat on. Gets bombarded with death threats. Is forced to move out of her home. Set in Belfast, a city in a state of imperfect peace 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, the show is a nail-biting insight into the sheer nightmare of daily life for some officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. While the show is not out-and-out copaganda it actually highlights many of the flaws in the peace era force that replaced the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 2001 it does make you feel for the fresh recruits at its centre, and leaves you wondering, why on earth do any of them go to work in the morning? Going into the police force [which is majority Protestant], particularly if youre from a Catholic background like Annie, seems like something that you have to be dedicated to, because your life is quite literally on the line, Devlin tells me, sipping on a fizzy water in the cafe at Londons Soho Theatre. But Annie is stubborn as hell, and her politics and upbringing aside, she genuinely wants to do the right thing. As the series rattles on, we see many hangovers from the Troubles that rocked the country for three decades until 1998, from the bitter sectarianism and the horrifying scene of a teenage boy being kneecapped, to the simmering resentment between local coppers and the sneaky beakies the nickname for English MI5 agents. Its extremely complex and its not just a case of goodies and baddies, either, says Devlin. Theres such intricate history there. And its so important, now more than ever, to expose certain things like that, particularly to a UK audience because I think some people can be a bit naive in thinking that those things dont happen anymore, which they do. But in the North we are ever changing and growing. There is hope, a lot of hope. Particularly in Belfast. Devlin and I meet the day after Blue Lights has been renewed for a second series, and the new episodes will see Annie on the beat with fellow probationer Tommy (Nathan Braniff) after the tragic death of his partner, Gerry (Richard Dormer). Everybody is just absolutely traumatised and so upset that hes not coming back, she says of the fan-favourite character. The BBC show is her first prominent screen role, after bit-parts in historical series Vikings and Irish indie drama The Dig. Today, Devlin is wearing a silver Virgin Mary necklace she was raised Catholic but isnt religious under a candyfloss pink scarf and a grey wool cardigan. With cut-glass cheekbones and rosy lips, the actor is just as striking a presence as Annie in Blue Lights. She caveats many of her points with a soft I suppose. Fans of the show might be surprised to learn that when Devlin was filming the scenes where Annie is attacked, she and her co-star Michael Shea (who plays her aggressor Mo) would take the edge off by doing the moonwalk. Even though the scenes themself were super intense, me and Michael get on really well and were both fans of Michael Jacksons music, she says. Smooth Criminal was in my head consistently throughout those scenes. She chuckles as she imagines what a strange sight it must have been for anyone passing in the street to see a cop doing the freaking moonwalk. Annies uniform bullet-proof vest, helmet, weapon belt and leather boots was tough to bear the weight of, day in, day out. It was so heavy, says Devlin, her eyes widening. I was just looking around at the other actors being like, is anybody else feeling this or is it just me? Im so weak! And when youre sitting down in the vest, you feel like a bit of a turtle because it just starts to take over, she judders her head backwards until youre just like this, with no neck. She laughs. I need to start going to the gym for season two. Spoiler Annies getting ripped! Devlin is now making her second attempt at moving to London. The last time she tried, she arrived in the city with the entire contents of her life shoved into three big suitcases and a lease signed on a flat, and then she got the call saying shed been cast in Blue Lights, off the back of a single self-tape shed done many months before. So off she went, back to Northern Ireland. Luckily, it all worked out for the best and the show has been a hit. I know, can you imagine? she says, laughing as she contemplates if it had flopped. Id be raging. For now, shes based in County Tyrone, where she grew up with her engineer father and art teacher mother, about 40 minutes from Belfast. When she finished college in Donaghmore, Devlin had five university offers for academic courses like psychology, but she turned them all down. When she told her teacher she wanted to go to drama school, they looked at her like she was joining the circus, she says, joking that shed only done acting on the side and that she lived a double life like Hannah Montana. After that, she did a foundation course at the Lir Academy in Dublin where Irelands golden boy Paul Mescal trained and worked a nine to five. Doing that, as a late teen, and trying to make rent in Dublin, you have to grow up very quickly, she says. But I wouldnt change it, because I feel like I got a bit of resilience from it, especially for the industry because the industry is hard and scary. Devlin and Hannah McClean on the beat in Blue Lights (BBC) Devlin then moved to Cardiff to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. I took what I could from the training, I suppose, she says, but there were other things that didnt really work for me either. Like what? In first year and second year, I really was struggling to find my voice, particularly having a Northern Irish accent and, you know, being in a room and being one of maybe two people who have a different accent, and everybody else perhaps has an English accent. It can sometimes feel intimidating. But, in third year, I suppose I had a bit of a rebirth and I just thought, no, eff this, like, Im gonna speak my truth. That turning point, she says, came after she was made to do a 30-minute, purely improvised, clowning performance. After that I was like, just feel the fear and do it anyway, she says, smiling. But I do think its so important to not only have diverse people in a space, but also diverse accents. In Northern Ireland, Devlins performance in Blue Lights has been turning heads. Northern Irish people are honest and, if they dont like something, they will let you know, she says. She recently got recognised in the Tyre Safety Centre in her hometown, when she was getting her car fixed with a raging hangover. A man asked her to pose for a photo with his baby son, who didnt look up from his Lego and was none the wiser. And over Easter week, Devlins mother went to Mass every single day for an excuse to show off her daughter. We were all taking the piss because she hasnt been to Mass in years, says Devlin. Devlin speaks fondly of her family, and of how they always find humour in the hard times like the officers in Blue Lights. I remember at my granddads wake, she says, we were drinking until about five in the morning, and it was the best craic. In a way that sounds really disrespectful, but its also a celebration, and I think particularly with Irish people, we do tend to just use good craic to get over the worst of things. I have English cousins and theyre always a bit taken aback by our honesty, particularly with my mum. What you see is what you get with her. And I think a lot of Irish people are like that, because weve been through quite a lot of s*** as well. The actor is looking forward to weighing herself down with Annies uniform again in Blue Lights this summer, and shes got a role in the Eddie Redmayne-led TV reboot of The Day of the Jackal. Devlin also keeps an ever-extending list of people shed love to work with. She brings it up on her phone just before we go our separate ways. Oh yes, director Allen Coulter who did Remember Me, and Jessica Kelly who did the casting for Midsommar, she says. Oh, and Darren Aaronofsky, who made The Whale. Thats a bit of me! Blue Lights is available to watch in full on BBC iPlayer The Kings coronation will be a complex multi-pronged operation for police, who are working to stem potential terror threats, disruptive protests and criminal opportunists in dense crowds. Thousands of officers are being drawn from across the UK for the occasion, which comes months after a huge operation to protect the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The Independent understands that authorities are bracing for significant potential disruption from protests, while monitoring jihadists, neo-Nazis and other extremists who revile the royal family as a symbol of the British state. Armed officers will be deployed to guard coronation attendees and foreign dignitaries, while police are also responsible for ensuring the locations where events are held are secure. Search teams will be sweeping the procession route, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, for potential threats hidden in phone boxes, drains, bins and other everyday objects before sealing roads off. Snipers will be deployed on rooftops, as well as armed officers on overt and covert patrol to protect crowds and high-profile figures attending the coronation. With the date announced months in advance, any hostile actors have had longer to plan for the event than they did for the Queens funeral, but the security services have also had longer to track and mitigate any threats. Physical barriers, as well as a heavy police presence, will be in place to ensure the safety of both dignitaries and members of the public expected to crowd Londons streets for the occasion. A former royal protection officer told The Independent that the solemnity of the Queens funeral suppressed protest groups who did not want to score an own goal by generating public outrage. Those who wish to cause mayhem didnt, but its well documented now that republican and environmental groups are looking to get their cause across, Simon Morgan said. The risks are slightly different this time. Even though the King has said hes going to scale down the coronation, the people attending are still senior royals, government figures and global dignitaries. Story continues Its a multi-faceted threat event and the response to that is quite complex. The anti-monarchy campaign group Republic has announced that it will not be mounting any disruptive stunts on 6 May, instead organising protests along the procession route and a not my King rally in Trafalgar Square. But authorities fear other organisations or lone demonstrators may attempt to cause disorder or block roads, following government vows to crack down on highway obstruction and slow walking protests. Protesters await the arrival of Charles and the Queen Consort for the Royal Maundy Service at York Minster (Owen Humphreys/PA) (PA Wire) Gavin Stephens, chair of the National Police Chiefs Council, told The Independent that forces from right across the UK would be involved in the huge operation. Policing has had a very important role ensuring the safety of everybody involved in the Platinum Jubilee and Queens funeral, and well be very proud to do so again next week, he added. Asked whether the transfer of officers from regional forces into London would affect communities outside the capital, Mr Stephens said: We have strong resilience in policing, one of my responsibilities is coordinating that national effort. We have been working very hard with colleagues in the Metropolitan Police to ensure its a safe and secure and momentous time in our history. Mr Morgan, now the director of operations for security firm Trojan Consultancy, said that plans had been underway for many years under the codename Operation Golden Orb. He said senior officers would be assessing and adapting the operation following the Queens death, and checking for any changes in the terror threat after a rise in dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland. Mr Morgan said that intelligence analysis would also be run on royal stalkers and fantasists fixated on the King and his family, and that officers on the ground would also have to deal with ad hoc criminality such as pickpockets and sexual offenders in crowds. Its a massive policing operation, he added. Youre protecting the individuals but also the office and what it stands for, and what that in turn looks like for His Majestys government and how that is seen across the globe. Its high stakes - if anything goes wrong its immediately broadcast and it reflects on Britains standing in the world. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Russian military commanders have likely resorted to punishing their troops by imprisoning them in underground pits covered with metal bars, according to a British intelligence memo published Sunday. In recent months, Russian commanders have likely started punishing breaches in discipline by detaining the offending troops in Zindans which are improvised cells consisting of holes in the ground covered with a metal grille, the report says. The makeshift prisons have been used to punish Russian soldiers for alleged violations as minor as drinking or attempting to cancel their contracts with the military, according to the intelligence report, which cites multiple recent reports from Russian personnel who provided accounts of the incidents. The report notes, draconian shift among Russian commanders since the early days of Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of the Ukraine, when many Russian commanders took a relatively light touch in enforcing discipline, allowing those who refused to soldier to quietly return home. According to the British intelligence department, that all began to change in the fall of 2022, when the higher-ups of the Kremlins military began enforcing stricter punishment for perceived transgressions among Russian forces fighting the war in Ukraine. The drastic pivot, the agency notes, took an even harsher turn since Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov assumed command of the operation. Putins Troops Filmed Threatening to Turn Weapons on Bosses Gerasimov, Russias most senior army general, took charge of Russias invasion of Ukraine in January. The 67-year-olds appointment came after a slew of top generals were fired over failures on the battlefield, prompting widespread criticism from pro-war Russian bloggers. The increase in the level of leadership of the special military operation is connected with the expansion in the scale of tasks, the ministry said in a statement about the appointment, adding that there was a need to organize closer contact between different branches of the armed forces and improve the quality ... and effectiveness of the management of Russian forces. Story continues 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. Jamie Oliver says wife Jools stopped him getting a vasectomy. (Getty) Jamie Oliver has admitted he was due to get a vasectomy when wife Jools Oliver stepped in to stop him. Oliver planned to get the snip but when he told his wife the day before she made him cancel the appointment. The couple already share five children - Poppy Honey Rosie, 21, Daisy Boo Pamela, 20, Petal Blossom Rainbow, 14, Buddy Bear Maurice, 12, and River Rocket, six. Read more: Celeb chef Jamie Oliver says restaurant collapse was minor blip' However Jools, who originally tied the knot with Oliver 23 years ago, decided it wasnt time to call it quits on their ability to add to their family just yet. Oliver explained that he was ready to be spayed when he had to call the doctor and cancel. He said: She made me cancel there and then, live. Im like, Im so sorry, Mr Surgeon. He goes, It wont be the first time and it wont be the last, but Id love to spay you another day when youre ready. He actually did say that. But I do need to be done. Talking to Radio X Oliver also joked that he wont let the writer talk him into having more kids. He continued: Shed love to. I need to get spayed, basically. The couple recently renewed their vows getting married for a second time with their five children present for the momentous occasion. Read more: Jamie Oliver claims wife Jools has long COVID that still cant be cured after two years Oliver shared the happy news with his fans on Instagram posting a series of touching photos from the nuptials in an idyllic tropical beach setting. He wrote: Morning all, me & @joolsoliver got married again! "Yep After 23 years together, we thought it would be a special moment to celebrate renewing our wedding vows before the kids all start leaving the nest. Watch: Jamie Oliver admits new childrens book helped him lose childhood baggage It was really special, funny and romantic with the words in the ceremony making more sense having come this far together. It seems like a blink since the first wedding which we kept very privet apart from the paparazzi at the village church we thought it would be a happy and joyful moment to share with you all this Easter. "We've always dreamed of going to the Maldives and it was just as you would have dreamed, simply amazing! A massive thank you to all the team at @discoversoneva for blowing our minds and making this moment so special and memorable big love guys Jamie." Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Reuters Kudos to Chief Justice John Roberts for corralling the three Trump-nominated pro-life justices to leave the abortion pill alone for now, saving the GOP from another Roe-like disaster. Eighty percent of voters dont like the Dobbs decision that ended the constitutional right to an abortion, a number that establishes a confrontation within the GOP between electoral realists and pro-life activists that is confounding the partys presidential candidates. When the 7-2 SCOTUS decision was handed downprotecting access and availability in states where it is legal to take the two-dose pill that ends a pregnancy up to 10 weeksmany Republican lawmakers quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Any other decision would have further inflamed an electorate still furious over losing Roe. Americas Tragedy Is Its Culture of FearArmed With Millions of Guns It is welcome news that Roberts managed to regain some control over the Courts far-right faction, marginalizing Clarence Thomas and an angry Samuel Alito, who wrote the Dobbs decision that overturned nearly a half-century of legal protection for abortion. Roberts was able to cordon off the extremists who were willing to upend the FDAand the entire drug regulatory processto remove the abortion pill from the marketplace. Crisis averted, but the damage done by the Roberts court cant easily be undone. Making her bid as the sole woman so far in the GOP field, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley spoke at the Virginia headquarters of the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life Americas office on Tuesday. Haley said the next president will have to find national consensus on the issue, and that she believes there is a federal role on abortion, but didnt identify what that might be. Kellyanne Conway, back in her pre-Trump role as a GOP pollster, greeted Republican donors at a Nashville retreat earlier this month with a poll that shows 80 percent of voters dont like the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe. Meanwhile, the partys activist base is demanding a federal ban on abortion while pushing for more restrictive laws on the state level. Story continues Mifepristone, the first medication in a medical abortion, is prepared for a patient at Alamo Women's Clinic in Carbondale, Illinois, on April 20, 2023. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters The solution? Dont talk about it, and if pressed, stress states rights, then pivot to other cultural issues like parental rights, crime and wokeness, in whatever order works best. In other words, theres no plan. A party that ran multiple elections over multiple decades with extraordinary unanimity on abortion is now floundering to seek consensus. Its very easy to be united in opposition to something, says Christine Matthews, a Republican pollster, who is pro-choice. Finding agreement is harder, but after listening to Haley outline her pro-life position, Matthews takeaway was that a 15-week abortion ban could be the common ground where both sides could settle. Republican pollster Whit Ayres identifies the 15-week ban as the sweet spot nationally for Republicans. (Haley signed a 20-week ban when she was governor.) Its difficult for me to give advice because I think they should be consistent, and keep government out of it, Matthews told The Daily Beast. The Republican base wants to restrict abortion, and they (the candidates) dont want anybody to outmaneuver them on the right. But there shouldnt be a national ruling. Conways polling stunned the GOP attendees at the donor retreat, but those numbers wont change anybodys mind in states where Republicans have super-majorities. Theyre not responsive because they get elected in the primaries, says Matthews, and the activists rule the primaries. In several states where abortion is percolating up, most notably in Ohio, Republican lawmakers are changing the threshold to make it harder for voters collecting signatures to get on the ballot in the 2024 election to secure abortion rights. Is This How Tucker Carlson Runs for President? This is a horror movie with lots of sequels, says Jim Kessler with Third Way, a centrist Democratic group. In 2024, we will have the first presidential election where the presidents position could make a visceral difference in a womans life. Were seeing tremors out there, the aftershocks of the political earthquake caused by the overturning of Roe last year. The 2020 midterms were the best for Democrats since FDR; voters in Kansas, a red state, overwhelmingly secured abortion rights last year; and last month, voters in Wisconsin came out in record numbers to support a state Supreme Court justice who committed to tossing out an 1849 abortion ban. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign town hall meeting in Bedford, New Hampshire, on April 26, 2023. Brian Snyder/Reuters One out of five women will have an abortion in their lifetime, and according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, most reproductive-aged women (58 percent) know someone who has had an abortion, with 68 percent of those women knowing more than one person. This is an issue where Republicans cant hide, says Kessler. They try to bring cultural issues to the forefront, particularly on trans people. What theyre really trying to do is distract from abortion. The race to the right is not just about legalizing abortion, its about criminalizing abortion. Taking it from a constitutional right to a crime is a non-starter in a general election in a country where supermajorities want abortion to be legal (with common sense restrictions), and 80 percent are not happy with the Supreme Courts ruling on Roe. Leaving it to the states is the best they can do, says Kessler, and thats the position that Trump has staked out. The Susan B. Anthony anti-abortion group calls Trumps view a morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate. They want a 15-week national ban. The ex-president did not respond to the group that was once his ally, and he must be annoyed that the activists he so pleased by appointing three pro-life judges to the Supreme Court are not satisfied and are, in fact, pushing for more than anyone with national aspirations can comfortably promise. Dance on Tucker Carlsons Fox Grave, but Fear His Zombie So, he changed the topic, as only Trump can do, saying that he might boycott the Republican debates, two of which are already scheduledone in Milwaukee in August, and a second one in September at the Reagan Library in California. 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 Truth Social. When youre 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? Hes got a point, and for someone who regularly threatened to undo debate schedules in 2016 and 2020, weve seen this movie before. The Supreme Courts ruling on Roe vaulted an issue from the theoretical to the immediate, and it threatens to turn the primary race into a competition of can you top this on abortion restrictions except for Trump, says Kessler, who insists that at least in staking out his stance on an issue where Republicans cannot win, Trump is smarter than they are. 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. President Joe Biden on Saturday used the traditionally lighthearted White House Correspondents Dinner to drive home the importance of the free press amid threats to democracy at home and abroad. Biden opened his speech by recognizing the family of Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal reporter who was arrested in Russia in March and falsely accused of espionage. Evan went to Russia to shed light on the darkness that you escaped from years ago, Biden said, praising Gershkovichs absolute courage. Tonight our message is this: journalism is not a crime, Biden told the applauding crowd. The president also acknowledged dinner attendee and WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for nearly 10 months, and Debra Tice , the mother of Austin Tice, a journalist who has been held captive in Syria for more than 10 years. Evan and Austin should be released immediately, along with every American held hostage or wrongfully detained abroad, Biden urged. He also acknowledged Paul Whelan, the former U.S. marine currently detained in Russia, and promised Whelans family that neither he nor his administration would quit until Whelan was freed. Biden eventually cut the somber atmosphere with a joke about his own age. I believe in the First Amendment. Not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it, the 80-year-old said to laughter from the crowd. Bidens speech included some of his favorite lines don't compare me to the almighty, compare me to the alternative, peppered with digs at Republicans and the media, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Fox host Tucker Carlson, former CNN host Don Lemon and Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Biden also had some barbs for Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. You all keep recording my approval rating is 42%. I think you don't know this. Kevin McCarthy called me and asked, 'Joe, what the hell is your secret?' Biden said. The White House Correspondents Dinner was back to its glitzy, elbow-rubbing glory this year for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The annual roast was canceled in 2020 and 2021, and the virus continued to cast a shadow over last years event, after the Gridiron Club dinner weeks earlier turned out to be a superspreader event . Story continues But on Saturday, not even the threat of rainy weather could deter the crowd some 2,600 journalists, politicians and celebrities filed into the ballroom at the Washington Hilton for the celebration, keynoted by comedian and Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood, Jr. The dinner got off to a rowdy start, as White House Correspondents Association President Tamara Keith tried to rein in attendees attention. Don't make me shout out, 'Decorum! Keith said in an effort to quiet the room for her opening remarks. The awards and speech portion of the night opened with a video of actor and former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who spoke of the importance of the relationship between politicians and the press. Tonight's event of course sends a powerful message that you don't see politicians schmoozing and drinking with the press in Beijing or in Moscow or places like that no, not at all, Schwarzenegger said in the pre-taped recording, which included a cameo from actor Danny DeVito. So even though you have asked questions that have annoyed the hell out of me, I remind myself always that you actually do the peoples work. You are the ally of the people, so never ever stop shining a light on the truth and informing the public. Keith emphasized that message in her remarks, noting that this was the first time in many years that both the president and the vice president attended the event, after former President Donald Trump declined to join during his time in office. Their presence is a statement and endorsement of the importance of a free and independent press even if they don't always like the questions we ask, or the way we ask them, Keith said. Keith also acknowledged the slew of recent media layoffs, including at her own company. This is a challenging time for the news industry. My employer, NPR, just went through a painful round of layoffs and we are not alone. ABC, BuzzFeed, CBS, CNN, Gannett, Insider, Vice News Tonight, the Washington Post I had to alphabetize the list because it's so long," Keith said. These are difficult times in our industry. There is uncertainty and fear for what the future holds. But we are still here, so let's stand proud," she added later. Wood later wrapped up the evening's theme in his inimitable style: "Tonight is all about you all, journalists, the defenders of free speech. People who show truth to the world, from different mediums, from television, print, radio, whatever China let us see on TikTok." Ukrainian journalist and soldier Volodymyr Mukan was killed in action in Bakhmut. Source: Mukans account on Facebook; Educational and Scientific Institute of Philology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Quote: "On 29 April 2023, Volodymyr Mukan, a junior lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was heroically killed in action in Bakhmut." Details: The date and time of Volodymyr's funeral will be announced later. Before the full-scale war, Mukan worked as a journalist and editor at Hazeta po-ukrainsky (Ukrainian Newspaper), Kraina (Country) magazine and Gazeta.ua online portal. For several years, he co-organised the largest retro festival in Ukraine, Old Car Land. According to the Educational and Scientific Institute of Philology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, he was also a postgraduate student, graduate and employee of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Philology, and the author of the idea of the Philological Calendar. Mukan was also a PR manager and owner of a communications agency. He had two sons. Helping the family: Privatbank 5457082297083995 (Anna Mukan, wife) Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ohio Justice Bus CANTON The Stark County Bar Association will host a variety of events, including a stop in Stark County by the Ohio Justice Bus, as part of Law Week 2023. Law Day is a national event held on or around May 1 and is designed to remind Americans about their liberties and alert them to the role they play as citizens in protecting and preserving freedom. This year's theme is "Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility and Collaboration." Among the events scheduled is a stop by the Ohio Justice Bus. The bus will be parked from noon to 4 p.m. Monday in the parking lot of Mission BBQ, 4490 Everhard Road in Jackson Township. Stark Bar Association Executive Director Tina McCort said in the past the organization has held a phone bank for residents to call in with legal questions but as times have changed they have seen a drop in participants. This year, they opted to try an in-person event with the bus. Attorneys will be available for a free consultation and to answer legal questions. An attorney who is a veteran or familiar with military issues also will be on hand. McCort said three lawyers from Columbus who travel with the bus will be on hand as well as local attorneys. "We targeted that area because it is one of the busiest intersections in the county," she said. "Also Mission BBQ gets a lot of military." The event will be "live-streamed" on the Stark County Bar Association's Facebook page. Those who join the live Facebook event can also ask questions. McCort said people seek help during the free events for a number of reasons, including if they are unable to afford to hire an attorney and they are not sure if they need an attorney. If an attorney is unable to answer questions, she said, they will at least be able to point people in the right direction. "There might be an agency that can help or they need divorce help. Family court now has a self-help desk," McCort explained. "At least we can get them going in the right direction." Story continues Moot court competition also taking place in Stark County Also on Monday, high school students will compete in a Moot Court competition from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fifth District Court of Appeals, 110 Central Plaza S, Canton, in Room 320. Competitors will argue the case J.D.B. v. North Carolina (2011). Students will give simulated appellate oral arguments and will be judged by local attorneys. "If they are interested in a legal profession, this is an excellent way to participate," McCort said. "We have had a lot of students that have participated become an attorney or were on their way to taking college courses in that direction." A Student Awards ceremony will be 11 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Kent State University at Starks Conference Center, 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township. Awards will be presented to the winners of the moot court competition, grade 7 through 12 essay contest, "Why I Want to Become A Lawyer" essay contest for pre-law students, poster contest for kindergarten through eighth grade, and a digital media contest for middle school students. A Law Day luncheon will follow the ceremony from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Pro-Bono and Liberty Bell Award recipients will be announced. Keynote speaker is Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. The continuing legal education seminar Cornerstone of Democracy: Civics, Civility and Collaboration will be 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. Nearly 100 students also will participate in the Tour De Courts on Thursday to learn about the different types of courts in Stark County. Through June, the attorney-match program is available to area elementary, junior and senior high schools. The program pairs attorneys with the students to discuss law-related topics. To request a speaker, contact Sara Strattan at ssburns51@gmail.com. On April 20, Massillon Municipal Court visited Washington High School to meet with teachers and students during an ask-a-lawyer event. Massillon Municipal Court judges Edward Elum and Joel Fichter and Magistrate Andrea Scassa sat on a panel with Law Day Chairman Todd W. Evans, Richard Kuhn and Stark County Bar Association's President Stephen Babik. The event aired on Massillon Cable and will be re-broadcast. "Law Week is something we have been doing for many years," McCort said. "We do things for the community to make sure they aware of the rule of law. Each year is a little different." Reach Amy at 330-775-1135 or amy.knapp@indeonline.com. On Twitter: @aknappINDE This article originally appeared on The Independent: Law Week 2023 features Ohio Justice Bus, moot court competition While touring the Welsh village of Aberfan Friday, Kate Middleton let a 1-year-old boy who grabbed the Princess of Wales purse play with it while she continued to greet crowds who had gathered to meet the royal couple. "I am just speechless," the little boys mom, Lucy Williams, told ITV afterward. "I think she sympathized with how hard it is with children." Kate is a mom to three children: Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 7 and Prince Louis, 5. The sweet moment was caught on video by ITV and showed Baby Daniel grabbing and playing with her small black purse as she and his mother laughed over it. KATE MIDDLETON SHOWS OFF 'PRINCESS SHUFFLE' IN VIRAL MOMENT AHEAD OF KING CHARLES' CORONATION Baby Daniel grabs Kate Middleton's bag. Lucy later told ITV the princess told her, "He can have it to play with. I'll come back for it!" READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Near the end of the video, Lucy catches the purse as Daniel starts to drop it and holds it so the royal can take it back. All the while, Kate has her back to his escapades, greeting more well wishers, including another baby. Williams later jokingly called Daniel a "hurricane." "It's typical him," she laughed of the incident to ITV. "He's a bit of a hurricane. I wouldn't expect anything less!" APP USERS CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO Lucy Williams laughs as her 1-year-old son Daniel plays with Kate Middleton's purse. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Kate and Prince William were in the small village to learn more about the 1966 Aberfan mining tragedy that left 116 children dead when their school was engulfed by slurry and mud after a colliery spoil tip collapse. Twenty-eight adults were also killed. Prince William and Kate Middleton listen to Aberfan disaster child survivor David Davies as they walk through the Aberfan Memorial Garden Friday. The 1966 disaster left 116 children dead. The visit was part of a two-day trip to Wales, which the Prince and Princess of Wales have visited more than once since being given the titles by King Charles III. The couple also celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary Saturday and released a new photo of themselves smiling on bicycles. APP USERS CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO William and Kate were married April 29, 2011, in Westminster Abbey, the same place where they will take part in King Charles III's coronation next Saturday. A 59-year-old woman was killed and a 29-year-old man was seriously injured in a Russian attack on Kherson Oblast on Sunday, 30 April. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of the Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Prokudin: "Russian artillery once again targeted Bilozerka. A 29-year-old man was seriously injured in the shelling. He was hospitalised with wounds to his chest, and the doctors are fighting to save his life. Enemy [forces] also shelled Odradokamianka in the Tiahynka hromada [hromada - an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories - ed.]. The enemy hit a residential building, and a 58-year-old woman was killed on the spot." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! King Charles III is inviting the world to declare their loyalty to him during his coronation next Saturday. Westminster Abbey is adding a new element to the royal ceremony, which will mark the British monarchs official ascendence to the throne, following his mother Queen Elizabeth IIs death in September 2022. During the ritual at Westminster Abbey, citizens around the globe will be asked to pledge their allegiance to the king during a homage of the people. The Archbishop of Canterbury will enlist a chorus of millions as they ask all who so desire, in the Abbey, and elsewhere to make an oath. People can join and say, I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God. King Charles III visits Liverpool Central Library on Wednesday. King Charles III visits Liverpool Central Library on Wednesday. That will be followed by a fanfare and the Archbishop saying, God save the king. In response, the public will shout, God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the king live forever. The peoples pledge will replace the traditional homage of peers, which only included those with royal heritage. According to the Archbishop of Canterbury, King Charles coronation will recognize and celebrate tradition and feature new elements that reflect the diversity of our contemporary society. These modern elements will include a hymn sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, along with a larger role for female clergy from the Church of England. Correction: A previous version of this article said the coronation is Sunday. It is set for Saturday, May 6. Related... Kunal Kamra has challenged the new rules in the Bombay High Court In April, the Indian government brought in new rules that gave it the power to declare news related to it as "fake, false or misleading" if its own fact check unit said so. The amended Information Technology (IT) Rules apply to social media intermediaries like Twitter and Facebook, who will have to take down content flagged by the government's fact-checking unit. If these firms don't comply, they can lose their "safe harbour" status - a provision under the IT Act which prevents them from being held liable for third-party content posted on their platforms. The rules are being challenged in a court and the government has said that it will not be notifying the fact check unit until 5 July. This means that the new rules cannot be implemented at the moment. But the government's move has raised concerns over the adverse implications it may have for press freedom in India. The Editors Guild of India has called the new rules "draconian" and "against principles of natural justice and akin to censorship". The Guild and India's news broadcasters association have said that these new rules have been made without any meaningful consultation with them. A stand-up comedian has also approached the court challenging the new rules. Mumbai-based Kunal Kamra has petitioned the Bombay High Court, saying the new rules infringe on the right to freedom of speech and make the government the sole arbiter of truth "in respect of any business" related to itself. They also oblige social media intermediaries to impose that version of the truth upon their users. Kamra, who blends social and political satire in his shows, contends that "the government possesses by far the largest megaphone" available in society. If aggrieved, it can access "every available infrastructure, with the largest possible reach, to set the record straight". Story continues The comedian said that "as a political satirist" he engages in commentary about government actions, and that he relies on the wide reach of the internet, through social media platforms, to share his work. Kamra said that his "ability to engage in political satire would be unreasonably and excessively curtailed" if it were subjected to an "arbitrary, subjective" fact check unit hand-picked by the government. This, he added, would "entirely defeat the purpose of political satire". The comedian said that as a consequence of these new rules, satirists would be constrained to self-censor or restrict their engagement with political commentary, for fear of action against them. He expressed apprehension that applying the new rules to content created by comedians or political satirists could potentially result in the suspension or deactivation of their social media accounts. The Indian government, on the other hand, said in an affidavit to the court that the new rules had been made in "the larger public interest". The government said the rules provided for a system of evidence-based fact-checking so as to create a mechanism to deal with the kind of fake, false or misleading information which, in the past, "has resulted in riots, mob lynching and other heinous crimes". It also said that the content checked by the unit would be restricted to government policies, programmes, notifications, rules, regulations and their implementation. "The fact check unit may only identify fake or false or misleading information and not any opinion, satire or artistic impression," the government told the court. But in an earlier hearing, the court said that the new rules didn't seem to protect fair criticism of the government through satire or parody. "On the face of it, these rules appear to be in favour of the government and against the people. They can be used in a very dangerous fashion against the people, much like the sedition law," says Manjul (who only goes by one name), a prominent political cartoonist. An editorial in Indian Express newspaper says that, while there can be no debate about the dangers of fake news, a framework where a unit of the government has discretion to determine the genuineness of online content is fraught with perils. BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. Read more India stories from the BBC: While many Canadians and people around the world remember the train derailment in Lac-Megantic, Que., Oscar-nominated Quebec filmmaker Philippe Falardeau (Monsieur Lazhar) exposes the systemic and political failures that led to this tragedy in his docuseries, Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident. For the four-part series, which was screened at the Hot Docs festival in Toronto, Falardeau had a statement he took from Battlestar Galactica as a motto for Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident, "all of this has happened before, all of this will happen again," which eventually turned into "this is not an accident." On July 6, 2013, a train carrying 72 tank cars with Bakken shale oil derailed and caused an explosion. A total of 47 people were killed and 2,000 were displaced, with 7.7 million litres of crude oil spilled. As Falardeau described, he felt "seized" by the project, particularly because he lives near a train track, where he saw an increasing number of oil tankers. "I thought, 'OK, in the post-Lac-Megantic world, I'm sure this is safe,'" Falardeau told Yahoo Canada. "But I find out soon after, by hearing an interview about this woman who just wrote a book about Megantic, ['Megantic' by Anne-Marie Saint-Cerny], that it's still not safe. "I realized that everything I thought I knew was wrong and this anger started to rise inside of me, and I wanted to do something constructive with it. I never really wanted to do a doc, ... but I thought that the documentary was better suited to treat this. So we embarked on a journey." Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident 'He still thinks that a company cannot be held accountable' With four years of work on Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident, Falardeau's series not only documents that lasting impacts of the Canadian tragedy, but exposes the shocking circumstances under which it occurred, and how the Canadian government and rail industry responded. Story continues In great detail, the docuseries chronicles the disaster, including comments from railway security expert Stephen Callaghan, who had been hired to asses the circumstances of the devastation. Callaghan had notably testified that there was no evidence that handbrakes had been applied to any of the tanker cars. In the docuseries, Callaghan also goes on to stress that the decision to not have a public inquiry into the deadly derailment was made before he was even involved. In speaking to people who were significantly impacted by the tragedy, including one man who lost his wife and daughters, moments from Falardeau's interviews in the series feel emotional, intimate and incredibly powerful. Falardeau revealed the most difficult part of creating this docuseries, in terms of getting access to the voices necessary for this project, was getting government officials to participant. One person who did participate and is quite candid in his interview is Edward Burkhardt, former chief executive of Rail World, which owned Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway (MM&A). When Burkhardt arrived in Lac-Megantic, days after that tragedy, he was booed by the town's residents, pressed by journalists at a press conference. "I disagree with a lot of things that he says, but I will give him that he's not bullshing, Falardeau said. "He's very transparent and even though he still thinks to this day that less regulation is the best way to go, he was very much affected by it. "He still thinks that a company cannot be held accountable because the people who committed the acts are accountable, he believes that to the core, and I disagree with him because people don't act in a vacuum, they act in corporate culture." Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident Ultimately, Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident exposes a frightening example of circumstances where our democracy has been challenged, including information that questions why Canadian Pacific (CP) has their own police force and why the industry can self-regulate and self-investigate itself in a circumstance like the Lac-Megantic tragedy. Their only real concern is to keep the train lines running at all times," a former CP police officer, credited as "Mr. F," says in the docuseries. "That's their only need to have a police force. They don't care about anything else. So when trains stop moving, CP stops making money." "I will not accept to hear, 'Safety is our top priority.' No, this is not true. It's false," Falardeau said. "Don't say that. Say that you're stuck between a rock and a hard place, that you have to promote safety and balance it with the economy. But don't say that it's your priority because it is not true." He added that when elected officials, like former transport ministers Marc Garneau and Denis Lebel, refused to be interviewed and Burkhardt accepts, "We have a huge democratic problem." "I asked them, first of all, do you think that it's compatible to be responsible for the safety and also to promote the economy at the same time, in the same department?" Falardeau said. "Do you think that they should be able to write their own rules still? And why hasn't there been any public inquiry and why was the decision made so soon? Because there was still smoking in Megantic when they made the decision." Quebec filmmaker Philippe Falardeau What's incredibly evident in Lac-Megantic This Is Not an Accident is that Falardeau is very intentional in how footage and images of the rail disaster are shown in the series, keeping in mind that he didn't want to create a "spectacle" of such a tragic moment in history. "It's about showing people the scope of it," Falardeau said. "I didn't really like to edit that part of the movie, but for [younger people] or people abroad or people who haven't heard of it, that don't have any real recollection, we need to show this, the sheer scope of it. There's no way around it." "I do fiction, so my concern is always to make sure that I get the audience's attention. We know what's going to happen, the train is going to hit the town and we know the outcome. It's not a surprise to anyone, so how do you sustain the tension? You backtrack and you say, OK ... let's create this idea of a time bomb, but always in mind that there is a line that you cannot cross." Rue Thibodeau in the downtown business core of Lac-Megantic becomes a ghost town after most of the construction workers leave the restricted entry red zone. Residents and shop owners are not permitted inside the red zone on Nov. 19, 2013. (Chris So/Toronto Star via Getty Images) 'These tragedies happen, ... then they disappear' When the Lac-Megantic derailment occurred, it was all over the news, but more recently, like many tragic events, interest in and coverage of what happened dies down, even when there are still outstanding questions about institutional failures that led to the devastation. As Falardeau recognizes, that's a pattern our politicians are very aware of. "These tragedies happen, it's all over the news, then they disappear," Falardeau said. "The politicians, they know." He highlighted that when Canadian officials, including former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and ex-Quebec premier Pauline Marois, are asked if petrol should be transported by rail, their answer is that there is an inquiry with the Transport Safety Board (TSB) and they will wait for those results, but from the perspective of the technical reasons for the derailment. "They know very well that the TSB will not look at that politically," Falardeau said. "They know very well that the criminal inquiry will go after the little guy, and they'll be home free by then." "By answering that, they're making us believe that there is a public inquiry. There was no public inquiry." For anyone who watches the docuseries, Falardeau hopes they are left with "a certain level of skepticism." "When they hear the politicians tell us about their priority, that we understand that there are other things work," he said. "I hope that the humanity of the people of Lac-Megantic will stay with them. Their resilience." "People in Quebec and maybe people in the rest of Canada, if you think you know everything there is to know about what happened in Lac-Megantic, I'm telling you this, you know nothing. I knew nothing. Lamar Johnson, a St. Louis, Missouri man, had spent almost three decades in prison before he was finally set free in February 2023. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty takes an in-depth look at the case and for the first time talks to the witness who helped put him away a witness who says he was pressured by law enforcement to identify Johnson as one of the killers. Convicted at 21, and still locked up at 49, Lamar Johnson has spent most of his life in prison for a crime he did not commit. Erin Moriarty (July 2021): How do you keep up hope? Lamar Johnson: I don't have a choice. I I know the truth. I know that I didn't kill Markus. Lamar Johnson was convicted of first-degree murder in 1995 for shooting 25-year-old Markus Boyd on his front porch. Johnson was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Erin Moriarty: What have you lost? Lamar Johnson: Time and uh there's a closeness between especially with a father and his daughters. And I (emotional) I missed being able to to be a part of their life. Erin Moriarty: You want your dad to come home. Brittany Johnson: Yeah, I definitely do. Brittany Johnson was just one year old when her dad was sent away. Brittany Johnson (wiping tears): It was definitely hard, but I learned to live without my dad. Kiera Barrow was just an infant then. Kiera Barrow (in tears): We're still waiting. There is still an innocent man in prison. Kiera's mother, Erika Barrow. Erin Moriarty: Did you think you'd marry him? Erika Barrow: Yes, I did. I mean, he was my first love. Lamar Johnson grew up in St. Louis consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous cities in the country. His South Side neighborhood in 1994 was battered by high crime and homicide rates. Johnson had steered clear of serious trouble. Erika Barrow: He wanted to better himself. He wanted to be the man that he needed to be for his, his children. So, Johnson, the 20-year-old father of two, worked at Jiffy Lube while attending community college. But he also had a dangerous side hustle selling small amounts of crack cocaine for extra cash. Story continues Lamar Johnson: Yes, I was makin' some poor choices then. And I I I take responsibility for that. But that wasn't the sum of who I was. Erika Barrow: Selling drugs wasn't his life. It was just something to help him manage until he could do better. Markus Boyd, 25, was shot to death by two gunmen on his St. Louis porch on Oct. 30, 1994. / Credit: Normandy High School Johnson's good friend, Markus Boyd, five years older, had also started a family, and was holding down a solid job at a printing company. And he, too, sold drugs on the side. Erika Barrow: Markus was like the preppy type. You know, he wasn't very street. Greg Elking: He was a really, really good guy. Greg Elking, then 30, had worked briefly with Boyd at the printing company. And, Elking admits, he was an occasional customer. On the evening of Oct. 30, 1994, he wanted to get high, but Boyd said, "No." Greg Elking: And he was like "We're going to go to work tomorrow." So, we actually sat down on the front porch, up on the stairs. Markus Boyd's street, Louisiana Avenue, was empty. His girlfriend and their baby were upstairs. Greg Elking: All he talked about all the time, you know, was about his baby and about his girlfriend. Greg Elking: He's making me laugh, we're kind of laughing at each other. But all of a sudden, he went serious. He was like, "Oh, no." From the narrow pathway next to Boyd's apartment, two men came out of nowhere, barely visible in the dim light. Greg Elking: These guys, they had completely dark clothing and they had masks on. Elking says the men wore black masks that covered their face except for their eyes. And they had guns. The men flew up the porch steps, says Elking. One attacked Markus Boyd. Greg Elking: And he's wrestling with Markus. The second gunman grabbed Elking. Greg Elking: And he says, "Get the f*** up." I remember looking at him, right in the guy's eyes. Greg Elking: The other guy I seen him put the gun right up to Markus' like neck area. Greg Elking: And when he pulled the trigger, I seen the flash Greg Elking: Boom. Greg Elking: The third shot, I kind of seen Markus' soul just go. And I knew, I knew he was dead. To Elking's horror, both men continued to shoot Boyd, then vanished the same way they had appeared, sprinting down the dark pathway. Surprisingly, the shooters spared the only eyewitness. Greg Elking was the lone eyewitness to Markus Boyd's murder. / Credit: CBS News Erin Moriarty: You say you looked into one shooter's eyes. Greg Elking: All I seen was the eyes. Erin Moriarty: Could you tell whether he was White or Black? Greg Elking: Um, I knew he was Black. When the gunmen were gone, Greg Elking took off in the opposite direction. As he ran away, Elking says he could hear Markus Boyd's girlfriend screaming. Erin Moriarty: It's still hard to talk about it, isn't it? Greg Elking: (Emotional, doesn't respond.) Erin Moriarty (July 2021): And where were you when this happened? Lamar Johnson: I was about three miles away. Lamar Johnson says he was with his girlfriend, Erika Barrow, and their 5-month-old daughter, Kiera, visiting friends at the time of the shooting. / Credit: Kiera Barrow Johnson says he was with his girlfriend, Erika Barrow, and their 5-month-old daughter, Kiera, visiting friends. Erika says that entire evening, Lamar Johnson was out of her sight just once. Erika Barrow: So, we were there because he was making a transaction. Someone was coming. And so, he was just, like, I'll be right back. Johnson left the house, Erika says, just as she began changing Kiera's diaper. Lamar Johnson (2019): And um, I went out to meet somebody that I was dealing with. His customer picked him up at the corner of 39th and Lafayette, Johnson says. They completed a quick transaction while driving around the block. Erika Barrow: By the time I've finished changing her diaper and cleaned everything up he's coming back up the steps. Erin Moriarty: And how long does that take? Erika Barrow: Three to five minutes. And he's talking, you know, nothing out of the ordinary. It, he was just normal. Minutes later, Johnson got a call that Markus Boyd had been shot. The next day, he learned that Boyd had died. Johnson's own life began to unravel. According to investigators, when they asked Boyd's girlfriend who she suspected, only one name came to mind: Lamar Johnson. She thought the longtime friends might have had a falling out. Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): Markus and I have never had an argument or a fight. Lamar Johnson: I loved him. I had no reason to want to hurt him. Erin Moriarty: You agreed to talk to the cops without a lawyer. That was risky, wasn't it? Lamar Johnson: Well, now, I didn't have anything to hide. THE EYEWITNESS Four days after Markus Boyd was shot to death on his front porch, St. Louis police tracked down the only eyewitness to the murder, Greg Elking. Erin Moriarty: How would you describe what you went through that night? Greg Elking: It was the most horrifying thing I ever seen in my life. Shaken and scared, Elking says he was initially reluctant to talk until he met lead investigator Joe Nickerson. Greg Elking: I thought he was this amazing dude. I thought he was like Nick Nolte from "48 Hours" out of a movie he was awesome. I mean, it was, it was somebody that I just immediately admired. Elking says even though the shooters were wearing masks, he could tell they were dark skinned black men, but he only saw the eyes of one of them. Still, Nickerson, he says, insisted on showing him several photos. One, says Elking, stood out. Even though Greg Elking said he didn't get a good look at the suspects, he says Det. Nickerson insisted on showing him an array of several photos. Elking said one of them stood out because of the eyes. The photo was of Lamar Johnson. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Greg Elking: I said, "these eyes there's something about these eyes." And that's all I said. It was a photo of Lamar Johnson. Greg Elking: And immediately he said, "Would you sign the back of it?" And I said, "No, I don't want to sign the back of it." Erin Moriarty: Why not? Greg Elking: Because I didn't want nothing to do with this, because I couldn't pick out no murderer. And I don't even think he's the murderer, I didn't say he was a murderer. Nickerson, Elking says, warned him his life could be at risk, telling him that Lamar Johnson was a dangerous man who may have been involved in as many as six murders. Attorney Lindsay Runnels says none of that was true. Lindsay Runnels | Lamar Johnson's attorney: If they had any evidence, whatsoever, then or now, Lamar Johnson would be charged with a crime. Runnels began working on Johnson's case when she was in law school. Erin Moriarty: Does he have a record at all for violence? Lindsay Runnels: No, his record is and was minor. It's a possession charge, possession of cocaine, and then a tampering with a license plate. She says Johnson received probation for those offenses. Still, she says, cops, aware of his criminal record, kept him and young men like him on their radar. Lindsay Runnels: It's just the usual suspects type of round them up and everybody is guilty by association. But after the murder on Louisiana Avenue, police had a new reason to focus on Lamar Johnson. The victim's girlfriend had given them his name and now, they had what they said was a photo identification. On the evening of Nov. 3, 1994, four days after the murder, they arrested Johnson along with his friend Phillip Campbell. Erika Barrow: I couldn't even understand why. Why would they arrest you? Johnson's girlfriend at the time and his alibi for the night of the murder: Erika Barrow. Erika Barrow: I begged him to get a lawyer and all he kept saying is, "I don't want my mom and stepfather paying all the money, all this money for a lawyer. I didn't do it." Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): I didn't have anything to hide. So uh, you know, I believed in the system. I believed that if I explained to them what I knew and, and where I was that that would sort itself out. At the police station, Johnson agreed to a live lineup. Lamar Johnson (Oct. 24, 2022): I wanted to try to be as cooperative as I could. I wanted them to to, to investigate and talk to the people whose house I was at that night. You know I would expect that they would reach the conclusion that I didn't have anything to do with it. At the police station, Lamar Johnson agreed to do a photo lineup. He is in the third position, wearing the white pants. Det. Nickerson brought Greg Elking in to try and make an identification. Elking viewed the lineup twice and didn't make an identification. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department But investigators never spoke to anyone who had been with Johnson on the night of the shooting, not even Erika Barrow. They put him in that lineup he's the third man in the photo above and brought in Elking to view it. Erin Moriarty: Could you identify anybody? Greg Elking: No. Altogether Elking viewed that lineup three times and never picked Johnson. Greg Elking was then asked to view a different lineup. Lamar Johnson was not in this one but the other suspect, Phillip Campbell, is in the fourth position. Elking was unable to make an identification. / Credit: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Elking was then asked to view a different live lineup. Lamar Johnson wasn't there, but the man arrested with him, Philip Campbell, is number 4 in the photo above. Elking still couldn't identify anyone and says he feared he'd let down the detective he admired and trusted. Greg Elking: I felt so bad. I could see it in his eyes like I I hurt this guy, like this whole time, you know, I just wasted his time. Then, according to Elking, he asked Detective Joe Nickerson how he could help. Greg Elking: All that came out of my mouth was like, all right, Joe, it you tell me what the numbers were, and I'll tell you if they were correct. Erin Moriarty: What does he say to you? Greg Elking: He says three and four. And I was like, you're right, three and four. Lamar Johnson was number three in that first lineup. Philip Campbell was the fourth man in the other lineup. Greg Elking: If Joe Nickerson is telling me that three and four is it, it's got to be Lamar and whoever, Phillip. because he wouldn't lie to me. Joe wouldn't lie to me. Erin Moriarty: So, you pick three and four because Nickerson told you? Greg Elking: Yeah. "48 Hours" asked Joe Nickerson for an interview. He declined our request but sent us a text saying in part, "I went where the facts, evidence and circumstances took me." Elking claims he told no one that Nickerson had allegedly given him the suspects' numbers in the lineups. Instead, he told the other detectives that he was able to identify Lamar Johnson because of his distinctive eye. Greg Elking: They had asked me, what do you mean about the eye when you say that you could pick, you know, these eyes? Greg Elking: And I and I said, I don't know, like like a lazy eye or something, like it's different from the other. Dwight Warren, the prosecutor, says he pressed Elking on his identification of Johnson. Dwight Warren: I believed Mr. Elking, because I looked him straight in the eye and said, you know I want to know if he did it Tell me you're sure of your identification. Please tell me the truth because I don't want to go and charge somebody who's not guilty. Erin Moriarty: What did Greg Elking say to you when you said that to him? Dwight Warren: Well quote end quote I couldn't tell you, but he told me he was telling the truth that he, he knew who did the shooting and it was Lamar Johnson and Philip Campbell, so I charged them both. In July 1995, Lamar Johnson went on trial with Elking as the star witness. Dwight Warren: If he had backed off of that, I would have never issued the case. That, he was absolutely essential. To bolster the case, one of the witnesses the prosecution called was William Mock, a jail house informant with a lengthy criminal history, who claimed that he overheard Johnson and Campbell in a holding cell talking about the murder. But attorney Lindsay Runnels says Mock wasn't credible and that his cell wasn't close enough to hear anything. Lindsay Runnels: Lamar wasn't ever celled with Campbell, and Campbell nor Lamar were ever in the same cell as William Mock, so how could you hear this, if it happened at all, which it didn't. Erin Moriarty: Don't you want to make sure that jailhouse snitch is telling the truth? Dwight Warren: How am I going to do that? Erin Moriarty: Well, you wouldn't put somebody on the stand unless you could check out their story, right? Dwight Warren: Unless I I did check it out. He was in two jail cells away. He was in a position that, to be able to hear that. Johnson didn't take the stand at his trial. The defense relied on his girlfriend Erika Barrow who told the jury he was with her at the time of the murder. It took less than two hours for the jurors to reach a verdict. Guilty. Johnson's life had been changed forever by Greg Elking, who says that as he was pointing at Johnson at trial, he knew he had identified the wrong man. Greg Elking: This isn't the dude I seen at all. Because to me, Lamar is not dark and not what I seen. Erin Moriarty: You had doubts right afterwards. Why didn't you tell somebody? Why didn't you say I think Greg Elking: Because nobody talks to me, nobody. who am I going to tell? I don't know who I could have told. Erin Moriarty: Did it occur to you at that moment that you might have put an innocent man Greg Elking: Yes. Erin Moriarty: behind bars? Greg Elking: Without a doubt Because I lied on the testimony. I lied because I thought I was doing the right thing. A CLOSER LOOK AT THE CASE Lamar Johnson was just 21 years old when he was convicted of murder. Lamar Johnson (July 2021): At my trial they did not even present a motive. They never explained why I supposedly did this. Between Lamar Johnson's trial and sentencing, he exchanged letters with the other suspect, Phillip Campbell. It was in those letters that Campbell admitted that Johnson was not involved. In another letter, he even named the other shooter James And then, before his sentencing, Johnson received surprising new information that he believed would prove his innocence: handwritten letters from his friend, the other suspected killer, Phillip Campbell. One said " you didn't do a thing ..." Lamar Johnson: He said, "I'm sorry you got convicted for somethin' you didn't do" He said he wanted to come forth, but his attorney wouldn't let him because he thought he could beat his case. Erin Moriarty: And Phillip Campbell was actually one of the shooters. Lamar Johnson: He was. Campbell even named the other shooter who was with him on the night of the murder a man named James B.A. Howard. Johnson now had the names of both shooters. He wrote the judge and asked for a hearing, but his request was denied. In September 1995, Lamar Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Girlfriend Erika Barrow blames law enforcement. Erika Barrow: You didn't care to check his alibi. You wanted to blame someone, and you did exactly that. You just flat out didn't care. You didn't care. Lamar Johnson didn't give up. He became his own jailhouse lawyer, sifting through police reports, trial transcripts and gathering new evidence. Johnson, with legal help, filed a petition asking for a new trial in 1996. Again, he was denied. Then, two years later, he would meet another inmate with a similar story. Ricky Kidd: We were both assigned to Potosi Correctional Center in Missouri Our friendship was almost instant. Ricky Kidd, who was also serving a life sentence for murder, remembers when he first learned about Johnson's case. Ricky Kidd: He said "I have to go to the law library." I said, "What are you working on?" And he turned to me. He said, "Well, I know everybody says this, but I'm innocent." and a big old smile appeared across my face, kind of like you're seeing right now. And I said, "Well, I know everybody say this, but I'm innocent, too." Ricky Kidd and Lamar Johnson / Credit: Ricky Kidd The two men made a pact in prison. Ricky Kidd: He said, let's make a promise that whoever makes it out will come back for the other. And we shook on it. The Midwest Innocence Project had already been working on Kidd's case before he himself was exonerated. Kidd says he convinced lawyers there to take a closer look at Johnson's case. When that team of lawyers began their research, they discovered that the star witness, Greg Elking, in prison himself for bank robbery, had written a letter to a clergyman admitting he had lied at Johnson's trial. Erin Moriarty: What did you think would happen? Lamar Johnson: Again, I thought that I would be heard So, it made me even more hopeful that I would, that the court would at least listen. In the letter to the clergyman, Elking also revealed that law enforcement said they could help him financially and relocate his family. Detective Nickerson and the prosecutor's office had put him in the witness protection program. Elking's debts were paid, and his outstanding traffic warrants were cleared. / Credit: Evidence photo Elking's letter would reveal another reason why he agreed to testify against Johnson. At the time of the murder, Elking had been in serious financial straits. Detective Nickerson and the prosecutor's office put him in a witness protection program. Elkings' debts were paid, and his outstanding traffic warrants cleared and that's not all. Erin Moriarty: Whose idea was to give you money? To move you? To give you cash? Greg Elking: Oh, that was Joe Nickerson They paid my first month and last month's rent for for a house. Altogether, Elking had received more than $4,000. None of that was disclosed to Johnson and his lawyer at trial. Johnson repeatedly asked for a hearing, he was denied, and his case stalled. Lamar Johnson: I mean, what else is needed? The only thing that, that I haven't been able to present is DNA, and God, I wish there was some DNA (gets emotional) Why are wrongly convicted people still imprisoned in Missouri? Then, in 2018, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner agreed to look at his case. She had created a Conviction Integrity Unit to look at cases of possible wrongful conviction. Kimberly Gardner: And I started seeing some red flags. And I consulted my team, and I said, I think we have a problem here. One of the many flags for Gardner was the timeline for the murder. Could Johnson have had time to kill his friend Markus Boyd? Erika Barrow said Johnson had only left their friend's apartment for around five minutes. Lamar Johnson: And you cannot drive that distance. You'd have to be speeding through St. Louis to even get there and then you'd have to speed all the way back. There's no way you could do that. But Prosecutor Dwight Warren says Erika could have lost track of time that Johnson could have been gone as long as 15 minutes. Dwight Warren: She didn't have a stopwatch. Lamar got into a car and took off. At Johnson's trial, Detective Joe Nickerson testified that it only took him 5 minutes to go from the alibi location to the crime scene. We asked Chief Investigator Robert Ogilvie from the Circuit Attorney's Office to take us on that same drive. We timed the drive using a cellphone. Detective Nickerson testified at Johnson's trial that Lamar Johnson could've driven from his alibi's house to Markus Boyd's apartment in five minutes, even though it was about three miles away. Investigator Ogilvie: Here we are. Erin Moriarty: Yep. 12:55. Thirteen minutes. Thirteen minutes one way that's more than double the time detective Nickerson said it took. In 2019, Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner's team released a detailed report listing numerous errors that undermined Johnson's conviction. Erin Moriarty: As a prosecutor, you put people in prison, you don't try to get them out. Kimberly Gardner: As a prosecutor, no prosecutor, I believe, wants to secure a conviction wrongfully using wrong tactics That's just not what we want to do. We want to get it right. Jurors never learned that jailhouse informant William Mock was a racist who had a hatred for black people, nor did they hear the majority of his criminal record. And they were never told Greg Elking had been paid thousands of dollars. Gardner was convinced Johnson was innocent, but when she tried to get his conviction overturned, court after court, including the Missouri Supreme Court, said she didn't have the power. Kimberly Gardner: And when you try to abide by your oath and you're stopped every way, it weighs on you. In 2021, the Missouri Legislature passed a law that gave Gardner and other prosecutors the power to bring cases of innocence to court. A year later, Johnson got the news he had been praying for. After nearly three decades in prison, he would finally get a hearing to present new evidence in his case. LAST CHANCE AT FREEDOM On Dec. 12, 2022, Lamar Johnson and his legal team gathered in a St. Louis courtroom for a week-long hearing. His daughters Brittany and Kiera were in the courtroom nearly every day. Kiera Barrow: I think we're all trying to be hopeful that my dad gets justice. One man, Judge David Mason, will decide Johnson's future. He has three options: Overturn the conviction and grant a new trial, overturn the conviction and declare Johnson innocent, or he could uphold the jury's verdict. Erin Moriarty: What is at stake here with this judge's decision? Kimberly Gardner: Justice and the integrity of the whole criminal justice system. Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner sat by Johnson, instead of her usual seat at the prosecution table. Gardner appointed two lawyers to handle Johnson's case, Charlie Weiss and Jonathan Potts. Jonathan Potts: I took this case because I believe that Lamar Johnson's innocent. I didn't take it because I think he might be innocent. Charlie Weiss: There was no physical evidence at all connecting Lamar Johnson with the murder of Marcus Boyd, period. CHARLIE WEISS (in court): Thank you, Your Honor, may it please the court. This is a rather historic moment in this court. This is the first time where the court is hearing an actual innocence claim filed by a prosecuting attorney. The Missouri Attorney General's office sent a team of their own to argue that Johnson's conviction should stand. In response to "48 Hours"' request for an interview, they provided us with this written statement, that read in part, "the Attorney General's Office has fought to keep a convicted murderer in prison." Attorney Miranda Loesch told the judge not to trust the witnesses who were about to vouch for Johnson's innocence. MIRANDA LOESCH (in court): They're going to ask you to believe convicted murderers and gang members. Their evidence is not credible. Johnson's team calls their first witness. James Howard takes the stand and admits that he's one of the men who murdered Markus Boyd. While on the stand, James Howard, who is serving a life sentence for a different murder, admitted he was one of the men who shot Markus Boyd. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch JONATHAN POTTS (in court): How did Markus die? JAMES HOWARD: Me and Phillip Campbell killed him at on his front porch. Remember, Phillip Campbell had written Lamar Johnson saying he and Howard were the real shooters. Campbell, who was later convicted of the murder, took a deal and served only five years. He has since died. Howard was never charged with Boyd's death. He's currently in prison for life for unrelated crimes, including murdering another man. JAMES HOWARD (in court): I killed him the exact same way. I fired two shots in the back his head. But attorneys Jonathan Potts and Charlie Weiss can't rely on Howard's word alone. They must now tear apart the original case against Lamar Johnson. They call Greg Elking, the state's former star witness. GREG ELKING (in court): Law enforcement was wanting me to help, and I trusted them. I wanted to help. Elking told the court that he felt pressured by Detective Joe Nickerson to identify Johnson in the lineup. Greg Elking testified that he felt pressured by Det. Nickerson to identify Lamar Johnson in the lineup. GREG ELKING: He goes, I know you know who it is and you're just not saying. GREG ELKING: And this is the part I hate the most. I just remember saying to him, "you tell me the numbers and I'll tell you if you're right." And he did. And I was like, that was it, that was the numbers. GREG ELKINS: And I've been living with it 25, 28 years and I'm telling you, I just wish, I just wish I could change time. On day three, Judge Mason questioned the original prosecutor in the case, Dwight Warren, about the reliability of Greg Elking's identification of Lamar Johnson. JUDGE DAVID MASON: He told you and the officers that it was based upon him looking at the eyes, because that was all he could see. Isn't that correct? DWIGHT WARREN: I believe so. JUDGE DAVID MASON: And did he or did he not tell you that all of this happened within seconds? DWIGHT WARREN: Yes. Yes. JUDGE DAVID MASON: And that's what you decided was sufficiently reliable to seek a murder conviction? DWIGHT WARREN: To take it to a jury. Yes, sir. Warren admitted to Johnson's lawyers that without an eyewitness, he would never have filed charges in the first place. DWIGHT WARREN: Oh, absolutely not. I didn't have any evidence. On day four of the hearing, Lamar Johnson finally got to defend himself and assert his innocence in front of the judge. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch On day four, Lamar Johnson finally got the chance to defend himself in his own words. MIRANDA LOESCH: So, you talked to Detective Nickerson that night, correct? LAMAR JOHNSON: Yes ma'am. Attorney Miranda Loesch asked him about his conversation with Detective Nickerson a few days after the murder. LAMAR JOHNSON: I said, man, "that boy is my friend. I didn't shoot him." I said, "OK. I I will voluntarily participate in the lineup." MIRANDA LOESCH: You had every little thing to lose at that point, didn't you? LAMAR JOHNSON: I didn't think so. MIRANDA LOESCH: You didn't think so? You were arrested for a homicide. LAMAR JOHNSON: I didn't commit the homicide. So why would I be concerned that I had everything to lose? As the hearing week neared the end, Detective Nickerson takes the stand the man Elking claims pressured him into falsely identifying Johnson. On the stand, Det. Joe Nickerson denied pressuring Greg Elking to identify Lamar Johnson in the lineup. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: Mr. Elking goes "Hey, I know who it is, it's number three in the first lineup and it's number four in the second lineup." MIRANDA LOESCH: And did you tell him to say that? DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I didn't tell him to say anything. But Judge Mason had some questions of his own for Nickerson. JUDGE DAVID MASON: Are you aware that all the evidence suggests that your witness could only recognize some aspect of the eyes? DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I'm aware of that. JUDGE DAVID MASON: Please stand up, Mr. Johnson. JUDGE DAVID MASON: I am just curious. because I don't know, what in the world is distinctive about this man's eyes? JOSEPH NICKERSON: Well, you can tell his eyes are different JUDGE DAVID MASON: I could tell me, what do you see? DET. JOSEPH NICKERSON: I can tell that his right eye is different from his left. One is lower or higher than the other. JUDGE DAVID MASON: OK. Judge David Mason listened intently each day of the hearing. He even took over the questioning from the lawyers at points, making it clear when he believed something and when he didn't. / Credit: POOL/St. Louis Post-Dispatch Erin Moriarty: How would you describe the involvement of Judge Mason in this case? Tony Messenger: Well, that was one of the most unique things I've seen in any trial I've ever covered. Columnist Tony Messenger covered the case for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Tony Messenger: He didn't just ask questions; he took over the questioning at times and made it very clear when he was believing something and when he wasn't. After five days of witnesses, court adjourned. With his freedom on the line, Johnson was taken to a St. Louis jail to wait for Judge Mason's decision. Lamar Johnson: I don't know how to not fight for my innocence to fight for what's right what was wrongfully taken from me. THE JUDGE DECIDES Lamar Johnson's daughter Kiera Barrow has finally heard what happened to her father so many years ago. Kiera Barrow: It's been really hard we heard everything in court. the misconduct and the negligence that occurred. Brittany Johnson: The hardest thing, was just that Greg lied knowing his testimony did put him in jail. Lamar Johnson with daughters Brittany Johnson, left, and Kiera Barrow. Brittany Johnson believes that Greg Elking's lies robbed her of time with her dad. Brittany Johnson: I'm very angry. Erin Moriarty: This is hard. Brittany Johnson: Yes, is very hard. I hate that I'm crying right now a dad is is the most important role. But their wait isn't over. Two months pass with no decision from the judge. Keira is hoping it happens soon. Kiera Barrow: We've been robbed of so many opportunities and milestones, I'm getting married in April of this year. (Crying) It would just mean so much to me and I know to my father to have him there with me and for him to be able to give me away. Finally, on a Tuesday afternoon in February, Johnson's family and friends return to the courtroom. Lawyers with the Missouri Attorney General's office, fighting Johnson's release, are at one table. At the other, the team trying to win Johnson's freedom. Seated next to Johnson, his attorney Lindsay Runnels. Erin Moriarty: What should Judge Mason do in this case? Lindsay Runnels: Judge Mason should vacate these convictions and Lamar Johnson should walk out of that courtroom today. After both legal teams were given copies of his final opinion, Judge David Mason announced his decision on Feb. 14, 2023. JUDGE DAVID MASON: After reviewing both the underlying trial as well as the entirety of the hearing, for the reasons stated above, it is hereby ordered that the motion of the Circuit Attorney of the 22nd Judicial Circuit filed herein for the benefit of Lamar Johnson is granted. JUDGE DAVID MASON: The conviction of Lamar Johnson in State v. Lamar Johnson, Cause 2294-3706A is hereby set aside and held for naught. Johnson's murder conviction was overturned. The judge also found that there was clear and convincing evidence of Johnson's innocence. After more than 28 years behind bars, he was more than a free man 49-year-old Lamar Johnson had finally been exonerated. This time he would leave the courthouse not in a prison van, but in a black sedan. Erin Moriarty: When I first met you, I asked you to identify yourself. Lamar Johnson (2021): My name's Lamar Johnson. I've been in prison for 26 years now. Erin Moriarty: And If I asked you to identify Lamar Johnson right now, what would you say? Lamar Johnson (2023): I am a freed man, an exonerated man and a blessed man. Erin Moriarty: How important was it to have Greg Elking take the stand and and tell the judge what he had done at trial? Lamar Johnson: That was very important. He intentionally, you know, falsely identified me. But not only did he acknowledge that he made a mistake, he took steps to try to correct it. And I am extremely grateful to him for that. And during that time he spent in prison, he says he never forgot about his friend Markus Boyd who died that night. Lamar Johnson: I didn't want Markus's family thinking that I did this to him, 'cause I genuinely cared about Markus. Markus was a good guy. In the meantime, Johnson is starting over. His friend Ricky Kidd knows it won't be easy. Ricky Kidd: It's going to be tough. but Lamar has the ability to adapt and adjust and see new opportunities. Lamar Johnson: Worked 30 years for the Department of Corrections for pennies. I don't have anything. ... I hope somebody is willing to give me a shot. I want to work. Erin Moriarty: You have a date coming up, an important date. Lamar Johnson: My youngest daughter is getting married. And, you know, it'd be nice if I could do something special and nice for them but presence matters more than presents. And I'm going to make the best of what life I have. Under current law, Johnson is not entitled to compensation from the state of Missouri. Produced by Marcelena Spencer and Emily Wichick. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. Stephen A. McCain is the development producer. Chelsea Narvaez is the associate producer. Atticus Brady and Joan Adelman are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer How Queen Elizabeth's coronation created a TV broadcasting battle in the U.S. Florida principal forced to resign visits Michelangelo's David Bill would ban kids under 13 from using social media BRITAIN-ROYALS-SECURITY Charles reacts as he meets a Cocker Spaniel named Ned, a trainee explosives search dog, and his handler during a visit to Heathrow Airport in west London on March 13, 2018. Credit - Chris JacksonAFP via Getty Images Since 1967, exemptions have been written into more than 160 British laws to grant sweeping immunity to the late Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as monarch. Now, these exemptions have been transferred to King Charles, whose coronation takes place on May 6. Under the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity, Charles is exempt from criminal and civil proceedings as the head of state. But the Kings immunity extends beyond his public duties to his conduct on privately-owned assets, estates, and businesses. Currently, more than 30 different laws bar the police from entering private royal estates without the sovereigns permission to investigate suspected crimes. Charles is also exempt from punishment over wildlife offenses, environmental pollution, and other green crimesa kind of legal immunity given to no other private landowner in the U.K. The Royal Familys official website previously stated that although civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under U.K. law, The Queen is careful to ensure that all her activities in her personal capacity are carried out in strict accordance with the law. Below, some of the wildest laws that King Charles and other British royals are exempt from. Traveling with a passport As the British monarch, King Charles will not require a British passport to travel internationally. This is because, according to the Royal Familys website which has not been updated since the Queens death, a British passport is issued in the name of Her Majesty, it is unnecessary for The Queen to possess one. Under U.K. law, no other British citizens can travel internationally without a passport. Every passport issued by the U.K. under King Charles will have a preamble that reads: His Britannic Majestys Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of His Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary. Story continues Similarly, the wording in newly-issued passports in countries where King Charles is head of state, like Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, will also have slight changes in wording. For example, passports issued in New Zealand will read: The Governor-General in the Realm of New Zealand requests in the Name of His Majesty the King all whom it may concern to allow the holder to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful assistance and protection. Driving with a license and under the speed limit Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act, the King and other members of the royal family can drive as fast or as slow as they please when they are escorted by police officers on official royal business. (The Prime Minister is also afforded the same right.) The late Queen Elizabeth II reportedly never took an actual driving test and was able to drive without a license plate, since all drivers licenses in the U.K. are issued in the monarchs name. In 2019, it was reported that the Queen had decided to no longer drive on public roads on the advice of her security team after the late Duke of Edinburgh had been involved in a car crash earlier in the year in Sandringham. As King, Charles is also no longer required to use a drivers license while driving. Paying taxes Under the Sovereign Grant Act of 2011, the King is not legally liable to pay income tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax because the relevant enactments do not apply to the Crown. The same rule applies to the income from the Duchy of Cornwall, which Prince William owns. Read More: What to Know About King Charles IIIs Billions Although the monarch is not legally required to pay taxes, since 1993 the late Queen and her firstborn child have voluntarily paid tax on their income, assets, and gains not used for official purposes. The Royal Familys website notes that until his death, the Duke of Edinburgh paid tax on any part of his annuity that was not used wholly, exclusively, or necessarily in the performance of his official duties. The same is true for Prince William, who voluntarily pays income tax on all revenue from the estate. Other members of the Royal Family are fully liable for paying taxes like other British citizens, with the cost of their official duties allowed against tax. Jury duty While British citizens can face fines of up to 1,000 ($1,253) for evading jury duty, the King and his immediate family members are exempt from having to take part in jury duty under the criminal justice bill. In the U.K., 60% of those summoned to do jury service did not serve, with doctors, vets, Members of Parliament, and judges currently exempt from serving. In 2003, MPs successfully argued to replace the exemption from jury service for all members of the royal family to just the monarch and their immediate family members, the Guardian reported. The notion that anyone is too grand or too clever or too important to serve on a jury is not to be borne, Brighton MP Desmond Turner said. Racial, ethnic, and sexual equality laws In the 1970s, the British government introduced laws against racial and sexual discrimination in the workplace, which were later folded into the 2010 Equality Act. However, documents by the Guardian revealed the Queen was reportedly exempt from these laws. This means that any individuals working for the Royal Family cannot file a complaint to the court if they faced any discrimination under the categories of race, sex, and equal pay. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace previously told reporters that the royal household and the sovereign complied with the provisions of the Equality Act, in principle and in practice. In 1968, the Queens chief financial manager informed civil servants that it was not, in fact, the practice to appoint colored immigrants or foreigners to clerical roles in the royal household. Its unknown when this practice ended, but in 1997, the Palace told the Independent that it did not officially monitor staff numbers to ensure equal opportunities. In March 2021, Buckingham Palace was reportedly considering appointing a diversity chief. AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach announced the renaming of a scholarship in honor of Ethan Wilson, a firefighter who passed away earlier this year. Wilson, a New Smyrna Beach resident who worked as an Ormond Beach firefighter and paramedic, was found unresponsive in the water while surfing in New Smyrna in February. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said the 33-year-old firefighter was treated at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach but passed away days later. Read: Volusia County firefighter hurt during surfing accident dies from injuries, sheriff says Wilson gave others a second chance to live by donating his organs. The scholarship given out by the hospitals medical staff will now be called the Ethan Wilson Memorial Scholarship to pay tribute to his legacy of service. Our goal is to honor a hero and shine a bright light on his service to the community, said Dr. Peter Riga, medical director of the emergency department at AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach, who spearheaded the effort to rename the scholarship. We want to inspire these students, who are the caregivers of tomorrow, by highlighting Ethans example. Read: Community supports family after loss of Ormond Beach firefighter, paramedic in surfing accident The time of the year is significant because April is National Donate Life Month and Wilsons birthday month. Wilson left behind his wife, Ashley Wilson, and a young son. His family attended the scholarship ceremony with some of his firefighting colleagues and members of his AdventHealth care team. Our whole family is honored and so glad that Ethans legacy lives on, said Ashley Wilson. Ethan was a servant-leader, and we are proud and grateful to have him recognized this year and every year going forward. Read: Ruff day: Orange County firefighters rescue puppy from house fire This years scholarship recipients are five local high school seniors who want to pursue a career in the medical field. Story continues Each student will get $1,000 per year for each year of college. It means the world to me to be able to serve like Ethan did, said Alyssa Capel, one of the recipients. I just hope to carry on his legacy of service and lift others up like he did. 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. Rejection of Regional Fire Authority Now that the voters have overwhelmingly rejected the Olympia-Tumwater Regional Fire Authority (RFA), the post mortem and finger pointing will surely begin. It would behoove both cities to take a step back and ask average residents why voters rejected the proposal. Since public safety services, i.e. fire and police, along with quality of life services such as parks, are all funded through general tax dollars, mainly property and sales tax revenues, maybe a Regional Parks District similar to Tacomas Metro Parks should be considered. This district could include Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey and Thurston County. The cities should clearly explain the reasons for creating these districts and the impacts on individual taxpayers. For instance, will there be efficiencies from consolidating management positions, equipment purchases and maintenance? What would be the projected financial impact on the individual taxpayer, who would have to pay property tax and any fire authority charges or parks district taxes? If the majority of the fire department calls are for emergency medical services, what is the rationale for basing the fire authority charges on square footage of buildings? Perhaps, in the future, both these measures need to be placed on the ballot at the same time, so that the voters have a chance to assess them together, against the impact on their pocket books. Subir Mukerjee, Olympia OSDs irresponsible budget proposal Headlines have declared that kids mental health is in crisis. It is appalling that the Olympia School District has chosen to respond to this dire situation by cutting programs that are so beneficial to students well-being: music and nature. A simple Google search yields countless articles touting the lifelong benefits of learning to play an instrument as a child, including improved focus, persistence, problem solving, creativity, and teamwork skills that will help young people beyond music. Story continues The cost and scheduling challenges of enrolling multiple children in private lessons are prohibitive for many families. It is difficult to imagine that OSD cannot find a better solution than restricting access to instrument training to wealthier families. In a similar vein, restricting CISPUS to a day camp punishes the kids who need a nature immersion experience the most: kids whose parents cannot afford an overnight camping trip. Again, a Google search yields articles reiterating the ancient wisdom that connecting with nature is good for ones well-being, and facilitates a deeper commitment to the planets well-being. It is difficult to imagine that OSD cannot find a better solution than eliminating a program that is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many, yet only addresses 0.5% of the budget shortfall. This budget is an opportunity for the OSD Board to practice the values it preaches. Protect childrens mental health. Do not cut access to music and nature. Kelly Dougherty, Olympia We can clean up our city Hello, fellow citizens. I have been getting more and more disheartened by the ongoing filth, garbage and debris on our city streets! Never have I experienced such disregard for the rule of law! Its not about color, creed, political persuasion, income, or anything else. It is happening because it is allowed to happen. The filth is shameful, a health hazard, unsightly and just plain embarrassing. Heres the plan: Its up to us now, we the citizens/homeowners, to take on this job. We can do this! Each one of us can begin to clean up the perimeters of our properties once or twice a week. Even when I take a bike ride or walk, I often keep a bag and wipes with me so that I can pick up debris. Also, some of us can make or purchase some really bold Please Do NOT Litter signs and get them posted in our neighborhoods. We can either continue to drive by the messes, or choose to get our streets cleaned up! If not us, who else will do it? Lets roll up our sleeves and set the right example. Spread the word and we can begin to take pride in our communities again! Mary Jane Somnis, Olympia Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), shown at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb. 15, is facing calls to resign. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) To the editor: I would like to point out to law professor Zachary Clopton and civil rights attorney Steve Art that every time we run a special election in California, it costs us millions of dollars. ("How to fill Dianne Feinsteins seat if she resigns? The Constitution offers a clear answer," Opinion, April 27) Appointing somebody as Sen. Dianne Feinstein's interim, if she resigns, until the next election occurs in 2024 is a much more sensible way to deal with the problem. I say this as a voter who is under constant pressure to donate to campaigns every year, all year long. C.W. Tennican, Los Angeles .. To the editor: Clopton and Art attempt to justify temporarily filling Feinstein's seat by a special election rather than gubernatorial appointment if she resigns. Let "the people directly elect their U.S. senators," they write. I am one who no longer trusts "the people" to make decisions regarding who should represent the citizens of California. Nationwide, one-third of "the people" staunchly support former President Trump despite his record of lies and alleged felonies. And can you imagine the ad campaigns that would take place between the candidates? The aspirant who has the slickest ad could be elected. I think Gov. Gavin Newsom has done a credible job running this state, and I trust he will make the right decision for California regarding filling a vacant Senate seat. Steven Schilling, Sierra Madre This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Idaho Republican lawmakers passed a bill that likely will lead to more drug overdose deaths in Idaho. According to Idaho Statesman reporter Ryan Suppe, Republican lawmakers this session passed regulations that restrict eligible recipients of federal grant funds for naloxone commonly distributed under the brand name Narcan a drug that reverses the fatal effects of an opioid overdose. Starting in July, only first responders will be able to receive free naloxone kits from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. According to records obtained by the Idaho Statesman, state health officials said the restrictions within House Bill 350, sponsored by Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, would dismantle Idahos existing distribution system, potentially leading to more overdose deaths and increasing administrative costs. Department of Health and Welfare officials wrote in an analysis that had the limits been in place last year, the states overdose death rate could have been four times higher. And yet, legislators still passed it. And Gov. Brad Little signed it even though he clearly recognized the danger. We know that most naloxone administrations in Idaho are by people other than first responders and thus distribution to community partners is critical, the governor wrote in a letter to lawmakers signing the bill. This significant policy change may result in fewer naloxone doses available to administer in Idaho and, tragically, fewer lives saved. Put more succinctly: More people may die. Once again, Little signed a bill he knew was very bad for Idahoans. So why change the program? I just wanted to make sure that its actually going out to the right people, people that we can actually educate and give training, Tanner told Suppe. However, by limiting access, the law ensures that the drug wont be in the hands of the right people who are in the best position to administer it and save lives. Naloxone should be in more places, not fewer, and should be quickly and readily available to those who need it most: opioid users. Story continues As for Tanners assertion about training, heres the kicker: There isnt any need for training. The Food and Drug Administration has determined that naloxone can be safely administered by untrained people. All it requires to administer it is inserting a device into the nostril of someone overdosing and pushing a plunger. Who needs training for that? But because this limits grant funds to first responders, then first responders must have been in favor of it, right? Wrong. Groups representing first responders urged Little to veto the bill, according to documents Suppe found. Jeff Lavey, executive director of the Idaho Sheriffs Association, wrote to Gov. Little that local law enforcement offices are overworked and understaffed and have limited time to distribute naloxone kits. And Lewiston Fire Chief Travis Myklebust, president of the Idaho Fire Chiefs Association, wrote to the governor that rural agencies rely on health clinics and other providers that now wont be eligible to distribute the medication. Last year, 1,238 overdoses in Idaho were reversed by a naloxone kit distributed through the federal program, according to Suppe. Just 6% of the reversals involved a first responder. Think about that: Republican lawmakers have limited the availability of naloxone to people who reversed only 6% of overdoses. What about the other 94%? But why should Republican legislators and the governor listen to the experts and the people most affected? Further, the change creates more bureaucracy, regulation and red tape, anathema to a state that prides itself on small government. With more regulation comes higher costs, according to an analysis by the Department of Health and Welfare. Republican lawmakers and the governor talk a mean game when it comes to cracking down on fentanyl and other illegal opioid use, dedicating tax dollars to fighting drugs. To what end? Ostensibly, to save lives. Limiting who can get their hands on life-saving naloxone runs contrary to that end. Finally, we are baffled by what problem this change supposedly seeks to remedy. Is there some sort of naloxone overdose epidemic that were unaware of? (A virtual impossibility, since the drug has no effect on someone who doesnt have opioids in their system.) Has there been some sort of rash of misuse of Narcan thats gone unreported? Whats the problem here? Since the new limits dont solve a problem and, to the contrary, actually create several problems, legislators and the governor have violated their most important edict: Do no harm. Statesman editorials are the unsigned opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe and newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser. National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, celebrates Americas most trusted profession. There are countless stories of nurses compassion, dedication, leadership and more among the 4 million nurses in the U.S., but one local nurse is a shining example of nursings scope and power. Jessica MacIntyre, D.N.P., M.B.A., executive director for clinica operations at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of UHealth - University of Miami Health System, discovered nursings importance while she was in high school, when her grandmother was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. Unfortunately, she passed away from the disease. But I experienced what it was to be a nurse from her perspective. The care that she received, especially towards the end of her life, was exceptional, compassionate, MacIntyre said. The experience made such an impact on her life that she decided to become a nurse. Of course, my goal was to be part of finding a cure for cancer, she said. Today, MacIntyre is making an impact on cancer care in a big way. She is a leader at Sylvester, one of the nations National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer centers, and she was recently selected to sit on the Board of the Oncology Nursing Society, the countrys largest oncology nursing organization. MacIntyre started her nursing career in 2000 after graduating from the University of Miami. Her goal was to work with cancer patients and her dream was to provide that care at Sylvester. But to work at the academic-based cancer center, MacIntyre would first have to get two years experience at a community hospital in Miami, where she worked at the bedside with cancer patients. She started at Sylvester in 2022 as a hospital nurse, knowing that was only her beginning. Sylvester is where the cutting-edge research is taking place, and I wanted to be part of that, MacIntyre said. Her nursing specialty, which is to care for patients with one of the deadliest cancer types, pancreatic cancer, took shape soon after she arrived at Sylvester. MacIntyre was asked to become the first nurse navigator for Sylvesters pancreatic/gastrointestinal group. Nurse navigation was just starting to take off in the U.S. as a way to help cancer patients navigate what can be complicated care, according to MacIntyre. Story continues I would be the first point of contact for every patient that came through our system, she said. MacIntyre would help patients throughout their cancer journeys, often remaining the point of contact when they had questions long after treatment. Studies have since shown that nurse navigation can impact cancer patients outcomes, or health and survival after cancer, according to MacIntyre. After a decade of navigating patient care and working with a Sylvester physician who specialized in pancreatic cancer, MacIntyre wanted to do more to help patients. And the nursing profession gave her the opportunity. She went back to school, earned her masters of nursing degree and became a nurse practitioner, which allowed MacIntyre to increase her scope and provide more directed pancreatic cancer care. I enjoyed providing hope for patients. Ive seen a lot of successes and over time advances made in this cancer. We still have hope that one day this and other cancers will be cured, she said. Among those success stories is a patient who, after 10 years, still keeps in touch with MacIntyre. She came to Sylvester in a wheelchair after being diagnosed with advanced stage pancreatic cancer and being told at another facility that she should prepare to die. MacIntyre looked at the possibilities and helped the patient get the care she needed. Today, she is in remission and helping to advocate for others who have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She always tells me, Jessica I believed in you and the team at Sylvester, and you gave me hope, MacIntyre said. Stories like these drove MacIntyre to want to do even more. Advancing her education would allow MacIntyre to conduct research, which could benefit all cancer patients. MacIntyre received the highest nursing degree, a doctorate in nursing or D.N.P. Theres always an opportunity to improve things for our patients and our caregivers. Thats what I wanted to focus on moving forward, she said. I wanted to help drive organizational change through research and quality improvement. Among her passions are survivorship care, which focuses on quality of life, wellness and mental health long after treatment. Survivorship care is a huge topic now, with so many people surviving cancer in the U.S., MacIntyre said. Sylvester is among the most forward-thinking centers in the nation in survivorship care. MacIntyre is also helping to train the next generation of oncology nurses with advanced degrees. She is the director of Sylvesters Nurse Practitioner Fellowship program, the only accredited fellowship program with distinction in Florida. My goal as part of the Board of the Oncology Nursing Society is to help the society with its mission to advance excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care by preparing nurses to care for the next generation of oncology patients, so they can continue to be the force to transform cancer care, she said. While MacIntyres cancer care goals are far-reaching, she hasnt lost sight of the needs of South Florida. She oversees community programs at Sylvester that identify those at high risk for certain cancers and helps them to prevent or receive treatment for cancer early on. Reaching out to the community is one of my goals and part of Sylvesters goal as an NCI-designated cancer center, she said. MacIntyre hasnt stopped reaching new heights as an oncology nurse. In April 2023, she was inducted as a Board member of the 35,000-member Oncology Nursing Society the only South Florida nurse named to its Board. MacIntyre said shes proud to be a nurse at Sylvester because the cancer center and profession have given her opportunities to impact cancer patients care on personal and holistic levels. We dont just treat the disease, we treat the person. Im very proud that we provide individual care for each patient we see. And I believe we provide that personal touch, which is why were so trusted, she said. MacIntyre hasnt seen a cure for cancer, yet, but feels empowered by the influence she has on this disease. We make a difference in patients lives and I can see that daily. Every patient that I speak to always talks about a nurse that helped them get through the tough diagnosis of cancer, she said. Columbus police on Sunday night identified 53-year-old Edgar Romero Guiterez as the man found fatally shot when officers responded to a shooting call at 9:28 p.m. Saturday in the 2200 block of Webster Canyon Court on the city's Northeast Side. Columbus police have identified a man who was fatally shot Saturday night on the city's Northeast Side. Edgar Romero Gutierrez, 53, was found with a gunshot wound by officers responding to a reported shooting at 9:28 p.m. in the 2200 block of Webster Canyon Court, police said Sunday night. Columbus Division of Fire medics pronounced him dead at the scene at 9:35 p.m. More: New Columbus police website works to humanize homicide victims, help solve cases No further information about the incident has been released by city homicide detectives investigating the shooting. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the Columbus Police Homicide Unit at (614) 645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at (614) 461-8477. bpaschal@dispatch.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Man killed in shooting Saturday night on Columbus' Northeast Side Francisco Oropesa, the man on the run after allegedly killing five Texas family members, is a Mexican national who was previously deported four times, a source familiar with the investigation told ABC News. Oropesa, 38, was deported on March 17, 2009, after an immigration judge ordered his removal, the source said. He unlawfully returned to the U.S., and he was then apprehended and deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September 2009, January 2012 and July 2016, the source said. Oropesa had also been convicted in Montgomery County, Texas, in January 2012 of driving while intoxicated and served time in jail, the source said. PHOTO: Francisco Oropeza, 38, the subject of a manhunt who police say shot dead five neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy is seen in an undated photograph released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). (Fbi/via Reuters) MORE: Critics accuse Abbott of trying to 'dehumanize' Texas mass shooting victims The mass shooting unfolded Friday night after neighbors asked Oropesa to stop shooting his gun in the yard of his home in Cleveland, about 50 miles north of Houston, investigators said. The San Jacinto County Sheriff's Office received a call around 11:31 p.m. Friday detailing harassment, Sheriff Greg Capers told reporters on Sunday. When deputies arrived at the home, they found five victims at the property, Capers said. PHOTO: In this aerial view, an exterior of a crime scene where five people were killed after a shooting inside a home, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (Go Nakamura/Getty Images) Three minors who were found uninjured but covered in blood, authorities said. Two of the female victims were discovered in the bedroom lying on top of two surviving children, authorities told ABC News. Oropesa is still on the run and is a "threat to the community," FBI Houston field office agent James Smith told reporters on Saturday. MORE: Who are the 5 victims in the Texas shooting? The FBI has "zero leads" on where Oropesa could be, Smith said Sunday while announcing an $80,000 reward for information leading to his capture. Investigators described Oropesa as a 5-foot-8 Hispanic man with a goatee and short black hair. He was last seen wearing jeans, a black shirt and work boots. The neighbors had asked the suspect to stop shooting his gun in the front yard because there was a baby trying to sleep, Capers told ABC Houston station KTRK. Story continues PHOTO: Law enforcement search for the suspect a few miles from the scene where five people, including an 8-year-old child, were killed after a shooting inside a home, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (Go Nakamura/Getty Images) MORE: Critics accuse Abbott of trying to 'dehumanize' Texas mass shooting victims Oropesa, who allegedly had been drinking, responded, "I'll do what I want to in my front yard," Capers said. The massacre went from a case of harassment to a shooting very quickly, Capers said. All of the victims were shot from the neck up, "almost execution-style," Capers told KTRK. The victims were identified by authorities as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso Guzman, 8. Daniel's father later said his son was 9 years old. Five other people who were in the home were not harmed. PHOTO: From left to right pictures of victim of mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas are seen in this split picture: Daniel Enrique Lazo Guzman, Sonia Argentina Guzman Taibot, Josue Jonatan Caceres, Diana Velasquez Alvarado, and Obdulia Molina Rivera (Left to right courtesy of Junior Izaguirre, Jeffri Rivera, Rivera family) Footage from a Ring doorbell at the victims' house shows the shooter entering the home with a weapon, Capers said. Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene. The youngest was declared dead after being transported to the hospital, police said. Some of the victims were trying to shield their children from the bullets, Capers said. Shell casings were found in Oropesa's front yard, police said. Wilson Garcia, who owns the home, told KTRK that the family was preparing a meal when Oropesa began shooting on his property. PHOTO: Francisco Oropesa (FBI Houston via Twitter) Garcia told KTRK he moved in three years ago and "never had a problem" with his neighbor until Friday. Garcia's wife and young son were among the victims killed in the shooting. "I don't have words to describe what happened," Garcia said during a vigil Sunday. "It's like we're alive but not living. What happened was really horrible. I lived through it because I was there. I managed to escape by miracle." "Two people died protecting my 2-and-a-half-year-old daughter and my month-and-a-half-old son," an emotional Garcia continued. "They protected him with a pile of clothes so the killer wouldn't kill them, too." MORE: 4 teens arrested in connection to Texas after-prom party shooting that wounded 11 Garcia said he was in the house at the time of the shooting and escaped by climbing out of a window. Garcia said a woman in the house who told him to get out of the window was one of the people who died. "She told me to jump through the window because my kids are now without a mother and one of us needed to stay alive to take care of them," he said. "I'm trying to be strong for my kids," Garcia said. "My daughter somewhat understands, and it's difficult when she starts to ask for her mom and her brother." PHOTO: A home is shown, April 30, 2023, where a mass shooting occurred Friday night, in Cleveland, Texas. (David J. Phillip/AP) During Sunday's vigil, Garcia said his son was 9 years old. Some of Garcia's remarks also differed from his previous account when he spoke to KTRK. Neighbor Veronica Pineda told KTRK that she had grown accustomed to neighbors shooting firearms in the area. "There's always shooting," she told the station. "There's always people calling the cops and there's nothing being done." PHOTO: Law enforcement search for the suspect a few miles from the scene where five people, including an 8-year-old child, were killed after a shooting inside a home, April 29, 2023 in Cleveland, Texas. (Go Nakamura/Getty Images) Another neighbor named Shawn told ABC News that the tight-knit neighborhood is typically "peaceful" and described the victims as "good people." All of the victims are from Honduras, police said. ABC News' Peter Charalambous, Nadine El-Bawab, Meredith Deliso, Jon Haworth, Nicholas Kerr, Jamie McCarty, Gina Sunseri, Marilyn Heck, Teddy Grant and Michelle Mendez contributed to this report. At-large Texas mass shooting suspect had been deported 4 times: Source originally appeared on abcnews.go.com FBI officers following a mass shooting in Cleveland, Texas. Go Nakamura/Getty Images The manhunt continued Monday for a mass shooting suspect in Texas who allegedly killed five of his neighbors after they asked him to stop firing his gun outside. Francisco Oropeza, 38, remains on the run after the mass shooting, which occurred this past Friday around 11:30 p.m. in the town of Cleveland, Texas. Oropeza was shooting off rounds from his AR-15 when his neighbor, Wilson Garcia, asked him "respectfully" to move farther away from their home because their baby was trying to sleep, Garcia told The Associated Press. Oropeza had reportedly been drinking, and got angry when Garcia then called the police, sources told The New York Times. Following their interaction, Oropeza allegedly went to the Garcia home armed with his rifle, and went on a rampage inside the house, killing five people. The shooting was described as "execution style." Five other people inside the home survived, including Garcia, who told the Times the suspect "wanted to kill us all to leave no evidence." The deceased were identified by police as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. While authorities searching for the suspect initially believed that Oropeza was within a two-mile radius of the crime scene, NBC News reported that police believe he may now be further away after locating his cellphone and clothes. San Jacinto Sheriff Greg Capers said he "could be anywhere now," and FBI officials said they "consider him armed and dangerous. He is out there, and he's a threat to the community." The mass shooting happened on a block where people often "unwind by firing off guns," AP reported. It comes as the United States is still struggling to come to terms with a string of confrontational and unwarranted shootings in recent weeks. You may also like U.S. production of bullets, shells, and missiles sidelined by explosion at 1 Louisiana gunpowder mill FAA overruled engineers to let Boeing 737 Max keep flying, report alleges Bill finalized to allow DeSantis to run for president while remaining governor (Bloomberg) -- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he is determined to forge an even stronger relationship with the US ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. Most Read from Bloomberg We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia-Pacific region and the rest of the world, Marcos said in a speech livestreamed on Sunday before leaving for his US visit. The two leaders will meet at the White House on Monday. The visit comes months after the Philippines granted the US greater access to its military sites, paving the way for greater American presence in Asia Pacific amid heightened tensions with China over Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea. Earlier, the US accused China of harassing Philippine ships after vessels from the two nations nearly collided in the South China Sea a week ago. Marcos is expected to discuss defense deals with Biden. He also intends to tell the US president he is determined to build stronger ties in a wide range of areas that not only address the concerns of our times, but also on critical areas including food and energy security and climate change. The Philippine leader said one of his priorities for the visit, which runs through May 4, is to push for greater economic engagement between the two nations including in semiconductors and renewable energy. He will be joined by his economic team and some private sector executives to explore business opportunities. During their first bilateral meeting in September, Biden reaffirmed the USs ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines. In February, the US won access to four more Philippine military bases. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (File photo) Authorities are searching for several people who broke into a Bel-Air home early Saturday and tied up a man and a woman before stealing their safe, Los Angeles police said. Three or four masked assailants with firearms broke into the home in the 1300 block of Casiano Road shortly before 1 a.m., according to a police department spokesperson. A man and woman inside the residence were tied up during the robbery, though police said no injuries were reported. The robbers stole a safe inside the home before fleeing, police said. The contents of the safe were not disclosed. No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities did not provide descriptions of the robbers except that they were dressed in dark clothing. Anyone with information was asked to contact the LAPD at (800) 222-TIPS. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Getty Images Greg Ogden, 64, said he's been paying off his student loans since 1994 while working in public service. He said he applied for Public Service Loan Forgiveness but paperwork errors have kept him in repayment. He wants to fulfill his payment obligations, but he feels he's paid more than he owed. Greg Ogden doesn't regret taking out his student loans. He just never anticipated he would be paying them off for so long. After graduating in 1993 with a master's degree in therapy, Ogden, now 64, said he immediately started paying off his $17,000 student-debt load. At the time, he said, he wasn't too concerned about the balance he was able to quickly pay off the loans he took out for his bachelor's degree ten years earlier, and he anticipated his second repayment experience would be similar. But after an unanticipated forbearance period because of his divorce a few years after he started repayment on his graduate-degree loan in which he was not making monthly payments but interest was still growing Ogden found his balance was growing beyond what he originally borrowed. Now, he said he owes about $25,000 in student debt, and he's frustrated it's still hanging over his head at this point in his life. To add to that frustration, he's been working at a nonprofit for his entire career and still hasn't received debt relief through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or PSLF, program, which is supposed to forgive student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments. Ogden estimates he's made at least four years of extra payments. "I have no idea when I'll be done," Ogden told Insider. "I'm happy my wife won't have to worry about this if I die because I guess it can't go after a spouse. But I've had this hanging around my neck longer than it should have." The issue comes down to paperwork. In October 2021, President Joe Biden's Education Department announced temporary reforms to PSLF, included a limited-time waiver that expired on October 31, 2022, that allowed all past payments included those previously deemed ineligible to count toward PSLF progress. Ogden said he submitted his paperwork well before the October 31 deadline, and he even called the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority, or MOHELA, the company that manages PSLF, to confirm his paperwork was submitted, and he was told he was all set. Story continues But in April, he said he received a letter that his application was rejected because he had failed to properly certify one of his public-service employers. While the Federal Student Aid office recently made the process a bit easier to certify employment by allowing digital signatures following issues with applications being rejected for minor errors, those reforms are still a work in progress. Ogden said his only option right now is to reapply for PSLF and hope for the best. "I want to fulfill my obligations, but I would like them to honor the payments that I've made," Ogden said. "My application was rejected because I didn't have the correct dates on all my employment periods. I can't remember the exact time when I started and finished ten years ago on a job, so now I have to go back and find all that information." 'I'm driving blind on this whole thing' After Ogden's loans were transferred to MOHELA, he said he's been unable to find his payment history to confirm that he's made more than the needed qualifying payments to have his loans forgiven. But he said that aside from the brief forbearance following his divorce, he's "religiously" paid off his debt, but he's unable to get a straight answer from MOHELA to help him figure out how many payments, if any, he still needs to make. "This is the one debt I wish I didn't have and I don't know how to get out of it," Ogden said. "At no time have I ever been told, 'You have made this many payments and this is how many have left to be finished,' which would be a big motivator for me. I'm driving blind on this whole thing." Insider previously spoke to a number of borrowers who believe they'd done their due diligence toward PSLF, but as a result of paperwork errors and miscommunication from their student-loan company, they're still stuck in repayment. For example, one teacher who made six extra years of payments toward PSLF is still struggling to get a refund after spending hours on hold with MOHELA to no avail. The Education Department announced permanent reforms to PSLF beyond the waiver expiration, including a one-time account adjustment to give borrowers one more chance to get their payments updated if they missed the October 31 deadline. But due to a lack of increased funding from Congress, the implementation of those adjustments are delayed, meaning some borrowers are still wondering whether they qualify for full debt relief or should continue making payments. "It's just a cycle of frustration," Ogden said. "And there should be a different system so people don't have to engage in all these fruitless calls where they can't answer your questions anyway." Biden's broad student-debt relief is 'a lottery wish' Along with waiting for reforms to targeted programs like PSLF, millions of borrowers are also waiting to learn the fate of Biden's broad plan he announced in August to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the two conservative-backed cases that paused the relief in February and is expected to issue a final decision on the legality of the relief by June. Ogden isn't too concerned with the outcome, though. "If it's given to us, I'd be grateful, but if it's not, I can't control that," he said. "It's kind of a lottery wish. It'd be nice, but I would trade that for them honoring the payments I've already made." Student-loan payments are also set to resume 60 days after June 30, or 60 days after the Supreme Court decision whichever happens first and Ogden can only hope that his payment count is resolved before then. "When I get on the phone and try to talk to these people, the waits are really long, and because I have appointments with countless clients, I often don't even get through," Ogden said. "And I felt pretty optimistic that this was going to get taken care of in 10 years." Do you have a story to share about your student debt? Reach out to this reporter at asheffey@insider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel has advised that we should not "narrow our minds too much" when it comes to finding a solution to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Source: European Pravda with reference to ZDF Details: Speaking at the Leipzig Book Fair, Merkel called for an open debate to end Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine. "It's important to me and I've always tried not to narrow our horizons too much. When someone like Wolfgang Ischinger, the former chairman of the Munich Security Conference, says that we need to think about the fact that at some point we will have to negotiate, then we shouldnt immediately hiss at him," Merkel said. Merkel also defended her policy regarding Russia and the energy policy decisions that made Germany heavily dependent on Russian gas. "I would have preferred gas to be imported from the UK and Norway, as we used to do, and from the Netherlands. But it was no longer available. For us, the question was: more expensive LNG a third more expensive or cheaper Russian gas," she said. Merkel did not respond to a question about why, with hindsight, she is uncomfortable about admitting to her mistakes. "To be honest, I don't know if it will have a pacifying effect if I just say something now that I didn't think about, just for the sake of admitting the mistake now," Merkel said. Background: Merkel received the Federal Cross of the Order of Merit, Germanys highest state award, which had been awarded to only two former heads of government before her. Merkel was the first woman to become Federal Chancellor of Germany, a position she held from 2005 to 2021. During her term of office, she was considered to be one of the most influential politicians in Europe and in the world. However, after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Merkel began to be sharply criticised for her appeasement of Russia, her increasing dependence on Russian gas, and her refusal to admit the mistakes she made in office. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Mexicos senate raced against the clock to pass a cascade of legal reforms before its recess, in a chaotic show of political force by the ruling Morena party weeks before some states hold elections. Most Read from Bloomberg Members of the ruling party sat in a makeshift meeting hall on the patio of the Senate building amid tension with the opposition, who were protesting that the government had not approved a commissioner to the transparency watchdog, leaving it without the ability to operate. The senate passed over a dozen reforms early Saturday within minutes of each other, according to local newspaper El Universal. The reforms already had approval from the lower house and need to appear in the official gazette to enter into effect as laws. Other bills that were pending a senate vote will eventually be debated once sessions resume in September. In June, the states of Mexico and Coahuila will hold elections for governors and lawmakers, which could also boost power for the ruling coalition. These are some of the most important reforms approved by the senate: An aerospace reform that gives the government a chance to revive defunct carrier Mexicana de Aviacion as a way to lower ticket and increase competition in the sector. The reform also gives the army the authority to operate both an airline and the airport into which it would fly A controversial mining reform that reduces the amount of time a company could hold a concession to 30 years, with the possibility of extending it to as many as 80 years, down from a current maximum period of 100 A stock markets reform that streamlines regulations to make it easier for companies to issue debt and equity, as well as allow for dual-class shares to entice family-controlled companies to go public. Story continues A reform to the labor rules, which suggests reducing weekly work hours to 40 from 48, remains among those to be discussed in September during congress new term. --With assistance from Nicolle Yapur, Michael O'Boyle and Andrea Navarro. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As the Motor City changes, so do opportunities for college students in Michigan interested in scholarship money to pursue the transition to electric vehicles from internal combustion engines. In recent days, a dozen students from Michigan State University's College of Engineering have been named in the first round of Michigander EV Scholars program to receive up to $10,000 in scholarship money while working at companies in metro Detroit, Lansing, Jackson and Saginaw. This is part of a new state campaign to promote careers and recruit talent to fill jobs in the auto industry or so-called transportation mobility sector. The scholarship program may award as many as 350 students statewide at participating universities who sign a letter of employment with an approved company and commit to staying in Michigan for 12 months. The EV scholars recognized at MSU this month have accepted internship offers and will receive an initial $5,000 scholarship that qualifies them for the full $10,000 offer upon acceptance of a full-time job in Michigan, MSU said in a news release. The Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) has worked to recruit students to begin as soon as this year. Higher education partners include MSU, the University of Michigan, Michigan Technological University in the Upper Peninsula, Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Macomb Community College and Schoolcraft College in Livonia. Who's wanted Key recruitment targets include software developers, electrical engineers, production workers and front-line supervisors. Michigan is pushing to position itself as a leader in computer science, engineering and manufacturing to meet growing industry demand. For generations, Michiganders have stepped up to get the job done by embodying the kind of grit, determination and work ethic needed to keep the world moving forward, Quentin L. Messer Jr., CEO of the MEDC, said in the news release. He attended an MSU event April 26 where the students signed letters of intent for summer and fall internships and co-op opportunities focused on electric vehicles. Story continues MSU released the student list below with their anticipated graduation dates and respective employers: Eduardo Ferdinandi, of Birmingham; spring 2026; General Motors in Warren Kurk Edwards, of Oak Park; spring 2024; Commonwealth Association in Jackson Pranav Rakkappan, of Northville; spring 2024; Toyota in Ann Arbor Dauan Hendley, of Detroit; spring 2024; Nissan in Farmington Hills Brian Garcia Ibarra, of Pontiac; fall 2023; Ford in Dearborn Shane Pat, of Thailand; spring 2024; Ford in Allen Park Noah Sanders, of Benton Harbor; fall 2024; Nexteer in Saginaw Nyah Williams, of Detroit; spring 2025; Lansing Board of Water & Light Manov Singh, of Lansing; spring 2024; Lansing Board of Water & Light Morghane McAnelly, of Rochester Hills; fall 2024; Ford in Allen Park Chris Martin, of Northville; spring 2024; American Axle in Detroit Logan Lara, of Grand Rapids; spring 2025; Lear Corp. in Troy Companies participating in this program include BorgWarner, Bosch, Dana Inc., Denso, Gentex Corp., LG Energy Solution, Magna, Mahle, Nexteer, Our Next Energy, Shape Corp. and ZF. More: Ford to sell F-150 Lightning truck in Norway after customers begged for a year Why they chose the program Eduardo Ferdinandi, 18, comes from a family that has worked for General Motors in the U.S. and Stellantis in Italy. He leaned toward mechanical engineering initially but a high school class in computer programming sparked his interest in computer science. He'll intern with GM this summer. "There's so much room to grow in electric, and it's great to feel like I can be a part of that," Ferdinandi told the Detroit Free Press. Eduardo Ferdinandi of Birmingham, Mich., seen here in the Vatican at Vatican City, Italy on July 7, 2022, is a Michigan State University College of Engineering student and electric vehicle scholarship recipient who will work at General Motors. Pranav Rakkappan, 20, studies applied engineering science that includes everything from thermodynamics to computer circuits. He's concentrating on supply chain management with a computer science minor. He had internships with BorgWarner as a freshman and sophomore, first remotely and then in Auburn Hills. He wrote programs that helped the company audit projects for process quality. This summer, he'll go to BMW in South Carolina. And in the fall, Rakkappan starts at Toyota as part of the scholar program. "I'm a big fan of tech. And my dad (who works at Ford) turned me into the car guy I am now," Rakkappan said. "Through this program, you get to network with a bunch of companies and have the ability to negotiate. Pranav Rakkappan of Northville, seen here in July 2022 at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the Upper Peninsula, is a Michigan State University College of Engineering student and electric vehicle scholarship recipient who will work at Toyota. Ford Mustang created a dream Morghane McAnelly, 21, said she "fell in love with Ford" at age 13 when her friend's father drove a Ford Mustang to eighth grade lacrosse practice. "My dad, he was a sales manager for FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles). My grandpa worked for Chrysler. My great-uncle was an engineer at GM," she told the Free Press. "I wrote a research paper on electric vehicles when I was pre-law, then took a computer science course and realized I wanted to work for an automotive company and do software engineering, something technology related." Morghane McAnelly of Rochester Hills, seen here on March 8, 2023 aboard a cruise to Nassau, Bahamas, is a Michigan State University College of Engineering student and electric vehicle scholarship recipient who will work at Ford Motor Co. Logan Lara, 20, said the program helps industry leaders find talent for the world of electric vehicle development. "Michigan, in general, is just a hot spot. And employers can't find us," he told the Free Press. "I'm very interested in being involved in innovative processes. The EV industry is the place to be. No one close to me has done what I'm doing. My dad worked previously in the hotel industry as a cook. He always pushed me to get good grades, stay in school and pick a career that can sustain me, take me to higher levels beyond what our family's currently at." More: Ford to shift hundreds of workers to F-150 Lightning plant, hire 300 new employees At Lear, Lara said he'll be able to do controls engineering where he'll work in a factory perfecting the processes of creating vehicle seating electrical systems. He'll deal with robotics, lasers and writing software coding so everything can communicate with everything else. "That's why I want to go to Lear," he said. Terrance Zackery of Kalamazoo (left) and Logan Lara of Grand Rapids, seen here March 25, 2023 at the National Society of Black Engineers annual convention in Kansas City, Missouri, both attend Michigan State University College of Engineering and take part in the EV scholar program. Salaries of $75,000 and up The automotive industry is undergoing a once-in-a-lifetime transformation with the shift to e-mobility, and MSU is thrilled to be a partner with the MEDC to help drive our state forward in this revolutionary industry, Garth Motschenbacher, MSU College of Engineering employer engagement director, said in the news release. "The goal is to build this community up so that we always have candidates ready to apply and accept opportunities in the EV industry," he told the Free Press. Since January, MSU and the University of Michigan and Michigan Tech are exceeding 160 students total in this inaugural group of EV-eligible scholars, Motschenbacher said. Student resumes are still out, and another student just accepted an offer from Bosch, he said Saturday. "It's been a little crazy. We're building the plane as we're flying the plane." The average salary for many of these fields is $75,000-plus, Motschenbacher noted. This recruitment campaign, which will expand nationally, is part of a $34 million talent attraction and retention strategy the MEDC is introducing this year to grow the state workforce. The $34 million is part of $115.6 million allocated in a bipartisan vote last year by the Michigan Legislature for business attraction, community revitalization and entrepreneurship programs, the news release said. More: As auto industry struggles to fill good-paying jobs, Ford unveils new strategy More: Ford CEO says automaker needs 'totally different talent' to meet goals. Here's why More: Can you make a long highway drive in an EV? I did 1,100 miles and enjoyed it. Contact Phoebe Wall Howard: 313-618-1034 or phoward@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @phoebesaid. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan EV Scholars program gives college students $10K scholarships Missile attacks against Ukraine from the territory of Belarus are not recorded Today, Shahed (flying bomb drone) launches from Belarus may be periodically detected. However, there are (currently) no missile attacks on Ukraine from the territory of Belarus, Demchenko said. Read also: Moscow relies on retired Belarusian officers to train troops, report says Belarusian dictator and Russia ally Alexander Lukashenko, who had previously regularly spread rumors about supposed threats from Ukraine, Poland, and the West, changed his tune on April 28, and stated that no one is going to attack Belarus. Lukashenko, while still supporting Russias war of aggression on Ukraine, and allowing the territory he controls to be used by Russia to attack Ukraine, has since stated that he does not want to go to war and send Belarusians to the front. Read also: Belarus calls for ceasefire in Ukraine At the beginning of Russias full-scale war and invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Lukashenko allowed two Russian attack groups to enter Ukraine, one on either side of the Dnipro River, as Russia attempted to seize the Ukrainian capital Kyiv in a pincer maneuver. However, the Russian forces met stiff resistance from Ukrainian defenders, and were plagued by logistics foul-ups that saw their invasion forces grind to a halt, and then their armor picked off by roving Ukrainian units armed with anti-tank weapons. Read also: Russia to redeploy 2,000 troops from Belarus to Donbas, Ukraine says After a month of failing to advance on the Ukrainian capital, by the end of March 2022 Russian forces were defeated, and they had retreated from Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy oblasts by the beginning of April 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 Bay St. Louis Police arrested a teen accused of shooting six people, killing at least two, at a house party early Sunday. Bay St. Louis Police arrested a teen accused of shooting six people, killing at least two, at a house party early Sunday. A teen accused of shooting six people, killing at least two of them, at a house party in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was arrested Sunday. The shooting occurred just after 12:30 a.m. local time on Sunday. Cameron Everest Brand, 19, was identified by the Bay St. Louis Police as the sole suspect. Brand was initially charged with six counts of aggravated assault with a $3 million bond after being arrested at his residence, according to the police statement. An update to the statement later on Sunday said that, after the two deaths were confirmed, police upgraded Cameron Brands charges to Homicide and Judge Stephen Maggio issued a warrant with no bond. Its unclear what the alleged teen shooters motive was. Upon arrival, multiple persons were found suffering from gunshot wounds, Bay St. Louis Police Chief J. Toby Schwartz said in a statement to ABC News. The Bay St. Louis Police Department did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment. An 18-year-old victim and a 16-year-old victim were pronounced dead after arriving at a hospital in New Orleans, police said. One other victim is in critical condition, and the remaining three are in serious condition, police added. The four injured victims are between 15 and 18 years old, ABC News reported. The shooting comes as the nation sees a drastic rise in mass shootings this year, including one in Texas on Saturday in which a man is accused of killing five of his neighbors, including an 8-year-old boy, and one in Alabama earlier this month where six people are accused of killing four people and injuring 32 others. Related... Recreational marijuana has been legally available in the Show-Me State for almost three months and in Springfield dispensaries, sales remain steady. Operators say a driving factor in the consistently high demand has been an influx of out-of-state customers who cross the border to purchase Missouri marijuana. Flora Farms President Mark Hendren said "the numbers are pretty steady" for the first 90 days that recreational products have been on the market. Flora Farms operates four dispensaries in Springfield, Humansville, Ozark and Neosho. Hendren said the company's dispensary in Neosho, which is about 40 miles north of the Arkansas border and 20 miles east of the Oklahoma border, has experienced a "dramatic increase" in sales from out-of-state customers, who he estimated account for 50-60% of the Neosho dispensary's business. Flora Farms President Mark Hendren talks about the cultivation operation in Humansville on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. Overall, Hendren said, the Neosho location's sales are nearly double that of Flora Farms' other stores. Since February, Flora Farms' four dispensaries have experienced a 200-300% increase in sales. In Neosho, the sales spike has been more like 500-600%, which Hendren attributes to customers from across state lines. Cody Shackleton, director of operations and marketing for The Farmer's Wife, said the Springfield-based company has also experienced a "noticeable increase" in out-of-state customers since February, specifically at its West Plains and Mountain Grove locations. Shackleton said budtenders at these locations have collectively heard that out-of-state customers are finding their dispensaries through online platforms like Leafly and Weedmaps. The Farmer's Wife is a Missouri-based medical marijuana dispensary with locations in Springfield, Mountain Grove and West Plains. Tracking customers who purchase medical marijuana is different than tracking customers who purchase recreational though, which makes gauging the actual number difficult, Hendren said. To purchase medical marijuana, patients must be registered with the state and present their medical marijuana card at the dispensary, so this information is tracked. But customers purchasing recreational marijuana only have to present a valid government-issued ID. Story continues Some dispensaries, like Flora Farms, ask recreational customers if they would like to voluntarily provide information about themselves for marketing purposes, but not all customers participate. How is Missouri's marijuana policy affecting neighboring states? Of the states that share a border with Missouri, only Illinois has legalized marijuana to a similar extent, meaning most visitors have better access in the Show-Me State than they do at home. Legal medical marijuana went on sale in Arkansas in 2019. Scott Hardin, spokesperson for Arkansas' Medical Marijuana Commission, said Arkansas has not seen a drop in sales since the legalization of recreational marijuana in Missouri. He said March 2023 was the state's largest month for sales yet, at about $25 million, and comes on the heels of record sales in 2022 totaling $276 million. Hardin said the commission has only received one comment of concern since recreational marijuana became available in Missouri. That comment was from NEA Full Spectrum, a medical marijuana dispensary in Brookland, Arkansas, about 45 minutes south of the Missouri border. The dispensary cited a 15% decline in sales since recreational products went on sale in Missouri. More: Statewide marijuana flower shortage forces dispensaries to scale back 4/20 celebrations "Although there may be individual dispensaries that are feeling the Missouri impact, overall sales are so strong that we anticipate another record year," Hardin said. The News-Leader contacted NEA Full Spectrum for a comment but did not hear back by press deadline. Porsha Riley, public information officer for Oklahoma's Medical Marijuana Authority, said it is still too early to determine how Missouri's legalization of recreational marijuana is impacting Oklahoma's industry. How are bordering states enforcing public safety? For the most part, monitoring for impaired drivers or drivers in possession of marijuana purchased out of state has not changed much, according to public safety agencies in some of Missouri's neighboring states. Kansas Highway Patrol Public Information Officer Lt. Candice Breshears said the agency pays attention when bordering states legalize marijuana, but business continues as normal. The agency continues to provide its troopers and officers with the "most current and reliable methods" for identifying and apprehending impaired drivers, she said. More: Marijuana microbusiness licenses will be available in July, earlier than planned The Kansas Department of Transportation, along with fellow departments of transportation in Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas and Missouri, participated in a 420 Enforcement Period from April 19-23, which is held each year. During this period, enforcement of marijuana impairment and possession is heightened. Iowa State Patrol Public Information Officer Sgt. Alex Dinkla said state patrol troopers are conducting routine patrol every day and if a trooper finds an individual in unlawful possession of marijuana, an arrest can be made. Dinkla did not indicate that the Iowa State Patrol has developed any new plans for handling marijuana exiting Missouri into its state. Iowa State Patrol Public Information Officer Sgt. Alex Dinkla said the State Patrol has not enforced any new plans for handling marijuana entering the state from Missouri. Nebraska State Patrol Public Relations Director Cody Thomas said no internal changes have been made there with regard to Missouri's legalization of recreational marijuana. He said the state typically sees marijuana coming into the state from the west, specifically from Colorado, California and Oregon. The News-Leader also reached out to the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and Arkansas Department of Public Safety for comment on any plans to enforce a stricter watch on marijuana exiting Missouri into their states. The News-Leader did not hear back from these departments by press deadline. What's the status of marijuana legislation in states bordering Missouri? Marijuana is legal in four states that border Missouri. Medical marijuana is legal in Iowa, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Recreational and medical marijuana is legal in Illinois. Marijuana policy varies in the eight states bordering Missouri. In Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee and Kentucky, all forms of marijuana remain illegal. Iowa, Arkansas and Oklahoma all allow some variation of medical marijuana, but how medical products are obtained and how much a patient can acquire differs. In Illinois, marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational use. Iowa Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services operates a medical cannabidiol program, allowing for the manufacture and sale of certain medical cannabis products. The program was established in 2018. Only certain forms of medical cannabidiol products are legal for consumption in Iowa. Flower and THC-infused gummies are now allowed, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Of the forms that are allowed (vaporizable, oral, topical, nebulizable inhaled and suppositories), there is not a product quantity possession limit for medical cannabidiol patients. In November 2022, Iowa's Medical Cannabidiol Board reported a total of 14,466 active medical cannabidiol cardholders. Five dispensaries and two manufacturers operate in Iowa. Iowa has a "drug stamp" tax of $5 per gram of processed marijuana. Proceeds from this tax go to the Iowa General Fund. Arkansas Arkansas's Department of Finance and Administration operates a Medical Marijuana Commission. Arkansas' medical marijuana program was approved by voters in November 2016, but the first dispensary did not open until May 2019. Arkansas' marijuana legislation sets a cap of 40 dispensaries and eight cultivators in the state. Hardin said, as of Tuesday, 38 dispensary licenses and all eight cultivation licenses have been distributed. Arkansas' medical marijuana patients are limited to 2.5 ounces of product from a dispensary over a 14-day period, according to the Arkansas Department of Health. Arkansas collects a 6.5% sales tax and 4% privilege tax on marijuana products sold at dispensaries. The majority of this funding went to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock but will now, after recent legislation, be redirected to "ensuring students on free and reduced lunch continue to have access to these meals and creating more opportunities for medical residencies throughout the state," Hardin said. Oklahoma Oklahoma's medical marijuana program is operated by the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, established in June 2018. When marijuana legislation was first added to the state's constitution, caps on dispensary and cultivation licenses were not enforced. In addition to no licensing caps, commercial licenses for dispensaries and cultivators were only $2,500, making them quite accessible. As of Friday, April 21, there were 2,707 active dispensary licenses and 8,032 active cultivation licenses in Oklahoma, according to Riley. In an effort to better control the number of marijuana business licenses in the state, a moratorium on new marijuana licenses was instituted on Aug. 26, 2022. The moratorium is set to last two years. During this period, the state will not accept any new marijuana business license applications. Oklahoma's medical marijuana patients are limited to three ounces of product at a time, according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. Oklahoma collects a 4.5% tax on marijuana products. According to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, this funding goes back to the state government and city or county where the product was purchased, helping fund general state and municipal services like streets, public safety and education. Illinois Illinois is the only state that borders Missouri where both medical and recreational marijuana is legal. Illinois legalized recreational marijuana in June 2019. The state's program is managed by the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer. Illinois' legislation sets a state cap of 185 dispensaries and 30 cultivators. As of Thursday, 55 dispensaries are licensed to sell medical products and over 100 are licensed to sell recreational, according to the Illinois Cannabis Regulation Oversight Officer website. Illinois residents are limited to 30 grams of flower (about 1.05 ounces) and five grams of THC concentrate at once. This is about one-third of Missouri's possession limit, for reference. Out-of-state visitors are limited to 15 grams of flower and 2.5 grams of THC concentrate. Illinois taxes on marijuana products vary. According to the Illinois Department of Revenue, marijuana products (excluding marijuana-infused products) with a THC level at or below 35% are taxed at a rate of 10%. Products (excluding infused products) with a THC level above 35% are taxed at a rate of 25%. All marijuana-infused products, including edibles, are taxed at a rate of 20%. How does Missouri's marijuana legislation compare? Missouri voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November 2022 and products hit the market in February. Missouri's Department of Health and Senior Services oversees the state's Division of Cannabis Regulation. Missouri's law does not set a cap on the number of allocated dispensary and cultivation licenses. However, DHSS determined in the early days of implementing the state's medical marijuana program it would license the minimum required by the amendment, DHSS Communications Director Lisa Cox said. As of March 2, 2023, 195 dispensary licenses (both medical and comprehensive) have been approved by the DHSS. In Missouri, the legal limit for marijuana possession is three ounces of dried, unprocessed marijuana. More: Cities across Missouri approved a recreational marijuana sales tax. Will Springfield? Missouri levies a 6% sales tax on marijuana products and local entities are able to add up to an additional 3% tax within their borders. The state tax is distributed to DHSS, government entities responsible for expungement of criminal records, the Missouri Veterans Commission, agencies increasing access to drug addiction treatment and the Missouri public defender system. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri marijuana dispensaries see increase in out-of-state customers Chelsea Jovanovich waits with her husband, Jake, before undergoing uterine transplant surgery through Penn Medicine's Uterus Transplantation for Uterine Factor Infertility trial program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on Feb. 21, 2020. The transplant would give Jovanovich, who had been born without a fully functional uterus, a chance to carry her own children. Chelsea Jovanovich always wanted to be a mom, but for most of her life, that dream felt out of reach. At 15, Jovanovich learned she had been born without a fully functional uterus due to a rare congenital disorder known as Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser (MRKH) Syndrome. The condition, which affects about 1 out of every 4,500 individuals, makes it impossible to get pregnant or carry a child. Initially, she was devastated by the news. And when she reached her mid-20s, her sorrow only grew. The loss became more profound in my childbearing years, when my friends started getting married and having kids and going to baby showers, Jovanovich said. But in the summer of 2019, grief turned to hope when Jovanovich who lives in Billings, Montana, with her husband heard Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania was accepting applicants for its Uterus Transplantation for Uterine Factor Infertility (UNTIL) trial in Philadelphia. I was crying as I was filling out that application. I just thought I was grasping for straws. But lo and behold they contacted me two days later, she recalled. Following an extensive evaluation, Jovanovich was soon enrolled and by December, she was told they had found a match. Woman to woman, a uterus shared Cheryl Cichonski-Urban was a mother of two in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, who was inspired to apply by a news story about a woman who had donated her uterus in Texas. Something, fate, really drew me to this story, she said. Cheryl Cichonski-Urban, of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, gives a thumbs up the morning of her modified radical hysterectomy surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on Feb. 21, 2020. Cichonski-Urban, a mother of two, donated her uterus to give Chelsea Jovanovich a chance at starting her own family. On the day of the transplant, as Cichonski-Urban awaited surgery, she thought of the woman who would soon receive her uterus. I could only help but wonder who my recipient was, and how she was feeling. Without knowing or meeting her, I felt connected to her, she said. Nearby, Jovanovich also wondered. I knew going into this process, whoever this angel was, she was going to be a part of my life. I wanted to know her, I wanted to meet her and I wanted to thank her, she said. Story continues Penn's first living donor uterus transplant Prior to Jovanovichs procedure, the team had performed two successful uterine transplants using deceased donors. This would be Penn Medicines first living donor uterus transplant, said Dr. Kathleen ONeill, lead investigator for the trial. With a living donor, you have to be very mindful of two patients, not just the recipient," she said. Overall, ONeill said about 100 of these transplants have been done around the world, with the first performed in Sweden in 2014. Penn Medicine's trial began in late 2017. The surgery to remove Cichonski-Urbans uterus, called a modified radical hysterectomy, took 14 hours and involved a team of over 100. Chelsea Jovanovich recovers after undergoing a uterine transplant surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia on February 21, 2020. The uterus was transferred to Jovanovich, a procedure which lasted about 10 hours. They both woke up to learn the transplant had been successful. I was happy I got the uterus and the transplant worked, but I knew we had a long road to go. I never let my heart or mind say we were going to have a baby. I hoped it would work, but I never said it out loud, she recalled. 'Words can't even describe it' The next step of her journey would involve implanting one of her embryos. After an unsuccessful first attempt, Jovanovich became pregnant in October 2020. Throughout the pregnancy, Jovanovich and Cichonski-Urban contacted one another and stayed in touch before finally meeting at Jovanovich's maternity photo shoot. I wanted to meet the angel who gave me this opportunity to have a baby, Jovanovich said. I felt like I knew her forever. It wasnt like she was a stranger. I call her my soul sister. Chelsea Jovanovich, left, and Cheryl Cichonski-Urban meet for the first time during Jovanovich's maternity shoot, on May 16, 2021, outside Penn Commons on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia. Two days later, Jovanovich gave birth to her son, Telden, in May 2021. I felt like I was in a dream honestly. Words cant even describe it. I was a mom. There was this instant connection. I never knew you could love someone like that, said Jovanovich. Now, after giving birth to her second son, Stetson, last October, she only hopes her experience helps pave the way for others struggling to remain hopeful in the face of infertility. Never give up hope, she said. At 15 I was told Id never be able to carry my children. But I never gave up hope that I might be able to have children one day, she said. I just took a chance and here we are. Im very grateful for Cheryl, our family, our friends, God and Penn Medicine. Chelsea and Jake Jovanovich introduce their son, Teldon, to his new little brother, Stetson, on October 23, 2022. Penn Medicine restarting transplant program after pandemic Jovanovichs transplant was the last one performed by Penn Medicines team, with the pandemic bringing research elective procedures to a halt. But they are gearing up to start again this year. ONeill said shes hopeful the trial will need about another four years to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the program before it becomes a standard of care. Being involved in this has really just excited me in a whole new way about the possibilities in reproductive medicine, she said. I myself have experienced infertility and I try to talk about that because I want my patients to know that theyre not alone, shared ONeill said, adding that one out of six couples struggle with infertility. People who battle with infertility carry around these invisible scars. Theyre doing all this work and its not visible so its easy to turn a blind eye. Raising awareness will help people see its common and there are ways to battle this condition. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY NETWORK: Uterus transplant: Organ donation cures infertility, bonds two women Kerri Seekins-Crowe A Montana state lawmaker and sponsor of the states ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth has been blasted online after she commented on the states House floor in March that she would rather have her daughter be suicidal than allow her to transition. Though Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe, a Republican, didnt say that her daughter was transgender, she said she was one of those parents who lived with a daughter who was suicidal for three years. A video of her comments has gone viral after being shared by the Twitter account of the website The Intellectualist. The clip has been viewed more than 14 million times on Twitter. "One of the big issues that we have heard today and we've talked about lately is that without surgery the risk of suicide goes way up. Well, I am one of those parents who lived with a daughter who was suicidal for three years," Seekins-Crowe said in her speech. "Someone once asked me, 'Wouldn't I just do anything to help save her?' And I really had to think and the answer was, 'No.'" She added, "I was not going to give in to her emotional manipulation because she was incapable of making those decisions and I had to make those decisions for her. The GOP lawmaker went on to say that she wasnt going to let her daughter tear apart my family. And I was not going to let her tear apart me because I had to be strong for her, I had to have a vision for her life when she had none, was incapable of having none, she said. Seekins-Crowe continued that she had spent house on the floor in prayer because I didn't know that when I woke up if my daughter was going to be alive or not. But I knew that I had to make those right decisions for her so that she would have a precious, successful adulthood at that time." The lawmaker didn't respond to requests for comment from NBC News or the Daily Beast. \u201cMontana bill sponsor: I prefer my transgender daughter commit suicide rather than allow her to transition. - Rep. Kerri Seekins-Crowe (R) https://t.co/28e1aCWiR7\u201d The Intellectualist (@The Intellectualist) 1682619952 One user on Twiter said, "My gut tells me that the hours she spent in prayer could have been used to find her daughter real help." Story continues "Suicide as 'manipulation.' What a mother," another wrote. And another user replied, "Imagine believing this and then telling everyone." I vehemently disagree with this speech by GOP state rep Kerri Seekins-Crowe, U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, tweeted. But you know what she didnt say? That it should be the governments role to make personal decisions for families. Why is she now shoving her private decision down other peoples throats? The backlash for her comments comes after the states Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a law banning gender-affirming care. Gianfortes nonbinary gay son, David Gianforte, had spoken to local media about lobbying their father against signing the bill. It also comes after the states House voted to kick out transgender lawmaker Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat, for the remainder of the session. Zephyr, who is the states first trans lawmaker, can still vote virtually, but cannot participate in debate. She was punished after she told GOP colleagues that passing the gender-affirming care ban would leave them with blood on your hands. Since then, hundreds have come to Montanas House to protest Zephyrs treatment. With Gianforte signing the law, Montana joins over a dozen states that have also restricted gender-affirming health care for transgender minors. Major medical organizations approve and support such care for transgender youth. They say that restrictions on the care pose health risks, including the risk of suicide, to these youth. If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be, resources are available to help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 is for people of all ages and identities. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678. (This opinion article represents the collective viewpoint of the Akron Beacon Journals Editorial Board, which includes two editors and four community members.) We can all agree Jayland Walker should be alive today. Well never know why the 25-year-old Black man grieving the death of his fiancee did not stop for police or what would have happened if events had played out differently, including a Taser barb landing on him rather than his clothing. But we hope most people understand the painful reality that Walker's behavior played a role in his death by speeding away from Akron police, firing a shot during a chase and failing to follow police orders last June. Thats essentially the conclusion a special Summit County grand jury reached April 17 by declining to file criminal charges against police officers who killed Walker. Its a decision we respect, given the evidence collected by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations independent probe and the laws of our land. But it doesnt mean people dont have a legitimate right to be angry about what happened and the state of policing in Akron and elsewhere. People are upset because Walker is one of so many Black men killed by police regardless of the circumstances. They rightly question why eight officers fired 94 shots in 6.7 seconds even if Walker made gestures suggesting he was reaching for a gun. They cant understand why the police union defended shooting Walker so many times six days after the tragedy and said officers followed their training. Perhaps police training of fire until the threat has been stopped, as officers told BCI, needs to be reexamined. We believe its possible to understand why officers used some level of force while questioning the wisdom of the massive police response. We also acknowledge we all know much more about what happened now than the officers did that awful night. They believed he had fired a shot during the chase, which BCI confirmed. I was fearful for my life: Akron officers who shot Jayland Walker explain why they fired Story continues A similar conclusion can be made about the April 19 protest blocking Copley Road. The illegal gathering was snarling traffic but peaceful until a phalanx of police arrived. While video that police released shows three objects thrown at officers, the mass deployment of tear gas and pepper spray seemed excessive and further harmed the departments image. The challenge now is moving forward with so many different opinions being voiced, from the Fraternal Order of Polices troubling avoid Akron Facebook comment to the activists who see civil disobedience as the only way to achieve change. As is usually the case in todays society, the truth is somewhere in the middle. U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Akron police in the wake of Walkers death and the April 19 incident, writing, The APDs use of force, opposition to transparency, and actions taken against citizens exercising their Constitutional right to protest suggest a culture unconducive to public safety. Such an investigation may be helpful and surely would be welcomed by police critics as an opportunity to get a third-party's expert analysis. It could validate police procedures and training or force meaningful changes more quickly than otherwise possible. The new voter-approved Citizens Police Oversight Board for Akron police also will add a layer of accountability and help shine a spotlight on complaints against police and is an improvement on the current ineffective police auditor role. But neither the DOJ nor new board will make any impact in the near future. Whoever wins Tuesdays Democratic primary for Akron mayor faces a tall task. Using the bully pulpit of the office, he or she must use facts to find the elusive middle ground of getting the police and community to work together and ensure Akron overcomes this awful tragedy by making life safer for everyone. There cant be another Jayland Walker. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: For Akrons future, there cant be another Jayland Walker tragedy A celebratory light show and video were projected on the University of Utahs historic Park Building at the culmination of festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah How do you say thank you for $3 billion in charitable giving? If youre University of Utah President Taylor Randall, you host an event that is part social hour and part tent revival capped with an impressive video/light show to celebrate the record amounts of giving to the states flagship university over the past eight years. The universitys just-concluded Imagine New Heights giving campaign raised $3 billion, outstripping the planned goal of $2 billion. Perhaps more remarkable is that the giving window overlapped the pandemic, which disrupted life worldwide. I want to say thank you, Randall told the audience, fighting back emotion. Not only only did the giving exceed the goal, it blew right past it, he said. Saturday night, the university invited donors and other distinguished Utahns to a gathering on the U. campus to celebrate the milestone and express gratitude for their contributions during festivities held in a tent erected on Presidents Circle. Its been pretty stunning. Those gifts range from $10 to well over $110 million. Whats amazing is, 147,000-plus specific donors, and over a third of those actually gave to student scholarships, Randall told the Deseret News in an interview prior to Saturdays event. Festivities included talks from students who are scholarship recipients, remarks by Randall and Vice President of University Advancement Heidi Woodbury, and the university marching band playing the U. fight song. That was followed by a light show/video projected on the historic Park Building, named for the University of Utahs first president, John R. Park. Instead of charitable giving contracting during the COVID-19 pandemic, many donors viewed philanthropy as an opportunity to help address pressing needs, such as making sure students educations were not disrupted, Randall said in an earlier interview. Others contributed to help support COVID-19 testing efforts, research tied to the coronavirus and to support businesses. Story continues A celebratory light show and video were projected on the University of Utahs historic Park Building at the culmination of festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah A celebratory light show and video were projected on the University of Utahs historic Park Building at the culmination of festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah A celebratory light show and video were projected on the University of Utahs historic Park Building at the culmination of festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah University of Utah President Taylor Randall addresses donors and Utah leaders during festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah University of Utah President Taylor Randall addresses donors and Utah leaders during festivities to celebrate the universitys just-completed Imagine New Heights giving campaign that raised $3 billion over eight years, on Saturday, April 29, 2023. | University of Utah One of the large grants we got was to support students who were not going to have internships. During that time, we started a program called the Hope Corps, which was actually internships for students who would go out and solve community needs during the COVID crisis. That was actually amazing, he said. When social distance guidelines made it impossible for large groups to gather on campus for performances, concerts or gallery strolls, one might assume that giving to the arts would suffer as a consequence. Not so, Randall said. I think the other really big thing that kept pieces of our campuses alive is massive donations to the arts, because as you know, it was a little difficult to convene. That was the great year of Zoom concerts and things like that, but still wasnt quite the same as being in person, he said. University officials also attribute the new milestone in giving to the states strong economy and growing population. The record $3 billion in giving may be unprecedented, but University of Utah alumni have long been generous in giving back to their alma mater, Randall said. One of Randalls earlier-announced goals is that the University of Utah become a top 10 public university with unsurpassed societal impact. As his presidency got underway in the fall of 2021, Randall discovered there was actually one metric that we were already top 10 and thats alumni giving. I think thats what you see in this amazing campaign, he said. The campaign began in 2014 and spanned the terms of former University of Utah presidents David Pershing and Ruth Watkins. Its initial $2 billion goal was a step up from the previous Together We Reach campaign, which raised $1.65 billion from 2005 to 2014. I do need to thank those presidents for doing the bulk of this. For some reason I get to take the credit, but I didnt do the major lifting here, Randall said. That said, Randall, the first U. alum to ascend to the presidency in 50 years, said he deeply enjoys fundraising. You get to match peoples dreams with these incredible needs that can impact lives, whether it be lives via research or lives via students, or the lives of faculty members. When you see that come together, its like a birthday every day. Its like giving gifts. Its really quite fun, he said. The Imagine New Heights campaign brought in nine of the 10 largest gifts ever given to the university. More than half of the total $1.65 billion is dedicated to health sciences while another $773 million will fund projects on main campus and $427 million supports community engagement efforts. First-year student Kieran Griffin reads in the courtyard of Kahlert Village at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Some of the major gifts include the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine Building; the Huntsman Mental Health Institute naming and research support; Ken Garff Red Zone; Gardner Commons the Carolyn and Kem Gardner Building; Kahlert Village student housing; the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital; Kahlert School of Computing; and the Price Computing Building and John and Marcia Price School of Engineering. Randall said some people give because they are grateful for the education they received at the U., which helped them launch successful careers or businesses. Others give because they or a family member has been affected by a particular disease or condition and they want to contribute to medical education and research. There are countless other personal connections that figure into the reasons people want to give to the university. Like the woman who left her home to the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute, which has helped the University of Utah become one of the leading institutions nationally for technology commercialization and top-ranked for entrepreneurship, and later Lassonde Studios, housing for student entrepreneurs. Both were a gift from U. alum Pierre Lassonde, who came to the university in 1971 to seek a masters in business administration. Born in Quebec, Lassonde knew little English. His wife, Claudette MacKay-Lassonde, who came to the U. to earn a masters degree in nuclear engineering, was similarly situated. They moved to Salt Lake City with only enough money to last them a few months and a significant language barrier. But they found people who advocated for them and helped them succeed. Both became highly successful professionals and philanthropists with Lassonde becoming one of the most famous gold investors in the world, and one of the biggest donors to the David Eccles School of Business. One such advocate, a woman who made sure Lassonde had a research assistantship so the young couple could pay the bills during their respective graduate studies, did them another kindness: She left her home to the Lassonde Institute. First-year students study in one of the community rooms of Kahlert Village at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Its that kind of just deep care that you see in people in their giving. Thats really pretty inspirational, Randall said. When people give to the university, its just tremendous to feel the support, Randall said. But it also makes you realize what you now have to do to move this university further into the future, he said. Almost all of these are investments into the future, whether its support for programs and research, scholarships or facilities, he said. Its really taken us from a good state university to an excellent state university, and now to national university. We will be transforming this campus because of where this campaign took us, Randall said. Related Some of that work is underway as the university works toward a goal of 5,000 units of student housing within five years to transform what has traditionally been a commuter campus into a campus community. In the coming years, another 50 acres of campus-adjacent land will become available once Fort Douglas is fully relocated. While Saturdays event is a celebration of the success of the Imagine New Heights campaign, for Randall it is also an opportunity to express thanks for the gifts to and for the university. The important thing right now is to express gratitude. The fun part about this celebration is weve just been able to look back and document what so many of these guests have done to transform the lives of people here in the state. The mural was previously displayed in the Cardiff Museum as part of its 'Protest' exhibition A mural created by the 'Scottish Banksy' is being shown on the site of the dispute that inspired the piece. The Rebel Bear's artwork depicts Cerys Gemma, a disabled woman who is trying to overturn parking charges for using disabled spaces outside her flat in Grangetown, Cardiff. It first appeared on Ferry Road in July 2020 and will now be shown at Blackwater Gallery at Prospect Place. Ms Gemma said the move was a "powerful" statement. Like Banksy, the Rebel Bear's identity is a mystery. They reportedly paint while dressed in a bear costume. Ms Gemma has been given parking fines of more than 1,000 The mural, which the artist said was inspired by Ms Gemma, shows her sitting in a wheelchair which has been clamped. Not long after it appeared on hoardings on Ferry Road, it was taken down by Cardiff Council to prevent it being vandalised. Blackwater Gallery worked with the council and Ms Gemma to secure the piece and will now show it until 2 June 2023 on the same site where Ms Gemma was originally fined. "The Blackwater Gallery has been incredible. I feel so supported by them," Ms Gemma said. "I think the power of them being situated on Prospect Place speaks louder than words. "I hope it continues to help raise awareness that the systems that discriminate against and disempower disabled people need to change." Ms Gemma said the artwork had been a "huge encouragement" in helping her get through the dispute, adding she felt "helpless" before the mural was created. Ms Gemma said she could not use the space allocated to her flat as there was not enough room for her to get in and out of her car Ms Gemma has been given parking fines of more than 1,000 by New Generation Parking Management. The Rebel Bear confirmed the artwork was in support of Ms Gemma and called it "another example of overly bureaucratic money-grabbing" by institutions of authority in an Instagram post. "When that happened, it was like 'oh my gosh, this person all the way up in Scotland has heard and has done something," Ms Gemma said. "I was very moved by it." Story continues Blackwater Gallery owner Jamie Aherne said: "When we were contacted by our local councillor telling us of Cerys' plight, we jumped at the opportunity to support this campaign. We are incredibly thankful to The Rebel Bear for allowing us to display this important work." Grangetown councillor Sara Robinson supported Ms Gemma in her dispute and led the campaign to preserve the artwork. "Cerys is brave and resilient, and it's been a privilege to be part of a dispute that I believe she should never have faced," she said. National Park Week 2023 started Earth Day and runs through April 30. It is a week to celebrate the natural treasures found throughout the United States. This week, FOX Weather took a closer look at what makes these parks so special. Here are seven facts about national parks: Currently, the United States has a total of 63 national parks. California now houses more national parks than any other state, with nine total parks. Thirty out of the 50 states have at least one national park. Two national parks in the Virgin Islands and American Samoa are in territories of the United States. A Joshua tree stands at Joshua Tree National Park. On July 10, 1913, a temperature of 134.1 F was recorded at Furnace Creek Ranch, California. Eighty-one years later, on October 31, 1994, Death Valley was established as a national park. Death Valley regularly sees triple-digit temperatures and boasts an average high of 117.4 F in July. Park staff takes pictures of a thermometer display showing 130 Degrees Fahrenheit (54 Degrees Celsius) at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center at Death Valley National Park on June 17, 2021, in Furnace Creek, California. Combined, the national parks account for about 52.5 million acres of land in the United States. Approximately 2.3% of all land in the United States belongs to a national park. THE TOP 10 MOST VISITED US NATIONAL PARKS AND MEMORIALS 2021 was a popular year for the national parks, with 92,251,857 visitors. That was a 35.8% increase over the previous year. Twenty-six of the 63 parks hosted over 1 million visitors. Hikers take pictures at the entrance of the famous Narrows hike in Zion National Park. President Woodrow Wilson created the National Park Service on Aug. 25, 1916; however, national parks predate NPS. In 1872, Yellowstone National Park was created by an act of the United States Congress under the direction of President Ulysses S. Grant. Yellowstone is one of 11 parks that predate the establishment of the National Parks Service. An aerial photograph of Excelsior Geyser and Grand Prismatic Spring in the Midway Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. In 1875, Mackinac National Park was established in Michigan. In 1895, the federal government returned the land to the state, and it exists today as Mackinac Island State Park. HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL PARK WEEK 2023 There are plenty of places to stretch your legs when visiting the national parks. If all the hiking trails were placed end to end, they could nearly circle the entire Earth. When Jack Teixeira was arrested for publishing top secret information onto a Discord channel devoted to gaming, it seemed like an open-and-shut case of a vainglorious loudmouth receiving his comeuppance. According to the Washington Posts account of the leaker prior to his arrest, there was no indication that he was acting in what he thought was the public interest by exposing official secrets. The classified documents were intended only to benefit his online family. When the Discord groups attention wandered from his postings, he got angry. One group member told the Post explicitly, I would definitely not call him a whistleblower. Some on the right had a different reaction. On Fox News, then-host Tucker Carlson blasted the arrest of Teixeira, stating, He revealed the crimes, therefore hes the criminal. Thats how Washington works. Telling the truth is the only real sin. Carlson also asserted, baselessly, that U.S. soldiers were currently fighting Russian soldiers, so perhaps his claims should be taken with a grain of salt. Still, he was not the only defender of Teixeiras actions. Far-right British activist Raheem Kassan asked why he was being prosecuted when whistleblower Alex Vindman was walking around free. And hard-line GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene really went there, positing that the Massachusetts Air Guardsman was arrested because Jake Teixeira is white, male, christian, and anti-war. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime. That anyone tried to paint Teixeira as a whistleblower hints at the degree to which national security leaks can become political Rorschach tests inevitably interpreted through ones partisan or ideological lens. A decade ago, it was Republicans who blasted Edward Snowden while some on the left defended his actions. After those leaks, GOP House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon said, Mr. Snowden was no whistleblower, but a spy and a traitor [who] put his personal politics and ambitions over the safety and well-being of his fellow citizens. Democratic members of Congress, including Rep. John Conyers and Sen. Chris Coons, pushed back, arguing that Snowdens revelations triggered a useful debate about the tradeoffs between liberty and security. Story continues Still, even in todays polarized atmosphere, partisanship alone does not explain the reaction to every leak. National security is one area where the ideological extremes of both parties often meet, with the far-left and far-right valorizing leakers because they view them as victims of a system they do not trust. A further complication is that by their very nature, whistleblowers are often contrarian, cantankerous and self-righteous and that automatically makes them polarizing figures. The Teixeira episode underscores the limits of seeing partisanship as the key factor in explaining the political response to leaks: Most Republicans were quick to distance themselves from Greenes comments, including some who wholeheartedly share Greenes skepticism about the war in Ukraine. And while some Democrats defended Snowden, many others signed on to bipartisan letters condemning the national security leaks. The Obama administration did its darnedest to prosecute Snowden. The partisan politics of national security whistleblowing are also muddied by the fact that whatever is being leaked often implicates both parties. In the case of Snowden, for example, the NSA programs and surveillance he disclosed had their origins in the Bush administration but continued under Barack Obama. Chelsea Mannings document dump covered multiple administrations. Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers when Richard Nixon was president but the documents he provided to the New York Times and Washington Post implicated the Kennedy and Johnson administrations policies in Vietnam. In some cases, whistleblowers reveal conduct that has nothing to do with the party in power and everything to do with the flawed standard operating procedures of the national security bureaucracies in Teixeiras case, how in the hell he got a security clearance in the first place. In such circumstances, the opposition party always has an incentive to attack the current administration for lax national security safeguards, making it more difficult for those politicians to simultaneously express sympathy with the intent of the leaker. Another reason the partisan framing does not explain everything is that there are legitimate debates within each party about the power vested in the national security establishment. Progressives on the left and libertarians on the right fundamentally disagree on the states role in regulating the market. When it comes to national security, however, they are in lockstep opposition to an expansive national security state. That holds with particular force in the case of whistleblowers. Ellsberg and Snowden acted as they did because they believed the government was either lying to the American people or engaging in activities that stretched federal authority beyond what was publicly known. Progressives and libertarians also share a belief in the overclassification of information. Even though Teixeira revealed sources and methods in his postings, it may be awkward for Republicans to criticize his actions while defending Donald Trumps post-presidential possession of classified documents. Perhaps the most important complicating factor is that when one individual is responsible for the leaks, that person defines the narrative for good or ill. Whistleblowers can be a difficult group to like; many Americans will find it wrong when someone with top secret information turns on the organization that trusted them. As one scholarly analysis of the phenomenon acknowledged, Even when the actions of whistleblowers are subjectively motivated by moral concerns, they may be perceived by others as ill-considered and as having immoral (or at least problematic) side effects. Furthermore, an awful lot of the people who leak wind up being something less than the heroic martyr that some imagine them to be. Mark Felt, the high-ranking FBI official dubbed Deep Throat during Watergate, did not leak information to Bob Woodward out of the goodness of his heart it was part of a self-serving (and unsuccessful) plan to become the next FBI director. As one biographer put it: Felt didnt help the media for the good of the country, he used the media in service of his own ambition. Edward Snowden, now a Russian citizen, has been mostly silent about that countrys brutal invasion of Ukraine even as he criticized the Biden administration for wanting to regulate cryptocurrencies. Teixeira leaked information to multiple Discord groups to gain attention from others, not for any ideological or policy reason. He also trafficked in racial and antisemitic slurs on those channels. It is also the case that sometimes the content of the leaks is interpreted differently from what the leaker intended or outside observers expected. Wikileaks Cablegate was supposed to be an expose of perfidious U.S. foreign policy behavior; mostly it revealed that U.S. diplomats were saying the same things in private that they were saying in public. Similarly, Teixeiras leaks have publicized diplomatic initiatives and security assessments that the Biden administration wanted kept secret. Contrary to the claims of Carlson and Greene, however, there is little that is new in these leaks about the war in Ukraine. If there is a pattern, it might be that more conservative leakers act out of a sense of personal ambition and more liberal leakers do so out of a sense of indignation. But the political reaction to any leak is a combination of partisanship, ideology and the inherent fact that not all leakers are selfless whistleblowers. An Armed Forces Career Center, in Fountain, Colo., on July 4, 2022. (Michael Ciaglo/The New York Times) Not long ago, urinating in a cup for a drug test was a widely accepted, if annoying, requirement to start a new job. The legalization of marijuana in more and more states in recent years upended that, prompting many employers to shelve hiring rules from the Just Say No era. There was a major holdout: the federal government, by far the nations largest employer. But now, it too is significantly relaxing drug screening rules as agencies struggle to replenish the ranks of a rapidly aging workforce in a tight job market. During the past five years, the U.S. military gave more than 3,400 new recruits who failed a drug test on their first day a grace period to try again, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. Agencies like the CIA and the FBI have adopted more lenient rules regarding past use of marijuana among job candidates, officials acknowledge. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times And later this year, the Biden administration is expected to take another major step, scaling back how deeply the government delves into the drug histories of people applying for a security clearance. Polls show that more than half of Americans have used marijuana recreationally or medicinally and that a majority believe it should be legal. Medical cannabis use is legal in 38 states and the District of Columbia. Recreational marijuana is lawful in 22 states as well as the nations capital but remains illegal under federal law. We dont want to be disqualifying half of the population, tens of millions of people, for having done something that most of our recent presidents have done, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who has introduced legislation that would deem marijuana use immaterial in security clearance reviews required for many federal jobs. Youre taking huge numbers of people off the field. Once hired, federal employees remain barred from using drugs including marijuana, even in states that have legalized it. And while there is broad support for more permissive hiring policies regarding past marijuana use, the shifting rules have critics. Story continues When Gen. David H. Berger became the commandant of the Marine Corps in 2019, he expressed concern about how prevalent drug use had become among Marines. I remain troubled by the extent to which drug abuse is a characteristic of new recruits, and the fact the vast majority of recruits require drug waivers for enlistment, he wrote in a report on the state of the Marine Corps. The Marines declined to provide specific data on drug waivers for enlistment. Until recently, admitting recent drug use was disqualifying for many roles. But even some of the governments most selective agencies have loosened their rules as part of a patchwork of policies that have gone largely unnoticed outside of the federal government. The CIA, for instance, began telling applicants in April 2022 that they needed to refrain from using marijuana for just 90 days before submitting an application, shortening its previous one-year eligibility requirement. In 2021, the FBI reduced its marijuana abstention requirement for those seeking employment to one year from three. In December 2021, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, issued a memo stating that past recreational marijuana use ought to be regarded as relevant, but not determinative, in deciding a persons suitability for sensitive national security work. And late last year, at the urging of senior national security officials, the Office of Personnel Management put forward a proposed overhaul of the security clearance vetting process that would effectively stop regarding people who previously used marijuana as a security risk. Currently, people applying for a security clearance must disclose a detailed account of their use of illegal drugs during the past seven years. Background checks to issue security clearances explore whether an applicant has been truthful about drug use. Under the proposed new rules, the government would limit that time frame to five years for drugs other than marijuana, and applicants would be asked to disclose marijuana use only during the 90 days before they sought the job. The recent arrest of a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman accused of leaking classified documents has renewed debate in Congress about how the government protects its secrets. But officials said that case had not affected the proposed overhaul of the security clearance screening process regarding drug use histories. A senior intelligence official involved in personnel policies said the government is struggling to recruit people in their 20s as the unemployment rate is among the lowest it has been in half a century. The official, who declined to be quoted by name because the proposed changes in the government rules remain under review, said it had become clear that the intelligence community needed to adjust to a changing landscape as its employees grow older. The government competes for talent with the private sector, which often offers better salaries, more opportunities for remote work and, increasingly, a laissez-faire approach to drug use that doesnt affect job performance. Military recruiters ask prospective service members about their alcohol and drug use and are instructed to disqualify those with substance abuse problems current or past. A key hurdle comes when recruits take a drug test at a military entrance processing station as they officially join. For years, failing that test usually meant getting kicked out on Day 1. In 2022, 4,710 recruits failed their entry drug tests, a nearly 33% increase from 2020, according to military data. Between 2018 and 2022, the Army granted waivers to more than 3,300 recruits who failed a drug test or admitted past drug use that technically made them ineligible, according to Army data. The Army has historically been more lenient with waivers than the other services. The Navy, which had a zero-tolerance policy for those who failed an entry drug test, launched a pilot program in 2021 that allowed recruits the chance to take a second test after 90 days. Over the past three years, the Navy said it has issued drug waivers to 1,375 recruits. We recognize that changes in state laws concerning marijuana around the country mean that a portion of our target demographic of 17- to 24-year-olds are more likely to have used THC, Cmdr. Dave Benham, a Navy spokesperson, said, referring to the active ingredient in marijuana. The Marine Corps and Air Force also recently began allowing recruits a second opportunity to take drug tests. Military officials said the policies should not be construed as a more permissive stance on drug use once people are in the service. Federal workers are subject to random drug tests, and individual agencies have significant leeway in how often they require them. Simply because we have a waiver process, were not lowering our qualifications, said Master Sgt. Brandon S. Reid of the Air Force, who oversees a team of recruiters in New York City. Reids team recently allowed a highly qualified recruit who had signed up for a hard-to-fill mechanic role to take a second test after he failed a first one. The recruit told Air Force officials that he had been in an unventilated basement with a friend who was smoking marijuana, an account that was deemed credible, Reid said, and the recruit passed the second test. It ended up being a win-win for the Air Force because we got a high-quality recruit who was motivated and honest throughout the process, he said. Since 2018, the vast majority of military recruits allowed to retake a drug test passed a second one, according to data from the military. Beth J. Asch, an economist at the RAND Corp., which conducts research for the Defense Department, said there was a common assumption that service members who enter the military after obtaining waivers are subpar recruits. But a 2021 study she led looking at the career outcomes of all soldiers who received waivers between 2001 and 2012 showed that those with a history of drug use performed no worse than their peers. Leaders in the military are well aware that legalization is happening and attitudes have become more tolerant, Asch said. My sense is they will try to take leniency to the extent they can while still being consistent with federal law. The governments focus on drug use in the federal workforce began during the Vietnam War amid concerns that heroin and marijuana use had become endemic among service members. A Pentagon health survey in 1980 showed that more than 27% of service members disclosed having used illegal drugs within the previous 30 days. In the years that followed, President Ronald Reagan escalated the war against drugs that had been launched in the Nixon administration. A centerpiece was the Just Say No campaign, led by first lady Nancy Reagan. Banning drug use in the federal workforce was a key initiative. Federal employees who use illegal drugs, on or off duty, tend to be less productive, less reliable and prone to greater absenteeism than their fellow employees who do not use illegal drugs, Reagan wrote in a 1986 executive order that formally prohibited federal workers from using drugs. The private sector followed the governments lead. By 1990, nearly 46% of workplaces with more than 250 employees were drug testing workers, up from just under 32% in 1988, according to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Three decades on, the course has shifted: By 2021, only 16% of private sector employers were testing workers for narcotics or alcohol, a federal report showed. Large employers that have phased out drug testing include Apple and Amazon, which in 2021 said it made the decision based on national data showing that preemployment marijuana testing disproportionately impacts people of color and acts as a barrier to employment. (The New York Times stopped requiring drug tests as a condition for employment for many jobs more than five years ago.) Gary Hess, a former Marine officer from Louisiana, said that for most of his career, he felt drug use ought to be disqualifying for workers. His disdain for drug users was such that he fired a brother from a private sector job in 2010 for using cannabis. But a few years later, struggling with service-related chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, Hess said he turned to medicinal cannabis as a last resort. For me it became a performance enhancer, said Hess, who founded the Veterans Alliance for Holistic Alternatives, which provides veterans with information about treatments including cannabis and psychedelics. Hess said discussions about drug use in the national security field continued to overstate the dangers and overlook the therapeutic potential of some of these substances. They could achieve an incredible amount of resiliency in their workforce if they educated their communities about medical cannabis, he said. c.2023 The New York Times Company This is precisely the moment John Tavares envisioned when he signed with his boyhood Toronto Maple Leafs on Canada Day during the summer of 2018. After a 19-year drought, the Maple Leafs are off to the second round of the playoffs; the curse that has plagued the seven-year iteration of the franchise defined by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Tavares is now over. Tavares scored the overtime winner to eliminate the three-time conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning and Torontos usually stoic captain erupted after his shot hit Darren Raddyshs skates and trickled over the line for the 2-1 franchise-altering goal. THE PASSION BABY!!!!! pic.twitter.com/V5bfoFgExa Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) April 30, 2023 The prospect of seven consecutive first-round losses would be unbearable, it would have consequences that would ripple through the Maple Leafs organization and Tavares, who had bore witness to four consecutive exits in the early days of spring, sent his hands into the sky as if to thank a higher power for finally breaking through the wall. 19 years in the making The Leafs win a playoff round pic.twitter.com/QXeFZwxKXU Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 30, 2023 In some ways, this was Tavares destiny. The last time the Maple Leafs advanced, Tavares was a prodigy for the Greater Toronto Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlboros, a youth club that bears the same insignia as the AHLs Toronto Marlies, with dozens of players graduating from their ranks into the NHL. For the better part of two decades perhaps an indication of the depths that this hockey-mad country can reach Tavares has been pitted against his Lightning counterpart Steven Stamkos, both 1990-born former youth wunderkinds from the Greater Toronto Area who were taken first overall in their OHL and NHL draft years before making an instant impact in the NHL. Story continues Stamkos scored the game-tying goal Saturday, his biggest moment in a series where he was largely absent for his club, but his resume already includes two Stanley Cups and two Rocket Richard Trophies. At this moment, its now Tavares time to ascend beyond the pursuits of individual glory. It wasnt going to be easy for the Maple Leafs, it never is. Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe finally made the adjustments the entire city was begging for, replacing Justin Holl with Timothy Liljegren. Erik Gustafsson also joined Liljegren among Torontos seven-defensemen format, while Michael Bunting, whose three-game suspension at times felt like another bad omen, returned to the lineup and was one of Torontos best forwards. It paid off in subtle ways, if not on the scoresheet. Liljegren made the most of his ice time, facilitating clean exits while Bunting played like a wrecking ball albeit with discipline and almost willed his way into a goal during a game where both teams attempted, and often failed, to clog up the neutral zone. There are larger goals ahead but this is a cathartic moment for the core that includes Matthews, Marner, Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly. To the factions of the wide-spanning fan base that had grown cynical after six consecutive heartbreaks, the core wore the losses as a badge of demerit. Keefe on his group: Its been a long road. Theyve been through a lot of shit to get here; its about time a bounce went our way. David Alter (@dalter) April 30, 2023 Trying to figure out this iteration of the Maple Leafs was akin to staring into the sun: how could a team that routinely sported some of the best players in the NHL, a perennial 100-point plus threat in the vaunted Atlantic Division, continue to fail time after time? This year was bound to be different and the core four plus Rielly responded with their best performances as Maple Leafs. Marner, at the time of this filing, ranks second in points in these playoffs, Matthews teed up a brilliant all-around performance that included four blocked shots and 11 individual scoring chances with Game 6's opening goal, Rielly notched three goals and seven points in the series, including the Game 3 overtime winner, while Nylander, to the chagrin of uncles across southern Ontario, posted seven points in six games as well. Captain John Tavares (91) delivered the Leafs their first playoff series win since 2004. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) You cant say its the same old Maple Leafs if the players who have defined this era finally broke through against an opponent that is rightfully the class of the conference. Theres a narrative fallacy in trying to consider the 2022-23 Maple Leafs as the same old team from yesteryear. Matthew Knies, the 20-year-old rookie revelation, was two years away from making his junior hockey debut when the Maple Leafs started on this quest. Trade deadline acquisitions Ryan OReilly, Noel Acciari, Jake McCabe, Sam Lafferty, Luke Schenn and Gustafsson had nothing to do with the failures of the past. Calle Jarnkrok signed up to be a bottom-pair winger this year and played the best hockey of his career with the Maple Leafs. Ilya Samsonov signed a one-year, show-me deal and provided the Maple Leafs with the requisite level of goaltending to get the franchise over the proverbial hump. If nearly half the team wasnt around for the past agonies, can you really call them the same old Maple Leafs? Samsonov was outstanding in Game 6 and though neither starting goaltender was at their best for large parts of the series, the 26-year-old outdueled all-world keeper Andrei Vasilevskiy, who quietly submitted the worst playoff performance of his career. The logic entering the series dictated that the Maple Leafs had better forwards, better defensemen and better depth, but Tampa Bays institutional knowledge and superior goaltending would turn this into a classic matchup. Instead, Samsonov was marginally better than Vasilevskiy, and sometimes winning in the margins is the difference. And now that the Maple Leafs have won a round, why not four? They will play the winner of the Boston Bruins-Florida Panthers series and if the latter emerges, Toronto will be considered the favourite. If the 65-win Bruins win Game 7, thats the next major challenge standing in the way. The crushing weight of trying to appease a frothing fan base hungry for a taste of playoff success is a larger barrier than the challenge the Bruins would pose. Toronto has won one round. Why not four? Its time to start dreaming. Pat Cullen, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nurses joins nurses outside the High Court in London. (Getty Images) A nurses' strike beginning at 8pm on Sunday is "the most worrying so far" and could lead to "increased risk to patients", NHS leaders have warned. Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) union will walk out until 11.59pm on Monday after voting to reject the government's latest pay offer. This will be the first time that nurses will be walking out of critical services including intensive care, prompting fears that hospital wards will become overwhelmed and that patients will be put at risk. Some NHS trusts have been granted local exemptions, allowing them to receive emergency staff, but many others are worried about inadequate staffing levels. This includes Great Ormond Street Hospital after it expressed "serious concerns" about strike impact and declared an official "incident". Read more: Arcturus COVID variant shows threat of new wave of death, warns WHO The High Court ruled that the nurses strike could not lawfully carry on throughout Tuesday as originally planned. (Getty Images) Health secretary Steve Barclay said the lack of national exemptions "risks patient safety", adding: "These strikes will put more pressure on the NHS and will be incredibly disruptive for patients." Julian Hartley, from NHS Providers, which represents health managers, said the latest round of strikes is "the most worrying so far". "Some say they are struggling to find enough staff for specialist areas including children's services," he said. "Trust leaders and staff will do everything they can to minimise disruption and keep patients safe but it's piling on the pressure on an overstretched NHS now into its sixth consecutive month of industrial action. "That's resulted in more than 531,000 appointments and procedures being rescheduled not just in hospitals but across mental health and community services too." Read more: Nurses strikes cut short after High Court rules part of it unlawful The RCN has said it has done everything it can to ensure patient safety. (Getty Images) Nick Hulme, chief executive of the East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, told BBC Breakfast: "I am concerned. I'm sure that we will be able to provide safe services - the public can be assured that they'll be safe - but there will be significant disruption." Story continues Despite the concerns, RCN general secretary Pat Cullen has said nurses have worked "tirelessly" with NHS England to make sure the strike is safe for patients. On Sunday, she rejected the health secretary's claims and insisted there were some national exemptions in place for "those really acute urgent services". Read more: Train drivers union boss hits out over criticism of strike on eve of Eurovision Nurses argue patient safety is at risk already due to inadequate staffing levels. (Getty Images) She argued that patients' lives were already at risk in the health service due to chronic staffing shortages - one of the main reasons nurses are striking in the first place. They're going on strike because patients' lives are being put at risk every single day, Cullen told Sky News's Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme. And why? Because we have tens of thousands of vacant nursing posts. Read more: Mum who 'sees 10 mice a day' in her infested flat is at breaking point Nurses make up a quarter of NHS staff and are the biggest proportion of the health service workforce. NHS England warned that staffing levels for some areas of the country will be "exceptionally low, lower than on previous strike days". It added the number of rescheduled appointments due to strike action is set to hit half a million next week. On Thursday, a High Court judge ruled it would be unlawful for the RCN strike to continue into Tuesday as originally planned, which is why it is now ending just before midnight on Monday. By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea criticised a recent U.S-South Korea agreement to bolster the deployment of American strategic assets in the region for escalating tension to the "brink of a nuclear war," state media KCNA said on Monday. U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a summit last week, during which Biden pledged to give Seoul more insight into its nuclear planning over any conflict with North Korea as anxiety grows over Pyongyang's weapons programmes and the American nuclear umbrella. Both leaders agreed to strengthen South Korea's defences and regularly deploy U.S. strategic assets. As part of the efforts, a U.S. Navy nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine will visit South Korea for the first time since the 1980s. KCNA said the agreement stipulated the allies' willingness to take "the most hostile and aggressive action" against North Korea, citing Choe Ju Hyon, whom it described as an international security analyst. The stationing of American strategic assets has placed the situation of the Korean peninsula in a "quagmire of instability," and was intended to build "aggressive and exclusive military blocs" in the region, it said. "It is just aimed to dodge the responsibility for the worst-ever nuclear-related crimes it has committed by systematically destroying and violating the nuclear non-proliferation system, and in particular, pushing the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war," KCNA said. "It is the hegemonic sinister aim pursued by the U.S. to turn the whole of South Korea into its biggest nuclear war outpost in the Far East and effectively use it for attaining its strategy for dominating the world." Pyongyang has reacted angrily to the Yoon-Biden summit, saying it consolidated its conviction to perfect its "nuclear war deterrent." (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Richard Chang) As we assess what allyship should look like, we must prioritize decolonizing our faith to ensure our documented history and stories are told. Notes on faith is theGrios inspirational, interdenominational series featuring Black thought leaders across faiths. Aint gonna let nobody turn me round, turn me round, turn me round, Aint gonna let nobody turn me round Im gonna keep on a walkin, keep on a-talkin, Marching up to freedom land. Recently, Tennessee State Representative Gloria Johnson posted a video of herself to social media, singing a beloved freedom song entitled Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round at a celebration in Knoxville. She was encircled by white women peers who seemed familiar with the song, clapping along and smiling as they looked into her camera phone and at each other. Saying they were channeling, Johnson misattributed the song to recording artist Joan Baez, an American folk musician and activist of mixed Mexican and Scottish ancestry who recorded it in 1976. Photo: AdobeStock Coincidentally, Baezs voice had been amplified as a voice of freedom just a week or so earlier. Video circulated of Rep. Justin Jones singing another freedom song, We Shall Overcome, with Baez in the airport, shortly after he and Rep. Justin Pearson were expelled from the Tennessee House for protesting in the well of the legislature. As previously reported by theGrio, Reps. Jones, Pearson, and Gloria Johnson protested lawmakers inaction in response to a local mass shooting; ultimately, the two Black men were expelled. Johnson, a white woman, was not, later commenting that the vote went in her favor because of racism among their colleagues. The tensions surrounding the incident drove home the racial divides that persist in states like Tennessee and highlighted the privileges afforded white allies, even when unintentional. As in that nod to Baez, this is what cultural erasure sounds like. While Baez recorded a popular rendition, the original song, Dont You Let Nobody Turn You Around, is a traditional Negro spiritual we can hear in Freedom Rider and SNCC recordings captured decades prior and curated by Dr. Berniece Johnson Reagon for the Smithsonian. Throughout the civil rights movement, Baez, Bob Dylan, and other non-Black musicians were inspired by the African-American voices of their time to record songs supporting the struggle. However, specificity about the origins of this and other songs is crucial in making social justice meaningful in allyship. Story continues Oft-repeated misattribution in the name of performing social justice is precisely why we must prioritize decolonizing our faith. By decolonizing our faith, we let go of colonial control as we unify with our communities and practice our faiths. We are calling attention (and intention) that our documented history must inform allyship to ensure our stories are told, especially through one of our cultures most precious gifts to the world: our music. In the age of Black Lives Matter and in the state of Tennessee, where protesting is literally being criminalized, we have to be very clear about the ways in which we permit people to love and leverage our culture only when it is convenient or beneficial for that white ally. These observations cause us to question what the landscape of things is as we consider the text in Psalm 133:1: Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for sisters and brothers to dwell together in unity! Sometimes, the process of unifying can be clumsy and quite uncomfortable. That should not deter us from going on record or setting the record straight when needed. If anything, for the sake of holistic liberation, we must be accurate. The model of decolonizers Do not lose heart, brothers and sisters. Black Americans carry a legacy rooted in the African philosophy: I am because we are. Any struggle requires a collective press toward holistic liberation in which we all succeed. We recognize many have been in this fight. In the very same city from which Rep. Johnson hails is our hometown church of Mount Zion in Knoxville, Tenn., where our father, Rev. Dr. Johnnie W. Skinner, Sr., is currently senior pastor. Founded in 1860, about three years before Emancipation, enslaved and freed Black ancestors protested their treatment within the white-led congregation of First Baptist Church and formed their own congregation in response. They did not wait for permission to embrace their autonomy in freely worshiping; they created justice in unjust religious apartheid. The Black prophetic tradition speaks truth to power and does not separate faith and justice in how we do our work. Such work is not deterred by jeers or lukewarm support from people who are more invested in their comfort than progress. The undeterred Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman expressed a decolonized faith as she grasped justice in the unjust system of chattel slavery: Gods time is always near. He set the North Star in the heavens; He gave me the strength in my limbs; He meant I should be free. These voices are models of what it means to be undeterred and clear about the ways in which they uplift, amplify, liberate, and unify their kin. May we do the work of remembering our origins and keep focused on where we are going. Let us be proud to celebrate an undaunted faith heritage. Too often, faithful people rooted in Blackness are shamed for the uniqueness of uplifting how we got over. Be Black, proud, and prepared to reflect on the quality of alliance you will permit into your life. On some level, you will need to protect and reclaim your heritage as we pursue unity. And as we assess potential allies, we hope they will gravitate toward foundational understandings of the cultural expressions we hold dear, whether through music, dance, or even protest strategies that have sustained us. Dont let nobody turn you around in our quest to a freedom land where our entire legacy is remembered. Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones is a faith leader helping people find their groove in a fast-paced world, as a consultant for various arts and faith organizations and professor of music in contemporary societies at the University of Cambridge in England. She is an award-winning author of Flaming? The Peculiar Theopolitics of Fire and Desire in Black Male Gospel Performance (Oxford University Press). For more information, please visit DrAlisha.com. Rev. Calvin Taylor Skinner is dedicated to empowering frontline communities in Knoxville, TN and the United Kingdom. He uses Faith and Policy to address energy justice, criminal justice reform, voter education/mobilization, electoral politics, and global affairs. Along with his wife, Rev. Dr. Alisha Lola Jones, they lead InSight Initiative, a consulting firm that focuses on capacity building and live events production. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Notes on faith: How can we decolonize our faith? appeared first on TheGrio. Nicklaus Childrens Hospital is collaborating with Miami-Dade College (MDC) to offer a nurse scholarship program that provides financial assistance, while also supporting student engagement through supervised patient care experiences that can highlight the appeal and value of the nursing profession. What sets our program apart is the opportunity for students to serve as patient care interns, under the supervision of experienced nurses, while still at the associate degree level. It is our hope that participants see the impact that they can make as nurses and that this inspires them to pursue their education to completion, said Shannon Odell, Nicklaus Childrens vice president and chief nursing officer. Launched in the spring of 2023, the Nurse Scholars Program sponsored by Nicklaus Childrens is offered to students accepted to MDCs associate of science in the nursing program. Scholarships cover the cost of tuition, fees, books and other supplies for accepted students. The Nurse Scholars Program includes four semesters of classroom and student clinical experiences. The students also have the opportunity to be a part of the hospitals Student Nurse Intern Program, a paid employment opportunity through which the students are hired as care assistants for 12 hours per pay period or more, depending on preference. In addition, pediatric and practicum training experiences are completed at Nicklaus Childrens Hospital. Student nurse interns take an active role in patient care by supporting the registered nurses with tasks related to activities of daily living, obtaining vital signs or other duties as delegated by the supervising nurse. Nurses are essential to our mission of providing amazing patient care to the children and families we serve, said Odell. Its an honor for us to assist future nursing colleagues as they pursue their training and prepare for careers in this amazing profession. After completion of the program, eligible graduates may be offered employment in Nicklaus Childrens Horizon Nurse Residency Program and would fulfill a two-year commitment to the organization. The graduating nurse scholar is required to complete a bachelor of science in the nursing program after completion of the associates degree. Story continues Nicklaus Childrens Nurse Scholars Program is helping me to fulfill my dream of becoming a pediatric nurse, said participant Cristiane Avila. The scholarship allows me to devote myself to learning without the financial burden. As a nurse scholar, I have access to a wealth of resources and support that will help me grow both personally and professionally. The Nursing Scholars Program supports Nicklaus Childrens pipeline approach to hiring. Many Nicklaus Childrens employees join the organization after having previous experiences with the hospital through its robust volunteer, internship and clinical training programs. Many high school and college-age volunteers later become employees. In 2022, 668 individuals who created profiles in the health systems recruitment platform indicated they previously had been volunteers of the hospital. As our volunteer and training programs show, young people who are exposed to our culture through volunteer work or education later become interested in being part of our health system family, said Kara Marante, vice president and chief people officer. We are fortunate that our culture and commitment to serving children resonates with so many. This definitely contributes to our much lower than average nurse vacancy and turnover rates, she said. For more information, link to website www.nicklauschildrens.org/NursesScholars. Tammy Majid stood in the hallway of her burning Georgetown County home, fearful the last image shed have was her brother-in-law Joey Godwins profile illuminated by flames. I could see the glow on his face from the fire outside, Majid said Thursday as she navigated debris, broken glass and other painful reminders of what was lost in an April 8 blaze. Among that lost is family photos, hymnals, antique furniture, and pets. Authorities havent yet said what sparked the fire, but Majid and other home occupants believe it could have been from faulty wiring. But a quick-thinking rookie Myrtle Beach firefighter is refusing to let tragedy be the only tale for the family. Nathan Ellis pulled Majid and three others to safety through a back window of their 13506 Browns Ferry Road home that he punched out with bare hands. He did it while he was off duty and with none of the safety gear he dons on the job. He was celebrating Easter dinner at the home of grandparents-in-law, who live directly across the street. I know God was in it every step of the way, just in the way things worked out. I think He used my training, but I know God was with me every step of the way and directed my path to this family, Ellis said April 26. The 35-year-old Marine Corps veteran was bestowed a valor commendation by the Myrtle Beach Fire Department on April 25, the agencys highest honor reserved for acts of bravery that go above and beyond the call of duty. Ellis joined the force full-time last May. Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune congratulates city firefighter Nathan Ellis on April 25, 2023 after he was awarded a valor commendation for saving four people from a burning Georgetown County home April 8 while off duty. He and his wife, Ashley, have stayed close to the family Ellis saved. For Ellis, firefighting is an extension of his ministry work Ellis, who left the ministry full-time to pursue a firefighting career, isnt comfortable with being called a hero. He even went back to work days after the rescue and never brought it up. At the end of the day, I think why God blessed me not necessarily as a great firefighter but as somebody who is willing to help people is because Ive experienced His love, and it compels me to want to help others in the same way, he said. Story continues Fire Chief Tom Gwyer said during an April 25 city council meeting he only learned of Ellis actions through Georgetown County officials. Without (Ellis) help, it is likely the loss of life could have been a reality of the incident. Firefighter Ellis quick thinking and dedication to the fire service is a true example of the Myrtle Beach Fire Departments motto of Earn it, Georgetown County Fire EMS Lt. William Shultzaberger wrote in a letter to Gwyer. It was around 2 p.m. when Ellis noticed a plume of smoke rising from the Browns Ferry Roadhouse. He dashed across the front yard of his wife Ashleys grandparents house, avoiding an electrified deer fence rimming the property. After discovering the homes locked front door, Ellis returned to find a boarded-up window. He punched out the glass, tore down the plywood and crawled down a hallway thick with smoke. I remember asking multiple times, wheres the fire department, does anybody have them on the line, Ellis said. Adrenalines pumping so fast and there were rounds going off inside the house. After we got everybody out of the house, we kind of had to get people back. After finding two people and leading them back out the window, they told him others were inside. Hes at that decision that no firefighter ever has to make: Do I continue, or do a I turn around knowing that theres somebody in there and you pretty much seal their fate, Gwyer said April 25. Nate hangs tough. Godwin was one of the first people inside the house pulled to safety. Majids daughter Savannah, 17, rushed to the house from work, knowing her mother was out but unsure about the rest of her family. She didnt even know we was out of there and she got terrified, Godwin said. I dont think we would have got out if that man hadnt been there. Once Ellis knew nobody else was in the house, he stayed back to help Georgetown firefighters run a water supply and set up a perimeter. The Ellises then provided the displaced residents lunch. If the story ended there, it would have been enough for Tammy Majid and her family to know Ellis was their guardian angel. A friendship forged from tragedy In the three weeks since his rescue, Ellis and his wife have coordinated relief efforts for the family, from offering prayer to helping raise money and supplies. Godwins daughter Danielle Moore launched a GoFundMe page with a goal of $150,000. As of April 28, just more than $5,100 has been collected. As Majid walked the scorched remains of the house thats been in her family for three generations, she bent down to pour food for several outdoor cats that live on the property. The animals rubbed against her legs and exchanged meows as they ate. Majid said she got comfort knowing theyre safe, but the fire took the lives of her beloved dogs Ben and Oreo, while several other cats and a rabbit are presumed dead. Shortly after the fire, neighbors buried the dogs in the front yard, putting up a small white cross. Hymnals and family pictures including several with the pets were visible through what remained of the house. Majid and her family were able to salvage a few things, storing them in a vehicle on site until they get settled. A stack of family photo albums are in the back seat. From underneath a pile of pots and pans Majid pulled out a Bible, the edge of its pages blackened and turned upward though legible. Godwins dog Jack was pulled to safety but has a permanent scar on his neck from where a collar melted into his skin. Heartbreaking, yes, Majid said. But also an example of her communitys willingness to rally around her family in a time of need. We appreciate everything that people are doing for us. We lost our little animals, we dont have our furry babies with us. There are so many memories in that house, and it hurts so bad that we lost it. We worry every day where were going to go, Majid said. Its been a nightmare for me, it really has. We just want a home. As for Ellis recognition, Majid said her family was unaware it was happening but were grateful to Myrtle Beach officials for rewarding his heroism. I thank everybody for doing that for him because we wanted to honor him ourselves but we didnt know how do it, she said. But when that came up I was like, oh my God, I cant believe they did that for him. WAYNE, W.Va. (AP) The partial collapse of a press box floor at a school softball tournament in West Virginia sent nine people to hospitals over the weekend, but none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, authorities said. Superintendent of Wayne County Schools Todd Alexander told broadcast outlet WCHS-TV that six students and three adults were taken for medical attention after Saturday's collapse though none appear to be in danger. Looks like everyones going to be fine, Alexander said without elaborating on the extent of the injuries. Were extremely grateful for that. Five people were inside the press box at Wayne County High School when the floor gave way while several others were beneath it on Saturday, the county school district said in a statement. A middle school softball tournament was being held at the time, according to reports. Alexander told the news outlet that the collapse is under investigation, and inspectors are expected to examine the site on Monday. Wayne is in southwestern West Virginia, about 165 miles (260 kilometers) southeast of Cincinnati. Dmytro Lubinets, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, advises Ukrainians in the occupied territories to either take Russian passports in order to survive, or flee the occupied territory in any way they can. Source: Lubinets on the national joint 24/7 newscast Details: The ombudsman expressed the opinion that the decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin, which permits the deportation of Ukrainians who do not accept Russian passports from occupied territories, "is not aimed at deporting Ukrainians", but at legalising forced passportisation. Quote from Lubinets: "In fact, I think that all Ukrainian citizens who refuse a Russian passport will simply be arrested. And this will form a separate category of civilian hostages that the Russian Federation will hold captive, either imprisoned on its territory or in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. I would advise you to accept a Russian passport and make the decision for yourself to survive. This is the most important thing. We understand that this is happening under pressure, under physical pressure. So take your passport, survive, and wait for us to liberate this territory. After that, the relevant law is now being worked out, those citizens will be able to officially abandon this passport and return to normal life. Or make a decision for yourself and leave your territory in any way possible, through Ukrainian territory or that of other countries, but just leave. We understand that it has become a matter of survival in your territory." More details: Lubinets stressed that Ukraine does not deem accepting a Russian passport to be "an element of the commission of a crime by our citizens." "We have heard people saying that anyone who has accepted a Russian passport in the temporarily occupied territory, we should apply some levers of influence to them, possibly even of a criminal nature. I am absolutely against that. Our citizens do this in order to survive. It is another matter if someone takes part in this directly, organises this process," he said. Background: Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has signed into law a decree allowing residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine who have not obtained Russian citizenship to be deported. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A couple sleeps on the street in downtown Portland. Ted S. Warren/AP Oregon lawmakers have proposed a bill to decriminalize homeless encampments. The Right to Rest Act would allow the unhoused to sue if they are harassed while camped in public spaces. Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the country. Oregon lawmakers have proposed a bill that would decriminalize homeless camps and allow unhoused people to sue if they are forced to leave. The Right to Rest Act, or HB 3501, is sponsored by Democrats Rep. Farrah Chaichi and Rep. Khanh Pham and will be debated during a hearing next week. If passed, the bill would grant unhoused parties the right to sue for up to $1,000 if they are harassed, the Washington Examiner reported. "Decriminalization of rest allows local governments to redirect resources from local law enforcement activities to activities that address the root causes of homelessness and poverty," the bill says. Oregon has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the United States. The number of unhoused people in the state rose by 23% between 2020 and 2022, according to The Oregonian, far higher than the national average. A shortage of housing, as well as the high cost of what little housing there is, is a major factor in the rise in homelessness. The bill also blames a "disintegrating social safety net." The ongoing crisis has been the subject of heated debate in the state, particularly in Portland. Some residents complain that the homeless population is driving up crime and some have even considered leaving the state, according to the Washington Examiner. A number of residents have expressed their opposition to the bill. "It makes you not feel that great about living here. It makes living in the neighborhood harder, not as congenial as it could be," a Portland resident who lives near a homeless encampment told the Examiner last year. "It's the first time in a long time that we've actually seriously thought about moving." Read the original article on Business Insider After the fire that broke out yesterday at an oil depot in occupied Sevastopol, rumours are spreading in the city about the failure of Russian air defence. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "The situation in temporarily occupied Sevastopol is restless. As a result of yesterday's large-scale fire that broke out at an oil depot near Kozacha Bay, 10 tanks containing oil products with a total capacity of about 40,000 tonnes were destroyed. In connection with this, panic rumours about the inability of Russian air defence to ensure the security of its own strategic facilities have spread in the city." Details: The General Staff states that due to this situation in temporarily occupied Crimea, "Russian servicemen have begun to write leave reports, indicating the places in continental Russia where they are spending their leave." The General Staff adds that the oil depot that was on fire was used to provide fuel to the ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which had been launching missile strikes on peaceful cities in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Eliza Anderson, Deseret News The word authenticity does not appear in scripture, but it is on a lot of peoples minds. Authenticity is popularly defined as the quality of genuineness of being what a person or thing is claimed to be. The early Christian text, the Didache, provides more than half a dozen keys whereby a saint may know a true from a false prophet. And when genuine is used in the New Testament, it is generally paired with love. Let your love be genuine, Paul tells the Romans. Legitimate prophets and genuine love. These seem to be the authenticity concerns of holy writ. So, how does authenticity relate to the self? Authentically you? Its common nowadays to hear contentions that a life of religious discipleship somehow threatens authenticity. At its core, that may seem to be the case. In Pauls writing to a small flock of believers in Thessalonica, in modern-day Greece, perhaps two decades after the death of Jesus, the introductory lines refer to those early Saints as Christian disciples were called in those times as persons who became imitators of us and the Lord. Yet again, imitation and authenticity seem to be opposites. The challenge to change ones inner nature, to conform ones aspirations and actions and thoughts to those of another, seems the absolute essence of inauthenticity. Is modeling our life on Christ mere conformity to an inherited religious model; or is it the deepest version of integrity of which we are capable? The science of imitation First, let us digress a moment into science, and what it tells us about imitation. We are biological entities, and like all other biological entities, we have inherited needs, appetites, inclinations and capacities some of which are unique to only the human species. Neuroscientist Michael Gazzaniga writes: Many people are watching for and testing for imitation in the natural world but have found little evidence of it, and the fact that when it has been found, it has been of limited scope, indicates that the ubiquitous and extensive imitation in the human world is very different. Story continues Here we find a direct engagement with our question: imitation in its human variety has something about it that differentiates it from mere brute animal mimicry. Simply put, our ability to teach and imitate in the deliberate ways that we do are distinctly human capacities. The philosopher and historian Rutger Bregman summarizes simply, The mental skill that most differentiates humans from other primates is social learning. Thankfully, we can deliberately select from the infinite array of human practices, and consciously work to convey those practices from writing to building aqueducts to worshipping the Divine to our children or our peers. Evolutionary biologist Joseph Henrich devotes an entire book to the uniqueness of the human capacity for social learning, whose fruit, he argues, is culture. He adds, Our brains are unique in their abilities to learn from others. Related What historians, biologists and neuroscientists are describing as a uniquely human gift is our ability to choose which models we will be influenced by, and what values we will choose to embrace. This may be news to cognitive science, but was understood well by the much maligned Pelagius, a fourth century critic of Augustine. Contrary to Augustines teachings, this man insisted we are not sinful by nature. Rather, we are essentially social: we become whoever we are largely through imitation. What futures will we choose to steer toward? What influences, words or actions of others will we decide to emulate, and which will we reject as unworthy of imitation? All this is possible precisely because imitation is one of those capacities that make us human. The delusion of uninfluenced action None of this, of course, is much celebrated in our broader culture today which often envisions ideal human autonomy as the unhindered pursuit of personal and therefore authentic aspirations constituting the free acting out of the true self. Yet, to imagine a capacity to act in an entirely spontaneous, self-directed way, untainted by external ideals or models, is a pipe dream. What would such an imagined life even look like? Perhaps, the wolf-child of legend? Such authenticity is not only an illusion; to sacrifice our capacity for imitation on the altar of an imagined autonomy would, once again, represent the loss of one of the most conspicuous markers of our humanity. Believing that we are eternally evolving beings, and involved in a mortal educative ascent rather than recuperation of a lost innocence, we might do well to consider that it is future possibilities, not an idealized self, that is at stake. Joseph Smith taught that All the minds and souls that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement. The curious word choice of susceptible points us toward this fact: we are subject to being enriched, ennobled, improved made more virtuous and wise and loving by the influences of those we choose to be influenced by. A wise fourth-century father saw this ongoing process as one in which the imitation of Christ is a blend of the freedom to become, and the responsibility to choose which models and influences will shape that becoming. Gregory of Nyssa taught that We are in some manner our own parents, giving birth to ourselves by our own free choice in accordance with whatever we wish to be molding ourselves to the teaching of virtue or vice. This freedom to choose, in the framework of discipleship, manifests as the choice to be attentive, to listen, to hearken, to receive. Uncompelled, free obedience All of this underscores the urgency of which external influences we choose as models. One word that Christianity often employs as code for the imitation of Christ is obedience. Obedience, like imitation, rubs against the grain of contemporary culture with connotations of authoritarianism, inauthenticity, robot-like conformity. But I have found, in this regard, the words of Timothy Radcliffe to be a powerful corrective to our cultural baggage about obedience. The obedience of faith, he writes, is more like listening expectantly to a Beethoven string quartet than to obeying a police officer. Its a response to the authority of its meaning. No one compels us to love the music of Beethoven or a sonnet by Shakespeare. If we are attentive and open, susceptible to its beauty and power, then we respond to its sway over us. It washes over us, draws us toward a recognition of the rightness of this experience so far beyond the cacophony of traffic or the tedium of our own voices. The parallel is not perfect but it is close. As believers, we are drawn to Christ to love and imitate and yes, obey, because his love is non-coercive, his tenderness matchless, his every interaction with his friends and strangers the ideal of how any one of us can be most fully alive and responsive in this world of human relationship. An earlier version of this article first appeared in Wayfare Magazine, as Beethoven & Jesus on Jan. 20, 2022 Terryl Givens is a Neal A. Maxwell Senior Research Fellow at Brigham Young University and the author of 17 books on Latter-day Saint teaching and history. (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's new proposal to the European Union, amid a glut of COVID-19 shots, includes a provision for member states to pay half price, or about 10 euros ($11), for each of about 70 million cancelled doses, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The revised contract would allow the EU to upgrade to newer vaccines tailored to any future COVID-19 variants, the report added, citing people close to negotiations. In January, Reuters reported talks between the EU and the two drugmakers aimed at reducing up to 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses Brussels has committed to buy this year in return for a higher price. The move comes as the bloc plans to revamp laws governing the $148 billion pharmaceuticals industry in the hope of reviving investment and boosting access to affordable drugs at a time when health budgets are drained by the costs of treating COVID-19. Pfizer declined to comment on the FT report but said discussions had been conducted 'in good faith by all parties' while partner BioNTech and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) did not respond to Reuters' requests for comments. ($1 = 0.9074 euros) (Reporting by Urvi Dugar in Bengaluru; Editing by Lincoln Feast and Elaine Hardcastle) Marcos begins his four-day trip with a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House President Ferdinand Marcos left Manila for a visit to the United States on Sunday, after the allies bolstered military cooperation in the South China Sea with their largest-ever drills and inked an agreement expanding US troops' access to bases in the Philippines. Manila and Washington recently agreed to expand their cooperation in "strategic areas" of the Philippines as they seek to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness in the region and its sweeping claims over disputed waters, small islands and shoals. Marcos's visit comes after the United States called on China to stop "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the contested South China Sea after a recent near-collision with a Philippine coast guard vessel. Marcos begins his four-day trip with a meeting with US President Joe Biden on Monday at the White House, which the Philippine leader described as "essential to advancing our national interest and strengthening that very important alliance". "We will reaffirm our commitment to fostering our long-standing alliance as an instrument of peace and as a catalyst of development in the Asia Pacific region," Marcos said in a pre-departure statement. Ahead of the visit, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller slammed China over the near-collision of one of its ships with a Philippine patrol boat a week ago, saying it was a reminder of Beijing's "harassment and intimidation" in the disputed waterway. "We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," he said in a statement, adding that any attack on Philippine armed forces would trigger a US response. Biden has been working to bolster relations with Asian allies as the US-Chinese relationship remains in a historically deep chill. The Philippines' proximity to key sea lanes and Taiwan gives it strategic importance. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, ignoring an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis. Story continues - A near-miss - On April 23, as a Philippine Coast Guard boat carrying journalists neared the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, a Chinese vessel more than twice its size sailed into its path. AFP journalists witnessed the incident from another Philippine boat less than a kilometre (0.6 miles) away. The first vessel's commanding officer said the Chinese ship came within 45 metres (50 yards) of his boat, and only quick actions avoided a collision. The Chinese foreign ministry said Friday that the Philippine boats had "intruded" without China's permission and called it a "premeditated and provocative action". Manila responded that "routine patrols in our own waters can be neither premeditated or provocative" and insisted the patrols would continue. Marcos has said he will not let China trample on the Philippines' rights in the sea, and has gravitated towards the United States as he seeks to strengthen defence ties. This month, the Philippines identified four military bases -- in addition to five existing sites -- to which US forces will have access, including one near the Spratly Islands. The allies also carried out their largest-ever military manoeuvres in recent weeks. This shift has alarmed China, which has accused Washington of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and Manila. - 'Ironclad commitment' - US-Philippine ties were badly frayed under Marcos's predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Marcos has sought to allay public fears that the alliance with the United States could bring the Philippines into a conflict if China were to invade Taiwan, which Beijing sees as its own territory to be reclaimed one day. Marcos has said he will speak with Biden about the "need to tone down the rhetoric" over the South China Sea, Taiwan and North Korea. White House Spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said this month that Biden intended, in the meeting with Marcos, to "reaffirm the United States' ironclad commitment to the defence of the Philippines". Before departing Sunday, Marcos said he would convey to Biden that Manila wished to forge stronger ties in areas ranging from food and energy security, to "ensuring our resilience from threats to our economy, including global supply chain disruptions and economic coercion". Marcos added that he would push for "greater economic engagement" between the two countries and expected to meet US business leaders to promote trade and investment. bur-mff/sco/aha The North Carolina Utilities Commission has approved Piedmont Natural Gas initiative to reduce customer billing rates due to a decrease in the market cost of natural gas. The decrease is expected to be reflected on customers bills in May of 2023. The rate reduction will translate to a savings of approximately $2.37 per month, or $28.40 per year, for the average North Carolina residential customer, according to Piedmont. Piedmont said it previously decreased customer bills in North Carolina effective with customers February and March 2023 bills, for a total annual savings of approximately $192 for the average residential customer. ALSO READ: Church discovers it paid more than $67K in power bills for county soccer fields by mistake Piedmont purchases natural gas at the best price possible, which benefits our customers, Senior Vice President and President of Piedmont Natural Gas Sasha Weintraub said. Thanks to the downward trend in the cost of natural gas, were able to provide additional relief to customers. Piedmont said it requests periodic rate adjustments to reflect fluctuations in the market price of the natural gas it purchases for its customers. By law, Piedmont does not mark up the cost of natural gas and must pass through the actual cost on a dollar-for-dollar basis to customers. Even as costs continue to drop and we head into the warmer months of spring and summer, when natural gas bills tend to be lower because of decreased usage, its never a bad time for customers to take control of their natural gas bills, Weintraub said. We continue to encourage customers to enroll in our Equal Payment Plan to levelize their bills throughout the year and to implement energy-saving tips in their home. We also provide assistance programs year-round for customers who may continue to struggle with paying their bills. VIDEO: Church discovers it paid more than $67K in power bills for county soccer fields by mistake Richard Styles was previously convicted of smuggling drugs. NCA A pilot who tried to use a plane to smuggle four people from Belgium to Britain has been jailed. Richard Styles joked with police when he was arrested, saying "I normally get arrested for drugs." Styles was previously jailed for using a small plane to smuggle ecstasy and cannabis. A pilot once jailed for smuggling drugs in a light aircraft has been sentenced again this time for trying to smuggling people. Richard Styles, 53, was sentenced to seven years, alongside fellow pilot Silvano Turchet and taxi driver Vijayakumar Sivakumar, for trafficking three men and a woman who were trying to evade immigration checks from Belgium to Britain. The UK's National Crime Agency said Styles worked with Turchet to rent a six-seater Piper Seneca plane for 1,500 ($1,900). Investigators believe the men were in contact with an Albanian known as "Tim K," who arranged for Styles to meet his passengers in Belgium. When the plane landed at Deenethorpe Airfield in Northamptonshire, England on March 23 last year, police were waiting. When Styles was arrested, he joked with authorities, saying: "I normally get arrested for drugs, so it's a bit strange." He was previously convicted for attempting to smuggle ecstasy from Belgium in 2003, and used a plane to drop cannabis into Jersey in the Channel Islands the same year. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2006, where he met his accomplice Turchet. Jacque Beer of the National Crime Agency said: "Styles was a career criminal who previously used his piloting skills to move consignments of drugs around Europe. On this occasion he was offering a luxury end-to-end service, bringing people into the UK using a private plane. "His comments to my officers show that he considered getting arrested nothing more than an occupational hazard." The plane used by Richard Styles to smuggle four people. NCA Turchet was arrested at his home in Nottingham in July 2022 after NCA investigators identified him as the organizer. He eventually pleaded guilty, while Sivakumar was found guilty by a jury after a five-day trial. Turchet was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison, while Sivakumar was sentenced to four and a half years. Read the original article on Business Insider Marelle Sturrock and David Yates. (Facebook) The body of a man recovered from Mugdock Reservoir by police investigating the death of a pregnant Scottish teacher has been formally identified as her partner David Yates. After the body of Marelle Sturrock, 35, was found at her home in Glasgow on Tuesday morning, a search was launched for her partner who was wanted in connection with her death. A police spokesperson said the death of 36-year-old Yates "is not being treated as suspicious." Police were called to the Sturrock and Yates' home in the Craigton area of Glasgow at 8.40am on Tuesday after receiving a "call of concern". Police divers disocvered the body of David Yates at Mugdock Country Park, East Dunbartonshire, on Thursday. They are not looking for anyone else in connection with the murder of pregnant teacher Marelle Sturrock. (PA via Getty) Read more from Yahoo News UK: Self-proclaimed Jim Carrey lookalike mocks police asking for reward to hand himself in Former police community support officer is jailed after admitting 33 child sex offences Abandoned mortuary that sold for twice its guide price may be turned into a spooky Airbnb Sturrock, who was 29 weeks pregnant, was found dead at the scene, and a hunt for Yates was launched. Police have said they are not seeking anyone else in connection with Sturrock's death. Reports will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal in due course. Detective Superintendent Nicola Kilbane has said: Our thoughts are with Marelles family and friends, along with everyone affected by this tragedy. We are providing her family with specialist support at this incredibly difficult time. Officials from the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) are said to be investigating whether Sturrock's life could have been saved before she was killed. Police Scotland said they could not comment on the PIRC investigation. Authorities secured an area near West Texas A&M University campus in Canyon and an alert was sent out to WT on Thursday night after a call was received about a possible shooting. Officials later determined there was no immediate threat or crime discovered from the reported incident. "At approximately 7:45 pm, the Randall County Sheriffs Office Communications Center received a call of a possible shooting with at least one person injured in the 300 block of 28th Avenue in Canyon," a news release from the Canyon Police Department (CPD) stated. " The Canyon Police Officers and Randall County Deputies responded to the scene. Because of the proximity to West Texas A&M University, the University Police Department began taking precautions to secure the campus." When Canyon police officers and Randall deputies arrived at the scene, residents of the house were contacted and removed from the house. Once the residents were out, CPD's Emergency Response Team searched the house but did not find anyone else. Police said there was no evidence inside the house that a violent crime had been committed. "The scene has been determined to be safe. Investigators believe this is either a false call or a wrong address," the release states. "No other reports of shots fired in Canyon have been reported at the time of this release. Canyon Police Detectives will continue the investigation to ensure the safety of the caller and anyone who may be with them." WT University Police Department's Chief Shawn Burns sent out a statement Friday afternoon about the advisory issued Thursday. "As Chief of Police of the West Texas A&M University Police Department, I want to provide details regarding the shelter in place advisory on April 27, 2023. The preemptive messages sent were based on the original call into Randall County Sheriffs Office Communications Center at approximately 7:45 p.m. of a possible shooting in the 300 block of 28th Avenue. Story continues "Because of the scenes proximity to campus, I felt it necessary to send a Shelter in Place notice for the safety of all students, staff and faculty. Alerts were sent out via Buff Alert mobile app, known as SafeZone, which includes push notification and SMS messages. Additionally, messages were sent through campus email, social media platforms and local news media. Those receiving messages through the public address system, which we are phasing out, were notified of a lockdown because of the systems limitations. "University Police were in constant contact with Canyon Police and Randall County as they cleared the scene. Once the scene had been determined safe, an all-clear message was distributed to campus in the same manner as above. The original call was determined to be either a false call or wrong address according to Canyon Police. Canyon Police Detectives will continue to investigate. "University Police officers work to keep the community safe by regularly training and preparing for emergency situations like the one which occurred yesterday. Additional UPD officers were recalled to help secure and protect the campus. "We highly encourage all students and WT employees to download the SafeZone mobile app for receiving emergency notifications immediately to a mobile device. If you have any questions, please contact our department at 806-651-2300. "Thank you for your support and trust in the University Police Department officers and personnel. Providing safety and security for West Texas A&M University campuses and local communities is our highest priority." This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Call about shooting being investigated as false or wrong address A pilot program in the U.K. to enhance police capabilities via artificial intelligence has proven successful but could pave the way for a slide into a future of "predictive policing," experts told Fox News Digital. "Artificial intelligence is a tool, like a firearm is a tool, and it can be useful, it can be deadly," Christopher Alexander, CCO of Liberty Blockchain, told Fox News Digital. "In terms of the Holy Grail here, I really think it is the predictive analytics capability that if they get better at that, you have some very frightening capabilities." British police in different communities have experimented with an artificial intelligence-powered (AI) system to help catch drivers committing violations, such as using their phones while driving or driving without a seat belt. Violators could face a fine of 200 ($250) for using a phone while driving. One trial carried out over a week at sites across East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire caught around 239 drivers breaking road rules, the BBC reported. The program also saw a trial in late 2022 in Devon and Cornwall, which caught 590 drivers not wearing seat belts over a 15-day period. HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY TAKES CONGRESS BACK TO SCHOOL ON AI New mobile technology capable of automatically detecting motorists who fail to wear a seat belt or who are holding phones at the wheel is being used in the U.K. for the first time under plans to boost road safety. Safer Roads Humber, which helped set up the trial in cooperation with Humber Police, explained to Fox News Digital the program is not totally AI-run but involves human control to check for errors. The AI will use computer vision to determine if a person is not wearing a seatbelt or is using a phone, and the positive results go to a human to double-check. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The initial review process takes up to five seconds, with false positives automatically deleted, a spokesperson from Safer Roads Humber explained. The system connects over phone signals, and humans can check the results remotely. BALLOONING AI-DRIVEN FACIAL RECOGNITION INDUSTRY SPARKS CONCERNS OVER BIAS, PRIVACY Permanent implementation of the system would require more cameras, but the cameras and equipment can be vehicle mounted, such as on a trailer that can be left at the side of a road for weeks or even months, the spokesperson said. Story continues "Personally, I believe a mobile solution would work best as it would ensure road users change their behavior at all times rather than just at a static point," Ian Robertson, partnership manager for Safer Roads Humber, said. National Highways says it identified more than 750 seat belt and mobile phone offenses along a short section of the M6 in Merseyside earlier this month. It was the highest number at a single site in a study that has visited numerous sites across the Midlands and South West. Brian Cavanaugh, visiting fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at The Heritage Foundation, raised concerns that surveillance-heavy countries such as the United Kingdom could invest more heavily in using AI in combination with their massive systems, which could give rise to more authoritarian state control as an unintended consequence. "I absolutely see this as a slippery slope," Cavanaugh told Fox News Digital. "You're going from an open and free society to one you can control through facial recognition [technology] and AI algorithms - you're basically looking at China. "The U.K. is going to use safety and security metrics to say, Well, that's why we did it for phones and cars.' And then they're going to say, 'If you have, say, guns what's next on their list of crimes that you crack down on because of safety and security?'" he added. "All of a sudden, you're creating an authoritarian, technocratic government where you can control society through your carrots and sticks. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WARNS AN AI PAUSE FOR US MEANS CHINA RUNNING WITH IT "I believe there is the capacity to move from observations to predictive measures, but with that you have the possibility of false positives and the risk of a margin of error." Cavanaugh argued that the better use for AI in policing would focus on understanding crime indexes, using data to create better-informed decisions on resource allocation and deployment. He stressed a need to keep human discretion at the core of any policing policy and that society never lets AI "take the place of the officer." A police facial recognition van in front of the Cardiff City Stadium for the Cardiff City-Swansea City Championship match Jan. 12, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. Alexander described the more extreme version of this practice as "predictive policing," akin to the kind of enforcement seen in the movie "Minority Report." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) recently discussed how it used AI to help determine targets during conflict and even use available data to pinpoint possible locations of enemy combatants or terrorists, a trial that resulted in successful operations against at least two Hamas commanders in 2021. Data Science and AI Commander Col. Yoav said AI helped the IDF do in days what might have taken "almost a year" to complete otherwise. KILLER ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GETS SHUT DOWN BEFORE PRESSING THE NUCLEAR BUTTON "We take original subgroups, calculate their close circle [of personal connections], calculate relevant features, rank results and determine thresholds, using intelligence officers feedback to improve the algorithm," he explained. Alexander warned that such developments will often start in the military and intelligence community, then "trickle down" to the private sector. "Presumably, you're going to have more and more data," Alexander argued. "People are going to think more about collecting it, and we're going to get better and better at predictive capabilities, and could the police show up in riot gear two hours before a riot even starts?" He also used the example of the IRA, asking if British police could even end up using AI to obtain warrants and execute a search "just as people are setting up shop." "I think the predictive capabilities are where the focus is and it makes all the sense for it to be in the future," he concluded. Authorities in White Settlement are investigating a shooting that injured a man early Sunday morning, according to a news release. The man was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers responded just before 2 a.m. to multiple calls of shots fired in the 8200 block of Sussex Street, police said in the release. While they did not initially find a victim, investigators determined the shooting was likely related to calls from across the city about motor vehicle burglaries. Later in the course of the investigation, police did find one victim who did not initially call police. The man had been shot in the leg, likely a grazing wound or a ricochet, according to the release. The victim told police he was inside his vehicle in a driveway when an unknown person or unknown people walked up to his vehicle and tried to open the door, authorities said. Investigators dont believe the suspect or suspects knew the victim was in his car when they walked up. When the victim confronted one suspect, they started to run away on foot and shot a handgun twice toward the victim. Police said one round struck the victims car and then is believed to have ricocheted into his leg. A second projectile hit a next-door neighbors vehicle. White Settlement police canvassed the area and retrieved surveillance footage of four possible suspects, according to the release. Investigators believe they are in their mid-teens to early 20s. All of the suspects were wearing multiple layers and face coverings and in one video a suspect is seen holding a black handgun and aiming it at other houses while trying to open vehicle doors. Ballistics have been collected and sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for evaluation, according to police. Investigators are asking anyone with video or information about what happened or who knows the suspects to contact Detective Page at 817-246-7070, extension 114, or investigator@wspd.us. Tips can also be sent anonymously Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced the restoration of the presence of the Polish army in the border areas, as well as other security enhancements. Source: Morawiecki, quoted by Polish Radio Quote from Morawiecki: "We will build physical and electronic barriers on the entire border strip. This is the so-called perimetry. We will also strengthen the presence of the border guard and all other services. It has already been done, but we will continue the whole process." Details: Morawiecki added that the presence of Polish troops in the border areas is being restored. This is a part of [actions aimed at] improving security in these regions. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Some 80,000 people were in attendance, according to the local authorities Pope Francis on Sunday called on Hungarians to be "open" toward migrants, as he wrapped up a three-day visit to the central European country whose nationalist premier has taken a staunch anti-immigration stance. Tens of thousands thronged a central Budapest square to hear the pope lead an open-air mass during which he urged all, including "those with political and social responsibilities", to be more open. "Let us encourage one another to be increasingly open doors," the 86-year-old Argentine pontiff said, adding it was "sad and painful... to see closed doors". "The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others... the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor," he said. Throughout his visit to Budapest -- his second since a brief 2021 stopover -- Francis has emphasised a welcoming stance towards those fleeing poverty or conflict zones. The comments have stood in stark contrast to those of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban who has regularly espoused anti-migration rhetoric to defend a "Christian Europe" since coming to power in 2010. On Sunday, some 50,000 people thronged to hear the pope say mass under tight security at Kossuth Lajos Square, behind the parliament on the banks of the Danube, according to local authorities. "I feel emotional. He is very important in my life," onlooker Ferenc Toth, 43, told AFP after the pope passed by in his popemobile. - 'Christian mission' - University student Levente Kiss said it was "unique" to see the pope up close. "It was good to see that the pope has taken a stance that really calls us to our Christian mission to support the people in migration crises, especially the war in Ukraine," the 21-year-old added. On Saturday, Francis gave a speech to refugees -- mostly from neighbouring Ukraine -- and poor people at a Budapest church. Orban's government has welcomed those fleeing the war in Ukraine, which borders Hungary. Story continues But activists say there is barely a support system in place and Orban's insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow has also alienated Ukrainians. Francis' 41st international trip since becoming pope in 2013 is taking place entirely in Budapest, the capital of the EU member where 39 percent of the 9.7-million population are Catholic. It comes a month after he was hospitalised for three months for bronchitis, so all eyes have been on the pontiff's health. But despite persistent knee pain forcing him to move around in a wheelchair, the pope has appeared to be in good shape. On Saturday, Francis met Budapest mayor Gergely Karacsony, a staunch Orban opponent. He also met with bishop Hilarion, who was ousted as head of the Russian church's department for external relations by Russian Orthodox leader Patriarch Kirill, a staunch Kremlin backer. Francis will deliver his trip's last speech at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) at a private Catholic university in Budapest. He will return to Rome in the early evening, giving his traditional press conference on the plane to journalists accompanying him on board. John Paul II was the first pope to visit Hungary, making trips in 1991 and 1996. cmk-pmu-jza/yad BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Pope Francis urged Hungarians to open their doors to others on Sunday, as he wrapped up a weekend visit with a plea for Europe to welcome migrants and the poor and for an end to Russias war in Ukraine. Francis issued the appeal from the banks of the Danube as he celebrated Mass on Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, with the Hungarian Parliament and Budapests famed Chain Bridge as a backdrop. The celebration provided the visual highlight of Francis three-day visit that has been dominated by the Vaticans concern for the plight of migrants and the war in neighboring Ukraine. Citing local organizers, the Vatican said some 50,000 people attended the Mass, more than 30,000 of them in the square, on a brilliantly sunny spring morning. Among them were President Katalin Novak and Hungarys right-wing populist prime minister, Viktor Orban, whose lukewarm support for Ukraine has rankled fellow European Union members. Francis has expressed appreciation for Hungarys recent welcome of Ukrainian refugees. But he has challenged Orbans hard-line anti-immigration policies, which in 2015-2016 included building a razor wire fence on the border with Serbia to stop people from entering. Upon arrival, Francis urged Hungary and Europe as a whole to welcome those who are fleeing war, poverty and climate change, calling for safe and legal migration corridors. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors, Francis said in his Sunday homily on the Danube. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor. Please, let us open those doors! he said. In a final prayer at the end of the Mass, Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and a future of hope, not war; a future full of cradles, not tombs; a world of brothers and sisters, not walls. Story continues The 86-year-old Francis has tried to forge a diplomatic balancing act in his pleas to end Russias war, expressing solidarity with Ukrainians while keeping the door open to dialogue with Moscow. On Saturday, he prayed with Ukrainian refugees and then met with an envoy of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion and justified it as a metaphysical battle against the liberal West. Francis kissed the cross of Metropolitan Hilarion in a sign of respect for the Russian Orthodox Church during what the Vatican said was a cordial 20-minute meeting at the Holy See's embassy in Budapest. Hilarion, who developed good relations with the Vatican as the Russian church's longtime foreign minister, said he briefed Francis on his work now as the Moscow Patriarchates representative in Budapest. Hilarion attended Francis Sunday Mass, along with representatives of Hungarys other Christian churches and Jewish community, Vatican News said. Francis visit to Hungary, his second in as many years, brought him as close as hes been to the Ukrainian front but also to the heart of Europe, where Orbans avowedly right-wing Christian government has cast itself as a bulwark against a secularizing Western world. Francis, though, has used the visit to call for the continent to find again its spirit of unity and purpose, referencing Budapests bridges across the Danube as symbols of unity and connection. The site for his final Mass couldnt have been more appropriate for Francis' message: The sprawling square is named for one of Hungarys most famous statesmen who served as its first prime minister after the 1848-1849 revolution against Habsburg rule. It is separated from the left bank of the Danube river only by Hungarys iconic neo-Gothic parliament, the countrys largest building and home of its National Assembly. Nearby is the Chain Bridge, one of several bridges spanning the river and linking the Pest and Buda sides of the city. Sister Marta, a nun of Hungarian origin from Brazil who attended the Mass, said she hoped Francis' message of welcome would be heard in Hungary. We (Brazilians) have gotten accustomed to openness towards others, and we hope that Hungary as well will open in this direction, she said after the liturgy. But Budapest resident Erno Sara said the country is fine as it is. I dont know if we (Hungarians) need to change. There is nothing at all in this country that is out of the ordinary, any kind of behavior that we would have to change, Sara said. Later Sunday in his final event in Hungary, Francis warned against the dangers of technology dominating human life, during a speech at the Pazmany Peter Catholic University. Speaking broadly about Europes future, Francis said culture and scholarship forged by universities were the antidote to a future dictated by technology. The university, he said, is a temple where knowledge is set free from the constraints of accumulating and possessing and can thus become culture, he said. Such a culture he said, cultivates our humanity and its foundational relationships: with the transcendent, with society, with history and with creation. ___ Bela Szandelszky contributed to this report. ___ 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. In a homily given on Sunday as part of mass in Budapests Kossuth Lajos Square, Pope Francis urged Hungarians to embrace foreigners and work towards peace across the globe. It was Franciss final appearance in Hungary during his visit. While the pontiff did not explicitly reference the anti-immigrant policies of Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, his words were widely taken as a rebuke. How sad and painful it is to see closed doors. The closed doors of our selfishness with regard to others; the closed doors of our individualism amid a society of growing isolation; the closed doors of our indifference towards the underprivileged and those who suffer; the doors we close towards those who are foreign or unlike us, towards migrants or the poor, explained Francis to the faithful. Please, brothers and sisters, let us open those doors! Both Orban and President Katalin Novak attended the mass alongside 50,000 other people. While Francis has expressed appreciation for Orbans welcoming of Ukrainian refugees, his views that migration corridors must be opened for people fleeing conflict, poverty, and climate change conflict with Orbans. The prime minister has asserted in the past he will not allow Hungary to become an immigrant country. He also put up a razor wire on the border with Serbia in 2015-16 to keep migrants out. I urge you to show favor not only to relations and kin, or to the powerful and wealthy, or to your neighbors and fellow-countrymen, but also to foreigners and all who come to you, said Francis earlier in his three-day trip, quoting St. Stephen, the 11th-century king and founder of Christian Hungary. Be open and inclusive, then, and in this way, help Hungary to grow in fraternity, which is the path of peace, Francis added. The pope also prayed for those affected by Russias invasion of Ukraine, asking for peace. Instil in the hearts of peoples and their leaders the desire to build peace and to give the younger generations a future of hope, not war, a future full of cradles not tombs, a world of brothers and sisters, not walls, Francis said. Story continues Orban has rankled other members of the European Union and NATO with his soft-on-Russia approach. Hungary has not supplied Ukraine with weapons and has maintained its dependence on Russian oil. The prime minister has also said he would not arrest Vladimir Putin, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and has obstructed the accession of Sweden and Finland into NATO. However, the pontiff was careful to try to keep dialogue open with Moscow. During his trip, he met with a representative of Russian Patriarch Kirill, who has firmly supported Moscows invasion as an existential war with the West. Francis was nevertheless clear that Europe must overcome its national divisions. I think of a Europe that is not hostage to its parts, neither falling prey to self-referential forms of populism nor resorting to a fluid, if not vapid, supra-nationalism that loses sight of the life of its peoples, Francis said earlier in the trip. More from National Review By Philip Pullella ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) -The Vatican is involved in a peace mission to try to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis said on Sunday, adding that it was also ready to help repatriate Ukrainian children taken to Russia or Russian-occupied land. "There is a mission in course now but it is not yet public. When it is public, I will reveal it," the pope told reporters during a flight home after a three-day visit to Hungary. "I think that peace is always made by opening channels. You can never achieve peace through closure. ... This is not easy." The pope added that he had spoken about the situation in Ukraine with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and with Metropolitan (bishop) Hilarion, a representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest. "In these meetings we did not just talk about Little Red Riding Hood. We spoke of all these things. Everyone is interested in the road to peace," he said. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Francis has pleaded for peace practically on a weekly basis, and has repeatedly expressed a wish to act as a broker between Kyiv and Moscow. His offer has so far failed to produce any breakthrough. Pope Francis, 86, has said previously that he wants to visit Kyiv but also Moscow on a peace mission. Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met the pope at the Vatican on Thursday and said he had discussed a "peace formula" put forward by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Shmyhal also asked for help in the repatriation of children. Kyiv estimates nearly 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since Moscow invaded in February last year, in what it condemns as illegal deportations. "The Holy See is willing to do this (help repatriate the children) because it is the right thing," Francis said on the plane. "All human gestures help but gestures of cruelty don't help. We have to do all that is humanly possible". Story continues Francis, who appeared in relatively good condition during the trip, also spoke of his health following his hospitalisation in late March for what the Vatican said at the time was bronchitis. He said he felt a strong pain at the end of his general audience on Wednesday, March 29 and tried to sleep. "I did not lose consciousness but I had a high fever and at 3pm the doctor took me to the hospital right away," he said. "It was a strong and acute pneumonia in the lower section of the lung. Thank God I can talk about it. The body responded well to the treatment, thank God," he said. He was released on April 1. A part of one of his lungs was removed when he was a young man in Argentina more than half a century ago. The pope said there were no changes to plans to go to Lisbon in August for an international youth gathering and then separately to Marseilles and Mongolia. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Writing by Philip Pullella and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Andrew Heavens and Diane Craft) A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. MSC Seaside, part of MSC Cruises, will begin sailing to the Bahamas, Cozumel, Costa Maya in Mexico and Belize. Kevin Markey, chairman of Canaveral Port Authority, presented MSC Seaside Captain Michele Di Mauro with a plaque to honor the inaugural voyage in a traditional ceremony. The arrival of the MSC Seaside is another great milestone for Port Canaveral and the Space Coast region, further solidifying our positions as the top cruise port in the world, Markey said. Photos: Port Canaveral welcomes MSC Seaside for its first voyage A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. A new ship has started to make its home in Port Canaveral. MSC Cruises began its Port Canaveral services in 2021 with the MSC Divina. Read: Port Canaveral sees more passengers, meaning more money for projects The three, four and seven-night Caribbean itineraries will be through November. 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. WASHINGTON (AP) Bound to Sudan by ailing parents and his devotion to treating the poor there, American doctor Bushra Ibnauf Sulieman kept working as long as he could after fighting engulfed Sudans capital. For days after battles between two rival Sudanese commanders erupted in Khartoum on April 15, the 49-year-old Sulieman treated the citys wounded. He and other doctors ventured out as explosions shook the walls of homes where Khartoums people cowered inside. Gunfire between the two factions battling for control resounded in the streets. Say, Nothing will happen to us except what God has decreed for us, Sulieman, a U.S.-born gastroenterologist who divided his time and work between Iowa City, Iowa, and Khartoum, said in one of his last messages to worried friends on Facebook last week, as fighting persisted. And in God let the believers put their trust. The morning that Sulieman decided he had to risk the dangerous escape from Sudans capital with his parents, American wife and his two American children was the morning that the war found Sulieman, friends say. In the wholesale looting that has accompanied fighting in the capital, Khartoum, a city of 5 million, a roving band of strangers surrounded him in his yard Tuesday, stabbing him to death in front of his family. Friends suspect robbery was the motive. He became one of two Americans confirmed killed in Sudan in the fighting, both dual nationals. Authorities say the other, with ties to Denver, was caught in a crossfire. They have not released that Americans name. Mohamed Eisa, a Sudanese doctor who practices in the Pittsburgh area, was a close colleague of Sulieman. Over the years, sometimes I asked him, Bushra, what are you doing here? What are you doing in Sudan? Eisa recalled. He always says to me, Mohamed, listen yes, I love living in the United States ... but the United States health care system is very strong, and one doctor more or less wont make a difference. Story continues Eisa said Sulieman would tell him: In Sudan, everything I do has so much impact on so many lives, so many students and so many medical professionals. The sudden illness and death of Eisas father in Khartoum meant Eisa was in Sudan when fighting broke out. Now trying to get back to his American wife and children in the U.S., Eisa spoke late last week from Port Sudan, a city on the Red Sea now crowded with Sudanese and foreigners who made the dangerous 500-mile (800-kilometer) drive from the capital in hopes of securing spots on ships leaving Sudan. Eisa described a journey through checkpoints manned by armed men, past bodies lying in the streets, and past vehicles carrying other families killed attempting the escape route. After evacuating all U.S. diplomats and other U.S. government personnel April 22, the U.S. conducted its first evacuation of private American citizens Saturday. It used armed drones to escort buses carrying between 200 and 300 U.S. citizens, permanent residents and others to Port Sudan. Sudanese in their country and in the U.S. spoke of Suliemans killing as a special loss. He was a well-respected colleague at the Gastroenterology Clinic and Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, hospital president Tom Clancy said. Suliemans older children live in Iowa. He traveled back to Sudan several times a year with medical supplies he had collected for that country, colleagues said. A nurse at the Iowa City clinic who declined to be identified because the nurse was not authorized to speak called him one of the best. His love for his patients was over the top, the nurse said. Colleagues considered him a powerhouse doctor and humanitarian, an upbeat man with an infectious laugh who populated his texts with smiley faces and cats wearing sunglasses. In Sudan, Sulieman directed the medical faculty at the University of Khartoum and was a founder and director of a doctors humanitarian group, the Sudanese American Medical Association. He would help organize and drive medicine and supplies to Sudans countryside, arrange rural training for midwives and help bring in cardiologists to perform surgeries for free. His efforts continued after two Sudanese commanders who earlier had joined forces to derail Sudans moves toward democracy suddenly launched an all-out battle for power. Two weeks of fighting have killed more than 500 people, according to the Sudanese Health Ministry. Doctors say fighters have abducted at least five physicians, taking them away to treat combatants. Sulieman was one of many doctors who kept showing up at hospitals, regardless, said Dr. Yasir Elamin, a Sudanese-American doctor in Houston. Sulieman and other doctors in Khartoum treated the wounded, delivered babies and provided other urgent care until it became too dangerous for him to leave his home. Concern about taking his father away from needed dialysis had kept Sulieman from leaving Khartoum, colleagues said. On Tuesday, he decided he would take his father for dialysis, then try to flee Khartoum with his family, he told friends. The band of men surrounded him before he could leave. They plunged a knife into his chest. Fellow doctors at Khartoums Soba Hospital, where he had worked, were unable to save him. In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby extended deepest sympathies to Suliemans family. For nothing. For nothing, Eisa, his colleague in Sudan, said of Suliemans killing, before finally finding passage over the weekend on a ship out of Sudan. You know who you killed? another Sudanese colleague, Hisham Omar, posted among Facebook tributes from the countrys medical workers, in a message aimed at the attackers who killed Sulieman. You killed thousands of patients, that colleague wrote, speaking of the impact that Sulieman one doctor knew he had in Sudan, and all the Sudanese he would have aided in the years ahead. You killed thousands of needy people. You killed thousands of his students. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Sulieman was born in the U.S., not Sudan. BRIAN SNYDER/Reuters Vivek Ramaswamy, a 2024 GOP candidate, said he wants to shut down the FBI. It was a "head-scratcher" for MSNBC's Chuck Todd, who spoke with Ramaswamy on Sunday. Ramaswamy, an "anti-woke" biotech millionaire, has also suggested cutting other federal departments. A relatively little-known Republican presidential candidate wants to shut down the FBI and replace it with a new bureau that sounds a lot like the FBI. If you're confused about 2024 GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's proposal, you're not alone. MSNBC's Chuck Todd called Ramaswamy's plan to shutter the FBI "a bit of a head-scratcher for me" during an interview with the candidate on Sunday's "Meet the Press." "I didn't say defund the FBI. I said shut down the FBI and replace it with something new," said Ramaswamy, an "anti-woke" biotech millionaire. "I think it's a new apparatus built from scratch that actually respects the law instead of making it up." "So, you're going to replace the FBI with a new FBI?" Todd asked. The candidate has also suggested shutting down the Department of Education, limiting the Federal Reserve, and sending US troops to the Mexican border, according to The Washington Post. "I personally believe someone who's running to actually run the executive branch of the government, when you have a bureaucracy whose culture becomes so ossified, every once in a while, you need to turn it over," said Ramaswamy, who notably has no political experience. Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) April 30, 2023 He added: "We need federal law enforcement, but that institution has, in a bipartisan way, become so, I think ossified in its own norms, in its own corruption, that we need to rebuild it from scratch and have something new take its place." Ramaswamy said if there are term limits for him if he was elected (a "good thing," he noted), there should be similar limits for "those bureaucrats reporting to me." Read the original article on Business Insider Joe Biden has announced he will run for reelection for president of the United States. Biden is simply too old. Guess what? Leading Republican candidate, former President Donald Trump, is also too old. There, I just said what the vast majority of Americans feel and are too afraid to say publicly for fear of being accused of ageism or some other ism intended to silence us. Biden, if re-elected, would be 82 at the start of next term and 86 at the end of it. Trump, would be 78 and 82, respectively. Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos I'm not advocating for a law that would set maximum ages on elected official yet. I am saying the concept of it is worth a discussion. To be frank, its possible that since the Constitution sets the requirements for federal office holders, it is possible it would need to be a Constitutional amendment. Ill let the legal scholars figure that part out. But having the conversation is a start. This isnt a new concept. The federal government has mandatory retirement ages for several jobs: pilots, 65; air traffic controllers, 56-61 depending on circumstances; Foreign Service employees, 65; federal law enforcement, 57; national park rangers, 57; firefighters, 57. A national park ranger cant crack 60, but the people who decide whether to drop a bomb on a foreign nation, control global intelligence, determine laws that can take away our freedom, and manage a multi-trillion dollar budget can be octogenarians? States have age limits, too. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia have required retirement ages for judges, most commonly the age is 70, including here in New Hampshire. Vermont has a mandatory retirement age for judges at 90; they wanted the age to be 110 several years back, but settled on 90. Vermont is a funny little state. Judges directly determine an individuals actual freedom, fairness of our legal system, equality in our laws and equity of our civil rights and liberties. Most states think that means the possibility of decreased competence or mental acuity requires an age limit. But, not the guy with the nuclear codes or the lawmakers that manage the fairness of finances of our entire government? Story continues There are no age limits for federal judges, but I think that is also a legitimate conversation. In the U.S. Senate, 34% of the body cant be a judge in most states. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Diane Feinstein, D-California, would be forced to retire even in Vermont next year, theyre both 89. Grassley will be 94 when his term is up and Sen. Feinstein, 91 even Vermont says no to that, if youre a judge. I both understand and appreciate the wisdom that comes with experience. I value the historical knowledge of people older than I. I honor those that have contributed so much to our country and society in the name of public service. However, there comes a time, we must recognize, everyone has a limit. Former President Jimmy Carter agrees, noting in 2019, when he was 95, "I hope there's an age limit If I were just 80 years old, if I was 15 years younger, I don't believe I could undertake the duties I experienced when I was president. That's what this is about. It isnt about not respecting or honoring the seniors of our society, its about being practical. Amazingly, it's also something most Americans agree on. In a 2022 poll conducted by YouGo America, 58% of Americans believed there should be a max age limit for elected officials (64% of Republicans, 57% of Democrats and 60% of independents). Sixty-three percent of those who believe there should be a limit think it should be 70 or younger. Some of this polling is about the ability to properly do these jobs which are absolutely grueling in time and responsibility. Some of it is probably about the reality that, we need some new ideas from newer generations who may have fewer experiences, but certainly have different ones. So, I know Ive upset people with this narrative. I know Ill be called an ageist and criticized for appearing to criticize our most valuable generation, which I think our seniors are. But, before we get reactionary and defensive, perhaps we should have a fair discussion, as a society, of what our expectations are for the most powerful people in the country and, in part, the world are. Cherishing our older generations is one thing, refusing to acknowledge potential limitations in the ability to do a really important job, is another. Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. Shes a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Preston Xanthopoulos: Time to talk about age limits for president Yevgeny Prigozhin Prigozhin appealed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, asking him to provide ammunition immediately. Read also: Wagners Prigozhin wants at least 33,000 more convict recruits to his PMC I am appealing to Sergei Shoigu with a request to immediately provide ammunition, Prigozhin said. If this is refused, I will consider it necessary to bring the information about the current problems and the expediency of the continued location of Wagner units in the town of Bakhmut to the supreme commander-in-chief, said Prigozhin, apparently threating to bring the matter to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin himself. Read also: Wagners Prigozhin proposes Russia ends war in Ukraine Prigozhin said his mercenaries have only a few days-worth of ammunition left, so they will either leave the city or be left to die. Prigozhin added a warning that then, as much as our bureaucrats would not like it, everything else will crumble. Read also: Wagner PMC declares it will no longer take prisoners of war Previously, Prigozhin complained that his mercenary company would soon disappear, as there are not many Wagner fighters left. 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 Pennsylvania Justice of the Supreme Court Description of office: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the commonwealth and the oldest appellate court in the nation. The Supreme Courts administrative powers and jurisdictional responsibilities are vested with the seven-member court by the Pennsylvania State Constitution and a collection of statutes known as the Judicial Code. The justice with the longest continuous service on the Supreme Court automatically becomes chief justice. Administratively, the courts within the Unified Judicial System are largely responsible for organizing their own staff and dockets; however, the Supreme Court has several committees and boards responsible for writing and enforcing rules for judges, attorneys and litigants to ensure an efficient and fair judicial review. Annually, the seven justices receive over 3,000 requests for appellate review. Term: 10 years Salary: $244,793 Vote for ONE. Candidates (choose 1): Daniel McCaffery Party: Dem County: Philadelphia Occupation: Judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court Education: Temple University School of Law, J.D., 1991 Temple University, SCAT, B.A., 1988 Father Judge High School, 1982 Qualifications: 32 years as an attorney, trial and appellate court judge, tried more cases and presided over more litigation than any other candidate. Highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar, the only veteran on Pennsylvanias appellate courts. Judge, Court of Judicial Discipline, supervising judge for Pennsylvania wiretap applications. Campaign website: judgemccaffery.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/McCafferyforsupremecourt Twitter handle: @JudgeMcCaffery Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/judgemccaffery/ Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: In its most general terms, as it pertains to the question, the court has a duty to ensure the constitutional rights of the people are appropriately applied and protected. I would describe my approach to constitutional interpretation as living constitution meaning that the constitution was intentionally drafted using broad language to allow its concepts to evolve with changing societal conditions. As to my approach to interpreting rules, legislation and statutes, I would describe myself as a textualist in that I attempt to give a common sense meaning and will give the intent to apply a reasonable analysis to interpret any ambiguous word or provision. Story continues Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: Every case must be considered based on the facts of the individual case, the laws pertaining to the case and were the appropriate constitutional rights and protections fairly applied to the people and case in question. Daniel McCaffery Debbie Kunselman Party: Dem County: Beaver Occupation: Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania Education: J.D. Notre Dame Law School; B.A. Penn State Qualifications: 17 years of judicial experience: 12 years as a trial court judge in Beaver County and 5 years as a state appellate court judge. Experience handling civil, criminal, family and juvenile cases; 8 years as chief county solicitor Campaign website: kunselmanforpa.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/JudgeDebbie17 Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The relationship of checks and balances between the three branches of government means that each branch must respect the authority of the other branches and act within the authority given to them. For example, the legislature has the authority to enact laws. However, those laws cannot infringe upon the rights guaranteed by the federal or state constitutions. If they pass such a law, the judicial branch can strike it down as unconstitutional. However, if the law comports with the constitution, judges are obligated to apply the law as it is written. Likewise, absent emergencies, the executive branch needs probable cause and a warrant from a judge before conducting a search. In this way, judges protect the right to privacy. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: Usually, overruling long-standing precedent is warranted when (and only when) a precedent is manifestly absurd or unjust as in Brown v. Board of Education. The U.S. Supreme Court in Ramos v. Louisiana gives three guides I would consider: 1) Is the prior decision not just wrong, but grievously or egregiously wrong? In deciding this, I would look at the quality of the precedents reasoning, consistency and coherence with other decisions, changed law or facts, and workability. 2) Has the prior decision caused significant negative jurisprudential or real-world consequences? 3) Would overruling the prior decision unduly upset reliance interests? These considerations set a high standard and require much deliberation before changing precedent. Debbie Kunselman Patricia A. McCullough Party: Rep County: Allegheny Occupation: Statewide appellate court judge-Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania Education: B.A. University of Pittsburgh, magna cum laude; J.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Law Qualifications: Judge, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court 12+ years ruling on cases that go directly to Pennsylvania Supreme Court; trial judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas; assistant general counsel, University of Pittsburgh.; private practice attorney; director Catholic Charities; chair Allegheny County Board of Property Appeals; chair Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee Campaign website: judgemccullough4supremecourt.com Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: These separate but equal branches of government have distinct powers. The legislative branch makes the law, the executive branch enforces the law and the judiciary is to interpret the law. This means that courts are not to legislate from the bench. Judges should apply the rule of law and interpret the law and the constitutions of the United States and Pennsylvania as written, and reign in the other branches of government if they overstep their constitutional bounds. Thomas Jefferson warned that if judges interpret the law to be what they want, the Constitution would be a mere thing of wax in the hands of the Judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please. Constitutional rights are protected with proper separation of powers. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: While the concept of stare decisis is traditionally applied by judges in assessing cases, courts are at times confronted with whether to overrule prior precedent. Criteria to be carefully considered includes inconsistency with related decisions, erroneous or incomplete facts, misinterpretation of law or the unconstitutionality of prior precedent. Brown v. Board of Education is a long-standing example of the U.S. Supreme Court overruling prior precedent on the basis that it violated the Constitution, specifically the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. Brown ended the unconstitutional precedent of separate but equal in Plessy v. Ferguson. The U.S. Supreme Court focused on constitutional reasons in other cases. Patricia McCullough Carolyn Carluccio Party: Rep County: Montgomery Occupation: Court of Common Pleas judge Education: Dickinson College, Widener University School of Law Qualifications: First female president judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas serving in the criminal, family and civil court benches. Montgomery County chief deputy solicitor, director of human resources, chief public defender, assistant United States attorney. Campaign website: judgecarluccio.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/judgecarluccioforsupremecourt Twitter handle: @JudgeCarluccio Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/judgecarluccioforsupremecourt/ Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: Our system of checks and balances is vital to our democracy and should be carefully guarded. We must ensure one branch does not overstep its authority. For the executive branch, it could be excessive executive orders which can circumvent legislative powers. For the judiciary, it is legislating from the bench which can also circumvent legislative powers. The judiciary also has the duty of ensuring that legislative and executive actions do not overstep their constitutional roles. Its critical that the judiciary only applies the law as it is written in the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions. Inappropriate actions taken by the executive branch and even the judiciary takes power from our legislature which is closest to the people. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: In deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent, just as in any case that comes before me, I will apply the law as it is written in the constitution. Justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court must not allow themselves to be swayed by the media, executive or legislative branches, and certainly not by the popular opinion of the day. Even our own personal beliefs must be tempered to ensure that the judiciary remains unbiased and only make rulings based on the law. Carolyn Carluccio Pennsylvania Judge of the Superior Court Description of office: The Superior Court is one of Pennsylvanias two statewide intermediate appellate courts. This court, established in 1895, reviews most of the civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the Courts of Common Pleas in the commonwealths 67 counties. The Superior Court consists of 15 judges. The president judge is elected to a five-year term by his/her colleagues. A large number of appeals flow to the Superior Court from the trial courts. Generally, appeals are heard by panels of three judges sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg or Pittsburgh. The court often is the final arbiter of legal disputes. Although the Supreme Court may grant a petition for review of a Superior Court decision, most petitions are denied, and the ruling of the Superior Court stands. Term: 10 years Salary: $230,974 Vote for not more than TWO. Candidates (choose 2): Pat Dugan Party: Dem County: Philadelphia Occupation: President judge and Veterans Court judge Education: Juris Doctorate Rutgers School of Law Qualifications: Judge 16 years, 4 years president judge (elected by a vote of 27 judges), 13 years attorney focused on criminal defense and child advocacy, 23 years Army (and Reserves) infantry paratrooper, Civil Affairs, JAG with 5 years overseas, started a Veterans Court 2010, married father of 6 Campaign website: judgepatdugan.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/judgepatdugan Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The concept of the three branches of government is the foundation for our republic and our commonwealth, as the separation of powers assures a fair and equal system of checks and balances, as it prevents overreach by any one branch over the other two. It is the courts obligation to interpret the laws and acts of the executive and legislative branches. It is the courts obligation to interpret laws, and not legislate from the bench, but to umpire and call balls and strikes fairly and independently. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: I believe that a prior courts precedent should be given serious consideration to remain in place and in effect, however that is not set in stone. Before a court reverses any previous decisions, the reviewing court must take into account whether the decision was poorly reasoned, whether there has been a change in the statutory law, review of any intervening events or circumstances, and there is legal justification to overrule prior precedent. It is not a decision to be taken lightly and any change in the law must not undermine the publics confidence in the judicial system and must maintain the integrity of the judicial system. Pat Dugan Timika Lane Party: Dem County: Philadelphia Occupation: Judge Education: Howard University - Bachelor of Arts, Rutgers Law School - Doctor of Law (J.D.) Qualifications: Elected in 2013 to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and immediately assigned to one of the busiest trial divisions in Pennsylvania. Judge Lane has presided over thousands of jury and bench trials and authored over 100 judicial opinions. She currently serves in the civil division. Campaign website: judgelaneforpa.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/LaneforSuperiorCourt Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/laneforsuperiorcourt/ Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: Checks and balances are an integral part of our government, essential to ensuring that no one branch can overpower its boundaries. The role of the judicial branch ensures that the legislative and executive branches maintain constitutional rights within the law, furthering that justice be equally, effectively and lawfully maintained and upheld. In short, checks and balances are critical to a functioning government and must be maintained. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: Presiding a case in which in theory could affect a long-standing precedent must be weighted carefully and with respect to the past precedent. Long-standing precedents are not without fault, and throughout history the judicial system has seen changes occur to long-standing precedents for better and for worse. It is through this evolution, as society changes and laws are adapted to those changes that consideration of both the changes in the legal system and society should be considered, as well as aforementioned respect to the long-standing precedent and whether its reasoning still stands solid within the judicial and societal systems. Timika Lane Jill Beck Party: Dem County: Allegheny Occupation: Commercial litigator and appellate attorney Education: B.A. in criminal justice - The George Washington University (cum laude graduate); J.D. - Duquesne University School of Law (cum laude graduate) Qualifications: Jill has practiced in every area the Superior Court hears, has practiced in the Superior Court and appellate courts across the country, and spent 10 years on the other side of the bench as a law clerk 6 on the Superior Court, 4 on the Supreme Court where she drafted over 500 decisions. Campaign website: JillBeck.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/electjillbeck Twitter handle: @ElectJillBeck Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/electjillbeck Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The judiciary is a separate but coequal branch of government. It is not the role of the court to legislate, but neither is it permissible for the court to serve as a rubber stamp for the legislative and executive branches of government (or the courts below). Appropriate deference to these bodies must be given when reviewing and interpreting their work, but it is solely in the courts purview to determine the constitutionality of the measures taken and the legal correctness of their actions. The court serves a critical role of interpreting our statutes and our constitutions (federal and state), which must be viewed in terms of the intent of the drafters at the time of their passage as well as the evolving standards of decency of our society. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: The decision to overrule precedent, particularly long-standing precedent, should not be taken lightly. Factors to consider include, but are not limited to, the correctness of the prior reasoning, its consistency with related precedent, changes in the law and society subsequent to the decision, and the level of reliance on the precedent by the legal system and the public. Jill Beck Maria Battista Party: Rep County: Clarion Occupation: Attorney/executive Education: Clarion University, B.S.; Westminster College, M.Ed.; Ohio Northern University, J.D.; University of Pittsburgh, Ed.D. Qualifications: 15+ years experience in civil, criminal and administrative law; former assistant district attorney; former attorney with the Gov. Corbett administration; served as an administrative hearing officer where I presided over hundreds of hearings and issued hundreds of administrative decisions. Campaign website: BattistaForJudge.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/BattistaForJudge Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The Framers purpose in dividing power between the three branches of government was to ensure that no branch of government became too powerful. James Madisons wisdom in Federalist 51 was to create a check against the authority of a single branch of government, sharing the decision-making power of the new federal government. For Pennsylvania, this model of separation of powers has created its own form of checks and balances between our three coequal branches. In practical terms, this has empowered the courts, particularly the appellate courts, to better protect the rights of the people of this commonwealth. By serving as a check against the executive and legislative branches, the judiciary serves to safeguard against abuses by either. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: Stare decisis, a Latin term which means let the decision stand, or to stand by things decided, is a central tenet of the American legal system. This doctrine highlights the importance of precedent in our legal tradition. Applying precedent to the particular facts of a case is a way to provide predictability and consistency in the law. While I cannot speak directly about how I would rule in any case that may appear before me, precedent may be used as a guide, as well as the law as it has been written and the particular facts of a case. In some instances, the issue of constitutionality may be raised by the parties. Maria Battista Harry F. Smail Jr. Party: Rep County: Westmoreland Occupation: Judge Education: Grove City College Class of 1988 Duquesne School of Law Night School Class of 1997 Qualifications: 14 years as a practicing attorney and nearly 9 years as sitting judge in Westmoreland County Campaign website: VoteJudgeSmail.com Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The Founders in their wisdom established a system of checks and balances as an attempt to ensure that no branch of our government could have unbounded power. Our system is based on on the freedom of our people and these checks and balances ensure that is difficult to pass laws or regulations that can curtail that freedom. Our constitution is our guiding light and any branch that strays from that document can be quickly put in line with it by another branch. It is the judiciarys role, as the only branch to not face regular election, to ensure that the constitution is being adhered to by intermediary courts and by the the legislative and executive branches. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: My guiding principle when deciding a case is the text of the constitution and the intent of a statute when applying that statute in the course of a case. Precedent or stare decisis is critical in this review. Stare decisis is critical in providing predictability and stability to the courts. I leave open the possibility that a court must at times correct previous encroachments by the judiciary relative to constitutional review and deviation of the facts. I believe it it is a heavy burden to demonstrate such encroachments when weighing prior precedents. Harry Smail Jr. Pennsylvania Judge of the Commonwealth Court Description of office: The Commonwealth Court is one of Pennsylvanias two statewide intermediate appellate courts. This court, established in 1968, is unlike any other state court in the nation. Its jurisdiction generally is limited to legal matters involving state and local government and regulatory agencies. Litigation typically focuses on subjects such as banking, insurance, utility regulation and laws affecting taxation, land use, elections, labor practices and workers compensation. The Commonwealth Court also acts as a court of original jurisdiction, or a trial court, when lawsuits are filed by or against the commonwealth. The Commonwealth Court is made up of nine judges. The president judge is elected to a five-year term by his/her colleagues. Generally, appeals are heard by panels of three judges sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg or Pittsburgh. Term: 10 years Salary: $230,974 Vote for ONE. Candidates (choose 1): Matt Wolf Party: Dem County: Philadelphia Occupation: Judge Education: B.S. political science, LeMoyne College, J.D., Loyola University School of Law, numerous judicial education training courses. Qualifications: The only sitting judge in the race. 25 years of civil rights trial experience. 5 years plus of judicial experience, with a majority of that as a supervising judge. 20 years of military experience, 17 as an Army JAG, awarded Bronze Star Medal, service in Iraq and Afghanistan. Campaign website: judgemattwolf.com Twitter handle: @JudgeMattWolf Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: The rule of law. Each branch of government serves as a check on the others. Legislatures pass laws, sometimes in reaction to judicial decisions and executive actions. Courts interpret the law and the facts and the executive essentially carries out the functions of the government, subject to the laws as interpreted by the courts. People who serve as elected officials usually take an oath of office to uphold the laws and the state and federal constitutions. I take such oaths seriously and would commit to upholding the law, as should each member of the other branches of government. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: It depends on the case, the facts and the law. This question cannot be answered in vacuum. There are antiquated decisions in common law that are long-standing precedent which call to be overturned such as the Supreme Courts 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision which upheld the legality of racial segregation in America. It took 58 years for that case to be overturned in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. Some long-standing precedent should be overturned such as the separate but equal line of cases as an example. Other long-standing precedent should be respected, particularly as it relates to the preservation and recognition of fundamental constitutional rights. Matt Wolf Bryan Neft Party: Dem County: Allegheny Occupation: Attorney Education: B.A., political science, University of Pennsylvania 1986; J.D. Boston University School of Law, 1989 Qualifications: I have practiced law for 33 years. I was a law clerk for the Honorable William F. Cercone of the Pennsylvania Superior Court. I have practiced in 30 Pennsylvania counties and all of the Pennsylvania appellate courts including the Commonwealth Court. Campaign website: bryanneft.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/bryanneft Twitter handle: @BryanNeft Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/votebryanneft Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: Each branch of government has a role in limiting overreach by a coequal branch of government. In order for the judiciary to serve as a check on the legislative and executive branches, the judiciary must be independent and allowed to decide cases brought to it without fear of reprisal or retribution. Courts have authority within their jurisdiction to interpret laws and the constitution. It is within the province of the the Legislature and the executive branches to change the law if a court ruling creates an unintended result. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: The Commonwealth Court may not alter long-standing precedent of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, it can revisit its own decisions, and it can review decisions of a Commonwealth Court judge sitting as the trial judge hearing a case in the courts original jurisdiction. Such a review would require a thorough understanding of the history of the precedent, why it came into being and why it is being challenged as unsound. Bryan Neft Josh Prince Party: Rep County: Berks Occupation: Attorney at Prince Law Offices PC and Civil Rights Defense Firm PC Education: Graduated with honors from McGill University in 2004 - Bachelor of Arts, double major in political science and world religions; Widener Law School 2006-2009 - Juris Doctorate, graduated cum laude and as a member of Law Review Qualifications: Ive spent my 13-year career defending our civil rights in the state and federal courts. Beyond having successfully litigated numerous appeals in the Pennsylvania courts, including before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in just the past 4 years, Ive successfully litigated 8 cases before the Commonwealth Court. Campaign website: PrinceForJustice.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/PrinceForPA Twitter handle: @PrinceForPA Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/princeforpa/ Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: It is the constitutionally mandated and necessary separation of powers to ensure that no one branch of government becomes too powerful or usurps the power of the people. We have, unfortunately, in recent times seen the harmful effects of when branches of government overstep their constitutionally limited boundaries. For example, when a judge legislates from the bench thereby usurping the powers of the executive and legislative branches the constitutionally mandated separation of powers is violated and the peoples confidence in the judiciary is eroded. This is why it is imperative that we only elect judges who will uphold the law as written and constitution as intended, without consideration for ones personal views or beliefs. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: As litigants and the legal community must be able to rely on precedent to understand their rights and obligations, it is imperative that precedent only be overturned where a manifest justice has occurred and necessitates correction, such as the abhorrent decision in the Dred Scott case, and not where the overturning of precedent would be for political or other reasons. Where appropriate, the criteria I would consider are the quality of the reasoning for the past decision, consistency of the the existing precedent with related decisions, legal developments since the past decision that shed new light on the existing precedent and what is the reasonable implementation of the new precedent within the legal system and its impact moving forward. Josh Prince Megan Martin Party: Rep County: Cumberland Occupation: Attorney Education: Juris Doctor, May 1994, Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg; Bachelor of Arts, June 1991, University of Delaware, Newark, DE Qualifications: I am honored to be endorsed by the Pennsylvania Republican Party and recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association. I also have the unique distinction of having served in all 3 branches of our state government and as an attorney for the U.S. Navy. My qualifications stand alone in the race for Commonwealth Court. Campaign website: meganmartinforpa.com Campaign Facebook URL: facebook.com/MeganMartinforPA/ Campaign Instagram URL: instagram.com/meganmartinforpa/ Q: Pennsylvanias three coequal branches of government executive, legislative and judicial each act as a check on the power of the others. In practical terms, what does this relationship of checks and balances mean to you? A: I respect the very different yet equally important roles of the three branches. When it comes to our judges, the people deserve to have judges who are fair and impartial, respect and defend the rule of law, protect our constitutional rights and freedoms, apply the law as it was written by our General Assembly, and who hold government accountable because government must follow the law, too. Our judges must be exemplary public servants who act in the publics interest, not to further any political agenda or their own personal agenda. Judges must not make policy decisions from the bench that are reserved for our elected representatives to make. We need our judges to be independent as our constitution created them to be. I will be that judge. Q: What criteria would you consider in deciding a case that could affect long-standing precedent? A: Judges should approach every case keeping in mind their oath to support, obey and defend the constitution. The constitution should be their North Star. Judges should apply the law as it was written by the General Assembly. Judges should not be influenced by public opinion or pressure; they should follow the law. Precedent exists to maintain the rule of law. Defending the rule of law helps promote a world without chaos. It gives consistency to our judicial decision-making process. It ensures that individuals in similar situations are treated alike rather than being subject to the personal views of a particular judge. I respect the constitution and rule of law. I respect precedent. I will continue to do so as a judge on our Commonwealth Court. Prince William and Kate Middleton were all smiles in a new photo they released to celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary. The Prince and Princess of Wales beamed while riding bicycles in the image they posted on their Instagram page Saturday. The couple wrote "12 years" in the caption, adding a red heart emoji. Prince William and Kate Middleton beamed in a new photo as they celebrate their 12th wedding anniversary. In the snap, the two wrapped arms around each other as they posed on bicycles against a backdrop of the English countryside. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were both casually clad in blue jeans, which William paired with a dark blue button-down shirt and Kate with a white eyelet lace blouse. William was sporting black Ray-Bans and a black belt, while Kate wore black shades with mirrored lenses on top of her head and carried a brown cross-body bag. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP APP USERS CLICK HERE The image was taken by royal family photographer Matt Porteous in Norfolk last year. William and Kate have previously released other snaps from the photo shoot on U.K. Mother's Day and Christmas. PRINCE WILLIAM, KATE MIDDLETON GO ON RESCUE MISSION, GRAB PIZZA AHEAD OF KING CHARLES' CORONATION In a post shared to mark U.K. Mother's Day March 27, Kate was pictured sitting in a tree with the couple's three children. The two share sons Prince George, 9, and Prince Louis, 5, and daughter Princess Charlotte, 7. Another photo from the shoot was used for the family's Christmas card last year. In the image, William and Kate smiled as they held hands with their children while on a stroll. APP USERS CLICK HERE The couple first met in 2001 when they were students at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. William proposed to Kate during an October 2010 trip to Kenya, and they announced their engagement the following month. William and Kate married April 29, 2011, at London's Westminster Abbey in a televised ceremony watched by 23 million in the U.S. alone. In a 2012 interview with Katie Couric, William opened up about how he wished his late mother Princess Diana could have been there at his wedding. Diana died at the age of 36 in a car crash in August 1997. Story continues An image used for William and Kate's family Christmas card last year. 'It was the one time since she's died where I've thought to myself it would be fantastic if she was here," he said in the ABC special on Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. "And just how sad really, for her more than anything, not being able to see it. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I think she would have loved the day, and I think, hopefully, she'd be very proud of us both for the day," William added. "I'm just very sad that she's never going to get a chance to meet Kate." The Prince and Princess of Wales married at Westminster Abbey April 29, 2011, in London. During his own interview with Couric, William's brother Prince Harry shared that he believed Diana was there in spirit. "I think she had the best seat in the house probably," Harry said. "She would have loved to have been there. "She would have loved Kate." The 32-year-old daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg married for a second time in a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, on Saturday Arnold Jerocki/WireImage Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Nicholas Bagory are married again! The 32-year-old daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg married the 33-year-old businessman for a second time in a religious ceremony in Bormes-les-Mimosas, France, on Saturday. The bride and groom first exchanged vows in a civil ceremony in the Town Hall of Luxembourg City on April 22 where Mayor Lydie Polfer held the ceremony and witnessed their consent. Following their initial "I dos," the princess bride and her groom greeted a crowd of well-wishers before the newlyweds made their way back to the Grand Ducal Palace via the Rue de la Reine for a private reception. Arnold Jerocki/Getty Related:Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg Marries Nicholas Bagory in Civil Ceremony Before Religious Wedding The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced Princess Alexandra's engagement in November 2022 and confirmed a few weeks later that she would tie the knot in two ceremonies this spring. "The civil wedding will take place on April 22, 2023, at the Town Hall of the City of Luxembourg. The religious wedding will be celebrated on April 29, 2023, in the Saint Trophyme church in Bormes-les-Mimosas," the court said in a statement. "The two families join in the happiness of the engaged couple by surrounding them with their affection." Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Alexandra is the fourth child and only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. She is currently seventh in the line of succession to the throne, following her elder brother Grand Duke Guillame, his 2-year-old son Prince Charles, his newborn son Prince Francois, her elder brother Prince Felix, his 8-year-old daughter Princess Amalia and 6-year-old son Prince Liam. Following Alexandra is her younger brother, Prince Sebastien. Story continues Related:Prince Guilluame and Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg Introduce New Baby Prince Francois in First Photos Courtiers shared a bit of Nicholas' background when they announced his engagement to Alexandra in the fall. Nicholas was raised in Brittany, France and studied political science and classics, before continuing to a career in social and cultural projects. It remains unclear when the couple connected, or how long they had been together before getting engaged. Arnold Jerocki/WireImage According to the royal family's website: "Princess Alexandra attended primary school in Angelsberg (Luxembourg) and then the Lycee Vauban in Luxembourg where she completed her secondary education, obtaining her Baccalaureate in Arts and Literature (with honors) in 2009. The Princess pursued her university studies abroad. After studying psychology and social sciences in the United States, the Princess continued her studies in Paris where she obtained a bachelor's degree in Philosophy, with a focus on ethics and anthropology. H.R.H. Princess Alexandra graduated from Trinity College in Dublin. In 2017, she was awarded a Master's degree in Interfaith Studies from the Irish School of Ecumenics with a specialization in conflict resolution." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. If youre going to protest in Akron, the city's top prosecutor says you may want to consider not bringing your kids. A small group of protesters marched in the street in the area of Goodyear Heights and the Six Points intersection Thursday night with several children among them. Police arrested five people for charges including disorderly conduct and issued several traffic citations. City Prosecutor Craig Morgan, though, said some of the protesters may face additional charges, including child endangering. People are bringing children and putting them in a street open for vehicular traffic, Morgan said. Thats really problematic and really dangerous. We had a lot of near misses last night, Morgan added. Jayland Walker protesters follow a march down East Tallmadge Avenue on Monday, April 24, 2023, in Akron. These arrests bring the total number of people taken into custody during protests since the grand jurys decision last week not to indict the officers who fatally shot Jayland Walker to just over 20. Thats far fewer than the more than 50 people who were arrested last summer during protests after Walker was shot and killed on June 27 by eight Akron officers. Most of those arrested then faced misdemeanor charges like rioting and failure to disperse. Since the grand jurys decision last Monday, Akron has braced for the reaction, with the city setting up a designated protest zone on High Street, erecting a fence and concrete barriers around the Summit County Courthouse, and boarding up windows at City Hall. More: High St. reopens as downtown Akron takes some steps toward normalcy Rather than larger protests downtown, though, the city has seen mostly smaller gatherings and marches in neighborhoods. A few windows were broken in Highland Square and downtown. People have the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble to protest, and they can protest in public spaces, like streets, sidewalks and parks, as long as they aren't blocking traffic, according to the ACLU of Ohio, which added that a protest that blocks traffic generally requires a permit. If marchers stay on sidewalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals, their activity is constitutionally protected. Story continues City agrees not to use pepper spray against non-violent protesters In the one larger protest, police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse a protest involving people and vehicles on Copley Road last Wednesday. A Jayland Walker protester runs after a chemical canister was deployed by Akron police officers on Copley Road on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in Akron, Ohio. Protesters were asked to move to the sidewalk and did not comply. Police Chief Steve Mylett said this step was taken after protesters refused to comply with officers' orders and threw water bottles, bricks and rocks at officers and deputies. More: APD video shows Jayland Walker protesters throwing items before officers used chemicals The city agreed to a temporary restraining order last Friday that forbid officers from using tear gas and other uses-of-force against peaceful protesters. This agreement was in response to a federal lawsuit filed by the Akron Bail Fund, a nonprofit group that supports local protesters, that also raised other issues that havent yet been addressed. The groups other complaints included people being arrested unnecessarily and protesters vehicles being towed. Attorneys for the city and Bail Fund reached an agreement that the terms of the restraining order will continue while the suit is pending in U.S. District Court. "Now that we have these emergency measures in place to protect protesters, we will proceed with the litigation," said Elizabeth Bonham, a Cleveland attorney representing the Bail Fund. Public defender: Not seeing the number of arrests as last year Andrea Whitaker, the Summit County public defender whose office represents most of the people arrested during protests, said the most recent charges have included obstructing official business, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and open container. She said many people have also gotten traffic citations. We are not seeing the number of arrests we saw last year, Whitaker said. And, we have seen virtually no activity downtown. Whitaker said most of those arrested have been sent to the Stark County Jail, rather than the Summit County Jail. Once theyve been arraigned, she said, most have been released on signature bonds. Summit County sheriffs officials have said people were sent to the Stark jail because of space constraints at the Summit jail. That step, though, appears to have only been taken for people arrested during protests. Asked about a sign that someone hung from a window of the Summit County Jail that said Help Me! Whitaker said she doesnt think this was a message from someone arrested during a protests because most of these people were sent to the Stark County Jail. She said she isnt aware of any new complaints or issues related to conditions at the Summit jail. Six arrested during protests for felonies, prosecutor says Morgan said six of the arrests involved felonies, such as weapons and drug charges that involved items found on people or in their vehicles when they were arrested. He said the traffic citations have involved people using their vehicles to block intersections, going through stop signs, riding on top of cars or driving recklessly. Morgan said several peoples vehicles have been towed. He said this step was taken if the driver was arrested or didnt have a valid license or the vehicle wasnt properly registered. He said he wasnt sure how many cars had been towed. More: Two people arrested, three cars towed during Akron protest in North Hill Lt. Michael Miller, the Akron police spokesman, estimated that a half-dozen cars have been towed since the grand jury decision. Latest protest nearly results in accidents, police say In the most recent protest on Thursday night, Miller said several adults and children, along with a caravan of vehicles, gathered at the Reservoir Park on Hillside Terrace. He said the group traveled down several streets before reaching the busy Six Corners on Brittain Road. Miller said there were several near-accidents, including a few almost head-on collisions, as motorists not involved in the protest tried to drive around the protesters and narrowly missed people walking in the street. Officers made traffic stops on Eastland Avenue, East Exchange Street and South Arlington Street. They issued several citations for moving violations and arrested people for disorderly conduct, drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, Miller said. Stephanie Warsmith can be reached at swarsmith@thebeaconjournal.com and 330-996-3705. Emily Mills can be reached at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter: @emills818. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police have arrested about 20 Jayland Walker protesters Most high-profile progressives in Congress say theyll support President Bidens reelection bid, even though some are critical of his policy agenda. Since announcing his 2024 campaign on Tuesday, Biden has racked up endorsements from many prominent members of the left, including the progressive standard-bearer, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; and Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Greg Casar (D-Texas). While many in the progressive wing are lining up behind the president, theyre not necessarily making a show of full-throated support. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the most visible liberals on Capitol Hill, told a reporter she unequivocally supports the partys nominees, while also acknowledging the differences she and Biden share. It didnt necessarily feel like a big launch, Jayapal told The Hill on Thursday. Hopefully well have a chance to have much bigger opportunities to launch kind of a vision of what we need to do next. I think people can run on what theyve done. While Democrats emphasize they will do whatever is necessary to beat former President Trump as it becomes increasingly possible hell lead the GOP ticket, the cautious response underscores some of the divisions within the Democratic Party that could become more apparent as the presidential election heats up. His disregard and even, at times, evident contempt for the base of his own party could lead to the kind of dampened Democratic voter enthusiasm that allowed Trump to win in November 2016, one prominent progressive activist warned. The similarities to the last election cycle are striking. Biden chose the same day, April 25, to launch his 2024 campaign as he did during the 2020 election. And like the last time, progressives were skeptical about the direction in which he could take the country, arguing he wasnt expansive enough on the issues they cared about most. Story continues Biden, alongside senior White House officials and allies outside of government, worked to ease that skepticism. The president and several of his closest advisers have prioritized progressivism throughout his first term, recognizing both the popularity of many populist economic policies and the importance of maintaining a diverse supporter base. Sanders, who was leading the charge for a more liberal Biden administration, put to rest any fears from moderates that hed run himself by stating this week that he supported the presidents reelection bid. That stamp of approval carried a lot of weight. To many establishment Democrats, Sanders became a nuisance to Hillary Clintons 2016 effort after he dragged his feet in offering his endorsement when she became the presumptive nominee. In 2020, Sanders hung on for a bit after the South Carolina primary sent Biden on the path to nomination, but even then eventually threw his support behind his longtime friend. 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 womans right to choose, or not address the crisis of gun violence, or racism, sexism or homophobia, Sanders told The Associated Press earlier this week. So, Im in to do what I can to make sure that the president is reelected. Some of Sanderss biggest allies in Congress, including Jayapal and his former national campaign co-chair Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), have given the incumbent president a resounding nod for 2024. Casar and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), newly-minted members of Congress, also said theyre behind him, putting newer and younger members of the Progressive Caucus in Bidens corner. Ramirez told The Hill shes looking forward to working with Biden on executive actions, especially with the House under GOP control. While legislative action in the minority in the House has proven to be nearly impossible, I welcome any opportunities to work with the Biden Administration to identify ways to provide the relief and action necessary for working families through administrative and executive actions, Ramirez said. Its a critical lever to keep delivering and to show people that our president is committed to using every available tool to uplift working folks even while Republicans actively try to sabotage our livelihoods and democracy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), meanwhile, said shes delighted about his decision, emphasizing that hes got a strong record to run on and a great vision for what he still wants to get done. Like Sanders, Warren ran against Biden for the nomination in 2020 before getting behind his bid as it became clear that he was the partys choice. Im in all the way, she told The Hill. As support trickled in throughout the week, the actual campaign kickoff, which prioritized broader values like protecting American democracy, left some to be desired among liberals hungry to hear more about their priorities. Some of the toughest issues, whether its immigration or public safety or Willow is kind of a big one I dont I dont think we should be surprised that maybe theres not 100 percent, Jayapl said. That frustration among some on the left comes after some of Bidens policy decisions have irked progressives. Throughout much of the spring, the president made moves to the middle, including signing a crime bill in D.C. greenlit by Republicans and announcing the Willow Project, an expensive drilling plan. He was also reportedly considering reinstating migrant detention centers. There are still some lingering wounds for progressives on those matters, and more work needs to be done to repair the relationship built over four years of mural courtship and compromise. Bidens recent policy decisions seem calculated to appeal to the relatively small number of disaffected Republicans, while undermining enthusiasm from large numbers of grassroots Democrats, particularly young voters, said the progressive activist. Democratic leaders seem to believe that victory in 2024 will be assured by the extremism of the Republican Party. Many of them mistakenly believed that in 2016. Still, many progressives within Congress see the merits of Bidens calculations. I think that people are looking at the incredible accomplishments, particularly the investments in climate change and equity, racial justice, and seeing that this is night and day from what anyone else has been able to do, Jayapal said. Beyond policy, theres also the practical nature of running a national campaign, where funding plays a big role against the well-heeled GOP. To be honest, Dem moderates control a lot of where the money goes, said one Democratic strategist who has worked for multiple high profile presidential aspirants. Biden does seem to acknowledge that he needs to keep the left happy. The size of the voting bloc matters to his general election showing, and a flippant response to their concerns can leave the door open for a more liberal Democrat to launch a primary challenge. If Biden loses the extreme side of the progressive wing, which is smaller than people think, [people] will say, we told you so, the Democratic strategist said. It will open the [party] up to the emergence of a Bernie-type candidate. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. This week's news cycle saw several major stories capture headlines, including the revelation that Iranian hackers had gained access to a website that published US 2020 election results. In addition, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler announced that all cryptocurrency exchanges must adhere to SEC regulations, and the Philippine Coast Guard made public evidence of China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea. Here's a rundown of this week's important stories you should not miss: Iranian hackers gained access to a website that publishes the results of the 2020 US elections, but the Cyber National Mission Force (CNMF) successfully prevented them from defacing the website to raise doubts about the polls, according to the US military. The hacking group, named Pioneer Kitten, was removed from the system before it could disrupt the election results. Army Maj. Gen. William Hartman, the chief of the CNMF, emphasized that the Iranian hackers' access to the website did not play a role in vote counting during the 2020 elections. Therefore, it posed no risk of manipulating the overall vote count to show a different winner. Read Also: What Are Zero-Day Attacks? Cybersecurity Professionals Explain In a video posted on Twitter, Gary Gensler, chairman of the US SEC, has urged cryptocurrency exchanges to follow SEC standards. Gensler said that exchanges should treat cryptocurrencies like securities and adhere to regulations that have been in place for 90 years. He added that the SEC has been active against many crypto-related entities and individuals since the beginning of the year, including Bittrex and Gemini, and that compliance with SEC standards is crucial to safeguarding investor assets. The SEC chair also said that exchanges, brokers, dealers, and clearinghouses are all types of intermediaries for investment contracts that are required to register and follow SEC Standards on the buying and selling of securities. Gensler's push for Crypto Exchanges restrictions follows President Joe Biden's executive order on digital assets in March. The Chinese Coast Guard prevented a Philippine patrol ship from accessing a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, part of a weeklong sovereignty patrol aimed at exposing China's fierce operations in the disputed region. The Philippine Coast Guard invited journalists to join the sea patrol to look for encroachment, illegal fishing, and other dangers. The Chinese ship blocked the Philippine patrol ship and warned it to leave the area, passing within 36 to 46 meters of its bow, which members of the media recorded. This incident follows the Chinese Coast Guard attack on a 44-meter Philippine Coast Guard vessel in February with the use of a military-grade laser. The Philippine Coast Guard's efforts to draw attention to illegal activity in the West Philippine Sea have been crucial in generating support for the government's stance and increasing public awareness. Last week marked the end of the annual US-Philippines Balikatan military exercises, which involved over 17,600 military personnel and was the largest exercise to date between the two long-standing treaty partners amid China's continued aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Related Article: How Wealthy Is China's President @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A damaged tank and pieces of war, Izyum It comes as no surprise that Vladimir Putin rules Russia in spectacularly corrupt fashion. We all know how money is siphoned from the state and funnelled to his allies and oligarchs, as well as his own pocket. For years, this systemic corruption strengthened his grip on power, yet for his forces in Ukraine despite the stalemate on the front lines, and undue pessimism from certain quarters this criminality continues to do the opposite, slowly but steadily weakening the Russian ability to wage war and eroding Putins ability to control events. Despite appearances, the Russian invasion is still falling apart quite literally in the case of some poorly maintained vehicles and naval equipment as a direct result of the rot at the heart of the Kremlin. The news that a Russian tank commander was arrested last week and accused of stealing the engines out of battle tanks comes as no surprise; neither are the recent revelations of the decrepit state of much of the Russian navy. Its the perfect illustration of the insurmountable moral rot plaguing Putins gangster state. The spectacular losses of armoured vehicles suffered by Moscows forces was initially a surprise to Western analysts; now Im inclined to think they may well have been sitting ducks, with critical components sold for scrap or maintained on the cheap. In hindsight, we should have seen it coming: I can remember stories from my time serving as a tank commander in the Cold War facing off against the Russians in Germany. It was common to hear about Russian tank soldiers stealing engine coolant to drink for its intoxicating properties or flogging diesel supplies to buy food. As for the state of the navy, Russias only aircraft carrier, Admiral Kuznetsov, has been out of action since 2018 thanks to a toxic combination of botched repairs and blatant illegality. In March 2021, the general director of the shipyard was arrested in connection with embezzlement of funds. The carrier is not predicted to return to active service until 2024 at the earliest. Meanwhile, the similarly antiquated nuclear-powered flagship of the Northern fleet, Peter the Great, will probably have to be scrapped because it is too expensive to modernise. So much for a country bouncing back from its earlier humiliations in Ukraine, such as the memorable sinking of the Moskva. Story continues It is worth remembering, too, that many in the intelligence community believe that even Putins trump card his much-vaunted tactical nuclear weapons would not actually work properly because of age and mismanagement, even if the soldiers manning them could be persuaded to deploy them, which is far from clear. As a former soldier, I remain certain this rot will inevitably deprive Russians of the will to fight. The most effective soldiers the Kremlin has left are the criminals that have been sprung out of jails across Russia to fight with the mercenary Wagner Group. But the moral component to fighting spirit is embedded in the belief and right of the fight, and the silver shilling of encouragement will only glint for so long. Russian gold is now badly tarnished and the exploitation of the people by a small elite is now all too obvious. The Kremlins coin will eventually poison those who cherish it and lead to Russias capitulation. The timing of this implosion will entirely depend on Western resilience to keep giving Ukraine the weapons it needs to drain the Russians of their morale and ability to fight. Reports that Ukrainian units are having to ration shells when they have the might of so many advanced industrialised countries behind them shames us all. This is 2023, not 1915. To those who think Russia can still summon an unstoppable wave of men and materiel like in the Second World War, think again. Putins gangsters have pillaged their own country, normalised corruption throughout the ranks of the military, and, in doing so, doomed themselves to defeat. The moral corruption endemic in Russia will bring Putin down, as it has countless tyrants before him. It is only a matter of time, if the West shows the same resilience in supporting Ukraine as the Ukrainians have in defending their country. Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a former commander of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment Quantum computing could change our perspective on the cosmos. (Illustration: Harmonia Macrocosmica, 1660 / Microsoft, 2022 / Alan Boyle) What does quantum computing have in common with the Oscar-winning movie Everything Everywhere All at Once? One is a mind-blowing work of fiction, while the other is an emerging frontier in computer science but both of them deal with rearrangements of particles in superposition that dont match our usual view of reality. Fortunately, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku has provided a guidebook to the real-life frontier, titled Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything. Were talking about the next generation of computers that are going to replace digital computers, Kaku says in the latest episode of the Fiction Science podcast. Today, for example, we dont use the abacus anymore in Asia. In the future, well view digital computers like we view the abacus: old-fashioned, obsolete. This is for the garbage can. Thats how the future is going to evolve. Computer scientists might take issue with Kakus digital doomsaying but theres little doubt that quantum computers will transform the field as much as artificial intelligence is transforming it today. Quantum computing could very well revolutionize what an Amazon Web Services or Microsoft Azure will want to do for the world in terms of computing, says Louis Terminello, associate laboratory director for physical and computational sciences at the U.S. Department of Energys Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Kakus assessment of the potential impact goes a lot further: In his view, any problem that involves sifting through a multiverse worth of possibilities will become more solvable once the quantum revolution takes hold. Energy generation and storage, food production, climate modeling, disease treatment and genetic repair are all potential targets for quantum supremacy. Why is that? In contrast to the rigid one-or-zero approach that serves as the foundation of classical computing, quantum computers would take advantage of the fact that quantum bits better known as qubits can represent multiple states when information is processed. Story continues Quantum computers, in principle, are infinitely more powerful than a digital computer that computes on zeros and ones, zeros and ones, because quantum computers are quantum mechanical, he said. The atom can spin in any direction. How many directions are there? An infinite number of directions. Tech titans havent yet settled on the best basis for quantum computing: Amazon, Google and IBM use superconducting circuits in their hardware. IonQ which is creating a research and manufacturing facility in the Seattle area favors a technology based on trapped ions. Other companies are taking advantage of the quantum properties of photons, or defects in silicon lattices. And Microsoft is placing its bets on topological superconducting nanowires. Which technology will win out? Kaku says its too early to tell. How many quantum computer architectures are possible? An infinite number of them, he says. Now, of course, only a handful of them are practical and economical. But the point Im raising is that Mother Nature has already devised millions of quantum mechanical systems, and were playing catch-up to Mother Nature. And so I think that one day, one or or a handful of these technologies will dominate the whole field, but were not sure yet. Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything, by Michio Kaku (Doubleday / Penguin Random House) Even though full-fledged quantum computers arent yet ready to prime time, researchers are already trying to figure out how to simulate the quantum mechanisms behind important biological processes such as photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Coming up with new molecular methods to perform those tasks could be worth billions of dollars. About 1% or so of the worlds energy goes to the process to refine nitrogen in the air to create fertilizer, Kaku says. But its very wasteful. We need a quantum mechanical Green Revolution. On the energy frontier, quantum computers could help engineers design better reactors for generating fusion power and help chemists design new types of materials for solar cells and batteries. Kaku says chemistry is a prime target for the quantum revolution. Chemists who do not use quantum computers to model chemical reactions will go bankrupt, he says. Theyll be out of a job. Theyll be replaced by chemists who do use quantum computers. This means all medicine. All medicine can eventually be reduced to a quantum computer. Once quantum computers take hold, researchers could design synthetic molecules for medicines that address specific maladies. How do we find new drugs today? Trial and error, Kaku says. We have thousands of Petri dishes with chemicals in them. We tediously see whether or not they have any antibiotic properties. Why not do that in the memory of a quantum computer? Quantum calculations could also direct the course of gene-editing therapies with the potential of heading off diseases before they arise an application that raises hopes as well as ethical concerns. Any discipline that requires the use of molecules and atoms can be helped by the quantum revolution, including cancer research, aging. Why do we die? Think about it for a moment: There are zero laws of physics that say that we have to die, Kaku says. Doesnt immortality run counter to the Second Law of Thermodynamics? If I have an open system and I use quantum computers to add extra energy from outside, I can begin the process of stopping the aging process, Kaku says. Think about that: the possibility of extending the human lifespan by reducing the buildup of errors in our DNA. The applications are endless. Hes even hoping that next-generation computing will help him solve the mysteries of string theory and reveal the so-called Theory of Everything, which Kaku calls the God Equation. That hope is what led him to write Quantum Supremacy in the first place. Kaku has been working on string theory for decades, and hes the author of one of the leading textbooks about it. But he says the theory is so complicated, with so many resonances, that the human mind has not been able to solve string theory. What a frustrating thing, he says. So I said to myself, wait a minute. String theory is a quantum theory, like the atom. Why not use quantum computers to solve a quantum problem? By now, youve probably gotten the message that Kaku is bullish on the quantum revolution. Is he willing to admit theres something that quantum computers cant do? Yes, as a matter of fact. If a movie like Everything Everywhere All at Once makes it look as if you can slip back and forth between quantum universes, Kaku says you should know thats pure fiction. It doesnt work that way, he says. It turns out that it takes an enormous amount of energy and time to go between universes. So, believe it or not, it may be possible to go between universes, but its not for us. In other words, not even the quantum computer revolution can change everything everywhere all at once. Quantum Supremacy: How the Quantum Computer Revolution Will Change Everything comes out May 2. Check out Michio Kakus website for information about his coast-to-coast book tour in May. My co-host for the Fiction Science podcast is Dominica Phetteplace, an award-winning writer who is a graduate of the Clarion West Writers Workshop and currently lives in Berkeley, Calif. To learn more about Phetteplace, visit her website, DominicaPhetteplace.com. This report and the accompanying podcast were also published on Cosmic Log. Stay tuned for future episodes of the Fiction Science podcast via Apple, Google, Overcast, Spotify, Player.fm, Pocket Casts, Radio Public and Podvine. If you like Fiction Science, please rate the podcast and subscribe to get alerts for future episodes. More from GeekWire: London Seven decades ago, the coronation of a queen in the U.K. served as a battleground for broadcasters in the U.S. With television in its infancy, CBS and NBC fought their first all-out war for supremacy in 1953 to screen the pageantry to a post-war America still marveling at moving pictures synchronized to sound. At the time, CBS News' Ron Cochrane reported from Boston's Logan International Airport. With transmission satellites a decade away, and Atlantic underwater cable too expensive, U.S. networks flew reels in from the U.K. Both CBS and NBC built new broadcast facilities and waited at Logan, because it was one hour closer to London than New York. The scene inside Westminster Abbey during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, on June 2, 1953. / Credit: Matt Green / Getty Images While Americans waited to see the splendor and spectacle for themselves, CBS News' Bill Downs relayed news from the control tower as staff scanned the flight scope. CBS' plane landed at 4:12 p.m. Eastern time on June 2, 1953, to celebration, with NBC's plane some 45 minutes behind. However, it was not a clear victory. NBC, realizing it would lose the flight race to CBS, made a last-minute deal with ABC. Younger and smaller at the time, ABC piggybacked off Canada's coverage on the CBC. By the time CBS engineers fed their own reel to go to air, it was too late. NBC, thanks to ABC and the Canadians, had beaten CBS by 13 minutes. However, years later, Walter Cronkite shared a secret story of a mix-up. The first reel CBS chose turned out to be the wrong one. But, it let CBS say that it had showed America the actual coronation first because NBC had started its own broadcast from the very beginning of the ceremony. And, as Cronkite would say, "that's the way it is." How Queen Elizabeth's coronation created a TV broadcasting battle in the U.S. Florida principal forced to resign visits Michelangelo's David Bill would ban kids under 13 from using social media get well soon Ralph Yarl continues to make strides in his recovery weeks after being shot twice in a Kansas City community. The Black teen was wounded on April 13 by Andrew Lester, who is white, after he mistakenly rang the wrong doorbell to pick up his younger brothers from a playdate. He suffered a gunshot wound above his left eye and a wound to his right arm. Days after the nightmare incident, the 16-year-old was released from the hospital on April 16, miraculously having suffered less extensive damage than anticipated. The high-achieving Staley High School student has since been on the mend. On Saturday (April 29), Dr. Faith Spoonmore, Ralphs aunt, updated supporters on her nephews condition. The mother of two sons said the scholar is not only showing improvements day by day, but he is also hopeful that he can resume some of his favorite activities in the near future. Ralph is getting better every day. He has more good days vs. bad days, wrote Spoonmore in an Instagram video of Ralph playing with one of her sons. She continued, Ralph is currently experiencing many intense headaches, which can sometimes be debilitating. However, he is a fighter and often does not complain. Ralph hopes he will get clearance to play the bass clarinet again soon. Thank you so much for the love, prayers, and support. We appreciate you more than you know. As previously reported last week by REVOLT, Paul Yarl, Ralphs father, told NBC 41 that he anticipates seeing Lester, 84, stand trial for pulling the trigger on an innocent Black boy. Im happy that charges were filed because, for some time, there were no charges, said Paul. The shooter was out on the streets, and it didnt sit well with me. Hes going to go through the court, the jury will listen to the case, and theres going to be a verdict. I cant wait for that. Lester faces felony first-degree assault and armed criminal action charges. He pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance on April 18 and was later released on a $200,000 bond. Story continues View the update below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Faith Spoonmore PT,DPT (@ahealthymixture) Trending Stories The poster advertised cash rewards for Abraham Lincoln's killers. Getty Images/Nate D. Sanders Auctions A "wanted" poster for Abraham Lincoln's killers, including John Wilkes Booth, was sold at auction. It was printed on April 20, 1865, six days after Lincoln died, and advertises a $100,000 reward. It's the first time the poster has been sold, with the winning bidder paying $166,375 Thursday. A rare "wanted" poster advertising cash rewards for Abraham Lincoln's killers sold for just over $166,375 at auction Thursday. Bids started at $100,000 with only four people making offers, according to a press release by Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Printed by the War Department on April 20, 1865, the poster advertises a total of $100,000 (about $1.8 million today) in reward for the capture of those responsible for killing Lincoln six days earlier. John Wilkes Booth fatally shot the president at Ford's Theatre in Washington, DC, with the help of two accomplices. For Booth's capture, the department would pay $50,000. For his accomplices, John Surratt and David Herold (misspelled as "Harold"), it offered an additional $25,000 each for their capture. Booth is described as "Five Feet 7 or 8 inches high" with a "slender build" and "a heavy black moustache." Surrat is described as "a slim man" with "hair rather thin and dark" and "eyes rather light." Herold is described as "a little chunky man" with a "thin moustache." John Wilkes Booth. Alexander Gardner/Library of Congress A Union soldier found Booth hiding in a barn in northern Virginia and shot him six days after the poster was printed. Herold surrendered and was sentenced to death by hanging. Surrat, who fled to Canada, then Europe and Egypt, was extradited but it led to a mistrial and he was released. The poster was passed down in the same family, and had never been sold. The auction house described the poster as a "museum-worthy piece." "Let the stain of innocent blood be removed from the land by the arrest and punishment of the murderers," the poster stated. "All good citizens are exhorted to aid public justice on this occasion. Every man should consider his own conscience charged with this solemn duty, and rest neither night nor day until it be accomplished." It was signed by Edwin M. Stanton, the Secretary of War at the time. Read the original article on Business Insider Sexually transmitted infections are continuing to climb in Texas and throughout the U.S., according to new surveillance data released by the federal government this month. The spike in sexually transmitted infections also includes a rise in cases of congenital syphilis, in which a mother infected with syphilis transmits the virus during pregnancy. Although congenital syphilis can be prevented by prenatal care, about 2,800 cases of congenital syphilis were reported in 2021, resulting in 220 stillbirths across the U.S., according to the latest data. In all, syphilis cases increased 32% from 2020 to 2021. That really shouldnt happen, said Dr. Helen King, an infectious disease specialist at Parkland Health in Dallas. We know how to prevent congenital syphilis and it is just devastating to think that were seeing a rise in cases. Texas reported more congenital syphilis cases than any other state in the nation in 2021, with about 680 cases, according to state and federal data. That translates to about 180 cases per 100,000 live births, according to a report from the state health department. Although the total number of congenital syphilis cases is relatively small for a state the size of Texas, experts say that every case of congenital syphilis is a failure, because it is easily preventable and because it can cause such serious consequences for infants. Left untreated, syphilis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, and early infant death. For the children that do survive, the disease can still wreak havoc and lead to meningitis and other brain infections, blindness and deafness, liver disease, severe anemia, and more. There has been a staggering rise in congenital syphilis cases in the state, from 70 in 2016 to 685 in 2021 an eight-fold increase over six years. Although congenital syphilis can have some of the most dire consequences for infants, chlamydia and gonorrhea can also be transmitted in utero, and can also affect infants. New cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea increased 4% nationwide. More than 200,000 Texans reported new infections of either chlamydia and gonorrhea in 2021. Chlamydia can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease in the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, and is a leading cause of infertility in women. Story continues In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the U.S. was at the brink of eliminating syphilis entirely. Researchers believe the decline was partly because of the HIV epidemic, which had spurred education about safe sex and led to a corresponding decrease in sexually transmitted infections of all kinds, including syphilis, King said. The exact reasons that sexually transmitted infections are rising now are unclear, but its likely linked to changes in the HIV epidemic, King said. As better treatments for HIV became available, and it became easier to prevent and treat, people might have changed their sexual behaviors. We would call these syndemics, King said. Theyre overlapping epidemics. If someone has HIV, they are at increased risk of acquiring a different sexually transmitted infection in part because HIV causes inflammation in the genital tract that can increase the likelihood of acquiring another infection. To respond to the growing epidemic, King urged people to broach what is sometimes seen as an awkward conversation, and to talk to their doctors about sex. We need to empower people in the community to feel comfortable talking to health care providers about sex, to seeking out testing, to talking to their partners about about ways to prevent STIs, King said. She urged people to get tested for new infections with their partners and for providers and community organizations to de-stigmatize conversations around sexual health. The most common STIs, which include trichomoniasis and herpes, are not reported to health agencies, but are similarly increasing across the U.S., King said. The Texas Department of State Health Services will release its own report on STIs later this year. Pedestrians walk past a patriotic mural dedicated to victory in World War II, in Moscow, Feb. 17, 2023. (Nanna Heitmann/The New York Times) An officer in the Federal Guard Service, which is responsible for protecting Russian President Vladimir Putin, decided last fall to avoid fighting in Ukraine by sneaking across the southern border into Kazakhstan. The officer, Maj. Mikhail Zhilin, disguised himself as a mushroom picker, wearing camouflage and carrying a couple of small bottles of cognac so that he could douse himself and then act drunk and disoriented if he encountered the Russian border patrol. In the dark, the lean, fit major navigated across the forested frontier without incident, but he was arrested on the other side. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Freedom is not given to people that easily, he told his wife, Ekaterina Zhilina, months later, after Kazakhstan rejected his bid for political asylum and handed him back to Russia to face trial for desertion. He had these romantic notions when he first began his military-academic studies, Zhilina said in a recent interview, describing perceptions drawn from Russian literature about the honor and pride inherent in defending your homeland. But everything soured when the war started. Zhilin is among the hundreds of Russian men who faced criminal charges for becoming war refuseniks since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. Some dodge the draft, while those already serving desert or refuse orders to redeploy on the bloody, chaotic battlefields of Ukraine. In 2022, 1,121 people were convicted of evading mandatory military conscription, according to statistics from Russias Supreme Court, compared with an average of around 600 in more recent years. Before the war, a vast majority were fined, not imprisoned. Russia recently passed a measure making it much harder to avoid a draft summons. In addition, criminal cases have been initiated against more than 1,000 soldiers, mostly for abandoning their units, according to a broad court survey by Mediazona, an independent Russian news outlet. Anticipating the problem in September, when several hundred thousand civilians were mobilized, Russia toughened the penalties for being AWOL. Story continues The maximum sentence was doubled to 10 years for what is euphemistically called Leaving for Sochi. (SOCH is the Russian acronym for AWOL, but the expression is a play on the name of Sochi, a Black Sea getaway for the countrys elite and site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.) Refusing an order to participate in combat carries a sentence of three to 10 years. That has not stopped Russian men from going to unusual lengths to avoid fighting. One officer said he took a bullet in the leg as part of a pact among several soldiers to shoot one another and then claim that they were wounded in a firefight. Hailed as a hero for various battlefield events, it took him six months to recover, at which point he decided to flee. The Kremlin has shrouded in secrecy an increasing amount of information about the military, including new statistics about crimes involving military service, so the numbers are undoubtedly higher than what is available. But the number of AWOL cases accelerated after the general mobilization, according to Mediazona. Many criminal cases involve soldiers who refused orders to enter battle, leading to confrontations with their commanders, according to several lawyers who defend soldiers. One lawyer, Dmitri Kovalenko, was retained by the families of more than 10 soldiers who said they were thrown into pits, called zindans, near the front line after refusing to fight. People realize that they are not ready that their commanders are not ready, that they have to go in blind, not knowing where or why, he said. Intimidation is the first response of commanders, he said, so treatment can be harsh. Two soldiers whom he defended were locked into a container last summer without food or water, he said. At one point, about 300 conscripts who refused to fight last year were held in a basement in eastern Ukraine, where they were threatened, called pigs, not fed and not allowed to go to the toilet or to bathe, according to Astra, an independent news outlet, and other Russian news media organizations, quoting relatives. The Wagner mercenary group has threatened to execute its refuseniks, and there have been scattered reports of them being shot. In theory, Russian law allows for conscientious objectors performing alternative service, but it is rarely granted. Sometimes those charged with refusing to fight are given suspended sentences, which means they can be redeployed. The officer who was shot in the leg by his colleague had pursued a military career since he was 9 and a cadet, he said, but he wanted it to be over the minute he was ordered into Ukraine. He ended up staying about three months, appalled by the very idea of the war as well as by the terrible state of the Russian military. Soldiers were not provided basic items like underwear, he said, and few knew how to navigate and got themselves killed. There are no saints on either side, said the officer, who spoke on the condition that he not be named, nor his location published, out of concern that Russia might seek his extradition. The locals were actively partisan. I shot back. I didnt want to die. After he recovered, and the military ordered him back to Ukraine, he decided to run. Im ready to die for Russia, but I dont want to fight, to risk my life for the criminals who sit in the government, said the officer, who is now on a wanted list in Russia. Another Russian, a member of the Sakha ethnic group concentrated in the Siberian region of Yakutia, also deserted. Five days among the drunken, newly mobilized soldiers at an army camp convinced him to leave. The man, who also insisted on anonymity, was fired from his construction job so that he could go fight. Packed onto an airplane, the draftees discovered their destination for training by looking at their phones when they landed. Most soldiers drank constantly, he said in an interview. One night in another barracks, he said, a soldier stabbed another to death. The conscript said that the racist attitude of his Russian officers when he did his military service a decade earlier had soured him on the military they called him reindeer herder because of his ethnic Siberian background. He said he was subjected to similar comments as soon as he mobilized. Things deteriorated further after he tried to bribe his lieutenant to leave. The officer mocked him openly as a coward. His mother flew in to extract him, directing a taxi to a hole in the bases fence. After he fled the country and was charged with desertion, he faced fierce criticism from home, he said, with authorities saying that he had disgraced the Sakha people. Even a close friend threatened to beat him up. Some Russian courts still publicize military cases to create a chilling deterrent to potential deserters. In the spring, for example, a court announced that a sailor who had gone AWOL twice had been sentenced to nine years in a prison colony. The Krasnoyarsk Garrison Military Court released a photograph and a statement in December showing dozens of soldiers crowding a courtroom to watch an AWOL case. The sentence was pronounced before that audience for preventive purposes, the statement said. In the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border, two soldiers were detained on a parade ground in November and charged with refusing to obey a deployment order. They were called out of the ranks, handcuffed and thrown into a paddy wagon in front of their unit, all shown on a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. Earlier this month, both were sentenced to three years in prison, according to Russian news media reports. Well before the war, Zhilin, 36, the soldier who left for Kazakhstan, had become disenchanted with the very administration he was assigned to protect. An engineer, he worked in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk for the presidential security service, supervising the Kremlins communications lines with the eastern parts of Russia. The assassination of Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov in 2015 and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny in 2020 had drawn his attention, his wife said. He started following political news more closely. He weighed quitting, but decided he could endure the two years until he received a pension. Then came the war. It is one thing to suppress human rights, his wife quoted him as saying, it is quite another to kill people. In the fall, before the mobilization, he had visited the cemetery where his mother is buried. He found 30 new graves of riot police officers who had fought in the war. The ribbon on one small wreath said just Daddy. Two colleagues had already died in Ukraine, and he wondered if his son, 11, and daughter, 8, might one day make a similar wreath. When the mobilization was announced, he quickly decided to leave the country. Since his security clearance gave him access to state secrets, leaving was prohibited. He decided to cross on foot while his family drove into Kazakhstan legally. But the plan went awry. Lacking a cell signal, he could not find their car. He was arrested after stumbling upon a Kazakh border officer. He requested political asylum, but in December, he was deported. In March, he was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in a penal colony and stripped of his rank. Right after he was deported, his wife, fearing that she and the children would also be sent back, sought and received political asylum in France. So far, her husband has not been mistreated, she said. The couple, although bitter toward Kazakh authorities, consider the sentence a far better alternative than dying in Ukraine. Mikhail wrote me that he feels morally freer than he was, she said, adding that he told her, I guess you have to pay a certain price for the freedom to think and to say what you want. c.2023 The New York Times Company Jeffrey Epstein and Noam Chomsky. Rick Friedman/Corbis via Getty Images. Ulf Andersen/Getty Images. Noam Chomsky, the famed academic and activist, held multiple meetings with Jeffrey Epstein, according to The Wall Street Journal. Chomsky's meetings with Epstein took place long after the disgraced financier had registered as a sex offender, the Journal reported. When the Journal asked Chomsky about the meetings, the linguist had some choice words. When asked about their connections with Jeffrey Epstein, many business leaders and bureaucrats have offered tight-lipped regrets and apologies. Not Noam Chomsky. The Wall Street Journal, in an exclusive published Sunday, said it had obtained Epstein's private calendar, which outlined numerous meetings with high-profile people, including Chomsky, the famed academic and political activist. When the Journal reached out to Chomsky for comment, the linguist had some choice words. "First response is that it is none of your business. Or anyone's. Second is that I knew him and we met occasionally," Chomsky, 94, told the Journal in an email. Epstein, the disgraced financier accused of sex trafficking underage girls, died by suicide in 2019 in a Manhattan jail as he awaited trial. Epstein's infamous "black book" of contacts and flight logs from his private jet was first made public in 2015. Epstein's private calendar now sheds more light on some of his contacts. In addition to Chomsky, the Journal noted meetings Epstein had on his calendar with the current CIA director, William Burns, as well as Kathryn Ruemmler, a top lawyer at Goldman Sachs and former White House counsel under President Barack Obama, among others. Epstein's meetings with Chomsky appear to have taken place in 2015 and 2016, according to the Journal. Epstein was first charged with procuring minors for prostitution and registered as a sex offender in 2008. In March 2015, Epstein scheduled meetings with Chomsky and a Harvard University professor, the Journal reported. Chomsky confirmed for the paper that there were several meetings where they discussed various topics. Story continues The Journal reported that months later, according to the calendar, Epstein scheduled a flight with Chomsky and his wife for a planned dinner with movie director Woody Allen and his wife, Soon-Yi Previn, who is also the adopted daughter of his ex-partner, Mia Farrow. "If there was a flight, which I doubt, it would have been from Boston to New York, 30 minutes," Chomsky told the Journal. "I'm unaware of the principle that requires that I inform you about an evening spent with a great artist." Chomsky said he discussed politics and academics in his meetings with Epstein. Epstein donated at least $850,000 between 2002 and 2017 to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Chomsky taught for decades. "What was known about Jeffrey Epstein was that he had been convicted of a crime and had served his sentence," Chomsky told the Journal about his meetings. "According to U.S. laws and norms, that yields a clean slate." Read the original article on Insider Lukas Finch and Sierra Miller pack their apartment before moving on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at Shriver Square in downtown Sioux Falls. Renters in South Dakota certainly have their challenges, whether that's from rising rental rates, limited availability or dealing with landlords. More than 40% of people living in Sioux Falls are renters, according to World Population Review, an organization that monitors the population using data from the United Nations, and landlord-tenant disputes can be common. Most leases should spell out in detail the answers to common renting questions, like how much rent is and when it's due, if pets are allowed and who is responsible for utilities and maintence. But beyond that, it's important to know what rights you have as a renter in Sioux Falls. Here are some questions you may have as a renter and whether South Dakota state law protects you in these cases, according to the Office of the Attorney General: More: Sioux Falls residents are being priced out of rent, with some increases at nearly 50% Can I ask for changes to my lease? Yes. A prospective tenant may review a lease and recommend changes before signing if they dislike certain terms within in. However, it is also within a landlord's right to refuse amendments. A landlord can change the terms of the lease later on after signing, but only if the tenant agrees to the changes. In that case, both the landlord and the tenant should date and initial the changes to the original lease or sign an addendum to the lease. Both parties should revise a complete signed copy of the updated lease. There also needs to be a written agreement to cancel any lease. Can I see the unit before I put down a deposit? Yes. Prospective tenants have the right to inspect the rental unit, as well as the appliances and utilities, before they put any money down. Tenants can make a list of any problems they find and request a landlord sign it so that the tenant is not charged for those damages when moving out. However, the law does not make this an obligation for the landlord. It is up to their discretion to sign a list or not. Story continues Can I be held financially responsible for repairs? First, a tenant should not sign a lease with a clause that states a landlord will never be liable for damage or personal injury, as this may be illegal. The law requires landlord to keep the property in "reasonable repair and fit for human habitation." The electrical, plumbing and heating systems must all be in safe working order, and the cost for repairs falls on the landlord most of the time. However, this is not true in all cases. For example, if there is a plumbing issue and the tenant requests that a plumber come fix it on the weekend instead of a weekday, when it would be cheaper, it is within a landlord's right to charge the tenant for the added cost. A tenant can't be charged for things that were already damaged upon move-in, which is why having both parties sign a list upon moving in is a good idea. But a tenant can be held financially responsible for any damage they caused beyond "ordinary wear and tear," which is a vague term that leaves interpretation open for the landlord. More: Homelessness is rising in Sioux Falls. A housing shortage, COVID and population growth are making it worse. What if my landlord isn't making repairs? Tenants must first notify the landlord in writing of any repairs that need fixing then wait a "reasonable time" for the landlord to take care of it before taking matters into their own hands. One option is to check with local housing inspectors to see if there are possible code violations, in which case the inspecting agency would require the landlord fix things. More: Helpline Center data: More calls about housing and information services in 2021 If a landlord still isn't making necessary repairs, a tenant can make the repairs on their own and deduct the expense from their rent. A tenant also has the right to move out and be released from any further lease obligations, including rent, so long as the repairs are not minor. If the repairs cost more than one months rent, the tenant, after making a written notice, can withhold rent until either the landlord makes repairs or the tenant has accumulated enough in withheld rent payments to pay for the repairs themselves. It's always a keep idea to keep records of correspondences in case a landlord disputes either of these actions. Can my landlord enter my apartment without notice? No. A landlord must give tenants a 24-hour notice before entering the property to make a reasonable inspection, except in the event of an emergency. But if a tenant doesn't allow reasonable entry, the landlord can get a court order to allow entry or simply evict the tenant. Can my landlord take my belongings if I don't pay rent? Not exactly. A landlord cannot simply take a tenants belongings if they don't pay rent. But if a landlord wins in an eviction case after going to court and the tenant has to move out immediately, any belongings left behind may become the landlord's property. Landlords are advised to give the tenant a reasonable time period to collect them before the belongs are sold or thrown out, but there is nothing in state law that says this is mandatory. Will I be evicted for filing claims against my landlord? It is within your right as a tenant to file a formal complaint against a landlord for not making necessary repairs. This also goes for complaining to government agencies who can make inspections on the property. South Dakota law states it is illegal for a landlord to force a tenant into moving because of these complaints, whether through raising rent, decreasing services or a formal eviction. If I'm going to court over my eviction, can I stay on the property? If you've received a Notice to Quit and haven't vacated the premises within the given time-frame, a landlord may move forward with the eviction process. If the tenant wishes to fight the eviction and things progress to a court hearing, the tenant has the right to remain on the property until the court rules in favor of the landlord and issues an Execution for Possession. The Attorney General's office recommends contacting the Division of Consumer Protection for any other questions regarding landlord-tenant issues. But for legal advice, tenants should contact a private attorney. A prospective tenant should ask the landlord any unit-specific questions before signing a lease. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: More than 40% in Sioux Falls rent. Here's how state law protects them. Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas. AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson spoke out about the feud between Disney and Ron DeSantis. He told CNN on Sunday: "It's not the role of government to punish a business." Disney filed a lawsuit against the Florida governor last week. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican candidate for president, responded to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' spat with Disney on Sunday, saying it's "not the role of government" to punish a business with which one disagrees. During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," host Dana Bash asked Hutchinson about his stance on fellow Republicans "using the government to change social policy and wage culture wars?" "I don't like what Disney said about the legislation that I would have supported in Florida, but it's not the role of government to punish a business when you disagree with what they're saying or a position that they take," Hutchinson said. Disney publicly criticized DeSantis' so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill, which he signed into law last March. It prevents teachers in kindergarten to third grade from holding classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity. In retaliation, DeSantis threatened changes to Disney's special tax district. Disney filed a lawsuit last week against DeSantis who is expected to announce his own White House bid claiming that the governor's ongoing actions against Disney violate its Constitutional rights. "If that was the view of a Republican, then we're going to be in all kinds of trouble in our businesses in blue states if they start punishing businesses for taking a more conservative speech or position," Hutchinson said on Sunday. "And so I don't understand a conservative punishing a business that's the largest employer in the state." Story continues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to a crowd at Adventure Outdoors gun store in Smyrna, Georgia. John Bazemore/ AP Photo Hutchinson added: "In Arkansas and, as governors, we recruit industry. We support our industry because it provides jobs and we're not dictating to them what their speech is. To me, that's a conservative position." Read the original article on Business Insider President Joe Biden addressed the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night, highlighting the importance of the media in a free society. Biden also used humor to address past scandals and poked fun at possible 2024 US Election rivals Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Comedian Roy Wood Jr. roasted both political parties, the media, and even the President at the event. President Joe Biden used comedy and serious language to address current issues during the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday night. At the Washington Hilton, where hundreds of supporters of press freedom gathered, President Joe Biden spoke about how the media is "the pillar of a free society, not the enemy." The POTUS also spoke about the unfair arrest of American journalists Evan Gershkovich in Russia and Austin Tice in Syria, telling the audience and the families of the prisoners that the Biden administration is doing everything possible to bring their loved ones home. Furthermore, Joe Biden made several funny remarks that poked fun at the previous scandals that had dogged his predecessor Donald Trump. The president made a joke about being offered 10 dollars to keep his speech short, describing the situation as "a change, a president being offered hush money," in allusion to Donald Trump's alleged participation in a hush money controversy, according to CNN. President Joe Biden also made fun of Florida governor and likely 2024 GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. He said he prepared lots of jokes about DeSantis, "but Mickey Mouse beat the hell out of me, he got there first." Last night, President Biden, the First Lady, Vice President Harris, and the Second Gentleman attended the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. pic.twitter.com/QynLBJJv3K The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 30, 2023 Comedian Roy Wood Jr. Roasts Joe Biden Another highlight of the White House Correspondents' Dinner was "Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood Jr. emerging to spare no one in his roasts. The comedian made fun of President Joe Biden, the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and the media, according to Politico. Read Also: HNGN Weekly Wrap-up In his opening line, Roy Wood Jr. said that he needed to have a quick talk with President Joe Biden because he had left some confidential documents on the stage, and offered to "put them in a "safe place" because Biden "doesn't know where to keep them." The comedian also quipped that there were demonstrations in France, where the administration of Emmanuel Macron was met with opposition when it raised the retirement age. While in the US, "we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work," a reference to Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Celebrities Spotted At the 2023 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Chrissy Teigen brought some Hollywood glitz to the nation's capital, according to People. The mother of three and cookbook author rocked the red carpet at the Washington Hilton in a gorgeous lilac gown with a dazzling corset waistline, deep neckline, and high-slit skirt. John Legend, Teigen's husband, looked dapper in a traditional black tuxedo, white shirt, black shoes, and bow tie as he and his wife posed for photos separately and together. Brittney Griner and her wife Cherelle attended Saturday night's White House Correspondents' Association. The WNBA star was a guest of CBS News and was invited to the event, as per The Hill. Before Brittney Griner's release in a prisoner swap with international weapons dealer Victor Bout, Griner was captured in early 2022 and held in Russia for over 10 months. Related Article: Donald Trump Stays Silent on Latest Bud Light Boycott @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The departure of Biden adviser Susan Rice has prompted relief among immigration advocates, who hope her exit signals a shift on the approach to the border. Rice, the head of the Domestic Policy Council, announced Monday she would step down from the post, a broad portfolio and one where she frequently gave input on immigration matters. That influence often caused frustration among lawmakers and immigration groups, many of whom saw Rice as a primary force behind some of the Biden administrations more hard-line immigration policies, including the continued use of Trump-era deterrent policies at the border. Nayna Gupta, associate director of policy at the National Immigrant Justice Center, said Rices departure will be a critical moment of transition for the administration. It offers the president an opportunity to reevaluate what theyre doing on immigration and to follow through on a lot of broken promises related to managing the border humanely, she said. And to rethink how you respond to a migration challenge with a humanitarian lens rather than a hardline, hawkish punitive response, which is what seemed to be supported by Susan Rice in the Domestic Policy Council until now. Rice was often reported to be behind various proposals to address migration with punitive measures at the U.S.-Mexico border, but the White House was careful to insulate her from public scrutiny on the matter. The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment. Former White House officials and congressional Democrats also tiptoed around Rices influence on the administrations immigration policies, though in March, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) publicly vented his suspicions about Rices involvement in a reported proposal to reinstate family detention. The reluctance among Democrats to pick a fight with Rice was in part influenced by what many view as unfair treatment over the last decade. In 2012, Rice took herself out of the running for secretary of state to avoid a lengthy and potentially damaging confirmation process as Republicans sought an Obama administration official to blame for the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, earlier that year. Those recriminations, and a new set of GOP attacks related to the 2016 presidential campaign, were held by Republicans over Rices head. Rice was reportedly in the running to become President Bidens running mate in 2020 that job ultimately went to Vice President Harris, though Rices participation in a Biden administration was all but certain. As in 2012 when former President Obama appointed her as national security adviser after her withdrawal from the State Department nomination, Rice took a top job that required no Senate confirmation as Bidens domestic policy adviser. Still, Rice has often been a political lightning rod, and her departure from the administration coincided with the kickoff of Bidens reelection campaign. And a New York Times story on child labor recently identified Rice as the author of a note written atop a memo from immigration advocates that blamed TItle 42s block on adults seeking asylum as a factor in so many unaccompanied children traveling to their border without their parents. This is BS, Rice wrote about the memos conclusion. What is leading to voluntary separation is our generosity to UCs! Some advocates did not mince words about their enthusiasm about her exit. Were glad that Susan Rice is leaving as President Bidens domestic policy adviser, Pablo Alvarado, co-executive director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, said in a statement. While the president is of course responsible for his own policies, Ms. Rices tenure was marked by one bad White House decision after another on immigrants and human rights. She bears much responsibility for the huge disconnect between the administrations lofty words about welcoming and respecting immigrants and its reprehensible anti-immigrant actions on the ground particularly along the southern border. A new adviser will give Mr. Biden an opportunity to do better. A chance to fix his broken promises. We expect him to take it, he added. Rice took on her wide-ranging role at the Domestic Policy Counsel after a career largely centered in foreign affairs, culminating in her appointment as ambassador to the United Nations. Her departure does leave a significant knowledge and experience gap in the Biden administration. Despite the GOP political attacks and the friendly fire over her more hawkish stances, she is one of the more experienced policy thinkers available to a Democratic administration. While her impressive resume lacked much in the way of specific immigration policy experience, many of the early immigration executive orders from Biden laid considerable responsibility with the Domestic Policy Council. Angela Kelley, chief adviser for policy and partnerships at the American Immigration Lawyers Association, worked with Rice over the course of the first year of the administration when she was serving as senior counselor on immigration at the Department of Homeland Security. She said Rices role in guiding immigration policy was more nuanced than is often believed. She came in without really any background in the issue. She had to jump in two feet first because of the saliency of immigration for the administration, she said. This issue you live in the gray, and its very uncomfortable all of the time. And I think that that was frustrating to her, to have to live in the gray. Still, Rice, for more than a decade has highlighted the importance of immigration as a top domestic issue. In an NBC News interview discussing why she dropped out of State Department consideration in 2012, Rice listed the administrations priorities she didnt want disrupted by a contentious confirmation process. Were talking about: comprehensive immigration reform, balanced deficit reduction, job creation thats what matters, said Rice. Biden has yet to name Rices successor, and whether her departure will lead to the moment of change some advocates seek remains to be seen. Some advocates have complained that the White House has been too involved in immigration policy, at times sidelining the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). What I hope is that to the extent that there are politicals in DHS who are promoting more progressive and effective and humane responses, that there will be room for those to actually be embraced by the administration, as opposed to the past two years, where it seemed to us that the White House made final calls even when those were not aligned with what their own agency enforcing immigration laws was recommending, Gupta said. But Kelley said others in the White House may now exert greater influence. Going forward, it may be that the center of gravity around these issues could shift to other parts of the White House, she said, calling immigration a high-profile issue for the Biden administration with a lot of cooks who are always in the kitchen. I think a fair-minded person who has background in the issue would be welcomed, she said, of a possible replacement. Rice will leave the administration shortly after the end of Title 42 on May 11, but Gupta said she doesnt expect any immediate shift. If theres anything weve learned in the immigration, space, its that it can always be far too soon to celebrate. It may be potential for change, but we dont know what that looks like, she said. We have learned the hard way, our communities have learned the hard way, that even in these moments of transition sometimes we dont reap the positive policy decisions that we think are overdue. A day after 11 people, most of them teenagers, were hurt in a shooting and stampede, Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott had some harsh words for the gunmen and bond court judges. Youre nothing but a coward to do something like that, Lott said about the shooters at a Sunday news conference. At about 1:20 a.m. Saturday, the Richland County Sheriffs Department said it got a call about a large gathering of juveniles at Meadowlake Park, off Wilson Boulevard in Columbia. The gathering, which happened after several high school proms, was described as a flash party by Lott. The party turned into chaos and broke apart when multiple shooters sneaked up on the partygoers and opened fire into a crowd, according to Lott. Your prom or even going to a party is something you want to remember, and remember it in a good way, Lott said. I guarantee you all of those that were there Saturday morning (are) going to remember this, and not in a good way. The victims Of the 11 people injured, nine were shot, according to the sheriffs department. One unidentified female at the scene suffered lower body injuries after she was run over by a car, and another victims hand was badly cut, the sheriff said. Some victims are in serious condition, while others are scheduled to have surgery Sunday, according to Lott. The only silver lining is that medical officials have told the sheriff that none of the injuries are considered life threatening, Lott said. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 20 years old. Four of the victims were Richland 1 students, according to district Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. At this point we think theyre all going to survive. ... But its not not because those who were doing the shooting didnt try, Lott said. Many, many more (victims that dont) have a visible wound but have psychological wounds, mental wounds, stuff that theyre going to have to live with the rest of their lives. The terror that they experienced was something that they will never forget. Story continues The sheriff said listening to an audio recording of the shooting was scary. He compared it to something you would expect to hear in a war zone in Iraq, Afghanistan or Ukraine, as he said more than 50 rounds were fired by fully-automatic weapons. Arrests made Two teenagers were arrested in the hours after the shooting. Miquise Fulwiley, 19, and Tyquan Kelly, 18, were taken into custody after leading deputies on a chase from the park. Responding deputies saw a car drive away from the park at a high speed with no lights on, Lott said. The deputies began a pursuit, and while the driver ignored the siren and blue lights, deputies saw guns thrown out of the car, according to the sheriff. One gun has been recovered so far, Lott said. Deputies are working to determine if the gun was used in the shooting, a process that could take some time, according to Lott. At this point, Fulwiley and Kelly both have been charged with simple possession of marijuana and unlawful carrying of a pistol. Fulwiley also was charged with failure to stop for blue lights. Lott wouldnt say how many shooters opened fire at the party, but said the investigation is ongoing, making it likely that more arrests possible. Im speaking to you right now, if you were involved in that shooting, youre going to get caught, Lott said. If you think wearing a mask, and sneaking around a building and shooting into a crowd makes you a man, thats nothing but a coward. Youre nothing but a coward to do something like that, shoot girls in the back. Shooting females in the back, shooting people just in a crowd, does that make you somebody, does that give you a reputation within your group of people that you run with. No, all it does is make you a coward. Catch and release Lott was clearly upset that both Fulwiley and Kelly are no longer being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, after being released on bond. It was before 5 a.m. when both were booked into the Richland County jail, and Lott said both were freed by Saturday night. Fulwiley was released on a personal recognizance bond, which Lott described as the teen simply saying to the judge Im going to be a good boy and Im going to show up for court when Im supposed to. The sheriff was even more disturbed about Kelly, who was released after bond was set at $10,000. Before Saturday, Kelly had been arrested twice since March 1 on weapons charges, and was released after bond was set at $2,500 and then $50,000 after those arrests, including the most recent on April 16, according to Lott. This is the third time that he has been caught with a gun, and he continuously gets out, Lott said. Lott then turned his ire toward the bond system. Its terrible that I have to stand here and talk constantly about catch and release, catch and release. Thats what weve already seen in this case. We havent even caught all the people involved in it yet, and were seeing those that weve already caught that are being released, Lott said. Were going to catch (the shooters) and were going to do what were supposed to do. Hopefully, the criminal justice system will do what theyre supposed to do also. Why did it happen? As for a motive for the shooting, there is none, according to the sheriff. Thats whats hard to explain, because everybody wants to know what caused this to happen, Lott said. These people who do these things, they dont need any cause. They just show up with guns and they start shooting. It was a case of people showing up without being directly invited to the flash party, according to the sheriff. This isnt the first time that violence has been reported at a flash party, Lott said. Part of that is because the party organizers share news about the event on social media, and more than their friends see the details. Were talking about 100, 200 kids showing up at one place. Not just kids there to hang out with their friends. Any and everybody shows up. When you put it out on social media everybody sees it, so everybody shows up, Lott said. The hoodlums see it too, the bad guys see it and show up and do what they did the other night. Lott said the victims werent targeted for any specific reason other than they were in attendance at the flash party that involved students from multiple high schools in the Midlands and as far as Great Falls. Thats what makes this scary about these people with these guns, Lott said. The sheriff said the gun violence in the area did not stop with the early-morning shooting. There were two more shootings in Columbia and another two in Richland County Saturday where four people total were injured, according to the sheriff. Further details on those shootings was not available. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, said GOP candidates will have to address abortion "head on" in 2024, a crucial presidential election year as the party continues to deal with the aftermath of last year's Supreme Court decision to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion. The guidance were gonna give to our candidates is, you have to address this head on, McDaniel said on Fox News Sunday, attributing the GOP's lackluster results in the 2022 midterm elections to the issue. Many of our candidates across the board refused to talk about it, thinking Oh we can just talk about the economy and ignore this big issue. McDaniel continued. And they cant. Republicans have a chance to retake the White House in 2024 and regain control of the Senate through a favorable map that is putting several vulnerable Democrats on the defensive. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican Party holds the gavel at the start of the 2023 Republican National Committee Winter Meeting in Dana Point, California, on January 27, 2023. McDaniel: GOP candidates can't be 'uncomfortable' on abortion Anti-abortion conservatives earned a massive victory when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last summer, but since then, abortion has become a forefront issue for many voters and Republicans have struggled in multiple elections as a result. Republican presidential hopefuls remain largely divided over whether they would support a national abortion ban. Most declared and expected candidates have yet to stake out a clear position on the issue, with some remaining mum on whether they would sign into law a federal ban. Others, such as former Vice President Mike Pence, who is mulling a bid, has said he supports a 15-week ban. McDaniel urged candidates to stake a clear anti-abortion position heading into the next election cycle. Theyre uncomfortable but they cant be, McDaniel said, adding that if Republicans do not provide their view on abortion, Democrats will do it for them. You need to say, listen, I'm proud to be pro-life, McDaniel said. Story continues Abortion pill: Supreme Court sides with the Biden administration, halts restrictions on mifepristone Re-elected Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel is applauded at the committee's winter meeting in Dana Point, Calif., Friday, Jan. 27, 2023. GOP lawmaker takes aim at DeSantis' abortion ban McDaniel is not the only one within the GOP calling for candidates to find a definitive position on abortion. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who has become one of the most outspoken Republican figures attempting to steer her party to the center on abortion, took aim at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to soon launch a presidential campaign, for signing into law a restrictive 6-week abortion ban in Florida. The ban, which has yet to take effect due to an ongoing legal challenge in the state Supreme Court on a separate 15-week ban, includes exceptions for rape or incest, but requires proof, such as a police report. Signing a 6-week ban that puts women who are victims of rape and girls who are victims of incest in a hard spot isnt the way to change hearts and minds, Mace said on CBS Face the Nation, adding she thinks the ban could come back to haunt the party if he is the GOP nominee. It puts him in a very difficult position for a general election in my opinion, Mace said. Which is why I have been so vocal on this issue, I would like us to win. Related: Nancy Mace takes on Ron DeSantis over abortion, warns GOP will 'lose huge' in 2024 Committee Chair Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., speaks during a committee on House Administration Oversight Subcommittee and House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee joint hearing Wednesday, April 19, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion: RNC chair says 2024 GOP must address issue 'head on' Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel slammed the Biden administration Sunday, saying the White House is "more China first than America first" as the country heads into the 2024 presidential election cycle. "We're not going to have the America we know and love if this continues," McDaniel told "Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream. "If they stack the Supreme Court, if they get rid of the filibuster, if they abandon energy independence, if they're so beholden to China." "China is running this White House in a lot of ways this is an administration that is more China first than America first," McDaniel claimed. McDaniel also emphasized the need for Republican Party voters to put on a united front ahead of the 2024 presidential elections, amid criticism from the left that the GOP is divided. US CONDEMNS CHINA'S 'HARASSMENT' OF PHILIPPINES IN SOUTH PACIFIC RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel slammed the Biden administration Sunday, saying the White House is "more China first than America first" as the 2024 election cycle draws closer. "People are really hurting right now in this country, so I look at the debate not just about Republican against Republican, I look at it as our party making a case as to why we should win the White House and defeat Joe Biden," McDaniel said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The Biden administration has taken some heat over their handling of China as tensions between the two countries have continued to worsen, specifically over Taiwan, tech and manufacturing. HOUSE REPUBLICAN PROPOSES BILL TO LET AMERICANS SUE FOREIGN COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA, MEXICO OVER FENTANYL On Friday, the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill striking down Biden's action last year that allowed Chinese solar panel manufacturers to avoid Obama-era tariffs. Biden implemented a 24-month moratorium last June on the enforcement of solar panel anti-circumvention tariffs introduced under the Obama administration that protected U.S. companies. "Joe Bidens decision to protect Communist Chinas solar manufacturers from U.S. tariffs is another demonstration of weakness from an already spineless administration," House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., told Fox News Digital last week. Story continues CHINA 'RECOGNIZES MEXICOS STRATEGIC VALUE' AS IT EYES GREATER INFLUENCE WITH US NEIGHBOR Former U.S. Ambassadors Peter Hoekstra and Joseph Cella earlier this month sounded the alarm on the increasing number of green energy projects nationwide being developed with the involvement of Chinese companies. The ambassadors said the companies are exploiting American tax incentives to build facilities and projects in the U.S., thus boosting Chinese industry and ensuring continued U.S. reliance on China. Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed concerns that the Chinese-owned app could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda. The banning of TikTok has become another hot-button topic, amid growing calls from both sides of the aisle to ban the app due to data concerns. Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed worries that the Chinese-owned app could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform. Recently, a Montana bill that would ban the use of TikTok on personal devices remains stalled ahead of an end to the state's 90-day legislative session next week. Fox News's Thomas Catennaci contributed to this report. The hacker stole bitcoins from the FSB and the GRU, and then sent them to Ukraine The crypto experts said the hacker had transferred the stolen bitcoins to the addresses of Ukrainian volunteers. The mystery user seems to have been able to put blockchain and bitcoin technologies to work against the aggressor state. Using their arcane skills, the hacker gained access to hundreds of crypto wallets, which likely belonged to Russian law enforcement agencies. Read also: Unexpected failure of Russian hackers and Ukraines ascendant IT expertise Chainalysis analysts believe that the hacker used a feature of documenting transactions in the bitcoin blockchain to identify 986 wallets controlled by the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU), the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), and the Federal Security Service (FSB). The analysts did not disclose which feature it was. At the same time, the hacker left messages in Russian to the owners of the wallets, in which he states that these wallets were used to pay for the services of hackers working for Russia. It is not known to what extent these allegations are true. Western analysts consider it indisputable that Russian intelligence services use hackers to conduct numerous operations. Chainalysis experts could only partially confirm the hacker's claims. They note that at least three of the allegedly Russian wallets have already been linked to Russia by third parties. Two of them were allegedly involved in the Solar winds attack, and the third paid for servers used in Russia's disinformation campaign in the 2016 elections. Read also: Famous Australian hacker calls Russian cyberpunks regime slaves Chainalysis analysts suggest that the hacker gained control of the wallets, which he claims were controlled by Russian intelligence services, not through hacking, but through "inside work. "Simply put, this person could have infiltrated the structure of hackers working for Russia, or he could have been an employee of the Russian special services who later became a defector. Story continues The first hacks were carried out a few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The hacker was initially determined to simply destroy the stolen funds in the wallets of the Russian special services. Chainalysis suggests that the mysterious attacker destroyed bitcoins worth about $300,000 using the OP_RETURN feature of the bitcoin blockchain (this function allows you to invalidate previously performed transactions). Read also: Russia, once considered a top force in cyberspace, now being mocked by world's best hackers However, when Russia's war with Ukraine began, the hacker changed tactics. Since the first days of the war, the Ukrainian government has used cryptocurrency to raise tens of millions of dollars for military and charitable purposes. According to Chainalysis, some of the wallets involved in this investigation transferred funds to Ukrainian government wallets after the war began. Basically, the mysterious hacker stopped burning money and started sending it to help Ukraine, Chainalysis said. "The fact that the OP_RETURN sender was both willing and able to burn hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin in order to spread their message makes it more likely in our opinion that their information is accurate," Chainalysis analysts concluded. 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 Ohio authorities say that at least 14 people have been hospitalized after a roof collapsed in Columbus Saturday evening. The collapse happened at a home near the campus of Ohio State University. Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Jeffrey Geitter told FOX 28 Columbus that between 15 and 45 people were on the roof. The roof was not designed to support that amount of people, the fire chief said. OHIO GOV. DEWINE SIGNS $13.5 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, RAIL SAFETY PACKAGE INTO LAW The Ohio State University logo at the top of the Ohio Stadium at sunset, during a summer day on The Ohio State University campus. People allegedly heard a cracking noise before the roof gave way. All 14 injured people are in stable condition. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP An Ohio State University spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the incident happened at an off-campus building and not on university property. OHIO GOV. DEWINE SIGNS $13.5 TRANSPORTATION BUDGET, RAIL SAFETY PACKAGE INTO LAW "On behalf of the university, I can add that we are monitoring this serious situation closely and assisting first responders in any way possible," the spokesperson said. "Our thoughts are with those present and their friends and family." Fox News Digital reached out to Columbus Division of Fire and Columbus Division of Police for more information, but has not heard back. This is a breaking news story. Check back with us for more updates. The Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr., seemingly spared no-one in his roasts during Saturdays White House Correspondents Dinner. The comedian poked fun at President Joe Biden, Republicans, Democrats and the media, including the recently dethroned cable news hosts at CNN and Fox News. Here are some of Woods best lines from the night: Real quick, Mr. President, I think you left some of your classified documents up here. ... Ill put them in a safe place, he dont know where to keep them. I'm well aware that not everybody in this room knows who I am. So let's just address the elephant in the room. I know it is. Half of this room think I'm Kenan Thompson. The other half think Im Louis Armstrong. President Biden think Im the daddy on "Family Matters. I'd like to stop right now, and congratulate tonight's top scholarship recipient: Arizona State senior George Santos. Oh yeah, George couldn't be here tonight. He's auditioning for "RuPauls Drag Race." We say good luck to you, George. Paramount Global right now is considering offers from Byron Allen and Tyler Perry to purchase BET. That's how bad it is out there. These companies are so broke they've giving BET back to Black people. Which by the way, is not what we meant when we said Black people wanted reparations. We meant cash, you can give it to us in [the] Harriet Tubman twenties. Tucker Carlson is out of the job. Some people celebrating. But to Tuckers staff I want you to know that I know what you're feeling. I work at The Daily Show so I, too, have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. Fox claimed Dominion conspired with the Democrats to rig the election. The Democrats should be flattered that they thought that y'all was smart enough to rig an election. Yes, Don Lemon was a diva and he said a couple of women are raggedy in the face. But that's a promotion at Fox News. Story continues Ron, everybody know how to do politics. This is America. We don't pass laws. You make a promise to voters. And then you don't do it. That's what the great leaders in this room understand. Ask any Republican [to] try to explain CRT, they sound like a Democrat trying to explain the charges against Trump. You are trying to erase Black people and a lot of Black people wouldn't mind some of that erasure as long as that Black person is Clarence Thomas. When the retirement age went up two years to 64 [in France] they rioted because they didn't want to work till 64. Meanwhile in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work. At the end of the day, [being] the vice president, the only thing you got to do is just be better than Dick Cheney. They made a documentary about Dick Cheney. Now, I don't know much about the job of vice president, but I do know if they can make a documentary about your time as vice president, you vice president-ed incorrectly. ALEXANDER DRAGO Roy Wood Jr. wanted to accomplish two things during his White House Correspondents Dinner speech Saturday night: laughs and reparations, as he told NPR earlier this week. He got half his wish. On Saturday evening, Wood took some mainly innocuous shots at Joe Biden, largely targeting his age (When the retirement age went up two years to 64 [in France] they rioted because they didn't want to work till 64. Meanwhile in America, we have an 80-year-old man begging us for four more years of work.) But he really rode roughshod over several newsmakers who werent in the room at the Washington Hilton Hotel to smile awkwardly as the camera panned to capture their discomfort. Wood kicked off his roast by alerting Biden, who had just vacated the podium, that he seemed to have left a handful of confidential documents behind. Then The Daily Show correspondent felt it was only fair to introduce himself to whoever was watching, because Half this room thinks Im Kenan Thompson, the other half thinks Im Louis Armstong, Wood surmised, President Biden thinks Im the daddy on Family Matters. Throughout his nearly 30-minute address, Wood targeted a wide range of people and topics, and deftly managed to thread what was essentially a searing roast of the biggest political headlines at the moment with a personal and deeply felt reverence to authentic journalism. An often overlooked purpose of tonights dinner is to award scholarships to students who have shown great achievements in journalism, Wood said. These brave young souls are the future of the industry, and Id like to stop right now and congratulate tonights top scholarship recipient: Arizona State senior George Santos. Sadly, the volleyball champ/congressman from New York was not in attendance. Wood spoke about how its a tumultuous time in the media, citing NPR, Axios, BuzzFeed News, and several other outlets that have seen large rounds of layoffs. But also noted that scandals have been a major source of unemployment for some too, including The Untouchable Tucker Carlson Story continues But to Tuckers staff, I want you to know that I know what youre feeling, said Wood. I work at The Daily Show. So I, too, have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program. The comedian addressed Biden specifically when he suggested that having Carlson back on the air would be a good thing for the president, because right now theres millions of Americans that dont even know why they hate you. He then chastised CNN for firing Don Lemon before he had a chance to rack up several more scandals, suggesting that scandals are what a news network should be looking for in their on-air personalities. Yes, Don Lemon was a diva and he said a couple of women are raggedy in the face. But that's a promotion at Fox News, said Wood. Biden Deflects Age Concerns With Brutal Shot at Don Lemon For a masterclass in How to Create a Scandal, Wood suggested we all look to Donald Trump: Keeping up with Donald Trump scandals is like watching Star Wars movies, he said of the former president. You gotta watch the third one to understand the first one. Then you cant miss the second one, because its got Easter eggs for the fifth one. Donald Trump is the only politician whose scandals got spin-offs on Disney+. Yet Wood also took the time to do what so few entertainers have done before him by truly celebrating the journalists who break the stories that change our world. Woods father, Roy Wood Sr., was a pioneering Black radio journalist who co-founded the National Black Network, Americas first Black-owned national radio network that created content for Black Americans. The industry that covers all of these scandals, isnt immune to them, Wood said, taking on a more serious tone. The issue with good media is that most people cant afford that. All the essential, fair and nuanced reporting is stuck behind a paywall. People cant afford rent, people cant afford foodnot healthy food. They cant afford an education. They damn sure cant afford to pay for the truth. Say what you want about a conspiracy theory, but at least its affordable, Wood continued. Unless you're Alex Jonesthen it costs you about $900 million. But Woods plea was heartfelt: People cant afford the truth, but you all cant afford to go find the truth for free. The work you do as journalists is important, essential, and dangerous Good journalism costs, thats the truth of the matter. USA-WHITEHOUSE/DINNER "U.S. President Joe Biden wears Aviator sunglasses as Comedian Roy Wood Jr., is introduced during the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner in Washington, U.S., April 29, 2023. REUTERS/Al Drago" ALEXANDER DRAGO Wood paid tribute to Evan Gershkovich, the Wall Street Journal journalist who is currently jailed in Russia on espionage charges because of his reporting. Gershkovichs imprisonment, and the importance of the First Amendment, were sentiments that Biden echoed during his own time at the podium, when he said that todays press is not your fathers press from 20 years ago but still it is absolutely essential and consequential and noted that, I believe in the First Amendment. [And] not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it. While Biden wasnt afraid to address the many concerns about this age, he also didnt hold back when it came to his political rivals. While sending off the crowd, he warned them to be safe and act responsibly. If you find yourself confused or disoriented, said the president, youre either drunk, or Marjorie Taylor Greene. For more, listen to Roy Wood Jr. on The Last Laugh podcast. 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 Daily Show correspondent Roy Wood Jr. joked that billionaire Harlan Crow took Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on unreported trips around the world like an Instagram model as he roasted him over his ties to the GOP megadonor at the White House Correspondents Association dinner on Saturday. Wood ripped on Thomas as he emphasized that billionaires like Crow always come up with something new to buy. This man bought a Supreme Court justice. Do you understand how rich you have to be to buy a Supreme a Black one on top of that. Theres only two in stock and Harlan Crow owns half the inventory, joked Wood. We can all see Clarence Thomas but he belongs to billionaire Harlan Crow. And thats what an NFT is, he added. Wood Jr: We can all see Clarence Thomas, but he belongs to billionaire Harlan Crow. And that's what an nft is. pic.twitter.com/KZekfOsDYr Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2023 Wood, much like President Joe Biden in his earlier remarks, also took a jab at Tucker Carlson in the aftermath of his surprise exit from Fox News. The comedian made light of Daily Show host Trevor Noahs exit last year, as he assured Fox News staffers they werent alone. The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job, some people celebrate it but to Tuckers staff, I want you to know that I know what youre feeling. I work at The Daily Show so I, too, have been blindsided by the sudden departure of a host of a fake news program, Wood quipped. Roy Wood Jr. speaks to Tucker Carlson's staff, "But to Tucker's staff, I want you to know that I know what you're feeling. I work at "The Daily Show" so I too have been blind-sided by the sudden departure of a host of a fake news program." #WHCDpic.twitter.com/eerX9bXaD9 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 30, 2023 Wood didnt hold back jokes at the expense of Biden, either. Story continues He poked fun at the president after Biden closed his speech with a reference to the Dark Brandon meme. Yall, give it up for Dark Brandon. Thank you, Im happy to be here. Real quick, Mr. President, I think you left some of your classified documents up here, joked Wood. Wood Jr: Y'all, give it up for dark Brandon. Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Real quick, Mr. President, I think you left some of your classified documents up here. pic.twitter.com/zcDbGk4T1c Acyn (@Acyn) April 30, 2023 You can watch Roy Wood Jr.s full remarks at the WHCD below. Related... U.S. Sen. Tim Scott plans to announce on May 22 whether hell run for president, he told a Charleston crowd Sunday. Scott, who on April 12 launched an exploratory committee on whether to run for president, has been visiting the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina as part of his Faith in America tour, ahead of an expected run for the White House. It is time to take the Faith in America tour not just on the road, not just to an exploratory committee, the South Carolina Republican told the crowd of about 150 people, a comment which received a standing ovation. It is time to make a final step. We are going to have a major announcement. You are going to want to be there. If Scott ultimately jumps in, hell join a field that includes former President Donald Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Scott has been trailing in the polls of potential and declared Republican candidates for the White House. A poll of Republicans around the country showed Scott was at 2%, trailing Trump at 47%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 33%, former Vice President Mike Pence at 5% and Haley at 4%, according to a March Quinnipiac University Poll. Scott is doing better within his home state, according to a Winthrop University poll. Scott was at 7% among South Carolinians, who hold the Souths first presidential primary next year. The poll, released April 12, found 41% of South Carolina Republicans are backing Trump. DeSantis and Haley were nearly tied for second at 20% and 18%, respectively. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott told a crowd of about 150 people on Sunday, April 30, 2023 he plans to announce his next step on whether hell run for president on May 22 in North Charleston. But those in the crowd were ecstatic about his potential run. I think about that old proverb, about how it takes a village. This is the village of South Carolina and now were going to play a part in whatever he does and whatever the future holds for him. We couldnt be more excited, said Mikee Johnson, who is serving as Scotts national finance co-chair. Were going to play a part in whatever he does. Hes been serving us and our nation dutifully, passing legislation, working with both sides, which is not common in todays world. I think theres a hunger for somebody or some person to do it differently. Story continues During the hour-long town hall, Scott repeated some of his traditional lines such as the need for school choice. We need school choice in the hands of every single parent in the nation. If the parents have a choice, the kids have a chance, Scott said inside of the Meeting Street Academy, a charter school in Charleston. Scott also criticized the Biden Administrations handling of the southern border. If we want to create a blueprint of how to ruin America, leave our borders insecure, Scott said. During his remarks, Scott was talking like a White House candidate as he went after President Joe Biden, who announced he would be seeking reelection. I honestly think the liberal left (and) Biden team fears an African American conservative Republican about as much as everything else, said Scott, the U.S. Senates only Black Republican. My life disproves their lies. Missile Read also: Ukrainian military comments on Russias recent attempts to overcome air defense He said that although Russia continues to produce new missiles, the pace of their production is slow. We know that the Russians have few missiles left, although they continue to produce them, Ihnat said. The remains that were found during the last strikes indicate that these are fresh missiles, they were manufactured in the fall, and there are spare parts made in winter. The enemy continues to produce them, but the production rate is low, because these are high-tech weapons, and they are not produced quickly. (But) unfortunately, they do continue to produce them. He said that the analysis of markings on the wreckage of Russian missiles showed that some of the metal and high-tech parts are possibly not of Russian origin. Cruise missiles are effectively unmanned aircraft, they cost millions of dollars, they contain tens of thousands of high-tech parts, and Russia certainly cannot produce (all of) them," Ihnat added. Read also: Russia unlikely to restore stockpile of long-range missiles, says Air Force This is a fact. Unfortunately, it can get them through third countries, it can and does get them through smuggling. That is why sanctions pressure on the terrorist state is needed at all levels. This pressure is also needed on those states that may be assisting Russia in obtaining these parts. In the early hours of April 28, Russia launched another massive missile attack on Ukrainian cities. Eleven missiles and 2 UAVs were shot down near Kyiv. According to Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian defenders shot down 21 of 23 missiles that Russia fired at 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 The invaders hit the center of Avdiyivka In the afternoon, the enemy launched an airstrike on the town center. "Two multi-storey buildings collapsed," Barabash said. All three floors, down to the foundations. There is no information on victims yet. He said the Russian army shelled the old part of the town at night. Read also: As of April 30, 1,782 people remain in Avdiyivka, including a 12-year-old boy, who is being searched for. The residents are provided with food and other necessary products, the head of the military administration said. Earlier, Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier Yuriy Syrotyuk said in an interview with Radio NV that Ukrainian resistance in the battles for Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Vuhledar had stalled Russia's winter offensive campaign. 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 the 1960s, the French press dubbed Slava Zaitsev the 'Soviet Christian Dior' Russian fashion designer Viacheslav "Slava" Zaitsev, dubbed the "Soviet Christian Dior", has died at the age of 85, his fashion house told AFP Sunday. Confirming Russian media reports, a spokeswoman added that when Zaitsev had celebrated his birthday in March with friends, "we could already see he was very, very, weak". "The couturier Viacheslav Zaitsev has died," Russian state channel Perviy Kanal reported, paying tribute to a man who "dictated Soviet and Russian fashion for decades, an innovator who wasn't afraid of bold experiments". "It's a great loss for the world of international fashion," Ria Novosti news agency quoted Russian stylist Sergei Zverev as saying. Russia's most famous fashion designer, Zaitsev achieved global success with bright dresses adorned with the flower patterns found on traditional Russian shawls. From a modest childhood in Ivanovo, a town of 400,000 people to the northeast of the capital, his career took him to the catwalks of Paris, New York and Tokyo. The French press in the 1960s dubbed him the "Soviet Christian Dior". Watched closely by the KGB because of his contacts with Western designers and his flamboyant character, Zaitsev was initially refused permission to leave the Soviet Union and his first collections were shown abroad without him. In 1962, Zaitsev's first collection of clothes -- a uniform for female workers that featured skirts with the flower patterns of traditional Russian shawls and multicoloured boots -- was rejected by Soviet authorities. "The colours were too bright and contrasted with the greyness of Soviet everyday life, where an individual should not differ from the rest of society," Zaitsev said in an interview with AFP in 2018. But the collection, nonetheless, attracted international attention. In 1963, French magazine Paris Match became the first Western media outlet to describe Zaitsev as a pioneer of Soviet fashion. Story continues - Celebrity clients - Born into a poor family with a mother who worked as a cleaner, he initially was barred from attending a top-flight university because his father, taken captive by the Nazis during World War II, had, like other former prisoners-of-war, been labelled an "enemy of the people" and sentenced to 10 years in a labour camp. "When I was a child, my mother taught me embroidery so I wouldn't roam the streets without purpose," he told AFP. "In the evenings I would pick flowers with girls on Lenin Avenue to draw them and recreate them in embroidery. That's how I began my adventure in art." He studied at a vocational college until the age of 18 and then went on to the unglamorous Moscow Textile Institute. "During my studies, I lived with a family whose children I looked after. The apartment was tiny and I slept on the floor under the table," he recalled. Later in life, between 2007 and 2009, he presented a popular television show called "The Verdict of Fashion," in which stylists dressed participants in the latest street looks. He counted several Russian movie stars, singers and the ex-wife of President Vladimir Putin, Lyudmila, among his clients. bur/jj/kjm A resident of Nikopol was killed, and another two were injured, in Russian shelling on Sunday, 30 April. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE shelling OF NIKOPOL, PHOTO FROM LYSAKA's TELEGRAM Quote from Lysak: "Over the course of today, enemy forces deployed heavy artillery twice to shell Nikopol. A 48-year-old resident of the city was killed. A 46-year-old woman and an 80-year-old man sustained injuries. Six multi-storey buildings and six private houses were damaged [in Nikopol], as well as several outbuildings, two gas pipelines, and a power line." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian troops who dug trenches in Chernobyl forest during their occupation of the area have been struck down with radiation sickness, authorities have confirmed. Ukrainians living near the nuclear power station that exploded 37 years ago, and choked the surrounding area in radioactive contaminants, warned the Russians when they arrived against setting up camp in the forest. But the occupiers who, as one resident put it to The Times, understood the risks but were just thick, installed themselves in the forest, reportedly carved out trenches, fished in the reactors cooling channel flush with catfish and shot animals, leaving them dead on the roads. Reactor No 4 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded on 26 April 1986. It is commonly referred to the worlds worst civil nuclear incident. Scores died as a result and the USSR collapsed less than six years later. The city of Prypiat and the 30km exclusion zone surrounding it were emptied of their citizens, with the clean-up scheduled to end in 2065. In the years after the incident, teams of men were sent to dig up the contaminated topsoil and bury it below ground in the Red Forest named after the colour the trees turned as a result of the catastrophe. The Chernobyl disaster is known as the worlds worst civil nuclear incident (AP) On 24 February 2022, Russian forces crossed into Chernobyl from Belarus, where they remained for five weeks. I started yelling at them, Chernobyl resident Baba Hana, 90, told The Times, recounting a confrontation with the invading forces. I tried to give them political information, explaining what was happening in their country ... I am a Russian speaker, I asked what they were doing there, who they thought they were liberating. Vladimir Putins men reportedly set up camp within a six-mile radius of reactor No 4, and dug defensive positions into the poisonous ground below the surface. On 1 April, as Ukrainian troops mounted counter-attacks from Kyiv, the last of the occupiers withdrew, leaving behind piles of rubbish. Russian soldiers stationed in the forest have since been struck down with radiation sickness, diplomats have confirmed. Symptoms can start within an hour of exposure and can last for several months, often resulting in death. Dont try to find logic, its stupid, said Oksana Pyshna, 30, a tour guide turned employee of the state ministry responsible for the exclusion zone, told the newspaper. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, around 70 residents of the eastern city of Luhansk and its outskirts forcibly mobilised to fight on the Russian side are being killed each day. Source: General Staff report Quote from the General Staff: "Lately, around 70 residents of the eastern city of Luhansk and its outskirts forcibly mobilised to fight on the Russian side are being killed each day. To prevent expressions of discontent among local residents, funeral services have been advised to limit the number of people attending funeral processions to six people. In light of the situation, the so-called MGB [Ministry of State Security of the illegal Russian-controlled formation Luhansk Peoples Republic - ed.] also insists that the dead be cremated rather than buried." Details: The General Staff also reported that hospitals in the Russian-occupied city of Luhansk are struggling to deal with the increasing number of injured Russian soldiers. A group of medical workers, including surgeons, has recently arrived from Moscow Oblast to help treat and rehabilitate Russian soldiers. The official purpose of the visit is to "share experience" with their colleagues in Luhansk and help the citys medical facilities. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Consequences of the Russian shelling of the Kherson Oblast The invaders also launched UAVs over the southern Ukrainian oblast, the governor said. Read also: Ukrainian partisans blow up Russian checkpoint in Kherson Oblast One civilian was killed and another wounded as a result of the enemy attacks, he added. He said that the Russians had shelled the liberated city of Kherson twice. Residential areas in other settlements in the oblast also came under Russian attack. Prokudin added that 71 people were evacuated from liberated territories in Kherson Oblast over the past day. Read also: South command calls for hush on rumors of Ukrainian landing on Dnipro left bank Kherson Oblast Military Administration reported on April 29 that it was working on ways to evacuate residents of the region in the case of mass shelling attacks by the Russian military. Prokudin said the regional authorities would identify safe routes for leaving settlements, would arrange temporary accommodation, and would provide medicines, food, and other necessities. Russian invasion troops regularly shell civilian residential areas in other Ukrainian oblasts close to Russian territory or Russian-occupied territory, including Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya, and Mykolaiv oblasts. Read also: Civilian killed and Italian journalist injured by Russian shelling in Ukraine The International Criminal Court has announced that it is opening two war crimes cases against Russia, one of which concerns illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure. 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 Several dozens of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia on 29 April held a rally near the Russian embassy in Riga calling on Russia "not to protect" them. Source: Latvian news websites Delfi and LRT, reports European Pravda Details: The rally was organised by the Russian Voice for Latvia union. The impetus for the meeting was the statement of the State Duma of the Russian Federation "on the inadmissibility of the repressive policy of the leadership of the Baltic states towards the Russian-speaking population". Grandfather, take pills Photo: DELFI People gathered near the Russian embassy in Riga around 14:00 with slogans against Moscow's interference in Latvia's internal affairs and the use of the country's Russian-speaking residents in the interests of Russia. The participants of the action unfurled the poster "Grandfather, take pills", people also brought the flags of the EU and Ukraine and hand-made posters with the slogans "We need Europe, not the Russian peace", "Latvia is the motherland, Russia is the occupier", "Don't poke your nose into Latvia", "Get your hands off our country". We need Europe, not the Russian peace Photo: DELFI Don't poke your nose into Latvia Photo: DELFI Martin Levushkan, Head of the organisation, explained that they want to convey the position of those Russian-speaking Latvians who oppose Moscow's policy towards the Baltic states and are outraged that the Russian Federation uses them for its political purposes and division in society. "We don't need to be protected, protect yourself in The Hague. Our homeland is Latvia," he concluded. Photo: DELFI One provocateur approached the participants, but overall the rally passed without incident. Background: The Saeima of Latvia granted Russians additional time for the language exam, which is a condition for a residence permit. Meanwhile, surveys have shown that for the first time in the history of observations, Latvian Russian-speakers consider the country's foreign policy orientation to the West more desirable than to the East. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian representatives have left a building in Warsaw which had been used since the 1950s as a school for the children of Russian diplomats and which has now been returned to the city hall by court order. Source: Polish news outlet RMF FM, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Rafa Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw: "We have taken control of another building illegally occupied by the Russian Federation on the basis of a court decision that also obliges Russia to pay 31 million zlotys [approximately US$7.45 million ed.] for the illegal occupation of the premises at 45 Kielecka Street." Przejelismy kolejny budynek bezprawnie zajmowany dotychczas przez Federacje Rosyjska. Komornik wasnie zakonczy swoje czynnosci przy ul. Kieleckiej 45. W trybie pilnym wystapimy do wojewody mazowieckiego o powierzenie nieruchomosci @warszawa. pic.twitter.com/DWMRY3Mjrf Rafa Trzaskowski (@trzaskowski_) April 29, 2023 Details: Tomasz Bratek, Vice President of Warsaw, has said that the Polish side had to partially use force to enter the premises the Russian side refused to open the gate, so a locksmith had to be engaged to enter the courtyard and the premises. Bratek said that the Russian embassy decided to give them the keys to the premises afterwards, and the parties have agreed on the order in which the Russians would pack up and leave the premises. The Russian side has claimed that the 27 people who were living in the school left of their own volition. There are plans to continue to use the building for educational purposes as of the next academic year. photo: PAP Background: On the afternoon of 29 April, it became known that Poland was beginning to enter the building at 45 Kielecka Street on the basis of a court order. The Russian ambassador to Poland called this a violation of the Vienna Convention and promised a reaction from Moscow. A Polish court had previously found that the Russian embassy had been using the two buildings illegally for years, after which Warsaw City Hall and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated legal steps to return the premises to the Polish side. According to the Polish news outlet Onet, the building at 45 Kielecka Street was nationalised and handed over to the Soviets in 1945. Since 1953, a school attached to the Soviet Embassy had been operating there, and children of diplomats from other Warsaw Pact countries also studied there. On Wednesday, the Russian embassy said that Poland had confiscated all the money from the diplomatic mission's accounts. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! From left, actors Ahn Hyo-seop, Han Suk-kyu and Lee Sung-kyung pose during a press conference for the new series, "Dr. Romantic 3," held at the broadcaster in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of SBS By Lee Gyu-lee The lead actors of the SBS' hit medical series, "Dr. Romantic," said they are grateful and excited for its return after three years with the third season, which will premiere on Friday. The medical series, which released the first season in 2016 and the second in 2020, revolves around people at a small hospital in a remote countryside area, called Dol Dam Hospital, led by the genius doctor, Kim Sa-bu (Han Suk-kyu). Kim gave up his life as a top surgeon at a renowned hospital to come to work there and find a secluded, peaceful life, calling himself doctor romantic. Working under Kim, fellow doctors, Seo Woo-jin (Ahn Hyo-seop) and Cha Eun-jae (Lee Sung-kyung), learn what it truly means to be a doctor and the purpose in life. Director Yoo In-shik, who previously led the smash-hit series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," has retrieved his role as director and will again lead the series' latest season. "This is my seventh year working on this series, which counts to one-tenth of my life," Kim said during the press conference for the series, held at the broadcaster in Yangcheon District, Seoul, Wednesday. "That's how much I've lived as Kim Sa-bu. I felt lucky to have joined 'Dr. Romantic.' We have great teamwork." A scene for the series "Dr. Romantic 3" / Courtesy of SBS Lee also expressed satisfaction with reuniting with the team. "I'm overwhelmed with joy that we could return with the third season. The reason we were able to win through struggles in any situation is that we still have each other," she said. "And as it's almost a miracle that we came back, we hope the viewers would fully enjoy (the series)." Season 3 will pick up on Dol Dam staff's lives about three years after the previous seasons after deciding to establish its own medical foundation. The director shared that the new season will have a denser plot than the previous seasons. "Just seeing the actors, even in this press event, is so touching. Along with 'Dr. Romantic,' I've also become a long way. I'm filled with emotion. Season 3 will have a bigger scale, compared to Seasons 1 and 2, and will have colorful stories," he said. "Each of the actors has become the main character. It will be a series with a very dense plot. Along with the scale, it will also incorporate humanity, heartwarming story, and dilemmas in life from the previous seasons." A poster for the series "Dr. Romantic 3" / Courtesy of SBS On Saturday, Russian forces launched 17 attacks on border hromadas [a hromada is an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories ed.] in Sumy Oblast, damaging houses. Source: Sumy Oblast Military Administration Details: Over the course of the past 24 hours, there were 170 explosions. Seredyna-Buda, Esman, Bilopillia, Velyka Pysarivka, Myropillia, and Yunakivka hromadas came under Russian fire. Yunakivka hromada: Russians fired using mortars (three mines), artillery (13 explosions) and multiple launcher rocket systems 25 explosions on the territory of hromada. A house was destroyed in the settlement of Yunakivka as a result of shelling. Eight houses were damaged by the shelling from the multiple launcher rocket systems. Esman hromada: Russians deployed mortars (there were six explosions) and artillery (nine explosions) to attack hromada from the territory of Russia. Three houses were damaged in Studenok as a result of artillery fire. Seredyna-Buda hromada: Russians opened an artillery fire, there were two explosions in Seredyna Buda. A flat in an apartment building was damaged as a result of an attack. Myropillia hromada: Russians deployed Grad multiple rocket launcher system to attack hromada from the territory of Russia; there were 15 explosions. Bilopillia hromada: Russians dropped 14 mines on the territory of the hromada. There were also 78 shots using automatic grenade launchers. Velyka Pysarivka hromada: Russian forces dropped 12 mines on the territory of the hromada. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has voiced confidence that the Russian occupiers who committed war crimes in the war in Ukraine will be found and eliminated anywhere. Source: DIUs press service, citing Budanov in an interview with the American TV channel PBS Quote: "Any perpetrator that committed any war crimes against humanity in Ukraine or even very egregious crimes, like the group rape or killing of civilians and children, will be found and eliminated in any part of the world." Details: Budanov added that Ukraine has "enough Ukrainian means and weapons to do this". The DIU chief also reaffirmed his belief that Russia cannot prolong the war and will collapse. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Refat Chubarov, chairman of the Mejlis Chubarov said he doubted that the Russians would have enough ferries to evacuate all their demoralized troops who may be trapped on the peninsula (in the event of a Ukrainian military operation to liberate the occupied territory). Read also: Crimean Tatar leader Chubarov predicts how Ukraine will liberate Crimea So, Russian citizens who thought they could settle on stolen foreign territory: dont count on ferries there will only be six of them, which wont even be able to evacuate all the military personnel of the Russian occupying army, said Chubarov. So the sooner you voluntarily leave Crimea, the more trouble you will avoid when the Ukrainian Armed Forces start to liberate Crimea. Read also: Fire in Sevastopol destroys over 10 tanks with fuel for Russian Black Sea Fleet Ukrainian intelligence Explosions were heard near the city of Sevastopol in Ukraines Russian-occupied Crimea early on April 29, followed by a massive fire at a local oil depot in Kozacha Bay in the west of the city. According to the occupation authorities, four fuel tanks were damaged, and the fire covered an area of 1,000 square meters. However, video circulating on social media appeared to show the fire spreading to the entire facility, which has, or had, over 20 large oil tanks. The Kremlin-installed governor of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, claimed that there had been a drone attack on Sevastopol, and that Russian air defenses allegedly shot down one UAV, while jamming the controls of another with electronic warfare equipment. The Ukrainian Armed Forces did not comment on their involvement in the incident, but Ukraines General Staff published a reminder in the morning that April 29 was the 105th anniversary of the raising of Ukrainian flags on the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Sevastopol fortress. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russian troops shelled Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and a fire station was damaged. Source: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia Oblast Quote: "The terrorist country continues to attack Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The photos show the consequences of another shelling on 30 April, as a result of which the building of one of the fire and rescue units was damaged. Fortunately, the personnel were not injured, because they were in a shelter. Debris cut through the roof and walls of the fire station, knocking out two plastic windows. The post office near the facade of the unit was destroyed, and one of the rescue vehicles was damaged." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Wagner Group head Yevgeny Prigozhin attends the funeral of his fighters at the Beloostrovskoye cemetery outside St. Petersburg, Russia, on December 24, 2022. AP Photo Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to withdraw Wagner Group fighters from Bakhmut over shell shortages. He issued an ultimatum to Russia's defense minister and gave him 24 hours to respond. Prigozhin has previously sparred with Russia's military brass over complaints of a lack of support. The founder of Russia's paramilitary Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has threatened to withdraw his mercenaries from Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, escalating his rift with Russia's military leadership. Prigozhin issued an ultimatum to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu over ammunition shortages in an interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov published Saturday. "Every day, we have stacks of thousands of bodies that we put in coffins and send home," Prigozhin said, per Al Jazeera's translation. "If the ammunition deficit is not replenished, we are forced in order not to run like cowardly rats afterward to either withdraw or die," he said. Prigozhin warned that if Shoigu does not respond to his requests for more ammunition, Wagner fighters will withdraw from Bakhmut. "We are patriots, and we will go to Bakhmut while we have the last cartridge, but these cartridges are left not for weeks, but for days," he said according to the video's subtitles, shared by Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor to Ukraine's internal affairs minister, on Twitter. He issued the deadline on April 27 and said the defense minister had 24 hours to reply, which has now passed. It is not clear whether Shoigu responded. Wagner mercenaries have played a key role in the bloody 10-month battle for the city of Bakhmut, where fighting rages on as Russian forces try to cut off Ukraine's supply lines. Prigozhin has complained that Wagner receives only 800 of the 4,000 shells per day that it currently requests, according to Washington DC-based think tank, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Story continues He said that Wagner actually needed about 80,000 shells per day, which was its shell allowance before apparent Russian Ministry of Defense efforts to reduce Wagner's influence, the ISW said. "Shell hunger" In this handout photo taken from video and released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, a Russian army's howitzer fires at Ukrainian troops at an undisclosed location. Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP In recent months Prigozhin has often complained about the lack of ammunition, which he has described as "shell hunger," and accused Russia's defense ministry of deliberately depriving his fighters. He went as far as sharing a graphic image showing dozens of dead soldiers piled up in eastern Ukraine, which he blamed on the ammunition shortages. In March, he claimed that the Kremlin was no longer speaking to him after he made complaints. His latest comments stoke the long-running feud with Russia's regular army leaders over his allegations of lacking support for his fighters and debates over credit for Russian victories in the war. Read the original article on Business Insider Rylan has updated fans on his chaotic journey by train to arrive at the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest. The popular music event is being held in Liverpool this year, after last years winners, Ukraine, were unable to host due to the ongoing war with Russia. Since Britain finished second in the competition through Sam Ryders Spaceman,the country was selected to host in place of Ukraine. Rylan, who is part of the offical Eurovision presenting team, was traveling up to Liverpool on Saturday (29 April) ahead of the semi-final next week, but found his jouney marred by rail issues. Sharing his frustration on Twitter, Rylan wrote: All trains suspended at EUSTON YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS. This is how I perish. The trains were facing delays related to the three-day Bank Holiday Weekend. In a followup post, Rylan revealed: A group of women have just screamed RYLAN at the top of their voice on the concourse. Slowly dying. Ive befriended an elder who has just come back from Japan and is looking to get to Birmingham, he continued. Lovely man. This is real. His name was David and was such a gentleman. Hes now on his way to Birmingham. Rylan then shared a photograph of himself alongside some of the people he had met at the station. Ive made friends that are also stranded x, he wrote. Eventually, he was able to make it onto a train, sharing a low-profile picture of himself sat in a seat aboard a train carriage. I will give 50 to anyone that will cuddle me at the end of this experience, preferably throughout the night R Y L A N (@Rylan) April 29, 2023 The train has been declared DECLASSIFIED. No drinks. No food. No seats, he then wrote. Nothing matters anymore. A lady has give me a pornstar martini. This could be the end. God speed x. National Rail has confirmed that there will be disruptions between 29 April and 1 May, due to upgrades being made between London Euston and Scotland. Euston station will be remain closed on Sunday 30 April. Our commentary is from author Sarah DiGregorio, whose latest book is called "Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World": If I say "nurse," what do you think of? Maybe it's a nurse who cared for you, or of nurses going to work during the pandemic. Or perhaps what springs to mind are countless dire headlines: Nursing shortages, nurses quitting, nurses striking. It can all blur together into a nebulous miasma of bad news. After all, many of us already know that the health care system isn't working well for us. So, when we non-nurses hear about nurses striking for better staffing, it might sound just like another intractable, inside-baseball, health care dispute. But that couldn't be farther from the truth. / Credit: HarperCollins Nurses strike because they know what the public doesn't: Your survival can depend on whether or not your nurse has time to care for you. Nurse-to-patient ratios can be a matter of life or death. Research over decades has shown this strong association: The higher the level of nurse staffing, the more likely you are to be discharged alive, or to have a good outcome. Ratios sound bureaucratic, but they tell a real story: If you are hospitalized, your nurse might be assigned four patients, or they might be assigned, for instance, eight patients. That's not unusual. What that ratio means for you, though, is that you may or may not get the care that you need, because a nurse can't be in eight different places at once. Nurses are often the first to notice signs of a stroke, of liver failure, of a need for more intensive respiratory support. Without a nurse to notice and address those complications, sometimes patients die avoidable deaths. This is such a real risk that nursing has a term for it: failure to rescue. Hospitals often claim that labor costs are too high, and that's one reason nurses are asked to work short-staffed. But hospital administrator pay has continued to rise in recent years. Just for instance, the CEO of Hospital Corporation of America made over $14 million in 2022. Unlike the correlation between nurse staffing and patient outcomes, researchers have found no correlation between hospital CEO pay and patient mortality or value to the community. Story continues This leads to a question: What is the purpose of a hospital? And should its budget reflect its purpose? The purpose of nursing is to maximize people's health and well-being. So, we need to make sure nurses have the working conditions that make it possible for all of us to get the care we deserve. For more info: "Taking Care: The Story of Nursing and Its Power to Change Our World" by Sarah DiGregorio (HarperCollins), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available May 2 via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Indieboundsarahdigregorio.com Story produced by Lucie Kirk and Amol Mhatre. Editor: Emanuele Secci. Russian forces firing dozens of missiles and drones into Ukraine American parents weigh in on how gun violence is impacting their children Gary Cohn says First Republic's likely sale "will be a much faster process" than SVB collapse In an arid pocket of Arizonas rural southwest, thirsty tufts of alfalfa are guzzling unlimited amounts of groundwater only to become fodder for dairy cows some 8,000 miles east. This Sonoran Desert field of green, cultivated by a Saudi Arabian dairy giant, has become a flashpoint among residents, who resent the Middle Eastern companys unbridled and steeply discounted usage of a dwindling regional resource. But because the Vicksburg, Ariz., property is just one of many farms in the neighborhood growing water-intensive grains, it is also turning the spotlight on legal loopholes in state groundwater laws that enable such use in the first place. We dont have any restrictions on our groundwater, Holly Irwin, a La Paz County supervisor, told The Hill. So its like a free for all. La Paz and most of its neighbors do not contain Active Management Areas (AMAs), zones that require groundwater regulation under state code. Just five parts of the state including Phoenix and Tucson have AMAs, while rural agricultural areas have no such protections. We live in two very different Arizonas right now, said Travis Lingenfelter, a supervisor for neighboring Mohave County. If youre in an AMA, you have water security, you have water certainty. If youre outside of the AMA, its the Wild West. This nonrestrictive environment has attracted not only local and domestic farmers, but also international companies that are unable to grow such water-intensive crops at home. Theyre coming here because Arizona almost invites it, Lingenfelter said. Theres no rules for groundwater. Saudi Arabia instituted a near-ban on cultivating green fodder in November 2018, with the goal of easing pressure on water resources, according to a report from the Dutch government. To overcome inevitable shortages, the kingdom directed dairy farms to turn to imports. With discussions of future cutbacks already on the horizon, Saudi Arabian dairy giant Almarai secured 9,834 acres in Vicksburg in a $47.5 million deal through its fully owned subsidiary Fondomonte Arizona LLC in March 2014. Nearly two years later, Almarai announced a $31.8 million deal for 1,790 acres in Southern California. The transactions served to improve and secure Almarais supply of the highest quality alfalfa hay a move that the company described in Saudi Exchange reports as in line with the Saudi government direction toward conserving local resources. If they want to be able to guarantee their population food security, they know that they cant really do that domestically, said Natalie Koch, a geography professor at Syracuse University and author of a recent book about the link between Arizona and the Arabian Peninsula. The Arizonan land was particularly appealing to the kingdom because you can get more bang for your buck when you buy that farm, according to Koch. While Fondomonte received permits for eight water wells in 2016 and has long been growing alfalfa on the property, the firm only came into the public eye last June, when the Arizona Republic exposed its $25 per acre lease terms or about one-sixth of the current market value. Irwin, the La Paz County supervisor, took immediate action at the time, sending a letter to then state Rep. Regina Cobb (R), asking that she submit a request to the attorney generals office to investigate the State Land Departments leases with Fondomonte. Theyre here for a reason because theyve depleted their own resources, Irwin told The Hill. And now theyre utilizing our resources and shipping that material overseas. Irwins letter described the water scarcity issues that her constituents have been enduring, as well as the possibility that one area basin could be depleted within 25 to 30 years. The supervisor went on to accuse the Arizona State Land Department of negligence, alleging the agency gave foreign companies sweetheart deals. She requested the return of any potential back funds and current payments owed to La Paz County beneficiaries. Fondomonte quickly became a core campaign issue for Arizona politicians, including for Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) and Gov. Katie Hobbs (D). Upon taking office in January, Mayes promised to repeal the states deals with Fondomonte within six months and said the company should repay Arizona $38 million for its water usage, NBC affiliate 12News reported. The administration is working aggressively to find ways to crack down on the sweetheart deals given to foreign businesses by then-Governor Ducey, including potentially requiring metering and reporting, Christian Slater, a spokesperson for Hobbs, told The Hill in an email. Governor Hobbs knows Arizonas water is a public resource and its time the state started managing it better, Slater added. Waking up from a groundwater crisis While the prospects of a full takedown remain uncertain, Mayes announced last Friday that Fondomontes permits for two new wells issued eight months ago had been revoked. She called upon Arizonans to wake up and address the crisis before it is too late, while accusing her predecessors of being asleep at the wheel amid worsening drought conditions. Its outrageous that the state would consider granting new wells to allow the Saudis to pump millions of gallons of water to grow alfalfa for their cows, Mayes tweeted on Tuesday. This water belongs to the people of Arizona & La Paz County and now its going to stay that way. Mayes met on April 4 with Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director Tom Buschatzke, with whom she raised the discrepancy issues she discovered in the well-permit applications along with her belief that these permits must be revoked, Richie Taylor, a spokesperson for the attorney-general, told The Hill. ADWR confirmed Mayes and Buschatzke met to discuss water issues but said the agency has no comment regarding the matter involving Fondomonte Farms. Nonetheless, listings for the two sites (237587 and 237588) in ADWRs Wells55 registry confirmed drilling authority [was] revoked per request of AZ State Land Dept on April 13. Patrice Horstman, a Coconino County supervisor, told The Hill she was very pleased with the administrations decision to revoke the drilling permits, which she described as counterproductive to Arizona and its limited water availability. This permit, which took advantage of Arizonas failure to allow many rural counties to manage its groundwater, is dangerous for the future water viability for the state, said Horstman, whose county is east of Mohave, in northern Arizona. While these two pending wells will not come to fruition, there are still eight existing wells irrigating the fields of alfalfa on Fondomontes Vicksburg farm. Addressing whether the revocation could still have an impact on water conservation despite that ongoing irrigation, Slater said Hobbs promised to take action on foreign governments profiting off Arizona groundwater and she did. She will always fight however she can to ensure Arizona water is used in the best interest of Arizonans and preserve our natural resources for generations to come, he added. Waters journey from Arizona to Arabia Fondomonte and its wells may be garnering the most media coverage for its transcontinental water consumption, but it is not the only international company drawing on the regions limited water supply. The Abu Dhabi-based Al Dahra Group also grows alfalfa in Southern California and Arizona on six farms the firm described as strategically located in forage growing areas. Neither Fondomonte nor the Al Dahra Group responded to The Hills requests for comment. Middle Eastern cows and livestock are basically drinking Arizona water, said Lingenfelter, the Mohave County supervisor. Were shipping products over back to the Middle East, he continued. Theyre using finite Arizona groundwater in rural areas to do it. We need to plug that gap. But the Emirati company gets far less attention than its Saudi counterpart a discrepancy highlighted by recent legislation that seeks to restrict foreign ownership of Arizona farmlands. The HB 2376 bill, sponsored by state Rep. Leo Biasiucci (R), passed through the Arizona House in February and will next be reviewed by the state Senate. While the bill has been championed by Republicans, it received the support of 12 out of 29 House Democrats. The bill stipulates that the sale, lease or sublease of state agricultural property may not be made to a foreign entity, which would include not only state-controlled enterprises, but also any company headquartered in or majority-owned by citizens in eight specific countries. While Saudi Arabia is among those countries alongside China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Syria and Venezuela the United Arab Emirates is notably absent. Theyre reacting to the broader discussion within the United States right now this kind of agricultural nationalism, said Koch, the Syracuse professor. Saudi Arabia, she explained, has become a lightning rod for Americans in a way the United Arab Emirates has not. Even among super liberal, cosmopolitan types of people, the racism, the xenophobia against Saudis that comes pouring out of their mouths instantly is astonishing, Koch added. Just a drop in the bucket Evicting a Saudi Arabian farm from Arizonas rural southwest would likely amount to only a cosmetic solution, rather than achieving tangible conservation benefits, experts agreed. It still doesnt address our groundwater issue, said Irwin, the La Paz County supervisor. Its a little piece; its a little step. The foreign ownership bill only covers a very narrow group, while most of the regions agriculture involves domestic companies, according to Koch, who said local stakeholders used to describe the Saudi deal as just a drop in the bucket. If it is really just a drop in the bucket, then kicking them out doesnt really do anything, Koch said. The fundamental problem is the outdated water laws. And this bill just kind of diverts attention from that problem. With the goal of solving that problem, the supervisors of La Paz, Mohave, Coconino and Yavapai counties are adopting a joint resolution demanding that lawmakers finally provide water certainty for planning to rural Arizona by passing groundwater stewardship laws this year. To back up their claims, the supervisors described how AMAs areas of Arizona that already have groundwater regulation have helped the state become one of the fastest-growing states and highly attractive for economic development. On the other hand, in many non-AMA rural regions, the free-for-all has led to overpumping of aquifers and the depletion of municipal water supplies, according to the resolution. Water security is a top three issue of concern for Arizona residents regardless of rural or urban residence or political affiliation, the supervisors stated. Regarding the resolution, Slater said the governor is meeting with stakeholders and examining paths forward to protect access to water for every community and ensure Arizonas natural resources are used in the best interest of Arizonans. This will be one of the several issues reviewed by the Governors Water Policy Council, he added. Describing her years of fighting for groundwater protections as an uphill battle, Irwin stressed that she and her colleagues have never been able to get the legislature to hear any of the related bills theyve championed. Lingenfelter, the Mohave County supervisor, echoed these sentiments, adding that hes been actively working on this issue since at least 2017. Every single year, we work with our legislators [on] this legislation, and it never gets a hearing not even one hearing, Lingenfelter said. Rather than bringing the government in to shut everybody down, Irwin stressed she just wants put some sort of conservation measures in place, for a future for everybody. Farming is very important to my county, Irwin continued. We need to talk about conservation at some point to make sure that we can continue to exist. Going forward, Lingenfelter said he feels hopeful, citing Hobbss recent issuance of an executive order calling for the modernization of Arizona groundwater code. We deserve water certainty and water security just as cities do, he said, noting that nearly 2 million Arizonans call the rural desert areas home. The groundwater basins in parts of rural Arizona are the only available resources there or what Lingenfelter described as our forever water. We dont have a Plan B in a lot of these areas that are using groundwater for 100 percent for their water supply, he said. A new study of genetic data from a market in Wuhan, China, said the data did not support the case that the pandemic had started with illegally traded animals, touching off fresh debate about samples that other scientists see as critical pieces of the puzzle of how the coronavirus reached humans. The study, which examined the relative amounts of animal and viral material in swabs taken from surfaces at the market in early 2020, said it was difficult to draw conclusions about whether given samples of the virus had come from infected live animals or were simply from incidental contamination. But several outside experts said the analysis, posted online this past week by the studys author, Jesse Bloom, a virus expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, could have been affected by a number of unknown variables and decisions about how to filter the data. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times For those reasons, they said, the findings did not do much to sway their impression of previous studies. Samples from the market containing animal and viral genetic material, they said, were consistent with the possibility that an animal there perhaps a raccoon dog had spread the virus to people, but did not prove that had happened. I think theres a pretty reasonable chance they picked up an infected raccoon dog, but that doesnt prove that was the origin, said Frederic Bushman, a microbiologist at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in analyzing samples such as those taken from the Wuhan market, but who was not involved in any of the market studies. I dont think the Bloom paper changes my thinking that much. Chinese researchers wrote about the market data last year and then made the genetic sequences available this year, allowing a team of international scientists to study them. That team wrote in a report last month that based on the data, they could not conclusively identify an animal that had passed the virus to people. Story continues But they said the data confirmed that animals believed to be susceptible to the virus, including raccoon dogs and masked palm civets, a small Asian mammal implicated in the SARS outbreak two decades ago, were being sold at the market in late 2019. Many of the earliest COVID-19 patients also worked or shopped at the market. Because the market was one of only four places in Wuhan reported to be selling live animals of the sort that could plausibly spread the virus, the scientists said it was unlikely that so many early patients were linked to the market purely by chance. They said the genetic data also built on other evidence, including that two early lineages of the virus had been at the market. This past weeks study took a different approach to analyzing the gene sequences. Bloom investigated whether the amount of genetic material from the virus correlated with the amount of genetic material from susceptible animal species in the samples. If one species at the market was overwhelmingly responsible for shedding the virus, he said in an interview, he would have expected to see a clear link between the amount of genetic material from the virus and the amount from that species. But the study found no clear correlations of that kind. Instead, the strongest correlations involved various fish sold at the market that could not have been infected, an indication that infected people had probably deposited viral material where the fish was. Bloom said that finding suggested that the virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, was spread widely across the market by the time the swabs were collected in early 2020. In the same way we shouldnt read much of anything into the fact that theres a bunch of SARS-CoV-2 mixed with largemouth bass and catfish samples, we also shouldnt read much into the fact that theres a raccoon dog sample with a SARS-CoV-2 read, Bloom said. But outside experts said that various features of the samples could throw off efforts to correlate animal and viral material. The international scientists said in their report that they had considered running a similar analysis, but that it risked producing misleading results. Bloom acknowledged that its an open question of whether that is an informative thing to calculate at all. Genetic material from the virus degrades quickly, said Christopher Mason, a specialist in environmental sampling at Weill Cornell Medicine. Crucially, viral material may decay at a different rate than material from animals, making it difficult to compare them in samples collected over the course of weeks after the markets closure. It could be that fish were most closely associated with the virus simply because the fish were likely to have been frozen or refrigerated, slowing the decay of viral material in those samples, said Tom Wenseleers, an evolutionary biologist at KU Leuven in Belgium. The latest analysis confirms that looking at these sorts of correlations tells you next to nothing with respect to which host species could have been a plausible source of the pandemic, Wenseleers said. This leaves scientists in the same situation as before, he said, with market data that doesnt offer conclusive evidence of any particular origin scenario. The new study also looked closely at a swab from a cart at the market in which the international team had found a trace of the virus alongside genetic signatures of raccoon dogs, but no detectable genetic material from humans. Bloom wrote that the swab had only a minuscule amount of viral material, and that it was not clear why Chinese researchers had classified the swab as COVID-positive. His study said that swab was the only one that had substantial amounts of raccoon dog genetic material with any traces of the virus. Some scientists, though, said Blooms analysis risked dismissing other COVID-positive swabs by setting too high of a bar for the amount of animal genetic material in a sample. Bushman, of the University of Pennsylvania, said the threshold used in the analysis was aggressive and that it was best to compare results obtained from a series of different cutoffs. Using a more sensitive threshold, the international team of scientists identified multiple COVID-positive samples containing raccoon dog genetic material, as well as others with genetic signatures of different animals thought to be susceptible to the virus. Alexander Crits-Christoph, a computational biologist formerly at Johns Hopkins University who helped lead the international teams analysis, said the team also looked closely at whether the Chinese researchers had been right to describe the swab from the cart as positive for the virus. He noted that a number of other swabs from the same stall were clearly positive for the virus. He said results from sampling elsewhere in the market also indicated that unlike the swab from the cart, most of the truly negative swabs contained no traces of the virus at all. This is environmental sampling of a virus that is a tiny needle in a haystack, Crits-Christoph said. c.2023 The New York Times Company President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with officials from Hanwha Aerospace at its manufacturing facility in the nation's southeastern city of Changwon on Nov. 24, 2022. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung Defense stocks are displaying a robust rally on hopes for more arms exports following the recent Korea-United States summit. Continued geopolitical uncertainty in Europe is also escalating hopes that Korean defense firms may win more orders there. According to data from the Korea Exchange, a defense-centered exchange-traded fund (ETF) ARIRANG K-Defense Industry Fn ETF operated by Hanwha Asset Management achieved a 22-percent investment return for the past month as of April 26. This is the highest among listed ETFs here. The ARIRANG ETF consists of major defense stocks here. Shares of Hanwha Aerospace also achieved a strong rebound this month. Most defense stocks closed with a gain after the summit between the two countries. Shares of the Hanwha affiliate closed with a gain of 2.87 percent on April 27, and those of other major defense stocks such as Korea Aerospace Industries and Hanwha Systems also enjoyed rare momentum for stock rebound during the same period. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his administration are also demonstrating unwavering political will to support defense companies after taking office last year. Last week, the Fair Trade Commission approved Hanwha Group's acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering. Hanwha is expected to widen its footing to maritime defense following the much-anticipated acquisition. Hanwha has so far focused on operating defense businesses in space and land. But, according to the company, the acquisition of the shipbuilder will help the group grow into a quality defense producer capable of building converged defense systems encompassing space, land and sea. The growing geopolitical uncertainty in countries that share a border with Russia comes as a boon for Hanwha and other Korean defense companies, as weapons demand will remain solid in Europe, according to analysts. "Hanwha Aerospace is forecast to maintain momentum to receive more orders from overseas, as demand for fire weapons will be robust in countries particularly in Eastern and Northern Europe amid escalating uncertainties regarding the war between Russia and Ukraine," Eugene Investment & Securities analyst Yang Seung-yun said. Hanwha Aerospace is a representative defense stock of Hanwha Group. The Hanwha subsidiary is a de facto holding company of most of Hanwha's defense affiliates. Reflecting on the rosy business outlook, the brokerage house revised the companies' target stock price to 133,000 won per share. Shares of Hanwha Aerospace closed at 102,700 won on Friday. CLEVELAND, Texas The search for a Texas man who allegedly shot his neighbors after they asked him to stop firing off rounds in his yard stretched into a second day Sunday, with authorities saying the man could be anywhere by now. Francisco Oropeza, 38, remained at large more than 18 hours after the shooting that left five people dead, including an 8-year-old boy. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said Saturday evening that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles from the scene of the shooting. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area that includes dense layers of forest, but tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Oropeza likely is still carrying the AR-15 he allegedly used in the shootings, the sheriff said. He could be anywhere now, Capers said. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing off guns. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot from the neck up, he said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the U.S. so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in a variety of places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home. Capers said there were 10 people in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but that that no one else was injured. He said two of the victims were found in a bedroom laying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. Story continues The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them that it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting took place on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots and are surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victims home, while in the front yard of Oropezas house a dog and chickens wandered. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didnt think anything of it. Its a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work, Arevalo said. They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there. Capers said his deputies had been to Oropezas home at least once before and spoken with him about shooting his gun in the yard. It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal, but he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the U.S. since Jan. 1, there have been at least 18 shootings that left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by a range of motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings in recent years, including last years attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. I tell my wife all the time, Stay away from the neighbors. Dont argue with them. You never know how theyre going to react, Arevalo said. I tell her that because Texas is a state where you dont know who has a gun and who is going to react that way. A shooting in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night killed two people and left another in critical condition, according to police. The incident occurred at Cal Anderson Park in Seattles Capitol Hill neighborhood at around 10:30 p.m. local time. One person died at the scene and another was transported to Harborview Medical Center before being pronounced dead. A third person was also taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz said at a news conference, according to The Seattle Times. WASHINGTON GOV SIGNS BIG GUN CONTROL PACKAGE, INCLUDING ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN: NO ONE NEEDS AN AR-15' A shooting in Seattle, Washington, Saturday night killed two people and left another in critical condition. Police are searching for an individual who was possibly "associated" with the shooting, Diaz said. Police are soliciting video footage from the area. "We have a lot of people out here who are trying to enjoy their night and then this is what happens," Diaz said. "People are too quick to pick up a gun." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP COPS WALK HOMELESS WOMAN WITH BAG ON HEAD OFF BUSY SEATTLE BRIDGE: JUST ANOTHER DAY IN THE EMERALD CITY Two days before the gunman opened fire Saturday night, a separate shooting occurred at a gas station in Seattles Licton Springs neighborhood. The shooting at about 1 a.m. on Friday left three people wounded. The shootings come after Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, signed a gun control package Tuesday aimed at reducing gun violence in the state. One bill immediately bans the manufacture, purchase or importation of so-called "assault weapons." "No one needs an AR-15 to protect your family," Inslee said at a news conference after signing the bills. "You only need it to kill other families." Washington became the 10th state to adopt an "assault weapons" ban. A UC Davis student was killed Saturday night in a Davis park, the second stabbing death at a city park in four days, and police are working to determine whether the two homicides are related. The Davis Police Department said that a resident living near Sycamore Park heard a disturbance outside just after 9 p.m. When the resident went outside in the area of Sycamore Lane and Colby Drive, they found a man with multiple stab wounds and called 911. When officers and fire personnel responded, they located the victim, who was declared dead at the scene. On Sunday afternoon, the Yolo County Coroners Office identified him as Karim Abou Najm, a 20-year-old UC Davis student and a graduate of Davis High School. Despite conducting an exhaustive search of the area surrounding the park for the suspect with the support of other Yolo County law enforcement agencies using canines and drones, the suspect has not yet been located, police said in the update. Authorities say they are looking for a man between the ages of 19 and 23 and 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 as a potential suspect in Saturdays homicide. Police said the suspect was a light-skinned male, possibly Hispanic, had long curly loose hair and was last seen wearing a white hat and a light-colored T-shirt beneath a button-up shirt. Police believe the suspect was riding a mens bike with straight handlebars. Officers did make contact with one person of interest within 5 blocks of the crime scene who closely matched the suspect description. The subject was later booked at the Yolo County Jail for an outstanding warrant issued out of Placer County for public intoxication and resisting arrest, police said, adding that officers collected additional evidence and a search warrant was obtained. Anyone who may have been in the area of Sycamore Park between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. or residents in the area who possess surveillance camera footage are urged to call the Police Department at 530-747-5400 or to email policeweb@cityofdavis.org. Those with information who wish to remain anonymous can call 530-747-5460. Story continues Is it connected to Central Park stabbing? Police said they also are investigating whether the incident is related to the stabbing death of David Henry Breaux, a 50-year-old man known as the Compassion Guy and a regular fixture at Central Park. His body was discovered at the downtown park on Thursday. Authorities said in Sunday afternoons update while both homicides had common factors, including the use of a knife to commit the crimes, there were no known connections between the victims. Officers continue to follow up and several tips that have been received which have resulted in arrests made on unrelated charges or outstanding warrants, the department said. Although none of these individuals have been linked to the murders. While homicides remain under investigation, police officials wanted residents to know that all available resources will be used to ensure the safety of our community. The department understands the uncertainty, fear and panic that is arising in the community. A substantial number of extra officers have been deployed to conduct directed patrols around schools and parks, and to ensure an enhanced public safety presence throughout the city. Officials at UC Davis said Sunday they were working collaboratively with the citys police department following the stabbings, providing extra patrols in the city and on campus. The university shares in concerns over safety in our community and urges students and residents to be aware of their surroundings and call campus or city police should they have any information to help solve these crimes, university officials said in a news release. Meanwhile, the Davis Phoenix Coalition will host a vigil for Breaux at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Compassion Corner at Third and C streets next to Central Park. The corner is where the Compassion Bench is located. Breaux was instrumental in creating and installing the bench in 2013. The death of David Breaux is utterly and completely devastating, Davis Mayor Will Arnold said in a city statement. Many of us knew David. We talked with him. We shared in his vision for a kinder world. Buckingham Palace has shared new images of the robes King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, will be wearing on Coronation Day. In the photos shared by the palace, members of the Royal School of Needlework can be seen working on the Robes of State and Robes of Estate that Charles and Camilla will don May 6. Robes of State are worn when arriving to Westminster Abbey, while Robes of Estate are worn when leaving after the coronation, according to Buckingham Palace. Camilla, who became patron of the Royal School of Needlework in 2017, will be wearing a Robe of State that was originally made for Queen Elizabeth II for her own coronation June 2, 1953. The original garment was crafted from crimson velvet and has had adjustments made by robemakers for the ceremony. Undated handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of a member of the Royal School of Needlework hand embroidering the Queen Consort's cypher onto her Robe of Estate, which she will wear at the coronation on May 6. Issue date: Saturday April 29, 2023. (Royal School of Needlework / PA Wire) Her new Robe of Estate was made by Ede and Ravenscroft and designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. Undated handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of a member of the Royal School of Needlework hand embroidering the Queen Consort's Robe of Estate, which she will wear at the coronation on May 6. Issue date: Saturday April 29, 2023. (Royal School of Needlework / PA Wire) Charles Robe of State was originally worn by his grandfather, King George VI, at his coronation ceremony in May 12, 1937, and is made from crimson velvet adorned with gold lace. Work is carried out on King Charles III's Robe of State, which he will wear at his coronation on May 6, by members of the Royal School of Needlework, at Hampton Court Palace, in East Molesey. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023. (Kirsty O'Connor / PA Wire) He will also be wearing his grandfathers Robe of Estate, which was made from purple silk velvet with gold embroidery. Work is carried out on King Charles III's Robe of State, which he will wear at his coronation on May 6, by a member of the Royal School of Needlework, at Hampton Court Palace, in East Molesey. Picture date: Monday February 27, 2023. (Kirsty O'Connor / PA Wire) Following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, Charles was named king. Two days later, he was formally declared head of state. Charles coronation ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Westminster Abbey is the same location as the queens funeral Sept. 19, 2022, as well as the wedding of William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, April 29, 2011. The London location has been the site of the coronation ceremony for the last 900 years, according to Buckingham Palace. Invitations for the coronation ceremony were distributed to over 2,000 guests, and identified Charles wife as Queen Camilla for the first time. A weekend full of events has been scheduled for Charles coronation. Story continues May 6 includes The Kings Procession May 6, which will see Charles and Camilla as they travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for his coronation ceremony. Following, they will return to the palace during what is called The Coronation Procession. Windsor Castle will the be site of a coronation concert May 7, broadcasted by BBC. Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, and the group Take That will be headlining the show. May 8 marks the United Kingdoms bank holiday to honor the coronation, which the king hopes will be used as a day of volunteering as part of The Big Help Out initiative. Prince Harry is set to attend his fathers coronation ceremony alone, with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, remaining in California with the couples two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Charles' coronation will be departing from tradition, with Prince George serving as a page of honour alongside Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Nicholas Barclay, and Ralph Tollemache. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Devon Bentley has mocked police - after asking them for a reward to hand himself in. (SWNS/Staffordshire Police) A wanted man who thinks he looks like actor Jim Carrey has mocked police and asked them for a reward to hand himself in. Devon Bentley is currently wanted by Staffordshire Police in connection with suspected burglary offences. But the arrogant suspect has repeatedly responded to a local news site's social media post on the police appeal. The 19-year-old from Normacot, who is still at large, wrote on Stoke-on-Trent Live's page: "Is there a reward for his whereabouts? "I'm a B-Tech Jim Kerry bro." He later added: "I'm here sir." And, when one reader questioned why the police aren't spending their time chasing on-the-run paedophiles and rapists, Devon replied: "Excuse me, I am not one of them." Bentley's comments clearly amused locals with hundreds deciding to share their take on the situation. Hollywood star Jim Carrey who Devon Bentley believes he resembles. (Getty) Read more from Yahoo News UK: Former police community support officer is jailed after admitting 33 child sex offences Abandoned mortuary that sold for twice its guide price may be turned into a spooky Airbnb Ranger, 65, leaves 'best job in world' tending three uninhabited Scottish islands after 13 years On reader quipped. "Some people think they're a cut above the law. While another added: "He must get tired of living on the Fringe of Society." A third said: "Stoke-on-Trent's soon-to-be hide-and-seek champion." Devon Bentley is on recall to prison having been jailed last year for entering a house while children slept upstairs to steal the family car. He climbed in through a kitchen window that had been left ajar at the address in Highfield Avenue, Meir, Staffordshire. He then stole the car keys before taking the vehicle with an accomplice. He was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders institution. Police has urged anyone who knows Bentley's whereabouts to call 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111. The entrance to the East Los Angeles Sheriff's Station. (Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department has launched an investigation into a memo claiming that the captain overseeing the troubled East L.A. station allegedly schemed to give valued detective bureau positions to Latinos to avoid promoting an angry Black sergeant. According to several pages of the January memo reviewed by The Times, Capt. Pilar Chavez also said the Black sergeant in question Sgt. Reginald Hoffman had nothing coming to him at the station ever since hed testified to an oversight committee about the existence of deputy gangs within the department. The allegations echo concerns Hoffman raised months earlier when he sued the county, saying that for years hed been denied promotions and subjected to racial discrimination and whistle-blower retaliation by both Latino gang members and the leaders who tolerate them at the East L.A. station. That station more than almost any other in the county has become a magnet for scandal, in part because it is home to a group of deputies known as the Banditos , whose members have been implicated in lawsuits , shootings , investigations and one brawl at an off-duty station party where two deputies were knocked unconscious. When he recently learned of the memo, Hoffman said he was upset. I was hurt about the fact that Im not given the right to have the same career as a Latino deputy or sergeant because of how I was born because I was born Black, he told The Times last week. I dont get it, honestly. The memo shows that Lt. Shawn ODonnell wrote to Cmdr. Richard Mejia, a higher-ranking official who oversees several stations, to raise concerns about Chavez's behavior, particularly what he described as racist incidents that happened last summer. The department has faced allegations of anti-Black racism in the past, including in several ongoing lawsuits from Black employees. And the former sheriff, Alex Villanueva, sparked criticism last year when he apparently implied there had been too many Black division chiefs , calling it nepotism that he said ended when he took office. Story continues "I promoted more black and Latino chiefs and above than all previous sheriff COMBINED," he wrote in an email this week, adding that his comments about nepotism were intended as a reflection on the promotion process as a whole and not specifically in regards to Black employees. As of late 2020, county data showed 7.5% of the departments sworn staff were Black and more than 52% were Latino which was roughly in line with the demographics of the county as a whole . Officials with the current administration declined to comment on the contents of the January memo but broadly confirmed an ongoing probe. The department is conducting an administrative investigation involving a member of the East Los Angeles Sheriffs Station, said Jason Skeen, chief of staff for Sheriff Robert Luna. The Sheriffs Department is committed to holding employees accountable for their actions and expects them to exhibit the highest moral and ethical standards. To Sean Kennedy, chair of the Civilian Oversight Commission, the fact that the department does not appear to have taken action on concerns raised in January seems to belie that commitment. Its been three months since the LASD leadership learned that Capt. Chavez allegedly was using racial tropes, fixing promotions, and retaliating against an employee for testifying about deputy gangs at the East L.A. station, he said. The slow pace of the internal investigation doesnt inspire confidence that real reform is in the works. ODonnell did not respond to requests for comment. An attorney representing him said ODonnell is preparing to sue for an unrelated claim of political retaliation. Meanwhile, Mejia would only confirm that a January message sent to him had sparked a Policy of Equity investigation that he said was still in its early phases. The memo is dated Jan. 24. In late August 2022, I received a phone call from Captain Chavez on my personal cellular phone, the memo begins. Captain Chavez asked me if I heard about the drama going on at the station. ODonnell said that he hadnt. According to the memo, Chavez went on to tell him that higher-ups had ordered her to interview sergeants for a position in the detective bureau. But Chavez allegedly said that was bull because she wanted to pick her own sergeants and she had two people in mind. Neither one was Hoffman. Captain Chavez also told me Sergeant Reginald Hoffman was the anonymous caller who gave testimony at the Civilian Oversight Committee hearing on May 24, 2022, the memo says. Captain Chavez said Sergeant Hoffman had nothing coming to him at East Los Angeles station." Then, she allegedly said that shed already come up with the interview questions she planned to ask and had relayed them to her preferred candidates. Captain Chavez stated they were Hispanic and they were the ones she could trust out of the sergeants who wanted the position, the memo says. She also told me there was no way she was going to allow Sergeant Hoffman to get the position because he was an angry Black guy who filed a claim and for being the anonymous caller at the COC hearing. Chavez, who is still the captain of the East Los Angeles station, could not be reached for comment. But in the end, Hoffman did not get the job. Yet, according to the memo, a couple weeks later, Chavez reached out to ODonnell again. On Sept 8, 2022, Captain Chavez called me to discuss a way to transfer Sergeant Hoffman out of East Los Angeles, the memo reads. I asked her why she wanted him removed from the station. Captain Chavez told me he is a pain in her ass and he was acting like an angry Black. She asked me to look into transferring him out of the station. But ODonnell did not investigate the possibility of a transfer, according to the memo, because he did not believe moving someone out of a station because they were perceived as an angry Black was a legitimate reason to move someone. Ultimately, Hoffman was never transferred, and a few weeks after the alleged events described in the memo, he sued. Filed in state court, the lawsuit alleges that racism has long permeated the culture in LASD in general, and that at East L.A. in particular, the Banditos have created a hostile work environment for employees who are not Latino. The suit also accuses Mejia the commander listed as the recipient of the January memo of being a longtime supporter of racist deputy gangs. It was Mejia, Hoffmans suit alleges, who refused to consider Hoffman for a detective bureau position back in 2020, not long after the sergeant had opened up to internal affairs about the Banditos and their alleged mistreatment of a white deputy. Afterward, Hoffman said he felt intensifying hostility, and suspected that sometimes Mejia tried to provoke him just so that he could accuse him of being an "angry Black man." The lawsuit does not indicate that Mejia ever actually made that accusation. The suit goes on to outline several other allegations, then details Hoffmans failed attempt to get the 2022 detective bureau position described in the January memo. By then, Hoffman believed he was next in line to be a detective sergeant. However, Commander Mejia and Captain Chavez rigged a kangaroo interview process to make it seem that it would be a fair interview process, the suit alleges. Plaintiff applied to the position along with a Caucasian male sergeant with a long history as a detective in Operation Safe Street. A Latino candidate got the job in the end, the suit says. When lawyers for the county filed a response to the suit in January, they said that the problems Hoffman described were hearsay or unrelated to his protected status as an African American and not pervasive or severe as pleaded. They also said he hadnt shown any clear link between his comments to internal affairs and the fact that he was later passed over for a promotion. Though the memo apparently backs up some of the claims in the lawsuit, it raises more questions than it answers. In total, the memo appears to be eight pages, though The Times was able to review only the first three. And the conversations it describes allegedly took place in the fall, so its not clear why the message was not written until several months later. Its also not clear when the investigation into it began. I dont know the exact date that the investigation was initiated, but it happened within the time [since] the memo was received, Mejia told The Times. It doesnt mean it was the date that I personally received the memo. Meanwhile Robert Glassman the attorney representing ODonnell said his client may have penned the memo after he was denied a promotion himself and began preparing to sue the county. O'Donnell, who is no longer at East LA, was a staunch supporter of the former sheriff and had been scheduled for a transfer around the time Villanueva left office. But according to his lawyer, ODonnells transfer was called off after Luna took office. Its a clear-cut case of political retaliation, Glassman said. A spokeperson said Friday that the department is "aware of the allegation and initiated an inquiry on his behalf." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Community members raised more than $68,000 to help Los Osos residents whose homes were damaged during winter flooding. Now those funds are being distributed to those in need. On Feb. 4, the Kiwanis Club of Bay Osos hosted a barbecue in the Grocery Outlet parking lot that raised $8,200. The Diggin Deeper fundraiser, organized by Gary Freiberg and Paul Irving, was held on Feb. 26. That benefit concert and silent auction raised $45,286.52. Local nonprofit organization South Bay Seniors People Helping People was tasked with holding and distributing the $53,486 raised by the two fundraisers, according to group president Richard Margetson. People Helping People added more than $14,000 from its reserves, bringing the total to more than $68,000, Margetson said. Los Osos residents turned out Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, to help clean up mud and debris that hit homes on Vista Court when a water retention basin failed and sent a torrent of floodwater pouring down onto the neighborhood from the hillside above. We saw that the need was greater than the funds that we had from the two fundraisers, he said. The Los Osos Emergency Coalition decided how to distribute the funds, according to Los Osos Community Services District president Chuck Cesena. Margetson said the coalition distributed a survey to determine community members needs. Respondents were asked to provide an estimate of total cleanup and construction costs after storm damage, describe their households needs ranging from adequate financial need to no resources and share how much of the damage would be covered by insurance, according to coalition member Andrea Leuker. One home on Vista Court in Los Osos was hit particularly hard when a water retention basin failed on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, sending a wall of floodwater through the house, up to three feet on the walls. The water and mud broke open the front door and pushed down the hallway to the bedrooms. After analyzing the forms, People Helping People will distribute the money to a total of 17 homes damaged by flooding in Los Osos, Margetson said. Cesena said 80% of the funding will go to residents of homes on Vista Court, while 20% will go to homes on Pine Avenue, Ash Street and Pecho Valley Road. Organizers will mail some checks and deliver others by hand, Margetson said. All should arrive by the end of the week. One home on Vista Court suffered the brunt of the floodwaters from a failed water retention basin in Los Osos on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023. The interior, front yard and back yard were inundated with water and mud. Los Osos flood fundraising criticized on Nextdoor Its been nearly five months since a storm pelted Los Osos on Jan. 9, crumbling a wall on the east end of a water detention basin owned by the Los Osos Community Services Department. Story continues That caused water and mud to flood 25 homes below, resulting in more than $1 million worth of damage, Freiberg previously told The Tribune. According to Margetson, it took months to distribute the funds raised for the Los Osos flood victims because People Helping People had to pass out surveys to impacted neighborhoods, review the surveys and then calculate how much money each household should receive according to need. Some households responded on the surveys that they didnt want to receive any donations, he said. We wanted to make sure that all the money was in and that we werent wasting any of it, Margetson said. Los Osos resident Bruce Hendry joined the cleanup effort with his son, Sawyer, and rain splashed on the pair as they shoveled mud out of Kay Blaneys driveway on Vista Court on Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. A water retention basin failed and sent a torrent of floodwater pouring down onto the neighborhood from the hillside above. The organization also had to wait weeks to receive donations that people pledged to pay during the Diggin Deeper fundraiser, he said. Folks on the Nextdoor social media app criticized how long it has taken People Helping People to distribute the funds. WHERES THE MONEY? Nextdoor user Barbara Lorenzen posted on April 17. Vista Court resident Phyllis Schoonbeck echoed Lorenzens concerns. One home on Vista Court in Los Osos was hit particularly hard when a water retention basin failed on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, sending a wall of floodwater through the house, up to three feet on the walls. It even knocked over the refrigerator, and every room and the front and back yard were damaged. Schoonbecks home was badly damaged by the flood in January, she said, and shes still repairing her property, which has cost a considerable amount of money. If you have a fundraiser on the 26th of February, and its now almost May 1, when were you going to think it was going to be appropriate to release the funds? Schoonbeck asked. Schoonbeck said that some community members were upset that funding was distributed to Los Osos residents outside the Vista de Oro neighborhood, as a poster advertising the Diggin Deeper event only mentioned that neighborhood. Los Osos is hosting a fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 26 from noon to 6 p.m. to support folks whose homes flooded during the January storm. Margetson said that speakers at that event specified that funding would go to homes in other Los Osos neighborhoods as well. Some of them were just as damaged as some of the people on Vista Court, Margetson said. The Diggin Deeper fundraiser was designed to help anyone affected by the rain events of January and February in Los Osos, regardless of what street they lived on, he said. Margetson said hes proud of the communitys fundraising efforts. People just put aside their differences for this and came together to help, Margetson said. This was a wonderful outpouring of the community. I will defend what we did and what were doing until doomsday. Gary Orbeck, who has lived on Vista Court since 1976, said hes nothing but proud of the way the community worked together to raise money for neighbors in need. In January, floodwaters swept through Orbecks yard and seeped into his home, damaging the floors. Orbeck said he had to replace his carpets and bathroom floors, resulting in nearly $30,000 in expenses. Luckily, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and an insurance payment from the Los Osos Community Services District covered the costs of repairs, so he declined any donations from People Helping People, he said. Orbeck said donating to folks in other Los Osos neighborhoods is the right thing to do. If people need help, thats what (the money) should go, Orbeck said. Orbeck said he trusts People Helping People to divide the funds fairly. Theyre gonna distribute the money in an equitable, fair way, Orbeck said. I just felt bad for the people that spent all this effort for that concert to get bad mouthed. They did a lot of work, and theyre still trying to do it as fairly as possible. Folks on Nextdoor also chimed in. Thank you very much for the hard work and time spent on helping, Diana Bowlby posted on Nextdoor. Many families were hurt and this compassion is so commendable. I love knowing that so much kindness abounds in Los Osos. Missouri small businesses and entrepreneurs will soon have their first shot at applying for a special license to sell or manufacture recreational marijuana even earlier than expected. The states recreational weed sales have been surpassing expectations since they started in February after voters passed an amendment to legalize adult use last year. But so far, only well-established businesses that had already been licensed to sell medical marijuana in Missouri have been able to cash in, while smaller businesses have been waiting in limbo. According to the state constitution, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services needs to open up applications for its microbusiness license program which is intended to give small businesses a chance to join the lucrative market and is geared toward lower income individuals, those who live in historically disinvested communities and those who have been previously arrested for marijuana by September. But the department says it plans to start the process early, as soon as this summer. Applications will be available by June 6, and the submission window for the first round of microbusiness license applications will open from July 27 to Aug. 10. Only a handful of licenses will be awarded in each congressional district through a lottery system. Applicants will need to meet specific requirements, have a proposed building for the business and be ready to pay a $1,500 application fee in order to be considered. Those interested will be able to find the applications at cannabis.mo.gov. Heres a look at what to know before applying to sell legal weed. WHAT IS A MICROBUSINESS LICENSE, AND WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS? The microbusiness licenses will be a way for regular people and business owners to break into the recreational weed market. They are different than the comprehensive licenses that are for large-scale facilities that sell, cultivate and distribute marijuana. There will be two kinds of microbusiness licenses: one for dispensaries, and another for wholesale facilities. Story continues Microbusiness wholesale facilities can cultivate up to 250 flowering plants at any given time. These facilities can only sell marijuana products to other microbusiness facilities, not to the bigger dispensaries. And microbusiness dispensaries can only acquire marijuana products from other microbusiness facilities, not from the larger players. Some people predict this limitation could make it harder for these businesses to compete with the bigger dispensaries that have been selling since February, while others think it means microbusinesses will offer more boutique or craft marijuana products. HOW MUCH WILL A MICROBUSINESS LICENSE COST? The application will cost $1,500, and then qualifying applicants will be chosen based on a lottery system conducted by the Missouri Lottery, according to the state health department. If granted, licenses last for three years and are renewable. Applicants that do not receive a license will be refunded their application fee. How many will be selected? In October, Missouri will issue six microbusiness licenses in each of the eight Missouri congressional districts, for a total of 48 microbusiness licenses, according to the health department. Of the six in each district, two will be microbusiness dispensaries, and four will be microbusiness wholesale facilities. For each application cycle, the state will continue to grant at least six of these microbusiness licenses in each congressional district. Over time, the department will be responsible for offering 18 licenses in each congressional district for a total of 144 licenses. The department can choose to offer more microbusiness licenses than this, but they will not be required to. How will microbusiness licenses be selected? According to the health deparment, the Missouri Lottery will be in charge of selecting applicants using a certified software that produces random results. All applications that are submitted by Aug. 10 along with the required fee will be entered into the lottery drawing. Applications will be sorted by congressional district and license type, whether theyre for a wholesale or dispensary facility. Each application will then be assigned a sequential applicant identifier to keep applicants names and identities out of the random process. Whoever is the primary contact on an application will get an email saying what the applications identifier is before the drawing. The health department will review applications in the order that theyre drawn by the lottery to see if they are eligible to receive licenses. If any of the first six applications drawn in a district are denied or if any of the applicants refuse the license, it will go to the next eligible application drawn in order. The state will list the random drawing results on its website cannabis.mo.gov. After arriving at six qualified applications per district, the health department will notify winners via email. Can your name be on more than one application to improve your chances? No. The state constitution specifies that a business can apply for and obtain only one microbusiness license. According to the health department, An individual or entity may only be listed on one application, regardless of the amount of ownership interests. If an individuals name is on multiple applications, all applications with that persons name could be denied. WHATS THE TIMELINE FOR APPLICATIONS? The applications and instructions will be available starting June 6. The application submission window will be open from July 27 until Aug. 10. Between Aug. 11 and Oct. 2, the Missouri Lottery will draw applications, and the applications that win the lottery will be announced and processed. From Oct. 2 to 4, microbusiness licenses will be awarded. In October and November the department will review minimum standards and eligibility of awarded licenses. By Nov. 5 the department will start to refund applicants that were not selected for a license. HOW SOON WILL MICROBUSINESSES BE ABLE TO SELL LEGAL WEED? If businesses already have the infrastructure to sell or cultivate their product by then, they could technically open shop as soon as they receive their licenses in October. WHO QUALIFIES FOR A MICROBUSINESS LICENSE? In order to get a microbusiness license, business owners will need to meet one of five requirements. Applicants dont need to fit all five of the requirements to be eligible for the microbusiness license, just one. Income Individuals applying will need to have a net worth less than $250,000, or have an income that is less than 250% of the federal poverty level, which is around $34,000 a year for one person in 2022. An individual qualifying for a license under the income category needs to meet this financial criteria for at least three of the past 10 years to qualify. Location People could also qualify for microbusiness licenses if they live in a census tract area where at least 30% of the community lives below the poverty line, or if they live in an area where the unemployment rate is 50% higher than the states average. People who graduated from an unaccredited high school or live in a ZIP code that housed an unaccredited school district for three of the past five years can also qualify for the microbusiness license program. This would include Kansas City residents, since Kansas City Public Schools didnt gain accreditation until 2022. Communities impacted by marijuana prohibition Specific groups that qualify include disabled veterans and individuals whose families have been arrested, prosecuted or convicted of a nonviolent marijuana offense. To qualify, the charge must have occurred before December 2021. This category does not include anyone charged with providing marijuana to minors or driving under the influence of marijuana. People who live in a community where the rate of incarceration for marijuana-related charges is historically higher than the rest of the state by at least 50% also qualify. WHO DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE LICENSE? People who already hold a medical marijuana license will not qualify for a microbusiness license. Business owners will also be ineligible to sell or manufacture weed if they have pleaded guilty or have been found guilty of a felony offense, with the exception of most marijuana charges, charges that are more than five years old and if someone was released from probation or parole for the charge more than five years ago. Applicants will be required to provide fingerprints to make sure that they do not have a disqualifying felony offense, according to the health department. The fingerprints are required for any owner of the business with 10% or more voting or financial interest in the company. DO APPLICANTS NEED A BUILDING IN ORDER TO APPLY? Yes. When applying for a microbusiness license, applicants will have to include a proposed address for their dispensary or wholesale facility, according to the health department. DO APPLICANTS GET A REFUND IF THEY DONT GET A LICENSE? Yes. Applications that are not selected in the lottery process will receive a refund as soon as November. "We had almost given up. Bloomberg / Contributor/Getty Images A south Florida waste collector saved a brides wedding day by finding a missing family heirloom bracelet. Brittany Thompson told WBBH in Cape Coral, Florida, said she was balling her eyes out when her father came to present her with the sapphire bracelet when she was getting ready. The two had just recently met after finding each other on Ancestry.com. Later that evening after the reception, Thompson was removing her jewelry and realized the bracelet - her something blue - was gone. She panicked, retraced her steps and the next morning, returned to the venue with her husband. But all the garbage had been emptied. Luckily, though, the garbage truck was still there - and Thompsons husband asked the driver, whose name was Jeff, if they could look through the trash. Jeff called his supervisor for permission and the three of them - Brittany, Brittanys husband and Jeff the garbage truck driver - began digging through the trash. We had almost given up, Thompson said, when she saw hay sticking out of one of the garbage bags. Shed figured shed lost the bracelet in the hay that was a part of the photo area at her venue. Thompson rifled through the bag, pulling out fistfuls of hay and was relieved when one of the fistfuls had her bracelets. I just freaked out, Thompson told WBBH. Then she said she asked if she could give Jeff a hug. For him to do that its not a shock for anybody that knows him, Bill Jones, Divisional Vice President for Waste Pro said. Jeff did the right thing. A happy ending for a bride to go with a happily ever after. For more Southern Living news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Southern Living. The Chinese Embassy in Seoul flies the national flag in this Aug. 23, 2017 file photo. Yonhap Korea recorded the biggest fall in exports to China among major exporters to the country in the first quarter, China's trade data showed Sunday. Exports to China plunged 28 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier due mainly to a sharp decline in semiconductor shipments, the data showed. In the three months ended March 30, Korean exports to China fell to $38.2 billion compared to the same period of last year. Korea accounted for 6.2 percent of China's overall imports, down from 8.1 percent, during the same period, according to data from China's General Administration of Customs. China's overall imports declined 7 percent on-year to $617.12 billion in the first three months, the data showed. Korea posted the biggest on-year drop in exports to the neighboring country in the first quarter among 23 countries and regions the China customs office regards as China's major trading partners. In the first quarter of 2022, South Korea ranked second in terms of the value of exports to China after Taiwan. But in this past quarter, it ranked fifth after the United States, which exported $46.4 billion worth of products to China, Taiwan with $44.4 billion, Australia with $39.1 billion and Japan with $38.6 billion. Korea's overall semiconductor exports plummeted 40 percent in the March quarter from a year ago amid lower demand for chips and their falling prices, according to the Korea International Trade Association and the Bank of Korea. In particular, Korea's chip shipments to China plunged 44.5 percent in the first quarter compared to a year earlier. (Yonhap) Welcome to The Interchange! If you received this in your inbox, thank you for signing up and your vote of confidence. If youre reading this as a post on our site, sign up here so you can receive it directly in the future. Every week, well take a look at the hottest fintech news of the previous week. This will include everything from funding rounds to trends to an analysis of a particular space to hot takes on a particular company or phenomenon. Theres a lot of fintech news out there and its our job to stay on top of it and make sense of it so you can stay in the know. About a year ago, it seemed like myself and other colleagues were writing story after story about spend management companies raising tranches of venture capital remember Mary Anns roundup story from basically this same time last year? On Friday, PitchBooks Q1 2023 B2B fintech investment report showed that investment into enterprise fintech was $11.8 billion. Though it is a decrease from the same quarter in 2022, it was above the first quarter of 2021. And compared to the shrinking of quarter-to-quarter investments for the rest of 2022, the $11.8 billion shows a boost of confidence from investors, and dare we say a comeback? Those figures are certainly proving themselves in stories weve been working on lately that show some spend management companies continue to do well in raising money and generating revenue. One of those is Clara, a spend management company based in Mexico that announced $60 million in new funding last week. Gerry Giacoman Colyer, Claras co-founder and CEO, told me the company is working with over 10,000 customers across Latin America and that its annual run rate of 5 million credit card transactions is equivalent to $1 billion. He also noted that over 10x in transactional volume is coming from revenue. With Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, we are covering two-thirds of LatAms GDP. Giacoman Colyer also expects continued 2x month over month growth through the end of the year. Story continues Meanwhile, last month, Mary Ann wrote about Ramps 4x revenue growth in 2022. She spoke to co-founder and CEO Eric Glyman, who described the successful results as a desire on the part of companies of all sizes and stages seeking to save money by managing their spend better. However, despite the seemingly good times the spend management sector is currently experiencing, we learned this week that not everyone is popping bottles. Axios reported last week that Teampay, a corporate card company, confirmed it laid off 30% of its 100-person staff in two instances in recent months. This comes five months after colleague Kyle Wiggers reported that Teampay secured $47 million in equity and debt. Perhaps founder and CEO Andrew Hoag inadvertently forecasted the layoffs when he told Kyle, Teampays software-led approach has proven resilient as we saw in late 2020 to 2021, when the economy rebounds, Teampay benefits disproportionately through accelerated growth. If thats true, maybe the opposite is also true: When the economy doesnt do so well, maybe Teampay doesnt do so well either? Despite Teampays setback, the numbers are showing its still a space to watch. Well keep an eye on it for you. Now I'm throwing it over to Mary Ann, who got the scoop on Navan's growth metrics. Christine Clara Diego Ivan Garcia Escobedo Gerry Giacoman Colyer spend management Clara's co-founders Diego Ivan Garcia Escobedo and Gerry Giacoman Colyer Image Credits: Clara Navan's chatbot, growth and IPO plans A few weeks ago I talked to Ariel Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Navan (formerly TripActions), about that companys growth. For the unacquainted, Navan was initially focused on travel expense management before accelerating efforts on its general spend management offering in 2020 after its revenue literally dropped to zero when the pandemic hit. Highlights of the conversation include Ariel sharing some impressive growth metrics: Spend volume processed via Navan Expense in the first quarter of 2023 grew more than 3x compared to Q1 2022 and by 4.7x when looking at the 12 consecutive months ending in March 2023, as compared to the 12 months preceding. Also, the company touts that recent calendar year volume is nearly 80x that of the first full year of the Navan Expense product launch. Revenue-wise, Navan says it saw "3x YoY revenue growth." I also asked Ariel if Navan was still planning to go public considering it filed confidentially to do so in September of last year. His answer: I think eventually we will be a public company. Weve raised around $1.4 billion to date and maturity wise, we are there, to be public. Growthwise, we are growing extremely fast, and a lot of our metrics would support being public. I dont think the market is there right now. I also got a demo from CTO and co-founder Ilan Twig of just how Navan is using ChatGPT within its new offering, which is essentially a CFO dashboard, the company says. It was very interesting to see firsthand how its chatbot, Ava, works. Ilan was almost like a child with a new toy, honestly, giddily showing me how the bot could provide insight as to which hotels employees had used the most within a given time period in a given city, and other details such as did they get a corporate negotiated rate, or not? It even produced graphs! At one point, Ilan did have to reword his prompt but it was cool to see how the chatbot could respond to questions sequentially based on previous prompts. Navans goal is to help replace data analysts at companies, it says, ultimately helping them save money in more ways than one. A recent panel at Fintech Meetup in Las Vegas in March -- made up of Mesh Payments co-founder and CEO Oded Zehavi; Michael Sindicich, EVP and general manager of Navan Expense; and Michael Tannenbaum, COO and CFO at Brex -- also touched on the topic of innovation in the space -- all agreeing on the importance of globalization, automation and travel expense as a category. This quote from Zehavi of Mesh Payments (which raised its own $60 million funding round last September) sums up pretty well the potential for spend management companies: "We were all playing a game of musical chairs. When it was very happy music, many companies in our space got a lot of funding, even though their fundamentals were not so strong. And now the music has stopped, some of us have chairs, but others don't...The fact that we are connected to the accounting system, we see all the employees, we sit in the middle between the employees, the finance team, and the vendors, is an amazing position for us to leverage and start offering more and more services under the stack of the CFO that we'll be able to monetize." -- Mary Ann Anthemis' layoffs an outlier or a 'sign of what's to come'? Last week, I published a scoop on fintech-focused VC firm Anthemis having laid off 28% of its staff, or 16 people, earlier this year as part of a restructuring. While 16 people may not seem like a lot, when it comes to venture firms, it actually is. Its not typical, or often, that we see such large cuts at one time. Anthemis is an active investor, having backed the likes of eToro and Betterment. Its also had a couple of recent stumbles in Pipe and Daylight. So the news of its staff reduction came as a bit of a surprise. (These are among the least fun types of scoops.) One thing that struck me is that after publishing the story, a founder reached out expressing concern about perception around Farhan Lalji a former managing director at Anthemis being among those affected by the cuts. That founder wrote me a note saying that while at Anthemis, Farhan was the first VC to believe in his company. And there's no way we'd be where we are today without him, he added. Anyway, I have since learned that Farhan has branched out to start his own firm, LTV Capital. Interestingly, there was a lot of chatter on Twitter as to whether these layoffs were an outlier in the industry or a sign of whats to come. Its hard to say. There could be other similar cuts taking place at other venture firms, and we just dont know about them. But as Alex pointed out in last week's episode of the Equity podcast, if firms are investing less, wouldnt it make sense that they would need less staff? Meanwhile, a couple of days after my story ran, Anthemis announced that it secured additional capital from institutions such as Visa and BMO for its Female Innovators Lab (FIL) Fund. In a statement, the firm said: Anchored by Barclays, with investment from Aviva, the fund now totals $50 million, making it the largest early-stage fintech fund focused on female founders. With this latest raise, the fund will invest in additional early-stage companies and continue its focus on designing, sourcing, and scaling female-founded embedded finance startups. Mary Ann Ansa's virtual wallet for merchants Having covered fintech now for a few years, its less and less often that I come across companies building technology that feels, well, unique. But this week, I wrote about a startup building something Im not sure Ive ever seen before: virtual wallets for merchants. It sounds simple, right? But its not, or else wed see a lot more of it outside the Starbucks of the world. Interesting backstory: Sophia Goldberg, a former Adyen product manager, had this idea for a company but was looking for a technical co-founder. Bain Capital Ventures partner Christina Melas-Kyriazi ended up introducing Sophia to JT Cho, a software engineer shed worked with at Affirm. The two self-proclaimed payments nerds hit it off famously and went on to raise $5.4 million for Ansa. Besides Bain, other backers include Nimi Katragadda at Box Group; Nichole Wischoff at Wischoff Ventures; Cambrian Ventures; the Fintech Fund; Susa Ventures; and angels such as Plaid co-founder and CEO Zach Perret; Gokul Rajaram and the founders of Alloy; among others. I tend to always root for the underdog, so the fact that Ansa aims to help small businesses like coffee shops and quick-service restaurants (and down the line, they say, enterprises) save money on fees and better retain customers made me happy. Read more here. Mary Ann Ansa co-founders JT Cho and Sophia Goldberg Image Credits: Ansa Other news A super interesting feature from Catherine Shu: Southeast Asia is already home to a thriving fintech scene, where Grab, GoTo and Sea have built super apps that encompass financial services, and startups like Xendit, Akulaku and Dana (to name a few) have raised hundreds of millions of dollars for payments, banking services and other financial tools. Indonesia and Malaysia, in the heart of Southeast Asia, are among the countries with the largest Muslim populations in the world. These factors are proving fertile ground for establishing and growing fintechs that focus exclusively on Islamic finance, offering products and services that follow shariah law. More here. Mary Ann wrote about how Shopify has teamed up with Israeli B2B payments startup Melio to launch a new bill pay tool designed to allow U.S.-based merchant customers to manage their expenses and vendors via its platform. Its another step in Shopifys plan to straddle the intersection of fintech and commerce, noted Shruti Patel, global head of merchant services partnerships and monetization at Shopify. The rationale behind the new feature plays to the notion that if merchants can spend less time on tedious tasks such as consolidating their invoices and paying bills, they can spend more time focusing on growing their businesses. It also was in part driven by merchants asking for money movement capabilities, Patel told TechCrunch in an interview. More here. Smart analysis from Anna Heim and Alex Wilhelm: While the banking world watches American lender First Republic publicly convulse after its earnings report detailed a widespread evaporation of its deposit base, the startup world of neobanks is taking blows as well. Earlier this week, Revolut, a highly valued, U.K.-based neobank saw its valuation decline by some 46% in the eyes of one of its backersRevoluts revaluation raises a few questions: How much trimming is there left to do in the fintech world? And, are we likely to see something similar more generally in the neobanking startup sector? More here. Speaking of banks, Alex first took a look at First Republics tanking stock and deposits earlier in the week: Shares of First Republic Bank are off 29% in early-morning trading Tuesday as investors digest its first-quarter earnings results, which came out Monday after the bell. The bank reported revenue and profit above analysts expectations, but for investors, other concerns outweighed the good results. Chief among those concerns is a massive decline in the banks deposit base. The bank closed 2022 with $176.4 billion worth of deposits against $166.9 billion in loans, but by the end of Q1 2023, it had $104.5 billion in deposits against $173.3 billion in loans. More here. By Friday, unfortunately for First Republic, the stock had tanked even further at the threat of government intervention. And, listen to Mary Ann, Alex and Natasha riff on just how much the Silicon Valley Bank debacle played a role in all this on the Equity podcast. Contributor and fintech consultant Grant Easterbrook takes a look at three fintech concepts that, in his view, initially seemed promising but largely failed to change the financial services industry. You may agree. You may not. Either way, its a good read. More here. Reports Rebecca Bellan: Uber Freight, the logistics business spun out of Uber in 2018, is partnering with transportation fintech startup AtoB to offer carriers fuel cards and spend management software. AtoB, a four-year-old company that has been described as Stripe for transportation, offers an integrated financial platform based around its core product of a fuel card for truckers. Unlike other fuel cards offered by competitors like Brex and Fleetcor, AtoBs fuel card is based on the Visa platform, so payments are more likely to be accepted at a wider range of fuel retailers. There are also no hidden or annual fees, according to the company. More here. Christine spoke with Stripes Vivek Sharma, head of revenue and finance automation, about the financial infrastructure companys updates to its revenue and finance automation suite that included new billing features, tax API and revenue reporting tool. It'll lead us into the larger trend that's happening in what we call the revenue front office and finance back office, Sharma said. These are considered to be disconnected systems, so Stripe has had a rare privilege of sitting right in the middle. TechCrunch reported earlier this month that Stripe processed $817 billion in transactions in 2022 and is now valued at $50 billion after raising $6.5 billion in March. More headlines PatientFi launches membership platform for aesthetics practices Adyen, Olo to address financial challenges within hospitality Female Invest: Meet the women taking on the gender finance gap Wise launches new interest feature for US customers, bolstering multi-currency account (TechCrunch covered Wises name change from TransferWise amid the company going public in 2021.) ACI and MagicCube to deliver seamless contactless payments for commercial off-the-shelf devices (TechCrunch covered MagicCube $15 million raise and plan to replace all chips in October of 2021.) Frank founder moved millions of dollars out of JPMorgan after she was accused of defrauding the Wall Street giantand put it in Signature Bank The saga continues. Last we reported, Charlie Javice had been charged with fraud by the SEC. Fundings and M&A Seen on TechCrunch Korean fintech Kakao Pay to acquire majority stake in US brokerage firm Siebert Summers student debt repayment tools continue blooming with $6M Series A extension And elsewhere The Fintech Funding Crunch In 4 Charts Financing platform Fairplay adds more than 100 million dollars to support new ventures (Christine covered the companys January 2022 $35 million debt and equity raise here.) Neobank creator Fintech Farm raises $22M TheGuarantors snares $35m in growth financing Digital insurance market Policygenius to be acquired by Eldridge's Zinnia Belvo acquires Skilopay to enter payments market in Brazil Secro raises $3.6M in seed funding Dori launches out of stealth with $2M in funding and a suite of VC automation products That's it for this week! Thank you all again for reading, and for your continued support! Hope you're having a fabulous and fun-filled weekend! xoxo, Mary Ann and Christine Image Credits: Bryce Durbin CHICAGO A federal corruption trial involving one of the nations biggest electric utilities and one of Illinois most well-known political figures feels like it should end with consequences even in a city famous for elected officials behaving badly. The nearly seven weeks of testimony have centered on the ComEd Four former Commonwealth Edison CEO Anne Pramaggiore and three lobbyists, including a confidante of the longtime House speaker, accused of a bribery scheme to influence energy legislation. Theres an awkward air of hope and resignation about the trial and whether it feeds into the states long-held reputation for corruption. And while elected officials and political insiders anxiously await a verdict due any day now, many are already frustrated that this case might end the same way as all the others: Someone goes to prison and someone pays a fine but the gears of the same old Illinois machine just keeps turning. Im fearful that it will have zero impact, outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who sought stricter ethics rules during her administration, said in an interview. You have people taking the stand and talking about fixing this and taking jobs and doing no work. Its horrifying, she said. And every single person who testifies, every piece of evidence, every wiretapped call, I think, erodes peoples trust in core democratic institutions. There is some sense that if Illinois cant crack down on corruption, theres still an element of accountability. The trial matters because it will make people think twice about engaging in this kind of behavior if they know the feds are watching, said Alisa Kaplan, executive director of Reform for Illinois, a nonpartisan good-government organization. But this is the state that produced several infamous examples of wrongdoing: Former Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich (convicted for trying to sell a Senate seat) and former Republican Gov. George Ryan (convicted of accepting gifts and vacations from friends in exchange for government contracts) and Rita Crundwell (a comptroller convicted of absconding with nearly $54 million of her citys money) and has seen many Chicago City Council members indicted or implicated. Story continues The Four are accused of a bribery plot where the utility arranged jobs for allies of former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who faces a separate trial next year on racketeering and bribery charges, without them having to do actual work. In return, the utility sought passage of 2011 Smart Grid legislation and a 2016 measure that rescued two financially struggling nuclear power plants from shutting down, according to federal prosecutors. Madigan, who led Illinois House Democrats for nearly 40 years, hasnt appeared in court but his presence has loomed over the trial, which is being held in Chicagos downtown Loop business district. And political insiders have been captivated as former lawmakers and lobbyists testified about the inner workings of state government, with echoes of the once-dominant machine politics. One element thats drawing people into the case is the audio. The former House speaker famously didnt have a cell phone or use email, so trial observers were particularly stunned to hear Madigan and his close aide, Mike McClain, on secret phone recordings. The tapes were designed to cement the idea to jurors that Madigan had an outsized influence orchestrating the conduct of state government so testimony from people like state Rep. Bob Rita, a Democrat, clicked: Madigan ruled through fear and intimidation, he told the court. Federal prosecutors say the ComEd defendants schemed to pay $1.3 million to subcontractors who did little or no work, though attorneys for the ComEd Four say their clients participated in nothing more than lobbying. Madigan has denied wrongdoing but resigned from office and relinquished his chairpersonship of the state Democratic Party in 2021 after he was identified in the ComEd case. I was never involved in any criminal activity. The government is attempting to criminalize a routine constituent service: Job recommendations, Madigan has said in a statement about the federal investigations. That is not illegal, and these other charges are equally unfounded. I adamantly deny these accusations and look back proudly on my time as an elected official, serving the people of Illinois. The trial is also being watched warily from the Capitol in Springfield. Lawmakers are about a month away from wrapping up their legislative session but the ComEd Four trial has not sparked new, splashy ethics measures. Joe Ferguson, the former Chicago inspector general, worries its already too late for lawmakers to act before their session ends May 19. When the indictments came out, there was a flurry of talk about reforms. But nothing has been done, Ferguson said in an interview. It means when the legislature meets again, the trial will be a distant memory. Both House and Senate spokespeople pointed to recent changes Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law that restrict government officials from lobbying activities, tighten regulations on registered lobbyists and expand financial disclosure requirements. State Sen. Terri Bryant, a Republican who sits on the bipartisan Legislative Ethics Commission, said lawmakers are mostly watching and waiting, but remain focused on legislation for their districts. Its concerning that Mike Madigan might get off the hook. Theres not a person in Springfield who doesnt think hes as guilty as hell, said Bryant. If those four get off, how can they prosecute Mike Madigan? It looks like everything hangs on this trial. Despite the federal governments many probes of Illinois officials over the years, there are moments that seem as if politicians arent taking concerns about corruption seriously. Early in her administration, Lightfoot had tried to push Chicago Ald. Edward Burke out, to no avail. The mayor followed through on a campaign promise to overhaul the citys ethics laws, and introduced rules that cut back on outside employment of aldermen and expanded disclosure requirements for lobbyists. But earlier this month, City Council members stood up one by one to offer high praise for Burke, a Democrat who spent the last four of his 54 years in office waiting on his own trial on federal charges of racketeering, bribery and extortion. Its the sort of display Lightfoot cant stand. It was pretty amazing, she said. Thats all Ill say. Stanley Tucci says he almost couldnt endure the crippling side effects from his oral cancer treatments. The actor, 62, detailed his brutal experience battling cancer during NBCs Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, where he described the awful reactions his body had to his life-saving care. I lost 35 pounds, he said. I couldnt eat. I had a feeding tube for six months and everything tasted like you-know-what and smelled like you-know-what. It took months and months and months for me to finally be able to eat again and then taste properly again, the renowned foodie added. Stanley Tucci arrives for the premiere of Stanley Tucci arrives for the premiere of "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" in New York City on Dec. 13, 2022. Having lost his first wife Kate to breast cancer in 2009, Tucci was especially terrified following his 2017 diagnosis. My late wife and I, we traveled all over the world trying to find a cure for her. So when I got it, I was completely shocked, he told Geist. I was terrified, absolutely terrified. While treatment was agonizing for the Citadel actor, he praised his wife Felicity for helping him push through the grueling series of medications and procedures. I was so afraid, Tucci admitted. But Felicity was very insistent. I mean they had to drag me kicking and screaming, but I wouldnt be around if I hadnt done that. Tucci underwent 35 days of radiation treatments and seven sessions of chemotherapy during his battle with oral cancer. He completed treatment in 2018 and has been in remission since. Though oral cancer temporarily took Tuccis ability to taste, his love of food helped propel him to heal. He told The New Yorker about how cooking shows soothed him during his recovery, explaining, I would watch cooking shows because I didnt have to smell the food. I couldnt smell any food, because it was so disgusting to me; I couldnt put anything in my mouth. Your taste buds are completely destroyed. Its not that you dont taste you do taste, but everything tastes like shit, and that goes on for months. But I could look at it. Looking at it was fun. And it sort of propelled me to get better. Story continues While in recovery in 2019, Tucci found purpose in food and embarked on a culinary tour-turned-series: Searching for Italy. He also wrote a food-focused memoir, Taste: My Life Through Food, where he reflects on the intersection of food and life. He writes, Food not only feeds me, it enriches me. All of me. Mind, body, and soul. Watch the full interview below: Related... Park View, formerly owned by Herman Miller, and before him, Hendrik DeKruif. DJ DePree was one of a kind. He forged a unique company out of traditional small town Christian values and big city modern design. DJs father-in-law is partly responsible. Born Herman Mulder in the Netherlands in 1868, his parents, Harm and Stientje Smit Mulder, moved the family to the United States in 1882 and made their home in Grand Rapids. In 1889, Herman became a U.S. citizen and changed his last name to Miller. That year, he also married Nellie Breen. Together, they had six children, among them Nellie, born in 1893, and Howard, born in 1905. In Grand Rapids, Herman Miller took a job with the Royal Manufacturing Company and, by 1891, had worked his way up to foreman; later he was promoted to superintendent. Meanwhile, in Zeeland, in 1899, John Spyker started a small factory making grandfather clocks on the south side of what's now Lincoln Avenue. Needing capital, Spyker sought a loan from Christian Den Herder, president of Zeeland State Bank, but he wasn't successful. Steve VanderVeen In 1905, Herman Miller bought a stake in a furniture business Jacob Elenbaas Michigan Star Furniture at 51 W. Washington Ave. Elenbaas made Princess Dressers and sold them to Sears Roebuck and Company. In 1909, he hired a young, reflective man out of high school as his office assistant. That mans name was DJ DePree. Also in 1909, Christian Den Herder, Albert LaHuis, Dr. Thomas Huizenga, Henry De Kruif, and John Veneklasen invested $10,000 in Spykers company, incorporating it as the Colonial Manufacturing Company. Unfortunately, Spyker wasn't as good a business manager as a woodworker, so with another $10,000, the investors bought out his half of the business, built a factory at 103 N. Colonial at Washington Street, and hired Herman Miller as manager and John Kemp as designer. Given the increase in working capital and newly acquired management expertise, they built upon Spykers foundation; within two years, the plants capacity doubled and Colonial was shipping clocks around the world. Given Herman Millers new place of employment, he and his family moved to Zeeland and moved into Hendrik DeKruifs grand house at 214 E. Central Avenue (present-day Parkview Home). Story continues In 1914, DJ DePree married Nellie Miller. In 1915, their first child, Hugh, was born. Michigan Star Furniture, c1923. By 1923, Elenbaas had made DJ DePree manager of Michigan Star. When Elenbaas decided to leave the business to prospect for oil, DJ decided to invite his father, Jan Dirk DePree; father-in-law, Herman Miller; and banker, Christian Den Herder, to buy Elenbaas share of Michigan Star. Even though he didnt consider his son-in-law to be a money-maker, Herman Miller backed DJ and made the investment. In 1924, Herman and Nellie DePree welcomed their son, Max, into the world. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage In 1926, Herman Miller made another investment. He purchased the closed Wolverine Furniture on the northeast corner of State and Washington. There, he installed DJ as manager, even though DJ was also managing Michigan Star. Leveraging his father-in-laws reputation, DJ named the latter the Herman Miller Furniture Company. At Wolverine, they launched the Herman Miller Clock Company. Ironically, Herman Miller worked at neither location, but remained at Colonial Clock. Herman Miller (center) from photo of Zeeland State Bank Board of Directors, c1940. Herman Millers belief that DJ wasn't a money-maker might have become true, if not for DJs important discoveries. The first occurred in 1927 when, unexpectedly, his millwright, Herman Rummelt, passed away. In those days, the millwright was a key employee. He kept the factory running by operating the steam engine that, through a system of belts and pulleys, powered the other machines in the shop. So, when he died, the factory stopped. When DJ went to the Rummelt home to visit with his widow, she shared with DJ handcrafts, poetry, and stories of how Rummelt helped others. In DJs words, Later, after the funeral I felt that God was dealing with me about this matter of my attitude toward the workers in the plant, and I began to realize that we were all alike. ... By the time I got home I had decided that we were all extraordinary. Thinking of workers and managers as equal was a radical realization, as we learned from Jan Vogelzangs story. The idea that God created all people in his image with complementary and equally important gifts to contribute to the whole not only saved DJs business from bankruptcy, it turned it into a design leader. We'll tell more of DJs story next time. Community Columnist Steve VanderVeen is a resident of Holland. Contact him through start-upacademeinc.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland History: The long and winding history of Herman Miller Furniture Air strikes have pounded Sudan's capital, Khartoum, despite a truce aimed at allowing civilians to flee. The army said it was attacking the city to flush out its paramilitary rivals, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The fighting intensified even as the warring sides said they would extend the truce by another three days. More than 500 deaths have been reported with the true number of casualties believed to be much higher. Millions remain trapped in Khartoum. Army commander Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF chief Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, are vying for power - and disagree in particular about plans to include the RSF into the army. The generals agreed a humanitarian truce after intensive diplomatic efforts by neighbouring countries, the US, UK and UN. It was extended, but did not hold. However, it remains unclear on what they will do in the next stage of the deal arrived at with US and Saudi mediation, according to the army. The country is now in a civil war, says Sudanese businessman and philanthropist Mo Ibrahim, and its conflict must not be allowed to spill over its borders and become regional. "We don't want another Syria," he told the BBC, adding that it was difficult for either side to win outright. BBC diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams, who is monitoring events from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, says the fighting is concentrated mainly in the north of Khartoum, close to the confluence of the Blue and White Niles, but right across the city, people are huddled in their homes, wondering whether it is more dangerous to stay or leave. The army will find it difficult to expel the RSF from Khartoum - for all the army's superior firepower, the paramilitaries are highly mobile and more suited to urban warfare, our correspondent adds. Before the announcement of the extension on Sunday, the army said it had conducted operations against RSF troops north of the city centre. Story continues Checkpoint 'gamble' On Monday, the World Food Programme announced that it was resuming its operations in Sudan, reversing its decision to pull out two weeks ago, after three of its staff were killed when fighting erupted in Khartoum. A Sudanese army checkpoint in Khartoum Hamid Khalafallah, from the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, is one of those unable to flee. "When there is very loud bombing and it gets closer, we take shelter in the house, try to all come to a central room, far from windows, far from walls, and so on, and just lie on the floor until it passes. "When it's a bit further, we try to use the quiet hours that we get - a couple of hours a day - to just quickly go out and get what we need which is also very risky but we have to do it," he told BBC Newsday. Mr Khalafallah said his neighbourhood was dotted with RSF checkpoints, with people risking their lives every time they had to negotiate their way past. "It's basically a gamble. Sometimes they let you through, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they shoot at you, sometimes they steal your things and it's very random," he added. Mr Khalafallah said he has not had a "single drop of water" at his home since fighting started on 15 April, and he was getting it from neighbours who had wells at their homes. The first major aid flight, laden with medical supplies, has arrived in the country. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says a plane landed at Port Sudan with eight tonnes of relief supplies, including health kits for hospitals. "With hostilities still ongoing, ICRC teams will need guarantees of safe passage from the parties to the conflict to deliver this material to medical facilities in locations with active fighting, such as Khartoum," a statement said. More than 70% of health facilities in the capital have been forced to close as a result of the fighting that erupted on 15 April. Foreign countries have been evacuating their nationals amid the chaos. The UK government announced on Sunday that it would organise a final evacuation flight on Monday - two days after it said it had ended its operation to bring British nationals out. The Foreign Office (FCDO) advised those wishing to leave to travel to the evacuation point in Port Sudan before 12:00 (10:00 GMT). So far, 2,122 people have been evacuated, the FCDO statement said. A US-organised convoy has reached Port Sudan to evacuate more US citizens by ship to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. It said hundreds of Americans had already left, in addition to the diplomats evacuated by air a week ago. Evacuees rest aboard a Saudi naval vessel as it travels from Port Sudan to Jeddah In the dead of night, as HMS Al Diriyah approached Sudan's coast, Saudi officers flicked on sweeping search lights to secure safe passage for their warship into a harbour rapidly transforming into a major evacuation and humanitarian hub in Sudan's deepening crisis. Even at 2am two other hulking vessels were also anchored offshore at Port Sudan, its largest port, waiting their turn in this international rescue effort. "I feel so relieved but also so sad to be part of this history," Hassan Faraz from Pakistan told us, visibly shaken. We reached the quayside in a Saudi tugboat at the end of a 10-hour journey through the night in HMS Al Diriyah from the Saudi port city of Jeddah. A small group of foreign journalists were given rare access to enter embattled Sudan, if only briefly. "People will be speaking about these events for many years to come," Faraz reflected, as a long queue formed on the wharf for passports to be checked against the Saudi manifest. This time, it was many young workers from South Asia who said they had waited here for three long days - after two hard weeks in this hellscape of war. Another man from Pakistan, who said he had worked at a Sudanese foundry, spoke of having "seen so much, so many bomb blasts and firing". Then he fell silent, staring into the sea, too traumatised to say more. The fighting which raged in recent weeks, amidst very imperfect and partial ceasefires, is a pitched battle for power between the Sudanese army led by Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group headed by Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, widely known as Hemedti. "Port Sudan has fared relatively better in this war," my British-Sudanese colleague Mohanad Hashim explained. "Fighting only erupted here on 15 April, the first day, but now this port city is overwhelmed by people fleeing Khartoum and other places." Story continues We had just sailed past the graceful Naval Club turned tented village for the displaced. Many people are now sleeping rough on the streets as they wait for a way out. Local hotels are swamped by people with passports from the world over, along with emergency consular services hastily established by embassies who have evacuated most of their staff from the capital. Many fear there is no way out. Port Sudan is packed with people who have less lucky passports, including Yemenis, Syrians and Sudanese. Some 3,000 Yemenis, mainly students, have been stuck for weeks in Port Sudan. "The Saudis are rescuing some Yemenis but they're nervous about accepting large numbers," admitted a security adviser trying to help them find a way back to their own war-torn country. Rasha, surrounded by her young children, has only one message: "Please tell the world to protect Sudan" Many passengers arriving in the Saudi kingdom are provided with a short hotel stay. But it's made clear that their own countries are expected to soon pick up the bill and arrange onward travel. Mohanad Hashim scanned the wharf at Port Sudan, hoping to catch sight of any of his own Sudanese relatives who may be trying to make it out. The day before, at the King Faisal naval base in Jeddah where we began our journey, he suddenly found himself embracing a cousin who had made it to the Saudi city, along with two of his teenage children, after an 18-hour passage across the Red Sea. For the Sudanese with foreign passports who make it to safe shores, the moment is bittersweet. "Please, please help our family left in Sudan," a pink-scarfed Rasha pleaded, one child sleeping on her shoulder, three more waving flowers handed out by Saudi soldiers. "Please tell the world to protect Sudan," she implored us. Their family had been living near Sport City in Khartoum where gunfire erupted the morning of 15 April. Thousands have been fleeing from Port Sudan in recent days Her eight-year-old daughter Leen, speaking fluent English with an American accent, recounted in excited detail how armed men burst into their home. "We had to all hide, all ten of us, in the back room," she declared with youthful bravado. "I stayed calm. I didn't cry because we couldn't make any noise." "They were bad, bad guys," her younger brother chimed in. Her father explained that it had been RSF forces. Their gunmen are blamed for much of the looting and violence. This worsening and deeply worrying war between Sudan's two most powerful men is fuelled not just by deep personal and political animosities, but also by the competing interests and influence of major powers. Regional heavyweights, including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have long bankrolled Hemedti, who grew ever richer by sending forces to fight for their side in the early years of their destructive war against Yemen's Houthis. But in recent years Riyadh has also drawn close to Gen Burhan and also has longstanding ties to Sudan's army. The tangled political geography in a country with vast mineral wealth and agricultural potential also includes Egypt, Israel and Russia, including the mercenary Wagner group. Many evacuees from Sudan now face an uncertain future But in this current crisis, where the United States and Britain and other would-be peacemakers are also weighing in, outside powers are now said to be speaking with one voice in trying to end this dangerous spiral and the enormous suffering of civilians. Diplomats express gratitude for Saudi Arabia's evacuation effort. So far, more than 5,000 people, of 100 nationalities, have made the Red Sea crossing on Saudi warships or private vessels chartered by the Saudi military. The biggest single operation on Saturday, which carried some 2,000 passengers, even included Iranians. Arch-rivals Riyadh and Tehran recently moved towards a cautious rapprochement, including reopening their embassies and consulates. "It is our luck. We hope there will be peace between our countries," 32-year-old civil engineer Nazli remarked as she disembarked in Jeddah with her engineer husband, who has also worked for years as an engineer in Sudan. In Port Sudan on Sunday, as another packed tugboat sailed in choppy waters to a waiting Saudi warship, its passengers turned en masse to wave a final farewell to a country they regretted, with sadness, they may never return to. By El Tayeb Siddig and Aidan Lewis KHARTOUM (Reuters) -Sudan's rival military forces accused each other of fresh violations of a ceasefire on Sunday as their deadly conflict rumbled on for a third week despite warnings of a slide towards civil war. Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands wounded since a long-simmering power struggle between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) erupted into conflict on April 15. Both sides said a formal ceasefire agreement which was due to expire at midnight would be extended for a further 72 hours, in a move the RSF said was "in response to international, regional and local calls". The army said it hoped what it called the "rebels" would abide by the deal but it believed they had intended to keep up attacks. The parties have kept fighting through a series of ceasefires secured by mediators including the United States. The situation in Khartoum, where the army has been battling RSF forces entrenched in residential areas, was relatively calm on Sunday morning, a Reuters journalist said, after heavy clashes were heard on Saturday evening near the city centre. The army said on Sunday it had destroyed RSF convoys moving towards Khartoum from the west. The RSF said the army had used artillery and warplanes to attack its positions in a number of areas in Khartoum province. Reuters could not independently verify the reports. In an apparent bid to boost its forces, the army said on Saturday that the Central Reserve Police had begun to deploy in southern Khartoum and would be deployed gradually in other areas of the capital. Sudan's police said that the force had been deployed to protect markets and property that had been subjected to looting. The RSF on Saturday warned it against becoming involved in fighting. The force is a large and heavily armed division of Sudan's police force that has fighting experience from conflicts in the western region of Darfur and in the Nuba Mountains in southern Sudan. Story continues In March 2022, the United States imposed sanctions on the reserve police force, accusing it of using excessive force against protesters who were demonstrating against a 2021 military coup. 'NO DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS' The fighting in Khartoum has so far seen RSF forces fan out across the city as the army tries to target them largely by using air strikes from drones and fighter jets. The conflict has sent tens of thousands of people fleeing across Sudan's borders and prompted warnings the country could disintegrate, destabilising a volatile region and prompting foreign governments to scramble to evacuate their nationals. The United States has sent a navy ship to take its citizens, two U.S. officials said, as Britain announced it had arranged an extra evacuation flight from Port Sudan on the eastern Red Sea coast on Monday. Nearly 1,000 Americans have been evacuated since the violence began, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement, adding that a government convoy arrived in Port Sudan to take U.S. citizens and other eligible people to Saudi Arabia for further transit assistance. But, underlining the extent of the instability, Canada said it was ending its evacuation flights because of "dangerous conditions". The prospects for negotiations have appeared bleak. "There are no direct negotiations, there are preparations for talks," U.N. special representative in Sudan, Volker Perthes, told journalists in Port Sudan, adding that regional and international countries were working with the two sides. Perthes told Reuters on Saturday the sides were more open to negotiations than before. Army leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has said he would never sit down with RSF chief General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, also known as Hemedti, who in turn said he would talk only after the army ceased hostilities. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, whose government has played a part in mediating the ceasefires, met Burhan envoy Daffalla Al-Haj Ali in Riyad and called for calm, the Saudi foreign ministry said. Adding to the diplomatic pressure, United Arab Emirates' Vice President Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed had phoned Burhan, state news agency WAM reported. AID With the United Nations reporting only 16% of health facilities in Khartoum operating as normal, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delivered 8 tonnes of medical aid. But while approval had been given for the supplies to go to Khartoum, negotiations were ongoing with the sides to facilitate delivery within the city, where hospitals, convoys and ambulances have been attacked, he said. U.N. aid chief Martin Griffiths said on Sunday that he is traveling to the region to "explore how we can bring immediate relief to the millions of people whose lives have turned upside down overnight." He urged safe passage for civilians fleeing hostilities and for combatants to stop using medical personnel, transport and facilities "as shields." At least five aid workers have been killed in the fighting. A third of Sudan's 46 million people needed humanitarian aid before the fighting began. The conflict has derailed an internationally backed political transition aimed at establishing democratic government in Sudan, where former autocratic President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was toppled in 2019 after three decades in power. At least 528 people have been killed and 4,599 wounded, the health ministry said. The United Nations has reported a similar number of dead but believes the real toll is much higher. (Reporting by Khaled Abdelaziz, El Tayeb Siddig and Ibrahim Mohamed Ishak in Sudan; Aidan Lewis, Nafisa Eltahir, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Tolba and Adam Makary in Cairo; Writing by Tom Perry and Andrew Heavens; Editing by Frances Kerry, Hugh Lawson and Nick Zieminski) Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons, and other supermarkets have released their opening times for the Easter bank holiday weekends (iStock) Britons are being treated to two bank holiday weekends in a row, as the early May bank holiday and the coronation weekend of King Charles III arrive one after the other. Monday 1 May is the early May bank holiday, while Buckingham Palace announced last year that Monday 8 May would also be a bank holiday to give the country an extra day to celebrate the coronation. With warmer spring weather expected this coming weekend and Big Lunches and street parties planned for the following one, British people have plenty to look forward to in the coming fortnight. However, it could also mean closures across some supermarkets on more days than usual. Many people will be looking to stock up for the long weekends and ensure they have plenty of food and drink for gatherings, parties, or just to relax with. Here are the opening times for Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrison, Lidl and more. Sainsburys 1 May early May bank holiday Its business as usual across most Sainsburys stores throughout the weekend before the early May bank holiday. Stores are usually open from 8am to 8pm, while smaller Sainburys Local shops are usually open from 7am until 11pm. Opening hours may vary according to individual stores, so its best to check the store locator. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Sainsburys is operating at normal hours for the weekend of the Kings coronation. Again, opening hours may vary. Check your local store before you visit. Tesco 1 May early May bank holiday Most of Tescos large stores will be open from 8am to 6pm on 1 May, with some staying open until 8pm. However, opening hours do vary from branch to branch. Customers should check their local Tesco using the companys store finder. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Most of Tescos large stores will operate at normal hours on 8 May. (PA) Morrisons 1 May early May bank holiday Morrisons stores will remain open at normal hours across the weekend before the early May bank holiday. On 1 May, stores will open at their usual time but are set to close slightly earlier at 8pm. Story continues 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday On 8 May, Morrisons stores will open at their usual time but will close at 8pm, slightly earlier than normal. Customers should check their local store times on Morrisons store finder. Aldi 1 May early May bank holiday Normal opening hours across Aldi stores on Saturday and Sunday (29 and 30 April). On 1 May, stores will be open until 8pm in England and Wales, while stores in Scotland will be open until 10pm as usual. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Normal opening hours across Aldi stores on Saturday and Sunday (6 and 7 May). On 8 May, stores will be open until 8pm in England and Wales. In Scotland, stores will be open until 10pm. The opening times of some stores may vary and customers should check their local stores on Aldis website. Lidl 1 May early May bank holiday Lidl stores will be open as normal across the bank holiday weekend. Saturdays see the stores open from 8am until 10pm, while Sunday hours are shorter, from 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm. On 1 May, all Lidl stores will be open from 8am to 8pm. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday On Monday 8 May, Lidl stores will be open from 8am to 8pm in England and Wales. Stores in Scotland will remain open as normal until 10pm. Store opening hours may vary, so check the store finder before visiting. Asda (PA Wire) 1 May early May bank holiday Asda store opening times will remain as normal on Saturday and Sunday (29 and 30 April). They usually open from 6am or 7pm and close around 10pm or 11pm on Saturdays, while Sunday operating hours are shorter, between 10am or 11am to 4pm or 5pm. On the bank holiday itself, most Asda stores will open from 8am to 8pm. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Asda stores will be open at normal hours on Saturday and Sunday (6 and 7 May), but will shorten opening hours from 7am to 8pm on Monday 8 May. Marks & Spencer 1 May early May bank holiday All M&S stores will be open as usual on the weekend, but many stores will have shorter hours on the bank holiday Monday. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Stores will be open at usual times on Saturday and Sunday (6 and 7 May), but will have shorter hours on Monday 8 May. Customers should check their local M&S using the store finder before visiting. Waitrose 1 May early May bank holiday Stores are set to be open as usual across the early May bank holiday weekend, including on Monday 1 May. Some Little Waitrose shops will be open from 7am to 10pm. 8 May Kings coronation bank holiday Large Waitrose stores will be open for normal hours throughout the coronation bank holiday weekend. You can check your local Waitrose opening times using the companys store finder. A destroyed hotel in Kyiv after a Russian missile attack on December 31, 2022. Yevhenii Zavhorodnii/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Months before invading, Russia launched an unconventional warfare campaign against Ukraine. The goal was to destabilize Ukraine's government and undermine its response to the Russian attack. The Kremlin assumed its plan would work and and still launched the invasion when it didn't. When the Russian military launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, almost everyone thought the smaller country was doomed. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his advisers expected a lighting campaign lasting between three days and two weeks. Even US intelligence assessments foresaw a quick Russian victory. Fourteen months later, and after heavy casualties, Ukraine still stands, having imposed grievous losses on Russia and forcing it to retreat from much of the territory it seized early in the war. The world has focused on the military forces that Russia has flung at Ukraine, but in the months before the invasion started, Russia's plan hinged on a network of spies. A recent report by the Royal United Services Institute, a British think tank, shows how Russia set out to undermine Ukraine and set up an easy victory and how Moscow struggled to adapt when that plan fell apart. Resort trips and hotel rooms Russian tourists in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in September 2021. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images Russia's intelligence services began efforts to set conditions for victory long before Russian troops crossed into Ukraine. In the years before the invasion, Russian operatives had penetrated Ukrainian security services and other agencies and recruited assets, according to the report. Russian spies intended to use those assets to gain insight to Ukraine's security structure and to use their networks to undermine Ukrainian defense efforts by paralyzing decision-making and convincing local forces not to put up a fight, paving the way for incoming Russian troops. In July 2021, Russian leaders appear to have ordered the FSB the main successor to the Soviet Union's KGB to prepare plans to occupy Ukraine by outlining how Russia had penetrated Ukraine's government and deciding how to use that access in the invasion and occupation, according to the RUSI report. Story continues When that was done, Russian handlers needed to relay instructions to their agents in Ukraine. "This required meetings," the report says, and in fall 2021, the Ukrainian agents "began to go on brief holidays at short notice to resorts in Turkey, Cyprus and Egypt" all places regularly visited by Russian tourists "where, coincidentally, they would meet with their handlers." While Russian intelligence services ramped up operations, the US intelligence community started declassifying intelligence about Russian plans. In an unprecedented move, the US revealed Russia's intentions and informed Kyiv about the Russian intelligence operations inside Ukraine. Russia's intelligence services may have penetrated Ukraine, but the US had penetrated Russia. The Turkish city of Bodrum, a popular tourist destination on the Aegean Sea, in June 2021. BULENT KILIC/AFP via Getty Images Russia's military planning for the invasion assumed those destabilization efforts would work. "The whole logic of the employment of forces was premised on the success of Russia's unconventional operations," the RUSI report says. That precondition wasn't achieved, but Russian leaders decided to forge ahead, which, the report adds, "may be understood as a strategic error of judgment by Putin personally." Much of Russia's planning focused on the occupation, particularly the occupation of Kyiv, which the Russians expected to do within three days of the attack. Once Russia's military secured the city, its special-operations forces would begin what the report calls "repressive operations." Indeed, "the Russians were so confident that they would succeed in hours that their support apparatus had rented apartments around the key sites from which their special forces were supposed to operate in Kyiv," the RUSI report says. One task for Russian special operators appears to have been the assassination of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and some of his closest advisers a mission that Russia reportedly tried to carry out several times. The Kremlin even compiled a target deck full of unwanted people to be "liquidated" once the Russian forces were in control of the country. Those plans fell apart with the rest of the invasion. Russian paratroopers sent to seize a major airport near Kyiv were quickly stymied and took heavy losses. Other Russian troops got stuck on their way to Kyiv, likely leaving some hotel managers wondering about those reservations. Preparing the battlefield A member of the Ukrainian military in front of a destroyed Antonov An-225 at the airport in Hostomel in July 2022. Christophe Gateau/picture alliance via Getty Images What Russia's intelligence officers and special operators were doing is operational preparation of the battlefield sometimes called operational preparation of the environment a rather obscure mission in which a small number of intelligence officers or commandos (sometimes just one) deploy into a conflict zone to prepare the environment before a larger military force arrives. For example, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Delta Force commandos deployed into the country and prepared targeting packages for precision strikes while also trying to locate Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The difficulty of the mission varies depending on the target and what kind of access that spies and operators have to it. It's been easier for US operators to penetrate past targets, like Bosnia or Iraq, than it will likely be against a hard target like Iran, Russia, or China. For the Russians, Ukraine proved to be a very hard target indeed. 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 New York police officers gather for the funeral of NYPD officer Wilbert Mora - Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Lori Lightfoots election loss in Chicago should send a strong and simple message to other big-city progressive mayors across America. The message is that soft-on-crime policies dont work and that they lose votes. You dont say. Its amazing what an election loss can do besides give someone a dose of reality it can also change the entire narrative. Mayor Lightfoot had four years to discover that her ideas werent working, but she couldnt make that mental leap. Why not? Probably because she thought that no one would deny her a second term. But at some level the voters were grounded in reality. They realised that progressive policies on crime wreak havoc, and Lightfoot didnt even make it to the final pair. After the disastrous Lightfoot years, one would think that Chicago would get a mayor who might clean the mess up, restore order, build up communities and save lives. Nope. Unfortunately the Chicago political machinery has delivered Brandon Johnson, a person who makes Lightfoot appear tough on crime. New York City arrived at the same crossroads a little more than a year ago and decided to go in a different direction. Elections have consequences and I have to say I do fear for people living in Chicagos high-crime neighborhoods especially those who want to get out but cant. I worry about their safety. That's because there are a lot of foolish ideas current at the moment. These include the suggestions that social workers can take on the tasks of the police, that safe injection sites dont mean more drug use, that the police dont prevent crime and should be defunded, that no one should be held in jail awaiting trial and that violence interrupter negotiators often enough former gang members are going to stop the violence. I hope someone in the cities tracks how much money these projects cost, how long it takes to get them running, and a way to make it scalable. You cant track what you think you prevented. Currently, the nation is seeing violence plateau, specifically murder. Thats a great thing; its always good when murder isn't going up. However, its not the time to take a victory lap as some politicians are already doing. First, we have just come off the largest spike in violence that this country has had since statistics started being counted, and second, its not even May yet and the warm weather is upon us. Story continues You cant make progress without public safety. If you dont have public safety, you dont get better schools, parks, housing, employment and investment. No one is going to make an investment where there is a good chance that they will lose everything, and I mean everything. A major retailer in Chicago just announced that its folding up its tents and moving out. Soft-on-crime policies have made it impossible for them to do business. Think about this for one second. The people that progressives thought they were helping just lost hundreds of jobs (if not thousands), access to pharmacies, and worst of all, access to groceries. How will the hard-working citizens, especially the elderly, get by without the services the criminals have destroyed? Its time that the individuals who advocated these policies are held accountable and, if necessary, shown the door. Whats the progressive response to all of this turmoil in Chicago and elsewhere? Its the companys fault. The standard excuse used for everything when things dont go their way zero accountability. However, I dont see them put forth any ideas to bring in businesses. As a matter of fact, I would bet that the overwhelming majority of the defund the police movement dont live anywhere near where the crime is occurring. Heres a suggestion: defund the police in your own neighborhood and not someone elses. We could arrest our way out of the problem, no matter what the progressives say, but theres a problem. There's not enough room in the jails and prisons. But when theres a will to take some effective action, its amazing what law enforcement can do. Take, for example, the January 6 US Capitol attacks. Nothing similar has occurred since then not even when former President Donald Trump was arrested. Whys that? Because large numbers of the January 6 rioters have been arrested, prosecuted and punished, and other people have noticed that. Its called deterrence the other jail alternative. The investigation, hearings, and arrests from January 6th were a textbook example of both general deterrence and specific deterrence. Somehow, progressive policies dont include that kind of action in their plans and its a shame, because it works. Im not talking about mass incarceration either. Im talking about targeting the tiny percentage of offenders and repeat offenders that commit most of the crimes and taking them out of circulation. Sadly even thats impossible with bail reform, Raise the Age, no foot chase policies, no traffic stops, no prosecutions, and certainly no stop, question and frisk. Im declaring that the days of proactive policing in America have ended. Progressive policies and laws have all but ensured that. Cops have always been willing to put their personal safety at risk, but its not right that they should risk their personal and family financial well-being too. Good luck getting any police officers to go above and beyond in these times. The politicians have created an atmosphere of ignorance and apathy. All American cops have been punished unjustly for the actions of a very small minority. When Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd on a Minneapolis street, anti-cop activists and their pandering politicians took that as a call to destroy policing all across America. A scorched earth policy has hit jurisdiction after jurisdiction, handcuffing the police in more ways than one. To make matters worse, defence attorneys now control many of the district attorney offices in our major cities. They too think they have received orders to deliver on an edict of equity. What neighborhoods do you think would be affected most by these soft on crime advocates? Yes, the ones that already have high crime. Crime victims are not anecdotes. They are / were people with dreams, goals, and aspirations and their lives matter too. It seems as if the progressive policies have forgotten about that. In their zeal to right the wrongs of the past, they instead have trampled victims rights and further plunged those communities that need the police into a state of anomie. You know whos happy about all this? Criminals. Welcome to the new normal. Joseph L Giacalone is a retired New York Police Department Sergeant SDS (Supervisor Detective Squad). He is Adjunct Professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Professor Giacalone is a recipient of the NYPD Medal for Valor Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) headquarters in central Seoul / Courtesy of KIC By Anna J. Park Korea Investment Corporation (KIC), the country's sovereign wealth fund, hosted a meeting of the London International Financial Cooperation Council on Thursday, local time in London, delving into the topic of life science real estate investment with experts from the U.K. Life science real estate refers to offices and research facilities leased by biopharmaceutical companies or research institutes, representing one of the most popular types of real estate investments globally, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 21st meeting of the London-based council was attended by dozens of investment experts, ranging from Korean institutional investors from both public and private sectors as well as real estate experts in London. Emma Goodford, who heads the Life Science & Innovation department at Knight Frank's London operation, also participated the council meeting, offering a presentation on unique characteristics of life science real estate investment. During her presentation, she noted that the difficulty of setting up life science research facilities has yielded long-term real estate lease contracts, which makes investments stable and predictable. The real estate expert also stressed that the life science industry is growing fast, receiving accelerated investments from a wide range of sectors. "The U.K. is one of the top leaders in the global life science industry, along with the U.S. Investment into global life science real estate will contribute to the sovereign wealth fund's portfolio diversification," said Park Jin-sung, chief of KIC's London office and the host of the cooperation council. KIC's London office added that it will continue holding meetings that facilitate deeper understanding on market trends and drawing up advanced investment strategies. KIC currently operates regional offices in New York, San Francisco, London and Singapore to strengthen investment networks for local institutional investors. Center-left candidate Efrain Alegre has a narrow lead in opinion polls Future ties with Taiwan are in play as Paraguayans go to the polls Sunday to pick a president they hope will tackle endemic corruption, rising crime and economic inequality. A center-left coalition is aiming to end the almost unbroken, seven-decade hegemony of the ruling conservative Colorado Party in the closest race in many years. Some 4.8 million of the South American country's 7.5 million inhabitants are eligible to vote in the election for president and legislature that will be determined in a single round. Lawyer Efrain Alegre, 60, of the Concertacion center-left coalition is leading narrowly in opinion polls amid a recent anti-incumbency trend in Latin American elections. His main challenger is Santiago Pena, a 44-year-old economist and former finance minister hoping to continue the rule of the Colorado Party that has governed almost continually since 1947 -- through a dictatorship and since the return of democracy in 1989. Though they differ on economic and international policy, the two frontrunners are both socially conservative, defending strong anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage stances in an overwhelmingly Catholic nation. - 'Back to Jerusalem' - The outcome could have important consequences for Paraguay's international relations. It is among only 13 countries to recognize Taipei over Beijing. But Alegre has vowed to reconsider this if he wins, telling AFP: "Relations with Taiwan mean the loss of one of the largest markets, which is China." He added: "Paraguay makes a very big effort, a very big sacrifice to have relations with Taiwan, but we are not seeing from Taiwan the same effort." Latin America has been a key diplomatic battleground. China considers self-ruled, democratic Taiwan part of its territory to be retaken one day, and does not allow other countries to recognize both Beijing and Taipei. Nicaragua shifted its allegiance to Beijing in 2021, as did El Salvador in 2018, Panama in 2017 and Costa Rica in 2007. Story continues Pena has said he would retain ties with Taiwan but move Paraguay's embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Moving an embassy to Jerusalem is highly contentious. Israel claims all of Jerusalem as its capital while Palestinians view east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Paraguay had previously moved its embassy in 2018, but reversed its decision within months. "Yes, I would go back to Jerusalem," Pena told AFP days ahead of the vote. "The State of Israel recognizes Jerusalem as its capital. The seat of the Congress is in Jerusalem, the president is in Jerusalem. So who are we to question where they establish their own capital?" - 'Not interested' - Alegre repeatedly pointed to corruption in the Colorado Party, which has seen two of its top members recently hit with US sanctions over alleged graft. They include Pena's political mentor, ex-president Horacio Cartes. Paraguay is ranked 137 out of 180 countries on Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Apart from the shadow of top-level graft, which has angered voters, other election issues include poverty, social inequality and an escalating crime problem. Paraguay's GDP is expected to grow 4.8 percent in 2023, according to the central bank, and 4.5 percent according to the IMF -- one of the highest rates in Latin America. But poverty plagues about a quarter of the population. "The country is full of privileged people. People earn 100 million guaranis (about $14,000) a month while others are dying of hunger," said Alegre, running his third presidential race. "The great problem of Paraguay is not having achieved greater balance in the distribution of income to achieve greater equity," economist Ruben Ramirez of the Trade and Investment Paraguay consultancy in Asuncion told AFP. Paraguay's Indigenous groups, and inhabitants of squalid shantytowns, feel especially neglected. "I am not interested. We're not going to vote," said Albino Cubas, who has shared a ramshackle wooden hut with his wife and three children in the capital's Tacumbu slum since a flood took their home. "I have not seen a serious proposal for the poor," he told AFP. Crime is also a concern, with an anti-mafia prosecutor, a crime-fighting mayor and a journalist murdered in 2022 as cartels settle scores. Experts say landlocked Paraguay -- nestled between Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina -- has become an important launchpad for drugs headed for Europe. Paraguayan presidential elections are settled in a single, winner-takes-all round, and terms are constitutionally limited to one. Voters will Sunday also decide the members of the legislature and choose 17 governors. nn/mlr/mdl/dw Ted Cruz was back on cable news battling the White House over the issue of the debt ceiling on Sunday as Republicans grow increasingly frustrated with the ironlike determination of the president to prevent their party from scoring a political win. The Texas US senator spoke to Maria Bartiromo on the Fox Business Network as he fumed that Republicans were unable to make any progress in their bid for concessions from Democrats on spending cuts as part of negotiations to raise Americas debt ceiling and prevent a default on the USs loans. "The contrast could not be starker. The Republicans in the House are responsible and Joe Biden, what is he saying? He's saying I will not talk, I will not negotiate, I will not give in on anything, anyhow, any way," complained the Texas Republican. Even if Joe Biden drives our nation off of a cliff like Thelma and Louise, hes quite confident the corrupt corporate media will cover for him and blame Republicans. Full interview on @SundayFutures with @MariaBartiromo here: https://t.co/vcTibEaMXp pic.twitter.com/Ne9DbUZaqp Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 30, 2023 He would go on to accuse the mainstream media of taking the presidents side on the issue, echoing common Republican grievances about journalists. Yet, for all his complaints, the GOPs reputation on the issues of basic governance remains deeply marred thanks to the actions of Congress and former President Donald Trump in recent years. In the most famous instance of the politcal games that play out when Republicans make demands in exchange for their votes on the debt ceiling, funding of the federal government and more, the federal government shut down for nearly three weeks between 2018 and 2019, with the exception of essential services, after Mr Trump refused to sign an appropriations bill that did not include funding for border fencing along the US-Mexico divide. Story continues That shutdown of the government cost the US economy more than $10bn, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The last major debt ceiling fight was in 2011, and led to the USs credit being downgraded. During that debate, the stock market plunged and the GOPs overall approval rating dropped nearly ten points as well. The increasingly pro-brinkmanship tactics of the GOPs far right wing even endangered their own partys election of a Speaker of the House this past January when a handful of GOP holdouts in the House forced the chamber to vote more than a dozen times before Speaker Kevin McCarthy was confirmed and his path looked far from certain throughout the process. Mr Cruz will likely not have much of a say in the matter overall, given the GOPs status in the minority in the Senate, where the party has been relatively quiet compared to their House colleagues in terms of demands from the White House. Some 80,000 people were in attendance, according to the local authorities Tens of thousands thronged a central Budapest square on Sunday for Pope Francis' open-air mass on his third and final day in Hungary in a visit dominated by the war in neighbouring Ukraine. The 86-year-old Argentine pontiff is holding the mass at 9:30 am (0730 GMT) in Kossuth Lajos Square, behind the parliament located on the banks of the Danube. Some 50,000 people were in attendance, including 30,000 in the square itself, according to the local authorities, under tight security. "It is something quite unique to see the pope this close," university student Levente Kiss, 21, said. "I feel emotional. He is very important in my life," onlooker Ferenc Toth, 43, told AFP after the pope passed by in his popemobile. Francis will deliver his trip's last speech at 4:00 pm (1400 GMT) at a private Catholic university in Budapest to academics and those working in culture. He will return to Rome in the early evening, giving his traditional press conference on the plane to journalists accompanying him on board. On Saturday, Francis warned against "the evils of indifference" while greeting mostly Ukrainian refugees. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's government -- in a departure from its usual anti-refugee position -- has welcomed those fleeing the war in Ukraine. But activists say there is barely a support system in place. Orban's insistence on maintaining ties with Moscow has also alienated Ukrainians. Francis' 41st international trip since becoming pope in 2013 is spent only in Budapest due to his fragile health, a month after being hospitalised for three days for bronchitis. Despite persistent knee pain forcing him to move around in a wheelchair, the pope has appeared to be in shape while in the Hungarian capital. Francis last visited the central European country -- where 39 percent of the 9.7-million population are Catholic -- briefly in 2021. John Paul II was the first pope to visit Hungary, making trips in 1991 and 1996. cmk-pmu-jza/imm Yellow police tape Police tape Credit - Getty Images Police are asking the public to help find the Texas gunman who allegedly shot his neighborskilling five people, including a 9-year-old boyafter they asked him to stop firing his rifle in his yard. The suspect remains at large after fleeing the scene on Friday. The FBI Houston office announced that they are offering a combined reward of up to $80,000 for information that could help them find 38-year-old suspect Francisco Oropeza. Video footage of the gunman shows him approaching his neighbors door in Cleveland, Texas, according to authorities, after which he shot and killed half of the people inside. The gunman is considered armed and dangerous and a threat to the community, the FBI said. San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers said on Saturday that police extended the search to some 20 miles from the scene of the shooting, but attempts to track the suspect through his phones location went cold Saturday evening after the gunman left behind his cellphone, along with articles of clothing. Police later recovered the items in the forest near the crime scene. Police also found the AR-15 rifle they believe was used during the shooting. They remain unsure if the suspect is still armed. He could be anywhere right now, County Sheriff Capers said during a Saturday press conference. As of Sunday afternoon, FBI Houston special Agent James Smith said that they had no leads on his location. Oropeza has been charged with five counts of murder and has a $5 million bond. Heres what to know about the shooting. What happened? On Friday, Oropezas neighbors, including Wilson Garcia, the father of the child who was killed, asked Oropeza to stop firing shots in his yard because a baby was trying to sleep. Police say the gunman, who was inebriated, responded, Ill do what I want to in my front yard. The gunman then allegedly approached his neighbors house with the rifle and killed Garcias wife in the doorway before shooting four other victims in the head within close range, according to authorities. Neighbors in the area contend that its common for people to shoot in their yard after work, leading them to think nothing of the gunshots until they saw the father of the children come outside asking for someone to call an ambulance. Story continues Police say that they were already on their way to the house for a harassment complaint at about 11:30 p.m. Friday when they received several 911 calls about an active shooter on-scene. A SWAT team conducted a search and found that the gunman had fled the premises. Capers indicated during a Saturday news conference that they had gone to Oropezas house before and talked to him about shooting his gun in his yard, which can be illegal. San Jacinto County law allows municipalities to decide regulations about discharging a gun outside of a shooting range. In Cleveland, Texas, this means that a person may only fire a gun on their property to protect livestock against predatory animals if their property is at least one acre large, and the projectile from the gun does not enter someone elses property. Who are the victims? The five victims were identified as: Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. They were all of Honduran descent. Capers said that some of the victims had just arrived in Cleveland, Texas from Houston. Other family members had been living in the neighborhood for two years, according to the Washington Post. They were a very happy family. Christian. They were kind, Vianey Balderas, who lives in the neighborhood where the shooting took place, told the Post. It hurts a lot, because I did love the family a lot. I am now afraid to be at home, she added. There were five other people in the house at the time of the shooting, but they were not harmed. Our condolences to the families of the victims of this terrible crime in San Jacinto, Texas. In which 5 people supposedly of Honduran nationality have died. Our consulate has been instructed to contact the authorities and closely monitor the case, tweeted Enrique Reina, Secretary of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Honduras. We demand that the full weight of the law be applied against the person(s) responsible for this crime. Gov. Greg Abbott said his heart went out to the the families and loved ones of the victims, but he was criticized after he referred to the family as 5 illegal immigrants on Twitter. (The status of the victims remains under question after immigrant rights activist Carlos Eduardo Espina shared a photo of one of the victims residency card on Twitter, which he said was sent by Alvarados husband. TIME has not independently verified the photo.) This year, gun violence has taken the lives of more than 500 minors, a result of the more than 180 mass shootings that have occurred so far, according to data from the Gun Violence Archive. The home believed to be connected to the mass shooting suspect in Cleveland, Texas. David J. Phillip/AP Five people were killed in a Texas home on Friday in an "execution style" shooting, police said. Authorities are on a manhunt for the suspect, 38-year-old Francisco Oropeza. A sheriff said authorities have expanded the search to 20 miles beyond the scene. The suspect in the shooting that killed five people inside a Cleveland, Texas, home on Friday after neighbors asked a man to step firing off rounds in his yard "could be anywhere," according to San Jacinto County Sheriff Greg Capers. Francisco Oropeza, 38, fled after the shooting Friday night, leaving five people dead, including an 8-year-old boy. Police said a man drunkenly went next door and shot the people inside after the neighbors asked that he stop firing off rounds. At least 10 people were inside the home, several of whom had been shot from the neck up "almost execution style," Capers told KTRK-TV. Capers said Saturday evening that authorities had widened the search to as far as 20 miles from the scene of the shooting. Investigators found clothes and a phone while combing a rural area with dense layers of forest, however, tracking dogs lost the scent, Capers said. Police recovered the AR-15-style rifle that Oropeza allegedly used in the shootings, but authorities were not sure if he was carrying another weapon, the sheriff said. "He could be anywhere now," Capers said. The attack happened near the town of Cleveland, north of Houston, on a street where some residents say neighbors often unwind by firing guns. Capers said the victims were between the ages of 8 and 31 years old and that all were believed to be from Honduras. All were shot "from the neck up," he said. The attack was the latest act of gun violence in what has been a record pace of mass shootings in the US so far this year, some of which have also involved semiautomatic rifles. The mass killings have played out in various places a Nashville school, a Kentucky bank, a Southern California dance hall, and now a rural Texas neighborhood inside a single-story home. Story continues Capers said ten people were in the house some of whom had just moved there earlier in the week but that no one else was injured. He said two victims were found in a bedroom lying over two children in an apparent attempt to shield them. A total of three children found covered in blood in the home were taken to a hospital but found to be uninjured, Capers said. FBI spokesperson Christina Garza said investigators do not believe everyone at the home were members of a single family. The victims were identified as Sonia Argentina Guzman, 25; Diana Velazquez Alvarado, 21; Julisa Molina Rivera, 31; Jose Jonathan Casarez, 18; and Daniel Enrique Laso, 8. The confrontation followed the neighbors walking up to the fence and asking the suspect to stop shooting rounds, Capers said. The suspect responded by telling them it was his property, Capers said, and one person in the house got a video of the suspect walking up to the front door with the rifle. The shooting occurred on a rural pothole-riddled street where single-story homes sit on wide 1-acre lots surrounded by a thick canopy of trees. A horse could be seen behind the victim's home, while a dog and chickens wandered in the front yard of Oropeza's house. Rene Arevalo Sr., who lives a few houses down, said he heard gunshots around midnight but didn't think anything of it. "It's a normal thing people do around here, especially on Fridays after work," Arevalo said. "They get home and start drinking in their backyards and shooting out there." Capers said his deputies had been to Oropeza's home at least once before and spoken with him about "shooting his gun in the yard." It was not clear whether any action was taken at the time. At a news conference Saturday evening, the sheriff said firing a gun on your own property can be illegal. Still, he did not say whether Oropeza had previously broken the law. Capers said the new arrivals in the home had moved from Houston earlier in the week, but he said he did not know whether they were planning to stay there. Across the US since Jan. 1, at least 18 shootings have left four or more people dead, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today, in partnership with Northeastern University. The violence is sparked by various motives: murder-suicides and domestic violence; gang retaliation; school shootings; and workplace vendettas. Texas has confronted multiple mass shootings recently, including last year's attack at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde; a racist attack at an El Paso Walmart in 2019; and a gunman opening fire at a church in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs in 2017. Republican leaders in Texas have continually rejected calls for new firearm restrictions, including this year over the protests of several families whose children were killed in Uvalde. A few months ago, Arevalo said Oropeza threatened to kill his dog after it got loose in the neighborhood and chased the pit bull in his truck. "I tell my wife all the time, 'Stay away from the neighbors. Don't argue with them. You never know how they're going to react,'" Arevalo said. "I tell her that because Texas is a state where you don't know who has a gun and who is going to react that way." Read the original article on Insider ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is frustrated hes landed on the injured list with right forearm tightness. I want to be out there, deGrom said Sunday, speaking to media a day after he was placed on the 15-day injured list. Theres a little inflammation in there, so the goal is to get that knocked out here in the next few days and resume throwing. So, staying optimistic about it. DeGrom exited after 3 2/3 innings against the New York Yankees on Friday night, the second time in three starts he left early with an injury. During an outing at Kansas City on April 17, deGrom went four innings before leaving with right wrist soreness. DeGrom was plagued by injuries the past two seasons with the New York Mets, throwing 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts. Obviously, the goal was to not go on the IL. The goal was to make 30-plus starts and put this team in position to win, deGrom said. Its disappointing to not be able to do that right now, but stay optimistic about it. Everything structurally looks fine, so get a little bit of that swelling out of there and pick up from there. DeGrom signed a $185 million, five-year contract with the Rangers in December. He is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA over 30 1/3 innings in his first six starts with Texas. Hes taking a wait-and-see attitude on whether he'll be ready to come off the IL when eligible on May 14. Make sure everything is good and that way when we go back out there, we dont have this again, he said. ____ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Public safety over privacy? Id like to know how many accidents from red-light runners have been recorded since traffic cameras were removed in 2019. Police dont spend much time patrolling intersections, so people know they can run red lights. Would you rather keep letting that happen to prevent infringement on these dangerous drivers privacy? My life is worth more than the privacy of lawbreakers. - Becki Hutchison, North Richland Hills Jeanette Martinez for District 11 If a Hispanic City Council member is elected in the new District 11, it will be a historic occasion, indicating that our city government is more inclusive, diverse and democratic than ever. The United Hispanic Council has been leading this effort, and it has taken us more than 30 years to get to the point of creating a Hispanic-majority district. Now, we must finish the job by electing a candidate who will represent all the people in the district and who can handle the job. We took into account candidates experience working with community members, their knowledge of government, their education and more. The council is a nonprofit and cannot endorse candidates, but we as individuals can. I ask you to support Jeanette Martinez. Please vote for her May 6 and help get others to do the same. - Fernando Florez, Fort Worth Rick Herring has the experience I could not disagree more with the Star-Telegram Editorial Boards endorsement for District 11. (April 25, 9A, We recommend: Fort Worth city, area school board races) Rick Herring is the most experienced candidate and the only one with the depth of knowledge needed to serve a diverse district. District 11 includes an array of demographic groups all seeking the same things: a good quality of life and an honest, responsive city government. Rick speaks the language of collaboration the most critical skill needed by any City Council representative, especially in a new district. His platform to improve the district is specific, detailed and designed to protect neighborhoods while welcoming appropriate development. Nothing similar has been offered by other candidates. Bottom line, Rick is an honest broker with a strong ethical code. Story continues - Carol Peters, Fort Worth PAC doing dirty political work Our household received a flyer from the Fort Worth Excellence PAC, a political group with a return address in Colleyville. It said three things about City Council member Elizabeth Beck that are extremely misleading. Flyers like these are shameful. Lets hear what prospective council members want to do for the good of the city, and not how they and their backers can best take people down. - Tim Latta, Fort Worth Talk about big government I have lived in Texas most of my life, and I am both disgusted and alarmed at the direction politics has taken. The Legislature seems to be in competition with Florida to see who can mandate the harshest restrictions possible while touting the state as a proponent of freedom. Do we seriously consider book banning a good thing? Our political leaders are trying hard to promote it as a means of parental control, but how many parents actually have a say? It is heavy-handed government control in its worst form. I am a political moderate and a voter. I will be using my voice at the ballot box and will also be checking regularly to ensure that I have not been accidentally purged from the voter rolls by the countys new election integrity unit. - Wendy Stoecker, Arlington Moderates, keep an eye out Since Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price and County Judge Glen Whitley left office, a huge change has taken place. Sheriff Bill Waybourn was already here, but we added a new district attorney and county judge, and all three seem to be of the far-right variety of Republicans whom we didnt have before. Those three are now looking for a problem that has hardly existed in Tarrant County so-called voter fraud and are only parroting what the disgraced Donald Trump said about elections. Everyone, but especially moderate Republicans, better keep their eyes and ears open to what these three officials do. - Thomas G. Nehm, Saginaw Thomas knows what hes doing A letter April 23 implying that Justice Clarence Thomas is stupid because he said he didnt fully understand financial disclosure requirements was over the top. (4C) Our tax laws are overly complex, but Thomas no doubt has the intelligence to comprehend them. Regardless, I bet he has an accountant who prepares his tax return and, like many other taxpayers, Thomas signs his return and is ultimately responsible for its accuracy. - Mark Swanson, Mansfield Voting must be free I moved back from Michigan in September 1975 and registered to vote in Kansas City in 1976, and later in eastern Jackson County. I have missed three elections since then. But this month, even though I am a registered voter, I was told I could not cast a ballot at my normal polling place. I presented my clearly labeled Jackson County voter identification card. I was told I needed a photo ID. So I showed a current credit card that has my picture on it. I was told no. The poll worker requested my drivers license. I said that is for driving, and I paid for it. The worker requested my passport. I said that is for leaving the country, and I paid for it. Voting is supposed to be free, and voters should simply have to be registered. I am. If picture ID is required by law, it must be provided for free otherwise, it costs a person to vote. The Missouri Department of Revenue charges a fee for a nondriver ID card. I didnt vote because I refused to pay for it. The workers at my polling place were very nice, but they were put into a bad and unconstitutional position by Missouris politicians. - James Brown, Blue Springs Lets be serious With all the silliness in Topeka, Jefferson City, Tallahassee and other state capitals, its good to see that Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has the vision to veto several bills that have absolutely nothing to do with good governance, even though the Legislatures GOP supermajority overrode her on some of the most divisive laws. Transgender rights, womens control of their bodies and guns are wedge issues devised by Republicans to stir up their base and divert voters attention from important issues such as climate change, homelessness and nuclear weapons. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should be paying attention. - Mike Brown, Kansas City Gun responsibility I live in Overland Park. Both my children attended Olathe East High School. There was a shooting there, and the principal, school resource officer and gunman were shot. Story continues My son worked at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park. There was a shooting there, and a young boy and his grandfather were killed. My daughter worked at Austins Bar & Grill in Olathe. There was a shooting there, and two people were killed. Thankfully, both my children had graduated from Olathe East and quit their jobs before these shootings occurred. But what if they hadnt? It would have been at the very least extremely traumatic and even potentially deadly for both. Need I say more? Yes I do. We need reasonable gun laws in this country, a federal ban on assault weapons and a federal database where all law enforcement agencies in the United States can report people who are restricted from owning guns in their states. Will this stop all these shootings? No. But its a start. Finally, I am a gun owner. I support the Second Amendment. But with every right comes responsibility, and were not being responsible especially with the lives of our children. - Traci Harken, Overland Park Build a better lot I made my first trip to pick up passengers at the new Kansas City International Airport and started the process in the cellphone lot. I found this holding area to work well, enabling me to wait for my arrivers to notify me that they were at the curb not just that their plane had landed and tell me their location. Our state-of-the-art airport needs a equally advanced cellphone lot so that it becomes a normal part of the pickup process. It must be well-marked and easy to enter and exit. The current lot is tight and backed up with traffic constantly coming and going. Enhancements to the ease of use, comfort, functionality and safety of the cell lot, such as adding an electronic arrival update board and other amenities, would go a long way toward making people want to wait until they know their pickup is already at the curb. - Jerry Joyner, Overland Park Royal treatment Recent discussions have focused on the possible construction of a stadium for the Royals downtown. Central to these talks has been the necessity of Jackson County taxpayers helping foot the bill, with the Royals perspective being, Give us more money and trust us to be better. We understand what the Royals want from us, but it is less clear what the Royals would do to reciprocate. If the best predictor of future performance is past performance, we are in trouble. Supposedly, a new stadium and revenue it generates would help make the Royals competitive, but todays actions suggest that is unlikely to happen. The current team is hardly major league. The farm system is unproductive. It does not bid on free agents, and the success of Tampa Bay suggests that a limited media market doesnt explain everything. Perhaps the Royals could try a new tactic: Provide each Jackson County taxpayer with four free tickets (and not in the nosebleed sections). Reduce parking prices by half. Reduce the cost of food and drink by 30%. Empty seats do not produce revenue. People in the park do. After all, if the product is not major league, why charge major league prices? - Terry Rodenberg, Greenwood Blocked off I want to thank Spire Energy for improving the safety of my neighborhood walks. If I happen to cross a street without looking in both directions, Im relatively safe since there is about a 50% chance the street is closed to traffic for gas line work. - Tim Connealy, Kansas City Not their place I am deeply opposed to Missouri S.B. 49 and H.B. 419, which would allow state lawmakers to impose their personal beliefs on matters of individuals health care. These two bills would do considerable damage to transgender and gender-diverse youth. Back in June 2021, the American Medical Association strengthened its established position opposing government intrusion into the practice of medicine that is detrimental to the health of transgender and gender-diverse children and adults. Additional trauma is being caused by politicians who have no business interfering with medical treatment as determined by patients and their physicians. - Maurice Parisien, Ballwin, Missouri One of theGrios youngest writers unpacks what its like to be given a seat at the table for one of the most exclusive Black events in Washington, D.C. What do you get when you put government officials, journalists, and reality show stars together in one room? Ill tell you: a night to remember. On Saturday night, I, a lifestyle writer and one of the youngest staff members here at theGrio, attended theGrios Washington D.C. Gala, presented by Byron Allen at the National Museum of African American History and Culture and had to pinch myself all night to ensure I was not dreaming. Despite having been born and raised in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area (a.k.a the DMV) and being familiar with the political scene, nothing could have prepared me for running into U.S. Representative Maxine Waters in the restroom or seeing New York Mayor Eric Adams and Maryland Governor Wes Moore hype each other up to DJ Ty Alexanders mix. Maryland Governor Wes Moore attends as Byron Allen & his Allen Media Group Celebrate Gayle King at the Washington D.C. Gala after The White House Correspondents Dinner at National Museum Of African American History & Culture on April 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Richard Chapin Downs Jr./Getty Images) We have to have a seat at the table, Allen Media Group founder and CEO Byron Allen told the crowd. We have to be unapologetically Black, unfiltered, straight ahead, no apology and demand the respect and the money [] that we deserve. As the afterparty for one of the most significant media events of the year, the White House Correspondents Dinner, theGrios D.C. Gala was a true celebration of Black excellence. Yet despite continuously asking myself, How did I get here? as well-known faces like Real Housewives of Potomac star Wendy Osefo walked past me, I must admit I have never felt more at home. In a building celebrating our ancestors who forged the path, theres an indescribable feeling of doing the Wobble alongside Black people leaving their mark across industries. It truly felt poetic. Just a few feet below the event, authentic artifacts were displayed, threading the Black journey from slavery to freedom. Some who marched on that journey were among the galas guests, like Bobby Rush, former congressman and co-founder of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party. Stepping back and listening to the laughter and joy that took over the museums main floor as guests mingled in their best cocktail attire felt like a reminder that we were living our ancestors wildest dreams. Story continues Gayle King, co-host of CBS This Morning and the recipient of theGrios Journalist Icon Award for her trailblazing career, echoed my sentiments in her acceptance speech. This building is about storytelling and truth. And so many stories, as we know, were told here, said King. Were living in a world we all know this where mass shootings are multiplying; the world is struggling. Racism is on the rise. And civility is in the downfall. So my colleagues and I try to do everything we can to tell the truth. Not my truth, not your truth, but the truth. Met with a cacophony of soulful mmm hmms and amens, King reaffirmed something many of us often forget: I have a front-row seat to history. As Black professionals, were often tough on ourselves, judging our success based on data and validation, constantly seeking the next big thing as a result of never truly being satisfied with our work, etc. However, sometimes our presence in certain spaces should be affirmation enough. Take me, for example. I spent the first hour of the gala anxiously texting my mother my first text read, Im here, but I feel like Im not supposed to be here. And can you blame me? It hasnt been a year since I walked across the Syracuse University graduation stage, yet there I was, in a room full of people I have watched and studied for years. In less than a year, I went from stressing about final exams to dancing just a few feet away from Gayle King as the D.C. Galas special guest gave an iconic performance. Ultimately, the experience was both intimidating and incredibly inspiring. While I fangirled over shaking Karine Jean-Pierres hand, I realized I had a seat at the table of history. No one was worried about what awards I had won or how many years Id been in the industry. My being in the room was more than enough. So the next time you feel a sense of imposter syndrome, remember the words of theGrios recent Journalist Icon Award recipient. Even an ordinary person, a secretary, a teenager, a housewife can walk into a dark room, switch on the light, and shine a light on something. Haniyah Philogene is a multimedia storyteller and Lifestyle reporter covering all things culture. With a passion for digital media, she goes above and beyond to find new ways to tell and share stories. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post theGrios Washington D.C. Gala was a front-row seat to history appeared first on TheGrio. Franklin Campbells father was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., the oldest and arguably most prestigious of Black college fraternities. His cousin became a member. Several other relatives were in the brotherhood. But the decision to do something different was just a part of who Campbell was. He joined Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc., the newest and and smallest of Black Greek letter organizations. For years, Campbell was the only member in Missouri. Frank knew he didnt fit in, so he never tried to. He was proud to be different and stand out, says his cousin Anthony Boyer. He was his own person, he wasnt a follower, and he did things his own way. Campbell battled medical issues spinal meningitis at age 4 and required a bone marrow transplant at age 7 and his growth was stunted. Standing at 4-foot-11, Campbell may have been short in stature, but according to Boyer it was his heart, not his height that made him the biggest man in the room. I think because of his size and health issues he felt like he was going to have to outwork everyone. He was always a standup guy, his cousin says. Campbell, 40, died on April 9 from colon cancer. Boyer is sure many people will not only remember Campbell for his size or being the only Iota, but for his kind and gentle nature. For many years Franklin Campbell was known for being the only member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. in Missouri. He was very empathetic and down to earth. He was always there for you to lend a hand to help or an ear to listen to you, says Boyer. After he graduated from Missouri Western University with a bachelors degree in science, Campbells love of automobiles eventually led him to a career working for Ford Motor Co. However, his passion was photography and videography, first starting as a hobby and evolving into a part-time business. Boyer remembers his cousins long hours and dedication to teaching himself the craft, from video production to photo editing. His professionalism was second to none. He learned how to do everything on his own and built his own computer and was proud of his work, Boyer says. Story continues The turnout for the April 25 funeral was a testament to the lives Campbell touched. Stories of Campbells loving nature resounded from family and friends and fraternity brothers of Iota Phi Theta, for whom Campbell paved the way. Boyer was surprised to see members of Ford management come to speak at the service about the incredible asset Campbell was to the business. If you know anything about Ford, you know it is a huge company, he said. So for them to know him by his work just tells you how hard he was working. Frank knew he didnt fit in, so he never tried to. He was proud to be different and stand out, says his cousin, Anthony Boyer. Friends and past classmates flooded social media with posts and stories of Campbell and his spirit that never quit. My feelings are so hurt. Franklin wasnt just a client. I wasnt just his barber he was my friend. Youve got to be kidding me. Franklin was a pioneer with videography. Another great man behind the camera gone to soon. Rest well Big Frank. Franklin Campbell was someone who always believed in me and encouraged me. You always told me I was capable of ANYTHING and would have confidence in me when I didnt have it in myself. That really just made me so sad. Franklin Campbell believed in me every time always did great work smh. He is survived by his parents, Frank and Ninette Campbell, brother Phillip Campbell and a host of cousins and friends. Other remembrances Marvin Grier Marvin Grier, a veteran of World War II and father, died on April 18. He was 99. Marvin Grier, a veteran of World War II and father, died on April 18. He was 99. Grier was born on Sept 6, 1923, in Newnan, Georgia. In 1941 he enlisted in the Army during World War II and was awarded the he European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. While enlisted, he worked as a short-order cook, construction foreman, armory supply clerk, and clerk-typist. After 40 years, Grier retired with the rank of master sergeant and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service for the next 40 years. Grier will be remembered as a person who loved to fish, bowl, work with his hands and have cookouts with family. He is survived by his wife, Faye Grier, and his daughter Ruby Grier-Banks. Cedric Mack Cedric Mack, a retired mechanic and father, died on April 14. He was 63. Cedric Mack, a retired mechanic, died on April 14. He was 63. Mack was the sixth child born to Grimme and Alice Mack on April 25, 1959, in Kansas City. Mack attended Westport High School and later obtained his GED. Mack met his future wife, Delores, when they were both young children. Their friendship became a romance as they got older. The couple were married in 1982 and had three children. His father taught him a multitude of practical skills, such as carpentry, plumbing, yard work, and, most importantly, working on cars. This passion for auto work became the start of a lifelong career as a mechanic. After working years for Ford Motor Co., Mack decided to open his own business, Macks Auto Shop. Mack will be remembered as a hard worker, a loving father and a great husband. He is survived by his mother, Alice Mack; four children, Tiffany, Dale, Ashley and Kendall Mack; along with a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. A view over Seoul's financial district Yeouido / Yonhap FSS vows thorough probe into stock price scams involving unfair trading By Anna J. Park Local brokerage companies have begun to prohibit customers from opening new accounts for trading contracts for difference (CFD) a financial derivative product tied to the difference in price of a contract's opening and closing prices following a recently-revealed stock price manipulation scam involving eight local stocks, including Samchully, Daesung Holdings and Daou Data. As the Ponzi-style stock scheme turned out to have used high-leveraged CFD trading to manipulate the prices, local securities companies are limiting customers' further access to CFD transactions, aiming to minimize both clients as well as the brokerage firms' potential losses from the highly risky bets. Samsung Securities halted new subscriptions to CFD accounts from Thursday evening and also stopped receiving new selling or buying orders from CFD trade accounts. Korea Investment plans to suspend receiving any new orders from CFD accounts from May 1. Only liquidation settlements will be possible at existing CFD accounts at both Samsung Securities and Korea Investment. Shinhan Investment and DB Financial have suspended CFD trading in the eight stocks that are involved in the scheme, while Meritz Securities plans to operate the CFD brokerage in a more cautious manner. NH Investment and Hana Securities will not be taking any measures, as they do not operate sizable CFD transactions at their house. Mirae Asset Securities does not provide CFD transactions. Some 1,500 high-income earners have allegedly been swindled by the scam, resulting in a strong losing streak of most of the eight stocks since Monday. The prices of the four stocks Samchully, Daesung Holdings, Seoul Gas and Sun Kwang fell by over 75 percent this week, hitting daily low limits for four consecutive sessions. The other four stocks Sebang, Daou Data, Harim and Daol Investment also lost some 40 to 60 percent of their stock value since Monday. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) headquartered in Seoul / Courtesy of FSS In line with the brokerage firms' moves, the financial authority has also urged them to take extra care in managing risks in their leveraged investments, including CFD transactions. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) held a meeting with the CEOs of 35 local securities companies Friday morning to share positions on the necessity of heightened risk management in leveraged investments. During the meeting presided by the FSS' deputy governor, the financial watchdog agency called on the brokerage firms to restrain from excessive CFD businesses, stressing that excessive leveraged investments could bring forth increased market volatility and uncertainty. The 35 securities firms responded to the authority's urge, vowing to strengthen preparatory reserves to increase their total loss-absorbency capacity (TLAC). The annual transactional amount of CFD trade has exponentially grown to 70.1 trillion won ($52.3 billion) in 2021, from 8.4 trillion won in 2019 and 30.9 trillion won in 2020. Due to its extreme risks, CFD trades are not allowed to retail investors under the U.S. regulatory regime. Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Bok-hyun speaks during a meeting at the headquarters of Mirae Asset Securities in central Seoul, Friday. Courtesy of FSS Federal authorities in Fort Worth have arrested and charged three people with possession with intent to distribute around 400 grams of Fentanyl pills, according to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Alexander Campos, Luis Lopez Sanchez and Ashley Cobain were arrested after a sting operation and each face charges of possessing and planning to sell the schedule II controlled substance, a felony, according to the complaint. Investigators began setting up the sting operation after a confidential source contacted the DEA and Fort Worth police saying they could buy counterfeit Percocet pills from Campos, who is associated with a Mexican drug trafficking organization, DEA Agent Derek Dean said in the criminal complaint. With the blessing of federal investigators, the confidential source began making arrangements to buy 125,000 of the counterfeit pills from Campos, according to the complaint. Campos, who at the time lived in California, agreed to sell the pills for $225,000. The exchange was to happen in Fort Worth. On April 17, Dean says in the complaint that the confidential source began making and receiving recorded calls to and from Campos to negotiate the sale. It was to take place that evening. Fort Worth police and DEA agents set up surveillance at a QuikTrip gas station at 4577 Marine Creek Park and in a nearby residence on Northwest 32nd Street, according to the complaint. Agents and police met with the confidential source at 5 p.m. and the sources vehicle was searched to ensure there was nothing illegal inside. The source arrived at the QuikTrip around 5:20 p.m. Dean wrote in the complaint that Campos arrived at the QuikTrip around 5:35 p.m. with Sanchez and Cobain and agreed with the confidential source to go to the nearby house to make the exchange. There, after a brief discussion, Sanchez started taking parts off the rear passenger-side door to reveal several brick-shaped packages in brown wrapping paper, consistent with the physical shape and similar packaging of large quantities of counterfeit Percocet. Story continues The confidential source gave a predetermined signal after seeing the packages and an arrest team moved in to detain Campos, Sanchez and Cobain without incident, according to Dean. During interrogation, Campos told authorities he distributes illegal narcotics for the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico, according to the criminal complaint. He had been working with the organization for the past six to twelve months and had made several exchanges in that time, he told investigators. He was to be paid $800 by the cartel for driving from Los Angeles for the delivery in Fort Worth. Sanchezs job was to remove the drugs from the car door and handle the money, Dean said Campos told investigators. He also told them he had previously dated Cobain and was planning to pay her $200 for the trip. Sanchez told investigators during an interview that he is from Sinaloa, Mexico, and crossed into the U.S. illegally about a week prior through Tijuana, Mexico. He said he was recruited by the cartel to participate in its distribution operations and corroborated what Campos said about what Sanchezs job was. When they interviewed Cobain, she told investigators she was supposed to be paid $4,000 by Campos for traveling with him to Fort Worth to pick up some money, Dean wrote. She suspected Campos was involved in distributing illegal drugs and thought that was the reason for his trip to Texas, she told them. A hyena, a warthog and a porcupine walked into a den and decided to live together. Researchers discovered this novel phenomenon while monitoring animal dens at a wildlife preserve in Kenya, according to a study published on April 20 in the African Journal of Ecology. Camera traps were set up outside five hyena dens at the preserve between 2016 and 2021, and it was soon observed that two of the dens had three species dwelling in them. Seven hyenas, three warthogs and two porcupines resided in one of the hollows, while the other had 11 hyenas, six warthogs and two porcupines as residents. The animals lived together for months at a time, sometimes coming and going from the same entrance just minutes apart from each other. Porcupine photographed outside one of the dens Its likely that separate chambers inside the dens allowed the creatures to keep some distance from one another, meaning they were more neighbors than roommates, Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, one of the studys authors, told McClatchy News. Still, even with some separation, its not clear why the African animals both predators and prey elected to live in such close proximity to each other. One theory is that it might be based on a healthy respect for the threats presented by their mutually formidable weaponry, namely their tusks, teeth and spikes. Prey without similar defensive capabilities likely would not risk nearly being bedfellows with hyenas, Dupuis-Desormeaux said. Warthog spotted outside one of the dens Interestingly, the hyenas living with warthogs and porcupines did not appear to eat those species, while other hyenas at the study site did, implying a peculiar type of prey selection. They also tended to be active at different times throughout the day or night, meaning they werent always in the hollow at the same time. Hyenas and porcupines are mostly nocturnal, and warthogs are mostly diurnal, so shared dens could be occupied on a time-share basis, researchers said, stipulating that there was evidence of all the species being in the dens at the same time. Story continues Hard soil in the region during the dry season likely also made digging new dens difficult, which may have factored into the animals decision to cohabitate. The trio of species appeared to bid adieu to one another when the rains came and soil softened, bringing an end to the alliance, researchers said. Den sharing has been observed in other species before but little is known about the phenomenon in tropical climates, like sub-Saharan Africa. Badgers, foxes, pine martens and porcupines were observed living in the same hillside burrow system in Italy, according to a study published in 2019 in the journal Behavioral Processes. Rare mythological creature an abandoned pet rescued from Welsh countryside Young bear hit and killed by car as officials raced to trap it, Florida officials say Wounded pelican that couldnt fly gets rescued in Colorado. Now its off to rehab House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) on Sunday gave a conditional guarantee that the U.S. wont default on its debt, as long as President Biden and the Senate recognize the gravity of the situation. Can you guarantee as a leader in the United States Congress that the United States of America will not default on its debt? host Dana Bash asked Emmer on CNNs State of the Union. I can, assuming that our president and the Schumer Senate recognize the gravity of the problem. This is no longer about politics. We have passed a debt ceiling solution, Emmer said. House Republicans will not allow America to default on its debt. We showed that last week. The solution is in the Senate right now. The House last week passed a bill to raise the borrowing limit that includes sweeping spending cuts. But the legislation, headed now to the Senate, has little chance of getting through the Democratic-controlled chamber. The White House has been clear that it wants a clean debt limit increase not tied to any spending cuts or policy changes and has knocked the House GOP bill seen as the partys opening offer. Emmer on Sunday accused the White House of having had no ideas whatsoever, except jacking up taxes and spending even more money since the start of this Congress. And the Schumer Senate, they have no ideas either. Its just repeated rhetoric. So, to say that its dead on arrival in the Senate, when you have got even Joe Manchin suggesting support for this type of approach, I think thats not exactly accurate, he said of the House Republicans bill and referring to the Democratic senator from West Virginia. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The White House Correspondents Associations Dinner on Saturday evening, headlined by President Biden and hosted by comedian Roy Wood, Jr., provided comedic relief from some of Washingtons most pressing and intense issues. At times serious, and at other times lighthearted and self-deprecating, the remarks from Biden and Wood and the gathered room of national political press made for some noteworthy quips and interactions. Here are the highlights of the dinner. Biden pokes fun at himself, Fox News and gets serious on Russia President Joe Biden laughs as comedian Roy Wood Jr., a correspondent for The Daily Show, speaks during the White House Correspondents Association dinner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Biden, speaking at the dinner for the second time during his time in the White House, made fun of his age, which has been highlighted as the 80-year-old president prepares a run for his second term. I believe in the First Amendment, not just because my good friend Jimmy Madison wrote it, Biden said. Biden also noted Don Lemon, who was fired by CNN earlier this month after coming under scrutiny after comments in February about a womans age and her prime. You call me old, I call it being seasoned. You say Im ancient, I say Im wise. You say Im over the hill, Don Lemon would say thats a man in his prime, Biden added late Saturday. Fox News was also the butt of Bidens jokes, after the company settled a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for over $700 million earlier this month. Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted, he added. This year, with the $787 million dollar settlement, theyre here because they couldnt say no to a free meal. Biden did get serious about Americans who are detained overseas in Russia, focusing on Evan Gershkovich, the jailed Wall Street Journal reporter whom the media industry has thrown their support behind. The president also advocated for Evan Tice, who was kidnapped while reporting in Syria in 2012. Story continues Journalism is not crime, Biden said. Evan and Austin should be released immediately, along with every American held hostage or wrongly detained abroad. Wood hits the media industry Roy Wood Jr. Roy Wood Jr. poses for photographers as he arrives or the White House Correspondents Dinner. (The Hill / Annabelle Gordon) Wood, a correspondent for The Daily Show, made fun of Biden suggesting he left classified documents on the podium but focused much of his remarks on media figures and news companies. Woods appearance at the dinner came on the heels of the departures of Lemon from CNN and Tucker Carlson from Fox News. We gotta get Tucker back on the air, Mr. President, because right now there are millions of Americans that dont even know why they hate you, Wood said. Wood also chided Republicans for their fight against certain education policies, including the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) and made scandal-ridden Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas the punchline. Anti-CRT policies are an attack on Black history and an attempt to erase the contributions of Black people from the history books, Wood said to applause. And a lot of Black people wouldnt mind that erasure as long as that Black person is Clarence Thomas. Guest list included presidential hopefuls and celebrities Former Arkansas governor and 2024 Presidential hopeful Asa Hutchinson poses for photographers as he arrives at the annual White House Correspondents Association Dinner. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) Along with Biden, Wood and Washington, D.C. journalists, the dinner was attended by presidential candidates and a number of celebrities. WNBA star and Olympian Brittney Griner, who was detained in Russia for around 10 months after allegedly having hashish oil in her luggage in a Moscow airport, was at the dinner. Her detainment and release made international headlines. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R), who is running for president in 2024, also attended the dinner. He told The Hill he had the chance to meet with Griner recently. The appearance of Griner and a number of other celebrities, including actress Rosario Dawson and actor Justin Hartley, marked a return for famous guests to the event, as they largely stayed away during the Trump years and the pandemic. Biden embraces dark Brandon meme President Joe Biden attends the White House Correspondents Association Dinner. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Biden brought to life the dark Brandon meme that has been popular in political social media circles. The meme, usually featuring the president with laser beams blasting out of his eyes, signifies his supposed dark alter-ego, which supporters have used as a way to troll conservatives after accomplishments by the administration. Im gonna be fine with your jokes, Biden said. Then, putting on his aviator sunglasses, said: But Im not sure about Dark Brandon. The presidents acknowledgement of the bit was met with laughter and applause. The meme has even been embraced by his 2024 reelection campaign team, with his website featuring a dark Brandon photo with 2024 under it. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Mustang, a 32-foot-tall sculpture by the artist Luis Jimenez that is also known as Blucifer, stands outside Denver International Airport in Denver on Feb. 23, 2023. Some people wonder if it is actually the pale horse of the apocalypse (the one ridden by Death). (Benjamin Rasmussen/The New York Times) DENVER Equine art lives in many airports: Seattle and San Francisco have bronze horses shaped like driftwood; Central Illinois has wire horses suspended from the ceiling; Tucson, Arizona, has a winged horse; and Barcelona, Spain has a burly horse. None of them have a horse like Blucifer. Rearing 32 feet high in a median outside Denver International Airport, the cobalt-colored, demon-eyed, vein-streaked steed has terrified travelers and mobilized conspiracy theorists since it arrived 15 years ago. First, though, it killed its creator. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Artist Luis Jimenez designed the statue, officially known as Mustang, to make reference to Mexican murals and the energy of the Southwest, with glowing red eyes meant as an homage to his fathers neon workshop. The horse came to stand for something darker: In 2006, as Jimenez was finishing the 9,000-pound cast-fiberglass sculpture, a piece came loose and fatally severed an artery in his leg. A giant, murderous stallion makes sense as a mascot for an airport with notoriety to spare, where a nearby art installation can be misconstrued as a portrayal of the COVID-19 virus and a rumor that a humanoid reptilian race lives under the facility can surface on the popular sitcom Abbott Elementary. Actor Macaulay Culkin, famous for navigating the horror of Manhattan during holiday season, tweeted that the Denver Airport is the scariest place Ive ever been in my life. In recent American history, mass delusions about election fraud and baseless rumors about the pandemic and environmental disasters have burrowed into mainstream discourse and the top echelons of government authority. Technology continues to warp reality. Conspiracy theories about nefarious political and racist plots have been cited by rioters at the U.S. Capitol and perpetrators of mass shootings. The Denver airport is far less terrifying not so much a society-shaking assault on truth, more an ongoing experiment into whether sometimes, institutional fabulism can just be fun. Story continues One official statement was attributed to a Sr. Illuminati Spokesman. An employee appeared in a goofy video to explain a suspicious inscription in the Great Hall: AU AG, she said, did not represent the Australia antigen, which is associated with viral hepatitis and linked by conspiracy theorists to genocidal plague. Rather, it nodded to gold and silver, metals central to Colorados mining history. The Denver airport tall tales tend not to be particularly dangerous or politically salient, drawing instead from a persistent fascination with extraterrestrials, the paranormal and all sorts of nonsense, said Joseph Uscinski, a professor of political science and a conspiracy theory expert at the University of Miami. If I was going to try to relieve people of their conspiracy theories or misinformation, would alien beliefs or Illuminati be at the top of my list? he said. No, I probably would be more concerned about things that are more closely tied to political extremism or poor health decisions. Besides, as the airport case study shows, changing peoples minds tends to be difficult. Oftentimes, our beliefs are a reflection of our underlying ideologies and dispositions, he said. So youre not battling just a belief about aliens or the Illuminati; youre battling an entire worldview. At the Denver airport, the stickiness of the sites mythology means that any news like the airports top administrator losing out on a major federal appointment this year, or the temporary closing of 2,000 parking spots can become fodder for online claims of secret plots and ominous motivations. Earlier this year, a claim gained traction on TikTok that a new art installation in Concourse A legitimized the flat-earth conspiracy theory. Videos attempting to assign conspiratorial meaning to the tiled global map, set beneath arching train tracks and titanium poles, have racked up more than 1.5 million views. Airport officials pointed out that the piece is nearly 30 years old and represents the past and future of transportation. When Stacey Stegman, who leads the airports communications efforts, arrived in her role a decade ago, her colleagues were sick of the local lore. To Stegman, the airports reputation as the batty uncle of international aviation was part of its charm, a chance to raise Denvers profile to travelers who may not have thought much about the city and airlines that were looking to expand to new destinations. In 2019, she championed a plan to install a temporary animatronic gargoyle named Greg (short for Gregoriden) in one of the halls spouting quips like Welcome to Illuminati headquarters. There was an arrangement with the airport in Roswell, New Mexico, a hot spot for supposed alien sightings, to become supernatural sister airports. Stegman even wanted to decorate the airports extensive property with crop circles for its 20th birthday (ultimately too expensive). We leaned in pretty hard for a few years, she said. And we did learn some lessons along the way from it. One marketing campaign, tied to a renovation push that started in 2018, included posters of aliens with jokes about the facilitys secrets suggesting that construction crews were building gargoyle breeding grounds or hiding Freemason meetings. The publicity generated by the campaign, according to the airport, was worth more than $8 million. True believers hated it. Some got very upset by it because they thought, Oh, now theyre making fun of us, theyre hiding in plain sight, theyre covering up the evil, Stegman said. Ninety-nine percent of people see this for what it is, but for the others, we try to be like: Look, this isnt supposed to be hurtful. Know that were teasing. This isnt serious. Two gargoyles remain in the baggage claim area to protect luggage, including a more muted animatronic Greg; the original had triggered some people who viewed it as overtly satanic, Stegman said. Airport administrators have also stopped making light of conspiracy theories that turned out to have racist or otherwise offensive origins, such as the lizard people narrative, which is rooted in antisemitic tropes. You learn and you grow; weve slowed down a bit on it, Stegman said. Now were going back to a little bit more traditional advertising. The airport straddles two traditions of American fibbing, according to Dylan Thuras, a founder of Atlas Obscura, a travel media company focused on unusual destinations. Over the past decade, the airport has edged into a space occupied by online conspiracy theories that may focus on physical places and urban planning concepts, like the 15-minute city, without translating into actual tourism. Then theres the kind of kitsch folklore that has inspired multiple groups in Washington state to offer Bigfoot hunting expeditions; one has a $245 day tour with lessons in techniques that have proven to lure in Sasquatch. Its hard to compete, if youre a tourism bureau, on your wineries or your beaches because every place has wineries and lots of places have beaches, Thuras said. People are drawn to mythic stories. In Denver a city with a park built atop thousands of corpses and near radium-contaminated streets, a psychedelic art installation masquerading as a multidimensional gateway and a restaurant housed in a mortuary that reportedly once held Buffalo Bill Codys remains it can seem as if everyone one encounters has a take on the airport. Restaurant servers say the runways are shaped like a swastika (something airport representatives vehemently deny, explaining that the design allows for multiple simultaneous takeoffs and landings). Airline employees report glimpsing ghosts and claim that Native American music is played at night to appease the spirits of the dead buried below (Stegman said there are no graves and that the music is part of an art installation that, if not for a finicky sound system, would be on all the time). Uber drivers believe that dirt left over from the airports construction was used to create artificial mountains to stash food for the apocalypse (Stegman just laughed and said she had not heard that one). When the Denver airport opened in 1995, it was 16 months behind schedule and $2 billion over budget. The difficulties attracted legal complaints and government investigations, but also rumors, spread online and locally, that the extra time and cost had gone toward sinister design modifications including more than a hundred miles of tunnels leading to subterranean meeting facilities, survival bunkers, deep underground military bases and even the North American Aerospace Defense Command near Colorado Springs. The airports isolated location and disorienting size the land that it owns makes it the second-largest airport in the world, after the King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and bigger than some major U.S. cities, such as San Francisco lends itself to online mumblings that it will someday be used as a prison or concentration camp by a mysterious totalitarian global government known as the New World Order. But the airports enormous layout, according to Stegman, was actually a visionary effort to factor in future growth and efficiency. If anything, the design should have been more ambitious it was intended to support 50 million travelers a year, but nearly 70 million people passed through last year, and nearly 100 million a year are expected by 2030. To address the squeeze, the airport recently began a $1.3 billion project to upgrade and expand its Great Hall. The work has pushed some of its most peculiar points of interest out of sight. That includes a pair of 28-foot murals by Leo Tanguma, meant to depict humanity existing peacefully with the environment in postwar harmony. But over the decades, a far more alarming interpretation developed: that the artworks images of a soldier in a gas mask wielding a rifle and a sword, ruined buildings and weeping mothers cradling lifeless children were a prophetic vision of the end of the world. Unlike pieces in a museum or gallery, art in airports is often experienced as a surprise, said Sarah Magnatta, an assistant professor of global contemporary art at the University of Denver. Murals or installations in a terminal can increase exposure for local artists and add dimension to an otherwise utilitarian space, she said. I actually think thats the best way to view art when it kind of happens to you, Magnatta said. Its art that is made a part of everyday life, and youre forced to encounter it whether you want to or not, which can be a really powerful thing and a starting point for conversation. The removal of the Denver airport murals sparked rumors in Telegram channels and Reddit forums that construction was a cover for burying the truth. Stegman said the airport will always embrace the conspiracy part of its identity but is not trying to hide anything. As for the mystery disappearance of the murals? Theyre in temporary storage to avoid damage, and will return. c.2023 The New York Times Company The following is the transcript of an interview with Rep. Tony Gonzales, Republican of Texas, that aired on "Face the Nation" on April 30, 2023. MARGARET BRENNAN: We turn now to immigration and the ongoing effort to secure America's southern border. We're joined by Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales. He's at our affiliate in San Antonio, KENS 5. Thank you for joining us this morning. REP. TONY GONZALES (R-TX): Thank you for having me, Margaret. MARGARET BRENNAN: I don't have to tell you this date of May 11. But for our viewers, that's when this health emergency restriction known as Title 42 will expire. Homeland Security is looking at 10,000 people per day potentially crossing the border. Do the agents you represent have what they need to deal with the surge? REP. GONZALES: They do not, Margaret. And this is honestly the fourth time that we've seen this Title 42 is going to end and every time we come to this situation before the crisis is this uptick in illegal immigration and we're seeing that now whether it's Brownsville, whether it's Eagle Pass or whether it's El Paso. Now it's all three of those areas. And so the numbers are getting worse. The agents are beyond an exhausting point. And it's not just at the border. Now what you're seeing is places 100, 150 miles from the border are just as overwhelmed as if they were on the Rio Grande themselves. MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you are set to vote in the House on May 11 on a border bill. You're part of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, which had opposed the Republican bills on the grounds that you needed provisions in it to help legal migrants in the asylum process. I know you are now on board, dropped that position. What changed for you? And is there anything in here that can get through a Democratic controlled Senate? REP. GONZALES: Yeah, Margaret, it's an exciting time for the Congressional Hispanic Conference, which I'm the co-chair with Mario Diaz-Balart. It's- we've got 18 different members. It's the first time we've set a marker down and said our voices will be heard. One of the- I've been very public, I've essentially negotiated both in public and in private. One of the things that I in particular asked for is to not curb illegal immigration, not hamper those that are legally doing the things that they need to do to come over and a lot of that was stripped away in the judiciary part of it, which was half of the package. The homeland security package, which I sit on that- that committee, I asked for some specific things. One was ensuring that we hold cartels accountable. You want to get to the root of the cause, they're the issue. So we go down this path of labeling cartels as terrorists. Another is giving resources to the people that are doing the work. Story continues MARGARET BRENNAN: What does that do? REP. GONZALES: We added 110- Yeah, 110 million for deputy sheriffs and- and local law enforcement officers. I did a ride-along with the Medina County Sheriff's Office on Monday. Once again, this is 120 miles from the border. Their police cruisers are getting- are getting trashed and- and other things. And the last piece is we got to give a pay raise to the border patrol agents. They got a $9,000 bonus in this aspect. But we got to go further. MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, well, on that House bill you just voted for to lift the debt ceiling in exchange for cuts, the White House argues it would mean cutting funding for Customs and Border Protection. Do you have any guarantees from Republican leadership that in future deal, there won't be cuts to the agents you represent? Because you just signed a bill that would do that. REP. GONZALES: Look, I was on the fence. It was 215 to 215 when I ended up voting in favor of the debt ceiling. So I have some very deep concerns with- with the direction we're going. Universal cuts don't- don't always solve the issue. In the same breath, just throwing money at a problem doesn't solve the issue. So what I'm trying to do is I'm trying to go where is the money going? How does DHS instead of getting them a blank check? How do we give them money to the things that are going to help secure the border? Like repatriation flights. These are flights where people that do not qualify for asylum, they don't get flown to New York or D.C. or Chicago, they get flown back to their country of origin. That is how you solve the border crisis. Other things like hiring Border Patrol agents, but you can't just give DHS a blank check and have them go spend it on all these things that is only encourages illegal immigration. MARGARET BRENNAN: I have more about- about this to get into with you, but I have to take a quick commercial break so please stay with us, Congressman. And we'll be back with all of you and a lot more Face the Nation in a moment. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) MARGARET BRENNAN: Welcome back to Face The Nation, we return to our conversation with Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, who joins us from San Antonio this morning. Congressman, I want to pick back up on border security. Migrant families after May 11, if they cross into the U.S. illegally, will not be detained by the Biden administration. The Trump and Obama administrations did detain families. Should families be detained? REP. GONZALES: There should be repercussions for people that enter the country illegally. And this is where the Biden administration is getting wrong. First off, they're doing more and I appreciate the fact that they're trying different things. It's taken them awhile, but I appreciate that. This is what they're getting wrong. They're putting all their time and effort into illegal immigration, finding ways to increase capacity, finding ways where people can come over illegally, quicker. The reality is nine out of 10 people that come over into our country illegally do not qualify for asylum. So stop sending them down that route when you know they're not going to qualify for asylum. I am of the mindset we need to encourage those to come over legally. I believe through work visas. Once again, I'm (CROSSTALK) MARGARET BRENNAN: You would have to change the asylum laws though. That's Congress. REP. GONZALES: You do have to- you do have to change the asylum laws. And it's- it's something that the President should work with Congress on. You haven't heard the President say one thing about immigration, other than just blame others. Congress has a role to play. I think that us passing this bill in the House on security is important. The next step is immigration reform. I am committed to doing that. You haven't seen anyone even try immigration reform in the past decade. I think it's long time that we do something, in my opinion that starts with protecting those that are doing it legally through work visas. MARGARET BRENNAN: So just to be clear, do you think it's humane to keep kids in detention centers with their parents? REP. GONZALES: I think there needs to be a process where folks have their asylum claim heard in days, not years. And if they qualify for asylum, welcome to the United States. And if they don't, you have to send them back to their country of origin. What- what we can't do is what we're having now. Right now we have tens of thousands of children that are just being released into this country. What is happening to these children, regardless of their legal- legal identity, I mean, what is happening to these children- these children so we have to enforce the laws that are on the books and we have to encourage those to come over legally. Make it easier for folks to obtain work visas. MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, well, Health and Human Services takes those kids custody of them but- but point taken on needing to watch what happens next. Congressman, thank you very much for your time today. Russian forces firing dozens of missiles and drones into Ukraine American parents weigh in on how gun violence is impacting their children Gary Cohn says First Republic's likely sale "will be a much faster process" than SVB collapse One person's trash is another person's treasure. And for the late Bill Blackbeard, the treasure that he'd stored from floor to ceiling in his San Francisco home was maybe the largest, most comprehensive private collection of American newspaper comics ever assembled. "He was single-minded," said Caitlin McGurk, curator of comics and cartoon art at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State University. "He felt a calling to preserve this type of material that no one else really cared about. I mean, comic art is kind of an underdog of the art world." The library is currently displaying just a sample of the trove of cartoons (some 2.5 million pieces in all, dating as far back to 1893) that Blackbeard amassed over 30 years of collecting. The exhibit is called "Man Saves Comics." Curator Caitlin McGurk and correspondent Luke Burbank observe the exhibit Among the cartoons on display: "Little Nemo in Slumberland" by Windsor McCay, one of the earliest fantasy comics by one of the greatest cartoonists in history. An original of And there is also a complete run of "Hugo Hercules," from 1902. "It's essentially Superman 30-plus years before Superman existed," said McGurk. You might be wondering why it fell to one eccentric scholar to do so much of this preservation, and why it matters? There was time long ago, before the internet, when things were not saved digitally, meaning a Sunday morning comic, with its vibrant colors and social importance, could be lost forever if no one saved that particular issue of that specific newspaper. Burbank asked, "Why do you think newspaper comics maybe didn't get the respect that they deserve?" McGurk replied, "People have historically viewed newspaper comics or comics in general as something that was just meant for kids, or made for the masses. It was kind of neglected from the start for that reason." But they were important, for a whole variety of reasons, from early representations of same-sex relationships, to Black time travelers, to entertaining the kids on a Sunday. Story continues In the 1905 series There were, of course, libraries that were converting their collections of old newspapers onto microfilm, but microfilm is black-and-white, and that meant the rich colors of the Sunday comics would be lost to history. And microfilm was fragile: "It gets covered in scratches, and just after a few uses by patrons can be rendered unusable," said McGurk. During his lifetime Bill Blackbeard collected and preserved 2.5 million artifacts of comic art. / Credit: San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Which is where Blackbeard stepped in. With his wife and some volunteer friends, he started traveling around the United States in a van, amassing discarded bound volumes of newspapers, so that he could clip the comics section out of them, which he saved in his house. "The only room that he didn't have newsprint in was the bathroom, because he was worried about how the water would affect the paper," McGurk said. Decades later, Blackbeard was facing eviction from his California rental home, so he sold his collection to the university. But getting all that material to Ohio in 1998 was no small feat: his 75 tons of newspaper clippings arrived in six semi-trucks. And 25 years later, they are still taking stock. Jenny Robb, head curator of comics and cartoon art, is overseeing a small team tasked with cataloging and properly storing all of Blackbeard's materials. "We're at about 30 to 40 percent that has been processed," she said. "We have a lot of material that we still have to get through." Burbank asked, "Are there boxes that haven't been opened yet?" "There are boxes that have not been opened in decades!" said Robb. Among the items that have been processed and stored at exactly 64 degrees for archival purposes? The entire 1931 run of "Blondie." And there are names you might be less familiar with, like Elsie Robinson, a single mother who created an editorial cartoon and syndicated column empire that ran from the 1920s through the 1950s. "She was incredibly famous in her time," said Allison Gilbert, who co-wrote the first biography of Robinson. "She had more than 20 million readers. And just to put that in perspective, that's double the number of subscribers today to The New York Times." And her cartoons took on subject matter that perhaps wasn't tackled in other parts of the newspaper, from feminism, marriage, gender equality and pay inequity, to racism and capital punishment. A cartoon on sharing household chores by Elsie Robinson. / Credit: San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Bill Blackbeard passed away in 2011, but not before his life's passion the preservation of an ephemeral and often underestimated art form had been safely transferred to a new generation like something out of a superhero story. Burbank said, "I have to imagine he'd be pretty excited to see that this is where it all led." "We hope that he would be proud," said McGurk. "We've discovered such incredible things in [his collection], and we're so grateful for what he did." Richard F. Outcault's For more info: Exhibit: "Man Saves Comics! Bill Blackbeard's Treasure of 20th Century Newspapers," at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio (through May 7)San Francisco Academy of Comic Art Collection "Bill Blackbeard: The Collector Who Rescued the Comics" by Jenny E. Robb and Alec Longstreth a digital comic book available here Story produced by Aria Shavelson. Editor: Emanuele Secci. See also: The world according to Peanuts ("Sunday Morning")The chronicles of "Doonesbury" creator Garry Trudeau ("Sunday Morning")The king of Sunday funnies turns 100 ("Sunday Morning")Almanac: Blondie ("Sunday Morning")Black and white and read all over ("Sunday Morning") Russian forces firing dozens of missiles and drones into Ukraine Rep. Nancy Mace says GOP has to find "middle ground" on abortion Rep. Ro Khanna says "obviously there was mismanagement" at Silicon Valley Bank Comedian and "Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood Jr. hosts the White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner. (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) Soon after getting fired almost simultaneously by their respective cable TV networks, Tucker Carlson and Don Lemon were the targets of many a joke at this year's White House Correspondents' Assn. dinner. While emceeing Saturday's event at the Washington Hilton hotel, comedian and "Daily Show" correspondent Roy Wood Jr. addressed the dual terminations of Carlson, formerly of Fox News, and Lemon, who used to work for CNN. Both media personalities were ousted by their employers on Monday. Tackling Carlson's firing first, Wood jokingly compared the situation at Fox News to the departure of "Daily Show" host Trevor Noah who recently decided to leave the Comedy Central show after seven years. "The untouchable Tucker Carlson is out of a job," Wood said Saturday to cheers from the audience. "Some people celebrate. But to Tucker's staff, I want you to know that I know what you're feeling. I work at 'The Daily Show,' so I too have been blindsided by the sudden departure of the host of a fake news program." Wood followed the "Daily Show" quip with a string of references to some of the buzziest and juiciest shows on TV, including "Vanderpump Rules," "BMF," "Power" and "Succession." "Tucker got caught up ... like that dude from 'Vanderpump Rules,'" Wood continued, referring to a cheating scandal on the reality program. "I don't know what 'Vanderpump Rules' is about. ... My friends told me it's like 'BMF' but for white people or 'Succession.' No, 'Succession' is 'Power' for white people. No, Tucker Carlson is 'Power' for white people. No, that's white power. You know what, never mind. ... We got to get Tucker back on the air, Mr. President. Because right now there's millions of Americans that don't even know why they hate you." Story continues Before Carlson got canned, former "Tucker Carlson Tonight" producer Abby Grossberg in a lawsuit accused the conservative pundit and others at Fox News of fostering a sexist, misogynistic and abusive work environment. The network has called Grossberg's allegations "baseless." "Tucker Carlson is the first host to get fired from Fox News for something that's only partially about how he treats women," Wood quipped. "That's progress. He shattered the a ceiling." "Speaking of a," Wood added, "Don Lemon is out of a job." Fewer than two hours after Fox News announced it had "agreed to part ways" with its top-rated star, Lemon disclosed via Twitter that he had been bounced by CNN. When Lemon accused management in his tweet of not having the "decency" to inform him of their decision directly or give him any indication that he was on the chopping block, CNN pushed back by saying that Lemon was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter. "My dog Don Lemon released a statement saying he got fired from CNN, and CNN released a statement saying that they offered Don a meeting," Wood said. "They had to part ways because Don Lemon can't even accurately report a story about Don Lemon." Lemon got the ax at CNN shortly after he apologized for a sexist, ageist remark he made about politician Nikki Haley being past her "prime." The "CNN This Morning" anchor was also recently accused in Variety of exhibiting misogynistic behavior in the workplace a report he dismissed as "15-year-old gossip." "Letting Don go was the wrong move," Wood said. "Don was fine when y'all was letting him drink. You shouldn't have cut off his liquor," he added, referring to CNN's recent move to scale back the booze during its New Year's eve coverage. "You don't fire your host after the first couple of scandals. The scandals got to stack up. You gotta get ratings. Yes, Don Lemon was a diva and he said a couple of women are raggedy in the face but that's a promotion at Fox News!" The president also had some Lemon material up his sleeve. "They say I'm over the hill," Biden said. "Don Lemon would say that's a man in his prime." Both Biden and Wood had plenty to say about the recent legal battle between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems. Earlier this month, Fox News agreed to settle Dominion's defamation case against the network for a hefty sum of $787.5 million. "Y'all look good ... look like everybody got a little piece of that settlement money from Fox News," Wood said. "And that's all I have to say about that. Because I'm not going to have Dominion on my ass. I love Dominion. Matter of fact, let me just say right now: My favorite voting machine is Dominion voting machines. When I go to the polls, I make sure it is a Dominion machine that I use. If your election needs the truth, put Dominion in your booth." Biden got in on the fun too. "It's great the cable news networks are here tonight: MSNBC owned by NBCUniversal, Fox News owned by Dominion Voting Systems," Biden said. "Last year, your favorite Fox News reporters were able to attend because they were fully vaccinated and boosted. This year, with that $787 million settlement, they're here because they couldn't say no to a free meal." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Twitter handles of Indian news broadcaster NDTV (New Delhi Television) and news agency ANI were locked temporarily and restored after a few hours on Saturday. Smita Prakash, editor of ANI tweeted a screenshot of the handle of the agency being locked on Saturday evening. So those who follow @ANI bad news, @Twitter has locked out Indias largest news agency which has 7.6 million followers and sent this mail - under 13 years of age! Our gold tick was taken away, substituted with a blue tick and now locked out, Ms Prakash tweeted, tagging Elon Musk. Ms Prakashs screenshot included a message from Twitter that said that the account had been locked out as it did not meet the age requirements required to be on the platform and would be removed. Shortly after, broadcaster NDTV tweeted from the handle of its Hindi news channel that the Twitter account of its English news counterpart had been locked. Tagging Mr Musk, NDTV India tweeted: Twitter has blocked @ndtv (Indias most-followed English news handle). The account has been run by journalists since 2009. Please help restore it. Many thanks, Team NDTV. An immediate reason for the suspension of the two accounts was not given. Both accounts appeared to be restored shortly afterwards. International media accounts including US National Public Radio (NPR) and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) had stopped posting to their Twitter accounts earlier this month after the social media platform labelled them Government-funded. So those who follow @ANI bad news, @Twitter has locked out Indias largest news agency which has 7.6 million followers and sent this mail - under 13 years of age! Our gold tick was taken away, substituted with blue tick and now locked out. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/sm8e765zr4 Smita Prakash (@smitaprakash) April 29, 2023 Earlier this month, the BBC had objected to a similar label on its main Twitter account. The labels were later dropped. Story continues Neither NDTV nor ANI are government-funded. Last year, NDTV was acquired by billionaire Gautam Adani leading to speculations about the future of one of the countrys last bastions of free media. ANI is also listed as a private company. Neither is known to have any funding from the government. Earlier this week, Twitter said that India was among the top countries that had requested the platform to remove content last year. Hi @elonmusk, Twitter has blocked @ndtv (Indias most-followed English news handle). The account has been run by journalists since 2009. Please help restore it. Many thanks, Team NDTV NDTV India (@ndtvindia) April 29, 2023 It said on Tuesday that it received approximately 53,000 legal requests to remove content from governments across the globe from 1 January to 30 June 2022. Japan, South Korea, Turkey and India -- which topped these requests --- requested, according to The Economic Times. The social media platform which was purchased by Mr Musk in 2022 for $44bn has seen widespread changes since his takeover. In January, Twitter had said accounts will only be suspended for severe or ongoing and repeated violations of the platforms policies. It added that such suspensions could however be subject to appeal. (Additional reporting by agencies) Two teenagers among the six shot at a Bay St. Louis house party have died, Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said Sunday morning. The two who died from their injuries were 16 and 18, according to Hancock County Coroner Jeff Hair. Schwartz said they were both being treated at University Medical Center in New Orleans. The accused shooter, 19-year-old Cameron Brand of Pass Christian, will now face two homicide charges in addition to multiple aggravated assault charges, Schwartz said. Hancock County Municipal Court Judge Stephen Maggio issued no bond warrants for the homicide charges. Bay police responded to a house party in the 100 block of Old Blue Meadow Road just after midnight Sunday and found multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Six teens ages 15 to 18 were shot. One survivor is in critical condition and the other three are in serious condition, Schwartz said. Brand was identified as the sole shooter by people at the party, Schwartz said in a press release. The Sun Herald will update this story as more information is available. Police have arrested two Philadelphia teenagers after a Friday afternoon shooting left three others dead, including a student still in eighth grade, and a fourth teen hospitalised. The 15- and 16-year-old suspects have not been identified but have been charged with violation of the Uniform Firearms Actand related offenses, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Police on Saturday named the victims as Malik Ballard, 17; Khalif Frezghi, 18; and Salah Fleming, 14. A fourth victim, 16, arrived at the hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach, the paper reported. Both the wounded teen and the youngest victim, Fleming, were students at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School of Philadelphia, Inc, the schools founder and chief administrative told the Inquirer. Fleming had enrolled at the school and begun eighth grade in September, said Veronica J Joyner, reporting that his teachers praised him as very manner able, very quiet and hardworking. The injured student is an 11th-grader she described as having a smile that would light up the room. Ms Joyner told the Inquirer: Both of the young men are very respectable and theyre good students. The school and the school family is very saddened that this continues to happen to young people. She called the deaths a travesty. The shooting happened about 3.30pm in the Crescentville section of the city; Ballard was found on the sidewalk, Frezghi on a front porch and Fleming just inside the front doorway, the Inquirer reported. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Scene of the shooting (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) After the fourth student arrived at the hospital, police found a black Ford Edge thought to have been involved and said they believed the 15- and 16-year-old subsequently arrested had just dropped off the teen who suffered a stomach gunshot wound. Ms Joyner told the Inquirer that the 1,000-student school has expanded its staff of grief counselors from two to four six this year amidst Philadelphias plague of shootings; before the Friday incident, 57 children under 18 had been shot so far in 2023 in the city, eight fatally, the paper reported. We have about two typed pages of students that have lost either mother, father, brothers, sisters or other family in shootings, Ms Joyner said, adding: The schools now, they have to deal with a lot of things they didnt deal with when I went to school. The Independent has reached out to Philadelphia police. Song Yadong looked like a top bantamweight on Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images) Song Yadong dropped Ricky Simon, and then the horn sounded. That ended up only delaying an impressive finish for the rising UFC bantamweight. Song defeated Simon by fifth-round TKO on Saturday in the main event of UFC Vegas 72 at Apex in Las Vegas, giving him a bounce-back win after falling to Cory Sandhagen in September. He improves his career record to 20-7-1. He nearly came close to ending the fight at the end of the fourth round when a left knocked Simon backward, but the round came to a close before he could deliver any kind of follow-up. History repeated less than a minute into the fifth round, and Simon didn't have any horn to save him this time. Song once again dropped him with a right, then immediately pounced on him for a good 10 seconds of ground-and-pound before referee Herb Dean stepped in to call the fight. It was an impressive performance overall for the Chinese fighter, who entered the bout ranked eighth on the UFC's bantamweight rankings. Simon, ranked 10th, gave him a chance to show he could still be a threat in the division after the Sandhagen loss, and now he could be set up for some big fish at 135 pounds. After the fight, Song called out Sean O'Malley, who might be on the verge of a title shot depending on the outcome of next Saturday's main event between Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo, and Marlon Vera, whom Song defeated in 2020. We'll see if the UFC takes him up on either. An extra RAF evacuation flight for British nationals still trapped in Sudan was due to depart on Monday. Foreign NHS staff and their dependants with the right to live in Britain were also eligible for what is being billed as the last UK airlift from Sudan. The UK has so far carried 2,122 people on 23 flights. People needed to reach to the airport in coastal city Port Sudan, 500 miles from capital Khartoum where previous planes took off, by noon local time. The Foreign Office would not confirm whether the plane had taken off. But flight tracking websites showed a Royal Air Force Hercules transport aircraft departed Port Sudan New International Airport at 18:43 local time (17:43 BST). Another flight, an RAF Atlas transport plane, was due to leave at 20:25 local time (19:25 BST). Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell warned on Saturday that the UK "can't stay [in Sudan] forever" as the security situation continued to deteriorate. Airstrikes and fighting have been reported over the weekend despite a ceasefire between rival army factions. Tens of thousands of people have fled the country since fighting engulfed the country more than two weeks ago. The capital city Khartoum has seen the heaviest fighting, with the Sudanese military and the Rapid Support Forces, a powerful paramilitary group, fighting for control of the country. Sudan's military said on Saturday it was launching a major new offensive against RSF positions in Khartoum. The latest truce, which has not held, was due to end at midnight on Sunday. But the RSF said the ceasefire had been extended for another three days. British security services had been scoping out Port Sudan as an alternative evacuation site since the beginning of the week, and have established a limited diplomatic presence there. Story continues The British Ambassador to Sudan is leading the UK's regional response from Addis Ababa in neighbouring Ethiopia. The FCDO said the dependants of British nationals and NHS staff, who have leave to enter the UK, would also be allowed on the flight. The UK government on Friday announced non-British NHS staff in Sudan could catch evacuation flights out of the country, in a U-turn on its previous policy. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: "I am grateful to our armed forces who have ensured there was an alternative to Wadi Saeedna and who are currently supporting FCDO and Border Force staff to facilitate the rescue effort." A Royal Navy frigate - the HMS Lancaster - and Royal Air Force personnel are in Port Sudan, Mr Wallace added. Another British vessel - the RFA Cardigan Bay - is on its way to Sudan and would also be able to provide humanitarian support, the BBC has been told. The UK initially faced criticism for starting its evacuation after other countries, including European nations which rescued hundreds before the first British airlift took place. A separate operation days earlier saw special forces troops evacuate UK diplomats from Khartoum after fighting broke out around the embassy. But a Foreign Office spokesperson said the UK's Sudan evacuation had grown to become "the largest of any Western country". The UN's top humanitarian official, Martin Griffiths, says he is travelling to Sudan to co-ordinate the international aid effort, and would be looking to bring immediate relief to millions of people who have fled their homes. UK will buy missiles for Ukraine The military equipment will be procured for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces within the framework of the Ukraine Support Fund, the UK Government website reported on April 26. Read also: International Development Association to open $2 billion fund for Ukraine The UK will also procure equipment for the modernization and support of existing Ukrainian platforms, as well as for the production of artillery or tank ammunition. The first IFU procurement round, known as Urgent Bidding Round 1 (UBR1) has now closed. An announcement on the resulting equipment package was made on Feb. 15: Ukraine is to receive a multi-million-pound capability boost from international fund. To ensure mobility, the Ministry of Defense will procure: Armored minefield breaching capabilities mine rollers and mine ploughs full width and track width for Main Battle Tanks T-72, Leopard 1, Leopard 2. Armored mine clearing vehicles. Armored-vehicle-launched bridges and launchers in any size. Medium Girder Bridges: 9m to 31m, with at least Military Load Capacity (MLC) 70(T). Logistical support bridge launchers and reusable bridges: 40m to 80m, with at least Military Load Capacity (MLC) 70(T). Heavy equipment transporters capable of transporting Main Battle Tanks. Read also: UK supplied Ukraine with thousands of shells for Challenger-2 tanks Additionally, missiles or rocket-propelled shells with a range of 100-300 kilometers and ground, sea, or air launch capability will be purchased, with a useful payload of 20-490 kilograms. The requirements for the missiles are: Low probability of interception (LPI); Mission planning capability; Assured navigation (with hardened Global Navigation Satellite System capability) in the face of advanced countermeasures and EM spectrum denial; Air defense penetration methods to increase probability of a successful strike. Technical Readiness Level of at least 8. Read also: EU announces another EUR 1.5 billion of aid to Ukraine Story continues To strengthen Ukraines air defenses, the Ministry of Defense will procure: Sensors to detect and track cruise missiles, low flying (<50m) DoD Group 2 drones, and/or ballistic missiles. Sensor-guided air defense cannons to defeat low flying drones and cruise missiles. Sensor could use radar, electro-optical, infra-red etc. Air burst rounds for cannon-based air defense systems (30mm, 35mm, 40mm). Must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 9. Expeditionary barriers to protect critical infrastructure sites military gabion (collapsible wire mesh containers). Any size. The IFU is a funding mechanism that uses funding from international partners to procure priority military assistance for Ukraine at pace. This will ensure the continued supply of military support lethal and non-lethal to Ukraine through 2023 and beyond. Read also: First Patriot air defense system division is operational, says Air Force The fund is administered by the UK Ministry of Defense on behalf of an Executive Panel, comprising the UK, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. These partners, along with Iceland and Lithuania, have contributed a collective total of more than GBP 520 million to the fund to date. 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 Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules transporter landing in Cyprus after taking British evacuees and their relatives out of Sudan The UK said Sunday it would operate an extra evacuation flight to rescue more of its citizens from war-torn Sudan, as the total number already airlifted topped 2,000. The final Royal Air Force (RAF) flight using the Wadi Saeedna airfield north of Khartoum left late Saturday, four hours behind schedule. The government said it would lay on the additional flight on Monday from Port Sudan on the Red Sea, where Britain has opened a consular office to help people who were seeking to travel by ship to Saudi Arabia. "The UK has now airlifted over 2,100 people to safety from Sudan," Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said. "Evacuation flights have ended from Wadi Saeedna but our rescue efforts continue from Port Sudan," he added. "We continue to do everything in our power to secure a long-term ceasefire, a stable transition to civilian rule and an end (to) the violence in Sudan." The UK government denies it has abandoned anyone in Sudan, after it was accused by opposition parties of repeating the mistakes of its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. One Turkish aircraft was shot at in Sudan last week, Transport Secretary Mark Harper told Sky News earlier Sunday, "demonstrating that that evacuation was not without risk, and we therefore can't stay there (Wadi Saeedna) indefinitely". - 'Endangered' - Some 2,000 Britons in Sudan had signed on to a Foreign Office list, and anyone eligible was given until early Saturday to reach the airfield for processing and boarding of the final flights. Britons and their dependants who have gathered by the Red Sea have until 1000 GMT on Monday to reach the UK processing centre at Port Sudan International Airport, the Foreign Office said. HMS Lancaster, a Royal Navy frigate, is also on hand at Port Sudan to help in any seaborne evacuation, according to the defence ministry. After strong criticism at home, the government late Friday allowed Sudanese doctors working in Britain's crisis-wracked National Health Service to join the flights. Story continues Abdulrahman Babiker, a doctor at a hospital in England's northern city of Manchester, was one of those initially refused a place before he was allowed to join an RAF flight to Cyprus. "I am happy that I am finally in a safe place, away from a war and on my way back to the UK," Babiker told the BBC. "At the same time I feel down that my family -- my dad, mum, brother and sister -- are still endangered by this deadly fighting in my country," Babiker added. "I am thinking about them now and trying to work out what I can do to help them escape the danger zone." jit/jm By Lidia Kelly (Reuters) -Ukraine remains in control of a key supply route into Bakhmut, a military spokesperson said on Saturday, as the head of Russia's mercenary Wagner Group threatened to withdraw some of his troops from the eastern city if Moscow did not send more ammunition. Russian forces have been trying for 10 months to punch their way into the shattered remains of what was once a city of 70,000. Kyiv has pledged to defend Bakhmut, which Russia sees as a stepping stone to attacking other cities. "For several weeks, the Russians have been talking about seizing the 'road of life,' as well as about constant fire control over it," Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesperson for Ukrainian troops in the east, said in an interview with local news website Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. "Yes, it is really difficult there ... (but) the defence forces have not allowed the Russians to 'cut off' our logistics." The "road of life" is a vital road between the ruined Bakhmut and the nearby town Chasiv Yar to the west - a distance of just over 17 km (10.56 miles). Ukraine's top military command said in its daily update on Sunday that its forces had repelled 58 Russian attacks over the past day along the part of frontline stretching from Bakhmut through Avdiivka and on to Maryinka further south in the Donetsk region. If Bakhmut fell, Chasiv Yar would probably be next to come under Russian attack according to military analysts, though it is on higher ground and Ukrainian forces are believed to have built defensive fortifications nearby. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner Group, who has often claimed unverifiable successes, said that his forces have advanced some 100 to 150 metres (109 to 164 yards) in Bakhmut, leaving just under 3 square km of the city in Ukrainian hands. But he said he lost 94 troops. "It would have had been five times fewer if we had more ammunition," Prigozhin said in an audio statement published on the Telegram messaging app of his press service on Saturday evening. Story continues Separately, in a nearly 90-minute video interview with Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov published on Saturday, Prigozhin threatened to withdraw troops from Bakhmut, saying they had enough ammunition left only for days. "If the shortage of ammunition is not replenished, then ... most likely, we will be forced to withdraw part of the units," Prigozhin said, quoting a letter he said was sent to Russia's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, giving an April 28 deadline. It was not immediately known when the interview was recorded. Prigozhin has often said the regular armed forces are not giving his men the ammunition they need and has sometimes accused top brass of betrayal. "We need to stop deceiving the population and telling them that everything is fine," Prigozhin said in the interview. "I must honestly say: Russia is on the brink of a disaster." (Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Jamie Freed) Patriot air defense system President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: it's great that we received two Patriot batteries from our Western partners, but it's not enough," Seleznyov told Radio NV. We need at least 20 of these systems. Read also: First Patriot air defense system division is operational, says Air Force The military expert said one Patriot division is capable of covering one city with a population of one million "with a fairly high degree of efficiency and quality for closing the sky." Again, an air defense system is effective and efficient when it consists of different components and is able to cover different types of enemy missiles: ballistic missiles (we are talking primarily about modern Patriot air defense systems), cruise missiles, kamikaze drones, Seleznyov said. Earlier, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that he could not confirm or deny the use of Patriot missile systems during the massive Russian missile attack on April 28. Read also: Air Force silent on whether Patriots were operational in latest Russian attack I won't tell you whether they were used at night, because then it will be clear where they are, the minister said. If Air Force Command decides to say that they used them somewhere, then we will inform you. NV reported on April 29 that Patriot air defense systems from the United States, the Netherlands, and Germany had already arrived in Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported on April 23 that the first Patriot air defense battery had been put on combat duty. The second Patriot battery began combat duty in Ukraine on April 27, the air force said. 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 F-16 fighter There is already a list of pilots, several dozen people, the best of the best, who will be the first to master (these aircraft), he said. They have been identified, and once the decision (to supply F-16s to Ukraine) is made, they are ready to train either in Europe or the United States at various sites. Whichever countries provide us with these sites, they will go there. Read also: Ukraine wont get F-16 fighters even in six months, says MP Ihnat said it may take about three months for Ukrainian pilots to learn how to fly the F-16s. He also stressed that without air cover, it would be impossible for Ukraine to succeed in either offensive or defensive operations. He added that modern aviation would be capable of restoring order in the air, on the ground and at sea quite effectively. Earlier, the White House maintained that it was not considering the possibility of transferring F-16s to Ukraine. On March 20, Ukrainian Air Force Aviation Commander Serhiy Holubtsov said that Ukrainian pilots would be able to learn to fly the F-16 in less than six months. 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 Key developments on April 30: Ukraine, US' top generals talk of counteroffensive possible scenarios Zelensky discusses military needs with Macron Fire at oil depot in Sevastopol is 'preparations' for counteroffensive, says military Intelligence chief pledges to eliminate Russian war criminals worldwide According to Ukraine's Armed Forces' Southern Command spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk, the large fire at an oil depot at the Kozacha Bay in Russian-occupied Sevastopol on April 29 is part of Ukraine's "preparations" for the awaited counteroffensive. "This work is a preparation for the broad, full-scale offensive that everyone expects," Humeniuk said, as cited by Ukrainska Pravda. Ukraine's leadership and high command haven't confirmed Ukraine's responsibility for the attack deep into Russian-occupied territory. Videos and photos of a large fire spanning across what appears to be the entire oil depot and a massive black cloud of smoke above the city began circulating on social media early in the morning on April 29. The head of the illegal Russian occupation administration in Sevastopol soon claimed a drone attack caused a large fire at an oil depot at Kozacha Bay. "A fuel tank is on fire near Manganari Brothers Street in the Kozacha Bay area. According to preliminary information, the fire was caused by an unmanned aerial vehicle hit," the Russian occupation administration head wrote on Telegram. The fire was extinguished later that day. Talking counteroffensive Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi met with NATO's Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, U.S. Army General Christopher Cavoli, to discuss anticipated Ukraine's counteroffensive. General Zaluzhnyi detailed to General Cavoli the operational situation along the entire 1,000-kilometer front line, according to the report. "I defined possible scenarios, threats, and requirements for our future actions. We aim to prepare to fulfill the defined tasks to the maximum extent possible," Zaluzhnyi said. Story continues Zaluzhnyi didn't specify the details. They also discussed the "importance of timely supplies of ammunition and hardware in sufficient quantities," Ukraine's need for air-defense systems and other weapons to deter Russia, as well as Ukrainian troops' training. President Volodymyr Zelensky also discussed the situation on the front line in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on April 30. Both agreed on "additional solutions" that would strengthen Ukraine's potential on the battlefield, according to the President's Office. Preparations for Ukraine's counteroffensive are "coming to an end" as the military trains on Western-provided weapons, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on April 28. Ukraine has reportedly received almost all the military supplies promised by NATO countries. Earlier, Cavoli said he is "very confident" in the success of Ukraine's spring counteroffensive. Meanwhile, Russia focuses its main offensive efforts on Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukraine's forces repelled over 20 Russian attacks on April 30, the General Staff said in its evening update. The military said the epicenter of Russian attacks remains in Bakhmut and Marinka, a small industrial town north of Russian-occupied Donetsk. Apart from Donetsk Oblast, on April 30, Russian forces attacked Luhansk, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts with missiles and artillery, the military said. Flanks around Bakhmut hold as brutal urban fighting continues for city blocks Two months after Ukraines defense of Bakhmut seemed doomed, the bloodiest battle of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine is still going against all expectations. Making rapid advances at the end of February, Russian forces seemed to be on the cusp of surrounding the city, as the only roads Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell Haunting Russian war criminals Head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with PBS published on April 28 that Russian war crimes perpetrators would be haunted worldwide. "Any perpetrator that committed any war crimes or crimes against humanity in Ukraine or even very egregious crimes, like the group rape or killing of civilians and children, will be found and eliminated in any part of the world," Budanov said. Ukraine's military intelligence chief did not elaborate on how Ukraine is planning to find all the perpetrators. Ukraine's Security Service recently intercepted a call where a Russian soldier described in detail how he repeatedly cut the throats of Ukrainian prisoners of war after interrogating them. Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 17 that his office had received "several dozens" of videos showing Russian soldiers allegedly executing Ukrainian POWs. Executions and tortures of the prisoners of war breach the Geneva Conventions and constitute war crimes. The Prosecutor General's Office said the agency had been investigating 80,000 Russian war crimes allegedly committed by Russian forces in Ukraine. General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has held a meeting with General Christopher Cavoli, NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), to discuss possible battlefield scenarios and what Ukraine needs to undertake further actions. Source: General Zaluzhnyi on Telegram Quote from Zaluzhnyi: "I held an expanded meeting with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, US Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli. We discussed a wide range of issues that are important to us. I spoke in detail about the operational situation along the entire frontline. I described possible scenarios, threats, and prerequisites for our future actions. Our goal is to be prepared to fulfil our goals to the fullest extent possible." Details: Zaluzhnyi also said that the meeting participants discussed the importance of timely supplies of sufficient ammunition and equipment. The Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief stressed the importance of supplying Ukraine with a wide range of weapons and air defence systems, which will significantly help address some of Ukraines pitfalls in countering Russian aggression. Zaluzhnyi and Cavoli also discussed the training of Ukrainian soldiers. They agreed to stay in touch and continue working together to strengthen Ukraines defence capabilities. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Neet People runs programs to offer work-life experience to those not in education, employment or training, referred to as NEETs. Courtesy of Neet People By Lee Gyu-lee Working without a salary in positions without a specific job description, with employers being interviewed by potential employees all this might sound very confusing and seem like nonsense. But it makes sense with Neet People, a virtual, mock company for young people in their 20s and 30s, who classify as "NEET" an acronym for not in education, employment or training. The company acts as a haven for those who are NEET by providing a platform to find their footing and sense of belonging as members of society and to assist in their journey to identify their roles. "It's not about trying hard to get a good job. But we feel that our current society has lost a sense of community for young people to find belonging and their role in it. And we believe we've created such a platform, a kind of community, where those young adults feel comfortable being themselves. And that's the role we want to keep pursuing," Jeon Seong-shin, co-CEO and co-founder of Neet People, told The Korea Times during an interview at the company's office in Jung District, central Seoul, Monday. From left are co-CEOs of Neet People Park Eun-mi, Jeon Seong-shin and manager Jay Lim. Courtesy of Neet People Jeon founded the company in 2019, along with the co-CEO Park Eun-mi, out of a personal need for a community after leaving her job in the social venture funding sector. "I had 10 years of work experience. But I faced concerns and anxieties about my next opportunity, like I was stepping into the real world for the first time. Yet, I wasn't in the place to write and go around to submit my resume," she said. "Then I came to think how I can have fun and make use of this time other than writing up a resume." She sought opportunities to meet people in similar situations to share concerns. When she could not find anyone, the co-founders decided to create it themselves. Along with its signature program, Neet Company, an online virtual company, the group added three new programs last year: Neet Office for an in-person office experience, Neet Investment for financial aid and Neet Connect for social gatherings. A picture of Neet Company's outdoor gathering / Courtesy of Neet People Neet Company welcomes about 100 participants each term, whereas Neet Office hosts about five people due to its limited office space. The participants come up with their own job titles and decide their daily duty on their own, like reading books or holding a workshop on topics they find interesting. The weekly meeting runs with an agenda to share their plans for the future or their interests. "(For Neet Office,) there are people who fear going to an office and find it difficult to see others' eyes to communicate. So we looked for ways to give social practice scenarios to help those people. So the office is for those people," Jay Lim, the company's founding member and manager, said. The two programs go through a unique process of recruiting their participants, a reverse interview, where potential participants interview the company. "When you interview for a normal job, you need to be picked through a selection process. We are a community formed based on the participants' needs. So we tell them what we do and ask them to decide if they want to join or not; whether we passed or not," the CEO said, adding that the spots are filled on a first-come basis. People look at displays, sharing the outcome of Neet Investment's second-term participants. Courtesy of Neet People The concept of a make-believe company and role-playing as an employed worker might seem odd to some people. But the CEO emphasized that the company is about creating a community that bridges people. "Our purpose and the (ideal) society we think is that people are not isolated and can connect with anyone regardless of their status, so they can remind themselves of their own presence as a member of the society, despite their economic activity and identity," she said. "Rather than just wanting to make good money, we hope for a society where people are connected to one another so they can ask for help when they need it and return it to those who need it." Over the years, the company came across hundreds of people in NEET. Jeon and Lim said that seeing changes in the participants motivated them to pursue their vision, despite the difficulties in securing stable funding to run its programs. "Later on, the participants would look for ways to take a role (in the platform). They would start a project with each other. And seeing how they navigate it to find their role within that makes it all worth it," she said. The participants from Neet Company plant trees as volunteers. Courtesy of Neet People Ukraine's Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko has called for the strengthening of sanctions against Russia during an informal meeting of EU ministers of economy and finance on 29 April. Source: Ministry of Finance of Ukraine press service Details: "First of all, even taking into account the unprecedented sanctions, they did not have a devastating enough impact on the aggressor's economy as we all expected. We should focus on strengthening the implementation of sanctions and closing loopholes that allow evasion. It is important to impose restrictions on countries that help russia. Secondly, it is necessary to accelerate the development of mechanisms for confiscating russian assets and directing them to rebuild Ukraine. The aggressor must be held accountable for its actions and compensate our country for the losses," Marchenko said. In addition, the minister noted in his speech that the Ukrainian financial system is in a better condition than a year ago, and the economy is showing a gradual recovery. Regarding budget implementation, Serhii Marchenko noted that this year external financing is coming in rhythmically and predictably, and internal budget revenues have increased, which together allows state budget expenditures to be financed on time and in full. It was added that the Finance Minister in this context called on partners to join the financing of the World Bank's URTF (Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund) and SPURR (Special Program for Ukraine's Recovery and Crisis Response) projects. The WB funds were established to mobilise funds from donors for rapid recovery projects. Background: The Russian Government has approved a draft law on a long-term savings programme money collected from citizens will be used to cover the budget deficit. The EU intends to ban the transit of many goods through the Russian Federation in order to strengthen compliance with already imposed sanctions. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! KYIV, Ukraine A massive fire erupted at an oil depot in Crimea after it was hit by two of Ukraines drones, a Russia-appointed official there reported Saturday, the latest in a series of attacks on the annexed peninsula as Russia braces for an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the Moscow-installed governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea, posted videos and photos of the blaze on his Telegram channel. Razvozhayev said the fire at the citys harbor was assigned the highest ranking in terms of how complicated it will be to extinguish. However, he reported that the open blaze had been contained. Razvozhayev said the oil depot was attacked by two enemy drones, and four oil tanks burned down. A third drone was shot down from the sky, and one more was deactivated through radio-electronic means, according to Crimeas Moscow-appointed governor, Sergei Aksyonov. Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a move that most of the world considered illegal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview this week that his country will seeking to reclaim the peninsula in the upcoming counteroffensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Crimea last month to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsulas annexation from Ukraine. Putins visit took place the day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for the Russian leader accusing him of war crimes. The attack reported in Sevastopol comes a day after Russia fired more than 20 cruise missiles and two drones at Ukraine, killing at least 23 people. Almost all of the victims died when two missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city of Uman, located in central Ukraine. Six children were among the dead, Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Saturday, adding that 22 of the 23 bodies recovered have been identified. Two women remained missing, Klymenko said. Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire on the frontline near Avdiivka, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Friday, April 28, 2023. (Libkos/AP) Russian forces launched more drones at Ukraine overnight. Ukraines Air Force Command said two Iranian-made self-exploding Shahed drones were intercepted, and a reconnaissance drone was shot down on Saturday morning. Story continues Razvozhayev said the oil depot fire did not cause any casualties and would not hinder fuel supplies in Sevastopol. The city has been subject to regular attack attempts with drones, especially in recent weeks. Earlier this week, Razvozhayev reported that the Russian military destroyed a Ukrainian sea drone that attempted to attack the harbor and another one blew up, shattering windows in several apartment buildings, but not inflicting any other damage. Ukraines military intelligence spokesperson, Andriy Yusov, told the RBC Ukraine news site on Saturday that the oil depot fire was Gods punishment for the murdered civilians in Uman, including five children. He said that more than 10 tanks containing oil products for Russias Black Sea Fleet were destroyed in Sevastopol, but stopped short of acknowledging Ukraines responsibility for a drone attack. The difference between the number of tanks Yusov and Razvozhayev gave could not be immediately reconciled. After previous attacks on Crimea, Kyiv also wouldnt openly claim responsibility, but emphasized that the country had the right to strike any target in response to Russian aggression. Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces shelled the city of Nova Kakhovka, according to Moscow-installed authorities in the Russian-occupied part of southern Ukraines Kherson province. Severe artillery fire cut off power in the city, the officials said. The Ukrainian-controlled part of the province also came under fire on Saturday. Russian shelling in the area of the village of Bilozerka killed one person and wounded another, according to the Kherson prosecutors office. Editors Note: This is issue 85 of Ukrainian State-Owned Enterprises Weekly, covering events from April 22-28, 2023. The Kyiv Independent is reposting it with permission. Ukrainian SOE Weekly is an independent weekly digest based on a compilation of the most important news related to state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and state-owned banks in Ukraine. This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union within the project Supporting Ukraine in rebuilding and recovery implemented by the KSE Institute. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of the editorial team of the Ukrainian SOE Weekly and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. Corporate governance of SOEs The Cabinet sets a dividend pay-out ratio for SOEs for 2022. On April 18, the Cabinet of Ministers established how much SOEs must pay in dividends for 2022. Most SOEs must contribute 50% of their profits as dividends if 30% of the profit is used to restore the damaged assets and counter Russian aggression. The resolution does not differentiate among most of the top SOEs, setting the dividend pay-out ratio at 50% for most of them. Based on the official data and preliminary data from the media, most of the top SOEs will likely be loss-making in 2022, with losses as follows (most figures below are likely unaudited): Ukrposhta Hr 1.3 billion, or $ 35.5 million (audited); Ukrzaliznytsia Hr 10.8 billion ($295 million); Energoatom Hr 3.3 billion ($90 million); Ukrainian Sea Port Authority (USPA) Hr 0.5 billion ($13.7 million); We have not found any data for Borsypil International Airport, but it will most likely be loss-making as well, because it has not operated since February 2022. According to the media, two top SOEs should post profits (likely, unaudited): Ukrhydroenergo Hr 11.8 billion ($323 million); Ukrenergo Hr 2.7 billion ($74 million). Most of these SOEs have suffered severe losses due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Story continues Based on the above predictions, the aggregate result across the top SOEs is likely to be modest at best, with a negligible contribution from SOE dividends to the state budget. See also the next item on fiscal risks from SOEs, below. The Cabinet also set individual dividend pay-out rates for the following SOEs: PrivatBank 80%. As we reported in Issue 73, PrivatBank made a net profit of Hr 30.25 billion ($827 million) in 2022. This suggests that the bank will pay Hr 24.2 billion ($662 million) in dividends. Note that it is not the first time that PrivatBank pays the highest dividends among Ukrainian SOEs. In particular, in 2020, Naftogaz predicted Hr 11 billion ($300 million) in profits, but posted Hr 19 billion ($520 million) in losses instead. The large shortage in SOE dividend revenues that occurred due to Naftogazs losses at that time is likely to have been covered by increasing the dividend pay-out ratio for PrivatBank, from the originally planned 50% to 80% that year. See Issue 24 for details. Oschadbank must allocate 30% of its net profit for 2022 for dividends. As we reported in SOE Weeklys Issue 73, Oschadbank earned Hr 690 million ($19 million) in net profit in 2022. Naftogaz must allocate 30%, and the rest of the profit must be used to purchase natural gas produced in Ukraine. In Issue 77, we reported that Naftogaz expects to post a loss of Hr 40 billion ($1 billion) in 2022, according to preliminary results. If Naftogaz gets losses, it will not pay any dividends. Ukrhydroenergo must pay 30% (subject to the allocation of 50% of the profits for the restoration of damaged assets). Ukrainian Financial Housing Corporation 30% (subject to allocation of 50% of the profits for affordable mortgage lending). Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company 30% (subject to 50% for fleet renewal). Ukragroleasing 80%. Ukrbud 95%. The Cabinet replaces two state representatives on Ukrposhtas newly approved supervisory board. On April 25, the Cabinet of Ministers published its decision to approve the new supervisory board of Ukrposhta. The independent board members are Rinat Abdrasilov, Jakub Karnowski, Gary John Carroll, Olena Malynska, and Ihor Mityukov. For more details on them, see our Issue 80. The state representatives are Kostiantyn Hura and Serhii Derkach. Note that these are different from the two state representatives that the Cabinet had named in its release when announcing the new Ukrposhta board on March 23. That release announced Natalia Bernatska and Kristina Prasolova as the newly approved state representatives. For more detail on these prior candidates, see SOE Weeklys Issue 80. However, as we wrote in Issue 80, the Cabinets decision that the above release referred to was not publicly available at that time. Nor was it available a week later (see SOE Weeklys Issue 81). The Cabinet did not publicly explain why the state representatives got replaced. Kostiantyn Hura has served as the head of the State Agency for Infrastructure Projects of Ukraine since June 2022. Before that, he was the acting head of the State Agency on Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving of Ukraine. Serhii Derkach has served as Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development since February 2023. Before that, he held senior positions at the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC), including as the Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of the Department for the Prevention and Detection of Corruption. The Cabinet approves Oschadbanks new supervisory board. According to Oschadbank, the new independent members of the supervisory board, approved on April 21, are: Micha Krupinski served as undersecretary of state in the Polish State Treasury, alternate executive director of the World Bank Group, head of Global Banking and Markets for Central and Eastern Europe at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, CEO of the insurance company PZU Group, and the CEO the Polish Bank Pekao; Elizabeth Nelson worked as a Vice President at the EBRD since 2012, including Vice President of Risk and Compliance and Chief Risk Officer from late 2016 until the end of 2019. Before that, she was Head of Credit in the Risk Specialist Division of the Financial Services Authority (FSA, now PRA) in the UK. Prior to that, she had a 30-year career at JPMorgan Chase; Philip Heasley worked as the president and CEO of ACI Worldwide from 2005 to 2020, and currently serves on the boards of directors of Jopari Solutions Inc. and PayPower; and Volodymyr Lavrenchuk former CEO of Raiffeisen Bank (2006-2019), regional director of NEQSOL Holding Ukraine. The four new members will replace Baiba Apine, Michael Weinstein, Peter Briggs, and Janne Harjunpaa. Juan Enrique Perez Calot and Anton Piatygin served as independent members on the previous board, and will continue in that role, Oschadbank reported. By law, the supervisory board of Oschadbank, as the board of any bank that is 100% owned by the state, must include six independent members and three state representatives. No information on the reappointment of the state representatives on Oschadbanks board was available at the time of this writing. According to Oschadbanks website, Julia Pashko, Roza Tapanova, and Alexander Rodnyansky continue to serve on the board. In SOE Weekly (Issue 80), we reported that, according to Ekonomichna Pravda (EP), Ukraine must finish forming supervisory boards at state-owned banks to comply with the new IMF programme. Previously, the government appointed new boards at PrivatBank (see SOE Weeklys Issue 69 for detail) and Ukrgasbank (see our Issues 73 and 75 for detail). The competitive selections for PrivatBank, Oschadbank, and Ukreximbank started simultaneously on Oct. 11, with application deadlines of Nov. 11. The government has not given any public updates on the selection for Ukreximbank. According to Ukreximbanks board chair, Olyana Gordiyenko, the selection process of the banks supervisory board is at the stage of interviews with candidates. We are not aware of the reasons for the delay. Ukraines grain overload sours countrys relationship with key allies Negotiations over a European import ban on Ukrainian grain between the European Commission and its eastern flank members were stalled as of April 23. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria asked to extend protection measures after the EUs one-year decision to abolish customs duties, whil Kyiv IndependentAlexander Query Fiscal risks from SOEs The Ministry of Finance warns the Cabinet of fiscal risks, many relating to SOEs. The 2023 state budget failed to include the hundreds of billions of hryvnias in compensation for gas and electricity tariffs, potential losses of state-owned banks, and payments of state-guaranteed debts, Ekonomichna Pravda (EP) found out from the letter of Denys Uliutin, first deputy minister of finance, to the Cabinet of Ministers. These risks include: SFGCs loan to the Export-Import Bank of China. In Issue 68, we reported that on Dec. 17, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the state guarantee to repay the State Food and Grain Corporations (SFGC) $1.5 billion loan from the Export-Import Bank of China. Per the Cabinets Resolution, the state will ensure the repayment of the loans and interest, albeit with deferrals and capitalization of accrued interest. According to EP, it involves deferring interest payments for three years. At the same time, the SFGC continues to suffer losses, so it is most likely that even after the end of the grace period, the state will have to fulfil its obligations as a guarantor and pay the Chinese debt from the state budget. Even if the company achieves its planned results for 2023, it will suffer losses of $197.4 million, the EP wrote. At the same time, there is no [approved] financial plan for the SFGC for 2023 and no action plan to break even, the Ministry of Finance said. In SOE Weekly (Issue 63), we reported that the Ministry of Finance transferred Hr 2.5 billion ($68 million) to the Export-Import Bank of China instead of the SFGC in January 2022. According to the ministry, the SFGC repays a loan instalment every six months. As of Jan. 21, 2022, the company paid just $8.8 million of the $96.4 million it was supposed to. Due to the state guarantee, the Ministry of Finance had to pay the rest. In Issue 62, we reported that the SFGC offered to restructure its outstanding $900 million debt to the Export-Import Bank of China, according to an October 2021 presentation. In Issue 61, we reported that lawmaker Maryan Zablotskyy (Servant of the People faction) wrote on his Facebook page in January 2022 that the SFGC might go bankrupt soon. According to Zablotskyy, the SFGC was unlikely to repay its next $95 million loan tranche on its own. Later, the EP published an article, explaining how the SFGCs debts accrued and claiming that on Jan. 21, the SFGC would default on its debt. According to the EPs sources, the Presidents Office supported a default scenario, which would automatically invoke a state guarantee. Risks related to privatization. The Finance Ministry warns that there is a risk that privatization would result in a shortfall of about Hr 5.1 billion ($139 million). Planned revenues from privatization in the 2023 state budget are Hr 6 billion ($164 million). According to the State Property Fund of Ukraine, privatization revenues were Hr 0.9 billion ($24.6 million) in the first quarter of 2023 (see below). Risks of additional expenditures for the recapitalization of state-owned banks. According to the ministry, there is a high risk that the government will have to make additional expenditures to recapitalize its banks. Due to the war, many loan collaterals have been destroyed, and borrowers solvency has significantly decreased. The National Bank of Ukraine estimates that the share of non-performing loans could increase by 30% of the banking systems total loan portfolio, the EP added. The economic instability provoked by the Russian aggression may also significantly affect the growth of expenditures to support state-owned banks as a result of credit risk, the Ministry of Finance said. Naftogaz needs over Hr 300 billion ($8.2 billion), largely as compensation for special tariffs. According to the EP, the draft financial plan of Naftogaz for 2023 includes Hr 327 billion ($8.9 billion) that the company wants to receive from the state budget. This also implies that Naftogazs financial plan for 2023 is not approved yet. The biggest share of this would be used to compensate the company for the public service obligation to pay the difference between market tariffs and discounted consumer tariffs. In 2022, Naftogaz reportedly had Hr 116.5 billion ($3.1 billion) in costs that were not covered by revenues. The [state] budget for 2023 does not provide for such expenditures, the Ministry of Finance said. The Ministry notes that it has provided comments on Naftogazs draft financial plan, to which the company replied that it did not consider it appropriate to make changes, the EP wrote. In SOE Weekly (Issue 77), we reported that Naftogaz expected to post a loss of Hr 40 billion ($1 billion) in 2022, according to preliminary results. Naftogazs CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov blamed significant receivables that arose due to the states use of Naftogazs working capital to meet the needs of energy consumers. Chernyshov said that the companys underlying receivables had three components: the difference in tariffs (Hr 36 billion, or $984 million), the debt of regional gas suppliers and gas distribution companies (Hr 76 billion, or $2 billion), and public service obligations (PSOs) for 2022-2023 (Hr 158 billion, or $4.3 billion). Energoatom could lose Hr 82.5 billion in 2023. Due to the reduction in electricity production and sales, including the seizure of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) by the Russian occupiers, Energoatom estimates that it will lose Hr 82.5 billion ($2.3 billion) in 2023. As a result, Energoatom would reduce the payment of taxes and fees to the budget by Hr 21 billion, or $574 million (apparently, compared to the 2023 plans). In addition, if the current electricity tariffs for households are maintained until the end of the year, the shortage in [Energoatoms] finances would exceed Hr 60 billion ($1.6 billion), the EP added. In SOE Weekly (Issue 71), we reported that due to continuous Russian occupation, losses of the Zaporizhzhia NPP increased by almost 50% from Hr 28 billion ($) in November to Hr 40 billion ($1 billion) in January 2023. EU agrees on Ukrainian grain imports After nearly two weeks of negotiations, five EU countries finally reached a political agreement with the European Commission on Ukrainian grain imports to the EU, the European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis announced on April 28. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk Energy Centrenergo starts exporting electricity. On April 26, Centrenergo exported electricity for the first time in its history, according to the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU), which holds a 78.3% stake in this company. The SPFU believes that exports would enable Centrenergo to reduce its dependence on the situation on the domestic electricity market and gain access to European Union markets. Ukraine has recently resumed electricity exports due to a surplus in the system. Slovakia, Poland, and Moldova are the major buyers of Ukrainian electricity. At the end of 2022, Centrenergo suffered a loss of Hr 7.24 billion ($198 million), which exceeded the 2021 losses more than sevenfold. Ukrenergo to be inspected due to suspension of electricity exports to Slovakia: losses reach up to Hr 20 million per day. On April 26, the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC) decided to conduct an unscheduled inspection of Ukrenergo due to the suspension of electricity exports to Slovakia. The NEURC called the stoppage an emergency, as revenues from electricity exports are critical to restore the damaged infrastructure. Due to the suspension of exports to Slovakia, Ukraine loses about Hr 20 million ($547 million) per day, the NEURC chair Kostiantyn Ushchapovskyi said during the Commissions meeting. The NEURC asked Ukrenergo to provide an action plan to launch auctions for access to interstate crossings between Ukraine and Slovakia. The company did not provide information in response to the regulators request, the NEURC said. Since April 21, Ukrenergo has not offered capacity for electricity exports to Slovakia, which previously amounted to 200 MW per hour and was always fully purchased by traders. Cross-border transmission capacity is regulated by the law of Ukraine On the Electricity Market (in particular, Article 43), and the Procedure for Allocation of Cross-Border Transmission Capacity approved by the NEURC resolution No. 763 dated April 3, 2020. According to European rules, when two countries trade electricity, their grid operators split the distribution profits. When Ukraines power system joined ENTSO-E in March 2022, it pledged to synchronize its auction rules with European ones, but a one-year postponement was granted. Now, European operators are demanding profit sharing, the EP wrote. Ukrenergo holds auctions half an hour earlier than the operators of neighboring countries, including Slovakia. The Slovak transmission system operator did not agree to this, the NEURC reported. On April 19, the operator refused to provide access to its interstate crossing with Ukraine until this issue is resolved. On April 21, Ukrenergo responded that uninterrupted electricity exports to European countries are currently hampered by the lack of a procedure for holding joint auctions for access to cross-border crossings, and it is the NEURCs responsibility to approve such a procedure. Ukrenergo has been asking the regulator to do that for several years now, claiming that the company has provided all necessary data and documents for this purpose. Although the NEURC has not yet adopted the procedure, Ukrenergo continues to work with partners to ensure that electricity exports can proceed within the regulatory framework currently established by the NEURC, Ukrenergo added. The company stated that electricity exports to Poland and Moldova continue and that it is working to restore exports to other countries. This Week in Ukraine Ep. 5 Everything we know about Ukrainian attacks inside Russia This Week in Ukraine is a video podcast hosted by Kyiv Independents reporter Anastasiia Lapatina. Every week, Anastasiia sits down with her newsroom colleagues to discuss Ukraines most pressing issues. Episode #5 is dedicated to Ukrainian attacks deep behind enemy lines on Russian soil, and i Kyiv IndependentAnastasiia Lapatina Infrastructure Ukrposhta loses over Hr 1.3 billion in 2022. On April 27, Ukrposhta reported its financial results for 2022. According to its release, Ukrposhta ended 2022 with a loss of Hr 1.258 billion ($34 million). Of this amount, Hr 0.217 billion ($5.9 million) was due to losses from assets lost in the temporarily occupied territories of Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts, and Hr 0.402 million ($11 million) was lost due to foreign exchange fluctuations. The company ended 2022 with a net revenue of Hr 10.3 billion ($282 million) from sales of goods and services, down 7.7% from 2021. The data was confirmed by an international auditor, Ukrposhta stated. The volume of domestic and export parcels in 2022 remained at the level of 2021. Revenues from trade increased by 41.9% compared to 2021. Due to the full-scale Russian invasion, the volume of written correspondence in 2022 decreased by 53.4% year-on-year with a gradual recovery by the end of 2022. Therefore, revenues in this area decreased by 18.3% compared to 2021. Also, due to the dissolution of many printed media outlets, as well as population migration, revenues from the distribution of periodicals decreased by 22.4%, the company reported. According to its release, thanks to the profits of previous years and measures to preserve cash, Ukrposhta maintained a strong liquidity position in 2022, which allowed it to maintain operations without a cash deficit, meet its financial obligations on time, and restart its capital investment programme. In 2022, the company continued to automate its operations, buying and installing 780 point-of-sale terminals in its outlets. By increasing their total number to more than 8,500 units, revenues from acquiring services increased by 194.3% compared to 2021, Ukrposhta said. In total, in 2022, Ukrposhta paid Hr 2.9 billion ($79 million) in taxes, duties, and mandatory payments. Pre-trial investigation in the Pyvovarsky case extends, HACC seizes his property. On April 25, former Infrastructure Minister Andriy Pyvovarsky, who was charged with abuse of power, wrote that the prosecutor of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutors Office (SAPO) informed him that the pre-trial investigation would be extended until May 22. According to Pyvovarsky, he has not yet received an official letter about this. According to a March 3 decision of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine detective, NABU recognized the Ukrainian Sea Port Authority (USPA) as an injured party. It is not yet clear whether the USPA would recognize itself as an injured party. Pyvovarskys lawyers have not yet received a response, the ex-official added. Pyvovarsky also wrote that last week he abruptly found out that his property had been seized by the decision of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC). The court confirmed this. The hearing was held behind closed doors back in February. Pyvovarskys wifes property was also arrested, including assets that she owned before she married him, the former minister alleged. According to Pyvovarsky, the court representative told the lawyers that he has been notified of the above by post. Neither he nor his lawyers received the mail, Pyvovarsky claimed. Moreover, the arrest was made even before the detective himself recognized the state-owned company as the injured party, the ex-official wrote. Pyvovarsky was served with a notice of suspicion by NABU and SAPO for allegedly causing over $30 million in damage in 2015. This damage resulted from an allegedly illegal order issued by him as the minister of infrastructure: The order allowed private companies to charge half the harbor dues at Pivdenny seaport. Pyvovarsky then argued that the charges were unfounded because according to the law On Sea Ports of Ukraine, proceeds from tonnage tax are distributed between the user of the ports harbor (in this case, USPA) and the owner of the operational harbor (in this case, private company TIS). He posted bail of Hr 10 million ($273 million), as ruled by the court. Pyvovarsky has also been handed a request to extend the pre-trial investigation until May 22, with the amended suspicion accusing him of causing $43.6 million in damage. For a detailed overview of the Pyvovarsky case, see SOE Weeklys Issues 76, 77, 79, 80, 82, and 83. Kate Tsurkan: One war, multitudes of pain Editors Note: The opinions expressed in the op-ed section are those of the authors and do not purport to reflect the views of the Kyiv Independent. One of the first things I noticed in Kharkiv, besides the boarded-up windows and shrapnel holes in the sidewalks, were the street signs Kyiv IndependentKate Tsurkan Privatization Sale and purchase agreement for the first seaport in Ukraine signed. On April 21, the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU) announced the signing of a sale and purchase agreement for the Ust-Dunaisk trade port with the winner of the auction, Elixir Ukraine LLC. According to the SPFU, Elixir Ukraine, an official representative of the Serbian company Elixir Zorka, which trades in complex mineral fertilizers, aims to increase transshipment volumes. It also plans to upgrade the ports infrastructure and, in the long term, build a 50,000-tonne grain terminal. In SOE Weekly (Issue 71), we reported that on Jan. 17, the SPFU sold the Ust-Dunaisk trade seaport for Hr 201 million ($5.5 million), a more than threefold increase from the starting price (Hr 60 million, or $1.6 million). This was the first sale of a seaport in the history of independent Ukraine. Kropachov fails to explain why he did not complete the purchase of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi trade seaport. The winner of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi trade port privatization auction, Ukrdoninvest LLC, owned by Ukrainian businessman Vitaliy Kropachov, said that it backed out of the sale at the stage of hashing out the terms of the sale and purchase agreement with the SPFU regional office in Odesa and Mykolaiv oblasts. Ukrdoninvest did not provide any further details. There was no public comment from the SPFU at the time of this writing. The sale price of the port was Hr 264 million, or $7.2 million (including VAT). According to Ukrdoninvest, the company would not demand a refund of the Hr 18.8 million (about $0.5 million) guarantee fee from the state and hopes that these funds would be used to improve the defense capability of Ukraine. It is remarkable that Ukrdoninvest gave up on an amount of as much as $0.5 million without providing any explanation of what went wrong at the negotiation stage. The first privatization auction for Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi trade seaport failed as no one registered, but the second auction was held with a winning bid of Hr 220 million ($6 million) by Ukrdoninvest LLC. However, the winner missed the payment deadline. Later, the SPFU announced that it would put the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi trade seaport up for privatization for the third time. This is not the first botched privatization auction involving Kropachovs Ukrdoninvest. In 2018, the company participated in the privatization auction for Centrenergo, but the SPFU later canceled the auction because the documentation submitted by the bidders did not meet the legal requirements. In 2018, Ekonomichna Pravda (EP) wrote that Kropachov had monopolized the supply of coal to Centrenergo. According to the EP, more than 80% of the coal supplied to Centrenergo was provided by entities directly or indirectly linked to the businessman. For more detail, see SOE Weeklys Issues: 74, 78, 79, and 84. State budget gets Hr 902 million from privatization in the first quarter of 2023. On April 26, the SPFU reported that in the first quarter of 2023, the state budget earned Hr 902 million ($25 million) from the privatization of assets in logistics, trade, warehousing, distilleries, and other assets. On April 27, lawmaker Roksolana Pidlasa (Servant of the People faction), chair of the State Budget Committee, wrote on her Facebook page that the state budget received Hr 1.027 billion ($28 million) from the privatization of state property in less than four months. In Issue 68, we reported that from Aug. 19 to the end of 2022, Prozorro.Sale conducted 220 privatization auctions. As a result, the state and local budgets were expected to receive Hr 1.5 billion ($41 million). Ahead of the talks, Afghan women protest in Kabul against any international recognition of the Taliban government UN chief Antonio Guterres will gather international envoys at a secret location in Doha on Monday in an increasingly desperate bid to find ways to influence Afghanistan's Taliban rulers. Considered the world's biggest humanitarian crisis by the United Nations, Guterres's quandary has been deepened by the Taliban administration's move to stop girls going to school and most women from working, even for UN agencies. The Taliban government, which took back power in August 2021, will be absent from the talks with representatives from about 25 countries and international organisations, according to diplomats. Ahead of the talks, a small group of women staged a protest in Kabul on Saturday to oppose any international recognition of the Taliban government. But the UN and Western powers are adamant this will not be discussed. "Any kind of recognition of the Taliban is completely off the table," said US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel. Apart from confirming that the Taliban leadership is not on the list of participants, the UN has refused to provide any specifics including the location in Qatar's capital or who will join Guterres. The Taliban's deputy minister for refugees Mohammad Arsala Kharoti said on Sunday that "such meetings will not have any results." "As long as they don't establish proper relations with the Emirate (Taliban-ruled Afghanistan) and no representation of the Emirate is present, these meetings won't be successful to a great extent," he told AFP at Kabul airport. In Doha, the UN secretary-general is also to give an update on a review of the world body's critical relief operation in Afghanistan, ordered in April after authorities had stopped Afghan women from working with UN agencies, diplomats said. The UN has said it faces an "appalling choice" over whether to maintain its huge operation in the country of 38 million. Torn apart over the Ukraine war and other global tensions, the UN Security Council powers united on Thursday to condemn the curbs on Afghan women and girls and urge all countries to seek "an urgent reversal" of the policies. Story continues The Afghan foreign ministry rejected the call and said the ban "is an internal social matter of Afghanistan". - UN 'in a trap' - Richard Gowan, UN expert for the International Crisis Group, an independent NGO, said the UN is "in a trap over Afghanistan". "Guterres has to untangle a very complicated knot. He needs to find a way to keep aid flowing into Afghanistan, but the Taliban ban on women is a huge blow to the UN's ability to operate in the country." Gowan said the international community wants the UN to maintain its critical presence. "There are lots of differences among Security Council members over Afghanistan. But everyone, including Russia and China, agrees it is better to have the UN in Kabul than not." The United Nations has given few indications of what proposals could be made at the meeting. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Friday the aim "is to reinvigorate international engagement around common objectives for a durable way forward on Afghanistan". The global body also wants "unity or commonality of message" on women's and human rights, countering terrorism and drug trafficking. "Recognition is not an issue," Dujarric insisted. Whether the Taliban government takes up Afghanistan's UN seat is for the UN General Assembly to decide. But the UN and other groups have been holding increasingly intense discussions on how to engage with the Taliban authorities and possibly offer incentives for change. US Afghanistan envoy Thomas West has been travelling across West Asia in recent weeks meeting different governments and groups. Last year the United States moved $3.5 billion of seized Afghan assets into a Swiss-based fund to pay for relief and imports that are not controlled by the Taliban authorities. Suggestions have been made that the US administration should consider easing sanctions. "Much as we might prefer to see regime change in Afghanistan, for the foreseeable future a reasonably stable and sufficiently capable Taliban government is needed to help facilitate humanitarian programs, neutralise ISKP (Islamic State), and avert state collapse and civil war," Washington think tank the Middle East Institute said in a report last week. tw-jts/ami The 2025 recruiting board is starting to take shape for the North Carolina Tar Heels as they continue to scout future prospects for the program. Just last week, UNC offered two prospects in the 2025 class bringing the total up to three offers. And among the prospects that landed an offer was five-star shooting guard Darryn Peterson. The Ohio native caught the attention of Hubert Davis and the UNC staff last weekend on the AAU circuit and his play earned an offer from the Tar Heels shortly after. With Peterson back in action this weekend, he had the chance to catch up with reporters and talk the latest on his recruitment. In an interview with Brandon Jenkins of 247Sports, Peterson revealed that the offer from UNC was big for him: North Carolina: I got that offer during Chapter I and that was big. They talked to my dad. It was a great feeling but I have to stay focused. They like to play in the screen and roll game. They also breed one and dones. Peterson went on to also talk about Duke, Michigan and Kentucky in the interview. The recruit is ranked No. 6 nationally, No. 2 shooting guard and the No. 1 player in the state of Ohio per the 247Sports recruiting rankings. He plans on lining up visits soon including one to North Carolina. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire CHICAGO It's a pretty good bet that abortion access, indictments swirling around a top contender and the question of electing or reelecting an octogenarian to the White House will play a factor in the 2024 campaign. But no one was counting on Covid in 2020, and that ended up completely revamping the election cycle. No one anticipated Donald Trump in 2015 either. No one saw the banking crisis in 2008. So, what are we missing this time? We asked a panel of prominent political strategists, elected officials and operatives gathered at the University of Chicago for a campaign journalism conference in recent days to tell us the under-the-radar issue they think will play an outsized role in the 2024 campaign: Former Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), who is now director of the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics: I think if you're looking for the one issue that could potentially cut a lot of different ways, its education. I think education is undervalued. You saw it being a big issue in Virginia, parents participation, but none of these people want people to ban books. So it's going to be what these conservative state legislators are doing with the help of politicians in Washington who amplify those messages. It's not just going to be parental involvement. It's going to be transgender issues. It's going to be the issues of banning books. Tresa Undem, a pollster for progressive causes and whose clients have included Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club and Times Up: Any issue that relates in some way to race or to gender is going to be a big deal, especially as it pertains to border issues or crime. If you look at whats happening at the border, its about race more than security. If you look at white voters and ask how they feel about safety, it almost always has little to do with safety. Its about whether they support Black Lives Matter. David Axelrod, former adviser to Barack Obama: I dont know that this is under the radar, but it is evolving. I think the state of the economy, whether we have or dont have a recession in 2024, I think is a big factor. Story continues The challenge with presidential politics is that, we had no idea when we began in January of 2007 that by the time September of 2008 rolled around, the country would be hurtling into a mortgage crisis, and the economy was going to collapse. There are real concerns because were due for a recession, and if it hits at the wrong time, it can have deleterious effects for the incumbent. Lis Smith, senior adviser to Pete Buttigiegs 2020 presidential campaign: None of us were thinking about a global pandemic at this time [ahead of the 2020 election], so I think its probably something we have no idea about. Marc Elias, a voting rights attorney who also served as Hillary Clinton's campaign lawyer: States not having the resources and the people to administer elections. ... Were seeing all around the country good people driven out of the process of election administration. If you don't have enough people to run elections, you cant open polling locations and you cant mail absentee ballots. So, I worry about the machinery of elections being negatively impacted by a target against election officials and against adequate funding of elections. Republican Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger: World events and geopolitical issues. Tom Bonier, a Democratic political strategist and CEO of TargetSmart: There are certain issues that Republicans will try to make more salient. The playbook that they ran successfully in 2021, especially in Virginia freedom, family and school choice and they thought they could use in 2022 and Dobbs wiped it out. Republicans are taking great pains to bring it back on the radar. Well see how successful they are. Its the repetition of wokeism.... Ukraine could also become more elevated, but Im not sure its likely because theres still a majority in the Republican Party that supports what the president is doing there. So thats one to watch. Benjamin Gibson of the Election Official Legal Defense Network Depending on the results, both sides attack the credibility of the election, and that has long-term really deleterious effects on the country. Brenda Gianiny, a Republican pollster and founding principal of Axis Research I dont think we know yet. I dont think were seeing it. Al Pacino celebrated his 83rd birthday with a choking prank during a dinner party. @realdeeproy/TikTok Al Pacino pretended to choke on dessert while celebrating his 83rd birthday. Actor Deep Roy shared a viral video of Pacino's prank on TikTok Friday. Fans online applauded Pacino's sense of humor and commitment to acting. Al Pacino gave everyone at his birthday party a quick masterclass in acting when he pretended to choke on his dessert in a now-viral TikTok. Actor Deep Roy shared a TikTok Friday of the "The Godfather" star, who turned 83 on April 25. It's unclear if the party was held on the same day. The 20-second video has over 1.8 million views as of Sunday. In the TikTok, Pacino shared a special message with his party attendees after pretending to choke. "Acting, acting is first," Pacino said before thanking them for celebrating with him. The film review app Letterboxd took to Twitter to share the video with its followers, where it has over 5.2 million views as of Sunday. "HE CAN'T PLAY WITH US LIKE THAT," the account jokingly captioned the tweet. Users on TikTok and Twitter used the comment section to express appreciation for Pacino's legendary career and wish the actor a happy birthday. Pacino recently made headlines after teasing that he gave Harrison Ford a career when he turned down the role of Han Solo in "Star Wars." The actor spoke about the missed opportunity on a panel at The 92nd Street Y in New York on April 19. "Well, I turned down 'Star Wars.' When I first came up, I was the new kid on the block... you know what happens when you first become famous. It's like, 'Give it to Al.' They'd give me Queen Elizabeth to play," he said, per Variety. Read the original article on Insider Demi Vollering in the Women's WorldTour lead on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege podium. On the heels of a dominant Classics campaign, SD Worx will head into the upcoming La Vuelta Femenina targeting another big win. Demi Vollering, whose spring triumphs include wins at Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Amstel Gold Race, and Liege-Bastogne-Liege, will lead the way for the Dutch squad over the upcoming week in Spain, with an in-form Marlen Reusser as another card to play. "We have a nice mix of experience and talent at the start. With this group we want to compete for the overall win and hopefully pick up a stage win in between," said sport director Anna van der Breggen. Joining Vollering and Reusser in Spain are Elena Cecchini, Niamh Fisher-Black, Blanka Vas, Femke Markus, and Marie Schreiber. The event will be Schreiber's debut as a member of the team; the 20-year-old from Luxembourg joined the squad this season after emerging as a cyclocross up-and-comer. SD Worx will have multiple objectives for the Vuelta, as outlined by van der Breggen. Read more La Vuelta Femenina contenders - The favourites in the hunt for the overall victory 'I wanted this so badly' - Demi Vollering becomes new queen of Ardennes Classics Marlen Reusser re-signs with SD Worx for another season "In such a multi-day race, it is mainly about who recovers the best," she said. "I hope in the meantime that we can continue our form from the spring. "We have several goals. Marie Schreiber is riding her first race with the team. For her, Blanka Vas and Femke Markus it will be a matter of gaining experience and seeing if they can be a help to Demi Vollering, Marlen Reusser and Elena Cecchini. Those riders carry the pressure and with them we want to get results in the stages. Niamh Fisher-Black can try to have a go at stage wins in their shadow. With Demi Vollering, of course, we are then also aiming for the overall win." That will mean focusing on putting in a solid performance in the opening team time trial and then gearing up for the hard climbs to come, particularly in the latter half of the race. Story continues "The fifth stage is quite tricky with some treacherous mountains," van der Breggen said. "The penultimate stage also has some tricky climbs, but especially the final arrival on the Lagos de Covadonga is incredibly tough, thirteen kilometres at 7.7%." Vollering, who is climbing as well as anyone in the peloton right now, will undoubtedly have the attention of her rivals as the road angles upward in central and northern Spain, but that did not stop her from soaring to multiple victories throughout the Classics campaign. SD Worx's bid for continued success at the Vuelta a Femenina gets underway on Monday in Torrevieja. Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) point out that the leader of the Wagner Private Military Company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, fears counterattacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, particularly in Bakhmut, and is calling on the Kremlin to strengthen defence in eastern Ukraine. Source: ISW report Details: Analysts note that Prigozhin continued his attempts to convince the Kremlin to switch to defence in eastern Ukraine. He has said that a Ukrainian counteroffensive could begin by 15 May, but that the Russian military is in no hurry to prepare to repel the attacks. In addition, Prigozhin threatened to withdraw the group's forces from Bakhmut if the Russian military command did not provide more ammunition to the Wagner mercenaries. The report reads: "Prigozhins threat to withdraw from Bakhmut may also indicate that Prigozhin fears that the Russian positions in Bakhmuts rear are vulnerable to counterattacks." In an interview with a Kremlin-linked so-called military blogger, Prigozhin said that Wagner mercenaries would continue to fight in Bakhmut, but would be forced to "retreat in an organised manner or stay and die" if the situation did not improve right away. Prigozhin also mentioned the Deputy Commander of Russian troops in Ukraine, Sergei Surovikin, who allegedly planned together with him to delay the advance of Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut. "Prigozhins mention of Surovikin is likely an attempt to publicly affiliate with Surovikin as Russian President Vladimir Putins favour is shifting away from Chief of the Russian General Staff Army General Valery Gerasimovs network," the report states. To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways for 29 April: Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin threatened to withdraw Wagner forces from Bakhmut if the Russian military command fails to provide more ammunition to Wagner mercenaries. Prigozhin also continued his efforts to convince the Kremlin to go over to the defensive in eastern Ukraine. Prigozhin offered the position of First Deputy Commander of Wagner forces, possibly sarcastically, to former Russian Deputy Defense Minister for Logistics Colonel General Mikhail Mizintsev who was reportedly dismissed from his position on 27 April. Ukrainian forces attacked an oil storage facility in Sevastopol reportedly with a wave of Mugin-5 UAVs on 29 April. Russian forces conducted limited ground attacks on the Svatove-Kreminna line. Russian forces made limited gains in Bakhmut and continued ground attacks along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces conducted a sea-based missile strike against the command post of the Ukrainian Kherson Group of Forces. Ukrainian officials have so far not confirmed this claim. The Russian MoD continues to pursue measures to expedite the conscription process and increase the difficulty of evading summonses. Russian occupation authorities and border area officials have expanded security measures and filtration efforts likely in anticipation of increased Ukrainian partisan activity in support of a potential Ukrainian counteroffensive. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Wagner Group suffers huge losses There is nowhere for them to get people from anymore. They have really suffered significant losses, Koval said. Read also: New mass grave of Wagner militants found in Novosibirsk, Russian media says I just see that all the fields are scattered with (the bodies of) their Wagnerites (mercenaries), and no one is coming to get them. Nobody wants to fight anymore, he said. Previously, Yevgeny Prigozhin, an infamous warlord and leader of Russias Wagner mercenary company, complained that Wagner would soon disappear, as there are not many Wagner fighters left. Read also: Wagners Prigozhin wants at least 33,000 more convict recruits to his PMC Prigozhin also said it was possible that his Wagner mercenaries might withdraw from Bakhmut. Ukraine still holds the western part of the war-torn Donetsk Oblast front-line town after over nine months of bitter fighting. 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 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 Michelle Obama, honorary member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band? At least she was this week when she joined the Boss on stage during his April 28 concert in Barcelona for a performance of "Glory Days." Obama sang backup vocals and played the tambourine alongside former actress Kate Capshaw, wife of filmmaker Steven Spielberg, and Patti Scialfa, E Street member and wife of Springsteen. The former First Lady and her husband, Barack Obama, were in Spain with Spielberg and Capshaw and spent the day sightseeing ahead of Springsteen's concert at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium on Friday night. Obama, Spielberg, and Springsteen dined at the Amar restaurant in the Palace Hotel the night before the concert and even posed for a photo with staff, Reuters reports. BLACK-ISH - Thats What Friends Are For Season Premiere Bow convinces Dre to attend a fundraising event for When We All Vote in hopes to make some new couple friends (and to do their part in increasing participation in each and every election), but Dre is convinced there will be nothing but dud husbands there to befriend. Their expectations are far exceeded when the special guest for the evening is none other than Michelle Obama. To their surprise, the former first lady accepts an invitation for dinner at their house. But on the evening of the special meal, the rest of the Johnsons want to crash the occasion. The season eight premiere of black-ish airs TUESDAY, JAN. 4 (9:30-10:00 p.m. EST/PST) on ABC. (Richard Cartwright/ABC via Getty Images) MICHELLE OBAMA; ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Bruce Springsteen performs at UBS Arena on April 11, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images) Richard Cartwright/ABC via Getty; Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Michelle Obama; Bruce Springsteen The former U.S. president and the Boss are longtime pals: Springsteen rallied for Obama during his 2008 presidential campaign and performed at his inaugural presidential address in 2009 and again at a private farewell address in 2017. Obama also awarded Springsteen with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. The two recently collaborated on a 2021 podcast, Renegades: Born in the USA, centered on their lives, friendship, music, and enduring love for America. Story continues "It's a little rare; you don't make that many friendships later in life," Springsteen said during a joint appearance with Obama on Graham Norton's eponymous talk show last year. "You bump into somebody that you have some things in common with and he happens to be the president of the United States It all worked out." Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite...stars, and more. Related content: HOUSTON (AP) Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings, Kody Clemens hit a two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Houston Astros 6-1 on Saturday for their fourth straight win. Wheeler (3-1) allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked one in his third straight win. I was throwing a good amount of quality pitches in there off-speed-wise and fastball-wise, Wheeler said. Command was a lot better today also. That was a big help. The right-hander was charged with seven runs in 11 innings over his previous two starts. The velocity and life to his fastball was as good as Ive seen this year, Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. He was pumping strikes and using his secondary pitches the sweeper, slider and curveball. He was really good. Nick Castellanos also connected for Philadelphia, and J.T. Realmuto had a sacrifice fly. Jake Cave had three hits, including an RBI single in the eighth. Castellanos solo drive in the fourth went off the train tracks in left field. Clemens greeted Phil Maton with his second homer in the sixth, a shot to right that drove in Realmuto. Clemens, the son of former Astros pitcher Roger Clemens who was on hand for the homer graduated from Memorial High School in Houston and played college ball at the University of Texas. Hes the same old, same old: Way to swing it, kid. That a boy, Kody Clemens said of his dads reaction. Thats the way he is. Kody Clemens said the home run was probably the top homer so far in his career. Obviously, my hometown, he said. A lot of family and friends here." Jeremy Pena connected for the Astros in the eighth. He also went deep on Friday. Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez had two hits in his return to the lineup after missing the last four games with neck stiffness. Weve faced some pretty good pitchers the last few games, Houston manager Dusty Baker said. Like I always say, they ask me Whats wrong with the offense? Whats wrong with the hitting? But on the other hand, everybody says hitting is the toughest thing to do in baseball. That good pitching beats good hitting. Story continues The Astros dropped to 6-9 at home this season. Houston right-hander Cristian Javier (2-1) yielded three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. Tempers flared in the fifth after Wheeler hit Martin Maldonado. Maldonado started walking toward the mound as he and Wheeler appeared to jaw at each other. I dont know. Im not him, Wheeler said about being surprised with Maldonado's reaction. Whether he thought I did it on purpose or not, its up to him how reacts to it. I think the only reason why we started talking to each other is because I saw his mouth moving and looking me, so I said Whats up? Youre looking at me talking. Thats it. It was squashed after that. Realmuto and Mauricio Dubon, who was on deck, helped push Maldonado to first. The pitch was almost behind Maldy, Baker said. That was the perfect time to do it. Two outs, nobody on base. If he was trying to do it. Only (Wheeler) can answer that question. Maldonado was hit by a pitch from Seranthony Dominguez in the seventh, but he calmly took his base. FAMILY CONNECTION Kody Clemens was acquired by Philadelphia in a trade with Detroit for Matons brother, Nick. TRAINERS ROOM Phillies: OF Cristian Pache was placed on the 10-day injured list with a torn meniscus in his right knee. Pache got hurt on Friday when he slipped going back to second base. Pache will have surgery on Monday. OF Dalton Guthrie was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his spot on the roster. Astros: OF Chas McCormick (lower back tightness) started an injury rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi. UP NEXT LHP Bailey Falter (0-4, 4.50 ERA) starts for the Phillies against Houston RHP Jose Urquidy (1-2, 5.64) in the finale of the three-game series on Sunday night. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Republican primary voters are showing no signs of easing their support for former President Trump as their 2024 GOP presidential candidate. Trumps lead in the presumptive field of GOP presidential candidates has widened in most polling, even as he finds himself embroiled in high-profile legal battles and as the party grapples with a worse-than-expected midterm election. Though the presidential debates and primaries are still months away, pollsters and even some anti-Trump Republicans point to the former presidents recent indictment and his no-holds-barred approach to his presumptive GOP rivals as being among the reasons some in the party are still leaning toward the former president. Donald Trump has conditioned a pretty serious majority of the Republican base to believe that any legal critique of him, any external charge made against him is invalid and a product of the deep state or a conspiracy of some kind to take him away from Republican voters, said Rick Wilson, co-founder of the anti-Trump Lincoln Project. So why did you see Trumps numbers go up after Mar-a-Lago was raided by the FBI? Why did you see his numbers go up after he was indicted in New York? Thats because that base it is an inversion of the prior known political behavior, which is to say, people dont like criminals, he added. And yet, when you accuse Donald Trump of being a criminal, even with all the evidence in the world, their response is, No, hes not. Youre the one whos doing this. Trump made headlines in late March when he became the first president to face criminal charges. The indictment followed a probe by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) that centers on Trumps possible involvement in a hush money payment made during his 2016 campaign to a porn star. Though an indictment would ordinarily be considered politically damning for any presidential candidate, polling suggests it hasnt harmed Trump and it might even have helped him. Story continues Polling released by NPR, PBS NewsHour and Marist this week found that 63 percent of Republicans said they wanted Trump to be president again, even if he was found guilty of a crime. Even high-profile members of the party and the presumptive 2024 GOP field have largely defended Trump, dispelling hopes from his opponents that the indictment would ultimately take him down. Former Vice President Pence described the indictment as an outrage, while Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said it was a travesty. Haley suggested the probe was more about revenge than it is about justice. But some Republicans say Trump is also enjoying a lead in the polls thanks to his pugilistic approach to his primary rivals, particularly presumptive White House contender Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). Louisiana-based pollster John Couvillon, who typically works with Republicans, told The Hill that the fighting back, I found, is what attracts [Trump] to Republican primary voters. While only a handful of Republicans have entered the 2024 race, Trump has taken steps to define the field early on. Much of the former presidents attention has been geared toward DeSantis, who is generally seen as Trumps chief rival, though he hasnt officially entered the race yet. Trump has used nicknames to taunt the Florida governor, such as Ron DeSanctimonious, and taken shots at him using his Truth Social platform and ads. A pro-Trump super PAC notably rolled out an ad earlier this month portraying DeSantis eating pudding with his fingers a nod to a story published by The Daily Beast that reported the Florida governor apparently once ate pudding without utensils. Gunner Ramer, political director of the anti-Trump Republican Accountability PAC, suggested some of the attacks against DeSantis allow him to be labeled as an establishment Republican candidate, which doesnt differentiate him from the other Republicans that voters just have no real interest in at this moment. Trump hasnt shied away from taking jabs at other Republicans, either, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. Trump said Christie has got a big mouth thats all hes got during a speech to a raucous audience in New Hampshire on Thursday before taking jabs at the Granite States governor. He couldve really made an impact. He couldve run for the Senate. He probably wouldve easily won because of the family name, wouldve won. And that would have been a tremendous thing. Instead, he wants to play games with running for president, Trump said about Sununu. Trumps rivals have all taken shots at him to varying degrees, though most of them havent been nearly as aggressive as the former president. During an interview with Fox Newss Piers Morgan last month, DeSantis said of Trumps belittling nickname, I mean, you can call me whatever you want, just as long as you also call me a winner, because thats what weve been able to do in Florida, is put a lot of points on the board and really take this state to the next level. And as the Florida governor criticized Braggs indictment in March, he also remarked he didnt know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair a nod to allegations that Trump had an affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels. But DeSantis has come under growing pressure to hit back even harder against Trump, and some within the GOP worry the former president is getting the best of the governor. Couvillon, the pollster, said Trumps onslaught of attacks is what gives him the edge, because it looks like hes this tough guy, and the other Republican candidates just dont have what it takes. Though members of the party emphasize theres still plenty of time before the first primaries, some appear less than impressed with the Florida governor. At the end of the day, candidates have to perform at a certain level, and DeSantis is not a guy whos ready for the big show. You can tell he doesnt speak well. He doesnt deliver, he doesnt connect with people. And for all my criticisms of Donald Trump, I will never take away from the fact that Donald Trump is a magnificent showman, said Wilson of the Lincoln Project. Gov. DeSantis has not even announced if he will be a candidate for the presidency in 2024, and he is unequivocally a force to be reckoned with. Not only has Governor DeSantis never lost a fight, but hes never lost an election, said Erin Perrine, communications director for the pro-DeSantis super PAC Never Back Down. Its clear that if Trump has to defend his record of blindly following Fauci into nationwide lockdowns, being good buddies with Gavin Newsom, trashing Florida, and having his endorsed 2022 candidates lose Trump will have a hard time. The developments taken together underscore how Trump has retained his iron grip on the presumptive 2024 primary field, even as polling has also shown a substantial percentage of Republican voters not keen on seeing him run for reelection. President Trump is dominating in poll after poll both nationally and statewide crushing the primary and general fields. That is why congressional members, statewide officials, local leaders, and grassroots activists have endorsed the President because they know he is the only one who can win in 2024, said Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung in an email. There is no other candidate in the race who has even come close to putting out a bold, forward-looking policy agenda that President Trump has, he added. Republicans say the others running for the White House, including DeSantis, will have to put the pedal to the metal soon if theyre going to be competitive. Theres still a lot of time left on the clock. Were going to have debates, said Brian Seitchik, a Trump campaign alum. Certainly, team DeSantis is going to have a great deal of resources, both in the hard side the campaign and the soft side the independent expenditure. So they will have the opportunity to make their case, he said. But sort of the initial buzz surrounding him has waned, and the rubbers got to hit the road real soon here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Washington County, Wisconsin, man who pleaded no contest to firing a shotgun at a food delivery person in February 2022, has been sentenced to five years in prison plus an equal amount of extended supervision, according to reports. FOX 6 in Milwaukee reported that John Norman, 33, agreed to a plea deal in January, pleading no contest to first-degree recklessly endangering safety. As part of the deal, Normans charge of felony bail jumping was dismissed. On Feb. 16, 2022, the Washington County Sheriffs Office responded to reports that a DoorDash employee who was delivering pizza was shot at by a customer. TRAIN DERAILS IN WISCONSIN NEAR MISSISSIPPI RIVER, SENDING 2 RAILCARS INTO WATER An investigation found that Norman ordered pizza through DoorDash, and when the driver arrived with the food, a shotgun blast was fired through the door by the suspect. Norman told investigators he ordered the pizza and accidentally fired the shotgun when the 46-year-old female delivery driver from West Bend arrived. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Inside a courtroom with gavel in view. Investigators noticed damage to the front door, specifically a large hole and pieces of the door were scattered outside. WISCONSIN JUDGE DROPS FORMER PAROLE COMMISSION CHAIR'S FELONY CHARGE Deputies ordered Norman to come out with his hands up, and although he refused at first, he ultimately complied. Deputies noted in the criminal complaint, FOX 6 reported, that Normans eyes were "severely bloodshot" and he showed signs of intoxication. When investigators searched the home, they found a 12-gauge shotgun on the floor by the couch, a loaded Glock, shotgun shells and more ammunition. Court documents stated that Norman was out on bond for an incident in 2021, which included second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, explained that without air cover by aircraft, it is impossible to succeed in both offensive and defensive actions. Source: Ihnat on the air of the 24-hour live national television channel Quote from Ihnat: "We will wait for the planes in any case. Without aeroplanes, it will be very difficult for us to defend our country both in wartime and in peacetime... Without air superiority, without air cover from above, it is impossible to achieve good success in both offensive and defensive actions." Details: Ihnat emphasised that Generation 4+ aircraft will become part of Ukraine's Air Defence System. According to the Air Force spokesman, it takes about three months for Ukrainian pilots to learn how to fly modern Western aircraft. Remind: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced that Ukraine cannot delay the recapture of its territories until its partners provide F-16s; the counteroffensive should begin earlier. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Writers Guild of America West offices in Los Angeles, California. Union members are prepared to go on strike as their contract expires on May 1. Mike Blake/Reuters Writers Guild of America members are set to go on strike as their contract expires on May 1. The union is seeking better pay and regulation on the use of AI, among other demands. "It's a very regular-degular, working-class existence," one writer told The New Yorker. A 28-year-old writer for FX's award-winning series "The Bear" said he's looking for jobs at movie theaters as members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) prepare to go on strike Tuesday to demand better pay from studios. Alex O'Keefe, one of seven writers for the comedy starring Jeremy Allen White, told The New Yorker that writing for an acclaimed show has not translated into a glitzy Hollywood lifestyle. "It's a very regular-degular, working-class existence," O' Keefe, who has also worked as a speechwriter for Sen. Elizabeth Warren, told the magazine. O'Keefe did not respond to a request for comment. While writing for the show for nine weeks, O'Keefe lived in a small apartment in Brooklyn without heat, wrote at a public library when the power was out, and was never flown to the set, according to The New Yorker. When the show was nominated for Best Comedy Series at the Writers Guild of America Awards in March, O' Keefe told The New Yorker he attended the ceremony with a negative bank account and dressed in a bowtie purchased with credit. The writers won the Best Comedy Series award that evening, beating "Abbott Elementary" and "Barry." "Unfortunately, I realized not all that glitters is gold," he said. About 98% of eligible WGA members representing thousands of TV and film writers voted to authorize a strike if a deal is not struck with the Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) by their contract's May 1 expiration date. Story continues The members' demands are better compensation and residual rates or pay for reusing a writer's work. Charles Slocum, an assistant executive director for the WGA west coast division, told Deadline part of the problem is streaming services decided to pay residuals at a lower rate than traditional broadcasting outlets. And as streaming services slash costs by removing shows from their libraries, writers are also paid fewer residuals, the Associated Press reported. The WGA union also wants to address "mini rooms," which allow studios to pump out a script with fewer writers before a show is greenlit. There are also concerns about using artificial intelligence to produce material. "Writers are facing the most comprehensive assault on compensation and working conditions that we have seen in a generation," WGA said in a statement to Insider. "In this negotiation, we are fighting for a contract that increases writer pay and makes writing a sustainable career again. When the studios invest millions into producing a certain film or series, they can find it in their budgets to pay us for the value we create." In an emailed statement to Insider, AMPTP spokesperson Scott Rowe said the association is trying to "reach a fair and reasonable agreement." "The AMPTP companies have approached these negotiations with the long-term health and stability of the industry as our priority. We are all partners in charting the future of our business together and we are fully committed to reaching a mutually-beneficial deal," Rowe wrote. O'Keefe told The New Yorker that his compensation does not add up to much after accounting for representative fees and taxes. Agents or representatives who help clients obtain work and negotiate contracts typically take a percentage of a writer's check. Television writers are paid weekly rates, according to WGA's compensation guide. A showrunner told Insider that first-time and newer writers could make around $40,000 to 60,000 for ten weeks of work. O'Keefe said the experience has been disillusioning. "A lot of people assume that, when you're in a TV writers' room, you sit around a table, and you just dream together," O'Keefe told the magazine. "With 'The Bear,' I learned from these masters that, if you are given a shit sandwich, you can dress that up and make it a Michelin-star-level dish. And they were consistently given shit sandwich after shit sandwich." Read the original article on Business Insider Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, said that "the defence of Bankova was very seriously prepared" with weapons and ammunition at various spots in case of an attack by the Russians. Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with journalist Dmytro Komarov in the special project "The Year Behind the Scenes", recorded in the fall of 2022 Quote from Zelenskyy: "If the capital fell, and the leader fled, there is no state." "We wouldn't be here if they [Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups ed.] went inside [Bankova Street, the President's Office ed.]. If you don't let someone in, what happens? I think that no one would take anyone captive. We have prepared a very serious defence of Bankova. We would have been there to the last... We had boxes with weapons and ammunition at various spots in Bankova. "Yes, I have [a gun ed.]. Yes, I know how to [shoot a gun ed.]. I can imagine: the president of Ukraine is a prisoner of the Russians. It's shameful. I think that would be shameful." "We wouldnt [shoot ed.] ourselves Would we shoot back yes." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Each year Downtown Lynchburg increases its residential offerings, creating new hidden gems in both old and new spaces. Some of these spaces were highlighted during this years Downtown Lynchburg Loft Tour Saturday. The tour hasnt been held since 2019 and previously was hosted by the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. The Downtown Lynchburg Association (DLA) hosted Saturdays tour for the first time. This years tour featured more than 15 lofts in the downtown area, showcasing premier urban living in the region, including units at The Krise, The Wayne, Parkview on the Bluff and Allied Arts Building. The tour is self-guided and can be done at any pace as DLA recommends participants take time to shop and dine downtown. The goal is to create a full-day experience downtown, James Ford, marketing director for DLA, said. Proceeds from the event benefit DLA, a 501c3 nonprofit, as well as the Free Clinic of Central Virginia. The Downtown Lynchburg Loft Tour featured special deals and discounts at downtown restaurants and retail shops for ticket holders. Attendees were able to present their Loft Tour ticket at participating businesses to take advantage of these exclusive offers Saturday. This is right up our wheelhouse, Ford said. Our goals throughout the year are to drive foot traffic downtown, draw exposure to downtown and bring revenue into the businesses downtown so this was a perfect opportunity. He said the tour is a unique event to showcase the history and charm of living in downtown Lynchburg. A lot of these places are pretty new, up-to-date and modern. And so theres a pretty vast range of spaces that youre going to see, he said. The tour featured multiple rooftop spaces that only an owner of the loft would have access to, including one at 724 Commerce St. So its totally new vantage points of downtown that no one else really gets to access to unless you own this space, Ford said. Kim Lankford, owner of the Cranky Owl Loft at 724 Commerce St., located above Tresca on 8th, said DLA has done so much to help business owners throughout all of the construction that has taken place on Commerce Street and all parts of downtown and she wanted to do something to help them out. Weve been talking about doing this tour for a while but had never done it and decided this was the year to finally do it, she said. Lankfords 1892 building offered guests complimentary mimosas from her rooftop overlooking the James River. The third floor of her building underwent a complete two-year renovation in 2016. Lankford said he was excited to show it to people. Its so nice to be able to show some people what downtown Lynchburg living can be like, she said. Before the renovations, the 7,000-square-foot space was just an attic with insulation on the floors with no walls. Now its her familys three-bedroom house. We tried to do all kinds of interesting things with local materials like the island in our kitchen is from steel made by Virginia Steel, which is at the bottom of our block and we tried to get things from artists that were in the area and the stained glass is from a craftsman on Main Street, she said. So it was a really neat project and we were really excited when we could finally move here. She describes the loft as having big, open spaces with the side facing Commerce Street, offering exceptionally high ceilings with old wooden beams. We kept everything that was already here and didnt want to box it in too much and wanted to benefit from all the open space, Lankford said. Her office now sits at the very top of the building next to the rooftop patio where she enjoys downtown views. The roof was one of the big things of the renovation too, she said. There wasnt great access to the roof beforehand. There was just a ladder and you had to kind of pull yourself up and so we made a little room up there so we could really enjoy that nice view. Before moving to Lynchburg, Lankford and her family lived in an 1892 row house on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Coincidentally, this building is exactly the same age and we love the hardwood floors, we love all of the historic details and the combination of being able to have old and new, she said. Being located downtown was important to her, especially coming from Capitol Hill, as she wanted to live somewhere walkable. We wanted to be able to walk to a lot of things and my son was in middle school when we moved here and he could walk home from Dunbar and just being in the middle of all the things and seeing everything that happened in downtown Lynchburg during those nine years has been amazing, she said. Lankford said the loft tour is a great opportunity for people from all over the area to find out what its like living downtown. Its just amazing whats been happening over the last 10 years that there are so many different types of buildings going up whether its new buildings or renovations, or houses, loftstheres a little bit of everything. And I think a lot of people have no idea about all of these options and that theres so many people that live downtown that have moved here over the last 10 years or so, she said. Rick Loving, who attended the tour Saturday, actually had his own condo listed on the tour in 2017. So weve always been involved with it and to me, its kind of a fun day, he said. You really get a chance you walk by these buildings and you hear things about them and it really is a chance to get out there and see what its like. Its the diversity and creativity involved with the tour that Loving said he enjoys most. Every condo, apartment or loft is different and unique and you really get a chance to see how people can really kind of express their self, he said. He appreciates that the tour supports two organizations and their activities and missions but also that the loft tour offers a different flavor of Lynchburg living versus other homes in the rest of the city. There may be a loft with 1,000-square-feet for a one bedroom or a studio and you get to see how people are able to convert that into just a very active living space, he said. I think thats the interesting point, it just has a much broader range of styles and creativity. Everything about this just reflects the individual. Every one of those buildings has a different personality, he said. He added that he looks forward to the loft tour each year because its an opportunity to get out downtown especially for people who dont live there. You may come downtown, go to your favorite restaurant or maybe go to the city market but this really gives you a chance to spend a couple hours and walk down the street, Loving said. I think folks sometimes will be surprised with whats down here. You may see a shop you didnt know existed. You just get a chance to experience more of what downtown is like versus maybe showing up and going to a specific activity or event. On Friday, high school students from Campbell, Amherst, Bedford, and Appomattox counties competed in the Central Virginia Welding Wars hosted by CVCC. The event was free to compete in with ranging skill levels. Principal of Campbell County Technical Center, Jon Hardie, speaks about the high school portion of the event saying employers have the opportunity to see high school students competing and performing. Winners of the competition are given interview opportunities with local businesses. After Gov. Glenn Youngkins initial push for school choice failed, he turned to lab schools, which are K-12 schools partnered with higher education institutions but the initiative could be hitting a bump in the road. Virginia state code prevents giving lab school grant funding to private institutes of higher learning, or two-year colleges, according to several Democratic lawmakers who wrote that part of the law. But the Youngkin administration disagrees. The Virginia Department of Education awarded planning grants to several private Virginia colleges, which are not eligible under state code, according to the plain letter of the law. Those include the University of Lynchburg, Emory & Henry College, Roanoke College and Virginia Union University. Lab schools are similar to charter schools in that they do not charge tuition, are nonreligious and are open to the public. They set their own curricula and budgets, and are associated with their corresponding institution of higher education. The Virginia Education Association sent a letter to the Virginia State Auditor this month alleging that the administration violated budget code by misappropriating lab school funding. We respectfully request that you investigate what we believe is an unauthorized and illegal handling and expenditure of state funds, and take immediate action as required by (state code), reads the letter signed by VEA President James Fedderman. Auditor of Public Accounts Staci Henshaw, who heads the agency, replied by saying she would review the information and respond after discussing it with the higher education team at the agency. Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said in a statement to the Richmond Times-Dispatch this week: The Board of Education was aware of the disagreement between the two houses at their board meeting when they adopted guidelines for the grant process on August 17th, 2022, as it was extensively discussed. Planning grants have been awarded to institutions who demonstrate strong partnerships with school divisions, private partners, and nonprofit organizations. The expansion of eligibility to all higher education institutions was made to ensure that every Virginia student had access to innovative and high-quality education that prepares them for success in life. The Virginia Board of Education at its September meeting voted to approve guidelines that say certain private and two-year colleges are eligible for planning grant funding. Guidera in August recommended that board members vote in favor of the guidelines and said every expert recommends moving forward. But a letter written by staff attorneys at the Division of Legislative Services, at the request of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, said the budget only allows the funding to go to a public higher education center, institute, or authority. Guidera cited a letter that House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, wrote to Youngkin in August, meant to clarify legislative intent regarding the eligible institutions for the College Partnership Laboratory School Fund. At a Sept. 14 Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee meeting, several Democratic legislators took issue with offering grant funding to private institutions, citing the section of the budget code that they said prevents that. Then-Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, now a member of Congress, said at the meeting: We dont have legislative intent in Virginia. We have a clear body of law for statutory construction that says you follow the unambiguous letter of the law ... It doesnt matter what the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, or with all due respect, the chair of the Finance Committee intended. What matters is the language that was put in the budget. In his letter to the state auditor this month, Fedderman said, Given the clear budget language, lack of bipartisan intent, and the requirement for budget funding to be appropriated according to statutory requirements, we ask you to take immediate action to stop the misappropriation of these funds to two-year and private institutions. According to state law, if the Auditor of Public Accounts discovers any illegal expenditure of state funds, she reports the facts to the governor, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and the Comptroller. At an October 2021 rally in Prince William County shortly before the gubernatorial election, Youngkin pledged to launch the most aggressive school choice program in the history of Virginia. Before his inauguration, Youngkin announced a plan to launch up to 20 charter schools in his first year in office. The plan did not come to fruition last year when the Senate rejected administration-backed legislation to clear a path for more charter schools in the commonwealth. During this years legislative session, an administration-backed school choice bill would have allocated a portion of per-pupil state funding to a savings account for parents to spend on private school tuition or other specified education expenses. It ultimately died when it failed to cross to the Senate. Lab schools have been the only significant school choice initiative to move forward during Youngkins governance. The governor won a partial victory for his signature lab school proposal last year when Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears broke a tie vote in the Senate to rescue his amendment to triple the number of higher education institutions that can partner with local school divisions. But the Senate then voted to block his proposal to use state per-pupil funds to pay for them. Last month, Youngkins office announced it awarded 13 planning grants to Virginia colleges to help launch their lab schools, including Richmonds Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Union, which each received the full allotment of $200,000. Others included those that some lawmakers claim should not be eligible under state code: Emory & Henry College for a school to prepare health care workers; and the University of Lynchburg for an elementary school focusing on reading. More grant funding is available, and the state education department is still reviewing more applications. Anna Bryson (804) 649-6922 abryson@timesdispatch.com @AnnaBryson18 on Twitter President Joe Biden and South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol stand together during a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House, April 26, in Washington. AP-Yonhap North Korea will step up its "military deterrence" against South Korea and the United States, state media said Sunday, blasting this week's summit agreement between the two sides on strengthening the U.S. extended deterrence as a "product of heinous hostile policy" against Pyongyang. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) ran a commentary criticizing President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S. this week as "the most hostile, aggressive and provocative trip and a dangerous one for a nuclear war." In Washington, Yoon held a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and announced the adoption of the Washington Declaration, under which the U.S. will share information on nuclear and strategic operations and planning and regularly deploy strategic assets to South Korea. "The 'Washington Declaration' on raising the practicality of the 'extended deterrence' provided by the U.S. is a typical product of the heinous hostile policy towards the DPRK," the KCNA said in an English-language commentary. DPRK refers to North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Top Reasons of using Guest Posting as best SEO techniques in 2023 New Delhi, Sun, 30 Apr 2023 NI Wire Companies are using various SEO techniques for improving the search engine ranking of their websites. SEO techniques are very dynamic and evolving very fast, during the last decade we have seen many changes in the way search optimization is being performed. We are going to explore the top reasons for using Guest Posting for optimising the websites for better ranking and more traffic. SEO or search engine optimization is part of IT Services that enables the webmaster in optimising their websites for the visitors and the search engines. 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Search Engines consider Guest Posting a legitimate technique of search engine optimization. Driving more traffic to your website is another major reason for using Guest Blogging or Guest Posting for off-page optimization. Interested readers after reading your guest posts might visit your website to get more information about the services you are offering. Increasing targeted traffic will help you in increase your sales and make more money. Increase your presence in Social media You can post the links of your Guest Posts in the social media sites, which in turn increase your back-links profile and strength. You will be able to publicise your company information on the various social networking websites to enhance your online presence. Summary In a nutshell, Guest Posts are essential techniques of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in 2023, which are used to increase backlinks in a legitimate way. Companies should take the help from the Premium Guest Posting Services and Guest Blogging Services from a company for posting your Guest articles fast. Professional Guest Posting company will work on your behalf and increase you backlinks through guest posts. Iowa city and county governments were forced to scramble to redo their annual budgets earlier this year after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 181 into law, which fixed an error in a 2021 property tax law. Local governments used incorrect information provided by the Iowa Department of Revenue when making their budgets for the upcoming year. Cities will see $39 million less in annual revenues and school districts $21.4 million less than shown in the erroneous property tax revenue estimates, which the new law corrects. Basically, we thought we had all this extra money we were working from, said Pottawattamie County Finance and Budget Director Mitch Kay. And then all of a sudden they say, Oh, we told you the wrong amount. So everybody that was working on budgets every city, county, township, fire department, everybody had to redo based on the wrong figure that they gave us. Basically everything we did, like, November through January, we had to start over. Additionally, both chambers of the state legislature introduced dueling bills that would curb rising property taxes, which would also reduce the amount of revenue municipalities are able to collect. The Iowa House bill would cap property tax increases on Iowans homes and farms at 3% per parcel, per year, and put an 8% cap per parcel on increases for commercial and industrial properties, while the Senate version would consolidate several property tax levies, and set a maximum tax levy for cities and counties. Then the bill would cap the growth at different rates depending on whether the government is taxing at the maximum. I think between all the cities and municipalities, were really curious to see what this tax bill does up in the state, Kay said. We had a really tight year this year, which really kept us from giving as big raises as we wanted to, and if theyre going to cap our growth its just going to make next year even more challenging. Kay expects the legislature to pass some version of the property tax cap legislation on Monday. The current legislative session will end this week. In the meantime, Pottawattamie County supervisors voted on April 18 to approve the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Most of the levy rates remained the same as the previous year, though the general supplemental levy which covers county employee benefits and insurance increases went up 10 cents. The overall property tax levy for county residents who live in a town or city is $7.56484 per $1,000 of valuation, up from $7.45997 last year. The countys rural services levy remained the same, at $3.36948, so residents who live outside corporate limits have a total levy of $10.93432, which is up from $10.82945. This means that if you live in a city or town in Pottawattamie County, and your house is valued at $100,000, your property tax would be about $756; if you live in a rural community, your property tax on a house valued at $100,000 would be about $1,093. The county budget includes revenues of $102,653,390 against expenditures of $116,662,753. The biggest increases in the budget are about $1.8 million more for public safety, $2 million more for education and environment, and $1.5 million more for roads. Kay was happy to report that most of the countys building projects will be completed this year, with the exception of the new Public Health building, lowering the countys capital projects expenditure by $2.5 million. A lot of our capital projects will be especially buildings and stuff like that will be wrapping up, he said. The sheriffs stations almost done. (The Courthouse) entrance is nearly done, and thatll be the last project as far as administrative buildings and things like that. The City of Council Bluffs approved its budget at its March 13 meeting, raising residents property tax levy to $18.26000, up slightly from last years $17.82559. For a house valued at $100,000, property tax in Council Bluffs would be $1,826. Highlights of the citys budget include: Gaming revenue increased by $200,000. Hotel/motel revenue increased by $200,000. Expenditures for capital improvement projects increased 71%, primarily due to $22.3 million in levee projects. Total revenue is estimated to be $219,931,519 for FY24, compared to $176,253,364 in FY23, and expenditures of $231,084,032, compared to $187,905,252 last year. Council Bluffs public safety agencies saw the largest increase in expenditures compared to last year. The police department budget went up about $1.3 million, while the fire department saw an increase of $500,000. The Council Bluffs Community School District will see its overall budget shrink from the 2022-23 level of $41,541,715 to $40,815,149 for 2023-24, a decrease of $726,566, according to a table displayed by Chief Financial Officer Dean Wilson during a public hearing on the budget on April 11. The school districts levy rate will decline from $16.25381 per $1,000 of taxable valuation to $16.15808 the lowest its been in more than 10 years, a chart showed. Residents of Lewis Central Community School District will see a small increase in their school levy in the next fiscal year under its new budget. The levy will increase by 5 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation from $10.24 to $10.29 per $1,000 taxable valuation for the period that begins on July 1, 2023. A good job is a safe job Friday, April 28, is Workers Memorial Day, a day when working families, union members and labor leaders come together to remember each worker killed, injured and sickened from their jobs and to organize for an end to the unnecessary deaths of our brothers and sisters. Each year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more suffer injury or illness because of their jobs. Far too many workers die from preventable safety hazards. Being safe at work is a fundamental rightand under the law, employers must provide workplaces free from hazards. Employers must be held accountable when they dont. A good job is a safe job. Unions are fighting for good and safe jobs for everyone. Winning strong standards raises the standard of practice on the shop floor. Educating working people on their rights keeps our most vulnerable from being silenced. Workers and their unions are standing up, speaking out, fighting back and organizing. We wont stop until the Occupational Safety and Health Administration protects all workers until we have stronger standards to protect against harmful exposures and dangerous conditions, improved anti-retaliation protections and so much more. Because enough is enough. 50 Iowans died at work last year or from an injury or illness sustained on the job. The Western Iowa Labor Federation hosted a small ceremony in Bayliss Park this Friday at 6 p.m. to commemorate their lives. The public was invited to join. Your presence is a comfort to their families and a tribute to our community. Jennifer Pellant Council Bluffs Speak out against gun bill Im holding a photo of my only grandchild a happy little boy in a moment of unalloyed joy. You must have a similar photo. Please look at it. Last week, all but two Iowa House Republicans (both from eastern Iowa) turned themselves into trick ponies for an A rating from the NRA at the peril of children like ours. Not satisfied with Iowas status of being only one of four states to insert language in its Constitution which goes beyond the Second Amendment protections of the U.S. Constitution, House members voted to allow guns on school grounds in locked vehicles. Schools may also authorize a person to carry a firearm in a school vehicle. Which person? On what basis do schools authorize this? Is there no limit to the accommodations GOP legislators will make to satisfy their handler, Kim Reynolds, and their NRA overlords? What to do? If theres still time, call your state senator (515-281-3371), although GOP legislators have been steamrolling bills through the chambers without allowing questions, debate or amendments. Or, call Governor Reynolds office at 515-281-5211 and ask that she veto the bill. If its too late, remember this for 2024. Scout out candidates who have spines. Work for them, contribute to their campaigns, pay attention. Vote! Help others vote! Help save Iowas children from knowing the terror of AR-15s in the hands of shooters who think they are the victims. Karen Heidman Sioux City Dozens of soldiers were killed and scores of others wounded in an assault on Thursday April 27 on a military base in eastern Burkina Faso in the latest outburst of violence in the West African country. The attack targeted the military detachment in Ougarou in Burkina Fasos Est administrative region, the military-led government said, leaving 33 soldiers dead and 12 injured. The besieged soldiers killed at least 40 terrorists before reinforcements arrived, the army also said in a statement. This latest violence comes as the armed forces were accused of indiscriminately killing civilians during anti-insurgency missions. In a tacit reference to these accusations, the government on the same day expressed particular concern over reports of killings, in circumstances that remain to be clarified. Burkina Faso is one of several West African nations battling a violent Islamist insurgency that has spread from neighboring Mali over the past decade. Burkinabe armed forces, who have been fighting rebels since 2015, have little to no control over vast areas of the countrys territory. More than 10,000 civilians and members of the security forces have died, according to estimates, while at least two million people have fled their homes. Frustrations over the authorities failure to protect civilians spurred two coups last year, the second of which catapulted to power the current leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, in September. This week LB 626 (The Heartbeat Act) fell short by one vote on its second round of debate. This would limit abortions in Nebraska to about six weeks, or after a human heartbeat is detected. I was very disappointed to see this happen. I read the governors press release on this subject and I agree with him 100%. In other news, a number of Nebraskans have suffered losses from the recent wild fires. I would like to call to citizens attention Chapter 77, Section 1307 of the Nebraska revised statutes. This law was passed by Senator Erdman in 2019. The law says if you suffered the loss of property because of a natural disaster (like a fire started by lightning) and at least 20% of a given parcel of land is destroyed by the disaster, then the property taxes for that parcel will be valued as waste-land. The intent of this law was to provide property tax relief to people whose land was rendered unusable by a natural disaster. A lot of grazing pasture and hay ground was lost because of the fires. If you cannot use the ground for production ranching or farming, then it should not be taxed at the full value. I have received a number of calls from citizens who have tried to use this law. Some have told me their county assessor or county attorney has told them they do not read the law this way and will not reduce their property taxes. I encourage citizens to get these elected officials to put their refusal to enforce this law in writing. I will then be happy to point out to our attorney general this willful refusal to follow Nebraska law. People who make a living from the land should not pay the full rate of property taxes on land that has been rendered unusable by a natural disaster. Please contact my office with any comments, questions or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room No. 1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at 402-471-2628. Last year, the nickel markets came into the limelight courtesy of the historic nickel short squeeze that sent nickel prices soaring to an astonishing $100,000 per tonne. The massive surge doubled the previous all-time high over the course of one morning and plunged the London Metal Exchange into an existential crisis. And, just like the famous copper squeeze of more than a century ago, the nickel market snafu was largely linked to enormous short positions held by a single man: Chinese metal trader Xiang Guangda, the founder of China-based Tsingshan Holding, the worlds biggest nickel producer. And now the exact opposite is happening in the nickel markets, only that this time around its the physical nickel markets and not nickel futures or a single trader that are to blame for the crash. Nickel prices have crashed in the current year, falling 21% in the year-to-date to $23,300 per tonne thanks to a massive supply glut as Indonesian production continues to outpace global demand. According to the International Nickel Study Group (INSG), the nickel market will face a supply-demand surplus of 239,000 tonnes, the largest in at least a decade and more than double last year's excess of 105,000 tonnes. That revised figure is also way higher than the groups last forecast in October when it expected the surplus to clock in at 171,000 tonnes in 2023. Although global nickel demand is on track to register healthy 6.1% growth in 2023, matching last years demand growth, it wont be anywhere near enough to absorb the wave of new production coming out of Indonesia. Spot Nickel Prices (USD/Tonne) Source: Business Insider Its quite surprising that nickel demand even rose at all in 2022 considering the World Stainless Association reported that stainless steel output fell 5.2% during the year. The stainless steel industry is the biggest consumer of nickel, gobbling up 75% of global production in a typical year. China is mainly to blame for the weakening nickel demand after the removal of subsidies and the shift towards non-nickel chemistries. Related: Chevron Beats Profit Estimates As Refining Margins Jump That said, EVs are quickly becoming an important nickel consumer. According to research house Adamas Intelligence, 17,137 tonnes of nickel were deployed in EV batteries in the month of February alone, good for 19% month-on-month and 47% Y/Y growth. Although the EV sector is growing at a brisk clip, it will still struggle to absorb surging production from the likes of Indonesia. INSG's most recent monthly bulletin has reported that the country's nickel mine output grew a huge 48% to 1.58 million tonnes in 2022 and by another 44% in the first two months of the current year. Indonesia slapped a full ban on the export of ore in 2020, meaning that all that mine output is now being converted to nickel products. But not all nickel grades are facing a supply glut. Indeed, whereas the supply of Class II nickel--containing less than 99.8% nickel--continues to grow rapidly, supply of Class I nickel--the grade traded on the LME--has declined 28% so far this year to 40,032 tonnes, the lowest level since 2007. Shanghai registered nickel stocks are even lower at just 1,496 tonnes thanks to China's imports of refined nickel being increasingly replaced with intermediate products heading for the EV sector. The contango across the benchmark cash-to-three-months spread has contracted from over $200 per tonne in early April to just $12 currently, suggesting traders are growing more bearish about future nickel prices. Source: Fastmarkets Commodities Pullback But the nickel markets are hardly alone. After a raging bull market in 2022, global commodity markets have been pulling back in 2023 with the World Bank predicting that global commodity prices will decline this year at the fastest clip since COVID-19 pandemic struck in late 2019. ADVERTISEMENT According to the bank, overall commodity prices will contract 21% in 2023 relative to 2022, with energy prices projected to fall 26%. Brent crude oil is expected to average $84 a barrel this year, down 16% Y/Y, while U.S. and European natural-gas prices are forecast to be cut in half. Meanwhile, coal prices are expected to fall 42% in 2023 while fertilizer prices are also projected to decrease 37%, marking the largest annual drop since 1976. However, fertilizer prices are still close to their recent high seen during the 2008-09 food crisis. Unfortunately, the World Bank says that falling food prices will bring little relief to the more than 350 million people facing food insecurity across the globe due to the fact that although food prices are expected to fall 8% in the current year, they will still be at the second-highest level since 1975. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Launch of Chandler Conway, PC LLO Eric Chandler and Sean Conway have brought their years of legal expertise to start a new law firm dedicated to the areas of personal injury and criminal defense in Nebraska and Iowa. The firm provides thoughtful, practical solutions to the legal issues faced by clients with the same devotion and personal attention the community has come to expect from these lawyers over the years. Chandler is an experienced injury attorney and former criminal prosecutor. Chandler has been recognized as a member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, as well as a recipient of The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys Top 10 Attorney Award. Chandler was born and raised in Omaha and attended The University of Kansas and The University of Nebraska College of Law. Conway is an experienced litigator in both criminal and civil law, including personal injury and workers' compensation. He began as a public defender and moved into private practice 12 years ago. Conway is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence and member of The National Trial Lawyers Top 100. Conway was raised in Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska-Kearney and The University of Nebraska College of Law. Attorneys Marcus Sladek and Natalie Andrews have also joined the firm as associates. Sladek has a focus on personal injury, criminal defense, and workers' compensation cases. He is a lifetime Omahan and Creighton University School of Law graduate with over a decade of experience as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney in the Omaha area. Andrews joined the firm after years of litigating all manner of criminal cases at the Douglas County Public Defender's Office, including serious felonies and appeals. She graduated from the University of South Dakota and Creighton University School of Law with a concentration in litigation and criminal law and procedure. Chandler Conway, PC LLO has offices conveniently located in both Downtown and West Omaha to best serve our clients wherever they are located: Downtown Omaha Office 1018 Dodge Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68102 West Omaha Office 17504 Wright Street, Suite 101, Omaha, NE 68130 (402)933-6858 The saga of Leslie Arnold would be an astonishing story even if that was all there was to tell. But what started off as a true crime drama would ultimately turn into a deeper mystery one that still has authorities baffled today. When asked about his origin story, John Damon always told his family he was an orphan from Chicago. Which was true, in a way. In 1958, the 16-year-old Omaha boy indeed became an orphan when he shot his parents to death. And nine years later, after he sawed through prison bars and escaped the Nebraska State Penitentiary, the fugitive did flee to Chicago to launch his new life. But back in those days, Damon was known by a different name: William Leslie Arnold. After more than half a century, the mystery of Leslie Arnold has been solved. U.S. marshals in Omaha recently through DNA evidence determined a career salesman under the alias John Damon who died in Australia in 2010 was actually Arnold, the long-lost convicted killer who escaped the state penitentiary in 1967 and vanished without a trace. The 67-year-old Arnold left behind a wife and two children in Australia as well as three surviving stepdaughters from a previous marriage here in the United States all of whom were oblivious to his dark, secretive past. Its a total shock, said Arnold's stepdaughter Kelly, who like her sisters requested that her last name not be used, citing privacy concerns. Mind blowing. The jaw-dropping revelation has his family rethinking the entirety of the life of the man they thought they knew. Where they previously saw a loner who didnt keep a lot of friends and valued his privacy, they now see a man who, of necessity, mostly kept a low profile. In fact, Arnold, who was known as a talented saxophone player both at Omahas Central High School and in prison, went so far to hide his true identity late in life that even after his own son took up the instrument, the father never once touched it. Thats part of the mystery of my dad, his son said. As a function of his past, he had to live his life in a certain way. The resolution of the case comes five years after The World-Herald published The Mystery of Leslie Arnold, a series of stories detailing the captivating Arnold saga. The smart but troubled teen shocked Omaha in 1958 by killing his mother and father in their Aksarben-area home, burying the bodies in the backyard, and then continuing to attend school for two weeks before his grim crimes were discovered. Sentenced to life in prison, the boy served for almost a decade as a model prisoner. Prison officials felt he was likely within just a few years of an official pardon for his youthful crimes and ultimate release. But in July 1967, the enigmatic Arnold shocked everyone again. The then 24-year-old pulled off an escape worthy of a movie script and disappeared. Hes still the last man to successfully escape the penitentiary. Now the final chapters of Arnold's astounding story can be written. Through numerous interviews with family members and others, public records and information from law enforcement sources, The World-Herald has pieced together an extensive picture of Arnolds 43-year life as a fugitive. While Arnold eventually died half a world away, for the first 25 years, he was essentially hiding out in plain sight right here in America. Just four months after the escape, he married a divorced mother of four, a woman who waited tables at the same restaurant on Chicagos South Side where he had landed a job as a cook. With the instant cover provided by his Damon alias and big new family, Arnold became an independent traveling salesman. After two years in Chicago, the family moved to Cincinnati in 1969, and then two years later settled in Miami. Estranged from his wife, Arnold then moved to Los Angeles around 1977, divorced, remarried, and fathered his own children relatively late in life while in his late 40s. Then in the early 1990s, something appeared to spook Arnold. He cut ties to his stepdaughters, had a distinctive mole removed from his face, and moved with his second family overseas, first to New Zealand in 1992, and then to Australia in 1997. Living in Australia, Arnold passed away at home on Aug. 6, 2010, due to complications from blood clots ending his life a free man. His son described Arnold as a charismatic and patriotic man who loved science and technology, and as a doting father who raised his kids with a love of music. My dads legacy is a lot more than the initial crime and escape, his son said. His stepdaughters have a more mixed memory of the man who stepped in as their father for a decade. Theyre grateful for the smart and hardworking man who rescued them from a life in the projects. They also described their stepfather as demanding and strict ironically, similar to how Arnold had described his own treatment at the hands of his mother. A lot of things that didnt make sense or were uncomfortable now make sense, said another stepdaughter, Shawn. We all need to work our way through it, and thats what were doing. Besides his resourcefulness, there was another key to Arnolds success in avoiding recapture: It appears he never seriously ran afoul of the law again. Beyond some normal traffic stops, authorities have found no criminal record under the Damon name such slip-ups often becoming the downfall of fugitives. Innumerable questions remain surrounding Arnold and his life. And with his death, the answers to many may never be known. That includes why an immigration card, bearing Arnolds real name, was issued to someone in Brazil a year and a half after his escape a fact first revealed by The World-Herald in its 2017 series. Did Arnold or a stand-in travel to Brazil under his real name in an effort to throw U.S. authorities off his trail? Thats plausible, especially given that we now know Arnold by that time had already established his new John Damon identity. Even though its solved, its still a mystery, said Deputy U.S. Marshal Matt Westover, the Omaha-based law enforcement officer who cracked the 55-year-old cold case. You want to fill in the other pieces of the puzzle. It's a puzzle that began with a stunning crime in Omaha in the fall of 1958. THE CRIME AND ESCAPE On a crisp October afternoon, the boyish-faced Leslie Arnold betrayed little emotion as he led Omaha police officers into the backyard of his home at 66th Street and Poppleton Avenue. He pointed to a spot beneath a lilac bush. Thats where he told them to dig. A uniformed cop had turned up only a few shovelfuls of black dirt before he revealed the first sign of the truth: a human hand. The bodies of the boys parents, Opal and William Arnold, were soon unearthed. To believe the news reports from 1958, Arnold shot his parents to death simply because they wouldnt let him use the family car to take his girlfriend on a date. But digging deeper into the case decades later, The World-Herald revealed there was a lot more going on in the Arnolds' Aksarben neighborhood home. Arnold played in the marching band, dance band and ROTC band at Central and was a good student. But he was also high-strung and carried some deep anger and resentments, most of those feelings revolving around his relationship with his 40-year-old mother. Leslie Arnold would later tell psychiatrists that his mother ruled over him in a domineering and arbitrary fashion. It seemed there was nothing he could do to satisfy her. Others observed similar things. It seemed to me his mother was excessively and compulsively hard on him, said childhood friend Jim Child. Arnold would later tell evaluators there may have been underlying reasons for his mothers erratic behavior. She was twice hospitalized after nervous breakdowns'' the common term at the time for episodes of mental illness. A big source of recent conflict between mother and son had been Leslies girlfriend, a North High student named Crystal who Leslie had been dating for a year. His mother was dead-set against the relationship, objecting to the girls working-class upbringing. The only thing I knew was she did not approve of me and not just me, my whole family, she told The World-Herald in an interview. We werent good enough for her son. As one psychiatrist who later examined Arnold later put it, the way Leslies mother treated the boy, and her attempts to keep him away from his girlfriend, represented a challenge to the boys very manhood. The emasculating influence of mother-dominance, plus being treated as a child rather than a growing young man, could only serve to produce hidden resentments and antagonism towards his parents which could be classified as a smoldering volcano, the psychiatrist wrote. On Sept. 27, 1958, the volcano blew. Leslie and his mother were having another bitter argument over his plans to go to the drive-in with Crystal. Thats when, he would later tell detectives, I got a crazy idea in my head. He retrieved a .22-caliber rifle from his parents closet. He later said he just wanted to show his mom he was serious about going out with his girlfriend. When his mother laughed at him and told him to put the gun away, he said, he suddenly raised the weapon and pulled the trigger. The boy then stood over his mother and fired five more shots into her chest. I cant explain it, she seemed in pain, and I didnt want to hurt her anymore, but I just kept shooting, he later told investigators. It was right at that moment, he said, that his father came through the door. Enraged at the sight of his wifes body, William Arnold went after the boy. After ducking a wild swing, Leslie shot his father six times, too. He fell dead in the dining room beside his wife. Arnold later said he curled up on the couch and cried, not knowing what to do. But within an hour, he had hatched a plan. He told everyone his parents had suddenly left town to find a senile grandfather who had wandered off in Wyoming. He arranged for his brother to stay with the family. The boy then felt the need to see his girlfriend, taking her to the drive-in after all. Arnold later described it as a horrible night, the boy tortured by his guilty conscience. The next night, under the cover of darkness, he dragged both of his parents bodies to the backyard and buried them. And for the next two weeks, Arnold settled into a routine, opening his fathers downtown business before going to school. But a week into his ruse, he was startled to return home to find his grandfather the same one he had been telling people was missing. Not satisfied with the boys evasive answers, his family five days later went to police. On Saturday morning Oct. 11, he was taken in for questioning and copped to his crimes. Months later, he pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in the state penitentiary. While Arnold faced at least 10 years of incarceration, at the time, the states Pardons Board commonly commuted the life sentences of killers to a set number of years, allowing them to be released on parole. Prison officials found the boy industrious and earnest, and the model prisoner also pursued his love of music by playing in the prison band. We all just kind of felt he would ultimately make parole and make a success out of himself, one prison official said. But at some point, Arnold soured on prison life. And in 1967, he conspired with fellow convicted killer James Harding to break out of the trusty dorm, a secure facility within penitentiary grounds for lower-risk inmates who were nearing possible release. Arnold and Harding convinced a recent parolee to toss a tube containing saw blades and a pair of rubber masks into the prison yard, where the conspiring cons retrieved it. Arnold and Harding then hid away inside the music practice room and sawed through the bars that covered a window, holding them in place with chewing gum. On the appointed night of July 14, 1967, they used the rubber masks and fashioned dummies in their beds to confuse the overnight guards. They then made their way down to the music room, jumped out the window, scrambled over a barbed-wire fence and ran to a clearing, where the new parolee waited in a car. He drove the escapees to Omaha, where Arnold childhood friend Child got them clothes, money and tickets on a 3 a.m. bus bound for Chicago. The escape was so clean, they were already halfway to Chicago by the time they were discovered missing. Harding, who was recaptured less than a year after the escape and later paroled, told The World-Herald in an exclusive interview before his 2008 death that the last time he saw Arnold was just days after they landed in Chicago. Arnold informed Harding he had already found a job, as a cook at a restaurant in a Polish neighborhood. He had also hooked up with a girl, an older woman. I got mine, Arnold told Harding the last time they spoke. You get yours. MARRIAGE TO JEANNE BOUVIA Kelly still remembers her first impressions of the slender, fresh-faced young man her mother brought home to dinner one night in 1967. He didnt eat much, like one pea and a little mashed potatoes, she said. He seemed nice enough. He didnt talk much. He didnt talk about himself at all. Kellys mother, Jeanne Bouvia, had recently met this new man named John Damon at Davids, a restaurant at 31st and South Halsted in Chicago. The divorced mother of four worked there as a waitress. Damon had just taken a job there as a line cook a skill hed actually picked up in prison. Davids was known for its ice cream sundaes, and it indeed was located in a heavily Polish neighborhood. The couples courtship became a quick one. Arnold soon after moved in. Then Cook County records show Damon married Bouvia in a civil ceremony on November 25, 1967 just 134 days after Arnold escaped. Bouvias daughters dont remember a proposal or a ceremony or even a ring. Next thing I knew, they were married, Kelly said. At 34, Bouvia was older than Arnold, who was 25. She was an attractive woman, too. The Chicago native was a little glamorous, with a trim figure, a blonde beehive hairdo and her nails and makeup done up just so. She also possessed a sassy personality and enjoyed the company of men. Its easy to see why shed catch the eye of a young man who had been locked up since age 16. But both also gained much from their hasty union. For Bouvia, a survivor who always found a way, it meant stability for her family. After meeting Arnold, the new family moved from the public housing projects near the restaurant where theyd been living to a much nicer place on West Race Avenue. For Arnold, the marriage provided instant cover, helping him quickly blend into society. He overnight went from Nebraska prison escapee to the married father of four daughters, ages 14, 12, 9 and 5. I told my mom he was either ignorant or brave to marry a woman with four girls, said Shawn, the then-12-year-old. Now I think John took it on because he needed to. What a perfect cover. The girls were told by their mother that their new father had grown up in an orphanage. But Deb, the oldest of the girls, said she now has to wonder whether her mother who died in 2000 knew something more about Arnolds past than she ever let on. It was a tough go for a single mom, and I could see why she would want someone who could support us, she said. Maybe she had an inkling of what was going on. But well never know. Along with his new family, another key to Arnold establishing his new identity was an official-looking-but-forged Illinois birth certificate he had somehow obtained under his chosen John Damon alias. It listed his birth year as 1941 rather than 1942, and his mother as Jeanne Stanley, which was actually Bouvias maiden name. The fake document enabled him to get official identification during his life, like drivers licenses and a Social Security card. So within weeks of his escape, Arnold had a new name, a new life and the tools to support himself. As he settled into married life, Arnold and his bride shared some things in common, including a love of movies and music. He bought himself a saxophone, sitting in the corner of the living room on Race Avenue to play. He sometimes had a drummer and guitar player come over to play with him. They would jam out and scat and all kinds of stuff, Deb said. Shawn even remembered him playing a few public gigs years later when they lived in Miami, producing an early 1970s family picture of a tuxedo-clad Arnold holding his sax. But overall, Arnolds stepdaughters said it was rare for their father to socialize with anyone outside of home. He kept to himself. One time, their mother had invited a bunch of neighbors over to throw Arnold a surprise birthday party. He threw a fit, Kelly said. He hated it. At some point early, Arnold transitioned occupations from cook to salesman. He worked as an independent sales representative, a middle man between distributors and potential customers. His stepdaughters recall him selling lots of different things over the years: linens, vending machines, chemicals, even musical instruments. He worked hard, often traveling all week. He was always wearing a suit and tie, looking clean cut. He was a strong communicator and speaker. And he seemed good at his job, making good money. His sales work also may have been why the family in 1969 moved to Cincinnati. There, they settled into a tidy, two-story wood-frame house, with a yard of their own and a piano in the dining room. For the girls, it was the first time in their lives theyd lived in a real house not to mention Arnolds first since Poppleton Avenue in Omaha. In Chicago, we were poor, from the other side of the tracks, Deb said. Here was this savior who pulled us out of this rough life. To Deb, Shawn and Kelly (Dawn, the youngest, died in 1998), it seemed their stepfather was always working. But today, they hold some nice memories of Arnold the only man they ever called Dad. They appreciate the love of music he instilled in them, particularly for jazz. Deb remembers him teaching her piano. Kelly fondly recalls him taking her to a Henry Mancini concert. But the sisters also describe Arnold as demanding, strict and unforgiving much like they now understand him to have been treated by his own mother. Before he left on business, he would give them lists of chores they needed to perform while he was gone. They had to get jobs by age 13. He didnt tolerate back talk. Given that the girls possessed their mothers spunky spirit, they often did. If they failed to do as they were told, they were put on restriction, their stepfathers word for being grounded. They recalled at times being grounded for a month or more. The term sounds as if it was rooted in Arnolds penitentiary days. In fact, the girls daily life under their father had a regimental quality much akin to prison life. It's what he knew. Basically, we got the brunt of him being in a penitentiary and being bullied by his mom, Shawn said. It definitely could have been done with a way different way of discipline. Cest la vie, its in the past, Deb said. But he was very, very difficult sometimes, and very hard on us. There are some other intriguing stories from the familys early life together. Deb recalled that one night on Race Avenue they were awakened by Arnold moaning and crying, like he was having a nightmare. Their mother explained it was a result of their father once contracting malaria. Now Deb wonders if he was tormented by memories of killing his parents. In 1971, the family moved on to Miami, under circumstances both unusual and suspicious. Kelly recalls their parents took a vacation trip to the Bahamas by way of Miami. Their mother never came back to Cincinnati, instead staying behind to find a new home while Arnold came back to move the family. Deb was a senior in high school then and decided not to move. One day not long after, an FBI agent flashed a badge at her door and asked about John Damon. Deb said she told him she didnt know where he was as her mother had earlier instructed her. FBI records from the time offer no evidence that the agency ever linked Damon and Arnold. Deb still has no idea what the visit was about. In Miami, the creative Arnold gave the living room of the familys new home a 1970s-style makeover. He put a plaster mosaic with colorful inlaid smoked mirrors on the walls and bright two-tone carpet with a slate walking path on the floor. He also installed a quad stereo system. I remember when he first put it up, he put me in the middle of it, and we were listening to Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Shawn said. He was very excited about that. He made himself over, too, now wearing his hair a bit longer and donning leisure suits. After about three or four years in Miami, the restless Arnold started talking about moving the family again, this time to Costa Rica. He said it was due to the countrys low cost of living. Now his family has to wonder whether there were other motives at work. Regardless, his family told him they had no desire to move. Arnold instead convinced his wife to buy some land in Hawaii during a trip to the islands, with the idea of one day settling there. But Bouvia remained opposed to moving which may have been a factor in their subsequent breakup. That was the deal breaker, Deb recalled. It wasnt obvious at first. But Arnolds absences for his work became longer and more frequent. After a while, Kelly said, he just stopped coming home on the weekends. By 1977, with most of the girls now out of the house, Arnold had settled into an apartment in the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank. Serving as his own lawyer, on July 27, 1977 just days after the 10th anniversary of his prison escape Arnold filed for divorce. Bouvia did not contest or even respond to it, and it was granted in February 1978. But the parting was not amicable. They had privately agreed to split the familys assets outside of the legal system, and she felt he did not keep his end of the bargain. In response, Bouvia mailed Arnolds saxophone out to him in California after first smashing it. She later summed up her ex this way: He was a great provider, but a lousy husband. Even after the divorce, Arnold would maintain contact with the girls, calling and visiting from time to time. He attended Debs graduation from nursing school. He sent a birth announcement when his own daughter was born. Then in 1992, the 50-year-old Arnold asked to meet with them personally. The girls had earlier heard he was again talking about leaving the country, so they knew this might be goodbye. As the 34-year-old Kelly sat with her stepdad in a booth at Red Lobster in Miami, she offered him some parenting advice. Now that you have your own daughter, shes going to need to hear shes a good kid now and then instead of just Do this and do that, she bluntly told him. She was later proud of herself for telling him that. Those also were among the last words he would ever hear from her. He never contacted any of the girls ever again. Looking back now, its clear Leslie Arnold was again making a clean break from his past embarking on what became the third and final act of his life. THE FINAL ACT John Damon was a big Clint Eastwood fan. But as his son thinks back on it now, hes amazed about the Eastwood movie his dad had the family sit down to watch at home one evening about two decades ago. Escape from Alcatraz. The 1979 prison breakout film even features a scene where the escapees fashion dummies to make their bunks appear occupied. In hindsight, its so strange to think what was going through his mind when he watched that, the son said in an interview. The son has recently pondered countless such questions. Arnolds son was willing to share his fathers life story, but only on condition that neither he, his mother nor sister, nor the town in Australia where they have lived, be identified. The World-Herald agreed to the conditions to obtain critical insights into the last years of Arnolds life that would otherwise not be possible. A few years after his divorce, Arnold began dating the woman who would become his second wife, a foreign exchange student in Los Angeles. The two were married in 1983. And in 1986, Arnold at age 44 became a biological father for the first time with the birth of a baby girl. His son was born five years later. The family shared a number of Los Angeles-area addresses, including in Long Beach, Torrance and Glendale, as Arnold continued his work in sales. By then, he had incorporated his own sales company called Damonico, taken from his alias last name. Then in 1992, Arnold rather suddenly decided he and his family needed to leave the country. After the riots in Los Angeles in the wake of the police beating of Rodney King, Arnold told his family that the country had changed and that the United States, or at least Los Angeles, was not a good place to raise a family, his son said. His wife was firmly opposed to the move but eventually went along. Arnolds family now believes he may have had different motives for leaving the country. I wonder if there was an evolution of his understanding of his vulnerability to being found, his son said. Indeed, with the 1990s rise of the internet, law enforcement now had much better tools to track peoples movement and share digital fingerprints, driver's license photos and other information. The planned move was also not the only twist suggesting Arnold had grown concerned about recapture: Around that same time, he had a doctor remove a mole from his cheek. The mole had been a distinctive feature on Arnolds face since boyhood always mentioned in FBI postings about the fugitive. He told his family he removed the mole because he was tired of cutting it while shaving. Throw in the fact that he said goodbye to his stepdaughters at that time and abruptly cut off all future contact and ties, and theres reason to believe that something had spooked Arnold. The family first flew to New Zealand. They lived as Kiwis for five years before moving on to Australia. Even while living overseas, Arnold for nearly a decade continued to at times travel back to the United States for his work. But it seemed the work that had long been the center of his life became secondary once Arnold had children of his own. He often expressed to his children how profoundly their births had changed him. They had given him new purpose, hed tell them, altering his perspective on what was important and teaching him a life lesson. His son and daughter knew him as a loving, doting and lighthearted dad who wanted the best for them making it all the more surprising when they later learned how he had parented his stepdaughters. Like his first family, Arnolds second was raised amidst his love of music. His son developed his own passion for music, having no doubt he chose to take up the saxophone due to his fathers influence. But while Arnold told his son he used to play the saxophone, he never picked up his sons instrument to display that skill. In fact, his son only once in his life saw Arnold display any musical talent at all. As the son struggled one day to play a complicated jazz riff on the piano, his dad sat down on the bench beside him. Why dont you try it this way, he said. Then he proceeded to play the riff perfectly. The son never thought much of it at the time, miffed and feeling his father had showed him up. Now he sees it as evidence his father was suppressing his musical talent yet another sign Arnold was now intentional in concealing his past. You give up the things you loved so nothing links back to you, his son said. The past in general was something his father never talked about much. He repeated to his second family the story of growing up in a Chicago orphanage. When pressed for details, he said it had been a difficult life he didn't want to revisit, and that he felt neither the need nor desire to learn any more about his birth parents. To his family, the orphanage story seemed to explain not only his reluctance to discuss the past, but also his private, withdrawn personality. Arnold would sometimes anchor his life story to bits of truth. For example, he once told his family he had worked as a dental technician. He didn't mention he had done so in the penitentiary. A lot of what we knew and had been told were partial truths, his son said. He did not open up, and I did not ask questions. In the end, Arnold took his secrets to the grave. Arnold had been on an extended business trip to California at the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He returned to Australia and did not travel overseas after that, doing most of his sales work online and by phone. Then not long afterward, he began dealing with blood clots. The condition may have related to a heart attack he had suffered in the late 1990s, or even his frequent long sits during air travel. He was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. As the clotting issues became more severe, his general health rapidly declined. It reached the point he frequently had difficulty breathing. On Aug. 6, 2010, he collapsed at home and died. His obituary said he was 69. In reality, he was just days short of his 68th birthday. If Arnold had spent the past 43 years looking over his shoulder, he was finally now at peace. UNEXPECTED DNA MATCH John Damons son was only 19 when his father died. Immediately after the funeral, the son decided he wanted to learn more about his personal legacy. That pursuit of his roots even took the driven young man to Chicago in 2018. He had no luck finding the orphanage his father had spoken of. He went to the vital records department and showed officials there his dads birth certificate. Thats when he was surprised to learn the document was fake. The trip ended up raising as many questions as it answered. He also reached out to his fathers stepdaughters to see what they knew. They also only knew the orphanage story. Then last year, the son decided to have his own DNA analyzed. He posted the results on a public DNA registry, hoping someone from his fathers biological family had also put their DNA into the bank. A match could help connect him with his lost family. They dont put any warning out there that maybe you wont like what you find, the son said. In August, the son was excited to be alerted to a close DNA match. But he soon was communicating not with a close relative of his father, but Westover, the deputy U.S. marshal from Omaha. How Westover cracked the case will be detailed in a story in The World-Herald Monday. But its known that law enforcement officials nationally have used public DNA registries to solve criminal cases. It was how authorities in California in 2018 identified the notorious Golden State Killer. Westover last month traveled to Australia to meet with the son and collect further evidence from Arnolds family. Last week, the marshals officially closed the case of missing fugitive William Leslie Arnold. PROCESSING THE TRUTH Arnolds son says he and his family have had a lot to process in recent weeks. After his first contact with Westover, he read The World-Heralds series on Arnold many times over. He then spoke for five hours with the reporter who wrote it, doing more listening than talking as he heard an even more detailed account of his fathers early years and crimes. He shed a lot of tears, too. I feel I have a pretty good picture and understanding of it, he said that day. Arnolds son does not minimize the crimes his father committed as a 16-year-old, which he called truly horrific. But he also felt good when he read the words of those who have expressed sympathy for Arnold and the difficult position he was thrust into at a very young age. He has shared Zoom conversations with Kelly, Deb and Shawn, swapping intimate stories about their childhood experiences with Arnold. The stepdaughters were happy to learn that Arnold seemed to have altered his harsh parenting style when it came to his second family. Parenting changed a lot between the 1960s and 1990s, but Kelly hopes her final conversation with him had an impact in some way, too. The stepdaughters love Arnolds son, whom theyve found to be sweet and sincere. And the son has shown off to them his own recently born son Leslie Arnolds first biological grandchild. They all now collectively refer to themselves as our new dysfunctional family. His son said hes largely come to grips with his fathers long-hidden past. In fact, he says he has no regrets about taking that DNA test. The truth hes gained and new human connections its created with Arnolds stepdaughters and others have been cathartic. Ultimately, I just wanted to know more about my fathers life and legacy, and thats what I got, he said. None of what he has learned has altered the affection he feels for his father, or how he views himself. Im comfortable with who I am, he said. He was a good father who committed his entire life to my sister and I, and I pretty much owe him everything. The family also believes Arnold deep inside truly regretted and repented for his murderous past. His family recently thumbed through their fathers old leather-bound Bible. They believe the book dates to his Chicago days, and theyve known him to read it several times front to back. In those aging pages, they found a common theme to the passages Arnold had noted and highlighted. Sin and forgiveness. As they think back on the thousands of conversations they had with their father, both the son and daughter have memories of Arnold lamenting at times that he wished there was more he could say about his past. Theres so much more I wish I could tell, hed say. At the time, they thought he was referring to his traumatic childhood back in the United States. And, in effect, he was. Now, Arnolds son said, we can see how the truth was weighing on his chest. Photos: Leslie Arnold's crime Henry Cordes has compiled of Leslie Arnold's life. * * * Aug. 28, 1942: Born in Omaha, son of William and Opal Arnold. September 1956: Enters Central High School, where he plays saxophone in band. Sept. 27, 1958: Shoots and kills both parents, tragic ending of volatile feud with mother. Oct. 11, 1958: Arrested in murder of parents. June 2, 1959: Pleads guilty to two counts of second-degree murder; sentenced to life in Nebraska Penitentiary. Aug. 16, 1967: Escapes with fellow inmate; fugitives catch bus in Omaha and flee to Chicago. Nov. 25, 1967: Under alias John Damon, Arnold marries Jeanne Bouvia, a divorced mother of four. 1969: Family moves to Cincinnati. 1971: Family moves to Miami. July 27, 1977: Arnold files for divorce in Los Angeles. Granted in February 1978. 1983: Remarries in Los Angeles. 1986: Becomes biological father for first time with birth of daughter. Son born five years later. 1992: Family moves to New Zealand. 1997: Family moves to Australia. Aug. 6, 2010: Arnold dies. September 2017: World-Herald publishes series The Mystery of Leslie Arnold. August 2022: Public DNA registry notifies deputy U.S. marshal in Omaha that DNA he submitted from an Arnold relative is close match with John Damons son in Australia. March 2023: U.S. marshals travel to Australia to interview son and collect evidence. April 2023: U.S. marshals in Nebraska officially close Arnold fugitive case. Photos: Leslie Arnold's crime Kim Gunn, left, South Korea's special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim pose for a photo during their meeting in Seoul, April 25, in this photo released by the foreign ministry. Yonhap The top nuclear envoys of South Korea and the United States have met in Seoul to discuss ways to cooperate on countering North Korea's evolving nuclear and military threats, the foreign ministry said Sunday. U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Sung Kim held a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Gunn, on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Asan Plenum 2023 conference, a security forum hosted by a local think tank. LINCOLN Hundreds of Nebraska educators rallied at the State Capitol in opposition of a bill that would provide tax incentives for donations to scholarship funds for private and faith-based schools. Approximately 300 teachers from the Nebraska State Education Association chanted and marched Saturday morning from the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel to the Capitol, where the group was met by other supporters of public education. About 450 people attended, according to event organizers. This is a tremendous show of strength and support for Nebraska public schools, said Jenni Benson, NSEA president. Legislative Bill 753 would provide tax credits for individuals and entities that donate to scholarship funds that help students attend private and parochial schools. Under the bill, $25 million would be available for credits in 2024, with the same amount available for the next two years. After that, the limit for credits would grow to a maximum of $100 million per year. The bill was initially introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area and is part of Gov. Jim Pillens package of education proposals. The bill has been placed for final reading in the Nebraska Legislature; lawmakers are set to take a final vote on the bill sometime next week. Molly Gross, a representative from the Nebraska Parent Teacher Association who spoke at Saturdays rally, said the bill would be a massive detriment to the public school system. LB 753 is not about scholarships, Gross said. Its a tax scheme that will hurt our public school students while benefiting the wealthy. Rebecca Firestone, OpenSky Policys institute executive director, said Saturday that the tax credits proposed in LB 753 would overwhelmingly benefit the wealthy and corporations. She outlined the snowball effect that diverting state dollars to private schools could have, citing similar laws passed in states like Arizona, Louisiana and Virginia. Firestone said that in those states, more than half of all scholarship tax credits are flowing to families with annual incomes of over $200,000. She added that those tax credits are likely to take additional public funds away from Nebraskas school districts. For Benson, that paints enough of a picture. The facts are clear: Private school tax schemes in other states have proven to be enormously expensive and ineffective, Benson said. Dunixi Guereca, executive director of Stand for Schools Nebraska, backed Firestone. She noted that there is a large body of evidence that tax credit scholarships like the ones LB 753 proposes fail to improve student academic performance. In state after state, researchers are unable to find any meaningful gains in standardized test scores or other metrics of academic success, Guereca said. In at least three states, the students who received tax credit scholarships fared worse than their public school peers. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2023 Omahas Hispanic population was increasing in the 1910s. Those who immigrated from Mexico were looking for a better living. Some worked summers in the western Nebraska beet fields and wintered in Omaha. Others were railroad laborers. It was only a few years before packinghouse jobs opened to them. The growing Hispanic community desired a church whose worship services were conducted in Spanish. Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church became their spiritual home in South Omaha. Omaha Archbishop Jeremiah Harty commissioned the Augustinian fathers to start a Spanish-speaking congregation in 1919. The Rev. Leonard Azcona, from Spain, held his first Mass in the school hall of St. Agnes parish. He then rented a storefront, at 21st and Q Streets, to convert to a chapel. The church struggled. The parishs finance committee went door-to-door on pay days to solicit funds to support the church. The Rev. Azcona was transferred from Omaha and Our Lady of Guadalupe disbanded for a few years. But during the decade, several hundred Mexican immigrants were brought into South Omaha as strikebreakers. The Rev. Francis Mario Alba was called in 1928 to reorganize the congregation. Through the Depression and World War II, the churchs home was a rented store building, 59-by-19 feet and windowless, at 5027 S. 24th St. Our Lady of Guadalupe was known as the store church. In 1944, the Rev. Angelus Almarcegui began a campaign for a permanent building. Within five months, a site was purchased at 23rd and O Streets. By the middle of 1948, the ever-struggling parish had collected $35,000. Groundbreaking was held in May 1950 and the structure was dedicated in June 1951. The church is now part of the Assumption-Guadalupe bilingual parish. It was at Our Lady of Guadalupe that the parents of Edward Babe Gomez received his Congressional Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously in 1952. Gomez was killed in the Korean War as a 19-year-old. A street in South Omaha is named for him. A long history The citys Hispanic history, its said, goes back to pioneer days. The 1860 federal census shows James Diego, listed as a 12-year-old and a laborer, as the only Mexican-born Omaha resident. A decade later, Lee Mata (or Malta) was the first from Mexico to be married in the city. His bride in 1870 was Irish-born Catherine Riley. Matas occupation in the 1870 census (he was one of only seven in town from Mexico who were counted) was listed as a laborer. Perhaps he worked for the Union Pacific or another railroad the primary employers for Omahas few Mexican immigrants in the 19th century. After the 1910 Mexican revolution, small numbers of families began relocating to Omaha. One immigrant was Ignacio Reyes. Reyes took his wife and 6-month-old daughter from northern Mexico in 1916 after rebels ransacked the land he tenant-farmed. His travels and jobs in the United States landed him in Red Oak, Iowa. There, he was advised to come to Omaha, for its a fine city. Reyes, who worked more than 40 years as a sausage maker at a packing plant, said when he arrived in Omaha there were fewer than a dozen Hispanic families. Among them were Guadalupe Sousa with his wife and 10 children, and Joseph Carrillo, founder of the Mexican Mutualist Society. When the Sousas came here, they first lived in Carville. It was a barrio north of the roundhouse in the Burlington railroads Gibson yards along the Missouri River, east of what is now the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. When the Omaha Bee detailed its conditions in 1928, the village had 18 families with a population of 78. There were two unnamed streets, the shorter one running north and south and the longer east-west path connected the tracks to the high cliff. The Bees writer said the winding path resembled the scenic railway on Pikes Peak. Five boxcars, wheels removed, sat on the short street, 12 on the long one. Rent was $1.50 a month. The 18th dwelling was said to be closer to a house than a boxcar and was home to a family of 10. At their backdoor was the communal well. Eight of the 16 families living in Carville in 1930 were ordered to move out of the boxcars. The railroad wanted them back. To stay in the squalor family members had to be employed by the railroad. Better settlements were being established in Little Italy at Seventh and Pierce Streets and in South Omaha in the Brown Park neighborhood and housing areas near the packinghouses. Small businesses followed, especially in South Omaha. Joe Ramirez, who opened a billiard parlor in 1926, was still in business in 1962 and was said to be the dean of Hispanic-born businessmen. Among Mexican-owned restaurants, mostly small eateries on 24th Street, El Charro was the longest-lasting. Antonio Espejo started serving tacos, enchiladas and arroz con pollo from his El Charro cafe in 1947, in the basement of a building at 5407 S. 24th St. Espejos sons Isaac and Ezequiel took over operation in 1960. When they moved the restaurant to an old fire station at 5223 S. 20th St. in 1971, their claim was that El Charro was the oldest Mexican restaurant in town. It closed in 1978. Cinco de Mayo Coming up is Cinco de Mayo, which in the past 30 years has overtaken Mexican Independence Day (Sept. 16) as the more widely celebrated Hispanic holiday in the United States. Chalk that up to the American distributors of Corona beer. Omahas first recorded Mexican Independence Day celebration was at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition in 1898. Albino Nuncio, the Mexican commissioner to the exposition, threw a banquet for the exposition officials and prominent men of the city. In 1942, World-Herald reporter Bill Billotte attended a Cinco de Mayo gathering at the Butchers and Workmens Temple at 25th and M Streets. Black-eyed senoritas and their dark escorts swayed through the tango in its original form as toe-tickling Spanish music set the spectators in the well-filled hall moving to the rhythm, Billotte wrote. Enchiladas, tamales and beer were served buffet style and there were as many blonde heads as there were brunets as friends of the Mexicans crowded into the hall to help them celebrate. South Omahas official Cinco de Mayo celebration has been ongoing since 1986. This years event is not on the May 5 weekend, but a week later. After being diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer at 4 years old, Marshall Clark dreamed of going to Disney World. Through Make-A-Wish Nebraska, Marshalls dream became a reality. Marshall, whos now 11 and cancer free, was one of several previous wish grantees at Make-A-Wish Nebraskas Annual Blue Jean Ball on Saturday. Make-A-Wish Nebraska is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and has granted more than 3,000 wishes to children with critical illnesses since it began, said Brigette Young, the organizations president and CEO. We provide these kids hope, strength and joy, she said. And sometimes were kind of the only bright light there is in a very difficult time for a lot of these kids and their families. Young said last years event raised $500,000 and that the organization hoped to exceed that number with a record attendance of around 750 people at Saturdays event. During the event, attendees could bid on auction items and hear stories from previous wish grantees. Young said the organization also planned to grant a girls wish to go to Disney World. The most popular wish is going to Disney World, Young said, but the organization has also granted trips to Hawaii and playhouse structures and for shopping sprees. Marshalls father, Travis Clark, said after Marshall received his diagnosis and began his fight against cancer, it was amazing for him to be able to have fun at Disney World. Having something positive to look forward to is just hugely important, he said. Seeing him at Disney World fighting Darth Vader with lightsabers was beyond amazing. Travis said he now gives back to Make-A-Wish Nebraska as a wish-granting volunteer. He said he remembers watching a girl, with the same type of cancer as his son had, see her wish of a playset and a visit from a princess come true. Shes just playing and having fun and having the time of her life and all of the grown-ups are crying tears of joy, he said. Its just great. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of April 2023 SCRANTON, Pa. 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 can't get enough of and that the U.S. can't 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. It is one of just two sites in the U.S. that make the steel bodies for the critical 155 mm howitzer rounds that the U.S. is rushing to Ukraine to help in its grinding 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 alarmed U.S. military planners, and the Army 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 plant's red brick factory buildings first built 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 won't reveal, including where they get the steel for the shells and exactly how many more rounds this factory can produce. "That's what Russia wants to know," said Justine Barati of the U.S. Army's 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 Ukraine's 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 it's 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 more than 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 prewar 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 Army's Scranton plant, operated by General Dynamics, and at a General Dynamics-owned plant in nearby Wilkes-Barre, officials said. Together, the plants are under contract for 24,000 shells per month, with an additional $217 million Army task order to further boost production. The Russians are firing 40,000 shells per day, said Ustinova, who serves on Ukraine's wartime oversight committee. "So we're doing five times less than they do and trying to keep it up. But if we don't start the production lines, if you don't 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. 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 plant is in the midst of $120 million in modernization plans and the Army hopes to open a new production line there by 2025. US Army under gun to make more ammo for Ukraine LINCOLN State senators who met recently to talk about the transgender health care bill couldnt find much common ground. A series of meetings by lawmakers to discuss a potential amendment to the controversial bill ended last week without a compromise. Opponents say there was no real attempt to reach agreement in the meetings, and noted that the bills main sponsor described them only as a listening exercise, not negotiations. Supporters say they entered the sessions in good faith, hoping to improve the bill, but there was no way to reach a solution that pleased everyone. I think we agreed to disagree, said State Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner, who supports the measure. Legislative Bill 574 would ban gender-affirming care including puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries for individuals under 19. Backlash to the bill has included a session-long filibuster that continues to slow down the Legislature. LB 574 needs to pass just one more round of debate before it goes to Gov. Jim Pillens desk to be signed into law. Following a chaotic second round, a group was formed to discuss a potential amendment that would address some of the concerns with the bill. The group was composed of eight state senators, representing both supporters and opponents, including the bills introducer, Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, Speaker of the Legislature John Arch, and Sens. John Cavanaugh, John Fredrickson, Lynne Walz, Ben Hansen, Tom Briese and Ibach. After four meetings, Kauth called an end to the discussions. She has yet to officially introduce her amendment, but she told The World-Herald that the primary component would be a grandfather clause that exempts patients who were receiving puberty blockers and hormone therapy as of March 1. Other than that, she said the amendment will clarify that treatments such as talk therapy and counseling remain legal, as well as make some minor technical changes. John Cavanaugh, an opponent, said Kauths planned amendment doesnt include many changes she wasnt already considering before the meetings started. Both he and Ibach agreed that Kauth entered the meetings already thinking about adding a grandfather clause. She comes in with a proposal and leaves with the same proposal, Cavanaugh said. Ibach said a grandfather clause made sense to her and other supporters. She said they dont want to put families in a bind if their children are already undergoing treatment. Opponents had their own amendment in mind, Cavanaugh said, based on the concerns they heard from lawmakers who supported the bill in previous rounds of debate. Their plan would include additional criteria for young patients to qualify for gender-affirming care. To qualify for surgery, a patient would need to meet a set of eight conditions. To qualify for puberty blockers or hormone therapy, they would have to meet seven conditions. The criteria in the bill opponents proposal covered a range of steps, including obtaining parental consent, recommendations for at least two physicians from different clinics, and a review of the potential side effects of such treatment. For surgeries, the patient must have already undergone treatment for gender incongruence for at least a year. None of those proposals are likely to make it into the Kauths amendment, based on her description of her plans. Ibach said she believes Kauth genuinely wanted to learn more about the oppositions perspective, but their suggested changes were not what she envisioned for the bill. For his part, opponent John Fredrickson said he went into the meetings interested in finding ways to improve the bill. But he said supporters seemed more concerned about how many lawmakers would vote for or against it. Frankly, I dont think thats a good way to make policy, Fredrickson said. I think we have to think about what is the best policy for Nebraska, Nebraskans, and then worry about the numbers later. Kauth has said part of the reason she ended the meetings was her concern that additional changes would lose support for the bill. Even so, she said, the meetings also were meant to find and make improvements to the legislation. LB 574 has garnered just enough votes to make it past each round of debate so far. If just one of those votes isnt there in the final round, the bill will fail. Several LB 574 supporters have expressed confidence that even without an amendment, the original bill has enough votes to pass. But that may not be true. Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said she would not support the bill as it is currently written. Sen. Tom Brandt of Plymouth said he wants to see the amendment before he makes his decision. Both lawmakers voted yes on LB 574 in the second round, though they had been present but not voting in the first round. Both Hughes and Brandt said members of the meeting team consulted them about their thoughts on the bill. Hughes said her one of her main priorities was adding a grandfather clause, but she also expressed interest in adding steps to qualify for treatment, similar to what bill opponents proposed. Brandt said he hoped for an amendment that addresses more complex circumstances that arent covered by the original bill, such as what would happen if a trans person under 19 moves to Nebraska from another state and has already received treatment. Cavanaugh said he does not believe Kauths proposed amendment will do enough to address such concerns. And Fredrickson said a grandfather clause on its own is a limited solution, since it will eventually become obsolete. Its just a delayed implementation of a full ban, Fredrickson said. Photos: 2023 Nebraska legislative session Authorities have identified a 28-year-old Washington man who was arrested on suspicion of two counts of motor-vehicle homicide in connection with a Thursday crash in south-central Nebraska. Kyiaz Ulanov, 28, of Lynnwood, Washington, is accused causing the deaths by driving recklessly, according to a spokesman for the Nebraska State Patrol. He was booked into the Phelps County Jail in Holdrege. About 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Ulanov was driving a Ram 3500 pickup pulling an empty trailer west on Nebraska Highway 89 in Furnas County. The pickup allegedly ran a stop sign at the U.S. Highway 283 intersection and struck the passenger side of a northbound Hyundai Santa Fe sport utility vehicle. Five people were inside the SUV. Two passengers in the Hyundai, Miriam Mejia Barrientos, 46, and Sloan Luna Portillo, 13, of Burlington. Colorado, died as a result of the crash. Also injured were the driver of the Hyundai, Olvin Luna, 43, the father of Luna Portillo, an 11-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, all of Burlington. Luna and the 11-year-old girl were later flown to a hospital in Lincoln. The 11-year-old boy was later flown to a hospital in Wichita, Kansas. Ulanov and a passenger in the pickup were taken to Norton County Hospital in Kansas, where they were treated for injuries not considered life-threatening. Sources within Polaris Bank Limited have revealed the true situation in the financial institution that a section of the media has falsely spun around. According to the sources, there is no such thing as a controversy trailing the Bank, as the reaction within the financial institution stems from some staffs inability to understand and accept positive and productive changes in the Banks operation. Speaking exclusively with this medium, one of the sources who pleaded anonymity noted that when the new investors acquired Polaris Bank Limited, they set new goals and objectives to drive it to a greater height. He added that the strategies put in place to achieve these set targets are what some of the Banks staff are kicking against because its a change from the status quo. As you know, there are some basic things when a new owner acquires a business, be it a bank or whatever, he examines the profit and loss channels associated with such company and tries to promote the successful sides while eliminating the negative sides. It is all in a bid to boost profitability. In the case of Polaris Bank, what has happened is simple, the new owners want to avoid a run-of-the-mill approach to managing the Bank because they have seen where such leads. They have brought in their wealth of experience and are plucking the worms that are feeding fat on the Bank so that it can become a profitable entity; this is what is leading to the hues and cries you are hearing from some aggrieved staff of the Bank who are now doing their banking on social media pages. Polaris Bank operates with the best standard and corporate governance you could imagine. change and Innovation are often frowned upon, but the truth is that Polaris Bank is witnessing its best years in a very long time with this new management, they are trying and will do better. It is those who have been exploiting the Bank and have now found out that their channels of exploitation are being threatened that are causing trouble where there is none, the source noted. Another source within the Bank who gave his name as noted that it is a shame that people considered enlightened and exposed would feign ignorance of the situation they know about. According to the source, some of the Banks staff obtained loans and have refused to serve them because of the Banks magnanimity. Attempts by the Bank to recoup these monies have seen them shouting blue murder. Indeed, some staff have sorted their case out while others are genuinely working on recovering the loans. Of course, some weak minded staff resorted to sponsoring social media stories to bend the hand of the management of the bank. Talks that individuals and enterprises are taking their money away from the Bank to other banks is a big lie, as Polaris Bank is in the best condition it has ever been in a long while, the source concluded. On the accusations of staff accrued Uber expenses being taken at once by the new management, a source privy to the inner workings disclosed that Audit revealed an abuse of the process where some Managers were using Uber on public holidays and unauthorized hours. On late meetings, the source explained that although there are frequent meetings but not late meetings. Of course, what do you expect when new management comes on board, you expect Strategy sessions, meetings, retreats, Monthly and Quarterly reviews to discuss vision, business plans, and performance. It is nothing new, the source averred. The source further explained that most of the unfounded negatives pushed around against the Bank are likely from staff currently being investigated for various infractions and being questioned. What of some staff who actually colluded with customers to avail loans only to abscond to foreign countries, said the source. The truth of the matter according to the source, is that there is a new order trying to put things right for the good of the Bank. It would be recalled that in October 2022, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sold Polaris Bank to Strategic Capital Investment Limited (SCIL). Meanwhile, since the constitution of the Banks new board, Polaris has hit the ground running, enthroning a new work culture and improving its earnings. It has also been celebrated with several awards, including the MSME Bank of the Year 2022 in the BusinessDays Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Digital Bank: VULTe by Nigeria Fintech Award, and African Digital Bank of the Year presented by African Leadership Award. Indofood, the maker of the popular Indomie instant noodles, has come under scrutiny after its products were banned in Taiwan and Malaysia due to an increased cancer risk. Health officials in both countries discovered the presence of ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing chemical, in the special chicken flavor noodles. The detection of ethylene oxide in the product did not comply with [standards], said the department of health in Taipei, Taiwans capital, in a statement. In response to the allegations, Indofoods board member, Taufik Wiraatmadja, defended the safety of the noodles, stating that all of its products are processed in compliance with international food safety regulations and have received standard certifications. All instant noodles produced by ICBP in Indonesia are processed in compliance with the food safety standards from the Codex Standard for Instant Noodles and standards set by the Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control (BPOM RI), Wiraatmadja said in a statement. Our instant noodles have received Indonesian National Standard Certification (SNI), and are produced in certified production facilities based on international standards. However, the ministry of health in Malaysia revealed that it had examined 36 samples of instant noodles from various brands since 2022, with 11 samples found to contain ethylene oxide. As a result, it has taken enforcement actions and recalled the affected products. It is unclear if other brands were implicated. This ban has sparked concerns among consumers who rely on instant noodles as a quick and convenient meal option. As Indofood faces the consequences of the ban, health authorities continue to emphasize the importance of food safety regulations in protecting consumers. Seplat, a Nigerian oil and gas company listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the London Stock Exchange, is facing internal crises and legal battles stemming from changes in managerial structure and the delayed acquisition of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited assets. The boardroom drama has led to an implosion that has seen mass retirement and resignations from key board members involved in the debacle. Sources within the company mention that there are some aggrieved parties who may be working against the company to further their own agenda threatening to impact Seplats long-term success if they are not addressed. To understand the root cause of events at the publicly listed company, we reviewed a series of events that have led up to this point. Acquisition of MPNU assets Sources within Seplat told Nairametrics that the series of controversies at Seplat began in February 2022, when the company struck a deal worth as much as $1.6 billion to acquire the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) from US supermajor ExxonMobil. The deal would have seen a boost in Seplats production to 146,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) and see its proven and probable liquids reserves jump from 241 million barrels to 650 million barrels. In its February 25, 2022 acquisition note, Seplat highlighted MPNU assets as a 40% operating ownership of 300 producing wells in 4 oil mining leases (OMLs 67, 68, 70, 104) and associated infrastructure, with NNPC being the 60% partner, the Qua Iboe Terminal, a 51% interest in Bonny River Terminal and Natural Gas Liquids Recovery Plants at EAP and Oso, 409 MMBBL of 2P liquid reserves, and 211 Bscf of 2P gas reserves, with the undeveloped gas potential of 2,910 Bscf. Meanwhile, On July 11, 2022, Seplat announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) had initiated legal action in the State High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. NNPCL requested a declaration that a dispute had arisen between itself and MPNU regarding the interpretation of pre-emption rights under their Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) and asked the court to order NNPC and MPNU to engage in arbitration as required by the JOA. Following the request, the State High Court issued an ex-parte order of interim injunction, which prohibited the defendants from finalizing any divestment in MPNU, including the sale and purchase agreement (SPA) signed with Seplat Energy Offshore Limited, while the case was pending before the court. Its worth noting that neither Seplat Energy nor Seplat Energy Offshore Limited was involved in the lawsuit. By August 8, 2022, President Buhari had given his approval for Seplat to acquire MPNUs assets, citing the numerous benefits to Nigerias economy. However, shortly after President Buharis decision, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) publicly opposed the acquisition during a widely broadcasted television interview. At that time, the Chief Executive Officer, Gbenga Komolafe stated that based on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, the NUPRC is the sole regulator in dealing with such matters in the Nigerian upstream sector. He refuted the Presidents approval. To everyones dismay, President Buhari reversed his earlier approval by August 10, 2022, blaming his indecision on the lack of coordination among sector agencies. According to sources at Seplat, this singular act gave rise to a double whammy within Seplat; The investors who had purchased shares after the initial deal was struck and were worried about the flip-flopping of the Nigerian government. It was reported that by mid-morning on February 25 after Seplats announcement of the sale and purchase agreement with MPNU, Seplats share price rose from 93 pence to 105.5 pence ($1.24 to $1.41) on the London Stock Exchange. Shareholders were divided between looking for an exit strategy and staying on course until the company receives government approval for the MPNU acquisition. However, in early March 2023, the company CEO, Roger Brown had said Seplat was committed to pursuing the MPNU acquisition deal before a new president is sworn in by the end of May 2023. Corporate governance issues According to sources familiar with the matter, Seplat has also been wading into controversy over corporate governance issues. In September 2022, Bloomberg reported that Seplat Energy spent over $450 million on goods and services provided by companies linked to its two founders between 2010 and 2021. The report said that most of the transactions occurred after Seplat was publicly listed in London and Lagos exchanges in 2014. According to the Bloomberg report cited, Seplat made payments to 18 companies associated with its founders, Austin Avuru and ABC Orjiako for services rendered. Those businesses were connected to both Orjiako and Avurus family members. During the period highlighted, Seplat paid $410 million to companies associated with Orjiako and $299 million to companies associated with Avuru, according to the companys annual reports. As of March 2021, Seplats board led by Orjiako, announced that the company would eliminate all related-party transactions. A minority shareholder told Nairametrics that it is a matter of concern that the company spent over $450 million on goods and services provided by companies linked to its founders between 2010 and 2021. According to him, it is not a good sign for corporate governance. But he expressed confidence that the company would do better going forward for many reasons, one of which is Seplat being listed on the London Stock Exchange and its activities will be scrutinized publicly, unlike on the Nigerian Exchange where companies may get away with unethical practices. On November 17, 2021, Seplat announced that ABC Orjiako would step down from his position as Board Chairman in May 2022. This announcement was made after a Federal High Court in Lagos issued a Mareva Injunction restraining ABC Orjiako, and other firms linked to him, from accessing the accounts and assets of Seplat Energy Plc. The Mareva injunction was issued because Zenith Bank Plc had taken Dr Orjiakor, Shebah Exploration and Production Company Limited, Shebah Petroleum Development Company Limited and six others before the Federal High Court, over an alleged debt of about $78,426,578.64. Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court had issued an interim order restraining Orjiako, and the two firms, as well as their proxies in Nigeria and any jurisdiction worldwide, from receiving and or transferring assets and accounts of Seplat Energy Plc. After ABC Orjiako stepped down as Board Chairman at Seplat, the company had a consultancy arrangement with him, which obliged him to provide defined assistance to certain external stakeholders. Seplat went ahead to pay $509,000 to a firm that holds Orjiakos shares for consulting services during the first six months of 2022, actively violating its own March 2021 resolution to eliminate all related-party transactions. By February 13, 2023, Seplat suspended the consultancy agreement with its former Chairman, ABC Orjiako through Amaze Limited. In March 2023, the company decided to terminate the contract due to repeated corporate governance breaches of a material nature, such as unilaterally making significant commitments on behalf of Seplat and using the companys letterhead to communicate said commitments without prior approval by the Board. At the same time, Seplat filed a suit with No FHC/ABJ/CS/386/2023, at the Federal High Court Abuja, on March 21, 2023, accusing Dr Orjiako of acting unilaterally when he communicated with the Federal Government over a business transaction worth over $300 million, allegedly without the consent of the companys Board of Directors. Seplat is demanding the sum of $5 billion in damages. Meanwhile, ABC Orjiako responded by denying any wrongdoing in the letter he initiated to the Federal Government to facilitate the consummation of the lingering $1.3 million MPNU deal, saying he acted within the scope of his mandate for the benefit of the company. CEO Roger Brown saga In January 2023, some former employees filed a petition against Seplats CEO, Roger Brown on the grounds of alleged intimidation, sacking of Nigerian staff, abuse of corporate governance, the relegation of host communities, relocation of Seplat technology office to Aberdeen, UK, bullying of Nigerian staff by foreign nationals, as well as spending of over $5 million dollars to shuttle between Lagos and his London home after allegedly fraudulently collecting a relocation allowance from the company. By March 8, 2023, had his work permit, visa, and residence permit revoked by the Nigerian Ministry of Interior. The Ministry had said that Mr Brown was in possession of a Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC) that was not based on a validly issued Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior resulting in the violation of relevant Immigration Laws and Regulations. Meanwhile, the company and its Board members continued to support Mr Brown through his ordeal, and he kept exercising his duties as the company CEO from the UK office, despite the withdrawal of his work permit. By April 2023, Nairametrics reported that the Nigerian Immigration Service dropped all charges against Seplat. Seplat Energy also announced that the Lagos Federal High Court has vacated the ex parte interim orders against Seplat, its Chief Executive Officer, and its Board Chairman. These include the orders that restrained the companys CEO Roger Brown from participating in the running of the Company. Meanwhile, the case has been adjourned to May 16, 2023, to continue the hearing. What next for Seplat Seplat Energy Plc says it is ready to move on from its challenges. On Tuesday, April 25, Seplat Energy Plc which is listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the London Stock Exchange, announced a Boardroom succession plan that will help the company move on from recent challenges and strengthen corporate governance. The plan involves the retirement of Mr Basil Omiyi as Board Chairman, as well as the retirement of Senior Independent Non-Executive Director (SINED), Dr Charles Okeahalam before the companys Annual General Meeting in May 2024. Meanwhile, the company will embark on a recruitment process to select a new Board Chairman and establish a new level of corporate governance as the company works to resolve all pending legal issues as well as its acquisition of MPNU assets. Despite these challenges, the company has surprisingly avoided the boardroom mele impacting its revenues. In its 2023 first quarter results, it reported higher revenue of 36.9% to $331 million. The company also reported a pre-tax profit of $86.1 million representing a 3.2% jump over the same period in 2022. Cash generated from operations was also robust at $139.9 million even though it is 21.7% lower when compared to the period. The companys share price in the last year is down 7% and 19.1% respectively on the NGX and the London Stock Exchange respectively. Azerbaijan and Turkiye have signed the Protocol on amendments to the Preferential Trade Agreement, Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov wrote on Twitter. Azerbaijan and Turkiye collaborate in a variety of economic sectors and have completed major energy and infrastructure projects, such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, and TANAP. In 2021, Azerbaijan and Turkiye signed the Shusha Declaration on Allied Relations, which focuses on defense cooperation, promoting regional stability, and prosperity through establishing new transport routes. The two countries set up a goal of bringing the mutual trade turnover to $15 billion in 2023. As of 2021, the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.6 billion. So far, Turkiye is Azerbaijans second-largest investor followed by the UK. Additionally, Turkiye was one of the first countries keen on involvement in the restoration of Azerbaijans liberated territories. Lee Yun-young, left, acting president of KOICA, poses with Peace Corps Chief of Operations and Administration Thomas Peng at a ceremony for an MOU in Washington, D.C., Thursday (local time). Courtesy of KOICE By Kang Seung-woo The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, D.C., Thursday (local time), under which the two sides will normalize overseas volunteer dispatch activities, which were largely limited due to COVID-19. Since 2013, the two organizations have strived to collaborate on global volunteer programs and strengthen exchanges between volunteers of the two nations in developing countries. The key contents of this MOU include developing common cooperation measures focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, climate response and cooperation on the open exchange of information and technological resources. The ceremonial signing of the MOU was attended by Acting KOICA President Lee Yun-young, Peace Corps Chief of Operations and Administration Thomas Peng, along with some 20 related personnel. "I believe that the role and contribution of young generations of our two countries are more important than ever in solving the complex global problems that we face, such as climate change and the health crisis," Lee said. "I hope that the cooperation between our two organizations through the signing of this MOU will serve as a good model of collaboration in the area of development cooperation." Peace Corps Chief of Operations and Administration Thomas Peng said, "This MOU celebrates the long history of cooperation not only between our two organizations but between our two countries." He noted that this MOU marks the next important chapter of ongoing cooperation between Korea and the U.S. to contribute to countries around the world, with a specific focus on the Indo-Pacific region. Meanwhile, Peace Corps Volunteers who had in the past volunteered in Korea were also present at the ceremony, including Gerard Krzic, president of Friends of Korea who served as an English teacher for three years from 1977 at Daechang Middle School in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province. The Friends of Korea was established in 2022 to promote cultural exchange and friendly relations between Korea and the United States. "It is moving and impressive to see that Korea, where we served a long time ago, has achieved such remarkable growth and development that it has now visited the Peace Corps headquarters to discuss cooperation between the organizations of the two countries," Krzic said. Meanwhile, on April 25, KOICA also signed an MOU with the United States Agency for International Development on people-to-people exchanges and knowledge sharing. KOICA expects this will strengthen Korea-U.S. cooperation on development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and enhance the results of development cooperation through learning among colleagues. The incoming administration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu has been advised on how to appoint the next Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Deji Adeyanju, a socio-political activist, said Tinubus incoming administration should appoint a renowned economist as the next CBN governor. Adeyanju said the next CBN governor should have experience of working with financial institutes such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and World Bank. READ ALSO: Buhari, Tinubu attend Jumaat in Abuja In a tweet, Adeyanju urged Tinubus administration to stop appointing bankers as CBN governors. According to Adeyanju: FG must stop appointing bankers as CBN Gov. They know nothing about the economy. These are just mere marketers. An economist of repute with experience of working with world financial institutions and organs like IMF, World Bank, etc, should be the next CBN Gov. Emefiele was appointed on June 4, 2014 and his second tenure is expected to end in 2024. During the electioneering period, CBN had brought up a monetary policy that affected Nigerians and almost scuttled Tinubus victory. President-elect Bola Tinubu has arrived in Lagos , days after he returned to Nigeria from a four-week stay in Europe. The former Lagos State governor arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Nigerias commercial capital on Saturday evening. He was received by some of his associates amongst others. President-Elect Bola Tinubu Arrives Lagos Few Days After His Return From Francehttps://t.co/6iDWG2LSLH pic.twitter.com/p6IcgU4VxQ TVC News (@tvcnewsng) April 29, 2023 His return to Lagos is coming just one month before his swearing-in alongside Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima. NDLEA, has filed a preliminary objection to a suit instituted by the PDP and a chieftain of the opposition party, Senator Dino Melaye seeking an order of mandamus to compel the anti-narcotics agency to arrest and prosecute the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over alleged forfeiture of some funds in his bank accounts over two decades ago in the United States. In a preliminary objection filed on Wednesday, Joseph Sunday, director of prosecution of the NDLEA, said the application by the PDP and Melaye is incompetent and that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain it. The anti-narcotics agency said the suit by the opposition party should be struck out because it is political in nature, adding that it is not in the interest of Nigerians. The NDLEA said the suit was targeted at removing Tinubu as a bonafide candidate in the February 25 presidential election. A Dutch man believed to have fathered over 500 children has been formally banned from donating sp+rm over fears that he is increasing the risk of accidental incst among his spawn. 41-year-old Jonathan Jacob Meijer, was forbidden by a Dutch court on Friday from continuing to donate his semen to clinics. Meijer, a musician, is also required to ask clinics in other countries to destroy any of his semen they may still have, excluding samples previously reserved by patients who already conceived children with him. Meijer was taken to court by a donor children rights NGO and the mother of a kid he allegedly fathered. UK Guardian reports that Dutch guidelines say a donor mustnt father more than 25 children in 12 families. But at the court sitting on Ms case, the judges said the man had helped produce between 550 and 600 children. The Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. Olufemi Olaleye who is charged with defiling his wifes 16-year-old niece, has denied the allegation & also accused his wife of framing him up to take over his house. Dr Olaleye, who is facing a two-count charge of defilement & sexual penetration against a minor, denied the allegations while testifying in his own defence before the Lagos State Domestic & Sexual Offence, Court in Ikeja. The prosecution claimed that the offences which occurred between February 2020 & November 2021 in his Maryland, Lagos home violated sections 137 & 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. The defendant, had however, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. While being led in evidence by his lawyer, Babatunde Ogala (SAN), Olaleye told the trial judge that the testimonies of the survivor & that of his wife were incorrect. An Imo state University lecturer of the Medical Laboratory department, Dr. Desmond Izunwanne, has been called out for aaulting a female student. In a viral video, the student who is reported to be feeling unwell had explained to him that she had visited the hospital just before arriving for his class. Dr. Desmond ignored her explanation and proceeded to slap her multiple times asking her, whats your reason for coming to class late?. He further also asked her why she was on mufti and told her to continue to kneel. It is reported that the affected student was actually pregnant. Meanwhile, some eyewitnesses report that this isnt the first time Dr. Desmonds is engaging in such a barbarous action. He has now come under condemnation from social media users with many traveling to his page to demand an explanation. Three members of a criminal gang of kidnappers have been arrested by a joint security operatives in Aguata Council Area of Anambra State for abdcting a man at Mkpuota. They were arrested on Thursday April 27. The arrested hoodlums are: Chinonso Offor, Hycent Ugwuike, and Samuel Sunday. The suspects were arrested after a gun duel between them and security operatives. The victim was rescued in the process. It would be recalled that in a trending video. men in a prado jeep double-crossed the man in the grey Lexus jeep then forced him into their Black Prado car. They then zoomed off with the man and his car. The eyewitness who filmed the video said he doesnt know the group responsible for the abduction but they were wearing the police polo. They are wearing police polo but they are not police officers. They are kidnappers. They are thieves, the voice filming is heard saying in the video. Spread the love Concerned All Progressives Congress (APC) Members Forum, a registered group of all party members, has intensified lobby for the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly. Convener of the Forum, Okpokwu Ogenyi, briefing newsmen in Abuja on Saturday, demanded APC leaders and elected lawmakers in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to support the emergence of Akpabio from Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria, as Senate President and Senator Barau Jibrin of the APC from Kano State, North West Nigeria for Deputy Senate President. Ogenyi declared: We are aware that zoning is not done in a vacuum, so, we highly recommend Sen. Godswill Akpabio for the position of Senate President and Senator Barau Jibrin as Deputy Senate President respectively. Ogenyi said that their support was based on consideration of federal character in the zoning of the 10th senate leadership bearing in mind, competence and credibility with an understanding that the country is a circular state with multi-faith. According to him, the development will go a long way in building the confidence of party members across the country in preparation for the future of the party. It is pertinent to note that, in the South, South-South contributed the second highest votes after South-West which houses the President-elect. The North-West gave the party the highest votes in the North with Kano state consistently giving APC the highest vote per state in every election since the formation of the party. More so, our submission is based on their legislative experience, prudent financial management, fair disposition towards national peace and unity, care for the less privileged, competence, reward for hard work, electoral value and diplomatic relations. In the National Assembly, Sen. Akpabio is the most ranking senator from the South-South under the platform of the APC while Sen. Barau Jibrin is the most ranking senator from the North West. We call on the President-elect, the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) and the State chairmen of our party to implement a government of National competence by supporting the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South-South and Deputy to the North West, Ogenyi stated. He noted that the constitution of the party and its manifesto which does not preach religion, ethnicity, and tribal dichotomy, emphasised competence while providing qualitative leadership for Nigerians. It is a fact that for the executive arm of government to perform maximally, it must work with the legislature professionally to ensure dividends of democracy to the teaming population of Nigerians. We understand that the business of legislature is highly professional because it deals with law-making and financial appropriation, its leadership must be able, ready, and willing to support Mr. President in the governance of the country. Advertisement We believe that, the partys role in the National Assembly Leadership is to ensure the emergence of a competent senator who has distinguished himself over the years, devoid of religious and tribal sentiment. We need a pan-Nigerian who has been tested and trusted, proven worthy of integrity, character and prudent management. The President-elect is from the South-West and the Vice President-elect is from the Nort-East, as such, the Senate President should be zoned to the South-South and the Deputy Senate President to the North West. The speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy should be accommodated by the other zones in view of competence and credibility of Honourable members, Ogenyi said. He further said that the President-elect needed highly competent National Assembly members with vast knowledge of legislative business to complement him in delivering dividends of democracy to Nigerians. NAN Advertisement .. .Says MD must be arrested Says invites EFCC, ICPC A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, on Sunday demanded that anti-graft agencies should investigate the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a $15 billion Trans-Niger Delta Railway Project signed by the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Samuel Ogbuku, with Atlantic Global Resources Inc, describing it as Yahoo Yahoo Abracadabra. While.describing the action of the NDDCs MD as illegal and a Yahoo Yahoo abracadabra, that is fraudulently laced with deceitful intentions aimed at siphoning the resources of the commission, he called on any of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, to urgently intervene, arrest, investigate and prosecute Ogbuku and his co-conspirators for attempted fraud and misappropriation. According to Frank in a statement in Abuja, only the Chairman of the Governing Board of the NDDC was vested with powers to enter into contracts with other firms by the Act establishing the agency. He said, It is worthy to note, that as part of the responsibility of the Governing Board of the NDDC, as empowered by its establishment Act No 6, 2000, only the Chairman is vested with the sole power to sign contracts or MoUs with any firm or organization. It is curious therefore, as to how only the Managing Director and a selected few in connivance with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs would proceed to sign an MoU without the prior knowledge of the Chairman, but rather justifying an ultra vires action. The position of the NDDC management in its reaction affirming that the $15billion Railway MoU was signed for the preliminary process for a railway network and not an award of contract, suggests that ongoing talks with this company is another calculated attempt to defraud the Niger Delta people in the guise of Preliminary Studies for a Trans-Niger Delta Railway. This shady MoU without due consultation with the board, carried out by the MD of NDDC, Samuel Ogbuku, with Atlantic Global Resources Inc, to build a railway network connecting the nine Niger Delta states can only be described as crass carelessness and outrightly insensitive at this time. Mr. Ogbuku must be reminded that the struggle for the attainment of a better Niger Delta was a battle fought by many and thus as stakeholders in this struggle, were mandated to serve the people relentlessly rather than engaging in the same setbacks of the past. In the light of the above therefore, it is clear that the MD and his partners are clearly toeing the same path as the pre-forensic audit of the commission. Besides, in pursuit of a better Niger Delta, were poised to applaud laudable projects and disapprove of white elephant projects in this regard. It is sad that whilst we continue to hope for overall growth and development of the region, were still confronted with weighty and dubious setbacks detrimental to the positive advancement of the zone. It will be foolhardy to jump on a Trans-Niger Delta Railway networks feasibility, when the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had only recently in 2021 awarded a $11.7 Railway contract that would connect states in the entire region from Lagos. It is therefore shocking that an agency of government will seek to override the prior approval of FEC and initiate another MoU on behalf of the NDDC and the Federal Government for the same project in 2023 without due process nor approval by FEC in the twilight of President Muhammadu Buharis administration. The FEC must make its position clear as regards this recent MoU duplicating the project even as the completion of the East/West Road has since become a mirage with little or nothing done all these years. He called on the National Assembly, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the nine Niger Delta States Governors (Advisory Board of NDDC), and all other stakeholders to outrightly reject the flawed MoU as it is of no immediate significance save for personal aggrandizement. Any form of support in aiding the commission to secure loans for the purpose of this purported Preliminary Studies for the railway construction must be rejected and resisted. The Niger Delta people are desirous of more sustainable programmes that positively affect daily living rather than any phantom project. The NDDC must focus on the implementation of its original masterplan, which no board has achieved since inception and concentrate more on Human Resource Development programmes, including training of youths, provision of better healthcare, education, etc., and cease from being used as a conduit in impoverishing the people, Frank emphasized. ENDS*** Related Advertisement This photo shows Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida holding talks in Tokyo, March 16. Yonhap Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could make his first visit to Korea since taking office in early May to hold a summit with President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese media reported Sunday. The Yomiuri Shimbun cited multiple diplomatic sources saying Kishida's visit could take place on May 7 or 8 to reciprocate Yoon's visit to Tokyo in March. If realized, the trip will mark Kishida's first to Korea since taking office Several other newspapers also carried similar reports. The last visit by a Japanese prime minister to Korea was made by Shinzo Abe in February 2018. Yoon held a summit with Kishida in Tokyo in March in the wake of his government's decision to compensate Korean victims of Japanese wartime forced labor without contributions from Japanese firms. Yoon was the first Korean president in 12 years to make a bilateral visit to Japan, as the two countries' relations had been strained over a series of historical disputes stemming from Tokyo's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. 'The two leaders agreed during their summit to resume shuttle diplomacy, or regular visits to each other's countries. (Yonhap) Advertisement By Izunna Okafor, Awka As part of his efforts to quash the activities of Unknown Gunmen and other criminal elements in the state, Anambra State Government, under Governor Chukwuma Soludo has launched a new joint security operation in Uli, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state. The State Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, disclosed this at a Peace and Security Summit held over the weekend in the community, where he revealed that the operation is tagged Action All the Way. He also noted that about seventeen buildings where unknown gunmen hide in the community have been marked for demolition. CP Echeng, represented by the Police Area Commander for Ihiala, ACP Bassey Christopher, also revealed that the Command has also made a heavy deployment of joint security forces in the area, comprising of the police and the army, who will commence day and night strikes in the four villages of the community. This Peace and Security Summit and Convention is the last chance for the criminals to leave Uli town and after this meeting it is Operation Action All The Way, and we advise the landlords that own those buildings to chase those criminals out of their homes. Already we have taken delivery of all the apparatus for this operation and I want to assure you all that before the end of this coming month the difference would be clear in terms of security of lives and property, he said. Contributing, the Commissioner for Homeland Matters Chief Chikaodi Anaghara emphasized that any such buildings demolished by government will automatically become the property of the state government, in accordance with the relevant law of the State. In line with the Anambra state Laws any building that has been demolished belongs to the government and the former owner or landlord has lost ownership of that land and he cannot lay claim to it or want to go back to rebuild the house, he said. It would be recalled that unknown gunmen have, since last two years, laid siege on Anambra State, where no fewer than two hundred lives have been lost, to the credit of their attacks. Most of these attacks are and activities are noticeable and more rampant in the communities in Anambra South senatorial zone, which Ihiala is one of, and where the gunmen killed four security officials and burnt down five houses few months ago. Related Advertisement The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has asked the opposition parties to stop their endless griping over the 2023 presidential election. Lai Mohammed made this call in a statement issued on Sunday to journalists in Abuja by the Special Assistant to the President (Media), in the Office of the Minister, Segun Adeyemi. According to him, those attacking President Muhammadu Buhari over his recent comment on the 2023 presidential elections as shameless sore losers. The minister said the presidents analysis of the reasons for the oppositions loss in the 2023 elections is incontrovertible. He reiterated the position of the president that the opposition in the 2023 presidential election lost in the polls due to their overconfidence, complacency, and bad tactical moves. Oppositions overconfidence going into the election stemmed in part from the blitzkrieg of social media propaganda as well as faulty and procured opinion polls. These were apparently meant to hoodwink their foreign backers and a section of the international media into uncritically reporting that they were coasting home to victory when they were indeed heading into the ravine of defeat, he said. Mohammed advised the opposition to stop their endless griping over the polls which they lost, adding the president deserves accolades for delivering the best election in Nigerias history. He said, President Muhammadu Buhari lived up to his billing by delivering a free, fair and credible election, and his legacy is assured. The President would rather lose his state and many of his partys strongholds than tamper with the fidelity of the election, and that is why he provided a level-playing field for all parties. According to him, the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu, won the presidential election fair and square, clinching the majority of the votes cast. He added that Mr Tinubu surpassed the constitutionally stipulated 25 per cent of votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the states in the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Going by the results, none of the opposition parties met any of the conditions stipulated for winning the presidential election. They did not even come close, in spite of their pre-election grandstanding. They (opposition) keep leaning on some international observers to justify their fraudulent claim that the election was rigged, he said. Mohammed referred the opposition to the conclusion by Johnnie Carson, a US diplomat, that the APC candidate undoubtedly won the polls. Carson, according to the minister, co-led the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republican Institute (IRI) International Election Observation Mission to Nigeria. They also forgot that the African Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria said the atmosphere was generally calm and peaceful in 95 per cent of the polling units visited. It is on the strength of these reports that many nations, including the US and the UK, wasted no time in congratulating the victorious APC Presidential Candidate, he said. The minister slammed the opposition for continuously seeking to mislead the world by clutching at the weak straw that results were not immediately uploaded onto the IReV Portal. He stressed that the portal had no role to play in the collation of election results. The oppositions insinuation that the failure to immediately upload the result of the presidential election onto IReV affected the credibility of the election is a fraud. It is an act of blackmail and deceit by desperate individuals. The opposition Labour Party, in particular, will go down in the history books as the first-ever distant third-place finisher in a presidential election anywhere to have bold-facedly claimed victory, he said. KanyiDaily recalls that Edwin Clark had called for Lai Mohammeds arrest and prosecution for spreading fake news against Peter Obi to damage his rising profile. The National leadership of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), on Sunday, described as an untrue plan to withdraw its petition against the Ogun State governor-elect, Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the omission of NNPP name on the ballot paper used in conducting the 2023 governorship election in the state. This was contained in a letter dated April 27th, 2023 sent to the secretary, Ogun State governorship and state Houses of Assembly election petition to, Abeokuta, Ogun State by the national legal adviser of NNPP, Hon Robert. On Sunday, the Ogun State chairman of NNPP, Olaposi Oginni, had said the party is withdrawing its petition against Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun before the election petition Tribunal, noting that the political calendar of the state would be disrupted should the petition succeeds. But in a swift reaction by the national leadership of the party in a letter titled, Notification of Unauthorised Withdrawal of Petition No: EPT/OG/GOV/01/2023 pending before the Ogun State Governorship/State House of Assembly Election Tribunal Holden at Abeokuta debunked the development. According to the letter, the attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the NNPP has been drawn to the fact that a notice was filed to withdraw the above captured suit on behalf of the party. We wish to state unequivocally that we do not authorised anybody or group of people nor the counsel on record Peter Ogah to withdraw the suit pending before the honourable tribunal and we do not consent to such withdrawal. By the provisions of the Constitution of New Nigeria Peoples Party, 2022, particularly Article 27.18 (iii), (v) and (vi); it is only the national legal adviser of the party that can engage the services of an external solicitor where desirable subject to the approval by the National Working Committee (NWC), The purported notice of withdrawal of the said petition is not part of the terms of engagement of the external counsel and therefore violates the tenets of our constitution which we hold very dear as a party. We most humbly urge on the honourable tribunal to discountenance the said notice of withdrawal as the phone, NNPP is desirous of prosecuting the petition before your noble lords to its logical conclusion, the letter concluded. [unable to retrieve full-text content] The General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and Delta Governor, Senator (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, on Sunday expressed the optimism that Nigeria would be better when people got closer to God. They spoke at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service of Pastor Emmanuel Emefienim at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Champions A Magistrate Court sitting in Ondo town, headquarters of Ondo West Local Government area of Ondo State, has remanded two brothers of same parents in correctional facility for engaging each other in street fight. It was gathered Gbenro Omokehinde, 27, and his elder brother, Segun Omokehinde, 30, during a scuffle used cutlass to attack each other. The siblings, who were arraigned before Magistrate Odenusi Fadeyi, were charged on alleged breach of public peace. According to the police prosecutor, Joseph Adula, the defendants committed the offence on October 13, 2019, at about 11:50 pm at kabiyesi camp via Ondo. An offence he told the court is contrary to and punishable under section 249(d) of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Volume 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006. The charge read in part, That you, Omokehinde Gbenro and Omokehinde Segun on October 13, 2019, at about 11:50 pm at Kabiyesi camp via Ondo, in the Ondo Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of peace by using cutlass to attack each other causing chaos situation at Kabiyesi camp. That you Omokehinde Gbenro and Omokehinde Segun on the same date, time and in the aforementioned magisterial district did engage each other in a public fight at Kabiyesi camp via Ondo and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 83 of the Criminal code cap 37 volume 1 laws of Ondo State of Nigeria 2006. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor told the court that he would be calling three witnesses to testify in the case while the defence counsel, Mr. Israel Ikuemonisan, applied for the bail of the defendants in most liberal terms. The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Odenusi Fadeyi, ordered the remand of the defendants in prison and adjourned the case till October 23, 2019, for bail consideration. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed a nolle prosequi [termination of legal proceedings], in the case of three public servants who failed to declare their assets. The OSP is doing a lifestyle audit on the three and therefore charged them for non-declaration of assets. Declaration of assets after charge Following the commencement of the prosecution, the three have gone on to submit their asset declaration forms hence the termination of the legal proceedings against them by the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP). The High Court in Accra has therefore gone ahead to discharge the three reports the Ghana News Agency (GNA) The officers are James Keck Osei, a civil servant working at the Office of the Vice President, John Abban, and Peter Archibald Hyde, both senior custom officials. A fourth person, Issah Siedu, another public servant, is however still in court for non-declaration of assets. The four people, made up of three public servants and one civil servant were arrested and charged by the Special Prosecutor on corruption-related offences. Special Prosecutor It followed a Lifestyle Audit by the Special Prosecutor on them and a request for them to declare the source of their various incomes and their refusal to do so. The Special Prosecutor charged them for failing to comply and declare sources of income in contravention of regulation 20 of L.I. 2374. Issah Siedu works with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) while James Keck Osei works with the Office of the Vice President as an administrator. John Abban and Peter Archibald Hyde are senior Officers with Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Facts The facts adduced against them in court by the Special Prosecutor are that, they are all suspects under investigation in respect of corruption and corruption-related offences regarding the importation from Thailand and auction processes of two hundred and fifty (250) tonnes of Lele rice. In December 2022, the Special Prosecutor, in the performance of his functions, served on them, respectively, notices to declare their property and income under regulation 20(1) per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374). They were duly notified, according to the Office of the Prosecutor (OSP) as per the statutory forms and by cover letters under the seal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the seal and mark of the Special Prosecutor, that they were required by law to make the specified declarations and return same to the Office of the Special Prosecutor as per Form 12 of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374, within thirty (30) days of the service on them of the notices as per Forms 11A and 11B of the First Schedule of L.I. 2374. As of the close of business on February 9, 2023, they had failed, without lawful excuse, to return the duly completed statutory forms to the Office of the Special Prosecutor, more than thirty (30) days after the service of the forms on them. They were therefore duly charged with the respective offences. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 This undated fphoto provided by the Army shows 7th Infantry Division troops patrolling along barbed wire fences in the border county of Hwacheon, 89 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Yonhap Less than a decade ago, ground troops used to monitor the heavily-fortified border primarily by eye and with binoculars, and through other tried-and-true methods requiring their around-the-clock presence. But their onerous workload has eased, as the military has introduced cutting-edge equipment, such as high-resolution cameras and sensor systems, to ward off potential border breaches at a time of tensions heightened by a provocative North Korea. Such technology-based defense operations were on full display Thursday when the defense ministry's press corps was invited to a battalion of the 7th Infantry Division tucked in the mountainous terrain in Hwacheon, 89 kilometers northeast of Seoul. The battalion, nicknamed "North Star," is in charge of defending the central and eastern front lines lined with barbed wire fences along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) a 4-kilometer-wide strip that has separated the two Koreas since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. There appeared to be no worrisome signs of North Korean activities during the press tour, but the troops remained on high alert due apparently to tensions caused by Pyongyang's recent weapons tests and its menacing rhetoric. As troops patrolled along the barbed wire fences, others inside the battalion's indoor observation posts pored over surveillance screens, including those that utilize thermal observation devices, locked on targets north of the border, notably North Korean guard posts. A single surveillance soldier is in charge of multiple cameras in operation around the clock so as to ease border troops' burden of monitoring enemy movements by eye. This undated photo provided by the Army shows a 7th Infantry Division soldier standing guard at an outpost in the border county of Hwacheon, 89 kilometers northeast of Seoul. Yonhap The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Volta Region, (DCOP) Andrews Boadu-Ekumah, has warned police officers to desist from engaging in activities that will undermine the smooth execution of their assigned duties. According to him, Under no circumstance should an officer abandon his duty post for religious activities such as all-night prayers or fasting sessions, because the duty call of a police precedes other consideration, he added. DCOP Boadu-Ekumah was speaking at the first quarterly meeting of the 82-member Volta Regional Police Ladies Association (POLAS Volta) in Ho on Tuesday. He pointed out that it was rather ungodly for a police officer to skip his or her duties for church activities or a funeral, adding that the core role of the police was to protect life and property and that cannot be compromised for any reason. Perform your duties diligently and God will bless you in abundance, instead of citing church or funeral as an excuse for staying off duty, DCOP Boadu-Ekumah added. Trust The Volta Regional Police Commander said the Ghana Police Service was committed to building a strong bond of trust and confidence with the public, for which reason any wayward conduct on the part of any officer would not be tolerated. He urged the police personnel to execute their duties with patriotism and be abreast with the law and the dynamics of contemporary society to win respect from the public. DCOP Andrews Boadu-Ekumah, Volta Regional Police Commander, Superintendent Benedicta Ansah, President of POLAS Volta (third right) and other members of POLAS Volta jointly cut the cake to mark the inauguration of the birthday platform of the association DCOP Boadu-Ekumah further entreated police officers to eschew all forms of unprofessional conduct, explaining that hardworking and dedicated officers would not be deprived of the reward due to them. The President of POLAS Volta, Superintendent Benedicta Ansah, urged members of the association to be one anothers keepers and work hard to lift the image of the Ghana Police Service in the region and Ghana to astonishing heights. Source: graphic.com.gh 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 During the first century C.E., when Jesus lived, the Pharisees emerged as a religious movement within Judaism, not a separate sect. The Temple still stood in Jerusalem and it was the center of Jewish life. One of the greatest concerns of Temple rites was purity that both the people who entered the Temple and the animals sacrificed there, were "pure" enough to satisfy God. The Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible starting with Genesis) contains written commandments that explain the proper way to conduct Temple sacrifices, but the Pharisees claimed they had additional divine instructions that had been passed down through centuries of oral tradition. "The Pharisees believed that they had a special reserve of knowledge for determining purity," says Chilton. "They taught that their oral tradition went all the way back to Moses at Sinai, so not only was there a written Torah, which anyone could have access to, but there was also an oral Torah which was inside the Pharisaic movement." Advertisement What was distinctive about the oral tradition of the Pharisees was that it expanded the question of purity to life outside of the Temple. Even if a Jewish person lived far away from Jerusalem (in Galilee, for example) and wasn't planning to make a pilgrimage to the Temple, they could conduct their lives in such a way as to be pure enough to enter the Temple. "In that sense, the Pharisees became a movement for the purity of the Jewish people," says Chilton. The Pharisees were not, however, the powerful elite of first-century Judaism. Those were the Sadducees, the priestly class that controlled Temple worship and held the most political influence with the Roman Empire, which ruled over Palestine. The Sadducees rejected the oral tradition in favor of the written law (Torah). The Pharisees were a working-class movement concerned with establishing a clear and consistent Jewish identity in everyday life. Interestingly, it was the Pharisees who believed in an afterlife and resurrection of the dead, both of which were rejected by the Sadducees as they were not mentioned in the Torah. Pharisees also believed a messiah would come who would bring peace to the world, though most of them did not think that messiah was Jesus. 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: This Aug. 26, 2003, image made available by NASA shows Mars as it lines up with the Sun and the Earth. A new study suggests water on Mars may be more widespread and recent than previously thought. Scientists reported the finding from China's Mars rover in Science Advances on Friday, April 28, 2023. Credit: NASA/J. Bell - Cornell U./M. Wolff - SSI via AP, File Water may be more widespread and recent on Mars than previously thought, based on observations of Martian sand dunes by China's rover. The finding highlights new, potentially fertile areas in the warmer regions of Mars where conditions might be suitable for life to exist, though more study is needed. Friday's news comes days after mission leaders acknowledged that the Zhurong rover has yet to wake up since going into hibernation for the Martian winter nearly a year ago. Its solar panels are likely covered with dust, choking off its power source and possibly preventing the rover from operating again, said Zhang Rongqiao, the mission's chief designer. Before Zhurong fell silent, it observed salt-rich dunes with cracks and crusts, which researchers said likely were mixed with melting morning frost or snow as recently as a few hundred thousand years ago. Their estimated date range for when the cracks and other dune features formed in Mars' Utopia Planitia, a vast plain in the northern hemisphere: sometime after 1.4 million to 400,000 years ago or even younger. Conditions during that period were similar to now on Mars, with rivers and lakes dried up and no longer flowing as they did billions of years earlier. Studying the structure and chemical makeup of these dunes can provide insights into "the possibility of water activity" during this period, the Beijing-based team wrote in a study published in Science Advances. "We think it could be a small amount ... no more than a film of water on the surface," co-author Xiaoguang Qin of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics said in an email. The rover did not directly detect any water in the form of frost or ice. But Qin said computer simulations and observations by other spacecraft at Mars indicate that even nowadays at certain times of year, conditions could be suitable for water to appear. In this April 30, 2021, file image taken by the Mars Perseverance rover and made available by NASA, the Mars Ingenuity helicopter, right, flies over the surface of the planet. A new study suggests water on Mars may be more widespread and recent than previously thought. Scientists reported the finding from China's Mars rover in Science Advances on Friday, April 28, 2023. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS via AP, File What's notable about the study is how young the dunes are, said planetary scientist Frederic Schmidt at the University of Paris-Saclay, who was not part of the study. "This is clearly a new piece of science for this region," he said in an email. Small pockets of water from thawing frost or snow, mixed with salt, likely resulted in the small cracks, hard crusty surfaces, loose particles and other dune features like depressions and ridges, the Chinese scientists said. They ruled out wind as a cause, as well as frost made of carbon dioxide, which makes up the bulk of Mars' atmosphere. Martian frost has been observed since NASA's 1970s Viking missions, but these light dustings of morning frost were thought to occur in certain locations under specific conditions. The rover has now provided "evidence that there may be a wider distribution of this process on Mars than previously identified," said Trinity College Dublin's Mary Bourke, an expert in Mars geology. However small this watery niche, it could be important for identifying habitable environments, she added. Launched in 2020, the six-wheeled Zhurongnamed after a fire god in Chinese mythologyarrived at Mars in 2021 and spent a year roaming around before going into hibernation last May. The rover operated longer than intended, traveling more than a mile (1,921 meters). More information: Xiaoguang Qin et al, Modern water at low latitudes on Mars: Potential evidence from dune surfaces, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8868. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add8868 Journal information: Science Advances 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Nevado del Ruiz volcano emits a cloud of ash in Murillo, Colombia on April 6, 2023. Authorities in Colombia on Saturday recommended that towns closest to a rumbling, notorious volcano be evacuated, ahead of a a possible eruption. The Disaster Risk Management Office said it was moving to evacuate communities that are located within 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the main crater of three that make up the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in the Colombian Andes. Seismic activity has increased at the volcano, which killed 25,000 people in an eruption in 1985. That blast was the worst natural disaster in Colombian history and one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions of the 20th century. There has recently been a "significant increase in seismic activity," the ministry of mines said in a statement while Colombia's SGC geological service warned of a "probable eruption within days or weeks." The 5,300-meter (17,400-foot) colossus in western Colombia is one of the many volcanoes along the Ring of Fire, a path around the Pacific basin characterized by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. On November 13, 1985, it erupted and emitted so much heat that it melted the snow that caps the mountain. This triggered a cascading wall of mud that swallowed the town of Armero, killing half its population of 50,000. 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: Although elephants can cross roads and other infrastructure, elephant habitats across Asia are increasingly hemmed in, with firm boundaries between human and wildlife spaces. These elephants are in Sri Lanka. Credit: Shermin de Silva, CC BY-ND Despite their iconic status and long association with humans, Asian elephants are one of the most endangered large mammals. Believed to number between 45,000 and 50,000 individuals worldwide, they are at risk throughout Asia due to human activities such as deforestation, mining, dam building and road construction, which have damaged numerous ecosystems. My colleagues and I wanted to know when human actions started to fragment wildlife habitats and populations to the degree seen today. We quantified these impacts by considering them through the needs of this species. In a newly published study, we examined the centuries-long history of Asian landscapes that once were suitable elephant habitat and often were managed by local communities prior to the colonial era. In our view, understanding this history and restoring some of these relationships may be the key to living with elephants and other large wild animals in the future. How have humans affected wildlife? It isn't easy to measure human impacts on wildlife across a region as large and diverse as Asia and more than a century ago. Historical data for many species is sparse. Museums, for instance, only contain specimens collected from certain locations. Many animals also have very specific ecological requirements, and there often isn't sufficient data on these features at a fine scale going far into the past. For instance, a species might prefer particular microclimates or vegetation types that occur only at particular elevations. For nearly two decades I've been studying Asian elephants. As a species, these animals are breathtakingly adaptable: They can live in seasonally dry forests, grasslands or the densest of rain forests. If we could match the habitat requirements of elephants to data sets showing how these habitats changed over time, we knew that we could understand how land-use changes have affected elephants and other wildlife in these environments. Fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remain in the wild across 13 countries. Habitat loss is one of the main reasons for their decline. Defining elephant ecosystems The home-range sizes of Asian elephants can vary anywhere from a few hundred square miles to a few thousand. But since we couldn't know exactly where elephants would have been centuries ago, we had to model the possibilities based on where they occur today. By identifying the environmental features that correspond to locations where wild elephants live now, we can distinguish places where they could potentially have lived in the past. In principle, this should represent "good" habitat. Today many scientists are using this kind of model to identify particular species' climatic requirements and predict how areas suitable for those species might shift under future climate change scenarios. We applied the same logic retrospectively, using land-use and land-cover types instead of climate change projections. We drew this information from the Land-Use Harmonization (LUH2) data set, released by a research group at the University of Maryland. The group mapped historical land-use categories by type, starting in the year 850long before the advent of nations as we know them today, with fewer large population centersand extending up to 2015. My co-authors and I first compiled records of where Asian elephants have been observed in the recent past. We limited our study to the 13 countries that today still contain wild elephants: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam. We excluded areas where elephant populations are prone to clashing with people, such as intensively farmed landscapes and plantations, in order to avoid classifying these zones as "good" elephant habitat. We included areas with lighter human influence, such as selectively logged forests, because they actually contain great food for elephants. Asian elephants live in countries with large human populations, and their range has been shrunk and fragmented. Their future depends on human attitudes toward elephants and their conservation. Credit: Hedges et al., 2008, via Trunks & Leaves, CC BY-ND Next, we used a machine-learning algorithm to determine what types of land use and land cover existed at our remaining locations. This allowed us to map out where elephants could potentially live as of the year 2000. By applying our model to earlier and later years, we were able to generate maps of areas that contained suitable habitat for elephants and to see how those areas had changed over the centuries. Dramatic declines Land-use patterns changed significantly on every continent starting with the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s and extending through the colonial era into the mid-20th century. Asia was no exception. For most areas, we found that suitable elephant habitat took a steep dive around this time. We estimated that from 1700 through 2015 the total amount of suitable habitat decreased by 64%. More than 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers) of land were converted for plantations, industry and urban development. With respect to potential elephant habitat, most of the change occurred in India and China, each of which saw conversion in more than 80% of these landscapes. In other areas of Southeast Asiasuch as a large hot spot of elephant habitat in central Thailand, which was never colonizedhabitat loss happened more recently, in the mid-20th century. This timing corresponds to logging concurrent with the so-called Green Revolution, which introduced industrial agriculture to many parts of the world. Could the past be the key to the future? Looking back at land-use change over centuries makes it clear just how drastically human actions have reduced habitat for Asian elephants. The losses that we measured greatly exceed estimates of "catastrophic" human impacts on so-called wilderness or forests within recent decades. Asian elephants live in countries with large human populations, and their range has been shrunk and fragmented. Their future depends on human attitudes toward elephants and their conservation. Credit: Hedges et al., 2008, via Trunks & Leaves, CC BY-ND Our analysis shows that if you were an elephant in the 1700s, you might have been able to range across 40% of the available habitat in Asia with no problem, because it was one large, contiguous area that contained many ecosystems where you could live. This enabled gene flow among many elephant populations. But by 2015, human activities had so drastically fragmented the total suitable area for elephants that the largest patch of good habitat represented less than 7% of it. Sri Lanka and peninsular Malaysia have a disproportionately high share of Asia's wild elephant population, relative to available elephant habitat area. Thailand and Myanmar have smaller populations relative to area. Interestingly, the latter are countries known for their large captive or semi-captive elephant populations. Less than half of the areas that contain wild elephants today have adequate habitat for them. Elephants' resulting use of increasingly human-dominated landscapes leads to confrontations that are harmful for both elephants and people. However, this long view of history reminds us that protected areas alone are not the answer, since they simply cannot be large enough to support elephant populations. Indeed, human societies have shaped these very landscapes for millennia. Today there is a pressing challenge to balance human subsistence and livelihood requirements with the needs of wildlife. Restoring traditional forms of land management and local stewardship of these landscapes can be an essential part of protecting and recovering ecosystems that serve both people and wildlife in the future. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 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: This image shows the jet and shadow of the black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy together for the first time. The observations were obtained with a set of three radio telescopes. Credit: ESO In May 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) team released the first-ever radio image of M87's central black hole. It was a stunning revelation based on observations made using a worldwide array of radio telescopes. Recently, they re-released a newer, sharper image of the black hole's "ring of light." Now, a team of astronomers from Europe, Korea, and China, have taken things a step further. This week, they released another amazing view of this monster, this time, in a slightly different range of radio emissions. It clearly shows the connection between the supermassive black hole, its light ring, and the famous high-speed jet. This latest image was made using an extensive array of radio telescopes. They comprised the Global mm Very Large Baseline Array (GMVA), the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), and the Greenland Telescope (GLT). Their combined observations showed very small details in the region around the galactic core. It's the first time all three major parts of the object are in the same image. The observations, taken in 2018, show the region in radio light emitted at a longer wavelength than the EHT image. It's at 3.5 mm instead of 1.3 mm. "At this wavelength, we can see how the jet emerges from the ring of emission around the central supermassive black hole," says Thomas Krichbaum of the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. The material streaming away from M87 is an astrophysical jet. It contains superheated (ionized) matter flowing out at high speed along an axis of rotation. Getting the big picture of the black hole To understand the structures in the latest image, we need to know more about them. We know that supermassive black holes in the cores of galaxies are tremendously strong gravitational wells. Nothing can escape because they pretty much suck in everything in the neighborhood. The formation of these monsters is still not well understood. But, we can observe what they do to their neighborhoods. In the case of M87, there's an accretion disk funneling material into the black hole. On the other hand, the jet helps some materials to escape. Understanding how such an enormous jet can get created is a longstanding problem in astronomy. It probably forms as a result of some kind of activity inside the surrounding accretion disk. The jet formation likely also involves tangled magnetic fields. However, astronomers are still unclear on all the details. "We know that jets are ejected from the region surrounding black holes," said Ru-Sen Lu from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory in China, "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." The new image also shows how the base of the jet connects with the disk of matter swirling into the black hole. Previous observations showed separate views of that disk and the jet. So, this is the first time both features have been observed together. "This new image completes the picture by showing the region around the black hole and the jet at the same time," said team member Jae-Young Kim from the Kyungpook National University in South Korea and the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany. Messier 87 (M87) is an enormous elliptical galaxy located about 55 million light-years from Earth, visible in the constellation Virgo. M87 has a supermassive black hole at its center, plus a relativistic jet of matter being ejected at nearly the speed of light. Credit: ESO Probing the ring The ring of light surrounding M87's supermassive black hole is another fascinating part of the study. It's actually something of an optical illusion. As matter orbits around, it gets heated by friction with other matter, and by interactions with the magnetic fields. That causes it to emit light. The strong gravitational effect of the black hole bends and captures some of the light. That creates what looks like a ring. We can see it in the EHT image of M87's black hole. The new observations of the ring were made in 2018 and are now being released along with a paper (below) discussing the science. The size of the ring observed by the GMVA network is roughly 50% larger in comparison to the EHT image. "To understand the physical origin of the bigger and thicker ring, we had to use computer simulations to test different scenarios," explained Keiichi Asada from the Academia Sinica in Taiwan. The results suggest the new image reveals more of the material that is falling toward the black hole than what could be observed with the EHT. The new PRIMO reconstruction of the black hole in M87 is in the center. The original radio image from EHT is at left. This is based on a newly cleaned-up image from the Event Horizon Telescope. Credit: Lia Medeiros et al. / ApJL, 2023 More observations planned for M87's black hole This new observation of the jet and the black hole is the first next-generation view of the system. Future studies will continue with networks of radio telescopes ganged together. They'll continue probing the connection between black holes and their jets. "We plan to observe the region around the black hole at the center of M87 at different radio wavelengths to further study the emission of the jet," noted Eduardo Ros from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy. Simultaneous observations using this array and the EHT would allow the team to disentangle all the complex actions that occur near the supermassive black hole. Not only will they be interested in the jet, but also the physics and activities of the accretion disk where the jet launches. "The coming years will be exciting, as we will be able to learn more about what happens near one of the most mysterious regions in the universe," said Ros. 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 giant otter pup (Pteronura brasiliensis), right, looks to his mother, Madija, left, in the Leipzig zoo, central Germany, Sunday, March 25, 2012. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo/Jens Meyer, File By comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, scientists are gaining new insights into our own species and all we share with other creatures. One of the most striking revelations is that certain passages in the instructions for life have persisted across evolutionary time, representing a through line that binds all mammalsincluding us. The findings come from the Zoonomia Project, an international effort that offers clues about human traits and diseases, animal abilities like hibernation and even the genetics behind a sled dog named Balto who helped save lives a century ago. Researchers shared some of their discoveries in 11 papers published Thursday in the journal Science. David O'Connor, who studies primate genetics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the studies tackle deep questions. "It's just the wonder of biology, how we are so similar and dissimilar to all the things around us," said O'Connor, who wasn't involved in the research. "It's the sort of thing that reminds me why it's cool to be a biologist." The Zoonomia team, led by Elinor Karlsson and Kerstin Lindblad-Toh at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, looked at 240 species of mammals, from bats to bison. They sequenced and compared their genomesthe instructions organisms need to develop and grow. Gunnar Kaasen and with his dog Balto, the heroic dogsled team leader, sit for a portrait in the early 1920s. As a part of the Zoonomia Project, with 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science, by comparing Baltos genes to those of other dogs, researchers found he was more genetically diverse than modern breeds and may have carried genetic variants that helped him survive harsh conditions. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo, File They found that certain regions of these genomes have stayed the same across all mammal species over millions of years of evolution. One study found that at least 10% of the human genome is largely unchanged across species. Many of these regions occur outside the 1% of genes that give rise to proteins that control the activity of cells, the main purpose of DNA. Researchers theorized that long-preserved regions probably serve a purpose and are likely what they call "regulatory elements" containing instructions about where, when and how much protein is produced. Scientists identified more than 3 million of these in the human genome, about half of which were previously unknown. Scientists also focused on change within the animal kingdom. When they aligned genetic sequences for species and compared them with their ancestors, Karlsson said, they discovered that some species saw a lot of changes in relatively short periods of time. This showed how they were adapting to their environments. Pregnant beluga whale Maris swims in the Georgia Aquarium's tank in Atlanta on April 11, 2012. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore, File "One of the really cool things about mammals is that at this point in time, they've basically adapted to survive in nearly every single ecosystem on Earth," Karlsson said. One group of scientists looked for genes that humans don't have but other mammals do. Instead of focusing on new genes that might create uniquely human traits, "we kind of flipped that on its head," said Steven Reilly, a genetics researcher at Yale University. "Losing pieces of DNA can actually generate new features," Reilly said. For example, he said, a tiny DNA deletion between chimps and humans caused a cascade of changes in gene expression that may be one of the causes of prolonged brain development in humans. Another study focused on the fitness of one well-known animal: Balto. Scientists sequenced the genome of the sled dog, who led a team of dogs carrying a lifesaving diphtheria serum to Nome, Alaska, in 1925. His story was made into a 1995 animated feature film and a statue of the pup stands in New York's Central Park. A vampire bat is caught in a net in Aracy, in the northeast Amazon state of Para, Brazil, on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2005. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo/Mario Quadros, File A Chinese pangolin rests on a tree branch at the Save Vietnam's Wildlife rescue center in Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Binh province, Vietnam, on Sept. 20, 2016. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo/Hau Dinh, File A herd of bison grazes during midday at a Cherokee Nation ranch in northeastern Oklahoma on Sept. 27, 2022. The Zoonomia Project is an international effort comparing the genetic blueprints of an array of animals, including this species, and some of the discoveries were shared in 11 papers published Thursday, April 27, 2023, in the journal Science. Credit: AP Photo/Audrey Jackson, File By comparing Balto's genes to those of other dogs, researchers found he was more genetically diverse than modern breeds and may have carried genetic variants that helped him survive harsh conditions. One of the authors, researcher Katherine Moon of the University of California, Santa Cruz, said Balto "gives us this guide through comparative genomics," showing how genetics can shape individuals. O'Connor said he expects Zoonomia to yield even more insights in the future. "To have these tools and to have the sort of audacity to ask these big questions" helps scientists and others "learn more about life around us," he said. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. By Hajaratu Kalokoh The University of Sierra Leone (USL) says there has been no increase in fees for any of its constituent colleges, following public outcry that fees had gone up. USL in a statement signed by its Registrar, Olive Barrie, says: The government directs that Tuition fees should not be increased in the university and the management of the University of Sierra Leone strictly abides by that. But in spite of the assurance, a breakdown of administrative charges imposed by the university increases the total amount students will have to pay for the 2019/2020 academic year. The charges that include Library use, examination, ICT and medical means that students will now have to pay Le1, 053, 750 (US$ 100) in addition to their different tuition fees. For example, a 2nd year Bachelor of Arts student at Fourah Bay College will now have to pay a tital of Le 3, 226,440 ($322), while a 2nd year Financial Accounting student at IPAM will now have to pay Le 3,579, 940 ($350) for the 2019/2020 academic year. The student union body at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM), one of the constituent colleges of USL, raised concern over the development. In a statement signed by student president, Alpha Kabba, the union said: The inclusion of these charges is going to contribute to many students dropping out of their course work. How can you institute Free Quality Education at Primary and Secondary education and increase the fees in universities? This action is completely counterproductive, the statement said. The FBC students body also expressed concern over the issue. Its President, Augustine Bonah, said they were negotiating with the university authorities to see how they could reduce the charges. On Thursday the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education weighed in on the matter. Deputy Minister Turad Senesie appeared to agree with the students that the situation amounted to an increment in fees. He told journalists at the weekly government press briefing that the university did not consult with the government before taken the decision which had been reversed. But for the IPAM- SUG, tuition fee is not their only concern. They also have issues with the university administration about examination grades of students and how they have been handled by college authorities. In the same statement that was released on November 8th, the IPAM student body called on students to boycott classes until grades and promotional lists for all classes were published. Subject to the published time table for students to start lectures for the 2019/2020 academic year, the IPAM students union government implores all students to stay away from campus until these issues below are looked into (i) All grades should be published for both first and Second Semester examinations respectively before the reopening of University (ii) Promotional Lists for all programmes should be published before reopening of University (III) Reference Examinations for all modules should be conducted immediately before the reopening of university (iv) Students who wrote for remark of their scripts should be done and their deserving grades published before reopening of University, the statement read. Lectures at IPAM were supposed to resume last Tuesday, 12 November. But like in other colleges, classes did not start. Sara Mannah Sesay, a final year student in the Business Administration Department at IPAM, explained to Politico that it is a common practice for the college to withhold examination grades till the middle of the following academic year. They do not want to release our grades and promotion list. That is their usual habit. For us at Business Administration Department, we have only seen first semester grades. Sometimes students will promote to another level by themselves then later when grades are out some will end up repeating. Other departments like Financial Service has not even got their first semester grades, she lamented. Last month, students at FBC raised similar concerns over publication of grades. Their concern was that college authorities had slated a date for re-sit of examination without publishing grades that to show who are supposed to join those re-siting the exams. University authorities have since budged. The reopening of colleges has been pushed to November 25th. The University administration said it intended to complete a number of issues before re-opening, including the display of pass list for 2018/2019 academic year for all fully paid and registered students, and the issuance of academic transcripts for paid up and registered students. The university has already lost over a month in its regular academic calendar due to the delay. Copyright 2019 Politico Online WHITE CREEK The sheep on the 30th annual Washington County Fiber Tour shrugged off intermittent rain Saturday, and so did the visitors who came to see them. People showed up right at 10 a.m., said Andrew Peterson, who co-owns Caer Luna Farm with his wife Katie Hondrogen. Peterson and Hondrogen were showing their Icelandic sheep, Nigerian dwarf goats, and newly-hatched chicks on the self-guided tour. Peterson and Hondrogen were raising goats, rabbits, chickens, and ducks on a small plot of land in Wynantskill when they went on the Fiber Tour a few years ago, Peterson said. What they saw of Washington County persuaded them to look for property here, where they could expand their operation. Caer Luna Farms previous owner had let a small farm become overgrown. Petersons and Hondrogens sheep and goats were put to work clearing the brush, Peterson said. The pastured chickens followed to help restore the soils fertility. Hondrogen is a dairy goat fan, and Nigerian dwarf goat milk has the highest butterfat content of any goat breed, she said. She combines the milk with fragrances from her homegrown flowers and herbs to create soap. The couple chose Icelandic sheep because Hondrogen likes to knit, and the breed yields high-quality wool and good meat. The chickens include Silkies, known as the best chicken breed for pets; Black Copper Marans, which lay a chocolate-brown egg; Icelandics; Olive Eggers; Lavender Ameraucanas; and other breeds and mixes. Hondrogen explained that there are two basic chicken egg shell colors, white and blue. The shades and hues in their flocks eggs result from bloom, a thin layer of mucous, that the hen adds during the laying process. Colored eggs are highly sought after by poultry fanciers, and the couple ships eggs and chicks across the country. The sheep, goats, and their guard dogs were penned within an easy walk of the barn where Hondrogen and Peterson were selling soap, eggs, meat, and yarn. Newly-hatched chicks snuggled under a heat lamp in the next barn over. The adult chickens, which are certified free of avian influenza, were off-limits to visitors to prevent infection. Eagle Eye Lane farm A few miles away in the town of Cambridge, Joe and Georgianna Hamilton had opened their Eagle Eye Lane farm for the weekend. The couple had invited local producers to set up booths with home-raised meat, maple syrup, eggs, tea, wine, naturally-dyed yarn, and soap. The Hamiltons raise commercial dual-purpose sheep, including Romneys, Wensleydales, Cotswold, Scottish Blackface, and Tunis. We focus on meat but like wool production too, Georgianna Hamilton said. These are good dual-purpose animals. We have a lot of fun with it. Hamilton said shes been involved with sheep all my life. Joe Hamilton had sheep as a youngster and learned to shear them. Their children are in 4-H and have shown sheep at the Washington County Fair, she said. The Hamiltons moved to Washington County the same year as Peterson and Hondrogen, 2019. They were looking forward to getting to know the community when COVID shut everything down for two years. The Hamiltons joined the Fiber Tour for the first time last year. Joe Hamilton, who has been shearing for close to 20 years, was giving shearing demonstrations with the ewes in the familys flock. After some initial resistance, sheep usually resign themselves to the process, he said. Theyre less likely to balk if theyre on a softer surface, such as the rubber mat hed laid over the grass, and if they have some fat to pad their hip bones. Hamilton finishes by giving the sheep a hoof trim. Spinning yarn Natasha Field, from East Nassau, was spinning yarn from one of the Hamiltons fleeces. She also knits, crochets, and weaves, and shes learning to shear from Joe Hamilton. Even the coarser wool, like the Tunis wool, can be used for crafts, she said. Field especially likes combining naturally-colored wools in garments and cloth. Its really fun to do things with handspun yarn, Field said. Anything you can make with millspun yarn, you can make with handspun yarn. The Thruway corridor has landed some blockbuster projects over the past several months. Just north of the Batavia exit, Edwards Vacuum is preparing to build a $319 million manufacturing plant. Farther east on the highway, Micron Technology is planning to invest up to $100 billion in a computer chip facility near Syracuse. Those massive projects, along with some others, are drawing attention to the state's main east-west highway as a destination for economic development. And a corporate site selection consultancy's report found that the upstate I-90 corridor, from Buffalo to Albany, stacks up well against its competitors when it comes to the annual cost of operating a manufacturing plant. The Boyd Co. researched 30 high-tech corridors around the country, and explored the cost of operating a hypothetical 350,000-square-foot plant with 550 employees. The I-90 corridor the only New York state area on the list was rated seventh least expensive, at $42.8 million in annual operating costs. It was also the lowest-cost corridor in the Northeast. The cheapest corridor on the list was in Central Texas, at $39.5 million, while the most expensive was in the San Francisco Bay area, at $53.6 million. The study took a wider-lens view of economic development territories, focusing on corridors, instead of specific regions such as Buffalo or Rochester. "In the site selection business today, advanced manufacturing site searches, it's all about identifying corridors," said John Boyd Jr., a partner in the Boyd Co. With corridors, companies maximize their access to workforce, transportation, airports and support services. "Because of all these factors, many site-seeking companies begin their search along a prominent interstate highway or public transit corridor," the study said. Edwards will be positioned to support the Micron plant that will be located just a few hours' drive down the Thruway. And Edwards will build its plant at a Genesee County business site the Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park that can draw workers from both the Buffalo and Rochester regions. Higher labor, energy costs In the Boyd study, the corridor that ranked the cheapest for operating a plant SH 130, between Austin and San Antonio is where Samsung opted to build a $17 billion semiconductor plant. STAMP was identified as a contender for that project. In the study, the upstate New York corridor's total annual labor costs were $37.8 million, about 10% higher than the Central Texas corridor's. The study also calculated the New York plant's annual electric power costs at about $587,000, and its natural gas costs at $1.1 million. By comparison, the Central Texas plant's electric costs were pegged at about $496,000, and its natural gas costs at only $490,000. Boyd said both the New York and Texas corridors boast something many other corridors can't: proximity to an international border. "It's a fundamental strength," he said. Boyd said that fits with the push toward "nearshoring," or bringing manufacturing operations closer to home from overseas, amid concerns about supply chain disruptions. Umicore has announced it will invest more than $1 billion in a facility in Kingston, Ontario, to make materials used in electric vehicle batteries. Boyd said New York State companies are well located to support that kind of plant. "It's a day's truck drive," he said. Incentives are no doubt a factor in helping secure big-dollar economic development projects, but ongoing operating costs remain an important consideration in the decisions, Boyd said. And not all suppliers are eligible to capture such big incentives. "Incentives are key, but the true cost of doing business still are a major site selection factor," he said. A historic deal A fifth-generation manufacturer dating to the late 1800s has been sold. Star Headlight and Lantern located in Avon, in Livingston County was bought by Grote Industries. Grote is headquartered in Indiana. "After much consideration and careful evaluation of what is best for Star, we are confident that under the Grote family care and leadership, the Jacobs family legacy of bringing innovative, high-quality products to its customers will continue and prosper," said Christopher Jacobs, Star's owner and CEO. Star was started in 1889 just after President Benjamin Harrison was inaugurated by five founding owners. Four months later, George Washington Jacobs bought out the five investors. Today, the company makes products for the rail, amber light, and emergency lighting markets. Grote has over a century of history on its side, too. The company was founded in 1922. WHITE CREEK A Vermont man is accused of rape. State police received information in January indicating an inappropriate relationship between a child and an adult man. The investigation determined that from October 2022 until January 2023, Jason M. Brownell II, 21, of Bennington, had an alleged sexual relationship with a child under the age of 13 while in White Creek. Brownell was charged with felony first-degree rape. He turned himself in to the state police station in Greenwich on April 20. He was arraigned in White Creek Town Court and sent to Washington County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash, $10,000 bond or $20,000 partially secured bond. Anyone with information about this crime or if they believe they are a victim, they are asked to call 518-583-7000 or crimetip@troopers.ny.gov. As the world learned to adapt to the new normal in the midst of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic by buoying remote learning and working opportunities, it now faces several reverse challenges, returning to the old normal. For schools, one of those challenges is reversing the trend of increased chronic student absenteeism, a problem school districts are seeing locally and around the state and nation. Attendance is one of the accountability measures that is used for schools yet schools are really struggling with attendance particularly following COVID, said Amy Langworthy, superintendent for Warrensburg Central School District, during a recent school board meeting. There are agencies in the past that districts have reached out to for support or help and are no longer getting that support or help, so it really is just left on the districts to figure it out. Earlier in that meeting, Warrensburg High School Principal Doug Duell informed the board that prior to COVID, high school attendance averaged at around 95% to 96%. Now were 91%, 90%, Duell said. Between a social worker, school counselor, and myself, we are doing a ton more home visits just to get kids to come to school. Its a real challenge in some families to get them up and people are struggling to get some of their kids here. Under New York States compulsory education laws, every child between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend full-time school. Under the law, it is the parent or guardians responsibility to ensure their children comply with the compulsory rule. Failure to do so could result in the guardian being fined, or even jailed. In extreme cases, the child could be placed in foster care. If the child is at least 16 years old and attends a school in a district that has a higher dropout age, the student could also face penalties and/or jail time for violating the compulsory education laws. But that outcome is counter-attuned to the mission of the law itself, which, according to the New York State Education Departments website, aims to see that children are not left in ignorance, that from some source they receive the instruction that will fit them for their place in society. Poor school attendance is correlated to poor attendance when they get to where they are an employee somewhere, Langworthy said. It establishes a pattern that is really lifelong. Using the law Langworthy said invoking the compulsory law is an absolute last-ditch effort to compel students into the classroom, but even when the situation is called for, she said the social services system is often too congested to be effective. When we make a report, because weve exhausted everything that we can do on our end and we dont get any support either from social services or the courts, were kind of at a loss and theres not really anything we can do. She said. We keep trying of course, because we know kids need to be in school, but its just really frustrating. Warrensburg schools, like many others in the area and across the country have taken matters into their own hands in an attempt to manage the situation before it becomes a legal issue. Enhanced access to social services within the schools themselves, practical services such as transportation and dedicated attendance staff members have all been added throughout many school budgets. But the most important tool in the districts arsenal has been communication. During his presentation to the board, Duell cited the Washington County Assistant District Attorneys Offices participation in sending letters to parents of children with chronic absenteeism. The assistant district attorney has taken an active interest in attendance in Washington County and they have asked that the school districts CC them on the attendance letters and when they get to 20 absences, the assistant district attorney is sending a letter to the parents, telling them, essentially that theyre going to get charged with endangering the welfare of a child if their kid doesnt start attending school, Duell explained. But in Washington County, as with most districts, school officials would rather work directly with parents than levy a threatening letter. Its been challenging for everybody through COVID, and its been challenging for folks event without COVID financially, socially, emotionally and it isnt always the best way to go about it by sending some letter saying, Hey if we dont hear from you, weve got to submit your name to the district attorneys office and theyre gonna send you a letter, said Dan Ward, superintendent for the Hudson Falls School District. Theres a time and a place for that, and Im appreciative of the assistant district attorney for Washington County for us having that option, but were trying to exhaust every possibility before going to that option. Ward said that prior to COVID, high school attendance was at around 92%. It dropped to 80% in 2021, and as of now, it has only climbed back up to 88.6%. Like any school, Hudson Falls uses counselor intervention and home visits as a means of connecting with students and parents to overcome whatever hurdles theyre experiencing with attendance. The idea, Ward said, is to create a partnership between parents and school officials aimed at the academic success of the student. During the pandemic, the schools mission was to support parents and students as they worked to balance their academic needs with the health and safety concerns brought on by the virus. Hudson Falls Assistant Superintendent Michael DeCaprio said teachers even visited homes to check on the wellbeing of students as well as their families. So we had a script and we had a buddy system for folks to go out there and just check in on our kids, hey, we miss you, type of visits, he said. Now that the restrictions brought on by the pandemic have been lifted, and the health and safety concerns are largely under control, that mission has shifted to getting kids back in the classroom. But rather than focus solely on the students who arent at school, Ward and DeCaprio said they have developed programs that focus on the students who are at school. Often time with attendance or poor attendance, its always rooted in consequences, DeCaprio said. Your grades fall off, you get these automated calls looking for you. It definitely feels more punitive that anything else. We really wanted to change the narrative. State and national efforts Prior to the pandemic, around eight million children were chronically absent from schools in New York state. Post-pandemic, that number has grown considerably, according to data tracked by the New York State Education Department. In New York state, 15.6% of elementary school students, and 24.5% of high school students were chronically absent in 2018-19, the last full school year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021-22, the most recent full years worth of data, those numbers jumped to 29.8% of elementary students, and 37.8% of high school students. The state defines chronic absenteeism as a student missing at least 10% of total enrolled days of school. On its website, NYSED states chronic absence differs from traditional attendance measures because its emphasis is on missed instructional time, which takes into account both unexcused and excused absences rather than focusing on unexcused absences or truancy. Clearly, having students in school for instruction is a fundamental first step to helping students achieve. Fortunately, considerable research has shown that interventions to help get kids to school are successful, and when students stop being chronically absent, they improve academically and are more likely to stay in school. The state cited organizations devoted to the problem, including Attendance Works, a national nonprofit that has formed as a direct response to the increased absenteeism following the pandemic. Attendance Works collaborates with schools, districts, states, communities and other organizations to ensure that everyone recognizes that chronic absence is a serious issue that can be addressed using a positive, problem-solving approach grounded in an understanding of educational inequities. Another program cited by NYSED, Every Student Present, is a public awareness campaign developed by the Council on Children and Families and is intended to help families, school leaders and communities understand the impact of multiple school absences on childrens learning, especially young students. The goals of the campaign are to promote awareness of chronic absence and to build capacity among schools, families and communities to reduce it. A local program The Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow program started in Hudson Falls schools last February. The program partners with community businesses and other sponsors that offer special prizes as incentives for students who meet certain attendance thresholds. At the earliest grades, you can do little things its pencils and T-shirts and stuffed animals, DeCaprio said. As we get a little older, we do class level competitions which class in the hallway has the best attendance throughout the month theyll get a pizza party. The program even recognizes those students who have worked to improve their attendance. Its about good attendance, he said. Its perfect attendance, and its improved attendance. Ward also said the district expanded the districts extracurricular offerings, using federal aid dollars to fund as many clubs as there are faculty advisors available. If we can connect our students to school in some fashion, we want to do so because thats going to have a positive impact on how they feel about school, which is going to have a positive impact on how much they want to attend school, he said. The district also recently hired an attendance officer dedicated to investigating excessive absences and connect with families to make sure their needs are being met at a more individualistic level. There are a hundred reasons why we might have kids still missing school, DeCaprio said. Im hopeful our attendance officer is able to scratch into some of that and get into a hundred different reasons and find a hundred different solutions. For example, Ward said theyve found that at two of the five Hudson Falls school buildings, Tuesdays seem to be the most missed day for most absent students. Very weird that for some reason Tuesday is the day that the highest number of kids are missing, he said. We dont have the answer to that yet, but were asking the question. Maybe its coincidental, but were digging into the data. For the past several years, Ward said parents have been able to balance their priorities with a certain level of flexibility. Now that many employers are beginning to bring workplaces back to pre-COVID schedules, that flexibility is becoming less available. I do think its as simple as that, he said. Folks have to choose, and if theyre choosing between, I have to be at work every day, or Ive got to make sure my kids in school every day, theyve got to choose work, because theyve got to pay the bills. And thats where us trying to provide the supports we can provide really factors in. Chronic absenteeism rates District 2019 secondary 2022 secondary 2019 elementary/middle 2022 elementary/middle Abraham Wing N/A N/A 16.4% 26.8% Arygle 14.9% 38.5% 12.9% 33.1% Bolton 18.0% 29.2% 5.3% 25.0% Cambridge 13.7% 32.0% 5.3% 31.1% Corinth 18.4% 70.7% 12.6% 76.6% Fort Ann 18.6% 18.0% 11.3% 16.5% Fort Edward 23.1% 50.0% 16.6% 47.6% Glens Falls 31.3% 52.7% 13.8% 24.6% Granville 25.7% 32.7% 10.1% 26.2% Greenwich 16.4% 52.6% 9.1% 27.6% Hadley-Luzerne 27.7% 25.9% 18.9% 30.8% Hartford 10.4% 18.9% 6.7% 7.0% Hudson Falls 31.8% 52.3% 14.4% 37.4% Johnsburg 21.3% 34.5% 15.5% 22.8% Lake George 9.4% 19.1% 6.0% 19.0% North Warren 13.0% 38.5% 6.9% 30.0% Putnam N/A N/A 18.9% 47.4% Salem 15.2% 28.7% 16.9% 20.7% Schuylerville 20.9% 21.7% 10.7% 9.9% South Glens Falls 17.3% 31.0% 10.4% 23.3% Queensbury 12.0% 27.9% 10.2% 22.4% Warrensburg 22.7% 38.3% 15.5% 40.2% Whitehall 22.4% 35.7% 18.6% 52.7% U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is an original cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to extend two Obamacare health care programs for five more years. Stefanik was among the original cosponsors of legislation U.S. Rep. John Joyce, R-Penn., introduced April 10 to extend the federal Community Health Center program and National Health Services Corps program funding through the end of 2028. The funding now is set to stop at the end of this year. The Community Health Center program provides funding for five regional organizations including Hudson Headwaters Health Network, which collectively provide primary care to more than 250,000 patients in the 21st Congressional District, Stefanik said in a news release. Extending this funding is critical to serving the needs of our region, Stefanik said. The National Health Services Corps provides scholarships and loan forgiveness for students studying to become primary care physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Both programs were established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. The legislation, HR 2559, had eight cosponsors five Democrats and three Republicans, as of April 26, according to the Library of Congress government information website. In other regional political news: Tonko campaign cash U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, transferred $100,000 from his campaign fund to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the political arm of the House Democratic Conference, in the first quarter, according to a new campaign finance report filed with the Federal Election Commission. Tonko also contributed $5,000 from his campaign fund to the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and $15,000 to various House Democratic candidates. Tonko raised $185,962 in the first quarter, and had $671,968 in his campaign fund, as of March 31. Bail reform U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, is an original co-sponsor of legislation U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wis., introduced April 25 to direct the federal Department of Justice to compile a report on individuals arrested on charges of violent crimes who are released on bail or otherwise released before trial in state court systems. The most recent report was compiled in 2007, according to a news release from Fitzgeralds office. The legislation, HR 2833, had six cosponsors all Republican as of April 26. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., introduced Senate companion legislation. Drug enforcement State Sen. Jake Ashby, R-Castleton, on April 3 introduced legislation to establish a new Class E felony crime for selling an illegal controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a drug and alcohol treatment facility and within 1,000 feet of an Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous meeting. People in recovery programs are trying to turn their lives around, but too often dealers are preying on them outside rehab centers, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings or Narcotics Anonymous meetings. New York can and must stop this heinous selling of drugs, Ashby wrote in the justification section of the legislation. The legislation had no Senate cosponsors and no Assembly sponsor, as of April 26. Historic businesses Participation in a state program which recognizes and promotes longstanding businesses would be increased under legislation which state Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner, D-Round Lake, introduced in February, and which passed the Assembly on March 20 and the Senate on April 17. The legislation increases the number of nominations to the state Historic Business Preservation Register that each member of the Legislature can make to 10 per two-year term, and for the governor and lieutenant governor to 10 per four-year term. Currently, each official is limited to two nominations per term. To be included in the register, a business must have been in existence for at least 50 years, among other qualifications. Businesses on the register are included on a state website that features an interactive map, and businesses receive a decal to place in a business window. The designation is honorary, and does not place the business under any additional government regulations. Local businesses now listed on the register include Poopies Dimannos Lunch in Glens Falls, Telescope Casual Furniture in Granville, and Owl Pen Books in Greenwich. Health care PACs Health care-related political action committees contributed $18,500 to the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, in the 21st District, and $16,000 to the re-election campaign of Rep. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, in the 20th District, in the first quarter, according to campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Only one health care-related PAC, the American Physical Therapy Association, contributed to both candidates. The breakdown is as follows: Stefanik Federation of American Hospitals, $5,000; Elevance Health Care Corp., a health insurance and health care planning company, $2,500; Molina Healthcare, a health insurance company, $5,000; American Family Physicians, $1,000; American Nurses Association, $1,500; American Physical Therapy Association, $1,000; American Dental Association, $2,500. Tonko American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, $2,500; American Association of Nurse Practitioners, $2,500; American Chiropractic Association, $1,000; American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, $1,000; American Optometric Association, $1,000; American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, $1,000; National Emergency Medicine PAC, $1,500; American Association of Orthodontists, $2,000; American Occupational Therapy PAC, $2,500. American Physical Therapy Association, $1,000. Backroads PAC Backroads PAC, the political action committee of 2018 and 2020 Democratic congressional candidate Tedra Cobb, is continuing its fundraising and taking steps to reach out to new donors. The PAC raised $5,523 in the first quarter, largely in so-called small dollar contributions of less than $200 per contributor, according to a new campaign finance reported filed with the Federal Election Commission. The PAC spent $6,146 in the first quarter, none of which was for staff compensation. The largest expense was $3,348 to NGP Van Inc. to purchase computer software to help identify potential new donors. The PAC had $19,135 on hand as of March 31. Events Sunday, April 30 ATLANTIC COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOOK SALE: daily through Aug. 31; proceeds benefit the Atlantic County Library Foundation support of programming in your library branch; Mays Landing Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 40 Farragut Ave., Hamilton. 609-625-2776 or atlanticlibrary.org. 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST': 2 p.m.; Egg Harbor Township High School presents the Broadway musical Disney's "Beauty and the Beast"; Egg Harbor Township High School, 24 High School Drive, Egg Harbor Township; $10. 609-653-0100 or ehths.booktix.com. MISS TRI-CITY SCHOLARSHIP PAGEANT: 6 to 10 p.m.; find out who the next Miss Tri-City will be; pageant winner will go on to represent Vineland, Millville, Buena and the surrounding areas; The Landis Theater, 830 E. Landis Ave., Vineland, $15. thelandistheater.com. RENAISSANCE FAIRE: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Historic Smithville Village is hosting the annual Renaissance Faire; Historic Smithville, 615 E. Moss Mill Road, Galloway Township. 609-748-8999 or historicsmithville.com. Monday, May 1 ESL CAREER READINESS LAB: 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays through July 31; learn how to use the Engen Language Upskilling platform, which provides ESL classes and tutorials with a focus on job interview skills, and the food and beverage industry and hospitality industry; Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. 609-345-2269 or acfpl.org. HOUSEPLANTS PRESENTATION: 2 to 3 p.m. Mondays through May 22; learn how to plant, propagate, and care for a variety of popular plant species; Ventnor City Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 6500 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor. 609-823-4614 or atlanticlibrary.org. LINE DANCING - WITH SUSAN PENNYPACKER: noon to 12:45 p.m. Mondays; no meetings May 29, Sept. 4, Oct. 9; Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. MAY DAY TEA PARTY: 3 to 4 p.m.; celebrate May Day with a flower craft and snacks; open for adults; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township; registration required. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org. MEDITATIVE DRUM CIRCLE: 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays; bring your own instrument or borrow one; no meetings May 29, Aug. 28, Sept. 4, Oct. 9, Nov. 6, Dec. 25; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. SCRABBLE NIGHT: 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. first and third Mondays through May; bring your own team or play with others; Public Library, 235 32nd St., Avalon. avalonfreelibrary.org. Tuesday, May 2 PRAC SENIOR DANCE CLASSES: 10 to 11 a.m.; during the month of May, P.R.A.C. of Southern New Jersey will host free senior dance classes; Public Library, 1058 E. Landis Ave., Vineland. 856-794-4244 or vinelandlibrary.org. Wednesday, May 3 ADULT BOARD GAME NIGHT: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays May 3, 17, June 7, 21, July 5, 19, August 2, 16; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org. For kids Monday, May 1 PRE-K CLUB AND CRAFT: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through May 22, June 5, 12; Galloway Township Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 306 E. Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway. 609-652-2352 or atlanticlibrary.org. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME - ABSECON: 10 to 11 a.m. Mondays; Absecon branch/Atlantic County Library System, 305 New Jersey Ave., Absecon. 609-646-2228 or atlanticlibrary.org. PRESCHOOL STORYTIME - EGG HARBOR CITY: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Aug. 28; Egg Harbor City Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 134 Philadelphia Ave., Egg Harbor City. 609-804-1063 or atlanticlibrary.org. Tuesday, May 2 TODDLER STORYTIME AND CRAFT: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays through May 9; for ages 18 months to 3 years; Hammonton Branch/Atlantic County Library System, 451 S. Egg Harbor Road, Hammonton. 609-561-2264 or atlanticlibrary.org. Groups Monday, May 1 AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS: 11 a.m. Mondays; for those troubled by someone else's drinking; Egg Harbor City Senior Center, 351 Cincinnati Ave., Egg Harbor City. AL-ANON.org. GREAT BOOKS CLUB: 10 a.m. to noon every other Monday through May 15; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. LONGPORT NEEDLERS: 10 a.m. to noon Mondays; bring your needle/crochet craft project and join us for a time of crafting and socializing; Longport Public Library, 2305 Atlantic Ave., Longport. 609-487-7403 or LongportPublicLibrary.org. 'MONEY TALKS' ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUP: 7 to 8 p.m. first Mondays; monthly online discussion group with thought-provoking topics related to money and wellness; virtual event hosted by the Mental Health Association New Jersey. 609-652-3800 or MHANJ.org. Tuesday, May 2 INTERMEDIATE SPANISH CONVERSATION VIRTUAL CLASS: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; intermediate-level Spanish Conversation class via Zoom; Atlantic City Free Public Library, 1 N. Tennessee Ave., Atlantic City. 609-345-2269 or ACFPL.org. JERSEY CAPE WRITERS: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. first and third Tuesdays; e-mail Jerseycapewriters01@gmail.com to register; share your writing and ideas in a friendly and supportive environment; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or Events.CMCLibrary.org. YARNBENDERS CROCHET AND KNITTING CLUB: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Aug. 29; Egg Harbor Township/Atlantic County Library System, 1 Swift Drive, Egg Harbor Township. 609-927-8664 or atlanticlibrary.org. Wednesday, May 3 'TOO MUCH STUFF?' MEETINGS: 1 to 2 p.m. first and third Wednesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; online or call-in support for those with clutter challenges, collecting behaviors, or hoarding tendency. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. Health, fitness Monday, May 1 CHAIR YOGA - WITH LYNNE CATARRO: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays; no class 5/29, 9/4, 10/9, 12/25; Cape May County Library/Wildwood Crest Branch, 6300 Atlantic Ave., Wildwood Crest. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. 'GOT STRESS?' ONLINE GROUP: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Mondays; online group meets to discuss daily wellness, coping strategies and tools to relieve stress and reduce anxiety; offered by The Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; free. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. Tuesday, May 2 BODY IMAGE & BALANCE MEETINGS: 7 to 8 p.m. first and third Tuesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; call-in and online group for those living with or recovering from disordered eating. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. DEALING WITH DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP: 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays; hosted by the Mental Health Association in Atlantic County; online support group for those living with depression. 609-652-3800 or MHAAC.info. ZUMBA WITH KELLIE WOOD: 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays; Cape May Court House Branch, 30 Mechanic St., Middle Township. 609-463-6350 or events.cmclibrary.org. MAYS LANDING The township that houses the countys new central court is heading for the exit. The Hamilton Township Committee introduced an ordinance April 17 marking its withdrawal from the Atlantic County Central Municipal Court and pledging to have the township form a new joint court with Hammonton. This act follows a resolution the committee issued earlier in April authorizing Mayor Carl Pitale to withdraw the township from the consolidated judicial body pursuant to its rights in the compact that established the court. Pitale said Wednesday the arrangement with Hammonton had considerable advantages over the existing agreement with the county central court. He said the principal benefit was financial, with the joint court in Hammonton expected to turn hundreds of thousands of dollars in net court costs into a profit. If we did not take Hammonton up on its offer, we would be doing a disservice to the residents of our town, Pitale said. Falling revenue An Atlantic County spokesperson issued a statement Friday saying the central court had upheld its promises to make proceedings more efficient and lower costs. Changes in court proceedings mandated by Trenton however, had dramatically cut revenues. The budgets for the participating members of the Atlantic County Central Municipal Court have been reduced, including that for Hamilton Township, Atlantic County said in its statement. Unfortunately, several changes in New Jersey legislation have resulted in a significant decrease in revenues for courts throughout the state, including the Central Municipal Court. The Atlantic County Central Municipal Court, founded in 2022 and based at the old court house on Main Street, replaces the local courts of each of its participating municipalities. Ten municipalities Corbin City, Egg Harbor Township, Estell Manor, Galloway Township, Linwood, Northfield, Port Republic, Ventnor, Weymouth Township and Hamilton Township ultimately decided to join the court. The net expense of central court to Hamilton Township in 2022 was about $347,000, according to a budget presentation by Cynthia Lindsay, the townships chief financial officer. This figure was down from the $584,000 in net court costs the township paid in 2021 and up about $25,000 from what the township paid in 2019, before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were larger shifts in the components of the townships judicial balance sheet. The central court generated about $225,000 in gross revenue for Hamilton Township over the course of 2022, a decline of $75,000 from 2021 and a decline of $497,000 from 2019. Expenses saw a similarly dramatic drop. The $571,000 in costs in 2022 fell from about $884,000 in 2021 and from more than $1 million in 2019, the latter being a drop of about $429,000. Similar, substantial annual variation in costs happened in the years preceding the creation of the central court. Net court expenses fell for Hamilton Township from 2016 to 2017 by $35,000; rose $16,000 from 2017 to 2018; and then jumped more than $132,000 higher from 2018 to 2019. The courts have been a money-losing entity for Hamilton Township for at least the past seven years. Before the vote for the central court, township officials in 2021 expected that consolidation would eliminate $300,000 in judicial costs while generating over $600,000 in revenue. The expected cost-reduction figure ultimately proved to be a $129,000 underestimate and the latter revenue figure was an underestimate of $375,000. Pitale said he felt the central court was probably saving a little bit of money over the arrangement in place prior. The offer from Hammonton, however, was too profitable for township officials to ignore, Pitale said. Lindsay said in her presentation that the joint court is expected to generate $37,000 in net revenue for the township. (The central court) compared to what Hammonton has offered, its a big difference, a huge difference, Pitale said. The most important thing was the financial aspect of it. A statewide issue Atlantic County said the factors contributing to net expenses the township was encountering was not unique to the Atlantic County Central Municipal Court. New Jerseys criminal justice reforms, the county said, has interrupted revenue streams that had previously helped offset operation costs, raising net court expenses throughout the state. The county cited what it called the mass dismissal of cases and owed fines under newly created state court procedures, diminishing court revenue. Regulations barring the municipal court from suspending drivers licenses have further cut into court proceeds. The statement also cited marijuana legalization as a drain on court revenue streams the absence of fines to issue to punish people for violations related to illegal marijuana possession or related offenses. The county said the effect of state criminal justice reforms on Hamilton Township revenues was evident, with a stark flashpoint in 2020. According to county measurements, the average annual court revenue Hamilton Township received over the three-year period from 2017 to 2019 was $356,000 less than the average annual revenue from 2020 to 2022. While finances have been the focus in discussions about the central court, there have been other concerns. Pitale said he and other township officials had become frustrated with the pace of court proceedings. He said the court was loath to issue bench warrants or otherwise compel defendants appearances in court, particularly in cases that concerned violations of the townships zoning code or property maintenance ordinances. Pitale said this supposed reluctance draws out trials and hinders the townships ability to enforce its ordinances. Pitale said township officials have reached out to central court officials to express their concerns and have been met with what he said was long response times. He said he has had conversations with police, residents and officials from other municipalities who have encountered similar communication failures. They really have no teeth, Pitale said of the central court. Atlantic County mentioned in its statement that the state had restricted when courts can issue bench warrants for failure to appear. It said it was also limited when it could send automated notices for delinquent payments. The county said the pace of cases have also been slowed by an over-extended jurisdiction. State law requires the Central Municipal Court to handle all municipal-level cases involving state agencies, something the county says has become a burden, with a fifth of cases heard at the central court, about 10,000 annually, involve state agencies. The county said that these cases yield little revenue for the court and divert manpower and resources from other cases. Atlantic County said the Central Municipal Court did have plans to help lower costs. Central court officials have contacted state legislators to discuss having cases involving state agencies return to the jurisdiction of the court in their municipality of origin. There was also a state meeting Wednesday among members of the Central Municipal Court. The county said the meeting attendees agreed to continue meeting on a regular basis to work through legislative and budgetary issues. Asked about the possibility of the central court being on a learning curve and future savings being possible, Pitale said the township could not afford to wait and continue to loose money on court operations. He said a decision to do so would be foolish. Murphys backing The motivation for the creation of a countywide court was to make services more efficient, reducing redundancies and thus achieving cost savings for participating municipalities. They also argued the court would standardize the justice system for parties in municipal court in Atlantic County, eliminating occasionally arbitrary differences in administration of justice. Other supporters cited the ability of a centralized court to better connect those who appear in court with social services, mental health care and other resources. Support for the idea of centralized county courts had been growing in Trenton when the idea won the support of Hamilton Township and Atlantic County officials. Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law in August 2021 authorizing a pilot program by which 10 counties in the state five in North Jersey and five in South Jersey, including Atlantic County could create their own central courts for municipal-level litigation. The Central Municipal Court of Atlantic County was the first of its kind in the state. Despite the support the central court initially received in Hamilton, there were skeptics. Don Purdy, now the chair of the Atlantic County Republican Party, said he was concerned the court would be detrimental to public safety and was being constructed haphazardly. William Reynolds, now the Atlantic County prosecutor, said the county had not sufficiently communicated with stakeholders in the community before creating the court. While saying he was open to the idea of central county court, Reynolds requested there be a new feasibility study done on the idea. Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, an advocate of the court, said municipalities were too hasty in opposing the court. He attributed much of the resistance to a desire on the part of municipal officials to maintain home rule over the courts and hire their own staff. He said the entry of Hamilton Township into the central court was an important moment for the court and made the concept worthwhile. Under its new plan, Hamilton Township would hear its cases at the Joint Municipal Court of the Town of Hammonton. It would be located in Hammonton at 100 Central Ave. and have jurisdiction over matters arising within participating municipalities. Hamilton Township and Hammonton reached this agreement April 5, according to the text of the ordinance, and are expected to execute the agreement in May. Officials from Hammonton also have not responded to requests for comment. There are forecasts that the Hammonton joint court would finally turn a profit for Hamilton. Lindsay, the Hamilton Township CFO, said the joint court would yield $74,000 in net revenue in 2024, with those proceeds to be divided evenly between Hamilton and Hammonton. She estimated the Atlantic County Central Court, conversely, would bring a net cost to the township in 2023 of $355,937. The difference between the townships estimates for joint court and central court net revenues is about $393,000. Pitale said this estimated difference was the pivotal factor in the decision to leave the central court and stressed the need to collect more revenue. He added the estimate of profits from the joint court, while ultimately only an estimate, was a conservative guess. Atlantic County officials cast doubt that any alternative court plan would fix the structural costs have been brought on by new criminal justice policy. Towns that pull out of the Central Municipal Court will be faced with these same reduced revenues, Atlantic County said in its statement. Township officials said member municipalities of the central court are obligated to stay through 2023. Hamilton is therefore planning to withdraw from the court at the start of 2024. The Hamilton Township Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on its ordinance to establish the Hammonton Joint Court during a 6:30 p.m. Monday meeting at Hamilton Township Hall. On Friday evening, a 23-year-old first-year management student was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan in a flat in Bavdhan. The female student, who is from Nashik, recently moved into the flat and was sharing it with a classmate, according to Hinjewadi police. The motive for the suicide is unknown. The college student was in her first year of management studies. Her classmate recently returned from her hometown. Her parents called her on her phone on Friday morning, but she did not answer. Her parents asked their relatives in Pune to pay her a visit. The relatives arrived at the housing society and knocked on the door, but no one answered. The relatives then contacted the police as she was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan. The declared it to be a suicide after investigating the crime scene. The Mississippi River crested at Dubuque and Bellevue on Saturday, reaching into the top-three highest-recorded floods at those locations. In Dubuque, the river reached 23.03 feet as of 1:30 p.m. Saturday afternoon, climbing above the the 1993 mark of 22.32 feet. Late Saturday night, Bellevue was projected to reach 21.9, also rising above the No. 3 flood record set in 1993. Other locations are expected to crest in the next few days. The forecast is holding steady for waters to crest at the Rock Island gauge Monday afternoon at 21.6 feet, good for No. 6 or 7 in the National Weather Service's list of top 10 historic crests. Upstream of the Quad-Cities, the river at Camanche is forecasted to reach 23.1 feet early Monday. That figure would come in at No. 4 highest recorded flood, behind records set in 1965 and 2001. Although the water rose quickly, Camanche City Administrator Andrew Kida said he's thankful the water is also likely to recede swiftly because of a dry forecast. In 2019, he said, the prolonged floodwaters caused the city's main sewer line to collapse, causing sewage to back up into people's homes and be dumped into the Mississippi before it could be fixed. "We're keeping our fingers crossed," Kida said, adding that the lack of rainfall this year has been a "blessing." Several streets, a boat ramp and pier are closed and underwater. The city hasn't ordered evacuations, Kida said, and most people who are impacted by flooding know the ropes. The city has provided sand bags, and he said the community has eagerly volunteered to help residents who've asked for help with flood protections. LeClaire is expected to reach 16.2 feet, early Monday, reaching No. 5 on the record crests for that area. The city closed off a section of U.S. Highway 67 beginning at the north end of LeClaire because of flooding, according to its Facebook page. Downstream of the Quad-Cities, Illinois City is expected to crest late Monday at 21.4 feet and Muscatine will reach 22.8 feet late Monday, which would be No. 8 of the top 10 floods in Muscatine. In a daily weather forecast on Saturday, National Weather Service Hydrologist Matt Wilson warned high winds on Sunday, with gusts up to 45 miles per hour, could cause waves, leading to erosion on the banks of the Mississippi River. Wilson also said the Rock River at Moline was rising because of backflow from the Mississippi River. It reached flood stage this weekend and is expected to crest just before minor flood stage at 11.8 feet on Monday. Wilson said with dry weather in the forecast for the next 14 days, the river was expected to recede quickly so long as the dry weather held. "The recessions up north of our area have been progressing fairly quickly, some of them even a little bit quicker than we expected," Wilson said. "So, it could be as early as the middle of May that we might have some of our northern areas back down at least maybe just minor flood stage, but maybe even all the way down below minor flood stage. We'll really start cracking into that at the beginning of this coming week." "And of course that will depend on any rainfall that we get." MAYWOOD A shooting inside a Maywood church during a Friday morning funeral service left one person injured, police said. The shooting at Rock of Ages Baptist Church at 1309 W. Madison St. stemmed from a family dispute during the funeral, the Maywood Police Department said in a news release. Police had already been called to the church and were attempting to diffuse the argument inside when a person pulled out a gun and shot someone, police said. A woman who answered the phone for the church Friday afternoon told the Tribune everything is OK now after the shooting. It was right during the funeral service, inside the church, in the sanctuary, she added. No clergy members were injured during the shooting, which brought a massive police response, she said. The officers present at the funeral took two people into custody and police are investigating the shooting, according to the departments news release. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 NEW ORLEANS A shooting outside a well-known New Orleans restaurant Friday killed an employee, and one bullet penetrated the restaurant and wounded a Chicago tourist visiting for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Interim New Orleans police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork told reporters Saturday that the shooting happened outside Mandina's Restaurant in New Orleans' Mid-City neighborhood. No suspects have yet been named. Woodfork said police believe two assailants targeted the waiter, whom family members identified to The Times-Picayune of New Orleans as 23-year-old Hilbert Walker III. A private security guard returned fire, Woodfork said, and was not injured. Diners told local news outlets that they dived to the floor seeking cover and that police didn't let them leave for more than an hour. The 54-year-old Chicago woman was visiting for Jazz Fest and was at Mandina's "to celebrate the birthday of a friend," when she was shot, Woodfork said. She did not say what condition the tourist was in. The shooting caused alarm in New Orleans, a city with an economy dependent on tourism. It came on the first day of the two-weekend Jazz Fest, one of the busiest tourist periods in the city. "This was an isolated incident that did not occur in the vicinity of the festival," Woodfork said. The restaurant announced it would be closed Saturday and Sunday. The police department has about 150 to 180 officers providing security and directing traffic at the festival, Woodfork said. It's held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, about 2 miles from the restaurant. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell sent her condolences to the victims in a statement. "A celebratory day was later marred by another senseless act of violence," she said. Concerns about crime and poor city services recently drove a racially polarizing effort to recall Cantrell, a Black Democrat who is the first woman to lead the city. That effort failed in March after organizers fell far short of the number of signatures required to force a recall election. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term NAPERVILLE Naperville police are investigating a noose found on a tree Thursday afternoon on Scullen Middle School property at 103rd Street and Mistflower Lane on the city's south side. Administrators from Indian Prairie School District 204 contacted the Naperville Police Department about 2:30 p.m. after it was found by a teacher. "At this time, there is no evidence to indicate that any students at the school were responsible; therefore, we do not know the origin of the object," said Lisa Barry, executive director of District 204 Communication Services, in an email. The school district takes these matters seriously and will continue to collaborate with the police, Barry said. Scullen is one of the largest and most demographically diverse middle schools in the district. The most recent Illinois Report Card shows that of the 1,020 students attending Scullen, 71% are of color (53% Asian, 7% Black, 7% Hispanic and 4% two or more races) and 29% are white. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term This image taken April 17, shows confiscated drugged beverages used in a drug scam targeting students. Newsis Prosecutors will demand up to the death penalty for those supplying minors with drugs, the Supreme Prosecutors Office said Sunday, amid a sharp rise in the number of minors caught for drug offenses. According to the prosecution, the number of adolescent drug offenders rose 304 percent to 481 last year from 119 in 2017, compared with a 30 percent increase in the total number of drug offenders during the same period. In particular, a recent drug scam targeting minors shocked South Korean society, in which drug-laced beverages were handed out to teenage students in Seoul's southern Gangnam Ward with false labels claiming they were intended to enhance memory and concentration. On Sunday, the top prosecutors' office said that it will demand up to the death penalty or life imprisonment for those caught for providing minors with drugs, using minors in the distribution of drugs or taking drugs together with minors. All those caught for drug crimes involving minors will also be investigated while under physical detention, it said. (Yonhap) CARPENTERSVILLE Suburban gun shop owners were swamped with weekend crowds after a federal judge in the district court for the Southern District of Illinois issued an injunction Friday, blocking enforcement of the states January ban on military-style firearms. When Roger Krahl, owner of RGuns in Carpentersville, heard about the injunction, he said the phones in his office lit up like a Christmas tree. Within 15 minutes, we had people coming in, Krahl told the Tribune on Saturday. There was a line outside the door before I could open up this morning. There will be no lunch today, because well be going nonstop. Krahl told the Tribune he was overjoyed when he got word of the ruling by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn. Writing that a constitutional right is at stake, McGlynn found the plaintiffs in the case showed the law caused an irreparable harm by denying them the ability to purchase their firearm of choice and exercise their right to self-defense in the manner they choose. Two other federal judges from northern Illinois have upheld the ban, and Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul has filed an appeal to McGlynns ruling and Raoul has also filed a motion in federal court to have the ruling not go into effect, pending the outcome of the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. Maxon Shooters Supply owner Dan Eldridge said he hasnt seen this level of business at his Des Plaines establishment since the panic buying that occurred immediately following the first COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020. Eldridge said he expects record crowds and panic buying to continue into next week, as courts move forward with the ruling. Eldridge, who is also president of Federal Firearm Licensees of Illinois, called the ownership of military-use rifles, like M-16s, with AR-15s, a constitutionally protected activity. He said many gun owners have lost over half their revenue since the bill was signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker earlier this year. On Friday, owners pulled their high-power firearms inventory out from storage. Eldridge said Maxon puts 5,000 to 6,000 students through self-defense programs each year basic pistol safety, rifle classes and medical emergency training. Even as sales have dropped since January, he said, demand for defense training has increased. AR-15s have been blamed for many mass shootings in the U.S., but Eldridge said they are excellent self-defense weapons. Living in Chicago raises obvious self-defense issues, Eldridge said. If somebody is ready to spend $250 and 16 hours of their time on a concealed carry class, thats a pretty good indication that they do have some concerns about personal safety. Eldridge said AR-15s have instant recoil, are comfortable to shoot and adaptable to people of all different heights while Krahl called AR-15s: Barbie for guys. The ban goes well beyond assault rifles. It addresses large capacity ammunition magazines of more than 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns, and devices that increase the firing rates of a firearm, known as switches. Fridays ruling does not apply to the laws ban on switches, and it doesnt affect an additional provision extending firearm restraining orders to take guns away from people who are a danger to themselves or others. Krahls said his statewide sales plummeted 90% in January. He stressed that passing laws to take firearms away from law-abiding citizens is not the solution. A gun is a gun, said Krahl. If you want to increase penalties for committing crimes with a firearm, my industry is 100% behind it. Eldridge said that he plans to continue to fight the law so his members can earn their livelihoods and serve their customers. He said the law was a knee-jerk reaction to last summers deadly mass shooting in Highland Park. It belies some pretty ugly perspectives from the gun control people that a tragic mass shooting is worth engaging in a constitutional battle, when the number of people who are murdered in Chicago each weekend dont drive them to do anything, Eldridge said. Zack Johnson, of Woodstock, purchased a TRR15 rifle Saturday at RGuns. He was at work when he heard about the district court ruling, and his phone went off with elated texts from friends and co-workers. Im fairly excited that I got my rights back, Johnson said. We live in the United States, we should follow the Constitution and be able to do what law-abiding citizens are able to do. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term If asked to identify my core values, I would make reference to two complementary sets of values. One is the affirmation of individual rights given eloquent expression in the U.S. Declaration of Independence and specified in greater detail in the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution (often referred to as the U.S. Bill of Rights). Values that include freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The other set of values stems from my Christian upbringing. The Love Commandment, which has roots in Judaism, instructs, You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31.) What this entails is given further explanation by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians, where he states that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22.) Taken together, these twin pillars provide an inspiring vision of what we might be. Thats the good news. The bad news is that what has transpired both in the history of Christianity and in the history of our country has often been at odds with these ideals. In a previous column, I noted that both Thomas Jefferson, the prime author of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and James Madison, the prime author of the U.S. Constitution and the first 10 amendments to the constitution, were slave owners. While both of them knew that slavery was wrong, they let their economic interests as plantation owners push aside their ethical scruples. The history of Christianity, which is far longer and more complicated than that of the United States, is a story that involves a good deal of violence. In a previous column, I noted that self-righteousness often becomes cruelty when those who think that they have a Gods eye view of the truth piously cause their opponents to perish. Consider the following: Historian Ralph Martin Novak, Jr., notes that in the 75 years that followed the Council of Nicaea, which in 325 defined Christian orthodoxy, more Christians died at the hands of other Christians than were killed during almost 300 years of Roman persecution. Charlemagne (747-814), who is honored by a gleaming white marble equestrian statue in the portico of St. Peters Basilica in Rome, conquered much of Western Europe for Christianity, beheading those who refused to convert to Christianity. In the 15th century, the fires of the inquisition burned brightly as thousands were burned at the stake for espousing what inquisitors viewed as heresy; in Spain alone, during Tomas Torquemadas 15-year tenure as grand inquisitor (1483-1498) somewhere between two and three thousand unfortunate souls are believed to have been burned at the stake. The 16th century brought the persecution of Anabaptists by Catholics and Protestants alike. The Anabaptists (who were the forebears of todays Amish and Mennonites) rejected the practice of infant baptism and instead practiced (and continue to practice) adult baptism when those who wish to be baptized are old enough to request it. That was anathema to the Catholic Church and the established Protestant state churches (including those that were Lutheran.) In Catholic countries, Anabaptists were usually executed by burning at the stake. In Protestant states, they were usually executed by beheading or drowning. Thousands were put to death. The poignant story of Dirk Willems of Holland, who was an Anabaptist, illustrates how vicious this practice was. An officer came to arrest him in the village in which he lived. Running for his life, he made his way across a frozen pond. When he looked back, he saw that his pursuer had fallen through the ice. He went back to rescue the drowning officer and dragged him to safety. The officer wanted to release Willems for saving his life. The local burgomaster, who had arrived on the scene, reminded the officer that Willems was under arrest. He was taken into custody and after having been tried for his heretical views, was burned at the stake. So where does this leave us? Some reject Christianity because of this ugly history. Similarly, there are some who see the American story only through the lens of the history of slavery and bigotry. This, however, is to lose sight of the exemplary ideals and ethical values that are part both of Christianity (and other religions) and the American experience. While acknowledging the ugliness of what has happened and in no way excusing it, we would do well to look beyond the ugliness and be inspired by American ideals of liberty and justice and by the ethical ideals of Christianity and other religions. Davenport is the largest city along the Mississippi River without a permanent floodwall or levee system. Neighboring cities, including Bettendorf and Rock Island, built theirs decades ago. For decades, Davenport city councils have opposed controversial plans to build a floodwall or levee, citing costs and such a structure impeding access to or views of the river. Instead, the city has opted to rely on a system of temporary sand-filled barriers and pumps, allowing riverfront parks to hold floodwaters, and buying up or tearing down property in flood-prone areas. The floodwall question is one Davenport Mayor Mike Matson has been asked frequently in recent days, including by national news outlets. As he made his daily walk Friday along the temporary flood barriers at East River Drive, which are twice as tall and wide this year after a 2019 breach, he told a Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus reporter that, in his view, it isn't a cost-effective solution now for Davenport's 9-mile riverfront. "When people do talk to me straight up with that, this is what I tell them: How do you want us to do this? Where would you like us to get the money?" Matson said. An estimate in 2014 put construction of a flood wall at $174 million, but Matson said more recent estimates would be much higher, more than half a billion dollars. Instead, the city is just starting to implement a 2021-approved plan that starts underground in the storm sewers and would eventually raise parts of River Drive to protect the city up to river stage 22 feet without temporary barriers. In the two years of study that culminated in the plan, a city-hired consultant surveyed about 500 residents about what they wanted to see the city do about flooding. Just 40% said they wanted a permanent floodwall, but most said they wanted a more permanent solution to more frequent flooding on the Mississippi River. Matson said a floodwall could send waters downstream. "If we put a flood wall here (between Centennial and Government Bridges), what is happening to the west end? Or, if we do it the whole way what happens to Buffalo?" Matson said. Residents and city leadership have fiercely debated a more traditional flood wall or levee system, like what was constructed in Bettendorf and Rock Island, for more than half a century. According to Quad-City Times archives, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers first proposed a flood control plan in 1969 after the devastating 1965 flood. The plan was reported to cost $16.5 million, with the city's share at $3 million. More floodwall-related proposals were shot down in the 1970s. Then, in 1984, the City Council withdrew its support from another corps-supported plan for a $34 million floodwall between the Government Bridge and Interstate 280. The plan, according to the archives, would've protected Davenport up to a 26.9-foot flood. In Rock Island, the 1965 flood prompted city leadership to build Rock Island's flood wall system in the early '70s. Bettendorf completed its levee in 1987. The record flood of 2019 in Davenport, where HESCO barriers failed, causing upward of $30 million in lost revenue and damages, renewed debate about whether the city needed a permanent flood wall or levee system. After two years of planning, the City Council approved a consultant's 10-year, $165 million plan that starts with replacing storm sewer underground to address floodwaters that bubble up from below. When fully implemented, the plan is designed to protect Davenport up to 22 feet. The 2019 flood reached 22.7 feet. Two storm sewer projects are scheduled to begin construction this year. About $1.2 million in federal earmark funds will go toward storm sewer improvements at the intersection of River Drive and Marquette Street for minor flooding events. The project would install future bypass storm sewer and backflow prevention to halt river water from backing up into the intersection near river stage 14.5 feet. Instead, the project would keep the intersection un-flooded until 18 feet. Another project that is on the same timetable as the Marquette-River Drive intersection, is a $4 million ARPA-funded storm sewer improvement that aims to keep East River Drive access through intersections of 3rd and 4th streets up to a flood stage of 22 feet. Currently, it closes at about 17.5 feet. The plan would also install backflow prevention on the local storm sewer system and build a new storm sewer connection. Phases 2 and 3 of the plan, that involve construction of more permanent flood-fighting measures such as walls, berms, and permanent pumping stations, total about $140 million. On April 18, 2023, The Dispatch ran a front-page story: New justices wont recuse themselves (in a case challenging the states recently passed ban on assault weapons and high- capacity magazines). The Justices involved are both Democrats: Mary Kay OBrien and Elizabeth Rochford. (I have never met either). The motion asking them to recuse themselves, or requiring that they be disqualified from hearing the case, alleges that during their 2022 campaigns for election to the Illinois Supreme Court, both newly elected justices received substantial campaign donations from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Speaker of the Illinois House Emanuel Chris Welch both Democrats both of whom are named in the suit as defendants (in their official capacities). While they were candidates, both judges received: $500,000 from the J.B for Governor campaign; and $500,000 from the Jay Robert Pritzker Revocable Trust; In addition, Justice OBrien received $350,000, and Justice Rockford received $150,000 from the Welch Campaign Committee. (Both received endorsements from two prominent gun-control lobby groups: The Gun Violence Prevention PAC, and The Gifford PAC. Because of word limitations, this op ed wont address the problems, if any, that such endorsements might pose). So, why would anybody donate $1 million to get a judge elected. I can only think of two reasons: 1. The candidate will be a brilliant, hard-working, impartial, independent judge, brimming with integrity. 2. The donors believe that the judge, once elected, will be grateful, loyal, and inclined to repay the favors. For purposes of this op ed, I am assuming here that both judges are brimming with integrity, etc. But what does it look like to the public when a judge hears a case when a defendant in the case the governor of Illinois has just given the judge $1,000,000? Does it appear any better because JB Pritzker is being sued only as governor, and not personally? Does judging a case, after taking a $1,000,000 donation from one of the parties, promote public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary? Judges are mandated to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. Even if the judge is brimming with integrity, etc., doesnt it look improper for that judge to sit on a case where a litigant contributed $1 million to secure the judges election? The first and most important rule governing the conduct of judges is this: A judge shall act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary and shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety. In Illinois, once a person becomes a judge, the rules are strict. A judge shall not accept any gifts, benefits, favors, or other things of value, except as follows: (1) Items with little intrinsic value, such as plaques, certificates, trophies, and greeting cards; . (10) Gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, favors, or other things of value, only if the donor is not likely to come before the judge . Is a $1,000,000 campaign contribution of little intrinsic value? But can a candidate for judicial office accept any gifts, benefits, favors, or other things of value? No and yes. No, because a judicial candidate shall not personally solicit or accept campaign contributions. Additionally, the candidate shall prohibit employees from doing on the candidates behalf what the candidate is prohibited from doing under the provisions of this rule. Yes, because a judicial candidate subject to public election may establish a campaign committee. A judicial candidate subject to public election shall direct the campaign committee: (1) to solicit and accept campaign contributions only as permitted by law; The comments to these rules are explanatory. Judicial candidates are prohibited from personally soliciting campaign contributions or personally accepting campaign contributions. This rule recognizes that, in many jurisdictions, judicial candidates must raise campaign funds to support their candidacies and permits candidates to establish campaign committees to solicit and accept reasonable financial contributions or in-kind contributions. During the campaign, the candidate and the campaign committee should be aware that a contribution may affect the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judge and may create grounds for disqualification if the candidate is elected to office. Were I on the Judicial Inquiry Board and I am not I would read the preceding paragraph in conjunction with the first rule of Judicial Conduct (set out above). A judge must not take any campaign contribution that creates, in the eyes of reasonable members of the public, any appearance of impropriety. And I would further read it to say that, In any case coming before the judge, where one of the judges campaign contributors is a party, and where in the eyes of reasonable members of the public there would be an appearance of impropriety, to preserve the public trust in the impartiality of the judiciary, all doubts must be resolved in favor of recusal. Recusal here would leave the Supreme Court two short of its full seven judges. But the court has power to appoint two judges to fill those temporary vacancies. There are plenty of judges currently sitting or retired who could be appointed to fill the two temporary vacancies to hear the case. Judges who would not carry with them the appearance of impropriety. This would promote public confidence. By failing to recuse, Justices OBrien and Rockford, put themselves and perhaps the entire Illinois Judiciary into a no-win situation. If they rule for the defendants, they will look like the best judges money can buy even if their decision is impeccably correct. They cannot rule for the defendant without creating an appearance of impropriety or worse, a stench of corruption. QUESTION: My wife and I, both in our 60s, took Paxlovid when we caught COVID-19 on vacation in New Mexico last fall. She tested positive first, and the doctor who helped us over the phone asked all the right questions about medication. He told her to discontinue her rosuvastatin while taking Paxlovid to avoid complications. He also asked about her GFR, a measure of how effectively kidneys filter the blood. We were able to look up her recent test results and give him her 90ish number. Because one of the components of Paxlovid inhibits the kidneys from filtering out some substances in order to keep the other antiviral agent working in the bloodstream there are two dosage levels of Paxlovid offered. One is for people like my wife whose kidneys are efficient. The other has half the dose of antiviral for people like me whose kidneys dont work so well. Dont doctors know to ask about kidney function as well as drug interactions when prescribing Paxlovid? ANSWER: Thank you for this important reminder. Paxlovid reduces the risk of serious complications from COVID-19. That said, physicians and pharmacists must check carefully for dangerous drug interactions. Kidney function should also be assessed, as you so thoughtfully explained. QUESTION: I took Prilosec and then generic omeprazole for over 15 years. Every time I tried to stop, my heartburn got worse. Last year, I got extremely tired and out of breath if I climbed a short stairway in my house. When I saw my doctor, I described these symptoms. To find out what was wrong, he had me take several blood tests, including one for iron level. He called me that day at 9 p.m. and told me to take a cab to the local emergency room. It turns out that I had almost no iron in my body, so they did a blood transfusion. Apparently, taking PPIs long term stops acid production, as it should. But that, in turn, makes it harder to absorb minerals, including iron. At the hospital, they ran a bunch of tests: colonoscopy, endoscopy and even a mammogram. No blood loss was found. I almost died from anemia as a drug side effect. Never quit PPIs cold turkey. The rebound heartburn is horrible. Its better to ease off over several months, taking one every other day, then every third day, and so on. Shouldnt there be more known about this? ANSWER: Stomach acid is essential for the absorption of many nutrients, including iron. We suspect that few people are warned about this possible complication when taking proton pump inhibitors for indigestion. Stopping PPIs, such as esomeprazole, lansoprazole or omeprazole, suddenly can trigger severe heartburn symptoms, as you discovered. Thats why gradual discontinuation is important. QUESTION: Many decades ago, Dad used a styptic pencil to stop the bleeding when hed cut his face shaving. Later on, he used an electric razor and didnt need the pencil. As I have now developed wrinkles and furrows on my face, I more frequently nick myself when I shave. Should I look for a styptic pencil? Does it really work? And also, is it safe for occasional use? ANSWER: A styptic pencil or stick usually contains potassium aluminum sulfate, also known as alum. The same compound is also found in so-called natural crystal deodorants. It causes blood to clot, so yes, it does work. Some people prefer to avoid aluminum, but occasional use should not pose a serious hazard. Richmond authorities said Saturday that an 18-year-old was arrested in Thursdays shooting near George Wythe High School. Richmond police and the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested David Gutierrez, of Richmond, in connection with the shooting of a George Wythe student. Gutierrez, who also attends George Wythe, was charged with two counts each of attempted murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Police at 12:02 p.m. Thursday were called to the school for a shots fired report. Officers arrived and found a juvenile male in the woods off the schools campus. He had suffered an apparent gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital with a life-threatening injury, police said in a statement. Officers later received a report of another juvenile male who had been transported by a personal vehicle to a local hospital with an apparent gunshot wound, police said. That injury was not considered life-threatening. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call police at (804) 646-3613 or Crime Stoppers at (804) 780-1000. General Assembly members of the Virginia Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus, the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and the Virginia Latino Caucus are calling for Virginias chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer, Martin D. Brown, to resign. The call comes after Brown reportedly told a training session for Virginia Military Institute faculty and staff that DEI is dead and that diversity is the wrong mission for the states military college, the caucuses leaders said. The legislators call echoes one by the Virginia State Conference NAACP, which said Browns VMI comments denounced the precepts, goals and mission of his office. As Virginia grapples with historical and continuing discrimination and racism, Mr. Brown clearly is neither prepared nor willing to perform his duties as DEI director and must resign, said Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, chair of the Virginia Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus. This has become a consistent pattern from members of Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration, said state Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chair of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus. Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Fairfax, co-chair of the Virginia Latino Caucus, said, If Mr. Martin Brown ... doesnt believe in the mission of his office, he should resign and make way for someone who does. Youngkin will not ask for Browns resignation, said press secretary Macaulay Porter. Governor Youngkin will continue to advance equal opportunities, not equal outcomes, for all Virginians, Porter said. This is too important of an issue to succumb to those seeking to cancel Chief Brown for challenging the groupthink of the progressive lefts pursuit of equity at any cost, she added. From the Archives: Photos of the Richmond region in the 1980s Students squinting along a sunny stretch of sidewalk outside the Roanoke College library find a moment of cool refuge beneath the leafy shade of an old, but steady-growing champion. A Dutch elm tree outside Fintel Library is the largest of its species measured in Virginia, with a trunk thats almost 21 feet around, stretching about 94 feet up toward the sun. Lofty branches spread 80 feet outward, casting friendly shade to passersby on a hot spring day. Using a long tape measure to note the trees width and spread, plus a laser tool to gauge height, volunteer tree steward Harry Van Guilder scribbled those arboreal measurements on his clipboard on a recent Wednesday. During the six year span since he last measured this state champion for the Virginia Big Trees program, Van Guilder said its trunk width grew at a rate of about an inch per year. For a tree at this maturity, and as slow-growing as they are, it still amazes me, he said. Its starting to decline a little now. You can see the top is broken out, which may have been storm related. But then there are some dead limbs out toward the tips, and thats a sign of age decline, or disease. Roanoke College puts a lot of time, money and effort into taking care of its urban forest on campus, including properly big trees like the state champion Dutch elm, said Bill Martin, manager of landscaping, during an April 20 phone call. We did just do a big inventory. That included over 500 trees, Martin said. Were going to start tagging 50 of those with QR codes, so that well be able to do a tour, a walk through campus. People can use their cellphones to scan those newly installed codes and read more about the species, size and history of notable trees on campus, he said. First stop on the campus tour is that state champion Dutch elm shading High Street, which has outlived human memory, and whose planting might date back more than 180 years, to before 1842. I read somewhere that it was planted before or around when the school was started, Martin said. So that tree predates Roanoke College, and obviously survived surrounding construction and other things. The college hires out expert arborists to care for its trees, maintaining an urban forest of more than 1,000 trees from 77 different species, he said. In addition to surviving the elements, certain species, like the state champion Dutch elm, endure unique threats, such as fungal disease. Wind damage, storm damage. That tree does have lightning protection in it as well, Martin said. We treat several elm trees on campus for Dutch elm disease, and thats one of them. Its the only champion tree on Roanoke College campus, he said. We did lose a champion gum on Elizabeth Campus several years back to lightning, Martin said. At Virginia Tech, meanwhile, professor Eric Wiseman coordinates the Virginia Big Trees program, and maintains a list of state champions for more than 300 species. Many of these champion trees, theyre not out in the wilderness, Wiseman said. Theyre in places that are right around the corner, and oftentimes these trees are located at places that have either cultural or historical significance. But champion trees do not often hold their title for long, he said. The big trees program makes an effort to remeasure state champions at least once every decade. Not all champion big trees are necessarily at the end of their biological lifespan, but a lot of them are, so something that often catches up with these trees is old age, Wiseman said. Another big one is storm damage, either lightning strikes or ice storms. Forests full of big trees and small fulfill other important purposes that people might not notice, he said. These trees, in my opinion, serve as ambassadors of our forests. People are enamored and curious about superlatives, the biggest of something, Wiseman said. If we can get people curious about superlative trees, we now have a gateway to talk to them about forest ecology, conservation and all the important roles trees play in day-to-day life. Trees provide ecosystem services like protecting water quality, and storing the carbon that people emit into the atmosphere when driving cars and using other devices that burn fossil fuels, he said. Bigger trees store more carbon. Another valuable service is that refreshing shade offered by trees on a hot day. Roanoke College Professor Katherine ONeill has led environmental studies students in recent years to map urban heating in Salem, part of a statewide effort to chart temperature variations in cities across Virginia. What we found is a lot of cities will have elevated heat relative to the surrounding rural area. Thats because theres less green space, less water movement, and a greater area of dark surfaces like asphalt and dark-colored roofs, ONeill said. We found the neighborhoods that were most impacted by that, and those are some areas where we are currently planting food forests. As Juneberry and pecan and pawpaw trees planted this week by Roanoke College students grow, their branches will shade surrounding neighborhoods, providing respite from the sun. And as an added bonus, the plants will seasonally grow edible produce. In addition to helping to offset the cooling, theyre also providing other ecosystem benefits, ONeill said. Theyre contributing to biodiversity, helping with stormwater runoff, and also maybe increasing some community resilience by providing another source of food. Whether any of the newly planted saplings in Salem sprout up into state champions for their species is a test for time, said Wiseman, the Virginia Big Trees coordinator. Many champion trees were planted by someone 100 or 150, maybe even 200 years ago, Wiseman said. Thats kind of inspiring to me, if someone goes out and plants a tree today, what theyre planting could eventually have the claim to fame of being the biggest of its kind in the state. Van Guilder, the volunteer tree steward, said his group, Trees Roanoke, is about 50 people strong and always seeking new members. To get involved, he said go online to treesroanoke.org. Its tree huggers like me that are interested, Van Guilder said, measuring the state champion Dutch elm. Itd take several of us to hug this tree. On a slope of U.S. Forest Service land near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Botetourt County earlier this year, Dan Miles and Beck Stanley walked across the new Virginia champion pignut hickory tree, measuring more than 130 feet tall. Stanley said big trees are just one of the amazing things youll find in Virginias mountain woodlands. He said: It shows that some of the greatest wonders in life are often right in our own backyard. Riot police detain demonstrators during a protest against mobilization in Moscow, Russia, in this Sept. 21, 2022 photo. AP-Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin Due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Korea saw a significant increase in the number of Russian asylum seekers in the first quarter surpassing the total number for last year, a government report found Sunday. According to the latest monthly report by the Korea Immigration Service under the Ministry of Justice, the number of Russian nationals who sought refugee status in Korea from January to March of this year stood at 1,056 out of 4,057 asylum seekers, accounting for a quarterly-record 26 percent. Last year, a total of 1,038 Russians applied for refugee status. Next to Russians were Kazakhs with 585, Chinese with 240 and Indians with 200. The dramatic increase is believed to be due to growing concerns among Russians over the possible mobilization of citizens for Moscow's war against Kyiv, the report noted. Last year five Russian men arrived at Incheon International Airport in order to evade Russian President Vladimir Putin's mass mobilization order to support his government's war on Ukraine. They applied for refugee status. But the immigration authority refused to consider their requests, claiming that avoiding a military draft in one's home country is not a valid reason to be granted refugee status. However, in February, a local court ordered the Incheon Immigration Office to review refugee applications submitted by two Russian men. Korea started receiving refugees in July 1994 after signing the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees in 1992. Since 1994, a total of 88,979 have applied for refugee status in Korea as of March. Only 8.1 percent of the 47,735 applicants that received final judgments from the justice ministry are protected under the Korean government 1,363 with refugee status and 2,511 with humanitarian stay permits. The country's refugee acceptance rate stands at 2.9 percent, which is significantly lower than the OECD's average of 24.8 percent. Most foreign nationals applied for refugee status out of concern for possible persecution back at home for religious or political reasons 19,064 and 16,771, respectively. This article was republished with permission from CalMatters. Read more of their coverage of California state government on CalMatters.org. " " This undated photo shows how Native Americans have quarried together for catlinite without fighting because it's considered sacred territory. National Park Service Native Americans have different theories about why catlinite is red. For centuries, the quarry was considered "neutral" by Native tribes. They would go to excavate and work in peace. "Even enemy tribes would come here and put down their weapons," Drapeau says. "They could be in a quarry pit right next to each other, and they wouldn't do anything because they were doing spiritual work. They were working to have that connection to God." Advertisement But origin stories for why each tribe had such sacred connections to the red pipestone differ. According to the legend of the Dakota Sioux, for instance, the Great Spirit sent a flood to cleanse Earth, and many Indigenous people were killed. Their blood seeped down into the stone and that is what gives the pipestone its distinct red color. This tale explains why many Native Americans refer to the pipestone as the "blood of the people," Drapeau says. Drapeau also says that's why smoking from a pipe made of pipestone quarried there is deeply significant. "So, the pipestone itself represents the blood of our ancestors," she says. "It's very significant because in my way of life that's who we pray to." Artist Catlin, who met with close to 70 different Native American tribes between 1830 and 1838, including the Pawnee, Cheyenne, Crow and Blackfeet, documented the stories of the pipestone of the Dakota (Sioux), Ihanktonwan Dakota (Yankton Sioux), Te-Moak, and the Sac and Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa. From Catlin's retelling of the Dakota (Sioux)'s story: He [the Great Spirit] then told his red children that this red stone was their flesh, that they were made from it, that they must all smoke to him through it, that they must use it for nothing but pipes: and as it belonged alike to all tribes, the ground was sacred, and no weapons must be used or brought upon it. Just keep in mind, Catlin, who is considered by some as controversial today for often taking too much artistic license, recorded these stories through his own lens, and his perceptions were formed by his time. But they still lend a unique perspective of the different legends of the pipestones' origin. Born in 1934 in Klushino, near Moscow, Gagarin was the son of a carpenter and a milkmaid. When he was still a child, Nazi forces invaded the U.S.S.R. and occupied the town. Everyone suffered two of his siblings wound up in labor camps but survived the war. Later, Gagarin attended various technical schools, but it was a flying club in Saratov that really grabbed his attention. Once he had his first taste of flight, he embraced his new passion and used his weekends learning to fly. Advertisement He joined the Soviet Air Force and became a full-fledged fighter pilot, gaining proficiency on planes like the MiG-15. In the meantime, he married Valentina Goryacheva, with whom he had two daughters. In 1960, Soviet authorities chose 20 men to take part in the country's fledgling space program. The commission specified that the men be between 25 and 30 years old and less than 5 feet, 7 inches (1.57 meters) tall. Gagarin checked both boxes, and he was one of the lucky candidates selected for further training. Then began rigorous physical training, which included dozens of parachute jumps over water, oxygen starvation tests, and isolation chamber procedures meant to weed out anyone who might melt down psychologically in space. Though the process was competitive, Gagarin stood out both for his physical skills and his exceptional personality. He was charismatic, competent and simply likable, in part because of the ever-present smile on his face. His positive aura was a large part of why he was ultimately chosen for the Vostok 1 mission, just one week before launch. The Soviets knew that their soon-to-be-famous cosmonaut would need to look good in front of a camera for propaganda purposes. Gagarin's beaming smile fit the bill. LAKE CITY An interactive digital artwork Mexicans in Canada took Grand Prize honors in the ArtFields competition. It is the work on artist Amir Hanafi from Surfside Beach. Can text in digital space take us everywhere on the human map? This digital poem re-assembles a sentence spoken by Gabriel Iglesias on the documentary series Inside Jokes (2018) And the next thing you know, theres Mexicans in Canada, according to the ArtFields website. The piece hung in Klossett Remixx Boutique. The awards were announced Saturday at the end of the annual event. The competition and exhibition offers over $145,000 in cash prizes. The winners of two Peoples Choice Awards are determined by the votes of people visiting ArtFields; a panel of art professionals selects all the other awards, including the $50,000 Grand Prize and $25,000 Second Place award, according to the ArtFields website. Finishing second was Kristen Tordella-Williams 40 Burnt Books. Forty burnt books are presented on custom-made steel brackets jutting out from the wall at an angle similar to lecterns or rare book displays. They represent todays undervaluing of education, the shift from analog to digital technologies, the fraught contextualization of our histories, and the destruction of knowledge, according to the ArtFields website. Burning books is equivalent to censorship and a fear of spreading knowledge. One only burns or bans a book if the content is so offensive or dangerous to those in power. These books were already destined for the landfill, but now act as physical representations of censorship, historical wrongs, and ephemeral violence made real. The installation was on display at the R.O.B. Tordella-Williams is from Opelika, Ala. Stephanie Glens One Line Street won the two-dimension Peoples Choice Award. One Line Street is an ink drawing composed of one continuous line that never crosses its own path. The drawing of visual artist Overstreet Street Ducasse is first in the Pandemic series, which depicts ordinary people during the pandemic, according to the shows website. Glen is from Jacksonville, Florida. The piece hung in the R.O.B. Aiden Dales Lion Jumping Through Wall won the peoples choice three-dimension competition. When motion is inherent a story is unfolding. Rather than control a narrative, I invite the audience into a plot already in motion. The audience walks into the story without context, just as we encounter the complexity of our world, according to the shows website. Dale is from Durham, N.C. The piece hung in the R.O.B. Rounding out honors earned in the competition were the Merit Winners: Samuel Dunson, Affirmative Actions Susan J. Lapham, Playland #3 Corran Shrimpton, Etc. Gerardo Stecca, Coralia Tianxing Xu, Promise Eds: This story was supplied by The Conversation for AP customers. The Associated Press does not guarantee the content. (THE CONVERSATION) These are trying times. A global recession sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, and widespread civil unrest, have created a combustible mix of angst stressors that heighten the risk for long-term health woes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued guidelines to cope with this anxiety. Among them is meditation. Buddhists have been familiar with this strategy for thousands of years. And as the CDC example shows, scientists increasingly believe they can learn from Buddhism. Momentum for dialogue between Buddhism and science comes from the top. When Tenzin Gyatso now serving as the 14th Dalai Lama was a child in rural Tibet, he saw the moon through a telescope and marveled at its craters and mountains. His tutor told him that, according to Buddhist texts, the moon emitted its own light. But Gyatso had his doubts. He discovered what Galileo saw 400 years earlier, and he became convinced that dogma should bend to observation. As the Dalai Lama, Gyatso has engaged in dialog with scientists ever since. If science proved some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change, he has said. These are striking words from the leader of a major world religion. Most Americans believe science and religion clash. But Buddhists accept evolution as the source of human origins more than any other religious group. As a professor of astronomy who has been teaching Tibetan monks and nuns for over a decade, Ive found them to be highly receptive to science as a way of understanding the natural world. The program I teach started in response to the Dalai Lamas desire to inject science into the training of Buddhist monastics. In our spartan classroom the windows are open to catch a breeze in the monsoon heat and monkeys chatter in the pine trees outside we talk cosmology. The monks and nuns eagerly absorb the latest research I present dark energy, the multiverse, the big bang as a quantum event. Their questions are simple but profound. They approach learning with joy and humility. Outside class, I see them applying critical thinking to decisions in their daily lives. Yes, the Buddhist monastic tradition has been rebooted with a dose of 21st-century science. But how has Buddhism influenced science? Buddhists as skeptics Scientists are increasingly using Buddhist wisdom for insight into several research topics and to illuminate the human condition. When psychologists use Buddhist concepts in their work, for example, they find their patients are less inclined to exhibit prejudice against people outside their social and religious group. And scientists have used the harmonic principles built into Buddhist singing bowls to design more efficient solar panels. Both disciplines share an empirical approach. Buddhists are trained to be skeptics, and to only accept a proposition after examining evidence. The following words are attributed to the Buddha: Just as a goldsmith would test his gold by burning, cutting, and rubbing it, so must you examine my words and accept them, not merely out of reverence for me. Numerous studies show that meditation has a positive effect on health and well-being. EEG tests to measure monks brain waves provide proof. Monks and other expert meditators produce high levels of gamma brain waves, which have a series of benefits to cognitive functioning. Western scientists and Buddhist scholars have also collaborated on one of the profound mysteries of the human experience: consciousness. Researchers have used neuroscience to support the idea of an ever-changing self. Neuroscientists have modeled the sense of self in terms of shifting networks and circuits in the brain. Your sense of a stable and rooted you is an illusion, they concluded. Christof Koch is a leading expert on consciousness. Koch and his colleague Giulio Tononi have come up with an audacious theory of consciousness. They argue that its not localized and cannot be identified in any part of the brain. They also write that plants, animals and microbes can be conscious. Their theory treats consciousness [as] an intrinsic, fundamental property of reality. Wait. The self is nowhere and consciousness is everywhere? This sounds like Zen sophistry rather than scientific analysis. But I see it as a sign of the fruitful convergence of Western science and Eastern philosophy. Its early to determine what this ambitious research will deliver. But it shows that input from Buddhist thought is forcing scientists to question their methods, assumptions and logical constructs. Koch and Tononi, for example, are less concerned with the physical mechanisms and localized structures of the brain than they are with the network of transient connections that may underlie consciousness. The best lesson Buddhism has for science concerns balance. In his gentle way, the Dalai Lama chastises scientists for not paying enough attention to the negative implications of their quest for knowledge. He writes: It is all too evident that our moral thinking simply has not been able to keep pace with the speed of scientific advancement. In a troubled world, being guided by science but insisting that it reflect human values may be the best advice of all. The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The Conversation is wholly responsible for the content. Prez Biden commutes 31 federal sentences and releases "Alternatives, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Strategic Plan" | Main | Latest reporting of US District Court's experience getting involved with supervised release April 29, 2023 Notable new commentaries on Justice Alito's criminal justice jurisprudence The Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy this past week posted a significant number of new commentaries here under the banner The Jurisprudence of Justice Samuel Alito: A Symposium. Here is how the links to the pieces are introduced: The essays in this symposium, authored by prominent federal judges and renowned academics, focus in-depth on Justice Alitos approaches to a wide variety of areas of law. Versions of most of these essays were presented as addresses at a March 2022 symposium convened by Professor Robert P. George and Yuval Levin, co-hosted by the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University and the American Enterprise Institute. Two of the 14 pieces in this collection are focused on Justice Alito's criminal justice jurisprudence: The piece by Judge Oldham mentions some post-Booker cases in passing, and the piece by Professor Stith discusses the sentencing/criminal history stories around the Armed Career Criminal Act at great length. Both pieces stress what they call Justice Alito's " pragmatism" in this arena. These pieces generally fail to note that Justice Alito's version of criminal justice "pramatism" seems to mean that the police and prosecutors, and not the individual, will almost always prevail. This 2017 empirical article detailed that Justice Alito had not once voted in favor a Fourth Amendment litigant in a divided case. I have not been able to find a similar accounting for other parts of the SCOTUS criminal docket, but I have a hard time recalling divided cases in any criminal justice arena in which Justice Alito voted for the criminal defendant. That reality leads me to think of Justice Alito's "pragmatic" criminal justice jurisprudence to be most fundamentally about prioritizing state and federal criminal powers over individual rights and protections. April 29, 2023 at 09:38 PM | Permalink Comments The quality of a Justice's work cannot be assessed by the identity of the winning or losing party. That is partisanship and consequentialist thinking. Picking winners and losers, and focusing on who wins and who loses, is for the political branches, not the judiciary. Judges should concern themselves solely with legal reasoning -- exactly the thing this commentary does not highlight (or even mention for that matter). Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 30, 2023 11:11:37 AM Mr. Otis, can the quality of a Justice's work be assessed in part by his silence in the face of another Justice's corruption? Comedian Roy Wood made the following telling "joke" at the White House Correspondents' dinner last night: "This man bought a Supreme Court justice. Do you understand how rich you have to be to buy a Supreme a Black one on top of that. Theres only two in stock and Harlan Crow owns half the inventory, Hard to even read what the Court or any its members writes until the Court addresses and deals with the stench of corruption emanating from them. Posted by: anon12 | Apr 30, 2023 3:20:06 PM Always nice to have you back, Bill, but are you serious with this?: "Picking winners and losers, and focusing on who wins and who loses, is for the political branches, not the judiciary." Functionally, that seems precisely backward --- the judiciary resolves cases and controversies, which means exactly "picking winners and losers" among the parties that bring cases and controversies to the courts to be resolved. The political branches, in critical contrast, can try to find ways to make everyone a winner (or everyone a loser). Of course, what legal reasoning is used by various courts and judges to pick winners and losers should certainly be an aspect of assessing the quality of their work. But courts are in the very business of resolving disputes, rendering judgments, and picking winners and losers --- they are not philosophers tasked with impressing people with their rhetoric --- and so it is absolutely appropriate to note who is winning and losing when seeking to assess the work of a jurist. Moveover, "pragmatism" is often defined (generally and in legal circles) as an approach that looks toward practical applications and results rather than grand ideologies. So understood, a judge who is called a pragmatist is a judge who, even more than others, is seemingly concerned with (and should be judged by) the results of rulings. In Justice Alito's case, as I mentioned, his version of criminal justice "pramatism" seems to mean that the police and prosecutors, and not the individual, will almost always prevail. That's nothing to seek to hide or obscfucate ... unless one is in a sesne acknowledging that there are few deeper principles behind a voting record that prioritizes state and federal criminal powers over individual rights and protections. Posted by: Doug B | Apr 30, 2023 4:47:45 PM anon12 -- "Hard to even read what the Court or any its members writes until the Court addresses and deals with the stench of corruption emanating from them." Then don't read it. Your analysis of the opinions you refuse to read can be assessed in light of your willful ignorance. P.S. False accusations against prominent black people have never been heard of. HAHAHAHAHA Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 30, 2023 5:57:36 PM Doug -- I was using the phrase "winners and losers" in the sense in which you were using it initially -- to wit, in talking about classes of litigants and their shared interests, not individual parties in discrete cases. In that sense, I repeat that evaluating the work of judges should not depend on who or which group or which group of interests, over the course of their years on the bench, won and lost. Of course I get it that you disagree with this. Indeed, part of your eagerness to see Justice Brown-Jackson on the Court lay in your (almost certainly correct) belief that she'll more often be a vote for the criminal (more often, that it, than the center of the Court, that being roughly Kagan-Roberts-Kavanaugh). You believe in consequentialist judging much more than I do. For example, it made no difference to me in the Dobbs case whether and to what extent getting an abortion becomes more difficult. That's a big question for politicians but not at all a question for judges. The question before the Dobbs Court was whether the text of the Constitution provides a right to abortion. It provides no such thing (just read it), so the majority was right. Whatever the fallout may be is for politicians to decide. Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 30, 2023 6:14:52 PM Mr. Otis, you write, "The question before the Dobbs Court was whether the text of the Constitution provides a right to abortion. It provides no such thing (just read it), so the majority was right" The text also provides no right to have children at all. Does that mean the state could forbid married couples from having more than two children? More than one? Only males? No children at all? Posted by: Mary quite Contrary | Apr 30, 2023 6:55:14 PM Mary -- First, why the fake name? Is that supposed to be cute? As to your question: Read the mode of analysis the Court adopted in Bruen (one of Doug's favorite cases). The right of married couples to have children was universally understood as part of the basic privileges and immunities of citizens at the time of the Founding, and therefore stands on a vastly different constitutional footing from the "right" to have an abortion, which was not only not so understood at the Founding but was condemned as a crime in the great majority of states. Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 30, 2023 7:18:42 PM Mr. Otis hardly needs my support, but let me supplement his responses with this: A truly serious analysis of J. Alito's jurisprudence on criminal law should include analysis of such jurisprudence by the appellate courts. After all, the Court's criminal docket comes from the appellate courts. In other words, rather than J. Alito being too pro-prosecution, perhaps it is the lower courts that are too pro-criminal. Posted by: htjyang | Apr 30, 2023 8:37:57 PM Mr Otis, how come you don't knock your male buddies like Federalist and Tarls for using fake names? Posted by: Mary quite Contrary | Apr 30, 2023 11:39:21 PM Bill, judicial reasoning is in service to reaching results, which is what judges are primarily tasked with doing. (Indeed, the vast majority of SCOTUS decisions are results without any reasoning --- see any Monday morning order list. And if any judge gave all his reasoning without a result, we would say he did not do his full job.) Consequently, results are necessarily and fundamentally part of how we assess any jurist, that is, by "who or which group or which group of interests, over the course of their years on the bench, won and lost." I suspect your point may be that we do not want judges to be "results-oriented." But if that is what you mean, then it is even more important to review and assess a judges' results in order to assess whether they are engaging in "results-oriented" approaches to their work. (And, of course, Justice Alito's CJ votes is agreat example of a results-orietned jurisprudence. I can already he will be a vote for state power over an individual in any seriously contested case.) As stressed before, the actual votes of any Justice --- and "who or which group or which group of interests, over the course of their years on the bench, won and lost" --- is not itself a something that should need to be hidden or obscfucated. Its the defining character of a jurist, who should be assessed by his rulings and his reasoning. Posted by: Doug B | May 1, 2023 4:18:49 PM Alito's jurisprudential principle respecting criminal procedure cases: "when in doubt always vote against the defendant." Posted by: public defender 22 | May 1, 2023 7:28:54 PM Bill, I have to disagree with you--Alito's votes are fair game as is the analysis--it's just that there may be some disingenuous use of the record. Doug, results-only stuff is interesting--but the other question is an analysis of what was written. Posted by: federalist | May 2, 2023 11:09:24 AM I agree 100%, federalist, that the analysis matters as it helps inform our understanding of what led to the result. But the result is a critical piece to understanding how to assess the analysis, and Bills suggestion otherwise borders on the comical. Posted by: Doug B | May 2, 2023 1:45:32 PM Doug -- What borders on comical -- indeed, what goes well past that border -- is your view that all drugs should be legalized. But I have refrained from using that sort of acerbic language because it is inconsistent with having a respectful conversation. Your comments section has its share of airheads and sneering jackasses. Let's you and I make an effort not to join them. Posted by: Bill Otis | May 2, 2023 8:05:09 PM Fair enough, Bill, and I apologize for the sharp adjective. That said, I do find it somewhat comical to assert that judges should be assessed based "solely" on legal reasoning with absolutely no regard given to their votes/judgments. Indeed, I strongly suspect you do not really believe in a "reasoning solely" approach to judicial assessment because you frequently stress, here and elsewhere, judicial votes and their results in your praise and/or criticisms of various jurists. Intriguing here, Bill, is that I would expect you to be especially praiseworthy of Justice Alito's voting pattern given that it is more pro-state CJ power/prosecution than any other Justice (perhaps in history). And yet, you seem disinclined to highlight and laud this notable and defining aspect of Justice Alito's record over nearly two decades as a Justice. Wouldn't you have a higher regard for other Justices if they had a similar pattern of votes? Or do you see more "quality" in the work of other Justices who rely on originalist principles to sometimes rule against the state (I am thinking especially of Justices Scalia, Thomas and Gorsuch)? I am inclined to guess, Bill, that you are generally eager to be critical of "results-oriented" judging --- and yet you recognize that the sound accounting of Justice Alito's record in criminal cases is as a results-oriented jurist. Ergo this effort to say let's not look at results (even though you favor these consistently pro-state CJ power/prosecution results). Posted by: Doug B | May 3, 2023 6:57:41 AM It's funny Doug, you never accused or made innuendos about the judging of the libs on CJ issues. Posted by: federalist | May 3, 2023 10:49:28 AM It's funny, federalist, that you do not seem to understand this is a post/thread about Justice Alito's CJ work based on two new articles linked above, If/when articles are written about the CJ work of other Justices, I will certainly share my views on their work (which, sensible, should be assessed in part based on their actual votes as well as their reasoning). Even more importantly, this discussion is not at all about "accusing or making innuendos" about Justice Alito's record in CJ cases. It is about making the very straightforward and direct observation that Justice Alito's voting pattern is more pro-prosecution than any other Justice (perhaps in history). That is basic description of reality, not an accusation or innuendo. And the fact that you used those terms reinforces my sense that Justice Alito's CJ voting record, which is far more pro-state than any of the very conservative Justices with which he has served, really should be seen as embarassing for anyone who is not a statist. Posted by: Doug B | May 3, 2023 3:54:20 PM Doug, Since you post and support some of the wackiest articles and research Ive ever seen, you should be suffering more embarrassment than federalist ever could. Of course we all know your pro-criminal ilk is incapable of it. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 3, 2023 10:23:14 PM Not sure what exactly you consider "wackiest" or an "embarrassment," Master Tarls, but I am sure I do not try to hide my real name in this context. I am also sure, when it comes to criminal justice issues, Justice Alito's record is more statist than perhaps any Justice in the history of SCOTUS. I find it interesting that you and Bill and federalist seem keen to take shots at the messenger rather than defend Justice Alito's statist record in CJ cases. But perhaps that is because you all in some way realize that the Framers, who wrote a Bill of Rights full of limits on the power of the federal government to criminally punish, were part of the "pro-criminal ilk" that you are keen to rail against. Posted by: Doug B | May 4, 2023 5:25:03 AM Post a comment SIOUX CENTER, Iowa -- Barbara Den Herder of the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce was one of 91 economic development professionals to attend the Heartland Economic Development Course (HEDC) April 17-21 in Blue Springs, Missouri. Heartland attendees receive fundamental economic development training on topics ranging from business, retention and expansion, workforce development, real estate development, and entrepreneurship to marketing, finance, ethics, and managing economic development organizations. The 2023 HEDC class included representatives from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and South Dakota, trained by nationally recognized faculty from within the profession of economic development. HEDC is coordinated by the Institute for Decision Making at the University of Northern Iowa and is accredited by the International Economic Development Council. The Heartland Economic Development Course is a partnership of the Kansas Economic Development Alliance, Professional Developers of Iowa, Missouri Economic Development Council, Nebraska Economic Developers Association, Select Oklahoma, and the South Dakota Governors Office of Economic Development. Dakota Dunes, S.D. Mary Sterk, CFP, owner of Sterk Financial Services in Dakota Dunes, has announced the addition of Carina Rios to the Sterk Financial team. Rios joins the Dakota Dunes headquarters as accountant. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Iowa State University, she worked in both government and corporate accounting, according to a press release from Sterk. We are excited to welcome Carina to the Sterk Financial family, and look forward to her fresh perspective and team contributions," Mary Sterk said in a statement. Meetings and events The monthly Carmelite Board Meeting will be held Monday, May 1, at the Carmelite Monastery, 2901 S. Cecelia Street with Mass at 7 a.m. and refreshments at 8 a.m. Our business meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m., the rosary will start at 9 a.m. and prayers with the Sisters at 9:15 a.m. Honorary members are always welcome. Ancestry and Family Search help is available from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints Family Search Center, 1201 W. Clifton, Sioux City. For more information, email ldstreesearch@gmail.com. Lions Club meetings are first and third Mondays of each month, excluding holidays, at 12 p.m. at Active Generations located at 313 Cook St Sioux City. If interested in a strong service club helping sight and hearing impaired individuals we are the people to join with. Dakota County Historical Society meets at 7:30 p.m. on third Thursday of the month, Dakota City Library. Contact Dennis Reinert at 712-253-1609 for more information. Top O Morning Toastmasters Club, Mondays, noon to 1 p.m. Contact LeAnn Blankenburg, 712-870-1120, for meeting information. The Siouxland Ostomy Support Group, find us on Facebook. For more information and meeting times contact Dick Lindblom at 712-251-2453. Southside South Bottoms former residents, 6 p.m. potluck, second Wednesday of the month at Goodwill Industries cafeteria, 3100 Fourth St. Gert, 258-2227. Siouxland Metal Detecting and Archeology Club, 6:30 p.m., first Tuesday of the month in the Gleeson Room at 4510 Buckwalter Drive. Visitors welcome. Ray Turner, 712-899-2114. American Legion Post 64, 7 p.m. last Thursday of the month at 4021 Floyd Blvd. 712-258-3986. Marine Corps League, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Elks Club on TriView Ave. All marines welcome. For more information, call Cathy Moreno, 712-899-8441. Sioux City Chapter of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), 7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. 712-203-2052. Sioux City Duplicate Bridge Club, 12:30 p.m. Mondays (open); at the Senior Center. Mary 605-670-9613. Siouxland Fly-Fishing Club, 10 a.m. last Saturday of the month at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center on Hwy 12. All interested in fly fishing; beginners welcome. Monthly programs provided. For more information, call Bob Gillespie, 712-251-9463, or Diana, 402-987-3945. Siouxland Coin Club, 7 p.m. first Tuesday of each month at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1915 Nebraska St. Bob, 255-4829. The Siouxland Pride Alliance, peer support group, 5:30 p.m. Fridays; Youth Pride group, 1:30 p.m. second Sunday of the month; potluck, 5:30 p.m. third Sunday of the month. First Unitarian Church, 2508 Jackson. Call 712-223-0931 Siouxland Samplers Quilt Guild, 7 p.m. second Monday of the month at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St, door #2. Visitors and new members welcome. Siouxland Sewing Guild, 6:30-8 p.m. first Thursday of the month at South Sioux Public Library, 2121 Dakota Ave., South Sioux City. For anyone interested in sewing. Denise, 402-922-1822. Sooland RC Modelers, 7 p.m. second Thursday of the month at Morningside Lutheran Church. Non-profit club that flies remote control aircraft. Anyone interested in RC is welcome. Retired Educators, 10:30 a.m. third Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Mid-Step Services for Handicapped, meal at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Confirmation Instruction and Midweek Lessons, 5 p.m. on Wednesdays, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., door #6. Open to all kids 5 years old through 8th grade. Primetime (Potluck), 12 p.m., second Thursday of each month, at Whitfield United Methodist Church, 1319 W 5th. For more information call 252-3261 Tuesday-Thursdays, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Abundant Life Fellowship, 809 S. Alice St., in Sioux City will distribute food boxes after their 11 a.m. Sunday services. For additional information contact Pastor Bob at 605-205-0718 or Donna at 605-205-0719. John H. Stark and Dolores H. Stark of Sioux City will celebrate 72 years of marriage on Friday. John and Delores were married on May 5, 1951, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sioux City. John retired from the Omaha Main Post Office in March 1997, and Dolores retired from Iowa Public Service Omaha. They moved to Prescott, Ariz., built a home, and lived there for 20 years. The couple moved back to Sioux City in July 2020. Their daughter Shawn (Jerry L. Sandberg) lived in Phoenix, Ariz., for 30 years and then moved back to Sioux City in July 2020 and built a home in the same area her parents. John and Dolores have been helped much by daughter Shawn and niece Marilyn Farrer as well as their Sioux City neighbors. Kim Yo-jong makes a speech during a national meeting on anti-epidemic measures held in Pyongyang, Aug. 10, 2023. Yonhap The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un slammed a new South Korea-U.S. agreement bolstering Washington's nuclear deterrence against North Korean threats, Saturday, saying the allies' plan will only result in "more serious danger." In North Korea's first response to the Washington Declaration adopted during President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S., Kim Yo-jong said that the agreement reflects "the most hostile and aggressive will of action" against the North that will "only result in making peace and security of Northeast Asia and the world be exposed to more serious danger," according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Kim's remarks came three days after Yoon and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to significantly strengthen Washington's nuclear commitment to South Korea in the new agreement and promised to take "swift, overwhelming, and decisive" action in the event of North Korea's nuclear attack. Under the Washington Declaration, Yoon and Biden agreed to strengthen the U.S. extended deterrence commitment to South Korea through the establishment of a Nuclear Consultative Group and more frequent deployments of U.S. strategic assets to South Korea. Kim, who is known for her influence on inter-Korean affairs in the regime, holding the post of vice department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, warned that the change in the security environment will only push the North to take "more decisive action." "The more the enemies are dead set on staging nuclear war exercises, and the more nuclear assets they deploy in the vicinity of the Korean peninsula, the stronger the exercise of our right to self-defense will become in direct proportion to them," she was quoted saying in the English-language dispatch. Kim also lashed out at both leaders, lambasting Biden's warning that any nuclear attack against the U.S. or its allies will result in the end of its regime. Saying that Biden was "too miscalculating and irresponsibly brave," Kim painted the warning as "nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage." "It may be taken as a nonsensical remark from the person in his dotage who is not at all capable of taking the responsibility for security and the future of the U.S., an old man with no future, as it is too much for him to serve out two-year remainder of his office term," Kim said. She also took a swipe at Yoon, calling him a "fool" who has "put the security into crisis with his incompetence." "The pipe dream of the U.S. and South Korea will henceforth be faced with the entity of more powerful strength," Kim said. The KCNA report came as Yoon's state visit to the U.S. is underway. (Yonhap) SIOUX CITY -- From a black and white publication, to a thick, colorful award-winning art and literary magazine, "The Briar Cliff Review" has undergone a metamorphosis over more than three decades. Tricia Currans-Sheehan, an English and writing professor at Briar Cliff University, has shepherded each and every edition of "The Briar Cliff Review" from the artist and writer submission stage through publication. The final edition of "The Briar Cliff Review" was released earlier this month, ending the award-winning magazine's 35-year run. Two years ago, former university leadership cut the Sioux City college's English and art majors, according to Currans-Sheehan. "Without students and faculty, we don't have a magazine," she said. "The faculty editors got together when this decision was made and said, 'We'd like to end the magazine when it's strong and vibrant, rather than have it languish or deteriorate.'" Briar Cliff Review ending Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor of the Briar Cliff Review, talks about the history of the publication, which is being discontinued, along with The 2023 edition of "The Briar Cliff Review" features poems, short stories, photography, paintings, drawings, sculptures and more. While the artists and writers are mostly from the Siouxland region, Currans-Sheehan said submissions from more than a dozen countries and nearly all 50 states have been selected, over the years. Annually, Currans-Sheehan and a small staff of professors and students plow through the hundreds of submissions. From these entries, Currans-Sheehan and other Briar Cliff Review editors choose the stories that will be printed and eligible for $1,000 prizes for poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. "We always say our mission has been to discover new writers, to support mid-career writers, to publish the voice of those not represented in the commercial mainstream culture," she said. "But, most of all, we preserve literature and art for future readers." Briar Cliff Review The cover of the Briar Cliff Review, Vol. 2, Issue 1, published in spring 1990, is shown. 'Artists are everywhere' "The Briar Cliff Review" was founded in 1989, after the university's president at the time, Sister Margaret Wick, announced some money was available for creative projects. Currans-Sheehan said she and Jeanne Emmons, a former Briar Cliff faculty member in the English department, came up with the idea to start a magazine. Wick gave them $3,500 to publish it. "We had no idea if it would keep going, because in the life of literary art magazines, five years is a run, because of money," said Currans-Sheehan, who eventually had to start raising money for the magazine. Currans-Sheehan said the first three issues were printed on Briar Cliff's "little press" and that they could only afford to produce the magazine in black and white. "I remember, the first couple issues, somebody hit the wrong button and we lost everything. It was like, 'Sister Loretta, start typing!'" Currans-Sheehan recalled. She said a number of computer programs have been used over the years to layout the magazine, including Quark and InDesign. Briar Cliff Review The cover of Vol. 3, Issue 1, of the Briar Cliff Review, published in spring 1991, is shown. The magazine's design process consists of "up on the wall reading." Currans-Sheehan said they literally put the content up on a wall and, then, all the editors start moving things around. Putting a photograph of a red couch next to a poem about a red couch, would not fly with artists, she said. "The students are always upset, 'I put that poem next to that artwork.' It doesn't really work," she said. "You have to be careful. You compliment, but it doesn't have to be representative, so it takes us a lot longer to design the magazine than to lay out the magazine." When asked if she has a favorite edition of "The Briar Cliff Review," Currans-Sheehan responded, "I don't know if I do." She said she hopes the magazine gives readers enjoyment and helps them realize that "artists are everywhere." Briar Cliff Review The cover of the first issue of the Briar Cliff Review, published in spring 1989, is shown. Art Center exhibition An exhibition of artworks selected from the 35th edition of "The Briar Cliff Review" is now on display at the Sioux City Art Center through Sept. 3. This year's exhibit marks the 10th of its kind. The artworks represented in both the magazine and the exhibition were selected by Jeff Baldus, professor of art at Briar Cliff and art editor of "The Briar Cliff Review," and Christopher Atkins, curator of the Art Center. The selected artists are active professional artists with connections to Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota, as well as art students at Siouxland colleges and universities. Atkins hopes those who view the artworks will recall some of the literature that was associated with those pieces, an experience he described as "unfortunately, fading." "In addition to the collaboration between the writers and the artists, the collaboration between 'The Briar Cliff Review,' Briar Cliff University and the Art Center has been a great one," he said. "You don't hear about these kinds of projects lasting more than five, six, seven years." Briar Cliff Review The final edition of "The Briar Cliff Review" was released earlier this month, ending the award-winning magazine's 35-year run. Briar Cliff Review ending Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor of the Briar Cliff Review, holds the very first edition of the magazine as she talks about the history of the p Briar Cliff Review ending Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor of the Briar Cliff Review, shows a photo called "Poppy Pod" by Molly Wood. Viewing the artwork on exhibit at th Briar Cliff Review ending Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor of the Briar Cliff Review, shows a painting called "Shore Life" by Christina Narwicz. Viewing the painting on e Briar Cliff Review ending Tricia Currans-Sheehan, editor of the Briar Cliff Review, talks about the history of the publication which is being discontinued along with th SIOUX CITY Jordy Cambara is making period products more accessible to Sioux City high school students. Cambara, a senior at West High, has been fundraising and buying menstrual products for the three high schools in an effort to combat period poverty. The program is only currently operating at West High, but Cambara hopes to expand it to all three Sioux City high schools next year. Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1,500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City Thursday. While serving on the State of Iowa Youth Advisory Council, Cambara learned about period poverty and the importance of having menstrual products in school bathrooms. (Period poverty is when people cannot afford to buy period products or do not have access to them, causing impacts on school, work, social activities and health problems.) He said the council advocates for issues that impact youth and this has been a large topic this year. When I looked into it more, I started to see an issue, he said. Cambara was shocked to learn that some students skip class due to the lack of access to period products. In the U.S., one in four teenagers has missed class due to lack of such supplies, according to the Alliance for Period Supplies. Some teachers and staff members in the district have period products on hand, but Cambara said providing the products in the bathroom is easier for students. Two months ago, Cambara approached West High principal Rebecca Rieken about providing pads and tampons in bathrooms. Rieken said she told him about current options and support for students in need and provided a few suggestions, but said she was impressed by his idea. This topic can be uncomfortable for some to talk about, but he wasnt fazed at all about discussing it, and how he wanted to eliminate access barriers for his female classmates, she said. Period products Jordy Cambara talks about the order he received of $1,500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City on Thursday. Rieken said some students can be embarrassed to ask for period products and it can be a financial burden to access the products, so providing the products for free, directly in the bathrooms, helps combat those issues. Cambara started with West High. After getting suggestions of what to buy from friends and family, he used his own money to buy products from stores in town. Each Monday, he restocks the products afterschool and keeps track of what products are more popular and more useful. As the cost started to add up, he approached organizations in the area, seeking advice on how to sustain the project. Period products Jordy Cambara stocks tampons and pads in a hanging pocket in a bathroom at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. One of the organizations that provided the most help was Girls Inc. of Sioux City, an organization which provides programs on economic literacy, peer pressure resistance, leadership and community skills, media literacy, pregnancy prevention and more. Cambara said Girls Inc. offered advice and are providing space for him to store extra products. He started a GoFundMe page called Siouxland For Period-Products where people can learn about his mission and donate money. Because of that GoFundMe, he was able to make a $1,500 order and purchase enough period products for a year for students at all three Sioux City high schools. He recently met with the principals at the high schools to discuss expanding the program throughout Sioux City and received positive feedback. His goal is to have period products in one bathroom on each floor of the high schools as well as one gender neutral bathroom. Period products Jordy Cambara leaves a basket with tampons and pads in the girls bathroom at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. The feedback Cambara has received from students and friends has been positive. He said some question why a man is heading the project, but said once they understand the effort he is putting in for change they react positively. Once he graduates in May, he wants to continue the project by creating a committee of students at each school to take over providing the period products. His goal is to expand the project to the middle schools. It seems like its more necessary there too because some of them are getting their periods, he said. If its just there, it will be easy for them. If people are interested in donating, they can either donate through the GoFundMe page or drop off products at all three Sioux City High Schools and Girls Inc. If successful, Cambara hopes to expand to other schools in the area. Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. Period products Jordy Cambara unboxes $1500 worth of period products at Sioux City West High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Thursday, April 27, 2023. In the absence of a federal data privacy law and despite multiple state privacy regulations, the multibillion-dollar data broker industry is collecting and selling extensive personal data on Americans, including physical and mental health information on the elderly, veterans and kids. A staggering amount of information is collected on Americans every day, frequently without their knowledge or consent, Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Virginia, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, said at a recent hearing. This data then gets shared, analyzed, combined with other data sets, bought and sold. The privacy abuses and sale of sensitive information is hurting vulnerable adults, including the elderly, veterans and people of color, said Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Florida, the subcommittees ranking member. But there are few things more concerning to me than the ways Big Tech, including data brokers, have proliferated the surveillance and targeting of our kids. Lawmakers of both parties are eyeing legislation that would advance federal data privacy as well as measures that would address childrens online privacy. Congress didnt pass a national data privacy measure last year after key members, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, objected to a bill they deemed to be less stringent than privacy standards enacted by California. Colorado, Connecticut, Utah and Virginia have also passed privacy laws. Five other states are considering similar measures. Castor said she planned to reintroduce legislation that would restrict data collection on children and teenagers. Her previous proposal aimed to expand federal law that applies to data collection on kids under 13. Citing widespread abuses of privacy and scams targeting the elderly and those with Alzheimers disease, experts who testified before the committee urged Congress to ban the sale of data in sensitive categories, including health and location, and severely restrict collection and sale of data to foreign governments. While several members of Congress are alarmed at apps such as TikTok potentially allowing Beijing to access American users data, one expert who testified before the committee said it was easy to access data even without such apps. TikTok is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance Ltd. Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at the Data Brokerage Project at Duke Universitys Sanford School of Public Policy in North Carolina, told lawmakers that his team was able to buy individually identifiable information on U.S. military servicemembers from a data broker with almost no vetting and (for) as low as 12.5 cents a servicemember. At a separate hearing by the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, James Rice, assistant director at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, told lawmakers that his agency is examining practices of data brokers. Earlier this year, we issued a request for information on data broker practices that may be putting military consumers privacy at risk, Rice told lawmakers. We have also undertaken a similar effort for credit cards and auto loans. Data brokers include companies like Experian PLC, a consumer credit reporting company; Oracle Corp.; Acxiom LLC; and others that collect data from a wide variety of sources, including publicly available information, Sherman said in an interview. As potential federal legislation takes shape, Acxiom will continue prioritizing the responsible use of data in all our engagements, Erin Tomaski, a spokesperson for Acxiom, said in an email. We remain unwavering in our commitment to data protection, privacy, and confidentiality, and we stand ready to support thoughtful legislative changes that balance these values while advancing innovation. Acxiom is part of the Interpublic Group Inc. The other companies didnt respond to a request for comment. The industry likely ranges in size from tens of billions of dollars in annual sales to potentially hundreds of billions, Sherman said, adding that more precise figures arent available. He and Laura Moy, director of Georgetown Laws Center on Privacy and Technology, told lawmakers that government records, location data obtained from smartphone apps, information on retail purchases such as over-the-counter medications and alcohol, health information from wearable devices and tracking information on visits to doctors offices may all be sources of the information. Using the data, brokers infer characteristics about individuals, Moy testified, and target products and services to people. A February 2023 report by Duke Universitys Technology Policy Lab found that data brokers were willing to sell highly sensitive mental health data on users, collected via smartphone apps that typically are not covered by the law known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. That means health apps, wearables, social media platforms, and many other technology companies can most often legally share, license, and sell users health data (in addition to other data) to third parties without users knowledge or consent, author Joanne Kim wrote in the report. Although states have attempted to control data brokers through privacy laws that create registries of the brokers and allow consumers and users to opt out of data collection, the industry has not been deterred, Sherman said in the interview. This is why do not sell my data provisions are not a real solution to data brokerage, he said. Such provisions require users to sift through hundreds of registered data brokers and use individual forms to opt out of tracking and sale of data by each company, he said. Congress should flip that on its head and create a process that would require brokers to seek users permission to collect and sell data, Sherman said. How data privacy laws vary by state How data privacy laws vary by state California Colorado Maine Massachusetts Minnesota Nevada New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania Virginia DES MOINES With the assessed value of homes skyrocketing up a statewide average of 22 percent this year Iowa lawmakers from both political parties say they want to keep that rise from triggering big increases in the local property tax bills that homeowners have to pay. But the clock is ticking, as legislators work for the 2023 calendar year is drawing to a close. Soon, they will adjourn for the year and not be back at the Iowa Capitol until January 2024. Lawmakers are focused on two proposals one bill each in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate, both written by majority-party Republicans that have similar overall goals, but are operationally different. The question on many taxpayers minds is whether the two chambers can agree on just one bill still this year. A big rise in assessments, of course, doesnt mean there will be a similarly big increase in tax bills. The states rollback rate caps how much of a propertys value can be taxed. But even if taxing entities such as cities, counties and school districts keep the same tax rates as before, taxpayers could still see considerable increases despite the state rollback rate. Here is a look at the two legislative proposals: how they are similar, how they are different, and what are the prospects for lawmakers ability to reach an agreement they can pass this year. The proposals The House bill would cap the amount of property taxes that local governments could collect on increases in property assessments. Under House File 718, local governments could not collect more than 3 percent of any growth in assessment increases for residential and agricultural property. Commercial and industrial property tax growth is limited to 8 percent. So, for example, if the assessment on an Iowans house increased 6 percent, the local governments could collect property taxes on only 3 percent of that increase. The Senate bill also attempts to address assessment increases, but in a different way. Senate File 569 ties the maximum property tax revenue growth that an entity has to spend on both the tax rates it charges and the rise in assessments. Local taxing entities would have their maximum tax revenue reduced between 2.5 and 3.25 percent, depending on how much they charge for a key tax rate and the percentage of assessment growth in its jurisdiction, provided that growth is 2.5 percent or more. The House bill also decreases by $1 the state tax on property that is part of the states K-12 public school funding formula, and replaces it with funds the states general budget not property taxes. That provision, which would cost the state more than $200 million annually, is not in the Senate bill. Conversely, the Senate bill also combines multiple local government levies, and eliminates others. Those provisions are not in the House bill. The negotiations Ultimately, state lawmakers particularly, leaders in the majority Republican Party must come to an agreement on one legislative proposal to send to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature. The final product could be a mishmash of some elements of both bills, but negotiations are not quite as simple as, for example, deciding which rate on state income taxes to establish. The complex nature of property taxes, lawmakers say, is what makes this particular negotiation more challenging. I think the difficult part is that as opposed to moving down the state income tax rate, you are moving levers on a system that touches 99 counties, almost 1,000 cities, 300-plus school districts. So thats where it becomes a lot more nuanced in trying to find that solution, said Sen. Dan Dawson, a Republican from Council Bluffs who chairs the Senates committee on tax policy. Ive said before if property taxes were easy we would have fixed that in 2017 when Republicans gained full control of the state lawmaking process by virtue of a Republican governor and majorities in both chambers of the Iowa Legislature, Dawson added. This is going to be a thoughtful, long-term process. House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, this past week conceded House and Senate Republicans had not yet reached an agreement on property taxes, but also said that Republican leaders are continuing to meet. We recognize were trying to get to the same place, which is to provide certainty and relief for Iowans, Grassley said. Were working toward the same goal, but again, its a very complicated system. Ive been talking about that for four months now, how complicated the system is. Bipartisan support While they have not yet agreed on a precise method, lawmakers from both parties do appear to agree on the need for changes to Iowas property tax laws. Both main bills received widespread, bipartisan support: the Senate bill passed its chamber on a 48-1 vote, and the House bill passed there in a 93-1 vote. However, even among minority-party Democrats, there is not consensus around a preferred proposal. During a news conference this past week, Senate Democrats leader Sen. Zach Wahls, of Coralville, and House Democrats leader Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, of Windsor Heights, said they preferred their own chambers proposal. Both, however, also stressed a need to get some bill passed before this years session is over. I think the No. 1 concern that we have is making sure that something gets done this year and figuring out a way to do that thats going to both balance the fact that Iowans are seeing these property taxes rising and in many cases rising assessments, but that also is going to allow some of our high-growth areas to continue to grow and provide services in a responsible way, without shortchanging law enforcement officers and other public safety workers, provide those critical services, Wahls said. Clocks ticking. So thats got to be a priority. Future prospects As legislators return Monday for what very well may be the final week of the 2023 session, the questions remain: whether they can reach an agreement on one tax bill, and what that bill will look like. Dawson and Grassley expressed optimism. I think youre going to see very strong efforts to try to make sure we pass something this session that at least gives some certainty to Iowans, Grassley said. There is a lot of uncertainty (about) the impacts that will happen from these assessments. So I think we feel pretty strongly about trying to find something that will try to ease some of those fears from Iowans. Dawson said he feels motivated to get something passed that addresses how much new property tax revenue local governments can use in their budgets. He said by addressing that this year, local governments will have time to prepare for their budgeting process next year. If we are going to address the assessments that Iowans received in their mail this last three or four weeks, my position has always been that no matter what we agree upon this session, or the next session or sessions beyond, we have to address these assessments before we walk out the door, Dawson said. Otherwise, were going to have cities and counties going to be budgeting in the (new property tax revenue) windfall (from) those property tax assessments. We try to come back next year from scratch, were going to be fighting against (local governments) budget process. As a kid, Mom always warned, Make sure you keep a screen door between you and the Fuller Brush man. They wont leave, and all they do is to sell, sell, sell. I remember that caution as Im reading House File 654, the bill that recently passed the Iowa House encouraging public schools to allow the National Rifle Association, (NRA) in the door of Iowa public schools to teach gun and hunter safety K-12. Its not the curriculum I question, its the messenger and whats behind it. Once in the door, theyll sell, sell, sell, and theyre not just peddling brushes. Theyre selling gun culture. While gun and hunter safety sounds like a reasonable idea given the 145 mass shootings since the year started, there are three major reasons this is troubling, and there are quite a few unanswered questions. 1. Who Develops and Delivers the Instruction Matters. Theres an old saying, Dont put the foxes in charge of the henhouse. The NRA isnt some nonprofit public service group relying on facts to help the public understand guns. Its a powerful, political interest group whose job is to promote gun rights at all costs. They wont leave until they sell, sell, sell, with this philosophy, Ill give up my guns when you pry it from my cold dead hands. During the last two legislative sessions, Republicans spent a lot of energy pretending they needed to rewrite public school curriculum because all the woke public school teachers were indoctrinating children. Now, theyre telling Iowans, its fine to have this group grooming kids into the gun culture. Does anyone really believe a gun safety course developed and delivered by the NRA wont be a tad biased? It makes about as much sense as having the Ku Klux Klan teach race relations. I understand gun safety is important. I also understand who delivers the Instruction matters. If a school wants to offer gun safety in PE or health, Im sure an officer from the DNR could provide lessons sans propaganda. 2. This isnt really about Gun Safety. Its about Gun Culture The goal of the NRA has always been to divert attention away from guns and blame something else for gun violence. True, guns arent the only problem causing mass casualties, but easy access is indeed part of this crisis. NRA wants to catch kids early and sell the idea, The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun, is to have a good guy with a gun. If that were true, wed be the safest country in the world. Do we really want first graders to think packing a gun to the grocery store is the solution, instead of the problem? I dont think most Iowans believe it. 3. Guns Simply dont Belong in Schools This is far from the only gun legislation pushed by the NRA that impacts schools. The NRA helped champion the idea of arming certain school personnel. They pushed to allow firearms to be kept in the trunks of cars parked in school parking lots. They have an agenda, and if adults choose to buy into it, thats their choice, but should kindergartners be indoctrinated? I dont think so. Here are some Questions needing answers. Who pays for this course? Who teaches this course? Will the instructor bring guns to class? What in the elementary curriculum will be eliminated so this is available? What if an elementary class makes this available and a parent disagrees? Lets keep the door shut to the Not Responsible for Anything organization. If theyre let in, they wont leave and theyll sell, sell, sell. Bruce Lear lives in Sioux City, Iowa. He has been connected to public schools for 38 years. He taught for 11 years and represented educators as an Iowa State Education Association regional director for 27 years until retiring. We hear the word community every day in reference to our parishes, our schools, neighborhoods and even groups. It is defined in Websters as, common possession of enjoyment body of people having common rights, privileges or interest or living in the same place under the same laws of regulation. Oddly enough, I was struggling to find the right words for this article when I received an email from one of our Ridgecrest Village residents, sharing a photo she had taken earlier in the week. Belinda Holbrooks photo of Koning Chapel, the American Flag and blooming magnolias artfully captured something incredibly special about the Ridgecrest Community. Last week, needing an after-lunch cup of coffee and chocolate, I ran over to our campus cafe. I love our cafe. It is a wonderful place that I liken to a coffee shop version of the old Cheers sitcom where everyone knows your name. That day there was a discussion going on between a few of our residents about one of them recently being in the hospital. They paused long enough to greet me and pull out a chair for me to join them, which I did. They readily resumed their discussion, and it was clear this was not just idle chatter. Genuine concern was evident with each question about the recent hospital experience. These community members look out for each other in a way I have rarely seen. It moves my heart. So why is considering community so important when contemplating senior living? Karen McCoy, a colleague with over 20 years experience in the senior industry shared this, People are looking to see if they can see themselves living here, fitting in and being comfortable ... finding the right people who think, and act like them. She hears people say all the time, I dont want to need to dress up for meals. I want some place where I can wear my worlds best grandma sweater and wont be judged. She said: Acceptance is huge. We have people who come from diverse backgrounds and occupations. When Im doing a tour ... yes, its about the smiles and saying hello, but when it comes down to it, its about looking around, seeing yourself sitting in that chair and being comfortable. Its about surrounding yourself with those with common beliefs and being welcomed. A few weeks ago, I wrote about being locally owned and operated. We are part of the larger QCA community with a rich heritage that is reflected in many area businesses. One example of this is the Iowa Machine Shed. You feel at home when you walk in. You are reminded of steak, potatoes, homemade apple crisp and corn-on-the-cob. Across the bridge, is the John Deere Commons. You are reminded of the tradition of tractors and all the businesses that have evolved from the farming industry in the QCA. Both remind us of the hometown goodness that exists in Iowa and Western Illinois. The word community is undoubtedly overused in the senior realm, but it is the right word. That said, using the term as a broad stroke definition is a mistake. Senior communities are not apples to apples when comparing one place to another. When contemplating the right fit for you, think about what community means to you, where you will fit in and continue to experience all the richness that life has to offer. The coming week is expected to be the final one of the Iowa Legislature's 2023 session, as lawmakers rush to pass a budget for next year and tie up any final legislation before leaving Des Moines. The total budget will be around $8.5 million for fiscal 2024. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/road-to-2024-how-joes-reelection-bid-lies-in-galvanizing-liberal-voting-base-1109963140.html Road to 2024: How Biden's Reelection Bid Lies in Galvanizing Liberal Voting Base Road to 2024: How Biden's Reelection Bid Lies in Galvanizing Liberal Voting Base US President Joe Biden is expected to conduct a turnout-centered reelection campaign by touting his public spending agenda as well as simply playing the "not being Donald Trump" card to maximize support from the Democrat base. 2023-04-29T23:00+0000 2023-04-29T23:00+0000 2023-04-29T22:58+0000 analysis joe biden donald trump patrick basham republican democrats white house approval ratings 2024 us presidential elections voters /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1d/1109962983_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_278382d4bb378b27aa1f9eab0e24c448.jpg On Tuesday, Biden announced his intention to run in the 2024 election, where he is likely to once again square off against his Republican predecessor, Trump a matchup that is quite unpopular among voters if polls are to be believed. The recent Reuters-Ipsos survey has shown that about two-thirds of all respondents do not want to see Biden or Trump running again. Patrick Basham, the director of the Democracy Institute think-tank, said that modern US politics are all about both Democrats and Republicans mobilizing their respective bases to achieve the highest possible turnout, since the number of truly undecided voters is relatively small. Thus, the incumbent US president will have to once again unite disparate strands of liberal and progressive voters by reminding them of what is at stake. "The Biden campaign will stress different messages simultaneously in order to reassure different Democratic voter groups that the president remains on their side," Basham explained to Sputnik.Clodagh Harrington, a US politics lecturer at University College Cork, believes Biden will follow the same pattern as most modern US leaders and zero in on the issue of the economy, suggesting that the incumbent president "has a positive story to tell (that is, if you are a voter who is comfortable with big public expenditure)." "Everyone wants better roads, bridges and broadband as well as technology and climate progress. He will need to speak to the social issues of the day too, not least the hot topic of abortion access, but the amount of bandwidth this gets will depend to an extent at least on how well, or not, the economy is doing," Harrington said.He went on to add that Biden "has the potential to galvanize differing factions of liberals, progressives and far-left voters if he can sufficiently convince them that he hears their voices." Trump CardDonald Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign in November 2022 and is currently the most popular candidate among registered Republicans, with his main rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis - who has not announced his run for the White House - coming a distant second in many polls. Although, the US businessman is currently the preferred candidate of the Republican base, there are questions regarding his performance during the presidential election, with some polls showing DeSantis as more likely to beat Biden next year. She also suggested that there could be a surprise Republican candidate, that is neither Trump nor DeSantis, who could move the needle, noting that a younger opponent would have the natural advantage of "not being in their 80s" regardless of their political message. At the same time, as Basham pointed out, in 2020, Biden did not have a track record to defend, which allowed his campaign to focus on criticizing Trump and promising that Biden "would do a better job handling the COVID-19 pandemic because he and his team of experts would restore adult leadership to the presidency." "So, although the Biden campaign will continue to attack Trump's record, it will have to spend considerable resources defending its own record against Republican attacks."Both experts believe Biden and Trump could potentially peel off some of the other's constituents. "He [Biden] could attract some of the white suburban married conservative women who supported Trump in the past but have now distanced themselves from him. Biden will have to carefully consider how he can authentically speak to these very disparate groups. He has the potential to reach them all but he has to sound true to himself. This will take some skill," Harrington remarked. Basham, for his part, cited his think-tank's own polling, which shows between 10% and 20% of Black voters as well as 30% to 40% of Hispanics planning to cast their ballots for Trump in 2024. "Biden is losing working-class Black and Hispanic voters, especially, to Trump. This is a trend that was impactful in 2020, but has gained significant momentum over the past two years," the expert said. Approval and TurnoutThe FiveThirtyEight website, which conducts opinion poll analysis, currently estimates Biden's approval rating at about 42%, with roughly 53% dissatisfied with his performance. As per received political wisdom, this does not bode well for the current officeholder as presidents with such approval-disapproval ratios are typically rejected by voters seeking a change. Nevertheless, if the 2024 election will be about pitting one base against another, Biden may buck the trend by exciting enough of his supporters to show up on election day. "Turnout-centered campaigns are so influential in determining the outcome of modern presidential elections, it is possible for a relatively unpopular president to be reelected should his campaign do a disproportionately effective job of mobilizing and motivating his own supporters to cast a ballot," Basham said, adding that "such an instrumental approach may be Bidens best, perhaps his only, path to reelection in 2024." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230428/bidens-2024-bid-tainted-by-new-corruption-allegations-1109921356.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230429/hunter-should-plead-guilty-before-damaging-joe-bidens-2024-chances-high-flying-dc-lawyer-says-1109960279.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 joe biden, reelection, 2024 us election, donald trump, patrick basham, clodagh harrington, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/biden-quips-about-musks-business-acumen-at-white-house-correspondents-dinner-1109985027.html Biden Quips About Musk's Business Acumen at White House Correspondents' Dinner Biden Quips About Musk's Business Acumen at White House Correspondents' Dinner During White House Correspondents' Association dinner POTUS Joe Biden joked about Elon Musk business acumen quoting the downfall of Twitter 2023-04-30T12:14+0000 2023-04-30T12:14+0000 2023-04-30T12:14+0000 americas joe biden elon musk twitter npr /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109466451_0:29:3073:1757_1920x0_80_0_0_d85fc579edeb6ee6900f0b7e275bf6fd.jpg In March, British media reported that Twitter lost more than half of its value since October 2022, when Musk sealed the deal to buy the company. "Not everybody loves NPR [National Public Radio]. Elon Musk tweeted it should be defunded. Well, the best way for Elon Musk to make NPR go away is for Elon Musk to buy it," Biden said at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner. The 80-year-old president also self-deprecatingly joked about his interactions with the press. "In a lot of ways this dinner sums up my first two years in office. Talk for ten minutes, take zero questions and cheerfully walk away," he quipped. Earlier in April, NPR said that it would stop posting fresh content to its 52 official Twitter accounts after they were labeled them as "US state-affiliated media" and more recently "government-funded media." In late October 2022, Musk finalized the $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, a US company founded in 2006, and headquartered in San Francisco, California. Following the takeover, Musk changed the company's day-to-day operations, including the termination of Twitter executives who were responsible for the platform's privacy, cybersecurity and censorship, as well as about two-thirds of Twitter's employees. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/twitter-dubs-bbc-as-government-funded-media-as-broadcaster--1109297537.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us, joe biden, elon musk, twitter https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/cia-director-chomsky-planned-to-meet-with-sex-offender-jeffrey-epstein-reports-1109999473.html CIA Director, Chomsky Planned to Meet With Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein - Reports CIA Director, Chomsky Planned to Meet With Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein - Reports Current CIA director William Burns and prominent academic Noam Chomsky, as well as other high-profile individuals, planned to meet with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a US newspaper claims. 2023-04-30T18:30+0000 2023-04-30T18:30+0000 2023-04-30T18:30+0000 americas jeffrey epstein noam chomsky cia william burns meeting /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/05/1080072785_0:282:2000:1407_1920x0_80_0_0_791b198d8b2a799ae95f9fe1b423f873.jpg The report cites a trove of documents that revealed a wider circle of individuals who associated with Epstein after his first conviction for a sex offense in 2008. The newly named individuals appeared in neither the so-called black book of contacts nor in the flight logs of Epsteins private jet. The documents do not provide details on the nature of the meetings or whether they all took place, the report noted. Burns scheduled three meetings with Epstein in 2014 while serving as Deputy US Secretary of State, the report said. CIA spokeswoman Tammy Kupperman Thorp confirmed a meeting between Burns and Epstein as he was preparing to leave government service, the report said. Chomsky was scheduled to fly with Epstein to have dinner at his Manhattan townhouse in 2015, the report said. Chomsky reportedly said he met with Epstein alongside former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to discuss Israel's policies regarding Palestinian issues and the international arena. Epstein also scheduled other meetings between Chomsky and other academics, including Harvard professor Martin Nowak, the report said. The documents also revealed dozens of meetings between Epstein and Obama administration counsel Kathryn Ruemmler in the years after her time at the White House, the report said. Epstein planned for Ruemmler, who became a top lawyer at Goldman Sachs Group, to join trips to Paris and Epsteins private island, the report said. Ruemmler did not see anything concerning at Epsteins townhouse, a Goldman spokesperson reportedly said. Ruemmler never visited Epsteins island or flew with him, the spokesperson added. In July 2019, Epstein was charged with trafficking underage girls for sexual exploitation. Epstein was later found dead in his jail cell with fatal neck injuries, purportedly a result of suicide. americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International jeffrey epstein, noam chomsky, william burns President Yoon Suk Yeol applauds during a Korea-U.S. Cluster Roundtable at a hotel in Boston, Friday (local time). Yonhap President meets MIT experts on digital, bio convergence By Nam Hyun-woo BOSTON President Yoon Suk Yeol called for synergy between Korea's capabilities in manufacturing and the U.S.' prowess in science and technology, saying their combination would be a win-win for the two economies. Yoon made the remarks Friday (local time) during the Korea-U.S. Cluster Roundtable in Boston, the second stop on his six-day state visit to the U.S. He held the event in Boston due to the region's successful creation of top companies and jobs through cooperation with global tech and bio companies, top financial institutions, consulting firms, law firms, research institutes, hospitals and others. "Boston is now home to the best innovative cluster on Earth," Yoon said referring to Kendall Square in the Greater Boston area. The square is oftentimes crowned the most innovative square mile in the world by media because of its high concentration of startups and the quality of innovation that has emerged in the vicinity. "I am confident that if the advanced industry innovation clusters in Boston and Korea collaborate closely and combine the scientific and technological capabilities of the United States and Korea, it will create significant synergies for both countries' economies," Yoon said. Yoon called on experts to share their experiences collaborating and creating value in various fields, such as industry-academia R&D, investment, law and management in the Boston Cluster, and expressed hope that the event would provide an opportunity to discuss ways to accelerate innovation in the advanced clusters of both countries. At the roundtable, experts including Massachusetts General Hospital President David Brown, LabCentral and Biolabs Founder & CEO Johannes Fruehauf, Boston Dynamics CEO Robert Playter, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel and Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President William Hait explored ideas on what clusters can do for the progress of advanced industries and how government policy can help clusters succeed. Yoon also toured an investment fair on the sidelines of the roundtable and praised the participating venture startups. Yoon's office said it expects the event to generate investments worth more than $15 million. In the wake of the event, four memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on clusters were signed between Korean and U.S. entities, while nine other bio-related MOUs were also inked. Of them, the Korea Technology and information Promotion Agency for SMEs and LabCentral signed an MOU on sharing successful experience in nurturing industrial clusters. LabCentral is a nonprofit organization based in Cambridge, providing shared laboratory space designed as a launch pad for high-potential life sciences and biotech startups. Kakao Healthcare signed an MOU with Google for biotechnology cooperation utilizing artificial intelligence, while GMS Healthcare signed an MOU worth up to $20 million with Westcarb Enterprises to supply laboratory freezers for the U.S. government procurement market. President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Engineering in Cambridge, Mass., Friday (local time). Yonhap https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/constitutional-referendum-in-uzbekistan-declared-valid-as-voter-turnout-passes-threshold-1109990494.html Constitutional Referendum in Uzbekistan Declared Valid as Voter Turnout Passes Threshold Constitutional Referendum in Uzbekistan Declared Valid as Voter Turnout Passes Threshold The constitutional referendum in Uzbekistan has been declared valid as 62.24% of voters cast their ballots, thus passing the necessary threshold of 50%, deputy chairman of the Uzbek Central Election Commission, Bahrom Kuchkarov said on Sunday. 2023-04-30T16:09+0000 2023-04-30T16:09+0000 2023-04-30T17:11+0000 asia uzbekistan constitution referendum constitution referendum /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1e/1109990334_0:138:3149:1909_1920x0_80_0_0_1533257a104306d8f07c1bb7be97d972.jpg "According to the electronic system recording voter turnout, as of 13.00 [local time, 08:00 GMT], 12,083,105 voters, or 62.24% of the total list, have attended the polling stations. The referendum can be declared as valid," Kuchkarov told reporters. Later, Kuchkarov said that the turnout had passed the 80% mark as of 5 p.m. local time. The chairman said that the Uzbek regions of Fergana, Andijan and Samarqand had shown the most active attendance as turnout there surpassed 80%. On Sunday, Uzbek citizens vote on a new edition of the country's constitution, which will extend presidential terms from five to seven years and strengthen various branches of the government. The overhaul will allow incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to serve two more terms. Under Uzbekistan's legislation, a referendum is considered valid if more than half of the citizens who have the right to participate take part in the vote. The election commission is expected to unveil the referendum's results on May 1. uzbekistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International uzbekistan, referendum, constitutional referendum, new constitution https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/g7-countries-advocate-for-global-ai-governance-1109984841.html G7 Countries Advocate for Global AI Governance G7 Countries Advocate for Global AI Governance Digital and technology ministers of the Group of Seven voiced support for creation of common and inter-operable AI governance frameworks. 2023-04-30T12:03+0000 2023-04-30T12:03+0000 2023-04-30T12:03+0000 world g7 ai artificial intelligence (ai) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107425/35/1074253587_0:100:1921:1180_1920x0_80_0_0_d969d9233b9cf61bb2086d4c47cb1446.jpg "We stress the importance of international discussions on AI governance and interoperability between AI governance frameworks, while we recognise that like-minded approaches and policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G7 members," the statement said, adding that regulatory and non-regulatory frameworks, technical standards and assurance techniques can "promote trustworthiness." The document also said that the G7 group supports the adoption of international technical standards for trustworthy AI. The ministers pointed out the need for developing policies to mitigate the negative impact of AI on society, including in the spheres of safeguarding intellectual property rights and addressing disinformation. "Given that generative AI technologies are increasingly prominent across countries and sectors, we recognise the need to take stock in the near term of the opportunities and challenges of these technologies and to continue promoting safety and trust as these technologies develop," the statement read. They also agreed on five principles underpinning AI governance, namely the rule of law, due process, democracy, and respect for human rights while harnessing the opportunities of innovation. The host country was represented by Japanese Minister of Digital Affairs Taro Kono, Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Takeaki Matsumoto and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura. Besides their G7 counterparts, Indian, Indonesian and Ukrainian officials attended the minister's meeting in the city of Takasaki in Gunma prefecture. Japan holds the G7 rotational chairmanship in 2023 and will host the group's summit in Hiroshima from May 19-21. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230425/eu-to-introduce-common-ai-usage-regulations-by-end-of-2023-1109827199.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230401/rage-against-the-machine-italy-slaps-ban-on-chatgpt-1109024940.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 ai, ai governance, g7, ai regulation, artificial intelligence https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/kishinev-says-eu-should-support-moldovan-farmers-harmed-by-cheap-ukrainian-imports-1109986942.html Kishinev Says EU Should Support Moldovan Farmers Harmed by Cheap Ukrainian Imports Kishinev Says EU Should Support Moldovan Farmers Harmed by Cheap Ukrainian Imports Moldovan Minister of Agriculture Vladimir Bolea stated in an interview that EU authorities must support Moldovan farmers harmed by Ukrainian imports. 2023-04-30T13:57+0000 2023-04-30T13:57+0000 2023-04-30T13:57+0000 istanbul grain deal ukrainian crisis farmer grain exports /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102230/51/1022305134_0:270:5184:3186_1920x0_80_0_0_c8e66e082a079ea629fc1641cb8a693c.jpg On Friday, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia agreed with the European Commission's (EC) proposition to lift national restrictions on Ukrainian import of grains and crops. In turn, the EC pledged to provide 100 million euros ($109 million) of financial aid for these countries' farmers. "Moldova should be introduced into this calculation formula, since the Moldovan farmers' situation is no different. I think, it is even more volatile as Moldova is not a EU member and does not have access to the subsidies the European farmers receive, they [the Moldovans] are even poorer. The decision on money allocation [to Moldova] should be made," Bolea was quoted by Moldovan TV channel as saying. He said that EU can use various formulas in order to calculate the amount of potential aid for the Moldovan farmers who have sown the fields with wheat, corn and sunflower. Allocating such an assistance by the EU is quite feasible, Bolea said. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he had urged the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, to resolve the issue with restrictions against the import of Ukrainian products. Ukraine was granted a temporary duty-free trade arrangement with the EU last June. The EU additionally launched green corridors to facilitate the transit of Ukrainian grain to the world market. However, the cheap grain from Ukraine ended up flooding EU markets instead, prompting outrage among local farmers. On April 15, Poland and Hungary said they were banning imports of Ukrainian agricultural products until June 30, citing the need to protect domestic farmers from the uncontrolled influx of cheap grain from Ukraine. Slovakia followed suit on April 17 and Bulgaria on April 19. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230420/poland-suggesting-that-eu-ban-imports-of-fruits-eggs-other-ukrainian-food---reports-1109691698.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/top-10-countries-where-ukrainian-grain-is-going-1108380796.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 economy, ukrainian crisis, duty-free grain import, kiev, ukrainian grain exports https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/merkel-says-many-nations-were-not-interested-in-diplomatic-solution-of-ukraine-conflict-1109988914.html Merkel Says Many Nations Were Not Interested in Diplomatic Solution of Ukraine Conflict Merkel Says Many Nations Were Not Interested in Diplomatic Solution of Ukraine Conflict Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in an interview that many politicians and states were against diplomatic solution of Ukrainian crisis and consciously worked against Minsk agreements. 2023-04-30T16:01+0000 2023-04-30T16:01+0000 2023-04-30T16:01+0000 world ukrainian crisis minsk agreements angela merkel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/13/1092370330_0:0:3071:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_bed2ee5a3b3867aa70de0f718aeda229.jpg "I used everything at my disposal to prevent this situation. The fact that I couldn't do it does not prove me wrong to try," Merkel said in an interview with the German daily, published on Saturday. Merkel, who left office in 2021, defended her attempts to settle the Ukrainian crisis with the Minsk agreements in 2014. Diplomacy is still a necessity, she stated. "To my great disappointment, there were quite a few [officials] who was not so interested in it," the former chancellor said. While she was a chancellor, only France and Germany stood for the Ukraine conflict's settlement in the Council of the European Union, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told her that the Minsk agreements were unfeasible, Merkel added. "It was important to me - and I always tried to achieve this - that we did not limit our ideas too much," she said. For instance, if someone thinks that negotiations must be reopened sooner or later, they should not be silenced right away, Merkel added. In February, Zelensky admitted that he told Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron that the Minsk agreements were impractical and that he had no intention to implement them. Merkel said that the Minsk agreements were an attempt to give Ukraine time to gain strength ahead of a full-scale military confrontation with Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230131/minsk-agreements-were-a-ruse-that-gave-kiev-time-to-rearm-ukraines-ex-president-admits-1106856464.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 ukrainian crisis, minsk agreements, diplomacy, ukrainian militarism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/one-killed-7-injured-in-suspected-stabbing-attack-in-uks-southwest-1109987820.html One Killed, 7 Injured in Suspected Stabbing Attack in UK's Southwest One Killed, 7 Injured in Suspected Stabbing Attack in UK's Southwest According to police, someone with possession of a knife, initiated a series of attack on British citizens, stabbing one of them to death. 2023-04-30T14:34+0000 2023-04-30T14:34+0000 2023-04-30T14:34+0000 world uk violence knife attack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/08/01/1098002752_0:152:2048:1304_1920x0_80_0_0_76363daacbfdabc43ba587cc0d43ddf6.jpg Law enforcers were called at 03:15 a.m. local time (02:30 GMT) on Sunday to a report of a serious altercation, the police said, adding that it was further reported that "someone was in possession of a knife." Media say that the incident occurred outside a nightclub. "A man in his 30s was confirmed deceased at the scene At least seven other men and women have been injured and taken to hospital to receive treatment," the police report read. A 24-year-old man from Bodmin has been arrested in connection with the incident and remains in custody. The investigation is underway, the police said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20181201/uk-knife-crime-attacks-1070297488.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 uk, knife attack, police, violence https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/pentagon-leaks-key-emerging-powers-avoid-backing-us-standoff-with-russia-china-1109975237.html Pentagon Leaks: Key Emerging Powers Avoid Backing US Standoff With Russia, China Pentagon Leaks: Key Emerging Powers Avoid Backing US Standoff With Russia, China Washingtons new national defense strategy views China as Americas most consequential strategic competitor, while Russia is described as an acute threat capable of cyber and missile attacks on the US. 2023-04-30T06:09+0000 2023-04-30T06:09+0000 2023-04-30T06:09+0000 world russia us china pakistan india brazil support standoff pentagon leaks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105609/91/1056099190_0:0:2501:1407_1920x0_80_0_0_f5bb4f732d7a003c0bdfa0e92640e31b.jpg An array of major developing nations seek to sit out the US intensifying standoff with Russia and China, an American newspaper has quoted Pentagon leaks as saying.According to the documents, President Joe Bidens global agenda faces significant challenges as the influential aforementioned regional powers try to remain on the sidelines of Washingtons strife with Moscow and Beijing, sometimes capitalizing on this rivalry for their own gain.Khar reportedly expressed concern in an internal memo that the instinct to preserve Pakistans partnership with America may damage Islamabads real strategic collaboration with Beijing.On India, one more leaked document indicated that the countrys National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval had earlier assured his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev of New Delhis support for Moscow in multilateral venues, also singling out Indias reluctance to support the Western-backed UN resolution over Ukraine."Neither the White House nor the US Department of Defense have commented on the matter.Carnegie Endowment for International Peace scholar Matias Spektor told the US newspaper that emerging powers are recalibrating as China expands new economic and military clout and Russia demonstrates its ability to deflect Western pressure.In the US new national defense strategy, which was released in late October 2022 along with the countrys Nuclear Posture Review and Missile Defense Review, the Biden administration labeled China as a consequential strategic competitor for the coming decades, while calling Russia an acute threat.Speaking to reporters after the strategys release at the time, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin argued that while Russia cant systemically challenge the United States over the long term, unlike China, it does pose an immediate and sharp threat to our [American] interest and values.As for the classified intelligence documents, they have been leaked on social media sites in the past several weeks, in particular providing intelligence on a spate of sensitive security matters related to the conflict in Ukraine, including Ukrainian air defenses, Russian military activities, and US assessments of the standoff.The Pentagon confirmed that the documents appear to contain sensitive and highly classified material, but insisted that t least some have been doctored. The Russian Foreign Ministry in turn suggested that the leaks might be fake and reflect a deliberate attempt to mislead Moscow. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221029/biden-not-interested-in-dialogue-with-russia-as-us-sees-moscow-only-as-threat-scholar-says-1102822507.html russia china pakistan brazil Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg us-russia standoff, key developing nations' reported reluctance to support the us' standoff with russia, china, us' new national defense review https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/pyongyang-deplores-south-korean-presidents-visit-to-us-accuses-sides-of-provoking-war-1109984589.html Pyongyang Deplores South Korean President's Visit to US, Accuses Sides of Provoking War Pyongyang Deplores South Korean President's Visit to US, Accuses Sides of Provoking War North Korean State Run media said that Yoon Suk-yeol visit to US made a nuclear war with North Korea "a fait accompli." 2023-04-30T11:51+0000 2023-04-30T11:51+0000 2023-04-30T11:51+0000 asia north korea south korea kim jong-un asian version of nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/08/1092116117_0:0:3073:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_991698774614bf8d58a5fdf6b792c38c.jpg On Wednesday, the leaders of South Korea and the US adopted the Washington Declaration that provides for the establishment of a regular bilateral consultation mechanism on extended deterrence and strategic planning. South Korea also secured a US promise to promptly deploy "the entire force of the alliance," including nuclear weapons, in the event of a nuclear attack by North Korea. Washington also assured Seoul it would use all measures, including nuclear weapons, in the case of aggression from Pyongyang, and promised to send nuclear missile submarines to the Korean Peninsula. "This trip, aimed to draw up a sinister plan between the master and the stooge to annihilate the DPRK [North Korea], is the most hostile, aggressive and provocative, dangerous trip for a nuclear war... The 'Washington Declaration' on raising the practicality of the 'extended deterrence' provided by the U.S. is a typical product of the heinous hostile policy towards the DPRK," North Korean media stated. The agency said that deterrence of North Korea was the main subject of the presidents' meeting. Creating of a consultative group on Seoul's and Washington's nuclear issues, extended deployment of US strategic assets, including nuclear submarines, on the Korean Peninsula, and strengthening "extended deterrence" by intensification of joint military drills makes a nuclear war against North Korea "a fait accompli" (an accomplished fact). For the first time, North Korea was openly called a target for a nuclear strike, media stressed. "The traitor Yoon's visit to the U.S. made it possible to reconfirm the hostile intention of the U.S. and the puppets which can never be changed but has become more reckless. This shows that the DPRK should neither hesitate nor stop for even a little and even a moment to become more stronger and more thoroughly prepared... The dangerous nuclear war moves of the U.S. and the puppet group running amuck in stifling the DPRK while denying its existence can never be pardoned, and they will have to pay dearly for their rash acts," it said. On Saturday, North Korean President Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo Jong, who serves as a deputy head of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers Party, said that the Washington Declaration would deteriorate global safety. She denounced US President Joe Biden's comment that any nuclear attack by Pyongyang on the US or its allies would end in a regime change in North Korea as the words of an "old man with no future." The South Korean Ministry of Unification criticized her statement as rude and far-fetched. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230426/s-korea-us-talks-seeking-to-reaffirm-ironclad-ties-amid-fallout-from-pentagon-leaks-1109842930.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230220/skorean-ruling-party-head-calls-for-development-of-national-nuclear-arms-media-reports-1107615010.html south korea 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 asia, north korea, south korea, asian version of nato, us https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/retired-admiral-urges-turkiye-to-leave-nato-1109985630.html Retired Admiral Urges Turkiye to Leave NATO Retired Admiral Urges Turkiye to Leave NATO Retired Turkish admiral Cem Gurdeniz said in an interview that West is hostile towards Ankara and that Turkiye should exit NATO. 2023-04-30T16:20+0000 2023-04-30T16:20+0000 2023-04-30T16:20+0000 turkiye nato kurdistan workers' party (pkk) nato membership nato expansion black sea black sea fleet greece north cyprus military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103106/17/1031061772_0:131:2499:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_3069e6ed0d6291383d9fee05705f1157.jpg "The West poses a greater threat to Turkiye, taking into account its support for attempts to create a separatist Kurdish state," claimed retired Admiral Cem Gurdeniz in an interview. He added that Ankara must immediately leave NATO.Referring to the beginning of the clandestine war by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), coined a terrorist organization by Ankara in 1984, Gurdeniz stated that Western countries do not support Turkiye in the ongoing conflict.He added that statements on Turkiye made by EU authorities or the US Senate made it "clear who is our friend and who is our enemy."The Turkish admiral voiced his concern that NATO might drag Ankara into a conflict via the Ukrainian crisis. He alleged that in this case, Turkiye would be forced to close the straits for Russia and this would be a casus belli for full-scale conflict between Russia and NATO with use of tactical nuclear weapons.Gurdeniz believes that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg realizes the risk, but he is "an American puppet," and thats why he rushes to admit Ukraine to NATO.He also stated that the US had been "using" Ankara since 1945 - and before that the United Kingdom had treated Turkiye the same way. He believes that his country must get rid of this "Anglo-Saxon dependence" at any reasonable cost and pursue its own independent policy, balancing between the "Atlantic and Asia".At the same time, the retired admiral admitted that withdrawal from NATO would mean inevitable conflict with Greece. However, an even bigger threat to regional security comes from the reported Western project of turning the Black Sea into a "NATO lake." Gurdeniz slammed NATO for misleading Turkiye about USSR goals and casting the Kremlin in black tones. The aim of this policy was to turn Turkiye into a Western satellite, he claimed. He believes that Turkiye should forge a geopolitical alliance with Russia, China and India and develop closer contacts with other BRICS countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230424/turkish-fm-west-wont-compensate-turkiyes-damage-if-ankara-joins-russia-sanctions-1109804207.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230127/nato-biggest-threat-to-turkeys-independence-and-sovereignty-turkish-observers-say-1106758265.html turkiye black sea greece north cyprus Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev 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 Sergey Lebedev nato, turkiye, ankara, nato hostility nato lake, northern cyprus, greece, kurdish separatism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/russia-destroys-up-to-200-tonnes-of-ukrainian-ammunition-in-dpr-1109999236.html Russia Destroys Up to 200 Tons of Ukrainian Ammunition in DPR Russia Destroys Up to 200 Tons of Ukrainian Ammunition in DPR The Russian forces have destroyed a railway echelon with up to 200 tonnes of Ukrainian munitions in the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday. 2023-04-30T17:40+0000 2023-04-30T17:40+0000 2023-04-30T18:53+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia dpr ukraine donetsk peoples republic /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1e/1109999076_0:72:3388:1978_1920x0_80_0_0_7bdd1939876f2b80a12d193816e20f20.jpg "As a result of a strike on an echelon at a railway station near the town of Kramatorsk of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, up to 200 tonnes of UAFs [Ukrainian Armed Forces] ammunition were destroyed," the ministry said. Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various types of weapon systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns, since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine over a year ago. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev. Ukraine has been reportedly preparing to launch a counteroffensive against Russia in the spring of this year, with a number of Western officials expressing their willingness to help Kiev. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/russian-forces-discover-underground-soledar-arms-depot-retreating-ukrainians-failed-to-destroy-1109986726.html russia dpr ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, donetsk people's republic (dpr), ukraine, ukrainian crisis, conflict in ukraine, russian special military operation war in ukraine, weapons for ukraine, ukrainian ammunition https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/russian-forces-discover-underground-soledar-arms-depot-retreating-ukrainians-failed-to-destroy-1109986726.html Russian Forces Discover Underground Soledar Arms Depot Retreating Ukrainians Failed to Destroy Russian Forces Discover Underground Soledar Arms Depot Retreating Ukrainians Failed to Destroy The Russian armed forces taking control of Soledar helped them cut off the Ukrainian militarys direct supply route between the towns of Seversk and Artemovsk and advance on the latter from the north. 2023-04-30T14:41+0000 2023-04-30T14:41+0000 2023-04-30T14:41+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine special operation liberation troops enemy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/1e/1109987632_59:0:1111:592_1920x0_80_0_0_9416874cac68d8ece3ebf0cad43086ef.jpg The Armed Forces of Ukraine failed in its efforts to blow up underground warehouses with Soviet-made weapons in the salt mines near Soledar before leaving the town, an unnamed Russian soldier told Sputnik.However, the incendiary bombs were connected incorrectly, which is why there were no explosions in the warehouses.The soldier also said that a lot of small arms and ammunition are still in place in the depots."There are 292,000 boxes with the PPShs, [the most common Soviet submachine gun of the Second World War]. Each box contains ten such small arm pieces, so you can imagine the volumes [of weaponry], given that there were other types of small arms at the warehouses, he added.Liberation of SoledarIn January, Russia's Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced the complete liberation of Soledar located between the towns of Seversk and Artemovsk, which came as part of Moscows special military operation in Ukraine.The MoD stressed at the time that the capture of the strategic settlement would make it possible to cut off supply routes used by Ukrainian forces in Artemovsk, which was renamed Bakhmut by Ukraine's post-coup government in 2016.The liberation of the settlement of Soledar, important for the continuation of successful offensive operations in the Donetsk region, was completed on the evening of January 12," MoD spokesman Igor Konashenkov told a briefing at the time. He added that the liberation of Soledar will allow Russian forces to block Ukrainian troops in the nearby area and pocket them in a cauldron.In the latest developments, heavy fighting is underway in the western parts of Artemovsk, with Russian forces managing to capture four quarters on Sunday, according to Konashenkov.Units of the Russian airborne troops pinned down the enemy on the northern and southern outskirts of the town. Strikes by the army aviation, as well as rocket and artillery units helped defeat Ukrainian forces near the settlements of Bogdanovka and Artemovskoye, he pointed out. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230421/us-urged-ukraine-to-cut-its-losses--leave-artemovsk-pentagon-leak--1109719298.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russian Forces discover Ukrainian arm depot in Soledar Russian Forces discover Ukrainian arm depot in Soledar 2023-04-30T14:41+0000 true PT2M04S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg russian special military operation in ukraine, russian army's offensive in artemovsk, salt mines in soledar, liberation of soledar France's Minister of State for Digital Transition and Telecommunications Jean-Noel Barrot, front row third from left, poses with Korea's Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups Cho Ju-hyeon, front row fourth from left, and French Ambassador to Korea Philippe Lefort during the French Tech in Korea event at the ambassador's residence in central Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of SMEs and Startups By Kwon Mee-yoo France's digital economy minister highlighted cooperation between Korean companies and French startups, as both countries share a focus on digital space and telecommunication, during his visit to Korea. Jean-Noel Barrot, France's Minister of State for Digital Transition and Telecommunications, participated in the French Tech in Korea event at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, Wednesday, emphasizing that "France is back" and saying how France has changed in recent years, becoming a country of startups. "We have lowered taxes, we have softened regulations, we have reformed the labor market. And perhaps more importantly, we have created a new culture of entrepreneurship and startups," the minister said, adding that France now has a record-high number of startups and became one of the most attractive countries in Europe for foreign investment. Barrot also presented France's ambitions for the next decade. "The first objective we have is, after that we've been able to turn France into a startup nation, we want to show that we are able to turn France into a deep tech nation... The second objective is making tech more sustainable and using tech to overcome the challenges ahead from our green transition," he said. "The third objective that we have for tech is to make it more diverse, make sure that we can bring the French society on board and make sure that everyone can benefit from this growth in the tech sector, in particular women who are not enough choosing tech as a career path today... So we need, as a country for justice as well as economic efficiency, to make sure that young girls, women at every point in their life can turn to the tech sector because there are great opportunities and we need them in order to boost our ecosystem." The digital minister believes that France and Korea can benefit from growing together and have many similarities in their cultural identities and innovation traditions. "We have a common view that tech should come with sovereignty, should come with authority and that we have the resources in our own countries to address some of the tech challenge for tomorrow," he said. He added that Korea will be the Country of the Year for the VivaTech 2023, Europe's largest startup and tech event slated for June 14-17 in Paris. French Minister of State for Digital Transition and Telecommunications Jean-Noel Barrot, left, shakes hands with Korean Vice Minister of Science and ICT Park Yun-kyu during their meeting at the French ambassador's residence in central Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Science and ICT https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/syrian-arab-foreign-ministers-to-meet-on-may-1-in-amman-to-discuss-syrias-return-to-las-1109981654.html Syrian, Arab Foreign Ministers to Meet on May 1 in Amman to Discuss Syria's Return to LAS Syrian, Arab Foreign Ministers to Meet on May 1 in Amman to Discuss Syria's Return to LAS Top diplomats of Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Jordan will meet in Amman, capital of Jordan, to discuss Syrias readmission to the League of Arab States. 2023-04-30T08:58+0000 2023-04-30T08:58+0000 2023-04-30T09:02+0000 world arab league syria egypt iraq saudi arabia jordan middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/104424/15/1044241562_0:115:2200:1353_1920x0_80_0_0_37bf19b95244c29cfec3e213e36bca52.jpg "Jordan will host tomorrow, May 1, a meeting of foreign ministers of the Kingdom of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt with Syria's foreign minister. This meeting is a follow-up to the consultative meeting of the Gulf countries, [as well as] Jordan, Iraq and Egypt, which was held on April 14 in Jeddah," the statement read. The 22-nation Arab League suspended Syria's membership in 2011 after a civil war broke out in the country. Several member states then recalled their ambassadors from Syria in protest of the policies of President Bashar Assad, accusing his government of cracking down on protesters. Years later, some of them have begun taking steps to reengage with Damascus and reopen embassies. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/saudis-pushing-to-bring-syria-back-to-arab-league-by-may-summit--reports-1109178610.html syria egypt iraq saudi arabia jordan 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 middle east, arab league, syria, egypt, iraq, saudi arabia, jordan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/two-chinese-nationals-dead-after-vessel-capsizes-in-philippines-1109988300.html Two Chinese Nationals Dead After Vessel Capsizes in Philippines Two Chinese Nationals Dead After Vessel Capsizes in Philippines Sierra Leonean technical vessel MV Hong Hai189 collided with tanker MT Petite Soeur. As a result, MV Hong Hai189 capsized. Two Chinese nationals died in an accident. 2023-04-30T15:21+0000 2023-04-30T15:21+0000 2023-04-30T15:21+0000 asia china phillippines accident /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/01/1081629632_0:48:960:588_1920x0_80_0_0_4e537b5c1246aba0b45f820d608f52ac.jpg On Friday night, a Sierra Leonean technical vessel MV Hong Hai189 collided with tanker MT Petite Soeur, which was sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands, near the Corregidor Island in the Philippines. As a result, MV Hong Hai189 capsized. "Twenty crew members were thrown overboard, including 16 Chinese nationals and four Philippines' citizens. At the moment, 12 Chinese crew members have been rescued, two unfortunately died, and another two are searched for," the embassy's statement read. Also, three out of the four Philippine citizens were rescued and one died, the embassy added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230322/photos-major-incident-at-edinburgh-dry-dock-as-35-people-injured-after-ship-tips-over-1108704148.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International china, philippines, sea accident, naval accident https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/ukraine-loses-over-480-military-mercenaries-in-donetsk-direction-over-24-hours---russian-mod-1109985320.html Ukraine Loses Over 480 Military, Mercenaries in Donetsk Direction Over 24 Hours - Russian MoD Ukraine Loses Over 480 Military, Mercenaries in Donetsk Direction Over 24 Hours - Russian MoD Russian army has eliminated over 480 Ukrainian servicemen in Donetsk direction in last 24 hour. Also 12 armored fighting vehicles, 30 vehicles, one D-20 howitzer as well as one self-propelled artillery unit Gvozdika were destroyed. 2023-04-30T13:39+0000 2023-04-30T13:39+0000 2023-04-30T13:39+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis ministry of defense (mod) donbass /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0e/1109502403_0:242:3210:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_8ac3ad0afa3126252981fe9bdc2f4096.jpg "Over the past 24 hours, over 480 Ukrainian servicepeople and foreign mercenaries have been killed, 12 armored fighting vehicles, 30 vehicles, one D-20 howitzer as well as one self-propelled artillery unit Gvozdika have been destroyed in this direction [Donetsk]," the ministry stated. The defense ministry added that the Russian armed forces had also killed some 200 Ukrainian soldiers by conducting a missile strike against a temporary settlement of Ukraine's forces in the Donetsk People's Republic. "As a result of a missile strike on temporary deployment points of the 24th mechanized brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces and units of Ukraine's special operation forces in the settlement of Konstantinovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, over 200 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with around 280 evacuated with injuries of varying degrees of severity," the department said.The ministry also stated that Kiev had lost around 150 servicepeople in the Kupyansk and the Krasny Liman directions over the past day. Over 10 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed by Russian forces in the Kherson direction, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230424/watch-russian-su-25-crews-striking-kiev-militants-with-airstrikes--1109796304.html 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 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian special military operation in ukraine, special op, ukrainian crisis, kiev regime, kiev militants https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/un-chief-to-send-envoy-to-address-unprecedented-crisis-in-sudan-1110000069.html UN Chief to Send Envoy to Address 'Unprecedented' Crisis in Sudan UN Chief to Send Envoy to Address 'Unprecedented' Crisis in Sudan On Sunday United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he would be sending and envoy to the Sudan region as the country entered their 16th day of violence. The UN and other groups called again for a truce. 2023-04-30T21:17+0000 2023-04-30T21:17+0000 2023-04-30T21:53+0000 sudan africa conflict war /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/10/1109565076_0:126:3072:1854_1920x0_80_0_0_2a37833bb60caabc351512ea16a45f0d.jpg On Sunday United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced that he would be sending and envoy to the Sudan region. "In light of the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan, the Secretary-General is sending the Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths, to the region immediately," a spokesperson for Guterres said in a statement.The UN has urged both Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RDF) to protect civilians as well as civilian infrastructure, humanitarian workers and assets, medical personnel, transport and facilities, according to the UN's news site. Following air strikes in the capital of Khartoum, on Sunday the UN and other international interests appealed yet again for Generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo to agree to a 72-hour ceasefire for another three days.As the people of Sudan urgently need a humanitarian pause, the Trilateral Mechanism urges the parties to the conflict to respect the ceasefire, to protect civilians and to refrain from attacks on civilian populated areas, schools, and healthcare facilities, the groups said in a statement.This ceasefire would also pave the way for talks between both sides towards the establishment of a permanent cessation of hostilities, they added.Friction between Sudan's army and the RSF has been building since the two participated in a coup against the country's civilian government in October of 2021. Since May of 2022, talks to restore civilian rule were on-going, but fell through on April 15 when when violent clashes broke out between the two forces. sudan africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.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 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg sudan, sudan conflict, united nations, africa, world, violence, fighting, war https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/uzbekistan-opens-polls-for-constitutional-referendum-1109980240.html Uzbekistan Opens Polls for Constitutional Referendum Uzbekistan Opens Polls for Constitutional Referendum Polls at Uzbekistan open for constitutional referendum. 2023-04-30T06:15+0000 2023-04-30T06:15+0000 2023-04-30T06:15+0000 world uzbekistan constitutional changes shavkat mirziyoyev tashkent /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105176/28/1051762849_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_1cfd5c35ee01b34716c4ad7d5b6ab220.jpg Over 19.7 million Uzbek citizens are eligible to vote at 10,758 polling places, while more than 611,000 voters who are unable to cast a ballot at the voting district of their residence could vote in advance polls from April 19-26, according to Uzbekistan's election commission. The polls are due to close at 8 p.m. local time. The referendum question on the ballot reads "Do you accept the constitutional law of the Republic of Uzbekistan 'On the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan'?" The draft legislation was published on March 15. Uzbekistan's constitution was adopted in 1992 and has since been amended 15 times. The new constitution is planned to be updated with 27 new articles, thus increasing their total number from 128 to 155. Following the amendments, the constitution is expected to be updated by 65% in total. One of the amendments extends the presidential term from five to seven years and allows incumbent Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to be elected for the third consecutive term. Other changes include reducing the number of senators from 100 to 65, abolishing capital punishment and prohibiting extradition of Uzbek citizens to foreign states. There are also new clauses on civil society, parliamentary budget oversight and the government's obligations to reduce poverty and ensure employment. According to Uzbekistan's legislation, a decision in a referendum is adopted if over half of the voters who came to the polls supported it and under the condition that over half of those on the voter lists take part. The election commission is expected to unveil the referendum's results on May 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220702/uzbek-president-proposes-to-preserve-constitutional-clause-on-karakalpakstans-sovereignty-1096894637.html uzbekistan tashkent 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 uzbekistan, constitutional changes, polls, constitution, referendum https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/washington-considers-diplomacy-only-path-to-peace-in-south-caucasus---blinken-1109965582.html Washington Considers Diplomacy Only Path to Peace in South Caucasus - Blinken Washington Considers Diplomacy Only Path to Peace in South Caucasus - Blinken US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that direct dialogue between Baku and Yerevan is the only way to resolve tensions between the two countries. 2023-04-30T01:44+0000 2023-04-30T01:44+0000 2023-04-30T01:41+0000 world antony blinken nikol pashinyan armenia nagorno-karabakh conflict us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/17/1101115945_71:0:3651:2014_1920x0_80_0_0_5f585a09b83b318b545703f2876aaae3.jpg "Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today to underscore the importance of Armenia-Azerbaijan peace discussions and pledged continued US support," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a Saturday statement.Blinken also expressed support for Pashinyans commitment to the peace process, Miller added. The US, Russia and the European Union have taken turns to try and negotiate a peace pact between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the hope of ending their long-running conflict. The regional rivals have been involved in two major military conflicts over the Azerbaijani Armenian-dominated breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh. On April 30, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan is expected to visit Washington where he will discuss the normalization of relations between Baku and Yerevan. Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday that an agreement on an Azerbaijani-Armenian foreign ministers' meeting in Russia had been reached, with the exact date to be announced later. armenia 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 washington, diplomacy, south caucasus, antony blinken, nikol pashinyan, armenia-azerbaijan conflict resolution, nagorno-karabakh https://sputnikglobe.com/20230430/zelensky-says-informed-macron-of-frontline-situation-prospects-for-further-developments-1109999758.html Zelensky Says Informed Macron of Frontline Situation, Prospects for Further Developments Zelensky Says Informed Macron of Frontline Situation, Prospects for Further Developments Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that he informed French President Emmanuel Macron of the situation on the frontline and prospects for its development over the next several months during a phone conversation. 2023-04-30T18:44+0000 2023-04-30T18:44+0000 2023-04-30T18:50+0000 world ukraine volodymyr zelensky emmanuel macron /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/07/07/1097069908_0:117:2395:1464_1920x0_80_0_0_404c2bf28b0ef25f831626437dc6dc03.jpg "During a conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron, I thanked for France's comprehensive and effective support for Ukraine ... I informed him in detail of the situation on the frontline and prospects for its development in May and June. I also placed emphasis on the priority needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," Zelensky wrote on Telegram. The two leaders also discussed cooperation with other international partners to "consolidate their support" for the Ukrainian peace plan and coordinated next steps within the bilateral dialogue between the countries, according to the Ukrainian president. During the talks, Zelensky also stated that Kiev appreciates France's commitment to provide "a powerful armored package" to Ukrainian forces. Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various types of weapon systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns, since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine over a year ago. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further arms deliveries to Kiev. Ukraine has been reportedly preparing to launch a counteroffensive against Russia in the spring of this year, with a number of Western officials expressing their willingness to help Kiev. 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 volodymyr zelensky, emmanuel macron, conflict in ukraine Regardless of whether you liked Its Academic in Saturday nights (April 29) $40,000 featured Open 1 for trotters at The Meadowlands or you didnt, it would have been tough to think that in a field that included Hillexotic, Lovedbythemasses, Inaminute Hanover, Ahundreddollarbill and Delayed Hanover that the Ron Burke trainee would be sent to the gate as the prohibitive 1-5 choice. As it turns out, his backers didnt sweat a drop. Sitting a three-hole trip to the half, driver Dave Miller moved Its Academic to the outside and made up ground on leader Lovedbythemasses, pulling even with that one at the head of the stretch before easily trotting past that foe and then holding off the late-closing Hillexotic by an easy length to complete an all-Burke exacta. Delayed Hanover rallied for third. I picked up him up halfway through the summer last year, said Miller, and he got better and better each week. [Tonight] I was really happy with the way he raced. When they were mixing it up a little bit, it helped us. Hes staked to pretty much everything and, hopefully, has a great season. A six-year-old son of Uncle Peter-Annapolis, Its Academic returned $2.60 to win after completing the mile in 1:51.2. Hes now won 23 of 68 lifetime starts, good for earnings of $1,420,430. 'Niki' most mature Niki Hill went up 2-0 in her rivalry with Treacherous Dragon this season, gunning down that foe by a head as they hit the wire in the $30,000 New Jersey Breeders Maturity final for four-year-old mare pacers. Unlike a week ago, when Niki Hill went to the lead and held off the Dragon by an easy 1-1/4 lengths, the Chris Ryder trainee went a pocket journey this time, as Treacherous Dragon carved out fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:25.2. Then, predictably, the sprint was on. Driver Dexter Dunn vacated the pocket as the two rivals straightened up for the final three-sixteenths-of-a-mile, and Niki Hill needed every inch of the stretch to get past her in 1:51.1 over a track rated sloppy on yet another rainy evening weather-wise in Northern New Jersey. I always say, people ask me about Niki Hill, said winning trainer Chris Ryder. They should know that Niki Hill does what she does, she wins. Not only will Niki Hill battle Treacherous Dragon during 2023 in the big events, but also five-year-old standouts Test Of Faith and Grace Hill. Is she up for that challenge, given the conventional wisdom that four-year-olds are at a disadvantage when facing those with an extra year of seasoning? Its fashionable to transition, said Ryder. But she transitioned into an aged mare in [last years] TVG final [when second to Grace Hill in a 1:48.3. mile]. Niki Hill, a daughter of Always B Miki-Road Bet, returned $3 to win as the 1-2 favourite. In addition to the 14 wagering events, there were three non-betting, $30,000 New Jersey Breeders Maturity finals for four-year-olds contested on the card. Before the parimutuel races began, 2022 Little Brown Jug champion Bythemissal, a gelded son of Downbytheseaside-Dismissal, took the horse and gelding pace for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke in 1:50.3. Ten minutes later, Pretender (Muscle Hill-Maven) won the horse and gelding trot for Andy McCarthy and Nancy Takter in 1:53. Later in the evening, after the fifth betting race, Primadonna Deo took down 2022 Hambletonian Oaks winner Fashion Schooner for a second straight start in taking the mares trot in 1:54. Driven by McCarthy and trained by Noel Daley, Primadonna Deo, a daughter of Trixton-UF Lindsay Lou Who, will now retire from racing, as shes been in foal to Chapter Seven for two months. Shes actually been better since shes been in foal, said Daley. Lous Pearlman pockets Open win Lous Pearlman went a pocket trip to take the $24,500 Open for four- and five-year-olds on the pace in 1:50, holding off an explosive late rally from 35-1 shot Trendy Teen by a nose. He got a little lonely in the stretch, said winning driver Gingras. But, thankfully, we got there. Lous Pearlman, trained by Burke, who led the trainer colony with three victories on the night, returned $3.40 to win as the 3-5 post-time choice. A little more Saturdays 14-race card saw all-source wagering total $3,064,863. Not counting last Saturdays (April 22) card that was cancelled after only seven races due to bad weather, there have been 32 completed Friday and Saturday night programs conducted at The Meadowlands during 2023 and each one has seen betting bust the $3-million barrier. During 2022, there were a total of 85 programs conducted at the mile oval, with 23 going past the $3-million plateau. Scott Zeron, Dexter Dunn and Todd McCarthy all had driving doubles. Racing resumes Friday, May 5 at 6:20 p.m. (EDT). (With files from The Meadowlands) Students from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College (UNMC) of Dentistry will be heading west to be a part of Dental Day on June 9 and 10. This is an opportunity for children ages 3 to 21 whose family has very little or no dental insurance to receive dental care at no cost. Each year over 200 school age kids receive important dental care at Dental Days, said Janelle Visser of Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD). Visser is one of the coordinators behind the annual event. We are glad to work in partnership with local dentists, school nurses, hospitals, community volunteers, and UNMC to be a part of an excellent service ensuring children in the Panhandle have their dental health needs met, she added. Prescreening appointments are currently taking place until May 19 and the dentists participating in pre-screenings include: Alliance Dr. Cannon Bridgeport Dr. Iske Sidney Dr. Dornbier Dental students studying dentistry and dental hygiene at UNMC, accompanied by dental residents and faculty members, will be participating in the annual Panhandle-wide event. Children will be seen at Gordon Memorial Hospital; Horizon West Dental Clinic (Dr. Collis) in Alliance; and Life Smiles in Sidney (Dr. Dornbier). For additional information about dental health or Dental Days, visit www.pphd.ne.gov. Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety, and quality of life for all who live, learn, work, and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community. Visit our website www.pphd.ne.gov. State Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering came home Saturday afternoon to hear local constituents concerns and update them on legislative developments. The District 48 senator was in Kimball Saturday morning before an afternoon town hall meeting in Scottsbluff. On Friday, he accompanied Gov. Jim Pillen and others on a tour of the proposed Perkins County Canal route in Sedgwick County, Colorado, and Keith County. Hardin started the discussion recapping last weeks major events in the Legislature. He started with Legislative Bill 626, the roughly six-week abortion ban sometimes called the fetal heartbeat law, on which supporters failed to break a filibuster. It did not go the way I was hoping it was going to go. It failed by one vote, he said to groans from the audience that filled the cozy meeting room at the downtown Scottsbluff Runza. And I think it wasnt just the disappointment that it failed; it was the way in which it failed. I think when youre a politician, you need to come out and stand on the things that you stand on. And even if thats an unpopular thing. It was discouraging, he said, that we had one of our partners on the conservative side who did not vote the way that he advertised he was going to. He referred to Ralston Sen. Merv Riepe, one of LB 626s 30 co-sponsors, who declined to vote on the cloture motion to break the filibuster after his amendment for a 12-week abortion ban failed to be adopted. On a more positive front, Hardin noted this weeks signing of LB 77, the constitutional carry firearms bill, which Gordon Sen. Tom Brewer had worked on for seven years. He also discussed LB 754, which cuts state income tax rates, and spoke at length on LB 583, which would double state school aid for special education and restore per-student foundation aid to the aid formula for the first time since 1990. Hardin called the state-aid bill a very significant tax bill, adding: If you really, really like your property taxes right where they are, you probably wont like that. LB 583 would indirectly reduce residential property taxes by about 30% and agricultural land by about 70%, he said, eliciting an ooh yeah reaction from the crowd. Nebraskas state funding for schools ranks 49th of the 50 states, he said, and passage of the bill would push us up (to) fair to middlin in the rankings. LB 583 would direct part of the states $2.4 billion surplus to schools over the next four years, taking pressure off local property taxes, he said. Asked how permanent the tax reduction would be, Hardin said the surplus money would prime the pump for lasting school funding changes. Its designed to be permanent, he said, but simply theyre throwing about $1.5 billion at the project. The hope is thats going to stimulate the economy to keep that ball rolling. Instead of having a $2.4 billion surplus like we do right now, that in fact those funds would perpetually be rolling back into the school districts and reduce the need for local property taxes for schools. Hardin said he hears from people who have paid off their home but must set aside as much for property taxes as their mortgage once cost. So they look at moving to low-tax Wyoming, he said. Regarding the idea of raising sales taxes, he said that what works in other states may not work as well for Nebraska. Other states have different resources, such as South Dakotas tourism and Wyomings natural resources. He said he believes Nebraska should focus on what it produces best food and explore how to package, market and eat Nebraska-grown products. As an example, Hardin said, beans grown here are shipped to the East Coast, where the only U.S. canneries are. So we make the beans here. We ship them east, they get canned, and do they come back here? I fear that most of the beans that we get in the cans that come here locally are probably made in China. He suggested exploring new packaging technologies, some using plastics, that also result in a fresher product. Among other topics discussed by Hardin at Saturdays town hall: LB 574: He referenced the continual filibusters against bills of all kinds employed by opponents of the bill to ban transgender health care for minors. I am not in favor of not seeing 574 pass, he said. The bill basically says you cannot use drugs or do surgeries on minor children as regards transgenderism in Nebraska. My desire is to see that bill move forward. In an aside, he reminded the audience that all bills in Nebraska go through not one, not two, but three rounds of debate before passage. Why? We do think that bills should be hard to pass, he said. They should endure lots of scrutiny. And so amazingly, things do shift between those votes sometimes. LB 712: Hardins bill would help Kimball and other Panhandle communities cope with an influx of workers when the U.S. Air Force upgrades the Panhandles nuclear missiles and silos. LB 712 has advanced to the floor but may not see action before senators adjourn in June. Hardin said he considers it important that the state help fund infrastructure for the temporary work camp for those workers. If the federal money paid for pipes and other infrastructure, the government might try to control future use of the site. He also said its good news that the missile program is reportedly two years behind development. That buys time for the infrastructure to be put in place for the work camp near Kimball. Perkins County Canal: Hardins tour with Pillen and other leaders started Friday in Ovid, Colorado, from which Perkins County pioneers started digging the canal from the South Platte River in 1894. They dug about 16 of an intended 65 miles before having to abandon the project. The 1923 South Platte River Compact allows Nebraska to revive and complete the canal and divert up to 500 cubic feet per second from Oct. 15 to April 1 annually. Hardin said the biggest concern with the plan is not Colorado vs. Nebraska, but potential federal interference because of the water crossing the state line. The state will seek to proactively deal with regulatory challenges, he said. President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass., Friday (local time). Yonhap President opens door at arming Ukraine, hails Washington Declaration By Nam Hyun-woo BOSTON President Yoon Suk Yeol condemned attempts to change the global status quo by force during an address at Harvard University, Friday (local time), citing North Korea's nuclear program and Russia's aggression in Ukraine as examples. In the following question and answer session, Yoon dropped hints that South Korea may consider "various options" in supporting Ukraine, depending on the progress of the war. He also highlighted his firm belief in the Washington Declaration, which he signed with U.S. President Joe Biden two days ago that allows Seoul to have a greater say in Washington's nuclear planning against North Korea's threats. "Disrespecting the freedom of others and of other countries is often manifested in attempts to change the status quo by force, and the international community, defines this as a violation of international law," Yoon said. "Against this attempt to change the status quo by force, which infringes other countries' freedom, international society should respond with courageous and strong solidarity." He went on condemn the war in Ukraine as an example. "The invasion of Ukraine has lasted for over a year, trampling on the freedom and human rights of Ukrainian citizens by violating international law," he said without specifying Russia. "South Korea continues to expand its humanitarian and financial support to protect the freedom of Ukrainian citizens, as it did last year." Yoon said the international community should respond with solidarity so that it can prove that such an attempt cannot succeed and prevent anyone from dreaming of such attempts in the future. During questions after his address, Yoon again stressed that the "invasion of Ukraine was a blatant violation of international law," and Seoul would discuss and adjust its support for Ukraine with the U.S. and other members of the international community. "We are closely monitoring the developments in Ukraine, and depending on the situation, we will make efforts with international society to have international rules and laws be complied with," Yoon said. "And there could be various options for that." Yoon made similar remarks in a previous media interview, implying that Seoul may provide arms to Ukraine depending on situation, which is a major shift from its previous stance of not providing weapons to the war-torn country. In response, Russia threatened that it may provide military aid to North Korea. President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with Joseph Nye, Harvard University distinguished service professor emeritus, during his visit to the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass., Friday (local time). Yonhap A Japanese tradition and backyard ingenuity have combined to create a flourishing annual art event in Mitchell. Mitchell High School hosted its fourth annual Raku pottery firing party on Friday afternoon featuring food, fun and fire. Art teacher Steve Law began by sharing a brief history of Raku and the process associated with it, which was born out of necessity before becoming a popular art form hundreds of years later. Its a traditional Japanese way of firing pottery, he said. It came about because there was a tsunami, and they needed thousands and thousands of ceramic tiles for their roofs, so they figured out how to mass produce them quickly. The Americans picked it up in the mid-century and have turned it into a different artform. The Raku process employed at Mitchell High School requires some of what Law called backyard ingenuity. The original kiln still in use at the school was made from a metal trash can that was lined with a synthetic asbestos blanket that retains and insulates at very high temperatures. A propane weed burner is then used to heat the pottery inside, which is then dropped red hot into whats called a reduction chamber. Reduction chamber is a fancy name for an old trash can filled with combustibles, joked Law. The materials inside the reduction chambergrass clippings, paper scraps, horse hair, and morecan have a large impact on the appearance of the final piece based on their composition and texture along with the smoke and heat produced when they make contact with the blazing hot pottery. Law said that its the crucial step in the process, and that waiting to see the results makes for an exciting moment. When you take it out of the reduction chamber, its like Christmas, said Law. Did it crack? Did the colors come out? Did it crackle? All of those effects. Thats what Im hoping to share with the kids today. This is how we keep that tradition alive. Raku has quickly become a staple in Mitchells art program after being introduced to the school by Law before he even took his current position at the school. This is our fourth annual event, said Law. My predecessor asked me a few years ago to come down and do a demonstration, and weve kept it alive. My senior girl, Lily Krahulik, has been a driving force this year. Krahulik was introduced to the Raku process during her sophomore year at Mitchell. It intrigued her enough that she soon found herself digging into the topic and building a kiln that is still being used by the art program today. I was really interested in it, so I did all the research to figure out how we could make our own kiln, she said. I researched where to get the supplies and how much it would cost, and then we proposed it to our principal and spent our ceramics class building it. Krahuliks interest in Raku has deepened over the years, to the point that she recently wrote a paper on the glaze used in the artform and the science involved in the process. The glaze for the Raku fire is made out of four basic components: a glass former, a flux, a stabilizer, and a colorant, said Krahulik. Once they reach a certain temperature they can be taken out and put into a carbon reduction, which starts a fire. Once its covered, the fire needs somewhere to pull oxygen from, so it starts pulling it from the pot itself, which brings out the colors in the glaze, and the carbon sticks to the unglazed clay body, turning it black. Law, his students, and several local artists have now developed Raku day into a fun and highly anticipated Mitchell tradition which will hopefully continue for many years to come. Weve got food, fun, and fire, said Law. Its a good way to spend an afternoon. There will be a serious depletion of coal and petroleum reserves, but by 2022 there will be a great deal of power harvested from the ocean tides, the sun and from atomic energy. Motion pictures will be more attractive, as they will be presented in natural colors, the actors with speaking voices. The stage, for live production of plays, etc., may disappear. Commercial flying will be commonplace, with flights between London and America taking as little as eight hours. Railroads will become less important, most of the freight being carried on roads by trucks. Owners of private homes will organize themselves into co-operatve groups, to engage staffs to cook, clean, and mend. Synthetic meals, will be taken in the form of pills, although traditional foods and their preparations will still survive among old-fashioned people. I am convinced that corned beef hash and pumpkin pie will still exist, but the pill lunch will roll by their side, said Mr. George. The majority of people will live in glass-roofed cities, with giant community dwellings of 40 or 50 stories high, rather than in private homes; these community dwellings holding easily four or five thousand families. Each block would have its own authority and undertake laundry, mending, cleaning and provide a complete nursery for the children of the tenants. Also, the roof would completely do away with weather and would maintain an even temperature to be fixed by the taste of the period. Fewer horses will be bred. As to society, a hundred years hence families may have less of a bond, because the child is likely to be taken over by the State, not only schooled but fed and at the end of its training placed in a post suitable to Its abilities. Furthermore, Birth control will be legal all over the world. Women will be more emancipated and empowered. The condition of the family will be governed by the position of woman, because woman is the family, while man is merely Its supporter. It is practically certain that by 2022 nearly all women will have discarded the idea that they are primarily makers of men (children). Most fit women then be following an individual career. More positions will be open to them and a great many women will have risen high. The year 2022 will probably see a large number of women in journalism, a great many on the judicial bench, many more in civil service posts and perhaps some in the Presidents Cabinet. Marriage will still exist much as it is to-day, but divorce will probably be as easy everywhere as it is in Nevada. As to alimony, the woman will be expected, after the divorce, to pay her share of the maintenance of her children. By 2022 most nations will have nationalized their railways, telegraphs, telephones, canals, docks, water supply, gas and electricity. There will still be war. The wars of that future period may be less frequent than they are today, and be limited, but it will still be there. I suspect those wars to come will be made horrible beyond my conception by new poison gases, inextinguishable flames and smoke clouds. The work of the household, which is being reduced day by day, will in 2022 be a great deal lighter. Most of the cleaning required to-day in a house will have been done away with. It is likely that the United States will have a complete settlement, with a population of about 240,000,000. Few people will work as much as seven hours a day in 2022. Mr. George certainly was right about a shorter workday, wireless telephones, women in the Presidents Cabinet and people living in skyscrapers. Tragically, war still exists in our enlightened times. Also, we have atomic power, but still have not tapped solar and tide power as much as could be achieved. There are probably fewer horses than there were 100 years ago. So far, thank the Lord, no synthetic meals in pill form! Our hands our one of our bodys main tools they enable us to touch, grasp, hold, and interact with our environment. In healthcare, the hands of trained professionals can treat, care, and promote healing. Though our hands serve many great purposes, they are often the main source of spreading germs. When we touch our face with our hands, germs can enter the body through our eyes, nose, and mouth. If someone with contaminated hands is preparing your meal, germs can get into your food. Germs can also be transferred from your hands to handrails, tables, ink pens, toys, and a number of other objects, and then transferred to another persons hands when they touch the object, said Pam Gill, director of infection prevention at Iredell Health System. Several infectious diseases can be spread from one person to another by contaminated hands. These diseases include gastrointestinal infections, MRSA, E.coli, Hepatitis A, and respiratory infections, like the flu and colds. By washing your hands, you can help prevent the spread of germs and protect yourself from illnesses and infections. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if everyone routinely washed their hands, 1 million deaths a year could be prevented. On World Hand Hygiene Day, observed on May 5, join Iredell Health System in recognizing the importance of washing your hands. Washing our hands seems like a common-sense action, especially in health care, but it is actually a relatively new concept. It wasnt until the mid-1800s that doctors in the United States began to wash their hands before examining patients. And, it wasnt until the 1890s that the general public was encouraged to wash their hands. When considering how crucial handwashing really is, 130 years does not seem that long ago. Luckily, medical and health professionals today consider handwashing a critical hygienic practice, both for themselves and their patients. At Iredell Health System, hand hygiene is a top priority, and there are specific measures in place to ensure all employees practice good hand hygiene to protect patients, visitors, colleagues and friends. Iredell ensures hand washing through training, monitoring, and feedback. Appropriate hand hygiene is expected as part of the healthcare workers job. We want everyone to focus on the safety of our patients and staff, said Gill. Do your part! Handwashing is a basic infection prevention practice that we can all take part in. However, it is often not performed well or not at all. Though it seems like common sense, many people do not wash their hands properly. In fact, a United States Department of Agriculture study found that 97% of people do not wash their hands correctly. But, washing your hands is easy and one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. According to Gill, you should always follow these five steps to keep your palms and fingers germ-free. Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold) and apply soap. Lather hands by rubbing them together, getting the back of the hands, between fingers, and under nails. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. This is the equivalent of singing the Happy Birthday song twice. Rinse hands under clean, running water. Dry your hands with a paper towel, and use the towel to turn off the faucet. Though washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to get rid of germs, you can use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available. Gill recommends using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. You should rub your hands together for about 20 seconds until they are dry, making sure you cover your fingers, palms, back of hands and fingernails. Try to keep your hands clean as much as possible throughout the day. According to the CDC, youll definitely want to wash them: Before preparing or eating food. After handling uncooked meat or fish. After using the bathroom. After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose. After changing diapers. Before and after coming in contact with someone whos sick. Before and after treating a cut or wound. After handling garbage or animal waste. Germs just need a portal of entry such as your nose, mouth, eyes, open wound, and transportation to get to the portal. The main transporter to these areas is our hands. Recent studies show that we touch our face as much as 16-23 times per hour, maybe more. Handwashing is one of the most important steps you can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others, said Gill. WASHINGTON Days out from a surgery and with a young son undergoing chemotherapy, Kyle McHenry scrambled to figure out if his Florida family will still be covered by Medicaid come Monday. One form on the state's website said coverage for their sick 5-year-old son, Ryder, was denied. Another said the family would remain on Medicaid through next year. Still, a letter from the state said McHenry now makes too much money for him, his wife and their older son to qualify after the end of the month. Three phone calls and a total of six frustrating hours on hold with Florida's Department of Children and Families later, the McHenrys finally got the answer they were dreading Thursday: Most of the family is losing Medicaid coverage, although Ryder remains eligible because of his illness. "I'm trying not to go into panic," McHenry's wife, Allie, said earlier in the week. The state agency did not respond to a request for comment. The McHenrys are among the first casualties in an unprecedented nationwide review of the 84 million Medicaid enrollees over the next year that will require states to remove people whose incomes are now too high for the federal-state program offered to the poorest Americans. Millions are expected to be left without insurance after a three-year reprieve during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the federal government barred states from removing anyone deemed ineligible. The federal government requires states to tell people just 10 days in advance that they'll be kicked off Medicaid. Congress last year required states to submit data about their call volume, wait times and abandonment rate. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will try to work with states where call wait times are especially high, an agency spokesperson said. Some doctors and their staff are taking it upon themselves to let patients know about the complicated process. Staffers at Adelante Healthcare, a small chain of community clinics in Phoenix, call families they believe are at risk of losing Medicaid. They put up colorful posters to remind families to ensure their Medicaid insurance doesn't lapse. That's how Alicia Celaya, a 37-year-old waitress, found out that she and her children, ages 4, 10 and 16, will lose coverage later this year. When she and her husband were laid off during the pandemic, they enrolled in Medicaid. Both returned to working in the restaurant industry, but Celaya and her children remained on Medicaid for the free health care coverage because she's unable to come up with the hundreds of dollars to pay the monthly premiums for her employer-sponsored health insurance. The clinic is helping her navigate the private health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act's marketplace and trying to determine whether her children qualify for the federal Children's Health Insurance Program. Advocacy groups warned for months that confusion and errors will abound, wrongly leaving some of the country's poorest people suddenly without health insurance and unable to pay for necessary medical care. Medicaid enrollees are already reporting they've been erroneously kicked off in a handful of states, including Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, New Hampshire and South Dakota, according to data gathered by the Associated Press. Trevor Hawkins is seeing the problems play out firsthand in Arkansas, where officials said the state is moving "as fast as possible" to wrap up a review before year's end. Hawkins drives across the state providing free legal services to people who lost coverage or need help filling out forms the state mailed to them. He fields about a half-dozen phone calls daily from people seeking guidance on their Medicaid applications. "The notices are so confusing," said Hawkins, who works for Legal Aid of Arkansas. "No two people have had the same experience with losing their coverage. It's hard to identify what's really the issue." Some people received pre-filled application forms that include inaccurate income or household information but leave no space to fix the state's errors. Others received documents that say Medicaid recipients will lose coverage before they get a chance to re-apply, Hawkins said. An Arkansas Department of Human Services spokesman said the forms instruct enrollees to fill in their information. Tonya Moore, 49, went for weeks without Medicaid coverage because the state used her 21-year-old daughter's wages, including incomes from two part-time jobs that she no longer worked, to determine she was ineligible for the program. County officials told Moore she had to obtain statements from the businesses about an hour's drive from Moore's rural home in Highland, Arkansas to prove her daughter no longer worked there. Moore says she wasn't able to get the documents before being kicked off Medicaid on April 1. Moore ran out of blood pressure medication and insulin used to control her diabetes and was staring down a nearly empty box of blood sugar test strips. "I got a little panicky," she said. "I don't know how long it's going to take to get my insurance." She was reinstated on Medicaid as of Monday with Legal Aid's help. Best and worst states for health care Best and worst states for health care The 10 states with the best health care The 10 states with the lowest rank for health care Additional findings: Outcome, cost and access data rankings Depending on state, Americans' cost for care can vary significantly Methodology On paper, David Wallis is fully qualified to be the chief information officer for Longview. Wallis spent more than a decade working for Cowlitz County on its information systems and technology, including a stint as director for IT and GIS, or global imaging systems. For the last four years Wallis held high-level technical positions for the Washington Department of Labor and Industries and the State Auditors Office. What made some question his new job is his marriage to Longviews Mayor MaryAlice Wallis. During the public comment sections at city council meetings and in local Facebook groups, city critics have hurled accusations of nepotism and posed questions about the hiring process. City Manager Kris Swanson said incorrect information about the hire was running rampant. Wallis hiring falls within the bounds of Longviews nepotism policies and the generally accepted standards for Washington cities. It is not different than other directors Ive hired, Swanson said. My focus has been finding the best qualified candidate to get in here with experience and knowledge and hit the ground running. David and MaryAlice Wallis did not respond to The Daily News requests for comment over the last week. The hiring process for the position followed the same process as any other department leader in Longview. The job opening was publicly posted in January and the top four candidates were brought in for an interview panel of the citys current department leaders. Swanson said she added a second panel interview with a different group of employees, who would be dealing more directly with the IT department because of its internal focus. Both panels gave Wallis the highest grade, Swanson said. She sent an offer letter to Wallis in February and he began working for the city March 16. The salary Longview offered Wallis was $149,000 per year, in part due to his years of IT experience at public entities. The last publicly available data from the state shows Wallis made $112,000 annually while working for Labor & Industries in 2021. Washingtons state laws include few explicit mentions of nepotism. State law prevents employers from refusing to hire a person based on their marital status outside of limited cases of nepotism. The widely accepted limits for elected officials fall under the same state code as other conflicts of interest in contracts. Washington state law does bar councilmembers from interfering with a city managers decisions to hire, remove or give orders to city employees. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to The Daily News. The Municipal Research and Services Center of Washington offers policy advice and analysis for cities and public agencies across the state. The MRSCs analyses found the conflict of interest definition largely applies to people hiring their spouses or dependent children. It does not, however, prohibit a local government officials spouse being hired by another official within that local government, legal consultant Jill Dvorkin wrote for the MRSC in 2021. Cities and counties can create their own policies to prevent nepotism, which Longview has done. The city nepotism policy is meant to prevent conflicts of interest where one party has the authority or practical power to exert favorable or unfavorable influence over the others job. The policy also prohibits employees from intervening in the citys treatment of other workers when a family or personal relationship exists between them. The relationship between the mayor and the city IT department would not seem to fall under any of those limits. The Longview City Council does not make any employment decisions for jobs other than the city manager. Wallis reports to Swanson and Ann Rivers, the recently announced assistant city manager. The city took an additional step before Wallis started working to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. In March, the Wallises signed a separate property agreement to explicitly separate David Wallis income from the city from MaryAlices to avoid claims of financial motivations in his work. Under the terms of the agreement, David Wallis income as a city employee will be placed into a sole and separate bank account as long as both of them receive money from Longview. If you're like me, you've spent a lot of time over the past few months trying to figure out what this AI thing is all about. Large-language models, generative AI, algorithmic bias it's a lot for the less tech-savvy of us to sort out, trying to make sense of the myriad headlines about artificial intelligence swirling about. But understanding how AI works is just part of the dilemma. As a society, we're also confronting concerns about its social, psychological and ethical effects. Here we spotlight articles about the deeper questions the AI revolution raises about bias and inequality, the learning process, its impact on jobs, and even the artistic process. Ethical debt When a company rushes software to market, it often accrues technical debt: the cost of having to fix bugs after a program is released, instead of ironing them out beforehand. There are examples of this in AI as companies race ahead to compete with each other. More alarming, though, is ethical debt, when development teams haven't considered possible social or ethical harms how AI could replace human jobs, for example, or when algorithms end up reinforcing biases. Casey Fiesler, a technology ethics expert at the University of Colorado Boulder, wrote that she's a technology optimist who thinks and prepares like a pessimist: someone who puts in time speculating about what might go wrong. That kind of speculation is an especially useful skill for technologists trying to envision consequences that might not impact them, Fiesler explained, but that could hurt marginalised groups that are underrepresented in tech fields. When it comes to ethical debt, she noted, the people who incur it are rarely the people who pay for it in the end. Is anybody there? AI programs' abilities can give the impression that they are sentient, but they're not, explained Nir Eisikovits, director of the Applied Ethics Centre at the University of Massachusetts Boston. ChatGPT and similar technologies are sophisticated sentence completion applications nothing more, nothing less, he wrote. But saying AI isn't conscious doesn't mean it's harmless. To me, Eisikovits explained, the pressing question is not whether machines are sentient but why it is so easy for us to imagine that they are. Humans easily project human features onto just about anything, including technology. That tendency to anthropomorphise points to real risks of psychological entanglement with technology, according to Eisikovits, who studies AI's impact on how people understand themselves. Considering how many people talk to their pets and cars, it shouldn't be a surprise that chatbots can come to mean so much to people who engage with them. The next steps, though, are strong guardrails to prevent programs from taking advantage of that emotional connection. Putting pen to paper From the start, ChatGPT fuelled parents' and teachers' fears about cheating. How could educators or college admissions officers, for that matter figure out if an essay was written by a human or a chatbot? But AI sparks more fundamental questions about writing, according to Naomi Baron, an American University linguist who studies technology's effects on language. AI's potential threat to writing isn't just about honesty, but about the ability to think itself. Baron pointed to novelist Flannery O'Connor's remark that I write because I don't know what I think until I read what I say. In other words, writing isn't just a way to put your thoughts on paper; it's a process to help sort out your thoughts in the first place. AI text generation can be a handy tool, Baron wrote, but there's a slippery slope between collaboration and encroachment. As we wade into a world of more and more AI, it's key to remember that crafting written work should be a journey, not just a destination. The value of art Generative AI programs don't just produce text, but also complex images which have even captured a prize or two. In theory, allowing AI to do nitty-gritty execution might free up human artists' big-picture creativity. Not so fast, said Eisikovits and Alec Stubbs, who is also a philosopher at the University of Massachusetts Boston. The finished object viewers appreciate is just part of the process we call art. For creator and appreciator alike, what makes art valuable is the work of making something real and working through its details: the struggle to turn ideas into something we can see.